[1. 19-3334 Briefing on the FY 2019 Six Plus Six Financial Report (2nd Quarter Actuals with Annualized Projections), Mid Year Budget Adjustment Recommendations, and Five Year Financial Forecast. [María Villagómez, Deputy City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget]]
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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL "B" SESSION OF MAY 8TH, 2019.
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL "B" SESSION OF MAY 8TH, 2019.
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL "B" SESSION OF MAY 8TH, 2019.
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL "B" SESSION OF MAY 8TH, 2019.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, THE 6 PLUS 6 FINANCIAL REPORT.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH.
>> THIS AFTERNOON'S PRESENTATION IS GOING TO COVER A COUPLE OF AREAS.
THE FEDERAL STATE BUDGET UPDATE.
WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR MID YEAR BUDGET AND OUR REPORT ON INITIATIVES IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, IN THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST THAT'S INCORPORATED IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP FROM A CCR THAT WAS ORIGINATED BY COUNCILMAN PERRY AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE ON PROPERTY TAX.
THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION.
TYPICALLY IN THE PAST, THESE MIDYEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR THE "A" SESSION, THE DAY AFTER THE "B" SESSION PRESENTATION.
WE'VE TAKEN THE ADDITIONAL STEP -- BROADCAST ].
THEY'RE ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA, SO WE CAN GO THROUGH THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU GUYS HERE, AND BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE QUARTERLY -- OR FOLLOW UP ON ANY QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.
SO WITH THAT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, TODAY WE'LL BE REVIEWING THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL REPORT AS WELL AS OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
INCLUDED IS AN UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGET.
THE SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL REPORT, AN OVERVIEW OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST AND MAJOR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH AN UPDATE ON OUR FEDERAL BUDGET.
AS PART OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET PROCESS, ON MARCH 11TH THE PRESIDENT SUBMITTED HIS BUDGET, 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET TO CONGRESS.
THE CITY RECEIVES APPROXIMATELY 128 MILLION ANNUALLY FROM FEDERAL -- IN FEDERAL GRANTS.
THE PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE CITY'S FEDERAL GRANTS BY BROADCAST ].
THIS BUDGET PROPOSES TO ELIMINATE COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT, HOME AND COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
IN TOTAL, THE CITY RECEIVES $20 MILLION FROM THESE PROGRAMS. SIX GRANTS ARE ALSO PROPOSED FOR PARTIAL REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION.
THESE INCLUDES WICK, JAG AND HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS.
THE 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD IMPACT THE CITY'S 2021 BUDGET.
AS IT RELATES TO THE STATE, THE STATE HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO LOWER THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CAP FROM 8% ROLLBACK TO 3.5% ROLLBACK.
AT THIS TIME BOTH CHAMBERS HAVE PASSED THEIR VERSIONS OF SB-2, WHICH INCLUDES A 3.5% ROLLBACK.
THE NEXT STEP WILL BE FOR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO WORK OUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO BILLS.
BOTH CHAMBERS WOULD HAVE TO PASS THE BILLS AGAIN, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR FINAL SIGNATURE.
IF APPROVED, IT WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR 2021, RE DICING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES.
FOR CONTEXT, IF A 3.5% CAP HAD BEEN IN PLACE DURING THE PAST DECADE, IT WOULD HAVE COST THE CITY ABOUT $137 MILLION IN LESS REVENUES AND WOULD REDUCE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL FUND BY $51 MILLION.
ADDITIONALLY, AN AVERAGE CITY HOMEOWNER WOULD REALIZE APPROXIMATELY $20 IN SAVINGS ANNUALLY.
THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE IS ALSO CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD REDUCE THE REVENUE PAID BY COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE BOTH CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES TO THE CITY.
CURRENTLY, THESE COMPANIES PAY A CABLE FRANCHISE FEE, AS WELL AS A RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCESS LINE.
IF THIS BILL IS PASSED, THE COMPANIES WOULD PAY EITHER THE CABLE FRANCHISE FEE OR THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ACCESS LINE, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, BUT THEY WOULD NO LONGER PAY BOTH.
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EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1 OF 2019 AND WOULD REDUCE THE CITY'S REVENUE FOR 2020 BY $7 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND.NOW ON TO THE SIX PLUS SIX BUDGET AND FINANCIAL REPORT.
THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR 2019 IS $2.8 BILLION.
THE FIRST COMPONENT IS OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS AT $889 MILLION.
RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE GOVERNED BY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAWS, AND THE REVENUES OF THESE FUNDS MUST BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE AIRPORT FUND.
THE AIRPORT FUND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL LAWS AND ALL REVENUES GENERATED BY THE AIRPORT MUST BE USED TO SUPPORT AVIATION RELATED ACTIVITIES.
THE NEXT COMPONENT IS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET AT $690 MILLION.
THIS PROVIDES FUNDING FOR SOME OF OUR MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO INCLUDE OUR BOND PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE AIRPORT PROJECTS.
FINALLY, THE GENERAL FUND IS OUR LARGEST OPERATING FUND AT $1.26 BILLION.
THE GENERAL FUND PROVIDES FOR THE CITY'S CORE SERVICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS AND RECREATION AND STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE GENERAL FUND IS FUNDED BY FOUR MAIN COMPONENTS.
THE FIRST BEING CPS, WHICH GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $363 MILLION IN REVENUES.
AS A REMINDER, THE CITY RECEIVES UP TO 14% OF ALL CPS GAS AND ELECTRIC GROSS REVENUES AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE AT APPROXIMATELY 362 MILLION AND SALES TAX GENERATES APPROXIMATELY 295 MILLION.
THE FINAL COMPONENT OF REVENUES IS OUR OTHER RESOURCES.
THESE REVENUES INCLUDE TELECOMMUNICATION AND USER FEES.
THESE REVENUES COMBINED FROM THE BASIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY AT JUST BELOW 63% OF THE GENERAL FUND, STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PARKS.
THE REMAINING FUND SERVICES SUCH AS LIBRARIES, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BROADCAST ].
THIS IS DUE TO $1.6 MILLION IN LESS REVENUES PRIMARILY FROM CPS AS A RESULT OF THE MILD WINTER IN SAN ANTONIO, AND LOWER FUEL PRICES.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE SEEING ABOUT $1 MILLION IN LESS EXPENSE BROADCAST ].
THE GENERAL FUND IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $600,000 IN LESS REVENUES, MAINLY DUE TO THE REDUCTION IN CPS.
AND THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES I'LL DETAIL PROJECTIONS BROADCAST ].
WITHIN THE OTHER CATEGORY WE'RE PROJECTING TO BE ABOUT $2.7 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE, AS A RESULT OF INTEREST EARNINGS.
IN THE SECOND QUARTER SALES TAX IS ABOVE BUDGET BY $4.2 MILLION AND PROJECTING TO BE AHEAD OF BUDGET BY THE END OF THE YEAR OF 4.4 MILLION.
THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT ILLUSTRATES THE BUDGET AS WELL AS ACTUAL COLLECTIONS.
WHEN YOU COMPARE THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2019, COMPARED TO 2018, WE ARE AHEAD BY 5.9%.
FOR THE YEAR ON PROJECTION, WE'RE PROJECTED TO BE 3.8% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR AND 1.5% ABOVE BUDGET.
WITH CPS WE ARE BELOW BUDGET THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER BY APPROXIMATELY $7.7 MILLION DUE TO, AS I MENTIONED, A MILD WINTER AND LOWER FUEL PRICES.
THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT ILLUSTRATES THE BUDGET AND ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FOR CPS, BY MONTH, THROUGH MARCH.
AS YOU MAY RECALL DURING THE THREE PLUS NINE BUDGET, WE WERE PROJECTING TO BE A BUDGET FOR CPS, HOWEVER WE HAD JUST RECEIVED OUR JANUARY ACTUALS BROADCAST ].
AT THAT TIME WE DID NOT CHANGE OUR PROJECTIONS BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE REVENUE SOURCE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GRAPH, WE'VE MISSED FIVE OF SIX MONTHS FOR CPS.
THEREFORE, WE REVISED THE PROJECTION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THIS REVENUE SOURCE AND WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
THE NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE GENERAL FUND YEAR END PROJECTION AS COMPARED TO OUR FISCAL YEAR 2019 THAT WE HAD PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY.
WHEN WE PRESENTED THE FISCAL YEAR 2019, WE WERE PROJECTED TO HAVE A BETTER ENDING BALANCE OF $17 MILLION.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE REVISED OUR ESTIMATES FOR REVENUES AS A RESULT OF LESS REVENUES FROM CPS, AND ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM SALES TAX.
WE ARE NOW PROJECTING A BETTER ENDING BALANCE OF $14.7 MILLION.
SO IN YOUR BINDER INCLUDES AL OF
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OUR BUDGET INITIATIVES AND STATUS UPDATE ON THOSE.I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE BUDGET NISH YAF ITS INCLUDED IN 2019.
THE 2019 BUDGET INCREASED OUR STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM BY $11 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF $110 MILLION.
COM THROUGH APRIL WE HAVE COMPLETED 424 PROJECTS, AND WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETING 1,076 BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
10% OF THE PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED BY APRIL 2020 DUE TO THE SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF THESE PROJECTS.
THE 2019 BUDGET INCLUDES 19 MILLION FOR SIDEWALKS, WITH THIS FUNDING WE'RE PROJECTING TO COMPLETE 40 MILES OF SIDEWALKS IN 2019.
FOR THE SECOND QUARTER WE ARE ON SCHEDULE WITH 14.5 MILES OF SIDEWALK COMPLETED, WITH MOST OF THE PROJECTS COMPLETED IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER OF THE YEAR.
THE 2019 ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDED $25 MILLION BROADCAST ].
ADDITIONALLY, IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, A LOCAL FPHILANTHROPIST DONATED $1 MILLION.
WE'RE ON TRACK WITH THE BUSINESS PLAN THEY HAVE DEVELOPED.
A REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION IS PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE RECEIVES UPDATES REGULARLY.
OVERALL PROGRAMS ARE ON SCHEDULE EXCEPT FOR OUR HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND CONSTRUCTION ON NEW UNITS AND PRESERVATION OF EXISTING UNITS IS UNDER WAY.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR POLICE UNIFORM VACANCIES.
ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES FOR 2019 WAS TO FILL VACANCIES WITHIN POLICE UNIFORM.
AS OF MAY 3RD, THERE ARE 45 VACANT POSITIONS.
WE HAVE 2,246 FILLED SWORN POSITIONS, 156 CADETS, AND 45 VACANT POSITIONS.
AS A REMINDER WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL CADET CLASSES SCHEDULED IN 2019, WHICH BROADCAST ].
FINALLY OUR SA SPEAKUP CAMPAIGN.
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED BROADCAST ].
THE RESULTS OF THESE SURVEYS WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL AT THE JUNE 21ST SESSION.
THROUGH MAY, WE HAVE HELD AND ATTENDED BROADCAST ].
THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST 6,500 SURVEYS COMPLETED AND OVER 8,500 RESIDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED THROUGH MAY 6TH.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ON THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
AS I MENTIONED, THE PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION REDUCES THE CITY'S ROLLBACK RATE FROM 8% TO 3.5%.
ON THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU CAN SEE THAT OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD, THIS WOULD HAVE -- COST THE CITY ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] AND REDUCE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GENERAL FUND TODAY BY BROADCAST ].
ADDITIONALLY, AN AVERAGE CITY HOMEOWNER WOULD REALIZE SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $20 PER YEAR.
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED FROM COUNCILMAN PELAEZ TO COMPLETE THE BEXAR DISTRICT PRACTICES AS THEY COMPARE TO OTHER TEXAS CITIES.
WE ARE ON TRACK TO PROVIDE THIS STUDY BY SEPTEMBER 2019.
CURRENTLY THE CITY OFFERS TWO EXEMPTIONS.
ONE IS A $65,000 EXEMPTION FOR HOMEOWNERS OVER THE AGE OF 65, AND THE SECOND IS $12,500 DISABLED HOMEOWNER'S TAX EXEMPTION.
THE CITY ALSO FREEZES THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES IMPOSED ON RESIDENTS BY PERSONS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR DISABLED PERSONS.
WHEN THESE EXEMPTIONS AND FROZEN CITY TAX PAYMENTS ARE CONSIDERED, THE CITY WILL FORGO NEARLY $52 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU SOME STATISTICS ON THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX ROLLS.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPRAISED PARCELS ON THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX ROLLS IS ALMOST 473,000.
OF THAT AMOUNT, 50% ARE COMMERCIAL BROADCAST ].
OF THE ALMOST 237,000 RESIDENTIAL PARCELS, 44% HAVE OVER AGE 65 AND DISABLED EXEMPTIONS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OVER
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96,000 HAVE AN OVER 65 EXEMPTION AND THEIR TAXES ARE FROZEN.THERE ARE NEARLY 8,800 DISABLED HOMEOWNERS WITH TAX FREEZE.
THERE ARE 24,000 DISABLED VETERANS, STATUTORY EXEMPTION AS MENT MENTIONED.
THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A DETAILED SNAPSHOT OF SAN ANTONIO HOMEOWNERS BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF YEARS THEY HAVE OWNED THEIR HOME AS WELL AS HOW MANY OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS HAVE THE AFOREMENTIONED CITY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, THE MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE A TAX EXEMPTION AND A TAX FREEZE HAVE BEEN IN THEIR HOMES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
FOR EXAMPLE, 94% OF HOMEOWNERS LIVING IN THEIR HOMES FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS RECEIVED THE EXEMPTIONS AND THEIR TAXES ARE FROZEN.
IN FEBRUARY OF 2019, COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND COUNCILMAN PERRY SUBMITTED A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST TO STUDY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GENERAL HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION AND INCREASING THE OVER AGE 65 AND DISABLED TAX EXEMPTION.
THE NEXT TABLE PROVIDES AN IMPACT OF THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES FOR THE OVER AGE 65 EXEMPTION, AS WELL AS THE DISABLED EXEMPTION.
THE TABLE IN GREEN ILLUSTRATES THE CURRENT OVER AGE 65 EXEMPTION AND THE IMPACT OF THESE ALTERNATIVES.
CURRENTLY OUR EXEMPTION IS 65,000, AND WITH THIS EXEMPTION, THE CITY FORGOES 32 MILLION.
IF WE WERE TO INCREASE THIS EXEMPTION TO 75,000, OR 100,000, IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON REVENUES YOU OF $4 MILLION, OR $12.7 MILLION.
THE TABLE IN BLUE ILLUSTRATES THE CITY'S CURRENT DISABLED EXEMPTION AND THE IMPACT OF THE ALTERNATIVES.
CURRENTLY OUR EXEMPTION IS 12,500.
WITH THIS EXEMPTION, THE CITY FOREGOES $550,000 IN REVENUE.
THE TABLE INCLUDES EXEMPTIONS RANGING FROM 50,000 TO 100,000, WHICH WOULD IMPACT OUR REVENUES BETWEEN 1.6 MILLION AND $3 MILLION.
WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU A COMPARISON OF THE EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY JURISDICTIONS IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.
AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE TABLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE THE ONLY ENTITIES TO PROVIDE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
ALL JURISDICTIONS PROVIDE AN OVER 65 EXEMPTION.
ADDITIONALLY, JURISDICTIONS -- ALL JURISDICTIONS WITH THE XENGS OF UHS BROADCAST ].
AND THE SENIOR TAX FREEZE IS PROVIDED BY ALL JURISDICTIONS EXCEPT UHS.
ONCE A PERSON REACHES AGE 65, THE PROPERTY TAX BILL DECREASES BY 14%, AND ALL TAX ENTITIES ARE FROZEN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SARAH AND UHS.
SO FOR AS LONG AS AN INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO BE A HOMEOWNER, THEIR TAXES ARE FROZEN.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMESTEAD BROADCAST ].
I WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE LAST BULLET.
A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION MUST BE APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2019, TO BE EFFECTIVE IN FISCAL YEAR 20.
THE NEXT TABLE PROVIDES SCENARIOS IF THE CITY WOULD IMPLEMENT A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF VARYING DEGREES AND THE IMPACT ON HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS REVENUE LOST TO THE CITY.
I'D LIKE TO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION TO THE MIDDLE OF THE SLIDE.
BASED ON THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD VALUE OF $178,929, THE AVERAGE CITY TAX BILL IS $999, AND BASED ON A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THE SAVINGS TO HOMEOWNERS WOULD RANGE BETWEEN $28 BROADCAST ].
THE LOSS WOULD BE 5.9 MILLION AND $48 MILLION ANNUALLY.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS, WE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO GIVE CONTEXT ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DISCUSSION WHICH SETS THE FRAMEWORK FOR DISCUSSION AT THE JUNE 21ST GOAL-SETTING SESSION ALONG WITH OTHER POLICY ISSUES.
NEXT I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST IS AN EARLY FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FOR THE CITY AS WE DEVELOP OUR 2019 BUDGET.
THE FORECAST INITIATES COUNCIL POLICY DISCUSSIONS FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET, AS WELL AS OTHER BUDGET PRIORITIES.
AS A REMINDER, THE FINANCIAL FORECAST IS NOT A BUDGET.
IT IS JUST WHAT WE KNOW IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES BASED ON A SET OF ASSUMPTIONS.
THIS IS THE START OF THE 2020 BUDGET PROCESS, AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 8TH.
THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS BASED ON A SET OF ASSUMPTIONS TO FORM AN EARLY
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FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AS PART OF THE 2020 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BROADCAST ].CHANGES BEING CONSIDERED BY THE STATE INCLUDING 3.5% PROPERTY TAX CAP, AND A CHANGE IN THE CALCULATION FOR TELECOMMUNICATION AND CABLE FEES.
REVENUE FORECAST WHICH LIMITS THE CAPACITY OF THE CITY TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL SPENDING BEYOND CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS.
THE FORECAST WILL ACHIEVE STRUCTURAL BALANCE BY 2022, AND MAINTAINS A MINIMUM 15% GENERAL FUND BALANCE IN KEEPING WITH CITY COUNCIL POLICY.
AS I MENTIONED, THE PROPERTY TAX IS THE CITY'S SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
HOWEVER, THE CITY REPRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 20 % OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL AS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY TAX GOES TO FUND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS OTHER ENTITIES TO INCLUDE THE COUNTY, SARAH, AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM.
THE NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES HISTORICAL TAX EVALUATION PERCENT CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR.
BETWEEN 2009 AND 2019, THE CITY AVERAGED A GROWTH RATE IN TAX BILL VALUE OF 5.27%.
