Comments are by Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park

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ROLL CALL

Mayor Kabir recognized and congratulated the new SGA liaisons, Dhuvrak Mironi and Gannon Sprinkle.  Mr. Sprinkle was unable to attend the meeting.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS – MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON

Councilmember Esters announced the upcoming Lakeland Civic Association (LCA) meeting to be held on Thursday, June 8 at the College Park Community Center beginning at 7pm.   

Councilmember Whitney announced Trolley Trail Day scheduled for Saturday, June 10 with activities to be held from Hyattsville to Hollywood.  She mentioned activities to be held in the Berwyn and Lakeland communities.    

Mayor Kabir – On June 24^, the Mayor and Council will host a hybrid Town Hall meeting in Council Chambers that will be live broadcast on the City’s cable channel. Mayor Kabir said it will be an open discussion with residents able to ask any questions they have. The exact time will be announced later on the City’s website. 

Councilmember Mackie announced an upcoming College Park Woods event on June 17 in the neighborhood park from 12:30pm – 3:30pm. She also mentioned the Bee City USA event at the Clarice Performing Arts center June 17 at 1pm. She indicated that Pollinator Week is the week of June 19.  

Councilmember Adams announced a Storm Water Management discussion on June 22 from 8:30am – 12noon at the University of Maryland. The event is sponsored by those in the greater community.  

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Gardiner, Assistant City Manager, said Mr. Young was off to celebrate his son’s graduation with his family.  Mr. Young will then be attending the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA) conference in Fort Collins, Colorado.  

He mentioned 24/7 speed enforcement on Rhode Island Ave and the electronic sign at Greenbelt and Rhode Island notifying drivers.  He announced the next event in the Friday Night Live series to be held on June 9 at City Hall Plaza from 6:30pm – 8:30pm where stickers and pins to celebrate Pride month will be distributed.  He reminded residents that parking in the garage would be free.  

Mr. Gardiner directed residents to the College Park Community University Partnership (CPCUP) for more information about Trolley Trail Day events and activities. He mentioned that there would be a stop at the Hollywood Shopping Center.  

SGA Liaison Mr. Mironi thanked everyone for creating a welcoming environment and said he was looking forward to the year ahead and sharing student voices.   

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mayor Kabir recognized former District 4 Councilmember, Alan Hew, who now lives in District 1 due to recent redistricting.  

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS:

• Immigrant Heritage Month

• Juneteenth

• LGBTQ+ Pride Month

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Mitchell moved to remove the consideration of detailed site plan (DSP) of Discovery Point from the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Mackie.   

Councilmember Whitney moved to add the acceptance of application for the vacant District 1 council seat to the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Mitchell.  

Councilmember Kennedy moved to add the nomination of applicants for the District 1 council seat to the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Mitchell.  

Councilmember Mitchell moved to approve the amended agenda, seconded by Councilmember Esters

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS 

Oscar Gregory, non- resident – commutes to the National Archives consistently. Until 2 years ago, his family lived in the community for 4 decades. He believes that College Park works because those who live in the community should be involved and engaged.  He said a de facto election for a council seat goes counter to the Open Meetings Act. Making this decision in a closed session disenfranchises people from the process. He asked that the discussion regarding the open seat be open to the public. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

23-G-88 Approval of Cooperation Agreement to participate in the Prince George’s County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Urban County Qualification for FY24 – FY26 – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

23-G-87 Approval of minutes from the May 23, 2023, Council meeting.

Moved by Councilmember Esters, seconded by Councilmember Whitney

PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 23-O-06:

An Amended Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park to increase the salary for the Mayor to $15,000 per year, to increase the salary for a Councilmember to $10,000 per year, and to establish a separate level of pay for the Mayor Pro Tempore at $12,500 per year. Salary increases will be effective after the next General Election.

Ms. Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources, said this would be the first change since the Mayor and Council compensation increase occurred in 2013. Staff believe an increase in compensation to the Mayor and Council is warranted. Ms. Ferguson, City Attorney said the amended ordinance indicates payment to the Mayor and Council would occur when City employees are paid. 

Oscar Gregory, non-resident, said it is about time that elected officials get increased pay. He acknowledged the employees in the city for their work and said employees should also receive raises.  He said if the City gave less tax incentives there could be more funds to increase employee wages.  

Moved by Councilmember Adams, seconded by Whitney.

Councilmember Mitchell thanked staff and recognized the first time this came up was years ago, and there was a different feeling and response.   

Councilmember Adams said he heard overwhelming approval from residents. They understand that people do not do this for the money, but it helps make life a bit easier. He hopes it may help others to run for office.

Mayor Kabir said in the future, the decision should be made by a committee. 

ACTION ITEMS

23-G-89 Acceptance of qualified applicants for appointment as nominations to the District 1 Council seat, to enable referral by the Mayor for review and comment by the Council as a committee of the whole, for the purpose of reporting on the qualifications of the nominees.

Ms. Ferguson outlined the process Council will follow. She mentioned that the individual appointed will fill that seat until the next election in November. Based upon the City charter, those who are qualified will be nominated. After the nomination, any council member will be able to nominate someone from the floor. All who are to be nominated are qualified. She said only the Council will vote on the applicants.

Councilmember Mitchell asked if, when the vote is taken next week, the person would be seated that night. Mr. Gardiner said staff have not made that determination yet, but it could happen.  

Moved by Councilmember Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Kennedy.

Oscar Gregory, non-resident, said he does not know who all the candidates are and asked that the individuals nominated be from District 1.  

Carol Macknis, resident of College Park, asked that those nominated be from District 1. 

23-G-90 Nomination by any Councilmember for the District 1 Council seat. No nominations were taken from the floor. 

Mayor Kabir made a referral of the nominations to the committee of the whole for review.  

REFERRAL BY THE MAYOR OF NOMINATIONS TO THE DISTRICT 1 COUNCIL SEAT, FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT, TO THE COUNCIL AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE, PURSUANT TO §C-6(B)(3)(b) OF THE CHARTER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING ON THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE NOMINEES

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS 

Discussion of lowering the speed limit (currently 35 mph) on Rhode Island Avenue – Steve Halpern, City Engineer and Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney

Steve Halpern, City Engineer, said the City has taken over Rhode Island Ave as of last year. A traffic study was done and revealed that we could lower the speed limit to 25, but it is recommended to reduce the speed limit to 30 and put in place other mitigations before reducing it to 25.  

Councilmember Kennedy asked how quickly this change will happen and recommended a neighborhood meeting to get input from residents.

Councilmember Adams asked if the report says that we can change the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, why not do so now?  He said we need to consider safety for the unprotected bike lanes. 

Councilmember Esters agreed with Councilmember Adams that the speed should be lowered to 25 eventually, but said she lives off of Rhode Island and believes the issue has to do with more than speed, it has to do with behavior. We should first lower to 30 and utilize other mitigation methods to change behaviors that impact bikers and pedestrians.  

Councilmember Kennedy agreed with Councilmember Esters. She said we need to get the word out about the change.  

Councilmember Whitney asked about other enforcement measures because of hazardous behaviors that occur. She said we need to be mindful that even if we do have protected lanes, that bikers need to come out of lanes to turn; she said we need to consider things comprehensively. She said the accident statistics provided by SHA didn’t include whether or not a cyclist was involved and said we should pursue legislation that requires SHA to track those statistics so municipalities have data to make decisions.  

Councilmember Mitchell said we should send out letters to those who live on Rhode Island Ave. Mr. Gardiner said information can also be placed in the College Park Here and Now and the College Park Bulletin.  

Councilmember Rigg shared concerns about bike safety. He said before we make substantial changes to Rhode Island Ave, we need to consider how emergency vehicles will maneuver the roadway. He said that fire departments in Branchville, Beltsville and College Park use the roadway.  

Mayor Kabir said he heard from a firefighter living in District 1 who expressed concerns about the lowering of the speed limit and believes that the dispatcher system may divert trucks from other areas that may be farther away. He asked staff to reach out to fire departments in the area.   

Councilmember Rigg said we should speak to the Prince George’s Fire Department (PGFD) to get their feedback. 

Council Mackie asked the City engineer about the speed limit on Route 1 which is 30 at certain points and goes down to 25. She said it makes sense to decrease the speed limit on Rhode Island as a neighborhood roadway. 

Councilmember Adams referenced the 25 mph speed limit on Route 1 and said that the report we received regarding Rhode Island Ave indicates we can reduce the speed limit on Rhode Island Ave to 25 miles per hour and we should. 

Councilmember Esters said that the report also says, “speed limit changes alone may not have the desired effect without other measures or enforcement.” 

Councilmember Kennedy said that reducing the speed so drastically could cause a negative impact.  

Councilmember Mitchell asked for clarification from Ms. Ferguson and Mr. Halpern and said we should go with advice from the content experts.  

Mr. Gardiner said the item would be on the agenda for next week and have a timeline for moving forward.  

Mayor Kabir indicated that attendees will be able to speak about this issue next week. 

Discussion of closing the alley between 49th Ave and Blackfoot Road to drive through vehicles – Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services

Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services, said Locust Spring Alley runs between 49^th Place and Blackfoot Road. There have been expressed concerns about vehicles driving through this pathway. He assessed the area and realized that it is possible for cars to drive through. The suggested solution is to install a bollard midway the path. This would still allow residents to walk through and allow for contractors to utilize the area as needed but would not allow anyone to drive through.  

Councilmember Esters confirmed that she has seen cars drive through, and on occasion speed through.  She is concerned about the safety of those using the walking path.  

Councilmember Rigg said this looks like one of the City’s “paper streets”, which have a checkered history. He asked if the city had assumed responsibility for this paper street but not others.  

Mr. Ryan said the City maintains this alleyway, and Ms. Ferguson said we have various paper streets throughout the city, saying the city has exercised jurisdiction for some but not others.

Councilmember Whitney said she supports this solution, especially as we consider walkability, and thinks we should do this to the paper streets throughout the city.  

Councilmember Rigg said we need to get a handle on paper streets, saying there might be an opportunity to create interconnectedness with these pathways and identify consistencies.  

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Mitchell asked staff for an update on the Youth Advisory Council. She also wondered if there could be a presentation by the County about missing middle housing.  

Councilmember Mackie asked for a discussion with the school board. She thought it would be a good time to speak with the new CEO and Prince George’s Board of Education District 2 member Jonathan Briggs. Mr. Gardiner said the City will reach out to the County and the School Board.

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE 

Resident Carol Macknis said she’s glad the city is looking into lowering the speed limit and acknowledges bike safety. She said there should be education about proper bike protocols. She suggested having Youth and Family Services educate young cyclists about safety. She also asked how the city is addressing crime prevention, including vandalism and other things. She does not want to see the survey be a waste of time and money for the residents who took the time to complete it. 

Oscar Gregory, non-resident, said the Mayor and Council should consider unintended circumstances. At one point, the bike lanes were being considered for the service lanes. There was concern that would divert more traffic onto the service lanes. People may try to avoid Rhode Island Ave. He said he and a group of residents would like to form a group to help folks with code enforcement issues, saying they’d like to work with staff to help code enforcement before things get out of hand.   

Resident Elizabeth McMahon emphasized the heavy pedestrian traffic on Rhode Island, which cars do not stop for. She would like to suggest that the service roads be included in any future studies. She said cars turn at high rates of speed and do not anticipate pedestrians, saying the service roads are also an issue. She said she was almost hit on the road a few weeks ago, and the motorist rolled down his window and told her to watch where she was going.  

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

Councilmember Whitney asked staff to look at repainting the crosswalks at the intersection of Potomac Avenue and Quebec Street, saying there is a school bus stop at the intersection which residents have reported residents speeding through.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell – She will not be at the meeting next week due to a work obligation. She would like parking and code to look into parking at 35^th Avenue in College Park Woods.  

Councilmember Mackie attended the veterans’ event last week and acknowledged the Veterans Memorial Committee and the boy scouts for a moving ceremony. She also recognized Ms. Way-Pezutti for her work on the staff picnic.    

Mayor Kabir – acknowledged all members of council who attended the recent Veterans’ event –  Councilmember Esters, Councilmember Mackie, and Councilmember Mitchell.  

Councilmember Mitchell – asked if the Veterans Memorial Committee and staff could partner to compile a list of veterans in the city.  

Councilmember Adams  –  mentioned the wildfires smoke from Canada.  He said the air quality will be code red on Thursday, June 8, adding that NYC currently has the worst air quality in the world. 

Councilmember Rigg – attending ITGA in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is a meeting for elected officials and staff of college towns and those who inhabit them. There is interest in hosting the conference in College Park in the near future. He asked Mr. Gardiner about Pride-themed events being held in the City and was told the Friday Night Live Event on Friday will be Pride themed.  

Dhuvrak Mironi– looks forward to meeting with UMD Office of Community Engagement and Council members.  

Mayor Kabir recently attended the Council of Mayors meeting and described it as a wonderful networking opportunity.  

MEETING ADJOURNED

Closed Session after the meeting: Pursuant to the statutory authority of Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article § 3-305, the Mayor and Council will meet in a closed session after this meeting 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. (Council will discuss applicants for the Council vacancy and Advisory Board applications.) They will not return to open session.

Click here for the June 6^th meeting agenda. Click here to watch the video of the June 6, 2023, meeting. 

Click here to see the agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on June 13, 2023 . Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Action Items, Presentations and Workshop discussions:

ACTION ITEMS:

23-G-81 Approval of City-Wide Tutoring Program with Imagine Learning – Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services 

23-G-82 Consideration of Detailed Site Plan DPS-22024 and Related Departure, Discovery Point, located at the southeast quadrant of Baltimore Avenue and Campus Drive and a Declaration of Covenants and Agreement Regarding Land Use – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney 

23-G-94 Approval of closing the Locust Spring Alley between 49th Place and Rhode Island Avenue to drive through vehicles 

23-G-95 Consideration of reducing the speed limit on Rhode Island Avenue between University Boulevard to Paducah Road from 35 MPH to 30 MPH as soon as possible, and following the implementation of traffic calming measures, further reduce the speed limit to 25 MPH if determined by staff after a traffic study to be justified by the traffic data and other factors

23-G-97 Appointment to fill the District 1 Council vacancy.

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS:

A. Discussion of the City’s Revitalization Tax Credit Program 

B. Review and confirm the Strategic Plan priorities for FY ’24 

Join the College Park City-University Partnership, Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Hyattsville CDC, and communities along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail for a full-day celebration. Don’t miss out on District 2 stops in Lakeland and Berwyn!

Live Music and Entertainment • Food & Drink Vendors • Bike Rides • Creative Scavenger Hunt • Farmer's Market • Interactive Community Art Project • Family-Friendly Activities • Prizes and Freebies • Outdoor Fitness Classes • Nature Walks • History Tours • Exclusive Deals •

Overview

• Trolley Trail Day Itinerary
• Trolley Trail Day Activity Hub Map
• Stay Updated and connect!
• About: Trolley Trail Day
• Learn about our Sponsors, Participating Organizations and Businesses
• Trolley Trail Day 2019 Recap

The City of College Park hosts a series of concerts over the summer and you are invited! 

Join us on the plaza at the City Hall building on select Fridays for Friday Night LIVE!  The events will feature a variety of musical genres and performers and will include something for everyone, music, food, beer, and entertainment.  There will be children’s performers, a bounce house, kids’ activities, and arts and crafts.  

All concerts will be held at City Hall Plaza (7401 Baltimore Avenue) between May -September from 6:30 to 8:30PM.  Parking will be offered for free at the Downtown College Park parking garage at the corner of Yale and Knox.  Local food and beer will be available for purchase during the event! 

2023 LINE-UP:

• May 12 – The Nighthawks, Classic Rock and Blues
• June 9 – Starlight Anthem, 90s and 2000s
• July 14 – The Real Genius’s, 80s Rock
• August 11 – Groovalicious, Funk and Disco
• September 8 – OKTOBERFEST! with Edelweiss Band

For City of College Park residents only

The Summer Reading Program provides reading instruction and tutoring to children experiencing difficulty with reading.  The program is taught by certified teachers who are enrolled in or have recently completed the graduate program in reading and literacy at the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. They are generally  K-8 classroom teachers with a wide range of experiences with diverse groups of children.

During the program, students receive lessons in phonics and spelling, reading fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, and writing. Teachers work in pairs to teach small groups of children. They utilize a variety of strategies and techniques to address individual reading needs. Emphasis is placed on helping children become more strategic and proficient readers. 

The program is for students in kindergarten through 6th grade in the 2022-2023 school year.

Location: Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland Campus

Dates: July 5 – July 20, 2023

Days:  Monday through Thursday

Time: 9:00 am to 11:30 am

  CLICK HERE TO APPLY  

Do you ride public buses in our area or know of others who do?  WMATA seeks feedback about riders’ experiences.  To date, their Better Bus team has received numerous comments across the region, but they still want to hear from more customers. 

Please click on this see this Better Bus – Comment Your Trip (wmata.com) link for the online comment option that allows riders to identify their route and provide comments or suggestions on what they like, dislike or would like to see (see screenshot below). You can also access a tool that shows the draft Visionary Network routes and how they correspond to existing bus service in the region. 

Comments are by Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park

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ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS – MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON

Councilmember Esters acknowledged the departure of many students and encouraged residents to give of their time, efforts, and contributions (if possible) to the various charitable organizations within the city, including the College Park Food Bank.   

Councilmember Whitney congratulated the graduates of 2023, including SGA Liaison Andriessens.

Councilmember Mackie thanked the volunteers and the police for their help during University of Maryland’s (UMD) graduation. 

Councilmember Adams congratulated the UMD Baseball team for winning the Big Ten championship.  

Councilmember Kabir informed residents about the upcoming Memorial Day event on Monday, May 29 at 11am. This event marks the 30^th anniversary of the City’s memorial dedication. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former Councilmembers Catlin and Dennis attended.  

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS: 

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week

Military Recognition Month

Farewell to Student Liaison Valerie Graham and Deputy Student Liaison Adrian Andriessens.

Mayor Kabir thanked the student liaisons for building a bridge between the university and the city. He acknowledged Ms. Graham for her work on the redistricting committee and presented gifts to both students.  

SGA Liaison Graham thanked everyone for the year, which she described as interesting.  She said she was awed by Mayor and Council’s passion and dedication to the city.  Mr. Andriessens will be leaving the country for the next 9 months, while Ms. Graham will still be around.  

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Motion to approve the agenda made by Councilmember Rigg, seconded by Councilmember Whitney 

CONSENT AGENDA 

23‐R‐09 Resolution authorizing operation of a speed monitoring system on Rhode Island Avenue between Greenbelt Road and Paducah Road, a residential highway with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, to the full extent of the hours allowed by state law.

23‐G‐84 Approval of submission of the College Park Livable Community Action Plan to AARP – Kiaisha Barber, Director, Youth, Family and Senior Services

23‐G‐85 Approve the installation of two commemorative benches in the College Park Woods neighborhood (exact location to be determined) in honor of former Mayors Alvin Kushner and Anna Owens in an amount not to exceed $6,500.

23‐G‐86 Approval of minutes of April 25, 2023, May 9, 2023, and May 16, 2023.

Motion to approve the consent agenda made by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember  Esters, the motion passed unanimously.  

ACTION ITEMS

23-O-03 Adoption of Ordinance 23-O-03, FY ’24 Budget Ordinance – Gary Fields, Director of Finance

Mr. Fields said the Mayor and Council completed the five-month-long budgetary process. The budget ordinance indicates the budget was amended, but it was not amended; the inclusion of that language was an error and will be changed accordingly.  

Mr. Fields included key highlights about the FY’24 budget. He said the budget was built on a real property tax rate of 30.18 cents, which is the same as last year, and for the first time in the City’s history, a commercial tax rate of 3 cents more. He referenced a document outlining property tax rates over the past five years. Since 2019, the residential personal property tax rate has decreased by 9.91%. Over that time, surrounding municipalities have maintained a flat rate rather than going with the Constant Yield Tax Rate [CYTR] as College Park did. In order to provide services and accomplish our strategic plan, staff has recommended the City not maintain the CYTR for FY’ 24.  

Mr. Young thanked the Council for sticking through the budget process, saying it is one of the most important things we do as a body and that staff take it very seriously. The public hearing was already held. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked Mr. Fields what would happen if we just went with the 30.18 tax rate without the 3-cent increase for the commercial rate. Mr. Fields said there would be an approximate $515,000 deficit in the budget, this includes the grants proposed for students housing. 

Mayor Pro Tem asked if the money could be used for something else should the grants for student housing not be approved. Mr. Fields said it could be used for something else but would require a budget amendment.  

Mr. Young said we do not yet have an established student housing grant program. It will be in a future work session about the utilization of those funds.  When asked if the budget required a super majority or a majority vote.  City Attorney Ferguson said only a simple majority is required.  

Councilmember Rigg said we have discussed the budget extensively. He referenced the chart provided by Mr. Fields as illustrative of our work. He said we made a tweak in order to create two programs, a still-to-be-developed student housing subsidy and money to help the city’s small businesses.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell expressed appreciation for Councilmember Rigg’s comments and appreciates the council for working together. She said she will be looking for a future agenda item sooner rather than later to discuss the proposed subsidy for students and economic development.  

Mayor Kabir agreed and said he understood it may already be on a future agenda item.  

7-0 – passed unanimously.  

23-O-06 Introduction of an Ordinance to increase the salary for the Mayor to $15,000 per year, to increase the salary for a Councilmember to $10,000 per year, and to establish a separate level of pay for the Mayor Pro Tem at $12,500 per year. Salary increases will be effective after the next General Election. The Public Hearing will be on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Ms.Way-Pezzutti said there was a work session held on May 16 to discuss Mayor and Council compensation and that increases were approved based upon comparisons to compensation in other municipalities. She said the Mayor and Council would like to increase stipend amounts, and staff would like to introduce a new payment schedule. 

Councilmember Esters asked about the reason for the payment schedule change for Mayor and Council.  Ms. Way-Pezzutti said the change is based upon when the new council is elected. They are paid in advance. Mr. Young said it also make sense logistically to pay the Mayor and Council on the same schedule as City employees. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. 

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS 

A. Presentation from Len Lucchi and Stephanie Anderson on the 2023 legislative session

Mr. Gardiner introduced Mr. Lucchi and Stephanie Anderson and briefly referenced their work during the recent State legislative session.  

Mr. Lucchi said the 443rd legislative session was a different due to turnover in leadership and the return to an in-person session. Governor Moore was sworn in on day 8, had to present his budget on day 10, and then identify his cabinet.    

The new administration was actively engaged in the legislative process. Moore’s Cabinet was directly involved in the creation of bills, which differed from his predecessor. Committee chairs are all appointees of the new presiding officers and represent new and younger leadership.  

Mr. Lucchi said they started the session with the understanding that there would be a healthy budget surplus. However, the estimated cost of the Maryland Blueprint for Education increased by half a billion dollars, while projected revenues went down by half a billion, creating a $1 billion shortfall. 

He pointed out that the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations and the Vice Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee are both College Park residents and that there will be $1.5 billion in the FY’24 budget and the following fiscal year for the North College Park Community Center. 

Route 1 improvements are not directly in the budget. There is a new Transportation Secretary who can hopefully ensure it gets on the County’s list of priorities.  

He highlighted the legalization of recreational adult cannabis use starting July 1 with a 9% sales tax.  The initial bill had no tax revenue going to municipalities. The next version limited revenue-sharing in a way that would cut out smaller municipalities. the Maryland Municipal League fought to get 5% of the 9% tax to be shared between municipalities and their counties, but he said it won’t garner much revenue for the city.

As for legislation governing vehicular noise and speeding, two bills were introduced; they both passed one chamber, but not the other. Part of the issue is that the House has particular rules about county legislation. He said if we want this legislation to move forward, Montgomery County and Prince George’s need to work together for bi-county legislation to make it stronger.   

Stephanie Anderson focused her part of the presentation on policy priorities.  

She said SB382 will establish an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Taskforce to establish policy and recommendations. 

HB182/SB335 got rid of unlawful declaration of covenants, allowing offensive language to be removed.

HB150 created loan programs for development of affordable and multi-family housing.  

HB70, the Safe Access For All (SAFE) Roads Act of 2023 requiring the Department of Transportation to implement all possible incremental near-term safety improvements as soon as practicable if a new approved pedestrian or bicycle safety construction or improvement project is projected to take more than 12 months to complete. 

She also mentioned state disaster and recovery funds and HB289 which established Maryland Forestry Education funds. Paid family medical leave was another big bill that passed this year.  Advocates were concerned about local governments, and they wanted more time for municipalities to understand the impact of this law.  They successfully pushed the start date back from October 24, 2023 to January 1, 2024.

College Park submitted over 40 letters of support, and over half of the bills supported by the City were approved.

Councilmember Esters asked about the need to create a pilot for noise and speeding cars since we know it is an issue throughout the region. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if timing was the only hurdle in getting HB208 passed. They said that was the only issue they could discern. Mr. Lucchi said the City needs to be more strategic and make a lot more noise about the urgency of the program. Councilmember Whitney asked whether HB150 and SB156 would provide loans to redevelop existing affordable housing or only new development.  Ms. Anderson did not have an answer but will follow up.  Finally, she asked how sustainable communities are defined by HB706 Sustainable Communities/Business Façade bill.  Mr. Young said we are considered a sustainable community and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said College Park has had the distinction since 2011.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the status of the Police Accountability Board and if we will see it moving forward. 

Councilmember Rigg mentioned cannabis legislation. and asked if any regulation required the State to use the funds they receive from the sale of cannabis to provide mitigation funds or addiction support? Ms. Anderson said she was aware of support for small, minority-owned businesses to enter the industry and to address unequal enforcement of the law but is unaware of other strictures. Councilmember Rigg said he is from Colorado and believes many residents will see them as a nuisance businesses, saying that municipalities will have a lot of the issues to address.  

Councilmembers Esters asked about legislation related to modified mufflers, specifically to regulate auto shops modifying the mufflers.  

Mayor Kabir asked what happened to HB1333, which increases the fines for modified mufflers. Ms. Anderson said it never made it out of committee.

Councilmember Whitney asked if  there has ever been any talk of having modified mufflers checked during emission tests. 

Ms. Anderson said we need to find out what is happening in other jurisdictions to get legislations passed. 

Councilmember Rigg asked about state law to cap the amount that municipalities can impose for civil citation to $1000.  How can we start to have the conversation about raising this cap?.  

