Mayor and City Council

1| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING – JUNE 17, 2024 CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES Called to order at 7:03 p.m. Via Zoom/Municipal Center, Room 230. In attendance were Councilmembers Briana Urbina, Lincoln Lashley and Duane Rosenberg, (Councilmembers Ryan Hussey and David Lai were absent). Also present were Mayor Katrina Dodro, Chief of Police David G. Rice, Director of Public Works Andre Triplett, IT Director Andrew Facey, City Clerk Ashley Pressey and Araceli Guzman-Benitez. 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS (NONE) 2. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairperson Urbina:  Announced the passing of her uncle the Honorable Ricardo Urbina, who blazed paths in the legal community as the first Latino judge on D.C. Superior Court as well as on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Urbina passed away of Parkinson’s disease. Chairperson Urbina asked for prayers during this difficult time. Councilmember Rosenberg:  Pastor Jasmina Meade of the Trinity Moravian Church was invited to the celebration of the Graduates of New Carrollton.  The New Carrollton Pool is open for business. Councilmember Lashley:  Juneteenth Holiday – June 19, the City offices will be closed and there will not be bulk pick-up service.  The New Carrollton Police Foundation will meet on July 13.  There are cooling centers throughout Prince George’s County. Due to high temperatures, check on your elderly residents and to find cooling centers, please visit https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/news/cooling/centers. Chairperson Urbina:  Acknowledged Juneteenth Holiday. 3. PRESENTATION: PLANNING ASSISTANCE TO MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES (PAMC) Mr. Connor Klein, a Planner with the Community Planning Division at the Prince George’s County Planning Department led the discussion about the possibility to collaborating with the City of New Carrollton roadways and bike-ability. He provided a brief overview about the program, and that the objective of the program is to provide short-term studies and recommendations:  Planning Department resources.  Goal is for Fiscal Year 2025.  Short-term (12-18 month) plans and studies.  Use Planning Department resources to speed up a grant process. (No application needed other than the work already in process). 2| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING – JUNE 17, 2024  Planning Department has a set of consultants that manages projects.  Implement the plan elements of Plan 2035.  Deals with transportation. (Land use, economic prosperity, transportation, mobility, natural environment, housing and neighborhoods, community heritage design, healthy communities, and public facilities).  Development of grants training program.  Provided examples of projects with different municipalities.  Community Engagement.  Bike/pedestrian connectivity study. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 4. DISCUSSION: ORDINANCE TO ADOPT CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT Attorney Suellen Ferguson led the discussion on the Comcast Cable Franchise agreement. She mentioned that the negotiations for the Comcast Franchise have spanned 10 years and that the agreement was finally been reached. The ordinance extends the franchise for another 10 years. She also emphasized that the County and the larger municipalities have approved the agreement.  The agreement retains a 5% franchise fee, and the 3% PEG.  Makes provision for continuing the INET (CNET) usage through the Police Department.  Comcast has become much more conservative across the United States, which makes provision for municipalities to take over the INET (CNET) eventually because Comcast is getting out of the INET business.  Municipalities are still entitled to their PEG channels, and high definition.  The agreement is the same for all 27 municipalities and the County. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 5. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND VFD Mayor Dodro mentioned that professional firefighters in Prince George’s County are being pulled from volunteer fire stations, which is leaving these stations understaffed. She pointed out that the notice dated June 3 was only received on June 10, creating a problem because the professional firefighters are required to be present. She also noted that it becomes complicated for volunteer firefighters to operate in Prince George’s County due to a six-month processing time. The Volunteer Fire Department are asking municipalities to allocate $7,500 annually in their budgets for the Volunteer Fire Department. The funding will allow the Volunteer Fire Department to purchase other equipment not being provide. The Councilmembers were moved and unanimously agreed to amend the budget to allocate additional funds to support the volunteer firefighters. 6. REPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION Mayor Dodro:  Announced that there are a few positions filled in the Administration: City Clerk, Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, and the Code Enforcement Manager.  The Councilmember parking signs in the front parking lot will be removed. Asking Councilmembers to park on the back parking lot. 3| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING – JUNE 17, 2024 ACAO Williams:  Having bi-weekly meetings with CPJ, about the bridge. Meeting minutes provided.  Flag Pride raising event on June 1.  First seniors field trip.  Met with the National Boys and Girls Club.  Residents calling about the Service Line Warranty program.  Safe Streets grant awarded to the City.  The Administration’s report includes the ARPA spending financial statement with the monthly financial statement and the list of bills. Chief Rice:  Wished everyone a happy Father’s Day.  The Gun Buyback program did not have a big turnout but will have another event.  Seven guns were recovered.  The police report was missing but will be provided later.  Animal Control does not have a spa and neutering program at this time.  Ticket amnesty.  A question about what percentage of tickets does the City collect and revenue.  Six inches away from the curb is a violation.  Ballistic vests expire every three years. Purchased three via grants.  Stray dog. Director Triplett:  Trees are being removed on 85th Avenue. (Dead trees).  Trees will be removed from Westbrook Dr. (Dead trees).  The parking lot project for Publics Works was completed.  The parking lot project for Frenchman’s Creek was completed.  Recycling contract will expire at the end of June. Requested an extension with GCI.  Proposal to re-pave Lamont Drive, to Good Luck Road to include the bridge on Westbrook Dr. The project will cost $292,762. With VMP Construction. (Vote needed).  The Fuel Tanks failed the test of cathartic protection, which means that it needs repairs estimated $22,500., plus excavation. The tanks need to be replaced due to its 30-year life span. A blanket purchase order has been secured through the State of Maryland with Car Fuels and the help of CPJ. (Through ARPA funds).  A brief overview about CPJ, the project on the bridge is on schedule. It was recommended that the same contractor be used for the demo, while waiting on the permit process.  Harland Street guided proposal to fill the pool, the field with SOD, gravel and seed in the amount of $340,000. (Through ARPA funds). The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. Chairperson Urbina proposed a closed session July or August to review what the mayor has been up to, what has come up, and whether there is any interests. 7. GRANT: MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION – OUTDOOR LIGHTING 4| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING – JUNE 17, 2024 EFFICIENCY Mayor Dodro summarized that a grant was awarded to the City:  The City received a $13,000 grant from the State of Maryland to replace the top lighting on poles in two parks.  The total cost of the project is approximately $103,000.  Contractors for the project will be selected from the State's list.  Pepco has rebates the City can use.  $38,000, will be returned to the City through grant funding and Pepco rebates.  Half of the project's cost will be covered by the grant and rebates.  The project includes upgrading to LED lighting and preparing poles for smart technology. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 8. MML CONFERENCE PREPARATION The Mayor gave a short overview of the items included in a bag distributed to all Councilmembers and staff attending the 2024 Summer MML Conference. The Councilmembers asked questions and provided input. 9. MAYOR & COUNCIL RETREAT Chairperson Urbina stated that she was able to secure a room at the Library in Ocean City to have the retreat. The City Attorney advised that it was okay to have the retreat as long as the retreat was open via Zoom.  The City Council will meet at 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.  The Mayor will come after.  Agenda to discuss: Re-organization of the Council. (Chairperson Nomination to serve one year).  Other topics: Develop a plan to provide to the mayor.  Revisit promises made to each other.  Publish the agenda.  The Zoom meeting will only be for residents to listen.  Parking.  In the month of August they will put together Charter ordinances on topics such as Elections and Ethics. 10. MEETING MINUTES Chairperson Urbina mentioned the following meeting minutes: a.) Council Workshop- Special Legislative Meeting Minutes (April 3, 2024). b.) Council and Mayor Retreat Meeting Minutes (April 4, 2024). c.) Council and Mayor Retreat Meeting Minutes (April 11, 2024). d.) Council Workshop Meeting Minutes (April 15, 2024). e.) Council Workshop-Legislative Meeting Minutes (April 17, 2024). 11. LIST OF BILLS 5| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING – JUNE 17, 2024 There were not any questions about the list of bills. 12. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS Chairperson Urbina asked whether the fuel tank’s cathartic protection is needed to minimize corrosion in the fuel tank or is it safety to prevent explosion on the ladder. In addition, to make sure to do a good job correctly by removing the concrete before filling the pool at Harland Street. Dave Rowlands at 8318 Carrollton Parkway: Question on who to contact about an issue with Pepco. The City should keep contact with Pepco to help residents when issues arise. 13. MOTION TO ADJOURN Councilmember Lashley moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Rosenberg seconded. The motion passed unanimously 3-0-0, with Councilmembers Lai and Hussey absent. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Araceli Guzman-Benitez City Clerk Adopted by the City Council on_____________________. Note: The official recording of the City of New Carrollton’s Council Workshop Meeting of Monday, June 17, 2024, has been posted to the City of New Carrollton’s website: www.newcarrolltonmd.gov.