Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Special Session of the College Park City Council Tuesday, September 20, 2016 Council Chambers 8:36 p.m. – 9:24 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; Miriam Bader, Senior Planner; Peggy Higgins, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services; Angie Burns, Seniors Program Manager; Chris Keosian, Student Liaison; Brandon Carroll, Deputy Student Liaison. During a regularly scheduled Worksession of the College Park City Council, a motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Day to enter into a Special Session. The possibility of this Special Session was listed on the meeting agenda. With a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, the Council entered Special Session at 8:36 p.m. Action Item: 16-G-118 University of Maryland Child Care Proposal for the Calvert Road School building A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Day to authorize the City to enter into negotiations with the University of Maryland (UMD) on their child care proposal for the Calvert Road School. Councilmember Stullich said this school building has been a matter of concern to the community for a long time. There have been ideas that seemed good but had their flaws; some were met with community opposition due to their density and impact. The building was granted to the City in 1978 by the Prince George’s County School Board for $1 with the condition that it be retained for public use, which limits the use of the property but which the surrounding community supports. At a 2014 community meeting on the topic, residents suggested that the building could be used as a child care center which would help the City attract more families. The current percentage of UMD faculty and staff who live in College Park is 4%; we would like to see a higher percentage and this is one potential strategy to achieve that goal. In the UMD proposal, families that are both City residents and UMD employees would get a preference. There is also a need for more community space which the UMD proposal includes. She sees this as a win-win proposal. College Park City Council September 20, 2016 Special Session Page 2 Comments from the audience: 1. Jeanne Jennings, 4617 Clemson Road: Supports. Hard to find good child care nearby. 2. Jack Robson, 4710 Harvard: In favor, but has concerns about details of proposal. 3. John Rigg, 6809 Dartmouth, President, Calvert Hills Citizens Association: Support. See letter. 4. Kathy Bryant, 7406 Columbia Avenue: Support. 5. Kristy Maddux, 7011 Wake Forest: Also UMD Faculty. Supports. 6. Ellen Lau, 4703 Harvard: Also UMD Faculty. Supports - walkable solution. 7. Eleanor Callahan, 4511 Guilford Road: Supports – echoes other comments. 8. David Toledo, 5025 Nantucket Road: Lives and works in City. Supports. New resource for his family. 9. Kate Kennedy, 9730 51st Avenue: Supports – negotiate the best deal for the City. 10. Leo Shapiro, 6907 Rhode Island Avenue: Also works at UMD. Supports. The details matter; look out for our interests. 11. Eric Haag, 4606 Beechwood Road: Also UMD Faculty. Supports – tangible benefit. 12. Doug Hamilton, 4605 Fordham Road: Also UMD Faculty. Supports. 13. Justin Clarke, 4506 Beechwood Road: Supports. Preserve historic structure. 14. Molly MacLaren, 4609 Drexel Road: Supports. Invest more to get more seats. Community space needed. 15. Eric Maring, 4609 Guilford Road: Supports. Community space needed. 16. Cat Peretti, 4612 Guilford Road: Supports. 17. Kevin Pinto, 4504 Amherst Road: Supports. Fills a gap. 18. Jim Sauer, 4705 Amherst: Supports. Revitalize a dilapidated building. 19. Oscar Gregory, 9253 Limestone Place: Supports, but has concerns about details of proposal. 20. Adele Ellis, 4608 Beechwood Road: Supports. Opportunity to return the building to being an asset. 21. Mark Montroll, 7202 Rhode Island Avenue: He and wife Leslie support. 22. Aaron Springer, 4622 Harvard Road: Supports. Need for community space. 23. Bonnie McClellan, 9003 Gettysburg: Supports. Consider senior programming in the community space. 24. Julie Forker, Wake Forest Drive: She and husband support. Need for community space. 25. Scott Lynn, 4605 Drexel: Also UMD Faculty. Supports. 26. Carlo Colella, UMD VP for Administration and Finance: Thanked the City for the opportunity to make this proposal. It is heartwarming to hear such positive community support. Hopes for a fair and fast negotiation. Councilmember Day said he supports the proposal. Other suggestions were met with resident opposition. The University listened to resident comments and brought back this plan. It is a home run. Councilmember Stullich commented on the united community support and public comment. The University listened to the residents’ comments. Our negotiations should maximize the use of the community space and benefit residents who are not UMD employees. College Park City Council September 20, 2016 Special Session Page 3 Mayor Wojahn is in support of the proposal and looks forward to the next step in the process. The motion passed 7 – 1 – 0 (Councilmember Cook opposed). ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to adjourn the Special Session. With a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, Mayor Wojahn adjourned the Special Session at 9:24 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved