Finance Committee Budget Hearing: City Manager's Office and Recreation & Parks – April 21, 2026

The Finance Committee held a special budget hearing on April 21, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 10:37 AM, with a recess from 9:27 AM to 10:35 AM. The committee reviewed the proposed FY2027 budgets for the City Manager's Office and the Recreation & Parks Department, discussed supplemental appropriations and fund transfers, and deferred action on several items to the next day.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting agenda and the minutes from the April 13, 2026 Special Meeting were approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• City Manager’s Office (ID-81-26): Acting City Manager Buckland and Deputy City Manager for Resilience & Sustainability Guild presented the office’s budget, which includes oversight, the Harbor Master's Office, and resilience/sustainability programs. Key points included:

  • Over $1 million in grants secured in the past year for energy efficiency and pollution reduction.
  • Completion of a climate action plan and updated greenhouse gas emissions inventory (first since 2008).
  • A no-cost community solar contract that could save the city $100,000 annually in utility expenses.
  • The electric leaf blower rebate program: $105,000 allocated, with $85,500 for rebates after fees. To date, about $36,000 has been spent, with $49,500 encumbered. Alderman Thorp requested the number of citations issued under the leaf blower ban—Deputy Guild stated she did not have that figure and would obtain it.
  • Discussion on enforcement: currently done by Planning & Zoning inspectors via overtime, citations issued to the operator (not the homeowner). Alderwoman O'Neill questioned the effectiveness of relying on email complaints.
  • The environmental program manager position was funded in FY26 from savings from a vacant city manager position; the FY27 budget request seeks to make that funding permanent. Alderman Thorp clarified this does not represent a headcount increase.
  • Holiday decorations and Downtown Annapolis Partnership funding: Alderman Huntley questioned the rationale for increases in holiday decorations and decreases in flower funding. Acting City Manager Buckland noted these are separate line items and that shifting funds is possible with council direction.
  • The national community survey was deferred to FY28 due to other workload.

• Recreation & Parks (ID-82-26): Director of Recreation & Parks Johnson presented the department’s FY26 accomplishments and FY27 budget requests. Key topics included:

  • FY26 revenue of nearly $1.9 million, with Pip Moyer Recreation Center bringing in $705,000, facility rentals $387,000, and programs $285,000.
  • Performance measures: 87% satisfaction with programming; 190 registrants per 100,000; 61% city residents; 100% of housing units within a 15-minute walk. This is a baseline year for many metrics.
  • Budget enhancements: $40,000 accepted for qualified child care staff (child care director and teacher) for an additional location; $10,000 for new dugouts; $20,000 for e-sports; $28,000 for increased recreation programming. Not accepted: converting two part-time maintenance workers to full-time ($34,000), permanent expansion of programming ($11,000), and increasing the food line ($10,000).
  • Lifeguard staffing: Current level is 28 lifeguards for Truxton Park Pool; goal is 32. Harbor House Pool currently has no lifeguards and operates only with the aquatics supervisor. Alderwoman O'Neill and Alderman Thorp requested a plan to open Harbor House Pool seven days a week, including exploring pool management companies.
  • Stanton Center Recreation Center: Efforts to increase usage include adding a computer at the front desk and a scanner for tracking attendance. Alderman Huntley requested daily tracking of Stanton Center use. The budget for Stanton Center shows a >20% decrease from the FY26 projected budget ($78,000) to FY27 budgeted ($65,000). Alderman Thorpe asked for a plan to make Stanton Center more like Pip Moyer and to explain the decrease.
  • Child care programs: Serve about 130 children across multiple sites. The $40,000 enhancement would support an additional site. Challenges include limited space from schools and difficulty finding qualified staff for the 2-6 PM shift.
  • Parks maintenance: Director Johnson requested converting two part-time maintenance workers to full-time. Alderman Huntley expressed support for this investment.
  • Security guards: $28,000 for a security guard at Truxton Park Pool. Huntley questioned the need; Johnson defended it as necessary during peak times.

• Legislation R-8-26 (Fee Waivers for City Supported Special Events in FY2027): This item was not discussed in detail. At adjournment, the committee agreed to move it to the next day's meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Action Items:
  • Deputy Guild will report the number of citations issued under the leaf blower ban.
  • The Budget Book will be updated to reflect the appropriate number of lifeguards (target 32) under the Health and Fitness & Pool section.
  • Recreation & Parks will provide a plan and cost estimate for opening Harbor House Pool seven days a week, including the option of hiring a pool management company.
  • Recreation & Parks will begin tracking daily attendance at Stanton Center.
  • The department will provide a breakdown of revenue sources for all programs.
  • The City Manager's Office will provide objectives and goals for the 'Decreasing Food Deserts' program by June 2026.
  • A spreadsheet of remaining questions from committee members will be compiled and sent to departments for written follow-up or a future meeting.
• Deferred Items: Supplemental Appropriations SA-20-26 and Fund Transfer FT-9-26 were postponed to the next day's Finance Committee meeting.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:37 AM with a motion to carry over remaining business to April 22, 2026.