Mayor & City Council

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If the controls are not showing, hover your mouse pointer over the Zoom window and the controls will immediately appear. 2 002 When the webinar is opened for public comment, you can click the “Raise Hand” control so that the Host will know that you would like to speak. When it’s your turn to speak, you will be called upon to speak and you will get the following prompt: Click the Unmute button to speak to the webinar and all the participants will be able to hear you. While you are granted the option to speak, notice the microphone control that will appear at the lower-left corner of your Zoom window. Clicking that control will allow you to unmute and mute yourself. After the Host has stopped the option to speak, the microphone control will disappear and you will not be able to speak to the webinar. 3 003 Guidelines and Best Practices for participation 1. Please keep yourself on “mute” to eliminate background noise. 2. A high-speed, wired internet connection will provide the best results. 3. We recommend that you close other applications on your device to preserve bandwidth. 4. If you will be speaking, we suggest using a headset with microphone for best results. 5. For public comment portions of the meeting, please unmute yourself when prompted by the Mayor, and remember to re-mute yourself when you are finished. Please eliminate as much background noise as possible when you are speaking. 6. Please state your name and whether you are a College Park resident when you begin your testimony. Speakers are given 3 minutes. 4 004  MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021 CITY OF COLLEGE PARK 6:00 P.M. EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AGENDA *VIRTUAL MEETING* Meeting Link Will Be Posted On City Website Calendar COLLEGE PARK MISSION We provide excellent services, transparent and inclusive governance, and advocate for our residents to enhance the quality of life for our diverse community. 1. MEDITATION 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Councilmember Kennedy 3. ROLL CALL 4. COUNCIL VOTE TO CONVENE AN EMERGENCY MEETING (Pursuant to the Mayor and Council’s Adopted Rules and Procedures, the consent of two-thirds of the Mayor and City Councilmembers available is required to hold an Emergency Meeting.) 5. ACTION ITEM: 21-G-126 Discussion of a City Council position on Prince George’s County Motion By: To: Bill CB-115-2021 An Act Concerning 2021 Prince George’s Second: County Council Redistricting Plan for the purpose of enacting a Aye: plan of County Council district boundaries in accordance with Nay: Section 305 of the County Charter. 6. ADJOURN ➢ This agenda is subject to change. For the most current information, please contact the City Clerk at 240-487-3501. ➢ Public Comment on this agenda item will be received after a motion and second is made. Speakers have three minutes to address the Council. ➢ In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 240-487-3501 and describe the assistance that is necessary. 005  CITY OF COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND EMERGENCY MEETING AGENDA ITEM: 21-G-126_ Prepared By: Bill Gardiner Meeting Date: 10/18/2021 Assistant City Manager; Janeen Miller City Clerk Presented By: Mayor Wojahn Proposed Consent: N/A Originating Department: Mayor and Council Action Requested: Discussion of a City Council position on Prince George’s County Bill CB-115- 2021 An Act Concerning 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting Plan for the purpose of enacting a plan of County Council district boundaries in accordance with Section 305 of the County Charter. Strategic Plan Objective: Objective 6: Inspire and nurture a welcoming and inclusive community that encourages and embodies engagement, collaboration, and equity throughout our City. Background/Justification: The Prince George’s County Council appointed a Redistricting Commission (https://pgccouncil.us/326/Redistricting-Commission) in January 2021 and requested that a redistricting plan be submitted to the Council by September 1, 2021. The Commission adopted the following principles to develop a proposed 2021 Redistricting Map with Council Districts that are compact, contiguous and equal in population: • Least change map • Contiguous areas • Avoid splitting precincts • Population deviation no greater than 4.5% • Consideration of assets that connect districts On June 21, the 2021 Redistricting Commission voted to release preliminary maps of boundary changes for Council districts using projected census population data. The maps were posted and in July the Redistricting Commission held its first public hearing. The Commission’s report (https://pgccouncil.us/DocumentCenter/View/6648/2021-Redistricting-Commission-Report) was submitted to the County Council on September 1, 2021 and the Council was briefed on September 14, 2021. A public hearing on the 2021 Redistricting Commission Plan and Report was held on September 28, 2021. On October 14, 2021, the County Council introduced and voted in favor (6-4) of a redistricting map very different from the map proposed by the Redistricting Commission. The map the County Council majority supported apparently had not been discussed publicly or provided in advance. The new proposed map puts all of College Park in District 1. Additionally, if the new map is adopted then some County Council candidates will no longer live in the districts for which they were planning to submit their candidacy. The attached newsletters by Councilmembers Dernoga and Glaros explain other impacts on College Park and surrounding communities if the new proposed map is approved. The County Council is meeting on October 19, 2021 to vote on CB-115-2021, “An Act Concerning 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting Plan,” the proposed new County Council District map. If the Council approves the bill it will not be able to be changed and there will be a public hearing in November. Then, the County Council will only have two options: approve the new map or take no action and therefore the Redistricting Commission Plan would be enacted. Pages 19 and 25 of the Redistricting Commission Plan are also attached. Fiscal Impact: N/A Council Options: 1. Authorize correspondence to the County Council stating the City’s opposition to the proposed new district boundaries in CB-115-21 and urging the County Council to support the Redistricting Commission’s plan. 2. Authorize correspondence to the County Council stating the City’s support for CB-115-21, the new proposed Council District boundaries. 3. Take no action at this time. Staff Recommendation: This is a political issue for Council to decide. Recommended Motion: N/A Attachments: 1. CB-115-21 2. CB-115-21 Attachments I, J, and K 3. Redistricting Commission “1A. District 1—Closeup Map of the Adelphi Change” (page 19 of the Report) 4. Redistricting Commission “Proposed Redistricting Plan Council District 3” (page 25 of the Report) 5. Councilmember Glaros Newsletter 6. Councilmember Dernoga Newsletter 21-G-126 County Council Redistricting 10.18.21.JSM.Docx2  DR-1 COUNTY COUNCIL OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND 2021 Legislative Session Bill No. CB-115-2021 Chapter No. Proposed and Presented by Introduced by Council Members Davis, Franklin, Harrison, Hawkins, Taveras and Turner Date of Introduction October 19, 2021 BILL 1 AN ACT concerning 2 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting Plan 3 For the purpose of enacting a plan of County Council district boundaries in accordance with 4 Section 305 of the County Charter. 5 WHEREAS, Section 305 of the County Charter provides that the boundaries of Council 6 districts shall be reestablished in 1982 and every tenth year thereafter; and 7 WHEREAS, this Section further provides that a commission on redistricting be appointed to 8 prepare, publish, and make available a plan of Council districts, together with a report explaining 9 it, for Council consideration on or before September 1 of the year prior to the year in which 10 redistricting is to be effective; and 11 WHEREAS, on January 28, 2021, the County Council adopted CR-6-2021 appointing 12 members to the 2021 Redistricting Commission and reciting the commission’s respective duties 13 as prescribed by Charter; and 14 WHEREAS, the 2021 Redistricting Commission executed its charge remotely, via a virtual 15 platform, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 16 pandemic, the hallmark of the 2021 Redistricting Commission Plan and Report has been 17 transparency, with a focus on citizen and community participation; and 18 WHEREAS, the 2021 Redistricting Commission conducted a comprehensive series of public 19 meetings and public hearings, which included electronic outreach efforts to gather public input in 20 the preparation of its Plan; and 1 008  CB-115-2021 (DR-1) 1 WHEREAS, to encourage public input and enhance public understanding of the redistricting 2 process and procedures, and to promote transparency, a redistricting website was created, which 3 included but was not limited to information on the redistricting process and timelines, agenda and 4 meeting minutes, census data, public comments, briefings, preliminary and final plan proposals; 5 and 6 WHEREAS, the 2021 Redistricting Commission transmitted its 2021 Redistricting 7 Commission Plan and Report to the County Council on September 1, 2021; and 8 WHEREAS, as further required by Section 305 of the County Charter, the County Council 9 held a public hearing on the 2021 Redistricting Commission Plan and Report on September 28, 10 2021, which included public testimony, comment, and plan proposals; and 11 WHEREAS, the County Council conducted public work sessions on October 12, 2021 and 12 October 14, 2021, respectively, to consider the 2021 Redistricting Commission Plan and Report 13 and to create a 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting Plan for consideration and 14 action; and 15 WHEREAS, on October 14, 2021, an alternative plan was presented at the County Council 16 sitting as the Committee of the Whole and the alternative plan, known as the 2021 Prince George’s 17 County Council Redistricting Plan, was voted favorably out of the Committee of the Whole by the 18 County Council; and 19 WHEREAS, the district boundaries of the 2021 Prince George’s County Council 20 Redistricting Plan are set forth in Attachments A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, and 21 Q, and attached hereto and made a part hereof as if set forth fully herein; and 22 WHEREAS, Attachment A is a depiction of Existing District Boundaries, Attachment B is a 23 depiction of Council’s Proposed Plan from October 14, 2021, Attachment C depicts a Comparison 24 of Existing Districts and Proposed Districts, Attachment D depicts a Countywide Map of the 25 Proposed Plan, Attachment E depicts Proposed Districts Overlaid with Existing District 26 Boundaries, Attachment F depicts the Block Equivalency Files of the Proposed Plan, Attachment 27 G depicts the Metes and Bounds of the Proposed Plan, Attachment H depicts Population 28 Demographics of the Proposed Plan, Attachment I depicts Proposed District 1, Attachment J 29 depicts Proposed District 2, Attachment K depicts Proposed District 3, Attachment L depicts 30 Proposed District 4, Attachment M depicts Proposed District 5, Attachment N depicts Proposed 31 District 6, Attachment O depicts Proposed District 7, Attachment P depicts Proposed District 8, 2 009  CB-115-2021 (DR-1) 1 and Attachment Q depicts Proposed District 9; and 2 WHEREAS, the 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting Plan as set forth in 3 Attachments A through Q meets the requirements of Section 305 of the County Charter that the 4 redistricting plan of County Council district boundaries be compact, contiguous, and equal in 5 population; and 6 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the County Council to exercise its authority pursuant to Section 7 305 of the County Charter; now, therefore 8 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED by the County Council of Prince George’s County, 9 Maryland, that the 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting Plan, as set forth in 10 Attachments A through Q hereto, and incorporated as if set forth fully herein, be and the same is 11 hereby approved. 12 SECTION 2. BE IT FURTHER ENACTED that the provisions of this Act are hereby 13 declared to be severable; and, in the event that any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, 14 sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of 15 competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the remaining words, 16 phrases, clauses, sentences, subparagraphs, paragraphs, subsections, or sections of this Act, since 17 the same would have been enacted without the incorporation in this Act of any such invalid or 18 unconstitutional word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, subparagraph, subsection, or section. 19 SECTION 3. BE IT FURTHER ENACTED that the Clerk of the Council is hereby directed 20 to transmit a certified copy of the approved 2021 Prince George’s County Council Redistricting 21 Plan to the Prince George’s County Board of Elections on the date it becomes law for further 22 administrative action. Adopted this __ day of__________, 2021. COUNTY COUNCIL OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MARYLAND BY: _________________________________ Calvin S. Hawkins, II Chair 3 010  CB-115-2021 (DR-1) ATTEST: ______________________________ Donna J. Brown Clerk of the Council APPROVED: DATE: ________________________ BY: _________________________________ Angela D. Alsobrooks County Executive 4 011  CB-115-2021 (DR-1) ATTACHMENT I Proposed Redistricting Plan Council District 1 October 14, 2021 ----=====::::J 0 2 Miles Prince George's County Legend Maryland 0 Police St ation ~ Fire Station Iii Post Office 111 Train Station ~ Proposed Council District 1 0 Proposed Council District Census Place Name 0 Municipal Boundary Adelphi Be ltsville Calverton College Park Hillandale Konterra Laurel South Laurel West Laurel C reated: 10/151202 012  CB-115-2021 (DR-1) ATTACHMENT K Census Place Name Proposed Redistricting Plan Adelphi Berwyn Heights Council District 3 East Riverdale Greenbelt October 14, 2021 Prince George's County Maryland Police Station 9 Fire Station 111 Post Office aJ Train Station C Proposed Council District 3 D Proposed Council District Prince George's County D Mu.::_icipal Boundary Maryland 013  CB-115-2021 (DR-1) ATTACHMENT J Proposed Redistricting Plan Council District 2 October 14, 2021 Prince George's County Maryland N 0 +0.5 Census Place Name Adelphi Brentwood Chillum East Riverdale I Edmonston \ ~ Hyattsville Langley Park Mount Rainier North Brentwood Riverdale Park Legend 0 Police Station i1 Fire Station Iii Post Office Ill Train Station C Proposed Council District 2 D Proposed Council District D Municipal Boundary Prince George's County Maryland C reated: 10/151202 Created by: robert,gelner 014 10/18/21, 10:27 AM [HOPE] District 1 Boundaries Greatly Affected by Sudden Redistricting Proposal - billgard@gmail.com - Gmail Haga clic aquí para ver la versión en español District 1 Boundaries Greatly Affected by Sudden Redistricting Proposal Dear Friends, If you live in South Laurel, Vansville, North Creekor the Brickyard, after the 2022 election your new Council member will likely live in South Bowie. If you live in Buck Lodge, you will be moving to District 2. Last Thursday, the County Council "Committee of the Whole" voted to recommend a new District Mapthat dramatically changes Council boundaries to benefit the political interests of some Council members. This is a new map that neither the public nor 4 of the 10 Councilmembers present had heard anything about. Up to this time, the public had seen - and the Council was allegedly voting on - a Recommended Map created by the Redistricting Commission developed over months of public discussion. The Redistricting Commission’s Reportproposed minimal changes to the existing District boundaries (the "Least Change" option). After some futile objections, which fell on deaf ears since the decision had been made in advance, the new Map received a favorable Committee recommendation 6 to 4. I voted against it, along with Council Members Dannielle Glaros, Jolene Ivey, and Monique Anderson-Walker. The new proposed Councilmanic District Map will be on the agenda for Introduction on Tuesday morning. Unless the map is amended before introduction, an unlikely event, the Council will no longer be able to change the map. A public hearing is scheduled for November 16th. However, at that time, only two options are possible: Approval of the New Map approved Thursday or the Council could take no action resulting in the Redistricting Commission's Recommended Map becoming law by default. I have supported the Commission's map of least change. The new map is the opposite of that. Impact to District 1 Large parts of District 1 would be moved to other districts. Communities that have been able to work together for many years now will be divided up and moved to neighboring districts. The changes to District 1 include: Losing the eastern part of Adelphi in the Buck Lodge area to District 2 Moving most of South Laurel (south of Cherry Lane and east of Route 1), including Vansville, into District 4 (Bowie area) The entirety of College Park would be moved into District 1, adding the University of Maryland campus and everything south of Route 193 Pulling Vansville and South Laurel into District 4 will make these residents extremely separated from the rest of their district - geographically and as a cohesive community. One has to be concerned whether these communities will get the attention that they deserve. The many changes to the Redistricting Commission's Recommended Map are dramatic and not supported by the public. The political basis of the new map is evident from the fact that at least fivedeclared or potential County Council candidates have been moved from the districts that they have lived in for years to new districts. Click here to view a set of maps that compare the proposed districts with existing districts. Concerned constituents will have the opportunity to participate in the November 16th public hearing. Click here for guidelines regarding testimony. There will be two options: The Council could approve the new proposed Councilmanic District Map. The Council could take no action, in which case, the Redistricting Commission’s Recommended Map will become law by default. To learn more, click on the image below to view a Tracee Wilkins news segment on NBC4. Oct. 15 NBC4 015 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGlkPcpPJrWsmTKCTTHtfkcctdH 1/2 10/18/21, 10:27 AM [HOPE] District 1 Boundaries Greatly Affected by Sudden Redistricting Proposal - billgard@gmail.com - Gmail Redistricting Background The Redistricting Commission has been meeting for months, and after two public hearings, it produced a Report and Recommended Map. This map proposed only a couple of changes to existing district boundaries (the "Least Change" option). This map becomes law by default if the Council does not enact a different map by November 30th. A few weeks ago, the County Council held a hearing on the Commission's Recommended Map with only a few speakers. This past Tuesday, the Council held a Committee meeting but there was no significant discussion. On Thursday, at the final Committee meeting to propose changes in time for adoption by November 30th, a secret map was produced - actually, it was not even physically available until part way through the discussion about it. As noted, once a map is introduced on Tuesday, the choice on November 16th will be between this new Map and the Redistricting Commission's Recommended Map. I will continue to oppose this radical new map, and I urge you to contact all of the members of the County Council, including the At-Large Council Members, since they also represent you. My staff and I will continue to update you as we receive additional information. Sincerely, Thomas E. Dernoga ‌ ‌ ‌ 016 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGlkPcpPJrWsmTKCTTHtfkcctdH 2/2 3. District 3 retains its current configuration except insofar as it gives up one precinct in Glenn Dale. Precinct 20-009 (comprising 2,205 people) moves from District 3 to District 4. As a result, population for District 3 drops from 112,554 to 110,349. Its deviation drops from 4.73% to 2.68%. District 3 continues to include College Park, University Park, Berwyn Heights, Riverdale Park, East Riverdale, Woodlawn, Landover Hills, and large sections of Seabrook and Lanham, as well as a small piece of Glenn Dale. Census Place Name Proposed Redistricting Plan Berwyn Heights College Park Council District 3 East Riv erdale August 17, 2021 Landover Hills New Carollton Prince George's County Riverdale Park Seabrook Maryland University Park Wood lawn Police S tation >< Fire Station 111 Post Office l:ll Train Stat1on C P roposed Council District 3 c:::J Proposed Council District ..........._ Summerfield CJ Municipal Boundary -......._ ~ ~._, 017 25 1A. District 1 — Closeup Map of The Adelphi Change RED portion on map shows Adelphi Precincts moved from District 1 to District 2. ' Beltsville College Park' • of / Riv~'dale Park I EastRiverdala ~ -:g Hyattsville. e I ~ I . Wooc LNorth- Bre unt Rainier 018 19 10/18/21, 10:25 AM Major Council District Changes for D3 and All Districts, Purple Line and Police Chief Events Coming Up - October 14, 2021 - bil… October 14, 2021 Follow me on Social Media for Regular Updates: ‌ ‌ ‌ I have mentioned previously in this email newsletter about the decennial redistricting process for the Prince George's County Council and noted my deep appreciation for the members of the Redistricting Commission who put in extensive work over the past several months. Thank you also to those who attended and spoke at the Commission's public hearings. This afternoon in Committee of the Whole, Council Member Derrick Leon Davis put forward a brand new map which is dramatically different from the Redistricting Commission proposal. After deep concerns were raised by several colleagues, including myself, about the lack of transparancy and opportunity for public input, the Council quickly approved this map by a vote of 6-4. I joined with Council Members Tom Dernoga, Jolene Ivey, and Monique Anderson-Walker in opposing this map due to the deep changes proposed for District 3 at the last minute. Having served you for nearly 15 years, it is heart-breaking to see D3 torn apart without any opportunity for you to speak up and share your thoughts. The work we have done together has been powerful and the new proposal separates neighborhoods and municipalities with important linkages. It divides Purple Line communities and isloates UMD away from its ecosystem. The meeting was live-streamed today and the archived video should be available to view in approximately 24 hours here. For our District 3 residents, this new map includes multiple changes to your representation, below are several of the largest changes: All of the City of College Park, including the University of Maryland, will be moved to District 1 All of the City of Greenbelt will be moved to District 3 The Town of Landover Hills and Bellmeade community will be moved to District 5 The communities of Lincoln Vista and all of Glenn Dale will be moved to District 4 Another dramatic impact of these changes comes from the fact that County Charter requires that Council Members must live in their district for one year prior to running in a primary election. The Council primary is in June 2022. This new map may impact multiple individuals across the County who are thinking of running for County Council next year, but will have been required to live within these new boundaries since last June. Redistricting Commission Work, Public Documents New Map Approved Today - Full County New Map Approved Today - District 3 The new proposed Councilmanic district map will be on the agenda for Introduction on Tuesday morning. If it recieves a favorable vote on Tuesday, it will not be able to be changed. The public hearing will take place in November. However, at that time, only two options are possible: Approval of the New Map Approved Today or the Council could take no action which would mean the Redistricting Commission's Recommended Map moves forward. If you have concerns about the map or the process, I urge you to reach out to my colleagues before Tuesday, October 19, when this new map is on the agenda for Introduction. Their email addresses are available here. 019 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#search/glaros/FMfcgzGlkPXMDQVkzwSzTHltzFMmRKTm 1/1