Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget 2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
OSMP previews 2026 budget priorities: wildfire/climate, presence on land, asset management
Summary
Deputy director and budget staff presented strategic budget guidance for 2026, emphasizing wildfire and climate resilience, enhanced presence on the land, and asset management; staff proposed an April–July touchpoint timeline for revenue updates, public hearings and board recommendations.
Open Space and Mountain Parks staff presented early strategic guidance for the 2026 budget at the Jan. 15 board meeting, focusing on three near‑term priorities: wildfire and climate resilience implementation, enhanced presence on the land and improved asset‑management planning.
Lauren Kilcoyne, deputy director, framed the discussion around the department master plan and the citywide strategic plan, saying staff want early board engagement so trustees can weigh in on multi‑year planning before detailed numbers arrive from the city finance office. Sam McQueen, business services senior manager, reviewed how the department links capital investments to master‑plan tiers and described personnel and operating changes that have supported wildfire and climate work.
Staff highlighted recent personnel adjustments tied to wildfire and climate priorities, including the addition of a wildfire senior program manager, a fixed‑term wildfire resilience program manager and reassignments in forestry and water resources to focus on fuels management. OSMP also noted recurring non‑personnel support from the city’s climate fund (about $300,000 per year) for CWPP implementation and fuels work, and CIP contributions toward climate plan implementation and fuels mitigation.
Staff proposed a schedule of board touchpoints for the 2026 planning cycle: a strategic guidance conversation in January (this meeting), an April presentation that will include prior‑year revenue context and early forecasts, a written May update when citywide finance guidance is available, and June/July presentations leading to a public hearing and board recommendation in July.
Board members sought context on how the department balances capital and operating needs, how personnel decisions can be used to reallocate resources without layoffs, and how the department tracks long‑term trail and facility maintenance needs. Trustees requested trend information (10‑year view on FTEs, CIP spending and maintenance backlog) and asked staff to return with a six‑year planning horizon of prioritized projects as requested in the packet.
Staff said they will produce additional budget material in April and May with figures from the city finance office and will continue to coordinate with the board on priorities for capital and operating funds.
