[D4 Budget Town Hall on 2021-09-01 6:30 PM]
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UH, I'M COUNCILMAN ROCHE GARCIA.
WELCOME TO THE 2022 ESSAY, SPEAK UP TOWN HALL IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING THE INCREDIBLE TEAM HERE AT SAM AT PORT SAN ANTONIO FOR HOSTING US TONIGHT.
SO, IF YOU'RE IN ATTENDANCE, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS BEING GREAT PARTNERS WITH US.
I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING US ON FACEBOOK LIVE, UH, OR WATCHING ONT B S A OR TUNING IN VIA TELEPHONE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND I'M SO SORRY THAT WE'RE RUNNING JUST A TADD BIT BEHIND.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE CITY LEADERSHIP AND THE STAFF WHO ARE WITH US TODAY.
UH, SINCE AUGUST THE 12TH WHEN THE PROPOSED, UH, BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO OUR CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH, OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MARIA VIA GOMEZ.
UM, AND, AND ALL OF US HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A SERIES OF BUDGET TOWN HALLS THROUGHOUT THE, THE LAST MONTH OR SO, BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY.
OURS IS BOTH TODAY, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO STILL HAVE YOU ALL HERE, UM, IN PERSON, AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME AS WELL.
IT MEANS A LOT TO THE MEMBERS OF DISTRICT FOUR TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE FOR THEM, READY TO SUPPORT THEM, AND READY TO REACH OUT WITH QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
I'D EXPECT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
AND I ALSO WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF MY TEAM WHO ARE WITH US THIS EVENING, BIANCA JOHANNE, AND ANA.
UM, SO THEY'RE ALSO HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO CONNECT WITH US.
UM, BUT BEFORE I TURN THE MIC OVER TO MARIA AND ERIC, I THINK IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE ERIC.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS IN ATTENDANCE AS THOSE, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SERVE ON DISTRICT FOUR APPOINTMENTS, UM, TO OUR CITY'S BOARD AND COMMISSION.
I KNOW I SAW ANDREA IN LIBRARIES AND, UH, I SAW, UH, RITA OR, UH, FROM, AND I'M SORRY, I'M LOOKING AND I SEE THE MASKS, UH, BUT I THINK THAT'S RITA OVER THERE.
AND MY CONTACTS ARE BAD TOO, UH, SO FOR A C S.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WHAT ERIC WALSH IS GOING TO PRESENT NEXT.
SO, ERIC, OH, AND I SEE RICHARD BEEZ FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ALSO FORMER, UH, DISTRICT FOR, UH, COUNCILPERSON SAID.
THANK YOU, RICHARD, FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE.
THANKS, COUNCILWOMAN, AND THANKS FOR HOSTING US TONIGHT.
UM, THIS IS OUR EFFORT TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND MUCH DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR WHERE WE DID 'EM ALL VIRTUALLY.
IT IS GOOD TO GET OUT OF THE OFFICE AND SEE PEOPLE FACE TO FACE.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT CAME TONIGHT AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE.
SO, I'M GONNA RUN THROUGH A, A PRETTY QUICK PRESENTATION.
UM, AND THEN WE'VE GOT, UH, A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR INPUT, UM, WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, UM, ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
THE COUNCIL IS GOING THROUGH, UH, WORK SESSIONS.
UH, THEY'VE GOT, UH, THEY HAD AN ALL DAY WORK SESSION, UH, YESTERDAY, AND WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THEM BETWEEN NOW AND MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE DOING EVENTS LIKE TONIGHT, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND, UM, WE'LL COMPILE ALL THAT.
THE COUNCIL'S SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 16TH.
AND SO THEY, AS A GROUP WILL BE WORKING TO, UH, LOOK AT ANY POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS THAT, UH, THEY WOULD INCLUDE INTO THE, UH, ADOPTED BUDGET.
SO FIVE MAIN KEY, UH, MESSAGES, UH, IN THE BUDGET.
ONE IS THAT, UM, THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF UNCERTAINTY, UH, IN SOME OF OUR MAIN REVENUE SOURCES, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT, I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE, A COUPLE EXAMPLES HERE IN A SECOND.
UM, WE'VE BEEN IMPACTED DIFFERENTLY OVER TIME, UM, AND SOME OF OUR AREAS ARE RECOVERING FASTER THAN OTHERS.
UM, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPTICK IN CASES WE'VE SEEN, UH, ADJUSTMENTS.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE'RE GONNA NEED TO CONTINUE TO, TO MANAGE AND, AND WATCH OVER.
NUMBER TWO, UH, WE ARE RESTORING CUTS THAT WE MADE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UM, HIGH PRIORITY OF OURS WAS TO RESTORE THE CUTS, UH, THAT WE HAD TO TAKE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE DECLINE IN REVENUE.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CATEGORIZE, UH, PART OF THAT RESTORATION WITH MAKING SURE OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, UM, HAVE, UM, UH, HAVE A COMPENSATION INCREASE, UH, INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE INCLUDED UNDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN HELD, UH, FROZEN FOR, UH, THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE NO CHANGE IN THE CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE, UH, AS WELL.
THE THIRD KEY MESSAGE I WOULD CAT CATEGORIZE, AS YOU KNOW, LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED, UH, OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND SOME PROPOSED INVESTMENTS THAT YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT THAT, UH, I THINK REFLECT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND, AND, UM, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD'VE DONE SOME OF THESE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
SO IT WAS A GOOD EXERCISE FOR US.
FOURTHLY, HOW WE RE HOW WE ARE PROPOSING
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TO RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.AND THIS REALLY COMES OUT OF OUR POLICE SERVICES REVIEW PLAN, BUT IMPACTS A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS.
AND IT'S, UM, UH, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, UH, HERE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, BUT IT'S MAKING SURE OUR OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE TYPES OF CALLS THAT WE WANT THEM TO GO ON, UM, AND FOCUSED ON THE ENCOUNTERS, UH, THAT THE, THAT THE, UH, PUBLIC EXPECTS.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, THE, UM, PROPOSED BUDGET MAKES, UH, INVESTMENTS, UM, IN, UH, THE CITY'S RESILIENCY.
AND NAMELY AFTER THE FEBRUARY STORM, WE DID A LOT OF LOOKING AT OUR OWN FACILITIES, AND WE'VE GOT A, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY SET ASIDE NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, TO HARDEN THOSE FACILITIES, BUT ALSO MAKING INVESTMENT IN SOME FACILITIES THAT ARE, UH, ACCESSIBLE TO BY THE PUBLIC.
SO WE DO A BUDGET SURVEY EVERY YEAR.
UH, A LITTLE OVER 12,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR.
UH, THESE ARE THE FIVE TOP CATEGORIES, UH, SENIOR SERVICES, HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY, PARKS AND RECREATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
SO HERE'S THE EXAMPLE OF, UH, THREE AREAS OF OUR BUSINESS THAT WERE ALL DRASTICALLY IMPACTED LAST YEAR, BUT ARE ALL RECOVERING AT A DIFFERENT RATE.
UM, OUR SALES TAX, WHICH GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, UM, UM, OUR REVENUE FOR NEXT YEAR IS PROJECTED TO BE 11% HIGHER THAN 2019.
AND, AND I'M USING 2019 BECAUSE LAST YEAR WAS AN OFF YEAR.
UM, OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE IN SALES TAX IS GENERALLY ABOUT A FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT A YEAR.
WE'VE SEEN INCREASES IN OUR SALES TAX REVENUE, UH, BEGINNING IN MID SPRING AND OVER THE SUMMER.
WE'RE EXPECTING THAT TO CONTINUE.
OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, UM, IS, UH, TAKING LONGER TO RECOVER.
UM, IT IS, UH, THE ONE PART OF OUR BUSINESS THAT HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPACTED FINANCIALLY THIS FUND.
UM, THE MONEY FROM THIS FUND, UH, GOES TOWARDS OPERATING OUR CONVENTION CENTER, OUR ALMO DOME, OUR ARTS PROGRAMMING, ARTS AGENCIES, AND OUR CONTRACT WITH, UH, VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR 2022 BUDGET IS 24% BELOW OUR 2019 ACTUALS.
WE'VE KNOWN IT'S GONNA TAKE LONGER TO RECOVER IN THIS AREA.
UH, WE'RE EXPECTING 2023 OR 2024.
WE DID SEE AN INCREASE IN, UM, ACTIVITY AT THE CONVENTION CENTER AT THE DOME AS VACCINATIONS STARTED ROLLING OUT IN THE SPRINGTIME.
BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE'VE SEEN SOME PULLBACK HERE THE LAST THREE WEEKS FOR EVENTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED LATER ON IN THE YEAR.
SO A LOT OF TREPIDATION, UH, AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MANAGE AND WATCH CLOSELY.
THE LAST, UH, CATEGORY UP THERE IS OUR AIRPORT, WHICH, UM, HAS COME BACK VERY, VERY NICELY.
UH, YOU PROBABLY SAW IN THE NEWS, UH, TODAY, UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FLIGHTS THAT ARE RETURNING BACK TO SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL THIS MONTH.
UM, AND, UM, IN TERMS OF REVENUE, WE'RE ABOUT TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS BETTER THAN OUR F Y 19.
SO THREE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR BUSINESS.
ALL THREE SEVERELY IMPACTED LAST YEAR, AND ALL THREE RECOVERING AT DIFFERENT RATES.
SO WE'LL NEED TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THAT.
SO OUR TOTAL PROPO, UH, TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IS $3.1 BILLION.
THE LARGEST PART OF THAT IS MADE UP OF OUR GENERAL FUND, 1.36 BILLION.
AND IT, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL FUND IS WHERE WE, UH, PAY FOR ALL OF OUR BASIC SERVICES.
IT'S WHERE WE COLLECT ALL OF OUR BASIC REVENUE, OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AND SALES TAX REVENUE.
UM, OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS, UH, AT 1.12 BILLION.
AND THOSE ARE ALL OF OUR, UH, LINES OF BUSINESS THAT, UM, ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT.
OUR AIRPORT REVENUE AT THE AIRPORT HAS TO STAY AT THE AIRPORT.
REVENUE WE COLLECT IN TERMS OF STORMWATER FEES, STAYS IN OUR STORMWATER EXPENSES.
UM, AND THOSE, THE TOTAL OF ALL THOSE IS A LITTLE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE THIRD CATEGORY, OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
WE'RE ENTERING THE FIFTH AND FINAL YEAR OF OUR 2017 BOND PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, UH, THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
SO, UM, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PROJECTS OUT AT THE AIRPORT FOR A TOTAL OF $592 MILLION.
SO HERE'S OUR GENERAL FUND, UM, REVENUES.
YOU SEE THE, THE THREE MAIN, UH, REVENUE SOURCES THE CITY HAS IN THE GENERAL FUND, OUR PROPERTY TAX, OUR OWNERSHIP OF C P SS.
AND, UM, OUR SALES TAX MAKE UP AL ALMOST 75% OF OUR, UH, REVENUE, UH, IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN WHERE WE SPEND THE MONEY IN, IN TERMS OF, OF, OF, UH, OUR BASIC SERVICES.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND IS SPENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAVE A FINANCIAL POLICY TO MAINTAIN THOSE EXPENSES BELOW 66% OF OUR BUDGET.
UM, AND YOU SEE THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS IT AT 63.2% GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
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PUBLIC WORKS INFRASTRUCTURE, OTHER BIG CATEGORIES FOR US.SO, INFRASTRUCTURE TOP PRIORITY OF THE PUBLIC.
THIS WAS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL DURING THEIR WORK SESSION IN, UH, UH, JUNE.
UH, THE, OUR STREET MAINTENANCE BUDGET IS BEING RESTORED.
WE'VE NOT BEEN AT THAT LEVEL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UH, ALMOST 1300 PROJECTS, UH, CITYWIDE THAT WE WILL BE DOING.
OUR SIDEWALK BUDGET, UH, IS INCREASING BY, UH, $3 MILLION TO $21 MILLION NEXT YEAR, UH, JUST UNDER $21 MILLION.
UM, AND THAT'S REALLY, UH, DESIGNED TO, UM, FILL IN THE GAPS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, AND, UH, WE ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO PUT 61 MILES BACK, UH, USABLE, UM, UH, NETWORK MILES OF SIDEWALKS BACK INTO OUR SYSTEM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS 'EM.
WE HAVE PRIORITY AREAS AROUND BUS STOPS AND SCHOOLS AND TRANSIT AREAS AND, UM, COMMERCIAL AREAS.
UM, AND CAN THOSE CONNECTORS INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS VISION ZERO.
UM, NEXT YEAR WE HAVE $6.2 MILLION, UM, IN OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, HAS DONE A LOT OF DATA ANALYSIS, UM, ON, UM, THOSE AREAS OF OUR CITY.
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THEY'RE AT, WHERE WE, UM, SEEMINGLY ALWAYS HAVE THESE PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS, UH, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND, UM, THIS IS THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY THE CITY'S EVER SET ASIDE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND IT'S TO DO, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT 10 LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED BASED ON ACCIDENT DATA.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
UM, WE'VE, THE CITY'S TALKED ABOUT VISION ZERO FOR A LONG TIME.
I THINK THIS IS A REAL INVESTMENT, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
UH, AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA UPDATE OUR BIKE MASTER PLAN, WHICH HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN 10 YEARS.
SO A COUPLE OF, UH, DISTRICT FOUR, UM, UH, STREET PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS, UH, BYNUM AVENUE, UH, SOUTH AZAR, ZAMORE STREET, UM, AND THE APPLEWHITE, UH, INTERSECTION, UH, CEDARHURST DRIVE AREA.
AND, UH, DISTRICT FOUR PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY AND STREETS, WHICH ARE ALL GONNA BE FOCUSED, I THINK, PRIMARILY ON WHERE'S THE COUNCILWOMAN THERE? SHE IS ALL PRIMARILY, UH, FOCUSED ON SIDEWALKS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
WE'VE GOT THE AQUATICS CENTER THAT'S, UH, GOING ON.
IT WAS A BOND PROGRAM AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE, OUR DISTRICT FOUR HERITAGE COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, NATATORIUM AT SOUTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS JUST OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY.
UH, PEARSALL PARK, ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, LEON, UH, CREEK, UM, ALONG QUINTANA ROAD AND LEON CREEK THERE NEAR LEVI STRAUSS AND LACKLAND.
AND THEN OUR VISION ZERO PROJECTS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
THERE ARE 10 PROJECTS AROUND THE CITY.
UH, TWO OF THEM ARE IN THE DISTRICT FOUR AREA, ONE ALONG ZAMORA BETWEEN CULBERSON AND, UH, AND MILITARY.
AND THEN IN THE MARBACH AREA, UH, AROUND MORALE AND LOOP FOUR 10, VERY HEAVILY CONGESTED, UH, IN THAT AREA.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE'VE, THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UM, IS, UM, A CREW THAT DOES NOTHING BUT PICK UP ILLEGAL DUMPING, RESPOND TO 3 1 1 CALLS RIGHT NOW.
WE, UM, WE MOVED, UH, SOLID WASTE CREWS OFF THEIR, OFF THEIR ROUTES, OR WE'RE PULLING PUBLIC WORKS CREWS OFF THEIR, THEIR NORMAL WORK.
UM, AND THAT PUTS US BEHIND ON OUR NORMAL WORK CYCLE.
SO WE'RE ADDING AN ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW, A FULL CREW, UH, WITH THE EQUIPMENT, UH, WHOSE JOB EVERY DAY WILL BE TO PICK UP TRASH AROUND THE CITY, WORK ON ILLEGAL DUMPING SITES.
UM, AND, AND, UH, THIS IS A, UM, A PET PEEVE FOR ME, AND I THINK PROBABLY FOR MOST PEOPLE.
AND, UH, THERE ARE PROBABLY CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY, A LOT OF AREAS OF THE CITY THAT COULD USE, UH, A LOT MORE ATTENTION, UH, CONSISTENTLY.
WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOLID WASTE.
UM, JUST A REMINDER OF OUR FIVE LOCATIONS WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN, UM, USE OUR SERVICES AND OUR DROP OFF OR BRUSH AND BULKY, UM, ITEMS, UM, AS WELL AS HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, EVEN THOUGH TWICE A YEAR WE'RE PICKING UP BRUSH, AND TWICE A YEAR WE'RE PICKING UP BULKY IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE PEOPLE, UM, ARE USING IT.
UH, WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT THE STATS TODAY, AND THERE'S BEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN, UH, THE USAGE OF THESE SITES.
SO, JUST A QUICK REMINDER FOR EVERYBODY.
OUR SOLID WASTE FEE IS NOT PROPOSED TO CHANGE NEXT YEAR.
SO IF YOU HAVE A 96 GALLON BROWN CAN, UH, YOU'RE PAYING 28 50 A MONTH.
UM, AND I'D ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU CAN TO, UH, DOWNSIZE AND USE YOUR RECYCLING CAN MORE, OR YOUR GREEN CAN.
UH, WHATEVER WE CAN NOT TAKE TO THE LANDFILL OUT OF THE BROWN CANS, SAVES US MONEY, AND WE WANNA
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PASS THOSE SAVINGS ALONG TO THE PUBLIC.SO, UM, ALL RIGHT,
PROBABLY ONE OF THE AREAS WE'RE MAKING THE MOST INVESTMENT IN ONE OF OUR OPERATING DEPARTMENTS IS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, OUR PUBLIC, OUR METRO HEALTH HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN PRE C O I D, AND WE SPENT SOME TIME THIS SPRING, UM, UPDATING THAT PLAN FOR THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST COUPLE, OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
UM, THINGS SUCH AS, UM, UM, ACCESS TO CARE, HEALTH JUSTICE, UM, I THINK WE ALL HAVE SEEN HOW, UH, DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED DIFFERENTLY.
DISPARATELY, UH, BY COVID AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS, UM, HAS PUSHED A LOT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS DOWN TO US, UH, FOR INVESTMENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, UM, ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT $16.3 MILLION IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE GONNA LOOK A LOT LIKE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AFTER NINE 11.
THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OF AHEAD OF THE GAME BECAUSE WE HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN AND WE'VE UPDATED IT, AND WE'RE NOT STARTING FROM SQUARE ONE.
UH, ONE OF THE OTHER BIG AREAS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS, UH, MONEY TO INCREASE OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY, UM, SYSTEM THAT IS CLOSELY TIED WITH OUR VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND ALSO, UM, EXPANDING, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT IT HERE IN A SECOND, HOW WE RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS, UH, AS A CITY.
SO, HERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED LAST YEAR.
SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TESTED AN APP, UM, AT OUR DISPATCH CENTER THAT, UM, WITH THE IDEA THAT IF THEY COULD, UM, MAYBE AVOID HAVING TO SEND AN E M S UNIT TO A, WHAT, MAYBE A MINOR CALL, UM, THEN THOSE E M S UNITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A MORE SERIOUS CALL OR A COVID CALL, BECAUSE WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS LAST OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.
UM, AND, AND WHAT IT IS, IS THAT, UM, ALL OF OUR DISPATCHERS ARE PARAMEDICS, AND THEY WOULD GET A, UM, THEY SEND YOU A LINK ON YOUR PHONE, YOU CLICK THE LINK, AND THE PARAMEDIC, YOU POINT THE CAMERA TO THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE WOUND, AND THEY WOULD GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS.
AND WE FOUND, WE FOUND IT VERY USEFUL.
AND I THINK ALTHOUGH WE WENT INTO IT THINKING THAT IT WOULD HELP, UH, MITIGATE MAYBE MINOR CALLS, MINOR EMERGENCY CALLS, UM, WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S, IT'S IMPROVED, UM, OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FASTER, UH, BY GIVING INSTRUCTIONS OVER THE PHONE.
AND THE MEDIA'S DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF COVERING THIS.
UH, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE THE PARAMEDIC IS GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO, UH, DO C P R.
UM, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE, THIS IS, THIS HAS TURNED OUT BETTER.
WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S DOING THIS.
AND SO WE'RE ADDING ADDITIONAL DISPATCHERS AT FIRE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SER UH, CALLS, UH, AS PART OF OUR POLICE SERVICES REVIEW LAST YEAR OR THIS PAST YEAR, WE, UH, PARTNERED WITH THE MEADOWS, UH, FOUNDATION TO REALLY LOOK AT THE TYPES OF CALLS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GETS.
OUR 9 1 1 SYSTEM GETS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CALLS.
UM, MEADOWS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING OTHER CITIES EXAMINE THIS AND COME UP WITH WAYS TO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE CALLS.
UM, SOMETIMES THESE CALLS HAVE HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN AT THE SAME ADDRESS.
UM, THESE TYPES OF CALLS CAN BECOME DEADLY OR, UH, VIOLENT.
UM, ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE CRISIS RESPONSE TRAINED, UM, AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, BUT THERE'S ONLY 12 OF THOSE OFFICERS.
AND SO, UM, KIND OF RETHINKING HOW WE RESPOND TO THESE CALLS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GETTING, THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO, UM, ARE HANDED OFF TO A PROVIDER OR SERVICE SO THAT IT AVOIDS THE FUTURE 9 1 1 CALL.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN THE BUDGET IS IN OUR CENTRAL SUBSTATION AREA NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS, UH, ONE OF OUR, OUR LARGEST, UH, GEOGRAPHICAL, UM, AREAS, UM, TO PILOT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM.
AND THEY'LL ALL RESPOND IN ONE VEHICLE OF A POLICE OFFICER, A PARAMEDIC, AND A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN.
UM, AND, AND, UM, WE GET THE MOST NUMBER OF CALLS IN THAT CENTRAL SUB AREA.
AND THE IDEA IS, UM, TO BETTER RESPOND, BETTER CONNECT.
UM, WE ARE ALSO ADDING FUNDS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO HAVE, UM, CLINICAL SERVICES AT OUR DISPATCH CENTER.
SO MUCH LIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TRIAGING, BUT HAVING THOSE RESOURCES THERE AT DISPATCH SO THAT IF IT IS A MENTAL HEALTH CALL AND A FAMILY MEMBER CALLING
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ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEBODY'S ENCOUNTERING SOMEBODY ON THE STREET, YOU KNOW, THAT CLINICIAN AT THE DISPATCH CENTER CAN GATHER INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THE TEAM HAS WHAT THEY NEED, UH, WHEN THEY ARRIVE.THIS IS GONNA CHANGE THE WAY WE RESPOND TO THESE CALLS GOING FORWARD.
A COUPLE OTHER THINGS WE HEARD FROM THE, UH, POLICE SERVICES REVIEW.
WE HAD 27 COMMUNITY MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE MET WITH POLICE OFFICERS, UM, AND WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT STREETLIGHTS.
SO I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY IN DISTRICT FOUR.
COUNCILWOMAN HAS, HAS DEVELOPED, UM, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HER OWN PROGRAM AND WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, BUT WE'RE SETTING ASIDE $5.8 MILLION IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
UM, THAT'S THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'VE EVER SET ASIDE IN ONE YEAR, REALLY TO INVEST.
AND WE HEARD THIS AT ALL THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHETHER IT'S PEDESTRIAN SAFETY OR COMMUNITY SAFETY, UM, MORE STREETLIGHTS, UM, AND PRIMARILY IN WITHIN FOUR 10.
UM, WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, BUT IN OUR OLDER PARTS OF THE CITY, BUT ADDITIONAL CARE, UH, AND ATTENTION.
OUR, UH, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE HEARD AT THE POLICE SERVICES REVIEW IS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS.
WE HAVE 112 SAFE OFFICERS IN THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADD ANOTHER 12, AND THEN THREE ADDITIONAL, UH, DOWNTOWN BIKE PATROL OFFICERS.
SO FINALLY, ON POLICE SERVICES, WHAT IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOT GONNA GO ON? UM, UH, ANYMORE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASK THE PUBLIC AT THESE MEETINGS.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES RESPONDING.
WE'VE ADDED RESOURCES SO THEY CAN DO THAT.
NOW, IF IT'S A CALL WITH A VICIOUS ANIMAL OR A DANGEROUS ANIMAL, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S LIKELY STILL GONNA REQUIRE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CALLS WE GET ARE NOT THAT.
SO OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, UH, DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONDING.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR ARTS AND UNIT WILL BE RESPONDING, UH, TO FIREWORK CALLS FOR 20 DAYS OUTTA THE YEAR, 10 DAYS AROUND THE 4TH OF JULY, AND 10 DAYS AROUND, UM, UH, JANUARY 1ST, NEW YEAR'S EVE.
UH, WE GET FIREWORK CALLS 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF 'EM HAPPEN IN THAT 20 DAY PERIOD.
SO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONDING.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, BARRING ANY SORT OF OTHER, UM, UM, UM, UM, ASPECT OF A, OF THE CALL WILL NOT BE RESPONDING TO THOSE ANYMORE.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT'S LEGAL TO POP FIREWORKS IN THE CITY.
IT'S JUST THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S GONNA RESPOND TO GIVE YOU A CITATION, NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING WITH CODE COMPLIANCE, UH, BEGINNING THIS FALL, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.
CODE COMPLIANCE IS GONNA RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS, AND IF THEY NEED TO, THEN THEY'LL CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OUR CODE OFFICERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO MONITOR THE, THE SOUND.
UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT ISSUE A LOT OF CITATIONS, BUT, UH, THEY'RE CALLS THAT OUR OFFICERS GET SENT ON.
SO THIS EFFORT RIGHT HERE, I ENVISION DOING ANNUALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CALIBRATING AND SENDING OFFICERS TO CALLS THAT WE NEED TO OR NOT, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS.
OFFICERS NOT GOING ON THESE CALLS, GIVES THEM TIME TO DO OTHER THINGS AND STAY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
WE'RE ADDING FIVE POSITIONS TO DO, UM, UM, NOT IN, NOT JUST ENFORCEMENT, BUT MORE EDUCATION TO FOCUS ON, UM, UM, AREAS OF OUR TOWN AND SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES WHERE WE HAVE THESE REPEAT ANIMAL CALLS.
UM, AND, AND THIS GROUP IS GONNA TRIAGE, UM, AND FIND OUT WHY ARE WE GOING BACK, WHY, WHY IS, WHY HAS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GONE TO THIS, THIS ADDRESS? WHY IS ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, IS IT A, A GATE ISSUE, A FENCE ISSUE? UM, AND SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF APPROACH, BUT WE'RE STILL, WE STILL DO THE ENFORCEMENT AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
THIS HAS JUST TAKEN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT APPROACH, UM, IN SOME PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A BIG PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL, AND YOU SAW THAT AS PART OF THE SURVEY.
AND OUR BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET HAS $33 MILLION IN IT, 14 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER $14 MILLION OF THAT IS OUR OWN LOCAL MONEY, AND THAT'S AN INCREASE OVER THE EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WE HAVE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THAT INCREASE, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, CRAIG, THAT INCREASE IS REALLY FOCUSED IN THREE MAIN AREAS THERE, IN THAT MIDDLE OF THAT SLIDE.
UM, OUR OWNER OCCUPY, UH, REHAB, UM, UH, PROGRAM, AN ADDITIONAL $4.4 MILLION, OUR UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, AN ADDITIONAL MILLION, AND OUR MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM AT $3.3 MILLION.
WE'RE STILL OPERATING IN OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED LAST SPRING.
WE HAVE FUNDS THROUGH THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
AND, AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY STILL A FOCUS OF OURS, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, CRAIG, WE ALSO NEED TO GET BACK TO WHAT OUR, OUR,
[00:25:01]
OUR MAIN COMMUNITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES ARE.YOU KNOW, THINGS SUCH AS EVICTION PREVENTION AND, UH, DEALING WITH TENANT AND LANDLORD ISSUES, UM, AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE, BUT ALSO OUR FAIR HOUSING PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'RE GONNA START DOING BOTH BECAUSE OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN COMPLETELY ON EMERGENCY HOUSING AND FROM A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE, THE SAME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES THAT WE HAD PRE COVID, WE STILL HAVE.
AND WE'VE GOTTA START MAKING SOME INVESTMENTS AND TRY TO, UM, UM, ADDRESS THOSE.
HERE'S ANOTHER THING WE LEARNED AS PART OF THE PANDEMIC.
UM, YOU CAN HAVE A, UH, A GREAT WEBSITE AND, UH, GREAT BROCHURES, AND AN EASY NUMBER LIKE 3 1 1 TO REMEMBER.
BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST NEED TO BE HANDHELD.
AND WE SAW THIS A LOT IN THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, WE FOUND THAT AS PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE IN THAT PROGRAM, THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A WHOLE SLEW OF OTHER PROGRAMS. AND SO, UM, ADDING A CADRE OF, OF, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT WILL WORK ON HOMELESS PREVENTION, OUR HUMAN SERVICES, UH, WE'VE HAD A, A BIG UPTICK IN, UH, SENIORS ASKING FOR FINANCIAL COUNSELING.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TRAIN THESE FOLKS, CROSS-TRAIN THEM, UM, AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY, WE ENGAGE WITH SOMEONE THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PLUGGED IN AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY MAY BE AVAILABLE, UH, UH, ELIGIBLE FOR, BUT NOT, UH, BUT NOT REALIZING, UM, OUR FIFTH BUDGET MESSAGE OF RESILIENCY, UM, EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN, IN, IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND, AND THIS IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH OF WHAT WE NEED, BUT WE'RE GONNA START WITH THIS NEXT YEAR.
UM, WE, WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, AS A RESULT AFTER THE FEBRUARY STORM, UM, MUCH LIKE ALL OF YOU, WE HAD, UH, OUR OWN FACILITIES THAT WERE EITHER OUT OF POWER OR WERE ON IN A, UM, UM, ROLLING, UM, UH, POWER OUTAGES.
UM, ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR FIRE STATIONS HAVE GENERATORS, UM, AND, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
AND WE BUILD THAT INTO NEW FIRE STATIONS.
NONE OF OUR POLICE SUBSTATIONS HAVE THEM.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE OUTFITTING, UH, STARTING TO WITH OUR POLICE SUBSTATIONS AND SOME FIRE STATIONS.
THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING EVERY YEAR.
UH, WE'RE ALSO SETTING ASIDE MONEY TO, UM, ESTABLISH AND CREATE, UH, FOUR GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED RE WHAT WE'RE CALLING RESILIENCY HUBS.
AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A CITY BUILDING.
IT COULD BE A SCHOOL WHERE WE'LL, WE'LL PARTNER WITH OTHERS POTENTIALLY TO MAKE THE CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUT A GENERATOR THERE, OR POWER A BACKUP POWER.
AND IT'S A PLACE WHERE IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION LIKE LAST FEBRUARY, WE KNOW WE CAN SEND PEOPLE TO WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S POWER.
UH, WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT IN FEBRUARY, UH, CONSISTENTLY.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA START NEXT YEAR WITH FOUR THAT COULD GROW OVER TIME.
THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING NEW FOR US.
AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, REALLY ESTABLISHING THOSE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OCCASIONS WHERE WE COULD USE THESE, UM, UM, HERE IN THE CITY.
ART PART OF RE THE RESTORATION OF OUR BUDGET AND ARTS IS PRIMARILY FUNDED THROUGH OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND, BUT, UH, WE'RE RESTORING OUR ARTS FUNDING BACK TO WHAT IT WAS IN 2019.
OUR ARTS PROGRAMMING AND OUR ARTS AGENCIES TOOK, UM, PRETTY SEVERE CUTS LAST YEAR, OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
UH, THIS WAS A PRIORITY OF THE COUNCILS, AND SO IT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, UH, NEXT YEAR.
SO WE DO BOND PROGRAMS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
UH, THE LAST TIME WE WENT TO THE VOTERS WAS IN MAY OF 2017.
AND, UH, WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS GOING BACK TO THE VOTERS IN MAY OF 2022.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE GO THROUGH THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS IS WHAT CAN WE AFFORD? YOU KNOW, GIVEN, UM, OUR GROWTH RATE, UH, GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, GIVEN WHAT OUR REVENUE IS, UH, GIVEN, UH, WHAT OUR REVENUE WOULD BE, WITH NO CHANGE TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, WHAT CAN WE AFFORD TO DO OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? SO WE SHARE THIS WITH COUNCIL AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION.
UH, WE CAN AFFORD TO DO A $1.2 BILLION PROGRAM, AND IN MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL FOR NEXT YEAR, UM, THAT'S OUR LARGEST BOND PROGRAM IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.
AND CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF NEED.
WE'VE GOT, UH, $2 BILLION IN SIDEWALK NEEDS OF $2 BILLION IN STREET NEEDS, SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS IN DRAINAGE NEEDS.
UM, AND SO, UH, THE COUNCIL HERE SHORTLY, UH, THEY'VE HAD ONE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, UH, IN THE SPRINGTIME, BUT ON THE BEGINNING, ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, UH, WE WILL BE, WE WILL BE START HAVING THE, THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL ABOUT THIS BOND PROGRAM.
AND YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE, KIND OF OUR TIMELINE, HIGH LEVEL, UM, MILESTONES.
UH, THE COUNCIL WILL APPOINT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SIT ON PANELS
[00:30:01]
AND, AND, AND COMMITTEES TO REVIEW PROPOSED PROJECTS, UM, AND THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO THE COUNCIL.THE COUNCIL WILL ADOPT THAT IN EARLY JANUARY, AND THEN CALL FOR THE ELECTION, UH, BY THE SECOND WEEK IN FEBRUARY.
SO IT, A LOT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO.
UM, IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A, A REALLY LARGE INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND WE'LL REALLY SET THE TONE, UH, FOR THINGS LIKE CON CONNECTIVITY, RESILIENCY, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH IN TERMS OF, UH, PARK SPACE AND, UH, ACCESS TO ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR.
THOSE THREE HAVE BEEN THE THINGS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS, HAS TALKED ABOUT AS BEING THE FRAMEWORK AND, UH, BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
SO, UH, I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR WORK SESSIONS WITH THE COUNCIL.
UM, WE'RE DOING THESE TOWN HALLS TO GET INPUT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AND 14TH, AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL BE LOOKING TO HAVE THEIR CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND ADOPT THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 16TH.
AND I THINK WE'VE GOT, WE'RE GONNA FACILITATE QUESTIONS OF FOR FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, BUT ALSO ONLINE.
BERTHA, IS THAT YOU OR LAURA? SO, AS ERIC SAID, WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP TO Q AND AS, THERE'S A MIC IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, AND WE WELCOME THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE QUESTIONS TO POSE THEM EITHER TO ERIC, THE COUNCILWOMAN OR THE STAFF.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME COMING IN THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT I CAN READ AS WELL.
SO PLEASE, WELL, WE'LL OPEN IT UP WITH ONE THAT'S COME IN.
UH, IT'S REGARDING THE SAFE OFFICERS THAT YOU SPOKE TO.
UH, IT SAYS, WHAT GOALS AND STANDARDS DO THE ADDITIONAL SAFE AND BIKE PATROL OFFICERS HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE POSITION AND TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE FUTURE, PLUS WHO WILL CONDUCT THOSE EVALUATIONS? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO THE SAFE OFFICER'S JOBS ARE, UH, PRETTY STANDARD.
THEY WORK ON QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THEY WORK ON ISSUES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE FOR A NINE ONE ONE CALL OR A NON-EMERGENCY CALL.
UH, THEY ARE EVALUATED BY THEIR SUPERVISORS.
UH, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO KEEP, UH, RECORDS ON MEETINGS THEY ATTEND, UH, WHICH THEY DO QUITE FREQUENTLY AS A MA AS A MAJOR PART OF THEIR, AS A, EXCUSE ME, AS A MAJOR PART OF THEIR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, AND THE ADDITIONAL 15 SAFE, 12 ADDITIONAL SAFE OFFICERS WILL, UM, WILL PROVIDE EXTRA OUTREACH, ADDITIONAL OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT, UH, ARE OUT THERE AND THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THE HOAS.
AND, UM, MOST OF YOU KNOW, THE SURVEY THAT WE'VE TAKEN, UH, THE POLICE SERVICES SURVEY THAT WAS TAKEN, UH, WAS OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, IN FAVOR OF ADDING SAFE OFFICERS TO THE, UH, TO THE CURRENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING.
UH, WE HAVE AN A C S QUESTION.
UM, CAN YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE THE LIVE RELEASE PROGRAM MENTIONED WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING? YES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.
UH, SO THE, THE FIVE POSITIONS THAT ERIC SPOKE ABOUT, UH, IT'S GOING TO BE A CASE MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO A LOT OF THE, UH, A LOT OF THE CASES THAT WE'RE SEEING.
UH, WE KNOW THAT, UH, FROM A STUDY THAT WE'VE DONE EARLIER IN THE YEAR, THERE'S ABOUT A 40% RECIDIVISM RATE WHERE FOLKS, UH, ARE HAVING AN OFFICER WRITE THEM A CITATION MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE SAME TYPES OF VIOLATIONS.
THE INTENT OF THIS, UH, IS TO GET THOSE CASE MANAGERS OUT THERE, TAKE A PEOPLE ORIENTED APPROACH TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE ANIMAL PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.
UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALREADY EXISTING FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE WITHIN OUR BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST CONTINUING TO WRITE CITATIONS.
UH, PARTICULARLY IN CASES WHERE FOLKS, UH, JUST DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY THEMSELF.
SO KEEPING THOSE ANIMALS IN THEIR HOME IS GOING TO BE A HUGE ASPECT OF, UH, UH, OF THAT NEW CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BOND PROGRAM
[00:35:01]
AND $1.2 BILLION GOING TOWARDS THAT NEXT YEAR.WHAT ABOUT THE PROJECTS, THE STREET PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY THAT ARE NOT COMPLETE THUS FAR? THANK YOU.
THIS IS LUIS MALTO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WHERE, WHERE WE'RE AT ON OUR 2017 BOMB PROGRAM, WE'RE ABOUT 80% COMPLETE OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH OUR 2017 BOND PROGRAM.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE BEING ABOUT 97% COMPLETE OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY THE TIME WE GO OUT FOR THE VOTERS AGAIN.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT MAY OF 2022, WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE VOTERS FOR THE, WHAT ERIC TALKED ABOUT, $1.2 BILLION BOND PROGRAM, WE ANTICIPATE BEING, AGAIN, 97% COMPLETE OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS VERY, VERY GOOD, UH, VERY GOOD TARGET.
UH, THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE LAGGING BEHIND, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH SOME PRIVATE ENTITIES.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL FUNDING AGREEMENTS.
SO THERE'S A THIRD PARTY FUNDING PARTNERS, SO WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSE WITH THEM, OUR COUNCIL OFFICE, TO GET THOSE COMPLETED.
SO WE'RE VERY IN, IN A, IN A VERY GOOD PACE TO BE AT 97% COMPLETE.
UH, ERIC, THIS IS ONE THAT JUST, THAT'S COME THROUGH.
IT SAYS, HAVE ANY PERMANENT HIRES OR PROJECTS BEEN STARTED BY THE CITY WITH FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY? IF SO, WILL THOSE ONGOING COSTS BE PASSED ON TO TAXPAYERS WHEN THE FUNDS ARE DEPLETED? SO, THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE RECEIVED A FAIR AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING, UM, AND HAVE INVESTED THAT, UM, THE, THE TIMELINE ON SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS VARY THROUGH 2022 AND 2023.
UM, WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNCIL.
UM, THIS IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP US DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.
UM, AND, AND DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY JUST GET ASSUMED BY THE CITY.
IT'S ONE OF THE BALANCING ACTS WE'VE TRIED TO, UH, MAINTAIN SINCE THE BEGINNING.
UM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO, UM, WE CAN AFFORD TO DO LOCALLY, AND WE'RE NOT RELYING UPON THAT FEDERAL MONEY.
IT'S NOT GONNA, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE THERE.
SO WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE MANAGING THAT BALANCE PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANNA, AGAIN, OPEN IT UP TO ANY OF THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, I CAN PICK THEM UP IF YOU WANNA WRITE THEM FOR ME OR HAVE YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
UM, BUT THERE'S ONE MORE, UH, THAT HAS COME THROUGH.
UH, IT'S ASKING ABOUT THE REDUCTION IN THE HAZARD PERMIT FEE.
YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, I, CHRIS MONIER, OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF, OR YEAH, ASSISTANT, SORRY, DEPUTY CHIEF IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEMOTED YOU.
UM, UH, WE'VE INCLUDED A COUPLE OF MAJOR, UM, ITEMS, I THINK POLICY ITEMS THAT WE CAME OUTTA THE COUNCIL'S CONVERSATION.
ONE IS, UH, ELIMINATING THE $25, UM, UH, PROPERTY FEE, UM, THAT WE, THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CHARGED IN THE PAST.
AND THE SECOND ONE, I'LL LET, I'LL LET CHRIS TALK ABOUT, UH, THAT PERMIT.
YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
UM, THE, UH, HAZMAT PERMITTING FEES THAT, UH, RETAIL SERVICE STATIONS HAVE TO PAY ANNUALLY.
UH, THIS GOES BACK TO 1990, THE INCEPTION OF THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, UH, FEES.
AND SO THIS IS ALL OCCUPANCIES THAT, THAT HAVE, UH, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL STORAGE, USE, UH, DISPOSAL, THAT TYPE OF THING.
THERE'S A FIXED FEE FOR, FOR, UH, RETAIL SERVICE STATIONS.
THAT FEE WAS INCREASED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO TO, UH, SIX, $600 ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL RETAIL SERVICE STATIONS.
COUPLE YEARS BACK, UH, THROUGH, UH, COUNCILMAN S'S OFFICE, RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, AND, AND SOME OF THE SMALLER, UH, MOM AND POPS, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY.
UH, SERVICE STATIONS, UH, HAD AN ISSUE WITH THAT, THAT FEE INCREASE, UM, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES THE SAME TYPE OF SIZE, THE SAME TYPE OF HAZARD AS SOME OF THESE LARGER SERVICE STATIONS.
AND SO PART OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS A FEE REDUCTION FOR THOSE, UH, SMALLER, UH, RETAIL SERVICE STATIONS FROM 600 BACK DOWN TO $300, WHAT IT WAS, UH, PRIOR TO THAT CHANGE.
UH, WE HAVE ONE MORE, AND THEN I'M GONNA ASK THE COUNCILWOMAN IF SHE'D LIKE TO MAYBE COME UP AND CLOSE THIS OFF.
[00:40:01]
YES.AND SO THE QUESTION IS, WHAT SERVICES DO WE HAVE THAT WILL TAR THAT WILL ENGAGE KIDS AND OR TEENS? SO THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I'M DALE MCNEIL, ONE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AT THE LIBRARY.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF SERVICES THAT WILL, THAT DO ENGAGE CHILDREN AND TEENS.
OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'RE NOT HAVING IN-PERSON, UM, SERVICES FOR CHILDREN TOO YOUNG TO BE VACCINATED.
BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON FOR CHILDREN ONLINE AND ALSO FOR TEENS, UH, ONLINE AS WELL.
SO YOU CAN CHECK OUT, UH, MY APPLE.ORG AND LOOK ON OUR EVENTS, AND YOU'LL FIND A LOT OF EVENTS THERE, UM, FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY, UM, IN THE NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT OF IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING AS WELL.
WELL, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
JUST, UM, AS A SIDE NOTE, I KNOW, UH, SOMEONE ASKED ABOUT LIBRARIES.
WE HAVE, UH, HVAC REPLACEMENT FOR THE JOHNSTON LIBRARY THAT'S COMING UP.
UM, WE HAVE $400,000 ALSO BUDGETED FOR THE CORTEZ LIBRARY AND IMPROVEMENTS, UM, SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T, UH, NECESSARILY MENTIONED TODAY, BUT, BUT THE STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, WE HAVE $10.7 MILLION AS WELL THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOCATE WHERE THEY'RE, UH, NEEDED.
UM, WE HAVE DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
WE ALL NEED SOME, SOME ADDITIONAL DRAINAGE MONEY, BUT WE HOPE TO LEVERAGE THAT WITH THE 2022 BOND.
I DO, UM, WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE RESIDENTS, UH, OF DISTRICT FOUR THAT I WAS APPOINTED THE CHAIR OF THE COMMU PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE BY THE MAYOR.
AND, UM, I HAVE A FOCUS ON BRINGING BACK A FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE HAVE, UH, AGREED TO THAT.
AND SO I HOPE TO MAKE THIS THE DECADE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS PERIOD, RIGHT? AND SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS UPCOMING BOND, THE 2022 BOND, THEN THE 2027 BOND, IF WE THINK IN PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO TO MAKE SOME REALLY NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE FIRST GO ROUND, THE FIRST BOND, HOPEFULLY.
THEN ALSO, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGES TO THE U D C.
UM, I WAS SPEAKING WITH SOME OF YOU ALL EARLIER ABOUT THE U D C UH, CHANGES.
YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT ALSO HAPPENS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO I SAW IT AS A PERFECT ALIGNMENT.
WE COULD DO A FIRST SET OF, UH, CHANGES AND THEN ANOTHER FIVE YEARS.
ANOTHER ONE, UM, THE, THE COMMITTEE THAT I'M HELPING OVERSEE ALSO IS, UH, IN CHARGE OR TASKED WITH THE HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION, UH, PLAN.
AND SO THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A 10 YEAR STRATEGY.
SO AGAIN, IF WE THINK IN TERMS OF DECADES, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE DECADE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE'VE INVESTED IN DOWNTOWN, WE'VE INVESTED IN OTHER AREAS OF TOWN, NOW WE NEED TO BRING BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHAT BELONGS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT TODAY.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY AND WOULD LOVE TO, UH, PLEASE, UH, HAVE YOU STOP BY THE OFFICE.
UM, WE ARE ALWAYS, UH, THERE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT THE FIELD OFFICE OR AT CITY HALL.
SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP BY, SEND US AN EMAIL, CALL US.
WE JUST WANNA TALK TO YOU, SEND US A MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK, ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.