City Council Worksession Preview: April 19

The College Park City council will convene for it's twice-monthly worksession Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Meetings and worksessions are held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, located at 4500 Knox Rd.

Solar Installation on City Hall

University Park Solar, the same group responsible for installing solar panels on the University Park Church of the Brethren, is looking to do the same on the roof of City Hall. The council will discuss the feasibility of this at Tuesday’s worksession.

Speed Enforcement Revenue

As anyone who’s been caught by the camera’s flash knows, the city has made quite a bit of money from its four sets of speed cameras. The council made an amendment the FY 2012 budget this weekend to allocate a portion of the funds to expand the contract police program and hire a part-time public safety coordinator. They are, however, still taking ideas, so feel free to pass yours along.

Introduction of the FY 2012 Budget Ordinance

After two marathon Saturday worksessions, the council will be officially introducing the Fiscal Year 2012 budget at next Tuesday’s meeting. You can take a look at the full document in all its 300+ page glory here.

Discussion of Petitions for Referenda in 2011 City Election

A private Arizona-based signature gathering firm has had employees going door-to-door in College Park neighborhoods asking residents to sign two charter amendment petitions.

The first one would prevent the city from collecting property tax revenue above what it is currently collecting in 2011, regardless of any changing circumstances in the future. Accoring to city staff, this has the potential to cripple city services, and hamper its ability to pay for things like police, security and trash collection.

The second petition seeks to prohibit the city from distinguishing between rental properties and owner/occupied properties. City staff say the petition is disguised as an attempt to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, creed, national origin etc, but in reality, such discrimination is already prohibited. Preventing the city from distinguishing different types of property could have the following implications:

• Prohibit the City from licensing and making annual safety inspections for rental properties.

• Eradicate rent stabilization.
• Prevent residents from claiming the Homestead Property Tax for owner occupants with a principal residence in the City.
• Eradicate the requirement that landlords pay a trash fee.

 The city itself knows next to nothing about the actual source of these petitions - who is funding them, and why. The council will discuss the matter further at Tuesday's worksession.