COUNCIL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS STATUS
The 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 September 1, 2020, 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-101-2020 on October 13, 2020. 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.
COUNTY COUNCIL CONVENES VIRTUAL SESSION; RECEIVES PGCPS BRIEFING UPDATE ON ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION FINANCING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REVIEWS LEGISLATION AND PROPOSED CORRESPONDENCE; EXTENDS COUNTY STATE OF EMERGENCY
The County Council’s virtual session on Tuesday, October 13th, began with a briefing update from Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson and her leadership team, including Jayson Washington, PGCPS Public Private Partnership Director, to provide a presentation and discuss the Alternative Construction Financing (ACF) program, the school system’s innovative and collaborative school construction program targeting rapid enrollment growth amid aging public school buildings. Board of Education Chair Dr. Alvin Thornton provided introductory remarks, and members of the County Executive’s leadership team also participated in the briefing.
WATCH the briefing.
During Tuesday’s session, Council Members approved a Joint Signature Letter to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Chair, Paul C. Smedberg, expressing the County’s concerns about the impact of proposed Metro service and budget changes in response to COVID-19, on residents. In addition, a Joint Signature Letter to U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Steny Hoyer and Congressman Anthony Brown, in support of additional Congressional emergency funding to WMATA, in response to COVID-19, was also approved by the Council.
In other action Tuesday, the Council adopted CR-101-2020, Prince George’s County’s fifth continuation of the Declaration of Emergency related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
WATCH for the full County Council agenda.
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DISTRICT COUNCIL CONVENES VIRTUALLY; APPROVES DISTRICT 2 MAGRUDER POINTE PROJECT
The County Council, sitting as the District Council on land-use matters, convened in virtual session on Tuesday, October 13th for final consideration of the Magruder Pointe project. The District Council approved, with conditions, DSP-18005, the Detailed Site Plan (DSP) application to develop 15 single-family attached units and 16 single-family detached units on the upper parcel, on the former site of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) Headquarters building, in District 2. WATCH Tuesday’s District Council session.
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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CONVENES VIRTUAL MEETING TO REVIEW LEGISLATION
The Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW) convened virtually on Tuesday, October 13th and again on Thursday, October 15th. Tuesday’s COW opened with a review of CR-101-2020, concerning the continuance of the County’s State of Emergency. Council Members heard from County Attorney Rhonda Weaver, Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter, and the County’s Director of Emergency Management, Ronald Gill, regarding the County’s COVID-19 emergency status. The measure, which extends the County’s State of Emergency for the fifth time, was unanimously approved by the committee for consideration by the full Council. The COW also discussed CR-100-2020, a resolution approving a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to clearly allocate the County’s and Prince George’s County Public Schools’ (PGCPS) roles, rights and responsibilities with respect to funding and oversight for the PGCPS Public-Private Partnership for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the County Public Schools Alternative Construction Financing (ACF) project. Following discussion on the proposed governing document, the COW held this item for further discussion. Thursday’s COW meeting continued the committee’s robust discussion on CR-100-2020, which was favorably approved as amended, and referred to the full Council for a vote on Tuesday, October 20th. SEE PRESS RELEASE BELOW. WATCH Tuesday’s COW.
The COW reviewed several other proposed Council bills and resolutions on Thursday, including CB-071-2020, legislation concerning healthy children’s meals and beverages. The measure, unanimously approved by the COW, was also supported by Sugar Free Kids Maryland, the Prince George’s Food Equity Council and the American Heart Association. CB-086-2020, legislation concerning food hall service facilities, CB-034-2020, proposed legislation addressing language access for public services, and CB–077-2020, an Act concerning Prompt Payment Procurement were approved, as amended, along with legislation related to the FY 2020-2029 Comprehensive 10 Year Solid Waste Management Plan, a Property Tax Credit for those impacted by the Brown Station Landfill, Supplemental Appropriations for Federal and State grants to the County, updating the County Building Codes and the June amendment cycle to the 2018 Water and Sewer Plan. WATCH Thursday’s COW.
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COUNCIL’S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE SUPPORTS LEGISLATION ADDRESSING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION MODEL FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS; LEGISLATION TO RECEIVE FINAL VOTE DURING SCHEDULED COUNCIL SESSION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
The Prince George’s County Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW), during its virtual meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2020, voted to move forward, with amendments, CR-100-2020, a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing a groundbreaking school construction model for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
Council Chair Todd M. Turner (D-District 4) says the committee vote offers significant progress toward employing creative strategies that build schools in Prince George’s County. “The Council committee’s favorable recommendation of an MOU, the governance document for the Alternative School Construction project, is an important step forward and sets the structure for the Council to fulfill its budget and oversight obligations as we move closer to this first-of-its-kind school construction model.”
The Alternative Construction Financing program, a proposed multi-year public-private partnership, would build six new public schools in the County, providing upgraded learning environments for approximately 8,000 students, over the next four years.
Chair Turner, acknowledging the joint commitment to the effort, adds there is still more to do to achieve this first of its kind school construction model in the U.S. and the state of Maryland. “We acknowledge the hard work of our leadership teams and staff to move us closer to our goal and look forward to achieving the work ahead through our continuing joint commitment with Prince George’s County Schools CEO Dr. Monica Goldson, and our school system, the Board of Education, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, and state lawmakers, in response to the needs of our children and residents.”
CR-100-2020 will appear on the County Council agenda for a final vote during the Council session scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
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CLIMATE ACTION COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST MEETING VIRTUALLY
The 16-member Prince George’s County Climate Action Commission, chaired by the Director of the County’s Department of the Environment, Joseph P. Gill, met for the first time on Friday, October 16, 2020. Established by CR-007-2020, the Climate Action Commission, is charged with developing a Climate Action Plan for Prince George’s County to prepare for regional climate change impacts and set climate stabilization goals. The commission will review the 2012 Draft Plan and research best practices for greenhouse gas emission reductions, adaption, and resiliency at the federal, state and local levels; update the County’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory; and identify a plan of action for implementation of climate adaption. Friday’s discussion agenda included an overview of the charge set in the establishing legislation, issues of interest, resources, and next steps. District 1 Council Member Tom Dernoga, representing the Council on the Climate Action Commission, stressed the importance of regional partnerships to achieve the stated goals. County Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter referenced the issue of climate change as a “number one priority in our County and the nation,” pledging the Health Department’s commitment as well. There was also dialogue about the involvement of the County’s young people in this important effort. The Commission is scheduled to issue an interim report by January 31, 2021 and a final report by September 30, 2021. All meetings will be held virtually. Commission meetings may be viewed HERE.
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HOW AND WHERE TO GET COVID-19 TESTING IN THE COUNTY
The Prince George’s County Health Department offers FREE COVID-19 tests for individuals with or without symptoms that have been exposed to, or suspected to have been exposed, to a COVID-19-positive person. All County-run testing sites accommodate testing for those in a car or on foot. Patients do not need an appointment, a doctor’s prescription, or insurance to get tested, however, you must present identification. There will be no questions about immigration status at any of the County’s testing sites. If you have health insurance, you must present your insurance card. Testing is provided free of charge (no out-of-pocket cost or co-payment regardless of insurance).
LEARN MORE about COVID-19 testing in Prince George’s County.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT RELEASES HALLOWEEN GUIDANCE, OFFERS TIPS FOR SAFER ACTIVITIES; HEALTH OFFICER RECOMMENDS AVOIDING TRADITIONAL TRICK-OR-TREATING; INDOOR HAUNTED HOUSES NOT ALLOWED IN THE COUNTY
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for virus transmission associated with some Halloween activities, the Prince George’s County Health Department is not allowing indoor haunted houses and does NOT recommend traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating this year. If you choose to trick-or-treat, you can reduce the transmission risk by staying with members of your household and closely following health and safety guidelines. “To avoid the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, it’s very important to remain at least 6 feet away from others, wear face coverings, avoid large gatherings, and maintain good hand hygiene,” said Prince George’s County Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter. “Closely following the guidelines Prince Georgians have so far done a good job adhering to, will give our communities the best chance to have a safe and healthy Halloween.” And clearly, if you have COVID-19, or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you absolutely should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. READ the press release.
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