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>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD AFTERNOON, THE TIME IS NOW 2:03 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET WORK SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THIS MEETING IS TO HEAR ABOUT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS OF THE FY '26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUSTINA'S GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH A VERY, VERY SHORT PRESENTATION, HAND IT BACK TO ME.
I'M GOING TO COVER SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMBER YOU GOT TODAY AND THEN I'LL TURN IT BACK TO YOU. .
>> TATE: GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JUSTINA TATE.
I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WANTED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WERE INCLUDED MANY THE LIST LAST NIGHT, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS AND RESOURCES TO FUND THOSE. SO THERE ARE A TOTAL OF SIX BUDGET AMENDMENTS INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR A TOTAL OVER TWO YEARS OF ABOUT $11.5 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES INCREASING $750 FOR BASE SALARY FOR A TOTAL OF 6.8 -- FUNDING TO INSTALL NEW RADAR FEEDBACK AND TRAFFIC SIGNS, AS WELL AS FLASHING STOP SIGNS FOR A TOTAL OF 500,000. IT WOULD FUND AN ADDITIONAL 15 NEW POLICE OFFICERS FOR PATROL FOR A TOTAL OF 40 OFFICERS.
THIS WOULD P ABOUT $3.1 MILLION OVER THE TWO YEARS.
AND RESTORES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR MINOR REPAIRS. THE LAST TWO AMENDMENTS INCLUDE RESTORING ONE POSITION FOR THE VACANT BUILDINGS PROGRAM TO BE ADDED TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND FINALLY, INCLUDES $3 MILLION IN ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR STREETLIGHTS. NOW, THIS NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF THE RESOURCES TO FUND THESE GENERAL FUND AMENDMENTS TO INCLUDE ELIMINATING THE INNER CITY INCENTIVE TRANSFER IN FISCAL YEAR 2027, AS WELL AS MOVING THE ALAMO PROMISE FUNDING TO READY TO WORK IN FISCAL YEAR 2026. FOR REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS, THIS WOULD INCLUDE INCREASING THE PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL FEE BY 50 CENTS, GOING FROM $1.50 PER MONTH TO $2 PER MONTH, AND THIS WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $4 MILLION IN CAPACITY IN THE GENERAL FUND. SO IT WOULD BE ABOUT $8 MILLION OVER THE TWO YEARS. SO IN TOTAL, THESE ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS, AS WELL AS REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $11.5 MILLION OF CAPACITY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND FINALLY, THE LAST SLIDE JUST ILLUSTRATES THE RESTRICTED FUNDS AND CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS, SO ALL THE RESTRICTED FUNDS WOULD INCLUDE A 750 BASE SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR PERSONNEL POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THOSE RESTRICTED FUNDS, AND FINALLY THE CAPITAL BUDGET WOULD INCLUDE A MILLION DOLLARS FOR EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR A TOTAL OF $10 MILLION. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, JUSTINA.
SO WE SENT THE MEMO TO THE COUNCIL LAST NIGHT THAT OUTLINES WHAT JUSTINA JUST WALKED THROUGH. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN THE MEMO, YOU SAW IN THE MEMO LAST NIGHT, THAT WE DID NOT MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS ON -- ON AGENCY FUNDING. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION FROM THE COUNCIL TODAY.
AND THEN -- AND THEN THE SECOND MEMO THAT WAS SENT EARLIER WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED FOLLOW-UP THAT CAME OUT OF YESTERDAY'S CONVERSATION, SPECIFICALLY SOME QUESTIONS AROUND SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO POTENTIAL REVENUE -- OUT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND YOU'VE GOT THAT THERE, AND CLAUDE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND THEN THE FOLLOW SPECIFICALLY AROUND SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT THE MAYOR HAD AND SEVERAL OF YOU. I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE DID OUTLINE TO YOU ALL'S COMMENTS YESTERDAY A PROCESS FOR THE USE OF READY TO WORK DOLLARS FOR ALAMO PROMISE AND ALEX AND MIKE RAMSEY WORKED ON -- ON THAT DESCRIPTION. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, BECAUSE
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THAT WAS A BIG TOPIC OF SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE TALKED -- THAT WERE MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT WE WOULD TREAT THESE -- ALAMO PROMISE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ARE FUNDED WITH THE CITY DOLLARS FROM READY TO WORK, BUT WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS.AND AS PART OF ALAMO PROMISE NOW, THE ALAMO COLLEGES PROVIDES TO THE CITY, BECAUSE WE FUND THEM, THE NAMES, THE ADDRESSES, THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, THE NUMBER AND DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS, AS WELL AS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ALAMO PROMISE SCHOLARSHIPS.
WE DID -- WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD THAT AS TERMS OF THE REPORTING TO THE CITY, SO THAT WE CAN SHARE IT WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, USE OF THOSE DOLLARS THAT THE PROGRAM AND STUDY CHOSEN BY THE STUDENTS, THE GRADUATION RATE OF THE STUDENTS, THE LIST OF GRADUATES AND GRADUATION DATES, AND THEN FINALLY THE LIST OF JOB PLACEMENTS, WAGES AND HIRE DATES. IT WON'T BE COUNTED AS READY TO WORK, BUT IT'S STILL IMPORTANT INFORMATION, I THINK SOME OF YOU POINTED THAT OUT YESTERDAY. WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR ALAMO COLLEGES AS THEY ADMINISTER THEIR FUNDS FOR THE PROGRAM.
THE REST OF THEM ARE PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY MAYOR.
JUSTINA MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THEM, BUT WE'RE ALL HERE PREPARED, AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, TO GO INTO FURTHER DETAIL ON ANY OF THESE
OTHER ITEMS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.
THANK YOU, ERIK, AND THANKS TO THE TEAM FOR THE QUICK TURN ON UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE HEAD ROOM, IN PARTICULAR INCREASING THE FEES ON FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
AND I APPRECIATED THE MEMO, HOW THAT IS IDENTIFIED $433,000.
I WOULD LIKE THAT TO GO TOWARD -- IF FOLKS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE METRO HEALTH MEMO THAT DR. JACOB HAS PROVIDED, I WOULD LIKE THAT TO GO TOWARD THOSE ITEMS. AND LET ME -- IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WOULD GO TOWARD, HELPING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, IN PARTICULAR FOR YOUNG KIDS IN AREAS OF HIGHER NEEDS, THE OTHER ONE WOULD BE TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL AND PREVENTION, INCREASING CAPACITY BY APPROXIMATELY 336 HOURS AND EXPANDING THOSE HOURS SO THAT WORKING FOLKS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THINGS, AS WELL AS INCREASING SOME OF THE NURSING ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THERE. SO $433,000 DIVIDED AMONG THOSE TWO ENTITIES IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR. THERE IS THE OTHER OPTION -- THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR, I THINK, JUST PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL CLARITY -- IF WE DID WANT TO LOOK AT PROVIDING THE PAY INCREASE TO THOSE THAT MADE -- TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT MADE $100,000 OR LESS, IT SOUNDS LIKE BY RESTRICTING THAT -- THAT PAY INCREASE, THAT IT WOULD IDENTIFY -- GO BACK TO THE MEMO HERE, 1.5 POTENTIALLY, 1.5 MILLION, -- 1.4, EXCUSE ME, 1.4 MILLION AFFECTING 760 EMPLOYEES, SO WHAT THAT SHOWS IS 9% OF OUR EMPLOYEES MAKE OVER $100,000.
SO THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY WOULD STILL RECEIVE THIS PAY RAISE.
AGAIN, BY -- IF WE WANTED TO GO THAT ROUTE, AND I WELCHOLWELCOME HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON ADDITIONAL THINGS WE COULD INVEST THOSE RESOURCES, BUT, AGAIN, WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT AS AN OPTION, TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE, POTENTIALLY -- I WOULD SUPPORT CONSIDERING THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN PARTICULAR TO HELP OUR SENIORS, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PROGRAM THAT FOLKS REALLY LIKE THAT GOES VERY QUICKLY, OUR SENIORS WITH SOME OF THE HELP THEY NEED AROUND THEIR HOMES, ESSPECIAL WILL I IF THEY HAVE BEEN -- ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BEEN FINED DUE TO A CODE VIOLATION.
WE KNOW THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLUS UP RESOURCES FOR -- FOR OUR SENIORS TO HAVE FOOD DELIVERED TO THEM. AGAIN, IN LIGHT OF RISING PRICES AND JUST A VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT, PLUSSING THAT UP, I THINK WE COULD HELP OURSELVES. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PROGRAM I WANT TO -- I WOULD SUPPORT PUTTING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TOWARD, IT'S CALLED THE SA KIDS BREATHE PROGRAM, AND I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATS OF THAT, IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE. I THINK YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE TALK ABOUT OFTEN HERE, PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT -- 66% REDUCTION IN MISSED SCHOOL DAYS FOR CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, SIMILARLY OVER A 12-MONTH TIME, THERE WAS A 98% REDUCTION IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS FOR CHILDREN THAT WERE ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM. SO, AGAIN, A HIGH RATE OF RETURN AND A REAL SAVINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FRANKLY, IF THOSE KIDS ARE IN CLASS, THEY ARE WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE AND ARE GETTING THE MOST -- THEY'RE GETTING
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THE MOST OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE. SO THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES I THINK THAT WE COULD LOOK AT IF WE WANTED TO RESTRICT THAT -- THAT PAY INCREASE TO JUST THE 91% OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.OKAY. OKAY. AND NOW WE'LL MOVE TO COMMENT. HAS ANYONE SIGNED IN? NO ONE'S SIGNED IN YET.
OKAY. ONE SECOND. NO ONE'S SIGNED IN.
JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR. PLEASE SIGN IN IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> WALSH: MAYOR, WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, ONE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO POINT OUT, ON THE MEMO LAST NIGHT, AND IT REALLY GOES TO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S COMMENT YESTERDAY -- ACTUALLY, SEVERAL OF YOU MENTIONED IT, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WE -- WE HAD A REDUCTION OF THE INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND IN FISCAL YEAR '26, AND LAST NIGHT'S MEMO, WE PUSHED IT BACK TO '27, BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS INITIATED BY COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS WE HAVEN'T USED THAT MONEY COMPLETELY IN PRODUCTION, AND IF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY, WHICH IT IS, THEN WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAPPING THOSE DOLLARS. THAT WAS ANOTHER CHANGE FROM -- LAST NIGHT'S MEMO
THAT I FORGOT TO POINT OUT. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.
THE OTHER THING -- I KNOW WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH DELEGATE AGENCIES. WE COULD, ALSO, AS A BODY, DETERMINE THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE JUST TOO IMPORTANT NOW AND TOO UNDERFUNDED NOW THAT WE THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER FUNDING, RIGHT? SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT FOR HER, BIG MOMMA SAFEHOUSE, THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE KNOW -- WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF AND THE NEED FOR THOSE IS ALREADY HIGH.
SO, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AROUND HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR OTHERS, BUT WE COULD ALSO LOOK AT THE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THINK ABOUT ADDRESSING THOSE IN LIGHT OF THAT. ESPECIALLY IF WE WANTED TO LOOK AT, AGAIN, RESTRICTING THE PAY INCREASE TO JUST 91% OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. OKAY. SO LET'S SEE, THE FIRST
PERSON WHO HAS SIGNED UP, CHAIR ALDARETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ACTUALLY, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS LATER, BUT I DID HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. ERIK, WHAT WAS THE FIRST
THING YOU SAID WE NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON? >> WALSH: THE AGENCY ISSUE, THERE WAS -- WE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE AGENCIES ON ANY OF
THE TOPICS, REGARDLESS OF THE SUGGESTED FUNDING. >> GAVITO: GOT IT.
>> WALSH: -- YESTERDAY IN LAST NIGHT'S MEMO, SO JUST SOME CLARIFICATION
ON THAT FRONT. >> GAVITO: OKAY. THANKS.
I'LL CHIME IN LATER WITH COMMENTS. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR
VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS AS WE SEE -- OH, AND THIS WAS HARD. AS WE SEE IT NOW, I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD GO ACROSS THE BOARD, 2% FOR THOSE MAKING WHATEVER THEY'RE MAKING, AND THE 750 BASE SALARY INCREASE.
I THINK THAT IS THE MOST EQUITABLE AND FAIR THING TO DO.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED ■TO FIND MORE DOLLARS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE -- BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAKING 100,000 ON THE CITY HAVE SERVED THIS CITY FOR WELL OVER A DECADE, AND I HAVE PROBLEMS TELLING THEM, YOU DON'T GET A COST OF LIVING INCREASE BECAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT 2% IS. SO I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AS IT IS. I LIKE THAT THE -- RESTORE THE FUNDING TO THE NEW RADAR FEEDBACK. I THINK THAT MEETS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS.
PROVIDES FUNDS FOR 15 NEW POLICE OFFICERS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE NEW PATROL OFFICERS WOULD BE SAFE OFFICERS, AND IF ANY WOULD ALSO SIT IN ANY PATROL POSITIONS THAT ARE DOING SPECIALIZED UNITS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GETTING 15 OFFICERS IN ADDITION TO THE 25, THEY'RE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT SITTING IN SOME SPECIALIZED UNIT.
OF COURSE, THE RESTORES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION TO MINOR REPAIR PROGRAMS IS -- IS A PLUS, AND THEN THE VACANT BUILDINGS PROGRAM, I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT ONE POSITION, IF IT'S GOING TO COST US TO MOVE IT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. I'M STILL IFFY ON ADDING MORE EMPLOYEES WHEN WE'RE CURRENTLY IN A FREEZE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE 3 MILLION, WE KNOW THAT'S
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COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY SAFETY RESERVE. I DO WANT TO, AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, I DO WANT TO REITERATE, BECAUSE WHAT BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE BROUGHT FORWARD, THE FORM I WAS GIVEN TO BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, I REALLY FEEL LIKE TH THAT'S SIGNIFICANT AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HELPING RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I REALLY THINK THAT THEY ARE HELPING -- THEY CAN HELP WITH OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY, INCLUDING METRO HEALTH, AND SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT INCREASE. I DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT ON THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT INCREASE. I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS HAS NOT GONE OUT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AND I'M ALREADY HEARING THAT SO MANY BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR REASONS TO SAY WHY. AND WHILE A LOT OF US KNOW IT'S INFLATION ALL OVER THE PLACE, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY ME AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ARE DEBATING BECAUSE THEY SAY THE MEDIANS ARE CAUSING THEIR RESTAURANTS TO CLOSE, AND I KNOW IT'S MORE THAN THAT. WHAT I DON'T WANT IS THE CITY TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER EXCUSE FOR THEM TO SAY IT'S THAT NOW YOU'RE CHARGING 20% STATE MAX.SO I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO IN TERMS OF DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT SITS WITHIN THE DELEGATE AGENCY FEE, I AM LOOKING TO HEAR FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON THOSE.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL WORTHY FEES, I THINK WHEN FOR HER SPOKE, AGAIN, THEY DID MENTION THAT THEY WERE GETTING REFERRALS FROM, YOU KNOW, AGENCIES THAT HADN'T BEEN INCLUDED, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S KEY.
AND I THINK AMERICAN GATEWAY IS GOING TO BE NEEDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THESE TIMES, SO -- BECAUSE WE HAVE -- WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAMILY THAT NEED HELP WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES, AND WE HAVE DREAMERS THAT WORK FOR THIS CITY AND FOR MAJOR COMPANIES, AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED HELP, TOO. SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHERE WE PUT OUR PRIORITIES AND JUST BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN OUR WORDS TODAY, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. I -- I WOULD BE WILLING -- IF WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE AND WE NEEDED TO GET MORE FUNDS FOR -- AS MUCH AS THIS PAINS ME TO SAY, I WOULD BE WILLING TO NOT RESTORE THE FUNDING OF A MILLION IN MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM -- I'M SORRY -- YEAH. AND JUST WORK WITH THE 7 MILLION, IF IT MEANT THAT WE COULD GET SOME OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT MY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE PASSIONATE TO -- AND PASSIONATE ABOUT ON, SO, YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GOOD WORK WITH WHAT WE'VE HAD. I'M ENCOURAGED.
I THINK THE NEXT POINT MOVING FORWARD TRULY IS TO HAVE A VERY RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION HERE AND THEN REALLY MOVE FORWARD ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE -- MAKE MORE MONEY HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP THAT. AND THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE HAVE JOBS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE HOMES FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT THOSE JOBS, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE FINANCIALLY SOUND TO GO OUT AND TO VISIT OTHER PLACES. AND SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO KIND OF LOOK AT HOW WE MOVE THAT FORWARD. I APPRECIATE ALL THE CITY STAFF AND JUSTINA IN PARTICULAR, ERIK, MARIA, JUST THE WHOLE TEAM FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT MY RIGHT NOW.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES REGARDING THE DELEGATE AGENCIES. IT'S SO HARD. I'M NOT SOLD COMPLETELY, BUT THOSE THREE THAT I DID MENTION, I KNOW I -- THEY SERVE MY DISTRICT, BUT -- IN PARTICULAR, BUT I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE SOME THAT SERVE Y'ALL'S DISTRICT AND HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, SO I'M REALLY -- WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS ON THAT. SO, AGAIN, MY FIRST PRIORITY -- MY PRIORITY THAT I CAME IN WAS THE -- MAKING SURE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES GOT THAT, AND THAT'S AMENDMENT NUMBER 1, SO I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, MAYBE IT'S MARIA OR
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JUSTINE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THE INCREASE ON THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE -- BECAUSE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ACTUALLY, BASED ON THE CHANGE IN STATE LAW, WOULD HAVE REDUCED THE SMALL BUSINESS -- WELL, NOT SMALL -- BUT THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD HAVE REDUCED THEIR FEE BY 50% IN THE TWO EXAMPLES THAT YOU PROVIDED IN YOURMEMO. DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? >>
>> VILLAGOMEZ: WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE DID IS IT ONLY ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO CHARGE EITHER A LICENSE FOR FOOD OR LIQUOR, BUT NOT BOTH.
AND IN THE PAST, WE WERE CHARGING FOR BOTH. SO FOR SOME BUSINESSES THAT ONLY WERE CHARGING ONE OF THE TWO FEES, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT SEE A DECREASE, BECAUSE ALSO THE WAY THAT IT'S CALCULATED NOW IS BASED ON GROSS SALES, RATHER THAN HOW IT WAS BEING DONE IN THE PAST.
>> MAYOR JONES: UH-HUH. >> VILLAGOMEZ: SO FOR SOME RESTAURANTS, PERHAPS, THEY MAY SEE A REDUCTION BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING CHARGED THE TWO LICENSES LIKE THEY WERE IN THE PAST, BUT I -- AND I'M GOING TO ASK METRO HEALTH IF THEY'RE HERE, I DON'T MOW I KNOW IF THEY HAVE DONE AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ALL THE ACCOUNTED ACCOUNTS THAT ARE PAYING
THOSE TWO FEES TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
THAT'S HELPFUL. AT LEAST IN THE MEM THOUGH THAT WAS SHARED WITH US, IN TWO OF THOSE EXAMPLES THEY WERE PAYING HALF OF WHAT THEY WERE PAYING PREVIOUSLY. IT'S NOT CLEAR IT WOULD INCREASE, AND IT MAY ACTUALLY STILL BE LESS OF WHAT THEY WERE PAYING B PREVIOUSLY.
IF YOU COULD SHARE SOME LIGHT ON THAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS CONSISTENT FROM WHAT WE FORECAST.
DIFFERENT WHAT I PRESENTED ON THE 26TH, THIS IS A PROJECTION BASED ON THE GROSS VOLUME OF FOOD SALES. BASED ON YOUR REQUEST, WE GO TO THE MAX. WE'RE SENSITIVE TO THE PLIGHT OF THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT THIS IS BASED ON THE GROSS VOLUME FOOD SALES AND THIS IS THE BEST PROJECTION THAT
WE HAVE BASED ON THAT REVENUE. >> MAYOR JONES: DOCTOR, IN THE MEMO, YOU PROVIDED US TWO CASE STUDIES. CAN YOU QUICKLY DO THE MATH -- OR YOU CAN COME BACK TO US LATER ONCE YOU DO IT, IF WE WERE TO INCREASE IT TO THE MAX, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR THOSE TWO EXAMPLES.
>> JACOB: THANK YOU. WE CAN DO THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU CAN JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL CALL YOU BACK UP HERE, WHENEVER YOU'VE GOT
THE ANSWER. THANK YOU, SIR. >> JACOB: OKAY.
COUNCILMAN WHYTE? >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF. THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THE WORK.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'VE LANDED ON THE AMENDMENTS, I THINK, AGAIN, THERE'S ALWAYS TOUGH DECISIONS TO BE MADE. ME PERSONALLY, TREMENDOUSLY DISAPPOINTED WITH ONLY THE ADDITIONAL 15 OFFICERS.
YOU KNOW, I CITED THAT STUDY YESTERDAY THAT HAS US LAST IN TEXAS OUT OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN TERMS OF SAFETY. I WANTED TO DO IT YESTERDAY, BUT I WANTED TO READ THE FIRST LINE IN THIS STUDY.
IT SAYS CITY SAFETY OR LACK THEREOF CAN LEAD TO GREAT DISPARITY IN QUALITY OF LIFE AND RETURN ON DOLLARS INVESTED BY RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT ALIKE. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY -- IT'S A LINE THAT WE SHOULD ALL REALLY CONSIDER WHEN -- WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I -- I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH THE MAYOR AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT -- THAT TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
YES, LIGHTS HELP. YES, IMPROVING LITERACY RATES AMONGST OUR CITIZENS IS GOING TO HELP DOWN THE LINE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT ACTUALLY COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ HAS TALKED ABOUT A LOT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. FRANKLY, A LOT OF WHICH I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT, BUT THAT I THINK HE'S CORRECT ON.
BUT THERE'S -- IT'S NOT AN EITHER/OR. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS HELP DETER CRIME, MAKE THE CITY SAFER, AND, AGAIN, OUR LEAD LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL STOOD AT THAT PODIUM AND HE SAID, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER, WHEN WE MOVE TO THIS 60/40 RATIO THAT HE'S TALKED ABOUT, THE COMMUNITY'S GOING TO BE SAFER. THE QUICKER THAT WE CAN DO IT, THE BETTER. AND SO TO ONLY ADD 40 OFFICERS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO THE 65 IS VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME.
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THE INCREASE IN FEES, I GUESS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL FEE, I'LL AGAIN, SAY I DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER. IT SHOULD NOT BE UP TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO TO KEEP SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF HOW WE WANT TO SPEND MONEY DOWN HERE AT CITY HALL. THEY PAY ENOUGH ALREADY.AND THE FEE INCREASE THAT'S THERE ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER FEE INCREASES THAT WE'RE HITTING THEM WITH, IT'S NOT RIGHT.
THEY PAY TOO MUCH ALREADY, AND SO IN MY OPINION, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK IN FINDING AREAS THAT WE CAN CUT. WE SHOULD MAKE FURTHER CUTS. WE NEED TO LOOK HARDER, WE NEED TO LOOK DEEPER.
I SUPPORT THE 2% ACROSS THE BOARD THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN JUST MENTIONED FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. AND I GUESS -- ON ALAMO PROMISE, I THINK PRISCILLA CAMACHO, ARE YOU HERE? YEAH, COULD YOU COME UP FOR A MOMENT? SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT -- MOVING THIS MONEY OVER INTO THE READY TO WORK COLUMN, I THINK THERE'S SOME CONCERN ABOUT SOME DATA THAT YOU ALL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. CAN YOU SHARE THAT WITH US?
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO PRISCILLA CAMACHO WITH THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
JUST ME STARTING OFF, REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO MAKE THIS NOT A COENROLLMENT PROGRAM. THAT WAS HEARD OF OUR CONCERNS WITH THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND MIKE AND ALEX FOR WORKING TO GET THAT DONE. WE ONLY GOT THIS LIST JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, AND SO IN A QUICK GLANCE I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW MOST OF THE ITERATION THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED AS PART OF THE DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WE WILL PROVIDE IS OKAY. TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
THE JOB PLACEMENT INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US AT SCALE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS BY THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMPLITION.
TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION. THE REASON WHY I MENTION THAT VERY PROMINENTLY, IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE AS REGARDS TO OUR OUTCOMES FUNDING FOR HBA.
OUR STATE FORMULA FUNDING, THEY WANT TO INCLUDE JOB PLACEMENT EVENTUALLY, TWC IS WORKING REALLY HARD TO DO THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS IN THE ALTERNATIVE, IF WE CAN OFFER TO PROVIDE TRANSFER DATA, WE SEND A LOT OF OUR PROMISE STUDENTS TO FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES, WE PROVIDED THAT TO MANY OF THE COUNCIL THIS MORNING. SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU WHERE SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE GOING, IF THEY'RE PROGRESSING DOWN TO A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.
THE ZERO OTHER IS WITH REGARDS TO THE ENTRY WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT SEMIANNUAL BASIS, WE WOULD ASK IF WE CAN ALIGN THAT WITH WHEN WE PRESENT THAT DATA, SINCE YOU'RE ASKING FOR GRADUATION INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT ALIGNS WITH THOSE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE TO SEND TO HIGHER ED BOARD ANYWAYS WHEN THOSE GRADUATIONS OCCUR. SO WE THINK WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT AND THE DETAILS, BUT THE JOB PLACEMENT IS THE POLITICAL PIECE BECAUSE CRITICAL PIECE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. WE HAVE TO GO TO THE EMPLOYERS, GET PAPERWORK FROM THE STUDENTS, THAT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC WITH 8,000 STUDENTS THAT ARE
COSA ELIGIBLE. >> WALSH: CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION, MAYOR?
>> MAYOR JONES: GO AHEAD. >> WALSH: CAN WE GET IT
ANNUALLY. >> WHICH ONE? >> WALSH: THE LAST ONE, INSTEAD OF SEM E MY ANNUALLY, GET IT ANNUALLY.
>> YES, WE CAN DO THAT. >> WALSH: AND IN TERMS OF THE JOB PLACEMENT, WE CAN WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE ALTERNATIVE FOR NOW WE CAN FOCUS ON
GRADUATION DATA. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS ALWAYS PUT -- ONCE WE KNOW THAT TWC CAN DO THAT FOR US, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION THEY HAVE AN EYE TO
POTENTIALLY ADD IT IF IT'S AVAILABLE. >> WALSH: MAYBE THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT. >> I THINK I HAVE SOME
ADVOCATES ON MY SIDE FOR THIS ONE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, PRISCILLA. I DON'T KNOW, I'D LIKE MY COLLEAGUES TO CERTAINLY CONSIDER THAT SO WE CAN MAKE THAT FUNDING ADJUSTMENT WORK.
THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY -- YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR OTHER AREAS -- AND I WON'T HARP ON THAT, BUT JUST THE IDEA THAT WE'VE GOT -- WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THESE THINGS. AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE RISK OF SETTING OFF A FIRE STORM, YOU KNOW, THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES, AGAIN, I WANT TO -- I WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW THAT THEY ALL HAVE NOBLE
[00:30:06]
MISSIONS AND DO GREAT WORK, BUT WE'RE CUTTING IN SO MANY AREAS ACROSS OUR CITY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THIS DEFICIT, RIGHT? AND I THINK THIS DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OVER $24 MILLION. AND IF WE WERE JUST TO REDUCE THAT 2.5% OF THAT WOULD RESULT IN $600,000. YOU KNOW, THAT COULD GO TO HELP US FUND MORE OFFICERS. I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK -- AND MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, IS GOING TO, I BELIEVE, TALK ABOUT IT IN A MINUTE, WE ALSO, I THINK, SHOULD LOOK AT THE OVERTIME, RIGHT, THAT OUR -- THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE SHORT STAFFED ON THE POLICE FORCE. AND ADDING MORE OFFICERS WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME PAY, AND SO THERE'S ANOTHER AREA THAT I THINK WE COULD PROVIDE SAVINGS WHILE GETTING ADDITIONAL OFFICERS ON THE STREET. SO I JUST -- I CHALLENGE US ALL TO, LET'S CONTINUE TO THINK CREATIVELY, LET'S CONTINUE TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS, AND LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY
SOMETHING? >> WALSH: YEAH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, WE ARE -- WE ARE OVERHIRED, AS YOU HEARD FROM MR. REILLY YESTERDAY, AND IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO, SO IT'S NOMENCLATURE, AND THEY USED THE WORDS SHORT OFFICERS. I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE CAN'T FILL POSITIONS OR WE HAVE FRTROUBLE WITH RECRUITING CLASSES. I THINK "SHORT" IN Y'ALL'S ARENA IS A POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT A GOAL OR STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE'RE SHORT, THAT WE'RE IN A DEFICIT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN. IN FACT, WE'RE SPENDING -- WE'RE SPENDING OVER OUR BUDGET, PERSONNEL BUDGET RIGHT NOW BASED ON THE CADETS AND THE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD THAT WE'RE
AUTHORIZED TO DO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
CHAIR ALDARETE GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK NOTES. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING UP TO THE 65 OFFICERS.
YOU KNOW, 40 IS A START IN THE RIGHT -- A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT US TALKING ABOUT THE CORE SERVICES OF THE CITY, NO OTHER AGENCY OR NONPROFIT CAN DO POLICE WORK, NO OTHER AGENCY OR NONPROFIT CAN DO FIREFIGHTER WORK, NO OTHER NONPROFIT OR AGENCY CAN FIX OUR STREETS. AND THESE ARE CORE SERVICES THAT WE AS A CITY COUNCIL NEED TO FOCUS ON TO KEEP OUR CITY RUNNING EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, SO DEFINITELY STILL WANT TO PUSH TO SEE MORE POLICE OFFICERS. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. I DO ALSO WANT TO -- AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD.
YES, I -- I -- I ALSO THINK OF A TENURED CITY EMPLOYEE WHO'S MAYBE MAKING OVER 100 GRAND, BUT SUPPORTING A FAMILY OF FOUR, MAYBE IT'S THE ONLY INCOME THAT THEY HAVE, SO I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DESERVING OF AN INCREASE AS WELL. GLAD TO SEE THE VACANT BUILDINGS PROGRAM ON THERE. I KNOW YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF WHAT THAT POSITION WOULD DO IN DSD.
ERIK, DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE THAT WE COULD SEE THAT?
>> WALSH: YES, MA'AM, IT'S INCLUDED IN THE MEMO WE JUST ISSUED TODAY.
>> GAVITO: OH, OKAY. >> WALSH: AND WHAT IT WOULD BE WOULD BE A SENIOR CODE OFFICER DEDICATED TO THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS, MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION, MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, ISSUE CITATIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT AND THEN SUPPORT THE CASE MANAGERS.
>> GAVITO: AWESOME. >> WALSH: AND THAT $95,000 -- AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE FOLLOW-UPS FROM YESTERDAY, THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR RESIDENTIAL -- THE RESIDENTIAL VACANT BUILDING FEE IS PROPOSED -- WAS PROPOSED AT 250. THIS MEMO OUTLINES TO Y'ALL'S QUESTION YESTERDAY, IT COULD BE INCREASED TO $400 FOR RESIDENTIAL, IT COULD GO FROM 750 TO 900. THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE
WOULD PAY FOR THAT $95,000 POSITION. >> GAVITO: PERFECT.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THAT. ALSO, TOO, THANKS TO JUSTINA AND ALL OF THE BUDGET TEAM FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S WORK.
I KNOW IT'S -- YOU KNOW, NOT EASY HERDING CATS, AND WE'RE THE CATS.
YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. I WON'T MEOW. ANYWAY, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO SUPPORT FOR WHAT PRISCILLA SAID. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE FOR BRINGING HER UP AND CLARIFYING THAT, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NIPPED THAT IN THE BUD. QUICK QUESTION FOR MARIA REGARDING THE DELEGATE
[00:35:04]
AGENCIES. I KNOW AT ONE POINT WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT THE 24, 25 MILLION OF DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING AND LOOK WHICH ONES WERE DELEGATE AGENCY AND WHICH ONES WERE DISCRETIONARY. HAVE WE DONE THAT YET?>> VILLAGOMEZ: WE HAVE. >> GAVITO: OKAY. >> VILLAGOMEZ: IN THE DHS PRESENTATION, AND PERHAPS MEL HAS THOSE NUMBERS, BUT WE DID THAT ANALYSIS ON WHAT AGENCIES AFFORD CORE SERVICES, HUMAN SERVICES.
>> GAVITO: RIGHT. >> VILLAGOMEZ: FOR EXAMPLE, SERVICES OUR SENIOR CENTERS, PROGRAMMING AND WHAT OTHER AGENCIES HAVE VERY WORTHY CAUSES BUT THEY'RE NOT DWR DIRECTLY TIED TO THE SERVICES THAT
WE PROVIDE. >> GAVITO: PERFECT. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN IS OF DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING.
AGAIN, AND THOSE ARE SERVICES HELPING US TOWARD OUR CORE SERVICES OF HOMELESSNESS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF VERSUS DISCRETIONARY.
DO WE HAVE THAT, MEL? >> WOOSLEY: YES. SO DISCRETIONARY IS ABOUT
4.8 MILLION. >> GAVITO: UH-HUH. >> WOOSLEY: -- OF THE
24 MILLION. >> GAVITO: OOH. WHAT'S THAT PERCENTAGE?
>> WOOSLEY: MATH AT THE PODIUM. ABOUT 20%.
>> GAVITO: SO 20% OF THAT 24, 25 MILLION IS GOING TO DISCRETIONARY? AGAIN, NONPROFITS, WORTHY, NOBLE CAUSES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WORKING
TOWARDS -- MEETING ONE OF OUR CORE SERVICES. >> WOOSLEY: THAT'S
CORRECT. >> GAVITO: OKAY. GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, JUST WANT TO GO MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN SUPPORT OF ALL EMPLOYEES -- CITY EMPLOYEES GETTING AN INCREASE, VACANT BUILDINGS PROGRAM, ALAMO PROMISE AND I THINK I'M GOOD.
THANK YOU. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR
KAUR? >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I WANT TO OFFER A DIFFERENT OPTION FOR THE REVENUE AND RECOMMEND US NOT INCREASING THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEE BY 50 CENTS AND REDUCING THAT TO HALF.
AND CHANGING THAT TO 25 CENTS. IF WE CHANGE IT TO 25 CENTS, I JUST TOOK HALF OF THAT, IT'S ABOUT $2 MILLION, WE COULD STILL COVER OUR FULL RAISE FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE, I BELIEVE, YOU ALL WORK REALLY HARD, TOO, AND SO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT DOESN'T LEAVE US VERY MUCH FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS ON THIS, SO I WANT TO REITERATE THAT I DO NOT THINK IT'S A GOOD DECISION TO BE FUNDING PERSONNEL AND TO COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S POINT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT VACANT BUILDING'S PROGRAM ISN'T A POSITION, TOO, SO MAYBE WE DO HOLD OFF ON THAT FOR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE UPCOMING DEFICIT AND THIS UPCOMING YEAR AND KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS SUFFICIENT SUPPORT TO HAVE 15 NEW POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS LIST, SO I'D LIKE FOR US TO LISTEN TO SEE WHETHER THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THAT, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I THINK -- THE THING THAT YOU MENTIONED NOW MAKES ME THINK WE SHOULD RESET WHAT OUR GOAL IS FOR OFFICERS. YOU SAID WE'RE NOT SHORT, BUT IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT OUR GOAL LOOKS LIKE FOR HOW MANY PATROL OFFICERS ARE NEEDED, HOW MANY SAFE OFFICERS ARE NEEDED, THAT'S A STRATEGY CONVERSATION THAT SHOULD OCCUR. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE UP AT PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, TO RELOOK AT.
WHAT DOES 60/40 LOOK LIKE? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO A B SESSION AND HAVE A FULL TEAM CONVERSATION FOR IT. SO I THINK IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A WAY FORWARD, SO THAT THAT WAY WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED FOR PATROL, THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED FOR SAFE, BUT THIS NUMBER WAS PROVIDED TO US.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS INTENDED THAT WAY, BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT
COMMENT RESONATED WITH ME. >> WALSH: NO, IT'S -- THE GOAL OF GETTING TO 60% AND 40% PROACTIVE WAS A COUNCIL GOAL.
>> KAUR: OH. >> WALSH: AND YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP ALONG WITH OTHERS AND I SUSPECT THAT WILL BE A TOPIC REVISITED. INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY, IT'S THE SAME. IT'S A STRATEGIC CONVERSATION ABOUT A POLICYMAKER STANDPOINT ABOUT WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO AND HOW DO WE GET
THERE. >> KAUR: YEAH. JUST ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE TALKED ABOUT IN PUBLIC SAFETY WAS LOOKING AT OUR DATA AND HOW ARE WE MATCHING THE DATA THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING ON A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT.
SO IS IT PATROL OFFICERS THAT ARE NEEDED OR DO WE NEED TO SUPPORT MORE OFFICERS IN THE FINANCIAL CRIMES UNIT, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY DO ELDERLY ABUSE WORK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT WAS CREATED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO JUST TYING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE ACTIONS TOWARDS THE DATA THAT WE'RE SEEING, I THINK, WILL BE HELPFUL, TOO. SO THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL FOR EVERYONE TO
[00:40:04]
KIND OF WEIGH IN ON TO SEE IF WE COULD READIES REDISCUSS FOR US AS A TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ALIGNED ON IT. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WILL SAY ALSO, BECAUSE IF WE DO REDUCE -- IF FOLKS FEEL LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO DO 50 CENT INCREASE, THEN IF WE HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR THAT, THEN I GUESS THERE'S A LITTLE MORE FUNDING. BUT IF WE DO REDUCE THAT TO 25 CENTS SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING THE BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS, THEN WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOME OF THOSE OTHER ITEMS. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S POINT ABOUT MAJOR/MINOR HOME REHAB, AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED IF WE COULD DO MORE SUPPORT IN MINOR, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE MEMO IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS. SO GIVEN THAT, I THINK THAT THE ONLY THING OUT OF THIS LIST THAT I THINK WE COULD CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WOULD BE THE RADAR FEEDBACK SIGN SLASHING STOP SIGNS, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, I THINK THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDING OUR CIVILIAN PAY RAISE AND OUR DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING, WHETHER IT COMES FROM THE RESERVE OR THIS -- IF WE HAVE SOME FUNDING LEFT OVER.BUT ALSO I DIDN'T SEE ON HERE WAS THE BOOK FESTIVAL RESTORATION.
I KNOW A LOT OF US MENTIONED SUPPORT FOR THAT IN THE INITIAL SESSION, BUT WE MAY NOT HAVE SAID IT YESTERDAY -- OR AT LEAST I DIDN'T SAY IT YESTERDAY BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, OH, THERE WAS SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR THIS, IT'S ONLY 50K, IT'S GOING TO GET BAKED IN, BUT I SHOULD HAVE SAID IT.
IF OTHER PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO SUPPORT THE BOOK FESTIVAL FUNDING, LET'S MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT OUT LOUD TODAY. THE ONLY OTHER THING, MAYOR, YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND THE TUBERCULOSIS REPORTS, AND I READ THE MEMO, BUT MY ONLY -- NOW LOOKING AT -- IF WE INCREASE A PROGRAM AND THEN WE'RE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR IN A DEFICIT FOR METRO HEALTH, IT'S HARD TO TAKE AWAY. AND THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT BUT I THINK AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT FOR THEM HOW ARE WE GOING TO START PLANNING NOW TO SUPPORT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE FUNDED NEXT YEAR, SO THAT'S THE ORIGINAL REASON WHY IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO SAY, YEAH, LET'S ADD AN ADDITIONAL $700,000 IN PROGRAMMING SUPPORT FOR THEM.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: YEAH, THANKS, CHAIR KAUR, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. TO YOUR POINT ON HOW DO WE PLUS THESE UP BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE SUSTAINABILITY-WISE. PART OF IT IS LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE DO -- WHAT DO WE KNOW WE NEED TO BAKE INTO OUR BUDGET, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S NO LONGER OPTIONAL EACH YEAR, BUT IT'S NO KIDDING SOMETHING WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, IF WE'RE ALL SOLD ON THE BENEFIT OF INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THIS CASE IN KIDS OF HIGHER NEEDS WHICH WE UNDERSTAND COULD BECOME PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS IF NOT SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED. AND I MEAN, POINT WELL TAKEN ON, AGAIN, HOW ARE WE -- I THINK AS THIS BODY HAS ROUTINELY COME BACK TO IS, YOU KNOW, OUR VARIOUS DIFFERING UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE, YES, WE WILL ROUTINELY LEAN ON CHIEF'S COMMENTS, BUT WE DON'T AS OFTEN LEAN ON THE COMMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, OF DR. JACOB, OR OTHERS. AND FRANKLY, IN THE LITERATURE THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US, THE VERY CLEAR LINKAGES BETWEEN ILLITERACY AND CRIMINALITY. RIGHT? I KNOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, ROUTINELY SPEAK TO ONE PERSON IN UNIFORM THAT SPEAKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE CAN ALSO, I THINK, BETTER APPRECIATE SOME OF THE OTHER CONTRIBUTORS MORE HOLISTICALLY AND AS CHIEF SAID, HIS ASKS ARE BASED ON HIS WORKLOAD.
WE DO THAT OVER THE LONGER TERM WITH SOME OF THESE MORE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS.
THANK CITY STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS WORK TOGETHER.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN TOUGH AND GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK Y'ALL HAVE BEEN PUTTING INTO IT'S TH. WE'RE ONLY TO THE FINISH LINE, I'M TRYING TO GO THROUGH AS QUICKLY AS I CAN BUT NOT TALKING TOO QUICKLY.
FINDING FUNDS FOR THE METRO HEALTH, AS SA KIDS BREATHE, I THINK DEFINITELY WITH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE REVIEWING WAYS TO SEE HOW THIS IS BAKED IN IN THE FUTURE AND SEE HOW WE CAN MITIGATE SOME OF THOSE LOSSES AS WE'RE EXPECTING TO TAKE TO 2027.
AND SUPPORT, OF COURSE, OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES OF BIG MOMMA SAFE HOUSE, FOR HER, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, THE AMERICAN GATEWAY AND BOOK FESTIVAL. I'M EAGER TO REVIEW THE AGENCY FUNDING IN THE FALL, EVEN SOME OF THE OTHER GRANTS THAT WE SUPPLY, LOOKING AT WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE, WHETHER IT'S IN ARTS OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHATEVER IT IS, JUST TO MAKE SURE WHERE WE'RE SENDING MONEY OUT, THAT WE'RE GETTING A QUALITY RETURN. OF COURSE, THAT'S MEETING THE GOALS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF WORTHY CAUSES OUT THERE THAT DESERVE THE SUPPORT, BUT IT REALLY DOES JUST COME DOWN TO WHERE WE CAN DO IT, RIGHT, IN THINKING ABOUT -- BECAUSE OF
[00:45:01]
KAUR'S POINT ON SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS, STAIPBGIVING IT THIS YEAR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE IT THE YEARS AFTER THAT.IT'S IN THE LONGER TERM CONVERSATIONS. ON THE FOOD PERMITTING, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD DEFINITELY REVIEW WITH OUR ECONOMIC WORKFORCE COMMITTEE IF WE CAN, NOT JUST THE METRO HEALTH PERMITTING TO SMALL BUSINESSES BUT GENERAL SMALL BUSINESS PERMITTING AND FEES THAT REQUIRE TO SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN ADJUST HERE AND THERE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO OPEN UP AND TO OPERATE BUT STILL TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AS WELL. I THINK IT'S WORTH CONTINUOUS CONVERSATIONS IN THE FUTURE. DEFINITELY HEAR THE POINT OF THE MINOR HOME REHAPPEN. REHAB.
I DON'T FEEL GOOD ON REMOVING THAT FUNDING, I DON'T THINK I'M FULLY SOLD ON IT JUST YET BUT I'M TAKING SERIOUSLY THE CAPACITY PIECE ON IT.
SOME OF THE COMMENTS ON HAVING TO PICK ON HERE, IT MAKES ME STUCK WITH -- I DON'T -- I'M NOT SUPPORT OF THE 15 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, JUST FRANKLY, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL ADDING OFFICERS, 25.
OF COURSE, IT'S LESS THAN WHAT ORIGINALLY INTENDED, BUT SO IS EVERYTHING ELSE FOR OUR CITY BUDGET AND I -- I JUST THINK SEEING THAT NUMBER GROW WIDER THROUGHOUT THESE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS WE'RE LOOKING TO FURTHER DEFICITS IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND SEEING OTHER PIECES HAVE TO GO AWAY BECAUSE OF THIS ITEM OR SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.
AND I DON'T -- YEAH, I JUST -- I GET STUCK THERE WITH THAT.
AS WE'RE LOOKING -- AT CHOOSING BETWEEN HOME REPAIR, TRAUMA CARE AND OTHER KINDS OF SUPPORT HERE WITH THESE AMENDMENTS, BUT OF COURSE MORE SO WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS IN TANDEM -- OR IN TOTAL WITH 2027, EVEN SOME OF THE SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMMING IN MY DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED IN 2027. AND SO JUST WEIGHING THAT HEAVILY ABOUT THIS IS AN EITHER/OR CONVERSATION. I -- I DON'T THINK I WANT TO CHOOSE OPTION 3, GIVEN THE FACT THAT -- OR AMENDMENT 3, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE STILL IS GOING TO BE 25 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS ADDED.
I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. BASED ON THE 2024 FINANCIAL REPORTS, AM I UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT, WE MAY NOT HAVE THOSE READY ON HAND, SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT OFFLINE, BUT AM I UNDERSTANDING FOR TAX ABATEMENTS IN TOTAL THE
CITY'S PROVIDED IN 2024 IS $10 MILLION? >> WALSH: DO YOU HAVE
THAT, JUSTINA? OKAY. >> TATE: I DON'T HAVE
THAT RIGHT NOW. >> GALVAN: YEAH. >> TATE: BUT WE'LL WORK
TO GET THAT. >> GALVAN: ALL GOOD. I THINK THE SAME THING GOES TO [INDISCERNIBLE] EXCEPTIO EXCEPTIONS, RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, I JUST WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THERE THAT WE COULD ALSO REVIEW, OF COURSE UNDERSTANDING IT'S THE DAY BEFORE, WE'RE MEANT TO ADOPT IT TOMORROW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET A BETTER CLARIFICATION ON THE EXEMPTIONS, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO.
YEAH, AND JUST HOW THAT MAY IMPACT US IN 2027 AS WELL.
>> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
ABATEMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS, RIGHT? >> GALVAN: CORRECT.
WE CAN TALK OFFLINE BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT PAGES ABOUT IT.
>> WALSH: WE'LL PULL IT OUT. THE EXEMPTIONS WE HAVE, BECAUSE IT WAS IN AN EARLIER PRESENTATION, AND WE'LL GET THE TAX
ABATEMENT ANSWERED. >> GALVAN: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU. LET ME SEE IF I'M MIXING ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COMMENTS HERE -- FROM MY NOTES HERE. THE VACANT BUILDINGS ONE IS SOMETHING I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO KEEP IN, BUT I UNDERSTAND, TOO, IF WE'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT WHOLE, I'D BE COMFORTABLE WITH REMOVING THAT POSITION, SINCE IT'S UNFILLED ANYWAY, BUT I STILL THINK IT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF VACANT BUILDING THAT OUR CITY DOES HAVE AND HAVING THAT LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT OUR VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCES ARE, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THEM IS IMPORTANT TO ME. SO EAGER TO HEAR MORE FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ABOUT THAT ONE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, STILL SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AMENDMENT FOR ACROSS THE BOARD. AND I DO THINK, THOUGH, IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT WHETHER IT'S 2027 OR FUTURE BUDGETS, WAYS TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL CAPS, NOT TO DISRESPECT ANYBODY'S WORK HERE IN OUR CITY, BUT I THINK, UNDERSTANDING, TOO, THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE IN, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE FOLKS THAT CAN WEATHER IT MORE.
I'M SURE I CAN WO THER IT MORE, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT THE CITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES CAN WEATHER INFLATION TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY IN THE MOST EQUITABLE WAYS THEY CAN.
I'M STILL SUPPORTIVE OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ACROSS THE BOARD RIGHT
[00:50:03]
NOW. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS FOR NOW, MAYOR.THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK Y'ALL HAVE DONE, AND ESPECIALLY THE QUICK TURNAROUND. I WANT TO SAY FIRST THAT I'M -- I REMAIN OPEN TO MANY OF THESE IDEAS, AND I HOPE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE STILL OPEN-MINDED AND AREN'T TOTALLY, LIKE, STUCK IN THE GROUND ON SOME THINGS, BECAUSE -- I KNOW I AM.
I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I'M REALLY ABSORBING LIKE, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR DISTRICTS. THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO TELL YOU -- WELL, LET ME START HERE. I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT PRISCILLA'S SAYING ABOUT ALAMO PROMISE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT WORK OUT. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INNOVATIVE IDEA, AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN REALLY MAKE THAT -- MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I'M ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF OUR COLA ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE GOING UP SO MUCH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILIES CAN ALL AFFORD THAT INSURANCE, THE HEALTH INSURANCE, IF THEY NEED IT.
AND SO THIS IS MY MAIN POINT. I REALLY, REALLY WANT ALL 65 OF THESE OFFICERS, AND I WANT TO LAY OUT FOR YOU WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DELEGATE AGENCIES, I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND -- AND LOOK AT THAT IN OCTOBER BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE THAT ARE CORE -- WE KNOW THERE'S A BUNCH THAT ARE FOR CORE SERVICES, AND MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO HOW MUCH THEY'RE GETTING.
AND IF WE DO ANYTHING NOW, IT MAY IMPACT THAT NUMBER NEGATIVELY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT IN OCTOBER COMPREHENSIVELY.
THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT VERY OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT ARE DOING CORE SERVICES IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND THEY MAKE THAT CONNECTION.
AND IT IS THROUGH THEIR TRAINING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT THEY MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS, AND I THINK WE CAN'T OVERLOOK THAT. I WAS AT A HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST KNIGHNIGHT, EXPLAINING ABOUT THE OFFICERS, SPEEDING, WHY CAN'T OUR SAFE OFFICER BE OUT HERE MORE, SET UP SPEED TRAPS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, IT'S JUST A PERVASIVE PROBLEMS IN MY DISTRICT.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING THEFT, RESPONSE TIME, IT'S A DETERRENT.
I KNOW ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. ALL HAVE THAT PROBLEM. IT IS IN THE 2026 BUDGET SURVEY AS THE NUMBER TWO ITEM OVERALL RESPONSE FOR -- ACROSS THE CITY. WE TALK ABOUT THE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACROSS OUR COUNTY, WHICH WOULD BE SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS AND DIFFERENT ROLES.
SHERIFFS SHOULD BE SERVING MOSTLY THE COUNTY, CONSTABLES ARE SERVING WRITS, EVICTIONS AND OTHER SORTS OF PAPERS FOR OUR COURT SYSTEM, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF US CAN SAY THAT WE FEEL SAFER.
WE'RE SEEING VIOLENT CRIMES EVERY NIGHT ON THE NEWS.
I THINK THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH IS -- IS TOTALLY IMPORTANT.
I WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH THE MAYOR, WITH USEC ON THE LITERACY PROGRAM, I TOTALLY AGREE, BUT I THINK THAT IS A LONGER TERM THING THAT WE'LL SEE THE BENEFITS OF, AND IT HAS TO BE SUSTAINED, BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY PART WHERE WE ADD THE POLICE OFFICERS. THERE IS NOTHING THAT DETERS CRIME AS MUCH AS SEEING POLICE OFFICERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND THE FACT IS THIS: YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THEM BY THE OVERTIME DOLLARS WE ARE SPENDING ON THESE OFFICERS. RIGHT NOW, IT WAS 27.7 MILLION IN '24 THAT WE SPENT ON OVERTIME. IT'S AN ESTIMATED 20.5 MILLION IN OVERTIME IN THE 2026 BUDGET. AND FROM OCTOBER TO JULY, IT WAS 431,673 HOURS OF OVERTIME. SO YOU'RE PAYING FOR THEM ALREADY.
WE MIGHT AS WELL MAKE IT FTES. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A STRETCH TO DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR. I THINK FORCING OVERTIME OR EVEN IF IT'S NOT FORCED, AND IT'S -- THEN IT'S STILL HARD ON OUR OFFICERS, IT CAN CAUSE BURNOUT, IT AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH FOR THEM, AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE STRAINING OUR -- OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS IT IS.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, BECAUSE THIS IS -- THIS IS TOP OF MIND FOR ME, TOP OF MIND FOR MY DISTRICT, AND I REALLY DO REMAIN WILLING AND HOPEFUL TO WORK WITH YOU IN WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN YOUR DISTRICTS, AND I AM
[00:55:01]
LISTENING TO WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN YOUR DISTRICTS.I WANT TO HELP IN EVERY WAY I CAN AS WELL, BUT THIS IS -- THIS IS PARAMOUNT FOR MINE. SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'LL RECONSIDER OR CONSIDER SUPPORTING ITEM NUMBER 3, UP TO 65 OFFICERS.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR JONES: IN CASE IT HELPS ANYBODY WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION, COUNCILWOMAN, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO PAY FOR THAT?
>> SPEARS: YES, JUST THE REDUCTION IN THE BUDGETED OVERTIME WOULD PAY FOR THAT. THEY BUDGET THE OVERTIME DOLLARS, AND IT WOULD PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, IF WE WENT TO FULL-TIME.
>> MAYOR JONES: CHIEF, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT? DO YOU THINK THAT
WOULD -- IS THAT HOW THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PLAY OUT? >> CHIEF MCMANUS: I DON'T HAVE THOSE FIGURES, BUT SO FAR THIS YEAR THROUGH AUGUST WE SPENT 26.9 MILLION IN OVERTIME. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
COST FOR THAT 25 -- OR 45 OFFICERS WOULD BE. >> WALSH: THE OTHER ISSUE, MAYOR, FOR CONTEXT IS THAT THE [INDISCERNIBLE] BUDGET ALREADY INCLUDED $2 MILLION REDUCTION IN POLICE OVERTIME.
BECAUSE WE CONTEMPLATED MAKING SOME CHANGES IN SHIFTS THAT THE CHIEF H IS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE CONTRACT. SO THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ALREADY ELIMINATING $2 MILLION. IF THAT'S SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT, I MEAN, IT'S -- IT'S -- THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING NOT DONE.
AND SO WE WOULD FIGURE OUT TONIGHT IF WE WERE GOING TO FURTHER ELIMINATE OVERTIME, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS WANT US TO LOOK AT, THEN I THINK WHAT I OWE YOU BACK IS WHAT WOULD NOT BE DONE.
BECAUSE MY GUESS IS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT WHERE WE'RE SPENDING OVERTIME, IT'S FOR A FUNCTION OR A SERVICE OR SOMETHING, OR COVERAGE, AND SO TO PROVIDE BACK TO THE COUNCIL, THIS IS -- THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO LESS OF. SPEARS MAYOR, CAN I ASK A CLARIFICATION -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING LESS OF.
CAN YOU -- >> WALSH: SO WE SPEND -- RICK, HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND -- WE SPEND $5.1 MILLION THIS YEAR ON DISTRICT FILL, WHICH MAKES SURE THAT WHEN AN OFFICER IS OFF ON VACATION OR LEAVE OR FAMILY EMERGENCY, THAT PATROL DISTRICT HAS TO BE FILLED.
WE'RE HIRING SOMEBODY TO BACKFILL ON OVERTIME. WE SPEND ABOUT $3 MILLION A YEAR ON HOLDOVER CALLS, SO A COL A CALL THAT COMES IN THE LAST 30 MINUTES OF THE SHIFT, THE OFFICER'S GOT TO SEE IT THROUGH, SO THAT IS UNINTENDED OVERTIME THAT WE PAY BECAUSE IT GOES BEYOND THEIR SHIFT.
SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT OVERTIMES THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO CATEGORIES. WE HAVE COURT-RELATED OVERTIME.
SO THERE'S ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, SO WE COULD LOOK AT THAT.
IF YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING SOME FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS AND BE ABLE TO AT LEAST SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT DECISION
IS. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR MUNGIA?
>> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE COLLABORATION AND WORK WITH ALAMO PROMISE. SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THE DATA THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
AND SINCE WE JUST GOT OFF THE SUBJECT ON 60/40, CHIEF, COULD YOU ANSWER A QUESTION FOR ME. THE GOAL IS 60% OF THE TIME PROACTIVE, 40% OF OFFICER'S TIME REACTIVE. ASSUMING, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS AMENDMENT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY PASS, WHAT'S THE CURRENT RATIO? >> CHIEF MCMANUS: YEAH, OKAY, 50/50. WE DIDN'T START OUT THERE, WE STARTED OUT MUCH LOWER THAN THAT, BUT IT'S EVENED UP NOW, AND THE MORE WE ADD, THAT
RATIO WILL CHANGE. >> MUNGIA: SO 50% OFFICER'S TIME IS RESPONDING TO CALLS AND 50% OF THEIR TIME IS -- DIRECTED PATROL OR
WHATEVER ELSE THEY MAY DO PROACTIVELY. >> MUNGIA: OKAY.
AND SO I THINK TO COUNCILWOMAN KAUR'S POINT -- THANK YOU, CHIEF, I APPRECIATE THAT -- IT IS A POLICY DISCUSSION, BECAUSE IF -- YOU KNOW, 50% OF ANY GIVEN PATROL OFFICER'S TIME IS TO DO PROACTIVE WORK AND THERE'S SOME NEED OF SPEEDING OR THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS OF THAT NATURE, I JUST WONDER WHERE THAT CONNECTION IS.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? >> VILLAGOMEZ: SORRY, COUNCILMAN, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, THE AVERAGE IS 50/50.
WE MAY HAVE SOME PATROL DISTRICTS THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE, BUT OVERALL
WHEN WE TAKE THE ENTIRE PATROL DIVISION. >> MUNGIA: SO TO YOUR POINT, SO SOME COULD BE OVER OR UNDER THAT 50/50.
[01:00:02]
>> VILLAGOMEZ: CORRECT, YES. >> MUNGIA: THERE MIGHT BE SOME OFFICERS IN DIVISIONS CURRENTLY DOING 60/40.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: CORRECT. >> MUNGIA: I THINK THAT WARRANTS A LARGER DISCUSSION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND SOME DATA POINTS ON THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS A POLICY DISCUSSION. THESE ARE NUMBERS TO GET TO A POLICY GOAL THAT, AGAIN, SIX OF US WHO ARE VOTING ON THIS BUDGET DID NOT VOTE ON THAT. SO I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER. SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE DELEGATE AGENCIES, I DO SUPPORT THOSE. I THINK THERE IS JUST NO TIME TO WASTE WITH SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR HER IS DOING, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WORK, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE BIG MOMMA SAFE HOUSE IS ANOTHER ONE, AMERICAN GATEWAY, YOU KNOW, I WAS FORTUNATE TO GO TO A SWEARING IN TODAY OF A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE -- BECAME U.S. CITIZENS TODAY AT CITY HALL, AND THAT WAS JUST SEVERAL COUNTRIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, RIGHT, AND THE MAYOR AND I WERE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
AND SHE KIND OF SAID, YOU KNOW, I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE UTILIZE AMERICAN GATEWAY, BECAUSE THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS THAT WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND NOW THEY'RE U.S. CITIZENS.
AND WE GOT TO SEE THEM ALL TAKE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TOGETHER, SO THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WORK THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO, SO IT'S NOTHING NE FAIROUS OR BAD THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS LOST IN YESTERDAY'S CONVERSATION, I DID SUPPORT ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS YESTERDAY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER 3, SO I DID SUPPORT THE SA BOOK FESTIVAL AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO IN YOUR BACKUP MEMO FOR THE VACANT BUILDING POSITION, YOU MENTIONED THAT THAT POSITION WOULD GO TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, OF WHICH IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
AND SO THERE WOULD BE SOME FEES ASSOCIATED TO PAY FOR THAT POSITION.
>> WALSH: IT WILL GO TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BUT IT WILL BE IN THE CODY VISION, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND AND THOSE ADDITIONAL FEES THAT ARE IN THE MEMO WOULD BE DEPOSIT ITED IN THE
GENERAL FUND FOR THAT POSITION. >> MUNGIA: OKAY.
GOT YOU. PERFECT. AND THOSE FEES WOULD BE
ASSESSED ON VACANT PROPERTIES? >> WALSH: YES, SIR.
>> MUNGIA: AND IF FOR SOME REASON WE DIDN'T GET ENOUGH REVENUE FROM THOSE OR PEOPLE WEREN'T PAYING, WE COULD SUPPLEMENT THAT?
>> WALSH: WELL, IDEALLY, NO, BUT IT'S A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FEES -- I'M SORRY, PERMITS THAT WE ISSUE NOW, BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL AND THEN ACCOUNTING FOR THE
PROPOSED INCREASE. >> MUNGIA: GOT YOU. >> WALSH: I THINK WE'RE
PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ABOUT IT. >> MUNGIA: I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DON'T RESPOND TO THESE THINGS, BUT -- OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.
YEAH, SO THOSE ARE -- THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS ON THAT.
SO THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: DR. JACOB?
>> JACOB: THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT THE SCENARIOS TO PLAY OUT, SO I'LL JUST REFER TO THE MEMO FROM SEPTEMBER 1, PAGES 4 AND 5 AND THOSE ARE THE TWO EXAMPLES. JUST TO PLAY IT OUT, ON BALANCE THIS WOULD BE LESS OF AN ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE AREA RESIDENTS. IF WE LOOK AT THE CURRENT FEE STRUCTURE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TIERS, ONE TO 10 EMPLOYEES, 11 TO 25, 26 TO 50, AND 51 AND OVER. THE TWO SCENARIOS THAT WE PLAYED OUT WERE AT 50 AND OVER AND -- LICENSE WOULD BE, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR 50 EMPLOYEES OR OVER, THAT WOULD BE $1,200. UNDER WHAT WE PRESENTED THREE WEEKS AGO, UNDER THE NEW FEE STRUCTURE, WE WERE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT WOULD BE -- BASED ON A SCENARIO OF 150K OF GROSS VOLUME OF FOOD SALES, IT WOULD GO FROM 1200 DOWN TO 850. WITH THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TODAY, WE'RE NOW SAYING IF WE GO TO THE 20% MAX, IT WOULD GO INSTEAD OF 850, IT WOULD BE 928. SO ON BALANCE, ACROSS THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, THIS WOULD BE OF SAVINGS, IF YOU CAN SAY THAT IN AIR QUOTES, GIVEN SOME OF THE MARGINS, BUT I DID WANT TO AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, WE GAVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES BASED ON 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES OR 26 TO 50, AND ASSUMING 150K IN TERMS OF THE GROSS SOL HUMAN OF SALES, THAT'S WHAT WE USED BACK ON SEPTEMBER 1 -- VOLUME OF SALES IN THE MEMO BACK ON
SEPTEMBER 1. >> MAYOR JONES: THANKS, DR. JACOB, BY AND LARGE IT WOULD STILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY PAYING AND WE IDENTIFIED 433,000 MORE DOLLARS FOR THE BUDGET.
CORRECT. >> JACOB: THAT'S CORRECT.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. QUCOUNCILWOMAN.
[01:05:07]
>> NEHA: ZAGONZALEZ? >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, I WANTED TO SHOW MY SUPPORT ON TWO% ACROSS THE BOARD, JUST LIKE I SAID YESTERDAY.
I KNOW THAT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED WITH A UTSA STUDY THAT STATED ADDITIONAL OFFICERS WERE NEEDED OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD TO GET US TO AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SERVICE BASED ON OUR POPULATION, AND THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY BUILT INTO THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET. MANAGEMENT, SAPD AND COUNCIL AGREED THAT THIS WAS A NECESSARY SIZE, SO I GUESS WHAT CHANGED FROM
THEN TO NOW? >> WALSH: WELL, THE GOAL WAS TO ADD -- AUDIO] -- ACHIEVE THAT 60/40 SPLIT THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT OVER THREE TO FIVE YEARS AS WE COULD AFFORD IT. AND THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME. WE ADDED -- JUSTINA, HOW MANY OVER THE FIRST TWO YEARS? WE'VE ADDED 165 THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE THREE TO FIVE YEARS, AND WHEN WE LAID OUT THE FORECAST TO YOU ALL IN LATE JUNE, I KNOW THAT FEELS LIKE A DECADE AGO, AT LATE JUNE, WE MADE NO ASSUMPTIONS OF ADDING OFFICERS AT THAT TIME, BEYOND THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE NEW SOUTH SIDE PATROL SUBSTATION.
AS WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET, AND FRANKLY, PART OF THE CONVERSATION AT THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF JUNE WAS THE PUBLIC SAFETY WAS A PRIORITY, I DID NOT ORIGINALLY HAVE ANY OFFICERS, -- ANY ADDITIONAL PATROL OFFICERS IN THE TRIAL BUDGET. AND BASED ON THE CONVERSATION THAT THE COUNCIL HAD AT THE END OF JUNE, WE BUILT IN THE IT WAS A GOAL TO GET THERE BUT IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO EVERY YEAR. COUNCILMAN WHYTE IS REFERRING TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE TALKED TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT -- BECAUSE WE ADDED 65 IN THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET -- THAT WE WOULD SHOOT TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 65 IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET.
BUT FINANCIAL CONDITIONS CHANGED AND I DID NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE PROPOSED -- OR THE
TRIAL BUDGET THAT WE SHOWED YOU ALL AT THE END OF JUNE. >> GONZALEZ: IN THE 15, ARE THOSE THROUGHOUT THE CITY? OR THE 40? YEAH, 40.
HOW DID THOSE GET DISPERSED? >> WALSH: TO THE ITEM WE SENT LAST NIGHT -- TO ANSWER COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S QUESTION. WE'RE ASSUMING 15 PATROL OFFICERS. NOT SPECIALIZED UNITS, NOT SAFFE OFFICERS.
WE'RE ASSUMING PATROL OFFICERS. THOSE 15.
>> GONZALEZ: THROUGHOUT THE CITY? >> WALSH: YES.
>> GONZALEZ: THE NOW CLINIC DIDN'T MAKE THE FINAL CUT. THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE I THINK MAKING SURE WE HAVE SERVICES FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IS IMPORTANT.
ESPECIALLY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. I KNOW THERE WAS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MARIA AND THE DIRECTOR OF NOW CLINIC SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ANY POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT. >> VILLAGOMEZ: SURE, COUNCILWOMAN.
THIS MORNING I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS AND OUR CONVERSATION WAS AROUND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES THAT COULD BE PROVIDED TO POLICE AND FIRE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VETTING CADETS, WE DO A PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
AND WE USE OUR IN-HOUSE PSYCHOLOGIST TO DO THAT. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD CHALLENGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IN ATTRACTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO WORK FOR THE CITY, AS WELL AS RETAINING THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SO WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A MEETING LATER THIS MONTH TO EXPLORE MAYBE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES THAT WE NEED IN BOTH DEPARTMENTS. THAT IS AN EXAMPLE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THERE'S A CRITICAL INCIDENT, AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT WHERE EMPLOYEES REQUIRE THAT ASSISTANCE. HAVING THOSE SERVICES IS CRITICAL FOR THE WORK THAT BOTH
DEPARTMENTS DO. >> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE REST OF
YOUR TIME. I'LL ADD SOMETHING -- >> GONZALEZ: GO AHEAD.
>> WALSH: IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTINCTION HERE BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY AND AS WE LOOKED AT THE MATERIAL LAST NIGHT, IT WAS EQUIPMENT AND COMMODITY SUPPORT. THOSE SERVICES FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, POLICE, FIRE, AND CITY EMPLOYEES, THOSE TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE COVERED UNDER OUR INSURANCE
PLANS. >> GONZALEZ: RIGHT. >> WALSH: IF THE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN USING THAT CLINIC, HOPEFULLY THEY'VE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE HEALTH
[01:10:03]
BENEFIT. WHAT MARIA TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CLINIC TODAY IS MAYBE ANOTHER WAY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT BUT KIND OF KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEED INSIDE THE DEPARTMENTS FOR CERTAIN SERVICES AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO FILL THE GAP.THERE MAY BE ANOTHER WAY TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. >> GONZALEZ: THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. LAST ONE IS ALAMO PROMISE.
AGAIN, WANT TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING FOR THAT. I THINK THAT WAS RECENTLY AMENDED, RIGHT, AS OF WITH MARC AND I THINK THE MANAGER. THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE REQUEST WAS FOR THE CLINIC. DO YOU SEE SOME OF THE
MATERIALS THAT WERE ON THERE THAT WERE REQUESTED? >>
>> MAYOR JONES: BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE FUNDING FOR THINGS THAT SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS, SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE LIST WOULD NOT
HAVE MET, I THINK, THE SNIFF TEST. >>
>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IT'S LIKE LEGOS AND ESSENTIAL
>> MAYOR JONES: UNDERSTOOD. BUT I THINK NOW THAT THERE'S MORE CLARITY ON WHAT THEY'VE ASKED FOR AND WHERE IT WOULD ACTUALLY GO, WE'RE ON A GOOD PATH.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANKS, EVERYONE FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. I CONTINUE TO REMAIN SUPPORTIVE OF THE 507 INCREASE IN ADDITION TO THE 2% ACROSS THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
OUR CITY EMPLOYEES LITERALLY KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. IT'S A VERY DEMANDING JOB.
TONIGHT WE'RE CREATING A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SO MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS THERE AS WELL DURING DINNERTIME WHEN FOLKS HAVE FAMILIES.
GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL YOU'RE AT.
IT'S JUST A VERY DEMANDING JOB AND YOU ALL FACILITATE THE GOALS OF THIS COUNCIL IN EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS. THANK Y'ALL. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT ITEM AND OF COURSE AFSCME MEETING WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EQUIPPED WITH THE INFORMATION AND REQUESTS OF YOUR MEMBERS. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF LINE ITEM NO.
2 AND THEN CURRENTLY NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ITEM 3, GIVEN CONVERSATION.
I DO BELIEVE IT MERITS A LARGER POLICY DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF WHICH UNITS ARE GOING TO HELP US MEET THOSE POLICY GOALS. DR. KAUR TALKED ABOUT YOUTH VIOLENCE AND SO MUCH MORE AND THERE ARE SPECIALIZED UNITS I THINK WE NEED TO BE SAYING WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF RATHER THAN JUST BLANKET MORE OFFICERS RATHER THAN UNDERSTANDING THE DIRECT IMPACT .
YOU KNOW, NO DOUBT I KNOW DISTRICT 5 -- I'M SURE THIS IS APPROPRIATE TO ALL OF OUR SAFFE OFFICERS AND OFFICERS. I KNOW FOR A FACT THOSE IN D5, YOU KNOW, ARE HARD WORKERS AND THEY HAVE OUR COMMUNITY AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY DECISION AND ACTION THEY TAKE.
AND WHAT I ALWAYS EMPHASIZE IS NO MATTER WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION I'M AT, OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE COMING UP TO THEM ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND VACANT LOTS AND VACANT HOMES. AND UNLESS THOSE 20 OFFICERS ARE GOING TO BUILD HOMES AND THE VACANT LOTS AND CLEAR LIENS IT'S NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN THAT RESIDENTS ARE CALLING US ABOUT . THAT'S WHY WITH LINE ITEM NO. 4 I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT BECAUSE THE TREND IN D5 IN PARTICULAR AND WHAT OUR SAFFE OFFICERS ARE OFTEN RESPONDING TO ARE ISSUES WITH VACANT LOTS. THEY SERVE AS A HOST TO SO MANY ISSUES FROM ILLEGAL DUMPING, QUESTIONABLE ACTIVITY, AND SO MUCH MORE.
SO I BELIEVE BY HELPING FOLKS STAY IN THEIR HOME, BY HELPING THEM REHABILITATE THEIR HOME RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD PROCESS, DEMOLITION, AND THEN A VACANT LOT. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF RESTORING THAT $1 MILLION FOR THAT . AND THEN REGARDING THE DELEGATE AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, WHILE THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES CANNOT DO THE JOB OF A POLICE OFFICER -- I AGREE WITH THAT 100%.
THEY CAN HELP REDUCE THE NEED FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO CALL 9-1-1.
FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE SA FORWARD PLAN UNDER THE VIOLENT PREVENTION, THAT'S WHERE BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE PLAYS A ROLE. IT REDUCES THE NEED TO CALL 9-1-1 BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS BEEN SHOT OR BECAUSE OF SOME VIOLENT ACTIVITY.
GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE AND HOPE TO SEE THEM IN THE BUDGET TOMORROW. SAME APPLIES WITH FOR HER . THERE'S NONPROFITS AND SOME DELEGATION AGENCIES THAT ARE OFTEN DOING REFERRALS. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. WE ALREADY HAVE DATABASES TO SERVE AS A TRIAGE POINT BUT WHO'S COLLECTING ALL THOSE CASES AND WHO IS DOING THE ACTUAL CASE MANAGEMENT I THINK IS WHO WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING. AND FOR HER IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES, AS WELL AS AMERICAN GATEWAYS . AGAIN, WITH THE FOOD AND
[01:15:04]
BEVERAGE FEES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD TALK TO SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ABOUT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.I APPRECIATE THE NUMBERS THAT DR. JACOB LAID OUT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
LASTLY, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF REINSTATING THE FUNDING FOR THE BOOK FESTIVAL.
