Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council February 11, 2020 Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue 7:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Day, Rigg (arrived at 7:47 p.m.), Mackie and Mitchell. ABSENT: Councilmember Brennan. ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager; Steve Halpern, City Engineer; Julia Nikhinson, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir announced Thursday’s North College Park Community Association meeting. Councilmember Mackie announced free workshops at Doctors Community Hospital this month. Councilmember Mitchell announced that February is Heart Health month and is Black History month. Councilmember Dennis announced the PGPD District 1 Coffee Club. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Somers reported on a new drop off location for food scrap composting; gave a Census 2020 update; and referred to the Lay-On-The-Table item. AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: 1) A motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Day to move the actions on the Public Hearing items to before the State of the City report. Passed 6-0. 2) A motion was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to add support for HB 917/SB 606 (Criminal Law – Hate Crimes – Basis – 2nd Lt. Richard Collins, III’s Law) to the Consent Agenda. This will be agenda item 20-G-34. Passed 6-0. 3) A motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Day to add support for SB 737 (Sustainable Maryland Program Fund – Establishment) to the Consent Agenda. This will be agenda item 20-G-35. Passed 6-0. 4) A motion was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to move 20-G-32 to Consent. Passed 6-0. 5) A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to move item 20-G-33 to Consent. Passed 6-0. 6) A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt the agenda as amended. Passed 6-0. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: None. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 11, 2020 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Traffic calming in the 9700 block of Narragansett Parkway between Laguna Road and Muskogee Street Mr. Halpern reviewed the staff report. Neither the speed warrant nor the traffic volume warrant was met during the traffic study. No accidents have been reported. Councilmember Kennedy thought a stop sign would be better in this location. Mr. Halpern responded that the idea was to slow traffic as it goes around the corner, and that stop signs are not supposed to be used to slow traffic, per the MUTCD, which we follow. Councilmember Kennedy requested that a stop sign study be undertaken. There was no one to testify at this Public Hearing. B. Petition request for traffic calming on Muskogee Street between 48th Place and 49th Avenue Mr. Halpern reviewed the staff report. Neither the speed warrant nor the traffic volume warrant was met during the traffic study. Public Comment: Tom Abell, resident on this block: He is opposed to the installation of a speed hump on this block, and if one is installed, he doesn’t want it in front of his house. His quality of life would be diminished: they are ugly, lower the property value, are noisy and cause undue wear and tear on vehicles. Neither warrant was met so it does not appear necessary. C. Petition request to install residential permit restricted parking for the 9600 block of 51st Place Mr. Ryan said a valid petition for residential permit parking was submitted for this block. He reviewed the staff report. This proposed zone is adjacent to another residential permit zone which has different parameters. Mr. Miller reviewed the parameters of nearby zones. None are enforced 24/7. There was no one to testify at this Public Hearing. ACTION ITEMS: 20-G-28 Council Action on traffic calming in the 9700 block of Narragansett Parkway between Laguna Road and Muskogee Street Mayor Wojahn called the agenda item. There was no motion. Councilmember Kennedy said there could be a future discussion about a stop sign at this location. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 11, 2020 Page 3 20-G-29 Council Action on the petition request for traffic calming on Muskogee Street between 48th Place and 49th Avenue Mayor Wojahn called the agenda item. There was no motion. Councilmember Kabir said the data doesn’t support a motion. Better police enforcement could be beneficial. 20-G-30 Council Action on the petition request to install residential permit restricted parking for the 9600 block of 51st Place A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to establish a residential permit parking zone in the 9600 block of 51st Place as a permanently restricted parking zone, to allow five residential permits per household, at an annual cost of $10 per residential vehicle permit and $1 per annual visitor permit, with enforcement by permit only, 24 hours daily, Monday-Friday. The motion passed 7-0. PRESENTATION: Mr. Somers presented the State of the City Report (attached). Questions from the Council: • Regarding the YFS stats – how many are from the City? • Regarding the Senior Social Center figure of 1,928: is that unique visitors? Did it increase from last year? • Explain the 1s and 0s on the Tax Rate Slide. • Status of the CRM Software? • Update on the City’s sustainability plan? CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following: 20-G-23 Annual review of liquor licenses for City establishments prior to County renewal – Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services 20-G-24 Approval of an extension of HR&A consulting services regarding the City Hall project in an amount not to exceed $30,000 20-G-25 Approval of the parade and festival celebration for the City’s 75th anniversary and an additional $10,000 to cover public safety, transportation, and other costs, to be budgeted from unexpended funds within the FY’20 General Government and Administration budget 20-G-26 Support for the proposed new FY ’21 City event series (Lake Artemesia concert series and various events at City attractions) 20-G-27 Approval of minutes from the December 3, 2019 Worksession, the December 3, 2019 Special Session, and the December 10, 2019 Regular Meeting/Inauguration of the 2019-2021 Mayor and Council. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 11, 2020 Page 4 20-G-32 Support for HB 351 - Land Use and Vehicle Miles Traveled Workgroup 20-G-33 Support for SB 490 – Human Services – Youth Services Bureaus – Funding 20-G-34 Support for HB 917/SB 606 - Criminal Law – Hate Crimes – Basis – 2nd Lt. Richard Collins, III’s Law 20-G-35 Support for SB 737 (Sustainable Maryland Program Fund – Establishment) The motion carried 7-0. 20-G-31 Appointments to Boards and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Day to reappoint Tom Davis, Seth Gomoljak and Rita Zito to the Veterans Memorial Committee, and to reappoint James Meyer to the Tree and Landscape Board, with all terms to end on June 30. The motion passed 7-0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to add to next week’s agenda support for a letter to PGCPS regarding bus stop locations on Cherry Hill Road. Passed 7-0. Councilmember Mitchell informed everyone that a new Customer Service Supervisor has been added at the Post Office. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn the meeting, and with a vote of 7-0, Mayor Wojahn adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m. _______________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved