Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES College Park City Council Tuesday, October 5, 2021 7:30 p.m. – 9:50 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: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Miriam Bader, Senior Planner; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Teresa Way- Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources; Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager; Renee Whitehead, Public Services Administrative Assistant; Megha Sevalia, Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the Virtual Worksession at 7:30 p.m. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Young said we reached a milestone in the City Hall project – submission to the County for our temporary U&O. Amendments to /Approval of Agenda: A motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to add a Special Session to appoint the Jack Perry Award Subcommittee; the motion passed 8-0. A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Day to approve the agenda as amended; the motion passed 8-0. Discussion items: 1. Preliminary Plan of Subdivision 4-20041, northeast corner of 50th Place and Kenesaw Street, for 2 lots: Ms. Schum said this application is somewhat out of the ordinary. It is considered a minor lot- line adjustment. They are typically handled by the County Planning Director, but this time will be heard by the county Planning Board because there are several variances and we don’t have authority to hear Preliminary Plans of Subdivision. Our authority (for the APC to hear the case) only extends to variances and departures that stand alone and aren’t associated with a companion case. Ms. Bader reviewed the staff report. The applicant is requesting a lot line adjustment and it will necessitate six variances, some of which are minor. Staff is recommending support with conditions. College Park Worksession Minutes October 5, 2021 Page 2 Mr. Grimsley said he is in agreement with the staff recommendation. Councilmember Kabir asked if there is an opportunity for the public to comment. Ms. Bader said the applicant has provided notice to the adjoining property owners about the Planning Board’s public hearing on October 21. Staff recommendation to Consent next week. 2. Presentation by IBTS on City of College Park Feasibility Study for Providing Building Code, Permitting And Enforcement Services (RFP CP-20-03): Mr. Ryan said the project began with the issuance of an RFP in February of 2020. The purpose of the feasibility study is to determine if it is technically and financially feasible for the City to do certain of the tasks currently handled by the County. A staff steering committee (Ryan, Ferguson, Schum, Whitehead, Halpern and Bader) worked throughout the project to assist IBTS. Chris Miller from IBTS reviewed the PowerPoint. This study was not about assuming planning and zoning authority from the County. He reviewed the various options and the cost benefit analysis for each. IBTS recommends the City consider Option B. Mayor Wojahn asked where the City contractors would come from. Mr. Miller said DPIE has a list of approved contractors that are familiar with the County Code and fee structure. He recommends we adopt the same fee structure. Councilmember Kennedy asked if we use the same contractors as the County, would we then have the same bottlenecks that the County has? Mr. Miller said the County’s bottlenecks seem to be internal, i.e., lack of coordination inside DPIE. She clarified this would be for new construction and additions being built in the City and asked what will happen if there is a dip in those projects. Mr. Ryan said in the hybrid model we would not rely on full-time staff but rather would use contractors. Councilmember Kabir asked about driveway and deck projects and if the resident would still have to get the same permit from both the County and the City. Mr. Miller thought those small permits could normally be handled while someone waits. He asked about the County losing the permit fees if the City took this over and whether the County tax rate would change (tax differential). He asked if the City’s computers could talk to the County’s computers. More research needs to be done on this. Ms. Ferguson said there still would be other agencies the resident would have to deal with such as Park & Planning or Planning Board. The City would take over the County part of the building permit but would not bypass the other County agencies. Councilmember Esters asked whether the data from 2019 is relevant today to be revenue neutral. Mr. Miller said that is why they are recommending the use of contractors. College Park Worksession Minutes October 5, 2021 Page 3 Councilmember Day wants us to touch base with the County sooner rather than later. Ms. Ferguson said to take this on we have to show that we can do this work at least as well as the County can do it, and that this report can serve as a basis for the discussion. He asked about using the same contractors the County uses. Mr. Miller said that can help with the high degree of coordination that is needed between the City and the County. Councilmember Mackie asked about the coordination between the City and the County or State on big construction projects. Mr. Miller said someone at the City would serve as the Project Manager on a project like that. Councilmember Mitchell asked for clarification on what providing consent on this item will mean: it would mean engaging in conversation with the County Council. Councilmember Kennedy asked if there is a way to know who this proposal would help the most. The Staff recommendation is to continue to explore the process and report back to the Council. Staff requests a motion by Council next week – Rigg to agenda. Staff may also want to discuss with Council in closed session. 3. Discussion of City priorities for the M-NCPPC budget: Mr. Gardiner said the County will hold a budget public forum on October 19 and written comment will be accepted until November 2. There is no proposed budget to review at this time. He reviewed the staff report and pointed out the comment in the red folder about amenities for the seniors in our community. Possible new/additional requests: Sidewalk connection from the park to the Edmonston Road sidewalk. The Calvert Community Park is losing old growth canopy trees. Help to change the rules about how developers have to do reforestation in the City. Places where the Paint Branch path is narrow (under Campus Drive?). Letter to Consent Agenda next week. ADD: Special Session: To appoint the Jack Perry Award Subcommittee: Motion to enter Special Session by Mitchell/Dennis, passed 8-0, at 9:35 p.m. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to appoint Councilmembers Esters and Dennis, and a member of the Perry family, to the Jack Perry Award Subcommittee. The motion passed 8-0. Motion to adjourn Special Session by Mitchell/Rigg, passed 8-0 at 9:36 p.m. College Park Worksession Minutes October 5, 2021 Page 4 4. Requests for/Status of Future Agenda Items Councilmembers Kabir and Rigg will submit a future agenda request form about supporting our local businesses. Councilmember Mitchell requested an update on the Paint Branch Golf Course development project, and asked if the review of undeeded properties is ready for Council. 5. Mayor and Councilmember Comments:  Councilmember Kabir – NCPCA D1 and D4 Candidate Forum on October 14.  Councilmember Kennedy – in order to receive the Child Tax Credit you need to file a tax return.  Councilmember Dennis – the County Treasurer’s office is behind in processing property tax payments.  Councilmember Esters – World Teacher’s Day.  Councilmember Mitchell – Some residents have received duplicate tax bills. D4 meet and greet on Oct 16.  Councilmember Mackie – Friday is Walk Maryland Day.  Ms. Sevalia – SGA hosting an on-campus candidate event on 10/21.  Mayor Wojahn – CBE forum on sustainability. 6. Adjourn: A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adjourn into a Closed Session. Mayor Wojahn read the closing statement: Pursuant to the statutory authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article § 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 meeting to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction. Specifically, the Mayor and Council will review and discuss applications to advisory boards. The Mayor and Council will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0 and the Worksession adjourned at 9:50 p.m. ______________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved