DRAFT Cool Spring Terrace Civic Association Meeting
Date: June 26, 2021, 11 AM- Noon
Officers in Attendance: President Kim Crews, Vice President Cynthia Baur, Secretary Ted Hull, Treasurer Andrea Kenner
Members in Attendance: Joel Ryerson, Dennis Chesters, Carol Hurwitch, Jon Robinson, Barry Yavier, Margie Mickens-Mosley, Glenn Kirkland,
Special Guests: Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Del. Mary Lehman, Sen. Jim Rosapepe, D21 Denise Valladares; Renee White from Councilwoman Taveras’ office; Councilwoman Deni Taveras (joined 12:45 PM)
President Crews called the meeting to order at 11:02. She reminded everyone of the new protocol to use the chat box to add comments. She thanked everyone for their work to keep the community clean and safe.
- Treasurer’s report – Treasurer Kenner reported the current account balance is $1,223.71. Dues received from Blum and Hull, plus a donation. President Crews reminded everyone about new payment options including Zelle (cstca.dues@gmail.com), along with cash and checks sent to Treasurer Andrea Kenner.
- Review and approval of minutes from February Meeting. Hull reviewed the February minutes. Minutes approved as read.
- President Crews introduced 21st District Delegation
- President Crews introduced a number of development proposals going on in the community
- Reimagining Paint Branch Golf Course development
- Adelphi Road Sector Plan
- Cool Spring bike and pedestrian plan
- Sen Rosapepe
- Aware of Reimagining Paint Branch Golf Course, but interested in our perspective – JPM added that the outcome was a compromise with the University
- Adelphi Road Sector Plan – opposition to gateway projects and graduate housing; includes land owned by churches and UMD; recommends have M-NCPPC come to CSTCA to brief us on the proposed developments / plan
- State-level Initiative Highlights
- Health Committee lead efforts
- Member of Joint COVID Oversight Committee; Vaccine Oversight Committee – meeting next week.
- Biggest issues have been the economic impact; unemployment crisis – issues with Dept of Labor and getting unemployment compensation – contact D21 office if getting run around; issues with requirement to contact employer; Reforms for the future – need to build up reserves – put $1 Billion of federal funds to shore up unemployment reserves, also to expand telework; recognition of jobs that will not come back (i.e. business travel); need people to work in IT and for health care workers
- Del Pena-Melnyk
- Health Committee – focused on health disparities; MD 9,730 deaths; need funding for public health and communication; COVID cases highest in Prince George’s and ZIP Code with highest number of cases 20783. Social determinants of health – multiple families living in single unit housing. Has focused on working with experts to determine how to best address the social determinants of health.
- House Bill 28 – to require health care providers to take implicit bias training
- House Bill 309 – statistics
- House Bill 78 – Maryland Commission on Health Equity – established to address Social determinants of health; declare racism a public health crisis
- House Bill 123 – include audio-only services, reimburse for behavior health; calls to 211 support mental health services
- Health Committee – focused on health disparities; MD 9,730 deaths; need funding for public health and communication; COVID cases highest in Prince George’s and ZIP Code with highest number of cases 20783. Social determinants of health – multiple families living in single unit housing. Has focused on working with experts to determine how to best address the social determinants of health.
- Del Lehman
- Significant challenges with police reform, institutional racism
- Moratorium on evictions ending and unemployment issues
- Appropriations Committee – Permanent change in bond moneys (non-profit, local government) to drop matching funding; Del Barnes received $2 million for Attick Towers, $2.5 million for Laurel homeless and transition services; other funding for Meals on Wheels, meals
- Environment and Transportation Committee –
- Housing bills: landlords cannot evict someone if renting without a license (did not pass); Bill that passed (without funding) provides for legal representatives for evicted tenants;
- Climate bills: Optimum Climate Bill – Move to net zero standards for MTA bus fleet, state vehicles, and public schools (move to geothermal, solar)
- Tree Solutions Now Act: climate change legislation and tree planting. The tree planting will be a 10-year statewide initiative to plant 5 million trees and the Chesapeake Bay Trust will be looking for community partners to get these trees in the ground! jdavis@cbtrust.org Jana Davis at CBT is the contact for any group or individual interested in getting involved. First 500,000 trees will be in urban areas.
- In re: ? from Andrea: Bill does not include school busses, but some local school systems are converting
- In re: ? from Joel: Bill does not include The Bus system
- In re: ? from Carol: Lehman discussed the issue of mitigation banking for mature trees taken down for development; set up Carbon Capture Banking
- Jon Robinson discussed Cool Spring Forest, sale of property and attempt to get in touch with us. President Crews has reached out to the new property owner, but has not heard back; Renee White will take the issue back to Deni
- Nursing Homes bill – Bill passed – Social isolation due to COVID shutdown; Nursing Homes work with families and health care workers to provide for compassionate care visits.
- COVID comments / questions from Cynthia
- Issue with state COVID data not matching vaccination status https://health1.maryland.gov/phpa/oideor/immun/pages/immunet.aspx website
- Additional money is coming in from other sources for health education and outreach
- Spot Zoning Question from Carol
- Sen Rosapepe suggested she get together with Del Lehman to discuss how to best track zoning changes.
- President Crews discussed the Reimagining Paint Branch Golf Course development
- JPM reminded everyone that the development is a compromise with M-NCPPC to save the UMD golf course.
- Limit removal of trees, development limited to footprint of driving range
- President Crews discussed the plans from the meetings she’s attended about moving UMD track facilities to the site.
- Issues with flooding, drainage
- From Cynthia Baur: To D21: another angle on the Adelphi sector plan is that the housing plans we’ve seen don’t align with the affordable housing goals you all talked about. I’m planning to raise this with Deni & Danielle but it surprises me they support the plans we’ve seen. The rents the county talked about were not affordable.
- CB discussed the various issues related to the Adelphi sector plan
- Sen Rosapepe suggested we engage with neighboring communities about this – how much density? What about north side of Campus Drive (I.e. UMGC)?
- President Crews introduced a number of development proposals going on in the community
- 8414 Rambler Drive – sold for $136,000; plans to build single family home
- Open for Public Comment
- Carol Hurwitch asked what we do to support the ongoing vaccination efforts. Deni Taveras discussed the efforts that have resulted in >60 percent vaccinations in 20783. JPM discussed efforts that need volunteers. Sen Rosapepe discussed how we can do local outreach in our neighborhoods.
Adjournment at 12:58 pm
