OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Prince George's County Council Meeting: June 29, 2026

County Council & Boards — Monday, June 29, 2026
BodyPrince Georges County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateMonday, June 29, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:05:25

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good afternoon.

0:04

This is the county council of Prince George's County.

0:08

Today is Monday, June 29th.

0:12

Madam Clerk, can you please have a roll call?

0:15

Good afternoon, Chair Orieta.

0:17

Here.

0:17

Mr.

0:18

Adams.

0:19

Here.

0:20

Ms.

0:20

Adam Stafford.

0:21

President.

0:22

Mr.

0:22

Denoga.

0:23

President.

0:24

Ms.

0:25

Hunter.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Ms.

0:26

Ivy.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Vice Chair Olsen.

0:29

Here.

0:30

Seven members.

0:30

President Roll Call.

0:32

Thank you.

0:32

Um now invocation.

0:35

Uh, welcome you up to the podium and see if there's any special intentions for my colleagues.

0:43

Seeing no special intentions, uh, I will yield the floor to you for invocation.

0:48

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:50

Good to be here today.

0:52

Thank you.

0:53

Thank you so much, Sister Shelley Ferguson, for having me here.

0:57

I want to congratulate everyone who have won their seat.

1:01

I'm just so honored to be able to pray here this afternoon.

1:05

Father, we thank you today.

1:08

We thank you for your goodness and for your mercy.

1:11

We thank you for your loving kindness that is better than life.

1:15

Lord, we thank you for this opportunity to hear what you would say to us through your word and through your people that you have chosen for such a time as this.

1:24

Father, today we pray for more of your wisdom and we pray for more of your guidance.

1:30

And we pray, God, for for discernment.

1:33

Uh, we thank you, God, that you are the ultimate authority.

1:37

And so we give this time over to you to lead us and guide us in the way that we should go.

1:43

God, we thank you for wisdom to navigate so many complex issues, Lord, discernment to make uh uh the the decisions that will promote peace and truth uh for the common good of your people.

1:57

We thank you that you will surround us even now with as we counsel each other as we work toward a common goal.

2:05

Father, we thank you for sound advice and we thank you that we are guided with integrity and the the genuine heart to serve your people as never ever before in such a time as this.

2:19

Father, we thank you that you soften the hearts of your people that will we will uh meet the need of the of the vulnerable and in every community.

2:29

God, we get us out of the way, move self out of the way, and God let us live a life that will keep our nation together in so many ways.

2:39

Father, we thank you for the spirit to cooperate.

2:42

We thank you for unity.

2:43

Lord, we thank you that we know there'll be no peace if you are not at these tables.

2:48

And we thank you for your peace.

2:49

We thank you for every party, Lord God, that will uh stand before you, Lord God, and hear what you would give us to say and do on this day.

2:58

God, lift up every family, give our leaders physical and emotional strength, Lord God, for their own lives or so much is going on.

3:06

And we thank you for physical and emotional, healthy strength in our own minds to lead your people in the way that they should go.

3:15

And we give your name praise and glory and honor in Jesus' name, and the people would say Amen.

3:23

Thank you.

3:23

Now we have the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Ivy.

3:39

Honor God and divisible with liberty and justice for all.

3:52

Okay, let's see.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Affordable Housing███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural█████████████13%
Economic Development████████8%
Environmental Protection███████7%
Community Engagement███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Workforce Development█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Prince George's County Council Meeting: June 29, 2026

The Prince George's County Council convened at 2:04 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, for Legislative Day No. 23. The meeting included public hearings, adoption of resolutions, introduction of bills, and a briefing on the Missing Middle Housing Study. Key actions included enactment of the Apprenticeship Incentive Program, adoption of the FY2027 tax rates, and approval of several resolutions related to housing, fibroid healthcare, agritourism, and transportation grants. The council also introduced a package of clean communities and vacant property enforcement bills.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes from June 22, 2026, were approved.
  • First Reading of Bills (Presentation):
    • CB-068-2026: Supplementary Appropriations for FY2026 (referred to Committee of the Whole).
    • CB-069-2026: Exempting certain private schools in Rural Residential zones from special exception (referred to PHED).
    • CB-070-2026: Amending dimensional standards for places of worship (referred to PHED).
    • CB-071-2026: Revising home occupation and home business regulations (referred to PHED).
  • Addition to Agenda: CR-066-2026, a resolution for a two-year moratorium on hyperscale data center operations, was introduced and referred to Committee of the Whole.
  • The consent agenda was adopted by a vote of 8-0 (with three absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Adrienne Jones (District 9 resident) called for an audit of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) regarding litter removal, citing that despite spending $6.1 million in FY24 and $9 million in FY23, litter complaints remained high (over 4,000 each year, and over 9,000 in FY25). She argued DPWT is not keeping pace and requested evaluation, efficiency improvements, and accountability standards.
  • Jenny Tenrue (District 8, Fort Washington) echoed concerns about litter and illegal dumping, emphasizing a lack of investment in the southern part of the county. She questioned budget allocations between DOE and DPWT and urged focus on fundamentals to attract businesses.
  • Cheryl Cort (Coalition for Smarter Growth, Rise Prince George’s) expressed strong support for the upcoming Missing Middle Housing briefing, praising the planning department’s work and consultant selection.

Discussion Items

  • Missing Middle Housing Study Briefing:
    • Karen Mierow (M-NCPPC), John Parks, and Josephine Selvakumar, along with consultants Tony Perez (Opticos Design) and Sarah Richards (AECOM), presented key findings and recommendations. The study highlighted that missing middle housing (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, etc.) makes up only 10% of the county’s housing stock, with a projected supply gap of 12,000 to 25,000 units by 2045. Recommendations included removing density limits for single-family and missing middle zones, calibrating standards, amending building codes, facilitating development on publicly owned land, streamlining review, creating pre-approved plans, launching a public relations campaign, creating a loan fund, and agency collaboration.
    • Council Member Ivey raised concerns about homeownership versus rentals and maintenance of shared units. Council Member Adams-Stafford inquired about zoning recommendations and coordination with the redevelopment authority. Council Member Burroughs questioned the use of out-of-state consultants (Opticos Design in California) for stakeholder engagement in Prince George’s County, noting he had not been informed and requesting a list of interviewees broken down by council district. Chair Oriadha echoed the value of using local businesses and requested the list.

Key Outcomes

  • Enactment of CB-037-2026 (Apprenticeship Incentive Program): Passed 8-0. Requires Employ Prince George’s to provide incentives to increase apprenticeships in technology, construction, and healthcare.
  • Adoption of CR-060-2026 (Local Impact Grant Funds Multiyear Plan): Adopted 7-0-1 (Council Member Ivey abstained). Transmits a $4,053,700 plan for youth jobs, scholarships, and community programs.
  • Public Hearings Held (no testimony):
    • CR-043-2026: $2.5 million HITF allocation to Holly Place project.
    • CR-045-2026: $2.5 million HITF allocation to Herman Apartments project.
    • CR-059-2026: Reprogramming $1.17 million in CDBG funds for Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program.
  • Introduction and Adoption of CR-065-2026 (FY2027 Tax Rates): Adopted 8-0 after suspension of rules. Sets property tax rates to balance the FY2027 budget.
  • Introduction of Bills (Second Reading):
    • CB-041 to CB-046 (Clean Corridors, Clean Communities Dashboard, Vacant Property Maintenance, Illegal Signage Enforcement, See It Snap It Get Paid, Vacant Properties Tax Rate) were introduced with additional sponsors.
    • CB-050-2026 (Destination Prince George’s) and CB-060-2026 (Procurement Refinements) introduced.
    • CB-056-2026 (Reorganization of Enforcement Division) was introduced inadvertently (not in posture for immediate effect).
    • CB-062-2026 (Prevailing Hours and Wage Rates on Public Works) introduced; held in committee for further discussion.
    • CB-066-2026 (Supplementary Appropriations for FY2027, $20 million for teacher retirement) introduced.
    • CB-068-2026 (Supplementary Appropriations for FY2026, $138.28 million) introduced.
  • Adoption of Resolutions:
    • CR-030-2026 and CR-031-2026 (Fibroid Healthcare Support and Insurance Access): Adopted 6-0.
    • CR-039-2026 (Rural Promotion for Agri-Tourism) and CR-040-2026 (Agritourism and Winery Promotion Pilot Program): Adopted with amendments, each 6-0.
    • CR-061-2026 (Universal Design for Housing Implementation Date Extension): Adopted 6-0, extending the date for multifamily units to October 31, 2026.
    • CR-029-2026 (2018 Water and Sewer Plan Amendments): Adopted 6-0 after amending to deny one application (Corridor Center) due to access concerns.
    • CR-046-2026 (FY2027 Transportation Grant Authorization): Adopted 7-0, authorizing DPWT to apply for grants with estimated local matches of $177,500 in operating and $4.5 million in capital funds.
  • CR-066-2026 (Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium): Removed from the final reading agenda as it remained pending in committee.

The meeting recessed at 5:11 p.m. to reconvene for a joint public hearing at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. This is the county council of Prince George's County. Today is Monday, June 29th. Madam Clerk, can you please have a roll call? Good afternoon, Chair Orieta. Here. Mr. Adams. Here. Ms. Adam Stafford. President. Mr. Denoga. President. Ms. Hunter. Here. Ms. Ivy. Here. Vice Chair Olsen. Here. Seven members. President Roll Call. Thank you. Um now invocation. Uh, welcome you up to the podium and see if there's any special intentions for my colleagues. Seeing no special intentions, uh, I will yield the floor to you for invocation. Good afternoon, everyone. Good to be here today. Thank you. Thank you so much, Sister Shelley Ferguson, for having me here. I want to congratulate everyone who have won their seat. I'm just so honored to be able to pray here this afternoon. Father, we thank you today. We thank you for your goodness and for your mercy. We thank you for your loving kindness that is better than life. Lord, we thank you for this opportunity to hear what you would say to us through your word and through your people that you have chosen for such a time as this. Father, today we pray for more of your wisdom and we pray for more of your guidance. And we pray, God, for for discernment. Uh, we thank you, God, that you are the ultimate authority. And so we give this time over to you to lead us and guide us in the way that we should go. God, we thank you for wisdom to navigate so many complex issues, Lord, discernment to make uh uh the the decisions that will promote peace and truth uh for the common good of your people. We thank you that you will surround us even now with as we counsel each other as we work toward a common goal. Father, we thank you for sound advice and we thank you that we are guided with integrity and the the genuine heart to serve your people as never ever before in such a time as this. Father, we thank you that you soften the hearts of your people that will we will uh meet the need of the of the vulnerable and in every community. God, we get us out of the way, move self out of the way, and God let us live a life that will keep our nation together in so many ways. Father, we thank you for the spirit to cooperate. We thank you for unity.

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