Mayor and City Council

1 - MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR RETREAT, JUNE 22, 2024 CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES Called to order at 1:00 p.m. In-person at 10003 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842. In attendance were Councilmembers Briana Urbina, David Lai, Lincoln Lashley and virtually Duane Rosenberg and Ryan Hussey. Also present were Mayor Katrina Dodro and Araceli Guzman-Benitez. 1. DISCUSSION ON BRIANA CONTINUING AS CHAIR  Chairperson Urbina expressed that she would like to continue to chair the City Council.  Councilmember Lai expressed support for continuance of the current Chairperson.  Councilmember Rosenberg expressed not to reorganize the City Council as per the City’s Charter.  Councilmember Hussey does not support re-organizing the City Council.  Councilmember Lashley expressed support for continuance of the current Chairperson. 2. REVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FAILURES IN FY 2024 Positives:  Moving ordinances and policies.  Technology, Samsara, KPI’s.  Social services.  Equity, distribution of information, resources and language access.  Measurable items to implement.  Improvement on policy agenda.  Focus streamline major strategic initiatives.  Implemented programs such as food distribution, seniors program, blood drive, and residents being able to speak during meeting.  FY2025 budget passed, Better meeting process, proactive.  ARPA funds forensic audit, Opengov, council and mayor communication, Hanko building project, Harland Street project, and creating a good foundation. Negatives:  Fail to manage the Bridge situation. (Late responses or did not provide clear information).  Tension between the Mayor and City Council, Administration or procurement, vehicle purchase v rent, Samsara, RFP’s body worn cameras, solar panel project was not handles properly, decontamination showers, Hanko building scope of service, comprehensive study and matrix on cameras.  Does not agreed with last minute topics, ARPA funds breakdown was late, tension between the mayor, City Council and the Administration.  Felt rushed when topics were presented at the last moment, proactive with CPJ, Parking situation (Assessment with consulting firm). 2 - MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR RETREAT, JUNE 22, 2024 3. CHARTER REVIEW - WHEN DO WE TAKE ACTION ON THE CHARTER? AND PROGRAMMING OR SPENDING GOALS FOR FY2025- (Limit of 3) i. What actions do we want to take? ii. Passing ordinances to move the City forward.  Communicate clearly with the mayor.  Town Manager Form of government.  Take away responsibilities from the mayor; be able to pass ordinances to strengthen the City Council and the Administration, and ordinances to pass changes to the City’s Charter.  Public property concerns.  Language will be put forward to provide enough time for public view.  Merging Charter, and programing, classification,  Programing goals: Evaluate red light, speed cameras and public safety.  Create data and research infrastructure (Administration).  Website transparency and strategic planning for reaching out to residents.  Town management concept, Police department structure, parking enforcement, currently there is no City Administrative officer.  High crime rate, non-citizen voting. Pursue an ordinance to create a position of town manager:  All Councilmembers were in support of creating an ordinance for a town manager position. Chairperson Urbina asked the City Council if they support a town manager form of government, and to remove the Mayor as the CAO of the day-to-day operation:  All Councilmembers were in support of a town manager form of government.  Mentioned that the Mayor has done some positive things such as youth programing, brought EmployPG, and provided Grant funding to the Volunteer Fire Department.  Negative concept about EmployPG Job Center. Resources such as City staff, space, office supplies and equipment would be through the City. (Want to prevent other Mayor’s from making those decisions). Chairperson Urbina asked the City Council if they support presenting the concept of giving the Council more powers:  All Councilmembers were in support of presenting the concept of giving the Council more powers.  Currently the City Charter does not required that the Mayor report to the City Council.  Vetting and approving.  A town manager reports to the City Council. Parking Issues: 3 - MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR RETREAT, JUNE 22, 2024  Mr. Brooks a resident from Quentin Court had initiated a petition for his neighborhood to have parking permits.  Proposed going to mail a survey in English and Spanish to engage the community by sending post cards. All Councilmembers support it. 4. THE CITY COUNCIL COMPLETED THEIR CONVERSATION AT 3:11 PM. 5. MAYOR KATRINA DODRO Joined the meeting at 3:11 pm. Chairperson Urbina proposed the following topics to the Mayor:  The City Council will work with the City Attorney to create an ordinance for the search of town manager.  Get with the City Attorney to explore ordinances on Council oversight. To inform the Council about manager reporting requirements.  The Council will bid an RFP for a parking study. Will be part of Safe Streets. Mayor Dodro provide the following input:  Mayor Dodro expressed her dissatisfaction with not being allowed to be present during the discussion about proposed changes to the City’s form of government.  Discussing changes to the City’s current form of government to reflect a weak-mayor system was inappropriate and disrespectful as there are other key components to discuss or research in order to dissolve a strong mayor system, because the City does not have the staff to deal with a new system of government without a detailed plan.  The Mayor expressed that the City Council did not allow the Mayor the opportunity to show all the work that she has accomplished.  Does not agreed in changing the form of government created more than 70 years ago. A discussion followed about the City’s Charter:  Experts on government structure.  Oversight reporting information.  Transition to town manager from of government requires changes, which they will figure out what will be best for the city.  It was suggested that before executing ordinances, the City Council should speak to the City Attorney. 6. MOTION TO ADJOURN Councilmember Lai moved to adjourn the City Council and Mayor Retreat. Councilmember Ryan seconded. The motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. The retreat adjourned at 3:36 p.m. 4 - MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR RETREAT, JUNE 22, 2024 Respectfully submitted, Araceli Guzman-Benitez City Clerk Adopted by the City Council on _______________. Note: The City Council and Mayor Retreat of Saturday, June 22, 2024, was not video recorded.