Councilmember Mitchell, City Manager Somers, and Code Enforcement Officer Daves were once again appointed to the Maryland Municipal League's (MML) Legislative Committee.
City Manager Somers finalized the required International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager report to maintain proper credentialing.
City Manager Somers and City Attorney Ferguson continued discussions with representatives from the University of Maryland (UMD) concerning the City Hall Project Development Agreement. The City and UMD are in general agreement with the proposed terms; they will be presented to the City Council for consideration at a near future Council meeting.
City Manager Somers, Public Services Director Ryan, Code Enforcement Officer Daves, and PGPD/City Contract Police Officer Coordinator
Major Keleti
, attended the CMAST (Combined Multi-Agency Service Team) meeting to discuss and review public safety and quality of life data. Some items discussed included preparations for the upcoming Knock and Talk events (scheduled for August 26 and 27), the beginning of the new UMD school year, and proactive enforcement of the Noise and Nuisance Code.
Mayor Wojahn, City Manager Somers, Finance Director Fields, and representatives from Davenport and Co. (the City’s financial advisor) prepared for upcoming meetings with two credit rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s (S&P). The City, with the help of its financial advisor, will present financial and economic information and statistics to obtain a favorable credit rating from the agencies. This will allow the City to sell bonds for the City Hall and Duvall Field projects at a favorable interest rate.
City Manager Somers, Public Services Director Ryan, and Director of the College Park City University Partnership Eric Olsen met to review future camera placements per state grant requirements to limit camera deployment between College Park and Riverdale Park. Note that additional planned cameras, which are funded through the City’s General Fund, will be deployed north of Campus Drive all the way up to the Beltway.
Youth, Family, and Senior Services (YFSS) Director Barber and City Manager Somers met with the North College Park Community Association (NCPCA) board members to discuss how YFSS services may be improved and/or expanded.
Public Works Director Marsili, City Attorney Ferguson, and City Manager Somers reviewed and discussed potential changes to a bulk trash ordinance. The City Council will receive updates to the ordinance during the October 1 worksession.
City Manager Somers and Planning Director Schum participated in the biweekly City Hall Project Team meeting to review and discuss project updates. The City Council is scheduled to receive updates in September.
City Manager Somers attended a monthly luncheon with area city managers to exchange information and knowledge and to discuss potential collaborative opportunities.
City staff continue to plan for the City Hall move in October. Phase one of three began this week by moving files and IT equipment to Davis Hall.
