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WHEN OUR CALL TO ORDER THE WORK SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, IT IS JULY 26TH, 2023.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT AUSTIN CITY HALL.
UH, WHAT WE'RE MEETING FOR TODAY IS TO HAVE A COUNCIL WORK SESSION WITH REGARD TO THE GENERAL FUND, UH, OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE ARE ALSO MEETING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
[2. Conduct a community input session to receive public comment on the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Proposed Budget.]
WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET.PUBLIC COMMENT HAD BEEN SET FOR A TIME, CERTAIN OF 10 O'CLOCK.
SO, UH, I'LL, UH, RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL PRESENT AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
UH, I WILL, UH, NOW TURN TO THE CITY CLERK AND ASK IF SHE WILL, UH, CALL PEOPLE TO SPEAK.
WE WILL START WITH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE CALLING IN REMOTELY AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES.
NO ONE HAS CALLED IN EXACTLY YET, SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START WITH IN PERSON.
WE DO HAVE AN INTERPRETER HERE, SO I'M GONNA ASK THAT LAY RAM LIAM, COME TO THE FRONT AND YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES.
MY NAME IS, UH, RAM RO DE VALLEY DISTRICT TWO RE I LIVE IN, UH, DE VALLEY DISTRICT TWO.
I ARRIVED TO, UH, US IN 2009 AS A REFUGEE WITH MY FAMILY.
I'M ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE, UH, THE GUARANTEE INCOME PILOT PROGRAM, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT, ME AND MY FAMILY TOGETHER, AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR OUR FAMILY.
I'M ONE OF THE LOW INCOME FAMILY, AND, UH, IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT HERE IN AUSTIN WITH THE, UH, LIMITED INCOME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIGH MORTGAGE PAYMENT AND ALSO THE, UM, INCREASE IN THE, UH, PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS INCOME HAS HELPED US A LOT AS A FAMILY FOR OUR FAMILY.
SO THIS INCOME HELP US TO PAY FOR UTILITY, ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND THEN ALSO FOR MY CHILDREN, UH, TO BUY, UH, BASIC NEEDS FOR THEM.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHER FAMILIES TOO THAT MIGHT BE FACING SIMILAR SITUATION LIKE MY FAMILY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, REQUEST TO EXTEND THIS BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR, TWO FOR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TOO.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, RECEIVING THIS, UM, FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RETURN TO REMOTE SPEAK REMOTE SPEAKERS AT THIS TIME.
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LEVINSKY.COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS BOBBY LINSKY WITH THE AVER SPRINGS ALLIANCE.
UM, I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE EQUITY ACTIONS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, UH, BUDGET THAT SAVE OUR SPRINGS IS SIGNED ON AS A MEMBER TO THAT.
UH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET IS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE AS WELL AS CLIMATE EQUITY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UM, THE BULLET POINTS YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED ON THAT, UM, WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ALSO ADDITIONAL STAFF RESOURCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, ESPECIALLY, UM, REVIEWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LARGER PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
UM, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING A LOT RIGHT NOW, UM, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR THEM.
IN ADDITION, UM, WE ALWAYS ARE WORKING ON MORE, UH, WAYS TO FUND, UM, LARGER PROTECTION LANDS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COUNCIL TO EXPLORE MORE OPTIONS THERE.
UM, AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US ANYTIME YOU NEED US.
GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL, MIMI STYLES.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF MEASURE, UM, A LONG TIME COMMUNITY, UM, ACTIVIST WITHIN AUSTIN.
UM, I JUST, I'M HERE, UM, IN, UM, JUST URGING THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL AUSTINITES TO REALLY TAKE NOTICE OF THIS CRITICAL ISSUE REGARDING THE BUDGET.
UM, AND MAKING SURE TOO THAT, THAT THE, THE OFFICES, UM, THE EPI OFFICE AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE, YOU KNOW, REALLY DON'T LOSE THEIR AUTONOMY AND AUTHORITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL TRULY HINDER THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO, HONESTLY, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT FOR US TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY OF RACISM AND INJUSTICE WITHIN THE CITY AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND HOW, UM, REALLY BY PRESERVING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THESE OFFICES, IT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, UM, TO REALLY CONTINUE TO, TO, TO BRING A JUST AND EQUITABLE SUSTAINABLE AUSTIN FOR ALL.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S THIS REALLY IN, IN MY OPINION, UM, NOT ONLY ENDANGER THE, THE HARD WORK AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE, UM, BUT IT ALSO POSES A, AN INCREDIBLE THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, UM, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
UM, AND, UM, YEAH, I JUST, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE, SHARE THOSE WORDS ON BEHALF OF MEASURE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS BRIAN OAKS, UH, THE FORMER CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I WAS CALLING IN THIS MORNING TO REALLY EXPRESS, UH, MY CONCERNS OVER THE MERGER OF THE EQUITY OFFICE ALONG WITH CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE AND S M B R TO CREATE, UH, THE NEW, UH, NEW DEPARTMENT, I BELIEVE THAT'S CALLED THE CIVIC AND BUSINESS EQUITY DEPARTMENT.
UH, I REALLY HOPE THAT I'M NOT THE LAST CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST DISTURBING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER'S POSITION, UH, WILL BE DOWNGRADED, UH, INTO A DIVISION MANAGER.
AND AS A DIVISION MANAGER, IT WOULD BE A NON-EXECUTIVE POSITION, AND THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER WOULD REALLY STRUGGLE, UH, TO GET ACCESS TO OTHER EXECUTIVES WITHIN THE CITY.
UH, THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER WOULD, UH, NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO DIRECTORS MEETING.
AND THESE ARE SORT OF REALLY CRITICAL INTERNAL PIECES, UH, TO REALLY CREATE THE CHANGE THAT THE CITY HAD A VISION FOR, UH, WHEN IT ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE BACK IN 2017.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO DO IS TO REALLY LEAN ON THE RESEARCH AND THE DATA.
UH, BACK IN 2016, THE CITY, UH, INQUIRE REQUIRED THE SERVICES OF THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE FOR RACE AND EQUITY TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HOW TO STRUCTURE AND THE POSITION AND EQUITY OFFICE WITHIN THE CITY TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT, UH, THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE FOR RACE AND EQUITY, THEY INTERVIEWED OVER 40 COMMUNITY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO GET INPUT.
THEY ALSO CONDUCTED TWO COMMUNITY-WIDE PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETINGS, UH, TO GATHER INPUTS.
AND THEY BENCHMARKED THAT AGAINST A HUNDRED OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ALSO WERE DOING EQUITY WORK TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, UH, IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE AN EQUITY OFFICE THAT WAS INDEPENDENT, THAT REPORTED DIRECTLY TO CITY LEADERSHIP,
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AND THAT COULD BE CONNECTED TO SORT OF POWER STRUCTURES WITHIN THE CITY TO CREATE CHANGE.AND SO I WOULD ALSO, UH, JUST SAY THE END THAT THIS IS THE WORST POSSIBLE TIMING THAT WE COULD DO A MERGER LIKE THIS.
YOUR SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED AT LEVEL GOVERNOR.
UM, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, DO YOU THINK THAT WE COULD GET A COPY OF THAT STUDY IF IT WAS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM? THANK YOU.
MAURI RAJA, OR RAJA? HI, UH, I'M MAURI RAJA.
UM, I HAVE BEEN IN AUSTIN SINCE 2016.
I'M A CITIZEN IN DISTRICT 10, AND I WAS ALSO THE CO-CHAIR FOR THE COMMUNITY CLIMATE PLAN, OR THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN THAT WAS PUT FORTH BY THE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE IN 2020 AND 2021.
UM, I AM HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL.
I AM IN FAVOR OF EQUITY ACTIONS, COMMUNITY BUDGET PROPOSAL, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAVE SUGGESTED IN THERE, SUCH AS, UH, AID FOR UNHOUSED, LOW INCOME FOLKS, RESILIENCE HUBS FOR THE CITY, AND OF COURSE, MONEY FOR THE, UH, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
UM, I SPECIFICALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT I THINK THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY OFFICE WERE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN PROCESS, UM, BECAUSE OF THEIR AUTONOMY AND, UH, THE WAY THAT THEY CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO OTHER CITY OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS ON EQUAL STANDING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, I THINK FOLDING THEM UNDER, UH, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AND DEFUNDING THEM, TAKING AWAY THEIR AUTHORITY IN THIS WAY, WILL HINDER THEIR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
UH, AND THAT PLAN DID TAKE, UH, INPUT FROM OVER 200 PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE BUSINESSES AND, UH, CLIMATE ADVOCACY GROUPS IN THE CITY.
UM, I THINK A PLAN LIKE THAT REALLY DOES CENTER THE NEEDS OF THE MOST AFFECTED, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLOW THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE EQUITY OFFICE THE ABILITY TO CARRY THIS PLAN OUT.
UM, SO PLEASE RECONSIDER THE BUDGET PROPOSALS, UH, SPECIFICALLY MOVING THE EQUITY OFFICE UNDER THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, UM, AND TAKE A LOOK AT EQUITY ACTIONS, PROPOSED BUDGET INSTEAD.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS JORDAN MIDDLEBROOKS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET PROPOSED BY EQUITY ACTION, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT EQUITY ACTION IS MAKING.
UM, AND I AM STRONGLY AGAINST THE PROPOSED CITY BUDGET BY INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S THE MOST DISTURBING TO ME ABOUT, UM, THE BUDGET AS IT'S BEING PROPOSED BY INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA, IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE INCREASING OUR POLICE BUDGET, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IN THE PAST TWO LOCAL ELECTIONS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN VOTERS HAVE VOTED AGAINST INCREASING OUR POLICE BUDGETS.
IT'S, THIS IS SHOWING TO ME THAT WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, AND THAT THERE'S SOME, THERE'S CLEARLY A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE PEOPLE IN, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WANT, WHICH IS ALSO REFLECTED IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
UM, AND THAT THAT IS CLEARLY NOT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THIS BACK TO THE BASICS CITY BUDGET BEING PROPOSED BY CITY MANAGER GARZA.
INSTEAD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO START INVESTING IN ACTUAL ROOT CAUSE SOLUTIONS, WHICH WERE BEING REFLECTED BY HAVING, UM, BUDGETS SET ASIDE FOR HOUSING BY HAVING BUDGETS SET ASIDE, UM, TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF BEING DISPLACED.
IF WE DO NOT CONTINUE TO FUND THESE SERVICES, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SOLVE THEM THROUGH ADDITIONAL POLICING.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SOLVE THEM THROUGH THIS BACK TO THE BASICS PROGRAM THAT'S BEING PROPOSED BY MAYOR WATSON AND CITY MANAGER GARZA.
UM, SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSES AND HOW DOES OUR BUDGET REFLECT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT, UM, AND ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, BECAUSE POLICING IS NOT THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THE FACT THAT A GUN WAS PULLED ON A 10 YEAR OLD CHILD JUST RECENTLY REFLECTS THAT.
UM, AND SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE US TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET PROPOSED BY CITY MANAGER GARZA, AND ALSO TO KEEP THE POLICE BUDGET WHERE IT'S AT REFLECTED IN THE 2023 BUDGET, BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE INCREASE THAT, IT'S ONLY, WE CANNOT DECREASE IT ANY FURTHER.
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HI.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, HAVING ME.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE REORGANIZATION OF THE EQUITY OFFICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I'M GONNA START WITH SOME QUESTIONS I WANT EVERYONE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT.
ARE YOU FOR DEMOCRACY? DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAVING A RACIAL EQUITY LENS MEANS? DO YOU KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE POOR? DO YOU CARE ABOUT AUSTIN'S WORKING POOR, BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, ASIAN, AND WHITE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HARMED BY DECISIONS MADE ON THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ORGANIZED AND OUT OF THAT ORGANIZING THE EQUITY OFFICE WAS CREATED.
THE PURPOSE OF THE EQUITY OFFICE IS TO BE A LEVER OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AUSTIN, HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED, AND MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, AN AUTONOMOUS CITY ENTITIES THAT COULD HOLD CITY DEPARTMENTS, PROJECTS, AND EVEN ITS COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE TO HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND CONTINUES TO BE DONE TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
IT WAS BORN OUT OF TRUE COMMUNICATION CONVERSATION, SWEAT, BLOOD TEARS, AND TIME THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED A GO ANA, PODER AND OTHERS FOUGHT TO BRING TO FRUITION.
THE EQUITY OFFICE FOCUSES ON REPAIRING THE HISTORICAL DAMAGE THAT THE 1928 ASTRO PLAN AND SUBSEQUENT CITY PLANS DID TO BLACK, INDIGENOUS, LATINX, AND ASIAN COMMUNITIES HERE IN AUSTIN.
DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BASED ON RACE.
AND TO FIX THAT, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING EQUITABLE DECISIONS ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT BRING TO LIGHT EMBEDDED OBSTACLES THAT CREATE DISPARATE AND DIS DISPROPORTIONATE OUTCOMES FOR BLACK, LATINX, AND INDIGENOUS AND ASIAN COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF THE INTERSECTIONALITY.
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND A MEMBER OF AUSTIN B S A.
UH, WE WERE INVOLVED THIS SPRING IN THE ORGANIZING AROUND THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
AND, UH, AMONG THE MANY FINE POINTS MADE BY THE OTHER SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, THIS WAS A VICTORY WON BY THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN FOR TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT.
AND THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION, UH, OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT OFFICE WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE EXPRESS BULLET VOTERS.
UH, I HOPE YOU'LL RECONSIDER THIS BUDGET.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE DEFICIENT ABOUT IT.
I APPRECIATE THE 4% RAISE FOR CITY WORKERS.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO START.
UH, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS HERE IN AUSTIN'S FUTURE, AND I THINK THIS IS A SHORT-TERM VISION PROVIDED BY AN INTERIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CITY, CITY MANAGER.
YES, MY NAME IS ROBIN ORLOWSKI.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
I'M A FORMER MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND, UH, I WAS THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE JOINT INCLUSION COMMITTEE FOR THAT COMMISSION.
UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE MERGER WITH THE MODIFICATION, UM, THAT BECAUSE AUSTIN CONTAINS 20% OF THE STATE OF TEXAS'S DEAF POPULATION, UH, THAT THE A AT THE A D A PROGRAM, WHICH IS A, IS ADDED, UM, A D A IS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAW.
AND INITIALLY, UH, PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNICITIES, UH, COULD NOT GET ACCESS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNTIL THE 1970S.
UH, THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AS AN ASYLUM.
UM, AND ALL THE OTHER FACILITIES, UH, WERE, THEY WEREN'T PLACES PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY WENT.
YOU COULDN'T EDUCATE PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN, IN YOUR OWN CITY, LIVE WITH YOUR OWN FAMILY.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFERENT CHANGE, BUT, UH, IT'S NEEDED.
UH, THE, UH, EQUITY OFFICE DID NOT UNDERSTAND AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
UH, IT'S A POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO SAY DISCRIMINATION AND SEGREGATION STARTED IN THE 1920S WHEN PEOPLE, WHEN CHILDREN WERE FORB FORCIBLY BROUGHT HERE AND COULDN'T LIVE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
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AUSTIN'S HISTORY, UH, STARTING IN 1856, UH, AND CALLING IT A SCHOOL TODAY DOESN'T ERASE THE FACT THAT THESE WERE ASYLUMS THAT PEOPLE HAD TO LIVE IN BECAUSE OF DISABILITY.UH, IT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE, IT'S NOT ETHICAL TO IGNORE THIS.
AND, UH, PEOPLE, PEOPLE NEED TO, UH, PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CITY'S HISTORY, NOT WHAT MAKES, UH, THEM OR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR THEIR STAFF FEEL GOOD.
JOYCE JAMES JOYCE JAMES, PLEASE UNMUTE.
I'M A CONCERNED CITIZEN SPEAKING TODAY AGAINST THE PROPOSED C I B, UH, AND IN FAVOR OF REALLOCATING RESOURCES AWAY FROM THE POLICE BUDGET AND TOWARD OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS SUCH AS THE NCSS AND INTEGRAL CARE MCOS.
UH, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT, UH, IN ADDITION TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT NEEDING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT PROBLEMS SUCH AS POVERTY, LACK OF, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND MENTAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UM, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IS, UH, THE WAY THAT POLICE RESPOND TO CRISIS EVENTS.
UM, THEY'RE NOT WELL-TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR METHODS ARE NOT SUITABLE WHEN DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS.
THEY OFTEN, UH, JUST FURTHER TRAUMATIZE INDIVIDUALS AND GET THEM ENSNARED IN THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX INSTEAD OF RESPONDING TO THEIR, UH, MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
UM, SO INSTEAD, WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE THE EXPANSION OF INTEGRAL CARE OTT, UH, MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM.
UH, THEY ARE HIGHLY SKILLED, UH, PROFESSIONALS WHO POSSESS REAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN HANDLING THESE CRISIS SITUATIONS WITH SENSITIVITY AND COMPASSION, AND THEY'RE EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRISES AND PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS IN DISTRESS.
UH, WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK TO DIVERT MORE RESOURCES TO OUR EMTS WHO PROVIDE A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S WELLBEING AS THEY ARE WOEFULLY UNDERPAID AND HAVE ISSUES OF RETENTION AND UNDERSTAFFING.
UM, IF WE, UH, SUPPORT AND IMPROVE THE WAGES OF EMTS, WE CAN ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO RESPOND PROMPTLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
AND THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SAVE LIVES AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF CARE DURING CRITICAL SITUATIONS IN OUR CITY.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY WHERE WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED, AND RESPECTED, AND, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A, WE CAN TAKE STEPS TOWARD ACHIEVING THAT VISION BY REALLOCATING FUNDS FROM OUR POLICE BUDGET TOWARDS EMTS AND INTEGRAL CARE.
THANK YOU, PAT VICE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS PAT RES AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I'M ALSO A SPAY ADVOCATE AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE INCREASED FUNDING FOR SPAY NEUTER, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR SPAY NEUTER WAS NOT SPENT.
AND AS A RESULT, RETURN TO THE GENERAL FUND.
PLEASE CONSIDER LOOKING INTO THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR SPAY NEUTER NEEDED TO GET CAUGHT UP WITH THE AMOUNT THAT WAS NOT SPENT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THE 2024 BUDGET SHOULD HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND NOT SPENT SO THAT WE CAN GET CAUGHT UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, I HEARD YOU ASK QUESTION ABOUT SPAY NEUTER AT THE LAST BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION.
I HOPE THAT YOU'LL ADVOCATE FOR THE INCREASED FUNDING THAT I HAVE REQUESTED, BECAUSE I REALLY THINK THAT SUPPORTING SPAY NEUTER, UM, SHOULD INVOLVE GETTING US CAUGHT UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SHOULD BE SPENDING.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU FOR ALSO ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT ANIMAL SERVICES DURING THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
I HOPE YOU'LL ALSO SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR SPAY NEUTER BECAUSE THE, UM, QUESTION YOU ASKED WAS ABOUT THE KENNELS.
AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE CITY BUDGET TO BUILD ALL THE KENNELS THAT WILL BE NEEDED IF WE DON'T HAVE, UM, ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR SPAY NEUTER.
LOW INCOME RESIDENTS CANNOT AFFORD THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT COSTS TO SPAY NEUTER THEIR ANIMALS, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, ADEQUATE FUNDING WHEN, WHEN THE SERVICES
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ARE PROVIDED WILL RESULT IN LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS STEPPING UP AND GETTING THEIR PETS PAID AND NEUTERED, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY ADDRESS THE, UM, OVERPOPULATION CRISIS THAT WE'RE HAVING AS WELL AS THE OVERCROWDED SHELTER THAT IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR, UM, CONSIDERING THIS REQUEST.WE WILL TRY TO CALL THIS CALLER ONE MORE TIME, BUT THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS WE HAVE IN QUEUE.
SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND TRANSITION OVER TO IN PERSON.
I'M GONNA CALL THREE NAMES AT A TIME, AND ONCE YOU HEAR YOUR NAME CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
SCOTT COBB, KABA WHITE, SENECA SAVOY.
IF I'VE CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN CLOSER TO THE PODIUM.
WHAT WOULD BE GREAT IS IF SHE CALLS YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE ON DECK, IF YOU'D COME DOWN AND SIT HERE ON THIS FRONT ROW THAT WAY, UH, RESPECTFULLY FOR THE SPEAKERS THAT FOLLOW YOU, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO THEM IN A, A QUICKER FASHION.
THANK YOU MR. COBB FOR BEING HERE.
I WORK AS A LIFEGUARD FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT A FEW ISSUES.
NUMBER ONE, A COUPLE OF 'EM WERE PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL LAST SESSION, PROVIDING DENTAL CARE FOR ALL TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WHO ALREADY GET HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
THERE WAS A MEMO SAYING, UM, ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2022 H R D WILL INCLUDE THIS BENEFIT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
SO CAN SOMEONE CHECK ON THAT PLEASE? ALSO, DURING THE LAST SESSION IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM VANESSA FUENTES, UH, PAR COMMITTED, THERE'S FOUR, BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 20 22, 23, PARD PLANS TO HIRE COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND ALLOW THEM TO BE ON PAYROLL WHILE THEY ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRE TRAINING AND ONBOARDING TO BETTER MITIGATE STAFFING CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THEY COMMITTED TO PAID TRAINING FOR LIFEGUARDS.
THEY DID NOT IMPLEMENT PAID TRAINING FOR LIFEGUARDS.
THEY IMPLEMENTED A SUBSTITUTE SYSTEM AMOUNTING TO $400 BONUS.
IF YOU WORK 80 HOURS AFTER YOU WORK 80 HOURS, YOU HAVE TO DO THE 40 HOURS, THEN ANOTHER 80 HOURS.
SO YOU GO 120 HOURS WITHOUT GETTING PAID FOR THE PAID TRAINING THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID.
AND THEN YOU ONLY GET HALF, YOU DON'T GET THE FULL AMOUNT.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE WHERE YOU GO TO GET A JOB.
YOU GET PAID THAT FIRST DAY, YOU SHOW UP FOR WORK.
SO I'D ASK SOMEONE TO CHECK AND SEE IF PAID TRAINING IS IN THE BUDGET.
BILINGUAL, UH, TRAINING STIPENDS FOR LIFEGUARDS, WE HAVE MANY POOLS WHERE THERE ARE LIFEGUARDS WHO HAVE, UH, COMMUNICATIONS, UH, DIFFICULTIES SPEAKING WITH THE PUBLIC AND IT WOULD HELP THE PUBLIC IF WE HAD MORE LIFEGUARDS WHO WERE GETTING BILINGUAL STIPEND PAY.
IT IS CURRENTLY NOT ELIGIBLE FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU HAD 40,000, THEY'RE AROUND 300,000 WITH STAFF HOURS IN AQUATICS FOR LIFEGUARDS EVERY YEAR.
ANYHOW, BILINGUAL PAY AND A $22 LIVING WAGE.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, MR. COBB, DID YOU COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS? I, I JUST SAID, DID YOU COMPLETE COUNCIL MADISON HAS A QUESTION.
DID YOU COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS? THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL INFORMATION.
WERE YOU ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS? I HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING.
UH, WERE YOU ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS? DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CONCERNS THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? YEAH, I HAVE A FEW MORE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND OFFERING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE OTHER TWO.
ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT PLEASE.
UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE REACHING THE $22 LIVING WAGE IS, IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD, UH, WORK ON.
HOLIDAY PAY IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IN AMERICA WHO WORKS IN A JOB SHOULD GET HOLIDAY PAY.
YOU COULD IMPLEMENT THAT AT A INCREMENTAL AMOUNT BY ONE OR TWO HOLIDAYS, JULY 4TH, JUNETEENTH.
WE WORK ON THOSE DAYS WITHOUT GETTING HOLIDAY PAY.
ALTHOUGH OUR MANAGERS DO, UM, AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE, A LOT OF LIFEGUARDS WERE QUALIFIED FOR HEALTH INSURANCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
BUT, UH, PARK DIRECTOR DID NOT ENFORCE THE COVID RULES THAT WERE REQUIRED BY THE MAYOR, UH, TO WEAR A MASK ON AT WORK ON CITY PROPERTY.
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I NOW HAVE TO TAKE FOUR ADDITIONAL MEDICATIONS IF I LOSE MY HEALTH INSURANCE 'CAUSE I HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, I'M GONNA BE IN TROUBLE.AS WELL AS OTHER TEMPORARY LIFEGUARDS, I HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS PLAN PROPOSAL.
AMAZON, UH, HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH A C C TO WAIVE TUITION FOR SOME OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THE CITY OF AUSTIN COULD ALSO WAIVE TUITION BY MAKING AN AGREEMENT WITH A C C TO WAIVE CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF TUITION FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.
OR YOU COULD HAVE A SAVINGS PLAN SIMILAR TO THE RETIREMENT PLAN, WHEREAS 15, 16, 17, 18 YEAR OLDS HAVE A PAYROLL DEDUCTION OF SOME PERCENT, 10%, WHICH IS MATCHED BY CITY COUNCIL SO THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE, YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO REMAIN LIFEGUARDS UNTIL THEY'RE 20 OR 18.
THEN THEY GO ON TO COLLEGE, THEY HAVE A SAVINGS PLAN.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, MAX LARS IS SITTING RIGHT HERE, HE'LL TAKE NOTES AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
KABA WHITE, SENECA SAVOY, AND EDDIE FRANZ.
I WORK FOR PUBLIC CITIZENS TEXAS OFFICE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, FUNDING AND RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.
THAT PLAN, UH, HAS, HAS, HAS BEEN MOVING FORWARD, BUT MOVING FORWARD SLOWLY.
SO THOSE RESOURCES ARE VERY NEEDED AND I WILL SAY THAT MORE WILL BE NEEDED NEXT YEAR IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS.
SO IT DOES GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN THAT SO MUCH, UH, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AS PROPOSED FOR EXPANDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY OF THE PRIORITIES IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT FROM A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS, ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHARED, UH, BY EQUITY ACTION WITH YOU, BUT IS SUPPORTED BY MANY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING MINE.
ON THE, UH, I GUESS CONCERN SIDE, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGING OF THE OFFICES OF SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, EQUITY, AND CIVIL RIGHTS WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
I DON'T THINK THIS, UH, PROPOSAL COMES WITH ANY MALICE OR ILL INTENT.
HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS.
THESE OFFICES REPRESENT CORE PRIORITIES FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND AS YOU'VE HEARD, COME FROM A LONG STRETCH OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE THESE AS INDEPENDENT OFFICES.
AND THEIR INDEPENDENCE IS CRITICAL, NOT LEAST BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK ACROSS ALL CITY OFFICES AND AND DEPARTMENTS AND PUT THAT WORK AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF OUR CITY PRIORITIES.
THEY NEED DIRECT ACCESS TO CITY MANAGEMENT AND NOT TO HAVE ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY BETWEEN THE PRIORITIES THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BRING TO YOU AND TO THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE EFFECT OF THIS CHANGE WOULD BE, IS THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR TO BRING THEIR ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO YOUR TABLE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RESPECTFULLY REJECT THAT PART OF THE PROPOSAL.
SENECA SAVOY, AND THEN EDDIE FRANZ.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? UH, MY NAME'S SENECA.
I AM A HOMEOWNER RESIDENT, UH, IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, AND I WORK FOR EQUITY ACTION.
UM, I, I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE, I THINK FIVE YEARS NOW THAT I, I'VE BEEN, UH, COMING TO TALK ABOUT, UH, VARIOUS BUDGET CYCLES.
UM, EVERY YEAR, UM, THIS COUNCIL HAS PRODUCED INCREASINGLY MORE PROGRESSIVE BUDGETS WITH INCREASINGLY MORE AGGRESSIVE, UH, INVESTMENTS IN SOCIAL SERVICES, UH, IN RESILIENCY ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, I THINK IN PARTICULAR, UM, THIS CITY ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE DURING COVID IN WAYS THAT SAVED, UH, BY, YOU KNOW, BACK OF THE NAPKIN ESTIMATES PROBABLY AROUND TWO TO 5,000 LIVES, UH, IN THIS CITY.
UM, THOSE INVESTMENTS, UH, WERE PART OF A PROCESS WHERE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT INCREASED EVERY YEAR.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL AND THIS CITY SHOULD BE PROUD OF, RIGHT? THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE, UH, AND TO PUT THE NEEDS OF THOSE MOST AFFECTED FORWARD.
I'M SAD TO SAY, UH, THAT AT LEAST ON MY FIRST READING OF THIS BUDGET, UM, THAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO BUCK THAT TREND THIS YEAR.
UM, BOTH IN TERMS OF ROLLING BACK IMPORTANT PRIORITIES, UM, THAT WE HAD DONE A GREAT JOB IN FUNDING BEFORE.
UH, AND BY REDUCING THE, THE OVERALL IMPACT OF COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE SHAPE OF THE BUDGET, UH, IN PARTICULAR, UM,
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AS I'M SURE DOZENS MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO TODAY, UH, AND AS KIVA, UM, SO ACCURATELY DID BEFORE THE REORGANIZATION OF THE EQUITY OFFICE AND ALSO MOVING, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, POSITIONS FROM CIVILIAN POSITIONS OUTSIDE A P D TO INSIDE IT, UM, THOSE MOVEMENTS DECREASE THE OVERALL TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THOSE POSITIONS AND ALSO INFLATE THE BUDGET IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT MAKES IT LESS FLEXIBLE OVER TIME, RIGHT? EVERY CENT THAT WE MOVE INTO THAT BUDGET CAN'T BE MOVED BACK OUT.IF WE DECIDE THAT WE LATER WANNA PUT THOSE POSITIONS SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN INSIDE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DO SO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS EDDIE FRANZ AND I'M HERE, UM, REPRESENTING AT TX PEACES COALITION.
UM, WOULD EVERYBODY FROM AT TX PEACE PLEASE STAND UP.
SO AT X PEACE COALITION IS A, A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN LIFE OF NEW, UH, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND JAIL TO JOBS.
WE DO C V I WORK COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, AND WE DO IT HERE IN THIS CITY, ALTHOUGH IT'S VASTLY UNDERFUNDED AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
WE'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER PUTTING IN C V I AS A BUDGETARY CONCERN, UM, AS AUSTIN GROWS, WHICH IS AMAZING AND THE CITY IS AN AWESOME PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, BUT AS IT GROWS, SO DO THE GROWING PAINS.
ONE OF THOSE GROWING PAINS IS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE, AND HOMICIDES.
WE'RE ON PACE RIGHT NOW TO HIT 75 OR 80 HOMICIDES IN THIS CITY, AND I KNOW IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO YOU AS IT IS TO ME.
THERE IS A SOLUTION FOR THAT VIOLENCE AND IT IS BUILT WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES.
IT IS C V I LIFE ANEW AND JAIL TO JOBS HAS GONE ALL OVER THIS UNITED STATES TO SPEAK WITH AND GET TRAINED BY SOME OF THE LEADING EXPERTS IN THE C V I FIELD, ST.
LOUIS, CHICAGO, BALTIMORE, STOCKTON, OAKLAND, ALL HAVE HAD 60% REDUCTIONS IN CV AND, AND GUN RELATED VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES BECAUSE OF THE C V I WORK.
IT'S PROVEN TO BE ACCURATE AND AND SUCCESSFUL, AND WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY IT AND WE ARE IMPLEMENTING IT IN CITY RIGHT NOW.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT OVER HALF A DOZEN RETALIATIONS HAVE BEEN STOPPED BECAUSE OF OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS UTILIZING C B I IN THIS CITY JUST THIS YEAR ALONE.
AND EVERY HOMICIDE IN THIS CITY COST THE TAXPAYERS 1.2 TO $2 MILLION.
YOU ADD THAT UP OVER THE YEARS, YOU'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS.
IF WE COULD GET A FULLY FUNDED C V I PROGRAM HERE IN AUSTIN, THE SOLUTION IS HERE, WE'RE AVAILABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REACHING OUT TO EACH ONE OF YOUR, YOUR STAFF IN YOUR OFFICES TO DISCUSS IT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
IF YOU'D BE WILLING TO MAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH US, WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE CAN LAY OUT, WE HAVE SOME IDEAS OF WHAT WOULD WORK, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN IN THIS CITY.
WOULD YOU MIND IF I TOOK A SELFIE? THIS IS KIND OF THE COOLEST THING I'VE DONE IN A LONG TIME.
HEY Y'ALL, MAYOR, WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO REMOTE SPEAKERS BACK ON THE LINE, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM REAL QUICK.
UH, MY NAME IS JOYCE JAMES AND I AM PRESIDENT AND C E O OF JOYCE JAMES CONSULTING.
UH, I HAD, UH, RESCINDED MY REQUEST TO SPEAK, BUT SINCE I'M HERE, I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY FOR THE ORGANIZING EFFORTS, UH, THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF THE, UH, OFFICE OF EQUITY AND ALSO TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BOTH CURRENT AND PRIOR MEMBERS, FOR TAKING A BOLD AND COURAGEOUS, UH, APPROACH AND STEPS TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF EQUITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THIS WAS AND IS A BIG DEAL.
SO IT WAS THROUGH THE FORWARD THINKING LEADERSHIP, UH, OF THOSE WHO WERE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO BE TRANSPARENT AND VULNERABLE IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXISTENCE OF INSTITUTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL RACISM IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT I BELIEVE LED TO, UH, INCREASED COMMUNITY TRUST.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THERE'S STILL A NEED, A STRONG NEED FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUITY, UH, TO HAVE SOME AUTONOMY AND AUTHORITY TO WORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD AND THE PRIVILEGE THAT I'VE HAD TO WORK IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND JUST FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LIKE AUSTIN AND TEXAS, UH, RACE IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE PREDICTOR OF, OF A PERSON'S OUTCOMES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS.
AND SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL THAT THERE BE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, UH, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
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WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT OPERATING FROM A PLACE OF WHO'S RACIST, BUT RATHER A CLEAR ANALYSIS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HARM, UH, THAT WE'RE STILL LIVING IN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE 1928 PLAN.AND I BELIEVE SEPARATING AND MOVING THAT OFFICE WOULD, UH, UH, CREATE A STEP BACK FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
YOU ARE A LEADER IN THIS WORK.
THERE ARE NOT MANY PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED INSTITUTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL RACISM AND HAVE PUT IN PLACE, UH, DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE THANK YOU SPEAKER.
SO THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE ANY, UH, LAYERS IN BETWEEN THEM AND C CITY LEADERSHIP.
FRANK NETCHER, HOW DO Y'ALL, MY NAME'S FRANK NETCHER.
I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT ONE D S A AND A, UH, PROUD UNION MEMBER.
AND I'M CALLING BECAUSE, UH, I TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND I SEE THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING MORE AND MORE MONEY TO POLICE.
EVERY TIME WE ADD MONEY TO THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE CANNOT EVER TAKE IT OUT.
SO THAT PIE SLICE OF PIE GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER.
MEANWHILE, UH, IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE HAVE A P D A I S D P D CAP, METRO PD, UH, THE COUNTY'S THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE HAVE D P SS IN EVER INCREASING NUMBERS.
AND WE HAVE, THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE A C C PD, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE AND MORE, UH, PD OFFICES.
THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OR POLICE BUDGETS.
THE ISSUE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
THEY CALLED ME BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT I WOULDN'T CALL THE POLICE.
I'M TELLING YOU THAT THE ANSWER IS NEVER GOING TO BE POLICE.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS, NEEDS A NUANCED APPROACH WITH A HAMMER.
WHEN YOU HAVE A HAMMER, EVERY PROBLEM LOOKS LIKE A NAIL.
SO THERE ARE THINGS LIKE EMTS, M COTT, LIKE SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER, EMTS GO TO EVERY SINGLE POLICE INTERACTION THAT WE HAVE, RIGHT? OR AT LEAST MOST OF THEM.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE UNDERSTAFFED AT A MUCH GREATER RATE THAN ANY KIND OF PD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE E M T RESPONSE THAT WE NEED, AND THEY'RE NOT PAID IN PARITY, SO OF COURSE NOT.
SO THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT THAT WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO MOVE DOLLARS TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT RATHER WHAT SERVICES CAN WE PROVIDE THAT ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR? FOR EXAMPLE, THE D E I OFFICE WOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE THAT.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND I SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO INCREASINGLY SOLVE NON-POLICE PROBLEMS WITH POLICE, WHEN I SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO NEUTER D E I OFFICES AND DIVERSITY INITIATIVES, I NOTICE BUDGET.
THANK YOU, SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
SO I'LL SWITCH BACK TO IN PERSON.
ONCE AGAIN, I'LL CALL THREE NAMES AT A TIME.
WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND YOU CAN SIT IN THE FRONT CHAIRS AND WAIT AND THEN SPEAK YOUR NAME INTO THE MIC AT THE DAAS AT THE PODIUM, SORRY.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANDY COCO, RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT ONE.
SO LET'S REVIEW A COUPLE MORAL CURIOSITIES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
ONE OUR ELECTION THREE MONTHS AGO SHOWED LANDSLIDE SUPPORT AGAIN FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY.
IS IT MORAL FOR MR. GARZA TO TURN AROUND AND PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE PUBLIC INFO ACCESS ABYSS, PURPOSEFULLY OPAQUE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT? NOT IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRACY, SHOULD WE ROLL OVER TO STATE PUNISHMENT AND INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET THIS HUGE AMOUNT IRREVERSIBLY THE CITY SAID, NAH, Y'ALL.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET ADDRESSES MANY LOCAL ONGOING CRISES AND PREPS FOR NEW ONES.
IS IT MORAL FOR MR. GARZA TO PROPOSE INCREASING OUR RESERVE $40 MILLION AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY IGNORE THE VITAL SERVICES COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET OFFERS UP? DOES IT FEEL MORAL IN A DEMOCRACY THAT THIS INTERIM FELLOW HAS LEFT Y'ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH LITTLE, IF ANY ROOM TO LISTEN TO AND FUND YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEEDS? IS IT MORAL TO PLAY WITH POWER AND DEFANGING, THE EQUITY, CIVIL RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICES WHEN AUSTIN HAS BEEN A LEADER ON THESE ISSUES
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ON OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS? SOME SAY THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO, I BUT GR Y'ALL GRACE IS NOT DELIVERED, NOT DIVINELY, BUT THROUGH OUR ACTIONS, MR. GARZA SET YOU UP TO INDULGE MAGICAL THINKING.IF WE PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET, WE'LL STABILIZE.
WELL, IT'S THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ORGANIZERS THAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM TODAY WHO ARE PRESENTING A REALISTIC COMMUNITY, STABILIZING SPENDING.
OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR, DISABLED AND QUEER.
AND WITH THAT, HOW DARE MR. GARZA PROPOSED SEVERE DIVESTMENT FROM CRITICAL HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION? IT DOESN'T GET MORALLY UGLIER THAN THAT.
I KEEP HEARING BACK TO BASICS, BUT WHOSE BASICS AND FROM WHAT ERA PLAY OLD POLICIES, RESURRECTION GAMES, WIN ROTTING ZOMBIE PRIZES.
LET'S NOT INFECT OUR FUTURE WITH DREADFUL, IMMORAL, ANTI VISIONARY SPENDING.
SHELBY BOHANNAN, JJ RAMIREZ, AND THEN ELI CORTEZ.
UM, AND I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ADDING ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GIVING AN ADDITIONAL $32 MILLION TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
KNOWING THAT THIS CANNOT BE LATER REDUCED PER STATE LAW IS RIDICULOUS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS STILL REFUSING TO AGREE TO BASIC OVERSIGHT THAT WAS WON BY HUGE MARGIN, UM, OF AUSTIN VOTERS IN MAY DO NOT IGNORE THE VOTERS THEY STRUGGLED TO HIRE DESPITE OFFERING HIGH PAY FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AND BEING CURRENTLY ABLE TO OFFER $15,000 SIGNING BONUSES TO NEW OFFICERS.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE OF VIOLENCE.
THROWING AN ADDITIONAL $32 MILLION AT THEM WILL NOT FIX THIS.
THIS WOULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF CRITICAL CITY SERVICES SUCH AS E M S, WHO ACTUALLY SAVES LIVES PARK STAFF, HOUSING PROGRAMS AND MORE.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST ANY INCREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET AND VOTE AGAINST MOVING ANY ADDITIONAL CITY POSITIONS INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH REDUCES TRANSPARENCY.
JJ RAMIREZ, ELI CORTEZ, KATHLEEN MITCHELL.
I'M AN ORGANIZER AT THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
UM, HONESTLY, I STRUGGLED ON WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TODAY TO Y'ALL.
UM, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET IS A BUDGET PROPOSED BY, BY THE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, TALKING TO TAXPAYERS WHO AND, AND RECOMMENDING TO THE COUNCIL WHO ARE ELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS.
INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UH, MANAGER GARZA THE OTHER DAY, QUOTED IN K U T, THOUGHT THAT ANY KIND OF OPPOSITION TO ANY, ANY INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE COMMUNITY, HOW THESE THINGS ARE GONNA BE IMPACTED BY THEM SAID THIS WOULD STIFLE THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF THE CITY.
WELL, THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF THIS CITY LARGELY DOESN'T HAVE THE DIRECT, THE DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN THE STREET DOES THE, THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND IT ISN'T THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT SHOULD BE RECOMMEND RECOMMENDING HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.
IT'S, IT'S LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY TELLING YOU HOW WE SHOULD SPEND OUR MONEY.
THE C THE, THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE, LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, VOTING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE, AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER DOING WHAT THE CITY MANAGER'S SUPPOSED TO DO, HELPING TO NA UH, TO, TO MANAGE THE CITY AND, AND CARRYING OUT THESE, THESE, UH, THESE BUDGET REQUESTS.
IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST REALLY AGGRAVATING TO, TO HAVE PEOPLE COME UP HERE WHO ARE, WHO ARE HOMELESS, WHO ARE OUTSIDE, TELL, TELL YOU THESE THINGS DON'T WORK FOR US.
BUT THEN 30% REDUCTION IN THE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HOMELESS SERVICES, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER HOMELESS RATE THAN WE DID YESTERDAY.
WE'RE IN A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
NO MONEY ALLOCATED OFFICIALLY TO ANY KIND OF HARM REDUCTION, UH, UH, UH, PROCEDURES WHERE THE OPIOID CRISIS AS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, BUT 30 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS TO POLICING 30.
YOU KNOW, I JUST, I, I'M, I'M REALLY AGGRAVATED TO AND WOULD BE VERY, VERY, UH, JUST ANNOYED IF COUNSEL WOULD JUST VOTE THIS THROUGH AS IS.
I REALLY, REALLY HOPE YOU DON'T, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? WHAT ARE YOU VOTED IN FOR? WHAT KIND OF PONY SHOW IS THIS? APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND, UM, I'M AN ORGANIZER AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE, WHICH, UH, OPERATES IN DISTRICT THREE.
UM, WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN OVERDOSE AND A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN AUSTIN, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW.
UM, IF YOU PASS THIS BUDGET AS IT STANDS TODAY, WITH NO SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING, NO SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN IN SERVICES FOR HOMELESSNESS, NO SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN HARM REDUCTION SERVICES, YOU ARE MAKING A STATEMENT THAT YOU WILL DO NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL IN THE FACE OF THESE CRISES.
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YOU'RE MAKING A STATEMENT THAT YOU'RE GONNA ALLOW THESE DEATHS, ALLOW THIS HOMELESSNESS TO CONTINUE.UM, AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
FURTHERMORE, NOT ONLY WILL YOU HAVE IGNORED THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, THAT WE KNOW THAT WORK REALLY ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
UM, BUT YOU'RE MAKING A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT POLICE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GONNA ANSWER THESE CRISES.
YOU BELIEVE THAT $32 MILLION ADDITIONALLY IN THAT BUDGET, UM, FOR POLICE WILL, WILL RE REDUCE OVERDOSES, WILL END HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE KNOW, AND WE'VE BEEN TELLING Y'ALL THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
WE KNOW THAT AN INVESTMENT IN POLICING IS HARMFUL.
IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE EXITING HOMELESSNESS.
I'M TIRED OF COMING HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR, PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING, UM, OUR, OUR, UM, REINVENTING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCES.
LIKE WE COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND WE TELL Y'ALL, POLICING IS NOT THE ANSWER.
WE NEED Y'ALL TO LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND TO THE EXTENT OF MR. GARZA'S COMMENTS YESTERDAY, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT THE, THE PUBLIC STAFF AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS OVER COUNCIL MEMBERS ACTUALLY TAKING INITIATIVE TO LISTEN TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S AN INAPPROPRIATE, THAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE, WE ARE THE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW WHAT WORKS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING OVERDOSES, PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO ARE DYING IN THESE STREETS.
AND TO CONTINUE TO COME BACK HERE AND HAVE Y'ALL COMPLETELY IGNORE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR AND INVEST IN THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING ARE HARMFUL, IS A SLAP IN THE FACE.
AND IF Y'ALL PASS THE BUDGET AS IT IS TODAY, THAT'S Y'ALL COMMITTING TO AN AUSTIN THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE WITH OVERDOSES.
THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE WITH HOMELESSNESS.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE THROUGH WITH THAT.
KATHLEEN MITCHELL, DONNA HOFFMAN, LARRY FRANKLIN, PLEASE COME ON DOWN IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED.
UH, COMPARED TO EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD SO FAR, I'M GOING TO GIVE SOME VERY BORING TESTIMONY.
UM, I DO WANNA REMIND YOU, UH, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET WAS THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OF DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS, EACH OF THEM COMMITTED IN TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF IT.
AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTISE THAT WENT IN IT INTO IT.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU DO LOOK CLOSELY AT IT AND IDENTIFY THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING AND PUT THEM INTO THIS BUDGET.
UH, I ALSO JUST WANNA SAY I SUPPORT, UH, JOYCE JAMES'S COMMENTS.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER ON THE ACADEMY REVIEW, UH, COMMITTEE, AND SHE IS AN AMAZING WOMAN.
I HOPE THAT YOU HEARD WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY THERE.
UH, GETTING TO MY DETAILED, UM, COMMENTS, I'M GONNA STICK TO ONE PAGE.
THIS IS THE CHANGES TO THE POLICE BUDGET.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE CHANGES TO THE POLICE BUDGET, AND I WANNA SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF THEM IN PARTICULAR.
UM, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN EXCESSIVELY SLOW TO IMPLEMENT ANYTHING RELATED TO PROP A THAT PASSED THIS YEAR.
UH, THE REASON I NEED TO BRING THIS UP NOW IS THAT THIS BUDGET BRINGS 25 HUMAN RESOURCES PEOPLE AND FOUR P I O PEOPLE INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE DEFINITION OF A G FILE IS A FILE MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S LITERALLY ALL IT SAYS IN THE STATUTE.
THIS IS A FILE MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU PUT PEOPLE INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEN EVERYTHING THEY DO IS GFI.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S SOME DEBATE THERE ALWAYS HAS BEEN WITHIN BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY ABOUT MANY THINGS RELATED TO THE GFI, BUT I PROMISE YOU THAT IF YOU MOVE 25.5 HUMAN RESOURCES POSITIONS AND FOUR P I A POSITIONS INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE FACILITATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROP A OR THE KIND OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THIS COMMUNITY EXPECTS FROM YOU.
OKAY, I HAD THREE OTHER POINTS,
AND IF YOU WOULD EMAIL US THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, WE'LL REVIEW THOSE.
DONNA HOFFMAN, ARE YOU HERE? MAYOR PURIM? IF I MAY, DID YOU SUBMIT A COPY OF THAT DOCUMENTATION, MS. MITCHELL, TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE? DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THAT? NO.
UM, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
OKAY, LARRY FRANKLIN, ALICIA TORRES.
UM, I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, BUT I'M GONNA GO THROUGH IT.
I TOOK A LOOK AT YOUR BASELINE BUDGET AND, UM,
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DO YOU KNOW THAT CURRENTLY OUR, OUR CITY ONLY PRODUCES ABOUT 7% OF ITS FOOD ON A LOCAL LEVEL, BUT NOWHERE HAS IT EVER BEEN THAT OUR CITY HAS A CONCERN TOWARDS THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD AS A LINE ITEM WITHIN THE BUDGET UNTIL WE HAD THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.NOW THE CITY HAS A CONCERN TOWARDS FOOD.
I HAVE A SMALL RECOMMENDATION FOR EACH ONE OF YOU AS OUR CITY GROWS.
THAT'S MORE PEOPLE, RIGHT? THAT'S TRANSPORTATION, THAT'S HOUSING, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT'S FOOD.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD ADVISE ALL OF YOU TO NOT PUSH FORWARD WITH THE BASELINE BUDGET, BUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THOROUGHLY AND PICK SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS OUT OF THERE.
BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE ARE A GROWING CITY, FOOD, HOUSING, ELECTRICITY.
ALICIA TORRES, DANIELA SILVA, IVANA, MARY, TIM, IF I MAY, I'M SORRY.
MR. FRANKLIN, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, UM, CITY HALL, UH, SHARON MAYS IN MY OFFICE, OUR FANTASTIC, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON FOOD SECURITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'D LIKE VERY MUCH FOR YOU TO STICK AROUND IN THE ATRIUM JUST FOR A MINUTE SO SHE CAN COME DOWN AND MEET WITH YOU.
SO CITY MANAGER, MY NAME IS DANIELA SILVA.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF AND IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH Y'ALL HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT, AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT BECAUSE IT IS A BROAD COALITION RANGING FROM MANY ISSUES, AND FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERTS OF THOSE ISSUES WILL SPEAK, UM, VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THOSE.
SO I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAY, AND I'M GONNA PERSONALLY JUST SHARE, UH, A STORY FROM MY LIFE THAT IS RELATED.
I RECENTLY HAD AN UNHOUSED NEIGHBOR TEXT ME ABOUT A FRIEND OF HIS WHO WAS GONNA SOON LOSE HIS HOME AND IF I COULD COME HELP.
SO I WENT AND MET UP WITH THEM AND HIS FRIEND LET ME KNOW THAT HIS BROTHER IN ROUND ROCK PASSED AWAY.
THE HOUSE IS STUCK IN PROBATE.
HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO GET HELP.
HE ALSO, UM, WAS PUT INTO HOUSING, UM, WHERE THEY PAID THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT, BUT HE HAS STRUGGLED TO KEEP UP WITH RENT AS HE'S TRYING TO GET EMPLOYED AND COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM SOME EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
AND GENERALLY JUST AS A TENANT, I THINK WOULD, UM, REALLY ALSO BENEFIT FROM, UM, EDUCATION AND FROM LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
ALL OF THESE, UM, UH, PROBATE AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR SENIORS, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TENANT EDUCATION, UH, AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE ARE ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
SO WHILE THESE ARE ALL BULLET POINTS THAT, UM, COULD JUST SEEM LIKE BLANK DATA, THERE ARE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY, RIGHT NOW.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH I THINK AUSTINITES HAVE, UH, SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT IS NOT HOW THEY WANT TO SOLVE SAFETY AND SECURITY.
MANY PEOPLE WANNA GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF THESE ISSUES, ALL OF WHICH ARE ADDRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY OF INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH AGAIN, DOESN'T SPEAK FOR EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, BUT DOES SPEAK FOR MANY OF THEM.
SO I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAYBE MOVE SOME OF THIS FUNDING AROUND TO ENSURE THAT DIRECT COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING MORE, UM, POSITIONS INTO PD AND WE'RE NOT DISSOLVING THE AUTONOMY OF VERY VITAL DEPARTMENTS.
ALICIA TORRES, IVANA NERI EIGHT TRACK.
I HAVE SOMEONE WHO, UH, WITH ME THAT, UH, WE COULDN'T GET TRANSLATION FOR, SO I'M GONNA BE READING SOME OF THE STATEMENT THAT SHE GAVE ME, UM, AND THEN A PIECE OF WHAT I ALSO WROTE.
I AM A HOMEOWNER AND RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FORK.
I ALSO WORK FOR UP TOGETHER AND I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT YOU REJECT THE PROPOSAL TO COMBINE THE EQUITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND RESILIENCE OFFICES INTO ONE DEPARTMENT.
THOSE OFFICES, INCLUDING THE INNOVATION OFFICE, ARE THE ONES MAKING SURE THAT HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES ARE ENGAGING CITY PROCESSES, AND THAT THERE IS EQUITABLE DIS DISTRIBUTION OF CITY RESOURCES.
THOSE OFFICES FOSTER INNOVATION HAVE RACIAL EQUITY AS A CORE VALUE AND OUR CATALYST FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVE IMPROVED OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU CAN DISMISS THE FACT THAT THOSE OFFICES WERE CREATED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY MUST CONTINUE.
I WILL ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU INCORPORATE THE, THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET INTO THE BUDGET FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 20 23, 20 24, WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING FOR CHILDCARE, PRINCIPAL SPECIALIST, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND SPECIFICALLY FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM THAT IS INVESTING A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH.
UM, I'LL TELL YOU THE STORY OF CANDY.
CANDY IS A MOM, UH, UH, OF TWO KIDS.
SHE WORKS AS A BABYSITTER AND DEDICATES
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DEDICATES HER TIME TO ORGANIZE DOMESTIC WORKERS ACROSS THE CITY.THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED HER, UH, HER HOUSE.
UH, THEY LOST THEIR JOBS AND HAD TO MAKE A, A PAYMENT PLAN TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR RENT.
UM, THE MONEY THAT SHE RECEIVED TO THIS PILOT HAS HELPED HER CATCH UP ON RENT AND, AND BEING ABLE TO PAY OTHER BILLS.
ADDITIONALLY, SHE'S BEEN IMPACTED BY THE, UM, BY, BY THE, UH, RECESSION AND BY, UH, THE INFLATION.
SHE'S SAYING HOW, UH, NOW SHE'S ABLE TO COVER FOR SOME EXPENSES AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HER LIFE HAS IMPROVED.
SHE HAS MORE, UH, LESS STRESS, AND NOW SHE'S ABLE TO DEDICATE MORE OF HER TIME TO BE WITH HER, UH, WITH HER FAMILY.
SHE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE ORGANIZERS WHO ARE, UH, ASKING YOU TO, UH, PUT MORE FUNDING TOWARD THE EXTENSION OF THIS PROGRAM AND ALSO, UM, IS GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY, FOR THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY MAKING INTO THIS.
WANNA SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU.
ALICIA TORRES, ARE YOU HERE? ALICIA TORRES.
MICHELLE MANNING, SCOTT AND THEN CAMILLE COOK.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'M FIRST GONNA DIRECT MY FIRST COMMENTS TOWARDS COUNCIL MEMBERS RYAN ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRY.
AM I PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY? THANK YOU ALL FOR THE BRAVERY AND THE STONES TO STAND UP TO GARZA WITH THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE MARSHALING YARD.
SORRY, GARZA, YOUR SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM.
AIN'T THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM? I'LL BET YOU THEY WON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO FIND FOOD IF I DROP THEM OFF AT REPUBLIC SQUARE WITH NO MONEY, NO, ID, NO NOTHING.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE.
I'M A MEMBER OF STREET FORUM AND I'VE BEEN UNHOUSED ON THE BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF DOWNTOWN AUSTIN SINCE MID-DECEMBER $32 MILLION.
ARE Y'ALL KIDDING ME? EVERY TIME I HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH AUSTIN'S FINEST, DO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT PHOTOSENSITIVITY MEANS? THOSE FLASHING LIGHTS ARE THE MOST PAINFUL THING IN THE WORLD FOR ME.
WHAT IS AD'S RESPONSE LAST NIGHT? IT'S A LIGHT LIKE THE SUN.
YOU WANNA GIVE TWO MIL? YOU WANNA GIVE $32 MILLION TO THAT ATTITUDE THAT IS NOT GONNA HELP THINGS AT ALL.
THAT IS ONLY GONNA MAKE PEOPLE WORSE AND MAKE PEOPLE ANGRY.
GARZA, WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE? YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN ON RECORD SAYING YOU'RE GONNA BE WATCHING ALL THIS FROM TV WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
WHAT'S YOUR DOG IN THIS FIGHT? I'M TRYING NOT TO GET ANGRY BECAUSE WHEN I GET ANGRY, I LOSE FOCUS.
THAT'S A LOT OF SH, THAT'S A LOT OF CLOTHES.
THAT IS A LOT OF RAPID REHOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHERS AND YOU'RE TAKING THAT AWAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GONNA STARVE.
THAT IS JUST ALL OF THE RESOURCES WASTED GOING TO A P D THAT COULD HELP THE ROOT CAUSE.
INTEGRAL CARE, HARM REDUCTION.
I'VE LOST SO MANY FRIENDS THIS YEAR DUE TO OVERDOSE.
HOW MANY MORE FRIENDS AM I GONNA LOSE? THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
MICHELLE MANNING, SCOTT AND THEN CAMILLE COOK.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE MANNING SCOTT AND I AM A DISTRICT SEVEN RESIDENT AND A HOMEOWNER THERE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF COMMUNITY RADIO STATION, K O O P 91.7 FM HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT BOTH I AND THE CO-OP OBJECT TO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AS WRITTEN AND ENDORSE THE PLAN PUT FORTH BY EQUITY ACTION.
MY TIME DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO DETAIL ALL THE OBJECTIONS WE HAVE, MANY OF WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN STATED BY THE ELOQUENT VOICES, ART THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME.
CO-OP RADIO'S MISSION IS TO SERVE THE UNDERSERVED AND GIVE VOICE TO MARGINALIZED GROUPS HERE IN AUSTIN AND BEYOND.
THEREFORE, THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET BUDGET THAT WILL GO AGAINST THIS MISSION, SUCH AS DISMANTLING AND REMOVING THE AUTHORITY AND AUTONOMY OF CITY OFFICES LIKE THE EQUITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICES, AS WELL AS DEPRIVING AND DECREASING FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE POPULATION POPULATIONS OF THE CITY.
AND TAKE US BACKWARDS IN TERMS OF SOCIAL PROGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN WITNESSING THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES AS A PROGRAM WITH PROGRAMMER, WITH CO-OP AND A NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMMER ON CO-OPS AIRWAVES FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THIS
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BUDGET.THEY HAVE STORIES THAT SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.
AND WHEN REWRITING THIS BUDGET, THEY SERVE THESE VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND HAVE THE DATA TO BACK UP THE REASONS THEY OBJECT TO THE BUDGET AS WRITTEN AND ENDORSE THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
I WILL SAY ALSO THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SPEAKING WITH MR. CADRE, MS. ALTER, AND MS. HARPER MADISON ON MY PROGRAM.
AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE ALLIES IN THIS FIGHT, AND YOU'LL LISTEN TO AND TAKE SERIOUSLY THE CONCERNS OF ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND I URGE THE REST OF YOU ON COUNCIL TO ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT VOICES.
STORYTELLING IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION CHANGES YOU'RE MAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY HERE IN AUSTIN.
MY NAME IS CAMILLE COOK AND IWO, I WORK RIGHT DOWN THE STREET AT PUBLIC CITIZEN.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THIS BUDGET, BUT I'LL JUST SPEAK ON A COUPLE.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T WANNA SEE THE OFFICES OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE CONSOLIDATED AND PUT UNDER THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
SIMILARLY, I DON'T WANNA SEE THE OFFICE OF SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, EQUITY OFFICE, AND CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE MERGED INTO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE OFFICES SHOULD BE REPRESENTED, SHOULD BE REPRESENTED IN THEIR ABILITY TO STAND ON THEIR OWN BY SUBSUMING THEM INTO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS SAYING THAT CIVIL RIGHTS, SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND EQUITY AREN'T TOP PRIORITIES.
WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DOES THIS SEND TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN AUSTIN WHOM THESE OFFICES SUPPORT THE MOST? SECOND OF ALL, WE NEED MORE MONEY TO ENSURE THAT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN IS PROPERLY, PROPERLY SUPPORTED.
THIS PLAN WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITIZENS OF THE CITY, AND TO SEE IT NOT PRIORITIZED DURING THE HOTTEST SUMMER IN HISTORY SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES NOT LISTEN TO ITS CITIZENS.
WHY NOT INVEST IN REPLACING GAS APPLIANCES WITH ELECTRIC ONES OR INVEST IN BUILDING PUBLIC SHELTERS TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE DISASTERS LIKE WINTER STORM? UY EQUITY ACTION HAS ALREADY CREATED A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THAT DETAILS WAYS THAT FUNDS CAN INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THIS SHOULD BE ONE OF OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES.
TO SUM UP THE LOW FUNDING OF THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN AND THE DEMOTING OF VARIOUS JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS IS INDICATIVE OF A LARGER TREND HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE FACED WITH THE LARGEST SINGLE CHALLENGE OF OUR LIFETIME, AND RATHER THAN COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO SU SUPPORT THOSE BEING HIT BY THE BY THE WORST, WE'RE KEEPING ON WITH BUSINESS.
AS USUAL, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
ALLOCATE FUNDS TO WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD YOU'ALL TO ALLOCATE FUNDS TOWARDS CLIMATE JUSTICE WORK AND TOWARDS THE BUILDING OUT OF OUR EQUITY OFFICE, CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL WARD, CHANTELLE PRI AND BETHANY CARSON.
HELLO, ELECTED, HELLO ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I PRAY ALL AS WELL AND YOU'RE HAPPY TO BE ABOVE GROUND.
I AM MICHAEL WARD JUNIOR AND SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE GREATER AUSTIN STEM ECOSYSTEM, THE UT AT AUSTIN ER SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING COMMUNITY, PARTNER OF THE IT CAUCUS OF THE TEXAS HOUSE AND PRESIDENCY E O OF THE AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT.
I'M ALSO ON THE ECONOMIC AND WORK FULFILLMENT TASK FORCE FOR THE TEXAS BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE THAT JUST OPENED UP THIS YEAR.
TODAY I'M HERE TO SHARE THE CHALLENGES WITH, WITH THE PROPOSED CITY OF AUSTIN BUDGET.
A CITY BUDGET IS SUPPOSED TO FINANCE THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND OBLIGATION TO THE CITY, WHICH INCLUDES AUSTIN CITIZENS, RESIDENTS, AND AMAZING INCOMING TRANSPLANTS SUCH AS MYSELF AS PROPOSED.
THE BUDGET DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET CREATED BY EQUITY ACTION AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT, AND MORE THAN 30 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE HERE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND REMOVE THE BARRIERS, PREVENTING EQUITABLE IMPACT AND GROWTH FOR ALL AUSTINITES, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN MASTER WORKFORCE PLAN OR THE HIGHER LOCAL PLAN SPEARHEADED BY WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
LASTLY, THIS BUDGET DOESN'T SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES FOR THE COMMUNITY OVERALL, SUCH AS BROADBAND AND DEVICES FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND REORGANIZES CITY DEPARTMENTS FOCUSED ON ACCOUNTABILITY DOES TAKING US FURTHER AWAY FROM AUSTIN, BECOMING A SMART HUB AND THE THRIVING TECH ECOSYSTEM FOR ALL.
ON BEHALF OF OUR PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CLIENTS WE SERVE, WE URGE YOU TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EQUITY ACTIONS PROPOSED BY THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE CITY BUDGET THAT ENHANCES THE LIVES OF AUSTINITES.
WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, I'M ALSO FATHER A HUSBAND, COMMUNITY LEADER, BUSINESS LEADER, AND THE TYPE OF AUSTIN I ENVISION IS ONE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN THRIVE.
ADULTS HAVE ENOUGH INCOME TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, BUSINESSES CAN FIND TALENT, AND AUSTIN CAN BE A LEADER WHERE OTHER PEOPLE
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WANNA FOLLOW SUIT.OTHER COUNTRIES WANNA FOLLOW SUIT, OTHER CITIES WANNA FOLLOW SUIT.
SO I PUT THE POWER IN CITY COUNCIL TO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, CHANTELLE PRI, BETHANY, CARSON.
UM, FOR ALL OUR GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE, IF YOU WANNA MOVE THE MICROPHONE, JUST MOVE THE TOP OF IT, WON'T YELL AT YOU AS MUCH THE, THE MIC SENSITIVE TODAY, I GUESS.
CHANTELLE PRI, BETHANY, CARSON, JEAN PAUL COLONY CONNOLLY, SORRY.
UM, BACK TO THE BASICS IS THE THEME OF THE PROPOSED BASELINE BUDGET.
AND I HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT THESE SUPPOSED BASICS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND AS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO APPROACHED ME A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS WALKING OUT OF A MEETING AT HAKA AT OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND SHE SAID, I'M DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR RESOURCES.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE CAN GO AND HOW WE CAN GET RESOURCES SO WE DON'T BECOME UNHOUSED? AND I THOUGHT ABOUT HER STRUGGLE AND HOW WE TRY TO GET HER CONNECTED TO SOMETHING AND HOW MUCH THERE IS A LACK OF THAT IN OUR CITY.
AND THEN I ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW DURING OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT THIS YEAR, WE COUNTED A SHOCKING, UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF SINGLE MOTHERS LIVING IN PARKING LOTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH AUSTIN, UM, WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
AND THEN I THINK ABOUT HOW THIS YEAR OUR BUDGET IS MOVING FROM $8 MILLION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TENANT STABILIZATION MONEY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND, AND MOVING ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS TO LESS THAN 250,000 FOR THAT.
AND I THINK ABOUT HOW THE PROPOSED BASELINE IS A RADICAL DEFUNDING OF ALL TENANT STABILIZATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND I WONDER WHAT BASICS ARE WE GOING BACK TO? AND THEN I THINK ABOUT HOW ALL OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET REQUESTS AROUND HOMELESSNESS ARE BEING LARGELY IGNORED.
I THINK ABOUT THE NEED FOR CASEWORKERS BEING IGNORED.
I THINK ABOUT THE NEED FOR SITE-BASED VOUCHERS FOR P S H BEING IGNORED, SERVICE FUNDING FOR P S H BEING IGNORED.
I THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR BEING IGNORED.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF, IF, IF IT MATTERS TO SIT HERE AND LIST OFF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ASKED YOU FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS.
BUT I AM GONNA USE THE REST OF MY TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TODAY THERE ARE 600 ACTIVE EVICTION CASES IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND THAT OUR NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS SEEING A SHARP SPIKE DUE TO OUR LACK OF UPSTREAM PREVENTION.
THANK YOU MIRIAM CONNOR, CHRIS HARRIS, AND ALEXANDRA EVANS.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME.
UM, JP, IF YOU COULD EMAIL COUNSEL THE REST OF YOUR REMARKS.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE REST OF WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY IN THE ABSENCE OF BEING ABLE TO HEAR IT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I WORK AT AVOW, TEXAS.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND MORE SO WAS PARTICULARLY DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE BASELINE BUDGET FAILED TO MENTION ANY FUNDING OF LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTINITE SEEKING ABORTION CARE.
THE SUBMISSION DOES A GREAT SERVICE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO KNEW THE, WHO KNOW THAT THEIR TOTAL STATE BAN ON ABORTION IS GREATLY HARMFUL, GREATLY UNPOPULAR, AND ARE RELYING ON ALL OF US ROLLING OVER AND ACCEPTING A POST-OPS WORLD.
DESPITE THE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, THE ASK FOR LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FUNDING IS NOT NEW.
IN FACT, IT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED FROM 2020 TO 2022 WITHIN THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET.
WHEN THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V.
WADE, THIS FUNDING WAS SEIZED DESPITE IT BEING MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER.
IT IS TRUE THAT CHAPTER 2, 2 7 2 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE PROHIBITS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FROM ENTERING INTO A TAXPAYER RESOURCE TRANSACTION WITH AN ABORTION PROVIDER OR AN ABORTION PROVIDER AFFILIATE.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE CITY CANNOT VIOLATE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER OTHER FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO ABORTION BESIDES THE COST OF THE PROCEDURE UNDER A TOTAL BAN, INCLUDING TRAVEL AND LODGING COSTS, CHILDCARE, TIME, OFF WORK, FOOD, AND MORE.
THE NEAREST ABORTION CLINIC FOR SOMEONE IN OUR CITY IS 500 MILES AWAY.
DIFFICULTY ASKING, ACCESSING ABORTION CARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE LIVING WITH A LOW INCOME AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY PARENTS.
WE WERE THE FIRST CITY IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE SUCH PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE NEEDING ABORTION CARE.
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AND I APPLAUD THE CREATIVITY THAT WENT INTO THAT FUNDING.AS WE SEE THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF A TOTAL ABORTION BAN IN CURRENT HEART WRENCHING LAWSUITS ARE ALREADY STAGGERING, EVER INCREASING MORTEN MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE AND MORE.
I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S CRITICAL THAT THIS FUNDING BE RETURNED, COUNSEL.
IT IS NOT AN ASK THAT YOU VIOLATE THE LAW, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF EVERY AUSTINITE WHO HAS NEEDED ABORTION CARE, WHO NEEDS ABORTION CARE TODAY, AND WHO WILL NEED ABORTION CARE IN THE FUTURE, I URGE YOU TO HAVE THE BRAVERY, INTEGRITY, AND UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR DUTY TO NAVIGATE SAID LAW.
THE FAILURE TO DO SO IS EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT FOR THE EXTREMIST LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE PUT US IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION.
AND YOUR CITY IS MUCH MORE DESERVING OF YOUR SOLIDARITY THAN THEY ARE.
MS. EVANS, I I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF US ON THIS DIOCESE HAVE WORKED ON ABORTION LOGISTICAL FUNDING OVER THE YEARS.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S A COURT CASE CURRENTLY WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM JUST ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO DEFINE EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANT BY, UM, SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT PEOPLE MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN WITH DIFFICULT PREGNANCIES.
AND SO, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
CHRIS HARRIS, CHAZ MOORE, AND MISAEL RAMOS.
UM, I'M CHRIS HARRIS, UH, WITH DISTRICT.
I'M IN DISTRICT NINE, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR A J C AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS BUDGET AND FOR THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
RECENTLY I CALLED 3 1 1 ABOUT, UM, A MAN APPARENTLY IN A MENTAL HEALTH SITUATION WHO APPEARED AGITATED.
I CALLED 3 1 1, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, WHICH WILL BECOME APPARENT.
BUT, UH, UPON TALKING TO 3 1 1 AND ASKING FOR SOMEONE TO COME AND, AND DO SOME SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH CHECK WITH THIS PERSON, I WAS TOLD THAT, UH, THIS WAS A POLICE MATTER AND I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A POLICE MATTER.
AND THE THREE OH ONE, OUR CALL OPERATOR SAID THE POLICE WOULD, WILL SAY THAT IT IS, AND YOU SHOULD CALL 9 1 1.
AND IT MIGHT TAKE A MINUTE, BUT HANG ON, BECAUSE SOMEONE WILL PICK UP THIS TO ME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO NEED HELP, UH, BUT IT'S NOT THE TYPE OF HELP THAT WE'RE OFFERING THEM.
AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE TYPE OF HELP THAT'S BEING OFFERED BY THIS BUDGET.
IN FACT, THAT'S THE TYPE OF HELP ACTUALLY BEING CUT BY THIS BUDGET.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO, TO IN THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER DESPERATELY, WE NEED PEOPLE, UH, AT E M SS.
THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT CAN BE FILLED IF WE CHANGED HOW WE FUNDED THEM.
YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN THE POLICE A RAISE WITH NOTHING IN EXCHANGE.
YOU'VE GIVEN A SIGNING BONUS THERE.
THERE'S NOT CLEAR THAT MORE MONEY THROWN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL DO ANYTHING AS IT RELATES TO THE STAFFING ISSUES THAT, THAT THEY CLAIM.
WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO RECRUIT.
AND THEN ONCE RECRUITED, THEY VERY MUCH STRUGGLED TO RETAIN RECRUITS THROUGH THE ACADEMY.
YOU ALL, AND THIS COMMUNITY, MYSELF INCLUDED, HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS TO HELP REFORM THE ACADEMY TO FIX JUSTICE ISSUE.
MORE MONEY THROWN TO POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT SOLVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES AND THEY WILL NOT SOLVE THE STAFFING ISSUES.
MONEY TO 9 1 1 AND E M SS WILL HELP WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES AND WILL HELP THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.
CHAS MOORE, CRAIG NASER, AND JEN RAMOS.
PEOPLE ARE JUST DISRESPECTING YOU TODAY.
UM, YEAH, GOOD MORNING, AFTERNOON, OR, UM, WHATEVER.
UM, I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE BUDGET AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS.
UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IN THE, IN THE LAST, UM, WHENEVER WE GOT SOME NEW FOLKS ON COUNCIL, WE'VE BEEN MOVING BACKWARDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME PRETTY PROGRESSIVE THINGS WITH OUR BUDGET.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO INVEST IN IDEAS AND INSTITUTIONS, PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE.
UM, AND IN A MATTER OF MONTHS, UM, AFTER THE, UM, AFTER THE, THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, UM, WE'VE, WE'VE STRIPED AND WE'VE TAKEN STEPS BACK, UM, TO REINVEST AND INVEST MORE IN THINGS THAT WE KNOW, UM, LIKE CHRIS SAID, DOES NOT HELP PEOPLE.
UM, AND ALTHOUGH IF YOU LET TWITTER, UM, CALL IT, THEY BLAME FOLKS LIKE ME AND CHRIS AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS BEHIND ME FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH POLICING, I WISH I WAS THAT POWERFUL.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, THE TRUTH IS A P D UM, HAS STAFFING ISSUES THAT ARE NOT MY FAULT AT ALL.
UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANNA BE POLICED NO MORE GO FIGURE.
UM, AND I THINK THE FACT THAT WE'RE PUTTING MONEY
[01:20:01]
INTO A POLICE BUDGET, UM, AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING MONEY INTO THE THINGS THAT ALL THESE BRILLIANT PEOPLE BEHIND ME ARE SPEAKING ABOUT, UM, IS JUST THE SIGNS OF LIKE, UM, CITY COUNCIL GOING BACK TO LIKE THE 1990S, UM, AND NOT MOVING AND PROGRESSING IN THE WAY IN WHICH THIS VERY SMART, CAPABLE CITY, UM, HAS BEEN MOVING OVER THE PAST DECADE.UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH THE FOLKS THAT SIT BEHIND, UM, THE DAAS THAT HAVE TALKED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT TO MCKENZIE KELLY THAT, UM, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, ACCORDING TO SOCIAL MEDIA, SHOULD NEVER TALK TO ME.
UM, BUT SHE'S ONE OF THE FEW THAT HAVE ACTUALLY OPENED HER DOOR TO TALK TO PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND I THINK THE MORE WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT, THE MORE WE CAN, UM, REALLY SEE WHERE THE MONEY NEEDS TO GO AND NOT JUST PUTTING IT INTO THESE REALLY OLD, OUTDATED IDEAS.
AND ALSO, UM, I'LL SAY THIS, AT THE RISK OF POTENTIALLY BUTCHERING, UM, THE, THE STUFF MY FRIENDS ARE DOING, I THINK THAT US CITY'S COUNCIL SHOULD REALLY CHECK THE POWERS OF AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER WHO'S NOT HERE FOR, THAT'S NOT HIS JOB YET.
UM, AND I THINK YOU, YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE SOME OF YOUR POWER BACK AND DO WHAT PEOPLE ELECTED YOU TO DO.
CRAIG NASER, JEN RAMOS, AND MEN KEY.
I'M THE CONSERVATION CHAIR OF THE LONE STAR CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE, AND IT IS ALREADY AFFECTING DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES THE MOST.
THE SIERRA CLUB STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
WE ARE GOING, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE CLIMATE CHANGE, WE NEED THE HELP OF EVERYONE.
PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SOLUTION.
THAT BEAUTIFUL EVERGREEN SUMAC TREE IS DEAD.
AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, THE SHADE IT PROVIDED IS GONE.
I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CONGRESS AVENUE BAT COLONY, WHICH IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF STRUGGLE THAT COLONY PROVIDES AUSTIN WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF JOBS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST HIRING ONE CITY BAT BIOLOGIST TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
IT APPEARS THAT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS UNDER SO MUCH FINANCIAL STRESS THAT NO DEPARTMENT WANTS TO ACCEPT THE POSITION.
I REMIND YOU THAT YOU SET POLICY, THE COST WOULD BE SMALL FOR A BIG FUTURE BENEFIT.
OUR BATS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
IF THIS EARTH SHOULD BE DESTROYED, IT WILL BE BY DESIRE, BY THE LUST OF PLEASURE AND SELF GRATIFICATION BY GREED OF THE GREEN FROG SKIN BY PEOPLE WHO ARE MINDFUL OF THEIR OWN SELF FORGETTING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
THE GREEN FROG SKIN IS HIS NAME FOR DOLLAR BILLS.
JEN RAMOS MENKE SHAMAN PERSSON.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I AM THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS YOUNG DEMOCRATS, THE FIRST LATINA PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN YOUNG DEMOCRATS AND A RESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE.
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FROM INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA.
IN THE PRESENTATION OF THIS BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDED THE USE OF LARGE BINDERS TO PRESENT THE BUDGET TO COUNCIL STAFF ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, A LAG IN THE PUBLIC UPLOADED THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ONLINE, AND A LACK OF A SIMPLIFIED PROPOSAL, ALL WHICH HINDER AUSTINITES IN THEIR TIME OF ABILITY TO SEE HOW OUR CITY WOULD LIKE TO ALLOCATE FUNDS IN 2023.
WE SHOULD BE UTILIZING RESOURCES TO MAKE THIS INFORMATION EASIER FOR ALL AUSTINITES TO SEE.
I'M A RENTER PUBLIC TRANSIT USER AND SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND SUCCESS IN MY LIFE AND CAREER, THANKS TO PREVIOUS BUDGETS, AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AS CHAMPIONED BY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE AZA ALLOWS ME TO SEEK LIFESAVING SERVICE CARE AT THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC IN EAST AUSTIN WHEN I WAS UNINSURED AND ONLY MAKING $14,000 A YEAR.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE BUDGET AS CURRENTLY PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC, DOES NOT INVEST IN COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS RENTER'S RELIEF, ESPECIALLY DURING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING CRISIS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE REMOVAL OF A LIVING WAGE AS A PRIORITY AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF MULTIPLE OFFICES THAT ALL SERVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES, SUCH AS THE MERGING OF THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AS CURRENTLY PRESENTED, THIS BUDGET DOES LITTLE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES, AND I BELIEVE THAT EQUITY ACTIONS, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WILL BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN WE FUND THIS BUDGET IS HOW WE CAN HELP MORE AUSTINITES AND
[01:25:01]
NOT PUT THEM IN SILOS.THE INCREASE IN POLICE FUNDING IS A DETRIMENTAL MISTAKE THAT WE CAN MAKE FOR THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE WILL GET TO A BUN, A BUDGET AMOUNT THAT CANNOT BE REVERSED FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT DOES NOT WANT ACCOUNTABILITY AND IS NOT WILLING TO MEET US AT THE TABLE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESOURCES.
KEY SHAMAN PERKIN AND MONICA UZMAN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS MUNG CHI AND I AM WITH UP TOGETHER A NON-PROFIT, THE TRUST AND INVEST IN COMMUNITIES WITH UNRESTRICTED CASH PAYMENTS.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES CONTINUING DIRECT CASH TRANSFERS TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IN THE 2023 TO 24 FISCAL YEAR.
I ALSO URGE YOU TO REJECT THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE EQUITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICES, AND INSTEAD KEEP THEM AS AUTONOMOUS ENTITIES TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY.
IN AUSTIN, AS YOU MAY KNOW, UP TOGETHER IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS CURRENTLY PARTNERING WITH THE CITY ON THE AUSTIN GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT TO DISTRIBUTE A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH TO 135 FAMILIES IN AUSTIN.
AND TRAVIS COUNTY UP TOGETHER BELIEVES THAT FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP HAVE MANY STRENGTHS THEMSELVES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND BY COMBINING THOSE WITH DIRECT CASH INVESTMENTS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND ACCELERATE THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC MOBILITY.
SO FAR, PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE PILOT SHOW THAT PARTICIPANTS HAVE MADE POSITIVE IMPACT IMPACTS AFTER JUST SIX MONTHS.
FOR INSTANCE, PARTICIPANTS HAVE INCREASED HOUSING STABILITY, PARTICIPANTS ARE REPORTING IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY, AND PARTICIPANTS ARE WORKING TOWARDS THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS, WHICH INCLUDE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, INCREASING THEIR JOB SKILLS, AND SPENDING MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
CONTINUING TO FUND DIRECT CASH TRANSFERS IS A VITAL PART OF ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND INEQUITY AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS WHILE PREVENTING THEIR DISPLACEMENT OUT OF THE CITY.
THE EQUITY OFFICE HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PARTNER IN LAUNCHING OUR GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT.
THE OFFICE HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING VACCINE ACCESSIBILITY, ADDRESSING URGENT NEEDS AFTER WINTER STORM URI, ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY VOICES IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CLIMATE PLANNING, AND PROVIDING VITAL FUNDING TO BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
RESTRUCTURING THE EQUITY OFFICE AS WELL AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICES MEANS LOSING A KEY VOICE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES IN AUSTIN.
IN CLOSING, I ASK YOU TO EN ENSURE THAT AUSTIN REMAINS A CITY WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE AND THRIVE BY ADOPTING THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND KEEPING YOU THE EQUITY, CIVIL RIGHTS RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICES AS INDEPENDENT ENTITIES, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
OH, UM, I'VE MET WITH UP TOGETHER REGARDING SOME PRELIMINARY FINDINGS WITH THE GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ALSO RECEIVING THAT INFORMATION AND JUST WOULD WANT TO INVITE YOU TO, TO SHARE THAT OUT IF YOU CAN.
YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT AT A, AT A LATER TIME.
YEAH, YOU CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.
NEXT SPEAKER, SHAMAN PERKIN, MONICA GUZMAN, COUNCIL AND MAYOR, WHEREVER YOU'RE, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS SHAMAN PERKIN AND I AM WITH THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
UM, I WAS JUST SITTING HERE THINKING TO MYSELF, UH, THAT I AGREE WITH MOST WHAT EVERYBODY SAID ABOUT THIS, THIS PROPOSAL, THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL IS NOT, NOT GOOD.
UH, THAT ONE THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU WANT TO GIVE MONEY TO POLICE IN A, IN A, IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD POLICE FORCE FOR A LONG TIME.
AND IT, IT, IT BEHOOVES ME THAT, THAT THIS WOULD PROPAGATE MORE MONEY TO BE SPENT WITH THE A P D AS OPPOSED TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT IT COULD BE SPENT ON IN BETTER WAYS.
UM, NOW IN PARTICULAR, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, THE PUBLIC, THE, UH, P HS SS UH, VOUCHER, THE PERMANENT HOUSING VOUCHER.
UH, AND, UH, I'M, I'M A, I'M A, I RECEIVED THIS VOUCHER I HAVE FOR YEARS.
UH, AND BASICALLY I'D GET ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 50, $1,050 A MONTH.
UH, AND THAT'S A LOT CHEAPER THAN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE SPENT OTHER PLACES.
SO HOW MANY MONTHS RENT IS $9 MILLION, FOR INSTANCE.
MONICA GUZMAN, ALICIA CASTILLO, AND SIMONE BENS HEARING COUNSEL.
[01:30:01]
DIRECTOR AT GAVA.WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER A MORE ROBUST BUDGET THAT CARRIES FORWARD THE CRITICAL PROGRESS OF THE PAST DECADE AND URGE YOU TO CONSIDER, EXCUSE ME, TO COURSE CORRECT ON THREE POINTS, INCREASE YOUR INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH PARKS AS WELL AS INVESTMENT IN TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE GIVEN AUSTIN'S GROWTH AND INCREASE IN CLIMATE STRESSORS.
RESOURCING THESE DEPARTMENTS AND CRITICAL NEEDS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
DAVA ALSO SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND ITS PRIORITIES.
KEEP THE CURRENT DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE OF INDEPENDENT OFFICES FOR EQUITY, SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE EQUITY OFFICE MAINTAINS A PURVIEW THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF EQUITY CHAMPIONS IN EACH CITY DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ANALYZING THE DATA SETTING METRICS AND CREATING PROCESSES THAT DRIVE MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES.
FROM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS TO ANTI DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS, THIS OFFICES OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE INTERDEPARTMENTAL REACH SO THEY CAN BRING OUR UTILITIES TOGETHER TO ADDRESS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
SUSTAINABILITY HOLDS MORE KNOWLEDGE ON CURRENT ASSETS AND GAPS THAN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.
UH, SILOING THEM IN PLANNING WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO OUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS.
AND FINALLY, TAKE THE IRREVERSIBLE AND EXCESSIVE INCREASE IN POLICE FUNDING OFF THE TABLE.
OUR POLICING SHORTAGES ARE NOT DUE TO FUNDING SHORTAGES, AND WE ALREADY KNOW THAT FUNDING OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SOCIAL SERVICES AND QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES BRING US THE CRIME REDUCTION AND SOCIAL SAFETY NETS THAT TRULY KEEP US SAFE.
IN THE FEW SECONDS I HAVE LEFT, SPEAKING SOLELY AS A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENCE, MY COMMENTS ARE MINE AND MINE ALONE.
AND I SAY THIS, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS THE LARGEST BUDGET IN AUSTIN HISTORY.
IT DOESN'T NEED MORE MONEY, IT NEEDS TO ADDRESS ITS RACIST HISTORY.
ALICIA CASTILLO, SIMONE BENZ, AND BEVERLY LAZAR.
UM, I'M A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LISTENING TO OUR COMMENTS TODAY.
I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE THINGS KATHY, UM, MITCHELL BEFORE ME WAS BRINGING UP, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE POLICE BUDGET.
UM, WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND JUST, JUST SOME THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE MORE CLARITY ON IN THAT, UM, PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
UM, FIRSTLY BEING A COUPLE OF SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUS ITEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
UM, NUMBER ONE, I I WANTED TO NOTE THAT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S ONE ITEM AND I'M LOOKING AT PAGE THREE 15 OF THE BUDGET.
THAT'S AN INCREASE, UM, FOR VARIOUS TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTS IN THE BUDGET.
NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT.
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO GET MORE DETAIL ON WHAT, WHAT THAT ACTUALLY IS.
UM, WE ALSO WANT, UM, I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE HIGH FTES IN THE BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UM, MOVING THOSE EIGHT POSITIONS.
THAT'S $2 MILLION FOR THOSE EIGHT POSITIONS.
UM, JUST CURIOUS WHAT THAT'S FOR.
UM, ALSO, UH, A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE FULL YEAR FUNDING FOR THAT FEBRUARY ORDINANCE THAT WE PASSED THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COVER ONE YEAR IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
AND YET WE'RE FUNDING IT AT, UM, IN THIS BUDGET WITHOUT HAVING HAD THAT BE PART OF THE BARGAINING CONTRACT OR ANYTHING.
SO, UM, IN, IN FROM MY STANDING, THAT HAS TO BE REMOVED IF WE EXPECT A P A TO COME BACK TO THE BARGAINING TABLE, UM, RATHER THAN JUST GIVING IT THERE AT $8 MILLION RIGHT NOW, 8 MILLION.
UM, SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO I WANTED TO COMMENT ON ONE ITEM, UM, REGARDING THE, UM, IMPROVED TRAINING, UH, AND, UM, DATA REPORTING, UH, BASED OFF OF THE CRAWL REPORT.
UM, THE DATA REPORTING THAT'S LISTED THERE, THIS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE AN OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT BUDGET ITEM, NOT A POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ITEM.
UM, IT IS EXPLICITLY IN THE OPOS ROLE TO, UM, DO SOME OF THAT DATA REPORTING.
AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT WILL ENSURE AN EXTERNAL THIRD PARTY, UM, READ AND ANALYSIS OF THAT DATA REPORTING RATHER THAN, UM, THE APDS READ ON THAT DATA.
BENS, BEVERLY AZAR, DAVID JOHNSON.
I'M A DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT AND STAFF AT SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER.
I SS F C STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET COLLABORATIVE AND WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
I ALSO WANNA ECHO LARRY FRANKLIN'S COMMENTS RELATED TO FOOD SYSTEM INVESTMENTS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN A P H SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS.
[01:35:02]
I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS, SPECIFICALLY OVER THE PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING OF THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO SFCS MISSION OF TRANSFORMING THE FOOD SYSTEM TO NOURISH OUR HEALTH, LAND, AND LIVELIHOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND AUSTIN AND ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE BURGER CENTER WAS DESIGNATED AS A COMMUNITY VACCINATION SITE, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY BROUGHT TOGETHER PARTNERS INCLUDING A P H AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUNSET VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF SUNSET VALLEY, TO ENSURE THAT BOTH IMMUNIZATION AND FOOD ACCESS INITIATIVES COULD WORK HAND IN HAND TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY DURING A TIME OF EXTREME STRESS.
AND THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY CONTINUED TO CONVENE PARTNERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND BRIDGE COMMUNITY SERVICES, ULTIMATELY ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY WAS SUPPORTED BY OUR SYSTEMS. NOW THEY'RE CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE CITY'S FIRST EVER FOOD SYSTEM PLAN.
THIS IS A DEEPLY COMMUNITY INVOLVED PROCESS, WHICH REQUIRES COLLABORATION ACROSS SECTORS AND STANDS TO BUILD A FOOD SYSTEM THAT WILL SERVE GENERATIONS OF EATERS AND PRODUCERS TO COME AFTER US.
WHILE SUSTAINABILITY IS VITAL TO CITY PLANNING, THE SCOPE OF THIS DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED JUST TO PLANNING.
SO I COME TO YOU TODAY IN PARTNERSHIP ALONGSIDE DOZENS OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM.
WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AT A TIME WHEN RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY ARE, ARE BEING CHALLENGED ACROSS THE NATION.
BY OVERLOOKING THE VALUE AND AUTONOMY OF THESE OFFICES, WE LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS COMMUNITY CRISES, PROVIDE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, AMPLIFY VOICES, AND SECURE NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO PROTECT THE AUTONOMY OF THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY.
BEVERLY LAZAR OR LAZER, DAVID JOHNSON AND TEMI OLO JOBY.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT.
TAMMY, IS THAT YOU? OKAY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I'M POLICY AND RESEARCH ORGANIZER, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, AND ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF COALITION ABOLISHED SLAVERY, TEXAS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GOT TO A PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE DON'T BELIEVE IN OUR CITY, DON'T BELIEVE IN US, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS CITY GREAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'VE, HOW WE'VE LANDED AT A PLACE WHERE FEAR HAS PEOPLE READY TO REVERT BACK TO, TO THINGS THAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME, THE LAST TIME MAYOR WATSON WAS MAYOR WATSON, WHEN EVERYTHING WAS CENTERED AROUND BUSINESS AND WEALTH AND PRIVILEGE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT.
I WENT FROM, I WENT FROM OH THREE TO OH FOUR TO FOUR NINE.
SO I KNOW ABOUT PRIVILEGE, I WATCH IT AND I ENJOY IT MYSELF.
AND I CAN SPEAK AND SAY, WE DON'T NEED TO CENTER BUSINESS.
SINCE WHEN HAS BUSINESS EVER PROVIDED EQUITY OR SUSTAINABILITY? BUSINESSES ONLY PROVIDED CAPITALIST EXPLOITATION AND CORRUPTION.
EQUITY IS A PILLAR OF WHAT THE CITY STANDS FOR.
WHY WOULD WE TAKE THINGS LIKE EQUITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND SUSTAINABILITY OUT OF THEIR OWN, OUT OF THEIR OWN SPACE TO OCCUPY AND HOLD AND PUT THEM IN THE POCKET OF BUSINESS ENTITIES OF BUSINESS INTERESTS OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THOSE ARE THE INTERESTS THAT HEAVILY FUND CERTAIN PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGNS.
I'D HOPE THAT YOU SAY THERE IS NO OTHER REASON.
THERE IS NO GOOD REASON TO DO THESE THINGS.
THERE IS NO GOOD REASON TO REFUSE THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY PUT TOGETHER.
YOU ALWAYS SAY, BRING US SOLUTIONS.
DON'T BRING US PROBLEMS. WELL, DAMN IT, WE BROUGHT YOU SOLUTIONS AND YOU'VE IGNORED THEM.
AND THEN WE GET A NEW MAYOR AND HIS AND HIS BACKUP CITY MANAGER WHO IS INTERIM.
AND THEN WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU CAVE IN.
YOU SIT HERE AND ENTERTAIN THIS NONSENSE BECAUSE OUR CITY IS NOT A FEAR CENTERED CITY.
OUR CITY IS HEALTHY AND LOVING.
THIS IS THE SAME CITY THAT DIDN'T NEED D P S.
THIS IS THE SAME CITY THAT DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE BUYING IN THE STREET.
THIS IS THE SAME CITY THAT DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE OVERDOSING EVERYWHERE.
THAT DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE BEING HOMELESS.
SO WHY WOULD WE EVER TRUST THE SAME BUSINESS INTEREST THAT HAVE DOMINATED THIS CITY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS? THANK YOU, SIR.
WHY WOULD WE HAND THEM RESPONSIBILITY FOR EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND JUSTICE? WHY? UNLESS YOU'RE HOPING TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY OFF OF IT.
SO MAYBE THE QUESTION IS, HOW BOUGHT AND SOLD ARE YOU?
[01:40:02]
THANK YOU.I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER.
MORNING Y'ALL HERE TODAY FROM LESLIE POOL'S DISTRICT.
JUST ADD MY VOICE TO THE CHORUS OF FOLKS THAT STAND AGAINST THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL.
SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THE MERGER OF THE EQUITY OFFICE, SMALL BUSINESS MINORITY, UH, RESOURCE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
I WORK WITH A COMMUNITY ORG CALLED C C U, THAT'S COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED.
AND SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, MUCH OF THAT WORK HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON MUTUAL AID AND POLITICAL EDUCATION.
SO I GET TO SEE FIRSTHAND ON A REGULAR BASIS HOW OUR OF COLOR COMMUNITY STAYS STRUGGLING TO ACCESS BASIC NEEDS.
THE EQUITY OFFICE, THE OFFICE THAT NO LONGER WOULD EXIST UNDER THIS BUDGET HAS DIRECTLY AIDED THE WORK THAT WE DO IN C C U.
THROUGH THE MINI GRANT PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER 50 HOUSEHOLDS WITH OVER 200 KIDS AND 200 ADULTS, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FRESH PRODUCE AND HOME GOODS WITHOUT ANY STRINGS ATTACHED.
THAT'S EVERY MONTH WE DO THAT WORK THROUGH THEIR RISE FUND PROGRAM.
THE DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE HELPED MANY OF THESE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING CLASS THAT WE PROVIDE FOOD FOR MONEY TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON GAS IN THEIR CAR AND THEIR HOMES.
THROUGH THEIR GUARANTEED INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.
WE'VE HELPED THESE SAME COMMUNITY MEMBERS EVEN MORE KEEP ROOFS OVER THEIR HEAD.
THE EQUITY OFFICE COULDN'T HAVE MADE THESE PROGRAMS WITHOUT THE STRUCTURE THEY HAVE IN PLACE NOW, A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT WITH A DIRECT EAR TO THE PEOPLE, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE MAYOR.
AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH IN C C U DON'T WANT THEIR MONEY.
THEIR TAX DOLLARS SPENT BULLDOZING THESE DEPARTMENTS AND THE CRUCIAL WORK THAT THEY DO.
I DON'T WANT MY MONEY TO BE A WEAPON AGAINST THE PROGRESS THE COMMUNITY HAS SCRATCHED AND CLAWED AND FOUGHT FOR OVER THE YEARS.
PARETO, FRAN TATTOO, JAYLA PEEPLES.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE FRONT.
JANICE BOOKOUT, DIRECTOR OF EARTH DAY AUSTIN AND CO-FOUNDER OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TRUST.
AND I'M ALSO UPLIFTING MY COLLEAGUE, MIRIAM CONNOR, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE.
THESE FOUR OFFICES NEED THEIR FULL AUTHORITY, AUTONOMY, AND SUPPORT TO DO THEIR EXCELLENT WORK AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON IT.
SIGNERS OF OUR PUBLIC STATEMENT, INCLUDING 63 ORGANIZATIONS AND 200 LEADERS WHOSE COLLECTIVE REACH IS OVER 200,000 PEOPLE, INCLUDE ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS AND A SPECTRUM OF LIVED EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LOW INCOME, GENDER NON-CONFORMING, UNHOUSED, IMMIGRANTS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MULTIPLE SECTORS.
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS, MUTUAL AID, MEDIA, HEALTH, CIVIL RIGHTS, POLICY, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS JUSTICE, RESILIENCE, AND THE ARTS.
PLEASE ASK THESE QUESTIONS NOT YET MENTIONED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
WERE THE OFFICES IN QUESTION ASKED FOR THEIR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE BEFORE MAKING THESE CHANGES? WHY ARE THESE CHA WHY ARE THESE CHANGES INCONSISTENT WITH THE REPORTS PUT OUT BY THESE OFFICES AND THE CON AND THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS WITH WHICH THEY WERE ESTABLISHED? DOES THE CITY MANAGER HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RECOGNIZE AN OFFICE CREATED THROUGH A CITY ORDINANCE SUCH AS THESE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS BEYOND THE CITY MANAGER'S STATED PERCEPTION THAT EARLY STAGE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ISN'T BENEFICIAL.
WHAT OTHER RATIONALE IS THERE BEHI BEHIND IGNORING THE INTENT OF THE RESOLUTIONS.
COUNCIL COMMENTS, BUDGET APPROVALS AND ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHED THESE OFFICES AS INDEPENDENT.
HAS THE CITY MANAGER THOROUGHLY REVIEWED THE WORK AND VARIOUS REPORTS FROM THESE OFFICES? PROJECT CONNECT, EQUITY TOOL, CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN, RESILIENCE HUBS, AND THE EQUITY DASHBOARDS OF 37 DEPARTMENTS? HAVE WE FULLY CONSIDERED THE WORK THAT YOU WOULD BE DISRUPTED? PLEASE ASK THESE QUESTIONS ON THE RECORD AND DEAL WITH THESE REALITIES.
Y'ALL WERE ABOUT TO BREAK THE RECORD FOR OVER A HUNDRED DEGREES.
UM, WE NEED THESE FOR DAYS OVER A HUNDRED DEGREES.
WE NEED THESE OFFICES IN FULL POWER TO SURVIVE THE NEXT 30 YEARS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
COMPLEX SOCIETAL PROBLEMS REQUIRE MULTI-PERSPECTIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
EQUITY BUILDS COMMUNITY HEALTH.
SUSTAINABILITY REQUIRES DIVERSITY.
RESILIENCE IS LIFESAVING AND COST EFFECTIVE, AND CIVIL RIGHTS MUST NEVER BE DEMOTED.
TODAY YOU HEARD SIMILAR POINTS FROM THE EQUITY OFFICER, FORMER EQUITY OFFICER AND TEXAS'S LEADING EXPERT IN RACIAL EQUITY.
REMOVE THE RESTRUCTURING FROM THE BUDGET.
I SUPPORT THE O P O AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
AND BRING, UH, WATER TO YOUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS, PLEASE.
[01:45:03]
CARLA PATO OR PARETO? ARE YOU HERE? WHAT ABOUT FRAN? TATTOO? OKAY, MOVING ON.KATIA GUZMAN, DELILAH PEOPLES.
I AM HERE AS A DIRECTOR OF ADELI AND AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, I AM HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT OF THE HISPANIC QUALITY OF LIFE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO EXPAND FUNDING FOR A CULTURALLY DIVERSE PROGRAM THROUGH AN ALLOCATION OF $550,000 TO ADELI.
THANKS TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE SUCCESSFULLY ENROLLED MORE THAN 150 STUDENTS INTO OUR SUMMER CODING PROGRAM HOSTED AT SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY.
THIS IS FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WE WERE ABLE TO ENROLL LAST YEAR.
AEC KIDS CODE IS A CULTURALLY SUSTAINING INDIGENOUS STEM PROGRAM, SERVING SECOND TO EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ATTENDING A I S D SCHOOLS THIS SUMMER.
STUDENTS LEARNED VIDEO GAME DESIGN, DIGITAL MONETIZATION, MONETIZATION, BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY, AND DANIKA IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
IN PARTICULAR, A K C PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED FOR LARGELY IMMIGRANT, INDIGENOUS, LATINX, BLACK AND EMERGENT BILINGUAL STUDENTS.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT WAS ALSO MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR VALUABLE COLLABORATION WITH IMAC, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURE CENTER AND AUSTIN I S D.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS HAVE ENABLED US TO OFFER COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SERVICES, AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CAMP.
ACADEMIC
THROUGHOUT THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AS A TEACHER AT AZTEC KIDS CODE, I HAVE SEEN A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR STUDENTS, PROVIDING THEM WITH INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC GROWTH.
BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH ESSENTIAL CODING SKILLS AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY-CENTERED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE WITNESSED A REMARKABLE BOOST IN THEIR CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND SENSE OF BELONGING.
MANY STUDENTS HAVE NOT ONLY DISCOVERED A PASSION FOR TECHNOLOGY, BUT HAVE ALSO GAINED ACCESS TO POTENTIAL CARE CAREER PATHS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY INACCESSIBLE TO THEM.
THIS PROGRAM IS HELPING BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, EMPOWERING THE STUDENTS TO BECOME ACTIVE CONTR CONTRIBUTORS TO AUSTIN'S GROWING TECH ECONOMY AND LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO EMPOWER CHILDREN AND TEACHERS.
IN AUSTIN, ACADEMIC WEALTH IS DEVOTED TO EDUCATING, EMPOWERING AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN STEM.
LASTLY, I INVITE YOU TO WITNESS THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AT OUR SUMMER GRADUATION.
THE, UH, SUNDAY AUGUST 6TH FROM NINE TO 11 AT SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY.
MARIA UNDA, ANGELA VALENZUELA AND LUZ ALVAREZ.
SIMS, PLEASE COME ON DOWN AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME.
I BROUGHT SOME, UM, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.
CAN I SHARE THEM WITH Y'ALL? YES.
IF YOU HAND THEM TO THE CLERK, THEY'LL DISTRIBUTE THEM.
MY NAME'S MARIA DE GARMAN UNDA AND I AM THE PROJECT MANAGER AND TEACHER AT ACADEMIA.
I AM ALSO JUST COMPLETED MY DOCTORAL PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN'S EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AND POLICY PROGRAM.
SO I AM HERE TO SUPPORT ACADEMIA QUIETLY IN THE HISPANIC QUALITY OF LIFE RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMISSION.
UM, RECOMMENDATION FOR ALLOCATION FOR $550,000 FOR ACADEMIA.
ACADEMIA, AS HAS MENTIONED, IS A LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL REVITALIZATION PROJECT FOR SECOND TO FIFTH GRADE EMERGENT BILINGUAL STUDENTS IN AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, AND SO SINCE INCEPTION IN 2014, ACADEMIA HAS ENROLLED OVER A THOUSAND A I S D EMERGENT BILINGUAL STUDENTS.
TRAINED OVER 40 INDIGENOUS LATINX PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND HOSTED OVER 250 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS.
INITIATED ACADEMIC LES GROW YOUR OWN BILINGUAL LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR A I S D TEACHERS OF COLOR AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED A RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AUSTIN AND PEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, UT AUSTIN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, UM, AND UT, UM, AUSTIN HISTORY DEPARTMENT AND THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
THE 550 UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND AND REACH CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROGRAMMING TO NEW SCHOOLS, RECREATIONAL CENTERS, AND, UM, OTHER, UM, WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. WITH THIS PLANNING, WITH THIS FUNDING, WE UM, PLAN ON EXPANDING OUR ASSET KIDS CODE SUMMER PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 150 STUDENTS AS WE'RE SPEAKING AT SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UM, AND WE WANNA GROW OUR PROGRAM TO 300 OR 400 STUDENTS IN THE FALL AND THE SPRING.
WE USUALLY SERVICE 50, UM, EMERGENT BILINGUAL STUDENTS.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND AND HAVE 250 UM,
[01:50:01]
STUDENTS.ADDITIONALLY, PER THE COMMUNITY REQUEST AND PER PART REQUEST, UM, THEY WANTED US TO GO AND TRAIN, UM, TEACHERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL RELEVANT, UM, CULTURALLY RELEVANT TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS.
AND SO JUST COLLABORATING WITH THOSE CENTERS AND, UM, WE WANNA TRAIN AT LEAST A HUNDRED TEACHERS.
UM, AS SUCH, WE PLAN TO SERVE OVER 500 STUDENTS AND A HUNDRED TEACHERS.
SO MY DISSERTATION FOCUSES ON LATINX INDIGENOUS A I S E TEACHERS.
UM, SO WITHIN THIS SECTION, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO A TEACHER SHORTAGE AND THAT'S, UM, SO I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU MAYOR PUTIN, IF I MAY? YES MA'AM, GO AHEAD.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE SOME BRIEF COMMENTARY.
THIS KIND OF BACKUP INFORMATION WHEN YOU BRING US INFORMATION IS SO VERY HELPFUL.
MY STAFF AND I CAN POUR THROUGH THIS AND ACTUALLY MAKE SOMETHING ACTIONABLE HAPPEN.
SO FOR OTHER COMMENTERS, IF AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I REALIZE NOT EVERYBODY'S ABLE, BUT YOU SHOULD SEE HOW THOROUGH THIS PACKET IS.
EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, WHAT YOUR MISSION STATEMENT IS, IT'S ALL CONTAINED HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, HELP ME SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF ABSOLUTELY.
THE STEM LEADERS OF BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH WITHIN ABSOLUTELY THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTARY TODAY.
SO ARE THERE PACKETS STUCK DOWN THERE? 'CAUSE WE GOT THIS, BUT NOT THE FOLDER.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND I WILL SAY ALSO WITH EMAILS, IF YOU HAVE REPORTS YOU WANT US TO SEE, OR LINKS YOU WANT US TO VISIT, MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THOSE AS WELL.
'CAUSE IT MAKES IT EASY FOR US TO DIGEST THE, THE CONTENT BETTER.
TEACH ONE OF Y'ALL AND TO YOUR STAFF.
I, UH, YEAH, I THINK IT WAS ALREADY ADDRESSED.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING TO OUR BUDGET ON ALL THIS SATURDAY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH PACKETS ON THE DIETS FOR EVERYONE.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND EMAILING OUR OFFICE.
I CAN GIVE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER VELAS AND YOU CAN PASS IT OUT.
ANGELA VALENZUELA, FOLLOWED BY LU ALVAREZ SIMS AND THEN PROFESSOR EMILIO ZAMORA.
UM, AND WE DO, UM, RE REPRESENT A COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, BUT I'M A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
WE GOT STARTED AS ACADEMIA QUIETLY BACK IN 2013 WHEN PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LITERACY ISSUES FACING OUR, OUR, UM, CHILDREN AND ALSO TEACHERS AND JUST SORT OF THE, THE TURNSTILE PRO, UH, PROCESS.
UH, THAT'S NOT, UM, HELPFUL AT ALL WITH, UH, THE MEMORY AND THE CURRICULUM, THE INVESTMENT GOING AWAY BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION AND IT'S EVEN GOTTEN WORSE AS WE KNOW, UH, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND SO WHAT, WHAT WE WERE DOING EARLIER ON, UM, AS, AS EARLY AS 2014 WHEN WE WERE FIRST, UH, FOUNDED, UH, WAS, UH, CREATING CAPACITY AMONG THE BILINGUAL DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATORS BY BRINGING THEM TOGETHER TO DEVELOP CURRICULUM, TO PREPARE TEACHERS TO TEACH THE CURRICULUM THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT.
WE MAKE ALL OF WHAT WE DEVELOP AVAILABLE SO THAT IT'S AVAILABLE DISTRICT WIDE, THAT IT PROVED TO BE ENORMOUSLY USEFUL DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHEN WE HAD STUFF THAT COULD, THAT THAT COULD JUST GO READILY ONLINE, THAT THEN TEACHERS COULD AVAIL OF THEM THEMSELVES, OF SPANISH ENGLISH, TESS ALIGNED.
IT'S A PROFESSIONAL CURRICULUM.
AND, UH, THE DISTRICT, UH, YOU KNOW, PRAISE GOD HAS HELPED US, UH, ALL OF THESE YEARS AND STRONG STRONGLY SUPPORTS US.
BUT BECAUSE OF DECLINING REVENUES FOR THE DISTRICT, WE'RE DOWN TO A VERY, UH, PRECIOUS FEW DOLLARS NOW OF SUPPORT.
AND THAT'S 'CAUSE THEY LIKE US, RIGHT? THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE SINCERE PARTNERS.
ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE CON UH, CONSISTENTLY CONTRIBUTED IN OTHER WAYS, UH, THROUGH PROVIDING, UH, UH, TRANSPORTATION, UM, THROUGH PROVIDING, UM, UH, UH, UH, PAY FOR TEACHERS WHO GIVE OF THEIR TIME IN OUR SATURDAY SCHOOL.
WE ARE A CAMP, WE'RE A SATURDAY SCHOOL, WE'RE A CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
WE'RE A, THERE'S DIFFERENT PIECES TO IT AND YOU'LL SEE IT IN THE BOOK AND WE'RE EXPANDING.
WE'RE IN A GROWTH MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND A TESTAMENT TO OUR WORTH, IF I CAN JUST SAY THIS TO, TO, UH, TRACK BACK ON WHAT, UH, DR.
UNDA WAS SAYING, IS THAT WE, UH, HAVE SAVED THE DISTRICT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY RETAINING TEACHERS.
IN 10 YEARS NOW, WE'RE ENTERING 10 YEARS OF EXISTENCE.
IT'S BETWEEN 20 AND $30,000 TO REPLACE ONE TEACHER, ONE TEACHER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ADD IT UP AND WE ONLY ADD VALUE TO, TO THE COMMUNITY.
[01:55:01]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.LOU ALVAREZ SIMS, PROFESSOR EMILIO ZAMORA.
I AM LUIS ALVAREZ SIMS. I'M A 15 YEAR VETERAN, DUAL LANGUAGE TEACHER, 10 YEARS OF WHICH I HAVE SERVED IN A I S D.
AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS A TEACHER IN THE ADELE PROGRAM SINCE 2016.
AND THROUGH THIS TIME, I'VE SEEN THE POSITIVE IMPACT THIS PROGRAM HAS HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY OF LATINX STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, VOLUNTEERS, RESEARCHERS, AND WITH TEACHERS.
ACADEMIA IS A BILINGUAL AND CULTURAL REVITALIZATION PROGRAM FOR FOURTH TO FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS ATTENDING A I S D.
WE OFFER INSTRUCTION TO MEXICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES, THENO STUDIES, AND STEM CURRICULUM, ALL WHICH PROVIDE THE ACADEMIC SUPPORT CHILDREN NEED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT ALSO PROVIDES ENRICHMENT FOR STUDENTS ON CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND SUSTAINING PEDAGOGIES, WHICH VIEWS OUR MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS THROUGH AN ASSET-BASED LENS.
SINCE THE START OF THE PROGRAM, WE'VE SERVED OVER, UM, THOUSAND MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS HAVE PROVIDED CURRICULAR RESOURCES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS IN THE AUSTIN AREA AND HAVE PUBLISHED SEVERAL ACADEMIC RESEARCH ARTICLES SUPPORTING THE EFFICACY OF OUR PROGRAM.
IT'S VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY PRIORITIZES FUNDING FOR OUR ACADEMIC WALE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT OUR MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE AN ENRICHING, AN ENRICHING SPACE THAT SUPPORTS THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH.
BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDES A SPACE WHERE STUDENT CULTURAL IDENTITY, HISTORY AND LANGUAGES ARE VALUED AND CELEBRATED.
STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN CULTURALLY SUSTAINING CURRICULUM THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AND INTEGRATES ARTISTIC HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE THEIR HERITAGE LANGUAGE, UM, LEARN THEIR LOCAL HISTORY AND BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND WE ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AS WELL BY VISITING OUR LOCAL MUSEUMS, CITY PARKS, THE UNIVERSITY, THE POWWOW, THE CAPITOL AND MORE.
AND I'VE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED A JOY THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE WHEN THEY COME.
I'VE SEEN PARENTS TAKE PRIDE IN BEING EXPERTS IN SOME OF THE LESSONS ON IDENTITY IMMIGRATION AND INDIGENEITY.
AND THIS POSITIVE CONNECTION WITH HOME AND SCHOOL EMPOWERS OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE ACADEMIC SPACES.
I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT ACADEMIC WATLEY WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE A COLLABORATE, A COLLABORATIVE ACADEMIC SPACE FOR TEACHERS IN AUSTIN, I S D, AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A CURRICULUM THAT'S CULTURALLY SUSTAINING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
UM, SO I JUST WANNA END BY SAYING, UM, IT IS VITAL, UH, TO FUND THIS PROGRAM AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
PROFESSOR EMELIA ZAMORA, PATRICIA NUNEZ, AND CARMEN JANNIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
I'VE BEEN, UH, ALSO A PUBLIC SERVANT, LOYAL TO THE, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN IN A NUMBER OF CAPACITIES.
I WON'T GO INTO THAT, BUT I'M MOST PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH, UH, ACADEMIA LY.
WE'RE NOW IN THE 10TH YEAR OF OPERATION.
WE ALREADY HAVE SOME IMPORTANT, UH, DOCUMENTS, RECORDS THAT SAY MOST EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHO WE ARE.
BUT YOU'VE HEARD ALSO FROM SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE COORDINATING MANY OF OUR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING, UH, A TEACHER OF COURSE IN VALENZUELA, ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS ALONGSIDE WITH ME OF THE ACA ACADEMIA
UH, WHAT I WANNA DO IS SIMPLY BRIEFLY COMMENT ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.
YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO.
YOU MIGHT WANNA KNOW ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT I THINK ARE EXCITING IN THE FUTURE OF ACADEMIA LY THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY, BUT I THINK WE'RE WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.
ONE IS THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DEVELOPING MULTI-ETHNIC CURRICULUM.
WE ALREADY FOCUS ON TETANO STUDIES, WOMEN'S STUDIES AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES.
WE WANT TO EXPAND IN THE FUTURE TOWARDS A MORE ROBUST CURRICULUM THAT TALKS ABOUT INSTANCES OF COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS IN TEXAS HISTORY.
UH, ONE OF THEM HAS TO DO WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO MEXICO.
IT INCLUDED A LOT OF, UH, POOR WHITES AND AFRICAN AMERICANS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALSO VERY PROMINENTLY PARTICIPATING WERE THE MEXICANS WHO WERE EXPOSED OR THROWN OUT OF PLACES LIKE AUSTIN BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPORT OF THE SO-CALLED FUGITIVE SLAVES.
WE WANNA DEVELOP CURRICULUM SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND IN THAT DIRECTION.
I THINK WE NEED, WE ALSO WANNA PROMOTE THE IDEA OF QUALITY AS A MODEL THAT COULD BE USED WITHIN THE DISTRICT
[02:00:01]
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DISTRICT AND INDEPENDENT OF THE DISTRICT, SO THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES CAN THEN ASSUME, UM, AGENCY IN PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL, UH, OPPORTU OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH.PATRICIA NUNEZ, CARMEN JANNIS, AND JESSICA ROBERTSON.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR SURE.
UH, HEY, UM, I'M JA RODRIGUEZ ROBERTSON.
I'M HERE TO ALSO SPEAK AGAINST THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED, UM, SPECIFICALLY AGAINST THE LACK OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND TENANT SUPPORT.
UM, AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS WITH A FRIEND OF MINE.
SHE'S A TRANS VETERAN WHO'S 80% DISABLED.
UM, SHE IS CONSTANTLY ON THE BRINK OF EVICTION AND JUST CIRCLING THE DRAIN OF IRREVERSIBLE POVERTY.
AND WHAT I'VE SEEN WORKING WITH HER AND, AND WHAT SHE'S UP AGAINST AND WHAT, UH, SUPPORT SERVICES THERE ARE AND ARE NOT, IS JUST A FRACTION OF THE DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO CONSULTED ON THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
UM, THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO BEST SERVE FOLKS IN HER POSITION.
UM, BUT WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT WHEN YOU LIVE NOT JUST PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, BUT DAY TO DAY, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO GET FOOD, WHETHER OR NOT YOUR AIR CONDITIONING IS GOING TO WORK, WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN TAKE A SHOWER, UM, THE, THE WHEEL OF THE BUDGET DOESN'T JUST BECOME A PIE CHART.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A WHEEL OF OUTCOMES.
AND LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE, THE CHANCE THAT HER NUMBER, YOU KNOW, THAT HER DIAL LANDS ON HELP EXISTS SMALLER AND LANDS ON INCARCERATION OR ARREST FOR POVERTY RELATED, UH, REASONS HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.
SO THIS IS VERY STRESSFUL TO ME.
SO BY DEFENDING BOTH THE UPSTREAM PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS BY TENANT DEBILITATION, STABILIZATION, EXCUSE ME, AND RESOURCES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS ON THE GROUND, UH, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A COMMUNITY WHERE POVERTY, POVERTY IS DIRECTLY CRIMINALIZED AND FAMILIES ARE PUSHED INTO DESPERATE AND PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS.
UM, I THINK THIS BUDGET IS OBTUSE AND REGRESSIVE.
UH, I'M A COLLECTOR OF VINTAGE CLOTHES.
I LOVE STUFF FROM THE NINETIES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW FROM WHEN WE'RE BUYING STUFF FROM THE NINETIES, WE'RE PAYING 2023 PRICES.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP OUR HEADS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW AND ADDRESS THE, UH, INCREASING HOMELESSNESS, UH, THE STRUGGLES THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE SUBJECT TO PREDATORY, UM, PREDATORY, UH, MANAGEMENT, UM, BY THAT IS EMBOLDENED BY STATE POLICIES.
LIKE WE JUST HAVE TO BE BETTER AND DO BETTER FOR THEM, I GUESS.
CARMEN JANNIS, JESSICA ROBERTSON, SUSANNA CARRANZA.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME DOWN TOWARDS THE FRONT AND STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
UM, I LIKE MOST OF FOLKS TODAY, I OPPOSE THE BUDGET AS, AS PUBLISHED.
UM, I AGREE ON HOW THIS BUDGET STEERS THE CITY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
THE VOTERS HAS HAVE SPOKEN AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT WE WANT MORE EMPHASIS IN EQUITY HELP THE PREVENTION AND NOT POLICING.
UM, WE ALSO, UH, WOULD REEMPHASIZE THAT ANY INCREASE IN POLICE FUNDING CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK BECAUSE OF AWFUL STATE LAWS THAT WERE PASSED AND THE 87TH, UH, CYCLE, UH, LEGISLATIVE CYCLE.
SO WE, IT'S REALLY ABSURD THAT WE'RE THROWING MORE MONEY IN A WAY, IN A PLACE THAT WE CAN'T TAKE BACK BY MOVING CIVILIAN POSITIONS INTO THE POLICE.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY SAD THAT WE ARE MOSTLY IGNORING THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHERE A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK, ARE RECOMMENDING WHERE THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT TO REALLY FOCUS ON PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY BY REALLY GETTING THE FUNDS UPSTREAM AND NOT JUST DEALING WITH MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE, UH, FIXING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING, ONE OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.
WE ARE JUST KIND OF INVESTING IN THE WRONG THING.
SO PLEASE, UH, OPPOSE THIS BUDGET AND PLEASE STOP WITH THIS CONSOLIDATION OF OFFICES THAT REALLY SHOULD REMAIN STANDING OF THE ON THEIR OWN, SPECIFICALLY THE EQUITY CIVIL RIGHTS.
LIKE THERE IS NO, MAKES NO SENSE TO
[02:05:01]
KIND OF BUNDLE THAT UNDER A BUSINESS-CENTRIC OFFICE.CARMEN JANNIS, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY, I THINK SOMEONE'S WAVING.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AT THE PODIUM.
THAT WAS REALLY GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I AM HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE.
I PARTNERED WITH THE C I B TO HELP DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
UM, AND I'M ALSO IN AUSTINITE.
I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE AND A CITIZEN, AND I THINK THAT TAKES THE FOREFRONT.
UM, MATTER OF FACT, I WAS BORN LESS THAN A MILE FROM HERE AT BRACKEN RIDGE.
SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER BRACKEN RIDGE, RIGHT? UM, I GET, I HAVE A SPEECH, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA SAY IT.
I THINK I'M JUST GONNA TALK TO YOU, UM, BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE PEOPLE AND YOU'RE NOT PERFECT.
AND NO ONE BEHIND ME KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SIT IN YOUR SEATS.
AND RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE A VERY TOUGH, CRITICAL DECISION, UH, WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT THIS BUDGET OR PARTS OF IT.
AND YOU'RE HEARING THINGS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE TELLING YOU NO, AND YOU'RE HEARING THINGS IN THE OFFICES AND THEY'RE SAYING YES, AND IT'S POLITICAL AND IT'S PERSONAL AND IT'S EMOTIONAL AND IT'S BUSINESS.
THE, I GUESS THE THING I WANNA BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, OR YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CONSIDERED IT WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, IS YOUR LEGACY.
SO HOW OFTEN DO YOU ASK YOURSELF AS COUNCIL PEOPLE, WHAT LEGACY AM I LEAVING? BECAUSE WHEN THIS IS DONE, NO ONE'S GONNA SAY THE CITY MANAGER BUDGET PASSED.
THEY'RE GONNA SAY, COUNCIL, APPROVE THIS BUDGET.
USUALLY THE LAST ACTION IS THE ONE REMEMBERED.
SO THEY'RE GONNA SAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, APPROVE THIS BUDGET.
SO IF THERE ARE RAMIFICATIONS FIVE AND 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, UH, THAT ARE A RESULT OF REMOVING THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS OR THE EQUITY OFFICE, YOU'RE GONNA BE REMEMBERED AS THE PEOPLE WHO DID IT.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT? IF YOU HAVEN'T, THINK ABOUT YOUR NAME AND HISTORY.
MY NAME PROBABLY WON'T BE IN HISTORY FOR STANDING UP HERE AND PROBABLY NO ONE ELSE.
BUT, UH, YOUR NAMES WILL BE ETCHED IN HISTORY IN STONE FOREVER.
SO I'M NOT EVEN AT TOM, BUT I THINK I'M DONE.
LATASHA BLACK, SUSAN'S RO, AND THEN CAROL GUTHRIE.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME UP HERE, SO BEAR WITH ME.
SO I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN.
SO I'VE WITNESSED AUSTIN GO THROUGH SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FROM THE RISING LIVING COSTS TO THE GENTRIFICATION.
AND NOW WE'RE FACED WITH THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY DEPARTMENT AND THE OTHER IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS THAT'S ALONG WITH THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THEM SHOULD REMAIN, UM, INDEPENDENT.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY OFFICE, MAINLY BECAUSE AS WE KNOW IN HISTORY, UM, WITH CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY, MY PEOPLE HAVE MARCHED BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS.
SO FOR IT TO BE CONSOLIDATED AS IF IT'S NOTHING THAT IS TRAUMATIC IN ITSELF, WE ARE TRYING TO RISE AS AMONGST THE COMMUNITY AND HEAL FROM THE PAST.
AND THIS IS NOTHING BUT A SETBACK, AUSTIN SETBACK.
SO I JUST WANNA BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I DO WANNA PUT ALSO THAT, UM, AS FAR AS THE EQUITY OFFICE, UM, IT STARTED WITH NO BUDGET, NO STAFF, AND NOW IT HAS A BUDGET DEDICATED STAFF, AND HAS MADE IMPACTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE HELD.
PEOPLE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, UM, FOR THE WRONGS THAT IS COMMITTED, AND WE MUST ADDRESS IT IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
SO I WANNA GO BACK AND TO PUT A LITTLE BIT PERSPECTIVE ON JUST THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, PERIOD.
UM, WE'VE COME, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE PATTERNS ARE STILL CONTINUING, AND WE KNOW THAT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, AND THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, THE AMERICAN HISTORY IS, UM, HAS BEEN ABOUT MINIMIZING BLACK CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS AND BLACK ACHIEVEMENTS, AND BEING CO-OPTED BY WHITE ELITES.
UM, I FEEL THAT, UM, SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CLAIMING TO DISCOVER AMERICA, BLACK WALL STREET, AND EVEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF EAST AUSTIN.
UM, I THINK THAT OUR HERITAGE HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED AND DISRESPECTED.
AND THIS IS SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION, WHICH IS THE INTENTIONAL DISADVANTAGING OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE BASED
[02:10:01]
ON THEIR IDENTITY, WHILE ADVANT ADVANTAGING MEMBERS OF A DOMINANT GROUP.UM, SO AGAIN, THAT IS ALSO ALARMING, UM, GETTING RID OF US GETTING CONSOLIDATING CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY, UM, AND INCREASING POLICE BUDGET.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE BEING SET BACK TO THE 1963.
MAYOR, CAN WE ALLOW FOR MS. BLACK TO COM TO COMPLETE HER THOUGHT? I REALLY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME AND DO THIS.
I KNOW IT'S NERVE WRACKING TO STAND AT THAT PODIUM FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE TAKING THE COURAGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THIS BODY THAT DOES MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
UM, I THINK THAT WE MUST, UH, RECOGNIZE THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISIONS AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE MUST LEARN FROM HISTORY, AND WE MUST STRIVE FOR A BETTER FUTURE WHERE EQUALITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND LOVE TO GUIDE OUR ACTIONS.
AND WE MUST COLLECTIVELY ADDRESS THE AFFLICTIONS THAT HAVE AFFECTED OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH HISTORICALLY AND PRESENTLY.
AND I URGE YOU TO REFLECT ON THIS, UH, DECI THESE DECISIONS AND, UM, HAS IT, WELL, LET ME RE Y'ALL.
I URGE TO REFLECT ON THE IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION AND CONSIDER ITS IMPLICATIONS, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT OUR PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY.
SO IT GOES DEEPER THAN JUST A BUDGET.
THIS GOES ABOUT, THIS IS ABOUT HISTORY.
AND SOME OF Y'ALL ON THE PODIUM, THIS IS ABOUT IT.
AND THIS IS ALSO A REFLECTION OF WHAT AUSTIN IS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S NO REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME.
SO I JUST WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT IT, IT FEELS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE AS A BLACK WOMAN, AS A BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBER, TO BE SLAPPED IN THE FACE TO SAY THAT CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY IN OUR MINORITIES WHO HAVE BUILT THIS COUNTRY TO BE CONSOLIDATED, TO BE CONSOLIDATED, THAT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.
I HOPE Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING.
SUSAN SPATARO, CAROL GUTHRIE, AND THEN ALEXANDER SORO.
I'M PROBABLY GONNA BE THE ONLY ONE TALKING THIS WAY.
UM, AS I LISTEN TO BUDGET HEARINGS, AND I LISTEN TO A LOT OF THINGS AT THE STATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY FOCUS ON ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THE SERVICES OR WANT MORE MONEY, AND I GET THAT.
BUT WHAT YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT IS THE PEOPLE FROM WHOM YOU ARE TAKING MONEY.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T HERE TODAY.
AND SO I'D KIND OF LIKE TO TALK FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE A, A COMMUNITY OF ACTIVISTS, OF COURSE YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM, BUT THERE IS A HUGE COMMUNITY OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT THEM.
AND WHERE ARE THEY TODAY? THEY'RE WORKING.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, THEY GET A SECOND JOB.
THEY'RE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO SURVIVE HERE, AND IT IS DIFFICULT.
UM, RENT.COM IN SEPTEMBER OF 22 SAID THAT AUSTIN HAD THE FOURTH LARGEST OUTMIGRATION OF ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WHILE WE TALK ABOUT NET IN MIGRATION, WE'RE FORGETTING THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AND TRYING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND TRYING TO PAY RENT ARE BEING THROWN OUT OF OUR CITY.
TO ME, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT STARTS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE, IF YOU CAN'T GO TO A PARK, IF YOU CAN'T COME DOWN HERE, CAN'T GO TO A RESTAURANT, YOU CAN'T GO TO A MALL.
IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WE LOOKED AT MANY OF THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU HEARD TODAY, AND THOSE WERE IMPLEMENTED IN, IN, IN THE END OF 19 AND 20.
TO ME, THEY'VE BEEN AN ABYSMAL FAILURE.
MURDERS HAVE GONE UP, CRIME HAS GONE UP.
I JUST HEARD YESTERDAY THAT AUTO THEFTS, THEY SAID, WELL, AUTO THEFTS HAVE GONE UP FOR 34% IN THE STATE, BUT 64% IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WE CAN'T IGNORE THOSE THINGS.
AND CITY MANAGER, I GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET AND TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK LIKE A FAMILY MAKES IT WORK.
YOU DON'T, I KNOW YOU'RE HAVING TO DO THINGS THAT ARE HARD, BUT THERE IS NOT AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF MONEY OUT THERE.
UM, I THINK CONSOLIDATIONS AND REORGS ARE GOOD IF THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU SAID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE CAN'T JUST LOOK AT DOLLARS.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT PERFORMANCE.
I SO THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.
SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, AND IF I CAN EVER HELP YOU CALL, THANK YOU, CAROL GUTHRIE, AND THEN ALEXANDER SORO.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS CAROL GUTHRIE, AND I AM WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
CITY MANAGER, UH, FOR THE 4% PAY INCREASE.
UH, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE BUDGET.
WE KNOW THAT, UH, THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE NOT FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THEY ARE FIRST ON THE
[02:15:01]
JOB IN A CRISIS IN BAD WEATHER, UH, THROUGH COVID.THEY WERE HERE EVERY DAY AND WE FELT LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT IN GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, UM, IT APPEARS THAT EACH SWORN POLICE OFFICER WILL RECEIVE A $2,500 STIPEND.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK FOR FOR OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
UM, THE PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WE ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE WITH IS THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE FOUGHT FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO GET THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
IT WAS THE ESTABLISHED WITH AN ORDINANCE.
WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD PROTECT THE OFFICE AND ALLOW IT TO GROW AND FLOURISH.
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN.
UM, AND BY CONSOLIDATING UNDER SS M B R I, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
THE EQUITY OFFICE WAS HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE TOOLS THAT THEY USE KEEPS ALL OF US IN CHECK.
AND OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO ANY OF YOU ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.
WE ALL NEED AND WANT OUR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE CONSOLIDATED INTO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
UH, I AM AN EDUCATOR AT A TITLE ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN AUSTIN, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR OVER A DECADE.
UH, THE POPULATION IS COMPRISED MOSTLY OF YOUTH OF COLOR, AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET AND SPECIFICALLY SUPPORT THE EQUITY DEPARTMENT REMAINING ITS OWN ENTITY.
UH, THE TIMING OF THIS MERGER IS TERRIBLE, SEEING HOW OUR GOVERNMENT HAS JUST RECENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW THE BANNING OF D E I PROGRAMS AT STATE UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS THE SUPREME COURT, UH, JUST NOW OVERTURNING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.
WE'RE NOW SEEING THE BANNING OF BOOKS AND TEACHINGS OF DIVERSITY AND SYSTEMIC RACISM.
AND REGARDLESS OF HOW INTENTIONAL THIS MERGER IS, IT GIVES THE PUBLIC THE PERCEPTION THAT RACIAL EQUITY IS NOT A PRIORITY FOR CEDAR CITY LEADERSHIP, PARDON ME.
AND IT IS BEING DILUTED WITHIN ONE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH IT MAY STRUGGLE TO GET PRIORITY ACCESS TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.
ALONG WITH WORKING AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL, UH, I ALSO RUN AN EXTRACURRICULAR CLUB.
IT IS A, UH, STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
UH, I HAVE WORKED WITH CURRENT AND, UH, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS ALONG WITH, UH, REPRESENTATIVES WHERE MY STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, LEARN ABOUT, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
UH, AS I'VE GROWN WITH THIS PROGRAM OVER SEVEN YEARS, UH, WHAT I'VE LEARNED THE MOST IS THAT, UH, MY STUDENTS HAVE GROWN AND LEARNED THAT THEY ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY, THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE IN A CITY.
AND I STRUGGLE TO THINK HOW I EXPLAIN OUR CITY LEADERSHIP'S PROPOSED DECISIONS TO MINIMIZE DECISION MAKING POWER OF THE EQUITY OFFICE IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T REINFORCE WHAT SOCIETY IS CONSTANTLY TELLING THEM THAT THERE ISN'T A PLACE FOR THEM IN GOVERNMENT AND TRUE DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATORY DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES.
I GREW UP AND WAS RAISED IN DALLAS, AND I CHOSE AUSTIN TO CALL MY HOME.
I CHOSE AUSTIN BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAW IT AS THE MOST, UH, PROGRESSIVE AND GROWING CITY OF THE THREE.
AND THE HARM THAT THIS MERGER DOES LEADS US TO GO BACKWARDS AND NOT FORWARDS.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MAY I PLEASE? YES, SIR.
UM, WOULD YOU MIND CONNECTING WITH THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE? UM, I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOUR EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAM.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE SPEAKERS.
THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME TO SPEAK.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO HAVE A, AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS.
UM, THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WILL BE IN AN AFTERNOON SO THAT THOSE THAT, UH, IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM TO SPEAK IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND, UM, AND I'M, I'M OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'M NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL, I'LL ANNOUNCE ALL OF THAT WHEN WE, UH, COME BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS, UH, ALL OF THE UPCOMING WORK SESSIONS AND DATES FOR, UH, TESTIMONY AND, AND SPEAKING.
UH, WHEN WE COME BACK MEMBERS, IT'S 1220.
UH, UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION, I WOULD SUGGEST WE RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.
[02:20:01]
A, A BREAK UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK.UM, AND I DON'T HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS.
WE DID HAVE SOMEONE COME UP THAT SAID THEY WERE, THEY HAD STEPPED OUT AND WE CALLED THEIR NAME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LET THEM GO AHEAD AND SPEAK? SURE.
ALICIA, PLEASE GO AHEAD TO THE PODIUM.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME'S ALI TORRES.
UH, AND I AM A PART OF THE GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP TEAM.
I SWEAR TO THE AUSTIN AND RES.
AND, UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, AS TO WHY THIS PROPOSED BUDGET SHOULD NOT BE ADOPTED AND TO SPEAK AGAINST THE REORGANIZATION OF THE EQUITY, CIVIL RIGHTS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND RESILIENCE OFFICES.
UM, LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAVE, UH, POINTED OUT THIS BUDGET.
LIKE OUR CITY IS CURRENTLY AT A CROSS POINT IN WHICH WE ARE BEING ASKED TO CHOOSE NOT WHAT, BUT WHO WE ARE PRIORITIZING AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE READ THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WHOSE NEEDS ARE BEING FUNDED AND WHOSE NEEDS ARE NOT.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER US COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SUCCUMB TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL AGENDA PRESSURE AND VOTE AGAINST OUR COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY SAFETY WELLBEING, AND WILL HONESTLY, ANY ACTUAL CHANCE THAT ACTUALLY LIVING A DIGNIFIED LIFE RATHER THAN JUST SURVIVING THIS BUDGET DOES NOT FUND THE EVERYDAY THINGS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS AUSTINITES THINGS LIKE ALTERNATIVES TO FIRST RESPONSE OPTIONS, DIRECT ASSISTANCE INITIATIVES FOR THOSE IN THE MOST NEED TO ACTUALLY PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS OFTEN CITED HERE IN THIS OFFICE.
AND DISPLACEMENT THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BILL, PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER FORMS OF DIRECT, UM, FAMILY FUNDING SUCH AS, UH, THE GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME.
UM, AND ALSO THINGS LIKE PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, UM, IN INITIATIVE TO HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE NOT JUST A I S D, BUT C D AS A WHOLE, GIVEN THAT A LOT OF THE KIDS CURRENTLY IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE KIDS COMING FROM, UM, FROM THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT I WORK MOST CLOSELY WITH.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY, UM, CREATE A PEOPLE FIRST BUDGET.
UM, AND THIS IS NOT, THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET IS NOT DOING ANY OF THIS THING.
SO I ASK, IS THIS A BUDGET THAT YOU CAN HONESTLY STAND BEHIND? AND REALLY WHAT I WANNA SHARE IS THAT, UM, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK ALONGSIDE PEOPLE FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE AND CAN SAY THAT IT NEEDS THE AUTONOMY THAT IT HAS HELD.
SO PLEASE, UM, DO NOT, UH, REORGANIZE AND, UM, KEEP THIS THREE OFFICES AS INDEPENDENT AS THE NEED FOR WHEN THEY WERE FIRST CREATED.
STILL, IF NOT MORE SO IS NEEDED, UM, AND PRESENT TODAY.
SO, UM, THE NE THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS ON AUGUST 1ST AT 3:00 PM WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE AT THAT, ON THAT TIME, AT THAT TIME.
AND WE WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR BEYOND THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO, UH, THE PUBLIC MIGHT WANT TO COMMENT ON.
THAT WILL BE AT 3:00 PM ON AUGUST 1ST.
THE WORK SESSION WILL ACTUALLY START AT 10 O'CLOCK, BUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE AT THREE SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THOSE, THAT THE, THE AFTERNOON IS BETTER THAN THE MORNING.
YES, MAYOR PER, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO OFFER A GENTLE REMINDER THAT WHEN WE SET THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE SETTING THE TAX RATE ITSELF.
