Bowie council reviews Planning & Sustainability division budget, objectives and grant reapplications

City Manager presented the Planning and Sustainability division portion of the proposed FY2026 budget and objectives, saying the department provides recommendations on development proposals and conducts short- and long-range studies for the City of Bowie.

The presentation noted an MD 214 pedestrian overpass design and engineering effort that staff sought grant funding for, but that the project was not funded by the county; city staff completed debriefs with the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods grant program and with the state Transportation Alternatives (TA) program and intend to reapply in the next grant cycle. “This project was not funded … staff tends to reapply for these grants in the upcoming cycle,” the City Manager said.

The division also postponed an in-house video series about Bowie’s byway trail system, noting new leadership in planning and that staff expects to film content internally once small hardware (bike racks) is obligated and acquired. Other 2025 objectives cited were completing a forest assessment cost estimate for three city-owned properties (estimates received in December and a budget item prepared for 2026) and completing a Bicycle Friendly Community application by June 20, 2026. The City Manager told council there are no significant budget changes in the planning division for FY2026.

Council members pressed staff on coordination across departments for initiatives that require other divisions’ support. Council Member Wolfie asked how planning is coordinating budget needs with other departments for initiatives such as the community garden plots; the Director of Planning and Sustainability, Richard Hall, said planning used the staff sustainability team and met with Community Services so that gardens and similar initiatives are supported. Hall confirmed parks and grounds had been consulted about installation of bike racks tied to a recent grant and would be prepared to install them.

Councilman Bridal asked that the staff commitment to reapply for transportation grants be carried forward as a new objective so it is not overlooked; the City Manager responded, “We can add that.” Bridal also suggested exploring partnerships with homeowners associations to expand tree plantings in HOA-maintained open spaces as part of the planned forest assessments.

The planning division materials show four staff positions (director, transportation specialist, watershed manager and executive office associate) and items listed for salaries, benefits and contractual services; the budget summary presented to council characterized these amounts as not producing “significant budget changes.”

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the Bicycle Friendly Community certification would create unfunded obligations; Hall said he did not know of any binding city commitments tied to certification beyond typical wayfinding and trail work, and that the city’s wayfinding plan is near completion.

The council moved on after asking staff to carry forward grant reapplication as an objective and to continue coordinating cross-departmental support for planning initiatives.

Ending: The Planning and Sustainability division’s FY2026 work plan centers on reapplying for missed transportation grants, completing a bicycle-friendly application and conducting forest assessments; council directed staff to add grant reapplication as an explicit objective and to continue interdepartmental coordination on implementation.