Hyattsville · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hyattsville public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Potential Litigation — Hyattsville Spirits & Grill
The council plans two closed sessions, including one to get legal advice about potential or pending litigation involving Hyattsville Spirits & Grill — a local business matter being handled out of public view.
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.
FY27 Legislative Priorities
The city is lining up bond-bill asks for the Maryland General Assembly: temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, city building renovations, the environmental depot, Hamilton Street corridor improvements and a recreation storage facility. The Council will rank the five before November 16.
Late-Night Noise and Gunfire Near Burlington Road
Residents near Burlington Road and Buchanan Street described months of pre-dawn loud music and, recently, dozens of gunshots tied to car rallies centered in Edmonston. Hyattsville police say they lack jurisdiction in Edmonston and are coordinating with Edmonston, Bladensburg, Prince George's County and Colmar Manor on a joint response.
Immigrant Emergency Relief Services Contract
A budget initiative to create a $100,000 immigrant resident relief fund drew split public testimony — two speakers opposed it citing the budget deficit, one supported it, and councilmembers discussed how it fits among existing direct-assistance programs. Councilmember Haba's initiative will be taken up with budget amendments.
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.
$600,000 Police Communication Encryption Grant
The council will consider accepting a $600,000 state grant to fund encrypted police radio communications — a public-safety technology upgrade that comes to the city at no local cost.
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.
FY24 Financial Statements Review
The FY24 audit restated the city's general fund reserve from $24.5 million to about $7 million, revealing years of budget stress. The treasurer resigned, and residents are demanding a forensic audit, faster catch-up on FY25/FY26 audits, and a plan to protect the city's credit rating.
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.
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.
Bird City designation
Hyattsville could become the first Bird City in Prince George's County, gaining recognition, toolkits, and grant opportunities for its bird conservation work. The path requires a $200 fee, ten documented actions, a council resolution, and a World Migratory Bird Day event by May 2027. The city already does 15 of the 70 recommended actions.
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.
Letter to Prince George's County on ADUs and tenant safety
Prince George's County is authorizing accessory dwelling units, and the council discussed where they'll go and what fire-safety rules will apply. The task force was asked to review the county's ADU policy with an equity lens — the Equity Plan's housing section already references ADUs.
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.
Accessibility and disability inclusion
A Ward 5 resident with spina bifida asked for a disability advisory committee, an updated ADA transition plan and a public accessibility tracker, noting only 48% of residents are satisfied with park accessibility. Nisbett confirmed a task force structure is already in the works.
Driskell Community Center renovation
Roof and HVAC repairs totaling up to $160,000 were proposed at the Driskell Park Recreation Center, which hosts community programs and recreation for Hyattsville residents.
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.
City Administrator Contract Extension
The audit restatement, $20 million discrepancy between reported and actual fund reserves, and whether to terminate or retain City Administrator Tracy Douglas dominated the night. Most speakers backed Douglas through her planned June 2027 retirement; a few demanded a forensic audit and stronger accountability. The council also moved forward the executive search RFP for her successor.
Council survey on service costs and workload
The committee is building a survey to find out whether low pay keeps people from serving, and how many hours council work really takes. The survey needs to be finalized at next week's meeting so respondents have time to complete it.
Public question on possible forensic examination
A resident asked whether the auditors would recommend a multi-year forensic examination of city finances, citing roughly $11 million in bond anticipation notes and a $15 million bond issuance. The city hasn't answered yet.
Speaker series recreation events
The committee is lining up free community events: an October cooking demo, a virtual microplastics talk focused on children's health for January 2027, and fall outdoor events like forest bathing and bird watching.
Thrive grant program
Thrive Program applications open September 1, 2026, and the committee will review the application at its August meeting.
Climate Action Plan final draft
The task force added an update on the Climate Action Plan to its agenda and agreed to reach out for an equity-focused briefing on the draft plan.
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.
Hamilton Street amplified music enforcement
The commercial strip's outdoor music drew more than ten complaints; code compliance has issued one $100 citation with a two-week compliance window under the due-process warning-first process. Solomon pressed why a resident would face the same standard differently.
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 Principal's Luncheon
The college/trade fair is being planned for November, possibly open to the public, and the Principals' Luncheon is moving to early November with a possible combined format featuring a student panel.
Committee Vacancies and Leadership Transition
Co-Chair Daniel Amador Renard is stepping down after this meeting as the task force shifts to an advisory role. Recruiting a replacement is underway, and co-chair selection will be on the next agenda.
2026 College and Trade Fair Planning
The committee wants to help students learn about college and trade paths — Mercy Ogutu will check what schools already have planned, and Jacquelyn Smith will promote trade resources. Target is fall, before trade program applications are due.
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.
Annual Campaign Finance Compliance
Three city employees still haven't filed their required annual financial disclosures, even though filings from elected boards are complete. The Commission tracks these to keep city government transparent about officials' financial interests.
Finance staffing and close processes
The committee asked whether finance staffing is sufficient and how long month-end and year-end closes take. Understaffing and slow closes can delay the city's audits and financial reporting.
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.
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.
Queens Chapel Town Center noise
A resident reported loud overnight music from the Queens Chapel commercial area; staff confirmed the music has been lowered to code-compliant levels but agreed to keep working with the property owner.
Return to in-person Council meetings
Residents repeatedly pressed for hybrid or in-person meetings, noting Hyattsville has been fully virtual for years. Council chambers renovations are on track for a January 2027 return.
Health and wellness fair and zombie run
The council announced dates and times for an upcoming health and wellness fair and a zombie run — fun, free community events for local families to check out.
Naming the new Youth Center on 40th Avenue
The city wants help from the Youth Advisory Council to name its new youth center. Residents will get to submit name ideas and vote on finalists in a community survey, similar to the snowplow naming contest.
Waste reduction options and cost estimates
The committee is refining cost estimates for city waste reduction options using new data from the City on trash trucks and related details. Outreach to vendor WasteZero has stalled, and the committee may move on if a renewed outreach attempt fails.
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.
Minimum Road Standards for Common Ownership Communities
A council motion would create an ordinance defining minimum road standards, and a sample Public Realm Street Standards Ordinance was shared. This affects HOA-maintained private roads and what the city may require or accept.
HOA Residential Parking Permit Zones by Board Vote
A draft ordinance would let HOA boards request or dissolve residential parking permit zones with a simple majority board vote. That could change street parking rules in HOA neighborhoods without a resident-wide vote.
Tree ordinance revisions and hazard claims
Storms prompt residents to ask for tree removals citing vague hazards. The board is considering adding explanatory language to the city's “Welcome to Hyattsville” webpage and awaits legal guidance on the ordinance.
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.
Heritage Tree program for the City's 140th Anniversary
The board approved its heritage tree plaque design and confirmed it will staff a table at the county Green Fest on October 10, expanding public outreach on tree preservation.
Board membership discrepancy
The board discovered it had been carrying one member too many, so open seats stay unfilled until Zach's term ends in December.