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Council approves outdoor‑cafe ordinance, backs HB142 task force and waives auditorium fees for immigrant‑border film screening
Summary
At its March meeting the Takoma Park City Council voted unanimously on a second‑reading ordinance expanding outdoor café use agreements, approved a resolution supporting HB142 to study municipal revenue options, and agreed to waive fees to host a community screening on migration; council also voted to enter and report a prior closed session.
Takoma Park’s City Council voted on multiple items Tuesday evening, recording unanimous support for a second‑reading ordinance affecting outdoor cafés and for a resolution supporting HB142, a Maryland bill to form a task force on county and municipal revenue sources.
Ordinance vote: The council conducted a second reading and adopted amendments to Tacoma Park Code Chapter 8.16 (sale of food and drink / outdoor cafes). The clerk called the role and the recorded votes were 'I' from Mayor Cersi and council members Lamman, Dybala, Schlaggel, Gilbert, Hanzac and Wesley.
Resolution supporting HB142: Council members discussed the bill’s committee path (House Ways & Means; the resolution text urges a favorable report by Ways & Means and by the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee) and then voted to adopt the resolution in support of a task force to review municipal and county revenue sources. The council asked that city staff post the resolution for Maryland Municipal League follow‑up.
Fee waiver for auditorium screening: Council considered a resident request to waive roughly $1,000 in auditorium and staffing fees so community groups could host the film screening and a Q&A with visiting guests from Agua Prieta (Mexico). Organizer Jamie Copel described community and mutual‑aid networks that would help publicize the event; council signaled unanimous support in a hand vote and staff will finalize logistics.
Closed session reporting: The council recorded the earlier closed session vote (to meet in closed session on March 11 for public security and collective‑bargaining briefings) and the clerk read the closed‑session summary into the public record.
What’s next: Where required, staff will post formal minutes or actions and handle logistics (posting, permits, and audit trails); council asked staff to coordinate with MML and the Board of Elections and to return with any required followup documentation.
