Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 11, 2022 7:30 p.m. – 9:25 p.m. This was a hybrid meeting: Online via Zoom; In-person in the Council Chambers of City Hall. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Rigg, Mackie and Mitchell. 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; Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works; Student Liaison Valerie Graham and Deputy Student Liaison, Adrian Andriessens. Mayor Wojahn opened the Worksession at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir said the public can comment on the M-NCPPC report about the development of a community center in north College Park: 1) At College Park Day on Saturday, and 2) At a virtual community meeting on Monday, 10/19. The North College Park Community Association meeting is on Thursday. The Mayor and Council discussed the MML Fall Conference: College Park was recertified for the Sustainable Maryland Certified program; Councilmember Kennedy made a presentation on the Community Preservation Trust; Ms. Carter presented on the steps College Park is taking on racial equity; and Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell, who is the current President of MML, ran a very successful conference. Councilmember Whitney announced “Community Meals” at the College Park United Methodist Church; M-NCPPC is considering improvements to Lakeland Community Park and public comment will be taken at College Park Day. Councilmember Adams said there has been movement on the Edmonston Road sidewalk project. Councilmember Mackie gave a shout out to the College Park Woods Neighborhood Watch for a successful meet and greet. She urged people to sign up as a volunteer at Good Neighbor Day. Councilmember Mitchell also discussed the MML Fall Conference. College Park City Council Minutes October 11, 2022 Page 2 Mayor Wojahn announced that the UMD PALS program Fall 2022 Urban Studies and Planning Studio will present on their project about strengthening, sustaining and investing in the Lakeland community. Mr. Andriessens said it is important to vote in the upcoming election; TerpsVote is having an information series. Mayor Wojahn thanked the SGA for the Safety Walk last week. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Young announced that College Park Day is on Saturday, from 12 – 6. He said we have approval to install an RRFB on MD 430 Greenbelt Road at the Trolley Trail crossing. AMENDMENTS TO/APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: • Add Agenda item 22-G-142 to the Consent Agenda: the appointment of Victoria Evans as the new Resident Commissioner to the College Park Housing Authority, Esters/Whitney, passed 8-0. • Move Agenda item 22-G-130 from Action to Consent, Rigg/Adams, passed 8-0. • Adopt agenda as amended, Rigg/Mitchell, passed 8-0. PRESENTATIONS: Presentation on the County Emergency Operations Plan and discussion of City emergency operations and planning – Tyrone Wells, Operations Manager, Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management. Mr. Wells reviewed his PowerPoint. Discussion: outreach from the PG County OEM directly to residents; use of Pulse Point to notify nearby participants when an AED or CPR are used; coordination between the County, City and University; the availability of FEMA grants to rental property owners; collaboration on a communications app between municipalities; resources for residents on personal preparedness (ready.gov and MEMA); weather related events and power loss are the leading concerns; monitor local media; get a weather radio; no local CERT team. Mr. Ryan and Mr. Young discussed the City’s EOP. The City’s plan is fluid and will change depending on the incident; improvements to the EOC at Davis Hall; the City will facilitate County emergency management training for residents; emergency preparedness page on City website; evacuation contingencies; table top preparedness exercise with our local partners; different methods of communication are needed for senior citizens and non-English speaking residents; registry of people with extra needs; how can we help/motivate our residents to create their plan. Is refrigeration available for medicine during a power outage? CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Esters to approve the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items: College Park City Council Minutes October 11, 2022 Page 3 22-G-136 Award of contract in the amount of $95,611.10 to Apple Ford for the purchase of two (2) replacement pickup trucks in the Department of Public Works riding Baltimore County cooperative purchase agreement #00004504, subject to approval of the City Attorney. 22-G-134 Approval of a Petition Request for the Removal of a Traffic Calming Device on the 5000 block of Cheyenne Place, between 50th Place and 51st Avenue. 22-G-135 Approval of the cancellation of contract CP-22-04 previously awarded to Agricity, LLC, dba Compost Cab, for the Food Scrap Collection Program, and award of a new contract for this program to Compost Crew, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $80,000 for a one-year term, with two additional one-year consecutive terms at the City’s option, subject to approval of the City Attorney, and authorization for the City Manager to sign. 22-G-138 Approval of minutes from the September 27, 2022 Regular Meeting. 22-G-130 Motion to authorize additional spending to Vision 33 for Accela support. (This item was moved to the Consent Agenda) Add Approval of the appointment of Victoria Evans as the new Resident 22-G-142 Commissioner to the College Park Housing Authority. The motion passed 8-0. ACTION ITEMS: 22-G-140 Consideration of support for two agreements in substantially the form attached regarding funding for an affordable housing land trust in the City to be administered through the Community Preservation Trust (CPT), currently part of the College Park City-University Partnership (CPCUP). The first agreement sets the terms and conditions for authorizing a $3M grant from the City to CPCUP using ARPA /SLFRF funds, to ensure accountability and compliance with Maryland and federal law. The second is an agreement between the City, as recipient, and the CPCUP, as subrecipient, and governs use of the ARPA/ SLFRF funds for the CPT project to ensure compliance with federal law and regulations. Ms. Ferguson described the two agreements. The Partnership has some non-substantive changes that she is in agreement with regarding Graduate Student Housing and options for payment that will be incorporated prior to signature. A motion was made by Councilmember Kennedy and seconded by Councilmember Esters to approve the attached Agreement and American Rescue Plan Act, State and Local Fiscal College Park City Council Minutes October 11, 2022 Page 4 Recovery Funds Funding Subrecipient Agreement, in substantially the form attached with the edits previously mentioned by the City Attorney, subject to review by the City Attorney, and to approve a grant of up to $3 Million to the College Park City-University Partnership, Inc. for the Community Preservation Trust (CPT) program. Comments from the Audience: Richard Biffl, non-resident taxpayer: appreciates the intention but doesn’t think this is the way to go. Thinks it will push up home prices and then rents will rise. Better approach is to address the housing problem; it is a state caused problem and the state should solve it. Mary King, resident: the City should not be in the housing businesses; not convinced it will work as intended. Does not share the vision that this will make our communities more stable. Councilmember Kabir discussed the priority neighborhoods. The motion passed 8-0. 22-G-141 Council direction to the Redistricting Commission to modify two draft district maps using certain criteria – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager Mr. Gardiner reviewed the staff report and gave an update. The motion on the agenda tonight was requested by the Redistricting Commission. They want clear direction from the Council on the requested modifications to maps. The maps in the red folder tonight were considered by the RDC at last night’s meeting in anticipation of this motion. The RDC feels the three initial maps that were presented to the Mayor and Council are more in line with the charge and direction they received. Review of next steps. The maps will be posted on website. A motion was made by Councilmember Adams and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to request the Redistricting Commission to draft a modified map or maps, using 2023 population data, that meet the five percent maximum variance in population; and up to a 7.5 percent maximum variation in the sum of population and actual voters, starting with RDC map 3A and consultant map Plan B, as reference points; and prioritizes retaining the core of current districts over other criteria included in the Council charge to the Commission. The motion passed 8-0. GENERAL COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Carol Macknis, resident: The monthly community public safety meetings are supposed to be posted on the website but she can’t find them; statistics should be pulled out from the rest of the presentation so they are easier to find. College Park City Council Minutes October 11, 2022 Page 5 ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Mackie 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 on Tuesday, October 11 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; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals. The Mayor and Council will discuss the City Manager’s evaluation. They will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0 and the Regular Meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. _______________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller City Clerk CLOSED SESSION October 11, 2022 At 9:25 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at the conclusion of the Regular Meeting, a motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Mackie 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 on Tuesday, October 11 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; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals. The Mayor and Council will discuss the City Manager’s evaluation. They will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0. Mayor Wojahn and Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Rigg, Mackie and Mitchell were present. In addition, the meeting was attended by City Manager Kenneth A. Young. Mayor Wojahn was the Open Meetings Trainee. College Park City Council Minutes October 11, 2022 Page 6 The Mayor and Council discussed the City Manager’s evaluation. No action was taken. At 9:47 p.m., on a motion by Councilmember Rigg and second by Councilmember Adams, the Closed Session was adjourned, 8-0.