Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES College Park City Council Tuesday, April 6, 2021 7:30 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this was a Virtual Meeting. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Esters, Day, Rigg, Mitchell, and Mackie. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Bill Gardiner, Interim City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Katie Hart, Community Development Planner; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works; Bridgette Johnson, Economic Development Manager; Julia Nikhinson, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the Virtual Worksession at 7:30 p.m. He began by reading the attached Resolution condemning anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander Hate. He then read a statement from the Mayor and Council condemning hate against minority groups in the City and across the Country. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Gardiner mentioned the University of Maryland Policing and Safety Survey; reminded everyone that dogs must be on leashes; announced upcoming public hearings on the MAGLEV high speed rail project and Public Works April spring cleanup dates; and said the mass COVID vaccine site is opening at the Greenbelt Metro station. Amendments to /Approval of Agenda: A motion was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to add a possible Special Session tonight for the Farmers Market item. The motion passed 8-0. A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Esters to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed 8-0. Discussion items: 1. Presentation by RK&K on the Rhode Island Avenue buffered bike lane project – Katie Hart; Stacy Barefoot and Robert Gillespie from RK&K. Ms. Hart reviewed the staff report and history of the project. Ms. Barefoot reviewed the PowerPoint. Discussion of the dangerous conflict at the slip lane. Questions about the project timeline and its dependency on the acquisition of Rhode Island Avenue. The project is not funded for construction but has been included in the City’s proposed FY ’22 General Fund budget. The project will take 6-8 months for Phase 1 (University north to Muskogee), weather permitting, based on the resurfacing and restriping of Rhode Island Avenue being completed first. Discussion about RRFBs and flex posts. College Park Worksession Minutes April 6, 2021 Page 2 2. Review of Property Use Agreement / request for support of an application for a Class B – Beer, Wine and Liquor License for Milk and Honey College Park, LLC, t/a Milk & Honey, 10280 Baltimore Avenue. Mr. Ryan reviewed the staff report. Ben Carter, attorney for the applicant, said Milk & Honey was recently acquired by Thompson Hospitality who remodeled the store. They are losing business because they aren’t able to serve Mimosas and Bloody Marys with brunch, so having this ability will help business. Discussion about the outside patio – the PUA addresses noise levels. Under the current state of emergency they are allowed to serve outdoors; it remains to be seen what will happen in the future. The application is for a full Beer, Wine and Liquor license. Ms. Ferguson said we are in agreement on the wording in the draft Property Use Agreement. To agenda next week (Consent). 3. One-year report on the Bulk Trash pilot – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works. Mr. Marsili reviewed the results of the one-year pilot period. The next step would be for the Mayor and Council to decide whether to begin to collect the fees that were outlined in Ordinance 20-O-02. Council questions: How many tons were picked up this year and what were the tipping fees. How many addresses had repeat calls for additional items? Breakdown of owner occupied vs. rental homes: 23% Rental, 77% non-rental, 1% illegal dumping. About 4% would have exceeded the number of free pick-ups. Suggestion to create a one-pager with recycle/reuse options for bulk trash to include with the bills. Question about the trash fee for rental properties. Discussion about how counting the number of items has worked. A reminder that not everyone who sets out excessive items is abusing the system; in some cases it is a necessity. Contractor bags are collected as one item. Ongoing efforts to educate the public with door hangers. Think about a process where a resident can apply for a waiver under certain circumstances (a hardship such as flooding, home clean out when someone dies) – how would it be verified? Return future W/S. 4. Hollywood Farmers Market: License Agreement, Insurance, MOU (21-G-47) - Bridgette Johnson, Economic Development Manager and Aaron Springer, President of the Hollywood Farmers Market, Inc: Ms. Johnson reviewed the staff report. There is an interest in considering this in Special Session tonight because the market season is upon us and we don’t have permits yet. Ms. Ferguson said we have agreement on the license agreement. Mr. Springer said there is agreement on the MOU. The City would pay the cost of the County Permit - between $165-$200. Focus on the upcoming transition to a new business model that relies less on volunteers in order to strengthen the organization by moving some of the responsibilities to the City. The long-term Market Manager is leaving at the end of this season – another decision point. Motion approved in Special Session – See minutes for 21-G-47. College Park Worksession Minutes April 6, 2021 Page 3 5. Advisory Boards: Review proposed changes to advisory boards and to Policy and Procedures document. Ms. Miller reviewed the staff report. She said the advisory board workplans and annual reports should be approved next week. She reviewed the proposed changes – some by ordinance, some by resolution, and some to the policy and procedure document. Council discussed wanting to add an orientation to the process. It could be virtual; perhaps in the fall after the new appointments. Question about whether this would be for the newly appointed members or all members. A chance to provide context for everyone to feel like they are part of something bigger. Other thoughts: as part of the recruitment process, holding an information session for people interested in applying; an orientation discussion with staff liaisons to reinforce the purposes of the committee and their responsibilities as staff liaison. Staff recommendations to agenda next week (to consent, where possible). Further discussion about other ideas at a later date. 6. Consideration of legislation (final week of general session): • Follow up on SB 89. • Invite lobbyist in to do an after-session report. 7. Agenda items for April 22 Four Cities Meeting • Update on Greenbelt Road project • Status of MAGLEV project 8. Requests for/Status of Future Agenda Items • Councilmember Kennedy: Add Car Noise Reduction options / City-wide community meeting to determine scope / what have other cities done. Kennedy/Mitchell 8-0. • Councilmember Kennedy: Add City Attorney evaluation in closed session / discuss how to conduct it. Kennedy/Mitchell 8-0. • Councilmember Mitchell: Can M&C receive a report from staff about Meals On Wheels: location options and how the City can be supportive. Guidance on whether American Recovery Act funding can assist them. Involve UMD and TDC. • Councilmember Rigg: Add “Undeeded strips of property” / some encroachment / number and status of these undeeded and unmanaged properties and how to address them. Rigg/Day 8-0. 9. Mayor and Councilmember Comments • Councilmember Kabir: Community police meeting on Monday; NCPCA meeting on Thursday. • Councilmember Esters: Last night’s community meeting on the Stone Straw property. • Councilmember Rigg: CHCA meeting with Gilbane tomorrow night to talk about the Western Gateway Project. College Park Worksession Minutes April 6, 2021 Page 4 • Mayor Wojahn: Time to establish the Student Liaison Selection Committee: Esters, Rigg and Mayor; last week’s WSSC meeting; UMD Survey on Community Policing. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Esters to adjourn into a Closed Session. Mayor Wojahn read the closing statement: Pursuant to the statutory authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Art. § 3-305(b), the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a closed session after the Worksession on April 6 to discuss the appointment of individuals over whom this public body has jurisdiction. Specifically, the Mayor and Council will review applications for appointment to the Restorative Justice Steering Committee and to other advisory boards. The Mayor and Council will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0 and the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. ___________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved