Hyattsville · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hyattsville public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Ranked choice voting and Flock cameras (resident petitions)
Multiple residents urged the Council to implement ranked choice voting for the May 2027 election and to direct the Board of Supervisors of Elections to bring an implementation plan by November 2. A presentation is tentatively scheduled for October.
Possible forensic audit of multi-year financial management
A resident asked the Council to formally reprimand the City Administrator over bonuses and audit problems, and the administrator delivered a lengthy defense covering audit restatements, bonus policy and her own compensation. Councilmember Schaible demanded open discussion but was cut off by the Mayor, with the matter sent to closed session.
Elected officials' compensation review
City elected officials must file annual financial disclosures under state ethics rules. Ward 4's Edouard Haba filed cleanly, but Ward 5's Kelson Nisbett has issues with his form that the Clerk's Office will chase down — worth watching in case an amended filing is needed.
Automated License Plate Reader technology
A large bloc of residents urged the Council to cancel the Flock ALPR contract, citing privacy risks, data sharing with ICE, and lawsuit exposure in other cities. The Police and Public Safety Committee will make a recommendation to the Council in early 2027.
Automated Stop-Sign Camera Enforcement Program
The city is rolling out automated stop-sign cameras to slow speeding, and the task force worries the cameras could be placed disproportionately in lower-income neighborhoods or communities of color. They want a city presentation on how camera sites are chosen before the program advances.
Finance staffing vacancies and aging accounting software
The city is pulling the plug on its long-troubled ERP software contract and plans a new RFP by the end of March, looking at platforms like Tyler's cloud system and OpenGov with AI capability. The broken system risked payroll errors and forced staff through cumbersome multi-screen workflows — expect a lessons-learned document before any new vendor contract comes to council.
Unresolved FY23 audit recommendations
The treasurer responded to all ten Audit Committee recommendations — including raising the capitalization threshold to $10,000, shortening month-end close, and adding financial-condition indicators to audit reports — and said the long-delayed FY24 audit should be filed in about three weeks, with the ARPA single audit close behind.
Kennedy Street Project contract change
The Council added about $123,000 to three maintenance contracts — tree work, stormwater/bioswale upkeep, and lawn mowing — to cover more work than originally budgeted.
Traffic Calming and Streets Projects Update
Public Works presented speed humps for Lancer, Longfellow, Stanford, and the 4000 block of Nicholson, plus longer-term work at 42nd/Kennedy and 43rd/Oglethorpe. The proposed Nicholson Street connection drew resident opposition over emergency access, traffic, and parking.
42nd Avenue sidewalk after child's injury
Five days before the meeting, a 12-year-old wheelchair user was struck by a distracted driver near her home on 42nd Avenue between Decatur and Crittenden — a block with no sidewalk. Waszczak and Strab pledged to push to expedite the sidewalk, though right-of-way limits make it complex.
Riverfront Street Takeover and Ward 4 Road Repairs
A resident says the neighborhood has paid full property taxes for six years while maintaining its own streets, snow removal, and trash — and the city's takeover has been pushed off another two years.
Pennrose PILOT Request — Sanctuary at Hyattsville Crossing
Developer Pennrose was scheduled to ask the City for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes arrangement for the Sanctuary at Hyattsville Crossing development. PILOT deals trade reduced property taxes for other community benefits, affecting city revenue.
Throne public restrooms and delayed Portland Loo installations
The city will go from three to four Throne portable restrooms, with a fourth planned at Hyatt Park until the Portland Loo is installed. Councilmembers Solomon and Strab pushed for more locations and better public input on where they should go, and asked for usage data.
2026 Backpack Drive and School Supply Support
The committee's annual backpack drive has 26 backpacks and lots of supplies, but needs more donations before the August 14 cutoff. Packing and delivery happen August 19-21.
Ranked choice voting
The board is researching whether Hyattsville should adopt ranked-choice voting, and residents are pushing hard for it — some favoring the Condorcet method over instant runoff. Any recommendation would eventually go to the City Council.
ICE Facility Expansion Near the Plaza at Prince George's
The city is pushing back on ICE's office expansion in a building near schools and a bus stop. The Council's letter asks the County Executive for monitoring and inspection rather than revocation, after debate over how far the city can legally go.
Trash collection and public cans
The committee is refining a cost document for various waste reduction strategies to eventually hand to Public Works and the city. Questions for the vendor Waste Zero are being collected before the next meeting.
Illegal tree removals and fines
Three trees were illegally removed this month, two on one property, drawing the maximum $1,000 fine each — appealable by the resident. The board also wants clarity on whether cutting multiple trees at once counts as a “repeat” offense with steeper penalties.
Snow fine reduction recommendation
DPW crews worked around the clock since Saturday to clear ice-coated streets, but most of the city is still in the early phases of clearing arterials and intersections before curb-to-curb cleanup. The city extended the sidewalk-shoveling deadline and code compliance will focus on business districts first — not ticketing residents still digging out.
Retirement Health Benefits
A resident flagged that rising employee benefits packages strain municipal budgets everywhere. The deputy budget director acknowledged the concern and promised a fuller benefits audit and future cost-sharing discussion.
University Town Center Refunding Bonds
The city plans to refinance up to $12.5 million in 2016 bonds for the University Town Center special taxing district to capture lower rates — potentially lowering special taxes for district property owners with no cost to general taxpayers. A public hearing and final vote come July 13.
Vacant Property Registry
With about 90 vacant commercial units citywide — 58 in Ward 1 — the Council wants owners to register vacant buildings, keep them secure, and provide emergency contacts. Residential properties will likely be included too.
Accessory Dwelling Units Ordinance (CB-074-2026)
The city is commenting on county legislation to allow ADUs, required statewide under HB 1466 by October 2026. Council split over whether the letter should push for no parking requirements and no fire sprinkler mandate, and agreed more community outreach is needed before the county's fall hearing.
Federal grants tied to immigration enforcement
Deputy Chief Lanham said getting federal grants may now require Hyattsville to participate in immigration enforcement. Council Member Nisbett asked everyone to keep thinking about what that means for the city.
Letter to Prince George's County Board of Education
The Council scrapped a planned letter asking the county school board to protect language-immersion programs, including the Cesar Chavez Dual Spanish Immersion Program, before voting on it.
Stormwater Infrastructure Repairs
The city is spending up to $1 million with NZI Construction to fix stormwater infrastructure — a direct answer to Hyattsville's known flooding problems.
FY27 Employee Cost-of-Living Increase
The council bumped the planned cost-of-living raise for city employees from 2% to 2.5% in next year's budget. Residents like Michael Sponseller already flagged concern about proposed property tax increases to pay for city spending.
Funding for a Community Services Caseworker
The Council approved $65,000 in next year's budget for a full-time caseworker to help residents facing eviction, homelessness, and mental health crises get connected to services. The Mayor also floated a one-penny tax rate increase to sustain this kind of funding long-term.
Volunteer snow shoveling program
A proposed program would use volunteers to shovel snow for neighbors, supported by City-purchased snowblowers. Staff will price out equipment before any budget decision.
Fleet Replacement and Master Lease Financing
The city plans to spend about $2.6 million on vehicle replacements through lease financing — which is debt — plus roughly $1.1 million in cash. Councilmembers pressed for fleet records and questioned how the master lease agreement would work over five or more years.
2026-2031 Strategic Plan Adopted
The Council adopted "Stepping Forward," the city's guiding plan for the next six years. Staff plan a public dashboard so residents can track progress on goals, and public feedback (only two comments on the platform) shaped refinements around lighting and aging-in-community language.
Revolving affordable housing fund for ADUs and home ownership
The Council discussed creating a revolving fund to help residents build accessory dwelling units and buy homes in Hyattsville. Questions remain about funding sources, loan terms, and effects on neighboring property values.
Death of Mayor
Hyattsville’s mayor has died in an apparent suicide, abruptly leaving the city without its top elected leader. City government now faces immediate questions about interim authority and how to fill the vacancy.
Police Leadership Appointment
Hyattsville just made history: its first Black mayor swore in the city’s first woman and first African American police chief. It’s a symbolic milestone that puts a new leadership voice in charge of public safety.