Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. – 9:27 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Mackie and Mitchell. ABSENT: Councilmember Rigg. ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Steve Halpern, City Engineer; Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services; Michelle Rodriguez, Human Resources Generalist; Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager; Megha Sevalia, Student Liaison and Hayden Renaghan, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Announcements: Councilmember Kabir announced the community clean up and the North College Park Community Association meeting. Councilmember Esters thanked residents for participating in the District 2 community forum, and announced the Lakeland Civic Association meeting. Councilmember Mitchell thanked DPW for the speed board on St. Andrews, and congratulated Dels. Peña-Melnyk and Ben Barnes on their leadership roles in Annapolis. Ms. Renaghan discussed the success of the student-organized community cleanups. Amendments to/Approval of the Agenda: • Mackie/Mitchell: Add Proclamation on Easter, passed 7-0. • Mackie/Mitchell: Add Proclamation on Passover, passed 7-0. • Add 22-G-71, Esters/Whitney: Letter in support of PGCPS climate change action plan, to the Consent Agenda, passed 7-0. • Move 22-R-07 to the Consent Agenda, Kabir/Mitchell, passed 7-0. • Whitney/Mitchell: Add Proclamation for National Public Health week, passed 7-0. • Approve the agenda as amended, Mitchell/Esters, passed 7-0. Proclamations: Mayor Wojahn read the Proclamations for: Arbor Day, Easter, Passover and National Public Health Week. College Park Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2022 Page 2 [Delay in meeting due to a technical problem with Zoom.] Public Comment On Consent and Non-Agenda Items: Mary King, resident: She discussed the tree canopy ordinance which is on next week’s agenda. When the tree canopy investigation was initiated in 2017 it was because of concern of utility tree cutting, without mention of the development that had occurred in the City. Yet, residents are the target of the permit/fine ordinance to protect and restore the tree canopy. This is a complex issue and an ordinance like this is not the answer. Presentations: • City Manager Kenneth Young and Mayor Wojahn presented the 2021 Employee of the Year Award to Jacob Vassalotti. • Economic Development Manager Michael Williams presented the 2021 Economic Development Report; o How often is the data updated? o What are the vacancy rates on student housing, and our commercial and business districts? o Business Roundtable o Recruitment and support for new businesses interested in moving to College Park o Strategic Plan Objective #5 about the property tax base o More lunch places for residents who are working from home o What are we doing to market ourselves if the FBI selects the Greenbelt site – residential housing and ancillary office space o Adding opportunities for social activities to the commerce in the City o Population change statistics – we are losing the 45-65 age group. o Get the word out about educational opportunities. o Aging-in-place: Middle- to high-end development geared toward seniors. Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items: 22-G-62 Approval of Minutes from the February 15, 2022 Worksession; the February 22, 2022 Regular Meeting; and the February 22, 2022 Special Session. 22-G-63 Approval of a letter of support for CB-014-2022 – Accessory Disposable Food Service Ware. 22-G-64 Approval of a three-year contract with VeoRide for Mobility Share Services in substantially the form attached. 22-G-65 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP in substantially the form attached. College Park Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2022 Page 3 22-G-66 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Charles P. Johnson, and Associates, Inc. in substantially the form attached. 22-G-67 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Greenman- Pedersen, Inc. in substantially the form attached. 22-G-68 Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with WSSC to reimburse the City for resurfacing of Edmonston Road due to water main work, and a related amendment to the contract with NZI Construction Corporation to include construction of the Edmonston Road Sidewalk and resurfacing Edmonston Road, in substantially the form attached. 22-R-07 Adoption of Resolution 22-R-07 to approve a Commemorative Bench Policy. 22-G-71 ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA: Approval of the City signing on to support the Prince George’s County Public Schools Climate Change Action Plan. The motion passed 7-0. 22-G-69 Approval of Appointments to the City Redistricting Commission A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Whitney to appoint the following individuals to the 2022 City Redistricting Commission: John Krouse, Nathan Rickard, Betty Colonomos, Fritz Leopold, Marilyn Yang, Robert Day, Alan Hew, Delmar Nelson, Val Graham, Jordan Dewar, and DW Rowlands. There were no comments from the audience or the Council. The motion passed 7-0. 22-G-70 Approval of a change in purpose for the public school education grant awarded in December 2021 to Paint Branch Elementary School Ms. Barber reviewed the staff report and explained the reason for the request to revise the Paint Branch grant. A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell that the City Council approve the award of $8,000 to Paint Branch Elementary School with the new stated purpose of the grant to support the Chinese Immersion focus at the school through incorporation of visual artifacts, plants, and art projects for students. The total of this award is $8,000 which is budgeted in the FY 2022 budget. College Park Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2022 Page 4 Councilmember Mitchell asked about the EAC’s recommendation on Chromebooks in case it comes up again. Ms. Barber does not think future requests for Chromebooks will make it to Council until the EAC has explored other resources. The motion passed 7-0. ADJOURN: Motion by Councilmember Esters, second by Councilmember Mitchell, to adjourn into 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; and to consult with staff, consultants or other individuals about pending or potential litigation. Specifically, the Mayor and Council will receive legal advice about an MPIA complaint, discuss the status of a contract dispute, and discuss a settlement agreement. They will not return to open session after the Closed Session ends. The motion passed 7-0 and the meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m. _______________________________ Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk CLOSED SESSION April 12, 2022 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 met in a closed session in the City Council Chambers after the meeting on April 12, 2022 for the following purposes: to Consult with Counsel to obtain legal advice; and to consult with staff, consultants or other individuals about pending or potential litigation. At 9:27 p.m. on April 12, after the regular Council meeting, a motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to adjourn the regular meeting and meet in the closed session. Mayor Wojahn read the closing statement, adding that the Mayor and Council will receive legal advice about an Open Meetings complaint, discuss the status of a contract dispute, and discuss a settlement agreement. They will not return to open session after the Closed Session ends. The motion passed 7-0. Mayor Wojahn and Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Mackie and Mitchell were present. Councilmember Rigg was absent. City Manager Kenneth Young, City College Park Regular Meeting Minutes April 12, 2022 Page 5 Clerk Janeen Miller and City Attorney Suellen Ferguson also attended the meeting. Mayor Wojahn was the open meetings trainee. The City Attorney and City staff reviewed an Open Meetings complaint that was filed against the City. The City Attorney provided legal advice to the Mayor and Council and advised how she will proceed. No action was taken. The City Attorney explained and provided her advice about a settlement that was reached in another legal matter. No action was taken. The City Attorney and City staff briefed Council on an ongoing contract dispute. The City Attorney provided advice and suggested a path forward. ADJOURN: AT 9:52 p.m., a motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Esters to adjourn. The motion passed 7-0.