THAT'S, SO SOMETIMES THERE'S CONFUSION IN THE PUBLIC THAT WE'VE PREEMPTIVELY DECIDED WHAT THAT RATE WILL BE, BUT ALL IT DOES IS SAY THIS IS WHAT THE MAXIMUM WILL BE.
IT WON'T GO OVER, BUT IT MIGHT BE UNDER VERY GOOD.
OR THE SAME COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, WHEN WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTARY ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED SO FAR, UM, NOW OR AFTER THE NEXT ROUND OF SPEAKERS? WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE FINISHED WITH SPEAKERS.
THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS HAVE STAFF MAKE A PRESENTATION AND WE'LL, WE'LL DIG INTO THE, THE GENERAL FUND AT THAT POINT.
UM, I WOULD THINK THAT PROBABLY IS WHEN WE WOULD HAVE THE DISCUSSION, UH, AS OPPOSED TO JUST HAVING A DISCUSSION NOW AND THEN COMING BACK AND HAVING STAFF MAKE A PRESENTATION.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT RESPECTFULLY.
I, I THINK SOME OF THE SPEAKERS IN THE ROOM, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THEM DIRECTLY, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I JUST TRIED, I JUST TRIED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT GO AHEAD.
I APPRECIATE YOU OFFERING ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY TO OUR SPEAKERS WHO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT TODAY THAT WE ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS AND TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.
UM, CITY MANAGER RESPECTFULLY, UH, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST AND CONCERN OF THE REORGANIZATION OF OUR
[02:25:01]
CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND RESILIENCY OFFICES, I THINK THIS MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO OFFER FURTHER CLARIFICATION AS SOON AS WE'RE ABLE TO.I THINK, UM, THE CONCERNS BEING RAISED ARE VALID AND THAT GIVEN THAT SO MANY VOICES, ESPECIALLY BRAND NEW VOICES WHO'VE NEVER COME TO CITY HALL, I LOVE THAT Y'ALL TO PARTICIPATE AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
UM, AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT THE DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THE VERY, VERY MANY RESIDENTS THAT ARE RAISING CONCERNS, UM, WITH US, WITH THE CITY, WHICH BY THE WAY, I WANNA JUST REMIND WHEN WE SAY THE CITY, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE ALL THIS ONE BIG CONGLOMERATE.
BUT TO SOMEBODY'S POINT EARLIER WHO SAID, THERE'S NOBODY UP HERE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM, HERE I AM.
I'M ON MY SECOND TERM BEING THE ONLY ONE UP HERE WHO LOOKS LIKE ME.
AND SO I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THERE TO EVER BE ANY, UM, WHAT THEY SAY.
DON'T LET THE SMOOTH TASTE FOOL YOU.
UM, I OFTENTIMES DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO AS A POLICY MAKER.
I NEVER IDENTIFY AS A POLITICIAN.
I'M GONNA ALWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH, WHICH MEANS I MAY NOT ALWAYS BE YOUR FAVORITE, BUT THERE'S NO LACK OF CONSIDERATION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, I DO THINK THAT WE OWE OUR CONSTITUENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS APPROPRIATELY ANSWERED AND THEIR FEEDBACK RECEIVED.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO CAME AND SPOKE TODAY.
HOWEVER, MADISON, FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND ALSO WANTED TO ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT YOU JUST SHARED, UM, YESTERDAY, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND I HAD A BUDGET TOWN HALL IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
UH, IT WAS, UH, WELL ATTENDED, UH, GREAT TURNOUT, UH, GREAT FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT WHAT CAME UP QUITE A BIT DURING THAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY WERE THE CHANGES WITH PROPOSED WITH THE CON WITH THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE EQUITY OFFICE, CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE, AND SS N B R.
UH, SO I TOO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THE CITY MANAGER TO SPEAK TO THOSE CHANGES AND THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT.
UH, IT IS A TOPIC OF INTEREST FROM OUR COMMUNITY, GIVEN THE LEVEL OF FEEDBACK WE'RE HEARING, UH, NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT VIA EMAIL AND ALSO AT OUR BUDGET TOWN HALLS.
UM, AND THEN ALSO WANNA SHARE MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT, WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN THE TOWN HALLS, WHO SHARED THEIR FEEDBACK ONLINE, WHO HAS BEEN EMAILING US, UH, BUDGET PRIORITIES.
I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU IN UNDERSTANDING THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTING OUR BUDGET IS, AND THAT IT NOT ONLY SETS THE PRIORITIES AND SHOWS OUR VALUES AS A CITY, BUT ALSO SETS THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT OUR CITY DESERVES.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, AND I'LL REITERATE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THESE PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE REASON WE'RE HAVING THEM.
UM, I, I ALSO, UH, WANNA SAY THAT THE, THE TOWN HALL MEETING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LAST HAD LAST NIGHT, IT WAS A VERY WELL, UH, ATTENDED EVENT.
AND SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AS WELL.
I KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO DOING THAT IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
AND SO, UH, IF YOU AS, AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS AND TO MAKE COMMENTS, THAT'S ANOTHER AVENUE, UH, THAT'S AVAILABLE.
SO PLEASE LOOK TO SEE, UH, WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE A TOWN HALL MEETING IN A SPECIFIC DISTRICT.
'CAUSE THAT'S A, A VERY USEFUL TOOL, UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT WE RECESS UNTIL ONE O'CLOCK AND COME BACK IN AT THAT POINT IN TIME WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 1:00 PM IT IS 1229 VIRTUALLY, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT TO THE MANAGER.
UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, I WANTED TO JUST, UH, AS A, AS WE BEGIN THE DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON, TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS THAT WERE SAID, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, DURING THE TESTIMONY FROM OUR CITIZENS.
FIRST OF ALL, I, I WANNA, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME AND SPOKE.
I THINK, UH, IT, WE, THIS IS PART OF WHAT OUR PROCESS IS, IS TO HEAR FROM COMMENTS FROM, UH, THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN RIGHT OR WHERE, WHERE THEY THINK WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN SOME THINGS WRONG.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, WAS, UH, RAISED EARLIER TODAY HAD TO DO WITH THE C THE CREATION OF THIS NEW DEPARTMENT, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE THREE OFFICES, WHICH IS THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, OFFICE OF S M B R, A SMALL MINORITY IN BUSINESS AFFAIRS.
AND, UH, THE, THE OFFICE EQUITY OFFICE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT, THAT, UH, THE SMALL AND SS M B R, THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF OPENING DOORS IN THIS ORGANIZATION FOR A LONG TIME, WHERE HISTORICALLY
[02:30:01]
UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES WERE DENIED AN OPPORTUNITY.AND I THINK BY COMBINING THESE THREE OFFICES, THEY'LL HAVE A, A GREAT SYNERGY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON THOSE KEY ISSUES THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SO CONCERNED WITH.
WE WILL ALSO TAKE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND ADOPTION AND EVEN POST-ADOPTION TO CONTINUE TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT, UH, TWO MEETINGS ON FRIDAY, AND I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MEETING ON TRYING TO GET A MEETING SET UP ON, ON A MONDAY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HEAR THE CONCERNS OF WHAT THESE ISSUES MAY BE.
BUT, UH, BUT THIS, UH, PROCESS OF COMBINING CREATING DEPARTMENTS, WE, WE DID THIS RECENTLY WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE.
THE BUDGET OFFICE WAS STANDALONE.
IT IS NOW PART OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
BUT WE SEE KERRY LANG AS A BUDGET OFFICER, JUST LIKE WE'LL SEE THE, THESE OFFICERS, THE OFFICER EQUITY OFFICER, THE OFFICER FOR, UH, UH, OFFICER OF CIVIL RIGHTS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OFFICE TITLE AND WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS.
SO IT IS NOT A DIMINISHING OF THEIR STATUS OR THEIR AUTHORITY.
IT, IN FACT, IT'S JUST PART OF A, A LARGER ORGANIZATION.
SO I WANTED JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.
ALSO, WE WANTED TO PROBABLY, UH, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR PRESENTATION, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ANOMALIES WITHIN THE POLICE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT CLARIFIED.
'CAUSE I THINK THERE IS SOME CLARIFICATION THAT'S NEEDED.
AND CERTAINLY SOME MISUNDER, THE BUDGET PROCESS IS A COMPLEX ONE, AND IT OFFERS, WE CAN PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR WHAT, HOW THOSE NUMBERS, WHY THOSE NUMBERS LOOKED AT THE WAY THEY WAY THEY DO.
AND, UH, AND SO WE'LL DO THAT IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
AND IN ADDITION, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALSO THE, UH, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONCERNS THAT THE, THAT THAT FUND IS LESS, UH, IN THIS BUDGET THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR.
AND SO WE ALSO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT, THAT'LL CLARIFY HOW WE, HOW THE, WHAT THE, HOW THAT RENTAL FUND IS BEING USED NOW.
AND WE'LL BE USING IT IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
FISCAL YEAR SHOULD, UH, THE BUDGET BE ADOPTED AS WE PROPOSED.
AND FINALLY, LEMME SAY, I'M, I'M MINDFUL THAT WE, THAT THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, NOT ME, THE OFFICE PRESENTS THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S BUDGET.
ONCE IT'S ADOPTED, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT, AND IT'S REALLY OUR INTENT TO DO THE, GIVE YOU THE BEST INFORMATION SO THAT THAT POLICY DECISION CAN GET MADE.
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO EXECUTE ON THE BUDGET AS IS ADOPTED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THIS CITY.
AND WITH THAT, LEMME TURN IT OVER TO, UH, ED VINO, HARRY LANG.
AND, AND ERIC, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
CITY MANAGER FOR, UH, SPEAKING TO THE CHANGE, THE RESTRUCTURING OF THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS, THOSE THREE DIVISIONS.
ONE QUESTION THAT I HAD, UM, REGARDING THE CHANGES, UM, WITHOUT SEEING THE, THE ORG CHART OR HOW IT'S GONNA BE CONFIGURED, IS THAT THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER IS AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITION.
AND THE COMMENTS THAT WAS RAISED BY OUR FORMER AND FIRST CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER, BRIAN OAKS, WHO WAS ON THE CALL, UH, WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER, UH, AND HIS, HIS, UM, COMMENTS STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME IN THAT HE POINTED OUT THAT HAVING AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITION, THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER UNDER AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD BE AT A DIRECTOR LEVEL, UM, MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM THE ABILITY FROM THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER TO PARTICIPATE IN A HIGH LEVEL CONVERSATIONS AND, AND BE PART OF THOSE MEETINGS.
AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, THOSE, THAT'S A GOOD, A GOOD COMMENT.
AND, AND THOUGH I'VE NOT MISSED, UH, HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH BRIAN, THE EQUITY OFFICER WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN EQUITY OFFICER.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL THE AUTHORITY THEY HAVE TODAY.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US ORGANIZE ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT NEED TO GET ORGANIZED TO ACHIEVE THOSE OBJECTIVES.
NOW, THE ONLY THING I'D SAY IS WHEN YOU PUT IT YOURSELF INTO A LARGER ORGANIZATION, THAT LENS MAY CHANGE A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE OFFERED AND HOW WE MAKE PROGRESS.
BUT THAT ALWAYS WOULD BE DONE IN CONNECTION WITH, AND IN VISITING WITH ALL THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT, IN THAT EFFORT.
AND SO, BUT THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN OFFICER, JUST LIKE THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE AN OFF OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AS WE HAVE NOW.
AND, UH, AND SO I THINK HIS COMMENT WAS, HE, HE WOULD, HE WOULD BE SADDENED IF HE WAS THE LAST EQUITY OFFICER THAT THIS CITY HAD.
AND THAT'S JUST, AND THAT'S MAYBE A MISUNDERSTANDING IN PER TERMS OF THE WAY WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO HIM TO TELL HIM THAT, UH, THAT'S NOT THE INTENT.
SO WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES, IT IS A CONSOLIDATION, NOT A MERGER.
IT, IT IS A CREATION OF A NEW DEPARTMENT.
THERE'LL BE A NEW DIRECTOR, AND THEN THERE'LL BE AN EQUITY OFFICER.
THERE'LL BE AN SS N B R OFFICER, AND THERE'LL BE AN OFFICER FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND THOSE THREE OFFICES HAVE TO WORK WITH THAT NEW DIRECTOR TO WORK THROUGH ALL THE ISSUES AND ALL THE SYNERGY THAT COMES FROM THAT PRO.
THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE VERY RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER HAVE SIMILAR OBJECTIVES WITH PERHAPS SOME DIFFERENT EMPHASIS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, I MEAN, IT'S, THERE'S NOTHING, AND EACH DIVISION WILL RETAIN THEIR BUDGET BUDGET, THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNDING BUDGET.
AND RESPECTIVE STAFF, RIGHT? YEAH.
IN FACT, ALL THE STAFF HAS MOVED OVER.
NO STAFF HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
UH, NOW SOME STAFFS ARE, I THINK S B R HAS BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER, SO IT HAS A LARGER STAFF, BUT THAT'S JUST A, THAT'S THE NATURE OF WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN THE BUDGET.
SO IT'S NOT, THERE'S NO INTENT TO DIMINISH OR TAKE PE RESOURCES AWAY OR ANY OF THAT STUFF.
NOW, THE, THE, THE ONLY THING IN TERMS OF AUTONOMY,
[02:35:02]
BUT THIS WOULD'VE BEEN WHETHER THEY'RE IN A SEPARATE INDEPENDENT VI, I MEAN, AN OFFICE OUTSIDE OF A LARGER DEPARTMENT, I HAVE SLOWLY BEGUN TO, TO EXERT MYSELF IN MY JUDGMENT, WHERE THINGS HAVE OPERATED OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF WAY THINK THE WAY I THINK A CITY OUGHT TO BE OPERATED.THE CITY, UH, ADMINISTRATION OUGHT TO BE OPERATING MY, IN MY JUDGMENT, WE SHOULDN'T BE IN POLITICS.
OUR, AND I KNOW IT'S THERE, THERE'S SOME CONFUSION ABOUT, WHEN I SAY PROFESSIONAL STAFF, WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
WHILE WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND POLITICS AND POLICY, IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO BE, TO BE BEING POLITICIANS OR MAKING POLITICAL DECISIONS.
THE POLITICAL DECISIONS GET MADE BY THIS BODY, AND WE HELP BY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND PARTICIPATING IN THE DISCUSSION.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THE POLICY DECISIONS AND THE POLITICS OF THIS CITY IS DRIVEN BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AND SO, AS I HAVE FOUND DEPARTMENTS THAT I THINK ARE OUTSIDE THOSE LINES, I HAVE BEEN GENTLY SAYING TO THEM, THAT'S NOT OUR JOB.
OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE A PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION.
AND IT'S FOR THE COUNCIL TO WEIGH ALL THE, TO HAVE THEIR JUDGMENT IN TERMS OF WHETHER THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ACCURATE OR NOT WEIGH THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING OR NOT BE DOING.
SO IN YOUR VIEW, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WHAT THE EQUITY OFFICE AND CIVILS OFFICE HAVE BEEN OPERATING HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE OF? I, I'M NOT SUGGESTING ANYTHING I SAID.
I, AS I SAID, AS I HAVE BEEN MANIFESTING AND EXERTING MY AUTHORITY WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION, I HAVEN'T CERTAINLY DONE IT WITH NOT DONE IT WITH THAT.
I'VE DONE IT IN OTHER AREAS, BUT I'VE NOT DONE IT HERE.
BUT I THINK PART OF THIS, UH, THE JOB THAT YOU GUYS ASKED ME TO DO WAS TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE AS AN ORGANIZATION, TO TRY TO BE MORE PROFESSIONAL AS AN ORGANIZATION, TO NOT BE PUT PUTTING COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IN A, IN A POLITICAL, UH, IN A POLITICAL, UH, CORNER.
SO THAT YOU HAVE NO, I DON'T, I DON'T, WE DON'T INTEND TO DO THAT.
I THINK WHAT WE'VE GOTTA DO IS NOT PLAY THE POLITICS TO BE PROFESSIONAL.
AND, UH, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING US TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS.
OUR JOB IS TO MAKE A PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND A PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION, BUT TO NOT BE THE ADVOCATES FOR SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS OUTSIDE OUR PURVIEW.
AND, UM, AND SO, AND THAT MAY MAKE SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY BE DOING THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE, BUT MAY BE DOING THAT.
THEY, THEY MAY BE, THAT'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENT, A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND, UH, AND A DIFFERENT EMPHASIS.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
WELL, THANK YOU MANAGER FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I CERTAINLY WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
I, WHAT GIVES ME A LOT OF PAUSE RIGHT NOW IS UNDERSTANDING THE, THE STATE CLIMATE THAT WE'RE IN.
YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BANNED, UH, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COURSES AT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
UH, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING THROUGH WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE DOES IT SEND AS A CITY FOR US TO, UH, CONSOLIDATE THESE VERY THREE IMPORTANT DIVISIONS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH THAT WITH YOU SURE.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVING THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE A STEP BACK REAL QUICK FROM THE MEETING AND JUST SAY TO MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S AT HOME WATCHING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY OR TOMORROW IS HER 14TH BIRTHDAY.
AND I AM JUST SO PROUD OF HER AND THE BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT YOUNG WOMAN THAT SHE'S TURNING INTO.
SHE'S OFTEN HERE AT CITY HALL WITH ME.
AND SO IF YOU'VE SEEN HER, YOU KNOW THAT SHE'S AT LEAST INTERESTED IN WHAT MOMMY DOES.
AND I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THE MOM OF A FRESHMAN AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION, MAYOR.
AND, AND I'LL SAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER TOO MANY TIMES, WE'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT MOMMY'S DOING.
SO, UH, UH, I, I TEASE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU'RE MUTED, PLEASE.
UH, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT ACROSS A GALA TABLE WITH THAT YOUNG WESTWOOD WARRIOR, AND LET ME JUST TELL YOU, WE ARE GONNA HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S A REAL FIRE STARTER, JUST LIKE HER MAMA.
UM, FRESHMAN YEAR IS A FUN YEAR.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, LET ME START WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE AND THE, UM, OTHER OFFICES THERE.
SO I WANNA UNDERSTAND, SO WE ARE COMBINING THE THREE OFFICES UNDER AN UMBRELLA, AND WHAT WILL THE STATUS OF THE PERSON WHO'S OVER THE THREE OFFICES, UM, BE AND WHAT WILL THE REPORTING STRUCTURE, BECAUSE IF I, I'M NOT SURE, I KNOW THAT THE EQUITY OFFICER SERVES IN THE EXECUTIVE CAPACITY.
I'M NOT SURE IF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICER ALSO DOES THAT, BUT THEN YOU HAVE A DIRECTOR
[02:40:01]
OVER SOMEONE WHO'S SERVING AN EXECUTIVE WHO'S NOT ON THERE.SO CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT? SURE, SURE.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A TRADITION IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHEN OFFICES ARE COMBINED THAT THOSE, UH, THOSE SERVING IN THOSE CAPACITIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY STANDALONE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE STATUS THAT THEY HAD BEFORE.
AND WE, WE INTEND TO UTILIZE THAT MODEL.
THERE WAS, UH, SOME CONCERN THAT THIS SOMEHOW DID NOT, THAT THESE WOULD CEASE REPORTING TO ME.
UH, WELL, I CAME ON BOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY.
THESE OFFICES DID NOT REPORT TO ME.
THEY REPORTED TO AN A C M, AND THEY WILL CONTIN.
SO THIS NEW UNIT IS GONNA REPORT TO AN A C M, BUT IT'S IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IN TERMS OF, UH, IN TERMS OF, IT'LL BE AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
THAT WOULD BE THE, THE LAYER BETWEEN ME AND THOSE OFFICES.
BUT, UH, ON ANY ISSUE WHEN IT IS THAT OUR OFFICE, SPECIFICALLY MY OFFICE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, WILL BE INVOLVED, AND, UH, IN TERMS OF GOING TO DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO ATTEND DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF ON THINGS THAT WE, THAT THEY THINK ARE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THAT SENSITIVITY THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
SO I TH THAT'LL, THAT KIND OF WORK IS GONNA CONTINUE.
UM, UH, SS M B R, THE, THE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS AFFAIRS OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH THE, THE, BECAUSE OF THE, THE JUDGEMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE AT THE COURTS, WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING TO ADJUST THAT.
AND YOU, AND WE MADE A, THERE WAS A PLAN, OR NOT A PLAN, BUT AN ITEM ADOPTED THIS LAST WEEK WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT THAT OFFICE CONTINUES TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF TRYING TO OPEN DOORS FOR BUSINESS, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST NOT BEEN ABLE TO, TO HAVE, UH, THE CONTRACT, UH, THE CITY CONTRACTS OR CITY RESOURCES THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD.
AND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR COMPLAINTS THE WAY THEY DO NOW.
AND MY OFFICE WILL BE INVOLVED WHEN THAT OFFICER DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO BE INVOLVED.
SO I DON'T REALLY SEE ANY FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCE THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
NOW, WHAT I, I THINK WILL BE DIFFERENT, RATHER THAN JUST REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS, IS YOU HAVE THREE OFFICES THAT ARE, THAT HAVE A, A, A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AND A, A WORK PROGRAM THAT IS VERY, THAT ARE, THAT ARE ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF SYNERGY.
AND, AND WHEN WE DEVELOP OUR GOALS OR OBJECTIVES, THEN MEASURABLES OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
AND EACH OF THOSE UNITS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THAT DONE.
AND THERE'LL BE GREATER COOPERATION THAT THEY HAVE NOW, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTAL, UH, I MEAN ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AS AS, AS THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION THAT ARE, THAT ARE DEAR, NEAR AND DEAR TO THIS COUNCIL ABOUT, THAT RELATE TO EQUITY THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY SLOW ON, EVEN WITH AN EQUITY OFFICE.
UH, I CAN POINT TO THE EXAMPLE OF COLONY PARK WHERE IT SAT, UH, BASICALLY IDLE BECAUSE WE DID NOT MOVE WITH THE DISPATCH THAT THE COUNCIL WANTED US TO.
JUST THE OTHER DAY, I GOT A CHANCE TO GO TO LAKESIDE, WHICH IS THE LITTLE COMMUNITY JUST EAST OF COLONY PARK.
WE'VE HAD ALL KINDS OF DEPARTMENTS GO TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND FUNDAMENTALLY, WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE, WITH JUST BASIC, UH, SANITATION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND CODE ISSUES IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY WITH THAT COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN THERE.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT WHEN I SAID A MINUTE AGO, HOW I'M GONNA GET INVOLVED, I WANT TO GET INVOLVED WHEN I THINK THAT WE'VE NOT MOVED IN THE WAY WE'VE NEEDED TO MOVE WITH, WITH ENOUGH DISPATCH AND, AND PUR AND UNITY OF PURPOSE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR INTENT IS.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT TO DIMINISH, BUT TO ADD IT'S ADDITIVE, NOT DIMINISHING.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
AND I IMAGINE WE'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION IN, IN VARIOUS, UM, WAYS.
UM, I DID ALSO WANNA ASK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE AND THE RESILIENCE OFFICE, UM, BEING MOVED INTO PLANNING.
UM, BETTER COMMUNICATE YOUR VISION AND HOW THEY WILL BE EMPOWERED, UM, TO DO THE WORK THAT WAS ENVISIONED FOR BOTH THOSE OFFICE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE, YOU KNOW, PREDATES MY TIME ON, ON COUNCIL.
THE RESILIENCE OFFICER WAS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POOLE INITIATED MY CO-SPONSOR.
UM, THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, OFFICES THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY STEPPING UP AS WE'RE DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND, UM, THE CHALLENGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST BETTER UNDERSTAND, UM, YOUR RATIONALE, WHAT YOU'RE ENVISIONING AND HOW YOU SEE THIS EMPOWERING THEM TO ADVANCE THE WORK THAT I THINK WE ALL WANT TO SEE ADVANCED.
LET ME TAKE A STEP BACK IN TERMS, 'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S, THAT'S A COMMON THREAD WITH ALL THESE OFFICES IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE OUT THERE AS A SINGLE OFFICE WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL STAFF, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET, NOT JUST GET AIRTIME, BUT TO MAKE THE PROGRESS
[02:45:01]
INSIDE A LARGE COMPLEX ORGANIZATION SIMPLY 'CAUSE YOU, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE, THAT, THAT NECESSARILY THAT CAPABILITY.SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS BY COMBINING AND BRINGING INTO LARGER DEPARTMENTS, IS TO HAVE A GREATER EMPHASIS AND GREATER, UH, REALLY FORCE TO MAKE, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN WITH RESPECT TO EQUITY, NOT EQUITY, BUT SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE.
WHEN WE DO LAND, WHEN WE BEGIN THE PLANNING FUNCTION THAT WE, WE JUST SEPARATED THE, THE DEPARTMENT FROM HOUSING SO THAT WE CAN DO A, A SINGULAR FOCUS ABOUT A, A PLAN REIMAGINE AUSTIN, OR WHATEVER THE RIGHT TITLE WILL BE WHEN WE GET INTO THAT WORK, IS THAT THESE TWO OFFICES, RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY WILL BE PART OF THAT PROCESS.
AND PART OF IT IS TO NOT, TO NOT HAVE SOMETHING THAT SITS OUTSIDE OF THAT PLAN, BUT INSIDE THE PLAN.
AND THEN WE GET THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GONNA BE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
AND I THINK, AGAIN, IT'S BECAUSE THAT, THAT, THAT PROCESS IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY, I STARTED, WE STARTED TO FOCUS IN MY OFFICE JUST RECENTLY THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS SO THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.
AND I THINK, UH, NOW THEM BEING THAT WITH, UH, THOSE OFFICES BEING PART OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT FOCUS.
WE'RE WORKING ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT AFFECT LAND USE, BUT IT ALSO OUGHT TO AFFECT THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE.
IT OUGHT TO AFFECT HOW WE CONNECT ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION FOR A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS WITH THE WATERSHED DEPARTMENT, WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, WITH THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT.
SO THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO DIFFERENTLY THAN WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE PART OF THAT LARGE ORGANIZATION.
AND OUR INTENT IS TO HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM AND A BETTER APPROACH TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE NEED TO.
UH, AND SO THAT'S, I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S THE REASONING.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO OUR INTERIM SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, ZACH.
HE'S RECOMMENDED A BOOK TO ME, WHICH I'M READING.
I'VE RECOMMENDED A BOOK TO HIM FOR HIM TO READ.
AND WE'RE GONNA GET TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE, HOW WE CAN WORK BETTER TOGETHER.
AND THEN, UH, AND LAURA'S, UH, SHE'S IN OUR OFFICE NOW AND I VISIT WITH AT LEAST OR TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK.
SO I THINK I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY TEAM BALL.
AND THERE, THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER, UM, OFFICES THAT WERE COMBINED.
SO WE HAVE LABOR RELATIONS AND O C M O.
CAN YOU ALSO SPEAK TO THOSE LABOR RELATIONS? WE, I THINK THAT'S, I MEAN, LET ME, SOMEBODY CAN ENLIGHTEN ME.
I THINK THAT'S SITTING WHEREVER IT WAS BEFORE.
SORRY, I DIDN'T COMBINE IT TO, I, I WASN'T, IT MIGHT NOT BEEN COMBINED, BUT THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATIONAL TEAM.
BUT THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF, UH, THE, THE, UM,
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
RODNEY GONZALEZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
LABOR RELATIONS IS STILL UNDERNEATH ME.
IT WILL BE A PART OF HUMAN RE UH, RESOURCES, WHICH IS UNDERNEATH ME, BUT HUMAN RE UH, LABOR RELATIONS WILL BE A PART OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
I'LL, I'LL TAKE THAT OFF MINE.
UM, AND THEN, AH, O AND E M S.
AND, UH, I HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO THE HR SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT WITH A P D, AND, AND I CAN WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT, IF YOU THINK THAT'D BE BETTER, OR I CAN ASK IT NOW.
I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T SEE, WE SEE IF SOME QUESTIONS MIGHT BE ANSWERED PERFECT IN THE PRESENTATION OR COMBINED OR WHATEVER.
AND, UM, AND THEN I THINK IT'LL BE A MORE COMPLETE OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'LL RECOGNIZE, UH, THE TABLE IN FRONT OF ME.
MR. VINO, IF YOU WANNA START US OFF.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO START US OFF, MAYOR.
AND, UM, JUST A, A, A FEW, UM, ADDITIONAL PIECES OF CONTEXT I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE.
IN LIGHT OF THE COMMUNITY TESTIMONY THAT WE RECENTLY RECEIVED.
UM, ONE OF THEM HAD TO DO ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF FOLKS ABOUT A REDUCTION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING.
AND SO THE CONTEXT ON THAT FUNDING WAS, OF COURSE, DURING THE COVID YEARS, UM, WHEN THERE WAS SUCH AN ECONOMIC TURMOIL AND WE HAD FEDERAL FUNDS COMING IN, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO RAMP UP, ALLOCATE SOME OF THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO HELP KEEP, KEEP PEOPLE, UM, IN THEIR HOMES.
UM, AS THOSE DOLLARS DRIED UP AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET STAFF, UM, PROPOSED ALLOCATING $5 MILLION OF ONE-TIME DOLLARS TO ALLOW THOSE PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE, UM, FROM THE DS COUNCIL, INCREASED THAT ONE-TIME ALLOCATION TO $8 MILLION.
UM, JUST LAST, UM, COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, THE CONTRACT TO BEGIN ALLOCATING THOSE DOLLARS OUT.
SO, UM, I THINK IT WAS THE ACTUAL NUMBER WAS $7.8 MILLION.
THAT'S THE CONTRACTUAL AMOUNT.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING TO FINALIZE THAT CONTRACT WITH THE VENDOR.
AND ONCE THAT, ONCE THAT'S IN PLACE, THOSE DOLLARS WILL START BEING EXPENDED DURING THE COURSE OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
NOW, I THINK THERE ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE A COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
UH, MAYBE HERE THIS, THIS, THIS BUDGET CYCLE ABOUT WHETHER THOSE ONE-TIME DOLLARS SHOULD BE MADE INTO ONGOING DOLLARS AND, AND HOW WE'RE ABLE TO FUND THAT.
[02:50:01]
PREVIOUS ALLOCATION FROM COUNSEL IN FISCAL YEAR 23 WAS ONE TIME THAT CONTRACT WAS JUST APPROVED AND THE DOLLARS ARE GONNA START FLOWING OUT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD AND EXTENDING INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR.UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT AND THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT NONE OF THAT'S RELATED TO INCREASING SWORN PERSONNEL STAFFING.
THERE IS OF COURSE, 11 POSITIONS WE'RE PROPOSING IN THE TRAINING DIVISION, UM, RELATED TO THE KROLL REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGING OUR APPROACH TO, UH, CADET TRAINING.
UM, SO WE'RE FUNDING THAT, UM, THERE IS $1.2 MILLION IN THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE THE KROLL REPORT WORK TO DO THE NEXT PHASE OF THAT WORK.
THAT MONEY IS IN THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES BUDGET.
SO THE, THE MONEY TO DO THE STUDY AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, WILL BE CONTROLLED BY THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES GROUP TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THE RESULTS THAT WE WANT, AND THAT WE HAVE THAT SEPARATION BETWEEN, UH, A P D AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THE STUDY.
BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY TRAINING RELATED MATTERS, WE DID PUT THAT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S, UM, BUDGET.
SOME OF THE OTHER FACTORS DRIVING THE INCREASE ARE WHAT WE, WE CALL BUILT-IN COST DRIVERS.
THEY KIND OF JUST ARE WHAT THEY ARE.
AND SO IN, UH, FISCAL YEAR 23, UM, IN, IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT WE HAD SUCH HIGH ATTRITION AND WE HAD SUCH A GROWING RATE OF, OF POLICE SWORN POLICE VACANCIES, UM, THERE WAS A, A A 4% WAGE INCREASE THAT WAS OFFERED TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS IN AROUND MARCH.
AND SO PART OF THE INCREASE IS WE NOW NEED TO ANNUALIZE THAT AMOUNT.
UM, IN THE, NOT, NOT IN THIS CURRENT SESSION, BUT THE PRIOR SESSION, I THINK IT WAS THE 87TH SESSION.
WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO GET SIGNIFICANT REFORMS MADE TO THE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
THEY WERE ESSENTIAL REFORMS. UH, THEY WERE REFORMS THAT LOWERED BENEFITS FOR NEW HIRES AND INCREASED MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT IT ALSO INCREASED THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION SUBSTANTIALLY.
SO 7 MILLION OF THAT INCREASE IS STATUTORILY REQUIRED CITY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE, UM, ONE, ONE SPEAKER I REMEMBER SPOKE ABOUT THE BUILDING SERVICES, PEOPLE BEING MOVED BACK INTO THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT HAD HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY IS WE MOVED, UM, OUR BUILDING SERVICES POSITIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES, A LOT OF THE SUPPORT POSITIONS.
WE MOVED THE FTES OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT AND PUT THEM INTO EITHER THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OR THE BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THOSE PEOPLE STILL CONTINUED TO DO THE WORK THEY WERE DOING FOR POLICE.
AND THROUGH OUR COST ALLOCATION METHODS, WHICH WE HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES IN TERMS OF HOW WE ALLOCATE THESE SUPPORT COSTS OUT, SINCE THOSE POSITIONS WERE FULLY SUPPORTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY STILL ENDED UP PAYING FOR IT.
AND THEIR BUDGET WAS THE SAME.
SO THAT, THAT IDEA OF, OF PUTTING THE POSITIONS IN THERE, IT DOES INCREASE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WAGES, BUT IT LOWERS THEIR, THEIR SHARE OF THE COST ALLOCATION.
AND SO IT NETS OUT TO TO ZERO.
AND, UM, SO I THINK THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD, UH, UM, FROM THE SPEAKERS THAT I THOUGHT I COULD ADDRESS.
AND IF YOU WANNA GET BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE, THE REORGS, I'D BE HAPPY TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW, HOW WE REORGANIZED AND BECAME ONE SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
BUT I STILL HAVE A BUDGET OFFICER EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITION SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY'S BUDGET.
UM, AND SO I COULD MAYBE PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT ABOUT WHY WE DID THAT IN FINANCIAL SERVICES AND, AND, AND HOW IT'S WORKED AND WHY I THINK WE'RE GETTING A BETTER RESULT AS, AS, AS BECAUSE OF THAT COMBINATION.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO CARRIE.
REMEMBER TODAY'S, UH, FOCUS IS ON THE GENERAL FUND.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WORK SESSION SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK WHERE WE'RE GONNA DEEP DIVE INTO THE ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT CARRIE'S GONNA GIVE US, UM, UM, A REVIEW OF A LITTLE BIT DEEPER DIVE THAN SHE DID LAST WEEK ONTO THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DIRECTORS BEHIND US.
OUR, OUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO KIND OF DO IT IN CHUNKS.
AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT, IS IT COMMUNITY SERVICES FIRST? WE'LL FIRST TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THEN MAYBE PAUSE AND, AND HAVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
THEN MOVE ON TO PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.
PAUSE, HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT, IF THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNCIL.
AND WITH THE COMMENTS YOU JUST MADE, I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED TO TAKE A A MINUTE AND HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS.
I'M GONNA FIRST CALL RYAN, UH, COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTER AND THEN COUNCILMAN VELA.
SO I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON ONE THING YOU JUST SAID THERE RELATED TO THE HR COST ALLOCATION RULES.
ARE THOSE ARE RULES, THE STATE'S RULES? WHAT, WHAT WERE THOSE RULES THERE? THERE ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES, UM, SORRY.
THERE ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES REGARDING COST ALLOCATION PLANS.
THEY'RE CALLED THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETS, UM, O UM, O M B A 87 RULES.
AND SO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AIRPORT AND, AND HOW ARE WE TAKING THE SUPPORT COST AND EQUITABLY, FAIRLY ALLOCATING 'EM OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS? WE ALLOCATE OUT A FAIR SHARE TO THE AIRPORT.
IF WE, IF WE ALLOCATED MORE, MORE COST TO THE AIRPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, THESE STAFF THAT
[02:55:01]
ONLY SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF WE WERE TO ALLOCATE SOME OF THOSE COSTS TO THE AIRPORT, THE F A A, IF THEY WERE TO COME IN AND AUDIT OUR PLAN WOULD SAY, CAN'T.WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T, AREN'T SUPPORTING THE AIRPORT DEPARTMENT.
SO THE WAY WE USUALLY ALLOCATE COSTS IS, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, WE MIGHT ALLOCATE OUT THAT COST CENTER BY THE NUMBER OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS, PCS THAT A DEPARTMENT HAS.
IF YOU HAVE A LOT MORE EMPLOYEES AND A LOT MORE PCS, YOU'RE GONNA PAY A LARGER SHARE OF THAT, OF THAT INTERNAL SUPPORT FUNCTION.
FOR, FOR FINANCE, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE ACCOUNTS PAY PAYABLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD ALLOCATE OUT THAT COST CENTER BASED UPON HOW MANY TRANSACTIONS YOU HAVE.
AND SO, UM, PARTICULARLY RELATE REGARDING FEDERAL GRANTS.
YOU HAVE TO BE REAL, REAL CAREFUL THAT WE DO EVERYTHING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE A 87 GUIDELINES.
AND SO, AS IT RELATES TO THESE HR POSITIONS, WERE THEY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT ONE POINT AND WE MOVED THEM OUT, NOW WE'RE MOVING THEM BACK.
THEY WERE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR WAGES WERE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEN WE MOVED THEM TO HR, BUT ALLOCATED ALL OF THAT COST RIGHT BACK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO IT DIDN'T CHANGE THEIR BUDGET AT ALL.
AND NOW WE'RE PROPOSING TO PUT THE POSITIONS BACK INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEIR ALLOCATION WILL GO DOWN, BUT THEIR WAGES WILL GO UP.
SO, AND IF WE LEFT IT THE WAY IT WAS WHERE WE CONTINUE TO ALLOCATE THE COST TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE KEEP THEM WITHIN HR, WOULD THAT STILL COMPLY WITH THE O M B GUIDELINES? YES.
BUT I'D LIKE TO ADD, ONE OF THE REASONS WE DID THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WAS THE HR FUNCTION WASN'T WORKING.
WE HAD POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE NOT PAID OVERTIME FOR OVERTIME THAT THEY WORKED.
THE DEDICATION OR THE FOCUS OF THAT OFFICE, ONCE IT LEFT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNDER DIFFERENT SUPERVISION, DID NOT WORK AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY WE MADE THE DECISION TO, SO THAT IT WOULD BE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN THAT ADMINISTRATION.
WE DID THE SAME THING WITH BUILDING SERVICES.
AND SO, AND THAT WAS SO THAT IT WOULD BE, WE WOULD HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE AND FUNCTIONING AREA.
AND SO IT, IT, THAT'S AN ASIDE FROM THE, FROM THE GUIDELINES, ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES, BUT IT WAS MORE OF THAT'S OPERATIONALLY WHY WE DID IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER VALA THAN COUNCILOR MEMBER CADRY OF THE $7.8 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE FROM THAT COMMENT THEN WE HAVE NOT SPENT ANY OF THAT MONEY AS OF THIS POINT.
WE'RE JUST CONTRACTING OUT WITH A VENDOR.
WHAT DID WE HAVE OTHER RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN USING, YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THAT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE AND APART FROM THAT ALLOCATION AND I, COUNCIL MEMBER, I NEED TO DEFER THAT TO OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT IF, IF THEY HAVE THE ANSWER AND ARE HERE.
'CAUSE WE BUDGETED THAT MONEY.
UH, I MEAN SEPTEMBER 1ST HE KICKED IN, BUT THAT WAS AN AUGUST DECISION.
AND, UH, AND COUNCILOR, I THINK WE OWE, WE OWE FOR SOMETHING.
WE OWE, WE OWE THE COU YOU AND THE COUNCIL AN ANSWER AS TO WHY SOMETHING THAT WAS APPROPRIATED IN, UH, BEGINNING OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, BEGINNING THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WHY IT TOOK US THE TIMEFRAME IT DID IT.
I DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THAT DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
UM, I'M PRETTY SURE I KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT, SO I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT REALLY QUICK.
BUT THE, THE, THE U B I PROJECT, IT'S NOT BEING EXTENDED FOR A SECOND YEAR, IS THAT CORRECT? THE CORRECT, THAT IS NOT BEING EXTENDED.
I I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING WITH MY COLLEAGUE RYAN ALTER'S COMMENT.
SO EVEN IF YOU KEPT THEM IN SUPPORT SERVICES, THE COST, WHICH IS THE THING, I THINK THAT IS CONCERN, WHICH IS INCREASING AP, WHICH IS PART OF AD'S BUDGET, WOULD STAY THE SAME BECAUSE YOU'D BE ALLOCATING THAT COST RIGHT BACK TO A P D.
SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE FTES, BUT THEY WOULD STILL HAVE THE COST.
SO MOVING THOSE POSITIONS AROUND, AS LONG AS YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES, UM, THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR COST ALLOCATION, YOU'RE NOT REDUCING AD'S BUDGET IN ANY WAY THE WAY THAT THAT'S BEING HANDLED? NO, THAT'S CORRECT.
IN, IN TERMS OF THE SHIFT, THE ONLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, FOR THE, UM, I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE IN THIS TOO, BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL GROUP, UM, ABOUT 20 FINANCE RELATED PEOPLE AND POLICE, THE PEOPLE THAT PROCESS THEIR, UM, TRANSACTIONS AND PAYROLL AND TIME SLIPS, UM, FOR ONE YEAR THEY REPORTED TO ME, BUT YOU KNOW, THEIR BUDGET WAS STILL ALLOCATED BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.
THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED THE DEPARTMENT STILL SAT IN THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS SUPPORTING THEM.
THE ONLY THING YOU KNOW, TECHNICALLY DIFFERENCE WAS THEIR F T E COUNT SHOWED AS PART OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
AND THEY REPORTED TO ME, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THAT REPORTING ARRANGEMENT OF HAVING THE FOLKS THAT SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT TO
[03:00:01]
ME, UM, WAS SOMEWHAT OF A DISCONNECT.CAN YOU ALSO PROVIDE US WITH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE FOR A P D AND WHAT YOU THINK ACCOUNTS FOR THAT WITH ACTUAL SORT OF NUMBERS? SO, SO SOME OF IT'S THE PENSION, SOME OF IT'S THE WAGE.
SOME OF IT IS THE 11 POSITIONS.
YOU SAID IT WASN'T THE CORAL REPORT.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER PIECES THAT ARE DRIVING THAT DIFFERENCE? YEAH, I MEAN, AND JUST KIND OF BIG CHUNKS.
THERE'S ALSO WAS A ONE-TIME INCENTIVE THAT WAS PART OF THE, UH, RETENTION PACKAGE FOR POLICE OFFICERS LAST YEAR, BUT THE INCENTIVE DIDN'T KICK IN UNTIL THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO THE CADET INCENTIVE WAS ANOTHER LINE ITEM.
UM, THAT WAS $2.6 MILLION OF FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM OF INCENTIVIZING CADETS.
IT WAS A $15,000 TOTAL INCENTIVE PAID OUT IN FOUR CHUNKS.
UM, IF THEY MADE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR, THEIR FIELD TRAINING.
IT, IT WOULD BE PERHAPS HELPFUL IF WE CAN HAVE THAT, THOSE DETAILS IN, IN WRITING.
I'D LOOK AT PAGE THREE 15 OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT AND IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS THAN THAT, WE'RE HAPPY TO GIVE IT TO YOU.
UH, THOSE ARE THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
IT DOESN'T RECONCILE TO THE PENNY, BUT IT, THOSE ARE THE BIG CHUNKS.
BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU, UH, MORE DETAILS IF YOU'D LIKE THEM.
COUNCILMAN RYAN ALTAR AND, AND JUST SO THAT I'M CLEAR, KIND OF MY CONCERN IS LESS ABOUT THE TOP LINE NUMBER OF THE A P D BUDGET, BUT WHAT THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS WILL BE IN TERMS OF WHAT INFORMATION IS AND IS NOT PROTECTED THAT, UH, WE HEARD ABOUT FROM SOME OF OUR, UH, TESTIMONY TODAY.
SO, UH, I'M SURE THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DIVE INTO, BUT THAT'S, THAT IS MY CONCERN.
NOT ON THE FUNCTION, BUT ON ONE OF THE RAMIFICATIONS.
UM, BEFORE WE DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN, HE, HE, HE SAID WE WERE GONNA DO, I WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL COLE WHO'S JOINED US.
SHE'S ALSO A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR PRO TEAM.
ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU AND NOW I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
[1. Presentation and discussion of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Proposed Budget.]
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CARRIE LANG, BUDGET OFFICER.UM, IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PULL UP THE SLIDES, SEE IF MY CLICKER WORKS TODAY.
SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE CONVERSATION THAT HAS JUST BEEN GOING ON, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS, UM, FOCUSING ON THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE TIMELINE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE IN THE TIMELINE, WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.
WE'LL DO A QUICK GENERAL FUND OVERVIEW AND THEN START DIGGING INTO THE DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS AND TALK ABOUT SOME NEXT STEPS.
UM, AGAIN, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY.
OF COURSE, TODAY THE 26TH, WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, AND THEN ON AUGUST 1ST WE WILL, UM, ALONG WITH THE COUNCIL SETTING THE NEXT TAX RATE, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION WHERE WE'LL FOCUS ON OUR ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS.
AND, UM, AND THEN ON AUGUST 10TH, THE COUNCIL WILL THEN MEET AGAIN AND TALK ABOUT YOUR CONTINUED PRIORITIES AND ANY AMENDMENTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN PREPARATION FOR US, UH, GETTING A APPROVED DOCUMENT OR APPROVED BUDGET ON AUGUST 16TH.
SO JUST LOOKING AT THE QUICK GENERAL FUND OVERVIEW, UM, THIS A $1.3 BILLION PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
UM, THIS IS JUST AGAIN, SHOWING THE BREAKOUT OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, PUBLIC SAFETY, AGAIN, IS A, IS 62% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.
UM, AND THEN YOU SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OTHERS OF 7.2%.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK BREAKOUT THAT MUNICIPAL COURT IS 3%.
THE REMAINING ANIMAL SERVICES, FORENSIC SCIENCE, HOUSING AND PLANNING ARE EACH 1% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.
AND SO WE WANT TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATIONS, WE'RE GROUPING THEM IN DIFFERENT, UM, WORK FUNCTIONS.
WE'RE GONNA BEGIN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT WILL INCLUDE ANIMAL SERVICES, UM, LIBRARY PARKS AND RECREATION.
UM, AND WE'LL, WE'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH EACH DEPARTMENT AND AS ED MENTIONED, THEN TAKE A PAUSE.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS RE REGARDING THESE DEPARTMENTS, THEN YOU ALL CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE.
AND WE HAVE THE DIRECTORS HERE PREPARED TO, UM, HAVE DIALOGUE WITH YOU AS NEEDED.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ANIMAL SERVICES BUDGET, THEIR, UM, TOTAL PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS $20.2 MILLION IS INCREASING FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
WE HAVE FOUR POSITIONS THAT ARE CONVERTING TEMPORARY POSITIONS TO PERMANENT POSITIONS THAT WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE ANIMALS.
THAT ONE POSITION THAT IS SET THERE TO IMPROVE DATA REPORTING CAPACITY.
[03:05:01]
AS ANIMAL SERVICES HAS SEEN INCREASED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OVER RECENT YEARS, THIS POSITION WILL SUPPORT THAT FUNCTION AND ASSIST WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR SOFTWARE.UM, THE ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST CONTRACT, THAT IS TO BE A STOP GAP, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S BEEN SOME DIFFICULTY FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO, UH, FIND PERMANENT, UH, UH, PERMANENT STAFF FOR THE ANIMAL BEHAVIORS.
SO THIS IS A STOP GAP, ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR THAT FUNCTION, AND THEN CONTRACTED FUNDING FOR SECURITY OFFICER FOR, UM, THE ANIMAL SHELTER DURING THEIR BUSINESS HOURS, JUST TO INCREASE SECURITY IN, IN THAT SPACE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THEIR REVENUE, THEY HAVE, WE WANNA JUST, AS WE TALKING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS, WE WANNA TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE RELATED TO EACH DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND SO, UM, THE TOTAL REVENUE FOR, FOR THE ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE IN PARTICULAR IS $2 MILLION.
THE TRAVIS COUNTY I L A IS RELATIVELY FLAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE SEEING SOME DECREASES IN THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FEE REVENUE, BUT THAT'S RELATED TO, UM, THE WAIVING OF FEES WHEN THE SHELTER IS AT FULL CAPACITY MOVING FORWARD WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THEIR $122.9 MILLION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WE SEE THAT THEY HAVE A 1.5% INCREASE.
WE ARE SHOWING AN INCREASE IN, UM, THEIR FTES AS WELL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE, UM, NEW DOVE SPRINGS PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY THAT IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.
THAT'S SEVEN NEW POSITIONS FOR, FOR THAT, UM, FOR THAT FACILITY.
AND THEN WE SEE THE $1.2 MILLION INCREASE TO FULLY FUND THE SOUTH BRIDGE SHELTER OPERATIONS.
UM, WE WILL BE HAVING CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE QUESTIONS LAST WEEK ABOUT THE HOMELESS BUDGET AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE MADE YEAR OVER YEAR TO THAT BUDGET.
WE ARE PREPARED TO COME, OR WE'RE PREPARING TO COME TO YOU ALL, UM, AND HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION IN ABOUT THE HOMELESS APPROPRIATION AND SPENDING IN PARTICULAR NEXT WEEK AS WELL.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S AN INTERPLAY BETWEEN GRANTS AND CAPITAL AND OPERATING FUNDING FOR HOMELESSNESS.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, AS WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE STANDARDIZED METHODOLOGY TO, TO SHOW THE SPENDING YEAR OVER YEAR.
AND SO NEXT WEEK WE'RE PREPARED TO HAVE THAT CON, WE'LL BE PREPARED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, TO THAT CONVERSATION AS WE'RE LOOKING AT PUBLIC HEALTH, YOU'LL SEE THE INCREASE IN THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, UM, THAT WAS FUNDED IN FISCAL YEAR 23 AS A ONE TIME.
WE ARE, UM, CHANGING THAT OR SWITCHING THAT OVER TO ONGOING FUNDING FOR THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT LIVING WAGE.
UM, WITHIN THE SUPPORT SERVICES AREA OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN FOUR POSITIONS WITHIN THEIR FINANCE AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, UH, DIVISION WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THEIRS, UM, DEDICATED, UM, PERSONNEL FOR THEIR SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS.
ONE, UM, UM, ONE EMPLOYEE OR ONE STAFF FOR MEDICAL BILLING.
AND THEN ONE TO ADDRESS INCREASED FA THE INCREASED FINANCIAL WORKLOAD THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN.
THE POSITION THAT IS, THAT YOU'RE SEEING TO STREAMLINE PLAN REVIEWS, THAT IS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UH, DIVISION.
AND IT'S GONNA BE DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S TEAM THAT IS WORKING ON STREAMLINING THE CITY OWNED C I P REVIEW.
AND THEN AGAIN, EACH, EACH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS REVENUE WILL KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT THEIR OVERALL REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, IT'S 11.8 MILLION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
THEY ARE ANTICIPATING A, UM, SMALL REDUCTION IN THE TR IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY I L A.
UM, BUT FOOD PERMANENT INSPECTIONS ARE ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.
AND THE OTHER MAJOR, UM, FEE, UH, REVENUE FROM BIRTH CERTIFICATE FEES WILL REMAIN, UH, FLAT.
LOOKING AT THE C I P SPENDING FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, AGAIN, I MENTIONED THAT DOVE SPRINGS WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.
IT WILL INCLUDE, UM, WIC OFFICE, CHILDCARE CENTER, IMMUNIZATION CLINICS, UM, AND THEN THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH CAPITAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM, UM, FOR OUR CAPITAL REHABIL, UH, EXCUSE ME, CAPITAL REHABILITATION FUND, UM, IS, IS PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH WITH 4 MILLION OF PROJECTS FOR HVAC AND ROS.
THAT'S AT SEVERAL OF THEIR LOCATIONS, INCLUDING ROSEWOOD OSA, BLACKLAND, SOUTH AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
AND ON THE BETTY DUNKLEY CAMPUS.
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER WILL CONTINUE, UM, ITS WORK.
IT WAS, THE SHELTER WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST, IN APRIL OF 2022.
AND, UM, WE ARE BEGINNING DESIGN WITH CONSTRUCTION PLAN TO BEGIN IN 2024.
ANTICIPATE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IS SUMMER OF 2025.
[03:10:07]
MOVING FORWARD TO AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE $70.3 MILLION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 INCLUDES AN EXPANSION OF THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD PROGRAM.THE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY AT SOUTHEAST WA, LITTLE WALNUT CREEK AND ST.
IT WILL BE EXPANDED TO THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, ZEPEDA AND MENCHACA BRANCHES.
UM, AND WITH THIS EXPANSION THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE.
AND THEN THERE ARE THREE CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE POSITIONS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THAT WORK TO BE DONE ACROSS, UH, THE, THE DIFFERENT LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND THEN AS WELL, THERE IS SOME SECURITY COSTS OR SECURE SECURITY INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE WHERE TWO POSITIONS ARE, ARE BEING USED TO INCREASE SAFETY AS WELL AS A CONTRACT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT CENTRAL TERRAZAS AND LOWER WALNUT CREEK OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AGAIN, THE, THE REVENUE FOR, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY IS $657,000.
UM, THE PASSPORT PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST REVENUE AND IS SEEING A SLIGHT DEC DECLINE, DEC DECLINE IN FISCAL YEAR 24.
UM, BUT THE OTHER REVENUE FOR THE DEPARTMENT IS REMAINING RELATIVELY FLAT AS WE THINK THROUGH THE C I P OR WE LOOK AT THE C I P SPENDING PLAN FOR THE LIBRARY.
UM, IS CONTINUED WORK ON THE RENOVATIONS TO FALK LIBRARY AND OTHER BRANCH LIBRARIES.
UM, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOTAL PROGRAM COST, A PROJECT COST OF $19.4 MILLION.
HOWEVER, 6.9 MILLION IS ANTICIPATED IN FISCAL YEAR 24.
AGAIN WITH THE CAPITAL REHABILITATION FUND.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE LIBRARY THAT WILL LOOK AT, UM, RENOVATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THOSE FACILITIES.
AND THEN FUNDING FOR FURNITURE AND FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENTS ACROSS SEVERAL LIBRARIES AS WELL.
PARKS AND RECREATION HAS A $125 MILLION BUDGET, WHICH IS AN INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 20.
WE ARE SEEING A, UM, A SMALL DECREASE OF ONE POSITION DECREASE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UM, F T E COUNT.
AND THAT IS DUE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF, UH, ELIMINATION OF, OF POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.
HOWEVER, THERE IS CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE, UM, PARKS DEPARTMENT THROUGH THIS 1.2 MILLION SECURITY, UM, GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND LAND MANAGEMENT.
I'LL GO THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE, UM, OPERATIONS COSTS RELATED TO THE OPENING OF GIVENS POOL RENOVATIONS AND THE NEW COLONY PARK POOL, AS WELL AS INCREASE IN THE, UM, FUNDING, ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR THE SOFTWARE.
THE RECREATIONAL SOFTWARE FOR THE DEPARTMENT, THE PARKS AND RECREATION REVENUE IS LOOKING TO INCREASE, OR IS ANTICIPATING TO INCREASE ABOUT $3.5 MILLION IN THE COMING BUDGET.
UM, WE'RE SEEING OVERALL REVENUE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT INCREASING TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
AND SO WE'RE JUST SEEING, YOU KNOW, MORE USE OF THE PARKS, MORE INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S BEING, THAT'S BEING REFLECTED IN THEIR INCREASED REVENUE.
SO GOING BACK TO THAT $1.2 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, THESE ARE PRIMARILY FOR TEMPORARY STAFFING FOR THE DIFFERENT AREAS TO LOOK AT SECURITY IMPROVEMENT IN, IN PARTICULAR, IT'S, UH, $400,000.
THAT INCLUDES TEMPORARY STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT GROUNDS MAINTENANCE.
AGAIN, TEMPORARY STAFFING TO, TO START WORKING ON THE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE NEEDS FOR THE, FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS, UM, THE, THE 500,000 FOR TEMPORARY STAFFING EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND RESTORE RESTORATION CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
UM, FOR, FOR THE LAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY PART HAS A LARGE C I P, UM, PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS THE, JUST A PORTION OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEING INVESTED THROUGH THE C I P PROGRAM FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AGAIN, THE AQUATICS, THE POOLS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT ONLINE, THERE'S A $10.5 MILLION, UH, SPENDING PLAN TO COMPLETE COLONY PARK AND GIVENS.
UM, WE ARE BEGINNING WORK ON PHASE TWO FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, UM, WITH THAT TOTAL, UH, 2018 BOND PROJECT BEING $32.5 MILLION.
UH, AGAIN, BARTON SPRINGS BATHHOUSE REHABILITATION AND SEVERAL OTHER CAPITAL REHABILITATION, UH, PROJECTS ACROSS VARIOUS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, INCLUDING, UM, THE MILLENNIAL YOUTH CENTER.
THOSE ARE ALL THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND WORK GROUPS.
[03:15:01]
UM, AND IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR WANNA HAVE SOME DISCUSSION, WE ARE HAPPY TO START THAT NOW.WHY DON'T WE DO THAT, THAT NOT GOOD PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, I THINK YOU HAD A QUESTION, IS THAT CORRECT? I, I, I DO.
I HAVE A, A JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK ONES.
I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SAY THAT THE LAYOUT ON THAT, UH, PRESENTATION AND THE, THE SUMMARY, UH, SHOWING THE TOP LINE WITH, UH, INCREASE AND THE INCREASE IN FTES, UH, AND THEN THE SECOND PAGE CAPITAL PROJECT, THAT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT, SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY, UH, TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION PROPS TO STAFF FOR A VERY, UH, GOOD JOB DOING THAT.
QUICK QUESTION ON THE PARTS DEPARTMENT.
DOES THE, DO THE REVENUES, DO THE, UH, REVENUES FROM THE A C L FESTIVAL DO, ARE THOSE REFLECTED IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET PARKS FOUNDATION? YES, WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR COMING DOWN TO HELP US.
HI, KIMBERLY MCNEELY, SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
SO THE, UH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COUNCIL MEMBER BELLA, UH, THE A C L FESTIVAL IS A FESTIVAL THAT IS PART OF THE, UH, AUSTIN CENTER FOR EVENTS PROGRAM AT PROGRAM.
AND SO THEREFORE, THAT PARTICULAR FESTIVAL DOES PAY ITS APPROPRIATE FEES TO THE PARKS AND RENT RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR RENTAL OF THIS SPACE.
AND ANY ASSOCIATED TICKET FEES, WHICH ARE OUTLINED IN THE REVENUE BUDGET, I COULD LOOK THOSE ALL UP VERY SPECIFICALLY.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A NUMBER OF OTHER REIMBURSEMENT FEES THAT ARE PAID TO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR E M S SERVICES, FOR THE, UM, UH, A P D SERVICES, THE FIRE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES THAT ALLOW THAT EVENT TO HAPPEN.
SO ANY OF THOSE REVENUES THAT ARE COLLECTED, UM, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER REVENUE THAT WE HAVE FOR A FACILITY RENTAL IS THEN ENTERED INTO THE GENERAL, IS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.
SO IT IS REFLECTED IN THAT, WAS IT 17 POINT MILLION DOLLARS? YEAH, YEAH.
WHATEVER THAT 17.6 PER $6 IN REVENUE.
SO THEN THAT WAS THE, THE, THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION WAS THE REVENUE THAT WE DO SEE FROM THE, UH, A C L FESTIVAL IS REFLECTED IN THAT $17 MILLION, UH, UH, FIGURE THAT WAS JUST SHOWN.
E EVEN THOUGH, SO ACE IS THE COORDINATING, I GUESS, DEPARTMENT FOR, FOR UH, UH, YOU KNOW, LACK OF A, UH, OF A BETTER WORD.
UH, BUT ULTIMATELY PARTS IS A DEPARTMENT THAT KIND OF RECEIVES THE REVENUE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, WE RECEIVE, WE RECEIVE REVENUE FOR THE SPACES THAT ARE RENTED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE, UH, IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PARTICULAR FESTIVAL.
UH, IF WE COULD GET A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THAT, UH, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
I'M SORRY, THIS QUESTION MIGHT ALSO BE FOR DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
UM, I HAD BEEN TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, I THINK OUR OFFICES WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LAND MANAGEMENT AND OPEN SPACE PORTION OF THIS.
AND I KNOW THE CITY MANAGER SPOKE TO IT AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, BUT CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE ABOUT, UM, WHAT POSITIONS ARE IDENTIFIED IN THAT LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN? 'CAUSE I BELIEVE IT HAS NOT COME TO COUNCIL YET, RIGHT? IT'S STILL IN THE BOARD AND COMMISSION PHASE, OR DID A BOARD AND COMMISSION SEE IT RECENTLY? UH, THE PARKS BOARD SAW WAS ABLE TO REVIEW THAT.
THEY REVIEWED THAT THEY RECEIVED A BRIEFING SOME TIME AGO, AND THEY RECEIVED, THEY VOTED, UH, ACTUALLY A, AN WROTE OF APPROVAL TO BRING IT FORWARD TO COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, SO THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, UH, THE CITY'S THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET, OUR, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET
AND ALSO, UH, I CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU A FIVE YEAR PLAN OF HOW WE WOULD BUILD UPON WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS YEAR SO THAT FOR FUTURE YEARS WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD UPON THIS YEAR'S WORK THAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
UM, THAT PARTICULAR PLAN DOES OUTLINE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE, UM, BEEN ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING FOR THIS YEAR AND THEN BUILD UPON THAT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHEN THAT'S COMING TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OR IS IT NOT YET DETERMINED? UM, IT WILL COME PROBABLY SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER TO, IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY'S SCHEDULES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES SOME TIME TO SET UP A NEW OFFICE OR EXPAND THE, UH, POSITIONS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.
'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE, I THINK, ONE F T E WORKING IN THAT SPACE RIGHT NOW.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO IN OUR LAND MANAGEMENT, WE HAVE THREE FTES.
WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO COURT, WHO IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER.
WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO IN THE THINGS THAT ARE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM THAT HAVE TO DO WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
[03:20:01]
ANOTHER, UH, COORDINATOR THAT IS DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO LAND MANAGEMENT.WE MAY HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT THROUGH THE Q AND A, UM, 'CAUSE I THINK SOME OF US WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT THOSE FTES ALLOCATED AT THE EXACT RIGHT POINT IN TIME ONCE THE FULL, UH, PLAN IS ADOPTED SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT IMPLEMENTED AND EXPANDED.
I KNOW THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF OPEN SPACE THAT PARD HAS BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE, AND WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS RESOURCE RECOVERY, UM, AND OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DEPARTMENTS WORK THROUGH, UM, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAPPEN WHEN THERE'S FREEZES AND STORMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT, UM, WE'VE GOT ENOUGH STAFF FOR, UM, FOR PARD AND OTHER, OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO BE AVAILABLE TO MITIGATE FOR WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ALL THE TREE BRANCHES START BREAKING OTHER ISSUES.
SO IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL, I'LL PROVIDE THE BUDGET OFFICE, THE INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIVE YEAR PLAN.
THE FIVE YEAR, UH, STAFFING AND, UH, BUDGET PLAN, NOT, NOT THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
I SEE THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO YEAH, PLEASE DO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VALA.
UM, COLLEAGUES, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT ME AND MY TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON TER ON, UM, IS A PRIORITY FOR US DURING THIS BUDGET CYCLE IS AROUND OUR SOCIAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE THROUGH THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
WE KNOW THAT CHILDCARE IS A SHARED PRIORITY OF THIS COUNCIL.
AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT THROUGH THE SOCIAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, INCLUDING ONE OF THEM WITH THE READY FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE, UM, THAT SERVES ABOUT 2000 CHILDREN IN AUSTIN.
THEY HAVE NOT HAD AN ADJUSTMENT FOR COST OF LIVING IN THE CITY SINCE 2018.
WE KNOW THAT INFLATION HAS GONE UP, DEMAND HAS GONE UP, PROGRAMMATIC COSTS HAVE GONE UP, AND THEY, THE WORKERS AND THE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING THESE SERVICES ARE, HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE WITH THE, WITH OUR CHILDREN.
AND SO, UH, WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT LOOKS TO PROVIDE A, UH, A COST OF LIVING INCREASE AS PART OF THOSE, UH, SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACTS.
SO JUST WANTED TO DAYLIGHT ONE OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
I JUST HAVE A FIRST KIND OF GLOBAL QUESTION TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
UM, HOW I'M READING THE DOCUMENT IN THE THOUSAND PAGE BUDGET THAT YOU SENT ON THE TABLE THAT TALKS ABOUT, FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THERE'S A COLUMN THAT TELLS THIS YEAR'S APPROPRIATION, AND THEN LATER DOWN THERE'S A COLUMN ABOUT THE SPENDING PLAN.
AND I'M JUST, THOSE TWO NUMBERS DON'T MATCH UP.
BUT IN THIS, THE NUMBER FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET IS RELATED TO THE SPENDING PLAN, NOT THE APPROPRIATION.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS.
HOW COME, IF, IF WE'RE DOING THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WE'RE NOT APPROPRIATING THAT AMOUNT.
SO WHEN WE APPROPRIATE DOLLARS FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WE USUALLY APPROPRIATE THE FULL FUNDS IN ONE YEAR SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE MULTI-YEAR, BECAUSE THESE ARE MULTI-YEAR, UM, PROJECTS, WE APPROPRIATE THE FULL FUNDING UPFRONT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECTS DON'T HAVE A LULL IN BETWEEN, UM, APPROVALS.
AND SO WE APPROPRIATE THE FULL AMOUNT, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE SPENDING PLAN EACH YEAR BASED ON HOW MUCH OF THAT FULL APPROPRIATION WE PLAN ON SPENDING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND SO WHAT COUNCIL APPROVES IS THE NEW APPROPRIATION.
UM, AND SO, UM, WHAT WE SAW FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WE'RE SEEING $1.8 BILLION IN NEW APPROPRIATION, BUT SPENDING IS, IS PLANNED AT 1.6.
BUILDING IS MAYBE SPENDING FROM PREVIOUS YEAR'S APPROPRIATION OR, UM, SPENDING FROM THE CURRENT APPROPRIATION.
UH, I HAVE AN ANIMAL SERVICES QUESTION, IF I COULD ASK REAL QUICK.
HELLO AND CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
UH, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO COME OUT AND TOUR YOUR SPACE, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO.
AND MY QUESTION IS THAT WE HAVE SOME FUNDING IN HERE FOR, UH, NEW PEOPLE AND A NEW SECURITY OFFICE OR SECURITY PATROL INDIVIDUAL.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I WENT OUT, IT FELT LIKE THE, THE GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS SPACE THAT Y'ALL WERE FACING.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK OR UNDERSTAND, I KNOW WE NEED PEOPLE TO HELP DO THE SERVICES THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THOSE CRITICAL WORK, BUT IS IN THE BALANCE OF PEOPLE VERSUS SPACE, WHAT IS THE, THE REAL DIRE NEED RIGHT NOW THAT Y'ALL ARE FACING? WELL, CURRENTLY THIS BUDGET AND THESE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE ADDITIONAL STAFF GET US TO THE STANDARDS, UH, PER KENNEL THAT ARE REQUIRED.
SO I THINK THIS, THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP FOR US TO, TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF STAFF
[03:25:01]
FOR THE KENNELS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY.THAT, THAT'S MY QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR PAR FOR KIMBERLY.
SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE WILDFIRE MITIGATION.
IS THAT SOLELY WITHIN PART OR Y'ALL ALSO WORKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE, UM, SO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PLAYS A ROLE IN FIRE WILDFIRE MITIGATION, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO PARKLAND.
UH, WE HAVE RESOURCES DEDICATED IN THE LAND MANAGEMENT, UH, PORTION, AND WE ALSO UTILIZE, UH, UH, WORK CREWS FOR SHADED FUEL BREAKS, UH, THAT ARE PART OF OUR ACCC PROGRAM.
AND THEN YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THERE IS OTHER WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE ARE PART, WE COORDINATE WITH.
UM, AND THAT HAPPENS THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, ALSO AUSTIN WATER HAS, UM, A A, UH, DOES SOME WORK THAT HAS TO DO WITH WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT AND, UM, IT'S ESCAPING ME, BUT I, WATERSHED PROTECTION ALSO DOES SOME, SOME OF THAT.
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY COORDINATING WITH THOSE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, MANAGE THOSE ACTIVITIES TO MITIGATE WILDFIRE RISK.
I WAS, I WAS AT A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING LAST NIGHT OVER IN BARTON HILLS AND WE HAD A, A GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BARTON CREEK GREENBELT AND THEIR WILDFIRE MITIGATION AND, AND JUST SOME CONCERNS, UH, FROM THAT COMMUNITY.
SO WE CAN TALK OFFLINE ABOUT THAT.
UM, AND THAT IS, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR THIS ROUND.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ.
UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY, THIS IS, UH, FOR, UH, YOU TOO.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ABOUT THE, THERE'S A CHAIR RIGHT THERE.
SO WHAT, WHAT DOES, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE GOT $200,000 FOR SHADES STRUCTURES, UH, IN OUR PARKS.
UH, WHAT DOES THAT $200,000, UH, GIFTS.
S SO THE 200, TH IT'S $210,000.
AND THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE US A SHADE STRUCTURE FOR TWO SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THAT WE INDICATED PREVIOUSLY IN AN ANSWER TO A COUNCIL QUESTION, UH, REGARDING HOW WE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TWO PRIORITIES, UH, I'M LOOKING UP RIGHT NOW, THOSE TWO PARKS.
UH, THERE IS ALSO A PART OF THAT MEMO, WHICH I'LL BE HAPPY TO RESEND TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT IT EX IT SHOWED, UH, A PRIORITIZATION LIST OF ALL THE NEEDED SHADE STRUCTURES.
AND THAT WAS BASED UPON THE BUDGET RIDER THAT YOU ALL PROVIDED US LAST YEAR TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE SHADE WAS NEEDED TO INCLUDE BOTH, UM, ARTIFICIAL SHADE STRUCTURES OR SHADE STRUCTURES, AND ALSO WHERE WE MIGHT, UM, BE ABLE TO, UH, PLANT TREES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS HAVE MORE NA, NATURAL SHADE.
SORRY, I GOT A LOT OF STUFF HERE.
AND I THINK IT'S THE ANA NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IN THE BUTTERMILK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
MISSED IT OUT, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SO, UH, SO BOTH OF THOSE, THOSE TWO PARTICULAR LOCATIONS WILL, WILL, UM, UTILIZE THE FULL $210,000.
UH, I WILL, I'VE GOT THE MEMO IN FRONT OF ME.
I'LL LOOK AT THE, AT THE PLAN.
UH, I WOULD PRIORITIZE, HONESTLY, MY SENSE WOULD BE IF WE COULD GIVE YOU 2 MILLION FOR SHADE STRUCTURES, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT CAN REALISTICALLY PUT UP IN A FISCAL YEAR.
UH, WE NEEDED TO BEFORE, OBVIOUSLY THIS BEING ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL SUMMERS WE'VE EVER HAD.
UH, IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS A NEED FOR SHADE STRUCTURES.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I MEAN, THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE ALREADY HAVE HAVING, BUT, UH, I, I, I REALLY WANNA MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN A SHADE STRUCTURE SO THAT OUR PARTS ARE, UH, USABLE THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS.
MY QUESTION ISN'T FOR DIRECTOR MCNEELY.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
IF I WERE
Y'ALL INDICATED THAT PART OF THAT WAS GOING TO THE MILLENNIUM.
AND DO Y'ALL HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THAT? THE, THE MILLENNIUM ACTUALLY IS PARKS AND RECREATION.
BUT IF YOU COULD REPEAT THE QUESTION 'CAUSE I WAS DOING SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I THOUGHT, OH, I'M OFF THE HOOK.
SO, UH, THE 2.2 MILLION FOR CAPITAL REHABILITATION, UH, IS GOING, UH, CAPITAL REHABILITATION PROJECTS.
PART OF THAT WAS GOING TO THE MILLENNIUM, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
SO, UH, THE MILLENNIUM HAS A ROOF, UH, BRAND NEW AC UH, A D A REPAIR OR A D A, UM,
[03:30:01]
IMPROVEMENTS.UH, UM, THEY ALSO HAVE SOME LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HA HAPPENING AND, UH, THEY, THEY ALSO JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED SOME NEW FLOORING.
I COULD LIST OUT THE, ALL THE PROJECTS FOR YOU, BUT THOSE WERE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY DID, I WAS GONNA GO TO HER AFTER, AFTER THE, THE OTHER HAND THAT YOU HAD UP, BUT, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SPACE AT THE ANIMAL CENTER AS WELL.
AND QUESTION NUMBER 52 IN OUR BUDGET Q AND A IS RELATED TO A SECOND ANIMAL CENTER TO COST PLAN AND BUILD AS WELL AS STAFF.
SO, UM, I'M NOT NECESSARILY CONSIDERING THAT FOR THIS BUDGET, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF FORECAST THAT AS WE GROW AS A CITY.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE WE NEED THE SPACE AND IT HASN'T BEEN ANSWERED YET, SO I'M NOT GONNA LIKE CHALLENGE ANY OF OUR CITY STAFF TO ANSWER THAT IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
UM, BUT I DID WANNA BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT.
UM, ON SLIDE FOUR OF THE PRESENTATION, UH, IT TALKS ABOUT THE, THE POLICE BUDGET COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER BUDGETS.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE WHO SHOULD ANSWER THIS, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE POLICE BUDGET IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PARTS OF THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO KNOW HOW MUCH STAFF SALARY COMES OUTTA THAT BUDGET AS PART OF THAT PERCENTAGE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL THAT ARE IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO MR. VAN NEW? YEAH, I, I CAN SPEAK BROADLY AND TELL YOU THAT, UM, I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET'S MAYBE WHAT, 36 POINT SOMETHING PERCENT ACCORDING TO THAT SLIDE.
OVERALL, THE PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS AROUND 62% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
NEITHER OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE, ARE, ARE OUT OF LINE WITH WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN OTHER LARGE CITIES.
IT WILL VARY SOME, AND IT'S NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISONS 'CAUSE NO TWO GENERAL FUNDS ARE EXACTLY THE, THE SAME.
AND A LOT OF MOST CITIES, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WELL, THAT CHANGES THE PERCENTAGES, BUT JUST BROADLY SPEAKING, UM, SOMETHING AROUND 60% IS NOT OUT OF LINE, UM, WITH WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND IT REALLY GETS DOWN TO THE MISSION, RIGHT? I MEAN, AND THE, THE AUSTIN ENERGY IS THE BIGGEST BUDGET IN THE CITY AND, AND THE SCOPE OF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, THE SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, UH, BUYING THE POWER TO RUN ALL THE, THE LIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, IT'S AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION.
UM, THE SCOPE OF THE SERVICES AND THE 24 HOUR ROUND THE CLOCK COVERAGE PROVIDED BY OUR, OUR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL IS DIFFERENT THAN IT IS FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET WOULD BE THREE TIMES AS BIG AS WE, IF WE HAD TO OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY.
SO FOR ALL THOSE FACTORS, THAT'S WHY, UM, IT'S NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL TO SEE THAT THE, THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF A GENERAL FUND BUDGET GOING TO THOSE SERVICES.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND I KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE IT AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
AND ONE MORE THING, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS AND, AND REALLY FOR OUR, FOR OUR, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY THAT GOES TO PERSONNEL BUDGETS.
IT'S 85 90% FOR A, FOR MOST GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS WHERE IT'S REALLY A, A SERVICE DRIVEN, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, EMPLOYEE DRIVEN SERVICE AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF OUR UTILITIES WILL HAVE VERY, VERY LARGE CAPITAL BUDGETS AND DEBT SERVICE BUDGETS.
UM, STILL THE MAJORITY IS STAFFING AND THOSE OPERATIONS AS WELL.
BUT IN, UM, IN IN GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS AND IN PARTICULAR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, YOU'LL SEE 85 TO 90% OF THE BUDGET IS FOR STAFFING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATED SEEING THE ANIMAL BE ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST POSITION THAT WE ARE CONTRACTING FOR, UM, THAT THERE IS MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THAT.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL APPROVED, UM, THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND I THINK THAT IT'LL REALLY HELP OUT THE ANIMAL CENTER, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE ADOPTABLE, THAT HAVE MINOR BEHAVIOR ISSUES THAT CAN BE CORRECTED, THAT'S GONNA BRING GREAT VALUE TO OUR CITY.
I WANNA JOIN COUNCILMAN RIVERA IN EXPRESSING MY SUPPORT FOR INCREASING THE AMOUNT FOR SHADE STRUCTURES IN OUR CITY AFTER THIS SUMMER WHERE WE'VE HAD SEVERAL, UH, WEEKS OF RECORD HEAT BEING IN A HEAT DOME FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IN TEXAS AND IN AUSTIN.
WE KNOW THAT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE WORSENING THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT BECOMING MORE RESILIENT AS A COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING MORE SHADE STRUCTURES.
WE'LL GO A LONG WAY AND ENSURING THAT AUSTINITES ARE ABLE TO ENJOY OUR CITY FACILITIES, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PLACE TO GO DURING THIS EXTREME HEAT.
UM, SO I WOULD SUPPORT YOU CUSTOMER VELA ON HELPING INCREASE THE AMOUNT DEDICATED TO SHADE STRUCTURES.
UH, THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR, UM, DIRECTOR MCNEELY IS AROUND SPLASH PADS.
UM, SOMETHING THAT, AN ITEM THAT HAS COME UP FROM MY COMMUNITY IS WANTING TO GET AN ADDITIONAL SPLASH PAD IN SOUTHEAST.
AND I'M CURIOUS HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST AND ANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
[03:35:02]
SO, UH, A SPLASH PAD CAN COST, UM, ANYWHERE AND UPWARDS OF A HALF A MILLION TO MORE, DEPENDING UPON THE SITE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS REQUIRED.SO WHAT KIND OF A D A ACCESSIBILITY IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABLE AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION? I WOULD HAVE TO, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND TALK TO MY TEAM TO GET YOU A BETTER, A BETTER ESTIMATE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD START WITH.
SO SOMETHING SMALL, VERY MODEST THAT A HALF MILLION COULD BE MORE DEPENDING UPON, UH, ALL OF THE SITE DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS AROUND THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD.
I WISH, UH, REPRESENTATIVE COLE WAS STILL HERE.
UM, 'CAUSE I WOULD SHARE WITH HER.
UH, SHE ACTUALLY BROUGHT FORWARD THE FIRST RESOLUTION BACK IN 2014 ON EXPLORING THE CREATION OF A MUNICIPAL ID CARD.
SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT IT'S MOVED FORWARD.
IT'S TAKEN US SOME TIME, BUT NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM IN PLACE AND THIS BUDGET PROPOSES THAT WE EXPAND TO THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD.
UH, SO I'M CURIOUS, DO WE HAVE A LIST OF THE LOCATIONS TO WHICH THOSE, THE THREE ADDITIONAL LIBRARIES THAT WILL HAVE THE ENHANCED LIBRARY CARDS? I DO.
UM, GIMME ONE SECOND TO LOOK BACK.
SO THE NEW, UM, EXPANSION WILL BE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY, ZEPEDA AND MENCHACA.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY AT SOUTHEAST BRANCH, LITTLE WALNUT CREEK AND ST.
IS THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO DO THOSE? IS THAT MOBILE IN ANY WAY? COULD THERE BE POP-UPS AT OTHER CITY LIBRARIES OR IS IT REALLY HARD TO MOVE THOSE AROUND? I'M ASKING SPECIFICALLY FOR HAMPTON BRANCH.
I WILL HAVE TO DEFER TO THE LIBRARY.
ROOSEVELT WEEKS PROUD DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE ARE GETTING EQUIPMENT THAT IS MOBILE.
UH, BUT THAT EQUIPMENT COSTS ABOUT $10,000 PER LOCATION.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE A, UH, A MOBILE DEVICE TO DO THAT.
I KNOW DISTRICT DATE MAY NOT HAVE AS HIGH OF A NEED AS OTHER DISTRICTS, BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
UM, SO I WANTED TO, I HAVE, UH, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THE ISSUES THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED.
I WANTED TO ASK DIRECTOR WEEKS.
WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CAPITAL SPENDING FOR THE LIBRARY AND, UM, SHORTFALLS RELATIVE TO THE NEED, UM, FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE IN THE 2018 BOND, UM, IN, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME CLARITY ON SOME OF THOSE, BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE GAP IS FOR SOME OF THOSE, UM, RENOVATIONS? I KNOW THERE WAS A GROUP THAT OLD CORY WAS IN.
HOW MUCH OF A GAP IS THERE STILL, UM, FOR THAT FUNDING TO ACTUALLY DO THE PROJECTS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE? WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE, THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE, WE ARE ABLE TO, TO CLOSE THAT GAP AT OLD CORY LIBRARY.
AND SO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD PLANNED FOR THAT FACILITY WILL GET DONE.
AND THAT'S INCLUDING FURNITURE AND FIXTURE.
I MAY WANNA WALK THROUGH ALL THOSE NUMBERS, BUT, UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE, UM, GAPS THAT THERE ARE FOR ANY OF THE OTHER LIBRARIES AS WELL.
UM, THANK YOU MR. RICKS ON THAT.
UM, I WANTED TO ECHO ON AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES MENTIONED ABOUT OUR INTEREST IN DOING A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR SOME OF THOSE CHILDCARE RELATED, UM, CONTRACTS.
UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO TURN TO PAR, SO IF DIRECTOR MCNEELY CAN JOIN US, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM FOR RAISING THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AND I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THIS, UM, PLAN GETS TO US SOON.
I KNOW, I BELIEVE IT WAS DELAYED 'CAUSE OF THE ZILKER, UM, DISCUSSION, ET CETERA.
IT'S BEEN TO THE PARKS BOARD, THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
UH, WE JUST, I CALL YOUR ATTENTION COLLEAGUES TO A LETTER WE JUST RECEIVED FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL IN SUPPORT OF THIS LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN WOULD REMIND YOU THAT THIS PLAN COMES OUT OF A 2019 AUDIT OF OUR WILDFIRE RISK AND WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION.
IT IS THE SINGLE REMAINING PIECE OF ADVICE THAT WAS IN THAT AUDIT THAT WE NEED TO DO.
IT WAS DIRECTED BY COUNSEL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN.
UM, AND IT IS CRITICAL FOR OUR WILDFIRE PREVENTION.
IT'S ALSO CRITICAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATE CHANGE REASONS
[03:40:01]
AND FOR USE FOR OUR PARKS AND PRESERVES.AND SO, UM, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED, THERE ARE NO FTES IN THAT, THAT ARE ASSIGNED.
THEY'RE TEMPORARY POSITION IN THE BUDGET, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, IS IT EASIER TO HIRE IF YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME POSITION THAN A TEMPORARY POSITION TO GET THE QUALITY OF PERSON IN THOSE ROLES THAT YOU NEED TO, TO HAVE TO DO THE WORK AND TO BE ABLE TO DO IT OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THIS KIND OF WORK ENVIRONMENT? UM, I THINK THAT GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD WE'LL PUT TOGETHER STRATEGIES TO ALLOW US TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE HAD.
UM, I, I THINK THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S A, YEAH, I, I I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT YES, FULL-TIME STAFFS ARE STAFF IS, IS HELPFUL.
HOWEVER, UH, WE ARE, WE HA WE'LL PUT TOGETHER STRATEGIES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HIRE THE BEST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL TO GET US THROUGH THIS TIMEFRAME UNTIL WE CAN GET TO THE NEXT PART OF THE BUDGET, THE NEXT, UM, SEGMENT, THE NEXT TIER OF BEING ABLE TO THEN HIRE, UH, ADDITIONAL STAFF, HOPEFULLY FULL-TIME STAFF.
SO, UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE PLAN, WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING, BUT I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.
UM, WE ARE GOING ON, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DAYS OF A HUNDRED DEGREE PLUS WEATHER.
WE CAN NO LONGER NEGLECT TAKING CARE OF THESE LANDS.
IT IS A TINDERBOX WAITING TO HAPPEN.
YOU SAID YOURSELF, WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE IN THERE.
ONE'S DOING HOMELESSNESS, ONE'S DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
LIKE HOW MANY ACRES DO WE HAVE THAT WE'RE COVERING WITH THIS PLAN? THE DEPARTMENT HAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 ACRES OF LAND THAT RIGHT OF OPEN SPACE LAND THAT WE WOULD, WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO I VERY MUCH THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE ACCELERATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN, AND THAT INCLUDES HAVING THE FULL-TIME STAFF.
IF ANYONE HAS TRIED TO HIRE OR HAS HEARD ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HIRING, HAVING FOR HIRING, I THINK WE WILL BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN DOING THAT WITH, UM, THE FULL-TIME E FTES AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT.
UM, WE JUST CANNOT WAIT ON THIS.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT MS. MCNEELY IS THE C I P SPENDING, UM, FROM THE LAST YEAR.
CAN YOU TELL ME, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ACRES OF PARKS AND PARKLAND, GREEN BELTS, ET CETERA WE'VE ADDED OVER THE LAST YEAR? I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD A LOT.
UH, NOT, THAT DOESN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
DOES SOMETHING ON THE ORDER OF 500 ACRES SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO ASK MY TEAM TO.
THEY MIGHT BE TEXTING ME AS WE SPEAK IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
AND I BET YOU THEY WILL, THEY WILL LET ME KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW MANY NEW MAINTENANCE POSITIONS DID YOU GET THIS YEAR? UH, WE RECEIVED TEMPORARY FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE POSITIONS AND, UH, VEHICLES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE SOME VEHICLES.
RENT SOME VEHICLES TO ALLOW US TO, UH, EFFECTIVELY BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO SUPPLEMENT OUR MAINTENANCE.
UM, SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THE THE LAND, I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MAINTENANCE.
UM, MY SENSE IS THAT THERE IS A VERY LARGE GAP BETWEEN THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN, WHICH STILL NEEDS TO BE MOWED, STILL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND IF WE DON'T WANT TINDER BOXES, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN TO MENTION LIKE MOWING FIELDS, SO PEOPLE CAN PLAY AND, AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO BE PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO THE MAINTENANCE.
SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT NUMBER AND WE CAN SEE, UM, THE DISCREPANCY, UM, THERE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.
WE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, UM, LAST YEAR WITH THE CAPITAL, UM, FOR PAR NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE O AND M EXPENSES THAT GO WITH THE CAPITAL FOR PAR NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, POSITIONS WERE ADDED OR, OR OPPORTUNITIES WERE ADDED FOR GIVENS IN COLONY PARK, UM, AND THE MAC.
BUT WE HAVE LAND THAT GETS BROUGHT INTO OUR SYSTEM AND WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE FOR HOW WE'RE SERVICING THAT LAND.
AND WE HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF IT.
WE CANNOT ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE GREEN BELTS THAT ARE WILDFIRE RISK WITHOUT, UM, TAKING CARE OF, OF THESE PLACES.
SO WE HAVE 25 NEW PROPERTIES THAT WERE PURCHASED, PURCHASED VIA, UH, USING PARKLAND DEDICATION FUNDS.
AND THAT TOTALED ABOUT 438 ACRES OF LAND.
WE DID PURCHASE SOME LAND USING BOND FUNDS.
I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER HERE, BUT, UH, YOU SUGGESTED A, A ACREAGE OF 500.
THAT'S PROBABLY VERY CLOSE COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO CITY MANAGER, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN 500 ACRES AND WE'RE NOT PROVIDING
[03:45:01]
THE RESOURCES EQUIVALENT THAT WE NEED, UM, TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.AND THEN WE'RE BEING ASKED TO KIND OF WAIT ON IMPLEMENTATION OR TO, TO, TO SLOW ROLL THE START OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ADDRESSING, UM, THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE, BOTH FOR OUR PARK USERS, BUT ALSO FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE.
SO I, I THINK WE NEED TO, TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS.
UM, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FTES, UM, AND WHAT'S BEEN ADDED, AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT HAS ON THIS SHEET GOT AN INCREASE.
AND YET WE TOOK IN 500 ACRES OF, OF LAND.
UM, AND I I THINK WE NEED TO BE PUTTING, UM, MORE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF.
SO WHAT, WHAT I MIGHT SUGGEST FOR JUST FOR CONSIDERATION IS THAT WHEN WE DO GET FULL-TIME POSITIONS, IT DOES TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
THEY'RE FUNDED AT THREE QUARTERS OF A AMOUNT, RIGHT? AND THEN IT TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND SO FROM A, FROM A STANDPOINT, FROM WHERE I'M STANDING, THE REASON WHY TEMPORARY FUNDING IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE IN THIS YEAR AS WE GEAR UP FOR THE FUTURE YEARS IS BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE US SOME TIME TO BE ABLE TO, UH, HIRE THOSE, THOSE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, UH, THROUGH OUR PROCESSES.
AND SO I, I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GIVE YOU SOME ASSURANCES THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND THAT WE WILL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN, UH, AND BE AS STRATEGIC AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR TEMPORARY FUNDING.
THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITIES THOUGH, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THAT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE, YOU COULD BE CONTRACTING OUT CERTAIN PIECES OF THIS.
I MEAN, WE'RE JUST FALLING, FALLING AND FALLING BEHIND IN WHAT WE NEED TO GO.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS THE LINE THAT YOU NEED TO TELL US, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS, UM, THAT WE'RE MAKING IN OUR PARK SYSTEM AND IN THE FUTURE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, I HAVE MORE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, BUT I WANT TO GO OFF OF WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FUENTES HAD MENTIONED ABOUT THIS RACE, THE SHADE STRUCTURES.
UM, I WAS LOOKING, IT'S BEEN THE TRIPLE DIGITS FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG.
UH, I THINK IN A DAY OR TWO IT'S GONNA BE A, A VERY COLD, 99 DEGREES.
UM, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SAFE.
WE'RE SUFFERING FROM, YOU KNOW, HEAT LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WORKING ON GETTING SHADE STRUCTURES OUT AT AT BUS STOPS WOULD BE GREAT.
UH, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL A BIT DURING, UH, YOU KNOW, A, A FEW FEW WEEKS BACK.
AND I SAW IN CERTAIN CITIES WHERE THEY HAD, UH, STRUCTURES, UH, SHADE STRUCTURES AT BUS STOPS, BUT ALSO HAD MIST THAT WAS LIKE ALMOST CONTINUOUS FOR I NEVER SAW IT STOP.
UM, AND I THINK THAT COULD BRING A RELIEF TO A LOT OF FOLKS WHO EITHER MIGHT TAKE SHELTER AND, YOU KNOW, AT, AT THAT BUS STOP OR MIGHT BE WAITING FOR A BUS TO COME BY.
UH, THE OTHER COMMENT I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY MAKE, UM, AND I DON'T NEED, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY TO, TO GET UP, UH, BUT WE, WE, WE ALL KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE TRAGIC INCIDENCES THAT HAD HAPPENED AROUND RAINY STREET.
UH, YOU KNOW, VERY THANKFUL FOR, UM, INTERIM CITY MANAGER GARZA AND HIS STAFF AND, AND, AND, AND THE MAYOR AND HIS STAFF ON AND HELPING WITH THAT.
BUT, BUT VERY THANKFUL FOR, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY AND, AND, AND YOUR ROLE IN, IN MAKING EVERYTHING AS, AS, AS GOOD AS IT CAN AND, AND WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES.
UH, AND I SAW IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE'S ALREADY FUNDING FOR THE, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TRAILHEAD, UM, YOU KNOW, PROJECT.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T SAY THAT ENOUGH TO YOU AND SO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT YOU KNOW, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART OR, OR EVERYTHING AROUND THAT AREA, LIKE, THANK YOU.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, WELL, THIS MIGHT GET A LITTLE OLD, BUT, UH, I TOO, JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE SHADE STRUCTURES.
UH, MY YOUNGEST ATTICUS BIRTHDAY IS ALSO TOMORROW, WELL, HE'S TURNING TWO, SO NOT NOT QUITE HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT, UM, THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION WHEN WE ARE DECIDING WHICH PARK TO GO TO IS WHICH ONE HAS SHADE.
THERE'S A REASON WE GO TO GARRISON.
THERE'S A REASON WE GO TO DICK NICHOLS.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SAY, I CAN'T GET ON THIS SLIDE.
AND SO EVERY CHILD ACROSS THE CITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT.
AND WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO INCREASE, UM, ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE PARKS IS ESSENTIAL.
AND IT'S DOUBLES FOR SPLASH PADS.
WE, WE LOVE TO GO TO THE SPLASH PADS AND, AND ALL, ALL OUR KIDS AND, AND ALL CORNERS OF THE CITY SHOULD HAVE THAT ABILITY.
AND, AND SO, UM, I JUST, I CAN'T STRESS THAT IMPORTANCE ENOUGH.
I DO HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
UM, PARK RANGERS, SOMEONE ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY IF WE STILL HAVE PARK RANGERS, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
[03:50:01]
DO WE HAVE PARK RANGERS? YES, WE DO HAVE PARK RANGERS.WE HAVE 20 PARK RANGERS, UH, PARK RANGERS BY DESIGN.
AND FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM BACK IN 2010, UH, ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE AUTHORITY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WRITING PARKING TICKETS.
SO THEY ARE ABLE TO MONITOR THE PARK AND ASK INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTARY COMPLY VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH RULES.
THEY DON'T HAVE ARRESTING AUTHORITY.
THEY ARE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASK INDIVIDUALS TO, UM, PRESENT ID OR TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
UH, THEY ARE, IN MANY CASES, THEY ARE EFFECTIVE IN, UM, EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS BY WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM NOT TO THROW THEIR TRASH OR WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO SMOKE IN A PARK.
BUT THERE ARE SOME LEVELS OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE PARK THAT I THINK OUR COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE FOR OUR PARK RANGERS TO ADDRESS.
AND, UH, THEY DO SO TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY THROUGH VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
AND DO YOU, I'M TOTALLY SWITCHING GEARS, BUT ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU, DO YOU HAVE, AS IT RELATES TO, UH, WHEN I, I'M THINKING WATER MANAGEMENT FOR OUR PARKS, THE OTHER DAY I WAS DRIVING BY ONE OF OUR PARKS AND THE, IT WAS ONE OR TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON THE SPRINKLER WAS ON, AND IT SEEMED TO ME NOT THE BEST TIME TO BE WATERING THE LAWN.
NOW MAYBE IT WAS NEW SOD SO IT NEEDED, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, RIGHT? BUT DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KIND OF LOOKING AT OUR POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS IT RELATES TO OUR RESOURCE USE, WHETHER THAT'S WATER, ELECTRICITY, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MINIMIZING THAT RESOURCE USE? I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SPECIFICALLY HAVE A SINGLE PERSON.
I THINK THAT IN THE CASE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, WE, EVERYBODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR USING RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY AND TO BE CONSIDERING THE, UH, THE CLIMATE AND THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN, I, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT WAS LIKELY VERY MUCH A MISTAKE.
AND, UH, NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT, SO GUESS WHAT? WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
UM, BUT IT IS VERY HELPFUL WHEN PEOPLE DO SEE THAT JUST TO CALL ME DIRECTLY OR LET ME KNOW SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.
'CAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, SOMETIMES CONTROLLERS IF THEY'RE ON AN AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER JUST GETS MESSED UP OR SOMETHING OF ANY NATURE.
THANK YOU THAT COUNSEL WILL GO TO, UH, THE NEXT PART OF THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AND I'LL RECOGNIZE OUR PANEL.
NOW WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND WE'LL BEGIN THE DISCUSSION WITH OUR HOUSING, UM, DEPARTMENT.
AND THIS SLIDE REFLECTS A DECREASE IN THE HOUSING DE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET WITH THE SPLITTING OF HOUSING AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE 58 POSITIONS ARE MOVING INTO THE REESTABLISHED PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE THREE NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING ADDED TO, UM, HOUSING TO REFLECT THE NEEDS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE, THE BASELINE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AS A NEWLY SEPARATED DEPARTMENT.
WE WANT TO KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT ANTI INVE, ANTI DISPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE BUDGET FOR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 24.
AND SO THE, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAS TWO PRIMARILY FUND PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES TO ADDRESS ANTI DISPLACEMENT.
UM, PROJECT CONNECT FUNDING INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION, $11 MILLION FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LAND AND PRESERVATION OF LAND FOR FUTURE.
UM, UM, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORTS IN ALONG THE PROJECT CONNECT LINES.
AND THEN 5.5 MILLION FOR PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT NEED TO STABILIZE AND MAINTAIN EXISTING RESIDENTS ALONG THOSE LINES, $2 MILLION TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE RENTING AND OWNERSHIP HOUSING PROGRAM.
UM, CONNECTED TO PROJECT RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT WITHIN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UM, THERE IS THE EIGHT, UH, HUNDRED THOUSAND, ABOUT $750,000, UM, FOR EMERGENCY TENANT RELOCATION.
AND THAT IS, UM, PART OF THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AND OPERATING AND CAPITAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.
AND THEN WE HAVE HERE THE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION NAVIGATOR.
THAT IS NOT NEW INVESTMENT, THAT'S ONGOING FUNDING.
IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL CONTINUE FUNDING OR WILL CONTINUE GOING ON THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 24.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR C I P SPENDING FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, UM, THE, THE SPENDING PLAN INCLUDES $87.2 MILLION, UM, TO COVER THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, OWNERSHIP, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AND RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT CONTINUUM OF CARE.
UM, THESE TWO, UM, PHOTOS HERE SHOW A COUPLE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
ONE IS THE LIVE, MAKE, LIVE MAKE APARTMENTS AND GO IN THE GO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS 62 UNITS UNDER 60% M F
[03:55:01]
I.UM, AND THEN THE CITY HEIGHTS IN DOVE SPRINGS HAS 179 UNITS UNDER 80% M F I AND 128 UNITS UNDER 60% 20 M F I.
AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE PART OF BOTH THE 2018 AND THE 2022.
UM, BOND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND PROGRAMS. MOVING ON TO PLANNING AS A NEWLY REESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE, UM, RECEIVING, UM, ABOUT 58 POSITIONS TO RESTORE THAT DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS NEW POSITIONS FOR, UM, THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OFFICE.
UM, AND THEN SOME SUPPORT POSITIONS FOR CURRENT AND LONG-TERM, LONG-TERM PLANNING IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
THE $1.6 MILLION IN REVENUE THAT YOU SEE HERE REFLECTS THE, UH, REVENUE THAT WAS SEPARATED IN THE HOUSING IS, IS JUST MOVING INTO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS A NEW DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TO REMAIN PRETTY FLAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
LOOKING AT C I P SPENDING FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT 25 YEAR UPDATE TO THE GREAT STREETS PLAN THAT'S FOCUSED ON THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN AREA STREETSCAPES.
AND THIS IS TO BEGIN THAT UPDATE PROCESS.
SO IT WILL, THEY, THE DEPARTMENT WILL START THAT PLANNING, UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 24, THE 1.1 MILLION FOR THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN DISTRICT.
IT, UM, ANTICIPATES FULLY EXPENDING THAT PROJECT COST IN FISCAL YEAR 24.
UM, AND IT IS FOR THE LONG TERM PLANS FOR INVESTMENTS, REGULATIONS AND PUBLIC PIRATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THAT NORTHEAST AUSTIN DISTRICT.
AND FINALLY, I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR E O PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, AND THAT'S THE 500,000 THAT YOU SEE THERE.
SO NOW WE'RE OPENING UP FOR DISCUSSIONS ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE THE SPOTLIGHT ON OUR EFFORTS REGARDING ANTI DISPLACEMENT.
ONE THING THAT I NOTICED THAT WAS IN THE HIGHLIGHTS SHEET IN THE BUDGET WAS 600,001 TIME FUNDING TO MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND I'M WONDERING IF SOMEONE CAN SPEAK TO, OR IS THAT, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT UPDATE PERHAPS SINCE IT'S SMALL BUSINESS.
WHERE DID YOU SEE THAT THIS IS ON? UM, WELL I HAVE A, IT'S THE SIGNIFICANT NEW INVESTMENT SECTION OF THE BUDGET.
I THINK IT'S LIKE PAGE 40, 41, 42, 43.
AND AS YOU YOU'RE PULLING THAT UP, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I'M, UM, CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO MORE OF IS HOW WE'RE HELPING THE ICONIC BUSINESSES OF AUSTIN, BUT ALSO JUST YOUR LOCAL MOM AND POP SHOPS, UH, STAY PART OF THIS CITY.
WE KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS EVOLVING AND GROWING AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES HAPPENING.
SO TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO HERE LOCALLY TO HELP THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS STAY IN AUSTIN.
AND THAT FUNDING IS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND SO WE WILL HAVE THEM HERE NEXT WEEK TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WELL, I GUESS PREVIEW TO E D D MAYOR PRO TE.
I APPRECIATE THE CALL OUT TO THE 500,000 FOR THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING EFFORTS.
UH, IS THIS ALL THE POSITIONS THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE MEMO THAT DIRECTOR MIDDLETON PRATT HAD PUT OUT? I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER IF IT WAS FOUR, FIVE, OR SIX FTES, IS THAT COVERED UNDER THIS 500,000? SHE'S COMING UP.
SHE, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
LAUREN MIDDLETON PREP PLANNING DIRECTOR.
SO THE 500,000 IS JUST C I P THAT DOES NOT COVER ANY NEW F T E POSITIONS.
ARE THERE FTES THAT ARE ADDED WITHIN THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS BUDGET? UH, NO MA'AM.
SO MAYBE I'LL PUT IN A Q AND A ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS WITH NO FTES, BUT C I P MONEY.
UH, WE DO HAVE STAFF IN THAT DEPART IN THAT DIVISION.
WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING NEW FTES FOR THAT EFFORT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STAFF ARE CURRENTLY IN THOSE POSITIONS RIGHT NOW? AND THEY'RE ALL FILLED RIGHT NOW? YES, MA'AM.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VALEY.
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR HOUSING STAFF.
[04:00:01]
ACTUALLY I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, BUTUM, HOW MUCH OF ANY OF OUR INVESTMENTS THROUGH OUR VARIOUS INCENT AROUND INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS THE WRONG WORD? OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE RETURN FUNDS, SO THEY'RE LOANS THAT WERE PAID BACK IN SOME FORM.
SO THAT IS A CHANGE THAT ROSIE TREE LIVED DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THAT IS A CHANGE THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO HAVE OUR FUNDS BE, INSTEAD OF DEFERRED FORGIVABLE LOANS, THEY'RE NOW REPAID AT THE COMPLETION OF THE AFFORDABILITY PERIODS.
