[00:00:02]
[Call to Order]
GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, UH, IT'S THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.JUNE 17TH, 2020 FROM 3:00 PM TO 4:30 PM.
VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING, ROLL CALL ANDREW CREEL, C SMITH, PAM THOMPSON, RYAN NEAL, RYAN MEAL COMMISSIONER.
NOW MR. THOMPSON, HEAR ME NOW? YES.
DID SHE PICK ME? NO, I JUST SAW THAT YOU'RE ON COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.
NEELY CONDITIONER COIN COMMISSIONER MACIO COMMISSIONER LAMBERG YEP.
COMMISSIONER GUERRERO HERE, HERE, BEDFORD EAR.
[Item 1]
ITEM ONE, A APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ACTION APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 3RD, 2020 EMBARK ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES BY COMMISSIONER LAMBERG.
IS THERE A SECOND, A SECOND SMITH, C SMITH SECONDS.
DO WE HAVE STAFF ONLINE? THE PERSON WHO'S PRESENTING? ARE THEY ONLINE YET? IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE FOUR STAFF MEMBERS ON THE OTHER LINE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ARE ADMITTED OR NOT MAKE SURE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONES.
IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES BEFORE WE STARTED COMMISSIONER GRILL.
THIS IS KAYLA CHAMPLIN WATERSHED PROTECTION.
I BELIEVE THAT, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER CHRIS HARRINGTON IS AT CITY HALL AND IS PLANNING TO PLAY A SHORT VIDEO BEFORE WE TAKE QUESTIONS.
[Item 2]
LET'S PROCEED TO ITEM TWO, A, UM, CONSIDERATION OF WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, FISCAL YEAR 21, OPERATING BUDGET AND FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PLAN.SO WE ARE NOW READY FOR A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF.
GOOD AFTERNOON, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS
UH, I HAD PLANNED TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT, UH, WE HAVE AN ALL DAY EVENT THAT I HAVE TO BE AT TODAY.
AND SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO JOIN YOU FOR YOUR MEETINGS.
SO I FIGURED AT LEAST PROVIDE YOU A QUICK UPDATE VIA VIDEO, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL MANAGER, A NUBA TO PROVIDE YOU THE BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR TODAY.
AND WE ALSO HAVE STAFF ON STANDBY.
I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING YOU.
AND THE VIDEO IS THE VIDEO IS VERY LOW.
YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT ON HEADPHONES OR BOOST YOUR SOUND.
UM, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO FROM THIS END TO MAKE IT ANY LOUDER.
ALRIGHT, TEAM FOR TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY OF USING TECHNOLOGY TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION, UH, IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND HAVING THE MEETINGS VIRTUALLY, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
WAS THAT MISSION THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, TODAY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET BRIEFLY, UH, BUT ALSO WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT COVID-19 HAS AFFECTED ALL OF US IN MANY WAYS.
AND OUR DEPARTMENT IS A GREAT DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU, YOU WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT, YOU SEE THE GREAT THINGS WE DO, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY VERY EFFECTIVELY AND PRODUCTIVELY, UH, SINCE WE HAD TO BEGIN TO STAY HOME WORK, SAFE ORDERS BACK IN MARCH.
AND SO OUR DEPARTMENT'S A RESILIENT DEPARTMENT AND THIS PROVES IT AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
[00:05:01]
UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR BUDGET REQUESTS, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR IN A BIT, IN A BIT, UH, WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS, UH, THE, THE ENTIRE CITY, THE COMMUNITY EVERYBODY'S FEELING THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19.AND SO WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU IS GOING TO BE A MODIFIED BUDGET.
UM, WE TRY TO FOCUS ON SOME PRIORITIES AS WE MADE DECISIONS ON CUTTING BACK, UM, OUR REQUEST FOR
UH, WE, WE FOCUS ON CONTINUING.
WHAT WE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO IS CONVERTING TEMPORARY POSITIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN USING ONGOING, UH, FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, UH, CONVERTING THOSE TO PERMANENT.
SO THAT THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR PRIORITY.
ALSO WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT MOVING INTO THE NEW PDC BUILDING OVER THERE BY HIGHLAND MALL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WATERSHED'S PROVIDING THE LOVER OF SERVERS TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.
AND SO WE ALSO INCORPORATED THAT IN OUR PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STAFFING UP, TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE ALL EXPECT.
AND, UM, ANOTHER THING THAT A WATERSHED HAS BEEN LOOKING AT, UH, FOR THE LAST, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS IS, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR POLICIES AND OUR PRACTICES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THEM.
SO WE ARE ADJUSTING OUR BUDGET TO INCREASE SOME OF OUR TRAINING AND UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT IS EQUITY.
UM, AND SO THE THINGS THAT I'M PRIORITIZING AS, AS A NEW DIRECTOR FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT'S IT'S, I WANT TO, I WANT US TO FOCUS ON THREE, THE THREE E'S EQUITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY.
SO AS A DEPARTMENT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
UH, ALWAYS LOOKING BACK, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE WELL AND KEEP DOING THAT.
BUT THE AREAS THAT WE HAVEN'T MAYBE ADDRESSED IN THE PAST, UH, WE WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE DEEP DIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PART OUR DECISION PROCESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT WILL BE UPDATING OUR WATERSHED MASTER PLAN.
I LIKE TO THINK OF IT MOVING FORWARD AS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAKEHOLDERS, UM, UH, WE, HOW WE PRIORITIZE AND WHAT POLICIES WITHIN WATERSHED WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UH, SO, SO WAS THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO, TO A, A NEW BOOK TO PROVIDE YOU THE PRESENTATIONS AND I'LL TUNE IN TUNE IN LATER AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE AND BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AS WELL AFTERWARDS.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THE SOUND ON THE VIDEO.
WE WILL SEND YOU ALL A DIRECT LINK TO, UM, DIRECTOR MORALES, HIS MESSAGE, SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR THAT AND PLAY IT, PLAY IT LATER, UM, AT YOUR STATIONS AT THIS POINT, WE DID SEND YOU THE, THE PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR BUDGET IN, UM, IT'S POSTED IN A BACKUP AND WE SENT YOU A LINK TO A NARRATED VERSION, BUT WE DO HAVE STAFF ON THE LINE THAT ARE HERE, UM, TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL HAND IT OVER TO A NEPA.
UM, IF SHE WANTS TO MAKE ANY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS OR WE CAN START WITH YOUR QUESTIONS NEUPRO CAN YOU, CAN WE HEAR YOU? CAN YOU HEAR US? HELLO? MY NAME IS
I AM THE MANAGER, THE OWNERSHIP PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
UM, I DID PROVIDE YOU WITH THE
I HOPE YOU'VE ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT WE DID HAVE, WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, THE DETAILS OF PROJECT SUMMARY ON THE MAP IT'S MORNING.
UM, AND WE RESPONDED TO THAT AS WELL.
SO IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OR YOU WANT US TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN ANY OF THE FILES, WE ALSO HAVE HERE WITH US, UM, ERIN, THAT PLANNER WITH THE PLANNING GROUP AND
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
OR IF YOU WANT US TO EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL, ANY OF THE SLIDES, WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT, UH, ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE AT THIS TIME, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND OR LET ME KNOW.
SO I JUST, UH, OVERALL LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I GUESS, GIVEN THE BACKDROP OF WHAT'S GOING ON ECONOMICALLY RIGHT NOW, SWORN IN SOME SENSE OF, I'LL SAY HOW SECURE DIFFERENT FUNDING STREAMS ARE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE DIFFERENT FUNDING STREAMS THAT ARE TAPPED INTO, BY WATERSHED PROTECTION.
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JUST SOME SENSE OF LIKE, WHETHER YOU THINK THAT'S REALLY SOLID BUDGET OR AT THIS POINT IT'S MAYBE AN ASPIRATIONAL BUDGET.UM, SO OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WE RECEIVED MORE THAN 95% OF OUR BUDGETS COME FROM OUR ENERGY TO THE DC.
AND, UM, AT THIS POINT WE HAVEN'T SEEN, UH, WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ELSA ENERGY, AS WELL AS TO SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY BE ALL DAY FOR US TO TALK OFF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY.
WE ALSO RECEIVE CALLS FROM CUSTOMERS WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
AND SO, UM, BASED ON ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OUR REVENUE, WE ARE NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT OF BOOKS IN OUR REVENUE YET.
UM, WE DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON OUR REVENUE JUST BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DO NOT ALWAYS DO.
WE DON'T BUILD THE TENANTS, THE OWNERS.
SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, UH, WE, WE THINK THAT OUR, UM, AT LEAST THE
WE ARE SEEING SOME UPTICK IN, UM, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT IS OUR CAP PROGRAM, WHICH IS FOR PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY UNDER SAYS, UM, NOT GOOD PROGRAM OR SOME OF THESE LOW INCOME PROGRAMS, THEY ARE ABLE TO GET 50% OF THEIR FEE, BUT THESE ARE MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL AND RESIDENTIAL REVENUE IS, IS A SMALLER PROPORTION OF OUR REVENUE AS WELL.
IT IS AGAIN, NOT, UM, VERY SIGNIFICANT
UM, WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET OUR TARGET THIS YEAR AND
WE SHOULD BE FINE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
THE OTHER SCHEME FOR OPERATING BUDGET ARE OUR INTEREST EXPENSE, WHICH IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, BUT OUR INTEREST I'M INTEREST IN SOME, UM, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE FED HAS REDUCED THE RATES TO ZERO.
NOW I INTEREST INCOME HAS DROPPED, UH, BUT, UH, WE ARE ESTIMATING A $500,000, UH, DECLINE IN OUR, UM, INTEREST INCOME, UH, AGAIN, NOT TO END ON A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.
SO, UH, SO AT LEAST THE OPERATING BUDGET WE SHOULD BE.
UM, THE OTHER, UH, FUNDING IS OUR BOND FUNDING, WHICH IS ALREADY INSECURE.
SO, UM, AND THEN TELL YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT, BUT I THINK THAT AS FAR AS OUR REVENUES ARE CONCERNED, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.
I HAVE A QUESTION, PAM, YOU CAN'T GO AHEAD, PAM.
UM, IT, I UNDERSTAND, UH, FROM YOUR PRESENTATION THAT THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEAN UP SERVICES IS GOING TO BE EXPANDED FROM 250,000 TO 600,000, I THINK, UM, SINCE WE HAVE THIS OUTBREAK AND WE REQUIRE MORE CLEANING AND ALL OF THAT IS, IS THERE, IS THAT A LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE OR WHEN DID THAT GET SET OR WAS THAT BEFORE THIS OUTBREAK WITH, I'M SORRY.
SO BEFORE THIS OUTBREAK, UH, WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE, UH, OUR FUNDING FOR HOMELESS AND GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES A LITTLE BIT, UM, BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO ADD ADDITIONAL, UM, SITES TO CLEAN, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND THE REQUIREMENT OF INCREASED PPE AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS MORE SAFETY WHEN THEY ENGAGE IN THESE CLEANUPS, WE HAVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THEIR SERVICES.
SO PART OF THE INCREASE IS BECAUSE OF THIS ADDITIONAL CPE REQUIREMENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE, THE CONTRACTORS WHO ARE GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN CLEANING UP, UM, HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THE WORK SAFELY.
UM, THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO INCLUDE THIS AMOUNT OF THE 600,000.
SO YEAH, THE 600,000 CAME ABOUT AFTER, UH, WE WENT INTO SHELTER IN PLACE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? IT, DID I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? IS THAT OKAY BECAUSE OF THE
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COVID, UH, 19 OUTBREAKS, IS IT SLOWING DOWN AND WILL THAT AFFECT THE COST OF SOME OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS, UM, RESPECT TO, UM, OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS? OR DO YOU MEAN JUST IN GENERAL? UM, JUST IN GENERAL.UM, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY BECAUSE I DON'T DO THE WORK THAT IT APPEARS TO ME.
I THINK IN TERMS OF WHEN WE TALK TO OTHER MANAGERS, UM, CONTINUING ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IS THE WORK IS CONTINUING.
ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION STUFF IS CONTINUING.
UM, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO, UM, SAY SPECIFICALLY, UM, PERHAPS CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER TO, IF YOU ARE SEEING ANY, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT REDUCTION IN SERVICES, BUT I THINK THE OPERATING SERVICES ARE CONTINUING.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION? UH, I HAVE ONE YES.
UM, SO WHEN I, WHEN THE REVENUE EXPECTATIONS ARE LAID OUT, I THINK IT SHOWS A DECENT INCREASE IN LIKE THE NEXT LIKE FOUR YEARS.
UM, WHY, WHY ARE WE EXPECTING REVENUES TO GO UP SO MUCH IN FOUR YEARS? YEAH, SURE.
SO WHAT, SO THAT CHEMISTRY IS EVERYTHING, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE IS ACTUALLY BASED ON TWO FACTORS THAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW, UH, THE, THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER AND THE PERCENT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER.
AND THE THIRD ONE IS THE RATE, BUT IT'S A STEADY RATE THAT IS DETERMINED EVERY YEAR.
SO IN 2015, AND WE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE STATE AT ALL.
IT'S ACTUALLY FOUR, NINE, EIGHT PER SQUARE FOOT EVERY MONTH.
SO THIS YEAR IT HAS NOT CHANGED.
AND SINCE 2015, AND WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO CHANGE THIS, UM, UNTIL 2022.
UM, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HIRING PEOPLE AND OUR COSTS GO UP.
SO AT SOME POINT WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO KEEP ENOUGH RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN RESERVE AND WE WILL HAVE TO INCREASE OUR RATE.
WE ARE TO INCREASE THAT WE NEED TO, AT THIS POINT, BASED ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTIONS, WE WILL NEED TO INCREASE THE RATE BY ABOUT 7%, WHICH WILL POTENTIALLY INCREASE OUR REVENUE.
UM, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE DON'T SEE SUCH A INCREASE IN OUR REVENUE, VERY BRIGHT INCREASING OUR REVENUE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THEN HE MAY NOT BE, UM, THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR AND KEEPING OUR FLAT AND, YOU KNOW, SENDING MONEY WITHIN THAT BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT EXCEEDING, BUT AT SOME POINT IT CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT.
WE WILL NEED TO SEND THAT WE WILL NEED THAT MONEY IN ORDER TO DO OUR, PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT I CONTINUE TO PAY.
COMMISSIONER SMITH, CHRIS HARRINGTON, ENVIRONMENTAL STAR, I THINK JUST TO ADD ONTO THAT AGAIN, AS A NEW IMPLEMENTATION, OUR RATE IS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER, THE PERCENT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER, AND THEN THE RATE THAT WE CHARGE ON THOSE.
SO CLEARLY THE AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS COVER IS NOT GOING TO DECREASE REGARDLESS.
ISN'T GOING TO DECREASE REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC CONDITION.
THERE CERTAINLY IS SOME DEGREE OF ESTIMATION ASSOCIATED WITH HOW MUCH NEW IMPERVIOUS COVER IS ADDED OVER TIME.
AND I THINK A NEPA HAS FACTORED THAT IN THROUGH SOME SCENARIO EVALUATION THAT SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE.
ANYONE ELSE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE ARE COMING UP THAT LIKE THERE'S 93 TOTAL PROJECTS.
UH, I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE COULD GET ANY BOOK OR SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC, UH, WHAT SOME OF THE PROJECTS ARE OR THE NEW PROJECTS OR SOME OF THE BOND PROJECTS.
WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME IS, IS GREAT, BUT IT'S A VERY TOP OKAY.
[00:20:02]
AMOUNT, BUT DOES NOT GIVE ANY SPECIFIC OH, THANKS.WE HAVE THE MAP HERE MAP WAS TOC CIP PROJECTS, BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE WHAT, WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF BEING HA HAVING INFORMATION ON THE SPECIFICS OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THEY WILL HAVE, JUST SO WE HAVE AN IDEA.
THERE'S I SEE SEVERAL WHERE I ACTUALLY DO LIVE MYSELF FOR INSTANCE, IN THEIR CIRCLE.
ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER SMITH.
UM, AND I AGREE WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER NEELEY.
LIKE I HAD THE SAME QUESTION WHEN I LOOKED AT THE POWERPOINT IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MAP WITH DOTS, BUT IT'S NOT VERY CLEAR WHAT, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING THERE.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO PROACTIVELY SEND THAT TO THE COMMISSION, LIKE A LIST OF THOSE PROJECTS.
AND ACTUALLY, I, I REACHED OUT TO WATERSHED AND THEY SENT ME A LIST OF THOSE PROJECTS.
UM, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT DATA, I GUESS.
AND I, I, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO WATERSHED AFTER, AFTER THIS MEETING, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, CAUSE FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A SPENDING PLAN HERE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, LAYS OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THESE PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THEN WE HAVE VARIOUS MONEY.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED IN THE PAST FOR PROJECTS AND SOME, AND SO IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING EVEN HAVING WHAT I HAVE FROM WATERSHED RIGHT NOW.
AND THE ONE THING I W AND I WAS GOING TO WAIT AND SAY THIS LATER, BUT I JUST KIND OF WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, THIS IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE, THE WAY WE FUND THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE BUILDING WITH THIS PROJECT, IT IS A, IT'S A, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING HERE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.
AND IT, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS COMMISSION UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE, WHERE THESE PROJECTS ARE AIMED AT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT MEANS LIKE GEOGRAPHICALLY, WHERE IN AUSTIN AND IN WHAT COUNCIL DISTRICTS, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN DISTRICT TWO ABOUT FLOODING.
AND, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT MONEY IS OUT THERE W APPROPRIATED PREVIOUSLY AND WHERE THAT MONEY IS IN TERMS OF, OF PROJECTS BEING BUILT ON TOP OF THE SPENDING.
IT'S GOING TO BE APPROVED IN THIS BUDGET NOW.
AND RIGHT NOW, LIKE I'M NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED, UM, THAT I GUESS, BASED ON PAST MONEY AND WHAT'S BEEN APPROPRIATE IN THE PAST TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, THAT DISTRICT TRUE TO IS REALLY RECEIVING ITS FAIR SHARE.
AND, AND I THINK WHAT, I DON'T HAVE THE FULL INFORMATION FROM WATERSHED.
SO I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE CONCERNS.
AND I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN PRESENTED THE INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, IN THIS PRESENTATION OR WHATEVER, TO BE ABLE TO, TO JUDGE THAT AS A COMMISSIONER MYSELF.
SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, ON THE SPENDING PLAN, I NOTICED THAT A LARGE PORTION OF IT IS FOR THE FLOOD BUYOUTS, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LAND AFTER THE BUYOUT OCCURS.
UM, SO TYPICALLY I, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UM, AND THEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR ME? YES.
UH, THIS IS AARON WOOD, I'M WITH THE WATERSHED PLANNING GROUP.
UM, AND SO TYPICALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE BUYOUT LANDS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FUNDING, THERE'S SOMETIMES SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT COME FROM THE CORE AND THE LOWER ENGINE BUYOUTS, BUT THESE ARE BEING THE UPPER ONIONS THAT ARE REFERENCED, THEY'RE BEING FUNDED THROUGH DEATH MONEY AND BOND MONEY.
UM, AND SO WE TRY AND DO, UM, ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION.
WE DEMO THE HOUSES AND THEN TRY AND RESTORE THE NATURAL FUNCTION OF THAT LAND.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT GROUP WITHIN OUR FIELD OPERATIONS, UM, THAT DOES EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UH, WORKING WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOING WORKSHOPS ON WHAT THEY, WHAT KIND OF AMENITIES THEY'RE ENVISIONING FOR THAT LAND.
ARE THEY WANTING TO DO A COMMUNITY GARDEN TRAILS FROM WATER IMPROVEMENTS, THAT SORT OF THING.
AND SO THAT'S THE PROGRAM, UM, THAT THEY'D BEEN WORKING ON IN THOSE LOWER ONION AREA, AS WELL AS IN, UH, MIDDLE WILLIAMSON, UM, IN THE BASE AND LOOP BUYOUTS THAT WERE DONE OFF WEST
[00:25:01]
GATE BOULEVARD, NEAR BEN WHITE, UH, TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO DEVELOP SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF AMENITIES THAT, UM, THAT CAN COMPLIMENT NICELY THE FUNCTION OF THAT LAND AND THE SENSITIVITY OF THE RIPARIAN AREA IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.AND THEN I HAVE A QUICK FOLLOWUP.
SO IS THAT MONEY TO BUY OUT PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED IN PREVIOUS FLOODS OR IS IT ANTICIPATING FUTURE FLOODS FUNDING? THE MONEY FOR UPPER ONION? UM, I THINK IS A MIX.
I WOULD, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION, NOT FOR MY WATERSHED ENGINEERING GROUP, BUT THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, EXTENSIVE, UH, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT THAT WAS DONE ON THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, WHICH HAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DURING BOTH THE 2013 AND THE 2015 HALLOWEEN.
SO LOOKING AT OUR MODELING DATA AND THEN SEPARATING THAT BY, OUT INTO PHASES OF STARTING WITH THE HOUSES THAT WERE HARDEST HITS THAT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THEN MOVING INTO HOUSES THAT EITHER HAD SOME DAMAGE IN THOSE FLOODS THERE THAT WE THINK ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK AND A FUTURE FLOOD.
AND SO THAT BIOPSY PROCEEDING THEM FACES, UH, BY LEVEL OF DAMAGE AND RISK IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
WE'RE BACK TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE, WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF THE PICTURES, ET CETERA, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT SPECIFIC AT ALL, UH, TO WHAT WE W WE ARE, IS IT OUR JOB TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, YES, WE THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL.
OR WE CAN SAY, WELL, WE DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY A GOOD THING OR NOT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR US TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT ANYTHING.
SO IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? IS THIS GOING TO BE FINE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED OR DO WE WANT A LOT MORE SPECIFICS, COMMISSIONER NEELY, CHRIS HARRINGTON ENVIRONMENT OFFICER.
SO, UM, IT'S CERTAINLY WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE SPENDING AND THE PROJECTS OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
AND SO I THINK ALSO TO COMMISSIONER SMITH'S PRIOR POINT, UH, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO REQUEST THAT, AND WE CAN PROVIDE A BRIEFING TO THE COMMISSION AS BEST WE ARE ABLE TO UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, ALSO, MAYBE AARON CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ONLINE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, UM, FOR FOLKS TO ACCESS INFORMATION THROUGH THE WEB ABOUT, UM, SOME OF OUR ONGOING CAPITAL PROJECTS, UM, IN JUST A SECOND, BUT, UH, WE CERTAINLY CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR EFFORTS WHERE WE HAVE GONE BACK AND MAPPED OUR HISTORIC CAPITAL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT TOWN.
SO WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OVER TIME AS WELL.
SO I'M HEARING THAT Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED.
THE COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN PRESENT THAT THERE ARE EXISTING ONLINE RESOURCES, BUT COMMISSIONER NEELEY, YOUR, IT IS ABSOLUTELY WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, EITHER REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE, OR, UM, EITHER ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ABOUT EITHER CHANGES IN SPENDING ALLOCATIONS OR, UH, THE WAY WATERSHED IS, UH, NEW EMPLOYEE REQUESTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND, AND IF DO WANT TO TALK ANYTHING ABOUT, TO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROJECTS ONLINE, UH, SURE THING.
AND SO, UM, WELL, YOU GUYS HAVE RAISED SOME EXCELLENT POINTS.
I REALIZED WE WERE KIND OF LIMITED.
I WAS IN THE PRESENT CASE AND WE TRIED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, I THINK 10 TO 12 SORT OF KEY CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON.
UH, SEVERAL OF WHICH ARE BEING FUNDED, UH, THROUGH THE 2013 BOND PROGRAM.
UH, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME FURTHER RESOURCES THAT WE COULD SEND OUT TO THE COMMISSION, UH, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON THAT WE HAVE OUR ACTIVE PROJECTS PAGE ON WATERSHEDS, IT'S UPDATED FREQUENTLY, UH, WITH MORE INFORMATION AND STATUS REPORTS ON OUR CALCUTTA, UH, THE CAPITAL PROJECT EXPLORE THAT CITYWIDE THAT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED RECENTLY THAT LETS FOLKS GO IN AND LOOK AT CAPITAL PROJECTS, UM, FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THEIR AREA.
UH, WE OURSELVES, I THINK WE'VE PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED THE PROBLEM SCORE VIEWER TO THE COMMISSION.
WE ARE WORKING ON A COMPANION PIECE TO THAT, WHICH WILL BE A SOLUTIONS VIEWER THAT WE'LL BE LAUNCHING.
UM, LATER THIS YEAR I HAD THAT CAN GO IN AND LOOK AT NOT ONLY WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED, BUT ALSO WHAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY DONE, UM, ACROSS THE CITY.
WHO ELSE, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TEST SPENDING AND SPENDING ACROSS DISTRICTS, AND WE HAVE SOME PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS THAT WE GAVE TO THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
UM, DURING THE RUN UP TO THE 2018 BOND PROGRAM, THE BOOK, UH, IN GREATER DETAIL ABOUT HISTORIC SPENDING BY DISTRICTS WITHIN IT, HOW THAT COMPARES WITH OUR PROBLEM SCORES.
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THE MAJORITY OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE, UM, IDENTIFIED AND PRIORITIZED BASED ON OUR, UH, BUT JORGE, THE THIRD TIER IS OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN.UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN ADOPTED METHODOLOGY FOR EACH ONE OF OUR MISSIONS THAT WE USE THE GUIDE WHERE WE DO PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, ONE THING THAT WE'VE TOUCHED ON AT THE PAST IN THE COMMISSION IS WE'RE DOING, UM, A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE OF THAT PLAN IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, REVISITING THOSE PRIORITIZATION METHODOLOGIES AND SEEING IF THERE'S SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT CAN WEIGH INTO THOSE, UM, LOOKING, NOT JUST AT TECHNICAL RISK, BUT ALSO AT SOCIAL RISK AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE SOME, BUT I'M WAITING TO SEE ANYONE ELSE HAS SOME QUESTIONS.
OTHER COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, IS THAT YOUR HAND? AM I MUTED? OKAY.
WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO REPLY, I GUESS, A LITTLE BIT TO THIS LINE OF DISCUSSION, THE MAP I'M GOING TO, IF YOU CAN SEE MY MAP THERE, THE ONE THAT WE GOT SENT THAT WAS SENT IN THE PRESENTATION, I TRIED TO CLICK ON IT AND I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT WE COULD NOT CLICK ON IT AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT THAT WAS, THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, THE FLOOD RISK AND SO FORTH.
AND THAT'S ON, I THINK PAGE 16 OF OUR PRESENT OF WHAT WAS SENT TO US.
SO I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THAT AND HISTORICALLY, UM, I GUESS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR A YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN UPDATES BEFORE THE BUDGET AND HAD MEETINGS WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND NONE OF THOSE WERE POSSIBLE THIS YEAR, SO THAT WE COULD BRING OURSELVES UP TO SPEED.
SO, UM, I'M FOUND MYSELF BEING CURIOUS ABOUT COUNTRY CLUB CREEK AND THE, THE BRIDGE THAT'S BEING BUILT THERE, UM, ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SHOAL CREEK AND, AND SO FORTH AND WHERE THAT IS AND WHETHER WE HAVE FINISHED THOSE PROJECTS OR, OR, OR WHATNOT.
SO THOSE, THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY ANSWERED.
ANOTHER THING THAT, I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING FOR THE FUTURE REFERENCE, ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL FOR ME WAS TO KNOW, UM, WHICH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE'RE WORKING WITH WATERSHED.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE A PUBLIC WORKS AND WATERSHED IS WORKING WITH PUBLIC, WORKS ON, UM, A PROJECT.
AND SO IT, IT OCCURS THAT THERE'S OVERLAPPING, UM, COSTS AND SO FORTH.
AND I, I JUST, I WISH THAT WE HAD HAD, UM, MORE ABILITY TO MEET IN PERSON AND SO FORTH, BUT I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT THERE WERE LIMITATIONS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT STAFF HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THIS, BUT I DO WISH THE SMAPP HAD BEEN A LITTLE MORE INTERACTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SORT OF THE OVERLAP AND WHICH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WE'RE WORKING ON IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AT THIS POINT.
MY HERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT CAME TO MY MIND.
I REMEMBER AND RECALL LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE SAME, UM, SAME SITUATION HAPPENED, UH, AND I FELT LIKE WE, AS A COMMISSION NEEDED TO HAVE AN EARLIER BRIEFING ON PRE BUDGET AND THAT WE NEEDED TO, UM, BE ABLE TO LOOK LIKE BREAK DOWN THE CIP PROJECTS VERSUS THE BUDGET THAT KIND OF MOVES FORWARD, UH, MORE DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL.
AND SO I CONCUR WITH, UH, SEVERAL OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT I THINK NEXT YEAR WE MEET TO PLAN THIS OUT SO THAT WE JUST DON'T KIND OF GET A DUMP, YOU KNOW, UM, AND WE CAN EITHER DO, UM, KIND OF A COMMITTEE OR HAVE THE COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY ASKED LIKE HOW, WHAT PERCENTAGES IS COMPLETED.
I KNOW WE CAN GO AND LOOK ON LINKS, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT WE NEED A PRE-BUDGET SESSION PRIOR TO VOTING ON THIS.
UM, MY ONE QUESTION IS THAT LAST YEAR, DID WE GET FULLY FUNDED OUR REQUEST FROM OUR LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY COUNCIL?
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CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES.WAS THERE ANYTHING IN OUR PRIOR YEAR BUDGET REQUEST OR SAY THAT WAS NOT APPROVED BY COUNCIL? I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING.
ALRIGHTY, CHRIS, THIS IS SARAH HARTLEY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING THAT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.
AND SO WE'RE PRETTY MUCH, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE ABOUT THE SAME REQUEST THIS YEAR, BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, UM, THAT CHART WHERE Y'ALL SIGNIFICANTLY GO UP TO 20, 25 AND MAYBE, UH, BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT MORE CLOSELY IN THE NEXT YEARS AND TRACK THAT TO SEE HOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT AMOUNT OF INCREASE AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
UM, WHAT THE FACT THAT THE COVA COULD CHANGE, UH, BUILD OUTS IN THE FUTURE THAT ARE ALREADY BEING ANTICIPATED.
UM, IT, IT COULD SHIFT AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO BE ON TOP OF THAT.
MADAM CHAIR, CHRIS HARRINGTON, JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CERTAINLY WILL, UM, RECONSIDER OBVIOUSLY AS COMMISSIONER THOMPSON NOTED, THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFICULT FOR, FOR MEETINGS AND FOR, UH, FOR OUR BRIEFINGS.
UM, KAYLA CHAMPLIN ARE ALREADY IN CONVERSATION WITH THE CLERK ABOUT HOW WE CAN RESUME COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO HELP GET INTO SOME OF THESE ISSUES ON SOME DEVELOPMENT CASES THAT WE HAVE UPCOMING.
AND SO THAT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ALSO EXPLORE HOW WE CAN TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT I HEAR FROM THE COMMISSION WITH REGARD TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, WITH REGARDS TO OUR, UM, REVENUE PROJECTIONS OVER TIME, AND ALSO WITH THE REGARD TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS GEOGRAPHICALLY.
SO I THINK WE WILL, AS AARON WOULD, CRAIG ARE NOTED, WE'LL CERTAINLY MAKE AVAILABLE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO YOU VIA EMAIL.
UM, WE'LL, UH, CONTINUE WORKING ON MEETINGS TO SORT OF RESOLVE YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE SHORT TERM, AND THEN WE'LL THINK OF A BETTER PROCESS.
UM, NEXT YEAR, WHEN HOPEFULLY WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, UH, LESS VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND MORE PHYSICAL MEETINGS, RIGHT? THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE IF IT'S MY TURN.
AND THAT IS FOR INSTANCE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A DISTRICT, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL GLOSS BY DISTRICT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE I'M SURE AT LEAST WITH, WITH ME, I ATTEND MEETINGS OF IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND I'M SURE THEY'RE WANTING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL COMMISSIONER NEW.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION AND I'LL CERTAINLY WE'LL WORK WITH OUR PLANNING TEAM AND OUR FINANCE TEAM TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BEST GET YOU THAT INFORMATION ON A RECURRING BASIS SO THAT YOU CAN STAY, UM, UH, UH, CURRENT ON THE PROJECTS GOING ON WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT.
IT IS AS AARON WOULD, UH, ALLUDED TO, AS WE HAVE PRIORITIZED PROJECTS BASED ON NEED ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, THAT'S BEEN CERTAINLY A FACTOR THAT WE ARE NOW ATTEMPTING TO LOOK AT THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING TO INCORPORATE, UM, ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AND EQUITY MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UH, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE JUST LOOK AT NECESSARILY AN EXACT APPORTIONMENT OF DOLLARS ACROSS THE DISTRICTS BECAUSE THE NEED IS NOT EXACTLY EQUAL ACROSS THE DISTRICTS, BUT I'M CLEARLY HEARING, UM, THE DESIRE FROM THE COMMISSION FOR MORE INFORMATION IN PARTICULAR ON THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND WE'LL CERTAINLY DO OUR BEST.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAD BEEN ASKED IN THE PAST TOO, IS ABOUT THE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I THINK THE WHOLE CITY WANTS TO KNOW AND ITEMS LIKE THAT, COMMISSIONERS LET'S, LET'S GET BACK AND FOCUS ON IF WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS ITEM ON TO A, BECAUSE IT IS POSTED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION, THOSE OF YOU THAT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH EMOTION CAN OF COURSE ABSTAIN OR CAN VOTE AGAINST IT IF YOU FEEL STRONGLY.
BUT, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER REGARDING THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AT THIS TIME? I DON'T SEE ANYONE WITH NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
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HEARING.HAVE MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU.
I HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION, UM, ALSO, UH, READY FOR IT TO PROCEED, UM, ON ITEM TWO 80, THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, FISCAL YEAR 2021 OPERATING BUDGET AND FIVE-YEAR CIP PROGRAM.
WHEREAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS CHARGED WITH THE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION.
DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND FIVE-YEAR CIP PLAN.
AND WHEREAS THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES NO RATE INCREASES FOR 20 FOR FISCAL YEAR 21, AND DOES NOT ANTICIPATE A RATE INCREASE FOR 2022.
UH, WHEREAS THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 21 OPERATING BUDGET IS ESTIMATED AT 107 MILLION, $100,000.
AND WHEREAS THE FISCAL YEAR 21 TO 25 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OUTLINES WATERSHED, PROTECTING DEPARTMENTS, PROJECTED MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BASED ON EXISTING FUNDING AND REVENUE.
WHEREAS THE 21 TO 25 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY 337 MILLION.
AND THERE'S ONLY TWO MORE WAREHOUSES.
AND WHEREAS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, DETAILING THE TOTALS AND BREAKOUTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 OPERATING BUDGET AND THE FISCAL YEAR 21 TO 25 CIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN BACKUP FOR THE AGENDA.
AND FINALLY, WHEREAS THE WATERSHED CHECKS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TO ADDRESS THEIR PRIMARY OBJECTIVES AND HAVE CRITICAL GOALS AND INITIATIVES FOR FUTURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
THEREFORE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENTS, FISCAL YEAR 2021 OPERATING BUDGET AND FIVE YEAR CIP PROGRAM WITH ONE ENVIRONMENTAL MISSION CONDITION THAT I JUST DROPPED IT UP TO, ESSENTIALLY MINE FOR FUTURE ANNUAL BUDGETS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS PROVIDED DETAILED BUDGET DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING TRACKING THE ANTICIPATED FUTURE RATE INCREASES IN FISCAL YEAR 23 OR 24 AND CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS BROKEN OUT BY DISTRICT PRIOR TO THE REQUEST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ACTION ON THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER RAMBERT.
YOU HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER, NAMELY.
I'M READY TO TAKE THEM OUT IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO DO ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER C SMITH ABSTAIN COMMISSIONER THOMPSON.
MOTION MOTION CARRIES ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN WITH TWO UPSTAIRS EXTENSIONS FROM COMMISSIONER, UH, C SMITH AND COMMISSIONER BEDFORD.
THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TODAY WITH OUR AGENDA ON A CERTAIN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MEET LIKE THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT MONTHS.
AND SO, UH, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES TOGETHER.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL NEED SOME ADDITIONAL ATTENTION, UH, SO THAT WE HAVE THE TIME TO, UM, EXPLORE THOSE OPTIONS.
UH, CHRIS HARRINGTON TOOK ON, UH, GETTING THIS MEETING TOGETHER AND WENT THROUGH TRAINING SO THAT WE COULD, UM, STREAMLINE THESE.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE ARE LOOKING AT SHUTTING DOWN THE MEETING AND A JOURNEY.
I DID NOT HEAR ANY OF THE GENTLEMAN'S COMMENTS THAT WERE OUTSIDE EARLIER.
SO I JUST, WASN'T WANTING TO REMIND STAFF TO PLEASE SEND US THAT LINK SO THAT WE COULD HEAR IT.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, CHRIS HARRINGTON.
WE CERTAINLY WILL SEND YOU A LINK TO THE VIDEO FOR THE DIRECTOR MORALES.
I APOLOGIZE AGAIN FOR THE AUDIO QUALITY AND THEN WE KAYLA AND I WILL WORK WITH, AGAIN OUR FINANCIAL AND PLANNING STAFF TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ON SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE ANSWERED AND WE'LL PACKAGE IT UP AND SEND IT TO YOU IN AN EMAIL
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SOON.AND THEN A DOOBIE ON THE LOOKOUT.
WE'LL PROBABLY BE, TRY TO DO SOME POLLING.
UM, ONCE WE COMPLETE OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE CLERK ABOUT SOME COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE DO HAVE SOME PODS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO TACKLE IN A COMMITTEE MEETING BEFORE BRINGING IT TO THE FULL COMMISSION IN THIS FORMAT.
SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING.
I'M GOING TO JOIN THE MEETING NOW AT THREE 49.