Prince George's County Council Legislative Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Prince George's County Council held a legislative session on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Council Hearing Room, Largo, Maryland. The meeting began with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and public comments. The council addressed a consent agenda, proposed correspondence, second readings of bills, public hearings and enactments for a beautification package and other bills, and adoption of resolutions. All voting members were present. The meeting recessed into Committee of the Whole, but due to lack of a quorum, remaining agenda items were moved to a special meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tanya Stevens (President, Seven Crossing Homeowners Association, Bowie) expressed concerns about a lack of transparency regarding a planned winery and resort in the Ducket Town Road corridor. She stated that the project—including 41 acres of mature woodland deforestation, a destination resort, a boutique hotel, and a 1,000-person banquet facility—was advanced without community engagement. She criticized the council for prioritizing economic development over community protection.
• Amy Burgowski (Resident, District 1) raised complaints about amplified music and late events at the historic Snow Hill Manor, which she said violated a prior agreement to end events by 9 PM without amplified sound. She also criticized conditions at the county animal shelter, describing a room with 86 crates stacked double as inhumane and requested a council pop-in visit.
• Jenna Shelton (PhD researcher) introduced a new initiative funded by the William T. Grant Foundation to connect local PhD researchers with county policymakers on child and family policy challenges. She offered to prepare tailored research briefs at no cost.
• Alexandra (District 1 resident and PGCPS parent) testified in favor of CB-066-2026, which provides $20 million to PGCPS for teacher pension costs. She urged the council to increase the county's maintenance of effort contribution next year, warning that without additional funds, cuts would be deeper.
• Amy Olivo (Board of Education, District 4) also supported CB-066-2026. She noted PGCPS had cut nearly $150 million from its budget ($87 million from central offices) and was grateful for the $20 million, though disappointed it would not count toward future maintenance of effort.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Approved minutes from June 16, 2026, and July 14, 2026.
• CB-075-2026 (Quiet and Clean Landscaping Equipment) – First reading; presented by Council Member Dernoga and referred to the Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee.
• CR-072-2026 (Stop Sign Monitoring Systems – Town of Edmonston) – Introduced by Council Member Adams-Stafford; referred to Committee of the Whole.
• CR-073-2026 (Adoption of Fees for Rent Stabilization Program) – Introduced by request of County Executive; referred to Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (TIEE) Committee.
• CR-074-2026 (National Harbor Extraordinary Development District) – Introduced by Chair Oriadha at request of County Executive; referred to Committee of the Whole. Additional sponsors: Council Members Fisher and Adams. The consent agenda was adopted 9-0.

Discussion Items

• Proposed Correspondence: Approved four letters unanimously (9-0) without discussion:
  • Joint letter to Maryland Department of Planning regarding Priority Funding Area amendments (PHED committee reported 5-0 favorable).
  • Letter to Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph supporting FY2026 Financial Review & Transfer Request #3 (decrease of $5,553,550; Committee of the Whole voted 6-0 favorable).
  • Letter supporting FY2027 Approved Annual Operating Budget Reconciliation (budget of $2,984,293,454, with county contribution constant at $969,076,600; Committee of the Whole voted 6-0 favorable).
  • Letter to Housing Authority of Prince George's County regarding commissioner compensation (changing from per-session stipend to monthly stipend: $1,000 chair, $800 vice chair, $500 other commissioners).
• CB-047-2026 (Off-Street Parking for Elderly/Disabled Housing) – Second reading. PHED committee reported the planning board supported the bill with amendments (changing calculation from beds to dwelling units). Introduced.
• CB-067-2026 (Permitting Fees Consolidation) – Second reading. TIEE committee reported favorably; updates fee table and adds administrative fee. Introduced with additional sponsors (Council Members Harrison, Fisher, Adams).
• CB-070-2026 (Use Regulations for Places of Worship) – Second reading. PHED committee reported 4-0 favorable with amendments. Introduced.
• CB-073-2026 (Standards for Specific Sign Types) – Second reading. PHED committee reported 4-0 favorable with amendments. Introduced.

Public Hearings & Enactments (Beautification Package)

All six bills in the beautification package were enacted unanimously (9-0):

• CB-041-2026 (Clean Corridors and Rapid Response Act) – Creates program for expedited illegal dumping removal in designated corridors.
• CB-042-2026 (Clean Communities Transparency Dashboard Act) – Requires Office of Community Relations to create a dashboard on cleanup efforts.
• CB-043-2026 (Vacant Property Maintenance and Abatement Act) – Strengthens enforcement; increases fines for repeat violations.
• CB-044-2026 (Illegal Signage Enforcement Act) – Strengthens enforcement; requires utilities to remove signs from infrastructure; increases fines.
• CB-045-2026 (See It, Snap It, Get Paid Act) – Establishes a beautification enforcement incentive program.
• CB-046-2026 (Vacant Real Properties Tax Rate) – Establishes property tax rate for vacant/unfit properties.

Other Enactments

• CB-050-2026 (Destination Prince George's) – Reassigns hotel/motel tax revenue from Experience Prince George's to new entity Destination Prince George's. Enacted 9-0 after adopting Amendment #1.
• CB-060-2026 (Procurement Refinements Act) – Refines business certification, centralizes waiver authority, reduces reporting. Enacted 9-0.
• CB-062-2026 (Prevailing Hours and Wage Rates – Apprenticeable Trades) – Requires contractors on public works to employ registered apprentices or graduates. Enacted 9-0.
• CB-066-2026 (Supplementary Appropriations – FY2027) – Provides $20 million for PGCPS teacher pension costs. Enacted 9-0 after public testimony.
• CB-068-2026 (Supplementary Appropriations – FY2026) – Transfers funds within general fund. Enacted 7-0-1 (Council Member Ivey abstained).

Resolutions Adopted

• CR-075-2026 (Weinstein House/Harry's Market Historic Site Designation) – Approved 8-0 after suspending rules.
• CR-076-2026 (Central Avenue-Blue/Silver Line Sector Plan) – Approved 8-0 after suspending rules.
• CR-077-2026 (Central Avenue-Blue/Silver Line Sectional Map Amendment) – Approved 8-0 after suspending rules.
• CR-078-2026 (Public Facilities and Transportation Elements of Preliminary Port Towns Plan) – Approved 8-0 after suspending rules.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted consent agenda 9-0.
• Approved four letters of correspondence 9-0.
• Introduced five second-reading bills.
• Enacted 11 bills: CB-041 through CB-046 (beautification package), CB-050, CB-060, CB-062, CB-066, CB-068. All passed with 9-0 or 8-0 votes except CB-068 (7-0-1).
• Adopted four resolutions (CR-075 through CR-078) each 8-0.
• Remaining agenda items (including those not reached due to lack of quorum after recess) moved to the special meeting scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
• Note: The transcript initially stated the date as July 24, but the official agenda and minutes indicate July 21, 2026. The chair corrected the date during the meeting.