Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, May 13, 2014 7:30 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Fellows; Councilmembers Kabir, Wojahn, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich (arrived at 7:35 p.m.), Hew and Mitchell. ABSENT: Councilmember Day ALSO PRESENT: Joe Nagro, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Bob Stumpff, Director of Public Works; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Miriam Bader, Senior Planner Mayor Fellows opened the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Councilmember Kabir led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to approve the minutes of the Special Session on April 15, 2014, Regular Meeting on April 22, 2014, and the confidential minutes of the Closed Sessions on February 25, March 11 and April 15, 2014. The motion passed 6-0-0. Announcements: Councilmember Kabir publicized the Hollywood Farmers Market which opens this Saturday. Councilmember Wojahn discussed Bike To Work Day on Friday, and announced that the first planning meeting for College Park Day will be held on Tuesday. Councilmember Brennan reviewed the Mother’s Day 5K that was held in north College Park and thanked Mark Shroder for coordinating the event. He also stated that the Berwyn District Civic Association would meet on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Fealy Hall. (Councilmember Stullich arrived.) Councilmember Dennis revealed his plans to attend his Morgan State reunion. Mayor Fellows plans to attend the Complete Streets Workshop in Greenbelt this week, and also commented on the Mother’s Day 5K. Proclamations: Mayor Fellows read the proclamation honoring Pastor Stephen Wright of the First Baptist Church for 15 years of service. Amendments to the Agenda: None. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2014 Page 2 City Manager’s Report: Mr. Nagro discussed last week’s meeting with SHA, University of Maryland, City and County officials about pedestrian safety on US 1; a list of planned safety improvements is in the red folders. He also announced the upcoming graduation schedule and associated traffic impacts. Comments from the Audience on Non-Agenda Items: Dave Dorsch, 4607 Calvert Road: College Park Day would be a great time to present beautification awards. Has anything been done about the ground wires that are down around the City? John Krouse, 9709 53rd Avenue: SHA has started the Greenbelt Metro highway ramp study and the City needs to be involved to represent and protect the interests of residents in north College Park. Christine Nagle: Echoed Mr. Krouse’s comments – it is very important for the City to be involved in this process because the project will have impacts on our community. Carl Patterson, CPHA Commissioner, resident of Attick Towers: Brought greetings from the Housing Authority; thanked Councilmembers for attending the memorial service for Commissioner Helen Long; thanked Councilmember Brennan for his visit to Attick Towers. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Stullich to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following: 14-R-08 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park supporting Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program financing to The Board and Brew. 14-G-49 Approval of the purchase of three replacement automobiles: One 2014 Ford Focus S Standard Sedan from Hertrich Fleet Services, Inc., Denton, MD at a cost of $16,690.00 from the State of Maryland BPO 001B4400359, and two 2014 Honda Insight Hybrid Sedans from Criswell Honda, Germantown, MD at $19,490.00 each from the State of Maryland BPO 001B440367, for a total cost for the three vehicles of $55,670, which is funded in the FY ‘14 budget in CIP program number 925061. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. ACTION ITEMS 14-G-50 Motion to voice no objection to the application for a new Class B, Beer and Wine License for the use of Ben and Brian Games, LLC, t/a The Board and Brew, subject to the applicant entering into a Property Use Agreement with the City. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2014 Page 3 A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to voice no objection to the application for a new Class B, Beer and Wine License for the use of Ben and Brian Games, LLC. t/a The Board and Brew, 8150 Baltimore Avenue, Suites F2 and G, College Park, Maryland 20740 subject to the applicant entering into a Property Use Agreement (PUA) with the City of College Park in substantially the form as attached, and to authorize the City Manager to sign the PUA, and staff to testify the City’s position at the BOLC hearing. Councilmember Dennis said the application for a new Class B, Beer and Wine Alcoholic Beverage License has been submitted to the Board of License Commissioners and the hearing is scheduled for May 27, 2014. The business plan for The Board and Brew (providing space to play the board games they provide) is new to the City. The City Attorney and Director of Public Services met with the applicant to discuss a Property Use Agreement. An alcohol to food ratio of 25%/75% was determined to be acceptable to the licensee. Comments from the audience: Brian McClimins, Applicant: Thanked the Council for their support of both the loan application and the beer and wine license. He said this board game café is a new form of entertainment for the City and they want to make sure the environment they provide enriches College Park. He discussed their business plan and said they should open in about a month. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. 14-G-52 Approval of a letter to State Highway Administration on undergrounding utilities on US 1 between Paint Branch Parkway and Greenbelt Road A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Wojahn that the City Council approve a letter to the State Highway Administration (SHA) regarding the submission of an application for the reconstruction of US Route 1 under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grant program of the federal government and committing the City to pay for the design and bidding package for the undergrounding of utilities not to exceed $300,000. Councilmember Stullich acknowledged Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk’s efforts over the years to make the US Route 1 project a priority. It is currently in the design phase but is not yet funded for construction. The City supports the undergrounding of utilities on a portion of Route 1 as part of this project and can make a commitment to fund the design for undergrounding utilities in an amount not to exceed $300,000 if a TIGER application is submitted. The City’s interest in undergrounding utilities is not just for aesthetic reasons but can help spark revitalization. It is difficult to finance, and this TIGER application could help to make it happen. The City has support from the County. This motion does not commit the City to pay for the construction of underground utilities. The City will make a final determination after the design is completed and the TIGER application is prepared. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2014 Page 4 Amendments to the draft letter were reviewed. Comments from the audience: Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, 9011 Gettysburg Lane: Speaking for the 21st Delegation. Every year they struggle to secure funding for this project and she doesn’t want anything to happen that would hamper their efforts. It is important to proceed without any strings attached; this gives them leverage to obtain money for construction. They have secured $28M to start Phase I. Any delay will allow other projects to jump ahead of US 1. This is an important issue for the District 21 delegation. Delegate Barbara Frush: She agreed with Del. Peña-Melnyk. We need to move forward on this project or someone else will get our money – any delay will hurt our efforts. There were no comments from the Council. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. 14-G-51 Support for Preliminary Plan of Subdivision 4-13020 for University Bible Fellowship Church subject to conditions. A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Wojahn that the City Council recommend approval of Preliminary Plan of Subdivision 4-13020 for University Bible Fellowship Church subject to the following conditions: Prior to the issuance of a Use and Occupancy permit: 1) Provide 10 inverted u-shaped bicycle racks (parking for 20 bicycles); 2) Eliminate the curb-cuts and driveways to the parsonage and chancery and provide sidewalk access from these structures to the parking lot; 3) Eliminate the existing southeastern parking space along the property frontage; 4) Extend the sidewalk (5-foot wide) along the entire frontage of the property. The applicant may use the fee-in-lieu paid for Metzerott Road improvements, if approved by the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation. Councilmember Mitchell said that the property is 2.34 acres and located at 3600-3604 Metzerott Road, outside the city limits. The proposal is to expand an existing 7,722-square-foot church with a 4,896-square-foot addition, and consolidate two existing lots into one lot. The addition will be located at the rear of the existing church. The purpose of the addition is to serve the existing members with a dining hall, offices and classrooms. The Planning Board hearing date is May 15, 2014. There were no comments from the audience. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2014 Page 5 14-R-09 A Resolution Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Setting Forth Our Commitment To Pursue Policy Goals Under The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities Campaign A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to adopt Resolution 14-R-09, A Resolution Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park, Maryland Setting Forth Our Commitment To Pursue Policy Goals Under The Healthy Eating Active Living Cities CAMPAIGN, which is an initiative of the Institute for Public Health Innovation in partnership with the Maryland Municipal League (MML). Councilmember Mitchell said that adopting this resolution will allow us to participate in the inaugural class of HEAL Cities and be recognized at the MML convention in June for our commitment to being a Healthy Eating and Active Living community. Specifically, it will help the City to develop a Complete Streets policy to ensure that our streets are safe for all users including pedestrians, bicycles and the handicapped, provide our residents access to more nutritious and sustainable food through community gardens and urban agriculture, promote the acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefits Transfer (SNAP/EBT) at our farmers markets, and establish a wellness policy to promote healthy living among our employees. There were no comments from the audience or from the Council. The motion carried 7 – 0 – 0. 14-R-10 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland Adopting Program Guidelines for the Commercial and Multi-Family Recycling Grant Program A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to adopt Resolution 14-R-10, A Resolution Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Maryland Adopting Program Guidelines For The Commercial And Multi- Family Recycling Grant Program. Councilmember Stullich stated that the Council had previously authorized a program amount of $25,000 for a business recycling grant because not all businesses in the community have recycling services. The grant program was developed to incentivize and support business recycling in a way that is flexible. It will be administered by City staff with the assistance of the Business Recycling Ad-Hoc Committee which includes some members of the Committee for a Better Environment and City Council. The City Council will make all grant awards. There were no comments from the audience. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 13, 2014 Page 6 14-G-53 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to appoint Bob Catlin to the College Park Housing Authority and Douglas Shontz to the Neighborhood Stabilization Committee and to the Sustainable Maryland Certified Green Team. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Hew said the Committee for a Better Environment will have a consultant make a presentation on a permaculture garden for edible plants along the Trolley Trail at our June 3 Worksession. Councilmember Wojahn asked for a future Worksession discussion with the University about the impact of the Big Ten. He saw an article that the University is planning to eliminate Lot 1 and is concerned about the impact that will have on parking in the City. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Hew to adjourn the meeting. With a vote of 7 – 0 – 0, Mayor Fellows adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved