Mayor and City Council

CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024 7:08 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. PRESENT: Chair Briana Urbina, Councilmembers Lincoln Lashley, Ryan Hussey, David Lai and Duane Rosenberg, Director of Public Works, Andre Triplett (appearing virtually), City Clerk, Ashli Pressey, City Administrator Maisha Williams, and Mayor Katrina Dodro. ABSENT: Chair Briana Urbina opened the meeting at 7:08 p.m. QUICK RECAP The New Carrollton City Council meeting focused on the issue of All Resident voting rights, with several residents expressing their opinions and concerns. The council also discussed the installation of an electric vehicle charging station, a feasibility study for a building addition, and options for a new community center. Lastly, the council approved several items related to electric vehicle infrastructure and vehicles for the city and passed a resolution allowing all residents to vote in municipal elections. NEXT STEPS • Andrew Facey to provide additional estimates and documentation for the EV charger installation at the January 2nd workshop meeting. • Council to review and vote on the EV charger installation proposal at the January 2nd workshop meeting. • Maisha to work with Council to determine desired Samsara report contents for police vehicle usage. • Council to introduce legislation in January to lower the threshold for referendums in the city. • City staff to begin implementation process for all-resident voting in preparation for May 2025 election. • City staff to pursue grant funding opportunities for the new community center building project. • VHB to provide a life cycle cost assessment for the proposed new community center building options. Addressing Public Concerns and Decorations The meeting began with Council addressing the public for comments. Miss Mills expressed her concerns about the lack of New Carrollton residents speaking up in favor of issues. She emphasized the need for the community to have a final say. Council then moved on to the annual house decorating contest winners, acknowledging the efforts of the participants. A public comment was made in Spanish, which was translated and read out. Council then thanked the staff and announced the winners of the decorating contest. The conversation ended with a presentation from VHB and a discussion about the charter. Voting Rights and Community Concerns The meeting began with a public comment session, where several residents expressed their views on the voting rights of all residents. Richard Potts, a New Carrollton resident, voiced his concerns about the division tactics being used by some council members and the potential influence of outside forces on the community. Micaiah Potts also shared her concerns about the involvement of Casa, an organization with a history of controversy, in New Carrollton politics. Another resident emphasized the importance of following the law and not rewarding wrong behavior. The council members listened to these comments and acknowledged the concerns raised. All Resident Voting Rights Discussed The New Carrollton City Council meeting focused on the issue of All Resident voting rights. Several residents expressed their opinions, with some advocating for the right to vote for all residents, regardless of citizenship status, while others expressed concerns about the potential consequences of such a decision. The council members were urged to listen to their constituents and decide based on the residents' voices. The meeting also highlighted the importance of language access for non-English speakers in the voting process. The council members were encouraged to consider the residents' opinions and make a decision that would benefit the community. EV Charging Station Installation Discussed The Council discussed the installation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at the Public Works building, with a total cost of $63,667.52. The decision was made after considering proposals from multiple vendors, with 4-10 being chosen due to their previous work on the Council's other charging stations and the potential for future grants. The Council also discussed the possibility of installing more chargers in the future, as they plan to purchase more electric vehicles for Public Works. A motion was made for a brief recess to allow Council members to read correspondence from residents, which was approved. The meeting was adjourned until 8 PM for a presentation from VHB. Feasibility Study for Building Addition The presentation summarizes a feasibility study for adding a 5,000 square foot building addition and modernizing the existing Andrew C. Hancock building for the city. The architects, VHB and Bates, evaluated four concepts ranging from renovating the existing building to constructing a new single-floor 10,000 square foot building. They found that all mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the existing building are at or beyond their useful life and need replacement. The most cost-effective option appears to be demolishing the existing building and constructing a new single- floor 10,000 square foot multi-purpose facility for around $2.6-2.8 million, meeting all programming needs while allowing for future expansion of utilities. The new building would include spaces for public works, emergency operations, community events, rentable rooms, and recreational courts. New Community Center and City Operations The council discusses options for a new community center and potential relocation of city operations. They lean towards Option 4, which involves building a new 10,000 square foot single-story facility near the existing Hanko Building. This option provides community spaces like a teaching kitchen, pickleball courts, and meeting rooms in an accessible design. While more expensive upfront than renovating the aging Hanko Building, Option 4 is seen as a long-term investment that could pay off through reduced maintenance costs. Funding sources like grants are explored, with emergency operations center grants being a possibility. The council debates whether to fully relocate city hall operations to the new facility or keep some functions, like the police department, at the current municipal building. New Carrollton Voting Rights Resolution The council meeting focused on the issue of all resident voting in the city of New Carrollton. Council members discussed the proposed resolution, with some expressing concerns about the process and the potential impact on the community. Councilmember Rosenberg voted against the resolution, citing concerns about the rushed process and the lack of compromise on certain issues. Councilmember Hussey, on the other hand, supported the resolution, emphasizing the importance of giving a voice to long-term residents who are not citizens. He also expressed his intention to introduce a bill in the next legislative period to make referendums easier in the city. The conversation ended with a vote in favor of the resolution, with Councilmember Rosenberg being the only vote against it. Council Votes on All Resident Rights The council discusses several meaningful numbers and their personal stories related to those numbers. They vote to pass a resolution allowing all residents to vote in municipal elections. The council also approves several ordinances and resolutions related to utilizing federal ARPA funds and managing the city's budget. One councilmember expresses regret that some immigrant residents felt intimidated from speaking at a previous public meeting on All Resident voting rights. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and Vehicles The council approves several items related to electric vehicle infrastructure and vehicles for the city. Specifically, they table a discussion on approving a $63,667 contract for installing an EV charger for a new electric bus until the next meeting on January 2nd to gather more information. They approve purchasing a $54,430 electric cargo van for animal control. They also approve purchasing two 2025 Ford Explorer patrol vehicles for $97,134 to replace older vehicles in the fleet. Additionally, they unanimously approve purchasing OpenGov software and professional services for $345,837 for the period of January to June 2025. Council member Rosenberg expresses concerns about the costs of the EV charger installation and questions whether electric vehicles are necessary based on vehicle usage data he has requested but not received. Next Council meeting is January 2, 2025. Respectfully submitted by Ashli Pressey, City Clerk