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if two items on the future agenda items needed to be kept on the list, the format of council meeting and discussion on AirBNBs. Ms. Miller said the only changes that are being made are the format of the hybrid meetings. At the time, we said we would revisit in 6 months.  She said the work session on short-term rentals will be on July 6.

Councilmember Adams would like to add a  Commemorative Bench for Richard Wagner.

Councilmember Rigg would like to add a discussion to reconfigure the position of Mayor Pro Tem.

Mayor Kabir would like to add the seating arrangement of the Council to the discussion of the Mayor Pro Tem position.   

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

Councilmember Mackie mentioned a recent Council of Government (COG) meeting for the Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee, saying College Park’s stormwater drain paintings were shared.  She added there was a new one in District 4. She added that Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is approaching and that Prince George’s County Public Schools has implemented an environmental awareness curriculum.  She encouraged residents to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay and said one way to protect it is not to litter.  

Councilmember Kennedy pointed out that Ms. Mackie chairs the Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee.

Councilmember Adams said May is Building Safety Month and thanked fire department, code enforcement and those working in building safety for their work.  

Mayor Kabir said he attended two civic association events (Berwyn and Calvert Hills),the recent Arbor day event, and two bike events, including Bike with a Cop.  

SGA Liaison Valerie Graham thanked the Mayor and Council for the wonderful opportunity over the past year. 

SGA Liaison Adrian Andriessens thanked Mayor and Council for the experience.

Mr. Young thanked the SGA Liaisons for all they brought forward and wished them well.  He said the City is having an issue with people taking the food scrap buckets because they think they are being abandoned. He asked the Mayor and Council to help to promote the program.  

MEETING ADJOURN

Click here for the May 23rd meeting agenda. Click here to watch the video of the May 23, 2023, meeting (when it is available). 

Click here to see the agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on June 6, 2023 (When it is available). Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Presentations and Workshop discussions:

Discussion of lowering the speed limit (currently 35 mph) on Rhode Island Ave

Approval of Cooperation Agreement Regarding CDBG funding

Consideration of letter to M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation copying the County Council regarding the mandatory dedication of parklandDiscussion of closing the alley between 49^th Ave. and Blackfoot Road to drive through vehicles

On Tuesday, May 16, Fazlul Kabir was sworn in as Mayor of College Park, leaving a vacancy on the City Council from District 1. In accordance with the City Charter, the vacancy may be filled by appointment within 30 days (by June 15) by majority vote of the Council. The appointed term will end in December when the next Mayor and Council are sworn in. Residents who are interested in applying to fill the Council vacancy must be 18 years old as of June 13, be a citizen of the United States, be a current registered voter in the City, and must have lived in the City for at least one year. The applicant does not need to be a resident of District 1 to be considered, but if appointed, will represent District 1 on the City Council. District 1 is shown in blue on the map below, and includes the neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Hollywood, Cherry Hill, Daniels Park and Autoville. Information about the responsibility of the City Council is located in Article III of the City Charter: https://ecode360.com/12119206 and Chapter 62, Section 4, of the City Code: https://ecode360.com/9897014. The City Council meets on Tuesday evenings in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Councilmembers are expected to attend meetings in person except under certain circumstances. Councilmembers are paid $7,000 per year. If you are interested in being considered to fill the vacant Council seat, please submit a letter of interest with the following information:1. Your name, address, and contact information, and a statement asserting that you meet the qualifications described above.2. Information about yourself. This could include your occupation, education, professional background, and community involvement. You may attach a resume.3. A brief statement of why you should be considered to fill the vacancy. Letters should be submitted by June 1 at 12:00 noon in one of the following ways:By email to cityclerkoffice@collegeparkmd.gov with the subject line “Council Vacancy Application.” By mail or hand delivery to Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk, City of College Park, 7401 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 201, College Park Maryland, 20740. For more information please call Ms. Miller at 240-487-3501.

Comments are by Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park.

Haga clic aquí para leer esta publicacion en español.

CERTIFICATION OF RESULTS OF SPECIAL ELECTION – BOES Chief John Payne 

• 14,263 registered voters
• 1,850 votes cast
• Final vote count
  • Brian Haddad – 19
  • Denise Mitchell – 354
  • Catherine “Kate” Kennedy – 469
  • Fazlul Kabir – 1,008

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT – Swearing-in of Mayor Fazlul Kabir

• Ethan Sweep from Congressman Glenn Ivey’s office presented Mayor Fazlul with a certificate of congratulations and Recognition of his contributions to the community. He said to reach out to his Congressman Ivey’s office for help with anything. 

COMMENTS FROM MAYOR KABIR

ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS – MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON

• Councilmember Kabir – Looking for Celebrating College Park Parade participants & volunteers
• Councilmember Esters – BDCA meeting this Thursday, May 18^th at Tacos a la Madre.
• Councilmember Whitney – PGPD District I Steering Wheel Lock Giveaway at The Mall at Prince George’s Thursday, May 18^th at 11 am. Must prove county residency & that you own a Hyundai or a Kia. 
• Councilmember Adams
  • Bike to Work Day with City Hall Pit Stop on May 19^th
  • Calvert Hills Civic Association Meeting on May 17^th
  • UMD student Samuel Isaac Castañeda passed away late Monday last week. Adams said Castañeda had been working on a project late and had an accident while driving home. 
• Councilmember Rigg congratulated Mayor Kabir.
• Councilmember Mackie
  • Porch concert on Gettysburg Lane in College Park Woods on Sunday, May 21 at 4 pm.
  • Recognized College Park students who won STEM awards in state educational competitions.
• Mayor Kabir
  • Thanked staff and everyone who came out for the first Friday Night Live (FNL) concert of the season. 
  • He said he would be at City Hall Plaza for Bike to Work Day and provided details for the event.
  • Arbor day event rescheduled for Thursday May 18th at 6 pm at the corner of 52nd and Narragansett Parkway
• Student Liaison Valerie Graham
  • She introduced the next Student Liaison, Dhruvak Mironi, and Deputy Student Liaison, Gannon Sprinkle, who will start in June. 
  • She announced the SGA election results. 
• Deput Student Liaison Adrian Andriessens congratulated Mayor Kabir. 

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT 

No announcements. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

• Former County Councilmember Dannielle Glaros
• Former City Councilmember Maxine Gross

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS: 

• Volunteer Appreciation Month 

• Kids To Parks Day – May 20, 2023

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 

Councilmember Adams moved to move 23-G-74, Approval of staff’s recommendation of updated Guidelines and Allocations for Program Open Space – Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner from the Consent Agenda to the Action Agenda.

The Agenda was approved as amended. 

CONSENT AGENDA. 

23-G-75 Approval of an Aging in Place Home Repair Program Guidelines Abstain: and Operating Agreement with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, in substantially the form attached, subject to City Attorney review – Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner and Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services 

Suellen – would like to add subrecipient agreement into this item.  

23-R-07 Approval of a Resolution Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Adopting The Recommendation Of The Advisory Planning Commission For Application Number CEO-2023-02, 4910 Hollywood Road, College Park, Maryland, Recommending Approval Of Variances From City Code §87-23.C, To Permit The Installation Of A 4.5-5 Foot-High Slatted Wooden Fence Along The Side Yard Of A Street

23-R-08 Approval of a Resolution Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Adopting The Recommendation Of The Advisory Planning Commission Regarding Variance Application CPV-2023- 01, 7501 Wellesley Drive, College Park, Maryland Recommending Approval Of Two Variances: 13-Foot Street Side Yard Setback , And a 2-Foot Rear Yard Setback Variance From Section 27-4202(E) (2) Of The Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance, To Convert and Widen a One-Car Carport into a Two-Car Garage (appeal period ends May 

 23-G-76 Authorization to allow free parking on summer weeknights after 5:00 p.m. and free all-day Saturday parking in the City’s downtown parking garage from May 27 to August 12, 2023 – Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services 002 

23-G-78 Approval of PTO/PTA membership incentive stipends to Tier One Schools (Hollywood Elementary, Paint Branch Elementary School, Greenbelt Middle School and Parkdale High School) and Tier Two Schools (Berwyn Heights Elementary, University Park Elementary, Cherokee Lane Elementary, Buck Lodge Middle, High Point High School, College Park Academy) – Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services 

23-G-79 Approval of Memorandum of Agreement between The Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami and College Park Youth and Family Services for training and implementation of Brief Strategic Family Therapy, in substantially the form attached subject to City Attorney reveiw – Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services 

23-G-80 Approve minutes from the April 18, 2023 meeting. 

Consent agenda passes unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARINGS 

• 23-O-05 An Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Amending City Code Chapter 15 “Boards, Commissions And Committees”, By Deleting Article II, “College Park Recreation Board”, §§ 15-3 Through 15-18, In Its Entirety To Remove The College Park Recreation Board From The City Code And Re-establish By Resolution A City Events Advisory Board For The Purpose As Set Forth In Resolution 23-R-06.
  • City Clerk Janeen S. Miller said the item was introduced two weeks ago. The first step in making renaming the Recreation Board as the City Events Advisory Board was adopting 23-R-06. The second step is adopting this ordinance, 23-O-05, to remove the Recreation Board from City Code. 
  • Council had no questions. 
  • The public had no questions or comments.
  • Councilmember Adams moved to adopt 23-O-05. Councilmember Whitney seconded. It passed unanimously.

ACTION ITEMS 

23-G-82 Consideration of Detailed Site Plan DPS-22024 and Related Departure, Discovery Point, located at the southeast quadrant of Baltimore Avenue and Campus Drive – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning 

• College Park Director of Planning Miriam Bader introduced the item.
  • The Applicants, Terrapin Development Company (TDC) and Brandywine Realty Trust, have submitted Detailed Site Plan DSP-22024 to redevelop an existing University of Maryland parking lot located at the southeast corner of Baltimore Avenue and Campus Drive, just north of The Hotel at UMD. 
  • This Phase 1 of a multi-phased development will construct two mixed-use buildings:
    
    • Building 1 is an 8-story office with ground floor retail
    • Building 2 is a 4-story office building with ground floor retail. 
  • The Planning Board hearing is scheduled for June 8, 2023
  • The Applicant is required to provide a total cost cap of $501,954.40 in BPIS (Bicycle and Pedestrian Impact Statement) improvements to off-site pedestrian and bike facilities for of for the entire project (790 apartments and 524,000 square feet of office)
  • Since the development in being completed in phases, with separate DSPs for each phase, the Applicant is asking M-NCPPC if it may phase in the BPIS improvements, rather than providing all of them in Phase 1 of the development.
  • If M-NCPPC allows them to break the improvements into phases, Council must decide whether it agrees with that. 
  • 483 parking spaces are required by sector plan, but the Applicants want to reduce it to 333. Staff approved based on Applicant’s rationale and plans for parking garage in later phase.
  • City has seven requirements to support DSP. Please see Detailed Site Plan Recommendation at the bottom of page 121 of the meeting Agenda.
• City Attorney Suellen Ferguson
  • City has not reached an agreement on the Declaration of Covenants but hopes to be ready to bring it to Council next week.
  • City is waiting to see what M-NCPPS says about staging spending on BPIS improvements, but even if they approve it, City can request a lump sum.
• Project Attorney Larry Taub explained the ownership structure to Council
  • The property is owned by UMD. 
  • UMD intends to convey the property to TDC. 
  • TDC will continue to own the property but will ground lease it to Brandywine Realty Trust for long time
  • They have reviewed the City’s report and are in agreement with their conditions as shown.
  • Still need to negotiate the details in the Declaration of Covenants.
  • They agree with the City on its BPIS requests and will put them forward. They are seeking an amendment to the Certificate of Adequacy to do so. While that may not be  approved before certification, they will submit it before approval.
  • The developer’s position is that BPIS money should be spent based on 35 cents times the square footage being submitted for development in the DPS for each stage of the development.  
  • That said, the Developer will not leave an improvement incomplete because the prorated BPIS funds for that stage had been spent.
• Michael Vergason of Michael Vergason Landscape Architects talked about the conceptual design of the outdoor space and how it was supposed to bring the community together for community events and outdoor dining.
• UMD alumnus Michael Talbott of architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross spoke about the buildings’ architecture and how it relates to the current streetscape.
• UMD’s Ed McGinnis said this development is a big win and very exciting. He said the choice to put the project on the City’s tax rolls was made to lift the community and university together. 
• TDC President Ken Ulman said they made a conscious decision to put the development on City tax rolls. He said developing office space this large is not common nowadays, but TDC is bullish on the ability to fill the spaces, and UMD will master lease a significant amount of space. The current vision for tenants includes:
  • Recruiting private sector businesses that want to be here. 
  • Office space for UMD entrepreneurs who want to be close to their labs.
  • Capitalizing on the connectivity to the Purple Line
  • UMD’s intention is to
    • locate their visitor center on the second floor
    • locate their bookstore on the first floor 
    • locate the Office of Community Engagement in the building, as well.
• Council Questions and comments:
  • Councilmember Esters asked how they intend to connect with the community?
    • Mr. Taub: The project will have space for community meetings and non-profits, but central to all of this is the university. It will elevate the university and help bring UMD students into the private sector. He said they are not ignoring the community.
    • Mr. Ulman said they have focused on pedestrian and bike connectivity and how to connect to the Trolley Trail and Northwest Branch Trail. Currently, it’s an uninviting parking lot. They want it to be a welcoming place.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell expressed concerned that this will negatively impact the Lakeland and asked how it would be protected.
    • Mr. Ulman said the project would provide job opportunities for both residents and students and mentioned opportunity for curation of retail. He also mentioned the BPIS investments, Riverwalk and the bike path on the north side of Campus Drive.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the City has been promised LEED gold buildings for years and never gets them.
    • The team said they think they are very close and are looking at the scoring all the time.
    • Mr. Ulman said they’re focused on being net-zero ready and that the site currently has no stormwater management. 
  • Councilmember Adams
    • said getting people to walk and bike to this development is very sustainable and said the City is trying to get people to live and work here. He suggested UMD might match the City’s New Neighbor Homeownership Grant to encourage that.
    • Confirmed that it met FAA height requirements 
    • Asked that BPIS improvements at Trolley Trail and Campus Drive be prioritized and that budget would cover them if phased in.
      • Mr. Taub said their priorities would be Campus Drive hub #1, followed by Campus Drive hub #2 and that they would complete any project they started.
      • City Attorney Ferguson said those improvements won’t necessarily be in phase one. They are still looking for clarification from parks and planning about when improvements must be made.
    • Councilmember Rigg:
      • Developers should include elements that tell the story of the mutually beneficial relationship between College Park and UMD. He wants long-term residents on campus interacting with students and vice versa.
      • He asked again about mitigation measures for underground trash debris in landfill.
        • Mr. McGinnis said they have negotiated an environmental management plan and will have environmental consultants on site.
    • Councilmember Whitney confirmed there would be an environmental consultant on-site every day during construction (Mr. McGinnis – yes) and asked if there was any precedent for splitting BPIS funding across stages.
      • Mr. Taub said they’re just starting to get information on that.
      • Ms. Ferguson said answering that question has been more complicated than they expected.
    • Councilmember Mackie asked where current parkers would go during construction
      • Mr. Taub said current parking in underutilized, and The Hotel’s garage could accommodate overflow.
    • Councilmember Mackie asked about increased traffic on Route One as a result of the development, and Mr. Taub said the traffic study found no negative impact.
    • Councilmember Rigg asked about illegal lefts from westbound Campus Drive onto Diamondback Drive, and Mr. Taub said they’d look into that.

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

(Note: this item moved forward in the agenda as many Senior Advisory Committee members were present to discuss it.) Discussion of AARP Livable Community Action Plan – Senior Advisory Committee and Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services

• Robert Thurston of the Senior Advisory Committee presented the College Park Age Friendly Action Plan to Council.
  • Started in September 2020. 
  • Timeline – 5-year cycle: They spent 2 years developing the action plan, and 3 years implementing it. They envision a continual improvement process. At end of 5 years, they will rinse and repeat. June 2026 is the date to complete this cycle and celebrate successes.
  • AARP livability has 8 domains, and College Park has chosen five:  Housing; Transportation; Communication and Information; Social Participation, and Health services & Community Support.
  • The Senior Advisory Committee looked at what was achievable in this cycle and what would be the greatest benefit to the city to select its priority actions. In addition to reviewing the priority actions, Mr. Thurston highlighted the following:
    • Encouraging more missing middle housing, not just middle/lower income, is key. He knew of at least 3 residents who were active in community but moved because they didn’t have a good choice for downsizing.
    • They recommend advocating aggressively for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and see them as alternate housing and a source of possible rental income. 
    • On the surface, College Park looks like a transportation hub, but it can be a challenge to travel within the city. Last-mile transportation needs improvement.
    • The City offers many resources, but the information is not reaching a lot of the population. Resources should be aggressively promoted through a variety of channels.
    • Council should move to change the City policy on promoting only City-sponsored events.
    • Civic associations should be encouraged to be more proactive in creating community events and promoting them across neighborhoods
    • City should highlight emergency preparedness and help train community on how best to support themselves and their neighbors if disaster strikes.
    • Community gardens would enhance nutritional status of residents and provide opportunities for socializing. 
    • The SAC believes it is critical that a staff position, either temporary or permanent, be created for a coordinator to track progress.
    • The City’s livability index has increased from 50 to 55 since the initiative began.
  • Council comments and questions:
    • Mayor Kabir – How does the rating of 55 compare with neighboring towns? (Mr. Thurston – SAC didn’t study that.) 
    • Councilmember Kennedy Kate
      • Community Preservation Trust (CPT) plans to eventually expand into allowing people living in their homes to get funding for aging-in-place improvements in exchange for entering into CPT.
      • Interested in missing middle housing and what we could do policy-wise to incentivize senior living.
      • What would Council role be in improving communication? Supporting staff position?
      • Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell
        • Proposed ADU legislation is coming up in County Council. Would like council to hear presentation on that. 
        • Part of Emergency Management Plan should be an MOU with hotels and churches and figuring out how to get seniors out first. 
        • Would like to talk about partnering with Uber to help with transportation needs
      • Councilmember Whitney
        • Having a UMD Shuttle sign-up table at future community events would be an easy way to promote it. 
        • Love the community garden idea. It would benefit both children and seniors. 
        • The public fitness space should not be considered only on City property but also on M-NCPPC property.
        • Sidewalks have also been requested by families with young children or who are expecting. 
        • Enthusiastic about promoting civic association events across neighborhood. When neighbors know each other, they care more about each other and will make the city better for all.
      • Councilmember Rigg
        • Be cautious about ADUs because they could lead to additional quality of life issues. 
        • Love missing middle idea. 
        • Interested in multigenerational housing that would be culturally appropriate for all generations. 
        • A lot of communities in the city lack sidewalks. Does SAC want us to lean in on that? University Park had major push for sidewalks even if not every house on a street wanted it (Mr. Thurston – Overall goal is to improve transportation, and walkability is a big part of that.) 
      • Councilmember Adams
        • Not worried about ADUs affecting quality of life. We just need to make sure the limitation of no more than 5 unrelated residents for the property includes the ADU.
        • Enthusiastic about matching program. We could connect with the UMD off-campus housing site.
      • Councilmember Mackie asked if SAC has considered providing contractor recommendations for seniors. Trusted individuals. (Mr. Thurston – Neighbors Helping Neighbors has considered that but would like guidance from the City Attorney.)
      • Councilmember Esters – What is the goal rating to get to in order to feel like work that you’ve done has been achieved? (Mr. Thurston – They haven’t talked as a group, but he’d aim for 65.)
  • Next steps, Ms. Barber:
    • Council needs to vote on whether or not to approve to action plan for submission to AARP. It may appear on a Consent Agenda.
    • After that, it would be up to Ms. Barber and staff to bring various initiatives back to council as appropriate. 
    • Anticipate these goals to be integrated into strategic plan OKRs and the related reports. 

