Besides Mayor Stephen Brayman’s announcement he will not run again for reelection, other city news will have student impact: The city approved its annual budget and asked the university to reconsider bulldozing the Wooded Hillock.
THE BUDGET
Adopting its budget without much debate, the city of College Park approved a $13.3 million fiscal year 2010 spending plan two weeks ago that held taxes in place and set aside $200,000 that could fund a city-wide network of security cameras.
The funding for the security cameras came from unused money originally designated for Prince George’s County police contracts in the fiscal year 2009 budget. But just because the city is reserving $200,000 doesn’t mean the city is committed to installing the cameras, District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin said.
The city has proposed putting up 123 closed-circuit and license plate-reading cameras across 40 locations.
THE WOODED HILLOCK
The city council is backing students who protested the university’s decision to bulldoze the Wooded Hillock.
City officials sent the university a letter May 26 urging officials to reconsider bulldozing almost 70 percent of the Hillock to make way for a group of facilities buildings.
The buildings are being relocated to clear room for the East Campus development. And while city officials were a part of the committee that initially approved the move, as they have learned more about its environmental impact, the city council is now calling for the university to reconsider their plans.
