WEEKLY BULLETIN | May 22, 2020

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June Public Focus Groups for the City of College Park FY21 – 25 Strategic Plan

The City of College Park is working on our next 5-year Strategic Plan for the City and we want your help! Our goal is to capture our residents’ feedback to ensure we understand where you see College Park in the future. We have three virtual public focus groups remaining, so act fast to share your thoughts and perspective. Each focus group will have eight participants; to participate, you must register for a spot. Below are the available dates and times:

After registering, click here to complete a demographic survey. Survey completion is required for registration, as the data collected will be used to compare participants demographic information to the entire College Park population. For more information, visit our website at www.collegeparkmd.gov/strategicplan.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

All City Offices Closed for Memorial Day

 

All City offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2020 in observance of Memorial Day. Refuse and recycling will occur one day later than normal during this holiday week.

City Updates During COVID-19

www.collegeparkmd.gov/covid19

Please visit the City's dedicated COVID-19 website for all the latest information about the City's response and local resources during the pandemic.

The website is updated frequently, so please check often.

Count Me in College Park!

The City of College Park was under counted in the 2010 Census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 1 million children across the U.S. were not counted. The Census population statistics are used to determine how to spend billions of dollars in federal and state funds annually. Much of that money funds programs that directly affect children. They include nutrition assistance, Head Start, special education, foster care, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and housing assistance to help a child’s family. Young children should be counted in College Park if they live and sleep in College Park most of the time. A newborn should be counted if he or she was born on or before April 1, 2020.

 

The City of College Park urges all households to fill out the form online, over the phone, or by mail. For more information, visit  https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/census2020  or contact the Planning Department at 240-487-3538. 

Business Beat and Development Update

Upper Midtown Land Use Study Input Requested

The City of College Park received a Council of Governments/Transportation Planning Board grant to review constraints and opportunities for possible redevelopment of the study area along Baltimore Avenue (US 1) (Route 1) between University Boulevard (MD 193) and Cherokee Street. The effort is part of a larger goal to promote Route 1 as more livable and safer for all travelers, especially pedestrians.

This project is not a development proposal and the project team is not working with any developers to redevelop the study area. This is a planning study to explore development alternatives and identify multi-modal transportation improvements to enhance the access and connectivity of the study area.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the state-wide stay-at-home order, the project team was unable to host an in-person public meeting to share and discuss possible futures of the area. The project team created the on-line presentation and survey to share information and gather feedback in place of an in-person public meeting.

Please visit https://bit.ly/uppermidtown to learn more and provide your input. The website and survey will remain open until May 31 ^st, 2020. Please use the browsers Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox. Microsoft Internet Explorer is not supported.

Limited Community Garden Plots Available

 

Calling all gardeners! A few plots are available at the Hollywood Garden. Please email Katie at [email protected] for availability and an application form. Garden plots are $15 and are on a first-come first-serve basis. Social distancing guidelines must be followed including no more than ten people allowed in the garden at a time, stay six feet away from others, and avoid the garden if you are exhibiting symptoms of any illness. Wearing a mask is also recommended.

University of Maryland Child Development Center

The University of Maryland’s Child Development Center, operated by Bright Horizons, is scheduled to open September 1.

The Center is located on the City’s property at 4601 Calvert Road. In return for leasing the property at no cost to the University, City residents not affiliated with the University have priority for 14 slots at the Center. City residents who are affiliated with the University are also given a priority.

For more information, visit www.brighthorizons.com/umd.

Maryland Department of Transportation / Maryland Transit Administration Purple Line Construction Project

Buses will be temporarily relocated due to Maryland Department of Transportation / Maryland Transit Administration Purple Line construction on Campus Drive effective Monday, April 20, 2020. This will effect buses on River Road and on the Westside of the College Park-U of MD station. Click the image for details.

Maryland Department of Transportation / State Highway Administration

Reconstruction of US Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue)

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin construction this month on a three-year, $29 million project to improve safety and operations for motorists, bicyclist and pedestrians along US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) from College Avenue/Regents Drive to MD 193 (University Boulevard) in College Park. This 1.4-mile project also supports revitalization and traffic relief along this highly traveled stretch of US 1. Construction is scheduled to begin after Memorial Day. Click here to see an online presentation with an overview of the project and its construction schedule.

A WEEK IN REVIEW

Temporary Electronics Drop Off Location

City of College Park residents can bring electronics for recycling to a temporary drop off box near the entrance of the front doors to Davis Hall. Must have a valid College Park ID. No more than 3 items to be disposed of.

 

Acceptable : TVs, monitors, mouse pointers, keyboards, microwaves, gaming systems, computers, hard drives, cell phones, printers, laptops, surge protectors, copiers, fax machines, telephone systems, cable, circuit boards, and toner cartridges.

Unacceptable : Light bulbs (CFL or Tubes) or batteries of any kind.

Due to the holiday, regular trash, recycling, and soft yard waste collections are pushed back one day. All bulk and special collections will only take place on Friday. Call early in the week to assure an appointment, because spots are filled on a first come first serve basis. Each source separated collection is performed by a different crew and truck.

*A $20 charge for all appliances, televisions, and monitors went into effect May 1, 2020.

Do not place items at the curb until you have scheduled an appointment. Please provide a detailed list of what you want to dispose of. Contact the Department of Public Works at [email protected] or 240-487-3590 to schedule a collection. Have your items at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled day.

Smartleaf ^® compost and wood mulch program has resumed; customers can once again pick up product and we can load product on trucks and trailers. We are open Monday – Friday from 8:00 - 11:30 am and 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Deliveries can be arranged for an additional fee.  Compost is $28.00 per cubic yard, and wood mulch is $12.00 per cubic yard.

All buildings are still closed to visitors; therefore, customers should call 240-487-3590 from the parking lot to pay by credit card for their product prior to entering the yard. All customers must wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. To request a delivery please click here .  For more information call 240-487-3590 or email [email protected] .

Notice of Adoption of Ordinance 20-O-01

In January 2020, the Mayor and Council adopted Ordinance 20-O-01 which made changes to the collection of Special Trash. It prohibits placement of materials at properties that did not generate the materials; sets fees for collection and fees for Refuse, Recycling and Yard Waste receptacles; and sets penalties for violations.

Effective May 1, 2020, the following bulk trash collection changes will take effect:

1.    No Contractor-generated construction materials will be collected; however, small home-improvement material that is generated by the resident and properly set out will be collected.

2.    Soft and Woody Yard Waste that is properly set out will be collected; however, Soft and Woody Yard Waste that is oversized and requires the use of a crane will be charged at a cost of $100 per collection, per hour

3.    Certain materials set out for collection will require a fee. These include:

4.    Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic, or placed in a plastic mattress bag, in order to be collected.

5.    Oversized, overweight, improperly sorted material, or collections requiring use of a crane, will be assessed a fee of $100 per collection, per hour. 

6.    Refuse Carts: The City will provide up to two refuse carts free of charge per household. There will be an annual cost of $50 for a third refuse cart. A maximum of three refuse carts are allowed per household.  

Mosquito Control

The City of College Park cooperates with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to identify and control mosquito populations. MDA has cancelled the spray portion of their program for this season. Residents can still report high populations of mosquitos via MDA’s online form at   https://www.doit.state.md.us/selectsurvey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=740Kl54# . MDA personnel wi ll continue their monthly larviciding treatments to known areas of standing water to control mosquito larva by preventing development into adult mosquitos.

You may still see private contractors who are hired by property owners to perform mosquito control spray applications to their yard which may take place during daylight hours.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s website has a wealth of information on mosquito control, click here to visit their website or contact them at 410-841-5870. 

Weekly Highlights of Contract Police Activity

May 8 - May 14, 2020

Monthly Public Safety Maps

The January maps are now available. For monthly Prince George's County Police public safety maps and statistical data for the City of College Park, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/publicsafety .

BOARD AND COMMITTEE NOTICES

Part-time Contract Secretary Position Available

The City is seeking a part-time Contract Secretary to attend and record evening Board and Committee meetings. This position requires a reliable person with strong grammar and secretarial skills to prepare a summary of the proceedings, make approved revisions, and provide a final set of minutes in a timely manner. This assignment does not require word-for-word reporting. Meetings are conducted at public facilities in College Park on weekday evenings.

Contract rate is $22.00 per hour, guaranteed two hours per meeting, plus preparation of minutes at $11.00 per half-hour. We estimate six to twelve hours per month to start, depending upon Committee assignments. Please submit cover letter and resume to: College Park City Clerk’s Office, 8400 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 375, College Park, MD 20740, or email [email protected] .

Volunteers Wanted

Are you interested in serving on a City advisory board?

Serve your community, lend your talents, and meet your neighbors. The following advisory boards have vacancies:

Interested in volunteering? Please complete and submit an application  to [email protected] or to your to your City Council representative by May 31st. For detailed information on City advisory boards, please visit our website by clicking here .

For additional information regarding vacancies, please contact the  City Clerk’s office, your City Council representative or visit our website at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ 186/Boards-Commissions.

CITY EVENTS AND RECREATION

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Office of the City Manager | 240.487.3501 | [email protected] | collegeparkmd.gov