CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING AGENDA *VIRTUAL MEETING*

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021, 7:00 P.M.

This Agenda is subject to change. If this agenda is modified it will be reposted to the City of New Carrollton’s website: www.newcarrolltonmd.gov. If you have any questions please contact the City Clerk at (301) 459-6100.

Items for Discussion

Time

1. Call to Order

(5 Minutes)

2. Clear Water Partnership – Presentation and Project Update

3. Report from the Mayor and Administration

4. Council Questions/Council Announcements

5. Parking and Harland Street Property Survey Results

6. Meeting Minutes a.) Council Workshop Meeting Minutes (September 13, 2021) b.) Council Legislative Meeting Minutes (September 15, 2021)

7. Review of Paid Bills Batch # 1 (September 10, 2021); Batch # 2 (September 17, 2021); Batch # 3 (September 24, 2021); Batch # 4 (October 1, 2021); Batch # 5 (October 8, 2021); and Batch # 6 (October 15, 2021)

8. Public Comment – (Residents’ Concerns, Audience Participation and Phone Calls) When addressing the Council please state your name and address for the record.

9. Request for Future Agenda Items

10. Adjournment

PLEASE NOTE: This meeting of the City of New Carrollton Council will be a virtual meeting. Anyone interested in listening to the meeting will be able to by calling the following number: 301-715-8592 with code 837 9312 2521. You do not need a participant code. If you want to join the meeting via the Computer click on the link Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83793122521 Meeting ID: 837 9312 2521 If you have comments for the Council please email them to City Clerk Doug Barber at dbarber@newcarrolltonmd.gov by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.

(30 Minutes) (15 Minutes)

(10 Minutes)

(15 Minutes) (5 Minutes)

(5 Minutes)

(10 Minutes) (2 Minutes per person) (5 Minutes) (1 Minute)

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Environmental, Planning, and Engineering Consultants

tel: 267 585-4839 fax: 267 585-4840 www.akrf.com

New York City ● Hudson Valley Region ● Long Island ● Baltimore / Washington Area ● New Jersey ● Philadelphia

Date: 10/15/2021 To: Andre R. Triplett, Director, City of New Carrollton (the city) From: Bianca Santos, Clean Water Partnership (CWP) Site Name: Brier Mill Run Stream Address: 8100 Carrollton Parkway BMP ID/s: PG19RST101100 Maintenance Region: North Description of Current Conditions: Residents have voiced concerns over the Brier Mill ditch during various time periods, including site conditions prior to restoration and post-construction. Prior to the restoration, when the City of New Carrolton did not mow the streambanks there was “an uproar” in the community. Under a new mayor, the city approved the restoration of the Brier Mill stream run. Per the City of New Carrolton- at the start of this project three years ago the city had several staff members helping with the planning stages, however, they are no longer with the city. In the 6 months after construction, local residents have voiced concerns about the lack of wildflowers (photo 1), bare areas (photo 2), sections of overgrowth reaching as high as nearby tree canopies (photo 3), trees planted adjacent to mature and established trees (photo 4), and lack of guard rails along certain bends (photo 5).

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Brier Mill Run Stream 2 10/15/21

Photo 1. Minimal wildflower growth in certain areas

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Brier Mill Run Stream 3 10/15/21

Photo 2. Bare areas in certain sections

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Brier Mill Run Stream 4 10/15/21

Photo 3. Sections of overgrowth reaching as high as nearby tree canopies

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Brier Mill Run Stream 5 10/15/21

Photo 4. Trees planted adjacent to mature and established trees

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Brier Mill Run Stream 6 10/15/21

Photo 5. Lack of guard rails along certain bends

Site assessment notes: MES: “[MES has] been commenting to each other how well the site has grown in, which is ideal for preventing erosion and providing habitat in this developed area. The stream flows full during heavy rain events (we’ve seen it almost up to the road a couple times).” LIDC: “If there are any noxious weeds they should be eliminated. Weeds are currently outcompeted by the native plants. Any trees planned for future plantings? Grasses out competed wildflowers in certain areas (armored banks)” Recommendations:

The city request for the CWP construction group to notify the city of timeline of bridge installation, especially for traffic control of the bridge itself

CWP Maintenance will update the plan for increased manicure and control. Spot treating noxious weeds during the growing season.

Reseed areas with wildflower mix. The edges in some places lack vegetation and should be reseeded with regular grass. The areas around the armor flex have grasses growing through them, therefore, reseed with

smaller herbaceous plants. Transplant newly installed trees from areas with thicker canopies, to areas without any

established trees.

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MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council From: Latasha Gatling, City Administrative Officer Cc: Department Heads Re: September 2021 City Administrative Officer’s Report Date: October 15, 2021 _______________________________________________ Administration

• VOIP RFP Submission date is October 15th. A site visit was held on October 11th. • Participated in PGC Planning Board Public Hearing concerning Countywide Map

Amendment • Attended the Maryland Economic Development Association Fall Conference (virtual) • Prepared an ARPA Implementation Plan PowerPoint and submitted to Mayor Nembhard

for approval. • Researched grant opportunities to include U.S. Economic Development Administration,

CDBG and Maryland Energy Administration • Attended the ICMA Annual Conference (virtual)

City Clerk Working with the Administrative Department Directors to provide information on day-to-day operations and special projects. Handled the Registration and Conference Packets for all Mayor, Council, and City staff attending the 2021 Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference. Coordinating the cleaning out and organization of the City’s storages rooms in the City Municipal Center. We have tackled the two supply closets to date with more time being allotted for the larger spaces. City Clerk Barber is working with the Board of Election Chair Davis to condense past elections materials, following the City’s adopted Retention Schedule. City Clerk Barber is working with the Code Enforcement Department and the New Carrollton Board of Zoning Appeals on a variance request. Events: The City of New Carrollton upcoming City’s 2021 Fall Events:

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• Halloween 2021 scheduled for Sunday, October 31, 2021 • Veteran’s Day scheduled for Saturday, November 13, 2021 – Veterans Park • Annual Shredding Event schedule for Saturday, November 13, 2021 • Holiday Decorating Contest schedule for Monday, December 6, 2021

Social Media Report Highlighting the social media activity over the past periods on our Facebook and Twitter accounts: Facebook:

In the last 28 days, there have been

• 1.1K people reached through posts

• 199 Post Engagements

• 74 Reactions

The top post was information about the New Carrollton Halloween Drive-by Goodie Bag distribution. It reached 572 people and had 600 impressions.

Twitter:

Twitter earned 3,111 impressions over the last 28 days. The top tweet was a notification about New Carrollton community gardens receiving the golden trowel award receiving

• 386 impressions

• 35 engagement

Followed by a tweet informing the residents about a free community pantry receiving

• 376 impressions

• 12 engagements.

Twitter also gained 1 follower Human Resources HR has been working with the Senior Leadership Team to begin crafting City-wide and departmental organizational mission, vision and values statements. HR has also been actively working on drafting updates for the employee personnel policies manual.

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Events HR is actively planning Wellness Week which will be held from October 18th - October 22nd. The week will include sessions on Desk Yoga, Nutrition and Financial Wellness, as well as onsite flu and wellness screening clinics.

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NEW CARROLLTON PARKS AND OPEN SPACE SURVEY RESULTS

October 1, 2021 The City of New Carrollton issued a Parks and Open Space Survey to its residents in late August 2021. It was available in two forms: electronically and hard paper copy. The survey was published in the September/October 2021 Bi-Monthly Newsletter, the eNewsletter and posted on the City’s website. The purpose of the survey was to gather information from the residents on a number of topics relating to City parks, open spaces and an unused City owned property located on Harland Street. The deadline to submit completed surveys was October 1, 2021. The City received 17 completed surveys. The information collected was compiled into a data base and analyzed by City staff. Some responses were quite detailed and could not be adequately conveyed in this report. Each survey has been retained and after personal information is redacted, will be made available upon request. The following is a summary of the survey results. Utilization of Existing Facilities The first question requested residents to identify the top three New Carrollton parks or woods they utilize the most. West Field and Beckett Field were by far the most identified parks. None of the four “woods” were identified.

PARKS WOODS West Field 8 Lamont Woods 0 Beckett Field 6 Police Woods 0 Bicentennial Park and Garden 3 Riverdale Woods 0 Veterans Park 3 Mahoney Woods 0 Sports Park 3 Oak Lane 2 Longbranch Playground 2 Library Field 2 89th Park 2 Turner Field 1 Frenchman's Creek 1 85th Park 0

Recreational Activities The second question requested residents to list the top three recreational activities they participate in while visiting New Carrollton Parks. Respondents identified 29 distinct activities they participate in while visiting a New Carrollton Park. These activities were broken down into three categories: fitness, organized sports and recreation. The fitness category had the most mentions with 15. This category includes walking which had nine specific mentions. The second most popular category was recreation with eight activities mentioned

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to include dog park and playgrounds. The final category, organized sports, had six mentions with soccer having four mentions.

Fitness (15) Recreation (8) Organized Sports (6) Walk 9 Dog Park 2 Soccer 4 Running 3 Playgrounds 2 Tennis 1 Bike 2 Relaxation 1 Football 1 Exercise 1 Family Activities 1

Park Improvements The next survey question requested residents to identify what improvements they would like to see at any New Carrollton Park. This question had the most responses with 38. Some of the responses were very detailed and had to be simplified for data analysis purposes. Responses were grouped into two distinct categories: Improvements and Maintenance/Operations. Improvements had the most suggestions with 25. The top requests related to upgrades to playground equipment, trails and walking paths. Other suggestions included upgrading ADA accessibility, additional trash receptacles, new BBQ areas, and development of a skateboard park. One unique response was the creation of a dedicated pedestrian walking path directly on Westbrook Drive.

Improvements (25) Maintenance and Operations (14) Playground Equipment 5 Increase Trash Receptacles 3 Trails and Walking Paths 5 Increase Lighting 2 Basketball Courts 2 Better Fencing 2 ADA Accessibility 2 Eliminate Noxious Vegetation 2 Dog Park Obstacles 1 Increase Police Presence 1

6000 Harland Street In 2016, the City purchased the former Suburban Aquatic Club property at 6000 Harland Street. Residents were asked what they thought was the best use of this property. The overwhelming response was for the City to retain the property and redevelop it for some public purpose. Development of a recreation and/or community center was most suggested with a public pool coming in second.

Community Center (16) Sell Property (5) Other Public Purpose (8) Recreation Center 7 Housing Development 2 Skateboard Park 1 Public Pool 4 Affordable Housing 1 Community Garden 1 Youth Center 3 Solar Farm 1 New Police Station 1 Senior Center 1 No End Use Identified 1 Indoor Ice-Skating Rink 1

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