Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, April 14, 2015 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 8:20 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Fellows; Councilmembers Kabir, Wojahn, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, Day, Hew and Mitchell. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Joe Nagro, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Steve Groh, Director of Finance; Leo Thomas, Deputy Director of Finance; Cole Holocker, Student Liaison. 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 Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Day to approve the minutes of the March 24, 2015 Regular Meeting and the Confidential Minutes of the February 17, 2015 Closed Session. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. Announcements: Councilmember Kabir announced the Budget Town Hall that certain Councilmembers are hosting on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the College Park Community Library. He also announced the upcoming opening of the Hollywood Farmers Market. Councilmember Wojahn announced Bike To Work Day which is Friday, May 15. The College Park Pit Stop will be open from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. Councilmember Brennan discussed the Downtown Farmers Market which opened last Sunday. He encouraged participation in the Mayors Water Challenge. Councilmember Hew informed Council about the passing of Pastor To of the Chinese Bible Church. Councilmember Mitchell announced that the Aging-In-Place Survey has been posted to the City’s website. Amendments to the Agenda: Councilmember Brennan requested to add “Authorization to sign-on to a letter to congress supporting funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program.” This will be added to the Consent Agenda as item 15-G-46. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Nagro announced there will not be a second budget Worksession on Saturday April 18. He called Council’s attention to a request to sponsor a segment of the Special Olympics Torch Relay when it comes up Route 1 on May 26. Council agreed to sponsor. Mr. Nagro estimated the cost at $1,500. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes April 14, 2015 Page 2 Student Liaison’s Report: Mr. Holocker attended a White House event with Big Ten Student Government Associations to discuss the importance of sexual assault awareness on campuses, college affordability, and simplifying the FAFSA. He attended the Complete Streets Workshop. He commented on the power outage last week – a lot of students went outside and enjoyed the nice weather. The “protection for unpaid interns” bill supported by the SGA and City Council was signed into law. Acknowledgement of Newly-Appointed Board Member: Mayor Fellows acknowledged Mary Katherine Theis, who has been appointed to the Board of Election Supervisors. Comments from the Audience on Non-Agenda items: Brandon Barkoff, 7509 Girard Avenue: The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity sponsored a suicide prevention walk last week which was the number one event in the country on both the number of walkers and funds raised. Presentations: Mr. Stacey Friedly, General Manager, Landmark Student Housing Development and Mr. Robert Presbrey, Campus Acquisition Ventures, discussed the new “Landmark College Park” student housing development at the former Maryland Book Exchange location. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Stullich to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following: 15-G-41 Field Use Request by Sigma Chi Fraternity for a community Service Softball Game at Duvall Field, Field B, on Friday, April 17, 2015 or April 24, 2015 from noon to 5:00 p.m. 15-G-42 Field Use Request by the College Park Boys and Girls Club at Duvall Field on Sunday, April 19, 2015 as a rain date for Girls Lacrosse games should the games scheduled for Saturday, April 18th be cancelled due to weather. 15-G-43 Field Use Request by Berwyn Baptist Church for a Soccer Camp at Duvall Field on Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 15-G-44 Field Use Request by Berwyn Baptist Church for Game Time for Children at Duvall Field on Sundays, September 27, October 4 and October 11, 2015 from 4:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 15-G-46 Authorization for the City to sign-on to the letter to Congress sponsored by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in support of robust funding of the Transportation Alternatives Program The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. ACTION ITEMS: 15-O-02 Adoption of Ordinance 15-O-02, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, MD to Amend the Fiscal Year 2015 Operating and Capital Budget of the City of College Park, MD College Park City Council Meeting Minutes April 14, 2015 Page 3 A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Hew to adopt Ordinance 15-O-02, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, MD to Amend the Fiscal Year 2015 Operating and Capital Budget of the City of College Park, MD. Mayor Fellows said that since there was a public hearing on this Ordinance earlier this evening, no further public comment would be heard at this time. There were no comments from the Council. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. 15-G-45 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to reappoint Dr. John Lea-Cox as the City Forester, Rose Green-Colby to the Advisory Planning Commission, and to appoint Helen Barnes to the Aging-In-Place Task Force. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Day said that the College Park Junior Tennis Champion Center has a player who has turned pro, giving us something to brag about. Councilmember Brennan reminded everyone about the Mothers Day 5K. Councilmember Wojahn said the Transportation Planning Board is hosting a Community Leadership Institute for residents in June. Councilmember Brennan announced the UMD Faculty/Staff Happy Hour on Thursday to talk to them about moving into the City. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Jack Robson, 4710 Harvard Road: He discussed the next phase of tree cutting around the College Park Airport. The Airport Authority has nothing to do with the trees, except to the extent that they are a safety hazard. The arborist will meet with the Tree and Landscape Board. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to adjourn the regular meeting. Mayor Fellows said the Council will reconvene in a Worksession after a break. With a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, Mayor Fellows adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved