OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Budget Oversight Hearing for DPR and DGS – May 7, 2026

Council of the District of Columbia — Thursday, May 7, 2026
BodyWashington, District Of Columbia
SessionCouncil of the District of Columbia
DateThursday, May 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:04

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Development.

0:00

Okay, she's a increase of 85% in fiscal year 26 and over 200% fiscal year 25.

0:06

And so I want to understand why why was this increase necessary and what will it what will the increase pay for that couldn't be paid for at fiscal year 25 levels?

0:16

I I think to your point um we are increasing uh cost of training because we want our staff to be better aligned with the needs, and so we'll want to provide and ensure our staff are better able to deal with uh constituents.

0:34

Okay, um, so it'll be uh will it be more training or is the cost of the existing training going up?

0:40

So so it's kind of what we also did we moved our training from HR.

0:45

We now have a training and development department so that we can be strategic about ensuring that our uh staff members are properly trained.

0:54

Um you'll see those cost shift.

0:58

Okay, and is that explained because there was an increase in a and the this increase in agency management contrast with a 25,000 or uh or 28% decrease to the training and employee development division?

1:11

Yes, ma'am.

1:12

So is that the reason for the discrepancy?

1:14

Yes, ma'am.

1:15

Okay.

1:17

Turning to agency financial operations, there is 229 or 60% increase to agency budgeting and financial management services.

1:26

Uh what's the reason for this increase, or is this a reclassification of FTs?

1:31

Um, so our off our AFO's office was not initially fully staffed, and based on the MOU, um, we had to hire more positions to support the agency's needs, and so we were we're now fully funded.

1:49

Okay.

1:50

Uh there was a small 2,000 decrease in volunteer relations, but that amounts to uh 13% decrease from fiscal year 26 and a 91% decrease from fiscal year 25.

2:01

What was reduced over the last two years for volunteer relations relations that allows for this continued decrease?

2:08

Uh that's a great question.

2:10

I'll have to look at um maybe uh print we may have uh do we have an in-house print team, so maybe publications that we pay for out.

2:21

Okay.

2:22

Um and with the volunteer relations deductions, how have these deductions impacted DPR's ability to engage with its many volunteers?

2:30

They help keep or keep our parks and outdoor uh recreations clean.

2:34

We're excited about our volunteers.

2:36

Um not only do they support with keeping our parks um and playgrounds clean, they support with large events like her story 5K, um, to our late night hypes.

2:48

Um we're seeing an increase in volunteerism.

2:51

Um people are hitting us up and saying they want to help.

2:54

So um we're excited about that.

2:57

Okay.

2:57

Um, sorry.

2:58

And con in con contrast, there was 208,000 increase to donor relations.

3:04

What is this increase?

3:06

Why is this increase next necessary?

3:10

Um in donor relations.

3:15

Yeah, I think that's a uh uh we did a realignment to make sure again going back to our schedule A, we wanted to make sure that we realigned uh various one-off units, so within our comms division, um in our partnership and strategic initiatives, there's more alignment there, okay.

3:37

In her testimony, Kelly call uh Collins Choi from KC Trees encouraged DPR to prioritize expanding public-private partnerships with organizations like Casey Trees to expand access to technical assistance, philanthropic funding, and more capacity support DC's green spaces, especially in a tight but budget year.

3:55

Is this something that DPR is exploring like as as well?

3:59

Absolutely.

4:01

Okay.

4:02

Um DPR has a security budget, and that was also reduced by 244,000.

4:08

What security services does DPR pay for that are not covered by DGS Protective Services Division?

4:14

Is this after hours events security?

4:16

So DGS Protective Services, um, all of our security we pay them.

4:23

And so this is a reduction in security guards at our sites.

4:26

I heard Director Hunter testify a little earlier how we uh look at various sites and uh reduce our footprint or our armed guards um versus a security officer um at various locations where uh security may not be an issue, and so we do pay for our community our security services directly.

4:52

Okay, and so is this this uh reduction of two hundred forty-four thousand?

4:58

Is that going to limit uh DGS's DPR's ability for to make sure that our centers have the protection so people in space that it needs our strategy.

5:10

So I'll use uh I hate to use site names because you know they're like you'll say my site.

5:18

Um so I'll use um hypothetically Joy Evans, who does not currently have security, but let's say if Joy Evans had security from 6 a.m.

5:27

to 12 p.m.

5:28

Joy Evans has a huge basketball following, and so in the afternoon, people are in Joy Evans.

5:35

So in the during the day, we have our uh residents and our of different abilities program, and so from 6 a.m.

5:44

to 3 p.m.

5:45

hypothetically if we had security there, we know we may not necessarily need security there because the individuals that are coming um have different abilities.

5:55

Some of them come with their aides and or seniors, however, in the evenings you see um an influx of young people, um you see those Maryland residents who want to be DC residents in basketball put in which they really can't, but um, but we would reduce um security hours in this hypothetical model from the morning and just have security on the back end.

6:19

Does that make sense?

6:21

Yeah.

6:22

Okay, okay.

6:24

Um DGS PST budget does not include PSD officers for DPR.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Procedural██████████████17%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████16%
Budget Equity Analysis███4%
Public Safety███4%
Community Engagement██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Budget Oversight Hearing for DPR and DGS – May 7, 2026

The Committee held a budget oversight hearing for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Department of General Services (DGS). The councilmember questioned DPR leadership on numerous fiscal year 2027 budget line items, including training costs, staffing alignments, reductions in volunteer relations, security, and external affairs, as well as capital projects such as RFK Stadium, Riggs LaSalle, Fort Stevens, pool replacements, ADA compliance, and playground equipment. The director provided explanations and committed to working with the council on prioritization.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Kelly Collins Choi from Casey Trees testified, encouraging DPR to prioritize expanding public-private partnerships with organizations like Casey Trees to expand access to technical assistance, philanthropic funding, and capacity support for DC's green spaces, especially in a tight budget year.

Discussion Items

  • Training and Development: The councilmember noted an 85% increase in FY26 and over 200% increase from FY25 for training. The director explained that training was moved from HR to a new Training and Development Department to better align staff with needs, and the cost shift accounted for the increase.
  • Agency Financial Operations: A 60% increase (229,000) for agency budgeting was due to the AFO office not being fully staffed; additional positions were hired per an MOU.
  • Volunteer Relations: A 13% decrease from FY26 and 91% from FY25 was attributed to moving publications costs (e.g., in-house print) out of the budget. The director reported that volunteerism is increasing despite the cuts.
  • Donor Relations: A $208,000 increase was due to realigning staff within the communications division and partnership and strategic initiatives.
  • Security Budget: Reduced by $244,000. The director explained that DPR pays for security guards directly (not through DGS PSD officers) and that the reduction involves shifting security hours to higher-need times (e.g., evenings) rather than eliminating coverage.
  • External Affairs/Community Relations: An $183,000 (55%) decrease was questioned, but the director stated it would not affect timely notifications to the community.
  • Public Engagement and Strategic Development: A $394,000 increase was a staff realignment, not a true increase.
  • Administrative Services Operations: A $1.2 million (50%) decrease in support services was also a staffing alignment.
  • Park Monitors and Rangers: A $542,000 (30% from FY26, 60% from FY25) increase was due to pay, fringe, and aligning staff. The director confirmed 18 park rangers in FY27, all unionized.
  • Roving Leaders: A $3.6 million cut was actually a realignment from communications to the recreation division; the director emphasized the program is thriving, with one team winning a basketball championship.
  • Capital Budget: The councilmember noted an 85% reduction in capital-funded FTEs (from 7 to 1) and a $723,000 (56%) cut to project planning. The director explained that the positions were moved to operating or federal awards, and no non-personnel cuts were made.
  • Capital Funding: The FY27 capital budget is $82.7 million, down from $165 million in FY26 but still $20 million more than FY25. The $60 million reduction was due to the removal of the initial RFK investment, which was spread to later years.
  • Rock Creek Tennis Center: The $9 million added by the council for the tennis center, contingent on a transfer of jurisdiction from the National Park Service, was not pursued; the director did not know the status of those funds.
  • Riggs LaSalle: ADA small capital projects for the main door and HVAC upgrades are expected to start in May after a reprogramming request. The director acknowledged Riggs LaSalle is at the top of mind for modernization, but no specific timeline was given.
  • Fort Stevens: DCI has submitted a proposal for a gymnasium, but DPR has not reached an agreement. The director clarified that a meeting with residents was not an endorsement of the project. The new community garden funding is secure and will not be impacted.
  • Swimming Pools: The FY27 budget zeroes out pool replacement funding after $1.98 million in FY26, but the director stated that several pool projects are ongoing and a list can be provided.
  • ADA Compliance: Drops from $2.8 million to $2.15 million. The director said four batches of ADA projects are underway, and once completed, the department should be 100% compliant; the remaining $100,000 per year is for repairs.
  • Playground Equipment: $1.99 million, down $8 million from FY26. The director noted that a previous blitz covered many playgrounds, and LWCF funds can double the budget. A priority list will be shared.
  • Langdon Park: The councilmember acknowledged community concerns about the gymnastics facility, noting that many residents testified in opposition. The director explained that Langdon was chosen because it had low daytime usage and proximity to other large recreation centers. The director clarified that $2 million was not missing; it was already spent on the Chuck Brown Park.

Key Outcomes

  • The councilmember requested that DPR work with her office to identify where funding can be practically allocated and implemented, given the council's at-large task.
  • The director agreed to provide a list of priority playgrounds, taking into account ADA compliance and safety issues (e.g., missing gates, taller playgrounds).
  • The councilmember asked for further community conversations regarding Langdon Park to reach a compromise.
  • The director committed to follow up on the status of the Rock Creek Tennis Center funds and the Fort Stevens project.
  • The hearing concluded at 2:55 p.m. Residents may submit testimony by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Development. Okay, she's a increase of 85% in fiscal year 26 and over 200% fiscal year 25. And so I want to understand why why was this increase necessary and what will it what will the increase pay for that couldn't be paid for at fiscal year 25 levels? I I think to your point um we are increasing uh cost of training because we want our staff to be better aligned with the needs, and so we'll want to provide and ensure our staff are better able to deal with uh constituents. Okay, um, so it'll be uh will it be more training or is the cost of the existing training going up? So so it's kind of what we also did we moved our training from HR. We now have a training and development department so that we can be strategic about ensuring that our uh staff members are properly trained. Um you'll see those cost shift. Okay, and is that explained because there was an increase in a and the this increase in agency management contrast with a 25,000 or uh or 28% decrease to the training and employee development division? Yes, ma'am. So is that the reason for the discrepancy? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Turning to agency financial operations, there is 229 or 60% increase to agency budgeting and financial management services. Uh what's the reason for this increase, or is this a reclassification of FTs? Um, so our off our AFO's office was not initially fully staffed, and based on the MOU, um, we had to hire more positions to support the agency's needs, and so we were we're now fully funded. Okay. Uh there was a small 2,000 decrease in volunteer relations, but that amounts to uh 13% decrease from fiscal year 26 and a 91% decrease from fiscal year 25. What was reduced over the last two years for volunteer relations relations that allows for this continued decrease? Uh that's a great question. I'll have to look at um maybe uh print we may have uh do we have an in-house print team, so maybe publications that we pay for out. Okay. Um and with the volunteer relations deductions, how have these deductions impacted DPR's ability to engage with its many volunteers? They help keep or keep our parks and outdoor uh recreations clean. We're excited about our volunteers. Um not only do they support with keeping our parks um and playgrounds clean, they support with large events like her story 5K, um, to our late night hypes. Um we're seeing an increase in volunteerism. Um people are hitting us up and saying they want to help. So um we're excited about that. Okay. Um, sorry. And con in con contrast, there was 208,000 increase to donor relations. What is this increase? Why is this increase next necessary? Um in donor relations. Yeah, I think that's a uh uh we did a realignment to make sure again going back to our schedule A, we wanted to make sure that we realigned uh various one-off units, so within our comms division, um in our partnership and strategic initiatives, there's more alignment there, okay. In her testimony, Kelly call uh Collins Choi from KC Trees encouraged DPR to prioritize expanding public-private partnerships with organizations like Casey Trees to expand access to technical assistance, philanthropic funding, and more capacity support DC's green spaces, especially in a tight but budget year. Is this something that DPR is exploring like as as well? Absolutely. Okay. Um DPR has a security budget, and that was also reduced by 244,000. What security services does DPR pay for that are not covered by DGS Protective Services Division? Is this after hours events security? So DGS Protective Services, um, all of our security we pay them. And so this is a reduction in security guards at our sites. I heard Director Hunter testify a little earlier how we uh look at various sites and uh reduce our footprint or our armed guards um versus a security officer um at various locations where uh security may not be an issue, and so we do pay for our community our security services directly. Okay, and so is this this uh reduction of two hundred forty-four thousand? Is that going to limit uh DGS's DPR's ability for to make sure that our centers have the protection so people in space that it needs our strategy. So I'll use uh I hate to use site names because you know they're like you'll say my site. Um so I'll use um hypothetically Joy Evans, who does not currently have security, but let's say if Joy Evans had security from 6 a.m.

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