Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, January 27, 2015 8:57 p.m. – 9:27 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Fellows; Councilmembers Kabir, Wojahn, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, Day, and Mitchell. ABSENT: Councilmember Hew. ALSO PRESENT: Joe Nagro, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Miriam Bader, Planner; Cole Holocker, Student Liaison. Mayor Fellows opened the regular meeting at 8:57 p.m. following a 7:00 p.m. Oral Argument in case CPD-2014-01. Councilmember Dennis led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting on January 13, 2015 and the confidential minutes of the closed session on January 6, 2015. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. Announcements: Councilmember Kabir announced that tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. there will be a meeting on the Hollywood Streetscape Design Plan at Davis Hall. Councilmember Wojahn said there will be a Listening Session on the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance Re-write on Thursday at the Wayne Curry Sports & Learning Complex. Amendments to the Agenda: None. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Nagro reminded the Council of the Four Cities Meeting on Thursday night at 7:30 here in College Park. Student Liaison’s Report: Mr. Holocker said classes started yesterday and reminded everyone about pedestrian safety with the return of students; the basketball team is doing very well; he is working on the Housing Affordability subcommittee of the Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee. Comments from the Audience on Non-Agenda items: Bob Schnabel, 7400 Dartmouth Avenue: Regarding the earlier Oral Argument: He hopes that the APC will consider input from the civic association. This was a confusing issue for the civic association – they did not consider that this variance would allow them to become a rooming house. He hopes the input will be allowed. Maxine Gross, 5011 Navahoe Street: She promoted the upcoming celebration of Black History Month to be held at Embry A.M.E. Church in Lakeland on Sunday, February 22. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2015 Page 2 ACTION ITEMS 15-G-05 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Wojahn to appoint Lisa Ealley and Judy Blumenthal to the Aging-In-Place Task Force. The motion carried 7 – 0 – 0. 15-G-06 MC/PG 111-15 Prince George’s County Municipal Zoning Authority A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Wojahn that the City support the current version (3rd amendment) of MC/PG 111-15. Mr. Gardiner said the bill, with version 3 of the amendments, will be heard in the bi-county hearing on February 4, so the Council should take a position tonight. It would allow an appeal of a municipal action by a neighboring municipality to the District Council. It would be preferable to have the original bill passed but that does not appear likely. Ms. Schum said this version is supportable, and commented on certain aspects of the bill and amendments. Her concern is with the provision that allows a decision by a municipality to be appealed by an adjacent municipality to the District Council. Councilmember Wojahn said this bill has been discussed at the Prince George’s County Municipal Association. Some municipalities – especially smaller ones - have concerns that they could be left out of the process and want to have their rights protected. He cited the example of University Park’s interest in the Cafritz development. Comments from the audience: John Hawvermale, 1342 Excalibur Lane, Sandy Spring, MD: He asked what this bill does for the City of College Park. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: None. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: John Hawvermale, 1342 Excalibur Lane, Sandy Spring, MD: The last proposal from the county regarding the overlay district would have had a big impact on rental properties so changes to the zoning laws cause him concern. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to adjourn the regular meeting, and with a vote of 7 – 0 – 0, Mayor Fellows adjourned the meeting at 9:27 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved