Prince George's County Council Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Prince George's County Council convened on October 6, 2026 (Legislative Day No. 34) at 10:00 AM in Committee Room 2027, with Chair Krystal Oriadha presiding. The meeting began at 11:48 AM and adjourned at 1:25 PM. The agenda included consent agenda items, a transportation briefing from Prince George's County Public Schools, an update on FY2027 budget allocations, enactment of a rental license bill, adoption of several resolutions, and introduction of a seniors/disability ombudsman resolution. The council took votes on multiple items.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Minutes from September 22, 2026 (BOH) and September 29, 2026 were approved.
• Introduction of Resolutions: CR-104-2026 (partial waiver of school facilities surcharge for Flats at Glenridge Station) and CR-105-2026 (full waiver of public safety and behavioral health surcharge for same project) were introduced and referred to the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GOFP) Committee. The Flats at Glenridge Station is a 245-unit affordable housing community with 219 units at 60% AMI and 26 units at 50% AMI. The developer requested a complete waiver of the Public Safety Impact Fee and a 50% reduction in the School Facilities Surcharge.
• Consent Agenda Adoption: The consent agenda was adopted by a vote of 8-0 (with Council Members Burroughs, Fisher, and Harrison absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• CB-023-2026 (Rental Licenses): The public hearing was convened at 1:12 PM. Hugo Cantu, representing the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA), spoke. He stated that AOBA members support licensing and can comply with the bill's display and advertising requirements, thanking the council for working with the industry. No other public testimony was heard.

Discussion Items

• PGCPS Transportation Briefing: Dr. Shawn Joseph (Superintendent) and Dr. Charoscar Coleman (COO) presented on transportation challenges for SY 2026-27. Key points included: 40 driver vacancies, 100-125 daily driver absences, use of contracted CDL drivers as a bridge, evaluation of routing technology (Bus Planner/Chipmunk app) with recommendations to the Board by December 2026, a data dashboard under development, and a focus on improving on-time performance and family communication. The council discussed electric bus utilization (21 electric buses, limited by charging infrastructure and driver endorsements), van usage for McKinney-Vento students (37 of 50 vans in service), and the high cost of transportation ($153 million annually, $50 million from the state). Council members expressed concerns about walk-to-stop distances, after-school transportation, and the need for public safety collaboration.
• FY2027 Budget Allocations Briefing: Arian Albear, Director of Legislative Impact, provided an update on nearly $10 million in council allocations to 15 agencies. Notable allocations included: $535,000 for Circuit Court law library improvements; $100,000 for spay/neuter services (split between trap-neuter-return and owned pets); $470,000 for Department of Family Services (veterans, nutrition for elderly, Family Justice Center); $2.146 million for Department of Housing and Community Development (land bank, housing trust fund, rental assistance); $350,000 for DPIE temporary staff; $2.15 million for Department of Social Services (Child Resource Connect, Early Start Child Care Scholarship); $691,000 for Economic Development Corporation (Own the Block pilot); $500,000 for health department (Early Connections Autism Program and Black Maternal Health Equity Fund); $721,200 for Office of Community Relations (HOA commission conflict resolution, community engagement, adopt-the-block, CIT Snap It Get Paid); positions for Office of Homeland Security (district-level response team); $1 million for small business cohort program (launching Oct. 14); $100,000 for police department (missing black girls campaign); $250,000 for Prince George's Community College (aerospace/aviation program); $200,000 for library system (Sunday hours and speech therapy); and $50,000 for agri-tourism pilot. Council members clarified funding sources and timelines.
• CB-023-2026 Enactment: After the public hearing, Council Member Dernoga moved to enact the bill, which was seconded and passed 8-0 (Council Members Burroughs, Harrison, and Adams absent). The bill strengthens rental license display and advertising requirements, including short-term rentals.
• CR-085-2026 (Autism Equity): The Public Safety, Health, and Human Services Committee reported a favorable recommendation (4-0) for Draft 2, which adds a request to PGCPS for autism evaluation data. The fiscal impact is approximately $285,000. The council voted 8-0 to substitute Draft 2 and then adopted the resolution 8-0.
• CR-086-2026 (Government Transparency Workgroup): The GOFP Committee reported favorably (5-0). The council adopted the resolution 8-0, establishing a workgroup to review county agency performance data and recommend periodic reporting.
• CR-092-2026 and CR-093-2026 (Council Rules Amendments): Both resolutions (requiring evening meetings and annual listening tours) were deferred to a later date.
• CR-106-2026 (Seniors and Disability Affairs Ombudsman): Introduced by Council Member Adams with multiple sponsors, the resolution urges the County Executive to designate an ombudsman within the Aging and Disabilities Services Division. Council Member Adams spoke about his personal experience with a disability. The council suspended the rules (8-0) and then adopted the resolution 10-0 (all members present except Harrison).
• Proposed Correspondence: A joint letter to Courtney Davis, Deputy Director of the Maryland Office of Social Equity, regarding the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund 2026 Annual Report was authorized for the Chair's signature by vote of 8-0.
• Additions Package: The council accepted the additions package (motion by Vice Chair Olson, seconded by Council Member Dernoga) by a vote of 8-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Adopted: 8-0.
• Rental License Bill (CB-023-2026) Enacted: 8-0.
• Autism Equity Resolution (CR-085-2026) Adopted: 8-0 for substitution and adoption.
• Government Transparency Workgroup (CR-086-2026) Adopted: 8-0.
• Seniors and Disability Affairs Ombudsman (CR-106-2026) Adopted: 10-0 (after rules suspension 8-0).
• Correspondence Authorized: 8-0.
• Additions Package Accepted: 8-0.
• CR-081-2026 (Utility Shut-off Moratorium) Deferred to October 13, 2026.
• CR-092-2026 and CR-093-2026 Deferred to a later date.
• Briefings Held: PGCPS Transportation Briefing and FY2027 Budget Allocations Briefing were both completed.
• Audit Request: Council Members Harrison and Hunter requested an immediate audit of Community on the Front Line, Edward Charles Foundation, and Jones House. Chair Oriadha noted she had already requested audits for organizations receiving over $150,000. No second was received; the council adjourned.