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YOU READY? OKAY.[CALL TO ORDER]
IS OCTOBER 19TH, 2022.I'M MAYOR PROTE AND CHAIR OF THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
I'M JOINED REMOTELY BY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS IN, UM, THE CHAMBERS WITH ME, AND I BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, UH, VICE CHAIR IS ON THE DIAS AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
[Public Communication: General]
DID YOU WANT US TO START WITH REMOTE FIRST OR IN PERSON? WHAT'S EASIER FOR YOU? SHE'S NOT SET UP FOR OWN.UM, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP TONY.
I CAN'T SEE IF THAT'S JOHNNY IN THE BACK.
MR. SARR, THEY CHANGED OUR LIGHTS OUT HERE AND YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING.
UH, YOU HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PROTEM, COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF MEMBER.
SIR, I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF CS CONSULTING AND SERVICES, AN ENGINEERING FIRM FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IT'S PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY AND SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON ITEM THAT WILL BE COMING TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
LAST YEAR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN BEGAN WORK ON UPDATING ITS 2016 DISPARITY STUDY.
THE STUDY HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL SOON.
I WANT TO CLARIFY MY POSITION TODAY.
I AM NOT HERE TO CHALLENGE THIS STUDY METHODOLOGY OR RESULTS.
INSTEAD, I LIKE TO USE THE DATA FROM THE STUDY AS A BASIS FOR CONSIDERING AN ALTERNATIVE PATH FOR SUPPORTING NOT ONLY OUR MBE AND WB CONTRACTOR AND CONSULTANT, ALL SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS IN AUSTIN AREA.
MAYOR PROTEM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT AND OUR INITIAL DISCUSSION ON FRAMING THIS PROPOSAL.
A STRIKING POINT FOR ME FROM THE, THE STUDY IS THE MIGRATION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROCUREMENT DOLLAR TO OTHER COUNTIES.
SINCE THE LAST DISPARITY STUDY BEFORE THIS RECENT STUDY THE PREVIOUS DAY, THE COLLECTION REFLECTS 75% OF THE PROCUREMENT DOLLAR IN THE AUSTIN MSA.
TODAY WE SEE THAT DATA REFLECT A DECREASE TO 63%.
THE LARGEST MUNICIPALITY IN THE 19 COUNTY AREA HAVE SOME FORM OF LOCAL PREFERENCE, FEATURE THE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES THAT SUPPORTS THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, HOUSTON HAS ITS HOUSTON FIRST PROGRAM AND THE OTHER HEAVIER VERSION OF LOCAL PREFERENCE FEATURE TOO.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THESE PROGRAM HELPED KEEP MORE THEIR PROCUREMENT DOLLAR WITHIN THE AREA.
THE CONTINUE MIGRATION OF CONTRACT DOLLARS OUTSIDE THE AUSTIN MSA AND THE IMPACT LOWER GOAL FOR MINORITIES AND WOMEN IN AUSTIN, BUSINESS WILL DECREASE.
AND THE PROJECT PARTICIPATION LEVELS MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THIS AREA.
RECRUITING TALENT AND EXPENSIVE HOUSING MARKET INCREASED TAXES IN LONG COMMUTE TIMES FOR OUR EMPLOYEE.
THERE IS ANOTHER POTENTIAL LOSS FOR THE CITY OF, WAS THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THE SURROUNDING REGION AND THE STATE ARE EXPERIENCING TREMENDOUS GROWTH.
COMPETITION FOR ENGINEERING AND RELATED TECHNICAL TALENT IS VERY HIGH.
LOCAL FIRM WHO ARE BEST SUITED FOR SUPPORT.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROJECT, BECAUSE OF THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE FAMILIALITY
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FOR OUR COMMUNITY AREA, ARE LESS LIKELY TO PURSUE CITY AUSTIN PROJECT BECAUSE OF LACK OF TALENT OR BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING AWARDS WITH OTHER PROJECT.THERE IS NOT A, THERE IS NOT AS MUCH AS EXTERNAL COMPETITION.
THEY HELP ME MITIGATE THIS IMPACT.
I ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TWO ITEMS. ONE, CONSIDER LOCAL PREFERENCE FEATURE FOR A SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
MR. SOER, MR. SOER, MR. SOER, YOUR, YOUR TIME HAS ELAPSED, COULD YOU, BUT WE'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WRAP UP.
THE THREE MINUTES HAS EXPIRED.
CONSIDER LOCAL PREFERENCE SPEECH OF A SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, S L B E IN COMPLETING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROJECT.
ALIGN THE COMPLETION OF THE DISPARITY STUDY GOAL IMPLEMENTATION WITH INTRODUCING A NEW SMALL LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM AS WELL, LBE GOAL ADMINISTERED BY YOUR PURCHASING OFFICE.
THANK YOU MR. SIR, FOR BEING HERE.
UM, AND COLLEAGUES WILL TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER, BUT I WILL HAVE, UM, AN AMENDMENT ALONG THOSE LINES AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING, UH, NEXT WEEK.
UM, IS JONATHAN JOHNSON HERE? OKAY.
UM, IF HE ENDS UP COMING IN, UH, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Audit and Finance Committee meeting of September 21, 2022]
NOW MOVE TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, WHICH IS ITEM ONE.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MAKES THAT MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? UNANIMOUS ON THE DIAS.
UM, AT THIS POINT, UM, THAT WOULD BE FOUR OF US, UM, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO NOT VISIBLE YET.
UM, THEN, UM, WE WILL NOW MOVE, I'M MOVE TO ITEM TWO, WHICH IS OUR CITY SERVICES
[2. City Services for Older Adults Audit.]
FOR OLDER ADULTS AUDIT.I'M COREY STOKES, THE CITY AUDITOR, AND, UH, WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THIS AUDIT.
WE HAVE NEHA SHARMA WAS THE MANAGER ON THIS AUDIT, AND KELSEY THOMPSON WAS THE AUDITOR IN CHARGE.
KELSEY IS NOW AN AUDIT MANAGER IN OUR OFFICE.
AND KELSEY WILL BE DOING OUR PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS KELSEY THOMPSON AND I WAS THE LEAD AUDITOR FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE OBJECTIVE FOR THIS AUDIT WAS, DOES THE CITY PROVIDE SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS? EQUITABLY AND EFFECTIVELY? THERE WE GO.
OLDER ADULTS OR PEOPLE 50 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER MAKE UP AN INCREASINGLY LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION GLOBALLY.
AND HERE IN AUSTIN, AUSTIN, RESIDENTS BETWEEN 65 AND 74 WERE THE FASTEST GROWING AGE GROUP BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020, INCREASING BY ALMOST 70%.
GETTING USED TO THE CLICKER HERE.
THE CITY HAS TAKEN SEVERAL ACTIONS TO SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS.
CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CITY'S FIRST AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN IN 2016, AND THE CITY HIRED AN AGE FRIENDLY PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN 2019.
THE COMMISSION ON AGING PREVIOUSLY NAMED THE COMMISSION ON SENIORS, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BOTH OF THESE ACTIONS.
AND IN 2021, THE CITY UPDATED THE AGE FRIENDLY AUSTIN ACTION PLAN, NOTING ACHIEVEMENTS AND AREAS STILL IN PROGRESS.
YET THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE CITY CAN MAKE REGARDING THE AGE FRIENDLY PLAN.
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS CLICKER.
OUR FIRST FINDING IS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARDS THE GOALS IN THE AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN, ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE GOALS AND IN ASSESS IF THE CITY'S EFFORTS ARE EQUITABLE ACROSS ALL GROUPS OF OLDER ADULTS.
WE SAW THAT THE AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN DID NOT HAVE CLEAR INDICATORS TO MEASURE PROGRESS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THE PLAN'S, GOALS, AND STRATEGIES.
IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE STRATEGY IS TO PROVIDE MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY PROGRAMS A CITY SHOULD PROVIDE TO ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN'S GOAL AND MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEED.
VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS.
WE SAW THAT THE PLAN DID NOT CLEARLY INDICATE WHICH DEPARTMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GOALS AND STRATEGIES IN THE PLAN.
IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE STRATEGY IS TO SUPPORT AUSTIN UP, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO DEVELOP AGE-FRIENDLY BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES IN THE UPDATE FROM 2021 SAID PROGRAM DESIGN, T B D.
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SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHICH DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING OR MOVING THE STRATEGY FORWARD.AND WITHOUT CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE CITY TO KNOW WHO IS WORKING ON WHAT TO ENSURE THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES ARE IMPLEMENTED.
COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO UNDERSTAND IF AND HOW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE EQUITABLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
AND TO REVIEW THIS, REVIEW THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF OLDER ADULTS.
WE REVIEWED 10 PROGRAMS ACROSS FOUR DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVE OLDER ADULTS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NOT A CONSISTENT PROCESS TO COLLECT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, ANALYZE HOW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE AFFECTING DIFFERENT GROUPS SUCH AS OLDER ADULTS OF DIFFERENT RACES OR AGES DEPARTMENTS.
WERE COLLECTING SOME DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ACROSS PROGRAMS, BUT THE TYPE OF DATA VARIED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO COMPARE AND USE FOR ANALYSIS.
AND WE FOUND THAT THE AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN DOES NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES IN THE PLAN MAY AFFECT DIFFERENT GROUPS OF OLDER ADULTS AND, AND THAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA THAT DEPARTMENTS ARE COLLECTING IS NOT USED.
TO INFORM THE AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN, WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WORKED WITH THE CITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OLDER ADULTS.
WE SENT THE SURVEY TO 32 PARTNERS AND RECEIVED 19 RESPONSES FOR A 59% RESPONSE RATE.
AND WE ASKED, HOW DOES THE CITY MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS ON A 10 POINT SCALE WITH ONE BEING NO NEEDS MET AND 10 BEING ALL NEEDS MET.
THE AVERAGE RATING FOR EACH CATEGORY WAS 5.4 OR BELOW.
HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION HAD THE LOWEST AVERAGE RATINGS AT 3.6 OR BELOW.
SO THE CITY CAN BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS IN AUSTIN BY DEVELOPING A WAY TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARDS GOALS IN THE PLAN, ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GOALS, AND ASSESS THAT THE CITY'S EFFORTS ARE EQUITABLE ACROSS ALL GROUPS.
OUR SECOND FINDING WAS ABOUT OUTREACH.
WE FOUND THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE CLEAR, CONSISTENT OUTREACH ABOUT CITY PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OLDER ADULTS TO FIND WHAT THEY NEED.
WE FOUND THAT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT PROGRAMS WAS DECENTRALIZED AND VARIED BY DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM.
WE SAW THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE CLEAR, CONSISTENT ONLINE ADVERTISING FOR CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
AND THE CITY INFORMATION FOR OLDER ADULTS IS LOCATED ACROSS VARIOUS CITY WEBPAGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE AGE FRIENDLY PROGRAM HAS A WEBPAGE WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.
THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS ONLINE INFORMATION GUIDES FOR OLDER ADULTS, AND THERE'S SOME OVERLAP BETWEEN THESE, BUT THERE'S DIFFERENCES AS WELL.
AND ADDITIONALLY, PART HOUSING AND PLANNING EMS HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS ACROSS THEIR RESPECTIVE WEBPAGES.
AND THIS LACK OF CLEAR AND CONSISTENT, I'M TRYING TO CHANGE THE SLIDE AGAIN HERE.
UH, THIS LACK OF CLEAR AND CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR OLDER ADULTS TO FIND WHAT THEY NEED.
IN OUR SURVEY OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, WE ASKED ABOUT OUTREACH AND 58% OF PARTNERS DISAGREE THAT OLDER ADULTS ARE AWARE OF CITY PROGRAMS. 85% DISAGREE THAT IT'S EASY FOR OLDER ADULTS TO FIND INFORMATION IN ONE CENTRAL PLACE AND 53% SAID THE CITY'S WEBSITE WAS NOT SO USEFUL IN HELPING OLDER ADULTS LOCATE PROGRAMS. OUR THIRD FINDING IS ABOUT RESOURCES.
MANY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH PART LIBRARY, HOUSING AND PLANNING, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GOALS IN THE, IN THAT AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN.
AND THE CITY'S AGE-FRIENDLY PROGRAM COORDINATOR WORKS WITH THESE AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS OVER 30 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE AGE-FRIENDLY SERVICES AND ALIGN WITH THE PLAN.
AND LIKE I MENTIONED, THE CITY HIRED AN AGE-FRIENDLY PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN 2019, AND THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING PROGRESS ON THE CITY'S PLAN.
RESPONDENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY SURVEY NOTED THAT STAFFING THIS POSITION IS ALLOWED FOR MORE TARGETED OUTREACH, EFFECTIVE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, BETTER COORDINATION.
HOWEVER, THESE RESOURCES MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE EFFORTS ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN.
70% OF OUR COMMUNITY RESPONDENTS DISAGREE THAT THE CITY HAS SUFFICIENT RESOURCES DEDICATED TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.
AND WE ALSO CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF THE TOP SCORING AGE FRIENDLY CITIES THAT WERE SELECTED BY THE A A R P AND FOUND THAT 70% OF THEM HAVE AN AGING SERVICES FUNCTION SUCH AS AN OFFICE OR A DEPARTMENT.
UH, COUNCIL DID APPROVE ANOTHER POSITION FOR THE AGE FRIENDLY PROGRAM AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET BASED ON A, A COMMISSION FROM A, BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON AGING.
WE, UH, ISSUED FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, ONE TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, TO ENSURE THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AGE-FRIENDLY PLAN.
AND THREE TO THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHERE THE AGE-FRIENDLY PROGRAM IS LOCATED.
ONE, TO UPDATE THE PLAN TO INCLUDE THE ITEMS THAT WE NOTED TO, TO CREATE CENTRALIZED GUIDANCE AROUND COMMUNICATION.
AND THREE, TO ASSESS THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO COORDINATE THE PLAN AND MANAGEMENT AGREED WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
IS THERE STAFF FROM PUBLIC HEALTH HERE TO RESPOND?
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I THINK THAT'S MS. TRUMP.I THINK I JUST SAW ADRIAN IT'S BOX A SECOND AGO.
CAN WE GIVE MY CAMERA TO WORK? GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE AUDIT AT ALL? I HAVE NO COMMENTS.
I I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE DID.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY, UM, AND WE ARE READY TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
NEHA, DID YOU WANNA ADD SOMETHING HERE? NO.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER OF FUENTES.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TODAY.
MY QUESTION IS, UM, AS PART OF THIS, UH, REPORT, HOW HAS THIS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION ON AGING? AND WILL THEY BE OFFERING ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS? AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LAID OUT THE AREAS IN WHICH, UM, OLDER ADULTS ARE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIPS, I SAW IN PARTICULAR, HOUSING WAS AT THE LOWEST AND HAD A 3.8.
UM, ON THE SCALE OF ONE TO 10, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW WILL WE, UM, RECEIVE EVEN MORE DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THE CITY CAN, UM, BETTER ENHANCE OUR OUTREACH AND OUR PROGRAMMING FOR, FOR OLDER ADULTS? WE, THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING, AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO THEIR COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER AND CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM ABOUT THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD FOR MORE DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS IN THESE AREAS.
SO, UM, I WANNA JUST SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE TIMEFRAME FOR DELIVERING, UM, ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, MR CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UM, THE TIMEFRAME? YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS ABOUT, UM, NOT HAVING A WAY TO MEASURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD OR ASSESSING OUR EFFORTS.
UM, AND I, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE DELIVERY DATE FOR THAT WAS JULY OF 2026.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE? UM, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, UM, ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE FAMILIAR AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE PLAN.
UM, THE OTHER ONES ARE IN 23, WHICH, UM, STILL LATER END OF 23, WHICH IS STILL LATER THAN I WOULD LIKE, BUT IS REASONABLE.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE, TO THE DATES PLEASE? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
AND SO WE ARE ECSTATIC THAT THE COUNCIL, UM, HAS GIVEN US THE ADDITIONAL POSITION IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE ARE POSTING THAT POSITION AND HOPING TO HAVE THAT PERSON COME ON BOARD.
TYPICALLY, IT TAKES FOUR MONTHS TO HAVE SOMEONE ON ONBOARDED FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, WITH THAT, UH, THE AGE FRIENDLY COORDINATOR THAT WE HAD IN PLACE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO A POSITION IN THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
SO WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY STAFF TO DO THIS WORK.
SO, UH, THE FIRST WINDOW IS A, A FOUR TO SIX MONTH RAMP UP TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD AND THEN TO HAVE, UH, TIME TO ORIENT THEM TO THE, THE PLAN, UM, TO GET ACCLIMATED TO THE COMMISSION AND KIND OF GET THEIR, THEIR BEARINGS SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO DIG INTO THE MEAT OF THE WORK.
I THINK THE, UM, THE MEASURES ITEM IS, IS THAT FAR OUT TO GIVE US TIME TO REALLY PLAN INTENTIONALLY AND GET SOME OF OUR CITY SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
UM, I, I CAN SPEAK FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, JUST TO WORK WITHIN ONE DEPARTMENT TO GET A COORDINATED SYSTEM OF DEMOGRAPHIC COLLECTION HAS BEEN CHALLENGING.
AND SO TO LOOK AT THAT ACROSS SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE DATA POINTS AND THAT WE HAVE A COHESIVE SYSTEM TO COLLECT THEM CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE BOARD IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
AND THAT PROCESS WILL IMPACT HOW WE'RE ABLE TO ESTABLISH AND REPORT OUR MEASURES.
AND, UM, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE FOR THE AUDIT STAFF, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF HOUSING BEING A REALLY IMPORTANT FACTOR.
UM, ARE YOU ABLE TO DRILL DOWN MORE INTO THAT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS ACCESS TO HOUSING OR IF IT WAS MORE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES OR WHAT, WHAT WAS THE WEIGHT THAT WAS GIVEN TO DIFFERENT THINGS,
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UM, IN THAT RESPONSE? YEAH, IN, IN OUR SURVEY, WE DID NOT DRILL DOWN TO THAT LEVEL OF, UH, DETAIL WITH THE HOUSING.UM, BUT THE, WE KNOW THAT THE COMMISSION ON AGING HAS SEVERAL WORK GROUPS RELATED, AND ONE OF THEM IS RELATED TO HOUSING.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE CAN PROVIDE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WE GOT, WHICH ARE PROVIDED IN OUR REPORT, AND WE CAN HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSION ON AGING TO GET THEIR INPUT ON, ON THOSE DRILLING DOWN INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.
UM, AND MR. STIR UP, I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE STAFF, UM, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE PLAN TO HAVE A REPORT, UM, DELIVERED IN OCTOBER AND WE DO A BUDGET IN AUGUST, UM, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN, UM, GET EITHER A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE BUDGETARY GAPS, UM, IN ADVANCE OF BUDGET, YOU KNOW, PREFERABLY BEFORE THE CITY MANAGER FINALIZES HIS BUDGET.
SO HE HAS THAT INFORMATION, BUT IF NOT THAT, AT LEAST TO, UH, CITY COUNCIL SO THAT IF WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE AGING, THAT WE HAVE INFORMATION AND THE BENEFIT OF THAT REPORT, UM, TO DO THAT.
YOU, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT, AND YES, WE CAN LOOK AT ADJUSTING THAT TIMELINE SO THAT THERE WILL BE SOME INFORMATION TO, UH, DRIVE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
UM, AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO ASK IS, UM, TO THE EXTENT, UM, THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS SPACE, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE WE SUPPORTING THE CAREGIVERS, UM, FOR OUR SENIORS AND HOW DOES THAT ALIGN, UM, WITH WHERE YOU'RE GONNA GO WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OR WITH WHAT YOU'RE, WITH, WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING? SO, THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR, WE DID GET SOME FUNDING FOR A SHORT PILOT, AND I AM HOPING THE INFORMATION THAT WE WITH, UH, FOR CAREGIVERS WITH THE ADEPT, AND I'M HOPING THAT THROUGH THAT PILOT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME INFORMATION THAT WE COULD USE TO KIND OF EITHER, UM, GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ABOUT ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS OR TO RE REIMAGINE SOME OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL IN THE BASIC NEEDS CATEGORY.
UM, COLLEAGUES, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
[3. Audit and Finance Committee meeting dates for 2023]
AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES FOR 2023 STOKES, UH, CHAIR, DID WE NEED TO ACCEPT THAT AUDIT? UM, YES.UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY? SURE.
I, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUDIT.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA MAKES THAT MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, THAT IS UNANIMOUS ON THE DIAS AND WE CAN SEE EVERYONE WHO'S VIRTUAL.
I'M, I AM, AS I THINK MY OFFICE SHARED WITH YOU, UM, SPLITTING, NEEDING TO SPLIT MY TIME TODAY BETWEEN AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT BOARD, WHICH I ALSO SERVE ON AND AUDIT AND FINANCE.
SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE AND HAVING HAD SOME TECHNOLOGY DIFFICULTIES, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO SIGN OFF FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN I WILL REJOIN YOU ALL HERE SOON.
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR OFFICE LETTING ME KNOW THAT IN ADVANCE WAS HELPFUL.
SO ITEM THREE IS ON THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE DATES.
WE TOOK THE DATES APPROVED FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD PULL THAT UP, ACTUALLY.
UM, THAT, UH, THESE ARE THE DATES.
UH, BASICALLY WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE TRYING TO AIM FOR THE THIRD WEDNESDAY.
SOMETIMES THAT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.
BUT WE TRY TO FIND A WEEK THAT DOESN'T HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE, YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE'VE CANCELED THE JUNE MEETING AND, UM, THE, AS ALWAYS, THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER MEETINGS SLIDE AROUND BASED ON CALENDARS.
UM, AND IF WE HAVE TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COUNCIL CALENDAR, THEN WE'LL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AUDIT AND FINANCE ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE MAYBE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS, SAY IN THE AUGUST TIMEFRAME THAT WE MIGHT SEE.
UM, SO THERE MAY BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AS WE MOVE ALONG.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CALENDAR.
COUNCIL MEMBER VICE CHAIR POOL MAKES THAT MOTION SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND ONE SEC.
STARTING AT NINE 30 IN THE MORNINGS.
THE PLAN IS TO CONTINUE THE NINE 30 TO 11 SLOT.
NINE 30 TO 1130, I BELIEVE IT IS.
AND WE'VE ASKED THAT AUSTIN WATER THAT'LL GENERALLY MEET ON THE SAME DAY WHEN THEY MEET ON QUARTERLY TO START AT ONE 30.
[00:25:01]
YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.IF I COULD JUST SEE THAT LIST FOR TWO MORE SECONDS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I WROTE EVERYTHING DOWN PROPERLY AND MAYBE SEND IT TO ALL OUR OFFICES.
I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF IT WAS HERE AND I COULDN'T FIND IT.
AND JUST TO FLAG FOR THOSE OF US THAT WHO ARE, CUZ I THINK FOUR OUT OF FIVE OF US ARE STAYING TO THE NEXT COUNCIL.
UM, SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE A JANUARY AUDIT AND FINANCE MEETING.
UM, JUST SO THAT WE DON'T GET BACKLOGGED TOO MUCH, UM, WITH OUR WORK, BECAUSE WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THIS DECEMBER'S MEETING, UH, WILL BE, WHEN WE HEAR THE AUSTIN WATER, UM, AUDIT COME BACK ON DECEMBER 13TH.
IF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT ADDITIONAL MEETING WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.
AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN INTRODUCE OUR NEW COLLEAGUES TO OUR COMMITTEE AND, UM, I THINK IT'LL BE GOOD TO, TO HAVE THAT WORK MOVING FORWARD.
UM, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SO AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE THREE OF US WHO ARE PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND MYSELF.
OUR CALLER, UM, OUR CITIZEN COMMUNICATOR FROM EARLIER IS ACTUALLY ONLINE NOW.
UM, IS THIS MISS BREEZE MEISTER? WHAT'S THAT? THIS JANIE BREEZE.
CAN YOU HEAR? CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN.
I APOLOGIZE FOR, UM, THE, MY CONFUSION ON THE CALL IN.
UM, SHOULD I BEGIN? ARE YOU READY? YES, PLEASE BEGIN.
I'M CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION ON AGING.
RECENTLY REAMED FROM THE COMMISSION ON SENIORS.
UM, I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF THIS MORNING.
THE AUDIT WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC PRIOR TO OUR LAST COMMISSION MEETING, THEREFORE, THE FULL COMMISSION COULD NOT REVIEW AND VOTE ON THE COMMENTS AND VOTE ON COMMENTS.
THROUGHOUT THE REVIEW, THE AUDIT STAFF MET WITH ME AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS SEVERAL TIMES.
OVERALL, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE FINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH CONFIRM AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMISSION.
AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE JUST A FEW COMMENTS.
UM, UH, WE AGREE WITH IMPROVING MEASURES OF PROGRESS FOR OUR GOALS AND STRATEGIES IN THE AGE FRIENDLY PLAN, ACTION PLAN.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE AGE FRIENDLY PROGRAM COORDINATOR ON THAT.
WE ALSO BELIEVE BETTER DATA IS NECESSARY TO IMPROVE EQUITY AS A COMMISSION.
WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO ADEQUATELY REVIEW THE EQUITY OF PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS.
IN 2019, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CITY COLLECT MORE GRANULAR DEMOGRAPHIC DATA TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW OLDER ADULTS WERE OR WERE NOT BEING SERVED BY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMISSIONS, THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE HAS ALSO REPEATEDLY ASKED THE CITY TO COLLECT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA IN A STANDARD FORMAT THAT ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONS COULD USE TO EVALUATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
UM, THE AUDIT RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN.
I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD GIVE THE AGE-FRIENDLY COORDINATOR THE AUTHORITY TO RECOMMEND WHICH DEPARTMENTS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHICH GOALS AND STRATEGIES IN THE PLAN.
AND THAT EACH DEPARTMENT SHOULD ASSIGN A POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN, UM, ON COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH.
IT'S ONE OF THE, UM, COMPLAINTS THAT WE HEAR MOST FROM OLDER ADULTS IS THAT THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE CITY OFFERS.
THE PANDEMIC AND FREE ARE EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE WERE SCRAMBLING TO GIVE VITAL INFORMATION OUT TO OLDER ADULTS.
UM, COMMUNITY COMMUNITY BASED OUTREACH IS EFFECTIVE IN REACHING OLDER ADULTS, AND THE COMMISSION MADE A REQUEST IN THE CURRENT BUDGET CYCLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL STAFFER TO WORK ON JUST THAT, ESPECIALLY AROUND RESILIENCY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
AND THIS POSITION WAS FUNDED DURING BUDGET AMENDMENTS FROM COUNCILS.
UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY OF PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS FILL IN GAPS.
AN ORGANIZATION CALLED A MIGHT.
GOOD TIME HAS DONATED AND BUILT A CUSTOM WEBPAGE FOR THE CITY FOR A ONE STOP SHOP ON OLDER ADULT ACTIVITIES AROUND SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
AND THE SITE HAS GONE THROUGH VARIOUS APPROVALS WITHIN THE CITY, AND IT'S JUST PENDING THE FINAL ACTIONS NEEDED TO GO LIVE.
AND IT WILL BE, UM, EMBEDDED WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WEBSITE.
BUT THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP AND THE CITY WILL NEED TO MAKE ITS OWN WEBSITE MORE FRIENDLY FOR OLDER ADULTS.
UM, AND FINALLY, AS THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION
[00:30:01]
CONTINUES TO GROW, WE WILL NEED MORE RESOURCES TO, TO SUPPORT THE AGE-FRIENDLY PROGRAM.AS THE AUDIT MENTIONED, THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS SURVEYED BY THE AUDITORS, I'LL STRONGLY AGREE, THE PROGRAM NEEDS MORE RESOURCES.
THE ADDITIONAL STAFFER AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NECESSARY.
CAN YOU WRAP UP THIS? AND I AM DONE.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WELL, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE COMMISSION ON AGING.
WE, WE APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, SOMEONE FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT MS. STIRRUP, UM, AND SOMEONE IN APH HEARS THOSE COMMENTS BECAUSE THEY CAME OUT OF ORDER, UM, WITH THE AUDIT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UM, THE APPROPRIATE PERSON AT APH IS, IS HEARING THAT.
UM, THANK YOU MS. BREES MEISTER, APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR BEING HERE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE COMMISSION ON AGING HAS, UM, ADDITIONAL, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THIS AUDIT, UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GET TO, TO OUR OFFICES, UM, AS FEEDBACK, UM, FOR THE NEXT STEPS.
VERY OFTEN WITH AN AUDIT, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT THE AUDITOR SAYS, BUT IT IS ALSO WHAT COUNCIL OFFICES DECIDE TO PUSH, UM, AFTER THE FACT.
UM, AND, AND WE CAN ADD ADDITIONAL THINGS AS NEEDED, UM, TO THAT PROCESS.
UM, WAS THERE AN ADDITIONAL, JONATHAN JOHNSON.
YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES PLEASE.
WAIT TILL YOU GET TO THE PODIUM SO WE CAN HEAR YOU CLEARLY.
WISH I WAS IN BETTER CONDITION.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY ISSUE WOULD BE, UH, I'M HAVING AN ISSUE WITH, UH, WITH YOUR LIBRARIES.
AND I HAD ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE, UH, LAST WEEK.
I'VE ALSO, UM, EMAILED, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, UH, MR. SPENCER.
UH, AND, AND SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'M PRETTY SURE YOU GOT A BUSY SCHEDULE, BUT THE RESPONSE IS PRETTY SLOW ON SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS, THIS WOULD BE THE PROPER FORM.
UM, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU HAVE OTHER ISSUES TO BE DEALING WITH.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING VERY SMALL.
BUT I THINK THAT I'VE DRAW, I THINK I KNOW I'VE, UM, I HAND DELIVERED THREE COMPLAINT FORMS, UH, LAST WEEK AT YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT IT IN PARTICULAR OF WHOEVER MIGHT GOT IT.
UH, BUT, UM, UH, MY, I THINK MY, UM, MY, UM, WHAT WAS MY, UH, GOAL HERE? A LOT OF STUFF IN MY BRAIN.
SO I SIGNED UP YESTERDAY CAUSE IT WAS THE FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
SO WOULD YOU BE INVOLVED WITH AUDITING THE LIBRARY BUDGET HERE? OR AM I A LITTLE BIT OVERBOARD? AM I A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE? UM, WE COULD BE, HUH? WE COULD BE.
CAUSE I ASKED MISS SAMMY UP THERE, AND SO SHE WAS VERY HELPFUL.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT MORE EMPLOYEES LIKE MISS SAM THAN THINK OF THE THINGS WERE FUNCTION LITTLE BIT BETTER AROUND HERE, MY OPINION.
MY LITTLE TIME IS UP HERE, BUT, UH, I DID NOTIFY, UH, LIKE I SAID, SPIRIT ABOVE.
UM, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THEY WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK, UH, MR. ALEX, THE, UH, RECEPTIONIST WAS, UH, WAS VERY HELPFUL.
UH, AND I, I HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY.
BUT THE ISSUE WE HAVE IS THIS ISSUE HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED WITH, UH, MR. WALKER DOWN HERE ON EAST SIDE, UH, EAST, UH, CHAVEZ STREET, NOR MR. WEEKS, WHO I THINK HAS SHOWED POOR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND HAS DISREGARDED HIS OWN RULES AND POLICY.
SO, UH, IF YOU ARE TO, UM, KNOW, IF YOU ARE TO COMMITTEE THAT, UH, THAT AUDIT AT THE LIBRARY, UH, THINK THAT, UM, YOU SHOULD BE EXPECTING SOMETHING FROM ME PRETTY SOON.
IT COULD BE JUST HAND DELIVERED, OR I MIGHT MAIL IT IN.
LOOK FORWARD TO THE MATERIAL THAT YOU SHARE.
AND MAYBE SAMMY, IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL HELP THAT YOU CAN, ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN OFFER MR. JOHNSON AND ADDRESSING HIS CONCERN, UM, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
AND YOU, UH, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR, UH, MS. SAM HAS DONE, UH, DONE THE UTMOST BY EVEN, UH, GETTING UP AND GOING AND, UH, ALLOWING ME TO, UH, SPEAKING TO THE GENTLEMAN AND ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT PART.
YOU, WE, WE, WE ARE SLIGHTLY MORE FLEXIBLE COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE WE'RE, PEOPLE ARE LESS ACCUSTOMED TO IT.
AND IF I'M AT THE WRONG COMMITTEE, I'LL FIX IT.
I JUST, I HAD TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
BUT, UH, LIKE I SAID, UH, HOPEFULLY, UM, I DID COME TO THE CORRECT COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A OP OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
THERE'S ALSO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
SO JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU DO AUDIT THE LIBRARY BUDGET.
AM I CORRECT? I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
YES OR NO? WE, WE HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE LIBRARY.
UM, WE WILL NOW RETURN BACK TO ITEM FOUR, WHICH
[4. Fiscal Year 2023 Proposed Draft Audit Plan.]
IS THE PROPOSED DRAFT AUDIT PLAN.WARNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS JASON
[00:35:01]
HADA, DEPUTY CITY AUDITOR.I'M GOING TO PRESENT OUR DRAFT AUDIT PLAN FOR CALENDAR YEAR 23.
AND I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE THIS WORKS.
UH, BEFORE I GET INTO THE PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR THE PLAN, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CAPACITY.
LIKE MANY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, WE'VE EXPERIENCED TURNOVER.
WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO RECRUIT AND HIRE SUCCESSFULLY.
WE'VE BROUGHT IN, UH, SEVERAL NEW AUDITORS, BUT WHAT WE HAVE LOST IS SOME INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
WE'VE, UH, WE'VE LOST EXPERIENCED PROJECT MANAGERS.
WE'VE BROUGHT IN NEWER AUDITORS, AND WE'RE REALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT THEIR LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES ARE GONNA BE LIKE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, OUR CAPACITY IS REDUCED A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'LL INCLUDE ON OUR PLAN.
SO IF YOU COMPARE IT TO PRIOR PLANS, THERE'LL BE A FEW LESS HIGHLY COMPLEX PROJECTS.
SO, SO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PUT 14 PROJECTS ON THE PLAN.
THE FIRST SIX THAT WE'VE INCLUDED ARE CARRYOVER PROJECTS FROM THE CURRENT AUDIT PLAN.
THEY'RE DEPICTED HERE IN THIS TABLE.
ALL OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE, UM, HAVE ALREADY BEEN INITIATED OR ARE BEGINNING WORK SOON.
SO WE ANTICIPATE CARRYING SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON, ON EACH OF THESE PROJECTS INTO THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.
UM, THIS SHOWS THE EIGHT REMAINING PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR PLAN.
WE'VE NOTED THE COMPLEXITY ON THE FAR LEFT COLUMN, BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THAT DOES NOT REFLECT THE LEVEL OF RISK OR THE IMPORTANCE OF EACH AUDIT TOPIC.
IT'S JUST THE COMPLEXITY WITH WHICH WE NEED TO, UM, UNDERSTAND OUR CAPACITY AND, AND ASSIGN PROJECTS OUT.
SO ALL OF THE TOPICS ON THIS YEAR'S PLAN, AND THE ALTERNATE TABLE, WHICH I'LL PRESENT NEXT, ARE MEDIUM TO HIGH RISKS.
THESE ARE ALL AUDIT TOPICS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE JUST HAVE LIMITED, EXCUSE ME, LIMITED CAPABILITY TO DO SO MUCH WORK AT, AT ONE TIME.
AND THEN FINALLY, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE, THE LAST SLIDE SHOWS SOME ALTERNATE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD.
AGAIN, ALSO MEDIUM TO HIGH RISK, VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS THAT, UH, THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO ADDRESS SOON THAT OUR OFFICE WILL, WILL INCORPORATE SOON.
ANY OF THE PROJECTS ON THIS ALTERNATE PROJECT TABLE CAN BE SWAPPED IN FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS ON THE PROPOSED PLAN, UH, PROVIDED THERE OF AN EQUAL OR LESSER COMPLEXITY.
AT THIS POINT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY FEEDBACK, ASK, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS FOR THE AUDIT PLAN, WE CAN TAKE ANY FEEDBACK FOR SWAPPING PROJECTS IN AND OUT AND ADJUST THE PLAN, COME BACK TO THE NEXT AUDIT COMMITTEE, OR YOU CAN VOTE TO MOVE THE, MOVE THE DRAFT PLAN FORWARD TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR, FOR THEIR APPROVAL.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THE AUDIT PLAN FOR FISCAL CALENDAR 2023.
FORWARD TO THE FULL COUNSEL FOR ITS REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, SECONDS, THAT MOTION? UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU'RE OPERATING UNDER.
UM, THERE'S TWO ON THE ALTERNATE MENU THAT I, THAT I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT.
UM, ONE IS THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR NEW MEMBERS COMING IN IN JANUARY.
THERE'LL BE A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT IF WE HAD SOME SENSE ON IF THERE WERE SOME BOARDS THAT WE WANTED TO NOT, UM, CONTINUE WITH IF THEY WERE NOT SERVING THE NEEDS OF COUNCIL.
UM, OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROVIDE LOTS OF REALLY IMPORTANT INSIGHT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO, TO ENGAGE.
UM, BUT THEY ALSO DO ENGAGE STAFF HEAVILY IN THAT WORK AND TAKE THEM AWAY FROM OTHER THINGS.
SO WE NEED TO BE, MAKE SURE THAT OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION PROCESS IS FUNCTIONING.
WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT, UM, IN 10 YEARS.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT, WHAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN THAT REGARD? SURE.
EVEN IF YOU, IF YOU DID UNDERTAKE IT, SURE.
IF, IF THAT, IF THAT AUDIT ISN'T MOVED ONTO THE PLAN, UH, WE ARE ANTICIPATING DOING SOME SPECIAL REQUEST WORK WHERE WE'LL ANSWER A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
I I DON'T HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS FINALIZED IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL BE DOING SOME WORK IN THIS AREA AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH COUNSEL SO THAT YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK THERE.
AND THEN IF, IF THAT SPECIAL REQUEST REVEALS ANY HIGHER RISKS, UM, ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD ELEVATE IT, THERE'S ALWAYS THE POTENTIAL TO, UH, TO ADJUST A PLAN MIDYEAR.
UM, AND ARE THOSE SPECIAL REQUEST ALREADY IN PROCESS? UH, I DON'T THINK, OR DO YOU NEED US TO FINALIZED YET? BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING, THEY'RE A WORK IN PROGRESS, SO VERY SOON.
[00:40:01]
OKAY.AND THEY ARE, YOU'RE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL TO DO THAT.
UM, MAYBE YOU CAN CIRCLE BACK WITH ME SO I CAN HAVE A, HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHO'S DOING THAT.
I'M HAPPY TO HAVE PEOPLE LEADING ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DOING SOME KIND OF SERIES ON THAT.
UM, THAT'S WHERE YOU ASKED, DOES THE CITY EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY MANAGE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS STREET BIKE PATHS AND PIPELINES.
UM, WHAT IS THE LOGIC ON WAITING ON GETTING STARTED ON THAT? I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE'S, UH, AN ARGUMENT FOR WAITING ON IT VERSUS DURING THE OTHERS.
IT'S JUST EVERYTHING THAT'S ON OUR PROPOSED PLAN AND THE ALTERNATE LIST ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO, UM, WE, WE COULD TRADE THAT OUT FOR ANOTHER PROJECT IF, IF THE COMMITTEE DESIRED IT.
JUST THERE, EVERYTHING THAT'S ON OUR PROPOSED PLAN IS, IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH FORWARDING THIS TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE IT TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER 3RD AGENDA, THOUGH, NOT THE 27TH.
YEAH, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WHEN WE DISCUSS THE, I GUESS, THE COMMISSION ON COMMISSIONS OR THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PROCESS IN GENERAL, UM, I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF COUNCIL'S COMMENTS AND I'VE STARTED DRAFTING IN IFC.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS WITH ME, PERHAPS WE COULD, UM, UTILIZE THAT AS A WAY TO ALSO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WITH OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT.
VICE TRIPLE, UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'RE KIND OF PULLING TOGETHER THE RAW MATERIAL FOR SPECIAL REQUESTS AND SO FORTH, THAT I'D ALSO LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SEE WHICH, UM, OF THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE KIND OF BEING LOOKED AT.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO JOIN YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, ON THE IFFC FOR AN OVERARCHING REVIEW.
BUT WE WOULD NEED TO SOMEHOW COORDINATE THE TWO EFFORTS.
SO LET'S HAVE A, LET'S ALL GET OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND SEE HOW WE CAN, THE SPECIAL REQUEST COURSE WE CAN DO MORE QUICKLY AT A SMALLER, UM, MAY PERHAPS LESS GRANULAR LEVEL, UM, KIND OF GET THE TOP LINES WORKING.
UM, BUT IF WE DO APPROVE AN IFFC WITH AN OVERARCHING REVIEW, UH, THAT THE CITY CLERK WOULD LEAD ON, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE WHAT ROLE THE WORK THAT THE AUDIT TEAM WAS SPECIAL WAS, COULD, COULD BRING TO IT.
I WOULD WANT THEM TO WORK TOGETHER IN CONCERT, BUT THAT WAS MY INTENTION, TO HAVE THE CITY CLERK REVIEW THE PROCESS AND COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL TO AT LEAST GET THE BALL ROLLING ON SOMETHING THAT'S MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE FOR THE WHOLE OF COUNCIL.
AND I THINK THEY LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THESE GUYS CAN DIG INTO MISSIONS AND PROCEDURES AND, AND A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC TO HOW THINGS ARE PROCESSED.
AND THEN THE CLERK CAN MANAGE THE LARGER EFFORT AS A PROCESS AND STAFFING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT WE CAN, YOU PROBABLY HAVE ALL OF THIS KIND OF OUTLINED IN YOUR IFFC.
SO I, UH, APPRECIATE, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU ALL MORE TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS AND SPECIFICS SO WE CAN REALLY MAKE IT A WONDERFUL IFC THAT WILL BENEFIT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
AND I TOO APPRECIATE OTHERS TAKING ON THE LEADERSHIP ON THESE ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE A, A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD PUT THAT ON THE NOVEMBER 3RD, UM, ASSUMING THAT'S THE RIGHT DATE, UM, NOVEMBER 3RD COUNCIL MEETING, THAT'LL GIMME A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT, UM, ITEM AND WHETHER THERE'S SOMETHING I WANNA SUBSTITUTE OUT FOR THAT.
UM, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, IT'S UNANIMOUS WITH THE THREE OF US ON THE DIAS.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE PROJECT CONNECT
[5. Project Connect Financing Conversation]
FINANCING CONVERSATION.AND I THINK, UM, MR. LAVAS IS GONNA INTRODUCE IT AND THEN PASS IT ON TO, UM, MR. RIVERA.
I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE BRIAN RIVERA, THE TREASURER FOR AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AND ALSO A FORMER CITY EMPLOYEE, UM, FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO WE DO MISS HIM, BUT, UH, HAPPY TO HAVE HIM HERE TO TALK THROUGH, UM, ALL THE VARIOUS FUNDING, UM, RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT AND THE INTENDED USES, AND JUST GIVE YOU AN OVERALL UPDATE ON THINGS AS WELL.
UM, SO MR. RIVERA, YOU ARE THE TREASURER FOR, FOR ATP AND YOU ARE YES, MA'AM.
INVOLVED AS THE CITY EMPLOYEE, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE FINANCING PLAN FOR THE TRE AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WHEN YOU WERE AT THE CITY WITH, UM, $4 BILLION WORTH OF, UM, OF DEBT CREDITS OR WHATEVER.
UM, SO WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU BACK AND HOPEFULLY
[00:45:01]
ATP'S NOT STEALING ANYMORE OF OUR STAFF, UM, HERE.AND, UM, PART OF THE REASON THAT, UM, WE INVITED, UM, ATP TO COME AND SPEAK AND WORKED WITH THEM TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IS THIS IS THE CITY'S MONEY.
UH, WE ARE THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND WE WANTED TO, UM, INCREASE THE TOUCH POINTS THAT WE HAD, UM, WITH ATP, UM, FOR COUNCIL AND AUDIT AND FINANCE SEEM TO BE A REALLY GOOD PLACE, UM, FOR US TO BE DOING THAT ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT YOU SAID.
I MEAN, THE CITY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST INVESTORS IN PROJECT CONNECT, SO WE DO BELIEVE IT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE BEFORE THIS BODY, AGAIN, JUST GIVING PERIODIC UPDATES, KEEPING YOU GUYS ALL INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND, UM, BASICALLY BRINGING YOU GUYS ALONG WITH THE PROCESS OF HOW WE ARE GONNA LEVERAGE THE PROP A FUNDS TO FINANCE THE PROGRAM.
SO I JUST WANTED TO DO A BRIEF KIND OF LOOK BACK OF THE HISTORY OF HOW WE WERE FOUNDED OR WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE FORMATION OF ATP.
UM, OR ABOUT A MONTH AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO SAY, TWO YEARS AGO THE PROPOSITION WAS APPROVED, UM, AND BA ESSENTIALLY THE, THE PROPOSITION SET ASIDE A, AN INDEPENDENT BOARD TO OVERSEE THE FINANCE AND, AND ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING EQUIPPING OF THE RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM, UM, ALL VIA THE PROP A FUNDING, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA LEVERAGE OVER TIME TO ENTER INTO LOANS ISSUE ISSUE DEBT.
AND AS YOU'LL SEE IN A LATER SLIDE, THE THAT FUNDING ALSO PLAYS A, A CRUCIAL ROLE IN BEING ABLE TO SECURE GRANTS TO FUND THE PROJECT.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE INDEPENDENT BOARD WAS CREATED BOTH BY THE CITY AND CAP METRO.
UM, AND AGAIN, THE, THE ONE OF THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD IS TO OVERSEE AND FINANCE THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM, SYSTEM PLAN.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, THE ATP WAS, WAS ESSENTIALLY CREATED REALLY TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO LEVERAGE THE PROP A FUNDS THAT WERE GONNA BE SET ASIDE VIA THE TRE.
UM, AGAIN, BEING ABLE TO LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS WITHOUT IMPACTING OR HAVING THE CITY TO TAKE ON THOSE ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS, THE ATP BOARD AND ATP IS SOLY GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE LOANS AND, AND BONDS THAT ARE ISSUED IN THE PUBLIC MARKET.
SO SHORTLY FOLLOWING THE, UM, THE APPROVAL OF THE, THE PROP A FUNDING, UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP ENTERED INTO A INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO, TO BASICALLY LAY OUT THE FORMULA OF HOW, HOW THE FUNDING IS CALCULATED ON A YEAR BY YEAR BASIS.
UM, AGAIN, IT ALSO SET UP THE, THE PAYMENT PROCESS FOR HOW THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE REMITTED OVER, OVER THE FISCAL YEAR FOR THE ASSOCIATED YEAR THAT YOU'RE IN OR THAT WE'RE IN.
UM, AND IT ALSO STIPULATED SOME, SOME REQUIREMENTS REALLY FROM A FINANCIAL COOPERATION PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES, AGAIN, TO SUPPORT VARIOUS ITEMS SUCH AS ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AND AGAIN, THE ASSOCIATED BOND SALES THAT ANTICIPATED TO TAKE PLACE OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAM.
SO THE ATP BOARD, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, IS, IS THE MAIN BODY THAT IS, UM, DESIGNATED AS A FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, IF YOU WANNA CALL IT COMMITTEE FOR THE PROP A FUNDS.
UM, AGAIN, THE, THEY, THEY ARE, THEY HAVE THREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE BOARD AND ONE REP, ONE VOTING REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH CAT, METRO, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN SITTING ON THE BOARD TO HELP GOVERN THE, THE PROJECT AND, AND MAKE THOSE POLICY DECISIONS THAT ARE GONNA BE REQUIRED OF THE BOARD.
UM, AGAIN, FROM JUST HOLISTICALLY AND, AND WHAT'S WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE CREATION OF ATP, ATP WAS, IS THE MAIN ENTITY FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM AS A WHOLE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCING THE, THE, THE PROGRAM AND JUST PROVIDING OVERSIGHT OVER THE PROP A FUNDS THAT WOULD BE RECEIVED OR THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, WITH, WITH BEING ABLE AND AS DESIGNATED WITHIN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE, WE'RE GONNA BE CONTRACTING WITH CAPITAL METRO FOR OPERATIONS ON, ON THE LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM, THAT MORE THAN LIKELY WILL THAT'S GONNA TAKE PLACE.
AND AGAIN, THEY ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING, UM, THE METRO RAPID PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
THE BOARD IS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A A MYRIAD OF TASK.
UM, REALLY THE MAIN ONES ARE KIND OF LISTED UP HERE.
AGAIN, PROVING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR, FOR ATP AS A WHOLE.
[00:50:01]
ONCE THE PROJECT PICKS UP AND, AND WE ENTER THAT CONSTRUCTION PHASE, THE, THE BOARD WILL BE ENTERING INTO THE CONTRACTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONSTRUCTION OF, OF THE LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM, ACQUIRING THE VEHICLES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, UM, AND, AND AS WELL AS ANY REAL ESTATE THAT NEEDS TO BE ACQUIRED TO, FROM A RIGHT OF WAY PERSPECTIVE AND EVEN FOR THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE, THE LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM.AND LASTLY, AGAIN, THE ATP BOARD IS THE BOARD THAT'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCING AND THE, AND THE DEBT OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE GONNA BE ISSUED IN THE PUBLIC MARKET.
SO MORE RECENTLY, UM, BACK ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, I BELIEVE OUR BOARD APPROVED OUR F Y 23 BUDGET.
UM, LISTED HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM, FROM THE BUDGET THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED.
UM, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WERE THE BOARD SET ASIDE AND APPROPRIATED, UM, AN ADDITIONAL $35 MILLION FOR THE ANTIS DISPLACEMENT FUNDING, WHICH BRINGS THE TOTAL UP TO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BEING FUNDED AND SET ASIDE FOR THAT ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO A, AGAIN, THE BOARD, THE BOARD APPROVED THE STAFFING LEVEL, UM, FOR A SET AMOUNT OF FTE'S TO BE THAT POSSIBLY BE BE HIRED OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH INCLUDED TWO NEW AUDIT INTERNAL AUDIT POSITIONS.
UM, AND ALONG WITH THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER, THOSE, UH, INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AS WELL.
UM, TRYING TO PRIORITIZE AGAIN, THE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT OF THE USE OF FUNDS.
SO THOSE, THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE UNDERWAY NOW.
AND ANOTHER ONE OTHER MAIN ASPECT OF THE RECENT BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED WAS, UM, UH, IN ADDITION TO REALLY THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WERE ALREADY SET UP LAST YEAR WITH THE BUDGET.
UM, AND ALSO AGAIN, JUST, JUST GETTING READY FOR WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE IN THE FUTURE FROM A FINANCING PERSPECTIVE AND BEST POSITIONING ATP AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UM, ANY FINANCING THAT COMES DOWN THE, ANY REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FINANCING ITEMS THAT, UM, AS WE, WE GO DOWN THAT PHASE, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, THAT ONE, THE ONE THAT WAS ADDED WAS AN OPERATING RESERVE OF $20 MILLION OR 180 DAYS OF, OF OPERATING EXPENSES.
UM, AND REALLY THAT'S, THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN CONNECTION WITH OUR, UM, FINANCIAL ADVISOR PFM.
AND JUST, AGAIN, THINKING, THINKING IN THE FUTURE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ACCESSING THE PUBLIC MARKET, WE DO KNOW THAT CREDIT RATING AGENCIES ARE GONNA WANT TO SEE THAT.
