City Council Workshop - September 4, 2024: Youth Center Agreements and NAC Committee Report
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City Council Workshop - September 4, 2024
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Frederick held a workshop on September 4, 2024, from 3:00 PM. The meeting covered two major items: agreements for a youth center at 300 Scotty's Bus Lane and a report from the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) Ad-Hoc Committee proposing changes to the NAC resolution. No formal votes were taken on the substantive items, but staff was directed to prepare an ordinance for the NAC changes.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (August 21, 2024): Approved 4-0 (Alderman McShane absent). Motion by Alderman O'Connor, seconded by Alderman Nash.
Discussion of Agreements for 300 Scotty's Bus Lane Youth Center
- Presenters: Guyan Sampson (Chief of Staff), Ashley Waters (Senior Assistant Director, HHS), Scott Waxter (Assistant City Attorney). Representatives from the Osherman Family Foundation were also present.
- Summary: Three agreements were presented: (1) a Donation Agreement with Frederick County donating the property (300 Scotty's Bus Lane) to the city at no cost, requiring the city to open a youth center within six years and operate it for at least five years or the property reverts to the county; (2) an MOU with the Osherman Family Foundation to lead design and construction, with a four-year completion timeline (plus two optional one-year extensions); (3) a Property Management Agreement with the Foundation to manage the property during construction and handle the existing tenant's lease through February 2025.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Alderman O'Connor expressed support for the youth center but questioned the long-term operational oversight, suggesting the Mayor's Office should lead initially rather than the Department of Housing and Human Services (HHS), which he described as having current challenges.
- Alderman Nash raised concerns about the reversion clause and sought clarity on the county's role after transfer; Scott Waxter clarified the five-year operational requirement releases the reversion clause.
- Alderman Russell and Alderman Shackelford emphasized the need for a clear programming and operational plan before construction, and requested regular updates on the project's progress.
- Mayor O'Connor noted the Mayor's Office will oversee the build-out, but a final operational home (HHS or other) will be determined later, with input from the board.
- No vote was taken; discussion concluded with acknowledgment of the Foundation's contributions.
Presentation of Neighborhood Advisory Council Ad-Hoc Committee Report
- Presenters: Schwan Brife (Community Engagement Specialist), Libby Taylor, Liz Tinker, Kevin Sellner (committee members). Alan Etzler (Communications Manager) was absent.
- Summary: The committee proposed amendments to the NAC resolution, focusing on increasing two-way dialogue, reducing city liaison workload, introducing a NAC Liaison Representative Board (one rep per NAC to meet quarterly and present citywide issues to the Board), and enhancing social engagement. Other changes included requiring developer meetings with NACs prior to planning approvals (not after), encouraging social gatherings, and adding a one-year review period.
- Key Discussion Points:
- Alderman Russell opposed the proposed Liaison Board, calling it an unnecessary "middle management" layer that could filter and distort resident input. She favored direct engagement with NAC coordinators and suggested twice-yearly all-NAC meetings with elected officials.
- Alderman O'Connor supported the idea of quarterly all-NAC meetings but questioned the formal liaison structure, citing concerns about autonomy and the open meetings act.
- Alderman Nash expressed concern that the liaison board would create inequity for NACs with low participation and that elected officials should maintain direct contact.
- Alderman Shackelford noted the value of the committee's work but proposed moving from a resolution to an ordinance to provide clearer legal standing, and suggested redlining the liaison board concept.
- Public comment: A NAC coordinator (self-identified) urged the board to create a meaningful connection mechanism, stating that coordinators are "exhausted" and need support to engage residents.
- Outcome: The board did not reach consensus on the liaison board. Staff was directed to draft an ordinance based on the committee’s proposals, incorporating feedback from the workshop (likely omitting or altering the liaison board). The committee's recommendation for a one-year review and increased social engagement received general support.
Key Outcomes
- Youth Center: No vote taken; the board will continue discussions on operational plans and receive updates during budget presentations.
- NAC Resolution: Staff to draft an ordinance reflecting board feedback; further debate expected at a future public hearing.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the mayor and board of ultimate workshop for the fourth of September. We begin with a Pledge of Allegiance. One nation. We have minutes from August 21st, 2024. Move for approval. Second. Motion by Ottawa McSemchek, seconded by Altwoman Nash. All those in favor. That is four zero with Albert McShane not present. Two items on our workshop agenda today. Item number one discussion of agreements for 300 Scotty's bus lane for use as a youth center. I think Scott can hear us, so he'll be coming down soon to be with us. Hi, I'm Guyan Sampson. I'm the chief of staff to the mayor. Hi, Ashley Waters, Senior Assistant Director, Department of Housing and Human Services. They can't hear the audience. They they simply can't hear us. But especially the presenters. Can someone from the A V team come out here? So yeah, I think you're gonna have to talk for her to know that you're not she's not hearing you. I think she heard me better. Sure. So today our plan is to briefly recap uh some of the information that was shared in a presentation a few months ago from Romenta Catrell and Lee Adams. Do you want to give me the clicker guy? Thank you. So as a reminder, we are talking about the 300 Scotty's bus lane property. This is located in right along McCarthy Field. Thanks, Claire. But it also is the center of really this youth service campus idea. We have Mental Health Association, Boys and Girls Club, along with a city park right there. And so we're really excited about the opportunities that this site brings for the city in this area for all of our youth and emerging adults. So just for anyone who hasn't seen this map, it was a really great location. Yeah, perfect. We're not gonna get through this in detail because I think Romenta and Lee did a great job of really walking through how we got here, but getting to a youth center for Frederick has been a long road, well researched, um, with a lot of community engagement, a lot of feedback, and you can see over the last five or six years the work from both the city and the county that has been done, various work groups and assessments to get us to the point that we know we need this service for the youth and emerging adults in Frederick. So today we're gonna walk through three agreements with two different parties. So the first agreement is with the county, and this is a donation agreement in which the city will be donating 300 Sky's bus lane to the city at no cost. Um I realized there was a $10 fee included in the backup that had been struck from the agreement, but somehow I missed that in the executive summary. So please disregard that $10 fee that may have been in previous copies. Overall, the agreement outlines the donation. And then the city must open the building within six years, or the county again may take the building back, and we must operate it for at least five years, or the county could then also take the building take the building back. So this is the first agreement that we'll be talking through today. Really quick. I mean, I didn't mean to replicate I can ask questions because you say May. So what's or if they don't, what happens then? Yeah. I mean, uh the the agreement continues. I'm just asking, does it continue? How does this because she's using the word May? I mean they have the county has an option, correct? I think the ability was an option that let's say the construction doesn't happen in six years, but it happens in seven years, it allows them to say, okay, we understand you need more time for that.
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