Council Connections

2024 ANNUAL RETREAT – ‘ONE COUNTY, ONE COUNCIL – UNITED WE THRIVE!’

The County Council held its Annual Legislative Retreat, “One County, One Council - United We Thrive!” on Monday, January 8, and Tuesday, January 9. For the first time, the retreat featured a bus tour each day with stops in all nine Council Districts, providing important insight for Council Members into neighboring districts and opportunities for community engagement.

“The Council’s 2024 Annual Retreat is an opportunity for members to gain firsthand knowledge about the challenges and triumphs faced by each of our districts. Our goal is to build bridges and strengthen relationships across district lines that will ultimately inform our decision-making and help shape this year’s legislative agenda.” – Council Chair Jolene Ivey

“It is important that Council Members understand the challenges constituents face in districts across the County, and that we work together in a positive way to address those issues. The Council’s annual retreat and two-day bus tour covering the County helps position us to achieve this important goal.” – Council Vice Chair Sydney Harrison

For more information, and to view presentations and photos from the two-day event, click HERE.

COUNCIL CONVENES FIRST SESSION OF NEW YEAR

The Council convened its first session of Legislative Year 2024 on Tuesday, January 16^th, with the new leadership team of Council Chair Jolene Ivey and Vice Chair Sydney Harrison presiding.   Welcoming the first snowfall of the new year, all Council meetings on Tuesday were held virtually. 

Council Members approved Proposed Correspondence regarding the Council’s appointment of an Integrity and Compliance Officer, and the adoption of CR-001-2024, Minor Amendment to the 1989 Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment for the Langley Park-College Park-Greenbelt-and Vicinity, before adjourning.

District Council also convened virtually on Tuesday for Oral Arguments and Items Pending Finality. The County Council, sitting as the District Council, has the authority to review and decide zoning and land use matters for Prince George’s County.

COUNCIL CONDUCTS JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

The County Council and Planning Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission held a Joint Public Hearing on the Proposed Historic Sight Designation of the Yates and Mary Boswell House on Tuesday, January 16th.  Located in Council District 3 (University Park), the Yates and Mary Boswell House was built in 1939, and received a favorable recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission to be designated as a Prince George’s County Historical Site. Following public testimony, including comment from the current owners, the meeting was adjourned.

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE RECEIVES AGENCY UPDATES Especially during the winter months, respiratory viruses commonly cause illness such as the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the rise in respiratory illness often causes an increase in hospitalizations and emergency room visits. To learn more about how the County is responding to this critical issue, the Council’s Health, Human Services and Public Safety Committee (HHSPS) received a Respiratory Virus briefing update presented by Prince George’s County Health Officer, Dr. Matthew Levy. Committee members also received briefings from Department of Family Services Director, Elana T. Belon-Butler; and Department of Social Services Director, Gloria Brown Burnett.

PLANNING, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WELCOMES NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR

The Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee (PHED) on Thursday, January 18th, began with an introduction of the new Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) Planning Director, Lakisha Hull, who shared her background and vision for the department. Committee members also received a Plan 2035 Briefing, including an overview of Planning Department strategies to further the plan goals in the coming year. Plan 2035 makes room for a fundamental shift in the County’s development pattern, away from auto-dependent suburban sprawl and towards pedestrian and transit-friendly mixed-use centers.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE CONVENES UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP Reviewing state and local bills with potential policy of fiscal impacts on Prince George’s County was the focus of the Council’s General Assembly Committee meeting Tuesday, chaired by Council Member Calvin Hawkins, II.  General Assembly began with a Just Cause Letter of Support from Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, requiring landlords to provide justifiable reasons when deciding not to renew a lease. Under current state law, counties do not have the authority to address cause eviction and landlords can refuse to renew a lease and evict a tenant for any reason with 60 days’ notice. The letter conveys the county's important and unique interest in maintaining residents' housing stability, and an expressed need for the authority to implement just cause eviction and prevent arbitrary, retaliatory, or discriminatory evictions. A motion to favorably support the letter was unanimously approved. The committee then turned its attention to Local Bills on the agenda for detailed review.

Council Members Hawkins and Fisher form General Assembly Committee Leadership Team

COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMEMORATE MLK DAY WITH SERVICE EVENTS

A Day On, Not a Day Off! Council Members spent the long weekend honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with service events across the County. Chair Jolene Ivey (District 5) was at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville where students were fired up and ready to serve! Ivey said it was a joy to be with them as they departed for their MLK Day of Service. District 6 Council Member Wala Blegay, along with more than 60 volunteers, provided lunch, groceries, and donations to dozens of seniors at the Largo Landing Fellowship House, a senior living community impacted by a fire during the holiday season. District 7 Council Member Krystal Oriadha provided meals and supplies at the men’s homeless shelter in Capitol Heights and hosted an MLK Day Celebration at Frederick Douglass High School. At-Large Council Member Calvin Hawkins sponsored a giveaway at Beltway Plaza Mall that provided over 300 families with fresh produce, meal vouchers and warm clothing. District 2 Council Member Wanika Fisher joined Gov. Wes Moore and other state leaders for the Black Caucus annual wreath laying ceremony in honor of Dr. King. 

Let us not only remember Dr. King’s extraordinary contributions, but commit to carrying forward his dream, and living by his words: “The time is always right to do what is right.”

COUNCIL CHAIR JOLENE IVEY PARTICIPATES IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S $40 MILLION TO EXPAND CLEAN ENERGY WORKFORCE TRAINING

Council Chair Jolene Ivey and District 4 Council Member Ingrid Watson joined U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, Congressman Glenn Ivey, and Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers International Union leadership for the announcement of a $215,000 grant, part of $40 million allocation to the Energy Department to expand green jobs training and enhance manufacturing efficiency. The grant presentation, made on January 5^th at Insulators Local Union No. 24 in Laurel, will support their apprentice training programs.

January 22 - Sitting as the District Council - 9:30 AM 

January 22 - Sitting as the District Council - 10:00 AM - DETAILS

January 22 - EWD Committee - 1:30 PM - DETAILS

January 23 - General Assembly Committee - 9:00 AM - DETAILS 

January 23 - County Council - 10:30 AM (Agenda Briefing)

January 23 - County Council - 11:00 AM - DETAILS 

January 23 - County Council - 11:30 AM (Meet & Greet with Glenn Ivey, Congressman)

January 23 - Sitting as the Committee of the Whole - 1:30 PM - DETAILS

January 24 - Board of Appeals - 6:00 PM - DETAILS

January 25 - TIEE Committee - 10:00 AM - DETAILS

Archived Meetings can be viewed on Council Livestream page