North College Park Community Association (NCPCA) Meeting Minutes, June 11, 2026
Attendees:
In person:
Kamthorn Clary (president), Todd Reitzel (secretary), Miranda Bitting, Erika Chocolatl, David Folcher, Ariela Haber, John Krouse, Jacob Hernandez (City Councilmember), Susan Huemmrich, Justin Leary, Crystal Li, Jacob Sosa (County Councilmember Tom Dernoga’s office), Andrea Ulloa (House Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk’s chief of staff).
Online (names written as they appear in chat):
Arelis Pérez (vice president), Celia Anklesaria, Alvaro Ceron-Ruiz, Jeffrey Clark, Alan Hew (City Councilmember), Lisa Jean-Pierre, Miriam Kamel, Fazlul Kabir (City Mayor), Mary Roop.
Minutes taken by:
Todd Reitzel, secretary
Call to Order
Clary called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda. Hernandez moved to approve the agenda, and Huemmrich seconded the motion.
Minutes
The group reviewed the May 14 meeting minutes. Pérez moved to approve them, and Clary seconded the motion.
President Report
Clary noted that the next NCPCA Coffee Social series at Proteus Brews will be September 6.
Clary highlighted the City’s Veterans Memorial Committee., which advises and assists the City to ensure that the Veterans Memorial is used and maintained in a manner befitting the service and memory of those who served. The committee also helps plan the City’s Veterans Day and Memorial Day events. The committee has 9 to 13 members on 3-year terms.
Vice President Report
Pérez reported that the County plans to reduce staffing for Medic 812, the paramedic unit currently based at the College Park Volunteer Fire Department Station 12 on Baltimore Avenue. As of June 28, the unit would operate only weekdays from 7am to 3pm, with no overnight coverage and no weekend coverage. Pérez encouraged everyone to contact the County Executive, the County Fire Chief, and the County Council to express concern about this change.
Treasurer Report
There was no report.
Secretary Report
Reitzel reported on the May 16 NCPCA Update email. The email went to 193 recipients and had a 37.5% open rate and a 6.6% click rate. He welcomes input and ideas for future updates.
Development Committee
Leary noted the State Highway Administration’s US 1 Improvement Project. There will be a public informational workshop on the US 1 segment from MD 193 to Sunnyside Avenue on June 24, 5pm-7pm, at Beltsville Academy. Krouse suggested the NCPCA form a subcommittee to monitor this, and Hew suggested we ensure SHA be clear about the center island concept and how it will work.
Leary also reminded the group about the City’s Berwyn Community Space Exploration Walk & Survey; it has a June 29 deadline.
Leary also noted the June 1 groundbreaking for the Monarch Preschool playground and that Ruatan Street has been converted to one way from Rhode Island Avenue to 48th Avenue.
Events Committee
Clary reported on NCPCA’s successful Hey Hollywood event held May 30 1pm-4pm. About 50 attended. The $273.61 cost will be covered by a City microgrant.
Clary noted that Hollywood Farmers Market continues every Saturday 10am-2pm and reported that due to weather the June 12 Friday Night Live has been postponed until August 28. Trolley Trail Day is June 13 starting at 9am. The afterparty is at the College Park Aviation Museum 5pm-8pm. WISE Connect activities for seniors are routinely updated atwww.wisecities.us.
Letter of Support for Community Urban Farm and Food Forest Initiative
Clary reminded the group that on April 9 Alec Lynde presented a community-led proposal for a Community Urban Farm and Food Forest at the City-owned 8807 and 8811 Rhode Island Avenue properties. At the May 14 meeting, the NCPCA voted to write a letter of support to City Council for this proposal, and so last week Clary circulated to NCPCA membership a draft letter seeking feedback; he received input from 7 persons, and presented a revised draft to this meeting. Pérez added her support for this letter.
Jean-Pierre suggested also considering this food forest approach for the triangle park at Narragansett Parkway and 52nd Avenue, and Pérez also noted the wooded area across from Hollywood Gateway Park would be a good candidate for a food forest.
Leary moved to approve the letter of support, Bitting seconded the motion, and the letter was approved by a 10-2 vote.
Hollywood Placemaking Initiative Followup
Clary reminded the group that the County continues to seek feedback on the Hollywood Placemaking Initiative. After a May 9 vision walk of the area, County representatives will be at Trolley Trail Day June 13 and will be at the Hollywood Farmers Market on July 11 and August 8.
Dues Discussion and Vote
Clary reported on a May 22 email survey of members regarding dues. The survey received 25 responses: 16 favor keeping dues at $10, and 5 favor eliminating dues, with the remaining responses favoring other changes. Clary asked attendees for thoughts on the question of dues.
Reitzel suggested that dues don’t pose a financial concern for NCPCA as our finances are sound but that discontinuing dues would be a bylaws concern: Our bylaws define membership by geography and by dues payment. So if we discontinued dues, we’d need to change the bylaws and redefine membership. Dues collection is a single point during year, whereas other ways to define membership such as attendance would require additional data monitoring throughout the year. Krouse and Pérez agreed with this.
Clark noted that dues collection could be improved by promoting autopayment and suggested we be willing to waive dues on request; other members could offer to pay dues for others. Huemmrich supports granting waivers and suggests greater promotion of membership throughout the community. Anklesaria agrees with keeping dues and granting waivers, and suggests promoting membership at the Hollywood Farmers Market. Folcher also agrees with keeping dues and granting waivers.
Krouse noted that if there were a bylaws change, the group would need to vote to propose a bylaws edit, and then at the next meeting would need to hold the official bylaws change. Clary had originally favored eliminating dues but now thinks that the act of signing up and paying dues means a member is more likely to be engaged with the NCPCA.
Clary moved to hold a vote to retain dues at $10, eliminate dues, or retain dues of a different amount, and Reitzel seconded the motion. There were 10 votes to retain dues at $10, no votes to eliminate dues, and no votes to retain dues at a different amount.
School Board Candidate Forum
Clary welcomed Alvaro Ceron-Ruiz, a candidate for County Board of Education District 2 representative. Ceron-Ruiz described his background and his objectives. He grew up in Prince George’s County public schools, including attending Duval and Eleanor Roosevelt High Schools. He believes in strong public schools including involving all families in the community, and he served two terms on the Board as a student representative. He is now at the University of Maryland studying public policy and education policy and is running for the Board to help improve things by collaborating with communities.
Clary asked how he would engage the community, and Ceron-Ruiz noted the need to meet people where they are at, including in community associations and in town hall meetings, but also in other creative ways.
Clary thanked Ceron-Ruiz for meeting with the group.
Nominations and Committee Position Vote
Clary reminded the group that all officer positions are for 1 year, and so officers need to be voted on for the coming year.
Clary nominated himself for president. The group approved this by a vote of 10-0.
Pérez will not stand for vice president. Leary nominated himself for vice president. The group approved Leary by a vote of 10-0.
Huemmrich was voted as treasurer for the remainder of this year and nominated herself for treasurer next year. The group approved this by a vote of 10-0.
Reitzel nominated himself for secretary. The group approved this by a vote of 10-0.
Clary nominated Kamel as events coordinator, and Kamel introduced herself to the group. She is studying public policy and media studies at the University of Maryland and has lived in north College Park for 2 years. She has volunteered in the community in several ways, including an initiative to create a City Youth Advisory Board. Kamel wants to do whatever she can to creatively bring people together. The group approved this by a vote of 8-0.
Clary noted the Developments Director vacancy. The position engages City representatives to monitor current and future development projects. There were no nominations for this position, and so the group will continue to seek someone to fill this position.
Unscheduled Motions
There were no unscheduled motions.
Unscheduled Announcements
Hew announced that the American Legion will host its USA 250 Community Cookout on June 28 1pm-5pm.
Ulloa announced that the 21st District state delegation plans to attend our September meeting.
Krouse announced that in Hollywood Park county park staff marked multiple trees around the picnic pavilion with 2 orange dots at their base and wondered whether these trees are to be removed and, if so, what is the plan to mitigate their loss. Sosa will follow up with County Park and Planning, and Hernandez and Hew will follow up, including with City arborist David Wigglesworth.
Hernandez announced he will arrange a district discussion in late June or early July at Davis Hall; topics will include results of the approved City FY2027 budget and may include a representative from the now-closed Piano Man Superstore property.
Hernandez noted that Metropolitan Development Group will host a community meeting at Davis Hall on June 25, 6:45pm-8:00pm, regarding The Boulevard development proposed at 9091 Baltimore Avenue, for the community to ask questions and learn more about the proposed 243-unit development. The development is proposed based on a 2007 Detailed Site Plan, and at Metropolitan’s request the City decided to support its County application for payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT). Hew added that the plan had previously included 47,000 sq ft of retail but that had been reduced to 3,700 sq ft, and so if the community would like to see retail, it would be important to voice that.
Hernandez reminded attendees about the June 23 state primary election, which begins with early voting at Paint Branch Elementary School June 11-18.
The Quantum World Congress will be held September 23-25 in College Park at The Hotel. Quantum World Congress convenes leaders across science, industry, government, finance, and education, to shape the future of quantum technology.
Many community members have advocated support for the Paint Branch Elementary School’s Chinese immersion program. It was funded in the budget passed by the County Council, though the County Executive vetoed the budget, which will now go back to the County Council.
Reitzel asked about the status of the City’s public safety study, and Hernandez reported that its launch has been delayed a bit but will launch soon this summer.
Clary noted our next meeting will be Thursday, September 10, at 7:30pm.
Adjournment
Clary moved for adjournment, Leary seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously.