Colmar Manor updates parks, mural project, speed bumps and pending ordinances

Town staff and the mayor provided a series of local-project and ordinance updates at the council meeting.

The town said Larissa Park is awaiting final approval from the Maryland Historic Trust before state funding requests can be finalized. Robert Yost Park is awaiting final inspections and is scheduled to open by late December or early January; a ribbon-cutting with Kaboom will be scheduled in the spring. Staff said an RFQ for artists is posted for the "Streets of Solidarity" mural project, which will include outreach to local schools and technical-assistance funding from the grant that supports the mural.

On traffic-calming, the town has purchased self-installed speed bumps and has a signed contract with Choice Concrete; installation will occur when weather permits. Staff confirmed stop-sign camera poles have been installed and that citation issuance by the vendor could begin in mid-to-late January (the council heard the vendor's presentation during the meeting).

The town reported several ordinance and legal workstreams under review: proposed improvements to the noise ordinance (opinion expected from the town attorney in February), review of audit-committee functions, research on a lighting ordinance informed by a "dark skies" model to balance safety and light pollution concerns, a draft parking ordinance under review with police leadership, follow-up on a right-of-way approval ordinance expected in January, and a draft vacant-property tax ordinance under attorney review with enactment timing to be determined.

Public works reported ongoing maintenance including vent and ceiling repairs and recurring roof leaks; staff said the roof is under warranty and the roofing company has been contacted to address repeated leaks.

Council asked staff to continue outreach on these items and to provide timelines where possible.