* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Henry and Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Informational Hearing - Recreation and Parks - Disposition of Recreation Centers
FOR the purpose of requesting the Director of Recreation and Parks and the head of the Bureau of Recreation to appear before the City Council to discuss the status of the City's 61 recreation facilities - 5 of which are already closed - and the disposition of the 31 recreation centers that are not currently funded for operation beyond December 31, 2011.
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WHEREAS, over the last twenty years, while the city's over-all operating budget has almost doubled, the Recreation and Parks budget has shrunk, to the point where the FY 2012 budget provides sufficient funds to operate only 30 of the 55 currently-open recreation centers for the entire fiscal year.
WHEREAS, in April of 2009, the Baltimore City Council adopted Council Bill 09-0128R, which said in pertinent part, "The importance of constructive activities and supervised play cannot be understated; particularly to youth in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods?urban parks and recreational facilities often serve the most at-risk children who lack quality open space and recreational facilities immediately near their homes. Summer basketball leagues, after-school programs, and many other activities offer constructive alternatives to gangs, drugs, and crime."
WHEREAS, even when times are tough, we have to be willing to spend our resources on long-term solutions, or the problems will never go away. Recreation centers, libraries, summer jobs programs and other after-school programming are the tools which city government has available to prevent not just crime but criminals.
WHEREAS, the Baltimore Sun opined in an October 13, 2011 editorial: "Baltimore should not start closing rec centers. Although the issue is frequently discussed in the context of the city's budget problems, the mayor's plan has very little fiscal impact because it combines shutting some centers with improving services at others. The task force estimated it would only save $300,000 to $400,000 a year and that the money should be plowed back into improving the remaining centers."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, that the Director of Recreation and Parks and the head of the Bureau of Recreation are hereby requested to appear before the City Council to discuss the status of the City's 61 recreation facilities - 5 of which are already closed - and the disposition of the 31 recreation centers that are not currently funded for operation beyond December 31, 2011.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Recreation and Parks, the head of the Bureau of Recreation, the Director of Finance, the Police Commissioner, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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