Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES College Park City Council Tuesday, October 20, 2020 7:30 p.m. – 9:53 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this was a Virtual Meeting. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Day, Rigg, Mitchell (arrived at 7:45 p.m.) and Mackie. 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; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Adam Rosenbaum, Student Liaison; Julia Nikhinson, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the Virtual Worksession at 7:30 p.m. City Manager Report: Mr. Somers announced the Hallow-Boo Drive-Through event at Duvall Field; the District 2 Special Election; gave a COVID Assistance Program update; announced the final October Clean-up Saturday at DPW; the presentation by Comptroller Peter Franchot; the Continuing the Conversation Public Forum #3; Good Neighbor Day; and said the next Strategic Planning Session will be on November 2 at The Hotel. Amendments to /Approval of Agenda: A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Day to approve the agenda as written. The motion passed 6-0. Declaration of “Tom Johnson Day” on October 25, Mr. Johnson’s Birthday: Councilmember Kennedy recognized Mr. Johnson’s family who were in the virtual audience and reflected on Mr. Johnson’s positive impact on the community. Mayor Wojahn read the Declaration of Tom Johnson Day. Discussion items: 1. CPCUP Vision 2030 presentation – Eric Olson, Executive Director, College Park City University Partnership: Mr. Olson reviewed the PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Colella, Dr. Wagner and Sen. Rosapepe participated in the discussion. The next steps are to have the report approved by both the City and the University, and to decide which entity will take the lead in each of the goals. Councilmember Mitchell suggested once the report is approved that the Partnership go back out to the community to spread the word about the goals. Councilmember Kabir asked how often the Partnership would provide reports. Mr. Olson said after the report is approved, there will be an annual workplan and regular reports. There was discussion about the College Park Worksession Minutes October 20, 2020 Page 2 boundaries of the greater College Park area and the University community. Councilmember Rigg hopes this plan will provide the opportunity to bring more affordable housing to the City. He also stressed the importance of addressing alcohol abuse and binge drinking. Councilmember Kennedy added the need to address mental health. She discussed the importance of marketing the plan. Councilmember Mackie asked how the report takes the Coronavirus into account. Mr. Olson said those considerations will be reflected in the workplan rather than the vision. Day to agenda for approval. 2. Approval of a letter with City comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the I-495/I-270 Managed Lanes Study – Terry Schum, Director of Planning: This is a follow up to last week’s discussion. The draft letter presented tonight incorporates comments received from the Council and the community. Councilmember Kabir wants to add language expressing concerns about the location of the stormwater management pond close to the single-family homes on the west side of Niagara and Nantucket. To Consent next week. 3. One-year review of Chapter 141, Article II, Unruly Social Gatherings (Ordinance 19-O- 13 adopted September 2019) – Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services: Mr. Ryan said no municipal infractions or notices of violations for this Article have been issued in the last year, but acknowledged that this had been an unusual year. He said the City has responded to noise complaints but nothing that met the criteria of Unruly Social Gatherings as defined. Mayor Wojahn suggested that once we return to normal and gatherings are no longer prohibited due to COVID it would be wise to remind people of the ordinance. Councilmember Rigg thanked students for refraining from large gatherings during this public health crisis. He feels this ordinance was an important step toward more harmonious neighborhoods, and he hopes we never have to enforce it. Mr. Rosenbaum thinks it would be helpful to do a campaign about how this ordinance would be used; for instance, not for religious social gatherings. He further stressed the importance of regularly educating students. 4. Agenda items for the October 29 Four Cities Meeting hosted by New Carrollton  Debrief of COVID 19: restrictions in various municipalities; compare notes on relief programs; ways to build community in the time of COVID  Deadline for DEIS comments – should we send a combined letter? 5. Future Agenda items: Request forms still needed; no vote tonight:  Councilmember Rigg - stabilize residential zones suffering from overcrowded group housing; permit parking.  Councilmember Kabir - Traffic back up on Cherry Hill due to Starbucks drive through. College Park Worksession Minutes October 20, 2020 Page 3 6. Council Comments: Councilmember Kabir – District 1 and District 4 Town Hall about the recreation report. Councilmember Kennedy – We need to be deliberate and careful about our strategies around Town Halls – too many can lead to fatigue. Councilmember Rigg – meeting tomorrow with County DER about Calvert Hills stormwater drainage project. Councilmember Mitchell – COVID testing on Friday sponsored by CPCUP/the County. Councilmember Mackie – Healthy Eating for Healthy Aging Zoom call. Mayor Wojahn – Spoke at College Park and Greenbelt Rotary Clubs; will attend the Greenbelt City Council Worksession tomorrow regarding Greenbelt Road/Route 193. ADJOURN – A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn the Worksession and enter into a Closed Session to consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State and to consult with legal counsel to obtain legal advice. The motion passed 7-0 and the meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m. Mayor Wojahn announced that the City Council will not return to public session after the Closed Session. ___________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved