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>> VIAGRAN: THE TIME IS 10:01 A.M. ON MARCH 20, 2026.
THE MEETING THE EVIDENT AUDIT COMMITTEE IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MA'AM, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> VIAGRAN: GREAT. I WILL BE ALLOWING THE MEMBER SPEAKERS TWO ROUNDS OF COMMENTS PER ITEM WITH FIVE MINUTES THE FIRST ROUND AND THREE MINUTES THE SECOND ROUND. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA
[Approval of Minutes ]
IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I'VE GOT A MOTION. I'VE GOT A SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NO.[Public Comments ]
MOTION CARRIES. PUBLIC COMMENT, ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLICSIGNED UP TO SPEAK? >> ONE MEMBER [INAUDIBLE]. >> VIAGRAN: CARL, YOU WILL
HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> OKAY. I HOPE YOU'RE RECORDING THIS. I'M NOT TODAY. I HAVE NOW GIVEN AT LEAST DELIVERED 32 SPEECHES TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I DIDN'T GIVE THE LAST SPEECH. I DON'T HAVE A PREPARED SPEECH FOR TODAY, BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4 CONCERNING THE AUDIT.
I'M LOOKING AT SOME GRAPHICS THAT WERE POSTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PREPARED BY WHOEVER IS PRESENTING THE AUDIT FINDINGS. AND THE GRAPHIC SHOWS A NUMBER OF FINDINGS STARTING BACK IN 27, TWO COMMENTS THE FOLLOWING YEAR, TWO COMMENTS IN SEVEN AND DOWN, AND SINCE 2018 TO 2025 THERE'S BEEN ESSENTIALLY NO COMMENTS. I'LL TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I'VE BEEN REPEATEDLY POUNDING THIS MESSAGE TO THE CITY COUNCIL, IS CITY HAS RECEIVED 12,000 [INDISCERNIBLE] PROPERTY OF MINE.
I'VE REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS PARTIES. THERE HAS BEEN NO ATTEMPT TO, IF YOU WILL, MEDIATED WITH ME OR DO ANYTHING. I'VE ESSENTIALLY THREATENED LAWSUITS. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THAT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IN TIME AT THE SUPREME COURT THERE IS WHAT I CALL A MONUMENT TO JUDICIAL INCOMPETENCE AND CORRUPTION WHERE UNDER TEXAS STATE LAW THERE'S A CRIMINAL STREET GANG OF 22 FEDERAL JUDGES THAT COMMITTED TWO FIRST DEGREE VIOLENT FELONIES AGAINST ME. THEY ARE AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING ON DECEMBER 6, 2021, AND MULTIPLE AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES. I'VE DEALT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE. THINGS HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.
I'VE TALKED TO MY COUNCILMAN MARC WHITE. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. I'M TELLING YOU. I KNOW OUT AUDITS WORK.
I WORKED' THE CAFR AUDIT FOR THE CITY AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH INTERNAL CONTROLS.
MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN THE U.S. COURT SYSTEM IS IT LACKS INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS SO I'M GOING TO BASICALLY MAKE AN ALLEGATION HERE THAT THE CITY STILL LACKS INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO CRIMES THAT OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE COMMITTED AGAINST CITY RESIDENTS.
I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THEY CAN GIVE WHATEVER REPORT THEY WANT TO GIVE, I DON'T NEED TO SIT AROUND FOR THIS, BUT I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT IT SEEMS INCREDULOUS TO ME GIVEN HOW CRAZY THINGS HAS BEEN SINCE MARCH OF 2020 -- [BUZZER].
>> TIME'S UP. I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BECAUSE MARCH IS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. I SAW MY COUNTY COMMISSIONER FROM PRECINCT 1. I KNOW THIS IS OFF TOPIC, BUT POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT
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COLONOSCOPIES SAVE LIVES SO MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING THERE. WITH THAT EVE WEDNESDAYED PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL GO ON INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.[Pre-Solicitation High Profile Briefings ]
ITEMS 2 AND 3 ARE PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFINGS. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION FOR ITEM 2. AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A STAFF PRESENTATION.>> ITEM 2 IS A BRIEFING ON THE RELEASE OF A SOLICITATION FOR MULTIPLE CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITH TEMPORARY LABOR PERSONNEL SERVICES FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL VALUE OF $30 MILLION FOR THREE YEARS
WITH TWO ONE-YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW. >> VIAGRAN: RENEE, THE
FLOOR IS OURS. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M RENEE FRIDA.
I'M THE CITY'S DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND I'LL BE PROVIDING THE PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING FOR OUR TEMP PERSONNEL SERVICES CONTRACT.
SO WE ARE SEEKING PROPOSALS FROM TEMPORARY PERSONNEL SERVICE FIRMS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT PERSONNEL SERVICES FOR VARYING ROLES ACROSS THE CITY FOR OUR VARYING CITY DEPARTMENTS. EXAMPLES OF THESE ROLES COULD INCLUDE ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL OR GENERAL LABOR, BUT MAY ALSO INCLUDE SPECIALTY ROLES SUCH AS THOSE IN METRO HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND FINANCE.
THE PROPOSED TERM IS THREE YEARS TWO ONE YEAR RENEWALS AND THE ESTIMATED VALUE IS 6 MILLION PER YEAR WITH AN APPROXIMATE CONTRACT VALUE OF 30 MILLION OVER THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT. WITH THIS CONTRACT WE COULD AAWARD TO MULTIPLE VENDORS AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND EACH DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THEIR TEMPORARY SERVICES THROUGH THEIR ALLOTTED PERSONNEL BUDGET.
OUR CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 21ST OF THIS YEAR.
THE OUTREACH FOR THIS RFP INCLUDES THE NIGP CODE FOR PERSONNEL SERVICES TEMPORARY. THE NUMBER OF VENDORS TO BE NOTIFIED FROM THE CENTRAL VENDOR REGISTRY IS 148, AND FIVE WILL BE TARGETED OUTREACH.
ADVERTISING WILL INCLUDE TBSA, COSA BIDDING AND CONTRACTING WEB PAGE, HEARTBEAT AND SAVES. OUR VOTING MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE MYSELF, HR DEPUTY DIRECTOR KRYSTAL STRONG, OUR RECRUITMENT AND STAFFING ADMINISTRATOR SHARON FRY, OUR HR PROJECT MANAGER FROM RECRUITMENT, VANESSA, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM TWO OF OUR HIGHEST USER DEPARTMENTS, VICTOR FROM HUMAN RESOURCES AND VANESSA JIMÉNEZ FROM NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES. THE EVALUATION CRITERIA WILL BE 40 POINTS FOR EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS.
PROPOSED PLAN 30 POINTS. PRICING, 20 POINTS. AND SBE PRIME CONTRACT PROGRAM 10 POINTS. FOR THIS SOLICITATION THE LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM AND THE VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PREFERENCE PROGRAM ARE NOT APPLICABLE.
BECAUSE A VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTS USE THESE CONTRACTS FOR GRANT-FUNDED POSITIONS, THERE IS A PRECLUSION FROM BEING ABLE TO ALLOW THESE SPECIFIC PREFERENCE POINTS. APIS WILL BE SUPPORTED BASED ON THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SBE'S WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK. SBE'S AVAILABLE IN THE VENDOR NETWORK AND OF HISTORIC PROJECTS OF A SIMILAR NATURE. THE RFP IS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE ON APRIL 13TH WITH A POLITICAL BLACKOUT DATE STARTING APRIL 28TH.
WE HAVE A PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE ON MAY 5TH WITH A DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS OF MAY 8 AND A DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF JUNE 1ST. WE EXPECT THAT WE WILL BE NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT IN JULY OR AUGUST WITH A POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING TO HAPPEN ON SEPTEMBER 2ND SEPTEMBER 2ND. THE FINAL PHASE INCLUDES CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IN SEPTEMBER, WITH A TARGETED CONTRACT START DATE OF DECEMBER 22ND. MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THIS CONCLUDES MY
PRESENTATION. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, RENEE.
SO THIS IS FOR ONE VENDOR? >> IT CAN BE AWARDED TO MULTIPLE VENDORS.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR VENDORS. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
SO THEY'RE ALL ELIGIBLE TO REAPPLY? THERE'S NO EXTENSION OF THE
>> VIAGRAN: THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, BACKGROUND CHECKS. DO WE REQUIRE -- SOME OF OUR POSITIONS HERE IN THE
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SAN ANTONIO -- IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO REQUIRE BACKGROUND CHECKS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE. SO ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOME VENDORS THAT SPECIFY WITH THOSE THAT NEED TO GET BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THEY'LL HAVE A POOL OFEMPLOYEES THAT HAVE THAT -- >> THERE WILL BE A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY
PERFORM SIMILAR BACKGROUND CHECKS AS THE CITY. >> VIAGRAN: AND THE OTHER ASPECT THAT I KNOW ONE OF MY COUNCILWOMAN IS GOING TO ASK ABOUT IS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN JUST AS INVOLVED AND HOW WE CAN TRY TO FIND A WAY IF THIS IS TEMP WORK AND IT IS CONVENTION CENTER, SOLID WASTE, SOMETHING WHERE A BACKGROUND CHECK IS NOT NEEDED, ARE WE GOING TO KIND OF ASK THEM ABOUT THAT ORE WHAT THEY DO THERE? I FEEL LIKE THAT MIGHT COME UP WHEN WE PRESENT THIS TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
>> OF COURSE. SO WE HAVE SECOND CHANCE HIRING INITIATIVES IN PLACE FOR THE CITY. AND IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT THEY APPLY THOSE SAME.
>> VIAGRAN: GREAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO, WHILE I WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE CUTS, I ALSO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND WE STILL NEED TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE. AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS AUDIT WHEN WE GET A CHANCE IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHAT REACTION WE'RE GETTING IN TERMS OF THOSE POINTS. SO IF WE CAN USE THAT RIGHT NOW WITH OUR TEMPORARY LABOR TO REALLY HELP US IN THE FUTURE MAKE DECISIONS OF WHERE WE CAN HIRE FOR THE CITY, WHERE WE MAKE THOSE HIRINGS AND IF I GO BACK TO MY RETAIL DAYS, SEASONAL, WE KIND OF DO THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT FORWARD AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. I'M GLAD TO SEE TWO OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT USE A LOT OF TEMPORARY LABOR THERE, I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT MAY NEED TO ADJUST TO HAVING KIND OF SEASONAL LABOR.
I THINK ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND I SAW DAVID MCCARY IN AND OUT. I KNOW HE OVERSEES THAT DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT BULKY ITEM AND WITH THOSE DAYS WHERE WE BRING MORE OF THE BULKY ITEM AND THE HAZARDOUS WASTE INTO OUR CENTERS, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WHERE WE LOOK AT TEMPORARY LABOR FOR THAT OR SEASONAL LABOR FOR THAT AS IT GETS WARMER, THE DAYS GET LONGER, PEOPLE TEND TO DO THAT MORE. AND TO MAKE IT RUN SMOOTHLY THERE'S SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING THIS SERVICE TO. SO THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. SIX MILLION DOLLARS SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO ME. WHAT ARE WE SPENDING THIS YEAR ON TEMPORARY FOLKS?
>> YEAH. WE EXPECT THAT WE COULD SPEND UP TO 3.9 MILLION.
WE'RE AT 945,000 YEAR TO DATE. >> WHYTE: OKAY.
SO 3.9 MILLION PERHAPS THIS YEAR. WHY DO WE NEED THE INCREASE
TO SIX? >> THE CONTRACT ALLOWS FOR UP TO SIX BECAUSE IT -- WHEN THE CONTRACT IS OPENED UP WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE WHAT WILL HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IF YOU LOOK BACK TO 2020, 2011 OF OUR HIGHEST USE YEARS AND SOMETHING WE COULDN'T ANTICIPATE. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN PLACE TO TRY TO CURB THAT SPENDING, SO I THINK IT WAS BACK IN 2000 WE BEGAN MAKING -- EVEN THOUGH THE DEPARTMENTS PAY FOR THE TEMPS THEMSELVES, WE STARTED HAVING THEM REQUEST THOSE TEMP REQUESTS THROUGH HR SO WE COULD EVALUATE THE NECESSITY. TODAY THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH VRC JUST LIKE IF YOU WANTED TO FILL A CURRENT POSITION. SO IT'S EVALUATED BY COMMITTEE TO SAY, IS THERE TRULY A NECESSITY FOR THIS? IS THERE GRANT FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT? A VITAL POSITION WE NEED TO FILL AND DOES THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS
TO COVER IT? >> WHYTE: THAT WAS ONE OF MY NEXT QUESTIONS.
I GUESS WE LOOK AT IF THERE IS A NECESSITY OR WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF OUR CURRENT
TEMPORARY PERSONNEL COULD COVER SOME OF THESE THINGS. >> YES, SIR.
>> WHYTE: AND WHAT'S THE AVERAGE SALARY OF ONE OF THESE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE KNOW THE AVERAGE SALARY. WE'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE USED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF POSITIONS.
YOU MAY HAVE SOMEBODY TO COME IN TO FINANCE WITH A PROFESSIONAL POSITION, BUT A LOT OF THOSE ARE MAINTENANCE TYPE POSITIONS. WITH OUR EXTENDED HOURS IN DHS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SUPERVISORS FOR THE SENIOR CENTER.
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SO IT'S A WIDE VARIETY OF POSITIONS. >> COUNCILMEMBER, IF YOU WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT WE COULD BREAK IT OUT MORE.
I WOULDN'T DO THE AVERAGE BECAUSE OF RENEE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
THEY DO SO MANY ROLES. >> WHYTE: IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IS WHY I ASK.
>> WE'RE A BIG ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE 7, 8,000 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS REALLY AGAIN TO FILL THOSE GAPS. SOMEBODY IS OUT ON FMLA.
WE'VE GOT A GAP WHERE SOMEBODY NEEDED TO TAKE EXTENDED LEAVE.
THERE'S SOME NEW PROGRAMMING COMING IN THAT WE JUST NEED TEMPORARY STAFFING FOR.
I THINK IT REALLY GOES BACK TO WHAT RENEE ASSESSMENT I THINK IT WAS AROUND 2020 WHEN WE MADE THE CHANGE SO THAT DEPARTMENTS BEFORE WOULD CONTACT TEMP AGENCIES ON THEIR OWN AND ASK FOR TEMPS, NOW EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH HR, EVERYTHING GOES THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS. THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME JUSTIFICATION AS IF THEY'RE HIRING OR ADDING A POSITION IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BUSINESS
CASE FOR WHY THEY'RE DOING IT. >> WHYTE: WHAT ABOUT ANY OF THE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT NEEDING TEMPORARY PERSONNEL? WHAT ABOUT AI? HAVE WE LOOKED AT WHETHER -- I DON'T KNOW WHICH DEPARTMENT IT WOULD BE, BUT THERE'S POTENTIAL AI
SOLUTIONS AS OPPOSED TO HIRING TEMPORARY WORKERS? >> I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.
SO I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THAT, COUNCILMAN.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME TO YOU IN JUNE AND TALK ABOUT OUR AI POLICY AND HOW WE KIND OF EVALUATE THAT. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING WHEN WE LOOK AT CURRENTLY HOW WE'RE USING THESE TEMPS EVERYTHING FROM FIELD WORKERS TO SOME OF THE GAPS THAT WE'RE FILLING THAT I SEE THAT YET, BUT THAT IS A GOOD POINT.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD KEEP OUR EYE ON GOING FORWARD.
BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW WHERE
THAT WOULD FIT. >> WHYTE: THANKS, CHAIR. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
COMMITTEE MEMBER? >> THANKS, CHAIR. THE QUESTION I HAVE BASED ON THE VENDORS THAT YOU'VE HAD BEFORE OR CURRENTLY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITERIA YOU LOOK AT TO ENSURE THEY'RE MEETING OUR SCOPE? I'M SURE THERE'S PROJECTS OF SCOPE INFORMATION BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITERIA THAT YOUR OFFICE LOOKS AT TO
ENSURE THAT'S THE RIGHT VENDOR FOR US? >> YEAH, THERE'S A VARIETY OF FACTORS. IN OUR MOST RECENT CONTRACT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF IS THAT THE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HIRED, NOT ONLY WERE THEY VETTED APPROPRIATELY AND CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY, THAT THEY WERE OFFERING BENEFITS SIMILAR TO WHAT THE CITY OFFERS. SO IT MAY NOT BE OUR SAME LEVEL OF BENEFITS, BUT ARE THEY OFFERING VACATION AND MEDICAL AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO WE LOOKED FOR VENDORS WHO OFFERED THAT, WHO OFFER COMPARABLE WAGES TO WHAT WE ARE OFFERING AND WHO HAVE THAT BREADTH OF CANDIDATES
THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO US. >> AND IF YOU WEREN'T -- IF THIS WASN'T FUNDED, THE FULL SIX MILLION, LIKE YOU SAY, IT WAS LESS THAN THAT, WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT TO OUR DAILY OPERATIONS WOULD THAT CAUSE TO THE CITY?
>> YEAH. IT WOULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT. YOU KNOW, THE 35 MILLION SPENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST CONTRACT, MORE THAN 20 MILLION OF IT WAS FUNDED BY GRANTS. AND SO THAT GRANT WORK WOULD NOT BE BEING PERFORMED.
ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH AND YOU SEE THERE'S -- THE EXTENDED SERVICES, EXTENDED DAY SERVICES AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PERFORM THAT WORK BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE STAFF TO DO IT. THEY'RE USED IN LIKE VET TECH POSITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT ON FMLA SO IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT TO THE OPERATIONS AND THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO IT WOULD HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPACT TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU LOOK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS IT REALLY IS SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. THERE'S NOT HUGE NUMBERS IN ANY ONE DEPARTMENT.
BACK AT OUR HIGH IN COVID WE HAD ABOUT 450 TEMPS AT ANY TIME.
AT THE END OF JANUARY WE HAD 75 ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. SO WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF CONTAINING THAT AND CURBING IT AND MAKING SURE WE'RE ONLY HIRING THE TEMPS
WHERE IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT. >> LAST QUESTION, I PROMISE.
CONCURRENT TO THIS PROCUREMENT, ARE YOU ALSO, I GUESS, EXECUTING A STRATEGY TO INCREASE BEVERAGE STRENGTH FOR SOME OF THOSE -- BEVERAGE STRENGTH FOR SOME OF THOSE CRITICAL DECISIONS THAT ARE ONE DEEP TO PREVENT IN THE FUTURE TO
HAVING A SOURCE OUTSIDE? >> THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE DO.
SO IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY AT A HIGHER LEVEL POSITION THAT IS OUT ON FMLA OR DISABILITY, WE HAVE SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT. SO OFTEN TIMES THERE IS
SOMEBODY ON THE BENCH PULLED UP TO DO HIGHER LEVEL WORK. >> BEN, DID YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THAT WAS GREAT INSIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
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I THINK WE ARE ALL KIND OF HOLDING OUR BREATH MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE FUNDS WE NEED FOR SOME OF THE GRANT POSITIONS. WE UNDERSTAND IF WE DO NOT THAT IT IS GOING TO MEAN MORE WORK FOR OUR FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEES AND IT'S GOING TO LIKE MORE TEMP WORK, AND THE ONE THING THAT DOES CUT DOWN IS HOURS OF SERVICE. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- DAVID, I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK BECAUSE I WAS USING YOU AS AN EXAMPLE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR SPOTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN DROP OFF THEIR BULKY ITEMS AND THEY CAN DROP OFF THEIR HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIAL, IF WE NEED TO CUT THAT MEANS MAYBE WE'RE NOT OPEN EVERY SATURDAY. MAYBE WE'RE NOT OPEN AS LONG AS THE HOURS.AND THEN OUR RESIDENTSS, THE CITY'S CUSTOMERS, START TO FEEL NEGLECTED OR TRASH STARTS TO BUILD UP IN THEIR YARDS AGAIN AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DECREASING THAT. SAME THING WITH METRO HEALTH.
IN TERMS OF THE CLINICS WE'VE GOT ONE ON THE SOUTHSIDE AND RIGHT NOW IT'S WORKING WITH THE PROGRAMMING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT COULD CHANGE TO WHERE WE ARE LOOKING FOR HOW TO PROGRAM THAT BUILDING.
BECAUSE WE'RE STILL PAYING THE LIGHT BILL AND THE ENERGY BILL SO WE WANT PEOPLE IN THERE, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO ADMINISTER THOSE PROGRAMS AND FILL THOSE FOOD PANTRIES, WHAT DO WE DO? LOTS OF THINGS TO COME, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FULLY PREPARED IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER -- WE HAVE ANOTHER NATIONAL CRISIS WHERE WE NEED TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT BRIEFING.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT. >> ITEM 3 IS A BRIEFING ON THE RELEASE OF A SOLICITATION FOR UP TO SIX CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH PRINT MATERIALS, CATALOGING AND PROCESSING SERVICES, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $24,500,000 FOR FIVE YEARS WITH TWO ONE-YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW.
>> YES, GOOD MORNING MADAM CHAIR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. >> STAFF.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. DALE MCNEAL, ONE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AT THE LIBRARY. AND THIS IS THE PRE-SOLICITATION FOR, AS YOU HEARD, PRINT MATERIALS, CATALOGING AND PROCESSING AS MUCH ASS.
SO THIS IS TO ISSUE A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS FOR QUALIFIED VENDORS TO PROVIDE PRINT MATERIALS. SO THAT'S PRIMARILY BOOKS.
IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH PRIMARILY, BUT OTHER LANGUAGES AS NEEDED.
ALONG WITH PROCESSING SERVICES AND ELECTRONIC ORDERING, THAT IS, IN OTHER WORDS, THE BOOKS ARE READY TO BE USED AT THE LIBRARY. AND THESE MATERIALS SUPPORT ALL THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATIONS. THIS IS FOR A PROPOSED TERM OF FIVE YEARS WITH TWO ONE H1N1 YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS. ONE-YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS.
THE ESTIMATED VALUE IS A TOTAL OF $24.5 MILLION. OUR CURRENT CONTRACT STATUS, THE CONTRACT EXPIRES IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. THERE'S SOME COMPLEXITY BEHIND THAT THAT I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT. SOLICITATION OVERVIEW.
THESE SHOW THE NIGP CODES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, THAT THERE WERE 83 VENDORS NOTIFIED, THE NORMAL SORT OF ADVERTISING. THE EVALUATION VOTING MEMBERS WOULD BE MR. MCCARY, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER THE LABOR.
THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, MYSELF, ADAM WHO WAS HERE TODAY, THE LIBRARY SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR, HEIDI, LIBRARY SERVICES MANAGER, TROY WHO IS OVER OUR COLLECTION STRATEGY, AND JAMIE FLOWERS, WHO IS THE PERSON WHO IS OVER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ORDERING THE ACTUAL BOOKS. THESE ARE THE EVALUATION CRITERIA THAT WOULD BE APPLIED, AND YOU CAN SEE THE POINTS THERE, 25 POINTS FOR EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS. 55 FOR PROPOSED PLAN AND 20 FOR PRICING. AND LOCAL PREFERENCE, NOT APPLICABLE AND THE SAME WITH THE VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS AND INTERPRET TA WAS WAIVED.
THIS IS BECAUSE IT TAKES A VERY LARGE COMPANY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. THE TIMELINE IS HERE, STARTING OBVIOUSLY TODAY WITH THIS PRE-SOLICITATION BRIEFING. WITH THE SOLICITATION DATE
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STARTING ON APRIL 10TH. AND EVALUATION COMPLETE JUNE OF THIS YEAR.POST-SOLICITATION BRIEFING AUGUST 5TH. AND HOPEFULLY CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. AND I AM, OF COURSE, READY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, DALE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS VERY SPECIALIZED WORK AND WE KNEW THE CURRENT ECONOMIC VISES WAS GOING TO HIT THE PRINT MATERIAL AND WHAT WE NEED FOR THE LIBRARY. SO I THINK IT'S KEY THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE OF WHY IT'S EXPIRING IN OCTOBER.
>> YEAH, I'D BE HAPPY TO. SO THERE ARE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF VENDORS IN THIS MARKET. ONE OF THE LARGEST ONES WAS A COMPANY CALLED BAKER AND TAYLOR, BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 125 YEARS. AND WAS ONE OF KIND OF REALLY THE TWO LARGEST SUCH COMPANIES. WE CONTRACTED WITH THEM IN AUGUST OF 2024 WITH RENEWAL OPTIONS THAT STARTED OCTOBER 20. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE WOULD PLACE ORDERS AREN'T THEY WOULD CANCEL HALF, A THIRD, JUST RANDOM AMOUNTS OF ITEMS. OR THEY WOULDN'T CANCEL THEM AND THEY JUST WOULDN'T FULFILL THEM. SO THEN WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH A FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE IDENTIFIED ALTERNATIVE VENDORS THROUGH STATE COOPERATIVE CONTRACT.
THE CITY MANAGER APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH INGRAM LIBRARY SERVICES, ANOTHER BIG PLAYER IN THIS MARKET, NOVEMBER 25 WITH A ONE-YEAR TERM WITH ONE RENEWAL.
AND THAT WAS REALLY JUST TO FILL IN THE GAPS. SO AS THE ONE VENDOR CANCELED ORDERS WE WOULD PLACE THEM WITH THAT VENDOR. BUT THEN BAKER AND TAYLOR JUST COMPLETELY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS WITH ESSENTIALLY NO NOTICE.
LIKE THEY JUST -- THE COMPANY JUST CEASED TO EXIST.
SO WE'VE BEEN DOING WHAT WE CAN WITH THE OTHER VENDOR AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH PROCUREMENT AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING IN THE LINES, BUT THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO COME FOR ANOTHER PROCUREMENT AT THIS POINT SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GO BACK TO DOING BUSINESS IN A NORMAL WAY AFTER THIS REALLY UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT WITH BAKER AND TAYLOR GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND THIS WAS ALL HAPPENING AND OUR LIBRARY SERVICES WERE CONTINUING TO BE STELLAR.
>> CORRECT. >> VIAGRAN: AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT WE WANTED TO CONTINUE IS THIS DID NOT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO COME AS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ME, I WAS LIKE WE JUST DID THIS.
>> SURE. >> VIAGRAN: AND IT'S ONE OF KIND OF THE UNFORTUNATE THINGS THAT -- THAT HAPPENS CURRENTLY IN THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO JUST CONTINUE TO BE CREATIVE AND THEN HAVE THOSE PLAN BS. 125 YEARS IN SERVICE WE COULD HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS, BUT WE'RE ALL WATCHING THE NEWS DAILY AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. SO AS LONG AS OUR RESIDENTS AREN'T MISSING A BEAT AND ABLE TO GET THOSE BEST SELLER BOOKS AND CHECK THEM OUT, WHICH MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS AN AVID LIBRARY USER AND HE'S THERE WAITING FOR HIS NOTIFICATION THAT HIS BOOK IS READY. SO I'M VERY EXCITED THAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICE. AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET GREAT REVIEWS AT BUDGET TIME TOO. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH. ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS LIKE
TO SHARE? COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: JUST BELIEFLY, I SEE A LOT OF LIBRARIES NOW TURNING TO DIGITAL RESOURCES, RIGHT, E-BOOKS, ONLINE PLATFORMS AND THE REST OF IT. HOW DOES -- I ASSUME WE'RE
DOING SOME OF THAT TOO. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WHYTE: HOW DOES THAT AFFECTED SIZE OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS THAT IS DEALING WITH PRINT?
>> WE ARE ALWAYS CONSIDERING --A SEPARATE CONTRACT FOR ELECTRONIC BOOKS AND FOR
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MAGAZINES AND ALSO FOR MOVIES. SO WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARIES HERE IN TEXAS AND FIRST NATIONALLY TO BEGIN CIRCULATING-- CIRCULATING. YOU BORROW THEM AND THEN THEY AUTOMATICALLY COME BACK TO THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS KIND OF A COOL THING ABOUT IT, BUT ELECTRONIC BOOKS.WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT. OUR USAGE IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO 50/50.
WHAT WE FOUND IS THERE'S KIND OF THREE GROUPS OF LIBRARY PATRONS.
ONE GROUP USE THOSE ELECTRONIC RESOURCES EXCLUSIVELY.
MAY NOT EVEN COME IN THE LIBRARY. AND YOU CAN PROBABLY THINK OF YOURSELF OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY PREFER.
THE SECOND GROUP ARE PEOPLE WHO ONLY WANT TO USE PRINT BOOKS.
MAYBE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO ELECTRONICS, BUT THEY JUST CHOOSE TO READ THE PRINT BOOK. I'M IN THAT CATEGORY. I FEEL LIKE I READ ENOUGH EMAIL ALL DAY I DON'T WANT TO READ FOR PLEASURE ON A SCREEN.
WHILE I CERTAINLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO. AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD GROUP, I THINK, LIKE IF I GET A COOKBOOK I WANT A PHYSICAL BOOK, BUT IF I READ A NOVEL I WANT AN E-BOOK. SO NOT NECESSARILY THAT EXACTLY, BUT WHAT I MEAN IS THEY USE BOTH. SO WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS DOING EACH YEAR, EACH MONTH IS KIND OF EVALUATING HOW MUCH DO WE WANT OF ELECTRONIC -- OF COURSE DURING COVID WE BOUGHT MOSTLY ELECTRONIC BOOKS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANTED THEN. SO WE ALWAYS ARE SET TO ADJUST.
THE OTHER SIMPLE REALITY IN THIS MARKET FOR LIBRARIES IS THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WHAT WAS TRADITIONAL FOR LIBRARIES IS SORT OF UPSIDE DOWN.
SO I STARTED WORKING IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN 1980. THE IDEA IS THE COST OF A PRINT BOOK IS LESS TO A LIBRARY THAN TO ANOTHER -- THAN IN THE RETAIL MARKET.
FOR ELECTRONIC BOOKS IT'S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
WHAT YOU CAN BUY FOR 9-POINT NINE FROM AMAZON COSTS THE LIBRARY 50, $60,100 AND IS IN PERPETUAL USE IN MOST CASES. SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE'RE BALANCING IS WHAT'S THE BEST VALUE FOR THE TAXPAYER? AND THE SAME BOOK MAY BE OFFERED WITH THREE, FOUR, FIVE PRICING STRATEGIES, SO YOU CAN'T JUST DECIDE TO BUY THE BOOK. YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IS THE RIGHT ONE THE ONE WITH FIVE USES? IS THE RIGHT ONE THE ONE THAT EXPIRES IN A YEAR? WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. AND WE DO, BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THAT MONEY THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN.
SO THAT'S A LONG ANSWER TO A SHORT QUESTION. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
>> WHYTE: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DECLINE IN THE DEMAND FOR PRINT MATERIALS?
>> YES. >> WHYTE: YOU HAVE? >> YES.
