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GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS NOW 3:45 P.M. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET SESSION IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, MADAM CLERK.
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THIS MEETING WILL BE REVIEWING THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROPOSED BUDGETS.ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THREE ITEMS, THREE DEPARTMENTS THIS AFTERNOON. WE'LL START OFF WITH CHIEF CHIEF FRAUSTO IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEN WITH CHIEF SALAME WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN WE'LL TAG TEAM THE MUNICIPAL COURT PRESENTATION TO Y'ALL. CHIEF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME'S VALERIE FRAUSTO, THE FIRE CHIEF FOR SAN ANTONIO FIRE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR YEAR. TODAY I'LL HIGHLIGHT OUR PRIORITIES AND THE INVESTMENTS SUPPORTING OUR PERSONNEL, OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY. BEFORE I GET STARTED I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF MY STAFF WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY. A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE THEIR WORK AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WITH THAT, I'LL BEGIN BY PROVIDING OVERVIEW OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OUR STAFFING, OUR APPARATUS AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE ACROSS THE CITY. IT'S A LARGE OPERATION, AND AS SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES TO GROW, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE AND THE RESOURCES IN THE RIGHT PLACES REMAINS A PRIORITY. THIS SLIDE HERE GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE OF JUST HOW MUCH WE DO. WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALIZED TEAMS, CAPABILITIES AND SERVICES THAT ALLOW US TO HANDLE VERY, VERY COMPLEX INCIDENTS RIGHT HERE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE OUR TWO ACCREDITATIONS REFLECTED ON THIS SLIDE.
THOSE ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT MEASURE OF HOW WE OPERATE AND THE STANDARDS WE HOLD OURSELVES TO. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING A FULL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE WORK TO PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY2027 IS 469 MILLION. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT IS GENERAL FUND AND ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET GOES DIRECTLY TO FIRE SUPPRESSION AND EMS. THE BALANCE SUPPORTS ALL OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT MAKE THOSE FRONTLINE SERVICES POSSIBLE FROM COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS TO PREVENTION, TRAINING IN AUDIO] AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. OVERALL THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS JUST OVER 2,000 POSITIONS AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THAT FULL-SERVICE CAPABILITY WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. ON THIS SLIDE WE HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OUR DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONDED TO OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, BROKEN DOWN INTO MEDICAL AND NONMEDICAL CALLS. AS YOU CAN SEE, MEDICAL CALLS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORKLOAD AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE CONSISTENTLY HIGH. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME WE CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THOUSANDS OF NONMEDICAL INCIDENTS SUCH AS FIRES, RESCUES, HAZMAT AND OTHER TYPES OF EMERGENCIES. NONMEDICAL CALLS APPEAR TO BE RISING FASTER THAN MEDICAL. THIS SUPPORTS THE NEED TO KEEP FIRE SUPPRESSION AND SPECIALTY TEAMS FULLY PREPARED AND IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THE CURRENT PROGRAMS IN PLACE ARE WORKING, THAT BEING THE CLINICAL DISPATCHERS, GOOD SAM, MIH, ET CETERA. THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FORCE, MEANING THAT WHEN A MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURS, MULTIPLE UNITS MAY BE DISPATCHED.
AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE OPERATION.
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE RESPOND TO A STRUCTURE FIRE WE DO NOT SEND ONE TRUCK OR ONE AMBULANCE. MULTIPLE APPARATUS ARE DISPATCHED.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMERGENCIES REQUIRE A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF PEOPLE, VEHICLES AND CREWS WORKING TOGETHER AS SHOWN IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
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UNIT RESPONSES. THE TOTAL UNIT RESPONSES SHOWS THE ACTUAL WORKLOAD ON OUR PEOPLE AND APPARATUS. ONE SINGLE INCIDENT CAN GENERATE SEVERAL UNIT RESPONSES DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CALL. THE NUMBER OF UNIT RESPONSES HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON RESPONSE TIMES. THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW OUR RESPONSE TIMES AND HOW WE MEASURE OUR PERFORMANCE. RESPONSE TIMES IS A KEY MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE. OUR GOAL IS EIGHT MINUTES OR LESS FOR THE FIRST UNIT ON SCENE. WHILE CALL VOLUMES AND UNIT WORKLOAD CONTINUE TO INCREASE, OUR PERFORMANCE REMAINS STEADY, RUNNING SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN OUR GOAL. UNDERSTANDING THAT SECONDS MATTER 26LY STRIVE TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES. THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS THE STAFFING, TRAINING AND RESOURCES WE NEED TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE RESPONSE TIMES.SORRY, I JUMPED AHEAD. THIS SLIDE OUTLINES A FEW PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR FIRE AND EMS FEES. SEVERAL OF THESE HAVEN'T BEEN ADJUSTED IN QUITE SOME TIME AND THE GOAL IS REALLY TO BRING THEM MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT ACTUALLY COSTS US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE. THE LARGEST CHANGE IS TO OUR EMS TRANSPORT FEE FROM 1500 TO $1,700. WE'RE ALSO ADJUSTING THE AID-ONLY FEE AND HOW WE RECOVER THE COST OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES. THE ONE NEW FEE IS FOR LIFT ASSISTS. WE'RE SEEING THESE CALLS USE EMERGENCY RESPONSES WHEN NO MEDICAL TREATMENT OR TRANSPORT IS NEEDED, PARTICULARLY WITH REPEAT CALLS TO CERTAIN FACILITIES. THIS GIVES US A WAY TO RECOVER SOME OF THAT COST WHILE KEEPING THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCIES.
ALTOGETHER THESE CHANGES ARE PROJECTED TO GENERATE OVER $3.1 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. THIS NEXT SLIDE COVERS OUR PROPOSED CHANGES TO FIRE PREVENTION FEES. MANY OF THESE FEES HAVEN'T BEEN ADJUSTED IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AND SOME DATE BACK TO 2004. WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS LOOK AT THE COSTS OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES AND IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE OUR CURRENT FEES ARE NO LONGER KEEPING PACE AS WELL AS SERVICES WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE WITHOUT ANY FEE AT ALL. THIS IMPROVES THE COST RECOVERY FOR PERMITTING, INSPECTIONS AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT BEING ABSORBED GENERALLY BY THE GENERAL FUND. ALTOGETHER WE ANTICIPATE JUST UNDER $2 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL REVENUE. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
THIS SLIDE HERE SUMMARIZES THE MAJOR PROPOSED CHANGES WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. ON THE REDUCTION SIDE WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT THREE -- ABOUT $3.7 MILLION WITH THE MAJORITY COMING FROM OVERTIME.
WE'VE TAKEN A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW WE MANAGE LEAVE AND OVERTIME AND WE'RE ALSO REDIRECTING SOME OF OUR EXISTING OVERTIME DOLLARS TO FUND NEW POSITIONS.
THERE ARE A FEW ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS YOU SEE HERE, INCLUDING THE LINE ITEM ADJUSTMENTS, TRAVEL AND EDUCATION, AND THE EXPLORER PROGRAM.
AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE PROPOSING A 1.6-MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN NINE UNIFORM POSITIONS. ONE IS A FIRE INSPECTOR REQUIREMENTS AND THE EIGHT POSITIONS STRENGTHEN OUR TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. AND THEN SEPARATELY YOU SEE THE $13.7 MILLION ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT REFLECTING THE FIVE PERCENT WAGE INCREASE. SO OVERALL WE'VE BEEN VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT WHERE WE'RE REDUCING COSTS AND WHERE WE'RE REINVESTING THOSE DOLLARS.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THESE REDUCTIONS DO NOT REDUCE OUR OPERATIONAL STAFFING OR OUR SERVICE CAPABILITIES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF FRONT-LINE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND FINALLY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I WANTED TO CLOSE WITH A QUICK UPDATE ON SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY. WE HAVE SEVERAL STATION PROJECTS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. CONSTRUCTION ON THE PERMANENT FIRE STATIONS 52 AND 53 BEGAN LAST YEAR AND WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETING THOSE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2027. WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO
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MOVE FORWARD WITH FIRE STATIONS 21, 33 THOSE ARE PROGRESSING THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION, DESIGN OR TOWARD CONSTRUCTION. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS FOR US.AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE GROWS WITH IT, AND THAT WE'RE POSITIONING OUR RESOURCES WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED THE MOST. AS WE LOOK AHEAD OUR FOCUS IS MAKING SURE WE KEEP PACE WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY AND HAVE THE PEOPLE, RESOURCES AND FACILITIES IN PLACE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE, IF NOT BETTER, OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO PRESENT SAPD'S PROPOSED FY2027 BUDGET. I'LL KEEP MY PRESENTATION BRIEF.
I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THE RESOURCES WE'RE MANAGING, THE REDUCTIONS WE'RE PROPOSING AND WHERE WE'RE MAKING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE OUR CAPACITY AND CONTINUING TO DELIVER THE QUALITY SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT BRIEFLY.
OUR CURRENT PERFORMANCE, THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, NEW AVENUES IN THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GROWTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS OF A CITY OUR SIZE. WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR STAFFING PIPELINE AND WE'RE ADDING POSITIONS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED TO MEET BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE DEMANDS.
THIS INCLUDES A CONTINUED TRANSITION OF PARKS AND AIRPORT RESPONSIBILITIES TO SAPD AND PREPARING FOR THE NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL AND ALSO PREPARING FOR THE SOUTH FLORES SUBSTATION. WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AS WE KNOW THE DEMAND WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE. LOOKING AT OUR PROPOSED FY27 BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND ASSOCIATED FUNCTIONS THAT NUMBER IS $57.72 MILLION.
THAT INCREASE IS SIGNIFICANT, BUT THE MAJORITY OF IT IS BEING DRIVEN BY COSTS WE HAVE LIMITED DISCRETION OVER. THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, HEALTHCARE AND THE SECOND YEAR COST OF OFFICERS ADDED LAST FISCAL YEAR REPRESENT 35.7 OF THE 44-MILLION-DOLLAR INCREASE. SO AS WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET THE QUESTION FOR US IS WHERE DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REDUCE SPENDING WITHOUT REDUCING OUR ABILITY TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.
LOOKING AT OUR CALL FOR SERVICE, OUR WORKLOAD, OUR CALLS HAVE REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSISTENT. WE'RE SEEING CALLS RECEIVED TREND SLIGHTLY UPWARD WHILE ACTUAL CALLS FOR SERVICE HAVE GONE DOWN SOMEWHAT. THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES SOME ABILITY ON HOW WE'RE USING OFFICER TIME AND WHETHER EVERY CALL REQUIRES THE SAME LEVEL OF RESPONSE. OUR GOAL IS TO PUT OFFICERS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED THE MOST. AND DESPITE THE CHANGES WE'RE MAKING, OUR SERVICE EXPECTATIONS REMAIN HIGH. OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME IS PROJECTED IN FIVE MINUTES, 25 SECONDS THIS YEAR WITH A TARGET OF FIVE MINUTES, 20 SECONDS NEXT YEAR. OUR NON-EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME IS ALSO TARGETED TO CONTINUE GOING DOWN. ADDITIONAL OFFICER CAPACITY, BETTER USE OF OFFICER TIME, THE SHIFT REALIGNMENT AND TECHNOLOGY THAT TAKES OFFICERS OUT OF LOWER LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE WORK HELP GET US THERE. THAT'S IMPORTANT CONTEXT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REDUCTIONS. QUICK LOOK AT OUR CRIME STATS. FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE POSITIVE OVERALL TRENDS. OUR YEAR TO DATE CRIME IS DOWN 6.3% WITH PROPERTY CRIME DOWN MORE THAN 10%. WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT AGAINST ON CRIMES AGAINST PERSON AND THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO SIMPLE ASSAULTS AND CRIMES AGAINST SOCIETY. THE CRIMES AGAINST SOCIETY IS REFLECTIVE OF THE WORK THAT OFFICERS ARE DOING PARTICULARLY AROUND INCREASED DRUG ARRESTS.
SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS IN ISOLATION, WE'RE USING THIS DATA TO DETERMINE WHERE WE NEED OFFICERS AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE.
LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS, LOOKING AT WAYS TO DO OTHER THINGS RATHER THAN PUT THE ENTIRE BURDEN ON THE GENERAL FUND. SO THE PROPOSED CHANGES GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $4.9 MILLION. THESE ARE PRIMARILY ADJUSTMENTS TO FEES AND REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDING TOWING, ALARMS, RECORDS AND E-CITATIONS MUCH THE GOAL IS WHERE A SERVICE HAS A DIRECT COST WE'RE RECOVERING AN APPROPRIATE PORTION OF THAT COST.
AND LOOKING AT OUR REDUCTIONS, WE'RE PROPOSING APPROXIMATELY $5.3 MILLION IN REDUCTIONS. THE LARGEST AREA IS OVERTIME.
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, WE'RE NOT CUTTING THE MISSION, WE'RE REDUCING SOME OF THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE USE TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
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WE'RE BEING DELIBERATE ABOUT WHERE WE CAN REDUCE OVERTIME, WHERE WE CAN USE THE EXISTING RESOURCES DIFFERENTLY, AND WHERE TECHNOLOGY OR ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES CAN GIVE US THE SAME CAPACITY AND MORE EFFICIENCY.THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS IN SOME OF THESE AREAS, BUT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND WE'RE PUTTING MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN PLACE AND WE CAN TALK SPECIFICALLY WHAT THOSE OVERTIME REDUCTIONS MEAN. AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE REDUCING EXPENDITURES IN SOME AREAS, WE'RE ADDING CAPACITY WHERE WE NEED IT. WE'RE ADDING 49 OFFICER POSITIONS. 27 ARE TIED TO THE FUTURE AIRPORT TERMINAL C FUNDED THROUGH THE AIRPORT AND A COPS GRANT AND 22 POSITIONS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED FROM PARKS TO SAPD AS WE CONTINUE THAT TRANSITION. SO THIS ISN'T SIMPLY A BUDGET OF CUTS. WE'RE MOVING RESOURCES TO MEET KING CHANGE IN OPERATIONAL NEEDS. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CREATE CAPACITY WITHOUT ADDING COSTS. WE'RE EXPANDING OUR DROP CAPABILITY TO REDUCE THE WORKLOAD ON THE HELICOPTER FLEET AND INCREASE COVERAGE USING EXISTING RESOURCES.
WE'RE TAKING SIX PATROL DETECTIVES AND MOVING THEM INTO HOMICIDE AND SPECIAL VICTIM UNIT WHILE ADDING CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS TO ABSORB SOME OF THE WORK AN THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THIS BUDGET.
PUTTING SWORN OFFICERS WHERE THEIR TRAINING AND AUTHORITY ARE MOST NEEDED AND USING CIVILIAN RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY WHERE THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT THE MISSION. AND THERE ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT COSTS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE DEPARTMENT. THE LARGEST INCLUDE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, REQUIRED GRANT MATCHES, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, ALONG WITH THE SOUTH FLORES SUBSTATION AND THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FACILITY. AND THESE AREN'T OPERATIONAL ENHANCEMENTS, THEY'RE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MAINTAINING THE DEPARTMENT AND MEETING THE COMMITMENTS WE'VE ALREADY MADE. THE SOUTH FLORES SUBSTATION WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE IN APRIL OF 2027. WE THINK WE'LL BE MOVING IN AND OPERATING THIS IN JUNE OF 2027. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT WE'RE NOT JUST REDUCING, WE'RE ALSO FINDING EFFICIENCIES.
ADDITIONAL OFFICER TIME HAS ALLOWED TO INCREASE PROACTIVE POLICING AND WE'VE SEEN A 15% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME FROM 2022 TO 2025.
WE'RE ALSO USING TECHNOLOGY TO GIVE OFFICERS TIME BACK THROUGH ONLINE REPORTING, E-CITATION AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME OFFICERS SPEND ON LOWER LEVEL OR ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS. EVERY HOUR WE GIVE BACK TO AN OFFICER IS AN HOUR THAT THEY CAN PUT TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY.
JUST TO CLOSE OUT, OUR OBJECTIVES IS THE SAME. WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN A FULL SERVICE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT RESPONDS WHEN PEOPLE NEED US.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD THE 60% PROACTIVE POLICING AND 40% ON CALL TARGET. THIS BUDGET IS ABOUT BEING DISCIPLINED WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, REDUCING OVERTIME WHERE WE BELIEVE WE CAN ABSORB THE IMPACT.
AND USING TECHNOLOGY AND CIVILIAN RESOURCES TO GREAT CAPACITY.
MOVING OFFICERS INTO AREAS WHERE THEIR EXPERTISE IS MOST NEEDED AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN RECRUITING, TRAINING AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED FOR THE FUTURE. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB, WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE MORE DELIBERATE ABOUT HOW WE DO IT. AND WHERE THEY'RE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS ARISE, WE'LL MANAGE THEM, MONITOR THEM AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY. SO THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
IT'S A COMPLEX BUDGET, BUT I'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM HERE THAT'S HERE TO BACK ME UP AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JUDGE OBLEDO AND FRED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR JONES AND CITY MANAGER. I'M FRED GARCIA, MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK. JUDGE OBLEDO AND I WILL PRESENT TO YOU MUNICIPAL COURT'S PROPOSED 2027 OPERATING BUDGET. I WILL BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE ROLE MUNICIPAL COURT PLAYS IN SERVING ALL THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US. EACH DAY MORE THAN 600 RESIDENTS VISIT THE COURT SEEKING A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL RESOLUTION TO THEIR CASE. THE COURT PROVIDES A VENUE WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE HEARD, PRESENT EVIDENCE AND RECEIVE DECISIONS GROUNDED IN THE LAW AND THE FACTS OF THEIR SPECIFIC SITUATION. JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IS A CORNERSTONE OF THIS WORK. JUDGES MUST BE ABLE TO DECIDE CASES AUDIO]. THE TEXAS CANNONS OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT, CANON NUMBER ONE REINFORCES THIS BY REQUIRING JUDGES TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY. WE ALSO EMPHASIZE PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS, ENSURING PEOPLE ARE HEARD, TREATED WITH RESPECT AND CONFIDENT THAT THE PROCESS IS FAIR. ULTIMATELY EVERY CASE REPRESENTS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DESERVES INDIVIDUAL JUSTICE. OUR COMMITMENT TO THESE PRINCIPLES IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRUST IN MUNICIPAL COURT. THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE
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COURT'S MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS AND HOW STAFFING AND EXPENDITURES SUPPORT ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THE COURT JUDICIARY AND CASE ADJUDICATION DIVISION INCLUDES A FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME MAGISTRATES WHO PRESIDE OVER VARIOUS DOCKETS AND SPECIALTY COURTS. THIS POSITION ALSO INCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICERS WHO HANDLE PARKING, CIVIL CODE AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES CASES.THE MUNICIPAL COURT OPERATIONS DIVISION CONSISTS OF MOST PUBLIC-FACING STAFF WHO ASSIST COURT USERS, MANAGE CASE WORKFLOW AND ENSURE ACCURATE AND TIMELY RECORDS. MAGISTRATION SERVICES DIVISION, OPERATES 24/7, SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MAGISTRATES AND COURT STAFF THROUGHOUT THE MAGISTRATION PROCESS FOR SAPD AND DPS ARRESTS. THE JUVENILE COURT SERVICES DIVISION INCLUDES JUVENILE COURT, YOUTH DIVERSION, TEEN COURT AND OUR JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS WHO PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO ADDRESS TRUANCY THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION. FINALLY, THE MUNICIPAL COURT SECURITY DIVISION INCLUDES EXPENDITURES FOR OUR BAILIFFS WHO MAINTAIN COURT ORDER AND SAFETY ALONG WITH FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES AND EQUIPMENT.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THE COURT HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH A BOOKLET OFFERING AN EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW OF THE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT'S SPECIALTY COURTS, DOCKETS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, HIGHLIGHTING THE BREADTH OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS THAT ADVANCE FAIR, ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE JUSTICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. OUR PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 IS $17.6 MILLION, MADE UP OF THREE SEPARATE FUNDING SOURCES.
THIS IS A 4.8% INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FROM FISCAL YEAR '26.
THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO AN INCREASE OF $627,000 IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR THE LINEBARGER LAW FIRM COLLECTION CONTRACT AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN PERSONNEL SERVICES AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $287,000.
THIS IS OFFSET BY THE REDUCTION OF 3 POSITIONS FOR A TECHNOLOGIST OF $3,079,000 AS PART OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS WHICH I WILL DISCUSS SHORTLY.
THE SECOND SOURCE OF FUNDING IS A 14-DOLLAR LOCAL CONSOLIDATED COURT FEE WHICH IS ASSESSED ON TRAFFIC, CRIMINAL AND CITY CODE CASES.
THE FEE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE RESTRICTIVE FUNDS, MUNICIPAL COURT TRUANCY AND INTERVENTION PREVENTION FUND, MUNICIPAL COURT BUILDING SECURITY FUND, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND. AND THE FINAL SOURCE OF FUNDING IS THE JUVENILE TRUANCY PREVENTION GRANT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE OFFICER WHICH PROVIDES THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF TRAINING FOR OUR JUVENILE CASE MANAGERS WHO WORK CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PREVENT TRUANCY THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION. 98% OF OUR 17.6-MILLION-DOLLAR PROPOSED BUDGET HAS BEEN DEEMED TO BE FOR CORE SO FAR SERVICES.
IN FISCAL YEAR '27 WE ARE RECOMMENDING $455,273 IN REDUCTIONS TO OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET. MUNICIPAL COURT WAS ONE OF FIVE DEPARTMENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS IN '26 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INNOVATION OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE, WE IDENTIFIED THREE POSITIONS FOR REDUCTION FOR A SAVINGS OF $309,872 WITH NO IMPACT ON SERVICE DELIVERY. ONE POSITION IS A COURT MANAGER WHO SUPPORTS TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONS, FOLLOWING A DUPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ANALYSIS, AND THROUGH COORDINATION WITH ITSD AND INNOVATION OFFICE.
THESE RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE SHIFTED AND SHARED WITH ITSD.
WE ALSO IDENTIFIED TWO VACANT WARRANT OFFICER POSITIONS IN A MAGISTRATION SERVICES DIVISION THAT CAN BE ELIMINATED WITHOUT AFFECTING ARRESTEE PROCESSING TIMES. THE EFFICIENCIES FROM THE NEW ITSC DEVELOPED WE CAN MAG SYSTEM SUCH AS FASTER DATA ENTRY AND REDUCED PAPER USE ALONG WITH ADJUSTMENTS THIS TO OUR 24/7 STAFFING COVERAGE MAKE THIS REDUCTION POSSIBLE.
WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING $135,401 IN REDUCTION BY RIGHT-SIZING LINE ITEMS, LOWERING EDUCATION AND TRAVEL COSTS AND INCREASING OUR EMPLOYEE TURNOVER TARGET. FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 WE RECOMMEND INCREASING THE ONLINE TRANSACTION FEE FROM FOUR DOLLARS TO FIVE DOLLARS.
THIS FEE HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 2004. STATE LAW ALLOWS ASSESSING THE FEE TO RECOVER THE DIRECT AND REASONABLE COSTS PROVIDING ONLINE SERVICES.
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THE CURRENT COSTS PROVIDE EACH ONLINE TRANSACTION IS APPROXIMATELY $5.15.THE MAXIMUM FEE ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW IS $5, AND IN FISCAL YEAR '26 THE ONLINE CASE RESOLUTION PAYMENTS MADE UP 71% OF ALL OUR PAYMENTS.
I'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO PRESIDING JUDGE CARLA OBLEDO TO PRESENT THE REMAINING
PARTS OF OUR BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I'M CARLA OBLEDO, THE PRESIDING JUDGE. SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT.
I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT INTO IT. THE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT HAS JURISDICTION OVER CLASS C MISDEMEANORS. CITATIONS ARE ISSUED BY A WIDE RANGE OF AGENCIES INCLUDING SAPD, PARK POLICE, AIRPORT POLICE, ACS OFFICERS, CITY CODE OFFICERS AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THE VOLUME AND SCOPE ARE SIGNIFICANT. CLASS C MISDEMEANORS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF CRIMINAL SERVICES IN TEXAS. AS OF 2024, STATE LAW RECOGNIZED MORE THAN 1300 CLASS C MISDEMEANORS IN ADDITION TO THOUSANDS OF OFFENSES CREATED THROUGH CITY ORDINANCES. WHILE THESE OFFENSES ARE FINE ONLY, THEY ARE GOVERNED BY SPECIALIZED PROCEDURES UNDER CHAPTER 45A OF THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. IMPORTANTLY, THESE PROCEDURES INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT SAFEGUARDS, PARTICULARLY FOR DEFENDANTS WHO ARE INDIGENT. THESE SAFEGUARDS INCLUDE DETERMINING A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY, PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO PAYMENT AND ENSURING THAT A PERSON IS NOT INCARCERATED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY A FINE.
ULTIMATELY EACH CASE REQUIRES INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT, DUE PROCESS AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK. MOVING ON TO THE ANIMAL DOCKET. THE BAR GRAPH ON THE LEFT SHOWS THAT OVERALL ANIMAL CASE FILINGS ARE DOWN SLIGHTLY COMPARED TO FY25, HOWEVER, THE COURT CONTINUES TO SEE MORE ANIMAL CASES FILED CRIMINALLY AND DOCKETS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO MEET THAT DEMAND. CASE RESOLUTION HAS IMPROVED AS REFLECTED IN THE TABLE ON THE RIGHT. RESOLUTIONS IN FY26 MAY INCLUDE CASES FILED IN PREVIOUS FISCAL YEARS. I ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE SUBDIVISION ALES HE THAT CHART. PROBATION DISMISSALS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC.
THEY ARE DONE AFTER A DEFENDANT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE TERMS OF A DEFERRED DISPOSITION WHICH MAY INCLUDE PAYMENT OF FINES AND COURT COSTS, COMING INTO COMPLIANCE, COMPLETING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER CLASS OR PERFORMING COMMUNITY SERVICE. CASES MAY ALSO BE DISMISSED BY A JUDGE UPON A MOTION FROM THE PROSECUTOR. WHEN THE FACTS, EVIDENCE OR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT SUPPORT CONTINUED PROSECUTION. REASONS MAY INCLUDE WITNESS AVAILABILITY, COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, A STATUTORY DEFENSE OR EXCEPTION, A NEGOTIATED PLEA AGREEMENT OR THE CITING OFFICER IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED WITH ACS. TURNING TO THE TABLE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, CIVIL HEARINGS ARE HELD WITHIN 10 DAYS OF A WARRANT BEING SIGNED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH DANGEROUS DOG OWNER REQUIREMENTS.
THOSE DO NOT FALL UNDER THE 10-DAY REQUIREMENT. CITY MAGISTRATES JUDGES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE 24/7 TO REVIEW AND SIGN SEIZURE WARRANTS.
AND FINALLY, TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY, ANIMAL CASES ARE REFERRED TO THE LINEBARGER LAW FIRM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH CASE RESOLUTION AFTER 66 DAYS OF NON-APPEARANCE. MOVING ON TO CODE, THE MAJORITY OF CITY CODE CASES FILED WITH THE CODE ARE CIVIL CASES AND THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT. THE COURT HAS LIMITED TOOLS TO ENFORCE A CIVIL JUDGMENT IN A CITY CODE OR ANIMAL CASE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PROPERTY OWNER OR A PET OWNER FAILS TO APPEAR, THE COURT CAN ENTER A DEFAULT JUDGMENT, HOWEVER, UNLIKE IN A CRIMINAL CASE THE COURT CANNOT ISSUE A WARRANT TO COMPEL THAT PERSON'S APPEARANCE. DESPITE THESE LIMITATIONS, THE COURT CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO HOLD VIOLATORS ACCOUNTABLE.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LINE BURGER LAW FIRM FROM JANUARY THROUGH JULY OF THIS YEAR, THE COURT REVOLVED MORE THAN 1200 CITATIONS AND COLLECTED OVER $173,000.
OUR JUVENILE SERVICES DIVISION SERVES AGES -- JUVENILES AGES 10 TO 16 WHO ARE REFERRED FOR FINE ONLY, TRAFFIC AND NON-TRAFFIC OFFENSES.
IN ADDITION, THE COURT SUPPORTS BEXAR COUNTY SCHOOLS THROUGH ITS TRUANCY PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH SERVES STUDENTS AGES FOUR TO 19.
DURING THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, THE PROGRAM SERVED 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND FOUR
[00:30:05]
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND RECEIVED REQUESTS FOR ALMOST 25,000 INTERVENTIONS.THE COLUMN ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE INTERVENTIONS BY TYPE. WHILE NOT EVERY INTERVENTION CATEGORY IS LISTED, OUR JCMS WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH OVER 13,000 INTERVENTIONS. THE BAR GRAPH ON THE RIGHT OR THE CHART ON THE RIGHT SHOWS STUDENTS SERVED BY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT. PARTICIPATION IN TRUANCY SERVICES IS VOLUNTEER AND NOT ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS UTILIZE EVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COURT. FOR EXAMPLE, NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT UTILIZE COURT TRUANCY SERVICES, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR THE LOWER NUMBERS IN DISTRICT 9 AND DISTRICT 10. THE UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS THAT FALL IN BEXAR COUNTY, BUT OUT OF CITY LIMITS, SO WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THOSE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE AS WELL.
UNDER THE -- MOVING TO THE BOTTOM CHART ON THE LEFT UNDER THE TEXAS YOUTH DIVERSION AND EARLY INTERVENTION ACT WHICH TOOK EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2025, YOUTH ACCUSED OF NON-TRAFFIC CLASS C MISDEMEANORS MUST BE DIVERTED FROM FORMAL PROSECUTION. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES ACCOUNTABILITY AND REHABILITATION WITHOUT IMPOSING FINES OR UNRELATED PUNITIVE MEASURES.
THE CASE DISPOSITIONS SHOWN REFLECT ACTIVITY THROUGH JULY 31ST, 2026, WITH 37 CASES STILL PENDING AT THAT TIME. THE 16 UNSUCCESSFUL CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE CITY PROSECUTOR FOR REFILING CONSIDERATION.
AND BY THE END OF AUGUST THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM HAD AN 88% SUCCESS RATE WITH 140 DIVERSION CASES CLOSED SATISFACTORILY. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES SERVING AS MAGISTRATES MAKE POSSIBLE CAUSE MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY OFFENSES INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED BY SAPD, PARK POLICE, AIRPORT POLICE AND DPS. WHEN PROBABLE CAUSE IS ESTABLISHED, THE MAGISTRATE ADVISES THE ACCUSED OF THE CHARGES AND THEIR RIGHTS AS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE 15.17 OF THE TEXAS CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH CLASS B MISDEMEANORS AND HIGHER OFFENSES ARE COMMITTED TO JAIL AND TRANSPORTED WITH COMPLETE CASE FILES, INCLUDING COMMITMENT ORDERS, STATUTORY WARNINGS, POLICE REPORTS, ADDITIONAL ORDERS AND INVENTORY OF PROPERTY. THE ONLY LEGAL REQUIREMENT LEFT IS TO SET BAIL.
ARTICLE 15.17 ALSO REQUIRES THAT AN ARRESTED PERSON APPEAR BEFORE A MAGISTRATE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF ARREST. AS THE CHART ON THE LEFT SHOWS, THE NUMBER OF ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS PROCESSED THROUGH THE CITY PROCESSING CENTER HAS INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE FISCAL YEAR 24. IT IS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT THESE NUMBERS REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS AND NOT CASES. DPS ARRESTS ALONE INCREASED FROM 30 IN FISCAL YEAR '24 TO 285 IN FISCAL YEAR '25. AND BY THE END OF LAST MONTH, DPS INTAKES TOTALED 708 ARRESTS. THE FLOWCHART ON THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER ILLUSTRATES THE PROCESSING OF AN ARRESTED INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE CITY PROCESSING CENTER. WHAT IT DOES NOT SHOW IS THAT WHEN PROBABLE CAUSE IS NOT ESTABLISHED, THE INDIVIDUAL IS RELEASED DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY FACILITY RATHER THAN BEING TRANSFERRED TO BEXAR COUNTY. DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE TABLE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, CITY MAGISTRATES ALSO REVIEW AND ISSUE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF JUDICIAL ORDERS, WHILE ARRESTS AND SEARCH WARRANTS ARE COMBINED ON THIS CHART, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ARREST WARRANTS SPECIFICALLY.
ARREST WARRANTS ARE TYPICALLY TAKEN DIRECTLY TO GIA BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR REVIEW BY A COUNTY MAGISTRATE, HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF ARREST WARRANTS REVIEWED AND SIGNED BY CITY JUDGES HAS INCREASED TO 65 ARREST WARRANTS AS OF THE END OF AUGUST OF THIS YEAR. THAT IS UP FROM 18 IN FISCAL YEAR '25 AND 22 IN FISCAL YEAR '24. FINALLY, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE COURT'S OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE DURING THE RECENT STORM-RELATED POWER OUTAGE.
OPERATING ON EMERGENCY POWER, THE MAG TEAM CONTINUED CASE PROCESSING AND MAGISTRATE HEARINGS WITH MINIMAL OPERATIONAL INTERRUPTION.
THE TEAM CONTINUED PROCESSING ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY WERE READY FOR TRANSPORT AS SOON AS THE JAIL RUMMED ACCEPTING TRANSPORTS.
