A Delmarva Now article (2017-05-24) reported that Wicomico County will host the Athletx organization in 2018 for the Youth Baseball Nationals. This new week-long tournament is expected to generate $5 million in revenues and joins several existing high-profile events that the County hosts, such as the Governor’s Challenge basketball tournament and the USSSA Softball tournament. The article noted that that County and State are investing $3 million to expand the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex which will host the tournament. From the article:

“We are now going to take that facility to the next level, and we’re very, very excited about that,” Director of Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism Steve Miller said. …

Jim Haddaway, CEO of Athletx said he was blown away by the new fields at Parker Complex and is committed to making it  a long-term home of these tournaments. …

With the new upgrades to the Parker Complex, paired with the general location and scenery of the surrounding area, Haddaway felt signing a contract with Wicomico County was a no-brainer.

“When I walked up this morning on this, I was blown away,” Haddaway said, standing on the turf field. “This turf looks beautiful, the surrounding area is gorgeous, you’re close to the beach – it has everything that we look for in a destination and we can’t be more than thrilled to bring our event here.”

The article discussed how the County has worked to attract several national events and the economic benefits they have brought. For example, the article noted that the USSA softball tournament has been in Wicomico County for the past 10 years and has annually averaged $17 million in benefits to the County economy. From the article:

“It’s important we retain the events we have, but we also want to expand. You look at the economic impact of those things and the numbers don’t lie. These events are on a national stage, we’re a small community on the Eastern Shore, but we’re attracting and retaining national caliber events, and that’s huge for our community,” Miller said. …

“We’re blessed in the state of Maryland that Wicomico County is the leader in the youth and amateur sports markets,” [Maryland Sports Executive Director Terry] Hasseltine said. “They are stalwarts in the community of Maryland; they’re also well-known and well-respected and appreciated on the national scene.”

While having the opportunity to play on a brand new field could be reason enough for some organizations to come to Wicomico, County Executive Bob Culver made sure Haddaway and other Athletx officials had the full “Eastern Shore experience” when pitching the idea to come to the Shore.

“We try to show them as much hospitality as we possibly can and give them the Wicomico hospitality treatment,” Culver said. “It’s showing that we are a player in a much larger scale in the state of Maryland.”

A St. Mary’s County news release (2017-04-19) announced the immediate resignation of the County’s Recreation and Parks Director, Brian Loewe. From the release:

Brian Loewe, Director of St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks, has resigned his position effective immediately.

Loewe headed the department since April 23, 2012 after arriving from Charles County, where he served in various positions, including Sports Program Coordinator and Parks Manager.

“I would like to thank St. Mary’s County Government for the opportunities that were provided to me over the past five years as director of Recreation and Parks,” said Loewe. “I’d like to thank the Recreation and Parks staff for their hard work and dedication during our time together.”

“I’m saddened to learn of Brian’s decision to resign as head of our Recreation and Parks department,” said Commissioner President Randy Guy. “Brian brought a number of innovative programs to the department and was a champion of recreation programs throughout the county. I join my fellow commissioners in thanking him for his service to St. Mary’s County and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Former Recreation and Parks Manager Arthur Sheppard has agreed to serve as interim Recreation and Parks director effective April 24.

This post summarizes the status of various parks and recreation bills that MACo took a position on for the 2017 Regular Session.

Program Open Space – Apportionment Committee: HB 105 would have reconstituted a local Program Open Space (POS) advisory committee that has not met in decades, specified that committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), required that the committee meet before the end of 2017 and then at least every five years thereafter, and clarified the factors and criteria the committee must consider when reviewing the local POS apportionment formula. The bill was the result of committee narrative found in the 2015 Joint Chairman’s Report.

MACo Position: MACo supported HB 105, noting that the bill updates essentially obsolete sections of Maryland’s Code and creates an improved mechanism to review the local POS apportionment formula.

FINAL STATUS: HB 105 passed the House of Delegates but was given an unfavorable report by the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.

MACo Testimony on HB 105

Program Open Space – Local Fund Use Flexibility: HB 1438 / SB 896 would have allowed counties to shift local POS funding between land acquisition and facility projects if: (1) the project is consistent with and supports the goals, objectives, and priorities of a local governing body’s land preservation and recreation plan (LLPRP) and annual program; and (2) the plan determines that additional land acquisition is not merited. The bill also makes several corrective changes to the local POS statute.

As introduced SB 116 would have altered a provision of current law which allows a local jurisdiction that has met its POS land acquisition target to use 75 percent of its future POS apportionment for development projects for a period of 5 years after attainment (up to 20 percent of the authorized development funds may be used for capital renewal). SB 116 provided that 100 percent of funds may be used for development projects and capital renewal going forward.

MACo Position: MACo supported HB 1438 / SB 896 for establishing a reasonable framework to provide greater flexibility on the use of POS funds while still supporting both land acquisition and recreational facilities development through the LPPRP, which establishes recreational goals and requirements similar to land use goals and requirements in a comprehensive plan. The bill would allow counties to maximize their funding effectiveness by adjusting projects based on current economic conditions and being better able to assist municipalities with their priority projects.

MACo also initially supported SB 116 as a different way to provide needed flexibility regarding local POS funding. MACo changed to a “no position” when the bill was amended to only affect Allegany and Garrett Counties.

FINAL STATUS: HB 1438 was withdrawn by the bill’s sponsor. The Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee gave SB 896 an unfavorable report.

The General Assembly passed SB 116 with amendments narrowing the bill to Allegany and Garrett Counties. As amended, the bill provides that a local jurisdiction may use up to 100 percent of its future annual POS apportionment for development projects and capital renewal if: (1) DNR and the Maryland Department of Planning certify that the acquisition goals in the jurisdiction’s approved LPPRP and the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan have been met; and (2) the jurisdiction has more than 65,000 acres of land within its boundaries consisting of State forests, parks, or wildlife management areas. The bill also requires the Joint Subcommittee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Land Preservation to create recommendations by October 1, 2018, on whether the State’s standard for land acquisition of 30 acres per 1,000 people should be adjusted to encourage the additional acquisition of land under POS.

MACo Testimony on HB 1438

MACo Testimony on SB 896

NOTE: There is no MACo written testimony for SB 116.

State Forests, Parks, and Wildlife Management Areas – Revenue Equity Program: As introduced, SB 273 would establish a Revenue Equity Program, which starting in FY 2019 would provide counties an annual payment of $250,000 for each unit of open space attributed to State forests, State parks, and wildlife management areas. One unit of open space is the equivalent of 10,000 acres. The payments replace monies that a county currently receives from a portion of revenues generated from State forests and parks. For FY 2019, a county must have a least seven units of open space to receive a payment. That drops to five units in FY 2020 and 3 units for FY 2021 and each fiscal year thereafter.

MACo Position: MACo supported the bill as a means to assist counties with large amounts of State land that is not subject to property taxes by creating an analog to a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program. The existing revenue sharing system, which includes net revenues from concession operations, has been reduced significantly in recent years to balance the State’s budget.

FINAL STATUS: The General Assembly passed SB 273 with amendments limiting the scope and payment system in the bill. As amended the bill would establish a Revenue Equity Program for counties that: (1) have at least 65,000 acres of State forests, parks, and wildlife management areas; or (2) have at least 40,000 acres of State forests, parks, and wildlife management areas and a real property tax rate of at least $1.00 for each $100 of assessment.

Beginning in FY 2019, the State shall annually pay each qualifying county an amount equal to the county property tax rate multiplied by the assessed value, as determined by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, of the State forests, parks, and wildlife management areas exempt from the county’s property tax. The bill further specifies what State properties are not included in the calculation and how the payment systems shall work.

MACo Testimony on SB 273