Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Regular Meeting of the College Park City Council Inauguration of the 2021-2023 Mayor and Council Tuesday, December 14, 2021 7:30 p.m. – 8:52 p.m. Hybrid Meeting: In Person at 7401 Baltimore Avenue, Council Chambers Or Virtual Via Zoom PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Dennis, Esters, Day, Rigg, Mitchell and Mackie. Councilmembers-elect Adams and Whitney were also present. 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. Mayor Wojahn opened the Regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. and invited Rev. Dr. Carrington Carter from the Embry A.M.E. Church to give the invocation. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir discussed the Hollywood Streetscape Project. Councilmember Kennedy announced the 2nd annual no-contact cookie exchange. Councilmember Dennis expressed his appreciation for the City Hall Dedication ceremony earlier today. Councilmember Rigg discussed the Calvert Hills Community Tree Lighting. Councilmember Mackie reminded people to recycle their Styrofoam. AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was approved without amendment, Mitchell/Mackie, passed 8-0. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adopt the Consent Agenda which consisted of: 21-G-149 Approval of minutes from the August 10, 2021 Regular Meeting; the September 8, 2021 Worksession; the September 14, 2021 Regular Meeting; the September 28, 2021 Regular Meeting; October 5, 2021 Worksession; and the October 12, 2021 Regular Meeting. College Park City Council Meeting Minutes December 14, 2021 Page 2 The motion passed 8-0. ACTION ITEMS 21-R-25 Resolution 21-R-25 to establish the Restorative Justice Commission A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Day to adopt Resolution 21-R-25 to create the Restorative Justice Commission with the mission and structure as outlined. Councilmember Dennis provided the background of how we got to this point tonight and the need to address the harms caused to the Lakeland community by Urban Renewal. Comments from the Audience: Andrew Fellows, former Mayor and Co-Chair of the Restorative Justice Steering Committee: Expressed his gratitude that the City is moving forward with this tonight. Maxine Gross, former Councilmember and Co-Chair, Restorative Justice Steering Committee: Applauds the Mayor and Council for undertaking this challenging task. This resolution sets a path for the City’s future. She described the steps outlined in the resolution. Councilmember Mitchell remarked on the meaning this Resolution has for her and said it is the right thing to do. Mayor Wojahn thanked the members of the Steering Committee for the work they did to bring this forward. The motion passed 8-0. PRESENTATION: Mayor Wojahn made presentations to outgoing Councilmembers Robert Day and Monroe Dennis. Councilmembers Day and Dennis made personal remarks and reflected on their time in office. ADJOURN the 2019 – 2021 Mayor and Council: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn the meeting. SWEARING-IN OF MAYOR PATRICK L. WOJAHN: Chief Deputy Gerry Mobley of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Wojahn. SWEARING-IN OF THE 2021– 2023 CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn administered the Oath of Office to the incoming Councilmembers: DISTRICT 1 Councilmember Fazlul Kabir and Councilmember Kate Kennedy DISTRICT 2 Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters and Councilmember Susan Whitney College Park City Council Meeting Minutes December 14, 2021 Page 3 DISTRICT 3 Councilmember Stuart Adams and Councilmember John Rigg DISTRICT 4 Councilmember Maria E. Mackie and Councilmember Denise C. Mitchell The Councilmembers signed their Oaths of Office. Mayor Wojahn called to order the Regular Meeting of the 2021-2023 Mayor and Council. ROLL CALL: Mayor Wojahn and all Councilmembers were present. ACTION ITEMS 21-G-150 Appointment of the Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Wojahn nominated Councilmember Denise Mitchell to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to ratify the nomination. The motion carried 8-0. 21-G-151 Approval of the 2022 Council Meeting Schedule A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to approve the 2022 Council Meeting scheduled as presented. The motion passed 8-0. Incoming Councilmembers Stuart Adams and Susan Whitney made personal remarks. Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn gave his inaugural address. Rev. Dr. Carrington Carter, Embry A.M.E. Church, provided the benediction. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Esters to adjourn the Regular Meeting, and with a vote of 8-0, the meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m. _____________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved