Mayor & City Council

MINUTES College Park City Council Meeting Tuesday, November 18, 2025 7:30 p.m. HYBRID In Person in Council Chambers of City Hall Virtual over Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92398574069 PRESENT: Mayor Kabir; Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell (Zoom); Councilmembers Hernandez, Hew (7:32 p.m. by Zoom), Esters, Whitney, Ranker (8:18 p.m.). ABSENT: Councilmember Mackie, and Councilmember Rigg. ALSO PRESENT: Kenneth Young, City Manager (by Zoom); Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager (by Zoom); Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk; Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney; Miriam Bader, Director of Planning; Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner, Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator; Teresa Way- Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources, Aaron Brink-Johnson, Equity, Inclusivity, and Outreach Coordinator; Nicholas DiSpirito, Student Liaison; and Amira Abujuma, Deputy Student Liaison. Mayor Kabir opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Hernandez: Come out and enjoy the last Hollywood Farmers Market of the year. High Point High School will hold a school safety meeting in partnership with Prince George’s County Police Department on November 20th. Started a petition for people who want to see a grocery store to replace Shoppers Food Warehouse. Councilmember Esters: Acknowledged Berwyn Civic Association for the Berwyn Bon Fire. Acknowledged former Councilmember Maxine Gross for her presentation on Lakeland that was held in Berwyn Heights. The College Park Food Bank is accepting turkeys, turkey breast and chicken donations for the holidays on Friday, November 21 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Church of the Nazarene located at 9704 Rhode Island Avenue. Councilmember Whitney: Berwyn District Civic Association will meet this Thursday, November 20 at Vital Traditions, 4912 Berwyn Road at 7:30 p.m. Acknowledged Berwyn Civic Association for the Berwyn Bon Fire. Maryland Football game will be held this Saturday – kick off at 4:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem, Mitchell: Acknowledged our Contract Police for helping a resident this past Saturday. College Park City Council Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Nicholas DiSpirito: Continued discussion on the Early Lease Ordinance. Amira Abujuma: Continued discussion on the Early Lease Ordinance. CITY MANAGERS REPORT: Kenneth Young, City Manager: To avoid parking disruptions during the Thanksgiving holiday, construction of the Ruatan Street Complete & Green Streets Sidewalk Project from Rhode Island Avenue to 48th Avenue will now start during the week of December 1st. Parking restrictions will be posted on orange barrels ahead of work taking place. MDOT SHA contractors are finishing up work on the RRFB crosswalk signal installation at the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Greenbelt Road. Residents will continue to see temporary lane shifts and bike lane and crosswalk closures to allow the contractors to install signage and configure the equipment. PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS: Mayor Kabir proclaimed Small Business Saturday. AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Whitney and seconded by Councilmember Esters to amend the agenda under Presentation to place Veo Ride as the last presentation. Motion approved 5-0-0. PUBLIC COMMENT: None CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez and seconded by Councilmember Esters to approve the Consent agenda, which consisted of these items: 25-G-120 Authorize the City Manager to execute a Retainer Agreement with O’Malley, Miles, Nylen, & Gilmore, P.A. for lobbying services in 2026 for a total cost of $30,000 ($2,500 per month) – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 25-R-12 Resolution to change the charge of the Restorative Justice Commission 25-G-123 Approval of a Business Retention Grant request from Shaban Family Enterprises on behalf of Hollywood Plaza tenants in the amount of $75,000.00 – Michael Williams, Economic Development Director Motion carried 5-0-0. College Park City Council Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 3 of 4 PRESENTATIONS: A. Proposed Student Housing, Pre-Application, 4201 Guilford Drive, by Article Student Living - Carly Zapernick, Managing Director and Chris Hatcher, Attorney Under the new Zoning Ordinance, developers are required to hold a pre-application neighborhood meeting. As a courtesy, and to ensure full transparency, the Planning Director recommended that the developer, Article Student Living, present their proposed student housing project to the Council in advance of that mandatory meeting. This allowed the Council to review the concept before it is shared with the neighborhood and the Prince George’s County Planning Department. The Council emphasized that this development must include affordable housing. B. The Mark at College Park, Student Housing, Pre-Application for Preliminary Plan of Subdivision (PPS) and Detailed Site Plan (DET), 4330 Hartwick Rd. and 4313 Knox Rd. by Landmark Properties - Hamilton Reynolds, Developer and Chris Hatcher, Attorney Under the new Zoning Ordinance, developers are required to hold a pre-application neighborhood meeting. As a courtesy, and to ensure full transparency, the Planning Director recommended that the developer, The Mark, present their proposed student housing project to the Council in advance of that mandatory meeting. This allowed the Council to review the concept before it is shared with the neighborhood and the Prince George’s County Planning Department. The Council emphasized that this development must include affordable housing. C. Veo Ride Status Report - Jeffrey Hoover, Director of Government Partnerships and Alex Posorske, Policy & Partnerships Manager Council expressed concern about stand-up and sit-down scooters being left around the City instead of being returned to designated charging stations, as well as instances where all the stand-up and sit-down scooters within a station are knocked over. There was also discussion about repeat offenders and the fees assessed when bikes or scooters are not properly returned. Staff will continue to monitor these issues and provide updates to Council on progress and any needed adjustments to enforcement or dock/hub management. PUBLIC HEARING: None ACTION ITEMS: None WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS: None College Park City Council Minutes November 18, 2025 Page 4 of 4 REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: None COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE Yonah Gross, resident: Election and voter engagement: guidelines for campaigning on campus. Redistricting - advocates for more student compactness. Maxine Gross, resident: Redistricting, the City usually has a committee work on the process. Yonah Gross would be a great candidate to sit on that committee when time comes. Looking forward to the next steps on working with the new Council on Restorative Justice Committee. Ruth Murphy, resident: Please keep Restorative Justice. Sean Woolums, resident: Available/vacant housing units can be tracked by looking at advertisements of when a rental is up for rental. COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER Councilmember Ranker: Recused himself on all topics regarding the Guildford Road development. Councilmember Whitney: Attended a Town Hall held by UMD president Pines. One topic of discussion was the change in College Park, and it couldn’t have happened without the partnership with UMD, Prince George’s County, CUCUP and the City. Councilmember Esters: Last full meeting and it has been a pleasure serving the City of College Park residents. Councilmember Hernandez: Invited Councilmembers Esters, Rigg and Whitney to attend the all future Council meetings. City Manager, Kenneth Young: Councilmember Mackie was awarded the Maryland Tourism Coalition’s Tourism Advocate of the Year award this evening. Congratulations Maria! ADJOURN A motion was made by Councilmember Whitney and seconded by Councilmember Esters to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0-0. Mayor Kabir adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m.