Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, January 13, 2015 7:30 – 8:11 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Fellows; Councilmembers Kabir, Wojahn, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, Day, Mitchell and Hew. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Joe Nagro, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Robert Stumpff, Director of Public Works; Cole Holocker, Student Liaison. Mayor Fellows opened the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. and Councilmember Brennan led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting on December 9, 2014, and the confidential minutes of the closed session on December 9, 2014. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. Announcements: Councilmember Kabir announced the Family Fun Bowling Bash being sponsored by the City’s Recreation Board on Sunday from 1 – 4 at the AMF Bowling Lanes. He also discussed the District 1 volunteer program where neighbors will help by shoveling show for senior citizens. If you are a volunteer or in need of help with shoveling in District 1, contact your Councilmember. Councilmember Wojahn reported on last night’s kick-off of “Live Smart, Eat Local” held at the Board and Brew. The next one will be held on Wednesday, February 25, at 7:00 p.m., location to be determined. Councilmember Brennan announced the next meeting of the Berwyn District Civic Association at 8:00 on Thursday at Fealy Hall. Councilmember Dennis announced the 24th annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King will be held on Saturday, 2:00 p.m., at the Clarice Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Councilmember Mitchell thanked the Public Works Department for their efforts on snow removal, and announced that the Prince George’s County Municipal Association would meet on Thursday night at the Old Parish House. Acknowledgement of Newly Appointed Board and Committee Members: Mayor Fellows recognized Carl Patterson (Housing Authority), Cory Sanders (Aging-In-Place Task Force), Doris Ellis (EAC) and Matt Dernoga (CBE) who were in the audience and thanked them for their service. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 2 Proclamations: Mayor Fellows read the City’s proclamation for the 24th Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Our Diversity As A People Is Our Strength As A Nation. Amendments to the Agenda: None. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Nagro reminded everyone that City offices will be closed on Monday, January 19 for the Martin Luther King Day holiday. Trash and recycling will be delayed one day next week. Mr. Nagro announced his plans to retire after 25-plus years of serving the City in a multitude of different positions. He is proud to have been the City Manager for the last 10 years, and thanked the residents and staff for their support and kindness over the years. Mr. Nagro’s last day will be June 30, 2015. Mayor Fellows thanked Mr. Nagro for his service and said the City will embark on a nation-wide search for his successor. Student Liaison’s Report: Mr. Holocker said things are quiet since it is still winter break. In the spring he hopes to move forward on some safety initiatives. Comments from the Audience on Non-Agenda items: Thea Scarato, 6 Hillside, Greenbelt, MD: She requested that the City Council take an official position to oppose cell towers on school grounds, and presented several claims of health concerns near cell towers. Mayor Fellows heard a report about problems with large sediment run-off into Guilford Run from the Knox Village development, and on Route 1, near the Cafritz development. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following item: 15-G-01 Award of additional FY 2015 Education Grants as follows: $7,500 to Greenbelt Middle School for their College Awareness Project; $2,500 to Buck Lodge Elementary School for their Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Program; and $2,500 to University Park Elementary School for their Enrichment Clubs/Extended Learning Opportunity Program. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 3 ACTION ITEMS 15-G-02 Authorize a City legislative request for a two-year extension of City of College Park Bond Bill 06-G168 for $400,000 for College Park City Hall A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Brennan That The Mayor And Council Authorize A City Legislative Request For A Two-Year Extension Of The City’s Existing State Bond Bill 06-G168 For $400,000 For City Hall. Councilmember Wojahn said the City received a State bond bill in the amount of $400,000 to be used for the design and construction of a new City Hall. This bond bill was extended in June 2013, and the current deadline for using the funds is June 1, 2015. In late 2013, the City learned that the University of Maryland Foundation would acquire property on Baltimore Avenue through an inheritance. Some of the property adjoins the City Hall site. This property acquisition created the possibility of collaborating with the University to redevelop the existing City Hall site together with the Baltimore Avenue frontage. In 2014 the City stopped its design work to expand City Hall in order to discuss with the University the possibility of a joint development. In November 2014, with strong interest by the University, the City Council voted to keep City Hall in its current location, and requested that staff pursue discussions with the University to jointly redevelop the City Hall site and the Baltimore Avenue frontage. It is expected that the collaboration between the City and the University will result in a stronger civic presence for the City with greater visibility and access from Baltimore Avenue, and also facilitate the redevelopment of the parcels along Baltimore Avenue. The change in plans makes it impossible for the City to be able to expend the State bond bill prior to June 1, 2015. Given the overall potential benefits of pursuing this course of action, it is hoped that the State legislature will approve the requested extension. Councilmember Wojahn has spoken with Sen. Rosapepe about this request, who said the fact that we have selected a location and have a plan to move forward with redevelopment of City Hall at its current location would be a strong point in the City’s favor. Mayor Fellows said he hoped the University would help us in this effort. There were no comments from the audience. Councilmember Dennis clarified that this would be a request of the current legislative session. Councilmember Kabir said he will support this but is disappointed that we did not do this at the November 25 meeting when residents came out to discuss the location of a new City Hall. Councilmember Wojahn said this does not extend or delay our decision-making process for City Hall; it requests an extension of the $400,000 bond bill which would be necessary regardless of the site that was selected. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. 15-O-01 Introduction Of Ordinance 15-O-01, An Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park To Repeal And Re-Enact Chapter 161, College Park City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 4 “Recycling” In Its Entirety, To Require Source Separation Of Recyclable Materials For All Owners And Residents Utilizing City Solid Waste Collection Services A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to introduce Ordinance 15-O-01, An Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park To Repeal And Re-Enact Chapter 161, “Recycling” In Its Entirety, To Require Source Separation Of Recyclable Materials For All Owners And Residents Utilizing City Solid Waste Collection Services. Mayor Fellows announced that the Public Hearing for this Ordinance would be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 15-G-03 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to reappoint Mark Shroder to the Noise Control Board and to appoint Philip Aronson to the Committee for a Better Environment. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmembers Mitchell and Dennis asked about the procedure a resident should use to request “back-door pick up” of trash and recycling. Mr. Stumpff replied there is a form the resident completes annually for a doctor to certify that the resident has a problem and gives Public Works staff permission to enter on to their property for this purpose. Councilmember Brennan requested a future Worksession on the topic of lowering the voting age in City elections to age 16 to determine if this is a reasonable request for our City and to discuss the impact it would have on staff and the Board of Elections. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to adjourn the regular meeting, and with a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, Mayor Fellows adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved College Park City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 5 Pursuant to §C6-3 of the College Park City Charter, at 9:33 p.m. on January 6, 2015, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, a motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Stullich to enter into a Closed Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0 and after a brief recess the Council entered into the closed session at 9:42 p.m. Present: Mayor Andrew Fellows; Councilmembers Wojahn, Kabir, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, Day, Hew and Mitchell. Absent: None. Also Present: Joe Nagro, City Manager. Topics Discussed: Mr. Nagro discussed a personnel matter with the Council. Actions Taken: None. Adjourn: A motion was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to adjourn the closed session, and at 9:55 p.m. with a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, Mayor Fellows adjourned the meeting.