North College Park Community Association

Regular Meeting on May 10, 2018

Minutes of Regular Meeting on May 10, 2018

Attendance: NCPCA Officers; College Park Mayor Wojahn; District 1 Councilmembers Kabir and Kennedy; former Councilmembers Nagle and Cook; Branchville Fire Station Chief Eric Gove, and Jeremy Jordan; Candidates Denise Roberts and Tom Dernoga

Meeting was called to order by President John Krouse at 7:30 pm. Draft agenda was changed to move up the time of Nominating Committee Report. Agenda approved.

Branchville Fire Station. Chief Eric Gove and Jeremy Jordan from Branchville discussed staffing, emergency response dispatch from Branchville, and impacts on North College Park residents.  Motion to request an increase in staffing was approved under New Business.

Candidates for Elected Office. Ms. Denise Roberts (candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County) and  Mr. Tom Dernoga, (candidate for Prince George’s County Council – District 1) introduced themselves and presented their platforms.

Community Center Committee Report & NCPCA Resolution. Mary Cook, Christine Nagle, and Councilmember Kabir discussed the proposed Community Center.   Two motions from Mary Cook were unanimously approved:

  • I move that the Final Report on the Community Center be accepted by NCPCA; (2) I move that the NCPCA send a letter to M-NCPPC in support of funding for a new Community Center in North College Park.

Preliminary Report of Nominating Committee.  Mary Cook provided an update. NCPCA officer elections are in June. Current NCPCA officers are running for re-election. Only current members  are eligible to vote.

Rhode Island Avenue & Bike Lanes.  Councilmember Kabir discussed the May 9 City planning meeting. No budget for construction at this time, though the City of College Park envisions $1M to be budgeted. Projected problems with emergency response vehicles were discussed.

Hollywood Commercial District.  Councilmember Kabir provided an update on the planning for a commercial district around Hollywood. The State of Maryland provided $150K bond money for street scope design. Mayor Wojahn presented an update on the phasing in of the project that is identified in the City’s 2021 Planning document.

Hollywood Gateway Park.   Councilmember Kabir provided an update on the Park. 10 bids were received, but the lowest bid was too expensive.  Therefore, the scale and scope of the project will be reduced. Mayor Wojahn discussed the Right of Way, which is projectected to cost $1M.

General Announcements 

  • Minutes of April 12 NCPCA meeting were approved.
  • The Dream Team basketball game is scheduled for May 11, 2018.
  • Spring Fling for seniors is scheduled for May 16, 2018, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm.
  • Farmer’s Market Grand Opening is on May 18th. There will be activities for children.
  • Community Clean-Up Day is May 26, 2018.
  • Prince Georges County is undergoing an Affordable Housing Study in relation to the Purple Line.
  • Public meetings regarding Prince Georges County’s rewrite of zoning ordinances are: May 14, July 10, July 17.

Website is: https://pgccouncil.us/589/Zoning-Ordinance-Rewrite-Portal

  • A meeting to discuss the Dog Park is scheduled for May 23, 2018.
  • Stone Industrial property was sold.
  • Pepco scheduled a hearing about their rate Increase for May 14, 2018.

NCPCA Officers’ Reports:  Treasurer Report: NCPCA has a balance of $1,161,38.

New Business.  The following motion was unanimously approved:

NCPCA will send a letter to Prince George’s County  Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department requesting an increase in paid staff for the Branchville Fire Station.

Motion was approved to continue the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 PM.