Hyattsville City Council Regular Meeting – April 13, 2026

The Hyattsville City Council met remotely on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 7:04 PM. Councilmembers Edouard Haba (Ward 4) and Kelson Nisbett (Ward 5) were absent. The meeting included presentations on the Climate Action Plan and the Vehicle Replacement Plan, public comment, adoption of a proclamation, board appointments, approval of consent items, and authorization of a public restroom installation at Hyatt Park. All votes passed unanimously (9-0).

Consent Calendar

• 2026-197: Accepted a $340,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for the Sanctuary 9% Predevelopment project.
• 2026-207: Accepted a $64,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program to expand bicycle infrastructure.
• 2026-198: Authorized disbursement of $169.59 from Ward 3 discretionary funds to Council Vice President Kareem Redmond for community outreach materials.
• 2026-203: Approved $500 from Ward 1 discretionary funds to the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation (HyCDC) for Trolley Trail Day engagement activities.

Public Comments & Testimony (7:10 PM – 7:20 PM)

• Zack Dorner (Ward 2) expressed opposition to merging the Shade Tree Board with the Hyattsville Environment Committee and urged additional support measures for immigrant residents.
• Sara Bendoraitis (Ward 2) raised concerns about a code enforcement violation on her property, which serves as a collection and sorting site for HySwap, a free clothing event serving over 500 families per event. She stated that despite a clear walkway, she received a formal violation and requested clearer guidance from the city.
• Michael Angeloni (Ward 5) recounted an incident where city vehicles blocked accessible parking at Franklin’s. He urged city employees and contractors to model better ADA compliance and respect for residents with disabilities.
• Melissa Schweisguth (Ward 5) urged the council to press climate action plan consultants for evidence-based, quantified impact data to prioritize investments. She also opposed merging the Shade Tree Board with the Environment Committee, citing the unique passion of “tree nerds.”
• Greg Smith disagreed with the proposed committee merger and urged the council to continue negotiating a lower price for the Werrlein lower parcel, noting recent court rulings that weakened the developer’s position.
• Dan Broder (Ward 2) spoke in favor of ranked-choice voting, supported a lower purchase price for the Werrlein property, urged the city to adopt a fully electric vehicle fleet, and asked the city to remain vigilant against ICE raids.
• Mr. Marshall (Ward 4) opposed ranked-choice voting and criticized a proposed $100,000 fund for immigrant relief, questioning the fiscal logic given budget cuts and staff reductions.
• Anita Williams (Ward 4) asked the council not to cut senior program budgets and called for expanded programming and staffing.

City Administrator Update (7:20 PM – 7:40 PM)

City Administrator Tracey Douglas provided updates including: farewells to long-time staff Taylor Roby and Gary Bullis; swearing-in of Officer Canales; DARE graduation for 51 students; spring break youth activities; senior Zumba and digital literacy classes; youth council visit to the State House; Emerson Alley and Gaines Alley road repairs; upcoming Earth Day walk and anniversary festival; and a video honoring public safety dispatchers. In response to a question from Councilmember Schaible, she confirmed that no formal proposal to merge the Shade Tree Board and Environment Committee had been brought to her desk.

Discussion Items

7.a. Climate Action Plan Presentation (7:40 PM – 8:25 PM)

Environmental Programs Manager Dawn Taft introduced the Hyattsville Climate Action Plan (CAP), developed with MNCPPC planners and consultant Stantec with a $138,000 grant. Consultant Nadia Voght presented key findings:

• 431 community survey responses received.
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory: 48% from transportation, 28% from commercial buildings, 15% from residential buildings, and 1.45% from waste.
• Four focus areas: Transportation & Land Use, Buildings & Energy, Green Space & Stormwater, and Municipal Leadership.
• A draft vision and goals were presented; final actions will be developed after community input at the April 25 anniversary festival.
• The plan is scheduled for completion by end of June 2026, with a final presentation to council in May 2026.

Councilmember Schaible asked about a fleet electrification plan. Voght clarified that an EV transition plan recommendation would be included under municipal actions, but a detailed implementation plan was outside the current scope. She offered to follow up offline.

7.b. Vehicle Replacement Plan Presentation

Deputy City Administrator Debi Sandlin, Acting DPW Director Hal Metzler, and Police Chief Jarod Towers presented:

• Total city fleet: 118 vehicles (56% police, 33% DPW). Average age 7.2 years; three vehicles are 19 years old.
• DPW: 42 vehicles; 50% are more than one year past replacement schedule (target: light/medium duty 7 years, heavy duty 5–10 years). A multi-year smoothing plan would level costs at $800,000–$1 million annually.
• Police: 66 vehicles; 40 vehicles (61%) are 8+ years old as of FY27. Replacement cost for 40 vehicles estimated at $3.4 million. Proposed plan: 18 vehicles in FY27, 18 in FY28, then 10 per year to reach a sustainable 7-year cycle.
• Challenges with electric vehicles (EVs) were discussed: a police EV pilot had reliability issues (e.g., an $18,000 battery failure under warranty), limited charging infrastructure, difficulty finding qualified technicians, and long repair times. Chief Towers noted that other Maryland departments currently recommend against patrol EV use. A $120,000 grant for charging stations was received.
• A new fleet management system (Fleetio) is being implemented to track maintenance, costs, and alerts.
• Discussion covered take-home vehicle policies, sharing of vehicles across departments, leasing options, and the importance of lead times (e.g., 18–24 months for trash trucks).

11.a. Installation of Portland Loo at Hyatt Park

Council authorized an expenditure not to exceed $195,000 to NZI Construction for installation of a Portland Loo public restroom at Hyatt Park, pending contract extension with Prince George’s County. The portable restroom unit was purchased earlier with CARES Act funds. Installation costs include sewer, water, and electrical connections. Annual operating costs are low (electricity and cleaning only); water/sewer costs are waived under a 1920 agreement with WSSC. Staff noted tree preservation measures (trenchless technology, root treatment). A state bond will cover the first installation, with funds remaining for a second unit at another park.

Key Outcomes

• Votes (all unanimous 9-0): Approval of agenda, minutes, proclamations, appointments, consent items, and the Portland Loo authorization.
• Directives: Staff will continue refining the Climate Action Plan and engage the community at the April 25 festival. The Vehicle Replacement Plan will return as part of budget discussions; staff will explore leasing models and further evaluate EV feasibility.
• Next Steps: Final Climate Action Plan presentation to council in May 2026. Portland Loo installation expected late summer 2026, pending WSSC permit.