Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES College Park City Council Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 10:58 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich (arrived at 7:38 p.m.), Day, Kujawa, and Cook. ABSENT: Councilmember Nagle ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Gary Fields, Director of Finance; Miriam Bader, Senior Planner; Robert Stumpff, Director of Public Works; Robert Marsili, Assistant Director of Public Works; Brandon Carroll, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the Worksession at 7:30 p.m. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:  Christmas Tree recycling  Snow/ice removal  Duvall Field and Modular Building construction updates  Stormwater project updates – Narragansett Parkway and Rhode Island Avenue  Sound barrier wall update – signage to warn cyclists about Campus Drive  PEPCO tree clearance work APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Without amendment Brennan/Day 7 – 0 – 0. AGENDA ITEMS: 1 Review of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan, Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services. Guests: Ronald Gill, Director of Emergency Management, Prince George’s County and Courtney Marriott, Municipal Liaison: They reviewed the City’s EOP and have made some comments. Bob Ryan will incorporate their amendments and provide an updated version to Council prior to adoption next week. This is not a public document due to security precautions. Request that Council coordinate any outgoing emergency messages with the Communications Coordinator to ensure that we are speaking with one voice. Incident Command System course 402 available for elected officials and senior staff. CERT training is available for residents. Adoption to Consent agenda. 2 Award of Contract for Old Parish House repairs – Miriam Bader, Robert Marsili and Janeen Miller: Ms. Bader reviewed the project, the staff report and alternative ceiling finishes. Questions about difference between low and high bidder. This contract includes a performance bond. Staff recommendation – Colossal Builders and ceiling finish #1 - to Consent agenda. College Park City Council Worksession Minutes January 3, 2017 Page 2 3 Comprehensive review of City fees and fines – Gary Fields, Director of Finance: We will undertake a review of the City’s fees and fines. Primary objective is to identify costs associated with the fees we charge and to bring any discrepancies to Council’s attention. Request to include a comprehensive list like the one provided in the packet in the budget document. Return in the future when the review is complete. 4 Discussion of Module 3 of the Prince George’s County Zoning Rewrite – Terry Schum, Director of Planning: Continuation of December 6 discussion. These comments are on the consultant’s recommendation. We will have another opportunity to comment on the draft revision in the future. Tonight we will revisit fences and walls, green building standards and adequate public facilities, then move on to the rest. Discussion about call-up provisions – how do our County Council members feel about these proposed changes? Request to include language that the District Council retains as much of their authority as they can. What will happen to the US 1 Corridor Sector Plan when this rewrite is adopted? Still uncertain. Letter next week (Stullich). 5 Discussion on laws regulating number of vehicles per home and number of occupants per home: Councilmember Cook brought this issue to Council out of concern about life safety issues and overcrowding. Permit Parking is the best tool to address too many cars on City streets, but many residents find it inconvenient. It is best to implement Permit Parking neighborhood-wide rather than street-by-street. The number of people per house is a zoning issue regulated by the County. In Prince George’s County, the number is 5 unrelated people. If there is a familial relationship between the occupants, then that rule does not apply. 6 Discussion and clarification on permit parking fees – Scott Somers, City Manager: Is it appropriate to charge different permit parking fees on different public streets, or should it be the same fee on all public streets? In other words, is it appropriate to charge market driven rates in certain areas? Case in point, the area around new Terrapin Row development, site of the former Knox Boxes. Last summer, Council voted to raise the permit parking rate from $10/semester to $60/month, after the area was redeveloped with higher density and retail space. The former permit holders were made aware of the price increase and the spaces are selling. Do we go back to the former rate and refund the fees to the permit holders? No interest in making a change at this time. Revisit in February. 7 Discussion of procedure about responding to letters addressed to Mayor and Council – Mayor Wojahn: Primary responsibility should rest with the Councilmembers from the district. Better communication so things don’t fall through the cracks. Does not need to be part of Council Rules & Procedures. 8 Requests For/Status of Future Agenda items:  Postpone Hollywood Community Garden item  HAWK signal legislation – tentative; decide on Friday College Park City Council Worksession Minutes January 3, 2017 Page 3 9 Appointments to Boards and Committees including annual COG appointments: Continue existing COG Appointments; Mayor will check with Councilmember Nagle on her desire to continue. Clerk will advise COG. Other appointments: (Mayor Wojahn): Reappoint Jim McFadden to the APC. (Councilmember Kujawa): Reappoint Suchitra Balachandran to the CBE, Carolyn Bernache to the EAC, appoint Denise Mitchell to the EAC (Councilmember Kabir): Reappoint Alan Bradford and Tina McCloud to the Recreation Board. (Councilmember Stullich): Reappoint Gabriel Iriarte to the Airport Authority, appoint Helen Barnes and Councilmember Brennan to the Seniors Committee, reappoint Jim Sauer to the CTVC. 10 Mayor and Councilmember Comments:  Passing of former Councilmember Karen Hampton  Mayor Wojahn informed Council of issues discussed at CPCUP Board Meeting on December 12: RISE Zone was approved. Purple Line status. Trolley Trail CPTED grant. Potential Pre-K program coming to Council in a couple of weeks.  Interest in a tour of MilkBoy+ArtHouse facility – Mayor will send information. ADJOURN: Stullich/Day 10:58 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved