Feb 19, 2025 City Council B Session

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>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. THE TIME IS NOW 2:04 P.M.

AND OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[ BRIEFING ONLY  ]

WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> KAUR: GREAT. A FULL HOUSE TODAY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. OUR FIRST ITEM IS OUR BRIEFING ON OUR THREE PLUS

NINE BUDGET. >> WALSH: YES, THE TWO ITEMS TODAY, OUR FIRST PRESENTATION IS ON OUR FIRST QUARTER BUDGET UPDATE AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING THE COUNCIL A RECOMMENDED CALLED FOR THE -- EVERYBODY HOLD YOUR BREATH, THE FY26 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. OUR FIRST QUARTER REPORT AS WE CALL IT THE THREE PLUS NINE, WE DO SOME PROJECTIONS FOR THE REST OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THESE PERIODIC REPORTS ARE PART OF OUR OVERALL FINANCIAL STRATEGY TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL AND MONITOR OUR FINANCIAL POSITION.

THE -- YOU'LL HEAR FROM JUSTINA TODAY THAT OUR FINANCIAL POSITION, THAT DURING THE FIRSTLY MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS IN LINE WITH OUR ADOPTED BUDGET AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME THINGS WE'RE WATCHING.

THE BUDGET OFFICE AND OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE MONITORING FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING AND ECONOMIC INDICATORS THAT MAY IMPACT OUR BUDGET NOW, LATER IN THE YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO INCORPORATE THOSE INTO THE BRIEFINGS.

JUSTINA WILL ALSO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEWS WHICH BEGAN THIS YEAR AND ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. AND AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR HYBRID BUDGET METHOD INCORPORATING THE ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR. THAT UPDATE IS COMING TO COUNCIL DURING OUR SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL UPDATE. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO

JUSTINA. THANK YOU. >> TATE: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JUSTINA TATE, BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND TODAY WE WILL COVER THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT AS WELL AS PROJECTIONS FOR REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. ADDITIONALLY I WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET CALENDAR.

BEFORE I GET INTO THE PRESENTATION, I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BINDERS IN FRONT OF YOU. THESE BINDERS THROUGH THE THREE PLUS NINE PRESENTATION , THE THREE PLUS NINE REPORT, A JANUARY STATUS OF OUR BUDGET INITIATIVES, AND THE FIRST QUARTER RESULTS OF OUR 24/7 REPORT.

FINALLY, IT INCLUDES THE RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET CALENDAR.

AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, THE FIRST QUARTER REPORT IS AN EARLY FINANCIAL UPDATE TO CITY COUNCIL. IT REPRESENTS UNAUDITED ACTUALS FOR THREE MONTHS FROM OCTOBER TO DECEMBER AND COMPARES THESE TO THE RESULTS OF THE PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR ARE 2025. IN THIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS; HOWEVER, THE REPORT THAT IS PROVIDED INCLUDES ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED FUNDS AND IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.

SO FOR OUR FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS, THE GENERAL FUND RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ARE IN LINE WITH BUDGET. FOR OUR THREE MAJOR REVENUE

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OUR SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER IS SLIGHTLY BELOW BUDGET; HOWEVER, WE'RE STILL ABOUT 2.2 BELOW LAST YEAR'S ACTUAL S.

IN TERMS OF OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS, OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUNDS ARE PERFORMING WITHIN BUDGET. OUR SOLID WASTE FUND IS OUTPERFORMING PROJECTIONS AND AIRPORT REVENUES ARE SLIGHTLY BELOW BUDGET FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

SO FOR THE NUMBERS. OUR TOTAL ADOPTED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS $3.96 BILLION. AND THIS IS COMPRISED OF THREE MAIN COMPONENTS.

THE FIRST BEING OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS. OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE GOVERNED BY FEDERAL, STATE, OUR LOCAL LAWS AND THE REVENUES THAT THESE FUNDS GENERATE MUST BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AIRPORT FUND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL LAWS AND ALL REVENUES GENERATED AT THE AIRPORT MUST BE USED FOR AVIATION ACTIVITIES. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS OUR SOLID WASTE FUND. THIS IS GOVERNED BY STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND THE REVENUES GENERATED BY THIS FUND MUST BE USED FOR SERVICES SUCH AS GARBAGE COLLECTION, RECYCLING, AND BRUSH COLLECTION. THE NEXT COMPONENT IS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET AT $860 MILLION. THIS PROVIDES FUNDS FOR SOME OF OUR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS TO INCLUDE THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM AND OUR AIRPORT PROJECTS. FINALLY, THE GENERAL FUND IS OUR LARGEST OPERATING FUND AT $1.67 BILLION. THE GENERAL FUND PROVIDES FOR THE CITY'S CORE SERVICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, STREET MAINTENANCE, PARK MAINTENANCE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. LET ME GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND.

THE GENERAL FUND IS FUNDED THROUGH FOUR MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES.

THE FIRST BEING PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS BUDGETED AT APPROXIMATELY $482 MILLION.

OUR BUDGET FOR CPS PAYMENT IS $455 MILLION. AND AS A REMIND HE SHALL, THE CITY RECEIVES 14% OF ALL CPS GAS AND ELECTRIC GROSS REVENUES AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES. OUR NEXT LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES ARE SALES TAX BUDGETED AT $415 MILLION. THE FINAL COMPONENT IS OUR OTHER RESOURCES. THIS INCLUDES REVENUES SUCH AS EMS TRANSPORTS, TELECOMMUNICATION FEES AND OTHER USER FEES. THESE REVENUES COMBINED FUND THE BASIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH COMPRISES ABOUT 61.6% OF THE GENERAL FUND, STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PARKS.

THE REMAINING FUND SERVICES SUCH AS LIBRARY, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND CODE ENFORCEMENT. OF THE $1.67 BILLION THAT I DISCUSSED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE HAD PLANNED TO RECEIVE ABOUT $510 MILLION. FOR THE FIRST QUARTER WE ARE AHEAD OF BUDGET BY $4.9 MILLION AS WE COLLECTED ABOUT $515 MILLION.

THIS IS DRIVEN BY OUR CPS REVENUES AS A RESULT OF THE ELECTRIC FUEL ADJUSTMENT.

I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT LAST WEEK WE RECEIVED OUR CHECKS FOR CPS AND SALES TAX FOR JANUARY. THE SALES TAX, THE JANUARY CHECK WAS $3.1 MILLION AHEAD OF OUR PLAN. HOWEVER, OUR CPS CHECK FOR JANUARY WAS 5.4 MILLION BELOW PLAN. WITH THOSE TWO CHECKS COMBINED, WE ARE ABOUT $2.3 MILLION WORSE THAN WHAT WE HAVE AT THE FIRST QUARTER.

IN THE FIRST QUARTER, AS RELATED TO EXPENSES, OUR SENDING IS BELOW BUDGET BY ABOUT $4.1 MILLION. AS I MENTIONED, THE FINANCIAL REPORT IS BASED ON THREE MONTHS OF ACTUALS SO WE ARE STILL VERY EARLY IN THE YEAR.

AND THINGS WILL CHANGE AS WE RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION AND MORE DATA.

THE NEXT SLIDE INDICATES OUR PRELIMINARY PROJECTION BASED ON THOSE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF ACTUAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS. OVERALL WE ARE PROJECTING TO BE SLIGHTLY BELOW BUDGET BY ABOUT $1.2 MILLION IN OTHER REVENUE SOURCES.

BECAUSE WE ARE SO EARLY IN THE YEAR, WE ARE PROJECTING THREE MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES TO BE AT BUDGET AND WE'LL ADJUST AS WE RECEIVE MORE DATA AND MORE INFORMATION.

IN TERMS OF OUR OTHER REVENUES, IT'S DRIVEN BY OUR CHARITY CARE PROGRAM WHICH

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IN TERMS OF EXPENSES, WEB PROJECTING TO BE AT BUDGET. -- WE ARE PROJECTING.

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES I WANTED TOY PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR THREE MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES STARTING WITH THE PROPERTY TAX.

THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE PERCENT CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAX COLLECTED AS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR ACTUALS AS WELL AS OUR 2025 ESTIMATE. AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE HOLDING PROPERTY TAX AT BUDGET IN 2025, BUT EVEN THEY THEY ARE PROJECTING AT BUDGET, WE ARE STILL ASSUMING A 5.3% GROWTH AHEAD OF LAST YEAR'S ACTUALS.

WE ARE NOT ANTICIPATING ANY CHANGES AT THIS POINT, BUT WE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE WITH OUR SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL REPORT. AS A REMINDER, LAST YEAR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD APPROVED FREEZING ANY PROTESTED PROPERTY VALUES AT AN AGREED UPON VALUE AND ROLLING THAT VALUE TO THE NEXT YEAR.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS CHANGE WILL IMPACT PROTESTS FILED IN TAX YEAR 2025 AND WILL IMPACT THE CITY'S FISCAL 2027 BUDGET. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF CHANGE AND DETERMINE ITS IMPACT ON THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET AS WELL AS OUR FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST. AS I MENTIONED, AN UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED ON THIS IMPACT DURING OUR SIX PLUS SIX AND OUR FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST.

IN TERMS OF SALES TAX, THIS GRAPH ILLUSTRATES THE PERCENT CHANGE FROM ACTUAL COLLECTIONS YEAR OVER YEAR. FROM 2019 TO 2024 AND IT INCLUDES OUR PROJECTION FOR 2025. AGAIN, WE ARE PROJECTING THAT BUDGET -- AT BUDGET, BUT STILL ASSUMING A 3.3% GROWTH OVER LAST YEAR'S COLLECTIONS.

AND FINALLY, FOR CPS, THIS REPRESENTS WHAT THE CITY HAS COLLECTED, A CHANGE IN THE COLLECTION YEAR OVER YEAR FROM 2019 TO 2024. ON OUR BASE CITY PAYMENT.

SO THIS EXCLUDES ANY OFF-SYSTEM SALES. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, ACTUAL COLLECTIONS VARY WIDELY, BUT OUR PROJECTION IS ABOUT 5.9% AHEAD OF LAST YEAR'S ACTUALS. MOVING ON TO SOME OF OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS, OUR CURRENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATE IS 16.75%.

AND THIS IS LEVIED ON ALL ELIGIBLE HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS. OF THAT RATE, THE CITY RECEIVES 9%, 7% SUPPORTS THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ALAMODOME, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, ARTS AND CULTURE AND HISTORY AND PRESERVATION.

THE OTHER 2% IS A RESTRICTED SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION DEBT AND FUTURE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECTS. THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, RELATED REVENUES AND DEPARTMENTS FUNDED BY OUR H.O.T. TAX. THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS $113 MILLION. WE ARE SLIGHTLY BELOW BUDGET FOR THE FIRST QUARTER AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO BE SLIGHTLY BELOW BUDGET FOR OUR YEAR END.

WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER REVENUES, THE CONVENTION CENTER IS ANTICIPATED TO THE END OF THE YEAR ABOUT $800,000 AHEAD OF BUDGET. AND THIS IS DRIVEN DUE TO AN ADDITIONAL 35 EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN BOOKED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR. FOR THE ALAMODOME, WE ARE PROJECTING TO BE AT BUDGET BY THE END OF THE YEAR. FOR THE FIRST QUARTER WE HAD THREE EVENTS THAT GENERATED LESS THAN ANTICIPATED REVENUE; HOWEVER, WE HAVE BOOKED TWO ADDITIONAL EVENTS AND WE PLAN ON RECEIVEING ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN CONCESSIONS AND CATERING AS A RESULT OF OUR CONTRACT -- OUR CONCESSIONS CONTRACT. 'DEPARTMENTS FUNDED BY THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX ARE WITHIN BUDGET. NEXT IS OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ENTERPRISE FUND, ROUGHLY A $54 MILLION FUND THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE FEES PAID BY DEVELOPERS FOR PLAN REVIEWS AND INSPECTIONS.

REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER AS WELL AS OUR PROJECTIONS ARE IN LINE WITH THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET. FOR OUR SOLID WASTE FUND,

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THIS IS DRIVEN BY FUEL SAVINGS AS WELL AS LESS COST FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF OUR VEHICLES. AND FINALLY FOR THE AIRPORT, THIS FUND IS $127 MILLION FUND THAT PROVIDES FOR AIRPORT SERVICE FOR AVIATION SERVICES AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AND STINSON AIRPORT. AIRPORT REVENUES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER ARE SLIGHTLY DOWN; HOWEVER, AS SOUTHWEST CONTINUES ITS NON-SIGNATOR STATUS, IT IS ANTICIPATED REVENUES BY THE END OF THE YEAR WILL BE 2.7 MILLION ABOVE BUDGET. FOR EXPENDITURES WE ARE SPENDING SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN PLANNED AND SINCE THIS IS EARLY IN THE YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS AND PROVIDE CITY COUNCIL AN UPDATE WITH OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL REPORT. MOVING ON TO OUR SPENDING PRIORITIES THAT WERE APPROVED AS PART OF THE ARREST PARADIES FUNDING -- ARPA FUNDING PROCESS, THERE'S $326.9 MILLION ALLOCATED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AS OF DECEMBER WE HAVE ABOUT $69 MILLION REMAINING TO SPEND.

MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 2025, BUT WORK RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WILL BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER OF 2026. AS A REMINDER, ANY SAVINGS ARE BE LEE ALLOCATED AS PART --S PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE HAPPENED HE -- WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, STARTING WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICE. IN 2024 THE CITY STARTED ADDING FUNDING TO INCREASE RESPONSE TO CRITICAL CALLS. IN 2024 FUNDING WAS ADDED TO INCREASE RESPONSE RATE FROM 44% TO 64%. WE'VE CONTINUED THIS INITIATIVE AND IN 2025, $1.4 MILLION AND 14 POSITIONS WERE ADDED TO INCREASE THE CRITICAL RESPONSE RATE TO 100% BY FISCAL YEAR 2026.

BETWEEN OCTOBER AND FEBRUARY 5TS RESPONDED TO 82% OF CRITICAL CALLS.

ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS OUR TWO NEW SPAY-NEUTER CLINICS. FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.7 MILLION WAS ADDED TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THESE CLINICS. CONSTRUCTION ON BOTH CLINICS IS IN PROGRESS WITH THE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE IN APRIL OF 2025.

ADDITIONALLY CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE SPAY-NEUTER SURGERY SERVICES AT THESE LOCATIONS. NEXT IS SOME INITIATIVES ON HOMELESS AND HOUSING.

IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE ADDED FUNDING FOR TWO YEARS TO OPERATE A LOW-BARRIER SHELTER. FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS THE SECOND YEAR AND THE BUDGET INCLUDES $9.3 MILLION. THROUGH JANUARY WE HAVE 421 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS SERVED THROUGH THE LOW-BARRIER SHELTER AND OF THIS 92 CLIENTS HAVE EXCITED FOR SHELTER. FOR HOUSING STABILITY ASSISTANCE, WE ADDED $1 MILLION AS PART OF THE 2025 BUDGET AND WITH THIS FUNDING THROUGH JANUARY WE'VE PROVIDED 144 ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

AND FINALLY, IN THE 2025 BUDGET, WE INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WITH THIS FUNDING WE'VE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR 45 ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. NEXT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVES. THE STREET MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR 2025 IS $122 MILLION. THROUGH JANUARY WE'VE COMPLETED 412 OF THE 1100 PAYMENT PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND WE'VE COMPLETED 767 REHABILITATION PROJECTS.

-- 77. OUR SIDEWALK PROGRAM IN 2025 IS $21.5 MILLION AND THIS PROVIDES FUNDING FOR BOTH CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS AS WELL AS REPAIR OF SIDEWALKS.

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THERE ARE 15 CADETS THAT STARTED THE DECEMBER 2024 CLASS AND ARE SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE IN JULY. THESE SQUAD UNITS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE ONLINE BY JULY OF 2025. FOR POLICE, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD OUR GOAL OF 60% OF OFFICERS' TIME BEING PROACTIVE AND 40% RESPONDING TO CALLS, THE BUDGET ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 65 POLICE OFFICERS. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 56 CADETS THAT STARTED THE NOVEMBER 2024 CLASS AND THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE IN JULY OF 2025. AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET, THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND MY OFFICE RESTARTED THE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEWS THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON PAUSE DURING PARADIES PANDEMIC YEARS. COVERAGE HENCE I HAVE BUDGET REVIEWS LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN DETAIL WITH THE GOAL OF PRACTICE RESEARCH. WE ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETING 16 INDEPTH REVIEWS ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC WORKS, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, AND PARKS & RECREATION. WE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THIS PROCESS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 SIX PLUS SIX WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED IN MAY.

IN AUGUST OF 2024, THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED A STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO DEVELOP A HYBRID BUDGET METHOD INCORPORATING ZERO BASED, OUTCOME BASED AND PRIORITY BASED BUDGETING PRINCIPLES. THE CITY HAS RETAINED PFM GROUP TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THIS METHODOLOGY AND THE PROPOSED APPROACH WILL BE PRESENTED IN MAY AS PART OF OUR AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO PRESENT OUR RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET CALENDAR. THE CITY MANAGER IS REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A BUDGET CALENDAR FOR THE ANNUAL ADON'T BUDGET BY CHARTER. IT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ON THE FRONT END TO ACCOMMODATE THE MAY ELECTION. WE'LL PRESENT THE SIX PLUS SIX AND FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST ON MAY 7TH. ONCE THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST IS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, WE WOULD GATHER INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE BUDGET PRIORITIES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING PROCESS. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE CONDUCTING A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY AND THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL DURING OUR RULE SETTING SESSION.

WE ARE PROPOSING TO HOLD THE GOAL SETTING SESSION THE WEEK OF JUNE 23, AND DURING THIS SESSION WE WOULD ALSO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 TRIAL BUDGET.

DURING THE GOAL SETTING SESSION WE WOULD WORK TO DEVELOP WITH COUNCIL THE PRIORITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND WILL USE THOSE PRIORITIES TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET. COMMUNITY AND CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION WHICH WOULD BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 14. FINALLY, BUDGET ADOPTION WOULD OCCUR ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18. WE ARE ASKING FOR CITY COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET CALENDAR BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, AND WE WOULD HAVE IT AVAILABLE ONLINE TO THE PUBLIC BY MARCH 7.

SO IN CONCLUSION, THIS -- THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 THREE PLUS NINE FINANCIAL REPORT IS AN EARLY FINANCIAL UPDATE THE FINANCIAL POSITION FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS IS IN LINE WITH OUR ADOPTED BUDGET. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING AND

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THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE

QUESTIONS. >> KAUR: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

LET'S START WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. FIRST UP COUNCILMEMBER

VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, JUSTINA, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK MY QUESTIONS, MY ONE KIND OF OVERARCHING QUESTION IS -- SO ERIK, IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE OF WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE I CAN GO DOWN A LIST AND THE FIRST ONE IS DO WE HAVE THE NUMBERS OF HOW MANY CITY POSITIONS WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN A ARE FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED. AND ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE FIRST AS WE LOOK AT THIS ENVIRONMENT. DO WE HAVE THAT NUMBER, JUSTINA?

>> TATE: YES. SO THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS FEDERAL GRANTS IS 758GH-

POSITIONS. >> VIAGRAN: AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WHAT I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE HERE, WE NEED TO HEAR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE SERVICES IF THEY ARE IMPACTED AND HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED. SO I CAN -- I'M GOING TO KIND OF SHARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE, Y'ALL DON'T NEED TO ANSWER IMMEDIATELY, BUT MY PRIORITY IS TO SAY WITH THE 758, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE OUR PRIORITY.

I THINK THE -- ANY CONVERSATION OF LIKE OH, LET'S JUST HAVE A DASHBOARD OF WHERE THIS IS GOING IS NOT WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THE DOGE OR WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLING IT IS MAKING CUTS AND FEDERALLY PEOPLE ARE GETTING CUT. I'M GOING TO SHARE A FEW THINGS THAT I SEE THAT WE AS A CITY ARE GOING TO THEN BE LEFT TO HANDLE.

SO MY SECOND QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS THE POLICE AND THE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING THAT WE GET WITH THE POLICE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IF WE DO NOT GET THE MONEY FOR THE 50 NEW OFFICERS, IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER PRIORITY THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BUILDING THIS NEW SUBSTATION THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE OFFICERS IN THAT SUBSTATION. THE OTHER IS OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES AND THEIR DECREASE ON SERVICES, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUPPLEMENT THAT.

OUR LOCAL U.S. PARKS SERVICE PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT THE EDUCATION -- THE PARK RANGER THAT HANDLES THE EDUCATION PIECE IS BEING LET GO. HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT US WITH THE MISSIONS, THE STATE OF TEXAS ACTUALLY. SO THIS WHOLE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE -- AND I AM CONCERNED AND I THINK WE NEED AT LEAST A COMMITTEE UPDATE ON THE LOSSES AT THE AIRPORT. BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT HAVING GROUPS COME IN, THEN OUR H.O.T. TAX GOES DOWN AND IT'S ALL RELATED. SO I WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT AND OUR H.O.T. TAX.

THE OTHER IS OUR -- SO OUR AIRPORT FUND, THE OTHER IS OUR -- JUST OUR HOUSING.

THAT IMPACT ON OUR HOUSING IS WHERE WE NEED TO GET. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PLEDGED OR PROMISED WE ARE ANTICIPATING GETTING, BUT THE MINUTE WE SEE THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING OR THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING CUT OFF, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR BUDGET. BECAUSE TO COME IN AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW WHEN I HAVE 750 GRANT-FUNDED EMPLOYEES OUT THERE THAT PROVIDE SERVICES, I DON'T THINK IS -- IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND A WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS BASED ON ZERO BALANCE BUDGET, WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALL PAY FOR, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST US.

ON THE STATE LEVEL, IF THE SCHOOL VOUCHER COMES IN, I'M ANTICIPATING MORE WORK FOR

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I DO WANT TO GET INTO SPECIFICS IN TERMS OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT, BUT I KNOW THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DEPARTMENTWISE.

THE BREAKDOWN BY DISTRICT OF HOW THIS -- HOW THAT OUR EMPLOYEE HIRING AND RETIRING IS GOING TO IMPACT THAT. AND THEN JUST LIKE BASIC THINGS ABOUT OUR HVAC EQUIPMENT AND DO WE HAVE THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TEMPERATURES WHERE THEY ARE REALLY LOW AND HIGH. I HAVE ALL THOSE QUESTIONS WHICH I WILL SEND TO YOU, ERIK, BUT I THINK THE PRIMARY THING I WANT TO HEAR WITH WHATEVER TIME I HAVE LEFT WITH YOU IS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THESE 700 EMPLOYEES AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THESE OFFICERS THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING IN HIRING? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND GET THAT WHERE WE -- WE GET A MESSAGE THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME OF THE

SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. >> ALSH: SO THANKS, COUNCILWOMAN. REGARDING THE 750, WE TALKED TWO WEEKS AGO IN THIS ROOM ABOUT MONITORING CLOSELY. A THE THIS POINT RIGHT NOW THERE'S BEEN NO -- AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW THERE'S BEEN NO IMPACT AND PART OF THAT IS MAKING SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND MONITORING CHANGES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ANALYZING WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ARE AND INFORMING THE COUNCIL AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IF NECESSARY. INFORMING THE EMPLOYEES. PART OF THIS -- THERE MAY BE CHANGES THAT COME DOWN IN THE FUTURE FEDERAL BUDGET PROCESSES AND GRANTS, BUT AT THIS POINT THERE'S BEEN NO FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT IS FREE AND CLEAR.

REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION WAS SOME OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE TIED UP IN COURT AND DETERMINATION HASN'T BEEN MADE. WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON

THAT FRONT. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, SO AND MAYBE ANDY -- BUT IF WE -- EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN COME DOWN JUDICIALLY HAS SUSPENDED HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER. IF IT COMES TO THE POINT WHERE IT LETS IT GO THROUGH, WHAT SORT OF TIME FRAME DO WE NEED TO PIVOT -- LIKE ARE WE FURLOUGHING EMPLOYEES AT

THAT POINT? >> WALSH: I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LEGAL QUESTION SO I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I THINK IT DEPENDS. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE SPEED AND THE EXPECTATION AND WHAT THEY CAN DO. MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT -- ACTUALLY PROBABLY ALL OF OUR FEDERAL-FUNDED PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET AND AUTHORIZED BY THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

SO MID STREAM I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

MIGHT IT AFFECT US IN 2027 A AND 2028, POTENTIALLY, BUT WE'LL HAVE TIME TO FIGURE THAT OUT. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE REALISTIC OUT OF THE 758, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE POSITION REST IN TWO DEPARTMENTS, HUMAN SERVICES AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND IN HUMAN SERVICES WITH CHILDCARE AND HEAD START, THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE PROGRAM, THE POSITIONS ARE AT.

AND WE'LL NEED TO CONTINUE TO WRAP THAT INTO THE UPDATES TO YOU ALL, THE UPDATES FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS FINANCIALLY. BECAUSE THERE JUST ISN'T ANYTHING THAT WE KNOW FOR A FACT. AND THAT GOES FOR THE POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS AS WELL. THAT IS PART OF THAT 758. AND WE HAVE HAD NO INDICATION BEYOND THE FIRST ROUND THAT EVERYBODY GOT THE HOLD OFF FUNDING THAT GOT REVERSED 48 HOURS LATER, THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT.

WE'RE WATCHING IT. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, AND I JUST NEED TO KNOW AT WHAT POINT DO WE AS A CITY COUNCIL NEED TO START COMMUNICATING OUR PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE TWO DEPARTMENTS YOU MENTIONED, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND METRO HEALTH. WE KNOW THIS COUNCIL AND KNOW THERE'S SOME THINGS THEY WOULD PROVIDE OVER OTHERS, AND SOME THAT WOULD PROVIDE SIDEWALKS OVER PEOPLE. WE'LL JUST STICK WITH. THAT THANK YOU FOR THAT.

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>> KAUR: FORGOT, SORRY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I MISSED THE NUMBER OF THE

CHARITY CARE PROGRAM, HOW HOW MUCH OF THAT? >> $6 MILLION IS INCLUDED IN THE 2025 BUDGET. WE'RE PROJECTING TWO AND A HALF MILLION.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. ON SLIDE 23, WHAT ARE THE SINGLE-FAMILY AREAS WITHIN THE -- WHAT ARE THE 16 AREAS WITHIN THE FOCUSED DEPARTMENTS?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, KATE KINNISON. SO YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT SOME

OF THE FOCUS AREAS OF THE 16 DEPARTMENTS? >> GARCIA: UH-HUH.

>> LET ME PULL THAT OUT. JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES, FOR PARKS WE'RE LOOKING AT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, IF THERE'S A FASTER, MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO MAINTAIN PARKS. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT PROGRAM EVALUATIONS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL DUPLICATION. FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS ALSO PROVIDING FREE SERVICES AND WHAT THAT ACCESSIBILITY LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WE'RE LOOKING AT DELEGATE AGENCIES WHICH YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT TODAY FROM JESSICA, AND WE'RE EVALUATING PART-TIME NUTRITION SITES AND VIDA FOR POTENTIAL EFFICIENCIES AND

PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS. >> GARCIA: YOU SAID PART TIME NUTRITION AUDIO]. UTILITY ASSISTANCE. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOMELESS SERVICES AND HOW THEY ARE COLLECTING DATA AND HOW THEY ARE OPERATING BOTH INTERNALLY BUT ALSO THE NUMBER OF PARTNERS THAT DO OUTREACH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. ON THE HEALTH SIDE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GROWTH THAT WAS PRIMARILY UNDER THE SA FORWARD PLAN. THAT GREW VERY QUICKLY SO WE'RE DOING A REFLECTION ON WHERE THEY ARE AT NOW, WHAT THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS LOOK LIKE, IF THERE'S ANY DUPLICATION IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR POTENTIALLY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, AGAIN, CAN CREATE EFFICIENCIES.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO THE CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION SIDE.

THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY WE THINK THERE. FOR EFFICIENCY.

AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE SEVEN PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN PUBLIC WORKS.

I'M HAPPY TO LIST ALL OF THOSE. >> GARCIA: WE CAN HOLD OFF ON THE PUBLIC WORKS AND MAYBE SEND ME THAT LIST. IN PARTICULAR THE ONES THAT WESTERN ME ARE THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND EVEN THE PARKS ONES.

BECAUSE WE'RE THINKING ALREADY IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION OF MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING BUDGET, BUT OUR NONPROFITS ARE ALSO BEING CUT FROM THE PHILANTHROPY SIDE. JUST WITH NEW STAR LEAVING IT WAS A $2.3 MILLION HIT ON NON-PROFITS. I UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO PUT IT BACK ON THE NON-PROFITS IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET FUNDED AT THE SAME LEVEL EVEN FROM THEIR PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT THEY HAVE CREATED. THE REASON THAT IT CONCERNS ME MOST AND THAT'S NON-PROFITS THAT ARE PROVIDING THE VITAL CRITICAL SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OR MOST VULNERABLE ARE. YOU MENTIONED UTILITY ASSISTANCE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND WHERE THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE IS MOSTLY USED, IT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE SIDES OF TOWN THAT HAVE TRASHLY TRADITIONALLY LEFT BEHIND. WILL WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO FUND THAT AT THOSE LEVELS. THE OTHER IS HOMELESS SERVICES.

I'D LIKE THE NUMBER, WHAT, THREE, ON THE BUDGET SURVEY, I COULD BE WRONG, MAYBE FOUR, AT LEAST ONE OF THE TOP FIVE, IT'S CONTINUED TO BE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE SERVICES. IF WE'RE PUTTING IT BACK ON THE PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE HOMELESS SERVICES, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE JUST PASSING THE BUCK TO THEM. BUT I GET IT, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES, I'M TELLING YOU HOW WORRIED I AM THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT BENEFIT THE MOST CRITICAL. SA FORWARD AND I UNDERSTAND AGAIN, BUT WE CAN LOOK BACK AS, FOR INSTANCE, WHY WE GOT SO MANY ARPA FUNDS IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR SAN ANTONIO BUDGET AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DISEASE, THE LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. YES, SA FORWARD GREW REALLY FAST, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE

[00:40:01]

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THESE? ARE WE GOING TO KEEP CHRONIC DISEASE CONTINUING LAPSE NOW THAT WE YOU A THAT -- PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY COMORBIDITY AND WE DON'T WANT TO USE THE SOCIAL DETERMINE IN ANSWER OF HEALTH THAT IT CAN'T GO AWAY.

THEY ARE BEING AFFECTED A LITTLE BIT MORE IN MY PERSPECTIVE, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THE NON-PROFITS DO. AGAIN, I'M SO AFRAID WE'RE PUTTING THOSE EFFICIENCIES ON ON THE NON-PROFITS, THEN THE NON-PROFITS AREN'T GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR FILL AND THROW PISES.

I'M JUST WORRIED WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK IN THE SAME BOAT. I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND THE PREVENTIVE -- PREVENTATIVE SIDE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO OUR BUDGET AND I KNOW IT'S PRECAUTIONARY IN EFFICIENCIES, BUT I ALSO ANY WE CAN'T OPERATE FOR THE NON-PROFITS TO CONTINUE AS IS.

SO EVEN IF WE CUT, RIGHT, AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE NON-PROFITS IN PARTICULAR, BUT IF WE CUT THEM, WE CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO SERVE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE BECAUSE NOT ONLY WILL WE BE CUTTING THEM, THEY WON'T BE GETTING THAT SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL.

I'VE HEARD PEOPLE ALREADY SAY I'M GOING TO START LOOKING FOR A JOB BECAUSE MY POSITION IS FEDERALLY FUNDED AT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. LIKE WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE THAT ARE INCREDIBLE AND GREAT THAT WANT TO BE THERE THAT KNOW HOW TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY, THAT ARE CULTURALLY COMPETENT WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. IT JUST SCARING ME IF WE'RE -- SCARES ME, WHY DON'T WE PRIORITIZE OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR EFFICIENCIES WHEN THESE ARE THE ONES THAT AFFECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THAT'S KIND OF MY MOST WORRY, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN, IT HELPED -- SHE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS. AND THEN THE SPECIFICALLY THE -- WELL, ACTUALLY SHE ASKED THAT QUESTION SO I'M FINE WITH IT. BUT THEN ALSO I'M WONDERING HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT WE EXPECT THE FINAL FOUR TO HAVE ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND IF WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A HELP OR A PUSH.

IF WE HAVE ANY INDICATION OF HELP TELL O -- HOTEL BLOCKS. I'M WORRIED ABOUT INCREASED LEVELS OF SAFETY WITH FINAL FOUR. WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW ORLEANS. I WANT TO BE PREPARED AND REALISTICALLY WE WILL BE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON THAT AS WELL. HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE -- WHAT YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, THE INDICATION OF HOTEL SALES BLOCKS.

>>. >> TATE: WE DID INCLUDE INCREASED REVENUES AS A RESULT OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.

ALSO OPERATIONS AT THE ALAMODOME AS WELL AS SECURITY FOR SAPD.

IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME FUNDING FOR PUBLIC WORKS. THAT WAS ALL INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET WITH FISCAL YEAR 2025. IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE PERFORMING FOR OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, OUR AVERAGE DAILY RATE RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT $130 PER NIGHT. THAT'S WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS.

AND IT'S AHEAD OF LAST YEAR'S. LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS WE WERE AT $126. OUR OCCUPANCY RATE IS

TRENDED PRETTY MUCH WITH THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.

AND SO I'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS OFF LINE AS I WANT TO TALK THROUGH SOME OTHER THINGS THERE. I THINK WHAT MOST CONCERNED ME IS THOSE FOUR DEPARTMENTS AND IN PARTICULAR THREE. PUBLIC WORKS, PEOPLE NEED STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, BUT THOSE OTHER THREE ARE, TO ME, LIFE SUPPORT, IF YOU WILL, FOR SOME PEOPLE AND IT'S A CATCH 22. BECAUSE IF WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HELPING MAYBE THROUGH FOOD ASSISTANCE, CAN THEY -- ARE THEY GOING TO DECIDE INSTEAD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND NOT PAY THE UTILITY BILL? OR ARE THEY GOING TO GET BEHIND THEN IN THEIR HOUSING AND IN THEIR PAYMENTS, ET CETERA, SO IS THAT GOING TO CREATE MORE OF A PROBLEM FOR OUR SHELTERS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FAMILIES THAT ARE GOING THERE. IT'S NO LONGER JUST

[00:45:03]

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE IT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MAYOR

PRO TEM. >> WALSH: JUST REAL QUICK, COUNCILWOMAN, THE REPORT THAT WE'LL COME BACK WITH IN MAY WILL REALLY KIND OF OUTLINE THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE IMPACTS. TO YOUR POINT, THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT COME UP OR THAT ARE DETERMINED THAT ARE NOT -- MAY HAVE A GREATER IMPACT THAN OTHERS AND WHO IS THE IMPACT ON. THAT'S PART OF LAYING ALL THIS OUT AND WE'LL BRING ALL OF THAT TO THE COUNCIL. I THINK PROBABLY WHAT YOU -- IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, THE EFFICIENCIES, THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS, SOMETIMES A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS HAPPENING INTERNAL TO THE CITY.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE ARE SERVICE RELATED.

AND I THINK THE BUDGET OFFICE AND HER TEAM ARE FERRETING THROUGH THAT.

BUT YOU WILL SEE THAT IN MAY AND WE'LL LAY OUT WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID LAST YEAR, WE STOPPED DOING THESE, WE NEED TO REGAIN -- IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING INTERNALLY EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF PROCESS AND SPENDING AND ESPECIALLY IN AN ORGANIZATION OUR SIZE IF THAT'S NOT CONSTANTLY MONITORED IT STARTS TO GROW AND CHANGE AND PEOPLE FORGET WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS. SO THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THIS, WE JUST CAN'T DO THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. EPARTMENTS, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GO THROUGH IT.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, ERIK. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, JUSTINA, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.

ON SLIDE 9, 10, 11, WE HIGHLIGHT THE TRENDS FOR PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX AND CPS. WHY DON'T WE HIGHLIGHT THE TREND FOR THE OTHER RESOURCES SPENDING? I JUST FIGURE IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN A QUARTER OF OUR

GENERAL FUND. >> TATE: THEY GENERATE ABOUT 81% OF TOTAL REVENUES

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THESE THREE. >> GAVITO: I'M CURIOUS TO

SEE THE TREND FOR THE OTHER SOURCES. >> TATE: FOR OUR TEN-YEAR AVERAGE WE SAW GROWTH ABOUT 3.4% AND FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE IT'S ABOUT 2.2%.

>> GAVITO: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO INCLUDE IT SO WE CAN SEE A FULL PICTURE.

ALSO TOO I DO HEAR WHAT COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN AND COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA ARE SAYING ABOUT THE AGENCIES. I SEE THAT IT'S $25 MILLION -- AND I'M ASSUMING I'M LOOKING AT THE RIGHT LINE.

AGENCIES IS 25 MILLION OF THE GENERAL FUND, RIGHT? >> TATE: RIGHT.

>> GAVITO: DO WE KNOW WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE SPENDING ON DELEGATE WORK?

>> WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. WE CAN REVIEW IT DURING THE DELEGATE AGENCY PRESENTATION AND SHARE THAT WITH COUNCIL. WE ALSO -- WE'RE DOING SOME PRELIMINARY RESEARCH AS PART OF THE PROCESS, BUT WE HAVE PULLED DATA FOR AUSTIN,

FORT WORTH, DALLAS, HOUSTON, PHOENIX. >> GAVITO: AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE I HEAR THERE ARE LIFE-SAVING -- THERE IS LIFE-SAVING WORK THAT THESE NON-PROFIT AGENCIES DO. HOWEVER, I THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE WHAT ARE THE AGENCIES THAT ARE REALLY FILLING THE NEED FOR THE CITY IN AREAS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING SO THAT WAY WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH OUR DOLLARS. A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO SOLID WASTE FOR OUTPERFORMING.

I THINK WE'VE MADE IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT AND RECYCLING FACILITY SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT PAYING OFF.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, FOR ASKING ABOUT THE FINAL FOUR.

MOVING ON TO ACS, GREAT JOB ON INCREASING CRITICAL CALLS.

THE CLOSER WE GET TO 100%, THE MORE WE'RE IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL BUDGET INITIATIVES ARE ON SCHEDULE OR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT BECAUSE THIS IS A FAR CRY FROM PRIOR YEARS AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD THE WORK OF

[00:50:02]

ON THE HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING, SLIDE 20, IT SAID THAT WE -- 421 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS WERE SERVED BUT ONLY 92 WENT TO STABLE HOUSING. THE BUDGET INITIATIVES REPORT SAID WE HAD A GOAL OF 168. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO

IMPROVE THAT NUMBER? >> PATRICK, YES, OF THE 421, ABOUT 200 ARE STILL IN THE SHELTER. THAT'S ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THE SHELTER.

THE OTHER 100 AND SO ARE EXITING TO SOMETHING OTHER THAN STABLE HOUSING.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SEE. WE ARE WORKING WITH SAMMINISTRIES. THESE ARE OFTEN FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE STREETS THE LONGEST, THAT'S WHAT THE SHELTER IS INTENDED FOR. THEY ARE CHALLENGE TO FIND THAT RIGHT PLACEMENT BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH CLOSE TO HOME AND SAM SAMMINISTRIES TO

BEST UTILIZE OUR RESOURCES. >> GAVITO: ARE WE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH CLOSE TO HOME ON THE PROCESS SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.

SO AS OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS BECOME AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR BOND PROGRAM AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, THAT'S AN IDEAL PLACEMENT FOR LONG-TERM HOUSING FOR MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. THE CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING RIGHT NOW IS THE I INTERIM PERIOD.

WE DO HAVE FEDERAL RESOURCES SO WE HAVE A NEW POLICY WITH CLOSE TO HOME HOW WE CAN GET GET

AN INTERIM PLACEMENT. >> GAVITO: IF YOU DON'T MIND KEEPING MY OFFICE UPDATED ON THAT. AND THEN I ALSO SAW 144 ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND ONLY -- WE ONLY ASSISTED 45 FAMILIES WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WHAT DOES THAT ASSISTANCE LOOK LIKE? I WAS CURIOUS HOW MANY PEOPLE EVEN APPLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

>> COUNCILWOMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR. SO FOR THE 144 INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE ASSISTED WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE, THAT'S RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.

WHAT WE DO IS FAMILIES WHO ARE -- EITHER HAVE AN EVICTION NOTICE OR MAYBE A COURT-ORDERED EVICTION, WE HELP THEM FIND A NEW APARTMENT SO WE CAN PROVIDE TEMPORARY LODGING, WE CAN HELP RELOCATE THEM WITH TEMPORARY STORAGE FOR UNITS IF THEY NEED IT AND PAY A DOWNPAYMENT AND DEPOSIT. SORRY.

>> GAVITO: THAT WORKS. THAT'S HELPFUL. I NOTICE THAT OUR OFFICE WORKS CLOSELY WITH YOU ALL WHEN SOMEONE DOES NEED THAT HELP SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A RESOURCE. IT SAYS WE HELPED ONLY 45 FAMILIES WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE. DO WE KNOW HOW MANY FAMILIES APPLIED?

>> THAT'S JUST FOR THE ONE MILLION IMPROVEMENT. TO DATE THIS CAREER WE'VE HELPED 243 FAMILIES WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE. WE JUST CLOSED THE PORTAL.

WE EXPECT ANOTHER 130 TO BE ADDED TO THAT SO THAT WILL BRING US CLOSE TO 400 FAMILIES WE'VE ASSISTED THROUGH THE YEAR. WE HAVE A VERY HIGH DEMAND SO THE NEW SYSTEM IS ONCE A MONTH FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS WE OPEN UP OUR PORTAL AND CLOSE IT. THIS PAST TIME WE GOT 730 APPLICANTS.

WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ABOUT 130. AND WE DO PRIORITIZE AGAIN BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE RECEIVED AN EVICTION NOTICE OR ANY COURT-ORDERED

ACTION. >> GAVITO: AND THANK YOU FOR THAT INSIGHT.

I THINK IT REALLY STRESSES US TO CONSIDER ALLOCATING MORE MONEY TO PREVENTION SERVICES SO WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE IN PLACE. SO, YOU KNOW, DURING THE MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IF WE CAN PRIORITIZE KEEPING PEOPLE IN PLACE AND POTENTIALLY HELPING MORE PEOPLE WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE SO THEY ARE NOT

HAVING TO MOVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT INSIGHT. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> GAVITO: FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, I WAS VERY PROUD TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON MAKING THAT PERMANENT. AND I ALSO APPLAUD THE PROGRESS IN HIRING NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. WE HEARD YESTERDAY IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME GOING DOWN AND ARRESTS GOING UP, SO I THINK OUR RESOURCES ARE BEING PUT TO GOOD USE. I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE PRESENTATION ON ZERO-BASED BUDGETING IN MAY. THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.

[00:55:03]

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> KAUR: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, JUSTINA. I'LL PICK UP WITH COUNCILWOMAN LEFT OFF. AS WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS, I JUST DON'T WANT TO FORGET ABOUT THE RETENTION OF SEASONED PERSONNEL.

THE BEST WE CAN MAKE IS THE PEOPLE ALREADY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M CURIOUS IF WE HAVE KIND OF A -- ARE THERE MONIES ALLOCATED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE

RETAINING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS? >> SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN.

SO THE FUNDING WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET IS, OF COURSE, FOR THE HIRING OF NEW OFFICERS AND THE SALARIES OF THOSE OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THERE.

WE WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS.

WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS IN THE PAST FOR WELLNESS, FITNESS MAKE SURE THEY ARE ENGAGED AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO RETAIN THEIR SERVICES.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. OKAY. I THINK I NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT. BUT I'LL HEAD OVER TO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY MADE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND NUMBERS SHOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR. SOMETHING THAT COMES UP IS

THE EUTHANASIA RATE. >> MOST OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE INCLUDED --

>> HAVRDA: TO LOWER THE KILL RATE. >> RIGHT.

SO RIGHT NOW THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRACKING.

RIGHT NOW OUR LIVE REPLEASE RATE IS HIGHER THAN TARGET, I BELIEVE IT'S 85.5%.

THE INITIATIVES ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WITH ADOPTIONS, FOSTER PROGRAM THEY ARE WORKING WITH, THOSE INITIATIVES ARE HELPING KEEP THAT LIVE RELEASE AT THAT

TARGET. >> HAVRDA: I APPRECIATE THAT AND WHEN MIKE WAS INTERIM, HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB PARTNERING WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NEW DIRECTOR CONTINUE WITH THAT AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT SUCCESS AS WELL. GOING OVER TO OUR FINANCES, THEY SEEM TO BE STABLE, DECENT SHAPE AND THAT'S THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR BUDGET TEAM AND CITY STAFF. AS MENTIONED TODAY, THE FEDERAL LEVEL IT FEELS LIKE THEY ARE NOT SO STABLE FOR US.

IT CAN HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES AND WE DISCUSSED A LOT OF THAT TODAY. BUT DO WE HAVE -- IF FUNDING SHIFT GRANT DOLLARS DRY UP, CAN YOU TELL ME OUR CORE SERVICES ARE GOING TO RUN STRONG?

ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT? >> WALSH: THE SERVICES THAT ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED?

>> HAVRDA: UH-HUH. >> WALSH: I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION. WHAT I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY DON'T KNOW IS HOW WILL THOSE PROGRAMS CHANGE IN THE NEXT FEDERAL BUDGET. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MONITOR THAT CLOSELY.

I SPENT TIME YESTERDAY WITH CLAUDE AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP.

THINGS LIKE IMMUNIZATION GRANTS LIKE WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING FOR 40 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN UPSWINGS AND DOWNSWINGS THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED THROUGH THE SUMMER

TO ENDURE SOME OF THOSE SWINGS. >> HAVRDA: WELL, I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED.

IT'S KIND OF CRAZY TO THINK WE MIGHT NOT GET IMMUNIZATION DOLLARS, BUT THAT'S REALITY. DO WE HAVE A FEDERAL GRANTS MANAGEMENT OFFICE?

>> WALSH: WE DO, THROUGH SALLY'S OFFICE. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

AND DO WE HAVE A LIST OF CITY SERVICES THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANTS?

>> YES. >> HAVRDA: CAN YOU -- GO AHEAD.

>> YES, THE GRANTS ARE ALL LISTED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT SO IT INCLUDES LIKE

OUR CHILDCARE SERVICES, HEAD START, OUR HOUSING PROGRAMS. >> WALSH: WE CAN PULL THAT OUT AND SEND THAT BY EMAIL TO COUNCIL. THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO

GO HUNTING FOR IT. >> HAVRDA: THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT NON-PROFITS. I THINK IF WE DO SOME KIND OF AUDIT OR REVIEW OF NON-PROFITS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND BUDGET. I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE MAKE CUTS, BUT IF WE HAVE TO, AT

[01:00:01]

AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE SHIFT TO PERFORMANCE-BASED BUDGETING, I WANT TO ALSO KNOW WE'RE FIGHT OF -- OUR PROCESSES, SPENDING IT WHERE IT COULD MAKE THE EMOTION IMPACT, TO GET THE BEST RETURN FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE.

I THINK THE NEXT NINE MONTHS ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL AND I'M CONFIDENT WITH THE THOUGHTFUL PLANNING AND FLEXIBILITY, THAT I BELIEVE WE'VE ALL BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO FINANCIALLY STRONG.

THERE'S SO MANY UNKNOWNS AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S UNKNOWN WE DON'T KNOW, BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE READY WITH A NUMBER OF BACKUP PLANS FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> WALSH: JUST ONE THING, JOHN, COME UP HERE. REGARDING YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE LIVE RELEASE, AND MIKE DID A GREAT JOB OF KIND OF BRINGING BACK THE CONNECTIVITY THAT WE NEED WITH OUR PARTNERS. JOHN STARTED THAT, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR HOSTED A MEETING AND I'VE BEEN TO A MEETING WITH JOHN AND WITH SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS, BUT YOU HAVE THE FIRST QUARTER REPORT, YOU HEARD THE STATS, JOHN, IF YOU WILL SHARE

WHERE WE LANDED IN JANUARY IN TERMS OF LIVE RELEASE. >> JANUARY WE HAD A GREAT MONTH. WE ENDED UP OVER 88% IN JANUARY.

SO IT'S ONE OF OUR BEST MONTHS WE'VE HAD IN -- FROM WHAT I'VE TOLD ANYWAY IN SEVERAL YEARS NOW. SO WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE'VE SEEN THAT. JUST THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, WE DID BETTER IN DECEMBER, BETTER IN JANUARY, CURRENTLY IN FEBRUARY. THAT LIVE NUMBER I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO PASS OUR GOAL, 90, AND WE'RE GOING TO STRIVE TO DO THAT.

>> WALSH: THAT WAS ON TOP OF ADDITIONAL ANIMALS THAT WERE PICKED UP, BUT IT GOES BACK TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE GOOD, OPEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE PARTNERS BECAUSE

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM. >> HAVRDA: I'M THANKFUL TO HEAR THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR YOU AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR US AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, JOHN, ERIK. NEXT UP COUNCILMEMBER

CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE SENTIMENT AS WELL AROUND THE 750 GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN NO IMPACTS, IT IS BEING MONITORED, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN THE CASE THERE ARE CHANGES.

I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PRIORITY FOR CITY LEADERSHIP, BUT ENSURING THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE TO FIND POSITIONS AND ROLES FOR FOLKS THAT COULD BE IMPACTED I THINK IS TOP PRIORITY. IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR US TO INVEST IN AUDIO] WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I BRUIT -- BROUGHT UP IS HOW SOME OF OUR KEY CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE PRIMARILY GRANT AND FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED AND THE CONCERN IS THESE ARE JUST REALLY IMPORTANT PIECES THAT FOLKS ALL THROUGHOUT THE THE IS RELY ON FROM VACCINES TO TESTING AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT JUST THE NEED WITH FUTURE BUDGETS FOR US TO BUILD UP OUR OWN COSA INVEST ED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR METRO HEALTH SHOULD REMAIN TOP PRIORITY. I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEWS. WITH HUMAN SERVICES AND PARKS, CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THESE DEPARTMENTS WERE SELECTED? CONSENSUS WITHIN THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE OR HOW DID WE IDENTIFY THESE DEPARTMENTS.

>> VILLAGÓMEZ: YES, COUNCILWOMAN, WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE SIMILARITIES WITH THE THREE INTERIM SO THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOMETIMES WE HAVE SILOS AND PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO MORE COORDINATED APPROACHES.

SO THE SERVICES LINED UP WELL WITHIN METRO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND PARKS & RECREATION. PUBLIC WORKS WE HAD HEARD FROM YOU ALL SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE PROCESSES AND THE PROGRAMS SO WE WANTED TO TAKE AN

OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROACTIVE AND IDENTIFY IMPROVEMENTS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ:

COUNCILWOMAN, ON -- >> WALSH: THE GOVERNANCE JUST HAD TO DO ON -- I SELECTED THOSE FOUR DEPARTMENTS. THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE

GOVERNANCE CONVERSATION LAST YEAR. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT CLARIFICATION. I SHARED A SIMILAR CONCERN

[01:05:02]

WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE IN A SHELTER, IN A HOUSE RATHER THAN -- A LOT OF AREAS TO INVEST IN, BUT IF WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED THAT SHOULD REMAIN PRIORITY.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC WORKS, I'M PLEASED TO SEE PUBLIC WORKS IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE PRIMARILY WITH STREET MAINTENANCE. YESTERDAY WE HAD A LARGE GATHERING WITH OVER 200 SENIORS AND I WALKED AWAY WITH A DOZEN CONSTITUENT SERVICES CASE PRIMARILY INFRASTRUCTURE BASED. JUST GREAT TO SEE THAT PUBLIC WORKS IS MOVING ALONG WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS SOMETHING DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO REQUEST WHETHER IT'S STREET MAINTENANCE OR SIDEWALKS, IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY'VE BEEN LONG WAITING FOR SO GREAT TO SEE THAT WORK CATCH -- THAT WE'RE CAPPING UP THERE. AS FOLKS -- CATCHING UP THERE. IT GREAT TO SEE SA -- ANIMAL RESPONSE RATE HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED AND HOW THE GOOD NAPE PROGRAM IS IDENTIFYING AND REVOLVING ISSUES AND REPEAT NUISANCE APPARATUS FOR US TO TACKLE. ONE THING SHA IS ALWAYS A THAT IS PRIORITY IS THE AMOUNT OF VIRUS SEE SEE IN VACANT STRUCTURES.

WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE WITH FIRES IN DISTRICT 5. IN TERMS OF SENIOR SERVICES, I NECESSITY -- KNOW OVER THE LAST BUDGET CYCLES COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA AND I HAVE BEEN REQUESTING WITHIN THE EDGEWOOD AREA. EDGEWOOD HAS TAKEN ACTION TO CLOSE A COUPLE SCHOOLS AND IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY WITH SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS TO SEE IF WE COULD BRING A SENIOR CENTER TO THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY. IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR US

TO EXPLORE THAT? >> WALSH: I'M LOOKING AROUND.

JESSICA, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE FEASIBILITY WE DID REGARDING THE SENIOR CENTER? BECAUSE WE FUNDED THAT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AT THE

SAME TIME WE DID THE D2 ONE. >> AROUND THE SAME TIME WE OPENED A PART-TIME NUTRITION SITE AT DARNER. WE'RE WORKING WITH PARKS & RECREATION TO INCORPORATE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE SENIOR CENTER AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE WOLFF PARK. THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT.

IT'S KIND OF COALESCING WITH THAT PROCESS. >> WALSH: LET US FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT 42 ACRES.

YOUR QUESTION IS INCORPORATING SOME OF THOSE CHANGES AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.

>> CASTILLO: YES, IT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY IS HOW CAN THE CITY FACILITATE THE CREATION OF A SENIOR CENTER. I MENTIONED GET WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND THEN REACH OUT TO US AS WELL, BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S GOING TO TAKE ACTION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD. THERE IS AN APPETITE TO USE THOSE SPACES TO CREATE A SENIOR CENTER. IF WE COULD CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS WOULD APPRECIATE.

IN TERMS OF THE SALES TAX REVENUE THAT WE'RE SEEING A DIP, IS THAT ACROSS THE CITY OR AN AREA DOWNTOWN PARTICULARLY THAT WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE OR WHAT

ARE WE SEEING THERE? >> SURE, SO ACTUALLY COMPARED TO 2024, WE ARE STILL GROWING, 2.2% IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THROUGH JANUARY IT'S ABOUT 4.8% SO WE ARE GROWING COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THAT FIRST QUARTER WAS

SLIGHTLY BELOW PLANNED. >> CASTILLO: THOSE ARE ALL >> KAUR: COUNCILMEMBER

WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, CHAIR -- OR MAYOR PRO TEM.

WELL, THERE'S NOWHERE THAT I'D LIKE TO START RATHER THAN WITH THE SLIDE ON THE COMING ZERO-BASED BUDGETING PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN MAY.

I WANT TO THANK ERIK AND HIS TEAM FOR MOVING FORWARD ON THAT, JUST AS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THE RETENTION OF THE PFM GROUP CONSULTING. I KNOW THIS IS A GROUP THAT'S WORKED WITH THE CITY IN THE PAST. MY OFFICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT GETTING STARTED ON A NEW -- THIS NEW HYBRID BUDGETING PROCESS HERE IN THE CITY. I BELIEVE AS CITY COUNCIL OUR JOB IS TO DETERMINE HOW WE CAN MOST EFFECTIVELY, MOST DIRECTLY AND POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR

[01:10:05]

AND I TRULY BELIEVE THIS SHIFT IN APPROACH TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUDGET HERE IN THE CITY IS GOING TO PAY BIG DIVIDENDS FOR OUR CITIZENS MOVING FORWARD. AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

REGARDING THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION, JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.

IF WE LOOK AT THIS SLIDE REGARDING THE UPDATE OF SPENDING PRIORITIES, IT SAYS SAVINGS WILL BE REALLOCATED AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. THIS IS RELATED TO ARPA FUNDING. WHEN AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?

>> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILMAN, WE WOULD DO THAT AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROCESS.

WHEN WE DO THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION AND YOU SET YOUR PRIORITIES, WE DO A FINANCIAL UPDATE AT THE TIME. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY THEY'RE SENDING DOLLARS THAT COULD BE REALLOCATED. BASED ON THE CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES, THAT'S HOW THOSE

ARE ALLOCATED AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN AUGUST. >> WHYTE: OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. REGARDING PUBLIC WORKS AND STREETS AND STRIPING AND EVERYTHING, I WAS LOOKING AT THE 24/7 FIRST QUARTER REPORT. IT'S THIS DOCUMENT.

AND I NOTICED THAT SERVICE AREA TWO INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE A TARGET OF 118 MILES OF STREETS TO BE IMPROVED AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING AT 12.

DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR GOALS? >> YES.

>> WHYTE: WE DO? WE'RE ON TRACK THERE. GREAT.

SAME QUESTION REGARDING THE SAME SLIDE PRESENTATION ON JOBS.

IT LOOKS LIKE OUR TARGET WAS 6,000 JOBS. AND AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WE'RE AROUND 838 JOBS CREATED/RETAINED THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR GOALS THERE?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. BRENDA HICKS-SORENSON, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE RELY QUITE HEAVILY ON OUR PARTNERS, GREATER SATX FOR A LOT OF THOSE POSITIONS. WE WERE UPDATED THIS MORNING AT THEIR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A PIPELINE THAT REPRESENTS OVER 14,000 JOBS.

IF THOSE PROJECTS COME IN. AND TO BE ANNOUNCED OR COMMITTED, 4,000 JOBS.

SO WE DO ANTICIPATE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THOSE NUMBERS GOING FORWARD.

>> WHYTE: SO YOU'RE CONFIDENT -- >> YES.

BASED ON THE INFORMATION THIS MORNING. >> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. TURNING TO THE 2025 BUDGET INITIATIVES, THE JANUARY REPORT WAS LOOKING AT CODE ENFORCEMENT.

AND IT LOOKED LIKE OUR PLAN WAS TO REVIEW EXISTING PROCESSES, GOALS, PERFORMANCE TO ESTABLISH A PRELIMINARY PLAN FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN. A CONSULTANT TO COMPLETE THE WORK WAS GOING TO BE SELECTED AND WE WERE HOPING TO BE 25% OF THE WAY THERE AND WE'RE ONLY 10% OF THE WAY THERE. CAN SOMEBODY SPEAK TO MAYBE WHY WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THERE? AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I BRING THIS UP.

IN ADDITION TO INFRASTRUCTURE CALLS THAT WE'RE GETTING EVERY SINGLE DAY, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, YOU KNOW, ARE RIGHT THERE AS WELL.

OF COURSE ALONG WITH PUBLIC SAFETY CALLS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNED MENC OR DOES CONCERN ME -- AND WE TALKED TO CHIEF MCMANUS ABOUT IT YESTERDAY -- IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAS AFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THESE CODE ISSUES AND LOWER-LEVEL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS, ET CETERA. SO WHERE ARE WE ON THIS PLAN FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT?

>> SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. MIKE SHANNON, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.

YEAH, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON THE CODE PLAN. WE WILL CATCH UP THIS QUARTER.

WE HAD HOPED TO HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT WAS PART OF THE INITIATIVE THAT WOULD HELP US FACILITATE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WE NEED TO HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR CURRENT METRICS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES TO SEE WHERE THOSE CAN BE ADJUSTED.

WE DID JUST HAVE TO FINISH A CODE UPDATE ON OUR BUILDING RELATED AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODES. WORKING ON ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT LOOKING AT METAL RECYCLERS, USED AUTO PARTS. I'M CONFIDENT NOW THAT THE CODES ARE DONE, BUILDING CODES AND STUFF, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CATCH BACK UP ON THE CODE STRATEGIC PLAN.

[01:15:04]

>> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, MIKE'S NOT GOING TO SAY IT BUT HE ALSO GOT DIVERTED FOR ABOUT FIVE OR

SIX MONTHS BY ME. >> WHYTE: NOTED. >> WALSH: WE'LL GET BACK ON

TRACK. >> WHYTE: OKAY. GREAT.

COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO MENTIONED THE ISSUE REGARDING THE LITTLE BEHIND ON THE HOMELESS PLACING INTO STABLE HOUSING. THE LAST AREA I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS AGAIN PUBLIC WORKS. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WERE PLANNING, FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY, TO COMPLETE 450 LANE MILES OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS. WE'RE ONLY AT 305, SO A LITTLE

BIT BEHIND THERE BUT WE'RE GOING TO CATCH UP, RAZI? >> COUNCILMAN, AS YOU KNOW FIRST QUARTER IS DECEMBER AND JANUARY. USUALLY THE DAYS ARE COLD, DAYS ARE SHORTER. NOT JUST WE ARE GOING TO CATCH UP IN SPRING AND SUMMER, WE ARE

GOING TO BE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. >> WHYTE: LOVE TO HEAR IT. FINAL THING I'M GOING TO SAY ON THE BUDGET PRESENTATION -- AND I THINK ERIK MENTIONED IT LAST YEAR.

AND COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA MENTIONED IT TODAY, SOME SORT OF AUDIT OR REVIEW OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND PERHAPS THE NONPROFITS AS WELL TO DETERMINE AGAIN, ARE THEY DOING WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE DOING? ARE THEY A -- SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL SEE VALUE IN AND HAVE AS A PRIORITY. I THINK WE GOT TO DO IT. 25% OF OUR GENERAL BUDGET GO INTO THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES. THAT'S A LARGE SUM OF MONEY. AND SO I LIKE THE IDEA, ERIK, WHENEVER YOU MENTIONED IT LAST YEAR. I'M GLAD IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TODAY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AND SO I'M CERTAINLY FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE GETTING SO MUCH OF OUR MONEY. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> KAUR: IT'S $25 MILLION, NOT 25%? JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT

CLARIFICATION. >> WALSH: CORRECT. YOU SAID 25%, COUNCILMAN.

I THINK YOU MEANT $25 MILLION. >> MCKEE- >> WHYTE: HOWEVER MUCH MONEY

THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES ARE GETTING, I WANT TO REVIEW IT. >> WALSH: THAT'S ITEM NO. 2 TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THAT SOLICITATION PROCESS IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRIORITIZE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, ACTUAL OUTCOMES AND/OR THINGS LIKE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR OVERALL BUDGET DELEGATE AGENCY DO YOU EXPECT THE CITY TO BE. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL ON THAT ISSUE.

>> KAUR: COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I ENJOYED IT AS MUCH AS ONE CAN. [LAUGHTER] IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE THIS EXCESS -- IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A STANDARD PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. I WANT TO STRESS, YOU KNOW, ACS CONTINUES TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY. I'M HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE ACS'S CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO CALLS. IT'S MUCH STRONGER THAN THE 44% RESPONSE RATE THAT WE HAD IN 2023. AND MUCH HIGHER THAN OUR ORIGINAL GOAL OF 64%, PRIOR TO THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. BUT, AGAIN, RESPONSE IS THE FLOOR. I EXPECT, AS SOON AS WE CAN, THAT WE GET TO A 100% RESPONSE RATE TO THOSE CRITICAL CALLS. AND THAT THOSE ALSO BE REASONABLY QUICK.

WHAT I DO FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE MISSED AS A -- IN VIEWING THE NUMBERS IN THIS WAY, WE KNOW WE'RE AT THE 82% RESPONSE RATE. I WONDER WHAT OUR RESPONSE TIME HAS BEEN. HAS IT IMPROVED FROM PREVIOUS -- I MEAN, NATURALLY IF YOU INCLUDE THE NEW CALLS THAT WEREN'T RECEIVING ANY RESPONSE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LARGE INCREASE TO THE RESPONSE OF TIME BUT I WONDER HOW WE MIGHT FIGURE OUT ARE WE REDUCING OUR RESPONSE TIMES TO A RATE THAT IS ACCEPTABLE AND MEETS OUR OTHER SERVICE DELIVERY EXPECTATIONS. I REMEMBER BACK IN 2021, 2022, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE FORMER ACS DIRECTOR AND WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF ACS. AND ONE OF THE IDEAS HE HAD PITCHED TO ME AND SHOWED ME THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR WAS A VETERINARY HOSPITAL.

I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO CHAMPION THAT IN THE MOST RECENT BOND CYCLE.

IT WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING WHEN IT WASN'T PRESENTED AS PART OF STAFF'S ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION BUT HAPPY WE HAD A COUNCIL THAT WAS WILLING TO PRESENT THAT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD SEND THAT TO VOTERS AND VOTERS APPROVED IT OVERWHELMINGLY.

[01:20:03]

LAST YEAR -- I'LL BRING UP ANOTHER LITTLE BIT. LAST YEAR AHEAD OF OUR BUDGET SEASON I TOOK A RIDE ALONG WITH ACS AND REALIZED THAT DESPITE THE GREAT NEED THAT EXISTS ON THE EAST SIDE AND IN DISTRICT 2 THAT ACS'S PRESENCE WAS SLIM AND IT WAS VERY HARD FOR MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS TO EVEN FEEL LIKE WE HAD AN ACS DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T SEE THE VEHICLES, IF YOU DON'T SEE THE UNIFORM, YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE ACS.

AND SO THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD THE ACS CAMPUS ON THE WEST SIDE AND HOW FAR IT IS FOR AN OFFICER ON THE EAST SIDE TO GET ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST SIDE AND COME BACK, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE EAST SIDE'S NEEDS AREN'T AND WEREN'T BEING MET AND SO I HAD COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR AN EAST SIDE SPAY AND NEUTER HUB AND PITCHED THE IDEA AND I WAS HAPPY MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTED GETTING BOTH OF THOSE FACILITIES UP AND RUNNING THAT WE'RE ON OUR WAY IN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WOULD HAVE LIKED IT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO BUT A COUPLE MONTHS FROM NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING THOSE HUBS AND I THINK THOSE ARE GOING TO BE SO CRITICAL IN RESPONDING TO THE ISSUE AND TO GETTING THOSE SURGERIES DONE.

BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO CREATE THAT PRESENCE THAT HAS BEEN MISSING ON THE EAST SIDE FOR SO LONG. AND SO SUPER GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORTING THAT.

GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT. AND I WANT TO STRESS THE ISSUE IS STILL GOING TO PERSIST THAT ACOS ARE HAVING TO TAKE LONG COMMUTES. WE'RE STILL NOT GETTING A LOT OF THE EAST SIDE ANIMALS TO THE SHELTER ON THE WEST SIDE AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS, AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT, IS GETTING AN ACS CAMPUS ON THE EAST SIDE THAT COULD INCREASE OUR KENNEL CAPACITY AND DECREASE THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET ANIMALS ON THE EAST SIDE OFF THE STREET. WHETHER THAT'S NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST, DEAD EAST. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT FAIRLY SOON. I AM EXCITED -- SHIFTING GEARS TO DHS.

I AM EXCITED TO SHARE THAT AFTER PURCHASING LAND NEXT TO COPERNICUS AND SECURING FUNDING, THE RFP COMING WEEKS. I SHARE THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR A HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE FULLY STAFFED AND FULLY PREPARED AND FULLY FUNDED TO OPERATE SUCH A FACILITY AND THE FACILITIES ACROSS THE CITY.

I DO WANT TO BRING UP A MINOR ISSUE. THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE EXPERIENCING OR HEARING ABOUT IN THEIR SENIOR CENTERS.

BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THE GRANTS THAT OUR CENTERS RECEIVE IS THAT THEY HAVE TO -- AND IT'S NOT SUPER EXCITING. BUT AT 10:30 A.M. THEY HAVE TO THROW THE COFFEE OUT.

THE SENIORS CAN'T DRINK THE COFFEE. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING TREATED LIKE CHILDREN. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE IMPROVED IS WHAT WAS SHARED WITH ME BUT -- AND ALSO THAT THE FOOD IS ALSO VERY STRICT. I THINK MY SENIORS ARE SHARING THAT WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, WHEN IT COMES TO BEVERAGE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THAT THEY DO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING TREATED LIKE CHILDREN AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CENTERS WANT TO TREAT THEM BUT THEY HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN STRICT REQUIREMENTS.

AND SO IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE COULD SUPPLEMENT SERVICES SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ADD NEW FOOD OPTIONS, NEW TIMES WHERE SENIORS CAN RECEIVE ACCESS TO COFFEE AND DRINKS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COST IDEAS? >> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A COST ISSUE FOR US.

CERTAINLY THE COFFEE SERVICE WE CAN LOOK AT EXTENDING. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY A GRANT-RELATED REQUIREMENT. AND WE CAN LOOK AT OPTIONS TO PROVIDE THAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I WILL SAY FOR THE MEALS, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A SOLICITATION PROCESS FOR THE MEAL CONTRACT.

THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE IN FEBRUARY. WE HAVE SENIORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE AND THERE WILL BE TASTE TESTS SO WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. IN GENERAL WE GET PRETTY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE MEAL PROGRAM BUT WE WILL TALK TO OUR CONTRACTOR ALSO ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD A LITTLE

BIT MORE DIVERSITY TO THE MENU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I CAN APPRECIATE THAT BUT I'M AT THE SENIOR CENTER MONTHLY AND THEY'RE WHISPERING IN MY EAR.

COUNCILMAN, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS? AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR TWO, IT'S SEVERAL. I HAVE BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER AND THE RESPONSE I GET IS THAT IT'S GRANT RELATED. SO THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME.

IF IT'S NOT, THEN I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, MAYBE DO -- I

[01:25:05]

>> I THINK THE COFFEE IS AN EASY FIX AND WE CAN LOOK AT ARE THERE OTHER BEVERAGES WE CAN PROVIDE THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FOOD REGULATIONS THAT THE GRANT DOES ADHERE TO.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SPEND PER RECIPIENT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD SPEND TO SERVICE A PERSON OR FAMILY WHO BECOMES UNHOUSED. IF THERE IS A SHIFT NEEDED, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO -- MAYBE MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO FUND THAT PROGRAM. YOU HAVE A BODY WHO LOVES THAT PROGRAM AND WANTS TO SEE IT EXPANDED. IF THE SORT OF CREATIVITY WE DEMONSTRATE FOR OTHER PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, I AM DOWN TO EXPLORE THAT LEVEL OF CREATIVITY. LASTLY, AS IT RELATES TO THE RESTRUCTURING OR THE AUDITING OF THOSE FEW DEVELOPMENTS, I WOULD LIKE -- I'LL SAY THIS PUBLICLY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESTRUCTURING OF PUBLIC WORKS. I THINK RAZI AND THE TEAM ARE GREAT I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING -- THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT IS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF LEADERSHIP THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A DEPARTMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SPLIT INTO TWO AND RESTRUCTURED OR IF IT'S THE PROCESSES AND WHATNOT. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT -- NOT

AUDIT. >> WALSH: IT'S COMING BACK IN MAY.

YES, SIR. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: RECOMMENDATIONS?

>> WALSH: YES. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: PERFECT. THANK YOU.

LASTLY, JUST TIMELINE FOR BUDGET. I KNOW WE'RE AIMING FOR THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE TIME I WOULD WE'LL KNOW WHO OUR NEW COLLEAGUES WILL BE ON JUNE 7. LATE AT NIGHT, PROBABLY, BUT WE WILL KNOW WHO THEY ARE ON JUNE 7 AND SO I WOULD ASK THAT CITY STAFF BE VERY PROACTIVE IN REACHING OUT AND ENGAGING THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THERE'S NO SURPRISES AND THERE'S NO WEIRDNESS GETTING UP TO THE BUDGET GOAL-SETTING SESSION.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND. >> WALSH: I UNDERSTAND AND WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE DOING THAT. JUST REAL QUICK, COUNCILMAN. I MISSED SOMETHING.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MORE MONEY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE. INSTEAD OF WHAT PROGRAM?

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: NOT INSTEAD OF BUT I'M SAYING -- >> WALSH: GOOD THING I

ASKED. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'M NOT SAYING INSTEAD OF ANY

PROGRAMS. >> WALSH: SAY WHAT YOU SAID AGAIN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: WHAT I WANT TO STRESS AND REEMPHASIZE IS IF WE ARE CRITICIZING PROGRAMS OR IF WE'RE LOOKING TO FIND ANY CUTS, I THINK THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE WE WANT TO SEE THE OPPOSITE. WE KNOW THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS GOING TO PREVENT A NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS, WHETHER IT'S CRIME, WHETHER IT'S HOUSELESSNESS, WHETHER IT'S ANY OF THOSE THINGS. AND SO THAT'S AN AREA THAT I

WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BE CREATIVE ABOUT. >> WALSH: GOT IT.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? >> KAUR: YES, WE CAN HEAR

YOU. >> COURAGE: GOOD. I THINK WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE USEFUL FOR US TO KNOW BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO CHECK ON. EARLY ON WE TALKED ABOUT 758 POSITIONS IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET

RELATED TO FEDERAL FUNDING. WAS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, SIR.

>> COURAGE: AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID THAT HE FEELS LIKE WE'RE PRETTY GOOD IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN FOR THIS CURRENT BUDGET. BUT LET ME ASK.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT ALL THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE BEEN PROMISED HAS COME THROUGH FOR

THIS BUDGET YEAR? >> WALSH: THE WAY TYPICALLY THE FEDERAL FUNDING WORKS IS IT'S ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS. SO THEY DON'T ACTUALLY SEND US ALL THE MONEY.

IT'S ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS. NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM THAT STANDPOINT, AS OF YET.

>> COURAGE: OKAY. AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO TALK ABOUT THE SECOND 6 BY 6 AND START LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR.

WE'VE GOT $325 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET THAT -- YEAH. I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY IN OUR BUDGET -- THAT'S TIED TO FEDERAL FUNDING THIS YEAR. AND A LOT OF THAT GOES TO SOME OF OUR GENERAL PROGRAMS BUT A LOT OF IT GOES TO OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE NONPROFITS, ISN'T THAT

CORRECT? >>

[01:30:08]

PARTNERS TO THE DELEGATE AGENCY PROCESS. >> COURAGE: MONEY THAT WE GIVE OUT FOR DIFFERENT DELEGATE AGENCIES BUT WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH HOUSING AND THROUGH HUMAN SERVICES. YEAH, I'M WONDERING ARE MOST OF THESE 758 POSITIONS TIED TO THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE DOLLARS GOING OUT TO OTHER

ORGANIZATIONS? >> THOSE ARE ALL POSITIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY THAT

PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FOR THE CITY. >> COURAGE: OKAY.

SO IF WE FIND NEXT YEAR THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT AS MUCH FUNDING -- LET'S SAY THE WAY WE'RE HEARING THINGS COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON. HALF THAT FUNDING COULD BE GONE FOR A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT CUTS.

NOW, I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW. I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE ANALYSIS FROM THE CITY ON IF FUNDING WAS CUT IN HALF FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS -- AND THAT MIGHT BE CUT BECAUSE THEY'VE LAID OFF POSITIONS. AND SO THERE AREN'T PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON OR AUSTIN WHO CAN DO THE WORK SO IT SLOWS IT DOWN. ALSO, IT MAY MEAN THEY CUT ACTUAL FUNDING, LITERALLY, FROM WHAT GETS GRANTED OUT. BECAUSE CONGRESS SEEMS TO BE SITTING ON IT AND THEY'RE NOT DOING MUCH ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE AN ESTIMATE THAT IF WE WERE TO FIND OUT WE'VE GOT HALF THE FUNDING, WHAT PROGRAMS MIGHT BE AFFECTED MOST. I KNOW WE SAID HEAD START, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A BIG ONE .

SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW HAVE SOME KIND OF AN ESTIMATE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

IF WE END UP LOSING HALF OF OUR FUNDING, FEDERAL DOLLARS NEXT YEAR, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS MIGHT BE CUT. WHAT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE MAY NOT GET SERVICES ANYMORE. HOW THE CITY MAY HAVE TO REDUCE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE WITH, LET'S SAY, HALF OF $325 MILLION NOT SHOWING UP NEXT YEAR.

SO I JUST THINK IT'S PRUDENT PLANNING AT LEAST TO LOOK FORWARD.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY YOU CAN'T RUN AROUND SAYING THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING BUT, I DON'T KNOW. IF I WERE IN WASHINGTON, I'D BE DUCKING ALL THE TIME AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES COULD BE.

SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES GOING FORWARD.

THE OTHER THING I NOTICED ON THE SCHEDULE OF BUDGETING, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT A TEST BUDGET IN THERE THIS YEAR. AND ARE YOU ELIMINATING THAT,

ERIK, FROM OUR PLANS? >> OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TRIAL BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION SO THAT THE COUNCIL -- THE FULL COUNCIL CAN HEAR THAT TRIAL BUDGET.

>> COURAGE: JUST DIDN'T SEE THOSE WORDS "TRIAL BUDGET" IN THE PRESENTATION SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S STILL PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING.

OKAY. THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS I HAVE.

THANK YOU. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER PELAEZ -- OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO OUR SECOND ROUND THEN.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I'M NOT GOING TO TALK TOO MUCH.

THE DATE, THAT SEPTEMBER 18 DATE, I'M NOT -- I'M THINKING WE SHOULD DO IT EARLIER ON THE 11TH. BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE US A GOOD REASON WHY WE'RE WAITING TO THE 18TH, LET ME KNOW. JUST BECAUSE IN TERMS OF TRAVEL AND WITH A NEW MAYOR, INTERNATIONALLY, THAT'S NORMALLY A DATE WE TRAVEL ON. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. I'M JUST TRYING TO -- IF WE COULD GET IT DONE EARLIER, I

WOULD APPRECIATE IT. >> SO THE SEPTEMBER 18TH IS ACTUALLY DRIVEN BY WHEN WE PROPOSE THE BUDGET. WE HAVE TO GIVE 30 DAYS BETWEEN WHEN WE PROPOSE THE TAX RATE AND WHEN WE ADOPT THE TAX RATE. SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE

SEPTEMBER 18TH DATE. >> VIAGRAN: COULD IT BE LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 18TH?

>> BY CHARTER WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET BY SEPTEMBER 27TH.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IT JUST MAY BE PROBLEMATIC.

>> WE COULD PROPOSE EARLIER. >> VIAGRAN: LET'S DO THAT. THANK YOU.

[01:35:05]

>> KAUR: TH THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER DR. ROCHA

GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I LEFT OUT ONE THING FEDERAL NON-MILITARY EMPLOYEES HAVE ABOUT 2.9%, ALMOST 3% OF OUR TOTAL WORKFORCE AND SO IF WE LOSE A PORTION OF THOSE EMPLOYEES, I FEEL LIKE IT COULD DEFINITELY TAKE -- IMPACT FOR US REGIONALLY. SO CONSUMER ACTIVITY, BUSINESS ACTIVITY, ET CETERA, RIGHT? AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WATCH THAT, RIGHT, THE EMPLOYMENT LEVELS WE HEARD TODAY FROM BRENDA THAT WE HAVE -- IT LOOKS LIKE 4,000 GUARANTEED JOBS COMING, ANOTHER 10,000 AFTER THAT IN THE PIPELINE. AND THESE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE ABOUT 75% SUCCESS RATE OF GETTING REEMPLOYED, USUALLY. BUT WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO IN THE MEANTIME? SO HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT OUR SPENDING PATTERNS? HOW IS IT GOING TO AFFECT OUR CONTRACTING INDUSTRY? SO FOR INSTANCE A LOT OF THE ENTITIES THAT I REPRESENT ON PORT SAN ANTONIO BENEFIT FROM A LOT OF THE [INAUDIBLE].

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A DEPARTMENT AFFECTED BUT HOW CAN WORKFORCE REDUCTIONS AFFECT THEM? THE HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE MARKET IS ANOTHER ONE THAT I WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT. SO RENTAL DEMAND, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT US? IS IT GOING TO PUSH US DOWN INTO FURTHER VOLATILE, YOU KNOW, MARKETING -- I'M SORRY. MARKET DYNAMICS IN THE HOUSING RESPECT.

WE ALREADY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE MISSING MIDDLE SO IF THEY DOWNGRADE FROM SALARIES, HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP UP WITH THAT NEED? AND THEN I THINK I ALREADY MENTIONED BUT OUR TAX REVENUES. I'M JUST CONSIDERATE OF THAT.

AS WE MAKE PROJECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE, IF THAT DOES COME DOWN, IF WE DO LOSE SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, I THINK THAT IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE ALSO -- THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE IN THE BACK OF OUR HEADS. IT HASN'T HAPPENED BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOES HAPPEN? HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THAT? I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT. OUR OFFICE OF MILITARY AFFAIRS MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN SOME OF THAT AS WELL. BUT I'M JUST NERVOUS ABOUT THAT AND I HAD TO SAY THAT. I GOT THE INFORMATION. I ASKED WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO TO PUT TOGETHER SOME BASIC INFORMATION, WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. THEY ALMOST SAID WORD FOR WORD WHAT ERIK SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, WHICH IS REALLY NOBODY KNOWS RIGHT NOW AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE OPERATING AS JUST REGULAR. BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR IT, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMING YEARS. THAT'S IT.

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO ADD. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. SO ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO GO FOR A SECOND ROUND? I'LL END OFF WITH MY QUESTIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, JUSTINA. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO GATHER ALL THESE DOCUMENTS FOR US. I'LL MAKE THE REQUEST ONE MORE TIME. IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN GET THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE INSTEAD OF ONE. WE WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THE METRICS BUT IT'S HARD FOR US TO ALLOCATE THE TIME JUST THIS MORNING. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THEM. EXCITING ABOUT SOLID WASTE. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE OR LIKE THAT GAIN WE HAVE THERE BECAUSE WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT WE WERE

CHARGING FOR THOSE BINS? >> SO IN TERMS OF THE REVENUES THAT WE'RE COLLECTING, WE'RE ACTUALLY RECEIVING A BETTER PRICE PER TON ON THE COMMODITIES THAT WE RECYCLE.

WE HAD PROJECTED ABOUT $89 PER TON. WE'RE SEEING ABOUT $129 PER TON AND THAT'S DRIVEN BY CARDBOARD, PLASTICS, ALUMINUM. THAT'S WONDERFUL.

DOES THAT MEAN WE WON'T HAVE TO INCREASE RATES AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR RESIDENTS?

>> WALSH: WE'LL SEE, COUNCILWOMAN. BUT IF ANYTHING WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE TO RECYCLE. BECAUSE THAT IS HELPING BALANCE

OUT OUR REVENUE PICTURE. >> KAUR: YEAH. IF THERE WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD EMPHASIZE MORE OF THE RECYCLING EFFORTS SO WE COULD SEE WHAT IMPACT WE WOULD HAVE TO BETTER PROJECT THIS NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO NOT HAVE TO INCREASE AGAIN.

WHICH I KNOW WE ARE STILL UNDER MARKET IN COMPARISON TO SOME OF OUR OTHER CITIES BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S A COST OUR RESIDENTS HAVE TO TAKE ON AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND SAVE THEM DOLLARS AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT'S A WIN-WIN.

JUMPING INTO SOME OF THE BUDGET INITIATIVES FROM THE REPORT. I'M GOING TO START WITH DSD.

I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE ASKED THE STRATEGIC PLAN QUESTION BUT FOR THE STR OFFICER, MIKE, CAN YOU TELL US -- I WASN'T ABLE TO UNDERSTAND.

DOES THE 25% MEAN WE HAVE HIRED THE OFFICER ALREADY? >> NO.

I MEAN, THE OFFICER HAS BEEN HIRED BUT WE'RE DOING MORE OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS THAN WE

[01:40:02]

>> KAUR: BUT THAT OFFICER HAS BEEN HIRED? >> YES.

>> KAUR: GREAT. IS THAT OFFICER WORKING JUST NORMAL -- ARE THEY DOING THE

INVESTIGATIONS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS? >> THEIR NORMAL IS KIND OF A NORMAL WORK DAY. IF THEY HAVE A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT, THEY'LL DO THAT.

SO IT'S NOT ASSIGNED AS A NIGHTTIME JOB. >> KAUR: BASED ON THAT POLICY CHANGE, I KNOW THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT IN DISTRICT 1 BUT ARE THERE OTHER CASES YOU WORKED ON WHERE YOU WERE ABLE TO CLOSE DOWN SOME BUSINESSES BASED ON CODE?

>> WE HAVE SHUT DOWN SEVERAL. I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND RESEARCH AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. I DIDN'T GO THROUGH ALL THAT DATA BEFORE THIS.

BUT I WILL. >> KAUR: THANKS, MIKE. THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IS ON THE LOW-BARRIER SHELTER. I ACTUALLY WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA THAT WE HAVE ON OUR DASHBOARD WEBSITE. AND THE NUMBERS SEEM A LITTLE HIGHER.

650 FOR THE SHELTER. I DON'T KNOW IF LORI OR SOMEONE WANTS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ON HOW -- WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO.

>> THE PROJECT HAS BEEN FUNDED SINCE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND SO THAT DASHBOARD IS LOOKING AT THE FULL DURATION OF THE PROGRAM, THE LOW-BARRIER SHELTER PROGRAM.

THIS BUDGET INITIATIVE IS JUST THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2025.

>> KAUR: MAYBE IF YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK. WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARDS, I WAS TRYING TO FILTER FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY.

I'M JUST TRYING TO -- WE SET METRICS METRICS ACTUALLY SEEM A LOT HIGHER ON THAT DASHBOARD VERSUS WHAT WAS PORTRAYED, SO I WAS JUST MAKING SURE -- I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS SPECIFIC ARPA FUNDS WE WERE REPORTING ON IN

THAT REPORT. >> NO. WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S

RECONCILED. >> WALSH: DID YOU FILTER IT OCTOBER TO JANUARY?

>> KAUR: YEAH. >> WALSH: THESE NUMBERS ARE OCTOBER TO DECEMBER.

>> KAUR: GOT IT. WE'LL GO BACK AND LOOK. >> KAUR: MY QUESTION IS I KNOW THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PROGRAM AND IT'S ARPA FUNDED .

I WOULD HOPE TO SEE IT CONTINUES. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S REALLY SUCCESSFUL. FINDING DOLLARS FROM WHEREVER THEY NEED TO COME TO YOU AND IF THEY'RE FROM OUR GENERAL FUND THIS UPCOMING YEAR I HOPE IS A PRIORITY.

WE CAN TOUCH BACK ON THAT DURING GOAL SETTING AS WELL. RENTAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I KNOW THE PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT NOW.

IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY HARD FOR SOME OF MY RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO HOURS THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT PAPERWORK. I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH.

BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS YOU SAID THAT THERE WAS LIKE 130 THAT WERE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FROM TODAY OUT OF THE 700 THAT APPLIED. WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE REST OF THEM? YOU SAID WE COULD ONLY SUPPORT.

WAS THAT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE EVICTION LETTERS? I KNOW THIS JUST HAPPENED A

COUPLE OF HOURS AGO. >> YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN.

WHEN WE CLOSED THIS MOST RECENT ROUND WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 730 APPLICATIONS.

JUST BASED ON THE WAY WE'RE ALLOCATING OUR FUNDING PER MONTH OVER THE SPAN OF THE YEAR, WE ESTIMATE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ABOUT 130. WHAT WE DO IS NOT ALL THOSE APPLICATIONS NECESSARILY HAVE NOTICES TO VACATE OR COURT-ORDERED EVICTIONS, SO WE PRIORITIZE THOSE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>> KAUR: GOT IT. DO WE CONNECT THE PEOPLE IN THAT PIPELINE TO READY TO WORK

AND SOME OF OUR OTHER WORKFORCE PROGRAMS? >> WE DO.

WE CONNECT THEM TO ANY RESOURCES WE HAVE. WE HAVE HOUSING NAVIGATORS THAT CAN HELP THEM TO OTHER NONPROFITS THAT MAY HAVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

WE TRY AND HELP ANYONE. >> KAUR: IS THAT TRACKED HOW MANY FOLKS GET RENTAL

ASSISTANCE AND ALSO TRY TO GO FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM? >> I DON'T THINK WE TRACK THAT,

SPECIFICALLY, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. >> KAUR: YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS WORKFORCE PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE WANT TO DEFINITELY -- COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE IN HOMES BUT ALSO FIGURE OUT OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM. SINCE WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME SPACE IN READY TO WORK, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE WHAT THAT CONNECTION WOULD BE.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION -- I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS YOU. BUT THE LOW-INCOME WEATHERIZATION AND UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, THOSE HAD BIG DELAYS ON THEM.

THERE WAS ONLY LIKE THREE OF 75 IDENTIFIED FOR COOL ROOFS. WHAT WAS THE GAP THERE?

>> YEAH. RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST GOING THROUGH OUR EXISTING APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE AND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE LOCATED WITHIN THOSE AREAS THAT WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING FOR THE PROGRAM. AFTER WE GO THROUGH THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS AND START GETTING HOMEOWNERS -- BASICALLY THROUGH THE PAPERWORK PORTION

OF IT, THOSE WILL START TO MOVE FASTER. >> KAUR: RIGHT NOW WE HAVE APPROVED AND COMPLETED THREE BUT WE MAY HAVE RECEIVED MORE APPLICATIONS?

>> CORRECT. WE HAVE MORE HOMES WE'RE WORKING ON.

IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL HOMES WE'LL DO OUR OUTREACH. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. WE CAN WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> KAUR: GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON

[01:45:04]

AND IF WE COULD BREAK THAT DOWN FURTHER TO SEE IN EACH YEAR OF THE FIVE-YEAR BOND PROGRAM, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PROJECTS ARE IN DESIGN VERSUS IN CONSTRUCTION VERSUS -- SO WE'RE BREAKING IT DOWN FURTHER. AND THEN TRACKING THOSE METRICS.

I THINK ON BUDGET AND ON TIME SHOULD BE PRETTY EASILY TRACKED SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE COULD ADD THAT. AND THEN THE SAME THING WITH PROCUREMENT. ON PAGE 58 THERE WAS A GOAL FOR VENDOR TERMS. I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD BE THE ONE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. BUT 88% -- I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY

OUR GOAL IS TO PAY 88% ON TIME. >> THANK YOU.

WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR ON-TIME PAYMENTS, THERE ARE A PERIOD OF PAYMENTS OR SET OF PAYMENTS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO SEND BACK TO THE VENDOR BECAUSE THE INVOICE MAY NOT BE CORRECT OR THE DELIVERY WASN'T COMPLETED CORRECTLY, SO IT COMPENSATES FOR THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT MEASURE TO ACTUALLY PULL THOSE OUT SO YOU HAVE A TRUE

MEASURE. >> KAUR: THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

I'M BASICALLY TRYING TO SEE IS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY ON TIME OR IS THERE SOME KIND OF HICCUP. THANK YOU. AND THE LAST QUESTION IS FOR HR. I KNOW IT'S 48 BUSINESS DAYS AND INITIALLY I WAS LIKE, OH, THAT'S ONLY A MONTH AND A HALF BUT BUSINESS DAYS MEANS IT'S NINE WEEKS TO HIRE AND FILL A POSITION. I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BREAK DOWN THAT MEASURE TOO INTO HOW LONG THE JOB IS OPEN, HOW LONG IT'S TAKING DEPARTMENTS TO ACTUALLY INTERVIEW AND SELECT.

AND THEN AFTER SELECTION WHAT IS THE TIMELINE TO ACTUALLY GET THEM IN THE POSITION.

>> WE CAN WORK WITH HR ON THAT. >> KAUR: AWESOME.

I'LL END OFF BY SAYING THAT DURING OUR BUDGET SESSIONS IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT THESE MEASURES A LITTLE BIT MORE SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT TO SEE IN THE 3 PLUS 9 AND 6 PLUS 6 SO MAKING SURE WE'RE ALL ALIGNED ON THE OUTCOMES.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE REPORT WAS BASICALLY OUR OUTPUT . WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, DID WE DO IT. BUT WHAT IS THE MEASURE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO. IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT DURING BUDGET, THAT WOULD ALSO BE GREAT. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY -- THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND BEING HERE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS FOR US. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SECOND ITEM, PASS IT OVER TO

YOU, ERIK. >> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.

WHILE EVERYBODY'S GATHERING OUT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS YOU GO THROUGH THOSE REPORTS, THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF STAYING ON TOP OF NOT ONLY JUST OUR CORE FUNCTIONS BUT ALSO THE NEW INITIATIVES. SO WE'LL KEEP ON TOP OF THAT.

SO THE SECOND ITEM -- AND SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

HUMAN RESOURCES IS GOING TO -- SORRY. HUMAN SERVICES IS GOING TO PROVIDE A PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING AND AN UPDATE ON THE 26-27 HUMAN SERVICES CONSOLIDATE PROCESS. THIS IS A BIENNIAL PROCESS THAT IS INTENDED TO ENSURE WE'RE CONTRACTING FOR HUMAN OR SOCIAL SERVICES WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS DELEGATE AGENCIES. THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR PRIORITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT'S LONG-TERM GOALS. SO YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY WILL BE CRITICAL. AS SEVERAL OF YOU POINTED OUT, FOR RIGHT NOW IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WE HAVE ALMOST $25 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT INCLUDES -- THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS GENERAL FUND. THERE'S SOME GRANT FUNDING IN THERE. AS WE GO THROUGH THIS RFP PROCESS IT WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE FISCAL YEAR '26 PROPOSED BUDGET. SO JESSICA IS GOING TO START US

OFF AND WALK US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, ERIK.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM AND CITY COUNCIL. AS ERIK MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING A VERY QUICK BRIEFING ON THE HUMAN SERVICES CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS.

FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR INPUT ON POLICY OPTIONS THAT WILL HELP GUIDE THE PROCESS AND INVESTMENT PRIORITIES. SO SPECIFICALLY DURING THE PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO PROVIDE BOTH THE BACKGROUND ON THE PROCESS AS WELL AS REVIEW THE FUNDING PRIORITIES, THE ESTIMATED BUDGET AND TIMELINE. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE REVIEWING THOSE POLICY OPTIONS FOR YOUR INPUT. AND LASTLY, SINCE THIS IS A HIGH-PROFILE SOLICITATION, I'LL BE PROVIDING A VERY BRIEF PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING.

[01:50:01]

SO FOR HUMAN SERVICES, THAT MEANS WE'RE ALSO FOCUSING ON INCORPORATING THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR STATUS OF POVERTY REPORT, SENIOR SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN, AND OPPORTUNITY YOUTH REENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. BUT IT ALSO SUPPORTS LARGER CITY INITIATIVES. THAT INCLUDES THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK PLAN, AND NEW FOR THIS YEAR WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE INCLUDE PARTICIPANTS AND ASK FOR PRIORITIZATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN. AS MENTIONED, THE PROCESS IS A TWO-YEAR PROCESS SO WE ISSUE A NOW CONSOLIDATED FUNDING RFP EVERY TWO YEARS.

THE TWO-YEAR PROCESS FOR THIS YEAR BEGAN WITH COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS AND FOCUS GROUPS CONDUCTED FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY. IT DOES CONTINUE TODAY WITH YOUR INPUT ON SPECIFIC POLICY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE. AND WE ANTICIPATE RELEASING THAT RFP ON MARCH 3. THE RFP WOULD THEN BE OPEN FOR 45 DAYS AND CLOSE ON APRIL 18.

FOLLOWING THE CLOSING WE WOULD BE CONDUCTING SOME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS WITH AGENCIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WALKING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND PROVIDING STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS. THE RFP WOULD THEN BE OPEN FOR 45 DAYS AND CLOSE ON APRIL 18. EVALUATION PANELS WILL BE REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET IN AUGUST.

WE ARE AGAIN FOR THIS CYCLE PROPOSING A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT TERM WITH RENEWAL DEPENDENT ON PERFORMANCE OF INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS AS WELL AS FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

AND JUST TO RECAP, AS ERIK MENTIONED, THE FISCAL YEAR '25 ADOPTED BUDGET DID INCLUDE ABOUT $25 MILLION FOR THIS PROCESS. THAT FUNDED 52 AGENCIES TO PROVIDE 83 PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY. OF THAT AMOUNT, ABOUT $20.4 MILLION WAS IN GENERAL FUND AND $4 MILLION WAS IN GRANT FUNDS.

THAT DID INCLUDE $500,000 IN ARPA FUNDING THAT IS EXPIRING THIS YEAR THAT WAS USED TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION INVESTMENTS.

OF THE OVERALL FUNDING AMOUNT, 62% WAS COMPETITIVELY AWARDED AND 38% WAS DESIGNATED BASED ON CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION. WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THIS FISCAL YEAR MORE THAN 60,000 RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH THIS FUNDING INVESTMENT.

TWICE A YEAR WE PUBLISH OUR PERFORMANCE RESULTS TO AN ONLINE DASHBOARD THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. YOU CAN SEE THE LINK TO THAT DASHBOARD ON THE SLIDE HERE.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO START THIS PROCESS, WE CONDUCTED SOME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INPUT SESSIONS AND FOCUS GROUPS BETWEEN OCTOBER AND JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.

FOLLOWING THOSE SESSIONS, A TOTAL OF 125 ATTENDEES DID COMPLETE A POST-SURVEY FOR US.

IN THOSE COMMENTS, ABOUT HALF OF THE RESPONDENTS IN THEIR COMMENTS REFLECTED THE NEED FOR BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS FUNDING PRIORITIES, AS WELL AS WRAPAROUND SERVICES. AMONG THE RESPONDENTS, CHILDREN AND YOUTH RANKED AS OUR TOP PRIORITY WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON EXPANDING THE AGES THAT WE SERVE THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING INVESTMENTS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION AND SUPPORTING CRISIS NURSERIES. THEY ASKED THAT WE LOOK AT PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES.

INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RANKED AS THE SECOND HIGHEST PRIORITY AMONG RESPONDENTS WITH A REQUEST WE FOCUS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY AND COUNSELING. OLDER ADULTS RANKED AS THE THIRD HIGHEST PRIORITY WITH A REQUEST THAT WE SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON SOCIAL ISOLATION, SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS AND HOME BOUND OLDER ADULTS AND EXPAND ASSISTANCE TO FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS. IN THE AREA OF HOMELESSNESS, RESPONSIBILITIES ASKED THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES AS WELL AS SUPPORT STABLE HOUSING. AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, WE DID INCLUDE SOME PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF CITY RESEARCH. THIS IS BEING DONE THROUGH THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION AS PART OF THAT BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS. THE PRELIMINARY RESEARCH SHOWS US THAT CITY INVESTMENTS FOR SAN ANTONIO ARE VERY ALIGNED WITH THOSE THAT ARE DONE BY AUSTIN, PHOENIX, AND DALLAS.

WE WILL BE CONTINUING THIS RESEARCH TO GET FURTHER INTO THE WAY THAT THEY CONDUCT THEIR PROCESSES, HOW THEY DO MONITORING, AND REALLY HOW THEY LOOK AT MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT THAT WILL HELP US TO INFORM OUR OWN PROCESSES, WHERE APPLICABLE. FISCAL YEAR '26 ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDING IS AT $24.81 MILLION. THIS IS BASED ON THE FISCAL YEAR '25 ADOPTED BUDGET AS OUR

[01:55:06]

THE REMAINING FUNDS WOULD BE DESIGNATED FOR THE HAVEN FOR HOPE FOR CAMPUS OPERATIONS AND CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES. SHOULD COUNCIL CHOOSE TO CONTINUE THE DESIGNATED FUNDING, A LITTLE OVER $15 MILLION WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALLOCATE THROUGH THE COMPETITIVE POOL. BASED ON BOTH DESIGNATED FUNDING AND COMPETITIVE FUNDING, ROUGHLY 31% IS ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCESS, INCLUDING STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT THE NEXT LEVEL YOUTH PROGRAM.

9% TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS IMPROVING FINANCIAL SECURITY. NOW I DO WANT TO NOTE THIS DOES INCLUDE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY BY THIS COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCILS. WE ARE AWARE THAT A BILL HAS BEEN FILED IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT LEGAL SERVICES FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSELY WATCHING THAT AND IF CHANGES IN LEGISLATION ARE MADE, WE WOULD ADJUST OUR PROCESS AS APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW. 50% IS ALSO ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT ENDING HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES INCLUDING THE DESIGNATED FUNDING. THE REMAINING 10% WOULD SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND SOME LIMITED INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. FOR THIS CYCLE, WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING TO CONTINUE SOME OF THE FUNDING STRATEGIES THAT WE'VE USED PREVIOUSLY. THAT WOULD INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING A DATA-DRIVEN PROCESS TO IDENTIFY THE POPULATIONS MOST IN NEED OF SERVICES.

THIS INCLUDES SPECIFICALLY USING DATA RESOURCES AS IDENTIFIED FOR EACH OF OUR FUNDING PRIORITIES TO THEN DIRECT INVESTMENTS WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST IN THE COMMUNITY. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IN OUR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION CATEGORY. WE LOOK AT ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE IN SPECIFIC ZIP CODES AND WE LOOK FOR THE 15 ZIP CODES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE, BASED ON THE POPULATION WITHIN THAT ZIP CODE WE'RE DOING THAT SAME PROCESS WITH EACH OF THE FUNDING PRIORITIES THAT WE RECOMMEND.

WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SO THAT WE'RE MAKING IT EASY FOR SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. AND FURTHER, WE ARE CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EVALUATION PANELS ARE DIVERSE AND INCLUDE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING.

SO TODAY WE ARE BRINGING YOU SIX POLICY OPTIONS FOR YOUR INPUT.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE FINALIZE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND 2027 PRIORITIES. WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE IN IDENTIFYING WHETHER OR NOT WE CONTINUE DESIGNATION OF $9.7 MILLION FOR HOMELESSNESS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. NEW FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE BRINGING TWO ADDITIONAL POLICY OPTIONS. THE FIRST IS A CRISIS NURSERY PROGRAM SET ASIDE THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING AT ALLOCATING FROM THIS PROCESS TO AWARD THROUGH A SEPARATE SOLICITATION IN THE FALL. AS YOU'LL REMEMBER, COUNCIL HAD GIVEN US AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ENGAGING IN A FEASIBILITY STUDY. THAT STUDY IS GOING TO BE COMING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR A CONTRACT AWARD IN MARCH. AND IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST. BASED ON THAT STUDY, WE WOULD THEN RECOMMEND THAT WE ISSUE A SOLICITATION TO ACTUALLY SOLICIT THE PROGRAM SERVICES RECOMMENDED AS PART OF THAT STUDY. WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR YOUR INPUT IN RAISING THE MINIMUM FUNDING AWARD FROM $50,000 TO $100,000 PER YEAR AND THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM NONPROFIT AGENCIES AS WELL AS INTERNALLY REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH GRANT FUNDING. WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING CONTINUING TWO POLICY OPTIONS THAT WERE IN THE PRIOR CYCLE AND A FEW PRIOR CYCLES.

ONE IS THAT WE WOULD HOLD APPLICANT INPUT SESSIONS SO THAT APPLICANTS CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEIR SPECIFIC PROPOSALS PRIOR TO BUDGET ADOPTION. AND AN ABBREVIATED NON-COMMUNICATION PERIOD FOR CITY COUNCIL. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING AS PART OF OUR ONGOING PROCESS.

NOT JUST THROUGH THE SOLICITATION BUT AS PART OF OUR MONITORING AND OTHER PARTS OF

[02:00:01]

WE COMPLETED AN ANALYSIS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE FINALLY IMPLEMENTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. AND WE'VE ALSO CONVERTED FROM AN ORIGINAL MANUAL-BASED SYSTEM TO AN ONLINE DIGITAL SUBMISSION SYSTEM. THE RESULTS OF THAT IS IT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED PROCESSES BUT IT'S ALSO INCREASED OUR FOCUS ON VERY STRINGENT COMPLIANCE REPORTING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR FROM DELEGATE AGENCIES IS SOMETIMES A BURDEN. SO WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE AGENCY'S PERFORMANCE AND THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE HAVING ACROSS FUNDING PRIORITIES. JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THAT, RIGHT NOW WE'RE COLLECTING 449 PERFORMANCE METRICS ACROSS AGENCY PROGRAMS AND AN ADDITIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC METRICS THAT WE'RE USING TO DO 100% VALIDATION ON.

IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING FOR OUR STAFF AND AGENCIES. SO THIS CYCLE WE ARE BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE FIRST IS THAT WE'RE REALLY USING RISK ASSESSMENTS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS COMPLETED TO HELP US BETTER IDENTIFY AUDIO]. SO IF AN AGENCY IS LOW RISK, WE'RE LOOKING AT DO THEY NEED TO HAVE A REVIEW EVERY YEAR OR CAN WE DO A REVIEW EVERY OTHER YEAR AND THINGS OF THAT LIKE.

THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING ARE STANDARDIZING AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING. THAT WILL HELP US ANALYZE PERFORMANCE ACROSS PRIORITIES WHERE THEY'RE ALL REPORTING ON THE SAME THINGS AS WELL AS REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH COLLECTING AND ANALYZING THAT.

AND WE'RE ALSO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DEMOGRAPHIC MEASURES THAT WE'RE COLLECTING.

WE'RE MODIFYING OUR PROGRAM PERFORMANCE TOOLS AND MONITORING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR DUPLICATE INFORMATION OR MONITORING THINGS REPETITIVELY.

IF WE MONITOR SOMETHING DURING A CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION PLAN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MONITOR THAT ON SITE. WE'RE PROVIDING AGENCIES WITH ADDITIONAL NOTICE ABOUT WHAT THE MONITORING IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE SO IT WILL GIVE THEM BETTER TIME TO PREPARE AND AVOID ANY INTERRUPTION IN SERVICES WHEN WE ARE VISITING THEM ON SITE.

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL IDENTIFY THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS THAT WITH THAT, I WILL DO A VERY BRIEF PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING.

SO AS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE RFP PROCESS, IT IS DESIGNATED AS HIGH-PROFILE AND THE ESTIMATED CONTRACT VALUE OVER THE TWO-YEAR TERM IS $49.6 MILLION.

THIS ESTIMATED VALUE IS -- SO IF COUNCIL WERE TO GIVE US GUIDANCE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE FUNDING AT THE CURRENT LEVELS, THAT POOL WOULD BE $30.2 MILLION.

THE SOLICITATION WILL BE WIDELY ADVERTISED AMONG CURRENTLY-FUNDED AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND FUNDERS AS WELL AS ADVERTISED ON TVSA, AND EXPRESS NEWS.

EVALUATION PANELS WILL INCLUDE ABOUT 10 TO 12 THAT WILL SCORE AND REVIEW ALL PROPOSALS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THOSE PANELS WILL BE DIVERSE. THEY WILL INCLUDE CITY STAFF, BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS, INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY FUNDERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. SCORING FOR THE EVALUATION IS PROPOSED TO INCLUDE 30 POINTS FOR EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND, AND QUALIFICATIONS. 45 POINTS FOR THE PROPOSED PROGRAM PLAN. AND 25 POINTS FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT BUDGET.

FOR THIS SOLICITATION, THE SBEDA PROGRAM AND VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS ARE WAIVED. HOWEVER WE ARE WAITING ON NOTIFICATION FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON OUR ABILITY TO APPLY LOCAL PREFERENCE POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SOLICITATION. THAT FEEDBACK WILL HELP DETERMINE FINAL SCORING FOR THIS PROJECT. IN SUMMARY, OUR NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO FINALIZE THE RFP BASED ON THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVE TODAY FROM COUNCIL.

WE'LL THEN HOLD PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE ON MARCH 17 AND TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS ON MARCH 18 THROUGH 20. THE RFP WILL CLOSE ON APRIL 18 AND WE'LL USE MAY THROUGH JUNE TO SCORE AND FINALIZE EVALUATIONS.

RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND ADOPTED AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. THAT DOES CONCLUDE THE PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE POLICY OPTIONS WE'VE PRESENTED, PROCESS, TIMELINE, OR ANYTHING ELSE.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO START OFF REALLY QUICKLY AND WE CAN MOVE TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT SOME OF OUR DELEGATE PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE. WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, GOODSAM, UP PARTNERSHIP, AND FOOD BANK

[02:05:06]

THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING. I JUST WANTED TO START OFF WITH A FEW COMMENTS THAT I WAS HOPING SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON AS WELL.

THIS WAS SOMETHING SUPER INTERESTING AND PASSIONATE TO ME.

I THINK COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO -- SO I THINK IF ANYTHING WE SHOULD BE REALLY DOUBLING DOWN ON THIS WORK . WE SAW A BIG PUSH LAST BUDGET CYCLE FROM FOLKS WHO WANTED US TO FOCUS MORE ON YOUTH ADVOCACY AND YOUTH WORK AND I KNOW WE STARTED A TASK FORCE AND WE'RE SLOWLY MOVING THAT FORWARD AND WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE INPUT ON THAT WORK. BUT ALL THAT TO SAY I THINK THIS WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

MY TEAM WAS ABLE TO GO OUT AND TALK TO SOME OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ABOUT SEVEN, SINCE YOU BRIEFED ME ON THIS LAST WEEK. AND ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT I GOT ASKED WAS ABOUT THE MINIMUM AWARD. SO THE MINIMUM AWARD IS NOW GOING TO $100,000 AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING IS IF WE'RE NOT INCREASING THE POT AND WE'RE CHANGING THE MINIMUM AWARD, WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE AT LEAST DECREASING A HANDFUL OF DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY RELIED ON FUNDING, POTENTIALLY ARE NOT GETTING FEDERAL FUNDING IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT. AND NOW ALSO MAY NOT GET CITY FUNDING. SO I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY A WORRY FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SPOKE WITH. IF THERE IS ROOM TO GROW THAT AND THERE IS ENOUGH COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE AT LEAST WE WERE FUNDING THE SAME AMOUNT OF ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT CHANGE.

ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MAYBE ASKING FOR ANOTHER SESSION, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE METRICS.

THE BIGGEST PUSHBACK THAT I GOT FROM ORGANIZATIONS -- I EVEN TALKED TO SOMEONE TODAY WHO USED TO WORK AS THE CEO OF A PREVIOUS DELEGATE AGENCY, WAS IT IS SO TIME CONSUMING TO FILL OUT METRICS AND THEY'RE LIKE SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT WORTH THE $70,000 THAT THEY'RE GETTING FOR THE AMOUNT OF REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO FULFILL.

SO I JUST SPENT THE LAST TEN MINUTES TALKING ABOUT METRICS AND METRICS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AND AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIPS PARTICULARLY FOR OUR NONPROFITS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SEE IT AS THIS IS TRULY FOR PARTNERSHIP PURPOSES AND NOT AS HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME? IF THEY GAVE US A SIGN-UP SHEET, THAT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.

MAYBE JUST HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DISCUSSION. WE GOT A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT UNITED WAY ASKS FOR AND A LOT OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES GET MONEY FROM UNITED WAY.

AND I KNOW YOU SHARED HOW ALIGNED WE ARE BUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO TIGHTEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT AND GO THROUGH EACH, LOVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE. AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING THAT PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM CHALLENGE METRICS, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH METRICS ARE GOING TO BE VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED. THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH AREAS ARE WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST OVERLAP. I HAVE A SLIDE I CAN SHARE THAT SHOWS IT. SO THAT AREA IS KEY AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT ALIGNMENT.

THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS WE HAVE ALSO HEARD FROM AGENCIES JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF METRICS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. BY THE SAME TOKEN IT'S DIFFICULT FOR OUR STAFF. WE DO 100% VALIDATION, WHICH IS TIME CONSUMING.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE FOUR TO FIVE KEY METRICS THAT WOULD TELL YOU WHAT THE STORY IS RELATED TO THE SERVICES BEING OFFERED BY THAT PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT IT TO. RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE AGENCIES REPORTING ON SEVEN TO TEN METRICS. AS YOU SAID IT'S VERY TIME

CONSUMING. >> KAUR: GREAT. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT SO MAYBE WHEN THAT IS DEVELOPED WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT TO MAKE SURE.

THE LAST TWO COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS THAT I JUST WANTED TO ASK WERE, ONE, FOR THE INVESTMENT PRIORITIES. WERE THOSE DEVELOPED PREVIOUSLY BASED ON COUNCIL DISCUSSION? JUST THE ONLY REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY FRAMED IN TERMS OF GOALS.

THEY'RE FRAMED IN TERMS OF -- I DON'T KNOW IF ASPIRATION IS THE RIGHT WORD.

HOW DID THOSE COME UP. >> THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. THIS IS CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

WE STARTED AND REALLY WHEN THE PROCESS WAS FIRST IMPLEMENTED IN 2005 THERE WAS A SURVEY THAT WENT OUT TO COUNCIL THAT SHOWED THE CATEGORIES. IT SHOWED CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND HOW MUCH WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVEST IN THAT CATEGORY. WE WENT THROUGH A COMMUNITY PROCESS AND A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS IN 2020 THAT ACTUALLY WE WENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SAID THESE ARE THE FUNDING PRIORITIES WE HAVE.

WHAT INDICATORS DO YOU THINK HELPED TELL US THAT STORY OF WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY AND ESTABLISH PRIORITY GOALS WITH THAT. THAT'S INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RFP. AND WE HAVE THAT FOR EVERY FUNDING PRIORITY THAT WE FUND.

WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH COUNCIL AS WELL. >> KAUR: I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN

[02:10:05]

AND I THINK, YEAH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND ALSO ARE WE GOING TO REVISIT MAYBE AFTER FIVE YEARS, LIKE 2025 TO SEE -- I GUESS WE ARE. WOW, IT'S 2025.

TO SEE IF WE NEED TO RELOOK AT SOME OF THOSE GOALS AND GET MORE COMMUNITY INPUT, ESPECIALLY NOW SINCE WE HAVE SO MUCH CHANGE POTENTIALLY HAPPENING.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE LAST QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK IS -- OR COMMENTS TO MAKE.

I AGREE THE CRISIS NURSERY WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO. I ALSO THINK THAT IF WE SET THAT MONEY ASIDE, WE'RE ALSO JUST TAKING MORE MONEY AWAY FROM DELEGATE AGENCIES.

I KNOW I'M JUST SAYING MORE AND NOT LESS BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR COUNCIL COMMENTS ON THAT TOO WHERE I THINK THAT WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AS AN ADD-ON AND NOT INSTEAD OF. I'LL STOP THERE FOR NOW AND WE CAN GO TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

SO FIRST UP WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER DR. ROCHA GARCIA.

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I'LL KIND OF REEMPHASIZE WHAT I SAID EARLIER. WHEN WE HAD OUR PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WE SAW A LOT OF NEED FOR THE FOCUS ON INEQUITIES THAT HAVE PERSISTED FOR GENERATIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES WAS OBVIOUSLY THE HEALTH EQUITY.

A LOT OF THESE NONPROFITS WORK ON FOOD INSECURITY AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, ET CETERA.

AND SO I JUST CONTINUE TO FEEL THE NEED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE ACTUAL WORK.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S SEVERAL NONPROFITS WITHIN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CONSIDERED THE FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT'S WHERE OUR RESIDENTS GO. THEY DON'T KNOW TO COME TO OUR COUNCIL OFFICES SOMETIMES BUT THEY KNOW TO GO TO PLACES LIKE THE GOODSAM.

I THINK THAT'S THE TYPE OF REPUTATION THAT THEY HAVE CREATED THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT SERVE ANYBODY IN NEED AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED IN A LOT OF THESE CASES. I FEEL LIKE -- AND I AGREE WITH DR. KAUR ON THE METRICS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OR JUST DISCUSSING IS WHAT REALLY IS NEEDED. WHAT IS KIND OF THAT OVER EMPHASIS.

WHERE ELSE CAN WE PICK UP SOME OF THIS DATA THAT WE WOULD NEED.

THERE WAS A REALLY GOOD REPORT IN 2024 THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION. I JUST PULLED IT UP TO REFRESH MY MEMORY.

AND ESSENTIALLY THEY WERE TRYING TO REMIND US TO GET AWAY FROM THE POST-PANDEMIC VIEW.

AND SO TO LOOK AHEAD AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS COMING NEXT.

I THINK THEY WERE DOING THAT AS JUST A REMINDER THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE CHANGES UP AHEAD.

I THINK THAT THEY DID A GOOD JOB OF KIND OF SOUNDING THE ALARM EVEN A YEAR AGO ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE COMING DOWN THE LINE. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY GOT TOGETHER WITH ALL THE NONPROFITS. THAT SAID, SOME OF THE SMALLER NONPROFITS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE OPERATING ALMOST IN DEFICIT, ALWAYS.

AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT ARE IN THE INNER CITY THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPORTING THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.

I WANTED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT-SO COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND I WORKED ON THE CRISIS NURSERY. I DO THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL.

I THINK THAT A CRISIS NURSERY MIGHT ACTUALLY COME INTO PLAY, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF KIDS THAT MIGHT BE LEFT WITHOUT A PARENT SOONER THAN LATER FOR WHATEVER REASON IT IS. AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE HAVE THAT -- I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH DR. KAUR. IT SHOULDN'T BE EITHER/OR. BUT I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN -- WHAT SUPPORT WE CAN OFFER THAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE. SO THERE'S SOME NONPROFITS IN THAT REPORT THAT HAVE A STAFF OF ONE. AND HOW DO WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEM TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. AND SO I KNOW THAT THE TERM "MERGER" IN NONPROFITS IS A SCARY WORD. AND I UNDERSTAND WHY AND I COULD SEE. BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S STILL THE INTENTION TO SERVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. IT'S ALSO IN THAT REPORT IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT SOME OF THE LARGER NONPROFITS ARE ACTUALLY OPERATING WITH EXCESS REVENUE. HOW DO WE GET THOSE NONPROFITS THAT ARE OPERATING WITH EXCESS REVENUE TO GATHER TOGETHER AND TO HELP THE NONPROFITS THAT REALLY, AGAIN, ARE DOING THE WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW A LOT OF NONPROFIT

[02:15:04]

EVERY TIME THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE, FOR INSTANCE, A COLD FRONT THAT'S COMING IN.

IT'S OUR NONPROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE. CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS BLANKETS OUT THERE AND SCARVES, ET CETERA. BUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN EVERY TIME THAT THERE'S SOMEONE WHO IS VULNERABLE, WHO IS IN NEED OF SUPPORT, IT'S THESE NONPROFITS. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW I WOULD -- I AGREE WITH DR. KAUR. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DOUBLE DOWN ON HOW WE SUPPORT OUR NONPROFITS AND, SURE, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THE WAY THAT I UNDERSTAND THE NONPROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED ARE OPERATING BASED OFF OF WHAT WE SAID AS A COUNCIL THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE. SO IT'S NOT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT, IT'S UNDER THE PRIORITIES THAT WE SAID THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE UP AS A COUNCIL. SO IT JUST WORRIES ME THAT THE DISCUSSION IS MAKING IT SEEM LIKE NONPROFITS ARE DOING THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WITH THE MONEY. AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO FOCUS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMALL NONPROFITS AND THE BIGGER NONPROFITS AND HOW WE KIND OF ALL WORK TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING? >> JUST RELATED TO THE MONITORING. SO I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'RE PART OF THIS YEAR'S AUDIT PLAN FOR DELEGATE AGENCIES. SO THAT REVIEW IS IN PROCESS. AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT ONLY PROGRAM MONITORING -- SO THEY SUBMIT THEIR SCORECARDS AS PART OF THE RFP RESPONSE.

WE ARE MONITORING THEM AGAINST WHAT THEY PROPOSED THAT THEY WOULD DO.

AND WE'RE ALSO DOING PRETTY INTENSE FISCAL MONITORING. WE'RE LOOKING AT INVOICES, PAYMENTS MADE TO VALIDATE ALL OF THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S IN COMPLIANCE.

>> GARCIA: YEAH. HAVING WORKED FOR A DELEGATE AGENCY, QUARTERLY EVERYONE WAS STRESSED OUT OVER THERE. EVERYBODY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS ALWAYS DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE WE COULD BE AUDITED BY THE CITY AT ANY POINT.

OR BECAUSE THAT QUARTERLY REPORT WAS GOING TO COME. MY SON WORKS FOR A FEDERALLY-FUNDED NONPROFIT. HE DOES THE DATA. HE IS STRESSED OUT QUARTERLY.

HE'S LIKE I CAN'T TALK TO YOU, MOM. I'VE GOT TO FOCUS ON THIS.

I GET IT. I SEE IT. I UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURES THAT THEY'RE UNDER. BY THE WAY, THEY ARE OUT THERE VOLUNTEERING ON THE WEEKEND AS WELL. THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID FOR THE EXTRA BUT THEY JUST WANT TO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE DOING THE GOOD WORK.

I'M WITH DR. KAUR ON DOUBLING DOWN. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE NONPROFITS HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR

VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: ERIK, I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PROPOSAL TODAY THAT WE CUT THIS $24.81 MILLION BUDGET BY A QUARTER. THAT'S ABOUT $6.2 MILLION. AND WE TAKE THAT $6.2 MILLION AND PUT IT INTO PUBLIC SAFETY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $100,000 PER NEW OFFICER, THAT COULD RESULT IN ABOUT 62 NEW POLICE OFFICERS.

WE HAVE A PLAN HERE AT THE CITY, I THINK, TO ADD 65 NEW OFFICERS A YEAR OVER THE NEXT

COUPLE OF YEARS. IS THAT STILL THE PLAN? >> WALSH: YEAH.

I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THERE.

>> WHYTE: SO RATHER THAN DRAG THIS OUT OVER ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS, I WANT TO EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS AND MORE QUICKLY FUND AND GET NEW OFFICERS ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO.

THE REASON BEING, OF COURSE, IS PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS A CITY COUNCIL, KEEPING OUR CITIZENS SAFE HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT SAFETY, BUT YESTERDAY AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING WE AGAIN HEARD FROM CHIEF MCMANUS THAT SOME OF THESE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, LAWS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT HAVE TO BE ENFORCED BY OUR SAPD, SOME OF THEM ARE CONSIDERED LOWER-PRIORITY CALLS

[02:20:02]

AND SO I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY.

THE REST OF IT I THINK SHOULD COME FROM OUR HOMELESS -- THE HOMELESS RESPONSE NETWORK.

WE'VE TALKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HOW WE SPEND SOMEWHERE AROUND $50 MILLION DIRECT AND INDIRECTLY ON OUR HOMELESS NETWORK. AND I

>> WHYTE: AND I APPRECIATE, ERIK, YOU GUYS DID SORT OF A COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESS REPORT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING AT B SESSION, IS THAT RIGHT COMING UP? YEAH, OKAY, WELL, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THAT REPORT AND, LOOK, THE HOMELESS SITUATION IS NOT GETTING BETTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THERE WAS A NEWS REPORT LAST MONTH THAT SHOWS THAT WE'VE NOW SURPASSED SOME OTHER CITIES, AND I THINK WE'RE SECOND IN THE STATE IN HOMELESS POPULATION BEHIND -- BEHIND DALLAS. THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY AS SOME OF THESE BACKUP DOCUMENTS SHOW. WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT MOVING AS MANY FOLKS FROM THE LOW BARRIER SHELTER INTO MORE STABLE HOUSING, AT LEAST NOT AS MANY AS WE HAD TARGETED. AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED THIS COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES, AND I THINK IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, WE SHOULD TAKE SOME OF THIS MONEY AND PUT IT INTO -- AGAIN, FROM THIS HOMELESS BUCKET, AND WE SHOULD PUT THAT INTO PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WANT TO MENTION QUICKLY, QUAM COUNCILWOMAN KAUR TALKED ABOUT METRICS, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE PART OF MY DISCUSSION TODAY.

THE DHS CONI CONSOLIDATED FUNDED DASHBOARD THAT'S IN SOME OF THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS AS WELL. AND MY QUESTION IS, I GUESS, IS WE LOOK AT PAST YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD -- WE'VE HAD TARGETS FOR SOME OF THESE AGENCIES AND THINGS, AND IN 2024, I COULDN'T FIND ANY OF OUR TARGETED GOALS. WAS THERE A REASON FOR THAT?

>> SO, COUNCILMAN, THEY ARE ON THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE DIFFERENT FUNDING PRIORITY SUMMARIES, AND SO I WILL SAY THAT FOR EACH OF THE CATEGORIES FOR THOSE SPECIFIC AGENCIES, THEY HAVE OVERPERFORMED.

SO IN GENERAL, ALL OF THE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES ARE PERFORMING AT OVER 100% IN TERMS OF UNDUPLICATED PARTICIPANTS. AND THEN IN THE SUMMARY FOR THE AGENCY DESCRIPTION, YOU'LL SEE THE TARGET FOR THAT

PARTICULAR PROGRAM. >> WHYTE: WELL, I -- YOU KNOW, THE ONE -- THE ONE 2024 PROGRAM THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL UP, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ANY BABY CAN, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE WERE AIMING TO, THINK I, SERVICE 150 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS, AND WE ONLY -- I DON'T THINK WE QUITE -- WE QUITE GOT THERE.

AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHERS ARE BLANK, AND THERE WERE NO -- THERE

WERE NO -- WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM. >> WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD TO SEE IF MAYBE THERE'S AN ERROR WITH THE FORMULAS, BUT IN GENERAL, EVEN THOUGH THERE MIGHT BE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES THAT UNDERPERFORMED ON CERTAIN METRICS, AS A WHOLE, THEY'RE OVERPERFORMING.

SO OF THE FOUR 49 METRICS THAT WE HAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THERE WERE ROUGHLY 26% OF METRICS THAT REPORTED BELOW 85% OF TARGETS, SO THE REMAINDER ARE REPORTING OAF AND OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROJECTED. AS PART OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS, WE'LL LOOK AT PRIOR PERFORMANCE. SO FISCAL YEAR '24 AND '25 PERFORMANCE WILL BE

EVALUATED AS PART OF THE PROCESS. >> WHYTE: ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW WHICH ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE FUNDING PRIOR TO VOTING ON THE -- OR PRIOR TO WHOEVER'S HERE ON COUNCIL VOTING ON THE 2026

BUDGET? >> WALSH: YES, SIR. THERE WILL BE A SPECIFIC

[02:25:02]

>> WHYTE: AND IS THERE ANY WAY TO VOTE SEPARATELY ON THE ORGANIZATIONS GETTING THE MONEY, RATHER THAN DOING IT AS A WHOLE?

>> WALSH: PROBABLY. YES. YES.

>> YES. >> WALSH: I SHOULDN'T SAY PROBABLY.

YES. >> WHYTE: THERE WILL BE A WAY TO DO THAT?

>> WALSH: YES. >> WHYTE: AND IF SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DON'T MEET SOME OF THESE PREDEFINED PERFORMANCE

METRICS, WHAT HAPPENS THEN? >> SO WE GO THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED A PERFORMANCE SUCCESS PLAN.

WE TRY TO WORK WITH THE AGENCIES TO BRING UPPER FORM ANSWER, PARTICULARLY IF THEY'RE HAVING STRUGGLES MAYBE WITHIN THE FIRST QUARTER, SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR. AND THEN WE DO HAVE A DISALLOWANCE POLICY IF SOMEONE IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPERFORMING, THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT THAT WOULD BASICALLY DISALLOW REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS THAT THEY'VE INCURRED FOR

THE PROGRAM. >> WHYTE: OKAY. WELL, I WANT TO CLOSE BY STATING THAT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT ALL OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES DO, AND I'M BY NO MEANS TRYING TO DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THE WORK. THERE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE I CERTAINLY SUPPT AND ARE -- THERE'S MANY FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT NEED THESE SERVICES, CERTAINLY. BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL OF THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING IN THIS REGARD. WE ARE SPENDING, AGAIN, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO $50 MILLION DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY ON OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE NETWORK, AND I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GETTING THE RESULTS THERE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A QUARTER OF THIS BUDGET MOVED TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE TO -- WHEN I THINK ABOUT ANY BABY CAN, AND THEN I THINK ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS, I THINK ABOUT GOING TO A WALK AND JESSICA, I THINK YOU WERE THERE. AND THE PARENT THAT SPOKE WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND ANY BABY CAN HAD GIVEN HIS SON WITH AUTISM THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST PARTICIPATE AND BE PART OF IT.

AND THOSE ARE THE STORIES, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THESE AGENCIES DO. THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, METRO HEALTH, SOME OF OUR HUMAN SERVICES CAN'T DO. SO I WAS JUST REMINDED AS WE SAID THAT.

SO IF THEY DIDN'T MEET -- I'M SURE THEY MET THE METRICS.

WITH THAT STORY ALONE, I WAS LIKE -- THESE ISSUES FACE -- AND WHAT THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES DO, SOME OF THE PARENTS ARE FIRST RESPONDERS, SOME OF THEM ARE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THEY'RE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO I, ERIK, WANT TO MAKE LITTLE CHANGES AND LOOK AT IT DIFFERENTLY, BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS POSSIBLY, BECAUSE WHEN THE VOTERS WENT OUT AND SAID WE WANT ERIK WALSH TO STAY THE CITY MANAGER, WE WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE A PAY INCREASE, WE WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE THERE FOR FOUR YEARS, I THINK THEY WERE COMMUNICATING A CLEAR THING, THAT THEY BELIEVED IN THIS COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE'LL LEARN IN MAY IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, BUT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE AT THE TWO-YEAR TERM, THAT IS RIGHT WHEN WE'RE AT ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE -- LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD DO A ONE-YEAR LANE FOR DELEGATE AGENCIES AND A THREE-YEAR LANE FOR DELEGATE AGENCIES. AND MAYBE THE ONE-YEAR LANE HAS LESS OF THE METRICS THAT WE'RE ASKING ABOUT, SO THAT OUR -- OUR FOOD PANTRIES WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR NONPROFITS THAT ARE JUST STARTING OUT, COULD MAYBE GET THAT FUNDING FOR A YEAR, AND THEN WE COULD COME BACK -- OR THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION CAN COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT THIS DIFFERENT PROGRAM FOR YOU.

BECAUSE THEIRS VARIES. UNITED WAY IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND I SIT ON A NONPROFIT THAT THE CITY -- YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE MAYOR SAID TO, AND WE -- THIS NONPROFIT DIDN'T EVEN GET A UNITED WAY GRANT. SO THOSE ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY'RE EVERY FIVE YEARS. SO I THINK IF WE SAT IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN -- IF WE DID A ONE AND A THREE, LET SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY DO THAT FIVE AND DO THE OTHER NUMBERS THAT THEY WANT TO DO, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE I THINK WE WOULD SEE MORE COMING -- MORE PARTICIPATION, MORE -- WE COULD POSSIBLY DO SMALLER GRANTS FOR MORE PROGRAMMING, BECAUSE IT WOULD FIT IN SOME OF THE BUDGETS. AND I THINK THE

[02:30:02]

SO I THINK AS LONG AS THE NONPROFITS ARE REPRESENTING -- THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS A COMPASSIONATE CITY, THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR PRIORITIES, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT -- THAT WE ARE FULL OF -- DON'T LOOK FOR DOLLARS TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THIS BUDGET.

BECAUSE WE NEED IT RIGHT NOW. AND WE MENTIONED BEFORE HOW MANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WE HAVE LIVING WITHIN THE CITY, HOW MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED, WE NEED TO LOOK AS FUTURISTIC AND VISIONARY AS WE CAN. SO I DO -- I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE SCORE CARDS AND THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I DON'T KNOW IF, AS THE COUNCIL COMES, WE WANT TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THEY CAN COME AND LOOK FOR FUNDING, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO GRADUATE THEM TO UNITED WAY AND SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION WITH THEIR DONORS.

AND THE OTHER THING IS, I -- I HAVE TONS OF IDEAS THAT I WILL GO OVER AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS, AS IF WE LOOK AT THE CATEGORIES WHERE WE HAVE MONEY, THAT WE CAN FIND FUNDING FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS, IN PARTICULAR OUR HOUSING AND MAYBE SOME OF OUR STREETS AND LIGHTS PROJECTS, SO THAT BE WE CAN GET MORE MONEY FOR OUR DELEGATED AGENCIES.

SO THE ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS, WE ALL KNOW WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT IS.

IT IS -- IT IS TIME -- IT IS ELECTION TIME. AND WE ARE -- WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE -- ARE STILL IN NEED, AND NOT TO USE THIS PLATFORM TO PANDEMICKER FOR ENDORSEMENTS OF CERTAIN POLITICAL GROUPS. SO I AM -- I AM HERE TO SAY, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AS A WHOLE. OF COURSE I SUPPORT MY PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT LIKE I SAID, IF I WERE TO ASK THAT OFFICER, I DON'T THINK HE WOULD SAY TAKE IT FROM THE DELEGATE -- TAKE IT FROM ANY BABY CAN, HE WOULDN'T.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN GET CREATIVE NOW THAT WE HAVE -- WE HAVE SOME REAL CLEAR MESSAGES THAT I THINK THE VOTERS SENT

TO US IN NOVEMBER. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK

YOU SO MUCH. >> WALSH: MAYOR PRO TEM, JUST REAL QUICK.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: YEAH. >> WALSH: SO ON YOUR IDEA OF DOING DIFFERENT FUNDING CYCLES, HOW WOULD -- HOW WOULD YOU ENVISION DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN WHO GOES INTO THE ONE-YEAR LIST VERSUS THE THREE-YEAR LIST?

>> VIAGRAN: THAT'S WHERE I WOULD ASK FOR JESSICA, BECAUSE I HAVE -- LIKE I CAN GIVE EXAMPLES OF LITTLE PANTRIES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MIGHT

HAVE A PROGRAM AND MIGHT NEED $15,000 OR $25,000. >> WALSH: SO THE SMALLER

ONES. >> VIAGRAN: SO THE SMALLER ONES, OR THE ONES THAT YOU'RE LIKE THIS PROGRAM ISN'T REALLY A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM, IT'S A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM, TO MEET THE NEEDS. KIND OF LIKE -- AUDIO] -- WE GAVE FUNDS FOR THEM TO CATCH UP ON -- TO CATCH UP ON THE MEDICAL TESTING, THE EYES AND THE EARS THAT DIDN'T GET TESTED, YOU KNOW, THE HEARING AND THE SIGHT THAT DIDN'T GET TESTED FOR THE YOUTH.

AND SO WE DID THAT. SO KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT AND HAVING THEM LOOK AT IT. I MEAN, THEY COULD BRING IT TO COUNCILMEMBERS AND TALK TO COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT I THINK AT THE END, IT WOULD BE THE DEPARTMENT TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT AND SAY, THIS -- THIS IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM, THIS IS ONLY A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, CHAIR.

BACK IN THE 2000, 2010 ST. LOUIS DIVESTED IN SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING YOUTH PROGRAMS AND THE CITY HAS SINCE RANKED HIGH IN VIOLENT CRIMES, CRIME RATES. IN THE EARLY 2010, CHICAGO CUT FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AN VIOLENT PREVENTION INITIATIVES AND THEY SAW CRIME, PARTICULARLY GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMI

[02:35:06]

THEY BUILT AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE BETTER ABOUT REWARDING THOSE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING QUALITY ON-THE-GROUNDWORK WITH VERY, VERY LITTLE SUPPORT FROM ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

I WOULD REQUEST WE MAYBE PUSH BACK THE SCHEDULE ONE OR TWO WEEKS, WHICH WOULD STILL ALLOW FOR THE -- BY THE TIME WE HAVE OUR BUDGET GOAL-SETTING SESSION, WE SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE AWARDS DETERMINED, WHATEVER THE LAST DATE IS, IT WOULD STILL FALL BEFORE THAT IDEALLY, AND MY HOPE WITH THAT SPECIFICALLY IS BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THAT THE RFP GOES OUT, IT GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO REACH OUT TO ORGANIZATIONS TO ENCOURAGE THEM AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO APPLY. WHAT I SAW LAST -- YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO WAS ORGANIZATIONS WERE EXCITED TO APPLY, AND THEN WE DID THE -- YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD AND APPLY FOR THIS, AND BY THE TIME IT GOT TO -- GOT AROUND, THEY WENT TO MAYBE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT THEY DID GET LOST IN IT AND THEY DECIDED IT WAS TOO OVERWHELMING TO APPLY.

I THINK KNOWING THAT NOW, I WOULD APPROACH THE NEXT FEW WEEKS A LITTLE BIT MORE THOROUGHLY, AND I WOULD LET THEM KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT AND THAT THEY CAN TRUST THE PEOPLE DOING THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE FOLKS WHO WILL ANSWER THEIR CALLS.

I THINK THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET A MUCH GREATER RESPONSE RATE AND I'D ESPECIALLY LIKE TO SEE GREATER OUTCOMES IN DISTRICT TWO AND IN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT DON'T USUALLY GET AWARDED, SO THOSE ARE -- THAT'S MY FEEDBACK. AND, AGAIN, I THINK THE CONTRACTS, ONE YEAR, LOWER THRESHOLD, TWO-YEAR, MAYBE PRETTY STANDARD WITH WHAT WE DO NOW, AND THEN THE THREE-YEAR, MAYBE THE -- MAYBE IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT, MAYBE IT'S THAT 100, $200,000, BUT WE KNOW THAT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE'VE HAD A LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH.

I DO THINK AT SOME POINT WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW LONG CAN WE SUPPORT A SINGLE ORGANIZATION AND WITH HOW MUCH MONEY, BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING IT WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE EAST SIDE YOUTH CONTENT CREATOR PROGRAM, WE'RE FUNDING THEM FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN, BUT AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD, WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES, AND I THINK THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL ALWAYS NEED AND WANT CITY RESOURCES AND CITY FUNDING, AND THEY'R GOING TO -- I'M SURE THEY'LL ALWAYS BE DESERVING OF IT, BUT WE DO NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD THE WEALTH THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND FOR A WHILE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, DR. KAUR.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILW

COUNCILWOMAN CAS TOE OWE? >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAY YEAR PROTEM AND THANK YOU, JESSICA, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IN HEARING THE DISCUSSION, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, RIGHT? I THINK SIMILAR TO METRO HEALTH, THERE'S AN IMPORTANCE OF US STRENGTHENING OUR COSA INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND I KNOW I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR WHEN I EMPHASIZE IF IT'S A MULTIGENERATIONAL CENTER OR A SENIOR CENTER, THESE ARE VERY RESOURCEFUL HUBS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS COUNT ON, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AREAS WITHIN DISTRICT FIVE IN PARTICULAR WHERE THERE'S POCKETS OF THERE AREN'T ANY CITY SENIOR CENTERS, SO MY QUESTION IS, WITH THIS RFP, WHEN IT GOES OUT, WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITY FOR NONPROFIT SENIOR CENTERS TO APPLY

AND SEEK SUPPORT THROUGH THIS PROCESS? >> INCLUDED OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME LIMITED COMMUNITY SERVICES, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE BULK OF THE SENIOR INDEPENDENCE FUNDING ACTUALLY SUPPORTS ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMMING AT CITY-OPERATED CENTERS.

SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME PROGRAMS THAT WE DO FUND -- AUDIO] -- OUTSIDE THAT PROCESS IS WE HAVE MEALS ON WHEELS AND WE

[02:40:02]

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDING TO OPERATE THAT PROGRAM. >> CASTILLO: WITH THIS PROCESS, I WOULD LIKE FOR THERE TO BE OPPORTUNITY FOR NONPROFIT SENIOR CENTERS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT. AGAIN I THINK ABOUT THE MADONNA CENTER AND GOODSAM, AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY SENIOR CENTERS, RIGHT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO HOMELESS PREVENTION CENTERS.

OFTENTIMES WHEN I'M THERE, THEIR STAFF, WHETHER IT'S G GOODSAM OR MA DO MADONNA, ARE CONNECTING THEIR SENIORS WITH WHATEVER PROGRAMS THAT DISMIS, SO THEY'RE DOING THE INTAKE AND THAT CASE MANAGEMENT, IF YOU WILL, FOR THEIR SENIORS THAT ATTEND, AND IT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL AND THEY HELP CONNECT THEM TO FOOD, TO HOUSING, AND SOMETIMES TRAINING THROUGH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT, IF SOME SENIORS ARE EXPRESSING THAT INTEREST. OF COURSE, WITH THE CHILDREN, ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, DROPOUT PREVENTION AND OUR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH IS A PRIORITY THAT I HEAR FROM COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINE, I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A B SESSION REGARDING OUR HOMELESSNESS REPORT.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MOVE ANYTHING FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE HOMELESSNESS BUCKET. THOSE SERVICES ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO RECALIBRATE AND LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE METRICS WITHIN THE REPORT IN PARTICULAR, TO SEE WHERE ARE WE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS. AND I KNOW HAVEN FOR HOPE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS BUSTING AT THE SEAMS, SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PRODUCING THE RESULTS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS EXPECT OF US, GIVEN THAT HOMELESSNESS WAS WITHIN THE TOP FIVE PRIORITIES WITHIN THE LAST FEW BUDGET SURVEYS, SO I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEING INTENTIONAL. THIS IS -- SEEMS LIKE LIMITED FUNDING, BUT I ALSO DO WANT TO LEVEL SET, RIGHT, IN THAT THIS IS $25 MILLION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATION WHERE THERE'S A $25 MILLION ASK, AND FOLKS UP HERE SEEMED VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROJECT MARVEL, A BILLION DOLLARS PROJECT.

WE JUST SUPPORTED BASEBALL, A MILLION DOLLARS PROJECT FUNDED THROUGH TIRZ AND TIRZ CAN BE USED TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY.

THEY HAVE BEEN USED TO SUPPORT PARKS POLICE AS WELL.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS SMALL BUCKET IS WHERE WE'RE SAYING WE SHOULD DIVEST FROM, WHEREAS THE COUNCILMAN CITED THIS HAS SUCH GREAT IMPACTS ON NOT JUST SOCIETY, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

THE TEXAS CULTURAL TRUST CONDUCTED A STUDY AND QUANTIFIES THE IMPACTS OF ARTS ON COMMUNITIES, AND IT HIGHLIGHTS THAT WHEN WE INVEST IN ARTS IN PARTICULAR, RIGHT, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE'S IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH, REDUCED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, DW DIRECT IMPACT ON CAREER SUCCESS AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

AND I THINK ABOUT THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND THE MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY THAT THEY CONDUCTED AND THE MICROGRANTS THAT THEY INITIATED, SO I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT GREAT WORK, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ALLOWING THEM TO TAP INTO THIS FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO INITIATE THOSE MICROGRANTS THAT THEY FACILITATED, BUT ENSURING THAT WE'RE ALLOWING OUR YOUTH AND OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE US DIRECTION, BECAUSE THAT STUDY TELLS US THAT -- THAT THEY CONDUCTED THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS A PRIORITY, AND THEN I THINK ABOUT ALSO LIKE STACEY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE AN ARTS NONPROFIT, BUT THEIR IMPACTS GO BEYOND THE ARTS, RIGHT? IT'S EVERYTHING I JUST LISTED. AND I'M CURIOUS, WITH THIS RFP, WOULD THERE BE OPPORTUNITY FOR NONPROFITS LIKE [INDISCERNIBLE] TO

APPLY? >> YES, THERE WOULD BE OPPORTUNITY.

AND WE ACTUALLY CURRENTLY FUND -- CURRENTLY FUND ARTS PROGRAMMING IN SENIOR SERVICES.

SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS TIE HOW THEIR PROGRAM IMPACTS THE SPECIFIC STRATIFIES STRATEGIES AND THE SERVICES WE'RE TRYING TO FUND. ARTS OBVIOUSLY HAS BENEFITS IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER AREAS, SO THEY COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT TO SAY HOW

THAT CONNECTS. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT, JESSICA.

AGAIN, IN TERMS OF THIS MOVING FORWARD, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND THE HOMELESSNESS BUCKET. THESE -- THIS FUNDING IS VERY MUCH NEEDED, BUT I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOING -- THE FUNDING'S GOING TOWARDS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE MOST IMPACT. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: YEAH, THE -- THANKS, Y'ALL.

YOU DO A GREAT JOB EVERY YEAR, AND THIS PRESENTATION IS ALWAYS A REALLY GOOD WAY TO REMIND THE PUBLIC OF WHY WE -- WHY WE HAVE DELEGATE AGENCIES. THESE AREN'T ACTS OF CHARITY ON OUR PART, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT DOING CHARITY WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S

[02:45:02]

WE MADE A CHOICE A LONG TIME AGO TO REFER THIS WORK OUT TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE JUST QUITE HONESTLY MUCH BETTER AT IT THAN THE CITY IS. AND SO WE -- THIS IS PART OF THE BUDGET OF ANY LARGE CITY IS THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE VERY VULNERABLE BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND WHO ARE IN CRISIS BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

THERE'S THIS WORLDVIEW OUT THERE THAT LOOKS DOWN UPON THESE FOLKS AND ASSIGNS TO THEM THE CHARACTERISTIC OF LAZINESS, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR OR HURTING, RIGHT, OR THAT THEY'RE SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE IN CHARACTER. IT'S THE SAME WORLDVIEW, BY THE WAY, THAT'S ON DISPLAY IN D.C. AND IN AUSTIN WITH MORE TOXICITY BEFORE.

I'LL REMIND FOLKS THAT DURING THE COVID CRISIS, ALMOST ALL OF US WHO WERE ON COUNCIL WERE OUT AT THE ALAMODOME HANDING OUT FOOD.

AND THAT WAS FOOD PROVIDED BY THE FOOD BANK AND FUNDED IN LARGE PART BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. DURING THOSE MONTHS, WE WERE FEEDING 120,000 SAN ANTONIANS A MONTH, WHO HAD NO FOOD, TO TAKE HOME TO THEIR KIDS. THEY WERE LINED UP AND WAITING FOR HOURS JUST FOR A BOX OF VEGGIES AND A BOX OF MILK AND THAT WAS HEARTBREAKING.

I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE NEVER DEDUCTED 24% OF THAT FUNDING, AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT SHOWED UP SO NOBODY WOULD GO HUNGRY. LAST YEAR FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES RECEIVED 15,000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND MEN THROUGH THEIR DOORS TO PROVIDE, ONE -- RAPE CRISIS CENTER EXISTS DESPITED GREG ABBOT'S PROMISE TO SOLVE AND ERADICATE RAPE. I'M STILL WAITING. AND SO IS THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, THEY'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF BUSINESS.

I'M VERY HAPPY WE FUND THEM IN THE AMOUNT THAT WE DO.

WE SHOULD BE FUNDING THEM MORE. AND UNTIL HE GETS AROUND TO E RAD KATEING RAPE, I MEAN, THE NECESSITY IS THERE. I'D HATE TO HAVE TO TELL RAPE VICTIMS, I'M SORRY, YOU SHOWED UP LATE, WE'VE BEEN CUT BY 24% OR 25%, BUT WE DID HIRE A FEW COPS, MAYBE THEY CAN COUNCIL YOU THROUGH THIS, RIGHT? THAT'S -- THAT'S REALLY, REALLY ABSURD.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT ARE FUNDED IN LARGE PART BY COSA. AS DELEGATE AGENCIES, AND THOSE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE HOURLY WORKERS WHO ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS.

WITHOUT THESE PROGRAMS, THOSE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE NOWHERE TO LEAVE THEIR KIDS. AND THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE LAZY OR DEFECTIVE IN CHARACTER, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY HARD WORKERS AND JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.

I'LL REMIND YOU THAT THESE ARE THE SAME MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE US FOOD AT GALAS THAT THE CITY BUYS TABLE WITH. I'M REALLY SAD TO HEAR MY CLIENT DIDN'T LEAD WE SHOULD REDUCE BY BUYING GALA TABLES BY 24%.

IT'S VERY TELLING THAT HE STARTED WITH -- YOU DID, YOU SAID ACROSS THE BOARD

FOR 24% BY THESE AGENCIES. >> WHYTE: NO, I DEPARTMENT. I SAID HOMELESS AND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES SEGZ THE COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE ISSUE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: ALSO, I THINK IT'S COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ'S TURN.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BUZZ BACK IN, COUNCILMAN WHYTE, AND YOU CAN TALK

THEN. >> PELAEZ: IT'S WHAT MY CLIENT DIDN'T SAY THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES, RIGHT? YOU DOWELED HAVE STARTED WITH LET'S CUT TABLE PURCHASE TS AT GALAS, BUT, NO, LET'S CUT 25%, A QUARTER, THE BUDGET THAT WE SET ASIDE FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO TRAVEL TO TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA, WITH LOBBYISTS. WE COULD HAVE STARTED WITH THAT.

YOU DIDN'T. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. THAT WAS A CHOICE, AND IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT -- WELL, IT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES.

I'LL LET Y'ALL MAKE YOUR CONCLUSIONS. AT FOR CITING THE BUDGET AND INVOKING THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHARTER, I'LL WAIT, YOU KNOW, FOR ANYBODY. I'LL BE AROUND ALL AFTERNOON FOR SOMEONE TO SHOW ME WHERE IT SAYS THAT WE SHOULDN'T SPEND S THIS MONEY THERE, RIGHT? IN FACT, I DO READ THE CHARTER, THE VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE SECTION TITLED POWERS OF COUNCIL SAYS, THE CITY WILL ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH SUCH ACTS AND REGULATIONS AND ORDINANCES AS SHALL BE NEEDED FOR THE GOVERNMENT INTEREST, WELFARE AND GOOD ORDER OF THE CITY AND THE INTEREST, WELFARE, HEALTH, MORALS, COMFORT, SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF ITS INHABIT TANTS. SOMEBODY PLEASE, BY THE END OF THIS AFTERNOON,

[02:50:04]

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS. AND IT'S REALLY GOOD. LORI AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, ABOUT SOBERING CENTERS AND WHETHER OR NOT SAN ANTONIO HAS ONE. SAN ANTONIO HAS ONE, AND WE HELP FUND IT.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ALTERNATIVE TOOL FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHENEVER THEY ENCOUNTER A TOURIST THAT'S VERY DRUNK OR COLLEGE STUDENT WHO'S WAY TOO DRUNK OR SOMEBODY UNDER THE INFLUENCE WHO'S HAD A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH TO SMOKE OR ANYBODY WHO IS IN NEED OF DETOXIFICATION, IT IS A TOOL FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO DROP THEM OFF AT A SOBERING CENTER, WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY DETOX AND STABILIZE AND RECEIVE SOME SERVICES, AND MAYBE EVEN TAKE THEIR FIRST STEP TOWARDS REHABILITATION.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT JIL END BURLY'S ORGANIZATION, IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM. THIS CRISIS NURSESY THAT COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND I ARE PROPOSING IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL, VERY, VERY SIMILAR TO THIS, WHERE MOMS AND DADS IN CRISIS CAN GO AND DROP OFF THEIR KIDS, SO THAT THEY CAN STABILIZE, RIGHT, AND MOM AND DAD CAN GO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CRISIS. FOR EXAMPLE, THAT EXTRA SHIFT, RIGHT, THAT THEY SUDDENLY HAVE TO WORK AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE OR DAIRY QUEEN OR H-E-B, RIGHT? OSH -- AND WE KNOW THIS ALL TOO BELL, AND THERE'S WOMEN IN THIS ROOM, SOMETIMES MOMMA KNOWS WHEN SHE'S GOING TO GET HOME, SHE'S FACING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM, AND SHE KNOWS IF SHE KNOWS THAT THERE'S A CRISIS NURSERY WHERE SHE CAN DROP OFF HER BABIES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WITNESS THAT, I THINK THAT'S MONEY REALLY WELL SPENT. AND SO WHAT'S THE MOST WE CAN SPEND ON A CRISIS NOWRSRY, ERIK, BECAUSE THAT'S THE AMOUNT I WANT TO SPEND ON IT.

AND I HAVE -- AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE IT OUT OF TRAVEL FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AND WILLING TO TAKE IT OUT OF TABLES PURCHASED FROM OUR BUDGET.

SO LASTLY, I'LL TELL YOU WITH REGARD TO YOUR CONVERSATION ABOUT NONPROFITS MERGING, THERE WAS AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AREA FOUNDATION ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, AND HE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GREAT IDEAS AND THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO START NONPROFITS. AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TELL THEM, DON'T DO THAT. INSTEAD, FIND A NONPROFIT THAT'S ALREADY DOING IT, BECAUSE THERE'S WAY TOO MUCH REDUNDANCY. AND I THINK -- AUDIO] -- OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WE GO AROUND TOWN, TO LISTEN TO THOSE IDEAS AND REMIND PEOPLE, WE DON'T NEED TWO GREAT PEOPLE DOING THE SAME THING IN DIFFERENT OFFICE BUILDINGS, WE NEED YOU TOGETHER IN THE SAME OFFICE BUILDING. AND THAT'S A CONVERSATION I'VE TALKED PEOPLE OUT OF CREATING NOPROFITS IN THE PAST, AND INSTEAD DIRECTING THEIR EFFORTS AND HITCHING THEIR EFFORTS TO OTHER NONPROFITS.

I, TOO, AM WORRIED ABOUT DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS. THE PROBLEM IS THEY ALL HAVE BOARDS, EDS, EVERY KING WANTS TO BE THE KING OF HIS KINGDOM, AND SO WE HAVE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF A DENT WE CAN PUT ON GETTING THEM TO MERGE, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON GETTING NEW NONPROFITS TO NOT SET UP SHOP WHERE THAT SHOP ALREADY EXISTS SOMEWHERE ELSE, RIGHT? SO ANYWAY, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANKS.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE

GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I HAD A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, JESSICA, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. ON THESE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT SAYS 210 PARTICIPANTS, 125 POST SURVEY RESPONSES. I FEEL THAT OUR OFFICES HAD WAY MORE CALLS DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE ABOUT HOMELESS ISSUES. SO I AM A LITTLE CONCERN, IT'S 210 PARTICIPANTS DICTATING WHERE THIS $25 MILLION GOES, BECAUSE WE GET A LOT -- YOU KNOW, HOMELESS -- YOU KNOW, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE HOMELESSNESS AS THE FOURTH RANKED ISSUE, WHEN IN OUR RESIDENTS' EYES, EVERY DAY, THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITY ISSUES. SO I HAD COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THIS. WHEN WERE THESE MEETINGS HELD?

>> THEY WERE ACTUALLY HELD OCTOBER 8TH, ALL THE WAY THROUGH JANUARY 16TH. MOST OF THOSE WERE COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS, SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COULD ATTEND. WE DID HAVE A SEPARATE SESSION WITH DELEGATE AGENCIES, AND ALSO WITH SAN ANTONIO AIR FUNDERS GROUP. WE ALSO HAD SOME FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS AT HAVEN FOR HOPE WITH INDIVIDUAL WHOSE ARE HOMELESS, AS WELL AS WITH THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES COMMISSION, HOMELESS YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH -- THAT WE COORDINATED WITH CLOSE TO HOME, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY ACTION ADVISORY BOARD THAT I BELIEVE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ATTENDED. IN TOTAL, WE HAD ABOUT 20 AGENCIES THAT

[02:55:01]

>> THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS -- PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK ANONYMOUSLY, SO WE DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE MEETINGS. WE DO FOR THE DELEGATE AGENCY FUND GER GROUP MEETING AS WELL AS THE SA FUNDERS AND OUR INDIVIDUAL FOCUS GROUP

SESSIONS. >> GAVITO: GREAT. CAN YOU S SEND ME THAT LIST OF WHO ATTENDED. WHAT WE HEAR A LOT OF IS HOMELESSNESS, SO I'M REALLY SURPRISED THAT IT'S FOURTH. NOT TO SAY THAT THIS OTHER STUFF ISN'T GREAT WORK, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS THAT WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF IS, AGAIN, ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.

I HAD A QUICK QUESTION ALSO ON SLIDE NUMBER 7, YOU SAID THE DESIGNATED COLUMN, CAN YOU REMIND ME WHO THAT'S DESIGNATED TO, THE 2.2 AND THE 7.09.

>> SO THAT -- SO THAT'S INCLUDED -- SO IT'S ABOUT 2.6 MILLION.

OF THAT, 2.3 MILLION IS ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT THE AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE PROGRAM, SO IT'S DIRECT DESIGNATION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THAT. 278,000 IS TO UP PARTNERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING FOR DATA ANALYSIS, POLICY COORDINATION, TO HELP SUPPORT NONPROFIT PARTNERS THAT ARE ENGAGED IN YOUTH WORK. AND THEN THE REMAINING 7.1 MILLION IS FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE AND CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SO ABOUT FIVE-POINT -- 1.96 SUPPORTS CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE SOBERING UNIT THAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ TALKED ABOUT AS WELL AS THE RESTORATION CENTER.

>> GAVITO: GOT IT. THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S NOTE ON POTENTIALLY DELAYING THIS FOR TWO WEEKS. I THINK IT -- I KNOW ME AND MY TEAM NEED TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH THIS INFORMATION. AND ALSO, TOO, I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED QUI, IMREUN, I KIND OF CHALK UP TO A SUNSET CLAUSE AND SEEING HOW LONG HAVE SOME OF THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES BEEN FUNDED FROM THE CITY, HOW LONG DO THEY PLAN TO CONTINUE BEING FUNDED. IS IT THEIR TIME? IS IT NOT THEIR TIME? JUST TAKING A LOOK AT THAT.

>> I WILL SAY THROUGH PRIOR CYCLES WE HAVE LOOKED AT IMPLEMENTING AGENCY TERM LIMITS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON, THOUGH, IS THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY -- THIS FUNDING, UNLIKE SOME OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IS NOT MEANT TO SUPPORT AN AGENCY.

SO IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE INVESTING TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATIONS AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICES.

WE ARE ACTUALLY BUYING SERVICES AT EACH OF THESE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES, AND OUR MAIN CRITERIA IS WHAT IS THE BEST SERVICE OUT THERE WE CAN PROVIDE TO RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE TYPICALLY STEERED AWAY FROM TERM LISTS BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY BUYING SERVICES, NOT SUPPORTING AGENCIES. BUT WE CAN ALSO PROVIDE AGENCY FUNDING HISTORY IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HOW LONG PARTICULAR NONPROFITS HAVE BEEN

FUNDED. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, WE'RE REALLY BUYING THEIR SERVICES, BA US, YOU KNOW, I DO -- BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT IF WE'RE CONTRIBUTING $250,000 TO AN AGENCY THAT MAYBE THEY'RE MATCHING IT ELSEWHERE, THAT WE DEMAND A MATCH FROM ELSEWHERE, THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT SOLELY RELYING ON THE CITY.

>> AND THAT'S A G GOOD POINT, WE DO REQUIRE A MATCH.

MOST OF THE FUNDING IS NOT PROVIDED BY THE CITY.

THE TRUE COST OF THE PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE

FUNDING. >> GAVITO: I REALLY LIKE THE INFORMATION Y'ALL PROVIDED ON SLIDE 12 ABOUT THAT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, AND REALLY ON SLIDE 14, YOU KNOW, THAT'S $30 MILLION, I HEAR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES' FEEDBACK ON SHOULD WE BE CUTTING IT FROM HERE, SHOULD IT BE GOING TO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I STILL THINK $30 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M PUSHING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY SO WE CAN LOOK THROUGH THIS THOROUGHLY AND SAY, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE TO GO TO IT, HOW CAN WE BE BETTER AT IT? AND ALSO I'M REALLY CURIOUS AT THE LIST OF

[03:00:03]

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO

HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. A WHILE BACK I VISITED A NONPROFIT COUNCIL.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THEY REPORT THAT OUR NONPROFITS IN THE CITY, NOT JUST DELEGATE AGENCIES, OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HAS A $6 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE A LARGE EMPLOYER, AND OF COURSE MORE THAN ANYTHING THEY DO REALLY DPOOD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN SOME CASES, WORK THAT NO ONE ELSE IS DOING.

I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO STUDY IT, THOUGH. I ASKED EARLIER FOR AN AUDIT. MAYBE THAT WASN'T THE RIGHT WORD, BUT HAVING -- MAYBE STARTING FROM REVIEWING THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND THEN WORKING BACKWARDS FROM THERE, MAYBE AN IMPACT STUDY VERSUS A SPENDING ANALYSIS. AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, I THINK -- I KNOW COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE AS WELL, BUT THERE'S SOME NONPROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK THAT HAVEN'T SEEM TO BROKEN INTO THE DELEGATE AGENCY -- OR BEEN ABLE TO BREAK INTO THE DELEGATE AGENCY OF THE CITY. I'M THINKING, LIKE, NONPROFITS LIKE THE PEACE INITIATIVE, A LOT OF US SUPPORT, AND THEY'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT WE HAVE DECADES OF SOME NONPROFITS BEING ON THE CITY ROLLS, SO I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN ASKED BEFORE, AND MAYBE Y'ALL HAVE DONE SOME WORK ON IT, BUT DO WE HAVE LIKE AN OFFRAMP FOR -- WE WANT TO HELP NONPROFITS OUT, ESPECIALLY NEWER ONES THAT ARE NEEDING KIND OF A LEG UP, BUT AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, DO WE HAVE -- DO WE HAVE -- DO WE REQUIRE THEM TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATE FUNDING SO THEY CAN REPLACE THAT CITY FUNDING AND WE CAN GO TO LIKE A NEW NONPROFIT OR

MAYBE ONE THAT'S JUST NEVER BEEN FUNDED. >> SO WE HAVEN'T IMPLEMENTED AGENCY TERM LIMITS IN THE PAST. ONE OF THE THINGS, THOUGH, IN THEIR BUDGET, WE ARE ASKING THEM TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY PLANS, BUT I WILL SAY -- AND WE CAN GET THIS ANALYSIS FOR YOU. BY AND LARGE,S THE MAJORITY THEIR FUNDING IS NONCITY FUNDING. THEY ARE SEEKING THOSE OTHER SOURCES, IT'S ANYTHING FROM FEDERAL, STATE, PRIVATE GRANTS, DONATIONS THAT THEY RAISE, THEY ARE CREATIVELY LOOKING AT HOW THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR

PROGRAMS AND WE ACTUALLY ASSIGN POINTS TO. >> HAVRDA: I'M NOT NECESSARILY SUGGESTING TERM LIMITS, I THINK IT HAS TO BE CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, I BRING UP THE ONE NONPROFITS, BUT THERE'S DOZENS OF NONPROFITS THAT HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OUR ASSISTANCE, AND, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE ROLLS FOR DECADES THAT JUST -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE DISCREPANCY. SO ANYWAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN IMPACT STUDY DONE ON THE NONPROFITS THAT WE -- AT LEAST THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT WE DO CURRENTLY STUDY. THE BIG FUNDING ITEM, THE BIG CHANGE IN THIS ITEM IS THE CRISIS NURSERY, AND I APPRECIATE THE R ROLE THEY PLAY PREVENTING CHILDREN -- ESPECIALLY FROM GOING FROM A DIFFICULT SITUATION, FOR EXAMPLE, FOSTER CARE. YOU PROPOSED REDIRECTING COMPETITIVE FUNDING FROM THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES CATEGORY, CORRECT? SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR OUR INPUT ON WHAT THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF

FUNDING TO SET ASIDE IS, IS THAT THE QUESTION? >> FREE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO SET ASIDE, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT COUNCIL HAD AUTHORIZED TO COMPLETE A FEASIBILITY STUDY. WE'RE GOING TO BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SELECTED RESPONDENT TO YOU IN MARCH.

WE ANTICIPATE THEIR WORK WILL BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST, AND SO GIVING US TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY IS. IT'S GOING TO SHOW THE LANDSCAPE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHAT THE TRUE NEED IS, AND HELP US IDENTIFY

WHAT'S THE RIGHT MODEL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

>> AND SO THAT SET ASIDE THEN WOULD BE PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED THROUGH A SEPARATE COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THAT

STUDY. >> HAVRDA: SO I GUESS WHEN YOU DO THAT WORK, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT MIGHT BE, LIKE AN ACTUAL NUMBER? OKAY. IT WILL BE IN THE BUDGET. OKAY. SO HAVE WE ALSO LOOKED AT GRANT FUNDING FOR IT? IS I'M GOING TO BE REAL CLEAR, ABOUT STATE GRANT

FUNDING. >> SO I WILL SAY WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF NONPROFIT PARTNERS THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT. I KNOW THEY SUBMITTED A PROCESS, SEVERAL NONPROFITS SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE UNITED WAY. UNFORTUNATELY THAT GRANT APPLICATION WAS NOT SELECTED FOR FUNDING, BUT I KNOW THAT THE GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT WORK ARE TALKING TO OTHER COMMUNITY FUNDERS, AND

LOOKING AT OTHER SOURCES. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

SO I -- I'M GOING TO SHIFT A LITTLE BIT TO THE AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE PROGRAM, I THINK ITS SLIDE 9, YOU MENTIONED THAT.

THERE'S A FEE, RIGHT, FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE -- IS THAT CORRECT? CHILDREN THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE PROGRAM?

>> YES. THERE'S A FEE THAT THE DISTRICT PROVIDES TO US.

IT IS A SLIDING SCALE FEE THAT THEY COLLECT AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IF THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN CERTAIN FEDERAL PRO PROGRAMS WHERE

THAT FEE IS NOT SELECTED. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

SO IT'S LSHE ALREADY ON A SLIDING SCALE FOR FAMILIES.

[03:05:03]

>> YES. >> HAVRDA: I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE? >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, I WAS A LITTLE STARTLED WHEN I SAW SLIDE 6, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND IT SAID THERE WERE COMMUNITY -- EIGHT COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS, FOUR FOCUS GROUPS, 210 PARTICIPANTS. AND 125 POST SURVEY RESPONSES. AND I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF, THERE'S ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 250,000 WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY IN THE CITY. AND THEN I UNDERSTAND FROM WHAT YOU SAID THAT THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SERVICING 60,000 PEOPLE, OR THAT'S THE ESTIMATE, THAT THEY WOULD BE SERVICING. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE -- HAS THE CITY, THROUGH ITS OWN GENERAL FUND, SERVICED THROUGH DHS AND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT? DOES ANYBODY HAVE A NUMBER FOR THAT?

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO GATHER THAT. IT'S ROUGHLY -- FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, ABOUT 75, 75 TO 90,000 THAT WE TYPICALLY

SERVE ANNUALLY. >> COURAGE: OKAY. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE KINDS OF SERVICES THAT WHETHER THEY GO TO A NONPROFIT AND WHETHER THEY COME TO SAN ANTONIO, THEY NEED THESE SERVICES.

BUT I'M SURPRISED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE 210 PARTICIPANTS TO BASE WHAT WE'RE SAYING ARE THE RIGHT WAYS TO MOVE ON THIS.

I JUST WONDER, ARE WE MISSING A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHOULD BE ON THESE LISTS OF THINGS TO DO. IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTING TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD 210 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUT OF A MILLION AND A HALF AND OUT OF 60,000 WHO GET SERVICES AND ANOTHER 90,000 FROM THE CITY, WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG THAT ISN'T BRINGING FORTH MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO LET US KNOW WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM THESE SERVICES? IT'S A RHETORICAL QUESTION, I GUESS, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING A MUCH MORE THOROUGH JOB ON THESE AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.

THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THESE SERVICES ARE VERY NEEDED, PROBABLY MORE THAN NEEDS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE PUBLIC INPUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M AFRAID WE'RE NOT SEEING HERE TODAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AND, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. IF YOU HAD 1,000 PEOPLE OR 2,000 PEOPLE TELL US WHAT THEY WANTED, I'D FEEL A LOT MORE CONFIDENT THAN 125 POST SURVEYED RESPONSES. NOW, I WILL SAY, PROBABLY EVERY ONE OF US ON COUNCIL COULD TELL YOU OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED, AND YOU'VE BEEN HEARING THAT FROM SOME OF US TODAY. SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE PUT THIS OUT WITH THE NONPROFITS IN MIND, THAT WE REALLY GIVE IT AS WIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SET THESE FOR, YOU KNOW, PRIMARY PILLARS THAT WE WANT TO MEET. SO ANYWAY, IT JUST BOTHERED ME WHEN I SAW THAT. I WANTED TO SAY THAT. THE OTHER THING IS -- AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH WHAT A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE SAID, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT WE AWARD TO $100,000 FROM $50,000. AND I MENTIONED THIS WHEN WE TALKED INFORMALLY ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE WE GOING TO BE CUTTING OUT? AND I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION BY CHANGING THAT CRITERIA, WE'RE CUTTING OUT PEOPLE WHO WON'T MAKE THE CUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE STRUGGLING.

$50,000 IS PROBABLY ENOUGH TO HIRE A WORKER OR TO GO AHEAD AND EVEN INITIATE A PROGRAM FOR SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME, AND I WISH WE COULD COME UP WITH A

[03:10:06]

JUST WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, 60,000 PEOPLE GET HELPED THROUGH THESE AGENCIES BECAUSE OF OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THOSE AGENCIES.

SO I JUST WONDER HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS IS GOING TO BE THIS TIME AROUND MAKING THAT CHANGE. THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS THAT I WANTED TO MENTION. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

WE ON ONTO OUR SECOND ROUND BUT WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THERE'S FOLKS WAITING SO WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO MINUTES EACH.

COUNCILMAN WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS, AND THAT'S ALL I NEED.

REALLY I JUST WANT TO BE SLUR THAT I SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND BE REAL CLEAR, BECAUSE AS I DISCUSSED WITH COUNCILMAN OUTSIDE, I THINK HIS CHARACTERIZATION OF MY PROPOSAL WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR.

THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS IN OUR BUDGET THAT I'D LOVE TO CUT, AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT OVER THE PAST YEAR, BUT TODAY, WE ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT HUMAN SERVICES CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.

THAT'S THE SPECIFIC TOPIC FOR TODAY. ACCORDINGLY, THAT'S WHY I MADE MY COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD CUT FROM THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET. AND IF YOU LOOK ON SLIDE 9 OF THE SLIDE PRESENTATION, YOU SEE THE FOUR DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF MONEY WHERE WE PROPOSED TO SPEND A TOTAL OF $24.8 MILLION. I DID NOT PROPOSE THAT WE CUT 1 DOLLAR FROM THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES.

I DID NOT PROPOSE THAT WE CUT 1 DOLLAR FROM THE SENIOR INDEPENDENCE BUCKET. MY PROPOSAL WAS THAT WE CUT THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO AMERICAN GATEWAYS FOR IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES AND THEN WE CUT $6 MILLION FROM THE HOMELESSNESS BUCKET. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE SPEND, AGAIN, DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, AND WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON IT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, WE SPEND SOMEWHERE AROUND $50 MILLION ON HOMELESSNESS. OKAY? AND, YES, WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE ENCAMPMENTS, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOLKS ON THE STREET, BUT WE'RE NOT SPENDING THIS MONEY EFFECTIVELY AS THE REPORT THAT WE GOT THE OTHER WEEK HAS SHOWN. I'M SURE THERE'S DUPLICATION THERE AND WE'RE HAVING MORE AND MORE HOMELESS FOLKS ON THE STREET. ADDITIONALLY, WE SAW THE OTHER WEEK, I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND ONE OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES TO BRING MORE HOMELESS FOLKS TO HAVEN FOR HOPE.

GUESS WHO PAYS FOR THE MAJORITY OF HAVEN FOR HOPE? THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE NEED TO GET BEXAR COUNTY TO HELP CONTRIBUTE MORE MONEY THERE AS WELL. IT SHOULDN'T BE ALL ON THE CITY AND SO THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS I PROPOSED TO MAKE CUTS.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ? >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE -- SO I MENTIONED EARLIER PUSHING BACK THE TIMELINE. I WOULD IMAGINE THE SOLICITATION BEING OUT FOR MARCH 17TH THROUGH MAY 2ND WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BEING MAYBE FROM MARCH 24TH TO THE 28TH, I WOULD PREFER FIVE DAYS, RATHER THAN THREE, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL ANY FEEDBACK ON WHETHER OR NOT ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED LAST TIME OR IF WE CAN EXPECT MORE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TONESS A TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN EVALUATION AND SCORING COULD STILL HAPPEN WITH MAY AND JUNE WITH THAT SHIFTED OUTLINE AND IT ALLOWS US MORE TIME FOR OUTREACH TO ORGANIZATIONS. AND SO I'M LOOKING AT THE NONCOMMUNICATION PERIOD.

WHEN WOULD AWARDS BE POSTED? WOULD THAT BE THE PRESENTATION OF THE AUGUST BUDGET, OR WOULD IT BE SEPARATE?

>> BE --

OUT TO COUNCILMEMBERS TO DISCUSS THIS UNTIL THEN. >>

THE PROPOSED BUDGET. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I'M THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NEW COUNCILMEMBERS, AND I REMEMBER MY VERY FIRST YEAR AND THE 973 NONPROFITS THAT REACHED OUT TO ME TO HAVE MEETINGS AND WANTED TO BRIEF ME ON ALL OF THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND IT JUST SO HAPPEN TO, YOU KNOW, BE WANTING CITY DOLLARS FOR THAT.

AND SO I'M THINKING ABOUT THEM, JUST FOR THEIR PEACE AND WHATNOT, BUT I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THAT'S -- THAT WAS ACCURATE.

[03:15:03]

I'D BE FAVORABLE TO THAT. I DON'T THINK WE CAN FIT ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THE SOLICITATION GOES OUT AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE

WOULD NEED METRICS DETERMINED BEFORE THAT. >>

>> KAUR: METRICS DETERMINED BEFORE A SOLICITATION.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WHAT WE COULD OFFER IS THAT WE HAVE MORE INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS WITH COUNCIL, JUST TO REVIEW THE METRICS WITH YOU, AND WHICH COULD PROVIDE A COPY OF THE RFP FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK AT BEFORE WE RELEASE THAT, SO YOU CAN SEE THE METRICS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN EACH

OF THE FUNDING PRIORITIES. >> WALSH: SO LET ME TRY TO SUMMARIZE WHERE I THINK WE'RE AT, IT'S BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION MAIRPTD THERE'S TWO OTHERS THAT WANTED TO SPEAK BEFORE.

>> WALSH: YEAH, NO, LET'S ME DO IT NOW BECAUSE MAYBE THAT WILL HELP AND

THEN I GET FEEDBACK ON THE SUMMARY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK I THINK WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU IS KIND OF REFRAME THIS WHOLE ISSUE.

I AM -- I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE SUGGESTION TO DO TWO STREAMS OF FUNDING. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL WORK.

I THINK -- I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND -- WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE CONTRACTS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ADD PEOPLE TO DHS TO MONITOR THE CONTRACTS FOR SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE AWAY. BUT I THIS IT'S AN INTRIGUING IDEA THAT WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE HOMEWORK ON. I THINK TO A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE POINTED OUT THIS -- THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PORTION THAT WE WENT THROUGH, HOW DOES THAT REALLY RECONCILE, AND FROM MY STANDPOINT, IT NEEDS TO RECONCILE -- OR IT NEEDS TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO BUY. FORGET ABOUT THE AGENCIES FOR A SECOND, JUST THE WAY JESSICA LAID IT OUT. WHAT DO WE WANT TO BUY? WHAT DO WE WANT TO SUPPLEMENT IN TERMS OF SERVICES. I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD THAT, BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF -- OR NOT A BETTER JOB, SORRY, ANOTHER -- A DIFFERENT WAY OF LAYING OUT THAT PERSPECTIVE.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO -- I THINK WE NEED TO INCLUDE -- SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORICAL FUNDING ASPECT, SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND -- OR THAT YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU ABOUT WHAT HAS -- WHAT HAS BEEN FUNDED IN THE PAST AND WHAT HASN'T.

THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND THE OUTCOMES ARE CRITICAL.

I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THE REASON WHY WE HAVE 400 SOME-ODD PERFORMANCE MEASURES, QUITE BLUNTLY, IS BECAUSE PAST COUNCILS HAVE ASKED FOR IT. AND SO PART OF WHAT MAYBE I'M HEARING IS THAT THERE'S MAYBE A SETTLEMENT THAT WE STAY FOCUSED, WE NOT BE TOO BURDENSOME ON THE AGENCIES, NOR THE CITY STAFF, BUT CLEARLY COMMUNICATE WHAT WE'RE BUYING. IRTHINK WHICI THINK WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE WORK ON THAT.

SO THAT'S -- I THINK WE NEED TO COME BACK TO ANOTHER B SESSION, SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW I'M FEELING RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'M HEARING, AND TIMELINE ASIDE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THIS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, PROBABLY AS LONG AS I'VE -- AS LONG AS MARIA'S BEEN DOING THE

BUDGET, RIGHT, MARIA? >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES. >> WALSH: IF IT DOESN'T FIT IN, THEN IT DOESN'T FIT IN. WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT.

I DON'T THRI WE SHOULD HEM OURSELVES IN, I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL HEMMED IN THAT WE'VE GOT TO HURRY UP AND MAKE DECISIONS BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO GO WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON AUGUST 14TH.

IF IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T. YOU KNOW, AND SO DON'T FEEL RESTRICTED BY THAT. I THINK -- I THINK WE OUGHT TO GIVE IT THE DUE COURSE AND THE CONSIDERATION AND IF IT'S OFF A LITTLE BIT, IT'S OFF A LITTLE BIT. OH, THE LAST THING, I'M SORRY, THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WE HAVE $24.8 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT'S A STARTING POINT. IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THAT IN THE SUMMER, THEN YOU CAN EITHER PRIORITIZE IT, AND THEN THAT BUCKET GETS BIGGER AS WE GO THROUGH. IF WE HIT -- I'M SORRY.

>> IF WE HAVE A TIGHT YEAR NEXT YEAR AND THERE'S NO INCREASE IN FUNDING, THEN THERE'S NO INCREASE TO THE FUNDING. I CAN REMEMBER YEARS WHERE WE HAD TO MAKE REDUCTIONS TO THE DELEGATE AGENCIES, SO I THINK ZERO -- I THINK SOME OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FUNDING -- IN AUDIO] -- BUT I THINK MAYBE WE NEED TO GIVE YOU ALL BETTER INFORMATION THE SECOND TIME AROUND OR DIFFERENT INFORMATION. I KEEP SAYING BETTER.

JESSICA, YOU DID A GREAT JOB, BUT JUST SO THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ANOTHER BASIS

POINT TO KIND OF WEIGH IN ON THAT. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK

[03:20:03]

YOU, ERIK. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: YEAH, JESSICA, I WOULD LIKE TO MEET BEFORE THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION, THE B SESSION, AND THEN ALSO I DO WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AB B ABBREVIATED BLACKOUT PERIOD, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT, BECAUSE THAT TENDS TO BE PROBLEMATIC WHEN WE GET TO BUDGET.

BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: AND COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA?

>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. ERIK, CAN WE GET A LIST -- OR HOW LONG THE DELEGATE AGENCIES HAVE BEEN FUNDED FOR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN FUNDED FOR DECADES, AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING --

OR WHICH ONES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> WALSH: WE'LL SEND THAT

TO YOU THIS WEEK. >> GARCIA: AND THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, JESSICA, FOR POINTING OUT THAT WE'RE BUYING SERVICES, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE RESOURCE PROVIDERS AND WE'RE NOT THE EXPERTS, SO I APPRECIATE, TOO, YOU POINTING THAT OUT. AND THEN WILL WE ALSO HAVE OPTIONS FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES? I KNOW THERE WAS SOME SUGGESTIONS MADE TODAY AS TO WHERE WE COULD GET FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AT THE CURRENT LEVEL? WILL YOU BE ALSO BRINGING SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING LIKE WE GIVE YOU GUIDANCE LIKE ON

OUR ONE-ON-ONES OR HOW DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THAT. >> WALSH: FOR ADDITIONAL -- KEEP IT AT THE -- WELL, IF WE NEEDED TO FUND THEM AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE KEEPING IT, BUT LIKE IF THINGS HAPPEN AND WE LOSE GRANTS, ET CETERA, LIKE DO YOU NEED US TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AS

TO WHERE TO GET THAT MONEY? >> WALSH: MY SUGGESTION IS WE WOULD DO THAT IN THE SUMMER AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

>> GARCIA: OKAY. >> WALSH: WE SHOULD PLAN RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES. THE ONLY ONE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT I THINK IS MAYBE THE CRISIS CARE NURSERY, RIGHT? THAT ONE HAS GONE THROUGH A PROCESS, IT'S BEING INSERTED IN. WE'LL KIND OF RETHINK BASE ON THE COMMENTS HERE HOW TO TREAT THAT ONE, BUT THAT'S MY

SUGGESTION. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO

TEM. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: LEADERSHIP SOMETIMES MEANS APOLOGIZING NOR NOT SPEAKING ARTFULLY. I MENTIONED THREE NONPROFITS JUST AS EXAMPLES THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE THEIR FUNDING CUT. COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS 100% RIGHT.

HE DID NOT PROPOSE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AS THE BUCKETS FROM WHICH TO CUT. I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY, I HOPE YOU SUGGESTED THAT.

HOWEVER, FROM THE BUCKET YOU WANT TO CUT, THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THERE: CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES, THE VERY SOBERING UNIT THAT HELPS POLICE OFFICERS NOT HAVE TO TAKE PEOPLE TO JAIL JUST TO BE ABLE TO DETOX. CHRISTIAN A ASSISTANT MINISTRIES IS IN THERE, THE BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN SHELTER IS IN THERE, THE FOOD BANK IS IN THERE AND OUR HOMELESS VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM IS IN THERE. I THINK THOSE ARE SACRED PROJECTS THAT SHOULD

NEVER BE DEFUNDED. THANKS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. OKAY.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY LAST COMMENTS BEFORE WE END OFF REAL QUICK? I JUST WANT TO ECHO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT -- ONE IDEA THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE IF COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO IF YOU COULD CHECK IN WITH HER, POTENTIALLY THIS COULD GO TO OUR TASK FORCE PRIOR TO COMING BACK TO BVMENTD SESSION IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO HOST A MEETING FOR THAT, SO JESSICA, THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A FEW MORE PEOPLE OF INPUT TOGETHER, AND ERIK, YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT -- ATTEMPT TO SEE IF THAT

WOULD WORK. >> WE'VE MET ONCE. I WAS THINKING IT'S A GREAT WAY TO HAVE A SMALL GROUP AND WE CAN DISCUSS SOME OF THE UPDATES. I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE PROGRESS DASHBOARD IN THERE WITH UP, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PROJECT AND YOU GUYS TOOK THAT FEEDBACK FROM LAST WEEK. GOOD SUMMARY, ERIK. YOU ALWAYS BRING A VERY GOOD JOB OF BRINGING EVERYBODY'S DISCUSSION. WE'RE WALKING OVER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE'S ABOUT 10 PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

I HAVE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. IT'S 5:31 P.M. AND B SESSION IS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.