Anne Arundel County Council Work Session – February 10, 2026

The Anne Arundel County Council met on February 10, 2026, for a work session covering FY26 supplemental appropriations, zoning for battery energy storage, recreation and parks code changes, a budget transparency resolution, and a large draft update to Article 18 of the county zoning code. The work session did not include a public comment period; substantive items were discussed and no final votes were taken, but multiple next steps were identified.

Bill 826 – Board of Education Supplementary Appropriation and Transfer of Funds

• Administration representative Ethan Hunt presented the Board of Education request, which recognizes a $6,412,762 increase in federal, state, and local revenues, including $2,190,000 in restricted funds; appropriates $4,222,762 from unappropriated fund balance; and reallocates $1,172,800 among Board expenditure categories. The Board of Education approved the request on December 17, 2025.
• Director of Finance Matt Stanski confirmed that FY26 federal funds are on target and that no payments have been held back or cut, though overall appropriation levels were reduced.

Bill 926 – Zoning: Battery Energy Storage Systems

• Sponsor Fiedler said the bill adds battery energy storage systems to the use chart. Administration staff relayed fire department recommendations, including a Knox-box entry system, National Fire Protection Association maintenance standards, and a written emergency response plan with site-specific training; the sponsor agreed to incorporate them.
• Fire Marshal Donna McGuire explained that large battery fires require copious amounts of water; no specific extinguishing agent exists, and submerged batteries can continue burning until discharged. Council members asked about water supply in RA districts and peninsula areas. Sponsor Fiedler said she would revisit that language, noting the county itself is a peninsula.
• Office of Planning and Zoning staff opposed proposed expedited review language, saying it is not typical and difficult to administer. Sponsor Fiedler defended it as necessary due to long review times and energy urgency. Councilman Volkey referenced state Public Utilities Code Section 7-219(f)(2) requiring expedited review for front-of-the-meter storage, and OPZ agreed to research it.

Bill 1026 – Police Accountability Board Ride-Alongs

• The bill, sponsored by the Council President, expands the annual ride-along requirement for Police Accountability Board members from the Anne Arundel County Police Department to all county law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff’s Department, Crofton Police, Anne Arundel Community College Police, and Annapolis Police. Administration confirmed it was a request of the board. No questions were raised.

Bill 1126 – Recreation and Parks Article 14 Code Revision

• Department of Recreation and Parks staff presented a modernization of Article 14, including state-aligned definitions for e-bikes, scooters, and drones; restrictions on balloons, confetti, and glitter; updated rules for swimming, golfing, and shoreline mooring; digital public notice; updated organized gathering permits; and clarified commercial activity and pack-out trash rules.
• Council discussion focused on alcohol in parks, director discretion, and a Bodkin Park softball fundraiser. Parks staff said the alcohol policy was not changing, only relocated in the code, and that most of the roughly 30 specialized permits and 4-5 annual alcohol requests are approved. A councilmember said he would propose amendments, including an appeal path to the Board of Appeals.
• Councilwoman Fiedler raised concerns about e-bike trail safety and enforcement. Parks staff said a new proposed policy with Bike AAA would address higher-speed e-bike classes. Staff also said the balloon ban was long-standing regional park policy and a commercial photography permit was set at $50, with large school prom events exempted.

Bill 726 – Supplementary Appropriations

• The administration presented appropriations totaling $1,047,000, consisting of $868,400 from the unappropriated general fund balance reserved for federal impact funds and $178,600 from the Pimlico and World Race Course Grant Fund. The funds would backfill a $500,000 food bank commitment, support Medicaid eligibility staffing, and reconcile a Laurel racetrack fund item.
• Health Officer Dr. Geddon explained federal Medicaid changes: retroactive coverage drops from 90 days to 60 days for most enrollees and 30 days for expansion adults; roughly 102,000-103,000 county residents are enrolled; and about 25,000 expansion adults will need to re-enroll twice a year, increasing staffing needs. Councilmembers noted this is an ongoing cost being paid with one-time money; Budget Officer Chris Trumbauer said recurring FY27 funding would be addressed in the upcoming budget.

Resolution 226 – Budget Transparency and Public Input

• Sponsor Volkey proposed urging the county executive to release a preliminary FY27 budget by April 1, arguing that the public should see early revenue and spending estimates instead of learning details only after private executive deliberations. He acknowledged the administration has been transparent with council members but said the public lacks the same access.
• Budget Officer Chris Trumbauer opposed the resolution, citing the eight January town halls, an initial revenue estimate of $120 million in incremental recurring revenue, the budget office’s workload, and the May 1 charter deadline. He pledged to continue sharing available information and asked the council to reject the resolution.
• Council reactions were mixed. Fiedler suggested amending the resolution to require a final public update; Schmidt said he understood the sponsor’s intent but questioned practical value; Pickard and Rodby opposed the measure as late, burdensome, and potentially misleading. No vote was taken.

Resolution 326 – Redistricting from the House

• The council briefly noted the resolution. The sponsor was not present, and members agreed not to debate it in the work session.

Article 18 – Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Code Update

• Planning and Zoning Officer Jenny Dempsey presented the draft Article 18 update, the first comprehensive refresh since 2005. The package contains 332 line items organized into nine categories, was developed through public comment, and was published as a final summary report in December 2025. The bill has been filed with the council and is scheduled for introduction in March.
• Assistant Planning and Zoning Officer Lynn Miller highlighted proposed changes to accessory dwelling units, accessory structures, administrative hearing notices, group home conditions, crematories, density, contractor shops and yards, food trucks, home occupations, manufacturing, mobile homes, outside storage, parking, transitional housing, non-conforming uses, zoning certificates, and new zoning district purpose statements.
• Council questions raised concerns about crematory locations, transitional housing capacity and proximity to existing homes, contractor uses in specific districts, food truck nights on county roadways, outside storage and inoperable vehicles, and the removal of the 20-year registered use provision. OPZ staff said already-granted 20-year uses would be grandfathered, and another work session is scheduled for March.

Key Outcomes

• The BESS bill will be revised to include fire department recommendations, and the sponsor will revisit water-supply and expedited-review concerns.
• Article 14 amendments are expected from a council member regarding director discretion and appeals; Recreation and Parks will provide the new photo policy.
• Bill 726 was discussed as a reconciliation package; Medicaid eligibility staffing will be revisited as a recurring FY27 request.
• Resolution 226 remained pending without a vote; the budget office committed to continued information sharing.
• Article 18 will return in March for another work session and formal introduction.
• The council adjourned until Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 6 p.m.