[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6609638,"mediaKeyId","2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5","parentId",2906778,"title","College Park council adopts several measures, approves new task force and charter amendments","audioSeconds",364,"startMs",3621000,"endMs",3985000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5&start=3621&end=3985","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5/thumbnail_3621000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6609638/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/College-Park-council-adopts-several-measures-approves-new-task-force-and-charter-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609638-8bfb4fb5b614bbece1ae3f387ef653ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079856&Signature=RuA2Lf3Aj7b4oJTGtCHM9ttAf~AxY1iisVjhehJO7OIRx0MYKyjuN0w6UmKbE3UkC~tFGRmgSpOjGoGL5immUuIkR771Bavx0hZYz9XkFu3Zdwh1VGvsMoUmZVsaPmkpVJqNikkP9ChIlGUOlXVzbAWqhNM3T~hXQxTfcLkQ0vPdkvBdTjrf4hJPWku~ryTMxatimVOny2Mg9jgkLSkgUUGqOIpRmq1lazwq4z82ri4IdoTkozzl7v28y3FUJekFqr6skmytCYi1yt9Utvx~3E~6s6lo77vah9B8EEt9x7XSy6CVRRF9MJR2ZG8q-mh2jhDWwwvG4WW6te9MjaveWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","College Park, MD","date","2025-04-09T03:06:09.353Z","article","College Park’s mayor and city council approved a series of measures at their April 8 regular meeting, formalizing a new affordable‑housing task force, adopting a change to local rules on refuse and recycling containers, and adopting two charter amendments, including a change to allow 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to register and vote in municipal elections.

Why it matters: the package of actions includes both policy steps (a task force charged with advising on affordable housing) and changes to municipal government rules that affect how elections and vacancies are handled. Several items will change how the city administers neighborhood issues and how eligible younger residents can participate in City of College Park elections.

Key decisions and outcomes

- Resolution establishing an Affordable Housing Task Force (agenda item 25R06): Councilmember Whitney moved the amended resolution; the item was approved during the meeting and will proceed to the mayor and council appointment process. The resolution sets a task force composition (preference for representative coverage across council districts, inclusion of a student liaison, and liaison representation from the Age‑Friendly/Livable Community work group), and allows outside experts to be called in to advise the group.

- Adoption of ordinance on placement and use of refuse and recycling containers (ordinance 25‑O‑01): The council adopted the ordinance after holding a public hearing on April 1 and leaving the record open for additional comment. The measure clarifies code language (changing references from “toters” to “carts”), adds prohibitions on using carts for games such as beer‑pong and similar uses, and retains existing placement rules for containers. The ordinance’s effective date was set for April 29, 2025.

- Charter resolution allowing 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to register and vote in City of College Park elections (24CR02): After debate, the council adopted a charter amendment that automatically registers any resident who will be at least 16 on election day and is registered with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections. Council recorded a roll‑call vote: Hernandez (Aye), Hill (Nay), Esters (Aye), Whitney (Aye), Mitchell (Nay), Ranker (Aye), Rigg (Aye). The measure passed on a 5–3 vote.

- Charter resolution modifying vacancy procedures for council seats (25CR01, as amended): The council approved an amendment and then adopted a charter resolution that gives the mayor and council the option to fill certain mid‑term vacancies by appointment (subject to timing thresholds and a 30‑day appointment window) or by special election, depending on how close the vacancy is to the next general election. The final vote on the amended charter resolution was recorded unanimously (8–0).

- Introduction of stop‑sign monitoring ordinance (ordinance 20502): The council introduced, by motion, an ordinance to authorize stop‑sign monitoring systems consistent with state law (the language in the staff presentation referenced the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland). The item was introduced for first reading and a public hearing was scheduled for May 13, 2025; no final vote was taken at the April 8 meeting.

Council discussion and next steps: Several members urged careful attention to administrative and enforcement costs for elections and code changes. Staff said the newly created task force will be appointed by the mayor and council and that the refuse‑cart ordinance does not change current placement rules but targets misuse. The charter amendments, now adopted, will be implemented by city election administrators with the county board of elections as needed. The stop‑sign monitoring ordinance will return for public hearing and a final vote on May 13.

Votes at a glance (formal roll calls or recorded outcomes)

- 25R06 — Resolution establishing Affordable Housing Task Force: adopted (mover: Councilmember Whitney; second recorded; voice vote in favor during the meeting).
- 25‑O‑01 — Refuse and recycling carts ordinance: adopted (mover: Mr. Regg; second recorded; voice vote in favor during meeting). Effective date 2025‑04‑29.
- 24CR02 — Charter amendment, voting age lowered to 16 in city elections: adopted, roll call recorded (passed 5–3).
- 25CR01 — Charter amendment, vacancy procedures (as amended): adopted, roll call recorded (passed 8–0).
- 20502 — Ordinance to authorize stop‑sign monitoring systems (first reading): introduced; public hearing scheduled for 2025‑05‑13.

What council members said: supporters of the 16‑ and 17‑year‑old voting amendment framed it as an opportunity to increase civic engagement among students and residents living in family homes; opponents raised concerns about expanding voting jurisdiction to minors and suggested a community referendum instead. On the vacant‑seat amendment, proponents cited the administrative burden and cost of multiple special elections, while opponents stressed resident voting rights. On the refuse‑cart ordinance, staff and council emphasized the measure targets misuse (games and hazardous uses of carts) and does not change current placement rights.

Background: Several of the items were introduced at earlier meetings or public hearings (the refuse cart ordinance had a public hearing on April 1; the stop‑sign monitoring ordinance was discussed in a March work session). The council will take further action on the monitoring ordinance on May 13, and appointments and administrative steps for the task force will follow the council’s standard process for appointments.

Sources: presentation and motions recorded at the City of College Park City Council regular meeting, April 8, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","College Park’s mayor and city council approved a resolution to create an Affordable Housing Task Force, adopted a city ordinance restricting certain uses of refuse and recycling carts, and approved two charter amendments — including one allowing 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to register and vote in municipal elections — at their April 8 regular meeting.","taxTitle","College Park, Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",53864,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609630,"Graduate intern presents midterm neighborhood history report and next steps",1244,2076000,3320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5&start=2076&end=3320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5/thumbnail_2076000.jpg","/articles/6609630/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Graduate-intern-presents-midterm-neighborhood-history-report-and-next-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609630-d97a124da8bb74435ae2b29cc70506ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079856&Signature=JPPH571QzwKOXPmHPB9ybYz6cnZAFtmAUe8zG9KdQIxMUNVhRwyoCnkHN3nvWDcNcKgOlPsT1jslTWm-ZxURECe7O5QIPybqJ23F8U5~mVFxdJu7XxYTCK~rYyPNS2nryAX1X857kHQ22TorTlo3KN0w-JVYs0z4Iq7zTuNXadxq-IxqiAw-9DnmhF1j3uWI9tiNt8A8zO8Z-uLGMEM-5PKcf3mzI03CLNSbTO8yuzPeaxM9WF0vu2Y8eBYvn0JIgGCQEfedA7y5bRuy0YDWc1vT82KfITopZk6~1F65T6u0rBj4hv0pAAGkrBKwU494FcdjIExUF~RZnU1DQHE7zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Megan Raibert, a graduate student at the University of Maryland working as the city’s neighborhood history intern, presented a midterm report to the council summarizing roughly a year of archival research and a proposed path forward to digitize, preserve and expand College Park’s local history.

Why it matters: the project documents neighborhood development, transportation history, historic preservation efforts and under‑represented local histories (including African American history in neighborhoods such as Lakeland). The city funded the internship to create a publicly accessible historical resource and to seed future oral history efforts.

What the midterm report covers: Raibert told the council she surveyed institutional records (national and university archives), historic newspapers (including the Evening Star), county and state historical collections, and community sources. Her report organizes materials by historical narrative, community development (neighborhood‑level histories), historic preservation, transportation (streetcar and Route 1), African American and Lakeland history, and a “notable discoveries” section (one example: historical events at the College Park Airport). She said oral histories would be the next priority to capture firsthand accounts that are not in institutional records.

Council discussion: Council members and University of Maryland faculty praised the work. Assistant clinical professor and project supervisor Dr. Brunner described a Do Good Campus Fund grant that will support short oral histories collected by university students with community participants. Councilmembers raised outreach questions for Spanish‑speaking residents and asked about integration of the project into the city’s strategic communications and website. Raibert and supervising faculty said they plan to develop public‑facing summaries and coordination with civic groups and to pursue oral histories in the coming months.

Next steps: staff and the university will continue coordinating to create accessible web materials, resume oral history interviews (short, 20‑minute sessions were discussed), and link the project to civic groups and student volunteers. Councilmembers suggested using city events and Good Neighbor Day for outreach and building partnerships to translate and record stories from multilingual communities.

Note: the presentation did not include a finalized oral history schedule or a firm budget for digitization beyond the intern funding; staff and university representatives said they will return with implementation details and outreach plans.","A University of Maryland graduate student summarized a year of archival research and digitization for a College Park neighborhood history project, proposed oral history collection next steps, and recommended public‑facing materials to help preserve and share local history.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6609634,"Council hears plans for Ruotan (Ruritan) Street sidewalk and circulation changes",523,1495000,2018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5&start=1495&end=2018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906778-26a2d35545544445dc1c4833ce2df4a5/thumbnail_1495000.jpg","/articles/6609634/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Council-hears-plans-for-Ruotan-Ruritan-Street-sidewalk-and-circulation-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609634-dca8e98e569c364cd8bbafdf7335ffaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079856&Signature=fgYgWabuKbkRNojQoHDYA3Sx32yQAfyOIZoB8Q0K37NNhmhD-MkpjnkXmYfTIXd6Ar5kd8S6IiP86UleDEpAaOd~ps0c~UFPgOXexZdcusOXrPMbAJJ~PHu-iv8r6M60FUTX8AhGRRbmGGvncsVQm1aLxEzBqCVSL1u4MOpMoqFTTbtt9bHoUgTdTtG5chqTZoFb2YkeapvLDPu~XCC3wb8hkkVpbfVvholZ7ODM8gilGxeQTLgNqrZwmjqlWIvnUssQswLDcPtrrwTzszW8TUp9vBIqFgQGk9D3HWjhSlamSdVI1X6gsxbHLypdmms2qAtgm1I08501ikTa2qJnyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The city council received a presentation on designs for pedestrian improvements on Ruotan (sometimes referenced as Ruritan) Street, a project that would add new sidewalk, adjust vehicle circulation to a combination of one‑way and limited two‑way sections, and improve pedestrian connections to Rhode Island Avenue and the trolley trail.

Why it matters: residents and council members identified safety and cut‑through traffic as primary concerns; the design aims to reduce vehicle‑pedestrian conflicts, retain parking on the south side of the street, and minimize impervious area while accommodating existing driveways.

What was presented: Brian Morgan of Safe Studios (project designer) walked council through an aerial alignment showing the proposed sidewalk extending east from Rhode Island Avenue to 40 Ninth/40 Eighth Avenue. The plan calls for primarily one‑way vehicular flow east‑to‑west, with a short two‑way segment near a jog at 40 Ninth to preserve access. The sidewalk would be set back from the curb with a narrow grass strip and would tie into the rear Lidl exit and the trolley trail crosswalk at Rhode Island. Designers proposed minimizing new crosswalks and driveway conflicts and stepping the sidewalk into the current roadway to remain within city right‑of‑way.

Discussion and concerns: District council members and residents pressed for consideration of converting more of the street to one‑way to address speeding and stop‑sign compliance. Councilmember Doug Reister and Councilmember Whitney cited recurring hazardous driver behavior at a two‑way segment and asked whether full conversion to one‑way could be revisited. Staff and the consultant said the design team will continue listening to community concerns and that the proposed mix of one‑ and two‑way sections reflects tradeoffs including school circulation and existing access needs.

Next steps: the design team and staff will present the plan to the relevant neighborhood civic association (BDC) for additional comments and will revise alignment and circulation options as needed before returning to the council for further action.","Design consultant presented a proposed sidewalk alignment and partial conversion to one‑way vehicle circulation on sections of Ruotan Street, with a phased approach to parking, setback landscaping and improved pedestrian connections to Rhode Island Avenue and the trolley trail.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

College Park council adopts several measures, approves new task force and charter amendments

Graduate intern presents midterm neighborhood history report and next steps

Council hears plans for Ruotan (Ruritan) Street sidewalk and circulation changes