Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Meeting Tuesday, September 17, 2024 7:30 p.m. – 11:03 p.m. HYBRID In Person in Council Chambers of City Hall Virtual over Zoom PRESENT: Mayor Kabir; Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell (8:30 pm by Zoom); Councilmembers Hernandez, Hew, Esters, Whitney, Mackie, Adams and Rigg. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager; Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney; Gary Fields, Finance Director; Teresa Way- Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources; Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services; Michael Williams, Economic Development Director; Student Liaison Erica Otte and Deputy Student Liaison John Fahmy. Mayor Kabir opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Announcements: Councilmember Hernandez: Happy Hispanic Heritage Month. Excited about the Let’s Dance event on September 20th at 5:30 p.m. at Duvall Field with live music from Joe Flero Latin Band, dancing, food from Cocineros and ending with the movie, Vivo. MNCPPC will host a Central US 1 Neighborhood Compatibility Study on September 19th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. at the Chinese Bible Church – 9618 Autoville Drive. Councilmember Hew: Thanked residents who attended the Hollywood Meet N Greet and thanked everyone who attended the Central US 1 Neighborhood Compatibility Study. Stressed how important it is to attend a Central US 1 Neighborhood Compatibility Study meeting. Councilmember Esters: Today is National Voter Registration Day. Councilmember Whitney: Thanked the City Engineer, Steve Halpern, for acting quickly in getting a fence fixed around the Campus Village Parking Lot. Berwyn Civic Association will meet this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Vital Traditions Acupuncture – 4912 Berwyn Road. Congratulated the Emory Center for Family Life for a wonderful block party this past Saturday. College Park City Council Minutes September 17, 2024 Page 2 of 6 Councilmember Mackie: Thanked the residents that see something, say something. If you see something, please contact Code Enforcement or the police. Encouraged residents to attend the Central US 1 Neighborhood Compatibility Study on September 19th. Register to volunteer for Good Neighbor Day. Councilmember Adams: Calvert Hills Citizens Association meeting this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Directions to join the Zoom meeting can be found at: https://calverthills.weebly.com/ Councilmember Rigg: Congratulated the MNCPPC College Park Aviation Museum and Airport on their 4th annual Latinas in Aviation Festival. Erica Otte: Register to Vote and register to sign up for Good Neighbor Day. City Managers Report: Kennth Young, City Manager: The Need-based Student Housing Subsidy Pilot Program applications were due on September 15. There were 133 undergraduate and 225 graduate applications received. A lottery system will pick 60 eligible undergraduates and 60 eligible graduate students to receive a grant of $1,250. Small Business Financial Education seminars will be held at the PNC Bank at 7230 Baltimore Avenue. For additional information, please visit our website. Pre-application neighborhood meeting on Thursday, September 19 at City Hall regarding the College Park Towers redevelopment. College Park Day, October 5 from 12 Noon to 6:00 p.m. at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport. Presentations: Miss College Park, Elena Argueta, gave remarks on her term. After graduating from high school, Ms. Argueta, will use her scholarship to help obtain an associate degree in nursing at Prince George’s Community College. Ms. Argueta is the first Miss College Park to be raised entirely in College Park. Amendments To And Approval Of The Agenda Rigg/Whitney: Remove Presentations from the Agenda as it was completed under the Proclamation and Awards portion of the agenda. 7-0-0 Hernandez: 24-G-117 – Move to action A motion was made by Councilmember Rigg and seconded by Councilmember Adams to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 7-0-0. Public Comment: None Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to approve the Consent agenda, which consisted of these items. College Park City Council Minutes September 17, 2024 Page 3 of 6 24-G-123 Approval to create and distribute a Request for Proposals (RFP) for three grants of up to $10,000 each for Adult Social Sports Programs for College Park Residents 24-G-124 Approval to Submit a Grant Application to the Environmental Protection Agency for the Upper Paint Branch Resilience Project, Requesting $20 Million Under the EPA Community Change Grant Program The motion passed: 7-0-0. Public Hearing: None Action Items: 24-O-07 Introduction of an Ordinance to amend City Code Chapter 179 to remove the City Forester position from the City Code/Tree and Landscape Board. Robert Marsili reviewed the staff report. This ordinance will replace the retired City Forester requirement on the board, and appoint the City Arborist, who is an employee in the Department of Public Works to fill the requirement on the Tree and Landscape Board. A motion was made by Councilmember Whitney and seconded by Councilmember Esters to introduce Ordinance 24-O-07 to amend City Code Chapter 179 to remove the City Forester position from the City Code/Tree and Landscape. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. 24-G-126 Approval of the nomination selection Committee for the Business of the Year Award Mr. Williams explained that this request is for the Mayor to appoint a four panel Councilmember subcommittee to review eligible nominations. Nominations were accepted between May 1st and August 31st, with the Business of the Year winner to be announced in October. The College Park Business of the Year Recognition Program was established in April 2019 to acknowledge the great work our local businesses do to service the residents, students, employers, and all who visit College Park. As a result of their service and dedication to the City, the community has an opportunity to recognize and award one of these outstanding businesses. A motion was made by Councilmember Mackie and Seconded by Councilmember Adams to appoint Councilmembers Hew, Mackie, Rigg and Esters to the Nomination Selection Subcommittee. Motion passed 7-0-0. 24-G-117 Approval of Parameters/Guidelines for the City’s Business Retention and Attraction fund College Park City Council Minutes September 17, 2024 Page 4 of 6 Michael Williams, Economic Development Director, reviewed the staff report. Council discussed smaller businesses not having as much money as big box retailers for a buildout, could a smaller business be given an increase in the grant. The City Manager has a spending authority for up to $30,000. If Council wants to go with a higher amount with grants for smaller businesses, spending authority would have to be increased unless Council would like to review each application. Mr. Williams will revise the application to reflect the correct percentages and change the wording of how long the business must stay in College Park from 2 years to 5 years. Council requested that staff be consistent on our definition on what is a small business and show transparency to our residents when making decisions on these grants. Council requested that the applications request the number of employees who reside in College Park, range of employees’ salaries and a breakdown of full, part-time, and seasonal employees. Councilmember Mackie made a motion and seconded by Councilmember Whitney to table 24-G-117 and bring back to a future Agenda. The motion passed 8-0-0 WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS A. Literacy Program Recommendations at Hollywood Elementary School Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services, gave an overview of the staff report. Dr. Lindsay Sullivan, Amplify Tutoring, explained the virtual tutoring program. The Education Advisory Committee recommended that the Mayor and Council approve the use of the literacy program funds in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the Amplify Tutoring Program tutoring program at Hollywood Elementary School, provided that the program is not otherwise funded by Prince George’s Couty Public Schools. Ms. Barber stated that this program is different as its reading program offers virtual tutoring of 30 minute sessions, three times a week with a consistent tutor in a small group, during the school day. Amplify Tutoring and Hollywood Elementary School representatives reported significant results among the participating 24 students in grades 3-5 during the 4 months the program operated last year. If approved, the current amount budgeted in College Park’s FY25 budget would cover approximately 24 students. A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez and seconded by Councilmember Mackie to Suspend the Rules to amend the agenda to add the funding for the Literacy Program. 24-G-165: A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez and seconded by Councimember Mackie to approve the funding of $40,000 for Amplify Tutoring College Park City Council Minutes September 17, 2024 Page 5 of 6 Program at Hollywood Elementary School during the 2024-2025 school year. The motion passed 8-0-0. B. Discussion with the Board of Election Supervisors on election matters: Ranked Choice Voting, Vote 16, and Vote By Mail Yvette Allen, City Clerk, and Susan Huemmrich, Chief Election Supervisor gave a report on the Board of Election Supervisors (BOES) recommendations on Ranked Choice Voting, Extending voting to 16 and 17 year-olds and Vote By Mail. Ranked Choice Voting: The BOES stated that the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting is challenging and would require a substantial information campaign. The BOES suggested that this be revisited at a later date when there are multiple candidates for seats. Council agreed to revisit when the BOES sees more candidates running for office. Vote 16: Expand voting rights to 16 and 17-year-old City residents; voters would have to satisfy the same criteria as other voters. With proper outreach, education, and budgetary planning, this policy could enhance civic participation among the City’s younger residents and create a more inclusive voting environment. The City would need to update the Charter, have extensive outreach and education to ensure community support. If a person does not have a current valid drivers’ license or MVA ID, they must provide the last 4 digits of their social security number. Straw Vote on Vote 16: Councilmembers Hernandez, Whitney, Esters, Rigg and Adams are in favor of holding a public hearing on Vote 16. The vote was 5 to 3 with a no from Councilmembers Hew, Mitchell and Mackie. Staff and the BOES will bring this item forward in January 2025. Vote By Mail: At the January 16, 2024, debrief of the November 2023 election, the Mayor and Council asked the BOES to consider simplifying and standardizing the method of our elections and to return with the cost of a true Vote-by-mail election (ballot automatically mailed to every registered voter) with one in-person voting day, either on a Sunday or on the traditional Tuesday election day. We understand that the Council has, in the past, been reluctant to conduct a full vote-by-mail election because of concerns about fraud. When voters are automatically mailed their ballots several weeks before the election — enabling them to vote from the safety and convenience of their home — and are provided multiple ways to easily return their ballot, voter participation increases significantly. The Board of Election Supervisors recommends moving forward with the implementation of a Vote by Mail (VBM) process for the upcoming City elections. College Park City Council Minutes September 17, 2024 Page 6 of 6 Council will revisit Vote By Mail during the January Worksession meeting when the BOES makes their recommendations to Council on the November General Election. C. Assistant City Manager, Bill Gardner reviewed the staff report. Mayor Kabir asked staff to explore setting up neighborhood meetings in each district. Staff proposed listening sessions that would not have the same formality as a regular council meeting. The City of Laurel, which has a strong Mayor form of government, has held meetings in the park. Mayor Kabir expressed interest in listening sessions to bring the government close to the residents. Council was not interested at this time to move forward with Listening Sessions. REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Councilmember Adams: A few items that were added in August have not been added to the Master List. Staff will update the Future Agendas. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE – None COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER Councilmember Hernandez: Thanked all who supported the Greenbelt Fire Department. Hey, Hollywood event hosted by the North College Park Civic Association. Councilmember Hew: Attended the UMD Environmental Justice Symposium. ADJOURN A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez and seconded by Councilmember Esters to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed 8-0. Mayor Kabir adjourned the meeting at 11:03 p.m.