Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, January 25, 2022 7:30 p.m. – 8:18 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, this was a virtual meeting. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Rigg, Mackie and Mitchell (arrived at 7:45 p.m.). ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Gary Fields, Director of Finance; Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works; Terry Schum, Director of Planning, Miriam Bader and Felicia Hutchinson, Planning Department; Teresa Way- Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources; Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager; Megha Sevalia, Student Liaison and Hayden Renaghan, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the virtual Worksession at 7:30 p.m. Announcements: Councilmember Kabir thanked staff for discussions to address traffic back-ups on Cherry Hill Road due to the Starbucks Drive-Through. Councilmember Kennedy said January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The University of Maryland has a SAFE Center. Councilmember Esters welcomed students back for their upcoming semester. Councilmember Whitney announced a free COVID vaccine clinic at the Riverdale Park Station parking lot. Councilmember Mitchell announced her success with a recent DIY project. The County Executive will hold a 2023 budget listening session next week. Councilmember Mackie said District 4 will host a Town Hall for resident input for wish list items. Mayor Wojahn announced that he has been accepted into the 2022 Mayor’s Institute for City Design (MICD) Just City Mayoral Fellowship. This is a several weeks long program that includes City staff members Kiaisha Barber and Raven Rodriguez. He was also appointed Vice- Chair of the National League of Cities (NLC) Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) Council. College Park City Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 2 He requested an addition to next week’s agenda in recognition of Rosa Park’s Birthday and the start of Black History Month by doing a Proclamation for Transit Equity Day. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to add the Transit Equity Day Proclamation to the agenda next week. The motion passed 8-0. City Manager’s Report: Mr. Young announced the new Racial Equity Officer, Raven Rodriguez, who will join the City on Monday. Amendments To And Approval Of The Agenda: A motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to add Gail Brown as an appointee to the Bee City USA Committee for Consent Agenda item 22-G-10. The motion passed 8-0. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Esters to adopt the agenda as amended. The motion passed 8-0. Comments From The Audience: Mary King, resident: Ms. King discussed her concerns about the tree protection ordinance that is coming back to the Council in February. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items: 22-G-08 Approval of a letter to the Board of License Commissioners in support of liquor license renewals for establishments located in the City 22-G-09 Acceptance of Fiscal Year 2022 MHAA $15,000 grant to enhance the Lakeland Walking Tour (Maryland Heritage Area Authority) 22-G-19 Acceptance of a $5,000 grant from the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) for Public Art Planning. 22-G-20 Acceptance of the Maryland Bikeways Program Fiscal Year 2022 Shared Micro-mobility Station Improvements Grant in the amount of $54,080 22-G-10 Approval of the following appointments to City Advisory Boards, with terms to expire on June 30, 2024: Mike Meadow to the APC, Tina Batten to the Board of Election Supervisors, Susan Miller and Carson Peters to the Education Advisory Committee, Carissa Janis to the Seniors Committee, and John Horowitz to the Tree and Landscape Board, and (ADDED) Gail Brown to the Bee City USA Committee. College Park City Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 3 22-G-11 Approval of the FY 2023 budget calendar as presented at the January 18 Worksession, and to approve maintaining the City’s Homestead Tax Credit Rate at 0% for FY 2023, providing the maximum tax relief for residents from this credit. 22-G-12 Approval of 2022 workplans from City advisory boards: Animal Welfare, Bee City USA, Committee for a Better Environment, Education Advisory Committee, Recreation Board/City Events Advisory Board, Seniors Committee, and Tree and Landscape Board. 22-G-14 Approval of the extension of the micro-mobility share contract with VeoRide to March 31, 2022. 22-R-01 Approval of Resolution 22-R-01 to authorize the City to participate in the National Settlement Agreements with the Distributors and Janssen as described herein, to authorize the City Manager to sign the Participation Form for the settlements, and to take any other action necessary to give effect to this Resolution, and to authorize the City to negotiate and enter into the State-Subdivision Agreement with the State of Maryland in substantially the form attached, subject to review and approval by the City Attorney, and to authorize the City Manager to sign the State-Subdivision Agreement Approval Form. If either of the National Settlement Agreements fails to go forward, the State-Subdivision Agreement will be void and create no rights or duties between the State and the City with respect to that National Settlement Agreement. 21-R-20 Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Adopting the recommendation of the Advisory Planning Commission regarding Variance Application Number CPV-2021-09, 9726 51st Place, College Park, Maryland, recommending approval of variances from Section 27-120.01(C) and Section 27-442 (C) Table II from the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance, to construct a driveway. The motion passed 8-0. 22-G-13 Approval of City Comments to the Prince George’s County Council on the Preliminary Adelphi Road Sector Plan and Proposed Sectional Map Amendment – Terry Schum, Director of Planning Ms. Schum said the letter presented tonight is based on the January 4 Worksession discussion of this item. The City’s letter opposes the Plan as drafted and requests a delay in adoption. At the Planning Board hearing on January 18, 31 of the 34 speakers opposed approval of the Plan. She summarized the public hearing comments and said they align with the City’s comments. College Park City Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 4 There was a question about the change of Zoning for St. Marks Church. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Esters to approve a letter to the Clerk of the County Council opposing the Preliminary Adelphi Road-UMGC-UMD Purple Line Station Area Sector Plan, and requesting additional time to allow for Plan Amendments in a manner consistent with the letter included in the packet. There was no comment from the audience. A motion was made by Councilmember Adams and seconded by Councilmember Rigg to amend the letter in the following manner:  Road UC 201 at the intersection of UC 202 and UC 200 instead of being a vehicular and bike path road to be solely a shared bike/ped path and not for vehicular traffic.  To embrace the trail network but extend it to the intersection of Guilford and Knox Road and add a shared use path in that location as well. Mayor Wojahn clarified that this would be added under the Transportation and Mobility Section of the letter. Comments from the audience on the amendment: Mary King, resident: Support for the amendment. Councilmember Kennedy asked Ms. Schum if she had any concerns about the amendments. Ms. Schum was in support. Vote on the motion to amend the letter: The motion to amend the letter passed 8-0. Councilmember Kabir agrees with the request to delay adoption of the Plan and expressed support for the need to address the Guilford Run watershed. Councilmember Rigg said Park and Planning undertook this planning process based on legislation by the County Council that this Council approved. Mayor Wojahn supports the motion and said we have to balance the preservation of the Guilford Woods with the other environmental interest of Smart Growth. We should work to incorporate new development into existing areas of our City. We need to develop densely around our transit centers to avoid sprawl. He commented on the letter from the Center for Smart Growth. The motion carried 8-0. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Wojahn asked Councilmembers to contact him personally about their preference for virtual or in-person meetings for the month of February. College Park City Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 5 Adjourn: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adjourn the regular meeting and reconvene in 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 meeting to:  Consult with Counsel to obtain legal advice;  Consider matters that relate to collective bargaining negotiations;  Consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. The Mayor and Council will receive advice from the City Attorney on a taxation matter; will discuss matters relating to the union contract; and will discuss matters related to a property acquisition. The Mayor and Council will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0 and the Regular Meeting concluded at 8:18 p.m. ___________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved CLOSED SESSION January 18, 2022 On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at 10:58 p.m. at the conclusion of the Worksession, a motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to adjourn the regular meeting and meet in 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 to discuss 1) 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; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals; 2) To consult with counsel to obtain legal advice; and 3) To conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate to the negotiations. The Mayor and Council will review appointments to advisory boards, will discuss a proposed settlement agreement, and will discuss the union contract. The Mayor and Council will not return to public session after the closed session ends. College Park City Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 6 The motion passed 7-0 (Councilmember Mitchell absent). At 11:07 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. Mayor Wojahn and Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Rigg and Mackie were present. Councilmember Mitchell was absent. City Manager Kenneth Young, Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner, City Attorney Suellen Ferguson also attended the meeting. City Clerk Janeen Miller attended a portion of the meeting. The City Attorney provided legal advice to the Mayor and Council about a proposed settlement agreement. City staff updated the Mayor and Council about matters related to the union negotiations. The Mayor and Council discussed applications for appointment to City advisory boards. No action was taken. At 11:57 p.m., a motion to adjourn the Closed Session was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Rigg. With a vote of 7-0, the Closed Session was adjourned. Closed Session January 25, 2022 On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 8:18 p.m. at the conclusion of the Regular Meeting, a motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adjourn the regular meeting and meet in 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 meeting to, 1) Consult with Counsel to obtain legal advice; 2) Consider matters that relate to collective bargaining negotiations; 3) Consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. The Mayor and Council will receive advice from the City Attorney on a taxation matter; will discuss matters relating to the union contract; and will discuss matters related to a property acquisition. The Mayor and Council will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0. At 8:25 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. Mayor Wojahn and Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Rigg, Mackie and Mitchell were present. City Manager Kenneth Young, Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner, City Attorney Suellen Ferguson and City Clerk Janeen Miller attended the meeting. College Park City Council Minutes January 25, 2022 Page 7 HR Director Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Planning Director Terry Schum, and Finance Director Gary Fields attended a portion of the meeting. The Mayor and Council received an update on union negotiations. No action taken. The Mayor and Council discussed the possible acquisition of real property for a public purpose. Action Taken: A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to authorize negotiation terms for the purchase of a certain piece of real property and proceed with a letter of intent. The motion passed 8-0. The City Attorney provided legal advice to the Mayor and Council on a taxation matter. No action taken. Adjourn: At 10:18 p.m. a motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed 8-0.