Council Meeting Notes: Book Exchange Hearing, Downtown Farmers Market and More

Couldn’t make last night’s mayor and city council meeting? Here’s a review of what the council and mayor discussed during their January work session.

Cafrtiz Development Update
City Manager Joseph Nagro informed the mayor and council that the next Prince George’s County Planning Board hearing on the Cafritz property rezoning will be held on February 2 at 10 a.m.

to give the commissioners time to review the conditions and comments. Nagro also reminded the mayor and council that the record will remain open for written comments on the rezoning until Friday, Jan. 20. Council member Robert Catlin (District 2) also noted that last Thursday’s hearing has been archived on the Park and Planning website for those that might want to review the proceedings.

Maryland Book Exchange Development
The hearing before the Prince George’s County Planning Board is scheduled for this Thursday, Jan. 19, at 10:00 a.m. They are moving to approval with conditions said council member Robert Day (District 3.)

Annual Liquor License Renewals
Director of Public Services Bob Ryan reported that there were no egregious problems with the city’s current liquor license holders and that things were in order for them all to be renewed, including several new licenses.

Review of Homeownership Grant Program
City Planner Elisa Vitale reported that since the programs inception in 2009, $107,500 in grants had been distributed to people buying homes in College Park, and that there were currently enough funds remaining to issue two more $5,000 grants.  Catlin suggested adding an additional $10,000 to the program. At the suggestion of the town lawyer, Suellen Ferguson, the grant amount will be updated to $5,000 and be restricted to applicants that are in good standing with the city.

City Revitalization Tax Credit Policy Discussion
A College Park Revitalization Tax Credit policy would be similar to one offered by Prince George’s County, said Economic Development Coordinator Michael Stiefvater. The credit would be offered on new construction, building rehabilitation and improvements on property, he said. The credit would be for five years, starting out at a 75 percent credit and reducing by 15 percent per year, Stiefvater said.

Downtown Farmers Market
Council member Marcus Afzali (District 4) said he thought the downtown farmers market went well in the fall and hoped to have it back in the spring. He was not certain it achieved its original goals of bringing people downtown to frequent the business there, but he suggested that they formed a city farmers committee to decide on the future of the market, its goals and potential expansion.

Proposed Plastic Bag Tax
Matt Dernoga, a representative from Mary Lehman's office (Prince George’s County District 1), requested that the mayor and council send a letter of support to the Prince George’s County House Delegation in favor of PG-402, which would give Prince George’s County the authority to charge a 5 cent tax on each plastic or paper bag used in grocery, retail or other stores. The council agreed.

Review of Proposed State and County Legislation
Chantal Cotton, assistant to the city manager, reviewed several pieces of state and county legislation that she thought would be of concern to the council and mayor, including the proposed Plastic Bag Tax, the Civil Marriage Protection Act and a land use bill that would give full zoning authority to municipalities with 20,000 or more residents. Council members Patric Wojahn (District 1) and Denise Mitchell (District 4) proposed that the city issue a letter in support of the Civil Marriage Protection Act, as they had the previous year. The council agreed.

FY ‘13 Budget Guidance
Nagro asked that the council members and mayor get their “wish lists” of budget items into him by February 8.

Four Cities Meeting Agenda Items
Mayor Andrew Fellows reported that some items on the Four Cities Meeting agenda will include the Greenbelt Sector Plan and the State Highway Association and sound barriers. Afzali also suggested that WMATA safety be added to the agenda.