North College Park Community Association (NCPCA) Meeting Minutes, April 9, 2026

Attendees:

In person:

Kamthorn Clary (president), Arelis Perez (vice president) Todd Reitzel (secretary), Miranda Bitting, Jacob Hernandez (City Councilmember), Susan Huemmrich, Alan Hew (City Councilmember), Fazlul Kabir (City Mayor), Justin Leary, Alec Lynde (Berwyn District Citizens Assn), Maria Mackey (City Councilmember), Christine O’Brien, Mary Roop.

Online (names written as they appear in chat):

Melissa Peterson (treasurer), Celia Anklesaria, Jeffrey Clark, Elizabeth Fargi, Lisa Jeanpierre, Martin Mitchell, Jen Schaffer.

Minutes taken by:

Todd Reitzel, secretary 

Call to Order

Clary called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda. Perez moved to approve the agenda, Huemmrich seconded the motion, and the agenda was unanimously approved.

Minutes

The group reviewed the March 12 meeting minutes. Perez moved to approve them, and Clary seconded the motion.

President Report

Clary noted the NCPCA Coffee Social series at Proteus Brews; the next one will be May 3. He noted that NCPCA needs volunteers for the Events Committee.

Clary highlighted the City’s Restorative Justice Commission, which is charged with the development and implementation of a successful process of restorative justice through community engagement. It has 20 members, each on 3-year terms and meets every third Thursday. 

Vice President Report

Perez noted the Afternoon at Copa Casino Lounge tomorrow 3pm-6pm at the College Park Woods Clubhouse, sponsored by Age-Friendly College Park. The City’s Arbor Day Tree Planting will be April 24 6pm at Edmonston Road and Knoxville Drive. Bike to Work Day will be May 15.

City residents can get 30% off May 25 – Sept 7 membership at the University RecWell Outdoor Aquatic Center by joining the University alumni association for the summer. City residents can also get University football season tickets for the 2026 season.

The City Council will hold a budget worksession April 11 8am-12noon. City Cleanup Days will be April 11, April 18, April 25, and May 16. Route 1 Rampage will be April 19 7am-4:30pm and will involve street closings downtown.

The City’s Committee for a Better Environment will host a solar information meeting May 2 8:30am-1pm at Davis Hall. City advisory board applications are due by May 8. The City’s Grab Bar Rebate program will reimburse resident seniors up to $150; application deadline is June 7. College Park Day will be October 3.

Prince George’s County is offering Community Impact Grants to community-based organizations to help implement innovative projects; deadline for applications is May 18.

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is offering WholeHome Critical Home Repairs Grants to homeowners facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic; deadline is September 30.

Treasurer Report

Peterson was not able to report account balances due to a security issue at SECU Bank; she will contact the bank tomorrow to resolve the issue. She will file our required annual report with the State of Maryland by April 15.

For the Association’s spring event, we should avoid April 25 (Maryland Day), May 17 (City Spring Fair), and the week of May 19-22 (University graduation); so it will probably be in early June. It might consist of an ice cream social at the Hollywood Streetscape. We might follow up with an autumn event in Hollywood Park. 

Clary plans to email a call for Treasurer nominations.

Secretary Report

Reitzel reported on the March 16 NCPCA Update email. The email had a 38.5% open rate and had a 5.7% click rate.

Development Committee

Clary reported that Purple Line testing happened the week of March 23. The line is 89% complete. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Calvert Hills Playground on March 27. On April 7, the City Council decided to build the 48th Place sidewalk on the north side for $325K. Northwest Chinese Restaurant closed on March 28, displaced by new high-rise apartment. The owners plan to reopen in July, at a new location to be determined. Clary noted the link to a College Park Development dashboard.at collegeparkmd.gov/planning.

Events Committee

Clary noted that Hollywood Farmers Market opens April 11 10am-2pm. The season’s first Friday Night Live will be May 8 6:00-8:30pm. The Spring Street Fair will be May 17 12-4pm. Graphic novelist Gareth Hinds will talk and provide a live demonstration May 21 7-8pm at City Hall. Clary also noted that WISE Connect activities for seniors are routinely updated at www.wisecities.us.

College Park Community Urban Farm and Food Forest

Alec Lynde, of the Berwyn District Civic Association, presented his ideas for creating an Urban Farm and Food Forest at the 1 acre new City property at 8807 & 8811 Rhode Island Ave. Lynde is a master gardener and executive director of environmental restoration nonprofit Howard Ecoworks, The goal is to for a green space providing interaction with environment, food security, and a gathering space. Lynde proposes a volunteer-driven model requiring minimal City investment. There are several models for this in our area. The food forest backbone would be built with mostly native plants producing fruits and nuts; examples include serviceberries, chokeberries, hazelnuts, and walnuts. There might be annual growing area with raised beds and an outdoor classroom and/or gathering space.

Lynde is still identifying trees that might be retained; most on the property are invasive. Vine removal will be needed, and Reitzel noted that the City’s Tree and Landscape Board would likely be willing to collaborate on that. Lynde has talked with City Council members and the City sustainability coordinator, and O’Brien encouraged him to talk with the City arborist. Mackey noted that Prince George’s Parks has a summer program of high students that might be leveraged to remove invasive species. Huemmrich asked for details about the site design, and Lynde said the backbone would likely be on the north and east sides to not block sunlight. Clary asked about a natural resources inventory, and Lynde said one might be done but it’s clear that much of the foliage is invasive. Soil testing for heavy metals may be done.

Lynde envisions stakeholder engagement for the rest of this year, including a walkthrough and invasive species management. In 2027 there may be perennial plantings and construction of raised beds, and in 2028 community space could be constructed.

Clary wondered how to ensure adequate maintenance with volunteers, and Lynde recommended relying on a community-driven process, perhaps forming a 501(c)3 to acquire grants to help support this. The City plans to issue a survey to all residents sometime soon, and the City would need to approve a plan. Letters of support sent to City would help. The City has considered other uses such as affordable housing, but access is problematic.

Development Director Appointment

Clary reported that Justin Leary is interested in being Development Director. No other names were advanced. Clary asked Leary to introduce self. Leary is an environmental engineer who moved here a year and a half ago. With the agreement of other officers Clary appointed Leary as Development Director.

Unscheduled Motions

There were no unscheduled motions.

Unscheduled Announcements

Clary reported that County Councilmember Tom Dernoga is hosting a community conversation with Maryland State Comptroller Brooke Lierman on May 7 6-8pm at the Laurel Beltsville Community Center.

Hernandez reported that as the Maryland State Legislative session nears its end, the City has lobbied on behalf of Youth and Family Services for more funding. At a meeting earlier today, County Executive Aisha Braveboy shared herbudget priorities, including providing significant funds for education, but it’s the County School Board’s decision on how to use that funding (eg, whether to support the Paint Branch ES Chinese Immersion Program). The Parkdale HS parent association meets every third Tuesday.

Hernandez noted that Streetcar Suburbs Publishing will host a series of candidate forums for the County District 1 Council election. The first one will be at the Phelps Center in Laurel April 16 7-8:30pm. The primary is in June.

The North College Park Cleanup Day will be April 18, 10:00am-1:00pm, at the northwest corner of Edgewood Road and Rhode Island Avenue. Hernandez noted that the new stop sign cameras are active and issuing tickets. And he encouraged attending the May 14 NCPCA meeting on the City FY2027 budget.

Clary noted our next meeting will be Thursday, May 14, at 7:30pm.

Adjournment

Hernandez moved for adjournment, Clary seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously.