Mayor and City Council

1| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. via Zoom/Municipal Center, Room 230. In attendance were Councilmembers Briana Urbina, David Lai, Duane Rosenberg, Ryan Hussey and (Lincoln Lashley arrived at 7:06 pm). Also present were Mayor Katrina Dodro, Director of Public Works Andre Triplett, Finance Director Lorna Grant-Charles, Major Marc Butler, IT Director Andrew Facey and City Clerk Araceli Guzman-Benitez. 1. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED Motion: Councilmember Rosenberg made a motion to include Council announcements to the agenda. Councilmember Hussey seconded the motion. Chair Urbina called for a vote. The motion passed 4-0-0. Councilmember Lashley was absent during this vote. 2. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Urbina requested a moment of silence in memory of DuVal High School student Jayda Medrano Moore, who tragically passed away near the school. Contacted Mr. Johnson Briggs and Jocelyn Route regarding the construction of Margaret Brent School. Announced the upcoming Community Day/70th Anniversary celebration, inviting residents to volunteer. Extended congratulations to Delegate Ashanti Martinez in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Mentioned the Tito Puente concert at the Publick Playhouse. Informed attendees about the third Annual Latinas and Aviation Festival. Promoted the Colombian Festival at Bowie Center of Performing Arts. Councilmember Rosenberg provided the following information: PGC Business Association meeting. PGC Animal Services Facility & Adoption Center is open for adoption. College Park offers free vaccination and COVID-19 rapid tests. Councilmember Lashley cordially invited everyone to the Community Day/70 Anniversary th celebration. Councilmember Lai acknowledged that the events and the newsletter have been posted on the City’s website. Additionally, County Council Jolene Ivey will host a food distribution and community resource event. The Commission for Common Ownership has scheduled a resident meeting for 9/27/23, and Charles Carroll back- to- school night is approaching. Councilmember Hussey did not have any announcements. 3. DISCUSSION: NON-CITIZEN VOTING Eden Aaron, CASA Research & Policy Analyst, provided supporting testimony in favor of Non-Citizen voting on behalf of CASA. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 2| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 4. CHARTER AMENDMENT RESOLUTION 24-01: CITY CHARTER C-6 Charter Amendment Resolution of the City Council of New Carrollton, Maryland amending the City Charter § C-6 “Qualifications and Registration of Voters” to add “Supplemental Voter Registry” to modify the provisions of the qualifications to become a registered voter of the City eligible to vote in municipal elections, providing the creation of a separate supplemental voter registry in addition to those voters of the City registered with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections. Chair Urbina clarified that a timeline procedure to notify residents will be followed, and that they will not be voting on the topic tonight. Motion: Councilmember Lai moved for a five-minute recess. Councilmember Lashley seconded. There was not a discussion. The motion passed 5-0-0. A Council Member suggested being consistent with the language being used. Councilmember Lai raised concerns about typographical errors and voiced his concerns about voter data protection. Motion: Councilmember Rosenberg moved to table the Charter Amendment. Councilmember Lashley seconded. There was not a discussion. The motion passed 5-0-0. 5. DISCUSSION: PURCHASE EV PARKING ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES Chair Urbina led the discussion about the proposed purchase of two Parking Enforcement EV cars. Major Butler provided clarification that the cars are for Parking Enforcement, along with an overview of the pros and cons related to staff safety and pricing. A discussion followed, during which the Councilmembers voiced their concerns about budget allocation. A proposed budget amendment was mentioned to fund the purchase of the EV Parking Enforcement cars. Chair Urbina recognized CAO Jenese Jones Oden to speak on the “Maryland Time to Care Act of 2022”. CAO Jenese Jones Oden provided information about the Maryland Time to Care Act that passed in 2022 and discussed the Paid Family Leave MML alternative plan. CAO Jones Oden provided clarification in response to inquiries from the Council. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS There were no comments from the public. Major Butler welcomed the new Animal Control Officer Nelly Ortiz. Chair Urbina’s suggestions for future agenda items: October 4: Forensic Audit. PGCPS School Board school construction topic Jonathan Briggs or Jocelyn Route. A possible breast cancer awareness speaker. October 18: update on non-citizen voting. November 1: First 3| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 Quarter budget analysis. Speaker to discuss parking. Possible guest Delegate from District 22 team. Fleet Manager Position budget amendment. December: starting conversation on Charter changes, revisions and topics discussed today. Councilmember Rosenberg’s suggestions: Police Dispatch, Fleet Facility Manager and special meeting to discuss ARPA funds. Councilmember Lashley’s focus: Parks and Hanko Building. Councilmember Lai’s proposed topics: Data infrastructure and cybersecurity. January: revisiting crime, youth program opportunities, language access program and standing rules for Council procedures. Councilmember Hussey’s priorities: Bridge updates, Code Enforcement and the budget process. Mayor Dodro clarified confusion about the money designated for police cars. Ms. Grant-Charles requested a special meeting for fiscal 2023 reconciliation. 7. MOTION TO ADJOURN – MOVE INTO LEGISLATIVE MEETING Councilmember Lai moved to adjourn the workshop meeting for September 20, 2023. Mr. Lashley seconded. Chair Urbina called for the vote. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm. 1. LEGISLATIVE MEETING WAS CALL TO ORDER At 8:52 pm. 2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED Addition to the agenda: Consideration of purchasing EV Parking Enforcement Vehicles. Motion: Councilmember Rosenberg made a motion to adopt the agenda as presented. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion. Chair Urbina called for the vote. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). 3. PRESENTATION: AWARD WEINBACH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Chair Urbina announced the recipients of the Weinbach Scholarship below: Alexandra Ingram Alejandra Perez-Velasquez Christine Gordon Ignacio Burmida-Lima Christopher Wilson Fedora Tettekpoe Finnian Sheerin Natalya Armenta Nicholas Armenta Samu George 4| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 4. MEETING MINUTES Councilmember Lai moved to approve the meeting minutes. A discussion followed. Chair Urbina called for the vote. The minutes were not approved 2-2-1. a.) Council Special Workshop Meeting (May 31, 2023) b.) Council Special Workshop Meeting (June 1, 2023) c.) Council Special Workshop (June 5, 2023) d.) Council Special Legislative Meeting (June 7, 2023) e.) Council Special Workshop Meeting (June 21, 2023) f.) Elected Officials Leadership Team and Goal Setting Retreat (June 24, 2023) g.) Council Special Workshop/Legislative Meeting (July 6, 2023) h.) Council Special Workshop/Legislative Meeting (July 19, 2023) i.) Council Special Workshop/Legislative Meeting (August 16, 2023) Councilmember Rosenberg moved to table the meeting minutes. Councilmember Lai seconded. Chair Urbina called for the vote. The motion passed 5-0-0. The minutes were tabled to allow for corrections. 5. REVIEW OF PAID BILLS There was a brief discussion for the record. The City Council did not have any comments on the list of bills. Batch #1 (August 3, 2023); Batch #2 (August 17, 2023); Batch #3 (August 21, 2023); Batch #4 (August 28, 2023); Batch #5 (August 30, 2023); & Batch #6 (August 30, 2023). OLD BUSINESS 6. STRUCTURAL DESIGN ANALYSIS AND PREPARATION OF FEASIBILITY STUDY: THREE OPTIONS FOR THE EXISTING POWHATAN STREET AND WESTBROOK DRIVE BRIDGE. Councilmember Hussey made a motion for the City Council to approve the proposal by Charles P. Johnson & Associates, Inc., dated July 31, 2023. The proposal is for a feasibility study on the Powhatan Street and Westbrook Drive Bridge and it should not exceed the amount of $41,928.11. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion, and there was no further discussion. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). NEW BUSINESS 7. ORDINANCE 24-01: CHAPTER 12 “ETHICS, CODE OF” THE CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON TO CONFORM TO RECENT UPDATES TO STATE LAW AS TO FINANCIAL REPORTING AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. 5| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 Ordinance 24-01: Chapter 12 “Ethics, Code of” pertains to the City of New Carrollton and aims to align with recent updates to state law regarding financial reporting and conflicts of interest. The Ordinance was introduced as a first reading for the record, and there was no subsequent discussion. 8. NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION Councilmember Rosenberg moved to approve the proclamation honoring Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 through October 15, 2023. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion, and there was no further discussion. Chair Urbina called for the vote, which passed unanimously (5-0-0). 9. NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH PROCLAMATION Councilmember Lai moved to proclaim September 2023, as National Preparedness Month in the City of New Carrollton. Chair Urbina seconded. There was no discussion. Chair Urbina called for the vote. The motion passed 5-0-0. NEW BUSINESS 10. PURCHASE OF TWO EV PARKING ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES Councilmember Lai moved to discuss the purchase of two Electric Vehicles for Parking Enforcement at a cost of $ 31,967 per vehicle. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion, which led to a discussion. During the discussion, all Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. Chair Urbina expressed her desire to propose a budget amendment that would allocate $ 85,000 from ARPA funds to police cars, with an additional $ 30,000 from the $85,000 allocation. Councilmember Rosenberg disagreed with reducing the $ 85,000 amount. Ms. Grant-Charles was questioned about the accuracy of the numbers on the spreadsheet submitted to the State and the Council requested proof of the correct spreadsheet. Councilmember Lashley made a motion to purchase two Parking Enforcement vehicles through a budget amendment. This amendment involved transferring $30,000 from the $85,000-line item patrol cars and adding it to the $40,000 initially allocated for parking vehicles, resulting in $70,000 total for parking expenses to cover the $31,967 cost for each vehicle. Mr. Lai seconded the motion, and a discussion ensued. Chair Urbina called for the vote, which passed unanimously (5-0-0). 11. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lai moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Hussey seconded. Chair Urbina called for the vote. The motion passed (5-0-0). The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Araceli Guzman-Benitez 6| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 Araceli Guzman Benitez City Clerk Adopted by the City Council on October 18, 2023. Note: The official recording of the City of New Carrollton’s Council Workshop/Legislative Meeting of Wednesday, September 20, 2023 has been posted to the City of New Carrollton’s website: www.newcarrolltonmd.gov.