UM, ATP HAS ADEQUATE RESERVES ON HAND TO SUPPORT ANY, ANY, UM, DELAYS IN WHETHER OR NOT THE, THE PAYMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY, THE CITY OF AUSTIN ATP TAKE PLACE ARE TO TAKE, TO BASICALLY RESOLVE ANY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WE DO KNOW THAT AS, AS WE DO GET CLOSER TO ISSUING DEBT IN THE PUBLIC MARKETS, THAT THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL RESERVES REQUIRED, ONE BY THE, BY THE INVESTORS AT THE TIME.
WE, WE ARE BRINGING OUR OBLIGATIONS TO THE MARKET.
AND TWO, FROM A CREDIT RATING AGENCY'S PERSPECTIVE.
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE EITHER A CAPITAL RESERVE OR A DEBT SERVICE RESERVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE GONNA BE ISSUED.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT OUR BUDGET PROCESS OR OUR, OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT IS INCLUSIVE OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICY.
SO AS THE BOARD APPROVES THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, THEY'RE ALSO APPROVING THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT KIND OF HELP GUIDE US THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PROP A FUNDING WAS, WAS CREATED AND ESTABLISHED TO FUND A, A WHOLE LIST OF DIFFERENT ITEMS. UM, AND IT'S KIND OF A BALANCING ACT AS, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT ATP IS BEST POSITIONED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PUBLIC MARKETS AND ISSUE DEBT.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE PROP A FUNDS ARE GOING TO FUND ARE OBVIOUSLY THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE LIGHT RAIL LINE, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH JUST RUNNING ATP AND SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM HOLISTICALLY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THE, THE FUNDING IS ALSO GONNA BE UTILIZED TO PAY FOR A CONSTRUCTION COST OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ON A PAYGO BASIS OR WITH CASH.
UM, AND ALSO A KEY POINT OF, AND A KEY REASON WHY THE TRE WAS, WAS FOUNDED WAS TO, WAS TO PROVIDE THE, THE LOCAL COMMITMENT SOURCE THAT'S REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO THE NEW STARTS INTO A NEW STARTS GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS A COMPETITIVE GRANT, UM, GRANT OPPORTUNITY THAT THE, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION PUTS ON FOR THE ENTIRE US.
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IT'S SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THAT'S PROVIDED TO THE REGIONAL, UM, TRANSIT AUTHORITIES THROUGHOUT THE US.AND LASTLY, UM, THE MAIN IMPORTANT, THE MAIN IMPORTANT USE REALLY OF THE PROP A FUNDING IS TO ACT AS A SECURITY PLEDGE FOR THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA ISSUE IN THE PUBLIC MARKET.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ISSUING CONTRACT REVENUE BONDS, WHICH ARE GONNA BE JUST BONDS SECURED SOLELY BY THE PROP A FUNDS ON A SENIOR LEAN BASIS.
AND THEN WE WILL ALSO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF SOME LOW INTEREST LOAN OPPORTUNITIES THAT, UM, THE BUILD AMERICA BUREAU VIA THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFERS.
AND THESE TIFIA LOAN OBLIGATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ENTERING INTO WITH THE BUILD AMERICA BUREAU, AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOWER INTEREST RATES AS, AS THESE LOANS ARE REALLY TIED TO THE 30 YEAR TREASURY RATE.
AND ALTHOUGH RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASED AND RECENTLY, UM, THE RATES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SECURE THE OTHER CONTRACT REVENUE BONDS WOULD BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN, THAN THE, THAN THE 30 YEAR TREASURY, FOR INSTANCE, THAT'S GONNA BE TIED TO THE TIFIA LOANS.
UM, ONE O ONE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS LOAN LOAN PROGRAM THAT THE BUILD AMERICA BUREAU OFFERS IS FLEXIBLE REPAYMENT TERMS. SO, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE WILLING TO, TO ALLOW FOR A LONGER DURATION PERIOD TO PAY BACK THOSE OBLIGATIONS TO ALLOW US TO, TO FINANCE MORE, UM, TO, TO BRING A, A MORE HOLISTIC PROGRAM OPTION PERIOD.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE GONNA BE UTILIZING SOME SHORT TERM FUNDING OR FINANCING OBLIGATIONS, SIMILARLY TO HOW THE CITY USES THEIR COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FOR JUST IN TIME FINANCING FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, BOTH ON AUSTIN WATER AND AUSTIN ENERGY.
WE'LL BE MORE THAN LIKELY CREATING SOME, A SIMILAR SHORT TERM FUNDING PROGRAM OVER AT ATP TO KIND OF HELP WITH THE LIQUIDITY NEEDS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE PROP A FUNDS ARE SERVING AS THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE NEW STARTS GRANT.
AND THESE GRANT AGREEMENTS THAT ARE EXECUTED BY THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ARE PAID OUT OVER A DURATION OF TIME.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE DURATION IS MORE THAN LIKELY THAT THE DURATION OF TIME THAT THIS GRANT AGREEMENT IS GONNA BE PAID OUT OVER IS GONNA BE LONGER ESSENTIALLY THAN WHAT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS IS GONNA TAKE.
SO ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IS ISSUE THESE GRANT ANTICIPATION NOTES IN THE MARKET THAT ARE GONNA BE SECURED BY THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE GONNA BE RECEIVED VIA THE FTA.
AND THERE MAY BE A NEED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL, UM, BACKSTOP OR SECURITY TO THOSE OBLIGATIONS VIA THE PROP A FUNDING, WHICH WE CAN, WHICH WE CAN DO.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT THINKING THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, JUST TRYING TO GET A HOLISTIC PICTURE OF THE VARIOUS OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE GONNA NEED TO BE ENTERED INTO TO FINANCE THE PROGRAM.
SO WITH ALL THAT, UM, JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU ALL AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WORK IS GO IS CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE AND, AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE GONNA BE COMPLETING HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
UM, REALLY TO, TO GET ATP IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACCESS THE PUBLIC MARKETS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING THE WORK ON CRAFTING A MASTER IN DENTURE TO HELP SECURITIZE THOSE PROP A FUNDS.
UM, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES, IT SETS UP THE, IF YOU WANT TO CALL, IF YOU WANNA CALL IT THE WATERFALL OR THE FLOW OF FUNDS FOR THE PROP A MONEY.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, PFM AND THE BOND COUNCIL FIRMS. WE HAVE ON, ON THAT WE'RE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH, UM, TO HELP AGAIN, CRAFT THAT MASTER INDENTURES.
SO WE'RE PROVIDING THE MOST SECURITY TO BOND HOLDERS, UM, AND MAKING IT CLEAR TO CREDIT RATING AGENCIES THAT THIS NEW CREDIT THAT WE'RE CREATING HERE AT ATP IS GONNA BE A SECURE FUNDING SOURCE FOR ONE, THE PROGRAM.
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR BOND HOLDERS.
ULTIMATELY, AS WE WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, ANY ADDITIONAL SECURITY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO BOND HOLDERS IS GONNA GIVE US A HIGHER CREDIT RATING WITH THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES AND IT'S GONNA LOWER FINANCING COSTS FOR THE PROGRAM AS A WHOLE.
UM, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT WORK, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES, AGAIN, VIA VARIOUS FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO KIND OF HELP BRING ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DOLLARS TO THE TABLE TO HELP MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.
AND WE CONTINUE TO JUST RE WE, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL MODEL
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AND ANALYZE THE VARIOUS VARIABLES THAT WE HAVE IN THERE, UM, TO KIND OF, TO HELP US REFINE REALLY WHAT OUR OVERALL, UM, AFFORDABILITY PICTURE LOOKS LIKE.