[00:00:02] >> THANKS OR ATTENDING. ALWAYS APPRECIATE [1. Call to Order] THE PRESS AS WELL FOR COMING IN AND HANGING OUT ALL DAY. WE'RE FIXING TO JUMP INTO A GOOD WORKING MEETING. WE'RE IN DAY 3 AND OFFICIALLY CALLING OURSELVES TO ORDER HERE. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE A SCHEDULE. LET ME GET TO OUR SCHEDULE JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR. IF YOU'RE TUNING IN, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THE AGENDA FOR TODAY. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS ALREADY LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. BUT TODAY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY DISCUSSION. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IN THIS MORNING. MRS. STORES CORRECT ME IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING OUT OF ORDER. BUT JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR IF THEY'RE WATCHING ONLINE AND IN AND OUT, WE'LL DO POLICE CITY MARSHAL FIRE, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'LL HIT FIRST. THEN WE'LL CATCH ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE OR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES AS WELL. WE'LL WRAP UP THIS MORNING WITH MUNICIPAL COURT AND SOME JUDICIAL, WHICH I DON'T THINK WILL HAVE A LOT TO IT. HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE REALLY HEAVY ON THE FRONT END. >> THEN OUR FINAL PIECE THIS MORNING, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT STREET MAINTENANCE. >> YES. IF YOU'RE KEYED IN ON THAT, THE STREET MAINTENANCE AND A POTENTIAL STREET FUND AND HOW THAT WOULD WORK, AND ALL OF THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO PUT THE MONIES OVER THERE FOR OUR NUMBER 2 PRIORITY, WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE. STREETS ARE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AS MUCH AS SEWER AND WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT. IF WE CAN GET THROUGH ALL THAT BY LUNCH, I'LL BE SURPRISED, BUT LET'S HOPE. IT'S WHAT 9.30-ISH. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. WE'LL COME BACK THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SAYS, REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, RAISES. THEN IT SAYS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR DEPARTMENTS AND COUNSEL DIRECTION. WHAT I AM GOING TO TELL YOU IS, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TODAY, SO, GET THAT EXTRA CUP OF COFFEE AFTER LUNCH. LET'S PUSH IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. WE WOULD DO EVERYBODY A DISSERVICE IF COUNSEL GETS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS, AND WE DON'T GIVE STAFF A GOOD CLEAR DIRECTION FOR WHAT WE WANT. THEY HAVEN'T HAD AS MUCH DIRECTION. THEY'VE REALLY RAN THIS BUDGET BASED ON HERE'S WHAT WE SEE, HERE'S WHAT WE THINK. THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT'S OUR TURN TO SAY, WE LOVE THIS. GREAT JOB. WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, GO GET MORE, OR THAT DOESN'T MATCH UP WITH OUR DIRECTION, OUR VISION. THAT'S YOUR ROLE HERE AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE. YOU'VE GOT 210,000 PEOPLE COUNTING ON YOU, AND THAT MAY BE AROUND 530 TODAY. WE'LL WRAP UP HOPEFULLY BY THEN. MRS. STORES, IF WE COULD JUST HAND THE REINS OVER TO YOU, [2. City Council Budget Workshop] I WOULD LOVE TO LET YOU DRIVE HERE FOR MOST OF THE MORNING. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF WE WILL TURN TO PAGE 99 IN OUR BUDGET BOOKS, THAT WE ARE GOING TO START GOING THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK SOME OF THE BIG CHANGES THAT WE HAVE IN IS, FOR POLICE WE'VE GOT A NEW POSITION IN FOR A LIAISON OFFICER. THAT IS TO SUPPORT CANYON ISD. THERE IS A MATCH. THEY PAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PORTION OF THAT RESOURCE OFFICER, THAT LIAISON OFFICER. WE DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION IN RELATED TO THAT. YOU CAN SEE THAT A LITTLE BIT CLEAR. HANG ON, IF I CAN GET TO THE END OF THEIR REPORT. ON PAGE 114, YOU WILL SEE US LISTING THAT ONE NEW POLICE OFFICER POSITION TO SUPPORT CANYON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEN YOU'LL SEE THERE'S ALSO ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION LISTED IN THERE FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL STAFF, THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'LL COVER THAT IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THEY HAVE A NEW CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO PUT IN THERE. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NEWER ON COUNCIL, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS OF TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS WORK THAT SOME OF OUR SWORN PERSONNEL ARE DOING THAT MAYBE COULD BE SHIFTED TO A CIVILIAN POSITION. THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW THEIR CIVILIAN SIDE, SO THEIR PROFESSIONAL STAFF. AS CASE LOADS GROW, BUT ALSO AS THEY FIND ABILITIES TO SHIFT WORK OFF OF SOME OF THOSE SWORN PERSONNEL AND PUT THEM ON CIVILIAN POSITIONS. I THINK THIS ONE IS HELPING WITH THE AMOUNT OF CASE LOADS THAT THEY HAVE, BUT ALSO CONTINUING TO TREND IN THAT SAME DIRECTION. >> REAL QUICK. WHAT DID YOU SAY CSDS MATCHING ON THAT POSITION? WHAT IS IT? >> I BELIEVE IT'S 75%. >> THEY'RE PAYING 75%? [00:05:02] >> YES, SIR. >> 75% OF THAT 90? >> YES. >> THEY BASICALLY PAY FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WE PAY FOR THE SUMMER. >> YES. >> BUT IF THEY USE THEM DURING THE SUMMER, THEY END UP PAYING A SHARE OF IT TOO. >> THANK YOU. >> THEY ALSO HELP WITH VEHICLE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT AS WELL. YES. ANOTHER CHANGE THAT WE HAVE ADDED INTO THE POLICE BUDGET IS, IF YOU'LL LOOK OVER ON PAGE 101, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN, YOU'LL SEE AN ACCOUNT 4162O UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME. THIS IS AN ACCOUNT THAT HAS HAD A LOT OF FLUCTUATION OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. A LOT OF PRESSURE HAS BEEN PUT ON THIS OVERTIME ACCOUNT AS WE'VE HAD VACANT POSITIONS. THERE ARE MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR POLICE STAFF, AND IF THERE'S VACANT POSITIONS, THERE'S MORE OVERTIME BEING WORKED. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IS WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $700,000 INTO THAT OVERTIME ACCOUNT. YOU CAN SEE THAT GETS IT UP TO A LEVEL THAT'S A LITTLE CLOSER TO WHERE IT WAS IN '21, '22 AND '22, '23. OUR '23, '24 ACTUALS WERE HIGHER, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT AND ADDRESS THAT. AS YOU'RE AWARE, WITH THE PAY INCREASES THAT WENT INTO PLACE IN THE CURRENT YEAR, THERE'S BEEN MORE INTEREST IN TESTING AND GOING THROUGH THE ACADEMY. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. OUR HOPE IS THAT OVERTIME DOLLARS WILL START COMING DOWN. IT'S A REMINDER, THE WAY WE BUDGET IS WE SHOW EVERY POSITION FILLED FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. IT MAY APPEAR THAT WE ARE UNDER REPORTING OR WE'RE UNDER BUDGETING ON OUR OVERTIME. HOWEVER, WE DON'T WANT TO SHOW EVERY POSITION FILLED FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S VACANCIES ALREADY THERE, THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VACANCIES, IT WILL TAKE US PROBABLY A COUPLE MORE YEARS, HOPEFULLY SOONER THAN LATER TO FILL UP ALL THOSE VACANCIES. THEN WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO GET A BETTER GAUGE ON WHERE THAT OVERTIME ACCOUNT SHOULD BE. I WILL STATE THAT WE ARE AWARE THAT THE OVERTIME ACCOUNT DOES COME IN OVER BUDGET, BUT THE HOPE IS THAT SOME OF THOSE UNFILLED POSITIONS, THE SAVINGS IN THAT AREA WILL HELP OFFSET PART OF THAT. >> COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. >> YES, SIR. >> HERE WE'VE GOT THE 24 25 BUDGET FOR OVERTIME AT 1.7 MILLION ON PAGE 101. >> YES. >> WHERE ARE WE ON THAT? ARE WE AT THAT? ARE WE ABOVE THAT? THEN I SEE THAT WE'RE NOW FORECASTING 2.4 MILLION FOR THE NEXT YEAR. >> IF YOU'LL GIVE US A SECOND, LET US PULL THAT NUMBER AND WE'LL GET YOU THAT NUMBER OF WHERE WE'RE AT FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. >> BUT EVEN AT THE 2.4, THE 1.7, IT LOOKS LIKE IN '23, '24, WE HAD 4.2 MILLION IN OVERTIME. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THIS BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS. ANDREW FREEMAN GAVE ME SOME RECENT NUMBERS ON VACANCIES, AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THE POLICE FORCE WITH THE ACADEMY, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MAKING GROUND ON THAT, BUT IT JUST LOOKS LIKE WE DID MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON OVERTIME. >> ONE THING I WANT TO NOTE AS WE'RE PULLING THAT NUMBER FOR YOU, IF YOU'LL GO BACK OVER TO PAGE 100. ON PAGE 100 IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINE FOR PERSONNEL SERVICES, WHICH IS THE 41000 LINE ITEM. THAT'S YOUR TOTAL FOR ALL OF YOUR SALARIES BENEFITS, INCLUDING OVERTIME. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TREND HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT LOWER AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD THOSE RESOURCES UP. THEY HAVEN'T ADDED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF POSITIONS, HOWEVER, WE DID HAVE LARGE PAY INCREASES THAT WENT INTO THIS CURRENT YEAR. BUT THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDER-SPENDING THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS EXCLUDING THE OVERTIME. THEY'RE WORKING TO HELP OFFSET EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT. BUT AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT MAYBE CHANGE A LITTLE BIT WHERE THE POSITIONS ARE GETTING MORE FILLED UP, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT OVERTIME IS GOING TO COME BACK DOWN A LITTLE BIT. >> POLICE IS ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT GIVEN HAS MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS, THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN VACANCIES AND OVERTIME. TYPICALLY, WHEN VACANCIES DECREASE, OVERTIME DECREASES, VACANCIES INCREASE, OVERTIME INCREASES. IT'S A STRATEGY, WE COULD UNFUND CERTAIN POSITIONS ON THERE, BUT THEN IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE OVERTIME, OR YOU CAN FUND THE VACANT POSITIONS AND NOT PUT THE SAME NUMBER OF OVERTIME, BUT THEN THE TWO OFFSET EACH OTHER. THAT'S THE INTENDED GOAL. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, IN REALITY, [00:10:03] END OF THE YEAR, IT'S GOING TO END UP SHAKING OUT THE WAY, IT'S GOING TO SHAKE UP, BUT THIS IS A BUDGETING STRATEGY THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD THAT WHEN YOU ADDRESS THESE TYPE OF SHIFT TYPE POSITIONS, YOU PUT IT IN SALARY, KNOWING THAT A VACANT POSITION HELPS FUND THE OVERTIME, THE BUDGET WORK. WHENEVER YOU'RE SPENDING IN OVERTIME, GENERALLY YOU'RE GOING TO NET SAVINGS. IT SHOULD EQUAL OUT IN THE END. ALTHOUGH, ACROSS THE BOARD, AND MAYBE THIS IS NOT SO MUCH IN EMERGENCY SERVICES, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE OUT THERE. BUT OVERTIME ACROSS THE BOARD IS A MANAGEABLE EXPENSE. NOW, IT MAY NOT BE AS MANAGEABLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT OUT THERE. IF NOT MANAGED, IT CAN EXPLODE. THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREETS, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, JUST MAKING SURE IF YOU'RE WATCHING OVERTIME, YOU COULD SAVE QUITE A BIT. IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING IT, YOU COULD SPEND QUITE A BIT. >> WE JUST PULLED THE NUMBER THROUGH THE MOST RECENT PAYROLL. WE'RE AT A LITTLE UNDER 2.5 MILLION UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING THAT NUMBER, IT'S TRENDING LOWER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO IN CORRELATION TO I THINK THEY'RE STARTING TO GET SOME POSITIONS FILLED, AND THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF MANAGING THAT OVERTIME, SO IT DOES APPEAR TO BE COMING IN A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN WHAT WE SAW IN THIS CAST THIS YEAR. >> THE GOAL WITH THAT IS GIVEN OUR BUDGET IS LOOKING FAIRLY GOOD THIS YEAR. THEN IN COMBINATION WITH THE RECENT GREAT ACADEMY CLASS WE JUST HAD, THE HOPE IS THAT NEXT YEAR, GIVEN WE'RE FILLING VACANT POSITIONS, THESE BUDGET FIGURES ARE GOING TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SHOULD END UP SEEING. >> THAT WOULD TREND OUT TO MAYBE ABOUT 3.25 MILLION, 3.5 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR? >> YES, POTENTIALLY. AGAIN, THAT'S JUST DOING STRAIGHT MATH. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PROJECT IT TO THAT, THOUGH. YOU'RE BASICALLY LOOKING AT SIX WEEKS. IF THAT'S A CURRENT NUMBER, YOU'RE ONLY SIX MORE WEEKS OF SOME POTENTIAL OVERTIME. >> IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO EIGHT BECAUSE OUR PAYROLLS, WE PAY ABOUT TWO WEEKS IN ERRORS. >> YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT 3 MILLION, WHICH IS DOWN FROM 4.2 MILLION. >> YES. >> EXACTLY. THEY'VE MADE SOME REALLY GOOD SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THAT. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AS WE WALK FORWARD AS THOSE POSITIONS ARE FILLING UP. >> GO AHEAD COUNSEL. >> WHERE ARE WE ON STAFFING? I THINK LAST YEAR WE WERE 34 DOWN. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT STAFFING AND OVERTIME, BUT WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS? >> I GUESS WE'RE UP TO 11 VACANCIES NOW IF YOU INCLUDE ALL THE ACADEMIES. WE JUST GRADUATED NINE. THEY STILL GOT FOUR MONTHS OF FTO TRAINING IN THE FIELD. THEN THE ACADEMY WITH THE NEW CLASS, THE EMAIL I SENT. COUNCILMEMBER SIMPSON, WE HAD 28, WE'RE DOWN TO 24 NOW. WE'VE LOST A FEW MORE. THEY'LL GRADUATE IN JANUARY 2026, BUT THEN THEY STILL HAVE FOUR MONTHS OF FIELD TRAINING IF THEY GRADUATE IN JANUARY. INCLUDING THE LAS ACADEMY AND WHAT WE JUST GRADUATED, WE'RE SITTING A LITTLE OVER 10 VACANCIES, 12 VACANCIES. >> BUT IN REALITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE CURRENT TIME. BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IF WE'RE LOOKING AT 4 MILLION IN OVERTIME, WHAT WERE WE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR? 34, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. WE WERE IN THE 30 RANGE OF VACANCIES. >> THIRTY RANGE. THE NEW ONES CAME ON, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S THAT. >> THE ACADEMY. THEY'RE LEARNING. WE CAN'T USE THEM IN THE FIELD, SO WE'RE STILL HAVING MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS IN OVERTIME. >> WE'RE NOT SEEING THE CHANGES YET. >> IT'LL BE ABOUT 2-3 ACADEMIES BEFORE WE ACTUALLY WE BARELY CAUGHT UP. >> BUT WITH THIS LAST ACADEMY, WE'RE ABOUT 11 SHORT RIGHT NOW. >> YES. >> THAT'S WHY WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND CUTTING THIS OVERTIME LINE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS NEXT YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTS VACANCIES "FILL", THEY'RE NOT READY TO SERVE ON THE STREETS JUST YET. THIS FUTURE FISCAL YEAR IS STILL A BRIDGE YEAR, GETTING US TO WHERE WE'LL BE GETTING BETTER OVERTIME BUDGETS IN THE FUTURE. >> I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH CITY MANAGER ON THE BRIDGE YEAR. YOU CAN SEE THE TREND. I SAW TOBY HUDSON, OUR APOA PRESIDENT PUT OUT THE STATS. WE'RE BACK IN PROBABLY 1920. WE REALLY STARTED FALLING. WE BOTTOMED OUT, I THINK, IN 21-ISH 22. THEN YOU'VE SEEN THOSE STATISTICS RISE ALL THE WAY BACK UP TO WHERE THIS TREND PUTS US FULLY STAFFED NEXT YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS AND CORRECT IT. IF IT'S ONLY 14, I'LL TAKE THAT ONE. BUT LIKE IN OVER A DECADE, AND THE MORALE AND EVERYTHING OVER THERE. YOU CAN'T PUT IT ALL ON NEW LOCKERS, BUT HEY, NICE LOCKERS HELP. THE LOCKER ROOM AND EVERYTHING THAT PREVIOUS COUNSEL DID. [00:15:01] HERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GOT TO LOOK AT, THOUGH. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET FROM '24, '25, CURRENT BUDGET IS 49.2 MILLION FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. CHIEF'S REQUEST IS 49.9 MILLION, ONLY $678,000 MORE. I'M PREPARED TO PULL FOR MORE THAN THAT. THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT SHOWS THOSE EFFICIENCIES THAT ARE IN PART DUE TO GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE. MR. CITY MANAGER, I SEE YOU LIGHT UP. AM I MISREADING SOMETHING? >> YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PERSONNEL LINE. GO ONE LINE UP TO SEE THE OVERALL EXPENDITURE. >> NOT LOOKING AT HIS OVERALL BUDGET, JUST LOOKING AT HIS PERSONNEL BUDGET. THOSE SHOW EFFICIENCIES WITHIN THEMSELVES, BECAUSE YOU'VE BUILT A 5% RAISE INTO THAT, IS THAT CORRECT, MR. CITY MANAGER? INCLUDING A 5% RAISE, YOU'RE ONLY $678,000 MORE. SEE, THOSE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP. THAT SHOWS EFFICIENCIES ON THE CHIEF AND ON THE DEPARTMENT SIDE. >> AM I SEEING THAT CORRECTLY? >> I'M SORRY. ASK THAT ONE MORE TIME. >> WELL, YOU'VE GOT A 5% RAISE BUILT IN FOR POLICE. >> YES, THAT IS INCLUDED IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT ON THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION. THAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN OUR GENERAL FUND TRANSFER. >> THAT WAS THAT PFP LINE WE HAD. >> YES. >> AS YOU RECALL ON YOUR FIRST DAY, PART OF OUR BUDGETING STRATEGY HERE IS GIVEN THE POLICE, FIRE, CIVILIAN, TMRS, IS STILL UP FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. THAT $12 MILLION WAS PUT INTO A LINE SO THAT WE CAN EASILY ADJUST IT AND THEN WHEN THE COUNCIL MAKES YOUR DECISIONS, IT WILL THEN FILTER IN THE BUDGETS HERE. THIS LINE IS ACTUALLY MUCH GREATER. >> WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE. IT'S NOT ONLY 678,000. >> NO, IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT. >> FIVE PERCENT A LONE IS 2.2 MILLION. >> MY GOAL WOULD BE LIKE THREE MILLION, GETTING UP MAYBE TO WEAR MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DID PREVIOUS YEAR AND REALLY PUSHING THAT PRIORITY ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE GOAL LINE. NOT SAYING THAT 5% IS ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE LESS THAN ACCEPTABLE. I THINK IF WE WALK AWAY WITH THAT, IT'S ACCEPTABLE, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S OUR BEST IN THIS SIZE OF A BUDGET WITH THE GOAL IN MIND OF GETTING WHAT WE REALLY WANT DONE AND SEEING THIS TREND FOR THE FIRST TIME TO BE FULLY STAFFED IS HUGE. THEN TO SEE THE LEADERSHIP OVER THERE WITH THE MORALE AND THE GROWTH AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY NUMBERS COMING IN BETTER. THE OVERALL FEEL IN AMARILLO, I THINK, IN JUST A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK, CRIME IS SOMETHING THAT NEVER GOES AWAY, BUT YOU HAVE A FEELING OF SAFETY THAT MATTERS. YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVE ONE LINE ITEM. IT'S ON THAT ONE OF THOSE FRONT PAGES IN THE SUMMARY, AND YOU'LL PLUG THAT IN HERE. IF YOU PLUG THAT NUMBER IN, HE GOES FROM 4099-51. >> YES. ONE OTHER THING OF NOTE, AND I HAVE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ON OUR POLICE OFFICER ASSOCIATION AS WELL. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A TEAM EFFORT TO WORK WITH THE STATE LEGISLATOR ALONG WITH THE STATE POLICE ASSOCIATION CLIT AND WITH HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE FOR PRICE TO TAKE SOME LEGISLATION TO CHANGE FOR US TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT PUTTING A COLA BACK IN FOR OUR RETIREES. THIS WAS A HUGE INITIATIVE WITH OUR POLICE ASSOCIATION ALONG CITY MANAGEMENT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR A THREE-YEAR WINDOW, AND WE ARE IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS OF US HAVING THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS ANY A COLA FOR OUR RETIREES AND WHAT'S ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR BUDGET, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE FIRST DAY IS CURRENTLY WE'RE AT A 50% OF COLA FOR OUR RETIREES, AND THIS BUDGET HAS AN ADDITIONAL 2.1 MILLION IN IT TO INCREASE THAT TO A 70% OF COLA, AND REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO TOBY AND TO NORM BECAUSE THEY PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN HELPING GET THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE FOR US TO EVEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER IT. THAT A DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL SPREAD OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. THE FULL 2.1 ISN'T JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S THE WHOLE GENERAL FUND, BUT PART OF THAT WILL COME OVER INTO THEIR BUDGET AS WELL. THAT WAS I KNOW, A REALLY BIG WIN, I THINK FOR ALL OF US. WE HAVE THAT HIGHEST AMOUNT ADDED IN ON THIS LAST FOUR MONTHS THAT WE CAN EVEN LOOK AT THAT. >> COUNCIL SIMPSON, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY GOES TO A BIGGER ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON, WHICH IS RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD AND THEN WHERE THOSE LIE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THEM. I'M ENCOURAGED THAT WE DO SEEM TO HAVE MADE GROUND AT LEAST ON RECRUITMENT INTO THE ACADEMY. NOW, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW MANY OF THOSE GUYS MAKE IT ON THE OTHER END, [00:20:01] BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE CAN NECESSARILY. IT'S TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE BENEFIT OF THOSE PAY INCREASES. MY CONCERN IS ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION CENTER, WHICH I GUESS WE'LL GET TO IN A MOMENT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT POLICE AND FIRE, WE'VE MADE HEADWAY ON THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES. WE'RE NOT FULL, BUT WE'RE NOT AS BAD AS WE'RE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RAISES THIS AFTERNOON, WE GET TO IN A MINUTE. I THINK THE COMMUNICATION CENTER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE THERE AND THE VITAL ROLE THAT THEY PLAY, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT UP FOR LOOKING AT, WHERE WE ARE IN THE COMPENSATION FOR THEM BECAUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE REALLY ARE DEPENDENT ON THAT COMMUNICATION CENTER TO BE EFFECTIVE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S FULLY STAFFED AND AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO IT. JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE, MAYBE THAT'S A BROADER ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON WHEN IT COMES TO RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD. >> I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TEAM ASPECT AND DISPATCH AND EMERGENCY SIDE OF THINGS, AND HAVING THOSE CIVILIANS OVER THERE, KNOW THAT THEY'RE PART OF THAT LOCAL HERO APPARATUS, WHERE IF YOU'RE NOT EFFICIENT THERE, AND THOSE CALLS AREN'T GOING OUT CORRECT, AND THEY'RE NOT HITTING TIMELY, THEN EVERYBODY THAT'S A BADGED OFFICER CAN'T DO THEIR JOB. I'M 100% AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE IN THE AECC. WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE PRIORITIES AND WE, AS AN ENTIRE BODY, HAVE SEEN THE BENEFIT FROM KEEPING OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT AND KEEPING PUBLIC SAFETY AS AN OVERALL. YOU EVEN LOOK AT ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES I THINK THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE THEY ARE. THE WAY IN WHICH WE CONTROL ANIMAL POPULATION AND WE RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT JUST TALKING POLICE RIGHT NOW, WE SEE THE BUILT IN RAISES THAT YOU'VE GOT BUDGETED HERE MRS. STORES. I WOULD SAY I, I WOULDN'T SAY WE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO GETTING WHERE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US HERE. I THINK THERE'S SOME EFFICIENCIES IN THE BUDGET THAT WE CAN PUSH TOWARDS THAT DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE TO BUILD ON EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE GOTTEN GOING. THERE'S A TON OF MOMENTUM OVER THERE. COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, OTHERWISE, WE'LL LET MRS. STORES PUSH US TO THE NEXT ONE. >> THAT'S PROBABLY THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU'LL TURN THE PAGE TO PAGE 104, THIS IS YOUR POLICE PROFESSIONAL STAFF DEPARTMENT. THEY DID, AS I MENTIONED, HAVE THE NEW CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR ADDED IN, AND THEY'VE ALSO GOT A RE-CLASS OF A POSITION TO A CRIME INTELLIGENCE ANALYST JUST TO BETTER ALIGN WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS ON THAT POSITION. THAT'S ALL INCLUDED HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. THEN THE OTHER THING JUST OF NOTE ON PAGE 105 IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY DOWN IS YOUR CONTRACTOR JAIL EXPENSE OF 1.8, AND THAT IS STAYING FLAT FOR THE TIME BEING. THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS PROFESSIONAL STAFF BUDGET. THEN THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES, WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THOSE. THAT IS JUST RELATED TO THOSE GRANTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. THEIR JAG GRANT, THEIR SAFE AND SOBER TECH STOCK GRANT. THEY JUST HAVE SOME MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS THAT IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CITY IS PAYING FOR THE FRINGE BENEFITS, AND THE GRANT IS COVERING SALARIES AND OR OVERTIME COSTS. THEN YOU CAN SEE ON PAGE 113 IS YOUR POLICE STAFFING. YOU'VE GOT YOUR SWORN UP AT THE TOP, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT THE BOTTOM. >> QUESTION, AND I APPRECIATE MR. FREEMAN FOR GETTING THAT PAY STUDY OUT LAST NIGHT. I OPENED IT AND WAS HOPING TO SEE 2, 3 PAGES. WHEN I HAD SEEN SEVERAL, I DIDN'T READ IT. >> IT WAS ABOUT 500 OR SO. >> YEAH. LITTLE MORE THAN I COULD DIGEST LAST NIGHT BETWEEN 9:45 AND 10 O'CLOCK. BUT IMPORTANT HERE. I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A BUDGET. YOU GUYS ARE WANTING TO GET IT OUT ON THE NEXT AGENDA. I NEED TO KNOW THE PAY STUDY, HOW DOES IT EFFECTUATE THIS? HOW MANY OF THESE POSITIONS OUT OF 460 ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THOSE VICTORIES. WE'RE RIGHTLY ALIGNED. I'M TRYING TO PUT AS MANY APPROPRIATE PAY SCALE CHANGES INTO OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AS POSSIBLE. BUT I'M BLIND RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T TELL IS THERE A 10%, A 12% TO SOME OF THESE CIVILIAN POSITIONS? [00:25:01] WHEN WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE AT LEAST IDENTIFYING THE GOOD ON THIS SIDE OF THAT RECOMMENDATION? BECAUSE THERE'S 2.2 MILLION THAT'S SET ASIDE IN THAT OVERALL. >> THE COMPENSATION [OVERLAPPING] >> SOME OF THAT COMES HERE. >> YEAH, I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK NEXT WEEK. WE'RE STILL EXTRACTING THAT WITH HR, BUT WE'VE GOT A FAIRLY GOOD BREAKDOWN GOING OF THE TYPES OF POSITIONS AND THE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE COMPENSATION STUDY. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. >> NEXT WEEK, WE WOULD HAVE THE PAY STUDY. CAN YOU OVERLAY IT SO THAT WE CAN SEE AS YOU EXTRAPOLATE POLICE AND FIRE, HERE'S THE OVERLAY LIKE, CHIEF POSITION, SERGEANT POSITION, THESE ALL THINGS. >> WELL, THE COMPENSATION STUDY IS NOT POLICE SWORN OR FIRE SWORN. WE DO HAVE THAT SEPARATE FROM WHAT I EMAILED YOU OF JUST POLICE AND FIRE DATA. THE 500-PAGE DOCUMENT, THAT WAS JUST CIVILIANS. >> WHAT I GOT LAST NIGHT WAS JUST CIVILIANS? >> THAT WAS ONLY CIVILIANS. WHAT I SENT YOU EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND TRIED TO LAST FRIDAY WAS THE POLICE AND FIRE COMPARISONS. >> WE HAD THE SAME CONSULTANTS DO A SIMILAR LOOK AT OUR POLICE AND FIRE SWORN PERSONNEL LOOKING AT THEY CALCULATED A COST OF LABOR FACTOR, AND WE'LL HAVE MORE FOR THAT FOR YOU GUYS NEXT WEEK. THE STUDIES WERE NOT DONE TOGETHER, BUT THEY DID SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR A LOOK AT OUR SWORN PERSONNEL. THAT'S WHAT ANDREW HAD SAID. >> JUST AS A REMINDER, WHERE WERE WE ON? I KNOW THERE WAS RANGES AND DIFFERENCES. BUT OVERALL, WHEN WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR RAISES FOR FIRE AND THE SWORN OFFICERS, WHAT WAS THE BALLPARK PERCENTAGE RAISE THAT WE GAVE? >> WHAT WE ACTUALLY GAVE LAST YEAR? >> YES. >> [OVERLAPPING] THE OVERALL AVERAGE WAS ABOUT 12% ON FIRE, BUT IT DEPENDED ON THE RANK. THE LOWEST RANK OF FIREFIGHTER AVERAGED ABOUT 16% WITH STEP 1 BEING 19%. THEN ON POLICE SIDE, THE OVERALL AVERAGE WAS ABOUT 11%. THE HIGHEST RANK BEING OFFICER OF 14% AND THE HIGHEST INCREASE WAS THAT STEP 1 OFFICER AT 16%. >> THANK YOU. >> IF YOU LOOK BACK, I THINK 16% WAS WHERE WE PUSHED THAT OUT BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE KEY POSITIONS THAT WE WANTED TO AFFECT THE MOST. >> THE PERCENTAGES FLUCTUATE BECAUSE YOU ALL DID THE FLAT AMOUNT INSTEAD OF A PERCENTAGE ACROSS THE BOARD. >> YOU WORKED OUT THE COMPRESSION FOR US, WHICH WAS GREAT. >> THAT TWO. >> THE 5%, 4% IS ACROSS THE BOARD? >> YES. >> YES. >> BECAUSE WE WORKED OUT IN THE LAST TIME. AGAIN, WE GAVE SUCH LARGE RAISES. THAT'S WHY THERE WAS SUCH A DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO NOT GIVE SOMEBODY AN INCENTIVE TO GET PROMOTED WHEN THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY UNDERNEATH. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> CAN I ASK, TOBY, I WOULD LOVE SOME FEEDBACK. I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO HEAR FROM JUST YOUR POSITION, NOT AS A POLICE OFFICER, YOUR POSITION AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION. WE DON'T KNOW IS THIS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR? IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP. THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE REST OF THE BUDGET, WILL HELP US TO SEE WHAT YOUR GOAL WAS. >> YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL STAFF. I APPRECIATE IT. I'LL JUST SPEAK TO THE SWORN PERSONNEL, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE REPRESENT, EVEN THOUGH EVERYBODY IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE DEPARTMENT. LAST YEAR'S MEET AND CONFER WAS SOME HUGE STRIDES. AS MR. FREEMAN REFERRED TO, IT CAUGHT US UP A WHOLE LOT CLOSER TO WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE. I WON'T COVER UP WHAT THE CHIEFS PROBABLY GOING TO COVER LATER, BUT CRIME RATE WAS ABOUT 11.5% DOWN LAST YEAR TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE INCREDIBLY SHORT STAFFED, SO THAT CREDITS A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SWORN AND PROFESSIONAL IN WHAT THEY DO OVER THERE. BUT AS FAR AS THE STAFFING NUMBERS WE WERE AT, WERE AUTHORIZED 380 SWORN POSITIONS. I THINK WHEN I EMAILED YOU GUYS AND STAFF LAST MONTH, WE WERE AT 370. WE'RE AT 365 BY MY A COUNT. WE'VE LOST FIVE SINCE THEN, ONE RETIREMENT AND FOUR RECRUITS OUT OF THAT ACADEMY. WE HIRED 31 IN THIS MOST RECENT ACADEMY, WHICH IS A HUGE STRIDE FROM THE 10 OR 11 WE WERE HIRING IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE ACADEMIES, GRADUATING 6-8 SOMEWHERE IN THAT REALM. WE'RE DOWN TO 24. I EXPECT IT TO BE 21 WHEN WE'RE DONE, AND THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING OUT. THAT'S A HUGE WIN, BUT THAT STILL PUTS US, WE'RE STILL 15 SWORN SPOTS DOWN. YOU TAKE AWAY THE 24 RECRUITS, WE'RE AT 341 REAL POLICE OFFICERS. THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT. THESE RECRUITS ARE BABY POLICE OFFICERS IN MY MIND. WE'RE STILL DOWN, BUT WE'RE MAKING HUGE STRIDES TO GET THERE. [00:30:06] LAST YEAR'S MEETING CONFERRED BETWEEN US AND STAFF. WE WERE REALLY TRANSPARENT WITH THEM. THEY WERE SUPER TRANSPARENT WITH US. WE APPRECIATED ALL THE WORK. JUST TO CATCH EVERYBODY UP THAT DIDN'T KNOW, WE DID A PAY STUDY WITH 10 TEXAS CITIES THAT MATCHED US BY POPULATION, FIVE ABOVE, FIVE BELOW AMARILLO. I'VE SPLIT THOSE UP WHEN I SENT IT TO YOU GUYS BETWEEN METROPLEX AND OUTLIER CITIES, BECAUSE ABOUT SIX OF THEM WIND UP IN THAT CLUSTER OF THE METROPLEX. THEN WE DID THE FIVE REGIONAL CITIES THAT ARE OVER 100,000, THE WEST TEXAS AREA, ABILENE, WICHITA FALLS, MIDLAND, ODESSA AND LUBBOCK. THAT MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT LAST YEAR THAT GOT US THE SWORN RAYS, CAUGHT US UP PAST MOST OF THE OUTLIERS. WE'RE STILL WELL BELOW THE METROPLEX AREAS, BUT YOU'RE TALKING GARLAND, GRAND PRAIRIE, FRISCO, BIG MONEY CITIES. WE DON'T EXPECT TO CATCH THOSE CITIES, BUT WE DO EXPECT TO COMPETE WITH SOME RECRUITS FROM THE METRO AREA. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE CAN'T JUST RECRUIT IN AMARILLO ANYMORE. WE'RE NOT CATCHING ENOUGH YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE POLICE OFFICERS, SO BIG STRIDES. WE'RE STILL JUST BELOW THE REGIONAL AVERAGE. THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD. I THINK THE CLOSEST WE ARE AND MAYBE BYPASSED A COUPLE OF THEM IS IN THAT RECRUIT CATEGORY, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANTED. THE TWO PARTS WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. WE MADE HUGE STRIDES IN RETENTION AS WELL. A WHOLE LOT FEWER PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, ARE CHOOSING TO STAY INSTEAD OF EITHER RETIRE OR QUIT AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE SO THAT'S BIG, BUT I JUST CAUTION US, WE'RE NOT THERE YET. IT TAKES A FEW YEARS TO GET THESE GUYS IN AN ACADEMY. IN FTO, IT TAKES ABOUT TO 11-12 MONTHS BEFORE THEY'RE ACTUAL POLICE OFFICERS. THIS BIG GROUP HAS GOT A LITTLE WAYS TO GO. THEY JUST STARTED. >> THE NUMBERS ARE JUST GETTING OUT, SO EVERY CITY IS DOING THE SAME THING YOU GUYS ARE DOING. THEY'RE ALL IN BUDGET PROCESS RIGHT NOW. I'VE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF OUR COMPARISON CITIES, AND THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING WE'RE DOING. THEY'RE TRYING TO BEAT EVERYBODY ELSE IN RECRUITING YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO THIS JOB. I JUST GOT THE ABILENE BUDGET NUMBERS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER LAST NIGHT. ABILENE HAS A UNIQUE CONTRACT WHERE THEY AVERAGE THEIR COMPARISON CITES AND THEY GO 4% ABOVE THAT. THAT'S THEIR STANDARD MODEL. I HAVE THEIR PAY NUMBERS FOR THE UPCOMING, 2025, 2026. IN LINE WITH THAT, WE PROPOSE AND REQUESTED 8% THAT WAS OUR BEST GUESS TO KEEP UP WITH THAT MIDDLE GROUND, TO TRY AND KEEP UP WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS. STAFF IS BUDGETED FOR 5%, WHICH, OF COURSE, WE APPRECIATE. I THINK 8% GETS US CLOSER, BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AS FAR AS ABILENE IS ACCORDING TO THE CITY, I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE TOO, SO BEAR WITH ME, READING THE COST OF LABOR VERSUS THE COST OF LIVING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A MORE ACCURATE REPRESENTATION BASED ON THE CITY STUDY. THEY DID 17 COMPARISON CITIES. WE WERE BELOW AVERAGE IN 14 OF THOSE 17. MUCH CLOSER THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO, FOR SURE, AND FULL CREDIT GOES TO STAFF AND COUNCIL FOR THAT, BUT WE STILL ARE BELOW. ACCORDING TO CITY, AND MS. [INAUDIBLE] CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, EACH 1% RAISE IN THE SWORN STAFF IS COSTING ABOUT $455,000, IS THAT RIGHT? >> APPROXIMATELY, YES. >> EACH 1% WOULD BE ABOUT 450,000, SO WHAT I WOULD REQUEST IS, AND THAT'S IN LINE WITH ABILENE, WHICH IS THE CITY THAT I'M COMPARING US TO BECAUSE THEIR NUMBERS ARE OUT. IF WE COULD GET AN EXTRA 2% ON TOP OF THAT FIVE AND SHOOT FOR MAYBE 7%, THAT PUTS US JUST AHEAD OF THEIR STARTING PAY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN LINE WITH MOST OF THE REGIONALS, AND IT WILL PUT US JUST BELOW MOST OF THEIR STEPS IN EACH RANK, BUT STILL VERY COMPARABLE, VERY CLOSE. WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE FIND ANOTHER $910,000 TO ADD AND MAKE THAT A 7%. I THINK THAT GETS US RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS FAR AS THESE REGIONAL CITIES, JUST BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING RIGHT NOW. >> QUESTIONS FOR MR. HUDSON. >> TOBY, I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT, SO WE HAVE A ROBUST ACADEMY OR MORE ROBUST THAN IT HAS BEEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THERE YET, AND YOU DON'T KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY. BUT IF YOU TAKE OUT THAT ACADEMY, I THINK WE'RE STILL 37 SWORN UNDERNEATH OUR BUDGET. >> THIRTY-NINE SWORN OFFICERS. >> THIRTY-NINE SWORN OFFICERS. WE THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, [00:35:03] BUT ON THE FIRESIDE, THOUGH, WE HAVE 302 OF 311. WE ONLY HAVE NINE VACANCIES ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SIDE AND WE'VE GOT AN ACADEMY THAT COULD FILL THOSE. WE THINK WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SAY, WE'VE DONE ENOUGH OR IT'S DEFINITELY WORKING. WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT. >> WE ABSOLUTELY ARE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT JUST TAKES SO MUCH TIME TO GET THESE GUYS PLUGGED IN, AND ACTUALLY, WE START GETTING A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT AS TO WHAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND DO IN THE PUBLIC. IT'S A SOLID YEAR BEFORE WE GET THEM OUT THERE, AND THAT'S WHEN WE GET THE FINISHED PRODUCT OUT, WHICH IS A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WE START WITH. >> THANK YOU. >> HISTORICALLY, THE ATTRITION RATE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMIES IS HIGH. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHAT YOU PROVIDED. THIS JANUARY 26, WHERE WE HAVE 31 IN THE START OF THE ACADEMY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO GRADUATE. OVER THE LAST SEVEN ACADEMIES, THAT'S AN ANOMALY? >> YES. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THAT'S GOING. WHETHER OR NOT THE RAISES THAT WE'RE GIVEN ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL IN THE NUMBERS THAT WE GET IN OVER CONTINUED PERIOD OF TIME. >> THIS ACADEMY IS THE FIRST ONE SINCE THAT PAY INCREASE, BUT THE APPLICANTS DOUBLED FROM ROUGHLY 230 TO ALMOST 400. THAT WAS THE TREND, AND SO YOU GET A BIGGER POOL, YOU'RE SCOOPING OUT MORE FISH. THAT'S THE GOAL. BUT ARE THEY QUALITY FISH? WE GOT TO THROW BACK. [LAUGHTER] >> [INAUDIBLE] WHAT THE QUALITY FISH IS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WATCH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. THANKS. >> WELL, WE APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT, THE EXPERTISE. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THING. WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT VITAL DEPARTMENTS. WE DON'T HAVE MANY DEPARTMENTS, TWO THAT I CAN THINK OF WHERE WE HAVE AN ENTIRE ACADEMY THAT WE SPEND A YEAR INVESTING IN PERSONNEL AND TRAINING PEOPLE. WHAT WE WERE DOING IS WE WERE INVESTING IN PERSONNEL FOR OTHER ENTITIES. THEY WOULD COME AND GET TRAINED, AND THEN THEY WOULD GO WORK ELSEWHERE. THAT WAS SOMETHING WE JUST SAW CHRONICALLY. THEN YOU SAW PEOPLE THAT WERE FROM 1-5-YEAR BUY-IN, TRANSFERRING AND MOVING. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE'VE MOVED THAT NEEDLE BECAUSE WE CHANGED ONE THING. WE CHANGED OUR MINDSET FROM INVESTMENT, AND IT WAS JUST PAY RAISE. WE WERE WILLING TO OFFER A PAY RAISE, WE WERE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT IT WAS JUST A RAISE. I THINK WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, I THINK WE'RE OKAY TO JUST DISCUSS RAISES. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR DEPARTMENT AND TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OUR TWO ACADEMIES, THESE ARE INVESTMENTS. WHAT I'M HOPEFUL FOR IS THAT COUNCIL WILL PUT A $910,000 INVESTMENT. THAT'S A SMALL INVESTMENT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH AND INVEST IN THIS MINDSET OF THESE PEOPLE WITH THIS BUY-IN, BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET OVER FIVE, EIGHT YEARS, MAN, THAT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO LEAVE. A LITTLE HARDER TO GO AWAY. THESE GUYS BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY, AND THEY STAY, AND THEY ARE THE TOBY HUDSONS. ARE YOU 26 YEARS? >> TWENTY-FIVE. >> TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. MAN, I SLEEP REALLY GOOD AT NIGHT BECAUSE HE HAS A FEW FRIENDS THAT DRESS LIKE HIM. MAN, WE WANT TO SHOW THAT IN OUR BUDGET. JUST MOTIVATE AND HIGHLIGHT THE INVESTMENT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HERE IN THESE DEPARTMENTS VERSUS JUST A RAISE, AND BE ABLE TO SEPARATE THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL RAISES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> MAY BE HELPFUL, I CAN GIVE A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT. WE PROVIDED THE PUBLIC SAFETY SNAPSHOT OF COMPENSATION. CURRENT FISCAL YEAR COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE'S. THAT'S A SALARY STUDY PIECE, BUT I DID GO AHEAD AND SCRUB BUDGETS OF PROPOSALS THAT ARE OUT THERE. OF COURSE, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS EVERYBODY ELSE IS HAVING THEIR BUDGET WORKSHOPS. BUT AS YOU MENTIONED ABILENE'S, IT'S ABOUT 4%. POLICE ALSO LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GETTING A 2% COLA, BUT THE ENTIRE COST TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IS 2.8 MILLION. THAT'S ABILENE'S INVESTMENT. LUBBOCK IS PROPOSING 4% FOR POLICE AND FIRE, 2.3 MILLION POLICE, 2.1 MILLION FIRE FOR A TOTAL OF 4.4 MILLION. OURS, OF COURSE, IS CURRENTLY BUILT AROUND 3.8 MILLION WITH THE 4% AND 5% PROPOSED. DENTON HAS CHOSEN TO PAUSE THEIR MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT TO MATCH NON-SALE SERVICE. NO ONE'S GETTING COLA OR MERIT INCREASES. FRISCO IS LOOKING AT A 3% STEP INCREASE AND A LUMP SUM PAY OPTION OF 5% IF THEY MEET CERTAIN BENCHMARKS. [00:40:03] GARLAND IS LOOKING AT A ONE TIME 2.5% LUMP SUM PAYMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. GRAND PRAIRIE DOES NOT HAVE A COST OF LIVING INCREASE IN THEIR BUDGET, BUT ARE LOOKING AT A LUMP SUM PAYMENT. KILLEEN IS A 4% COLA, INCLUDING THEIRS. LAREDO IS 1.5% FOR FIRE CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH POLICE, AND MCALLEN IS LOOKING AT 3% FOR POLICE, AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT FIRE IS GETTING AN INCREASE. JUST SOME COMPARISONS OF WHAT CURRENT BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ARE IN THOSE CITIES. >> WELL, I WOULD SAY, AND I AGREE, I THINK RAISES ARE AN INVESTMENT, NOT ONLY FOR POLICE, BUT ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES. THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT, BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. AGAIN, ONE OTHER FACTOR THAT I JUST LOOK AT, WHEN I JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, TO ME, THE VACANCIES ARE THE DRIVING FORCE IN THIS AREA. RIGHT NOW, WE STILL SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF VACANCIES WE DID A YEAR AGO. LIKE YOU SAID, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO DO. BUT I GO BACK, NOW, FIRE DEPARTMENT SEEMS TO BE MAKING SOME GROUND. WE'RE NINE SHORT THERE. THEN ACC STAFFING IS ABOUT 25% SHORT. AGAIN, I JUST GO BACK TO ME, IT'S LIKE THE INVESTMENT SEEMS TO BE PAYING OFF, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLOCATING MORE INVESTMENT, WHERE ARE THEY STILL EXISTING. YES, SIR. >> TWO QUESTIONS. WHERE IN THE BUDGET IS THE ACADEMY COST? >> WE DON'T HAVE THAT SPLIT OUT ANYWHERE IN THE BUDGET. IT'S JUST BUILT IN TO YOUR OVERALL POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET, SO IT'D BE IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND THEN ANY MATERIALS THAT THEY NEED OR ANYTHING WOULD JUST BE IN THEIR NORMAL OPERATING ACCOUNTS. >> WE DON'T HAVE IT BROKEN OUT INTO [OVERLAPPING] >> NO. >> WE HAVE CERTAIN STAFF COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO, OTHERS CHIP IN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE PAYING THE RECRUITS THAT ENTIRE EIGHT MONTHS. >> WHAT IS THE COST OF AN ACADEMY FROM START TO FINISH? JUST SUPER BALLPARK? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> WE COULD WORK ON THAT TO TRY AND BRING BACK NEXT [OVERLAPPING] >> INTERESTING, JUST AS WE LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS. >> WE DO TWO ACADEMIES A YEAR, SO IT'S A YEARLY BASIS. >> LOOKING AT THE OVERTIME, I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS BUILD OVERTIME INTO THEIR COMPENSATION PACKAGES IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED TO LIVE ON. IF WE TRY TO CONTINUE TO HIRE MORE FOLKS AND TAKE THE OVERTIME OUT, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING MOST OF THAT OVERTIME. HAVE THEY BUILT THAT INTO THEIR HOME BUDGETS? I SEE THAT IN MY INDUSTRY THAT INDIVIDUALS LOVE OVERTIME. IS THAT GOING TO BE A DETRIMENT? >> THERE'S THE OVERTIME PIECE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SO SHORT-STAFFED, THEY CAN'T DO THE OFF DUTY JOBS. I THINK IF WE DID HAVE REDUCTION OVERTIME, THAT WOULD FREE UP THEIR TIME TO DO THOSE OFF DUTY JOBS. MOST LIKELY IT'D PROBABLY BE CLOSE TO A WASH. >> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE TYPICAL OVERTIME RATE IS? ARE WE LOOKING AT 50, 60 AN HOUR? WHAT IS IT? DO WE HAVE AN IDEA? >> IT'S TIME AND A HALF DEPENDING ON RANK. >> I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE SOMETHING. >> IT WOULD BE DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE, WHAT THEY'RE MAKING. IT'S TIME AND A HALF, SO THAT WOULD DEPEND ON THAT. ONE THING WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IS, TO YOUR QUESTION, IS STRESS TO THE OFFICERS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE COUNTING ON THE OVERTIME AS PART OF THEIR LIVING EXPENSES. UNDOUBTEDLY, THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE IT'S GONE ON SO LONG NOW, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE REALLY PRESSED IS FINANCIAL WELLNESS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOT TO RELY ON THAT OVERTIME, BUT IT'S NOT HARD FOR A GUY TO MAKE OVERTIME IF HE NEEDS TO MAKE OVERTIME BECAUSE WE HAVE STAFFING SHORTAGES. >> THANK YOU. >> I JUST RAN SOME CALCULATIONS FOR COUNCIL. AT $50 AN HOUR, IT'S 23 FTES. JUST LOOKING AT THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT OVERTIME BURDEN LOOKS LIKE. THEN WE ALSO NEED TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 2.6% UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW THE HEADWINDS THAT ARE COMING FROM FERMI, SO I DO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S DISCUSSION ON THE INVESTMENT. IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY, THE INVESTMENT WE HAVE IN THE INDIVIDUALS IN PUBLIC SAFETY. >> ONCE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE BUSINESS ACUMEN, AND YOU JUST RAN AN FTE. WITH THAT FULL TIME EQUIVALENT, WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING IS IS WE COULD STRETCH TO THAT 7% AND WE COULD NET A SAVINGS. WE CAN GIVE THESE RAISES, AND OVERALL, WE CAN SEE THE INVESTMENT COME BACK, AND WHEN I SAY 7%, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE CAN GO FROM FIVE TO SEVEN. LET ME BE CLEAR. WE CAN INVEST THAT $910,000. YOU COULD WAGER THAT. I'D WAGER THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR THAT THAT WOULDN'T EVEN END UP AS AN EXCESS. IT WOULD END UP AS A CREDIT UNDERNEATH THAT OVERTIME. [00:45:03] >> BUT WE STILL HAVE TO PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET, THOUGH. >> CORRECT. >> I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE VACANCIES ARE NOT TIED TO THE PAY, VACANCIES ARE TIED TO THE, YOU'RE MISSING AN EMPLOYEE. SINCE YOU HAVE EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE TO FILL SHIFTS, IF YOU INCREASE THE PAY, YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME RATE YOU HAVE TO PAY THE EMPLOYEE. IF WE INCREASE TO 7%, I WILL NEED TO INCREASE THE OVERTIME BUDGET BECAUSE IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO FILL THESE POSITIONS IN AP AND APD BECAUSE OF THE ACADEMY AND SO FORTH. NOW, TWO, THREE YEARS, I THINK YOU COULD SEE THAT. BUT IN THIS FIRST FISCAL YEAR, GO AHEAD. >> I COMPLETELY AGREE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME BECAUSE EVEN AS THEY FILL UP, I THINK BOTH CHIEF AND TOBY HAD MENTIONED THAT, IT TAKES TIME FOR THEM TO BE TRAINED TO A POINT WHERE THEY CAN BE OUT AND ACTUALLY COVERING THOSE MINIMUM STAFFING EFFORTS. I THINK IT WOULD TAKE US A FEW YEARS TO HOPEFULLY SEE A BENEFIT. >> WELL, I KNOW YOU GET PAID TO DO THIS JOB AND YOU DO IT VERY WELL. LET ME AGREE WITH YOUR EXPERTISE, BUT IN THE LONG-TERM, TWO, THREE YEARS, WHICH IS STILL SHORT, BUT NOT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, WHAT I AM SIMPLY SAYING IS, THAT EXTRA $900,000, IN MY OPINION, IF YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE BUDGETS GREAT, ON OVERTIME, AND AS ALL THAT PUSHES UP, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NET THAT ZERO AS YOU CONTINUE TO COVER THESE POSITIONS. >> I WOULD AGREE. YES. IN THEORY, ASSUMING EVERYTHING WORKS OUT THE WAY YOU HOPE IT TO, INCREASE IN THE PAY, WHETHER IT'S POLICE, SOLID WASTE, LIBRARY, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU IMPROVE YOUR RETENTION, AND THEN YOU CAN START BILLING YOUR WAY BACK, AND THEN IT WILL START DRIVING OVERTIME IN TIME. BUT NOT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. >> BUT AS WE'RE WORKING ON THE BUDGET, THOUGH, IF WE ADD $911,000, PLUS I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO ADD OVERTIME ON TOP OF THAT, JUST IN THE BUDGET. WHETHER WE SPEND IT OR NOT, REALLY, THAT'S TO BE SEEN. BUT THAT COULD BE A MILLION DOLLARS WE'RE HAVING TO ADD IN TO COVER THIS, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THAT. BUT THEN THE QUESTION IS, WHERE DOES THAT MILLION DOLLARS COME FROM? WHAT ARE WE TAKING AWAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS? I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S A GOOD INVESTMENT. I JUST THINK THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO KNOW, WHAT'S THE SACRIFICE. WHAT'S THE COST? BECAUSE WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE GOT, SO IF WE ADD THE MILLION INTO IT, FINE, THAT'S GOOD. WHERE ARE WE TAKING THAT FROM? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WITHOUT DAMAGING SOME OTHER DEPARTMENT IN WAYS THAT WE DON'T KNOW? THAT'S WHAT I'D BE LOOKING FOR IS, WHERE WOULD THE MONEY COME FROM. >> AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FILLING SOME VACANCIES, BUT 2-3 YEARS NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT OVERSTAFFING AND ADDING BECAUSE WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GROW, THE CITY LIMITS CONTINUE TO GROW, SO I KNOW PD, THEY MAY BE SHORT STAFFING PEOPLE NOW, BUT I THINK WE'RE SHORT STAFFED JUST OVERALL AS FAR AS THE SIZE OF APARTMENTS. THAT'S JUST A CONVERSATION WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE. UNLIKE FIRE, THEY'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WE'RE ACTUALLY OVER FILLING, ADDRESSING ATTRITION, AND ADDING STAFF TO NEW FIRE STATIONS. WE'VE NOT EVEN GOTTEN TO THAT POINT IN THE POLICE CONVERSATION YET. >> ULTIMATELY, I AGREE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCILOR SIMPSON ARE SAYING HERE. THE GOAL HERE IS TO KEEP RAISING THE PAY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES SO WE RETAIN, SO WE KEEP, SO WE ATTRACT, SO WE CAN DRIVE DOWN OVER TIME, GET BETTER SERVICE, HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE IN OUR EMPLOYEES. BUT WITH THIS, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE CAPPED ON WHAT WE CAN RAISE IN REVENUE. THREE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT SALES TAX IS WHERE IT'S AT. THAT'S WHY I WOULD LOVE TO PROPOSE TO YOU 10% FIRE, 10% POLICE, 10% EMPLOYEES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO GET A JOB DONE, AND I ONLY CAN RAISE SO MUCH REVENUE. THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS YOU HAVE HERE IS TRYING TO BALANCE ALL THAT. NOW, THAT'S WHY END OF TODAY, WE'LL BE ASKING FOR REQUESTS ABOUT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? THEN FROM THERE, GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE SO THAT WE CAN GO WORK SOME NUMBERS AND BRING THEM BACK TO YOU BECAUSE EVERY LEVEL YOU PULL AT THIS POINT HERE, IT'S GOING TO BE A LEVER POPPED SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE WE'VE GIVEN YOU A BALANCED BUDGET. WE TRY TO BALANCE ALL THAT, KNOWING THAT WE GOT TO FILL OUR VACANCIES WHICH MEANS WE'VE GOT TO APPROVE THE PAY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP WITHIN OUR LIMITS WHILE STILL PROVIDING SERVICES LIKE FILLING POTHOLES, AND FIXING STREETS, AND THOSE THINGS. I'M JUST TRYING TO MARRY WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SAYING THERE. >> LAURA, ON THE OVERTIME NUMBER, THAT WAS BASED ON, IF WE WERE AT 1.7 LAST YEAR, WE'RE BUDGETING AN ADDITIONAL 700,000, SO WE'RE 2.4. >> HOW DID YOU FIGURE THAT NUMBER? BECAUSE THOSE METRICS THAT GO INTO THAT WOULD DETERMINE IF, I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW UNTIL WE KNOW, BUT, LIKE, I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> THAT WAS WHAT WE COULD AFFORD TO INCREASE THEIR [INAUDIBLE] I'M BEING COMPLETE. >> NO, NO. THAT'S GREAT. >> YOU THINK IF WE COULD HAVE ADDED MORE, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO, BUT WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE OVERALL BUDGET, THAT'S HOW MUCH WE COULD AFFORD TO PUT IN. >> I GET IT. BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NEW SWORN OFFICERS [00:50:01] COME ONLINE BEFORE THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE WOULD LIKE TO HOPE FULL FLEDGED, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO. >> THE NINE YEARS JUST GRADUATED HAVE FOUR MONTHS OF IN THE FIELD, SO THEY'RE NOT ON THEIR OWN YET. >> CHIEF, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY NEW RECRUITS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BOOTS ON THE GROUND THIS WHOLE FISCAL YEAR? >> THE NINE JUST GRADUATED AT THE END OF THEIR FDO PHASE HERE IN ROUGHLY FOUR MONTHS, CAN WE ANTICIPATE KEEPING ALL THOSE. THOSE NINE WILL BE CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICERS READY TO GO OUT IN THE FIELD ON THEIR OWN. THE ACADEMY THAT'S RUNNING RIGHT NOW WILL NOT GRADUATE UNTIL NEXT SUMMER. THEN THEY WILL HAVE FDO, AND THEN THEY WILL BE ON THEIR OWN. REALISTICALLY, OTHER THAN TRANSFERS, WE COME IN CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICER, WE HIRE FROM OTHER AGENCIES. REALISTICALLY, YOU HAVE NINE RIGHT NOW THAT WILL COME OUT. >> IT'S NOT NEW, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY COUNTING ANY ATTRITION EITHER. WE HAVE NOT COMING ON BOARD, BUT WE COULD HAVE RETIREMENTS. SAME THAT WE ALWAYS DEAL WITH EACH YEAR. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> BUT WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE IF THINGS ARE GOING WELL, LIKE IF RETENTION IS UP. WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN THE OVERTIME. WHAT AM I MISSING? IF WE'RE ADDING EMPLOYEES AND OUR ATTRITION IS BETTER, OUR RETENTION IS BETTER, WE SHOULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A REDUCTION IN THAT, CORRECT? >> YES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERTIME ACCOUNT FOR THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE AMOUNT SPENT WAS JUST UNDER 4.3 MILLION. BRINGING THAT DOWN, WE'RE BRINGING- >> YOU'RE SEEING AN IMPROVEMENT ALREADY YOU SAY. IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER. AGAIN, ASSUMING EVERYTHING KEEPS GOING THE WAY IT'S TRENDING, THIS NUMBER SHOULD GET BETTER THE NEXT 12-24 MONTHS. >> YES. >> THE 4.2 MILLION IS 23/24, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. YES. >> 24/25, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT. >> THAT WAS JUST A BUDGET. AGAIN, WE HADN'T ADJUSTED THEIR OVERTIME IN PROBABLY SEVERAL YEARS. >> YOU SAID WE'RE REALLY ABOUT 2.5 RIGHT NOW? >> I THINK IT WAS 2.4. WE'RE GOING TO END THE YEAR COULD BE ABOUT 3 MILLION. [OVERLAPPING]. >> POTENTIALLY, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THEY DO A LOT I THINK THEY DO QUITE A BIT OF OVERTIME DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. >> HOW DID WE PAY THAT? IF WE BUDGETED 1.7 AND WE'RE REALLY ABOUT THREE, WHERE DID THAT OTHER 1.3 COME FROM? >> IT CAME FROM YOUR OTHER GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS. >> WE HAVE VACANCIES AND THEY'RE NOT BEING SPENT, THAT'S SALARY SAVINGS THAT COVER SHORTAGES IN THE BUDGET. >> WE'VE BEEN ABSORBING THE ADDITIONAL COSTS IN BOTH POLICE AND FIRE ACROSS THE REST OF THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. >> WE JUST FIND IT ON JUST UNFILLED POSITIONS THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE. >> PAYROLLS. >> I MEAN AND OTHER SAVINGS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. >> COMMODITIES, SERVICES. >> WE JUST FOUND IT. >> EFFICIENCIES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS THEY TRY TO CREATE. >> WE FOUND IT OVER THE YEAR. WE FOUND 1.3 MILLION? >> I THINK SALES TAX RIGHT NOW, WE'RE UP PROBABLY 1.5 MILLION ABOVE BUDGET, THAT PLAYS INTO IT. >> HOPEFULLY, WE'LL FINISH AGAIN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THE NUMBERS IF WE'RE HEADING DOWN THIS TRACK TO GET TO. >> AGAIN, THINK ABOUT OUR OVERALL GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS $270 MILLION. I KNOW THESE ARE HUGE BUT THEY ARE RELATIVELY SMALLER NUMBERS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 270 MILLION. EVEN IF EACH DEPARTMENT SAVES A LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEARS, MOST DEPARTMENTS COME IN A LITTLE BIT BELOW THEIR BUDGET, THAT ACROSS ALL THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS HELPS ABSORB SOME OF THIS. >> THE OTHER THING, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE EFFICIENCIES WE'RE MAKING INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING THAT'S FREED UP SOME OFFICERS, THE WAY WE RESPOND TO REPORTS OR REGIONAL CRIME CENTER THINGS WITH OUR DRONES, THINGS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY POINT TO THAT THIS IS TAKING THE PLACE OF A BADGE AND A GUN OUT HERE, SO EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS THERE'S SMALL ADJUSTMENTS, BUT EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS WITH THAT. >> YES, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> ONE THING I WOULD ADD IS THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE INSTEAD OF HAVING THE 24/25 BUDGET, IF WE HAD WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO PAY, WE'D BE ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SHOWING IN PERSONNEL EXPENSES, WE BUDGETED A 49.2. BUT I BET WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT MUCH BECAUSE OF THE VACANCIES. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, BUT TO ME, THAT WOULD BE AND WE DON'T HAVE REAL OVERTIME FIGURES. THIS WOULD BE AN IDEA BECAUSE I WOULD BET, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE'RE OVER BUDGET IN OVERTIME, WE'RE PROBABLY UNDER BUDGET AND SALARIES ARE FAIRLY. >> IT'S CLOSER. I THINK IN THE CURRENT YEAR AND MAYBE THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, THE OVERTIME SPENDING HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE SAVED, BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY. >> AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I JUST THINK THAT LIKE, COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS QUESTION COULD BE ANSWERED, IF WE JUST HAD WHAT DO WE WHERE DO WE EXPECT TO FINISH THE YEAR? [00:55:02] NOT WHAT THE BUDGET NUMBER WAS, BUT KIND OF WHERE WE FINISHED THE YEAR AT? >> YES, I UNDERSTAND. >> OKAY. THIS OVERTIME BUDGET ITEM, THAT'S BASED ON THE 5% INCREASE, IS THAT CORRECT? THEY'RE FACTORING THAT IN THE OVERTIME RATE. >> YES. BACK IN WHERE WE'RE BUDGETING THE RAISES, IN THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFERS DEPARTMENT, SO IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. WHEN WE DID THE 5% FOR POLICE, WE DID INCREASE OVERTIME BY 5%. IT'S SITTING OVER IN THAT HOLDING ACCOUNT. THEN IF COUNCIL DECIDES THEY WANT THE 5% TO BE 6% OR 4% OR WHATEVER, WE WILL ADJUST THAT OVERTIME AMOUNT AS WELL SO IT WILL COME ON TOP OF THIS. I WILL SAY FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, WE DID NOT DO THAT IN THIS PAST YEAR. WHEN COUNCIL APPROVED THE LARGE RAISES, IT JUST WENT TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS, AND IT DID NOT AFFECT OVERTIME, WHICH HAS DEFINITELY PUT THESE CHIEFS BEHIND ALREADY STARTING OUT ON THEIR BUDGET. WE RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE TRIED TO PUT WHAT WE COULD IN TO HELP TRUE THAT UP UNTIL NEXT YEAR. I DON'T THINK IT'S FULLY DONE IT, BUT WE DID WHAT WE COULD AFFORD. BUT THEN FOR THE RAISES PROPOSED FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, WE ARE FACTORING IN THAT OVERTIME. >> GOOD FOR ALL FOR LEARNING. >> YES. WE LEARN NEW THINGS EVERY YEAR. YES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN A MAJOR CRISIS, THE OVERTIME BUDGET GOES OUT THE WINDOW. THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR WHERE THOSE FUNDS COME FROM. >> YES, SIR. AGAIN, MAJOR CRISIS. AGAIN, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE OUR 90 DAY OPERATING RESERVE. IF SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC WERE TO HAPPEN, WE CERTAINLY DO HAVE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT. IT'S THE NUMBER, I THINK IS 52 MILLION. THAT'S WHAT THOSE RESERVES ARE FOR. IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, WE ABSOLUTELY WILL LOOK AT THAT. I WILL SAY NOT THAT THIS IS LIKE IT WAS NECESSARILY A PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY, BUT BACK WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND NO ONE WAS SURE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE ECONOMY. WE WERE BRACING, WE WERE ALREADY MAKING CHANGES, BUT THEN WE WERE DETERMINING IF NEEDED, THAT'S WHAT THE RESERVES WERE THERE FOR, AND IT WAS MORE ON THE REVENUE SIDE. IF OUR SALES TAX TANKED, IF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TANKED THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, THAT'S WHAT THOSE RESERVES ARE THERE FOR. WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE AND HAVE NOT HAD TO TOUCH THOSE MUCH IN THE PAST, BUT THAT'S WHAT THOSE RESERVES ARE FOR. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD, SOMETHING MAJOR CRIME OR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD, BUT ONE THING WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF AND THIS IS A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT IS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE ORGANIZED PROTESTING, ORGANIZED DEMONSTRATION, NOT JUST FROM PEOPLE IN AMARILLO, BUT POSSIBLY COMING IN FROM OTHER PLACES, NOT JUST AMARILLO BUT OTHER CITIES ARE SEEING US TO. I THINK THAT'S A NEW TREND THAT YOU'RE SEEING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL MOVING FORWARD. ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EVENT LIKE THAT, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR MANPOWER, NOT JUST FROM THE PROTEST ITSELF, BUT MORE APPLICABLE TO AMARILLO IS THE COUNTER PROTESTS THAT SHOWS UP. WE USUALLY GET A MUCH BIGGER CROWD FROM THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL. >> DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON ANY OFFICERS THAT WE GET IN ON LATERAL TRANSFERS. DO WE HAVE A PROGRAM? >> WE HAVE A WE HAVE A LATERAL PROGRAM. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS, BUT I CAN GET THEM FOR YOU. WE DON'T GET AS MANY LATERAL HIRES AS WHAT WE WERE HOPING WHEN WE STARTED THAT PROGRAM. THERE'S A VARIETY OF REASONS FOR THAT. >> I'M JUST LOOKING AT, AGAIN, WHAT YOU SENT US, TOBY. I THINK WHAT'S MORE TELLING ABOUT WHAT THE PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE DONE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES IS THE RESIGNATION AND RETIREMENTS. THOSE ARE WAY DOWN. I THINK THAT'S A BETTER FIGURE TO LOOK AT AS TO NUMBER BECAUSE I THINK THAT PROBABLY IS A REASON THAT OFFICERS AREN'T RETIRING OR RESIGNING FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO GO ELSEWHERE IS BECAUSE OF THE PAY INCREASES. >> ANECDOTALLY, WE CAN SAY THAT, I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OFFICERS THAT SAID THEY WERE LOOKING AT OTHER AGENCIES AND DECIDED NOT TO SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PAY INCREASE. TOBY, YOU GUYS MIGHT KNOW MORE. TO THE ASSOCIATION, BUT THAT'S THE WORD I'M GETTING. I DO KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS AS OF YEAR TO DATE ARE DOWN FROM WHERE THEY NORMALLY ARE. AGAIN, LIKE MR. SIMPSON WAS SAYING, IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY ANY OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE RAISE, BUT IT CERTAINLY ANECDOTALLY LOOKS TO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT. ABSOLUTELY. >> YOU MADE A GOOD POINT. LAW ENFORCEMENT ISN'T GETTING EASIER. WHAT WE DEMAND OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT GO INTO THE ACADEMIES, PLUS THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING. IT'S BECOME A MUCH MORE COMPLEX PROFESSION WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE GONE. [01:00:05] AMARILLO IS GETTING MORE COMPLEX AS WE GROW. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENT DOLLARS KNOWING WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> DISCUSSION. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN REED, I AGREE WITH YOU 100%. THEN YOU FACTOR IN GROWTH ON TOP OF THAT. MISS STONES, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO DRILL DOWN IN ON THIS ONE? >> NO, SIR. WE CAN MOVE NEXT TO CITY MARSHAL, IF YOU ALL ARE READY. I KNOW WE'LL BE REVISITING SOME OF THIS LATER THIS AFTERNOON. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT. >> OKAY. ON PAGE 118 IS OUR CITY MARSHAL DEPARTMENT, AND I WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THEM QUITE A BIT YESTERDAY AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOLID WASTE AS WELL. ALSO, AS A REMINDER, THIS DEPARTMENT IS SOMEWHAT NEWER. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY LOCATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR BUILDING SAFETY TEAM HISTORICALLY. WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH PAGES 118, 119, AND THE ONES FOLLOWING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ZEROS COMING THROUGH IN THE PRIOR YEAR ACTUALS. THAT'S BECAUSE THIS DEPARTMENT WAS LOCATED INSIDE BUILDING SAFETY FOR A WHILE, AND THEN IT BROKE OUT AND SO WE ARE TRACKING THINGS SEPARATELY, AND THEY ARE KIND OF THEIR OWN TEAM AT THIS POINT. CONTINUING TO GROW AND TO EVOLVE. ON A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. IN THIS BUDGET, WE HAVE INCLUDED A RECLASS RELATED TO A POSITION TO BE A DANGEROUS STRUCTURE SPECIALIST. THEN WE HAVE ALSO ADDED IN A NEW DANGEROUS STRUCTURE SPECIALIST INTO THE BUDGET. THOSE ARE BOTH BEING COVERED BY THE PROPOSED SOLID WASTE INCREASE OF 7%. THAT TEAM IN THE CITY MARSHALS DEPARTMENT WOULD BASICALLY DETERMINE THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND DEPLOY THE WORK THAT THE SOLID WASTE TEAM WOULD DO TO GO AND REMOVE THOSE DANGEROUS STRUCTURES AND DO THE LEG WORK OR THE OFFICE SIDE LEGWORK OF IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT. THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR BUDGET HERE. THE OTHER THING JUST OF NOTE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY IS DOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 119, IT SHOWS YOUR DEMOLITION OF CONDEMNED PROPERTIES OF 330,000. THAT IS THE NORMAL GENERAL FUNDING THAT WE USE FOR THESE TYPE STRUCTURES ALONG WITH SOME FUNDING FROM OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AREA. THEN THE LAST, A CHANGE THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON IS THEY HAVE AN INCREASE IN HERE TO EQUIP THEIR TEAM THAT'S OUT IN THE FIELD WITH TASERS, JUST FORM A PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT. >> RADIOS. >> I'M SORRY AND RADIOS. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ON BECAUSE THAT PUTS THEM ON THE SAME RADIO FREQUENCY, I THINK AS PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THEY CAN CALL THINGS OUT AND GET ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED OUT IN THE FIELD. >> WHAT DO THEY USE NOW? THEIR TELEPHONES? >> YES. THE PEACE OFFICERS HAVE RADIOS, AND THE CIVILIAN CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO NOT, SO THEY JUST HAVE THEIR PHONES. YEAH. THIS IS FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE CIVILIANS. >> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN. >> DO THEY HAVE GUNS? >> THE PEACE OFFICERS DO. OKAY. BUT NOT THE MARSHALS? THE CIVILIAN CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO NOT THE PEACE OFFICERS, MARSHALS DO. >> ALL RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT, DO THEY HAVE BODY CAMS? >> YES. >> ALL CIVILIANS OR NOT? >> JUST PEACE OFFICERS. >> PEACE OFFICER. >> THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING AS WELL FOR NOT ONLY CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT BUILDING SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. THAT MAY BE A FUTURE BUDGET DISCUSSION IN UPCOMING YEARS TO TRY AND GET BODY CAMS FOR EVERYONE. >> OKAY. HOW MANY CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE THERE? >> GO TO PAGE 120. >> THERE'S EIGHT CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THOSE ARE THE FIELD STAFF. THEN WE'VE GOT FIVE DEPUTY MARSHALS. THE DIRECTOR, OF COURSE, IS A PEACE OFFICER. THAT'S ANOTHER ONE. WE'VE GOT ONE CAPTAIN AS WELL. >> IT'S A FAIRLY GOOD MIX OF CIVILIANS AND PEACE OFFICERS? >> THOSE ABOUT EIGHT CIVILIANS THAT WE SEND OUT. [OVERLAPPING] >> IN THE FIELD, YES. THEN WE HAVE OFFICE STAFF. >> NEED REALLY NO PROTECTION. >> THEY'RE REALLY OUT THERE DOING THE FIELD WORK, TAKING THE PICTURES, AND DOING ALL THE BACKGROUND OF SENDING OUT NOTICES, AND THEN THE PEACE OFFICERS HELP SUPPLEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A NEW APPROACH FOR US. [01:05:02] IN THE PAST, IT WAS COMPLETELY CIVILIANS. ONCE WE BUILT THE NEW CITY MARSHALS, NOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE PEACE OFFICERS INVOLVED AND CAN WRITE CITATIONS, CAN ENFORCE THINGS AT A HIGHER LEVEL. >> DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON OUR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE IF THEY'VE BEEN ASSAULTED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> JACOB CAN PROBABLY COME UP AND GIVE SOME ANECDOTAL, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF THAT LIKE YOU MAY SEE IN OTHER CITIES. >> NO SURE, WE HAVEN'T AT THIS TIME. THE WAY WE HANDLE THAT IS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE NOW, IF ANY OF OUR CIVILIAN INSPECTORS ANTICIPATE A PROBLEM, THEY'LL REACH OUT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT; THEY'LL RESPOND WITH THEM OR IF THEY EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM OUT IN THE FIELD, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE RADIOS. IF THEY EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM OUT IN THE FIELD, THEY HAVE TO GET ON THEIR PHONE AND CALL SOMEBODY. THIS WAY, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET ON THE RADIO AND GET HELP IMMEDIATELY. BUT TYPICALLY, THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ANTICIPATING ANY PROBLEMS. SOME OF THE REPEAT CUSTOMERS OR SOMEBODY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ARRAIGNED OR HAD SOME HISTORY OF ISSUES BEING UPSET WITH THE CITY, WE HAVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL RESPOND WITH THEM. >> THEY'LL BE ON THE SAME FREQUENCY AS THE POLICE RADIOS? >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU. MR. MARSHALL, I APPRECIATE YOU RESPONDING TO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS DIFFERENT. SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I THINK JUST TO PAINT A PICTURE, IT USED TO BE MORE NUISANCE, WELL, WE'VE GOT WEEDS OVER HERE, OR WE'VE GOT THIS STRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED. YOU STILL FACILITATE ALL THAT. HOWEVER, YOUR OFFICE IS NOW WORKING MORE WITH SOME OF THOSE TCOLE CERTIFIED OFFICERS. IN RESPONSE TO CRIMINAL ELEMENTS, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ORGANIZED. A LOT OF THAT IS A DETERRENT THAT KEEPS THE CITY SAFE, AND IT TAKES SOME OF THE CALL VOLUME DOWN FROM WHAT WE WERE STRUGGLING TO STAFF. NOT ONLY ARE WE STILL 38 SHORT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOW, WE'VE SEEN REALLY GOOD MOMENTUM. BUT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IS YOU'VE ALLEVIATED SOME OF THAT MIDDLE LOAD THAT THEY WERE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME BEING TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE TO GO AND DEAL WITH THIS OR LET'S SAY YOUR SHED GOT BROKEN INTO, AND THAT INDIVIDUALS NOT ABLE TO FILE AN ONLINE REPORT, AND THEY'RE REQUESTING AN OFFICER. YOU GUYS ARE FACILITATING ALL THAT, BUT THAT INDIVIDUAL IS NOW WALKING INTO A BACK YARD, POTENTIALLY IN THE DARK, AND SO THE BODY CAMERAS WOULD BE A GREAT INVESTMENT. >> IN A LARGE PART OF WHAT THEY DO, THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF IDENTIFIED DANGEROUS STRUCTURES THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT THEY USE THOSE PEACE OFFICERS TO MONITOR THOSE FOR SQUATTERS AND FIRE-RELATED ISSUES. WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE COMING IN THERE CAUSING DAMAGE BEFORE WE CAN GET TO IT. THAT'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I THINK WE WOULD DEFINITELY ENTERTAIN THE REQUEST COMING FORWARD FOR THOSE BODY CAMS. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP YOU AND MANAGEMENT, JUST FROM THAT HE SAID, SHE SAID, IT TAKES ALL THAT OUT OF WHAT DID YOU ENCOUNTER WHEN YOU WENT ON THIS PRIVATE PROPERTY, THIS RESIDENCE, WHATEVER. I THINK TO ECHO COUNCILMAN REED'S POINT THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF DANGER THAT WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO GO PUT YOURSELF INTO. BUT THEN WE HAVE ZERO COMMUNICATION IF YOU'RE RELYING ON YOUR CELL PHONE, AND SO THE RADIO REQUEST, I THINK IS GOOD AS WELL. >> DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. TO ANDREW FREEMAN'S POINT, WHEN WE GO OUT TO THIS DANGEROUS STRUCTURE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE, THEY ARE TRESPASSING, AND THAT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH MORE THAN ANYTHING. WE'RE DEALING WITH THE OTHER CRIMINAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN THAT STRUCTURE OR WITH THOSE OCCUPANTS, WHETHER IT'S NARCOTICS, WEAPONS OR OUTSTANDING WARRANTS OR STUFF LIKE THAT. THERE IS DEFINITELY A HIGHER RISK IN SOME OF THOSE DANGEROUS STRUCTURES THAT WE GO INTO. >> WE APPRECIATE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT JUST OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THEN I KNOW WE CAN'T METRIC IT, BUT WE CAN FEEL IT IN HOW I THINK IT HELPS EVERYBODY ELSE IN ALL THINGS PUBLIC SAFETY. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE FOR MR. MARSHALL? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LET'S KEEP GOING IN OUR BUDGET BOOKS HERE. WE'LL NOW GO TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU TURN, IT STARTS ON PAGE 129. LET ME OUTLINE SOME CHANGES THAT WE HAVE RELATED TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. AS WE'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, WE HAVE A 4% RAISE BUILT IN FOR OUR FIRE PERSONNEL, AND THAT IS ALSO INCLUDED BACK IN THAT GENERAL FUND TRANSFER DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER RAISES FOR THE GENERAL FUND. YOU WON'T SEE THAT REFLECTED STARTING ON PAGE 129. HOWEVER, IF YOU WILL TURN THE PAGE, AND GO TO PAGE 130, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THEIR SCHEDULED OVERTIME ACCOUNT, [01:10:02] WHICH IS THE 41610 ACCOUNT TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 130. WE DID ADD AN ADDITIONAL 300,000 IN TO HELP COVER SOME OF THEIR ADDITIONAL OVERTIME COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAISES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR. AGAIN, THAT WAS WHAT WE COULD AFFORD AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE PUT IN AS ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS FOR THEM. ALONG WITH THAT, WE HAVE ADDED IN ONE NEW FIREFIGHTER, AND THAT IS TO COMPLY WITH THE STAFFING MODEL THAT WAS APPROVED THROUGH THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT. A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ADDED INTO THIS BUDGET HERE IN FRONT OF YOU IS WE HAVE INCREASED THE AMOUNTS RELATED TO THEIR AUTO PARTS ACCOUNT. WE HAVE INCREASED THE AMOUNTS RELATED TO THEIR CLOTHING AND LINEN ACCOUNT JUST TO HELP KEEP UP WITH RISING COSTS ON ALL OF THAT. THEN THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL LEASES FOR PICKUPS FOR A COUPLE OF THEIR PERSONNEL THAT I BELIEVE, GO OUT AND HELP PROVIDE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THEY'VE BEEN SHARING VEHICLES, AND IT'S CREATED SOME CHALLENGES. THIS WOULD ALLOW THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE THEIR OWN VEHICLE. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIG CHANGES THAT ARE INCLUDED HERE IN YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. I THINK THEY DID MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN SOME ACCOUNTS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME BUDGET THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE CURRENT YEAR. >> I'M LOOKING AT OVERTIME FOR FIRE. MAYBE THERE'S A REASON FOR THIS, AND I DON'T REMEMBER MAYBE WE COVERED IT BEFORE, BUT ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A HIGHER OVERTIME BUDGET IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAN WE DO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> BASED ON THE WAY THAT THE FIRE SHIFTS WORK, THERE IS MANDATORY SCHEDULED OVERTIME THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS. THAT IS RUNNING THROUGH THAT SCHEDULED OVERTIME ACCOUNT. THEN THE UNSCHEDULED ONE IS WHEN THEY ARE EITHER BRINGING IN PERSONNEL TO HELP COVER SHIFTS DUE TO MAYBE VACATIONS OR PEOPLE BEING OUT VACANCIES FOR MINIMUM STAFFING OR POTENTIALLY FOR TRAINING PURPOSES. THEIR OVERTIME WORKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE OF THEM WORKING THE 24-HOUR SHIFTS, AND SO THEIR SCHEDULING WORKS DIFFERENT THAN MAYBE WHAT A POLICE OFFICERS WOULD OR ANY OTHER CIVILIAN TYPE PERSONNEL WOULD. >> EVEN WHEN WE GET UP TO QUOTE AND QUOTE, FULL STAFFING, THAT ADDITIONAL COST IS BUILT IN FOR OVERTIME. [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I DON'T SEE ANY SAVINGS ON THE OVERTIME. >> NOT ON THE SCHEDULED. ON THE SCHEDULED, THAT WILL REMAIN. IT WOULD BE MORE THE UNSCHEDULED AS THEY'RE FULLY STAFFED, BUT THERE WOULD STILL BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNSCHEDULED TO ACCOMMODATE THINGS LIKE TRAINING. THEN AGAIN, THE STAFFING MODEL THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT, AND I'M GOING TO DEFER TO ANDREW ON THIS TO HELP ME TALK THROUGH THIS. BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE TO HELP COVER SOME OF THE VACATION TIME, THE SICK TIME, SOME OF THOSE THINGS THROUGH THE STAFFING MODEL THAT THEY PROPOSED TO US THROUGH THE MEET AND CONFER AGREEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THE ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER POSITION COME IN BECAUSE IT'S TO HELP COMBAT SOME OF THAT OVERTIME RELATED TO THINGS LIKE VACATION, SICK LEAVE, THAT STUFF. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, IF THEY WERE FULLY STAFFED, THERE WOULD BE A SMALLER AMOUNT OF UNSCHEDULED, BUT YOU WOULD STILL SEE THE SCHEDULED OVERTIME COMING THROUGH IN THIS DEPARTMENT. >> FIRE AND EMS. WE DON'T HAVE EMS HERE, BUT I'VE HAD IN MY LAST CITIES. SINCE THEY WORK 24-HOUR SHIFT, YOU HAVE AUTOMATIC OVERTIME BECAUSE I THINK 56 HOURS IS WHAT IS OVERTIME. TYPICALLY, NORMAL EMPLOYEES IS 40 HOURS. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES 40 HOURS AND OVERTIME, FIRE IS 56, BUT WITH THE 24 HOUR SHIFTS, YOU'RE GOING TO HIT OVERTIME EVENTUALLY, AS THE WEEKS GO BY. YOU'LL NEVER GO WITH THAT OVERTIME IN FIRE. THE BIG THING YOU CAN TRY TO VARIABLE IS THE UNSCHEDULED. >> THEN YOU MENTIONED LAST YEAR AS WE GAVE THESE RAISES TO POLICE AND FIRE. ON THE POLICE SIDE, WE SAID, WELL, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY LEFT TO PROBABLY FULL THE FUND THE OVERTIME OF WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE. ON THE FIRE SIDE, DID WE HAVE THE SAME THING OR WHAT? [OVERLAPPING] >> THE SAME THING, YES. THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CONSTRAINED OVERTIME BUDGET. [01:15:03] >> THAT'S A COST THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT WE DO THIS YEAR, IF WE ADD MORE TO IT, IT'S A COST THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE. >> IT IS FACTORED INTO THEIR 4% INCREASES OVER IN THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER DEPARTMENT. WE DID PUT A FACTOR IN THERE FOR OVERTIME. >> BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR LAST YEAR. [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> BUDGETING. IT'S AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE THAT WE'RE HAVING TO ABSORB IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR [OVERLAPPING]. >> THAT IS CORRECT. YES, SIR. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> LAURA, YOU SAID WE'VE GOT FACTORED IN A 4% RAISE, I'M LOOKING AT THE 24, 25. THIS MAY BE ONE OF THOSE ACTUAL THINGS VERSUS BUDGET THINGS. AT 26320 OR 26320, IS THAT CORRECT? >> WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? >> PAGE 130. >> 130. OKAY. >> SALARY. >> IN THE SALARY LINE? YES. >> THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN WE FIGURE A 4% INCREASE, THAT'D BE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS BUT IT LOOKS PRETTY FLAT. >> THAT IS INCLUDED IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT. THEIR 4% INCREASE IS BACK IN OUR GENERAL FUND TRANSFER DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION JUST TO CLARIFY, YES. [OVERLAPPING] >> IT WON'T GRASP THAT. >> I KNOW. [OVERLAPPING] GRAYSON'S TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS. IT IS FOR EASE AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET. BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS ONCE COUNSEL GIVES US FINAL DIRECTION AND SAYS, WE WANT RAISES FOR FIRE AT THIS, POLICE AT THAT, CIVILIANS AT THIS, THEN WE WILL START SPREADING IT OUT TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, SO THEY'LL HAVE THAT BUDGET TO WORK WITH. BUT FOR NOW WE LEAVE IT IN ONE PLACE, SO WE CAN MOVE IT AS YOU GUYS SEE FIT UNTIL YOU GIVE US FINAL DIRECTION. >> GOT IT. NOW, I HAVE A QUESTION. THIS MAY BE FOR CHIEF. BUT LET'S SAY WHATEVER RAISE IS APPROVED, 4%, IS THAT JUST 4% ACROSS THE BOARD, OR IS IT GOING TO APPLY DIFFERENTLY FOR EACH? >> THAT'S HOW IT'S CURRENTLY PROPOSED. YES, IT'S 4% ACROSS THE BOARD. UNLIKE LAST YEAR WHERE IT WAS A FLAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, THIS IS 4% ACROSS THE BOARD. >> CERTAIN POSITIONS, CERTAIN RANKS. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE FLAT 4%. >> THE FIRE ASSOCIATION'S REQUEST WAS 10% ACROSS THE BOARD. >> GREAT. >> AGAIN, THE REASON FOR THAT IS FIRE DID MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGES TO THEIR STEPS LAST YEAR. THEY ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL STEPS, I BELIEVE TO THE FIREFIGHTER POSITION. THEN POLICE ACTUALLY ADJUSTED SOME OF THEIR STEPS TO GET THEM PROPERLY ALIGNED FROM ONE RANK TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT. EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER AND PROPOSING IS TO MAINTAIN ESSENTIALLY THE INTEGRITY OF THOSE STEPS AND THE SPREAD BETWEEN THE RANKS. WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE SAME PERCENTAGE, YES. >> THANK YOU. >> I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE ASSOCIATION IF WE COULD. >> SURE. >> WE'VE GOT THEM REPRESENTED, MR. PEDEN, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP, MAYBE SPEAKING TO A FEW OF THESE THINGS. WHERE TOBY STARTED WAS JUST TRYING TO PUT IN PERSPECTIVE FROM HIS SIDE AND THE ASSOCIATION'S VIEW, WHAT WAS THEIR GOAL. TELL US WHERE YOU GUYS WERE WANTING TO LAND. THEN WE KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOME STUDY LOOKING AROUND THE STATE. HOW DO WE COMPARE AND WHERE'S A WIN FOR YOU GUYS HERE? >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL AND STAFF. ALL THE WORK YOU'VE GUYS HAVE DONE ON THIS PART. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT OUR 10%, WAS THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT IN. WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR AVERAGE, WE HAD 25 CITIES THAT WE LOOKED AT ON A STATE AVERAGE. THE AVERAGE POPULATION SIZE WAS 160,000 OF THOSE 25 CITIES. GOING THROUGH THOSE ON THAT 10%, LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. LAST YEAR BEFORE THE HISTORIC RAISES THAT WE GOT FROM COUNCIL AND STAFF, WHICH WE APPRECIATE AT THAT STEP ONE FIREFIGHTER, OUR CADET, THAT RECRUIT LEVEL, WE WERE ABOUT 37% BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE. CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW WHERE WE SIT ACCORDING TO OUR CALCULATIONS WE'RE ABOUT 21.9, SO WE MADE HUGE STRIDES IN THAT AND REALLY STARTING TO GET US THERE. WHENEVER WE WERE ASKING FOR THAT 10 AT THAT STEP ONE, IT PUT US AT 13.9% BELOW THAT AVERAGE. OF THOSE 25 CITIES THAT WE HAD THE AVERAGE ON, IT WAS THAT STARTING PAY AT STEP ONE FIREFIGHTER WAS 77,473. NOW, THAT'S JUST SALARY. ANDREW WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT THOSE BENEFITS AND STUFF ARE ADDED TO SUCH PACKAGES. CURRENTLY AT STEP ONE FIREFIGHTER, WE'RE AT 60,508, SO WE'RE ABOUT 17,000 BELOW THAT AVERAGE OR 21%. AT OUR 10% THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR, WOULD GET US TO 66,658. THAT'S JUST CLOSING THAT GAP THAT MUCH MORE. THAT WAS OUR GOAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE DID ASK FOR THAT 10% ACROSS THE BOARD, WHERE LAST YEAR, LIKE ANDREW SAID, IT WAS AROUND 12%, WAS THE AVERAGE ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT AT 19% AT CADET. [01:20:02] THEN BECAUSE OF THOSE RANKS, BECAUSE IT WAS A ONE TIME MONETARY AMOUNT OR AN ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT INCREASED THAT BUDGET. THAT'S WHERE WE WERE AT ON THAT TO TRY TO START WORKING TOWARDS THAT ONCE AGAIN, ADD ONE MORE YEAR TO THAT RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT. >> COUNCILMAN TIPPS, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> NO. >> LOOKING ACROSS THE BOARD YOU GUYS, WHERE ARE WE TRACKING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE COMPETITIVE FIVE CITIES IF WE WERE LOOKING AT FIVE AROUND UPPER PART OF TEXAS AND WHERE WE'RE COMPETING. BECAUSE I THINK WE AS COUNSEL, WE ARE SEEING 303 POSITIONS THAT ARE FULL, THAT WOULD EQUATE TO FULLY STAFFED, CURRENT? >> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, AM I CORRECT? >> YOU'RE NINE DOWN. >> 311 WOULD BE OUR FULL, THAT INCLUDES VACANCY. >> THAT INCLUDES STATION 14, DOESN'T IT? >> YES. >> WHICH WON'T COME ONLINE UNTIL 18 MONTHS. >> WE'RE OVERSTAFFED RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS HELPING WITH OVERTIME AS WELL. >> GIVE US THE METRIC IN BECAUSE WE LOOK AT YOU AS AN INVESTMENT, SAME AS WE DO THE PD, BUT THEN WE FEEL MORE ACCOMPLISHED IN AND YOUR ACADEMIES ARE TURNING OUT HIGH QUALITY FIREFIGHTERS THAT AND THE ACADEMIES ARE FULL. >> THAT'S IN FACT, OUR ACADEMY PROGRAM THAT WE'VE DONE. WE'RE ON OUR ACADEMY NUMBER 4, AND CHIEF, IF I ANYTHING WRONG ON THAT, PLEASE CORRECT ME, BUT WE CURRENTLY JUST PUT 20 GUYS FROM OUR ACADEMY ONLINE. WHERE PD IS ABOUT A YEAR, WE'RE SIX MONTHS IN OUR TRAINING PHASE, AND THEN THEY DO GO ONLINE. THAT DOES START HELPING TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENT AT THAT SIX MONTH MARK. THEY STILL HAVE A ONE YEAR OF A PROBATIONARY PERIOD WHEN THEY'RE THERE, BUT THEY ARE ON A TRUCK HELPING THAT MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENT. WE GET TO CLOSE THAT GAP A LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN PD DOES IN OUR TRAINING SCHEDULE. >> YES. WE HEARD EARLIER, 405,000 OR 410,000 FOR THE POLICE WAS A 1%. WHAT IS A 1% INCREASE ON THE FIRE? >> HANG ON JUST A SECOND. LET ME PULL THAT NUMBER REAL QUICK. >> YEAH, AND YOU MAY COULD GIVE US A POINT OF REFERENCE ON WHAT DOES THE 4% TOTAL WORK OUT FOR THIS? >> 1.6 MILLION. >> IT'S 1.6 MILLION FOR 4% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD? >> THEN COMPARISON TO POLICE, POLICE 4% WOULD HAVE BEEN 1.8 SO IT'S ABOUT TRACKING 200,000 LESS. >> IT'S APPROXIMATELY? >> 300,000 OR SO 300? >> 400. >> IT'S 400 FOR FIRE, AS WELL. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE LESS. >> WOULD BE LESS. WE'RE ABOUT HUNDRED 100 PEOPLE LESS IN STAFF, AND GO TO RUN AROUND 10,000 BEHIND. THAT'S CUSTOMARY ACROSS THE STATE. >> GO AHEAD. >> IT'S 405 FOR FIRE 455 IF YOU'RE LOOKING POLICE AT 4%. IT'S ABOUT 50,000 LESS. >> PER PERCENT, LET ME ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT. WELL, NO, I'M SORRY. DID YOU FINISH YOUR QUESTION? WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU. ON THE SCHEDULED AND UNSCHEDULED, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE'RE NOT 143 CIVILIAN. WE DON'T OR CIVIL SERVICE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THESE GUYS ARE BUDGETING AND MANDATORY CALLBACK. WE DON'T KNOW. GIVE US THE SCHEDULED VERSUS UNSCHEDULED AND WHAT I'M REALLY LOOKING FOR IS AN EFFICIENCY IN THE BUDGET THAT MAKES IT REALLY EASY FOR LAURA AND HER STAFF TO SAY, WELL, THERE'S $500,000 HERE THAT WE HAVE OF COMFORT IF WE REDUCED UNSCHEDULED BY 500,000 KNOWING THAT WE'RE FULLY STAFFED. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU GUYS? >> ON THE UNSCHEDULED, AND I'LL ALSO TO REFER TO CHIEF. I KNOW SHE PROBABLY HAS MAYBE HAVE SOME MORE NUMBERS ON THIS. THE UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME, LIKE THEY WERE SAYING, WE WORK AT 56 HOUR WORK WEEK IS WHAT OUR AVERAGE WORK WEEK IS. I THINK THE TEXAS LEGAL GOVERNMENT CODE STATES THAT ANYTHING OVER A 53 FOR FIREFIGHTERS IS OVERTIME. BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR SCHEDULE IS WHEN WE'RE ON A 56, DEPENDING ON HOW THOSE WEEKS ROLL OUT, DEPEND ON WHEN THE PAY PERIOD STARTS AND ENDS AND DEPENDING ON WHAT OUR SHIFT SCHEDULE IS, WE AUTOMATICALLY HAVE WE REACHED THAT OVERTIME RATE JUST ON OUR NORMAL SCHEDULE OF THAT 56 HOURS THAT WE AVERAGE A WEEK ON OUR WORK SCHEDULE. THAT'S WHAT THE SCHEDULED OVERTIME IS. THE PORTION OF THE SCHEDULED OVERTIME IS JUST BUILT INTO [01:25:05] THAT BUDGET AND IT VARIES WEEK TO WEEK TO WEEK OR PAID PAY PERIOD. >> I'M LOOKING FOR A COMFORT IN CHIEF IF YOU WANTED TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HITS MORE OF YOUR BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT. BUT WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF YOU WERE TO LEVERAGE A POTENTIAL RAISE? WE WOULD HAVE A 1% INCREASE IN PAY AND A DEDUCT OF, SAY, $400,000 IN YOUR UNSCHEDULED BUDGET. HOW TIGHT IS THAT BUDGET $2,091,000, IF WE LOWERED IT BACK DOWN BECAUSE YOUR ACTUALS RIGHT NOW ARE 1.6? NOW, MISSES STORES, I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY YOU COULD GET THAT, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE. >> THAT'S OUR BUDGET. IT'S NOT OUR ACT. >> YEAH, 1.6 IS IN THE BUDGET OF CURRENT. >> CURRENTLY FOR SCHEDULED AND UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME, WE'RE AT 3.6 MILLION. >> WHAT DO YOU SAY 3.6? >> 3.36. >> IF YOU TAKE YOUR SCHEDULE, YOU'VE BUMPED IT UP TO 870. YOU'RE TRYING TO PULL IT IN AT 2.95 ROUGHLY. CHIEF, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? IS THIS AN OPTION FOR US IN TRYING TO FIND AN EFFICIENCY IN THIS BUDGET? >> AS FAR AS ADDING WHAT THE RAISE DOES? >> IF WE WERE TO STRETCH AND TRY TO DO, LET'S SAY WE'RE AT FOUR, AND YOU'RE ASKING AT 10, THE SEVEN NUMBER IS WHERE POLICE SET LAST TIME WE DID EQUAL, I BELIEVE, PART TO PART. IF WE LANDED ON THAT, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR IN A BUDGET, HOW MUCH IN YOUR UNSCHEDULED WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE STILL OPERATING WITH? >> SOME OF THE THINGS, AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO KNOW EXACTLY IF I PUT SOMETHING HERE, WHAT THAT DOES BY INCREASING, NOW WE'VE INCREASED THAT OVERTIME RATE. I KNOW WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO ONE OF THE, I GUESS IT WOULD BE THE HIRING PRACTICE, ON THIS NEXT ACADEMY. WE'VE COMPLETED ACADEMY 4, WE'RE ON ACADEMY 5. ONCE WE HIRE FOR THAT, WE'RE DOING THE CPAT AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT PRE HIRING PRACTICES RIGHT NOW. ONE THING WE'RE DOING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IN THE YEARS PAST IS ANY CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE ON THAT HIRE LIST. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A JOB OFFER WITH EVERY ONE OF THOSE. ON THIS CURRENT LIST, THAT WOULD GIVE US ANYWHERE 6-9 CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS, WE'VE GOT TO VERIFY SOME THINGS FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT LIST. INSTEAD OF SIX MONTHS FOR JUST SENDING EVERYBODY THROUGH THE FIRE ACADEMY AND NOT GETTING THAT RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, IT WOULD BE A FOUR WEEK ORIENTATION. WE KNOW THAT THAT WILL HELP MAKE AN IMPACT RIGHT OFF THE BAT. LAST YEAR, SINCE THE FISCAL STARTED THE LAST BUDGET, WE AVERAGED EVERY MONTH 18 FIREFIGHTERS. SINCE WE JUST HAD OUR GRADUATION OF OUR ACADEMY 4, NOW WE'RE DOWN TO WE ONLY HAVE NINE FIREFIGHTERS DOWN. WE DO ANTICIPATE, OBVIOUSLY, SOME RETIREMENTS BETWEEN THE OCTOBER 1ST IS WHEN WE'RE HOPING SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE TO START ACADEMY 5. WHAT WE WOULD DO THAT'S DIFFERENT, THAT WE CAN'T SEE HOW WE WOULDN'T SEE SOME RETURN ON THAT AND LESS AND LOWER THAT IMPACT FROM OVERTIME IS BY PUTTING CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS ON THE TRUCK SOONER. >> COUNSEL. >> I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT A FIREFIGHTER WOULD EQUAL IN LESS OVERTIME. BUT YOU ARE SAYING AFTER THESE HAVE GRADUATED THEIR OWN TRUCKS, THEY'RE DOING THEIR THING, THAT 2.1 MILLION, YOU FEEL LIKE THAT IT WOULD STILL IT WOULD REDUCE ON THE UNSCHEDULED? >> I BELIEVE SO. AVERAGING DOWN 18 FOR, AND THAT'S 11 MONTHS WORTH OF DATA, WE AVERAGE 18 FIREFIGHTERS. >> THAT UNSCHEDULED TIME, THAT'S BASICALLY COVERING SHIFTS THAT THERE'S NOBODY FOR. IS THAT FAIR TO SAY, OR IS IT JUST PEOPLE IS FIREFIGHTERS EXTENDING THEIR SHIFT TO COVER? WHERE'S THAT UNSCHEDULED TYPICALLY? WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM? >> UNSCHEDULED. I SAY HALF OF IT IS MINIMAL STAFFING, IS THAT CORRECT? TO MEET OUR MINIMAL STAFFING, WE ALSO SEE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HOURS DEDICATED TO CERTIFYING PARAMEDICS. ALL OF THAT THAT'S 100 OR 1,300 HOURS PER PARAMEDIC STUDENT, AND WE TYPICALLY HAVE 12 OR 13 STUDENTS IN EACH ONE OF THOSE PARAMEDIC ACADEMIES. WE'RE HAVING TO DO EVERY BIT OF THAT OFF DUTY. THAT'S PART OF THAT UNSCHEDULED. IF ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE WEATHER RELATED, IF WE HAVE A REALLY DRY SEASON, [01:30:02] WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF UPTAKE ON EXTRA STAFF AND WE DO TO BE PREPARED FOR WILDFIRE. SAME THING FOR WEATHER, TO SOME EXTENT, EOC ACTIVATIONS TO A VERY SMALL FRACTION. A LOT OF OUR ONE AREA THAT WE'RE STILL PAYING SOME OF THE PAYING OUR DUES, SO TO SPEAK FROM COVID, IS THAT PUT A WHOLE LOT OF OUR OFFICER DEVELOPMENT, A WHOLE LOT OF OUR DRIVER TRAINING WAS JUST ON HOLD. WE DUG OURSELVES A WHOLE AS WE'VE MADE PROMOTIONS THROUGH THERE. WE'RE TRYING TO COME BACK RIGHT NOW TO MAINTAIN THAT STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE TO GET OUR DRIVERS THAT ARE ON BEHIND THE WHEEL RIGHT NOW, GET THEM CERTIFIED TO THE STATE LEVEL. NO THAT THEY'RE NOT TRAINED AND PREPARED TO GO AND OPERATE IN THAT CAPACITY, BUT GET THEM TO THE TCFP CERTIFIED LEVEL. THE SAME FOR FIRE OFFICER ONE FOR OUR LIEUTENANTS, FIRE OFFICER TWO FOR CAPTAINS. IN CLASSES LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO ALL BE DONE OFF DUTY. WE COULD DO THAT ON DUTY, BUT YET THAT IF WE DO IT WHILE THEY'RE ON DUTY, RATHER THAN BEING ON A TRUCK, THEY'RE IN A CLASSROOM SOMEWHERE, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL BACK TO MAINTAIN THAT MINIMAL STAFFING ANYWAY. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THAT SOME. >> I THINK SO. A LOT OF THE UNSCHEDULED, AND I GUESS, SAID HALF IS REALLY UNCONTROLLABLE, BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING AND THAT TYPE OF BILL, IT'S JUST GOING TO HAPPEN. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >> YES, SIR. THERE'S ALWAYS THE UNFORSEEN THINGS, LIKE IF WE HAVE AN OJI. THAT'S ON TRUCK. >> WE CAN'T [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS THE CHALLENGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAYOR'S POINT TRYING TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES. THE CHALLENGE WITH OVERTIME TICKING POLICE AND FIRE IS BECAUSE OF THEIR MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS, INCIDENTS, DISASTERS, EVEN JUST FILLING IN SPOTS FOR VACATION SICK, TRAINING. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, IT COMES DOWN TO JUST MANAGEMENT DAY TO DAY, JUST TRYING TO MANAGE THAT I FOUND IT HARD IN MY CAREER TO JUST GIVE THEM THIS IS YOUR BUDGET. THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE IN REALITY, PLACE AND FIRE WHILE THEY CAN DO SOME MANAGEMENT DAY TO DAY, ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO END UP WHAT'S GOING TO END UP. WE TRY TO BUDGET OVERTIME OFF A REALISTIC FIGURE BASED ON WHAT WE SEE A HISTORICALLY HAPPENED. >> IF I LOOK AT PAGE 130, IF I'M CORRECT, FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE BUDGETED 2.2 MILLION IN TOTAL OVERTIME, IS THAT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. AS A REMINDER, WE DIDN'T INCREASE ANY OF THAT FOR THE PAY RAISES THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR. >> WHERE DID YOU SAY WE THINK WE ARE, WHERE WE'LL FINISH? >> WELL, WE'RE AT 3.36 RIGHT NOW, SO ADD ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS TO THAT. >> WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERABLY OVER BUDGET IN THAT AREA. >> YES, SIR. >> I WANTED TO ADD, SIR, ONE THING I'VE COMPLETELY SLIPPED MY MIND IS WE DO HAVE 23% OF OUR OVERTIME FOR LAST YEAR WAS THROUGH STATE ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH TPMS, AND WHICH IS 100% REIMBURSED. >> GOOD. >> WELL, AGAIN, I JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WE HAVE AND THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME WE'RE RUNNING. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE I AND I'VE GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE OVERTIME WORKS. BUT IT'S JUST WE'RE NOT AT FULL STAFF, BUT YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY CLOSER TO IT THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, WHY WE STILL END UP SO FAR OVER BUDGET IN THE OVERTIME AREA. I GUESS PART OF IT WAS THAT WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR THE PAY INCREASES IN OVERTIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY LEFT OVER AFTER THAT. BUT I DON'T KNOW, JUST MY OBSERVATION ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE ARE SO MUCH OVER AND OVERTIME. >> FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE ADDED LEAVE CODES. THAT'S ONE THING USED TO, WE MIGHT HAVE A CALLBACK FOR DAYS. WE MIGHT HAVE CALLBACK FOR A SHIFT, SHIFT OR C SHIFT. WE HAVE NOW BROKEN INTO OUR TELESTAFF SYSTEM THAT WE USE TO KEEP ALL THAT STRAIGHT. WE DO HAVE LEAVE CODES. IF WE EVER NEEDED TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO SEE WHERE EVERY ONE OF THOSE HOURS IS ALLOCATED, WE COULD SEE WHAT'S IN PROGRAM, WHAT'S FOR ACTUAL STAFFING, WHAT'S WILDFIRE AND THE LIKE. >> BUT IF YOU DO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ACTUALS FOR THREE YEAR PRIOR, WE WERE 26, 19, AND 25, AND THEN IT'S JUMPED UP TO 3.5 MILLION AND COUNTING AT THIS POINT. >> I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS, WE'VE ALWAYS JUST HISTORICALLY UNDERFUNDED IT KNOWING THE OTHER NON PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS WOULD HELP COVER IT. BUT THAT WAS JUST PART OF THE BUDGET STRUCTURE. >> BUT THE ACTUALS ARE THE ACTUALS. >> BUT IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BUDGETS FOR THOSE YEARS, I BET WE BUDGETED LESS THAN THOSE ACTUALS. >> BUT I THINK A KEY PART HERE, I THINK TO CHIEF MAYES, WHAT HE JUST SAID THERE IS THE TIFFNESS. IF YOU FACTOR THAT IN, THAT NETS IT DOWN TO THE IMPACT TO OUR BUDGET IS ACTUALLY 23%? THE 23% OF YOUR UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF TIFFNESS AND THAT'S 100% REIMBURSED. NOW, IT'S NOT THE NEXT DAY. IT COMES IN TIME. BUT IF YOU NET THAT OUT, THEN THEN THE BALANCE IS MUCH BETTER TO THE BUDGETS. >> IF YOU'LL GO TO PAGE 129. AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 129, SECOND TO LAST LINE IS STATE PARTICIPATION 35430. LAST YEAR, WE GOT 673,000 RELATED TO I WOULD ASSUME IT WAS ALL THE TIFFNESS DEPLOYMENTS, [01:35:06] AND THEY'RE BUDGETING APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR TO OFFSET. >> WITH THAT MILLION DOLLARS, WE REALLY TRACK PRETTY TRUE TO THAT 2.2 MILLION. BUT WHAT I AM HEARING IS THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE EFFICIENCY. WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE IN OUR BUDGET. WE PROBABLY HAVE A HALF $500,000 THAT'S EASIER TO IDENTIFY WITH LESS RISK ELSEWHERE, I WOULD HOPE. OR IN POTENTIAL POSITIONS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE TRYING TO ADD TO CAUSE WE ONCE AGAIN, WE GOT 44 REQUESTED POSITIONS, I BELIEVE, IN THIS BUDGET, IS THAT RIGHT? NEW POSITIONS? CHIEF, YES, SIR. GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> IN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FOR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE LINE 5543 ON PAGE 129. WE HAVE 27,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25. WE FEEL LIKE THAT 24% OF THE 3.9 OR $1 MILLION SHOULD COME FROM THE STATE. >> AGAIN, THE BUDGET WAS ONLY 2.2, AND THEY'RE AT 3.3. I'M ASSUMING WE CAN PULL UP THEIR STATE PARTICIPATION NUMBER. OF COURSE, THERE'S A LAG ON IT AS WELL, SO WE MAY NOT HAVE EVER COLLECTED IN, BUT I KNOW THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW DEPLOYMENTS THIS YEAR. >> IT SHOULD BE CLOSER TO 1 MILLION IF IT'S 25%, AT 4 MILLION. IT SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THERE. SO THERE'S $750,000 THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOVER. >> RIGHT NOW, TO DATE, IT'S JUST OVER 1 MILLION. >> THANK YOU. >> THERE WE GO. >> CAN WE RENAME THAT TO OR JUST STATE PARTICIPATION AND PUT IS IT ALWAYS WHAT YOU CALL IT? >> SOMETIMES THEY GO OUT OF STATE, SO ALSO NATIONAL LEVEL. >> STEEDS. THANK YOU. >> IF I COULD, I'LL TRY TO WRAP UP WITH YOU. FIRE MARSHAL NOW SITS UNDERNEATH YOUR DIRECTION AND IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. HOW ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE WITH THAT? DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS A RAMP UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. >> CAN I STATE THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL THING THAT'S ADDED IN FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL DEPARTMENT? IT'S TWO OF THE MOBILE DATA TERMINALS. THAT IS INCLUDED IN HERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF CHIEF WANTS TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THAT, BUT THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. >> IT'S JUST TO GET ALL OF THE VEHICLES. SOME OF THE VEHICLES, WE WOULD RUN OFF OF TABLETS OR WHATEVER. SO IT'S JUST BASICALLY TO PUT THEM ON PAR WITH WHAT'S IN THE TRUCKS AND WHAT'S IN OUR COMMAND VEHICLES. >> ANYTHING ELSE, COUNSEL? I KNOW WE'VE COVERED FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE HERE VERY BRIEFLY IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT'S HOUSED THERE. IT'S GOING WELL. WE'RE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS. MR. FREEMAN, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO? >> WE HAD THE ONE CIP REQUEST TO REMODEL THEIR EXISTING OFFICE SPACE TO ALLOW FOR SOME MORE OFFICES, SO THAT'S BUILT INTO THE CURRENT PROPOSAL AS WELL. >> CHIEF, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. >> APPRECIATE YOU. >> THE OTHER ITEM OF NOTE ON FIRE IS ON PAGE 135, STARTS THE FIRE CIVILIAN PERSONNEL >> DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SHIFTING OF SOME AMOUNTS BETWEEN FIRE MARSHAL AND FIRE CIVILIAN. I THINK WE HAD A POSITION THAT WAS A CIVILIAN POSITION IN THE FIRE MARSHAL DEPARTMENT THAT GOT SHIFTED OVER TO THE CIVILIAN PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF RIGHT-SIZING BETWEEN THE TWO, AND THEY NETTED TOGETHER. NO OTHER MAJOR CHANGES IN THAT AREA. THAT IS THE END OF FIRE UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> WELL, LET ME ASK, MR. PEDEN. I KNOW WE HAD YOU UP, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE ADDRESSED EVERYTHING. PLEASE COME BACK UP, AND THEN I KNOW YOU HAD CALLED HIM UP, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF YOU HAD ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. >> THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO ADD WAS WHENEVER TOBY WAS UP AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS FROM LUBBOCK AND ABILENE, AND I KNOW MR. FREEMAN TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, TOO. CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, LUBBOCK IS STARTING FIREFIGHTERS AT 66821, WITH THEIR 4% THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THAT WOULD PUT THEM AT 69. IF WE DID AT THAT 10%, THAT WOULD PUT US AT 66. ABILENE ALSO GOT THAT 4% FOR THEM. CURRENTLY, ABILENE AT STEP 1 575 WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 60. THAT INCREASE OF 10 WOULD PUT US AT 66 JUST TO KEEP THOSE NUMBERS WHERE THEY'RE AT. THOSE 4% THAT THEY'RE GETTING TO ARE BECAUSE OVER THE LAST DECADE, THEY'VE HAD BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RAISES TO KEEP THEM COMPETITIVE IN THE STATE WHERE WE LACKED IN THAT AREA. [01:40:02] BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I WANT TO ADD TO JUST TO PUT THOSE TWO NUMBERS IN THERE. WITH COMPARABLE CITIES. >> JUST TO RECAP THAT, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS, BUT ARE YOU CALLING IT A LEVEL 1 FIREFIGHTER AT 61K, OR IS THAT [OVERLAPPING]? >> THAT STEP ONE IS AT 60,508. >> SIXTY-FIVE? >> OH, OKAY. 60,508? >> YES. >> THEN WHEN THEY'RE A FIREFIGHTER? WHAT DO THEY GO TO? >> IT'S ABOUT 65. >> IS THAT RIGHT? 65% FIREFIGHTER ONE. STEP 1: FIREFIGHTER. >> I BELIEVE IT'S 65 IS WHERE IT GOES TO. >> WHAT YOU'RE RECOGNIZING THERE IS WHERE IT'S 65 AND ABILENE IS AT 75. >> YES. >> OKAY. LOVCK WILL BE AT 69? >> YES. >> OKAY. I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD POINTS OF REVENUE. >> THAT'S 4% ON ABILENE WOULD PUT THEM AT 78. >> OKAY. COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. PEDEN? >> THANK YOU, TODD, FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE YOU. >> MS. STORES, WE'RE PROBABLY GOOD TO MOVE ON UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT STAFF WANTS TO HIGHLIGHT HERE. >> IF YOU'LL TURN IN YOUR BOOKS, WE'LL GO ON TO ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE ON PAGE 142. WE HAD BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT THIS ON DAY 1 ABOUT SOME NEW POSITIONS THAT HAD BEEN ADDED IN FOR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS. THERE ARE THREE NEW ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE OFFICERS THAT ARE ADDED, AND I BELIEVE THAT CAN CERTAINLY DEFER TO ANDREW OR TO VICTORIA ON THAT, BUT I BELIEVE TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE COVERAGE ON THE SHIFTS THAT THEY WORK OUT IN THE FIELDS. THEN NO NEW VEHICLES ARE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE IT. THEY THINK THEY'VE GOT ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THREE MORE OFFICERS. THEN ALSO, THEY'RE LOOKING TO RECLASS FOUR OF THEIR AM OFFICER TRAINEE POSITIONS TO ACTUAL OFFICER ONE POSITIONS. THAT'S I THINK PROBABLY A HUGE WIN BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING I KNOW WE HAD DONE HISTORICALLY, BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SO MUCH TURNOVER IN THOSE POSITIONS THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE MORE OF A VERY BASIC ENTRY LEVEL THAT THEY COULD START PROMOTING UP I THINK THE RETENTION HAS BEEN MUCH BETTER OVER THE YEARS. WE NEED THOSE IN TRUE OFFICER POSITIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY A WIN. THEN THE OTHER IS WE ARE LOOKING TO RIGHT-SIZE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION. WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN OVERFILLING ONE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITIONS; THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO THAT HAVE IT WAS A NEW MODEL FROM MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO AGO AS THEY WERE DETERMINING THAT THERE'S REALLY TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS TO AMW. THERE'S REALLY THE SHELTER SIDE, AND THERE'S THE FIELD SIDE. THEY HAVE AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR THAT THEY CROSS-TRAIN AND THEY DO BOTH, BUT THEY HAVE DEFINITELY AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND STAY HIGHLY FOCUSED ON THOSE TWO INDIVIDUAL AREAS. IT'S BRINGING, I THINK, A LOT OF POSITIVE RESULTS TO RECRUITMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THOSE AREAS AND JUST TO THEIR OVERALL OPERATIONS. WITH THAT, THAT IS WHAT IS INCLUDED IN AS CHANGES IN YOUR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE BUDGET. ARE THERE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER ABOUT IT, OR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE CAN PROVIDE? >> QUESTIONS ON AMW GENTLEMAN. OKAY. >> OKAY. THEN IF WE'LL KEEP GOING, WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO ANIMAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER. THIS IS OUR 911 TEAM. IT STARTS ON PAGE 151. ON AECC, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH TALKING ABOUT MY AMARILLO, AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO WORK WITH THAT TEAM TO OFFLOAD SOME OF THE CALL VOLUMES. I KNOW THE AMW CALLS HAVE BEEN FOR THE MOST PART OFFLOADED OFF OF AECC, AND MY AMARILLO IS TAKING THOSE NOW. BUT THOSE EFFORTS ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAMP UP OVER THE NEXT YEAR, SO WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF RECLASSES IN HERE. ONE IS TO RECLASS A POSITION UP TO A DEPUTY DIRECTOR ROLE FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. THEN WE ALSO HAVE RECLASSES TO ADD MORE SUPERVISORY ROLES TO RIGHT-SIZE THE LATERING OF THAT DEPARTMENT, AND I'LL LET ANDREW. >> THE SUPERVISORS MORE TO HAVE SOME COVERAGE ACROSS ALL THEIR SHIFTS, AND AS THEY BUILD UP THEIR STAFFING, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE STRUCTURED SHIFTS THAT I'LL HAVE A SUPERVISOR ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. [01:45:03] THE DEPUTY POSITIONS ACTUALLY TAKING OUR REORG TO THE NEXT STEP. RIGHT NOW. IT'S TEMPORARILY UNDER MAX'S OVERSIGHT AND OEM. HE'S DIRECTOR OVER BOTH AREAS. THE IDEA IS TO HAVE MAX OVERSEE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS AECC. HE'S GOT JERRIK AS A DEPUTY OVER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND WE'D LIKE TO RECLASS ONE OF OUR VACANCIES TO ALLOW FOR A DEPUTY FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF AECC. >> SORRY, QUESTION ON THAT ONE. WE USED TO RUN AECC WITH, I GUESS, A CAPTAIN. >> LIEUTENANTS. >> IT WAS LIEUTENANT. >> POLICE AND FIRE. >> POLICE AND FIRE. THE TWO LIEUTENANTS WERE RUNNING THAT. NOW, [OVERLAPPING]. >> THEY ARE STILL THERE. AS LIAISONS, BASICALLY TO PROVIDE THAT INPUT AND KEEP THAT CONNECTION TO THE TWO MAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY SERVE. BUT THE MAIN PART OF THIS CHANGE IS TO ALLOW ONE CHAIN OF COMMAND BECAUSE WE DID HAVE DIFFICULTIES. FOLLOWING SOME OF THE PROCESSES AND PERSONNEL ISSUES WHEN THEY'D GO EITHER POLICE SIDE OR FIRE SIDE, AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS WORKING OUT THE BEST AS IT SHOULD. >> YOU'D HAVE MAX IN CHARGE, STILL OVERSEE [OVERLAPPING]. IS THAT IN THE FLOW CHART, BUT YOU'D STILL HAVE THE DEPENDABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY OF BOTH THOSE LIEUTENANTS IN-HOUSE RIGHT THERE WITH ALL OF THE SAME CORRECT COMMUNICATIONS. IF THERE WERE A QUESTION OF WHERE DID THIS NOT GET INPUT CORRECT. >> MORE PROCESS AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PERSONNEL ISSUES, BUT THEY CAN GO OUT ON THE FLOOR IF THEY'RE DEALING WITH A CALL AND HELP ON THE FLY OF WELL, THIS IS HOW POLICE OR FIRE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THIS TO BE HANDLED, SO THEY COULD CONTINUE TO GIVE THAT INPUT. >> WOULD YOU SEE THAT AS AN IMPROVEMENT ON BOTH LIEUTENANTS, LIKE BOTH WOULD BE IN FAVOR? >> YES. THEY'VE APPRECIATED THIS CHANGE. WE'VE BEEN UNDER THIS NEW STRUCTURE FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS NOW. WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE KINKS OF IT AND GETTING THAT INPUT ALONG THE WAY. BUT IT'S BEEN VERY FAVORABLE SO FAR. THEN MAX ALSO MEETS WITH BOTH CHIEFS FROM THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ON AN ALMOST WEEKLY BASIS TO CONTINUE TO GET THAT INPUT AS WE'VE MADE LITTLE CHANGES ALONG THE WAY. IT'S DEFINITELY A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH. >>THIS IS ME JUST BEING OPTIMISTIC, AND I'M SURE THE ANSWER IS NO. BUT IN THE ADMINISTERIAL CHANGE, DOES IT ALLOW FOR ANY GRANTS TO BE PETITIONED THAT WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY BECAUSE YOU'RE STREAMLINING THIS UNDER AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE? >> POTENTIALLY, ESPECIALLY FROM THE FACILITIES STANDPOINT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE LONG-TERM PLANS AND MAYBE A REGIONAL FACILITY THAT WOULD HOUSE, DISPATCH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OTHER AGENCIES. THERE ARE POTENTIALS THAT THIS WOULD HELP BEEF UP OUR APPLICATIONS IF WE HAVE COMBINED RESOURCES. THERE'S POTENTIAL THERE. >> PROBABLY WOULDN'T HELP WITH OPERATION, SO TO SPEAK, BUT EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF QUALIFYING FOR. >> OKAY. COUNCILMAN. >> I'D JUST LIKE TO ON PAGE 149, AND JUST 149. IT'S CUT OFF. THE 24-25 DATA IS CUT OFF ON THE ESTIMATE. >> WE'VE HAD TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF OUR TEMPLATE OF OUR SPREADSHEETS GOT OFF CENTER ON SOME OF THESE PRINTOUTS. >> WE'LL GET THAT UPDATED IN THE NEXT VERSION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT GETS POSTED, YES. >> THANK YOU. >> THE FIGURES YOU SHOWED ME ARE, I THINK, WE'RE ABOUT 25% UNDER AND STAFFING? >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE DO HAVE CURRENTLY FIVE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR IN-HOUSE ACADEMY, BUT YES, WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN. >> MAX, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES OF STAFFING YOUR CENTER? AGAIN, I THINK WHEN I LOOK AT WE HAVE OPEN RATES AND FIRE AND POLICE, AND WE'VE INVESTED IN THAT, AND WE SEEM TO BE DOING PRETTY WELL AND HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON CLOSING THE GAP, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE MISSING PIECE COULD POTENTIALLY BE THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE ABILITY TO STAFF AND MAINTAIN THAT AT A LEVEL. CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE, WHAT COULD HELP ON MEETING THOSE CHALLENGES AND HOW MAYBE COUNSEL OR EVEN LOOKING AT FUNDING COULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT? BECAUSE THE THING I'VE JUST NOTICED IS, WHAT I DID NOT REALIZE IS THERE'S JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT STRESS LEVEL AND WHAT THEY DO. NO, THEY'RE NOT OUT ON THE FRONT LINES NECESSARILY, BUT THEY'RE DEALING WITH THINGS. THEY HELP IN MANY WAYS, BUT THEY NEVER KNOW THE OUTCOME, GOOD OR BAD AND WHAT MAY BE GOING ON. JUST LIKE WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS THAT ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, I THINK THEY PROVIDE REAL VALUE AND IMPORTANT PART OF IT, AND WE NEED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN AND COMPENSATE THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMAN. WHILE I WAS WAITING, I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME NUMBERS TO UP TO THE HOUR NUMBERS FOR YOU. WE'RE SITTING ABOUT 18%, SO WE'RE NOT AS BAD AS 25 BUT 18%. YOU'RE 100% CORRECT WITH OUR CALL VOLUME. WE'RE SITTING I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS, WE ARE 52 FOLKS RIGHT NOW, AND OUR CALL VOLUME, TO INCLUDE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE NUMBER, [01:50:02] 911 NUMBER, NON-EMERGENCY, WHICH IS SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS CALLING 2311 CURRENTLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 173,000. IF YOU'RE LOOKING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR OUR CURRENT STAFFING OR BASED ON OUR STAFFING OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND PRIOR TO, WE'RE LOOKING ABOUT 5,600 CALLS INDIVIDUALLY FOR EACH ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS, WHICH HITS ON TO THE POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE OF 100%. THE STRESS LEVEL IS IN A DIFFERENT REALM. OUR INDIVIDUALS ARE HEARING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS' WORST DAYS, AND THEY'RE HEARING THEM 5,600 TIMES A YEAR. YES, WHEN IT COMES TO TURNOVER AND ATTRITION, IT IS NORMAL IN ACC AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTERS TO HAVE A HIGH ATTRITION RATE. HOWEVER, COMING INTO THE TEAM IN FEBRUARY, SO WE ARE ABOUT FIVE, SIX MONTHS INTO THIS NOW. THERE WERE EFFICIENCIES TO BE FOUND. CURRENTLY, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE IDENTIFY WAS OUR HIRING PROCESS. NOW, OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATORS ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO ABIDE BY TCO STANDARDS, SO THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED ON THE SAME LEVEL AS A PEACE OFFICER IS. THEY ARE HELD TO ACTUALLY A HIGHER STANDARD THAN PEACE OFFICERS. OUR POOL CAN BE AS DEEP AS IT IS, BUT IT'S THE TYPE OF FISH WE'RE CATCHING IS WHAT COUNTS. THERE'S THAT ASPECT INTO IT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, WE BROUGHT THE TEAM TOGETHER AND WE TRIED TO FIND THOSE EFFICIENCIES IN A HIRING PROCESS. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD 20 STEPS TO GET SOMEONE FROM APPLICATION TO AC. AS OF NOW, OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE'VE TOOK THAT 20 STEPS DOWN TO NINE. WE ARE RAM RODDING AS MANY PEOPLE THROUGH AS POSSIBLE, AND TO PROVE THAT THESE FIVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GOT THROUGH BACKGROUND, WHICH HISTORICALLY, ACC IS COMPETING WITH APDS ACADEMY TO GO THROUGH BACKGROUNDING OF ALL OF OUR ACADEMY, CADETS. IT WAS VERY TIME-CONSUMING, KNOWING THAT APD NEEDED TO GET THEIR FOLKS IN PRIORITY, WHICH IS FULLY UNDERSTANDABLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ENHANCING THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR TECHNICAL ADVISORS ON THE PD AND FIRESIDE, OUR LIEUTENANTS THERE, IS WE'RE ACTUALLY UTILIZING THEM ON THE BACKGROUND SIDE. THESE LAST FIVE APPLICANTS THAT CAME IN ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR ACADEMY. WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THEM THROUGH BACKGROUND, ALL FIVE OF THEM IN THE TIME THAT LAST YEAR IT TOOK US TO GET ONE. WITH THOSE NUMBERS MOVING FORWARD, WE ARE LOOKING AT WITHIN 12 MONTHS, RECOUPING BACK TO PA, AND TO INCLUDE OUR GOAL OF A ACADEMY A QUARTER. RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT A EIGHT-WEEK-ISH ACADEMY WITH ANOTHER PROBABLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEY GET FULLY SIGNED OFF ON THE FIRST DISCIPLINE, WHICH IS CALL TAKE, WHICH IS IN A SENSE, WHAT YOU WOULD THINK A 9111 OPERATOR IS. IT'S THE PERSON WHO DOES ACTUALLY ANSWER THE PHONE. THOSE WERE ASPECTS OF IT. IT'S REALLY JUST THERE WERE SOME EFFICIENCIES TO BE FOUND THAT MOVING TO A MORE CIVILIAN-OPERATED CENTER ALLOWED US A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY. THEREFORE, THE DUAL SIDE OF LEADERSHIP ON GOING TWO WAYS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE. THAT ACTUALLY IS FOUND TO BE MUCH, MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, TAKING SOME WEIGHT OFF THOSE TWO LIEUTENANTS TO ALLOW THEM TO TRULY FOCUS ON THE EFFICIENCIES OF GETTING OUR RESOURCES FROM THAT PERSON ASKING FOR HELP TO THEIR FRONT DOOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THAT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST DEFICIENCIES WE FOUND TO ADDRESS OUR STAFFING. >> SOMETHING ELSE HE NOTICED LOOKING OVER THE STAFF IS WE WEREN'T REALLY PUSHING OR REQUIRING CROSS-TRAINING. WE'VE HAD SOME EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A WHILE THAT CAN ONLY DO CALLS OR MAYBE THEY'RE ONLY DOING THE RADIO. THAT'S ANOTHER PROGRAM THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING TO GET EVERYBODY CROSS-TRAINED, WHICH WILL HELP FILL THOSE GAPS ON MINIMUM STAFFING BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE JUST NEED CALL TAKERS; THERE'S SOME THAT CAN DO IT, SOME CAN'T, SORRY. THAT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT. >> THE BUDGET, ARE THE EMPLOYEES IN THIS DEPARTMENT GETTING THE RAISE THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS GETTING? >> SORRY. I'M CHECKING THAT RIGHT NOW. IF YOU'LL JUST GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES. >> OKAY. OH, SORRY. THEY'RE GETTING THEM. >> TWO PERCENT. >> YES. >> YES. >> WE ARE NOT A SWORN TEAM, AND THEREFORE, WE WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THAT. AS FAR AS THE OVERTIME TO YOUR POINTS EARLIER, IT REALLY IS CORRELATING WITH OUR NUMBERS. AS WE GET MORE, YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THOSE GO DOWN TO THE POINT OF THERE WAS, I BELIEVE, SIX WEEKS IN OUR TEAM'S HISTORY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE WERE FULLY STAFFED. THE POINT OF THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME OF OUR TEAM ASKING FOR OVERTIME AND WANTING IT BACK. BUT THE TIME WILL ALWAYS BE THERE, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WORKING FORWARD AND FORWARD LEANING VERY HARD AND PRIORITIZING TWO FILL SEATS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. >> I'LL GIVE YOU A SOFTBALL. COMPENSATION, ARE WE COMPETITIVE? DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT INCREASING THE COMPENSATION MORE, OR DO YOU THINK WE'RE AT A LEVEL WHERE WE CAN ATTRACT AND RETAIN? >> RIGHT NOW, OUR CLOSEST COMPETITORS OF POTTER RANDALL COUNTY WHO DO PAY MORE THAN US. HOWEVER, OUR STARTING SALARY IS $23 AN HOUR, [01:55:03] AND THAT IS RIGHT OFF THE BAT, YOU START. THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE MAKING 23 AN HOUR, ALMOST WITH AS MUCH OVERTIME AS YOU CAN AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER, I WILL NEVER SAY NO; WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE NOW. ACROSS THE STATE, I'VE MET WITH OTHER ECCS, BRAZOS COUNTY, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FORT WORTH. WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET A VERY LARGE SPAN ON HOW COMPETITIVE WE ARE. WHEN YOU'RE DOING COMPENSATION RATES OR COMPARATIVE RATES, BY THE NUMBERS? YES, WE ARE COMPARATIVE. REGIONALLY SPEAKING, WE ARE NOT. >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT POTTER AND RANDALL PAY? >> I'D BE LYING TO IF I GET THAT [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE DID INCLUDE THEM IN OUR, I BELIEVE IT WAS NINE OR SO CITIES THAT WE DID FOR ALL CIVILIANS, AND THEY WERE IN THE MID 30% BELOW THE AVERAGE. THEY'RE PRETTY LOW. >> SINCE WE'RE JUST ADDING TO THE LIST OF MAGIC MONEY WE'RE GOING TO FIND, I WOULD ENCOURAGE. TO ME, THIS IS A CRUCIAL PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I JUST LOOK AT THE METRICS AND THE NUMBERS. I SEE WE'RE MAKING GROUNDS ON CLOSING THE GAP ON OPEN POSITIONS, BUT THIS IS AN AREA THAT I THINK IS CRUCIAL IN OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, WE'RE GOING TO, IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD CONSIDER, IF WE NEED TO MAKE IT MORE COMPETITIVE TO HELP, ATTRACT AND RETAIN AND KEEP EMPLOYEES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN THIS AREA, I THINK GOING BACK TO THE INVESTMENT, THAT TO ME WOULD BE AN INVESTMENT THAT NOT ONLY WOULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, BUT WOULD BENEFIT BOTH FIRE AND AND POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL. I'D JUST LIKE TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AND SEE AS WE'RE PUTTING THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER IF THE CD STAFF WOULD THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE A GOOD INVESTMENT, AND IF SO, CAN WE FIND SOME MONEY TO DO THAT IF IT'D BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO? >> I WILL SAY, I'LL NEVER FOR ALL THE POSITIONS, WEATHER DEPARTMENT, I'LL NEVER TURN AROUND A REQUEST FROM COUNSEL TO INCREASE THEIR PAY, SO I'LL NEVER DO THAT. I WILL SAY THE PAY STUDY, OUR DISPATCHERS ARE ABOUT $100 PER MONTH GREATER THAN THE AVERAGE OF OUR PAY STUDY, SO THEY ARE WELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF OUR PAY STUDY. NOW, I WILL SAY, TOO, AGAIN, I WON'T TURN AROUND. I WON'T TURN AWAY AN INCREASE FOR MONEY FOR ANYONE. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH BEING A DISPATCHER, AND I KNOW MASK AND ANDREW BOTH SPEAK THIS MORE, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN CHALLENGES THAT MONEY WON'T SOLVE WITH THIS POSITION HERE. IT IS A VERY CHALLENGING POSITION, AND SO NOT SAYING THAT MORE MONEY ISN'T MUCH APPRECIATED, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL NECESSARILY SEE A ONE-TO-ONE ON INCREASING PAY TO DECREASING VACANCIES BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE WORK. I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. >> I UNDERSTAND. AGAIN, BUT I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE METRICS AND THE METRICS, SAY, WE HAVE NOW, IF MONEY'S NOT THE PROBLEM, THEN AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. I WE'VE GOT THE PROBLEM SOLVED, THEN MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT IT. >> MR. RYMAN, JUST CORRECT TO ME, SO POTTERS AT 25 STARTING RENTALS AT 23, SO WE ARE RIGHT AROUND PAR ON THAT, AND I BELIEVE TO MR. PATH'S POINT OF YES. THERE IS OTHER ASPECTS OTHER THAN JUST THE MONEY THAT COME INTO ACCOUNT THAT ARE SPECIFIC AND SPECIAL TO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTERS. ONE OF THEM AND IN MY PROGRAMMATIC REVIEW OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS HAS TRULY BEEN DEEP DIVING INTO WHAT OTHER ECS DO FOR MENTAL HEALTH WHEN IT COMES TO RETENTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT, PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS. THERE IS INTERNAL INTO OUR TEAM, THERE'S SOME INTERNAL REINVESTMENT IN OURSELVES THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP WITH THAT ROI. YES, [LAUGHTER] I WILL NEVER TURNED OUT A RAS FIRM FOR RT, WHATEVER. BUT THERE ABSOLUTELY IS THERE'S OTHER EFFICIENCIES TO BE FOUND INTERNALLY. >> THAT WOULD BE GOOD, AND I JUST SAY AND I DON'T SPEAK FOR COUNSEL. I JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF. BUT AS I'VE LEARNED MORE, YOU PLAY ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL ROLE, AND IF IT'S NOT, IF WE'RE COMPETITIVE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS I WOULD ALWAYS ENTERTAIN, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THAT. BECAUSE I JUST THINK AS I'VE LEARNED, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL IN WHAT YOU GUYS DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I'M CONFUSED. ANDREW, YOU SAID WITH THE REGIONAL STUDY, WE WERE 30% BELOW. >> THE PAY STUDY IS ALL ABOUT RESETTING THE RANGE AND BRINGING PEOPLE UP TO THE MINIMUM. >> CORRECT. >> WHAT I WAS POINTING OUT WAS THE OVERALL AVERAGES. THAT WAS THAT 30% RANGE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN OUR CURRENT DON'T FALL WITHIN RANGE. IT'S ALL HOW YOU LIKE THE NUMBERS. >> THAT'S PERFECTLY CLEAR. GOT IT. >> CLEAR [INAUDIBLE]. >> THAT'S PERFECT. I WOULD ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN SIMPSON SAID, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT MAX, I THINK, AND GOOD JOB ON LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING. I WOULD SAY MAYBE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE AND YOU KNOW CULTURE IS GOING TO BE A BIG THING. THAT YOUR DEPARTMENTS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE IS AND TO FIND SOME CREATIVE WAYS. AGAIN, DON'T SPEAK FOR ALL OF COUNSEL, BUT I THINK WE'D ALL BE ON BOARD TO SAY WE'D BE WILLING TO SPEND [02:00:01] SOME MONEY TO DO SOME THINGS TO CHANGE THAT CULTURE A LITTLE BIT. IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE. BUT EVEN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS, TO MAYBE HELP MORALE THEIR JOB IS NOT GOING TO BE FUN. THERE'S JUST NOTHING FUN ABOUT DEALING WITH TRAUMA EVERY DAY. BUT SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEY COULD DO OUTSIDE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE GOT SHIFTS. YOU'RE ON 24/7. YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS WHERE YOU CAN INCORPORATE EVERYBODY, WHETHER IT'S OUTSIDE THE OFFICE, OR SOMETHING TO DO THAT MAKES THIS WORTH STAYING, LIKE THIS. I COULD GO WORK AT ANOTHER 911 OPERATION OR ANOTHER TYPE JOB LIKE THAT. BUT MAN, THIS IS GREAT. IT'S LIKE FAMILY, JUST TO INCORPORATE THAT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK LAURA AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST YEAR IS THAT CULTURE SHIFT WHERE YOU GUYS CAN DRIVE THAT, BUT IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON THEIR PERSONALITY HAS TO BE THAT WAY. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IF IT'S NOT YOU, THEN YOU FIND SOMEBODY THAT'S LIKE, MAN, THEY'RE GOOD AT PLANNING FUN STUFF TO JUST MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. I ENCOURAGE YOU THAT. IF THERE'S EVER AN ASK TO HELP IN THAT, I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE ON BOARD TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE THEY'RE CRUCIAL. THEY'RE THE FIRST PIECE TO THESE GUYS, THE HEROES THAT ARE SITTING OUT HERE TO GET THOSE PEOPLE HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT. APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO, AND GOOD THINKING ON THINKING, WHAT COULD I DO TO RETAIN AND MAKE THIS CULTURE A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THANK YOU >> COUNCILMAN. >> FROM BEING OUT THERE IN THE FIELD, AND I WORKED FOR AN AGENCY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO 911 WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE STRANDED AND NOT HAVE ANYBODY TO CONNECT WITH BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE PHONES BACK THEN, EITHER. YOU'RE THE LIFELINE MAINLY FOR OUR CITIZENS AND MAKING CONTACT FOR WHAT THEY NEED ANSWERED IN THEIR LIFE, AND IT'S WORK THAT'S UNIQUE, AND OUR SUPPORT NEEDS TO BE BEHIND YOU AND WHAT YOU DO. THE MAIN THING THOUGH IS THEY'RE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE BECAUSE I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THIS, YOU AVERAGE ABOUT 350 CALLS A DAY. THAT'S A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT. SOME OF THEM ARE SMALL LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY CAN HANDLE REAL QUICKLY, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THOSE EMERGENCIES THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T GET TO SEE EACH DAY OR HEAR ABOUT. COMMEND YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND ANY WAY WE CAN SUPPORT YOU HAVE IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. MR. FREEMAN, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION MAX HAS DONE A LOT ON THAT CULTURE PIECE. TRYING TO REALLY BRING ACCOUNTABILITY AND A STANDARD ACROSS SHIFTS, BECAUSE DEPEND ON WHICH SUPERVISOR STRUCTURE YOU HAVE, PERSONNEL ISSUES HAVE BEEN TREATED DIFFERENTLY AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ALL THAT MORE CONSISTENT, SO EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SHIFT YOU'RE ON. THAT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL, AND THEY DO HAVE A LITTLE FUN WHEN THEY SAVE SOME LIVES. WE DO LIFE SAVING A AWARDS. I'LL TELL YOU, TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IS NOT A SMALL THING IN OUR TEAM [LAUGHTER]. IT WAS ALMOST A CULTURE SHOCK TO ME OF HOW MUCH HAPPENS [LAUGHTER]. THE FOOD, HOW MUCH OF ITS DONATED, THINGS LIKE THAT. IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE. IT WAS SHOCKING TO BE HONEST. IT WAS VERY HUMBLING, AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE PART OF IT. >> MR. DUNLAP, YOU'RE A STRONG LEADER. WE APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OVER THERE, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN THE BASEMENT WE STILL KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT, AND YOU'RE DOWN THERE FOR A REASON. YOU'RE FOUNDATIONAL. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO. >> THANK YOU. MS. STORES, YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH JUDICIAL REAL QUICK? >> I THINK WE NEED TO GO ON TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FIRST. I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT BLENDED, BUT BECAUSE MAX IS OVER BOTH THOSE TEAMS, BUT ON PAGE 157, IS YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND A COUPLE OF ITEMS OF NOTE FOR CHANGES THIS YEAR IS THEY DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE ADDED IN. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR NEEDS, THERE'S A DATA MINERS SOFTWARE AND ALSO EVERBRIDGE SOFTWARE, AND A VOG LEASE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, SOME ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS THERE, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR INTELLIGENCE LIAISON OFFICER I KEEP CALLING AN OFFICER. INTELLIGENCES LIAISON. IN THE CITY MANAGERS DEPARTMENT AS WELL IN CONJUNCTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE SOFTWARE THAT ALIGNS AND THAT HE HAS ALL THAT HE NEEDS. >> THEY'RE BASICALLY SHARING THE COSTS FOR THOSE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY BOTH WILL SEE BENEFITS FROM USING THAT SOFTWARE. >> THEN ALSO, AS A REMINDER, [02:05:03] I KNOW WE'VE MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, BIG CHANGE IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS. THERE'S A $5,000,000 CAPITAL PROJECT OUT THERE FOR AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CENTER, LOOKING TO BE GRANT FUNDED. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE ASKED FOR 1 MILLION AND WOUND UP WITH FIVE, SO THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT THING IT NEVER HAPPENS THAT WAY. HUGE WIN. ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANYTHING, GENTLEMEN? I KNOW WE COVERED BOTH. THANK YOU FOR HITTING THE HIGHLIGHTS THOUGH ON THE BUDGET, MS. STORES. >> YES. >> MAX, THANK YOU. >> NOW WE CAN GO ON TO OUR MUNICIPAL COURT OPERATIONS AND THEN OUR JUDICIAL. WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT SOME SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH. WE WENT THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY, BUT AS YOU TURN OVER TO PAGE 167, YOU WILL SEE OUR MUNICIPAL COURT. ONE ITEM OF NOTE IS WE ARE SEEING CITATIONS INCREASE, WHICH IS DRIVING SOME OF THE REVENUE UP IN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT AREA. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A TREND THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN TURN THIS DIRECTION IN PROBABLY OVER FIVE YEARS. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THE REVENUE STANDPOINT ON PAGE 167. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE, THE 30 5110 TRAFFIC FINES LINE ITEM HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN GOING DOWN AND IT IS TURNING BACK THE OTHER WAY. OTHER THAN THAT, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY FLAT BUDGET. AS YOU TURN THE PAGE TO PAGE 169, WE ALSO HAVE OUR OFFICE OF OFFICE OF CIVIL HEARINGS. ALSO A FLAT BUDGET THERE AS WELL. NO CHANGES. AND THEN ON PAGE 170, WE HAVE OUR COURT TECHNOLOGY FUND, AND WE WENT OVER THAT YESTERDAY, AND THEY DO HAVE SOME SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS COMING IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUBSIDIZE THE TECHNOLOGY FEES AT THE COURT BEYOND WHAT THE STATE WILL ALLOW THEM TO COLLECT FROM A FEE STANDPOINT ON ANY, CITATIONS THAT COME THROUGH THEIR OFFICE. OTHER THAN THAT, NO MAJOR CHANGES, EXCEPT FOR, I DID ALSO WANT TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT WE HAVE IN CAPITOL YESTERDAY, WE HAD OVER $4 MILLION BUDGETED FOR PHASES ONE THROUGH THREE OF A FIVE PHASE PROJECT TO DO MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FIRST FLOOR THAT ADDRESSES THE MUNICIPAL COURT AREA, ALL THE COURTS, AND OUR POLICE SIDE ENTRANCE SIDE FOR SOME MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS THERE FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT, A FUNCTIONALITY STANDPOINT [INAUDIBLE]. >> POLICE SIDE WILL BE A FUTURE PHASE. >> THAT'S A FUTURE PHASE. >> COURT ROOMS ARE MAIN OFFICES, RESTROOMS, WILL BE THAT FIRST THREE PHASES. >> YES. THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET AS YOU CONTINUE TO TURN YOUR PAGES. IF YOU GO TO PAGE U174, YOU'LL SEE THE START OF OUR JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE JUDGE CAMILTON HERE, AND SHE CONTINUES TO BRING IN A VERY FLAT BUDGET AND DOES A LOT. THEY SEE A LOT OF CASES WITH VERY EFFICIENT STAFFING OVER THERE. THEN, AS YOU GO TO PAGE 175, YOU'VE GOT YOUR COURT SECURITY FUND. AGAIN, THAT IS A STATE MANDATED OR STATE REGULATED FEE, WE'RE COLLECTING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT WE CAN. IT DOES HELP COVER SOME OF OUR COST OVER AT THE COURT, ALONG WITH OUR BAILIFFS, AND THE GENERAL FUND DOES HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE BIT JUST TO SUPPLEMENT THE FULL COST OF OUR SECURITY MEASURES OVER AT OUR COURTS AREAS. WITH THAT, I'LL PAUSE TO SEE IF YOU'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR LUNCH IS HERE? >> YES. >> I THINK WE'RE DONE FOR THE DAY. >> THE RULE IS WHEN YOUR MICROPHONE DROPS, YOU'RE THROUGH FOR THE DAY, MAYOR. THAT'S JUST THE RULES. >> YES, WE WOULD LOVE THAT. YES. >> I FOUND ANOTHER MICROPHONE. >> I WOULD OFFER, I THINK WE'RE OKAY TO TAKE AN EARLY LUNCH. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BREAK BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE STREETS BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE TO TRANSITION KIND OF OUR THOUGHT PROCESS. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WOULD ASK ON ALL THINGS, PUBLIC SAFETY, DOES STAFF HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO OFFER? COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BROUGHT BACK FOR YOU IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD HERE TODAY. THE RECAP, I KNOW WE'VE HEARD AND WE'RE THROWING AROUND PERCENTAGES IN CLOSING OF THIS ITEM BEFORE IT COMES BACK IN THE BUDGET NEEDS YOU GUYS TO KNOW, [02:10:03] WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN OUT OF THE BUDGET FOR YOU. STAFF IS DOING ALL THEY CAN AS WELL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THE MEET AND CONFER IS, BUT OUR HOPES ARE IS THAT THAT'S THE SHORTEST MEET AND CONFER OF YOUR LIFE, AND THAT YOU GUYS COULDN'T SHAKE HANDS AND SMILE AT EACH OTHER MORE AND FEEL SUPPORTED. STAFF IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB, I THINK IN WORKING TOWARDS THAT. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT LEFT TO DO ON OUR END, BUT THEN WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW IT WON'T BE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE ON PAPER. IT WON'T BE WHAT EVERYBODY GETS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT IT'LL BE OUR BEST, AND THEN WE DEMAND THAT FROM YOU GUYS. WE KNOW WE GET YOUR BEST EVERY DAY WHEN YOU SHOW UP TO WORK, AND YOU'LL HAVE OURS AS WELL. COUNCILMAN. >> I GUESS THE ONLY DIRECTION I WOULD GIVE STAFF IS, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. NUMBER 1, THAT, THAT WE DON'T GET OURSELVES INTO A PICKLE LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO BUDGET. BUT NUMBER 2, IF WE'RE ADDING MONEY IN ONE AREA, IT'S GOT TO COME FROM ANOTHER. I'D REALLY WANT TO KNOW AND I THINK I AGREE WE ALL WANT TO DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE, WHAT ARE WE HAVING TO GIVE UP? WE JUST NEED TO WEIGH THE ENTIRE CITY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THIS IS GOING TO COME FROM, SO WITH WHATEVER WE CAN COME UP WITH, TO HOPEFULLY MEET THESE REQUESTS, THAT'D BE GREAT. BUT I WOULD PERSONALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN FULLY FUND EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED, AND WHAT ARE WE GIVING UP OR WHAT ARE WE NOT ABLE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. >> GOOD MORNING. APPRECIATE EVERYBODY. WE'RE AT 11:30. I THINK WE TAKE 45 MINUTES. IF I SAY 12:15, THAT ACTUALLY MIGHT BE LIKE BEFORE 12:30 THAT WE'RE UP AND RUNNING. LET'S SAY 12:15, HEAD BACK IN HERE. WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION ITEM. THANK YOU, GUYS. EVERYBODY'S HERE. WE'RE ALL BACK AND READY. MS. LAURA, WE'RE OFFICIALLY CALLED BACK IN IF YOU WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH TRANSPORTATION. >> ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT AREA THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IS STREET MAINTENANCE. AS WE'VE MENTIONED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE HAVE PROPOSED IN THIS BUDGET TO PULL STREET MAINTENANCE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND TO SET IT UP IN AN ENTERPRISE FUND WITH A SELF SUPPORTING REVENUE MECHANISM. I KNOW DONNIE HAS A PRESENTATION PREPARED, BUT I DID WANT TO GET YOU TO THE RIGHT SPOTS IN THE BOOK. IF YOU GO TO PAGE 388, THE COUPLE OF PAGES BEFORE JUST SHOW WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THE GENERAL FUND, BUT ON PAGE 388, IT STARTS TO SHOW THE LINE ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STREET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, AND IT GOES ON TO ABOUT WELL, IT'S 388, AND THEN WE'VE GOT THROUGH A 388 D PAGE. [02:15:02] HECK, YEAH, I KNOW. WE'RE TRYING TO GET CREATIVE IN OUR NUMBERING SCHEMES HERE, SO ANYWAYS, WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY AT A GOOD POINT TO PASS THIS. I'LL LET GRAYSON TAKE IT FROM HERE. >> BEFORE DONNIE STARTS HIS PRESENTATION, I WANT TO SET THE STAGE A LITTLE BIT HERE. THIS IS A NEW PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO THE COUNCIL, SOMETHING YOU'VE NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME. AS THE COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE, WE'RE UP AGAINST SOME FISCAL CONSTRAINTS WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUE. YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT SP2. YOU'VE NOW HEARD ABOUT SP9. THAT'S IN SPECIAL SESSION NOW, THAT WOULD TAKE OUR 3.5% GROWTH DOWN TO 2.5. YOU'VE SEEN OUR SALES TAXES LIMITED. AGAIN, THE LEGISLATION HAS NOT DONE US A FAVOR IN LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO RAISE THE FUNDS. THE CITIZENS DEMAND SERVICES. THEY DEMAND EVERYTHING FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO RECREATION TO STREET MAINTENANCE TO JUST SO MANY THINGS AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE DEMAND. THESE THINGS ARE NOT FREE. WE DO EMPLOY EMPLOYEES. WE DO HAVE CONTRACTORS, WE DO BUY COMMODITIES. EVERYTHING DOES COST MONEY, AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS, AND EVERYONE HAS TO HONESTLY ADMIT TO, COSTS DO GO UP. CITY GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT GIVEN A BREAK FROM THAT. WHEN THE PRICE OF BREAD AND COMMODITIES GOES UP, WE'RE NOT GIVEN AN EXEMPTION TO THAT. SO AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR CONTINUES TO RAISE PRICES, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO ABSORB THAT. WITH THAT, WE HAVE TO EITHER CUT, ADJUST, PRIORITIZE, LOOK FOR NEW REVENUE SOURCES, WHATEVER IT IS. WITH THIS, THE LAST TWO-AND-HALF DAYS, YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A BUDGET HERE THAT'S BALANCED. YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE REQUESTS, THE NEEDS. WE'VE CUT SOME THINGS, WE'VE ADDED SOME THINGS, WE HAVE SOME NEW PRIORITIES AND PROJECTS. OF COURSE, THE BIG ONES BEING OF COURSE, THE POLICE PAY, FIRE PAY, CIVILIAN PAY, THE COMP STUDY, AND THE TMRS, THOSE THINGS EQUATE TO ABOUT $12 - $14 MILLION, SO NOT A SMALL TICKET ITEM BY ANY MEANS. WITH THIS, WE CAME ACROSS A SITUATION WHERE WE WERE OUT OF MONEY. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES IN ITS CURRENT FORM, NOT EVEN TO MENTION TRYING TO EXPAND SERVICES, BUT IN ITS CURRENT FORM WHILE STILL MEETING THOSE DEMANDS. I TASK STAFF WITH PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION HERE TO GIVE YOU GUYS ANOTHER OPTION OF HOW TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET. WITH THIS, WE LOOKED AT WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING? WHAT HAVE OTHER CITIES DONE TO TRY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS CURVE? OF COURSE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE ON THE LOWER END OF OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, AND A LOT OF OUR COMPARABLE CITIES ARE 15, 20, 30 CENTS HIGHER THAN WE ARE. WE ARE BEHIND THAT INDEFINITELY. UNLESS THEY WILL LOWER THEIR TAX RATES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET CAUGHT UP. WITH THAT I DON'T HAVE AN OPTION THERE. I CAN'T RAISE THAT. WE CAN GO TO THE PEOPLE FOR A VOTE, BUT I DON'T SEE A GOOD CHANCE OF THAT SUCCEEDING. WITH THIS, LOOKING AT THOSE SAME CITIES, WHAT ELSE HAVE THEY DONE? THEY PROPOSED A STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. WE ARE PROPOSING THAT FOR YOU TODAY. I HAVE TASKED DONNIE WITH PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION. HE HAS DONE THE WORK TO DO THIS. WHEN IT COMES TO, AND I KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL, THEIR PRIORITIES ARE PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, BUSINESS FRIENDLY SERVICES, EVERYTHING. IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE IN THESE AREAS, WE'VE GOT TO FIND THE REVENUE TO DO THIS. SO WITH THIS, ONE OF MY THOUGHTS WAS, HOW DO I PROTECT THE STREET FUND? RIGHT NOW, IT'S IN THE MIXING BOWL OF BALANCING. WHEN IT COMES TO THE HARD DECISIONS YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS TO, DO WE CUT THIS? DO WE CUT THAT? STREET IS CURRENTLY IN THAT MIX. AT LEAST IT WAS UNTIL MY PROPOSAL HERE. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, DO WE CUT PLEAS? DO WE CUT LIBRARY? DO WE CUT PARKS? DO WE CUT CITY MARSHAL? DO WE CUT STREETS? THE PROPOSAL HERE TODAY WILL PULL THAT OUT TO WHERE IT'S PROTECTED. IT WILL HAVE ITS OWN REVENUE STREAM. IT WILL NO LONGER BE PART OF THAT MIXING BOWL ON THE CUTTING BLOCK FOR POSSIBLE BALANCING OF THE OTHER FUNDS THERE. THAT SETS THE STAGE HERE. AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO GET CREATIVE. WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK TO WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING? THIS IS NOT NEW TO US. THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO US. IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND PLENTY OF CITIES HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR 5, 10, IN SOME CITIES 15 YEARS. SO THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE, AND WE ARE PROPOSING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION WE DO HERE. WITH THIS, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO DONNIE. >> THANK YOU, AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO SET IT ALL UP AND DIVE RIGHT INTO IT. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I DO IF I'M TASKED TO BRING A PRESENTATION TO COUNSEL, ESPECIALLY WITH SOMETHING OF A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE. I ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK BACK AT OUR COUNCIL PILLARS, AND SO I WANT TO START THERE AND JUST GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CHECK MARKS WE PUT ON COUNCIL PILLARS. THESE ARE YOUR PILLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING THE MOST PRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. WE CAN CHECK THAT BOX, WE CAN CHECK THE BOX OF COMMUNICATION, ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. [02:20:02] EXPLORING ALL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE CAN CHECK THAT BOX. PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE I COULDN'T CHECK WAS PARTNERING WITH OTHER AGENCIES. IT REALLY DOESN'T APPLY TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, BUT ALLOCATING IMMEDIATE FUNDS TO PRIORITY NEEDS AND EVALUATING LONG TERM FUNDING PLANS. GENERALLY, AS I BUILT THE PRESENTATION, I'D GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DIRECTION I WAS TAKING WAS GOING TO FACILITATE WHAT THE COUNCIL PILLARS WERE. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO WHEN WE DO ANYTHING THAT'S A PROGRAM CHANGE SUCH AS THIS. HERE THE WISE, AND GRACE HAD ALREADY WENT OVER SOME OF THIS AS WELL. OTHER CITIES ARE MOVING AWAY FROM DEPENDENCE ON THE GENERAL FUND FOR STREET OPERATIONS BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER PRIORITIES. THERE'S A CONSTANT PRESSURE TO SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS POLICE AND FIRE. WE JUST HEARD THOSE CONVERSATIONS A MOMENT AGO, PARKS AND RECREATION, LIBRARIES, SOLID WASTE, TRAFFIC, AND MORE. AS THOSE COSTS CONTINUE TO GO UP FOR THOSE SERVICES, MAINTENANCE IS OFTEN DEPRIORITIZED. I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME NUMBERS TO PUT THAT TO THE TEST, WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT OUR STREET OPERATIONS. THESE ARE TRUE NUMBERS FROM OUR BUDGET. I CAME HERE IN 2018. WE HAD 97 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR 1,032 CENTER LANE MILES OF STREETS AND 499 MILES OF ALLEYS. I'M GOING TO PAUSE THERE JUST SO THAT WE CAN DEFINE WHAT A CENTERLINE STREET MILE IS. THAT IS BELL STREET FROM ONE MILE OF BELL STREET IS A CENTERLINE MILE, BUT THERE ARE ALSO LANE MILES THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN SOME OTHER CONVERSATIONS AS WELL, WHICH THAT ONE MILE WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO FIVE LANE MILES BECAUSE THERE'S FIVE, THERE'S TWO DRIVE LANES AND TURN LANE IN THE CENTER. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT CENTERLINE MILES, BUT YOU CAN SEE IN 2021, WE DECREASED OUR STAFF FROM 97 TO 95, AND A LOT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE BALANCING THE BUDGET, AND WE'RE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE'RE OFTEN ASKED, WELL, LET'S PULL SOME POSITIONS THAT WE'RE NOT FILLING. WE JUST HAD THAT CONVERSATION A MOMENT AGO, AS WELL. HOW DID WE DO IT LAST YEAR? WE TOOK POSITIONS THAT WERE HARD TO FILL, AND WE ABSORBED THOSE. SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2021. ALTHOUGH, AS WE REDUCED THOSE, WE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF CENTERLINE MILES WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR DUE TO GROWTH, AND ALSO FOR ALLEY MILES AS WELL. 2024, WE REDUCED DOWN TO 89, AND WE INCREASED OUR CENTERLINE MILES OF RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR ALLEY MILES. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT CONVERSATION IS REAL. IT REALLY HAPPENS WITH THE STREET DEPARTMENT. AS LONG AS IT'S RESIDING IN THE GENERAL FUND, YOU'RE ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO TAKE AND HOW YOU WANT TO STAFF THAT. THIS IS JUST A SYNOPSIS OF THAT. FROM 2018 - '24 FULL TIME STREET STAFFING DECLINED FROM IN 97 TO 89, SO WE LOST EIGHT POSITIONS, THAT'S ABOUT 8.2%. DURING THAT SAME TIME PERIOD AS I MENTIONED, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES GREW. STREET MILEAGE INCREASED BY 27 MILES, WHICH IS A 2.6% INCREASE AND ALLEY MILES INCREASED BY 3.8%. THAT'S 19 MILES. IF YOU DIVIDE IT OUT BY WORKLOAD PER EMPLOYEE, AND THAT'S REALLY JUST AN EASY NUMBER TO CALCULATE. THAT'S 10.6 MILES OF STREETS IN 2018, THEY'RE NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR 67% MORE. OF THOSE STREETS AT 17.7 MILES. THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE ALLEYS. THE ALLEYS IS A SEPARATE SET CALCULATION THAT REALLY COMES OUT TO ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER. SO I THINK YOU SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT. STREET OPERATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A LITTLE OVER 2000 SERVICE REQUESTS ANNUALLY. THAT NUMBER DIFFERS DEPENDING ON WHETHER WE HAVE REALLY WET WINTER, WHETHER WE HAVE A LOT OF SNOW AND ICE, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE HAVE CRACK CEILING OPERATIONS OR SEALCOATING IN HOUSE CHIPS TOO. OUR PAVED ALLEY CEILING, POTHOLE REPAIR AND PATCHING, UNPAVED ALLEY MAINTENANCE, GUARDRAIL REPLACEMENT, WINTER WEATHER OPERATIONS, AND THEN OUR STREET TOPPINGS FOR UTILITY CUTS. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT THEY DO OVER THERE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THEIR DAILY OPERATIONS. STRATEGICALLY, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND, AND THIS IS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE NEW HERE OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE WORKING WITH THIS COUNCIL IN THE PAST, ACTUALLY, WHEN GRAYSON GOT HERE, AND HE TASKED ME WITH SOME THINGS, ONE OF THEM WAS THAT WE HAD TO GET RID OF THE ISSUE WE HAD WITH PROP DOLLARS AND GET THOSE SPENT. WE'VE GOT A BOX CHECKED ON THAT BECAUSE THAT IS EN ROUTE. IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE GETTING THAT SOLVED. HE ALSO SAID TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS STREET MAINTENANCE ISSUES. COUNCIL, OF COURSE, HEARD ALL THOSE PRESENTATIONS. WE CREATED AN ANNUAL SUMMER MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, A RECURRING ANNUAL STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM. WE DEVELOPED AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR OUR STREET ASSESSMENTS, ALONG WITH THEIR BIDDING AND CONTRACTS BEING LET EARLIER IN THE YEAR SO WE CAN GET BETTER PRICING ON THOSE. WE PURCHASED NEW EQUIPMENT. WE DID A LOT OF THINGS ON THE CAPITAL SIDE TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS. THE ONE THING THAT'S NOT SOLVED IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG TERM FUNDING AND A PLAN FOR STREET OPERATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF. JUST TO RECAP, WE ADDRESSED CAPITAL FUNDING ISSUES, 12 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR STREET REPAIRS, 8 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR RECONSTRUCTION. WE'RE FUNDING OUR STREET ASSESSMENT. IN FACT, WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED OUR ASSESSMENT THAT IS [02:25:01] FOR NEXT YEAR'S SUMMER MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. SO WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH THAT CYCLE THAT WE CREATED IN A PRESENTATION I GAVE YOU ON SUMMER MAINTENANCE AND HOW WE WILL ATTACK THAT. WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS NOW, AS GRAYSON MENTIONED, IS THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF THE STREET DIVISION ITSELF, ABOUT 15 MILLION ANNUALLY. WE'VE EVEN RECENTLY OUTSOURCED SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PATCHING CONTRACTS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT GENERALLY IS DONE INTERNALLY IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE REDUCED NUMBERS AND STAFFING, RESPONSIBILITIES, LANE MILES INCREASING, ALL THOSE THINGS, WE CHOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE AND IT WAS GREAT WORK. I THINK THE WORK THAT THEY DID WAS PHENOMENAL. BUT IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RESPONSIBILITY FISCALLY ON THAT, $176 A SQUARE YARD IS WHAT WE PAID ON OUR CONTRACT, AND MR. HARDER GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THAT TO YOU GUYS HERE RECENTLY. $176 A SQUARE YARD FOR CONTRACTOR. WE CAN DO IT IN HOUSE FOR ABOUT 64. IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING AND PAYING OUT TO CONTRACTORS. WE NEED A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT A STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. WHAT IS IT? IT'S A DEDICATED FEE AND REVENUE SOURCE FOR JUST THE STREET DIVISION OPERATIONS PERIOD. IT'S FOR THAT DEPARTMENT BASED ON USAGE OF THE STREET SYSTEM BY RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. WE'RE NOT INVENTING THIS, EITHER. THIS IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, I'LL SHOW YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS THAT ARE DOING THIS, AND WE COULD MAKE MULTIPLE LIST OF THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE DOING IT. THERE'S A LOT. A TRIP FACTOR IS USED TO DETERMINE RESIDENTIAL NON-RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY USAGE. THEN THAT'S BILLED MONTHLY IN THE CITY UTILITY BILLS. REVENUE IS PLACED IN THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND TO BE USED SOLELY FOR MAINTAINING THE STREET SYSTEM, PERIOD. YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE, MUCH LIKE THE DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE WHEN IT WAS CREATED IN 2012. HERE ARE SOME OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS THAT ARE DOING IT, AND YOU CAN SEE THE RESIDENTIAL RATES OVER THAT'S MONTHLY RATES THAT THEY HAVE LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITES OF WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING PER MONTH. CORPUS CHRISTI 538, YOU CAN READ THOSE FOR YOURSELF. BUT WE DID A LOT OF DEEP DIVE INTO KILLEEN AND ABILENE'S ORDINANCE AND THE WAY THAT THEY WERE RUNNING THEIR OPERATIONS. I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THEY PUT THEIR PROGRAMS TOGETHER. BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2018. YOU SEE THAT AUSTIN'S WENT IN IN 1992. I THINK THEY WERE PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST ONES IN THE STATE TO EVER DO IT. THAT'S WHY THAT FEE IS AT 1974. THEY'VE INCREMENTALLY RAISED THAT WITH CPI EVERY YEAR TO DO THEIR BUSINESS THERE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 35, BECAUSE I 35 IS HORRIBLE. BORGER HAS ONE. THEY PUT IN IN 2018. IT'S BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL FOR THEM. WE TALKED TO THEIR CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT PROGRAM. HE'S RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE COMMENTS OVER THERE. THEIR FEE IS AT SIX DOLLARS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THEY USE THEIR SMALLER COMMUNITY. THEY USE THAT FOR THEIR SEALCOAT AND THEIR CHIP SEAL PROGRAMS OVER THERE. THERE'S SOME OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING COMMERCE, LAMPASAS, COLLEGE STATION, HAMILTON. I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHERE HAMILTON IS, BUT I DID FIND THAT THEY HAD THAT PROGRAM AND I DIDN'T BOTHER TO LOOK THEM UP GEOGRAPHY. I'M SURE THEY'RE VERY SMALL, BUT THEY IMPLEMENTED THEIRS IN 2018, AND BRYAN, TEXAS HAS ONE RIGHT NEXT TO COLLEGE STATION THERE THAT THEY PUT IN IN 2004, AND IT'S AT $12 FOR THE RESIDENTIAL MONTHLY FEES. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT TRIP FACTOR INDEX AND HOW THIS IS CALCULATED OUT AND HOW THEY PUT THESE FORMULAS TOGETHER. IT'S BASICALLY A NUMERIC VALUE THAT'S USED IN THE CALCULATION OF STREET MAINTENANCE FEES. ITS PURPOSE IS TO ESTIMATE HOW MUCH WEAR AND TEAR PROPERTY TYPE CONTRIBUTES TO PUBLIC ROADWAYS BASED ON VEHICLE TRAFFIC. TRIP FACTORS USED APPORTIONATELY, FAIRLY AMONG DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTIES BASED ON THE VOLUME AND IMPACT THAT THEY GENERATE, AND SOME GOOD EXAMPLES OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT A GROCERY STORE IS GOING TO GENERATE A LOT MORE TRAFFIC THAN A SMALL HAIR AND NAIL SALON WOULD GENERATE, OR THAT A RESIDENTIAL DUPLEX OR MULTIFAMILY DUPLEX WOULD GENERATE. THAT'S HOW IT CALCULATES THAT BASED ON THOSE FACTORS. IT WAS CREATED BY THE INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS. NOW, THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT USE TRAFFIC STUDIES TO DO THEIR OWN. THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT USE ITE PLUS THEIR OWN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING TO DO THEIR OWN STUDIES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER GROCERY STORE THAT DOESN'T GENERATE AS MUCH TRAFFIC, IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE REFLECTED THAT WAY, NOT TO BE ONE OF THE GIANT SUPERMARKETS THAT GETS ALL THE TRAFFIC IN A CERTAIN PART OF TOWN. THOSE THINGS ARE LOOKED AT SO THAT IT'S MORE FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD PER SQUARE FOOT, WHAT THEY CHARGE. BUT IT DOESN'T PROVIDE SOME EMPIRICAL DATA ON VEHICLE TRIP GENERATION FOR THE WIDE VARIETY OF LAND USES THAT WE HAVE. MUNICIPALITIES, BASICALLY, THEY OPT TO ADOPT THE IT TRANSPORTATION RATES, PERIODICALLY MODIFYING THOSE BASED ON REGIONAL TRAFFIC STUDIES TO REFLECT THE ACTUAL USAGE PATTERNS IN THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. A COUPLE OF THE CITIES THAT I TALKED TO, THEY SAID, WE DID GO BACK AND DO SOME MODIFICATIONS. IT WASN'T A LOT, BUT WE DID HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE SAW THAT WE NEEDED TO MODIFY. WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE, [02:30:02] A FLAT RATE USED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOME. ITE STANDARDS SAYS THAT'S 9.57 TRIPS A DAY. WHEN I FIRST LOOKED AT THAT, I SAID, THAT'S CRAZY. I DON'T HAVE NINE TRIPS TO MY HOUSE. THEN I COUNTED UP THAT DAY AND I HAD 13. YOU START THINKING ABOUT I WENT TO WORK, I CAME HOME FROM LUNCH. I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE, I TOOK MY DOG TO THE PARK TO GO FOR A WALK. IT ENDED UP GETTING UP THERE PRETTY QUICK. THAT'S THE AVERAGE THEY HAVE IN ITE STANDARDS. NON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY HAS TRIP FACTORS THAT ARE BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE, RESTAURANT GENERATING, AND THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES, 89 TRIPS PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, THAT'S BASED ON A 24 HOUR PERIOD. OFFICE, 11 TRIPS PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD AND SHOPPING CENTER, SAME THING THAT YOU CAN SEE THERE FOR THAT. HOW DO THEY CALCULATE THIS FEE? I TOOK ABILENE'S CALCULATIONS, WENT THROUGH THERE AND JUST ADDED A FEW SQUARE FOOTAGE PIECES THAT I GOT OFF PRAD FOR SOME EXISTING BUSINESSES ARE HERE. I DON'T NAME THEM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW THAT SHAKES OUT. BY THE WAY, RESIDENTIAL FEES ARE GENERALLY GOING TO BE A FLAT FEE. THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, IT'LL BE A FLAT FEE PER HOUSEHOLD. BUT YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE DIVIDED BY 01,000 THAT GIVES YOU A UNIT PER SQUARE FOOT OR THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. THEY TAKE THAT AND MULTIPLY IT BY THE TRIP FACTOR. THE TRIP FACTOR IS ACTUALLY IN THE ITE MANUAL. THEN THEY DIVIDE THAT BY TWO, AND THAT GIVES YOU A MULTIPLIER. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MULTIPLIER THERE, THEN THAT IS SENT UP TO THAT CHART THAT'S ON THE TOP RIGHT THAT GIVES YOU A RANGE. AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A TIERED RANGE. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING NECESSARILY AS MUCH AS IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT'S ABILENE'S TIERED RATES RIGHT THERE. THEN YOU FIND OUT WHERE THAT MULTIPLIER FITS IN THAT RANGE, AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR MONTHLY CHARGE FOR NON RESIDENTIAL BUSINESS. FOR RESIDENTIAL, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, IT'S JUST A FLAT FEE. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, OUR NEXT STEPS, OF COURSE, WITH COUNCIL SUPPORT, WOULD BE TO DO SOME FEASIBILITY AND TRIP GENERATION ANALYSIS. THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LOT OF WORK THAT'S DONE ON THAT. MOST OF THESE CITIES ARE USING PRAD DATA OR THEY'RE USING THEIR APPRAISAL DISTRICT DATA. WE WOULD USE PRAD DATA. HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE MECHANISMS LIKE WE HAVE IN DRAINAGE WHERE WE CAN IMPORT CERTAIN PIECES OF THAT. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE TO THAT AND ASSIGNING THE TRIP FACTOR TO NON RESIDENTIAL. BILLING SOFTWARE CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR. THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC OUTREACH. THERE'D BE POLICY AND ORDINANCE CREATION, PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND THEN OF COURSE, A GO LIVE DATE THAT WOULD GO WITH THAT. WE'RE THINKING RIGHT NOW THAT IT WOULD TAKE 4-6 MONTHS TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF WE WOULD START THAT, SAY OCTOBER, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THE FIRST OF THE NEXT YEAR BEFORE WE COULD HAVE IT FULLY IMPLEMENTED. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING IS THERE'S A POSSIBILITY IF THIS IS APPROVED TO DO A PHASED APPROACH WHERE WE COULD START AT $3 PER MONTH RESIDENTIAL. WE WOULD BUILD THAT INCREMENTALLY PER MONTH UNTIL IT REACHED THE TARGET RATE OF EIGHT. THE NON RESIDENTIAL RATES WOULD START AT THE MINIMUM TIER RATE, LET'S SAY IT WAS 45 LIKE IT WAS PRESENTED IN THE ABILENE RATE, AND WE REALLY HAVE NOT COME UP WITH WHAT THAT RATE SHOULD BE YET. WE WOULD INCREASE AS TRIP RATE CALCULATIONS AND BUILDING SOFTWARE COMPONENTS BE BUILT OUT AND TESTED AND FINALIZED FOR THE GOAL LIVE. WE KNOW THAT LAURA AND I HAVE DONE A LOT OF CALCULATIONS ON THIS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GENERATE TO REPLACE THAT 15 MILLION IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. IF WE WENT WITH THE $8 TARGET RATE FOR RESIDENTIAL PER MONTH, WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE AN AVERAGE ACROSS IN THE NON RESIDENTIAL OF 75, AND THAT WOULD GENERATE THAT. OF COURSE, AND THAT'S A WILD CALCULATION TO TRY TO DO TO COME UP WITH SOME ACCURATE NUMBER TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES AND SUCH A VARIETY OF NON RESIDENTIAL THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CALCULATED. BUT JUST BASED ON THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE, THAT WOULD BE THE AVERAGE WOULD BE AT 75. WITH THAT SAID, WE KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CHALLENGES. THIS IS VERY RECOGNIZED. I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS. PUBLIC RESISTANCE, THESE FEES ARE OFTEN SEEN AS A HIDDEN TAX. THE LEGAL QUESTIONS ON IT IN TEXAS, CITIES MUST CRAFT FEES TO MEET LEGAL STANDARDS OF A FEE FOR SERVICE, NOT A GENERAL TAX. THAT'S WHY WE CALL THIS A FEE. THE IMPLEMENTATION COMPLEXITY AND THE ASSIGNING ACCURATE TRIP GENERATIONS AND UPDATING THEM PERIODICALLY REQUIRES ONGOING SUPPORT WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT ACCURATELY. OIL TELLING AND DRAINAGE UTILITY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO THERE. WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S DEDICATED TO THAT. MAKE SURE THEY'RE CHECKING IMPERVIOUS SURFACES. WE'RE SEEING IF THERE ARE NEW BUSINESSES OR RESIDENTS HAVE COME ONLINE AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE. IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT SUPPORT AS WELL. IN CITIES THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE POOR STREET CONDITIONS IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT AN ADDITIONAL FEE IS GOING TO LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY OR VISIBILITY ON HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT. WE KNOW AHEAD OF TIME THAT IF THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE PLENTY OF UPDATES, PLENTY OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNSEL WITH THE PUBLIC TO LET THEM KNOW HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. [02:35:01] WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT BACK OVER TO GRAYSON AND SEE IF HE HAS ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS. >> WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT RIGHT NOW IN YOUR DRAFT BUDGET, WE HAVE BUILT IT IN TO THAT THE $15 MILLION IS IN HIS OWN FUND. IT'S A NEW FEE THAT WE WOULD BE CHARGING FOR THAT. IF YOU WERE TO NOT PURSUE THIS, WE WOULD NEED TO MOVE IT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND WE WOULD NEED TO CUT $15 MILLION WORTH OF OTHER EXPENSES IN ORDER TO ENVELOP IT BACK INTO THE BUDGET. THIS POINT HERE WITH THIS PRESENTATION HERE, WE WANT TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR DONNA. >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE GET TO QUESTIONS, AND WE START PICKING THE NITS, WHICH I KNOW WE WILL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE COMMON CONSENSUS OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT THE SOLUTION. WHAT I HEAR IS, THE PROBLEM IS, AND NOBODY'S GOING TO ARGUE WITH THIS, I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE STREETS THAT NEED REPAIR, AND CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TROUBLES FINANCING THE ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH THE REPAIR OF THE STREETS. I DON'T KNOW THAT MEAN, IF I GUESS IF ANYBODY FEELS LIKE WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH IT, THEN WE CAN JUST SAVE THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND GO ON AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. >> I THINK I COULD COMMENT TO THAT, COUNCILMAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND. I THINK WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE CAPITAL SIDE OF THAT. I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT THAT. I THINK THIS IS JUST THE NEXT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TO FULLY TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE KNOW WE HAVE AS DEFICIENCIES IN OUR STREETS. >> NO, I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT. I AGREE THAT THE LAST COUNCIL, AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO THAT. BUT I GUESS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE. YOU LOOK AT THE STREETS THAT WE NEED TO REPAIR, AND I GUESS WE ALL AGREE, IF NOT, NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK, THAT WE ARE CONSTRICTED IN OUR ABILITY TO CREATE AND GENERATE REVENUE IN THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH WHAT THE STATE IS DOING OR WHAT THE STATE WILL CONTINUE TO DO. WE HAVE SALES TAX, WHICH YOU JUST NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN COUNT ON TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE RISING COSTS AND RISING NEEDS IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY. IF WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS A SOLUTION, THIS IS, I GUESS A SOLUTION THAT HAS COME UP. I WOULD JUST ASK, I THINK WE OWE IT TO AND THERE MAY BE OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT. BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD GO INTO THIS WITH AN OPEN MIND TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO BECOME EDUCATED. I'M SURE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE OPINION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BUT I THINK IF THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO COMMIT ITSELF TO FIXING THIS PROBLEM, LIKE THE WORK THAT WE'VE STARTED, I HOPE WE WOULD GIVE THIS A FULL HEARING, BE ABLE TO CONSIDER IT. MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, BUT TO NOT NECESSARILY AUTOMATICALLY DISCOUNT THIS OPTION UNTIL WE LEARN A LOT MORE ABOUT IT. >> DONNA, I THINK IT WAS YESTERDAY. MIGHT HAVE BEEN MONDAY. MY MIND WAS BOTH GONE TOGETHER, BUT WHAT WAS THE FIGURE YOU SAID IF WE HAD A FIGURE TO DO ALL THE STREETS AND THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO DO, YOU PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE ON IT. >> THAT FLUCTUATES. IT CHANGES DAY IN AND DAY OUT, BUT I KNOW THAT BACK WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH IN PDP OR THE PROGRAM THAT WE DID BEFORE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO LOOK AT THIS SAME TOP OF SCENARIO, AND IT WAS UP IN THE $200 MILLION RANGE. I THINK IF WE WERE SAYING, IF WE COULD GET EVERYTHING DONE, THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE, OF COURSE, THERE'S TIMING INVOLVED WITH THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER INTRICACIES THAT WOULD MAKE THAT A CHALLENGE, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS A NUMBER UNLESS I'M OUT OF LINE, ALAN. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY FAIR. >> THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE SAID, IF EVERYTHING WAS GREAT, WE HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, YOU'D SAY, HEY, I NEED THIS AND THE CAPACITY TO DO IT. WITH THE MANPOWER LIKE, HEY, THIS IS HOW MUCH I NEED. THIS WILL BE THE ASK TODAY TO GET EVERYTHING UP TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 200 MILLION. >> CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT SIDE, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIR, AND THAT PROBABLY DOES INCLUDE EVEN FROM OUR ASSESSMENT, THE PATCHING AND THINGS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE OPERATIONALLY AND CRACK CEILING, THINGS LIKE THAT. >> HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND LAST YEAR ON THESE PROJECTS? >> ON THE CAPITAL SIDE OR WITHIN. >> REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CAPITAL SIDE, IS THAT CORRECT? OR BOTH. >> THIS CONVERSATION IS MORE ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF AND THE INTERNAL OPERATION. >> EVERYTHING MAINTENANCE. >> MAINTENANCE SIDE THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE PROJECTS WE'VE DONE OUTSIDE, SUCH AS, REBUILDING OF STREETS OR THE SUMMER MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT'S CONTRACTED OUT. >> BUT WILL THAT BE HOUSED IN THIS ONE? >> WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE SEPARATE CAPITAL SIDE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS AS WELL. >> BUT IT'LL BE HOUSED INSIDE THE STREET MAINTENANCE. >> I WOULD SAY NO. >> IT WOULD BE IN PART OF OUR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS. >> CIP. >> YES. EXACTLY. WE WOULD STILL PROPOSE THAT WE DO THE ANNUAL DEBT ISSUANCES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING [02:40:04] THE RECONSTRUCTION PIECE AND CONSTRUCTION OF LANE MILES EACH YEAR AS WELL. THOSE ARE LARGE ENOUGH PROJECTS, THEY REALLY NEED A DEBT ISSUANCE TO SUPPORT THEM. >> THEY'RE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING IN HOUSE. WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO TO. >> WE HAVE CONTRACT. >> CORRECT. >> THERE'S CIP EVERY TIME. >> CORRECT. >> THIS IS? >> STREET OPERATIONS, JUST DAILY OPERATIONS. >> EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE HOUSED IN HERE, WHAT DID WE SPEND LAST YEAR ON THAT? >> FOR THE DEPARTMENT. >> FOR THE DEPARTMENT. FOR WHAT WILL BE HOUSED INSIDE HERE. >> LAST YEAR, WE SPENT 14,440,000. >> I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS WHAT ALL THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I THINK THAT HELPS. >> 144,145 RIGHT IN THERE IS WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR ON THE PROJECTS THAT'LL BE HOUSED IN HERE. >> YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN THERE, THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. >> IS THAT FOR PROJECTS IT'S TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED CAPITALLY THIS IS FOR THE STAFF. >> DAILY OPERATION AND THE STAFF. >> GOT IT. >> STAFFER PADGER, FOR EXAMPLE, IS IN THIS DEPARTMENT. >> DRA PAGERS ARE PART OF WHAT WE DO IN STREETS DEPARTMENT. >> IN THE MILL AND OLAY PROGRAM, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT THE 2.5 MILLION GOES TOWARDS THAT THAT'S PART OF THIS. >> WELL, OUR CHIP SEAL WOULD BE MORE WHAT WE DO INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT. >> THAT'S INSIDE. >> MAINTENANCE. THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED STREET MAINTENANCE. THIS IS THE MAINTENANCE STUFF. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I THINK MAYBE THE BETTER WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT. I PROBABLY DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT IS, THIS IS THE STREET DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. NOTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT. >> BUT NOT LIKE MILL AND OVERLAY. THAT WOULD NOT BE. THAT IN HOUSE. THIS WOULD BE IN HOUSE PROJECTS THAT WE DO FOR OUR STREETS. >> STAFF AND EQUIPMENT. >> THE WHOLE APARTMENTS THEIR SALARIES, EVERYTHING. >> ABOUT IT LIKE THE DRAINAGE UTILITY IS, THE SAME WAY. EVERYTHING IN DRAINAGE UTILITY IS PAID FOR BY A FEE. >> THEN THE 89 EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HERE, THEY'RE ALREADY EXISTING. WE ALREADY HAVE THEM. WE'RE JUST MOVING THEM, OR CREATING NOT EVEN MOVING THEM. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THE STREET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. THE CONTRACT. >> THEY'RE GETTING A PROPOSAL IS A DEDICATED SOURCE TO FUND THE EXISTING DEPARTMENT. >> EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GOING TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WE HAD LAST YEAR. THE 144 WAS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND, ALL OF THAT. BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING A NEW REVENUE SOURCE THAT WOULD NOW FUND THIS. >> IT WOULD BE ITS OWN ENTERPRISE FUND. >> OWN ENTERPRISE FUND. IN ESSENCE, WE SHOULD FREE UP 144 SOMEWHERE. WHAT WE'VE DONE. >> EXACTLY. >> IF WE MOVE WITH THIS, THERE'S 144,145 THAT ARE FREED UP IN THE GENERAL FUND SOMEWHERE TO BE ALLOCATED TO WHEREVER. >> THE BUDGET HAS ALLOCATED IT BUT YES, GOES THE POINT OF IT, YES. >> I GET THERE'S NOT A $14 MILLION SITTING THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT YES, IT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED SOMEWHERE IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SLIDE AGAIN WHERE WE COME UP WITH A CALCULATION. >> THAT ONE? >> YES, SIR. WHAT I'M SEEING HERE IS THAT TUT TOTEM CAR WASH IS GOING TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL RATE OF $780 RIGHT?. >> PER YEAR. >> PER YEAR. BUT THAT'S CAPTURING ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE COMMUNITIES, AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO PASS THAT ON, SO WE'RE NOT ONLY WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GENERATING REVENUE FROM EVERY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE USING OUR STREETS. IS THAT THE DESIGN OF THIS? >> WELL, IT'S REALLY FROM THE RESIDENTIAL AND NON RESIDENTIAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE TRIP FACTOR IS JUST BASED ON HOW MUCH A CAR WASH WOULD TYPICALLY GENERATE IN TRAFFIC TO COME TO THAT LOCATION. >> BUT TO YOUR POINT THOUGH, THAT THE THOUGHT, ASSUMING, PRIVATE BUSINESS PRACTICE, THEY WOULD PASS THE EXPENSE ON CUSTOMERS, WHICH WOULD BE, YES, THOSE WHO VISIT THEIR STORE, INCLUDING THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO. >> UNDERSTAND. >> THAT IS, IS THERE ANY OTHER MECHANISM FOR US TO CAPTURE ANY STREET IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE INDIVIDUALS IN CANYON OR TINGLEWOOD, OR THINGS LIKE THAT, OR IS THIS THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE IT. >> TO CAPTURE IT FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY? >> THE USAGE. >> THERE IS A STREET SALES TAX OPTION, BUT THAT REQUIRES A VOTE. I THINK WE'RE ALREADY CAPT AT OUR 2%. >> TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SALES TAX. >> I THINK WE'VE ALREADY MAXED OUT OUR FULL SALES TAX ABILITY. THAT WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT. THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION THAT WE CAN THINK OF THIS POINT TO HERE. THAT WOULD TO YOUR POINT, CAPTURE IT FROM OUR VISITORS AS WELL. >> IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE? IN CITY OF AMARILLO? >> DONNA CAN. >> IF YOU REMEMBER BACK, AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN, [02:45:02] I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE YEARS. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE '23, '22, SOMEWHERE THERE. WE CREATED A PDP COMMITTEE THAT MET. THERE WAS A LARGE NUMBER OF CITIZENS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT. IT WAS BASICALLY THE SAME CONCEPT. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX AND IT WAS GOING TO PAY FOR STUFF ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, NOT NECESSARILY REPLACE THE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. >> DO YOU ALL SUPPORT THIS? EVERYONE SUPPORT THIS? >> YES. >> ANDREW? >> YES, SIR. >> WE'RE VERY LIMITED ON OPTIONS FOR NEW REVENUE, SO THAT'S OKAY. I WANT IT, 100% BEHIND IT. >> CORRECT. >> I SAY, YES ON MY PART, AND THE REASON I WOULD IS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERY DAY, AND IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR CITIZENS IS, YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS. YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT. WE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AS WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR FROM THEM, AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DO THIS DIFFERENT THAN WE'VE DONE BEFORE. OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GAIN DEVELOPMENT MILES. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE EMPLOYEES. >> BUT NOT JUST STATUS. >> IS THAT A MOTION? I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TO THE CITY COUNCIL IS PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU TASKED ME WITH TRYING TO GIVE YOU OPTIONS TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU ASKED FOR. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN THINK OF TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHETHER IT BE STREETS, WHETHER IT BE RECREATIONAL SERVICES, WHETHER IT BE NUISANCE ABATEMENT, WHETHER IT BE THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE WITHOUT SLASHING SIGNIFICANT FUNDS AND SERVICES IN OTHER AREAS. >> I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. >> WHAT IF A RESIDENT CAN'T PAY IT? WHAT IF THEY'RE JUST SO STRAPPED AND THEY CAN'T PAY IT? WHAT IS THE REPERCUSSION? >>ASK HOW ARE YOU BILLING? >> YEAH, HOW ARE YOU BILLING IT, AND THEN WHAT IF THEY DON'T PAY IT? >> THIS IS GOING TO BE THROUGH THE UTILITY BILL. THAT IS HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE. IT'LL BE HANDLED IN THAT PROCESS. LAURA, CAN YOU SPEAK BECAUSE CURRENTLY OUR DRAINAGE FEE IS ROUGH THE UTILITY BILLS WELL? >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. OUR UTILITY BILLS HAVE OUR WATER SEWER CHARGES, OUR SANITATION CHARGES, SO SOLID WASTE, ALONG WITH OUR DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE AS WELL. THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL LINE ITEM. WE DO HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT SOMETIMES STRUGGLE TO PAY SOME OF THEIR UTILITY BILLS. WE DO HAVE AGENCIES THAT WE REFER THEM TO. MAYBE GETTING DOWN INTO THE DETAILS OF IT, BUT THE ORDER IN WHICH THE BILL IS PAID. LET'S SAY IF A CITIZEN HAS A BILL AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PAY THE FULL BILL. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I BELIEVE IT GOES TO THE DRAINAGE FEE FIRST, THEN SOLID WASTE, THEN SEWER THAN WATER. THERE'S A FEW REASONS BEHIND THAT, BUT ANOTHER REASON IS THE LAST THING TO BE PAID IS WATER. THERE'S MORE ASSISTANCE OUT THERE FOR WATER SERVICES THAN THERE ARE FOR SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE THAT ORDER SET UP SO THAT IF THERE'S NOT THE ABILITY, AT TIMES, CUSTOMERS CAN SEEK HELP FROM OTHER PLACES. WE HAVE HAD AT TIMES GRANT PROGRAMS THAT ESPECIALLY LIKE DURING TIMES LIKE COVID, WHERE THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES, JUST SOME ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT THERE ARE GRANT OR THERE'S SOMETIMES EITHER FEDERAL OR STATE ASSISTANCE THAT COMES THROUGH IN GRANT FORMS, AND WE USUALLY PASS THOSE. WE HAVE PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL HELP, PEOPLE MEET QUALIFICATIONS AND THEN HELP PAY THOSE BILLS FOR THEM. WE HAVE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. BUT AS FAR AS IN HOUSE, WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY A BILL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT WE DO HAVE PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN ASSIST. >> IS THERE A CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE OVER 65 TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS? >> CITY COUNCIL CAN SET THE ORDINANCE HOWEVER THEY LIKE. WE WOULD JUST NEED TO ADJUST THE RATES ON EVERYONE ELSE AS WE DO TAXES. IF WE WERE TO ADJUST IT THAT, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR FREEZING, THAT MEANS OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO THEN PAY MORE IN ORDER TO ADJUST FOR OUR EXPENSES. >> AS A SIDE NOTE ON THE UTILITY BILL AS A WHOLE, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS QUALIFIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE, SO THAT WOULD BE, FOR THE MOST PART, INDIVIDUALS OVER 65 OR ON DISABILITY. WE DO NOT CHARGE ANY A LATE FEE. KNOWING THAT THEY'RE ON THE ONCE A MONTH FIXED INCOME, IF THE TIMING DOESN'T WORK OUT, WE DON'T CHARGE ANY A LATE FEE ON THAT, JUST FOR Y'ALLS AWARENESS. >> BECAUSE THE INTENT HERE IS THAT THE STREET FUND WOULD NO LONGER BE SUBSIDIZED BY PROPERTY TAXES. WITH IT, WE WOULD NEED TO SET THE RATES, HOWEVER STRUCTURE YOU WISH TO DO, WHETHER IT'S SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS, WHETHER IT IS HOW YOU WANT TO DO THAT? YOU NEED TO STRUCTURE TO WHERE YOUR REVENUE EQUATES TO THE EXPENSE YOU HAVE IN THE FUND. OTHERWISE, YOU HAVE TO THEN SUBSIDIZE THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES. >> IS THERE A ROLLING RATE ON THIS, OR IS THIS A FIXED RATE AND EACH COUNCIL AT EACH YEAR WILL LOOK AT IT TO ADJUST FOR? [02:50:02] >> THE COUNCIL CAN ESTABLISH HOWEVER THEY WISH. YOU CAN SET IT UP TO WHERE IT WOULD BE BY ORDINANCE, AND SO IT WOULD CONTINUE ON UNTIL COUNCIL WERE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE. >> THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE QUESTIONS. >> SOME CITIES HAVE DONE THAT ANNUALLY, AND OTHER CITIES DO IT BI ANNUALLY. IT'S A MIX. >> BUT CLEARLY LOOKS LIKE IT STICKS ONCE IT'S IN PLACE JUST FROM THE HISTORICAL. YOU LOOK AT THE AUSTIN AND THE BRYAN AND SUPPLIES. >> IN OUR SITUATION, SAY THIS COUNCIL APPROVES IT, AND THEN A FUTURE COUNCIL DOES AWAY WITH IT, THEY HAVE TO THEN FIND A WAY TO MOVE THAT BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND MAKE ROOM FOR THOSE EXPENSES. OTHERWISE, YOUR STREET DEPARTMENT GOES COMPLETELY AWAY. >> THANK YOU ALL. >> LAST YEAR, WE PAID 14.4 MILLION. THAT WAS IN THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR STREET REPAIRS. NOW WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A FUND TO RAISE THAT 15 MILLION. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 14 MILLION THAT WENT TO THE STREETS LAST YEAR? >> IN THIS SITUATION, IN YOUR BUDGET, WE HAVE PROPOSED TO YOU IS PRIMARILY THAT THE BIGGEST CHANGES ARE YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT 4%, YOUR POLICE 5%, YOUR CIVILIAN 2+2, THE COMPENSATION STUDY, AND THEN THE TMS 70%. THOSE ARE YOUR BIG DRIVERS RIGHT THERE. THOSE ARE THE BIG MOVERS AND SHAKERS. THERE'S PLUSES AND MINUSES THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET. YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE LOST A LOT OF OUR TRANSIT FUNDS. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PLAINTIFFS, BUT THOSE ARE YOUR BIG MOVERS AND SHAKERS RIGHT THERE THAT REALLY DROVE THIS CONVERSATION ON MY SIDE OF THE TABLE TO HOW DO I RAISE THAT REVENUE? OUR RESPONSE WAS, THE STREET FEE TO FREE THAT MONEY TO EQUATE TO THAT. >> TO KEEP IN STEP WITH THOSE THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION, LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN. THEN LET'S ALSO COMPUTE OUR INCREASE IN TAXES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING. WE'RE NOT AT A FLAT BUDGET. I THINK IF WE WERE SAYING, HEY, IT'S 38 CENTS, WE'RE KEEPING IT 38 CENTS, WE DEDUCTED 15 MILLION, AND HERE'S WHERE WE PUT IT, THAT WOULD CALCULATE. LET'S RUN THAT AGAIN. POLICE IS HOW MUCH? >> WELL, I'VE GOT THE LIST. WELL, FIRST, THE NEW REVENUE, I'VE GOT 3.78 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, 2.73 IN SALES TAX FOR A TOTAL 6.51. NOW, AS FAR AS ALL THE NEW EXPENSES, POLICE 5%, LITTLE OVER 2.2 MILLION, FIRE 4%, A LITTLE OVER 1.6 MILLION, 70% COLOR FOR TMRS, A LITTLE 2.1 MILLION FLAT. CIVILIAN 2% COLOR AND 2% MERIT IS A LITTLE OVER 2.5 MILLION. THE PAY STUDY FOR CIVILIANS BELOW THE NEW MINIMUM RANGE IS 2.2 MILLION. SUPPLEMENTALS FOR NEW STAFF, RE CLASSES, SUPPLIES, SOFTWARES, ALL ARE ADJUSTMENTS, 2 MILLION. >> NOW, WHAT IS THAT SUPPLEMENTALS? >> THAT'S NEW STAFF RE CLASSES, SOFTWARE. THAT'S THE 44 HIGHER. >> SOME OF IT. >> IT'S NOT JUST THAT'S IT'S ALSO VEHICLES, IT'S SOFTWARE. IT'S THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY DOING RIGHT NOW. IT'S INCREASES IN OUR BUDGET, ME. RIGHT NOW, OUR BUDGET THEY GIVE US WHAT IS OUR CURRENT EXPENSES? THEN WHAT DO YOU NEED BEYOND THAT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SERVICES? >> THIS IS GREAT. HOW MUCH WAS? >> THAT WAS 2 MILLION. >> WHERE IS THIS AT? IS THIS IN OUR BUDGET? >> IT SPREAD ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS. THAT'S WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY ADDED THIS NEW POSITION, THEY RECLASSED A POSITION, THEY ADDED SOFTWARE. >> WHERE'S THIS LIST AT? >> THIS IS A LIST I PUT TOGETHER, JUST FROM NOTES. >> DO YOU HAVE A COPY? >> YES. I CAN GET YOU A COPY OF IT. >> PRINT THAT. >> CAN YOU EMAIL IT. >> I'LL JUST WRITTEN IT DOWN? >> YES. I'LL SEND IT TO YOU AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS OVERTIME FOR POLICE AND FIRE. THAT'S 1 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 13,750,000. >> THIS IS 13 MILLION, THIRTEEN SEVEN. THEN GO BACK TO YOUR REVENUES. SALES TAX INCREASE, NEW PROPERTY TAX WAS IN THAT 6.. >> JUST GROWTH IN GENERAL, THE 3-10%. >> BUT THEN TAX INCREASE WAS HOW MUCH? >> 3.78 MILLION, PROPERTY TAX 2.73 IN SALES. >> THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING THE 6.56. >> 6.5. >> THEN THE TAX INCREASE. >> THAT'S ALL PART OF IT. >> LET ME GO BACK TO OUR SUMMARY PAGE BACK AT THE FRONT BECAUSE I'M NOT FOLLOWING. THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY 8.5 MILLION. OF THAT AMOUNT, 1.25 IS REVENUE BASE FROM NEW PROPERTY. THIS IS JUST PROPERTY TAX. >> THAT IS FOR YOUR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROPERTY TAX AND YOUR DEBT SERVICE PROPERTY TAXES. THAT DEBT SERVICE DOES NOT FUND ANY OF YOUR GENERAL FUND. >> BUT WE'RE NOT SPLITTING APART DEBT SERVICE FROM THE 15 MILLION. >> YES WE ARE. >> NO, NO, WE'RE NOT SPLITTING IT APART FROM THE 15 MILLION DEDUCT. >> YES. IT'S IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT FUND. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> BECAUSE IT ONLY GOES FOR DEBT SERVICE. IT IS NOT GOING TO YOUR GENERAL FUND. THOSE PROPERTY TAXES DON'T GO ANYWHERE INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND. [02:55:01] THEY ONLY GO INTO YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUND TO PAY THE OUTSTANDING DEBT. THOSE DOLLARS EBB AND FLOW BASED ON HOW MUCH YOUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ARE FROM NEXT YEAR. >> LET ME SAY IT A DIFFERENT WAY. I'M NOT SPLITTING APART THE 43 CENTS. BECAUSE I'M ACCUMULATING THE 43 CENTS TOGETHER, IT WOULD BE A MORE DIFFICULT MATH PROBLEM TO SPLIT IT APART IN THE INCREASE OR DECREASE. IF WE PUT THEM TOGETHER, I'M JUST GETTING TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND TOTAL REVENUES, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO PUT OVER ON THE PROPERTY TAX SIDE, M&O, JUST THE INCREASES FOR POLICE AND FIRE AND NOT CAPTURE THE TOTAL TAX. >> YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 3.8 MILLION GOING INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND. ON THIS SLIDE UP ON THE SCREEN, IT'S TWO PARTS OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE. THE TOP LINE IS WHAT GOES INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND. THE BOTTOM LINE GOES INTO YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUND THAT HAS NO BEARING ON ANY FUNDING IN GENERAL FUND. IT ONLY PAYS FOR DEBT. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING THAT'S WHERE THAT LARGER NUMBER IS ON THAT FRONT PAGE OF YOUR BUDGET BUDGET. >> YOU'LL HAVE TO EDUCATE ME. IF YOU'RE WILLING TO WALK THIS PART OF THE CONVERSATION OUT JUST IN TOTALS TO TOTALS, THEN I THINK WE COULD GET TO AN UNDERSTANDING THERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO. IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO WALK THAT OUT, EDUCATE ME ON WHY WE WANT TO COMPLICATE THIS MATH PROBLEM BY SPLITTING THAT APART. >> BECAUSE STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO. >> NO, NOT FOR OUR CONVERSATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT STATE LAW HAS M&O AND I&S. >> YES. >> BUT THE TAX RATE IS THE TAX RATE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING AT 43 CENTS. >> YES. >> IT CONSIDERS BOTH SIDES. >> THIRTY THREE CENTS GOES TO YOUR GENERAL FUND. THE ADDITIONAL 10 CENTS GOES TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT FUND TO JUST PAY DEBT SERVICE. >> ARE YOU DOING THAT BECAUSE THE STREET ASSESSMENTS FEE WOULD NOT CONSIDER THE OTHER MONIES THAT WE'VE FUNDED ON DEBT SERVICE? >> NO. DEBT SERVICE IS JUST STRICTLY OUTSTANDING DEBT THAT HAS TO BE PAID ANNUALLY, AND STATE LAW SAYS THAT WE SET THE TAX RATE BASED ON WHAT THAT NEXT YEAR'S DEBT SERVICE AMOUNT IS. IN THIS CASE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED JUST UNDER 10 CENTS TO GENERATE ENOUGH. IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE ALMOST 5.5 MILLION MORE DOLLARS THAN IT DID LAST YEAR, BUT NONE OF THAT GOES TO OPERATIONS. NONE OF THAT GOES TO STREET MAINTENANCE, NONE OF IT GOES INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND, YOUR STREET MAINTENANCE FUND. IT ONLY GOES TO PAY OUTSTANDING DEBT SERVICE. AS A REMINDER, WE HAD THE NEW FIRE APPARATUS DEBT ISSUANCE THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HAD THE NEW PARKS PROJECTS DEBT ISSUANCE THIS YEAR, AND WE ALSO HAD A STREET FUNDING CAPITAL PROJECT DEBT SERVICE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT THIS YEAR THAT THE 5.5 MILLIONS GO TOWARDS. >> I THINK YOU'RE ACTUALLY ARGUING FOR ME, LIKE, IN A POINT THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE HERE LATER. I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND, LIKE, MAYBE HOW COMPLEX THAT MAKES IT FOR, LIKE, THIS PART OF THE CONVERSATION. ALL WE'RE TRYING TO ARRIVE AT IS WHOLE DOLLARS AND THE AMOUNT OF MILLIONS AND WHAT THE CREDIT AND THE DEDUCT IN THE ADDITIONALS WOULD BE. I THINK LIKE A DEBT ISSUANCE IN THE FORM OF A CO THAT CAN THEN GO ANNUALLY ONTO YOUR TAX RATE NEXT YEAR IS A MECHANISM THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE UTILIZING, CORRECT? >> YES, SIR. >> AM I LIMITED WELL, LET ME ASK YOU A FEW YEARS AGO, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE CITY VOTED ON A $90 MILLION STREET DEBT ISSUANCE? >> YES, SIR. >> IN THE FORM OF A GO? >> YES. >> IT WENT TO THEM AS A GO, WHY? >> BECAUSE COUNCIL DECIDED THEY WANTED THE VOTERS TO DECIDE WHICH PROJECTS THEY WANTED TO FUND. >> THEY COULD HAVE PUT IT IN A CO? >> YES, THEY COULD HAVE. >> THEN IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED WITHIN THE TAX RATE? >> NO. >> IT WOULD HAVE GONE UP ON I&S SIDE. >> NO. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED AS A FUNDING MECHANISM WITHIN THEIR TAX RATE. >> YES. >> LIKE, WHEN WE'RE SAYING WE NEED A DEDICATED SOURCE FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A DEDICATED SOURCE. >> IF YOU WANT TO USE THE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE SIDE OF YOUR TAX RATE, YES, YOU COULD USE THAT AS A DEDICATION SOURCE. >> I DISAGREE. WE ARE SHOWING YOU RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE USING THE O&M SIDE OR THE M&O SIDE PLUS THE I&S SIDE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. >> THAT'S INCORRECT. >> WHY IS THAT INCORRECT? >> YOU CANNOT USE I&S TO FUND PERSONNEL. >> WELL, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IS LIKE THE 28 MILLION THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THIS NEXT YEAR FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS CANNOT BE A CO. >> IT CAN. >> CAN BE A CO. >> I&S SIDE OF THE RACE. >> BUT NOT STAFF. >> IT'S NOT STAFF. IT'S NOT PAYING FOR ALAN HARDER TO EXIST. >> WE CAN'T PAY FOR OUR STREET DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS. >> PAYS FOR LIKE FULLER AND SN ADVANCE PAYMENT IT PAYS FOR CONTRACTORS. ONE TIME PROJECTS. >> LET ME SHIFT GEARS THEN BECAUSE I THINK I'M LOSING YOU GUYS, [03:00:01] AND LIKE, WE'RE DEFINITELY IN THE WEEDS. ALL WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS FIND OUT WHERE THE 15.5 MILLION GO OR 15 MILLION GO. YOU'RE SAYING POLICE IS 2.2, FIRE 16, TMRS, SO ON AND SO FORTH. YOU NOW HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUES THAT YOU'RE CALCULATING OF 6.5. >> YES. >> PER YOUR NUMBERS, WE'RE $8 MILLION SHORT THAT WE WOULD NEED TO FIND IN THE BUDGET. >> DID YOU ACCOUNT FOR THAT. >>THERE'S MORE. >> INTERESTS THAT WENT DOWN FOR DRAINAGE. >> FTA LOSING THAT GRANT AMOUNT. THAT'S 1 MILLION PLUS THERE ARE OTHERS AT POINT. >> YOUR CHANGES IN EVERY LINE ITEM YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE BOOK FULL OF CHANGES. SOME UP SOME DOWN. >> JUST THE MAJORS. >> IT ALL ADDS UP. THESE ARE JUST A FEW CATEGORIES, BIG ITEM CATEGORIES, BUT IF YOU ADD IT ALL UP, THAT'S WHAT GETS YOU YOUR CASH FLOW FIGURES IN THE VERY FRONT. >> THE BIG ONES THAT YOU JUST WENT THROUGH MINUS THE GRANT OF BATTLE MAGE LIKE 13.6. >> 13.75. >> 13.75. THEN WE HAD 6.51 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX? >> CORRECT. >> THEN IF WE TAKE THE 144 THAT WE NOW PULL OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE IF WE FUND IT OVER HERE, WE'VE GOT 21 MILLION. WE HAVE A $21 MILLION INCREASE TECHNICALLY IN THE GENERAL FUND. BUT THEN THIS SHOWS 13.6. BUT THEN THESE ARE THE MAJOR PLAYERS. THERE'S BITS AND PIECES EVERYWHERE ELSE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PRESENTING. >> YES. >> 13.75, THE BIG PLAYERS. NOW WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT EIGHT. BUT, AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S SCATTERED THROUGHOUT BUDGET. >> WITH ALL OF THAT, AGAIN, THE WAY IT NETS OUT, WE'RE STILL OVER 1.5 BELOW OUR TARGET RESERVE IN GENERAL FUND. WE'RE NOT EVEN HITTING TO OUR TARGET RESERVE YET WITH THIS PROPOSAL. ANY MORE CUTS WOULD MEAN WE'RE EVEN FURTHER OFF FROM OUR RESERVE. >> YOU'RE SAYING, GRAYSON, THAT YOU'RE A 1 MILLION BELOW YOUR TARGET RESERVE IN GENERAL FUND BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL MONIES AVAILABLE? >> YEAH. IF YOU GO BACK TO YOUR CASH FLOW SHEETS THERE AND LET'S SEE, WAS IT PAGE FOUR, IS THAT WHERE IT WAS FOR? YEAH, RIGHT NOW, AS A BUDGET IS CURRENTLY DRAFTED WITHOUT ANY EDITS, IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS IS WITH THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE, THE EVERYTHING WE PROPOSE TO YOU, YOU WOULD STILL BE PROJECTED AT $1.89 MILLION BELOW YOUR TARGET RESERVE INTO NEXT YEAR. >> WHERE WE WOULD DISAGREE IS WE HAVE RESERVES THAT ARE NOT BEING ACCOUNTED FOR IN THIS BUDGET. >> WHAT ARE THOSE? >> WHAT ARE THOSE? >> WHAT WE GET IN OUR QUARTERLY STATEMENT, WHICH I REFER TO AS THE PORTFOLIO. >> YES. >> THE 643 MILLION. >> IS IT ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY? >> CORRECT. I'D LOVE TO WORK THAT MATH PROBLEM AFTER WE GET THROUGH WITH THIS ONE, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO GO FROM THE 643, PULL OUT THE COMPONENT UNITS, PULL OUT THE MINIMUM RESERVES, IDENTIFY THE BORROWED MONIES THAT ARE ALREADY ALLOCATED WHERE THEY'RE GOING. ANY REMAINING FUNDS WOULD BE RESERVES. >> ALL OF THE EARMARKED CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT. >> THE NICE THING WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THAT PROBLEM FOR YOU. IS IN OUR CASH FLOW SHEETS THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU? >> WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE WE PRESENTED ONLY 10 MILLION IN CIP. >> WE PRESENTED THAT ON DAY 1. >> NO, I'M SAYING IN CIP, WE HAVE ROUGHLY 10 MILLION OF THE GENERAL FUND PRESENTED. BUT LET'S COME BACK TO THAT. I KNOW COUNCILMAN TIPPS, YOU WERE SAYING 8 MILLION, RIGHT? >> YES. >> COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, DID YOU HAVE A POINT HERE? I HAVE A FEW OTHER QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR, I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK. YOU THINK THERE'S $15 MILLION IN THE BUDGET SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS PROJECT. IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? >> YES. I'M SAYING THAT WE ARE FUNDING IT THROUGH TAXES, AND WE'RE BEING RIGHTLY ACCUSED OF CHARGING PEOPLE TAXES IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR STREETS. >> NO, YOU DIDN'T ANSWER. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THIS BUDGET RIGHT HERE THAT'S PRESENTED, THERE'S $15 MILLION IN THIS BUDGET THAT'S UNACCOUNTED FOR, UNSPENT, THAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING ON STREETS THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF ESTABLISHING THIS PROGRAM? >> NO. WHAT I'M SAYING IS IS WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FEE THAT PAYS FOR STREETS. IT'S IN YOUR TAX RATE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TAXES AS A DEDICATED SOURCE. WHAT I'M ALSO SAYING IS WE ARE RAISING THAT ON THE INS SIDE. >> YES, BUT THERE'S A DEBT THAT PREVIOUS COUNCILS ISSUED. >> HERE WOULD BE MY POINT, COUNCILMAN. WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OPTION THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN TIME. WHY WOULD WE DO THIS NOW BEFORE WE SEE ARE WE CATCHING UP OVER THIS NEXT YEAR? I WOULD SAY THAT DONNIE HOOPER AND HIS TEAM, WITH EVERYTHING FROM DURA PATRIS ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO GEORGIA STREET, HE'S IMPLEMENTING MONIES IN PREVIOUS YEAR BUDGET, WE WERE SAYING, WE COULD PROBABLY ONLY GET TO LIKE $20 MILLION WORTH OF WORK EVERY YEAR. IF WE HAVE $200 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO DO, [03:05:05] CAN WE ACCOMPLISH $200 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? IF WE DO THAT, WE'RE CURRENTLY SHOWING THAT WE'RE FUNDING $12 MILLION TO $15 MILLION IN THE GIVEN INCREASES IN THE TAX RATE. >> FOR CLARIFICATION, THOSE CAPITAL FUNDS ARE NOT PAYING FOR THE EMPLOYEES OR FOR OUR COMMODITIES. THAT'S NOT COVERED IN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AGAIN, THIS FEE IS TO PAY FOR OUR STAFFING, OUR VEHICLES, OUR MAINTENANCE, THOSE PIECES. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> YOU'RE SAYING, AND I THINK I'M REPEATING THIS THE RIGHT WAY. YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF 110 SQUARE MILES ACROSS THE CITY COST US $15 MILLION A YEAR, AND YOU WANT TO SUBSIDIZE THAT THROUGH A FEE INSTEAD OF KEEPING IT WITHIN OUR TAX RATE. >> YES. WE WANT TO PAY FOR THAT VIA FEE INSTEAD OF PROPERTY TAXES. >> SIMPLE. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU STILL NEED TO ACCOMPLISH $200 MILLION WORTH OF UPDATES AND REPLACEMENT. >> BEFORE WE GET TOO HUNG UP ON THE 200 MILLION, LET ME CLARIFY THAT. THAT NUMBER CHANGES DAILY, AND YOU CAN'T EVER PUT A NUMBER TO SAY, WE WILL BE COMPLETELY CAUGHT UP WITH OUR STREET MAINTENANCE ON X DATE. IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY MAINTAIN THOSE THROUGH CAPITAL PROJECTS, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR MAINTENANCE. IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER. I THINK THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT WE'RE BEHIND, AND ONE DAY WE'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT UP. WE'RE NOT AS BEHIND AS PEOPLE THINK WE ARE ON PATCHING AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THE MAINTENANCE IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE. THE WORK IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE. WE MAY BE $200 MILLION NOW AS A GUESS NUMBER, BUT NEXT YEAR, IT MAY BE DEPENDING ON WEATHER CONDITIONS OF WHAT HAPPENS. WE MAY DO $20 MILLION WORTH OF WORK, AND IT'D BE 250 MILLION PROJECTED OUT. YOU CAN'T GET HUNG UP ON A SPECIFIC NUMBER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TARGET TO GET EVERYTHING FIXED. IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN. >> IF WE GO THIS WAY, AND WITH WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO DO AS FAR AS CUTTING BACK ON HOW MUCH WE CAN GO UP IN PROPERTY TAX, DOWN THE ROAD, HOW MANY MORE OF THESE FEES ARE WE GOING TO BE SEEING ON BILLS TO PAY FOR THINGS WE CAN'T RAISE THE FUNDS THROUGH TAXES? >> THAT'S PART OF A BIG QUESTION THAT I KEEP ASKING MY LEGISLATORS ALL THE TIME. HOW DO THEY EXPECT US TO DO OUR JOBS? HOW DO THEY EXPECT US TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR LOCAL CITIZENS KEEP DEMANDING WHEN THEY KEEP GETTING THEIR BUSINESS AND OUR BUSINESS? IT'S VERY AGGRAVATING BECAUSE INSTEAD OF THEM FIXING PROBLEMS OF THE STATE, THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT LOCAL CITIZENS VIA THEIR COUNCILS SHOULD BE HANDLING. THEY KEEP TAKING ALL MY OPTIONS AWAY FROM US. THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. WE'RE HAVING TO GET CREATIVE. AS WE SAW THERE, CITIES ARE GETTING CRAVED LIKE THIS. I DON'T GET ANY EMAILS FROM CITIZENS SAY, YOU SHOULD CUT YOUR SERVICES. YOU'RE DOING TOO MUCH. I GET NOTHING BUT YOU'RE NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH. YOU'RE NOT WORKING FAST ENOUGH. YOU'RE NOT BEING REGULAR ENOUGH. IT'S MORE AND MORE AND MORE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST. OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS OVER 100 AND SOME YEARS OLD. IT'S AGING. AS WE SEE WITH OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AS WE SEE WITH OUR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN, BUT THESE THINGS COME AT EXPENSE. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET CHEAPER OVER TIME. AS WE TRY TO AND SINCE PROPERTY TAX IS HAMSTRUNG. SALES TAX, I DON'T GET TO CONTROL THAT. I'M AT 2%. I HAVE LOOKED FOR OTHER OPTIONS. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO SWITCH ROLES WITH ME. I WOULD TAKE THEIR SALES TAX IF THEY TAKE MY PROPERTY TAX. I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO DO THAT. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE PAYING TO THE STATE VERSUS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. I WOULD TAKE THEIR SALES TAX OVER A PROPERTY TAX IF I COULD. NOW, THERE'S ISSUES WITH THAT, BUT THAT MONEY LOCALLY WOULD BE OUTSTANDING. PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE THAT IN THE STATE LEGISLATORS, THEY TEND TO IGNORE THAT. I'M ON MY SOAK BOX RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING HAMSTRUNG BY AUSTIN. IT MAKES IT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ALL OF US UP HERE. WE GOT ELECTED BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH ANSWERS. >> MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE FOR OUR CITIZENS WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH FEWER SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION. OUR EMPLOYEES, WHERE WE CAN'T BE COMPETITIVE ON GIVING THE RAISES, ONE THING IS, WE SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING, DO WE WANT TO DO IT OR NOT DO IT? IMAGINE WHERE WE WOULD BE AS MUCH CONTROVERSY AS IT CAUSED AT THE TIME IF WE HAD NOT DONE THE DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE. THAT'S $14 MILLION THAT RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAD NOT DONE THAT, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAVING TO PAY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY IF WE'D HAVE TO NOT ONLY THIS BUDGET, BUT ANOTHER $14 MILLION. IF WE KEPT STREETS IN THE THERE'D BE ANOTHER $30 MILLION THAT WE'D HAVE TO GO [03:10:03] BACK AND CUT OUT OF THIS CURRENT BUDGET IF A DRAINAGE FEE WAS NOT THERE, AND THEN YOU LOOKING AT THIS. NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE ANSWER AND THE ONE, BUT OUR OPTIONS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIMITED OTHER THAN CUTTING THE SERVICES, OR LIKE I SAID, THE ONLY OTHER OPTION I KNOW OF IS YOU COULD DO SOMETHING THAT GOES TO THE VOTERS. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. '>> IF YOU LOOK AT THAT LIST OF CITIES THAT DONNIE BROUGHT UP THERE, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATES ARE. WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST THERE. THEY'RE DOING THESE FEES ON TOP OF HAVING A HIGHER TAX RATE THAN WE ARE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE LOWER TAXES THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES THERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOES COME HOME TO ROOST AT SOME POINT. >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION, THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT WE'RE EXPECTING. WHAT IS THAT AMOUNT ARE WE EXPECTING THAT WILL GIVE RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO? >> PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. >> IS THAT ON THE SENATE BILL THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT? >> SENATE BILL 9 WOULD REDUCE OUR ABILITY TO RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT A VOTE FROM 3.5% GROWTH TO 2.5% GROWTH. IT WOULD REDUCE THAT. RIGHT NOW, SO IN OUR SITUATION HERE, YOU'D HAVE $1 MILLION OR SO OR WHAT IT WORKS OUT TO LESS MONEY TO WORK WITH. >> WHAT IS THAT RELIEF? YOU SAID HOW MUCH? ONLY $1 MILLION? >> WELL, I JUST MADE THE NUMBER. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT 2.5% GETS YOU THERE, BUT IT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO GO BEYOND 2.5%. >> WE'RE GOING FROM 3.5 TO 2.5. >> IF THAT'S PASSED. >> WE HAVE INDICATIONS THAT IT SHOULD BE. >> I HOPE NOT. MAN, I SUBMIT OPPOSITION YESTERDAY, REQUESTING MY LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THAT. >> IF THAT OCCURS, THEN WHAT WILL THAT DO TO US ON TOP OF THIS? WE'LL HAVE THAT LOSS AS WELL. >> NOW, IT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE'LL IMPACT THIS BUDGET YOU'RE WORKING ON HERE. BUT IT PUTS YOU AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE TO KEEP UP. RIGHT NOW, 3.5% IS VERY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH. MY COSTS ARE NOT LIMITED TO 3.5%. AT 2.5%, IT'S EVEN HARDER TO KEEP UP. >> I UNDERSTAND. THEN THE LAST QUESTION. MR. MAYOR, THERE'S A $600 MILLION. IS THERE A FUND OUT THERE THAT HAS $600 MILLION IN IT FOR US TO USE? >> NO. LIKE, THERE'S NOT A FUND OUT THERE THAT HAS 600 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR IN IT FOR US TO USE. THERE'S A FUND THAT THE LATEST STATEMENT THAT I RECEIVED WAS MARCH. I DIDN'T GET THE JUNE STATEMENT, BUT WE DIDN'T GET IT. DECEMBER WAS 656 DOWN IN MARCH TO AROUND 643, AND THIS IS COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL. GO AHEAD. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF IT IN YOUR EMAILS FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK. IT'S OUR QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT, AND IT REPORTS ON ALL OF THE CASH AND INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE CITY FOR ALL CITY FUNDS, AND ALSO FOR ALL OF OUR COMPONENT UNITS AND THE FISCAL AGENCIES THAT WE'RE FISCAL AGENTS FOR. THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING FROM GENERAL FUND,, WATER AND SEWER, DRAINAGE, AIRPORT, TO AEDC, THE EMERALD HOSPITAL DISTRICT. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS FUNDS IN THERE. IT IS ALL CASH AND INVESTMENTS THAT ARE MANAGED BY CITY STAFF. >> WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR MIND, COUNCILMAN? WHAT WE'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW IS IS WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. WE'VE BEEN CHARGING YOU TAXES TO TAKE CARE OF POLICE FIRE AND STREETS. WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE YOU MORE IN TAXES TO TAKE CARE OF POLICE AND FIRE, BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PULL STREETS OUT, PUT IT OVER HERE, PUT IT ON A FEE BASIS. BECAUSE SEE, THE DRAINAGE UTILITY ISN'T COMPARED TO THIS. HERE'S WHY. WE CREATED THE DRAINAGE UTILITY WHEN WE TOOK ON THE ROLE OF WE NOW LEGALLY NEED TO MANAGE THESE WATERS, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT AS A CITY. THERE WAS NO MONEY ALLOCATED FOR A DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES FOR THE CITY. WHEN THE CITY FLOODED, IT FLOODED. AS WE'VE COME INTO THAT NEW UNDERSTANDING OF PART OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX OR PART OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES, I SHOULD SAY, OF CITY HALL IS TO MANAGE AND MITIGATE THOSE FLOODWATERS. WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS LIVED LIKE THAT. >> I WILL CORRECT YOU ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. WE WERE TAKING CARE OF IT IN THE STREET DEPARTMENT. WE ACTUALLY BEEN PUMPING THOSE PLAYAS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, WELL BEFORE 2012 AND TAKING CARE OF DRAINAGE ISSUES. WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE CARE OF AS MUCH AS WE'RE TAKEN CARE OF NOW. >> I WOULD SAY THAT THE CONCERN HERE IS GOING TO BE, OKAY, I PAY THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES FOR LESS SERVICES. JUST LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, HEY, YOU TELL ME WHICH SERVICES YOU WANT TO CUT. OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO COME TO US AND SAY, WHY ARE YOU BILLING ME FOR SOMETHING I'M ALREADY PAYING TAXES FOR? [03:15:01] I'M ALREADY PAYING TAXES FOR STREETS, AND YOU JUST RAISED THOSE BECAUSE YOU ISSUED ANOTHER $12 MILLION CO OR $28 MILLION CO TO GO GET TO NEW PROJECTS, BUT THEN YOU'RE ALSO GIVING ME A BILL AT MY BUSINESS OF $1,040 NOW ANNUALLY. >> WELL, I THINK WHAT WE JUST NEED TO LOOK AT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, THEN LET'S GO BACK INTO THE BUDGET AND CUT $15 MILLION OF PROGRAMS. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT? ARE WE NOT GOING TO GIVE RAISES? ARE WE NOT GOING TO FUND THAT? IF WE JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TOTALLY WRITE THIS OFF AND NOT EVEN CONSIDER IT, THEN LET'S SAVE THE TIME. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD. I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THIS SOME REAL THOUGHT BECAUSE I WISH THE SAME AMOUNT OF DOLLARS WENT JUST AS FAR AS THEY DID LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE, THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, BUT WE ALL KNOW, IN OUR LIFE, THEY DON'T DO THAT, AND THE CITY'S COSTS ARE GOING UP. BUT IF WE WANT TO CUT BACK ON SERVICES OR IF WE DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE RAISES, OR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK TO CUT. >> BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME SITTING ON OVER $100 MILLION WORTH OF MONIES. STILL PUSHING THAT SAME MESSAGE. I THINK IF THIS WAS FLAT AND WE ONLY HAD A FEW RESERVES, AND WE REALLY WERE $1 MILLION BEHIND THE RESERVES, THAT WOULD CHANGE OUR ABILITY, I THINK, TO ADEQUATELY REPRESENT THIS TO THE COMMUNITY. >> WE CAN'T RELY UPON RESERVES. RESERVES ARE ONE TIME. THIS IS A REPETITIVE STREAM SOURCE TO PROVIDE REPETITIVE EXPENSES. YOU'RE REFERRING TO RESERVES, WHICH ARE A ONE TIME INFLUX AND WHEN THEY'RE GONE, THEY'RE GONE. >> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN. >> WHERE'S 100 MILLION THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED? >> WHERE'S ALL THIS MONEY? >> IS THIS WHERE WE'RE AT? >> YEAH. THAT'S THE ONE. 643. >> BUT IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE SAYING 100 IS EXCESS? >> LET'S DO A SIMPLE MATH PROBLEM REAL QUICK. WE DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE TOO LONG, BUT 643 IS THE LAST NUMBER. >> 630,780 AFTER ALLOCATIONS. IS THAT RIGHT? SOME OF IT WAS ALLOCATED. >> GENERAL FUNDS, $90.7 MILLION. >> WE HAD OVER $280 MILLION LEFT IN SPENDING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. BACK THAT OUT. IT WAS $290 MILLION. IT'S MORE THAN THAT NOW. >> HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE TO SPEND? IS THERE ANY MONEY IN THAT FUND THAT CAN BE SPENT ON ANYTHING? >> WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS IN YOUR BUDGETS, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND REBALANCED DOWN TO A 90-DAY RESERVE, WHICH IS PER OUR FINANCIAL POLICY. THEN WE'RE RECOMMENDING ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT TO GO TO CAPITAL. JUST LIKE ON PAGE 4, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT ALMOST $10 MILLION GO TO CAPITAL. THAT IS ONE TIME SPENDING RESERVES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS AVAILABLE. >> 637 IS BUILT IN TO THIS ENTIRE BUDGET ALREADY? >> NO. THAT IS NOT TRUE? >> WELL, IT'S NOT ALL OF THE CITY'S MONEY, BECAUSE SOME OF IT'S EMERALD HOSPITAL DISTRICT, SOME IS AEDC CHAMBER. >> BUT WHAT THE CITY CAN SPEND HAS ALREADY BUILT? >> YES. THAT IS CORRECT. >> IT IS BUILT INTO YOUR BUDGET. YES. >> $16 MILLION. WAS THAT THE NUMBER THAT YOU SCRAPED OFF THAT YOU SAID IT WAS IN EXCESS OF 90 DAYS? WAS IT $16 MILLION? >> NO. THERE WERE PIECES WHEN I SAT DOWN WITH YOU AND THE MAYOR THAT I HAD LOOKED AT. I WAS TRYING TO GO THROUGH A MATH PROBLEM THAT I THINK THE MAYOR WAS WANTING ME TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER THAT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. AS WE CONTINUED TO WORK ON THAT, WE ACTUALLY SHOWED THAT WE HAD OVERSPENT SOME OF OUR RESERVES A LITTLE BIT. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE UP THIS YEAR DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. >> WELL, LET'S RUN IT. $630 MILLION IS THE NUMBER WE'RE WORKING FROM. YES OR NO? >> BUT $630 MILLION IS NOT JUST WHAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE CITY. >> WE NEED TO SUBTRACT OUT THE COMPONENT UNITS. >> MAYOR, YOU'RE STARTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET SEASON RIGHT NOW. >> I DID IT FROM SEPTEMBER 30 OF 2024. WE START AT $656 MILLION. I DON'T CARE IF WE START AT THIS NUMBER OR THAT NUMBER, BUT IF YOU LOOK HERE AND THIS IS VERY SIMPLE. I'LL KEEP IT VERY BLACK AND WHITE. IN SEPTEMBER 30 OF 2024, YOUR TOTAL PORTFOLIO IN THERE IS $656 MILLION. NOW, YOU NEED TO BACK OUT OF THERE MONIES YOU'VE BORROWED THAT YOU'RE SHOWING ON YOUR SCHEDULE OF DEBT THAT ARE STILL SITTING IN THERE THAT ARE UNSPENT, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT REALLY YOUR MONEY. IT IS YOURS, LIKE YOU BORROWED IT, BUT IT'S NOT A RESERVE THAT HAS ENDED UP OVER THERE BECAUSE YOU HAD EXCESS MONIES OFF OF PROPERTY TAXES, OR YOU HAD MONIES THAT YOU DIDN'T SPEND ON A PROJECT. THERE WAS $229 MILLION AT THAT TIME THAT WE WOULD DEDUCT OUT OF THE TOTAL BORROWED MONIES, THEN YOUR COMPONENT UNITS. IF YOU ADDED IN AEDC HOSPITAL DISTRICT VENUE, ALL YOUR PIDS, THAT NUMBER COMES UP TO $106 MILLION. THOSE AREN'T OUR MONIES. THOSE ARE THEIR MONIES. [03:20:02] WE WOULD NEED TO VALIDATE ALL THIS. WE WOULD NEED TO VERIFY IF WE REWORK THE MATH PROBLEM TO CURRENT. BUT WE CAN GET IT CURRENT ALL THE WAY TO PROBABLY JULY. THERE'S $106 MILLION IN COMPONENT UNITS. THEN YOU HAVE YOUR RESERVES. MS. STORES, CAN YOU GIVE ME NOW THE TOTAL OF ALL THE RESERVES THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE WE'VE CHANGED A LOT OF THOSE NOW THAT WE'VE STOPPED RESERVING, I GUESS ON TOP OF RESERVES. GENERAL FUND RESERVE $52 MILLION. >> ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE PROJECTED AT THE END OF '25/'26? >> TARGET RESERVE. >> WELL, THE TARGET OPERATING RESERVE IN PAGE 4, $52,764,000 IS OUR TARGET RESERVE. >> SAY $53 MILLION. WATER AND SEWER. >> I THINK IT IS TIME WELL SPENT LESS. >> I WANT TO GO OFF FOR LUNCH FOR MONEY [INAUDIBLE] >> YOU HAVE A MORE IMPORTANT JOB THAN FINDING MONEY? >> NO, I DON'T HAVE A MORE IMPORTANT JOB, BUT WE'RE SITTING HERE GOING THROUGH MATH EQUATIONS. IF WE WANT TO CHALLENGE THEM TO GO THROUGH AND COME BACK WITH THE MONEY [OVERLAPPING] >> WELL, I WANT TO DO A SIMPLE [OVERLAPPING] >> I'VE GOT [OVERLAPPING] >> EQUATION. >> WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO UP ON THE SCREEN HERE, IT MIGHT BE EASIER IF EVERYONE CAN BE LOOKING AT THE SAME INFORMATION. STEPHANIE, IF YOU'LL SCROLL DOWN AT THE BOTTOM. I'M SORRY SCROLL BACK UP TO THE TOP, THIS SAYS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, THIS IS ALL CASH INVESTMENTS THAT WERE HELD BY THE CITY OF AMARILLO, THAT IS NOT JUST CITY OF AMARILLO MONEY. AS YOU GO DOWN THE PAGE THERE, STEPH, YOU'LL SEE WE HAD 600, I'M SORRY, 655 MILLION ALTOGETHER. WE HAVE TO BACK OUT OUR UNSPENT BOND PROCEEDS OF 167 MILLION. WE HAD TO BACK OUT OUR OUTSTANDING CIP THAT'S NOT COVERED BY OUR BOND PROCEEDS OF JUST UNDER 120 MILLION. THEN WE HAD TO BACK OUT OUR DEBT SERVICE RESERVES. THEN WE HAVE TO BACK OUT ALL OF OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY BANK ACCOUNTS, AND INVESTMENTS BECAUSE THOSE ARE RESTRICTED BY STATE LAW. THEN WE HAVE TO BACK OUT EVERYTHING THAT'S HELD IN A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, BECAUSE AS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, THOSE ARE ALSO RESTRICTED BY EITHER GRANTING AGENCIES OR BY STATE LAW IN PIDS CASES. THEN WE HAVE TO BACK OUT ALL OF OUR COMPONENT UNITS AND FISCAL AGENT ENTITIES. THAT WOULD BE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AEDC, VENUE DISTRICT, HOSPITAL DISTRICT, ETC. THEN WE CAN ADD IN OUR SHORT-TERM ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. THIS WAS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, THIS IS PER OUR AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO ADD BACK IN JUST UNDER 75 MILLION. THEN WE'VE GOT TO BACK OUT OUR SHORT-TERM ACCOUNTS PAYABLE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE COMING DUE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH. THEY WERE COMING DUE WITHIN PRIOR THE NEXT 30-60 DAYS, THEN WE ALSO HAD ENCUMBRANCES. ITEMS THAT WE HAD ORDERED AT YEAR IN, AND THEN WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THEM OR BEEN INVOICED FOR THEM YET, THAT WAS NINE MILLION DOLLARS. THAT GETS US DOWN TO 124 MILLION. AS OF OUR ESTIMATED MINIMUM RESERVES PER OUR CURRENT YEAR APPROVED BUDGET, WE NEEDED 128 MILLION TO MEET OUR MINIMUM RESERVES. I'M SHOWING THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT SHY OF THAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH. >> THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU. I'VE ASKED FOR THIS FOR A WHILE. HOW LONG AGO WAS THIS PRODUCED? >> I WORKED ON THIS AND I'M STILL WORKING ON PULLING ALL OF THE BACKUP FOR IT AND HAVING IT AUDITED BEFORE, BUT I WAS WORKING ON BUDGET BECAUSE WE GO THROUGH THIS EXACT SAME PROCESS IN OUR BUDGET, AND MY PRIORITY PER OUR CITY MANAGER WAS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A BUDGET TOGETHER AND FILED ON TIME. >> THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU. LET'S JUST ASK A FEW QUESTIONS HERE. GO AHEAD. >> ON PAGE 4 OF OUR BUDGET THAT YOU PUT OUT, IT SHOWS THREE THREE-MONTH RESERVE OF 52.7, WHY IS THAT A DIFFERENT FIGURE THAN THE 128? >> BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON PAGE 4 IS ONLY ONE FUND, AND THE CITY HAS MULTIPLE FUNDS. ALL OF THE GENERAL FUND, THE WATER AND SEWER, THE AIRPORT, THE DRAINAGE FUND, ALL THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS ADDED TOGETHER. >> COME TO THAT 128? >> YES. >> CAN WE LOOK AT THAT AGAIN, 53 GENERAL FUND, WATER, AND SEWER WAS HOW MUCH? >> THIS WAS AS OF YOUR 24, 25. THIS WAS BEFORE WE CHANGED OUR MINIMUM. >> NOW WE'VE CHANGED THAT DOWN 12 MILLION, BUT LET'S JUST DO IT REAL QUICK. WATER AND SEWERS, HOW MUCH? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR? >> JUST TARGETED RESERVE. >> THE TARGETED RESERVE IS 21 MILLION. >> TWENTY ONE. AIRPORT? >> IT IS 5.6 MILLION. >> DRAINAGE? >> 1.8 MILLION. >> HOT TAX. >> WE DON'T HAVE A HOT TAX. [03:25:02] >> INTERNALS. >> FLEET IS FIVE MILLION, IT IS 2.8 MILLION, RISK MANAGEMENT IS 5.5 MILLION, AND OUR INSURANCE FUNDS ARE SIX MILLION. >> CAN WE RUN THOSE REALLY QUICK? HAS ANYBODY GOT A CALCULATOR 10K, 53 MILLION, 21 MILLION, FIVE MILLION, TWO MILLION, FIVE MILLION, THREE MILLION, FIVE MILLION, SIX MILLION, WAS THAT RUN DONE, 128, HOPEFULLY? >> IT'S 100 MILLION. AS A REMINDER, MAYOR [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S 100. >> WE CHANGED OUR MINIMUM RESERVE POLICY IN THE NEW YEAR'S BUDGET. >> IT'S 100 [OVERLAPPING] >> AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. >> NOT 128. WE HAVE 100 ON THE RESERVES, THE 166. THE ONE PART THAT I COULDN'T SEE, AND THIS IS SO HELPFUL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN CURIOUS AS TO, WHEN YOU GET TO AN END OF A FISCAL YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30TH, HOW DO YOU HAVE 166,000 OF OUTSTANDING BILLS? WELL, YOU'RE SHOWING ME THAT BECAUSE THOSE WOULD BE ALL YOUR BILLS LEFT TO PAY FOR THE YEAR, PLUS, YOU ACCOUNTED FOR THE 74 MILLION WORTH OF REVENUES. THAT WOULD TRUE UP THE END OF THE YEAR. >> YES. >> THAT WAS THE PART THAT I WAS MISSING. MY NUMBERS ALWAYS COME BACK AT AROUND 175 MILLION, BUT I'VE BEEN SAYING, WELL, I THINK THERE'S 100 MILLION. BUT THERE'S A FEW OTHER THINGS IN THERE THAT I DID CALL BOND COUNSEL AND ASK ON SOME OF THAT. IF YOU TAKE THE 128 AS TARGETED RESERVES, YOU'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT RIGHT NOW. YOU'RE SAYING 100 MILLION WOULD HIT OUR TARGET RESERVE? >> YES, BECAUSE WE'RE NO LONGER RECOMMENDING THAT IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT WE RESERVE GENERAL FUND PLUS AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO WHAT'S NEEDED IN IT IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS. >> I SHOW 106 ON COMPONENT UNITS, ARE YOU SHOWING 109, IS THAT THE CORRECT NUMBER, 109 MILLION? >> YES, AND AGAIN, I'M WORKING ON GIVING THIS TO OUR INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM TO AUDIT ALL OF THIS BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] >> WELL, LET ME CHANGE MY NUMBER. LET'S ASSUME YOURS, ROUNDING UP 109, BORROWED MONIES OF 229, ACTUALLY, OR WHAT NOW? OSBAN BOND PROCEEDS ARE 167. >> MS. STORES, IS THIS THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SPREADSHEET, THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU'RE SENT IN AND GOT IT. >> THIS IS WHAT WE'RE USING TO START WITH THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, YES. THAT'S WHAT KEYS US IN TO [OVERLAPPING] >> WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO NOW? >> ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, I JUST WANT TO DO A SIMPLE MATH PROBLEM HERE AND SUBTRACT BACKWARDS. >> YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA TO DO A SIMPLE MATH PROBLEM, THE DATA IS RIGHT HERE. >> YEAH, SO I'M VERIFYING. >> YOU'RE JUST PICKING NUMBERS. >> WELL, NO, I'M TRYING TO VERIFY THE DATA. THE ONE THING THAT WOULD BE [OVERLAPPING] >> IS THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY? >> YES, I WOULD SAY, YOUR BUDGET IS CONTINGENT UPON THIS. YOU'RE PROPOSING OR YOU'RE NOT, BUT WE ARE BEING FACED WITH, DO WE TAKE OUR STREETS OUT OF GENERAL FUND CREATE. >> BUT THE NUMBER'S THERE. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE NUMBER'S THERE? >> THIS IS WHAT WE'RE STARTING WITH. THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT THE CPA IS TELLING US THAT THEY'VE GOT. >> IS THIS A CORRECT NUMBER, MISS CPA? >> YES [OVERLAPPING] >> IT IS 128 MILLION OR IT'S 100 MILLION? >> THOSE WERE THE MINIMUM RESERVES WE ARE WORKING FOR THIS YEAR. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. >> WHAT IS MY CURRENT RESERVE? >> IF YOU ALL PROPOSE CHANGING OR I'M SORRY, IF Y'ALL APPROVE OUR PROPOSAL OF CHANGING IT, YOUR RESERVE AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, WOULD, BASED ON THIS BUDGET, BE CLOSER TO 100 MILLION. BUT THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, WE HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED IN EACH OF THESE BUDGETS TO BE SPENT THROUGH CAPITAL PURCHASES. >> ONE THING, COUNCILMAN, THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, THIS LESS OUTSTANDING CIP NOT COVERED BY BOND PROCEEDS. THERE'S 119 MILLION RIGHT THERE, YOU NEED TO DIRECT THAT 119 MILLION. YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTED [OVERLAPPING] >> THOSE ARE ALREADY IN EARMARKED PROJECTS THAT JUST HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLETED YET. >> WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY DIRECTION ON THE 119, THEY'RE ALREADY CONTRACTED. >> SOME OF THEM ARE, AND THE REST OF THEM, IF THERE'S ANY, THAT'S PART OF THE PROJECT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS YEAR. IF THERE'S ANY OF THAT 119 THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING TO CLOSE THOSE. >> THEY'RE FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL'S DIRECTIONS. >> I'M THANKFUL FOR MR. PATH IN BRINGING THAT, LIKE ON THIS NEXT BUDGET, WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THOSE, WELL, THIS WAS CONTRACTED OR THIS WASN'T CONTRACTED, IT WASN'T COMPLETED, STAFF WILL RECOMMEND THAT. THE SPEND DOWN ON SOME OF THESE MONIES IS ALREADY GOING ON. I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE THESE MONIES HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A WHILE, NOT GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY. BUT THE 119, YOU MAY HAVE SOME LATITUDE IN THERE, [03:30:04] WHEN WE IMMEDIATELY JUMP TO, WELL, TELL US WHICH SERVICES YOU WANT TO CUT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S VALID AT THIS POINT IN THE CONVERSATION. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THIS, AND THEN WE CAN MOVE ON. IF I DON'T HAVE THE DATA, LET ME GET THE DATA FROM YOU, MRS. STORES, AND WE CAN WORK ON THIS AND BRING IT BACK FOR A FUTURE MEETING, BUT THE DEBT SERVICE RESERVES, I COULDN'T GET TO 24 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE RESERVES. WHEN I CALLED MR. ADAMS, HE SAID THAT THERE WERE A FEW OLDER BONDS THAT REQUIRED A RESERVE, BUT DID YOU GET THAT 24 MILLION FROM HIM? >> I GOT IT FROM OUR AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. >> THOSE ARE MANDATED RESERVES BY THE [OVERLAPPING] >> BOND COVENANTS. >> THE DEBT TERMS. >> YES, SIR. >> THEY'RE UP TO DATE? >> THAT WAS AS SEPTEMBER 30TH, YESTERDAY. >> THAT WAS ANOTHER FACTOR. THE HOT BANK ACCOUNT AND A FEW OF THESE OTHER ONES. WHAT IS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, THE 7.9? >> THAT IS LIKE YOUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS. THEY HAVE RESERVES, AND SO WE CAN'T TOUCH THEIR RESERVES. >> WE REALLY WOULD BE AT, LIKE, 108. >> WELL, I SAY IT'S NOT EVEN THEIR RESERVES. ANY MONEY THEY HAVE IN THOSE BANK ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS, WE CAN'T TOUCH THOSE. >> GOING BACK TO THE CIP NOT COVERED BY BOND PROCEEDS. THE PROJECT WE'RE DOING FOR CIPS, AGAIN, THAT'S ONE-TIME MONEY. THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE IS NOT MEANT TO BE ONE-TIME FUNDING, IT'S MEANT TO BE AN ONGOING REVENUE STREAM. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> THE PROCESS WE'RE DOING NOW, YOUR BUDGET ALREADY CONTEMPLATES SOME OF THAT MONEY WE'VE ALREADY PULLED OUT TO FUND SOME ONE TIMES, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT. IT'S A LONG PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH, FIGURE OUT WHERE PROJECTS ARE AT, AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PULLING IT OUT SO THAT NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE MORE, BUT THOSE ARE IN ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCES FOR ONE-TIME EXPENSES, NOT ONGOING EXPENSES LIKE STREET PERSONNEL. >> WHAT'S THE DATE ON THIS, IS THIS THE SEPTEMBER 30TH? >> YES, SIR. >> CAN WE GET THIS DONE UP TO THE JUNE QUARTERLY AND BRING IT BACK? IF WE COULD SEE THE JUNE STATEMENT OF WHAT'S IN THE PORTFOLIO WITH THESE SAME NUMBERS. >> THAT'S TRICKIER TO DO BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET YEAR. WE HAVE COLLECTED ALL OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THAT ARE MEANT TO BE SPENT OUT OVER THE ENTIRE YEAR. YOUR SNAPSHOT IN TIME FOR REBALANCING RESERVES IS AT THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR, NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A FISCAL YEAR. >> SURE. LESS ENCUMBRANCES, WHAT ARE THOSE ENCUMBRANCES? >> THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT WERE ORDERED PRIOR TO YEAR-END, BUT WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THEM YET. THEREFORE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN INVOICE FOR THEM YET, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. >> GREAT. I WANT TO QUESTION, AND I WANT TO DO IT WITH RESPECT. I AM DOING MY DUE DILIGENCE HERE IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND HOW THE BUDGET AND THE FINANCIALS WORK. THESE ARE MONIES THAT AREN'T BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET. >> YES, THEY ARE. >> THEY ARE BUILT INTO YOUR BUDGET. >> THEY'RE IN YOUR BUDGET, THEY ARE ALL REFLECTED IN YOUR BUDGET. >> BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE ASKED EARLIER, THE MONIES THAT AFTER YOU'RE SHOWING HERE, YOU HAVE $10 MILLION IN RESERVES. >> YES. >> THAT ARE BUILT INTO THIS. >> THESE DOLLARS, WITH ALL OF THE RECONCILING ITEMS DOWN BELOW, ARE WHAT WE USE TO CALCULATE YOUR AVAILABLE FUNDS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. ALL OF THIS IS PLACED DIRECTLY INTO YOUR BUDGET. >> YOU WOULD RUN THIS CALCULATION, AND THAT WOULD ATTRIBUTE TO THE 74 MILLION AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> GREAT. YOU HAD TO HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE YOU PRODUCED THIS BECAUSE THE 74 IS [OVERLAPPING] >> THIS IS IN PARALLEL AS SHE HAD TIME. AGAIN, MY PRIORITY TO HER WAS WORKING ON THE BUDGET. >> HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THE 74? >> THIS IS A SPREADSHEET THAT SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON IN HER CONVERSATION WITH YOU, ONE-ON-ONE, TRYING TO HELP YOU GET THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE BEEN ASKING. >> WE DO AVAILABLE FUND CALCULATIONS BY FUND. THIS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND EVERY ENTITY THAT WE MANAGE MONEY FOR. WE DON'T DO AVAILABLE FUNDS CALCULATIONS FOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE DON'T DO THAT. THIS IS TAKING A HUGE HOLISTIC VIEW AT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING DOWN TO THE REPORTING ENTITY LEVEL TO CALCULATE THE SAME INFORMATION. I HAD TO STEP WAY BACK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I TAKE THIS AND PROVE IT BACK TO EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING ON A FUND-BY-FUND BASIS. IT'S ALL THE SAME THING, IT'S ALL FEEDING INTO THE SAME INFORMATION. IT'S JUST A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX AT THIS LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST CITY FUNDS, THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN THERE. >> I AGREE. I'M LOOKING FOR A REALLY GOOD OUTCOME HERE, I'M NOT PUSHING AGAINST YOU GUYS. I'M JUST SAYING THAT FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT MONIES THAT ARE SITTING OVER IN RESERVE ACCOUNTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SPENT FROM WHOEVER KNOWS HOW LONG AGO. >> ARE YOU SAYING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 128 [03:35:02] AND 100 MILLION WE'RE SAYING NOW WE NEED FOR RESERVES? >> WELL, I'M SAYING YOU HAD 128 MILLION ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER. THAT DIRECTED THE 74 MILLION CALCULATION, AND WE JUST REDID THE NUMBER, AND IT'S 100. THERE'S A $28 MILLION SWING JUST RIGHT THERE ALONE. >> WHICH IS IN YOUR BUDGET, CURRENTLY. >> YEAH. THE 128 MILLION CORRESPONDS TO THE $52 MILLION NOW THAT WE SAID WOULD BE THE MINIMUM RESERVE. YES, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BEFORE, IT'S ALL OUTLINED WHERE THAT MONEY WENT ON PAGE 4 IN YOUR BUDGET. >> COUNSEL, HANG IN THERE WITH ME JUST A SECOND, I'LL GET OFF OF THIS ISSUE. WE JUST REWORKED A MATH PROBLEM THAT WENT FROM 128 MILLION IN RECOMMENDED RESERVES. JUST TAKE THAT ONE LINE, ADAM. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA TO ARGUE EVERYTHING ELSE, COUNCILMAN, PRESCOUNCIL. LET ME NOT ASSUME AND THEN HAVE TO COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, I WAS WRONG, BUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS IN THIS SNAPSHOT, YOU HAD 128 MILLION. YOU'VE GIVEN A 74 MILLION POSITIONAL STANCE, BUT IF YOU JUST REDID THIS AND IT'S A $28 MILLION SWING, OR LET'S SAY IT'S A $20 MILLION SWING, HAVE WE NOT IDENTIFIED $20 MILLION THERE? >> THE 128 MILLION ACCOUNTED FOR THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE, THE WATER AND SEWER RESERVE, THE AIRPORT RESERVE, THE DRAINAGE RESERVE, YOUR 74 MILLION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ONLY GENERAL FUND. WE'RE TALKING APPLES AND ORANGES HERE. >> CORRECT, YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M PULLING THOSE TOGETHER, AND I NEED TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT. >> YES. >> I THINK GOING BACK THROUGH ALL THIS, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW LIKE THE DEBT SERVICE RESERVES. LET'S VALIDATE THAT, NOT JUST GO OFF OF AN AUDITED STATEMENT AND SEE ACTUALLY WHAT THAT IS. >> THAT'S HOW WE VALIDATE IT. >> YES. >> THROUGH AN AUDIT. >> THE DEBT SERVICE RESERVES HAS ALREADY BEEN VALIDATED IN THE AUDIT. IS THERE ANY PURPOSE TO LOOK AT ANY OF THIS, OR SHOULD WE MOVE ON WITH THE CORRECTED STATEMENT OF MAYOR, YOU'RE WRONG, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. WE NEED TO MOVE THIS STREET ASSESSMENT, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, AND WE HAVE A $15 MILLION SHORTFALL BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN WHAT I WAS PREPARED TO HAVE COMING IN HERE TODAY. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, WE JUST HAVE DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE. IF COUNCIL DOESN'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE OF 15 MILLION, THAT'S FINE. WE'LL PUT IT BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THEN WE WILL START WORKING ON A PROPOSAL TO REABSORB THAT 15 MILLION, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO CUT OUT PORTIONS OF RAISES, WE'LL HAVE TO CUT OUT SOME OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL, THE OVERTIME FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE CAN DO THAT, THERE'S MONEY. IT'S JUST HOW DOES COUNSEL WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY? WE HAVE GIVEN YOU AN OPTION, BUT IF Y'ALL WANT A DIFFERENT OPTION, WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK TOWARDS THAT. >> BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU THE AVAILABLE FUNDS YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH, IT'S THERE. >> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. WHAT AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE FUNDS DO WE HAVE IN EXCESS? THE MINIMUM RESERVES, WHO SETS A MINIMUM RESERVE POLICY? >> WE'RE PROPOSING A CHANGE TO IT THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING HERE. >> ON 128, WHAT IS THAT CALCULATION TO GET TO THAT? >> THAT WAS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO COUNCIL IS TO CHANGE IT AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025. WHAT THAT WOULD BE IS IT WOULD ACTUALLY LOWER OUR MINIMUM RESERVE POLICY SLIGHTLY. LOOKING AT THE 128, THE 128 WOULD NOW BE CLOSER TO 100 MILLION. >> THAT'S WHERE YOUR MONEY'S AT. LET ME FINISH. PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE SET A CALCULATION OF THE RESERVES THAT WE FEEL WE NEED TO OPERATE FOR THE 90 DAYS, WHICH WE'RE REQUIRED TO BY STATE LAW, CORRECT? >> WELL, THAT IS BEST PRACTICES FOR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. >> IF WE LOWER THAT, THEN THAT FREES UP SOME MONEY. >> CORRECT. >> BUT WITH WHAT WE HAVE SET AND THE RULES THAT WE'RE PLAYING BY, WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE NOT VERY LONG, BUT I'M FAMILIAR WITH HOW THIS WORKS. THAT'S YOUR EXTRA MONEY. WE'RE TALKING CERTIFIED, PROFESSIONAL, STATE, CERTIFIED PRACTICES. THIS IS THE NUMBER GOING THROUGH AUDIT. [OVERLAPPING] TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE, THEN YOU HAVE YOUR MONEY, THERE WOULD BE SOME EXCESS MONEY. BUT IT'S A ONE TIME. >> WE DID CLEAN IT UP AS THEY'RE ADDRESSING. WE'VE CHANGED POLICY. WE REDUCED THE AMOUNT. THE NUMBER YOU'RE SEEING HERE, AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, YES, IT DID FREE UP SOME MONIES. THEN WE CLEARED UP THE ACCOUNTS THAT WE HAD PROJECTS THAT WERE NEVER CLOSED OUT, SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT HERE, A LITTLE BIT THERE. ALL THAT'S BEEN CLEANED UP. BUT IT'S ALREADY BEEN, WHATEVER THE TERM REALLOCATED, REABSORBED INTO THE BUDGET THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING. >> A LOT OF IT IS HOW Y'ALL ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS [03:40:02] $113 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THIS NEXT YEAR. NOT ALL OF IT, BUT A GOOD PORTION OF THAT IS DUE TO US LOWERING THE MINIMUM RESERVE POLICY AND THEN RE-BALANCING DOWN TO THAT NEW MINIMUM RESERVE AND PUSHING ALL OF THAT OVER INTO YOUR CAPITAL PROJECT. >> CLEANING UP THE CIPS, WHICH IS ONGOING, BUT CLEANING THAT UP AS WELL. >> MR. TIPPS, DO YOU SEE ANYTHING FAULTY WITH THIS DATA? >> I DO NOT. MAYOR AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS, WE'VE MET AND THEN, BUDGET CAME UP, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY GET TOGETHER. THIS IS A GOOD PICTURE THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU TASKED HER. WE NEED A BUDGET. WE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET. THIS CLEARED UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THIS DOCUMENT. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU'RE WELCOME. I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY. I WILL CERTAINLY ROUND IT ALL. IT'S JUST A LOT OF BACKUP THAT GOES TO THIS, SO I'LL GET ALL THE BACKUP TOGETHER AND GET TO YOU ASAP. >> IN MY APPRECIATION FOR YOU AND YOUR JOB, YOU ARE VERY GOOD WITHIN THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW IT FORWARD AND BACKWARD, I DON'T MIND COMING OUT AND NOT HAVING ALL THE DATA. I DON'T MIND HAVING THE CONVERSATION IN PUBLIC, AND I DO WANT TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE YOUR PUBLIC QUESTIONS HOW WELL ARE YOU GOING TO STEWARD THESE MONIES? ONE OF THE BIG NEGATIVES THAT DONNY PUT FORWARD IS IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY TO THESE MONIES AND ARE THEY BEING SPENT AND THE TRANSPARENCY OF SEEING THIS ROADWORK IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. YOU'RE CORRECT, SOME OF THE MONIES HERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE LEFT OVER, ARE RESTRICTED TO WATER AND SEWER. THEY'RE NOT IN MY GENERAL FUND, BUT WE ALSO PULLED OVER THE 21 MILLION TARGETED RESERVE FOR WATER AND SEWER. EVEN IF THERE ARE RESTRICTED MONIES THERE AND THEY HAVE TO REMAIN IN WATER AND SEWER, THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY OVERALL, COMPREHENSIVELY FOR THIS COUNCIL TO HELP DIRECT THOSE MONIES INTO THINGS. NOW, SPECIFICALLY, THE STREETS, IF THERE WERE $20 MILLION AVAILABLE IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT, OKAY, WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT A $15 MILLION STREET ASSESSMENT, AND WE WANT TO GO BILL ALL OF THESE ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS, YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY OF THAT $20 MILLION SPEND DOWN FOR THE STREETS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED. NOW, IF WE ALLOCATE THAT, AND WE, ALONG WITH YOU GUYS, ALLOCATE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD TO ALL THESE OTHER ITEMS, BUT THAT'S WHEN WE'RE DECIDING, DO WE DO A REMODEL TO THE COURT, OR DO WE GO AND FIX THE STREET? HERE'S THE STRUGGLE. THIS IS COMING FROM THE CRITIC OF, LIKE, SO YOU'RE SPENDING FIVE MILLION DOLLARS REMODELING A COURT, AND YOU DIDN'T FIX A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR STREET. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO WEIGH IN ON, BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE WE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THAT LEVEL. I HATE GETTING THE CRITICISM WHEN WE DO GOOD. IT'S LIKE, MAN, IT'S A GOOD THING TO GO AND UPDATE THE COURTHOUSE. IT'S BEEN NEEDING IT FOR SO OVER LONG. BUT WE'VE GOT TO WEIGH THAT IN WHAT OTHER MECHANISMS, AND YOU'VE SAID THIS VERY WELL. IF YOU PULL THIS LEVER, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO POP. YOU'RE TELLING ME TO MEASURE MY OUTCOMES, AND I'M SAYING THE SAME BACK TO YOU. IF YOU PULL THIS LEVER OF STREET ASSESSMENTS, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S FIXING A POP. WE'VE WALKED THROUGH THIS BEFORE WITH THE DRAINAGE FEE. IT'S A FEE. IT'S A RAIN TAX. NOW YOU'VE GOT A STREET TAX. THEN LET'S GO BACK TO THE SLIPPERY SLOPE. YOU WANT TO PUT THIS ON A WATER BILL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO ADDRESS A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN. THINK ABOUT THE TIMING IN THIS. WE MAY VERY WELL BE AT A PLACE IN OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT DISCUSSION WITHIN SIX MONTHS WHEN THIS IS ROLLING OUT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A LARGE INCREASE BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH. WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ENGAGE IN A STREET ASSESSMENT CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW. YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET EVEN WITH THE 15 MILLION I AM STILL SAYING THAT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEYS GOING INTO THE STREETS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, BUILT INTO THAT RATE. DO WE NEED TO PULL BACK ON THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW MISSES STORES IS ALLOCATING 5.4 MILLION TO INS. WE ARE MOVING THINGS FROM CASH OUTLAYS OVER TO INS. LIKE WITH FIRE APPARATUS? >> YES, AND THAT'S HOW WE HAVE IT FILED AND PROPOSED, AND IF COUNSEL WOULD RATHER PAY THAT OUT OF SALES TAX OR THE OPERATING SIDE, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE CHANGES. >> LET ME SAY ONE FINAL THING. WE'LL GO BACK TO LESS. WHERE DOES IT STOP? DRAINAGE WAS LIKE, OKAY, WE GOT TO HAVE A DRAINAGE FEE. NOW WE'VE GOT STREETS. THEN WE DO PARKS AND REC. IS IT WELL, YOUR TAXES JUST PAY FOR POLICE AND FIRE. [03:45:04] EVERYTHING ELSE IS A FEE, AND IS THAT THE ROAD THAT WE WANT TO GET ON? >> I HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT. IT STOPS WHEN YOU CUT SOMETHING. [NOISE] THAT'S HOW YOU STOP SOMETHING. YOU CUT A SERVICE. OTHERWISE, UNFORTUNATELY, GIVEN OUR ECONOMY, PRICES GO UP. WE'VE BUILD A REVENUE TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE COSTS. >> WHICH WE'RE REPRESENTING PRICES GOING UP FROM 38 CENTS TO 43 CENTS. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ALL THESE SERVICES. WHAT I WAS UNAWARE WHEN I READ YOUR BUDGET WAS THAT THE 38 CENT INCREASE TO THE 43 CENT DOESN'T INCLUDE $15 MILLION WORTH OF STREET ASSESSMENTS. AM I CORRECT NOW? >> THAT'S WHAT THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FOR, YES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE TO YOU ALL. THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU ALL THIS WEEK TO HELP YOU WALK THROUGH WHAT THE 38, THE 43, THE 15 MILLION, YOUR CIPS. YES, THAT'S WHAT THIS PROCESS IS FOR. >> COUNCILMAN. >> WELL, IF YOU'RE WAITING TO GET A PAT ON THE BACK FOR DOING SOMETHING GOOD, YOU'RE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS. [LAUGHTER] AGAIN, OUR OPTION, DO WE HAVE AN EXTRA $15 MILLION THAT WE JUST HAD LYING AROUND IN A BANK THAT WE HAVEN'T ALLOCATED FOR? BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE $15 MILLION OUT THERE. >> NO, WE'VE ALLOCATED EVERYTHING IN THIS BUDGET HERE. WHILE TRYING TO MEET YOUR MINIMUM RESERVES WITH A CHANGE IN POLICY. >> AS I SEE IT, THERE'S THREE OPTIONS TO, BUT NOW, IF WE FEEL THAT WE'RE FINE ON OUR STREETS AND WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE MONEY, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE JUST GOT TO GO BACK IN AND FIND THE 15 MILLION FOR IT, AND TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. >> YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY DIRECT THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WAY TODAY IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE WAY. IF WE WORK REALLY HARD AND WE CAN'T FIND IT, AND WE END UP WHERE WE CAN TELL PEOPLE, HEY, LOOK, I TRIED REAL HARD, BUT I COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM A BLANKET PAY STUDY THAT I HAD TO IMPLEMENT. I DON'T FEEL THAT. I'LL PULL THE 2.2 OFF. I THINK. TAKE THAT PAY STUDY, WORK TOWARDS THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, PHASE THAT IN. POLICE AND FIRE. IF WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY, GUYS, WE WANTED SEVEN, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GET FIVE. BUT THEN AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, TELL ME, MRS. STORES, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T DO THE FIRE APPARATUS, THAT'S NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE. THAT'S DONE. WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS BUDGET, IF WE DON'T DO A $12 MILLION STREET OUTLAY, THAT INS SIDE CAN ROLL BACK OVER IN YOUR CALCULATION TO THE M&O? >> NO. >> NO. >> WHY NOT? >> BECAUSE IT'S INS. >> [OVERLAPPING] YOUR DEBT SIDE OF YOUR TAX RATE CAN GO UP AND DOWN BASED ON HOW MUCH YOUR ALREADY ISSUED OUTSTANDING DEBT IS. IT HAS NO BEARING ON YOUR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE RATE AT ALL. IF YOU INSTEAD DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR FIRE APPARATUS OR STREETS OUT OF THE INS SIDE OF THE TAX RATE, THEN YOUR TAX RATE WOULD GO DOWN, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO CUT THAT SAME AMOUNT OUT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO AFFORD THE DEBT. >> WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, IF THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO MOVE THE STREET FUND BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND, YOU WILL NEED TO FIND ONGOING O&M EXPENSES. NOT THE APPARATUSES, WHICH IS DEBT, NOT THE ONE TIME EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE FOR LIKE TRUCKS AND SUPPLEMENTALS LIKE THAT. YOU NEED TO LOOK TO CUT POSITIONS, CUT SERVICES, RAISE SOME OTHER FEES, I GUESS, AND WE HAVE A VECTOR FEE THAT WE POSE IN THERE, WHICH IF YOU CUT THAT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE THERE WITH THAT AS WELL. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON NOW, IS THAT? >> YEAH. I KNOW WHERE I'M SITTING AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD LOOK AT STREET ASSESSMENT FEE AS THE NEXT STEP FORWARD WITHOUT LOOKING BACKWARD AND SEEING, YOU'VE PRESENTED A LARGE BUDGET WITH A LARGE TAX INCREASE AND PAY INCREASES, 44. [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S NOT A LARGE TAX INCREASE. WE'RE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE CAN GET. WE'RE TAKING NO MORE HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. TO SAY THE TAX RATE IS A VARIABLE. THE REASON WHY IT WENT DOWN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS NOT BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES PAID BY OUR CITIZENS WENT DOWN, IT WENT UP. IT WENT UP TWO YEARS IN A ROW, EVEN THOUGH THE TAX RATE WENT DOWN. LET ME FINISH, IF I COULD, PLEASE. NOW IT'S GOING BACK UP BECAUSE THOSE VALUATIONS HAVE CHANGED, ALSO PREVIOUS COUNCIL ISSUE DEBT, WHICH IS GOING INTO THAT AS WELL. I DON'T THINK TO SAY THAT TAXES THEY'RE GOING UP THE RATE THAT THEY ALWAYS GO UP, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE. BUT, HOW YOU'RE ABLE IF YOU WERE PROFESSIONAL, IF YOU WERE A BUSINESS, AND SOMEBODY CAPPED THE ABILITY TO INCREASE YOUR INCOME AT 3.5% EVERY YEAR, AT 2.5% EVERY YEAR, AND YOU HAD EXPENSES TO GO ON, YOU'D HAVE TO BE FIGURING OUT A SIDE HUSTLE TO PAY YOUR BILLS, OR ELSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT DRAMATICALLY ON THESE THINGS. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. WE'RE FACING A CAP THAT THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN BACK AND HELP US. AS GRAYSON SAID, THEY'VE PUT THE BURDEN ON US TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. [03:50:02] AS WE LOOK AT INCREASING DEMANDS, INCREASING COSTS, GROWING CITY, ALL THOSE THINGS, THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT, OR WHAT DO WE CUT BACK? I'D BE DISAPPOINTED IF WE COULDN'T DO THE TYPES OF RAISES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. I THINK THEY'RE NEEDED ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'D HAVE TO WEIGH TO DETERMINE BECAUSE THE OPTIONS ARE WE CAN EITHER LOOK AT THIS, AND I HOPE WE HAVEN'T RULED IT OUT TODAY. I HOPE EVERYBODY WILL AT LEAST CONSIDER IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS GOING FORWARD, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO GIVE IT SOME SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND NOT JUST RULE IT OUT UNTIL WE HAVE A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT IT, BUT THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS ARE, WE CAN GO BACK IN AND WE CAN RAKE OUT THE 15 MILLION. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE PAINFUL, BUT WE COULD DO IT OR WE COULD SAY, WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND LET THEM LOOK AT IT. >> FORGIVE ME FOR INTERRUPTING YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF MY STATEMENT. BUT YOU WERE CORRECTING MY STATEMENT OF LARGE TAX INCREASE. LET ME REVISE THAT TO TAX INCREASE. GRAYSON, YOU'VE PRESENTED A BIG BUDGET. IT'S $570 MILLION. BEFORE WE ONE SIDE OURSELVES OVER TO DOING SOMETHING AS DRASTIC AS A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE AND TAKE ON ALL OF THE ENERGY THAT'S GOING TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT IN COMMUNICATING THIS TO THE PUBLIC AND DOING ENGAGEMENT AND ALL THAT, LET'S GO BACK AND LET'S LOOK AT THE BUDGET, THOROUGHLY, AND CAN WE WORK, TOO, BECAUSE WE SAID 15 MILLION, BUT WE REALLY HAD AN EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR DIFFERENCE, FROM THE TAX INCREASE. NOW, I'M FINE WITH STARTING WITH THE 15 MILLION AND WE CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT 44 POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED FOR. THOSE 44 POSITIONS RIGHT NOW ARE ON THE TABLE BASED ON A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. >> NO, MANY OF THOSE ARE IN WATER AND SEWER FUND AND OTHER DEPARTMENT. ONLY A PORTION OF THOSE ARE THE GENERAL FUND. >> A PORTION OF THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE BECAUSE OF A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE, ALONG WITH OUR POLICE AND FIRE PAY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. >> YES. EVERYTHING IN THIS BUDGET HERE IS ON THE TABLE. >> I DEFINITELY AM NOT GOING TO BE OPEN MINDED IN THIS SO I DO HAVE A REQUEST. I AM AGAINST A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT WOULDN'T HAVE A PLACE IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE PLAN THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE ALONG WITH SOME OF THESE OTHERS. YEAH, BUDGETS ARE ALWAYS PAINFUL, AND WE GOT TO GO THROUGH THEM, AND THAT'S WHAT I SHOWED UP TO DO. BUT I'M AGAINST THE STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. THIS ISN'T DC, SO I DON'T WANT TO GROUP THIS IN WITH OUR OVERALL BUDGET. I'D BE FINE FOR SPLITTING THIS OUT, AS AN OPTION TO BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO. DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY IN THIS BUDGET TO GIVE US ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST BEING PRESENTED WITH YES OR A NO. >> AT THIS POINT HERE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AS A BODY TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADVISE US AS STAFF AS TO WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE US TO EITHER MOVE FORWARD, EITHER CUT THIS, ADD THIS, ADJUST THIS, PRESENT THIS, RESEARCH THIS. THAT'S WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO GUIDE THIS CONVERSATION TOWARDS NOW. >> WELL, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, I THINK WE NEED TO ADVISE STAFF, IF WE WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THE CUT, WHERE DOES THIS COUNCIL WANT TO BEGIN ON PROVIDING DIRECTION FOR THEM ON WHAT WE NEED TO CUT BASED ON WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH? >> WHAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THAT PERHAPS I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SCHEDULING, AND SO I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE MEET AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY. I'VE LOOKED AT OUR CALENDARS, THE MAYOR AND I. I DO THINK WE WERE PLANNING ON HAVING ANOTHER WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK. I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT FOR THE REST OF YOUR TIME TODAY THAT YOU HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, STAFF, CAN YOU PLEASE GO BACK AND PREPARE A PRESENTATION ON THIS? RESEARCH THIS, GO AND ADJUST THIS AMOUNT, SEE WHAT THAT DOES, AND THEN PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, BRING IT BACK TO YOU ALL NEXT FRIDAY, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER GOOD WORKSHOP WHERE WE SHOW YOU WHAT WE DID. WHAT I ADVISE AGAINST IS THAT WE START TRYING TO MOVE NUMBERS TODAY. WE NEED A CHANCE TO GO BACK AND ACTUALLY RUN THAT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU PULL THIS LEVER, IT'S GOING TO POP HERE, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MISSED A LEVER DOWN THE ROAD AND WE DIDN'T SEE IT POP. I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU ADVISE US AS TO WHAT TO GO WORK ON. I'D ALSO REQUEST TOO JUST SO WE CAN BE EFFICIENT, THAT ANY REQUESTS ARE MADE, THAT I AT LEAST GET A CONSENSUS FROM THE COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER WE'RE WORKING ON IS TRULY WHAT THE COUNCIL AS A BODY WISHES TO SEE. IF I KNOW THAT ONE PERSON WANTS IT, BUT FOUR DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD WORK ON THAT. THAT'D BE MY REQUEST. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE COUNCIL CAN DECIDE THAT IF YOU'D LIKE US TO WORK ON EACH THING, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT IT WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT ON OUR SIDE IF I KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL IS SUPPORTING A REQUEST. >> YEAH, AND I AGREE. I THINK THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO FOR SURE TO COME TO CONSENSUS, HAVE A DISCUSSION. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE PERSON UP HERE. I COULD BE WRONG, THAT WANTS A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. [03:55:02] WE ALL KNOW THAT IS A TAX. WE CAN CALL IT WHATEVER WE WANT, IT'S TAX. >> BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT LIMITED FUNDS, IS IT A HAVE TO? MAY OR YOU'RE SAYING WE NEED SOME TIME TO MAYBE SHARPEN OUR PENCIL. I'M LOOKING AT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE BUDGET ALREADY. THE POLICE AND FIRE, THE RAISES TO THE ORGANIZATION, NEW STAFF, WHICH I THINK IS DEBATABLE. OVER TIME, WHICH IS NOT CONTROLLABLE, TMRS, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT. I JUST THINK IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WEIGH AND SAY IS IT WORTH BITING THE BULLET AND DOING THIS, WHICH IS, I THINK AGAINST WHAT ANY OF US WANT TO DO? ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. I JUST DON'T. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS THAT. BUT AT WHAT COST? IF WE SAY, "HEY, WE DON'T WANT THIS THING." GREAT. WELL, THEN WE'VE GOT TO THROW ALL THIS AWAY. PRETTY MUCH, WE GOT TO THROW ALL THESE RAISES AWAY. THAT'S 13.75 MILLION, WHICH AGAIN, THEN WE LOOK AT MORALE, WE LOOK AT RETENTION FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES. WE LOOK AT ALL THAT. I THINK WE'RE FACED WITH A DILEMMA HERE TO SAY, NEITHER ONE OF THESE IS GREAT. WE JUST DON'T WANT THESE. NONE OF US ARE FOR NEW TAXES OR A FEE. CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT. IT'S TAX. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE PERSON UP HERE THAT WANTS THAT. I CERTAINLY DON'T, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO RUN OUR ORGANIZATION OR FOLLOW YOUR LEAD IN RUNNING THE ORGANIZATION AND PAY PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE WORTH, GET OUR POLICE AND FIRE, GET THE RETENTION, GET ALL THE THINGS THAT TAKE DOLLARS. WE'VE JUST GOT A LIMITED SOURCE, AND IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE LIMITED, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET MORE AND MORE CREATIVE ON WAYS TO FUND THESE, MUCH NEEDED CORE SERVICES. BECAUSE I LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING UP. THESE ARE CORE SERVICES THAT WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THESE TO OUR CITIZENS. QUESTION, I DON'T THINK WITH THIS IF WE DO DO THIS FEE, WE'RE NOT EVEN ADDING ANY SERVICES. IT'S THE SAME SERVICES. ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE. IT'S JUST WE'RE SEPARATING IT OUT. WE'RE GENERATING MONEY OR SOURCES FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE. BUT WE'RE JUST PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICES WE'VE ALWAYS PROVIDED. >> WE'RE JUST PROPOSING A FEE TO COVER EXISTING SERVICE. WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TO RAISE THE FEE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES. I MEAN WE CAN RAISE IT HIGHER FOR MORE SERVICES, BUT WE'RE JUST PROPOSING A FEE TO COVER EXISTING SERVICES. >> HERE WE ARE IN THIS DILEMMA TO SAY, "OKAY, SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?" WE'RE GOING TO DO A FEE TO RAISE $15 MILLION TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES WE'VE ALWAYS PROVIDED. OR DO WE MIX ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IN THE BUDGET? THIS IS BEFORE US, I THINK WE HAD A GOAL OF MAYBE INCREASING POLICE AND FIRE. ABOVE THE FIVE AND THE FOUR, YOU GETTING BOTH TO ABOUT SEVEN BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE THAN THIS, AND WE WANT TO HONOR THAT. WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. WE DID A GREAT JOB LAST YEAR. I THINK THAT THAT WAS OUR GOAL MOVING FORWARD, BUT LOOKING AT IT, THIS IS LIKE YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, IT'S LIKE, MAN, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY. WE'RE STUCK. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS, BUT I DO AGREE, MR. PATH, THAT WE'VE GOT TO COME TO A CONSENSUS OF, LIKE, "OKAY, WHAT DIRECTION ARE WE GOING TO GO?" IT'S TOUGH. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH DECISION, BUT WE'VE GOT TO CHOOSE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN SHARPEN OUR PENCIL ENOUGH AND GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO GET. THIS IS WHERE I'M AT. >> DO YOU KNOW THE 15 MILLION IS I'M LOOKING AT THESE VARIOUS CATEGORIES. THERE'S CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT WE CAN GET THIS 15 MILLION OUT OF, AND THERE'S OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO, CORRECT? SUCH AS AIRPORT. WE CAN'T. >> THE ONLY CATEGORY YOU HAVE IS THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING UP TOP. >> YES. >> IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT 15 MILLION OF THE GENERAL FUND OF 271, IT'S ABOUT CUTTING THE BUDGET ABOUT 5.6%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> WE RUN THE NUMBER THERE, BUT SURE YEAH. >> BUT IT'S ABOUT A 5% REDUCTION. YOU'RE LOOKING AT EITHER FINDING 5%, EVERY DEPARTMENT GOES BACK AND CUTS 5%. MAYBE SOME DON'T HAVE TO CUT, SOME DO, BUT IT LOOK TO ME IF THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET THE 50 MILLION, IT'S ABOUT A 5% REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET. >> WE HAVE TO RUN THE NUMBERS OF CBO. >> THAT'S APPROXIMATELY RIGHT. ALSO REMEMBER THAT 50% OF YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS PUBLIC SAFETY ALONE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CUT WOULD COME FROM. >> THEN THERE'S SOME FIXED COSTS THAT WE CAN'T CUT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE RETIREMENT WE CAN'T CUT. ALTHOUGH IF WE DON'T GIVE MORE RAISES, THEN I GUESS WE'RE NOT PAYING AS MUCH INTO IT. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CUT, [04:00:02] WHICH JUST MEANS THOSE THAT WE DO HAVE TO WIND UP CUTTING, IT COULD BE MORE THAN IT COULD BE 5-10% THAT WE HAVE TO CUT OUT OF THAT AREA, OKAY? >> YES. >> MAYOR, I WOULD ASK YOU, YOU'VE SAID WHERE YOU ARE, BUT AFTER LOOKING AT IT WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? DO YOU THINK WE CAN FIND 15 MILLION TO PUT THEM BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND AND MAINTAIN THIS BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT 28, 29 MILLION, AND I JUST DON'T SEE IT. AT SOME POINT WHETHER YOU WANT TO SAY CAMPAIGN PROMISES, JUST OUR PRIORITIES. WHERE POLICE AND FIRE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THESE, WE'RE FACED WITH THESE TWO THINGS RIGHT HERE, NOT TO MENTION TAKING CARE OF STAFF AND THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT WE'RE FACED WITH THIS. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE AT A CROSS ROADS LIKE WE GOT TO CHOOSE. I WOULD ALSO SAY NOT THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US RAN ON THIS LIKE NO NEW TAXES, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S ALL WHERE WE CAME FROM. WE'RE LIKE, WE DON'T WANT TAXES. NOBODY WANTS TO RAISE TAXES, WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE STAND INDIVIDUALLY, I BELIEVE. BUT NOW WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS OF LIKE, OKAY, HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY COST. IF WE CHOOSE THIS, WE DON'T GET THIS. >> I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY WE DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM. >> NO. >> BUT WE'RE HERE TO FIX IT. WE GOT TO FIND A SOLUTION AND PROVIDE FOR THE CITIZENS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AT THIS SPOT. WE'RE CLEANING UP A LOT OF YEARS OF NOT LOOKING FORWARD. >> MAYOR WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? I KNOW YOU SAID WHERE YOU WERE, BUT AFTER WE'VE SAT ON IT MARINATED JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT. >> WHAT I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW IS, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT COUNCILMAN REED THINKS. >> WHO? >> COUNCILMAN REED. >> THERE'S A NEGATIVE SITTING ON THE END AND BE AND THE NEW GUY. THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE, THEY REALLY ONLY CARE ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK YOU SAID IT DONE. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR WATER, THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR WASTEWATER, THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR ROADS AND THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY. THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE DOESN'T THINK ABOUT THE PERSONNEL THAT'S BEHIND THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PERSONNEL THAT WORK FOR THE CITY FEEL APPRECIATED. PART OF THAT IS IN RAISES AND HOW THEY'RE TREATED IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES WITH THAT. THE OTHER PARTION IS TAKING CARE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE EXPECT. I THINK WE'VE HIT ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION. ALL I SHOULD SAY, WE'VE BEEN PUT IN THIS POSITION. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CHOSE. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BEING UP HERE IN THE DIAS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE POSITION OF HOW WE PAY FOR THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE EXPECT TO HAVE, THOSE SERVICES THAT THEY EXPECT TO HAVE ON A DAILY BASIS. I KNOW ONE THING THAT I WOULD EXPECT, THOUGH, IF WE GO DOWN THIS PATH IS THAT WE HAVE SOME WAY TO PUBLICLY SHOW THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING. BECAUSE WE HEAR WE FILLED SO MANY POTHOLES TODAY? WELL, WE NEED TO SHOW THAT, I THINK, IN A PUBLIC WAY SO THAT THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING DONE, THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY WORK BEING DONE? BECAUSE THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T SEE THAT EITHER. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, DON, THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH CHOICE. UNLESS WE CAN FIND $28 MILLION, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, DO WE HAVE THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START GOING THROUGH AND MAKE CUTS? >> THANK YOU, SIR. YES, SIR. >> I WOULD SAY, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR FROM STAFF IS TO GO AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET. I DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY, "WELL, HERE'S WHERE I THINK YOU OUGHT TO CUT. HERE IS WHERE YOU OUGHT NOT TO CUT."I THINK YOU WOULD KNOW THE AREAS WHERE WE'RE SPENDING THE MOST MONEY. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ANY ORGANIZATION'S EXPENSES, PERSONNEL IS YOUR LARGEST EXPENSE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO SAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU CAN AVOID GETTING INTO PERSONNEL. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE BY JUST CUTTING BACK IN OTHER AREAS. BUT ACTUALLY, I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD EXERCISE TO GO THROUGH THIS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED A CONTINGENCY PLAN ON SOMETHING THAT SAYS, "OKAY, WELL WHAT IF WE HAD SOME UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE ON A DIME, WE HAD TO CUT TWO OR 3% OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, NO MATTER WHERE WE END UP." BUT I THINK I WOULD BE RELYING ON STAFF TO COME BACK AND SAY, "WHERE DO YOU THINK ARE THE BEST PLACES TO BE ABLE TO [04:05:03] LOOK AT OR WHAT OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE THAT COULD GET US CLOSE TO THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.". >> TO THAT, OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE FAR MORE REQUESTS THAT WE CUT BEFORE THAN WE DIDN'T BRING TO YOU. I ELIMINATED A LOT OF REQUESTS BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT TO THIS POINT HERE. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THOUGH, IS ELIMINATE MORE IN THE BUDGET. YOU ACTUALLY DIG INTO THE BUDGET. >> I WOULD JUST SAY NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, BUT IF YOU WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD TO CUT 5% OF THE EXPENSES, WHERE WOULD THAT BE? EITHER NOW OR IF THE BUDGET GOT APPROVED AND THEN FOR SOME REASON, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, AND WE HAD A LOT LESS REVENUE FOR SOME REASON, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, BUT JUST WHERE WOULD THIS COME FROM? >> WE CAN WORK ON THAT. I'M GOING TO NEED THE COUNCIL'S HELP. >> OKAY. >> I'D LIKE TO JUST ADD ONE THING. WE'RE SITTING HERE AND WE'RE ACCEPTING AS WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS WORKSHOP FOR THREE DAYS. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE STAFF, PERIOD OR THEY'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT DEATH BY 1,000 CUTS. HOW MUCH MONEY COULD WE RECOVER IF WE JUST DID COST RECOVERY IN SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY, AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT NON ESSENTIAL ITEMS. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THOSE AREAS. THE FTE POSITION ON THIS BUDGET. IF WE CAME THROUGH ON A $576 MILLION BUDGET, AND WE LOOK FOR 4% REDUCTION, YOU MIGHT GET THERE AND NOT HAVE TO RAISE THE FEE THIS TIME. YOU MIGHT. BUT HERE WE ARE ARGUING ABOUT THE COST OF A GOLF BALL, AND THIS IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT, DON. I'M JUST SAYING THAT AGAIN. BUT GUYS, WE CAN'T GIVE RAISES. WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF BASIC STRUCTURES AND WORRYING ABOUT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. EVERYTHING HAS TO CARRY ITS WEIGHT. THE CITIZENS EXPECT US TO RUN THIS CITY AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS. >> I THINK THAT'S WELL SAID, AND EVERYTHING PUTS IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE. I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT, AND I WANT TO SEE HOW INCORRECT IT IS. >> DON, I'M HEARING YOU SAY 29 MILLION. BUT ARE YOU SAYING, MR. CITY MANAGER, IF WE DON'T INCREASE THE TAXES, AND IF WE DON'T INCREASE THE RATES THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE ON THE GIVEN BUDGET THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDER, WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT SERVICES IN ORDER JUST TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I WALKED IN WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I HAD A BALANCED BUDGET THAT I WAS WORKING WITHIN. THE AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY ISSUED, THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO GO ON THE I&S SIDE? I'M NOT ADDRESSING WITH YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE UNFAIR. WE ALREADY VOTED FOR IT. WE'RE IN FAVOR OF DOING THESE THINGS, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT, MY PERSPECTIVE WAS WRONG, THAT I HAVE AN ENTITY THAT CANNOT PROVIDE SERVICES WITHOUT SOME CHANGE, WHICH YOU'RE PROPOSING A CHANGE OF PULLING THE STREET DEPARTMENT OUT AND GAINING $15 MILLION OR IS IT THE 29 MILLION AS WAS STATED? >> IF WE DON'T RAISE REVENUE, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FUND EXISTING SERVICES. WE WE HAVE TO CUT BACK IN CERTAIN SERVICES. >> IF WE WERE TO ONLY INCREASE THE I&S SIDE, AND WE LEFT EVERYTHING ELSE JUST LIKE IT WAS, AND WE DIDN'T INCREASE THE RATES, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE? >> BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR THINGS FROM WHETHER IT'S COMMODITIES, LEASES, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE OR POT HOLE FILLING, THOSE PRICES HISTORICALLY CONTINUE TO GO UP FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK. TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK, THAT ALONE REQUIRES RAISING REVENUE. DO EVEN GO BEYOND THAT, RAISE MORE REVENUE. >> MR. FREEMAN, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION THE BIGGEST ONES AT FDA GRANT, LIKE, WE'RE INSTANTLY IN THE WHOLE MILLION AND A HALF SO THAT EATS INTO THAT INCREASE IN SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX. >> THAT WOULD BE WITH NO RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD. NO STAFF, NO FIRE, NO POLICE. >> YOU TAKE AWAY THAT 13 MILLION, YOU PUT THE 15 MILLION BACK THAT TWO MILLIONS. >> THAT MEANS NONE, NOT EVEN AN INCREASE OVER THE 54, THAT MEANS ZERO. >> I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOLF BALLS, AND HOW MUCH WE WOULD NEED TO INCREASE THE GOLFERS ISSUE OUT THERE, WE ARE ACTIVELY TAKING CARE OF OTHER PROPERTIES THROUGH PARKS AND REC THAT WE'RE COVERING THE COST, AND THAT'S A HALF MILLION DOLLAR POTENTIAL. I THINK WE'VE BEEN IN A POSITION WHERE, OKAY, WE'VE GOT MONEY, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO. LET'S WORK WITH EVERYBODY, AND LET'S NOT LOOK AT THIS. I KNOW THREE DAYS AGO I DIDN'T SIT DOWN HERE ASSUMING THAT I HAD READ THIS BUDGET, CORRECTLY, AND NOW I KNOW I READ IT INCORRECTLY, [04:10:03] THAT THE 15 MILLION WAS A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. LIKE WE'VE BUILT THE WHOLE BUDGET AROUND A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. THAT WE WANT YOU TO IMPLEMENT, OR WE GOT TO START OVER. WE NEED TO TAKE THIS WHOLE BUDGET BACK AND START OVER. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW. >> YES, AND ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, MY TASK AS A BUDGET OFFICER IS TO PRESENT TO YOU A BUDGET, AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE DONE. IT'S NOW THE CITY COUNCIL'S ROLE TO REVIEW THAT, TO ADVISE, TO AMEND, TO KEEP IT AS IT IS, BUT ULTIMATELY TO APPROVE A BUDGET. BUT IT WAS MY ROLE, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW TO PRESENT TO YOU A BUDGET. >> COUNCILMAN. >> NO, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, I THINK YOU AND I CAME IN THINKING THERE WAS SOME MONEY TO BE FOUND AND SOME MONEY THAT WOULD EXCESS FUNDS, EXCESS RESERVES, THAT KIND OF THING. I THINK YOU AND I CAME IN WITH THAT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. WE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT. WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT A 15 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR GAP. >> THEN WE ALSO THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS EXTRA MONEY. YOU'RE NOT ON A HUGE SWING OF, LIKE, FROM THINKING OVER HERE. RIGHT. NOW WE'RE OVER HERE, AND IT'S A LITTLE SHOCKING. >> I STILL, MISSES STORES, I LOOK FORWARD TO QUESTIONING THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU PUT FORWARD. LIKE, I WANT TO DIG INTO THAT. I WANT TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF, AND I WANT TO GO BACK AND I WANT TO DO THAT DUE DILIGENCE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT SEPTEMBER 30 OF 2024. BUT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TO SEPTEMBER 30 OF 2025, LIKE, IF THAT'S WHERE I'VE GOT TO WORK FROM, THAT'S WHERE I'VE GOT TO WORK FROM, BUT WE DIDN'T LOSE $100,000,000 IN INEFFICIENCIES. LIKE WHAT I SAW WAS $100,000,000 POTENTIAL OUT THERE IS NOW A 3.8 MILLION DOLLAR LOSS ACCORDING TO THOSE NUMBERS. THEN I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU GUYS LOOKED AT THE RESERVE POLICY IN OUR FINANCIAL POLICY, AND YOU'RE WILLING TO CHANGE ALL THAT. BUT YOU'VE ALREADY CAPTURED THAT 10 OR 12 MILLION IN RESERVES TO PUT IN THIS. HERE'S THE OTHER THING, HOW ARE WE PROPOSING IN GENERAL FUND TO DO $10,000,000 WORTH OF UPDATES IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR CORE SERVICES? >> AGAIN, THOSE ARE CAPITAL ONE TIME EXPENSES, NOT ONGOING OPERATING. >> I UNDERSTAND, BUT TO MY PUBLIC. JUST LIKE MR. REED SAID HE COUNCILMAN SAID THEY CARE ABOUT POLICE FIRE AND THEIR STREETS AND THEIR WATER GETTING DELIVERED. WHEN WE GO DO AN UPDATE, LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY TO GO AND UPDATE A BUILDING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE MESSAGING. I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR RAISES RIGHT NOW. LIKE, I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN POLICE AND FIRE AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITHOUT PUTTING YOUR STREETS ON AN ASSESSMENT FEE. >> AGAIN, YOUR LIMITS ARE ONE TIME VERSUS ONGOING REVENUE. THAT'S WHAT THAT ALL COMES DOWN TO. >> THE OPPOSITE OF CASH POOR, LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, BUT WE GOT CASH? >> I'VE GOT ABILITY TO DO TO SPEND ONE TIME MONEY ON CAPITAL PROJECTS. I DON'T HAVE THE ONGOING ABILITY BECAUSE IF YOU PROVIDE THE RAISES TO THE EMPLOYEES, THAT IT'S BUILT INTO YOUR BUDGET IN PERPETUITY. YOU HAVE TO BE TO KEEP THAT FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT YEAR TO NEXT YEAR TO NEXT YEAR. YOU ONE TIME, YOU DO IT THIS YEAR, AND THEN YOU MAY OR MAY NOT DO IT NEXT YEAR. >> THIS IS WHAT I'D SAY THAT MAYOR TOO IS THINKING ABOUT THIS. PERFECT EXAMPLES OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. THAT WASN'T A HAVE TO. MAYBE THAT'S WHAT COUNCILS 20 YEARS AGO THOUGHT. IT'S NOT A HAVE TO. WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? LET'S JUST KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD. NOW, IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COURTHOUSE AND THOSE OTHER THINGS, BUT AT SOME POINT, IF SOMETHING FAILS, THEN IT BECOMES A HAVE TO, AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET AND WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR THAT. I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO DO SOME THINGS THAT AREN'T HAVE TO TO PREVENT THE HALF TO LATER OF, LIKE, WHY DID THE PREVIOUS COUNT DO IT? NOW, RENOVATE IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S TIMES WE HAVE TO DO SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. WE JUST HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF IT. IF WE DON'T GET AHEAD OF IT, WE'RE PUTTING OTHER COUNCILS OR FUTURE COUNCILS WAY BEHIND. >> I DEFINITELY STRUGGLE WITH, LIKE, THE LET'S GO FINISH OUT 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR WORTH OF CITY HALL OFFICES TO ADD AND CREATE DEPARTMENT, AND AT THE SAME TIME HAVING A GENUINE DISCUSSION WITH, WE'VE GOT TO DO A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. I DON'T I CAN'T CORRELATE THOSE TOGETHER. >> THOSE ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS THAT YOU CAN'T USE ON THE STREET FUND OR PUBLIC SAFETY. THOSE ARE FUNDS FROM YOUR BOND THAT ONLY CAN SPEND ON THIS BUILDING HERE. WE CAN SIT ON THEM. BUT OTHERWISE, YOU ONLY CAN SPEND THEM ON SOMETHING INSIDE THIS BUILDING HERE. AGAIN, THE CITY IS A COMPLICATED ENTITY. IT'S NOT SIMPLE. I KNOW PEOPLE WANT CITY TO BE SIMPLE. IT'S NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF DYNAMICS, DEMOGRAPHICS, DIFFERENT INTERESTS, RIGHT, LEFT, EVERYTHING. THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ENTITY, LOTS OF DIFFERENT FUNDS, LOTS OF RESTRICTED ELIGIBLE USES. I HAVE GRANT FUNDS THAT WE SPENT ON THIS, I HAVE BUMP AND SPENT ON THAT. I HAVE DIFFERENT TAXING SOURCES. [04:15:01] IT CAN BE USED ON CERTAIN THINGS. THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ENTITY. IT ISN'T JUST ONE GIANT POT OF CASH. WE CAN USE OVER AND ANYWHERE. >> WE WANTED TO, AND THIS IS JUST A POTENTIAL, IF WE WANTED TO AS A COUNCIL, NOT DIRECT YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE STREET ASSESSMENT FEE IN THE STREET FUND. IF WE SAID LET'S NOT DO THAT. THIS IS BAD TIMING WITH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, EVERYTHING ELSE. IT'S A WATER BILL ISSUE. WE'RE NOT WILLING TO FIGHT THAT FIGHT. THEN WHAT WE'D BE LOOKING AT IS YOU GOT 13.7 MILLION LAID OVER HERE, BUT NOT ALL OF IT IS GENERAL FUND. WE'D NEED TO SEE OUT OF THE 2 MILLION FOR THE POSITIONS IN THE PAY STUDY AND ALL THAT MAYBE IT'S $10,000,000. I DON'T KNOW. BUT OVER TIME ALL OF IT, IF YOU PULLED ALL THAT OUT, YOU'D HAVE TO PROJECT SALES TAX HIGHER TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT. >> YEAH, WHICH WE'RE NOT COM PROJECTING IT HIGHER THAN THAT. >> THAT'S AN EXAMPLE. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT LUBBOCK DID AND THEY HAD TO FREEZE A LOT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE MILLIONS SHORT IN THEIR PROJECTIONS. >> I WISH I COULD PROJECT HIGHER, BUT I HAD TO GIVE YOU WHAT WE REALISTICALLY BELIEVE IT BE. >> BUT THEN, LIKE, JUST RUNNING TRANSIT BASED ON WHAT TRANSIT HAS INSTEAD OF SUBSIDIZING IT, 1.8 MILLION WOULD COME OUT IN ORDER TO-. >> WE DON'T GET THE GRANT MONEY FOR TRANSIT IF WE DON'T MATCH IT, SO WE HAVE TO PUT IN. >> I'M SAYING THERE WAS A 1.8 MILLION DOLLAR REDUCTION IN SERVICES. IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. WE LOST REVENUE. >> YEAH. BUT THAT'S ONLY LIKE IT'S A 50 50 MATCH. IF WE WANTED TO MAKE UP THAT 1.8, WE'D HAVE TO CUT IN THEORY ALMOST $3,000,000 OF SERVICES OUT OF TRANSIT. >> I WOULD JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES ARE. IF THE ULTIMATE REQUEST IS FOR STAFF TO GO BACK AND BRING BACK 15 MILLION, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME NOT TO TOUCH. WHAT THINGS ARE YOU OKAY WITH ME TOUCHING? WHAT THINGS ARE YOU NOT OKAY WITH ME TOUCHING? >> ONE THING I WILL SAY, WE JUST NEED TO REMEMBER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE SPENT SOME MONEY. WE GAVE SIGNIFICANT RAISES. WE ISSUED SOME DEBT ON SOME THINGS TO GET DONE. A LOT OF THAT IS CAUSING THE PRESSURE THAT WE'RE FACING THIS YEAR. NO THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT, BUT WE GAVE, 8, 9, 12, 14% RAISES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL DESERVED, WE SHOULD. BUT NOW WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR AND 5% RAISES, AGAIN, THAT'S A LOT LARGER NUMBER THAN IF THEY HAD JUST GOTTEN FOUR OR 5% THAT YEAR. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS YOU'RE SEEING PRESSURE ON THE BUDGET, BECAUSE I WAS THERE, BUT THE MONEY THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE SPENT IS ADDING TO THIS PRESSURE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE FEELING. I WOULD SAY THIS. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN SOLVE THIS PUZZLE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE EMPLOYEE SIDE. IT'S JUST TOO MUCH. IN GENERAL THAT'S WHERE YOU LOOK AT IT, SOMETIMES STARTING WITH OPEN POSITIONS. WHAT OPEN POSITIONS ARE OPEN AND AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. OBVIOUSLY, LOOKING AT THESE POSITIONS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ADDING TO. IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE FROM THAT SIDE, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN JUST SAY WE DON'T THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT LOOKING AT SOMETHING ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE, AND WHETHER IT'S LOOKING AT OPEN POSITIONS, WHETHER IT'S REDUCING THE RAISES. I THINK ALL THE THINGS HAVE TO BE ON THE TABLE. I'D REALLY LOVE TO GO BACK TO THAT 70% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. BUT I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT SOMETHING'S GOT TO HAPPEN ON THE PERSONNEL SIDE. >> YEAH, I WOULD AGREE. IN ORDER TO MAKE UP THE MENTAL GROUND THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE UP, 2015, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT PERSONNEL. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TREAT ALL EMPLOYEES EQUALLY. I WOULD HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR POLICE, FIRE AND CIVILIANS EQUALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT. DO NOT FAVOR ONE OR THE OTHER WHEN YOU LOOK AT CUTS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE LOOKING AT CUTS OR I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT CUTS WITHOUT GIVING UP SERVICES. THAT TO ME WOULD COMMUNICATE THAT WE'RE FAT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD COMMUNICATE TO ME. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE ARE. I DON'T THINK WE ARE. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S FAT, THAT WE'VE GOT WAY TOO MANY EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CUT. THE ONLY FEW PLACES I CAN SEE CUTTING IS WE GET NOT THAT THIS WOULD BE A HUGE CUT, BUT WE GET RID OF THE CO NOT FOR THE TMRS, BUT WE GET RID OF THE CO COMPLETELY AND WE GO ON A STRAIGHT MERIT. SOME PEOPLE GET RAISES. SOME PEOPLE DON'T GET RAISES. MAYBE THAT HELPS, BUT WE STILL GOT TO CAP IT BECAUSE WE GOT A BUDGET FOR IT. WE KNOW WHERE IT IS. I THINK THAT BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING MAYBE 1 MILLION BUCKS. MAYBE, RIGHT THERE. WE LOOK AT THE RAMP UP OF THE 311. WE DON'T GO FOR IT ALL AT ONE TIME. IT'S A PHASE UP. BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY. BUT TO PRESCOTT'S POINT, THE GOLF BALL. [04:20:01] IF WE DO ALL THESE THINGS ACROSS THE BOARD, I, I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT ADDS UP TO. BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO SHARPEN OUR PENCIL AND FIND THIS, MY FRUSTRATION IS COMING INTO THIS, NOT BEING AWARE THAT THIS CURVE BALL TO US, AND A LITTLE BIT BASED ON THE WAY WE DID BUDGET LAST TIME, IS ANY EXCESS THAT WE FOUND, WE DID ON, WE CREATED THAT WORKING BUDGET. THIS YEAR IT WASN'T THAT AT ALL. ANY EFFICIENCIES THAT WERE FOUND WERE ALREADY ABSORBED INTO THE BUDGET. I KNOW YOU WEREN'T HERE, BUT I LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER TWO MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN SIMPSON. I LIKE THAT. THEN WE WENT THROUGH AND SAID, OKAY, WHAT ARE PRIORITIES? WE'VE GOT THIS MONEY OVER HERE AND THESE THINGS ARE REQUESTED OR THESE THINGS NEED TO BE DONE, AND WE WOULD PRIORITIZE THOSE THINGS. I LIKED THAT A LOT BETTER. THE WAY IT IS NOW, IT'S LIKE THE BUDGET IT'S BEEN ABSORBED AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S BEING USED FRIVOLOUSLY. I DON'T THINK I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING BEING USED FRIVOLOUSLY, SO DON'T HEAR THAT. BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE DIDN'T SEE THAT WHERE WE SAID HEY, THE RESERVE CALCULATION HAS BEEN CHANGED, AND WE'VE GAINED THIS, WE'VE GAINED SOME EFFICIENCIES. WE'VE DONE THAT. BUT ALL THIS EXCESS MONEY, IT'S IN THE BUDGET SOMEWHERE. WE COULD FIND IT, BUT GOOD GOSH, THAT'D BE PRETTY TEDIOUS. IN SAYING THAT, I DON'T KNOW AGAIN, TO LESS'S POINT, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT PERSONNEL DO WE HAVE POSITIONS TO CUT? THAT'S NOT EVEN AN OPTION, IS IT? >> AGAIN, WHEN YOU CUT A POSITION, YOU CUT IT PERPETUALLY AT THAT POINT. YOUR BUDGET HAS TO SURVIVE NEXT YEAR, THE NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR. >> THAT'S NOT VIABLE TO ME. I DON'T THINK I DON'T LIKE YOU SAID, WE LOOK AT PERSONNEL. THAT'S THAT'S NOT AN OPTION. WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT CUTTING PEOPLE. >> I DON'T GET COMPLAINTS THAT I'M DOING TOO MUCH. >> NO. I DON'T THINK I THINK THAT'S TO ME, IT'S CRAZINESS. I AGREE WITH S AT YOUR BIGGEST EXPENSE, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S NOT. >> MANY AREAS. IN EVERY AREA WE'RE BEHIND. WE'RE JUST FINALLY MAKING UP GROUND. WE CAN WE CANNOT BACKPEDAL. >> AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THAT BACK WINDOW. >> I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT I JUST KNOW WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS BIG GAP, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT BY BUYING FEWER PENCILS AND PAPER CLIPS. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SIGNIFICANT. WHEN PAYROLL IS YOUR LARGEST EXPENSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT, IT HAS TO COME INTO PLAY. HOW MUCH? WE DON'T WANT TO DO DAMAGE, BUT IT COMES IN PLAY. >> BUT WE'RE NOT CUTTING AND JUST MY OPINION, WE'RE NOT CUTTING FIRE. WE'RE NOT CUTTING PD. THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE DOING THAT. THERE'S NO WAY AND FOR YOU TO SAY WE GOT TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME, THAT'S FINE, BUT FOUNDATIONALLY. I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN'T CUT 911 OPERATORS. WE CAN'T, WHERE DO WE START? THAT'S CRAZINESS. I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE STATING, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT TO MAKE A POINT OF THAT'S NOT DOABLE. IF WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND THIS MONEY, THAT MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT. BUT THERE'S REALLY THAT'S NOT EVEN VIABLE. THAT'S NOT EVEN OPTION. >> IF YOU SAY THERE ARE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS THAT WE DON'T NEED TO CUT, THAT JUST PUTS A LARGER BAR. >> I'M SAYING THERE'S NONE. I'M SAYING I DON'T THINK IT'S AN OPTION TO LOOK AT CUTTING ANY DEPARTMENT. I'M NOT SAYING ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER. MY POINT IS THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT CUTTING PEOPLE. TO ME, WE'RE NOT FAT. THERE'S NO WAY. >> WHY IS ANY OF THIS SURPRISING TO ANYBODY? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE LOWEST TAX RATE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR DECADES. WE HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT THE CITY NEEDS. WE'RE TRYING TO GROW, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. WHY IS THIS SURPRISING TO ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM? >> COULD I? I'D LOVE TO. MAYBE GENTLY WORK INTO THAT ONE. LIKE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS HERE. YOU'VE PROPOSED AN OPTION. OPTION 1, JUST TAKE YOUR 3.5%, WORK WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT, REDUCE OBVIOUSLY, VACANCIES AREN'T CUTS. LIKE, WE'RE NOT LETTING ANYBODY GO, WE'RE NOT ADDING, AND WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE A FEW POSITIONS, HIRING, FREEZE, WHATEVER. THAT'S ONE OPTION, JUST AS A SUMMARY. ANOTHER OPTION. CREATE A NEW WAY TO REVENUE, $15 MILLION. THIS IS SUPER CREATIVE. IT PUTS EVERYTHING ON ITS OWN, DEDICATED. I IS STREETS, IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE, GOES TO A PILLAR. THAT'S THE OTHER OPTION, AND THEN, RAISE TAXES. GO BACK TO YOUR TAXPAYER, PUT THIS TO THEM AND SAY, LOOK WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS, WE REALLY NEED ALL OF THESE SERVICES INCREASED. WE'RE DOING REALLY GOOD, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PAY $40 MORE PER YEAR. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND LET THE CITIZENS VOTE ON IT. THAT'S OPTION 3. WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT YET. THEN MY CONCERN IS, IS THE WAY THAT THIS WAS PRESENTED HERE ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN TIPPS, LIKE, DIDN'T EVER HEAR ABOUT A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE, [04:25:01] NEVER KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE WORKED INTO THE BUDGET WHERE NOW I'D HAVE A DEDUCT COMING FROM AN EXPECTATION THAT'S BEEN NEGOTIATED SOMEWHAT. I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OR MAYBE I'M UNAWARE IF YOU'VE TAKEN AN OPPORTUNITY, MR. PATH, TO WORK WITH POLICE AND FIRE. DID POLICE AND FIRE UNDERSTAND LIKE, HEY, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS DEPENDENT UPON STREET ASSESSMENTS. LIKE THIS CREATIVE MECHANISM OF PULLING THIS LEVER, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER TEAMMATES THAT HAD BEEN CLUED IN ON YOUR SIDE? BECAUSE ON OUR SIDE, WE WEREN'T BROUGHT IN EARLY ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING ON. >> I WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH FOUR OF YOU BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO YOU, MAYOR. WE HAD OUR ONE ON ONE MEETING, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, AND SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT TALKING TO YOU, BUT I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE OTHER FOUR MEMBERS BEFORE TODAY'S MEETING THE LAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE PREPARING FOR THIS. WE'VE BEEN COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I KNOW ANDREW'S BEEN WORKING WITH APD AND AFD. WE JUST GOT THEIR REQUEST RECENTLY. AGAIN, THIS IS ALL HAPPENING IN PARALLEL IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY. THIS PROCESS WE'VE NOT KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR TWO MONTHS. I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS AS A BUDGET AS EVOLVING. YOU GO BACK A MONTH AGO, WE WERE THIS STRICTION, AND THE NEXT DAY WE'RE THIS STRICTION, THEN WE'RE THIS STRICTION. THIS PROCESS IS VERY COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED. WE DIDN'T FINALIZE THE BUDGET UNTIL FRIDAY IN ORDER TO SENT IT TO YOU ALL, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LONG TIME WITH PROPERTY TAXES GETTING IT BACK FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET IT ALL TOGETHER. IT'S A BUNCH THINGS, AND FINALLY, IT COMES TO TODAY. THE BUDGET IS NOT EVEN DONE YET, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS STILL HASN'T COMPLETED WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT. AGAIN, AS I SAID YESTERDAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT ADJUSTING THE MIA MARIO POSITIONS. THAT'S GOING TO MOSTLY JUST BENEFIT WATER AND SEWER. WE'RE LOOKING AT ADJUSTING THE LAB TECH. THAT'S ONLY GOING TO BENEFIT WATER AND SEWER. WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THOSE THINGS, THE BUDGET IS NOT DONE, AND SO, BUT THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS THE WORKSHOPS. >> I THINK WITH JUST THE EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST OF PDP, I PROBABLY WENT TO MORE THAN 20 MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY DISCUSSING THIS AS A POTENTIAL AND HOW WOULD THIS WORK AND WHAT SHOULD WE BE AWARE OF? WE HAD LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LIKE, IN YOUR TAX RATE, WHICH IS, WHAT TAKES CARE OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY, AND THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THE CITY. STREETS ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THAT. IN THIS UNDERSTANDING, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, NO, WE COULD ACTUALLY PULL STREETS OUT AND USE IT AS A FEE, BUT THEN THE CONCERN WAS, WELL, WHO CAPS THAT? OVER HERE, MY TAXES ARE FROZEN AS A SENIOR, BUT OVER HERE, THIS FEE CAN GROW EXPONENTIALLY. HOW WE WALK INTO THAT, THE CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY OF THE PUBLIC. THOSE CONVERSATIONS HADN'T BEEN HAD WITH ME EITHER IN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ISSUE THAT'S COMING UP THAT WE'RE REALLY GEARING UP FOR. MAN, WE'VE SPENT A TON OF TIME TELLING PEOPLE, HERE'S THE CONDITION OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. MY MESSAGING HAS BEEN DIFFERENT UP UNTIL NOW. WE'RE GETTING ON THESE STREETS. WE'VE GOT A MECHANISM IN PLACE. WE'RE FUNDING $12 MILLION AT A TIME. THAT'S WHAT WE CAN GO GET TO. NOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CATCH UP BECAUSE YOU NEVER REALLY CATCH UP, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO FALL ANY FURTHER BEHIND. MR. HOOPER PRESENTED A STREET CONDITION REPORT THAT SAID, OVERALL, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. NOW, WHERE WE'RE HURTING, WE'RE HURTING BAD, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT UP. WE'VE GONE FROM THAT MESSAGE TO A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MESSAGE OF POLICE, FIRE, STAFF, GROWTH OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO IS CONTINGENT UPON A STREET ASSESSMENT CHANGE IN THIS BUDGET. >> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR BUDGET TO MOLD, AND SO IT'S OKAY. >> HERE'S WHERE I'M AT. LES, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU. I THINK WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TAKE A RECESS. WE'LL LET LES MAKE A COMMENT. BUT I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS TAKE A RECESS. COME BACK IN HERE AND MAYBE JUST DO A SUMMARY. LET'S GO BACK TO THE OVERALL, THE BIG TICKET ITEMS. WHAT DID WE REALLY ADD TO? BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WALK OUT OF THERE. RIGHT NOW IF I WALK OUT, MY HEAD'S IN THE CONFUSION OF THE CONVERSATION. I'D LOVE TO GET SOME CLARITY TODAY BEFORE WE TRY TO PROVIDE DIRECTION AS A BODY. >> WELL, I THINK ONE THING TOO, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT CLARITY, I THINK WE'RE JUST TALKING, AS IT RELATES TO THIS TO THE GENERAL FUND. WE CAN LOOK AT THE OTHERS, BUT THE PLACE WE GOT TO FIND THIS MONEY IS IN THE GENERAL FUND. ALSO, IF WE COULD JUST GIVE US ALL A REMINDER OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT OPTIONS OR WHAT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE UP TO MAKE THIS UP AND WHICH ONES LIKE AIRPORT, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS? JUST IF WE'RE GOING TO USE OUR TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, NOT THAT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, LIKE YOU SAID, AMARILLO AND THE OTHERS, [04:30:01] BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SPENDING THE REMAINING TIME FOCUSING ON THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN RECOUP SOME OF THIS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S A GOOD POINT AND I THINK IT WILL HELP TO KEEP IT MORE CLEAR. IF WE FOCUS GENERAL FUND, THEN I THINK MAYBE AT THE END OF THE DAY TODAY, WE'D BE BETTER QUALIFIED WITH A MINUTE TO DIGEST SOME OF THIS TO COME BACK TO IT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD BEFORE WE RECESS? IT'S 2:45. WE'LL COME BACK IN HERE AT 3:00. SEE YOU GUYS IN A MINUTE. WE ARE 3:05, RIGHT ON OUR CST TIME FRAME FOR OUR 15-MINUTE RECESS. WE'RE GOING TO CALL OURSELVES BACK TO ORDER. APPRECIATE THE MINUTE TO RECESS, AND PUT A FEW THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. MR. CITY MANAGER, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET YOU SPEAK FIRST. >> A FEW QUESTIONS. WE HAD A CHANCE TO POWWOW DURING THE BREAK HERE. AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VERY HEAVY BURDEN FOR YOU ALL TO DEAL WITH. WE GET THAT. WE KNEW THAT COMING INTO THIS. A FEW QUESTIONS, IF THE REQUEST IS FOR US TO GO AND FIND THE FUNDS, WE CAN GET TO WORK. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR COUNCILS TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THROUGH. THIS IS WHAT YOU HIRE A CITY MANAGER FOR. YOU HIRED ME TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. IF THE REQUEST IS FOR ME TO GO BACK AND DIG DEEPER INTO THE GENERAL FUND, WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT. TO DO THAT, THOUGH, I WOULD NEED TO KNOW WHAT THINGS CAN I NOT TOUCH. THE THINGS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE LAST THREE DAYS, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO NOT TOUCH? WITH THAT TOO, A SECOND THING AS WELL. IS THERE A WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER A PHASING IN TO A FEE? THIS IS NOT AN ALL-OR-NOTHING THING. THIS IS NOT EITHER 15 MILLION OR ZERO. YOU CAN OVER THE NEXT 12, 24, 36 MONTHS, WORK YOUR WAY INTO THAT. PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. START WORKING YOUR WAY TOWARD THE FEE OVER TIME. THAT'S AN OPTION. IF THERE'S A WILLINGNESS FOR THAT, THAT HELPS MAKES YOUR OPTIONS MORE DOABLE. BUT IF THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE IS NOT ON THE TABLE, THEN I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT THINGS CAN I NOT TOUCH? OTHERWISE, WE'VE GOT SOME THINGS. WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. WE CAN BRING SOME IDEAS BACK TO YOU, BUT I WOULD JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAN I NOT TOUCH? OTHERWISE, PLEASE LET ME BRING BACK TO YOU SOLUTIONS THAT YOU'LL THEN WORK WITH. >> I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE SOMETHING THAT I SAID BEFORE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR. THE WAY WE DID BUDGET LAST YEAR, AND GRANTED, YOU WEREN'T HERE. YOU'RE BARELY HERE. >> I GOT HERE THAT WEEK. >> THE WAY WE DID IT WHENEVER WE FOUND THOSE EFFICIENCIES, AND WE FOUND THE MONIES, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE DONE. INSTEAD OF T BEING ABSORBED INTO THE BUDGET, I THINK FOR COUNCIL, MAYBE IT'S JUST THIS COUNCIL, I DON'T KNOW. TO HAVE THAT WORKING BUDGET TO SEE WHERE WE'VE GAINED THOSE MONIES. I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT IS, SO THAT WHEN PRIORITIES COME UP, WE COULD TALK TO YOU GUYS AND THEN AS THE DEPARTMENTS COME UP AND SAY, HEY, WE'D LIKE THIS, WHATEVER, WE CAN ALLOCATE THAT ON THE NEW THINGS. WELL, WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN ABSORBED. WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE IT IS. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT NECESSARY. I'M SURE THAT THE ASKS WERE NECESSARY OR JUST SIMPLE GROWTH OR WHATEVER, BUT WHEN WE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET LAST YEAR AND WE CAME IN AND WE WERE GREAT. WELL, NOW, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, WE HAVE GROWTH, WE FOUND SOME EFFICIENCIES, ALL THE THINGS, WHATEVER. THE ADDITIONAL MONIES, TO ME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY EASIER FOR US TO STOMACH SOME OF THESE THINGS IF WE HAD THAT SET ASIDE AND SAY, WE'VE GOT $22 MILLION SITTING HERE. WE'VE GOT $50 MILLION OF ASKS. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THAT'S OFF SUBJECT, BUT JUST FOR FUTURE FOR NEXT BUDGET, MAN, I THINK THAT'D BE A WAY BETTER WAY TO DO IT, I THINK WITH COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY ELSE UP HERE AGREES OR AT LEAST THE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US RIGHT NOW WHERE WE SAY, HEY, GRAYSON, GO SHARPEN YOUR PENCIL AND GO FIND THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO DIRECT YOU WHERE TO GO. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO TELL YOU TO GO BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT REALLY CHANGED UNLESS WE GO PAGE BY PAGE ON THIS, AND THAT'S NO WAY LAURA CAN DO THAT. SHE PROBABLY CAN, ACTUALLY, BUT TO ASK HER TO GO THROUGH THAT AND SAY, I WANT TO SEE A DELTA BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, WHICH IS IN EVERY ONE OF THESE PAGES, AND EVERY ONE OF US CAN GO DO IT, BUT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ACTUALS. WE HAVE WHAT WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ACTUALS ARE, SO WE DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT THE DELTA IS THERE OR NOT. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO EVEN SEE THAT. THEN WE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, WHERE DO WE GO? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND THIS? THERE'S A FEW AREAS. AGAIN, IF WE CHARGE AN EXTRA GOLF BALL AT A TIME, THERE'S 200,000 THERE. THERE'S ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH PARKS AND REC. IF WE CHARGE A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR CITYWIDE SPORTS, [04:35:01] THEN WE RECOUP A LITTLE BIT MORE THERE. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH AND NOW WE'VE GOT A TIME DEADLINE THAT WE'RE AGAINST. WE'RE FACED WITH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WITH THIS COUNCIL. IF WE WERE A COUNCIL THAT'S ALL ABOUT NEW TAXES AND ALL ABOUT DOING WHATEVER, THIS ISN'T A BIG ASK AT ALL, BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE. TO PUT US IN THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW IS ROUGH. I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING THAT. I FEEL LIKE IT WAS DROPPED ON US THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS WAS COMING TO PREP, AND MAYBE YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG, BUT IT'S A LOT. IT IS A HEAVY LIFT FOR US TO GO, WOW. THIS IS CRAZY. >> BUT AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT THE WORKSHOPS ARE FOR. IT IS TO BRING US TO MEET. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE TODAY THE BUDGET. YOU HAVE NEXT WEEK, THE WEEK AFTER THAT. THIS IS PART OF THE NATURAL PROCESS. WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE, AS THAT ROLE, MY JOB IS TO BRING TO YOU A BUDGET. LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, I'VE BEEN GIVEN CONFLICTING INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND SO I'M TRYING TO DO MY BEST TO PROVIDE YOU A PROJECT. >> LET ME TELL YOU THIS TOO. I DON'T WANT TO PUT ALL ON A FUTILE TASK OF GO SPEND, GET YOUR DEPARTMENT, GET LAURA AND HER DEPARTMENT, WHICH THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER. GO START LOOKING THROUGH ALL THESE THINGS AND THEN WE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. IT'S LIKE THEN WE WASTED ALL THEIR TIME, ALL THEIR RESOURCES, THE TIME THAT IT TOOK THEM FOR US TO COME RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. AGAIN, I WISH AND I'VE HEARD LES SAY THIS BEFORE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO MAYBE HAVE SOME OF THAT BEFORE TO SAY, I KNOW THAT THIS MAY NOT BE PALATABLE TO YOU GUYS OR THE PUBLIC. HERE'S SOME OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE. TO HAVE THOSE BEFORE WE CAME IN WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT, IF THERE WAS TIME FOR THAT. >> THERE WAS NOT. THE BUDGET WAS FINISHED ON FRIDAY. AGAIN, I DID TALK TO FOUR OF YOU ABOUT THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. I KNOW WE DIDN'T GO INTO DEPTH ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GIVE YOU ALL WHAT I COULD. >> I DON'T WANT TO CALL YOU OUT. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION. THAT MAY BE ON ME, BUT YOU SAID YOU TALKED TO FOUR OF US AND IT WASN'T MAYOR. WELL, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION. >> BACK TO MY NOTES THAT I THOUGHT WE HAD. IF I'M WRONG, I'M WRONG, BUT I KNOW I HAD IT. >> I NEVER HEARD OF IT UNTIL TUESDAY. >> I'LL GO BACK. IF I DID, I APOLOGIZE. >> NO. IT'S OKAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK. I'M NOT MAD AT YOU. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. I'D NEVER HEARD OF IT. THAT'S FINE, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU OR ANY OF YOUR STAFF ON A FUTILE MISSION AND THEN WE COME BACK RIGHT WHERE WE ARE. UNLESS WE'RE JUST LIKE, HEY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO PROVE TO YOU AND NOT THAT YOU ALL ARE. THAT'S NOT YOUR ATTITUDE, BUT TO SAY, THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO GET THERE. WE FOUND SIX MILLION DOLLARS. WELL, THEN MAYBE WE PHASE IN. I DON'T KNOW. I JUST WANT TO MAKE MY SAY, MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN DO BUDGET NEXT YEAR, A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE WE DID THE PREVIOUS YEAR, INSTEAD OF THIS OF NOT KNOWING WHERE THE EXCESSES ARE. >> I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU BECAUSE I THINK YOU WERE WANTING FOR A SHORTER BUDGET PERIOD. [OVERLAPPING] >> NO. SHORTER BUDGET PERIOD IS FINE, BUT TO HAVE THE EXCESS MONIES SET ASIDE, AND THEN WE GAVE DIRECTION ON HOW TO ALLOCATE THEM A LITTLE BIT. >> THAT WILL REQUIRE PRESENTATIONS IN EACH ONE OF THOSE. YOU WILL PROBABLY EFFECTIVELY HAVE TO DOUBLE YOUR WORKSHOP TIME. >> WE WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK THAT THEY COULD GIVE PRESENTATIONS TO YOU GUYS AND YOU ALL COULD SAY, HEY, JUST LIKE WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET, ALL THESE THINGS, HEY, HERE'S THE ASK HERE, HERE'S THE ASK HERE. HERE'S THAT. WE DON'T NEED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND I DON'T WANT TO WASTE THEIR TIME COMING UP HERE AND PRESENTING. AGAIN, I'M ONE OF FIVE. THE REST OF THEM MAY SAY, NO, I DON'T WANT THAT. IT JUST FELT LIKE, I KNOW THAT WE FOUND EFFICIENCIES, AND I KNOW MAYOR WAS GOING THROUGH THE NUMBERS. HE'S BEEN LIKE A BULLDOG ON THESE NUMBERS, AND THE RESERVES, AND THEN TO FIND OUT, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THAT EXTRA WENT. WE CAN POINT SOME DIRECTIONS, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE IT WENT. THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THROW OUT. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT BEFORE NEXT BUDGET. I APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH SPOT. >> MY INTELLECT TELLS ME, THIS IS A GOOD THING. MY INTELLECT. BECAUSE WE LOOK AT IT, AND WE SEE THAT THE MONEY'S NOT THERE THE WAY THE BUDGET IS PRESENTED. MY GUT TELLS ME THIS IS A REALLY BAD THING. BECAUSE, AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, WHERE DOES IT END WITH THESE FEES? DO WE NEXT LOOK AT DOING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH FEES RATHER THAN COMING OUT OF THE BUDGET? WHEREAS I THINK THE TAXPAYER LOOKS AT IT THAT WE PAY THIS TAX FOR THESE SERVICES, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER FEE ONTO IT. THE GUT IS CHURNING RIGHT NOW ON THIS THING. INTELLECTUALLY, I GET IT BECAUSE THE STATE HAS KEPT US UNLESS WE WANT TO GO OUT TO A VOTE. MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, AND THAT'S NOT AN OPTION THAT WE LOOKED AT. [04:40:02] DO WE SAY THAT WE HAVE A 6% TAX INCREASE AND WE TAKE IT OUT TO A VOTE IN NOVEMBER AND LET THE CITIZENS DECIDE? BUT WE KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO. WE HAVEN'T HAD A SUCCESSFUL TAX INCREASE BY VOTE OVER THE LAST HOW MANY YEARS? I'VE GOT TO GO WITH MY GUT RIGHT NOW. YOUR QUESTION WAS, GIVE US GUIDANCE. I WOULD SAY THAT IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND AND WHERE THOSE MONIES ARE, EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE. AS MUCH AS WE'D LOVE TO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE THEIR SIX AND SEVEN, MAYBE IT'S A LOWER RATE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FAVOR ONE OVER THE OTHER. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, HERE'S WHERE WE CAN MAKE CUTS, AND WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT. THANK YOU. >> NOBODY'S LIGHTING UP DOWN THERE. DO YOU WANT TO GO OR YOU WANT ME TO GO? WELL, MAN, IF I WORKED FOR YOU, I'D COME OUT HERE AND I'D APOLOGIZE TO YOU. THAT'S NOT A CURVEBALL. THIS IS A BLIND SIDE. FOR TWO DAYS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SOMEWHAT READ INTO THIS THAT STREET ASSESSMENT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE STREET DEPARTMENT. BUT LIKE YOU AND I WORK REAL CLOSE TOGETHER, WE HAVE CONSTANT INTERACTIONS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I'VE ASKED FOR TONS OF THINGS. YOU'VE GIVEN ME ALL SORTS OF THINGS. THE DATA ON THIS, MR. HOOPER'S A PROFESSIONAL. HE'S GOT A GOOD PRESENTATION. HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO ME HERE WITH NO TEAM EFFORT, AND NOT RECOGNIZING ME AS SOMEBODY THAT YOU NEED. I, FOR ONE, FEEL LIKE YOU NEED ME. I THINK YOU NEED ME SITTING UP HERE, DOING MY BEST, WILLING TO WORK HARD. I THINK YOU NEED ME AS THE SPOKESMAN, I THINK YOU NEED LEADERSHIP. I THINK YOU NEED A STRONG COUNCIL, AND I THINK THAT STARTS WITH THE TONE THAT WE SET HERE AS WE COME TOGETHER AS FIVE NEW PEOPLE. I NEED A TWO-YEAR VISION. THAT'S WHAT I NEED. I NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THAT THIS THING'S FIXING TO GET GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. FOR ME, WHAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE IS A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. IF YOU WERE TO HAVE COME TO ME SEVERAL MONTHS BACK AND SAID, LOOK, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING. I WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT THERE WITH YOU IN, WELL, CAN WE LOOK AT THIS? CAN WE PUT THIS OUT? LET'S HOLD TOWN HALLS. LET'S GO AND LET'S WORK ALL THIS. I WOULDN'T HAVE PUT IT TOGETHER IN A BUDGET THAT WAS PREBAKED, AND IT COMES OUT WHERE IT'S LIKE, IF YOU WANT IT, EAT IT, AND IF YOU DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU. YOU'RE GIVING ME A LITTLE MISDIRECTION. YOU'RE NOW SAYING, GUYS, GIVE ME GUIDANCE, TELL ME WHAT IS ON THE TABLE, ISN'T ON THE TABLE. BUT A MINUTE AGO, YOU CAME OUT AND YOU SAID, MAN, YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO CUT. WELL, YOUR JOB IS TO GO AND MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS AS THE CITY MANAGER. YOUR JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE EFFICIENCIES ARE. YOU SAID THAT A SECOND AGO. I WANT YOU TO DO YOUR JOB. I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK OUT HERE WITHOUT HAVING THE DATA AND TRY TO TELL YOU HOW TO MAKE THIS BUDGET WORK, BUT THERE IS NOT THE TEAM RIGHT HERE. IF YOU'RE APOLOGIZING TO MR. TIPPS FOR NOT EXPLAINING TO HIM IN A CONVERSATION THAT YOU REMEMBER, AND HE DOESN'T. I ACCEPT AN APOLOGY IF YOU WANT TO OFFER IT. THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT THIS. I'M HERE, OUR OFFICE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO YOU. TELL ME HOW IS THIS A TEAM EFFORT AND CAN I HELP? WHAT CAN WE DO TO WORK TOGETHER? >> IS THIS TURNING INTO A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION? >> NO. THIS IS A BUDGET DISCUSSION. I'M LOOKING FOR A TWO-YEAR VISION. I NEED CLARITY BECAUSE I JUST HAD A COUNCIL MEMBER TELL ME THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WENT. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS AT THIS POINT HERE. IN THE PROCESS, I CAN'T WORK WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY TO CRAFT A BUDGET. THAT'S NOT HOW THE LAW IS WRITTEN. IT'S MY JOB UNDER THE STATE STATUTE, AND I SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL TO PROVIDE A BUDGET. THEN THE GOVERNING BODY AS A WHOLE UNIT HAS TO CONVENE AND IT SAYS PUBLIC HEARINGS. [04:45:05] WE'RE DOING WORKSHOPS EVEN BEFORE PUBLIC HEARINGS. THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ADD THAT STATE LAW DOESN'T EVEN CONTEMPLATE. I CAN'T GO TO EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO REQUEST, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS RAISE OR THIS CUT OR THIS CHANGE OR THIS THING? I CAN'T LEGALLY DO THAT. I'VE DONE MY JOB. I HAVE DONE THE BEST I CAN TO GIVE YOU A BUDGET PER STATE LAW. THIS IS THE NATURAL PROCESS. WE'VE WALKED NOW FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS, WALKED YOU THROUGH A BUNCH OF THINGS. YOU'RE NOT DECIDING TODAY WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. YOU'RE GOING TO MEET NEXT WEEK. WE CAN MEET THREE TIMES NEXT WEEK IF YOU WANT TO. WE'VE WALKED YOU THROUGH THE BUDGET AT A HIGH LEVEL. NOW THE PROCESS IS, GRAYSON, WE NEED MORE INFORMATION ON THIS, WE WANT THIS RESEARCH, WE WANT THIS CHANGE, THAT CHANGE. I JUST NEED GUIDANCE ON THAT. BUT IT IS MY JOB TO BRING TO THE GOVERNING BODY AS A WHOLE A BUDGET, NOT INDIVIDUALS. I'M SORRY THAT MAY CAME ACROSS NOT AS A TEAM PLAYER, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT. I HAVE TO BRING THIS TO YOU ALL AS A WHOLE. I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CATCH YOU BEFOREHAND ABOUT THE STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. I WAS TRYING TO AND THE ONE ON ONE MEETING WE HAD HERE RECENTLY, YOU HAD A LOT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE WENT THROUGH THOSE, AND SUDDENLY TIME WAS UP. I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT YOU. I APOLOGIZE. AS YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS SEE WHAT I DO EVERY DAY. YOU GUYS KNOW EVERYTHING I DO. I'M RUNNING WILD. I MISSED THAT. I APOLOGIZE. I DO THINK I'M ONE OF THE BEST COMMUNICATING MANAGERS YOU'RE EVER GOING TO HAVE. YOU GUYS KNOW THE REASONS WHY FOR THAT. IT'S A LOT THERE. I KNOW I'VE SENT EMAILS OUT. I SENT SUMMARY EMAILS OUT TO YOU ALL SO THAT YOU SEE WHAT EACH ONE OF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN MY MEETINGS. I TRY TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT. I THINK I AM EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT ON EVERYTHING. DOES THAT MEAN THAT I CATCH 100%? NO. I DO MISS SOME THINGS. MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO WHAT YOU ASKED. >> I THINK YOU JUST DID. I THINK YOU'VE GIVEN ME A RESPONSE. I GAVE YOU WHERE I'M AT IN THIS DEAL, AND I STATED A FEW FACTS. JUST FACTS. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED, HAS A STREET FEE ASSESSMENT IN IT. I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH IT. I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT PUTS IT BACK OVER ON YOUR END. I THINK EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE, AND THE BEST THING THAT WE COULD GET, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW US TO WEIGH IN ON HOW WE PRIORITIZE SOME OF THESE IS FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO PUT VALUES NEXT TO DECISIONS. DOES TMRS 20% MORE IN A COLA WEIGH MORE THAN LET'S SAY, THE OVERTIME? OR DOES THE OVERTIME WEIGH MORE THAN THE TMRS? YOU NEED TO PUT VALUES ON THINGS AND THEN ALLOW US, IF YOU WANT TO, FOR US TO COME BACK INDIVIDUALLY AND SAY, THIS ONE'S IMPORTANT TO US AS A BODY AND LET US GIVE YOU THAT CONSENSUS. THIS ONE OVER HERE, RANKS THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH. THEN, WHAT DOES A 1% RAISE LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES A 2%? WHAT DOES A 3%? THOSE NUMBERS AND THOSE METRICS. AS FAR AS THE PAY STUDY GOES, I THOUGHT I WOULD PROBABLY DIG IN TO ALL OF THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE LARGEST WASTE OF MY TIME, IN TRYING TO EFFECTUATE AN OVERALL PAY STUDY. I'D JUST BE AGAINST IT RIGHT NOW. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD SAY, WE SHOULD JUST BLANKET A PAY STUDY ACROSS REGARDLESS OF PERFORMANCE. IF WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AWAY FROM THE METRIC OF MERIT, MAYBE WE NEED TO DO THAT. BUT THE TIME TO WORK TOWARDS A STREET ASSESSMENT WOULD NOT BE THIS BUDGET. I THINK IF WE WERE WANTING TO WORK TOWARD THAT, IT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE. I WAS A PART OF PDP MEETINGS FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS TRYING TO GET THAT RIGHT. THEN THAT'S A LARGE ENOUGH ISSUE THAT GOES TO THE CORE OF TAXATION THAT YES, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE PUBLIC AND LET THEM VOTE ON IT. QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT GOVERNMENT. IF ALL WE'RE SAYING IS IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO COST MORE, AND WHEN WE RUN OUT OF MONEY, WE'RE JUST GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING WE NEED TO, PUT IT OVER INTO A FUND, CREATE A FEE FOR IT. AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO DECIDE, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, YOU MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS OF YOU SAYING NO. WELL, WE HAVE TO SAY NO TO SOME THINGS. MAYBE THAT MEANS WE SAY NO TO RAISES. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S LIKE WE'RE SAYING YES TO EVERYTHING, AND HERE IT IS IN THE BUDGET. THE WAY YOU SAY YES TO IT IS, YOU SAY NO TO YOUR TAXPAYER, AND LETTING THEM WEIGH INTO ANY OF THIS, YOU PUT IT IN A FEE. NOW, THAT'S MY PRINCIPAL POSITION. IT'S MY OPINION. I'M SURE NOT EVERYBODY SHARES THAT. BUT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE THAT OPINION [04:50:02] WITH YOU MY CO-WORKER HERE BEFORE WE GOT TO THIS. I UNDERSTAND BUDGET WORKSHOP IS FOR THIS, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR THIS. ME TALKING TO YOU THE WAY THAT DAY-TO-DAY CO-WORKERS TALK. THIS WHERE I'M AT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GIVES COUNCIL ANY DIRECTION. I THINK I'M ECHOING WHAT TIM IS SAYING. GO AND LOOK AT IT, PULL IT APART, BRING IT BACK WITHIN BUDGET, AND THEN SHOW US, THESE ARE THE EXTRA ASKS. WHICH ONES DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO? I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN TIPPS HAS SAID TOO. HE WANTS TO GROUP THEM ALL TOGETHER AND SHOW A NEGATIVE IN THE BUDGET, AND THEN BE ABLE TO NET OUT THE DIFFERENCE. BUT THOSE TWO ARE REAL SIMILAR IN MY MIND. THEN, FOR ME, I DEFINITELY WANT VALUE PLACED ON EACH THING. EACH LEVER, YOU'RE PULLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THAT WOULD COST, AND THEN LET US RANK THOSE FOR YOU AND TRY TO PUT THEM BACK IN YOUR LAB. >> MARY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN I JUST MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME? I JUST NEED YOU TO KNOW. I SENT HER THE FINAL VERSION OF THIS AT 11:00 A.M THIS MORNING. THE ONLY TIME I WAS EVEN ABLE TO WORK ON THIS PRESENTATION WAS THAT NIGHT AT HOME. STARTING ON ABOUT THE 27TH. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING IN THAT. THAT HELPS ME. WHERE DOES THE IDEA OF A STREET ASSESSMENT FEE COME FROM? WAS IT WAS THAT YOUR IDEA? WAS THAT GRAYSON'S IDEA? >> NO. THAT CAME FROM A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH A COUNCIL-MEMBER. THEN THAT LED ME TO TALKING TO STAFF. IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE INITIALLY THOUGHT OF, BUT THEN STAFF, AS WE'RE WORKING ON BUDGET, REALIZED WE KNOW POLICE ARE BRINGING REQUESTS, WE KNOW FIRE ARE BRINGING REQUESTS. WE KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATION STUDY IS COMING IN AS IT IS. ULTIMATELY, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK I NEED TO GO BACK AND REVISIT. I NEED TO GO BACK AND THINK, I KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS FOR POLICE, FOR FIRE. I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT THEY'RE FOR THE RAISES. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE CIVILIANS EMPLOYEES UP THERE. I KNOW THE CITY COUNCIL IS FOUR PARKS AND INDEPENDENCE DAY JULY 4 PLUS ONE. KNOWING ALL THIS STUFF, I SAID, WELL, WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE? WELL, STREET MAINTENANCE FEE IS PROBABLY THE ROUTE WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US. I TASKED DONNIE WITH PREPARING A PRESENTATION TO PRESENT TO YOU AS AN IDEA. WE THEN BUILT THE BUDGET AROUND ALL THAT, KNOWING THE COUNCIL COULD ALWAYS CHANGE THAT, ADJUST, SET, PULL IT BACK, AND SO FORTH. THAT WAS THE ROUTE THAT WE TOOK FOR THIS. IT WASN'T DIRECTED BY A COUNCIL-MEMBER OR ANYONE. IT HAPPENED TO BE COINCIDENTALLY A WEEK BEFORE THAT, AND THEN I SIT DOWN WITH STAFF REALIZED, WE'RE IN SOME BUDGET ISSUES AND SO I SAID, LET'S GO AHEAD AND PROPOSE THIS. LET'S SEE IF THIS WORKS. >> JUST FOR ME AND YOU MOVING FORWARD, IT WOULD HELP. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW TIMELINES. HOW LONG AGO WAS THE THE COUNCIL-MEMBER CONVERSATION. WHEN DID YOU TASK DONNIE WITH IT? BECAUSE DONNIE, I MAY VERY WELL OWE YOU IN A PUBLIC APOLOGY HERE BY INSINUATING THAT YOU'RE WORKING SOMEWHERE AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MAYBE THAT'S NOT TRUE. QUITE FRANKLY, I VALUE DONNIE OVER MANY OTHERS IN HIS ABILITIES. THE GUY IS AN EXCELLENT ASSET IN GETTING STUFF DONE. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT UNDONE. HOW LONG AGO WAS THE CONVERSATION? >> DONNIE DO YOU KNOW WHEN I TASKED YOU? WAS IT THREE WEEKS AGO? >> I DON'T KNOW. THERE WAS SO MANY BUDGET MEETINGS THAT WERE GOING ON, AND WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING AND ALL THE POSSIBILITIES AND I THINK THE ORIGINAL CONVERSATION CAME UP BASED ON PDP. IF YOU REMEMBER BACK TO PDP, THERE WAS ACTUALLY, LIKE A 90% OR BETTER LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS GIVEN FROM THAT. I THINK THAT JUST SPAWNED A CONVERSATION OF WHAT IF? WHAT IF WE STARTED WORKING THROUGH THAT? I BASICALLY TOOK THAT AND SAID, YEAH, LET ME RUN WITH THAT. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PDP PROCESS AND WHAT WE WENT THROUGH THERE. I CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, WE WERE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF OUR CIP, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MEETINGS THAT WERE HOURS AND HOURS ON END. I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. YOU RUN OUT OF HOURS IN THE DAY TO DO THE THINGS YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. WE WORK ON STUFF AT HOME. I WAS UP TILL 1:00 AM THIS MORNING FINISHING WHAT I THOUGHT I COULD GET DONE AND FINISHED THIS MORNING TO GET IT OVER TO HER. I THINK IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD IT DONE, I GUESS MY POINT OF SAYING IS, YOU DON'T OWE ME AN APOLOGY. IT'S JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WE WEREN'T WORKING ON THIS FOR MONTHS BEHIND THE SCENES TRYING TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT AND SURPRISE Y'ALL WITH IT. IT WAS US WORKING ON SOMETHING TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO PRESENT TO YOU DURING THESE CONVERSATIONS. EVEN UP TO THE LAST MINUTE, I WAS WORKING ON IT THIS MORNING WHILE THEY WERE DOING POLICE AND FIRE TO TRY TO GET THE LAST SLIDES DONE. >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. IF I DO OWE YOU AN APOLOGY, MAN, I APOLOGIZE. YOU WORK HARD, AND YOU CAN GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE. HOWEVER, I WAS IN YOUR OFFICE TWO WEEKS AGO. CAME IN, SAT DOWN. HOW'S IT GOING? WHAT DO YOU NEED? HOW IS BUDGET? NOT READY YET. IT'S TIGHT. ANYTHING YOU NEED FROM ME. WHAT I'M DOING HERE IS I'M FIXING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT PERSONALIZING ANY OF THIS. [04:55:03] I'M GOING TO STAY HUMBLE AND SAY, MAN, I'M JUST LEARNING, AND I JUST WANT TO BE A TEAM MEMBER. I'M NOT IN CONTROL HERE, BUT I WANT TO DO THE BEST JOB I CAN. I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND PRESIDED OVER SOME REALLY GOOD BUDGETS. I THOUGHT WE HAD SOME WINS HERE IN FRONT OF US, AND I STILL FEEL OPTIMISTIC. BUT FOR WEEKS NOW, MY GRIEVANCE HERE IS YOU COULD HAVE SAID, I GOT DONNIE WORKING ON STREET ASSESSMENT FEE. THAT'S MY GRIEVANCE. BUT I'M FINE TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE IT. THAT WAS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT YOU STARTED WORKING ON IT. >> I KNOW THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. I DON'T REMEMBER NOW. >> WELL, IF I NEED TO MAKE MYSELF MORE AVAILABLE, JUST LET ME KNOW. >> I WANT THE WHOLE COUNCIL AND THOSE LISTENING HERE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS MY DECISION TO GUIDE STAFF TOWARDS WORKING ON THIS. THIS WAS NOT STAFF WHO DROVE THIS. THIS IS MINE AND MINE ALONE. IF THERE'S ANY CONSEQUENCES THAT COME FROM THIS, IS UPON ME ONLY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION. MR. MAYOR, WE KNOW YOUR POSITION. ARE WE TAKING IT OFF THE TABLE? IS COUNCIL TAKING THIS OFF THE TABLE? I HEAR YOUR POSITION, BUT I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A POSITION. I HAVE TO WEIGH IN. >> I DEFINITELY HEARD THAT A COUNCIL-MEMBER BROUGHT IT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR COUNCIL'S POSITION ON IT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DIRECT IT. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, YOU ONLY GOT TO KNOW HOW TO COUNT TO THREE. WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT HERE TODAY. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. >> THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> WELL, AGAIN, I'M ONE. I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE NECESSARILY, BUT I DO THINK THAT, AS GRAYSON AND HIS TEAM ARE ASKING, WE'LL GO BACK AND TRY TO FIGURE SOME SOLUTIONS. TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF LES'S BOOK. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM. BEFORE THE SOLUTION'S PRESENTED. [INAUDIBLE] I'M NOT COMING DOWN ON Y'ALL AT ALL, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER JUST TO HEAR, HEY, WE GOT A BUDGET PROBLEM. WE DON'T HAVE NO MONEY TO DO THINGS Y'ALL WANT TO DO, AND WE'RE COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS. BUT I APPRECIATE THE INITIATIVE OF ALSO JUST MOVING FORWARD AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING. BUT I THINK AGAIN, FOR US TO STOMACH IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER, LIKE, HEY, IF THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOME ONES, MAYBE THERE WASN'T TIME TO SAY, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH BUDGET. I KNOW LAST YEAR WE WERE PRETTY OKAY. WE DID SOME GOOD THINGS, BUT THIS YEAR COMING UP, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE WAY SHORT. WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER IDEAS FOR REVENUE. IN SAYING THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S OFF THE TABLE. I KNOW MAYOR, WHERE HE IS AND COUNCILMAN REED. >> ARE YOU OFF THE TABLE? >> I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT. >> ARE YOU OF THE TABLE? >> NO. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IT'S NOT OFF THE TABLE. >> I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT EVERYBODY'S POSITION IS. >> NO. BUT I'M SAYING THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS OR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, GIVE DIRECTION, THAT'S MY OPINION, BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN AT ALL. BUT IT MAY BE NECESSARY. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A COST BENEFIT THING OF OPPORTUNITY COST OF DO WE VACATE ALL THIS THAT WE WANT TO DO FOR OUR TEAM AND OUR ORGANIZATION? BECAUSE I DO THINK WE OWE AN OBLIGATION TO THEM AS WELL TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND TO MAKE THIS, LIKE YOU SAID, WITH FIRMI COME IN AND ALL THIS KIND OF THING. WE COULD REALLY HAMSTRING THE ORGANIZATION BY PUSHING OUT. WE'RE GOOD. PEOPLE COULD BE PRETTY UPSET. BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO BE THE ONE GIVEN THE DIRECTION OF THAT AND I WANT TO EXHAUST ANY POSSIBLE SOLUTION BEFORE WE DO THAT. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. >> I THINK I WAS CLEAR. WHEN I INTELLECTUALIZE IT, I SEE THE NECESSITY FOR IT, BUT MY GUT IS TELLING ME THIS ISN'T A GOOD THING. I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION WHERE WE CAN ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL. IT MAY BE INCREMENTALLY DOING SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO. BUT I NEED TO SEE THAT FIRST. >> WHAT YOU AT? >> I WOULD AGREE. I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY ELIMINATED. I THINK WE NEED TO SEE WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THAT AVENUE, AND WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE UP? TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, I WOULD SAY, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COST REDUCTIONS, I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD. I DON'T SEE ANY DEPARTMENT NECESSARILY BEING SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DON'T WANT TO TOUCH. IF I COULD GIVE SOME FURTHER GUIDANCE, I THINK IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE PRIORITY OF PAST COUNCILS AND WE'LL GATHER WHAT THIS COUNCIL IS, THESE BASIC CORE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS, ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD PRIORITIZE IF WE'RE LOOKING [05:00:02] AT IT AND YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE. AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT SHOULD BE SHARED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO BEGIN TO PRIORITIZE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, I THINK AS MUCH AS WE CAN RETAIN THOSE CORE SERVICES IS WHERE THE CONCENTRATION I WOULD FOCUS ON AND THEN LOOK AT OTHER THINGS THAT, AGAIN, IN A PERFECT WORLD WE WOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT ANYTHING, BUT I THINK HISTORICALLY, IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FULFILL THE MISSION, I THINK THOSE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY INDICATED THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE THINGS THAT ONLY WE CAN DO WOULD BE THE PRIORITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS, BUT THAT'S JUST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. >> I THINK WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED. I THINK WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO AND WORK ON. I THINK I FEEL FOR THE COUNCIL WHERE YOU'RE AT. IF THE COUNCIL IS WILLING, I'D LIKE A CHANCE WITH MY TEAM TO GO BACK AND REVISIT SOME THINGS AND BRING BACK TO YOU IF WE CAN MEET MAYBE NEXT FRIDAY FOR A WORKSHOP AND TO GIVE US SOME TIME TO RE-EXAMINE THIS. I GOT TO GO BACK TO TALK SOME DEPARTMENTS AND TRY TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT AND SOME STUFF, BUT THEN BRING BACK TO YOU ALL A DIFFERENT BUDGET. WE CAN DO THAT. >> MY POSITION IS THE SAME THING. WE NEED TO SCRUB THE BUDGET AS MUCH AS WE CAN, GET ALL THE FLUFF OUT OF IT. IF WE HAVE TO DO THIS, AND THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION, THEN AT THAT TIME, LOOK AT IT, BUT ONLY AFTER WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SHELVE IT, BUT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT THERE IF NEEDED. THAT IS MY POSITION. ONE QUESTION. HAS THERE BEEN ANY INDICATOR THAT WE HAD EXCESS FUNDS? I'M NEW. I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR SIX WEEKS NOW. HAVE WE HAD ANY INDICATIONS THAT WE HAD EXCESS FUNDS? BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WERE ALREADY PRETTY TIGHT. IS THERE AN ASSUMPTION THAT I'M MISSING THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAS READY TO BE USED THAT WE WERE JUST HOLDING ONTO? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY COULD ANSWER THAT OTHER THAN ME. I'VE DRIVEN THIS. I'LL OWN IT. IF I'M WRONG, I'LL ADMIT, LIKE, HEY, I WAS WRONG, AND THEY WERE RIGHT. BUT CURRENTLY, I'M PRESENTED WITH A DOCUMENT HERE TODAY THAT HAS FIGURES ON IT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE PREVIOUS TO THIS MEETING. I'VE ASKED FOR MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS FOR MONTHS NOW. >> I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT DOCUMENT. I WANT TO VALIDATE AND VERIFY THAT DOCUMENT. I WANT TO GO SEE THE BOND TRANSCRIPTIONS, AND I'LL DO THE WORK ON MY OWN, LIKE ANY GOOD CITIZEN. I WANT TO SEE, HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY NEED TO RESERVE THERE? BECAUSE MY INTEREST IS NOT TO SHOW, HEY, MAN, WE'VE GOT MONEY HERE THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T TELL US ABOUT. MY INTEREST IS TO PUT THE MONIES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE INTO THE CITY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND SO, LIKE, YES, I WALKED IN HERE TODAY FEELING VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WITH THE RESERVE CHANGE AND FREEING UP THE MONEY ON THE RESERVES, AS WELL AS THE UNSPENT MONIES THAT ARE SITTING IN THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED OUT OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED OUT AND HADN'T BEEN ALONG WITH EXCESS RESERVES. I USE THAT TERM LOOSELY, BUT I FEEL LIKE STILL TODAY, AND I'M SURE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE MYSELF WRONG, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S $100 MILLION. EVEN THOUGH YOU PULL OUT THE COMPONENT UNITS AND YOU PULL EVERYTHING ELSE OUT. THE REASON THAT I FELT THAT WAY WAS BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING AT END OF YEAR AT 9:30 AND SO MS. STORES SHOWS AROUND AN $85 MILLION SWING RIGHT THERE. THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER STUFF IN THERE THAT I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SEE FOR MYSELF, SO I WOULD ASK STAFF, ALLOT ME SOME TIME TO SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH THAT, AND THEN LET ME GO TO BOND COUNSEL AND LET ME GO AND I'LL DO MY OWN LEGWORK. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S FORWARD FACING, WE'RE PUTTING CHECKBOOKS ON THE WEB PAGE, WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF RESERVES THAT ARE THERE AND WHAT COULD BE AVAILABLE AND IF THEY'RE ALL WORKED INTO THIS BUDGET, THEN GREAT. I THINK WE'VE DONE IT. BUT IF THERE ARE EXCESS RESERVES, THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT'S BEEN COMMUNICATED HERE TODAY, SO THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM WHO HAS THIS OPINION IS ME AND SO, IF I'M WRONG, I'LL COME BACK. >> JUST GOING BACK. DON, DID YOU THINK THAT THERE WAS EXCESS FUNDS? >> MAYOR AND I WE'VE BEEN MEETING SEVERAL TIMES. WE'VE MET WITH LAURA, WE'VE MET WITH HER TEAM. WE SAW THAT BIG QUARTERLY STATEMENT, WHATEVER, OF ALL OF OUR FUNDS, AND SAW THE 606. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT I'D PAID ATTENTION TO IT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN IT, IT'S THE FIRST TIME I PAID ATTENTION TO IT AND TALKING TO MAYOR, WE STARTED DIGGING INTO IT, THINKING, HOLY SMOKES WE'VE GOT ALL THIS MONEY, SO WE STARTED DIGGING INTO IT, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. LIKE I SAID, HE'S BEEN DRIVING IT, HE'S BEEN LOOKING AT IT, WE MEET AND TALK ABOUT IT AND I TOLD LAURA TODAY, [05:05:01] THAT THAT REPORT WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL TODAY, THAT THAT CLEARED UP A LOT. IT SHOWED THE ALLOCATION OF THOSE FUNDS AND WHERE THEY WERE, AND WITH THE NEW RESERVE POLICY, IT BROKE IT ALL DOWN. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO EXTRAPOLATE ALL THAT, SHE KNOWS ALL THE STUFF, THERE'S NO WAY I COULD DO THAT, SO WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT. AGAIN, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF EVERYTHING. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S DISHONEST, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT. WE JUST THOUGHT, WELL, IF THERE ARE WAYS OR A POLICY THAT'S OUT THERE THAT MADE US HAD THE ABILITY TO RESERVE MORE MONEY THAN WE REALLY NEEDED BEYOND A 90 DAY RESERVE, THEN WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS. WE FELT LIKE THAT'S BEING A GOOD STEWARD. THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT CAME FROM. IT'S LIKE, WE FELT LIKE THERE'S MORE THAN 90 DAYS OUT THERE THERE'S $654 MILLION. IF YOU SAW THAT, WOULD YOU THINK, WHAT IS THIS FOR? AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR HE WANTS TO DIG IN AND JUST LIKE HE SAID, HE'S GOT TO PUT HIS EYES ON IT AND SEE IT FOR HIMSELF WHICH IS GREAT AND SO THAT'S. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT OR IT WAS AN ASSUMPTION. >> LET ME ANSWER IT EVEN MORE DIRECTLY. >> BEFORE WE GO TO START POINTING FINGERS AT ALL. >> WE'RE NOT POINTING FINGERS. >> WE'RE PRETTY ACCUSATORY, WE'VE BEEN ACCUSATORY TODAY. YOU HAVE A MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN ACCUSATORY TO STAFF AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A PRECEDENCE THAT'S BEEN SET. LESS, DID YOU THINK THAT THERE WAS A TON OF MONEY OUT THERE? >> I DIDN'T OF THAT. >> I THOUGHT WE'VE BEEN PRETTY TIGHT ALL ALONG. TIM, DID YOU THINK THERE WAS A TON OF MONEY? >> I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS MUCH FLUFF IN THE BUDGET, I THINK FOR US. >> YOUR MICROPHONES OFF.[OVERLAPPING] >> FOR US I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A LEGITIMATE QUESTION SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST BUDGET THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT. WE WOULD KNOW. >> WELL, WE WOULDN'T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT IS A LEGITIMATE QUESTION BECAUSE WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THINGS IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE'VE NOT HAD ENOUGH FUNDS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THE LOWEST TAX RATES. >> I WOULD GUESS DAVID, THAT YOU'VE NEVER LOOKED AT THIS IN THIS DEEP, SO THERE'S THAT. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY YES, FROM THE OUTSIDE, PEOPLE CAN MAKE ALL ASSUMPTIONS OR WHATEVER. BUT YOU OWE A CERTAIN DUTY WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED TO AGAIN LOOK AT IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> HE HAD SOME ASSUMPTIONS AND FOUND SOME THINGS AND SO. >> I'M TYING TO FIND OUT AND IF THERE'S BEEN A PRESENTATION TO US BY ALL MEASURE, THEN WE NEED THAT CLARIFIED AND IF THAT HAS NOT BEEN CLARIFIED, THEN IF WE'RE ASSUMING SOMETHING, THAT'S ON US. >> IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE DEFINITELY GROWN TO LIKE ABOUT COUNCILMAN PRESCOTT IS HE'S VERY DIRECT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU'VE ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION, AND YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO PUT IT OUT THERE BLACK AND WHITE, LIKE, HEY, I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL LIKE IT'S ACCUSATORY, SO LET ME ANSWER THAT DIRECTLY. NOT THAT LONG AGO, WE HAD NO MONIES FOR STREETS, WE ONLY HAD $6 MILLION AND IT WAS GOING DOWN TO POLK STREET AND THEN I GET ANOTHER MEETING, THERE'S $16 MILLION THAT WE HAVE. BY THE TIME I WALK OUT OF MY THIRD MEETING, WE'RE AT 38 MILLION. NOW, WE HAVE ALL AGREED, $38 MILLION IS WHAT'S BEING SPENT, WE NOW HAVE IT DOWN TO 23 MILLION IT'S IN YOUR CURRENT BUDGET. I WAS THE ONLY ONE QUESTIONING WHETHER THOSE MONIES HAD EVER BEEN SPENT, AND I HAD TO ASK FOR COPIES OF RECEIPTS FROM CONTRACTORS TO SEE, MAN, I CAN ONLY GET TO, LIKE, $54 MILLION. YES, SIR, I'M IN A POSITION WHERE I UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE EYES THAT ARE LOOKING AT ME THINK I KNOW WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AND THAT I'M BEING GIVEN ALL THE DATA WHEN I SAT DOWN IN A MEETING FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, SO THIS IS THE ANNUAL AUDIT REVIEW AND WE'RE COVERING ANOTHER THREE, 400 PAGES WORTH OF STUFF. WE HAVE THE TOTALS IN THERE, AND I START QUESTIONING, WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY? THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE A PENSION FUND THAN IT DOES THIS AND SO, IN ASKING YOU QUESTIONS TO MS. STORES, SHE ORIGINALLY SAID, WELL, NO, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THIS, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT. THAT'S JUST THESE FUNDS. WELL, THEN NOW, IT DOES INCLUDE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, IT DOES INCLUDE THESE OTHERS, SO WE START WORKING THAT OUT. IN OUR LAST MEETING, SHE HAD GIVEN ME A REPORT THAT SHOWED ROUGHLY 50 SOMETHING MILLION ON IT AND SO, YES, I HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE 100 BUT I KNEW JUST COUNTING WHAT I COULD COUNT, IT WAS LIKE 175 MILLION, AND I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATA, SO WHAT DOES THAT REALLY NET OUT TO? NOW, KEEP IN MIND, IF I CAN DO $1 MILLION WORTH OF WORK IN THE CITY, BECAUSE I FOUND $1 MILLION LIKE HURRA, I WILL GO AND DO ALL THIS WORK FOR A MILLION, NOT LIKE A MILLION IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY, BECAUSE YOU'LL WORK REALLY HARD IN THIS BUDGET TO FIND A MILLION. RIGHT NOW TODAY, I'M QUESTIONING, IS THERE 20 MILLION JUST IN THE 108 VERSUS THE 128. [05:10:02] WE DIDN'T FINISH THE MATH PROBLEM HERE TODAY, WE JUST THREW IT BACK TO, WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE THE DATA, OKAY. WELL, THEN GIVE ME SOME TIME WITH MS. STORES, AND LET'S GO BACK THROUGH THERE AND LET'S VALIDATE ALL OF THAT BECAUSE IF WE CAN FIND $1 MILLION, IT'S WORTH MY TIME.[BACKGROUND] BUT IF WE DON'T FIND $1 MILLION OR WE DON'T FIND 20 MILLION OR WE DON'T FIND ANY OF THAT, THEN I WILL, THROUGH THAT PROCESS, HAVE EDUCATED MYSELF A GREAT DEAL AND DONE THE BUSINESS HERE IN PUBLIC WITH VERY LITTLE REGARD ON LIKE, DID I LOOK PROFESSIONAL OR NOT EXACTLY THE BEST LOOK I'VE HAD OUT HERE. I'M NOT ACCUSING ANYBODY OF LYING CHEATING OR STEALING, I AM ACCUSING THE NUMBERS OF NOT BEING REPRESENTED FULLY IN HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT I'VE ASKED FOR THAT I HADN'T BEEN GIVEN AND SO THAT'S NOT TO ANY ONE PERSON. THAT IS, I CAN'T FOLLOW IT, AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW IT. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE SITTING UP HERE THAT NEEDS CLARITY, WE ARE ASKING FOR CLARITY. WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO GO OUT THERE AND GET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA AND EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THEIR MONEY AND AS OF TODAY, RIGHT NOW, I COULDN'T DO THAT VERY WELL. >> WITH THIS, WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU, THE MAYOR, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 12 MONTHS NOW. WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS, MANY HOURS OF ATTEMPTING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE FINANCES AND PRODUCING REAMS OF PAPERWORK FOR YOU. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DID COME TO ME THE BUDGET I SAID GRAYSON, THIS IS INTERFERING WITH OUR ABILITY OF THE BUDGET DONE, SO I DID TELL THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT I SAID, FINANCE, WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BUDGET DONE. IT'S ALL ME IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE REPORT SOONER BECAUSE, BUT IT WAS GOING TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ABILITY TO GET THE BUDGET DONE IN TIME, BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND THEY WERE NEVER ENDING AND IN MY OPINION, THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO BE TAKING US ANYWHERE AND SO I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION TO WORK ON THE BUDGET, SO THAT'S ON ME. STAFF, THEY SAID, GRAYSON, IT'S EITHER WE WORK ON BUDGET, WE WORK ON THIS, I CAN'T DO BOTH ANYMORE, SO I TOLD THEM, WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BUDGET DONE. >> I'M NOT ARGUMENTATIVE AT ALL. THEY GO HAND IN HAND, WE CANNOT DO THE BUDGET WITHOUT WORKING ON THIS, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE REPORT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS BUDGET, WHICH YOU HAVE AND YOU'VE REPRESENTED IT, $74 MILLION. IT DIDN'T COINCIDE WITH THE DATA THAT I HAD BEEN GIVEN, SO MY PREEMPTIVE BUDGET DISCUSSION GOES HAND IN HAND WITH WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING. >> WELL, THE CHALLENGES WE WERE TRYING TO PRODUCE REPORTS THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY PRODUCE, BUT THEY WERE ONES THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO HAVE US PRODUCE AND SO WE WERE HAVING TO CREATE DOCUMENTS THAT AREN'T PART OF THE NORMAL PROCESS, AND SO THEY DON'T ALWAYS MARRY UP. THEN THE TIMELINES YOU'RE ASKING FOR WE COULDN'T DO THE WORK PLUS DO THE OTHER WORK WE WERE DOING, SO IT'S BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING PROCESS TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO PRODUCE THINGS THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY PRODUCE. >> THAT'S NOT TRUE IN THE WAY THAT'S A QUARTERLY REPORT THAT WAS DUE SIX MONTHS AGO. WE ARE LATE BY TURNING IN THE REPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY, SO JUNE IS ALREADY DUE, AND IT'S NOT PRODUCED, MARCH WASN'T PRODUCED UNTIL YOU GAVE IT TO ME. >> I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, THERE'S OTHER DOCUMENTS SPREADSHEETS LIKE THE ONE YOU SAW THE DAY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS THAT HELP YOU WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, SO THOSE ARE THE DOCUMENTS I'M TALKING ABOUT. >> THOSE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS, I UNDERSTAND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO. MOVING FORWARD, THOUGH, IT'S NOT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WANTS TO FIND A POTENTIAL OF $1 MILLION. COUNCIL IS OUT HERE HAVING A DISCUSSION. COUNCIL, AS A BODY, IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH GOING THROUGH THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PRODUCED HERE THAT RUNS THIS DOWN TO WHERE IT SHOWS A NEGATIVE 3.8 MILLION IN RESERVES AND JUST VERIFYING AND VETTING THAT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD KNOWING, YOU'RE RIGHT WE DON'T HAVE. >> 100% YOU SHOULD GO THROUGH IT, WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT. >> THANK YOU. ANYBODY HAVE A DISAGREEMENT WITH THAT? THEN I'M GLAD TO CONTINUE AND AS THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBER, MYSELF AND DON. I FELT LIKE THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE TASKED TO DO. THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TWO THAT ARE SITTING ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE TO DO MORE THAN JUST LOOK AT AN ANNUAL AUDIT ONCE A YEAR AND PUT IT ON THE SHELF. THAT'S WHERE THIS CAME FROM, WE SAT IN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND WE HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT CAME IN TO TELL US SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SO LIKE, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SIX MONTHS NOW. >> THIS IS ACTUALLY A DOCUMENT THAT LAURA HAD PRODUCED TO TRY TO HELP ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, SO WE WERE TRYING TO INTERPRET THE QUESTIONS YOU WERE ASKING, AND SO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION YOU'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THIS. WE'D BE HAPPY TO NEXT FRIDAY WALK YOU THROUGH THAT SPREADSHEET AND DISCUSS IT AND EXPLAIN IT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT LAURA WE CAN WORK ON? >> THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, I THINK WE GOT OFF TRACK WHEN MAYBE WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE YOU WERE ON THIS ISSUE FOR STREET ASSESSMENT. >> NO, I ANSWERED THAT, I SAID I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TOTALLY ELIMINATE IT, [05:15:03] BUT LET'S LOOK AND SEE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET THERE. >> OKAY, GREAT. >> I WOULD JUST SAY THIS, WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER WHO USED AN APPROACH TO GIVE US THE BUDGET. I THINK INSTEAD OF GOING AROUND ONE ON ONE TO WORK OUT EVERY SINGLE DETAIL, HE BROUGHT THIS OUT HERE IN A PRESENTATION TO MAKE IT PUBLIC. WE'RE DOING THE BUSINESS IN PUBLIC, NOT BACK THERE, ONE ON ONE AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE OUGHT TO BE DOING THIS BUSINESS. HE HAD SOME THINGS IN HERE, I DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF IT NOR WHAT I THINK THIS IS A WORKSHOP. WE CAN MAKE CHANGES THAT'S WHY THE DISCUSSION IS HERE. I DO TAKE EXCEPTION, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A FEELING THAT THE STAFF DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBERS, THAT THE STAFF IS HIDING MONEY, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. I'VE GOT TO AGREE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ACCUSATORY. BUT THIS IS WHAT THIS IS FOR, AND TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT HERE AND DO THE BUSINESS IN PUBLIC INSTEAD OF TALKING IN THE BACK ABOUT, OKAY, FEES, DO WE WANT TO HAVE THEM? DO WE NOT WANT TO HAVE THEM? THE OTHER THING IS, WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE PROMISES ON THE BUDGET UNTIL WE GET IN HERE AND CAN START LOOKING AT THINGS BEFORE WE SAY, OKAY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO PRESENT UNTIL WE GET IN HERE AND DO IT. I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO USE FOR CONTINUED POST MORTEM ON HOW WE OUGHT TO DO THIS. WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME AFTER ALL THIS IS OVER WITH TO PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A TASK TO DO, THE STAFF HAS A TASK TO DO TO BE ABLE TO GET US TO WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT OUR CHOICES AND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BUDGET. >> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY REMARKS HERE? I KNOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO WINDING THIS UP. MR. PATH, WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED HERE TODAY BEFORE WE CAN LOOK AT FRIDAY AVAILABILITY? >> I'M GOOD. >> OKAY. LET'S LOOK FRIDAY. MISS CITY SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONFLICTS THAT YOU KNOW OF? >> NO, MAYOR. >> WE ARE LOOKING FRIDAY THE 15TH MORNING OR AFTERNOON. ANYBODY UNAVAILABLE? >> MY AFTERNOON IS TAKEN, SO IF WE COULD DO MORNING, THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ME ON THAT FRIDAY. >> OKAY. >> THAT WOULD BE FINE. >> OPEN IN THE MORNING. EVERYBODY OPEN FRIDAY MORNING? CAN WE DO 8:30? IS THAT GOOD FOR YOU GUYS? THAT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD TIME. WE'VE GOT THAT NOTICED. WITH THE WAY WE ARE ENDING THIS CONVERSATION HERE TODAY, WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT. WITH THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION, WE STARTED A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY AS A 43 CENT TAX RATE. I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PUSH THAT OUT UNTIL THE END OF THAT MEETING ON FRIDAY. STAFF, WOULD THERE BE ANY ISSUE IF WE COULD DO IT ON THAT FRIDAY? DOES THAT GIVE YOU PLENTY OF TIME SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE 26TH? >> WE'LL DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE THE NOTICE ON THE 26TH FOR SURE IN ORDER TO HIT OUR DEADLINES. >> COUNCIL, HELP ME DIRECT THAT. IS ANYBODY WANTING THAT HIGHEST RATE THAT COULD BE CHARGED ON TUESDAY'S MEETING? ARE YOU OKAY WITH HAVING ONE MORE DISCUSSION HERE? CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION HOPEFULLY WITH A BETTER EDUCATION THEN WE PUT IT OUT ON THAT FRIDAY? OR WOULD YOU RATHER WAIT TILL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY, THE 26TH? >>I THINK IT'S ONLY LOGICAL TO HOLD IT UNTIL THE 26TH TO KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE. >> I'M IN FAVOR OF WAITING UNTIL THEN, I WOULD JUST DOUBLE CHECK WITH STAFF, ARE Y'ALL OKAY? >> WE'RE GOOD, WE'LL MAKE IT WORK. >> IF WE HAD SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO DO, SOMETHING COMES UP, THEN I WOULD OFFER THAT FRIDAY, THE 15TH IS A POTENTIAL IF WE NEED TO PUT IT IN THERE, SO IS THAT RIGHT? I GOT MY DAYS OFF HERE LET ME DOUBLE CHECK. NEXT FRIDAY, THE 15TH, AND THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING, SO WE WOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING WEEK IF WE NEEDED IT, SO I THINK I'M GOOD WITH THAT. ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANT TO ADD, COUNCILMAN?[BACKGROUND] APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY. MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN, ANYBODY? >> MOTION. >> SECOND. >> YOU ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.