Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES College Park City Council Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 9:52 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Nagle, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, Day, Kujawa and Cook. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Steve Halpern, City Engineer; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Miriam Bader, Senior Planner; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Chris Keosian, Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the Worksession at 7:30 p.m. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Somers said the Duvall Field and Public Works Modular Building projects are progressing on schedule. The Rhode Island Avenue stormwater management project is wrapping up and the City is working with SHA to maintain the closure of southbound Rhode Island Avenue south of Greenbelt Road. SHA is finalizing drawings for that intersection. The citizen engagement survey has been sent by NRC to the randomly selected households. Once the official survey closes, other interested parties may complete the same survey online. Mr. Brennan asked for a status about the proposed Chick-Fil-A project near the corner of US 1 and Greenbelt Road. Ms. Schum said at this point it is a proposed concept plan. We received notice that the developer will soon submit a stormwater management plan to DPIE for approval. This is the first notice that we receive about a project. She encouraged the civic association to invite the applicant to make a presentation. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: Approved without amendment Brennan/Day 8 – 0 – 0. AGENDA ITEMS: 1 Presentation by Corvias on proposed stormwater projects in the City - Peter Littleton, Corvias, and Andy Mueller, Bowman Consultants: Clean Water Partnership is the public-private partnership with the County. They are tasked with doing retrofits in locations that have a significant amount of runoff. Since their previous visit to Council they have presented several possible projects to the community. There are two projects that are feasible at this time: 1) a bio-retention facility in front of Attick Towers on Rhode Island Avenue near University Blvd.; and 2) a retrofit at Davis Hall. Re: Attick Towers project: This would be a depression in the ground surrounded by landscaping that would treat 2 acres; water will drain within 24 hours so no concern about mosquitoes. Council requested they get in touch with the resident council at Attick Towers. They have faced community opposition to larger projects. Phase 2 for future projects will address schools, municipalities, roadway applications like green streets, outfall work and stream College Park City Council Worksession Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 2 restoration. Question about pond at the end of Kenesaw Street that has potential as a retrofit – Corvias said the County has that as a possible CIP project. They were also asked to contact the UMD Center for Smart Growth (Fellows) to help identify possible projects. 2 Request for support for training exercise of the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) in the City/UMD campus March 25 – 30, 2017 - Major Ryan Schloesser: Asking for permission to conduct civil affairs training for four individuals March 27 – 30 with the UMD ROTC on-campus in a classroom environment. Civil affairs bridges the gap between the civilian population and the military wherever they are deployed. This is training for soldiers who are deploying to the middle-east on how to conduct civil affairs. No weapons, no training off-campus. They will notify the local police department when they arrive and leave. Consent agenda next week. 3 Proposed revisions to approved DSP for Cambria Suites hotel - Miriam Bader; Arthur Horne, Shipley & Horne; Bob Greenberg, architect; Francis Silverhost, land planner: In 2013, Council approved a DSP for a Courtyard By Marriot hotel, and the Planning Board subsequently approved the project with conditions. In 2015, the property was sold to David Hillman (who was unable to attend tonight) and they have made changes to the plan. The new hotel is going to be a “Cambria” which is considered a “select service” hotel. Construction is well-underway. Staff reviewed the requested revisions to the earlier plan (see staff report). They are going for LEED Gold which requires a new mechanical system on the roof. A single ground floor tenant – a restaurant – wants a solid glass wall facing Berwyn House Road. Mr. Horne said this is all consistent with the sector plan and they feel it is an improvement. Council had concerns about noise from the generators and concerns about the solid glass wall on the ground floor. Council preferred the original design over the proposed new design from a visual interest point of view. Request for improved screening – or more interesting screening – around mechanical on roof. Applicant and staff to continue meeting. Planning Board date is March 2. 4 Follow up to January 3 discussion on permit parking fees - Scott Somers, City Manager; Bob Ryan, Director of Planning; Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager: Mr. Somers reviewed the history: In July 2016 Council increased the permit fee in Zones 11 and 11A. Some permit holders said they may not have re-signed their lease had they known the parking rate would increase. The 18 people who were impacted may be grandfathered at the previous rate until July, 2017; 9 of those 18 have applied to be grandfathered. There are 165 spaces in the zone; 133 permits have been sold at the new rate. Question – where do those 133 people live? Mr. Somers’ question for Council: should there be a flat rate throughout the City for residential parking permits, or should there be a tiered approach based on density, locations, etc. Reviewed the survey – College Park is one of the lowest rates at $10/year. With the addition of 1,500 beds at Terrapin Row, we need an administrative way of resolving the increased demand for limited parking. We do not want to raise the fee City-wide. Terrapin Row should meet the parking needs of its residents. Concern is for Graduate Gardens and Knox Box residents more than Terrapin Row residents. Perhaps the residents of Terrapin Row shouldn’t be in the same zone as GG or KB residents. Most Knox Boxes have 2 off-street parking spaces for which the landlord charges. Question – what is the rate at TR and at the KB for College Park City Council Worksession Minutes February 7, 2017 Page 3 parking? Request for more information on the map, and to know where the permit holders live: TR, GG or KB? One idea is to advantage the non-TR residents by allowing them to get first dibs on the permits. May be difficult to administer. Return in March with requested information. 5 Annual review of liquor license renewals for establishments in the City - Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services: No businesses are of concern at this time. Owner of Kangnam BBQ paid his fines and is in compliance. Consent agenda. 6 Review of legislation - Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager: Mayor Wojahn requested support for SB 337 and SB 338. Letter on consent. 7 Requests For/Status of Future Agenda items:  Councilmembers Kujawa, Nagle and Cook: Meet with Washington Gas re: complaints of leaks in CP Woods and Daniels Park. Resident meeting. 8 Appointments to Boards and Committees:  Dorrie Arbach to MLK Tribute Committee  Carolyn Bernache to College Park Seniors Committee 9 Mayor and Councilmember Comments:  Nagle – Maryland Attorney General has filed an amicus brief on the ban on immigration  NCPCA meeting on Thursday  Day – Meeting at the CP Airport on March 2 for residents of Yarrow and College Park Estates to try to get the citizens association reorganized  Dennis – Children’s artwork from MLK Tribute is on display in Council Chambers for Black History Month  Mayor – attended Maryland Mayors Association conference in Annapolis last week; “If I Were Mayor” presentations to 4th graders have begun; Al Huda is hosting a lunch on Saturday at the school to meet the neighbors. ADJOURN: Into closed session at 9:52 p.m. Brennan/Day 8 – 0 – 0. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved