Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Special Session of the College Park City Council Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Council Chambers 8:08 p.m. – 8:38 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Nagle, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, 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; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Steve Halpern, City Engineer; Cole Holocker, Student Liaison. During a regularly scheduled Worksession of the College Park City Council, a motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to enter into a Special Session. The possibility of this Special Session was posted on the meeting agenda. With a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, the Council entered Special Session at 8:08 p.m. 16-G-45 Letter in support of CB-3-2016, County legislation against hydraulic fracturing Mayor Wojahn said this is in response to a request from the Student Government Association. The City has taken a position in the past opposing hydraulic fracturing. There will not be any state legislation this year, but we can support this County bill. Councilmember Brennan said hydraulic fracturing does impact Prince George’s County by way of the Taylorsville Gas Basin. He cited a number of studies that show how fracking can impact the environment. A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Stullich to send a letter in support of CB-3-2016, a County bill against hydraulic fracturing anywhere in the County. Comments from the audience: Dave Dorsch, 4607 Calvert Road: He was doing this 30 years ago in Pennsylvania and no one had a problem with it. Half of the information you hear about is BS. This has been a boon to our energy system; you should think carefully before firing off this letter just to support the environment. Helen Barnes, 4611 Drexel Road: She disagreed with Mr. Dorsch and said Cornell faculty has validated the dangers. Stating that it ‘does no harm’ is a misnomer. Councilmember Nagle said she will recuse herself due to her employment at the Maryland Department of the Environment. College Park City Council April 5, 2016 Special Session Page 2 The motion passed 7 – 0 – 1 (Councilmember Nagle abstained). 16-G-46 Letter in support of CR-014-2016, County legislation concerning Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (“RISE”) Zone Program For the Purpose of Approving the Designation of the Greater College Park RISE Zone Mr. Gardiner provided an overview: This is to support the County’s participation in the Greater College Park RISE Zone application. Prince George’s County must hold a public hearing and pass a resolution prior to signing the application. The County is proposing a 5 year, 75% tax credit for certain businesses to attract technology companies to the innovation district. Councilmember Brennan asked about the Baltimore Avenue subzone referenced on the map. Mr. Gardiner said the maximum level tax credits are for high technology businesses based in the innovation district only. Concern was expressed that the County bill does not express this clearly, but Mr. Gardiner said the application itself is clear. Council asked to see the latest draft of the application. Councilmember Kabir thinks the title “Greater College Park” RISE Zone is misleading. Mr. Holocker said part of the Zone is outside of the City. Ms. Cook asked about the tax credit. Mr. Gardiner explained the tax credit only applies to the increased tax brought in by the new business. Councilmember Stullich said all we are doing tonight is supporting the County’s participation in the program. A motion to send the letter in support of County bill CR-014-2016 was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Nagle. There were no comments from the audience or the Council. The motion passed 7 – 0 – 1 (Councilmember Cook abstained). 16-G-47 Letter in support of a Hyattsville CDC grant application to the Redevelopment Authority for Trolley Trail signs Stuart Eisenberg, Executive Director, Hyattsville CDC provided an overview: He is requesting a letter of support from the City for a grant application they are submitting for wayfinding signs along the Trolley Trail. These will be sculpturally designed signs. He is working closely with Aaron Marcavitch at ATHA. City support would include participation in the design jury for submissions, and he would coordinate with the City on locations to promote the activity centers that are important to us. Councilmember Stullich supports the idea but expressed concern about sign vandalism. A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Day to send a letter in support of a Hyattsville CDC grant application for Trolley Trail signs. There were no comments from the audience or the Council. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. College Park City Council April 5, 2016 Special Session Page 3 16-G-48 Letter in support of Pregnancy Aid Center grant application for a beautification project Mayor Wojahn said this request just came in and the deadline is next Tuesday so we needed to get this on the agenda right away. The Pregnancy Aid Center is applying for a grant for a beautification project and has requested a letter of support from the City. A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to send the letter of support as drafted. There were no comments from the Council or from the audience. The motion passed 6 – 0 – 1 (Councilmember Nagle abstained; Councilmember Cook was away from the dais). ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn from the Special Session, and with a vote of 7 – 0 – 0, Mayor Wojahn adjourned the Special Session at 8:38 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved