Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Meeting Monday, June 3, 2024 7:30 p.m. – 9:29 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, and Rigg. ABSENT: Councilmember Adams. ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk; Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney; Miriam Bader, Director of Planning; Deputy Student Liaison John Fahmy Mayor Kabir opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Hernandez is happy to see the applications for advisory boards. He congratulated the College Park Academy engineering students on their achievement. Councilmember Hew thanked Public Services for their response to a situation in his district. Councilmember Esters reminded people about Trolley Trail Day. Councilmember Whitney thanked people who participated in the clean up on Saturday. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell also congratulated the College Park Academy students and thanked Public Services for their response to a situation in College Park Woods. Councilmember Mackie discussed the Veterans Day event and Chesapeake Bay Awareness week. College Park City Council June 3, 2024 Page 2 Councilmember Rigg announced that the City and University are hosting the International Town Gown Association (ITGA) conference in the City this week. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT: Mr. Young discussed the upcoming ITGA conference and the Friday Night Live event. PROCLAMATIONS: Mayor Kabir read the proclamations for Immigrant Heritage Month and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was adopted without amendment, Mitchell/Hernandez, passed 7-0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON CONSENT AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS: None. CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez to adopt the Consent Agenda, which consisted of the following: 24-G-87 Authorization for the City Manager to sign a letter to Stewart Title Guaranty Company, as requested by the University of Maryland, stating that the City of College Park does not assert or maintain any ownership or have any rights in and to any portion of, the “paper street” shown as Hopkins Avenue, located on the land to the north of Norwich Road and owned by the University of Maryland College Park, as required for the University’s Graduate Student Housing Project whose new address will be 4646 Graduate Way, College Park, MD. 24-R-03 Approval of Resolution 24-R-03, Resolution Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Adopting The Recommendation Of The Advisory Planning Commission For Application Number CEO-2024-01, 9100 St. Andrews Place, College Park, Maryland, For A Variance From City Code §87-23 C To Recommend That The Portion Of The Fence Along Bridgewater Street And Turning In Towards The House Be Constructed At A Height Of 4-Feet-Tall Plus A 1-Foot Lattice, For A Total Of 5-Feet. The Portion Of The Fence Along The Property Line With The Adjoining Lot May Be 6-Feet-Tall. 24-G-88 Approval of Minutes from the May 21, 2024 meeting. The motion passed 7-0. College Park City Council June 3, 2024 Page 3 ACTION ITEM: 24-R-05 Approval of Resolution 24-R-05, a Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park adopting a Scholarship Program as proposed by the City’s Restorative Justice Commission to provide grants/scholarships to certain descendants or former residents of the Lakeland community. Maxine Gross, Chair of the Restorative Justice Commission, presented this item. She reviewed the staff report, the three types of scholarships, and the eligibility. 10 years of documented residency is one of the requirements. Discussion/Questions:  The timing of the disbursement of the FY 24 funds: staff will be consulted on the timing; hopefully as soon as possible.  Is the requirement of giving back 8 hours of service to restorative justice or community building within 12 months relevant for all three types of scholarships? Yes, we can think creatively.  Who will be awarding the scholarships? Both the appointed commissioners and committee members. Comment from the City Attorney: because of the potential appearance of a conflict of interest, the attorney recommends an amendment to the language such that the committee makes the final recommendation to the City Manager or his designee, rather than making the final determination. Agreement by Council. The guidelines will be corrected to reflect this change.  Academic eligibility requires a transcript. Is there a certain level? It will be a judgement call.  The Commission hopes the University will look at this plan and seek to add to it, because of the negative impact the University had on the community, and encourages the Mayor and Council to ask them about this. Ms. Gross has raised this with the 1856 Project.  Correction – total budget is actually $191,500. A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Whitney to adopt Resolution 24-R-05, a Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park adopting a Scholarship Program as proposed by the City’s College Park City Council June 3, 2024 Page 4 Restorative Justice Commission to provide grants/scholarships to certain descendants or former residents of the Lakeland community, with revised language in the “To Apply” section of the guidelines, as follows: To Apply Please send your completed application materials to The City of College Park’s Racial Equity Officer, Kayla Aliese Carter at kcarter@collegeparkmd.gov with the subject line "Lakeland Legacy Scholarship" (application should be submitted via Google Form or a similar platform). All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of currently appointed commissioners, who will make the final [determination] RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE. The motion passed 7-0. DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. Discussion of Detailed Site Plan Application for LVCollective, Project Turtle (former Campus Village Shoppes). Ms. Bader reviewed the DSP. The applicant is offering to create a 2000 sq. ft. community space called the Lakeland Legacy Center. She reviewed the revised conditions. Tom Haller, attorney for the applicant, introduced the development team. They are not in agreement with all of the staff recommendations. They reviewed their PowerPoint. Questions/Discussion:  Restaurant tenants have not been confirmed. They will start those discussions 12 months before delivery (i.e., fall of 2026). Number of retail sites: depends on size of each, perhaps 6 or 7. Suggestion: a place to buy sundry home goods.  Café will be open to the public. It is in the lobby and will have its own hours; offers a range of espresso drinks and baked goods.  Price range of units: he can’t say but it will be competitive in the market. There will be a range of 1 BRs up to 5 BRs, some have more shared space than others, with a more discounted price point.  Condition P regarding affordability – they can’t commit to that for this project. Can residents of Lakeland be given priority? Can they reconsider?  Discussion of building height. They submitted plan to the FAA and did receive approval for the height they are proposing. College Park City Council June 3, 2024 Page 5  Location and easy access to the Legacy Center for the public. Separate lease between Lakeland and LVCollective for the Legacy Center.  Location of HVAC units, generator and sound buffering.  Concern about rodents on the site, tall weeds, and security control of the site. They will work with their property manager. Remediation of the gas station site will begin in July.  Construction worker parking should not be in the neighborhood.  Joint venture between LVCollective and a professional management company to manage the building.  Concern about the number of commercial vacancies we are seeing on US 1.  Will there be a blue emergency phone?  Townhomes have 2-4 bedrooms, front door with stoops, and door into the corridor.  Solar panels? Complicated with wood frame construction.  Courtyards are on level 3 with access only by the residents. Courtyards provide the green element.  Safety and security – latest technology from their consultant. Regarding the City’s proposed conditions:  6P – affordability issue: They can’t commit to this.  6K – mid block crosswalk near Navahoe Street was requested by the Council at PPS. Location should be determined by our DPW/Engineer. They are showing it on their plan but do not feel the location is appropriate.  6T – consider improving lighting on Trolley Trail across from Lakeland Park. They can’t agree to this. They did a lengthy BPIS analysis. The original improvements had already been made and they were given a new list by the City which they have agreed to even though they are beyond their cap of $125K. They can’t commit to “T” regarding lighting along the Trolley Trail at this point. They are limited to the list that they have unless they go back and refile their application, which they can’t do. To agenda next week, with Declaration of Covenants. AUDIENCE COMMENTS : Maxine Gross, resident: Concerned that the City lacks a plan of what they will ask developers to bring to the table. There should be a policy regarding affordable housing, for instance. Leverage the support of the City for the things Council wants to prioritize. COUNCIL AND STAFF COMMENTS: College Park City Council June 3, 2024 Page 6 Affordable Housing Task Force and amendments to the City’s revitalization tax credit can address affordable housing. International Night at Hollywood Elementary School. Calvert Hills Ice Cream Social. Ride along with Public Works. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Hew and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez to enter 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 of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting to discuss the appointment of individuals over whom this public body has jurisdiction. Specifically, the Mayor and Council will review applications for advisory board appointments. They will not return to open session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 7-0 and the regular meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk Closed Session June 3, 2024 At the conclusion of the June 3, 2024 Council meeting, a motion was made by Councilmember Hew and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez 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: Pursuant to the statutory authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article, §3-305, the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting to discuss the appointment of individuals over whom this public body has jurisdiction. Specifically, the Mayor and Council will review applications for advisory board appointments. They will not return to open session after the closed session ends. The motion passed 7-0 and the closed session began at 9:39 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Mayor Kabir, Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell and Councilmembers Hernandez, Hew, Esters, Whitney, Mackie and Rigg were present. Councilmember Adams was absent. Also present: City Manager Kenneth A. Young; Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner; and City Clerk Janeen S Miller. Mayor Kabir was the Open Meetings designee. College Park City Council June 3, 2024 Page 7 The City Council reviewed and discussed individual applications for vacancies on their advisory boards. No action was taken. A motion was made by Councilmember Hew and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez to adjourn the meeting, and with a vote of 7-0, the closed session was adjourned at 10:57 p.m.