Category: City Council Page 2 of 28

At next week’s Council meeting, the City Council will discuss ways to expand the reach of the City’s homeownership program and further incentivize homeownership in the City

In 2005, the City Council established a homeownership grant program, known as the New Neighbors Program, to provide $5,000 in closing costs to buyers purchasing a single-family home in the City and agreeing to reside at the property for a minimum of five years.

The primary purpose of the program was to encourage the conversion of rental properties to owner-occupied housing, and eligible properties are currently restricted to properties that have been rented for a minimum of two years, properties in foreclosure or subject to a short sale, and newly constructed homes.

An amendment to the program in 2016 allowed City grants to be combined with the CPCUP homeownership grants for eligible properties.  CPCUP offers $15,000 grants to University of Maryland faculty and staff.

Buyers not subject to the New Neighbors property restrictions include City employees, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. All purchasers must execute a Declaration of Covenants with the City or repayment agreement with CPCUP.

Since the inception of the program, 69 grants have been provided for a total of $360,000 or approximately 4-5 grants per year.

To make the program more attractive to new homeowners, staff is recommending amendments to the program guidelines as follows:
1. Eliminate the requirement for a property to have been a rental for a minimum of two years except in cases where City funds are combined with CPCUP grant assistance.
2. Increase the grant amount for the purchase of a former rental property from $5,000 to $10,000.

[City of College Park]

Last night, I took the oath of office to serve the residents of College Park for my 6th council term.

As the oath reads – “I will, to the best of my skills and judgment, diligently and faithfully without partiality or prejudice, execute the office”. These are heavy words and put a lot of weight on my shoulders.

I am not the best in the community, so I need your help in getting things done right, with your ideas, advice and even criticism, in private and in public. Thank you!

A sign saying the “Urban Renewal” project in the Lakeland community in the 1960s. [File photo]

Back on February 9, 2021, the City Council approved creating the Restorative Justice Steering Committee in response to Council resolution denouncing the systematic racism, which called for a restorative justice process to address the harms caused to the Lakeland community by the City, particularly during the urban renewal process in the 1960s.

The Resolution stated that the City acknowledges and apologizes for its past history of oppression, particularly regarding the Lakeland community, actively seeks opportunities for accountability and truth-telling about past injustice, and aggressively seeks opportunities for restorative justice.

On April 13, 2021, the City Council appointed eight members to the Restorative Justice Steering Committee (RJSC), which is recommending establishing a Restorative Justice Commission.

Within the next 5 years after its establishment, the committee would deliver the following

• Records of historical race-based adverse actions and harm caused, and that of truth-telling
• Community engagement process that consistently solicits input and feedback from current, former, and future members of the broader Lakeland community
• Concrete restorative measures, which to the extent possible, correct the race-based harms from the City and its partners impacting the African American community of College Park, Maryland
• An active memorial space sited in Lakeland, the historic African American community of College Park, to house the historic record and serve as a place of recognition and celebration for the City’s cultures and history.

The City has allocated $100,000.00 for the start of the Restorative Justice Commission’s budget in FY 2022.

The Council will formally form the commission and appoint the committee members at a future Council meeting.

At tomorrow’s Council meeting, the Council will continue its discussion whether to meet online and/or in a hybrid format (attending in person and online), and for the public to attend in the same manner.

Major changes from the current practices can be summarized as follows:

(a) For Mayor and Council meetings: Elected officials can participate remotely based on just cause, such as being ill, out of the area due to vacation or work obligations, absence due to a funeral, a family emergency, or a generally declared emergency, as reasons for Councilmembers not to be in-person during voting sessions. The public should be able to attend in person, to the extent possible under any space/distancing restrictions.

The public should also be able to attend remotely, with access to audio, and access to visual, to the extent technologically possible, with the intent of making visual access available to all attendees.

Any Charter amendments required should enable in-person and remote attendance at meetings but otherwise allow flexibility, with the details to be set through amendment of Mayor and Council Rules and Procedures.

(b) For Council-Appointed Advisory Boards: In-person and/or remote attendance at meetings will be allowed as determined to be best by the advisory board, to encourage participation and ease the burden on volunteers.

(c) For Appointed Boards, If attending remotely, the public will have access to audio, and access to visuals to the extent technologically possible, with the goal of making visual access available to all attendees.

If the Council decides to move forward, several changes to the City Charter and Code, the Council rules and procedures will need to be made.

At last night’s meeting, the City Council voted on an Ordinance, authorizing the acquisition, ownership, jurisdiction, control and maintenance of Rhode Island Avenue from Paducah Road to Greenbelt Road from Prince George’s County.

Thank you all for your important input on the proposal.

There are many benefits of the City’s ownership of this segment of Rhode Island Avenue.

(1) Help with the current and future projects: In North College Park, the City has invested in two major projects along Rhode Island Avenue, namely the Hollywood Streetscape Project and Rhode Island Avenue Buffered Bike Lane Project – which will extend the trolley trail to the northern end of College Park. These two projects prompted a discussion with Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation about the transfer of the road from the County to the City, as the ownership will facilitate the implementation of current and future projects. Negotiations have resulted in a proposed Road Transfer Agreement. The City has experienced delays and added costs with the approval process on two projects it has undertaken along Rhode Island Avenue. We could anticipate additional costs, delays, and denials for our projects if the roadway remains a County road. The road has not been maintained at a high level, which detracts from the quality of the community.

(2) Improved Services: We hope to see some significant improvements in the way the City will provide services on this segment of Rhode Island Avenue. For example, the snow cleaning of the road during winter is expected to be a lot faster, as the County snow trucks take some time to clean the County roads.

(3) Road Safety: Many residents have told us this segment of Rhode Island Avenue is too dangerous, for both motorists and pedestrians. Despite the fact that we added a few yellow flashing RRFB lights at multiple intersections, some motorists often disregard these lights. Others have complained about motorists drive too fast. Some residents have also asked to reduce the speed limit on the road. This could be finally possible if the City is able to own the road.

(4) Improved Traffic Flow: The other benefit of ownership is that the City will be able to address the current traffic issues on Rhode Island Avenue. Now it’s very difficult to turn left or cross Rhode Island Ave from either side of the road at all crossings on Rhode Island Avenue, especially during peak time. The City has been asking the County to address this important issue for more than a decade, but unfortunately, they haven’t been able to look into this.

(5) Economic Development / Revenue: Finally, an improved Rhode Island Ave with new amenities along the road will help revitalize the Hollywood commercial district and will help bring additional revenue.

We’re very much aware of the cost issue you mentioned, and thank you for bringing this up. A significant portion of the cost is the road resurfacing – which the County said will do before they hand the road over to us for $0. The next resurfacing will happen in 20 years.

Given many benefits the City’s ownership will bring, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the takeover proposal.

In north College Park, the City has invested in two major projects along Rhode Island Avenue, namely the Hollywood Streetscape Project and Rhode Island Avenue Buffered Bike Lane Project.

These two projects prompted a discussion with Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation about the transfer of the road from the County to the City, as the ownership will facilitate the implementation of current and future projects. Negotiations have resulted in a proposed Road Transfer Agreement. The salient terms are:

(a) The County will prepare a quitclaim deed that conveys Rhode Island Avenue between Paducah Road and Greenbelt Road (MD 430).

(b) The City will accept ownership, to the extent transferable by the County, jurisdiction and regulatory authority over, and maintenance of, the road including all streetlights, traffic signs, bus shelters, the traffic signal, and related equipment at the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Edgewood Road, and the stormwater management quality facility at the southwest corner of Rhode Island Avenue and Edgewood Road.

(c) The County will resurface the road between University Boulevard (MD 193) and Muskogee Street and Niagara Road and Paducah Road on or before November 30, 2021 and restripe the road between MD 193 and Muskogee Street in accordance with plans provided by the City.

(d) The County will continue to be responsible for the repair, maintenance, and replacement of any existing storm drain system in the road, with the exception of the referenced stormwater management water quality facility. (e )The County will provide a copy of all maintenance and warranty records for the appurtenances within the road and technical assistance, as needed, for one year following the transfer.

(f) Maryland State Highway Administration user funds for the road will be allocated to the City beginning July 1 of the year following the date of transfer.

(g) The effective date of transfer of the road to the City will be upon conveyance and City acceptance of a quitclaim deed. Because the conveyancing process includes certain ownership rights, the deed should be approved by an Ordinance. The Public Works Director and City Engineer have reviewed the proposed Agreement and indicated that traffic signal maintenance is estimated to be $20,000/year, resurfacing will be needed every 20 years, restriping will be needed every 3-4 years, and snow removal funding will need to be budgeted.

The enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and specifically the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (LFRF), has provided the City with significant funding to be used to help the City, its local businesses, families, and individuals recover from the major negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City’s total ARPA funding is $21.97 million. The first tranche of $10.98 million was received August 13, 2021. The remaining 50% is supposed to be paid 12 months later, August 2022.

The FY2022 Adopted Budget includes uses of the funds as follows (excluding recovery of lost revenue):
– Contractual for administration and compliance & related FICA $ 107,650
– Grants and assistance:
Food service organizations 350,000
Business/non-profits 2,000,000
Families/individuals 250,000
– COVID specific costs (PPE, cleaning, public outreach, etc.) 320,000
– Equipment 50,000
Total proposed uses $ 3,077,650

Although staff is still in the process of developing programs for the business grants and family/individual assistance, immediate contributions can be made to local food service organizations. These organizations continue to see significant increase in demand for food assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and additional funding is much needed.

Based on the community needs and the work by these organizations, staff is recommending contributions of up to $50,000 be made to Meals on Wheels of College Park, College Park Community Food Bank, Community Meals Program at College Park United Methodist, and Route 1 Communities Care.

Staff will evaluate the organization’s capacity and proposed uses to determine if the full $50,000 should be provided initially for operating or small capital expenditures. Further recommendation of an additional $50,000 each to the same organizations may be considered in January or February 2022. If an organization would like for the City to consider supporting a larger capital expenditure, staff recommends that the request be considered separately.

The City provided grants in FY2021 and FY2020 to three of these organizations totaling of $174,000 which were reimbursed from the Coronavirus Relief Fund spending plan with Prince George’s County.

[City of College Park]