Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Meeting Tuesday, February 20, 2024 7:30 p.m. – 10:33 p.m. Hybrid Meeting In Person: Council Chambers of City Hall Virtual: via Zoom PRESENT: Mayor Kabir; Councilmembers Hernandez, Hew, Esters, Whitney, Mitchell, Mackie, Adams (by Zoom) and Rigg. ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney; Gary Fields, Finance Director; Michael Williams, Economic Development Director; Gannon Sprinkle, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Kabir opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Hernandez attended the soft opening at the Taqueria Guadalajara restaurant. Iron Roster will hold a grand opening soon. Councilmember Whitney remarked on the passing of longtime resident Angie Bass. Mr. Sprinkle announced that he and Mr. Mirani are starting a Tenants Union. The first meeting will be held in the Arts-Sociology Building, Room 3219 on Tuesday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m. All College Park renters are welcome. PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS: None AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 8-0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON CONSENT AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Maxine Gross, resident, and Restorative Justice Commission (RJC) Chair: At the next Council meeting, the RJC will present a report to the Mayor and Council at a March meeting. College Park City Council February 20, 2024 Page 2 Victor Weatherford, Branchville Fire Department: Gave a brief history of the fire department on the past 100 years. They will hold a community engagement event to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Whitney to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following: 24-G-30 Appointment of Ruth Murphy to the Restorative Justice Commission – Kayla Carter, Racial Equity Officer 24-G-31 Approval to submit grant applications to the Transit Land-Use Connections Grant Program and the Regional Roadway Safety Program in support of the River Road Protected Bike Lanes Project – 30% Design Phase - Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator 24-G-32 Approval to submit a grant application to the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Rocket Grant Program for the Trolley Trail Arts Walk Initiative, and approval of the required matching funds in the amount of $5,000 if the grant is approved - Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator 24-G-33 Approval to submit grant applications to the Transit Land-Use Connections Grant Program and the Regional Roadway Safety Program in support of the Knox Road Open Space Traffic Study - Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator 24-G-34 Approve an expenditure of $15,000 for sponsorship for the Branchville Volunteer Fire Department 100th Anniversary. 24-G-35 Approval of minutes from the January 23, 2024, February 6, 2024, and February 13, 2024, meetings. The consent agenda passed 8-0. PUBLIC HEARING: None ACTION ITEMS: None WORKSESSION DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Discussion of the charge and composition of a Vacant and Blighted Tax Committee for Phase 1 Gary Fields, Director of Finance, reviewed the staff report. Phase 1 will include: College Park City Council February 20, 2024 Page 3 The proposed composition: • Five voting members (one member from each of the four districts and one appointed by the Mayor) • The chairperson will be decided by the members at the first meeting. • Minutes prepared by a secretary. • Planning, Public Services and Finance will provide support to the Committee as needed. In Phase 1, the Committee will: • Develop a clear definition of vacant properties and blighted properties and decide if there should be a separate tax on each type. • Which property/occupancy types should the tax be applied to? Once this Committee is established, the Committee will conduct all stages throughout. The Committee will then come to a Worksession meeting so that the Council can give their input, guidance, and expectations. B. Discussion with Council about the future of the Hollywood Farmers Market Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager, reviewed the staff report. The Market Manager Coordinator, Julie Beavers, and the Market Manager, Aaron Springer, stated that the Hollywood Farmers Market starts out strong at the beginning of the season and then slowly dies down. The space only allows for 13 vendors, and all seem to be happy with the market and would like to continue. Patrons usually visit the market after shopping at one of the local businesses. There are additional patrons on game days and nice weather. Vendors who sell honey, meat, fish, and vegetables bring the most volume of customers to the market. Finding a produce vendor for the 2024 season has been a struggle. The Council is in support of continuing the market. Council suggested to be more creative with finding vendors and advertising the market. Identify vendors who may be in the area on Sundays that may want to join the market, add a variety of different vendors, support vendors who may be able to only come once or twice a month, ask for volunteers to staff the market, possibility of having pop up booths, change the hours to 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. , and partner with local businesses. It was suggested that staff meet with the North College Park Citizens Association to present the issues with the Farmers Market and why staff made the recommendations in the staff report. Mr. Young clarified that the Hollywood Shopping Center can only accommodate 13 vendors. Staff have spent several hours working out an agreement with the owners of the property. There are many rules and regulations that must be followed, especially with distances between vendors. Suggested that when the construction of Duvall Field is complete, we could possibly use that space to have additional room and then possible move the market back to the Hollywood Shopping Center in the future. College Park City Council February 20, 2024 Page 4 C. Legislation Review The Council requested. • A County Legislative Report each week. • Update the format of the Legislative report to include positions/status of the bills. Mitchell – Letter of support for the State Disaster Recovery Fund on the Governors FY2025 Budget Whitney - Land Use – Affordable Housing – Zoning Density and Permitting (Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024) – Staff will review and research and will get back to Council at the March 5, meeting regarding the ½ mile radius of Lakeland. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Whitney: Letter of Support for HACCP application for federal earmark for Attick Towers Renovation Rigg/Adams: Bike Share Stations: letter asking for priority on the bike pads. Mr. Young will send a letter with his signature. COMMENTS FROM AUDINANCE: Oscar Gregory, non-resident: Spoke on the Hollywood Farmers Market – would like to see the market returned to an all-volunteer organization with a legal charter and relocating it to Duvall Field. Brian Rohan, resident: The community wasn’t informed and didn’t have a chance to make comments on the decision of the Hollywood Farmers Market. In favor of keeping the Hollywood Farmers. COMMENTS: Councilmember Rigg spoke regarding the Farmers Market and suggested that this be placed in the Events budget since it’s not an actual Farmers Market without a vegetable vendor. The Farmers Market was not discussed prior to this meeting. Staff saw an issue and brought it to Council’s attention with several options for recommendations. Councilmember Mitchell challenged the residents to engage with the Council. Mayor Kabir attended a Climate and Health Summit at the UMD. He also met with Dr. Pines and will continue having quarterly meetings with him. Councilmember Adams thanked staff for preparing the grant application for the Knox Road Open Space Traffic Study. Councilmember Esters thanked City staff for the grant application to the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Rocket Grant Program for the Trolley Trail Arts Walk Councilmember Hew encouraged residents to be engaged with the Council. College Park City Council February 20, 2024 Page 5 Councilmember Hernandez spoke about the sidewalk issue in District 1 and encouraged communication from residents and vendors. Mr. Sprinkle invited all renters to the Tenants Union meeting at the Arts-Sociology Building, Room 3219 on Tuesday, February 27th at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Young announced there will be a presentation by UMD on the Bright Horizons/UMD Child Development Center on Calvert Road at an upcoming meeting April 2nd or April 9th. March 18 is Crossover. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Esters, to adjourn into a closed session. Mayor Kabir read the closing statement: Pursuant to the Statutory Authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article § 3-305, the Mayor and Council will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting 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. They will not return to open session. Specifically, the Council will review the Compensation and Classification Study. The motion passed 8-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Closed Session February 20, 2024 At the conclusion of the February 20 Council meeting, a motion was made by Councilmember Hew and seconded by Councilmember Whitney to enter into a Closed Session. The possibility of the Closed Session was listed on the public meeting agenda. Mayor Kabir read the closing statement and indicated the Council would not return to open session: Pursuant to the Statutory Authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article § 3-305, the Mayor and Council will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting 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. They will not return to open session. Specifically, the Council will review the Compensation and Classification Study. College Park City Council February 20, 2024 Page 6 The motion passed 8-0. The Closed Session began at 10:29 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Kabir, Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, and Councilmembers Hernandez, Hew, Esters, Whitney, Mackie, Adams (virtually), and Rigg were present. Mayor Kabir was the designated Open Meetings designee. Also present: City Manager Kenneth A. Young; Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner; Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources, Gary Fields, Finance Director, and Consultants Rick and Karin Campbell. No action was taken. A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to adjourn the meeting, and with a vote of 8-0, the Closed Session was adjourned at 11:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Yvette Allen