Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, February 9, 2021 7:30 p.m. – 9:22 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this was a virtual meeting. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Esters, Day, Rigg, Mackie and Mitchell. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Bill Gardiner, Interim City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Kiaisha Barber, Director, Youth, Family and Senior Services; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Gary Fields, Director of Finance; Ryna Quinones, Communications; Adam Rosenbaum, Student Liaison; Julia Nikhinson, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the virtual Regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir discussed last night’s meeting about protected bike lanes on Rhode Island Avenue and announced the upcoming North College Park Community Association meeting. Councilmember Kennedy commented on the Dino Hunt family event. Councilmember Dennis announced tomorrow’s Prince George’s County Police District 1 virtual Coffee Club and the Lakeland Civic Association meeting on Thursday. Councilmember Esters is also looking forward to the Dino Hunt and Lakeland Civic Association meeting. Councilmember Rigg discussed the community meeting about a new basketball court at the Calvert Road school site; and said shovels are in the ground on the Calvert Hills Stormwater Management plan. Councilmember Mitchell asked about the City’s transportation to Doctor’s Hospital for COVID- 19 vaccines; and said February is Go Red for Heart Month. Councilmember Mackie announced two meetings tomorrow night: a community police meeting and another meeting with States Attorney Braveboy. Mayor Wojahn said UMD President Dr. Pines established a task force on community policing and there is a listening session tomorrow night. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 2 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Gardiner announced the upcoming Dino Hunt on February 13 and 14. City offices are closed Monday for Presidents Day and trash and recycling collections are delayed one day. Our Seniors Transportation Bus will transport Seniors to get vaccines, subject to availability; the City will send out a postcard. There is a virtual meeting with school board member Joshua Thomas on February 18. AWARDS: Kiaisha Barber, Director, Youth, Family and Seniors Services, and Carolyn Bernache, Chair, Education Advisory Committee, presented the following awards: A. Recognition of winners of the Doris Ellis Essay Contest. Ms. Ellis was a 10-year member of the EAC and a dedicated teacher with expertise in PE and Drivers Ed. The essay question was: How have you kept up your mind and spirit during the COVID lockdown? o Elementary School Winner – Lucy Lynch, University Park Elementary o Middle School Winner – Marcques Washington, Greenbelt Middle School o High School Winner – Brayan Mercado, High Point High School B. Recognition of recipients of $2,750 Public School Education Grants. o Berwyn Heights Elementary School o Buck Lodge Middle School o Cherokee Lane Elementary School o University Park Elementary School AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:  Mitchell/Day – add a discussion at the end of tonight’s agenda to provide direction to staff about the Committee workplan item that is schedule for next week. Motion passed 8-0.  Rigg/Mitchell – approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed 8-0. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Mary King, resident: Very disturbed that Gilbane is asking for a Revitalization Tax Credit when they filed the application in error; they have a responsibility as well. Their attorneys should have caught the error. They signed a statement that they read and understood the guidelines. They received the full school surcharge exemption from the County. PUBLIC HEARING: A. Public Hearing on Ordinance 21-O-02, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park FY 2021 budget amendment #2, to reflect the expenditures and revenue from reimbursements related to the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) provided by the CARES Act through Prince George’s County. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 3 Mr. Fields reviewed the purpose of the budget amendment: to recognize COVID-related expenditures and subsequent reimbursement from Prince George’s County. There were no comments from the audience and Mayor Wojahn declared the Public Hearing as having been held. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Rigg to adopt the Consent Agenda which consisted of the following: 21-G-16 Approval of a letter to the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners expressing support for the annual renewal of liquor licenses held by City establishments. 21-G-17 Approval of minutes from the January 11 Special Meeting with WSSC; the January 19 Worksession; the January 19 Special Session; and the January 26 Regular Meeting. 21-G-18 Approval of a task order under the on-call engineering services contract with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) in the amount of $46,019.35 for design of Cherokee Street sidewalk, from 48th Place to Rhode Island Avenue. 21-G-19 Approval of a letter of support to the DHCD, Neighborhood Business Works Program, Opportunity Zone Micro-Grant for “Microsphere Materials Solutions, LLC.” The motion passed 8-0. ACTION ITEMS 21-O-02 Adoption of Ordinance 21-O-02, FY 2021 budget amendment #2, to reflect the expenditures and revenue from reimbursements related to the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) provided by the CARES Act through Prince George’s County. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt Ordinance 21-O-02. Councilmember Rigg commended City staff for working hard to get this money out the door to help our residents and businesses and make the CARES program work. Mayor Wojahn also thanked the County Executive and Prince George’s County who chose to share their allocation with local governments. The motion passed 8-0. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 4 21-G-20 Review and approval of lease for Seniors Program office space subject to the City Attorney’s review and approval Ms. Barber updated the Mayor and Council on the need for Seniors Program office space and the lease negotiations. Mr. Marsili participated in a walkthrough and estimated it would be about $25,000 to build-out the space. The City Attorney has negotiated a lower rent. The property owner has agreed to pay 50% of the tenant improvements, up to $10,000, and has agreed to a two-year lease. Councilmember Mackie asked where large meetings will be held. Ms. Barber said the Church Fellowship Hall is still available for large senior activities once COVID is over. A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Esters to authorize the Interim City Manager to sign the Lease Agreement in substantially the form attached for a 2-year term for Seniors Staff office space at 10007 Rhode Island Avenue. Councilmember Kabir is glad we found the right place for our Seniors’ staff and caseworkers to work more efficiently. It will help our vulnerable senior population receive services. Comments from the audience: Mary Cook, resident: She understands the need to get all the staff in one place but is confused by the write up in the packet. Ms. Barber responded that we still have an agreement with the church to use the Fellowship Hall for senior activities once COVID restrictions are lifted. There is no intention to move the seniors’ activities out of the church. The motion passed 8-0. 21-G-22 Approval of establishing a steering committee to develop the framework for a Restorative Justice Commission Mr. Gardiner reviewed the staff report and background. This motion would create a Restorative Justice Steering Committee to make recommendations to Mayor and Council about a proposed Restorative Justice Commission. The proposal is that the Steering Committee would convene for a six-month term unless Council votes to extend it. The proposed charge to the Steering Committee is to:  Draft a proposed purpose, scope of work, and goals for the Restorative Justice Commission.  Recommend the composition, size, and term of the Commission members.  Draft a proposed framework and timeline for the Restorative Justice Commission  Identify resources (training programs, books, etc.) and facilitators that the City Council should consider purchasing and engaging to help ensure this process will be successful. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 5 The Mayor discussed the need for education and training. Councilmember Mackie asked about budgeting for this work. Councilmember Day asked about the make-up of the Committee. Councilmember Dennis discussed the method and timing of appointments to the Steering Committee. Mayor Wojahn said there are ongoing discussions about the composition of the Steering Committee but those decisions won’t be made tonight. A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to create a Restorative Justice Steering Committee as outlined above to provide the Mayor and Council with assistance for the subsequent establishment of a Restorative Justice Commission to address the harms caused to the Lakeland community. Comments from the audience: Maxine Gross, resident: Thank you for moving forward with the concept of Restorative Justice for the Lakeland community. The maximum number of Lakelanders should be allowed to participate; you may want to bring in someone from UMD. Richard Biffl, non-resident: As a member of the Old Town diaspora, he has sympathy for the people who have left the Lakeland community. The City was hasty in declaring it had racially oppressed the Lakeland neighborhood. There were a lot of forces in the mid-20th century that broke neighborhoods up. There was support within Lakeland for Urban Renewal, and Mayor Dervey Lomax supported it, although it probably had unintended consequences. The County and Park and Planning got involved and changed the direction of Urban Renewal. He feels there was a spirit of cooperation and many people who wanted to help the Lakeland community at the time. He hopes we’ll end up with a better understanding of the history. Mayor Wojahn noted this is the next step in a lot of work that we have to do. He encouraged broad engagement in the process. Councilmember Dennis asked about the timeline for fulfilling the positions; he wants to maintain our momentum. Ms. Miller outlined a possible timeline. Staff will advertise the Steering Committee vacancies and application process. Council may reach out to people they think should be involved. The motion passed 8-0. 21-G-21 Review and action on legislation None. ADD: Discussion on next week’s agenda item on advisory boards: Council discussed how to use the time on next week’s Worksession. Councilmember Kennedy said the Committee on Committees has reached out to several of the committees but needs more time to finish that up. It might be helpful to get a high level 5 minute presentation from the six Workplan Committees to get a sense of what they are doing. Concern about overburdening Committees by asking them to do a presentation; we can read their reports to see what they are doing. Reach out to the Tree and Landscape Board and Animal Welfare Committee for now. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes February 9, 2021 Page 6 The Rec Board hasn’t been meeting. Check with the others on availability and need to meet with Council. Council is charged with approving the Workplans. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to adjourn the Regular Meeting, and with a vote of 8-0, Mayor Wojahn adjourned the meeting at 9:22 p.m. _____________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved