[1. 19-6531 Staff presentation on the FY 2020 Proposed Budget focusing on, but not limited to, the following City Departments or Initiatives: [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget]]
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>> CLERK: GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2019.
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION.
WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS TODAY FOR OUR WORK SESSION, SO I'LL GET -- HAND IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER TO GET US KICK STARTED.
>> WALSH: GOOD AFT YERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR PRESENTATIONS THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'LL START OFF WITH EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION BY LORI STEWARD AND THEN THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY AUDITOR WILL BE PRESENTING THEIR BUDGETS AND THEN MARIA VILLA GOMEZ WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE CITY ADMINISTRATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
BUT FIRST I'LL SHARE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET SUPPORTS THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT'S MISSION TO ATTRACT, DEVELOP, ENGAGE AND RETAIN A DIVERSE AND SKILLED WORKFORCE COMMITTED THOUGH PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE SLIDE LIST IS JUST A SAMPLING OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THIS MISSION.
HUMAN RESOURCES WAS ONE OF SIX DEPARTMENTS SELECTED TO PILOT AN EQUITY TOOL IN FISCAL YEAR 2017.
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE INCLUDE FULLY IMPLEMENTING CIVILIAN POSITIONS.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR EFFORTS USING THE EQUITY TOOL RESULTED IN A RECOMMENDATION TO ALLOW DEMONSTRATED JOB EXPERIENCE TO SUBSTITUTE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
FINALLY, ALL GENERAL QUESTIONS REFERENCING SALARY PREFERENCE AND SALARY HISTORY WERE REMOVED FROM CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS.
THIS WAS A PROACTIVE MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT JOB OFFERS DO NOT PERPETUATE THE GENDER AND RACIAL WAGE GAPS KNOWN TO EXIST IN THE U.S. LABOR FORCE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO FISCAL YEAR 2020, WE PLAN TO EVALUATE OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO BE SURE ANY EXCLUSIONARY LANGUAGE IS ELIMINATED AND WE'LL DEVELOP MEASURES TO COLLECT, TRACK AND EVALUATE THE EQUITY IMPAJT OF HR PROGRAMS AND TARGETED OUTREACH EFFORTS.
OF THE $173.4 MILLION HR BUDGET, THE VAST MAJORITY, 96%, IS IN THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND, WHICH CONTAINS THE BUDGET TO PAY THE CLAIMS FOR OURSELF-FUNDED MEDICAL PLANS.
THE HR'S BUDGET IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND AND THE GENERAL FUND.
THE $7 MILLION GENERAL FUND IS MOSTLY COMPRISED OF PERSONAL SERVICES BUT IT ALSO FUNDS CITYWIDE PROGRAMS SUCH AS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, VIA BUS PASSES AND EMPLOYEE E ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
THIS NEXT SLIDE CONTAINS A FEW FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT OUR CITY WORKFORCE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET FUNDS 12,505 REGULAR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME POSITIONS.
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THE POSITION MAKE UP IS APPROXIMATELY 1/3 SWORN PUBLIC SAFETY AND 2/3 CIVILIAN. WHEN WE DISCUSS CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION IN THIS PRESENTATION, WE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN EMPLOYEES IN THE STEP PAY PLAN AND THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR PERFORMANCE PAY.A THIRD OF OUR CIVILIAN STAFF, PROFESSIONALS, MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAY INCREASES BASED ON PERFORMANCE.
NOW I WILL TURN MY ATTENTION TO CIVILIAN COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
UNIFORM COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS WILL BE ADMINISTERED AS OUTLINED IN THEIR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
CIVILIAN COMPENSATION INCLUDES A 3% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE FOR STEP PAY PLAN EMPLOYEES, BOTH REGULAR AND PART-TIME.
PERFORMANCE PAY FOR PROFESSIONALS, MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES FUNDED BY A POOL EQUIVALENT TO 3% OF SALARIES.
ANY PERFORMANCE PAY EARNED BECOMES A BASE PAY INCREASE JUST LIKE AN ACROSS THE BOARD ADJUSTMENT WOULD BE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A 4% ACROSS THE BOARD PAY INCREASE FOR OUR SWORN PARKS AND AIRPORT POLICE OFFICERS AND MAINTAINS THE CITY'S ENTRY WAGE AT $15 PER HOUR.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE A QUICK REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF OUR STEP PAY PLAN BECAUSE WE ARE RECOMMENDING MAKING 2020 A YEAR OF TRANSITION FOR THIS PLAN.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A 10-STEP PLAN IN 2008, AND WAS IMPLEMENTED OVER A SIX-YEAR PERIOD.
BY 2010, ANY EMPLOYEE WITH 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR MORE HAD REACHED THE TOP STEP.
THE CITY'S ENTRY WAGE WAS INCREMENTALLY INCREASED FROM $11.47 PER HOUR IN 2015 UNTIL ACHIEVING THE $15 PER HOUR ENTRY WAGE GOAL JUST THIS YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2019.
AS THE INDUSTRY -- ENTRY WAGE INCREASED IT CREATED SALARY COMPRESSION ISSUES IN OUR STEP PAY PLAN.
STRUCTURE CREATED MORALE ISSUES AMONG OUR EMPLOYEES AND CAUSED CONFUSION FOR JOB APPLICANTS, SO IN 2018 WE MODIFIED THE STEP PAY PLAN TO A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN STEPS AND ENSURED THAT EACH PAY RANGE HAD A UNIQUE ENTRY RATE.
THE GRAPHIC ON THE SLIDE SHOWS A TYPICAL SEVEN-STEP PAY RANGE.
THE VALUE OF STEP INCREASES START AT 4% AND TAPER DOWN TO 2%.
AFTER REACHING THE MAXIMUM STEP, THERE ARE NO FURTHER STEP PAY PLAN INCREASES.
SO WHY ARE WE PROPOSING THAT FISCAL YEAR 2020 BE A YEAR OF TRANSITION FOR THE STEP PAY PLAN? THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE SINCE 2015 HAVE BENEFITED NEW HIRES AND EMPLOYEES WITH LESS TEEN YOUR.
THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES HAVE BEEN CREATEED, BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR TENURED EMPLOYEES, ONCE THE TOP STEP HAS BEEN ACHIEVED COLA INCREASES ALONE ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.
ON THIS SLIDE THE SLIDE ON THE LEFT REFLECTS STEP MOVEMENT IN 2020, IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE THE STATUS QUO, THE LARGEST POPULATION OF STEP PAY PLAN EMPLOYEES IS THE GROUP THAT IS ALREADY MAXED OUT AT THE TOP STEP OF THEIR PAY RANGE.
THEY WOULD RECEIVE NO PAY INCREASE IN THEIR DURATION.
13 AND A HALF YEARS IS TENURE.
THE NEXT HIGHEST GROUP IS 10 YEARS LESS.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROVIDES A 3% ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AT THE STEP PAY PLAN INCLUDING THOSE AT THE MAXIMUM OF THE STEP PAY RANGE.
DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020 WE WILL WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO DEVELOP A FAIR, AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE PAY PLAN TO PROVIDE ADVANCEMENT TO OUR NEWER EMPLOYEES WHILE ADEQUATELY RECOGNIZING AND REWARDING OUR TENURED STAFF.
NOW THAT WE'VE REVIEWED COMPENSATION, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO HEALTHCARE.
OUR CIVILIANS ARE CURRENTLY OFFERED A CHOICE OF TWO HEALTH PLANS.
A CONSUMER DRIVEN HEALTH PLAN WITH HIGH DEDUCTIBLES AND COINSURANCE THAT INCLUDES A CITY CONTRIBUTION TO A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND THE NEW VALUE PLAN WHICH IS A PRA ADDITIONAL PPO PLAN WITH DEDUCTIBLES AND COPAYS.
BOTH PLANS COVER SERVICES IN AND OUT OF NETWORK.
THE MONTHLY EMPLOYMENT CONTRIBUTIONS IS REQUIRED IN THE NEW VALUE PPO PLAN ARE STAN SHAYLY HIGHER THAN THOSE IN THE CDHP PLAN.
FOR 2020 WE'RE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER A THIRD PLAN OPTION CALLED THE BLUE ESSENTIALS HMO PLAN.
THIS PLAN OFFERS A LOWER COST OPTION TO OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WHO DESIRE A COPAY BASED PLAN LIKE THE NEW VALUE PPO.
INSTEAD OF A BROAD NATIONAL NETWORK THE BLUE ESSENTIALS HMO IS A TEXAS-BASED PLAN WITH NO OUT OF NETWORK BENEFITS.
THE PLAN COVERS ALL THE SAME TEXAS HOSPITAL FACILITIES AS OUR OTHER TWO PLANS BUT THE PHYSICIAN NETWORK IS SMALLER AND ALL SPECIALTY CARE MUST BE APPROVED AND REFERRED BY A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
THE MONTHLY RATES FOR THIS PLAN FALL BETWEEN THE TWO
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CURRENT PLANS.ALONG WITH THE NEW THIRD PLAN OPTION, WE'RE PLEASED TO OFFER SEVERAL ENHANCEMENTS TO ALL THREE HEALTH PLANS.
FIRST WE PROPOSE TO ADD A TRAVEL AND LODGING BENEFIT TREATMENT FOR APPROVED CANCER TREATMENTS THAT TAKE PLACE AWAY FROM HOME.
THIS NEW BENEFIT PROVIDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROUND TRANSPORTATION OR COACH AIRFARE AND PROVIDES A PER DIEM LEVEL FOR REIMBURSEMENT PER NIGHT LODGING.
NEXT WE WILL CONTINUE AND PROMOTE A DIABETES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGH CVS, OUR PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER.
WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM DURING THE CURRENT YEAR AS A TRIAL AND ARE PLEASED WITH THE FEEDBACK WE ARE RECEIVING FROM PARTICIPANTS THUS FAR.
WE ARE ALSO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OFFERING CONSUMER MEDICAL AS A BENEFIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY THAT PROVIDES EXPERT MEDICAL OPINIONS TO MEMBERS IN NEED.
THEY HAVE THE LATEST MEDICAL RESEARCH AND CAN HELP RECOMMEND THE BEST TREATMENT OPTIONS AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS.
FINALLY, WE ARE RECOMMENDING ADDING COVERAGE TO OUR PLANS FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS THERAPY, COMMONLY CALLED ABA THERAPY.
IT IS A SYSTEM OF THERAPY PRIMARILY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
SUPPORTING OUR HEALTH PLANS IS OUR AWARD-WINNING EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM.
SEVERAL COMPONENTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED ON THIS SLIDE.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET BETHANY WHOSE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS ARE SHOWN.
BETHANY HAS BEEN MEETING EVERY SIX WEEKS WITH ONE OF OUR HEALTH COACHES AND PARTICIPATES IN CIRCUIT TRAINING AND INTERVAL WEIGHTLIFTING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO MEET ALMA WHO ENROLLED IN OUR NEW DIABETES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND ONLY A FEW SHORT MONTHS HER AW AW -- A1C LEVEL HAD DECREASED BY A NULL POINT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LEVERS THAT WE CAN TURN TO DRIVE CHANGE.
WE HAVE REVIEWED OUR PLAN DESIGNS FOR 2020 AND WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED OUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON EMPLOYEE WELLNESS.
WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR EMPLOYEE COST SHARING IN 2020? WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SAY FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT THERE WILL BE NO INCREASES TO THE MONTHLY RATES OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES PAY FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET CONTINUES TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT KEEP THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET ROBERT, WHO IS PICTURED IN THE PHOTO UNDER GED PREP.
ROBERT WANTED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PROMOTE, SO HE SIGNED UP FOR A CITY GED PREPARATION CLASS.
THREE MONTHS LATER ROBERT PROUDLY OBTAINED HIS GED, AND HE ALSO EARNED THAT PROMOTION.
ACCORDING TO ROBERT, OBTAINING HIS GED DIDN'T JUST HELP HIM FINANCIALLY, IT ALSO HELPED HIS CONFIDENCE AND SHOWED HIS NINE-YEAR-OLD SON THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE YOU ON THE STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A DIRECT PAYMENT OF $50 PER MONTH TOWARDS THE PRINCIPLE PORTION OF OUTSTANDING STUDENT LOANS.
THE PROGRAM BEGAN ENROLLING IN APRIL, AND NOW HAS 943 PARTICIPANTS WITH A COMBINED STUDENT LOAN DEBT OVER $37 MILLION.
THAT AVERAGES OVER $39,000 OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT PER PARTICIPANT.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU A NEW PROGRAM LAUNCHED THIS YEAR CALLED CAREER COACH UP.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES EMPLOYEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRUSH UP ON THEIR INTERVIEW SKILLS, LEARN HOW TO ENHANCE THEIR RESUME AND RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE COACHING.
OUR NEXT SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE THIS FALL AT THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FACILITY AND WILL BE OPEN TO FIELD EMPLOYEES FROM ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PARKS, TCI AND SOLID WASTE.
THIS BRINGS ME TO THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENDANCE THIS AFTERNOON.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, LORI.
>> CLERK: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE PRESENTED BEFORE YOU, BUT I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TO PRESENT.
SO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $4.4 MILLION FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE 34 POSITIONS CURRENTLY, AND THE CHART SHOWS THE BREAKOUT OR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL 4.4 MILLION.
I AM ADDING AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TWO POSITIONS.
ONE, WE'RE RENAMING FROM AN ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR TO A SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER, AND THEN WE'RE ADDING ONE SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WILL GO TO VITAL RECORDS, WHICH NEEDS A LOT OF HELP RIGHT NOW, AND THEN THE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER WILL OVERSEE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSION DUTIES .
WE HAVE EMBEDDED SOME EQUITY IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY
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CLERK.I WILL -- DENISE LUCKY ATTENDED THE 2019 TRAINING FOR EQUITY AND SO WE DO HAVE ONE TRAINER WITHIN OUR OFFICE WHO WILL GO OUT AND ALSO TRAIN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
WE'VE ALSO ESTABLISHED EQUITY GOALS UTILIZE SOME OF THE EQUITY IDEAS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US BY THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND EMBEDDED THOSE INTO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION APPLICATIONS.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS YOU THE PASSPORT RECEIVED FROM OUR PASSPORT DIVISION.
SO FROM MAY 2010 TO CURRENT, WE ARE STILL AHEAD OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND AS YOU CANÚS.
WE BRING IN APPROXIMATELY $900,000 A YEAR FROM THE PASSPORT REVENUE ALONE.
AND, YES, IT GOES INTO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
IN VITAL RECORDS, I TOOK THAT OVER IN 2012.
SO FROM 2012 TO PRESENT, WE ARE ALSO -- HAVE A HUGE INCREASE, AND THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO CERTAIN THINGS THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN MY NEXT SLIDE.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW THE GROWTH THERE IS REALLY -- REALLY HIGH.
THIS IS THE NUMBER OF VITAL RECORDS CUSTOMERS WE HAVE SERVED FROM 2012 TO CURRENT.
THESE ARE THE DEATHS AND THE BIRTHS THAT WE RECORD FROM OCTOBER 2012 TO PRESENT.
SO EACH RECORD, EVERY TIME A PERSON IS BORN OR A PERSON DIES, WE HAVE TO RECORD EACH RECORD AND ASSIGN IT A LOCAL NUMBER.
SO ONE OF THE NEW THINGS IS THE REAL ID ACT.
BECAUSE OF THIS NEW ACT THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WE HAVE SEEN A SPIKE AT VITAL RECORDS.
FOLKS ARE NEEDING TO COME IN AND OBTAIN THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN ORDER TO GO RENEW THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.
AND IF YOU HAVE THE GOLD STAR ON YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE GOLD STAR, THEN YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS OR TO APPLY FOR A PASSPORT.
YOU WILL NEED YOUR UPDATED LICENSE WITH THE GOLD STAR, SO CHECK YOUR LICENSES NOW.
EVERYBODY'S GOING, WHOO, THANK GOODNESS I CHECKED.
SO WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LIBRARIES, AND IT'S FOUR LIBRARIES, GREAT NORTHWEST, LAS PALMAS, MISSION, THOUSAND OAKS.
AND AT THOSE FOUR LIBRARIES WE ALSO ISSUE BIRTH RECORDS.
YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE NEW SYSTEM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH IS CALLED THE TEXEVER SYSTEM.
THAT SYSTEM NOW ALLOWS FAUX TO APPLY FOR THEIR BIRTH RECORDS ONLINE.
THEY ARE HAVING SOME GLITCHES, SO WE STILL SEE SOME PEOPLE COMING TO THE LIBRARIES, ALTHOUGH THE REVENUE'S DOWN AT THE FOUR LIBRARIES.
WE WERE THE RECIPIENT OF AN AWARD AGAIN FOR 2018, AND THIS IS THE EXEMPLARY FIVE-STAR AWARD, AND THIS IS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THAT'S FOR VITAL STATISTICS.
PRESERVATION INITIATIVE: SO YOU APPROVED A FEW MONTHS BACK A CONTRACT TO ASSIST US FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC RECORDS.
THAT CONTRACT TOTAL AMOUNT IS $626,000.
THE FIRST YEAR IS A $93,000 PAYOUT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BEFORE THE PRESERVATION HERE AND THEN AFTER THE PRESERVATION HAS TAKEN PLACE HERE.
AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE HONING IN ON THE OLDEST RECORDS.
PART OF THIS CONTRACT WILL COVER THE TRUE HART MAPS, WHICH WE ARE THE ONLY OLD DERS OF TRUE HART MAPS.
A LOT OF ENGINEERING FIRMS AND SURVEYORS UTILIZE THESE MAPS AND THE REASON IS THEY HAVE A LOT OF TOPOGRAPHY ON THEM, AND WE'RE THE ONLY HOLDERS OF THESE MAPS.
SO WE'VE BUDGETED A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2020, AND THAT'S THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE LINEAR CREEKWAY SALES TAX IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONNECTSA.
SO THIS PAST YEAR, WE VERIFIED THREE CHARTER AMENDMENT PETITIONS, ONE PAID SICK LEAVE
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PETITION, 1TPID PETITION, AND WE OVERSAW THE CONDUCT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S GENERAL ELECTION AS WELL AS THE CHARTER AND THAT RUNOFF.SO ALL THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED, THANK GOODNESS.
SO BAIRKZ -- BEXAR COUNTY IS IMPLEMENTING A NEW VOTING SYSTEM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE.
BUT THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
SO WHEN PEOPLE GO TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER, THEY'LL GO TO THE SCREEN THAT YOU SEE TO YOUR LEFT, AND THEY'LL RECORD THEIR VOTE UTILIZING THE TOUCH SCREEN.
ONCE THEY -- THEY SELECT THEIR CHOICES, THEN THEY WILL RECEIVE A PRINTOUT WHICH IS RIGHT IN THE CENTER.
THAT PRINTOUT THEN, YOU MUST ENTER -- OR INSERT INTO THE PRECINCT TABULATER WHICH IS ON THE FAR RIGHT.
THIS IS NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE UTILIZED FROM THIS ELECTION IN NOVEMBER ON, REPLACING THE EXISTING SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN UTILIZED FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS.
THE COST OF THIS NEW VOTING SYSTEM IS $11.5 MILLION PLUS, BECAUSE ADDITIONAL FEES WILL BE ALLOCATED TO PURCHASE MACHINE TABULATIONS OR TABLES AND THEN TRANSPORT CARTS.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE NEW VOTE CENTERS COME NOVEMBER 5TH, AND A VOTE CENTER IS A PLACE WHERE ANYONE CAN GO VOTE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ON ELECTION DAY, WE ALWAYS TELL YOU, MAKE SURE YOU GO VOTE AT YOUR PRESCRIBED ELECTION SITE.
THIS YEAR, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO TO ANY OF THE SITES THAT WE TYPICALLY USE FOR EARLY VOTING ON ELECTION DAY.
BY THE WAY, VIA METRO TRANSIT DOES PROVIDE FREE TRANSPORTATION ON ELECTION DAY FOR THOSE THAT NEED THAT ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS JUST A LISTING OF ALL THE OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS, TRAININGS AND EVENTS WE'VE ATTENDED THIS YEAR FOR BOARDS, PASSPORTS, VITAL RECORDS AND ARCHIVES.
THIS IS OUR CURRENT OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PARTNERSHIP WITH ITSD.
WE HAVE AN ONGOING LONG FRIENDSHIP WITH OUR ITSD DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE OVERSEE A LOT OF THESE SYSTEMS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BOTTOM PORTION SHOWS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED; WHEREAS THE ONES ABOVE, ARE ALL THE ONES THAT ARE A WORK-IN-PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THOSE, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, LETICIA.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
JUST A FEW SHORT SLIDES HERE ON THE OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO, BUT THE FIRST I JUST WANT TO START WITH OUR MISSION.
AND REALLY OUR MISSION, THE EMPHASIS HERE ON OUR MISSION IS REALLY WE ARE INDEPENDENT AND OBJECTIVE.
I KNOW I REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL ALWAYS NEED IN ANY WORK THAT WE DO IS THAT INDEPENDENCE, THAT OBJECTIVITY OF ALL THAT MAY BE GOING AROUND OUT THERE, BUT WE DO HAVE A MISSION TO FACILITATE ACCOUNTABILITY BUT WITH A FOCUS ON INDEPENDENCE AND OBJECTIVITY.
MY STAFF, AGAIN, WE ARE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
I HAVE A VERY WELL-QUALIFIED STAFF WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WHAT WE DO.
70% OF MY STAFF, WE HAVE A STAFF -- TOTAL STAFF SIZE OF 23 FTES.
70% OF THEM HOLD AT LEAST ONE AUDIT CERTIFICATION, 40% OF THEM HAVE MULTIPLE CERTIFICATIONS, 45% HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES ABOVE A BACHELOR'S, SO, AGAIN, VERY QUALIFIED FROM AN EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE PERSPECTIVE.
WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY GREAT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW.
THE KEY TO THIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OR THE MAIN REASON WE DO IT, IT'S A GREAT RECRUITING TOOL FOR US.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE ON OUR STAFF RIGHT NOW THAT CAME CLUE THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHEN THEY WERE IN COLLEGE FOR A SUMMER, GOT TO LEARN ABOUT INTERNAL AUDITING, GRADUATED AND HAVE COME BACK TO US AS INTERNAL AUDITORS.
THIS YEAR WE ALSO HAD A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AS AN INTERN AND HOPEFULLY -- HE'S BACK AT BRACKENRIDGE HIGH TELLING EVERYBODY HOW GREAT IT IS TO BE AN INTERNAL AUDITOR, SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS.
OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE LOOK AT, AND Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THESE BEFORE.
FOUR PERFORMANCE METRICS, FAIRLY BALANCED.
THE FIRST ONE IS JUST A WORK PRODUCT MEASURE OF NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT WE ISSUE.
WE'LL HIT ABOUT 37 IS WHAT I'M EXPECTING BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
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RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE ACCEPTED BY MANAGEMENT, AND THIS JUST GOES TO MEASURE HOW MUCH WE'RE WORKING WITH MANAGEMENT.WE'RE MAKING REALISTIC ATTAINABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MANAGEMENT AND THEN THAT THEY ACCEPT THEM AND THEN, AGAIN, IMPLEMENT THEM IMPROVING THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
A PERCENTAGE OF DIRECT TIME THAT MY STAFF SPENDS, A GOAL OF 78%, THIS IS AN EFFICIENCY MEASURE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE ARE PROVIDING WORK.
IT'S SIMILAR TO BILLABLE HOURS IF YOU WERE IN A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM OR IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WE MEASURE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN AGAIN WE HAVE A METRIC OF 70% OF STAFF WITH CERTIFICATIONS.
AGAIN, JUST POINTS TO OUR SUPPORT AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE PLACE ON HAVING QUALIFIED STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO DO.
ANOTHER SMALL BUT MIGHTY PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT IS THAT OF OUR COMPLIANCE AUDITOR, WHICH REALLY FOCUSES ON ETHICS ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, HER RESPONSIBILITIES THERE ARE SUPPORTING THE ETHICS REVIEW BOARD, RESPONDING TO ETHICS-RELATED QUESTIONS, ALSO REVIEWING HIGH PROFILE CONTRACTS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ETHICS CODE AND ALSO PROVIDE ETHICS TRAINING.
SHE HAS IN THIS YEAR WE AVERAGE ABOUT 40 HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACTS THAT WE LOOK AT PER YEAR, AND WE'LL BE JUST A LITTLE BELOW THAT THIS YEAR, BUT STILL THE AVERAGE IS AROUND 40.
AND ALSO PROVIDING ETHICS TRAINING.
WE PROVIDE ETDICS TRAINING AND SPEAK TO EVERY NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION CLASS.
WE'VE DONE ABOUT 30 SESSIONS THIS YEAR SO FAR TO NEW EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO TO THE MLI INSTITUTE AND BY SPECIAL REQUESTS FROM SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT JUST WANT TO ANOTHER LOOK AT IT, FOR EXAMPLE, PRE-K FOR SA, WE ATTEND THEIR ORIENTATION FOR A SHORT SESSION ON ETHICS CODE AND DEALING PRIMARILY WITH CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
BUT ALL THAT TO SAY OUR BUDGET, AS A SMALL BUDGET, $3.1 MILLION, IS OUR BUDGET.
AGAIN, WE'RE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION, SO 2.6, OR 85% OF THAT BUDGET IS PERSONNEL COST.
THE REST IS THE TYPICAL ALLOCATIONS THAT WE MAY RECEIVE, SOME CONTRACT SERVICES, BUT, AGAIN, A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD BUDGET FOR 23 STAFF AND WE ANTICIPATE KEEPING OUR STAFF AT 23 FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS LATER, BUT NEXT WILL BE HAR -- MARIA VILLAGOMEZ TO DISCUSS ADMINISTRATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, KEVIN.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: THE MOTIONER OF THIS PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON FOUR TOPICS.
ONE, WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY.
SECOND WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL HAD CONCERNING OUR PARKING ENTERPRISE FUND.
THIRD WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT AN UPDATE ON THE CITY TOWER PROJECT, AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO GIVE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON THE STATE CHANGES RELATED TO THE COLLECTION OF BINGO TAX.
SO LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY.
A START TODAY WITH THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE HAD SO FAR, WE HAVE COVERED 91.2% OF THE 2.9 BILLION FISCAL YEAR 2020 PROPOSED CITY BUDGET.
THIS PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON $257 MILLION, WHICH IS THE BALANCE OF THE CITY BUDGET THAT IS COMPRISED OF 14 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES AND THE GENERAL FUND NONDEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNT.
FOR THIS PRESENTATION, WE PROVIDED THOSE 14 DEPARTMENTS IN THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE CITY SUPPORT, THOSE INCLUDE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR AND COUNCIL SUPPORT, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND THE NONDEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
INTERNAL SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS ARE THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS SO THEY CAN DELIVER THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THOSE DEPARTMENTS INCLUDE OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, OUR BUDGET OFFICE, THE EQUITY OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION, OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, RISK MANAGEMENT AND BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE COMMUNITY SERVICES CATEGORY, AND THAT INCLUDES THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OUR 3-1-1 CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE.
SO MOVING ON TO THE BUDGET OF OUR CITY SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS, THOSE FOUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE A PROPOSED CITY BUDGET OF $53.5 MILLION.
THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS INCLUDED IN THESE FOUR DEPARTMENTS.
THE OVERALL BUDGET INCREASE IS 2.8 MILLION OR 5.6%.
THIS INCREASE IN THE BUDGET IS DUE TO NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO BE ABLE TO BROADCAST PUBLIC MEETINGS AT THE CPS ENERGY BOARD MEETINGS AND ALSO WHEN WE MOVE TO THE RENOVATED CITY HALL.
THERE ARE ALSO INCREASES IN OUR NONDEPARTMENTAL CONTRACT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SALES TAX PAYMENT THAT WE PAY THE STATE AS WE HAVE TO PAY 2% OF THE TOTAL GROSS REVENUE AS A
[00:30:02]
COLLECTION EXPENSE.AND ALSO THE ALLOCATION INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SUPPORT BUDGETS FOR COUNCIL A SUPPORT PAY INCREASES AND IRA MATCH, HEALTH AND PARKING.
IN TERMS OF OUR INTERNAL SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE SEVEN DEPARTMENTS IN THIS CATEGORY.
96.7 MILLION, A TOTAL OF 753 POSITIONS.
THE POSITIONS WE'RE RECOMMENDING REPRESENTS A NET INCREASE OF NINE NEW POSITIONS.
11 IN THE BUILDING AND -- BUILDING EQUIPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT THE NEW CITY TOWER PROJECT, TWO NEW POSITIONS IN RISK MANAGEMENT.
WE ARE ELIMINATING THREE POSITIONS, ONE IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND TWO IN THE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'RE ALSO REORGANIZING OR MOVING ONE POSITION FROM FINANCE TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO BETTER ALIGN THE FUNCTIONS OF THAT POSITION.
THE OVERALL INCREASE IS 2.6%, OR EQUIVALENT TO $5.1 MILLION IN ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
THE INCREASES, AGAIN, ARE RELATED TO THE JANITORIAL SERVICES SECURITY UTILITIES AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE FOR THE NEW CITY TOWER BUILDING THAT IS ABOUT $2.2 MILLION.
WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING A FACILITIES FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR CITY-OWNED FACILITIES IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM.
WE'RE ALSO REPLACING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT IN OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, AND FINALLY, WE ARE RELOCATED OUR TECHNOLOGY AT DATA CENTER.
IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY SERVICES, THREE OFFICES ARE IN THIS CATEGORY.
THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN POSITIONS, THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 1.7% IN THE OVERALL BUDGET, OR $110,000, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO PERSONNEL COSTS.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST TO PROVIDE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A SUMMARY OF EFFICIENCIES AND REDUCTIONS IN WHAT WE CALL THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY.
SO LET ME BEGIN, ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, WE ARE PROPOSING A REDUCTION IN THE USE OF DATA IN CELL PHONES ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS.
$354,000 ARE THE SAVINGS IN THAT CATEGORY.
THERE'S A TOTAL OF 252 DEVICES WHERE THE VOICE PLAN WILL BE DISCONNECTED ON THOSE CELL PHONES, SO THOSE CELL PHONES WILL BE RETURNED TO THE I.T.
AND THERE ARE 631 DEVICES INCLUDING LAPTOPS AND IPADS WHERE THERE'S NO NEED TO HAVE A DATA PLAN, MEANING THAT THOSE DEVICES CAN BE USED UTILIZING WIFI, SO THERE WILL BE SAVINGS TO THE CITY.
WE ALSO MENTIONED TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE DELAY OF HIRING OF NONCRITICAL POSITIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS MEANS THAT THOSE POSITIONS TYPICALLY IN ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS, WE ARE GOING TO DELAY HIRING THOSE POSITIONS, AND THAT WILL RESULT IN SAVINGS OF $2.9 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND.
WE ALSO HAVE A REDUCTION OF $250,000 IN BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES, AND THIS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT HELPS MAINTAINING OUR CITY FACILITIES AND ALSO OUR VEHICLES.
SO AS THEY RIGHT SIZE THEIR TOOLS AND SUPPLIES, WE'LL SEE A REDUCTION OF A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THERE'S A REORGANIZATION THAT WILL NET $122,000, AND IN THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THERE'S ALSO A REORGANIZATION THAT WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF TWO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.
MOVING TO OUR NEXT STOP, AGAIN THIS PRESENTATION IS OUR PARKING FUND.
THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL RELATED TO THIS FUND TO PROVIDE [INDISCERNIBLE] ON THIS FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1980 AS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WITH THE INTENSE THAT THE REVENUES COLLECTED WILL PAY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE FUND.
IT WAS RESTRUCTURED TO AN ENTERPRISE FUND IN 1985 CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS.
OUR 2020 BUDGET REFLECTS A 1.8 MILLION PROJECTED ENDING BALANCE.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE MAINTAIN A THREE-MONTH OPERATING RESERVE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR FLUCTUATIONS IN THE REVENUE STREAM WITHIN THIS FUND.
WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING AN INVESTMENT OF $9.4 MILLION FOR GARAGE IMPROVEMENTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, VIA A NEW PARKING GARAGE POTENTIALLY, TO LEVERAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO IMPROVE VIA RIDERSHIP THROUGH A CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY GRANT.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS TO CONTINUE THE PARKING FUND AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME POLICY DIRECTION AND PERHAPS A DIFFERENT USE OF THIS FUND, AND ALSO INCREASE IN FEES
[00:35:02]
SPECIFICALLY RELATED FOR TRANSPORTATION-RELATED INITIATIVES.WE RECOMMEND THAT THIS DISCUSSION BEGINS IN THE FALL OF 2019 IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
THE NEXT TOPIC ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS OUR CITY TOWER BUILDING.
SO LET ME BEGIN WITH A QUICK PROJECT BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT.
WE BEGAN WORKING IN A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTON IRVING AND FROST BANK IN 2014.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE BUDGET IN 2015, AND AS PART OF THIS TRANSACTION, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ACQUIRED THE FROST BUILDING, SO THE MAIN PLAZA BUILDING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN THE B ROOM AND THERE WERE OTHER PROPERTIES AS PART OF THE TRANSACTION, OTHER SURPLUS PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY SOLD OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING.
THE PROJECT OUTCOME FOR THIS RENOVATION IS THAT ONCE THE OLD FROST TOWER BUILDING IS RENOVATED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE 23 CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,500 EMPLOYEES INTO THIS NEW RENOVATED FACILITY.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF OUR FUNCTIONS AND WE ANTICIPATE TO ALSO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME EFFICIENCIES AS A RESULT OF THIS CONSOLIDATION.
WE TOOK OVER THE OLD FROST BUILDING ON AUGUST 1 OF 2019.
WE ANTICIPATE WITH A TIMELINE THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IN TERMS OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE THESE 23 CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT I MENTIONED BY SPRING OF 2021 AND THE PROJECT WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED BY JULY OF 2021.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A TOTAL BUDGET OF $125.5 MILLION.
THIS WAS DIVIDED IN THREE CATEGORIES, ACQUISITION AT 52.9 MILLION, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AT 59.5 MILLION, AND OTHER COSTS, SUCH AS SOFT COSTS, AT 60.1 MILLION.
OVER THE SUMMER, THE CITY MANAGER MET MANY TIMES WITH THE PROJECT TEAM TO REVIEW THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE, THE CONSTRUCTION COST, AND ALSO THE EFFICIENCIES RELATED TO THIS PROJECT.
WE HAVE REVISED OUR CONSTRUCTION COST AND ALSO OUR PRO FORMA.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE 30-YEAR PRO FORMA REMAINS COST-NEUTRAL TO THE CITY.
THE CONSTRUCTION COST, THERE'S AN INCREASE OF $2.7 MILLION, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO MECHANICAL PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL REPLACEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED THAT WERE NOT IDENTIFIED DURING THE DUE DILIGENCE OF THIS PROJECT.
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THESE REPLACEMENTS, WE IDENTIFIED A NEED TO REPLACE RATHER THAN REUSE SOME OF THE HVAC SYSTEMS WITHIN THE BUILDING, TO ALSO REPLACE AND RELOCATE SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL PANELS AND ALSO THE NEED TO REPLACE RATHER THAN REUSE SOME OF THE EXISTING CEILINGS.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE TABLE AT THE BOTTOM IS A SUMMARY OF THE TOTAL ORIGINAL BUDGET DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES THAT I MENTIONED, $128.5 MILLION.
IF YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, THE COLUMN THAT IS LABELED "REVISED BUDGET," YOU'LL SEE THAT THE ACQUISITION -- AUDIO] -- IS THE SAME, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, THERE IS AN INCREASE OF $9.5 MILLION, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY SOME OF -- TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
AND ALSO BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FROM THIS BUILDING AS ONE OF THE TENANTS.
AS YOU KNOW THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OPERATES AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND SO THEIR RELATED FINISH OUT WITH THEM MOVING TO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, ABOUT $2.3 MILLION WILL BE ADDED TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SO WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT.
NOW, SOLID WASTE IS MOVING AS A TENANT, SO THIS COULD BE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL FINNISH OUT, WE'RE JUST INCORPORATING THIS INTO THIS BUDGET.
YOU'LL SEE A REDUCTION IN THE CATEGORY CALLED "OTHER ASSOCIATED COST." DURING THE SUMMER, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT AND OUR TCI DEPARTMENT, WE IDENTIFIED SAVINGS IN AUDIO/VISUAL EQUIPMENT AND ALSO REDUCED CAPITAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND SOME OF THE FEES TO PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED IN THIS PROJECT.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE $2.4 MILLION PAYMENT FOR THE FINISH OUT FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, SO ALL THAT COMBINED, THE NET INCREASE TO THE PROJECT IS $2.7 MILLION.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE'RE STILL EVALUATING THE LEVEL OF SECURITY THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS BUILDING,
[00:40:01]
BECAUSE OF THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.WE HAVE ADDED IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET POTENTIAL SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS NOT ONLY FOR THIS NEW CITY TOWER BUILDING, BUT ALSO FOR OTHER BUILDINGS ACROSS THE CITY AS WE CONTINUE THAT EVAL WEIGHT, WE'LL KOL -- EVALUATION, WE'LL COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR ENHANCED SECURITY.
IN THE 2020 BUDGET, WE CREATED A NEW FUND CALLED THE CITY TOWER FUND TO BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT.
3.8 IS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU SAW AN INCREASE IN THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE FUND.
WE'RE ALSO ADDING DOLLARS FOR SECURITY, UTILITIES AND MAINTENANCE, AND WE'RE ADDING FIVE POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE PARKING GARAGE.
THE 2.4 MILLION THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, THAT IS TO MAKE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF THE BUILDING.
THE LAST TOPIC ON THIS PRESENTATION IS TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE BINGO TAX STATE LAW CHANGE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND TODAY, THE STATE ASSESSES 5% OF TAX ON ALL CASH PRIZES AND GOODS THAT ARE VALUED OVER $5.
THIS TAX IS COLLECTED BY THE STATE AND THE CITY RECEIVES THAT -- ANNUALLY REVENUE SOURCE.
ON JULY 30TH, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION THAT HOUSE BILL 914 THAT WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AMENDED THE REGULATION OF BINGO GAMES.
ONE OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS IS FOR MUNICIPALITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OBTAIN THIS REVENUE, THE MUNICIPALITY WOULD HAVE TO COLLECT IT.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE BEFORE NOVEMBER 1 OF 2019 TO CONTINUE TO COLLECT THE BINGO TAX.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS VOTE AS PART OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK ON SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.
OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE ACTUAL COLLECTION OF THOSE BINGO TAX.
AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE AN ASSESSMENT IF THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COLLECTION AS THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW DEVELOPMENT.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT WITH EXISTING RESOURCES.
SHOULD THAT CHANGE, WE'LL COME BACK AND BRIEF THE COUNCIL ACCORDINGLY.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES THE PORTION OF THIS PRESENTATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED IN THE CITY ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY ARE HERE PRESENT AND THEY WILL ASSIST TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MARIA.
THAT'S A LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SO I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO DELVE INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST HAVE A FEW SHORT QUESTIONS.
I'LL START BY RECOGNIZING OUR WHOLE CITY STAFF -- AUDIO] -- TEAM THAT FOLKS MAY REMEMBER WAS NAMED IN THE TOP 20 LIST OF BEST EMPLOYERS IN TEXAS, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY ON THAT LIST, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR RUNNING A GREAT OPERATION THAT PEOPLE, I THINK, HAVE FOUND AS A PLACE -- A DESIRABLE PLACE TO WORK.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.
I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE LAST PRESENTATION, MARIA, IF YOU CAN COME UP.
I APPRECIATE THE PENDING COUNCIL DISCUSSION ABOUT PARKING POLICY.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE DID A MARKET ANALYSIS OF PARKING IN THE AREA, PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN BUT JUST GENERALLY?
AND I'M LOOKING AT LORI HOUSTON.
I WANT TO SAY MAYBE IT WAS 2011 IS MY RECOLLECTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BECAUSE I KNOW CENTRO HAS DONE ONE AND MAYBE HAS UPDATED IT RECENTLY.
IS THAT THE ONE WE'RE REFERRING TO.
>> HOUSTON: SO WE DID DO ONE IN 2015, AND -- BUT WE NEED TO REVISIT THAT.
WITH SO MUCH CHANGE GOING ON WITH DOWNTOWN.
>> HOUSTON: AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REVISITING THAT THIS YEAR TO SEE ABOUT THE PARKING DEMAND AND INCORPORATE SOME OF THE NEW INNOVATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH REGARDS TO UBER AND LYFT.
FROM A PRICING PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO WE'RE ABOUT TO START A UDC DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW MANY PARKING SPACES ARE REQUIRED IN DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK ALL THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE MIX.
AND I THINK THERE'S A POLARIZATION OF OPINIONS ON WHETHER WE SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZING PARKING VERSUS, YOU KNOW, HOW HIGH CAN WE GO WITHOUT BEING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO COME DOWN AND PARK.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE CAN, AS
[00:45:01]
SOON AS THAT CONVERSATION GETS MATURED TO THE POINT WHERE THE WHOLE COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, I THINK IF WE CAN HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORT TO THE COUNCIL AS IT MOVES ALONG, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.I HAVE A QUESTION, I THINK, FOR JORGE, IF... I DON'T OFTEN SEE YOU IN THE CHAMBERS, JORGE, SO I'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU BEING HERE AND ASK YOU A QUESTION.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS GOING ON WITH REGARD TO -- -- YOU DO FLEET REPLACEMENT IN AN ONGOING BASIS.
HOW ARE YOU INCORPORATING SOME OF THOSE DIRECTIONS THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY FLEET OPERATIONS? AND DO YOU NEED DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL TO GET MOVING ON THINGS LIKE ACQUIRING MORE LOWER EMISSIONS OR NO EMISSIONS VEHICLES?
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, COUNCIL.
ACTUALLY, WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING VEHICLES THAT ARE DUE FOR REPLACEMENT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE TYPE OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED TO BE REPLACED.
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THIS PAST YEAR BUILDING ON EQUIPMENT SERVICES VEHICLES THAT ARE USED FOR MAINTENANCE, WE WERE USING F-250S, F-150 PICKUP TRUCKS TO ALLOW OUR TRADES TO MOVE AROUND THE CITY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
WE REDUCED THOSE VEHICLES FROM HAVING A V8 250 VEHICLE DOWN TO A V6 ECONO-LIGHT TYPE SMALL VAN WHICH HELPS OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF FUEL.
IT REDUCES EMISSIONS AS WELL AS IT REDUCES THE MAINTENANCE COST FOR THE CITY.
WE'RE DOING THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, TAKING A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE IDENTIFY US A NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
WE LOOK AT THE MARKETPLACE A YEAR IN ADVANCE, TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE AS TO WHAT IS GOING TO BECOME AVAILABLE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AND THE MANUFACTURERS, VEHICLES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE LESS CARBON EMISSIONS, AND ALSO REDUCE THE COST OF OPERATING ON A YEARLY BASIS.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, FOLLOWING THE SA 2020 PLAN FOR THE REDUCTION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION AND REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS.
AND WE PROGRAM -- WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY ON THE ELECTRIFICATION OF OUR UNITS AS WELL.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE ASSESSMENT THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED PRESENTLY BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO LOOK AT THE PROJECTIONS OF THE TYPE OF VEHICLES THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE CONVERTED INTO ELECTRIC FLEET TYPE, MORE THAN LIKELY ADMINISTRATIVE-TYPE SEDANS.
LOOKING AT THE LOCATION FOR THE RECHARGING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY, WHAT IS GOING TO BE MORE LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE TO LOCATE THOSE RECHARGING STATIONS AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW CONSUMING REGULAR FUEL, CONVERTING THOSE INTO ELECTRICAL VEHICLES.
DOWNTOWN OPERATIONS, WE HAVE ALSO LOOKED AT ELIMINATING ANYTHING THAT IS FUEL CONSUMPTION, CONVERTING THOSE UNITS INTO ELECTRIC UNITS TO BE DRIVEN AROUND DOWNTOWN.
ESPECIALLY BUILDING SERVICES AS WE MAINTAIN THE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS ACROSS THE CITY, AND THE DOWNTOWN CORE, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING ELECTRICAL VEHICLES RATHER THAN USING
WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR ALL THAT.
IF THAT COULD BE PRESENTED TO -- MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING DOUG IS ALREADY GOING TO BE DOING, BUT PRESENTING SORT OF THE NET IMPACT FROM ALL THAT REPLACEMENT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE.
WE'RE WRAPPING UP THAT STUDY AND PROBABLY PRESENT IT TO COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY AND WE'LL GET THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY.
LORI, I HATE TO ASK YOU TO COME UP AGAIN.
I NOTICED ON ONE OF THE SLIDES IT SAID THAT A NEW PARKING GARAGE WAS BEING CONTEMPLATED BY THE CITY.
WHERE IS THAT IN THE PROCESS? BECAUSE THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU IS WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT ARE WE ALSO PLANNING FOR HOW SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS ARE DOING, I THINK SMARTLY, IN POTENTIAL RETROFITS OF THOSE GARAGES WHEN BUILT.
ARE WE GOING TO BE PLANNING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> WE'LL LOOK AT THAT BUT ONE OF THE GARAGES WE'RE LOOKING AT IS TO SEE HOW WE CAN USE MULTIPLE USES IN ONE GARAGE.
WE KNOW THERE'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSING AND EMPOYMENT.
[00:50:01]
SO AS RESIDENTS LEAVE FOR WORK, THE GARAGE IS VACANT.AND SO WITH THE CONTINENTAL HOTEL BUILDING, WHICH IS A BUILDING WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING ON THE MARKET IN THE NEXT MONTH, WE ARE LISTING A GARAGE OPPORTUNITY IN THAT RFP WHERE A DEVELOPER COULD PROPOSE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT AND WE COULD PARTNER WITH THEM TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE.
WE ALSO LOOK TO SEE HOW WE CAN RETROFIT PARKING SPACES WHEN DEMAND GOES DOWN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LAST QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE STILL UP HERE.
WITH THE CITY TOWER GARAGE, WHICH IS NOW CITY OWNED, IS THERE ANY RENOVATION GOING ON IN THAT FACILITY?
>> THERE WILL BE SOME RENOVATIONS, I BELIEVE, WITH THE MEP, AND WITH THE GARAGE ITSELF WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING SOME RESTRAINING AND TRYING TO GET MORE SPACES.
WE KNOW SOME OF THOSE SPACES ARE VERY WIDE.
WE COULD ADD MORE EFFICIENCY WITHIN THAT GARAGE.
ARE WE ADDING CHARGING STATIONS IN THAT GARAGE?
THERE WILL BE CHARGING STATIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY?
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT DESIGN YET, BUT THERE WILL BE CHARGING STATIONS WITHIN THE GARAGE.
LAST QUESTION I'LL ASK, REALLY, IS ABOUT THE FIRST PART OF THE PRESENTATION AND KEEPING OUR BEST IN CLASS EMPLOYER, CONTINUING TO BE THAT, YOU KNOW, A GREAT WORKPLACE TO BE A PART OF.
AND RELATED TO COMMUTING, ARE WE OFFERING ANY COMMUTING BENEFITS? CAN WE, WITH REGARD TO SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES -- I KNOW WE'RE PROVIDING PARKING BENEFITS, BUT ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO PROVIDE COMMUTER PROGRAMS FOR THEM? I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY COMMITTEE HAD BEEN WORKING ON.
>> MAYOR, WE DO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THAT ISSUE.
BUT WE DO HAVE THE VIA BUS PASS PROGRAM NOW, SO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO A FREE BUS PASS, SO THAT DEFINITELY HELPS WITH COMMUTING DOWNTOWN.
>> AND, MAYOR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE, INCLUDED IN THE PARKING FUND WE HAVE AN ALLOCATION OF $300,000 THAT OUR PARKING TEAM AND OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON TO COME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW WE CAN REDUCE THE TRAFFIC COMING DOWNTOWN AND PERHAPS UTILIZE TELECOMMUTE AND ALSO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
WE SEE MOVING TO FROST -- TO THE CITY TOWER AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME EFFICIENCIES, MAYBE DIFFERENT WORK SCHEDULES, PERHAPS, SO WE DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY DRIVING IN AT THE SAME TIME.
PERHAPS SOME EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM HOME FOR THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO DO SO.
SO WE ARE GETTING CREATIVE AS WE'RE PLANNING TO MOVE TO THE CITY TOWER BUILDING.
>> WALSH: I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD TWO OTHER THINGS, MAYOR.
WE HAD TOUCHED UPON ONE OF THEM.
WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME BEGINNING THIS SUMMER REVISING OUR REMOTE WORK ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE WHERE WE SHOULD PROBABLY -- WHERE WE NEED TO ALIGN OURSELVES INTO A POSITION THAT AS WE TRANSITION TO THAT BUILDING THERE MAY BE SOME WORK THAT CAN BE DONE OUTSIDE THE OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, THE OLD TERM IS TELECOMMUTING.
SO WE'LL BE PILOTING THAT PROBABLY WITH A COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS IN THE YEAR.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT POSITION IN TCI WHOSE JOB AND FOCUS IS TO KIND OF CREATE THOSE VAN SHARE, CAR SHARE TYPE OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES.
AND WE THINK THAT PARKING -- THOSE FUNDS SET ASIDE, THE PARKING FUND FOR INCENTIVE, WILL GO NICELY WITH WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT TDM POSITION.
DOUG, I'M SORRY -- NOT DOUG, KEVIN.
ARE YOU STILL HERE? THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS WHERE WE CAN SEE YOUR AUDIT SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR.
>> THE ONLY SCHEDULE -- THE PLAN WAS PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE THIS PAST FRIDAY.
IT WILL BE ON THE SEPTEMBER 19 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
HAS STAFF ASSESSED OR CONSIDEREE
[00:55:06]
PAVEMENT MARKINGS FOR CROSSWALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT .>> THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE DIRECTED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT THAT IS CONTRACTING FOR THAT WORK.
I THINK IN THE PAST THOSE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING RECENTLY.
>> WALSH: I'LL JUMP IN ON THAT.
WE STARTED HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS THIS SUMMER AND THE SIDEWALK -- WHAT ARE WE CALLING IT? THE SIDEWALK SQUAD.
THAT PILOT THAT WAS DONE IN THE SPRING WAS DONE THROUGH CONTRACTORS.
AND WE FELT, AS WE TALKED ABOUT IT, THAT IT GAVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND NIMBLENESS TO ADD POSITIONS TO DO THAT.
I'LL SAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY A CONSTANT ANALYSIS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EFFICIENT AND WE CAN WITHSTAND THOSE TIMES WHERE MAYBE WE'RE IN A DOWNTURN FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT.
REDUCING A CONTRACT IS A LOT EASIER TO DO THAN REDUCING POSITIONS.
SO I THINK IT'S A BALANCE AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY LOOK AT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
I'LL START WITH THE HR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, LORI, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
LORI, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SEND ME AS A FOLLOW UP HOW MANY TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WE HAVE HAD DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR?
>> SANDOVAL: IT WON'T BE FOR THE WHOLE FISCAL YEAR.
AND ABOUT HOW MANY HOURS THEY WORK.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE RATIONALE FOR THE TEMPS THAT THEY BRING ON, AS OPPOSED TO A PERMANENT POSITION.
I KNOW IN THE LIBRARY WE WILL BE CONVERTING SOME FROM TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO KNOW DO OUR TEMPS CURRENTLY HAVE PAID SICK LEAVE?
>> THEY DO NOT, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING THAT.
AND SO FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR WE'LL HAVE PAID SICK LEAVE.
IS THAT GOING TO BE BUDGETED FOR THEM ALREADY?
WE'RE PLANNING TO HAVE PAID LEAVE.
>> SANDOVAL: AND WHERE IS THAT IN THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN ABOUT INCREASES AND BUDGETS.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ADDED ANY JUST BE MANAGED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IT'S GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY.
COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR CONNING ONE POSITION INTO TWO.
THERE WERE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
YOU AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH THEM IN GREAT DETAIL AND I JUST WONDER IF THAT ONE POSITION WILL BE ENOUGH.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF WHERE WE WANT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS TO GO.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT TO ME?
YOU'RE CORRECT IN EXACTLY WHAT YOU STATED.
WE DO HAVE ONE POSITION EARMARKED FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, NO, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ONE AND SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GET.
THE MAIN FOCUS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AS YOU KNOW.
AND WE ARE WORKING CURRENTLY WITH ITSD AND INNOVATION TO MAKE THAT PROCESS MORE USER FRIENDLY.
BUT THAT IS GOING TO TAKE MORE MONEY TO BE FUNDED THROUGH I.T.
DEPARTMENT FOR A COMPLETE NEW SYSTEM OR TO REDO AND REPROGRAM THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
>> SANDOVAL: ERIK, IS THAT ACCOUNTED FOR?
>> WALSH: I'M LOOKING OVER THERE AT CRAIG HOPKINS.
>> CLERK: IT DIDN'T MAKE THE I.T. GOVERNANCE RECOMMENDATIONS THIS YEAR.
BUT WHAT I WILL SUGGEST AND CAN SUGGEST IS THAT WE START WITH A SCOPE NOW AND A DESIGN FOR A FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW SYSTEM TO REPLACE THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS THAT IT WAS
[01:00:02]
BUILT BACK IN 2008.THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IT WAS BUILT ON DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE TODAY'S USE BY FOLKS THAT UTILIZE THEIR IPHONES OR THEIR IPADS TO GO ONLINE AND APPLY.
SO THERE'S SOME THINGS IT DOESN'T DO TODAY.
>> SANDOVAL: SO LETICIA, I THINK THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH CEREMONIALS AND PREPARING US FOR OUR MEETINGS.
AND I THINK YOU'RE REALLY UNDER-RESOURCED IN THIS ONE PARTICULAR AREA AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW WE EVALUATE YOU.
SO I THINK YOU'RE KIND OF IN A CONUNDRUM HERE.
WE GOT THE RECOMMENDATIONS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
WE'RE GOING INTO THE NEW BUDGET YEAR.
I GUESS I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BEFORE WE START THE BUDGET YEAR.
SO IF YOU CAN CLEARLY TELL ME WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET WITH THAT ADDITIONAL PERSON AND THEN IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY I.T.
AND, IF NOT, I GUESS WE'LL WORK WITH ERIK AND CRAIG ON THAT.
>> CLERK: SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET WITH THE NEW POSITION IS -- MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU NEED INFORMATION ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS YOU CALL OUR OFFICE.
THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON RIGHT NOW THAT DEALS DIRECTLY WITH THE SYSTEM.
AND SO THIS NEW POSITION WILL ALSO OVERSEE THAT SYSTEM AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO RETURN YOUR CALLS QUICKER, PROVIDE YOU THE INFORMATION FASTER THAN WE CURRENTLY DO NOW.
AND WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO GET YOU THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE TO BE DOWNLOADED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO YOU QUICKER SO THAT YOU CAN REVIEW THOSE, AND THAT YOU CAN MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS.
>> SANDOVAL: IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH, A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED IS THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH APPLICATIONS FROM MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES.
SO WILL YOUR OFFICE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT OR IS THAT GOING TO BE IN COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND THE LIAISON DEPARTMENT? HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?
IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH GPA AND INNOVATION, OF COURSE.
BUT, YES, THE OUTREACH IS ALWAYS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, OR THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S SEEKING APPLICANTS.
>> SANDOVAL: ANOTHER QUESTION FOR ERIK OR CRAIG.
SO AT THIS POINT WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE HAVING ANY I.T.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT APPLICATION PROCESS, TO THE BOARD OR COMMISSION APPLICATION PROCESS?
>> WALSH: I GUESS WHAT I'M HEARING IS IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
SO THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE THAT WE'LL WORK WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, COUNCILWOMAN.
AND I GUESS MAYBE I'VE FALLEN SHORT IN NOT GIVING THAT FULL PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE HEARD AT OUR SUBCOMMITTEE.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MAKING THAT CLEAR TO THE WHOLE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE THAT THAT WAS A FINDING AND A PRIORITY FROM THAT.
>> WALSH: I THINK THE QUICK ANSWER IS THAT CRAIG AND I WILL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
>> SANDOVAL: I APPRECIATE THAT.
LETICIA, THE ESTIMATE FOR THE ELECTIONS, IT'S LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS, IS THAT SOMETHING WE GET FROM THE COUNTY? HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT THE COST IS FOR THAT?
>> CLERK: IT'S AN ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SO THAT COULD CHANGE.
AND IT DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF ENTITIES THAT JOIN IN ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ENTITIES ARE GOING TO BE HOLDING AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
BUT THE CLOSER WE GET TO THAT DATE WE WILL HAVE A BETTER ANSWER FOR YOU.
>> SANDOVAL: AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S COORDINATED BY MS. CALALLEN OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT REACHES OUT TO OTHER ENTITIES TO COORDINATE?
THAT IS COORDINATED BY BEXAR COUNTY, CORRECT.
>> SANDOVAL: AND THEN QUESTION FOR LORI HOUSTON.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO GET CALLED UP SO MUCH, DID YOU, LORI? I'M GOING TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE PARKING GARAGE UNDER THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HEARD TODAY AND THE PARKING FUND.
I GUESS YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IT UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY IS IT BEING PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING
[01:05:01]
FUND.>> BECAUSE THIS PARKING GARAGE WOULD BE USED BY THE PUBLIC AND IT COULD BE USED BY EMPLOYERS.
IT COULD BE USED BY CITY EMPLOYEES AND IT WILL ALSO BE USED TO HELP US LEVERAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
>> SANDOVAL: IT WOULD BE WHERE?
>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT THE FORMER METRO HEALTH BUILDING THAT'S BEHIND PLAZA DE ARMAS ON COMMERCE STREET.
AS WE ISSUE THE RFP FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT BUILDING WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXPAND THEIR PARKING GARAGE AND TO INCORPORATE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA TO INCLUDE CITY EMPLOYEES OR COUNTY EMPLOYEES OR THE NEW FEDERAL COURTHOUSE THAT'S BEING CONSTRUCTED.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A DEMAND FOR PARKING.
>> SANDOVAL: WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT DO YOU SEE US MAKING IN THAT PARTICULAR GARAGE?
WE WANT THEM TO PRESENT TO US WHAT THEY COULD DO WITH THAT GARAGE, HOW MANY SPACES, HOW MANY COULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE DAY.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE BUDGETED -- I BELIEVE IT'S $7.5 MILLION FOR PARKING GARAGE EXPANSIONS OR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
>> SANDOVAL: I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING INTO THE DETAILS HERE.
SO THE RFP, HOW IS THAT STRUCTURED? WE ISSUE AN RFP ASKING A BIDDER TO DO WHAT?
>> WE'RE ASKING DEVELOPERS TO SUBMIT A PROJECT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD CONTINENTAL HOTEL BUILDING TO INCORPORATE MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT AND THEY WOULD MOST LIKELY NEED TO PROVIDE PARKING AS PART OF THAT MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHAT WE'VE SAID IS IN ADDITION TO PROPOSING YOUR PROJECT, IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERSIZE YOUR PARKING GARAGE SO WE COULD LEVERAGE PARKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH EMPLOYERS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA, WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO PROPOSE THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MAY BE BUILDING A 450-PARKING SPACE GARAGE.
MAYBE 200 SPACES WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE DAY THAT WE COULD USE FOR PUBLIC PARKING OR EMPLOYEE PARKING.
IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT AFTERWARD.
AT THIS POINT I JUST DON'T FEEL SUPPORTIVE OF THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT OF PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO ADDITIONAL PARKING WITHOUT KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FULLY -- THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR FULL MONEY BACK.
>> AND THIS WOULD BE REVIEWED AS PART OF THE RFP ANALYSIS AND THEN IT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND IS THERE GOING TO BE THE MARKET STUDY THAT THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR?
>> WE ARE GOING TO LOOK TO UPDATE THE CURRENT ONE SO, YES, IN FISCAL YEAR 2020.
THAT'S ALL -- OH, ACTUALLY -- I APOLOGIZE.
MARIA, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT COUNCIL AIDES, THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
SO THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT $263,000.
THAT INCREASE IS FOR ALL CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR A 3% PAY INCREASE FOR COUNCIL AIDES.
SO AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY COUNCIL HOW THAT IS DISTRIBUTED.
AND IT ALSO INCREASES THE IRA MATCH TWO TO ONE.
SO THE EMPLOYEE PUTS $1 AND THE CITY MATCHES $2.
THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE ON THE HEALTH ACCOUNT.
THE HEALTH PLAN FOR COUNCIL AIDES IS RENEWED EVERY JUNE.
SO WE ARE PUTTING MONEY IN THE BUDGET, EITHER AN INCREASE ON THE HEALTH COST FOR OUR COUNCIL AIDES AND THIS INCREASE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
AND ALSO THERE'S FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE THE THREE SPACES THAT WE HAVE AT THE DE LA ROSA LODGE TO THE CITY TOWER GARAGE, THE ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IS COVERED IN THE BUDGET.
WHY IS THERE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR MOVING THE PARKING SPACES?
>> THE MONTHLY FEE AT THE CITY TOWER GARAGE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN AT THE DE LA ROSA LOT.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY TOWERS I THINK IS $120 A MONTH.
AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE DE LA ROSA -- WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU BUT IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE AT THE CITY TOWER.
AND IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH BENEFIT, IS THAT -- ARE THEY GOING TO STAY WITH THE SAME
[01:10:03]
PROVIDER? THE INSURANCE COMPANY?THAT IS THE PLAN BUT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE JUST FINISHED THE ENROLLMENT.
>> SANDOVAL: WOULD YOU LET US KNOW IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE?
>> SANDOVAL: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OPTIONS MY EMPLOYEES HAVE AND NOT JUST MANDATE THAT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE INSURANCE OPTION.
SO IF I COULD TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT OPTIONS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEN WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN SO THEY'RE PAYING FOR PARKING -- OKAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
LET'S START WITH THE ELECTIONS, LETICIA.
ON YOUR CHART HERE FOR THE 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET, $1 MILLION.
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT GROUP THAT REPRESENTS EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND THEY GET ELECTED TO THOSE POSITIONS.
AND THEN THE NOVEMBER 2020 ELECTION.
IS THAT -- NOVEMBER 2020, THAT'S REALLY THE 20-21 BUDGET, RIGHT?
BUT BEXAR COUNTY ALWAYS REQUIRES A DEPOSIT.
SO WE BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE ELECTION AND WE WILL PAY OUT AN AMOUNT TYPICALLY IN SEPTEMBER TO BEXAR COUNTY.
>> CLERK: BY THAT TIME THEY SHOULD KNOW THE TOTAL COST OF THE ELECTION.
>> PERRY: SO IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN NOVEMBER 2020, YOU'RE SHOWING TWO REAUTHORIZATION OF THE LINEAR CREEKWAY SALES TAX.
IS THAT UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?
>> PERRY: IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONNECT SA.
NOT QUITE SURE WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.
IS THAT PART OF THAT ELECTION OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE THINKING MIGHT -- BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T AUTHORIZED ANYTHING ON THAT.
AND YOU HAVE NOT CALLED AN ELECTION, THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU WON'T DO SO UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND YOU COULD, AT THAT TIME, INCLUDE BOTH OF THOSE TWO INTO ONE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF I MAY ALSO, LETICIA, ALSO ON THAT DATE WOULD BE POSSIBLE RENEWAL CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL TO RENEW THE PRE-K 4 SA SALES TAX AS WELL.
ON YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET, $173.4 MILLION ON SLIDE 4.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND IS GOING UP ALMOST $4 MILLION.
>> A LOT OF THAT INCREASE IS TO THE TREND OF HEALTH BENEFIT CLAIMS. WE HAVE ABOUT 26,000 MEMBERS ON OUR HEALTH PLANS AND, YOU KNOW, HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS INCREASE EVERY YEAR.
BUT WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING OUR STUDENT LOAN BENEFIT FOR A FULL YEAR.
THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WAS ONLY FOR HALF A YEAR, SO THE INCREASE IN THAT STUDENT LOAN BENEFIT IS ALSO IN THERE.
>> PERRY: SO YOU'RE SAYING IT'S AN INCREASE IN OUR HEALTH --
>> IT'S THE TREND OF HEALTHCARE.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE VISUALIZING HOW YOU ESTIMATED THAT.
>> SO THE INCREASE IN OUR CLAIMS BUDGET IS ABOUT $2.7 MILLION.
THE ADDITIONAL FOR THE LOANS IS ABOUT $400,000.
SO THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THAT INCREASE THAT YOU SEE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ADOPTED BUDGET TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> PERRY: BUT THAT'S ONLY COMING UP $3 MILLION.
[01:15:02]
>> THERE'S SOME OTHER CONTRACTUAL INCREASES THAT WE HAD THROUGH OUR TPA, OUR THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL.
>> PERRY: YEAH, IF YOU COULD GET BACK WITH ME ON WHAT THAT $3.9 MILLION IS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
>> PERRY: AND THEN ON PAGE 303 OF THE BIG THICK BOOK THERE IT SAID ON YOUR TARGETS.
FOR 2020 WE HAD A LINE ITEM, PERCENT OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES THAT APPEALED DISCIPLINARY ACTION TO MUNICIPAL SERVICE COMMISSION.
THE TARGET FOR '19 WAS 10% BUT WE'RE ONLY ESTIMATING THAT THERE WILL BE 2.8%.
BUT WE'RE STILL BACK UP TO OUR TARGET OF 10%.
WHY ARE WE USING THAT AS A GOAL?
>> WELL, IT'S A REASONABLE GOAL.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PLEASED THAT WE HAVE SUCH A LOW NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT APPEAL THEIR DISCIPLINE.
AND WE LIKE TO ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE FACT THAT OUR PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINARY PROCESSES AND OUR COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES AT THE DISCIPLINE LEVELS ARE FAIR AND REASONABLE AND EMPLOYEES ARE UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE IS HAPPENING ON ATTENDANCE-RELATED DISCIPLINES THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT SPELLS THAT OUT VERY CLEARLY.
BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
>> PERRY: IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE E THAT GOAL AS SOMETHING THAT, HEY, LET'S BEAT OUR ESTIMATE FROM LAST YEAR.
INSTEAD OF JUST LEAVING IT 10%.
WHAT IS A CALL ABANDONMENT RATE?
>> WE HAVE A PHONE SYSTEM AND CALLS COMING IN TO OUR HR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THAT'S A MEASURE OF ANY KIND OF PHONE SYSTEM THAT HAS THAT ROTATIONAL SYSTEM WHERE THEY GO THROUGH AND DIRECT THE CALLS TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE PERSON.
SO THAT'S PEOPLE THAT HANG UP BEFORE WE ANSWER THE CALL.
>> PERRY: SO PEOPLE THAT ARE HANGING UP AND NOT --
AND THEN THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES ON PAGE 304 IS GOING UP FROM $156 MILLION TO $166 MILLION FROM '18 IT WAS $144 MILLION.
WE BUDGETED $162 MILLION BUT IT'S ONLY $156 MILLION FOR '19.
AND WE'RE GOING UP TO $166 MILLION.
>> SO, AGAIN, THE INCREASE IN OUR CLAIMS IS ABOUT $8.1 MILLION FROM WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING IN FISCAL YEAR 2019 TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.
>> PERRY: BUT YOUR BUDGET WAS FOR $133 MILLION AND YOUR ESTIMATED IS ONLY FOR $128 MILLION FOR '19.
WHY THE INCREASE FROM '19 TO '20?
>> BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THE GROWTH IN THE MEDICAL CLAIMS IS ACCOUNTING -- THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET ACCOUNTS FOR THE GROWTH IN THE MEDICAL CLAIMS. SO WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT $129 MILLION FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACY CLAIMS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019.
AND DUE TO INCREASES IN MEDICAL COSTS AS WELL AS PHARMACY COSTS WE'RE INCREASING THAT BUDGET TO $136 MILLION FOR 2020.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO HAVE 100 POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ADDING WITH THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET.
THAT'S KIND OF A KEY THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
AN INCREASE IN OVER 100 POSITIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
>> COUNCILMAN, TO BE CLEAR, WHEN WE'RE ADDING POSITIONS, THAT'S GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF THE CLAIM COSTS.
THE BULK OF IT IS WHAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR HEALTH CLAIMS COSTS.
WE USE OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS AND ACTUARIES TO LOOK AT HOW OUR PLANS ARE BEING UTILIZED, WHAT KINDS OF TRENDS WE'RE SEEING, AND MEDICAL INFLATION GOES UP 6% TO 8% PER YEAR, PHARMACY PROBABLY 10% TO 12% PER YEAR.
GENERALLY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE INCREASES IN CLAIMS COSTS.
>> PERRY: WELL, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THAT OVER $20 MILLION IN TWO YEARS.
THAT, TO ME, IS EXORBITANT AND MAYBE WE SHOULD SHOP AROUND FOR ANOTHER PROVIDER.
[01:20:01]
>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A STRONG NETWORK AND DISCOUNTS.
WE HAVE OVER 24,000 LIVES INSURED UNDER OUR PLAN.
NOT ONLY EMPLOYEES BUT THEIR FAMILIES, DEPENDENTS, AND SPOUSES.
OUR TRENDS HAVE BEEN PRETTY FAVORABLE WITH OUR CIVILIAN PLANS, WITH OUR POLICE PLANS.
BUT CERTAINLY THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR ALL EMPLOYERS IS HOW TO MANAGE THE COST OF HEALTHCARE.
>> PERRY: AGAIN, $20 MILLION IN TWO YEARS.
THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS, LORI, THANK YOU.
BEN, YOU COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THESE JUST AS WELL AS ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL -- AND WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ALREADY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL I THINK IT WAS SAYING $1.2 MILLION -- WE WERE GOING TO SAVE $1.2 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS.
>> PERRY: AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER PRESS RELEASE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE COST NEUTRAL.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SAVING, IT'S GOING TO BE COST NEUTRAL.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT THIS CHART ON PAGE 10.
WHAT IS THIS TELLING ME HERE? IS THIS SHOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE COST NEUTRAL OR THAT IT'S GOING TO COST US SOMETHING IN 30 YEARS?
>> SO THIS CHART IS SHOWING YOU THERE ARE CHANGES IN THE PROJECT BUDGET, BUT EVEN WITH THOSE CHANGES IN THE PROJECT BUDGET WE WILL BE COST NEUTRAL TO THE CITY.
AND SO WE'RE RUNNING THAT 30-YEAR PRO FORMA, BEFORE BUILDING IN THE NET COSTS THAT YOU SEE ON THAT TABLE ON THE BOTTOM.
WE'RE MAINTAINING THAT COST NEUTRAL POSITION TO THE CITY.
THE MOST RECENT UPDATE I GOT IS OVER 30 YEARS WE'RE SAVING $2.3 MILLION.
OUR COMMITMENT WHEN WE DID THIS PROJECT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WAS THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO MANAGE IT TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS AT LEAST COST NEUTRAL TO US.
RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THE LATEST UPDATE, IT'S $2.3 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS.
THIS IS A PRO FORMA THAT DOES AND CAN CHANGE VERY EASILY.
SO IF I WERE TO CHANGE THE PRO FORMA BY A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN COST, THAT'S A $15 MILLION SWING.
IF I CHANGE IT BY $100,000, IT'S A $3 MILLION SWING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES WITHIN THIS PRO FORMA.
WE'RE COMFORTABLE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST A COST NEUTRAL POSITION TO THE CITY.
>> PERRY: ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS HERE, WAS THAT BUILT INTO THE COST?
>> PERRY: ALL 11 THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE?
THAT'S FOR MAINTAINING THE FACILITY AND THE PARKING STRUCTURE.
>> PERRY: SO AREN'T WE CURRENTLY WITHIN HOUSE FORCES MAINTAINING SOME OF THE FACILITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING FROM.
>> PERRY: WHY WOULD WE BE ADDING THOSE POSITIONS BACK IN? WHY AREN'T WE SAVING THOSE POSITIONS? BECAUSE AT THIS POINT THEY'RE STILL MAINTAINING THE BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE HAVE BUILT ALL OF THAT INTO THE PRO FORMA.
WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE NEED TO ADD COST FOR THE CITY TOWER BUILDING.
BUT ALSO AS WE START TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO THE CITY TOWER WE START TO SAVE DOLLARS.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO SHIFT MAINTENANCE COSTS OVER.
WE'RE GOING TO SAVE DOLLARS ON LEASES, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LEASES IN RIVERVIEW TOWERS AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
ALL THAT IS BUILT IN IN TERMS OF TIMING.
WHEN I MENTIONED IT CAN MOVE, EVEN THE TIMING CAN MOVE THE PRO FORMA.
WE HAVE AN ASSUMPTION WHEN LEASES WILL TERMINATE, WHEN WE'LL GET SALE PROCEEDS FROM BUILDINGS.
ALL THAT IS BUILT INTO THE PRO FORMA.
BASED ON THE LATEST UPDATE, WE'RE STILL POSITIVE AT ABOUT $2.3 MILLION.
>> $2.3 MILLION OVER THE 30-YEAR TERM.
>> PERRY: DID EVERYBODY HERE THAT? $2.3 MILLION THAT WE'RE SAVING OVER 30 YEARS.
WELL, THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD ON.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP ON TASK WITH THAT, THAT WE ARE SAVING THAT.
AND I KNOW THINGS CAN CHANGE IN THE FUTURE BUT I HOPE NOT.
THAT IT MIGHT COST US IN THE FUTURE .
>> PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS.
>> PERRY: PAGE 293 OF THE BIG BOOK.
>> I'M PROBABLY GOING TO NEED HELP IF YOU'RE GOING TO PAGE 293.
[01:25:03]
RESOURCES.I SEE THERE THAT THE AUTHORIZED POSITIONS IS GOING DOWN BY FOUR.
>> LET ME ASK TROY TO COME UP AND HELP ME ANSWER THAT ONE.
HE DOES HAVE SOME REDUCTIONS WITHIN HIS DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE REORGANIZING SOME FUNCTIONS WITHIN HIS DEPARTMENT THAT ARE GOING TO RESULT IN SOME EFFICIENCIES.
WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE A COUPLE OF MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AND OFFER THOSE UP AS CUTS OR REDUCTIONS IN SAVINGS.
>> PERRY: YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK JUST LOOKING AT THIS THERE'S SOME ADDS IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES AS WELL.
SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING HERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO BRING IT UP, BUT WE'RE SHOWING THIS ATTACHMENT ABOUT THE SAWS THING, THE $9.9 MILLION ALSO.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POSITIONS.
OVERALL IT'S SHOWING REDUCING FOUR POSITIONS.
IN LOOKINGIN AT THE OPERATIONS D FINANCE DEPARTMENT EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REORGANIZATION.
THERE IS A NET REDUCTION OF FIVE AND AN ADD OF FOUR.
SO WE'RE SAVING ABOUT $122,000 OVERALL.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REALIGNING THE FUNCTIONS.
IT'S GOING TO BE PRIMARILY OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECTION AND REALIGNING THAT IN OUR LEDGER AND THROUGH THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NET REDUCTION OF ONE POSITION.
>> PERRY: ONE POSITION? BECAUSE IT'S STILL SHOWING AN ADDITION OF ONE POSITION OVERALL, ON PAGE 294.
AND AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 300,000.
>> THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED COUNT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 WAS 152 POSITIONS.
SO THERE'S ONE POSITION THAT WAS REDUCED THROUGH THE EFFICIENCY THAT FINANCE DEPARTMENT WENT THROUGH OVER THE SUMMER.
THERE'S ONE POSITION THAT WAS A DEPARTMENT FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR THAT WAS REORGANIZED FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT INTO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO POSS THAT RESIDED.
THERE WAS A REORGANIZATION BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND, BUT MORE APPROPRIATELY FUNDED THROUGH THE HOT AS WELL AS THROUGH THE PURCHASING.
SO IT'S A NET OF TWO REDUCTION.
IT'S SHOWING A PLUS UP OF ONE, BUT THAT'S FINE.
MAYBE WE CAN GET TOGETHER AFTERWARDS AND LAY THAT OUT FOR ME.
>> PERRY: RIGHT NOW IT'S SHOWING PLUS ONE.
THEN ACHIEVE PAVEMENT TO VENDOR WITHIN TERMS. OUR GOAL IS ONLY 80%.
WHAT IS THAT SAYING? ACHIEVE PAYMENT TO VENDORS WITHIN THE TERMS.
>> WE HAVE A PERFORMANCE METRIC THAT TYPICALLY WITHIN EVERY CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WE HAVE THERE'S AN AGREEMENT TO PAY THEM WITHIN 15 OR 30 DAYS.
BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS SAYING IS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR 2018, 84% OF OUR PAYMENTS ARE WITHIN THOSE VENDOR TERMS AND THE REMAIN AMOUNT IS FALLING OUTSIDE OF THOSE TERMS. PAYING ON TIME.
BUT OUR GOAL IS ONLY TO PAY 80% ON TIME? WHY WOULDN'T THAT BE 100%? BECAUSE WE HAVE VENDORS WE'RE CONTRACTING WITH AND THEY EXPECT TO BE PAID ON TIME.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A LOWER RATE OF PAYMENT ON TIME.
I THINK IN THE IDEAL WORLD WE WOULD LIKE TO BE 100%, BUT BASED ON HISTORICALLY AND BASED ON THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, OUR GOAL IS 80%.
WE'LL KEEP CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT HISTORICALLY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS OVER TIME, WE WERE DOWN SIGNIFICANT LOWER THAN THIS THE 75 TO 80%.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO KEEP WORKING AT IT.
WE SHOULD BE THERE AT THE 100%.
BUT RIGHT NOW BASED ON THE SITUATION OF WHERE WE ARE, WE'RE ABOUT 80.
>> PERRY: I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT PERCENTAGE HIGHER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE CONTRACTING.
THE CITY SHOULD BE PAYING ON TIME.
YOU KNOW, I DID A LOT OF WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS
[01:30:01]
WELL AND IT'S PAY WHEN PAID.AND YOU GET PAID WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF SUBMITTING YOUR INVOICE.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHY IT'S TAKING US SO LONG AND WHY WE DON'T HAVE THAT AS 100%.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU SOME MORE ABOUT THAT.
WHOSE IS THAT? RISK MANAGEMENT.
IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT CAN TALK ABOUT THAT?
>> PERRY: THE CITY'S INCIDENT RATE.
>> THAT IS THE INCIDENT OF ACCIDENTS THAT WE ARE INCURRING.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT FORMULA, BUT THAT'S MEASURING OUR ACCIDENT RATE.
>> BASED ON A FORMULA, YES, SIR.
YEAH, BEN, IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.
I'M CONFUSED WHAT THAT NUMBER MEANS.
IS THAT SIX INCIDENTS PER PERSON?
>> PER 100 OR PER 1,000, BUT I NEED TO GET THE EXACT DEFINITION FOR YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO OTHER NATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND NATIONAL --
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE COMPARISONS TO THE CORPORATIONS BUT WE DO HAVE SOME BENCHMARKING AGAINST SOME OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS, SO WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
>> PERRY: AND THEN WE'RE ADDING TWO POSITIONS.
WHY ARE WE ADDING TWO POSITIONS TO THAT?
>> WE'RE ADDING TWO POSITIONS IN THIS CASE, I BELIEVE TO SUPPORT OUR LIABILITY CLAIMS PROCESSING.
A COUPLE OF YEARS WE TOOK THAT IN-HOUSE AND WE HAVE BEEN MANAGING IT IN-HOUSE BASED ON THE CLAIMS VOLUME AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT STANDARDS AND THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS EACH ADJUSTOR SHOULD BE PROCESSING, THIS HELPS US MEET THE TARGETS.
SO THIS IS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CLOSE COORDINATION THERE TO GET THOSE SETTLED QUICKLY AND GET THOSE CLOSED.
>> PERRY: AND IT SAYS INDUSTRY STANDARDS FROM 168 TO 100.
CAN WE -- IF YOU COULD BRING THAT IN ALSO AND SHOW ME WHERE THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE 168 TO 100.
>> PERRY: I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY CLERK.
THEN LET'S START WITH -- WE'LL DO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION THEN.
THANK YOU, MARIA, FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR BREAKING THIS DOWN SO WE COULD CATCH IT ALL UP TOGETHER AT ONE TIME.
I THINK JUST FOR NOTE I WANTED TO CLARIFY TOO ON THE BUDGET CHANGES, THE HIGHLIGHTS.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE ALLOCATION TO THE COUNCIL AIDES, AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN POSITIONS.
AND YOU ALREADY DISCUSSED THE PAY INCREASES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE 401KS.
CAN YOU REMIND ME WITH THE 401KS THAT ALSO MEANS IT'S CHANGING BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR WHERE BEFORE IT WAS DIFFERENT?
>> IT'S CURRENTLY A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.
THAT'S ONE OF THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
CAN YOU ALSO REMIND ME IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MADE TO THE COUNCIL AIDE'S CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I KNOW I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX YEARS AND WE HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ENHANCEMENTS.
WE ADDED IN THE BUDGET ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS AND THIS WAS TO REFLECT FUNDING THAT SEVEN FTES, SO WE ADDED THE ASSOCIATED SALARY AND THE OTHER BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2018, WE ADDED ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO INCLUDE SOME ENHANCEMENTS TO PAY AND TO OTHER BENEFITS AS WELL.
>> VIAGRAN: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I KNOW OUR TEAM WORKS VERY HARD AND WE ALL DO, SO I THANK YOU
[01:35:02]
FOR ALSO HAVING THAT INCREASE IN HERE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND OUR TEAM MEMBERS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD AND IT JUST REFLECTS ALSO THE INCREASE THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT CITY WIDE TOO.AND I THINK IT IS REFLECTED IN WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IN THIS BUDGET .
NEXT, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET UPDATE FOR THE TOWER -- I'M JUST GOING TO CALL IT THE TOWER.
I'LL LET COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA TALK ABOUT THE OTHER NAME FOR IT.
SO NOW THE APPROVED BUDGET WAS 128.5.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER $132 MILLION, POSSIBLY.
>> SO THE REVISED BUDGET IS 133.6.
THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THAT $2.7 MILLION INCREASE DUE TO SOME OF THE MECHANICAL PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL REPLACEMENTS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE.
AND IT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE FINISH OUT PAYMENT FROM THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT AS WE'RE MOVING IN AS A TENANT.
>> VIAGRAN: I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS AND I'M GOING TO GO INTO SOME MORE DETAILS RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS BUT ARE WE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT OTHER ENTITIES THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY CITY TENANTS IN THIS BUILDING AS WELL?
IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THERE'S A NOTE THAT ABOUT 25% OF THE BUILDING WILL BE LEASED TO PRIVATE TENANTS.
AND IS THAT ON STREET LEVEL, ON BASEMENT LEVEL OR JUST IN THE TOWER ITSELF?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ERIK'S GOT SOME CLARIFICATION ON IT.
>> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, TO ANSWER THAT LAST QUESTION, IT'S IN THE TOWER.
BUT HIGH-LEVEL, THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE IN THAT BUILDING.
AND YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE APPLYING FOR JOBS.
YOU HAVE TENANTS AND YOU HAVE OTHER VISITORS.
AND AS WE GO THROUGH THAT SECURITY UPDATE OR SECURITY PLAN, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT SOME OF THE CONSIDERATIONS ARE IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND THEN, FINALLY, ON NUMBER 12, THE BINGO TAX STATE LAW CHANGE.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AT ALL OF OUR SENIOR CENTERS, I WILL SAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COLLECTING THIS MONEY? WHAT PORTION OF MONEY WILL WE BE GIVING TO THE STATE, IF ANY?
>> THE 1 $.1 MILLION IS OUR PORTION.
>> VIAGRAN: THEY WILL BE COLLECTING THEIR OWN PORTION AND WE'LL BE COLLECTING OUR PORTION.
THE STATE WILL COLLECT THEIRS AND WE'LL COLLECT OURS.
>> BEN JUST REMINDED ME THE COUNTY WILL ALSO BE COLLECTING THEIR PORTION.
SO YOU'LL HAVE THE STATE COLLECTING THEIRS, THE COUNTY, AND THEN THE CITY.
LETICIA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU UP HERE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
SLIDE NO. 16 ON THE BEXAR COUNTY VOTING SYSTEM.
$537,000 WILL BE ALLOCATED TO PURCHASE MACHINE TABLES.
THIS IS ALL FUNDING THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED FOR THE NEW VOTING SYSTEM.
>> VIAGRAN: SO THIS MONEY IS -- WE ARE ALLOCATING THIS MONEY OR YOU'RE JUST SHOWING US.
>> CLERK: I'M JUST SHOWING YOU WHAT IT COST AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON THE NEW SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON THIS NEW SYSTEM.
AND THEN FOR THE $1 MILLION I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
THE $1 MILLION FOR THE ELECTIONS.
SO IT'S FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET BUT THEY WANT A DOWN PAYMENT.
SO IS THAT $1 MILLION GOING TO BE THE ENTIRE DOWN PAYMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR?
>> CLERK: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU BY SEPTEMBER THEY USUALLY KNOW HOW MUCH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WILL COST.
AND IN SOME CASES THEY HAVE ASKED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT OR THE ENTIRE PAYMENT.
SO WE'RE BUDGETING THE ENTIRE AMOUNT, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MONEY TO PAY IT OUT.
IF IT'S NOT UTILIZED, OF COURSE IT GOES INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT MONEY WILL GO INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR YOU ALL IF IT'S NOT BUDGETED OUT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION THERE.
SO COULD IT BE CARRIED OVER THEN?
>> VIAGRAN: AND JUST I KNOW THAT TWO OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO MY LEFT DON'T HAVE GOLD STARS ON THEIR DRIVER'S
[01:40:02]
LICENSES.YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE ANY DOMESTIC FLIGHTS.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CLERK: MAYOR, I DO HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE ABOUT THE ELECTION.
YOU MENTIONED THE PRE-K 4 SA, WE DO HAVE THAT PROGRAMMED IN 2021, BUT THE FIRST YEAR TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT THAT ELECTION, YOU'RE RIGHT, IS NOVEMBER 2020.
NOW TO THE LORI STEWARD, PLEASE.
I WANTED TO FIRST STATE THE NEW HEALTH PLAN INCENTIVES, GLAD TO SEE THE TRAVEL AND LODGING BENEFITS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BURDEN THAT'S GOING TO BE OFF OF THE FAMILIES AND VERY HELPFUL.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, THAT WE'RE MOVING THAT FORWARD, AS WELL AS A MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
I'M ALWAYS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE STORIES THAT YOU GIVE US TOO OF THE WELLNESS PROGRAMS. AND ALSO THE STORIES OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO DO TAKE PART IN ALL OF THESE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE WITH THE CITY.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.
I DID WANT TO GET INTO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
THANK YOU FOR SOME OF THIS INFORMATION.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT I WANTED TO SEE HERE AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION HERE.
ON SLIDE NO. 6, I THINK PART OF THE THING THAT IS CONFUSING OR CONCERNING TO ME IS THE 3% ACROSS THE BOARD PAY INCREASE FOR STEP EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S A PAY INCREASE, NOT JUST COLA, JUST A PAY INCREASE, 3%.
SO MY -- I THINK THE CONFUSION HERE IS WHERE IT SAYS 3% OF SALARIES FOR PERFORMANCE PAY FOR PROFESSIONAL AND MANAGERIAL.
THAT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING WHEN YOU PUT IT HERE.
BECAUSE WHEN I READ THIS IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERY SINGLE SALARIED PROFESSIONAL IN MANAGERIAL THAT GETS PERFORMANCE PAY IS GETTING A 3% INCREASE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE.
IT'S BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
SO IT CAN BE A RANGE -- FOR ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE A RANGE IS BETWEEN 2% AND 4%.
IT'S AN INCREASE TO THEIR BASE PAY.
>> VIAGRAN: SO SOME CAN GET 2, SOME CAN GET 4 OR SOME CAN GET --
>> VIAGRAN: BUT WHAT ABOUT ZERO AND ONE?
>> IT COULD BE ZERO IF THEY'RE NOT MEETING THE STANDARDS OF THEIR JOB.
>> VIAGRAN: WOULD ANYBODY GETTING A 1%?
>> NO, FOR ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE IT'S 2 AND FOR EXCEPTIONAL IS 3 AND OUTSTANDING IS 4.
>> VIAGRAN: SO MY QUESTION IS ON THE SLIDE NO. 5 FOR THE WORKFORCE, OUR WORKFORCE.
YOU HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL, WHICH ARE 2,231 AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MANAGERIAL AND APPOINTED, 741.
ARE THOSE BOTH UNDER THE REALM THEN OF THE PERFORMANCE PAY?
SO WE HAVE THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UNDER THE PERFORMANCE PAY THAT WOULD EITHER GET A 2% UP TO 4% INCREASE THIS YEAR.
IF THEY MEET THE AREA, THAT INCREASE.
SO IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS -- AND I THINK MARIA AND ERIK, I ALREADY ASKED YOU ALL THIS QUESTION BUT I NEED YOU TO REMIND ME HERE.
IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HOW MUCH OF A COLA INCREASE HAVE THEY GOTTEN?
>> THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN 1% COLA.
>> VIAGRAN: SO EVERY YEAR IT'S BEEN A 1% COLA INCREASE.
THE COLA DOES VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME YEARS WITHOUT ONE AT ALL.
>> VIAGRAN: FOR ME, WHY THIS IS CONCERNING OR WHY THIS IS -- YES, CONCERNING, IS JUST LIKE WE WANT COMPANIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO PLAN AND TO BUDGET THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE FUTURE, WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR FAMILIES TO BUDGET AND KNOW WHAT THEY CAN RELY ON ON THE FUTURE AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, TWO FISCAL YEARS, WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST 1% COLA INCREASE ON TOP OF THEIR STEP, EITHER 2% OR 4%.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
THAT IS MY CONCERN RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE WANTING OUR FAMILIES TO BUDGET THEIR HOUSEHOLD AND IF WE KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH
[01:45:01]
THE COLA AND NOT A COLA AND THEN A 2%, MAYBE A 4%, HOPEFULLY THOSE THAT DID GET A 2% OR EVEN A 3% LAST YEAR WILL CONTINUE TO GET THAT 3%.BUT I'M JUST CONCERNED FOR THOSE THAT EVEN IF THEY HAD A 3% PERFORMANCE PAY OR A 2% PERFORMANCE PAY, IF THEY HAD A 2% PERFORMANCE PAY THEY AT LEAST GOT ANOTHER 1% FOR A COLA AND FOR ABLE TO BUDGET THAT.
SO THAT'S MY CONCERN FOR THIS AREA OF CATEGORY OF EMPLOYEES HERE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK YOU ALL GAVE ME THIS.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TENURE OF THAT GROUPING OF THOSE TWO GROUPS? THE PROFESSIONALS AND THE MANAGERIAL.
WHAT'S THEIR TENURE HERE AT THE CITY? THEIR AVERAGE TENURE.
>> JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT TO FIND MY NOTES.
>> VIAGRAN: AND WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT TOO, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE SALARY OF THE PROFESSIONALS AND THE MANAGERIAL AND APPOINTED.
I'M ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH HR.
>> VIAGRAN: THE AVERAGE TENURE IS NINE YEARS IN THIS REALM.
>> VIAGRAN: WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY IN THIS AREA TOO?
>> LOOKING AT OUR 2018 REPORT FOR THE TOTAL PAY, SO FOR PROFESSIONALS IT'S $60,000.
FOR MANAGERIAL, IT'S ABOUT $92,000.
>> VIAGRAN: I KNOW EXECUTIVE IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: OF THE 2,231, THEIR AVERAGE SALARY IS $60,000?
NOW, AND I UNDERSTAND THE 3% COLA OR THE 3% ACROSS THE BOARD, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STEP PAY AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
AND I UNDERSTAND TOO THAT PART OF THE DATA THAT YOU SHARED WAS THAT OF THOSE STEP PAY EMPLOYEES THOSE OF THE 4% STEP THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A 4% STEP PAY THIS YEAR, THEIR AVERAGE TENURE IS A YEAR.
JUST SLIGHTLY OVER A YEAR IN THEIR POSITION.
>> VIAGRAN: IT'S JUST SLIGHTLY OVER A YEAR, NOT MAKE THE 4% JUMP BUT THEY WILL GET A 3%.
>> AND COUNCILWOMAN, THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND, NORMALLY STEP MOVEMENT OCCURS IN JANUARY AND IN THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE WILL BE OCTOBER 1.
SO REALLY EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE IN THE STEP PAY PLAN WILL MAKE AT LEAST WHAT THEY WERE EXPECTING TO MAKE AND MOST WILL MAKE MORE.
>> VIAGRAN: AND PART OF THE CONCERN, TOO, THAT -- AND I SHARED THIS -- MY SENTIMENT WITH SOME OF YOU ALL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT FROM OUR MOST TENURED EMPLOYEES HERE WHO ARE PART OF THAT STEP PAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HURTING AS WELL IS THAT THEY'RE ALSO -- THE INCREASE OF PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY MORE IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.
AND A COLA OR -- THEIR COLA WASN'T WORKING OR THEIR STEP WASN'T WORKING SO THEY NEEDED SOME HELP, TOO.
BUT ALSO WHAT YOU ALL ARE SHARING IS THE HEALTHCARE PLAN AS WELL AS A 3% ACROSS THE BOARD WILL BE HELPFUL.
BUT TO BE CLEAR, THAT 3% IS ALSO -- FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TENURED IN THE STEP PAY PLAN, WHO HAVE ALREADY MAXED OUT AND NOT GETTING THE STEP INCREASE, THEY'VE ONLY GOTTEN A 1% COLA INCREASE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY'VE ALSO GOTTEN THAT $800 CHECK TO HELP THEM NOT BE UPSIDE DOWN.
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT THIS TIME AROUND EITHER, CORRECT?
>> NO, BUT THEY'LL GET THE 3% ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> VIAGRAN: WHICH WE ALSO KNOW IS STILL GOING TO BE MORE THAN IF THEY HAD JUST GOTTEN A 1% AND AN $800 CHECK.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART THAT'S ON THE SCREEN NOW, THE VAST MAJORITY, IF WE'D HAVE STAYED ON THE STEP PLAN, THE VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES UNDER STEP PLAN WOULD BE GETTING 0.
>> WALSH: AND FOR THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ARE NEW, THE $800 THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS REFERRING TO IS IN THOSE -- IN SOME YEARS WE SAW WHERE EMPLOYEES WEREN'T REALLY RECEIVING ANY SORT OF INCREASE BUT WE HAD INCREASES IN MAYBE HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS. LAST YEAR WE GAVE WHOLE BUNCH OF EMPLOYEES -- IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING UPSIDE
[01:50:01]
DOWN.THIS GOES TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO REDO WHAT STEP PLAN LOOKS LIKE FROM 6,000 OF OUR EMPLOYEES GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK TAKING A STEP BACK IN THIS YEAR AND GIVING THAT 3% ACROSS THE BOARD TO EVERYBODY, WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR OR YOU'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO.
>> VIAGRAN: I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE MOST RECENT LETTER FROM ASK ME.
PART OF THEIR LETTER IT TALKS ABOUT HOW -- IN FACT, AND THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THEIR LETTER, IT SAYS IN FACT WE ESTIMATE 22% OF STEP SYSTEM EMPLOYEES WOULD MAKE LESS MONEY IN THE FY 2020 UNDER MANAGER WALSH'S BUDGET THAN THEY WOULD WITH A NORMAL STEP INCREASE.
AND ALL SALARIED EMPLOYEES WOULD MAKE LESS MONEY THAN THEY WOULD IN A YEAR WITH EVEN A MODEST COAL LA.
>> WALSH: WE HAVE, YES, MA'AM, AND ACTUALLY SENT A LETTER BACK TO ASK ME THIS AFTERNOON AND I COPIED THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> VIAGRAN: SORRY, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
>> WALSH: WHERE WE OUTLINED EXACTLY WHAT THE LETTER SAID AND CORRECTED IT.
AND FOR THAT POINT THAT YOU JUST POINTED OUT, THE 22% -- THEIR CLAIM THAT 22% OF STEP EMPLOYEES WOULD MAKE LESS MONEY, THE CORRECTION IS IS THAT ALL STEP EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE THE SAME OR HIGHER INCREASE NEXT YEAR THAN THEY WOULD WITH A NORMAL STEP BECAUSE OF THE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VARIES THAT I CORRECTED AND HAVE SENT THAT BACK.
>> WALSH: YOU HAVE COPIES OF IT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME KNOW THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: SO IN THE SAME SLIDE, SLIDE 5 IF YOU COULD, LORI, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE HISPANIC, WHITE, AFRICAN AMERICAN, OTHER, COULD YOU BREAK THAT DOWN EVEN FURTHER FOR ME AND PROVIDE THAT AS FOLLOW UP FOR ME AND JUST WHAT THE AVERAGE SALARY IS IN EACH DEMOGRAPHIC TOO AND ALSO THE AUTHORIZED CATEGORIES AND WHERE THE MAJORITY OF -- LET'S SAY IF YOU CAN UNDER A HISPANIC GROUPING OF EMPLOYEES WHICH CATEGORY, AUTHORIZED POSITION ARE THEY IN.
IF YOU COULD OUTLINE THAT AND GIVE THAT TO ME.
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> VIAGRAN: AND I THINK THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
COUNCILWOMAN JADA ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
>> SULLIVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MARIA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MARIA.
MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IN REFERENCE TO THE COUNCIL AIDE SUPPORT PAY INCREASE.
I KNOW COUNCILMAN TREVINO HAD INITIATED THE CCR TO REALLY LOOK AT THE EQUITABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE COUNCIL AIDES ARE PAID ACCORDING TO WHAT CITY STAFF IS PAID.
I KNOW THAT YOU DID THE 3% BUT DID THE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CCR, WAS THAT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE PAY INCREASE WAS LOOKED AT?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE NOT DONE THE COMPLETE EVALUATION AS REQUESTED BY THAT CCR.
I BELIEVE THAT CCR IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH GOVERNANCE.
SO THE PROPOSED BUDGET ONLY REFLECTS THAT WHAT I DESCRIBED EARLIER TODAY.
AND THEN AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELIMINATION OF THE TWO MANAGEMENT I.T. POSITIONS, ARE THOSE FILLED POSITIONS RIGHT NOW OR ARE THOSE VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ELIMINATING?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: THE MAJORITY OF THE POSITIONS WERE VACANT.
I BELIEVE THERE WERE TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE FILLED AND ALL THE POSITIONS THAT WE ELIMINATED CITYWIDE.
SO THERE'S NO ONE THAT WILL BE DISPLACED FROM A POSITION OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, CORRECT?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: NO, COUNCILWOMAN.
WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, AS POSITIONS ARE IDENTIFIED TO BE ELIMINATED, THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE PLACED IN OTHER VACANT POSITIONS, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR AS WELL.
THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR DISCUSSING COUNCIL AIDE PAY.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ANSWERS
[01:55:03]
ABOUT COUNCIL AIDE PAY THROUGH A MEMO, E-MAILS, CARRIER PIGEON -- JUST KIDDING.I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO IT, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS.
I THINK THE QUESTION THAT YOU WERE JUST ASKED -- AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN SULLIVAN FOR ASKING THAT.
>> TREVINO: BEFORE THAT HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, DIRECTLY WITH YOURSELF?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE A BUDGET WAS PROPOSED, AT GOAL-SETTING SESSION, AND WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED AND AFTER.
SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IS OVER THE LAST THREE BUDGET CYCLES SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE ADVOCATED FOR AN EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR COUNCIL AIDES.
LET ME BE CLEAR ON WHAT I MEAN BY THE PHASE "EQUITY-BASED PAY." EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.
TO DATE, COUNCIL AIDES EARN LESS IN COMPENSATION AS COMPARED TO CITY STAFF WHO PERFORM THE SAME JOB FUNCTIONS BASED ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JOB DESCRIPTIONS.
SOME SMALL GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE OVER TIME BUT THE REQUEST FOR A FULLY-FUNDED STAFF OF EIGHT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN IGNORED.
ON THE EVE OF THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION I SENT A MEMO TO THE CITY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES COMING A FORMAL DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE IN THE BUDGET CONVERSATION.
SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS VOICED THEIR SUPPORT DURING THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION AND THE ITEM WAS INCLUDED BY THE FACILITATOR AS A COUNCIL PRIORITY.
EVEN AFTER A FORMAL MEMO AND SUPPORT FROM MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT COUNCIL AIDE COMPENSATION WAS NEVER HAD.
AS A RESULT, I FILED A CCR LAYING OUT A PATH FOR THE ITEM TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR '20 BUDGET.
EVEN INCLUDED AS POSSIBLE AS PARTIAL FUNDING SOURCE TO PUT SOME COUNCIL SKIN IN THE GAME OR TO BE PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR '20 MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW.
THE REASONS FOR THE REQUEST ARE STILL VALID.
THE COMPARISONS OF THE CITY STAFF POSITIONS ARE STILL ACCURATE AND THE BUDGET ASK HAS BEEN ARTICULATED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO KIND OF GET LOST IN ALL A LOT OF THE MINUTIA.
EARLIER IT WAS SAID WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DE LA ROSA LOT.
RIGHT? WE TALK ABOUT COMMUTER PROGRAMS. BOTTOM LINE IS JUST PAY A FAIR WAGE.
DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH PROGRAMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL AIDES OR COUNCIL.
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE COLA.
AND CITY STAFF DOES NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE KIND OF THINGS BUT CITY COUNCIL AIDES DO.
LONG HOURS FOR COUNCIL AIDE, DIFFICULT JOB, LOW PAY, WEAK BENEFITS.
YOUR JOB MAY END IN TWO YEARS AND YOU MAKE LESS THAN CITY STAFF DOING THE SAME JOB.
AND THERE IS NO PERFORMANCE PAY AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW, ALL OUR STAFF ARE WORKING HARD.
ALL OF OUR STAFFS ARE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK.
YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WE GET SOME ANSWERS AND THAT WE REALLY START TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS SNAPPING YOUR FINGERS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO SET THE COURSE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO WITHIN THAT PROCESS TO GET SOME ACTUAL ANSWERS.
I'M GOING TO FINISH OFF BY THANKING ALL THE STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
LETICIA, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO IN YOUR OFFICE.
KEVIN, I HAVE ALREADY THANKED YOU IN AUDIT.
JORGE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT BUILDING STUFF.
I DON'T HAVE TO THANK YOU ENOUGH AND I THINK THERE'S WAYS FOR US TO BE VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH WHAT'S COMING.
BY THE WAY, BUILD SAN ANTONIO GREEN.
SOMEBODY WE NEED TO ENGAGE ON THAT TOWER.
AGAIN, ALL WE WANT IS EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.
[02:00:03]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO.
THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR BRIAN DILLARD.
SORRY, BRIAN, I CAUGHT YOU OFF GUARD THERE.
WHILE YOU WALK UP, ON THAT, ON PAGE 309 IN THE BUDGET BOOK IT'S GOT A PERFORMANCE MEASURE FOR NUMBER OF PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND THE ACTUAL 2018 WAR 2019.
BUT IT'S ESTIMATED TO BE AT SEVEN THIS YEAR.
THAT OUR TARGET FOR 2020 IS THREE.
AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHY IS THAT SO LOW?
THE ESTIMATE FOR 2019 -- SO THE 2019 ESTIMATE IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE ENDED UP TAKING ON.
WE CAN ESTIMATE TO TAKE ON THREE PROJECTS EVERY FISCAL YEAR, BUT WHEN WE GET COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS OR CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS, BASED ON OUR CAPACITY WE'LL TAKE THOSE ON.
EVERY FISCAL YEAR WE'RE IDENTIFYING THREE THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY TAKE ON.
AND GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 2020 WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO AIM FOR IS MORE QUALITY PROCESS IMPROVEMENT RATHER THAN QUANTITY.
SO I'M TRYING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TAKING ON BUT ALSO I'M TRYING TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF THOSE PRODUCTS COMING OUT.
WE'RE DOING A PROJECT RIGHT NOW FOR TCI AND IT'S CREATED A LOT MORE WORK THAN OUR TYPICAL PROJECTS WOULD, BUT IT HOPEFULLY ENDS UP WITH A BIGGER IMPACT.
SO THAT'S ONE, TRYING TO INCREASE THAT QUALITY RATHER THAN QUANTITY.
SECONDLY, WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING AN INNOVATION ACADEMY PROJECT.
AND THIS IS WHERE INSTEAD OF US DOING ALL THE WORK FOR 40 DEPARTMENTS, WE ACTUALLY TRAIN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT WORK AROUND WE END UP DOING A CONSULTANT.
THAT COULD TAKE US FROM THREE PROJECTS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND WE BECOME THE CONSULTANTS UP TOP.
THOSE ARE THE TWO REASONS YOU'LL SEE THAT NUMBER THERE.
I JUST NEEDED AN EXPLANATION AND I FIGURED THERE WAS SOMETHING.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE, FOR INSTANCE ON YOUR THREE TARGET GOALS?
>> THAT'S REALLY A CONVERSATION BETWEEN CITY MANAGEMENT AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
IDENTIFYING, ONE, THE FEASIBILITY OF HOW WE CAN TAKE THIS ON AND, TWO, THE IMPACT THAT COMES FROM THOSE PROJECTS.
SOMETIMES WE CAN WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAN DO IT ON THEIR OWN IF IT'S A SMALLER PROJECT.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE IDENTIFY THOSE WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OF FEASIBILITY AND IMPACT THOSE PROJECTS.
>> GARCIA: IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE AT -- IF FULL COUNCIL AGREED ON SOMETHING THEY THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT FOR AN INNOVATIVE PRACTICE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER ADDING THAT ON OR WOULD WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR THAT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR AN-
>> WE TYPICALLY LOOK TOWARD THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR US BECAUSE HE HAS THE TOTAL OVERVIEW OF THE CITY OVERALL.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS I WAS THINKING WE COULD REALLY USE INNOVATION ON THIS BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO GO THROUGH.
ALSO, IS THERE A LIST OF THE PROJECTS YOU GUYS HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS SO I CAN BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT?
>> I CAN PROVIDE THAT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> GARCIA: THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
ON THE NEXT -- CITY ADMINISTRATION.
DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL POSITIONS IN THIS PRESENTATION? OR ARE WE GOING TO GET A PRESENTATION AT A LATER DATE? BECAUSE I JUST HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THOSE.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: IT INCLUDES THE POSITIONS FOR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE SUPPORT.
>> GARCIA: ON PAGE 256, I ASKED A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT WHO GETS FUNDED OUT OF THE 19 POSITIONS.
SO MAYBE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A LIST OF THOSE 19 POSITIONS FUNDED OUT OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
SIMILAR TO IT, ON PAGE 313 OF THE BUDGET, UNDER THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL POSITION, SO I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT ON MY OWN KIND OF BY GOING AND ALLOCATING POSITIONS ON FOLKS THAT I KNOW.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD THE CORRECT POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDED OUT OF THERE SO I CAN DO SOME FURTHER ANALYSIS.
BUT THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
LETICIA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND UP.
WHAT WOULD COUNCIL NEED TO DO -- OR WHAT DO YOU NEED TO INCREASE THE PASSPORT FEE REVENUE? WHAT SUPPORT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR US? I LOVE THAT YOU'RE HITTING THESE GREAT NUMBERS BUT I WONDER WITH MORE TOOLS OR INCENTIVES YOU'D HIT HIGHER NUMBERS.
>> CLERK: CURRENTLY WE CANNOT INCREASE THAT FEE.
[02:05:01]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.I'M TALKING ABOUT THE REVENUES.
>> CLERK: THAT IS THE REVENUE.
OUR REVENUES DERIVE FROM THE FEE THAT WE CHARGE THAT WE GET TO KEEP.
THAT IS $35 PER INDIVIDUAL THAT IS PROCESSED.
BUT THERE'S MORE REVENUE THE MORE INDIVIDUALS YOU HAVE.
>> PELAEZ: HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR AND GET --
>> PELAEZ: TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DOES OUTREACH LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
>> CLERK: CURRENTLY WE MAKE UP FLIERS AND TAKE THEM TO THE PERRIN BEITEL POST OFFICE.
OFF THE FOLKS ARE TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY ONLY PROCESS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO UNIVERSITIES HERE WITHIN OUR LOCAL AREA.
UTSA, THEIR ENTIRE FOOTBALL TEAM COMES IN.
THEIR ENTIRE BASKETBALL TEAM COMES IN.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO TRAVEL, IF THEY MAKE A GAME OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.
SO THEY ALL COME IN AND GET PROCESSED CURRENTLY TODAY.
WE HAVE ALSO REACHED OUT TO OTHER UNIVERSITIES FOR STUDY ABROADS FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT DO STUDY ABROAD.
>> PELAEZ: JEFF COYLE -- NO, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY SPREAD THE WORD THAT IT'S A SERVICE THE CITY OFFERS.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO GET THEIR PAPERWORK DONE SOMEWHERE, RIGHT, AND IF THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE THAT DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET IT DONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD OWN AND MANAGE AROUND.
AND SO TO THE EXTENT -- LETICIA HAS DONE THIS ON HER OWN AND A LOT OF FOLKS WILL ASK ME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHAT IS A CITY CLERK.
AND SOMEBODY ONE TIME, QUITE FOOLISHLY, SAID YOU'RE JUST A SECRETARY THAT STAMPS DOCUMENTS OR SOMETHING STUPID LIKE THAT.
WHAT YOU ARE, HOWEVER, IS AN ENTREPRENEUR THAT HAS MANAGED TO PRODUCE CLOSE TO $900,000, LETICIA, JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, RIGHT? AND NOT BECAUSE SOMEBODY ASKED YOU TO DO IT.
JUST BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT, HEY, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA TO DO.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
AND I THINK IT DESERVES SUPPORT FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS -- YEAH, GO AHEAD, JEFF.
>> WE DO DO THAT CURRENTLY, EXCUSE ME, AS THE CLERK MENTIONED EARLIER.
WE WORK TO PROMOTE A LOT OF THEIR PROGRAMS AND EFFORTS.
WE SEND OUT MEDIA RELEASES ABOUT THE PASSPORT PROGRAM.
WE CAN SHARE SOME OF THOSE THINGS WITH YOU.
I GET YOUR MESSAGE THOUGH THAT HEAVIER PROMOTION ABOUT THE SERVICE WILL HELP DRIVE UP REVENUES IF MORE PEOPLE ARE USING IT.
>> PELAEZ: I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
THAT'S REALLY ASTUTE OF YOU TO HELP HER OUT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT HELPING HER OUT WITH A GOAL TOWARDS HITTING METRICS.
SO YOU GUYS FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHERE SHE IS NOW AND SEEING WHETHER OR NOT YOUR MESSAGING IS ACTUALLY IMPROVING THE AMOUNT OF FLOW THAT COMES IN HERE.
AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRIAN DILLARD AND HIS TEAM TO LOOK INTO WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, A MILLION POINT EIGHT NEXT YEAR.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE NOT TAPPED INTO 100% OF YOUR BANDWIDTH OVER THERE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THE OTHER THING IS -- AND I DON'T KNOW WHO, ERIK -- I'M SORRY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO, RIGHT? AND, AGAIN, THIS MAY BE A BRIAN DILLARD ISSUE.
I MEAN, IS EVERYBODY COLD LIKE ME? IT'S FREEZING.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE WEARING WOOL JACKETS.
BUT THE REASON I'M MENTIONING IT IS BECAUSE I WONDER WHAT OTHER ROOMS, YOU KNOW, IN BUILDINGS THAT WE OWN ARE BEING COOLED AT TEMPERATURES THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY -- WELL, AREN'T NECESSARY, RIGHT? I WONDER IF WE'VE GOT CONFERENCE ROOMS RIGHT NOW OR IF THERE'S ENTIRE BIG ROOMS IN THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT ARE ALSO BEING CHILLED AT TEMPERATURES THAT AREN'T BENEFITING ANYBODY.
YOU COULD STORE MILK IN THIS TEMPERATURE, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HAVING WORKED FOR, YOU KNOW, AND WORKED WITH CLIENTS WHO HAVE LARGE PHYSICAL PLANTS WITH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF ROOF, YOU KNOW, WHAT A LOT OF THESE CLIENTS INSTALL, BRIAN, IS SENSORS IN THEIR BUILDINGS AND THOSE SENSORS ARE SMART.
THEY'RE TIED TO ANTICIPATED NEED.
[02:10:01]
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY TIME WHEN AC GOES ON AND OFF AND YOU CAN EVEN TIME THE SCHEDULES, RIGHT, THAT PEOPLE ENTER INTO.I'M GOING TO USE THIS CONFERENCE ROOM AT SUCH AND SUCH TIME OR I'M GOING TO USE THE CANTILEVER ROOM AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
THERE SEEMS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE AND I'VE NOT GOTTEN A FEEL TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE DOING IT AND TO WHAT EXTENT.
BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT JUST OUR ELECTRIC BILL AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF MAYBE ONE DEGREE LESS IN THIS BUILDING AND ALL THE OTHER BUILDINGS, WE MAY SEE SOME KIND OF SAVINGS THERE.
SOME EFFICIENCY, RIGHT? MARIA, MAYBE YOU'RE THE ONE TO TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL TALK ABOUT, RIGHT, ON A LARGE SCALE, OR YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHO -- IS THIS SOMETHING WE'RE DOING?
>> COUNCILMAN, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION.
WE DO HAVE BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
THE MAJORITY OF CITY BUILDINGS THAT ARE OF LARGE SCALE LIKE THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE, WE REMOTELY CONTROL THE TEMPERATURES.
WE HAVE TEMPERATURE SETPOINTS THAT WE SET UP.
THIS PARTICULAR ROOM NORMALLY IS COOLED DOWN QUITE A BIT PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETINGS BECAUSE ATTENDANCE AT THE COUNCIL MEETINGS CAN RAISE SIGNIFICANTLY, ESPECIALLY DURING THURSDAY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO ANTICIPATE TO HAVE IN THIS ROOM, WE BRING THE TEMPERATURE OF THIS ROOM TO A CERTAIN LEVEL TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S COMFORT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MEETING ROOM.
TODAY HAPPENS TO BE A LOW OCCUPANCY AFTERNOON.
AND THE TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAVE REALLY HELPED US OUT TREMENDOUSLY.
AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, AT THE AIRPORT AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY WE MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE RANGE BETWEEN 74 TO 78 DEGREES, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF USE IN THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING.
WITH THE BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM, WE'RE ALWAYS CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING THE TEMPERATURES IN THOSE BUILDINGS TO CONSERVE ENERGY.
WE'RE ENGAGED IN A COUPLE OF FACILITIES WITH CPS IN WHAT IS CALLED THE DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM WHERE WE ACTUALLY ENABLE CPS TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR WATER PUMPS AND OUR COMPRESSORS AND BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE TO THOSE BUILDINGS.
IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS, WE HAVE THE POLICE ACADEMY.
FACILITIES OF THAT SIZE WHERE THE DEMAND IS SUCH FOR ELECTRICITY, CPS IS ABLE TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE ADJUSTING FOR PARTICULAR HOURS, TODAY BETWEEN 3:00 AND 6:00 P.M.
IN THE AFTERNOON IS THE HIGHEST DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY ON THE SERVICES THAT CPS PROVIDES.
THAT'S WHEN ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
CPS PROVIDES THOSE PROGRAMS AS WELL FOR RESIDENTIAL USERS.
I HAVE THAT IN MY HOUSE MYSELF.
THAT'S A GOOD EXPLANATION AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, EXCEPT THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT A LAYER THAT I'M NOT HEARING ABOUT AND THAT IS -- BRIAN, I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ONE THING IS AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM.
THE OTHER ONE IS AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM THAT IS FED A LOT OF DATAPOINTS IN ORDER TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
ANYWAY, IT'S A CONVERSATION WE CAN HAVE LATER.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
AND, AGAIN, BRIAN IT SEEMS TO ME THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE OUGHT MAYBE TO BE LOOKING AT FROST TOWER OR THE NEW CITY TOWER.
THIS SEEMS LIKE THE KEY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY SHOWCASE WHAT WE COULD BE DOING AND WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE AS FAR AS CITY FACILITIES, WITH REGARDS TO THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO IT REALLY ISN'T AN ASK RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT'S JUST A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE THAT I'LL PUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND HOPE WE CAN HIT SOME KIND OF MEASURABLE, YOU KNOW, SMART IMPACT WITH THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS -- AND I WASN'T PLANNING ON IT, BUT THIS 80% OF THE VENDOR PAYMENT PROCESSING CYCLE TIME THAT COUNCILMAN PERRY BROUGHT UP, IF THERE IS BEST IN CLASS, WHAT IS 80% COMPARED TO BEST IN CLASS? DO WE EVEN KNOW THAT? LIKE, IN OTHER WORDS, IS AUSTIN AT 80% AND ARE THEY PROUD OF THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT? I MEAN, ARE WE BEHIND THE TIMES HERE?
>> WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT AUSTIN IS DOING, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY IN KIND OF THE AVERAGE AS FAR AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
WE LOOKED AT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ACTUALLY TRACK THOSE METRICS AND WE'RE RIGHT ON TARGET, MAYBE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT WE'RE NOT TOO FAR FROM THE NORM.
DO WE KNOW WHAT CPS AND SAWS AND VIA ARE DOING WITH REGARDS TO
[02:15:01]
AP?>> PELAEZ: AND CAN YOU -- JUST COME VISIT ME AT SOME POINT, GUYS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY 20% OF OUR INVOICES -- THAT'S WHAT IT IS, RIGHT? 20% OF THE INVOICES AREN'T GETTING PAID WITHIN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT INVOICE TERMS ARE SET.
>> THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT BASICALLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DISCOUNT WITHIN THE INVOICE AND THEIR TERMS. WE ARE DOING SOME THINGS IN THIS BUDGET TO HELP THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE REORGANIZATION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE SHIFTING SOME PEOPLE INTO THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE DIVISION TO HELP FACILITATE THAT.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS WITHIN SOME ENHANCEMENTS WITHIN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FINANCE, STREAMLINE THAT AS WELL.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR IS WHERE THE BOTTLENECK IS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TOWARDS CLOSING THAT BOTTLENECK.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF NOT PAYING VENDORS ON TIME, IT'S A MATTER OF US NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DISCOUNTS THAT COME WITH PAYING VENDORS ON TIME.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT JUST -- 20% IS A LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE DISCOUNTS ARE THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING.
AND IF YOU GUYS CAN JUST COME AND VISIT WITH ME.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WORTH AT LEAST A CONVERSATION.
>> AND WE DO TRACK DISCOUNTS LOST AS WELL.
BUT NOT ALL THESE HAVE DISCOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
IT JUST MAY NOT BE WITHIN THE 30-DAY TERM.
THEY MAY NOT ALL HAVE DISCOUNTS BUT THAT MEANS WE'RE NOT PAYING A VENDOR WHAT WE OWE THEM ON TIME.
YOU KNOW, IF I WERE A VENDOR RELYING ON THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF SAN ANTONIO AND, YOU KNOW, ALSO OUR REPUTATION, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WOULD PAY THEIR BILLS ON TIME AND NOT US.
YOU KNOW, 20% IS NOT -- IF I WERE LATE ON MY BILLS 20% OF THE TIME I WOULDN'T GO AROUND BRAGGING TO PEOPLE AND TELLING PEOPLE I'M RIGHT ON TARGET.
THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME IS A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE WOMEN OWNED AND MINORITY OWNED WHO A SINGLE DAY IS A REALLY BIG DEAL.
FOR US IT'S SMALL BUT FOR THEM IT'S BIG.
I THINK I'M BEATING A BIG HORSE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> COURAGE: I WANT TO CONCUR WITH WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE JUST TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE I HAD HEARD FROM SOME BUSINESSES AS WELL A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE WAITING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET PAID BY THE CITY, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THE RECORD OF HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING AND THE AMOUNT OF DAYS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I ALSO WANT TO CONCUR WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE SAID BY A COUPLE OF ZERO MER OTHER -- OTHER COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ABOUT, OUR CITY -- THE COUNCIL STAFF.
AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STAFF POSITIONS WE HAVE AND THE AMOUNT OF PAY AVAILABLE TO THAT, AND IF I DIVIDED OUT EVENLY, I WOULDN'T BE PAYING ANYBODY ON MY STAFF EVEN THE CITY AVERAGE SALARY, YET WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PROFESSIONAL SALARY THAT WE OFFER ON AVERAGE, WE JUST HEARD, THAT WAS $60,000.
AND THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO IS ABOUT 54,000.
SO WHEN WE CAN'T MEET THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS FOR THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE WHO DOES SO MUCH WORK, I THINK WE'RE FALLING SHORT.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS, YOU CAN GO INTO MY DISTRICT AND YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVE MANY THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU ASK THEM WHAT KIND OF WORK MY STAFF ARE DOING, AND THEY'LL SAY IT'S GREAT.
AND THEY THINK IT'S CERTAINLY SOME OF THE BEST SERVICE THEY'VE GOTTEN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN A DECENT SALARY FOR MY STAFF.
SO I JUST WANT TO ADD MY CONCURRENCE ON THAT.
WE WERE LOOKING AT PROFESSIONAL SALARIES ALSO, AND WE SAID THAT PROFESSIONALS AREN'T JUST GUARANTEED THEIR 3% OR ANYTHING, THEY'RE ON A SCALE WHERE THEY ARE EVALUATED.
IS THAT? IS THE EVALUATION IDENTICAL ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S A PROFESSIONAL, OR DO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE DIFFERENT METHODS OF EVALUATING THEIR STAFF?
>> WELL, THERE IS A COMMON EVALUATION FORMAT THAT THE WHOLE CITY USES, BUT IT'S BASED ON THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THAT JOB.
SO THE EMPLOYEE AND THE SUPERVISOR OF THAT EMPLOYEE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR SIT DOWN AND IDENTIFY OBJECTIVES AND THE GOALS THAT THEY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH FOR THAT YEAR.
SO IT WILL VARY DEPENDING ON THE JOB.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY AND WE'RE SAYING THAT THE AVERAGE SALARY'S AROUND 60,000 AND WE SAY WE WOULD PAY FROM -- UP TO A 4% SALARY, UP
[02:20:04]
TO 4%.>> COURAGE: YES WE'RE LOOKING -- YET WE'RE LOOKING AT THE STEP PROGRAM AND GOING TO GIVE A 3% IN THERE.
ARE THE STEP EMPLOYEES EVALUATED.
>> THEIR EVALUATION TOOL IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THE STEP PAY PLAN IS JUST ANOTHER YEAR OF SERVICE.
>> COURAGE: IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW THEY'RE EVALUATED, THEY'LL STILL GET A 3%, OR IF THE STEP IS 4, WHATEVER IT IS.
>> YEAH, WE'RE CONSIDERING THIS A TRANSITION YEAR FOR THE STEP PAY PLAN.
NORMALLY IT DOES VARY, DEPENDING ON THE JOB AND WHERE THEY ARE IN THAT STEP, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK AT AND WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYEES TO SEE HOW WE CAN REDESIGN THAT STEP PAY PLAN.
AND WHICH OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTED?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE -- OUTLINED IN THE CHARTER, BUT MOST OF THE STEP PAY PLAN WILL FALL INTO THAT.
>> AND SOME OF THE OTHERS AS WELL.
>> COURAGE: SO WITH CIVIL SERVICE, YOU HAVE OTHER PROTECTIONS AS AN EMPLOYEE, RIGHT?
>> COURAGE: BUT IN THE PROFESSIONAL REALM OR THE EXECUTIVE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF PROTECTIONS; IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT COVERED BY THE MERIT SYSTEM FOR THOSE THAT ARE CONSIDERED UNCLASSIFIED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ENTRY LEVEL PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE COVERED.
>> COURAGE: HOW MANY PROFESSIONALS FALL IN THAT REALM? HOW MANY -- WHAT'S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE?
>> WHAT'S THE NUMBER? WE'LL HAVE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN.
>> COURAGE: I GUESS MY POINT IS THIS.
DO WE SAY, OKAY, THERE'S X AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES AND THEY COULD HAVE UP TO A 4% PAY RAISE.
DO WE ALLOCATE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY TO GET 4%? OR DO WE ALLOCATE THAT, WELL, THE WHOLE THING MIGHT COME TO 3% OR...
>> COURAGE: IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE SAYING AHEAD OF TIME, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET 4%.
>> THE BUDGET IS BASED ON 3% SALARY POOL, THAT'S WHAT IT IS BUDGETED.
>> COUNCILMAN, I WUS J GOING TO ADD, WE BUDGET A 3% POOL OF DOLLARS, BUT BASED ON AN EVALUATION WE EXPECT IT TO LOOK A LITTLE LIKE A BELL CURVE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME THAT ARE GOING TO MEET EXPECTATIONS ON THE JOB, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME EXCEPTION TION, AND THIN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, SO OUR BELL CURVE F YOU LOOK AT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AT THE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL PROBABLY LEANS A LITTLE BIT TO HIGHER PERFORMING ORGANIZATION BUT THAT'S WHERE THAT 3% POOL COMES FROM.
THAT EVALUATION IS BASED ON, AGAIN, MEETING EXPECTATIONS OR EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS.
AND WOULD IT -- WOULD WE BE ABLE TO TELL IF WE GAVE OUT ALL THAT MONEY OR IF WE DIDN'T GIVE OUT THAT MUCH MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THAT?
>> WE DO TRACK WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
WE DON'T GIVE OUT SPECIFIC NUMBERS TO DEPARTMENTS, BUT DEPARTMENTS HAVE A 3% POOL TO WORK WITH, SO WE EXPECT THOSE EVALUATIONS TO FALL WITHIN A NORMAL DISTRIBUTION ALONG THAT BELL CURVE.
SO, YES, WE CAN TRACK WHETHER WE'RE GOING OVER OR UNDER, BUT TYPICALLY WE CAN MEET THAT BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I GUESS I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF WE'VE BEEN TRACKING THAT TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE CERTAIN PROFESSIONALS, CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO WORK IN CERTAIN AREAS WHO YOU MAY SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO POOL 3% BECAUSE THAT SHOULD BE -- WITH THAT BELL CURVE SHOWS, BUT DO WE ACTUALLY REACH THAT OR DO WE NEED MORE OR ARE WE FALLING SHORT?
>> COURAGE: I THINK THAT HELPS US --
>> HR ACTUALLY TRACKS THAT BY DEPARTMENT.
SOS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE'RE GOING THROUGH DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK AT THAT.
HIGH EVALUATIONS ARE COMING IN AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AGAINST THE BUDGET.
I MAY WANT TO TALK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.
>> COURAGE: THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
THAT'S EVERYONE WHO'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>> WALSH: MAYOR, JUST ONE QUICK NOTE.
SO TOMORROW AFTERNOON WHEN WE GATHER, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO EITHER MARIA OR MYSELF ABOUT A HANDFUL OF ITEMS, AND SO IF THERE'S -- IF WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO CONNECT, PLEASE EITHER MARIA OR I WILL BE CONNECTING WITH EACH OF YOU, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THAT TOTAL LIST LOOKS LIKE SO WE CAN PREPARE IT AND BE READY TO PRESENT IT TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.