[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6565800,"mediaKeyId","3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade","parentId",3213025,"title","Council authorizes mayor to send comments on county planning budget, cites North College Park center and park needs","audioSeconds",992,"startMs",5784000,"endMs",6776000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade&start=5784&end=6776","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade/thumbnail_5784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565800/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Council-authorizes-mayor-to-send-comments-on-county-planning-budget-cites-North-College-Park-center-and-park-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565800-48dc8e879e512af4e16f507b9c1b3e4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191873&Signature=OjUeKmF-VojbCILOURykskaen8Q6v9T7zwkvDsFtsmTziybIU~tNTKW38dXuf5mQcMi~9G0w-O7eKWwYe1vPztuYLpcapD5CF3RrLoo29QjzmczyzwjdYZx5-LFVURx3X-Wh-rqJJw1yf91HzusHh2FP4abuIJOGXsMwRulcdv2gd29nOMivupEeHxO0bWdCUCt2PTGF4Jis6Rfjhf1A6QsoTdKndH1cRJ53Mybky9gezQoCqQivgYm7Uci4kZ1wn1Hz9NvYS6aWtJkqwvR0KjbCzKB7c5lnauJMXOhXfnO~5bU6FtTCzrXlYYtWGuQOiAY9N07nUilOqv4BAPo0KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","College Park, MD","date","2025-05-07T08:42:30.267Z","article","The City Council on Monday authorized the mayor to send a letter to the chair of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M‑NCPPC) supporting specific projects and funding in the commission’s FY26 budget and requesting attention to additional maintenance and capital needs.

Assistant City Manager Gardiner reviewed items the city has tracked in the M‑NCPPC budget: $26 million budgeted for the North College Park Community Center (the city previously pledged up to $1.5 million to support the project); funding for improvements at College Park Woods Park including a new pavilion and an ADA-accessible walkway; tree trimming at the College Park Airport property; and planning funds related to the Discovery District and campus projects. Gardiner said the city would coordinate with commission staff on the scope of tree work and related communications.

Councilmembers discussed adding language to the draft letter requesting attention to flood‑mitigation work and equipment upgrades at Calvert Community Park and Cherry Hill Park; they also asked that countywide elected officials be copied on correspondence. Councilmember Rick moved to authorize the mayor to send the correspondence substantially similar to the draft with council amendments; the motion passed. The council approved the motion with no public speakers and authorized copies to the county executive and county council.

Councilmembers emphasized coordination with commission staff to avoid repeat problems from previous tree‑trimming operations at the airport and requested that the city engineer remain engaged on park and stormwater concerns in Cherry Hill and other neighborhoods. The letter will be sent under the mayor’s signature with the changes the council directed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting - May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council authorized the mayor to send a letter to the Prince George’s County Planning Board endorsing FY26 funding for several M‑NCPPC projects—most notably the North College Park Community Center—and requesting attention to park maintenance and flood‑mitigation needs.","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},6565805,"City council expands Tree and Landscape Board membership, drops mandatory CBE rep attendance",257,4613000,4870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade&start=4613&end=4870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade/thumbnail_4613000.jpg","/articles/6565805/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/City-council-expands-Tree-and-Landscape-Board-membership-drops-mandatory-CBE-rep-attendance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565805-7ef58bbcf7d0b37078e8d0f638353a7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191873&Signature=HugD5qTxzh96QDmqZCq-wRZuMNN-HmHgJCAl-sNrS~pLBRLmL2OLapri7zNO7GhvlGmkk8TWYoueNOKZZrN3HFcQTEsuacdeA9nGD3zvTHigJKA852-E4YJfGax~4HEs~zG6jNaz9dDrOG5rHG1MigsQWHlI3cECr6eShOKsGnZuh0JS8S3QMFwzKdRuIVBCOpYlnwl74BHe-NNmYhnQeau37b7w8Gtw58bmq3eyL9WoMu1u1gxbxA4f85ukSYzamt-X08ywFOehCF50QO~6J20RFtMNlwmJEgK7ffG-~MiZxcD77anMavJUmur6pUiM2v56VrPI~Qz5d6YPsAnC2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted Monday to adopt Ordinance 25005, increasing resident voting membership on the Tree and Landscape Board from five to nine and removing a requirement that the Committee for a Better Environment chair or designee attend every Tree and Landscape Board meeting.

Rod Marceli, the city’s director of public works, told the council the changes would help the board expand outreach and attend more community events. “With the limited five people, they can broaden their expansion into the community much better,” Marceli said during the public hearing presentation. He said the Committee for a Better Environment would still collaborate with the Tree and Landscape Board despite the attendance change.

