North College Park Community Association (NCPCA) Meeting Minutes, November 12, 2026

Attendees:

In person:

Kamthorn Clary (president), Justin Leary (vice president), Susan Huemmrich (treasurer), Todd Reitzel (secretary), Miriam Kamel (Events Director), Nathan Arbach (District One County Council office), Alan Hew (City Councilmember), Arelis Pérez.

Online (names written as they appear in chat):

Celia Ankelsaria, Jennifer Gilbert, Diya Patel.

Minutes taken by:

Todd Reitzel, secretary 

Call to Order

Clary called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda, which was circulated last week. Pérez moved to approve the agenda, and Huemmrich seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Minutes

The group reviewed the October 8 meeting minutes. Pérez moved to approve them, and Kamel seconded the motion.

President Report

Clary noted the next NCPCA Coffee Social will be at Proteus Brews will be Sunday, December 6, 11am-1pm. The social has had dwindling attendance, and Clary wondered if we should pursue a different approach. The social’s purpose is to provide an informal setting without an agenda to engage community members. The event once attracted 24 persons for a topic of high interest, but more generally has attracted around 10 persons in the past. Might there be better attendance on Saturday during or after the Hollywood Farmers Market? If meetings couldn’t be at Proteus then, they could be at MOM’s Organic Market or at the Farmers Market itself if weather allows. Huemmrich suggested that however we schedule the event we try to stick with a time and place year round.

Clary noted that we continue to email the meeting agenda preview to active members.

The NCPCA still needs a developments director and a communications director.

Vice President Report

Leary noted that a Maryland appellate court this week ruled to allow the suit filed by College Park and surrounding municipalities against the County for its reassignment of fire personnel away from our local fire stations.

Treasurer Report

Huemmrich reported that we have $928.28 checking and $347.62 savings. Last month we received 1 new membership. We will have a $175 annual fee for Zoom and a $45 expense for business cards.

Secretary Report

Reitzel reminded attendees to say their name before speaking, to help online attendees know who’s speaking and to aid taking minutes. He reported on the NCPCA October Update email, which was received by 210 persons, opened by 68, and clicked on by 19. He welcomes suggested items for the next update.

Development

Leary noted we should watch to see whether the FBI does indeed move to Greenbelt, given the results of last week’s national elections.

Events

Kamel noted the City’s Veterans Day ceremony yesterday.

The Hollywood Farmers Market continues to occur Saturdays 10am-2pm through November 21, after which it will close until April.

Walk with a Doc is a free community walking program that brings people together to stay active, learn about health from local healthcare professionals, at Lake Artemesia one Saturday at month at 9am. Upcoming walks will be November 14, December 12, and January 9. The walk will start at the parking lot.

NCPCA will hold its holiday pot luck party on December 10 at 8:30pm after its 7:30 meeting.

The City’s Winter Wonderland will be Saturday, December 5, 3-7pm, at City Hall.

WISE Connect continues to list activities on its website.

North College Park Community Center Construction and Hollywood Farmers Market

Clary reviewed the development of the North College Park Community Center project and its impact on the Hollywood Farmers Market. College Park has been working for around a decade on getting the community center. In response to community advocacy, the County conducted feasibility studies in 2022. The project was added to the county Capital Improvement Program for FY2025 and has issued an RFP for construction. This year the County has been doing procurement and design selection. The facility will be 12,000-13,000 square feet with fitness and wellness programs for all ages. The County will fund $21M, the City, $1.5M, and the State, $1M.

At the same time, the market has developed into a community hub on weekends. The market was founded in 2013 and after flagging attendance a few years ago has rebounded due to new vendors. With community center construction slated to start in 2027, the market will need to move starting April 2027, with a return after construction is scheduled to be completed in autumn 2028. The City recently announced the market will relocate to Duvall Field for this period. How this move will this affect market attendance is unknown. Concerns include wayfinding, parking, an adequate footprint for vendors, and potential conflicts with Duvall Field recreation activities.

The group discussed why the market cannot relocate to elsewhere in the Hollywood Shopping Center parking lot. The other side of the lot will be unavailable due to use for construction staging. And the area next to the bicycle shop is fenced off due to a WSSC leak. The group also discussed other possible locations: Hollywood Park is too far away to be a visible location, and the property at the northwest corner of Edgewood and Rhode Island is too small. Huemmrich noted that there could be a benefit to introducing the market to users of Duvall Field, and Hew noted that the amphitheatre there could be of use.

Unscheduled Motions

There were no unscheduled motions.

Unscheduled Announcements

Arbach noted that the District 1 County council office is in transition, with newly elected Councilmember Michelle Garcia set to be sworn in on December 7. She welcomes any legislative suggestions.

There will be a Grand Salute to Public Service honoring outgoing Councilmember Tom Dernoga on November 16, 6pm-7:30pm, at the Laurel Beltsville Senior Center.

The County Office of Community Relations will hold a Community Recycling Facility Tour on November 16, 12noon-2:30pm, at the County’s Materials and Recycling Facility in Capitol Heights.

The County Public Schools is holding a District 2 listening event at Eleanor Roosevelt High School on December 3, 6pm-7:30pm.

The County Planning Department is partnering with a research team from the University of Maryland Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) to conduct user experience research on the department’s website.

Reitzel announced that the College Park Community Food Bank is receiving donations of turkeys, turkey breasts, and chickens on November 13 and November 20, to provide poultry to families in need for Thanksgiving.

Pérez announced that Neighbors Helping Neighbors needs volunteers and board members. Anyone interested should call 301-222-3434 or email coordinator@nhn-cp.org.

Pérez also announced that the College Park Affordable Housing Coalition, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, will hold a fundraiser on November 19, 6pm-8pm, to support Attick Towers, which is the only public housing in the City.

Patel announced that the University of Maryland Terrapin Think Tank seeks to design a public health project to connect residents with first responders and build trust. She welcomes input on this from the community.

Hew noted that the City’s curbside leaf collection has begun and will last through mid-January. Also, the grass field at Duvall Field will be closed from November 23 to mid-March to preserve and protect the playing surface throughout the winter months. 

Clary noted our next meeting will be December 10, at 7:30pm, with the Holiday Pot Luck Party at 8:30pm.

Adjournment

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