Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 7, 2024 7:30 p.m. – 11:22 p.m. HYBRID In Person in Council Chambers of City Hall Virtual over Zoom PRESENT: Mayor Kabir; Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell; Councilmembers Hernandez, Hew, Esters, Whitney, Mackie, Rigg and Adams. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney; Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services; Miriam Bader, Director of Planning; Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator; Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager; Dhruvak Mirani, Student Liaison; Gannon Sprinkle, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Kabir opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Hernandez thanked everyone who made the parade possible and encouraged people to apply for an advisory board. Councilmember Hew attended the UMD inequality research showcase last week and said he graduated from the UMD Citizens Police Academy. Councilmember Esters said there will be a District 2 clean up on June 1 and May 25. Councilmember Whitney announced the Lakeland Civic Association Meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell commented on the City parade. Councilmember Mackie thanked staff and the EAC for their participation on Maryland Day. She reminded people to come out to the Farmers Market, that May is mental health awareness month, and said Happy Mother’s Day to all. College Park City Council May 7, 2024 Page 2 Councilmember Adams announced the Calvert Hills Civic Association meeting tomorrow. Mr. Mirani reminded people about Early Voting and Primary Election Day. He introduced the incoming Student Liaison, Erica Otte. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Young announced the quarterly Public Safety Community meetings will resume by Zoom; the final DPW clean up event; and the first Friday Night Live this week. Councilmember Whitney commented on U-turns on US 1 at Berwyn Road. Mr. Young said we will have a conversation with SHA. PROCLAMATIONS: Mayor Kabir read the proclamations for Building Safety Month and Kids to Park Day. AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Rigg to adopt the agenda as presented, passed 8-0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON CONSENT AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: Dan Blasberg, resident: Thanked DPW for their work picking up yard waster; parking enforcement officer was parked illegally while they were writing a ticket; asked why there was a 20 minute lag between the time he called Parking Enforcement and when they showed up. U-Turns are happening at more intersections that Berwyn Road. Also there are a lot of new Jaywalkers who are using the medians instead of a crosswalk. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Adams to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following items: 24-G-73 Approval of free summer parking in the downtown parking garage on summer weeknights after 5:00 p.m. and free all-day Saturday parking in the City’s downtown parking garage from May 25th to August 17th, 2024. 24-G-74 Approve the City’s Legislative Request to the Maryland Municipal League to support State legislation in 2025 that would increase the maximum fine municipalities may impose for civil violations from $1,000 to $5,000 College Park City Council May 7, 2024 Page 3 24-G-76 Approval to grant Prince George's County a floodplain easement at Duvall Field as part of the redevelopment 24-G-77 Approval of a contract amendment in the amount of $54,802 to NZI Construction Corporation in substantially the form attached and subject to approval of the City Attorney, for construction of micro-mobility parking hubs throughout the City, as approved by Council on August 3, 2023. The motion passed 8-0. PUBLIC HEARING: Ordinance 24-O-02 FY 2025 Proposed Budget & Capital Improvement Plan; Proposed Property Tax Rate Increase: Mr. Fields gave the overview. Adoption is scheduled on May 21. The ordinance was introduced on April 23 and properly advertised. He discussed the proposed tax rate increase (34.18 per $100 of assessed value on residential and 40.00 cents per $100 of assessed value on commercial). On a home assessed at $390,000, the tax increase to the homeowner is approximately $156. James Garvin, resident: He is unable to afford the increase. He has 7 years to retirement and he must leave if this happens. Consider reducing spending. This is unsustainable. Dan Blasberg, resident: He was against the tax reduction three years ago, and now we are back where he said we would be. This is a 13% increase. Hard for people on a fixed income. Find another way to replace the funds or do it a penny at a time. Brian Roan, resident: People are looking at leaving. Richard Biffl, non-resident taxpayer: Against the proposal to raise the tax rate. The City has received more in revenue due to rising property valuations and new developments. Revenues are increasing with no need to raise tax rates. Nearby towns with higher tax rates have their own police departments and are more affluent than College Park. Mayor Kabir acknowledged the written comment we have received. There being no further public comment, the public hearing was closed. College Park City Council May 7, 2024 Page 4 ACTION ITEMS 24-G-75 Discussion related to possible budget amendments for the FY2025 Proposed Budget Mr. Young said for the last two years, ARPA funds provided a cushion. We need room in the budget for our labor rates: the new union contract will be negotiated in the next fiscal year, 75 of 130 employees will come up to the 50th percentile. We need to look at our Public Works facilities. We will have the new College Park Woods Clubhouse coming online. The Duvall Field project is going out to bid. We have to fund initiatives brought forward by our Mayor and Council. He reviewed the timing of new developments coming online. We need emergency funds beyond a three-month reserve. To do all this we need a tax rate that is sustainable. Mr. Fields said this is not really an action item; it is to get a handle on the possible amendments that will be raised on the night of adoption so that he can calculate the financial impacts of whatever is proposed. Main motion - Adams proposal: 33.5 and 37 cents. Councilmember Adams reviewed his proposal. Councilmember Rigg seconded. Amendment #1 Whitney proposal: 33.5 and 38.5 cents. Councilmember Whitney reviewed her proposal. Councilmember Esters seconded. Yes: Hernandez, Hew, Esters, Whitney, Mitchell, Rigg No: Mackie, Adams, Amendment #1 Whitney amendment passed 6-2. Hernandez proposal: 32.5 and 39 cents. No vote. Final vote on the budget will be on May 21; staff will prepare the Whitney proposal (33.5 and 38.5 cents) as an amendment; record will be left open for public comment. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Discussion on mandatory referral plans for the Leonardtown redevelopment Ms. Bader reviewed the staff report and the proposed considerations. As a state institution, the UMD is not obligated to follow the zoning regulations. Ed Maginnis for the University of Maryland System: This is an on-campus project. UMD has over 10,000 graduate students with only 750 beds on campus. This will double the College Park City Council May 7, 2024 Page 5 inventory for graduate student housing. He was joined by Greg Reeves, CEO of Mosaic and Jordan Goldstein from Gensler. This development is on the Purple Line and adjacent to the Discovery District. 5 levels of residential with 2 large courtyards. 465 units, 741 beds, 217 surface parking spaces in 2 lots. Mix of unit types (majority are studios) and rental rates. New road, Graduate Way, will have a dedicated bike lane. LEED Silver building. Will be managed like South Campus Commons. Residents will not park on the street in Old Town. 12-month leases. This phase will not relocate the Leonardtown Community Center. Comments: Improve landscaping. Discussion of Rhode Island Avenue connection to Campus Drive and other roadway connections. Drop off area for deliveries. Pedestrian level street lights. Pollinator-supporting landscapes. Will there be guest/visitor parking? Consider solar panels. State property; no taxes will be paid. Impound lot will be moved. Veo parking? Flagpole in center of circle? Will they offer 2-year leases? Example of pricing: Studio rate around $1,350. At Atworth, studios are around $1,800. To Consent next week. B. Discussion on utilizing the Safe Streets and Roadways for All Grant and the City's strategy upon award Mr. Rafi reviewed the staff report and presentation. Federal grants require 80/20 split. Match contribution of $135,000, earliest in FY 2026. They are in the process of submitting a Planning and Demonstration application to develop a Safety Action Plan. Need to form a new committee to oversee the development of the Safety Action Plan once grant is awarded. [10:30 p.m., Whitney/Esters, motion to extend, 8-0.] Examples of strategies include speed reduction markings, temporary roundabouts, lane narrowing and adjusting turning radii, daylighting to enhance visibility, pedestrian refuge island. To Consent next week. C. Revitalization Tax Credit Mr. Williams read the staff report and reviewed the proposed draft application. College Park City Council May 7, 2024 Page 6 Comments: Consider provisions for limiting rental increases based on CPI; why would “completed” status be included on the application?; application seems geared toward rentals but what about condos?; is LEED Silver a City requirement, and if so, why would it be something we are incentivizing?; add “the project is purpose built senior housing”; add “maker space”; tree plantings on the property; sustainable infrastructure such as pervious pavement or solar panels; workforce housing; small residential bungalows; child and adult day care; trade training. Should we consider removing the restriction on student housing and single family detached? – no consensus on this. [11:00, Whitney/Adams to suspend the rules, 8-0.] This will return for adoption. We will also check to see if any changes are needed to our ordinance. Comments: Councilmember Rigg discussed the presentation at last week’s Four Cities Meeting about Hyattsville’s successful Pepco streetlight purchase program. Discussion of a joint study (Four Cities + Riverdale Park) about cost/benefit of doing so. Councilmember Mackie discussed the last CMAST meeting and the Arbor Day event. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell also discussed the last Four Cities Meeting. Discussion will continue on the north county animal shelter. Presentation on the tax differential. Mayor Kabir read a proclamation last Sunday for the 25th anniversary of Pastor Stephen Wright. Councilmember Hew said Happy Pacific Islander Asian American Heritage month. Councilmember Hernandez attended the Arbor Day event and announced the next NCPCA meeting. Mr. Mirani wished students good luck on finals. ADJOURN: Hernandez/Esters to adjourn, 11:22 p.m., passed 8-0. Respectfully submitted, Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk.