Capital budget hearing kicks off review of Kittleman proposals

The Howard County Council on Thursday hosted the first of its public hearings to gather comment on the county’s capital budget, a $342.9 million proposal unveiled early this month by County Executive Allan Kittleman.

Thursday’s event was the first in a series of work sessions and hearings as the council prepares to take a vote on a final budget in late May.

The process kicks into higher gear Monday, when Kittleman is scheduled to release his operating budget in a presentation at 7 p.m. in the George Howard Building in Ellicott City.

Kittleman’s capital plan allocates funds for construction projects such as schools, fire stations and other public facilities, and would significantly reduce Howard County’s borrowing compared with recent years by lowering general obligation bonds – one of the largest sources of funding for capital projects – from $120 million to $96 million.

Only a handful of people came to Thursday’s session, but they brought specific requests for projects they want — or don’t.

Fred Gottemoeller came to lobby in favor of Bridge Columbia, a project that envisions updating a pedestrian bridge across Route 29 to facilitate foot travel and public transportation between downtown Columbia and the village of Oakland Mills.

“Bridge is ... a verb,” Gottemoeller said. “To us, Bridge Columbia means to bring together east and west Columbia.”

The capital budget doesn’t allocate funding for Bridge Columbia this coming fiscal year, though Kittleman tentatively included $750,000 for the project in fiscal year 2017.

The project still has $600,000 left over from previous budget cycles, and Gottemoeller said he’d like to see that money spent to lay the groundwork for state or federal grants to make the bridge possible within the next four years.

Ted Markle, who lives in Columbia’s Allview neighborhood, came to oppose a project that would connect downtown Columbia’s Lake Kittamaqundi to the Patuxent Branch Trail. That project also has $50,000 from last year’s budget that’s earmarked to get it started, according to Councilwoman Jen Terrasa.

Markle said he’s against the trail because he worries a stretch near his neighborhood could be subject to damage from flash floods.

“This trail should not be funded because it is unsafe and harmful to the environment,” Markle said.

Chris Bloor, of Fulton, also testified against a project — a proposed park near his neighborhood. Kittleman has penciled in $250,000 for South Fulton Park in fiscal year 2017 and $700,000 in fiscal year 2018.

Bloor said the park is slated for an area off Columbia Road that isn’t connected by sidewalks to nearby neighborhoods, so it “would be accessed only by people with cars,” he said.

The council is slated to host a work session on the capital budget on Monday at 8:30 a.m. in Ellicott City.

A separate public hearing on education and library funding in the capital and operating budgets is scheduled for May 12.