ACTION ITEMS

23-G-74 Approval of staff’s recommendation of updated Guidelines and Allocations for Program Open Space – Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner

• Mr. Valentine provided an overview of Program Open Space and the changes proposed by the county.  The program is to shift from a focus on acquisition to development. The proposed changes would move from municipalities receiving an annual allotment for Program Open Space to municipalities requesting the use of funds for acquisition from the pool of funds when they are ready to utilize funds.  
• Questions & Comments from Council:
• Councilmember Adams: Is the new grouping of funding for both acquisition and development? (Mr. Valentine said the City would still have allocated funds for development. The pooled resources would only be for acquisition. City currently has just over $1 million for acquisition.)
• Councilmembers Adams – How much development funds do we have? (Mr. Valentine said the City has about $346k for development for FY24. 
• Councilmember Mitchell
  • said it sounds like we’ll be competing with other municipalities for this money, which could easily go to south county.

Councilmember Esters asked if municipalities were asked for their input before the proposed        changes were made. Mr. Young said municipalities were not asked for input.  

Councilmember Mitchell:

• Suggested all 27 municipalities should send a letter in opposition to making this change without consulting with them, saying the county will continue to take such actions if there’s no pushback. She suggested working through PGCMA and Four Cities.

• Councilmember Adams believes the fact that M-NCPPC funds are being used to buy a site for the North College Park Community Center could put us at the back of the line for a while. 
• Councilmember Adams moved only to approve the allocation of Program Open Space funds proposed by staff.

23-G-72 Approval of the Mayor Pro Tem Motion By: To: 2 nd: Yes: No: Abstain: 003 

• Mayor Kabir nominated Councilmember Mitchell to be Mayor Pro Tem. 
• Councilmember Whitney moved to approve the nomination, which was seconded by Councilmember Esters. 
• The nomination was unanimously approved.

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS (Continued)

Discussion of Mayor and Council compensation – Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources 

• Ms. Way-Pezzuti – City is recommending that changes be made to Mayor and Council compensation. Many municipalities have resident committees that review compensation and make recommendations. Staff recommends having the city attorney draft a resolution for an increase of at least $3,000 for both Mayor and Council and to create a review committee every two years to review compensation. 
• Councilmember Kennedy said we should consider budgeting for executive coaching for councilmembers and mayors if they want it, saying many take the role to improve professionally. 
• Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if there was time to create a compensation committee now that could implement changes prior to the next Council being seated in December, then again in two years.
• Ms. Miller said the timeline would be very tight.
• Councilmember Adams said just because we’re sitting here today doesn’t mean we’ll be here in December. He suggested an additional tier of compensation for Mayor Pro Tem and elevating the position of Mayor Pro Tem to step into role. He also suggesting a comparable 40% increase for Mayor and an amount in the middle (about $12,000) for Mayor Pro Tem.
• Councilmember Rigg expressed reluctance to take it to committee, saying it’s hard to get committee volunteers and we already have decent data. He said some will comment when we give ourselves a raise no matter what we do. 
• Councilmember Esters said we should give community members a voice in the process. 
• Councilmember Whitney suggested no committee for the increase going into effect in December 2023 but appointing a committee going forward. 
• Councilmember Mackie thinks residents will want input. 
• Ms. Miller pointed out this would be an ordinance, and Ms. Ferguson said we would need to adopt it and make it official.
• Councilmember Adams recommended $10,000 for Council. $12,500 for Mayor Pro Tem (MPT), and $15,000 for Mayor. He suggested increasing the Mayor Pro Tem’s commitments to be at events, civic association meetings, etc., to take pressure off of the Mayor. 
• Councilmember Whitney asked for confirmation that this had no budget implications, and Mr. Young confirmed it did not.
• Councilmember Rigg suggested we clarify the role of MPT going forward, saying the City seemed to ask for, and the former Mayor willingly gave, more than should be expected. He’d like MPT and Councilmembers to provide more support to the Mayor. 

Discussion of a request for commemorative bench installations in honor of Mayor Kushner and Mayor Owens – Janeen S Miller, City Clerk, and Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works 

• Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she and Councilmember Mackie would like to get approval from colleagues to install the bench at the College Park Woods Clubhouse once development is done.
• Councilmembers agreed to put it on a future Consent Agenda.

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 

• Councilmember Mitchell will bring forth future agenda request for a charter task force.
• Councilmember Rigg will put forward an agenda request to redefine the Mayor Pro Tem role.

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE 

• Resident Carol Macknis wants Council to return the Public Safety Meetings to a monthly schedule and actively promote them in all Districts. She said we’re told police need community support. She said having the meetings allow police to respond to resident concerns and explain incidents before innuendos on nextdoor get out of control.

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

• Councilmember Kennedy – She, Councilmember Mackie, and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell took a field trip to the COG Farm tour on Friday and are happy to talk later about what they learned
• Councilmember Adams congratulated Mayor Kabir on getting through his first (very long) meeting.
• Councilmember Mackie- The EAC had a great presentation for staff that may come to Council soon. She noted that she has a passion for the farm committee because without farms, we won’t have food.
• Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the farm tour showed some innovative ways to address food insecurity.
• Councilmember Whitney congratulated UMD students graduating from Monday through Wednesday next week and said to expect lots of traffic and happy people.

Click here for the May 16th meeting agenda. Click here to watch the video of the May 16, 2023, meeting. 

Click here to see the agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on May 23, 2023. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Presentations and Workshop discussions:

• 23-O-03 Adoption of Ordinance 23-O-03, FY ’24 Budget Ordinance 
• 23-O-06 Introduction of an Ordinance to increase the salary for the Mayor to $15,000 per year, to increase the salary for a Councilmember to $10,000 per year, and to establish a separate level of pay for the Mayor Pro Tem at $12,500 per year. Salary increases will be effective after the next General Election. The Public Hearing will be June 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 
• Presentation from Len Lucchi and Stephanie Anderson on the 2023 legislative session.

We’d like to extend our congratulations to the thousands of University of Maryland students graduating this year!

The University of Maryland’s commencement ceremonies begin at 9:00 am on Monday, May 22nd and end at 9:00 pm on Wednesday, May 24th. The Main Commencement Ceremony that all graduates and their families are invited to attend will be held at SECU Stadium from 7 pm to 9 pm on Monday, May 22nd and will culminate with fireworks. Plan to see lots of traffic and happy people. For more information, please visit UMD’s commencement website.

In related news, we have been informed that the hours next week for MDOT SHA  US 1 College Park Improvement Project road resurfacing work on US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) between Lakeland Road and Berwyn Road will be changed.

Due to Commencement ceremonies, crews will shift to night hours next week. On Monday, May 22nd, crews will work from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. From Tuesday, May 23 through Friday, May 26th, crews will work from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am. All traffic will be shifted to the east side of US 1 with one lane for northbound traffic and one lane for southbound traffic.