Agenda Includes County Budget, Workforce Development, Grants Updates and Legislative Priorities

The Prince George’s County Council convened its 2020 Annual Retreat “Team Prince George’s - Service. Community. Progress,” today, January 21. The two-day annual meeting is being held in the Terrapin Room at The Hotel at the University of Maryland, in College Park.

Council Chair Todd M. Turner (D) – District 4, says the Council retreat will focus on ensuring that Prince George’s County is poised to meet the challenges and opportunities of the upcoming year.

“The Council convenes a retreat annually in January to chart a path for effectively and efficiently addressing the body’s priorities, which is done with strategic planning and the development of our legislative agenda to meet the needs of Prince George’s County residents.  This is the second year of service for this 11-member body, and we look forward to building on the successes of the past year, and identifying solutions for the challenges ahead."

Council Members opened Tuesday’s session with a briefing on the County Budget and fiscal matters provided by the County’s Chief Administrative Officer, Major Riddick; Office of Management and Budget Director, Stanley Earley; Office of Finance Director Stephen McGibbon; and Deputy Director of Finance Linda Allen. The presentation and dialogue focused on the County’s economic and long-term fiscal outlook. The County Budget session was followed by a discussion on education issues with Prince George’s County Board of Education Chair, Dr. Alvin Thornton; Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Chief of Staff to the CEO, Christian Rhodes, and PGCPS Capital Programs Director Shawn Matlock.

Following an update on education issues, Council Members participated in a workforce development panel discussion with Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta Breaux, Prince George’s Community College President Dr. Charlene Dukes; and Employ Prince George’s President and CEO Walter Simmons.

The day concluded with County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks, who joined the Council and opened her time by thanking Council Members for their partnership during the past year, “It has been a joy for us to work together in collaboration and partnership. It has been greatly, greatly beneficial, and we have gotten so much done.”

Day two of the Council Retreat, which begins as 10 a.m. on Wednesday, will feature a Housing Opportunities for All update; Census Complete Count discussion and a zoning conversation focused on the Countywide Map Amendment process.

The Annual Council Retreat is an open meeting and the public is invited to attend. For more information, updates and presentations, visit https://pgccouncil.us/Retreat

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