Mayor and City Council

1| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – MAY 1, 2024 CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES Called to order at 7:02 p.m. Via Zoom/Municipal Center, Room 230. In attendance were Councilmembers Briana Urbina, David Lai, Lincoln Lashley, Ryan Hussey and Duane Rosenberg. Also present were Mayor Katrina Dodro, ACAO Maisha Williams, Chief of Police David G, Rice, Director of Public Works Andre Triplett, IT Director Andrew Facey and Araceli Guzman-Benitez. 1. OATH OF OFFICE: ZONING & APPEALS BOARD Mayor Katrina Dodro swore in Ms. Allyne Hooks to the Zoning & Appeals Board. At 7:07 p.m., the Council Chair announced a five-minute break because of audio problems. 2. LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATION EQUITY (the topic was added to the agenda). Chairperson Urbina presented the topic and stated that the Council is ready to move forward with the process. She will present an application to the Mayor. The candidate name Briana will help to create a community survey, and she will be knocking on doors in the month of July. Chairperson Urbina presented several items such as fellowship placement agreement, a project plan, and the agreement between leadership or MOU educational equity with the city. The LEAD fellowship person will administer a community survey. She will work eight weeks. The agreement of $5,000. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS (NONE) 4. PRESENTATION NUI MOBILE UNIT Mayor Dodro explained that NIU is a company in Canada that design/build to your specification mobile bathroom units that can be fixed or mobile. She further elaborated that she received an email from the company to advice that they had an order that they fulfilled for a decontamination shower partially paid by a deposit of $62,000. However, that company was not able to pay the remaining balance. NUI proposed to sell it to the city for the remaining balance. Sharon and Sam from NUI Mobile explained that the decontamination unit has more amenities that the city can benefit from and can be used for the Fire fighters, police officers or people who had a fire for decontamination purposes or an EMS response unit for hazard control. The Councilmembers had questions and provided their opinion. Mayor Dodro provided answers. Chairperson Urbina called for an informal vote to explore the topic and to bring the topic back to City Council with further documentation. The vote was 3-1-0. 5. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Lai:  National Fitness Campaign at Beckett Field.  Senior Fridays.  Ebenezer food distribution, first Saturday and third Saturday of each month. 2| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – MAY 1, 2024  Mayor’s Meet & greet at the New Carrollton Library. Second Saturday of each month.  Free compost bin.  Primary Election season. Councilmember Lashley:  Wished everyone a happy mother’s Day.  Early Voting Polls. Councilmember Hussey:  May 2: Four Cities meeting.  May 4: Asian Pacific Event at the Library -1:00 pm.  May 10: Career Day.  May 11: Yard sale at the Trinity Moravian Church.  May 14: Primary Election. Councilmember Urbina:  May: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month  Primary Elections. Councilmember Rosenberg:  May 2: Four Cities meeting.  May 4: Asian Pacific Event at the Library -1:00 pm. (Afghan jewelry demonstration).  May 4: Star Wars Day; City of College Park.  May 10: Career Day.  May 11: Yard sale at the Trinity Moravian Church.  New Carrollton Pool are seeking volunteers. 6. BUDGET FY2025 STATISTICAL & SUPPORT INFORMATION Mayor Dodro facilitated the discussion on the FY2025 budget's statistical and support data. She noted that the budget had been adjusted to reflect the council's preferences and requirements. Topics covered:  $11,000 added to the budget for language access. (Riding contract PGC MOU). The funds were moved from insurance/health fund.  Property taxes distribution process.  Tax rate comparison with other municipalities.  Constant Yield Tax Rate (Rate remains flat).  Two police officer addition to the budget.  FY 2025 Schedule of fees will be based on PGC rates.  A budget by law must be balanced.  Mobile vendor licensing.  Question about the Red Light Camera.  Clarification that the topic about budget was specifically statistics.  Question about unbalanced $5.209 (public Safety). Maisha clarified and is aware that it 3| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – MAY 1, 2024 needs to be balanced. 7. SCHEDULE OF FEES Mayor Dodro facilitated the discussion about the FY 2025 Schedule of fees. The mayor explained that the rates on the schedule of fees will be based on Prince George’s County rates. 8. PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES Chairperson Urbina facilitated the discussion on the FY2025 proposed budget changes. Topics covered:  Speed camera – two officers. (Downsized to one police officer position).  A sum of $757,000., was mentioned to highlight the cost of two new police officer positions with all of the benefits to include police cars and equipment.  Employee service $205,000.  Finance clarified that the amount of $757,000., was the total budget for thee police officers.  The topic about dispatch was discussed. All Councilmembers agreed to move forward with the topic of moving one officer’s salary and equipment expenses out towards dispatch. 9. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Phelecia Nembhard – 6518 Lamont Place:  Opposes to the addition of two officers for Speed Cameras.  Parking Enforcement officers and Animal Control officers review tickets.  She supports adding one officer for patrol. 10. MOTION TO ADJOURN 9:15 PM – MOVE INTO LEGISLATIVE MEETING Councilmember Rosenberg moved to adjourn the Workshop meeting. Councilmember Lai seconded. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. (Councilmember Rosenberg left the meeting early). 1. SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 9:15 PM 2. ORDINANCE 24-10: Motion: Councilmember Hussey moved to approve Ordinance 24-10. Amending the Adopted Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2023 and Ending June 30, 2024 as Embodied in Ordinance 23-02 to reflect the Receipt of New and Additional Revenues, and to Adjust Various Expenditures. Seconded by Councilmember Lai. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. 3. ORDINANCE 24-11: OPERATING A CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON, MARYLAND FISCAL YEAR 2025 Reading: Councilmember Lashley read the Ordinance: An Ordinance of the City Council of New Carrollton Adopting an Annual Operating and Capital Budget for the City of New Carrollton for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025; establishing the Tax Rate to be Levied Upon the Taxable property within the City; authorizing the 4| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – MAY 1, 2024 collection of such taxes; specifying a rate of interest to be charged upon overdue personal property taxes, liens and unpaid fees; adopting annual budgets for the commercial and/or industrial properties special public safety taxing district and the multifamily properties special public safety taxing district; establishing the annual tax rate to be levied upon the special public safety taxing districts; and all things generally relating to the adoption of an Annual Budget for the City. Chairperson Urbina seconded. Motion: Councilmember Lai moved to table the topic to be presented on the next meeting. Councilmember Hussey seconded. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. 4. LEADERSHIP FOR EDUCATION EQUITY Motion: Chairperson Urbina moved that the City Council of the City of New Carrollton approve $5,000., for signing an agreement with leadership of education to host a fellow for the summer as discussed this date during the workshop session. Councilmember Rosenberg seconded. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. 5. MOTION TO ADJOURN Councilmember Lashley moved to adjourn the Legislative meeting. Councilmember Lai seconded. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:19 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Araceli Guzman-Benitez City Clerk Adopted by the City Council on July 17, 2024, Note: The official recording of the City of New Carrollton’s Council Workshop and Special Legislative Meeting of Wednesday, May 1, 2024, has been posted to the City of New Carrollton’s website: www.newcarrolltonmd.gov.