THE FIRST IS BASE VALUE WHICH REPRESENTS EXISTING PROPERTIES.
AND THE SECOND ARE NEW PROPERTIES ADDED TO THE CITY'S TAX ROLL.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, THE GROWTH DOES NOT HAPPEN EVENLY YEAR OVER YEAR.
THERE ARE SOME YEARS WHERE THE CITY SAW NEGATIVE GROWTH IN THE BASE, IN 2020 THROUGH 2013, AND OVERALL DECREASE IN 2011 AND 2012.
SO IN THESE YEARS, THE CITY RECEIVED LESS REVENUE.
AS THE ECONOMY RECOVERED, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE UP FOR THOSE YEARS WITH NEGATIVE GROWTH.
HOWEVER, DURING THOSE YEARS OF NEGATIVE GROWTH, THE CITY COUNCIL MADE THE DECISION NOT TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, AND STAFF MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MANAGE BROADCAST ].
THE REMAINING PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 5%.
3.5 ON OUR BASE GROWTH WHICH REFLECTS WHICH MATCHES THE 3.5% ROLLBACK BEING CONSIDERED BY THE STATE AND A 1.5% INCREASE IN NEW GROWTH.
THE TOTAL AVERAGE GROWTH FOR THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST IS 5.2%.
IN TERMS OF SALES TAX, THIS GRAPH ILLUSTRATES THE 10-YEAR HISTORY.
THE SALES TAX DURING THIS TIME GREW ON AVERAGE 4%.
MORE RECENTLY, SALES TAX GROWTH HAS RANGED FROM 3% TO JUST UNDER 6%, AND THE FORECAST ASSUMES GROWTH IN SALES TAX OF 3.5% EACH YEAR.
AND FINALLY, ON OUR CPS REVENUES, THIS, AGAIN, IS OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO ONE OF THE MOST VOLATILE REVENUE BROADCAST ].
SUCH AS WEATHER, FUEL PRICES, AND OFF-SYSTEM SALES.
AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE SLIDE, IN 2009, WE SAW A DECREASE OVER 2008 REVENUES OF 9.6%.
AND THEN IN 2010, REVENUES INCREASED BY 6.8%.
THE OVERALL GROWTH HAS AVERAGED 2.5%.
FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THE COMBINATION OF WARMER WINTER ALONG WITH LOWER FUEL PRICES, IT IS ANTICIPATED FOR REVENUES TO DECLINE 4.3% FROM PRIOR YEAR ACTUALS.
OVER THE FORECAST, OUR REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO GROW ON AVERAGE OF ABOUT 2.3%.
MOVING ON TO SOME OF OUR EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS.
THE FORECAST INCLUDES THE COST TO PROVIDE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF CITY SERVICES.
THIS INCLUDES $110 MILLION FOR STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $23 MILLION BROADCAST ].
THE FORECAST ALSO INCLUDES ASSUMPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
THESE ASSUMPTIONS INCLUDE MAINTAINING BROADCAST ].
CIVILIAN ENTRY WAGE BROADCAST ].
FOR POLICE AND EVERGREEN FOR FIRE.
INCREASES FOR CIVILIANS ON THE PAY PLAN RANGE FROM 2% TO 4%, AND FOR NONPAY PLAN, MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES, A PERFORMANCE PAY ALLOCATION IS INCLUDED WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO 3% OF SALARIES.
AND FINALLY, A 1% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IS INCLUDED.
AS THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED, THE FORECAST INCLUDES PERSONNEL, OPERATIONAL, AND MAINTENANCE FOR THESE FACILITIES AS THEY COME
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ONLINE.SOME OF THESE FACILITIES BROADCAST ].
ASSUMPTIONS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED, THE TABLE ON THE TOP ILLUSTRATES THE PROJECTED RESOURCES AS WELL AS OUR PROJECTED EXPENDITURES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE FACE CHALLENGES IN 2020, AND 2021.
CONSISTENT WITH THE HOUSING RECOMMENDATION, WE WOULD NEED TO ADD $15 MILLION TO THE BROADCAST ].
AT THAT TIME, THERE WOULD BE $48 MILLION IN THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ANOTHER POLICY ISSUE IS ADDITIONAL UNIFORMED OFFICERS.
DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2018, GOAL-SETTING SESSION, CHIEF MCMANUS RECOMMENDED ADDING 25 POLICE OFFICERS EACH YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH GROWTH OF THE CITY.
AND THE CHIEF ALSO RECOMMENDED BROADCAST ].
A $5,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS INCLUDED IN THESE POLICY ISSUES.
THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST TODAY BUT WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING A POLICY DISCUSSION ON JUNE 21ST.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, WE CANNOT ADD ALL THE POLICY ISSUES.
MOVING TO THE RESTRICTED FUNDS, I'LL START WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THIS IS A $37 MILLION FUND THAT IS SUPPORTED BY FEES PAID FOR BY DEVELOPERS, FOR BROADCAST ].
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 WE'RE ANTICIPATING BROADCAST ].
AND THE DEPARTMENT IS MANAGING THEIR SPENDING SLIGHTLY BELOW BUDGET.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FORECAST DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY FEE INCREASES OVER THE FIVE YEARS, AND IS STRUCTURALLY BALANCED.
IT ALSO MAINTAINS A FINANCIAL RESERVE AND PROVIDES A RESERVE FOR FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WITH REGARD TO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY BROADCAST ].
THE CURRENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATE OF 16.75% IS LEVIED ON EVERY HOTEL ROOM.
THE CITY RECEIVES 9% OF THE TOTAL RATE WITH 7% GOING TO FUND THE CONVENTION VISITORS -- OUR CONVENTION FACILITIES, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, ARTS AND HISTORY AND PRESERVATION.
THE REMAINING 2% IS RESTRICTED SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION DEBT.
THE ANNUAL REVENUES GENERATED BY THE TAX IS BUDGETED AT $70.8 MILLION AND ESTIMATED TO BE $72.8 MILLION, OR $2 MILLION ABOVE BUDGET.
FOR THE SECOND QUARTER WE ARE AHEAD OF BUDGET BY $3.11 MILLION.
THIS STRONG POSITIVE VARIANCE IS DRIVEN BY A 2% INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE FOR HOTEL ROOMS AND 7% INCREASE IN THE DEMAND.
FOR OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY -- FOR OUR OCCUPANCY TAX, THEY'RE ALL WITHIN BUDGET.
THE NEXT CHART ILLUSTRATES THE PROJECTED HOT REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
THE FORECAST ASSUMES AN AVERAGE GROWTH RATE OF 3.3% OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
THESE GROWTH ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUES ARE BASED ON LONG-TERM TRENDS AND SUPPLY, DEMAND, PRICES AND OCCUPANCY LEVELS.
THE CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS ARE PROJECTED TO MAINTAIN WITHIN PROJECTED REVENUES OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
FINALLY OUR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FUND.
THIS FUND HAS AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $126.5 MILLION.
THE FUND IS SUPPORTED BY SOLID WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL FEES AS WELL AS RECYCLING REVENUES.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE FISCAL YEAR TO 19 ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDED A FEE INCREASE FOR THE LARGE CART AND DECREASE FOR A SMALL CART WHICH IS $10 PER MONTH.
THE GOAL WAS TO INCENTIVIZE THE CUSTOMERS TO THROW AWAY LESS, MIGRATING TO A SMALLER CART.
WITH THESE CHANGES WE HAVE PROJECTED ALMOST 40% OF CUSTOMERS WOULD BE IN A SMALLER CART.
HOWEVER, WE ARE NOW PROJECTING ONLY 20% WILL BE IN A SMALLER CART BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
WITH THESE REVISED CART DISTRIBUTIONS, WE ARE ANTICIPATED ADDITIONAL 7.5 MILLION IN REVENUES.
FOR EXPENSES, THE DEPARTMENT IS BELOW BUDGET AND PROJECTED TO HAVE $700,000 IN LESS EXPENSE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE NEXT CHART SHOWS A SOLID WASTE MONTHLY RATE, AND THE PROJECTED RATES OVER THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
THIS FORECAST INITIATES THE POLICY DISCUSSION WITH CITY COUNCIL AS WE MOVE INTO THE 2020 BUDGET.
TODAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LARGE CART AND THE SMALL CART IS $10.
[00:30:04]
INCLUDING A DECREASE IN THE SMALL CART FOR 2020.THIS WOULD CREATE A DIFFERENCE OF $12.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, WE ARE INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL DOLLAR DECREASE TO THE SMALL CART.
THESE RATE CHANGES COUPLED WITH THE ROBUST EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ARE DESIGNED TO INCENTIVIZE RESIDENTS TO MOVE TO BROADCAST ].
SO YOU CAN SEE OUR ESTIMATED RESOURCES AS WELL AS OUR PROJECTED EXPENDITURE AND THE ENDING BALANCE OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
AGAIN, THESE FEE CHANGES WILL BE A POLICY DISCUSSION WITH CITY COUNCIL DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET.
FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION NEXT THURSDAY.
TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE MIDYEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDES FOUR ADJUSTMENTS FOR $288,000 FUNDED FROM GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY.
IT INCLUDES THREE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.3 MILLION AND CAPITAL BUDGET BROADCAST ].
ADJUSTMENT WOULD ADD FUNDING FOR TWO POSITIONS TO BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND BOARD AND MISSION MEETINGS AT THE ONE STOP.
ADDITIONALLY $300,000 IN CAPITAL EQUIPMENT WILL BE PURCHASED TO EQUIP THE ONE STOP BOARD ROOM FOR BROADCASTING CAPABILITIES.
THIS WILL BE PURCHASED FROM CURRENT APPROPRIATIONS IN THE PEG FUND.
NEXT IS FOR A LARGE AREA BROADCAST ].
CITY INITIATED LARGE AREA REZONING DATING BACK TO 2014 BY FEBRUARY OF 2020.
THE TWO POSITIONS WILL BE FUNDED BROADCAST ].
ADJUSTMENT WOULD REALLOCATE $45,000 FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 POLICE SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT TO T SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 65 YOUTH IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM.
IN DECEMBER OF 2018, CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OPTION FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
BETWEEN JANUARY AND APRIL, INPUT FROM GROUPS FROM OVER 25 ORGANIZATIONS WAS GATHERED.
THROUGH THIS PROCESS, POTENTIAL FUNDING ALTERNATIVES WERE IDENTIFIED TO INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN RIVER FEES, NEW FEE ON SCOOTERS, INCREASE IN DOWNTOWN PARKING FEES, AND ADDITIONALLY CITY AND STAKEHOLDERS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON FUNDING ALTERNATIVES OVER THE SUMMER.
STAKEHOLDERS AGREE TO MORE DISCUSSION ON THESE OPTIONS AND SUPPORT A COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
AS A RESULT, THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 MID-YEAR BUDGET REQUEST INCLUDES $200,000 TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT COMMUNITY HOME SERVICES, IDENTIFYING BROADCAST ].
IN CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE GAPS.
THIS BUDGET ADJUSTMENT WOULD ADD SIX POSITIONS IN THE AMOUNT BROADCAST ].
FOUR POSITIONS WOULD BE ADDED TO ADDRESS THE PLAN REVIEW AS WELL AS INTAKE.
THE TWO REMAINING POSITIONS WOULD ADDRESS AN INCREASE IN OUR BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
FOR OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND, WE HAVE TWO MAJOR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REQUESTS.
ONE FOR $523,000 TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN TO REPLACE THE ROOF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF WEATHER OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND LAST YEAR.
THE SECOND IS $500,000 FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO DRIVE ADDITIONAL VISITATION FOR SUMMER 2019 AND 2020.
AND FINALLY, OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
WE HAVE TWO REQUESTS, $2.4 MILLION FOR FUNDING TO HAVEN FOR HOPE TO COMPLETE RENOVATIONS TO EXISTING BUILDING, ADDING 120 BEDS SERVING 500 HOMELESS ANNUALLY.
AND THEN THE SECOND IS A REALLOCATION OF $100,000 FROM DISTRICT 7 PARK DEVELOPMENT TO JANE DUVALL PARK.
SO THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR 2020 BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE CURRENTLY GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR PRIORITIES, AS WE MOVE INTO THE 2020 BUDGET.
[00:35:03]
THESE RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED AS WELL AS POLICY DISCUSSIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED ON JUNE 21ST.THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS SCHEDULED TO BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL ON AUGUST 8TH, AND WE'LL FOLLOW WITH CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL INPUT ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND BUDGET ADOPTION IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 12TH.
IN CLOSING, THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET IS BALANCED, AND SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF BUDGET.
THE FINANCIAL FORECAST REFLECTS BROADCAST ].
HOWEVER HAS LIMITED CAPACITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL SPENDING BEYOND CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS.
THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL ON MAY 16TH, AND WILL BE PROVIDING A BRIEFING ON FINANCIAL POLICY ISSUES ON JUNE 21ST.
FINALLY, OUR GOAL-SETTING SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE -- I'M SORRY, BRIEFING ON FINANCIAL POLICIES ON JUNE 12TH.
GOAL-SETTING SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 21ST.
FOR COUNCIL TO DISCUSS POLICY ISSUES AND FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR THE 2020 BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUSTINA.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ON SPEAKOUT ON THE BUDGET? OR IS THAT GOING TO BE FOR A LATER DATE?
>> WE HAVE BEEN ATTENDING EVENTS.
WE'VE ATTENDED 30 EVENTS TO DATE.
WE ARE COLLECTING THE SURVEYS.
AND WE'LL BE PREPARING A REPORT TO BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 21ST.
SO WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT TO BE DECIDED YET.
AT THIS POINT OUR PROJECTIONS OR CPS REVENUES IS WE'RE GOING TO BE SLIGHTLY UNDER FORECAST, AND ON SALES TAX SLIGHTLY OVER FORECAST.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE BUDGET DOESN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS AT THE MID-YEAR EITHER.
OF COURSE, I SUPPORT THE RECO RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU PRESENTED JUST NOW.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION ANALYSIS TO PREPARE US FOR THE POLICY FORECAST.
HAVE WE ALSO LOOKED AT ROLLBACK? AS OPPOSED TO AN EXEMPTION ACTUAL RATE REDUCTION?
WE HAVE NOT SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT THAT.
BUT WE CERTAINLY COULD LOOK AT THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COMPARE THE IMPACT TO THE HOMEOWNER, IF WE HAVE CHOICES TO MAKE WITH REGARD TO EXEMPTION, OR ROLLBACK, WHAT THAT WOULD -- WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE CITY BUDGET, BUT ALSO THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER.
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT THAT TOGETHER.
THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
IT WILL GO JUST TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS, A TAX RATE REDUCTION WOULD GO ACROSS THE ENTIRE TAX BASE, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, MULTIFAMILY, EVERYBODY WOULD SEE THAT REDUCTION.
FOR COMPARISON, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NEXT QUESTION WAS, THIS IS MORE FOR THE FORECAST, BUT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION LAST YEAR DURING THE BUDGET ABOUT THE CIVILIAN COLA.
AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATION WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONTRACT.
BUT I DO SUPPORT AN INCREASED COLA.
I THINK WE HAVE IT AT 1%, WE'RE FORECASTING TO BE BUDGET IN FY 20.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT, ERIK? WHAT ARE WE PREPARED TO DO? CAN WE GET SOME OPTIONS AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THAT WOULD BE? WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN?
>> SURE, MAYOR, WE CAN PROVIDE SOME OPTIONS.
BUT THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THE CIVILIAN PAY.
IT'S A CIVILIAN PAY PLAN ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN 2% AND 4% PLUS A COLA OF 1%.
BUT WE CAN PREPARE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO LOOK AT FOR THE JUNE 21ST SESSION.
AND THEN FINALLY, WHEN IS OUR NEXT MEETING WITH THE RATING AGENCIES?
>> TYPICALLY WE GO BACK TO MARKET IN JULY.
SO WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THE RATING AGENCIES DURING THE MONTH OF JULY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE KEY BROADCAST ].
TALKED ABOUT AT THE END, WHERE GIVEN THE CHANGING CONDITIONS UP IN AS TIN AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING NOT JUST US BUT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND PUBLIC AGENCIES IN THE STATE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING WE REVISIT OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES IN MID-JUNE
[00:40:04]
AND HAVE SOME CERTAINTY, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS THAT THE RATING AGENCIES WILL HAVE FOR A LOT OF CITIES.I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO SPLIT THE TWO CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE BROADCAST ].
MID-JUNE, AND THEN WE GO INTO OUR FORECAST, OUR GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
BUT IT MIGHT BE -- IT WOULD BE GOOD INFORMATION FOR US TO HAVE IF THERE'S ANY GUIDANCE IN THE INTERIM FROM THE RATING AGENCIES AS WE DEFINE THOSE POLICIES.
AND I'LL MOVE NOW TO COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
I'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN SELL DANA.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
IT REALLY ALWAYS HIGHLIGHTS A NUMBER OF REALLY, FOR US, HIGHLIGHTS HOW LARGE THIS ORGANIZATION IS, HOW MUCH WE DO.
BUT YOU REALLY ALLOW US TO DIVE DEEP.
LET ME ASK YOU A FEW SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THEM IS ON AN EXPLANATION BROADCAST ].
AND YOU SAID NA THERE IS -- TYPICALLY YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS A BAD NEWS ITEM IF WE HAVE A FAVORABLE VARIANCE.
I'M LOOKING AT THE 7.7 DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF EMS TRANSPORTS FOR THE YEAR.
I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S A GOOD STORY BROADCAST ].
MIGHT NEED A LITTLE ELABORATION SO WE CAN REALLY GRASP WHY THAT'S A GOOD THING.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT SEE AS MUCH REVENUE FROM EMS TRANSPORT BROADCAST ].
THERE'S A SUPPLEMENT TO THAT, WHICH IS THAT IN ADDITION, IN THE DECLINE IN TRANSPORTS, ALSO DUE TO AN EMERGENCY DETENTION PROGRAM, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.
I UNDERSTAND THE INTEGRATED HEALTH PRETTY WELL.
BUT TELL ME HOW THAT -- IF SOMEBODY COULD COME UP AND TELL ME HOW THAT SECOND PIECE IS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TRANSPORT FEES.
>> CAN YOU COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RETENTION PROGRAM? IT'S KIND OF A TARGETED EFFORT BROADCAST ].
>> NOT ALL LOSS OF REVENUE IS A BAD THING.
IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO HOW WE'RE SEEING THAT.
>> OUR GOAL IS FEW TRANSPORTS AS POSSIBLE, OBVIOUSLY WITH KEEPING CITIZENS SAFE AND APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS, WE'VE GOT THE MIH, WHICH IS IN THE EMS SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THAT'S STOPPING A LOT OF CONSTANT TRANSPORTS THAT GO ON FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS.
AND THEN ON THE PD SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WHERE SOME OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS, INSTEAD OF THEM GOING WITH US, THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING TRANSPORTED BY THE OFFICERS AS WELL AND THAT CUTS DOWN ON THE NUMBER THERE.
WE'VE HAD A DECREASE IN OTHER AREAS AS FAR AS CABS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO THOSE TWO THINGS CAUSED THAT, I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT A 6% REDUCTION.
WE HAVE HAD -- THERE IS AN INCREASE AS FAR AS OUR FEES THAT ARE MAKING UP PART OF THAT.
THE OVERALL REVENUE IS LOWER, BUT SOME OF THAT IS BEING MADE UP BY THE ARE INCREASE IN FEES WE PUT IN LAST YEAR.
>> SO CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND BROADCAST ].
REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FEES WE TAKE IN, WHICH I'M OKAY WITH, BUT MAYBE HELPING THE CUSTOMER IF WE'RE REMOVING STAFF OVER A LIFE SPAN OF CONTACT THAT YOU --
>> PREVIOUSLY WHEN WE HAD AN E.D., IT WOULD TAKE THE AMBULANCE OUT OF SERVICE TO TRANSPORT THAT PATIENT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE POLICE OFFICER WOULD FOLLOW US ALONG IN HIS CAR.
AND SO NOW AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT THE DOCTORS INVOLVED, MEDICALLY EVERYTHING'S OKAY, THEY'RE GOING DIRECTLY WITH PD AND CUTTING US OUT OF THAT PART.
SO WE'RE THERE AT THE SCENE AND WE'RE ASSESSING, MAKING SURE MEDICALLY THEY'RE STABLE, AND INSTEAD THE TRANSPORTATION PART OF IT IS GIVEN OVER TO THE PD PART, WHICH MEANS WE WOULDN'T BE CHARGING FOR THAT.
>> SALDANA: DO WE RELY ON NONPROFITS OR JUST THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS? LIKE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ARE WE TRANSPORTING TO OTHER AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF JUST THE HOSPITALS? JUST HOSPITALS? OKAY.
WHEN I THINK OF EMERGENCY DETENTION, I SHOULD THINK HOSPITALS?
>> SALDANA: THIS IS NOT MENTAL HEALTH TRANSPORTING TO A HAVEN FOR HOPE, OR CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES?
NOW, THEY MAY BE TRANSFERRED LATER TO THAT, BUT THEY'RE INITIALLY TAKEN OVER TO THE -- TO BE EVALUATED AT THE E.R.
>> EXEMPTION REQUIREMENT, ONE BULLET POINT I WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE THE RULE COMES FROM.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COMING FROM
[00:45:11]
SOMEWHERE THAT SAYS YOU CAN -- APPLIES TO ALL BROADCAST ].HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, CAN WE GET THAT SPECIFIC IF WE WERE TO TALK ABOUT A POLICY THAT I THINK THIS COUNCIL WOULD TAKE ON AND SAY, LOOK, IF YOU'RE A HOME OVER $1 MILLION, MAYBE YOU DON'T QUALIFY IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, BUT OBVIOUSLY ANYONE BELOW THAT -- IT DOES TWO THINGS, IT'S A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER PORTION OF REVENUE THAT'S NOT GOING TO THE CITY, AND PERHAPS IT'S NOT INITIALLY TARGETING THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE FOR -- IF OUR INTENTION WAS KEEPING FOLKS IN THEIR HOMES.
>> COUNCILMAN, THAT REQUIREMENT COMES OUT OF STATE LAW.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO PROVIDE A HOMESTEAD BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE HOME.
IT'S A PERCENTAGE THAT WE WOULD ADOPT, AND ALL HOMES WOULD GET THAT PERCENTAGE EXEMPTION.
WE DID TALK WITH THE LEGISLATURE, I DON'T BELIEVE IT MADE IT INTO THE VERSION OF SB-2 TO TRY TO GET A FIXED RATE, A FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT EXEMPTION, SO YOU COULD GRANT A LARGER DOLLAR EXEMPTION.
TO YOUR POINT, A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT TO LOWER VALUE HOMES THAN HIGHER VALUE HOMES, BUT THAT DID NOT MAKE IT IN.
>> SALDANA: SO WHEN WE GO PERCENTAGE, IT'S THE QUESTION OF THE -- THE 100,000, AND, WHAT -- WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGES WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT? WOULD WE BE TALKING ABOUT THAT?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM $5,000 EXEMPTION.
WHAT JUSTINA SHOWED YOU THE IMPACT IS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT UNDER STATE LAW.
YOU WOULD ADOPT SOMETHING LIKE A TENTH OF A PERCENT EXEMPTION AND THEY WOULD TRIGGER THE MINIMUM $5,000 EXEMPTION.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT IS PERCENTAGE BASED.
>> SALDANA: SO YOU CANNOT EXTRACT OUT VALUE?
>> SALDANA: SO EVERYBODY GETS IT.
SO I THINK THE QUESTION FOR POLICY MAKERS IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TARGETING THE $100,000 HOME, AND YOU DO 20%, IT'S A MUCH DIFFERENT NUMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE REVENUE LOSS TO THE CITY COMPARED TO A $1 MILLION HOME.
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TODAY TO DO THAT UNFORTUNATELY AT THE CITY.
IF WE WANTED TO GO DOWN THAT DISCUSSION FOR POLICY.
AND THE OTHER POINT I'LL ADD IN, IS WHEN YOU DO A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, JUST FOR CONSIDERATION AS YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, OR CONSIDER THAT, IS REMEMBER ABOUT 44% OF OUR HOMESTEADS ARE FROZEN.
MEANING THEY'VE REACHED BROADCAST ].
AND THE ONLY TWO ENTITIES THAT IT DOESN'T FREEZE IS THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, WHICH IS PRETTY SMALL TAX BILL.
AND THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM.
BUT EVERYBODY ELSE, SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITY, COUNTY, ALL BECOME FROZEN AT THAT POINT.
WHEN YOU GRANT A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, IT GOES TO THEM AS WELL.
SO IT WILL LOWER THE TAX BILL INITIALLY, BUT AS THEIR VALUE AND THEIR HOME GOES UP, IT WILL CREEP BACK TOWARDS THAT ORIGINAL CEILING THEY HAD IN PLACE WHEN THEY GOT THE ORIGINAL EXEMPTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T TARGET IT TO THE 56% THAT DON'T HAVE THE AGE 65 EXEMPTION, IT GOES ACROSS THE BOARD.
JUSTINA, THANK YOU, AND ERIK, I KNOW YOUR WORKING CLOSELY ON THIS ISSUE.
HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR A FACILITY, THEY RAN INTO SNAGS ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE.
IT WOULD OTHERWISE HELP FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER, IF THEY DO GO IN, ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, BECAUSE FROM THE REPORTS FROM HAVEN AND THE LEADERSHIP TODAY BROADCAST ].
PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, WE LOOKED AT THE SHELL OF THE FACILITY, AND OBJECTIVE TO ACHIEVE THERE WAS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS TODAY, EXCEPT THAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD THAT -- I'M SURE HAVEN WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD THAT PROJECT ON TWO YEARS AGO.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE REQUEST TO THE CITY OF $2.4 MILLION, I'M GRATEFUL WE'RE STEPPING UP TO HELP AND SUPPORT THEM IN DOING SO.
BECAUSE THE BY-PRODUCT OF THE -- OR THE ABSENCE OF THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THEY DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING TODAY, WHICH IS PUTTING FAMILIES IN COTS IN WHERE PLACE FAMILIES TO STAY OVERNIGHT.
FOR THE POPULATION THAT IS HOMELESS, AND ON THEIR WAY TO TRANSITIONING BACK TO FULL RECOVERY.
WHICH I KNOW HAVEN DOES REALLY WELL.
SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT WE'VE STEPPED UP AND HOPEFULLY AS A COUNCIL WE'LL SUPPORT THAT NEXT WEEK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MAN SALDANA.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ERIK
[00:50:01]
FOR NOT HAVING THIS, AND MARIA, FOR NOT HAVING THIS ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW, THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TIME TO TAKE IT IN AND DIGEST IT.BUT I'M GOING TO GO SLIDE BY SLIDE.
NOT EVERY SLIDE, BUT I DID WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SLIDE -- FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW YOU GAVE US THE PERCENTAGES WITH THE TAX INC INCREASE.
SO I WANT TO KNOW, WHAT IS THE PROJECTION, OR THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECTION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUTAPPRAISALS THIS YEAR.
WE KNOW THEY'RE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THIS YEAR, THE PROPERTY APPRAISALS.
HOW DID WE FACTOR THAT IN, AND WHAT WERE THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WE'RE PROJECTING? WAS IT ON HERE, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?
>> COUNCILWOMAN, LET ME MAKE SURE I'M ANSWERING THE RIGHT QUESTION HERE.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PROJECTION ON THE PROPERTY TAX GROWTH?
AND THIS IS OUR HISTORICAL PROPERTY TAX GROWTH, BOTH BASE VALUE PLUS NEW IMPROVEMENT.
NEW IMPROVEMENTS ARE BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT GETS ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL, NEW BUILDINGS, NEW COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, NEW HOMES.
GOING FORWARD, AND FOR 2020, WE'RE PROJECTING 6%.
THAT'S COMPARABLE TO CLOSE TO WHAT WE GOT LAST YEAR -- I'M SORRY, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WAS ABOUT 6%.
WE'RE PROJECTING 4% ON THE BASE, 2% ON NEW IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'VE GOT VERY PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FROM BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
>> VIAGRAN: WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPEALS?
>> VIAGRAN: NEXT WEEK, MAY 15TH.
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM, LOOKING AT HISTORICAL INFORMATION, WE THINK WE'LL BE ABOUT 6%.
GOING FORWARD WE THEN PROJECTED A TOTAL OF 5%.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE 3.5% ON BASE, PLUS A 1.5% BROADCAST ].
>> VIAGRAN: I WANT MORE -- BROADCAST ].
SEE WHERE IT SAYS PROPERTY TAX $361.9 MILLION FOR 2019? WHAT'S THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN 2020?
SO FOR 2020, THE DOLLAR VALUE IS $383.6 MILLION.
BUT THAT'S BEFORE ANY PROTEST OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE COMING IN, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S OUR PROJECTION AFTER ASSUMING ONCE THAT'S SETTLED, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL LAND.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
AND THEN ON SLIDE NUMBER 6, NOW I'M REALIZING WHAT I WANTED TO ASK, HERE -- AND YOU'VE PUT THIS ON OUR PRESENTATION TWICE, HAD THE 3.5 REVENUE CAP BEEN IN PLACE IN THE PAST DECADE, TELL ME WHAT IT IS THAT 3.5 WILL HAVE, I GUESS IN OUR FUTURE.
IF YOU HAVE IT UP ON A SLIDE, GREAT, JUST HIGHLIGHT IT FOR ME AGAIN, PLEASE.
>> I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THIS IS, OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, LOOKING BACK 10 YEARS.
THIS IS WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE BEEN.
IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO SLIDE -- WAS IT 40 ON THE FORECAST? SO THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN WHERE YOU SEE THE IMPACT OF THE BILL GOING FORWARD IS YOU CAN SEE IN YOURS, EARLY ON 2009-2010, WE'RE GOING THROUGH A RECESSION.
WE COLLECT LESS PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
EVEN WITH NEW IMPROVEMENTS, WE COLLECTED LESS REVENUE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IN THAT FIRST FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE, INCLUDING NEW IMPROVEMENTS, WAS .8%.
YOU ALL AS A BODY AND FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WE WERE IN A RECESSION AND WE HELD THAT TAX RATE AND WE'LL ADJUST THE BUDGET.
THE ASSUMPTION IS WHEN YOU RECOVER PAST THE RECESSION, WE CAN COLLECT BROADCAST ].
SO THE FORECAST SHOWS YOU THE 3.5% STARTING IN 2021.
IN THE PAST WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION LIKE THIS.
AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED 3.5%, AND THAT'S
[00:55:02]
WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD ABILITY TO ADD NEW IMPROVEMENTS.THE FORECAST, WE WON'T DO BETTER THAN 3.5% ANYMORE, IT'S CAPPED.
SO I DON'T HAVE A DOLLAR IMPACT BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE VALUES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
BUT IF YOU TOOK THIS ACROSS 3.5%, YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT US GOING FORWARD.
>> VIAGRAN: SO WE DON'T HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT YET, BUT WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND SLIDE NUMBER 7, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES, ET CETERA, THOSE PROPOSED FEES OF $7 MILLION.
YOU SAID IT WOULD BE STARTING SEPTEMBER 1.
>> VIAGRAN: SO THEN YOU ALL WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US OF WHAT WE NEED TO CUT, OR WHAT THINGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE.
>> SO OUR FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A $600,000 REDUCTION FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATION.
AND WE'VE -- THE 2020 INCLUDES A $7 MILLION REDUCTION, AS WE FORECAST OUT.
>> VIAGRAN: SO FOR THE LAST MONTH, IF YOU WILL.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT REMINDER.
AND THEN ALSO, ON SLIDE NUMBER 14, CAN YOU -- I WANT TO KNOW, DURING THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AT OUR SIX PLUS SIX MID-YEAR, THE CPS ENERGY REVENUE, WHERE WERE WE? WERE WE ALSO BEHIND PAYMENT FROM -- OR NOT HITTING OUR ACTUALS, OR OUR BUDGETS AGAIN THIS TIME LAST YEAR? I BELIEVE WE WEREN'T.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER AT THIS TIME BEEN ON PAR FOR WHAT WE'VE BUDGETED FOR CPS ENERGY REVENUE.
>> I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL THAT.
BUT THIS IS A MORE SIGNIFICANT VARIANCE THAN WE TYPICALLY HAVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
>> YOU GET A MILD WINTER, BUT THIS ONE IS MORE SIGNIFICANT, AND YOU SEE THAT IMPACT IN THE FORECAST GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT'S DRIVING THIS IS LOWER FUEL PRICES, IN PARTICULAR NATURAL GAS PRICES.
CPS ENERGY ACQUIRES A LOT OF ITS GAS FROM A DISTRIBUTION TERMINAL IN WEST TEXAS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRODUCTION HAPPENING IN THE BASIN AND LOOKING FOR OIL.
A BY-PRODUCT OF THAT IS NATURAL GAS.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF NATURAL GAS COMING OUT AND BEING PRODUCED AND IT'S REALLY DRIVING PRICES DOWN TO HISTORICAL LOWS.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THEM THIS LOW.
THAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF THE FUEL CHANGE.
>> VIAGRAN: ALSO REMIND ME WHAT WAS THE PAYMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM CPS ENERGY AT THE END OF LAST BUDGET SESSION THAT ALLOWED US TO GET OUR AMENDMENTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IT?
>> LAST SUMMER -- I'LL HAVE TO PULL THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT THE BIG CHANGE CAME OUT OF OFF-SYSTEM SALES, WITH IT BEING A VERY HOT SUMMER.
YOU'VE HEARD CPS TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TEXAS MARKET, THERE ISN'T AS MUCH GENERATION AVAILABLE AS THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST SO THEY CALL IT A RESERVE MARGIN ACROSS THE STATE.
WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT, IT TENDS TO DRIVE PRICES UP ACROSS THE OPEN MARKET, IF YOU WILL.
CPS HAS HAD THE ABILITY TO SELL EXCESS MAPOWER INTO THE MARKET D THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT LAST SUMMER.
IT WAS LIKE $21 MILLION IN OFF-SYSTEM SALES LAST YEAR.
WE PICKED UP $21 MILLION IN OFF-SYSTEM SALES LAST YEAR.
GOING INTO THIS SUMMER, HARD TO TELL.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT FLUCTUATES A LOT.
THE MARGINS CONTINUE TO BE TIED TO DEPENDING HOW HOT IT IS.
CPS DID DECOMMISSION THE DEALY UNITS, THAT'S 740 MEGAWATTS OF POWER.
SO THEY'LL HAVE SOME EXCESS POWER TO SELL, IF THE MARKET'S THERE, BUT IT WON'T BE AS MUCH AS THEY HAD THIS PAST SUMMER.
>> VIAGRAN: WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROJECTIONS AGAIN, DID WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION EVEN POTENTIAL POLICIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THE CAP, THE CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN, OR TO FIGURE IN ANYTHING THERE?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY WE SPECIFICALLY BUILT ANYTHING IN FOR CAP.
>> WE WORK OFF OF THE CPS MODEL IN THEIR FORECAST.
WE MAKE SOME SLIDE ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT.
BUT IT'S REALLY BASED ON THEIR FORECAST.
>> JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, LAST YEAR THE SIX PLUS SIX, WE WERE AHEAD SLIGHTLY BY $200,000 FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.
A QUESTION ABOUT -- SO THE -- I DON'T KNOW IF CARLOS CAN ANSWER THIS OR SOMEONE, BECAUSE I'M
[01:00:02]
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE ARE WE WITH THE APPRAISALS AT THE STATE? BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS THE METHODOLOGY OF APPRAISING PROPERTIES, ET CETERA, AND THAT ALSO FITS WITH THE STATE.I KNOW THERE WERE SOME BILLS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD.
>> THEY DID NOT GET ANY TRACTION.
THE PROPERTY RELIEF IS COMING IN THE FORM OF SB-2 AND HOUSE BILL 2.
NOW SB-2, WHICH IS THE BILL THAT HAS PASSED BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
BUT BECAUSE THE APPRAISALS WENT UP AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S LOOKING AT THE STATE AND HOW THE STATE CAN HELP CHANGE METHODOLOGY OF THE APPRAISALS.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS CONTROL OVER THE --
>> VIAGRAN: WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT OR LOOK AT ANY ADJUSTMENTS.
>> THEY'RE LIKELY NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO IT.
IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED FORMULA, SO THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES.
OH, AND I DO WANT TO JUST -- I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, CONCUR WITH THE MAYOR, TALKING ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES AND COLA AND LOOKING AT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT COMPRESSION.
BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE ALSO SEEN A LOT IS MANY OF OUR LONG TIME CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ALREADY MAXED OUT ON THEIR STEP PLAN, AND CAN'T GO UP, AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR 22, 23 YEARS, THEY CAN'T GO UP ANYMORE, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST MAYBE TWO YEARS BEHIND THEM ARE MAKING JUST UNDER WHAT THEY'RE MAKING.
AND SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME RELIEF, BECAUSE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP AND THEY CAN'T EVEN PAY FOR THAT.
SO I WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT IN OUR BUDGET MOVING FORWARD.
AS WE PREPARE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THAT CAPACITY.
AND WITH THE SLIDE -- I GUESS IT'S SLIDE NUMBER 66.
I DO AGREE WITH YOUR ADJUSTMENT RIGHT NOW MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR -- YOUR ADJUSTMENTS, FOR MID-YEAR ADJUSTMENTS.
FOR THIS HOMELESS SYSTEM, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AND THIS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY, BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, IF YOU WILL, ON TRYING TO PUT CERTAIN THINGS, BAND-AIDS HERE AND THERE, BUT LET'S LOOK AT IT HOLISTICALLY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 25 ORGANIZATIONS, THE STAKEHOLDERS, CAN YOU TELL ME WHO THE 25 ORGANIZATIONS WERE? WERE THEY LIKE ENGINEERING FIRMS, WERE THEY DEVELOPERS? WHO WERE PART OF -- WERE THEY OIL COMPANIES? WHO BROADCAST ].
THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE PART OF GROUPS INCLUDING THE BROADCAST ].
ACTUAL HOMELESS PROVIDERS WE WORK WITH, HOSPITALS AND GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY.
WE ALSO HAD FAITH-BASED INPUT AS WELL AS THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.
WE DID NOT HAVE INPUT FROM OIL AND GAS, OR THAT TYPE, OR ENERGY INDUSTRY.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REALLY RESONATED IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
>> VIAGRAN: WHO FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE?
>> WE HAD THE RICHARD PETIS WAS AT THE MEETING.
WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, THE NORTH SIDE CHAMBER, THE LGBT CHAMBER BROADCAST ].
>> VIAGRAN: AND THE INDUSTRIES THAT THEY REPRESENT, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD OFFER UP THERE TO MY COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AUDIO] AND I SEE SOME POTENTIAL FUNDING ALTERNATIVES IN ALL OF THESE -- AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M ALSO LOOKING AT IS LOOKING AT ABANDONED CART FEES AND ABANDONED CART PREVENTION OR PLANS.
IN OTHER CITIES SUCH AS DALLAS OR SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, FOR THESE SHOPPING CARTS THAT ARE ABANDONED AND LEFT IN CERTAIN AREAS.
WHEN WE PARTICIPATE IN BASURA BASH, WE HAVE SHOPPING CARTS THAT ARE LEFT IN CREEKS AND RIVERS.
YOU SEE THEM OUTSIDE OF PARKING LOTS OR IN CERTAIN PLACES.
LOOKING AT THAT -- AND IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF A STRUCTURE OR FEE OR WORKING WITH OUR INDUSTRY THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER THAT COULD ALSO HELP WITH THIS COMMUNITY HOMELESS SYSTEM, THAT ALSO BRINGS EVERYONE A PART OF THE SOLUTION AND THE CONVERSATION TO ADDRESS THIS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.
[01:05:02]
SO I WOULD SUGGEST AN OFFER THAT YOU PUT THAT IN THAT CONVERSATION AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO BRING EVEN MORE MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY TO SEE LOOKING AT A SOLUTION.PUBLIC NUISANCE AND THEY CONFISCATE AND GET RID OF THEM.
BUT IN SAN JOSE THEY DO A PREVENTION PLAN.
SO LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN PUT THIS IN PART OF IT AND MAYBE THERE'S A PERMIT OR A FEE STRUCTURE THAT WE CAN ALSO INCLUDE TO HELP FUND THIS MOVING FORWARD.
AND ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH THH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WE PLAN TO BRING STAKEHOLDERS BACK TO THE TABLE, A WIDER ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE INPUT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AGAIN, I WILL SAY THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS, AND JUST ON TOP OF THAT.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD HAD A CONVERSATION IN THE PAST OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
I AM LOOKING AT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, BECAUSE WE NEED THESE POSITIONS MOVING FORWARD.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE ABOUT THE LARGE AREA REZONING, BUT IN PARTICULAR WITH THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, BECAUSE IT'S A RESTRICTED FUND, TO STAY THERE AND TO WORK FOR US.
THE REASON WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO WORK WITH OUR ALAMODOME AND OUR CONVENTION CENTER, ESPECIALLY DOWN THE LINE FOR THE NEXT FINAL FOUR, AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE 500,000 -- BECAUSE OF GOING UP TO OUR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, THAT WE WORK WITH THEM.
AND I KNOW ON THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT SPECIFIC AREAS IN ORDER TO USE THEM TO BRING PEOPLE BACK -- THIS IS FOR MY COLLEAGUES SO THEY KNOW.
TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO SAN ANTONIO.
BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT, THEN THE MONEY WOULD JUST GO INTO STATICS THINGS.
BUT LET THE DOLLARS WORK FOR US.
SO IF WE CAN BRING PEOPLE BACK TO SAN ANTONIO TO VISIT, THAT MEANS THAT WE WILL GET MORE SALES TAX INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO LET THE DOLLARS WORK FOR US.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
AND ON SLIDE 9 IT TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPENDITURES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTED WAS THAT WE HAVE SOME EXPENDITURES FOR THE AIRPORT THAT ARE ACTUALLY LISTED UNDER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
IT SAYS CAPITAL PROGRAM AIRPORT PROJECTS.
WHY AREN'T THOSE FUNDED UNDER THE AIRPORT FUNDS?
>> SO THEY ARE FUNDED THROUGH AIRPORT-RELATED FUNDS THROUGH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ASSOCIATIO.
SO THROUGH THOSE GRANTS THEY ALSO HAVE AIRPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS AND ADDITIONALLY INTERIM FINANCING THAT WAS APPROVED.
IS PART OF THIS THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS TO MATCH SOME OF THAT FAA MONEY OR SOMETHING? IS THAT WHY IT COMES OUT OF OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM? BECAUSE I SEE WE HAVE AIRPORT FUND, RESTRICTED FUNDS.
I ASSUME EVERYTHING THAT GOES FOR THE AIRPORT GOES THROUGH THAT.
YET WE HAVE AIRPORT PROJECTS UNDER OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM, WHICH COMES OUT OF GENERAL FUND, I GUESS.
OTHERWISE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE DUPLICATING EXPRESSING THOSE EXPENSES.
WHAT JUSTINA IS DOING HERE IS GIVING YOU A TOTAL PICTURE OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET, OPERATING AND CAPITAL.
CAPITAL CAN BE FUNDED FROM PROPERTY TAXES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE ISSUE THERE.
REMEMBER, AIRPORT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND SO ALL THE CAPITAL CAPITALS PROJECTS ARE COMING OUT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
IT CAN BE COMING FROM GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AIRLINE REVENUES, PARKING REVENUES, EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE IN THAT FUND CAN EITHER BE USED TO CASH FUND OR DEBT FUND CAPITAL, BUT IT'S ALL COMING FROM THE AIRPORT.
THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES WE ISSUE BONDS TO SUPPORT THE ALAMODOME AND CONVENTION CENTER, THEY PAY FOR THAT BUT IT'S PART OF OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
CAPITAL BUDGET IS MORE THAN JUST GENERAL FUND.
>> COURAGE: I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
IT STILL DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN.
SLIDE 44 IS TALKS ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HOW MANY OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE.
AND I NOTICED THAT IT INDICATES THAT WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY -- LET'S SEE.
WE'VE GOT APPROXIMATELY -- WAIT A MINUTE.
>> IT'S UNDER THE BUDGET INITIATIVES.
[01:10:01]
OKAY.WE GOT PAGE NUMBERS AND SLIDE NUMBERS, SO I'M EASILY CONFUSED.
YES, ON SLIDE 20 IT INDICATES THAT OUR AUTHORIZED COUNT IS 2447.
NOW, WE SAY WE'VE GOT 156 CADETS BUT MY RECOLLECTION IS WE ONLY GRADUATE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE, BASICALLY, BECAUSE SO MANY DROP OUT.
AND SO THAT WOULD GET US DOWN TO ABOUT 100 CADETS.
IT DOESN'T ANTICIPATE ANY RETIREES, AND WE USUALLY GET 60 OR 80 RETIREES A YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN EVER MEET OUR TOTAL AUTHORIZED COUNT.
AND THE REASON WHY I BRING THIS UP -- AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING UP THERE, IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS OUT IN THE STREETS.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PATROL OFFICERS PATROLLING FOR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. AND I CAN'T SEE HOW WE'RE GETTING THERE WHEN EVEN IF WE HAVE 156 STUDENTS AND ONLY 100, 110 GRADUATE AND WE'VE GOT 45 VACANCIES AND WE'VE GOT -- I KNOW WE HAVE TWO MORE CLASSES COMING UP BUT THEY WON'T ALL GRADUATE.
AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS 100 OR MORE FEWER ON ACTIVE-DUTY UNIFORMED PATROL OFFICERS OUT IN THE STREET WORKING FOR US THAN WE NEED TO HAVE.
HOW CAN WE FIX THAT PROBLEM? IT'S SOMETHING I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT ALL THE TIME.
>> WE'VE BEEN DECREASING THAT NUMBER OF VACANCIES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
CURRENTLY WE ARE ABOVE OUR PROJECTED WASHOUT RATE, WHICH IS ABOUT 20% EACH CLASS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 154 CADETS IN THERE.
WE WERE PROJECTED TO HAVE 147, SO WE ARE ABOVE THE WASHOUT RATE NOW.
WITH 43 VACANCIES, OUR GRADUATION DATE IS 11-23, SO NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
OUR GRADUATION DATE FOR OUR JULY CLASS WOULD BE IN FEBRUARY.
AND OUR GRADUATION DATE FOR OUR SEPTEMBER CLASS WILL BE IN MAY.
APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS FOR EACH CLASS.
WITH OUR NEXT CLASS, WE'RE PROJECTING TO PUT 70 IN THAT CLASS -- 65 OR 70 IN THAT CLASS.
WE WILL ACTUALLY BE OVERHIRED AT THAT POINT.
>> COURAGE: WITH 47 VACANCIES.
>> BUT RETIREES ARE VERY SLOW.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A BUBBLE IN RETIREES PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, I THINK.
>> COURAGE: WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE AVERAGE? WHAT DO YOU PROJECT THIS YEAR FOR RETIREES?
>> CHIEF, I'LL JUMP IN, BECAUSE I THINK I REMEMBER IT.
I THINK THE PROJECTED RETIREES FOR THIS YEAR WAS JUST UNDER 100 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.
AND WE'VE HAD 56 SO FAR THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.
I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE, COUNCILMAN, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TOO AS WELL, IS MAKING SURE THAT THAT ACADEMY CLASS SCHEDULE WE GET THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN THERE.
THE LAST THREE CLASSES WE HAVE UP TO THE NUMBER OF CADETS THAT STARTED IT.
WE'VE GOT A GRADUATION THIS MONTH, WHICH WILL ROLL OUT INDIVIDUALS.
REMEMBER, WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM THE ACADEMY THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO OTHER PATROL OFFICERS.
THEY'RE DOING RIDE ALONG FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE THEY'RE OUT ON THEIR OWN.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT PIPELINE IS FILLED -- OR THAT PRODUCTION LINE IS FILLED AT EVERY SINGLE STEP.
AND I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF'S EAGERNESS TO SAY HE'S GOING TO BE OVERHIRED, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TWO MORE CLASSES.
AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO LAY OUT A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE ACADEMY SCHEDULE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR AS WELL.
>> COURAGE: WELL, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE.
I JUST WANTED TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE NUMBER OF RETIREES AND WHAT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT VACANCIES.
LET ME SEE IF I HAVE MY PAGE RIGHT.
ON PAGE 40 WE TALKED ABOUT THE GROWTH IN THE BUDGET AND TAXES -- OR ON SLIDE 40.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROJECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THAT SHOW WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE 1.5% GROWTH.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK BACK AT THE TEN YEARS PRIOR AND EVEN DURING THE WORST YEARS OF THE RECESSION WE HAD 2.7, 1.7.
[01:15:02]
1.5.BUT THE LAST YEARS ALL GROWTH HAS BEEN 2% OR HIGHER, YET YOU'RE PROJECTING FOUR YEARS IN THE FUTURE, 1.5%.
WE'RE SAYING A MILLION MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE, INTERNAL LIP AND EXTERNALLY.
WHY ARE WE BEING SO CAUTIOUS 1.5% REAL GROWTH.
>> SO WHEN I GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT HISTORICALLY, WE'RE RANGING ANYWHERE -- INCLUDING DURING THE RECESSION, FROM 1.2% TO A LITTLE OVER 2%.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT GROWTH OFF THE ACTUAL ASSESSED VALUATION.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES -- THIS IS A MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE PROJECTION.
THE 3.5% BASE IS PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT THAT'S CAPPED, SO WE CAN'T EXPECT ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THERE.
1.5 IS ABOUT THE AVERAGE OF WHAT WE SEE DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME.
>> COURAGE: CERTAINLY DURING THE RECESSION, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST SIX YEARS, YOU KNOW, 2.2, 3.0, 2.0, 2.9.
OR AT LEAST THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
ALL OF THEM, YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMS WE'RE BEING A LITTLE TOO PESSIMISTIC CONSIDERING HOW THIS CITY IS GROWING AND BOOMING AND ADDING MORE JOBS.
THAT SEEMS TO ME TO INDICATE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A LOT MORE GROWTH.
AND THAT MEANS NEW TAXATION BASED ON THAT GROWTH.
>> SO THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE IS A LITTLE OVER 2%.
THE TEN-YEAR AVERAGE IS UNDER 2%.
WITH THE FORECAST, WE TALK ABOUT BEING MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE AND MAINTAINING THAT 15% ON MINIMUM FUND BALANCE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE TOO AGGRESSIVE BECAUSE IT COMPOUNDS.
IF I WERE TO TAKE THIS SAME SCENARIO AND DROP THE RECESSION BACK IN, IT COMPLETELY CHANGES --
>> COURAGE: ARE YOU PROJECTING A RECESSION?
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE SITTING ON A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE OF 15%.
WE HAVE ADDED A LOT OF EXPENDITURES AND NOW WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY ADJUSTING WITHOUT MAKING MAJOR CUTS.
THE CREDIT PROFILE HAS TO KIND OF FIT TOGETHER, THE MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE REVENUE PROJECTIONS FIT IN WITH OUR RESERVE POLICIES, FUND BALANCE AVAILABILITY POLICIES.
ALL OF THOSE ARE CONNECTED SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE CAN SMOOTH OUT SOME OF THE FLUCTUATIONS AND VOLATILITY.
CPS, PROPERTY TAXES, SALES TAXES.
NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO CUT BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE THAT SO WE SMOOTH SOME OF THAT OUT.
>> COURAGE: ARE WE DOING THAT -- YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BOND AGENCY --
>> CERTAINLY IT IS TO MAINTAIN THE AAA BOND RATING BUT I HAVE SAID THIS IN THE PAST, PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WHETHER WE ARE AA OR AAA, THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE POLICIES FIT TOGETHER.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT RECESSION THAT WE WENT THROUGH, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY DEEP AND PAINFUL.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAD TO DO COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE NATION, VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE.
AND I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO THE WAY WE MANAGE THE BUDGET, THE WAY OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES TIE IT TOGETHER, THE WAY OUR POLICIES WORK.
SO WE'RE NOT IN A STRONG ECONOMY ADDING A WHOLE BUNCH IN SO WHEN A RECESSION HAPPENS YOU'RE THEN HAVING TO CUT.
IT'S A MORE MEASURED APPROACH AND IT ALL FITS TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPLANATION.
I HAD A QUESTION ON SLIDE 64, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
IT HAD SOMETHING ABOUT THE TERM AREA REZONING.
11 CITY INITIATED LARGE REZONING AND WE'RE ADDING $63,000.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMAN.
SO LARGE-AREA REZONINGS ARE WHEN WILL THE CITY, THROUGH COUNCIL ACTION, MAYBE A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST, AND THEN BY RESOLUTION WHERE YOU'RE ASKING CITY STAFF TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY REZONE LARGE AREAS OF PROPERTY.
SO ONE OF THE MORE RECENT ONES, WHICH WAS FAIRLY LARGE, WAS THE WORLD HERITAGE PROJECT.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ZONING WAS APPROPRIATE TO HELP PRESERVE THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
>> COURAGE: ON SOUTH ROOSEVELT?
WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP THAT AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND REZONE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS IN QUEUE.
SINCE 2014 WE ACTUALLY HAVE 11 THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
SOME OF THEM HAD BEEN COMPLETED
[01:20:02]
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.SOME OF THE MILITARY LIGHTING OVERLAY STUFF AROUND THE MULTIPLE -- MILITARY BASES.
WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON PROTECTIONS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE SOME IN DISTRICT 1 WE'RE WORKING ON, SOME OF THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE SOME INCOMPATIBLE ZONING THAT'S BEING MATERIALIZED OR HEIGHTENED BASED ON A LOT OF THAT FAST GROWTH.
SO EACH ONE OF THOSE CAN BE DOZENS OR HUNDREDS OF PROPERTIES, SO IT TAKES STAFF TIME TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REZONE THOSE.
THE LAST ONE I WANTED TO COMMENT ON, REALLY, IT'S IS CAPITAL BUDGET PAGE, OR SLIDE 70.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND I'M A VERY BIG SUPPORTER OF HAVEN FOR HOPE AND HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS $2.4 MILLION IS COVERING SOME REHABILITATION FOR A BUILDING THAT'S BEING FLOODED AND THE COST FOR THAT.
IS THIS ALL OR PART OF WHAT'S IN THERE?
>> COUNCILMAN, THE BUILDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HAVEN FOR HOPE FUND RAISED ABOUT $7 MILLION FOR THIS BUILDING.
THEY RAN INTO SOME ISSUES WITH THE CONTRACTOR WHO DESIGNED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING, AND THEY HAVE SOME SERIOUS PONDING ISSUES AT THE BASEMENT OF THIS PARTICULAR FACILITY.
THEY CAME TO THE CITY AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE.
THAT REQUEST IS WHAT YOU SEE RECOMMENDED IN THIS MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT OF $2.4 MILLION.
NOW, TO THAT EFFECT, HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS COMMITTED THAT THEY ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS CONTRACTOR TO RECOUP FUNDING FOR THE BAD DESIGN THAT WAS DONE.
SO THEY HAVE COMMITTED, IF THEY RECOUP THOSE FUNDINGS, THEY WILL GIVE THAT BACK TO THE CITY MINUS ANY ATTORNEY FEES.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
COULD WE GO TO SLIDE 47? SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY.
WE TOOK IN ALL THE INFORMATION YOU HAD IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDES WITH ALL THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND REDUCTION EXPENSES.
WE'VE GOT ALL THE LEGISLATIVE IMPACT AND ALL THAT STUFF IN THESE TOP TWO LINES.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 WE'LL BE FINE, BUT '21 WE'LL TAKE A BIG HILT, BUT BY '22 WE'LL START TO RECOVER AGAIN.
BY 2022 WE WOULD BE STRUCTURALLY BALANCED, MEANING OUR REVENUES WOULD MEET OUR EXPENDITURES.
>> THAT'S MAINTAINING STATUS QUO BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ON THE BOTTOM FOR FIVE LINES.
IN ORDER TO DO ANY OF THE BOTTOM FOUR OR FIVE LINES, WE HAVE TO EITHER INCREASE REVENUES OR DECREASE EXPENSES OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, CORRECT?
>> HALL: ANY IDEAS AT THIS POINT? AND MAYBE IT'S TOO EARLY TO DO SO, BUT ANY IDEAS WHERE WE CAN COME UP WITH THOSE BOTTOM FOUR, FIVE LINES?
>> AT THIS POINT IT'S TOO EARLY TO IDENTIFY ANYTHING.
BUT THOSE WE'LL BE WORKING ON OVER THE SUMMER.
ERIK, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT CIVILIAN PAY AND COLA PAY, SO WHAT'S THAT DIFFERENCE? CIVILIAN PAY PLAN IS 2% TO 4% INCREASE.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> SO THE COLA THAT WE INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT $2.1 MILLION.
>> HALL: WE WERE LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGES.
ERIK WAS ANSWERING THAT QUESTION ABOUT AN INCREASE IN THE COLA.
THE EXAMPLE HE GAVE WAS THE CIVILIAN PAY PLAN WAS 2% TO 4%.
I'M ASSUMING THAT'S AN INCREASE, WITH A COLA ON TOP OF THAT OF 1%.
SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> WALSH: THE PAY PLAN, COUNCILMAN, IS KIND OF WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS TALKING ABOUT A SECOND AGO.
THAT'S KIND OF A PROGRESSION SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR NON-PROFESSIONAL CIVILIANS.
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE AT IN THAT SCALE, IT'S 2% TO 4% OF AN ADJUSTMENT.
SO THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH DOING AN ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE OR TWO ON COLA BECAUSE REALLY THE CIVILIAN PAY PLAN, THOSE ARE I GUESS
[01:25:04]
PROMOTIONS, ALMOST.>> WALSH: WELL, THE STEP PAY PLAN FOR CIVILIANS IS BUILT IN THERE SO THAT AS EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AND MOVED THROUGH PROGRESSION WITH TIME WITH THE CITY, THEY GET ADJUSTMENTS IN SALARY.
AND WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
AND WE NEED TO REVISIT HOW THAT STRUCTURE IS BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS AN EMPLOYEE HITS THAT TEN-YEAR MARK AND THEN THEY'RE FLAT.
NOW, PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE INCENTIVES OR TRAINING OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PROMOTE WITHIN CLASSES OF EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT'S HOW SALARY CAN CONTINUE.
BUT IN SOME CASES WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT CAP OUT AUDIO] FOR THOSE PORTIONS OF THE WORKFORCE.
AND I WON'T BE AROUND, ALONG WITH A COUPLE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING HIGHER THAN A 1% FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
I'LL JUST PLANT THAT SEED FOR THOSE WHO WILL REMAIN FOR THE NEXT BUDGET.
THE ONLY OTHER COUPLE OF COMMENTS I WOULD MAKE IS I DO APPLAUD CITY STAFF FOR THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
I THINK MEASURED IS THE RIGHT APPROACH.
CERTAINLY WE COULD PROBABLY BUILD IN A LITTLE BIT MORE RISK INTO THE BUDGET, BUT I WOULD RATHER UNDERPROJECT AND OVERPERFORM.
AND I THINK THAT'S HISTORICALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE.
AND I THINK OUR BUDGET -- OUR STATUS RIGHT NOW SHOWS THAT, THAT ANY TIME YOU HAVE -- ANY TIME AN OVERAGE IN REVENUES AND REDUCED EXPENSES, I THINK THAT'S A HUGE BENEFIT, AND I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR MANAGEMENT AS A CITY STAFF.
I THINK ALSO THE BOND RATINGS ARE A MEASURE OF HOW THE PUBLIC THINKS WE'RE DOING WITH OUR MANAGEMENT.
AND SO HISTORICALLY THAT'S BEEN GOOD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO I THINK THAT THEY DO GIVE US AN INDICATOR OF HOW WELL WE'VE BEEN DOING.
THE ONLY OTHER COUPLE OF THINGS I MIGHT MENTION IS I WOULD PUSH FOR -- I LIKE THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET.
OVER TIME I THINK THAT IS A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AND IT FORCES US TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS SEVERAL YEARS OUT OR AT LEAST A COUPLE YEARS OUT.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT'S BEEN MAINTAINED.
I ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE 15% WE HAVE DONE WITH RESERVES.
IF I WERE HERE, PARTICULARLY IF WE HAD OVERAGES, I WOULD PUSH FOR HIGHER THAN 15%.
I WOULD INCREASE THAT PERCENTAGE TO SOMETHING HIGHER.
MAYBE NOT NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, BUT 2023-2024 I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE.
AND THEN MY FINAL COMMENT WOULD BE FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE AUDIO] REVISION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
JUSTINA, YOU'RE DOING A FABULOUS JOB BEING UP THERE AND TAKING THESE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LENGTHIEST PRESENTATIONS WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL TIME TO STUDY THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION FOR US TO SYNTHESIZE.
I THINK WE'LL BE BETTER INFORMED WITH THE ADDITIONAL WEEK.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU PROPOSED.
IN PARTICULAR, I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD BACKLOGS IN MASS REZONING THAT WENT BACK AS FAR AS 2014.
I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT, SO I'M GLAD WE'RE CLEARING THAT BACKLOG.
I SEE HAVEN FOR HOPE, PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME.
AND OF COURSE I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE FUNDING FOR THAT, THE $2.4 MILLION.
VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LIVE STREAMING AND BROADCASTING OF OUR ZONING MEETINGS OVER AT THE ONE STOP CENTER.
I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE OF YOU WHO SIGNED ON TO THAT CCR ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND THE MAYOR FOR THE MEMO WE AUTHORED ON GETTING THAT MOVING.
SO THANK YOU FOR FITTING THAT IN THERE.
AND, ERIK, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT OUR NEXT B SESSION? OR DO YOU WANT ME TO?
>> WALSH: I'LL LET YOU DO THAT, COUNCILWOMAN.
>> WALSH: THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I'M EXCITED TO REPORT THAT NOT
[01:30:02]
ONLY ARE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE MID-YEAR ADJUSTMENT, AND I HOPE TO HAVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' SUPPORT ON THAT, BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR B SESSION NEXT WEEK.THAT WILL BE AT PORT SAN ANTONIO.
AND I REMEMBER BEFORE I PUT THAT CCR IN I TALKED TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, AND I THINK IT WAS COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE, AND THEY SAID WE SHOULD TAKE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD OUT ON THE ROAD.
SO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD WILL BE AT PORT SAN ANTONIO, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING FOR PARKING BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO PROMOTE IT.
OH, DID YOU SAY THEY JUST HAVE TO FIND US? I ALWAYS GET LOST THERE TOO.
SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE $2.4 MILLION FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
AND OF COURSE OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT FOR HOMELESS SYSTEM THAT, MARIA, YOU BRIEFED US ON BRIEFLY.
I SAW SOME OF THE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES IN THAT SLIDE.
AND, JUSTINA, THIS MUST BE ODD BECAUSE YOU PUT THIS WHOLE THING TOGETHER BUT THERE'S A MILLION PEOPLE INVOLVED, RIGHT? IT'S NOT ALL YOU.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.
AS WE ALL REMEMBER -- I THINK THIS REALLY TOOK OFF AFTER OUR DISCUSSION ON THE TPID AND NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THAT -- WE DIDN'T VOTE TO USE THAT -- ANYWAY, WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE VOTED ON THE TPID.
I'M GLAD TO SEE -- IS CASSANDRA STILL HERE? THERE YOU ARE.
HERE FOR US TO DISCUSS THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
THESE ARE THE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED RIGHT NOW.
BUT I GUESS THAT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE HAD DISCUSSED IT AFTER TPID.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF REVENUE STREAM.
>> SO WHAT WE HAD -- INITIALLY WHEN WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION AROUND HAVEN FOR HOPE, WE HAD PROVIDED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WITH A MEMORANDUM WITH SOME PROPOSALS UTILIZING OUR GENERAL FUND MONEY FROM OUR ALLOCATION OF DELEGATE AGENCIES.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT USING SOME OF THE REVENUES FROM THE RIVER BARGE FEE, UTILIZING SOME ALLOCATION THAT CURRENTLY GOES TO HPARC THAT EXPIRES IN 2021 THAT COULD BE REALLOCATED TO HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND WE HAD ALSO PROPOSED THE IDEA PERHAPS INCREASING THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AS PART OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE COUNCIL GAVE US DIRECTION TO WORK WITH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS, A CERTAIN GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS, AND WE DID THAT FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH.
AND THROUGH THOSE MEETINGS AND THAT CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE GROUPS, WHAT YOU SEE REFLECTED ON THE SCREEN ARE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES THAT WE HEARD WHERE PROPOSALS THAT WE COULD USE FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND ALSO WE VETTED THOSE THROUGH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS SOMETHING THE CITY COULD ACTUALLY BE WORKING ON.
SO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS A SUMMARY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS.
WELL, I HOPE THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THAT.
I'M NOT ENTIRELY SOLD ON THESE PARTICULAR ONES.
>> WALSH: YEAH, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S WHY THE FOURTH BULLET SAYS THAT THE CITY AND THE STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE
>> SANDOVAL: SO WE'LL BE APPROVING AN ALLOCATION OF $200,000.
AND THEN I IMAGINE THERE WILL BE AN RFP ISSUED.
WE'LL HAVE A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO ASSIST IN THAT PROCESS.
>> SANDOVAL: SO WILL IT JUST BE OUR STAFF THAT IS FACILITATING THAT STUDY? OR IS VISIT SAN ANTONIO GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT, THE WAY THAT -- YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTOOD THERE WAS A STRONG COMMITMENT FROM VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND WE APPROVED THE TPID TO HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE.
ARE THEY WORKING WITH US ON THIS?
AND THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US IN THE SUMMER AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, CENTRO SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN COMMITTED.
WE MET WITH THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH US AT HAVEN FOR HOPE.
SARA, WHICH IS AN ORIGINAL ALLIANCE FOR HOMELESSNESS.
SO ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
[01:35:04]
THAT WE DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THOSE AREAS THAT MAYBE WE HAVE SOME GAPS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO BRIDGE THOSE GAPS.I'M GOING TO CHIME IN WITH THE COMMENTS MADE PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE 1% COLA.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR APPRAISALS GOING UP BEYOND THE HOMESTEAD CAP EXEMPTION, AND THAT IS A COST OF LIVING EXPENSE, YET WE ARE BUDGETING A 1% COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE.
IT DOESN'T JIVE, SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF LOOKING AT THAT.
I GUESS PROBABLY FOR NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
AND I DID HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING -- I THINK YOU CALL IT PERFORMANCE PAY, THE 2% TO 4%.
I AM CURIOUS HOW THAT -- HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL GET A 2 OR 4% OR DO YOU BUDGET FOR EVERYONE GETTING A 4%?
>> COUNCILWOMAN, SO FOR PERFORMANCE PAY, THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PERFORMANCE PAY ARE SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS THAT ARE NOT COVERED ON THE PAY PLAN.
SO WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CLOSE TO 13,000 EMPLOYEES.
OF THOSE, ABOUT 4,000 ARE UNIFORM.
AND THE BALANCE ARE CIVILIANS.
SO WITHIN OUR CIVILIAN POPULATION WE HAVE ROUGHLY ABOUT 6,000 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAY PLAN.
SO IN THE PAY PLAN, DEPENDING ON THE STEP THAT THEY'RE IN, THEY GET A 2% TO 4% PLUS A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 3% TO 5%.
ON THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT COVERED IN THE PAY PLAN, WHAT WE DO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, WE BUDGET 3% OF THE TOTAL SALARIES.
WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD RECEIVE PERFORMANCE PAY, BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND WE DO ANNUAL EVALUATIONS FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.
AND DEPENDING ON THE RATING OF THAT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, THAT IS HOW PERFORMANCE PAY IS AWARDED.
SO IT'S A 3% ALLOCATION OF THE WAGES OF THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PERFORMANCE PAY.
>> SANDOVAL: FOR CIVILIAN PAY PLAN, DO YOU DO THE SAME THING?
WE ACTUALLY KNOW THE STEP THAT EACH EMPLOYEE IS IN.
>> SO WE CAN TELL YOU THIS EMPLOYEE WILL GET A 2%, A 3%, OR A 4%.
AND TO THE POINT THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MADE, FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE MAXED THEIR STEP, WE ALSO KNOW HOW MANY MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A STEP BECAUSE THEY ARE AT THE MAX STEP OF THEIR PAY PLAN RANGE.
AND THEN I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR MIKE SHANNON.
THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BUDGETING FOR BUILDING AUDIO].
>> SANDOVAL: TELL ME ABOUT THIS ONE.
>> WELL, AS WAS MENTIONED, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND, THE MORE PERMITS THAT COME IN THE MORE MONEY WE TAKE IN AND THE MORE PLAN REVIEWS WE HAVE.
WE HAVE BEEN PROJECTING SOME GROWTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE EXPERIENCING ANOTHER HIGH LEVEL OF PERMIT ACTIVITY, SO WE WILL ACTUALLY NEED MORE PLAN REVIEWERS, INTAKE STAFF, AND INSPECTORS TO KEEP UP SO THAT WE CAN PRODUCE QUALITY AND TIMELY SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE WANT TO REVIEW PERMITS AND ISSUE THEM QUICKLY AND RESPOND TO THOSE INSPECTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF GROWTH BUT THEY JUST KEEP COMING IN.
AND SO WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THAT DEMAND.
THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE ENTERPRISE DSD FUND IS TO GROW QUICKLY WHEN THE DEMAND NEEDS IT.
>> SANDOVAL: SO THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT THERE'S A LOT OF NEW HOUSING STOCK GOING UP? NEW STARTS IN SAN ANTONIO?
THE OTHER THING I WANTED DOESN'M WITH WHAT THEY ARE PAYING RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US EVALUATE BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS.
AND I THINK JUST, BEN, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU BALANCE IT
[01:40:01]
ALL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME VOLATILITY IN TERMS OF REVENUE SOURCES.AND I THINK LONG TERM IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE EXPLORING.
IS THERE ANY WAY -- OF COURSE CPS WOULD HAVE TO BE OKAY WITH THIS -- TO STABILIZE OUR REVENUES FROM CPS? THERE ARE SOME UTILITIES WHO USE A DIFFERENT RATE STRUCTURE, RIGHT? SO THAT IT DOESN'T -- THE REVENUES DON'T REQUIRE A LOT OF DEMAND.
AND WE'RE NOT INCENTIVIZING PEOPLE TO USE, USE, USE GAS OR ELECTRICITY.
BUT THAT SOMEHOW THERE'S A DIFFERENT RATE STRUCTURE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT?
>> WE HAVE NOT RECENTLY LOOKED AT THAT.
I MEAN, WHEN I LOOKED AT IT YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY IT WOULD BE WEATHER OR FUEL.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS WITH CONSERVATION THROUGH THE BILL AND YOU SEE THE IMPACT THERE.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES, IT SAYS YOU CAN'T EXCEED 14% SO GENERALLY YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE UP SOME LEVEL OF REVENUE TO MAKE SURE YOU STAY UNDER THE CAP.
SO WE CAN'T EVER EXCEED THAT CAP.
SO IF YOU COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT FORMULA IT'S GOT TO BE SET TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER EXCEED THE CAP.
BECAUSE WE WOULD BE AT THE FAULT OF THE BOND INDENTURE AT THAT POINT.
>> SANDOVAL: I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
>> SO IT'S AN IMMEDIATE PASS-THROUGH.
A LOT OF UTILITIES WILL SET A RATE STRUCTURE WHERE THE FUEL IS SET IN THE BASE AND THEY DON'T ADJUST AND TRY TO MANAGE OFF OF THAT WHICH CAUSES LOTS OF ISSUES FOR THE UTILITY, THEY'RE TRYING TO GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE.
IN CPS'S CASE, AN EXAMPLE WHERE FUEL PRICES ARE GOING UP VERY QUICKLY, CONSUMERS WILL START TO FEEL THAT IMMEDIATELY.
SO IT'S KIND OF A SIGNAL TO THE CONSUMER YOU NEED TO CONSERVE, AS OPPOSED TO DELAYING THAT DOWN THE ROAD.
IF YOU WENT TO THE GAS PUMP AND SAID GAS PRICES ARE GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE A LITTLE LESS OR FIGURE OUT ALTERNATIVE MODES.
THEY WILL GET THAT SIGNAL IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE IT'S AN IMMEDIATE PASS THROUGH.
SO THE WEATHER MAY CHANGE MONTH TO MONTH TO MONTH.
I THINK SOME THINGS ARE WORTH EXPLORING.
FOR OUR SAKE BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THE CONSUMER AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR THAT.
IF FUEL IS IN FACT DRIVING THE VOLATILITY THEN I THINK HAVING ALTERNATIVE FUELS THAT WE USE, LIKE SOLAR, BE MORE AVAILABLE, PROVIDED WE CAN BRING IT UP IN A COST-EFFICIENT MANNER AND PROVIDE SOME STABILITY TO THE RATE PAYER AND PERHAPS TO US AS WELL IN OUR BUDGETING.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF FUEL HAVE LESS VOLATILITY THAN OTHERS.
GAS BEING ONE OF THE ONES THAT FLUCTUATES THE MOST.
IF I WERE TO POP A FUEL SLIDE UP GOING PAST TO 20, THOSE SWINGS HAPPENING WITHIN SIX-MONTH PERIODS.
IT HAS REALLY BEEN DECLINING BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCTION THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
WELL THANK YOU, BEN, FOR ENTERTAINING THAT IDEA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON A DISCUSSION THAT THE CHIEF WAS HAVING WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR US.
IF THE QUESTION THAT I'M GETTING ASKED FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS I WANT TO SEE MORE POLICE PRESENCE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION -- TO SOLVE FOR THAT PROBLEM IS DEPLETE YOUR VACANCIES, GET THEM TO ZERO.
HERE'S MY OWN ASSUMPTION ON THAT.
YOU PUSH BACK IN IT'S INCORRECT.
AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, AT ANY ONE TIME WE DON'T HAVE 2200 OFFICERS ON THE BEAT OR ON PATROL.
YOU HAVE, I ASSUME, WITH EACH ONE OF YOUR PATROL STATIONS, WEST, SOUTH, EAST A SET NUMBER WHERE YOUR CAPTAINS DECIDE HOW MANY OFFICERS GO OUT ON THE BEAT.
IF I'M TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THAT PROBLEM, THE COMMUNITY MEMBER
[01:45:02]
SAYS I WANT TO SEE MORE POLICE PRESENCE, WE FILL EACH ONE OF THOSE SPOTS.IT'S NOT LIKE A SOUTH SUBSTATION IS SAYING I I HAVE A VACANCY.
WE FILL THEM WITH OVERTIME OR OTHER THINGS.
WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT OVERTIME FATIGUE, BUT WE HAVE POLICE PRESENCE.
SO IF I WANT TO SOLVE FOR THIS PROBLEM OF HAVING A HIGHER POLICE PRESENCE VISIBLY IN THE COMMUNITY, DON'T I NEED TO SORT OF CHANGE THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TO SAY THAT WE'VE GOT A PER POPULATION OFFICER COMMITMENT?
IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE THE VISIBILITY LEVEL THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD MORE POLICE.
>> CHIEF: TO THE 2447 THAT WE'RE AUTHORIZED, CORRECT.
OUR AUTHORIZED BUDGETED STRENGTH IS 2447.
AGAIN, THAT LEADS TO A MUCH BIGGER DISCUSSION ON IF COUNCIL WERE TO DECIDE BECAUSE OF SIZE WE'RE OFTEN COMPARED TO DALLAS.
DALLAS IS A THOUSAND -- WELL, NOT BECAUSE THEY CUT OVER 500 OF THEIR VACANCIES, SO THEY DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER OVER US ANYMORE.
BUT THEY USED TO HAVE OVER 1,000 MORE POLICE OFFICERS THAN SAN ANTONIO.
BUT IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAVE ON THE STREET IN TERMS OF OUR PATROL, THE OFFICERS WHO ANSWER CALLS, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL CRIMES UNIT WE HAVE STREET CRIMES.
NONE OF THOSE ENTITIES HANDLE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
IT'S JUST SO I THINK WHAT NUMBER WE MIGHT WANT TO GET TO TO PROVIDE MORE VISIBILITY IS A MUCH LARGER DISCUSSION.
>> SALDANA: AND IT'S A WORTHY DISCUSSION TO HAVE DURING THIS PERIOD, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET.
AND IF WE WANTED TO ADD -- I THINK WE KNOW THESE NUMBERS -- 25 OFFICERS TO THE BASE, WE KNOW THAT NUMBER, DON'T WE, ERIK? OR JUSTINA?
SO IN THE FIRST YEAR, ADDING 25 OFFICERS IS ABOUT $900,000.
AND JUST TO ADD TO WHAT JUSTINA SAID, SO AN AVERAGE $100,000 PER POLICE OFFICER.
SO 25 IS $2.5 MILLION PER YEAR.
THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE HAVE IN THE FINANCIAL FORECAST, IF WE WOULD TO START THOSE OFFICERS IN THE SEPTEMBER CLASS, THEN YOU HAVE A LOWER COST FOR YEAR ONE.
BUT IT WILL BUILD UP ONCE THEY GRADUATE AND START DOING THE WORK.
>> SALDANA: YEAH, AND I'M NOT SAYING I HAVE A MONOPOLY OF UNDERSTANDING ON THIS ONE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET TO BUT IT COMES DOWN TO HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE WANT TO PUT INTO AN INITIATIVE TO INCREASE YOUR FORCE.
BECAUSE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A LAG TIME.
LET'S SAY WE ALL AGREED TO COMMIT TO -- AND WE WOULD CUT THE BUDGET WHERE WE NEEDED TO CUT -- 50 TO 100 NEW OFFICERS FOR NEXT YEAR.
I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE, WHAT -- YEAH.
SO I'M ASSUMING WE ALLOCATE THE MONEY INTO THE BUDGET, BUT STILL THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE A LAG TIME FOR US TO FIND, RECRUIT, TRAIN, DEPLOY SOME OF THESE OFFICERS.
SO ARE YOU TELLING ME IS THE NARRATIVE THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE THAT WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE UP FOR THESE VACANCIES AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL ADMIT WHERE WE ARE WRONG IN HAVING VACANCIES, BUT WE HAD A LARGER VACANCY TWO YEARS AGO NOW AND WE'RE SAYING AT 47 IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE HAD THIS LAG TIME.
WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO ADD MORE OFFICERS, BUT IT IS AN AUTOMATIC LIGHT SWITCH WHERE AUDIO]
>> CHIEF: SEVEN-MONTH LAG TIME ONCE THEY GET IN RECRUITING THEM IS MAYBE TWO MONTHS-ISH, MAYBE MORE FROM THE APPLICATION UNTIL THEY'RE ACTUALLY ASSIGNED TO AN ACADEMY CLASS.
>> SALDANA: AND WHAT'S STOPPING US FROM INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF OFFICERS THAT ARE ON DEPLOY IN VEHICLES TODAY? SO YOU HAVE SOME PROACTIVE UNITS.
YOU HAVE SOME TASK FORCE AGENCIES, BUT HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY IS DEPLOYED IN ANY ONE OF OUR SHIFTS TODAY? LIKE ON THE BEAT.
>> CHIEF: WE HAVE 114, I THINK IT IS, PATROL DISTRICTS.
[01:50:02]
SOME OF THEM, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY, BUT SOME OF THEM HAVE TWO CARS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THEM.SO AT ANY GIVEN TIME THERE'S 114 OFFICERS OUT THERE ANSWERING CALLS FOR SERVICE.
>> SALDANA: IF WE CHANGED THAT NUMBER, WHAT WOULD WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU AS THE CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THAT DECISION?
>> SALDANA: BECAUSE IT'S A QUESTION OF MATH, ARITHMETIC AROUND THE BUDGET.
BUT YOU HAVE A FORMULA TO SAY 114 IS AN APPROPRIATE FORCE DEPLOYMENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
>> CHIEF: COUNCILMAN, WHAT I HAVE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE, THE QUESTIONS I'M ASKED AND THE COMMENTS THAT I HEAR IS WE WANT TO SEE MORE POLICE.
WE WANT TO SEE MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
YOU KNOW, I CALL FOR THE POLICE AND THEN THEY NEVER COME, WHICH IS NOT TRUE IN 99% OF THE CASES BECAUSE WE ALWAYS GO BACK AND INVESTIGATE THAT.
BUT WHAT I'VE -- AND AS A MATTER OF FACT COUNCILMAN TREVINO WAS AT A STRIP THERE.
IS THAT THE ONE? WHERE BECAUSE OF THE ST. MARY'S STRIP AND THE CROWDS THAT IT BRINGS IN ON PRIMARILY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY NIGHT.
>> SALDANA: EVERY DAY BUT MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
>> CHIEF: ALMOST EVERY DAY, YEAH.
[LAUGHTER] THERE IS AN INFLUX OF TRAFFIC INTO THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS DRIVING THE RESIDENTS UP THERE CRAZY.
IT CAUSES PROBLEMS. SO THEY WANT MORE COVERAGE.
AND TO SAY THAT, OKAY, WE'LL BRING SAFE UP THERE AND WE'LL ISSUE MORE TICKETS, WE'LL TOW CARS AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY STAFF AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IS LABELING NORTH ST. MARY'S, THE STRIP ON MAIN STREET, SOUTH TOWN, AND THE PEARL AS ENTERTAINMENT ZONES.
BECAUSE THEY BRING IN MANY, MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE BUT THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL VISIBILITY.
ALL YOU HAVE IS YOUR OFFICERS WHO ANSWER CALLS.
AND OCCASIONALLY IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON WE'LL PUT SAFE OFFICERS THERE TO SUPPLEMENT.
BUT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THOSE AREAS, THOSE ENTERTAINMENT ZONES, AS I HAVE BEEN CALLING THEM, WE NEED A DEDICATED RESOURCE TO COVER THOSE AREAS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, WHICH IS WHAT, FROM MY EXPERIENCE AT THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE.
WE CAN'T JUST DO IT PERIODICALLY OR OFF AND ON AND HAVE A SATISFIED RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> SALDANA: CHIEF, I WANTED TO MAKE THIS POINT, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN THE CAT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE OFFICERS HAVE A HIGHER PRESENCE, MEANING THEY'RE NOT ALSO BACKED UP AT MAGISTRATION, WHICH IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE DISCUSSED, WHICH MEANS THE PATROL OFFICER WHO IS ON THE DAY-TO-DAY CALL LOG IS ALSO NOT HAVING TO HANDLE EVERY EMERGENCY DETENTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT THAT CAN SUPPLEMENT THE BEAT OFFICER TO GET THEM BACK ON PATROL.
AND I THINK PART OF IT IS MONEY.
THE OTHER PART IS SOME PIECES YOU HAVE TRIED TO MAKE US AWARE OF AND WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN PLACES THAT MAKE SENSE FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE OFFICER GETS BACK ON PATROL, GETS BACK ON CALLS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
BUT THERE IS THIS TENSION IN MY OWN MIND ABOUT ZEROING OUT THE VACANCY AND WHETHER THAT WOULD TRULY GET US HIGHER POLICE PRESENCE OR SOMEHOW MAGICALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR US.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WALK THROUGH THAT.
>> CHIEF: WELL, IT GETS US TO OUR AUTHORIZED STRENGTH.
BUT, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S ENOUGH TO SATISFY RESIDENTS WHO SAY WE DON'T SEE ENOUGH POLICE.
OR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE ONGOING ISSUES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE NEED IT SOLVED ON A PERMANENT BASIS, NOT JUST THROWING SOME BODIES AT IT, YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER MONTH OR SO.
>> WALSH: ONE THING I WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL.
LAST YEAR THE INNOVATION DEPARTMENT ASSISTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN KIND OF PIECEMEALING AND GOING THROUGH MILLIONS OF RECOMMENDATION ON -- AND PRIMARILY JUST FOR PATROL.
IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE OTHER AREAS THAT THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT, WHICH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
[01:55:01]
VERSUS -- I'M SORRY.YEAH, A PROACTIVE TIME AND ON-CALL TIME FOR OFFICERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S CONTINUOUSLY BALANCED.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THEN OVER TIME THAT STARTS TO SHIFT.
AND IDEALLY AS PART OF THE RESULTS LAST SUMMER -- AND THAT'S AN ANALYSIS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO REDO IN PREPARATION FOR THE BUDGET IS WE WANT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE 60, 65% OF AN OFFICER TIME ON CALLS, BUT WE WANT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROACTIVE TIME AVAILABLE FOR VISIBILITY.
AND THINGS CAN CHANGE OVER TIME.
THE TYPES OF CALLS CAN TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
THE TYPE OF CALL CAN INVOLVE MULTIPLE OFFICERS.
THAT'S KIND OF A GAUGE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN USE.
AND I'LL SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT IT WAS A CONCEPT THAT CAME OUT OF THE INNOVATION GROUP BUT WE'VE SEEN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN HIRE CONSULTANTS TO DO THE SAME TYPE OF ANALYSIS.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE TERMS OF COMMUNITY POLICING, SAFE OFFICERS, THE OTHER UNITS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT INVESTIGATE CRIMES, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF MEASURING STICK ON THOSE AS WELL.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO GET TO THE ISSUE OF VISIBILITY, IT KIND OF REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT IT
>> SALDANA: AND RECOGNIZES THAT COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENT MEMBERS, THEY'RE NOT WRONG WHEN THEY SAY THAT PRESENCE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A FIRE TRUCK IN A NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT GOING TO STOP A FIRE FROM OCCURRING, BUT A POLICE VEHICLE MIGHT ACTUALLY PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM DOING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THE FACT THAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS -- AND WHEN I SAY WE'VE ALL BEEN ON RIDE ALONGS IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CALL COMING IN.
I'M GLAD TO SAY WE'LL SAVE A PORTION OF THE TIME TO ALLOW THE OFFICERS TO HAVE PROACTIVE -- NOT JUST PATROLLING NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE GOLD STANDARD, WHICH IS COMMUNITY POLICING.
I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO SEE THE POLICE OFFICERS INTERACTING THAT KNOW THE COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT TRULY MAKES OUR DEPARTMENT GOLD STANDARD, WORLD CLASS.
LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, JUSTINA.
COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL BROUGHT UP SOMETHING I FORGOT TO DISCUSS ON PAGE 66 WITH REGARDS TO THIS OPEN DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING ON HOMELESS AND TRYING TO REALLY SUPPORT OUR AGENCIES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPPORTING HAVEN FOR HOPE AND ONE OPPORTUNITY ON CAPITAL.
AND I THINK IN THIS DISCUSSION THERE'S A LARGER DEBATE TO BE HAD AROUND SUPPORTING SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS WITH THEIR OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS, NAMELY THEIR ABILITY TO HIRE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTIONS, ARE INTAKING, WORKING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
IT REALLY IS ABOUT FINDING FLEXIBLE DOLLARS AUDIO] ARE SOMETIMES ONE-TIME COSTS.
AND YOU'VE MENTIONED A FEW OF THEM IN THE BULLET POINTS.
WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION -- AND MEMBERS OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS MIGHT BE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS, BUT THE TPID.
I SEE THAT'S NOT ON THERE AS A BULLET POINT.
>> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, THEY'RE ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US.
THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US THROUGH THE SUMMER ON THOSE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES.
THEY ARE CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS.
>> SALDANA: BECAUSE I HOPE IF YOU'RE COMING TOGETHER IN A STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND I THINK THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD MEETINGS, IF I'M WRITING ON THE CHALKBOARD OUR GOAL, IS TO FIND A SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCE FOR THIS ISSUE.
AND IT WILL LOOK AT SUPPLEMENTING WHAT ALREADY EXISTS WITH REGARD TO THE PEOPLE AN THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HELP US SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHEN FOLKS ATTACK BIG CITIES, URBAN CITIES PLAGUED WITH HOMELESSNESS, THAT SAN ANTONIO DOESN'T COME UP ON THAT LIST.
AND CITIES THAT WE DO HEAR ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S LOS ANGELES OR SAN FRANCISCO OR EVEN AUSTIN THAT HAS SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT, HAVEN'T MADE THE KIND OF COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE.
BUT I THINK IT CAN BACKTRACK QUICKLY IF WE DON'T FIND SUSTAINABLE SOURCES TO CONTINUE THE INVESTMENTS WE KNOW ARE WORKING.
AND SO THE CITY AT $4.5 MILLION IS GETTING THAT LEVERAGE FIVE TIMES BY THE STATE, PHILANTHROPY, BY THE FEDS.
BUT THEN THERE'S THIS PIECE THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIRE THE BODIES, HIRE THE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE HELPING US DO THIS WORK.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE TO INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN TPID AND ANY OTHER RESOURCES.
I KNOW THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY SAID THEY ARE WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CASH IN ON THAT COMMITMENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
[02:00:01]
COUNCILMAN PERRY.I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS HERE.
JUST OVERALL, YOU KNOW, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I'VE BEEN CONTINUED TO BE TALKED TO BY MY NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT 10 ABOUT THE THREE MAJOR AREAS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND I WOULD DARE SAY THAT IN AUDIO] SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THOSE KEEP COMING UP EVERY TIME ON EVERY HOA A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THE OVER 65 FREEZE ON PROPERTY TAXES FOR OUR PORTION, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BELOW 65 THAT ARE HURTING WITH PROPERTY VALUES.
NOT ONLY PROPERTY VALUES BUT RISING RATES AND FEES ACROSS ALL OF THE TAXING ENTITIES, NOT JUST THE CITY, BUT THESE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES AS WELL.
SO I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING FOR THAT ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY DOING A GOOD JOB ON THE SLIDE 44 WHERE WE SHOW THE STREET MAINTENANCE.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT UP AT OVER $100 MILLION.
THAT'S WHERE OUR EMPHASIS SHOULD BE.
BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
CHIEF, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL YOU BACK UP THERE AGAIN ON SLIDE 20, VACANCIES.
SO THE CADETS, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE, IS IT? THAT'S WHAT'S ACTUALLY OUT IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW?
>> CHIEF: THAT'S IN THE PIPELINE.
HOW MANY CADETS DO WE HAVE IN THE FIELD TODAY?
>> PERRY: THEY ARE ALL PAST THEIR SIX-MONTH TRAINING?
SO WHEN THESE 156 COME IN, THERE'S A SIX-MONTH TRAINING WINDOW THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
>> PERRY: ONCE THEY GRADUATED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT --
YOU SAID THERE'S A SIX-MONTH TRAINING PERIOD?
THAT THEY ARE RIDING ALONG WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
>> THEY'RE WITH THEY'RE FTOS, YES.
>> PERRY: AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY ARE AGAINST AUTHORIZED POSITIONS BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY OUT THERE PATROLLING ON THEIR OWN.
THEY'RE STILL IN THAT TRAINING PROCESS.
ERIK, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE ON HOW WE CAN TRACK THAT.
AND I THINK WE STILL NEED TO SHOW THAT.
BECAUSE, TO ME, THEY'RE NOT A FULL-TIME OFFICER OUT THERE ON THE BEAT BY THEMSELVES.
IT'S STILL DURING THAT 14-WEEK TRAINING PROCESS THAT THEY'RE STILL NOT OUT THERE ON THEIR OWN LIKE THAT.
>> CHIEF: WHAT HAPPENS, COUNCILMAN, IF THERE'S A TWO-CAR CALL FOR, SAY, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR A BURGLARY, THEN IF THERE'S AN FTO RIDING WITH A PROBATIONARY OFFICER, THEN ONLY ONE CAR HAS TO GO.
THEY CAN HANDLE TWO-PERSON CALLS WITHOUT TWO CARS HAVING TO GO.
THEY CAN'T PATROL BY THEMSELVES BUT THEY CAN STILL HANDLE A TWO-PERSON CALL WITH THEIR TRAINING OFFICER.
BUT I REMEMBER THIS QUESTION LAST YEAR.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK IT AGAIN NOW.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ZERO VACANCIES?
>> CHIEF: NEXT CLASS, WHICH WILL START IN JULY.
>> PERRY: SO EVEN WITH THE RETIREES COMING IN AND --
>> PERRY: AND NOT A FULL CLASS, WE'LL HAVE THIS DOWN TO ZERO AFTER THIS NEXT CLASS?
IT'S THE JULY 23 CLASS -- SORRY, JULY 8.
AND THEY WILL GRADUATE IN FEBRUARY.
SO THE DATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ZERO UP THERE IS FEBRUARY.
[02:05:01]
>> PERRY: I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT ZERO NUMBER UP THERE IN JULY.
>> WALSH: I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT TOO.
IF WE HAVE 45 VACANCIES AND THE LAST THREE CLASSES WE'VE HAD ANYWHERE BETWEEN 50 AND 65 CADETS COME IN.
THERE'S A SEVEN-MONTH WINDOW AT THE ACADEMY AND THEN 14 WEEKS WITH A RIDE ALONG.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE RETIREMENTS.
AND SO WE NEED TO PUT AS MANY PEOPLE, OFFICERS, CANDIDATES IN THE PIPELINE.
GRADUATE HERE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
AND WE GO DOWN, THAT 39 IS GOING TO GO OUT TO THE FIELD FOR THEIR 14-WEEK RIDE ALONG.
WE HAVE A CLASS OF 53 AND WE HAVE A CLASS OF 64 BEHIND IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, ROUGH MATH, IF YOU DO ROUGH MATH, IF WE HAVE 45 VACANCIES AND WE HAVE ANOTHER TWO CLASSES OF 50, THAT GIVES US NET AHEAD -- WE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE SOME RETIREMENTS.
I MEAN, IF WE HAVE ANOTHER 30 RETIREMENTS BACK UP TO WHERE WE WERE PROJECTING, WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSE TO THAT BUBBLE.
I THINK THE KEY IS -- AND COUNCILMAN SALDANA MENTIONED IT EARLIER.
THE KEY IS -- AND WE CAN SHARE THIS CHART IN A FOLLOW UP.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHERE WE WERE AT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE CONTINUED TO SQUEEZE DOWN THAT BUBBLE.
LAST YEAR WE HAD FIVE CADET CLASSES.
AND AS LONG AS WE STAY ON TRACK, WE'LL BE THERE.
AND I THINK WE'LL JUST CONTINUE TO INCLUDE THIS IN MY END OF WEEK REPORT TO YOU THAT GOES OUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE END OF THE WEEK.
AND WE'LL ADVISE YOU AS THOSE BIG PIECES HAPPEN IN OUR SCHEDULE SO THAT YOU CAN WATCH IT CLOSELY.
SO THIS VACANT 45, IF THIS BUDGET GOES THROUGH AUDIO] THAT WILL BE VACANT.
>> CHIEF: ANOTHER 25 ADDED ON TO 2447, WHICH IS OUR BOTTOM -- OUR AUTHORIZED STRENGTH.
>> PERRY: WHICH WILL BE VACANT UNTIL YOU FILL --
SO THE QUESTION AGAIN, IF THE BUDGET GOES THROUGH AND WE GET THE 25, WHEN WILL WE BE AT ZERO WHEN YOU ADD THAT 25 TO THE 45?
>> CHIEF: WELL, THAT 25 IN AUDIO] UNTIL AFTER OCTOBER.
>> CHIEF: WHEN WE HIRE THE JULY CLASS -- AND, AGAIN, I'LL STEP IT BACK A LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A FLUID NUMBER BUT THE VACANCY RATE IS FLUID BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE RETIRING ALL THE TIME, SEPARATING ALL THE TIME.
WHEN WE HIRE FOR THAT JULY CLASS AND WE'RE SHOOTING FOR 65 OR 70, AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL GET THERE.
WE WILL HAVE ELIMINATED OUR VACANCIES.
>> PERRY: EVEN WITH THE 25 ADDITIONAL?
>> CHIEF: WELL, THE 25 ADDITIONAL WON'T BECOME EFFECTIVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1.
ON JULY 3 WHEN WE START THE NEW CLASS, WE'LL BE ADDING 65 OR 70 TO THE NUMBER.
>> PERRY: I JUST WANT TO KNOW THE APPROXIMATE DATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE AT ZERO.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THESE OTHER RESOURCES ARE? WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CATEGORIES?
>> SO SOME OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES INCLUDE OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FEES AND FRANCHISE FEES, OUR FINES, OUR REVENUES THAT WE RECEIVE FROM SAWS, INTEREST EARNINGS, THE RIVER BARGE FEE, EMS TRANSPORT FEES.
SO ALL THE OTHER CATS AND DOGS OUT THERE.
>> PERRY: DID YOU FIGURE IN THE FRANCHISE FEES IN THIS?
>> PERRY: SO THAT COULD BE A REDUCTION THERE? IF THE LEGISLATURE --
>> PERRY: ADD IT BACK ON OKAY.
AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE PUSHING THIS, BUT THIS SLIDE SHOWS, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED EARLIER THAT IT'S NOT A DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE EXEMPTION, IT'S A PERCENTAGE.
BUT WE'RE SHOWING THAT $5,000 EXEMPTION THERE VERSUS THE
[02:10:02]
PERCENTAGE.WHY ARE WE SHOWING, ON SLIDE 47, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND NOT THE PERCENTAGE OF 5%? YOU'RE SHOWING THE $5,000, BUT WHY SHOW THE $5,000 ON THERE? WHY WASN'T IT THE 5%?
>> COUNCILMAN, THAT'S NOT A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
THIS IS THE DOLLAR IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND OF A $5,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
SO GO BACK TO THAT OTHER SLIDE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
>> PERRY: BUT WHY AREN'T WE SHOWING THE 5% ON THIS SLIDE? THE 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
>> WE JUST ASSUME, FOR PURPOSES OF THE FORECAST, WE ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD BE POTENTIALLY DOING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT, THE $5,000 AMOUNT UNDER STATE LAW.
WE TOOK ONE OF THE EXAMPLES ON THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE AND INCLUDED IT TO HAVE THAT POLICY-LEVEL DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL.
YOU COULD TAKE EITHER ONE OF THESE OPTIONS.
>> PERRY: IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE WE SELECTED THE $5,000.
WE HAVE NOT SELECTED THE $5,000.
>> PERRY: IT COULD BE THE 5%, 10 ON UP.
>> WALSH: YOU GUYS SELECT THE OPTIONS.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE INTRODUCING THE POLICY ISSUES ON HERE.
BUT WE COULD MIX AND MATCH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHO PICKED THE $5,000 VERSUS THE 5% OR 10 OR 20.
AND LISTENING TO THAT, BEN, WHEN YOU WERE EXPLAINING THAT WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE CONSTRAINING OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH, BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, BUT I THINK THAT'S WORTH TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT.
INSTEAD OF THE 1.5%, LET'S TAKE -- I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH BUMPING THAT UP A LITTLE.
IF YOU TAKE THE AVERAGE SINCE 2016, IT'S BEEN WELL OVER 1.5%.
IT'S BACK TO 2014 THAT WE HAD 1.5%.
>> SO LET ME CLARIFY ON THIS SLIDE.
AND I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, WHEN I WAS ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
WHAT WE HAVE NEW ON HERE THIS DOES INCLUDE ANNEXATIONS AS WELL.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN '18 AND '19 THERE WERE SOME SMALL ANNEXATIONS DONE.
JUST NEW IMPROVEMENTS COMING ON THE TAX ROLL FOR 2018 IS .-POINT% AND THEN GOING FORWARD IN THE FORECAST WE'RE NOT ASSUMING ANY ANNEXATIONS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE, THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OR MORE WE'RE IN THE 1.8 TO 2% RANGE.
AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FORECAST, AS WE HAVE POLICY CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL WE'RE TYPICALLY TALKING ABOUT ADDING IN RECURRING EXPENSES VERSUS ONE TIME, LIKE CPS WHEN IT COMES IN OVER.
SOMETIMES THAT GOES INTO ONE TIME.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MANAGE THE BASE HERE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T ADD TOO MUCH FROM A RECURRING STANDPOINT AND NOT BE ABLE TO ADJUST WHEN ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CHANGE.
I TALKED ABOUT THIS ALREADY ABOUT $110 MILLION FOR STREET MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS GREAT.
AGAIN, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF TAKING $9.5 MILLION OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AGAIN.
DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT LAST TIME AND STILL NOT SUPPORTING THAT PORTION.
FOR THE STREET MAINTENANCE, ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE NOT -- ARE WE ADDING ANYTHING TO THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE? THAT 15%.
IS THAT STAYING? WE'RE NOT ADDING ANYTHING TO IT THIS YEAR? WE'RE STAYING AT 15%? WEREN'T WE A LITTLE BIT OVER 15%? WHAT ARE WE AND HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> PERRY: AND WHAT IS THAT .2%?
[02:15:02]
GREAT.>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE ON THAT ASSUMPTION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAINTAINING THAT MINIMUM BALANCE OF 15%.
ANYTHING ABOVE THE 15 WE ROLL BACK INTO THE FORECAST.
SO WE'RE USING THAT AND THEN WE'RE HOLDING 15% FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BUILD THE RESERVE ABOVE 15%.
IT MAY COME IN OVER 15% BECAUSE OF THE MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE REVENUE PROJECTION.
ONCE IT DOES WE PUT IT RIGHT BACK INTO PRODUCTION.
>> PERRY: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT GOING OVER THAT 15%.
BUT IF WE DO, EITHER THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS OR MID-YEAR, WE'RE PUTTING THAT MONEY BACK INTO PRODUCTION.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF 15%.
>> PERRY: WHAT DID YOU SAY OUR CARRYOVER IS FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT YEAR?
>> PERRY: IMPORTANT NUMBER THERE.
AND THAT JUST CAUGHT MY EYE, AND I ASKED COUNCILMAN COURAGE WHY ARE WE SHOWING OPERATING COSTS FOR THE D9 SENIOR CENTER WHEN IT DOESN'T COME ON UNTIL 2021?
>> SO THE FORECAST ASSUMES COST, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE COST, AND PERSONNEL WHEN THE PROJECT COMES ONLINE.
SO FOR THE D9 SENIOR CENTER, WE ARE ASSUMING FUNDING STARTING IN 2021.
>> PERRY: BUT THIS IS FY20 BUDGET.
JUST TO CLARIFY, AND WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
THIS PROGRAM ASSUMPTIONS IS OVER THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
>> PERRY: THAT THREW ME THERE AS TO WHY ARE WE STARTING IT.
I FULLY SUPPORT YOUR SENIOR CENTER.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS ALREADY, AND I CAN APPRECIATE THE POTENTIAL FUNDING ALTERNATIVES IN LOOKING HOW WE CAN SUSTAIN HAVEN FOR HOPE.
BUT MELODY -- IS MELODY STILL HERE? MELODY, I ASKED YOU A QUESTION AT A B SESSION ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO -- MAYBE NOT THAT LONG.
ABOUT OUR HOMELESS FUNDING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I ASKED YOU HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE GETTING? THE WHOLE, EVERY DOLLAR THAT COMES INTO THIS CITY.
>> PERRY: I THINK I REMEMBER 88.
>> PERRY: DO WE HAVE AN ACCOUNTING FOR EVERY DOLLAR? WHERE IT'S GOING, WHO IT'S GOING TO, WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THAT MONEY? AND, YOU KNOW, CAN WE MOVE THAT MONEY AROUND TO MAYBE HELP SUPPORT HAVEN MORE THAN OUT OF THIS $50 MILLION.
AND I COULD HAVE SWORN YOU SAID $88 MILLION.
SO THE $50 MILLION IS COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
THAT DOESN'T ALL COME TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> SO YOU HAVE VETERANS AFFAIRS DOLLARS THAT GO STRAIGHT TO PROVIDERS.
OTHER FEDERAL HUD FUNDS THAT GO STRAIGHT TO PROVIDERS DIRECTLY.
WE CAN TELL YOU WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, WHO IS BEING AWARDED, BUT NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, THE DETAILS OF HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THE MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD BE MOVED AROUND.
I MEAN, WE WORK WITH THOSE AGENCIES THROUGH OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE AND CAN CERTAINLY WORK AND HAVE INPUT INTO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW THEY'RE SPENDING IT.
BUT THE DOLLARS DON'T COME DIRECTLY TO US.
IT'S GOING TO ALL THESE OTHER AGENCIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BREAKDOWN.
WHO IS GETTING WHAT MONEY, WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HAVEN FOR HOPE IS SUPPORTING THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
>> PERRY: SO WHY COULDN'T THEY CONTRIBUTE TO HAVEN FOR HOPE, JUST LIKE THE CITY DOES?
>> AND SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS DO GO TO HAVEN FOR HOPE, AS DO THE STATE PORTION.
>> ABOUT 5 MILLION STATE, AND PROBABLY LESS THAN A MILLION FEDERAL.
>> PERRY: SO WHERE'S THAT OTHER 50 OR $45 MILLION GOING? THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO -- AND I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S
[02:20:02]
BEING FUNDED FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION HERE IN TOWN TODAY.WE CAN DEFINITELY BREAK THAT DOWN.
>> PERRY: LET'S SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS IT AND MAYBE DISCUSS IT WITH THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
HEY, YOU NEED TO CONTRIBUTE TO HAVEN ALSO.
BECAUSE IT'S SUPPORTING THEM AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT ON TO THIS LIST ALSO.
>> PERRY: AS POSSIBLE FUNDING ALTERNATIVES.
>> WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN AND SHOW YOU WHAT'S BEING SPENT ON SHELTER-TYPE ACTIVITIES, TREATMENT ACTIVITIES, PERMANENT HOUSING, A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS GO INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
AND I WAS GOING TO ASK A QUESTION ON THE PROPERTY TAX.
I'LL JUST MEET WITH YOU AFTERWARDS ON THIS.
ON PAGE 18 WE SHOWED -- JUST BECAUSE I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HARP ON THIS.
WE HAVE $19 MILLION FOR SIDEWALKS, 40 MILES.
DEPENDING ON THE WIDTH OF THE SIDEWALK, THAT'S EITHER $30 A SQUARE FOOT OR $22.50 A SQUARE FOOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO JUST STATE HOW WE COULD DO SO MUCH MORE.
I KNOW WE ALWAYS STARTED OUR SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM.
AND I WANT US TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE PUTTING OUT THESE NUMBERS.
THANK YOU ON THE LARGE-AREA REZONING.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE FOR DISTRICT 1, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT GETTING DONE.
THE NEW ROOF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I KNOW WE'RE SPENDING A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO DO SOME DESIGN WORK.
I HAVE A SMALL REQUEST AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES.
AND I KNOW WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WHITE ROOFS, BUT THERE'S ALSO GREEN ROOFS.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THAT PHOTO IT'S QUITE A LARGE AREA.
AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE DESIGN, MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE THE FOLKS OVER AT HEMISFAIR, ANDRES AND SO FORTH, TO SEE WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THAT AREA THAT IS NOT JUST A BIG FLAT WHITE AREA.
MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN COMPLEMENT CIVIC PARK AND OTHER AREAS AS WELL AS NOT BE JUST A BIG WHITE SPOT WHERE FOLKS THAT ARE EITHER AT THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS OR ANYONE WHO IS ELEVATED ABOVE THREE STORIES, THAT'S ALL THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.
OUR CITY LOOKS QUITE AMAZING WITH THE SKYLINE AND THE RIVER WALK AND THE DIFFERENT PARKS THAT ARE BEING PUT UP.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THAT BUDGET TO JUST ASK WHOEVER IS LOOKING AT THIS TO GIVE US SOME OPTIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE FUTURE TO COMPLEMENT WHAT WE KNOW IS COMING AT HEMISFAIR PARK.
AND THEN LASTLY I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE GREAT WORK -- I KNOW MARY ROSE BROWN IS HERE AND KENNY WILSON.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE $2.4 MILLION, AS HAS BEEN STATED WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING MORE THOROUGHLY.
AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO PUBLICLY THANK CASSANDRA.
WE HAD LUNCH AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP WITH THE SITUATION, SO I WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT CONVERSATION, AND LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING, YOU KNOW, A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE.
WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP RESOLVE THAT.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY ALL I'VE GOT.
I'VE GOT OTHER QUESTIONS BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE DETAILED, AND I'LL DO THOSE IN MY OFFICE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
SO REALLY MY ONLY QUESTION WAS REGARDING THE $500,000 FOR THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THAT ANYMORE.
SO I DON'T KNOW, CASSANDRA, YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE FUNDING
[02:25:01]
FROM THE GENERAL FUND ANYMORE.>> GONZALES: NOT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THE --
>> COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL START AND MAYBE CASSANDRA CAN JUMP IN.
IT IS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, THEY STILL GET FUNDING FROM THE HOT FUND.
THE $500,000 IS NOT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, IT'S COMING OUT OF THE HOT FUND.
SO WHEN WE SET THE BUDGET, WE HAVE A PROJECTION OF WHAT WE THINK HOT REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE.
WE'RE GIVING THEM ESSENTIALLY 35% OF THAT ALLOCATION AFTER WE BACK OUT DEBT SERVICE.
YOU THEN GO THROUGH THE YEAR AND UNDER THE CONTRACT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST THE DIFFERENCE.
IF WE COME IN BETTER THAN THE BUDGET WAS, THEY CAN ASK FOR THE 35% OF THAT EXCESS.
THE FULL REQUEST WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND $830,000.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO FUND RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THEY REVISED THEIR REQUEST TO BE $500,000.
THEY'VE GOT A TARGETED APPROACH IN TERMS OF HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY.
SINCE I'M NOT THE MARKETING GUY, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT COMPONENT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S ALL THE EXPLANATION I NEEDED FOR THAT.
AND I GUESS I JUST NEED TO SAY IN REGARD TO HAVEN, THE WORK THEY DO, I'M GLAD TO FUND THAT PORTION.
I JUST DO WANT TO PRE MIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT THE WHOLE CITY BENEFITS FROM HAVING HAVEN IN DISTRICT 5, BUT WE STILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE NEGATIVE SIDE AND DOWN SIDE THAT COMES WITH HAVING A VERY LARGE HOMELESS SHELTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOWNTOWN, IN WHAT WAS A PRETTY THRIVING COMMUNITY.
SO AS WE DO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES, AND WE TALKED ABOUT JUST GENERAL CLEANLINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY DISTRICT 5 THAT SUFFERS AS A RESULT OF THAT.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR PLANS, TO CONSIDER EXCESS POLICE SUPPORT, AND ALSO CLEANLINESS SUPPORT FOR THE AREA AROUND THERE, ACTUALLY I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF POLICE FUNDING FOR THE AREA.
IN FACT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE GOT ABOUT FOUR BICYCLE PATROLS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND I THINK THEY'VE ALSO HIRED ADDITIONAL SECURITY FOR THEIR CAMPUS.
IF YOU JUST DO A -- YOU KNOW, A QUARTER MILE OF THE CRIME STATS AROUND THE CAMPUS, IT IS SIGNATIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.
IT'S AN OUTLIER, I THINK CRIME AROUND THE CITY IS DOWN, BUT IN THAT AREA, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE DECLINE THAT THE REST OF THE CITY HAS SEEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT YOU DID TO PREPARE THIS, AND I'M REALLY IMPRESSED.
I KNOW YOU SORT OF PUT THIS TOGETHER ON THE FLY, AND DIDN'T PRACTICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
ERIK, I SENT YOU AN E-MAIL WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE WITH THOUGHTS ON DISTRICT 8, SIX PLUS SIX, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
AND I WON'T WASTE ANYBODY'S TIME HERE WITH THAT.
HOWEVER, I WILL ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO THINK ABOUT THE NEED FOR WHEN IT COMES TO CHIEF MCMANUS' TEAM, WHO I THINK IS AWESOME, CHIEF, THIS IDEA OF COMMUNITY POLICING IS SO MUCH MORE THAN HAVING POLICE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THESE COMMUNITIES, AND KNOWING OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO THEIR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE VIA, YOU KNOW, E-MAIL, RIGHT? AND COMMUNICATE THEIR PROGRAMS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THAT.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW, JEFF -- I'M SORRY, ERIK, TO WHAT EXTENT JEFF COYLE'S GROUP, YOU KNOW, AND VETO'S GROUP CAN HELP OUR SAFE OFFICERS, FOR EXAMPLE, BE ABLE TO DO VERY QUICK OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT INITIATIVES, RIGHT? SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
OUR SAFE OFFICERS PUT TOGETHER, IT WAS THEIR IDEA, PUT TOGETHER A RETROFIT FOR PICKUP TRUCK TAILGATES FOR THESE LITTLE 30
[02:30:01]
CENTS DEVICES TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM STEALING TAILGATES.WE HAD HUNDREDS OF SAN ANTONIANS SHOW UP FOR THIS.
IT WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO MEET THEIR SAFE OFFICERS, AND TO GET A LITTLE 30 CENT PIECE OF ALUMINUM ON THEIR TAILGATE.
AND OUR SAFE OFFICERS DID IT BY TAKING THEIR TIME TO SORT OF PUMP IT OUT ON THEIR OWN E-MAIL ADDRESSES, AND THEY RELIED ON US, MY TEAM, TO PUMP IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT IT SEEMED TO ME THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST FOR THE FUTURE IN VEHICLES TO ACTUALLY GET THESE COMMUNICATIONS OUT MORE EFFECTIVELY, RIGHT? SO SAFE CAN DO MORE, RIGHT? AND SOMETIMES COMMUNITY POLICING IS JUST COMMUNICATING.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS PROCESS, OR FUTURE PROCESS, ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT KIND OF FUNDING WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THAT.
OKAY? THE OTHER THING IS, AND I KNOW THAT POOR CASSANDRA AND LISA OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, ARE GETTING THE HEAT ON THIS HOMELESS THING.
AND Y'ALL HAVE BEEN VERY GRACEFUL, AND KIND TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ASKED YOU A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
WELL, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REMEMBER A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE WE HAD HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND IT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I QUITE HONESTLY DIDN'T LIKE COMING DOWNTOWN WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL, IN COLLEGE.
PEOPLE SLEEPING IN A LOT OF DOORWAYS DOWNTOWN, IN FRONT OF -- PEOPLE SLEEPING IN FRONT OF HOTELS.
PEOPLE SLEEPING RIGHT AT THE DOORSTEP OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER.
YOU KNOW, PANHANDLERS AGGRESSIVELY CHASING TOURISTS ALL OVER OUR STREETS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SLEEPING IN PARKING GARAGES AND PARKS.
AND THEN WALKING THROUGH PARKING GARAGES AND DOWNTOWN PARKS, AND HAVING TO SMELL URINE.
I MEAN, THEY JUST ALL SMELLED THAT WAY, RIGHT? IT WAS GUARANTEED THAT WHENEVER YOU WALKED DOWNTOWN, YOU WOULD SEE SAPD HAVING AN INTERACTION WITH A HOMELESS PERSON, BE IT, YOU KNOW, JUST A FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT OR SEEING A HOMELESS MAN OR WOMAN GETTING ARRESTED.
PARTICULARLY ON HOUSTON STREET.
AND THOSE ARRESTS HAPPENING IN THE VIEW OF MILLIONS OF TOURISTS WHO WALK THROUGH OUR DOWNTOWN, AND ON OUR RIVER WALK.
AND ON OUR WORST DAYS, I MEAN, REALLY, OUR WORST DAYS, WE WOULD HAVE CADAVERS DOWNTOWN.
YOU KNOW, HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD DIE IN OUR PARKS, AND UNDER OUR BRIDGES, AND IN THE DOORWAYS OF BUSINESSES, IN FRONT OF HOTELS, IN FRONT OF OUR -- BECAUSE THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO AND DIE, LIKE ALL OF US WILL -- EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME KIND OF PALLIATIVE CARE, OR HOSPICE CARE.
BUT BACK THEN BEFORE HAVEN, THERE WAS NOTHING.
AND SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS TWO CUSTOMERS, IN MY OPINION.
ONE OF THEM OBVIOUSLY IS THE HOMELESS MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO DEPEND ON THOSE SERVICES, AND TWO, I THINK THAT IT IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE.
DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES ARE THE SECOND CUSTOMER.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR DOWNTOWN, AND PARTICULARLY THE HOTEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.
SO I'LL POINT THAT OUT, BECAUSE THIS CONVERSATION JUST CAN'T STOP HERE, RIGHT? CASSANDRA, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT CAN'T JUST BE THE TOURIST INDUSTRY THAT'S RELIED UPON TO THROW THEIR WEIGHT BEHIND THIS.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, SO FAR IT HASN'T BEEN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY THAT'S THROWN ITS WEIGHT BEHIND THIS.
WE'VE GOT AN ENERGY COMPANY IN MY DISTRICT WHO'S FOOTED ALMOST THE ENTIRE BILL FOR THIS THING, RIGHT? AND BILL MAY OUTLIVE ALL OF US, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO LIVE FOREVER.
AND ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HEAR THE NEXT NEW STAR CEO AND CHAIRMAN MIGHT THINK ANOTHER INITIATIVES ARE MORE INTERESTING THAN CONTINUING TO SPONSOR HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A LOT TO ASK CASSANDRA AND LISA, YOUR CONSTITUENTS BROADCAST ].
IN 2019 HOW THEIR LIVES ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE HAVEN FOR HOPE WAS HERE.
I KNOW I'M TRYING -- I'M BEING OVERLY DRAMATIC HERE MENTIONING CADAVERS AND THAT, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO EXPERIENCE.
I'M GOING TO END IT BY TELLING YOU THAT I BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY.
[02:35:01]
WITH YOU GUYS.AND AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT THE BATTERED WOMEN SHELTER IS BY DEFINITION A HOMELESS FACILITY AS WELL.
ALONG WITH THE CHILDREN SHELTERS WE'VE GOT AROUND TOWN.
SO I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER ON FIGURING OUT A WAY TO GET THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THIS, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO IS ALSO A CUSTOMER, BENEFICIARY OF THE HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS, THAT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND THE OTHER SHELTERS OFFER.
PARTICULARLY OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AT CENTRO, YOU KNOW.
I THINK THEY NEED TO BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH US ABOUT THROWING THEIR WEIGHT AND THEIR RESOURCES BEHIND THESE SOLUTIONS.
SO WITH THAT, I CAN'T TELL BROADCAST ].
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE IT.
QUICK QUESTION, WHAT'S THE OVERTIME DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON SAPD?
>> SO THE BUDGET, JUST OVER $19 MILLION.
>> BROCKHOUSE: $19 MILLION OF OVERTIME IS WHAT IS SPENT? SO WHEN I LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, I THINK ABOUT $100,000 PER POLICE OFFICER.
THAT WAS WHAT YOU MENTIONED A LITTLE EARLIER.
THAT INDICATES TO ME THAT WE HAVE STAFFING ISSUES.
WE HAVE THAT LEVEL OF OVERTIME, THAT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS TO COVER ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU TAKE THAT 100,000, DIVIDE IT INTO THE 19 MILLION, YOU GET 190 POLICE OFFICERS.
SO THE QUESTION HAS TO GO A LITTLE DEEPER THAN JUST THE BOARD SAYS IT'S 45, ERIK.
THE TRUTH IS, WE'RE SPENDING $19 MILLION IN OVERTIME EVERY YEAR, OR AVERAGE THEREABOUT.
SO THAT'S INDICATIVE OF A SEVERE SHORTAGE, IF IT'S REQUIRING US TO SPEND THAT TYPE OF OVERTIME DOLLARS.
SO A FACT ON THE BOARD THAT CAN SAY WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED, I GET IT.
YOU HAVE A PLAN TO GET IT DONE, AND I APPRECIATE IT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO EXAMINE THE MORALE OF THE OFFICER AND WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON WITH THAT.
THAT TYPE OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT, IN ANY ORGANIZATION, ANY BUSINESS ANYWHERE, IF YOU HAVE THAT TYPE OF OVERTIME AND IT'S THAT CONSISTENT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY -- I THINK NORTH OF 15 MILLION FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THAT MEANS THERE IS A CONSISTENT SERIOUS UNDERSTAFFING OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THE PRESENTATION.
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THAT, ERIK?
>> I THINK THE 19 MILLION IS TOTAL BUDGET, RIGHT? SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BREAKOUTS AND COMPONENTS OF OVERTIME.
BECAUSE OVERTIME CAN BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
I THINK WHAT YOU MAY BE TARGETING IS THE -- THINGS LIKE DISTRICT BACKFILL OVER TIME.
19 IS THE TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET, WHICH WOULD ENCOMPASS ALL KINDS OF OTHER AREAS.
>> BROCKHOUSE: WE CAN PROVIDE THAT BREAKOUT.
I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE IN THE $4.5 MILLION RANGE FOR POLICE OFFICERS? BACKFILL, TRYING TO GET A VACATION, WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS.
THE REALITY IS WE'RE ARGUING, IT'S MY BELIEF AS I SAID THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES IS WE ARE ARGUING OVER AN ALLOTTED AMOUNT OF OFFICERS, FRANKLY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OFFICERS.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT PROBABLY NEEDING PROBABLY MORE THAN 2447 AUTHORIZED POSITIONS, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY EXAMINED THAT TOO FAR.
I THINK WE DID SOME SORT OF INNOVATION STUDY LAST YEAR.
>> THAT'S THE ONE I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.
>> BROCKHOUSE: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ALREADY, BUT IT'S A WORTHY CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD TO HAVE -- TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE REAL STAFFING NUMBERS TO CONTINUE TO PUSH AROUND THAT ISSUE.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, AND WE CAN DO THIS IN BETWEEN NOW AND THE 21ST, JUNE 21ST, OR PREPARE FOR THE 21ST, BUT THAT WE BREAK DOWN -- BECAUSE THERE'S SOME TYPE OF OVERTIME THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.
IN CERTAIN OPERATIONAL CASES, AND THIS ISN'T JUST TRUE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S PROBABLY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AREAS, IT'S MORE EFFICIENTLY USE OVERTIME.
WHAT YOU HIT ON IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN OVERTAXING ANY TYPE OF EMPLOYEE, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT IS PROVIDING THAT BREAKOUT AND PREPARING THAT FOR THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL.
I MEAN, TAKING OVERTIME FLEXIBILITY AND ROLLING IT INTO PERMANENT EXPENSES IS ALWAYS AN OPTION.
>> BROCKHOUSE: IT BECOMES A CONSISTENTLY STEADY OVERTIME VALUE, THEN IT WOULD BE INDICATIVE -- FIREFIGHTERS IT A SPIKE BECAUSE OF CERTAIN ISSUES, OR SOME EVENT THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CITY THAT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL -- OVERTIME HOURS IS ONE THING, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE OVERTIME HOURS, YOU'RE WORKING AT U.P.S. AND IT'S A BIG SEASON, YOU BRING IN A LOT OF OVERTIME HOURS, THESE ARE POLICE
[02:40:01]
OFFICERS.THAT MORALE IS, THE CONSISTENT OVERTAXING OF OFFICERS IS A POTENTIAL ISSUE.
BUT AT WHAT POINT IS THE OVERTIME A MORALE ISSUE IN THE MOST CRITICAL ROLE, WHICH IS THE POLICE OFFICER ON THE STREET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
>> FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN -- THE BUDGET OFFICE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN REBALANCING JUST TO CHECK AND SEE ON AVERAGE -- THE AVERAGE PATROL OFFICER, NOT THE SAFE OFFICERS OR ANYBODY ELSE, THE AVERAGE PATROL OFFICER, WHAT TYPE OF BACKFILL OVERTIME THEY HAD ACCESS TO, WHETHER THEY VOLUNTEERED, SO WE HAVE THAT BALANCE.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN CHECKING ANNUALLY FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO YEARS.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE POSITION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THAT WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN, THAT WE'RE EVERY YEAR MAKING PROGRESS IS, THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HELD VACANCIES.
WE HELD ACADEMY CLASSES, AND WE DID THAT FOR A REASON AT THE TIME.
IT WAS PART OF A BIGGER ISSUE THAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME.
AND WE ARE STILL CLAWING OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
WE ARE A LOT BETTER OFF TODAY THAN WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR IN THE FORECAST.
COUNCILMAN PERRY GRILLED THE CHIEF AND I AT A WORK SESSION BROADCAST ].
PRIORITY WAS FORGET ABOUT ORDERING ANOTHER PLATE OF FOOD, FINISH WHAT YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR PLATE AND FILL YOUR VACANCIES.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN PRETTY AGGRESSIVE.
BUT YOUR POINT I THINK IS WORTH A DEEPER DIVE AND PROBABLY LOOKING AT THE TOTAL -- THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OVERTIME.
SOME OF IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE.
WE'LL WANT THAT OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY JUST LIKE WE'LL WANT IT IN DAVID MCKERRI'S OFFICE OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S THE DISTRICT BACKFILL OVERTIME, I THINK MAYBE WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT THAT AND WE CAN SHOW THE COUNCIL WHERE WE'VE BEEN THE LAST THREE YEARS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY STARTED PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I APPRECIATE THE DEEPER INFORMATION INTO IT.
SUPPORTIVE OF -- I'M ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOMELESS SITUATION.
SO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE WHERE THOSE DOLLARS CAN BE SPENT.
THE 2.4 MILLION, I'LL BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SPENT IN THE RIGHT TIME.
AND THE COLA, THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE, SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN 1%.
LAST BUDGET CYCLE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND I BROUGHT IT UP.
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE CAPPED OUT WHO HAVE 18, 19, 20-PLUS YEARS ON THE JOB.
AND THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS PUSHING THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL.
WE CAME UP A LITTLE BIT SHORT IN GETTING IT IN ON THE END.
THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TOWARD THE END OF THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP-FRONT.
I THINK THE COLA IS A WORTHY ANSWER, AND IT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR AT LEAST SOME FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE CAPPED.
WE NEED TO KIND OF LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK 1% IS NOT ENOUGH, WE NEED TO DO MORE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE CORE ISSUES IS TAKING CARE OF THE EXISTING CITY STAFF AND I THINK THINK THEY DESERVE THE MONEY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE PUT 110 MILLION IN THE STREETS IN 2017-18, AND 110 MILLION IN FOR 2018-19, WE'RE LOOKING AT 110 MILLION AGAIN FOR 2019-2020.
I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SPENT? I MEAN, ARE WE PUTTING SO MUCH OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP? ARE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, THE FORECASTS IN 2017-18, ARE THEY CARRYING OVER INTO 19-20? ADDING ANOTHER 110, DO WE PUT OURSELVES FURTHER BEHIND AND SAY IT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE YEARS TO SPEND THAT MONEY BECAUSE OF SO MUCH WE'RE DOING? SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
BECAUSE MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO SAY IS THIS YEAR WE NEED TO CUT THAT DOWN TO 100, OR 90.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T SIMPLY SPEND THAT MUCH, WE CAN'T PRODUCE THAT MUCH STREET WORK IN A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE.
I COULD BE WRONG, MAYBE WE CAN.
BUT I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE BEING EFFECTIVE WITH THIS MOPE AND NOT PUSHING THINGS OFF BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
WE'RE NOT JUST DOING STREETS, WE'RE DOING SIDEWALKS, AND WE'RE DOING MAJOR PROJECTS THAT COME UP.
AND THERE'S DRAINAGE AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUES THAT TCI HAS TO HANDLE.
AND I'M AFRAID THE QUALITY OF SOME OF THAT WORK THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM SOME PEOPLE IS NOT AS GOOD SOMETIMES.
AND MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE HIRING MORE AND MORE TEAMS TO
[02:45:02]
GET THE JOB DONE.AND SOMETIMES THOSE TEAMS LET US DOWN BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT MORE AND MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE US LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH STREETS, WITH 110 MILLION EACH.
WHAT WE THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IF WE PUT ANOTHER 110 MILLION, CAN WE DO IT IN 2020, OR IS A LOT OF IT GOING TO BE IN 2021, OR 2022.
THE SAME THING WITH THE SIDEWALKS.
LET'S NOT JUST PUT MONEY OUT THERE IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE US YEARS TO ACTUALLY GET THE WORK DONE, WHEN THAT MONEY MIGHT BE BETTER PLACED IN THE NEXT BUDGET FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DENY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STREET WORK WE'VE GOT TO DO.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING EFFICIENT IN THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT IN THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, WHICH WAS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADMINISTRATOR.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY ASKED FOR, AND HERE WE ARE A YEAR LA LATER, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY ACTION ON TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO CAN BRING TOGETHER ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY'RE NOT ALL IN NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING.
THEY'RE IN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS, LIKE UNDER ONE ROOF, OR OTHERS.
AND I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ADD THAT ADMINISTRATOR TO BRING ALL THOSE TOGETHER, AND TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE PIECES ARE GETTING DONE.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
[Executive Session]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.THAT'S ALL WE HAVE ON OUR MAIN AGENDA TODAY FOR THE "B" SESSION.
WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, HOWEVER.
THE TIME IS NOW 4:57 P.M. ON THIS 8TH DAY OF MAY, 2019, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, AND TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSSION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, PURCHASE THE EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551-072, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.071, AND SETTLEMENT OFFER IN LITIGATION STYLED CHAMPION OF AQERO VERSUS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PURSUANT TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.