City Council

Docusign Envelope ID: F175B0FE-2404-4BF2-A01E-BFE86818C4B7 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT REGULAR WORK SESSION MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025 6:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1 Call to Order Council President Higgs called the meeting to order at 6:02p.m. 1.2 Roll Call Present: Council President Monica Higgs, Councilmember Garry A. Jones, Councilmember Ashley Kearney, Councilmember Hope Love, Council Vice President Shireka McCarthy, Mayor Kelly Porter, Councilmember Gerald Raynor, Sr., Councilmember Kizzie Scott Staff: Dashaun Ball, City Clerk, Michael Barber, EJD Director, Ashley Drakeford, Public Engagement Manager, Demetrious Harris, Interim City Manager, Betty Logan, Chief Financial Officer and Kyrthlyn Rhoda, Grants Manager and Staff Assistant. 1.3 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: Councilmember Jones gave the invocation. 1.4. Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda. Motion by Gerald Raynor, Sr., second by Hope Love. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, Garry A Jones 2. PRESENTATIONS 2.1. Jonathan Carpenter, Greenwill Consulting Group o Mr. Carpenter provided a brief overview of the 90-day report from the MD General Assembly and the State of Maryland Budget. o Lesley Feliz provided an overview of the legislation of opposition that would have impacted the city HB1525, which prohibited a municipality from annexing outside of the district. The Bill was introduced as an Emergency bill by Delegate Harrison. The bill did not move forward, but Emergency bills are effective as soon as the governor signs them. They were looking to eliminate the usage of drones. The bill did not pass, but they need to keep monitoring. They opposed SB0035 to hire someone with certain qualifications to hire your financial oversight. The bill did not pass. The Page 1 of 6 Docusign Envelope ID: F175B0FE-2404-4BF2-A01E-BFE86818C4B7 recommendation was to monitor the bills. July 1, 2025, the MD budget will be in effect. Late August state agencies will submit their budget request for DHCD or Agriculture. The Firehouse is one that they are watching. o Mr. Carpenter stated that the city has come a long way with the audits, and we can now go after funding the city. They need to know the city’s next priorities are to seek funding for the city. o Councilmember Jones inquired on the conversation regarding the discussion with Delegate Harrison regarding the Emergency Bill on the annexation. o Mr. Carpenter stated that they did not receive a direct answer as the reason for the bill. They did not just hear from Seat Pleasant, but MML spoke regarding the concerns to prevent annexation. o Mayor Porter thanked them for their services to the city and the city will be looking to increase the funding sources for the government. 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS 3.1. There were no Citizen Comments for the Regular Work Session held on Monday, May 5, 2025. 4. REPORTS 4.1 Mayor’s Report o Mayor Porter stated his report can be viewed in BoardDocs. o Mayor Porter stated thar he met with Signal Financial, and he would like to bring a bank into 20743 and would like to bring them to present to the Council. o Mayor Porter provided an overview of the meetings and conferences attended in the month of April. 4.2 City Manager Report o The council requested Me. Harris to provide a summary of the departmental reports for month April. o Mr. Harris expressed his appreciation for the staff for their hard work on Seat Pleasant Day. o Mr. Harris stated that he is looking forward to meeting this week for the Strategic Planning this week to provide a guide to the lobbyist firm and the grants team. o Mr. Harris stated that the EJD team curb painting, parking lot repairs and speed limit signs to be updated in the city will be a priority for the department. o Mr. Harris stated that the Foote Street property is coming alone, and the city will need to complete a budget amendment when the property is sold. Page 2 of 6 Docusign Envelope ID: F175B0FE-2404-4BF2-A01E-BFE86818C4B7 o Mr. Harris stated that the Finance Team completed the FY23 Audit, and the Single Audit, and the working on the FY26 Budget. o Mr. Harris stated that he excused the Acting Chief due to the loss of the child by suicide. It was very traumatizing to the family and the officers. o Councilmember Jones inquired about the parking lot surrounding the retail to request that they repair the parking lots. o Mr. Harris stated that NCC has been working with the property owner who has been fined with the request to repair the parking lot by Save-a-lot. o Mr. Grant stated that the owner will have the repairs completed by the end of May. He was informed that he will not be allowed to renew his license until the repairs are made. "The Seat Pleasant Shopping Center" o Councilmember Scott requested Mr. Grant to identify the parking lot he is referring to. o Councilmember Higgs inquired about the status of Legend? o Mr. Grant stated that he completed some repairs but not satisfactorily. They are scheduled to go to court. o Councilmember Higgs inquired about the pole in front of the Police Department with spray paint for PEPCO. o Mr. Harris stated that it was an accident that damaged the pole and caused an outage in the area. 4.3. Council Committee Reports o 4.8 Public Safety Committee-Councilmember Kizzie Scott o Councilmember Scott provided an overview of the report with the action items of legislation to be introduced today, Monday, May 5, 2025. o Councilmember McCarthy inquired about the vacant property and wanted to know if the tiered system was written or had a discussion. o Mrs. Ball stated that it is being worked on by Acting Chief Heyward to provide to the Public Safety committee. 5. LEGISLATION 5.1 Ordinance O-25-11 Amendment of Chapter 112-Noise o Councilmember Scott requested a one-week delay of the first reading of Ordinance O-25-11 Amendment of Chapter 112-Noise. o The City Council agreed to delay the reading until Monday, May 12, 2025. 5.2. Ordinance O-25-13 Adoption of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Page 3 of 6 Docusign Envelope ID: F175B0FE-2404-4BF2-A01E-BFE86818C4B7 o Ordinance O-25-13 Adoption of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget was introduced by the City Council and read by the City Clerk on Monday, May 5, 2024=5. 5.3. Resolution R-25-06 Revising the Appointment of the Smart City Advisory Board o Resolution R-25-06 Revising the Appointment of the Smart City Advisory Board was introduced by the City Council and read by the City Clerk on Monday, May 5, 2025. o Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. o Final Resolution: Motion Carried o Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. None 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.1 Business License Procedure Information Request o The City Council requested DPIE and Park and Planning to attend the meeting. To provide the process on Business licensing procedures and the city receiving updates when new business is coming to the city. o Mr. Harris stated that we request Park and Planning or DPIE to attend a future meeting. 7.2 Approval of Speed Camera Vendor o Mr. Harris stated Chapter 39-Purchasing the RFP and the recommendation of the Technical Evaluation committee the recommendation for the RED Speed USA who met the qualifications during the RFP process and to provide the future Speed Camera vendor. o Councilmember Raynor inquired if the vendor had presented to the city in the past. o Mr. Harris stated that they had vendors present to the Public Safety committee two years ago, and they were one of the vendors. o Councilmember Jones inquired about the time to have the new vendor set up. o Mr. Harris stated that it will be 60-90days for the set-up. o Councilmember Jones inquired if the city is required to send notices of the change with the Speed Camera vendor. Page 4 of 6 Docusign Envelope ID: F175B0FE-2404-4BF2-A01E-BFE86818C4B7 o Mr. Harris stated that the city has approved the operation of the speed camera in the city, and we are only required to provide notices for new camera locations. o Councilmember Raynor inquired if it was for the speed camera and the Stop Sign. o Mr. Harris stated that this is for Speed Camera only, as the stop sign was a pilot program. o Councilmember Kearney inquired about the number of the vendors that responded to the RFP. o Councilmember Higgs inquired what made the vendor stand out opposed to the other responders. o Mr. Harris stated that it is about the quality of the equipment, reduction in cost that the city pays, and the decrease in the rejections of citations. o Councilmember Jones inquired about the contract terms. o Mr. Harris stated that it is a three-year contract, and the city will evaluate and put in another RFP for the services. o Councilmember McCarthy inquired if the changing of vendors will have an impact on the existing citations. o Mr. Harris stated that the current vendor may receive payments for the next two years, and the city will receive the payment in accordance with the terms. o Motion to approve Red Speed Camera Vendor Motion by Ashley Kearney, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8.1 Seat Pleasant Strategic Planning Retreat, Thursday, May 8, and Friday, May 9, 2025, Creative Saints Loft, 4633 42nd Pl., Hyattsville, MD 20781, from 9:00am- 5:00p.m. 8.2 Colors of Love Event, Saturday, May 10, 2025, Seat Pleasant City Hall-6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD 20743, 2:00p.m.-6:00p.m. 8.3 Community Baby Shower, Saturday, May 10, 2025, Seat Pleasant Elementary School, 6411 G St., Seat Pleasant, MD 20743, from 11:00am-3:00pm 8.4 Public Session, Monday, May 12, 2025, Seat Pleasant City Hall-6301 Addison Rd., Seay Pleasant, MD 20743, at 7:00p.m., Hybrid, Meeting link details can be found on the city's website. Page 5 of 6 Docusign Envelope ID: F175B0FE-2404-4BF2-A01E-BFE86818C4B7 8.5 Regular Work Session, Monday, June 2, 2025, Seat Pleasant City Hall-Council Chambers, 6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD at 6:00p.m. Hybrid and by Zoom Video at 6:00pm. Meeting Link details will be on the city's website. 9. ADJOURN Action: 9.1 The meeting adjourned at 7:10pm Respectfully submitted, Dashaun N. Ball, CPM, MMC City Clerk Page 6 of 6