[1. CALL SESSION TO ORDER]
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>> ALL RIGHT, IT IS 9:00. WE ARE GOING TO CALL THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING FOR SATURDAY, JULY 27TH TO ORDER.
WE WILL START WITH ROLLCALL. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
COUNCILMEMBER THORTON. COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK. COUNCILMEMBER KOLAR . COUNSEL FOR PORTERFIELD. NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I DID NOT SEE ANY COMMENTS.
[4.1. Fiscal Year 2025 Preliminary Budget Discussion (City Manager James Earp)]
>> I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY FORMS, MAYOR.
>> AND WE WILL GO ON TO ITEM 4.1, FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET
DISCUSSION. >> SORRY, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WILL BE LEAVING AT NOON TO MAKE THAT KNOWN.
>> VERY GOOD. I HOPE THE TIMING OF ME GOING THROUGH THIS ON MY PART TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, BUT THEN, OF COURSE, WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS. SO, IT LET ME PREFACE WITH THING WE DID THIS LAST YEAR AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY HAD DONE THIS EXERCISE. THE IDEA IS FOR ME TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE PUBLIC WHAT IS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S HEAD WHEN IT IS COMING TO FINALIZING AND DEVELOPING THE BUDGET. GIVING YOU KIND OF A RUNDOWN OF WHERE WE ARE AT, THE DATA WE CAN SEE RIGHT NOW TODAY, AND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS STILL, THE DATA WILL CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. BUT THE POINT IS, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA AND WE HAVE A PRETTY WELL DIALED IN TO WHAT WE ARE CONSIDERING DOING. SO, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY, IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN OUT CRYING FOR THAT I DID NOT INCLUDE, OR SOMETHING THAT I HAVE INCLUDED THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME, OR THE RIGHT PRIORITY, THAT IS WHAT THIS IS FOR. TO GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK INFORMALLY.
NO VOTES NECESSARY, NONE OF THAT SORT OF STUFF. BUT FOR THE COUNCIL TO TALK INFORMALLY TO TALK AND ASK QUESTIONS, THAT SORT OF THINGS. THE CHANCE I DID NOT DIAL IT IN EXACTLY RIGHT, IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE COURSE, ESSENTIALLY, BETWEEN NOW AND THE BUDGET BEING ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY DELIVERED TO COUNSEL NEXT WEDNESDAY, I THINK IT IS.
AND THEN PRESENTED ON AUGUST 1ST. SO, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT , PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC. BECAUSE IT IS SATURDAY MORNING, AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT WE CAN USUALLY MAKE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS, AND HAVING THE DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT Y'ALL . AS FAR AS THE STAFF GOES, I HAVE TO STOP AND CERTAINLY GIVE RECOGNITION TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING PRETTY MUCH NONSTOP FOR THE LAST MONTH. I'M GETTING THIS DIALED IN AND READY TO GO.
THE AMOUNT OF WORK, THE SHEER AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THE BUDGET, MOST PEOPLE CAN'T FATHOM UNTIL YOU HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO DO IT. AND THERE IS A LIST OF PEOPLE, A GROUP THIS YEAR, AND I'M GOING GOOD TO DO MY BEST TO NAME EVERYBODY.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE GROUP, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE IF I'VE LEFT ANYBODY OUT. I AM GOING TO START WITH MATT RECTOR , CIP. MOSTLY BECAUSE IF I DON'T START WITH HIM I WILL PROBABLY FORGET HIM AND LEAVE THEM OUT. MATT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE CIP IN A PLACE THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN BEFORE IN THE CITY, AND I AM EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD OF THE WORK IS DONE. ALBERTA HAS BEEN A WARRIOR OVER THERE IN FINANCE. THE THING THAT HAS IMPRESSED ME MOST ABOUT ALBERTA IS SHE WILL GIVE ME A NUMBER AND I WILL BE LIKE OKAY, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER. SHE IS LIKE I HAVE A SPREADSHEET FOR THAT. AND SHE DOES, SHE DOES HAVE A SPREADSHEET FOR THAT. WE TALKED THROUGH IT, AND IT IS VERY WELL DONE, VERY THOUGHTFUL, THE AMOUNT OF TIME, EFFORT, AND CARE THAT SHE IS PUT INTO MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ACCURATE. THE OTHERS THAT HAVE HELPED, THAT HAVE BEEN LIFTING HERCULEAN WEIGHT ART KATE MORIARTY . SHE IS SOMEWHERE IN HERE, PROBABLY BEHIND ME WHERE I CAN SEE HER.
SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN COORDINATING THE EFFORTS OF ETHAN AND WILL, THE NEW BUDGET ANALYST, ADDING THEM TOGETHER .
AND IN FINANCE, GABE AND CHRISTINA. YEAH, CHRISTINA MADE IT IN. I DID NOT SEE HER EARLIER. GABE AND CHRISTINA.
CHRISTINA IS CERTAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THE COMPLEX CALCULATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON FOR THE PAYOFFS, OR THE PAYBACK FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO ON AND SO FORTH. THERE IS SO MUCH THAT GOES INTO IT. I THINK I
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CAPTURED EVERYBODY. I WILL GIVE THE PEOPLE ON THE TEAM AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL ME THAT I MISSED SOMEONE. OKAY, ME. I'M ON THE TEAM, THAT KIND OF GOES WITHOUT SAYING. OKAY, FIRST , I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE. MUNICATION. AND THE DEGREE THAT COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN IN THE TRENCHES WITH BUDGET. WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE TRENCHES IN IS GATHERING UP A SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE DID LAST YEAR. THAT HAS CULMINATED INTO A VIDEO THAT WE ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR YOU NOW. THIS WILLBE GOING LIVE PUBLIC SHORTLY. >> THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF REMARKABLE PROGRESS AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR DEDICATED COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS AT THE HEART OF EVERY DECISION. THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PRUDENT SPENDING WE HAVE MAINTAINED A BALANCED BUDGET WHILE INVESTING IN KEY COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS WITH THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD, AND NOW HOLDS TWO TRANSPARENCY STARS. THERE ARE OVER 60 ACTIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WHICH CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE THANKS TO A CIP DASHBOARD, WHERE PRODUCT INFORMATION CAN BE EXAMINED, INCLUDING FINANCIAL DATA. THIS INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELINESS OF INFORMATION, ALONG WITH MONTHLY PRESENTATIONS FROM OUR CITY ENGINEER, CREATES MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WATCHED THIS THRIVE, WITH THEIR FIRST COMMUNITY EVENT AND RESOURCES TO BOLSTER SUPPORT OF BUSINESSES IN HUTTO FOR GROWTH. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION, TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON RESIDENTS, INCLUDES LIFESTYLE OPTIONS LIKE JACK ALLEN'S KITCHEN, AND EVO AND INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS COMING ONLINE WITH BUSINESSES LIKE SKYBOX AND PARADIGM. OUR COMMITMENT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE RESULTED IN INCREASED EFFICIENCY, LOWER EMPLOYEE ATTRITION, AND ENHANCED SERVICE FOR RELIABILITY. WITH HUBS, WORKGROUPS, THIS PROMOTES DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES IN VARIOUS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO ENHANCE THE TRANSPARENCY AND CLARITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS. THE MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS A HEALTHY ATTENDANCE WITH THE REVITALIZATION OF HUTTO CITIZENS UNIVERSITY, AND HAS MADE IT BETTER THAN EVER, INCLUDING ALUMNI VERSION FOR GRADUATES. HUMAN RESOURCES COMPLETED A PAY PARODY AUDIT, AIMING TO RECRUIT AND OBTAIN TOP TALENT. A TEAM HUTTO JOIN TOGETHER THIS YEAR FOR A CELEBRATORY HOLIDAY BANQUET AND IMPACTFUL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE , HUTTO FORD. TO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIC OPERATIONS LAUNCH GALLUP, A SURVEY SOFTWARE THAT WILL BE CONTINUALLY USED TO ASSESS AND SURVEY LEADERS. THE BIANNUAL COMMUNITY SURVEY, AND CONTINUED WATCHING SMALL SURVEYS FOR DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO KEEP A PULSE ON THE COMMUNITY FOR ESSENTIAL TOPICS.
RESIDENTS TURNED INTO THE SEDATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND THE LATEST NEWS DELIVERED TIMELY AND WITH ACCESSIBILITY AT TOP OF MINE. INITIAL PHASES HAVE BEGUN FOR AN IMPROVED SERVICE REQUEST SOFTWARE FOR REPORTING POTHOLES, GRAFFITI, WATER QUALITY ISSUES, SPEEDING COMPLAINTS, AND MORE. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES CONTINUE AS OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT IS ROUNDING THE CORNER ON SWITCHING PHONE SERVICES TO VOICE OVER IP, AND TO A MORE RELIABLE FIBER PROVIDER. WE CONTINUE TO BE RANKED ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN TEXAS, ACQUIRING SAFETY , INVENTORY, AND SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, AND ADDING A DEDICATED I.T.
SPECIALIST TO OUR POLICE ROSTER. HUTTO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE NOW PAID IN THE TOP 80TH PERCENTILE ACROSS THE AUSTIN AREA, RESULTING IN INCREASED RECRUITMENT OF TALENT AND EXPERIENCED OFFICERS. THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT HAS A STATE APPROVED EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, AND A FOCUS ON PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY. A MASTER MOBILITY PLAN AND PARKS PLAN ARE CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT , WITH NEW DATA TO INCLUDE ECONOMIC SHIFTS , NEW DEVELOPMENTS, POPULATION CHANGES, AND EVOLVING RESIDENT REFERENCES. WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN IN FULL SWING WITH A MASTER MOBILITY PLAN, PARKS MASTER PLAN, CIP, AND BUDGET WORKSHOPS, COLLECTING VALUABLE RESIDENT FEEDBACK AND IN PERSON AND ONLINE. WE HAVE ENHANCE PUBLIC SPACES, ORGANIZE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND LISTENED TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE. HIGHLIGHT REELS FILL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS, RECAPPING GREAT EVENTS ORGANIZED BY PARKS AND RECREATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND OUR LIBRARY. HUTTO ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, BECAUSE OF ITS SMALL TOWN FEEL, OFFERING COMMUNITY ACTIVITY AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, AND PEOPLE THAT UPHOLD THE HIPPO WAY . NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT HAS MADE
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THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS A REALITY. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS JOURNEY AND DRIVE HUTTO FORWARD.>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO PUTTING THAT TOGETHER, TO HELP US KEEP PERSPECTIVE. A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENED, AND I KNOW THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC MAY BE UNSURE, UNCERTAIN OF AT TIMES, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THE CITY OF HUTTO THAT ARE JUST FANTASTIC. ALL RIGHT. I'M A LITTLE HOT ON THE MICROPHONE, I THINK THEY'RE MOVING TO FIX THAT. AND LET US GET INTO OUR PRESENTATION. SO, TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT KEY BUDGET INITIATIVES, PRELIMINARY BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN OVERVIEW THAT IS FUNDED IN 25 , OR IS DIRECTED TO BE FUNDED IN 25. AND THE NEXT STEPS FOR THE BUDGET CALENDAR. AND THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY WRAP UP OUR DAY.
SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT INFORMING THE BUDGET. SO, I HAVE THIS PHRASE THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY, IN FACT, I JUST USED IT A SECOND AGO. I WOULD RATHER YOU HAVE INFORMED OPINIONS BEEN TO JUST FORM OPINIONS. SO, PART OF DEVELOPING A BUDGET, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, IS OPINION OVER WHAT IS TO BE PRIORITIZED. SO, IN ORDER TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE STAFF, THIS IS WHERE THE BUDGET PROCESS ACTUALLY BEGINS. IT BEGINS IN COLLECTING DATA FROM THE PUBLIC. OF COURSE, THE FISCAL POLICY WAS ADOPTED AND UPDATED LAST YEAR AT THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. THE COMMUNITY SURVEY WAS COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY. THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION WITH COUNSEL OCCURRED, THEN WE HAD THE PUBLIC BUDGET WORKSHOPS. YOU ARE GETTING SLIDE DECKS.
PLEASE DON'T LOOK AHEAD, THAT'S THE ONE THING I WOULD ASK. IF YOU START LOOKING AHEAD YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I'M SAYING. PUBLIC BUDGET WORKSHOPS OCCURRED, THAT WAS THE ROUNDTABLES IN THE PRIORITIZATION EFFORT. THEN WE DEVELOPED THE STRATEGIC PLAN .
THEN WE HAD THE CIP REVIEW GO THROUGH PARKS AND PNC, AND COUNSEL HAS HAD CIP BUDGET MEETINGS . AND INTERNALLY, I'VE HAD ONE-ON-ONE BUDGET MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, LEADERSHIP PERSONNEL REQUEST, STAFF, CIP REQUEST , THE MANAGER ROUNDTABLE WHERE I SIT DOWN AND TELL EVERYBODY WHAT EACH WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, AND TAX RATE ESTIMATES. WHERE WE ARE COMING DOWN THE VALUATIONS AND THAT SORT OF THINGS. HERE'S OUR SALES TAX CHART, OVER THE LAST, LET'S SEE, I THINK IT GOES BACK TO 15, SO THE LAST DECADE, THERE IS A WEIRD COLUMN THERE THAT SHIFTED UP. BUT ALL THE SAME, THE TAX COLLECTIONS FOR 24 ARE UP , AND WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH IN THAT ARENA. PROPERTY TAX VALUES, NOW, THIS IS THE EXISTING TAX RATES FOR US IN THE OTHER CITIES, AND YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY READ THE NUMBERS TERRIBLY WELL FROM THAT FAR AWAY, BUT IN THAT LIST OF CITIES WE ARE THE FIFTH AT .422, AND THE NEXT ONE IS AT .469, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE TAYLOR ON THE FAR RIGHT WITH A .62 TAX RATE. STILL THE MAXIMUM ONE OF THE TAX RATE COULD BE. YOU CAN SEE HERE THE HISTORY AND THE TRENDS. ALL RIGHT, I PUT THE SLIDE IN BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION , AND THE ABILITY TO DO THESE CALCULATIONS WILL BE IN THE COUNCIL DRIVE HERE SHORTLY. THESE ARE THE TAX RATES AND AREAS. CAN I GET A HARD RIGHT COPY, OR SOMEONE PULL THIS UP ON THE SCREEN? I CANNOT READ THIS FROM FAR AWAY. THE 2023, THIS IS WHAT WE DID.
SO, THIS IS EXISTING TAX RATES, AND THIS IS COMPARING THE RESIDENTIAL WITH HOMESTEAD, AND THE RESIDENTIAL WITHOUT HOMESTEAD. SO, YOU CAN SEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IS THIS DRIVING? OKAY , GOOD. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT LAST YEAR AND THE TAX RATE THAT WE ADOPTED RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN TAXES TO THE RESIDENCE WITH HOMESTEAD , ESTIMATED AT AN AVERAGE OF $136 FOR THE YEAR. IT RESULTED IN A DECREASE FOR RESIDENTS WITHOUT HOMESTEAD, ESTIMATED AT $418 SAVINGS PER YEAR. IN 2024, THE SPAN OF THE TAX RATE AS IT STANDS TODAY,
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AGAIN, SUBJECT TO CHANGE, IS THE NO NEW REVENUE ON THE LEFT, THE LOW END. IF WE WERE TO ADOPT A NO NEW REVENUE, RESIDENCE WITH HOMESTEAD WOULD SEE A $3.48 PER YEAR REDUCTION , AND THE RESIDENCE WITHOUT HOMESTEAD WOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL $79.64 REDUCTION. IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THE HIGHEST OPTION AVAILABLE, WHICH IS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, YOU WOULD SEE THE RESIDENCE WITH HOMESTEAD WOULD SEE AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF $192 , AND THE RESIDENCE WITHOUT HOMESTEAD WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF $124. SO, THAT KINDA GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE SPAN THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN CONVERSATION . GENERALLY I TALK ABOUT MONTHLY CHANGE, THE REASON I ALWAYS INCLUDE THAT IS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE PAY THEIR BILLS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THAT IS HOW THEY UNDERSTAND COST INCREASE OR DECREASES. SO, THEY ARE AVAILABLE, AND OF COURSE THIS WILL BE SHOWING BACKUP IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET WE GET THERE ON THURSDAY. YOU MAY KEEP THAT. OKAY, YOU HAVE IT NOT TO? PERFECT. THANKS. SO, OUR FOUR STRATEGIC PILLARS. THERE ACTUALLY APPEAR ON THE WALL. MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY, GROW RESPONSIBLY AND SUSTAINABLY, AND CREATE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE. WHENEVER THIS IS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE PULL AND MAKE SURE THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO INVEST IN FALL INTO THESE FOUR PILLARS. THIS YEAR'S FOCUS ON THE BUDGET IS PREDOMINANTLY ON COMPLETING WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS AUTHORIZED. ROAD MAINTENANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS, AS YOU WILL SEE AS WE GET DEEPER INTO THE PROJECT PROPOSALS .FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY. SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE REPAIR. PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION IN THE ORGANIZATION. INCREASE QUALITY OF SERVICES , EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE DNI INITIATIVES. PERSONNEL IS ALWAYS THE BIGGEST ONE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO ASK ABOUT, GENERALLY, SO THAT IS WHERE I START TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. THIS YEAR I THINK THAT, YEAH, OKAY, WE HAVE 37 POSITIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED .
WE CURRENTLY HAVE , THAT 27 SHOULD BE LOWER, BECAUSE WE FILL POSITIONS. BUT ALL THE SAME, WE HAVE SOME VACANCIES.
WE HAVE 37 POSITION REQUEST THAT CAME IN. OF THOSE, I AM ACTUALLY PROPOSING 14 NEW FTES CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, AND WE WILL SHOW WHERE THOSE ARE BROKEN UP. AND THEN WE HAVE FOUR RECLASSIFICATIONS TO ADJUST SOME OF THE WORK THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO MATCH THEIR PAY GRADES. WHEN THAT IS NOT SHOWN IN THAT TALLY IS A SEASONAL CAMP DIRECTOR, THAT IS PART-TIME, SO IT WOULD BE A HALF FTE IF WE WERE TO COUNTER THAT WAY. SO, 14 NEW POSITIONS FOR RE-CLASSES OUT OF THE 47 THAT WERE REQUESTED. AND I WILL SAY THIS. WHEN I HAVE AN INITIAL BUDGET BRIEFING WITH THE STAFF THIS YEAR, I TOLD THE STAFF IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT THIS YEAR I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF NEW POSITIONS BEING CREATED. I FELT THAT WE WOULD BE SPENDING MOST OF OUR TIME AND EFFORT ON INITIATIVES THAT WOULD ENHANCE OUR EFFICIENCIES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY OR EQUIPMENT, OR NEW PROGRAMS, THAT SORT OF STUFF. BUT IN MY VIEW OF WHERE THE ORGANIZATION WAS, I DIDN'T SEE THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF FTE NEEDFUL LIKE THERE WERE LAST YEAR. EVEN THOUGH THE THE 37 CAME IN, QUITE A NUMBER OF THOSE ARE FOR ADDITIONAL CREWS AND THAT SOURCE OF. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CREW, THAT IS FIVE OR SIX PHYSICIANS IN ONE HIT. BUT EVEN THEN, OUT OF THE 37 THAT WERE ASKED FOR, I CAN ARGUABLY MAKE A CASE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE. SO, EVERY ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT WERE ASKED FOR, I CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR THE END OF THE DAY I FELT THAT 14 WHERE THE ONES THAT WERE CRITICAL FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS YEAR. SO, HERE THEY ARE. I'M SORRY, HERE ARE THE FOUR RE-CLASSES. WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE RE-CLASSING THE SENIOR DEPUTY COURT CLERK TO COURT CLERK, YOU CAN READ THESE. I DON'T HAVE TO READ THEM ALL OUT TO YOU. THIS IS TO ADDRESS THE GROWTH OF THE ROLES, AND THE REALITY OF SUMMIT MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION THAT IS BEEN REQUIRED OF THE POSITIONS THAT SHOULD RESULT IN RECLASSIFICATION OF PAY GRADES. HERE ARE THE POSITIONS WHERE THEY LIVE. SO, THE FIRST ONE IS A MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST. JUST THE VIDEO THAT YOU JUST SAW, RIGHT NOW THAT IS BASICALLY ONE PERSON THAT IS SHOOTING THE VIDEO, CUTTING THE VIDEO, PUTTING IN THE AUDIO . HER TALENTS ARE VERY BROAD, BUT HER
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TALENTS ARE REALLY IN DEVELOPING NEW CONTENT . SO THIS POSITION WOULD BE THE EDITOR OF THE VIDEOS THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER, AND ALLOWING US TO SPREAD THE WORD OF ALL THE WORK THAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY BETTER, IN A FORMAT THE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY CONSUMING TODAY. SHORT VIDEOS, SHORT REELS, THAT SORT OF STUFF. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.CHIEF BUILDING OFFICER OR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL, AS YOU MAY KNOW IT. THIS POSITION IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR FOR YEARS. I THINK NOW WE ARE TO THE POINT WHERE WE ACTUALLY DO NEED TO BRING ONE IN-HOUSE. PREDOMINANTLY, THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A CHIEF HOLDING OFFICIAL AND NOT IS OUR INSPECTORS ARE ONLY ABLE TO DO RESIDENTIAL INSPECTIONS.
THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE TRAINED TO DO COMMERCIAL INSPECTIONS.
BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF BEING A COMMERCIAL INSPECTOR , AND/OR A CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL. SO, THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE SOME COMMERCIAL INSPECTION CAPABILITIES HERE, AND IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW US TO START CROSSTRAINING SOME OF OUR RESIDENTIAL INSPECTORS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN GROWING THEIR ABILITIES AND DOING COMMERCIAL INSPECTION. ENGINEERING, IT IS A CIP PROJECT MANAGER. THIS IS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY AS TO WHY WE WOULD NEED IT, WITH THE 60 CIP'S PLUS THE ADDITIONAL ONES THAT WE ARE ADDING IN THIS YEAR. IT IS A LOT OF WORK TO MAINTAIN ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS AND THE BILLING, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE BEING CHARGED APPROPRIATELY AND THAT PROJECTS ARE STAYING ON SCHEDULE, SO ON AND SO FORTH. THIS IS THE POSITION THAT WOULD MANAGE CIP'S. MUNICIPAL COURT IS ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL DEPUTY COURT CLERK. I AM INCLINED TO APPROVE THAT. AND THERE WILL BE MORE DETAIL ON SLIDES WHENEVER WE DO THIS AGAIN ON THURSDAY, BUT FOR EDIFICATION PURPOSES, THE DEPUTY COURT CLERK IS MEANT TO HELP WITH THE INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, SO WE HAVE HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS. WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS. MORE CITATIONS ARE GETTING ISSUED.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH MORE? RIGHT NOW THE COURT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN OPERATING AT ABOUT 3500 CITATIONS A YEAR.
THIS YEAR THEY ARE EXPECTED TO CLOSE OUT THE YEAR AT 5100 CITATIONS, SO THAT IS A 25 OR 30% INCREASE. AND CHIEF HAS NOW STAFFED UP MOST OF HIS PATROL, AND PATROL IS NOT GOING TO BE SPENDING TIME DOING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WHICH MEANS AN ADDITIONAL THOUSAND TO 2000 CITATIONS A YEAR. SO, THE COURT IS ABOUT TO DOUBLE WHAT IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH ITS STAFF. BUT IT IS STILL ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT WITH JUST A SINGLE NEW POSITION. PARKS AND RECREATION, AN ADDITIONAL CAMP DIRECTOR. THIS ALLOWS US TO DO ONE OF TWO THINGS. IT ALLOWS US TO EITHER HAVE A SECOND LOCATION FOR CAMP, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW. I THINK THIS YEAR WE HAD 735 CAMPERS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OVER 1000 CAMPERS. THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO RUN AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, RATHER THAN JUST ONE. OR IT WOULD ALLOW US TO SCHOOL UP AND ALL NEEDS CAMP. THAT IS A SUBPOPULATION THAT DOES NOT USUALLY GET SERVED. THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO EITHER OR. POLICE PREDOMINANTLY DID ASK FOR CIVILIAN HELP. THEY DID NOT ASK FOR ANY NEW POLICE OFFICERS THIS YEAR. FEELING THAT THE VACANCIES THAT THEY HAD COMING ON AT THE END OF THIS YEAR WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE NEEDS FOR THE NEXT UPCOMING YEAR. SO THEY ASKED FOR CIVILIAN HELP. THESE ARE THE ONES I FELT WERE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM. CRIME ANALYSTS. THIS IS THE POSITION THAT DOES A LOT OF THE DATA HARVESTING, ANALYTICS , REPORTS. MANY OF THE REPORTS THAT YOU ARE SEEING COMING FROM CHIEF ARE BEING DONE BY FIVE, SIX DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE THEIR HANDS IN IT. THIS IS A PERSON WHO COULD FOCUS ON THAT. BUT ALSO COULD START LOOKING AT CRIME TRENDS AND GIVING THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON INCREASED ENFORCEMENT, INCREASED PRESENCE, THAT SORT OF STUFF. THE NEXT TWO OUR CONTINUED ENHANCEMENTS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND VICTIMS ASSISTANCE, BUT IT IS CALLED CRISIS SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND VICTIMS ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR. SO, MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG ISSUE. I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT IT IN THE PAST. I BELIEVE, AND I STAND CONVINCED THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS BECOMING TO PD WHAT PARAMEDICS BECAME THE FIREFIGHTERS. IT IS JUST AN NATURE OF THE BUSINESS THAT THEY ARE IN. AND MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ENCOUNTERING THE POLICE ARE IN A STATE OF MENTAL CRISIS OR HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN IN A STATE OF MENTAL CRISIS. SO, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS ON STAFF
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TO BE ABLE TO HELP. THE CURRENT ONE THAT WE HAVE , CURRENTLY BOTH OF OUR CRISIS SUPPORT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE TODAY TO BE ON CALL 24/7. THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO DO THAT WORK. WHILE THAT IS NOT THE PRIMARY REASON OF INCLUDING THESE POSITIONS, IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE NEED AND WE NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AND BANDWIDTH. IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT IS ON MY MIND IN MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE GOOD TALENT BECAUSE THEY ARE BURNED OUT FROM BEING ON CALLS. PUBLIC WORKS. WE ARE LOOKING AT AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. THIS IS SOMEONE VERY FIELD SAVVY. WE ARE GETTING MORE COMPLEX IN RESPONSIBILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS IN GENERAL ARE BROADENING. SO, WE NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ON TRAINING UP OUR CREWS AND TRAINING UP OUR FOLKS AND COORDINATING AND ORGANIZING ALL THAT. THE NEXT THREE SLOTS IS FOUR FTES TOTAL. THIS IS A NEW SERVICE , SO THIS WOULD BE ADDING A DRAINAGE CREW AND DRAINAGE AND SIDEWALK CREW . THE IDEA HERE IS THAT , SAY THE OPEN DITCH DRAINS THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT TOWN, ALL THE OPEN DITCHES THAT ARE NOT STORM DRAINS, EFFECTIVELY. ALL THOSE REALLY NEED TO BE REGRADED REGULARLY. AND THE CULVERTS NEED TO BE REBUILT REGULARLY.AND NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. I CAN JUST WALK DOWNTOWN AND TELL THAT THOSE DRAINAGE DITCHES HAVE NOT BEEN REGRADED IN A DECADE OR MORE, MAYBE SINCE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT. SO, HAVING A CREW WHO IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING THE DRAINAGE DITCHES , REGRADING THEM, REBUILDING CULVERTS, REPAIRING AND REBUILDING SIDEWALKS, AND CLEANING THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE , MAINTAINING THAT. TO ME, IT SEEMED LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO BE ADDING THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. SO, ALL FOUR OF THOSE ARE GROUPED TOGETHER. SO, SHOULD WE DECIDE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, ALL FOUR OF THOSE GO AWAY. UTILITIES, FIELD SUPERVISOR, WE HAVE GROWN TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO SEPARATE THE CONTROL OF THE WATER IN THE WASTEWATER, SO THE FIELD SUPERVISOR WOULD BE FOR THE WASTEWATER SIDE, AND ALLOW THE WASTEWATER TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WATERFIELD SUPERINTENDENT. THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT THE BIGGEST THING I CAN POINT TO IS , AS WE HAVE GROWN, YOU HAVE TO SPECIALIZE. YOU CAN'T CONTINUE TO JUST BE WATER AND WASTEWATER. YOU HAVE TO START A SPECIALIZE. AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS ALLOWS TO HAPPEN AND ALLOWS THE SEWER GREW TO BE ABLE TO START WORKING INDEPENDENTLY. THE LAST ONE IS A UTILITY LOGISTICS COORDINATOR. NOW, WHAT THIS POSITION DOES IS IT IS THE LOGISTIC SPINE OF ALL OF THE FIELDWORK THAT IS GOING ON AND HAPPENING. IN OTHER WORDS, MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE MATERIAL IS ORDERED AND DELIVERED, AND IS ON SITE, READY FOR THE CRUISE TO SHOW UP AND TO DO WORK. COORDINATING THE WORK ORDERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK ORDERS ARE GETTING DONE. FOLLOWING UP WHENEVER THERE IS BEEN A ROAD CUT FOR A UTILITY REPAIR THAT THE STREET DEPARTMENT HAS COMMUNICATED THERE HAS BEEN A ROAD CUT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. SO, THIS IS COORDINATING ALL OF THE VARIOUS UTILITY LOGISTICS AND WORK THAT IS HAPPENING. AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS TECHNICALLY IN THE UTILITY, THIS WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDING ROADS. THAT IS THE 14 PROPOSED POSITIONS THAT LIKELY WILL HAVE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET YOU WILL SEE ON THURSDAY. CAVEATS, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE MY MIND IF NUMBERS DON'T BALANCE OUT, IF SOMEBODY HAS TO GO, IT IS USUALLY GOING TO BE PERSONNEL.
IF SOMETHING CHANGES OR LOOKS DIFFERENT ON THURSDAY, THAT IS LIKELY WHAT HAS HAPPENED. OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VALUE ADDS THAT ARE IN EACH DEPARTMENT. ORGANIZATIONWIDE.
SO, LAST YEAR WE , THE COUNCIL , ELECTED TO INVEST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO PUT THEM ON STEP PLANS, AND TO INCREASE THEIR PAY TO MAKE THEM EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. WE DID HAVE A SMALL ATTACK AT PARITY LAST YEAR . THIS YEAR WAS BEING PROPOSED IS PUTTING ALL OF THE STAFF ON A STEP PLAN CLASSIFICATION, SO WE CAN TALK THROUGH THE RATIONALE BEHIND THAT IN A LONGER PRESENTATION. IT IS A NUMBER OF THINGS. IT HELPS WITH COMPRESSION, IT HELPS WITH JOB OFFERS, IT HELPS
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THE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THREE YEARS BUT THAT GUY JUST GOT HIRED AND MAKES MORE MONEY THAN ME OR WHATEVER. IT MAKES IT TO WHERE IT IS A MATRIX, AND IT IS NOT DISCRETIONARY. IT IS BASICALLY YOU FIT INTO A CATEGORY, INTO A TEAR, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU GO. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING CERTIFICATION PAY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, SO WE HAVE SOME THEY GET IT, SOME THAT DON'T.IT IS INCONSISTENT. SO WE ARE CREATING A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD JUST EQUALIZE THAT AND MAKE IT TO WHERE THESE ARE THE CERTIFICATIONS WE PAY FOR, HERE'S THE POLICY, AND HERE'S HOW YOU WOULD ACHIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THOSE CERTIFICATIONS. THE LATERAL TRANSFER IS PART OF THE STEP PLAN CLASSIFICATION, THAT IS A TERM THAT IS TYPICALLY USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, LATERAL TRANSFERS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE IS A CONSIDERATION NOW ON THE HIRING, BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE , THAT ALLOWS YOU TO RECRUIT PEOPLE WITH MORE EXPERIENCE AND NOT BE, I GUESS, OPERATING IN THE WORLD OF DISCRETION AS MUCH. PRETTY MUCH USING THE MATRIX.
AND AN INCREASE TO THE LONGEVITY MULTIPLIER, TO REWARD THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER. CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THE VALUE ADDS HERE IS I AM PROPOSING A VETERAN FELLOWSHIP , LIKE A PART-TIME POSITION. IT DOES NOT LIVE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, PER SE. IT COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE ORGANIZATION. THIS IS TO ALLOW VETERANS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE MILITARY AND TRYING TO GET INTO PUBLIC SERVICE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND HAVE A PAID FELLOWSHIP SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY. SO THAT IS IN THERE. THE BIGGEST ONE FOR ME IS A DEMOGRAPHER. AND I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY RATIONALE HERE.
WE PROJECT A LOT OF THINGS IN THE CITY THAT AFFECT BUDGET .
AND AFFECT TAXES, WATER WEIGHTS , AND THOSE PROJECTIONS ARE NOT DONE IN A VACUUM , PER SE, BUT THEY ARE GENERALLY OFF OF HISTORIC TRENDS . IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE HAVE GROWN 8% THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE WILL PROJECT WE WILL GROW 8% NEXT YEAR, THAT SORT OF STUFF. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE GRANULAR LEVEL , DEVELOPMENT SERVICES MIGHT BE PROJECTING ONE GROWTH RATE.
ENGINEERING MIGHT BE PROJECTING ANOTHER GROWTH RATE. FINANCE MIGHT BE PROJECTING ANOTHER GROWTH RATE. A CONSULTANT DOING OUR WATER MASTER PLAN MIGHT BE PROJECTING A DIFFERENT GROWTH RATE. EVERYONE IS HAVING TO RE-CREATE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO USE AS THEIR GROWTH RATE. SO, MY PROPOSAL IS TO HIRE A DEMOGRAPHER THAT WOULD GIVE US GRANULAR DETAIL . THEY WILL USE ANALYTICS AND STATISTICS TO TELL US WE THINK YOU'LL HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE MOVE INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS MANY PEOPLE MOVE INTO THAT CCN. AND THAT BECOMES THE BASIS OF ALL THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE RUN, INSTEAD OF EVERYONE TRYING TO COME UP WITH WHAT THEY THINK IS THE BEST THING. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE STAFF COMING UP WITH WHAT THEY THINK IS THE BEST THING IS NOT ACCURATE. SOMETIMES IT IS ACCURATE. BUT I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS A BETTER WAY OF DOING IT, AND EQUALIZING IT ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. AND THEN, WHENEVER OUR MASTER PLANNERS COME IN, WE JUST HAND THEM ARE DEMOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS AND THEY RUN OFF OF THAT. IT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO SET THEIR BOUNDARIES ON ATTENDANCE. FOR US, WE ARE GOING TO BE MORE INTERESTED IN WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING BECAUSE OF CCN, WHICH IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTENDANCE ZONE. IN THE GROWTH RATE FOR SALES TAX AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. CITY COUNCIL, I HAVE INCLUDED COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT . ALL YOUR NONPROFIT SUPPORT WILL BE IN CITY COUNCIL. AND THEN THIS IS IN CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE , I MEAN, YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR IT. I PUT IT IN HERE BECAUSE IT IS A PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY. SO I HAVE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE ESD, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ABOUT THE RISK AND THE THREAT OF THEM HAVING THEIR TRUCKS ON THE ROADS , BLOCKING TRAFFIC WHENEVER THERE IS AN AUTO ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON THING TO DO. THEY WILL DRIVE UP WITH THEIR $3 MILLION APPARATUS AND BLOCK TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ON FOOT DOING WORK ON SITE. MAYBE THEY ARE JUST STANDING AROUND AND DOING SOMETHING, OR MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE A LIFE. EITHER WAY, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THAT TRUCK BEING PARKED THERE IS TO KEEP TRAFFIC FROM HITTING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE ROAD. SO, SCORPIONS ARE THE TRUCKS THAT YOU TYPICALLY SEE THAT HAVE THE YELLOW CRASH BARRIER THAT FOLDS DOWN ON THE BACK, THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED A SCORPION, BECAUSE THE TALE UNFOLDS. I HAVE ASKED CHIEF IF HE WOULD SEE VALUE IN HAVING A SCORPION THAT WE COULD HELP FUND AND THEN USE WHENEVER THEY
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DON'T HAVE TO DEPLOY IT FOR THE ROADWORK THAT OUR CREWS MIGHT BE DOING. SO, I DID PUT HALF FUNDING IN THERE FOR THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. IF AN APPARATUS GETS HIT , RIGHT NOW, THE LAST I CHECKED, IT IS A 4-5 YEAR WAIT TIME TO BUILD A NEW APPARATUS. THAT IS THE LEAD TIME FOR A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. SO, IF IT GETS TOTALED, THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS DOWN FOR FOUR YEARS. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CANNOT GO BUY A USED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR WHATEVER. BUT IT IS A REAL THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT I CONSIDER COULD BE DONE BETTER WITH THE RIGHT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. OKAY. CITY SECRETARY, WE ARE LOOKING TO UTILIZE IRON MOUNTAIN TO GET OUR OFF-SITE DOCUMENT STORAGE UP AND RUNNING. THIS WILL ALLOW OUR RECORDS RETENTION TO ACTUALLY THRIVE . AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT FIND RECORDS, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T FIND THINGS AND THAT IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE IN AN ORGANIZATION LIKE OURS . SO, WE HAVE TO GET ON TOP OF THAT, AND WITH LAURA COMING ON BOARD, SHE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN BEING ABLE TO GET THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT UNDER CONTROL. SO, PART OF THAT EXERCISE IS DOCUMENTING EVERYTHING , IDENTIFYING WHAT BOX IT IS IN.THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO STORE IT. AND THAT IS WHAT IRON MOUNTAIN WOULD DO. BECAUSE WE WOULD USE THE STORAGE THERE.
COMMUNICATIONS, WE ARE LOOKING AT A BROADCASTING APPLICATION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET. A PROPOSITION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THEIR MEDIA PRESENCE. WE ARE RECOMMENDING TRANSITIONING FROM AN EMPHASIS ON PRINT, I AM NOT SAYING WE WON'T DO PRINT, BUT AN EMPHASIS ON PRINT TO AN EMPHASIS ON DIGITAL ADS, INSTEAD, WHICH ARE TARGETED.
THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO TAKE OVER THE PEG CHANNEL AND ACTUALLY START UTILIZING THE PUBLIC PODCAST CHANNEL. HOOT SUITE IS ON THERE TO HELP MANAGE ALL THE SOCIALS, AND A NEW COMMUNITY CALENDAR APP. RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOT A VERY GOOD WAY FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS TO GET PUBLISHED INTO A GENERAL LOCATION. WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT ON OUR APP, OUR CALENDAR THAT WE RUN ONLINE. THIS IS AN ACTUAL APPLICATION THAT ALLOWS THE MANAGEMENT OF THAT. NOW YOUR HOAS, YOUR BOY SCOUTS, ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE DOING THINGS CAN ALL GO PUT THEIR EVENTS ON A JOINT CALENDAR FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'M SORRY, MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST. I AM NOT GOING TO RECOVER THE FTES, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT THOSE DO. BUT THIS IS WHERE THEY LIVE. COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CULTURE, THERE IS FUNDING FOR STARTING A PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, AND THERE IS AN EMPHASIS ON THE NONPROFIT FAIR AND MAKING THAT A MORE ATTENDED AND FOCUSED EVENT. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO PAUSE RIGHT HERE AND SAY IS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE REORG THAT I DID EARLIER THIS YEAR, NOT TERRIBLY LONG AGO, BUT IT WENT INTO EFFECT IN JUNE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I DID WAS REALLOCATE WHO IS DOING WHAT. AND ONE OF THE BIG REALLOCATIONS WAS THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WAS BASICALLY DOING ALL OF OUR EVENTS. AND THOSE TWO LADIES WHO YOU ALL ARE WELL FAMILIAR WITH, WHO ARE DOING ALL THOSE EVENTS. INSTEAD, IT SEEMED MORE APPROPRIATE TO SPLIT THE EVENTS OVER INTO PARKS AND RECREATION, WHERE EVENTS TYPICALLY LIVE, AND THAT ALLOWED ME TO RE-TASK THOSE TWO LADIES TO OTHER ROLES. AND ONE OF THEM IS TO FOCUS ON OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CULTURE.
THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SEEING THIS BEING USED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THE VALUE ADD HERE IS BASICALLY AN AI INPUT INTO A LOT OF THE PROCEDURAL RESPONSES TO REQUEST. SO, THIS IS JUST A STANDARD REQUEST THAT HAS A STANDARD RESPONSE. IT HAS PREBUILT RESPONSES AND PREBUILT ANSWERS, THAT SORT OF STUFF. SO, THAT WILL HELP SPEED UP PROCESSING TIME AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INHERITED SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WERE MORE FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN AND/OR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SO, HOLIDAYS IN HUTTO IS OVER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND BUDGETED APPROPRIATELY FOR THAT. WE HAVE ADDED CAPACITY FOR CORPORATE RELATIONS AND SPONSORSHIP . SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID IN THE REORG WAS TAKE ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH WHO HAS A PASSION FOR AND HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE IN ACTUALLY FUNDRAISING. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES PUBLICLY, BUT IT WE HAPPEN TO HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO WANTED TO BE OUT , STARTING TO DEVELOP SPONSORSHIPS. FOR THE
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COMMUNITY. SO, I HAVE REASSIGNED HER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FIGURING THAT THAT IS THE BEST PLACE TO OVERSEE THAT SORT OF EFFORT. AND HER FOCUS GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR WILL BE TO FOCUS ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS AND TO SEEKING SPONSORSHIP FUNDS FOR VARIOUS THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. THEN WE ALSO HAVE ENHANCED LAND-USE AND DEVELOPMENT TRAINING. SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES THEY HAVE TO OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND THAT IS IN THEIR CONTROL RESPONSIBLY. SO, THEY ARE LOOKING TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES, STAFF, AND BOARD ON LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT BASICS. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE A PUBLIC PREPAREDNESS EVENT BUDGETED . ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS BY USING SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY. EMERGENCY SUPPLIES. ALSO, A SMALL, CLIMATE CONTROLLED WAREHOUSE UNIT. AND THEN, WEATHER STATIONS. THESE ARE LIVE WEATHER STATIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS PROPOSED TO BE OUT OF BRUSHY CREEK. SO WE GET LIVE WEATHER, LIGHTNING STRIKES, THAT SORT OF STUFF, REAL-TIME. IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OTHER DECISIONS, PARTICULARLY AS WE START TO RAMP UP THE AMOUNT OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON OUTSIDE. BUT, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO SEVERE WEATHER , JUST GENERALLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT HAVE TO RELY ON SENSORS IN AUSTIN OR ROUND ROCK PICKING UP STUFF WHENEVER WE HAVE AROUND. ENGINEERING, THEY ARE LOOKING , THEIR BIGGEST VALUE ADDS THAT I PULLED OUT WERE ADDING IN THE GPS EQUIPMENT. THIS WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO BASIC SURVEYING.THAT IS A GOOD TIME , ETHAN, THANKS FOR GETTING TACOS. THERE ARE BREAKFAST TACOS OVER THERE. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THEM, PUBLIC INCLUDED, PLEASE , EVEN THOUGH I STOPPED BECAUSE ETHAN WENT OVER THERE, IT IS NOT GOING TO DISRUPT ME. PLEASE GO GET TACOS AND HAVE DONUTS AND ALL THAT STUFF. OKAY. GPS FIELD EQUIPMENT, THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO OUT INTO THE FIELD, AND NOT ACTUALLY SURVEY LIKE A SURVEYOR WOULD SURVEY. BUT THEY CAN GO TO GATHER DATA POINTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. IT ALSO ALLOWS GATHERING DATA POINTS NOT JUST FOR LAND OR FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY, OR FOR EASEMENTS, BUT ALSO FOR LINE LOCATIONS FOR ENHANCING OUR MAPPING ABILITIES. WE NEED TO DO AN A.D.A. PLAN . THAT IS A REQUIREMENT NOW. IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO AFA'S, ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENTS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A DISABILITY PLAN ON FILE AND THAT IS A VERY COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED PLAN. IT IS NOT JUST A, WE WILL PUT IN SIDEWALKS AND PUT IN RAMPS. SO, THAT IS BEING FUNDED BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE PARTNERSHIP IS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO HAVE ONE. AN OWNERS REP . THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY NEW TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT THIS IS USUALLY A THIRD PARTY WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL PROJECT MANAGER , PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR, CONSULTANT, PROJECT MANAGER THAT YOU HIRED OVERSEE BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. I.E., WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BEING BUILT IS $180 MILLION.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE TO BE COST OVERRUNS, OR THINGS TO KIND OF SLIDE HERE AND THERE. AN OWNERS REP IS ON SITE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE EXACTLY RIGHT. AND WHENEVER THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO TACKLE A PARTICULAR CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGE , AND THEY GENERALLY HAVE PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT ON WHAT TO SUGGEST. THEY CAN COORDINATE WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO FIND THE BEST COST ALTERNATIVE. AND THEY ARE ALSO ASKING FOR MICROSOFT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO HELP BUFFER ORDER TO ENHANCE THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT , PROJECT MANAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE GOING ON. THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN ENGINEERING, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TELL, THERE IS A LOT. SO, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE THE BUILDING FINISH OUT, IT WILL JUST BE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT WE THINK WILL BLEED OVER MAYBE INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO I PUT A LITTLE BIT THERE TO GET THAT DONE. RIGHT NOW THE GYM BUILDING SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER. THAT IS THE PART THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, THE OCTOBER PART. THEN WE HAVE REGULAR AC REPLACEMENT GOING ON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND FOR THE CITY HALL GENERATOR, NOW THAT WE SEE THE GENERATOR IS THE SIZE OF A LOCOMOTIVE OUT THERE, WE HAVE TO BUILD THE SCREENING UP HIGHER , BECAUSE THE GENERATORS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SCREENED FROM THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS. SO, THOSE DOLLARS ARE IN THERE TO ALLOW US TO BUILD THE SCREEN UP HIGHER. FINANCE AND MUNICIPAL COURT. VALUE ADDS HERE ARE FOCUSES ON PROCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. ONE OF THOSE, THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE REORG. ONE OF THE ACCOUNTING POSITIONS
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THAT WE HAD ON THE BOOKS THAT COUNSEL HAD AUTHORIZED, WE ARE FILLING WITH A COMPLIANCE PERSON. SO, WE ARE LOOKING FOR, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MADE A JOB OFFER OR NOT. I KNOW YOU HAD AN INTERVIEW LAST WEEK, OR THIS WEEK, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT. EITHER WAY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP SUPPORT AUDIT. SO, ALL OF THE AUDIT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO START TO TRAIN AND TEACH ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION, NOT JUST FINANCE, ON AUDIT CONTROLS. SO, IT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT THERE. BUT FOCUS ON PROCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ARE ADDING AN ARMORED CAR SERVICE, THAT CAME UP RECENTLY, AND NOW WE KNOW WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO OUTSOURCE THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE, SO OUR INVESTMENT TEAM WAS FINE WHENEVER WE WERE MANAGING $30 MILLION OR SOMETHING, BUT NOW WE ARE MANAGING CLOSE TO HALF $1 BILLION . SO, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE WATCHING THIS AND MAINTAINING IT, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY ARE ACTUALLY INVESTMENT ADVISERS. SO, HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET GOOD RETURNS, BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD BE DANGEROUS OR RISKY. THAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE WAY THAT WE INVEST OUR RESOURCES. AND THE LAST ONE IS A PROCUREMENT SOFTWARE. WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF HICCUPS WITH PROCUREMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. AND PART OF THE ISSUE THAT WE ARE ENCOUNTERING RIGHT NOW IS THAT ALL OF OUR BEDS, RFPS, THOSE ARE ALL WORD DOCUMENTS THAT ARE BEING EDITED BY A PERSON AND THEN POSTED. E PROCUREMENT WOULD STANDARDIZE ALL OF THAT, AND IT WOULD ALSO BE A PLATFORM WHERE PEOPLE COULD SUBMIT THERE, I'M SORRY, I CANNOT THINK OF THE TERM. NO, NO, IT IS WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE A VENDOR. THANK YOU. REGISTERED VENDOR. SO THEY CAN REGISTER AS A VENDOR. NO MORE OF THE HAY, WHO DO I ASK TO GET TOLD ABOUT THIS BID. IT WILL ACTUALLY BE A REGISTRY. THEN WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR LOCAL HUTTO BUSINESSES TO GO REGISTER , SO THEY FIND OUT NOW WHENEVER WE ARE GOING TO POST A BID ON WHATEVER THE THING MAY BE. FLEET MAINTENANCE. HUMAN RESOURCES.SO, WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD AN EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MODULE TO OUR NEO-GUV, WHICH IS THE SAME SYSTEM YOU GUYS ARE USING TO REVIEW THE BOARD AND COMMISSION APPLICATIONS. WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO TRACK AND UNDERSTAND INTERNALLY WHAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE , LIKE THEIR SUMMARY OF THEMSELVES . ALL THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE , ALL THE EDUCATION THEY HAVE OBTAINED, ALL THE CERTIFICATES THEY HAVE, AND HOW THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN. AND IT DOES NOT SAY A SPECIFICALLY, BUT THERE IS ALSO AN ON BOARDING MODULE WHICH STANDARDIZES ON BOARDING, AS WELL. SO, NOW IT IS MORE COLLABORATIVE, FOR SURE. BUT THIS WOULD BASICALLY ALLOW IT TO BE SET UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT HEY, WE ARE GETTING A NEW POLICE OFFICER. HERE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT THE NEW POLICE OFFICER NEEDS, FROM ORDERING EQUIPMENT , TO ACCESS TO THESE SYSTEMS, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND IT BECOMES A CHECKLIST THAT CAN BE MANAGED. THE SUPERVISOR ACADEMY, SO THERE IS AN EMPHASIS NOW ON DEVELOPING INTERNALLY. OUR ABILITY TO SUPERVISE . WE HAVE STARTED THE SUPERVISOR ACADEMY ALREADY. WE HAD JUST BEEN DOING IT WITH BOOTSTRAPS. THIS WILL BE PUTTING IN SOME MONEY TO HIRE IN SOME OUTSIDE SPEAKERS TO COME, TO REALLY ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING THERE. AND THEN, A NEW EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION SYSTEM. THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING OUR RECOGNITION RIGHT NOW, BY NORMALIZING IT, STANDARDIZING IT, AND MAKING IT TO WHERE YOU GET YOUR FIVE YEAR AWARD, YOU HAVE SO MUCH MONEY, QUOTE UNQUOTE, CREDIT TO GO CHOOSE YOUR FIVE YEAR GIFT.
THAT'S HER THING. OR HEY, JEFF DID A GREAT JOB AND SINCE BOTH JETS ARE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER I CAN THIS POINT IN THAT DIRECTION. WHICHEVER ONE OF THEM THINKS THEY DID A GREAT JOB WILL LOOK UP. BUT JEFF DID A GREAT JOB, AND THIS CITIZEN REPORTED IN AND WANTED TO GIVE A KUDOS . RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE HUTTO HIGH-FIVES FOR THAT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO CALL THEM HUTTO HIGH-FIVES. NOW THEY CAN BE PUT INTO THE SOFTWARE AND JEFF WOULD GET POTENTIALLY A CREDIT TO MAYBE GET A MASSAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT IS BUILT IN. WE PRE-FUND WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT, THAT IS HOW THE RECOGNITION WORKS. MAYBE I SHOULDN'T HAVE CHOSE MASSAGE. THAT WAS A BAD CHOICE. A GRILL.
I.T. APPROVED TECHNOLOGY WITHIN CITY HALL. EMPHASIS ON INVENTORY TOOLS. ENHANCED CYBER AND MANAGED RISK SOFTWARES AND
[00:50:02]
CONTROLS. AND THEN REPLACING OR UPGRADING THE NETWORK, OF COURSE, WHICH IS AT ALL THE CITY FACILITIES. SO, THIS ALLOWS FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION . LIBRARY HAS MAINTAINING OPERATIONS. PARKS AND REC , HERE ARE VALUE ADDS. THERE ARE A LOT OF VALUE ADDS THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. THEY ARE INHERITING ALL OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT DID NOT GET BROKEN UP AND SENT SOMEWHERE ELSE. WHICH ARE JULY 4TH, AND , I MEAN, THERE IS A LONG LIST THAT HE COULD READ YOU OFF. BUT YOU WILL SEE IT IN HIS BUDGET FOR PARKS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD IN CULTURAL FESTIVALS. WE ARE LOOKING TO FUND OUR FIRST PARADE, WHICH WOULD BE MEMORIAL DAY. SO THE ADDITIONAL CULTURAL EVENTS, BESIDES JUST A HOLDER FOR THE CULTURAL FESTIVAL ITSELF, DIA DOES MY TOAST.FUNDING FOR JUNETEENTH. CHRISTMAS TO CORE, THAT IS OR DOWNTOWN. AND THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO DO A WALKING LIGHT TRAIL FOR CHRISTMAS, FOR THE HOLIDAY, AS ANOTHER WAY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AND TO HAVE THEM JUST HAVE A PASSIVE WAY TO ENJOY THE COMMUNITY. PARKS HAS REQUESTED A DEBRIS REMOVAL CHAMBER. THIS IS IN LINE WITH A LOT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES WE ARE DOING. THIS IS , EFFECTIVELY, A BOX TRAILER THAT WOULD HAVE CHAINSAWS AND GRAVELS, BAGS, LEAF BLOWERS, WEED EATERS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. AXIS, I ASSUME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL WOULD BE IN THERE. BUT THE IDEA IS TWO FOLD. ONE, IF WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF DEBRIS DOWN, YOU HAVE A PRESET MOBILE DEPLOYMENT.
NUMBER TWO, WHEN OUR HLA IS LOOKING TO DO A CLEANUP DAY, OR SOME SORT OF EMPHASIS ON CLEANING UP DEBRIS OR DOING TRASH OR MOVER, OR EARTH DAY, OR ANY OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, WE COULD LOAD THE TRAILER TO THE HLA TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE EQUIPMENT TO DO THEIR WORK . AND THAT IS A GOOD THING, IT LOOKS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, TOO. SO, EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR OR I HAVE ASKED FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELATED ITEMS, I TRY TO FIND THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO WHENEVER THEY ARE NOT BEING DEPLOYED FOR AN EMERGENCY.
OBVIOUSLY YOU CANNOT PLAY MR READS ALL THE TIME, BUT IF IT IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN USE REGULARLY, THEN I WANT US TO FIND A WAY TO USE IT REGULARLY. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. ALSO, DOWNTOWN IRRIGATION REPAIR AND A MULTIFUNCTIONAL SKID STEER . I AM CALLING IT A SKID STEER BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THAT IS. THE NAME OF THE EQUIPMENT IS ACTUALLY AVANT , BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO MOST PEOPLE. SO I USE THE SKID STEER. POLICE, BESIDES THE FTE VALUE ADDS, WE ARE LOOKING TO START UP A POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD THIS YEAR. THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY , FOR VISIBILITY. PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOLIDAYS THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY PATRIOTIC. BUT ALSO FOR MEMORIALS AND PARADES, THAT SORT OF STUFF . AND THEN, THE HONOR GUARDS ACTUALLY COMPETE AND IT HELPS RAISE AWARENESS FOR PD IN HUTTO AMONGST OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT ADDING IN CODE ENFORCEMENT SOFTWARE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW CODE ENFORCEMENT ON SITE LANDS. SO, ALL THAT TROUBLE WE GO INTO GETTING PEOPLE TO PLANT TREES AND PLANT SHRUBS, AND THEY GET THEIR APPROVALS AND FIVE YEARS LATER ALL THEIR TREES AND SHRUBS ARE DEAD AND NOBODY'S SAYING ANYTHING? CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL NOW BE ABLE TO GO AND ENFORCE SITE LAND BY UTILIZING THE SOFTWARE. POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALSO ASK FOR A CONNEX BOX OFFICE SPACE . THIS IS BASICALLY LIKE A SHIPPING CONTAINER WITH AIR-CONDITIONING UNITS IN IT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY OF DESCRIBING IT, TO GIVE THEM FLEXSPACE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATELY NEEDING. WE ARE ALSO EXTENDING CITY HALL AND HOSTING SOME OF PD OVER HERE. BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR. THEY ALSO HAVE SOME SEVERE ISSUES WITH THEIR ANNEX BUILDING , HAVING LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS . AND WE ARE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THE CAUSE AND THE SOURCE OF THAT. BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED THOSE, TOO. AND SOME SPECIALIZED DRONES. YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW THE INFRARED DRONE CAME IN HANDY FOR A PARTICULAR CASE NOT TOO TERRIBLY LONG AGO. THESE
[00:55:02]
WOULD ALLOW FOR EVEN ADDITIONAL CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING INSIDE OF A BUILDING. AND I WILL JUST KIND OF LEAVE IT AT THAT. PUBLIC WORKS. MOSTLY THE EMPHASIS HERE IS ON INVESTING IN AN ASSET OR WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. SO, CURRENTLY THAT IS ALL BEING HANDLED BY HAND. YOU KNOW, TYPING IT IN, FIGURING OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. SO, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TIER OF WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY SIDE . SO, RIGHT NOW, WHENEVER WE DEPLOY THE COMMUNITY SOFTWARE THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO REPORT POTHOLES AND ALL THAT , THIS WILL TAKE THAT POTHOLE REQUEST AND SLATE IT INTO THE WORK ORDER SYSTEM TO GET THE WORK DONE. BUT IT WILL ALSO HELP TRACK INVENTORY , MATERIAL, THAT SORT OF STUFF, WHICH IS NOT REALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. NOT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN REPORT OUT, ANYWAY. WE CAN GO LOOK AND SEE HOW MUCH SAND IS OUT THERE, BUT THERE IS NO METRIC FOR ME TO REPORT THAT BACK OUT INTO LOOK AND SEE WHAT OUR DATA LOOKS LIKE. STREETS AND DRAINAGE. THERE IS A LOT HERE. I AM NOT SURPRISED, THERE IS A LOT HERE IN STREETS AND DRAINAGE. WE DO HAVE THE DRAINAGE CREW . THE VALUE ADDS HERE, RIGHT NOW I HAVE FULL FUNDING OF THE ROAD MAINTENANCE PLAN, ALL $2.1 MILLION. THERE IS FUNDING FOR SIDEWALK REPAIRS , STARTING SIGNAL OPERATIONS, DOING DRAINAGE REPAIRS . THERE IS FUNDING FOR A MINI EXCAVATOR, A DUMP TRUCK, SOME CRACK SEAL EQUIPMENT , A DRUM ROLLER FOR STREETS, AND OF COURSE, THE DRAINAGE CREW. I AM RECOMMENDING THAT THESE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT BE PAID FOR WITH LEASE PURCHASES, WHICH SPREADS OUT THE COST OF EQUIPMENT OVER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, RATHER THAN PLAYING THE FULL FREIGHT UP FRONT AND GETTING ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO, FYI.STRATEGIC OPS, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING. SO IT IS TIME FOR US TO START TALKING ABOUT KPIS, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENT AND MEASUREMENT. THAT IS NOT A CAPABILITY THAT THE CITIES HAD IN THE PAST, I AM THAT I'M AWARE OF. BUT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW IT IS TIME FOR US TO START DOING THAT . THAT ALSO HELPS THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITH BUDGET. 'S WE CAN START REPORTING BACK OUT ON HOW MANY, I DON'T KNOW, LINEAR FEED OR CRACK SEALING DID YOU ACTUALLY DO LAST YEAR.
NOW WE WILL HAVE A WAY TO START TRACKING THAT, TOO. THIS IS THE, PULLING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO MEASURE ALL OF THAT, THAT'S NOT ANY SOFTWARE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. OKAY. THAT WAS THE GENERAL FUND. NOW LET'S GO UTILITY FUND. UTILITIES . WE HAVE THE POSITIONS AND THE VALUE ADDS HERE, WE HAVE THE UTILITY RATE STUDIES. SO THIS IS WRITING THE PROJECTIONS FOR WHAT ARE UTILITY RATES NEED TO BE. WE HAVE FUNDING FOR A PRETREATMENT PROGRAM TO BE CREATED AND ESTABLISHED. THAT IS FOR SEWER, FOR INDUSTRIAL, PREDOMINANTLY. THE WORK ORDER SYSTEM IS IN BOTH PLACES, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC WORKS IS GENERAL FUND AND UTILITY FUND. THE UTILITY FUND IS ASKED FOR A SERVICE TRUCK WITH A CRANE, THIS ALLOWS THEM TO LIFT AND LOWER ITEMS INTO THE HOLDS THAT THEY ARE DIGGING IN . IT CAN ALSO HELP THEM PULL MOTORS FROM AFTER THE LIFT STATION HAS HAD THE MOTOR PULLED OUT, AND THIS CAN HELP GET THE MOTOR OVER IN. IS BASICALLY LIKE AN ENGINE HOIST, THAT IS FISCALLY WHAT IT IS LIKE. AND SEWER CAMERA INSPECTION EQUIPMENT. RIGHT NOW IF SOMEONE HAS A SEWER BACKUP WE DO NOT HAVE A GREAT WAY OF GOING VERY FAR. WE CAN GO A SHORT PERIOD, A SHORT DISTANCE TO LOOK. THIS IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT IS BASICALLY LIKE A REMOTE CONTROL CAR WITH A CAMERA ON IT, WITH A TETHER BACK. SO IT CAN CRAWL DOWN THE LINE MUCH FURTHER, AND IT CAN GO INTO LARGER LINES. SO, UTILITY BILLING IS MAINTAINING SERVICES. ALL RIGHT, NOW, WHENEVER WE SAY BUDGETING IS COMPLICATED , THIS IS A LIST OF ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO BUDGET FOR. SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TWO. GENERAL FUND AND UTILITY FUND. BUT THIS IS THE LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT FINANCE HAS TO RECONCILE. NOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS HAVE ZERO OR VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THEM. BUT ALL THE SAME, I JUST LIKE TO PUT THIS UP, TO KEEP IT IN THE PERSPECTIVE. WHICH IS WHY WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND BUDGET, YEAH, WELL, THERE'S PROBABLY A GOOD REASON YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND BUDGET. THIS IS VERY COMPETENT. WE TALKED ABOUT TWO UP THERE ON THAT
[01:00:02]
LIST. SOME OF THE ITEMS WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BEING FUNDED IN THE CIP ARE BEING FUNDED FROM THESE FUNDS. WHICH IS WHY THERE ARE MUCH MORE, I PUT THEM UP HERE. LET'S TALK ABOUT CIP. HEARS ALL OF THE STREET PROJECTS THAT ARE SLATED TO EITHER BE FUNDED IN 25, AND SOMETIMES FUNDING MEANS THAT IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN 25. SOMETIMES FUNDED MEANS THAT IT WILL BE DESIGNED IN 25. AND SOMETIMES FUNDED MEANS IT WILL BE DONE IN 25 IF WE GET MONEY FROM ANOTHER SOURCE. LIKE DEVELOPERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO, THIS IS THE LIST.LEGENDS OF HUTTO DRAINAGE DISHES, WE HAVE THE RECURRING SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION , ALL THE EXISTING PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING AT 1616 NORTH AND SOUTH, WE HAVE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR 137 . IN 1660 SOUTH. AND I THINK THAT ACTUALLY IS IN CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE LAKESIDE ESTATES PHASE TWO, I BELIEVE THAT IS SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE COUNTY ROAD 132 OVERPASS, THE MEGA SIDE EAST-WEST ROAD, WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL BE PROBABLY COMPLETED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR. WE HAVE THE LIVE OAK RECONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS, TRAFFIC CIRCLE IMPROVEMENT, INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, AND THAT IS THE ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HELPING CHANGE ON. WE HAVE STARTING BOULEVARD RECONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE COUNTY ROAD RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE ASTERISKS MEAN DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION. COUNTY ROAD 199 RECONSTRUCTION, THAT IS JUST THE FUNDING FOR RE-TOPPING THE 500,000, I THINK IT WAS. WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THE 3349 BRIDGE BEAUTIFICATION, BY THE WAY, I TO PUT AN ASTERISK HERE.
I WAS JUST TOLD THAT OH, YEAH, NOW ANY MORE MONEY. SO I'M HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PERMISSION OR BOWLS ABOUT THAT.
I AM ALSO TALKING INTO THE CITY MANAGER TAYLOR TO MAKE SURE THAT TAYLOR AND HUTTO ARE GOING TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE. EITHER WE ARE BOTH GOING TO DO THE SAME THING OR WE ARE BOTH GOING TO DO NOTHING. THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO BE. WE HAVE THE ALLIANCE EXPANSION PROJECT THAT GOT MOVED UP, AND WE HAVE THE 132 WIDENING BETWEEN LIMBER AND 133. WE HAVE LIMBER LOOP FROM INNOVATION TO ED SCHMIDT . THAT IS THE LIST OF STREET PROJECTS FOR 2025. THAT IS NOT AN UNSUBSTANTIAL LIST . SO . WE ARE INVESTING IN ROADS. PARKS AND FACILITIES. HEARS EVERYTHING THAT IS FUNDED BASED OFF OF THE CIP WORKSHOP THAT THE COUNCIL DID. FRITZ PARK . WE HAVE TRAIL LIGHTING.
VETERANS MEMORIAL, YMCA IMPROVEMENTS. TRAILING PERMITS FOR CROSS CREEK TO CREEKSIDE. TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS FROM ADAM MORGAN. SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AT MULTIPLE PARKS. PICKLE BALL COURTS ARE STARTING, NOT FULLY EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED LAST YEAR. RESTROOM. HUTTO LAKE PARK, THIS IS A LIMITED IMPROVEMENT, IF MEMORY SERVES. TRAIL EXTENSION AT HUTTO LAKE PARK SOUTH, WHICH IS ALSO , I THINK THAT WHAT IS AWAITING FUNDING FOR SOMETHING. THAT IS WHY HAVE THE ASTERISK. HUTTO PARK PLAYGROUND. THE LIBRARY FACILITY PLAN. THE RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTER PLAN. AND THE AQUATIC CENTER PLAN. SORRY, I LEFT A FACILITY PLAN OVER THAT. THAT IS PARKS AND FACILITIES FUNDED. UTILITIES, HERE'S THE LONG LIST. MORE PEOPLE, IF I READ ALL THESE THINGS, THIS DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYBODY EXCEPT FOR US. THEY ALL ARE. IS WEST WATER AND WATER PROJECTS THAT ARE ALL FUNDED. ALL RIGHT. NEXT STEPS . AUGUST 1ST, I WILL BE PRESENTING THE BUDGET TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE COUNCIL OFFICIALLY. I THINK YOU WILL ACTUALLY HAVE IT DIGITALLY THE DAY BEFORE. AND YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUDGET BOOK.
YOU WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CLEAR GOD OF BUDGETING SOFTWARE. SO WE DID THAT FOR YOU GUYS LAST YEAR. BUT IF YOU RECALL, IT KIND OF CAME A LITTLE LATE BECAUSE WE WERE STILL IN PERMITTING AND DEPLOYING CLEAR GOD. BUT THAT IS NOT A CASE THIS YEAR. SO YOU WILL BE GETTING ACCESS TO IT. I THINK EITHER THURSDAY OR FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK, BASICALLY AT THE SAME TIME. AUGUST 8TH WE HAVE PUBLICATION OF THE NO NEW REVENUE, SO THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO PAY ATTENTION.
IS WHAT THURSDAY MEETINGS IN AUGUST. AUGUST 8TH IS PUBLICATION OF NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATES.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO SUBMIT AND POST ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
AUGUST 15TH IS COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE TAX RATE, TAKE THE RECORD VOTE, AND SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND AUGUST 27 IS SCHEDULED TO BE A SEVEN -- SPECIAL BUDGET WORK SESSION.
SEPTEMBER 5TH IS THE EXPECTED HEARING AND TAX RATE DAY. ON SEPTEMBER 12TH IS THE DAY THAT WE ANTICIPATE COUNSEL TAKING
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FINAL VOTES AND ADOPTING THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE HEADED. THIS DOES, BY THE WAY, GET US INTO COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ASKED WITH LAST YEAR. YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WAS BEING A LITTLE HORSEY BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THIS OFFICE SOME OF THE CHANGES WE HAVE MADE ON THE TAX RATE. THEY HAVE ASKED THAT WE DELIVER THAT BY SEPTEMBER 15TH. SO THIS PUTS US IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT. SO WE ARE A LITTLE BIT, WELL, WE ARE BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR WITH THAT. ALL RIGHT, I THREW THIS BACKUP CLOSER TO THE END IN CASE ANYBODY A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.>> QUICK QUESTION, DOES THAT MEAN THERE COUNCIL MEETINGS
EVERY THURSDAY OF AUGUST? >> I WILL HAVE STAFF REACH OUT TO COUNSEL WITH THE SET SCHEDULE COUNCIL MEETINGS. I WANT TO SAY THERE WAS PLAN TO BE A COUNCIL MEETING ON THE EIGHTH, BUT I CANNOT RECALL RIGHT NOW IF THAT IS STILL ON THE SCHEDULE OR NOT. SO, AT THE END OF THIS MEETING, I WILL HAVE DAVID AND ALBERTA PAIR UP AND SEND OUT ALL THE NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE THURSDAY MEETINGS THAT ARE SET. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SATURDAY MEETINGS IN AUGUST, IF MEMORY SERVES. SO WE ARE KIND OF DONE WITH THE WEEKENDS AFTER THIS WEEKEND, AND LESS COUNSEL, I GUESS THERE IS AUGUST 3RD ONE THE COUNCIL HAS SET FOR THE TOWN HALL. BUT, BEYOND THAT, THERE'S NOT ANY SATURDAY IS THE STAFF IS PLANNING. SO, OKAY. SO, THIS IS WHERE I'M ASKING FOR REFLECTIONS FROM YOU ALL, IF YOU HAVE ANY. ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAD HOPED TO SEE, THAT I DID NOT OR, THAT I FELT A HIGHLIGHT. IT MIGHT BE THAT I INCLUDED BUT JUST FAILED TO HIGHLIGHT IT. I WILL BE TAKING NOTES ON THAT. ETHAN, THEY WILL BE TAKING NOTES. AND ANY OTHER ITEMS, SO ANY OTHER THING THAT I DID NOT REFLECT THAT WAS A PRIORITY, THAT I SHOULD HAVE. ANYTHING THAT I DID REFLECT THAT YOU THINK IS NOT WHAT WE NEED TO BE. AND ANY OTHER BUDGET RELATED ITEMS THAT YOU CAN COME OF WITH FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. I WILL TURN THE FLOOR BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE COMMENTS AND
DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL. >> JUST GENERAL UNDERSTANDING, IF YOU THINK I'VE KIND OF SETTLED. I'M SAYING YOUR SATISFIED, BUT DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE APPROACHED AND TACKLED THE GUEST CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE OR THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAD, OR THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE SURVEYS AND WHAT NOT? AND IF THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU WILL WANT TO SEE THE DID NOT GET INCLUDED, OR THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED THAT YOU THINK OUGHT NOT TO BE. AND I UNDERSTAND YOU CANNOT VOTE. THIS IS JUST YOU EXPRESSING WHAT YOU THINK. BUT
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT. >> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL?
>> SO, JUST AS A PRESENTATION KIND OF THING, AS WE GET TO BUDGET, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TRADE-OFFS. IN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS POTENTIAL TO TRADE OFF OUR POSITIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED YET. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE GET HIGHLIGHTED. THE VACANCIES ARE CURRENTLY APPROVED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED, BECAUSE THOSE ARE PLACE WHERE WE MAY DECIDE A NEW POSITION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT ONE, AND IT WILL BE TRADE-OFFS BACK AND FORTH. THOSE ARE, I DON'T KNOW A GREAT WAY TO SAY IT, BUT THOSE ARE KIND OF A TARGET FOR POTENTIALLY SAVING IN ONE AREA AND SPENDING IT
SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> DULY NOTED, WE WILL PROVIDE A LIST OF VACANCIES THAT ARE POSTED AT THE TOP.
>> I AM NOT QUITE SURE IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE THIS WAS KIND OF PERSONNEL HEAVY, AND PROJECTS THAT WILL BE DONE, BUT I GUESS MINE IS JUST THE ROAD MAINTENANCE FUND THAT WE HAVE . LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS APPROPRIATE
CONVERSATION FOR THIS. >> SHORTEST.
>> YEAH, JUST CURIOUS AS TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION, OBVIOUSLY WE WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT ON THURSDAY. BUT JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHERE WE ARE AT WITH THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE CONSISTENT IN THE BUDGET. BUT , YOU KNOW, JUST WANTING TO KNOW WHERE THAT KIND OF FITS IN WITH MAYBE SOME OF
THE PROJECTS. >> ARE YOU TALKING SPECIFIC --
>> I GUESS THE PLAN FOR PROPOSED MONEY.
>> ARE YOU TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT
FEE FUND? >> NO, NOT NECESSARILY. JUST
ROAD MAINTENANCE FUND. >> THERE IS NOT A ROAD MAINTENANCE FUND RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, WE CAN CREATE ONE IF THAT IS WHAT COUNSEL WANTS TO DO, BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS 2.1 MILLION THAT IS FUNDED INSIDE OF STREETS, INSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND THE NEXT THING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE IS THE LIST OF ALL THE PROJECTS, ALL THE SEGMENTS OF ROAD LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR. THAT ARE SLATED TO BE DONE WITH THAT 2.1 MILLION
FOR THAT YEAR. >> PERFECT, THAT IS WHAT I WAS
LOOKING FOR. >> ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, I THOUGHT WE HAD PROPOSED MOVING IT, MAYBE IT
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DID NOT GET MOVED. THE EXCHANGE BOULEVARD. WE HAD TALKED ABOUTMAYBE MOVING THAT. >> I WILL LET MATT TALK ABOUT THE CIP'S, SINCE HE TOLD ME WHAT GOES WHERE.
>> DOES ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER? >> T 15?
>> YEAH, A SCOPE CHANGE. IT WAS A SCOPE CHANGE, NOT GOING TO DO THE WHOLE ROAD. JUST THE INTERSECTION.
>> OKAY, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. WE WERE GOING TO FOCUS ON MAYBE ROUNDING DOWN OR WHATEVER WE DECIDED TO FIX LIVE
OAK. >> AND YOU ALL WILL HAVE THE TABLE THAT RECTOR PREPARED FROM THAT SATURDAY . YOU ALL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. SO, WHENEVER YOU SEE T WHATEVER, YOU CAN GO AND LOOK AT THAT SHEET. AND IT SHOULD REFLECT WHAT WE ARE PAYING WHICH YEAR, WHETHER IT IS DEBT OR NON-DEBTS. THAT WILL ALSO BE REFLECTED OVER IN THE CAPITAL
BUDGET MODULE ON CLEAR GOES. >> I GUESS THIS WOULD'VE FALLEN, WELL, FIRST OFF, THIS WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY THOROUGH. I LOVE TO EVERY DEPARTMENT YOU WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS NEEDED, AND THE RATIONALE FOR IT. I THINK THAT GIVES US A VERY GOOD CLARITY INTO NOT ONLY THE DAY TODAY, BUT ALSO HOW THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS MOVING FORWARD, NOT JUST IN THE SHORT TERM. I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT . AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE THOUGHTFULNESS THAT WENT INTO THE NEEDS FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.
I THINK OFTEN TIMES YOU CAN GET SO FOCUSED ON THE HERE AND NOW THAT YOU DON'T PRIORITIZE FOR FUTURE NEEDS . SO I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT. SO, GREAT JOB ALL THE WAY AROUND . STAFF, YOURSELF, GREAT JOB, EVERYONE. I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD PAT THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR THIS. THIS IS GREAT. WHAT I DID NOT SEE THAT I WAS REALLY HOPING TO SEE WAS I THINK THIS FALLS IN THE FY 25 ALL FUNDS. BEFORE YOU GET THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN OVERVIEW, I WOULD HAVE REALLY LIKED TO HAVE SEEN WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS FOR THOSE TWO SATURDAY WORKSHOPS THAT YOU DID WITH THE PUBLIC. I WOULD'VE APPRECIATED SEEING, BEFORE WE GET INTO WHAT IS FUNDED FOR 2025, WHAT DID THE CITIZENS SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, BASED ON THOSE TWO WORKSHOPS? WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THAT. WE HAD A LOT OF , WELL, I FEEL LIKE WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT. THE PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT, THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD. I DON'T THINK SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE WE GATHER RESPONSES. SO I WOULD'VE APPRECIATED SEEING SOME SORT OF GRAPH, SOME SORT OF CHART, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, PUT HERE BEFORE WE START SAYING ALL OF THE PLANS THAT THE CITIZENS WANTED. SO WE COULD FIGURE OUT HEY, ARE THOSE THINGS INCLUDED IN THESE FUNDED OVERVIEWS? AND THEN WE COULD SEE, HEY, COULD WE SHIP SOME PRIORITIES THERE? THAT WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL TO SEE , AT LEAST SOMEWHERE IN THIS PRESENTATION.
>> THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FEEDBACK. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT PREPARED, I JUST DID NOT MAKE A SLIDE FOR IT. DAVID PREPARED, I MEAN, I'M GOING TO CALL IT A MATRIX, BUT IT IS NOT REALLY LIKE , WELL, WE PREPARED A SHEET THAT LISTED THE PRIORITIES WEIGHTED FROM THE SURVEY. AND THE PRIORITIES WEIGHTED FROM THE SATURDAY WORKSHOP. AND FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN. WAS THERE A THIRD COLUMN ? A4 THING? I KNOW THOSE THREE THINGS, FOR SURE. YEAH, DEPARTMENT HEAD ASKED THAT WE WERE TRYING . WE ACTUALLY DID DO THAT, I JUST DID NOT INCLUDED IN THE SLIDE. I'M GOING ASK HIM TO THROW IT
UP. >> THAT MAY BE HELPFUL, AND MAYBE A FIFTH COLUMN WOULD BE WHAT IS ALREADY ON THE CIP.
WHAT IS BEEN BASED ON WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE. IF WE ALREADY HAVE THEM ON THE CIP, IF WE PUSH SOME OF THOSE BACK, IF WE HAD THEM COMING UP, THAT WAY WE HAD WHAT THE PRIORITY WAS ON SPECIFIC TIMELINES. THAT WOULD'VE BEEN HELPFUL. OR THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE
FEEDBACK, COUNCILMEMBER. >> ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE ADJOURN? ALL RIGHT, JUST GIVING EVERYBODY A CHANCE . I HAVE A COUPLE OF NOTES. AND THE IS, I AM JUST GOING TO DRAW SOME THINGS, A LOT OF THAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT. JUST THINGS THAT ARE SOME HOT BUTTON ISSUES FOR ME, AND SOME ARE THINGS FOR DISCUSSION. WE ACTUALLY GET TO THE BUDGET. SO, ONE IS I AM LOOKING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, WHAT WORKED FROM LAST YEAR? WE
[01:15:06]
ADDED A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROGRAMS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF POSITIONS. THE ONE THING ABOUT GOVERNMENT IS ONCE IT EXPANDS, IT NEVER LOOKS BACK AND SAYS HEY, THIS REALLY ISN'T WORKING.THE PUBLIC DOESN'T LIKE IT. MAYBE WE SHOULD REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LOOK. THERE IS NO WAY EVERYTHING WE DID LAST YEAR SHOULD CONTINUE. THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT EITHER WE ALLOCATED MONEY FOR THAT WE NEVER HIRED A POSITION FOR, OR SOMETHING THAT IS NOW SAVINGS.
AND I LOOK AT EVERY DOLLAR SAVED AS A DOLLAR WE ARE NOT BORROWING . RIGHT NOW WE ARE BORROWING MONEY TO BUILD SIDEWALKS. SO IF WE SAVE 200 GRAND ON WHATEVER, THAT IS 200,000 WE ARE NOT BORROWING AND NOT TAXING PEOPLE. AND THEN, I DID NOT CATCH EVERYTHING YOU ARE PROPOSING, I DID NOT CATCH WHAT THE RATE WAS GOING TO BE.
>> THAT IS BECAUSE I HAVE NOT PROPOSE THAT YET.
>> WE ARE GETTING TO THE END, OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALSO WHAT THE JOB TITLES AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CURRENT VACANCIES, I THINK THERE WAS 27. AND YOU AND I TALKED BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY THING IS RUNNING PERFECT, BUT IT IS RUNNING PRETTY GOOD. AND SO, WHAT DOES 27 MORE POSITIONS ADD TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET CAN SAY MAN, THIS IS WORKING GREAT? THIS JUST WENT SO MUCH BETTER. IF IT IS A POSITION LIKE A MARKETING POSITION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK LONG-TERM, I DON'T WANT TO SEE LAYOFFS. BUT AS VACANCIES COME UP, I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AND SEE IF WE HIRE CERTAIN POSITIONS AT THE CITY LEVEL, IS IT BETTER TO DO A THIRD PARTY? AND SOME OF OUR THIRD PARTIES, IS IT BETTER TO BE INSIDE? I THINK THE SITE PLAN REVIEWS, ONE YEAR WE SPENT $1 MILLION ON SITE PLAN REVIEWS. LIKE MY GOD, WE COULD'VE HIRED 10 PEOPLE AND SAVE MONEY.
>> AND WE HIRED ONE AND SAVE MONEY.
>> RIGHT. SO EVERYONE DOES A GOOD JOB. AND I WANT THE EMPLOYEES TO KNOW THAT, FOR ME. I THINK EVERYBODY, WITH EVERY JOB THEY ARE DOING, I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. I THINK WE HAVE TO DECIDE IS COUNSEL IS DO WE NEED ALL THESE 27 POSITIONS? DO WE NEED ALL THAT IN THE CITY? OR ARE THOSE LIKE TO HAVE? AND THEN WE TALKED SOME ABOUT, I WON'T GET INTO SPECIFIC NUMBERS, BUT I HAVE A DEEP CONCERN OVER STAFFING AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON CERTAIN SHIPS. ON SCENARIOS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EVER OCCUR. SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, AND I KNOW IT IS EASY FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO SAY LOOK, THE POLICE TAKE UP 40% OR MORE OF THE BUDGET, THEY GET PAID MORE, BUT WHAT I LIKE TO REMIND ALL THE STAFF THAT MAY OR MAY NOT THINK THAT WAY IS THAT FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF THE JOBS IN THE CITY , EVERY TIME THEY DO THEIR JOB, THEY ARE NOT AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR LIFE, BASICALLY. AND EVERY TIME AN OFFICER PULLED THE CAR OVER, STOP SOMEBODY ON THE STREET, THEY NEVER KNOW . I JUST SAW A VIDEO THE OTHER DAY WHERE THE POLICE STOPPED A GUY ON A BICYCLE FOR NOT HAVING A BACK LIGHT ON, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GUY WANTED FOR 30 YEARS FOR 25 . THAT COULD'VE GONE HORRIBLY WRONG. MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY WORK IN A POSITION ARE NOT IN THE RISK OF SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENING. SO, FROM A STAFFING POSITION AND PAY, I WILL ALWAYS BE COGNIZANT OF IT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY VACANCIES, IS A VACANCY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PROBABLY PUTTING THEM AT RISK OR THE PUBLIC AT RISK. THE SEASONAL CAMP , IT'S ANOTHER SERVICE I THINK KEEPS EXPANDING, AND I AM THINKING OF ALL THE OTHER NONPROFITS WE HAVE. SO, IN MY MIND, WE OUGHT TO BE DISCUSSING INSTEAD OF ADDING MORE DOLLARS WE ARE SPENDING AND TAX MONEY FOR THESE ACTIVITIES, HOW DO WE INCLUDE ONE OF OUR MANY NONPROFITS? IT IS LIKE THE BACKPACK YOU GIVE AWAY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES. WE HAVE LIKE FIVE CHARITIES DOING IT. IF ALL FIVE GOT TOGETHER YOU WOULD PROBABLY GIVE AWAY LESS. SO IT'S A BETTER USE OF RESOURCES. I WANTED THE SAME THING ON CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES, BUNCO NIGHT AND ALL THAT, WE TALKED TO FOUR, IF THERE WERE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT COULD TAKE THAT ON, MAYBE THEY ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS NEEDED, OR IF THERE IS A VACANCY MAYBE IT IS A POSITION NOT NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE US TO TALK ABOUT RE-EVALUATING THE 8-2 THING AS YOU AND I TALK. I THINK IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR GETTING PEOPLE PREPARED FOR CITY MANAGEMENT AND EXECUTIVE POSITIONS, BUT TO ME, OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT CONDUIT TO TRAIN PEOPLE TO WORK IN OTHER PLACES.
BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY, IF YOU ARE A BUDGET ANALYST FOR TWO YEARS AND YOU AUTOMATICALLY MANAGE ANALYST, AND AUTOMATICALLY AN ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER, THEN I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE EITHER HAVE TO GET PROMOTED AND WE GET TOO HEAVY AT THE TOP, OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW IT IS LIKE WHAT
[01:20:01]
IS WRONG WITH HAVING A PERSON THAT IS SO EFFICIENT IN BEING A BUDGET ANALYST AND THEY ARE HAPPY AND COMPENSATED FOR THAT? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE TO WHERE EVERY TWO YEARS THERE IS A NEW PERSON GETTING BROKEN IN AND PROCESSED. SO, WE WILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW MANY POSITIONS WE HAVE IN DIFFERENT APARTMENTS, LIKE I THINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS OF THE FIVE. BUT THEN HOW MANY IS IN PLANNING? AND RIGHT NOW ALL I HEAR IS WE ARE SO BUSY THAT PEOPLE ARE KICKING DOWN THE DOORS, TRYING TO BUILD IN THE CITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF MONEY GOING TOWARDS BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE. WHICH I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD STOP. BUT THERE IS A LOGJAM . IT ALL COMES IN AND IT HITS A BRICK WALL, AND PEOPLE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED, WAITING MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS TO GET RESPONSES ON THINGS THAT, INTO A FIX THAT LOGJAM, I DON'T KNOW WHY WOULD KEEP PUSHING MORE STUFF INTO THE SYSTEM. BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GROWING SO FAST, IT IS NOT EVEN A MATTER OF THE TRAIN COMING OFF THE TRACKS. AT SOME POINT WE ARE KIND OF OFF THE TRACKS. IT IS JUST A MATTER WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO AT THIS POINT. I FORGOT THE NOTE, KEEP GETTING OTHER ORGANIZATION BUSINESS. I APPRECIATE THE SCORPION DEAL . BUT TO ME, THAT IS AN ESP THING. THAT IS A SEPARATE TAXING ENTITY. THEY TAX 25% OF THE CITY'S BUDGET IN FIRE DEPARTMENT. TO ME, IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A REASON TO JUSTIFY EQUIPMENT, TO WHERE IF THEY THINK THEY NEED IT, THEN THEY SHOULD BUY THAT WITH THEIR OWN BUDGET. THAT WOULD BE AKIN TO SAYING WE THINK SCHOOLS COULD RUN BETTER AT FRIDAY FOOTBALL GAME, SO WE WILL PROPOSE SPENDING MONEY AND WORKING WITH ISD. I WOULD HAVE THE SAME ARGUMENT, THE ISD NEEDS TO PAY FOR SCHOOL RELATED STUFF. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE BASICS STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, WATER, SO IF I WAS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT I WOULD LOVE THE CITY TO PAY FOR HALF MY STUFF. BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE MORE FREE MONEY THAN WE DO ON A LOT OF THINGS.ALL RIGHT, THE DEMOGRAPHER COST IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THAT IS ONE WHERE I FEEL LIKE IF THE ISD IS ALREADY DOING IT, HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH THEM? EXPAND MAYBE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. ALWAYS SEEM LIKE YOU'RE CONTRADICTING YOURSELF, SOMETIMES HE SAID DON'T GET IN PEOPLE'S BUSINESS AND SPLIT HALF. WHEN WE COME TO THEM AND SAY WOULD YOU 50-50 A NEW DEAL.
THIS IS ONE, THE ISD PROBABLY HAS ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED, AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR, BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THEY DETERMINE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR SCHOOLS, HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE IN A SCHOOL, AND HOW BIG THE CLASSROOM SIZE IS. IF WE CAN HELP THEM AFFORD THAT INFORMATION, WE MAY NOT, AND I DON'T KNOW, THIS MAY BE A $10,000 STUDY. BUT EVERY STATE BECOMES BEFORE US IS SIX FIGURES. SO I CAN SEE $100,000 TO GET THE SAME INFORMATION THAT ISD HAS. AND IF THEY ARE NOT QUITE GETTING SOMETHING, CAN WE SPEND THE EXTRA 10,000 AND PAY THEM $50,000 TO GET THE SAME INFORMATION? AND THEN, SAME WITH THE VETERANS FELLOWSHIP COST. BIG SUPPORTER OF THE VETERANS, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS. IT COULD BE $5000. BUT NOTHING IS EVER 5000. SO, I DON'T KNOW THE BENEFIT TO HUTTO LONG-TERM.
IF YOU ARE TAKING A PERSON WHO IS RETIRED OF THE MILITARY AND TEACH THEM SOMETHING, WE HAVE A LOT OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES IN THE CITY THAT I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS TALENTED PEOPLE WITH SPECIALIZATIONS. SO IF YOU FIND A VETERAN THAT FITS THOSE NEEDS, THEN WE NEED TO HIRE THEM AS A POSITION, NOT JUST USING, IN MY OPINION, USING HIM FOR THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, PAYING SOME MONEY, TEACH HIM SOME STUFF, THEN THEY GO OFF. BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY HELPED US.
BUT WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING, IF WE NEED IT YEARLY, LIKE EVERY SUMMER, THEN IT IS JUST SOMETHING EVERY SUMMER WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON. TALKED ABOUT THE SCORPION. IF WE DO THE SCORPION, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULD BE IN THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET. I WOULD ALSO LIKE US TO LOOK AT OUR FOOD AND EXPENSES THAT WE ARE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS INCURRING .
WE JUST GOT AN EMAIL ABOUT SOME TRAINING, BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED WAS COMING UP NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IS IT EVEN BUDGETED? A LOT OF TIMES I THINK WE JUST DO STUFF AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT LATER HOW TO BUDGET THE MONEY. I WOULD LIKE US TO GET MORE INTO A CONVERSATION WHERE PEOPLE COME UP WITH STUFF AND THE ANSWER IS IT IS NOT BUDGETED, OR THE ANSWER IS IT IS BUDGETED, WHERE NOW THE ANSWER IS YES OR NO, AND THEN IT IF IT IS YES, WE FIGURE OUT A BUDGET LATER. THE IRON MOUNTAIN, PAPER SKIN. TO ME, PERSONALLY, I THINK IT IS CRAZY THAT WE WOULD STORE PAPER. MOST COMPANIES ARE
[01:25:02]
SCANNING AND IS ON THE CLOUD. SO I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE DETAILS OF IT, AND I DON'T KNOW THE COST. A LOT OF THIS IS, I THINK, SIX FIGURES ON EVERY SINGLE THING. YOU MAY COME BACK AND SAY THAT IS MINIMAL. BUT I WOULD LIKE US TO SEE MORE OF A SCANNED WAY OF DOING THINGS. I DON'T KNOW, I AM JUST NOT USED TO USING PAPER. THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, HOW MUCH IS THAT? WE HAVE A HUTTO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION. I THINK OF ALWAYS BEEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY CREATING A PROGRAM WE OUGHT TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO GET THE 501(C)(3) TO BRING GOVERNMENT TO BE INVOLVED, AND INSTEAD OF A SPENDING 30,000 TO DO A PROGRAM, CAN YOU EMPOWER ANOTHER NONPROFIT TO THEN , OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO THEN DO THE WORK AT A FRACTION OF THE COST? EDC, YOU TALK ABOUT LAND-USE BASICS, HOW MUCH. IF IT WAS ONLY FOR LAND AND EDC, ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE MEGA SITE IS UNDER CONTRACT, AND ALMOST EVERYTHING IN COTTONWOOD WITH THE DEVELOPER. SO REALLY, AT THIS POINT I THINK IS OUT OF THE EDC'S HANDS. IT IS MORE INTO THE PLANNING ON WHAT WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE. IF ANYTHING, I THINK MAYBE COUNSEL COULD USE TRAINING ON LAND-USE, NOT SO MUCH EDC. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LAND.UNLESS THEY'RE LOOKING AT BUYING SOME, I GUESS. ALMOST DONE, I WILL GET YOU OUT OF HERE BY NOON. ENGINEERING. I HAVE OWNERS REP, THIRD-PARTY OVERSEER. THAT WAS ONE I SAID FTE, HOW MUCH. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I SEE REGULARLY IS IMPORTANT DECISIONS GET MADE AND THEN WHEN THEY SCREW UP WE ALWAYS SAY WELL, IT WAS THAT FIRM. THEN WE JUST FIRE THEM AND THAT'S IT. I THINK AT SOME POINT, TO BE REALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC DOLLAR, IT OUGHT TO BE AN EMPLOYEE SO THAT ULTIMATELY WE CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. IF THE THIRD-PARTY OVERSEER IN A CONTRACTION PROJECT GOES TERRIBLE, WE BUILD BROOKLYN'S, IT ALL HAS TO GET REBUILT, WE ARE GOING TO BLAME THE THIRD-PARTY OVERSEER FOR DOING A POOR JOB. BUT WHO ENDS UP PAYING FOR THAT IS THE TAXPAYER. IF IT IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, THAT WE CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IS WHAT I AM MORE INTO, WE SPENT MILLIONS IN THE CITY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS CORRECTING ISSUES THAT PEOPLE DO, AND SOME OF THEM I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO GET TO WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HOLD SOME ACCOUNTABLE INSTEAD OF SAYING WE ARE JUST NOT REALLY A CONTRACT. FINANCE, IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING TO SEE WHAT THE ARMORED CAR SERVICE IS. BECAUSE SOME BANKS PROVIDE THEM AS PART OF THEIR SERVICE, AND I WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN PART OF THE WHOLE EVALUATION. WE JUST SIGNED A THREE-YEAR DEAL. NOW WE WANT TO ADD IN ARMORED CAR.
IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF HR, I THINK IT WAS A YEAR AGO OR TWO YEARS AGO WHERE WE IMPROVED THE THING , A CONTRACT, AND IT CAME BACK FOUR MONTHS LATER AND SAID OH, THEY DID NOT COVER ALL THIS OTHER STUFF. SO WE NEED MORE MONEY. I THINK ONLY GET A DOING THESE THINGS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE SIGN THREE YEAR CONTRACTS, ALL SERVICES WE WANT ARE INCLUDED. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE MADE A DECISION BASED ON INFORMATION GIVEN. AND WHAT IF ANOTHER BANK COULD OFFER THAT SAME STUFF AND ARMORED CAR FOR THE SAME PRICE, NOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY $100,000 FOR AN ARMORED CAR SERVICE. HR LONGEVITY AWARDS, I THINK THAT'S AWESOME IDEA. BECAUSE AS PEOPLE STAY, I THINK I TOLD YOU BEFORE, MY PARENTS RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT , THEY SAID THEY TOOK THE GOVERNMENT JOB FOR JOB SECURITY AND BENEFITS. SO I THINK THOSE ARE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS. AND I THINK THIS IS A WAY FOR THEM TO GET RECOGNIZED. I DO GET A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THE HIGH-FIVES AND BEING REWARDED WITH MONETARY, BECAUSE I AM A HARSH PERSON, AS WE TALKED. YOU DO YOUR JOB, YOU GET PAID. YOU DO YOUR JOB WELL, YOU GET A THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS. BUT IF IT IS YOU DO YOUR JOB WELL AND A CITIZEN OR SOMEBODY RECOGNIZED YOU, THAT COULD BE INFUSED PRETTY QUICKLY TO WHERE IT BECOMES A MEANS TO WHERE WE ARE SPENDING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR WITH 200 EMPLOYEES BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DOING A GREAT JOB. WHEN IN REALITY, IT MAY JUST BE THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB WELL, AND A JOB WELL DONE GETS RAISES AND GET YOU PROMOTED. AND THE OTHER COMMENT I HAD HERE IS JUST TRYING TO BE A JERK, BUT CITIZENS PAY EVERY YEAR, THEY PAY THEIR TAXES. AND WHEN THEY PAY THEM ON TIME THEY DON'T EVEN GET A PAT ON THE BACK.
THEY LITERALLY JUST GET A WE ARE NOT GOING TO FORECLOSE ON YOUR HOUSE. IF THEY ARE LATE, THEY GET FINED. IF THEY ARE TOO LATE, THE GOVERNMENT TAKES THE HOUSE FROM THEM. SO I THINK ALL THE EMPLOYEES OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK, WE REALLY APPRECIATE REALLY GOOD WORK.
AND SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC RECOGNITION MAY BE ALL THAT IS WARRANTED, TO WHERE IF YOU START SPENDING MONEY IT IS SIDEWALK MONEY OR SOMETHING THAT COULD'VE BEEN USED.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET IS, I AM JUST, I KNOW HOW THINGS SOMETIMES GROW. PART ADDS . IT IS ALL ABOUT THE COST. SO A LOT OF THE ADS IS ABOUT THE COST. THE LIGHTING ,
[01:30:02]
THE PARK LIGHTING, ALL OF THAT IS GREAT. BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF FLAK ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE LAST YEAR. LIKE WE NEED A NEW CHRISTMAS TREE, BUT $65,000 FOR CHRISTMAS TREE? COULD YOU HAVE DONE ONE FOR 30,000? THESE THINGS, PARK LIGHTING COMES OUT AT A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS. BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE WILL FREAK OUT ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT THAT IS ALL STUFF WE ARE GOING TO DO AND NOT MAKE IT TO WHERE PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF US BECAUSE THEY SAY YOU KNOW, I DID MORE THAN THAT MY BACKYARD. EVERYTHING IS, I GET THAT. TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE. STREETS AND DRAINAGE, DUMP TRUCK, THAT'S A POINT OF REFERENCE. I THINK WE SOLD TWO DUMP TRUCKS YEARS AGO. IT IS FUNNY HOW WE BOUGHT DUMP TRUCKS AND WE SOLD THEM, NOW WE ARE BUYING THEM AGAIN. WE HAD MOWERS THAT WERE TWO YEARS OLD, WE BOUGHT NEW MOWERS, BECAUSE THEY RUN MORE FUEL EFFICIENT THAN THE PREVIOUS MOWERS. BUT NOW ALL OF OUR PARKLAND AND DRAINAGE DITCHES ARE BEING MUGGED BY THIRD PARTIES. IT IS THOSE CHANGES THAT REALLY BOTHER ME. MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A PEER FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT WE KEEP SWITCHING PLANS. AND EVERY TIME WE SWITCH CONCEPTS IT JUST COST MORE MONEY. I THINK THE DUMP TRUCK, WE PROBABLY GIVE THEM AWAY BECAUSE WE SOLD THEM DURING COVID. THE CI PLAN DID NOT SEEM TO TOTALLY MATCH UP WITH OUR LATEST MEETING, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID WAS PUSH OUT ALL TRAILS EXPANSIONS. I THINK THAT WAS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY WERE ALL IN THEIR .SO I DID NOT REALLY MARRY THAT REAL WELL TOGETHER, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THE OLD INFORMATION WAS STILL UP THERE.
I LIKE TO LOOK AT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CHRISTMAS, I THINK THAT IS LIKE $10,000, WHICH IS GOT TO BE A WAY TO DO THAT SOMEWHAT CHEAPER. AND AGAIN, RECOGNIZE PEOPLE FOR DOING GREAT WORK, RECOGNIZING THEM AND BEING APPRECIATIVE.
BUT TO ME, IT IS NOT ALWAYS HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPEND. I THINK WE HAVE GOT INTO THE HABIT OF WITH A LOT OF MONEY AT THINGS THAT REALLY , I THINK THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THE STAND WORKERS WITH HOT DOGS OUT OF THE PAVILION, AND EVERYBODY'S HAPPY. AND THAT IS A FRACTION OF THE COST. THAT $10,000, THAT PUTS THE SIDEWALK DOWN, A BIG SECTION IN 1660 THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR 30 YEARS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT A SIDEWALK THERE. THEN, OVERALL EXPENSES ON THINGS LIKE RETREATS, OUTINGS, ONE THING I NOTICED LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS EVERYTHING IS SPLIT UP ALONG LIKE 20 DIFFERENT APARTMENTS. SODA TOUGH, THE DETAIL IS SO DETAILED, IT'S ALMOST FUNNY. YOU WANT DETAIL, THEN YOU GET SO MUCH DETAIL YOU ALMOST CAN'T TELL WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO SOMETHING THAT COULD COST $50,000, AND WE WOULD ALL SAY HOLY COW, DON'T SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY. WELL, YOU BREAK DOWN ON 20 DEPARTMENTS, IS LIKE WELL, IT'S ONLY TWO GRAND. AND IS NOT A BIG DEAL. THEN, WHAT I SAW LAST YEAR WAS YEAH, TWO GRAND HERE, YOU ADD IT ALL UP AND IT IS LIKE 40. AND AGAIN, THE REASON THIS BUDGET LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE VERY WELL, BUT MY CONCERN IS NOT, IT IS THE BIG STUFF COMING UP. IT IS WE HAVE THIS ONE DOWN TO SAY A 10% INCREASE ON TAXES, LET'S SAY NEXT YEAR WE ARE LOOKING AT A 15-20, 30, 30 FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS OF BIG BUDGETS. SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AND EMPLOYEES AND EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY LOOK, IF THE CITIZENS ARE GOING TO TAKE IT ON THE CHIN.
BAD PLANNING , BEFORE MOST OF US WERE ON COUNSEL, BEFORE MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE HERE. BAD PLANNING, BAD USE OF MONEY. THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO PARTAKE IN THE REBUILD.
AND THAT IS PEOPLE PAYING MORE MONEY IN TAXES, AND MAYBE YOU WILL SAYING HEY, WE WILL GET OUR RAISES, WE WILL GET OUR BENEFITS. WE MAY NOT HAVE MONTHLY BIRTHDAY LUNCHES, BECAUSE WHATEVER, WE DON'T HAVE $20,000 AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO SPEND ON THAT. IT MAY BE MORE OF A POTLUCK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BECAUSE I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS ADD UP. I THINK THAT IS WHERE LAST YEAR WE MAYBE COULD'VE DONE BETTER, ALL THOSE THINGS ADDED UP AND WE ENDED UP RAISING PEOPLE'S TAXES, WHEN IN REALITY, WE EXPANDED SERVICES, WE EXPANDED THINGS. BUT WE CANNOT TAKE A VERY MUCH LONGER. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FUNNEL ALL OF OUR NEEDS THROUGH BUDGET PROCESS EACH YEAR, INCREMENTALLY HITTING PEOPLE , NOT JUST MASSIVE INCREASES. I DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, I KNOW I AM ALWAYS HARPING ON THE BUDGET, AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS LISTENING , ESPECIALLY THE STAFF, IT IS MORE BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD TWO SATURDAYS AGO WHERE THE WHOLE TIME I AM GOING IF THE CITY OWES SAY A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT, HOW DO THEY THROW ON 1 BILLION IN DEBT? AND THAT DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE COST OF LIVING, WHICH EVERYBODY IS FREAKING OUT ABOUT. WHEN I SEE THAT COMING, I AM ALWAYS REMINDED OF MY DAY JOB . NO MATTER HOW GOOD OF A YEAR WE HAVE, IT IS ALWAYS IF YOU SPEND $14 LAST YEAR ON TAKING SOMEONE
[01:35:06]
OUT TO LUNCH, THIS YEAR YOU GET 13. IT IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. FIGURE IT OUT. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE CAN'T. I THINK SOMETIMES IN THE CITY WE WILL HAVE TO START USING THE WORD CAN'T. CAN'T DO THIS, WE CAN'T DO THAT.INSTEAD OF WE CAN DO IT, WE JUST HAVE TO DO THIS.
ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD ALL OF THIS, PLUS WE HAVE NOT EVEN GOTTEN INTO THE WASTEWATER RATING INCREASED HIS. WE ARE TALKING $15 A MONTH FOR THE NEXT 18 TO 24 MONTHS, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO ALL THAT. WE HAVE TO SHOW PEOPLE BARE-BONES. AND WITH THIS, ANY MONEY WE SAVE, I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING EVERYBODY'S TAXES, NO NEW REVENUE, WHATEVER. WHAT I'M SAYING IS HOW DO WE NOT BORROW MONEY TODAY OR BORROW MONEY AND NOT SPEND IT? AND IS MUCH AS I HATE HAVING MONEY SIT IN THE BANK, WE GOT A FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE OUT AND LEVEL OUT THESE INCREASES. AND THE BEST WAY I CAN FIGURE OUT TO DO THAT IS YOU TAKE ON THE DEBT YOU CAN GET TO THE LEVEL YOU ARE OKAY WITH. YOU DON'T SPEND IT. AND YOU ARE SPENDING IT NEXT YEAR. AND INSTEAD OF BORROWING NEXT YEAR, ALMOST BORROWING A YEAR OR TWO IN ADVANCE. WHICH WE HAVE KIND OF DONE, BUT WE HAVE A BETTER PLAN. THAT IS KIND OF MY THING. I DO APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING. I JUST KNOW THE BIGGEST THING FOR THE PUBLIC IS THE COST OF LIVING.
THE INFLATION KILLED THEM. IT KILLED OUR EMPLOYEES. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, IF YOU DO YOUR JOB, YOU STAY EMPLOYED. THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH LAYOFFS , DOWNSIZING, HOURS GETTING CUT, AND WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY OF THAT HERE. AS MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS SAY, CONSISTENTLY BEING EMPLOYED IS A LOT BETTER THAN EVERY DAY WONDERING IF YOUR COMPANY IS GOING TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. YOUR RETAIL PLACE THE YOU HAVE YOUR JOB THAT IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. OR THE TAXES GOT INCREASING YOUR PAY GETS CUT. WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY OF THAT. I AM JUST PROPOSING MAYBE WE DON'T EXPAND SERVICES AS MUCH OR MAYBE WE DON'T TAKE THE 27 POSITIONS THAT ARE OPEN AND FILLED THEM ALL. MAYBE WE JUST FILL 15 OF THEM. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET FREAKED OUT THAT THE MAYOR IS OUT LOOKING AT LAYOFFS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, NOTHING LIKE THAT. BUT ANYWAY, APPRECIATE IT. I AM SURE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE HAPPY WE ARE GETTING OUT OF HERE EARLY.
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IS HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR. BECAUSE THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE NOW ABOUT TO START THINKING ABOUT TACKLING THE CIP FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT CONVERSATION LASTED FOR ANOTHER TWO OR THREE HOURS. IT IS A TESTAMENT OF HOW THE WORK IS BEING DONE AND YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF THAT PAYOFF IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE TO PUT IN. MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY IF YOU WANT TO OPEN THE FLOOR BACKUP TO ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS AFTER THE FACT OR NOT, BUT SINCE WE ONLY HAVE A FEW HANDFUL HERE, THAT WOULDN'T BE INAPPROPRIATE TO HEAR .
OTHERWISE, YEAH, I THINK WE ARE DONE. AND I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. >> WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I DO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN THE MAYOR. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFULNESS AND THE DETAIL THAT WENT INTO PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER, AND I REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF TOTAL WANTS , THAT YOU HAVE CUT BACK A LOT.
YOU DID SAY, WHAT WAS IT, 37 REQUESTED, AND YOU KNOCKED IT DOWN TO 14, ALMOST BY TWO THIRDS. I WORK FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOES DO THE HIGH FIVE THINGS. MY COMPANY DOES THAT. AND THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN AN EMPLOYEE'S LIFE. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, WHAT I SEE IN THIS BUDGET, I SEE A MATURING OF OUR ORGANIZATION. I SEE A RAISING OF THE LEVEL OF WHO WE REALLY ARE. WE HAVE TROUBLE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, IN MY OPINION, TO WHAT I'VE SEEN, WHAT I HAVE IN VISION, IS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IN FIVE YEARS, FIVE CITY MANAGERS. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TURMOIL. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OVERTURN. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THIS STUFF AND WE ARE FINALLY , WHAT I SEE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
WHAT I SEE IS A MATURING OF THE ORGANIZATION, INSTABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THAT STABILITY, AND HENCE THAT STABILITY, GIVE PEOPLE HOPE THAT HEY, THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A PAYCHECK TO ME. THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMEWHERE THAT I WANT TO STAY, THAT I WANT TO MAKE THIS MY CAREER. A LOT OF THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT ARE GETTING PUT IN HERE, I SEE IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED, NOT ONCE, BUT NEEDS. PERSONALLY, THAT THEN CREATES THE STABILITY OF THAT OUR CITY HAS BEEN BEGGING FOR. WHEN I TALK TO CITIZENS, THAT IS WHAT THEY SEE. THEY SEE CONFLICT, THEY SEE TURMOIL, THEY SEE INSTABILITY, THEY SEE UNCERTAINTY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. AND THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO , YOU KNOW, PAY A REASONABLE AMOUNT IF WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT. IF WE CAN KIND OF MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THAT IS THE CITIZENS
[01:40:03]
THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO, THAT OF BEEN TALKING TO ME.SOMETIMES IT IS WORTH INVESTING IN THESE FEW LITTLE THINGS, BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T COST DELL A TON OF MONEY TO LET ME GO AND PICK A GOLF CLUB, BECAUSE I GOT SOME KIND OF A HIGH-FIBER WARD. IT IS REALLY NOTHING. BUT TO ME, IT SHOWS THAT ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WHO I WORK WITH THOUGHT HIGHLY ENOUGH OF ME ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND, THAT THEY RECOGNIZE ME. AND SOMETIMES IT IS JUST A RECOGNITION. SOMETIMES IT IS NOT A MONETARY THING. BUT I GUESS THAT IS KIND OF MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT I SEE. I REALLY DID NOT HAVE MUCH HEARTBURN AT ALL ABOUT WHAT WAS PROPOSED. I THINK THAT A LOT OF IT JUST KIND OF GAVE ME CONFIDENCE AND REALLY KIND OF GAVE ME AN UP BEAT FEEL OF HAY, THE CITY IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT WAS MY TAKE AWAY. FROM THE PRESENTATION. NOT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NOT PLACES THAT WE PROBABLY COULD NOT LOOK AT, BUT I FELT MORE
OPTIMISTIC. >> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.