City Council

CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION AND BUDGET WORK SESSION Monday, April 19, 2021 Minutes Minutes adopted September 8, 2021 CLOSED SESSION OF APRIL 19, 2021 The City Council convened at 6:00 PM on Zoom to vote to go into closed session to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice regarding the Takoma Junction Redevelopment Project. Motion to go into closed session by Councilmember Kovar and second by Councilmember Kostiuk. Voting for: Stewart, Kovar, Dyballa, Kostiuk, Seamens, and Smith. Absent: Searcy. Present for Closed Session: Mayor Stewart, Councilmembers Kovar, Dyballa, Kostiuk, Seamens, Smith, Searcy. Also present: City Manager Ludlow, Deputy City Manager Clarke, City Clerk Carpenter, City Attorney Cornbrooks. The closed session was adjourned at 7:32 PM. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Stewart called the regular to order at approximately 7:35 PM. Present: Mayor Stewart, Councilmember Kovar, Councilmember Dyballa, Councilmember Kostiuk, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Smith, Councilmember Searcy. Also Present: City Manager Ludlow, City Clerk Carpenter, Library Director Jessica Jones, Deputy City Manager Jessica Clarke, Public Works Director Braithwaite, Community Development Manager Grigsby, Finance Director Susan Cheung BUDGET WORK SESSION Before starting the budget work session, City Manager Ludlow introduced the new Takoma Park Library Director Jessica Jones to the Council. 1. Capital Items City Manager Ludlow presented on capital items in the proposed budget (presentation attached). Council comments regarding capital items: Page 1 of 2 Councilmember Kostiuk asked for clarification regarding how closely the adjusted column in the report reflected the actual expenditures during the past fiscal year. She also asked City Manager Ludlow for an update regarding ARPA funds and how they may be spent. Councilmember Kostiuk suggested dedicating funds in the budget to re-do a degraded sidewalk in B.Y. Morrison Park. She also proposed adding a light close to Carroll and Westmorland Avenue in order to aid drivers who have difficulty seeing pedestrians at night. Councilmember Smith asked for more information concerning Houston Court and the allotted $91,000 in the budget. He suggested using some of the funds to create a community garden and/or display public artwork in the area. Councilmember Kovar expressed concern over creating the police budget without first having the recommendations of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force. Councilmember Kovar asked if ARPA funds could be used to fund two stormwater management projects that have been currently postponed. Councilmember Dyballa commented on EV money and the complete streets proposal. Councilmember Kostiuk and Councilmember Dyballa both asked for clarification regarding $65,000 from the general fund being redirected to the stormwater fund. City Manager Ludlow explained further. Mayor Stewart asked for clarification regarding why funds to buy mobile computers were coming from the general funds and not the equipment reserve funds. ADJOURN The City Council adjourned for the evening at approximately 9:30 PM. Page 2 of 2