Hyattsville City Council Regular Meeting – February 23, 2026

The Hyattsville City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, called to order at 7:02 PM and adjourned at 9:38 PM. Mayor Croslin presided with all council members present except Michelle Lee. The meeting included public comment, a city administrator update, approval of consent and action items, and discussions on multiple budget initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• 2026-155: Acceptance of the Maryland DHCD Community Revitalization Funds: A $100,000 grant for the Commercial Facade Improvement Program was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charlotte Francoeur (Ward 2) opposed the Flock camera contract and urged increased funding for community services, specifically an additional case manager and emergency funding.
• Tatjana Hrubik-Vulanovic (Ward 5) cautioned against discussing additional expenses without clear funding and raised concerns about city debt and liabilities ($62 million in liabilities, nearly three times revenue three years ago, equating to about $7,500 per household).
• Mike Bonds (Ward 3) requested enhanced data transparency, suggesting a public-facing tool similar to the proposed internal information system.
• Melissa Schweisguth (Ward 5) thanked those who attended a recent protest against ICE, supported Senate Bill 868, and requested a letter for the cross-filed House bill (hearing scheduled February 26). She also asked for better forecasting of legacy costs for programming.
• Nicole Laemers (Ward 3) requested additional funding for community services, especially a case manager, noting that almost one-third of Hyattsville residents are extremely vulnerable.

Discussion Items

Heritage Tree Program

• Sponsors: Councilmembers Strab and Barnes.
• A motion to include $840 in the FY27 budget for plaques to recognize heritage trees as part of Hyattsville’s 140th Anniversary was approved unanimously.

Volunteer Shoveling Program

• Sponsor: Councilmember Dhokai.
• Proposed $3,000 for shovels and snowblowers to pair able residents with seniors and people with disabilities. Staff noted liability concerns and the need for legal waivers. Councilmember Haba suggested expanding to one snowblower per ward; Councilmember Schaible raised safety concerns about power tools. No vote was taken; staff will research costs and logistics further.

Revolving Affordable Housing Fund for ADUs and HPD Homeownership

• Sponsor: Councilmember Schaible.
• Proposed a fund to incentivize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and provide down-payment loans (up to $25,000, zero interest, repayable via payroll deduction) for Hyattsville Police Department employees. Discussion revealed that a $1 million Affordable Housing Fund was established in 2023 from the Canvas air rights sale but lacks program guidelines. Council debated using tax increment financing to repay ADU loans, eligibility (excludes short-term rentals, must meet 80% AMI for rentals), and equity concerns. Many council members suggested forming a work group to develop comprehensive affordable housing policies. No vote; the item will be reworked.

Mayor for a Day Program

• Sponsor: Councilmember Barnes.
• Proposed $700 for a program allowing students grades 6–12 to apply to be mayor for a day. Council members suggested expanding to include more participants (runners-up from each ward, middle and high school representatives). Councilmember Waszczak recommended sending to the Youth Advisory Council for refinement. No vote; will be brought back with more details.

Project Manager

• Sponsor: Councilmember Strab.
• Proposed a contract project manager for DPW to handle the project backlog during leadership transitions. Council supported the concept but deferred final action until more cost analysis and department restructuring plans are available. Staff noted they will return with recommendations.

Enhancing Council and Staff Access to Information and Reporting

• Sponsor: Council Vice President Redmond.
• Proposed an AI-powered internal tool to allow council and staff to query city records, minutes, and reports, estimated at $30,000 annually. Council discussed procurement process (RFP) and data security. It was decided to conduct a demo and RFP before deciding on inclusion in the budget.

Key Outcomes

• Approved:
  • Consent Items (grant acceptance)
  • Action Items: Letter of support for SB 868 (pedestrian safety, referencing both Senate bill and cross-filed House bill) and 12-month IT managed services agreement with Clark Computer Services not to exceed $317,160.
  • Heritage Tree Program: $840 for plaques.
• Deferred for Further Work:
  • Volunteer Shoveling Program: costs and liabilities to be researched.
  • ADU/Homeownership Fund: referred to a work group for policy development.
  • Mayor for a Day: sent to Youth Advisory Council for input.
  • Project Manager: staff to refine cost and structure.
  • Information Access Tool: RFP and demo to be conducted.
• Next Steps: Council will continue budget discussions at the next meeting, where remaining deferred agenda items (including items from Councilmembers Lee and Waszczak) will be considered.