After a public hearing with no in-person or online commentators, a councilmember moved to adopt the ordinance and another councilmember seconded the motion. The council adopted the ordinance by voice vote; the clerk did not read a roll-call tally. The council declared the ordinance adopted following the voice vote.

The ordinance takes effect under the city’s standard ordinance-adoption rules unless the council specifies otherwise. Councilmembers who spoke during the discussion urged future scheduling changes so long public hearings (for example, the budget hearing) appear earlier on the agenda so residents are not forced to wait late into the meeting to comment.","The City Council adopted Ordinance 25005 to increase resident voting membership on the Tree and Landscape Board from five to nine and to remove a requirement that the Committee for a Better Environment chair (or designee) attend every Tree and Landscape Board meeting.",{"_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},6565810,"City lobbyist summarizes Maryland General Assembly session and funding wins for College Park",1637,2839000,4476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade&start=2839&end=4476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade/thumbnail_2839000.jpg","/articles/6565810/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/City-lobbyist-summarizes-Maryland-General-Assembly-session-and-funding-wins-for-College-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565810-dea5331ad611ecae96c2ae22901dd58d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191873&Signature=TfCPSD0kewOWl7TPGVmx5vLWkrm06tLgpjNDcpE1BfIwPCO0IlYanE0w2Cr9-64qGDe7RrH0pRAuEKa9-9Poi0aRzqIRBA7-MGEk2RIJvn-PI-K3qeBIv2bjigZvsXdb4MTbRJRpPqxGvwm0zy8kcRXWPl~23oalO9oFLUc5fq~Oq9-S8taviMtJbuzB4FZRLowwWKF4KNAuPWqiwL7Mf7GzgXgFhPEOLctYaVWhALUbK3YD8AYwR7w9ZuHtoHU8dC12nttyFG~~wKjf4Y8qAEfHHGjZ2cyhy0MgQiBrMkJw36qNiB21YP051zHfFy7cApSl20ADXHBTP5-J8lhs4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","College Park’s lobbyist briefed the City Council Monday on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session, outlining enacted legislation, municipal priorities that advanced and state budget items that could provide funding for local projects.

The lobbyist said the 2025 budget closed with roughly a $3 billion shortfall statewide that was addressed by $2 billion in cuts and $1 billion in revenue increases, but municipalities generally fared better than counties. He said municipalities coordinated through the Maryland Municipal League and made progress on municipal land-use authority discussions, although a county-level change stalled further action this year.

During his report the lobbyist highlighted several enacted or pending items with direct municipal relevance: a statute expanding municipal tax-credit authority for childcare operators to include large family child‑care homes (localities must opt in and the state caps the credit at $10,000 per provider); statutory recognition and encouragement of accessory dwelling units for local planning; expanded certification options for speed‑camera program staff (allowing certified technicians rather than only sworn officers, an option of interest to cities without municipal police); and legislation to increase potential civil fines available to municipalities for serious ordinance violations (the bill was sent to the governor’s desk). He also noted a major prescription-drug affordability bill that establishes upper payment limits and may lower costs for the city’s employee health plan.

The lobbyist reviewed FY26 budget items that include College Park‑specific or locally relevant allocations: funds for redevelopment projects in the Discovery District and related sites, funding associated with University of Maryland campus projects, support toward College Park Airport property activities, $26 million budgeted for the North College Park Community Center (with prior city commitment of up to $1.5 million to leverage the work) and state funds for fire suppression work at the Attic Towers and a memorial-style meditation garden tied to youth services. He encouraged the council to consider state grant requests tied to the student presentation earlier in the meeting.

Councilmembers asked procedural questions about timing and implementation. Councilmember Whitney asked whether the childcare tax-credit would funnel directly to municipalities; the lobbyist said cities can choose whether to adopt the credit and the statutory cap is $10,000. Councilmembers discussed preparing early submissions of legislative priorities for next year’s Maryland Municipal League process and coordinating with the city’s delegation and the incoming county executive on municipal land-use authority.

The lobbyist warned of the potential for a federal shift of Medicaid costs to states and a likely special state legislative session in the fall to address any mid‑year shortfalls; he said that scenario would place many state funding streams “on the line” and could affect municipal funding sources.

Councilmembers thanked the lobbyist and staff for the summary and requested earlier coordination on next year’s legislative agenda.","The city’s lobbyist reviewed the recent Maryland legislative session, outlining state laws and budget provisions that could affect College Park, including authority expansions for municipalities, tax-credit options for large family childcare homes and state funding earmarks for local projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565815,"UMD students present 15-minute neighborhood study for four College Park areas",1676,261000,1937000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade&start=261&end=1937","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3213025-1f9750ee1eb67f55952466d2e2fe0ade/thumbnail_261000.jpg","/articles/6565815/College-Park/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/UMD-students-present-15-minute-neighborhood-study-for-four-College-Park-areas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565815-e2c7a5952da4e4bb369411b05feb4d0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191873&Signature=ky~x9phFl0r5PO4G5SAn1yOG5q1xZqnjn8Y61Sj5R~u-lJdH2mNVxTJFdh3Xp9T-EbMFIi467IpMCOwmYz2Z2Gzyq0LmVqEU5SylZAENmXle4kyzVIkBFcSnpNEfUmj4038FI86h3vw9PM5h7ZeBlJbnVEf8QiLcvAX3JvIzU36r3AYAWsVoPcakHmNvHb0C0xxpOp2SawYi6WgRsAn4VwYGq3MrFlGMxFjB01Cs7-eVNUS1QB590H7c6dyrGsQz3QYJvqRLmr1aLR0yvWvFu53JyaLD33xtNbugrXqx6TU4aZwwcgi5r53wAdB4gPqGRNiv-ftUsBGAd44E9~trgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A University of Maryland class presented a city-sponsored study Monday proposing “15-minute neighborhoods” for four College Park areas, recommending steps to improve walkability, local retail and basic services within a 15-minute walk. The presentation identified Hollywood, Lakeland, Old Town and Calvert Hills as priority places for targeted improvements.

The project, led by Bridal Zagby of the UMD School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and presented by graduate students including Thomas Suetsky, described the study methods—literature and spatial-data review, outreach with civic groups, listening sessions and surveys in English and Spanish—and an interactive GIS tool the class is finalizing for community use. “This project is entitled 15 Minute Neighborhoods in College Park,” Zagby told the council. The students said the tool will map housing types, land use, transit service and walking buffers to show what residents can reach on foot.

Students outlined neighborhood-level findings and recommendations. For Hollywood they proposed strengthening identity at the Hollywood Shopping Center through improved storefronts, community art and safer sidewalks and bike lanes; they identified the recently acquired community-center site and an urgent-care facility as assets and suggested maker-space uses for an underused state building near Rhode Island Avenue. In Lakeland the students documented a history as a self-contained neighborhood and recommended a community information repository, co-generational learning spaces, community gardens, protections against predatory property sales and a community ownership/co‑op model for some parcels. Old Town recommendations focused on gateways, activated post-office frontage, pedestrian improvements linking the trolley trail and transit and additional park programming; Calvert Hills recommendations emphasized filling healthcare gaps, targeted housing options such as accessory dwelling units and improved sidewalk/lighting and transit service within the neighborhood.

Councilmembers and staff praised the depth of the student work and asked clarifying questions. Councilmember Hernandez called the report a “very robust study” and asked about the Department of Labor building the students mentioned; a student replied that city planning staff had indicated the city had shown interest in the building but it remained under state control. Councilmember Whitney and others pressed the team on cross‑neighborhood priorities; students and Zagby said health‑care access and aging-in-place housing rose across the four areas. Assistant City Manager Gardiner and Planning staff said the study could help form objectives and key results (OKRs) during the city’s five‑year strategic planning and that the final report and GIS tool will be delivered to the council in June 2025.

The presentation included community-sourced priorities: safer pedestrian crossings and bike routes on Rhode Island and Edgewood roads in Hollywood and North College Park; proposals for roundabouts and bus‑stop changes in Lakeland to improve circulation; and suggestions for temporary pop-up urgent-care clinics or “pop-up” medical services in Calvert Hills. Students emphasized many suggestions require collaboration with the University of Maryland, Prince George’s County transit, and state agencies; presenters did not claim the city could implement measures without those partners.

The students said they distributed a healthcare survey and will finalize recommendations and the interactive map in a June 2025 report. Councilmembers encouraged ongoing engagement with civic associations and suggested staff pursue state and county funding opportunities for elements of the plan.

The student team acknowledged community partners including the Lakeland Civic Association, North College Park Civic Association and the Senior Advisory Committee. Zagby and the students asked the council to review the final report when it is circulated next month.","A University of Maryland planning class presented draft plans to make Hollywood, Lakeland, Old Town and Calvert Hills more walkable and to improve access to health care, housing options and local retail; city staff and council members asked follow-up questions and praised the work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes mayor to send comments on county planning budget, cites North College Park center and park needs

City council expands Tree and Landscape Board membership, drops mandatory CBE rep attendance

City lobbyist summarizes Maryland General Assembly session and funding wins for College Park

UMD students present 15-minute neighborhood study for four College Park areas