Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 8:33 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; Steve Groh, Director of Finance; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Vivian Cooper, Animal Control Officer. Mayor Fellows opened the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m. Councilmember Brennan led the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2015 Special Session and the April 28, 2015 Regular Meeting. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. Announcements: Mayor Fellows announced the funeral arrangements for Mike Owens, husband of former mayor Anna Owens, who recently passed away. Councilmember Day announced that the Calvert Hills Neighborhood Association would meet on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Dennis said the Lakeland Civic Association would meet on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the College Park Community Center. Councilmember Brennan said the University of Maryland announced a $15,000 grant incentive for faculty and staff to buy homes in our community. The real estate workshop will be Thursday at 5:30 in the Council Chambers. Councilmember Wojahn announced that Friday, May 15 is Bike To Work Day, and College Park will host a pit stop at City Hall from 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. Councilmember Kabir announced that the North College Park Civic Association would meet on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Davis Hall. Also, Saturday at 10:00 a.m. is the grand opening of the Hollywood Farmers Market. Mayor Fellows discussed the Mothers Day 5K race. Councilmember Hew commented on the art projects that have been installed as part of the PALS Making Place Work class. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015 Page 2 Proclamations: Mayor Fellows read the proclamations for Kids To Parks Day and National Public Works Week. Amendments to the Agenda: Add 15-G-58, a letter to the Prince George’s County Council about the Proposed FY ’16 M-NCPPC budget. Remove 15-G-56 from the Consent Agenda so it can be discussed. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Nagro announced that applications for the Community Services Grants are due on May 21; forms are available on our website. Garden plots in the new Community Garden are available for interested gardeners. Comments from the Audience on Non-Agenda items: Dave Dorsch, 4607 Calvert Road: Commented on the poor patch work performed by a WSSC contractor on Knox Road; the City should write a complaint letter. He still can’t get any information from the County stormwater management department on what they are doing to correct the flood situation that occurred last year. The Council should write a stern letter. Council discussed sending a letter to WSSC about the poor patch work. The City Manager discussed the situation with this particular contractor and the City’s actions to date. The City Attorney provided additional information. Suchitra Balachandran, 9320 St. Andrews Place, President, West College Park Civic Association: There will be a joint meeting of several College Park citizens associations at City Hall on Saturday to discuss the proposed County budget and property tax increase. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items: 15-G-54 Approval of Field Use Request for Duvall Field by Maryland Stinger’s Women’s Rugby Team: 04/14/15 thru 05/22/15 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Approved with fee if suitable service in lieu of payment agreement is not negotiated with DPW Deputy Director. 15-G-55 Approval of Field Use Request for Duvall Field by Boy Scout Troop 740: BBQ Fundraiser 05/17/15 or 06/07/15 – 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Approved for either date. The motion passed 8 – 0 - 0. ACTION ITEMS: 15-G-56 Denial of request for Duvall Field Restroom Facility Only: 05/30/15, 1:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. Councilmember Wojahn requested that this item be removed from the Consent Agenda because he wants the Council to approve the request. He said the College Park Boys and Girls Club would open/close the restrooms at no cost. He spoke to the chair of the Recreation Board who College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015 Page 3 said the Rec Board never had a chance to discuss this request, and because it is an unprecedented request, they wanted staff to weigh in. Staff recommended denial of the request for safety and liability reasons. A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to approve the request. The City Manager said this is the first time we have had a request for a private event nearby to use the Duvall Field restrooms. No other event is scheduled at Duvall Field at that time. Staff’s concern is potential liability because no one is there to supervise people who go over to use the restrooms. Mr. Ryan said staff polled Rec Board members and their informal opinion over email was that as long as appropriate fees were paid, they would leave it to the discretion of the City Manager. The City Attorney said a hold harmless agreement is standard and that a one-day insurance certificate could be required. Councilmember Stullich said as long as the proper forms are completed she thought we should be flexible and allow them to use the facilities. Councilmember Mitchell asked the City Attorney about the liability issue. Ms. Ferguson discussed a hold harmless agreement and one-day insurance. Councilmember Kabir said he believes they would be willing to sign any agreement and we should allow our residents to enjoy. Councilmember Wojahn discussed making the approval conditional on some of these issues. Mayor Fellows requested that we wait a week to get these issues worked out. A motion was made by Councilmember Wojahn and seconded by Councilmember Day to table the motion for one week to allow details of a hold harmless agreement, insurance, and opening/closing be worked out with the applicant. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. 15-G-58 Approval of a Letter to Prince George’s County Council regarding proposed M-NCPPC Budget Funding for trail from College Park Woods to Paint Branch A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Hew to approve a letter to the Prince George’s County Council urging the Council to restore funding for the M-NCPPC Paint Branch hiker-biker trail project. Councilmember Mitchell said this planned trail will connect College Park Woods to the Paint Branch trail. An easement was obtained that will allow for the design and engineering to begin. The funding was included in the proposed Park and Planning budget, but the revised budget submitted to the County Council does not include the funding. Comments from the audience: College Park City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2015 Page 4 Suchitra Balachandran, 9320 St. Andrews Place: This project has been in the works for 8 years. It is a half-mile trail at the end of DePauw that links with the Paint Branch Trail. The recent obstacle – an easement – has been obtained, and funding was provided in the proposed M- NCPPC budget. This is a sudden change: M-NCPPC had a budget shortfall and removed several projects, including this one. Councilmember Wojahn supports this motion. The only other option to get by bicycle or foot from College Park Woods to Route 1 is by Route 193, which is very scary. This provides a safe alternative. Councilmember Stullich also supports this motion, and asked about the amount of the budget cut. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. 15-G-57 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Day to appoint Joe Theis to the College Park Ethics Commission. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilmember Day requested a future Worksession to compare the capabilities we have at City Hall with those at Davis Hall for the purpose of holding future meetings there. Councilmember Kabir requested a future Worksession on Council procedures in prioritizing agenda items. He also wants to discuss sending a letter regarding security on the railroad tracks, in response to yesterday’s fatality. Councilmember Stullich and City Manager Nagro commented on the efforts of previous Councils who fought very hard to keep that underpass open. This will be a future Worksession. Councilmember Kabir also wants a Worksession on adding services up at Davis Hall. Mr. Groh said there is not enough time to work out those logistics prior to the permit renewals because a lot of things that need to be put into place and renewal letters are about to go out. Mr. Groh will add a field to the permit so we can identify how the person applied – either in person or by mail. Councilmember Mitchell requested a Worksession discussion sooner rather than later on shuttle service for residents. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Stullich to adjourn the regular meeting. Mayor Fellows said the Council would reconvene in a Worksession after a brief recess. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0 and Mayor Fellows adjourned the regular meeting at 8:33 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved