Celeste Amato

The briefing session included updates on the return of Confederate monuments to a secure storage facility in Baltimore. Staff introduced a new preservation planner and reviewed agenda items, including a concept review for the Druid Lake landscape design project and a final approval request for new housing at 5601 South Bend Road. Additionally, a demolition hearing for an L-shaped warehouse structure in the Sharp-Leadenhall community and an adaptive reuse project at 930 South Charles Street were introduced for consideration.

The meeting involved the review and approval of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) transfers. Key discussions focused on correcting award amounts for open space grants and reallocating funds to address urgent infrastructure needs, including garage repairs and security camera systems. The Commission also reviewed the 2026 Comprehensive Educational Facilities Master Plan (CFMP), discussing enrollment trends, building utilization rates across different geographic districts, and the impact of demographic shifts and student choice on school capacity and planning.

The committee held a budget and appropriations hearing to discuss the fiscal year 2027 ordinance of estimate for the Board of Liquor License Commissioners. Topics included legislative changes concerning liquor license operational hours and personal property tax deadlines, as well as a new memorandum of understanding with the sheriff's office. The Board highlighted performance measures, including renewal statistics, inspector-to-licensee ratios, and the enforcement of liquor laws, emphasizing a commitment to public safety and responsive constituent complaint resolution.

The committee held a hearing regarding the FY2027 capital budget, focusing on infrastructure investment and the capital improvement program process. Discussions covered coordination between city agencies for project delivery, the sources of funding including utility revenue and discretionary funds, and strategies for state of good repair and vacancy reduction. Specific inquiries were raised regarding the compost facility project at Bowleys Lane and its role in reducing reliance on current disposal facilities.

The committee reviewed the fiscal year 2027 budget for the Baltimore City Fire Department. The discussion covered the department's strategic approach to proactive service delivery, including investments in fire prevention, emergency medical services, code enforcement, and data-driven risk identification. Presentations were made regarding specific service areas such as executive leadership, fire protection, EMS operations, fire code enforcement, and fire communications. Additionally, the committee discussed workforce staffing and training initiatives, the use of technology and simulations, and the department's focus on trauma-informed care for its personnel.