Hyattsville City Council Regular Meeting - December 1, 2025

The Hyattsville City Council held its regular meeting virtually on Monday, December 1, 2025, beginning at 7:02 PM and adjourning at 10:12 PM. Mayor Robert S. Croslin presided; all 11 councilmembers were present. The agenda was amended by unanimous consent to move item 9.c, the 2026 Council Meeting Calendar resolution, from the Consent Agenda to Action Items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Daniel Broder (Ward 2) expressed full support for the proposed election charter and code changes, including the resignation-to-run rule and the 365-day vacancy period, and encouraged the Council to press Prince George's County for more aggressive rent stabilization. He called the exemption for buildings constructed after 2000 unacceptable.
• Lisbeth Melendez Rivera (Ward 2) urged the Council to take more direct action to support residents affected by ICE raids and abductions, and asked for a stronger public response from Hyattsville elected officials comparable to neighboring municipalities.

City Administrator Update

• City Administrator Tracey Douglas reported on holiday community service efforts: about 17 staff volunteers packed and delivered 121 bags of produce to schools and families, 60 prepared meals were delivered to older adults, first responders were served a Thanksgiving meal, and student volunteers decorated city buildings.
• Public Works staff updated the Council on the Tanko streetlight purchase project. The city is negotiating with Pepco to purchase streetlights outright rather than lease them after tariff changes; a letter of intent is expected by January, with purchase completion in summer and LED conversion beginning in fall/winter 2026. Staff identified potentially overcharged lights and possible reimbursement.
• The Blue Dot Shop Local Rewards Program will launch December 3; residents who download the app and connect to the Hyattsville community will receive an automatic $5 reward.
• Upcoming events included implicit bias workshops on December 2 and 8, the Winter Wonderland tree lighting on December 5 from 7-8 PM, and free parking through New Year's Day.
• Police Chief Jarod Towers explained that the city police cannot intervene in federal ICE operations, but residents can safely record, be good witnesses, report to police, and request identification if directly involved. Staff said materials on free legal services and Delegate Healy/CASA event resources would be shared with Council.

Presentation: DSP-20053-02 West Hyattsville Phase 2

• Gilbane Development Company presented Phase 2, the final phase of the West Hyattsville Riverfront development. The project includes 342 apartment units, 356 parking spaces on a 5-acre site, with 3 acres of buildable area and 2 acres of compensatory floodplain storage. All units are planned as market-rate apartments with no affordable units and no retail space.
• The development will include a 5-story wood-frame building over a precast garage, a top-floor amenity facing Little Branch Run, and enhanced pedestrian/bicycle connections to the West Hyattsville Metro and Northwest Branch Trail.
• Councilmembers asked about the traffic study, community engagement, parking allocation, entry/exit points, unit pricing, and amenities. Councilmember Nisbett, a Riverfront resident, noted the traffic study was from a pandemic year and should be updated for ride-share, delivery, and changed household car use; Councilmember Waszczak echoed the need to account for ride-share and delivery impacts. The developer said the 2021 study conservatively assumed 750 units and 15,000 square feet of retail, more than the current proposal, and offered to consult traffic engineers on ride-share trends.
• The developers acknowledged no town hall has been held for this detailed site plan and agreed to hold one. Council President Solomon noted he would abstain from any future vote on the project because of a business relationship.

Proclamations and Appointments

• The Council adopted the World AIDS Day proclamation recognizing December 1, 2025, as World AIDS Day.
• The Council approved the appointment of Malik Ferguson (Ward 3) to the Hyattsville Environment Committee for a two-year term ending December 1, 2027.
• The Council approved the appointment of Christopher Koya (Ward 3) to the Race and Equity Task Force for a two-year term ending December 1, 2027.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously without separate discussion:
  • 2026-115: Authorization for the City Administrator to renew a 5-year lease with the United States Postal Service for the Gallatin Street parking lot.
  • 2026-117: FY26 Corridor Investment Program grant awards totaling $29,779 to 11 businesses/organizations, including 5132 Baltimore Avenue LLC ($1,899), AV Professional Tax Accounting LLC ($500), Art Works Now ($2,500), Green Owl Design ($2,500), Lipstick x Misfits ($5,000), Little INKPLAY Shop ($3,500), Naomis Flowers & Boutique ($5,000), Pyramid Atlantic ($1,500), Sangfroid Distilling LLC ($2,500), Triple Line Studio ($1,380), and Tuft'N Up Studio & Social ($3,500).

Action Items

• 2026-121 - 2026 Council Meeting Calendar: The Council adopted Resolution 2025-06 by a 10-1 vote, with Councilmember Schaible voting no. The calendar shifts from first/third Mondays to second/fourth Mondays, schedules 17 regular meetings and 5 budget work sessions (up from 3), and includes an August recess. Councilmember Schaible opposed the extended summer gap and the net reduction of one meeting; supporters noted the spending approval threshold was raised from $10,000 to $50,000, allowing the longer break. Additional meetings can be called by the Mayor or five or more Councilmembers.
• 2026-120 - Rent Stabilization Comments: The Council unanimously authorized staff to submit comments to Prince George's County DPIE by December 5, 2025. Staff recommendations were: (1) provide further guidance and clarity on the public-facing rent registry and how DPIE will use it; and (2) provide an additional opportunity for public comment before the official publication of the regulations. The current rent increase allowance is 5.7% (CPI-U plus 3% or 6%, whichever is less), effective July 1, 2025 through July 1, 2026. The county regulations are scheduled to be adopted by January 1, 2026 and take effect February 1, 2026.
• 2026-104 - Council Chambers Change Order: The Council approved a $50,000 FY26 Capital budget amendment and authorized a change order to the Washington Woodworking contract for the Council Chambers renovation by a 10-0-1 vote, with Councilmember Schaible abstaining. The change order adds two clerk workstations and two staff workstations with built-in technology. The dais will be bullet-resistant rather than bulletproof, and the project is expected to be installed and tested by June 2026.

Discussion: Charter Amendment Resolution - Filling Council Vacancies

• City Clerk Nate Groenendyk and Board of Supervisors of Elections Chairman Zack Peters presented draft charter amendments addressing vacancies. The proposals would require off-cycle councilmembers who run for Mayor to resign their seat after the election and serve until the new Council is sworn in, and would extend the time a vacancy may remain open to 365 days before the next regularly scheduled election, provided each ward retains at least one councilmember. A special election would be triggered if both seats in a ward are vacant or if four or more Council seats are vacant.
• Councilmembers raised concerns about the burden of one councilmember representing a ward for up to a year, the effect on experienced members running for Mayor, and the value of special elections for public engagement. Councilmember Shibley said he would support moving the proposal forward, while Councilmembers Waszczak, Solomon, Haba, and others were not ready to vote or offered alternatives such as appointments or lower vacancy thresholds. No formal action was taken.

Council Dialogue

• Council Vice President Redmond reported attending the National League of Cities conference, where immigration-related safe-space protections were discussed. Councilmember Strab invited residents to Winter Wonderland on December 5; Councilmember Haba mentioned the December 11 BG SMA legislative holiday celebration and asked for prayers for kidnapped schoolchildren in Nigeria.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved as amended; all items requiring votes passed except as noted.
• Adopted the World AIDS Day proclamation recognizing December 1, 2025, as World AIDS Day.
• Approved appointments: Malik Ferguson (Ward 3) to the Environment Committee and Christopher Koya (Ward 3) to the Race and Equity Task Force, both for two-year terms ending December 1, 2027.
• Adopted the 2026 Council Meeting Calendar (10-1).
• Authorized rent stabilization comments to Prince George's County (unanimous).
• Approved the $50,000 Washington Woodworking change order for Council Chambers (10-0-1).
• Discussed, but did not decide on, the charter amendment resolution for filling Council vacancies.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:12 PM.