North College Park Community Association (NCPCA) Meeting Minutes, September 10, 2026

Attendees:

In person:

Kamthorn Clary (president), Susan Huemmrich (treasurer), Todd Reitzel (secretary), Miriam Kamel (Events Director), Rebecca Bailey (City Senior Animal Control Officer), Celia Anklasaria, Nathan Arbach (District One County Council office), Ariela Haber, Cait Heiderman (College Park Here & Now), Alan Hew (City Councilmember), Fazlul Kabir (Mayor), John Krouse, Sasha Tyukavina.

Online (names written as they appear in chat):

Reid Caplan, Mary Ann Hartnett, Niranjana Krishnan, Christine O’Brien, Mary Roop.

Minutes taken by:

Todd Reitzel, secretary 

Call to Order

Clary called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda. Huemmrich moved to approve the agenda, and Reitzel seconded the motion.

Minutes

The group reviewed the June 11 meeting minutes. Huemmrich moved to approve them, and Krouse seconded the motion.

President Report

Clary noted the NCPCA Coffee Social series at Proteus Brews started again Sunday, September 6; the next one will be October 4, 11am-1pm.

The NCPCA still needs a developments director, which Justin Leary continues to cover since becoming Vice President. A Communications Director would also be helpful. 

Clary reviewed summer events in the community, including the June 24 Route 1 Improvement Workshop, the July 31 Duval Field reopening, the August 8 second Hollywood Placemaking Walk, and the August 27 pre-application meeting about the Aviation Landing proposed development.

Vice President Report

In Leary’s absence, Clary noted that Leary welcomes feedback via email.

Treasurer Report

Huemmrich reported that we have $936.30 checking and $347.22 savings; recent expenses include Bluehost, MailChimp, and State of Maryland (for updating our state registration). Those wanting to be members should please pay dues on the NCPCA website. The Member Planet service collects credit card payments and keeps them secure; ti also shows who current members are.

Secretary Report

Reitzel reminded participants to say their name before speaking to inform those on Zoom who is speaking, assist in generating accurate minutes, and allow for accurate recordings.

Reitzel reported on the NCPCA Update emails. In addition to the one after the June meeting, we were able to do emails in July and August, to try to keep people engaged and informed. Emails had good open rates but not always a lot of clicks. Strategy is to send a monthly email highlighting current events and opportunities very briefly with clickouts for further details. He welcomes ideas and input from others.

Development Committee

Clary noted that the Aviation Landing proposal is in the works. He also noted the City has proposed purchasing 4916 Tecumseh Street, a vacant property with an old garage for $144K; there will be a September 21 City Council hearing and vote. Krouse asked about the purpose of the purchase, and Clary’s understanding was that the old garage would be demolished and the property would provide access to other City property.

Information about ongoing proposals and projects is on the City’s Department of Planning and Community Development website, including a list of City projects and a development dashboard.

Harnett asked whether there are security cameras at Duval Field now, and Kabir confirmed that there are.

Events Committee

Kamel noted the ongoing Hollywood Farmers Market Saturdays 10am-2pm. College Park Day will be October 3 12pm-6pm at the Aviation Museum. The Branchville VFD will hold an open house on October 11 11am-3pm. The Branchville Ladies Auxilliary will host a Bull Roast fundraiser October 24 1pm-6pm with an admission fee; tickets required. WISE Connect continues to list activities on its website.

NCPCA 2025-2026 Recap and Future Goals

Clary reviewed NCPCA’s activities in the past year. Three new officers were elected, and two new committee directors were designated. Two letters of support were approved by the membership to submit to the City. A new monthly email update was launched. The membership voted to maintain its current dues-based membership structure and to maintain its current annual dues at $10. The second annual Hey Hollywood event was held. The Association moved to a presentation-focused meeting structure. Our group continues to decorate and maintain the North College Park Community Tree, including for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and December holidays.

Future goals for NCPCA might include promoting increased participation, considering more use of promotional swag, increased community outreach through events and community forums, filling remaining committee positions, encouraging residents to become members so that they can participate in NCPCA votes, and continued outreach via surveys and soliciting other feedback.

Kabir suggested updating NCPCA lawn signs and planting them in high-traffic locations the week before meetings. Krouse suggested building future agenda lists on the NCPCA website.

Tyukavina expressed appreciation for the monthly email updates. Reitzel noted that the special topics at meetings can create a lot of interest.

College Park Raccoon Incidents

Rebecca Bailey, the City’s senior animal control officer, briefed the group on her unit’s work. She has one staff colleague, Jose. Bailey has worked with animals for 16 years and has worked in animal control for the last 10 years, the last 6 of which have been for the City.

In response to two recent incidents of possible rabid raccoons in north College Park, Bailey clarified the City’s role and responsibilities. The City regularly responds to reports of sick or injured wildlife, but only some of these may be suspected rabies. And the City can act only if it finds and retrieves the wildlife.

If the City retrieves sick or injured wildlife that do not show signs of rabies, they are transferred to Frisky’s Wildlife for potential rehabilitation. If the City encounters wildlife that do show signs of rabies, the City sends them to the Prince George’s County Animal Services for humane euthanasia, but if the animal had known contact with a human or a pet, it’s sent to the Maryland State lab for rabies testing after euthanasia. Rabies testing requires a brain sample; thus euthanasia is required.

So far in 2026, the City has sent 5 specimens for testing, but no tests came back positive. The last positive rabies test from the lab was in 2024.

Unfortunately, the City could not locate the two raccoons recently reported as possibly rabid in north College Park. 

Bailey shared responses prepared in advance to several questions. She also shared state statistics on confirmed rabies cases and on animal bites in 2025. While Prince George’s County has a relatively high rate of animal bites (primarily by dogs), it has a relatively low rate of confirmed rabies cases.

Bailey reported that her team provides a number of services to prevent animal control problems, including spring and fall rabies and microchip events, a free spay and neuter service, a TNVR (trap neuter vaccinate release) program for feral cats, and public alerts about incidents. She encourages residents to call City Animal Control at 240.487.3575 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm or outside those hours call County Animal Control at 301.780.7200.

Ankelsaria asked whether to be concerned about foxes, and Bailey clarified only if it’s behaving strangely. Reitzel asked whether phone, email, or the City app is the quickest way to contact City Animal Control, and Bailed said phone is quickest. Haber asked if the City uses animal traps, and Bailey clarified only if the animal has bitten someone. Hew wondered whether oral rabies baiting would be cost effective, and Bailey responded that given the low rabies rate it may not be. Clary asked whether there’s any increasing risk of attacks by rabid animals, and Bailey said no: In her 6 years on City staff, there’s been only 1 positive rabies report, in 2024.

Haber noted that College Park has problems with feral cats and roaming dogs, both of which interact with wildlife and people. What can be done about feral cats and roaming dogs? Bailey confirmed that she and her colleague patrol routinely and try to be ready to respond to complaints about roaming dogs. Citations can be written only if staff witnesses the animal or if a resident signs an affidavit. She has found that engaging and educating the owner is often effective. Bailey reminded the group that County law requires feeding of outdoor cats be done only with the cat present and does not allow leaving food out. We may need more education on this.

Kabir asked whether raccoons are confrontational, and Bailey responded that they are somewhat more territorial than other wildlife but they typically don’t attack unless bothered. Be careful not to push their boundaries, especially if they have babies.

Clary and the group thanked Officer Bailey for attending and sharing her expertise and perspectives.

Unscheduled Motions

There were no unscheduled motions.

Unscheduled Announcements

Krouse mentioned he noticed a vacant house on 52nd Avenue with front and back doors apparently open; he notified CityPublic Services. Krouse suggested we consider have City staff attend to discuss code enforcement. Anklesaria noted that a lot of scooter drivers are not stopping at stop signs and wondered what enforcement might be done, perhaps by contract officers.

Clary noted Arbach’s announcements on the slides: District 1 Community Shred Days at Beltsville Academy September 12 and at Montpelier Elementary September 19, 9am-10:30am. Coffee with a Cop will be at the Berwyn Heights McDonald’s September 21, 10am-12noon. A District 1 Town Hall with the County’s Cannabis Reinvestment & Restoration Board will be September 29, 6pm; details TBD.

Clary noted that a U Maryland team is conducting research on the news consumption habits of Spanish-speaking immigrants. A flyer and QR code are on the meeting slide deck.

Reitzel reported that the U Maryland School of Music is holding a benefit recital for the College Park Community Food Bank September 20 8pm-9pm at The Clarice. Also, due to uncertain Saturday home football game times, the Food Bank will move its weekly food distributions to Sundays 3:30-5:00pm, from September 27 through the end of November.

Kabir noted the Walk with a Doc event September 12 9am at Lake Artemesia, the College Park Aviation Community Day September 12 at 11am, and the Community Public Safety meeting September 14 7pm.

Clary noted our next meeting will be October 6, at 7:30pm.

Adjournment

Huemmrich moved for adjournment, Krouse seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously.