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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION OF AUGUST THE 27TH, 2019.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALES WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUOR UNL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO OUR BUDGET SESSION TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO OBSERVE THIS FOR OUR VIEWING PUBLIC, BUT MORE FORMALLY FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO WILL ATTEND THE "A" SESSION ON THURSDAY.
WE UNFORTUNATELY WERE GREETED WITH NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THE PASSING OF -- THE PASSING OF A VERY DEAR FRIEND TO OUR CHAMBERS AND THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY, AND OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN DR. ALFONSO TRUSSCANO PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING.
WE WILL OBVIOUSLY KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED AS TO SERVICES THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY, BUT OUR HEARTS AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THE GRIEVING FAMILY AT THIS
[1. 19-637 Staff presentation of the FY 2020 Proposed Budget focusing on, butnot limited to, the following City Departments or Initiatives: [ErikWalsh, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget]]
POINT.MAY GOD REST HIS SOUL AND WE'LL DO A PROPER OBSERVANCE ON THURSDAY AS WELL.
WE HAVE FIVE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH TODAY.
AND I THINK WE HAVE LEFTOVER I'LL PASS IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER TO GET IT STARTED.
THIS MORNING'S SESSION, WE WILL START WITH THE LIBRARY.
AND THEN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET, AND THEN RESUME AFTER LUNCH FOR THE REMAINING PART OF THE DAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
BEFORE I START MY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MEMBERS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO ARE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.
AND I'LL START WITH JEAN BRADY, IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY BOARD.
OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT, THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 8.
AND WE HAVE MISS JO ANN HARRIS, LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPRESENTING DISTRICT 2.
WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR TWO KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
I'LL START WITH THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, WE HAVE TRACY BENNETT, PRESIDENT AND CEO.
THANK YOU, TRACY FOR BEING HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE KATY -- LET'S SEE -- DEBOSH, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
AND BETH GRAND, FRIENDS OF THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THEY'RE HERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO OUR CHAIR, PAUL STALL, THE CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, COULD NOT BE HERE THIS
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MORNING, AND HE ASKED ME TO READ THIS STATEMENT ON HIS BEHALF.THIS MESSAGE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT.
THE LIBRARY BOARD IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE ADDITIONAL $1.7 MILLION BEING PROPOSED FOR THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET WHICH ALLOWS THE LIBRARY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY MORE EQUITABLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER ERIK WALSH AND HIS STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A BALANCED BUDGET FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE MANY PRIORITIES AND IT TAKES HARD WORK TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN PRIORITIES AND RESOURCES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M READY TO START THE SLIDE PRESENTATION NOW.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE LIBRARY DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC PLAN.
AS PART OF THAT STRATEGIC PLAN, WE IDENTIFIED ADMISSION FOR THE LIBRARY.
THE MISSION IS TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF INFORMATION, AND IDEAS.
THE IDEAS THROUGH OUR SERVICES TO TRANSFORM THE COMMUNITY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT ALIGNS VERY MUCH WITH OUR ENTIRE, OR COLLECTIVE MISSION OF MAKING A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO.
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES NOTED ON THIS SLIDE IS WHAT REALLY LEADS US AS STAFF EVERY DAY AS WE DELIVER SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION.
THE UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN IDENTIFIES THREE STRATEGIC AREAS.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVE -- TO HELP STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE THE POTENTIAL.
THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT BUT HELP ADVANCE EDUCATION THROUGH THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER BY PROVIDING SPACES FOR STUDENTS TO DO HOMEWORK, BY PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO DO THEIR REPORTS, BY PROVIDING OTHER RESOURCES THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO EXCEL AT ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION.
AND ALSO TO EMPHASIZE LITERACY.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE LIBRARY TO DEVELOP A MORE LITERAL COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY THAT CAN COMPETE FOR GOOD JOBS AND CAN CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER AREA FOR FOCUS IS TO SUPPORT WORK FORCE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
AND WE DO THAT THROUGH VARIOUS SERVICE EFFORTS.
WE HAVE FOUR LEARNING CENTERS WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THESE LEARN CENTERS PROVIDE LITERACY, PROVIDE JOB HELD AND PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS LOOKING FOR GED.
THAT'S ONE WAY THAT LIBRARIES ADVANCE WORK FORCE SUPPORT, AND WORK FORCE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
AS WELL AS THE EFFORTS THAT THE LIBRARY PLAYS IN BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY ADVANCING DIGITAL INCLUSION, ALL THAT CONTRIBUTES TO WORK FORCE AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
AND THE LAST STRATEGIC FOCUS IS TO FOSTER COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.
TO PROVIDE SPACES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER, TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION, TO PRACTICE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
MANY, IF NOT ALL OF OUR LIBRARY LOCATIONS SERVICE VOTING SITES, EARLY VOTING OR REGULAR VOTING, AND BY STATE STATUTE, ALL OF OUR LIBRARY FACILITIES SERVE AS OFFICIAL VOTER REGISTRATION SITES.
SO THE LIBRARY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR YOU.
SO THE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR AND VALUED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, WITH OVER 5 MILLION VISITS, OVER 7 MILLION ITEMS BORROWED, AND OVER 2.3 MILLION HOURS OF COMPUTER AND WI-FI USE.
THAT DEMONSTRATES THE VALUE OF THE SERVICES THE LIBRARY PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW HIGHLY IT'S UTILIZED BY THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE SERVE NOT ONLY 1.5 MILLION WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE ALSO EXTEND OUR SERVICES TO THE COUNTY THROUGH A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THEIR BEXAR COUNTY.
SO BASICALLY YOUR LIBRARY SYSTEM SERVES ALMOST 2 MILLION PEOPLE.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS SLIDE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
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THE WONDERFUL STAFF THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY.I MAY BE A LITTLE BIASED, BUT I THINK OUR TEAM IS PROBABLY THE BEST TEAM -- PUBLIC LIBRARY TEAM IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE, THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY'RE FORWARD THINKING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR HARD WORK, AND THEIR EFFORTS TO REALLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN A VERY MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL WAY.
>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE SLIDE BY THE WAY, THE CIRCLE, THE PIE.
>> IT'S AN INSIDE JOKE WITH MY STAFF.
I JUST WANT TO INDICATE, I USE THIS SLIDE TO TELL YOU THAT OUR CORE BUSINESS IS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S PHYSICAL PRINT, OR DIGITAL, AND TO THE OTHER KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH EITHER DIRECT INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR STAFF PROVIDING REFERENCE SERVICE, OR BY DIRECTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT OVER 50% OF THE BUDGET IS PROVIDED, OR ALLOCATED TO ACCESS INFORMATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S OUR CORE BUSINESS.
AGAIN, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE.
WE HAVE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2019, BUT I'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW.
ONE INCREASED LIBRARY RESOURCES.
LAST YEAR WE APPROACHED THE CITY MANAGER WITH AN ISSUE THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO THE DEMANDS FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR, POPULAR AND NEW MATERIALS.
WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE CITY MANAGER ADDED $430,000 IN THE LIBRARY'S BUDGET TO ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO THOSE TYPES OF MATERIALS.
AS A RESULT, WE EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE OF SLIGHTLY OVER 3% IN CIRCULATION.
SO THAT'S ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.
ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT IS OUR FOCUS ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
A WHILE AGO I WAS BRAGGING ABOUT OUR STAFF.
PART OF IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INTERNAL PROGRAM CALLED ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH, OR ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY TO FOCUS ON HOW TO BUILD A STRONGER ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN BE -- SO WE CAN ADAPT TO THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO US AS OUR LANDSCAPE CHANGES.
SO OUT OF THAT INITIATIVE, WE'VE HAD TWO MAJOR INITIATIVES, ONE IS THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND ANOTHER ONE IS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, ALL INTERNAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER STAFF.
RECENTLY THE CITY MANAGER ALSO RECOGNIZED THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE OUR TEAM FOR OPERATION TRANSFORMATION.
THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS CREATED FROM GRASS ROOTS UP, WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, TO EMPOWER STAFF AT ALL LEVELS TO BE PART OF THIS EFFORT TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITY, BY TAKING MY PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE -- NOT ONLY IN THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, BUT ALSO CREATING AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S DYNAMIC, THAT'S FOCUSED ON CONTINUOUS PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS, THAT EMBRACES INNOVATION.
OPERATION TRANSFORMATION, OUT OF THAT INITIATIVE, A GROUP CALLED THE REVISIONARIES SURFACED FROM THAT, AND THEY'RE WORKING TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF INVOLVEMENT.
IN FACT, WE JUST RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT (INDISCERNIBLE) INCUBATOR TO ENCOURAGE THAT AND PROVIDE INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THEN TO IMPLEMENT THOSE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED.
SO AGAIN, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE STAFF FOR BEING FORWARD THINKING.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SAY THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD.
ONE OF OUR GOALS AUDIO] WAS TO MAKE OUR FACILITIES MORE USER FRIENDLY, MORE ATTRACTIVE, FACILITIES THAT WOULD INSTILL PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WITH THE HELP OF YOU, THE VOTERS, THE CITY MANAGER, A LITTLE OVER $90 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED IN LIBRARY FACILITIES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS PLUS.
THAT INVESTMENT INCLUDED 48 MILLION FOR MAJOR RENOVATIONS, BASICALLY ALSO 44 MILLION TO BUILD 10 NEW
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LIBRARY LOCATIONS, TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY.IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY, WE'VE REALLY PLACED A LARGE FOCUS ON REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, BEING MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND HAVING A PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, ATTENDING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, MEETING WITH COMMUNITIES WHEN WE HAVE RENOVATION PROJECTS SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY, TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO STAFF, SO THAT WE DON'T MAKE DECISIONS IN A VACUUM.
SO WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WILL BE SERVING WITH IN IMPROVED FACILITIES OR SERVICES THAT WE INTRODUCED TO THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, WE ALSO FOCUS ON DOING MORE OUTREACH, HAVING THE PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, DOING MORE BILINGUAL INFORMATION TO TARGET DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY PREFER TO COMMUNICATE OR LEARN ABOUT WHAT THE LIBRARY'S OFFERING IN SPANISH.
EQUITY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR EFFORTS.
RECENTLY WE INTRODUCED A PILOT THAT ELIMINATES FINES FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S MATERIALS.
SO WE JOINED HUNDREDS OF LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN OFFERING -- ELIMINATING FINES.
WE HAVE FOUND THROUGH THE RESEARCH THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE AFRAID -- SOME INDIVIDUALS OF INCURRING FINES AND THEREFORE, THEY STAY AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY.
SOME CANNOT AFFORD $5, THAT'S A LOT OF MANY FOR MANY COMMUNITIES, MANY HOUSEHOLDS, MANY FAMILIES.
SO WE IMPLEMENTED THIS PILOT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT FINES SERVE AS A BARRIER.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, IS BARRIERS TO ACCESS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE FOCUS ON WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE BARRIERS THAT ARE UNINTENDED, EITHER FOR EXAMPLE, FINES.
THERE MAY BE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT HAVE A MEANS OR WAYS TO GET TO THE LIBRARY.
THERE MAY BE LANGUAGE BARRIERS.
WE MAY BE COMMUNICATING IN A CERTAIN COMMUNITY IN A LANGUAGE THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
SO WE'RE REALLY WORKING VERY HARD, AND PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT IN A FEW MINUTES, I'LL MENTION MORE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT REGARD, THE POINT IS, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESS.
REMOVING AND MITIGATING BARRIERS TO ACCESS.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY.
THE INITIATIVES IDENTIFIED IN 2020 WILL ALLOW US TO ADVANCE OUR EFFORTS IN EQUITY.
PROPOSED ENHANCEMENTS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
IT INCLUDES 1.7 MILLION FOR ENHANCEMENTS THAT INCLUDES NEEDED BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, REPLACING OF CARPET, PAINTING, HVAC REPAIRS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES DOLLARS TO REPLACE COMPUTERS, 333 PUBLIC COMMUNITIES, STAFF COMPUTERS.
THERE ARE TWO MAJOR INITIATIVES.
ONE THE 2020 CENSUS WILL START OFFICIALLY APRIL 1ST.
LIBRARIES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES WILL BE PLAYING AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ROLE.
THIS CENSUS 2020 WILL RELY PRIMARILY ON GETTING COUNTED ONLINE.
FOR MANY NEIGHBORHOODS AND MANY COMMUNITIES, THE LIBRARY WILL BE THE ONLY RESOURCE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT, AND ACTUALLY GET COUNTED.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MANY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH DIGITAL LITERACY, HOW TO NAVIGATE, HOW TO SIGN UP.
SO LIBRARIES WILL BE PLAYING AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ROLE.
SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY'S OFFICE OF THE CENSUS, 2020 CENSUS, AS WELL AS THE COMPLETE COMMITTEE TO REALLY PREPARE THE LIBRARIES TO BE -- TO FACILITATE THAT EFFORT.
I'M PROUD TO SAY I'M A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE, THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ON THE 2020 U.S. CENSUS.
SO I'M ALSO INVOLVED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE OUR PUB LIKE LIBRARIES ARE PREPARED TO FA SILL TATE THE CENSUS COUNT.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THIS COMING YEAR, 2020, WE WILL ENGAGE IN UPDATING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
ONE OF THE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS WILL BE BARRIERS TO ACCESS, AND AS WELL AS POSITIONING THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE FUTURE.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO ADAPT
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AND CHANGE SO THAT WE CAN BE RESPONSIVE AND BE RELEVANT IN THE FUTURE.AN I.T. ROAD MAP THAT WAS DEVELOPED EARLIER THIS YEAR WILL ALSO LEAD THE WAY IN INTEGRATING LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR USER SERVICES, AND ON OUR OPERATIONS.
THE LAST SLIDE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2017 BOND PROGRAMS. WE HAVE BEEN GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND PRESENTING THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.
SO LET ME IDENTIFY THE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT INCLUDES $3 MILLION FOR THE CENTRAL LIBRARY TO TRANSFORM THE FIRST FLOOR, TO TRANSFORM THE CHILDREN'S AREA ON THE THIRD FLOOR, TO TRANSFORM THE TEXANA COLLECTION, AND I'M PLEASED THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION IS HERE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE PLEDGED TO RAISE OVER $1 MILLION FROM PRIVATE FUNDS TO ENHANCE THAT PROJECT.
SO THANK YOU TO THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP MAKE THIS PROJECT EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL.
IT INCLUDES 3.3 MILLION FOR THE MEMORIAL BRANCH LIBRARY, 2.5 MILLION FOR (INDISCERNIBLE) LIBRARY, 900,000 FOR FOREST HILLS FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS AND THE $1.7 MILLION FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WILL MAKE MYSELF TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE A SEAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, RAMINO.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS HOMER GARCIA III, AND I AM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
TODAY'S WORK SESSION, I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT KEY INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE SYSTEM PLAN WHICH WE ADOPTED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND CONSISTENT WITH THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC DURING THAT PROCESS.
STRONG ORGANIZATIONS DEPEND ON THE ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER AND PERFORM AS A TEAM.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DOES THAT, AND THE STAFF IS OUR GREATEST ASSET.
THE WORK THAT WE DELIVER TO THE PUBLIC IS CENTERED AROUND FOUR PRIMARY TENETS.
BEING CONSERVATION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, PLAY, AND SOCIAL EQUITY, ALL TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL PARKS, FACILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE'RE IN FOUR PRIMARY BUCKETS.
OUR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE WHICH KEEPS OUR PARKS CLEAN AND PARKS USABLE FOR THE PUBLIC, AND INCLUDES ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING, WHETHER IT'S THE SUMMER USE PROGRAM, OPEN PLAY CENTER, STRUCTURING PROGRAM IN THE CENTERS, SENIOR CENTERS, OUR PARK STEWARDSHIP, THAT IS REALLY FOCUSED ON PROMOTING HEALTHY PARK USE, AND DEVELOPING THOSE HABITS WITH OUR CITIZENS.
A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THERE ARE THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES PROGRAM.
AND ALSO OUR TRAIL STEWARD PROGRAM.
AND THEN LASTLY, LOOKING AT PARK PLANNING.
THAT IS REALLY, WE LOOK AT SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PRACTICES, AND WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE NATURE PLAY ELEMENTS IN OUR GROWING PARK SYSTEM.
THIS NEXT SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS JUST KIND OF A QUICK STAT SHEET.
WE HAVE OVER 250 PARKS, 200 MILES OF TRAILS, AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING.
EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE 30 POOLS APDS SPLASH PADS.
YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER NUMBERS THERE.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT AND TO ADD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS IS THE DIVERSE STAFF THAT WE HAVE THAT HELP DELIVER THESE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
AND WE LIKE TO LOOK AT OURSELVES AS PARK PROFESSIONALS AND THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO IN WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC DAILY.
WE KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEARLY PAST TWO DECADES FOR OUR PARK ACRES, WE HAVE NEARLY -- WE HAVE ACTUALLY MORE THAN DOUBLED THAT IN SIZE.
KEY ACQUISITIONS DURING THIS TIME FRAME ARE REALLY CENTERED AROUND THE GREENWAY PROGRAM, WHICH THE OUTER RING OF THE CITY.
THE MEDINA RIVER NATURAL AREA AND THE PARK WHICH IS KIND OF ONE OF OUR MOST RECENT ACQUISITIONS, AND THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PROJECT OFF THE GROUND IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC IN 2021.
WHILE WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PARK ACRES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHOW AND HIGHLIGHT IS OUR 10-MINUTE WALK.
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POINT IN TIME.WHAT I WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE HERE IS SINCE THIS MEASURE WAS TRACKED IN 2012, WE HAVE SEEN INCREMENTAL GROWTH.
WE'VE INCREASED BY 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT UPWARD TREND, LOOKING AT KEY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN ANTONIO SPORTS AND OUR SCHOOL PARK PROGRAM, LOOKING AT WHERE WE CAN TARGET THOSE INVESTMENTS TO CONTINUE INCREMENTALLY INCREASING THIS MARK.
THE FY '20 PROPOSED PARKS BUDGET IS $117 MILLION.
THIS SETS GENERAL FUND PORTION AT A LITTLE OVER $51 MILLION.
RESTRICTED FUNDS AT OVER $15 MILLION.
AND THEN OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM AT A LITTLE OVER $50 MILLION.
AND WHAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS, IN THE ADOPTED -- OR PROPOSED PARKS BUDGET, THERE'S NOT ANY REDUCTION IN SERVICES OR RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING WITH THE PUBLIC EXPERIENCES, WHEN THEY COME TO A PARK OR RECREATION CENTER OR SENIOR CENTER TODAY, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE IN OUR -- AN INCREASE IN OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS IS DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND.
SO THE CURRENT PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL FUND FEE IS AT $1.
THAT IS GOING TO BE PROPOSED TO BE $1.50.
THERE'S A COMMENSURATE DECREASE IN THE SOLID WASTE FEE THAT LIES IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
AS A RESULT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
SO BY SHIFTING THOSE EXPENSES OVER INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND OUR MANDATE TO FULLY FUND OUR PARK MANDATES AT $1.9 MILLION.
THE PARK MANDATES INCLUDES -- THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE ADDITIONAL CREEKWAY MILES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OPENING UP HERE IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
NOW, WITH THIS MANDATE, WE ARE ADDING 16 POSITIONS THAT GO BACK TO DIRECTLY SUPPORTING OUR GROWING PARK SYSTEM.
WE ARE ACQUIRING OVER 100 ADDITIONAL ACRES, OVER 250 PARK AMENITIES, AND WE'RE ADDING 12 MILES OF TRAIL.
WITHIN THE PROPOSED PARKS BUDGET FOR FY '20, WE ALSO WILL CONTINUE OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
SO YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE A NUMBER OF FACILITIES WHERE WE CONTINUE AND PARTNERSHIP WITH BESD, THIS BUDGET OF $3 MILLION REFLECTS THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE AUGMENT THAT AND ACCELERATE THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PLAN BY MAKING ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE PARKS OPERATING BUDGET.
OUR TREE PRESERVATION AND MITIGATION FUND.
HISTORICALLY OUR PROGRAMS ARE SET AT $1.7 MILLION.
THIS CONTINUES THAT BASELINE FUNDING FOR INVESTMENTS AND HOW WE CONNECT TREES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH UNDER ONE ROOF.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM IS ENTERING ITS THIRD YEAR.
WE CONTINUE OUR POPULAR TREE ADOPTION EVENTS, SO THIS YEAR WE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO HAVE TWO EVENTS IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT, WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME, ADOPT A TREE, AND THEN TAKE IT HOME AND PLANT IT IN THEIR OWN YARD WHICH THEY THEN MAINTAIN GOING FORWARD.
WE ALSO LOOK FOR WHERE WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE INVESTMENTS THROUGH MAYBE UNPLANNED REVENUE, OR PROJECTS THAT MAYBE ARE LAGGING A LITTLE BIT.
WE WANT TO GET THOSE DOLLARS INTO PRODUCTION SO WE CONTINUALLY LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN THIS -- OR CONNECT THE TREE PROGRAM -- THE TREE MITIGATION CLINIC AND KEEP THE DOLLARS AND PRODUCTION.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT QUICKLY THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN THEY GO OUT AND PROVIDE DOOR HANGERS FOR CURBSIDE COLLECTION, WE PROVIDE COLLATERAL MATERIAL AND RESOURCE INFORMATION, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S DEMONSTRATED NEED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE CONTINUE THAT TODAY.
WE LOOK AT EMBEDDING EQUITY IN PARKS.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2019, WE BEGAN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF THE CITY'S CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE THAT REALLY LOOKS AT FOCUSING ON CHILDREN OF COLOR AND CONNECTING THEM TO NATURE-BASED PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION.
THAT IMPLEMENTATION ACTUALLY RUNS THROUGH OCTOBER 20 OF NEXT YEAR, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE SWIM LESSONS AS WE HAVE IN PRIOR YEARS.
THIS YEAR WE HAD OVER 2,400 CHILDREN ACCESS THE FREE SWIM LESSONS, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT, BECAUSE LEARNING HOW TO SWIM IS A LIFE-SAVING SKILL.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT DROWN ING, IT'
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THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN TEXAS, AND FOR DISPROPORTIONATELY SO FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR.ADDITIONALLY, WE DID BEGIN EQUITY TRAINING WITHIN THE PARK DEPARTMENT, FOR A FULL DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT.
ANOTHER ENHANCEMENT FOR OUR FY '20, WE LOOK AT EQUITY, IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE DID A PILOT PROGRAM UNDER OUR JUVENILE RESTITUTION PROGRAM.
HISTORICALLY, THOSE OFFENDERS THAT ARE PROVIDED A NUMBER OF HOURS TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE, THEY WOULD COME TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, GO TO A PARK, MEET THE SERVICE REQUIREMENT, GO HOME.
WE'VE EMBEDDED THE -- SOME EQUITY -- EXCUSE ME, WE'VE EMBEDDED EDUCATION BASED PROGRAMMING AND REALLY NATURE BASED PROGRAMMING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OFFENDERS THAT COME TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE SERVICE REQUIREMENT, OVER HALF OF THE PARTICIPANTS LIVE IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.
AND SO AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, WE DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO FORMALIZE IN FISCAL YEAR '20 AND MAKING SURE THAT WHILE WE HAVE THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR OUR YOUTH, WE'RE MAKING IT ALSO A MEANINGFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY, AND AGAIN, WE WANT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY PARK USE.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS, BACK TO OUR PARK STEWARDSHIP COMPONENT IN OUR PORTFOLIO, THIS PROGRAM LIES IN THAT BUSINESS SEGMENT.
THESE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE ADOPTED PARK SYSTEM PLAN.
SO THAT PARKS ARE RESPONSIVE AND WE'RE ATTENTIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE ARE RESTORATIVE BY CONNECTING CITIZENS TO NATURE, AND PROMOTING HEALTHY PARK USE.
THAT WE'RE RESILIENT IN INCREASING KNOWLEDGE OF CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND WE'RE RESOURCEFUL BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES.
THE FY '20 PROPOSED PARK BUDGET IS ALIGNED WITH THESE PRIORITIES.
AND I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT STAFF IS OUR BASIC ASSET.
WE ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AND WE HAVE LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE A SHORT VIDEO, WE'LL HEAR FROM SOME OF THEM NOW.
>> SAN ANTONIO PARKS AND RECREATION ENSURES WE'RE IMPROVING OUR RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES FOR DIVERSE EXPERIENCES.
WE HAVE OVER 250 PARKS IN SAN ANTONIO.
I ALWAYS TELL MY VOLUNTEERS, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE DONE.
AND SO IT'S A WAY TO HAVE A VOICE, WHEN YOU COME OUT, SO MOST OF OUR EVENTS ARE AGES 5 AND UP, SO THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN COME OUT AND SWEAT FOR A GOOD CAUSE, VOLUNTEER AND BE PART OF OUR TEAM.
PARKS AND RECREATION OFFER YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES TO CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS AND NATURE IN THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE 40 MAJOR TRAILHEADS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS, RESIDENTS CAN WALK, RUN, HIKE AND CYCLE AROUND THE CITY.
>> MY ROLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS TO CREATE AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS, TO TAKE OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO COME AND PARTICIPATE.
IT HELPS WITH SELF-ESTEEM, IT HELPS THEM DO BETTER IN SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE MEETING NEW FRIENDS.
>> TEAM SPORTS GIVE LOCAL YOUTH AND ADULTS A CHANCE TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, MAKE FRIENDS AND STAY ACTIVE.
THEY'RE OFFERED YEAR ROUND FOR VARIOUS AGES AND INCLUDE BASKETBALL, SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL TO NAME A FEW.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT THERE AND EXERCISE WHILE HAVING FUN WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE ENGAGE ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF SAN ANTONIO TO TRY AND GET EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND BE ACTIVE AND LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE.
PARKS AND RECREATION OFFERS FREE GROUP SWIMMING LESSONS OVER THE SUMMER.
OUR INSTRUCTORS TAUGHT OVER 2,400 PARTICIPANTS TO SWIM.
>> I'VE BEEN WITH THE SAN ANTONIO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS, AND I TRULY, TRULY LOVE OUR PARKS.
OUR DEPARTMENT GOES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN FESTIVALS, PUTTING ON OUR OWN SHOWS, AND ONE IN PARTICULAR IS THE BRAVO SHOW IN THE SUMMER.
WE'RE NOT ONLY OUR LOCALS GET TO ATTEND, BUT TIRISTS GET TO SEE WHAT SAN ANTONIO IS ALL ABOUT.
PARKS AND RECREATION HOSTED OUR ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM AT 56 SITES ACROSS SAN ANTONIO, WITH OVER 4,600 PARTICIPANTS.
WE ALSO HOST SPRING BREAK AND HOLIDAY CAMPS FOR YOUTH.
[00:35:03]
>> OUR TEAM LIVES, WORKS AND PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
OUR WORK IS DIVERSE AND FULFILLING.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EXPLORE THE FUN WITH SAN ANTONIO PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON THE FY '20 PARKS DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BUDGET.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HOMER, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO STAY THERE, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS, THEN WE'LL BRING UP A FEW OTHERS THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO FROM ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, AND THEN WE'LL ADJOURN FOR THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
HOMER, IF YOU COULD BRING UP SLIDE 6.
I'M GLAD YOU INCLUDED THIS IN THERE.
I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.
THIS, TO ME, IS ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT METRICS AS WE BEGIN TO ADD TO THE PARKS PORTFOLIO, WHICH WE'VE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB AT AND THE VOTERS HAVE APPROVED US DOING THAT.
WHERE IS THIS JUMPING FROM? IS THIS FROM OUR GREENWAY CONNECTIONS THAT WE'RE NOW TAKING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY? OR HOW ARE WE GETTING THOSE NUMBERS UP AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT?
BUT MOST RECENTLY THROUGH DIALOGUE WITH TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS, LOOKING AT WHAT THEY MEASURE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON, WHILE WE KNOW IN OUR UDC FOR THESE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR SET ASIDE GREEN SPACE, BUT THAT'S NOT COUNTED IN THIS MEASURE.
WE'RE STILL ACTIVELY HAVING THAT DIALOGUE, BUT THE JUMP IS ACTUALLY FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
SO I KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, MAYOR, YOU SIGNED ON IN DECEMBER 2018 THE 10-MINUTE WALK CAMPAIGN.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT OUR MARK WAS IN 2018, THAT WAS 38%.
WE'VE SEEN 4 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS THROUGH DIALOGUE WITH THEM, LOOKING AT WHAT THEY MEASURE, SO THEY'RE STARTING TO COUNT IN WHERE WE HAVE MAYBE CROSSWALKS TO PARKS, OR SIDEWALKS TO PARKS.
THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS NOT THE CASE.
BUT THEY'VE STARTED TO INCLUDE THAT IN THERE.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO NOW STRATEGIZE WITH MY TEAM.
WE'RE LIKE, WHERE DO WE HAVE PARKS, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE A SIDEWALK, OR A CROSSWALK.
SO THAT REALLY BRINGS ON A LARGER CONVERSATION.
SO WE CAN ENGAGE TCI TO HAVE MORE, I GUESS CRITICAL THINKING INTO PLANNING, SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOW THEY'RE NOW MEASURING THIS.
THE DELTA, THE CHANGE HAS PRIMARILY BEEN FOR HOW THEY LOOK AT THAT.
THEY'RE STARTING TO PICK UP THOSE PIECES THAT ARE CRITICAL AND THEY PROBABLY ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
SO OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE ENGAGED, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ADDING GREEN SPACE TO SAN ANTONIO'S PARK PORTFOLIO.
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF IF THERE ARE ANY DISPARITIES IN GEOGRAPHY AS IT RELATES TO THESE NUMBERS?
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON DOING, SO THAT AS WE HAVE DIALOGUE WITH SAN ANTONIO SPORTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE ON BOARD AND SUPPORTIVE OF USING THAT AS ONE PRONG APPROACH TO HOW WE CAN START TO FILL THESE GAPS.
SO YES, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THAT TOGETHER NOW, BECAUSE AS SOON AS THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, WE WANT TO GET MOVING ON THIS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN THAT MEASURE.
THE REASON WHY I ASK IS OBVIOUSLY THIS COMMUNITY IS NOW FOR 20 YEARS INVESTED IN THE GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S VERY WIDELY SUPPORTED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTINUES AS IT GOES INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY THAT PREVIOUSLY HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED.
THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU RELATED TO THIS SLIDE IS, DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE, 42% IS BETTER THAN WHERE WE WERE BEFORE, BUT WHERE WE RANK WITH OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS? WE WEREN'T DOING SO WELL WHEN WE STARTED MEASURING THIS.
SO RIGHT NOW, THE PARKS -- I'M GOING TO GO AND TALK ABOUT PARK SCORE, BECAUSE 10-MINUTE WALK IS JUST ONE COMPONENT OF THE OVERALL PARK SCORE.
>> WHEN WE LOOK AT PARK SCORE, SAN ANTONIO IS AT 41%, AND AUSTIN IS AT 53%.
SO THAT, AND THEN HOUSTON IS BELOW WHERE WE'RE AT AT 35%.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RANGE, 35% TO 53%, THAT'S AN 18 PERCENTAGE POINT SPREAD.
SO THEY'RE A LITTLE AHEAD OF US AS WELL.
AND THEN EL PASO IS 1 PERCENTAGE POINT HIGHER.
SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT, I GUESS BENCHMARK DATA, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY TO 10-MINUTE WALK, THE STATE AVERAGE IS 60%, NATIONALLY IT'S 54%, WE'RE AT 42%.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BUT ALL OF THAT, AGAIN, TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO
[00:40:02]
THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY HAS A FUNCTION WITH OUR OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFILE AS WELL.THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF, AND THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM OUR CITIZENS COMMITTEES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: RAMINO, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU AS IT RELATES TO CIRCULATION.
I ALWAYS WANT TO PREFACE MY COMMENTS ABOUT THE LIBRARY BECAUSE WE INVEST A LOT OF MONEY INTO OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
IT'S A QUALITY SYSTEM AND YOU'RE ONE OF OUR LEADERS IN NORTH AMERICA NOW.
BUT THIS IS A CORE SERVICE OF THE CITY.
AND SO IT DESERVES THE RESPECT IN THE BUDGET THAT I THINK WE'VE BEEN GIVING IT.
IN TERMS OF CIRCULATION, THOUGH, HOW IS THAT CHANGING? HOW IS THAT EVOLVING FROM OUR, YOU KNOW, PAPER BOOKS TO NOW DIGITAL?
>> WELL, THAT'S AN ONGOING QUESTION.
I'M OFTEN ASKED, ARE LIBRARIES BECOMING OBSOLETE, OR BECOME OBSOLETE BECAUSE OF THE INTERNET? THE FACT IS THAT THE DEMAND FOR PRINT, FOR PHYSICAL ITEMS IN PRINT RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 5 TO 1 DIGITAL.
THAT SAID, DEMAND FOR DIGITAL ITEMS WERE EBOOKS, CONTINUING TO GO UP.
AND SO THAT'S THE TREND RIGHT NOW.
WE DON'T SEE A TREND ANYTIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AT LEAST MY FUTURE, WHERE THE DEMAND FOR PRINT BOOKS WILL GO AWAY.
AND AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF I ASKED YOU THIS, BUT MY LIBRARY CARD EXPIRED AND I FOUND OUT WHEN I TRIED TO GO DOWNLOAD A POOK.
HAVE WE STARTED MOVING -- ARE WE GOING TO INSTITUTE ONLINE RENEWALS OF LIBRARY CARDS?
>> ONE OF THE INITIATIVES FOR 2020 THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, ACTUALLY, IS A NEW INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM, THAT'S THE SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORTS ALL THE OPERATIONS OF THE LIBRARY.
IT GIVES THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT A BOOK, TO LOOK AT WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS IN TERMS OF COLLECTIONS, AND KEEPS PATRON RECORDS AND SO ON.
BY THE WAY, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT EQUITY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID ADMINISTRATIVELY IS EXTENDED THE RENEWAL PERIOD TO FIVE YEARS.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT RENEWING YOUR CARD OR YOUR FAMILY'S CARD FOR FIVE YEARS.
SO THAT INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM WILL FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE COLLECTION.
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, ALONG WITH YOUR BOARD, AND OUR FRIENDS OF SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, WHICH IS REAL SOLID SUPPORT FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WRITE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SEE THE EVOLUTION OF A CITY BY SIMPLY GOING TO SEE ITS LIBRARY, AND WE CAN SEE THAT PLAIN AS DAY AT CENTRAL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, RAMINO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I GO NOW TO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
RAMINO, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
OUR FIELD OFFICE FOR DISTRICT 8 IS LOCATED INSIDE IGO LIBRARY.
AND I CAN'T THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM ENOUGH FOR MAKING US FEEL WELCOME AND PROVIDING SPACE FOR US.
I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT'S A HASSLE TO HAVE THE COUNCILMAN AND HIS STAFF IN THERE.
AND YOU'RE VERY POLITE FOR SAYING NO.
I KNOW IT'S SOMETIMES A HASSLE TO HAVE US OUT THERE, AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH US.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 8, HAS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T SEE IN ANY OTHER DISTRICT, AND THAT IS JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES PRESENT THERE, RIGHT? I'VE GOT SOMETHING LIKE 30,000, YOU KNOW, ARABS, SOUTHEAST ASIAN INDIVIDUALS IN MY DISTRICT.
I'VE GOT PEOPLE, THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF MUSLIMS, AND SEIK FAMILIES.
I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT, BECAUSE THOSE TWO LIBRARIES IN PARTICULAR, I THINK COULD DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE LIBRARIES ARE FOR THEM AS WELL, AND MAKE IT RELEVANT TO THOSE FAMILIES.
WHENEVER I ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME TO THE LIBRARY, THEY'LL SAY, OH, MY GOSH, I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS HERE, RIGHT? SO THAT'S MY CHALLENGE FOR YOU THIS NEXT YEAR TO SEE THAT IT'S SOMEHOW RELEVANT TO THESE FAMILIES THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BEFORE.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE KEPT YOUR EYE ON THIS, AND IT'S BECOME SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING TOWARDS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT.
THE SECOND THING IS FOR PARKS.
[00:45:02]
IF I COULD BOTHER YOU ALL TO COME UP HERE.IT'S REALLY NOT A QUESTION -- AGAIN, I THANK YOU.
IN THIS NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER, THE DECISION TO NAME A NEW PARK IN DISTRICT 8 AFTER OUR FRIEND DAN MARKASEN IS GOING TO BE BEFORE US.
AND I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THAT.
I THINK YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSOR AND MARIA GOMEZ FOR HELPING US GET THIS PROCESS DONE.
IT WILL BE A SPECIAL NEEDS PARK.
IT'S GOING TO FEATURE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT THAT IS FOR KIDS WHO ARE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND, AND HAVE MOBILITY PROBLEMS. AND SO THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT IS THE CYCLING -- THE MOUNTAIN BIKE CYCLING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US AT OUR PARKS.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT I'M A REALLY, REALLY GOOD MOUNTAIN BIKER.
THERE'S A VIDEO OUT THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, BUT I'M PRETTY AMAZING AND I'M ADMIRED ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR MY SKILLS.
DR. BRIDGER'S LAUGHING, BECAUSE I ATE DIRT LAST WEEK ON MY BIKE.
THE REASON I BRING IT UP, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME TRAILS.
THE LEON CREEK GREENWAY, AND BY TRAILS I MEAN THE OFF-ROAD, AND I KNOW MCALLISTER PARK HAS THEM AS WELL.
MY UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH, IS THAT THOSE WEREN'T CREATED BY US OR MAINTAINED BY US, THEY WERE CREATED AND MAINTAINED BY A PRIVATE GROUP OF BICYCLE ENTHUSIASTS CALLED STORM.
YOU'RE CORRECT THAT THE STORM IS A SOUTH TEXAS OFF-ROAD MOUNTAIN BIKERS.
WE'VE HAD A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
THEY COME TO ALL OF OUR PARKS BOARD MEETINGS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHERE NEW TRAILS CAN GO.
THEY REALLY SERVE AS AN EXTRA SET OF EYES AND EARS AUDIO] WE DIDN'T CREATE THIS TRAIL, AND IT'S NOT DONE ACCORDING TO MOUNTAIN BIKING STANDARDS.
WE DO HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
AND THEY HAVE A DESIRE AND VISION TO LOOK AT MAYBE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE NORTHEAST EXPANSION, IS THERE OPPORTUNITY THERE.
WHAT WE'VE TOLD THEM IN REGARD TO THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION IS, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THAT PARK PROPERTY, AND SO THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT BEYOND JUST MCALLISTER PARK OR SOME OF THE OTHER OFFSHOOTS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY AUTHORIZE D TRAILS, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH STORM.
>> PELAEZ: THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS WE'VE GOT THIS GROUP, AND FOR THOSE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THEM, THEY HOLD EVENTS ALMOST EVERY DAY, AND GROUP RIDES AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PARKS AROUND TOWN.
FOR EXAMPLE, TONIGHT, THEY'VE GOT THE REBEL BETTYS AT MCALLISTER PARK WHICH IS A GROUP OF FEMALE MOUNTAIN BIKE ENTHUSIASTS, AND THEY GO ALL EVENING, AND THEN TURN THEIR LIGHTS ON AND RIDE AROUND AT NIGHT.
AND THEN ON FRIDAY, THEY'VE GOT A VERY LONG RIDE FOR PRETTY MUCH ANYBODY AT ANY SKILL LEVEL WHO WANTS TO GO OUT AND LEARN ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIKING.
AND THEY REALLY ARE, THEY'RE LARGE GROUPS.
AND THEY GET TOGETHER AND GO MAINTAIN THESE TRAILS THEMSELVES, THEY TAKE OUT THEIR OWN SHOVELS AND PICKS AND DO PRUNING AND ALL THAT.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS.
THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP IS BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T HAVE IS A SKILLS COURSE, OR A PUMP TRACK, RIGHT, FOR THESE KINDS OF RIDERS.
RIGHT? AND SKILLS COURSES AND PUMP TRACKS ARE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T NEED HILLS FOR.
THOSE ARE ACTUALLY BUILT OUT BY CITIES IN MANY INSTANCES IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE MOUNTAIN BIKE ENTHUSIASTS, BUT THERE ARE NO MOUNTAINS.
AND SO LESS SO FOR DISTRICT 8.
WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT, AND I MENTIONED THIS LAST YEAR, IS THAT THERE'S NOT JUST PEOPLE WANTING TO CYCLE DOWN BROADWAY, OR, YOU KNOW, BE ON BICYCLE-ACCESSIBLE STREETS.
THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF BICYCLE, WHO ARE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE AND GET THEIR CARDIO AND ALL THAT IN AREAS LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE AND EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE WHERE THERE AREN'T ANY HILLS.
YET, YOU COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, HAVE PARKS OUT THERE WITH SPACE WHO WOULD BE IDEAL CANDIDATES FOR PUMP TRACKS OR SKILLS COURSES.
THAT'S MY CHALLENGE TO YOU GUYS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I'M GOING TO
[00:50:01]
KEEP MENTIONING THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN -- AND YOU'RE GETTING ALL SORTS OF NOTES HANDED TO YOU, SO I'LL STOP NOW.>> SO SANDY JENKINS, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH SANDY, SHE'S ONE OF OUR PARK MANAGERS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT TYPE OF SKILLS COURSE AMENITY.
IN THE BOND WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THAT AT PEARSALL AND SOME AT MCALLISTER.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE THAT GETS US OPPOSITE ENDS OF TOWN.
SO AS IT PROLIFERATES, WE CAN SEE WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THAT.
>> PELAEZ: LATER IF YOU LIKE, I'LL HELP YOU DESIGN THEM, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE IN X GAMES SOON.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU, I NOTICED THERE WAS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN THE TREE CAMP MITIGATION PRESERVATION BY NEARLY 1.2 MILLION.
ARE WE ANTICIPATING WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE THE KIND OF NEEDS? BECAUSE THE PRIOR TWO YEARS WE HAD WELL OVER $2 MILLION DEDICATED TO THAT FUNDING.
SO WHAT'S THE LOGIC BEHIND SUCH A DRAMATIC CUT?
>> SO LAST WEEK, REFLECTED IN THE 2.9 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, LAST WEEK WE BROUGHT AN ITEM TO COUNCIL THAT APPROPRIATED AN ADDITIONAL 1.2 MILLION IN TREE MITIGATION FUND DOLLARS, IN RESPONSE TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE MOVED A LITTLE BIT FASTER AS WE LOOKED AT REFORESTATION.
THE TRAIL BETWEEN FREDERICKSBURG ROAD AND CINCINNATI IS MARTINEZ CREEK, AND ON APACHE CREEK WE ALREADY BROUGHT TO COUNCIL A YEAR AGO, WE APPROPRIATED DOLLARS, SO PART OF THE 2018 HIGHER MARK, WE LOOKED AT DOING SOME PLANTING COMPLETED ALONG UPPER APACHE IN DISTRICT 5.
LAST WEEK WE BROUGHT 1.2 MILLION FOR THREE PARJS.
THE MARTINEZ CREEK PLANTING, THE REST OF APACHE AND RESPONSE TO A STORM THAT PASSED THROUGH TOWN, IN EARLY JUNE, WE LOST A LOT OF TREES IN THE WOODLAND LAKE AREA, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALLOCATING FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN HELP THE AREA RECOVER.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE DELTA BETWEEN THE 2.9 IN 2019, OR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN THE 1.7.
I MENTIONED THE 1.7 WHICH IS GENERALLY BASELINE FUNDING CONSISTENT IN '18-'19.
I TALKED ABOUT WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE UNPLANNED REVENUES OR OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT MOVING, WE COME TO COUNCIL AND APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS.
IN 2018 WE HAD BROUGHT TO COUNCIL A CONTRACT, OR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALAMO CITY GOLF TRAIL FOR PLANTING AT NORTHERN HILLS.
AND SO THAT EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN '18, '19, AND WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
AGAIN, IF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR BEYOND WHAT WE'RE TARGETING RIGHT NOW IN OUR TREE PLANTING PARTNERSHIPS, FOR EXAMPLE WITH ALAMO CITY GOLF TRAIL, WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND BRING FORWARD THOSE ITEMS TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
>> COURAGE: IS IT CORRECT YOUR DEPARTMENT HANDLES THE TREE MITIGATION FUNDS COMES WHEN DSD SAYS THEY NEED TO PAY FOR TREE MITIGATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> COURAGE: THERE WAS ONE PROJECT IN MY DISTRICT I WANTED TO BRING UP.
ALONG WILDERNESS OAK THERE ARE APARTMENTS BEING BUILT AND THERE'S A TRAIL RIGHT BY THAT PROPERTY.
THAT TIES INTO PANTHER SPRINGS.
WE FOUND PART OF THAT TRAIL WAS ACTUALLY IN THE PROPERTY THAT THE DEVELOPER OWNS, AND IS DEVELOPING.
AND SO WE'VE HAD TO SAY WE'VE GOT TO RECONFIGURE THAT TRAIL.
DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT IN NEW TREES AND RECONFIGURE THAT TRAIL BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT WITH THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR?
>> THIS IS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF --
>> THE MODIFICATION TO THE TRAIL IS COMPLETE.
>> COURAGE: AND WAS TREE MITIGATION INCLUDED IN THAT?
>> IT WAS JUST THE REALIGNMENTS OF THE TRAIL.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO BACK -- IT WAS EXPLAINED IMPACT TO NATURE, WHAT WAS VERY MUCH A NATURAL TRAIL AND NATURAL SETTING, NOW THERE'S THIS HUGE DEVELOPMENT.
WE'LL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT.
RIGHT NOW ALL THEY GOT COMPLETED WAS THE ALIGNMENT OF THE TRAIL, SO THERE'S STILL THAT CONNECTIVITY AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
WE'LL GO BACK AND REVISIT WHERE WE CAN HELP RESTORE THAT NATURAL FEEL TO THE AREA.
THAT WAS WHAT WE HAD COMMUNICATED TO WYATT'S MOTHER
[00:55:01]
AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP AND DO THAT.WHAT'S GOING ON AT MCALLISTER PARK? I NOTICED THAT THAT'S A FUNDING ITEM ON SLIDE 9.
YOU HAVE A LIST OF SEVERAL THINGS ON THAT SLIDE.
SO AS PART OF THE BOND, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE BIKE PUMP TRACK.
THERE'S ALSO PARKING FOR BICYCLES, PAVILIONS, AND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES LOW WATER CROSSING.
SO FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROJECT, THAT WILL COME ONLINE, THOSE FUNDS WERE APPROPRIATED AS A MAINTENANCE MANDATE TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
>> COURAGE: I WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL OF THE MEETINGS THAT MCALLISTER HAD PUT FORWARD.
YOU ALSO OVERSEE THE AUDIO] AND I SEE THAT THERE WERE TARGETED 5,000 ACRES FOR POSSIBLE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.
BUT NEXT YEAR YOU'RE FOCUSING ON 2,500 ACRES, A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 50%.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THAT REDUCTION?
SO THE -- UNDER THE EDWARDS FOR PROTECTION PROGRAM, WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, BEXAR COUNTY, WHERE IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THAT DEVELOPMENT, OR EXCUSE ME, PROTECT THE AQUIFER, AND THEN WHICH BASICALLY DEFINED THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
WHAT WE'VE NOTICED IS, IN BEXAR COUNTY, THE PRICE TAG FOR ACQUISITION OF THOSE PROPERTIES, EVEN WITH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON IT, IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
SO IN THE PROPOSED FY '20 BUDGET AS WE CONTINUE THAT PIVOT IN LOOKING AT WHERE WE CAN MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, THROUGH THE SALES TAX, BUT THEN ALSO LOOKING AT KEY WATERSHEDS AND FOCUSING ON FURTHER UP INTO THE CONTRIBUTING ZONE, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY, THERE IS AN EMERGING NEED TO PRIORITIZE WATER QUALITY CONSERVATION.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE THOSE KEY WATERSHEDS ARE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S AROUND THERE AS WELL, THE PRICE TAG IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
FURTHER WEST WE GO, GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.
SO THIS REDUCTION IN ACREAGE IS MORE A REFLECTION IN THE PRICE FOR PROTECTING THOSE PROPERTIES.
AGAIN, WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THAT, AND MAYBE 2,500 IS 3,500, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THOSE.
BUT THAT'S THE REASON FOR THAT DECREASE, TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE, MAKING SURE WE CAN KEEP THOSE DOLLARS IN PRODUCTION.
THAT'S LOGICAL DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUND BALANCE IS IN THAT DEPARTMENT FOR FUTURE --
>> >> COURAGE: YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF PAGES.
>> YEAH, IT'S ON THE LAST PAGE.
FOR EDWARDS, WE HAVE COLLECTED $68 MILLION, AND WE HAVE SPENT A LITTLE OVER 50 OF THAT.
>> COURAGE: SO THERE'S ABOUT 18 UNEXPENDED SO FAR.
>> COURAGE: WHAT'S THE PROJECTION FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR? BECAUSE I THINK THE COLLECTIONS ARE STILL ACTIVE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, RIGHT?
>> COURAGE: WHAT THEY ANNUALLY COLLECT.
WE ANTICIPATE THE COLLECTIONS FOR THE SALES TAX WILL BE COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY '21, THEREABOUTS.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND DOWN THOSE DOLLARS UNTIL THEY'RE EXPENSED.
>> COURAGE: I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH MORE IS ANTICIPATED TO COME IN.
>> FOR FY '20, WE'RE PROJECTING ABOUT $39.1 MILLION.
>> COURAGE: PLUS, WHAT ABOUT THE YEAR AFTER? BECAUSE IT'S GOOD UNTIL 2021.
>> COURAGE: SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT 18 UNEXPENDED SO FAR.
>> WE'RE PROJECTING FOR IN 2021, $6.9 MILLION FOR THE EXPANSION,
[01:00:03]
AND $7.7 MILLION FOR THE EDWARDS AK WE FER PROTECTION.SO ABOUT $13 MILLION FOR 2021.
>> COURAGE: AND YOU SAID HOW MUCH FOR 2020, ABOUT THE SAME?
>> COURAGE: SO WE'RE TALKING CLOSE TO $45 MILLION, PLUS THE 18 THAT THEY HAVE UNEXPENDED NOW, SO CLOSE TO $60 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF YEARS FOR LAND PURCHASES UNDER THE EDWARDS AK WE FER PROGRAM?
>> OR CONSERVATION EASEMENT, RIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT.
I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR RAMIRO.
THERE'S ONE SAFETY FACTOR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION, I MENTIONED IT TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AT BROOK HALL LIBRARY.
THE WALKWAY FROM BROOK HOLLOW THAT GOES INTO THE PARKING LOT, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FALL, AND EMS HAS EVEN COME OUT THERE, AND I RECOMMENDED WE PUT IN AN ADA COMPLIANT RAMP, OR COMPLETION OF THAT WALKWAY.
IS THAT IN THE BOOKS TO BE DONE?
>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH BUILDING EQUIPMENT SERVICES TO ASSESS THAT SITUATION.
WE'RE WORKING AT A SOLUTION FOR IT.
THE ADA CREATED ANOTHER ISSUE, WE WERE TO MAKE IT ADA BECAUSE IT WOULD EXPOSE OTHER PATRONS FROM ANOTHER DIRECTION.
SO THE RESPONSE IS, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ESB TO RESOLVE THAT.
>> COURAGE: I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ADA COMPLIANT RAMP, BUT WHEN EVERYBODY GOES TO VOTE ON ELECTION TIME, WHICH IS A COUPLE OF TIMES EVERY OTHER YEAR OR SO, THEY WALK DOWN THAT SIDEWALK, AND THEY STEP OFF IT, IT'S VERY HIGH, AND PEOPLE ARE FALLING.
>> COURAGE: SO THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UNLESS YOU PUT A SIGN, DON'T WALK THIS WAY.
BUT MAYBE NOT WITH THE SOLUTION YOU'VE SUGGESTED, BUT IT WILL BE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY.
>> COURAGE: PLEASE SEND ME WHAT THAT IS.
>> FUNDING IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER IN THE SUMMER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME RIGHT BACK UP.
AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS.
SO FOR DISTRICT 2, WE HAVE NO DOG PARKS THAT I'M AWARE OF.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS COMING IN THE FUTURE FOR DOG PARKS, OR SKATE PARKS, OR --
>> SO, LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF WE HAVE THAT.
BUT YOUR QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANY PLANNED DOG PARKS FOR DISTRICT 2 TO COME ONLINE MAYBE NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER? OR POSSIBLY THROUGH THE BOND AS WELL?
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THEN WE HAVE SOME HISTORICAL CEMETERIES THAT SIT OFF OF EAST COMMERCE AND THE ROFFLES.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE THAT'S REALLY NOT MARKED OR DETAILED.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE USED WITHIN THE HISTORICAL BOUNDARIES OF HOW WE DO TOURISM, THROUGH THE AREAS OF DISTRICT 2? WE HAVE A LOT OF SLAVE GRAVES, AND INDIGENOUS GRAVES.
THERE'S, I THINK, A HISTORICAL MARKER THERE IN THE CEMETERY, BUT THAT AREA SOMETIMES JUST KIND OF GETS OVERWHELMINGLY CONSUMED WITH THE WEEDS THAT TEND TO GROW THERE.
DO YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT THE TIME FRAME IS FOR CLEANUP, OR HOW OFTEN THAT'S DONE OF THOSE CEMETERIES?
>> SO, THE -- OBVIOUSLY THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CEMETERIES DOES FALL UNDER THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE DO HAVE A SERVICE CONTRACT THAT GOES OUT AND MOWS THOSE PROPERTIES.
NOW, THEY SHOULD GET OUT EVERY TWO WEEKS.
SO WE MAKE SURE AS WELL, DURING HEAVY RAINY PERIOD, OR IF IT'S NOT RAINING AT ALL, THEY'RE NOT GOING OUT THERE TO MOW, BECAUSE WE GET COMPLAINTS SOMETIMES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT DUST BEING BLOWN UP.
WE ALSO, WHEN THEY -- WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF RAIN, IT DOES TEND TO FALL OFF SCHEDULE SOMETIMES.
SO WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WHERE THEY NEED TO CATCH UP, IF THEY'RE COMING UP
[01:05:02]
AGAINST A SIGNIFICANT HOLIDAY, MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, THAT WE WORK WITH THEM TO GET OUT THERE AND DO THAT.WITH REGARD TO MAYBE SOME SIGNAGE IN THE AREA, THERE'S A REALLY OLD MASTER PLAN FOR THE HISTORIC CEMETERIES.
I THINK IT DATES BACK TO THE '80S.
THAT'S REALLY THE GUIDING DOCUMENT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR ANY IMPROVEMENTS.
WE CAN LOOK AND REVISIT THAT TO SEE HOW THEY'RE ADDRESSED, AND MAYBE LOOK AT UPDATING THAT PLAN, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DO SO.
WE DO RECEIVE SEVERAL REQUESTS FROM WHETHER IT IS THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BECAUSE THEY DO THIS ANNUAL WALK IN OCTOBER, OR WE GET SOME SCHOOLS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO A TOUR PROJECTS, THEY MAKE US AWARE, SO THAT THEY KNOW, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ANY PARKING REALLY, SO IF THEY'RE COMING IN A CARGO VAN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BLOCKING THE ROUTE THROUGHOUT THE CEMETERY.
WE DO KNOW THERE'S PUBLIC USE THERE.
AND WE WORK TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THOSE REQUESTS.
BUT REALLY, I THINK REGARDING ANY TYPE OF SIGNAGE AND HISTORICAL MARKERS, WE'LL GO BACK AND REVISIT THAT PLAN AND INFORM YOU OF THE DISCUSSION.
AND IF WE NEED TO LOOK AT UPDATING THAT DOCUMENT, WE CAN DO THAT, TOO.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST MLK MARCHES HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES WE USE THE PITTMAN SULLIVAN PARK AS A DESIGNATED AREA.
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY RENTING OUT THE STAGE.
ARE THERE ANY PLANS, OR IS THERE A DESIGN PROCESS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO MAYBE HAVE AN AMPHITHEATER PLACED WITHIN PITTMAN SULLIVAN PARK TO KIND OF ADD TO THAT ATTRACTION SPOT TO WHERE IT'S CONTINUOUSLY USED, NOT ONLY JUST DURING THE MARCH, BUT WITH OTHER EVENTS THAT COME THERE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S REALLY TRULY ONE OF OUR DESIGNATED HISTORICAL EVENT LOCATIONS WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.
SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE MLK COMMISSION.
THEY ALWAYS DRIVE THE EVENT, THEY DO ALL THE PLANNING.
OF COURSE, WE ARE PARTNER IN HELPING THEM PRODUCE THAT SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT FORWARD.
I KNOW IN YEARS PAST THEY LOOKED AT MAYBE THE COUNTY TO HELP WITH THE STAGING, BRINGING IN A VENDOR TO DO IT, AND SO IN TERMS OF A PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT TO THE PARK, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT MAYBE IN THE BOND.
SO, YEAH, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE HOPEFULLY AN UPCOMING BOND HERE IN 2022.
SO AS WE LOOK FOR INPUT FROM PUBLIC, FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, WE CAN ADD THAT TO SEE IF THAT CAN BE PRIORITIZED IN A BOND PACKAGE.
BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT IMMINENT PLANS TO DO SO, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO HELPING THIS EVENT BE SUCCESSFUL.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: I WAS LOOKING THROUGH AND TRYING TO FIND, WHAT IS THE REVENUE FOR THE PAVILION RENTALS AS FAR AS WHAT'S RENTED OUT, SUCH AS PLATT'S PARK, AND THE OTHER PLACES THAT RENT OUT THOSE PAVILIONS?
>> WE WILL NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE REVENUE IS.
ALL OF OUR FACILITIES THAT ARE RENTED THAT GO DIRECTLY INTO THE GENERAL FUND, AND THOSE FEES AND THAT FEE STRUCTURE IS SET BY CITY COUNCIL.
SO WE'LL NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE AND GET SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE VALUE IS FOR REVENUES FOR RENTALS.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE, AS FAR AS THE SOLADO TRAIL, I KNOW BEHIND THE TOBIN LIBRARY, THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES WITHIN THAT AREA SAYS THAT A LOT OF TIMES THAT TRAIL IS NOT COMPLETELY CLEANED.
SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF DEBRIS THAT COVERS THEIR WALKWAY ALONG THAT TRAIL BEHIND THE TOBIN LIBRARY.
HOW OFTEN ARE THEY CLEANING UP THE SOLANO TRAILS BACK IN THAT AREA?
>> WE HAVE MAINTENANCE CREWS OUT ON ALL OF OUR TRAILS DAILY.
DEPENDING WHETHER WE GO IN AND PICK UP TRASH, IF THERE'S A PORTALET, WE HAVE A SERVICE VENDOR THAT PROVIDES THAT, A MOWING SERVICE THAT DOES THAT, SO FOR OUR -- THOSE ARE SCHEDULED SERVICES.
FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, PICKING UP DEBRIS, MAKING SURE THE TRAILS ARE ACCESSIBLE, REMOVING ANY GRAFFITI, THINGS LIKE THAT, SO WE HAVE STAFF OUT ON THE TRAIL DA DAILY.
WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE FOR OUR SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT THEY'RE ON THE SCHEDULE THAT THEY NEED TO BE ON, SO THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THAT PART OF IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY'S
[01:10:02]
EXPECTATIONS.AND THEN ON THE MARKETING SIDE OF WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREES, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN SEND OUT? I HAVEN'T EVER SEEN ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO I KNOW THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MAYBE A COMMUNITY GARDEN, OR SOMEWHERE WE CAN START ACTUALLY PLANTING TREES AND OXYGENATED PLANTS AND PLANTING VEGETABLES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH DATES THAT I CAN SEND OUT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE EVENTS THAT YOU ACTUALLY PRODUCE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREES?
WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE AND GET YOU A SCHEDULE OF OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM.
IN FISCAL YEAR '20 WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM.
WE'RE IN THE THIRD ITERATION OF THAT HERE COMING UP.
SO WE'LL BE TARGETING DENVER HEIGHTS, WHICH PARTLY RESIDES IN DISTRICT 2.
BUT UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY GO OUT AND HANG -- PUT DOOR HANGERS BASICALLY ON PEOPLE'S DOORS SO THAT THEY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE READY, THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTACT US.
IT IS A TURNKEY SERVICE, SO WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE RESIDENT FOR WHAT'S MOST CONVENIENT FOR THEM.
THE TREES PROVIDED ARE LARGE NATIVE TREES, WE DO UTILITY LOCATES.
SO THAT IS NOT ROLLED OUT JUST YET, BECAUSE PLANTING SEASON IS GENERALLY LATE FALL, WINTER AND EARLY, EARLY SPRING.
WHEN WE GET READY TO ROLL THAT OUT, WE'LL CERTAINLY SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOUR OFFICE IN CASE YOU START GETTING CALLS.
BUT FOR THAT PROGRAM, WE DO PUT DOOR HANGERS ON FOR LISTING ADOPTION PROGRAMS. WE'LL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE WORD OUT TO GET TREES IN THE HANDS OF RESIDENTS.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: AS FAR AS UPGRADING THE TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT THE RECREATION CENTERS, IS THERE A PLAN FOR THAT? I KNOW AT THE LINCOLN PARK, THEIR TEEN AREA HAS ALMOST NOTHING THERE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF SOME OF THE WORKERS THERE, THAT THERE'S REALLY NO ACTIVITY.
THERE'S ONE TV, ONE PING-PONG TA TABLE.
ARE THERE ANY UPDATES TO WHAT WILL BE THERE FOR THE TEENS THROUGHOUT THE RECREATION CENTERS?
>> SO WITH REGARDS TO THE TECHNOLOGY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT IS WHERE IT'S FEASIBLE TO HAVE WI-FI SERVICES.
RECENTLY, AND I'M GOING BACK, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN FY '18, WE MOVED THE BOXING PROGRAM TO LINCOLN, AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT ANNUALLY FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS IS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO GO IN AND PROVIDE A FACE LIFT, IF YOU WILL, OUTSIDE OF OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.
WHERE WE HAVE SMALLER CENTERS, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK IN-HOUSE, AND THEN PROVIDE NEW FURNISHINGS.
WE'LL LOOK AT DOING THAT FOR LINCOLN, SO THERE'S MORE ACCESS AND MORE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE BEYOND THE PROGRAM.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT LIBRARIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AS WELL.
THE QUESTION I HAVE AS FAR AS WITH THE CENSUS, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT IS NOW GOING TO BE ONLINE.
WILL THE LIBRARY HOURS BE EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHO MAYBE WORK BUT DON'T HAVE TIME TO TRULY GET TO THE LIBRARY DURING THOSE HOURS, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAY WITH THE REGULAR OPERATING HOURS?
>> SO, WHILE WE ARE HEAVILY PLANNING FOR THE LIBRARIES TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEDICATING, FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC COMPUTERS, SO THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE, WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED HOURS, MODIFYING THE HOURS AT THIS POINT.
BUT IF THERE'S A NEED GOING FORWARD, CERTAINLY WE WILL CONSIDER THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, THE LIBRARY SYSTEM IS TRULY, TRULY A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ALL OF US.
I'VE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU, AND WATCHING YOU MANAGE OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM IN SUCH AN INCREDIBLE WAY.
SO I'M CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I WANT TO THANK JEAN BRADY, OUR DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVE ON THE LIBRARY, AND ALL THAT SHE DOES.
[01:15:02]
AND THAT'S JUST TO KIND OF DOVETAIL OFF OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SULLIVAN BROUGHT UP, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE HOURS.I GUESS I WOULD JUST REQUEST MAYBE WE TAKE A CREATIVE LOOK AT HOURS OF OPERATION AND KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS ARE ASKING AUDIO] AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'RE ALSO AWARE OF SOME OF THE HOURS, AND SOME OF THE LINES THAT PEOPLE FORM TO GET INTO WEST FAL BRANCH.
THINK WHAT'S KEY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THERE'S SOME SEASONAL THINGS THAT COME UP, WHERE PEOPLE REALLY NEED THE LIBRARY.
AND AGAIN, TESTAMENT TO YOUR WORK.
WE KNOW THE LIBRARY IS ESSENTIAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO GET IN AND TO GET IN EARLY AT WESTPHAL BRANCH.
THEY OPEN AT 10:00, AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED IF WE COULDN'T OPEN AT 9:00.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED, BUT I GUESS I WOULD ASK, AS YOU ANSWERED COUNCILWOMAN SULLIVAN, YOU SAID YOU HADN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT HOURS.
LET'S THINK ABOUT A CREATIVE WAY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE SEASONAL NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AT SOME OF OUR BRANCH LIBRARIES.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK COULD HELP ADDRESS A NEED THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO OUR FIELD OFFICE AND WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO ASSIST IN HELPING TO PROVIDE SOME CREATIVE WAYS WITH ADJUSTING SOME OF THOSE HOURS IF POSSIBLE.
>> WE HAVE THE VIDA, AND WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES OF PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE.
WE'RE STARTING THE CONVERSATION NOW TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE SITUATION AT WEST FAL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A SITUATION AT THE CODY BRANCH LIBRARY.
BUT I ALSO ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE STARTING A STRATEGIC -- TO UPDATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IS REVISITING OUR HOURS OF SERVICE AND OUR SCHEDULES.
SO WE WILL BE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, SOLICITING FEEDBACK, WE'LL BE PUTTING IN PLACE VARIOUS INITIATIVES TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE MORE REALISTIC OR MORE EFFECTIVE HOURS OF SERVICE FOR THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
WE MAY END UP WITH DIFFERENT SCHEDULES, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.
>> TREVINO: I APPRECIATE THAT.
YOU HAVE MY FULL CONFIDENCE THAT YOU'LL -- YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO FROM OUR OFFICE, OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE RIGHT NEXT DOOR, SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP, WE WANT TO BE HELPFUL.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, ROMINO.
FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
>> TREVINO: SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING OVER AT PARKS AND RECREATION.
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT ERIC SANDEN.
TREES ARE A BIG DEAL TO US IN DISTRICT 1, AND A BIG DEAL TO ERIC SANDEN.
NOW, ANOTHER -- IF WE PULL UP THE SLIDE ON PAGE 11, I BELIEVE IT'S 11 OF YOUR PRESENTATION, WE SHOW HOW WE WENT FROM 2006 FORWARD.
YOU SEE IN 2018, SOMEHOW WE WENT TO THIS HUGE JUMP, TO MANY MORE TREES.
I THINK THE ONE THING THAT'S MISSING HERE IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS TO LEND CREDIT TO PARKS AND RECREATION, AND TO ALSO CREDIT TO MARIA GOMEZ.
THE REASON THAT IS THERE, OR THAT JUMPED IS BECAUSE OF THE TORNADO THAT REALLY HAPPENED JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM WHERE I LIVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF SHOW HOW THESE EVENTS IN OUR CITY HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, AND ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE WAY WE'RE RESPONDING.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO FIND A WAY TO SHOW WHERE WE TOOK THAT SHIFT AND WHY.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND SO AMAZING ABOUT THAT ENTIRE EVENT IN TALKING WITH MARIA GOMEZ IS, AS THERE WAS A LOT OF ISSUES WITH HOMES THAT WERE TORN DOWN, OR SWEPT AWAY, MOST OF THE PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THEIR TREES.
THEY SAID, WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP US BRING BACK THE TREES.
AND THEY REALLY HAD AN AMAZING
[01:20:03]
TREE CANOPY.IT'S A WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I DON'T LIKE MOST NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER THE CITY, AND I CALLED MARIA GOMEZ AND SHE WENT TO WORK, LIKE SHE ALWAYS DOES.
YOU JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
AND SO FOR ME TO SEE IT GOING DOWN TO 11,000 IN THE 2020, I GUESS I'M JUST GOING TO PUSH AND ERIC SANDEN IS, I'M SURE, I CAN HEAR HIM ON MY SHOULDER RIGHT NOW SAYING, LISTEN, WE NEED TO PUSH THAT, WE NEED MORE OF THIS.
AND I KNOW IT COMES DOWN TO FUNDING.
SO AGAIN, ANOTHER REQUEST JUST LIKE I ASKED MARIA TO BE CREATIVE, I ASK YOU GUYS, LET'S BE CREATIVE ABOUT THIS, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE THESE HUGE, HUGE EVENTS IN OUR CITY, LIKE A TORNADO, IT REALLY SORT OF HELPS TO HIGHLIGHT WHERE OUR VALUES ARE, AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US AS A COMMUNITY, AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO BE HELPFUL, IN HELPING YOU FIND SOME PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPAND THAT FUND.
KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I AM VERY, VERY PROUD OF WORKING WITH MARIA GOMEZ ON HELPING YOU GUYS SORT OF EXPAND.
I KNOW ERIC SANDEN WANTS THIS NUMBER TO BE IN THE MILLIONS AND NOT IN THE THOUSANDS.
BUT LET'S SHOOT FOR THE STARS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW A COMMUNITY LIKE THE ONE THAT EXPERIENCED THAT TORNADO IS NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TREE CANOPY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CHERISH THAT.
AND I THINK AS THE OLD ADDAGE GOES, WE WANT TO PLANT SHADE FOR OTHERS TO ENJOY.
I'LL ASK YOU, HOMER, TO GET CREATIVE, AND LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN BE HELPFUL.
IT WAS THROUGH THE STORM RECOVERY IN RESPONSE TO THE TORNADOES THAT WAS REALLY THE GENESIS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL FOR HOW WE'RE MAKING THESE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE INVESTMENTS, IT'S THE EXACT SAME WAY WE ROLLED OUT THE STORM RECOVERY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CREATIVE IN THAT.
AND FOR ERIC, AND WHEN I SEE HIM, I SAW HIM AT THE PARKS BOARD LAST NIGHT, SO NEXT TIME I'LL REMIND HIM, BACK TO THE TREE PROGRAM.
WE KNOW DISTRICT 1, 5 AND 7 ARE THE LEADING DISTRICTS WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TREE ACRE CANOPY.
AND SO FOR FY '20, ONE OF THE TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS -- ACTUALLY, IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS IS LOS ANGELES HEIGHTS.
AND THEN IN FY '20 UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROSPECT HILLS, AND I BELIEVE PART OF THAT FALLS IN DISTRICT 1 AS WELL.
BUT ABSOLUTELY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT -- LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO ROLL OUT AND BE CREATIVE, AND WE WELCOME NEW PARTNERSHIPS ALWAYS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU INCLUDED IT IN THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO.
SINCE YOU'RE UP THERE, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
A LOT OF NUMBERS HERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
AND I HAD KIND OF THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAD ON NUMBERS ON HOW YOU'RE PRESENTING THEM, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND I WANTED TO START WITH YOUR SLIDE NUMBER 7, YOU'RE PICKING UP 16 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT?
>> THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE GROWING PARKS SYSTEM.
WITH THE 1.9 THAT IS IN OUR BUDGET TO FUND THE GROWING PARK SYSTEM, WE'RE ACQUIRING OVER AN ADDITIONAL 170 ACRES.
SO THOSE 16 POSITIONS GO TO THE DIRECT SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF KEEPING THOSE NEW PARK ACRES COMING ONLINE.
WE HAVE OVER 250 AMENITIES COMING ONLINE, 12 MILES OF TRAIL COMING ONLINE.
SO ALL OF THESE POSITIONS GO BACK TO FRONT LINE, STAFF SERVICE DELIVERY, SO THAT THESE NEW PROJECTS STAY SAFE, FUNCTIONAL AND DESIRABLE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC.
>> PERRY: HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS? IS IT BASED STRICTLY ON NUMBER OF ACRES THAT YOU'RE ADDING TO IT, OR THE NUMBER OF MILES OF TRAILWAY YOU'RE ADDING?
BUT WE ALSO LOOK BACK TO THE AMENITIES, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT COME ONLINE.
[01:25:01]
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE'RE OPENING AS A RESULT OF A BOND PROJECT THERE'S PARK RENOVATION, WHERE MAYBE WE'RE ADDING THREE NEW WATER FOUNTAINS, OR A PAVILION WITH A LIGHTING SYSTEM WHERE THERE'S CURRENTLY NOT ONE, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE THE STAFF HELP MAINTAIN THOSE AMENITIES AND THOSE FEATURES.SO IT IS BASED IN PART, YOU'RE CORRECT, ON NUMBER OF MAYBE TRAIL MILES THAT'S COMING ONLINE, AND THAT'S A DIRECT CORRELATION TO LIKE WE HAVE A MOW CONTRACT.
WE KNOW EXACTLY BASED ON THE TRAILS COMING ONLINE WHAT OUR SERVICE CONTRACT IS GOING TO PROVIDE.
BUT THEN WE NEED THE STAFF TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE CONTRACTING SOMEONE TO DO, THEY'RE DELIVERING THAT SERVICE.
BUT IT IS GOING DIRECTLY BACK TO THE BUILT-IN ENVIRONMENT, AS A RESULT OF THESE BOND PROJECTS.
>> PERRY: I REALLY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND SEE THAT CALCULATION, BECAUSE I DO GET FEEDBACK FROM, LIKE MCALLISTER PARK, ONE OF OUR LARGEST PARKS HERE IN THE CITY ABOUT MAINTENANCE ISSUES OUT THERE.
AND MAINTAINING THE TRAILS, MAINTAINING THE GROUNDS, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND OKAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE ASSIGNED TO MCALLISTER, OR HOW MANY AUTHORIZATIONS SHOULD BE OUT THERE COMPARED TO THE 16 COMING ON FOR 100 ACRES, WHEREAS MCALLISTER PARK IS MUCH BIGGER THAN A HUNDRED ACRES.
SO I WANT TO SEE THAT RATIO, AND SEE HOW MY PARKS FIT INTO THAT RATIO OF NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ASSIGNED, OR TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PARKS.
SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH SOMEBODY TO SEE THAT, AND HOW THE 16 POSITIONS WILL HELP THAT, OR IS THAT STRICTLY JUST FOR THE NEW PARKS COMING ON.
>> PERRY: I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
THEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
EXPLAIN TO ME THIS -- THE POSITIONS HERE, THE 52 POSITIONS.
>> SO CURRENTLY IN THE -- IN THE CURRENT ADOPTED BUDGET THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND, THERE ARE 94 POSITIONS THAT ARE -- THAT SIT THERE THAT PREVIOUSLY WERE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE ARE INCREASING OUR PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL FUND BUDGET NEXT YEAR THROUGH THAT 50% INCREASE ON THE PARK SIDE, COMMENSURATE DECREASE ON THE WASTE SIDE.
SO WE WILL -- RIGHT NOW, WHILE THERE'S ONLY 94 POSITIONS BASED ON THE 7.3 MILLION BUDGET, THAT WILL INCREASE TO 146 POSITIONS THAT CURRENTLY ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE WILL BE TRANSFERRING THOSE OVER INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, POSITIONS BASED ON THOSE THINGS THAT WE DESCRIBED.
TREE MAINTENANCE, WE'VE GOT MOWING SERVICES, WE'VE GOT PORTALET SERVICES, THE BASIC SANITATION, BACK TO OUR BUCKETS, SANITATION PARKS SANITATION IS IN THERE.
SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO TRANSFER ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, THEN CREATING CAPACITY, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND ALLOWING US TO FUND THE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.
>> PERRY: WE'RE NOT CREATING NEW POSITIONS, WE'RE JUST MOVING THOSE POSITIONS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND?
>> PERRY: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD THAT.
GETTING BACK ON PAGE 320 OF THE BUDGET HERE IN THE BOOK, THE BIG THICK BOOK, I CALL IT.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE TALKED ABOUT BASICALLY WE'RE SHOWING HALF OF THE AMOUNT OF ACRES TO BE PURCHASED UNDER THE EDWARDS AK AUK WE FUR PROTECTION PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE TO PUT THE DOLLAR FIGURE IN THIS TO BE TRANSPARENT AND NOT THE NUMBER OF ACRES.
YOU CAN PUT AN ASTERISK IN THERE, SAYING THE NUMBER OF ACRES ARE GOING TO GO DOWN, BUT SHOULDN'T WE BE PUTTING THE DOLLAR FIGURES IN THAT CHART?
>> SO, BACK TO THE DECREASE FROM WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR AND WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO PRIORITIZE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTINGENT ON IN PART THE VARIOUS ATTRIBUTES OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO TIE DOWN WHAT THAT DOLLAR VALUE WILL BE FOR 2,500.
>> PERRY: NO, NO, BUT WE HAVE BUDGETED HOW MUCH MONEY WE EXPECT TO GET IN '19 AND '20 FOR THIS PROGRAM, RIGHT? SO SHOULDN'T THE DOLLAR FIGURES BE IN THIS TABLE HERE, AND NOT THE NUMBER OF ACRES? I'M JUST TRYING TO -- YOU KNOW,
[01:30:02]
THIS IS A BUDGET, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH DOLLARS HERE, NOT ACRES.THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.
>> COUNCILMAN, WE CAN DEFINITELY INCLUDE THE DOLLARS FOR THE NEXT BUDGET DOCUMENT WHEN WE ADOPT IT IN SEPTEMBER.
AND WE CAN AS PART OF THE FOLLOW-UP INCORPORATE BOTH.
JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT ON THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, THE BUDGET APPROVED BY THE VOTERS WAS A TOTAL OF (INDISCERNIBLE).
TO DATE, WE HAVE SPENT ROUGHLY ABOUT $70 MILLION, OR WE HAVE COLLECTED, EXCUSE ME, ABOUT $70 MILLION, AND THERE'S ABOUT $30 MILLION LEFT TO COLLECT BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021.
SO WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT INFORMATION TO YOUR POINT TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THE FULL PICTURE, THE FINANCIAL PICTURE, AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF ACRES THAT WE'RE PURCHASING.
>> PERRY: THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
WE'VE GOT THIS POT OF MONEY OUT HERE AND IT'S NOT SHOWING UP ANYWHERE FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE COST PER ACRE IS GOING UP.
THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T AFFORD AS MANY.
BUT THIS IS A BUDGET FOR DOLLARS, NOT THE NUMBERS OF ACRES.
OKAY? AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.
LET'S SHOW WHAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE THAT WE HAVE ON HAND, WHAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE, JUST LIKE WE DO WITH THE REST OF THE BUDGET HERE.
ON PAGE 322, THE TREE CANOPY PRESERVATION MITIGATION, THAT GOES BACK TO THAT ONE.
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES IS GOING DOWN ABOUT $1.2 MILLION.
WHY IS THAT? WHY THE DECREASE THERE?
>> THAT'S DIRECTLY TIED TO THE ITEM THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL LAST WEEK.
WE WERE ABLE TO ACCELERATE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
WE ADDED IN STORM RECOVERY EFFORT DUE TO THE STORMS THAT CAME THROUGH IN JUNE.
SO THAT WAS TO THE TUNE OF $1.2 MILLION.
>> WHICH IS THE DELTA, FROM THE 1.7, AND 1.2, SHOWS 2.9.
>> PERRY: SO WE'RE REDUCING THE BUDGET BASED ON THE STORM THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR? I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
>> THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET, AND APPROPRIATE THOSE DOLLARS BEYOND THE 1.7 THAT WE PLANNED ON SPENDING.
SO WHEN YOU GO BACK TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PRESENTATION, WE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO APPROPRIATE AND TARGET INVESTMENTS OF $1.7 MILLION TO GET TREES IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT IS UNCHANGED FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.
WHAT'S HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, BACK TO OUR PRIORITIES, RIGHT? WE WANT TO BE RESTORATIVE TO THE COMMUNITY, MEET THEIR NEEDS, HELP THE ENVIRONMENT RECOVER, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO MAKE THOSE TREE INVESTMENTS, AND THEN SIMILARLY, WE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN DESIGN ON THE REFORESTATION OF THE WEST SIDE CREEKS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE TRAILS RIGHT NOW, WHEN THEY BUILT, IT REALLY WASN'T WITH IMPROVING THE AESTHETIC ENVIRONMENT, IT WAS JUST A TRAIL TO GET FROM A TO B.
WE'VE GONE BACK, WE'VE DONE A DESIGN, SO WE CAN MAKE THOSE TREE INVESTMENTS, AND THOSE ITEMS CAME FORWARD TO COUNCIL LAST WEEK.
SO THAT EXPLAINS, AND IS THE REASON FOR THE DELTA IN WHAT YOU SEE, WHICH WAS THE 2.89, I THINK WAS ON THE SLIDE, VERSUS THE BASELINE, WHAT I CALL BASELINE TREE INVESTMENTS OF 1.7.
WHEN YOU ALL COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THAT OTHER ONE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT ONE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
YES, THAT'S IT FOR THOSE QUESTIONS.
ROMMERO, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WHERE IS ROMERO? OH, THERE HE IS.
>> PERRY: I HAD A QUESTION ON -- LET'S SEE -- SLIDE 5.
YOU'VE GOT A GENERAL FUND INCREASE OF ALMOST $1 MILLION, 800,000.
AND I SEE BELOW THAT, YOU'RE ASKING FOR SEVEN ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS.
WHAT ARE THOSE SEVEN ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS FOR?
>> AUTHORIZATIONS ALREADY FUNDED, WE'RE CONVERTING THEM FROM TEMPORARY STATUS TO PERMANENT POSITION, TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABILITY IN TWO AREAS, ONE IN OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION AREA AND THE OTHER ONE IS OUR EARLY LITERACY OUTREACH PROGRAM CALLED LITERAL WAGON.
>> COUNCILMAN, I'VE POINTED OUT I THINK ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS OF THESE WORK SESSIONS WHERE --
[01:35:03]
I CALL THEM CLEANUP, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A BETTER TERM FOR THEM, THIS IS THE LITTLE READ WAGON THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS STAFFED WITH TEMPORARY POSITIONS FULL-TIME.RATHER THAN CONTINUE THAT, IT WAS APPROPRIATE FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT TO CREATE FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND MOVE THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK CURRENTLY FULL-TIME, ON A FULL-TIME WELL ESTABLISHED PROGRAM.
IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE CLEANUPS.
SO ALL SEVEN POSITIONS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR -- THOSE WERE THE INTERIM POSITIONS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
AND SO WHAT WE DID IS MOVE THE MONEY FROM TEMPORARY SALARIES WITHIN THE BUDGET AND MOVED THAT MONEY AS WELL AS THE POSITIONS INTO PERMANENT POSITIONS IN PERMANENT FUNDING.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, ROMERO, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD TO A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE LIBRARIES.
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS OUT.
AND WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT? I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET FOR, YOU KNOW, WORKING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A PLAN.
IT'S UNDER 2020 INITIATIVES, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY IT'S SLIDE NUMBER 9.
SO WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON UPDATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE STRATEGIC PLAN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PLAN TO HELP POSITION THE LIBRARY FOR THE FUTURE.
SO YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS REGARDING WHAT THE FUTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF LIBRARY SPACES, AND SO WE'RE HAVING THAT -- WE'RE DEEP IN CONVERSATION.
AND THINKING CREATIVELY TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> PERRY: SO YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT ANY KIND OF CONTRACT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO HELP YOU THROUGH THAT PLANNING PROCESS, YOU'RE DOING THAT ALL IN-HOUSE IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THERE ARE TWO INITIATIVES -- THERE ARE THREE.
WE ARE ASKING FOR THE SERVICES, OR REQUESTING SERVICES FROM AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT.
IT'S A STAFFING STUDY, INTERNALLY WE CALL IT A TALENT MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE, WHICH WILL LOOK AT THE STAFFING COMPLEMENTS AND STAFFING CLASSIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
WE FEEL THAT THE LANDSCAPE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HOW WE DO BUSINESS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY, SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SKILL SETS THAT WE CURRENTLY REQUIRE FROM THE VARIOUS POSITIONS.
AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
THE OTHER IS A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
BY THE WAY, ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES ARE UNDER $50,000.
A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT WILL HELP US ASSESS THE EXPECTATIONS, THE NEEDS, UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE THROUGH -- WITH THE BRANCH LIBRARIES AND CENTRAL LIBRARY, SO WE CAN IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE SERVICE STRATEGIES THAT ARE RELEVANT AND RESPONSIVE TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
SO THAT'S THEN THERE'S A CUSTOMER ANALYTICS INITIATIVE.
THIS IS A SYSTEM, A SOFTWARE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER ASSESS, AGAIN, THE VARIOUS POPULATIONS, DEVELOP PROFILES FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE, AGAIN, TO GIVE US INFORMATION, GIVE US DATA, TO ALLOW US TO MAKE APPROPRIATE AND PROACTIVE DECISIONS IN DEVELOPING SERVICE STRATEGIES THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE FOR ANY KIND OF MONEY SET ASIDE FOR HELPING TO DEVELOP THIS.
>> THAT'S IN THE CURRENT YEAR RESOURCES.
THEN ON THE COMPUTER REPLACEMENTS.
IS THAT TO REPLACE EVERY COMPUTER IN ALL THE LIBRARIES?
>> NO, SIR, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS A REPLACEMENT CYCLE EVERY FOUR YEARS, COMPUTERS ARE REPLACED.
IN LIBRARIES, THEY'RE EVEN MORE CRITICAL, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE PUBLIC COMPUTERS, THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF -- LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND THE NUMBER HERE.
[01:40:01]
HEAR -->> I'M LOOKING FOR MY -- FOR THE BREAK DOWN.
SO WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET, 659,000 PROPOSED FOR COMPUTER REPLACEMENT.
THAT WILL REPLACE 333 PUBLIC COMPUTERS, AND 137 STAFF COMPUTERS.
I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
>> PERRY: I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR THE NUMBERS HERE, AND ARE WE PUTTING ENOUGH RESOURCES IN HERE FOR, YOU KNOW, A PLANNED APPROACH.
>> WE'RE FOLLOWING THE CYCLE OF REPLACING COMPUTERS EVERY FOUR YEARS.
>> PERRY: SO EVERY FOUR YEARS, EVERY ONE OF THE COMPUTERS WILL BE --
>> AND TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT REPLACING COMPUTERS, ALL COMPUTERS IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, ONLY THOSE THAT HAVE REACHED THEIR LIFE CYCLE.
AND WE HAVE -- EACH LIBRARY IS IDENTIFY WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO GET --
>> YES, WE WORK WITH ITSD, AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED --
>> PERRY: YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHERE MY --
>> PERRY: -- I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE THEY RACK AND STACK ON THAT.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERI, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: CAN YOU TELL ME, WHAT'S OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT? I'M JUST KIDDING.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION RIGHT HERE.
BUT I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON SLIDE NUMBER 5 WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
BY THE WAY, YES, AGAIN, I THINK YOUR TEAM DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB.
AND, OH, AND I WANTED TO SHOW OFF, I HAVE MY MISSION LIBRARY CARD HERE.
AND I DID HAVE TO PAY MY FINE.
SO FOR THE LIBRARY FACILITIES AND SPACES, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME, WHAT IS THAT, AND ALSO, THE ADULT SERVICES?
SO I'LL START WITH THE LIBRARY FACILITIES AND SPACES.
THOSE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FACILITIES OPERA OPERATIONAL, TO KEEP THEM CLEAN, CUSTODIAL, FOR EXAMPLE, GENERAL MAINT MAINTENANCE.
>> VIAGRAN: AND THOSE ARE CONTRACTED SERVICES?
>> SOME OF THEM ARE CONTRACT SERVICES.
SOME OF THEM WE PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING EQUIPMENT SERVICES.
WE HAVE AN INTERNAL CUSTODIAL STAFF, AND MAINTENANCE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME MINOR.
BUT IF WE NEED ELECTRICAL WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, PLUMBING, THEN WE WORK WITH EITHER A CONTRACTOR OR WITH BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES.
>> THAT INCLUDES SECURITY AS WELL.
>> THERE ARE THREE SERVICES, THREE POPULATION GROUPS THAT WE TARGET.
WE CALL THEM AGE-BASED SERVICES.
AND THOSE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER TO THOSE POPULATION GROUPS.
SO WERE TARGET THOSE THREE POPULATION GROUPS, WE CUSTOMIZE SERVICES THAT WILL APPEAL TO THOSE, AGAIN, POPULATION GROUPS.
>> VIAGRAN: SO THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMINGS YOU HAVE IN THE LIBRARY, THE CROCHETING OR PING-PONG OR -- OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT KRARIFICATION.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I LOVE ABOUT WHAT YOUR MEMBERS DO, THEY REALLY DO TAILOR THE LIBRARIES FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE IN.
AND I JUST THINK THAT WE COULD GET AND GATHER SO MUCH INFORMATION FROM EVERYONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO COME, AND LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
SO IT'S A GREAT SOURCE OF JUST GATHERING INFORMATION AND FIGURING OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ALL IN ON THAT AND TO SEE HOW WE CAN GATHER THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE IT A BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT MCCLEELESS LIBRARY AS WELL.
HOMER, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO MOVE QUICKLY HERE, BECAUSE I KNOW OUR LUNCH HOUR IS UPON US.
TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY ON COUNCILWOMAN ANDREWS-SULLIVAN'S COMMENT ON -- I THINK THIS IS SLIDE NUMBER 4, WHERE YOU HAVE THE 252, 230.
[01:45:01]
SO I'M GUESSING FROM WHAT I'M SEEING ON HERE IS THE NUMBER 14 WITH THE DOG ON THERE, THAT MEANS DOG PARKS?>> VIAGRAN: SO ON HER -- SO WE HAVE I'D LIKE A MAP OF WHERE THE DOG PARKS ARE IN THE CITY, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AGAIN, ERIK, WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS, EQUITY OF DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES AS WELL.
SO IF WE'RE HAVING DOG PARKS IN THE COMMUNITY, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF WHERE THESE DOG PARKS ARE IN OUR CITY PARKS, TOO.
BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW, I KNOW MY -- I KNOW THE PARKS PEOPLE THAT COME TALK TO ME KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHERE WE CAN UTILIZE AND PUT DOG PARKS IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> VIAGRAN: NOW TO HEAR FROM COUNCILWOMAN ANDREWS-SULLIVAN, WE WANT TO HAVE AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESOURCES, AND IF THERE ARE DOG PARKS, LET'S MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL OVER THE CITY.
TO THE OTHER POINT MENTIONING ABOUT ULTRA ACCESSIBLE PARKS, OR PARK EQUIPMENT FOR ALL ABILITIES, THAT EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
(INDISCERNIBLE) PARK AND THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THAT EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION IN ALL PARKS OF OUR CITY.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPROVEMENTS, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT MAINTENANCE, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN, WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PARKS, THE MASTER PLANNING FOR THE PARKS, THAT WE CAN HAVE AN ELEMENT OF ONE OF THE PARKS IN THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, OR A REGIONAL PARK.
LET'S START MAYBE LOOKING AT THE REGIONAL PARKS AND MOVE ON LOOKING AT THE MASTER PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
I REALLY DO LOVE THE NATURE PLAY ELEMENTS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, AND HIGHLIGHT, IS THE -- JUST THE SECURITY MEASURES AT OUR PARKS, AND OUR SENIOR CENTERS.
I'D LIKE TO GET A NUMBER OF JUST -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES -- AND I KNOW YOU DO, TOO, MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SAFE AT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF THESE GREAT, FUN PROGRAMS, AND COMPETITIVE SPORTS, IN ALL OF OUR FACILITIES, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY TENDING THEM ARE SAFE AND SO IF YOU CAN ALSO PROVIDE ANY DATA, DOCUMENTATION OF 911 CALLS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT'S BEEN TAKEN, THAT'S BEEN ISSUED AT ANY OF OUR PARKS, IF YOU COULD BRING THAT BREAKDOWN TO MY OFFICE, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: AND THEN ONE THING I ALSO WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH WAS THE LINEAR CREEKWAYS.
OH, FIRST, UNDER SLIDE NUMBER 11, ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JUST SEND MORE INFO ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM, AND OUR -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH -- AND OUR -- THAT TREE GIVEAWAY IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT'S THE ONE THING WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE LINING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IF YOU CAN GIVE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PROGRAM.
SPECIFICALLY, THE -- SPEAKING OF NEEDING TREES, THE WEST SIDE LINEAR CREEK AREA, I KNOW THAT OUR LINEAR CREEK ADVISORY COUNCIL IS MEETING, TALKING ABOUT JUST THE DESIGN OF THE CREEK.
BUT THERE IS NO SHADE AND NO TREES ANYWHERE ALONG THERE.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP ON A PATH FORWARD WITH THIS WEST SIDE LINEAR CREEK.
REAL QUICKLY, WE DID MISS THE MARK ON WHAT I WOULD CALL C PHA 1 WEST SIDE CREEKS, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING BACK, AND WE'VE DONE THE DESIGN, BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL LAST WEEK IN GETTING THE TREES -- OR WILL GET THE TREES IN THE GROUND FOR THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT TO BEGIN, AND ARE PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS, WE ARE ACTUALLY INCLUDING A TREE ELEMENT.
SO WE LEARNED FROM WHERE WE MISSED THE MARK BEFORE.
WE'VE PIVOTED, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS INCLUDED.
AS WE CONTINUE THAT BUILDOUT, THERE WILL BE A TREE COMPONENT TO IT.
ALSO, TO COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ AND ALL OF HIS MOUNTAIN, YOU KNOW -- NOW HE'S MOUNTAIN CLIMBING -- BUT MOUNTAIN BIKING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE CAN MAKE SOME CONNECTIONS, I GUESS, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE BIKE
[01:50:01]
RODE RODEOS THAT THESE SCHOOLS DO, MAYBE IF WE HAVE AN OUTREACH WITHIN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT CAN BE THERE, AND MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS FROM THOSE BIKE RODEOS TO OUR PARKS AND TO OUR TRAILWAY SYSTEMS. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO THROW OUT THERE.AND THEN FINALLY, IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP WITH THE PROCESS, OR LIAISON SOME WAY, SOMEHOW WITH OUR OFFICES, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONGOING CONCERNS AUDIO] GOLF COURSES, AND TO COUNCIL MEMBER'S COMMENT ON ALSO CEMETERIES AND BURIAL PARKS, THAT THE RESIDENTS CAN TURN TO, DUE TO LACK OF RESPONSE IN SOME OF THESE ENTITIES.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, HOW CAN WE GET ENGAGED, HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH THE ALAMO CITY GOLF TRAILS IN ORDER TO, IF THERE ARE AREAS FOR MAINTENANCE, IF THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE WANT TO GATHER OTHER MEMBERS, PRIVATE SECTORS TOGETHER TO HELP WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR GOLF TRAILS IN OUR AREA, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THAT.
SO IF WE CAN SEE SOMEWHERE, SOME SORT OF LIAISON THAT WE CAN HAVE, JUST GO THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE WILL DO THAT AND FOLLOW UP.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
SO THANK YOU FOR, BY THE WAY, FOR THE TRAILS AT PEARASALL PARK.
GOOD JOB ON THE GRAFFITI WIPEOUT.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT EVENT.
I KNOW ONE OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 4 WON THE FIESTA MEDAL CONTEST.
I, TOO, LIKE COUNCILMAN PERRY, WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD AT A LATER TIME, YOU COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON PAGE 321 OF THE BUDGET.
WE GO FROM 94 POSITIONS TO 146 POSITIONS, IT'S ABOUT $4 MILLION.
I KNOW IT'S A TRADEOFF, I WOULD JUST LIKE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I ALSO WANTED TO SEE HOW THE 36 NEGATIVE POSITIONS ON PAGE 27 ARE AFFECTED.
BUT AGAIN, THAT WILL BE AT A LATER TIME.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
ALSO, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MONICA, MY LOCAL LIBRARIAN.
SHE ALWAYS ATTENDS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.
ON PAGE 27, TO COUNCILMAN PERRY'S POINT, THERE ARE 27 POSITIONS, BUT IT'S BROIN DONE INTO CONVERSION OF TEMPORARY STUFF FOR SEVEN LITTLE READ WAGON POSITIONS.
BUT IT ALSO SAYS, AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU CAN TELL ME IN GENERAL ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM AND MAYBE WHAT DISTRICTS THEY'RE LOCATED IN.
WE ALSO CALL IT -- IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION TEAM.
THIS TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING OUTREACH FOR COMMUNICATING THE VARIOUS SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN SOME OF THEM AT THE BUDGET MEETINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE WERE AT TRADER'S VILLAGE, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE THERE WITH ME, THEY'RE PART OF THAT TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE, BY THE WAY.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAD BEEN OUT THERE IN THE MORNING AS WELL.
I COULD HAVE SWORN THIS, BUT DID YOU MENTION 10 NEW LIBRARIES?
>> I SAID IN THE LAST, A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS, WE HAVE INVESTED IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, A LITTLE OVER $90 MILLION.
IT ALSO INCLUDED ABOUT $48 MILLION FOR 10 NEW LOCATIONS.
SO MAYBE WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHERE OR HOW WE DECIDE WHERE THOSE LIBRARIES GO.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND THEN ALSO, MY LIBRARY APPOINTEE ANDREA SANCHEZ, SHE'S A TEACHER AND SHE WORKS WITH THE LIBRARIANS.
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR STAFF AT CORTEZ DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.
BUT THAT'S ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
AND NEXT IS COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HA HAVRDA.
THE LIBRARIES ARE ALWAYS BUSY AND BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY, THEY'RE STATE OF THE ART, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.
I BELIEVE DISTRICT 6 IS WELL COVERED RIGHT NOW EXCEPT FOR THE ALAMO RANCH AREA.
[01:55:01]
BRIEFLY.I WOULD LIKE TO PLANT A SEED OF SUPPORT FOR JUST INSIDE 1604 WHERE WE'RE STILL CITY BUT SERVICING ALAMO RANCH BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PERSONALLY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOUR DEPARTMENT PUT IN FOR TIMBER RIDGE PARK.
IT WAS A LITTLE BLIGHTED AREA FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AND IT'S TODAY LOOKING SO MUCH NICER.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT AS A COMPLETE PARK.
I HAVE AN INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD POCKET PARK.
IT'S IN THE CORNER OF ORE AND SUZETTE.
O-R-R, OFF PIN ROAD AU AUDIO].
EXPECT TO SEE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMMING.
BUT JUST AN AREA OF RESPITE FOR THAT AREA.
SO JUST KIND OF AN AREA FOR RESPITE AREA.
MAYBE THREE OR FOUR ACRES, AND IT'S BEEN BLIGHTED FOR A WHILE.
IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A NIB HOOD.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> SANDOVAL: SURE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH HOMER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I WON'T KEEP US LONG, SINCE I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO LUNCH NOW.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND ALL OF YOUR STAFF FOR ALL OF THE HELP THEY'VE PROVIDED IN OUR DISTRICT REGARDING OUR PARKS.
WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT, LIKE JANE DUBELL THAT'S IN THE BOND, AS WELL AS SOME NEW POCKET PARKS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I DID WANT TO ADD ON TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED REGARDING SHADE STRUCTURES.
YOU SHOWED A PICTURE OF A PLAYGROUND IN YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PLAYGROUNDS IN OUR DISTRICT, AND PROBABLY THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT CAN'T BE USED DURING CERTAIN DAYS BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO HOT.
AND I THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE USABILITY OUT OF THEM IF EITHER THEY HAD A SHADE STRUCTURE OR HAD SOME TREES AROUND THEM.
AND I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF THINGS THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING IN EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO PARKS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> SO YES, WE WILL DEFINITELY LOOK FOR IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE SHADE OVER AMENITIES.
WE KNOW BECAUSE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TO USE THEM WHEN YOU WANT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INVESTMENTS ARE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT JUST ACCESS TO A PARK.
I CAN GET YOU TO A PARK, BUT IT'S TOO HOT TO SIT ON THE BENCH OR SLIDE DOWN THE SLIDE, THEN WHAT GOOD IS IT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS -- WE HAVE OVER 200 PLAYGROUNDS, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT IS AN EMERGING NEED AND A GROWING NEED.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF AND WE'LL LOOK AT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THAT REGARD, SO THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE AMENITY IN A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC CAN USE IT.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE IN SOME AREAS.
>> SANDOVAL: YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN FIX OVERNIGHT, BUT SOMETHING GETTING WORSE YEAR BY YEAR WITH THE TEMPERATURES GETTING HOTTER.
AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FOR ROMERO, IF HE'S HERE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, GREAT JOB.
YOU KNOW I LOVE ALL THE LIBRARIES.
AND I AM ACTUALLY SO HAPPY THAT THE BUDGET, DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THAT IT HAS THIS YEAR, HAS NO REDUCTIONS IN SERVICES, EITHER WITH PARKS OR THE LIBRARY.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD OF.
AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU'RE CONVERTING THOSE TEMPORARY POSITIONS INTO PERMANENT POSITIONS.
AND THEN THERE'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IN SLIDE 4.
I DON'T LIKE SEEING MYSELF ON THAT SCREEN.
>> SANDOVAL: I AM NOT POINTING OUT THE ORR CHART, I'M POINTING OUT THAT IS FOREST HILLS LIBRARY AND THEIR STAFF.
THAT IS WHEN WE CELEBRATED THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBRARY.
SO YOU CAN TELL THEY'RE DRESSED A CERTAIN WAY.
AND YOUR STAFF IS JUST SO CREATIVE AND SO EXCITED TO GET INTO IT.
WE HAD BUTTONS THAT THEY MADE.
THEY WERE DOING MADONNA HAIRSTYLES.
[02:00:01]
I GOT MY HAIR DONE AT THE LIBRARY.I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOUR STAFF FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THEY DO.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
COUNCILMAN PERRY HAS QUESTIONS ON SUSTAINABILITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CCD.
YES, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FINISH THAT LAST WEEK.
AND I JUST HAD SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON THAT.
ON THE SUSTAINABILITY, IS SOMEBODY HERE FROM SUSTAINABILITY? THIS WON'T TAKE LONG.
ON YOUR SLIDE NUMBER 3, IT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE BUDGET AND YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS, 999.
BUT AREN'T WE GETTING SOME POSITIONS FROM THIS BLOOMBERG THING? WE WERE ALL EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS $2 MILLION, WHICH IS NOT MONEY, IT WAS POSITIONS, RIGHT?
>> THEY'RE NOT FORMAL CITY POSITIONS, WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR OFFICE NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 2020.
BUT THEY'RE NOT REFLECTED ON THIS.
>> PERRY: IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SHOW THAT SOMEWHERE HERE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT YOU ARE USING, THE SEMI CONTRACTED IF YOU WILL.
>> PERRY: BUT JUST TO BE TRANSPARENT ON THAT, THAT YOU DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CONTRACT POSITIONS.
AND WE REALLY DIDN'T SHOW THAT $2 MILLION ANYWHERE IN THIS PRESENTATION.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHERE SOME OF THE RESOURCES.
>> PERRY: THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU, DOUG.
>> PERRY: THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL POSITION IDENTIFIED ON THIS.
AND WHAT IS THAT ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR?
>> THAT IS TO MANAGE OUR OPPORTUNITIES OWN PROGRAM, THE NEW FEDERAL INCENTIVE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT.
>> PERRY: AREN'T WE MANAGING IT ALREADY WITH OUR EXISTING RESOURCES?
>> WE ADDED THIS A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, AND SO THIS IS JUST BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE IT ON.
>> PERRY: BUT AREN'T WE CURRENTLY DOING THAT AU AUDIO]?
>> RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM.
ON YOUR SLIDE NUMBER 6, THE JOBS INVESTMENTS, AND THEN YOU HAVE OFF TO THE SIDE, $4.6 BILLION.
I THINK ANOTHER BARNEY'S SHOULD BE ADDED ON THERE TO REFLECT THE GROWTH IN OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY.
YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THEN THE SECOND BAR SHOWS THE INVESTMENTS, AND THEN I'M NOT QUITE SURE -- OKAY.
THAT NEEDS TO BE OVERLAID ON WHAT THE ACTUAL RESULT IS.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR TO BE OVERLAID ON THE CHART BY YEAR.
>> PERRY: WHAT OUR INVESTMENT IS, AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR THAT.
>> PERRY: MY FAMOUS TERM, RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW WHAT -- HOW THAT 4.6 IS GROWING YEAR AFTER YEAR, BASED ON THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO ALONG WITH THAT PROGRAM, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR SISTER CITY PROGRAMS, AND ALL THAT.
WE ARE SPENDING RESOURCES ON TRAVELING TO THESE COUNTRIES, THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT WHAT'S THE RESULTS OF THAT? WHERE'S THE DOLLARS? HOW MUCH DOLLARS ARE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO? AND TO ME IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET, BECAUSE THEY'RE ENTERTAINING US AND THEY'RE WANTING TO BE SISTER CITIES, SO THAT THEY CAN GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE DEAL.
SO WHAT'S THE TRANSACTION? WHAT ARE THEY GETTING, AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT OF THESE TRIPS? BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY SENDING PEOPLE ON THESE
[02:05:01]
AND DEVELOPING THESE PROGRAMS.>> PERRY: I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ON THESE -- ON SOME KIND OF METRIC AS WELL.
>> PERRY: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE WORKED ON THAT.
WE JUST NEED TO START SHOWING WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.
>> PERRY: THEHE ENTERPRISE FUND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW MANY FUNDS YOU HAD AVAILABLE IN THE PARKING FUND.
>> PERRY: AND YOU TALKED THROUGH THOSE.
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS KIND OF A -- I THOUGHT A DISCREPANCY ON HOW MUCH FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY SITTING, WHAT I CALL A SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY FUNDS IN RESERVE.
>> AS PART OF THE FY '20 PROPOSED BUDGET, THE REMAINING BALANCE WOULD BE JUST A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION IN THAT FUND.
THIS PROPOSED FY '20 BUDGET, WE HAVE A PLAN TO SPEND THAT BALANCE DOWN.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP 2.1 MILLION IN A RESERVE.
1.3 MILLION WILL GO TO FACILITY IMPROVEMENT, THE GARAGES THEMSELVES.
7.5 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PARKING, SO THAT COULD BE PARTNERING WITH -- AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER, FOR EXAMPLE, TO IN A SENSE OVERBUILD THEIR GARAGE TO ADD PUBLIC SPACES.
600,000 TO GO TO THE ZOO PARKING GARAGE.
466,000 WOULD GO TO THE C-MAC, THE AIR QUALITY PROGRAM.
AND THEN 300,000 TO FUND AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, INCENTIVES FOR CITY EMPLOYMENTS, THAT WOULD GO TO TCI.
AND THAT WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE.
YOU KNOW, I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM FOLKS WANTING TO COME DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO PARK.
AND INSTEAD OF SPENDING THAT MONEY, WHY DON'T WE REDUCE OUR FEE, WHY DON'T WE REDUCE OUR PARKING FEE THAT PEOPLE --
I THINK REALLY WHAT IT -- PEOPLE NEED TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT ON PARKING DOWNTOWN.
AND THAT GOES TO US TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND PARKING DOWNTOWN.
THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES, DIFFERENT RATES FOR PARKING DOWNTOWN.
THERE ARE VERY AFFORDABLE OPTIONS, IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE $2 PARKING LOTS.
SO PART OF IT IS HELPING PEOPLE FIND THOSE ALTERNATIVES FOR PARKING.
THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THERE IS NO PARKING DOWNTOWN THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE.
IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO FIND A PARKING SPACE, SAY, DURING THE DAY ON A BUSINESS DAY, BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
WE HAVE DOWNTOWN TUESDAYS WHERE PARKING IS FREE AND CITY FACILITIES IN THE EVENING.
SO THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS, OR THERE ARE LOWER COST ALTERNATIVES FOR PARKING.
I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT OPENING UP, SAY MORE DOWNTOWN TUESDAY TYPE DISCOUNTS.
HOWEVER, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE -- WE'RE AN ENTERPRISE FUND, SO WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING OUR EXPENSES.
IF WE WERE TO START DISCOUNTING OUR FACILITIES MORE, WE COULD RUN INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY FALLING BELOW OUR BALANCE, IN GOING INTO THE RED.
SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.
>> PERRY: WELL, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT WE'VE BUILT A NEST EGG OVER THE YEARS.
>> PERRY: AND NOW WE'RE SPENDING THAT NEST EGG DOWN TO REDUCE THAT NEST EGG.
>> PERRY: BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO, ARE WE CHARGING TOO MUCH FOR OUR PARKING DOWNTOWN.
AND SHOULD WE MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN, FIND A PARKING SPACE, AND HAVE IT AFFORDABLE TO COME DOWNTOWN.
TO GO OUT TO EAT, TO GO ON THE RIVER BARGE.
OF COURSE, WE'RE INCREASING THAT FEE ALSO.
BUT TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWN HERE.
AND MAYBE IT'S A THING OF OPENING UP MORE DAYS FOR FREE PARKING.
MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TO CONTINUALLY, YOU KNOW, BUILD UP THIS KITTY, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SPEND
[02:10:01]
IT ALL TO GET -- SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT EXCESS FUND SITTING TH THERE, THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME.WHAT PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS REDUCED PARKING FEES DOWNTOWN.
AND I STILL THINK -- I WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF OVERALL PLAN LIKE THAT, LET'S LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO EITHER REDUCE THOSE FEES, OFFER UP MORE DAYS OF FREE PARKING FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWN HERE, EXCEPT I THINK WE HAVE IT ONE DAY --
>> PERRY: TUESDAY NIGHTS, YEAH.
>> WE DO ALSO HAVE REDUCED RATES IN OTHER FACILITIES IN THE EVENINGS.
SO IT'S NOT -- TUESDAY IS FREE, OTHER EVENINGS WE HAVE LIKE A 5 AFTER 5 RATE.
>> PERRY: BRING THAT IN TO ME.
I WOULD LOVE TO ADVERTISE THAT IN DISTRICT 10, BECAUSE THE THING IS, THEY DON'T WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND THE PARKING, OR IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.
AND WE DID RAISE FOR OUR SPECIAL EVENTS, LIKE NIOSA AND THOSE, WE DID RAISE THAT FEE AGAIN LAST YEAR.
>> PERRY: AND WHAT WAS THAT, RE RAISED IT ANOTHER $5?
>> I BELIEVE WE WENT UP TO 15.
>> PERRY: THAT'S ANOTHER CASE WHERE WE'RE CONTINUING TO RAISE THOSE FEES.
AND WE HAD THAT POT OF MONEY ALREADY SITTING THERE.
AND I THINK I MADE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
AND I THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT, AND YOU DO HAVE A PLAN TO SPEND IT DOWN.
>> PERRY: BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT IT TO BE PERCEIVED, WELL, WE HAVE THIS POT OF MONEY, LET'S SPEND IT REAL QUICK WHERE WE HAVE THE POT OF MONEY GONE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE SO MUCH VISIBILITY IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT SOME MORE IDEAS TO REDUCE THOSE PARKING RATES, MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWN HERE TO VISIT DOWNTOWN.
SO ON SLIDE -- YOU HAD AN INCREASE IN NUMBER OF POSITIONS ALSO.
>> WELL, THERE MAY BE TWO AREAS.
ONE IS THE TOWER GARAGE, THE OLD FROST BANK GARAGE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE USING TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO HELP OFFSET THAT.
SO AS PART OF THIS -- AS PART OF THE TOWER BUDGET, THERE IS FIVE NEW POSITIONS TO OPERATE THAT FACILITY.
AND THEN THERE WERE ALSO -- WE'RE NOT ADDING ANY POSITIONS ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE ARE MOVING POSITIONS FROM ONE FUND TO ANOTHER.
SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AN ADDITIONAL POSITION, FOR EXAMPLE, GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
>> PERRY: SO ARE WE ADDING THE FIVE POSITIONS OR NOT ADDING?
>> WE ARE ADDING FIVE POSITIONS --
>> PERRY: FOR THE ONE PARKING LOT?
>> PERRY: FIVE POSITIONS FOR ONE PARKING LOT?
>> IT'S A PARKING GARAGE, YEAH.
>> IT'S MAINTENANCE, AND AMBASSADORS.
SO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS AT THOSE EXITS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS GET OUT OF THE GARAGES, AND THEN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DOING MAINTENANCE.
>> PERRY: HOW MANY SPACES IS THAT?
WE'RE LOOKING TO RESTRIPING THAT GARAGE TO ADD MORE.
WE THINK THERE'S ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO BE HAD AND WE DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS EFFICIENTLY STRIPED.
SO IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE'RE LOOKING AT RESTRIPING THAT FACILITY.
SO WE THINK WE CAN ADD A FEW MORE PARKING SPACES.
>> PERRY: IS THAT ON THE SAME RATIO, FIVE POSITIONS FOR 700 SPOTS?
THE SYSTEM WE'RE DOING IN THE OTHER GARAGES, SIR.
AND HOW DOES THAT FIGURE INTO THIS OVERALL PLAN TO GO INTO THE FROST TOWER? WAS THAT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS WITH THE TWO?
>> PERRY: THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, WHEN THE FROST TOWER, THAT WHOLE PACKAGE WAS BROUGHT TO COUNCIL, WHENEVER THAT WAS, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, IT INITIALLY WAS TO SAVE MONEY OVER 30 YEARS, $1.2 MILLION, I THINK, WAS THAT THIS PARKING CONSIDERED IN THAT OVERALL SCHEME?
>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE IN THAT MODEL.
IT'S THE PARKING GARAGE AND THE TOWER ITSELF ARE BASICALLY ONE FUND.
>> PERRY: BUT THE POSITIONS, WERE THEY COUNTED AGAINST THE -- I MEAN, THE OVERALL ECONOMIC --
I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER IS GOING TO PRESENT THAT FUND SEPARATELY TO YOU ALL.
SO I THINK THEY'LL GET INTO THAT DETAIL.
>> PERRY: SINCE IT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
[02:15:06]
I'D LIKE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE PARKING, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS.AND THEN THIS MARKET SQUARE HELP ME UNDERSTAND, THAT'S FOR THE WHOLE PLAZA?
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL FEES FOR EACH SECTION OF MARKET SQUARE.
WE DO NOT HAVE A FEE TO RENT THE ENTIRE MARKET SQUARE.
>> PERRY: SO IF YOU ADDED ALL THE INDIVIDUALS, HOW MUCH DOES THAT COME UP TO?
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN HALF OF THAT.
BUT WHAT WE FIND IS THAT WHEN YOU -- WHEN SOMEONE RENTS EVERY SINGLE POSITION, OR PLACE IN MARKET SQUARE, THOSE EVENTS ARE TYPICALLY VERY LARGE EVENTS THAT SPILL OVER INTO THE ENTIRE AREA.
AND IT INCREASES OUR COSTS FOR MAINTENANCE AND JANITORIAL.
SO BASICALLY THIS IS JUST US RECOVERING THE COST, WE HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFF THERE, WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR JANITORIAL CONTRACTOR BE THERE, THE ADDITIONAL HOURS, SO THIS IS TO RECOUP OUR COST WHEN SOMEONE RENTS THE ENTIRE MARKET SQUARE.
>> PERRY: BUT IF YOU RENTED THEM ALL INDIVIDUALLY, YOU SAID ABOUT HALF --
>> PERRY: CURRENTLY IF THEY RENT ALL OF THEM, IT'S HALF OF WHAT THIS IS?
>> THE PROBLEM IS, THOSE EVENTS ARE MUCH LARGER THAN JUST THOSE SPACES.
IT SPILLS OVER INTO AREAS THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT LEASABLE.
I WOULD ASK, THIS IS KIND OF GETTING TOWARDS MORE THE BRIEFING, I WOULD ASK COUNCILMAN, IF HE COULD TAKE THIS IN A BRIEFING.
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A LOT OF --
>> PERRY: I'M TRYING TO GET MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE BRIEFING.
BUT THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ASKED LAST TIME ABOUT THAT.
AND WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE ON RENTING OUT MARKET SQUARE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT FORCING ORGANIZATIONS TO AFFORD RENTING OUT THE WHOLE AREA.
SAYING TO DO THE WHOLE THING, IT'S DOUBLE OF WHAT THEY COULD --
>> CURRENTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHEN THEY RENT ALL OF THESE PLAZAS, IT'S SUCH A LARGE EVENT, THAT REALLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS RENTING THE ENTIRE FACILITY.
AND WE DON'T HAVE A FEE TO COVER THOSE AREAS THAT THEY'RE USING.
AND SO IT'S A MUCH LARGER EVENT.
>> THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FEE FOR.
AND WE'VE HAD -- THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE HAD VERY LARGE EVENTS AND WE HAVE TO BRING IN EXTRA JANITORIAL STAFF.
SO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT COSTS US TO SUPPORT THOSE EVENTS.
SO THIS FEE IS REFLECTED IN THOSE EVENTS.
THIS WILL PROBABLY ONLY BE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A YEAR THAT WE WOULD HAVE THIS.
WE HAVE THE OPTION AS WELL, LIKE WE DO IN OTHER FACILITIES, IF WE HAVE A NONPROFIT THAT IS HAVING A FREE EVENT, WE TYPICALLY SPONSOR THAT EVENT BY WAIVING THE FEE.
SO THERE'S NOT A FEE TO A NONPROFIT THAT'S HAVING A FREE EVENT, THIS IS REALLY FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE USING THE ENTIRE MARKET SQUARE AND ARE CHARGING A TICKET TO GET INTO.
>> PERRY: YOU DON'T FORESEE ANY ISSUES OF THEM NOT GOING AND USING THIS?
JOHN, I THINK THAT WAS ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: BUDGET WORK SESSION WILL BE RECESSED UNTIL 2:00 P.M. TO ADDRESS THE FOMG DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM LUNCH RECESS.
WE HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS TO GO THROUGH.
AT THIS TIME I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH.
>> THIS IS SOLID WASTE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
WE'LL START OFF WITH M MR. MCCAREY.
HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, I'M DAVID MCCAREY, YOUR DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR FY 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
[02:20:03]
AT SOLID WASTE WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN PROVIDING COLLECTION SERVICES FOR RECYCLING ORGANICS, TRASH, BRUSH AND BULKY COLLECTION TO OVER 359,000 CUSTOMERS.DELIVERING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR GREATEST ASSET, OUR 725 &-PS BUDGET PROCESS, YOU MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
I'M ALSO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES HAVE EARNED US RECOGNITION FROM MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
MAYOR NIRENBERG, YOU PREDICTED THIS SAME TIME LAST YEAR THAT OUR DOWNSIZE IN COMMERCIAL WOULD WIN AN ADDY AWARD.
WELL, SIR, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT NOT ONLY DID IT WIN AN ADDY AWARD, IT WON TWO.
AND WE'RE ALSO IN THE RUNNING FOR A LONG STAR EMMY.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
NOW, TO DATE, AS A CITY, WE'VE ACTUALLY WON OVER 19 AWARDS FOR SAN ANTONIO.
THIS IS THROUGH EDUCATION, MARKETING, INNOVATION, AS WELL AS SAFETY.
SEE, COUNCIL, I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW OUR METRICS ARE ALL MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF RECYCLERS.
THIS YEAR OUR OUTREACH TEAM SET A GOAL TO CONDUCT A THOUSAND PRESENTATIONS.
THEY HAVE EXCEEDED THAT GOAL BY ACTUALLY COMPLETING OVER 1,100 PRESENTATIONS.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
REWORKS ESSAY, OUR COMMERCIAL RECYCLING TEAM, CONTINUES TO ASSIST LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH STARTING OR IMPROVING THEIR RECYCLING PROGRAMS. THOSE THAT DO SO SUCCESSFULLY CAN ACTUALLY RECEIVE A BRONZE, SILVER OR GOLD THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATED OUR VERY FIRST 50 CHARTERED MEMBERS, BUT WE DIDN'T STOP THERE.
WE ACTUALLY CERTIFIED 100 BUSINESSES IN SAN ANTONIO.
THESE ARE THOSE THAT CAN WALK THE TALK.
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT IS THE COMPLETION OF OUR VERY FIRST EVER WASTE CHARACTERIZATION STUDY.
THIS IS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD OBTAINING DATA THAT DRIVES OUR REDUCTION AND DIVERSION STRATEGIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
YOU SEE, WE TOOK THE TIME TO SORT THROUGH YOUR BROWN CARDS, AND TO ANSWER A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE LANDFALLING TODAY THAT INSTEAD COULD ACTUALLY BE RECYCLED OR COMPOSTED.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY.
WE SORTED THROUGH 47,000 POUNDS OF TRASH -- YES, WE WENT TRASH DIVING -- FOR EACH OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
THIS GAVE US A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE FOR WHAT WE HAVE CITYWIDE FOR GARBAGE.
45% OF SAN ANTONIO, OF WHAT SAN ANTONIO LANDFALLS IS ACTUALLY ORGANIC MATERIAL THAT COULD HAVE BEEN COMPOSTED AND ACTUALLY GONE INSIDE THE GREEN CART.
22% WAS THAT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PROCESSED THROUGH OUR BLUE RECYCLING CART PROGRAM.
LEAVING THE 33% OF THE MATERIALS THAT WAS ACTUALLY TRASH.
THEY WERE EXACTLY WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE SO THEY COULD GO TO THE LANDFALL.
A COMPLETE REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU IN THE SPRING IN A B SESSION.
WE WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK TO YOU TO GIVE YOU THE DETAILS.
IT'S ALMOST A 100-PAGE DOCUMENT.
BUT TODAY I DID WANT YOU TO HAVE AT LEAST A SNEAK PEEK AT ONE OF THE REPORTS.
SO WE'LL HAND THAT OUT DURING OUR QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, REPSYCHABLES ARE TAKEN TO A MATERIALS RECOVERING FACILITY, WE CALL IT A MERF, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE SORTED, PROCESSED AND SOLD.
FROM THERE THEY GO TO COMPOST WHERE THEY'RE GOING BACK TO NATURE.
FROM THE BROWN CART, THEY ARE TAKEN TO THE LANDFALL TO BE BURIED AND NEVER TO BE USED AGAIN.
TO REACH OUR GOAL OF DIVERTING 60% BY THE YEAR 2025, WE WILL EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERT MORE GOOD MATERIALS FROM OUR LANDFALL.
OUR PRIMARY PERFORMANCE METRIC THAT WE HAVE IS OUR RECYCLING RATE.
TODAY, OF THE 570,000 TONS OF MATERIAL WE COLLECT ANNUALLY, 36% OF IT IS DIVERTED, WHILE THE REST IS LANDFALL.
THE GOAL TO REACH 60% BY THE YEAR 2025, WE ARE CURRENTLY BEYOND THE HALFWAY POINT.
[02:25:01]
YOU A LITTLE BIT TO SAFETY.WE ARE EXCITED TO REPORT THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT, WE BECAME THE FIRST MUNICIPALITY IN THE WORLD TO RECEIVE OUR ISO 45,000 CERTIFICATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STANDARDIZATION, THAT'S FOR OUR SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
THIS YEAR, WE ALSO WERE SUCCESSFUL AT RECEIVING OUR EXAMINER CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT'S FOR OUR CDL TRAINING AND TESTING.
NOW POTENTIAL SOLID WASTE CDL DRIVERS CAN ACTUALLY SCHEDULE THEIR TEST IN ONE WEEK.
IT TRADITIONALLY TAKES ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.
OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 2020 IS $150 MILLION, AND IT'S MADE UP OF TWO PARTS.
THE FIRST IS OUR SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FUND WHICH IS COMPRISED MOSTLY AUDIO] COLLECTION FEES, AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FEE AT $130 MILLION.
THE SECOND IS HEAVY-DUTY FLEET INTERNAL SERVICE FUND.
THIS FUND COVERS THE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FOR NEARLY 2,000 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT OF HEAVY-DUTY AND OFF-ROAD, FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS AT 20 MILLION.
WE DO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHIN A STRUCTURALLY BALANCED BUDGET.
LET'S TALK EQUITY FOR A SECOND.
AS WE EXECUTE NEW INITIATIVES, I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY FRONT AND CENTER.
WE CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO EQUITABLE SERVICES, AS WELL AS EQUITABLE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FOCUS AREAS FOR 2020.
BETTER SORTING OF RECYCLABLES FROM HOMES HAS BENEFITS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
IT MEANS MORE CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO THE BLUE AND GREEN CARTS, AND LESS INTO THE BROWN CARTS, REDUCING THE NEED FOR US TO HAVE THAT LARGER BROWN CART.
SO THE SMALLER THE CART, THE LOWER THE FEE.
WE BELIEVE THAT MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS TODAY MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE AWARE OF JUST HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAYING FOR EACH OF THEIR MONTHLY BILLS AT CPS ENERGY THROUGH THE BILL SYSTEM.
TO ADDRESS THAT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE KEEPING THEIR 96-GALLON CARTS, AND THROUGH OUR DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGN, WE'RE GOING BLOCK BY BLOCK, DOOR BY DOOR, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A WELL-INFORMED FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, THEIR ABILITY TO SAVE MONEY.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF RECYCLING.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK ON CHINA'S RULE OF IMPORTED RECYCLABLES TO BE ALMOST COMPLETELY FREE OF CONTAMINATION.
AS A RESULT, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR RECYCLABLES TO INCREASE THEIR MARKETABILITY HERE DOMESTICALLY.
BUT THE RISING COST OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS CONTINUES TO THREATEN THEIR LONGEVITY.
YOU SEE, CITIES PAY MRS FOR EACH TON ACTUALLY PROCESSED TO OFFSET COSTS FROM MANAGING CONTAMINATION, IT INCLUDES FEES.
TODAY PROCESSORS ARE SEEING GLOBAL MARKETS OR COMMODITIES BECOME LESS AVAILABLE, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SELL MATERIALS AT A PROFIT.
THEREFORE, MERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO RAISE PRICES PROCESSING FEES JUST IN ORDER TO OFFSET THEIR DWINDLING PROFIT MARGINS.
SO FOR SAN ANTONIO, IN PREPARATION FOR MAJOR INCREASE IN PROCESSING COSTS, WE CONTRACTED WITH A CONSULTANT TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF A CITY-OWNED AND OPERATED MERF.
OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH OUR CONTRACT WITH MERF EXPIRES IN JULY OF 2024.
THE CONSULTANT'S FINDINGS CONCLUDED THAT OWNING AND OPERATING A MERF IS FINANCIALLY ADVANTAGEOUS, BECAUSE THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO SHIFTING MARKET CONDITIONS A LOT FASTER, WITHOUT BEING BOUNDED BY AN ACTUAL CONTRACT AGREEMENT.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF ITS COSTS.
OUR NEXT STEPS INCLUDE AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO LEARN THE DETAILS OF THIS ENDEAVOR.
CITY COUNCIL, OUR FIRST PROPOSED BUDGET IMPROVEMENT INCLUDES $200,000 FOR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
A MORE DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE CONSULTANT'S FINDINGS, AS WELL AS INCLUDING THE RESULTS OF THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO YOU WHEN WE
[02:30:02]
RETURN IN THE SPRING AT A B SESSION.WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT DETAILED DISCUSSION WITH YOU, AND BRING YOU UP TO SPEED.
AS YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER, THERE ARE A LOT OF RECOVERABLE MATERIALS IN OUR WASTE STREAM.
TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO RECYCLE AND COMPOST MORE, WE ARE PROPOSING A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.
CITY COUNCIL, THIS BRINGS US TO OUR SECOND IMPROVEMENT.
A $2 DECREASE FOR OUR SMALL BROWN CART WITH NO CHANGE IN OUR MEDIUM OR LARGE CART RATES.
THIS CREATES A POTENTIAL SAVINGS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS OF $144 EVERY YEAR.
BECAUSE WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS MAKING THE REQUEST THROUGH OUR GROUND AU AUDIO].
THAT'S THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO CHANGE SOMEONE TO A LOWER, SMALLER CART, AND YOU STILL ARE PAYING THE LARGER CART FEE.
SO THIS BRINGS US TO OUR THIRD IMPROVEMENT, WHICH IS OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST POSITION, TO PERFORM BILLING AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS, THE COST FOR IMPROVEMENT IS $57,000.
TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY IN OUR ROUTE COLLECTION OPERATIONS, WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR CUSTOMER GROWTH BY ACQUIRING ONE DRIVER AND ONE COLLECTION VEHICLE, WHEN OUR CUSTOMER BASE GROWS OVER 2,100 ACCOUNTS, NEW ACCOUNTS.
THIS BRINGS US TO OUR FOURTH IMPROVEMENT.
WE ARE PROPOSING ADDING A COLLECTION VEHICLE AND A DRIVER, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $384,000.
FOR OUR FIFTH IMPROVEMENT, WE TEAMED UP WITH TCI TO CO-FUND A RECRUITMENT POSITION TO HELP EXPEDITE FILLING OUR CDL DRIVER POSITIONS.
OUR PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $46,000 FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT.
I'M SHIFTING BACK TO SAFETY ON YOU FOR A SECOND.
THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC WILL ALWAYS BE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
WE HAVE SEEN ALMOST A 50% REDUCTION IN PREVENTABLE COLLISIONS FROM 140 TO 76 OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
TO BUILD ON OUR SAFETY CULTURE, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES OUR SIXTH AND FINAL IMPROVEMENT OF THREE TRAINING TRUCKS AS WELL AS TWO SAFETY POSITIONS.
THESE SAFETY POSITIONS WILL ENSURE ADHERENCE TO OUR ISO 4501 CERTIFICATION WITH A FOCUS ON DRIVER COMPETENCY ASSESSMENTS, PORTFOLIOS, THE FULL-BLOWN STAFF THERE.
WE ALSO ARE LOOKING TO REDUCE OUR HIGH-RISK AND DRIVING BEHAVIORS THROUGH THIS.
THE COST OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS IS $319,000.
CITY COUNCIL, THIS BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION.
THERE ARE NEW HEIGHTS, NEW CHALLENGES THAT ARE THERE, BUT WE'RE READY TO TAKE IT HEAD-ON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTE ATTENDANCE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
IMTHE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE WORK WE DO AT ACS.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE 140 STAFF MEMBERS THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING TO WORK WITH AND THEIR DEDICATION, AS WELL AS MANY RESCUE AND MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP US SIGNIFICANTLY.
HERE WITH US TODAY, WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE THE VETERINARIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION WITH BEXAR COUNTY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS LAST YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE RENE WITH US, AS WELL AS THEY ARE NOT HERE YET, BUT THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO COME, REPRESENTATION FROM SOME OF OUR RESCUE PARTNERS, SAN ANTONIO PETS ALIVE AS WELL AS ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE.
WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE SUPPORTING.
[02:35:02]
WE HAVE RITA RODIGAN WHO SERVES AS A CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS BELDEN, AND KAREN SPEARS.I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH WORK THESE INDIVIDUALS DO ON A DAILY BASIS TO BE ABLE TO HELP US, AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THEM.
COUNCIL, WHILE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN SAN ANTONIO THAT WORK WITH ANIMALS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, ACS IS UNIQUE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING THE CARE AND THE TREATMENT OF THOSE PETS THAT WE HOUSE, ALL UNDERNEATH A SINGLE UMBRELLA, ORGANIZATIONAL UMBRELLA.
WE DO THIS ALL, BY OPERATING AS AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER.
BEING AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER DOES REQUIRE US TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AT TIMES, HOWEVER, DESPITE THAT, AND TO THE CREDIT OF ACS STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY, ACS WILL EXCEED A 90% LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR ALL DOGS AND CATS FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.
GETTING TO 90% LIVE RELEASE RATE REQUIRES US TO COMPLETELY REINVENT OUR BUSINESS.
IN 2011, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND SUPPORT FROM CITY LEADERSHIP, EVERY SINGLE ACS PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED AND RESULTING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEW -- OF OUR CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN.
THIS PLAN CALLED FOR A BALANCED APPROACH BETWEEN ANIMAL WELFARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND LAYS OUT FOUR MAJOR PRIORITIES.
TO ENHANCE ENFORCEMENT, CONTROL THE STRAY PET POPULATION, INCREASE THE LIVE RELEASE RATE AND ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY.
ABSOLUTELY KEY TO OUR SUCCESS WERE THE HUNDREDS OF PARTNERSHIPS ACS HAS FORMED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NEARLY 200 RESCUE GROUPS THAT HAVE PULLED PETS FROM ACS OVER THE LAST 10 1 YEA.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2019 ALONE, RESCUE GROUPS WILL ACCOUNT FOR 37% OF OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE.
BY FOCUSING ON ESTABLISHING STRONG RESCUE PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAN ANTONIO PETS ALIVE, SAN ANTONIO HUMANE SOCIETY, ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE, AND THE PARTNERSHIP CREATED EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH CANINES FOR WARRIORS, SAN ANTONIO PETS HAVE BENEFITED.
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, LOCAL RESCUE GROUPS HAVE FOUND HOMES FOR OVER 100,000 OF AUDIO].
-- THESE PARTNERS DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH ACS TO SPAY AND NEUTER SAN ANTONIO PETS.
IN ADDITION TO KEEPING PETS FROM GETTING LOOSE, SPAY AND NEUTER MUST BE A MAJOR STRATEGY TO CONTROL THE STRAY PET POPULATION.
SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2011, THE NUMBER OF SURGERIES SPONSORED BY THE CITIES HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 45,000.
15,000 OF THOSE SURGERIES OCCUR AT LOW-COST CLINICS BUILT BY THE CITY.
ANOTHER 30,000 SURGERIES ARE PROVIDED FOR IN-HOUSE, OR THROUGH OUR ZIP CODE PROGRAM.
THE ZIP CODE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE SPAY OR NEUTER SURGERIES FOR ANYONE LIVING WITHIN 21 HIGH-NEED AREAS.
BEFORE WE SWITCH TO THE ZIP CODE BASED SYSTEM, THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
TARGETING AREAS BASED UPON NEED WAS OUR FIRST STEP IN MAKING OUR SERVICES MORE EQUITABLE.
NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY TO IMPROVE THIS PROGRAM EVEN FURTHER BY ENSURING THAT WE ARE ALSO REACHING HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
THIS EFFORT COMBINED WITH IN-HOUSE TRAINING FOR ACS STAFF AND A COMMITMENT TO STUDY THESE AREAS OF NEED ILLUSTRATE ACS' COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE SERVICE DELIVERY.
BESIDES IMPROVING THE LIVE RELEASE RATE AND SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES, ACS OPERATIONS HAVE EVOLVED AND GROWN AS WELL.
IN 2015, THE CITY BEGAN REQUIRING PETS TO BE MICROCHIPPED IN PLACE OF A PET LICENSE.
THESE MICROCHIPS ALLOW ANY VETERINARIAN OR SHELTER WITH A SCANNER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PET'S OWNER.
INSTEAD OF SIMPLY REQUIRING THESE MICROCHIPS, ACS ALSO IMPLANTED OVER 100,000 MICROCHIPS SINCE THE ORDINANCE WENT INTO EFFECT.
RECENTLY, ACS TRAINED A SELECT HANDFUL OF OFFICERS TO IMPLANT MICROCHIPS DIRECTLY IN THE FIELD.
COUNCIL, THESE REQUIREMENTS IS A KEY REASON WHY TODAY 25 -- OVER 25% OF ACS, OR PETS THAT COME TO ACS SHELTER WILL BE RETURNED DIRECTLY TO THEIR OWNER, COMPARED TO ONLY 6% IN 2011.
NOT ONLY DOES RETURNING PETS TO THEIR OWNER IN THE FIELD KEEP THEM OFF OF THE ACS CAMPUS, IT ALSO ALLOWS OUR OFFICERS TO HAVE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PET OWNERS ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE, AND KEEPING THEIR PETS SAFE ON
[02:40:01]
THEIR PROPERTY.THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE A POINT OF EMPHASIS FOR OUR OFFICERS AS THEY RESPOND TO NEARLY 120,000 SERVICE REQUESTS EACH YEAR.
OVER 30% OF THOSE REQUESTS ARE CREATED BY OUR OFFICERS DIRECTLY, INDICATING THE EMPHASIS ACS PLAYS ON PROACTIVE AND FOLLOW-UP WORK.
ACS WITH CRITICAL CALLS, SUCH AS RESPONDING TO SICK OR INJURED PETS, HAVING THE SHORTEST RESPONSE TIME.
AREAS WITH HIGH NUMBER OF CALLS REGARDING LOOSE PETS ARE ALSO VISITED BY OUR SWEEPS TEAM TO IMPOUND THESE ANIMALS.
OVER THE YEAR, ACS HAS EMP EMPHASIZED RESPONDING TO A GROWING NUMBER OF CALLS FOR SERVICE.
SPEEDING UP RESPONSE TIME, AND BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2019, INVESTIGATING AND SHUTTING DOWN ILLEGAL PET SALES.
THIS YEAR, OVER 260 PET SALES HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED -- ILLEGAL PET SALES HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED, RESULTING IN OVER 100 CITATIONS BEING ISSUED.
COUNCIL, LET ME PUT OUR DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY IN PERSPECTIVE.
SINCE 2011, THE LIVE RELEASE RATE HAS INCREASED 58 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
THE NUMBER OF ACS SUPPORTED SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES HAS INCREASED BY 27,000.
AND THE NUMBER OF CITATIONS WE ISSUE HAS INCREASED BY 8,000.
WHILE I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE MORE WORK TO BE DONE, AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS WHO WANT US TO DO BETTER, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING AN IMPACT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF DEAD ANIMALS BEING COLLECTED BY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO GO DOWN STEADILY.
INDICATING A REDUCTION IN THE LOOSE DOG POPULATION.
MOVING INTO FISCAL YEAR 2020, ACS WILL FOCUS HOW WE CONNECT TO RESIDENTS WITHOUT ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO OUR BUDGET.
AS PART OF OUR EFFORT THAT IMPACTS OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TEAM.
HISTORICALLY ACS CONTRACTED OUT MEDIA AND GRAPHIC DESIGN WORK TO A THIRD PARTY.
ACS WILL BE ABLE TO ADD ONE POSITION, BRING THESE FUNCTIONS IN-HOUSE, AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE FUNDING TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS.
CONNECTING WITH OUR RESIDENTS, WE'LL ALSO REQUIRE A CHANGE IN OUR MESSAGING.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT ACS DOES AND WHY I REALIZE IT IS TIME FOR ACS TO EVOLVE BEYOND ANIMAL WELFARE.
INSTEAD, WE MUST USE ANIMAL WELFARE AND HELP GROW AND SHOW SAN ANTONIO'S COMPASSION.
WHILE ACS MUST CONTINUE TO HOLD PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW, WE NEED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT BEING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER GOES BEYOND PROVIDING THE BASIC CARE OF OUR PETS.
BEING RESPONSIBLE IS ALSO ABOUT IMPROVING OUR LIVES, AND THE LIVES OF THE COMMUNITY.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE MUST DO BETTER -- A BETTER JOB HELPING GOOD PET OWNERS WHO LOVE THEIR PETS, UNDERSTAND THAT THE FULL IMPACT OF THEIR ACTION AND WHY SMALL DECISIONS SUCH AS KEEPING THEIR PETS PROPERLY CONTAINED IS SO IMPORTANT.
WE MUST SHOW HOW BEING MORE RESPONSIBLE IS JUST NOT ONE MORE THING WE'RE ASKING RESIDENTS TO DO, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP THEM IN ALL OTHER AS EXPECTS OF THEIR LIVES.
IN ESSENCE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES MUST BE THE CHAMPION OF COMPASSION.
WE KNOW THAT OUR PETS CARE FOR US, AND WHEN WE CARE FOR THEM, WE BECOME BETTER PEOPLE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I AM A BETTER FATHER, AND A BETTER HUSBAND BECAUSE OF MY PET.
I AM A BETTER DIRECTOR ANYTIME THAT I AM TAKING CARE OF ONE OF OUR PETS IN MY OFFICE.
WHILE THIS SEEM OBVIOUS TO NEARLY EVERY RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER, EARLIER THIS YEAR WE REVIEWED SOME SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT SHOWS CHILDREN WHO BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH PETS WILL BENEFIT FROM STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS AND PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIORS LATER ON IN LIFE.
IN ADULTS, PET OWNERS ARE MORE SOCIALLY FULFILLED THAN THOSE WHO DO NOT OWN PETS.
I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TO DO FAR MORE THAN PROTECT THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BY FOCUSING ON COMPASSION AND BUILDING A MORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OWNERS AND THEIR PETS, WE CAN MAKE LIVES BETTER FOR BOTH OUR PETS AND PEOPLE.
A FEW MONTHS AGO ACS INTRODUCED A COMMUNITY PLEDGE FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO PROMISE TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, I INVITE YOU TO TAKE THE PLEDGE YOURSELF AND TO CONVINCE THOSE AROUND YOU TO DO THE SAME.
I LIKE TO CLOSE MY PRESENTATION TODAY BY SHOWING YOU A SHORT VIDEO THAT INTRODUCES OUR
[02:45:02]
COMPASSION CAMPAIGN, AND ASK FOR THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT AS WE CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM HOW ANIMALS ARE TREATED IN SAN ANTONIO.>> THIS TIME, THIS PLACE, THESE PEOPLE WILL BE DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN SEE IT IN OUR EYES, THROUGH THE CARE AND RESOURCES WE PROVIDE, THE SPACES WE SHARE, COMPASSION LIVES HERE.
NOW WE WANT TO SEE IT IN YOUR EYES.
THE BELIEF THAT WE'RE A COMMUNITY WHO CARES, A COMMUNITY WHO LOVES OUR PETS AND WANTS THE BEST FOR THEM.
TAKE THE PLEDGE AT SAACS.NET TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO MORE HUMANE.
HELP US SHOW THE WORLD COMPASSION LIVES HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF DEFENDANT SERVICES AND I HAVE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW THE CUTE PUPPY AND KITTEN VIDEO YOU JUST SAW.
SO I'M NOT SURE IT WILL BE AS EXCITING AS THAT.
THANK YOU, HEBER, FOR SETTING THE BAR.
I'LL RUN THROUGH OUR FY 2020 BUDGET FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND I THINK WE HAVE A FUN AND EXCITING SHOW FOR YOU.
SO, FIRST I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY EXECUTIVE TEAM.
SO THERE'S US IN THE BACK SOMEWHERE.
THERE'S AMINE, MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OVERSEEING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND OUR PLAN REVIEW AND PERMITTING.
AND MELISSA RAMIREZ, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, YOU SEE HER EVERY OTHER WEEK AT ZONING.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THEM AND OUR DIVISIONS.
REALLY, AS I START MY PRESENTATION, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE ENDING OF THE STORY.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES -- OUR STORY THIS YEAR IS PERMIT ACTIVITY, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN SAN ANTONIO IS UP.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SERVICE LEVELS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO AS A RESTRICTED FUND, ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE'LL BE ADDING SOME RESOURCES.
SO THAT'S REALLY OUR STORY TODAY.
NOW, OUR GENERAL FUND CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL ALSO BE M MAINTAINING OUR SERVICE LEVELS.
PERMIT ACTIVITY IS APPROXIMATELY 14% UP YEAR-TO-DATE THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW THAT, YOU SEE THAT IN YOUR DISTRICTS, ALL AROUND TOWN.
SO AS WE GET STARTED, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE 453 EMPLOYEES STRONG IN FY 2020.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ENTERPRISE FUND THAT HANDLES ALL THE ZONING, THE PLANNING, LAND DEVELOPMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT IS OUR OTHER FUND.
WE SHARE RESTRICTED FUNDS AS WELL AS GENERAL FUNDS.
AND WE HAVE 153 OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
YOU'LL SEE THE FUNDS THERE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OUT OF OUR 52.3 BUDGET THIS YEAR, THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, OVER TWO-THIRDS OF THAT, 37 MILLION IS ACTUALLY THE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM PERMIT ACTIVITY.
AND AS I INDICATED, WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE PERMITS COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS WHICH MEANS WE HAVE MORE REVENUE, AND WHEN WE CREATED ENTERPRISE FUND, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO PUT THAT REVENUE BACK INTO SERVICE IN TERMS OF PLAN REVIEWERS, PLANNERS, INSPECTORS, SO WE CAN PROVIDE QUALITY, TIMELY SERVICES TO OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO.
WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF, 14 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT WILL BE ADDED, THOSE POSITIONS WILL HELP US BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT PERMIT ACTIVITY.
I'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, THE GENERAL FUND IS PROPOSED AT 14 -- A LITTLE OVER 14 MILLION, JUST UNDER 15, AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT THE SERVICE LEVELS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 153 POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT, ALL OF OUR CODE OFFICERS, GRAFFITI REBATEMENT, AND BOTH GENERAL FUND AND GRANT FUNDED, THAT WILL STAY THE SAME, NO REDUCTIONS IN IN-SERVICE LEVELS,
[02:50:01]
BUT WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS A REDUCTION IN OUR BUDGET WITH EFFICIENCIES THAT WE HAVE FOUND AND LINE ITEMS, REDUCTIONS FROM LAST YEAR.SO AS WE STEP BACK, I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND KEY MILESTONES THAT GET US TO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
WE WERE NOT ALWAYS AN ENTERPRISE FUND IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
BUT WE KNEW AND WE LEARNED THAT THE BEST PRACTICE WAS TO TAKE PERMIT MONEY, THE PERMIT REVENUES THAT WE GET, AND PUT IT BACK INTO SERVICE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS SO THEY CAN QUALITY BUILD QUICKLY, AND GREAT PROJECTS.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE.
WE WERE SO EXCITED IN 2007 TO DO THAT.
AND THE IDEA WAS TO EXPAND WHEN THE ECONOMY EXPANDED, BUT THE FLIP SIDE IS, WE'LL RETRACT WHEN THE ECONOMY DOES SO.
SO, OF COURSE, WE WERE ALL EXCITED.
THEN 2008, 2009, WHAT HAPPENED? THE RECESSION HAPPENED.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO REDUCE OUR WORK FORCE, 69 POSITIONS WERE ACTUALLY FROZEN AND GOTTEN RID OF AT THAT TIME.
BUT THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD WORK.
IF THERE'S NO WORK COMING IN FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT.
BUT IF THERE'S INCREASED WORK LIKE THERE IS NOW, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND QUICKLY.
A FEW YEARS LATER, WE WORKED ON A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, WORKING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE BETTER, TIMELY, QUALITY, CONSISTENT SERVICE.
AND WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY TO GET THE IES ACCREDITATION, INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION SERVICE.
WE WERE THE 12TH DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY, AT THAT TIME THE LARGEST BY FAR.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONLY 1 OF 25 THAT HAVE THAT ACCREDITATION.
2012, CODE ENFORCEMENT JOINED DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHICH WAS ACTUALLY A GREAT JOINING OF I THINK DEPARTMENTS.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE GET TO WORK WITH PROPERTIES AND BUILDINGS AS THEY'RE BUILT, BUT MAINTAINING PROPERTIES THROUGH THEIR LIFE CYCLE IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR SAFFE ENVIRONMENT.
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICERS TO GET QUICKER COMPLIANCE, MOVE A LITTLE BIT FORWARD TO 2016.
MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO ADD POSITIONS.
WE HAD TO BUILD A NEW PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE ALSO LAUNCHED OUR BUILDSA PROGRAM, THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT WILL PUT ALL OF OUR SERVICES ON ONE WORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, NOT ONLY FOR OUR STAFF AND CITY STAFF, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR OUR CITIZENS AND CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IN 2017-2018, WE LAUNCHED PHASE ONE OF BUILDSA, AT THE END OF 2018, START OF 2019.
AND WE ALSO GOT RATED NUMBER ONE BY THE INSURANCE SERVICES ORGANIZATION.
SO NUMBER ONE RATING, THE FIRST IN TEXAS TO GET THAT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND HOW WE GOT HERE.
ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, WE TRACK OUR PERFORMANCE EACH AND EVERY WEEK, EACH AND EVERY MONTH, WE ACTUALLY MEET WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SHOW THEM THIS PERFORMANCE.
THE KEY HERE IS OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WANTS TIMELY SERVICE.
WE WANT PLAN REVIEWS AND PERMITS ISSUED QUICKLY, WITH EWANT INSPECTORS OUT THERE WHEN THEY NEED IT, SO WE DON'T SLOW DOWN THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE MEET OR EXCEED ALL OF OUR TARGETS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, INCLUDING IN FY 2019.
ONE THING TO CONSIDER HERE, IF YOU GO BACK 12, 13 YEARS AGO, THOSE TARGETS WERE DOUBLE WHAT THEY WERE.
WE WERE DOING THINGS IN 40 DAYS, MAJOR PLATS, 35 DAYS PLAN REVIEW FOR COMMERCIAL, 10 DAYS FOR RESIDENTIAL, TESTAMENT TO OUR HARD WORKING STAFF, KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMANDS.
CODE ENFORCEMENT, VERY SIMILAR.
WHEN WE STARTED IN 2012 WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE PUT TOGETHER A CODE ENFORCEMENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WE REALLY CHANGED THE METRICS.
WHAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR IS HOW FAST CAN WE GET COMPLIANCE ON MOST OF OUR CASES, NOT JUST ISSUING THEM OVER TO THE COURTS AND LET THEM DEAL WITH IT, BUT ACTUALLY GETTING COMPLIANCE IN 45 DAYS.
THAT'S A NEW METRIC WE STARTED FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO.
THE NEXT THING IS PRO ACTIVITY.
OUR CODE OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE OVER TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR CASES PROACTIVE.
WITH THE 100,000 CASES WE WORK WITH EACH OTHER, 100 CODE VIOLATIONS THAT WE ADDRESS AND GET CORRECTED, THIS SHOWS OVER 75% OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY PROACTIVE.
MEANING THEY'RE INITIATED BY OUR CODE OFFICERS LOOKING FOR THEM RATHER THAN HAVING TO WAIT FOR CITIZENS TO GET THEM.
WE STILL NEED PEOPLE TO CALL IN AND GET THE APP.
YOU LOOK AT THE GRAFFITI SITES, WELL OVER 50,000, A GOAL OF CLEANING UP OUR GRAFFITI.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE KEY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT WE'VE SEEN, NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK
[02:55:01]
ON.IN THE TOP LEFT YOU SEE THE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS.
AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT THE INCREASE IN RESIDENTIAL PERMITTING.
ACTUAL LIP, THAT'S ALMOST 18% YEAR-TO-DATE LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE THE FROST TOWER, WE HAVE THE CPS HEADQUARTERS, ATV'S GARAGE AND WALKWAY, THE CITY HALL BUILDING THAT I THINK IS GETTING A NEW LOOK AND DOING A LOT OF WORK THERE.
THE KEY THERE IS NOT ONLY ARE WE WORKING TO SAY THAT THEY'RE SAFE, CODE COMPLIANT, BUT OUR JOB IS TO FACILITATE, WE FACILITATE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THOSE PROJECTS SO EACH OF OUR INSPECTORS, AND OUR PLAN EXAMINERS, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO SAY NO, THAT DOESN'T MEET CODE, WE'RE ALSO THERE TO HELP THEM FIND SOLUTIONS.
HEY, IF YOU ADD THIS, SUB TRACT THAT, YOU'LL MEET CODE AND MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S A KEY PART OF WHAT WE DO.
SO SOME OF THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PAST YEAR, I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE'VE STARTED LIVE STREAMING ALL OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS WE HAVE AT THE DEFENDANT SERVICES, ONE-STOP CENTER DOWN THE STREET.
WE WORK WITH GPA, AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY FEEDBACK YOU ALL HAD GIVEN US.
WE WANT THOSE MEETINGS, IF PEOPLE CAN'T COME TO THOSE MEETINGS, THEY SHOULD SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOT ONLY IN AND AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT AROUND THEIR CITIES.
THOSE ARE QUASI JUDICIAL BOARDS THAT HAVE REAL POWER, SO IT'S KEY THAT THOSE ARE NOW BEING LIVE STREAMED.
WE HAD THE STORM IN JUNE THIS YEAR.
WE WORKED ON A LOT OF EFFORTS.
WE SPENT ABOUT $100,000 WORKING TO CLEAN UP ALL THE DEBRIS.
THAT'S A PICTURE OF PROBABLY THE LARGEST TREE THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN KNOCKED DOWN.
IT W I WAS OUT THERE FOR A FEW DAYS WITH OUR TEAM.
THE OWNER THAT LIVED THERE, HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THAT HOUSE NEAR WHERE THAT TREE LANDED.
AND IT WAS AMAZING THAT NO ONE WAS HURT.
BUT THAT WAS AN AMAZING WORK BY SOME OF OUR CONTRACTORS THAT WE WORK WITH TO CLEAN THAT UP.
JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE APPROVED AN UPDATE TO THE MOBILE LIVING LICENSE.
WHAT THEY'LL DO, MORE INSPECTIONS, WE HAVE TO GET INSPECTORS, CODE OFFICERS LAST YEAR, WE INSPECTED OVER 8,200 MOBILE LIVING PARK UNITS AND PROPERTIES.
SO ABOUT 130 ACTUAL PROPERTIES CORRECTED.
NOW, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MOBILE LIVING PARKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE IN SAFER CONDITIONS THAN JUST A YEAR AGO.
CERTAINLY WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PROPER RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR NCD.
THAT TOOK US OVER A YEAR TO GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT.
SO I THINK LIKE THE OTHER PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU'VE SEEN AND HEARD OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WE DO HAVE EQUITY, WE EMBED EQUITY IN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO.
IF YOU LOOK AT CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE ASSIGN THEM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CODE VIOLATIONS.
WE JUST DON'T DIVVY IT UP AND ASSIGN 10 CODE OFFICERS TO EACH DISTRICT.
WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE DATA EACH YEAR, TO DIVVY UP WHERE THE OFFICERS NEED TO GO.
TO TRY TO MAKE THE MOST IMPACT WHERE NEEDED MOST.
WE'VE ADDED INTERPRETATION SERVICES AT ALL THOSE BOARD INFORMATION MEETINGS AS YOU ALL HAVE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS IN SPANISH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND TARGET LOW-INCOME AREAS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON NEXT YEAR.
THIS IS, AGAIN, OUT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUND, THIS IS A PERMANENT REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN.
AND SO SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT ARE STRIKE TEAMS. WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I HAD SUCH GOOD NEWS IN THE PRESENTATION BUT NOW I'LL TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE.
WE ALREADY STARTED SOLVING IT.
BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH PERMIT ACTIVITY HAPPENING, SO MUCH CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PULLING PERMITS.
YOU SEE THOSE FLIPPING HOUSE SHOWS? THERE'S A LOT OF FLIPPING GOING ON, A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.
BUT WE HAVE FOUND TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLING OUR OFFICES AND SAYING, I JUST MOVED INTO MY HOUSE LAST YEAR.
THE REALTOR TOLD ME THEY JUST RENOVATED THE WHOLE THING, NEW ELECTRICAL, NEW AC, BUT MY ELECTRICAL IS NOT WORKING, MY A/C'S BROKEN, WHO ARE MY CONTRACTORS THAT PULLED OUR PERMITS? OUR ANSWER IS, NO ONE PULLED PERMITS ON THAT WORK.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THIS YEAR, AND NEXT YEAR WE'RE ADDING SIX POSITIONS TO DO THAT ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
JUST THE FOUR, FIVE MONTHS WE'VE BEEN DOING ON WEEKENDS, LOOKING FOR THIS WORK, WE'VE ALREADY
[03:00:01]
FOUND 800 VIOLATIONS OF THIS.IN JUST LIKE FOUR MONTHS' WORTH OF WORK.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY RENOVATE STRUCTURES, IT'S SAFE, IT MEETS CODE, WHEN IT GOES WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, THAT'S HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.
WE WANT TO BRING THEM INTO THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD SIX POSITIONS TO HELP US THERE.
OUR BUILDSA, WE NEED A POSITION THERE TO HELP US MAINTAIN THAT SYSTEM, PASSWORD RESETS, OR THINGS GO WRONG, ON A LITTLE ITEM, WE NEED A POSITION DEDICATED TO THAT.
SHORT-TERM REP TALS, WE ALL KNOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HOTTEST THINGS WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE STARTED THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
WE'VE ALREADY ISSUED SINCE FEBRUARY OVER 1,A 00 RENTAL PERMITS IN THE CITY.
WE NEED ANOTHER POSITION TO HELP WITH THOSE PERMITS AND REVIEW OF THOSE.
THE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILL HELP ALL THOSE OTHER AREAS, WHETHER IT BE ADDRESSING, FISCAL, INSPECTION FOR SIDEWALKS AND STREETS, AND UPCOMING MILITARY PROTECTION AREA WHICH YOU'LL BE SEEING IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WITH THAT, I DID MENTION THE GENERAL FUND.
WE DID NOT INCREASE OR DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF STAFF.
BUT WE DID FIND SOME EFFICIENCIES.
IN LOOKING AT OUR ABATEMENT DOLLARS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE CAN SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ON THE VACANT LOTS AND DEMOLITIONS THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED TO DO WHEN THE OWNER DOESN'T DO IT THEMSELVES.
THERE'S $100,000 SAVINGS THERE.
THE VARIOUS LINE ITEM REDUCTIONS, ONE OF THEM, THERE'S ONE OF OUR NEW SERVICE CENTERS.
WE HAVE SOME LEASING SPACE FOR CODE TEAMS. WE CAN SAVE ALMOST $25,000 IN LEASING FEES.
SO IT'S KEY FOR US TO ALWAYS KEEP TRYING TO REDUCE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED, IF WE CAN STILL MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE, I THINK WE'VE DONE SO HERE.
AND SO FINALLY, I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT'S COMING UP IN FY 2020.
AT THE END OF FY 2020, IN SEPTEMBER, WE'LL BE GOING LIVE WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THAT, WE'LL BE GOING WITH THE REST OF IT WHICH IS THE PERMIT BUILDING AND INSPECTIONS.
FOR NOT ONLY OUR STAFF AND CITIZENS.
THEY'LL HAVE MORE CASE INFORMATION AT THEIR FINGERTIPS ON THEIR MOBILE PHONES.
WE HAVE MOBILE TOOLS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE FIELD.
PLAN REVIEWS AND PERMITS WILL BE SUBMITTED AND REVIEWED ELECTRONICALLY.
THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS.
THAT WILL BE HOW WE DO BUSINESS MOVING FORWARD.
NEXT YEAR IS ALSO GOING TO BE BUSY FOR YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE UPDATES TO OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
OUR FIVE-YEAR UPDATE FOR UDC, AS WELL AS OUR 10 BUILDING RELATED CODES, FIRE, BLAH, BLAH, RIGHT? AS WELL AS OUR SIGN CODE UPDATE.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE ALL THAT WORK TO DO NEXT YEAR, SO BUCKLE UP.
WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF WORK AND WE'LL BRING YOU GREAT NEW UPGRADED CODES.
I CAN TELL YOU'RE EXCITED, MAYOR.
WE HAVE A SENIOR LIVING FACILITY PROACTIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING TO YOU IN A FEW MONTHS.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WITH ALL THAT WORK, WE HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT DEMAND OF THE PERMIT ACTIVITIES TO MEET OUR CUSTOMERS' NEEDS.
WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY UP THERE, I'LL JUST START WITH YOU.
YOU MENTIONED THE 10 DIFFERENT CODES.
I'M JUST WONDERING, WHAT KIND OF -- OBVIOUSLY WE HAVEN'T REALLY DUG INTO THAT WORK JUST YET, BUT IT'S COMING, AND PEOPLE KNOW GENERALLY HOW DISRUPTIVE THAT CAN BE.
SO WHAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO KIND OF PREPARE EVERYBODY FOR IT, SET EXPECTATIONS, MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS AND BE READY FOR IT AND WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION IN IT?
EVERY FIVE YEARS WE LOOK AT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE, AS WELL AS THE CHANGES WE DO.
EVERY FIVE YEARS, THERE'S A FORMALIZED PROCESS ON CHAPTER 35 OF OUR UDC.
INTERNALLY, NOT ONLY DEVELOPMENT STAFF, BUT TCI, OHP, ALL OF THOSE REGULATIONS IN CHAPTER 35, WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL CHANGES.
MOST OF THEM ARE CLARIFICATIONS.
ONE OF THOSE DEBATES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY ON DESIGN CONSULTING, WE'RE ACTUALLY INTERNALLY LOOKING AT ALL THAT.
I KNOW THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS EMBARKED ON WITH WHAT CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN TO HELP LINE UP THE UDC WITH THE SA TOMORROW PLAN AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
FROM THE BUILDING RELATED CODES AND FIRE CODES, WE'RE ACTUALLY INVOLVED AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, PART OF COMMITTEES, WE GO TO THE HEARINGS, WE ALSO WATCH THE WEB-BASED HEARINGS ON THOSE, SO WE HAVE AN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT'S COMING ON THOSE SO WE CAN
[03:05:02]
PROPOSE SOMETHING TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE START THOSE HEARINGS.THEN OUR SIGN CODE, WE DEAL WITH OUR SIGN CODE INDUSTRY A LOT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON AN ITEM RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A SMALL PIECE OF THAT, BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF LEG WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN FY '19 JUST TO GET READY SO THE YEAR-LONG PROCESS, IT GOES FAIRLY QUICKLY.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILED CODES.
BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT WE'RE READY FOR IT.
I HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN PLACE AND GREAT PARTNERS.
ACTUALLY, OUR CUSTOMERS, TOO, THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THAT SAME WORK AND WE MEET WITH THEM REGULARLY TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT WE THINK COULD AND SHOULD BE CHANGED.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE GOING TO RISE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
I KNOW THAT YOUR -- I MEAN, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING, ALMOST STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP SOMETIMES.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THAT.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS -- ACTUALLY, SLIDE 5 AND 6, I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU'RE OUTPERFORMING YOUR ESTIMATES -- I'M SORRY, YOU'RE OUTPERFORMING YOUR TARGETS.
WHY DON'T WE RESET OUR TARGETS?
>> I'M GOING TO LOOK AT 5 AND 6, LET ME GET TO THOSE.
I'LL TALK ABOUT PERFORMANCE METRICS.
WE HAVE WORKED, AND WE MEET WITH MONTHLY WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
SO 10 YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY SAT DOWN, 12 YEARS AGO, WE SAT DOWN WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDER ASSOCIATION AND SAID, HEY, WHAT LEVELS OF SERVICE DO YOU NEED? IT WAS TAKING WAY TOO LONG TO GET PERMITS OUT THE DOOR.
WE CONTINUALLY TALKED TO THEM ABOUT OUR 20-DAY GOALS, 18-DAY GOALS, SO WHEN WE MEET OR EXCEED THOSE, THEY'RE SATISFIED WITH THOSE SERVICE LEVELS.
THEY WANT US TO STAFF TOWARDS THAT.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THE MAJOR PLATS ARE COMING IN UNDER.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK TO REVISIT THAT WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
WITH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT CHANGES, THOSE PERFORMANCE TARGETS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED A FEW YEARS BACK, EVEN THE PRO ACTIVITY GOAL LAST YEAR WENT FROM 50% TO TWO-THIRDS, 55% FOR THAT SAME REASON.
WE THINK THESE ARE APPROPRIATE GOALS.
WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK TO IMPROVE ANY OF THOSE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KIND OF STAY WITH THESE VERY PROACTIVE, VERY HIGH COMPLIANCE RATES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE SETTING YOUR TARGETS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRY, THAT'S DEPENDING ON YOU MEETING THOSE TARGETS AS LONG AS IT'S A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE, THAT'S DEFENSIBLE, I AGREE WITH THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OBVIOUSLY WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
IF YOU'RE ACHIEVING THAT, LET'S SET OUR STANDARDS HIGH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: QUICK QUESTION WITH REGARD TO FEE WAIVERS.
WE ALWAYS FIND OURSELVES TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR, SOMETIMES EVEN EARLIER THAN THAT, WHERE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF THE DOLLARS THAT WERE ALLOCATE FOR FEE WAIVERS THROUGH CCDO.
IT COST US TO EXEMPT FROM THOSE FEES ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS? IS HAT SOMETHING WE COULD FEEZBLY -- FEASIBLY DO?
>> SHANNON: I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS ON ME.
WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK TO SEE HOW MANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS CAME THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT AND RUN THAT ESTIMATE AND GET IT TO YOU.
>> SHANNON: I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THE FEE WAIVER SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE CERTAINLY AS THE COUNCIL SETS POLICY TO WAIVE FEES, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN A PROJECT COMES TO US, WE ASSESS FEES, WE WAIVE THEM AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND REIMBURSES THAT ENTERPRISE FUND.
>> SHANNON: THAT'S THE MECHANISM WE USE NOW, BUT WE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO RUN THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU, MAYBE GET YOU SOME INFO ON THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'VE HAD TO SLOW -- I MEAN, WE'VE HAD TO MAYBE NOT OFFER WAIVERS OR EVEN SLOW A PROJECT APPLICATION BECAUSE THE FEE WAIVERS WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE IN THAT FISCAL YEAR.
I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN JUST PROVIDE SOME PREDICTABILITY TO THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS PART OF THEIR PORTFOLIO BY SAYING IF YOU'RE DOING A PROJECT AND IT MEETS THESE CRITERIAS, THERE ARE NO FEES ASSOCIATED, AS A WAY OF, AGAIN, HELPING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO FACILITATE THAT MARKET.
THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE WITH THAT IS, REMEMBER, THE FEES THAT I TAKE IN FOR THOSE PROJECTS, IF I DON'T TAKE IN THE FEES, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY FEES FOR THAT PROJECTS, I STILL HAVE TO DO REVIEWS AND INSPECTIONS AND HAVE RESOURCES THERE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE MODEL THE WAY IT IS.
>> SHANNON: BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE COST ASSOCIATED, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PLAN FOR.
IT HELPS -- I MEAN, I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HELP.
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.
I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT BANDIT SIGNS.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY FEW MONTHS WE SEEM TO HAVE A RASH OF THEM AGAIN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE -- HOW MUCH PROSECUTION YOU'VE DONE LATELY, BUT IF WE CAN GET SOME WORD OUT TO NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A LEGAL SIGN, WHAT'S A NONLEGAL SIGN AND THEIR RIGHTS TO REMOVE ANY SIGNS THAT ARE NOT
[03:10:01]
LEGAL, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?SO BANDIT SIGNS IS STILL A PROBLEM.
WE -- OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL ON BANDIT SIGNS IS STILL TO PICK UP AS MANY AS WE HAVE.
WE HAVE AN ABANDON SIGN CREW THAT GOES OUT ON THE WEEKEND.
WE'RE STILL PAINING PICKING UP ALMOST 100,000 OF THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE TRASH.
THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS US TO DO FIRST, FIRST AND FOREMOST, HELP US CLEAN IT UP, WHICH WE DO.
WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN THERE ON HOW TO PROSECUTE THOSE -- ESPECIALLY THE REPEAT VIOLATORS, SO WE STILL DO HUNDREDS OF CASES A YEAR.
I CAN GET YOU THE SCHACT NUMBERS.
THE FIRST YEAR WE WENT PRETTY STRONG ON THOSE FEATHER SIGNS, WHETHER THOSE FAN FEATHER SIGNS.
WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF DENT BUT THEY STARTED POPPING UP AGAIN.
WE STARTED WORKING WITH BUSINESSES, PULL A PERMIT, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEM AND THROW AWAY FROM YOU BECAUSE YOU SPENT SOME MONEY.
I CAN GET YOU THE NUMBERS ON HOW MANY CASES WE'VE HANDLED THIS YEAR.
IT'S OVER 100 CASES OF $300 TICKETS THAT WE GIVE TO PEOPLE WITH BANDIT SIGNS.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, MIKE, IF YOU WANT TO FLIP OVER TO THAT SLIDE WHERE YOU SHOWED THE TREE FROM THE STORM EVENT, WHERE WAS IT? SLIDE 8.
THAT HOME, I THINK THAT PICTURE'S ACTUALLY REVERSED.
IS IT UP YET? ON MY SCREEN HERE.
I THINK THAT PICTURE'S ACTUALLY REVERSED.
>> SHANNON: THAT PICTURE'S ACTUALLY TAKEN FROM THE BACKYARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S A PICTURE OF GREAT CRAFTSMANSHIP OF A HOME.
THAT TREE HAD TO HAVE BEEN 100 PLUS YEARS OLD, IT'S A HERITAGE OAK.
IT WAS LIFTED CLEAR OUT OF THE FOUNDATION AND LITERALLY HAD NOTHING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THAT SLAB.
SO IT WAS LITERALLY ON TOP OF THE HOME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE WOMAN WHO YOU MENTIONED WAS STANDING IN THE KITCHEN WHEN IT FELL UNDERNEATH THOSE DOUBLE WINDOWS RIGHT THERE, WHEN IT FELL ON THE HOUSE.
SHE'S -- IT'S A MIRACLE SHE'S ALIVE, BUT THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT IS THAT I WANTED TO JUST GIVE KUDOS TO YOUR STAFF AND TO DAVID'S STAFF, REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WE'VE HAD STORM EVENTS THAT ARE HERE LOCAL, ALSO IN HOUSTON AND OTHER PARTS, AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT YOUR STAFF OR DAVID'S STAFF AS FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND SO GRATIFYING TO SEE YOUR CREWS OUT HELPING FOLKS LIKE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO IN HOUSTON, RESPONDING TO THINGS LIKE THAT.
COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND I WERE OUT LATE WATCHING DAVID'S CREWS WITH THE BIG TRUCKS COME THROUGH AND JUST CLEAR DEBRIS THE NIGHT THAT STORM BLEW THROUGH AND THEY WERE OUT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, IF NOT WEEKS AFTER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS DESERVE CREDIT.
WE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF GETTING THE KIND OF PUBLIC CREDIT THAT WE SEE OFTEN DURING THESE STORM EVENTS.
SO GREAT JOB TO YOU AND TO DAVID.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ON THE GREAT TEAMS THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MIKE.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR HEBER AND DAVID, WHOEVER'S CLOSER.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID, ON YOUR GREAT MARKETING TEAM IN PLACE.
AND, AGAIN, PLEASE REITERATE OUR THANKS TO YOUR STAFF AS WELL.
THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU IS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE COST SAVINGS AS IT RELATES TO GOING TO ORGANICS AND RECYCLES OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS AS WE'VE MADE THIS TRANSITION.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE USER NOW WILL GET A FEE DECREASE IF THEY START DOING IT.
YOU KNOW, PUTTING LESS WASTE INTO THE STREAM.
DO WE HAVE A SENSE, THOUGH, OF HOW MUCH OFFSET WE'VE ACHIEVED THROUGH SAVINGS ON LANDFILLS ONGOING SINCE WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS?
AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING -- I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT, FOR INSTANCE, TO TAKE THAT SAME TON TO THE LANDFILL VERSUS WHAT WE DO AT LEAST FROM RECYCLING, WE'RE PROBABLY STILL SAVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 20 TO $21 A TON.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT COSTS US $25 A TON TO THROW IT AWAY AT THE LANDFILL, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING IT THROUGH OUR
[03:15:02]
RECYCLING PROCESS, WE MAY HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $4 PER TON AFTER WE GET THE COMMODITIES, MARKETS AND THINGS KIND OF SHAKE OUT, BUT IT'S ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO $20 A TON SAVINGS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE ON THESE TARGETS, PARTICULARLY WITH ORGANICS, IF WE CAN HAVE A NET SAVINGS FOR THE CITY RELATED TO WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM AND WHERE WE ARE NOW.
I SEE THAT WE'RE STILL SPENDING ABOUT 2.9, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ON LANDFILL MANAGEMENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BUT GIVING OUR COMMUNITY A PICTURE OF HOW MUCH WE'VE SAVED AS A CITY OVERALL WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WE CONTINUE TO PUSH IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS, SIR, THAT IS HELPING US IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A GREAT CONTRACT TODAY FOR OUR MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I SHARED SOME OF THE CHALLENGES COMING AROUND THE CORNER IS BECAUSE THOSE COSTS ALREADY SHIFTING FOR OTHER CITIES.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON RIGHT NOW, I THINK, PAYS MAYBE $89 A TON TO PROCESS THEIR RECYCLABLES.
CITY OF FORT WORTH IS ABOUT $80 A TON.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME PARTS OF AUSTIN, THEIRS VARIES ANYWHERE FROM 70 TO $89 A TON, SO THOSE HAVE SHIFTED.
OUR CONTRACT AGREEMENT TAKES US THROUGH JULY OF 2024, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE TO CREATE A NEW PLAN, SO THAT WE'RE NOT HIT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A FAVORABLE CONTRACT TODAY AND WE'RE GOOD FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
EVEN FOR ORGANICS, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING A SHIFT IN THE COMMODITIES MARKET, AND THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
SO GIVING YOU THE SAVINGS, ABSOLUTELY, WE CAN DO THAT AND GET IT TO YOU.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE DETERMINED TO CONTROL THAT PROJECTRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID, AND GREAT JOB ON THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HEBER, I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.
I KNOW YOU WERE KIND OF THROW INTO THE FIRE HERE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN YOU TOOK COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, YOUR TEAM AS WELL.
YOU SHOWED A SLIDE WITH REGARD TO THE NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS OF ILLEGAL PET SALES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CAN YOU GIVE US A PICTURE OF WHAT AN ILLEGAL PET SALE LOOKS LIKE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE KNOW THERE A PUPPY MILLS, THERE ARE OTHER BREEDERS THAT ARE OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, BUT WHAT WOULD SOMEONE ENCOUNTER HERE?
>> SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SELL A PUPPY, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
YOU CANNOT UNDER NO SITUATION ARE YOU ALLOW TO SELL ON THE ROADSIDE, AND SO BASICALLY THE INVESTIGATION WE DO IS WE GET THAT TIP, OUR OFFICERS GO OUT THERE WHERE THEY ARE SELLING THEM, AND THEN WE ADDRESS IT AT THAT SITE BY ISSUING CITATIONS, IF WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO IMPOUND, WE WILL IMPOUND AS PART OF THAT INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP.
WE DO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER, THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE POSITION THAT IS DEDICATED TO LOOKING FOR -- PROACTIVELY LOOKING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT THROUGH EITHER CRAIG'S LIST OR ANY OTHER ONLINE SELLING FORM THAT THEY MAY BE USING.
OUT OF THE 260-SOME-ODD INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE STARTED, IT RELATED IN 100 CITATIONS? IS THAT RIGHT?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF CITATION? ARE THEY ESCALATING FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS, OR WHAT DO WE DO IF WE FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S ILLEGALLY SELLING?
THE OFFICER HAS THE OPTION TO BE ABLE TO USE A CIVIL CITATION WHICH IS A LOWER OR A CRIMINAL CITATION WHICH IS A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.
AS MORE -- IF THEY CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO JOIN PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES, WHETHER THEY BE COUNTY OR EVEN STATE AGENCIES, TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE THEM.
AND SO IT REALLY VARIES BASED UPON -- ON THE SEVERITY.
OBVIOUSLY IF THE ANIMALS ARE BEING MISTREATED OR IF THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT THE ANIMALS HAVE IMPROPER DISEASE, THEN THAT CAN LEAD INTO ADDITIONAL CITATION AND ADDITIONAL ISSUES.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CASES THIS LAST YEAR WHERE WE ACTUALLY DID JOIN PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE AGENCIES TO KIND OF CRACK DOWN ON A REPEAT OFFENDER THAT SEEMED LIKE HE WOULD NOT GO AWAY.
AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE HEARD HIM RECENTLY, SO... IT'S BEEN
[03:20:05]
ABOUT FOUR MONTHS SINCE WE'VE SEEN HIM IN SAN ANTONIO.SO WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING BACK AND THEY KEEP GETTING CITED FOR MULTIPLE OFFENSES ON BREEDERS? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GROWING NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND COMPASSION.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN RATCHET UP THE PUNISHMENT FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS FOR PET SALES AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO MISTREAT ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE SELLING THEM ILLEGALLY.
SO WHATEVER CODE THAT PERTAINS TO, I WOULD URGE US TO LOOK INTO IT.
>> SO WE DO HAVE WITHIN THE -- WITHIN THE CITY, WE DO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US, BUT REALLY IN MY OPINION WHERE WE NEED TO GO IS ON THAT STATE LEVEL.
WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME STATE AGENCIES THAT IN THE LAST TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THAT WE HAVE -- THAT THEY HAVE PUSHED AN INCREASE IN ALLOWING US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CERTAIN THINGS TO A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.
WE HAVE BEEN PROACTIVELY AS A CITY BEEN PROACTIVELY HELPING WITH THAT BY RECOMMENDING.
IT GOT REALLY CLOSE THIS LAST YEAR, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CARE, THE PROPER CARE OF ANIMALS.
UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS KICKED OUT DUE TO AN INDIVIDUAL FILIBUSTERING, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WELL, THIS MAY BE ONE WHERE WE TAKE THE DISCUSSION TO THE IGR, AND IF THERE ARE PRIORITIES WE NEED TO PUT INTO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, THAT WE GO AHEAD AND DO THAT PRETTY FORCEFULLY.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, I APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND YOUR USE OF COMPASSION AS THE FRAME FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK.
I SAID THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THAT I THINK THERE IS A -- ALSO A GROWING COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF HORSES ON OUR STREETS, THAT WE DO NEED TO TAKE UP IN A GENTLE BUT FIRM MANNER UPON HOW WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT HAPPENING, AND ARE WE PROVIDING THE VERY BEST PROTECTIONS FOR THESE HORSES ON OUR STREETS, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, INJURIES AND ILLNESSES THAT RELATES TO HEAT THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK IT WOULD NOT BE IN KEEPING WITH THE -- WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OR OUR CITY'S FRAME IF WE DIDN'T AT LEAST HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY.
SO THAT'S FOR A FUTURE DISCUSSION, BUT JUST TO PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR, HEBER, AND I THINK YOU MAY BE THE RIGHT GUY TO DO IT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
I'M GOING TO BRING UP MIKE SHANNON.
I'LL LET YOU SIT DOWN RIGHT NOW, HEBER.
MIKE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I LIKED HOW YOU SPOKE REALLY, REALLY FAST AT THE END AS IF YOUR TIMER WAS GOING OFF, SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD JOB.
>> SHANNON: MY TIMER'S ABOUT THIS TALL.
>> VIAGRAN: YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM THERE AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO ASK IS -- THAT I'M GOING TO ASK IS ON SLIDE NUMBER THREE, YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND I KNOW IN OUR BOOK WE HAVE THE FUND CHANGES, THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN POSITIONS, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO GET FROM YOU-ALL A BREAKDOWN OF THESE, HOW MANY FIELD OFFICERS DO WE HAVE IN CODE ENFORCEMENT AND HOW MANY OF THOSE OFFICERS ARE -- CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE DESIGNATED FOR -- I KNOW SOME COUNCIL DISTRICTS HAVE SOME.
>> SHANNON: SURE VAIGZ BUT THEN WHICH --
>> VIAGRAN: BUT THEN WHICH ONES ARE DESIGNATED FOR WEEKENDS.
>> VIAGRAN: AS YOU GO THE INSPECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GETTING PERMITS, ARE WE ALSO LOOKING FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR EVENING SHIFTS, SOME LATER IN THE EVENING JUST TO DO SOME PROACTIVE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE KNOW WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE TIME IS -- PEOPLE GO HOME AND THEN THEY CONTINUE -- THEY START THE WORK AFTER A CERTAIN HOUR.
>> VIAGRAN: HOW MANY OFFICERS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE WEEKEND IN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
>> SHANNON: RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 118 CODE OFFICERS.
THE REMAINING ARE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT STAFF AND SOME OTHERS.
96 OF THOSE ARE GENERAL FIELD OFFICERS, 22 ARE CITYWIDE ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM.
>> SHANNON: WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL ZONING TEAM AND LICENSING OF SALVAGE YARDS AND SOME OF THOSE, SO THEY'RE BROKEN UP THAT WAY.
I CAN GET YOU THAT BREAKDOWN, I CAN GET THE WHOLE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THOSE MEMBERS ARE.
MOST OF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENTS ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRY DAY.
WE DID THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, REALLY TARGETING FRONT YARD PARKING AND GARAGE SALES, SOME OF THE OTHER WORK WITHOUT
[03:25:02]
PERMITS, WE HAVE ABOUT -- I THINK WE'RE UP TO MAYBE 15 ON A WEEKEND.IT IS A SKELETON CREW ON THE WEEKEND COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE YEAR, BUT THAT STRIKE TEAM THAT I TALKED ABOUT WAS ACTUALLY INSPECTORS, SOME INSPECTORS THAT HAVE CROSSED OVER FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND BECOME LICENSED INSPECTORS, THEY'VE BEEN REAL EFFECTIVE, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY BE PUTTING THEM ON SOME KIND OF ALTERNATIVE SCHEDULE, LATER IN THE DAY, ESPECIALLY FRIDAY NIGHTS THEY START THE JOB, TRY TO GET DONE BEFORE SUNDAY EVENING, CORRECT, MONDAY MORNING, AND DEFINITE SATURDAY WORK.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WORK WILL BE KEY FOR THAT STRIKE TEAM BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE VIOLATIONS ARE HAPPENING.
YES TO ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS YOU ADDED, WE CAN GET YOU THAT BREAKDOWN PER COUNCIL DISTRICT AS WELL AS WHERE THOSE OFFICES ARE.
>> VIAGRAN: YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THOSE POSITIONS IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT YOU'VE JUST LAID OUT, TOO, SO IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT IN OUR UPDATES.
>> VIAGRAN: AT THE WEEKEND OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BECAUSE STILL WE DO HAVE THOSE ISSUES ON THE WEEKENDS THAT WE SEE AND WE CALL IN AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO CALL IN AND SEE IF YOU'RE -- IF YOU'RE SEEING THAT YOU HAVE EFFICIENCIES ALREADY, WE WILL LOVE TO HAVE MORE POSITIONS IN CODE ENFORCEMENT ALWAYS, MIKE.
SO I'LL JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE AGAIN.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IS IN THE AREA OF INSPECTORS, HOW MANY INSPECTORS DO WE HAVE FOR THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND CHECKING IN DIFFERENT C OF OS AND DIFFERENT BUSINESSES? BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WAS THAT THERE ARE -- WE'VE BEEN DOING RECENTY THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND CHECKING IN AND HAVING THESE INSPECTORS.
UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE'VE SEEN -- WELL, IN MY AREA WE HAVE A LOT OF TIRE SHOPS, OIL CHANGES, AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRS, AND THOSE ARE SOME VERY SERIOUS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS THAT ARE USED THERE.
IN THE C OF OS, IS THAT LISTED ON THE C OF OS? BECAUSE I SEE A C OF O THAT WAS FOR AUTOMOBILE USED CAR SALES, THEY'RE ALSO DOING OIL CHANGES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT THE C OF O SAYS NOT EVEN AUTOMOBILE -- NOT EVEN TIRE SHOP.
IT JUST SAYS AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS.
SO WHEN ARE THE INSPECTORS GOING OUT THERE AND DOES IT HAPPEN? AND IS THERE AN EDUCATION SESSION THAT HAPPENS, OKAY, THIS IS YOUR C OF O AND THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO FOR THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS OR ANY BUSINESS OWNER?
>> SHANNON: SO THE ANSWER TO MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS IS, YES, THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND IT HAPPENS AT DIFFERENT POINTS OF THE PROCESS.
SO IN GENERAL, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INSPECTIONS ARE HANDLED THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE A TEAM AND WE WORK WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE SH I THINK THEY HAVE SOME DIFFERENT FIREFIGHTER PERSONNEL THAT GO OUT AND THEY HIT EVERY BUSINESS THAT HAS HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL PERMIT.
>> VIAGRAN: HOW MANY DO THEY HAVE FOR THE WHOLE CITY.
>> VIAGRAN: AND IF THERE'S ONLY ONE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, I THINK WE NEED MORE THAN THAT.
>> SHANNON: I THINK IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
>> SHANNON: THAT BEING SAID, INITIALLY THROUGH -- WHEN IT GOES THROUGH THE PLANNING REVIEW AND INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY PROCESS, THE INITIAL INSPECTIONS ARE HANDLED BY BOTH BUILDING INSPECTORS, BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, ALONG WITH THE FIRE INSPECTORS AND WE ASK HOW MUCH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE, AND THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, IF YOU GO OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, MORE REQUIREMENTS KICK IN.
AND WE PUT THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS ON THE C OF O.
IN OUR SYSTEM THAT BOTH THE OWNER OPERATOR HAVE AND WE HAVE HAS A LOT OF THOSE DETAILS OF WHAT TYPE OF AUTOMOBILE FACILITY, WHETHER IT'S A SERVICE SHOP.
IN ADDITION, WE DO HAVE SOME CODE OFFICERS OUT OF THOSE THAT I TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE DEDICATED TO GO UP TO ALL OF THE 500 OR SO TIRE SHOPS, BECAUSE TIRE SHOPS HAVE SOME UNIQUE REGULATIONS SET BY THE STATE AND LOCAL, SO WE HAVE A TEAM ENSURING -- THEY HAVE A CHECKLIST AND LOOKING ATTIRES, MAKING SURE THEY'RE GETTING RID OF THEM, MAKING SURE THE OIL GOES IN THE PROPER CONTAINER.
SO THERE IS ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF THOSE TIRE SHOPS OR THOSE SERVICE FACILITIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, GENERAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO GET YOU THOSE NUMBERS.
AND DO WE KNOW FOR THESE FLIPPING EXAMPLES THAT YOU GAVE THAT ARE NOT PULLING PERMITS, DO WE KNOW HOW -- HAVE Y'ALL DONE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH REVENUE WE'VE LOST?
>> SHANNON: YES, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE GETS CAUGHT WORKING WITHOUT A PERMIT, TYPICALLY IF IT'S A HOMEOWNER, HOMEOWNERS DON'T KNOW WHAT PERMITS THEY NEED.
WE GIVE THEM A NOTICE, THEY COME DOWN, THEY PULL THE PERMITS.
WE'RE FINDING A LOT OF THE SMALL BUSINESS, PLUMBERS,
[03:30:02]
GENERAL CONTRACTORS, ELECTRICIANS EVEN THAT ARE NOT PULLING PERMITS.JUST THE 800 VIOLATIONS WE'VE HAD SO FAR IS OVER $300,000 WORTH OF REVENUE THAT HAS SINCE COME INTO OUR DEPARTMENT AND THAT IS THE PERMIT FEE AND THE WORK WITHOUT PERMIT FEE.
SO THEY'RE GETTING KIND OF DOUBLE HIT THERE.
>> SHANNON: WE DID ESTIMATE THAT THE AMOUNT OF -- I THINK IT'S $500,000 WAS ON ONE OF THE SLIDES, THE $500,000 OF RESOURCES FOR THE SIX POSITIONS, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL COST RECOVER, BECAUSE THAT MONEY SHOULD BE COMING IN TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
>> SHANNON: TO REVIEW AND INSPECT THOSE PROPERTIES, SO WE'LL FIND IT, WE'LL MAKE THEM COME IN AND THEN WE'LL GET THAT MONEY.
SO WE'LL COST RECOVER THAT PROGRAM.
AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THE EFFICIENCIES FOR THE VACANT LOTS AND THE ABATEMENTS, THAT WE WOULD JUST DO IT OURSELVES WOULD SAVE TIME AND MONEY IT LOOKS LIKE.
AND THEN -- I THINK THAT'S ALL THAT I -- OH, NO.
DO YOU ALL RESPOND TO THE REQUESTS -- WELL, NO.
ON SLIDE NUMBER FOUR FOR THE BUILD SA, I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK AT ROD AND KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, OUR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BECAUSE OF -- ALSO BECAUSE OF 3-1-1, PEOPLE CALL IN, THEY LOOK ONLINE, IT SAYS CLOSED, BUT WE KNOW THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED YET.
SO I'M JUST SAYING THAT OUT LOUD BECAUSE WE STILL FEEL THAT PAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY, JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS HAPPENING.
SO WE NEED TO MOVE FASTER, ERIK, BUT IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT, BUT ANYHOW.
AND THEN FINALLY WITH THE LIGHTING REQUEST, STREET LIGHTING REQUEST, DO YOU ALL TAKE IN THOSE REQUESTS OR JUST SEND THEM STRAIGHT TO CPS ENERGY.
WE HAVE STAFF DEDICATED TO THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE DEDICATED.
SO WE GET THAT REQUEST, WE DO AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW MANY EXISTING LIGHTS ARE THERE, AND THEN WE ANALYZE THAT PER TODAY'S STANDARD AND THEN WE COORDINATE WITH CPS AND WHOEVER'S ASKING FOR IT, WHETHER IT BE THE COUNCIL OFFICE OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, AND THEN THERE'S A PROCESS TO SEE IF EVERYBODY WANTS THEM, AND THEN THAT'S HOW IT GOES.
BUT WE DO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER.
>> VIAGRAN: SO, MIKE, MY RECOMMENDATION OR MY HOPE IS THAT IF WE FIND MORE EFFICIENCIES, I THINK ONE FULL-TIME PERSON FOR ADDRESSING AND SEEING IF STREET LIGHTING IS APPROPRIATE IN CERTAIN PLACES FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IS NOT ADEQUATE.
SO IF WE DO HAVE MORE EFFICIENCIES, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT INCREASE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE GET A LOT OF CALLS AND WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WE KNOW IT TAKES TIME, BUT I THINK WE NEED MORE POSITIONS FOR THAT -- FOR STREET LIGHTING AS WELL.
AND ONE LAST QUESTION, WHEN IT COMES TO CODE OFFICERS, ARE THEY MAYBE TRAINED JUST IN THE ABILITY OF KNOWING HOW TO MAYBE DEESCALATE SITUATIONS WHEN -- YOU KNOW, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE CROSS-TRAINING OR DO THEY GO THROUGH THAT?
SO NOT ONLY -- AND THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR CODE OFFICERS, BUT OUR INSPECTORS AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME HEATED DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPEN AND SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS DON'T LIKE NO, OR HERE'S YOUR NOTICE OF VIOLATION OR HERE'S YOUR TICKET.
SO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM NOT ONLY INITIAL BUT ONGOING PERIODIC RETRAINING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS OR CITIZENS.
THE IDEA IS TO DEESCALATE, STEP AWAY, DO NOT ENGAGE, SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR NOT ONLY INITIAL BUT ONGOING TRAINING.
AND EVEN SOME OF OUR OFFICE STAFF, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AS WELL.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.
>> SHANNON: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
SO HEBER, THE REASON I WAS LOOKING DOWN AND SHAKING MY HEAD WHEN THE VIDEO WAS GOING, IS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU'RE TRYING TO GET ME TO GET ANOTHER DOG AND I CAN'T GET ANOTHER DOG RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S WHY I HAD TO LOOK AWAY.
>> VIAGRAN: SO I'M HAVING PLENTY OF FUN WITH MY PUP RIGHT NOW.
SO I DO WANT TO THANK MY DISTRICT 3 ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ADVISER, GEORGE GARCIA, WHO DOES A GREAT JOB AND HE'S WONDERFUL ON QUALITY CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSES AND QUALITY ASSURANCE.
SO HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S DOING.
I DO WANT -- I DID WANT TO ASK JUST TO START OFF WITH ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, IN YOUR -- LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FIRST.
SLIDE NUMBER 11 ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FIELD OPERATIONS, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE POSITIONS.
HOW MANY -- OR ALL OF THE POSITIONS WITHIN ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, IF YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR MY OFFICE AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY FIELD OFFICERS, ACS OFFERS DO
[03:35:01]
YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW OUT THERE AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY OF THEM ARE -- HOW MANY ARE HAVING TO DO OVERLAP? BECAUSE IF THEY'RE DISTRICT-SPECIFIC ACS OFFICERS, THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE IN OUR DISTRICTS, BUT IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH NOT ENOUGH ACS OFFICERS, DO WE NOT HAVE ENOUGH, OR SOME SHIFTING OVER TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON AND FILL THOSE SPOTS?>> SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE 41 FIELD OFFICERS DEDICATED FIELD OFFICERS FOR THE CITY.
OF THOSE, FIVE OF THEM ARE DEDICATED TO THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND BETWEEN DISTRICT 1 THROUGH 5.
THE DUTIES -- USUALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OVERLAP, WE'RE BRINGING IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO ASSIST IN THOSE HIGH-TARGETED AREAS VERSUS THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
SO THEY WILL BE THEN ASSISTING THE DISTRICT-SPECIFIC ACS OFFICERS?
SO WE HAVE -- WE HAVE OUR FIRST RESPONSE CALLS THAT COME IN WHERE WE HAVE THOSE OFFICER WHOSE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS OFFICERS, THAT THEY'RE DOING THE INITIAL CONTACT.
THE DISTRICT OFFICERS ARE DOING MORE OF THE -- KIND OF LIKE THE PROACTIVE, MORE OF THE FOLLOW-UP, MORE OF THE WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THAT AREA.
AND THEN THEY COORDINATE THE EFFORTS WITH SOME OF OUR -- LIKE OUR SWEEP TEAM OR SOME OF OUR OTHER TEAMS THAT WE HAVE.
AND I JUST NEED CLARIFICATION ON THIS, TOO.
IF SOMEBODY CALLS 3-1-1 AND -- WOULD ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TELL AN INDIVIDUAL -- TO COME AND PICK UP A DOG, WOULD ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TELL THAT INDIVIDUAL, A RESIDENT, TO PUT THE DOG IN -- TIE UP THE DOG AND HOLD IT FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TO COME AND GET IT?
>> NOW, IF SOMEBODY CALLS IN AND SAYS I'VE GOT A DOG TRAPPED IN THE BACKYARD OR IF I HAVE -- HEY, I'VE CAUGHT A DOG, IT'S TIED UP, IT'S IN MY BACK DOG, THEN WE HAVE A SPECIFIC CALL TYPE THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO GO AND KIND OF GET THAT QUICKER, BUT YOU WILL NOT FIND AN ANIMAL CARE OFFICER GIVING INSTRUCTION TO --
>> VIAGRAN: I JUST WANTED TO SPELL THAT RUMOR BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT SHARE THAT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TELLS THEM TO GET THE DOG AND TO TIE IT UP.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE OPERATING PROCEDURE OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES?
WE ARE NOT TELLING THEM THAT THEY NEED TO IN ORDER FOR US TO HELP.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
NEXT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT -- YOU MENTIONED IN SLIDE NUMBER SIX -- YEAH, WE'LL GO TO SLIDE NUMBER SIX.
YOU SAID THAT THE SPAY AND NEUTER ANNUALLY, 30,000 SPAY AND NEUTER ANNUALLY, YOU SAID SPONSORED BY CITY.
WHAT DOES SPONSORED, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOES IT MEAN THAT IT'S ALL CITY DOLLARS OR DOES IT MEAN A PORTION OF CITY DOLLARS OR IS IT A MIX?
>> SO, SPONSORED BY CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MEANS THAT THEY ARE EITHER COMING FROM ONE OF OUR SPAY OR NEUTER CLINICS UILT, THAT IS BEING OPERATED BY OUR -- ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, SO THAT WOULD BE AT THE PETCO CLINIC THAT IS LOCATED BY BRACKENRIDGE PARK OR THE ONE BY BROOKS.
THOSE TWO FACILITIES, THEY ARE OPERATED, THEY ARE NOT FREE SURGERIES, BUT THEY ARE LOW-COST SURGERIES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED, OR THEY ARE TIED TO OUR ZIP CODE PROGRAM WHERE WE DO PROVIDE FREE SURGERIES TO RESIDENTS OF NEED, OR THEY ARE THE SURGERIES THAT ARE -- VETERINARIANS ARE PROVIDED AT OUR CAMPUS.
>> VIAGRAN: SO DO WE HAVE ZIP CODES THAT ALSO FALL INTO THE COUNTY THAT WOULD BE GETTING FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES?
>> VIAGRAN: AT OUR FACILITIES?
>> VIAGRAN: JUST WANTED TO HAVE THAT CLARIFICATION.
SO ALSO IN THE PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED -- YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ARE WE HAVE MANY LOOSE DOGS STILL ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE HAVE THE SHELTER INTAKE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM IS ALSO GIVING US BREAKDOWNS BY OUR ZIP CODES TO SEE WHAT'S BEING PICKED UP, ET CETERA.
I WANTED TO KNOW -- NOTE IN, YOU KNOW, IN 2015, OUR ACTUALS FOR SHELTER INTAKE WERE ABOUT 29,727.
THE 2016 ESTIMATE -- OR TARGET WAS 30,000.
AND OUR TARGET FOR 2020 IS 31,000.
SO FROM '17 TO 2020, OUR TARGET IS STILL THE SAME FOR SHELTER INTAKE.
IS THAT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF CAPACITY WE HAVE?
>> SO THE 31,000 DOES REPRESENT THE CAPACITY THAT OUR FACILITY HAS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD DOGS.
NOW, THAT BEING SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT SO MUCH THE NUMBER OF DOGS THAT WE NEED TO PICK UP.
I BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF GOOD INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE.
IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEHAVIOR THAT IS HAPPENING ON
[03:40:01]
THE STREETS, SHANNON AND I TALKED, NOW, THIS IS JUST ANECDOTALLY, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO ADDRESS, AND YOU CAN SPLIT IT IN HALF.WHERE HALF OF IT IS BAD BEHAVIOR THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND HALF OF IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE PET BEHAVIOR THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED BY GOOD PEOPLE, IT'S BEING CONDUCTED BY PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR PET, THEY DRESS THEIR PETS UP, YOU HAVE FACEBOOK, THAT THEY JUST DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THE CHOICES THAT THEY ARE MAKING.
AND SO WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF SAN ANTONIO, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS AN ISSUE OF WE NEED MORE CAPACITY TO HOLD PETS; IT IS WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIND SOME WAYS TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THOSE GOOD PET OWNERS THAT ARE MAKING IRRESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, SO THAT MY OFFICERS CAN SPEND MORE TIME ADDRESSING THE BAD BEHAVIOR THAT IS GOING ON.
BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL -- WELL, I DO, I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BELIEVE THAT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE AN OVERPOPULATION OF STRAY AND ROAMING ANIMALS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE SEE IT, AND I THINK IN SOME INSTANCES, SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT'S JUST NORMAL.
IT'S A NORMALIZED BEHAVIOR, AND IT CAN'T BE.
WE HAVE TO -- I BELIEVE THAT'S BEING CHANGED, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT CHANGE OF THOUGHT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE COMPASSIONATE -- TREATING YOUR ANIMALS COMPASSIONATELY BECAUSE I HOPE THAT CHANGES SOME THOUGHTS HERE.
>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THE IDEA OF BEING A COMPASSION, WE ARE -- WE'D BE ABLE TO HELP CHANGE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT INDIVIDUALS FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR DECISIONS ARE IMPACTING THEIR NEIGHBORS.
>> AND SO AS WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THEM THAT WHEN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE, YOU ARE ACTUALLY IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU'RE IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, THAT THAT WILL GIVE THEM THE REASON TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
I DON'T NEED THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO MAKE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, BUT I DO NEED THEM TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY.
COULD YOU -- ON SLIDE NUMBER NINE, YOU TALKED ABOUT FASTER RESPONSE TIMES.
CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH JUST A BREAK DOWN OF THOSE DETAILS OF HOW THESE RESPONSE TIMES HAVE GOTTEN FASTER, PLEASE, FROM MAYBE TWO YEARS UNTIL NOW.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAST YEAR THAT OUR RESPONSE TIME FOR THE SERVICE REQUESTS, WE WERE MAKING OUR SLAS ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME.
WE WILL BE ENDING THIS YEAR WITH A MONTHLY SLA RATE OF AN 85%.
>> AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THAT.
AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUT-OF-STATE TRANSPORTS IF WE CAN.
I KNOW YOU HAVE PARTNERS THAT YOU WORK WITH ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME OF OUR PETS GO TO OTHER PLACES WHO ARE LOOKING FOR AREAS, TOO.
I DID WANT TO GET FROM YOU THE NUMBER OF -- YOU MENTIONED THAT THE NUMBER FROM SOLID WASTE, THE ANIMALS BEING PICKED UP FROM SOLID WASTE HAS GONE DOWN.
DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS OF ME OF HOW MANY DOGS OR PETS THAT WE'VE EUTHANIZED THIS YEAR SO FAR AT ACS AND HOW MANY HAVE WE PICKED UP FROM SOLID WASTE?
>> YEAH, SO I CAN GET THE DETAIL TS ABOUT SOLID WASTE.
IN REGARDS TO THE ANIMALS THAT WE EUTHANIZE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE EUTHANIZING, END OF YEAR, IN TOTAL ABOUT 3,000.
OF THE 3,000 THAT WE'RE EUTHANIZING, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ARE DUE TO MEDICAL OR BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SPRING, THE SPRING WAS WETTER THAN NORMAL, AND SO WE DID SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF NUMBER OF DOGS THAT WERE COMING IN THAT WERE TESTED POSITIVE FOR PARVO.
AND SO THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER.
IN REGARDS TO THE -- THOSE THAT ARE EUTHANIZED DUE TO CAPACITY REASONS, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 1500.
OF THAT, ABOUT HALF OF THAT 1500 ARE -- THESE ARE DOGS THAT HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES, THAT IF WE HAD MORE TIME, WE'D BE ABLE TO -- OR IF THERE WAS -- IF THE COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO HELP WITH THOSE, THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY FIND PLACEMENT FOR THEM, BUT OUT OF NECESSARY, -- NECESSITY, WE WERE UNABLE TO DO SO.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU OF THAT POPULATION OF -- BEING ABLE TO PLAY WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE SHELTER AT THE TIME -- TETRUS GAME, BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EUTHANASIA FOR SPACE IS THE LAST DECISION.
AND, AGAIN, THE HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERS.
[03:45:01]
THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS? IS ANNAL DEFENSE LEAGUE -- ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE MEETING ALL THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.>> I CAN TELL YOU ACROSS THE BOARD, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR OR PREVIOUS YEARS ACROSSED THE BOARD WE'RE SEEING A DECREASE OF THE NUMBER OF PETS BEING RESCUED.
THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE AS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON MICROCHIPPING MORE PETS WE'RE ABLE TO RETURN MORE PETS TO THEIR OWNERS VERSUS BRINGING THEM INTO OUR SHELTERS.
SO WE'RE SEEING A DECREASE IN THE RESCUES, WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE RETURN TO OWNERS, AS WELL AS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN OUR OWN ADOPTIONS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE DETAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR -- I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, I'M GLAD THAT THE INCREASE OF THE RETURN TO OWNERS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND OUR RESCUE AGENCIES THAT ARE THERE, THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THEY'RE MEETING ALL OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, ONLY BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN --IVE OO SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE, WHERE WE HAD TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT -- DUE DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE PASES, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ARE PULLING THEIR WEIGHT.
AND ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE ILLEGAL SALES, AND I'M SORRY, SHE STEPPED AWAY, SO ALLOWING -- YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO CLEAR THE SHELTER, AND THANK YOU FOR REPLYING TO ME AS WELL, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE CLEAR THE SHELTERS AND GIVE OUR PETS AWAY FOR FREE, THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED WITH RESPONSIBLE FAMILIES WHO WANT TO TAKE CARE OF AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, I KNOW IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT MAYBE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, THAT AT TRADERS VILLAGE A COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, I BELIEVE, HAD -- WAS GIVING AWAY PETS, WAS GIVING AWAY DOGS FOR FREE OVER THERE.
SO MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS COMING INTO BEXAR COUNTY AND GIVING AWAY FREE PETS AND THEY WERE SHARING THAT THE REASON THEY COULD DO IS BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF A RESCUE PARTNER.
SO WAS THERE -- IS THAT EVEN LEVEL AND WHY WOULD WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE COUNTY COMING IN AND BRINGING PETS TO GIVE AWAY IN OUR CITY?
>> SO WE DO NOT HAVE -- WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT PROHIBITS SOMEBODY FROM -- A RESCUE GROUP FROM BEING ABLE TO RESCUE AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP OTHER PETS.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU AT LEAST WITH THE PETS THAT WE HAVE, A LOT OF THESE PARTNERS, THEY ARE PULLING FROM US.
AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.
>> VIAGRAN: SO WE HAVE NOTHING PROHIBITIVE IN OUR -- IN OUR ORDINANCES OR ANYTHING THAT SAY THAT OUTSIDE COUNTIES CAN'T COME IN AND GIVE AWAY THINGS -- GIVE AWAY PETS FOR FREE?
>> SO WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT PREVENTS THE SALE OF PETS.
>> UNDER A SMALL UMBRELLA, BUT IN REGARDS TO RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS, NO.
I THINK I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO -- YOU KNOW, DISSUADE OUR RESCUE AGENCIES, OUR RESCUE PARTNERS TO BE GIVING AWAY OR MATCHING FAMILIES AND PETS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT WITH THE PETS THAT ARE LOCAL AS WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND THEN I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO -- SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE SPAY AND NEUTERS ARE HAPPENING.
SO AT THE SPAY AND NEUTER FACILITIES, WE'RE ALSO DOING EDUCATION -- EDUCATION TRAINING FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME IN THERE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY BEHIND, IF THEY HAVE OTHER PETS AT HOME, THAT THEY CAN STAY BEHIND A FENCE OR IF THE FENCES ARE BROKEN, DO WE ALSO HAVE A MECHANISM WHERE IF PEOPLE NEED HELP MENDING FENCES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, A PARTNERSHIP THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND HELP FIX FENCE SO THE DOGS DON'T GET OUT ANYMORE?
YES, THE QUICK ANSWER TO THAT ONE IS YES, THAT WE DO HAVE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN DIRECT THE RESIDENTS TO OR THE PET OWNERS TO.
I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED IN WHAT WE'RE SEEING, BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE -- WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROPERLY CONTAIN THEIR PETS BUT ARE CHOOSING NOT TO.
I -- DID YOU GIVE ME THE NUMBER FOR SOLID WASTE, HOW MANY PICKED UP.
>> VIAGRAN: THE NUMBER FOR SOLID WASTE, THE NUMBER THAT WAS PICKED UP?
>> I WANT TO SAY IT'S AROUND 20,000.
>> VIAGRAN: SO 20 TO 23,000 PETS THIS YEAR, CORRECT?
[03:50:02]
>> NEW FOR COMPARISON WHEN I STARTED WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IN 2011, WE WERE UP TO 25,000.
>> VIAGRAN: OH, I REMEMBER, THAT'S VERY GOOD.
HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE KEEPING THEM BEHIND THE FENCES THAT THEY NEED TO, IT'S STILL A VERY SCARY NUMBER.
>> VIAGRAN: SO THAT'S A VERY SCARY NUMBER, 27,000.
>> JUST DOMESTIC ANIMALS, WE'RE LOOKING AT 20 TO 22,000.
>> VIAGRAN: THAT'S STILL A VERY HIGH NUMBER THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
>> VIAGRAN: I KNOW THAT THE LIVE RELEASE RATE, I'M GLAD IT'S AT 90%, 991%, BUT -- 91%, LET'S WORK AT INCREASING OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR OFFICE OF INNOVATION CAN LOOK AND SEE, AS YOU GO THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLAN AND YOU LOOK FOR THE FUTURE, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE MAKEUP AND THE DIRECTION, ET CETERA, OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HEBER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR -- ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THAT WAS MY QUESTION TO YOU, DAVID.
THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND I PROMISE I'LL BE BETTER AT RECYCLING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
COUNCILMEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
>> SULLIVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MIKE.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'D LOVE TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MANY -- OR A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY OF THE VIOLATIONS DEALING WITH PERMITS AND BUILDING WERE ACTUALLY IN DISTRICT 2.
AND THEN ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO CONTRACTING, HOW MANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE? AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE TRULY APPROVED AND WHAT IS THE RATIO TO DENIALS WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY? WHAT ARE THE BASIS OF MOST OF THOSE TYPE OF -- AUDIO] -- WHEN IT COMES TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTORS, AND WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES WORKING ON THE MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.
>> LET ME STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT.
THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE'RE DOLING WITH, WE HAVE A -- DEALING WITH, WE HAVE A CITY CODE REQUIREMENT, I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTRACTORS DOING WORK FOR HOUSES OR REHABWORKS, RIGHT? NOT CITY CONTRACTORS CLEANING UP VACANT LOTS OR.
>> THE FIRST ONE R WE HAVE A CITY BUILDING CODE THAT REQUIRES HOME REMODEL OR HOME BUILDER CONTRACTORS, THEY NEED TO GET A REGISTRATION THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO THERE'S AN APPLICATION THAT INCLUDES -- THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK, A FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK, INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS. NOW, IN THAT PROCESS, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT ORAC KNOWLEDGEMENT OR EVEN REQUIRED TO DECLARE YOUR -- WHETHER YOU'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR WHITE OR ANY RACIAL STATUS.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA FOR THE 1600 REGISTERED HOME BUILDERS IN OUR CITY.
WHAT WE DO GO AFTER, THOUGH, IS ANY OF THOSE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE REGISTERED OR MANY THAT ARE NOT REGISTERED WITH US, IF THEY'RE DOING WORK THAT REQUIRES A PERMIT AND THEY DON'T GET A PERMIT, WE ISSUE THEM A CITATION OR NOTICE AND WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, NOT ONLY TO FIND -- FINE THEM, BUT REALLY TO GET THEM INTO THE PROPER SYSTEM.
SO IT MAY BE A CHALLENGE FOR US TO GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU IN TERMS OF THOSE HOME REMODELER CONTRACTS, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT TRACKED.
OKAY? FOR THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE USE IN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WHICH IS WHEN A PROPERTY OWNER IS TOLD TO CLEAN UP THEIR PROPERTY, BOARD OF THEIR VACANT HOUSE, CLEAN THE TRASH AND DEBRIS, IF THEY DON'T DO THAT AFTER A NOTICE, CITATION AND SO MUCH TIME, THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN WITH CONTRACTORS.
WE HAVE ONE DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR THAT WE HAVE WHO WON A BID, WHO IS A SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS.
WE HAVE FOUR CONTRACTORS, RIGHT, FOUR CONTRACTORS ON THE DANGEROUS PREMISE SIDE, WHICH CLEANS OR BOARDS UP VACANT PROPERTIES, AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE SBEDA PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND WE ACTUALLY WILL BE BRINGING TO YOU ALL, THE OTHER CONTRACTORS THAT WE UTILIZE FOR VACANT LOT.
THERE'S ABOUT A DOZEN OF THEM THAT WE USE TO GO CUT GRASS FOR VACANT LOTS OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WITH NO STRUCTURE ON IT.
[03:55:02]
COUNCIL A CONTRACT -- WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU THE CONTRACT TO AWARD THOSE BIDS AND THOSE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE SBEDA PROGRAM.
THAT IS DEFINITELY PART OF OUR CONTRACT AWARD PROCESS, BUT, AGAIN, OUR BUILDING CODE DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO TRACK THOSE, SO OUR APPLICATION DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT.
MOVING FORWARD, WE COULD, IF THAT WAS THE CHOICE OF COUNSEL, WE COULD GET THAT POLICY TO START LOOKING AT THAT, BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T.
BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU THE INFORMATION BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE 800 VIOLATIONS.
AND THEN AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DENIAL OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHAT IS THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE GENERATING FROM THE ACTUAL APPLICATION ON THIS REVIEW.
I KNOW THERE'S A FEE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH REVENUE WE'RE GENERATING WHEN SOMEONE IS LOOKING TO APPEAL THE DENIAL OF THEIR APPLICATION?
SO IF SOMEONE APPLIES TO BECOME REGISTERED AND WE -- WE WOULD -- THE WE ONLY DENY AN APPLICATION IF THEIR FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK SHOWS FELONIES OR CRIMES OF MORAL TURPITUDE.
SO IF THEY'VE BEEN CONVICTED SOMEWHERE NATIONALLY OF COMMITTING FRAUD OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT, THEY WOULD BE DENIED.
THEY CAN APPEAL THAT DECISION.
AND WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THOSE, MAYBE A HANDFUL OF THOSE GO IN FRONT OF THE APPEALS BOARD, ONE OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, ABOUT A HANDFUL OF THOSE THIS YEAR THAT WERE DENIED.
>> SULLIVAN: I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR MIKE -- NOT MIKE, DAVID.
>> IF YOU SAY THE ONE THAT TALKS TRASH, I'LL ANSWER.
FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN OUR DISTRICT.
A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING SITES THAT TEND TO FALL UP UNDER OUR BRIDGE AND OUR ABANDONED CAR WASHES AND OUR ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD AT GETTING OUT THERE AND GETTING THAT CLEANED UP.
>> SULLIVAN: WHEN IT COMES TO THE SMALLER TRASH CANS, I KNOW IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE HAVE A LOT OF THE SEASONED POPULATION WHICH THEY BARELY CAN GET ANY OF THE TRASH CANS OUT, HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT ACTUALLY GETTING MORE INFORMATION TO THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THERE ARE SMALLER TRASH CANS THAT ARE COMING, AND THEN TRULY HELPING THEM GET THE TRASH CANS THAT THEY DO HAVE OFF OF THEIR PROPERTY? A LOT OF THE ONES THAT I SEE NOW, THEY STILL HAVE THE LARGER TRASH CANS.
>> SULLIVAN: SOMEONE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORMALLY GOES ACROSS THE STREET AND TAKES IT OUT FOR THEM, BUT THEY'RE NOT TRULY AWARE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING SMALLER THAT THEY CAN HAVE ON THEIR PROPERTY.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE DID NOTICE IN OUR NUMBERS THIS YEAR THAT NOT EVERYBODY WAS CONVERTING OR TRANSITIONS TO A MEDIUM OR SMALLER CART.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE INTRODUCED THE GROUND GAME, SO TO SPEAK.
WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY GO TO -- DOOR-TO-DOOR. WE DO HAVE A LIST OR A DATABASE OF EVERYONE THAT HAS A 96-GALLON CART, SO WE STARTED PART OF THAT THIS PAST JULY JUST TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROPER APPROACH FOR IT.
AND WE'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO DO THAT, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL TO EVEN HAVE MORE PRESENTATIONS.
ONE OF THE WAYS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL THAT WE'RE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE GROUND GAME, WE'VE GOT THESE TWO LARGE MASCOTS THAT BLOW UP, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TENTS, WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUT POSTCARDS IN ADVANCE TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW THAT WE'RE COMING ON WEDNESDAYS OR SATURDAYS OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
JUST TO KIND OF PREPARE THEM, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE JUST AS BUSY ON A SATURDAY AS THEY ARE DURING THE WEEK.
BUT WE THINK THAT'S THE BEST APPROACH IS NOT TO TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT WE CAN PUT UP A BILLBOARD OR WE CAN HAVE FLYERS, BUT TO ACTUALLY KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR.
>> SULLIVAN: ARE YOU VISITING ANY OF THE SENIOR CENTERS TO WHERE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY REALLY GETS A LOT OF THEIR INFORMATION FROM THOSE SENIOR CENTERS?
NOT ONLY DO WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE SENIOR CENTERS, BUT EVEN SOME OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER, HOA, THAT INVITES US OUT, WE'RE TRYING TO NOT ONLY TALK THAT UP, BUT WE'RE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SIGN UP RIGHT THEN AND THERE THESE LAST TWO SATURDAYS THAT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO CART DOWNSIZE AS WE TALKED TO THEM, WE ALLOWED THEM TO TRANSITION RIGHT THEN AND THERE AND WE TURN IT IN THE VERY NEXT DAY.
[04:00:01]
EVERYBODY ON BOARD, BUT IT WILL TAKE THE DOOR-TO-DOOR APPROACH, WE BELIEVE.>> SULLIVAN: AND THEN ONE QUESTION FOR HEBER.
I KNOW WE HAVE SEEN A TRUE REDUCTION IN OUR STRAY POPULATION IN DISTRICT 2.
A FEW THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ASK WHEN IT COMES TO MICROCHIPPING.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET IT BACK TO THE OWNER, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THOSE THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAVE THAT PARTICULAR ANIMAL THAT BECOMES A STRAY AND THEN WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GIVE IT BACK? WHAT FORM OF EDUCATION ARE THEY TRULY GETTING IN REFERENCE TO THAT? AND THEN DO WE KNOW IF THERE ARE CITATIONS, WHAT THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THOSE CITATIONS ARE FOR THOSE CONTINUOUS ABUSERS THAT ALLOW THEIR ANIMALS TO BECOME STRAYS?
>> SO, COUNCILWOMAN, THE -- THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US TO ADDRESS ISSUES IS, OF COURSE, FACE-TO-FACE WITH OUR OFFICERS, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
THERE ARE ALSO CIVIL CITATIONS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, AND THEN WE ARE ABLE TO RAISE THAT UP TO A CRIMINAL CITATION, WHICH THEN REQUIRES THEM TO SIT IN FRONT OF A JUDGE AND TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH A JUDGE.
>> SULLIVAN: SO ARE THERE ANY FEES RELATED TO THOSE CITATIONS THAT BRING BACK REVENUE.
>> CIVIL CITATION CAN RESULT IN FEES UP TO $300.
A CRIMINAL CITATION BY CAN BE MORE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDGE.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE ADDRESSED AT THE COURT LEVEL, NOT NECESSARILY AT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
>> SULLIVAN: ARE THOSE REVENUES THEN RETURNED TO THE CITY, THE GENERAL FUND.
>> THEY GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN I JUST WOULD LOVE TO KNOW AS FAR AS FOR OUR DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO PAGE 6, WHAT THE 23 HIGH NEED ZIP CODES, SPECIFICALLY WHICH ZIP CODES DO -- FALL INTO THE DISTRICT 2 AREA AND SEE HOW WE CAN TRULY START TO STANDS-ON APPROACH THOSE ZIP CODES WITHIN OUR DISTRICT TO START LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, AND THEN WHAT WE CAN START DOING TO WORK WITHIN THOSE ZIP CODES TO GET THEM THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED FOR THEIR PET POPULATION.
THAT'S JUST ALL OF THE INFORMATION I HAVE, BUT, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE IMMEDIATE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN OUR DISTRICT.
>> WE CAN FORWARD YOU THAT INFORMATION ON THAT.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP TO CLOSE THE LOOP, STAFF TOOK A LOOK AT IT, WE ARE SEEING ABOUT -- OR WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR ABOUT 17,000 DOGS BEING HIT AND KILLED ON THE ROAD, AND THEN WE EXPECT ABOUT 19,000 BY THE YEAR END.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, HEBER.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN JADA ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT RECYCLING FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.
I'M CURIOUS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF RECYCLING THAT GOES IN THE BINS AND GOES IN THE TRUCKS AND THEN GOES TO RECYCLING CENTER ACTUALLY GETS RECYCLED? WHAT PERCENTAGE ENDS UP GOING TO THE LANDFILL?
SO -- ABOUT 20%? 20% OF THE 36%? I'M GOING TO MAKE CERTAIN I GET YOUR ANSWER RIGHT, COUNCILMAN.
>> SO YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN A LOT IN THE NEWS ABOUT RECYCLING GETTING LANDFILL.
ALL OF OUR CLEAN RECYCLABLE, 100% OF IT IS BEING RECYCLED.
ABOUT 20 TO 25% OF THE STUFF THAT IS IN THE BLUE CAN WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE RECYCLED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE PUT IN A DIAPER IN THE CAN, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S NOT RECYCLABLE.
BUT OF ALL OUR MATERIALS, ALL THE BOTTLES AND CANS ARE BEING RECYCLED.
WE ARE NOT SUFFERING A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING SEEN IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, FOR EXAMPLE.
COASTAL CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE MARKETING THEIR MATERIALS.
ALL THE MATERIALS COLLECTED IN SAN ANTONIO ARE SOLD AND MARKETED DOMESTICALLY AND TO MEXICO, SO ALL OUR RECYCLABLES ARE BEING SOLD.
>> COURAGE: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A PICTURE THAT IF WE COLLECT HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF TONS OF RECYCLING A YEAR.
>> SO OF THE 65,000-TONS OF CLEAN RECYCLABLES THAT WE ARE RECYCLING, THEY ARE ALL
[04:05:01]
GETTING RECYCLED.THEN WE COLLECT MORE THAN 60,000-TONS BECAUSE THERE IS THAT THAT ISN'T RECYCLABLE AND IT GOES TO LANDFILL.
>> WE'RE COLLECTING ABOUT 75,000-TON IN THE BLUE CAN.
MOST OF THE MATERIALS THAT ARE RECYCLABLE.
WE DO AN AUDIT EF REFLY MONTHS TO SEE HOW MUCH STUFF IN THERE IS NOT RECYCLABLE AND OF THAT AUDIT, IT KIND OF VARIES WITH THE SEASON, BUT ROUGHLY BETWEEN 18 TO 23% OF THE MATERIALS IN THE BLUE CAN ARE NOT RECYCLABLE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE RECYCLING, YOU KNOW, 36% OR WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO 36%, IS THAT NET OR IS THAT GROSS? IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE'RE PICKING UP --
THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE RECYCLING.
AND KEEP IN MIND, THAT ALSO INCLUDES ORGANICS AS WELL, SO BRUSH COMBINED WITH -- EVERYTHING THAT'S DIVERTED FROM THE LANDFILL.
ONE OTHER THING, I KNOW THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN A LITTLE MORE MONEY THAN WE'VE BEEN SPENDING OVER A FEW YEARS.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL RESERVE FUND BALANCE?
>> SO THIS YEAR FOR 2020, THE RESERVE FUND BALANCE WILL BE $7 MILLION.
WE ALSO -- LET ME JUST MAKE CERTAIN.
WE HAVE OUR STABILIZATION RESERVE FUND THAT HAS 11,000,569, BUT THAT INCLUDES --
>> COURAGE: SO THERE'S REALLY --
>> BUT THAT INCLUDES THE RESERVE FUND IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.
>> COURAGE: SO ARE THERE TWO FUNDS, 11 AND SEVEN OR ONE FUND, 11, WITH EVERYTHING IN IT.
>> NO, THE ENDING BALANCE WILL BE 7 MILLION.
OUR STABILIZATION RESERVE WHICH IS FIVE% OF OUR GROSS IS ABOUT 6,000,005, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER 5 MILLION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
>> COURAGE: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF RESERVES FOR US TO BE SAYING WE NEED TO -- WELL, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF RESERVES THERE.
I HOPE THAT OUR PLANS ARE TO PUT IT TO GOOD USE IN THE FUTURE.
AND I'VE WONDERED OFTEN WHY SOME OF OUR RESERVE FUNDS AND OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS CAN'T BE BETTER ALLOCATED FOR OTHER USES IN THE CITY, BUT I'M NOT MAKING THAT AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN THERE.
>> MCCARY: THERE'S ONLY ONE ACTUAL RESERVE FUND FOR US, AND THAT'S FOR THE 5% IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND THAT WE HAVE IS $5 MILLION.
WE'RE ADDING ONLY 4 MILLION TO WHAT WAS 1 MILLION.
>> COURAGE: BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 7 MILLION LEFT OVER, YOU SAID THIS YEAR?
>> MCCARY: YES, WHICH WILL ALSO CARRY OVER AS NEEDED.
>> COUNCILMAN, LET ME TRY TO CLARIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT.
>> IN THE SOLID WASTE FUND, WE MAINTAIN A FIVE% RESERVE.
AND THIS RESERVE IS IF THERE'S ANY EMERGENCIES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF AND AS DAVID MENTIONED, ALSO FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
YOU DID MENTION THE SOLID WASTE FUND DURING OUR JUNE GOAL-SETTING SESSION, HAVING A HIGHER FUND BALANCE THAN WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE DECREASING THE GARBAGE FEE AND ALSO THE SOLID WASTE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE.
WE DID A FIVE-YEAR FORECAST OF THIS FUND, AND THOSE FEE REDUCTIONS ARE THOSE FEE REDUCTIONS THAT WE COULD AFFORD WITHIN THAT FIVE-YEAR FRAMEWORK.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A $7 MILLION ENDING BALANCE AT THE END OF 2020, IF WE WERE TO PROJECT THAT OVER FIVE YEARS, THAT IS WHAT IS NECESSARY AS A WE SEE PURCHASES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE NEEDED AND REPLACEMENT OF CARTS.
SO WE LISTENED TO WHAT YOU SAID BACK IN JUNE AND WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FEES TO BENEFIT THE RATE PAYER.
>> COURAGE: NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING INTO ANYTHING THEY'RE DOING, IS THAT CORRECT.
AND I JUST REALLY HAVE ONE QUESTION.
AND REALLY, IT'S ALL ABOUT INCREASING SPAY AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS THAT ACS PICKS UP.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCREASE THE SPAY AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS WE PICK UP?
>> LEFGREN: SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD THE PARTNERSHIP WITH A NOT FOR PROFIT.
WE'RE NOW WORKING WITH SOME OF THE FOR PROFITS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GENERATE AS A COMMUNITY MORE SPAY AND NEUTERS.
>> COURAGE: WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE WE SPAY AND NEUTERING OF THE ONES THAT WE PICK UP?
>> LEFGREN: SO EVERYTHING THAT WE PICK UP IS REQUIRED TO BE SPAYED AND NEUTERED, SO THOSE PETS THAT ARE BEING ADOPTED, RESCUED ARE.
THOSE THAT ARE BEING RETURNED TO THEIR OWNER, THEY ARE
[04:10:03]
REQUIRED.THE OWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO SPAY AND NEUTER.
>> COURAGE: SO THEY'RE SPAYED AND NEUTERING EVEN IF THEY'RE RETURNED TO THE OWNERS, TOO?
I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.
MIKE? I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RESERVE FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW?
>> SHANNON: IT'S PROJECTED TO BE AT THE END OF FY 2020, 8.2 MILLION.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR PROJECTED USE IS FOR THAT MONEY.
SO AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND WE MAINTAIN A THREE-MONTH EMERGENCY FUND ESSENTIALLY.
WE LEARNED THAT LESSON FROM THE ECONOMY THAT HAPPENED IN '08, '09 WHERE THE REVENUE QUICKLY DRIED UP.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME RESERVE.
OUR AVERAGE ANNUAL -- AVERAGE MONTHLY REVENUE PROJECTIONS IS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
THE REMAINING MONEY IS SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE'RE PLANNING FOR POSSIBLY AN ONSITE PARKING GARAGE IS THE MASTER PLANNED IN OUR SITE WITH SOME ADDITIONAL OFFICE PLACE WHICH WOULD BE PAID FOR IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND IN THE FUTURE.
WE'RE ALSO PAYING A DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT, SO WE POSSIBLY COULD CONSIDER INCREASING THE PAYMENT ON THAT.
BUT THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT'S THAT'S MADE UP FROM.
>> COURAGE: I KNOW WE PAID FOR CODE COMPLIANCE FROM GENERAL FUNDS.
REALIZE THIS MONEY COMES FROM DEVELOPING COMMUNITY THAT IS BUILDING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
>> COURAGE: BUT YOU -- I THINK YOU MENTIONED YOURSELF SOMETIMES WE GET A LOT OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE THAT SAY, WELL, THIS ISN'T BUILT RIGHT OR THIS ISN'T WORKING RIGHT AND WHY ISN'T IT AND WE SEND CODE COMPLIANCE PEOPLE OUT TO CHECK THAT, DON'T WE? SO WHY CAN'T WE BILL AT LEAST PART OF OUR CODE COMPLIANCE TO THE DSD FUND FROM BUILDERS? I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY ADDRESSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA, OR SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA, TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT WE NEED TO TAKE FROM GENERAL FUND WHEN YOU'VE GOT A $20 MILLION BALANCE.
>> SHANNON: I THINK WE'RE THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES, BECAUSE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS YEAR IN THE DSD ENTERPRISE FUND, THAT STRIKE TEAM, THAT STRIKE TEAM IS GOING TO TAKE THOSE THAT ARE WORKING WITHOUT PERMITS OR THEY'RE BUILDING IT INCORRECTLY, TO GO CATCH THEM SO THAT WILL BE PAID -- THOSE ARE INSPECTORS, ACTUALLY PAID FOR OUT OF THAT.
RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE SOME CODE OFFICERS THAT ASSIST WITH INSPECTIONS ON THOSE TYPE OF INVESTIGATIONS.
WE WILL SHIFT THAT WORK TO THIS NEW STRIKE TEAM THAT'S PAID FOR OUT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUND SO OUR CODE OFFICERS CAN DO MORE OF THE GENERAL CODE ENFORCEMENT ON EXISTING PROPERTIES.
SO I THINK WE'RE IN LINE TO SOME EXTENT TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR NEW STRIKE TEAM.
>> COURAGE: IT SEEMS TO BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT HOW MANY CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS DO YOU HAVE?
>> COURAGE: SO YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE SIX TO RELIEVE THEM OF SOME OF THAT WORK.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WE CAN SAVE A LOT MORE OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND FOR OTHER PROGRAMS WHEN WE'VE GOT SUCH A LARGE BALANCE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND I'M STILL NOT CONVINCED THAT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS THE ONLY WAY WE SHOULD BE HANDLING THE CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
SO -- BUT I JUST WANTED TO CHECK ON THAT.
NOW, YOU ALSO INDICATE ON SLIDE SIX, I THINK, CODE ENFORCEMENT IS TARGETING FEWER THAN WE WERE IN '18 IN YOUR '19 PROJECTIONS -- OR '18 AND '19 PROJECTIONS.
I THINK THAT UNDER CODE COMPLIANCE OR MAYBE IT'S NOT 6.
YEAH, YOU'RE PROJECTING LOWER NUMBERS.
>> SHANNON: SO THOSE ARE OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR OUR COMPLIANCE RATES.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT COMPLIANCE RATE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE TRACK HOW MANY OF OUR TIER 1 AND TIER 2, WE HAVE FOUR TIERS, PRIORITY LEVELS.
THIS YEAR WE HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THINGS LIKE OUR NEW MOBILE LIVING PARK INSPECTION PROGRAM, HAD A LOT OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ALONG WITH THAT.
WE HAD THE STORM ASSESSMENTS THAT TOOK UP A LOT OF OUR TIME, AND ONE OF THE MONTHS -- THAT WHOLE MONTH OF JUNE BASICALLY, WE HAD A LOT OF RESOURCES DEDICATED TO THAT.
SO WHILE WE DID EXCEED OUR TARGET OF 90%, WE'RE STILL PROJECTING TO BE 94, WE DID TAKE A STEP BACK BY A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS, BUT WE DID TAKE ON SOME ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBILITIES TO GET THAT NEW MOBILE LIVING PARK PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING AS WELL AS THE STORM ASSESSMENTS.
THOSE ARE THE TWO KEY FACTORS.
AND IN UNDERSTANDING THAT, IT SEEMS THAT IF YOU HAD TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES FOR THAT AND YOU STILL EXCEEDED 97 AND
[04:15:04]
94% WITHOUT HAVING THOSE KINDS OF PROJECTS TO DEDICATE MORE RESOURCES TO, WHY CAN'T YOU HAVE 90 OR 95% FOR THIS YEAR IN COMPLIANCE AND PROACTIVITY? I MEAN, YOU JUST SAID YOU HAD TO ALLOCATE SERVICES FOR THAT SEPARATE FROM WHAT YOU MIGHT NORMALLY DO.IT JUST SEEMS THAT YOUR TARGETS ARE A LITTLE LOW.
SO... I GUESS -- I'M NOT HEARING A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR THAT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALLOCATED ANOTHER POSITION TO OVERSEE OR WORK WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND I THOUGHT OUR CHARGE WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT ITSELF WITH THE FEES AND EVERYTHING, THAT WE WERE CHARGING.
IS IT SUPPORTING ITSELF? HAVE WE BROUGHT INASMUCH MONEY ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS FROM THE BUSINESSES TO RUN THE PROGRAM THE WAY IT IS? SHARNZ YES.
>> COURAGE: OR ARE WE RUNNING SHORT OR RUNNING OVER?
IT WILL BE SELF-CONTAINED WITHIN THAT PROGRAM.
SO 1500 PERMITS, APPROXIMATELY, A LITTLE OVER THAT, ACTUALLY.
EACH PERMIT WAS 100-DOLLAR APPLICATION FEE, SO THAT'S $150,000.
WE ALSO ANTICIPATE MORE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, AND THAT WILL SUSTAIN THIS ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION.
WHEN WE DID THE PROGRAM, WE DID THE ORDINANCE, WE DID NOT ADD RESOURCES BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY.
WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, BUT NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN ADD THE ONE POSITION TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE PERMITS AND, YES, IT WILL BE SELF-SUSTAINED.
>> SHANNON: AND I WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER ONE QUESTION FOR COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WHILE I'M AT HERE.
FOUR HAZMAT INSPECTORS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE GOT THAT ANSWER FOR YOU.
OH, DON'T ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKTHANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA HARVEY THANK YOU,.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
YOU PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED WE HAD FIVE FIELD OFFICERS WITH -- WHAT DISTRICTS CURRENTLY HAVE THE DEDICATED OFFICERS.
>> HAVRDA: WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATED COST WITH OBTAINING A NEW DEDICATED ACS OFFICER.
>> LEFGREN: SO TO ADD ONE FIELD OFFICER, WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE FIRST YEAR ABOUT ONE -- A LITTLE LESS THAN -- OR ABOUT 125,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR, BUT ABOUT 62,000 IN RECURRING COSTS.
AND WHAT DOES -- WHAT DOES A DEDICATED OFFICER TYPICALLY DO IN A SHIFT.
>> LEFGREN: SO THE DISTRICT OFFICER IS FOCUSING ON A LOT OF THOSE RECURRING ISSUES THAT ARE REPEATED, THOSE THAT ARE COMING TO THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED.
THEY'RE INTERACTING, PROVIDING A LOT OF THE EDUCATION, AS WELL AS TRYING TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR THROUGH ENFORCEMENT.
MANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT OUR ANIMAL COMMUNITY INVOLVE PET OWNERS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WHO ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND THE CONTROL OF THEIR PETS.
>> HAVRDA: YOU NOTED THAT PART OF THE ROLE OF A DEDICATED OFFICER INCLUDES EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP.
>> HAVRDA: I SUSPECT THAT THE POSITION OF DEDICATED ACS OFFICER HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
>> LEFGREN: THEY DO PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S A NUMBER OF STORIES, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 6, UNFORTUNATELY THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF THEIR DOGS.
IN MY DISTRICT, VERY RECENTLY, WE HAD A WOMAN ON BUENA VISTA STREET WHO'S NEIGHBORS DOG JUMPED A FIT AND ATTACKED HER LEG.
ANOTHER WOMAN WHOSE RIGHT ARM WAS MAULED OFF BY A NEIGHBOR'S DOGS, THESE ARE ADMITTEDLY ANECDOTAL BUT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROBLEM GOING ON IN MY DISTRICT.
A DEDICATED ACS OFFICER IN DISTRICT 6 COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE LIKE THEY HAVE IN THE OTHER FIVE DISTRICTS AND YOU MENTION IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED DISTRICTS.
THIS WOULD INCLUDE BOTH OF THOSE INCIDENTS.
THIS SPECIFICALLY ENGAGING AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, I THINK TO YOUR POINT.
I'M PLEASED TO HEAR YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE CHAMPION OF COMPASSION, BECAUSE OUR PETS AND CERTAINLY OUR COMMUNITIES NEED IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
[04:20:02]
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA GARZA SHOE, MAYOR.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK TRASH WITH YOUR FOLKS THE OTHER DAY ON THE RIDE ALONG.
AND HEBER, YOU GET AN A MINUS.
SO THOSE PAW BULLET POINTS WERE AWESOME, BY THE WAY.
CONGRATS ALSO ON THE EFFICIENCY OF BRINGING THE NEW POSITION IN, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL SAVE A LOT AND I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD POINT THAT OUT HERE.
I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU EITHER.
THANK YOU ALSO FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO A RIDE ALONG WITH ONE OF YOUR CODE OFFICERS.
WE DID SOME BEHIND THE SCENES WORK AND IT -- YOU KNOW, WE JUST CAUGHT A LOT OF VIOLATIONS.
WHAT I COULD CONSIDER OFFROADING.
BUT ANYWAY ON PAGE 290 OF THE BUDGET, YOU HAVE INITIAL CALL TO CLEAN UP GRAFFITI ON THEIT PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL OR TWO -- IT LOOKS LIKE ONE DAY.
YOU HAD AN ESTIMATE OF ONE DAY, A TARGET OF THREE DAYS FOR 2019, BUT WE'VE DONE IT IN ONE DAY.
HOWEVER OUR TARGET IS THREE DAYS.
IS THERE A REASON THAT OUR TARGET ISN'T TWO? IS THERE A REASON WHY WE JUST LEAVE IT AT THREE FOR SOME REASON.
>> SHANNON: IT'S BEEN HISTORICALLY AT THREE, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WE CAN REDUCE THAT ONE.
>> GARCIA: IF WE INCREASE THOSE TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S POINT, IT INCENTIVIZES OUR EMPLOYEES TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I DO WANT TO -- I'LL START WITH SOLID WASTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUMMARY ON THE WASTE CHARACTERIZATION STUDY. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE RESULTS SINCE YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THEM.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR CITY FACILITIES IN TERMS OF HOW GOOD WE ARE AT RECYCLING AND SORTING ORGANICS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE VERY FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT AT ALL.
>> SANDOVAL: AND THAT'S A BIG BITE THAT YOU TOOK.
>> MCCARY: SO STARTING WITH OUR CUSTOMER BASE, YES, MA'AM, THAT WOULD BE THE PROPER WAY.
WE LEARN SO MUCH, THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK IN THE SPRING IN A B SESSION TO GIVE YOU THE DETAILS, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY INTRIGUING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT 42 DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF MATERIALS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SORT THROUGH.
>> SANDOVAL: SO I'M NOT SURE IF THIS SHOULD BE TOWARD YOU OR TOWARD ROD, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE THIS EFFORT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, IT'S ONE OF OUR GOALS, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE OR COMPOST IS AVAILABLE IN ALL CITY FACILITIES.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN PLAZA DE ARMES AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE A REGULAR RECYCLING BIN.
WE JUST HAVE WHITE PAPER RECYCLING IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> MCCARY: THEY SHOULD OFFER RECYCLING AS WELL TO ALL CITY FACILITIES.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MCCARY.
>> SANDOVAL: AND HEBER, JUST ONE METRIC THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAS TO DO WITH OUR VOLUNTEER FORCES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THEM ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS. AS YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I'D REQUESTED AND YOU GUYS CAME THROUGH WITH AN AMBASSADOR SORT OF GROUP, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING OUT THERE.
SO IS THAT A METRIC YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO REPORT ON?
SO WE -- WE ARE EXPECTING THIS YEAR TO HAVE ABOUT 17,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS BEING PERFORMED BY ROUGHLY AROUND -- THIS REPORT DOES NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS BUT ABOUT 17,000 HOURS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WAS A LITTLE OVER 15.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOW WHAT THOSE HOURS ARE GETTING US.
ARE THEY PROVIDING US PRESENTATIONS OR VISIT TO CLASSROOMS, MORE SPAY/NEUTERS, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
>> LEFGREN: THEY'RE USUALLY BROKEN UP INTO VARIOUS CATEGORIES TO WALKING DOGS, TAKING PICTURES, TO HELPING IN THE CLINIC, GOING TO COMMUNITY VENTS AND HELPING OUT THERE.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN'T GROW OUR BUDGET INDEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, TO DO WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THAT'S AN UNTOUCHED RESOURCE.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN, MIKE, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
>> SHANNON: I KNOW YOU ARE, AS WE ALL ARE.
>> SANDOVAL: IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD.
I GUESS I HAVE SOME CONCERNS -- OR SOME QUESTIONS ALONG THE LINES OF COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S QUESTIONS.
SO YOU TALK ABOUT THESE PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS THAT WE'RE DOING ON HOUSES THAT ARE
[04:25:02]
BEING FLIPPED.I HAD ALSO RECEIVED CONCERNS FROM CONSTITUENTS TELLING ME THAT THE QUALITY OF THOSE HOMES WASN'T GOOD AFTER THEY'D BEEN FLIPPED, THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I WAS REALLY BAFFLED BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OUR REALTORS HAVE A HOME INSPECTION PROCESS THAT THEY COORDINATE WITH THE BUYER WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
CAN YOU DISCUSS -- DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON THERE OR WHAT'S NOT GOING ON THERE?
AND WE MEET REGULARLY WITH OUR SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS, AND THEY'VE BEEN ACTUALLY PART OF THIS PROGRAM THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING, THIS STRIKE TEAM ALSO SOMETHING WE'RE CALLING CONTRACTOR CONNECT, THOSE THAT ARE REGISTERED PROPERLY AND CONNECTING THEM WITH PLACES THAT NEED RENOVATIONS.
BUT THE GENERAL INSPECTION THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE BUYING AND SELLING YOUR HOUSE WITH SOME STATE LICENSED INSPECTORS, BUT THOSE ARE FOR IF YOU'RE NOT DOING ANY WORK ON YOUR HOUSE.
THOSE -- THEY HAVE A CHECKLIST, THEY GO IN, THEY DO A GOOD JOB, THEY TEST THE COLD WATER, HOT WATER, THEY LOOK UP IN THE ATTIC, MAKE SURE THAT SOME BASIC ELEMENTS, AND WE -- THAT YOU CAN DISCLOSE WHEN YOU'RE SELLING PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S BASED UNDER STATE LAW.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN YOU'RE RENOVATING YOUR HOUSE OR A HOUSE TO THEN SELL OR MAYBE NOT EVEN TO SELL, JUST SOMEONE'S GETTING -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING A NEW BATHROOM DONE OR AN ADDITION, THAT'S WHEN WORK IS BEING DONE, YOU'RE MOVING AROUND WALLS, YOU'RE REWIRING YOUR HOUSE, YOU'RE PUTTING IN NEW PLUMBING SYMPTOMS, NEW BATHROOMS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TARGETING WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOUR REALTOR INSPECTION.
YOUR REALTOR INSPECTION HAS NO AUTHORITY TO INSPECT THAT RENOVATION WORK, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
NOW, IMEN, WE WORKED WITH SEVERAL OF THOSE INSPECTORS THROUGH SABOR, SO WE'RE NOT OVERLAPPING AND WE KNOW WHAT EACH OTHER ARE DOING, BUT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON RENOVATION OF EXISTING HOMES.
AND, AGAIN, WE WANT OLD, DILAPIDATED HOUSING STOCK, WE WANT THAT TO BE UPDATED WELL, TO BE SAFE SO IT CAN EXTEND THE LIFE OF IT.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE WALKING IN AND BUYING A HOUSE AND IT'S ELECTRICALLY NOT SAFE, THE PLUMBING SYMPTOMS ARE NOT SAFE, MEETING MINIMUM CODE REQUIREMENTS, THAT BECOMES A REAL PROBLEM REAL QUICK.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT NEW HOMEOWNER, A LOT OF TIMES IS LEFT HOLDING THE BAG.
WE WANT TO PREVENT THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SO I THINK GOING OUT AND FINDING SOMETHING WHEN IT'S HAPPENING, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT, RIGHT? SO THAT YOU PREVENT IT FROM BEING COMPLETED.
NONETHELESS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO FIND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO'S DOING SOMETHING WITHOUT A PERMIT AND EVERY SINGLE FLIPPER AT THE MOMENT THAT THEY'RE DOING IT, SO I'M WONDERING IF OUR FRIENDS -- AS MANNY WOULD SAY, OUR FRIEND AT THE BOARD OF REALTORS, WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US ON SOMETHING ELSE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER? SO, FOR INSTANCE, MAYBE OFFERING AN OPTIONAL KIND OF, I GUESS, INSPECTION BY DSD THAT WOULD OF COURSE HAVE TO BE FOR A FEE.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN DO THAT TOTALLY FREE.
I LOVE THAT YOU SMILE WHEN I SAY FOR A FEE.
(LAUGHING) IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD WORK WITH THEM TO OFFER? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DO GET CONCERNS FROM MY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT IT.
>> SHANNON: WE CAN CERTAINLY -- AUDIO] -- BUT WE ACTUALLY -- WE MEET REGULARLY WITH THE BOARD OF REALTORS, NOT ONLY MONTHLY IN OUR DEVELOPMENT MEETING, WHICH THEY'RE A PART OF, BUT WE MEET WITH THEM PROBABLY EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS ON SPECIFIC REALTOR PROGRAMS. AND ACTUALLY, THIS ONE, THOSE INSPECTIONS, WE'VE HAD SOME REAL TORES GET -- REALTORS GET IN TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT RIGHT AND THEY DON'T.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE HOME BUYERS.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.
>> SANDOVAL: YEAH, I THINK THIS CAN PROTECT THE REALTOR, TOO.
I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ONLY SPENDING GENERAL FUND MONEY ON IT WHEN REALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY THAT'S OCCURRING.
AND WE'RE PROPOSING ALL OUT OF THE DSD ENTERPRISE FUND.
THAT'S WHAT THIS NEW STRIKE TEAM COMPONENT IS ALL BASED OUT OF.
IS THERE ANY WAY WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING PERHAPS IN HIS FOR DISTRICTS TO LINK UP WITH OHP OR PERHAPS YOU'RE ALREADY DOING?
>> SHANNON: YES, WE CAN AND WILL, AND I THINK WE ARE ALREADY.
WE COORDINATE WITH THEM PRETTY REGULARLY.
>> SHANNON: I'M LOOKING AT THEM LIKE THEY'RE HERE.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SANDOVAL.
>> PERRY: MIKE, BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, LET'S CONTINUE THAT LINE OF QUESTION.
I HAVE A GENERAL LINE OF QUESTION, ERIK, THIS IS REALLY FOR YOU.
I HAVE THE SAME CONCERN THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS ABOUT THESE RESERVES THAT WE HAVE SPREAD ACROSS ALL THESE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
I KNOW WHY THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS WERE SET UP, BUT THEY WEREN'T SET UP TO CREATE BIG POTS OF MONEY.
[04:30:02]
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS BIG THICK BOOK HERE TO FIND OUT WHERE THOSE RESERVES ARE AND HOW MUCH THOSE RESERVES ARE.AND IT'S NOT INTUITIVELY OBVIOUSLY FOR SOMEBODY TO COME THROUGH SAYING, OH, WOW, THERE'S A BIG POT OF MONEY THERE.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN A MORE CONCISE DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS IT HAS, TRANSPARENCY SAYING, YES, WE HAVE ABACK -- BANK ACCOUNT AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING WITH IT.
I JUST HAVE CONCERNS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY THAT'S BEING COLLECTED HERE, AND I'M A PROPONENT FOR, HEY, IF WE'VE GOT THAT MUCH MONEY, LET'S REDUCE FEES.
LET'S HELP, LIKE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND THAT KIND OF THING, IF WE'RE -- IF WE'RE BUILDING UP TOO MUCH MONEY, LET'S REDUCE THAT, BECAUSE THAT ALSO GOES AWAY TO HELP WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I MEAN, THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE COULD HELP OUT THERE.
SO JUST OVERALL COMMENT ABOUT THESE RESERVES THAT WE SEEM TO KEEP BUILDING UP IN THESE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
>> I'LL JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THAT.
SPEAKING OF TRANSPARENCY, EVERY MONTH WE GO THROUGH OUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE THE ONES BRINGING IN THIS MONEY AND THEN WE'RE SPENDING IT, SO -- BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMENTS.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, MIKE.
I SEE THAT OVERALL ON PAGE 289 YOU'RE -- YOU KNOW, THE 2020 PROPOSAL IS NOT -- IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE, NOT A LOT.
BUT THE PERSONNEL SERVICES IS GOING UP, AND THAT'S THE 14 POSITIONS HERE.
AND EXPLAIN, AGAIN, WHAT THESE 14 POSITIONS ARE FOR?
>> SHANNON: SO IF WE GO BACK TO, LET'S SEE, WHAT SLIDE IS THIS? SIX POSITIONS ARE THAT STRIKE TEAM, WHICH WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE WORK WITHOUT PERMITS, THOSE VIOLATIONS, NOT ONLY TO STOP THAT WORK, TO GET THEM IN SO THEY GET PROPERLY REVIEWED AND INSPECTED.
>> THAT'S SIX OF THE 14 POSITIONS.
ONE POSITION IS ADDED TO SUPPORT OUR BUILD SA PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE THIS NEW SYSTEM, WE'VE GONE LIVE WITH PHASE 1, WE'LL GO LIVE WITH PHASE 2 AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2020 FOR CODE AND A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THAT FOR PERMITS, BUT THAT'S OUR NEW WORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ACT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL IN JANUARY FOR THAT LAST PIECE, AND AS WE GO LIVE, WE NEED SOME IN-HOUSE STAFF DEDICATED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STAYS RUNNING.
AND THAT'S NOT ONLY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS BUT FOR OURSELVES AS THEY UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS AND PERMITS.
THE OTHER ONE WAS THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL POSITION TO HANDLE THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS.
THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL FEE WHICH IS $100 PER APPLICATION EVERY THREE YEARS, THAT PAYS FOR THAT SERVICE AND THAT RESOURCE.
AND THE ADDITIONAL SIX POSITIONS ARE RELATED TO JUST OUR GENERAL BUSINESS KEEPING UP WITH OUR PERMITS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE IS A PLANNER FOR OUR ADDRESSING TEAM, SO AS PERMITS COME IN OR WORK IS HAPPENING, WE HAVE TO ASSIGN ADDRESSES, SO THAT'S PART -- WE HAVE A TEAM OF ADDRESSING MEMBERS FOR -- TO PROPERLY ASSIGN ADDRESSES.
WE HAVE ONE FISCAL SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST THAT WILL BE HANDLING NOT ONLY THE COLLECTION OF FEES BUT THE BILLING OUT, OVERDUE FEES, AND FEE COLLECTION.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO US AND THEY DON'T PAY FOR US -- THEY DON'T PAY FOR THAT, SO WE HAVE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, SO WE NEED TEAM MEMBERS TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION INSPECTOR IN THERE.
THOSE ARE THE INSPECTORS THAT ACTUALLY REVIEW NEW STREETS BEING BUILT, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS IN THERE, WE HAVE THE MILITARY PROTECTION AREAS THAT WILL BE COMING INTO -- I BELIEVE IT'S THE 19TH OF SEPTEMBER.
THAT IS THOSE AREAS AROUND THE MILITARY BASES THAT WE DID NOT ANNEX BECAUSE THE AREAS AROUND THEM VOTED TO NOT BE ANNEXED, BUT WE WILL BE PUTTING DOWN SOME LAND USE CONTROLS, SO TO REVIEW FOR THOSE NEW RULES, WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET.
I THINK I ANSWERED ALL 14 THERE, BUT, AGAIN, THOSE ARE ALL PAID FOR BY THE DSD ENTERPRISE FUND, NONE OF THOSE ARE PAID FOR BY THE GENERAL FUND.
I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ALSO ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT -- ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE BRINGING ON ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, I WOULD THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE PERFORMANCE MEASURES WOULD BE A BETTER GOAL.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'VE BEEN BEATING THESE FOR A COUPLE YEARS RUNNING, I THINK, AS YOU'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS UP HERE, THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO PUT A TOUGHER GOAL OUT THERE FOR US TO MEET.
[04:35:02]
YOU KNOW, MAKE STRETCH GOALS, THAT KIND OF THING.THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING TO BEAT THOSE -- BEAT THOSE.
AS I'D MENTIONED, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THESE GOALS.
THE ONES THAT WE'RE HITTING NOW, ESPECIALLY THE PLANNING REVIEW AND INSPECTIONS WE'RE DOING WITH A LOT OF OVERTIME RIGHT NOW.
PRETTY STRETCHED THIN JUST TO MEET THOSE BUT WE CAN HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
>> PERRY: AND THAT'S YOUR MORE TAN FACILITY DOWN THERE, RIGHT.
>> PERRY: THE MORTON FACILITY?
PARKING GARAGE, YOU REALLY NEED A PARKING GARAGE OVER THERE? YOU'VE GOT THAT BIG WIDE OPEN PARK ACROSS THE STREET NOW.
>> PERRY: DO WE REALLY NEED A MULTISTORY CAR PARK OVER THERE.
>> SHANNON: YEAH, SO WHEN THAT BUILDING AND THAT PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT -- AUDIO] -- WE WENT IN THERE IN 2003, THERE'S A MASTER PLAN THAT HAS -- IN CASE WE NEED TO GROW AND HAVE MORE PASHING, MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE.
A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN WE BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL WE PURCHASED THAT LAND ACROSS THE STREET BECAUSE WE WERE IN DIRE NEED OF ALL THE CUSTOMERS COMING IN JUST GROWING.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN, THOUGH, FOR THAT IS THAT IS A TEMPORARY PARKING LOT, WE WOULD BUY THAT, UTILIZE IT AS OUR FIVE-YEAR FORECAST AND OUR FUNDS INCREASE, WE WOULD BUILD ONSITE AND THEN SELL OFF THAT PIECE OF LAND.
CERTAINLY THINGS COULD CHANGE, DEPEND ON DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND GROWTH AND THOSE OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT IS PART OF OUR LONG-TERM PLANS.
I'M JUST SAYING, WE PURCHASED THE LAND, IT'S GOT PLENTY OF PARKING IN THERE.
I -- YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE, HEY, DO WE REALLY NEED TO BUILD A MULTISTORIED CAR PARK IN THERE THAT YOU'RE SAVING THAT MONEY FOR IN THE RESERVE? WE'RE HANDLING IT NOW.
I WOULD SAY, HEY, LET'S REDUCE OUR FEES OR WHATEVER TO GIVE SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK.
AND HELP THE CUSTOMERS OUT A LITTLE BIT.
ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION HERE, ON THE 3-1-1 APP, HOW IS THAT WORKING WITH CODE COMPLIANCE AND CODE VIOLATIONS AND GRAFFITI AND ALL -- HOW IS THE APP WORKING? IS IT WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED?
WE BELIEVE IT'S WORKING GREAT.
THE MORE PEOPLE THAT I TALK WITH, PAULA AND HER TEAM A LOT, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT GET TO USE THAT, I MEAN, THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THOSE TYPICAL CITY WORK ORDER REQUESTS, RIGHT, THAT ARE CODE ENFORCEMENT RELATED.
I KNOW THERE'S POTHOLES AND ANIMAL CARE STUFF, BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE DSD RELATED.
SO THOSE COME IN, THEY GO DIRECTLY TO THE OFFICER.
SO, AGAIN, WHILE WE'RE 77 OR 75% PROACTIVE, THE 25% OF THE REACTIVE CALLS THAT WE GET ARE COMING FROM THE APP OR PHONE CALLS, SO I BELIEVE THE 3-1-1 APP, ESPECIALLY THE NEW APP, IS
HEBER, I THINK I HAD A QUESTION ON PAGE 229, YOU'RE ASKING FOR ONE POSITION, BUT UNDER YOUR PERSONNEL SERVICES, IT'S GOING UP LIKE $400,000.
>> THE $400,000 INCREASE IN THE BUDGET IS TIED TO THE ANTICIPATED CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> AND WHICH CONTRACT IS THAT?
>> FOR THE USE OF THE (INDISCERNIBLE) CENTER, THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH OUR PARTNER.
>> I'M HAVING TROUBLE HEARING YOU.
WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL RESCUE GROUP TO OPERATE THE CENTER, THE ADOPTION CENTER LOCATED AT THE BRECKENRIDGE PARK.
AND THIS LAST YEAR -- OR WE'VE RECENTLY GONE OUT FOR A BID AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING THERE WILL BE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CONTRACT.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
IT JUST SEEMED A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE ON THAT.
GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET A PICTURE OF YOU AND ROD STANDING SIDE BY SIDE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION HERE ON PAGE 332.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I SEE THE ACTUAL 2018 WAS $117.5 MILLION FOR YOUR TOTAL PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE BUDGETED IT UP AN ADDITIONAL $7 MILLION IN 2019, AND NOW WE'RE BUDGETING IT UP AGAIN IN 2020 AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION.
[04:40:03]
ADDITIONAL? IN TWO YEARS?>> PERRY: I'M -- YOU KNOW, AS A CUSTOMER OUT THERE, I'M SAYING, WHAT IN THE HECK ARE YOU DOING WITH ALL THAT MONEY.
THAT'S TWO YEARS, $13 MILLION.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD IS TO GET EVERYONE TO CART DOWNSIZE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US IS THEY SAVE MONEY.
WHEN SOMEONE KEEPS AHOLD OF THEIR 96-GALLON CART, THEY'RE IN ESSENCE HOLDING ON TO ANOTHER $10 THAT'S COMING OUR WAY VERSUS SAVING THEM THAT MONEY.
OUR CART DOWNSIZING PROGRAM IS NOT GOING AS FAST AS WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'VE DONE BILLBOARDS, WE'VE DONE ADVERTISEMENTS, WE WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THEIR CPS ENERGY BILL.
WE WANT THEM TO TRANSITION TO EITHER A MEDIUM SIZED CART, YOU CAN SAVE $96 ANNUALLY, OR YOU CAN GO TO THE SMALLER CART TODAY AND SAVE $120 ANNUALLY.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING IT THERE.
WE HAD ANTICIPATED THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD TRANSITION TO THE SMALLER CART.
BECAUSE THAT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR THEM TO RECYCLE MORE, TO PUT MORE IN THE BLUE AND THE GREEN CARTS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE ABLE TO COME BACK AND HELP OUT WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
CASE IN POINT, WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE TRANSITIONING, WHAT WE WERE TAKING IN FOR 50 CENTS, AND NOW TRANSITION IT TO THE PARKS FEE SO THERE'S NO NET IMPACT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
>> PERRY: I'M STILL HAVING A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING IN TWO YEARS WE'VE INCREASED YOUR BUDGET $13 MILLION.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF GOING TO A SMALLER CART.
I WOULD RECOMMEND IN FUTURE MARKETING OF THAT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS A SMALLER FEE PER MONTH, WHAT THEY WOULD SAVE.
AND THEY'RE SAYING, OH, A COUPLE BUCKS A MONTH, I'LL KEEP MY BIGGER CART.
BUT IF YOU PUT WHAT THE TOTAL PER YEAR WOULD BE, I THINK YOU'D GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S A YEARLY COST.
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PORTRAY THAT IN MY DISTRICT 10 MEETINGS TO SHOW THERE IS A BIGGER PAYBACK, IF YOU LOOK AT IT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MARKET FOR THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. NEWMAN REMINDED ME OF IS OUR ORGANICS PROGRAM.
IN THE LAST THREE YEARS WE'VE COMPLETED THAT CITYWIDE.
THAT'S PART OF THE IMPROVEMENT AS WELL FOR THAT ADDED FUNDS.
>> COUNCILMAN, WE'LL GIVE YOU A DETAILED BREAKDOWN, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, JUST IN SUMMARY, WE HAVE ADDED POSITIONS FROM FISCAL YEAR '17 TO '18, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 17 POSITIONS.
THE IF IS FISCAL '19 BUDGET INCLUDED THE COST OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED DUE TO THE ORGANICS PROGRAM AND THE GROWTH OF THE CITY AS WE NEED TO ADD NEW ROUTES, THE EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AND ALSO AS WE TRANSITION OUR CUSTOMERS TO MOVE FROM THE BIGGER CART TO THE SMALL CART, THAT INCREASES THE COST.
WE'VE ALSO HAD INCREASES IN CIVILIAN COMPENSATION IN THOSE -- IN THAT FUND OVER THE TWO YEARS.
AND THEN INCREASED COSTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF OUR HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
BUT WE'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT ENTAILS.
>> THAT IS IN SUMMARY THOSE --
>> PERRY: I APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO THAT POT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE BUILDING UP HERE, AND OVER TWO YEARS, WE'VE ADDED $13 MILLION TO THIS PROGRAM.
AND IS THAT -- ARE WE GOING TO EXPECT ANOTHER 6 OR $7 MILLION AGAIN FOR 2021?
>> WE'RE STILL TRYING TO LOWER IT, SIR.
THAT'S WHY WE ADDED ANOTHER $2 DECREASE.
SO OUR EFFORTS ARE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THE GROUND GAME, SIR.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO, DO NOT EXPECT IT.
YES, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT A BIT MORE IN DETAIL AS TO WHY THAT TYPE OF GROWTH.
WHAT'S THE FUTURE? DO WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH SHIPPING STUFF OVERSEAS INTO CHINA?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION IS THE STATE OF RECYCLING.
THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT IS THAT WE ARE NOW RECYCLING HERE DOMES DOMESTICALLY.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS GOING TO MEXICO AS WELL.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO CHINA ANYMORE.
THEY HAVE THE STANDARD WHERE THEY WANTED LESS CONTAMINATION TO ALMOST ZERO CONTAMINATION.
[04:45:02]
DOMES DOMESTICALLY, SO IT'S STILL FAVORABLE TO US WITH OUR CONTRACT AGREEMENT AS IT EXISTS TODAY.THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I BROUGHT UP THE FACT IT ENDS IN JULY OF 2024 AS WELL.
AND I SEEM TO REMEMBER A COUPLE OF FOLKS COMING IN AND, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TALKING ABOUT BUILDING THEIR OWN FACILITY, AND CLEANING IT UP, AND THEN SHIPPING IT TO CHINA.
ARE WE STILL ENTERTAINING THAT? OR COULD WE SEE ABOUT COMBINING WITH ANOTHER CITY TO ENTICE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND GET OUT OF THIS BUSINESS AND LET THEM HANDLE IT?
>> PERIODICALLY WE'LL ACTUALLY GET THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED, IN DOING WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US.
IT WAS MORE THE DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH PART OF IT.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK WITH ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS.
BUT WE DO GET THAT KIND OF THOUGHT, AT LEAST THREE TIMES A YEAR.
SO THEY'RE NOT THE FIRST TO APPROACH US.
BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM V VERY -- I WOULDN'T SAY ADAMANT, BUT CONCERNED THAT WE CAN DO A LOT OF THIS STUFF OURSELVES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IS THE ENGINEERING STUDY THAT WILL ALSO DO A FOLLOW-UP TO THE CONSULTANTS.
BECAUSE IT DOES SAY THAT SAN ANTONIO IS IN A GOOD POSITION TO AT LEAST EVALUATE, OWN AND OPERATE ITS OWN MRF FACILITY.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OTHER CITIES WHEN THEY LET THE PRIVATE SECTOR KIND OF GENERATE ITS OWN DIRECTION.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING CERTAIN CITIES THAT ARE ALREADY PAYING IN EXCESS OF 80 TO $90 A TON.
HERE RECENTLY, THE CITY OF NEW BRAUNSFUL DID THEIR ACTUAL BID TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE FOR THEIR RESICYCLABL RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
SAME THING WE USE FOR $50 A TON, THEY'RE CHARGING THEM $90 A TON.
SO IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS YOUR DIRECTOR TO PROTECT OUR CITY, AND TO LOOK TO THE A, B, C PLAN, EVEN THE D PLAN WE'VE LOOKED AT IN THE PAST.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT WAITING TO THE FIFTH YEAR TO SAY SOMETHING.
WE'RE TALKING TO OUR COUNCIL NOW, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND BRINGING Y'ALL WITH THE RESULTS IN THE SPRING.
HAVE YOU SHARED THAT CONSULTANT REPORT WITH US ON WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE?
>> NO, SIR, THAT'S THE REPORT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU IN THE SPRING FOR THE B SESSION.
WE WANT TO BRING THE CONSULTANT REPORT, BUT WE WANT THE ENGINEERING STUDY COULD BE ACCOMMODATING IT AS WELL.
THAT WAY WE'LL HAVE COSTS, WE'LL KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMODITIES, BUILDING COSTS, OPERATIONAL DAILY COSTS, STAFFING LEVELS, THE WHOLE FULL-BLOWN ASSESSMENT.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO TEASE YOU WITH THAT.
WE DID THE WASTE CHARACTERIZATION TEASE JUST A LITTLE, BUT THAT'S COMING BACK ALSO IN THE SPRING TO A B SESSION.
AND WE WOULD NEED A LOT MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
WELL, IT IS A COMPLETED STUDY, RIGHT?
>> PERRY: IT IS A COMPLETED STUDY AT THIS POINT, THE CONSULTANT PACKAGE?
>> THE CONSULTANT PACKAGE, THE FIRST PART OF IT IS COMPLETE.
IT'S THE ENGINEERING THAT WOULD MAKE IT A COMPLETED PACKAGE.
IT'S NOT COMPLETED YET UNTIL WE HEAR THAT.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO YOU AS STAFF JUST YET.
WE'RE STILL ON THE FRONT END OF IT.
ON PAGE -- ON YOUR SLIDE NUMBER 5, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS? AND WHAT ARE THOSE?
ONE OF THE FIRST ONES IS OUR ACTUAL GROWTH.
ANYTIME THAT WE GROW IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE UNITS, ACCOUNT OVER 2,100 CACCOUNTS, THAT'S A NEW TRUCK AS WELL AS NEW PERSONNEL.
WE'RE ALSO ADDING FOR THE RECRUITMENT POSITION THAT WE'RE SHARING WITH TCI TO KIND OF SPLIT, THAT WILL HELP US WITH OUR RECRUITMENT FOR CDL LICENSED DRIVERS.
THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY EFFICIENT.
AND WE WANT TO KEEP THAT GOING, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TURNOVER FOR CDL.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE NEED --
>> PERRY: SO WE ACTUALLY NEED A POSITION TO GO OUT AND RECRUIT FOR CDL?
>> WE NEED A POSITION TO PROCESS FOR RECRUITMENTS.
THE PROCESSING OF THE RECRUITMENTS IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE TAKING TWO DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE DOING A, I GUESS HALF AN FTE EACH TO GET THAT PART GOING.
>> TRADITIONALLY -- TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF BRINGING THEM ONBOARD, IF WE CAN'T -- SAY, FOR
[04:50:02]
INSTANCE, IF I HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S READY TO -- YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT? YEAH, LET ME -->> WE HAVE IN OUR DEPARTMENT ALONE 485 COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSED POSITIONS.
THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF TURNOVER.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY HIRING AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY PROCESSING THEM IN.
THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BRINGING A COMMERCIAL DRIVER ONBOARD REQUIRES A BACKGROUND CHECK.
IT REQUIRES ALL KINDS OF CHECKS.
THE WAY THAT THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, IT'S TAKEN A VERY LONG TIME.
AND SO WE'VE ASKED FOR SOME RELIEF FROM OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, AND THEY PROVIDED THAT TO US THIS YEAR, IN THE FORM OF A TEMPORARY POSITION.
AND SO WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE THAT PERMANENT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS POSITION IS.
WE SHARE IT WITH TCI BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME TYPES OF POSITIONS.
>> PERRY: ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SHARE WITH TCI?
AND HOW DOES S.A.W.S. AND CPS DO IT? THEY'VE GOT COMMERCIAL DRIVERS ALSO.
DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN EXPEDITERS? I LOOK AT THIS AS AN EXPEDITER BASICALLY.
>> PERRY: DO THEY HAVE THEM? CAN WE SHARE WITH THEM, AND MAYBE NOT BE PAYING SO MUCH?
>> WE ARE ALL COMPETING IN THE SAME POOL FOR THOSE SAME DRIVERS.
WE DO MEET, WE DO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU BRING IN -- THIS IS NOT JUST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THING, BUT A NATIONWIDE ISSUE OF RECRUITING DRIVERS.
AND FOR US, IT'S DRIVERS AND MECHANICS.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> PERRY: I'M SORRY, THERE WAS ONE MORE -- YEAH.
>> THE SAFETY POSITIONS, YOU ASKED ABOUT IT.
THE TWO SAFETY POSITIONS FOR OUR SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, AS WELL AS THE BILLING.
SO AS WE CART DOWNSIZE AND TRANSITION FOLKS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BILLS ARE ACCURATE AND A REFLECTION OF THE SIZE CART THEY HAVE.
>> PERRY: AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO -- I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION EVER SINCE I SAW THE IN UNDERSTAND ON THE 311 CALLS.
YOU HAVE THE MOST CALLS IN MY DISTRICT OF ANY CALLS.
POTHOLES, IT'S ALL ABOUT PICKED UP GARBAGE.
AND NOT HAVING IT PICKED UP ON TIME.
SO HOW CAN WE GET BEYOND THAT? THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE CALL.
>> WELL, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
WE HAVE DONE SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB AT PROVIDING COLLECTION SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, THAT SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO SEE US COMING AT 10:00, IF THEY DON'T SEE US AT 10:00, THEY ARE CALLING POSSIBLY BY 11:00.
SO WE'RE NOW SEPARATING THOSE CALLS FOR TRULY MISSED PICKED-UP, VERSUS THEY HAVEN'T MADE IT YET.
SO SOME OF THOSE WE TYPICALLY DON'T REGISTER UNTIL WE KNOW.
SO IT COULD BE THAT THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP, COULD HAVE HAD A FLAT TIRE, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PULLING A ROUTE.
THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ANY NUMBER OF ADJUSTMENTS THAT COULD HAVE MADE IT DURING THE DAY.
SO YOU'RE SEEING AN ENTIRE DAY'S ACCOUNT.
WHEN IN ESSENCE YOU SHOULD ONLY SEE THOSE THAT WERE TRULY MISSED AFTER 5 CROCK.
>> PERRY: I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE SAME IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS, BUT I KNOW IN MY DISTRICT, YOU ARE THE NUMBER ONE CALL, 311.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE ALSO.
THERE ARE ABOUT 50,000 CALLS, I THINK, ANNUALLY TO 311 FOR OUR MISSED PICKUP, OR NO PICKUP.
AND I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT 56 MILLION OPPORTUNITIES TO MESS UP BASICALLY.
WE'RE OUT THERE THREE TIMES A WEEK WITH GARBAGE COLLECTION, RECYCLING ORGANICS, SO WHEN YOU ADD THAT UP, IT'S 56 MILLION TIMES.
SO JUST BY THE SHEER VOLUME, WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE CALLS.
WHEN WE ADDED THE ORGANICS ABOUT A YEAR, TWO YEARS AGO, THAT INCREASED THAT CALL NUMBER BY ABOUT 30%.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THAT INFLUX JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
I BROUGHT THIS UP, I FORGET WHAT DEPARTMENT IT WAS, ABOUT HAVING A STREET, ONE-SIDE STREET PICKUP AND THE OTHER SIDE IS ALLEYWAY PICKUP.
THE ALLEYWAYS ARE TOO SMALL, THEY'RE OVERGROWN, THERE'S ISSUES WITH THAT.
WHY CAN'T BOTH OF THEM BE STREETSIDE PICKUP? ERIK, I THINK I GAVE YOU THE LOCATION OF AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THE MACARTHUR PARK AREA.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT EXISTS IN OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL.
[04:55:01]
BUT TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD TRY TO GO BACK TO THOSE COMMUNITIES AND SAY, HEY, LET'S GET IT ON THE STREET MUCH QUICKER, SAVE US MONEY, SAVE US, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF ONE PERSON, YOU'RE HAVING TWO PEOPLE, OR THREE PEOPLE COLLECTING GARBAGE ALONG THE ALLEYWAY.I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU SOME MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> PERRY: THE OTHER ONE ON MY RIDE-ALONG, IN THE TRUCK I WAS IN, WAS CONDITIONING WAS NOT KEEPING UP WITH IT.
CAN WE GO BACK AND RETROFIT THOSE TRUCKS THAT THE A/C IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE HEAT LOAD?
>> IN FACT, YOU TRULY HAD A LIFE IN THE TIME OF SOLID WASTE FOR THAT PARTICULAR TRUCK.
BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP.
WE SENT IT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER UNTIL THEY GOT IT RIGHT FOR THEIR AIR CONDITION.
BECAUSE IT WASN'T TYPICAL OF WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT PARTICULAR DRIVER THAT YOU DROVE WITH, WE TOOK A LOOK AT NOT ONLY THAT PARTICULAR MACK TRUCK, BUT WE WANTED TO SEE HOW THE OTHERS WERE DOING AS WELL.
SO THAT ONE HAD THE WORST CONDITION, AND WITH 105-DEGREE WEATHER, IT WASN'T A PLEASANTRY I'M SURE.
>> PERRY: I UNDERSTAND THE MACK TRUCKS, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER MODEL HAS A MUCH BETTER A/C SYSTEM.
AND THE MACK TRUCKS, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO --
>> WE NO LONGER ORDER MACK TRUCKS, SO YOU KNOW.
THAT PARTICULAR ONE THAT YOU WERE IN, THAT PARTICULAR SERIES OF MODELS, WE NO LONGER ORDER THAT ONE AS WELL.
>> PERRY: HOW MUCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO CYCLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, THOUGH?
>> ABOUT -- THAT PARTICULAR MODEL OF MACK TRUCK THAT YOU WERE IN, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO GET A PERMANENT RESOLUTION ON ALL OF THOSE TRUCKS.
>> OF THOSE, I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 26 OF THAT MODEL.
SO THEY'RE FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE.
THEY'VE ALREADY HELPED US WITH ONE PIECE OF IT.
BUT THEY STILL HAVE A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.
IT IS VERY, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THEM IN THERE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY COOLER ON THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THERE'S A BREEZE THAN SITTING INSIDE THAT HOT TRUCK.
>> VIAGRAN: I THINK COUNCILMAN PERRY, GARCIA SAID HER TRUCK WAS SUPER AIR CONDITIONED, LEATHER SEATS, EVERYTHING.
>> THEY PROBABLY DID IT ON PURPOSE.
JUST ACTUALLY TO MIKE SHANNON, VERY QUICKLY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE WEEKEND SERVICE, I KNOW WE HAVE THE 311 CALLS.
BUT IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK INTO IF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE OUT ON THE WEEKEND, THAT THERE'S A HOTLINE OR SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL IN? BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN WE CALL 311, THEN IT GETS TO YOU ALL, IT TAKES LONGER.
WHO ARE MAYBE DOING THE VIOLATION.
IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK FOR FOR EFFICIENCIES OF DOING SOME SORT OF A HOTLINE ON THE WEEKEND, I'D REALLY LIKE YOU ALL TO LOOK INTO THAT, PLEASE.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I HAD FOR YOU.
AND FOR DAVID, AND TEAM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S MY THIRD FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR, BULKY ITEM PICKUP TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VIAGRAN.
WHENEVER I RIDE WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE IN CERTAIN CARS, THE A/C ALWAYS SEEMS TO GO OUT.
IT'S BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE SESSION THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT'S ALL OF OUR PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
I DID WANT TO THANK RITA ROUDAGAN AND SUSAN BELDEN FROM THE ACS BOARD.
THEY HAVE LITERALLY BEEN AT EVERY BUDGET EVENT, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND AS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE TODAY AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT JOB, EVERYBODY.
ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.