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College Park council approves consent agenda including battery-powered mowing contract and $1.5 million DNR grant application
Summary
The College Park City Council approved a five-item consent agenda March 18 that includes a three-year, battery-powered municipal grass mowing contract and the city’s $1.5 million Program Open Space grant application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Council members approved a five-item consent agenda during their March 18 meeting, adopting contracts and authorizations tied to city operations, insurance coverage and park improvements.
The consent agenda contained five items staff described as routine but substantive to ongoing city projects and services. The council voted to adopt the package without amendment after a motion to move the agenda; the consent motion carried by voice vote.
City manager Kenny Young told the council the package included a three-year municipal grass mowing contract (with two optional one-year renewals) that specifies right-of-way mowing using battery-powered landscaping equipment — a strategic step the city has pursued as part of its sustainability initiative. The council also approved renewal contracts for employee health and dental plans and liability insurance covering the upcoming fiscal year; staff reported the combined budgeted amount for those renewals at $2,209,917.
Other items on the consent agenda included the formation of a council compensation review committee to convene before the 2025 general election and an extra work authorization to KCI for design and project management of Wi‑Fi infrastructure and CCTV at Duval Field. The council also ratified the city’s FY25 Program Open Space annual application to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources seeking $1,500,000 for Duval Field Innovation Phase 2.
Votes at a glance - 25G31 — Award 3-year contract (plus options) for municipal right-of-way grass mowing to Lawrence Inc.; equipment specified as battery-powered landscaping gear. Outcome: approved as part of consent agenda. (Details in staff packet.) - 25G32 — Renewal of contracts for employee health, dental, workers’ compensation and city general liability insurance for FY2026; total budgeted cost cited in packet: $2,209,917. Outcome: approved as part of consent agenda. - 25R05 — Resolution to establish a Council Compensation Review Committee prior to the 2025 general election. Outcome: approved as part of consent agenda. - 25GS33 — Approval of KCI extra work authorization No. 10 for design/project management supporting Wi‑Fi service and CCTV at Duval Field Park. Outcome: approved as part of consent agenda. - 25GS34 — Ratification of the FY25 Program Open Space annual application submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources requesting $1,500,000 for Duval Field Innovation Phase 2. Outcome: approved as part of consent agenda.
What this means The mowing contract marks an explicit move by the city toward battery-powered landscape equipment for municipal operations; staff said they believe the city is among the first municipalities in the area to adopt that standard for its contract. The Program Open Space application is a request to DNR for capital funding to continue improvements at Duval Field; ratification ensures the city’s application is formally on record before the state review process.
Councilmembers did not request separate votes on any consent item. Staff said further details and contract documents appear in the meeting packet and will be posted with the council records.
Provenance: staff read the consent agenda items aloud and council voted to adopt the consent package during the March 18 meeting.
