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Record of Proceedings

Prince George's County Council Committee of the Whole - October 5, 2026: CB 132-2026

County Council & Boards — Monday, October 5, 2026
BodyPrince Georges County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council & Boards
DateMonday, October 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 7:14

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:04

All right.

0:05

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:06

We have returned an hour sitting as committee of the whole.

0:09

Again, today is Monday, October 5th, 2026.

0:12

Madam Clerk, can I have a roll call?

Unassigned speaker

0:14

Good

Speaker 1

0:14

afternoon,

Speaker 2

0:14

Chair Orieta.

0:16

Here.

Unassigned speaker

0:16

Ms.

Speaker 2

0:17

Adam Stafford.

Unassigned speaker

0:19

Mr.

Speaker 2

0:20

Danoga.

0:21

Present.

0:24

Mr.

0:24

Harrison.

Speaker 3

0:26

I'm

Speaker 2

0:26

present.

Unassigned speaker

0:27

Ms.

Speaker 2

0:28

Hunter?

0:28

Here.

0:29

Ms.

0:29

Ivy.

Speaker 4

0:30

Here.

Speaker 2

0:30

Vice Chair Olson?

0:31

Here.

0:32

Seven members present at Roll Call.

0:34

Thank you.

Speaker 1

0:35

On the agenda today, we have CB 132 2026, an act concerning immersive entertainment venue community impact funding.

0:45

I will pass it to staff for an overview.

Unassigned speaker

0:50

Thank

Speaker 3

0:50

you, Madam Chair.

0:51

We have CB 132 2026, an act concerning an immersive entertainment venue community impact and the funding.

0:59

The purpose is reserving a certain percentage of all revenue directly attributable to an immersive entertainment venue for use in impacted communities within a six-mile rate radius of the immersive venue and entertainment venue.

1:14

The legislation establishes the sphere community impact fund to reserve a portion of county revenues directly attributable to an immersive entertainment venue for the benefit of communities and neighborhoods within a six mile radius of the venue.

1:30

The legislation requires that 15% of applicable revenues directly attributable to the venue be deposited into a non-lapsing sphere community impact fund.

1:44

50% of the fund is dedicated to community programs, services, initiatives, grants, and other community-based investments.

1:53

The remaining 50% is dedicated to infrastructure improvements, capital projects, transportation improvements, public facilities, and other physical improvements benefiting the sphere community impact area.

2:07

The council will designate by resolution a community-based body to identify community priorities and recommend eligible uses of the fund.

2:17

And the legislation also requires dedicated accounting and annual reporting.

2:23

And that concludes my whole review, Madam Chair.

Speaker 1

2:26

Thank you.

2:28

Pass it to the county executives office.

Speaker 5

2:39

Thank you.

2:48

Between myself and Amber Hendricks, we can answer any questions that you may have on the bill.

Speaker 1

2:53

Okay.

2:53

Thank you so much.

2:55

Go on to questions.

2:56

I'll start with Councilmember Dinoga.

Speaker 6

2:59

What's the difference between CB 131 and C B132?

Speaker 7

3:05

So mainly good uh good afternoon, Councilmember Genoga.

3:09

Um the main difference is that we are just clarifying language that was in uh CB uh CB 131.

3:18

Um mainly to clarify

Speaker 6

3:20

just for amended one C B 131.

3:22

Is it too late to amend it?

Unassigned speaker

3:25

I

Speaker 7

3:26

don't know the rules, but it's my understanding because it has been introduced.

Speaker 6

3:29

Okay.

Speaker 7

3:30

Um and so we were just clarifying that the definition of revenues, that is any revenues that are generated from the immersive entertainment district.

3:38

We were also clarifying language that you know in the various um current outstanding bonds and then the legislation that the council just moved forward and will future an act is that real property taxes um that will be generated in this district will be required to you be used to pay off the debt, the bonds that will eventually be issued for the sphere project.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████████████████67%
Infrastructure██████████████21%
Procedural████████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Prince George's County Council Committee of the Whole - October 5, 2026

On Monday, October 5, 2026, the Prince George's County Council sat as Committee of the Whole to consider CB 132-2026, an act concerning an immersive entertainment venue community impact funding. The meeting began at 7:45 PM (local time) with seven members present after roll call. The council heard a staff overview, discussed clarifications between CB 131 and CB 132, and voted unanimously to advance the legislation.

Discussion Items

  • CB 132-2026 – Immersive Entertainment Venue Community Impact Fund: Staff presented the purpose: to reserve a percentage of county revenues directly attributable to an immersive entertainment venue (the "Sphere") for communities within a six-mile radius. The legislation establishes the Sphere Community Impact Fund, requiring 15% of applicable revenues (real property taxes, personal property taxes, admissions and amusement taxes) be deposited into a non-lapsing fund. 50% of the fund is dedicated to community programs, services, initiatives, grants, and other community-based investments; the remaining 50% is for infrastructure improvements, capital projects, transportation improvements, public facilities, and other physical improvements. The council will designate a community-based body to identify priorities and recommend eligible uses, with dedicated accounting and annual reporting required.
  • Clarification of CB 131 vs. CB 132: Councilmember Denoga asked about the difference. Staff from the County Executive's office (the sponsor) explained that CB 132 clarifies language in CB 131. Key changes include: defining revenues as those generated from the immersive entertainment district; excluding revenues already dedicated to paying off outstanding bonds for the Sphere project; removing a reference to sales and use tax (since the county does not impose such taxes); and increasing the percentage from 10% to 15% to provide approximately $6 million available for the fund (split between community benefits and infrastructure). Councilmember Ivy asked for a definition of "attributable" and confirmed it applies only to taxes from the Sphere property itself, not from hotels or businesses that may arise nearby.
  • Councilmember Ivy's Remarks: While voting aye, Councilmember Ivy expressed "heartburn" over the legislation, noting she was voting in favor out of deference to the County Executive who sponsored the bill and her hard work on the project.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion to move CB 132-2026 favorably was made and seconded (by Councilmembers Hunter and Adams). Roll call: Chair Orieta (aye), Mr. Adams (aye), Ms. Adam Stafford (aye), Mr. Denoga (aye), Ms. Fisher (aye), Mr. Harrison (aye), Ms. Hunter (aye), Ms. Ivy (aye, with stated concern), Vice Chair Olson (aye). Motion carried 10-0 (with one member temporarily absent during the roll call but later noted as present).
  • Adjournment: The committee adjourned and returned to county council session on a motion by the Vice Chair, seconded by Councilmember Adams. All were in favor.

No consent calendar items or public comments were presented.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Good afternoon, everyone. We have returned an hour sitting as committee of the whole. Again, today is Monday, October 5th, 2026. Madam Clerk, can I have a roll call? Good afternoon, Chair Orieta. Here. Ms. Adam Stafford. Mr. Danoga. Present. Mr. Harrison. I'm present. Ms. Hunter? Here. Ms. Ivy. Here. Vice Chair Olson? Here. Seven members present at Roll Call. Thank you. On the agenda today, we have CB 132 2026, an act concerning immersive entertainment venue community impact funding. I will pass it to staff for an overview. Thank you, Madam Chair. We have CB 132 2026, an act concerning an immersive entertainment venue community impact and the funding. The purpose is reserving a certain percentage of all revenue directly attributable to an immersive entertainment venue for use in impacted communities within a six-mile rate radius of the immersive venue and entertainment venue. The legislation establishes the sphere community impact fund to reserve a portion of county revenues directly attributable to an immersive entertainment venue for the benefit of communities and neighborhoods within a six mile radius of the venue. The legislation requires that 15% of applicable revenues directly attributable to the venue be deposited into a non-lapsing sphere community impact fund. 50% of the fund is dedicated to community programs, services, initiatives, grants, and other community-based investments. The remaining 50% is dedicated to infrastructure improvements, capital projects, transportation improvements, public facilities, and other physical improvements benefiting the sphere community impact area. The council will designate by resolution a community-based body to identify community priorities and recommend eligible uses of the fund. And the legislation also requires dedicated accounting and annual reporting. And that concludes my whole review, Madam Chair. Thank you. Pass it to the county executives office. Thank you. Between myself and Amber Hendricks, we can answer any questions that you may have on the bill. Okay. Thank you so much. Go on to questions. I'll start with Councilmember Dinoga. What's the difference between CB 131 and C B132?

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