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Council approves contract for annexation surveying and consulting with Charles P. Johnson & Associates
Summary
Council approved a contract up to $44,850 with Charles P. Johnson & Associates to provide surveying, metes-and-bounds, mapping and annexation planning for phased annexation options that include federal/state parcels and a small number of private properties; staff said survey work could be completed by the end of summer and emphasized phased approach to secure property-owner consent where required.
The City of College Park voted June 2 to contract with Charles P. Johnson & Associates (CPJ) for surveying and annexation consulting services in an amount not to exceed $44,850, authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement subject to city-attorney approval.
Deputy City Manager Michelle Bailey Hedgepath outlined two phased annexation options staff is exploring. Option 1 focuses on parcels near Mezet Road and includes two privately owned homes (one adjacent to Acredale Park) plus a number of churches, nonprofits and state/federal parcels; Option 2 includes additional properties such as a gas station and one construction business along with federal USDA parcels. Bailey Hedgepath said most of the affected acreage is tax-exempt federal or state land and that staff will seek individual agreements where private property is involved.
Bailey Hedgepath explained the consultant will prepare legal descriptions, metes-and-bounds, and mapping so the city can craft annexation resolutions without creating enclaves. She said the work is time-sensitive but feasible in the near term: the city hopes to complete survey work "by the end of the summer," weather permitting. Staff said most ongoing infrastructure maintenance (for federal/state roads and utilities) would remain with the owning agencies and that certain services (for example, snow removal) already reach some of the parcels.
Council members raised procedural and policy questions: whether the city has a municipal expansion limit (staff said none in place), the requirement that 25% of property owners or 25% of assessed value in an area sign for annexation where private parcels exist, and the need for a cost-benefit analysis before investing in detailed meets-and-bounds work for parcels where private owners might decline annexation. Bailey Hedgepath acknowledged those concerns and said staff would pursue property-owner agreements in parallel with surveying and would bring phased annexation plans, cost-benefit analysis and resolutions back to council for further action.
The motion approving the CPJ contract passed by voice vote; councilors emphasized the need to clarify the strategic rationale for annexation as part of upcoming planning and to ensure deliberate public engagement before future annexation votes.
