Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 8:09 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Fellows; Councilmembers Kabir, Wojahn, Brennan, Dennis, Day, Hew (arrived at 7:35 p.m.) and Mitchell. ABSENT: Councilmember Stullich. ALSO PRESENT: Joe Nagro, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Cole Holocker, Student Liaison. Mayor Fellows opened the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Councilmember Day led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to approve the minutes of the February 10, 2015 Regular Meeting, the February 10, 2015 Public Hearing on 15-O-01, and the transcript in lieu of minutes for the Oral Argument held on January 27, 2015 in case CPD-2014-01. The motion passed 6 – 0 – 0. Announcements: Councilmember Mitchell discussed the Black History Month event held on Sunday at the Embry A.M.E. Church. Councilmember Wojahn announced tomorrow’s Live Smart, Eat Local event at Kangnam BBQ. Amendments to the Agenda: The following action items were moved to the Consent Agenda: 15-G-17, 15-G-19, 15-G-20, 15-G-21, and 15-G-22. Item #15-G-09 was removed from the agenda. #15-G-25, Boards and Committees, was added to the agenda. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Nagro said that wood mulch is available for pick-up from the Public Works yard. Student Liaison’s Report: Mr. Holocker discussed the Men’s basketball game tonight. He thanked the Council for their support of specific legislation that the SGA is supporting. Comments from the Audience on Non-Agenda items: Dave Dorsch, 4607 Calvert Road: There is a hole in the Route 1 median fence, why is it still like that, have we written a letter? You need to install a railing in front of Cornerstone Grill to protect the students. In three months it will be the one-year anniversary of the 5-year flood in Calvert Hills. He can’t get any information on what the County is doing. Can the City help? College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2015 Page 2 Presentations: Mayor Fellows introduced Chuck Bean, the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, who gave a presentation about current COG programs and initiatives, and highlighted the benefits that the City receives through its membership with COG. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following: 15-G-14 Approval of Order of Remand for Departure Application Number CPD- 2014-01, 4618 College Avenue. 15-G-15 A motion that the City Council formally adopt the colorized version of the original Seal of the City of College Park, using the designated color values, to serve as the official seal of the City of College Park. 15-G-16 A motion that the City Council approve a new design for the City of College Park Flag that incorporates the color City Seal in the gold and black quadrant background. 15-G-17 Approval of a letter to the 21st District Delegation stating the City’s support for Senate Bill 369, to authorize a certain Class D (on-sale) Beer and Wine License issued for certain premises in the 7100 block of Baltimore Avenue to be converted, on or after a certain date, into a Class D (on- and off-sale) Beer and Wine License for certain other premises in the 7100-7200 block of Baltimore Avenue, subject to the applicant entering into a Property Use Agreement with the City, and authorization for the City Manager to sign the PUA. 15-G-19 Approval of a change order in an amount not to exceed $80,524 for Charles P. Johnson Associates for the Duvall Field project 15-G-20 Approval of a letter of support for HB 584, Ethics Law – Financial Disclosure Statement by Elected Local Official of a Municipal Corporation – Confidential Information 15-G-21 Approval of a letter of support for HB 682, Municipalities- Charter Amendments – Referendum and Signatures Required for Petitions 15-G-22 Approval of a letter of support for SB 604/HB 229 – Human Relations – Employment Discrimination – Protection for Interns The motion carried 7 – 0 – 0. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2015 Page 3 ACTION ITEMS 15-G-18 Authorization for the City to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Maryland for City participation in the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) Program, and funding of $15,000. A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Wojahn to authorize the City Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Maryland, subject to the approval of the City Attorney, for City participation in the Partnership for Action learning in Sustainability (PALS) Program. Councilmember Kabir said that PALS is a University of Maryland campus-wide initiative administered by the National Center for Smart Growth. It harnesses the expertise of University faculty and the energy of University students to help Maryland communities become more sustainable. The City and PALS staff have identified four courses/projects for the spring 2015 semester: 1) Improving Solid Waste Management Practices, 2) College Town: How the University and City can enhance urban life and the University, 3) Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 4) Making Place: Public Art and Design. Staff from Administration, Planning and Public Works will be liaisons for the courses. The cost to the City will be $15,000. There were no comments from the audience or from the Council. The motion passed 6 – 0 – 1 (Mitchell abstained). 15-G-23 Approval of a letter of support for HB 376 – Electric Companies – Vegetation Management – Local Law, Rule or Regulation. A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to approve a letter of support for HB 376, Electric Companies – Vegetation Management – Local Law, Rule or Regulation. Councilmember Mitchell said HB 376 would repeal a prohibition against a county or municipal corporation taking specified actions that interfere with or increase the costs of an electric company’s work toward compliance with specified vegetation management standards. There were no comments from the audience or from the Council. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. 15-G-24 Authorization for the City to sign on to the amicus brief to urge support for freedom to marry. A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Day to authorize City Council support for an amicus brief concerning the freedom to marry to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that explains to the Court the harm to families and communities resulting from marriage discrimination. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2015 Page 4 Councilmember Brennan said the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider the freedom to marry in their current term. A friend-of-the-court brief is being drafted by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office that will focus on the harm done to families and communities as a result of marriage discrimination. Joining the brief will be “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry”, the “U.S. Conference of Mayors”, and individual Mayors and cities nationwide. The City’s support will be subject to the City Attorney’s review of the brief, which has not yet been received. The deadline for signing-on to the amicus brief is Monday, March 2, so Council needs to act on this tonight. Ms. Miller said the brief had been received this afternoon and sent to Council. There were no comments from the audience. Mayor Fellows said he is a member of Mayors for Freedom to Marry and is pleased by the Council’s support. The motion passed 6 – 0 – 1 (Kabir abstained). 15-G-25 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to appoint Mary Katherine Theis to the Board of Election Supervisors and Karyn Keating-Volke to the Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Day announced that the Calvert Hills Civic Association would meet on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Parish House. He also congratulated the Lady Terps on their season. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn the Regular Meeting. Mayor Fellows announced that after a brief recess, the Council would reconvene in a Worksession to discuss the Draft Strategic Plan. With a vote of 7 – 0 – 0, Mayor Fellows adjourned the Regular Meeting at 8:09 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved