Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Prince George's County Council met as the Committee of the Whole on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Council Hearing Room in Largo, Maryland. Seven members were present for roll call: Chair Oriada, Vice Chair Olson, and Councilmembers Adams, Blay, Burroughs, Fisher, and Hunter. The committee reviewed the Supplier Diversity and Equity Plan for Sphere National Harbor, considered CR-121-2026 approving a tax increment financing proposal, endorsed the FY 2028 joint school construction priorities letter, and advanced CR-115-2026 on a county-owned grocery store pilot. The printed agenda listed only the first two items; the school construction letter and CR-115 were also taken up during the meeting. No minutes were available.
Staff from the County Executive's Office and the Office of Procurement presented the Supplier Diversity and Equity Plan for the proposed Sphere at National Harbor. The plan, executed on October 19, 2026, applies to a $1.4 billion construction program. The venue would seat about 6,000 people, stand roughly 302 feet tall, sit next to MGM National Harbor, and is targeted to open in 2030, with site work beginning this winter. The county subsidy plan would attach $130 million in net tax increment financing proceeds under CR-121-2026.
The plan measures requirements against a $722.4 million adjusted construction base rather than the full $1.4 billion. About $683.8 million in specialized costs are excluded, including proprietary Sphere show systems, the exterior LED display, ELV systems, immersive interior surfaces, bowl audio and show software, 4D systems, rigging, seating, and $88.3 million in design fees already issued. Staff stated that further exclusions are not automatic and require documented approval.
Key commitments include:
Monitoring and enforcement were also outlined. The developer must file a preliminary report within 45 days, advertise solicitations at least 14 days before bids are due, report monthly and quarterly, pay county firms within 45 days, and face potential clawbacks or withholding of up to $1 million per year after written notice and a 60-day cure period. Waivers of participation goals require documentation and council approval.
Councilmembers raised several concerns. One councilmember asked about penalties and was told the community benefits agreement has not been finalized, while SDEP penalties are up to $1 million. Councilmember Adams stressed the need for experienced staff on the ground to help county businesses build capacity, not just monitor reports, and urged that exclusions not become off-the-shelf opportunities. Chair Oriada expressed concern about having no hard local-hiring minimum and called the $1 million clawback cap low for a $1 billion project. Staff clarified that CR-21-2019 had a 40% resident minimum, while the plan negotiated 45% as a best-efforts target with documented outreach required.
Staff explained that CR-121-2026 is required under CR-21-2019 before tax increment financing bonds can be issued for the National Harbor Development District and National Harbor Extraordinary Development District. The resolution approves the TIF proposal and certifications from the developer, the County Executive, and bond counsel. The developer requested waivers of CR-21-2019 requirements related to the trigger mechanism/lookback, equity participation and ownership, and delivery of a minority business enterprise plan. All remaining CR-21-2019 requirements would apply to bonds authorized under CB-111-2026. The County Executive certification and Bond Counsel certification were dated October 20, 2026.
During discussion, a councilmember questioned the local and minority spend floor in the plan. Staff responded that the $280 million combined minimum represented a 100% success scenario, the $130 million floor was added so the developer could not reduce obligations if exclusions shrink the base, and any lower threshold would require extensive documentation and compliance-manager approval.
The committee voted 7-0 to move CR-121-2026 favorably. Chair Oriada voted with the majority but said she felt uncomfortable with the absence of hard confirmed penalties for MBE participation and with the $1 million clawback cap, and asked to continue working on those concerns offline before the next day's session. A separate motion to accept the additions package also carried 7-0, though its specific contents were not identified in the transcript.
PGCPS and county officials presented the joint capital improvement priorities letter to the Maryland Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Board of Education's FY 2028 request is $51.9 million. It includes continuation of multi-year modernizations, including the Cool Spring regional special education therapy pool annex, High Point High School, and New Northern planning; planning approvals for Crossland High School and southern-area elementary and middle school analysis; and envelope replacement projects, including nine roof replacements and four window and door replacements previously excluded from state funding requests. The letter is intended to demonstrate alignment among PGCPS, the County Executive, and the County Council and to maximize potential state CIP funding.
A councilmember asked about New Northern and the absence of a county match. Staff explained that High Point is further along in design and is receiving initial construction funding, while New Northern is still in the planning phase and does not yet require the county match. Another councilmember raised long-term possibilities for Lewisdale Elementary and its surrounding land; staff responded that district-wide facility and enrollment data is being updated to guide future priorities. Staff also confirmed that parking-lot projects would be funded through countywide categories in the spring budget rather than through this state request.
The committee voted 6-0 to recommend chair signature on the joint letter. The item was expected to return for authorization the following day.
The committee reviewed CR-115-2026, sponsored by Chair Oriada. The resolution directs the Council Administrator to designate legislative branch staff to coordinate with executive agencies and outside entities on a pilot proposal for a county-owned grocery store. The intent is to expand access to affordable, healthy food in underserved neighborhoods. The proposal must address sites, community needs, ownership models, fiscal scenarios, operator selection, and success measures, and is due within 180 days of adoption. Chair Oriada moved favorable, Councilmember Hunter seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
All righty. We have returned and are now sitting as the committee of the whole. Madam Clerk, can I please have a roll call? Good afternoon, Chair Oyeeda. Here. Mr. Adams. Present. Ms. Blay. Present. Mr. Burroughs. Miss Fisher. Present. Ms. Hunter. Present. Mr. Olson. Here. Seven members present at roll call. Okay, thank you. We will start with a briefing from the Sphere National Harbor, the supplier diversity and equity plan. I'll pass it to staff for an overview and then to the panel of speakers. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be very brief. We're joined by representatives from the county executive's office to provide additional information about the sphere at National Harbor. I will at this time defer to our DCAO for economic development, Miss Tracy Benjamin, to introduce her team. Thank you. Thank you. For the record, Tracy Benjamin, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development. And today we will hear a presentation on the supplier diversity and equity plan from our MBE compliance manager in the Office of Procurement, Martina Williams, and our MBE compliant monitor and contract, Mr. Jonathan Maffit. I'm sorry, Jonathan Mason. Thank you. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the council. I'm Martina Williams, the county's MBM Compliance Manager, and I'm joined today with Jonathan Mason, who supports our MBE compliance work as a county's contractor. We're here to brief you on the supplier diversity and equity plan for Sphere National Harbor. The plan was executed on October 19, 2026, and it comes before you alongside CR 121 2026, the TIFF legislation. By the end of the briefing, we want to leave you with three things. What this plan commits the developer to deliver for county-based and minority businesses, how the county will monitor and enforce those commitments, and what the council is being asked to approve today. The image behind you is the proposed fear at National Harbor. It will be the most visible new landmark on our waterfront. The question in front of us is simple. Who gets to build it?