Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 10:57 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Nagle, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich (arrived at 8:13 p.m.), Day, Cook and Kujawa. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Peggy Higgins, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager; Steve Beavers, Community Development Coordinator, Jill Clements, Director of Human Resources; Steve Halpern, City Engineer. Mayor Wojahn opened the Worksession at 7:30 p.m. AMENDMENTS/APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Add request from Prince George’s County Board of Elections to lift permit parking restrictions around the College Park Community Center, which is an Early Voting site, around the Primary and General Elections. Switch order of #6 and #7. Approved as amended, Dennis/Day, 7 – 0 – 0. AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Resident request for a permit to park a trailer on the street at 5120 Lackawanna Street. Guest: Joseph Pekny. Bob Ryan, Director, Public Services and Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager Council had no concerns. Place on Consent Agenda next week. Parking is permitted until Council takes action to change it. 2. EAC Recommendations for the use of the $80,000 Education Improvement Fund. Guest: Carolyn Bernache, Chair, EAC Ms. Bernache reviewed the recommendations in the staff report. This is their second time before Council. She reviewed the changes they made to the prior recommendations. If Council chooses not to make these grants the $80,000 will stay in the general fund. Council is interested in discussing/coordinating with neighboring municipalities: what are they doing? Can we be more effective if we coordinate our efforts? How do these recommendations target individual students? Neighborhood schools are eligible if they have 14+ College Park students. We want to receive follow-up reports on how the funds were spent. [We also provide scholarships to UMD summer camps to City children (this is the 4th year).] Councilmember Cook will take this to agenda. 3. Amendment of contract with NZI for construction of Randolph Macon Road and amendment of Declaration of Covenants for the Kidwell Development. Guest: Robert Kidwell. Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney and Steve Halpern, City Engineer We have been discussing this project since 2013. The CDBG grant is time limited so we need to make progress soon. Council previously approved a Declaration of Covenants with College Park City Council Worksession Minutes March 1, 2016 Page 2 the owner of this project (Mr. Kidwell), but he has a new developer, so the DOC will be revised. The City will construct the roadway but owner will take on more responsibility for some prep work. The City received approval to use an existing contract with NZI for the road work - this will require an amendment to the scope of work for the NZI contract. There is also a request to modify the City’s homeownership grant program to allow these newly constructed houses to be eligible. Two of these items will be ready for agenda next week: the amendment to the NZI contract and the amendment to the Declaration of Coventants. Councilmembers Day and Stullich will take the motions. 4. Award of FY ’17 Contracts for Health, Dental, Workers’ Compensation and Liability Insurances. Jill Clements, Director of Human Resources Ms. Clements reviewed the staff report. Re: Workers Comp - have measures been implemented to decrease the number of claims? We have a robust safety program. Experience is based on three year average and we had one bad year. We get a discount with this provider because we have been with them so long and have a safety program; a new carrier would not give the same discounts. Councilmember Dennis will take this to agenda. 5. Letter of support for MHAA application, Steve Beavers, Community Development Coordinator Mr. Beavers reviewed the staff report: this is for two requests for grant funding to the MHAA: 1) to pave the last portion of the Trolley Trail in Berwyn; 2) custom tents for both farmers markets. This portion of the Trolley Trail is based upon the City obtaining an easement; there has been a dispute over ownership. Consent Agenda. 6. Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee Report and Review of the NQOL Committee’s charge, mission and composition, Mayor and Council: Councilmember Stullich reviewed the draft report which is report on the first two years. Some information still needs to be filled in; can be ready next week. Approval of final report (Stullich). Suggest combining Public Engagement and Community Outreach Subcommittees. What is the ultimate goal of this committee? It was intended to be an ongoing committee. Discussion of Whereas clauses and the charge. This resolution has become hard to follow because it has been amended; bring a resolution back for review at the next Worksession (Brennan). 7. Discussion of Council meeting agendas and templates; Council Rules and Procedures for adoption. Scott Somers, City Manager Part 1: Mr. Somers reviewed the staff report and attached templates. The purpose is to equal-out the amount of time spent at Council meetings and Worksessions. Worksessions should be reserved for times where staff needs direction or the item is just for discussion. Routine items can go directly to the regular meeting agenda. Council agreed to this plan but hopes to get background information as soon as possible so they can inform residents. (Councilmember Stullich arrived during this item.) Under fiscal impact on the staff reports, include other impacts as well, such as impact on staff resources. Minor comments on agenda templates. Part 2: Council reviewed Councilmember Nagle’s redline provided tonight, not the draft in the packet. Request to keep Council better informed when agenda items move. Post packet College Park City Council Worksession Minutes March 1, 2016 Page 3 to the public on Friday when it is sent to Council. Prepare Worksession minutes – less detailed than regular meeting minutes. Add explanations of legislative items. Add a form that a Councilmember completes when requesting an agenda item, then Council decides whether to add it to the Master List. Post red folder items to website if there is time. Return future W/S. 8. Review of legislation (possible Special Session) Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager Discussed bond bill for Hollywood Streetscape, UM Strategic Partnership bill (College Park and Baltimore campuses) and school facilities surcharge bill. 9. Review/Status of Future Agenda items  Letter in support of a ban on fracking (Nagle)  Drainage in the City and a copy of the EFC report (Nagle)  Aging in Place Task Force Report prior to budget (Cook)  W/S re: the Future Agendas list  APC recommendations on the Fence Ordinance 10. Appointments to Boards and Committees  Todd Larsen  Anna Sandberg  Christiane Williams ADD TO AGENDA: Request from Prince George’s County Board of Elections to lift permit parking around the College Park Community Center during early voting:  Improve traffic control; park on one side of the street  Consider a one-way loop through the neighborhood  Impact on PBES on days they are in session  Impact on CPCC staff who have to take calls about voting  Staff to work with P&P staff and Contract Police on these issues, OK to lift permit parking. 10. Mayor and Council Comments  Student Liaison Selection Subcommittee: Day, Kujawa, Wojahn  Live Smart, Eat Local at Fishnet on Monday  CP Seniors Art Show April 8 12. City Manager's Comments - None ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved