Mayor & City Council

MINUTES OF COUNCIL RETREAT College Park City Council Saturday, January 27, 2018 Council Chambers 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Brennan, Dennis, Day, Rigg, Kujawa and Mitchell. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Terrie Glass, Consultant, Zelos, Inc. Mayor Wojahn opened the Council Retreat at 9:11 a.m. 1. Welcome, review of orientation materials and phone input. Mayor Wojahn called the meeting to order with welcoming and opening remarks. Facilitator Glass and the Mayor and Council reviewed the agenda material. Councilmember Day motioned and Councilmember Rigg seconded to enter into an Administrative Function session pursuant to §3-103 of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The motion passed 7-1 with Councilmember Kabir opposing. 2. Facilitation of activities using Values, highlighting Open and Effective Government and Collaboration. Agenda item closed for Administrative Function. 3. Roles and Responsibilities – what should we do when… Agenda item was not discussed due to time constraints. Councilmember Day motioned and Councilmember Mitchell seconded to conclude the Administrative Function session and return to Open Session. Motion passed 8-0. 4. Discussion of 2018 strategic priorities. Council Members reviewed the following lists of items. City Manager Somers clarified that neither list was exhaustive. He said he developed the list of "Items in Process" based on current projects that are capital intensive and financially significant. He said he developed the "Other Items" list from items currently listed on the Council's future agenda list and items on the Council's Master List of potential agenda items. He said he also included items he had heard from Councilmembers as potential projects for future consideration. Council was then asked to add to or subtract from the lists. Councilmember Brennan asked why "School Capacity Study" was on the list since the City doesn't oversee the School District. Councilmember Rigg mentioned he had wanted to have a Worksession with representatives from the School District to discuss their Capital Improvement Program. Council agreed this could be a discussion for a later time,  College Park City Council Minutes of Council Retreat January 27, 2018 Page 2 of 4 therefore, the item was removed from the list. Councilmember Brennan asked why Senior Center was on the list since that function is overseen the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC). Somers said there had previously been discussion about continued expansion of the City's Seniors Social which occurs twice a week now. The item remained on the list. Councilmember Kennedy asked why "Stormwater Issue/Drainage in north College Park" didn't include the entire City. It was explained that former Councilmember Nagle had added that item to the Master List of agenda items some time ago. Kennedy suggested removal of the words "north College Park" to allow for review of stormwater issues/drainage city-wide. Council agreed. Items In Process Other Items City Hall Police Study next steps Hollywood Streetscape Community Center Gateway Park Duvall Field Improvements College Park Woods Pool Feasibility Study Concerning Building Codes In-House Senior Committee and Aging-in-Place Improvements in Effectiveness of Boards & Committees Dog Park Senior Center Software Improvements for CRM and Land Use School Capacity Study New Website Pay as You Throw and Bulk Trash Study Code Improvements and NQoL improvements Storm Water Issues/Drainage in North College Park Baltimore Avenue Improvements Charter Amendments (e.g., 4-yr. staggered terms & 4 at-large positions Mid-term Redistricting Parking Study Business Recycling Program Business Recognition Program Improvements to Farmers Market Completion of Trolley Trail Bike and Pedestrian Trail Connectivity The Mayor and Council recessed for lunch. 5. Discussion of 2018 strategic priorities, CONTINUED. Ms. Glass discussed the importance of being strategic. By limiting the City's priorities, the City would have a greater chance of success completing those priorities. She said if everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority. She gave the Mayor and each Councilmember three dots to place next to their highest priorities for 2018. Mr. Somers stated that staff would continue working on the "In Process" list so dots should be placed only on the list of "Other Items." The items receiving the highest number of dots were "Bike/Ped Trail connectivity and extension" (5 dots); “Charter Amendments to explore 4-year staggered terms, 4 at-large positions, and mid-term redistricting" (5 dots); and "Feasibility Study concerning bringing the Building Codes function exclusively in-house" (4 dots). Other items receiving the highest number of dots included: "Police Study next steps" (3); "Duvall Field improvements" (3); “Improvements in Effectiveness of Boards and Committee" (3 dots); "Stormwater Issues/Drainage" (3 dots). Ms. Glass asked Mr. Somers which, if any, additional items could be added to the top 3 items receiving the most dots. Mr. Somers said staff had College Park City Council Minutes of Council Retreat January 27, 2018 Page 3 of 4 already begun exploring short term improvements to police services based on recommendations in the Police Study and is meeting with community members and stakeholders and had already scheduled a Council Worksession to discuss Duvall Field improvements, so expects these two items to move forward regardless of them each not receiving the top three number of dots. Mr. Somers said, in terms of new items, he thought the City could review and seek "Improvements in Effectiveness of Boards and Committees" in 2018 but didn't think the City could address "Stormwater Issues/Drainage" in 2018 due to capacity limitations, but primarily due to this service/function falling under the purview and control of the County. Ms. Glass asked about possible next steps for each of the four 2018 Priorities selected: Charter Amendments/Redistricting 1. Staff to review voter population 2. Staff to seek legal advice regarding mid-term action 3. Public outreach and education regarding how and what terms and districts should look like in College Park 4. Re-formulate Committee options 5. How to/whether to help with census Bike/Ped Trail 1. Worksession, budget item? Permits 1. Budget item for study? Board/Committee Improvements 1. Worksession discussion 6. Discuss what “One College Park” will look like in action by Councilmembers during and in between meetings. Consultant Terrie Glass asked what the Mayor and Councilmembers could do to support and unify the City as a whole. Councilmembers discussed how they could support projects in each others’ districts rather than pitting projects against one another since a project may not be in a Councilmember's district. Councilmember Brennan discussed how there are no major Capital Projects in or planned for he and Councilmember Dennis' District (District 2), but that he supports those projects in surrounding and adjacent districts and neighborhoods since he knows his residents will benefit from those projects. Councilmembers agreed. 7. Wrap up and next steps—Council brainstorms what it would like to do next. Council agreed to move forward with final discussion and approval of the 2018 Priorities at a future meeting. Councilmembers concluded by saying they found the Retreat worthwhile and helpful by strategically focusing on important issues and a finite number of high priorities. College Park City Council Minutes of Council Retreat January 27, 2018 Page 4 of 4 Kujawa motioned and Day seconded to adjourn the Retreat. Motion passed 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 2:01 pm. __________________________________ Scott Somers Date City Manager Approved