Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, March 10, 2020 7:30 p.m. – 9:28 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Brennan, Dennis, Day, Rigg, Mackie, and Mitchell (arrived at 7:42 p.m.). ABSENT: None. 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; Jill Clements, Director of Human Resources; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Ryna Quinones, Communication Coordinator; Dan Alpert, Student Liaison; Mayor Wojahn opened the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir discussed the Monday night community police meetings that are now being held at the Youth and Family Services recreation room. He announced the North College Park Community Association meeting on Thursday. Councilmember Kennedy announced a Prince George’s County SPCA event on Saturday. Councilmember Mackie announced a College Park Woods Pool meeting on March 21. Councilmember Rigg said the SGA soccer match is delayed. Councilmember Dennis announced the police Coffee Club meeting at Jason’s Deli and the Lakeland Civic Association meeting on Thursday at the College Park Community Center. Mayor Wojahn relayed information from the recent update he received on COVID-19 and said we need to rethink community meetings and city events. The Council should discuss changes to their adopted Rules to allow for virtual meetings. Mr. Alpert gave an update on the University of Maryland’s schedule due to COVID-19: they will extend spring break by a week, then move to on-line classes for two weeks in order to delay the reopening of campus. He also announced that the Diamondback has ended their print edition but will continue on-line. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Somers reviewed items from the Weekly Bulletin; discussed the Bright Horizons Child Care Center that is opening up on Calvert Road; the Community Senior Recreation Needs Assessment Survey is still open; the status of the Strategic Plan 2020-2025 Community meetings; UMD Summer Camp scholarships. With respect to COVID-19, the City is identifying essential services and said most services can be conducted on-line or by telephone. PROCLAMATIONS: Mayor Wojahn read the proclamation for Women’s History Month. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2020 Page 2 AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: 1. Move 20-G-52 to the Consent Agenda, Day/Mitchell, 8-0. 2. Remove 20-G-53 from the agenda, Day/Mitchell, 8-0. 3. Add a Worksession after tonight’s action items to discuss continuity of operations for the Mayor and Council during COVID-19. Rigg/Mitchell 8-0. 4. Remove 20-G-44 from the agenda, Day/Rigg, 8-0. 5. Adopt the agenda as amended, Dennis/Day, 7-0 (Mitchell left the room). PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Jose Cadiz, UMD Office of Community Engagement: They are postponing April’s Good Neighbor Day event due to COVID-19. They hope to make it a fall event this year. PUBLIC HEARING: A. Public Hearing on 20-O-03, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Amending City Code Chapter 11, “Authorities”, Article II, ‘Airport Authority”, By Amending §11-5, “Creation; Members; Compensation; Conflicts of Interest”; Amending Chapter 15 “Boards, Commissions and Committees”, By Enacting §15-2, “Terms and Appointment; Repealing and Re-Enacting §15-3, “Membership; Terms”; §15-34 Powers and Duties; §15-35, “Organization”; §15-37, “Staff Liaison” and Deleting Article III, “College Park Cable Television Commission”, §§ 15-9 Through 15-17, In Its Entirety and §15-23, “Terms of Office”; and Reserving the Article; Amending Chapter 38, “Ethics, Code of”, Article II, “Ethics Commission” By Repealing and Reenacting §38-5, “Establishment”, Chapter 138, “Noise”, By Repealing and Re-Enacting §138-3, “Noise Control Board”; and Amending Chapter 179, “Tree and Landscape Maintenance”, By Repealing and Re-Enacting §179-5, “Tree and Landscape Board”; to Discontinue the Cable Television Commission; Set Consistent Terms for all Board, Commission and Committee Members Appointed Under Chapters 15, 38, 138 and 179 and Airport Authority Members Appointed Under Chapter 11; Remove Overly Prescriptive Staff Liaison and Membership Requirements, and Require Annual Work Plans for Mayor and Council Review and Approval, from certain Boards, Commissions and Committees. Ms. Miller said this ordinance codifies the changes adopted in 19-R-22 last November as part of the Committee on Committee recommendations for those committees that are in the City Code. There were no comments from the public on this Ordinance. Mayor Wojahn declared the Public Hearing as having been held. PRESENTATIONS: Ms. Quinones gave a presentation on the 2019 Community Survey Results. This is our second statistically valid survey; the first was in 2017. It was mailed to 2,400 random households. 300 came back, which is a 13% return rate. We also received 250 responses to the online open access survey. She reviewed the PowerPoint, which is attached. There is a 6% margin of error. Mr. Ryan provided an analysis of public safety reality v. perception, based on research done by a consultant to the College Park City-University Partnership. The challenge is to bring the community’s perceptions more in line with actual crime stats. In terms of data, the City compares College Park City Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2020 Page 3 very favorably with nearby municipalities, but the perception of safety in the City isn’t matching up with the statistics. Mayor Wojahn asked for some analysis of responses broken down by race, gender and age. Ms. Quinones will also analyze the difference in responses between the on-line results and the mailed results. Councilmember Rigg suggested that the survey results could inform our performance measures. Councilmember Kabir discussed the questions “a good place to raise children” and “a good place to retire” and suggested we need to find out why residents responded that way. Mayor Wojahn said that those responses should be further defined by the age groups that responded. Mr. Somers said the timing of the survey results was intentional and will help inform our Strategic Plan community discussions. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of: 20-G-48 Approval of minutes from the January 14, 2020 Regular Meeting 20-G-49 Approval of a letter of support for HB-1394/SB-982 Highway User Revenues – Revenue and Distribution 20-G-50 Approval of a letter to the Clerk of the County Council with written testimony on the Countywide Map Amendment 20-G-51 Approval of a letter of Support/Certificate of Need for Doctor's Hospital Obstetrics Department 20-G-52 Annual Review/Renewal of Insurance Contracts The motion carried 8-0. ACTION ITEMS: 20-O-03 Adoption of Ordinance 20-O-03, Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Amending City Code Chapter 11, “Authorities”, Article II, ‘Airport Authority”, By Amending §11-5, “Creation; Members; Compensation; Conflicts of Interest”; Amending Chapter 15 “Boards, Commissions and Committees”, By Enacting §15-2, “Terms and Appointment; Repealing and Re- Enacting §15-3, “Membership; Terms”; §15-34 Powers and Duties; §15-35, “Organization”; §15-37, “Staff Liaison” and Deleting Article III, “College Park Cable Television Commission”, §§ 15-9 Through 15-17, In Its Entirety and §15-23, “Terms of Office”; and Reserving the Article; Amending Chapter 38, “Ethics, Code of” , Article II, “Ethics Commission” By Repealing and Reenacting §38-5, College Park City Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2020 Page 4 “Establishment”, Chapter 138, “Noise”, By Repealing and Re-Enacting §138-3, “Noise Control Board”; and Amending Chapter 179, “Tree and Landscape Maintenance”, By Repealing and Re-Enacting §179-5, “Tree and Landscape Board”; to Discontinue the Cable Television Commission; Set Consistent Terms for all Board, Commission and Committee Members Appointed Under Chapters 15, 38, 138 and 179 and Airport Authority Members Appointed Under Chapter 11; Remove Overly Prescriptive Staff Liaison and Membership Requirements, and Require Annual Work Plans for Mayor and Council Review and Approval, from certain Boards, Commissions and Committees A motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Rigg to adopt Ordinance 20-O-03. Councilmember Kennedy said this continues the work of the Committee on Committees and added that this is a housekeeping item. Councilmember Day asked how many of the boards that we are changing were notified of this discussion tonight. Councilmember Kennedy said they were notified in November when Council adopted the Resolution. Mr. Somers said he has been visiting the boards and committees to make them aware, but since this is a housekeeping item, we didn’t notify them. Councilmember Day said he is hearing comments that this action will be a detriment to the committees. He specifically asked about the Noise Board and Education Committee. We should make sure the members know this is being done because some are saying they are no longer “volunteers” but “voluntold.” Councilmember Mitchell has also heard concerns. Councilmember Kennedy said that passing this ordinance doesn’t mean we shouldn’t address the concerns that people have. We want our volunteers to feel valued. This is a step in the process; we plan to move forward with a new recruitment and selection process, and then a new orientation process, to get everyone on the same page. This housekeeping item won’t stop that. Councilmember Rigg said the content of this ordinance is technical, to put into place the three-year terms and to clarify some staff liaisons. We should address those other issues, but they aren’t before us tonight. The motion passed 8-0. 20-O-04 Introduction of Ordinance 20-O-04, An Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park To Authorize The Purchase Of A Parcel Of Land For A Public Purpose And The Related Sale Of A Parcel Of Land As It Is No Longer Needed For A City Public Purpose (Sellers Property) Ms. Ferguson said this is the result of a letter that was sent in 1995 about a land swap between the City and the Sellers, but which was never actually accomplished. The property that the City would receive is adjacent to James Adams Park, and the property that the Sellers would receive is in front College Park City Council Meeting Minutes March 10, 2020 Page 5 of their property, and is not needed for any City public purpose. It is an in-kind exchange with a quit claim deed. A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to introduce Ordinance 20-O-04, An Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park To Authorize The Purchase Of A Parcel Of Land For A Public Purpose And The Related Sale Of A Parcel Of Land As It Is No Longer Needed For A City Public Purpose (Sellers Property) Mayor Wojahn announced that the Public Hearing will be held on March 24, 7:30 p.m. at Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue. WORKSESSION DISCUSSION: Continuity of Operations for the Mayor and Council during COVID-19. Mayor Wojahn said this discussion is to allow the Mayor and Council to continue to function as a legislative body if some or all of the Mayor and Council are quarantined. Discussion of these considerations: • Trigger - when would this be invoked? • What are the technology requirements? • Broadcast capabilities and ability to receive public comment. • Review the COOP plan. • How narrow or broad should it be? Just the COVID-19 situation, or more? • People who are able to participate in person should do so. • Goal is to maintain our ability to function. • Consider what the Maryland Open Meetings Act allows. • Audio only or video as well? • Determination that this would be a change to the Mayor and Council Rules and Procedures, and not a Charter or Code change. Staff will draft a provision for the Rules and Procedures for Council consideration next week. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to adjourn the Regular Meeting, and with a vote of 8-0, the meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m. _______________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved