City Council Work Session Preview

Due to the length of Tuesday's agenda, the College Park City council will convene for it's twice-monthly work session at 7:30 p.m. rather than the typical 8 p.m.

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

Property Use Agreement for the Jerk Pit

, a Caribbean restaurant previously housed in the Campus Village Shopping Center, moved down Route 1 into the old white Victorian house that used to be the coffee shop College Perk. The restaurant is applying to transfer its liquor license from its old location to its new location, and has drafted a Property Use Agreement forged to prevent the restaurant from becoming a hub for partying. One tenet of the agreement is that alcohol not be served past 2 a.m. However, the restaurant is requesting to continue to serve food past 2 a.m., and has also expressed interest in hosting live music, both of which may raise some eyebrows in nearby Autoville.

Discussion of College Park Animal Shelter

The council will discuss the College Park Animal Shelter and whether they should continue to fund its operation. What started out as a holding pen for animals has turned into a full-fledged home for more than 10 cats. Some residents have expressed concern regarding the condition of the shelter, and the council will discuss tonight whether they are interested in applying for grants to improve it, or eliminating it altogether.

Discussion of an Ordinance Prohibiting Furniture on the Roof

This agenda item needs little explanation: Councilmembers will discuss whether they should instate an ordinance preventing residents from putting furniture on their roofs.

Parking Permit Issues

The council is revisiting the possibility of raising the price for a city parking permit from $5 to $10, though some residents are unhappy at the prospect of having to pay more, especially when in some cases they already have difficultly finding a spot on their streets. One option is to charge for permits based on the number of cars parked at a particular residence. For example, the permit for one car may be $5, but the price will increase incrementally with each additional car.

Bamboo on Private Property

What does College Park have in common with China? Bamboo. Many residents who grow this plant in yards are failing to rein in its fecundity, causing it to spread to their neighbor's yards, who do not necessarily want it there. The council will decide whether to adopt an ordinance used in Takoma Park, which prohibits allowing bamboo to spread onto someone else's property without permission.

Maryland Book Exchange Development

The council will take a formal position on the . The developer Ilya Zusin is seeking to convert the book store into a five story apartment building geared primarily toward undergraduate students. In September, the against the apartments, saying that it will only exacerbate existing noise and traffic issues. Other suggestions proffered for use of the space were a boutique hotel, a grocery store, or apartments aimed not at students, but professionals who travel to the area to work.