AS I MENTIONED DURING PAST BRIEFINGS, I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISIT SA TO HELP US COVER THOSE COSTS. FOLKS COME THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND STAY IN HOTELS, GO TO THE RESTAURANTS TO COME, WHETHER THEY'RE AN AUTHOR OR THEY'RE ATTENDING THE EVENT. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE ASKING VISIT SA TO HELP US COVER THOSE COSTS. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN CASTILLO-ANGUIANO. >> ANGUIANO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SUPER SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THESE AMENDMENTS EXCEPT FOR 3 AND 6.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET THE OFFICERS DOWN TO 10 BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR IF THERE'S ANY SUPPORT FOR THAT. AND THEN AS FOR 6, I BROUGHT THIS UP YESTERDAY, JUST BECAUSE I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT US GETTING TO PHASE 3.
I WANTED TO SEE IF MARIA VARGAS WAS HERE TO POSSIBLY KIND OF EXPLAIN HOW OUR FUNDS WERE USED ALREADY WITH THE PREVIOUS PHASES OR THE PHASES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, AS WELL AS WHAT
PLANS WE HAVE FOR PHASE 3. >> MARIA VARGAS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY INTEGRATED SAFETY.
SO FAR FOR THE COMMUNITY SAFETY RESERVE MONEY, WE USE APPROXIMATELY 420,000 FOR THE ROSEMONT PROPERTY AT RIGSBY WHICH IS IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN . WE WERE LOOKING TO POSSIBLY USE THAT MONEY AT THE NEW LOCATION AS WELL FOR SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LOCATION. AND DELEGATE AGENCIES WAS THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR THE FOCUS DETERRENTS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
WITH ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY TO USE THE COMMUNITY SAFETY RESERVE MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT ANY OF THE STRATEGIES WE'D LIKE TO EMPLOY THROUGHOUT THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN.
THE FUNDS WERE USED TO PURCHASE CAMERA TRAILERS. SAPD RECEIVED EIGHT CAMERA TRAILERS AND ACS WAS ABLE TO CONDUCT AN ADDITIONAL VACCINE CLINIC AT THE ROSEMONT
PROPERTY. >> ANGUIANO: THANK YOU. MY QUESTION FOR ERIK IS IF THESE FUNDS DO GET DIVERTED TO STREET LIGHTS, HOW CAN WE CREATE A FUND FOR PHASE 3?
>> WALSH: WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT GOING FORWARD. IF WE SET ASIDE THIS MONEY ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, IT WAS A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION.
WE'VE USED 400 OF IT AND FRANKLY I THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF THE MONEY.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE SITTING ON IT IN A RESERVE.
THE COUNCIL BUT I THINK REALLY THE MATTER BEFORE YOU ALL RIGHT NOW, DO WE CONTINUE TO HOLD ON TO IT FOR SOMETHING WE WILL EVENTUALLY GET TO OR DO WE ADDRESS AN IMMEDIATE NEED LIKE STREETLIGHTS. WE'LL NEED TO TACKLE THAT LATER DOWN THE ROAD.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: YEAH. I THINK THAT WOULD BE AS SOON AS PROBABLY NEXT MONTH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DELEGATE AGENCIES. WHEN WE DO THAT PRESENTATION, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER FUNDING SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR THE THIRD PHASE OF THE
CRIME REDUCTION PLAN. >> WALSH: THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
>> ANGUIANO: REALLY APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. I THINK I'LL LET COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ HANDLE THAT WHEN HE GETS BACK. THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SEEING THE BEST OF WHAT WE'VE GOT.
AND GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD WITH OVERTIME AND OFFICERS, I WANTED TO SEE HOW MUCH OF THE OVERTIME WAS FOR WORKING FIESTA, SPURS EVENTS, OR PARADES.
IF WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW. IF NOT, A MEMO IS PERFECTLY FINE.
WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE? >> WALSH: FOR FISCAL YEAR '25, FIESTA WAS $2.7 MILLION.
AND YOUR SECOND QUESTION? >> ANGUIANO: IT WAS JUST A LOT OF EVENTS LIKE FIESTA,
SPURS EVENTS, PARADES. >> WALSH: WE DON'T DO SPURS EVENTS.
THE SHERIFFS HANDLE THAT RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE AN EVENT CATEGORY OF $1.5 MILLION OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUT THAT'S COLLECTED -- THERE'S A FEE ON EVERY TICKET AT THE ALAMODOME. THAT'S REMITTED TO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET THOSE POLICE
[01:20:07]
EXPENSES. SO IT KIND OF NETS OUT. >> ANGUIANO: AWESOME.
THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. YEAH, I THINK I STILL DON'T AGREE WITH NO. 3.
AND JUST HEARING WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING TODAY, IT DOES KIND OF SOUND LIKE A POLICY ISSUE.
SO, AGAIN, I'LL LET COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ HANDLE THAT WHEN HE GETS BACK.
DELEGATE AGENCIES, ABSOLUTELY IN SUPPORT OF. BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE, FOR HER, BOOK FESTIVAL, AMERICAN GATEWAY . I THINK THOSE ARE ALL INCREDIBLE AGENCIES. AND THEN LET'S SEE... YEAH. I GUESS I'LL JUST BUG Y'ALL ONE MORE TIME ABOUT THIS TIRZ, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WERE PREAUTHORIZED IN THE PAST.
I KNOW THAT WE WANT -- WHAT IS THE WORD YOU USED YESTERDAY? CONSISTENCY.
SO OF COURSE IF WE KNOW THAT THE TIRZ BOARD ISN'T GOING TO GO AND APPROVE THESE ITEMS, OBVIOUSLY IT WON'T GO FORWARD ANYWAYS. AGAIN, I WOULD JUST APPRECIATE SOME SUPPORT FOR PREAUTHORIZING THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY INCREDIBLE PROJECTS.
BUT THAT IS IT FOR NOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: ERIK, BEFORE WE GO TO THE SECOND ROUND, YESTERDAY CHAIR VIAGRAN ASKED ABOUT LOOKING AT A CUT OF THE TICKETS FROM THE BOTANICAL GARDENS. IS THAT COMING UP IN ANOTHER
MEMO? >> WALSH: NO, MA'AM. THAT WAS NOT ONE OF THE
FOLLOW-UP ITEMS WE GOT TO TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YES.
SO JUST RESET ON THIS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR POLICY AND DO WE NEED TO RE-LOOK AT OUR POLICY. I MEAN, DETERRING CRIME. I MEAN, IS THAT SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO DETER CRIME IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? AND I WANT TO READ TO Y'ALL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET DOCUMENT FROM LAST YEAR.
ALL RIGHT? AND IT SAID THE FOLLOWING: IN FY 2023 THE CITY PARTNERED WITH A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT A STAFFING STUDY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE STUDY RECOMMENDED ADDING 360 OFFICERS TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF OFFICER PATROL TIME CONSISTING OF 60% PROACTIVE PATROL TIME AND 40% RESPONDING TO CALLS.
AND THE REASONING FOR THIS IS SAID IN THE NEXT SENTENCE. INCREASING DISCRETIONARY TIME FACILITATES PROACTIVE POLICING EFFORTS INCLUDING CRIME PREVENTION, TARGETED ENFORCEMENT, INCREASED OFFICER VISIBILITY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING EFFORTS.
SO, AGAIN, THE CHIEF HAS SAID AT THIS PODIUM THAT THIS WOULD HELP DETER CRIME.
WE HIRED A CONSULTANT THAT DID A STUDY THAT TOLD US IT WOULD HELP DETER CRIME.
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATION ON IT BUT, AGAIN, IT'S VERY, VERY OBVIOUS TO ANYBODY THAT'S LOOKED AT THIS STUFF FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME THAT OFFICERS OUT THERE ON THE STREET HELP US DETER CRIME. AND THAT IS OUR NO. 1 RESPONSIBILITY IS CARING FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT, AGAIN, WE GOT THESE NUMBERS ON APRIL 1 OF THIS YEAR. THE CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE AND THE CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY THAT OCCUR IN OUR CITY. IN DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 6 HAVE THE MOST CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE. AND DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, AND 8 HAVE THE MOST CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. THE BENEFIT TO MORE OFFICERS IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE CITY BUT PARTICULARLY SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS THAT SUFFER FROM MORE CRIMES THAN OTHERS.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND -- AND YOU KNOW I THINK THE ABSOLUTE WORLD OF YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BOOK FESTIVALS -- AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT VERSUS, YOU KNOW, ADDING OFFICERS TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS, I HAVE A REALLY, REALLY HARD TIME WITH THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOCUSING ON CORE CITY FUNCTIONS, RIGHT? AND WE HEARD, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MINUTES AGO THAT WE HAVE $4.8 MILLION IN DELEGATE AGENCIES GOING TO NON-CORE CITY FUNCTIONS. WE ALL AGREE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A CORE CITY FUNCTION. CAN WE NOT TAKE 1, 2, 5, 10% OF THAT MONEY AND MOVE IT TOWARDS DOING WHAT OUR CHIEF OF POLICE HAS SAID WILL HELP MAKE US SAFER, WHAT OUR CONSULTANT HAS
[01:25:03]
SAID WILL HELP MAKE US SAFER. WE ALSO HAVE THE UTSA PLAN AND THE HOT SPOT POLICING WHERE WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT PUTTING MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET IN THESE HIGH-CRIME AREAS BROUGHT CRIME DOWN. IT MAKES -- OUR CITIZENS, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.IT'S OUR DUTY TO DO IT. AND TO THINK THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO BACKTRACK ON THIS PLAN. WE PAY THIS MONEY FOR THE CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND DO IT. THEY TELL US HOW WE CAN HAVE A SAFER COMMUNITY AND THEN IN YEAR THREE OF THE PLAN WE BACKTRACK ON IT. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET EASIER NEXT YEAR. WE KNOW THE BUDGET DEFICIT IS WORSE NEXT YEAR SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN SAY WE'LL PICK BACK UP WITH THIS HIRING PLAN COMING UP NEXT YEAR.
AND, ERIK, I DON'T KNOW. I GOT TO TAKE A LITTLE ISSUE WITH WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER.
WE HAVE, AS OF LAST NIGHT, WE HAVE 2,569 OFFICERS IN UNIFORM.
WE'RE AUTHORIZED TO HAVE 2,775. THE IDEA THAT WE'RE OVERSUBSCRIBED BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME CADETS IN THE CLASSES, TO ME THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE ENOUGH. WE'RE STILL A COUPLE OF HUNDRED SHORT TO HAVE OUT ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW. SO WE ARE SHORT, IN MY OPINION.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CRIMES BEING COMMITTED EVERY SINGLE YEAR HERE -- I GUESS WE WILL NEVER HAVE NO CRIME BUT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN WE'RE DOING NOW.
>> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR VIAGRAN. GO AHEAD, ERIK.
>> WALSH: I WAS GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION BEFORE YOU START THE SECOND ROUND.
JUST LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATION SO THAT WE GET TO FINALITY AND PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW. JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY ON THE AGENCIES -- BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AGENCIES. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT TOMORROW AND BASED ON TODAY'S CONVERSATION, THERE WILL BE FOR HER AND THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER FUNDED OUT OF THE RESERVES SET ASIDE FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AND THAT'S $91,000 FOR FOR HER. $56,000 FOR RAPE CRISIS CENTER.
WE WOULD PULL THAT OUT OF THE FOUR-MONTH FUNDING THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO ALLOCATE NEXT YEAR. AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 FOR AMERICAN GATEWAYS.
YOU ALL TALKED YESTERDAY THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THAT SAME RESERVE.
ALL THREE OF THOSE WOULD BE EIGHT-MONTH CONTRACTS. AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW DELEGATE AGENCY, BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE. YOU ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY WAS 144.
THAT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE RESERVE. THAT'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THAT'S AS IT RELATES BACK TO YESTERDAY. AND THEN THE LAST AGENCY THAT I THINK THAT'S GETTING CLUMPED INTO THE LARGER CONVERSATION IS COMBINING THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES AND BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER CONTRACTS INTO TWO.
AND AWARDING IT FOR 12 MONTHS. SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGENCIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GENERALLY OR YOU ALL ARE TALKING GENERALLY. THAT'S KIND OF MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY. AND AS YOU GO THROUGH THE SECOND ROUND, SOME VALIDATION AGAINST OR AN ALTERNATIVE TO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US.
>> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY FINALITY TODAY.
THE FINALITY COMES IF AND WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLARIFICATION. >> WALSH: ONLY IN MY HEAD, ANDY. [LAUGHTER] YEAH.
>> MAYOR JONES: FOR CONTEXT, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS, DOES THAT ACCOUNT FOR THE SETTLEMENTS? OR WHERE DOES THAT GET PAID OUT OF? THE SETTLEMENTS THAT WE'RE SOMETIMES REVIEWING.
JUST IN GENERAL. IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO A BUDGET, BUT THE SETTLEMENTS THAT WE OFTEN ARE MADE AWARE OF WITH POLICE OFFICERS. HOW IS THAT PAID FOR?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE A LIABILITY FUND AND THAT'S WHERE NOT ONLY THE SETTLEMENTS RELATED TO POLICE BUT ANY SETTLEMENTS RELATED TO THE CITY.
>> SEGOVIA: FUND 75. >> MAYOR JONES: FUND 75, THE LIABILITY FUND.
>> WALSH: IT'S AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND THAT WE ALLOCATE DOLLARS BASED ON AN ACTUARIAL
AND THE LEGAL RISKS OR CASES THAT ARE OUTSTANDING, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: AND THAT'S
NOT PART OF CHIEF'S BUDGET, CORRECT? >> WALSH: NO, MA'AM.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: THERE IS AN ASSESSMENT, MAYOR, BASED ON THE HISTORY OF CLAIMS -- LIKE FOR INSTANCE IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF OUR BUDGETS FOR ANY CITY DEPARTMENT THERE WILL BE A LINE ITEM FOR THAT ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS GENERAL LIABILITY. GENERAL LIABILITY.
>> WALSH: IT'S AN INTERNAL ASSESSMENT THAT WE CHARGE EVERY FUNCTION OF THE CITY INTO ONE
[01:30:05]
POT. AND THAT ONE POT IS THE LIABILITY FUND.>> MAYOR JONES: UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. DR. JACOB, TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AGAIN, IN CASE IT IS HELPFUL HERE, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, THE 433, IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN SAY BY TOMORROW, AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASE IN THE 20%, THAT NO FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROVIDER WOULD SEE AN INCREASE AS A RESULT OF THE 20%?
>> JACOB: YOU WANT ME TO STATE IT AS AN ABSOLUTE? >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S
CORRECT. IS IT POSSIBLE, DR. JACOB? >> JACOB: BASED ON THE SCENARIOS AND GOING FROM THE OLD SYSTEM TO THE NEW, WE DON'T SEE THERE TO BE ADDITIONAL
DURESS FOR THE BUSINESSES. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE ASKING? >> MAYOR JONES: FOR ANY
BUSINESS. >> JACOB: JUST KNOW THAT NOW THE NEW SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE LOOKING AT GROSS FOOD SALES RATHER THAN THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
SO WE'LL TRY OUR BEST BUT I WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT NO BUSINESS WILL SEE AN IMPACT.
