Mayor & City Council

WORKSESSION MINUTES College Park City Council Tuesday, December 6, 2022 7:30 p.m. – 10:29 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; Robert Marsili and Brenda Alexander, Department of Public Works; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager; Valerie Graham, Student Liaison; Andre Andriessens, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Wojahn opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. City Manager’s Report: Thank you to Anne Martens who is retiring from the UMD; Winter Wonderland Event Saturday 4 – 8. There was a request for Contract Officers to monitor loud muffler noise in College Park Woods. Amendments to and Approval of the Agenda:  Motion by Rigg/Mitchell, Remove Item #3, Revitalization Tax Credit, from the agenda, passed 8-0.  Motion by Mitchell/Esters, Approve Agenda as Amended, passed 8-0. 1. Discussion of No Mow month with the Bee City USA Committee – Robert Marsili and Brenda Alexander, Department of Public Works, and Alan Hew, Chair, Bee City USA Committee: Ms. Alexander reviewed the staff report. Mr. Hew said 348 residents participated last year; the program was well-received. Discussion of lessons learned from the first pilot year: earlier communications, when mowing may be resumed, need for more signs, how to measure results. Adoption of Resolution 22-R-13 on Consent next week. College Park City Council Worksession Minutes December 6, 2022 Page 2 2. Discussion with the Education Advisory Committee about the City-wide online tutoring proposal – Kiaisha Barber, Director of YFSS; Aaron Cole, Imagine Learning Account Executive: Ms. Barber reviewed the staff report. Aaron Cole, Elizabeth Nash and Laura Porter-Jones from Imagine Learning. Assessments up to 3 times per year; adaptive learning in the most important skills; live, certified, bi-lingual teachers specially trained in their subject; prioritize what students need most before moving on; 60 language options; available to College Park students regardless of school, public or private. First year program has been developed for $20,800 for an unlimited number of students. Parents and students need to be engaged in the program. Reports within the system to track growth. Professional Development is included in the quote; they will train a City staff person to oversee the program, run reports, enroll students, serve as the City’s liaison with the parents and students. Data meetings at the end of each year. Is there any coordination with the school system – not under this scenario, but aggregate data can be shared. Baseline - 20 minutes per week/3 modules per month. PSAT/SAT prep is included. Return to a future Worksession. Discuss: how to staff the program, draft contract, reporting, program evaluation, how to promote, incentives for students. 3. Discussion of the City’s Revitalization Tax Credit program – Removed from the agenda. 4. Discussion of a revision to the amendment to the Hitachi contract approved in July for the security cameras on the Trolley Trail and north College Park, to approve additional funding and scope for Security Cameras, Utility Poles, and Pepco Power, and to add 19 cameras to the maintenance contract. Mr. Ryan reviewed the staff report. We currently have 29 cameras; we are proposing an additional 19. Further expansion of security camera coverage will be discussed during budget season. To Consent Next Week 5. Discussion of 2023 Council Meeting Schedule: Consensus on the following:  Move Consent Agenda to the front of the meeting.  Add Council Comments to the end of every agenda.  Utilize a hybrid agenda for all meetings.  Bring back options for 36-38 meetings per year  Schedule Council vote immediately following the Public Hearing Vote on January meetings next week; continue to discuss options for the rest of the year. College Park City Council Worksession Minutes December 6, 2022 Page 3 6. Requests for/Status of Future Agenda Items: Remove “principles of the Maryland Advocates for Sustainable Transportation” and “Discussion of a Human Relations Commission” from Master List. Schedule the Gun violence prevention presentation. Send letter congratulating Tom Dernoga on Chairmanship. Add review of Rules and Procedures 7. Mayor and Councilmember Comments  Councilmember Mitchell has been appointed to Brooke Lierman’s local government transition team.  PGCMA Meet and Greet on Friday Adjourn: A motion to adjourn into a Closed Session was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mitchell. Mayor Wojahn read the Closing Statement: 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 are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after the meeting on Tuesday, December 6 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. The motion passed 8-0 and the Regular Meeting was adjourned at 10:29 p.m. ______________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk