Items for discussion

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1 AGENDA MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Tuesday, April 16, 2019 City Hall 7:00pm Items for discussion Suggested Discussion Time 1 Call-to-Order 2. Vice Mayor Benitez Reads Closed Session Summary (5 Min) Vice Mayor Benitez reads Closed Session Summary from Closed Sessions held on April 2, 2019 & April 10, Variance Request & Presentations (10 Min) Mayor and City Council will hear the Variance Request located at 4204 Rainier Avenue & Presentations located at th Street; th Street & th Street. 4. Dr. Kevin Patton Presentation: To Work With GW Graduate Class (20 Min) Dr. Kevin Patton, Assistant Professor of Interaction Design at The George Washington University will present about doing an assessment for Mount Rainier on Communications and Digital Strategy. 5. Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 & 3B (5 Min) Amending Chapter 2, Assessments and Taxation and Fees, of the Mount Rainier Code to Facilitate the Sale of Vacant Developed Properties and Amending Chapter 3B to Temporarily Exclude Properties that Become Vacant because of the Death of an Owner-Occupant or a Disaster from the Application of the Vacant Developed Property Tax Rate and Registration Requirement. 6. Ordinance Budget Amendment #3 (5 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss Budget Amendment #3. 7. Homestead Tax Credit (10 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the Homestead Tax Credit Program. 8. Buy and Sale of Public Property (10 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the buy and sale of public Property.

2 9. Code Enforcement Build-Out (15 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the proposed build-out for Code Enforcement. 10. Parking Meters (20 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss Parking Meters. 11. Mount Rainier Police Department Basement Remodel (10 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the Mount Rainier Police Department basement remodel. 12. EDI (Economic Development Incentive) Fund (15 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the Economic Development Incentive Fund. 13. EDI (Economic Development Incentive) Fund Outreach (5 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss forming a committee of residents and local businesses to support existing businesses. 14. Hyattsville Dispatch Service (5 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss improvements in communications to the residents of Mount Rainier. 15. Summer Youth Enrichment Program / Business Intern Program (5 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the Summer Youth Enrichment Program / Business Intern Program 16. Leaflet to Businesses about Code Enforcement (5 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss the leaflet being sent to local businesses regarding Code Enforcement. 17. Rent Control in Apartments (15 Min) Mayor and City Council will discuss whether rent control on renters is appropriate. 18. Recess Discussion (10 Min) Mayor and City Council will have a discussion of recess. 19. Adjournment

3 CLOSED SESSION MINUTES TO BE READ INTO RECORD CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY SHEET Date: April 2, 2019 Time: 9:30pm Location: City Hall, 1 Municipal Place, Mount Rainier, Maryland Closed Under Annotated Code # 3-305b for the reasons of subsections three (3), four (4) and five (5): (3)_ To consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto ; (4)_ To consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State ; (5) To consider the investment of public funds Those Who Voted To Go Into Closed Session: Mayor Malinda Miles, Councilmember Shivali Shah, Councilmember Luke Chesek, Councilmember Celina Benitez, Councilmember Bryan Knedler Unanimous Of Elected Officials In Attendance: Vote Those In Attendance: Mayor Malinda Miles, Councilmember Celina Benitez, Councilmember Luke Chesek, Councilmember Bryan Knedler, Councilmember Shivali Shah, City Manager Miranda Braatz, EDC Director Ronald Hopkins and City Real Estate Agent Jerry Actions Taken: No Votes Were Taken, Please See Relevant Notes: update on the sale of 3200 Rhode Island Avenue. Topics Discussed: The Mayor and City Council received an update on the sale of 3200 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier, Maryland 20712

4 CLOSED SESSION MINUTES TO BE READ INTO RECORD CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY SHEET Date: April 10, 2019 Time: 7:05pm Location: City Hall, 1 Municipal Place, Mount Rainier, Maryland Closed Under Annotated Code # 3-305b for the reasons of subsection one (1): (1)_ To discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals Those Who Voted To Go Into Closed Session: Mayor Malinda Miles, Councilmember Shivali Shah, Councilmember Luke Chesek, Councilmember Celina Benitez, Councilmember Bryan Knedler Unanimous Of Elected Officials In Attendance: Vote Those In Attendance: Mayor Malinda Miles, Councilmember Celina Benitez, Councilmember Luke Chesek, Councilmember Bryan Knedler, Councilmember Shivali Shah, 8:30pm City Manager Miranda Braatz, Actions Taken: No Votes Were Taken, Please See Relevant Notes: Review of City Manager Topics Discussed: The Mayor and City Council performed a review of the City Manager.

97 M E M O R A N D U M From: To: Councilmember Shivali Shah Mayor Malinda Miles Vice Mayor Celina Benitez Councilmember Bryan Knedler Councilmember Luke Chesek City Manager Miranda Braatz Date: April 16, 2019 Re: Partnering with GWU s Engagement Lab to create a digital & communication strategy for the city 1. The City s Current Communications Challenges & Proposal for a. The City of Mount Rainier has been undergoing a process of professionalization over the last 3 years. There have been a lot of changes: new faces, new policies and procedures, enforcement and implementation of existing laws, as well as different approaches to age-old problems. b. Through this process, the city s residents and businesses have indicated that they would like to (1) know more and (2) be engaged in a different manner than in previous years. Towards that end, the city has made significant changes in communications from and within each of its 6 departments: Police, Economic Development, Administrative Services, Finance, Public Works. Additionally, there also have been improvements to the city s website, events, newsletter, and social media. More on the city s improvements and challenges in communications can be found in my Word from the Ward: On Communications. c. As proud as we are of these accomplishments in a short period of time, there is still so much more work to be done. We are nowhere near where we need to be for a modern city in We need a comprehensive strategy with clear goals and deliverable products. d. Towards that end, I propose the City partner with the Engagement Lab of George Washington University for the academic year to create an engagement strategy for the city. 2. Today s Presentation a. Dr Kevin Patton, Assistant Professor of Interaction Design at George Washington University, will conduct a presentation on the work of his graduate level class, The Engagement Lab. b. The purpose of the presentation is to consider whether the City of Mount Rainier would like to partner with the Engagement Lab for the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters to allow the Engagement Lab to conduct a city-wide study to design a strategy for digital and analog communications. Councilmember Shah Proposal to Partner with GWU Engagement Lab 4/16/2019 Page 1 of 3

98 3. Desired Outcome a. Discussion between 5 members of Council, City Manager, staff, residents, and representatives of the Engagement Lab during today s worksession meeting and future meetings; b. Agreement by majority vote of Council to partner with the Engagement Lab; c. Sign a Resolution to partner with the Engagement Lab of GWU; and d. Creation and signing of Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) between Mount Rainier and the Engagement Lab; e. Execution of the terms of MOU during the Fall 2019-Spring 2020 semesters. 4. Purpose The purpose of the study will be to analyze the delivery of city services and identify aspects of city culture that affect that delivery. The Engagement Lab is interested in a. How the city residents and businesses think of themselves, how the city administration addresses resident concerns, and the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. b. How can the Engagement Lab help develop systems that demystify community policy and planning issues and contribute to broader (and more effective) community participation? 5. Process Using a human centered approach, the Engagement Lab will a. review public documents b. assess the city website and other digital services, and c. conduct interviews with elected officials, city staff, residents and businesses. 6. Timing a. This project proposes to take place over the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. b. Final product to be delivered to the city in May Needed from the City a. No funding needs to be allocated for this study. It will be conducted free of charge. b. The Engagement Lab will need assistance with organizing meetings with city staff, elected officials, committees, and residents. c. The Engagement Lab will need space to host meetings and interviews. d. The Engagement Lab will need access to a limited portfolio of public documents. 8. Deliverable Products At the close of the project, the Engagement Lab will deliver a document containing their a. research b. most documents created, and c. suggested strategies for improving community interventions connecting the city s residents. Councilmember Shah Proposal to Partner with GWU Engagement Lab 4/16/2019 Page 2 of 3

99 9. About the Engagement Lab a. The Engagement Lab is part of the new Masters of Arts program in Interaction Design, launched in the Fall of b. In Fall 2019, the program anticipates having students from a variety of academic backgrounds who are all working towards a Master s degree. 10. Engagement Lab Course Description Each semester, the core of the IxD MA program takes place in the Engagement Lab at George Washington University. Over four semesters, graduate students have opportunities to take their design skills into the world to practice design with a focus on social, environmental, and community impact. Project teams collaborate with a community organization or local partner to identify and respond to local challenges that might be addressed through interaction design processes and skills. Students and faculty work to gain a systemic understanding of those challenges and investigate the histories that have led to the current moment. The teams then engage community members as partners in the process of designing tools and systems that can address those challenges. Students will focus on prototyping responses while evaluating from an at-scale perspective while keeping in mind goals and metrics identified in conversation with the community partners. 11. Past Clients: Library of Congress and the American Folklife Center For Fall 2018, their community partner was the Library of Congress Labs and the American Folklife Center. The question the client has posed to the class is how to create better access to both the data as well as the special collections of the Library of Congress. We will develop responses to this collaboratively. The engagement lab operates like a design start-up where independent work and creative imagination is at the center of its success. 12. Today s Worksession Attendees from GWU: a. Kevin Patton, PhD, Assistant Professor b. Samantha Steen, MSW, Program Manager, Community Engagement and Continuing Education c. Master s Students: Denise Grant, Alejandra Leiva, Jonathan Iodarola, Meghan Lee 13. About Dr. Kevin Patton Kevin Patton holds a doctorate degree in Computer Music and Multimedia Composition from Brown University. He is an artist with a focus on creating interactive systems. He is particularly interested in the mutating boundaries between art and science, literature and critique, the explosion of media, and the sheer density of information providing an opportunity to reimagine binary distinctions. His work seeks to minimize the ways in which communities can be alienated and conversations become muddled, particularly where there is a lack of common vocabulary. Dr. Patton finds contemporary interactive technologies to be powerful tools of communication and connection that can relate media and information to the human scale problems of every-day life. More on Dr. Patton: Councilmember Shah Proposal to Partner with GWU Engagement Lab 4/16/2019 Page 3 of 3

100 Introduced and Read: April 2, 2019 Amended: April 2, 2019 Second Reading and Adoption: CITY OF MOUNT RAINIER, MARYLAND ORDINANCE NO Drafted by: City Attorney and City Treasurer Introduced by: Shivali Shah Amending Chapter 2, Assessments and Taxation and Fees, of the Mount Rainier Code to Facilitate the Sale of Vacant Developed Properties and Amending Chapter 3B to Temporarily Exclude Properties that Become Vacant because of the Death of an Owner-Occupant or a Disaster from the Application of the Vacant Developed Property Tax Rate and Registration Requirement WHEREAS, on March 7, 2017, the Council adopted Ordinance , revising the City s policies and procedures regarding vacant buildings and establishing a municipal tax rate for vacant developed property; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the vacant developed property tax was to encourage property owners to sell, lease or occupy vacant properties to prevent neighborhood blight; and WHEREAS, the vacant developed property tax has proven effective at encouraging the sale of vacant properties; and WHEREAS, the applicability of the vacant developed property tax rate to properties at the time of sale has interfered with the ability of potential purchasers to obtain financing because it creates the appearance that a property will remain subject to the increased tax rate when it is transferred to the purchaser; and WHEREAS, the Council wishes to facilitate and streamline the sale of vacant developed properties to new owners; and WHEREAS, the City does not wish to impose the vacant developed property tax upon properties that are temporarily vacant because of the death of the owner or because a fire, flood or natural disaster has rendered the property uninhabitable. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT RAINIER, MARYLAND, that Chapter 2, Assessments and Taxation and Fees, and Chapter 3B, Vacant Buildings and Vacant Lot Registration of the Mount Rainier Code are amended as follows:

101 Ordinance Page 2 of 4 Section Vacant developed real property tax. A. The definitions prescribed in Section 3B-104 shall apply to this Section. B. The municipal tax rate for vacant developed property shall be the amount established by the Ordinance setting the tax rate for that fiscal year on assessments of property subject to municipal property tax. C. A lot or parcel shall be subject to the vacant developed property tax rate if it has a building that is registered or designated by the City Manager as a vacant building in accordance with Chapter 3B. D. For mixed-use commercial and residential properties with a vacant commercial portion, the vacant developed property tax rate shall apply only to the assessed value of the improved area containing the vacant commercial portion, which shall be determined by multiplying the total assessed value of the improvements by the percentage of the improved area consisting of the vacant commercial portion. E. The vacant developed property tax rate shall not apply to a lot or parcel with a vacant utilitarian building if the property also has an occupied building that has an above-grade area equal to or greater than that of the utilitarian building. F. Vacant developed property shall not be subject to the vacant developed property tax rate when it is under active construction or undergoing active rehabilitation, renovation, or repair, and there is a valid building permit to make the building fit for occupancy. The exemption from the vacant developed property tax rate under this paragraph shall not exceed a total of two years while the property remains under the ownership of one person or related persons. G. The City Manager shall transmit to the Prince George s County tax assessor a list of properties subject to the vacant developed property tax by May 1 of each year, and the vacant developed property tax rate will be levied upon the properties the following fiscal year. H. When a property becomes occupied or exempt from the vacant developed property tax rate pursuant to Subsection F, the owner shall notify the City Manager in the manner as may be prescribed by regulation. If the request for termination of the vacant developed property tax rate is approved, the termination shall be effective the following fiscal year. I. If the vacant developed property tax rate is paid on a property because of an error on the part of the City, the municipal property tax paid in excess of the taxes due under the regular municipal rate shall be refunded. Refunds pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the value of the excess payment for a period of one year. J. The City Manager will, upon request, provide written notice to the lenders for prospective purchasers of vacant developed property that the property will not be subject to the vacant

102 Ordinance Page 3 of 4 developed property tax rate commencing the following fiscal year if the property is occupied or satisfies the requirements of subsection E. Section 3B-103. Definitions * * * CHAPTER 3B VACANT BUILDINGS AND VACANT LOT REGISTRATION In this Chapter, the definitions in The BOCA National Property Maintenance Code/1996 shall apply, with the following exceptions: * * * G. Vacant developed property means a lot or parcel of land that has a vacant building except as provided in Section 3B-107. Section 3B-104. Vacant Buildings N. Designation of vacant buildings. * * * * * * 1. Notice of vacancy designation and right to appeal. The City Manager shall identify nonregistered vacant buildings. The owner shall be notified that the owner's building has been designated as a vacant building, that the property will be subject to the vacant developed property tax rate under Section 2-108, if applicable, and of the owner's right to appeal the vacancy designation. The notice shall advise the owner of the availability of exceptions to the registration requirement and vacant developed tax rate under Section 3B Section 3B-107. Exceptions. * * * A. Temporary exception for death of owner-occupant. 1. A residential property that becomes vacant as a result of the death of an owner of the property who resided at the property or for whom the property was their domicile at the time of their death shall not constitute a vacant developed property for a period of two years after the date of death. 2. To qualify for this exemption, a representative of the estate of the deceased must provide the City Manager with a copy of the death certificate and proof that, on the date of death, the deceased resided at the property or the property was their domicile.

103 Ordinance Page 4 of 4 3. Domicile means the place where a person has his or her true, fixed, permanent home, habitation and principal establishment, without any present intention of removing therefrom, and to which place he or she has the intent to return when absent. B. Temporary exception for accidental damage. 1. An occupied residential property that becomes uninhabitable as a result of a fire or flood, unless intentionally caused by the owner or his or her agent, or a natural disaster, shall not constitute a vacant developed property for a period of two years after the incident that caused the property to become uninhabitable. 2. To qualify for this exemption, the owner must provide satisfactory proof to the City Manager that the property is uninhabitable as a result of a fire, flood, or natural disaster, and the date the fire, flood, or natural disaster occurred. Examples of records that may constitute satisfactory proof include, but are not limited to, police and fire reports, insurance company correspondence and claim documentation, news and weather reports, photographs, videos, and code enforcement inspection records. THIS ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT RAINIER THIS DAY OF MAY, Attest: Miranda Braatz, City Manager Malinda Miles, Mayor Luke Chesek, Councilmember Ward 1 Celina Benitez, Councilmember Ward 1 Bryan Knedler, Councilmember Ward 2 Shivali Shah, Councilmember Ward 2

104 Homestead Tax Credit Review What is the Homestead Credit? To help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence, state law has established the Homestead Property Tax Credit. The Homestead Credit limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage. Every county and municipality in Maryland is required to limit taxable assessment increases to 10% or less each year. Technically, the Homestead Credit does not limit the market value of the property as determined by the Department of Assessments and Taxation. Instead, it is actually a credit calculated on any assessment increase exceeding 10% (or the lower cap enacted by the local governments) from one year to the next. The credit is calculated based on the 10% limit for purposes of the State property tax, and 10% or less (as determined by local governments) for purposes of local taxation. In other words, the homeowner pays no property tax on the market value increase which is above the limit. Council Review: Below are graphical projections of the City income from Real Property Taxes if the City should decide to lower the 10% cap for local taxation rates only; this change would have no change on the State property tax limit set at 10% currently. The graph(s) show changes in the City s revenue at the current tax rate as well as the proposed tax rate as set forth in the proposed FY 2020 budget. Proposed Tax Rate - $0.79 4,350,962 4,232,462 4,034,962 3,916,462 10% 8% 5% 3% The City s current Homestead Tax cap follows the State mandated limitation of 10%. Which shows a possible revenue of $4,350,962 in real property tax income based on the proposed FY 2020 Budget. Lowering the Homestead Tax cap to either 8%, 5% or 3% show a projected revenue reduction of $118,500, $316,000 and $434,500, respectively.

105 Homestead Tax Credit Review Current Tax Rate - $0.83 4,479,704 4,355,204 4,147,704 4,023,204 10% 8% 5% 3% The City s current Homestead Tax cap follows the State mandated limitation of 10%. Which shows a possible revenue of $4,479,704 in real property tax income based on the current tax rate. Lowering the Homestead Tax cap to either 8%, 5% or 3% show a projected revenue reduction of $124,500, $332,000 and $456,500, respectively. Example: Assume that your old assessment was $100,000 and that your new phased-in assessment for the 1st year is $120,000. An increase of 10% would result in an assessment of $110,000. The difference between $120,000 and $110,000 is $10,000. The tax credit would apply to the taxes due on the $10,000. If the tax rate was $1.04 per $100 of assessed value, the tax credit would be $104 ($10, x $1.04).

106 City of Mount Rainier Public Property List City of Mount Rainer Police Department Year Mileage Value Ford E ,572 Value $2,000 Chevy Blazer ,376 Value $2,000 Dodge Charger ,174 Value $2,800 Dodge Charger ,501 Value $2,800 Ford Crown Victoria ,364 Value $2,021 ATV City of Mount Rainier Code Enforcement Year Mileage Value Dodge Stratus 2002 Dodge Charger 2008 City of Mount Rainier Public Works Year Mileage Value Trash Truck # $10,000 Dump Truck # Dump Truck # Ford Ranger 2005

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Agenda of the Legislative Meeting of the Mayor and City Council City of Mount Rainier

Agenda of the Legislative Meeting of the Mayor and City Council City of Mount Rainier Tuesday April 2, 2019 7:00 P.M. Action Taken 1. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance 2. Additions to the Agenda The