Greenbelt City Council Regular Meeting - May 11, 2026

The Greenbelt City Council held its regular meeting on May 11, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The agenda included presentations from State's Attorney Tara Jackson and the American Legion Auxiliary, a public hearing on the FY 2027 Proposed Budget, and extensive discussion on the restructuring of the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) position. The Council adopted a Grant Matching Fund resolution and authorized funding for the WMATA Trail project.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from multiple meetings between March and April 2026 were approved.
• Board of Elections Report #2026-02 on ranked-choice voting and the Arts Advisory Board Report #26-3 were accepted.
• Agenda items #13 (Greenbelt Station Central Park Planter Project) and #16 (State Highway Administration "Don't Block the Box" Letter) were removed from the agenda by a vote of 6-1.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Fred Gasper, a resident, petitioned the council regarding the condition of Hanover Parkway, arguing that despite presentations in 2018 and 2021, no road improvements, repaving, or concrete bus platform repairs have been made. He also requested alternative public information sharing methods beyond the internet.
• Bob Rand (19 Ridge Road) spoke during the budget hearing, urging the council not to restructure the DEI office and requesting to hear directly from the city's DEI officer, Tyra Smith, about her vision and experience.
• Michael Hartman (2 Court Gardenway) requested a dedicated annual budget for establishing a contiguous and safe sidewalk system, noting the city's walkable community values.
• Dr. Lois Rosado (Lake Crest Drive) emphasized the need for an independent DEI office with authority, warning against placing it within Human Resources, and raised concerns about a pattern of African American employees leaving the city. She also questioned the placement of multiple stop sign cameras in Greenbelt West.
• Lore Rosenthal commended city staff for making budget information more accessible through summaries and a Q&A document.

Presentations & Recognitions

• Prince George's County State's Attorney Tara Jackson presented crime trends, reporting a 19% decline in violent crime and a 40% decrease in homicides in 2025 compared to 2024. She highlighted a focus on repeat gun offenders, youth accountability programming, and closing a loophole in gun crime legislation. She noted that domestic violence assaults were up 13%.
• Memorial Day Poppy Presentation: The American Legion Post 136 Auxiliary presented handmade poppies and encouraged residents to wear them in honor of veterans who died in combat.
• Proclamations were presented by Mayor Jordan declaring May as Jewish American Heritage Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
• National Law Enforcement Week was recognized.

Public Hearing - FY 2027 Proposed Budget

• Mayor Jordan recessed the meeting to hold the final public hearing on the FY 2027 budget. The budget has been the subject of seven work sessions since its presentation on March 23, 2026, and is scheduled for adoption on May 26, 2026.

Legislation

• Resolution Creating a Grant Matching Fund: Adopted unanimously (7-0). The fund will begin with $500,000 from surplus revenues to provide transparent funding for required city grant matches.
• Collective Bargaining Charter Amendment (First Reading): Introduced to amend the City Charter to authorize collective bargaining with eligible city employees. A public hearing is scheduled for June 8, 2026.

Discussion Items

• Council Planning Framework: The Council adopted the updated framework. An amendment was passed to change a specific carbon neutrality commitment from a binding target by 2035 to a directive to "develop a carbon neutrality target for city operations with annual benchmarks embedded in the budget process."
• DEI Position Proposals: Councilmember McKinney presented a four-pronged proposal for restructuring the DEI position, likening the city's DEI efforts to a home renovation requiring a "general contractor." The four options discussed were: 1) Maintaining a senior-level leader, 2) Combining with an Economic Development Director role, 3) Placing the function within HR at a manager level, and 4) Using a contractual consultant during a transition. Councilmembers debated the need for clarity, authority, and fiscal responsibility. Councilmember Fritz emphasized integrating cooperative principles. Councilmember Pompi highlighted budget constraints and the need for reinvestment in other DEI-related areas. Public comment strongly advocated for retaining an independent, senior-level position with direct authority. The Council reached consensus to maintain funding for the position for FY27 and schedule a future work session to define a clearer implementation plan, regular progress updates, and a potential community subcommittee on equity and inclusion.
• WMATA Trail Bridge and Boardwalk Engineering: The Council authorized (7-0) the City Manager to engage Dewberry and Davis for engineering services not to exceed $150,000. The urgency stems from a $75,000 bond bill expiring at the end of May. City Manager Salmerón noted the project has faced delays primarily due to the federal government and the FBI.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Consent Agenda, Meeting Minutes, and Committee Reports.
• Conducted the final Public Hearing for the FY 2027 Proposed Budget.
• Adopted the Grant Matching Fund Resolution (7-0).
• Introduced the Collective Bargaining Charter Amendment for first reading.
• Adopted the Council Planning Framework with an amendment to carbon neutrality targets.
• Discussed DEI restructuring proposals; maintained FY27 funding for the position.
• Authorized the WMATA Trail Bridge and Boardwalk engineering contract (7-0).
• The meeting was extended twice (until 10:00 PM, then until 10:30 PM) and adjourned at 10:29 PM.