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Department presents FY14 operating request and capital updates including 3 Notch Trail phase 6
Summary
Staff outlined a largely flat FY14 operating request with a roughly 1% increase overall, listed specific line-item adjustments and provided updates on capital projects including 3 Notch Trail phase 6, Charlefaw multipurpose fields, Lancaster memorial and interpretive center, and Leonardtown Park solicitations.
Department budget staff presented the operating budget request for fiscal year 2014 and gave updates on capital improvement projects.
Brian (identified in the meeting as leading the budget update) said the department’s FY14 request reflects about a 1% overall increase across general and enterprise funds and that revenue projections were expected to be essentially flat compared with prior years. He said the request includes funding for additional background checks for roughly 350 volunteers and board members to expand screening for people working with children, nonrecurring equipment purchases for parks (leaf blowers, chainsaws), increased electricity and fuel costs, and a modest increase to janitorial services tied to the new Civil War interpretive center. He said construction on the interpretive center is expected to be completed by Oct. 1 and that one park attendant position is included in the request for that facility.
Staff said Wicomico Shores clubhouse refinancing will lower the county’s monthly payment through an internal loan at a reduced interest rate and that the department included mower replacements for the golf course in the request.
On capital projects, Ryan (project staff) reported that 3 Notch Trail phase 6 is progressing: 95% drawings are complete and a tentative meeting with State Highway is scheduled for March 7 to review the design. He said approval of that phase would connect existing trail sections to create roughly 11 continuous miles on the northern end once construction proceeds. Charlefaw athletic fields (multipurpose practice fields adjacent to Fifth District Park and Daniel Marshall Elementary School) are moving toward contract award; staff transferred $62,000 from trail phase 5 contingency into that project to cover potential road-access contingencies.
Lancaster Park’s Civil War memorial is complete; staff said solicitation documents for the interpretive center design-build procurement are being finalized and must be encumbered by June 1 under the bond-bill schedule. Leonardtown Park bidding is under procurement review and staff said the project will add fields and relieve pressure on Dorsey Park.
Staff discussed Program Open Space funding availability (roughly $1,000,000 at the time of the meeting) and said acquisitions remain in the department’s parkland goals, including waterfront access on the Patuxent and Potomac rivers and potential indoor recreation center land in Lexington Park.
Board members asked clarifying questions and staff said they would pursue opportunities to acquire property when appropriate funds and matching criteria align with the county plan.
