DISTRICT COUNCIL REVIEWS LAND-USE MATTERS
The County Council, sitting as the District Council on land-use matters, met on Monday, February 24th to review projects located in in communities across Prince George’s County. Citizen participation in Council processes is encouraged and welcomed. Join the District Council and the Prince George's County Planning Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission on Monday, March 23rd for a Joint Public Hearing on the Countywide Sectional Map Amendment (CMA) for Prince George's County. The CMA will apply the new zoning regulations in the updated Zoning Ordinance. LEARN MORE about how to participate and sign up to speak. WATCH Monday’s District Council session.
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE REVIEWS PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION
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The Council’s General Assembly Committee, chaired by District 6 Council Member Derrick Leon Davis, met on Tuesday, February 25th to review selected proposed state legislation that may have potential impact on Prince George’s County. Tuesday’s committee discussion focused on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education funding legislation, and proposed measures regarding County Affairs, Law Enforcement, and Statewide concerns. The committee also received local bill, Maryland Association of Counties, and General Assembly updates. WATCH the General Assembly meeting.
COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES JOINT LETTER TO WMATA; REVIEWS LEGISLATION; RECEIVES BRIEFING FROM METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
 The Prince George’s County Council convened Legislative Session on Tuesday, February 25th. The Council unanimously approved a Joint Signature Letter to the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, signed by the Council Chair and County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, addressing proposed fare changes, service enhancements and service eliminations, including bus routes. The period for public comment on the FY 2021 WMATA Budget has been extended until March 9, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. LEARN MORE.
In addition to referring several proposed measures presented Tuesday for committee review, Council Members introduced Council Bill 001-2020, legislation expanding the amount of parental leave to County employees eligible for family and medical leave, which has been scheduled for public hearing on Tuesday, March 17th at 2:00 p.m. The Council received a briefing from Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Executive Director Chuck Bean during Tuesday’s session, to discuss the mission, programs and priorities of this regional governmental organization and its impact in Prince George’s County. The presentation, “One Region Moving Forward – COG and Prince George’s County,” focused on opportunities to achieve shared goals collaboratively. WATCH Tuesday’s full County Council agenda.
COUNCIL’S FY 2021 BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETING
 The County Council held its FY 2021 Budget Town Hall Meeting on the evening of Tuesday, February 25th, on the Largo campus of Prince George’s Community College. County residents actively engaged in an open discussion about the County Budget and the Council’s Budget Review and Adoption process during the near capacity event. Many thanks to the residents who attended. The Council greatly appreciated hearing the budget concerns and feedback from our community stakeholders as we work together to move Prince George's County forward. The County’s Office of Management and Budget Director Stanley Earley, and Deputy County Auditor Turkeesa Green provided County Budget presentations. To continue to engage in the Council’s Budget Process and for important budget calendar date for FY 21 work sessions and public hearings, visit the Council’s FY 21 Budget Portal. WATCH Tuesday’s Budget Town Hall Meeting. VIEW event photos.
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TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE |
 The Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (TIEE) committee, chaired by District 2 Council Member Deni L. Taveras, met on Thursday, February 27th, to receive a Project Update Briefing on the Purple Line Project from Purple Line Transit Partners, LLC, Chief Executive Officer and Project Manager, Peter van der Waart, Maryland Department of Transportation Project Manager Charles Lattuca, County Department of Public Works and Transportation Deputy Director Martin Harris, and Special Assistant Victor Weissberg. TIEE committee members also approved the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission recommendations on the Reservation of Land for Public Use, properties reserved for the future improvement of rights-of-way. WATCH Thursday’s TIEE committee meeting.
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COUNCIL’S GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND FISCAL POLICY COMMITTEE RECEIVES DISPARITY STUDY OVERVIEW |
A briefing on the final presentation of the Minority Procurement: Disparity Study Overview was on Thursday’s agenda for the Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GOFP) committee, chaired by District 7 Council Member Rodney C. Streeter. The study, conducted by the MGT Consulting Group, also examined minority subcontracting with regard to construction. The presentation was led by Office of Central Service Director, Jonathan Butler. The Disparity Study analyzed whether a disparity exists between the number of available Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (W/MBE) providing goods and services in construction, architecture and engineering, professional services, good and supplies and others in the County, and the number contracting with the County as prime contractors. WATCH Thursday’s GOFP committee meeting.
COUNCIL CHAIR TODD M. TURNER FEATURED GUEST ON WAMU RADIO’S
“THE POLITICS HOUR”
 On Friday, February 28th, County Council Chair Todd M. Turner joined host Kojo Nnamdi and resident political analyst Tom Sherwood on WAMU radio’s “The Politics Hour,” to discuss all things Prince George’s, including economic growth, education funding, transportation, and public safety.
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DISTRICT TWO
COUNCIL MEMBER DENI TAVERAS
APPLAUDS EXPANSION OF ISLA INITIATIVE
 On Friday, February 21st, District 2 County Council Member Deni Taveras welcomed the “Access to Counsel Initiative” to Prince George’s County. The program was announced by the Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC), during the 2nd Annual Immigrant Services and Language Access (ISLA) Initiative Luncheon hosted by Council Member Taveras, the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition and the University of Maryland, on the College Park campus. Under the initiative, IJC, the country’s first fellowship program dedicated to meeting immigrants’ needs for high-quality legal counsel, will partner with CAIR, for the two-year “Access to Counsel Initiative,” providing representation to all eligible County residents detained in immigration custody who cannot afford legal representation. READ the full press release.
COUNTY’S CENSUS TEAM AT BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETING
 Census Day is April 1st. The County Council and the County’s Census Team teamed up at the FY 2021 Budget Town Hall meeting on February 25th, to promote a Complete Count in the 2020 Census for Prince George’s County. Important Census 2020 materials were shared with residents as a reminder that households will receive an invitation to complete the Census online or by phone as early as March 12th. We want to make sure every Prince Georgian is counted! Please plan to participate and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. It’s easy, safe and important. For more information, visit www.PGCensus2020.org
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS
 In December 2019, Chinese health officials announced they were investigating a pneumonia outbreak of unknown etiology (cause) in the city of Wuhan, China. At that time, it was reported that many of the cases were linked to a seafood and animal market in Wuhan. Since then, health officials have reported that the outbreak was caused by a novel coronavirus, which was later named 2019-nCoV.
Since then, thousands of cases have been reported and some cases have been fatal. Cases of 2019-nCoV have been identified elsewhere in China, and in other countries, including in the United States. While a majority of cases have been linked to the city of Wuhan, there is evidence of person-to-person spread both inside and outside of Wuhan.
This information comes from the Maryland Department of Health, which has also provided the Fact Sheet below regarding the Coronavirus.
 This is a rapidly evolving situation and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) will provide updates as they become available.
For additional resource information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
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