Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 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; Gary Fields, Director of Finance; and Deputy Student Liaison, Adrian Andriessens. Mayor Wojahn opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Kabir announced Good Neighbor Day and said M-NCPPC is accepting public input on their next budget. Councilmember Esters said curbside food scrap pickup will begin on November 15. Councilmember Adams said the Calvert Hills Civic Association will have a Hallowe’en Parade on the Trolley Trail. Councilmember Mackie announced the prescription drug drop off at the Pocomoke Building on October 29. Councilmember Mitchell also discussed Good Neighbor Day and the prescription drug drop off. Mayor Wojahn announced several weekend events: Family Movie Night, Invasive Vine Removal, and ParkRun. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Young announced Friday’s Hallowe’en event at Duvall Field and said curbside leaf collection begins October 31. Councilmember Mitchell asked about the response letter from MDOT about US 1. AMENDMENTS TO/APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: • A motion was made by Councilmember Whitney and seconded by Councilmember Esters to add an additional appointee to item 22-G-144 - Brooks Boliek to the NCB. The motion passed 8-0. • The agenda was adopted as amended, Mitchell/Kennedy, passed 8-0. College Park City Council Minutes October 25, 2022 Page 2 PRESENTATIONS: • Mr. Fields, Director of Finance, presented the quarterly financials for the end of the first quarter of FY ’23. There was a question about Highway User Revenues. • Mr. Gardiner presented the quarterly Strategic Plan update. Discussion: bus shelters, staff vacancies, locations of bike racks (ask civic associations), seniors retrofits, Accela, use of 4704 Calvert Road. Education: ask local PTOs/PTAs about ideas to support the schools, request meeting with Ms. Barber and EAC, engage new school board representatives, crossing guard issue, engage CPCUP education subcommittee. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Adams to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of these items: 22-G-144 Approve the following advisory board appointments, with terms to expire on June 30, 2024: Nikesha Pancho to Committee for a Better Environment, Isaiah Warfield to Education Advisory Committee, Vilay Senthep to Education Advisory Committee, Karyn Keating to Ethics Commission, Woei- Nan Bair to Seniors Committee and Brooks Boliek to the Noise Control Board. 22-R-11 Approval of amendments to “City Recreational Facilities Rules and Regulations” and “Rules and Regulations for Parks and Recreation Areas” to conform to Ordinance 22-O-07, which was effective on October 4. 22-G-146 Approval of Minutes from the October 5, 2022 Worksession and the October 5, 2022 Special Session. The motion passed 8-0. ACTION ITEMS: 22-G-147 City Comments on the M-NCPPC FY’24 proposed budget – Bill Gardiner, and Tony Perez and Therese Hessler, lobbyists. Mr. Perez suggested having a meeting with Park & Planning instead of just sending a letter. Mr. Gardiner reviewed the items we have requested. Add language that we are committed to partnering on the north College Park community center. Finish the sidewalk on Old Calvert Road. What investments are Park & Planning making in our City in exchange for our tax dollars. Repair of equipment at Berwyn Neighborhood Playground. A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell to authorize the Mayor to send correspondence to the Chair of the Prince George’s County Planning Board, with copies to the County Executive and the County Council, outlining the projects that the City would like to be funded in the FY’24 M-NCPPC budget. The motion passed 8-0. College Park City Council Minutes October 25, 2022 Page 3 Mr. Perez added the County will follow up with the City on the permitting issue. 22-G-148 Appointment of the Council Grants Subcommittee A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Kennedy to appoint Councilmembers Whitney and Rigg to the City of College Park’s Community Services Grants and Sponsorships Subcommittee. The motion passed 8-0. Introduction of 22-O-09 and 22-O-10, Redistricting Ordinances: Ms. Ferguson said in response to Council direction last week, these two ordinances were prepared for introduction. They bring forth maps “October Plan 1” and “3A.” The two maps will be posted on the Redistricting page with the corresponding data, along with the current district boundaries. Public comment can be given at any time up to the Public Hearing. 22-O-09 Introduction of Ordinance 22-O-09, an ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, To Adopt A Redistricting Plan, “October Plan 1,” For Council Member Elections As Required By § C2-2 Of The College Park Charter. A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Whitney to introduce Ordinance 22-O-09. The Public Hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on November 15. 22-O-10 Introduction of ordinance 22-O-10, an ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, To Adopt A Redistricting Plan, “Map 3A,” For Council Member Elections As Required By § C2-2 Of The College Park Charter. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Esters to introduce Ordinance 22-O-10. The Public Hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on November 15. Discussion of November 8 Council meeting: Since it is Election Day, start the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and keep the agenda short. ADJOURN: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Rigg. Motion passed 8-0, meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. _______________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller City Clerk College Park City Council Minutes October 25, 2022 Page 4 CLOSED SESSION October 18, 2022 At 11:16 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at the conclusion of the Worksession, a motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and seconded by Councilmember Whitney 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 18 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; and to consult with Counsel to obtain legal advice. The Mayor and Council will receive legal advice about the enforcement of a City law. The Mayor and Council will review applicants for advisory board vacancies. They will not return to public session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 8-0. The Closed Session began at 11:26 p.m. Mayor Wojahn attended virtually. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell and Councilmembers Kabir, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney, Adams, Rigg, and Mackie were present. In addition, the meeting was attended by City Manager Kenneth A. Young. Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner, City Clerk Janeen Miller, City Attorney Suellen Ferguson, Public Services Director Bob Ryan, Code Enforcement Manager Chris Jenkins, Student Liaison Valerie Graham and Deputy Student Liaison Adrian Andriessens attended a portion of the meeting. Mayor Wojahn was the Open Meetings Trainee. The Mayor and Council received legal advice from the City Attorney about the enforcement of a provision in Chapter 141 of the City Code. They also reviewed applications for various advisory board vacancies. No action was taken. At 12:20 a.m., on a motion by Councilmember Rigg and second by Councilmember Adams, the Closed Session was adjourned, 8-0.