Charles County Board of Commissioners Meeting - February 3, 2026

The Charles County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on February 3, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included proclamations for National Wear Red Day, Black History Month, and National Engineers Week, employee length-of-service and top-performer recognitions, approval of minutes and two budget transfers, a legislative update on state housing bills, briefings from the Resilience Authority and the Equity Department, and discussions on proposed zoning code amendments and a project labor agreement policy. The meeting concluded with a closed session for legal advice and appointments.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved the January 28, 2026, meeting minutes (motion carried).
• Budget Transfer #270: Approved to close the White Plains water enhancement project.
• Budget Transfer #719: Approved $1,876,000 from cable franchise reserves (PEG and broadband expansion) for modifications and technology upgrades to the government building auditorium, enabling live and hybrid meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

• National Wear Red Day Proclamation: Pamela Cousins, representing the Southern Maryland Chain Chapter of the Links Incorporated, accepted the proclamation and highlighted three upcoming heart-health events: a Red Dress weekend (Feb 6-8), a Black Family Wellness Expo (March 21), and chronic kidney disease education.
• Black History Month Proclamation: A representative from the Charles County Juneteenth Foundation spoke, noting that the foundation has awarded over $80,000 in scholarships and invited the community to a Juneteenth event on June 20th.

Discussion Items

• Legislative Update – State Housing Bills: Daniel Mitchell presented four bills: SB325 (Housing Certainty Act), HB239 (Starter and Silver Homes Act), SB389 (Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act), and SB267 (BAMBI bill). Planning Director Jason Groth and staff explained that the bills would preempt local zoning authority, shift vesting to early vesting, reduce parking requirements, and potentially create unfunded mandates. Commissioners expressed strong concerns about loss of local control, infrastructure costs, and impacts on adequate public facilities. The board reached consensus to draft a letter of opposition and to provide oral testimony.
• Resilience Authority Briefing: Executive Director Stacey Scheffler presented the annual report, noting that the authority has secured over $5.76 million in grants since 2023 without using county taxpayer dollars. Projects highlighted include the Elite Gymnastics pocket park (stormwater management), Waldorf Senior Accessible Pocket Park (ADA-accessible), Bensville County Park nature trail, tree planting at nine school sites, and a living shoreline at Pope’s Creek. The authority also operates a youth corps and launched a green infrastructure training program.
• Equity Department Quarterly Update: Chief Equity and Access Officer Ranisha Miles and Coordinator Elaine Pollard presented the office’s rebranding, definitions of key terms, and initiatives such as language access services (150 languages), “Dialogue and Donuts” employee engagement, an equity-focused leadership series, and the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (cannabis tax revenue). They also discussed the collaborative community improvement project at Brian’s Road and the comprehensive plan update. Commissioner Collins praised the county’s continued commitment to equity work amid national challenges. An update on the disparity study is scheduled for February 24, 2026.
• Zoning Code Amendments: Commissioner Stewart proposed amendments to allow retail sales over 100,000 square feet (big-box stores) in the AUC, MX, and TOD zones as “permitted with conditions,” correcting a discrepancy between the use table and code text. She also proposed reducing parking requirements by 20% for such uses. Staff noted existing conditions (two-story requirement, urban design) and clarified that the narrative text currently controls. Commissioners discussed targeted growth in the Waldorf work area. Consensus was reached to direct staff to draft the amendments, including economic impact analysis, and bring them back for a public hearing at the March 3, 2026 meeting.
• Project Labor Agreement (PLA) Policy: Commissioner Stewart proposed a policy requiring PLAs for large projects (threshold suggested at $20 million) to promote skilled labor and union participation. Discussion covered differences from prevailing wage, applicability to county projects versus all private projects, and potential cost impacts. Staff noted that adjacent jurisdictions (Anne Arundel County) had recently rejected a similar proposal due to cost and staff burden. The board directed staff to research PLA options, develop a preliminary framework, conduct stakeholder engagement (including a public workshop), and return with recommendations.

Key Outcomes

• Approvals: Minutes and both budget transfers were approved.
• Legislative Action: Consensus to draft a letter (signed by all commissioners) opposing or raising concerns on housing bills SB325, HB239, SB389, and SB267; staff authorized to provide oral testimony.
• Zoning Amendments: Staff directed to draft code changes (retail over 100,000 sq ft as PC, 20% parking reduction) for public hearing on March 3, 2026.
• PLA Policy: Staff directed to research, draft a framework, and engage stakeholders; report back to the board.
• Informational Briefings: Presentations from the Resilience Authority and Equity Department were received for information.
• Closed Session: The board moved into closed session at 3:00 PM to receive legal advice and discuss appointments.