Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Tuesday, October 12, 2021 7:30 p.m. – 9:03 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; Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Teresa Way- Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources; Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager; and Student Liaison Megha Sevalia. Mayor Wojahn opened the virtual Regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir announced the North College Park Community Association monthly meeting. The Monarch Preschool is hosting a Fall Fun Fest. Councilmember Dennis announced the District 1 Police Coffee Club tomorrow; the Lakeland Civic Association will meet next Thursday. Councilmember Day announced a candidates’ forum on Wednesday at the College Park Airport. Councilmember Mackie announced a candidate forum on Saturday. Ms. Sevalia said the SGA is holding a candidate event on October 21st at Stamp Student Union. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Young announced the Saturday DPW clean-up event; the absentee ballot deadline for the City election; and the upcoming focus groups for the Age- Friendly Action Plan for College Park. PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS: Mayor Wojahn read the proclamation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was approved without amendment (Mitchell/Esters) 8-0. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes October 12, 2021 Page 2 PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Stuart Adams, resident: He referenced the Diamondback article about the Western Gateway project at Guilford Woods and urged the Council to take a position. There is a student-led event to save the woods. Carol Macknis, resident: Asked when the ballots will be mailed and about tracking the ballots. Meg Oates, resident: Expressed her concerns about the proposal to tear down Guilford Woods for more housing. She urges the Council to oppose the development. Brooks Boliek, resident: Believes the proposed Ecograds project is too big. PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance 21-O-12, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Authorizing By Quit Claim Deed the Acquisition and Ownership of, Jurisdiction Over and Responsibility for the Maintenance of Rhode Island Avenue from Paducah Road to Greenbelt Road, in College Park, for a Public Purpose. Ms. Ferguson said this ordinance authorizes transfer of the deed for Rhode Island Avenue from the County to the City. The City previously approved the transfer agreement. Brooks Boliek, resident: He is in support; he is an avid cyclist. Regarding the crossing at the 7- 11, it would be nice to have some traffic control there when you cross MD 430. We need to lower the speed on Greenbelt Road. There being no further public comment, Mayor Wojahn closed the Public Hearing. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to adopt the Consent Agenda which consisted of: 21-G-117 Approval of quarterly appointments to Mayor and Council advisory boards. 21-G-118 Award of contract to Cintas for new uniforms for a term of three (3) years with options for two (2) additional one (1) year terms. The contract price meets or is less than pricing from a competitively bid contract issued by the Prince William County, Virginia, School Board. 21-G-119 Award of contract to Apple Ford, Inc., in the amount of $72,627 for purchase of a new 2020 Ford Transit DRW Chassis 9-passenger & 2-wheelchair bus, using previously bid pricing from Baltimore County Contract B-1560, to replace an out-of-service 1999 bus for Youth and Family Services, subject to review of the City Attorney. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes October 12, 2021 Page 3 21-G-120 Recommend Approval with conditions outlined in the Amended City Staff Report for Preliminary Plan of Subdivision 4-20041 for a minor lot line adjustment with variances at 9501 50th Place subject to Applicant providing a 2.5’ public use easement along 50th Place to the City prior to certification of the Preliminary Plan. 21-G-121 Approval of a letter to M-NCPPC outlining the City’s requests for funding in the FY23 M-NCPPC budget. 21-G-124 Approval of minutes from the August 4, 2021 Worksession. The motion passed 8-0. ACTION ITEMS 21-G-122 Consider whether to direct the City Manager and Staff to pursue an exemption from the County Council, based on “Option B-Hybrid Model,” outlined in the IBTS Feasibility Study for Providing Building Code, Permitting and Enforcement Services, in order to establish a City building regulation and enforcement system and to report progress back to the Council. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to direct the City Manager and Staff to explore exemption by the County Council from the DPIE permit issuance and enforcement system, to enable the City to provide building regulation and enforcement services, and to explore establishing the relationships with other agencies that would be needed to provide these services, and, if acceptable to the County, report back to the Council with an implementation process plan. Councilmember Rigg said the hybrid option made the most sense at the presentation last week. There were no comments from the audience or the Council. The motion passed 8-0. 21-G-123 Request for support from Shop Made In Maryland to locate into the new City Hall retail space Mr. Williams reviewed the staff report. Ken Ulman from the Terrapin Development Company said the TDC is responsible for leasing and managing the retail space on the ground floor of the new City Hall. He was looking for something unique and asked Stacey Price, who founded the “Shop Made” store concept, to consider a store in College Park, Shop Made In Maryland. The store will sell locally handmade goods and help local businesses bring their wares to the College Park City Council Meeting Minutes October 12, 2021 Page 4 marketplace. They hope to provide programming for the small business owners and to include a café in the store. Mr. Ullman described the rent as a percentage rent deal rather than a fixed monthly rent and said TDC needs to pay for the build out. They are asking for a one-time investment from the City of $75,000 for this retail tenant only. Councilmember Rigg asked about the economic model. They are a consignment-based business and have a 50/50 agreement with their makers. Councilmember Mitchell says through this initiative she hopes we can help some of our other small business owners in the City. Councilmember Day said this Council has said ‘we want small businesses,’ and this is the perfect way for the City to invest in a small business that is helping to foster other small businesses. He suggested local artists could show their artwork in City Hall. A motion was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to authorize the City Manager to negotiate the terms of a grant up to $75,000 for Shop Made In Maryland. There were no comments from the audience or the Council. The motion passed 8-0. 21-O-12 Adoption of Ordinance 21-O-12, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Authorizing By Quit Claim Deed the Acquisition and Ownership of, Jurisdiction Over and Responsibility for the Maintenance of Rhode Island Avenue from Paducah Road to Greenbelt Road, in College Park, for a Public Purpose A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to adopt Ordinance 21-O-12, Authorizing the City to acquire Rhode Island Avenue from Paducah Road to Greenbelt Road, from the County. Councilmember Kabir said the acquisition will help us with the Hollywood Streetscape Project and the Rhode Island Avenue dedicated bike lanes project; improve snow removal services; and enable traffic improvements from the side streets. He believes the benefits will outweigh the cost. Councilmember Mitchell believes this supports our long-term goals. Councilmember Dennis said the control of Rhode Island Avenue may help with improvements along the MD 430 corridor. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes October 12, 2021 Page 5 Mayor Wojahn said we are exploring bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the MD 430 corridor with SHA. The motion passed 8-0. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Rigg 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 conduct the City Attorney’s evaluation. 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 9:03 p.m. _____________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved CLOSED SESSION October 12, 2021 On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at the conclusion of the Regular Meeting, a motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Rigg to adjourn the Regular Meeting and enter 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 conduct the City Attorney’s evaluation. The Mayor and Council will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0 and the Regular Meeting ended at 9:03 p.m. At 9:10 p.m., the Mayor and Council reconvened in a Closed Session. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the meeting was held virtually. Mayor Wojahn was the Open Meetings Trainee. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes October 12, 2021 Page 6 Mayor Wojahn and Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Esters, Day, Rigg, Mitchell and Mackie were joined by City Attorney Suellen Ferguson. The Mayor and Council conducted the City Attorney’s evaluation. No action was taken. At 9:47 p.m., a motion to adjourn Closed Session was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell. With a vote of 8-0, the meeting ended at 9:47 pm. CLOSED SESSION October 5, 2021 On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at the conclusion of the Worksession, a motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adjourn the meeting and enter 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 was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. At 9:55 p.m., the Mayor and Council reconvened in a Closed Session. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the meeting was held virtually. Mayor Wojahn was the Open Meetings Trainee. The Mayor and Council reviewed applications for vacancies on City advisory boards. They also discussed the process for the evaluation of the Interim City Manager. No action was taken. At 10:16 p.m. a motion to adjourn the Closed Session was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Day. The motion passed 8-0.