Government Operations Committee Meeting - August 3, 2026

The Government Operations Committee met on August 3, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The agenda included approval of prior minutes, two workshop presentations (University of Baltimore Center for AI Learning and Community-Engaged Innovation; OpenGov and Priority-Based Budgeting), and discussion of proposed charter amendments. No public comment was offered.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved minutes from nine prior meetings: January 12, February 9, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 23, April 6, June 22, and July 6, 2026. The motion carried with one abstention.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Presentation from University of Baltimore Center for AI Learning and Community-Engaged Innovation – Dr. Jessica Sansbury, founding director, presented on AI literacy and community engagement. She outlined six AI personas (civic champion, student superuser, adaptive achiever, prudent professor, hometown hero, labor guardian) and emphasized that AI adoption is a human challenge requiring trust, inclusion, and shared ownership. She noted that AI is already impacting sectors like education, workforce, and government, and recommended a human-centered approach: start with the problem, not the technology. She described the "AI Navigators" model and a living ecosystem hub for community input. Committee members asked about formal training programs and expressed interest in connecting AI readiness to the city’s strategic goals.
• Presentation on OpenGov and Priority-Based Budgeting – Lacey Gordon (Budget Manager) and Erica Robrahl (Senior Advisor for Opportunity Innovation) presented a three-phase framework to evolve the city’s budget process: priority-based budgeting, program-based budgeting, and performance-based budgeting, all supported by OpenGov. They introduced the "Spark Tool," an interactive exercise where each council member assigns 100 points to strategic goals and objectives to create a weighted aggregate priority list. They highlighted examples: a street paving program (aggregating $12.9 million across departments) and a food and nutrition program (city contributed $295,000 of $1.9 million total, 75% grant-funded). The timeline calls for the council to receive the Spark survey in September 2026, with results presented in October 2026. Committee members discussed the need for clear KPIs, transparency, and the importance of analyzing data, not just publishing it. Lacey Gordon noted that she will continue to build the program inventory and that the performance-based module may require additional funding.
• Old Business: Proposed Charter Amendments List – The committee reviewed a list of charter amendment topics compiled by staff, including vacancies and open primaries. They discussed a process for moving items forward: an initial conversation with research, followed by a follow-up discussion to determine consensus, then bullet-point recommendations to the full council. The schedule for these items will be presented at the next committee meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved: Minutes from nine meetings were approved with one abstention.
• OpenGov and Priority-Based Budgeting framework endorsed: The committee expressed support for the presented framework and timeline. The Spark tool survey will be distributed to council members in September 2026, with aggregated results to inform the mayor’s budget preparation. The budget process will adopt a phased approach: priority setting in fall 2026, program inventory development throughout the fiscal year, and performance KPI dashboards as the OpenGov module is fully implemented.
• Charter amendment process agreed: The committee agreed to use a two-step process (initial information gathering, then consensus discussion) for each amendment topic, with bullet-point recommendations flowing to full council. The schedule will be finalized at the next meeting.