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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EARN. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION. THE TIME IS 2:06 P.M. ON MAY 8TH, 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME, EVERYONE.
TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SESSION. TODAY WE HEAR FROM --
MANAGER, ERIK WALSH. . >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO THE NEXT STEP IN OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS THIS AFTERNOON, AND JUSTINA WILL WALK US THROUGH AN UPDATED TRIAL BUDGET.
LET ME JUST SAY ON THE FRONT END, THAT THE TRIAL BUDGET IS NOT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, RIGHT? THIS IS A COMPILATION, AS WE'VE TRANSITIONED FROM LOOKING AT OUR FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST, TODAY WE'LL BE TRANSITIONING INTO FISCAL YEAR '25 AND '26 AND FOCUSING ON THOSE TWO YEARS.
IT'S -- IT'S A PRELIMINARY UPDATE ON OUR ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES THAT WILL INCORPORATE OR HAS INCORPORATED THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU ALL AT THE COUNCIL GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SEE SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENT THAT'S WE ARE TAKING FROM THAT CONVERSATION.
JUSTINA WILL WALK THROUGH BOTH ON THE REVENUE AND ON THE EXPENSE SIDE IN TERMS OF PRIORITY INVESTMENTS. AND THE TRIAL BUDGET IS DESIGNED TO GIVE THE COUNCIL ANOTHER LOOK AT EARLY SCENARIOS IN OUR MAJOR SPENDING BUCKETS AND PRIORITIES, AND GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL AS WE CONTINUE TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU IN AUGUST. SO LOOKING FOR SOME INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL TODAY, AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
JUSTINA TO RUN US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. >> TATE: THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S JUSTINA TATE, AND I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO COVER THE F FISCAL YEAR 2025 TRIAL BUDGET AND FISCAL YEAR 2026 PLAN FOR BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE SOLID WASTE FUND.
SO I'M GOING TO QUICKLY GO OVER -- REMINED US ABOUT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 ADOPTED BUDGET. SO OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS ABOUT $3.7 BILLION.
THIS IS COMPRISED OF THREE MAYBE COMPONENTS. THE FIRST BEING RESTRICTED FUNDS AT $1.33 BILLION. SO AN EXAMPLE OF A RESTRICTED FUNDS IS OUR SOLID WASTE FUND. THE SOLID WASTE FUND IS GOVERNED BY STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND THE REVENUES GENERATED AND COLLECTED IN THIS FUND MUST BE USED FOR SERVICES SUCH AS GARBAGE PICKUP, RECYCLING PICKUP AND BRUSH COLLECTION. THE NEXT COMPONENT IS OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM AT $798 MILLION. AND THIS PROVIDES -- PROGRAM, AS WELL AS AIRPORT PROJECTS. AND FINALLY, THE GENERAL FUND AT $1.6 BILLION. THIS IS OUR LARGEST OPERATING FUND, AND IT PROVIDES FOR THE CITY'S CORE SERVICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, LIBRARIES AND OTHER SERVICES. SO THIS NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON OUR GENERAL FUND.
AS I MENTIONED OUR GENERAL FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS $1.6 BILLION AND IT'S FUNDED BY FOUR MAIN REVENUE SOURCES. THE FIRST BEING PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS BUDGETED AT $466 MILLION. SECOND IS OUR CPS AT $421 MILLION. AND AS A REMINDER, THE CITY RECEIVES 14 -- UP TO 14% OF ALL CPS GAS AND ELECTRIC GROSS REVENUES AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES. THE THIRD LARGEST IS OUR SALES TAX WHICH IS PROJECTED AT ABOUT $412 MILLION.
NOW, THE FINAL COMPONENT IS OUR OTHER RESOURCES. THIS INCLUDES REVENUES SUCH AS OUR EMS TRANSPORT FEES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND USER FEES.
SO THESE REVENUES COMBINED FUND THE BASIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY, THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY AT ABOUT 60.5% OF THE GENERAL
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FUND, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS, STREETS/INFRASTRUCTURE AND PARKS. THE REMAINING FUNDS SERVICES SUCH AS LIBRARIES, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL FUND TRIAL BUDGET.
THE TRIAL BUDGET IS A PRELIMINARY ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND INCORPORATES CITY KOON SILL POLICY DIRECTION RECEIVED IN APRIL.
AND AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE TRIAL BUDGET DOES BUILD ON THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST THAT WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 17TH, AND IT SERVES AS A TOOL LEADING TO A MORE REFINED PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN AUGUST. SO AS I MENTIONED, THE TRIAL BUDGET DOES BUILD ON THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, AND INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL POLICY DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL INPUT. THE TRIAL BUDGET REFLECTS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPERTY -- OF A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREMENT. IT CONTINUES CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES THAT WERE INCORPORATED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET AND FISCAL 2025 PLAN, AND IT ALSO ADDS IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS PRIORITIES THAT WERE DISCUSSED AT THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION. SO THIS YEAR WE HELD THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION EARLY TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY COUNCIL IN PREPARATION FOR THIS TRIAL BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AS PART OF THE MEETING, CITY STAFF PRESENTED OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES TO CITY COUNCIL, AND THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES WERE REAFFIRMED AND SOME WERE REVISED, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED PRIORITIES TO BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THE UPCOMING BUDGET. THESE PRIORITIES INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOMELESS SERVICES, THE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND EMPLOYEES.
SO DURING THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION, TROY ELLIOTT, THE CITY'S DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON OUR PROPERTY TAX. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM BCAD. THE PRELIMINARY VALUES RECEIVED FROM BCAD INDICATE AN INCREASE IN THE ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAXABLE VALUE OF 8.3%.
AND, AGAIN, THIS IS AN ESTIMATE WHICH IS BASED ON PRELIMINARY DATA.
THE DATA IS -- THE INFORMATION IS STILL PRELIMINARY, AS PERSONAL PROPERTY NOTICE VALUES ARE STILL PENDING. A MAJORITY OF THE PROTESTS HAVE NOT BEEN FILED, AND THE TRUTH AND TAXATION FORMS HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMPTROLLER TO INCORPORATE NEW LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. ANOTHER UPDATE FROM BCAD IS EXPECTED IN LATE MAY, AFTER THE PROTEST DEADLINE HAS PASSED, WITH THE CERTIFIED ROLL BEING PROVIDED ON JULY 25TH. SO THE NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE TAXABLE VALUE GROWTH AND THE TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, 2024 AND 2025. SO BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM BCAD, OUR GROWTH AND EXISTING VALUE IS APPROXIMATELY 6.7% AND OUR GROWTH IN NEW IMPROVEMENTS IS 1.6%. SO WE ARE LOOKING -- OR ESTIMATING, BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, THAT OUR TOTAL TAXABILITY VALUE TAXABLE VALUE GROWTH WILL BE 8.3% OVER LAST YEAR.
AT THIS TIME THE TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE FOR 2025 IS ABOUT $165 BILLION WHICH IS ABOUT $12.6 MILLION -- BILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN LAST YEAR.
THE NEXT TABLE ILLUSTRATES HOW THIS TRANSLATES INTO OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE GROWTH. SO AS I MENTIONED, THE GROWTH AND THE EXISTING VALUES IS 6.7%; HOWEVER, SB 2 CAPS THAT GROWTH AT 3.5%. SO OUR EXISTING VALUE IS ABOUT 3.5% OF THAT REVENUE GROWTH. NEW IMPROVEMENTS IS ABOUT 1.6%.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE USING A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT RATE AND OTHER CHANGES, AND THAT GENERATES ABOUT 1% GROWTH. SO OVERALL, BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, OUR TOTAL REVENUE GROWTH AND PROPERTY TAX IS ABOUT 6.1% OVER LAST YEAR.
SO BASED ON THE OVERALL TAXABLE VALUE I PRESENTED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, AND USING A PORTION OF THE UNUSED PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREMENT, WE
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ANTICIPATE THE TOTAL TAX RATE TO STAY THE SAME, STAY LEVEL AT OUR CURRENT TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, FOR THE OPERATING -- MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING RATE OF .33, AND OUR DEBT SERVICE RATE OF .2115.SO OVERALL, WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE WILL CHANGE. SO THE NEXT SLIDE I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH OUR UPDATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUES AND OUR ASSUMPTIONS.
SO DURING THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION, IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE VALUE OF THE UNUSED PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREMENT WAS ABOUT $5.5 MILLION; HOWEVER, BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM BCAD, COUPLED WITH THE GOAL OF MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, THE VALUE OF USING A PORTION OF THE INCREMENT TO KEEP THAT PROPERTY TAX LEVEL -- OR THE SAME IS $2.7 MILLION. SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE $2.7 MILLION AND WHAT WE -- LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH THE TABLE BELOW.
SO THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS, BASED ON USING A PORTION OF THAT INCREMENT, THIS TABLE SHOWS YOU THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND FISCAL YEAR 2026.
SO AS COMPARED TO OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, WE DO ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 2.5 MILLION IN 2025, AND FOR 2026, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $2.7 MILLION FOR A TOTAL ADDITIONAL REVENUE OVER THE TWO YEARS OF
5.2 MILLION. >> WALSH: SO LET ME -- LET ME JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPHASIS AS WELL. SO THIS WAS, AS JUSTINA TALKED ABOUT, AT THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL INCREMENT THAT'S ALLOWED UNDER SB. 2 TO BE U UTILIZED.
AND UNDER THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION THAT WE HAD AT THE GOAL-SETTING TIME FRAME , WHICH WE'VE GOT BETTER INFORMATION NOW FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, I THINK IT WAS COUNCILMAN COURAGE ASKED THE QUESTION, IF WE USE IT, WILL THE TAX RATE GO UP. AND I THINK THE ANSWER WAS IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TAX RATE. SO IN THE PRESENTATION FOR THE TRIAL BUDGET, WE ARE NOT ASSUMING THE ENTIRE $5.5 MILLION FOR THE INCREMENT BECAUSE IF WE DO INCLUDE IT, THEN OUR TAX RATE FOR 2025 WILL BE HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW. AND THAT'S A POLICY CONVERSATION. THE COUNCIL'S TALKED ABOUT THAT, HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT, BUT THAT IS A POLICY ISSUE THAT THROUGH TODAY'S CONVERSATION WE'D APPRECIATE SOME FEEDBACK ON, BECAUSE AS VALUES -- AS THE OVERALL VALUES GET SETTLED, ONCE THAT GETS SET IN TERMS OF THE RATE, THAT WILL DICTATE HOW MUCH OF THAT UNUSED INCREMENT WE CAN USE. THE STATE ALLOWED PUBLIC ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT. IT HAS BEEN A CLEAR CONSISTENT POLICY OF THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF WHAT IT DOES TO THE OVERALL RATE, SO JUST WANTED TO ADD ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS THERE.
>> TATE: SO WITH THE OTHER -- AS YOU COMPARE THE TRIAL BUDGET TO THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS THE ONLY REVENUE THAT WE HAVE CHANGED. THE REMAINING REVENUE ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST THAT WE PRESENTED IN APRIL. SO I'LL MOVE ON TO THE EXPENDITURE -- EXPENDITURES AND EXPENSES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE TRIAL BUDGET. THE FIRST COUPLE SLIDES, THESE ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SHARED WITH YOU IN THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
SO THIS SLIDE REFLECTS THE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COST FOR THE 2022 BOND PROJECTS AS THEY COME ONLINE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, AND THIS IS FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PARK DEVELOPMENT FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED THROUGH THE 2022 BOND, AND ALSO FOR OPERATIONS OF THE NEW LEARN AT SAPL ADULT LEARNING CENTER AT LAS PALMAS.
FOR 2026, THIS INCLUDES A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $5.4 MILLION FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PARKS AND LINEAR CREEKWAY DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS FACILITIES THAT ARE COMING ONLINE IN 2026 AND 2027 TO INCLUDE THE D1 MULTIGENERATIONAL CENTER, THE ELLA AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER, ANIMAL CARE CENTERS VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND -- AUDIO] -- LIBRARY EXPANSION. THE NEXT SLIDE OR THE OTHER MANDATES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST AND ARE INCLUDED IN OUR TRIAL BUDGET, SO THIS INCLUDES THE POLICE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
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CONTRACT AT 4%. AND THE TOTAL -- TOTAL AMOUNT FOR 2025 IS 12.9 MILLION. AND FOR 2026, THE 27 MILLION CUMULATIVE AMOUNT. THE SECOND IS OUR 2023 COPS GRANT.THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED AND WERE ABLE TO ADD 50 OFFICERS IN 2025 -- I'M SORRY, IN 2024. AND THIS AMOUNT IS THE MATCH THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THAT GRANT. THE NEXT IS OUR STATE LENL SLAYTIVE CONTRACTS TO ASSIST WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WILL OCCUR IN 2025. AND THEN HIGH-VOLUME PET PARTNERS TO INCREASE THE PER ANIMAL RESCUE RATE. THIS NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE EXPENSES THAT CONTINUE THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN 2024.
AND THEN -- WHICH ARE PART OF THE 2025 PLAN. SO THESE ITEMS WERE INCLUDED IN OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST WITH ONE THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED.
SO THE TRIAL BUDGET INCLUDES THE UPDATED CITY'S PROPOSAL FOR THE FIRE CONTRACT. SO YOU CAN SEE, THE FIRST ITEM THERE IS WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST. AND THE SECOND ITEM IS THE INCREMENTAL AMOUNT BASED ON THE CITY'S UPDATED PROPOSAL.
CIVILIAN COMPENSATION IS INCLUDED IN THE TRIAL BUDGET, AS WELL AS CONTINUING THE PLAN IMPLEMENTED IN 2024 TO ADD 360 OFFICERS OVER FIVE YEARS. THE TRIAL BUDGET INCLUDES YEAR 2 AND 3 OF THAT PLAN, AND WILL ADD A TOTAL OF 130 OFFICERS OVER THE TWO YEARS.
SO WE'LL BE ADDING -- AS PART OF THE TRIAL BUDGET, WE WOULD ADD 65 OFFICERS EACH YEAR. THE TRIAL BUDGET INCLUDES THE SECOND YEAR IMPLEMENTATION OF ANIMAL CARE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THIS IS FOCUSING ON INCREASED RESPONSE TO CRITICAL CALLS, INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS, ENHANCING OUR FOSTER PROGRAM AS WELL AS OUR TRANSPORT PROGRAM.
AND FINALLY, CONSISTENT WITH THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, THE TRIAL BUDGET INCLUDES $1.3 MILLION TO ENHANCE SERVICES TO ADDRESS MEDICAL CALLS. BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS HEARD DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 GOAL-SETTING SESSION, THE TABLE ON THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED SINCE THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST WAS PRESENTED. A TOTAL OF $8 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS HAS BEEN ADDED, AND THIS FOCUSES ON SMALL BUSINESS, INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCLUDE THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS MOBILITY PROGRAM, OUR SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND FINALLY ENHANCING SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES. SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, WE ARE ADDING $4 MILLION IN 2025 AND CONTINUING THAT INTO 2026.
SO AS YOU COMBINE THESE REVENUE AND EXPENSE ASSUMPTIONS, THE TRIAL BUDGET HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. AND WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS IS HOW THE TRIAL BUDGET HAS CHANGED FROM OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
THE TRIAL BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED, INCLUDES IMPLEMENTING A PORTION OF THE UNUSED PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT REVENUE, WHICH GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $5.2 MILLION OVER THE TWO YEARS. FOR EXPENSES, WE'VE ADDED A TOTAL OF $15.8 MILLION OVER THE TWO YEARS, WHICH INCLUDES $8 MILLION IN NEW IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS THE INCREMENTAL INCREASE AS PART OF THE CITY'S UPDATED -- OR MOST CURRENT FIRE CBA PROPOSAL.
SO ESSENTIALLY THE TRIAL BUDGET HAS ADDED A NET EXPENSE OF $10.6 MILLION. SO BASED ON THE TRIAL BUDGET, OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE NET EXPENSES THAT WE'VE ADDED, WE WILL NEED TO DO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING, EITHER REDUCE SPENDING, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NEW IMPROVEMENTS OR INCREASE REVENUES.
>> WALSH: LET ME EMPHASIZE TWO POINTS THERE.
ONE, DURING THE FORECAST, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT AS WE GET BACK INTO NORMAL TIMES, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CONTROLLING SPENDING IS BACK ON THE TABLE FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION. AND AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PRETTY LARGE COVID CUTS TO BUDGETS, THEN THE REBUILDING OF BUDGETS IN '22 AND '23, THAT $10.6 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS IS KIND OF THE TARGET RIGHT NOW AT A MINIMUM, IN TERMS OF
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THINGS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AS WE DEVELOP THE PROPOSED BUDGET.SOME OF YOU GAVE SOME FEEDBACK AT THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION ABOUT IDEAS, SO ANY OTHER IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE, BUT OBVIOUSLY I THINK THAT THAT IS MANAGEABLE IN TERMS OF CONTROLLING OUR EXPENSES REAL LARGE -- THE GENERAL FUND, $1.6 BILLION, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MANAGE THROUGH THAT. I'M NOT TERRIBLY -- GO BACK ONE SLIDE REAL QUICK. NO, NOT THAT SLIDE. THE ONE WE WERE ON.
I'M NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT'S MANAGEABLE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO GET, PENDING FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL. THE SECOND THING THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT, AND JUSTINA TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT UPON IT, BUT ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT IS STILL OPEN IS THE FIRE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR GOALS HAVE BEEN GENERALLY TO ENSURE THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO BE HIGHLY COMPENSATED AS COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES BOTH IN TERMS OF TAKE-HOME PAY AND TOTAL COMPENSATION. SECONDLY, TO CONTINUE TO VALUE THE SIGNIFICANT WORK THAT THEY DO IN THIS COMMUNITY, BOTH FOR THE CITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO THE RESIDENTS THAT RELY UPON THEM.
THE THIRD GOAL HAS BEEN TO BE AS DILIGENT AND EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF TIMING IN ORDER TO REACH CONCLUSION AND TO BE VERY DIRECT AND INTENTIONAL IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. FOURTHLY, TO HAVE A COMPENSATION -- HAVE A CONTRACT WITH COMPENSATION TERMS THAT IS ULTIMATELY AFFORDABLE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE DO. SO WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE TRIAL BUDGET, AS JUSTINA LAID OUT, THE LATEST FIGURES THAT ENSURE WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF MAYBE WHAT YOU'VE READ IN THE PAPER OR IN THE MEDIA OR IN THE REPORTS FROM ANDY, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 21.68% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD AND IN PREMIUM PAYS OVER FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S ABOUT $157 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THE CURRENT FIRE PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS HERE AS OF LATE, IS -- BOARD INCREASES AND SOME PREMIUM PAY INCREASES. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ADDITION OF A FOURTH SHIFT, WHICH INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL 404 FIREFIGHTERS WITHIN THAT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. THAT FIVE-YEAR COST IS ABOUT $520 MILLION. SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US RIGHT NOW, AS WE'RE PLANNING FOR OUR PROPOSED BUDGET IS ABOUT $363 MILLION.
AND SO WHILE -- AS WAS REPORTED TO YOU ALL ON FRIDAY BY ANDY AND I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF YOU, WE DID REQUEST THAT WE GO THROUGH MEDIATION.
AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH -- WITH THE ASSOCIATION ON WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IS. BUT A $363 MILLION DIFFERENCE WHERE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW IS A LARGE GAP. AND IT'S A LARGE GAP THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ACCOMMODATED BY EITHER PERMANENT REDUCTIONS OR NOT ADDING NEW SPENDING, LIKE POLICE OFFICERS OR ACS OR THE OTHER ITEMS THAT JUSTINA INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION. WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO CUT APPROXIMATELY $50 MILLION IN '25 AND $50 MILLION IN '26.
FOR CONTEXTUAL PURPOSES, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SLIDE, WE SPEND ABOUT 72, 73% OF OUR BUDGET ON POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS.
THOSE SERVICES, BECAUSE -- THOSE THREE -- OR THOSE FOUR ARE SO MUCH OF OUR BUDGET, WOULD SEE SOME ADJUSTMENT, BECAUSE $50 MILLION IS -- IS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT I'LL PUT IT IN ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR YOU, 91% OF WHAT WE SPEND IN THE GENERAL FUND IS ON EMPLOYEES, STUFF THAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO DO THEIR JOB, LIKE VEHICLES OR COMPUTERS OR BUILDINGS OR TOOLS, AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE VERY DILIGENT AND VERY DIRECT AND INTENTIONAL. YOU KNOW, MY GOAL, FRANKLY, AS CITY MANAGER, IS TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN SETTLE ON THAT IS OF BENEFIT TO
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BOTH SIDES AND IS ULTIMATELY AFFORDABLE. AND THAT IS AN OPEN ISSUE AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, BUT I WANTED THE COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW IN THE TRIAL BUDGET, AND AS IT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, WE'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE MONEY IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO FUND ANY COMMITMENTS WE MAY GET TO. AND AS I MENTIONED, OBVIOUSLY OUR EFFORTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE INTENTIONAL AND WE'LL AWAIT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE. HOPEFULLY WE'RE IN MEDIATION AND GIVES US ANOTHER ARENA TO CONTINUE TO HASH OUT A FINAL AGREEMENT.>> TATE: THANK YOU. SORRY. CAN YOU CHANGE THE SLIDE. SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR GENERAL FUND TRIAL BUDGET. SO I'LL MOVE ON TO OUR SOLID WASTE TRIAL BUDGET. SO SOLID WASTE FUND IS ROUGHLY $149 MILLION FUND THAT IS SUPPORTED BY OUR SOLID WASTE AS WELL AS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FEE AND PROVIDES FOR BOTH CURBSIDE SERVICES AS WELL AS CITYWIDE SERVICES.
CURBSIDE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 375,000 RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. AND OUR CITYWIDE SERVICES INCLUDE ITEMS SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMPING, BULKY DROPOFF SITES, HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES AS WELL AS BRUSH GRINDING. ON APRIL 17TH, THE SOLID WASTE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL. AT THAT TIME INCLUDED -- THE FORECAST DID NOT INCLUDE ANY RATE INCREASE; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTED THAT A RATE INCREASE WOULD BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS INCREASING COSTS IN LABOR, EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS OUR DISPOSAL FEES.
SO THE TRIAL BUDGET DOES BUILD UPON THAT FIVE-YEAR FORECAST AND INCLUDES A RATE INCREASE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE RISING COSTS.
AND BASED ON CITY COUNCIL FEEDBACK DURING THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION, THE TRIAL BUDGET INCLUDES A NEW ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW.
SO FOR THE ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW, THE TRIAL BUDGET ADDS ABOUT $800,000 IN 2025. THIS INCLUDES FUNDING FOR FIVE POSITIONS AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT. AND THIS CREW WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL DUMPING CLEANUPS FROM 11,000 PER YEAR TO 13,000 ANNUALLY.
SO AS MENTIONED AS PART OF THE TRIAL BUDGET, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A RATE INCREASE FOR THE MEDIUM CART AS WELL AS THE LARGE CART.
AND THIS RATE INCREASE IS TO ADDRESS THE RISING LABOR, DISPOSAL AND EQUIPMENT COST. SO FOR CONTEXT, IF WE DID NOT INCLUDE A RATE INCREASE IN F FISCAL YEAR 2025 WITH THE ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW, OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD DROP TO ABOUT $467,000. SO THE TRIAL BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A FEE INCREASE FOR 2025; HOWEVER, THERE'S NO FEE INCREASE INCLUDED FOR 2026. SO THAT CONCLUDES THE UPDATE ON THE TRIAL BUDGET. I WANTED TO JUST REMIND THE NEXT STEPS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET PROCESS. SO OUR STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY WILL BEGIN ON FRIDAY. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANTS TO BEGIN ADMINISTERING THAT SURVEY.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR SA SPEAK UP WILL BEGIN AS WELL.
THOSE SURVEYS OVER THE NEXT MONTH, THE SURVEY RESULTS WILL BE COLLECTED AND PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 20TH. BASED ON THAT -- BASED ON THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION, AS WELL AS INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, STAFF WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET IN JULY. AND THIS -- THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER ON AUGUST 15TH. ONCE THE BUDGET IS PROPOSED, WE WILL HOLD BUDGET WORK SESSIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENT 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET, AS WELL AS WE WILL HOST BUDGET TOWN HALLS TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET. AND FINALLY, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.
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THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANYQUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, JUSTINA. LET'S GET RIGHT INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUSTINA.
AND ERIK, CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS, 50 MILLION IN 2025 OR...
>> WALSH: SO THERE'S A $363 MILLION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES
RIGHT NOW. >> GARCIA: OKAY. >> WALSH: IF WE WERE GOING TO FUND THE FIRE UNION' S PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD NEED TO CUT APPROXIMATELY $50 MILLION IN FY '25 AND $50 MILLION
IN FY '26. >> GARCIA: OKAY. GOT IT.
SORRY, I MISSED THAT. SORRY. THANK YOU.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET THAT. THANK YOU, JUSTINA, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THAT. I DO THINK THAT THE BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT YOU ALL LISTED ON SLIDE 7 WERE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT -- WANTED SOME DIRECTION ON. THE UNUSED PROPERTY TAX INCREMENT THAT WE IDENTIFY, SO IT'S SIMPLY ADDED TO THE GENERAL FUND, CORRECT? OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE.
SO IF WE SIMPLY ABSORB IT, RIGHT, INTO THE GENERAL FUND, CAN WE EXPLORE ADDING THAT TO THE RESERVE, SINCE STAFF HAD PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED THAT, OR IS THAT A CONSIDERATION OR YOU WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT?
>> WALSH: WELL, IT'S A CONSIDERATION. IT WOULD TAKE THAT -- JUSTINA, PULL UP THE LAST SLIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND, PLEASE.
THAT WOULD JUST MEAN THAT THAT -- THAT $10.6 MILLION DEFICIT WOULD GROW BY PROBABLY $5 MILLION, A LITTLE LESS THAN $5 MILLION.
>> GARCIA: OKAY. ON SLIDE 13 -- >> WALSH: SEE, THE -- WHAT JUSTINA HAS HERE, IS SHE'S COUNTING THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THERE IN THE GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS. AND SO IF THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO MOVE THAT 5.2 INTO INCREASING RESERVES, THEN WE'D STILL HAVE TO
SOLVE FOR. >> GARCIA: EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> WALSH: -- EVERYTHING ELSE, YES, MA'AM. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
THANK YOU. ON SLIDE 13, IT SAYS THAT WE'RE ONLY ALLOCATING $1 MILLION FOR THE BOND PROJECTS. AND SO IS IT 13 -- I THINK IT'S 13? AND SO I JUST WANTED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
ARE THOSE THE ONLY TWO THAT WE'RE EXPECTING 2025, OR 1.5 MILLION, I
GUESS, WITH THE LAS PALMAS BRANCH? >> TATE: CORRECT.
THAT INCLUDES THE PARKS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE IN 2025.
THAT INCLUDES NINE POSITIONS TO ADDRESS NEW AMENITIES, PARKS DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN ONE POSITION TO OPERATE THE LEARN CENTER AT LAS
PALMAS. >> GARCIA: OKAY. AND THEN ON SLIDE 15, WE'RE PROPOSING $3.9 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 FOR YEAR 2 OF THE ACS STRATEGIC PLAN. AND SO I SAW THAT YOU HAD 47 POSITIONS FOR CANVASSING, FOR INSTANCE, I APPRECIATE THAT, FOR COMMUNITY OFFICERS, SUPERVISOR, COURT OFFICER. I WANT TO JUST GIVE THANKS TO COUNCILMAN ALDARETE GAVITO. I'M SURE WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT. I DIDN'T SIGN THAT CCR, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE, BUT IT WILL COME FORWARD AND WE'LL WORK ON IT. I LOVE THE LIVE RELEASE COORDINATORS, I APPRECIATE IT. BUT MY MAIRNL MAJOR QUESTION IS HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE WE IN YEAR 1 WITH THE OFFICERS THAT I SAID WE WERE GOING TO HIRE. I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THINK THERE WAS LIKE 45 STAFF POSITIONS. HOW MANY HAVE WE HIRED? AT THE MIDPOINT, I DON'T THINK WE HAD HIRED A WHOLE LOT OF THEM.
>> WE -- IF YOU REMEMBER AT THE END OF LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE KIND OF FRONT LOADED A LARGE CLASS. WE WERE ABLE TO GRADUATE 15 OUT OF THAT.
WE HAVE LOST SOME OF THEM TO ATTRITION. OUR SECOND CLASS IS PREPARING TO GRADUATE LATER THIS MONTH ON THE 18TH.
THEY WILL BE OUT IN THE FIELD. THAT STARTED AS A CLASS OF 15, AND HAS ATTRITTED DOWN TO ABOUT EIGHT. WE HAVE OUR NEXT CLASS THAT'S GOING TO START THE WEEK AFTER THEY GRADUATE, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 20 OFFICERS IN THAT. THEY'RE DOING INTERVIEWS FOR THAT, SO IT WILL BE THE LARGEST CLASS WE'VE EVER HAD.
WE'VE HAD SOME ATTRITION, SOME BACKFILL. AND MANY OF THOSE POSITIONS WHERE WE HAD DANGEROUS DOG INVESTIGATORS AND THINGS. THOSE FOLKS ACTUALLY CAME FROM IN HOUSE, SO THEY PROMOTED UP INTO THOSE POSITIONS, SO WE HAYED TO BACKFILL THOSE AS WELL.
WE HAVE SEEN A 10% INCREASE THUS FAR IN OUR CRITICAL CALL RATE.
IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR IT WAS 44%. 64% -- OR 54% IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, AND WE ANTICIPATE GETTING TO 64 BY THE END OF THE
[00:35:01]
YEAR -- BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. >> GARCIA: OKAY.
SO -- AND I GET IT, ATTRITION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MARKET THE JOBS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, EARLIER, I WAS ON AN INTERVIEW WITH UNIVISION TALKING ABOUT THIS AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNCIL CCR. I MANYEN SH UNKED THAT, THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A RECRUITMENT PROBLEM OR -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TO RECRUIT. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW -- AND IT CAN BE OFFLINE, HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE RECRUITING, HOW WE'RE PITCHING BENEFITS, ET CETERA, RIGHT, AND SO THAT WOULD BE AN OFFLINE
CONVERSATION. >> OKAY. >> GARCIA: BUT I APPRECIATE IT. AND THANK YOU, RITA SERVES AS THE CHAIR, AND SHE'S MY APPOINTEE, AND I KNOW YOU DO A GREAT JOB, SO THANK YOU.
ONE MORE QUESTION ON THAT. THE EXTRA SUPPORT, I HAVE NO DOUBT WE NEED IT, BUT THE $3.9 MILLION IS THAT ENOUGH TO ALSO COVER PROGRAMMING? AND THE REASON THAT I'M ASKING THIS IS BECAUSE I HAD A SPAY/NEUTER -- REALLY SUCCESSFUL ONE, I THINK WE HAD LIKE 600 WITH SNIPS CATS AND DOGS THAT WERE SPAYED AND NEUTERED.
I'M WORKING ON A CITYWIDE ONE AND TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING, WOULD THERE BE PROGRAM
DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. >> WALSH: WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH THE DETAIL. THE 3.9 IS ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, BUT IF THERE ARE ASPECTS OF -- LIKE YOU JUST STATED, IF THOSE ARE HIGHER PRIORITIES, AS WE GO THROUGH THE DETAIL OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE OR INCLUDE IN THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION, IF THOSE ASPECTS ARE IMPORTANT, THEN PLEASE LET US KNOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THINGS CHANGE, RIGHT? AND WE HAD AN ACS STRATEGIC PLAN LAST YEAR, IT WAS -- IT LAID OUT YEAR 1, 2, 3. WE MAY NEED TO MOVE STUFF BACK AND FORTH.
AND IF SOME OF THOSE AREAS ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO THE COUNCIL, THEN, YOU KNOW, LET ME KNOW BECAUSE WE'LL WANT TO ACCOMMODATE IT.
THE IDEA HERE IS THAT WE'RE STAYING TRUE TO THE COUNCIL'S DIRECTION LAST YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING -- WE NEED SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN ACS AND WE'RE WILLING TO INVEST IN IT. AND SO THERE IS FLEXIBILITY.
>> GARCIA: GOOD, SO WE COULD ALLOCATE SOME OF THAT MONEY THAT WASN'T USED FOR THE HIRING THEN, LIKE FOR A CITYWIDE EVENT, LIKE FOR A SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM POSSIBLY? MAYBE I JUST GOT TOO
EXCITED BECAUSE -- >> WALSH: BUT YOU'RE MAKING THE ASSUMPTION
THAT THEY'RE NOT SPENDING MONEY EVERYWHERE ELSE. >> GARCIA: THAT'S TRUE.
>> WALSH: WE GO BACK TO THE FORECAST. I THINK THAT THE POSITIONS THAT WE ADDED WERE NOT ALL IN OCTOBER 1.
>> GARCIA: GOT IT. >> WALSH: BUT FOR THE ATTRITION THAT HAPPENS NATURALLY, I MEAN, I THINK PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP DOING IS WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, IN ADVANCE OF THE COUNCIL APPROVING THE BUDGET, I AUTHORIZED THEM TO START THE TRAINING, KNOWING THAT IT WAS A HIGH ENOUGH PRIORITY OF THE COUNCIL THAT IT WAS LIKELY GOING TO PASS.
WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW -- AND COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO'S CCR, GO OF T TWO OF THE THREE ARE REALLY JUST CHANGING POLICIES AND RULES, AND -- BUT ARE ALL DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN START GETTING OFF THE GROUND, BECAUSE MY SENSE IS IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A PRIORITY.
>> GARCIA: SURE. AND I GET IT. I'M LOOKING AT IT IN TERMS OF UCH STREAM AND DOWNSTREAM. LIKE WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH. ON THE NAMF, I HOPE THAT THE CIP AS WELL IS REVISITED OR WE CAN TAKE A DEEPER DIVE, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO GET SOME MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND HOW WE CAN EXPAND IT FROM THE -- OUR D4 FUNDS ARE ALREADY SPENT. AND -- OR ALLOCATED, AND THE DEMAND IS STILL REALLY, REALLY HIGH. I THINK I TOLD Y'ALL, 1/3 OF MY RESIDENTS ARE 55 PLUS, SO THEY COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT.
AND THEN ON SOLID WASTE, I -- I KNOW THAT FEE INCREASES ARE NEVER POPULAR, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND HOW WE NEED TO EXPAND, ESPECIALLY THE SERVICES WITH RIGHT OF WAY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE.
LAST NIGHT, I HAD A CALL AT 9:38 P.M. FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO GOT RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. HE'S ALWAYS LIKE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS DUMPING. SO HE HAD LITERALLY BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL A FEW DAYS AND THAT'S THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS CALL THE COUNCIL, THERE'S DUMPING. I GOT EXCITED WHEN THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL TEAM THAT'S BUDGETED FOR, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE DUMPING -- I KNOW IN MY AREA. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA EF RT TOS THERE.
AND I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. BUT I THINK THAT'S -- THOSE ARE THE ONLY QUESTIONS FOR NOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEN ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMAN CABELLO HAVRDA?
>> HAVRDA: THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, JUSTINA. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TRIAL BUDGET.
WE'RE REALLY KIND OF IN THE BROAD STROKES PHASES.
I DO WANT TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON AN ITEM. AS YOU NOTED, JUSTINA, COUNCIL PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU ALSO MENTIONED PUBLIC SAFETY IS ABOUT 60.5% OF THE BUDGET. WILL YOU DEFINE PUBLIC
[00:40:04]
SAFETY? IS IT SAPD AND SAFD? THERE YOU ARE.OR IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? I'M JUST MAKING SURE.
>> TATE: IT ALSO INCLUDES PARKS POLICE. SAPD, PARKS POLICE AND
FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> HAVRDA: BUT NOT AIRPORT POLICE?
>> TATE: NO, THAT'S IN THE AIRPORT FUND. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU.
SLIDE 15 AND 17 MENTION THE FIRE CONTRACT ITEM. ON 15, ITEM 1A INCORPORATES THE CURRENT -- I'M SORRY, MAYBE ONE OF THE FIRST CITY PROPOSALS, RIGHT, BECAUSE AS FAR AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, THE
UPDATED FIGURES ARE ON SLIDE 17; IS THAT CORRECT? >> VILLAGOMEZ: SO COUNCILWOMAN, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE FIRE PROPOSAL, KEVIN. SO WHAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE, COUNCILWOMAN, IN ITEM NUMBER 1, THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT WE GAVE TO THE UNION ON MARCH 29TH. AND THEN WE CAME BACK WITH TWO INCREMENTS TO THAT PROPOSAL, SO WHAT YOU SEE REFLECTED ON THE $7.8 MILLION, THAT IS THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR '25 AND '26. SO FROM MARCH 29, THE CITY INCREASE THEIR PROPOSAL OVER FIVE YEARS BY $24 MILLION AND FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OUR TRIAL BUDGET OF THE 24 MILLION, 7.8 MILLION IS REFLECTED ON THOSE TWO YEARS. SO THAT'S WHAT THAT
MEANS. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> VILLAGOMEZ: SO BOTH THE 22.9 AND THE 7.8 THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TRIAL BUDGET FOR THE FIRE
CONTRACT. >> HAVRDA: SO THEN WHAT'S SLIDE 17?
YOU MENTIONED -- >> VILLAGOMEZ: SURE. SO WHAT THIS TABLE IS DOING IS SHOWING YOU THE INCREASES OR THE CHANGES FROM THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST. SO WHEN WE DID THE FORECAST IN APRIL 18, WE HAD ALREADY LAID OUT OUR PROPOSAL ON MARCH 29TH. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE HERE IS THAT WE INCREASED THAT PROPOSAL, THE 24 MILLION THAT I MENTIONED, OVER FIVE YEARS. AND FOR PURPOSES OF THE TRIAL BUDGET IT'S AN ADDITIONAL $7.8 MILLION FROM THE FORECAST.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. SO THESE ARE CITY -- THE CITY'S PROPOSALS?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: YES, MA'AM. >> HAVRDA: SO DID Y'ALL DO THE CALCULATIONS ON THE APRIL 19TH THREE-YEAR FIRE PROPOSAL, HOW THAT
WOULD IMPACT? >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES, AND THAT IS WHAT THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED. IF WE WERE TO FUND THE FIRE PROPOSAL, THE FIRE UNION PROPOSAL, WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT THE BUDGET $50 MILLION IN 2025 AND
ANOTHER 50 MILLION IN '26. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
I'M LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS. YOU KNOW, THIS -- HOW THIS CONTRACT CAN AFFECT THE BUDGET. SO CAN YOU TELL ME WITH THE THREE-YEAR PROPOSAL BROUGHT UP BY FIRE ON THE 19TH, WOULD THAT KEEP -- THAT WILL KEEP THE BUDGET UNDER 66%, RIGHT, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET
UNDER 66%, CORRECT? >> VILLAGOMEZ: SO WE JUST DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT DOLLARS TO AFFORD THAT PROPOSAL, COUNCILWOMAN, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE 66% OR PUBLIC SAFETY PERCENTAGE OF THE GENERAL FUND IS A LITTLE BIT BELOW 62%. SO BY ADDING THE PROPOSAL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE COSTS. YOU ARE CORRECT, IT WILL BE BELOW THE 66%, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH CASH TO PAY FOR THE
PROCESS PO L. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING, ERIK? >> WALSH: I DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOUR TIME.
I WAS GOING -- FOR CONTEXT, IF YOU GO TO SLIDE 4, SO THE PREMISE THAT WE ARE UNDERNEATH THE -- OUR FINANCIAL POLICY, BUT THE BALANCE BETWEEN 60.5 AND 66% IN THE BUDGET IS -- THERE'S NO INCREMENT ON THAT PIE CHART THAT SAYS AVAILABLE FOR STUFF. IT'S ALLOCATED TO PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, AND THEN THE LITANY OF DEPARTMENTS OFF TO THE SIDE.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> WALSH: OKAY.
>> HAVRDA: I'M MAKING IT CLEAR THAT WE'RE -- WE WOULD STILL REMAIN UNDER 66% WITH THE APRIL 19TH PROPOSAL. NOT THEIR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, BUT... -- NEED TO GET AN ACCURATE COST FROM THE CITY ON THIS PROPOSAL.
AND I -- I JUST WANT TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY HOW -- WHAT THE COST IS FOR THE BASE WAGE. NOT THE BENEFITS, NOT ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
AND BREAK IT APART. I'D LIKE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN. I'M INCREASED IN INCREASING WAGES AS I'VE SAID BEFORE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS, GROCERY MONEY, MONEY THEY CAN GO TO THE STORE AND BUY FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY.
THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OBVIOUSLY. MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.
I THINK THAT MONEY IS GETTING CONVOLUTED WITH ALL THE OTHER BENEFITS
[00:45:01]
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT BREAKDOWN. I KNOW WE CAN'T DISCUSS THIS PUBLICLY, REQUEST AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR -- SEE THE BREAKDOWN COMPARED TO THE CITY'S PROPOSAL AND REALLY BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE WEEDS ABOUT IT. BECAUSE THAT'S -- WE'RE PROVIDING DIRECTION AND I DON'T FEEL AS INFORMED AS I THINK I COULD BE, WHEN I CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBERS. I HEAR YOU SAYING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH.I DON'T -- I JUST I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. I FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? BUT NO. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MARIA. I'M GOING TO MOVE OVER TO THE SOLID WASTE BUDGET.
I DO LIKE THE INCREASE IN THE ILLEGAL DUMP CLEANUPS.
THAT'S GOING TO BRING, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE AN INCREASE IN SPENDING.
IS ANY PART OF THAT GOING TO GO TO ILLEGAL DUMP PREVENTION?
NOT JUST THE CLEANUPS? >> TATE: THE AMOUNT THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TRIAL BUDGET IS JUST FOR THAT CREW. IT'S THE PERSONNEL COST, THE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER ITEMS NEEDED TO DO THAT ILLEGAL DUMPING.
>> WALSH: WHAT I WAS GOING TO ADD, THAT WAS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL AT THE GOAL-SETTING, WAS NOT JUST THE PEOPLE -- THE EMPLOYEES AND THE STUFF TO PICK UP DUMPING, BUT MORE A CAMPAIGN.
AND WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT DURING THE BUDGET, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S
WHAT EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
GOOD. THANK YOU. AND THEN ON THE PROCESS CALENDAR WITH THE COMMUNITY INPUT, THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL, JUSTINA. AND I APPRECIATE YOU'RE GOING TO START KIND OF A FORMAL PROCESS HERE PRETTY SOON. WE'RE GETTING THAT INPUT ALREADY, SO HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THAT WITH YOU? AND, OF COURSE, IF YOU CAN GET ME THE CALENDAR -- THERE YOU ARE, I'M SORRY. I KEEP LOOKING OUT OVER HERE, BUT THE CALENDAR SO I CAN MAKE SURE TO PUSH THESE OUT AS WELL, THE SURVEYS.
DO YOU HAPPEN TO SEND THE SURVEY OUT WITH THE CITY'S TEXTING PROGRAM AS
WELL? >> I BELIEVE THEY DO, BUT...
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> HELLO [INDISCERNIBLE] DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGE. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE LAUNCHING THE SA SPEAK UP PORTAL ON FRIDAY. WE WILL BE SENDING OUT TEXT MESSAGES, E-MAILS AND ALSO PROVIDING EACH OF YOU WITH PAPER COMMENT CARDS.
>> HAVRDA: GREAT. >> SO WE'LL BE SENDING THOSE TO YOUR OFFICES ON
FRIDAY. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU.
AND JUST KIND OF KEEPING US INFORMED OF THE PROCESS SO WE CAN PUSH IT OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND TALK ABOUT IT AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND
ALL OF THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. YES, MA'AM.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK ON THIS. IT'S TOUGH, I KNOW, AND SO APPRECIATE YOU DOING IT. NO RAISING OF THE PROPERTY TAX, OF COURSE, VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. GETTING MORE POLICE IN THE BUDGET, MONEY FOR POLICE IN THE BUDGET, I'M THRILLED ABOUT THAT. THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT THAT WE DID A CCR ON LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING THAT, MAKING THAT A PERMANENT GRANT TO HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE CONTINUING TO FUND THE NAMPF PROGRAM AT LAST YEAR'S LEVEL WHICH WAS A BIG INCREASE.
I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. IN TERMS OF FIRE, I APPRECIATE ERIK BRINGING IT UP TODAY, AND I GUESS -- I MEAN, IS TODAY GOING TO BE -- GOING TO BE OUR JUST OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER EXEC SESSION ON THIS?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DON'T HAVE AN EXEC SESSION SCHEDULED TODAY.
>> WHYTE: I MEAN, I HEARD A REQUEST A MINUTE AGO TO HAVE ANOTHER EXEC ON
THIS. ARE WE GOING TO? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN EXEC SESSION. WE'RE DOING THE UPDATES -- OR ANDY AND ERIK ARE DOING THE UPDATES ONE ON ONE.
THAT'S HOW THEY'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING THE UPDATES, ALONG WITH
ANDY'S MEMO. >> WHYTE: OKAY. SO IF THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR GROUP DISCUSSION ON THIS, THEN I'M GLAD THAT IT WAS BROUGHT UP.
I AM STRONGLY -- STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING OUR BASE WAGE PAY FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. I THINK THAT THEY DESERVE IT. IT'S THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT AROUND, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE NICKEL AND DIMING THEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE, FRANKLY, THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T -- I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHY THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH PUSH AND PULL ON THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS RATHER CLEAR TO ME THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.
IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO MAKE BUDGET CUTS IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE AN INCREASE IN THE WAGES, YEAH, WE NEED TO LOOK REAL HARD AT HOW AND WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY AND WHERE ALL OF OUR DOLLARS
[00:50:04]
GO. I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT SORT OF SINCE I GOT INTO OFFICE, AND OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR TO ME THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO. I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW I WOULDN'T LET THIS CONVERSATION GO BY WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT ZERO-BASED BUDGETING, AND SO I'M GOING TO DO IT RIGHT HERE.WE HAVE -- WE NEED TO DO THIS. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO ZERO. WE NEED TO RELOOK AT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY, HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY, WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING. AND WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO FIND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT WE CAN PUT TO USE AS THE CITIZENS WANT US TO. THE CITIZENS HAVE MADE THEIR PRIORITIES, I THINK, PRETTY CLEAR IN LAST YEAR'S SURVEY. WE NEED TO USE THEIR MONEY BETTER, AND I THINK CERTAINLY PAYING OUR FIREFIGHTERS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS WANT. QUESTION FOR ERIK: WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR THE -- IT WAS DURING A CPS RATE HIKE DISCUSSION, YOU AND I TALKED THAT -- ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, I THINK, IS 90 TO $100 MILLION MORE THIS YEAR; IS THAT RIGHT? OR YOU PROJECTED IT TO BE AT THAT POINT.
SO WE'VE GOT 90 TO 100 MILLION MORE DOLLARS THIS YEAR THAN WE DID LAST IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. SO, YOU KNOW, AT A VERY BASIC LEVEL, WE'VE GOT MORE MONEY. YES, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF TO SPEND MONEY ON. I THINK WE NEED TO LIMIT THE GROWTH OF SOME OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS. I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS, AGAIN, ON WHERE WE SPEND SOME OF OUR MONEY, BUT WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO REITERATE AGAIN, I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER EXEC SESSION ON THE FIRE CONTRACT, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT WE'RE NOT, I'M PUTTING -- SAYING WE NEED TO UP OUR OFFER AND PAY FIREFIGHTERS MORE.
IN TERMS OF SOLID WASTE HERE'S MY ISSUE ON THIS. I MEAN, RAISING -- RAISING FEES AND RATES AGAIN ON THESE MEDIUM TO LARGE TRASH CANS, I MEAN, WE DID IT LAST YEAR, DIDN'T WE? SO TWO YEARS IN A ROW, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE RATES HERE. WE'VE GOT THESE BULKY DROPOFF SITES AND BRUSH SITES, RIGHT? RIGHT.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT -- AND I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS, SO MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS, BUT WE'VE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT OR WE'VE ADDED REGULATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS ON WHAT
CAN BE DROPPED THERE. IS THAT -- IS THAT FAIR? >> WALSH: THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE HAD COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS UTILIZING IT FOR FREE. AND WE STARTED CHARGING FOR THAT.
IT'S FREE FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN TO DROP OFF STUFF THERE, BUT THE COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS, IT WAS A FREE SERVICE, AND THAT WAS THE ADJUSTMENT WE MADE.
>> I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE BRUSH SITE.
THE BRUSH GRINDING. WE DID LIMIT THE COMMERCIAL FROM GOING IN THERE, BECAUSE IT WAS SIMPLY OVERRUNNING THE RESIDENTIAL FOLKS COMING IN, WHICH WE DO -- WE CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE SAME FEE THAT WE'VE
ALWAYS CHARGED AT THE BRUSH GRINDING SITE. >> WHYTE: OKAY.
BUT WAS THERE -- >> [INDISCERNIBLE] ARE AVAILABLE BASICALLY TO
ANYONE. >> WHYTE: DID WE CHANGE SOMEWHERE THE AMOUNT OF STUFF THAT PEOPLE COULD -- PEOPLE COULD DROP AT A GIVEN TIME?
>> NO. I -- I THINK WHAT YOU MIGHT BE REFERENCING IS JUST THE EFFORT THAT WE MAKE TO DETERMINE WHO IS A CONTRACTOR AND WHO IS A RESIDENTIAL. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S PRETTY EASY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SIGN ON THEIR TRUCK, BUT WE RARELY HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THAT AT ALL. I THINK OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE GOTTEN THAT MESSAGE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ISSUES WITH THAT.
>> WHYTE: OKAY. BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AS EASY FOR PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO UTILIZE THESE SITES. AND THAT THEY'RE NOT SAYING, WELL, THERE'S SO MANY RESTRICTIONS AND IT'S TOO TOUGH TO GET IT ALL THE WAY OVER THERE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO THROW THE STUFF ON THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD. >> WE MAY HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH SOME PERSONALITY TYPES THAT WERE MAKING IT DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY MAKING AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT EASY, NOT ONLY FOR THE BULKY SITES, THE BRUSH SITES, AND I JUST WANT TO THROW IN A PLUG THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CURBSIDE COLLECTION OF
[00:55:01]
BRUSH, THAT'S TWICE A YEAR, AND BULKY TWICE A YEAR.SO THAT'S RIGHT UP AT THE CURB. >> WHYTE: OKAY.
AND WHAT'S THE COST TO OPERATE ONE OF THESE -- ONE OF THESE SITES?
>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME THAT. I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BULKY DROPOFF SITE.
I THINK YOU HAVE THEM AS EVERYTHING TOTALED UP? >> WALSH: WHILE SHE'S LOOKING THAT UP, COUNCILMAN, ARE YOU HEARING -- ARE YOU HEARING CONCERN THAT IT'S TOO DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO USE?
>> WHYTE: IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION TODAY BECAUSE JUST IN, I DON'T KNOW, THE LAST SIX WEEKS, I'VE HAD A COUPLE
OF FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. >> WALSH: OKAY.
>> WHYTE: THAT THEY WERE HAVING SOME ISSUES THERE.
THERE WERE SOME RESTRICTIONS, ET CETERA. SO WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT PREPARING FOR TODAY, I THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE COST OF THIS NEW PROGRAM THAT WE WANT TO DO VERSUS POTENTIALLY THE COST OF ADDITIONAL SITES
AND JUST TRYING TO WEIGH THAT ALL OUT. >> WALSH: OKAY.
>> SO TO OPERATE OUR DROPOFF CENTERS T 2024 ADOPTED BUDGET IS ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. .
>> WHYTE: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND SO -- AND THIS IMPROVEMENT HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS NEW TEAM, FIVE POSITIONS AND EQUIPMENT, 800 GRAND FOR THIS YEAR, AND THEN IT DROPS A LITTLE BELOW 500
FOR THE NEXT YEAR. >> TATE: RIGHT, IN 2025, IT WOULDN'T INCLUDE EQUIPMENT. A ONE-TIME PURCHASE, AND THEN THE RECURRING AMOUNT FOR THE PERSONNEL IS ABOUT $500,000 EACH YEAR.
>> WHYTE: OKAY. AND THERE ARE FINES, RIGHT, IF PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT ILLEGALLY DUMPING? OR NO?
>> YES. >> WHYTE: YEAH. THERE ARE?
>> YES. >> WHYTE: BUT I'M ASSUMING THERE'S SORT OF A -- IT'S HARD TO CATCH THEM, RIGHT? YOU DON'T SEE THEM WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT. AND SO HARD TO ACTUALLY PENALIZE SOMEBODY?
>> IT IS DIFFICULT. IT IS A PROGRAM THAT WE WORK WITH SAPD ON TO TRY
TO CATCH THOSE FOLKS. >> WHYTE: OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE
GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SORRY, THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T EAT DURING SESSION.
SORRY. GIVE ME A SECOND. THANK YOU, ERIK, AND TEAM, AND JUSTINA, FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OUR PRIORITIES. IT'S CLEAR Y'ALL HEARD WHAT WE WERE SAYING WERE SAYING SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I DID WANT TO CLARIFY THE PRIORITY OF EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION WAS SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO LGC STAFF. SO I'D HOPE THEY WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED IN PROJECTIONS THAT IT DOESN'T APPLY TO JUST CITY EMPLOYEES.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SPECIFIC TO LGC STAFF. AND YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO DOUBLE-DOWN ON MY BELIEF THAT THERE SHOULD BE MERIT REVIEWS TO PROVIDE MORE POSSIBILITIES FOR ADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WORK THAT OUR TEAMS DO. I KNOW I'M ALWAYS SAYING THIS, MY TEAM IS AMAZING. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE STUFF THAT I DO WITHOUT THEM, SO WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE COMPENSATED. I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE MY COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US DAILY.
THEY COME HOME FROM WORK EACH DAY BEARING THE HEAVY BEDDER OF THE THINGS THEY WITNESS NOT ONLY DO THEY MAKE SACRIFICES TO SERVE US, BUT THEIR FAMILIES DO AS WELL. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA AND COUNCILMAN WHYTE, I GLEE AND HAVE ALSO ASKED FOR AN EXEC SESSION. I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN WHYTE, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR CORE SERVICES, POLICE AND FIRE BEING THE MOST ESSENTIAL. AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN CABELLO HAVRDA, FOR POINTING OUT THAT THE FIREFIGHTER PROPOSAL IS STILL UNDER THE 66%.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN CUT OUR BUDGET TO FOCUS ON OUR CORE SERVICES. AGAIN, THAT'S NOTHING NEW. I THINK SEVERAL OF US HAVE SAID THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN. YOU KNOW, TODAY WE DID ROLL -- MOVING TOPICS TO ACS, WE DID RULE OUT POLICY INITIATIVES.
THANK YOU TO ACS FOR BEING PARTNERS IN THAT. THANK YOU TO CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. A LOT OF THESE ARE POLICY CHANGES. SOME OF IT WILL REQUIRE SOME FUNDING FOR ACS, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE THEY WOULD GO TO HELP CURB THE DOG CRISIS, WITH I IS ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IN OUR CITY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER KOWR? KOARS. >> I THINK YOU DID AND HIGHLIGHTING THEM OVERALL SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF
[01:00:03]
QUESTIONS ON THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WERE ADDED. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS, I NOTICE THAT THEY WERE KEPT THE SAME AMOUNT.IS THE IDEA THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED THIS YEAR? I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING A PERMANENT FUND. CAN
YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT ON THAT? >> WALSH: WELL, GIVEN THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS THIS YEAR FOR THAT AMOUNT AND THE PREVIOUS AMOUNT, I DON'T THINK, COMPLETELY WAS UTILIZED, I THINK WE'LL GET A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS -- OR WHAT THAT DEMAND IS BASED ON THE PROCESS WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO THROUGH.
IT COULD ALSO CHANGE BASED ON -- REMEMBER, WE LOOKED AT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THOSE MAJOR CORRIDORS AT THIS TIME.
IT COULD CHANGE, BUT I THINK THAT'S GETTING INTO THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT.
THE IDEA IS TO GET A CORPUS THERE -- I THINK FOR THE COUNCIL IS TO GET A CORPUS THERE. IF ONE YEAR IT'S 1.3 MILLION, AND THE NEXT
YEAR IT'S 1.5, THEN THAT'S MANAGEABLE. >> KURIAN: OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T SAYING WE WERE ALREADY GLOING TO REPLICATE THAT PROCESS, THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT WORKED AND, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE NEED A BUCKET OF MONEY FOR SIGNS AND CONSTRUCTION --
>> WALSH: ABSOLUTELY. THERE WILL BE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SECOND
ITERATION OF THIS. >> GREAT. THANK YOU.
AND THEN ON THE SOLID WASTE FEES, CAN WE GO TO THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS -- ARE WE CLAIMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER INCREASE AGAIN THIS YEAR,
BECAUSE WE JUST DID ONE LAST YEAR, RIGHT? >> TATE: SO, YES, THE TRIAL BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THE MEDIUM CART AS WELL AS THE LARGE CART. FIFTY-CENTS ON THE MEDIUM
CART AND 75-CENTS ON THE LARGE CART. >> SO THIS IS ARN
ADDITIONAL ONE FOR THE SECOND YEAR. >> TATE: YES, MA'AM.
>> IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO SERVICE A MEDIUM OR LARGE CART?
>> WALSH: WHILE DAVID NEWMAN'S COMING UP, REMEMBER, WE'RE PAYING DISPOSAL FEES. IT IS -- A FULL LARGE CART IS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO DISPOSE OF THAN A FULL SMALL CART. SO THE IDEA -- THE REASON WHY WE KIND OF STAY AWAY FROM THE SMALL IS WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE. AND DOWNSIZE SMALL TO MEDIUM GA GARBAGE AND USE THE RECYCLING TO MAXIMIZE THAT. DID I SAY THAT RIGHT?
>> YES, SIR. >> COULD YOU EXPLAIN ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE, IT CONCERNS ME FOR MAKING AN INCREASE ON EVERY YEAR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO PAY. AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY'RE RENTING, IT GETS TRANSLATED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. AND SO I JUST WONDER HOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST LARGE CART THAT WE -- SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATED AMOUNT, BUT WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND HOW WE
CAN SEE THIS CHANGING OVER TIME. >> WALSH: LET ME ADD THAT -- TWO THINGS, ONE, IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE TALKED ABOUT NEEDING TO MAKE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN '25. IN THE FORECAST, WE'RE PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF CATCHUP IN SOLID WASTE BECAUSE IN 2020, 2021, 2022, WHEN WE NEEDED INCREASES, WE HELD THEM BECAUSE THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL DID NOT WANT TO INCREASE THOSE RATES DURING COVID.
I AGREE, AND WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND WHAT WE'VE MENTIONED IN THE FORECAST, AND WHAT WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO, IS A REGULAR TEMPO THAT IS SCHEDULED, AT LEAST FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT. THAT WAY THE COUNCIL SEES I OVER A FIVE-YEAR TERM. WE'LL NEED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR INCREASED COSTS IN LABOR, DISPOSAL AND EQUIPMENT, AND WHAT YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS SOME SORT OF ITERATION THAT EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS, WE ADJUST TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT INCREASE.
IT'S NOT A BEST PRACTICE, NOR WOULD IT BE DESIRABLE TO CONTINUED TO MAKE INCREMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS EVERY YEAR. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME CERTAINTY IN TERMS OF THAT EXPENSE FROM OUR STANDPOINT, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY TO THE RESIDENTS. >> YEAH, I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND MAYBE GET -- REQUEST FOR A BRIEFING OF LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY THERE. AND THEN THE NEXT THING THAT I HAD IS QUICKLY JUST CLARIFICATION ON THE TYPE OF SPEED SIGNS THAT ARE BEING PURCHASED. IS IT JUST LIKE A BUCKET IN GENERAL OR ARE WE
SAYING WE'RE ORDERING 100 OF THE FLASHING SIGNS? >> WALSH: IT WAS FLASHING
AND THE SPEED -- THE SPEED RADAR SIGNS. >> YEAH.
OKAY. JUSTINA. >> KAUR: HOPEFULLY THAT IS
TIED TO TRAFFIC STUDIES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE. >> WALSH: YES.
>> KAUR: AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS
[01:05:03]
OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, RIGHT? I THINK NO ONE IN THIS ROOM WOULD ARGUE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.WE ALWAYS SAY LOOK AT THE BUDGET WHERE YOUR BUDGET IS AND WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR DOLLARS IS WHAT YOU SHOW YOU VALUE AND RESPECT. IT'S HARD TO READ SOME OF THESE COMMENTS KNOWING THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE BELIEVE IN THEM AND BELIEVE THE WORK THEY DO. I HAVE A LOT OF CLOSE AND DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT WORK IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I KNOW THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TO WORK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WORK WITH THE TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET TO AN AGREEMENT AND SO THEY TRULY DO FEEL VALUED. OUR CITY WOULD NOT RUN WITHOUT THE HARD WORK OF THEM AND THE SACRIFICES THAT THEIR FAMILIES MAKE ON A DAY IN, DAY OUT BASIS. I WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY'RE VALUED AND APPRECIATED WHILE STILL WORKING WITHIN OBVIOUS BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR CITY SUSTAINABLE AND FOCUS ON OUR PRIORITIES. BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS. AS FOR ZERO-BASED BUDGETING, I HAVE GIVEN THAT A LOT OF THOUGHT AND I GUESS IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.
ONE, WE CAN HOPE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF WASTE AND THEN THE ELIMINATION OF THAT WASTE IF WE DO IT. WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS WHETHER THE DEPARTMENTS WILL COME BACK AND SAY WE HAVE LOOKED AT OUR BUDGET BUT WE NEED MORE.
IT'S A RISK I'M WILLING TO TAKE AND I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING EXERCISE.
I KNOW HOUSTON WENT THROUGH IT. THEY WENT THROUGH IT AND HOUSTON'S BOND RATING REMAINS AAA PLUS. PHOENIX'S BOND RATING IS AAA. AND SO I THINK IT'S A WORTHY EXERCISE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY WIFE MAKES ME DO ZERO-BASED BUDGETING OF OUR CLOSETS EVERY SPRING, AND OUR GARAGE. NOTHING BAD EVER COMES FROM THAT OWNER THE FACT THAT SHE MAKES ME THROW AWAY THINGS ERIK -- EXCITED IS THE WRONG WORD. I DO THINK IT'S SMART FOR US TO LEAN IN HEAVILY ON THESE ENCAMPMENT CLEANUPS. THAT'S WHAT I KEEP HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS. AS I TOUR AROUND TOWN PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED TO SEE THAT TRASH. THEY WANT TO LIVE IN A CLEAN CITY.
PEOPLE DESERVE TO LIVE IN A CLEAN CITY IF THEY ARE PAYING, WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE HIGH TAXES. I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. I WAS IN PORTLAND, TACOMA, SEATTLE, EUGENE.
THOSE ARE JUST FAILED EXPERIMENTS AND NOTHING GOOD COMES FROM NOT PICKING UP TRASH AND I THINK WE CAN DO TWO THINGS AT ONCE. WE'RE SMART PEOPLE AND WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AND THAT IS TO BE COMPASSIONATE ALL THE SERVICES WE TALK ABOUT OFTEN WITH LORI HOUSTON.
AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN ENFORCE OUR RULES AND MAKE SURE WE CLEAN OUR MESSES THAT DON'T NEED TO EXIST. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TROUBLES ME IS DURING DROUGHTS, YOU KNOW, WE SEE EVIDENCE OF BONFIRES, YOU KNOW, BEING SET NEAR NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S NOT JUST A WHAT IF ONE DAY A HOUSE CATCHES FIRE.
WE HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN TWICE IN MY DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REMEMBER AN OLD RESTAURANT DOWN ON WURZBACH, THAT THING BURNED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.
WE RECENTLY HAD ANOTHER ONE ON FREDERICKSBURG ROAD AND IT SCARED A LOT OF NEIGHBORS BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG FIRE AND WE HAD A LOT OF FIREFIGHTERS OUT THERE PUTTING THIS THING OUT BECAUSE THERE WERE BONFIRES. IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF IT LOOKING UNSIGHTLY AND A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE, K IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE OTHER THING THAT WORRIES ME IS -- BRENDA HICKS-SORENSEN, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
ONE THING WE SAW ON THE SLIDES IS THESE CONSTRUCTION --E CONSTRUCTION, THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS. NOT JUST THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT BUT ALL THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES GRANTS WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE PAST THREE, FOUR YEARS. I THINK ALL OF US HAVE PLEDGED OUR FEALTY TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND WE NEED TO STAND WITH THEM AND FOR THEM BUT I THINK WE'RE ALSO A CITY -- EVERY ONE OF US PROMISES OUR CONSTITUENTS AND POTENTIAL VOTERS THAT WE WILL BE DATA INFORMED AND LOOK AT ALL THE DATA. I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND SEE WHAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE GRANTS HAS BEEN.
[01:10:01]
WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING THE NEEDLE OR IF WE'RE JUST HANDING OUT MONEY. I'M SURE THERE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WILL SAY THAT MONEY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BUT THAT ANALYSIS HAS TO BE DONE.ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF MONEY.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT MONEY GO OUT THE OTHER POCKET IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? ESPECIALLY NOW THAT COVID GETS FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM US IN TEMPORAL PROXIMITY, RIGHT, AND IS GETTING SMALLER IN OUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A RESPONSIBLE, SOBER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY CONTINUING TO WRITE CHECKS TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT BE OKAY NOW THAT COVID IS FAR ENOUGH AWAY. MAYBE I'M WRONG BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER I'M RIGHT OR WRONG. AND THEN THE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WEIGH IN AND TALK ABOUT FIRE TODAY SO I GUESS I WILL TOO.
FOR ME, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, YOU'RE RIGHT. WE NEED TO ALWAYS SHOW OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE APPRECIATE THEM AND OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES NEED TO HEAR THAT, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR PARK POLICE NEED TO HEAR THAT AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS NEED TO HEAR THAT. BUT I WILL TELL YOU MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS LESS ABOUT SIGNALING MY APPRECIATION -- I KNOW IT'S YOURS TOO BUT IT'S ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE AND I THINK OUR GOVERNMENT'S NUMBER ONE ROLE, PARTICULARLY AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, IS TO GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFER. MY CONSTITUENTS VIEW IN AUDIO] TO THEM IN THE FORM OF VERY FAST 9-1-1 RESPONSE TIMES.
THAT'S HOW THEY MEASURE SAFETY. AND IT'S NEVER ENOUGH FOR US TO SHAVE DOWN A SECOND OR TWO SECONDS. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEY HIT 9-1-1 SOMEONE WILL BE THERE IN THREE MINUTES OR LESS.
THAT'S AN ASPIRATIONAL NUMBER BUT WE SHOULD TRY TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN.
I AGREE ZERO-BASED BUDGETING IS IMPORTANT BUT AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT GOAL FOR US TO BE SETTING FOR OURSELVES, THE BODY, IS TO SAY EVERY YEAR WE'LL CUT DOWN OUR 9-1-1 RESPONSE TIME BY X NUMBER OF SECONDS. AND SET THAT GOAL AND TRY TO ACHIEVE IT AND CHALLENGE ERIK AND THE TEAM TO HIT THAT GOAL EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR LATER BUT ONE THING THAT WE KNOW IS THAT IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE THOSE REDUCTIONS IN 9-1-1 TIMES YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH HEAD COUNT.
YOU CAN'T PLAY ZONE DEFENSE IN A CITY THAT CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS FOOTPRINT SO DRAMATICALLY EVERY YEAR. IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THAT NUMBER, YOU NEED A HEAD COUNT. BUT, NUMBER TWO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES ARE EXCELLENT AND WE HAVE THE BEST PROFESSIONALS FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S A BLOODY KNUCKLE FIGHT WITH EVERY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES -- NOT JUST MAJOR CITIES BUT COMFORT DOWN THE ROAD AND WIMBERLEY. THEY'RE PAYING HIGH WAGES AND BONUSES TO GETS POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS TO MOVE TO THEIR TOWNS. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, WE'RE COMPETING FOR TALENT AND I THINK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ALL MY CONSTITUENTS DESERVE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND TO GET THE BEST OF THE BEST MEANS WE HAVE TO PAY THE COMPETITIVE WAGES, THEN WE HAVE TO PAY THOSE COMPETITIVE WAGES. YOU KNOW, FOR -- I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY CONSTITUENT OF MINE SAY PLEASE FIND ME BARGAIN-BASEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO PUT OUT MY FIRES AND GIVE CPR TO OUR KIDS AND PARENTS WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.
THE OPPOSITE IS WHAT THEY EXPRESS TO ME. ERIK, I THINK YOU'RE PICKING UP ON WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN. THE OTHER THING IS -- THIS IS A SMALL THING BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A BUDGET COMPONENT TO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR SECURITY FOR FIESTA. BUT I AM ALARMED AT THOSE NEWS STORIES THAT CAME OUT -- NOT AS ALARMED AS QUINTANILLA CUSSING EVERYBODY OUT BUT I AM ALARMED, YOU KNOW, BY NEWS OF VIOLENCE AT SOME OF OUR ICONIC EVENTS.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK -- AS FAR AS THIS BUDGET IS CONCERNED -- AT HOW WE BUDGET FOR THAT AND HOW WE ALLOT RESOURCES FOR THAT.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THINGS RIGHT AND IF WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS BY WAY OF ADDITIONAL HEAD COUNT AT EVENTS OR A DIFFERENT STRATEGY, I WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND ALSO FRAMED OR HAVE THE BUDGET INFORM THAT CONVERSATION AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION INFORM THE BUDGET. THANKS, MAYOR.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR ALWAYS HAVING THE JOKES. THANK YOU, JUSTINA AND ERIK FOR THE PRESENTATION, WALKING US THROUGH. I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THERE
[01:15:03]
WILL BE AN INCREASE TO NAMP. THIS WEEK I MET WITH A CONSTITUENT -- I RAN INTO A CONSTITUENT THAT WAS SHARING THAT HE INHERITED THE HOME, HAS BEEN LIVING THERE ROUGHLY 30 YEARS AND HE SAID I NEVER THOUGHT IN MY LIVING HERE WE WOULD HAVE SIDEWALKS. AND NOW HE IS EXPLORING GETTING A HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN TO IMPROVE THE OUTSIDE OF HIS HOME BECAUSE HE IS EXCITED.I WANTED TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS AND RAZI AND HIS TEAM FOR HELPING INITIATE THAT PROJECT. YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- I'VE HEARD IT DURING THE LAST BUDGET MEETING -- WAS ALSO AN INCREASE TO CIP.
THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT FUNDS THAT HELP US TACKLE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S RESURFACING A PARKING LOT, PUTTING RESTROOMS OR INITIATING A MURAL. THESE ARE MATERIAL THINGS THAT I KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS CONTINUALLY ASK FOR AND THAT SOURCE OF FUNDING HELPS US MATERIALIZE THINGS FOR CONSTITUENTS. I'M PLEASED TO SEE ON SLIDE 7 THAT EMPLOYEES DID COME OUT AS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES. I BELIEVE EVERY BUDGET CYCLE, WHETHER IT'S FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, ENSURING THEY ARE RECEIVING COMPETITIVE WAGES AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY, NOT NECESSARILY AN ADDITIONAL INCREASE FOR THE LGC EMPLOYEES, BUT HAVING THE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN OUR EMPLOYEE FUNDING TO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO INCREASE THEIR PAY. AND, OF COURSE, I THINK ABOUT THIS MEETING THAT WE HAD ON MONDAY. I WANTED TO THANK CITY STAFF BECAUSE WE WERE THERE UNTIL 9:30 OVER IN THE GARDENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THERE WAS A WEALTH OF CONCERNS AND A LOT OF PASSION FROM THE COMMUNITY AROUND ISSUES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THE CONCERN IS PRIMARILY AROUND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND CONNECTING FOLKS TO CARE. AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE COMPASSIONATE AND BELIEVE FOLKS SHOULD HAVE SHELTER OR YOU WANT FOLKS OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND. THE SOLUTION TO BOTH IS GETTING FOLKS INTO SHELTER.
I WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND ALL THE PARTNERS LORI WORKS WITH TO ENSURE WE ARE GETTING FOLKS HOUSED. OTHER ISSUES THAT CAME OUT WERE VACANT STRUCTURES AND FIRES THAT OCCURRED. WHEN IT GETS COLDER, FOLKS GO INTO THESE STRUCTURES. I BELIEVE DISTRICT 5 LEADS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VACANT STRUCTURE FIRES AND THEY EXPRESS CONCERNS WITH FOLKS OVERDOSING AS WELL.
WHO RESPONDS TO THOSE CALLS, IT'S PRIMARILY FIRE AND THAT'S SOMETHING IN A DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE FOLKS WITH A LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE, CALLS EMS IS THEIR PRIMARY HEALTH PROVIDER. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE EXTREME HEAT AND THE BOND PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND THE NAMP AND CIP PROJECTS THAT WE HOPE TO SEE INCREASE, WE'RE LIKELY GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE OF HEAT EXHAUSTION CALLS AND THOSE ARE CALLS TO EMS. I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS AND THE GOAL IS THAT IT IS NEGOTIATED AT THE TABLE BUT WHEN I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, THE OVERALL CONCERNS AND WHO TYPICALLY RESPONDS TO THOSE GAPS, IT'S EMS AND FIRE. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND MEET THEM WHERE WE CAN BECAUSE THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS IS HEALTH SERVICES AND SO MUCH MORE. I THINK ABOUT THE CPS CONVERSATION AND WHY I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE DO USE THOSE CPS REVENUES TO COVER GAPS THAT IT HELPS SUPPORT FIRE AND GOES INTO THE REES FUND. BECAUSE THEY GO HAND IN HAND. I THINK OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE UP-TO STANDARD ELECTRICITY AND THEY'RE PLUGGING IN THEIR AC UNIT OR THEIR HEATER, WHICH OFTENTIMES RESULTS IN, UNFORTUNATELY, FIRES.
WE RUN INTO CONSTITUENTS WHO DON'T HAVE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE AND IT BECOMES AN NHSD ISSUE. JUST CONNECTING THOSE DOTS IN ANY COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW DISTRICT 5 IS ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE PLACES BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE THAT WAY FOR SO LONG AND THEN WE SEE POVERTY WHERE FOLKS MOVE OUT TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THE COURTS ON THE EAST SIDE. FOLKS MOVED TO DISTRICT 10. WE'RE SEEING THOSE POPULATION DRIFTS. ALL THAT TO SAY I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER AND I BELIEVE THAT IS A PRIORITY OF THE CITY. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TRYING Y'ALL'S BEST WITHIN REASON BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH NEED.
I HEARD THE COMMENT ABOUT IT'S EITHER THAT OR WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE POTENTIAL CPS SURPLUS FUNDING, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR US TO PROVIDE SUPPORT THAT WE CAN. IN REGARDS TO SOLID WASTE, AGAIN, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THE IMPACT AND VALUE THAT THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM HAS FOR THE
[01:20:06]
SOLID WASTE CREW. WE HAVE SO MANY FREQUENT LOCATIONS WHERE FOLKS JUST CONTINUE TO ILLEGALLY DUMP SO MUCH MATERIAL AND WASTE. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF IT REACHES A SPECIFIC TONNAGE OR WEIGHT, IT BECOMES A FELONY.I'M CURIOUS IF WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PD TO TACKLE SOME OF THESE SPOTS BECAUSE, YES, WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE MORE CREWS.
I'M GRATEFUL. WE DO NEED THEM BUT WE NEED TO ENSURE THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND JUST DUMPING THEIR WASTE, DESPITE THERE BEING FACILITIES.
THOSE ARE MY PRIMARY COMMENTS. JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE AND STRESS THE NEED FOR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN HOMEOWNER AND MINOR REHAB.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED PER DISTRICT, WE RECEIVE FAR MORE APPLICATIONS THAN WE HAD SLOTS AVAILABLE. AND WE'RE NOW FIELDING CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE GETTING THEIR LETTERS THAT THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY.
AND MANY FOLKS ARE VERY DISHEARTENED. AT THE SAME TIME, I RAN INTO CONSTITUENTS AT CITY TOWER WHO ARE EXCITED THEY HAD AN INTERVIEW WITH NHSD.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT IT'S THERE BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE OF THOSE SLOTS .
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCILMEMBER
MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK Y'ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION. I GUESS MY GENERAL FEELING IS THAT THIS SOUNDS VERY BLEAK. THE PRESENTATION, THE FORECAST, ALL OF IT.
AND I WORRY THAT WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD WAS A DIFFERENCE IN THE SENSE OF URGENCY. DURING THE FORECAST WHAT I BELIEVE TO HAVE HEARD WAS THAT OUR EXPENSES WERE GROWING AT A RATE HIGHER THAN OUR REVENUE.
IT SOUNDED OMINOUS AT THE TIME BUT LIKE A PROBLEM TO SOLVE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND TO MAKE MINIMUM SHIFTS IN OUR EXISTING PRIORITIES.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE AT A DEFICIT NOW WITH THIS TRIAL BUDGET AND WE NEED TO IDENTIFY $50 MILLION TO CUT EACH YEAR OR IDENTIFY MORE REVENUE GROWTH.
IS THAT ACCURATE? >> WALSH: NO. THAT SUMMARY SHOWS WE HAVE $5 MILLION IN '25 AND '26. THE 50 WAS TO ILLUSTRATE THE GAP BETWEEN US AND THE FIRE
ASSOCIATION RIGHT NOW. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOTCHA, GOTCHA, GOTCHA.
I DO HAVE A FEW MAJOR PRIORITIES THAT I WANT TO CONVEY AND I HAVE A FEW CONCERNS FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND I'M WILLING TO NARROW MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES.
NUMBER ONE IS ACS'S CAPACITY TO INCREASE SPAY AND NEUTER AND ADOPTIONS AND ADDRESS NOT JUST DANGEROUS DOGS BUT ALL STRAY DOGS. THE EXPECTATION IS THEY'RE PICKING UP STRAY ANIMALS AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE RIGHT NOW.
AT LEAST NOT FOR WEEKS. AND THAT'S -- AT SOME POINT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US INCREASE THEIR RESOURCES TO THE POINT WHERE THE SITUATION IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS DIRE. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S TOP OF MIND FOR ALMOST EVERY ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T WALK TO THEIR MAILBOX OR THEY CAN'T WALK OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSE SOMETIMES BECAUSE THERE'S A DOG OUTSIDE THEIR DOOR.
NUMBER TWO, PUBLIC WORKS ACHIEVING THE EQUITY GOAL OF EVERY DISTRICT BEING IN COMPARABLE CONDITION BY 2030 AND ACHIEVING OUR F STREET GOALS.
I HAVE ASKED FOR UPDATES HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. SO EVERY DISTRICT BEING WITHIN JUST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OF EACH OTHER FOR THEIR PAYMENT CONDITION SCORES. AND NO DISTRICT BEING MORE THAN 10% F STREETS.
CIP AND NAMP WERE PRIORITIES OF MINE. CIP HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE TOOL FOR MY OFFICE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE THERE.
GRATEFUL FOR THE NAMP INCREASE. CIP HAS BEEN MORE USEFUL FOR ME. THE THIRD ONE, AND I THINK THIS IS BROAD IN GENERAL.
EMPLOYEES IN EVERY DEPARTMENT SHOULD FEEL WELL COMPENSATED AND CARED FOR.
I HEAR FROM EMPLOYEES OF MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE AT THEIR BREAKING POINT.
JUST YESTERDAY I HAD SOME COME TO MY OPEN HOURS AFTER 5:00 P.M.
WHETHER IT'S DHS, PRE-K 4 SA, OR FIRE, I REALLY WORRY ABOUT THE KIND OF EMPLOYER THAT WE ARE VERSUS THE EMPLOYER THAT WE INTEND AND WANT TO BE.
I KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY'RE WAITING TO HERE WHAT WAS SAID CONTRACT WIN TO SAPOA. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HOPING FOR MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY OFFERING. I'M HEARING MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THAT WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE OFFERING. AND THEN THE EMPLOYEES OF EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT WE HAVE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING SOLUTIONS TO COMPRESSION AND COST OF LIVING ISSUES. I WANT TO MAKE A POINT. ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 I MENTIONED THAT I BROUGHT OUT A WHITEBOARD THAT HAD ALL THE NUMBERS IF WE INCREASED THE POLICE BUDGET BY 3% EVERY YEAR. THAT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE OVER
[01:25:03]
TEN YEARS WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET BY $172 MILLION. THAT WAS IF OUR BUDGET WAS $547 MILLION THIS YEAR.AND WE'RE ALREADY PAST THE $570 MILLION MARK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE MOVING AT TWICE THE SPEED. SO IF THERE'S ANY DEPARTMENT THAT IMPACTS OUR BUDGET THE MOST, IT CONTINUES TO BE SAPD. SO YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU WANT TO CUT THE GENERAL FUND AND PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO RESIDENTS BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET AND IDENTIFY OUT OF $600 MILLION WHERE ARE THE EFFICIENCIES AT, IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT REDUCING THE BUDGET. YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT BEING MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACHIEVING OUR CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS, ANY OF THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND I THINK THAT WE ALWAYS SKIRT AROUND THE ISSUE.
I REFUSE TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. AND THEIR BUDGET GROWING AT $10 MILLION ADDITIONAL BEYOND WHAT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO DO CONSISTENTLY IS GOING TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO KEEP THAT IN MIND. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO SEE FIREFIGHTERS' BASE PAY INCREASE. I DON'T KNOW -- LIKE I SAID, I DON'T THINK WE'RE WHERE I WANT US TO BE AND I'M HEARING THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY AN ISSUE OF US REACHING THE 67% OF OUR BUDGET THRESHOLD, IT'S THAT THE REST OF OUR BUDGET WOULD NEED TO BE DRAMATICALLY CUT OR INCREASED TO HIT THE MARK WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IN ORDER FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO GET THE INCREASE THAT THEY DESERVE. AND SO I HAVE A PROPOSITION OR IDEA.
SO, ERIK, YOU'LL REMEMBER WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND HOW THE COUNTY MAKES UP 26% OF CITY LIBRARY USE. BUT THEY AREN'T MAKING A CONTRIBUTION COMMISERATE COMMENE WITH THAT. I WONDER -- AND THE PURPOSE THERE IS I WONDER HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR CITY SERVICES TO GET THE COUNTY TO INVEST THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE. EVERY ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS IS PAYING COUNTY TAXES.
BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THEY INVESTED IN THE CITY ROADS THAT ALL OF THEIR RESIDENTS ARE DRIVING THROUGH? THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THEY HAVE INVESTED IN DISTRICT 2, ZERO. SO I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITHHOLD OUR SERVICES UNTIL THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTES.
OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T CLOSE ROADS. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO COUNTY RESIDENTS AT GREAT COST TO OURSELVES. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A WOWORTHWHILE TOOL TO GET THEM TO THE TABLE. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LESS POPULAR CONVERSATION BUT WE NEED TO SET EXPECTATIONS FOR WHICH NONPROFITS WE'RE GOING TO FUND THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS OR THROUGH OUR DELEGATE AGENCY, IF ANY.
AND WE HAVE COUNTLESS NONPROFITS DOING IMMEASURABLE WORK AND WE BELIEVE IN THEM. THEY'RE FANTASTIC. BUT IF YOUR AIRPLANE IS GOING DOWN YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR OWN MASK ON FIRST. WE CAN'T SACRIFICE OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE INITIATIVES OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT OF US BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO OUR FRIENDS AT XYZ NONPROFIT.
I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE.
REALISTICALLY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS IS THROUGH OUR SOLICITATIONS. WHEN WE HAVE A PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE OR A GOAL THAT WE WANT TO MEET, WE SEND OUT A SOLICITATION AND WE TRY TO GET AS MANY OF THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE IN OUR DISTRICTS, IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING GOOD WORK.
WE TRY TO GET THEM TO RESPOND TO THOSE SOLICITATIONS.
IF THEY DON'T, THAT'S A PROBLEM IN AND OF ITSELF. BUT I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE AND I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT MAY PROVIDE FOR GROWTH ELSEWHERE. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION, JUSTINA. ANOTHER GREAT JOB.
I WANTED TO START WITH THE SOLID WASTE. BEFORE WE COME BACK NEXT TIME, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WE JUST TRADE OUT THOSE LARGE CANS FOR MEDIUM OR SMALL. AND THEN MAKE THEM REGISTER FOR SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR THOSE LARGE CANS. BECAUSE IF WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT IT COSTS MORE TO FILL A LARGE CAN -- AND WE'RE JUST AUTOMATICALLY SAYING LARGE CAN WAS YOUR STANDARD, OR WAS. THAT'S WHAT I GOT. I SAY WE TRADE THOSE OUT FOR MEDIUM OR SMALL AND THEN THEY HAVE TO SPECIAL REQUEST THE LARGE CAN.
I THINK THAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE MORE TO USE THE GREEN BIN AND THE BLUE BIN.
SO IF I COULD GET A COST ON HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT DONE.
BECAUSE I THINK IF WE ELIMINATE THAT LARGE-CAN OPTION OR PUT A GREATER FEE
[01:30:02]
ON THAT LARGE-CAN OPTION AND TELL PEOPLE, HEY, GO WITH THE MEDIUM OR SMALL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BETTER OPTION AND HELP US REACH OUR GOALS, OUR CLIMATE ACTION GOALS. AND HELP OUR RESIDENTS BE MORE MINDFUL OF WHAT THEY CAN PUT IN THAT BLUE AND THAT GREEN CAN. SO THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN FOR SOLID WASTE. THE BUDGET, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT YOU ARE PRIORITIZING THIS BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS, YOU KNOW, CUTTING $50 MILLION.THAT IS CORRECT, RIGHT? IT'S 5-0, ERIK? >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, THAT WAS -- LET ME BACK UP TO THE SLIDE. THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ JUST ASKED. WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION IN EACH '25 AND '26 THAT WE NEED TO MANAGE THROUGH.
THE 50 THAT I SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL WAS TO GIVE CONTEXT ABOUT THE GAPS STILL BETWEEN US ON OUR OPEN ISSUE OF OUR FIRE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO ENSURE WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE TO INSTITUTE RAISES AND ADJUSTMENTS OR WHATEVER GETS FINALIZED IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATIONS. IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, WE WOULD NEED TO CUT AN ADDITIONAL 50 IN '25 AND AN ADDITIONAL 50 IN '26. AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT
SOLVING FOR THAT. BUT IT IS AN OPEN ISSUE. >> VIAGRAN: IF WHAT I'M HEARING IS WE GO IN -- BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ARE READY TO CUT $50 MILLION BUT THEY'RE NOT GIVING ME ANY DEPARTMENTS OR ANY PROGRAMS TO CUT. SO MY CHALLENGE IS -- I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THE CITY CUT. I THINK WE NEED TO ULTIMATELY VOTE ON IT.
SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE COUNCIL DESIRES, THEN WE NEED TO START SAYING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CUT FROM. SO I WANT US TO GET THROUGH THESE NEGOTIATIONS AS FAIR AS POSSIBLE. I WANT FAIR WAGES CITYWIDE.
BUT WHAT I NEED TO HEAR IS IF WE START TO CUT, DOES THAT MEAN EMPLOYEES --
[FROZEN] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MY NETFLIX DOES THAT ALL THE TIME AT THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT. [LAUGHTER] PHYLLIS, WE LOST YOU. IF YOU CAN HEAR US. OKAY.
WHY DON'T WE -- PHYLLIS, WE LOST YOU RIGHT AT THE -- >> VIAGRAN: THE OTHER ISSUE IS WE NEED TO WORK ON OUR TECHNOLOGY. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AWFUL.
JUST AWFUL TECHNOLOGY TODAY IN THIS MEETING. I HEARD HALF OF WHAT Y'ALL SAID. SO I THINK WE NEED TO COME WITH CUTS AND I WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD MY CUTS. ANYTHING LESS THAN AN F STREET DOESN'T NEED TO BE FIXED IN THE FUTURE. AND I THINK ANY PARK THAT HAS A FOUNDATION PROBABLY COULD BE CUT ALSO. WE'RE GIVING A LOT OF GREAT SPEECHES BUT WHERE ARE YOU
GOING TO CUT FROM, IS MY POINT. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WE
LOVE YOU, PHYLLIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION ON THE TRIAL BUDGET HAS BEEN GOING TO A NEGOTIATION THAT WE ALL KNOW IS GOING ON WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS. I WOULD JUST ASK A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION OF THE CITY MANAGER. HOW WELL ARE OUR FIREFIGHTERS TODAY COMPENSATED IN COMPARISON TO OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS? I DON'T NEED A LONG ANSWER. JUST A SIMPLE ANSWER.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: THEY'RE WITHIN THE TOP THREE. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
THANK YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID.
YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY TO SAY WE RECEIVED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT WE DID. CITY MANAGER, DID WE HAVE TO CUT OUR BUDGET OVER COVID IN
'20, '21, OR '22? >> WALSH: THE CITY BUDGET? MASSIVELY IN '20 AND '21.
>> COURAGE: HOW MUCH DID WE RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FILL THOSE HOLES? THERE WERE TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS.
>> WALSH: TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS. THE CARES ACT AND ARPA.
COMBINED -- >> VILLAGOMEZ: ABOUT $800 MILLION.
>> COURAGE: I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO REALIZE WE HAVE HAD $800 MILLION GIVEN TO
[01:35:02]
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SINCE 2020 OR LATE 2020-2021 WHEN MONEY CAME OUT.THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LIVING OFF OF OVER THE LAST FOUR YEAR -- OR THREE YEARS.
AND EVEN GOING FORWARD TO 2026 IS WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT MONEY SPENT.
AND SO WE'VE ALLOCATED IT ALL. AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HIRED PEOPLE TO RUN PROGRAMS THAT WERE PAID FOR BY THAT MONEY. WE'VE GIVEN THAT MONEY TO NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS ALL AROUND THIS CITY TO CARRY OUT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE DURING THIS TIME. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE'VE SPENT. SO NOW WE'RE AT THE END OF THE LINE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT $800 MILLION. WE HAVE TO RELY SIMPLY ON OUR OWN REVENUE. AND WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE 250,000 PEOPLE IN THIS CITY LIVING IN POVERTY. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY WITH THEIR PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS. WE HAVE THOUSANDS WHO ARE HOMELESS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP BEING HOMELESS.
WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS. WE KNOW WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. THE FOOD BANK HAS TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE PEOPLE COMING FOR FREE FOOD ALL THE TIME. THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO NEED LESS HELP.
THIS CITY IS NOT CHANGING TO WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS.
WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT'S SCREAMING ABOUT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
THEY WANT US TO DO MORE ABOUT IT. WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING THAT SAY WE NEED MORE HELP. WE HAVE A NEED FOR YOUTH SERVICES THAT WE KNOW. WE'VE GOT A NEED FOR SENIOR SERVICES THAT WE KNOW.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE TELLING US THEY STILL WANT TAX RELIEF. WE KNOW.
WE'RE STILL HAVING A PROBLEM IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE MUCH TO DO ABOUT IT BUT IT AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE UNIONS ASKING FOR EMPLOYEE PAY RAISES. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR MEMBERS. BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CAN'T DO IT ALL ALONE. AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITH THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PARTNERS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO DO A LOT OF WORK THAT IF THEY WEREN'T DOING IT, WE'D HAVE THOUSANDS OF MORE PEOPLE KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR ASKING FOR HELP BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
AND WE SUPPORT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND KEEP THEM PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE. SO I WOULD ALSO ASK TOO WHERE DO WE FIND THE MONEY FOR A BIG PAY RAISE FOR OUR -- ALL OUR EMPLOYEES? WHERE DO WE FIND THAT KIND OF MONEY? IT HAS TO COME FROM EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HOPE WE COME TO A REASONABLE SETTLEMENT WITH FIREFIGHTERS BUT THEN TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ONE LOOKS AT THE OTHER AND THEY SAY THEY GOT THIS, WE WANT THAT PLUS. SO WE NEED TO THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT.
AND SO AS WE CONSIDER HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'VE GOT TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING. I KNOW ALL OF US ALSO ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR WANTS AND THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS.
SO I'M OPEN MINDED. I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET.
I HOPE THAT WE END UP FINDING OUT THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER HORRENDOUS SUMMER AND WE MAKE ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS OFF CPS ENERGY AND THEN WE DECIDE WE NEED TO FILL HOLES WITH IT RATHER THAN SOMETHING ELSE. BUT TIME WILL TELL WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET FOR ANY MORE REVENUE THAN THEY'RE FORECASTING AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IT AND WHERE ARE WE GOING TO CUT IF WE NEED TO.
THOSE ARE STILL QUESTIONS I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
I'M WITH YOU ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HORRENDOUS SUMMER. I'M NOT WITH YOU ON THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO CHIME BACK IN FOR A COUPLE OF MORE THINGS THAT I FORGOT ON THE FIRST ONE.
THE FIRST THING IS A LOT OF US HAD TALKED I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET. I'M HOPING IT WILL BE.
JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT. I SEE A HEAD NODDING, WHICH I LIKE. CODE ENFORCEMENT. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE GET CALLED FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR NIGHT AND WEEKENDS.
[01:40:01]
SO IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO FIGURE OUT -- I KNOW WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ONE SHIFT FOR NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP EVEN IN JUST REDUCING COSTS FOR SAFD.I SAW THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN OFFICERS AND I WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR BIKE PATROLS AND OUR SOUTH TOWN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE REALLY REQUESTING ONE.
I WANTED TO ECHO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED THE MINOR REHAB PROGRAM. JUST WANTED TO ECHO A 1,000% SUPPORT FOR THAT AND THE OPTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ABOUT THE CANS IS INTERESTING TO EXPLORE, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE WOULD EXECUTE THAT.
BUT I THINK IT IS INTERESTING. A SHOUT OUT TO EDD ON THE FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS. THOSE WENT OUT THIS WEEK AND I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY CALLS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES SENDING THEIR GRATITUDE. SO I WANTED TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE AND SAY WE SHOULD DO SOME BEFORE AND AFTER TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THAT WORK. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GREAT.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.
COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SORRY. I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON SLIDE 4. ERIK, WE CAN TOUCH BASE AFTER THIS BUT I DID WANT TO SEE THE KPIS FOR A COUPLE OF THESE LINE ITEMS IN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND I DO WANT TO CAVEAT BY SAYING I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS OR SAYING THAT THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB OR FULFILLING THEIR GOALS, I JUST WANT TO SEE THE KPIS ON THEM. THAT'S THE NON-DEPARTMENTAL, NON-OPERATING EXPENSES.
WE CAN GO OVER THAT. THE AGENCIES LINE ITEM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LINE ITEM, CCDO, INNOVATION, AND TRANSFERS FOR US TO JUST GO THROUGH THEIR METRICS AFTER THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.
COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR SAID ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE DO NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT PUBLICLY MIKE SHANNON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT FOR THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF MY TERM, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF NEED FOR ME TO CALL HIM AND TALK TO HIM.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS. AND HE HANDLES EVERYTHING SO WELL AND HAS SOLVED SO MANY PROBLEMS FOR US IN DISTRICT 10.
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I'LL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS
BEFORE WE WRAP UP. ERIK? >> WALSH:
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THIS IS A MINOR ITEM BUT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR BROUGHT IT UP ON THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS. WE'RE ALLOCATING 1.4 IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT FOR FY26 AS WELL.
I WANT TO REITERATE I'M HOPING THE DESIGN OF THAT PROGRAM CHANGES ALMOST ENTIRELY. AGAIN, THE GOAL IS DO REDUCE IMPACTS FROM CONSTRUCTION ON SMALL BUSINESSES. IF WE CAN USE THAT MONEY MORE EFFECTIVELY, MORE FAIRLY BY JUST GETTING THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO MOVE FASTER, THAT WOULD BE, IN MY MIND, A BETTER USE OF THOSE FUNDS. I DON'T KNOW IN THAT CASE WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE DERIVED FROM IN FUTURE YEARS BUT MAYBE IT IS A FUNCTION OF THE FUNDS THEMSELVES RATHER THAN HAVING TO ALLOCATE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. JUST WANTED TO FLAG THAT FOR YOU.
ON THE MAIN DISCUSSION, SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE HERE WHEN WE STARTED THE TRIAL BUDGET PROCESS. WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO THIS BEFORE, HAVE A TRIAL BUDGET.
I THINK WE STARTED THAT DURING COVID TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE WE WOULD LAND AMIDST ALL THE REVENUE VOLATILITY AND EXPENSES WE HAD TO CUT, ALL THAT JUST TO GET THROUGH THE 2000 PERIOD. BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIAL BUDGET IS TO SEE ON PAPER WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FUNCTION AS A CITY DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT EVERY YEAR. SO I HEAR YOU AND I KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A NEGOTIATION. WE WANT A FAIR CONTRACT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH DOES INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT JOBS, GETS PAID FAIRLY.
WE ARE IN A NEGOTIATION. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS MOVE, YOU'VE GOT TO TELL STAFF WHERE TO CUT. THAT'S JUST THE FACTS OF THE MATTER.
SO IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THAT, BE SPECIFIC BUT ALSO BE SERIOUS.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE WAY THIS WORKS IS THAT CITY STAFF IS GOING TO PUT INTO THE NEXT PROPOSED BUDGET WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE ADDED TO THE BUDGET, WHAT WE WANT REDUCED.
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW COMMENTS INTERESTED IN WHERE PEOPLE STAND ON THOSE.
COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MAKES HIS POINTS EVERY YEAR.
[01:45:01]
I WILL SHARE THIS WITH YOU WITH RESPECT TO THE 66% SINCE IT HAS COME UP A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT WAS NOT AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL.THIS WAS PUT INTO PLACE IN 2015 WHEN WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF SERIOUS BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AT THE SAME TIME.
I'LL GIVE YOU A PICTURE. I WENT TO THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE MATH, FOR ALL THE ARCHIVED BUDGETS WE HAVE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, IN 2000, THAT NUMBER WAS 55%. IN 2005, THAT NUMBER WAS 59%.
2010, 61%. 2015, 66%. SO YOU SEE WHERE THAT TREND LINE WAS GOING? WE WERE NOT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED.
SO THAT WAS THE MAIN POINT OF THOSE INITIAL NEGOTIATIONS WAS TO GET TO A STRUCTURAL BALANCE SO WE COULD GROW ALL DEPARTMENTS IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S GROWTH. WE ACHIEVED THAT. 2020, WE WERE 64%.
YOU SAW 2025, THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I BELIEVE YOU SAID 62%, JUSTINA?
>> TATE: WITH THE FORECAST -- LT NUMBER FOR YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU MENTIONED 62 BUT IT WAS 60.5 ON THE SCREEN. I KNOW WE'RE SPENDING DOWN SOME ARPA DOLLARS STILL. YOU MADE THAT POINT, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, SO THOSE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE IN THE REVENUE STREAM. IT'S HAVING SOME EFFECT ON THAT PERCENTAGE. BUT MY POINT IS IT WASN'T AN ASPIRATIONAL GOAL.
IT WAS A CAP AT A TIME WHEN WE WERE NOT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED.
NOW THAT WE ARE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT CONTRACT IS FAIR TO FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S FAIR TO POLICE. AND THAT CONTINUES TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE AMIDST ALL THE PRIORITIES WE'RE HEARING ACROSS THE TABLE.
I KNOW THE CHALLENGE AND THE GAP IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RIGHT NOW SO IF WE WANT TO SEE CHANGES, WE'VE GOT TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHERE THOSE CUTS ARE GOING TO COME FROM.
ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL. MY THOUGHTS ON IT.
OVERALL, I THINK AS FAR AS WHAT'S ON PAPER ON THE TRIAL BUDGET, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD REFLECTION OF PRIORITIES SO FAR. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO HAS CONTINUED TO REMIND US ABOUT NOT LOSING -- SLIDING BACK ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I AGREE WITH THAT. WE NEED TO CONTINUE ON THE SMALLER PIECES OF THAT AS WELL. TITLE CLEARANCE IS A BIG PART OF THE REHAB PROGRAM.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FUND THOSE THINGS. SO THAT'S ALL FROM ME.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE $50 MILLION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY CUTTING, ERIK, IS BASED ON WHICH SCENARIO?
WHICH PROPOSAL? >> WALSH: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CITY'S CURRENT
PROPOSAL AND THE UNION'S CURRENT PROPOSAL. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
SO I THINK WE'RE ALREADY STARTING WITH A FALSE PREMISE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH CUTTING. I'M NOT -- I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, HYPOTHETICALLY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CITY'S -- LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
LAST PROPOSAL AND FIRE'S LAST PROPOSAL? >> WALSH: YES.
>> HAVRDA: THERE'S A BIG GAP THERE, I UNDERSTAND. BUT WE'RE GOING TO LAND SOMEWHERE IN THERE. SO WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TO CUT $50 MILLION.
BUT RIGHT NOW AS IT STANDS, IF TODAY THAT WAS APPROVED, IT WOULD BE $50 MILLION.
>> WALSH: SO ABSENT ANYTHING WITH FIRE, WE'RE $5 MILLION NEEDED IN '25 AND $5 MILLION WE NEED TO ADJUST FOR '26. SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $5 MILLION AND $55 MILLION, TO YOUR POINT, IS GOING TO REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS.
THOSE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PERMANENT REDUCTIONS. AND PART OF THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE WAS AS AN OPEN ISSUE IN THIS BUDGET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT FLEXIBILITY. BECAUSE IDEALLY -- AND I MAY BE NAIVE -- IDEALLY THE CURRENT AGREEMENT ENDS AT THE END OF DECEMBER AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT SOMETHING IN PLACE TO BEGIN ANEW. THAT WILL BE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS SUMMER.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. SO I THINK THE KEY WORD THERE IS "FLEXIBILITY" FOR ME. I UNDERSTAND AGAIN THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE CUTS MADE BUT WHEN WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT $50 MILLION LIKE THAT'S A DONE DEAL WE HAVE TO CUT IF WE GO WITH THIS PROPOSAL, THERE'S STILL A NEGOTIATION TO BE HAD.
IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE BEEN MOVING TOWARDS EACH OTHER. I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THAT IS NOT A SET NUMBER. THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD BE
TODAY. >> WALSH: I'M GIVING CONTEXT ON THE GAP.
WE'RE $360 MILLION APART RIGHT NOW. >> HAVRDA: I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO ANOTHER FALSE PREMISE. I'M ASKING FOR WAGES.
[01:50:01]
THIS GAP IS WITH THE FULL PACKAGE, CORRECT? >> WALSH: WE'LL GIVE YOU THE WAGE COMPONENT OF THAT BUT IF THE CONTRACT IS REQUIRING US TO ADD 404 FIREFIGHTERS, THEN THAT'S A COST TO THE CONTRACT. AND CAN'T BE SEPARATED.
IT'S A COMMITMENT OF THE GENERAL FUND. IT STILL SEEMS TO BE A PRIORITY OF THE ASSOCIATIONS. SO THERE'S THE VAST MAJORITY IS WAGE INCREASES. WE'LL BREAK THAT OUT FOR YOU AND WE'LL BREAK OUT THE COST
OF 404 FIREFIGHTERS. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. WELL, SO I KNOW AGAIN WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS PRIVATELY BUT THE DIFFERENCE, THE GAP IS WHERE IT STANDS RIGHT NOW. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT WAGES, JUST WAGES, THERE COULD BE A MUCH SMALLER GAP. NOT INCLUDING ALL THE OTHER EXTRA THINGS.
THE BENEFITS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED OR BEING OFFERED. >> WALSH: SO IF THERE'S A REQUIREMENT IN THE CONTRACT FOR US TO DO SOMETHING OVER AND ABOVE, I'M NOT GOING TO BRING YOU JUST THE WAGE COMPONENT AND THE COST. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING. WE ■CAN BREAK ITOUT --AND I&-ÚHS IMPORTANT TO EACH ONE OF
[01:55:16]
YOU. AND WE'LL DO THAT IN A BALANCED WAY.I'LL REITERATE WHAT THE MAYOR SAID AT THE END. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A HEAVY LIFT AHEAD OF US. THE REVENUE PICTURE ON SALES TAX IS STILL THE SAME AS FORECAST. AND I THINK, AS I'VE SAID DURING THE FORECAST, WE'RE RETURNING THE TERMS OF NORMAL FINANCIAL CONDITIONS HERE.
ALONG WITH THE OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES. THEY'RE ALL SEEING THE SAME THING. WE ARE NOT APART FROM THE SAME CONVERSATIONS THAT MANY MAJOR TEXAS CITIES ARE HAVING IN TERMS OF COMING OFF OF ARPA AND CARES AND THOSE LARGE INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE REALITY OF GOING BACK TO OUR OWN RESOURCES. BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND THE
ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANKS, EVERYBODY. TIME IS 4:02 P.M. ON MAY 8, 2024. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.