Mayor and City Council

1| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – DECEMBER 20, 2023 CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES Called to order at 7:00 p.m. Via Zoom/Municipal Center, Room 230. In attendance were Councilmembers Briana Urbina, David Lai, Duane Rosenberg and Lincoln Lashley. (Councilmember Ryan Hussey was absent). Also present were Mayor Katrina Dodro, City Administrator Jenese Jones Oden, Director of Public Works Andre Triplett, Chief of Police David Rice, ACAO Maisha Williams, IT Director Andrew Facey and City Clerk Araceli Guzman- Benitez. 1. CERTIFICATES: ANNUAL HOLDAY DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS Mayor Katrina Dodro presented the certificates to the winners of the Annual Holiday Decorating Contest: Rolando & Yoko Carpio - 6403 Kaslo Court (First Place) Daisy Vivar - 7405 Farmcrest Drive (Second Place) Rutilio Dubon - 8309 Cathedral Avenue (Second Place) Elena Vargas - 7417 Longbranch Avenue (Third Place) Paul Goldbeck & Sue Simmons - 8504 Caswell Place (Third Place) Claudia Ibarra - 6415 85th Avenue (Fourth Place) Mario Hercules - 8323 Quentin Street (Fourth Place) 2. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Rosenberg:  Thanked the Mayor for bringing back the Blood Drive to the City  Community Tax Aid will be serving the community Councilmember Lai:  Prince George’s County basic income pilot program open  NCPD Toys for Tots December 22  The Library System is recruiting a Board of Trustees  Free Narcan training in English and Spanish at the Community College and Prince George’s County mall  State Board of Elections are searching for election judges Councilmember Lashley:  Wished everyone happy holidays Chair Urbina:  Expressed her gratitude to all the residents and colleagues during the holiday season 3. DISCUSSION: ETHICS COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS Mayor Dodro announced the following names as nominees of the Ethics Commission: Sharon Venable Genevieve Peterson 2| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – DECEMBER 20, 2023 Marilyn Padmore Cynthia Poles-Suite If the Council approves, Marilyn Padmore, Genevieve Peterson, Sharon Venable and Cynthia Poles-Suite will serve on the City’s Ethics Commission. The term of office will be from December 20, 2023, until December 16, 2026, per the City of New Carrollton Code of Ethics established under § 12-4A. The Councilmembers provided their comments and congratulated the nominees for volunteering to serve. 4. DISCUSSION: ZONING & APPEALS BOARD APPOINTMENTS Mayor Dodro announced the following names as nominees of the Zoning & Appeals Board: Bibi Satar-Wilson Laura Urbina Allyne Hooks If the Council approves, Bibi Satar-Wilson, Laura Urbina and Allyne Hooks will serve on the City’s Zoning & Appeals Board. The term of office will be from December 20, 2023, until December 17, 2025, per the City of New Carrollton Code Building Construction § 41-7 Variances. (A). The Councilmembers provided their comments and congratulated the nominees for volunteering to serve. 5. PRESENTATION: PEPCO Daniel D. Teixeira, Pepco’s Sr. External Affairs Specialist provided a brief overview on the following topics: Available energy assistance during winter, status of tree pruning in New Carrollton, and streetlight negotiations. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 6. PRESENTATION: NATIONAL FITNESS CAMPAIGN Mayor Dodro and Ms. Jones Oden led the presentation about the National Fitness Campaign program and provided a brief overview on how to fund the program and its benefits to the community. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 7. DISCUSSION: CURRENT AND FUTURE ARPA SPENDING PLANS Ms. Maisha Williams led the discussion about the current and future ARPA spending. The following topics were mentioned:  Street repairs and sidewalk repairs in need of funds to be put aside  ARPA Consultant  Home Improvement program is still pending payments  Mortgage Rental Assistance program funding 3| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – DECEMBER 20, 2023  Gift cards for food and groceries program  Other spending a.) Home Improvement Assistance Program/ Mortgage/Rental Utility Program: The Administration is asking for the City of New Carrollton Council approval to allocate an additional $237,202 of The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) to the Home Improvement Assistance Program, raising the total to $1,137,202. In addition, reduce the Mortgage/ Rental Utility Assistance Program by $90,960 reducing the total to $809,040. b.) The Administration is asking for the City of New Carrollton Council approval to allocate $187, 280. To purchase playground equipment before December 31, 2023. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 8. CONTRACT UPDATE OF TWO ENGINEER FIRMS: CPJ & ASSOCIATES AND VHB Ms. Jones Oden provided an update on the two engineer firms that will be working with the City to perform different projects. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 9. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Urbina mentioned that a resident Richard Potts is interested in organizing the youth advisory committee along with other members of the community. Mayor Dodro highly encourage people to sign up to be part of committees, specially the Green Team. City resident Tyrone General requested information about the role of the Ethics Commission. Future agenda items:  Charter retreat on January 6  Code Enforcement  Samsara pilot program  Presentation by: Throne 10. MOTION TO ADJOURN – MOVE INTO LEGISLATIVE MEETING Councilmember Lai moved to adjourn the workshop meeting for December 20, 2023. Mr. Lashley seconded. The motion passed with a unanimous vote of 4-0-0. The meeting adjourn at 9:14 pm. 1. LEGISLATIVE MEETING WAS CALL TO ORDER At 9:14 pm. 2. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED Chair Urbina made a motion to amend the agenda to include the purchase of the playground equipment as mentioned during the Workshop Session for a total of $187,280. To reflect as 4| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – DECEMBER 20, 2023 topic #8. On the Legislative agenda. Councilmember Lai seconded. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). 3. OATH OF OFFICE TO JENESE JONES ODEN Mayor Dodro administered the oath office to our City Administrative Officer Jenese Jones Oden. 4. MEETING MINUTES Motion: I move that the City Council approve the meeting minutes of the Council Workshop Meeting of November 1, 2023, and the Council Workshop and Legislative Meeting of November 15, 2023. Councilmember Lai moved to table the meeting minutes. Councilmember Lashley seconded. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). OLD BUSINESS NONE NEW BUSINESS 5. ETHICS COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS Chair Urbina moved that the City Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the appointment of Marilyn Padmore, Genevieve Peterson, Sharon Venable and Cynthia Poles- Suite to serve on the City’s Ethics Commission. The term of office will be from December 20, 2023, until December 16, 2026, per the City of New Carrollton Code of Ethics established under § 12-4A. Councilmember Lashley seconded. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). 6. ZONING & APPEALS BOARD APPOINTMENTS Councilmember Rosenberg moved that the City Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the appointment of Bibi Satar-Wilson, Laura Urbina and Allyne Hooks to serve on the City’s Zoning & Appeals Board. The term of office will be from December 20, 2023, until December 17, 2025, per the City of New Carrollton Code Building Construction § 41-7 Variances. (A). Councilmember Lai seconded. The motion passed (3-1-0). 7. CURRENT AND FUTURE ARPA SPENDING PLANS: HOME IMPROVEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM/MORTGAGE RENTAL UTILITY PROGRAM Councilmember Lashley moved that the City Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the Administration to allocate an additional $237,202 of The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) to the Home Improvement Assistance Program, raising the total to $1,137,202. In addition, reduce the Mortgage/Rental Utility Assistance Program by $90,960 reducing the total to $809,040. Councilmember Lai seconded. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). 11. PURCHASE OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Chair Urbina moved that the City Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the purchase of playground equipment as mentioned during the Workshop Session for a total of $187,280. Councilmember Lai seconded. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). 12. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Lai moved to adjourn the legislative meeting. Chair Urbina seconded. The 5| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP/LEGISLATIVE MEETING – DECEMBER 20, 2023 motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Araceli Guzman Benitez Araceli Guzman-Benitez, City Clerk Adopted by the City Council on January 17, 2024. Note: The official recording of the City of New Carrollton’s Council Workshop/Legislative Meeting of Wednesday, December 20, 2023, has been posted to the City of New Carrollton’s website: www.newcarrolltonmd.gov.