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 It is a New Day. We are charting in a new course, a new direction, toward a Council evermore committed to service to the People - The People's Council. We pledge to a new day where transparency and accountability are the watchwords that guide our Council and our commitment to the People’s Agenda.
The PEOPLE’S AGENDA is bringing the Council to the people and committed to the following focus areas:
- Ensuring Transparency in Our Government
- Increasing Services for Our Residents
- Preserving our Green Space and Protect Our Environment
- Supporting Smart and Quality Development for Our Community
- Supporting Our Working Families
- Increasing Opportunities for Our Local Minority Businesses and Nonprofits
- Bringing Access to Quality Healthcare to Our Communities
In the words of one of the greatest authors of our time, Dr. Maya Angelou, "Nothing will work unless you do." And nothing will work unless we do.
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 The County Council is proud to announce its return to in-person meetings. However, given the current state of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and to maintain the safety of the Council, staff, and members of the public, the Council is operating under modified hybrid operational procedures for other Legislative Branch services.
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COUNCIL ADOPTS NURSE AND HEALTH CARE WORKER PATIENT RATIO LEGISLATION
“We passed CR-13 on Tuesday, May 2, with the help of my colleagues, which mandates that the Board of Health research the nurse-patient ratios in Prince George's County. We stood alongside the UFCW Local 400, the 1199 SEIU Maryland/DC, and other nurses to make it known that safe staffing saves lives. Our nurses and other healthcare support employees are overworked, working in a hazardous setting with too many patients to care for, and we are in a health crisis. It is time to begin enhancing our healthcare system.” – Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq.
The County Council, during session on Tuesday, May 2nd, unanimously adopted CR-013-2023, authored by Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq., calling on the state of Maryland to create a standard for Nurse and Support Staff Patient Ratios and ensure the optimum level of care for patients in hospitals as a priority. Council Vice Chair Blegay put forth the measure in response to residents’ growing concerns about the impact of insufficient nurse-patient ratios on the level of care provided to patients in urgent care facilities and hospitals in the County.
 Joined by her colleagues, Council Member Krystal Oriadha and Council Member Edward Burroughs III, and representatives from 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400, local nurses, healthcare staff, and community advocates, Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq. held a press conference at the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building on Tuesday morning before Council session to encourage support and enactment of CB-013-2023, prior to the Council’s final and affirmative vote on the measure.
In other Council action, CB-032-2023, the Better Bag Bill, which finds that the use of single-use carryout bags by consumers at retail establishments is detrimental to the environment, public health, and welfare of County residents, and proposes to reduce the distribution of single-use carryout bags and incentivize the use of reusable bags by prohibiting provision of single-use plastic carryout bags and requiring retailers to charge at least 10 cents for each paper bag, and CB-30-2023, legislation providing that certified County-based small businesses will have the right of first award for County procurements at or under $1,000,000 were introduced.
Council Members also moved for introduction of CB-033-2023, legislation concerning Special Event Expedited Review Fees; CB-036-2023, proposed legislation extending the permit application time from six to twelve months, and to establish a fee for the review and issuance of an After-Hours Permit; and CB-037-2023, legislation authorizing the use of surveillance systems to prosecute, prevent, and deter illegal dumping. In addition, the Council unanimously approved the Executive Appointments of Leon Bailey, Jr and Ameenah Karim-Capers to the Redevelopment Authority Board of Prince George’s County.
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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REVIEWS MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK & PLANNING COMMISSION (M-NCPPC) AND BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGETS
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 The Council, sitting as Committee of the Whole, convened twice this week, on Tuesday, May 2nd and Thursday, May 4th. During Tuesday’s COW, a budget worksession for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Operating and Capital Improvement Project (CIP) proposed budgets were held. Commission leadership shared updates and responded to questions from Council Members regarding projects and programing in their districts and across the county. Thursday’s COW included a budget worksession for the Board of Education proposed budget.
PLANNING, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CONDUCTS BUDGET WORKSESSIONS
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The Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee (PHED), convened on Tuesday, May 2nd, for the continuation of budget worksessions. PHED members reviewed proposed spending plans for Experience Prince George’s, FSC First, and the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation. CB-052-2023, legislation concerning townhouse and townhouse related uses – temporary limitation on development; CB-054-2023, an Ordinance concerning Administration-Standard Review Procedures-Summaries of Opposition Arguments and Objections; and CB-055-2023 an Act concerning Applications-Standard Review Procedures – Public Hearing Testimony, were scheduled for committee discussion, but motioned to be held for a future committee date.
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HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CONDUCT BUDGET WORKSESSIONS FOR COUNTY’S PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES |
 The Council’s committee on Health, Human Services, and Public Safety convened on Thursday, May 4th to review the Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Budgets for the Police Accountability Board, Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Fire/Volunteer Fire Departments.
COUNCIL HOLDS FINAL FY 2024 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
 The County Council convened on Tuesday evening, May 2nd, for its final Budget Public Hearing for the Proposed FY 2024 Operating Budget, Six Year Capital Program (including the Capital Improvement budget), the Board of Education portion of the FY 2024 Operation Budget, Proposed Budgets for the Redevelopment Authority and the Revenue Authority, and the Constant Yield Tax Rate. Residents shared a host of budget priorities for funding consideration for community concerns ranging from the arts and education to health, libraries, food insecurity, climate change, housing, smarter growth and safer streets.
Council Chair Thomas E. Dernoga, presiding over the public hearing, noted during the hearing that new revenue projections will mean some difficult choices. “I would be remiss not to mention that we have a lot of folks who are looking for Non-Departmental grants, and we want to fund them all; we want to increase them, but at the present time, the Proposed Budget is reducing our grants by 40-percent, which we’re not happy about. Just so you’re aware, that’s something that we have to deal with; something that’s been put in front of us.”
In keeping with the County Charter, the Council must adopt a new and balanced spending plan for Prince George’s County by June 1.
COUNCIL VICE CHAIR WALA BLEGAY, ESQ. ON THE AIR THIS WEEK
Council Vice Chair Wala Blegay, Esq., addressed a host of issues impacting the County during her live guest appearance on Wednesday, May 3rd, as the featured guest on WHUR radio’s “Daily Drum” broadcast with veteran host Harold Fisher. Council Vice Chair Blegay answered questions from listeners locally and across the country, provided updates on the People’s Council and People’s Agenda, and discussed budget concerns, and legislation focused on healthcare and nurse-patient ratios, development, infrastructure, the environment and more.
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 May 8 - Sitting as the District Council - 10:00 AM - DETAILS
May 8 - County Council - 11:30 AM
May 8 - Sitting as the Committee of the Whole - 1:30 PM - DETAILS
May 9 - County Council - 10:00 AM - DETAILS
May 10 - Board of Appeals - 6:00 PM - DETAILS
May 11 - HHSPS Committee - 10:00 AM
May 11 - Sitting as the District Council - 12:00 PM - DETAILS
May 11 - County Council - 3:00 PM - DETAILS
Archived Meetings can be viewed on Council Livestream page
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 RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT DURING BOWIE-MITCHELLVILLE AND VICINITY SECTIONAL MAP AMENDMENT JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY
 The Prince George’s County Council sitting as the District Council, and the Prince George’s County Planning Board of the Maryland -National Capital Park and Planning Commission will hold an in-person Joint Public Hearing on the Bowie-Mitchellville and Vicinity Sectional Map Amendment (SMA), on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wayne K. Curry Administrative Building, Council Hearing Room, 1301 McCormick Drive, Largo, Maryland 20774.
Council Chair Tom Dernoga says public participation in the Joint Public Hearing provides critical public input. “It is vitally important for our residents and stakeholders to engage in the SMA process, concerning how the SMA might impact their community. This is an opportunity for residents to share their thoughts and concerns and we look forward to hearing from them.”
To register to speak or submit comments or written testimony please use the Council’s eComment portal at: https://pgccouncil.us/Speak For those unable to use the portal, comments/written correspondence may be emailed to: clerkofthecouncil@co.pg.md.us or faxed to (301) 952-5178. On-site registration for in-person testimony is now available; however, advance registration to testify is strongly encouraged. Written comments may be submitted through the close of business on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, when the record of public hearing testimony will close.
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NON-PROFITS SEEKING FY2024 COUNTY COUNCIL NON-DEPARTMENTAL GRANTS MUST SUBMIT REQUIRED FORMAL CONSIDERATION REQUEST LETTER BY MAY 26
 Non-Profit organizations seeking County Council consideration of being tentatively designated to receive FY2024 County Council Non-Departmental grant funds must complete the fillable form located here: FY24 Grant Consideration Request Form. The submittal deadline is Friday, May 26, 2023.
For additional details, please visit https://pgccouncil.us/320/Grants
BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2023 – NEW FOODWARE REQUIREMENT FOR BUSINESSES
 Starting June 1, 2023, the effective date for COUNCIL BILL – 014-2022, food establishments in the County will only provide disposable foodware and accessories by request for orders of ready-to-eat foods.
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DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL MEMBER WANIKA FISHER ATTENDS WHITE HOUSE FORUM ON ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
 District 2 Council Member Wanika Fisher, the first AAPI to serve on the Prince George’s County Council, describes Wednesday’s experience attending the White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders as “transformational.” The May 3rd event at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., was a community-wide celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month featuring Biden-Harris Administration officials, groundbreaking artists, and trailblazers. Council Member Fisher enjoyed spending time with AAPI leaders including Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran, Georgia State representative Sam Park, CNN Executive Producer and Host Lisa Ling and more, pledging to continue advocating for disaggregating data, language access, and legislation to stop hate crimes against the Asian Americans.
DISTRICT 7 COUNCIL MEMBER KRYSTAL ORIADHA PRESENTS PROCLAMATION TO GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
 On Wednesday, District 7 Council Member Krystal Oriadha joined the Greater Washington Community Foundation for their 50th anniversary, celebrating philanthropy and creating better communities. Council Member Oriadha was honored to present the Greater Washington Community Foundation with a proclamation for all their work in Prince George’s County!
COUNCIL MEMBER AT-LARGE CALVIN HAWKINS, II ATTENDS ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN OFFICERS
Council Member At-Large Calvin Hawkins, II , attended the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Annual Candlelight Memorial hosted by the Command Officers Association on Wednesday, honoring the law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in Prince George’s County. The memorial roll call started as far back as 1932. Fifty-six law enforcement professionals representing 14 agencies were honored.
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DISTRICT 5 COUNCIL MEMBER JOLENE IVEY DELIVERS A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GREETING TO SPECIAL PRINCE GEORGIAN
 District 5 Council Member Jolene Ivey had the honor of reading Mr. James Jenifer a birthday greeting from President Joe Biden for his 96th birthday! Not only did Council Member Ivey get to wish Mr. James a happy birthday, but she also thanked him for his service in both World War II and the Korean War, adding that the experience reminded her of her father, who also served proudly! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. JENIFER!
CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH!
 The month of May and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month offer another important opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of Prince George’s County, as we join the nation in recognizing the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States and Prince George’s County!
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