THERE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN SOME DECLINE. SO THIS GIVES US THE CAPACITY, OF COURSE, BUT IF THAT DECLINE WERE TO PRECIPITOUSLY DECREASE, THEN WE OF COURSE WOULD SHIFT OUR SPENDING TO MORE ELECTRONIC. BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK FOR AWHILE IT'S BEEN PRETTY STEADY, KIND OF AROUND HALF AND HALF.
>> WHYTE: I THINK LAST TIME WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE LIBRARIES, I TALKED ABOUT THAT LIBRARY OF THINGS MODEL THAT IS SORT OF GAINING TRACTION IN SOME CASES. AND IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME LOOKING AT THIS THAT THE DEMAND OF PRINT IS GOING DOWN AND IF THERE WAS MORE MONEY AVAILABLE MAYBE
LOOKING AT SOME OF THAT? >> SURE. IT'S DEFINITELY A THING THAT I DIDN'T MEAN THE OVERLAPPING OF THE WORD THING.
IT'S SOMETHING I'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT. I'M DEFINITELY FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY. I WILL SAY AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IT'S VERY SMALL, BUT WE DO PARTICIPATE IN TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FISHING EQUIPMENT, LOANING PROGRAM.
SO AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY YOU COULD BORROW A ROD AND REEL AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO GO FISHING. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.
A LOT OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE ITEM CAN BE CIRCULATED, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEXITY TO WHAT YOU DO WHEN THEY'RE RETURNED. I'VE WORKED IN LIBRARIES THAT CIRCULATED SEWING PATTERNS. WELL, I DON'T KNOW, IT MAY BE COMING BACK, WHO KNOWS? BUT THERE'S A LOT OF REVIEWING AND MAKING SURE ALL THE PIECES ARE THERE. A LOT OF LIBRARIES CIRCULATE CAKE PANS.
THERE'S A LOT OF CLEANING YOU HAVE TO DO. BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'RE CONTINUALLY THINKING ABOUT. AND OF COURSE ELECTRONIC
DEVICES AS WELL. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. TRICIA.
>> HOW MANY SAN ANTONIANS HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? JUST CURIOUS.
I HAVE ONE AND I'M IN LOVE WITH IT, BUT JUST CURIOUS. >> I'M GOING TO SEE IF ADAM
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HAS A -- 250,000 PEOPLE ROUGHLY. >> OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY -- JUST CURIOUS. ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO INCREASE MARKETING STRATEGY FOR IT? I MIGHT SELF JUST GOT A LIBRARY CARD AND I WAS ASTOUNDED AT ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH LIBBY AND
IN-PERSON. >> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE CONTINUALLY LOOKING AT MARKETING AND ADVERTISING. AND STAFF DOING OUTREACH AND SO ON -- ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE DOING IN THE LIBRARIES THAT HAVE THE LEAST MARKET PENETRATION, THE LEAST PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THAT CENSUS TRACK HAVE LIBRARY CARDS IS ACTUALLY WORKING WITH SOLID WASTE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE TOLD DAVID THIS. BUT OF ADDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIBRARY TO DOOR HANGERS WHEN THERE'S GOING TO BE BULKY TRASH PICKUP AND SO ON. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS TO SORT OF MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND NOT ONLY JUST DIGITALLY OR SOCIAL MEDIA OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY, SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK THINGS LIKE DOOR HANGERS. WE'VE ALSO DONE DOOR TO DOOR, KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT LIBRARY SERVICES, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND THEN ALSO REALLY MEETING WITH -- SO WE REALLY DO A LOT OF OUTREACH AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, AT SENIOR CITIZENS, AT PARK CAMPS, WHEREVER PEOPLE ARE INTERACTING WITH A CITY SERVICE, WE OFTEN LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
AND THEY'RE ALREADY WANTING TO USE SERVICES AND WE DO GET A LOT OF CARDS THAT WAY.
SO WE ARE CONTINUALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT A GREAT SERVICE THAT -- THAT THEY'VE ALREADY PAID FOR, SO THEY MIGHT AS WELL USE IT.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND THESE ITEMS ARE FOR BRIEFING ONLY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, DALE, I THINK YOU'VE GOT THE CHARGE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE NEED TO GO, MOVE FORWARD. AS PEOPLE LOOK FOR MORE ECONOMICAL THINGS TO DO, I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE PEOPLE HEAD TO THE LIBRARY, MAKE THAT CHOICE WHETHER DO I PURCHASE THAT BOOK OR DO I CHECK IT OUT? WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE PEOPLE CHECK OUT BOOKS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR -- WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS STILL THE QUALITY SERVICE PEOPLE EXPECT FROM THE SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY.
THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL.
[Staff Briefing ]
>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION FOR
ITEM 4. >> IT'S A STAFF BRIEFING, RESULTS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 EXTERNAL FINANCIAL AUDIT AND PRESENTATION OF RELATED REPORTS.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS VICTORIA, I'M THE DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR. AND I'M HERE WITH AMANDA, SHE'S A PARTNER WITH OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS AND WE'RE HERE TO GO OVER THE RESULTS OF THE 2025 EXTERNAL AUDIT AND SOME REQUIRED COMMUNICATION. SO INTERNAL AUDITS DIFFER THAN EXTERNAL AUDITS. INTERNAL AUDITS, THAT'S LED BY BUDDY A AND HIS TEAM, THEY TAKE CHARGE FROM THIS COMMITTEE. THEIR AUDITS ARE MORE SPECIFIC IN NATURE AND MORE PROGRAMMATIC. WHILE EXTERNAL AUDITS IS REQUIRED BY CITY CHARTER AND ALSO STATE STATUTE. IT ENSURES THAT OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS THAT THEY ARE FAIRLY PRESENTED AND THAT IT ALSO ENSURES THAT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE, EXCUSE ME, ARE TRUE AND FAIR VALUE OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION AND THEY'RE FREE OF ANY MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS AND THEY FOLLOW THE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS.
ADDITIONALLY THIS PAST SEPTEMBER OF '25 WE HAD A NEW SENATE BILL THAT PASSED, SENATE BILL 1851. AND THAT PUT A NEW REQUIREMENT ON US.
IT REQUIRES THAT OUR AUDIT BE COMPLETED WITHIN 180 DAYS OF THE FISCAL YEAR YEAR-END CLOSE. IF WE DO NOT COMPLY WITH THAT, WE CAN BE AT RISK WITH OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE. WE CANNOT ADOPT A PROPERTY TAX RATE HIGHER THAN OUR NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS OUR AUDITOR AND THIS IS A CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH THEM. IT'S A THREE-YEAR TERM WITH TWO SEPARATE ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS. WE HAVE ONE MORE YEAR LEFT ON THAT EXTENSION AND IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR OUR 2026 AUDIT. THERE ARE DIFFERENT DELIVERABLES THAT COME OUT OF THE EXTERNAL AUDIT. YOU CAN FIND THEM ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY WEBSITE. THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, FOLLOWED BY THE REPORT ON FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. THERE'S ALSO A REPORT THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE FAA.
IT'S FOR OUR PFC PROGRAM. AND THEN YOU CAN FIND ALSO ANOTHER REPORT THAT'S REQUIRED BY TCEQ, IT'S AN AGREED-UPON PROCEDURE REPORT.
IF THERE ARE ANY INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUR MANAGEMENT
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LETTER ON THERE. THIS NEXT TABLE SHOWS THE LAST 19 YEARS OF INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS, AND ALSO THE SEVERITY OF THE FINDINGS.I AM HAPPY AND PROUD TO ANNOUNCE FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW THE CITY HAS NO INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS. THIS IS REALLY A DIFFICULT TASK TO DO.
I MEAN, WE ARE SUCH A LARGE CITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND ET CETERA ENSURING THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE HAVE IN PLACE SO WE CAN GET TO KNOW INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS THAT ARE AUDIT AUDITED BY FORVIS MAZARS.
THEY WILL MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT THEY'LL UTC AND FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WE HAVE NO SINGLE AUDIT FINDINGS. AND WE LOOK BACK ON THIS YEAR AND WE LOOK AT WHAT'S TO COME WE HAVE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED, WE HAVE MORE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE. THEY'RE MORE AND MORE COMPLEX.
THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS EASY. OUR CITY IS CONTINUING TO GROW, MAKING THINGS MORE DIFFICULT, COMPLICATED, I SHOULD SAY, AS FAR AS ACCOUNTING GOES.
AND EVEN WITH THESE CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ABLE STILL TO ACCOMPLISH NO INTERNAL CONTROL FINDINGS. AND I DON'T WANT TO END THIS PRESENTATION WITHOUT GIVING SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SECTION THAT WORKS REALLY HARD TO GET US HERE, THAT WORKS REALLY CLOSE WITH FORVIS MAZARS AND THAT'S OUR CONTROLLER'S DECISION.
IF WE CAN MAYBE STAND UP, I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK EELIZABETH, OUR CITY CONTROLLER, THE THREE MANAGERS, ELIZABETH, IGNACIO AND JERRY.
ALSO EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A DFA, A DEPARTMENT FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR THAT HELPS LEAD US HERE. THEY'RE NOT ALL HERE TODAY, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE A THANKS TO THAT GROUP THAT HELPED US GET HERE. WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO AMANDA SO SHE CAN GO OVER THE REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS. >> THANK YOU, VICKY.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY AND THE COMMITTEE. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY. YOU HAVE A TRULY PROFESSIONAL FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING TEAM HERE AND THE AUDIT DOES TAKE AWHILE.
WE START LIKE IN JULY, AND IT GOES PRETTY MUCH UNTIL MARCH WHEN THE REPORT IS ISSUED. SO WE APPRECIATE THEIR HELP OVER ALL OF THOSE MONTHS.
WE'RE NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT WE DO PRELIMINARY WORK AND END OF YEAR WORK AS WELL. WE APPRECIATE THEIR HELP AND ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE AUDIT. WE ALSO APPRECIATE OUR TEAMING PARTNERS, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM EACH OF THE FIRMS HERE TODAY, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD. WE HAVE ROBERT WILLIAMS, DEBBIE FRAZIER, TERI BRITS, CHRIS CARMONA AND CHARLES MARSHALL. SO A FULL GROUP TODAY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR HELP. THEY'RE INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE AUDIT FROM PLANNING THROUGH EXECUTION AND HERE TODAY TO DELIVER RESULTS.
SO I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE ISSUED UNMODIFIED OR CLAIMED OPINIONS ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THAT'S AN OPINION THAT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PROPERLY STATED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS. THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES.
WE HAD NO PROPOSED AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR. THERE WERE NO SCOPE LIMITATIONS. WE HAD ACCESS TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE REQUESTED AND NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE AUDIT. AND AGAIN, OPEN AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY'S TEAM.
WE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THESE DELIVERABLES SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THEM AGAIN.
YOU WILL SEE IN YOUR REPORT THAT THE CITY HAS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
YOU HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED COMPONENT UNITS, SO THEY ARE OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND SO WE DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE THREE FIDUCIARY COMPONENT UNITS IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE AUDIT ONE OF THOSE, BUT TWO OF THOSE ARE AUDITED BY OTHER AUDITORS.
AND WHEN WE SAY THAT, THOSE OTHER AUDITORS HAVE -- THEY PERFORM THEIR OWN AUDITS OF THOSE COMPONENTS. WE DO CORRESPOND WITH THEM, GET A COPY OF THEIR REPORT, HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR AUDITS AS A PART OF OUR AUDIT, BUT WE'RE NOT PERFORMING THE AUDIT OF THAT SPECIFIC COMPONENT UNIT. THERE ARE THREE DISCRETELY COMPONENT UNITS. THOSE ARE AUDITED BY OTHER AUDITORS AND THERE ARE FIVE THAT ARE BLENDED. FOUR WE AUDIT AND THERE'S ONE FIRM THAT AUDITS ONE OF THEM. WHEN VICKY TALKED ABOUT SINGLE AUDIT FOR FEDERAL AND STATE, SO THESE ARE THE FIVE MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO AUDIT THIS YEAR.
[00:45:05]
IVALISED THOSE THERE UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE FOR YOU. AGAIN, NO FINDINGS TO REPORT OVER COMPLIANCE FOR THOSE SINGLE AUDITS. THESE ARE OUR REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS. SO THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT IS REALLY TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT TESTING EVERY TRANSACTION. AND OUR AUDIT, OF COURSE, DOES NOT RELIEVE THE COMMITTEE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OVERSIGHT.THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
GROUP AUDIT REFERS TO THE FACT THAT THERE WERE OTHER AUDITORS INVOLVED, AGAIN, FOR SOME OF THOSE COMPONENTS. AND ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY. SO YOUR SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ARE INCLUDED IN NOTE 1 TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SO WE WOULD POINT YOU TO THAT NOTE AS A REALLY CRITICAL NOTE TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S PRESENTED IN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE NOTED NO UNUSUAL POLICIES OR METHODS.
THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DO INCLUDE SOME ESTIMATES AS ALL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DO.
AND SOME OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES WOULD BE THE FAIR VALUE OF INVESTMENTS, YOUR ALLOWANCE FOR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. OF COURSE, THE ASSUMPTIONS RELATED TO YOUR PRESENTATION AND LIABILITIES AND YOURSELF-INSURANCE LIABILITIES. SO AS FAR AS FINANCIAL STATEMENT DISCLOSURES, WE WOULD POINT YOU TO THOSE NOTES THAT TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THOSE ESTIMATES.
ALSO YOUR NOTES RELATED TO SUBSEQUENT EVENTS THAT DISCLOSES ANYTHING THAT HAS OCCURRED SUBSEQUENT TO YEAR-END. AND REGARDING THE QUALITY OF THE CITY ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, WE NOTED NOTHING THAT WAS ALTERNATIVE OR UNUSUAL. AGAIN, EVERYTHING WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS. IN THE APPENDIX WE PROVIDED A LISTING OF ALL OF YOUR COMPONENT UNITS. YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE IMMATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SO WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED THEM HERE. LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS. SO VICKY MENTIONED THIS AS WELL IN HER PRESENTATION.
YOU HAVE A FEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS COMING UP THAT YOU'LL BE IMPLEMENTING IN '26 AND 27. SO STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THOSE GOING FORWARD, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW, THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANGE TO LOOK FORWARD TO. AND THEN LASTLY, THIS IS JUST A SNIP.
SO THE FIRST HAS RECENTLY ISSUED A PUBLIC SECTOR REPORT.
IT'S OUR FIRST REPORT RELATED TO PUBLIC SECTOR PRIORITIES.
AND THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND -- AROUND THE FIRM WITH CLIENTS AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH. WE'VE GIVEN YOU A LINK TO THAT REPORT HERE, BUT I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE TOPICS HERE ARE PROBABLY THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DISCUSSING AS WELL. SO WE JUST WOULD INVITE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOME TIME. AND THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> VIAGRAN: I WILL START WITH THE QUESTIONS, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS?
YES. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. ON THE SLIDE WHERE YOU HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, JUST FOR MY DEFINITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, WHEN YOU SAY UNMODIFIED, CLEAN OPINIOS, CAN YOU KIND OF TALK TO WHAT THAT MEANS EXACTLY AND HOW YOU ENSURE IT'S CLEAN OR I'M
GUESSING UNBIASED OR OBJECTIVE? >> SO IF THERE WERE SOMETHING IN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT WE HAD DETERMINED NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, WE WOULD ADD POTENTIALLY A PARAGRAPH SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAAP. AND THAT WOULD BE A MODIFIED OPINION. SO WE HAD NO -- EVERYTHING WE LOOKED AT, THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PROPERLY STATED SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S NOT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH GAAP. DOES THAT -- >> YES, THAT ANSWERED IT.
THANK YOU. AND THEN LAST QUESTION. THE FIFTH PIECE ON THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, OPEN AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH MANAGEMENT, WHAT DEFINES EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION? DOES IT TIE INTO MITIGATION? IS IT TRYING TO FOLLOW UP? WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THE EFFECTIVE, I GUESS, GAUGE
THERE FOR YOU? >> SO REALLY WHEN WE ASK QUESTIONS WE GET IMMEDIATE RESPONSES OR MAYBE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. THERE'S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE AUDIT. BUT NOT -- THERE WERE NO CASES WHERE MANAGEMENT WAS NOT OPEN, WILLING TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS, PROVIDE
[00:50:01]
US INFORMATION. >> VIAGRAN: COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. OBVIOUSLY I THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THERE'S NO AUDIT FINDINGS SO THAT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR FOLKS. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING, A TRUE AND FAIRVIEW OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> A TRUE AND FAIRVIEW OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL
POSITION? >> WHYTE: YEAH. >> VIAGRAN: CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC, COUNCILMAN WHYTE? IN TERMS OF WHEN YOU SAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, LIKE ARE YOU DISCUSSING SOMETHING SPECIFIC WITHIN IT?
>> WHYTE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT STATEMENT MEANS. >> I THINK, COUNCILMEMBER, I'LL TRY AND I THINK AMANDA CAN FILL IN. I THINK IT MEANS THAT WE LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THEY'RE ACCURATE.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REVIEWING OUR FINANCIALS AND RELYING ON OUR FINANCIALS, THEY CAN RELY ON THEM. WE HAVE INVESTORS WHO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CITY. WE HAVE CITIZENS LOOKING AT OUR PROGRAMS. I THINK IT GIVES THEM SOME COMFORT THAT THEY CAN RELY ON THOSE FINANCIALS IN TERMS
OF THE ACCURACY, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE REPRESENTING. >> WHYTE: RIGHT.
BUT I MEAN, WHETHER THE CITY IS IN A GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION OR NOT, THAT REALLY WASN'T THE CHARGE, RIGHT? IT WAS JUST DETERMINING THE ACCURACY OF THE NUMBERS.
>> CORRECT. SO OUR OPINION IS REPORTING ON WHETHER THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS ARE TELLING THE TRUE STORY. >> WHYTE: RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> WHYTE: AND THAT'S THE DISTINCTION BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T CHARGED WITH SAYING, OH, WE'RE IN A GREAT FINANCIAL POSITION OR WE'RE
NOT. >> CORRECT. >> WHYTE: JUST LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THE NUMBERS AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY WERE ACCURATE.
>> CORRECT. >> WHYTE: OKAY. Y'ALL HIGHLIGHTED ON SLIDE 20, HYPER AUTOMATION AND AI AS AN EMERGING PUBLIC SECTOR PRIORITY.
IS OUR -- I DON'T KNOW IF IN YOUR REVIEW, IS OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT EXPLORING ANY OF THOSE TOOLS TO HELP ACCURACY? ARE WE USING ANY AUTOMATION OR AI TOOLS RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE?
>> THAT IS PROBABLY MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THE CITY, I WOULD SAY.
IT'S NOT -- IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE DISCUSSING MORE WITH CLIENTS, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY
A PART OF OUR AUDIT FOR US TO KIND OF LOOK FOR THAT. >> COUNCILMAN, CURRENTLY IN TERMS OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WE'RE NOT USING AI IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FINANCIALS OR IN THE ACCOUNTING THAT RESULTS IN OUR FINANCIALS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL IN APRIL AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR UPGRADE AND SRP, OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM. AS WE WALK THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW WHAT WE'RE CALLING THAT, WE WILL BE EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO USE AI AND LEVERAGE AI IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES. SO THAT WILL BE COMING.
>> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, CHAIR. THANKS.
>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING BEFORE I SPEAK OR SEE IF ERIK WANTS TO COME UP? TROY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, AND I APPRECIATE AND GIVE MY THANKS TO THE TEAM. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF THIS TEAM.
WE TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T TAKE LIGHTLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT. AND THIS YEAR IS ESPECIALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT EIGHT YEARS THAT WE HAVE GONE WITHOUT AUDIT FINDINGS ON A FINANCIAL AUDIT, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FINDINGS ON THE SINGLE AUDIT.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A THIRD CATEGORY THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TODAY, BUT TYPICALLY WHEN WORKING WITH THE AUDITORS THEY WILL ACTUALLY PROPOSE ADJUSTMENTS. AS THEY REVIEW OUR FINANCIALS, THEY'LL SAY YOU NEED TO TWEAK THIS NUMBER. THERE WERE NO FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS OFFERED THIS YEAR AS WELL, SO EXTREMELY PROUD. IT IS NOT GETTING ANY EASIER. I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT -- AMANDA IS TALKING ABOUT GASB AND STANDARDS. GASB CONTINUES ISSUING STANDARDS THAT WE IMPLEMENT.
THE ACCOUNTING INDUSTRY IS INCREASINGLY MORE COMPLICATED.
THE STATE HAS TAKEN AN INTEREST IN THE TIMELINESS OF OUR AUDITS.
SO I THINK VICKY MAY HAVE HENCED IT, WE HAVE TO PRODUCE AN AUDIT WITHIN 120 DAYS. IT'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. SO WORKING WITH AMANDA AND HER TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TIMELY DELIVER THAT AUDIT TO THIS TEAM IS SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IN THE EVENINGS I'M LEAVING ABOUT 8:00 OR 9:00 IN THE EVENING. THIS TEAM IS STILL SITTING THERE WITH THEIR HEADS DOWN WORKING ON THIS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DELIVER THIS TIMELY, ACCURATELY TO THIS COMMITTEE AND TO THE FULL COUNCIL. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.
IF YOU EVER HAVE AN INTEREST, THIS DOCUMENT IS OUT THERE ON THE WEB PAGE.
IT'S AVAILABLE FOR OUR CITIZENS AS WELL. IT'S GOOD NIGHT READING.
[00:55:06]
BUT I WANTED TO KIND OF TELL YOU AND SET THE STAGE. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THIS TEAM AND EVERYTHING THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED. THANK YOU, CHAIR.>> VIAGRAN: >> YES. I WANTED TO REITERATE THE MESSAGE. THERE'S A REASON I'M ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE, NOT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE. IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COME OUT WITH AN AUDIT LIKE THAT WITH THESE RESULTS. IN ADDITION, THERE'S CONSTANT CHANGES IN STANDARDS. FOR EXAMPLE, I'M AWARE OF GASB.
IN MY PURVIEW, I DON'T REALLY HAVE TO ADHERE TO GASB, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN FRONT OF GASB STANDARDS. SOMETIMES THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN STANDARDS AND WE NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THAT FROM A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT PERSPECTIVE. BEN AND TROY, THEIR TEAM, ELIZABETH, I'M NOT TRYING TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT, ELIZABETH, VICKY, MELODY, MARGARET, THEY WORK CLOSELY AND IN THE INTERNAL AUDIT PERSPECTIVE.
I DON'T NECESSARILY GET A CHANCE TO GIVE GOOD NEWS ALL THE TIME, BUT WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER AND I'M NOT SURPRISED WITH THESE RESULTS BASED OFF THE TEAM THAT WE
WORK WITH. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. BEN.
>> CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO THE ENTIRE TEAM, TROY, VICKY, ELIZABETH, THE ENTIRE FINANCE GROUP.
I MEAN, THEY DO TREMENDOUS WORK. I MEAN, AGAIN I THINK TROY SAID IT WELL. WE ARE A LARGE, COMPLEX ORGANIZATION, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOMETIMES OTHER ENTITIES AND YOU TALK ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SOMETIMES THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE LIKE A COUPLE OF PAGES.
IT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT HAVE NO DISCLOSURE. WE ARE A COMPANY OF COMPANIES, AND WHILE YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO READ THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT, IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND THE DOCUMENT, THAT IS A LOT OF WORK TO PUT TOGETHER, UNDERPINNING THAT IS ALL OF THIS ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, REGULATIONS, THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN SAY OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FAIRLY PRESENTED. AND I'LL TOUCH ON COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WHAT YOU SAID A MINUTE AGO, THIS IS REALLY A KEY PIECE FOR US. WE'VE GOT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR AUDITS AND WHAT WE'RE REPORTING THAT THEY'RE FAIRLY PRESENTED BECAUSE THAT DECISIONS OFF OF THAT. WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALL ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ECONOMY. BUT IT STARTS FROM DO WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY AT. AND IF WE DON'T KNOW THAT AND WE HAVE ISSUES HERE, THIS ISN'T MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT BECOME SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. SO REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
IT GETS INCLUDED EVERY TIME WE GO OUT AND ISSUE BONDS, WHETHER IT BE G.O. BONDS OR WE'LL DO AN AIRPORT BOND ISSUE LATER, PIECES OF THESE FINANCIAL REPORT GET INCLUDED IN OFFERING DOCUMENTS TO INVESTORS WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT BUYING OUR BONDS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT FROM A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND RATING PERSPECTIVE WE'VE GOT I THINK STILL THE HIGHEST RATING OF ANY TOP 10 CITY BY POPULATION. TRIPLE A BOND RATINGS AND DOUBLE A. THAT'S GREAT TOO BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY ALL THIS STUFF TIES TOGETHER AND IF WE CAN USE IT TO LEVERAGE EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE GET TO DO SOMETHING BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
AND THAT'S WHERE THIS WORK REALLY FITS IN. AND IT'S TECHNICAL.
IT CAN BE A LITTLE COMPLICATED. IT CAN BE A LITTLE AUDIO]. THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, THEY GET IT DONE AND I
CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. VERY PROUD OF THE WORK >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, BEN.
I'M SURPRISED THAT WE DON'T HAVE MEDIACLAMORING TO GET THIS REPORT.
I'M ALWAYS AMAZED MEDIA DOESN'T COME TO THIS MEETING. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DID THE AUDIT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR EFFORT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS ONE KEY TOOL WE NEED IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITHIN OUR BUDGET SESSION. I HAVE CHAIRED THIS COMMITTEE FOR TWO YEARS, BEEN INVOLVED IN WATCHING HOW THE CITY WORKS THEIR BUDGET FOR YEARS AFTER THAT.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THIS MOMENT AND WHAT WE'VE DONE. I THINK IT SPEAKS TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND HIS LEADERSHIP, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 42 DEPARTMENTS AND THAT WE HAVE -- WE HONE IN ON THEM THAT WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHILE COUNCILMAN WHYTE AND I WILL DISAGREE ON HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY, WE CAN TRUST THAT THE NUMBERS ARE TRUE AND FAIR, AND THAT THIS IS THE BUDGET WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO CAME TO ENJOY THIS DAY. I WISH THERE HAD BEEN -- OF THE COMPTROLLERS, I WISH THERE HAD BEEN MORE MEDIA HERE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A TESTIMONY TO WHO WE ARE AS A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE COME OUT OF A
[01:00:01]
PANDEMIC THAT THROUGH ALL SORTS OF GRANT FUNDING TO YOU, WE CAME OUT OF MARK'S IDEA WITH THE ZERO BALANCE BUDGET HYBRID AND SOMEHOW, I WAS LIKE THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK, THE CITY MANAGER AND YOUR TEAM MADE IT WORK. SO THAT WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE BEING MORE CONSCIOUS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE PRIORITIZE AND TO END WITH THIS, THAT THIS IS A CLEAN REPORT AND THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS EIGHT YEARS IN A ROW I THINK IS A TESTIMONY TO NOT JUST THE CITY'S TEAM, BUT ALSO HOW YOU WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND TRICIA, I'M SO EXCITED THAUT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU ASK SUCH THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS.AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE KNOW WE FACE DEFICITS AND CHALLENGES AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND STRONG AND THAT THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE NATION IS GOING TO LOOK TO SAN ANTONIO AND SAY HOW ARE THEY PRIORITIZING AND WORKING TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE OF TEAM SAN ANTONIO AND CITY MANAGER WALSH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME
SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW GREAT YOUR TEAM WAS ON THIS? >> WALSH: I DON'T COME DOWN TO THE APPUDIT COMMITTEE VERY OFTEN BUT THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.
I WON'T REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT AMANDA AND TROY AND BEN SAID, BUT IT IS THE UNDERPINNING FOR, AND OUR FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND IT IS A BIG DEAL AND WE WILL BE BRINGING IT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT ON APRIL 2ND TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND SHARE THIS WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
HOPEFULLY THE MEDIA IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM PICK IT UP AND I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM. ELIZABETH AND MELANIE AND VICTORIA AND ALL THE STAFF, AND VICKY MENTIONED IT. IT'S NOT JUST THE STAFF AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT BUT IT'S OUR DECENTRALIZED DEPARTMENT FISCAL ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE DEALING WITH CHIEF MCMANUS OR MIKE SHANNON AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN MAKING SURE WE ARE CONSISTENT AND HAS BEN SAID, AS A COMPANY OF COMPANIES AND WE HAVE THOSE PROCESSES IN PLACE AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE, BECAUSE WE'RE SO LARGE AND WE GET -- WE HAVE OUR OWN REVENUE, WE HAVE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS, WE HAVE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE'RE RELATED TO. AS AMANDA TALKED ABOUT.
IT'S A CHALLENGE, AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF THE TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.
IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH MANAGEMENT, WHEN THEY START, AMANDA COMES AND MEETS WITH ME, AND SHE ENDS WITH ME, AND SO THAT COMMUNICATION WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ME AT THE TOP.
AND IT'S A CRITICAL PIECE. I ALWAYS GET NERVOUS BECAUSE WE ARE SO LARGE, BUT HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE ORGANIZATION AND REALLY, THE EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNING WITH THOSE ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND ENSURING THAT THE REST OF THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO. SO THANK YOU.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, ERIK, FOR THAT. SO THIS ITEM WAS FOR BRIEFING
[Consideration of items for future meetings ]
ONLY. THE TIME IS NOW, OUR NEXT MEETING IS TO BE DETERMINED.>> CAN I JUST MENTION, THE NEXT MEETING, WE ARE GOING TO RESCHEDULE.
IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1ST. WE ARE TARGETING THE WEEK OF APRIL 13. SO STAFF WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU ALL FOR THAT WEEK TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING SCHEDULED. WE HAVE A COUPLE PROCUREMENTS WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WRAP UP AND WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THAT MEETING. WE NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME. WITH YOUR INDULGENCE, WE WILL SHOOT FOR THAT WEEK OF APRIL 13TH TO GET THAT MEETING RESCHEDULED.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY. YES.
>> TAINO: FOR THOSE OF US WHO GET THE PACKET MAILED TO US, NOI THERE HAS BEEN STAFFING CHANGES, HOW CAN WE ENSURE TO GET THAT EARLIER THAN THE DAY BEFORE IN THE FUTURE?
FOR THE NEXT ONE? WITH THE STAFFING CHANGES? >> SO NIAIS SITTING RIGHT BEHIND ME. SHE'S THE NEW ASHLEY. SHE WILL MAKE SURE YOU GET IT A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME. WE WILL MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL THE INFORMATION AHEAD OF THE
MEETING. >> TAINO: THANK YOU. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.
THE TIME IS NOW 11:0 FI. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.