>> MAYOR JONES: UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE
TOP END OF THAT IS 150K. IS THAT RIGHT? >> JACOB: THE DIFFERENT TIERS. SO 0 TO 50 -- AGAIN, THE BREAKDOWN IN THE THREE DIFFERENT TIERS. THAT'S WHAT WE GAVE AS AN EXAMPLE.
>> WALSH: MAYOR, I THINK THE TRICKY POINT FOR THE DOCTOR IS THAT WE'RE MOVING -- THE STATE IS MOVING US FROM A PER EMPLOYEE TO A GROSS SALES. AND SO THERE MAY BE SOME ADJUSTMENT, JUST BASED ON THAT ACTION, THAT WE'RE NOT ACCOUNTING FOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, YOU WERE DONE WITH YOUR TIME?
CHAIR VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I THINK THE ONE QUESTION GOING BACK, SINCE WE WERE JUST THERE FOR THE REVENUE ENHANCEMENT. DO WE HAVE TO PASS THIS TOMORROW? IF THIS IS GOING TO BE -- IF WE CAN'T GET THE RECOMMENDATION, DO WE HAVE TO PASS IT TOMORROW OR CAN WE DO THAT IN THE FUTURE WITH THE 20%?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: WE CAN DO IT IN THE FUTURE, COUNCILWOMAN. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
BECAUSE IF IT GOES ALONG WITH WHAT METRO HEALTH IS MOVING FORWARD WITH AND IF WE COULD TALK TO THE RESTAURANT OWNERS AND SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING, HOW WE CAN HELP THEM THROUGH THIS PROCESS OR IF IT'S NOT RECONCILING BECAUSE OF THE EMPLOYEES, MAYBE KEEP A PORTION OF IT THERE. BUT I DO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW, DR. JACOB, IS THIS WHAT I RECOMMENDED AND WE DIDN'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THAT.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANDY, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PULL AMENDMENT 3 AS A SEPARATE
ITEM WE VOTE ON TOMORROW IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET? >> SEGOVIA: THE ANSWER IS
YES, COUNCILWOMAN. YES. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE FOREVER. AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE WHERE WE GO. AT THIS RATE, HOWEVER, I DO WANT NEW POLICE OFFICERS.
I AM FINE WITH THE 15. I'M FINE ACTUALLY GOING OUT DOWN TO 10 NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE SAFFE OFFICERS OR SPECIALIZED OFFICERS. HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD -- AND JUST BECAUSE I WORKED FOR PD AND I SAT ON PUBLIC SAFETY ARE MY CONCERNS.
I NEED OVERTIME. WE NEED TO HAVE OUR OFFICERS HAVE OVERTIME.
I'M NOT PREPARED TOMORROW TO SAY LET'S CUT FROM OVERTIME UNTIL WE DO MORE WORK.
AND I SEE THOSE NEW HOURS GO INTO EFFECT. BECAUSE THAT HOLDOVER, IF IN DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 5 -- AND MAYBE 1 THROUGH 6 THEY FIND OUT THAT THERE'S AN HOUR OR 30-MINUTE BLOCK, THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT FINDS OUT THERE'S A 30-MINUTE BLOCK THAT THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING CALLS, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SPIKE.
AND IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE. AND I THINK I WAS ON THE DEPARTMENT AS CRT WHEN WE WERE TRANSITIONING IN TIRZ. WE HAD THAT ONE OR TWO WEEKS WHERE THERE WAS A BREAK AND IT SEEMED TO ALL COME AT A CERTAIN TIME BECAUSE IT WAS SHIFT CHANGE.
SO I'M NOT OKAY WITH DOING THAT WITHOUT DOING MORE DUE DILIGENCE WORK IN PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT I DO THINK THAT IN TERMS OF OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO MEET OUR GOALS, WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO KIND OF GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THAT 65 NUMBER THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW AT 25. BUT I AM FULLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE STANCE THAT THIS WAS ABOUT WHAT WE COULD AFFORD IN THE BUDGET.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT WHEN YOU JOIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER YOU
[01:35:05]
ARE A CADET OR NOT, YOU ARE STILL PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT OUT ON PATROL. I RESPECT YOU. YOU'RE PART OF THE TEAM.THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CADETS THAT ARE DOING THAT. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, ERIK, IF WE DON'T INCREASE THE PARK FEES. WE'RE NOT -- WE'RE HAVING TO GO WITH THE BUDGET YOU GAVE US. THERE IS NO AMENDMENTS TO DO ITEM NO. 1 IF WE DON'T INCREASE THE POTENTIAL REVENUS WITH THE PARKS' INCREMENTAL FEE. IS THAT CORRECT?
ALL I HAVE IS 3.5 THEN. >> WALSH: NOT WITHOUT FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS AND PUTTING THE
ELIMINATION OF THE INNER CITY FUND BACK ON '26. >> VIAGRAN: SO WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT THIS INNER CITY FUND BACK ON '26 AND -- SO I AM NOT OKAY WITH -- I AM NOT OKAY WITH JUST DOING THE REDUCTIONS. WE NEED TO LOOK AT POTENTIAL REVENUES.
AND THE TEAM BROUGHT US BACK IN THE SPRING, WITH ANOTHER COUNCIL, WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE SOME TAXES AND WE SAID NO THEN. AND NOW WE HAVE THE FEE AND WE HAVE INCREASED FEES. BUT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO ASK FOR AN INCREASE SOMEWHERE BECAUSE CUTTING THE DELEGATE AGENCIES IS NOT GOING TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH THE DEFICIT. AND I KNOW IT'S HARD AND I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO SAY TAXES ARE GOING UP BUT THIS IS THE ECONOMY WE LIVE IN NOW.
THIS IS WHAT THIS NATION VOTED FOR AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO RAISE FEES AND FIND POTENTIAL REVENUES. I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT. I HOPE Y'ALL SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I THINK 50 CENTS AT FIVE YEARS, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR GALVAN.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THE ALAMO PROMISE ONE IN MY FIRST ROUND. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ADJUSTMENT OF FUNDING TO IT. STILL MAKE SURE IT'S FULLY FUNDED.
DEFINITELY SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S POINT ABOUT THE HOT TAX SUPPORTING [INDISCERNIBLE] THROUGH VISIT SA. JUST BRIEFLY ON THE NOTE ABOUT POLICE OVERTIME, I DEFINITELY HEAR THE POINT THAT COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS MENTIONED, IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE PAYING FOR. IT IS IMPACTING OUR BUDGET AS WELL AS IMPACTING OUR OFFICERS' WORKLOAD AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO REDUCE THAT WORKLOAD AND SEE HOW THOSE EFFORTS CAN SUPPORT REDUCING OVERTIME WHEN IT'S NOT NEEDED.
I THINK THAT CONVERSATION DOES NEED TO HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK TODAY BUT IT IS OUR POLICY TO FIGURE OUT ARE THERE [INDISCERNIBLE] OUR STAND-UP SA, OTHER RESOURCES.
YOUTH SERVICES TOO. HOW DO ALL OF THESE OTHER WRAPAROUND SERVICES ADDRESS ISSUES IN OVERTIME, ADDRESS RESPONSE TIMES, ADDRESS OVERALL CRIMES IN OUR CITY.
WE SEE OTHER CITIES REDUCING THEIR CRIME SIGNIFICANTLY BY INVESTING IN PARKS, IN HEALTH RESOURCES, IN HUMAN RESOURCES, IN YOUTH SERVICES. I THINK IT'S WORTH US TAKING A LOOK AT AND SEEING HOW IT IMPACTS CRIME RATES AND VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO ADDRESSING THE COSTS AT THE MOMENT AS WELL AS THE ONES IN THE FUTURE.
THE SAME EVALUATION COULD BE MADE ABOUT TRAFFIC-CALMING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE TALK ABOUT SPEEDING AND SEE WHAT KIND OF FIXED AND LONG-TERM COSTS ARE THERE VERSUS PATROL ON SPEEDING. OF COURSE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BOTH.
LOOKING AT PATROL AND REDUCING SPEEDING. WHAT'S THE EFFECTIVENESS THERE VERSUS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT REDUCES OR ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE SPEEDING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL. THOSE ARE GOOD WAYS TO EVALUATE AS WE LOOK TO 2027 OF SEEING HOW THESE COSTS ARE GOING TO IMPACT US LONG TERM. IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE FURTHER REDUCTIONS IN OUR BUDGET. I THINK IT'S WORTH HAVING THAT INFORMATION READY FOR OUR NEXT ROUND. JUST WANT TO LEAVE THOSE COMMENTS THERE AND WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO HAVE ON HAND. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS, MAYOR.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE ALAMO PROMISE QUESTION. I KNOW I WAS THE ONE ADVOCATING FOR THE ALIGNMENT YESTERDAY. BUT I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT ON THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. MIKE, CAN YOU COME TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE MEASURE FOR OUR DOLLARS IS HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE BEING WITH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.
AND SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT -- COULD YOU HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
IMPACT OF THIS CHANGE WOULD BE TO OUR READY TO WORK METRICS? >> IT WON'T IMPACT THE READY TO
[01:40:04]
WORK METRICS OVERALL. THE WAY WE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS COMPROMISE IS THAT THE ALAMO PROMISE OUTCOME WE REPORTED SEPARATELY. THERE WILL BE STUDENTS WHO DECIDE THAT, ON THEIR OWN, THEY WANT TO ENROLL IN BOTH ALAMO PROMISE AND READY TO WORK.THAT WON'T BE RESTRICTED IF SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE THEY REALIZE THEY QUALIFY AND THEY'RE WILLING TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF SIGNING THOSE TWO FORMS, THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THEN THEY WILL BE IN BOTH CALCULATIONS BUT WE REPORT THAT OUT TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL IF THE STUDENTS DECIDE TO PURSUE THAT ON THEIR OWN.
>> KAUR: I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. SO WHEN WE'RE SEEING THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TOWARDS THOSE KIDS AND WE'RE TRACKING HOW MANY OF OUR FOLKS ARE RECEIVING FUNDING AND THEN GOING ON TO THE JOBS THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS, THEY WON'T BE COUNTING
TOWARDS THAT. >> NO. THEY WILL NOT BE COUNTING TOWARDS THAT. AS PRISCILLA SPOKE TO, WHEN THEY GET THAT JOB PLACEMENT INFORMATION, IF THEY GET THAT JOB PLACEMENT INFORMATION FROM THE STATE, WE REPORT THAT OUT SEPARATELY AS JOB PLACEMENTS FROM ALAMO PROMISE, IF THAT'S OBTAINABLE FROM THE STATE.
BUT THE GRADUATION IS REPORTED FROM THE READY TO WORK DASHBOARD.
>> KAUR: IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CALCULATED FOR READY TO WORK? .
>> WALSH: AND IT ALREADY FUNDS A PORTION OF IT THAT WAY, WE JUST DON'T ASK FOR THE DATA. RIGHT NOW IT'S PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND AND PARTIALLY THROUGH READY TO WORK. THAT'S NOT PART OF READY TO WORK. ALL WE'RE DOING HERE, POTENTIALLY, IS DOING IT ALL
THROUGH READY TO WORK AND THEN ASKING FOR MORE DATA. >> KAUR: OKAY.
TO TRACK BEING ABLE TO GET THE METRICS TO TRACK TO THAT. AND THEN ALSO WHY IS IT NOT IN 2027? WHY WAS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT ONLY IN '26?
>> WALSH: BECAUSE IN THE TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET THAT WE PROPOSED, WE PROPOSED DOING THIS IN FISCAL YEAR '27 ALREADY. WE PUT IT AS A MARKER FOR NEXT
YEAR AND WE PULLED IT UP. >> KAUR: OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MIKE. I WANTED TO JUST COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
IN THE ARGUMENT ABOUT DETERRING CRIME, THAT'S A MUCH LARGER ARGUMENT THAN JUST ADDING 65 POLICE OFFICERS TO THE WORKFORCE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMENT ON BOOK FESTIVAL VERSUS PATROL WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN THAT VEIN BUT LITERACY HELPS DETER CRIME. AND THE THING IS YOU AND I -- OR SOME OF US, SORRY.
I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK TO THE BODY. SORRY, ANDY.
SOME OF US HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET -- LIKE SOMETIMES GO TO THE LIBRARY AND READ AND GET THAT EXPOSURE. AND A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE THAT ACCESS.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT FUNDING CURRENTLY AND LONG TERM, WE HAVE TO DO BOTH.
WE NEED THE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THINGS ARE MOVING ALONG IN TERMS OF IF THERE IS A CRIME THAT OCCURS, WE NEED SOMEONE THERE TO HELP WORK ON THE SITUATION. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE $50,000 NOW THAT COULD HELP AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT SCHOOLS VISIT -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS.
I WAS ESTIMATING. VISIT THE BOOK FESTIVAL. GET TO SEE AN AUTHOR AND MAYBE WE'RE CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF 50 KIDS' LIVES WHO WILL NO LONGER BE IN THE SYSTEM.
WE CAN'T COMPARE THAT TO ONE OFFICER. AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT AS TANGIBLE. IT'S NOT AS EASY SO SAY THAT THIS $50,000 IS GOING TO DETER 2% OF VIOLENT CRIME IS GOING TO GO DOWN. BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN THE THINGS THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE IN THE LONG-TERM WHILE ALSO DOING THE CURRENT STRATEGY OF REACTIVE POLICING. IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE.
I THINK THE ONLY THING WE'RE SEEING IS THAT WHAT IS THAT NUMBER.
TO COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA'S POINT -- WHEN HE SAID SIX OF US, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTING BUT THERE ARE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERY TIME THEY CAME TO US WITH A POLICE INCREASE, IT WAS FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOLLARS. WE HAVEN'T HAD TO USE A LOT OF GENERAL FUND. WE WERE GETTING MATCHES. THERE WAS A LOT OF ADDITIONAL GRANT SUPPORT FOR SUPPORTING ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS WE WERE GAINING.
I JUST THINK, BASED ON THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
SO THAT'S, I GUESS, ALL THAT I'M SAYING. AS FAR AS THE DELEGATE AGENCY MONIES GOES, IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO DO THOSE OFFICERS, I THINK WE SHOULD BRING THAT TO OUR GENERAL FUND SO WE DON'T IMPACT THAT LATER, AND POTENTIALLY USE THAT ADDITIONAL TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY SAFETY POLICING MEASURES THAT WERE MENTIONED FOR OUR NONPROFIT DELEGATE AGENCY SUPPORT.
IF THERE IS FUNDING LEFT OVER, I WOULD SAY IT SHOULD GO TO BRINGING UP THOSE DELEGATE AGENCIES NOW AND WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT FUNDING LATER. THAT'S IT.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: CHAIR ALDERETE GAVITO.
[01:45:04]
>> GAVITO: THANKS, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS.
ERIK, MY PRIORITIES HAVEN'T SHIFTED. I DO THINK MORE POLICE OFFICERS, ALL EMPLOYEES PAY, AND THEN THE VACANT BUILDINGS PROGRAM.
I DEFINITELY AGREE THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY COMPREHENSIVELY.
I THINK THAT WHAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO BROUGHT UP ABOUT SEVERAL OF OUR RESIDENTS FEELING UNSAFE BECAUSE OF VACANT BUILDINGS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IS TRUE. AND BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR FROM RESIDENTS IS THAT POLICE OFFICER PRESENCE MAKES THEM FEEL SAFE.
I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T A GUESS OF IF MORE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD BE HELPFUL. THERE WAS DATA BEHIND IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD ABOUT HOT SPOT POLICING AND THE TRENDS THAT -- THE LOWER CRIME RATES THAT IT SOLVED FOR. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN THIS BUDGET DEFICIT THERE IS SOME EITHER/OR CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
AND SO TO ME IF THE PROVEN METHOD IS MORE POLICE OFFICERS, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WHO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THE BEST ARE ASKING FOR, TO ME IT'S INCUMBENT ON US TO DELIVER THAT FOR THEM. YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY STILL WANT TO PUSH FOR MORE OFFICERS.
I DID HAVE A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION ON ALL THE WONDERFUL NONPROFITS Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT.
FOR HER AND BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE, I KNOW THEY DO GREAT WORK.
WOULD THOSE NONPROFITS BE CONSIDERED DELEGATE FUNDING OR DISCRETIONARY FUNDING?
>> WALSH: THEY WOULD ALL BE DISCRETIONARY EXCEPT WHAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT ON THE BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER AND MAKING THAT DESIGNATED. ALL THE OTHERS WOULD BE
DISCRETIONARY. >> GAVITO: AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DO -- IS IT POSSIBLE
FOR -- GO AHEAD. >> VILLAGOMEZ: ERIK IS THINKING COMPETITIVE VERSUS DESIGNATED. SO, MEL, YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS.
I THINK OF THOSE AGENCIES, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER IS CONSIDERED CORE TO THE SERVICES
THAT WE PROVIDE. >> GAVITO: OKAY. >> WOOSLEY: IT WOULD BE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. BUT IT IS CORE TO OUR PROGRAMS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S.
>> GAVITO: JUST SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR. RAPE CRISIS CENTER IS
CONSIDERED A CORE SERVICE. >> WOOSLEY: YES. >> GAVITO: AND BATTERED
WOMEN'S SHELTER IS CONSIDERED A CORE SERVICE. >> WOOSLEY: ABSOLUTELY.
>> GAVITO: FOR HER, BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE -- >> WOOSLEY: FOR HER WAS FUNDED THROUGH ARPA SO IT WASN'T PART OF THE CALCULATION.
AND BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE WAS NOT FUNDED THROUGH DHS. >> GAVITO: OKAY.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US -- I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE THE LIST SOMEWHERE. IF WE CAN HAVE THE INFORMATION THIS EVENING OF WHAT AGENCIES ARE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND WHAT'S YOUR DISCRETIONARY? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WE WRAP OUR MINDS AROUND THIS.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THESE NONPROFITS ARE ALL DOING -- HAVE WONDERFUL MISSIONS, NOBLE CAUSES. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE WHICH ARE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND WHICH ARE DISCRETIONARY AS WE'RE TIGHT ON FUNDS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S ALL. >> WOOSLEY: WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO CHIME BACK IN REGARDING THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT ARE NOT FUNDED. I KNOW WITH THE METRO HEALTH BUDGET, THE UNLOCK PROGRAM WAS SCRAPPED . SO I DO THINK THERE IS VALUE IN A NEED TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE, GIVEN THE SA FORWARD PLAN WITH THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION COMPONENT, AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. THEY DO SERVE AS CITY'S CORE SERVICE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE US TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FROM AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION, I WOULD SAY ITEM NO. 3 CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE AS WELL AS THE VIOLENT PREVENTION GOALS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. HAS EVERYONE -- CHAIR MUNGIA . >> MUNGIA: I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE SWITCH FOR METRO HEALTH, I BELIEVE WAS GOING THROUGH DHS.
THAT IS PROJECT WORTH. I BELIEVE THAT HAS MORE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT TO IT.
AND THEN YOUTH PROGRAMMING. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL POSSIBLE TO KEEP THAT IN METRO HEALTH OR HOW WE CAN RESPECT THAT PROGRAM'S ORIGINAL INTENTIONS THAT IT WAS UNDER
[01:50:02]
METRO HEALTH CONTINUING. SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT.>> WALSH: YEAH, COUNCILMAN. THE MAYOR BROUGHT THIS UP YESTERDAY ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND HAVING THE DESIRED EFFECTS.
AND CERTAINLY THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT I THINK THE MAYOR MENTIONED YESTERDAY AS WELL.
DHS IS BETTER ABLE TO HAVE CONSISTENT YOUTH PROGRAMMING BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW.
IF IT HAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR IF WE'RE MISSING THE MARK, THEN WE'LL RECONSIDER WHAT WE DO. BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SERVE THE YOUTH IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND WE BELIEVE CONSOLIDATING THAT WOULD ALLOW
US TO DO MORE WITH LESS. >> MUNGIA: APPRECIATE THAT. AND SINCE IT'S BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE MORE TIMES WITH THE UTSA PLAN, YOU KNOW, I HAD OFFICERS SHARE WITH ME ANECDOTALLY, HEY, WE'RE GOING OUT THERE AND PUTTING OUR LIGHTS ON BUT AS SOON AS WE LEAVE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THEN ALSO I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THAT ACTIVITY IN A PARTICULAR AREA, WHICH A LOT OF THESE PLACES SEEM TO BE APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BASED ON THE CALL VOLUME, IS DISPLACEMENT OF CRIME. SO THE POLICE ARE THERE.
THEY MIGHT BE PREVENTING A CRIME FROM HAPPENING AT THAT LOCATION BUT DOES THAT CRIME THEN GET DISPLACED SOMEWHERE ELSE? IT'S STILL OCCURRING, JUST NOT
THAT LOCATION. >> VILLAGOMEZ: I WAS GOING TO SAY UTSA HAS EVALUATED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN AND HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE REPORTS. BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND EVIDENCE THAT DISPLACEMENT HAS OCCURRED. BUT THEY HAVE THOSE NUMBERS
RECORDED FOR THE 2.5 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PROGRAM. >> MUNGIA: I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I THINK THERE'S SOME OBVIOUSLY THAT WILL MISS THE MARK OF IT NOT BEING REPORTED OR NOT CALLED IN. THERE ARE CRIMES THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT ARE NOT CALLED IN OR REPORTED.
ALSO, THE SUCCESS OF THAT PROGRAM -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- NECESSITATES PHASES 2
AND 3 OF THAT PROGRAM. >> VILLAGOMEZ: SO THE OVERALL STRATEGY HAS THREE COMPONENTS.
THE FIRST ONE, WHICH IS THE HIGH VISIBILITY AT THE HOT SPOTS.
I GUESS THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS YES. WHEN VISIBILITY DOESN'T DECREASE THE VIOLENT CRIME IN THOSE AREAS, THOSE ARE THE ONES WE TARGET FOR PHASE 2.
FINALLY, PHASE 3 WE'RE HOPEFULLY ELIMINATING THE BEHAVIOR BY ASSISTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES, AND HELP THEM TO
BE ABLE NOT TO REOFFEND. >> MUNGIA: SO JUST REAL QUICKLY.
PHASES 2 AND 3 ARE HIGH LEVEL. WHAT ARE THOSE PHASES AGAIN? >> VILLAGOMEZ: SO PHASE 2 WE HAVE DONE TWO LOCATIONS. WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT 3 ON THE SECOND APARTMENT COMPLEX. THE FIRST ONE WAS IN DISTRICT 2 BORDER WITH DISTRICT 3.
AND FOCUSED DETERRENCE, WE HOPE TO BEGIN THAT IN 2026. >> MUNGIA: WHAT DO YOU DO IN
PHASE 2 AT THOSE PROPERTIES? >> VILLAGOMEZ: WHAT WE DO IS WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY THE CAUSES OF THE VIOLENT CRIME. SO FOR INSTANCE WE CAN HAVE YOUTH THAT IS DISCONNECTED.
WE MAY HAVE CODE VIOLATIONS. WE BRING ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS -- WE HAVE ACTUALLY A TASK FORCE THAT IS LED BY MARIA VARGAS -- WHERE WE BRING ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT WE ARE
SEEING AND CONNECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES. >> MUNGIA: YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT NOTE IS THAT PHASE 2 WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY A ROOT CAUSE FOR THAT PROGRAM. BECAUSE IT CLEARLY STATES THAT SIMPLY HAVING AN OFFICER WITH THE LIGHTS ON DOESN'T SOLVE THAT ISSUE. AND THEN NO. 3 IS RECIDIVISM.
SO PEOPLE WHO DO GET ARRESTED, THEY COME OUT OF JAIL AND CONTINUE DOING CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT SOME POINT. I DO THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT ABOUT POLICY.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY, AS THE CITY GROWS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEED FOR MORE OFFICERS.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. AND I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO DO THE RATIO OF POLICE ACROSS ALL SECTORS. I MEAN, A LOT OF OUR TAXING UNITS HAVE POLICE.
UNIVERSITY HEALTH HAS A POLICE DEPARTMENT. OUR COLLEGES HAS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, VIA HAS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF OUR ISDS HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
WE DO HAVE A SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE. THEY DO DIFFERENT THINGS BUT THEY ALSO DO TRAFFIC STOPS. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS INSTRUMENTAL IN TRAFFIC ISSUES, BEING ABLE TO PULL OVER 18-WHEELERS IF THEY SUSPECT SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT HAS TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION ALSO. >> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYONE SPOKEN THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? POINT OF CLARIFICATION?
[01:55:05]
GO AHEAD. >> KAUR: THE METRO HEALTH FUNDING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, ARE THEY GOING TO ASSIGN WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING
AFTERWARDS? >> MAYOR JONES: ADDITIONAL FUNDING?
>> KAUR: THE $433,000. LIKE IF THAT 20% INCREASE MOVES FORWARD, WOULD THEY DETERMINE
HOW THEY WOULD SPEND THAT $433,000? >> MAYOR JONES: MY RECOMMENDATION IS IT WOULD GO TO THE GAPS IDENTIFIED IN THE MEMO.
METRO HEALTH SUPPORT, TB CONTROL AND PREVENTION. BUT IT DOESN'T COVER ALL OF THAT. AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE IN THE MEMO WHAT THOSE WOULD SPECIFICALLY GO TO. ONE, INCREASING BY 336 HOURS THE NUMBER OF HOURS FOR THE CLINIC AS WELL AS HELPING AN ADDITIONAL 100 YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF HIGHER NEED.
>> KAUR: DR. JACOB, COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE ONE QUESTION I HAD EARLIER ABOUT HOW YOU ALL
MIGHT CONSIDER SPENDING IT? WOULD THAT -- >> JACOB: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. CONSISTENT WITH THAT MEMO LOOKING AT OUR FRAGILITY, THOSE ARE THE FOUR COMPONENTS OF WHAT YOU SEE REFLECTED. IT'S FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS. OUR TB STAFFING COMPLEMENT AS WELL AS THE LANGUAGE ACCESS.
AND THEN THE ADDENDUM. WE'LL FIGURE OUT OPERATIONALLY --
>> MAYOR JONES: BUT THERE ARE HIGHER COSTS OTHER THAN THE 433, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
>> KAUR: YOU GUYS WILL FIGURE OUT -- >> JACOB: WE'LL FIGURE IT
OUT. >> KAUR: IS THERE A CONCERN IF WE DECREASE THOSE NOW WE HAVE TO DECREASE THEM NEXT YEAR? BECAUSE THEY ARE COSTS THAT WOULD CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. IF WE INCREASE THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BY 500K, WE HAVE
TO FIND THE 500K NEXT YEAR BUT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE -- >> JACOB: YES, WE PROVIDED
FOR FY26 AND '27 IN RESPONSE AT MEMO. >> VILLAGOMEZ: I WOULD ADD, COUNCILWOMAN, IF THE FEES ARE INCREASED, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THEN THAT IS RECURRING FUNDING. SO THAT ADDITIONAL COST WILL BE PAID BY THAT INCREASE IN
REVENUES. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: PLUS ALL THE FUNDS FROM THE BOOK FESTIVAL. [LAUGHTER] ERIK, CAN YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT
YOU HEARD ON THE DELEGATE AGENCIES, PLEASE? >> WALSH: SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, MAYOR, IN THE MEMO BACK TO YOU ALL, WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE THE FOR HER AND THE RAPE CRISIS. EIGHT MONTHS FOR THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY . WE HAVE AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE.
GATEWAY AS AN ADDITIONAL $50,000. AND BIG MAMA'S SAFE HOUSE AT 144. NEW FUNDING. AND THEN THE COMBINING OF THE FAMILY VIOLENCE. I THINK THAT WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE MEMO THAT WE SENT LAST NIGHT ON THE DOLLARS. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO NET OUT THE $95,000 FOR THE VACANT BUILDING BECAUSE BASED ON TODAY'S CONVERSATION IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COUNCIL IS AMENABLE TO INCREASING THOSE FEES FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PERMIT ON VACANT BUILDINGS. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO NET THAT OUT, WHICH WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND BE ABLE TO BALANCE IT OUT WITH THOSE NUMBERS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. AND WE'LL LEAVE THE REVENUE WHERE IT'S AT.
AS PROPOSED, THE ALAMO PROMISE WITH THE CONSIDERATIONS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
THE PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL FEE AND IN ADDITION THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE FEES THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT. WE'LL ADD THAT ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
WE'LL LEAVE THE 2% AND 750 INCREASE IN THE FLASHING AND THE RADAR.
HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYBODY LATER ON TONIGHT BUT BASED ON THE NUMBERS, WE'LL LEAVE THE OFFICERS FOR NOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LARGER CONVERSATION.
AND PART OF THIS SUMMARY, IF I'M NOT SUMMARIZING IT PROPERLY, YOU ALL CAN WEIGH IN. THE MILLION DOLLARS ADDITIONAL FOR THE MINOR REPAIR.
AND THEN THE STREETLIGHT FUNDING. I THINK DOING MY QUICK MATH OVER HERE, WE'LL BALANCE EVERYTHING OUT WITH THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
OH, AND THEN THE ADDED EXPENSE ON THE METRO HEALTH ASPECTS THAT YOU ALL WERE JUST TALKING
ABOUT. WE NEED TO ADD THAT IN THERE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, ERIK. THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
ERIK, I DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT I'LL VISIT WITH YOU OFFLINE REGARDING THE PHILHARMONIC AND
[02:00:05]
ADDRESSING THAT IN THE FINAL BUDGET ORDINANCE. THAT WE MAY NEED TO.OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE EFFORT.
THE TIME IS 4:03 P.M. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.