THE IMPACT CONTINUED INTO THE FOLLOWING EVENING. AND OFFICERS FROM FIVE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING DEPUTIES FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BROUGHT ARRESTED INDIVIDUALS TO THE CITY PROCESSING CENTER
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BEFORE TRANSPORTING THEM TO JAIL. THESE OFFICERS PRESENTED BLOOD DRAW WARRANTS TO THE ON DUTY CITY MAGISTRATE, ALLOWING THEM TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED JUDICIAL AUTHORIZATION AND CONTINUE THEIR INVESTIGATION USING CITY RESOURCES BEFORE TRANSPORTING THE INDIVIDUALS TO GIA.THE KEY TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT AS DEMAND FOR MAGISTRATION SERVICES CONTINUES TO GROW, THE COURT REMAINS STEADFAST IN ENSURING TIMELY DUE PROCESS EVEN WHEN UNFORESEEN EVENTS IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. AND BEFORE I END MY PRESENTATION, I WANT TO THANK ADINA AND CARMEN WHO PROVIDED INVALUABLE EXPERTISE AND -- WHO PROVIDE INVALUABLE EXPERTISE AND LEADERSHIP EACH YEAR THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. THEIR GUIDANCE AND PARTNERSHIP ARE TRULY APPRECIATED. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR OUTSTANDING COURT TEAM, EVERYTHING FRED AND I SHARED WITH YOU TODAY IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK. WE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATE TEAMWORK, PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, AND INNOVATION AS THEY FIND NEW WAYS TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY, ENCOURAGE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE, CLEAN NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ARE WHAT MAKE THE SAN ANTONIO MUNICIPAL COURT THE BEST COURT IN TEXAS. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, JUDGE. ERIK NIE COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE -- OKAY. JUDGE, ACTUALLY, A COUPLE OF POINTS OF CLARIFICATION BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE. THE EXERCISE THAT WE -- THAT YOU WENT THROUGH, YOU AND YOUR TEAM WENT THROUGH TO RECOUP A LOT OF THOSE PARKING TICKETS THAT HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATELY SEVERELY DELAYED, IS THAT EFFORT COMPLETE AT THIS POINT AND CAN YOU JUST SHARE WITH US KIND OF LESSONS LEARNED SO WE CAN RECOUP THOSE A LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN THE EXERCISE DID THIS TIME?
>> WE HAD NOT HAD A CONTRACT LIKE THAT IN DWIGHT SOME TIME AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO ANY EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AFTER JANUARY 2020 WHEN I WAS APPOINTED PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT. IT DID TAKE SOME TIME TO GATHER THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED TO FORWARD TO LINEBARGER LAW FIRM AND IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO. IT WILL BE AN ONGOING PROCESS. IT WASN'T GOING TO BE AN ONE AND DONE.
IF WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN A PLEA ON A CASE OR A CIVIL CASE HAS BEEN FOUND LIABLE, THOSE CASES ARE SENT TO LINEBARGER WITHIN 60 DAYS OF NON-APPEARANCE.
ANY UNADJUDICATED ARE BEING SENT OVER THERE WITHIN 90 DAYS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS AN EXTRA 30 DAYS TO COME AND APPEAR, BUT WE'RE CONSTANTLY SENDING THEM NEW CASES TO FOLLOW UP ON FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOT APPEARING IN COURT.
SO IT IS A CONTINUING PROJECT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR WORK WITH YOUTH, I'M CURIOUS, DO ANY FS THOSE -- IS THERE ANY OVERLAP BETWEEN THE YOUTH YOU SERVE AND THE FUNDING WE HAVE FOR ANY OF THE DELEGATE
AGENCIES? >> WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION, I'M SORRY?
>> MAYOR JONES: THE YOUTH THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH LARGELY THROUGH TRUANCY OR EVEN STUDENT RETENTION, ANYTHING ON YOUR JUVENILE SERVICES SIDE, I'M CURIOUS IF ANY OF THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT WE FUND.
DO WE KNOW THAT? >> WE THROUGH OUR SENIOR SUMMITS AND SOME OF OUR REENGAGEMENT DOCKETS AND TRANSITION DOCKETS WE DO REFER.
AND ACTUALLY IN ALL THE DOCKETS IN MEDIATION, IN OUR YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM WE DO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF CITY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE DO REFER THEM -- THAT WE DO REFER TO. WE CAN GET YOU A LIST OF ALL
THOSE PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH. >> MAYOR JONES: IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR. WE'RE HAVING A ROBUST CONVERSATION ON WHAT THAT FUNDING LOOKS LIKE NOT ONLY IN '11, BUT ALSO IN '28. SO TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND HOW THAT'S AMPLIFIED BY SUSTAINING A LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IF NOT SUSTAINING PLUSSING UP WHERE ABLE. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE ENTITIES THAT WE FUND, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE FOR READY TO WORK MONEY, IS THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH CENTERS, WHICH IS C SEE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS RISE. WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING AS MUCH OUT OF THE DOLLARS WE'RE SPENDING WITH THOSE ENTITIES AS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. AND IN CASE IT HELPS ANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, CHIEF, CHIEF, CHIEF SALAME. THERE HE IS. CHIEF, YOU SIT IN THE FRONT
ROW NOW, NOT THE BACK ROW. [LAUGHTER] >> I WORE A WHITE SHIRT
TODAY TO THROW YOU GUYS OFF. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON IT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FULLER CONVERSATION. YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO
[00:40:01]
ENGAGE WITH THE METRO HEALTH FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ASSUMPTION THEY WERE OPERATING OFF OF. WHAT WERE THEY LOOKING AT THAT SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WHICH WILL YOU HAVE THAT TO ENSURE WHAT YOU HAVE BUDGETED FOR IS ADEQUATE TO MEET THAT INCREASE?>> I TALKED TO DR. JACOB, DR. CLAUDE BEFORE WE LEFT AND HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SENDING SOMETHING OUT. IT WAS NOT AN INCREASE. IT WAS A 20% -- THAT 20% PERCENTAGE TOTAL WAS IN REGARDS TO THE LONG-TERM ADVOCACY WORK.
AND THAT'S A FLAT -- THAT'S NOT GOING UP OR DOWN. I THINK IT WAS 20% THE YEAR BEFORE OR 25% THE YEAR BEFORE. IT HAS TO DO WITH LONG-TERM ADVOCACY AND NOT NECESSARILY ADDITIONAL POLICE CALLS. BECAUSE THE DATA I HAVE AND THE DATA THAT'S BEEN IN THE REPORT IS SHOWING A DOWNWARD TREND FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO I THINK IT HAS TO DO SPECIFICALLY WITH ADVOCACY. SO THEY SHOULD BE SENDING
OUT SOME CLARIFICATION. YOU MAY HAVE IT. >> TATE: THE PIECE IN THEIR PERFORMANCE MEASURES IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCEPTING ASSISTANCE.
THAT'S WHAT'S INCREASING. SO THE CASES ARE RELATIVELY FLAT.
BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCEPTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE IS
INCREASING. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. I'LL FOLLOW UP.
THANKS. AND THEN THAT'S IT FOR YOU, CHIEF.
CHIEF FRAUSTO, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE STEPS YOU HAVE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE OVERTIME ISSUE. IT'S GREAT THERE'S SUCH SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS THERE.
FOR FOLKS THAT ARE CURIOUS, EVEN FOR OUR OWN KIND OF PLANNING PURPOSES, YOU'RE THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS THE COMPASSIONATE USE PROGRAM. HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR STAFFING LEVEL PROGRAM IMPACTS YOUR STAFFING? I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT MEDICAL CONDITIONS, I'M JUST ASKING ABOUT HOW DOES THE PROGRAM AND THE ASSUMPTIONS WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT IMPACT THE STAFFING LEVELS? PLEASE.
>> CHIEF: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED A POINT OF CLARIFICATION THAT THE COMPASSIONATE USE IS A TEXAS LAW THAT APPLIES ACROSS THE BOARD. SO IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO JUST THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT MIGHT AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
JUST CLARIFYING THAT IT'S BROADER THAN THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
>> CHIEF: I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH IMPACT AT ALL BECAUSE THOSE CASES ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. THAT'S THE REASON I DON'T
FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO FEEL ANY EFFECT WHATSOEVER. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT PROGRAM OPERATES ON VOLUNTARY INFORMATION SHARED, CORRECT?
>> CHIEF: YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, PLEASE.
>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. JUDGE OBLEDO, FRED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND TRYING TO FIND ALL THE EFFICIENCIES WE CAN.
ADDITIONALLY, TRYING TO MOVE THE CASES ALONG. JUDGE, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. I THINK IS IMPORTANT. WE NEED FOLKS TO HAVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE WHILE ALSO HAVING AN EFFICIENT WAY TO MOVE THEIR CASES THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND USE TAXPAYER RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY. APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT RECORD. CHIEF FRAUSTO, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THANK YOU TO YOU AS WELL. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THE OVERTIME ISSUE, WHICH WE DISCUSSED IN AUDIT THE OTHER WEEK, THANK YOU FOR TAKING STEPS TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT. WE HAVE TO TREAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS PRECIOUSLY AND APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. SLIDE 8.
WE HAVE AN EIGHT-MINUTE BENCHMARK IT LOOKS LIKE BUT OUR 2027 TARGET IS 8:39.
WHAT'S PREVENTING US FROM GETTING BACK TO THE 8-MINUTE MARK AND WHAT INVESTMENT
COULD WE MAKE TO MOVE THAT NUMBER? >> OBLEDO: THE RECENT SQUAD ADDITIONS HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON RESPONSE TIMES, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN PLACE SUCH AS THE CLINICAL DISPATCHER, THE MIH PROGRAM. ALSO GOODSAM. BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE BEING A LOT MORE EFFICIENT ABOUT HOW WE'RE DISPATCHING UNITS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MORE TIME IS BEING TAKEN ON THE FRONT END TO PROCESS THE CALLS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SENDING THE MOST APPROPRIATE UNITS. SOMETIMES WE DON'T NEED TO
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SEND MULTIPLE AND ONE UNIT CAN HANDLE IT. >> WHYTE: SO WE'RE BEING MORE EFFICIENT. ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD HELP GET OUR RESPONSE TIMES
DOWN CLOSER TO THAT EIGHT-MINUTE MARK? >> CHIEF: I BELIEVE THE UPCOMING NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO HELP US ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND WILL PROBABLY GIVE US SOME DEFINITIVE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE THE RESPONSE TIMES. I ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO BETTER AND I BELIEVE THAT NUMBER
CONTINUES TO DECREASE WITH OUR EFFORTS. >> WHYTE: OKAY.
AND WE'RE ADDING NINE POSITIONS THIS YEAR. RIGHT?
>> CHIEF: YES. TRAINING, RECRUITING, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AS WELL AS THE DEDICATED FIRE INSPECTOR THAT WILL BE FOR SCHOOL AED INSPECTIONS.
>> WHYTE: OKAY. LAST QUESTION. 79% OF THE INCIDENTS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE MEDICAL. YOU THINK WE'RE USING THE MOST APPROPRIATE, LEAST
EXPENSIVE RESPONSE MODEL FOR THESE CALLS? >> CHIEF: ABSOLUTELY.
YES. >> WHYTE: THANKS, CHIEF. ON TO POLICE.
CHIEF SALAME, I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN. I KNOW I HAVE ASKED IT OF YOU IN PREVIOUS -- AND I ASKED IT OF CHIEF MCMANUS AS WELL.
AGAIN, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT OFFICERS VISIBLY ON PATROL
ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO HELP TO DETER CRIME? >> CHIEF: YES, I WOULD
AGREE. >> WHYTE: OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GOTTEN ABOUT 205 MORE OFFICERS TO PATROL THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, CHIEF, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE --P IN CRIME.
I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THAT IS RELATED TO HAVING MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SLIDE 7. RESPONSE TIMES FOR POLICE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE -- IF WE CAN PULL UP SLIDE 7 -- THAT YOUR RESPONSE TIME FROM 2024 TO WHERE IT IS NOW IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. IT LOOKS LIKE 31 SECONDS.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU, MORE OFFICERS OUT THERE ON THE STREETS CAN HELP US BRING
THE RESPONSE TIMES DOWN. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> CHIEF: YES.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. >> WHYTE: I WOULD AGAIN SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT IF PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY IN KEEPING THE PUBLIC SAFE AND KEEPING THEIR PROPERTY SAFE, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT --E ANSWERS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY -- THAT GETTING MORE OFFICERS TO PATROL THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS.
I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME OF YOU REGARDING WELL, HEY. IF THE POLICE CAN FIND THE MONEY WITHIN THEIR OWN BUDGET TO HELP FUND SOME NEW OFFICERS, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL WOULD WANT TO SEE. I WANT TO COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT FOR GOING THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REVIEW, FINDING OVER $5 MILLION IN SAVINGS. THEY DIDN'T JUST DO IT IN OVERTIME.
ON THE REDUCTION SLIDE THAT I BELIEVE WAS SHOWN EARLIER, WE HAD $618,000 IN RIGHT SIZING. THE SPENDING $822,000, ELIMINATING A SOFTWARE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. $445,000 ELIMINATING SIX VACANT SUPPORT POSITIONS.
AND THEN ANOTHER $140,000 FOR OTHER LINE ITEMS. IF YOU JUST TAKE THAT TOTAL RIGHT THERE, THOSE LAST FOUR ITEMS, IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND $1.9 MILLION.
I TALKED WITH MARIA AND OUR CITY STAFF LAST WEEK AND TO FUND THE ADDITIONAL TEN SAFFE OFFICERS THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, TO FUND THOSE OFFICERS, THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THEIR VEHICLE, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS $1.65 MILLION.
RIGHT THERE IN JUST THOSE FOUR LINE ITEMS AT THE BOTTOM WE FIND ABOUT $1.9 MILLION. AGAIN, I WOULD REQUEST FROM MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT, WHEN WE DO AMENDMENTS NEXT WEEK, THAT WE CAN DO THE RIGHT THING, WHICH IS TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE SHOULD BE ADDING A SAFFE OFFICER FOR EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS IN THE 2027 BUDGET. CHIEF, A COUPLE MORE THINGS.
WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. IT'S KIND OF A RANDOM FEE THAT WE FOUND IN THE BUDGET BOOK HERE. THE ARRESTEE FIREARM RETURN FEE.
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WHAT IS THAT AND WHO DOES THAT APPLY TO? >> CHIEF: IF WE ARREST SOMEBODY AND CONFISCATE THEIR FIREARM AND IT'S OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE AUDIO] CRIMINAL CHARGE, THAT FIREARM STILL HAS TO BE PROCESSED.
AND SO WE HAVE IT TEST FIRED. WE PUT IT INTO OUR DATABASE TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO ANY OTHER CRIMES.
WE RUN IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT STOLEN. THERE'S A TIME COST THAT WE'VE GOT SWORN OFFICERS THAT ARE DOING THAT SERVICE. AND WE'VE GOT NON-SWORN PERSONNEL THAT ARE ALSO DOING THAT. THAT IS THE FEE THAT WE WANT
TO CHARGE TO RECOVER SOME OF THOSE COSTS. >> WHYTE: IS A FEE LIKE THIS SOMETHING THAT'S CHARGED IN OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE?
DO WE KNOW? >> CHIEF: YES, IT IS. >> WHYTE: OTHER CITIES UTILIZE THAT AS WELL. GREAT. CHIEF, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IT. THOSE ARE THE EXTENT OF MY COMMENTS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY FROM COURTS TO FIRE TO POLICE. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN REALLY RESPONSIVE OVER THE LAST YEAR. IT'S A TOUGH JOB BUT KEEPING THE PUBLIC SAFE AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. TO MY COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ALL.
>> MAYOR JONES: CHIEF SALAME, IN CASE IT HELPS ANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES, THE $822,000 REDUCTION IN PUBLIC NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, CAN YOU SPEAK -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
THE, EXACTLY, IN THE COMMUNITY? >> CHIEF: WE HAD A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT WAS AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE COULD OPT IN TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN AN OFFICER IS ON THE WAY. WHEN THERE'S -- PROVIDE CASE UPDATES. IT WAS VERY UNDERUTILIZED AND SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON THE DETECTIVES. WE'RE GOING TO ALSO DO SOME OTHER THINGS INTERNALLY WITH MESSAGING THROUGH OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE.
IT'S JUST A MESSAGING SYSTEM THAT WAS AUTOMATED THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, FROM DISPATCH THAT WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOUR CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND A POLICE OFFICER IS ON THE WAY. AND WE HAD PEOPLE SIGN UP AND AT THE END OF THE LATEST THING THAT WE HAD, IT WAS LIKE 144,000 PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND MOST OF THEM WEREN'T GETTING THE ALERTS. THEY OPTED OUT OF THE ALERTS AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: TO CLARIFY, SAME SERVICE.
JUST GOING TO BE PROVIDED IN A DIFFERENT WAY. >> CHIEF: SAME SERVICE.
DIFFERENT WAY. >> MAYOR JONES: APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS, PLEASE. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY ALREADY SO WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING PATIENT WITH US TODAY. I THINK I'LL START WITH MUNICIPAL COURT. CAN YOU JUST -- SO YOU SAID THAT THE BUDGET WAS GOING UP BECAUSE OF THE LINEBARGER PERSONNEL AND COLA BY THE 4.8%, CORRECT?
>> YES, COUNCILWOMAN. >> SPEARS: LINEBARGER COLLECTS BASED ON WHAT THEY COLLECT. THEY GET A CUT FROM THAT? IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> WHEN WE SUBMIT THE CASE TO THE FIRM, THERE'S A 30% FEE ATTACHED TO WHAT'S OUTSTANDING OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. IF IT'S COLLECTED, THEY GET
THEIR FEE AND THE CITY GETS THEIR FEE. >> SPEARS: THIS QUESTION IS KIND OF GOING TO GO BETWEEN CHIEF SALAME AND YOU, I THINK.
IT'S ABOUT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAD A 64 TO 60% DECLINE IN FAMILY VIOLENCE CASE -- THE SUCCESS. WHICH IS, I GUESS, JUSTINA, YOU'RE SAYING MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES? OR PARTICIPATING?
>> IN THE SERVICES I WAS MENTIONING WAS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY PROVIDE.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING MORE PEOPLE ACCEPT ASSISTANCE. >> SPEARS: DOES THAT AFFECT YOU IN MUNICIPAL COURT THEN TOO, IN A GOOD WAY?
>> OBLEDO: I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU HAD SAID. >> TATE:
>> OBLEDO: ARE THOSE THE VICTIMS THEN? WHAT THEY'RE HELPING ARE THE VICTIMS. WHAT WE TRY TO HELP ARE THE OFFENDERS SO THAT THEY DON'T REOFFEND AGAIN. IT WOULD BE THE CITY PROSECUTORS THAT WOULD HAVE
MORE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIMS. >> WALSH: BUT JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THERE'S A CERTAIN LEVEL, A LOWER LEVEL OF CHARGE THAT IS HANDLED AT MUNICIPAL COURTS. IT IS NOT ALL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
[00:55:02]
MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT, JUDGE. >> OBLEDO: IF IT IS AN UNWANTED TOUCH BUT DOESN'T ACTUALLY CAUSE PAIN, THAT'S A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.
IF YOU THREATEN SOMEBODY AND PLACE THEM IN IMMINENT FEAR, THAT'S ALSO A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.
RECORD, IT COULD HAVE EMPLOYMENT CONSEQUENCES. IT COULD HAVE CITIZENSHIP CONSEQUENCES, RIGHT TO OWN A FIREARM. IT COULD ENHANCE ANY FUTURE OFFENSES LATER. SO IT DOES HAVE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES IF
THEY DO END UP AS CONVICTIONS. >> SPEARS: I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO ESTABLISH HERE IS SEEING THAT THERE'S SOME SUCCESS HERE ON YOUR END.
SOME SUCCESS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE. AND THEN FROM JUSTINA SAID, WE ARE ALSO SEEING SUCCESS IN PEOPLE ACCEPTING HELP. I'M TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT'S BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING OR IF IT'S COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WE'RE MAKING BETWEEN ALL THREE OF YOU IN SOME WAY TO ESTABLISH SOME SORT OF -- SOMETHING WE
NEED TO REEDIFY IN OUR CITY. >> CHIEF: LET ME SPEAK TO THE SAPD STUFF.
THE CALLS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE, JUST FOR THIS YEAR --4 TO 2025 WE SAW A DECREASE IN CALLS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE. THE OFFENSE REPORTS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE, WE SAW A 4.7% DECREASE LAST YEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THIS YEAR'S DATA YET TO TELL YOU BUT WE ARE STILL TRENDING. THE BIG ONE FOR US WAS THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES THAT WERE TRENDING DOWN. THAT IS LARGELY DUE TO THE JOINT CITY-COUNTY COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORK THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2019. MARIA IS THE CHAIR OF THAT, ALONG WITH JUDGE MONIQUE DIAZ. THAT SPEAKS TO THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH METRO HEALTH. THEY ARE WITH US EMBEDDED IN THE SUBSTATIONS BUT THEY PROVIDE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SERVICE IN TERMS OF VICTIM ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMING TOGETHER, I WOULD SAY THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY. THE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND RESOURCES SO THAT EVERYONE HAS EQUAL ACCESS. AND NIGHTS AND WEEKEND COVERAGE.
IF YOU ARE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 9 OR DISTRICT 2, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE. ALL OF THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE PAYING OFF.
IT'S STILL A LOT AND IT'S STILL A PROBLEM AND IT'S STILL AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH. >> SPEARS: OKAY.
THAT'S HELPFUL. I SAY THAT BECAUSE -- MARIA, YOU MAY HAVE MORE TO ADHERE.
BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS A STRONG REASON FAMILIES ENTER INTO HOMELESSNESS IS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY? >> VILLAGOMEZ: JUST BRIEFLY, COUNCILWOMAN. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE TRY TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND THAT ECOSYSTEM ON HOW INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM INCEPTION OF CALLING 9-1-1 ALL THE WAY TO THE TRANSITION OF GETTING ASSISTANCE FOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
AGAIN, JUST A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND OUR NONPROFITS.
>> SPEARS: I LOVE IT. THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S GREAT WHEN WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY IN THESE WAYS. I KNOW, IN SPEAKING WITH JUDGE DIAZ, THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS HAVE GONE UP A LOT AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO EVALUATE HOW EFFECTIVE THAT IS AND THE TREMENDOUS NEED THERE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH WORLD OF WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
I WANT TO ALSO APPLAUD THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY HELPING TO PREVENT THE PERPETRATORS FROM OFFENDING AGAIN. THAT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT THING.
OKAY. ON THE FIRE STATIONS, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD THESE FIRE STATIONS? WHEN WILL THEY BE READY? ARE SOME OF THEM PART OF THE
BOND? NOT THIS BOND BUT LAST BOND. >> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, TWO OF THE FIRE STATIONS, 10 AND 33 ARE INCLUDED IN THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM. AND OTHERS WERE PART OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE SOME UNDER CONSTRUCTION . JUST LAST WEEK, WE DID INTERVIEWS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR 33S AND WE'RE GOING TO
[01:00:05]
BRING THAT BACK TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE NEXT FEWWEEKS. >> WALSH: 52 AND 53 WERE CREATED AND ESTABLISHED AS TEMPORARY STATIONS. IT'S LITERALLY A MOBILE HOME WHERE THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE AT WITH AN ENCLOSURE FOR THE TRUCK. WE'RE BUILDING PERMITTED
STATIONS IN BOTH OF THOSE. THAT'S 52 AND 53. >> SPEARS: OKAY.
AND SO $1.4 MILLION GETS US NINE FIREFIGHTERS. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> CHIEF: I BELIEVE SO. >> SPEARS: WE CAN GET TEN POLICE OFFICERS FOR 1.6.
THERE'S SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: JUST TO ADDRESS THE COST OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS. ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES IS EQUIPMENT.
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE ADD PATROL OFFICERS, WE TYPICALLY ADD ONE VEHICLE FOR EVERY TWO OFFICERS. IN THE CASE OF A SAFFE OFFICER, WE ARE ADDING ONE VEHICLE PER SAFFE OFFICER. SO THERE'S MORE COSTS ON THE EQUIPMENT SIDE.
ON THE FIRE SIDE, DEPENDING ON THEIR NEEDS AND WHERE THEY ARE ASSIGNED, THOSE EQUIPMENT NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. THAT'S WHY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. ALSO, WHEN WE START THE ACADEMY CLASSES, THAT FIRST YEAR IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FOR THE BOTH DEPARTMENTS.
>> SPEARS: WOULD I BE ABLE TO GET TWO PATROL OFFICERS FOR ONE SAFFE OFFICER?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: NO. WHEN WE DO PATROL OFFICERS, WE ADD ONE VEHICLE FOR EVERY TWO OFFICERS BUT WE STILL HAVE TO ADD THE SALARIES RELATING TO THE POSITIONS.
>> SPEARS: I WAS TRYING TO SAY I WANT MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
WELL, I'M TREMENDOUSLY SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
Y'ALL ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR POLITE SOCIETY AND OUR UNPOLITE SOCIETY.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. AND TREMENDOUSLY SUPPORTIVE. IF WE COULD GET YOU STAFFED UP COMPLETELY FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY TOMORROW, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IT.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HAVE MORE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS AND SPECIFICALLY I NEED POLICE OFFICERS.
MY DISTRICT IS BANGING DOWN MY DOOR ASKING FOR MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE TEN SAFFE OFFICERS, OR IF THERE'S A TWO FOR ONE DEAL, MARIA, THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT TOO. IF WE CAN GET TO 20, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
I KNOW ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS BUT I HOPE YOU HEAR ME WHEN I SAY
MY DISTRICT AND DISTRICT 9 NEEDS MORE OFFICERS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ, PLEASE. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. I'LL START WITH FIRE. JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THE SCHOOL AUTOMATED -- THE AED INSPECTIONS. DO THOSE -- DID WE ALREADY
DO INSPECTIONS AT THE SCHOOLS OR IS THIS A NEW -- >> CHIEF: WE DO SCHOOL INSPECTIONS. HOWEVER, THIS STATE BILL REQUIRES AN ANNUAL
INSPECTION OF THE AED. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. >> CHIEF: WE'RE APPROXIMATING SOMEWHERE -- 534 AEDS THAT ARE PLACED IN SCHOOLS TODAY.
>> GONZALEZ: SO THEN THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE NEW POSITION?
>> CHIEF: YES. >> GONZALEZ: THAT WAS REALLY MY ONLY QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WHAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DOES FOR US EVERY DAY.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE FIRE STATION 37 IN THERE SOME DAY. WE WILL GET THERE SOON BUT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. IT IS A HIGH-VOLUME FIRE STATION, ABSOLUTELY.
AND SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS THE CARE THAT IT REALLY DOES NEED.
I VISITED THAT STATION A NUMBER OF TIMES AND SO WE'VE HELPED IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ON A LIST SOON. THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL. FOR THE -- FOR CHIEF SALAME NOW.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO GET USED TO THAT. I HAD A QUESTION ON THE CALLS RECEIVED AND THE CALLS FOR SERVICE. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD ALSO ADD WHO'S DISPATCHED FOR THOSE SERVICES? TO JUST SHOW KIND OF WHAT UNIT IS DISPATCHED FOR THESE CALLS FOR SERVICE, TO JUST GET BETTER CONTEXT AROUND --
>> CHIEF: LIKE THE SPECIFIC UNIT? >> GONZALEZ: YEAH, IS THAT
POSSIBLE OR IS THAT NOT THE RIGHT -- >> WALSH: IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PATROL BUT ARE YOU ASKING IF ONE CALL GENERATES THREE POLICE
[01:05:05]
OFFICERS VERSUS ONE? >> GONZALEZ: OR EVEN MIH. >> VILLAGOMEZ: I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT, COUNCILWOMAN. THROUGH MARIA VARGAS' OFFICE SHE CREATED A DASHBOARD FOR POLICE AND FIRE. AND THAT SHOWS THE CALLS FOR SERVICE BY POLICE SUBSTATION AND ZIP CODE AS WELL. AND THEN FOR FIRE, WE HAVE THEM BROKEN DOWN BY IF IT'S FIRE OR MEDICAL OR OTHER RELATED.
HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU TO REVIEW THAT AND WE CAN MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THOSE
DASHBOARDS. >> GONZALEZ: I UNDERSTAND THE CALLS RECEIVED ARE GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE CALLS FOR SERVICE. AND THERE IS A PROCESS, EVEN IN THE CALLS RECEIVED BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT CALL EVERY DAY.
CALL FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. NON-EMERGENCY REASONS. SO MAKING SURE -- I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT BUT DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON WHEN TO CALL. WE DON'T WANT TO STRESS THE SYSTEM MORE THAN NECESSARY.
THAT'S JUST AN INTERESTING SLIDE TO ME AND I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT FOLKS ARE CALLING FOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HAD A BUDGET TOWN HALL ON WEDNESDAY AND HAD A QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE TO RELAY.
AND THIS IS RELATED TO THE SLIDE ON THE DRONES. THE DRONES ARE RUNNING 20 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. DOES THIS GENERALLY MEAN THE DOCKING STATIONS, MORE LICENSED OPERATORS, VIDEO STORAGE.
SO THE EXISTING RESOURCES, IS THAT THE REDIRECTION OF THE HELICOPTER FUNDS THAT
WE'RE USING? >> CHIEF: YES. ESSENTIALLY THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF TO
WALK THROUGH THAT. >> SO CURRENTLY THE DRONES ARE RUNNING ABOUT TEN HOURS A DAY. THE EXPANSION WOULD THEN ALLOW US TO OPERATE 20 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. AND THE COST SAVINGS OF BEING ABLE TO TRANSFER SOME OF THE WORKLOAD TO THE DRONE VERSUS THE HELICOPTER WOULD HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THE
EXPANSION. >> GONZALEZ: ARE THERE ANY REOCCURRING COSTS?
>> THERE ARE. AND SO THE PROCUREMENT OF THE DRONES IS A SUBSCRIPTION. AND SO THAT ALLOWS US TO REPLACE THEM VERY EASILY.
IT ALSO COVERS ALL THE COST OF OWNERSHIP AND SO THERE'S AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE DRONES THEMSELVES. AND THEN THE RECURRING COSTS THAT WE WOULD INCUR FOR THE
VEHICLES THAT THE DRONE UNIT WOULD NEED. >> GONZALEZ: THOSE ARE
DEFERRED INTO FUTURE BUDGETS, I'M ASSUMING? >> YES.
PLUS WITH THE ONGOING SAVINGS, DRONES RELIEVE THE WORK OF THE HELICOPTERS THE
MORE SAVINGS WE SEE HERE. >> GONZALEZ: WHAT IS THE SAVINGS WITH RUNNING THE 20
HOURS A DAY? >> I'VE GOT A TABLE AND IT'S ANYWHERE FROM $150,000 TO $500,000, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY HOURS OF WORK THE DRONES CAN ACTUALLY ABSORB FROM THE HELICOPTER UNIT. THAT'S GOING TO BE ALL DEPENDING ON CASE-BY-CASE.
>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I GOT THIS AT MY TOWN HALL AS WELL. DOES THE CONTRACT INCLUDE PURCHASES OF AUTOMATED
LICENSE PLATE READING TECHNOLOGY? >> CHIEF: THAT IS
INCLUDED, YES, MA'AM. >> GONZALEZ: THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR PD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAM. AND A QUICK QUESTION ON MUNICIPAL COURTS. WHERE IS THAT? I THINK RELATED TO SLIDE 10 ON THOSE SUCCESSFUL DIVERSIONS, THE 126 SUCCESSFUL DIVERSIONS, ARE
THEY -- DO THEY LEAVE THE YOUTH WITH NO RECORD? >> OBLEDO: RIGHT.
EXACTLY. >> GONZALEZ: AND THOSE 16 UNSELF-CASES, DO THOSE GO TO
FORMAL CHARGES? WHAT HAPPENS THERE? >> OBLEDO: THOSE ARE REFERRED BACK TO THE CITY PROSECUTOR AND THEY CONSIDER REFILING THEM.
>> GONZALEZ: OKAY. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. >> OBLEDO: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS NO LONGER HERE. COUNCILMAN GALVAN.
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY AND FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH US TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO PUT THIS BUDGET TOGETHER AND REVIEW THE EFFICIENCIES THAT ARE POSSIBLE. I MAINLY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF FRAUSTO. NOTHING TOO, TOO BIG. ON THE FEES -- I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH SLIDE THAT EXACTLY WAS. SLIDE 9.
CAN YOU TELL HOW SOME OF THESE FEES ARE -- I GUESS HOW THEY'RE BILLED?
[01:10:06]
IS IT TO INDIVIDUALS, COMPANIES, THE PROPERTY OWNER? THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN EACH ONE OF THEM BUT I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND PARTICULARLYUNDER THE LIFT ASSISTANCE FEE. >> CHIEF: THE LIFT ASSISTANCE IS GOING TO BE BILLED TO THE FACILITY, NOT THE PATIENT OR INDIVIDUAL AT THE FACILITY. SO THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.
>> GALVAN: GOT IT. ANY OTHER ONES THAT ARE LISTED HERE GO TO THE
INDIVIDUAL? >> CHIEF: THE EMS TRANSPORT FEE WILL BE BILLED TO THE PATIENT AS WELL AS THE AID ONLY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THOSE IS ONE IS A TRANSPORT. THE TRANSPORT. AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES IS HISTORICALLY AN ITEMIZED FEE FOR THE SUPPLIES USED ON THAT PARTICULAR CALL. WHEREAS NOW IT'S CHANGING TO
A FLAT RATE OF THE $49. >> GALVAN: THAT'S WITH THE TRANSPORT?
>> CHIEF: YES. >> GALVAN: IS THAT ALSO WITH THE AID ONLY?
>> CHIEF: NOPE. THE AID ONLY IS THE 150. THAT WILL NOT BE APPLIED TO THE AID ONLY. THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES FEE WILL NOT BE APPLIED TO THE
AID-ONLY FEE. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. >> CHIEF: IT ONLY APPLIES
TO THE TRANSPORT. >> GALVAN: FOR THE LIFT ASSISTANCE, I THINK IT WAS SLIDE 17, THAT SHOWED THE AREAS WE WERE LOOKING AT WHERE THE LIFT ASSISTANCE IS USED MOST OFTEN FOR THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES IN 2025.
HOW OFTEN IS THE MIH TEAM UTILIZED FOR SOME OF THESE ISSUES?
>> CHIEF: I AM NOT REAL FAMILIAR WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE MIH TEAM BUT IN THESE CASES THEY ARE AT A FACILITY. I KNOW FIRE CREWS OR OTHER STAFF WILL GO ENGAGE WITH THE FACILITY TO -- JUST PARTLY FOR EDUCATION.
JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEING CALLED, YOU KNOW, OR THEY ARE USING 9-1-1
APPROPRIATELY. >> GALVAN: I'M ASKING BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE OUR ENDS MEET WHERE WE CAN HERE. BUT I DO WORRY ABOUT IF THERE'S ANY COST PASSED DOWN TO RESIDENTS, IN PARTICULARLY FOR THIS KIND OF CASE. MAKES ME A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT HOW THAT IMPACTS THE RESIDENT. WHAT I WOULDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS FEAR CALLING TO HELP GET ASSISTANCE HERE. I THINK THE SAME THING WITH THE FACILITY.
HOW CAN THEY MAKE SURE THEY'RE PREVENTING THINGS LIKE THIS.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE EMERGENCIES FOR ANY KIND OF SITUATION.
BUT IS THERE ANY WAY THE MIH TEAM CAN HELP ASSIST WITH THIS OTHER WORK WITHIN EDUCATION? I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT IT HAS LOOKED LIKE IN THE PAST. ON THE SCHOOL INSPECTIONS FEE.
SORRY. IS THERE A SCHOOL INSPECTIONS FEE AS WELL
THAT'S INCREASING? >> CHIEF: WELL, IT IS THE AED INSPECTION.
>> GALVAN: GOT IT. DO WE HAVE PROJECTED COSTS PER ISD THAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE? NOT PER SCHOOL BUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
>> CHIEF: I DO NOT KNOW. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. WE COULD CERTAINLY GET IT
FOR YOU. >> GALVAN: GREAT. >> CHIEF: TRY OUR BEST TO
CALCULATE. >> GALVAN: THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS ON THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT STATUS, I KNOW THAT WENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ALREADY, BUT WAS WONDERING WHAT THE STATUS OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS?
>> CHIEF: THAT IS PENDING RESOLICITATION. >> GALVAN: THAT'S RIGHT.
GOT IT. THANK YOU. I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, PLEASE.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
I'LL BE PRETTY BRIEF. I DID WANT TO START WITH FIRE, PARTICULARLY THE FEES.
THE HAZMAT FEE, THE BASE FOR COST FOR RECOVERY SEEMS PRETTY LOW.
I WOULD ASK STAFF TO EXPLORE IF WE COULD INCREASE THAT BASE COST RECOVERY FEE FOR HAZMAT, UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT IN WHICH WE HAVE HAD TO SEE THAT RESPONSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, OF COURSE, A PLUME THAT NEARBY RESIDENTS HAVE TO INHALE AND PUTTING OUR OFFICIALS AT RISK.
THAT BASE SEEMS LOW SO I WOULD ASK IF Y'ALL CAN EXPLORE POTENTIALLY INCREASING THAT PIECE THERE. PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE WILL BE EIGHT ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS HIRED. AGAIN, DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS REALLY VALUE THE WORK OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. DURING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATION, WE HAD A TALK ABOUT FAILING TO CONSIDER A PROPERTY TAX ADJUSTMENT AND HOW THAT COULD IMPACT FIRE OVERTIME AND HOW DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS, UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER IS EMS WHEN THEY'RE CALLING 9-1-1 IN RESPONSE TO SOME TYPE OF NEED.
AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IT'S WHERE WE SEE THE DATA IN WHICH EMS IS
[01:15:05]
OFTEN CALLED FOR MEDICAL SERVICES. SO JUST REALLY VALUABLE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM IS DOING THERE. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF MIH AND THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH STRAC.JUST A LOT OF INVALUABLE WORK THAT YOUR TEAM TACKLES. THANK YOU, CHIEF.
>> CHIEF: THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: I DID HAVE A QUESTION.
MOVING ON TO PD. WOULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO JOIN AND OBSERVE THE CURRENT DRONE PROGRAM? WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT
OPERATIONS LOOK LIKE? >> CHIEF: YES, MA'AM. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. JUST UNDERSTANDING THOSE OVERALL OPERATIONS.
WITH THE EXPANSION OF DRONES AND REDUCING THE WORKLOAD ON THE HELICOPTER FLEET, CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. DOES THAT MEAN THE HELICOPTER HAVING TO GO OUT MORE? BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO MORE CALLS? CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> CHIEF: YEAH, I'M GOING TO ASK THE ASSISTANT CHIEF TO STEP UP AGAIN.
>> CURRENTLY, WE ONLY HAVE DRONES TEN HOURS A DAY. BY EXPANDING IT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THEM -- WHENEVER WE DON'T HAVE THE DRONES WE HAVE TO SEND THE HELICOPTER OUT. IF WE HAVE THE DRONE EXPANSION 20 HOURS A DAY WE CAN USE DRONES BEFORE WE USE THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER COSTS $1200 AN HOUR TO OPERATE AND THE DRONES ARE MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THAT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THE DRONES CAN HELP US DO. SURVEILLANCE ON A HOUSE.
THEY CAN DO THAT AS WELL OR BETTER THAN A HELICOPTER CAN.
THE DRONES HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS. THEY CAN'T FOLLOW A CAR IN A PURSUIT. THEY CAN'T GO AND DO RESCUE WHEN THEY CAN'T HAVE LINE OF SIGHT. THE MORE -- I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT I WAS SAYING.
I'M SORRY. AND SO THE MORE WE USE THE DRONES, THE MORE SAVINGS WE'LL HAVE. AND SO RIGHT NOW WE ANTICIPATE WE SPEND -- DRONES FLY 3.5 HOURS A DAY RIGHT NOW. IF WE CAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE UNIT, WE ANTICIPATE 7 HOURS A DAY OR MORE. AND THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SAVINGS FOR US WHILE STILL EXPANDING THE CAPACITY.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO DRONES AS A FIRST RESPONDER, WHICH WE'RE STILL IN THE INFANCY STAGES OF THAT BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE THE DRONE WOULD BE DEPLOYED AUTOMATICALLY. CAN MAKE IT TO THE SCENE QUICKER, PROVIDE VIDEO BACK TO DISPATCH AND THE OFFICERS TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
LET US KNOW IF A SUSPECT HAS LEFT AND GIVE US MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN USE
TO BETTER TAILOR OUR RESPONSE. >> CASTILLO: I APPRECIATE THAT. BEYOND THE BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH DETAILED BRIEFING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND.
OF COURSE A CONCERN I ALWAYS HAVE, WHETHER IT'S A LICENSE PLATE READER OR DRONES, PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS WHILE WE ARE TACKLING TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. CAN WE PULL UP SLIDE 11? THE DIFFERENT SLIDE 11. THE ONE WITH GUADALUPE AND PD.
OH, SLIDE 13 ON Y'ALL'S. I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO TAKE THAT SLIDE IN.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE OUR CENTRAL SUBSTATION OFFICERS AND EVERY BULLET LAID OUT ON THAT PRESENTATION IS REALLY VALUABLE. I THINK IT'S JUST SOMETHING WORTH THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC TAKING IN THAT MAY BE WATCHING AT HOME.
THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. JUDGE OBLEDO AND FRED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO AT MUNICIPAL COURTS. I REALLY APPRECIATED THE HIGH-LEVEL PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTING THE INITIATIVES YOU ALL TACKLE. WHAT'S ALWAYS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE DISTRICT 5 TEAM ARE THE JUVENILE SERVICES AND THE TRUANCY COURT AND THE WAYS IN WHICH, WITH Y'ALL'S SENIOR SUMMIT, HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR NOT JUST THE STUDENTS BUT THE PARENTS AS WELL. WHICH INCLUDES CONNECTING PARENTS TO READY TO WORK AND A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ENSURING THAT IF THERE'S A REASON A CHILD IS NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL, THAT Y'ALL ARE TAPPING INTO EVERY POTENTIAL REASON WHY AND CONNECTING THE FAMILY WITH SOME TYPE OF RESOURCE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THE COMMUNITY COURT WORK AS WELL. RACHEL AND I HAVE ATTENDED A COUPLE OF GRADUATIONS OVER AT HAVEN FOR HOPE. IT'S MOVING AND IMPORTANT WORK Y'ALL ARE DOING THERE.
HEARING FROM INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN DIVERTED AT THE COURT SYSTEM, SHARING THEIR STORIES. FOR MANY OF THEM IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME IN A GRADUATION GOWN AND IT'S FOLKS IN THEIR THR 60S AND 40S AND THEY HAVE NEVER WORN THAT GOWN.
AGAIN, JUST A LOT OF IMPACTFUL WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND APPRECIATE YOU
[01:20:04]
HIGHLIGHTING HOW WHEN THE STORM WENT OUT, MUNICIPAL COURT WAS THERE TO DELEGATE THAT WORK AND HOLD ON TO THE CAPACITY WHEN THERE'S ISSUES OVER AT THE COUNTY JAIL WITH THE LOSS OF ELECTRICITY. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND LEADERSHIP.THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ,
PLEASE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MUCH LIKE YESTERDAY, I THINK I'LL BE INCREDIBLY SHORT. THANK YOU, CHIEF AND JUDGE FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE REST OF THE TEAM FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
LARGELY, I'M FOCUSED ON BUDGET AMENDMENTS. I KNOW COUNCILMAN WHYTE TEXTED ME SOME TIME AGO ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TEN MORE SAFFE OFFICERS.
I THINK IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY MORE SAFFE OFFICERS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ROOM FOR FLEXIBILITY.
I ANTICIPATE THAT CHIEF SALAME MIGHT BE WILLING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND DEEPER INTO THE BUDGET TO SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THERE.
NOTHING AT THE MOMENT FOR FIRE. I STILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESULTS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY INFORM FUTURE BOND PROGRAMS AND FUTURE BUDGETS SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT FIRE IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY EMERGENCY. BUT PARTICULARLY THE FIRES THAT WE SEE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME. AND JUDGE OBLEDO, I THINK THE BIG CONVERSATION WE'LL BE HAVING IS ABOUT THE DOUBLE MAGISTRATION AND HOW WE MIGHT COORDINATE A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH THE COUNTY OR IN A WAY THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE STREAMLINED.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE FOR EFFICIENCIES.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD ABOUT POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO -- OR ADDITIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT SYSTEM AND PROGRAMS AND ADDITIONS THAT I KNOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND PROBABLY NEED IN ORDER TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS DEPARTMENT AS POSSIBLE. ALL THAT SAID, WE WILL SEE WHAT COMES OUT NEXT WEEK AMENDMENT-WISE. THURSDAY I'M AS INTRIGUED AS
EVERYBODY IS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, PLEASE. >> KAUR: THANK Y'ALL FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT CATHERINE ON THE MUNICIPAL COURTS TEAM.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER, PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA.
>> KAUR: I CAN'T. THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MUNGIA, PLEASE. >> MUNGIA: I THINK SHE WAS GOING TO SAY CATHERINE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK OVER THERE. I'LL START OFF WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, GREAT WORK HAPPENING THERE. BEEN TO ALL OF OUR FIRE STATIONS IN THE PAST AND MET WITH ALL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS.
I KNOW THEY DO EXCELLENT, FANTASTIC WORK. VERY EXCITED ABOUT STATION 52 BECAUSE I THINK SOMEBODY SAID OUT HERE THAT IT IS A MOBILE HOME, ESSENTIALLY.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS THERE WILL HAVE A NICER, MORE ACCOMMODATING PLACE TO DO FIRES OUT OF. AND THAT IS A GROWING AREA IN THAT QUINTANA CORRIDOR.
I'M GLAD THAT PART OF THE SOUTH SIDE IS GOING TO GET THAT BETTER STATION.
AND SO DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETE? I SEE QUARTER 1 OF FISCAL YEAR '27. JANUARY TO MARCH, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CHIEF: I'M BEING TOLD SEPTEMBER. >> MUNGIA: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED. WE WOULD LOVE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. ALSO, AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HIGHLIGHTED, I DO WANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THAT ALSO. THE UNIT RESPONSES AND HOW MUCH OF THE RESPONSE IS EMS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO A MAP OR IF WE HAVE A MAP ON THOSE TYPES OF CALLS FOR EMS. KIND OF WHERE THAT'S HAPPENING. BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING MAYBE THERE'S MORE ON CERTAIN SIDES OF TOWN AND THAT'S JUST A MORE REASON TO BE INVESTING IN HEALTHCARE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IF YOU HAVE THAT MAP OR HEAT MAP OR SOMETHING TO KIND OF TELL US WHERE YOU'RE GETTING MORE OF THE EMS CALLS, WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT. THAT CAN ALSO HELP US WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE EMS TRUCKS. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THE FIRE TRUCK USAGE VERSUS THE SMALLER CAR USAGES AND THE TRUCKS AND ALL THAT.
>> CHIEF: WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT FOR YOU. >> MUNGIA: YES.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, CHIEF -- OF COURSE EVERYBODY WAS WORKING DURING THE STORM BUT WE HAD A REALLY SENSITIVE ISSUE WE WANTED Y'ALL TO BE OUT THERE AND YOU WENT REAL QUICK AND REPORTED BACK THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING OKAY AT THAT SENIOR FACILITY. JUST THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT OUT THERE SO QUICK AND MAKING SURE THOSE SENIORS HAD -- THOSE VETERAN SENIORS HAD EVERYTHING THAT THEY
NEEDED. >> CHIEF: ANY TIME. >> MUNGIA: APPRECIATE IT.
I'LL GO QUICKLY THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THERE'S GREAT WORK HAPPENING THERE TOO. WE WORK A LOT, OF COURSE,
[01:25:05]
WITH OUR SAFFE UNIT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEM BECAUSE THEY RESPOND TO SO MANY NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS AND THEY ARE THERE AND KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS.ESPECIALLY WITH OUR HOMELESS SITUATION, THEY'RE NOT THERE TO JUST ARREST THAT PROBLEM AWAY BUT THEY KNOW USUALLY EVERY SINGLE HOMELESS PERSON IN THE AREA AND THEY HAVE A GOOD WAY OF COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB. ESPECIALLY WITH WES TOO. >> CHIEF: THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WORK CONTINUES AND THERE'S NO FINISH LINE TO THAT AND I HOPE WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON THOSE
RESPONSES AS WELL. >> MUNGIA: I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE'S SOME REDUCTION IN THE OVERTIME NOT IMPACTING THE SERVICES BUT I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE ASK THAT SOME OF US HAD HAD PREVIOUSLY WITH THE AUDITOR. THE REALIGNMENT OF THE
SHIRTS WILL HELP WITH THAT OFTEN. >> CHIEF: WE'RE EXPECTING IT WITH THE SHIFT REALIREALIGNMENT AND THE NEW SHIFTS THAT'S GOING TO GO
INTO EFFECT WITH THE CVA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU. JUDGE, FRED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO AT MUNICIPAL COURT. YOU HAVE INVITED ME MANY TIMES. I WENT TO ONE OF THE TRUANCY DAYS AND GOT TO SPEAK TO KIDS WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS OR CARED WHO I WAS BUT IT WAS NICE TO TELL THEM I'M A COUNCILMAN. WE WANT THE BEST FOR YOU.
SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. SO MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS YOU HAD INVITED THERE AND I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. BECAUSE THE GOAL IS JUST TO GET OUR KIDS UP AND GOING.
SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, GOING TO OUR BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS, HELPING FOLKS SAYING IF YOU HAVE A WARRANT, MEET WITH US.
WE WON'T HAVE THE POLICE THERE. THAT SAYS A LOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS.
YOU COULD JUST SAY WE'RE A COURT AND WE'RE HERE ALL THE TIME.
BUT DOING THAT EXTRA MILE AND SEEING THE JUDGES THAT TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME FROM THEIR WORK TO DO IT ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN THEY COULD BE RESTING, IS REALLY IMPACTFUL AND I REALLY THANK EVERYTHING Y'ALL ARE DOING OVER THERE.
AND I GOT TO BE A FAKE JUDGE --R MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ WAS ALSO THERE.
WELL, I WAS A FAKE ONE AND WHEN I SAT UP THERE, I FELT THE WEIGHT OF IT.
I SAID I NEVER WANT TO BE UP HERE MAKING DECISIONS. IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE KIDS THAT WERE ACTING AS LAWYERS AND DEFENDANTS AND PLAINTIFFS AND WITNESSES.
I REMEMBER JUST TELLING THEM JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN THIS ROOM AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. SO IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE KIDS BEING ENGAGED AND THAT'S ALL THE PROGRAMMING YOU DO. CONGRATS ON THAT AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
A COUPLE OF POINTS OF CLARIFICATION ACTUALLY, JUDGE, PLEASE.
CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND THE ANIMAL DOCKET? WHY IS THERE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, LIKE FROM '25 'TO '26? YOU GO TO 7500 IN '26? THE WARRANTS ISSUED. I SAY THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE REDUCTIONS IS THE TWO WARRANT OFFICERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IF YOU'RE SEEING SUCH A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE ISSUANCE AND YET
WE'RE REDUCING THOSE POSITIONS -- >> SO MAYOR, I THINK IT'S MOSTLY IDENTIFIED TO THERE'S USUALLY A LAG IN TIME BEFORE THE JUDGES ISSUE A WARRANT.
AS THE JUDGE EXPLAINED, THERE'S A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT COURT SETTINGS ARE SET.
SO THIS REFLECTS IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR '24, THE NUMBER OF FILINGS IS NOT AS HIGH AS WHEN ACS STARTED INCREASING CASE FILINGS '25 AND '26.
NOW YOU'RE SEEING THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO DON'T SHOW UP AND THESE REFLECT THE FOLKS THAT FAILED TO APPEAR IN COURT. SO IT'S INCREASING.
>> OBLEDO: IF A PERSON IS SUPPOSED TO APPEAR IN COURT AND THEY DON'T MAKE THEIR COURT SETTING, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER COURT SETTING FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS. WHAT FRED IS SAYING IS THAT SOME OF THOSE CASES FROM FY25 COULD HAVE BEEN CASES THAT WERE ACTUALLY -- COULD BE LEFTOVER CASES FROM FY24.
ANY WARRANTS ISSUED IN FY26 COULD BE CASES FILED IN FY25.
THAT'S MORE THAN LIKELY WHAT HAPPENED. THEY WERE FILED IN FY25 BUT
THE WARRANT WASN'T ISSUED UNTIL FY26. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.
IT'S JUST A SIGNIFICANT JUMP. >> OBLEDO: IT COULD BE
[01:30:03]
JUST BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY CRIMINAL CASES THAT WERE FILED IN FY24.>> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT NOW.
I WOULD WELCOME YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, SPECIFICALLY FOR MELODY'S WORK AND HER WORK WITH YOUTH AND THE DELEGATE AGENCIES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONCENTRATION OF THE STUDENTS THAT YOU SERVE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S AS MUCH ALIGNMENT IN YOUR WORK AND THOSE KIDS AND THE SERVICES, THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT WE FUND. EVEN IF THERE IS -- I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS AN ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF YOUR WORK AND HOW IT INFORMS YOUR PERFORMANCE METRICS, EITHER WAY, SO WE SEE THE HIGHEST ROI POSSIBLE, I WOULD
WELCOME UNDERSTANDING THAT. >> OBLEDO: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: FOR CHIEF SALAME, PLEASE. JUST A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-ON QUESTIONS.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE EXPANSION OF THE DRONE PROGRAM.
I THINK NOT ONLY IS THIS GOOD FOR CERTAINLY A COST SAVINGS BUT AS WE ALSO KNOW IT'S OFFICERS THAT ARE -- FEWER OFFICERS IN HARM'S WAY AS A RESULT OF RESPONDING AND OF COURSE LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS ALSO A COST SAVINGS. SO THAT COST SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR THE LESS WEAR AND TEAR OR IS YOUR COST SAVINGS ONLY REFLECTIVE OF PERSONNEL SAVINGS?
>> LET ME ASK CHIEF EARWOOD TO HELP OUT. >> THE COST SAVINGS IS REFLECTED OF THE MAINTENANCE, THE FUEL. MOST THE EQUIPMENT COSTS.
>> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. FRANKLY, JUST HAVING SEEN THIS AT THE DEPARTMENT AT THE AIR FORCE. YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH FASTER YOU CAN GO BECAUSE FOR ALL OF THE BENEFITS WE JUST DESCRIBED. YOU'RE ACTUALLY ONLY HAVING PERSONNEL RESPOND WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. IS THE RATE OF YOUR EXPANSION IN THIS PROGRAM, WHAT IS DRIVING THAT AND COULD YOU ACTUALLY GO
FASTER? >> CHIEF: FASTER TO IMPLEMENT IT?
>> MAYOR JONES: FASTER TO IMPLEMENT IT. FASTER TO REALIZE THE COST SAVINGS. FASTER TO KEEP PERSONNEL OUT OF HARM'S WAY THAT DON'T
HAVE TO BE IN HARM'S WAY. >> CHIEF: YEAH, I THINK WE COULD MAYBE STEP IT UP A LITTLE BIT, ONCE WE GET THE APPROVAL. WE WANT TO WRITE GOOD POLICIES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE APPROPRIATE CALLS.
SO THEY WILL BE IN THE FIRST RESPONDER REALM. THOSE EMERGENCY CALLS WOULD PUT OFFICERS OR RESIDENTS IN HARM'S WAY. THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT A DRONE IS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN STEP IT UP ON THAT ONE, FOR SURE. >> MAYOR JONES: APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES FOLKS CAN CONFUSE CAUSATION AND CORRELATION. WHEN WE'RE SEEING DECREASES IN CALLS AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA. YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW BUT TO THE EXTENT WE ARE SEEING THE HEIGHTENED AGGRESSIVE ICE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT 100 100,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
WHEN WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IN CALLS, FOR ME MORE OF A CONCERN WOULD BE THE DECREASE IN CALLS. IF YOU WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY POTENTIALLY BE HAPPENING THERE AS A RESULT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ICE OR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT ICE ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT KIND OF TEN DAYS, TWO WEEKS, DO WE SEE A DECREASE IN CALLS FROM THAT AREA? HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THAT TO THE EXTENT WE ARE HAVING
THAT KIND OF -- THAT LEVEL OF AWARENESS. >> CHIEF: SURE.
THERE'S PROBABLY A MYRIAD OF FACTORS, TO YOUR POINT. THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO A DEEPER DIVE IN AND LOOK INTO. GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IS THAT BECAUSE THE VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN AND PEOPLE AREN'T CALLING. IS THAT BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT ICE? I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN PEOPLE DO HAVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEEP DIVE INTO MORE AND COME BACK.
>> MAYOR JONES: I APPRECIATE THAT, CHIEF. THANK YOU.
ERIK, DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND THE PRESENTATIONS. THE TIME IS NOW 5:20 P.M.
AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.