 Prince George’s County Council continues to operate under the Governor’s “Proclamation and Declaration of State of Emergency and Existence of Catastrophic Health Emergency – COVID-19”, effective March 5, 2020, and amended January 21, 2021, and the Prince George’s County State of Emergency Declaration, effective March 16, 2020, and extended by the Governing Body of Prince George’s County with the adoption of CR-13-2021 on February 16, 2021. The Council’s Emergency Operations Procedures became effective pursuant to CR-10-2020, adopted on March 17, 2020, and amended pursuant to CR-35-2020, adopted on May 18, 2020. Rules of Procedure for the County Council and District Council have been amended, pursuant to CR-57-2020 and CR-58-2020, respectively, adopted on July 21, 2020, for virtual and remote public participation before each body.
DISTRICT COUNCIL CONVENES TO REVIEW ZONING CASES
The Prince George’s County Council, sitting as the District Council on zoning matters, met virtually on Monday, March 12th. The scheduled session included an Oral Argument, Item for Discussion, and Pending Finality cases for projects in communities across Prince George’s County. WATCH Monday’s District Council session.
The District Council reconvened on Tuesday, March 13th, to address an Item Referred for Document, for a project located in District 6. The District Council is granted authority to act on zoning matters by the State of Maryland Regional District Act, in the Land Use Article of the Maryland Annotated Code. WATCH Tuesday’s District Council session.
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COUNTY COUNCIL CONVENES VIRTUAL SESSIONS; RECEIVES WMATA BRIEFING ON FY22 METRO BUDGET AND SERVICE PROPOSALS; HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING
 The County Council convened in virtual session on Tuesday, March 13th to receive a briefing from WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld on Metro’s Proposed FY 2022 Operating and Capital budgets. Council Members discussed the transit agency’s potential service reductions and station closures in the County to address serious funding gaps caused by COVID-19, as well as Metro station and platform improvements in the County this summer. WATCH Monday’s Council Session. READ about the WMATA briefing to the Council in the March 8th Washington Post story, “Federal covid relief package could lift Metro past pandemic budget problems,” focused on possible support for WMATA, and local and regional transit in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
The County Council reconvened on Tuesday, March 9th. Council Members approved the Chair’s signature on a Joint Letter with County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, opposing potential service reductions, station closures and Metrobus consolidations in Prince George’s County, as part of WMATA’S FY 2022 Metro Budget and Service proposals. Prince George’s County has over 60 Metrobus lines and 15 Metrorail Stations, all heavily used by residents, visitors, essential workers. According to WMATA’s recently completed bus transformation project, approximately 55% of Metrobus riders do not have access to a car and 52% of these riders classified themselves as considered low-income. The deadline for public comment on the Proposed WMATA budgets is 5:00 p.m. on March 16th. CLICK HERE to tell Metro what matters to you.
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The Council also held a Public Hearing on Tuesday, for CR-008-2021, concerning contract approvals for a multi-year financing agreement to fund a portion of the new inpatient and ambulatory behavioral health facility at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. WATCH Tuesday’s Session.
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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CONVENES VIRTUALLY FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATES; REVIEWS EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT; RECEIVES BOARD OF ELECTIONS UPDATE AND BRIEFING ON SCMAGLEV
The Council Committee of the Whole (COW), convened on Tuesday, March 9th. Following a Board of Elections presentation by Deputy Administrator Daneen Banks, the COW discussed proposed statewide and local bills in the 2021 Maryland General Assembly Session, including measures addressing elections, gaming, environmental and energy matters, a Joint Resolution concerning D.C. Statehood, and a Prince George’s County School Facilities and Public Safety Surcharge. WATCH Tuesday’s COW. The Committee of the Whole also met on Thursday, March 11TH to review proposed legislation and the Executive appointment of Aspasia Xypolia as Director of the County’s Department of Housing and Community Development. The COW also received for a briefing update on the impact of the Baltimore-Washington Superconducting MAGLEV Project in Prince George’s County. WATCH Thursday’s COW.
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 COUNCIL CHAIR CALVIN HAWKINS RESPONDS TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANGELA ALSOBROOKS’ PROPOSED $4.5 BILLION FY 2022 COUNTY BUDGET TRANSMITTED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL
Pursuant to the County Charter, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks transmitted her proposed $4.5 Billion spending plan for Prince George’s County to the County Council on Thursday, March 11th. Despite the constraints on the FY 2022 County Budget due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the County Executive is proposing critical and historic investments in several areas. WATCH the County Executive’s press conference on YouTube.
Thanking the County Executive and encouraging residents to participate in the Council’s Budget Review and Adoption Process over the next few months, Council Chair Hawkins responded to receipt of the proposed County Budget, “We look forward to working together with the County Executive, and our residents and all stakeholders, to produce a final FY22 County Budget that emphasizes our shared priorities, strengthens our communities, and that guides our recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus global pandemic on our County.” READ the entire Chair’s Statement. VISIT the Council’s FY 22 Budget Portal for more information about how to participate in the Council’s Budget and Review Process. The Council must adopt a new County spending plan on or before June 1, 2021.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY RE-ENTRY ADVISORY BOARD MEETS
The Prince George’s County Re-Entry Advisory Board met on Friday, March 12th. The meeting agenda included a demonstration by Louise Wasilewski, CEO and Co-Founder of Acivilate to discuss Pokket℠ , an app designed to help returning citizens, service providers, and correctional supervision work together by safely sharing information. The Board also convened to discuss their work within the subcommittees tasked to expand the Board’s vision through focus areas to include Housing, Community Engagement, Policy, County-Provided Services and Resource Cultivation. The Re-Entry Advisory Board meets again on April 9th at 10AM.
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY RESPONSIBLE LEGACY TASK FORCE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!
 The Prince George’s County Responsible Legacy Task Force is working to ensure that Prince George's County’s legacy is one of equality, diversity and inclusion, and invites YOUR participation in this process. Please respond to the Responsible Legacy Task Force online survey questions at here by Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Thank you for participating.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALSOBROOKS ANNOUNCES MEASURED REOPENINGS IN RESPONSE TO CONTINUED DECLINE IN COVID-19 METRICS; COUNTY SURPASSES MORE THAN 100,000 RESIDENTS WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF
A COVID-19 VACCINE
 Due to a continued decline in the County’s COVID-19 metrics, and increasing vaccination rates in the County, public health officials have advised that it is now safe to move forward with a cautious and measured approach to reopening. Beginning Friday, March 12 at 5:00 PM, businesses and other establishments will be able to expand capacity limits. For more information, visit: mypgc.us/reopen WATCH the County Executive’s announcement on You Tube.
 VACCINE SIGN-UPS
 Keep doing your part to fight COVID-19 – wash your hands, avoid crowds, wear a mask, and when it is your turn, get vaccinated! Remember, there are several ways you can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine:
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