SO THOSE FUNDS HAVE NOT STARTED RECYCLING BACK.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF INSTANCES, AND I'D HAVE TO GET YOU SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR DOLLAR AMOUNTS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION WHERE THE BOND LOANS HAVE BEEN PAID BACK.
UH, BUT WE DON'T SEE THAT COMING IN UNTIL MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.
WELL, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT $5 MILLION IN THE NEW REVOLVING LOAN FUND THAT I THINK IS A, A REALLY GREAT IDEA THAT I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS, HAS PUSHED FOR THAT ALLOWS US TO RECYCLE THOSE FUNDS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE NEW INVESTMENTS WITH THE SAME DOLLAR.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE, AND AND THAT WILL BE, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FUND.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION RELATES TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
IS THAT PRETTY MUCH A, NOT IN TERMS OF HOW WE WOULD THINK OF A TRUST AS HAVING A CORPUS AND, AND SPENDING OFF MONEY, BUT REALLY IT'S A PASS THROUGH.
DOLLARS COME IN, DOLLARS GO OUT? CORRECT.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, DIRECTOR.
UH, THE QUESTIONS, UH, I THINK OF FOR YOU TOO, UH, AND, AND, AND DOVETAILING OFF OF, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER'S QUESTION, UH, HOW MUCH IS IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND? UM, GIMME A SECOND TO SEE IF I HAVE THAT PIECE OF PAPER PRINTED AND MANDY MAY HAVE IT AND YOU CAN, UH, ANSWER IN A SECOND.
BUT I WAS JUST, UH, UH, ALONG WITH THAT AND, AND I, I I BELIEVE THESE FUNDS ARE UNDER.
AND, AND AGAIN, I DON'T NEED AN ANSWER, BUT I THINK, UH, I, MY, MY SENSE OF THE, OF THE DIOCESE THAT WE, WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I KNOW THERE'S A DISCUSSION OF NEW, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PUT, UH, UH, UH, A PORTION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE INTO THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, YEAR AFTER YEAR, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, THE SOURCE OF, UH, FEDERAL FUNDS, YOU KNOW.
BUT WITH THAT, I, I, I THINK JUST IN A, AN ACCOUNTING MAY BE THE WRONG WORD, BUT JUST A PRESENTATION ABOUT WHERE, YOU KNOW, ARE THOSE FUNDS.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT SOURCES, AND I KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE, I BELONG IN AUSTIN, UH, PROGRAM HAS, HAS CONTINUED TO OPERATE.
SO IF WE COULD GET A BREAKDOWN OF EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE MONIES, HOW MUCH IS LEFT, HOW MUCH IS CARRIED OVER, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT, I, I, I THINK THEN WE COULD MAKE A BETTER AND SHARPER DECISIONS AS, AS WE'RE ENGAGED IN, UH, IN, IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
WE WILL INCLUDE THAT AS PART OF Q AND A.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF THE DOLLARS THAT ARE PART OF THE HOUSING TRUST FUND COME IN THROUGH OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. AND THEY, THEY HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON THEM FOR WHAT WE CAN USE THEM FOR.
SOME OF THEM ARE GEOGRAPHIC, SOME OF THEM ARE PROGRAM RELATED.
UH, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE, UH, SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT RATHER THAN GO THROUGH A LARGE NUMBER OF DATA POINTS, UM, FROM THE PODIUM COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
AND THAT'S THE, THE, WHENEVER YOU GET IT, JUST THE, THE TOTAL NUMBER IN THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, WHETHER HERE ON THE BUDGET Q AND A IS FINE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT, I SHOULDN'T LET THESE BRILLIANT PEOPLE GO BEFORE ME BECAUSE THEN THEY ASK ALL MY QUESTIONS.
I WILL ASK THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, UM, WHAT, FIRST OF ALL, I'LL START WITH SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION WITH OUR APPROACHING THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN PLANNING EFFORT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THAT'S BEING HIGHLIGHTED IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, IN YOUR DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
UM, MY QUESTION IS THOUGH, THE $3 MILLION THAT COMMITTED TO COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING UPDATES, CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT ALLOCATION PLEASE? UH, YES.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, HIRE ON A CONSULTANT TO HELP US LOOK AT OUR EXISTING ZONES, UM, EXISTING PLANS THAT WE HAVE IN, IN THE DOCUMENT TODAY, AND HELP US TO EXPAND AND, AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO UPDATE OUR CURRENT IMAGINE AUSTIN PLAN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT RESPONSE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE STILL COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS, HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HERE, WHAT, WHAT DAY NUMBER I AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE, I'M SORRY,
WELL, I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS NORTHEAST AUSTIN PLANNING EFFORT IS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT, YOU KNOW, JUST RECONCILING FOR
[04:05:01]
HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT.AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU'VE PUT FORWARD IN YOUR HOWEVER MANY DAYS IT'S BEEN, AND JUST RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I'M NOT HEARING US TALK ABOUT THAT CAUSE ME PAUSE.
UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES' QUESTIONS ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT AND DISPLACEMENT DOLLARS.
AND, UH, I WISH THAT WE WERE HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ASSETS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE CITY HELD ASSETS THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING ANY DOLLARS TOWARDS, THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY PLANNING HOUSING, LAND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.
UM, SO WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL SPARE YOU, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT MY STAFF WILL DEFINITELY BE IN TOUCH.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IS, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING AROUND EAD, SO THANK YOU MAYOR PURIM FOR BRINGING THAT UP, THE ALLOCATION OF EAD DOLLARS.
UM, IF WE COULD JUST GET A LITTLE MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, EVEN US NOT CALLING IT EAD EQUITY TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND IF WE COULD JUST GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THOSE DOLLARS WOULD BE ALLOCATED.
DO WE HAVE, I, WE DON'T HAVE OUR EAD TEAM HERE, BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS FOLLOW UP AND GET YOU A BREAKDOWN OF HOW WE WILL BE SPENDING THAT, THAT FUND.
AND I THINK, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IT.
SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH THE ENTIRE BODY.
AND, AND JUST FOR, UH, AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WITH THE $3 MILLION THAT STAFF HAS REQUESTED FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE THAT IS EXCLUSIVE OF THE 1 MILLION PLUS DOLLARS FOR THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT, UM, EFFORT.
SO WHEN YOU SAY EXCLUSIVE OF IT, IT'S NOT, THE $1 MILLION IS NOT A PART OF THE, THE 3 MILLION THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, THE 3.1 MILLION FOR C I P SPENDING, AND THEN WE HAVE THE 1.1 MILLION FOR THE NORTHEAST AUSTIN DISTRICT PLAN.
THAT'S, AND THEN 500,000 FOR THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PLANNING EFFORTS.
THOSE ARE ALL COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM ONE ANOTHER.
IT'S NOT A COMBINATION OF EFFORTS.
I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, I THINK THAT TAKES US TO THE NEXT BROAD TOPIC.
HELLO, ERIC NELSON, DIVISION CHIEF WITH F SS D BUDGET AND PERFORMANCE.
JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS COUNCIL MEMBER VA'S QUESTION ABOUT THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
IT HAS SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN PLANNED SPENDING IN F Y 24 AND NET OF THAT.
IT HAS AN ESTIMATED ENDING BALANCE OF $12.9 MILLION.
SO WE'LL START WITH THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 24, WE'RE PROPOSING A $124.3 MILLION, UM, BUDGET.
THAT INCLUDES INCORPORATING THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, WHICH IS 19 POSITIONS, TRANSFERRING INTO THE E M S DEPARTMENT AT $4.1 MILLION.
THE FIRE E M SS STATION IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN FISCAL YEAR 24, WHICH WILL SHOW AN INCREASE OF 12 NEW SWORN POSITIONS FOR THE E M S DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE ANNUALIZED COST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 23, UH, E M SS LABOR AGREEMENT AS WE ANNUAL ANALYZE THOSE COSTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THAT'S $2.9 MILLION.
AND THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RECEIVING THREE, UM, CIVILIAN POSITIONS TO WORK ON THEIR RECRUIT WORK WITHIN THEIR RECRUITING DIVISION TO HELP IMPROVE SWORN RECRUITMENT.
AND THEN FINALLY, THREE SWORN POSITIONS THAT WILL A, A PILOT PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.
THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROGRAM AT THE AIRPORT.
THOSE THREE NEW POSITIONS ARE $0 TO THE GENERAL FUND AS THE AIRPORT WILL COVER THE COST FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
AND THEN AS YOU CAN SEE, THE REVENUE FOR THE UM, E M S DEPARTMENT IS $47 MILLION, AS YOU ALL KNOW, OF THE BULK OF THAT, OR MORE THAN HALF OF THAT IS TRANSPORT FEES.
AND, UM, TRAVIS COUNTY I L A IS A GOOD PORTION OF THAT, OF THAT REVENUE AS WELL.
WE DO SEE AN OVERALL INCREASE IN TRANSPORT IN, IN THE, UM, TRANSPORT FEES FOR, FOR E M S, FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IN OUR PROJECTIONS AS WELL.
[04:10:01]
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE C I P SPENDING PLAN, UM, IT IS TO COVER CONTINUED MAJOR RENOVATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE, UH, E M SS OR JOINT FIRE E M S STATIONS, THAT 20.9 MILLION OR ONGOING PROJECTS THAT WERE, UH, PART OF THE 2018 BOND AND INCLUDE E M S STATIONS, 1, 5, 10, 13, AND SEVEN.UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 23, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE WHOLE BLOOD PROGRAM AND THIS IS, UM, THIS 1.4 MILLION INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THE EQUIPMENT FOR THAT, AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT FOR THE SIMULATION PROGRAM THAT, UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS.
THE, UM, DEPARTMENT IS ALSO GETTING ONE TIME BUDGET STABILIZATION REHABILITATION BUDGET, STABILIZATION FUND DOLLARS FOR, UM, REPLACEMENT OF THEIR Z MONITORS AND THEN SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE DOLLARS FOR THEIR EXISTING STATIONS.
AS WE LOOK AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE INCREASING THEIR BUDGET ABOUT 2.7% AT $235.7 MILLION.
AGAIN, THE GOODNIGHT RANCH, UH, FIRE M S STATION THAT INCLUDES 16 NEW POSITIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THEY ARE, THERE IS AN ADDITION OF $2 MILLION IN OVERTIME THAT IS BEING ADDED TO THEIR FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET TO ADDRESS, UM, INCREASED OVERTIME COSTS TO, TO ASSIST WITH THE LONG-TERM BACKFILL THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, IT'S AT $14 MILLION.
IT'S LOOKING AT IT BY A 3.95% INCREASE COMPARED TO THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, SHOWS BEGINNING OF THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE CANYON CREEK, UH, THE FIFTH AND FINAL, UH, FIRE E M S STATION THAT WILL BE BUILT, UM, PER PER COUNCIL ORDINANCE.
AND THEN 6.5 MILLION FOR CONTINUED, UM, STRUCTURAL WORK AND REPAIRS AT, AT THE, UH, E M S STATION, EXCUSE ME, FIRE STATION 22 AND THE ELECTRICAL REPAIRS AT THE FIRE STATION.
FORENSIC SCIENCE IS A SMALL BUT MIGHTY DEPARTMENT, 14.3, UH, MILLION DOLLARS BUDGET FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE.
IT IS INCREASING, UM, $316,000 IS, IS BEING BUDGETED IN THAT DEPARTMENT IS NEW INVESTMENTS TO AUTOMATE THEIR FINGERPRINT ID SYSTEM.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT AT $39.5 MILLION.
WE ARE SHOWING TWO NEW POSITIONS AND, UM, SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACT FUNDING FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT FOR INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES.
THAT DEPARTMENT HAS, UM, $2.6 MILLION IN FUNDING, UM, IN REVENUE, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS BASICALLY, UM, COURT FEES, CITY ORDINANCE, TRAFFIC FINES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 476.5 MILLION, A 7.1% INCREASE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
11 NEW POSITIONS, AS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TODAY TO IMPLEMENT A PORTION OF THE CROW REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING ADDED FOR SUPPORT SERVICES AND BUILDING SERVICES AND P I O FUNCTIONS BACK INTO THE DEPARTMENT, $2.6 MILLION FOR CADET RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES THAT THOSE ARE THE FUNDS THAT COUNCIL APPROVED, UM, IN THE, IN THE A P D, UM, UM, PAY PACKAGE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AND THEN FULL FUNDING FOR THE SWORN WAGES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED IN FISCAL YEAR 23.
THE REVENUE FOR THE POLICE BUDGET IS 1.4 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
UM, IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, THERE WAS A RE A REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THE 11TH CIVILIAN POSITIONS WOULD BE DOING, UM, IN, IN RESPONSE TO THE CROW REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SEVEN OF THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE IN THE TRAINING ACADEMY LOOKING AT CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S A PROGRAM MANAGER TO MANAGE THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM, AND THEN FOUR POSITIONS WILL BE DATA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNITS FOR RESEARCH AND PLANNING AND OPEN DATA REPORTING.
THEN THERE IS A PORTION, $128,000 THAT WILL BE A CONTRACT FOR OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO COME IN AND, UH, TEACH SPECIFIC CADET CLASSES.
AND THEN FINALLY, THERE WAS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VICTIM OF CRIME ACT GRANT FUNDING.
[04:15:01]
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN, UM, IT CONCLUDES, EXCUSE ME, IN 2023 IN ITS CURRENT STATE, IT IS, UH, THE CITY IS DEVELOPING A NEW THREE-YEAR PROJECT.THERE ARE CURRENTLY 10 VICTIM SERVICES, UM, COUNSELOR OR POSITIONS IN THAT PROGRAM.
THE NEW PROJECT WILL HAVE, WILL REQUEST FIVE POSITIONS, THE TWO COUNSELORS, THREE VICTIM NAVIGATORS.
THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS AVAILABLE TO FUND THREE OF THE FIVE REMAINING POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM.
AND, UM, THE CITY IS ACTUALLY WAITING TO RECEIVE NOTICE.
SO WE WON'T RECEIVE NOTICE OF THE ONGOING FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM OR THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDINGS FOR THAT PROGRAM UNTIL SEPTEMBER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, FIRST QUESTION ON NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS.
WELL, WE SEE A, A PAY INCREASE FOR THOSE FOLKS.
UM, SO IT, IT'S NOT A BUDGETARY MATTER, BUT OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A, UM, CLASSIFICATION SERIES FOR THOSE CALL TAKER POSITIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN, IN, UH, PAY INCREASES.
UH, AND THEN I HAD, I HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
UH, I HAD NOTICED, UH, IT WAS, THERE'S ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FORTY NINE DOLLARS FOR VARIOUS TECH CONTRACTS, UH, IN THE POLICE BUDGET.
WHAT, WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE THOSE FOR? COULD, COULD YOU GUYS ELABORATE ON WHERE THAT MONEY WILL BE ALLOCATED IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT TECH STUFF? IS IT STILL, OH, SORRY.
IS THERE SOMEONE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? GREAT, THANK YOU.
I'M MICHELLE SCHMIDT, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THOSE CONTRACTS, THE MAJORITY OF THAT $443,000 IS RELATED TO THE AXON CONTRACT, WHICH IS BODY-WORN CAMERA AND INTERVIEW ROOMS. UM, AND A SMALL PORTION OF THAT IS ALSO, SORRY, I'M LOOKING FOR MY NOTES.
I THINK IT'S RELATED TO, UM, DIGITAL FORENSIC STORAGE, UM, IMAGING STORAGE, DATA STORAGE.
AND THEN MY, MY LAST, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S, IT'S USED FOR? THOSE ARE THE MAIN TWO THINGS.
THE BODY CAMERAS AND THE FORENSIC STORAGE.
DIGITAL FORENSIC STORAGE AND, AND INTERVIEW ROOMS. OH, AND THE INTERVIEW ROOM.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL OF THAT $400,000.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, AND MAYBE YOU COULD ANSWER IT IF ANYONE ELSE CAN.
UH, THE 11 E CIVILIAN POSITIONS TO IMPROVE TRAINING AND DATA REPORTING, IS THERE A REASON THEY'RE AN A P D AND NOT AN AN O P O? SO THAT UNIT, UM, IS THE, THE DATA OFFICER FOR A P D UHHUH
SO HE OVERSEES THE DATA FOR A P D, WHICH IS OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
UM, SO ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS WILL REPORT UP THROUGH HIM.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE RECOGNITION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BRING TO, UM, THE ATTENTION OF THE BODY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UM, JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, LOOKING AT THE STATISTICS, OUR E M S PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT RETIRING.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOME SPECIFIC ANALYSIS AROUND WHY THEY'RE NOT RETIRING.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS AROUND, UM, E M S, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY ARE E M S PROFESSIONALS BURNING OUT, UM, THEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DECK.
UM, I WAS WONDERING IF I HAVE A MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT HERE TODAY.
I USE AN ACRONYM, SORRY, DECK DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
ROBERT KINGHAM, THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT.
HI, MR. KING, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO, FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT FOR THE TWO NEW POSITIONS AND ADDITIONAL SERVICE, UM, SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.
WHAT WOULD IT ACTUALLY DO AND WHETHER OR NOT I'D LIKE VERY MUCH FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK CANDIDLY
[04:20:01]
TO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S SUFFICIENT FOR THE CITYWIDE EXPANSION THAT WE JUST RECENTLY PASSED.SO THE TWO NEW, UH, FTES FOR THE CLINICAL CASE MANAGERS WILL OF COURSE PROVIDE TWO NEW, UH, STAFF MEMBERS THAT CAN CARRY A CASELOAD.
GENERALLY, UH, 15 TO 16 INDIVIDUALS AT ANY GIVEN TIME, UH, THAT MAY, YOU KNOW, CYCLE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UH, WE DO SERVE FAIRLY ACUTE INDIVIDUALS, UH, IN OUR INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
AND SO, UM, UH, THE, THE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT WHEN YOU SAY FAIRLY ACUTE INDIVIDUALS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SURE.
THAT THAT MEANS THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE GENERALLY HAVE, UH, THREE OR TRI OCCURRING DISORDERS, A CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION, A SUBSTANCE USE DIAGNOSIS, AND A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS AS WELL.
SO THEY ARE SOME OF THE, UH, MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO NEED, UH, INTENSIVE, UH, CASE MANAGEMENT, UM, UH, INTERVENTIONS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY OUR CASELOADS ARE RELATIVELY LOWER, UH, COMPARED TO SOME OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS JUST DUE TO THE ACUITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS.
AND SO WE CAN SEE, UM, UH, WHENEVER TWO NEW CASE MANAGERS COME ON BOARD, THEY WILL PICK UP A CASELOAD OF, UH, 30 NEW INDIVIDUALS.
WE MAY HAVE, UH, FIVE TO 10 CLIENTS CYCLE OFF OF A CASELOAD THROUGHOUT A YEAR WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO PICK UP FIVE OR 10 MORE.
SO THAT MAY, UH, BE ANYWHERE FROM 35 TO 40 TOTAL CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, JUST DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE AND HOW QUICKLY WE CAN HOUSE SOMEONE, UM, HOW QUICKLY WE CAN, UH, ASSIST THEM, UH, MAINTAINING THEIR HOUSING.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO DO FALL OFF A CASELOAD.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE SOME CLIENTS WHO DO PASS AWAY.
UM, AND THAT'S JUST, UH, UH, ANOTHER WAY THAT, UH, THAT CREATES AN OPENING IN OUR CASELOAD.
NOW THE TWO NEW POSITIONS, UH, CAME AT INITIAL REQUESTS FROM OUR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD TO HELP US ADDRESS OUR WAIT LIST.
OUR WAIT LIST CURRENTLY, UH, SITS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 350 TO 400 INDIVIDUALS.
UM, FOR WHAT PERIOD OF TIME, IF I MAY ASK? SO THAT'S ACTIVE, UH, AS OF RIGHT NOW.
AND SO, SO HOW LONG DO THOSE PEOPLE WAIT? SO PEOPLE WE FIND WAITING ON OUR WAIT LIST OVER A YEAR OR MORE GENERALLY? UH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WHENEVER WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID, NEW OPENINGS THAT, THAT COME AVAILABLE, UH, UH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE, THE, THE SIZE OF THE WAIT LIST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING INDIVIDUALS THERE TWO YEARS OR MORE RIGHT NOW WAITING FOR, FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE, ASSISTANCE, AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT.
SO, NOT TO ASK YOU FOR TOO MUCH, BUT HOW DO WE FIX THAT? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO AS A BODY TO FIX A TWO YEAR WAIT LIST FOR PEOPLE WHO YOU'RE SAYING ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE? SO IF WE APPLY OUR, OUR, OUR MEASURE FROM OUR, UH, UH, CASELOAD, UH, THAT EACH STAFF MEMBER CAN CARRY, IF WE HAVE 350 INDIVIDUALS ON THE CASELOAD, UH, ON THE WAIT LIST, AND EACH CASE MANAGER CAN, UH, A ASSIST GENERALLY 15 TO 20 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR, WE CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, DO DO THAT MATH, I BELIEVE WITH OUR ADVISORY BOARD, UM, WHEN THEY WERE DEVELOPING THEIR, UH, UH, BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, UH, THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, THEY LOOKED AT A, A TOTAL NEED OF 12, UH, CASE MANAGERS OVERALL, ALONG WITH THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OR THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
SO, SO IT'S NOT ONLY THE STAFFING, UH, TO PROVIDE THE CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE, BUT, UH, WE DON'T WANNA CREATE A BOTTLENECK.
SO ONCE THEY COME INTO CASE MANAGEMENT, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING IN-HOUSE, NOR SHOULD WE.
AND SO WE LOOK AT PARTNERING WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, UM, TO PROVIDE, UH, PEER SUPPORT, UH, UH, ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS.
DO WE DO ALSO PROVIDE SOME HOUSING ASSISTANCE THROUGH A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM OR A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE, UM, UH, HAVE BEEN, UH, FUNDING, UM, SOME INPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FOR THE PAST, UH, UH, DECADE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO THE CLIENTS THAT ARE BEING SERVED, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER.
IF, IF I MIGHT JUST ADD TO THE COMMENTS, UH, THIS IS CLEARLY THE WORK THAT JUST WAS OUTLINED A MINUTE AGO BY OUR ADMINISTRATOR, CLEARLY IS IN THE HEALTHCARE LANE.
IT'S A LANE THAT WE LEFT, UH, WE LEFT IN 2004 WHEN WE, THAT RESPONSIBILITY WAS TAKEN UP BY CENTRAL HEALTH, THESE CASE MANAGERS THAT YOU HAVE, WHICH I, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAD AT, AT THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM THAT I WORKED AT.
THIS REALLY, WE NEED TO FIND A, A WAY TO ORGANIZE THAT SO THAT IT, SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW ALL THE DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT THE CITY HAS,
[04:25:01]
'CAUSE I KNOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS SIMILAR ASSETS, BUT THEN WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH CENTRAL HEALTH AND SAY, THESE 400 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON A WAIT LIST THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM ACUTE ILLNESSES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ILLNESSES, AS WELL AS ADDICTION ISSUES, WE NEED TO HAVE YOU STEP UP AND HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN HELP US DEAL WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE FALL INTO HOMELESSNESS IF WE, WE DON'T GET ASSISTANCE FROM YOU.NOW, PART OF THIS IS THAT I HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION IN FAIRNESS TO THEM, I NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK WHEN WE UNVEILED THE BUDGET, IS THAT WE NEEDED TO BEGIN TO DEVELOP OUR LANE OF WORK, WHICH IS WHERE, WHERE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS, AND THEN WHERE THE OTHER AGENCIES, WHETHER IT BE THE COUNTY, THE VA, UH, CENTRAL HEALTH, INTEGRAL HEALTH, ALL OF THESE HAVE TO HELP US IN DIFFERENT AREAS SO WE CAN DECIDE, DIVIDE UP THIS WORK IN A WAY THAT IS MANAGEABLE AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
JUST FROM WHAT I LEARNED, WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION MANAGER, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
I THINK THERE'S SOME ADJACENT ISSUES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, ANECDOTALLY I HAVE CONSTITUENTS, THEY DON'T GO TO THEIR PRIMARY PHYSICIAN, THEY CALL E M S.
SO NOW THEY'RE ON THE LINE FOR THIS BILL FOR TAKING AN AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A THING THAT THEY COULD HAVE SEEN THEIR GENERAL PRACTITIONER FOR, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW.
SO I'D EVEN LIKE TO KNOW IF WE'RE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT IN JUST EDUCATING PEOPLE AROUND IF YOU GOT A SPLINTER OR GOT THE FLU, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL AN AMBULANCE AND GO TO THE E M S INDIGENT HEALTHCARE COST IS ENORMOUS, AND SOME OF THESE FOLKS REALLY GET HIT HARD WITH THESE BILLS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONTINUE AS A CONVERSATION, LIKE TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO GO, YOU HAVE MAP, YOU HAVE THESE OTHER, YOU KNOW, MEDICAL PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR, TEACHING PEOPLE THAT CALL AN E M S AND GETTING IN AN AMBULANCE IS NOT THE RESPONSE FOR EVERYTHING.
AND I'VE NEVER HEARD US PERSONALLY, I'VE NEVER HEARD US TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THAT.
UM, SO THAT WAS, I'LL LEAVE THAT THERE.
UM, SO THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT, UM, GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT.
UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT POLICE, SPECIFICALLY THE CROW REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS, THE NEW INVESTMENTS, IT SAYS 128,000 FOR OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO TEACH CADETS SPECIFIC COURSES.
IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT SPECIFIC COURSES.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON A, WITH A CCB Q ON THAT ONE.
BUT FROM INITIAL STANDPOINT, I CAN SPEAK TO HISTORY OF POLICING, UH, HISTORY OF RACISM IN, UH, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND SO WE WANTED TO HAVE CONTENT EXPERTS THAT COULD COME IN AND DIRECTLY SPEAK TO THOSE TYPES OF, TO TOPICS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTENT THAT'S BEING DELIVERED IS COMING FROM THOSE THAT PROFESSIONALLY PRACTICE IN THAT FIELD.
WELL, CERTAINLY YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, MY OFFICE AND BRINGING FORWARD WHAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD, WHICH PRODUCED THE CROW REPORT, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY PRODUCED A GIANT REPORT AND THEN A SECOND REPORT, AND NOW WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR THIRD PHASE OF THE REPORTING, BUT NOT HAVING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT SPECIFIC CLASSES Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN US RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH PUSHBACK FROM FOLKS AT THE CADET ACADEMY TO TEACH WHAT IT IS THAT THE PAROLE REPORT SPECIFICALLY OUTLINED AS ESSENTIAL ITEMS. I THINK IF WE DON'T HAVE GOOD DATA, THEN WHAT ARE WE WORKING WITH? THIS IS JUST, I MEAN, I REALLY RESPECT THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, I RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A HIGH LEVEL BLACK FEMALE AND POLICING THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE YOU TO TASK, BUT I AM SAYING IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SPECIFIC CLASSES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, DO WE NEED 'EM? WE DON'T NEED 'EM.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO VOTE ON RIGHT HERE.
SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN THERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER VELA.
UH, ALSO QUESTION FOR POLICE AS IT RELATES TO THE BUILDING SERVICES LINE.
AND IN THAT LINE IT'S EIGHT, UH, INDIVIDUALS PLUS SUPPORTING BUDGET FOR JUST SOUTH OF $2 MILLION.
AND I'M ASSUMING EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IS NOT PAY AND BENEFITS $250,000.
[04:30:01]
SO WHAT, CAN YOU BREAK THAT OUT FOR ME IN TERMS OF WHAT IS THE ACTUAL KIND OF SALARY SIDE VERSUS WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE SUPPORT AND WHAT IS, WE CAN BREAK IT OUT FOR YOU.THESE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING MAINTENANCE WORK AT, UM, AT POLICE FACILITIES, SUBSTATIONS, AND IT DOES INCLUDE CONTRACTUAL WORK IN ADDITION TO THE STAFFING.
BUT WE'LL, WE CAN BREAK THAT OUT FOR YOU AS A COUNCIL BUDGET QUESTION.
AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER, UH, QUESTION OR, OR REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING, A A COMMENT RELATED TO POTENTIALLY EXPLORING, UM, ELECTRIC POLICE VEHICLES, WHETHER THAT'S SQUAD CARS OR SOME OF THE VEHICLES THAT Y'ALL USE THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY OUT 24 7, UH, AND PERHAPS A PILOT PROGRAM.
I WILL BE EXPLORING TO TRY OUT A COUPLE ELECTRIC POLICE VEHICLES AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, UH, IN THE FUTURE FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE THEIR, THEIR SUSTAINABILITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
UH, THERE'S, UH, AN ITEM FOR AN OPEN DATA STAFFER IN THE, UH, POLICE BUDGET, UH, OPEN DATA REPORTING, POOR POSITION FOR THE DATA AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNITS, OPEN DATA REPORTING.
UM, WE ARE, UH, MY OFFICE IS, UH, ABOUT TO BRING, UH, AN ITEM QUITE POSSIBLY AS A, AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I KNOW, UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND, AND, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT A, AT A WORK SESSION, I THINK INVOLVING THE D P SS.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE THE CHIEF'S MONTHLY REPORT, WHICH IS SENT OUT AS A P D F, BASICALLY.
UH, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY GOOD PUBLIC DATA WITH REGARD TO, UH, POLICE STATISTICS OUT THERE.
SO WE HAVE A, A DRAFT AND WE'LL GET IT, UH, OUT TO ALL THE, THE RELEVANT FOLKS HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUT WE WANNA DIRECT THE, UH, CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A, A OPEN DATA PORTAL WITH, AT A MINIMUM, YOU KNOW, THESE NUMBERS OVER TIME SO THAT WE, UH, CAN HAVE A, A DATA SYSTEM SIMILAR TO SEATTLE, SIMILAR TO, I BELIEVE SAN ANTONIO ALSO HAS A, AN EXCELLENT, SO THINKING ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THAT, UH, THAT DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER, IS THAT WHAT THAT OPEN DATA PERSON IS, UH, SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? UH, YES SIR.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE, UH, DON'T HAVE A CURRENT SYSTEM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO NAVIGATE.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THOSE POSITIONS IS TO NOT ONLY STAND UP, BUT THEN ALSO SUPPORT THE INFORMATION THAT WILL NEED TO GO INTO THOSE OPEN DATA SOURCES.
AND THAT I APPRECIATE IT THEN THAT WE'LL BE COMING FORWARD.
SO WOULD YOU NEED A SEPARATE ALLOCATION TO FUND A OPEN DATA PORTAL OR THAT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY ALREADY BEEN FUNDED VIA THIS, UH, REQUEST? I BELIEVE THAT REQUEST IS JUST FOR THE POSITION, SIR.
UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND SEND THE DIRECTION THEN, AND, AND I'LL, I'LL GET IT OVER TO THE, UH, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND, AND, AND TO THE, THE, THE POLICE CHIEF AS WELL FOR, FOR THEIR REVIEW.
BUT I, IF THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS TO FULFILLING THE, THE GUIDANCE SET THAT WE WILL BE OFFERING, JUST, UH, UH, LET US KNOW AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, UH, TO, TO, TO GET THOSE, UH, UH, MONIES IN THERE.
UM, THEN WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, THE, THE POLICE BUDGET AS WELL, UH, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME BREAKDOWN OF THE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS, LIKE OBVIOUSLY THE 11TH FUNDED POSITION, THE OPEN DATA POSITIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE $22 MILLION INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.
UH, UH, IF, IF WE COULD GET, I GUESS JUST A, A A BETTER IDEA, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED $7 MILLION WAS FOR THE RETIREMENT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE RETIREMENT FUND IS, IS, IS, UH, WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
UH, OUT OF THAT IS FOR THE 4%, UH, RAISE THAT WE DECIDED ON BACK IN, UH, MARCH.
UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ADDING POSITIONS TO THE CADET THAT'S, THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED.
UH, AND, UH, SO IN OTHER WORDS, A, A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE $22 MILLION.
UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW, BY KIND OF CATEGORY, JUST SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN WE INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET, UM, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A VERY KIND OF SENSITIVE THING AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE, THE, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE, THE STATE LAW LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO PULL THOSE EXPENSES BACK.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE HELD A POLICE BUDGET
[04:35:01]
STEADY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.UH, AND I MEAN, JUST A REALITY OF A GROWING, UH, CITY AND IT'S GROWING NEEDS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, BOOST IT UP TO, TO MEET, UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN MINIMUM, UH, UH, CRITERIA.
BUT, UH, FOR THE COMFORT OF, OF I THINK THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
UH, IF WE COULD UNDERSTAND BETTER THAT A $22 MILLION BREAKDOWN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON 9 1 1 AND THEN WANTED TO FLAG SOME THINGS THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT FOR AMENDMENT.
UM, SO FOR 9 1 1, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A M MILLS YESTERDAY.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING A LOT ABOUT THIS QUESTION, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL PLAN IN PLACE THAT WILL, UM, BE CREATING SOME PROGRESSIONS FOR OUR CALL TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, UM, WAS THE ZONING AND THE COMPRESSION.
ADDITIONALLY, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THAT PROGRESSION IS GOING, IS ADDRESSING THE COMPRESSION.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? SO WHEN WE ADDED PAY AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAD FOLKS WHO WERE, UM, WHOSE WAGE DIDN'T GO UP YET.
IT'S MS. L SCHMIDT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH A P D AGAIN.
UM, WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT WILL FIX SOME OF THE COMPRESSION ISSUES, UM, WITH THE VARIOUS ZONES, UM, OR VARIOUS PAY GRADES THAT WE'RE CREATING.
THIS IS A PLAN THAT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH H R D, UM, AND COMPENSATION ON, UM, AS EMPLOYEES GET TO THE TOP OF THE PAY GRADES, SPECIFICALLY IN ZONE FOUR, IT GETS A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER.
AND SO COMPRESSION GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT, UM, IN THOSE, IN THE TOP OF THOSE PAY GRADES AT THE TOP OF THE ZONE.
UM, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S GOING TO, UM, ASSIST WITH THE, A LOT OF THE COMPRESSION ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
SO WILL EXISTING STAFF BE REZONED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS? THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN? YES.
AND DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE WHEN WE WILL HAVE THAT PLAN COMPLETE? SAME.
WE'RE WE'RE, THE DETAILS ARE BEING WORKED OUT LITERALLY RIGHT NOW.
AND AGAIN, AS MICHELLE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE COMPRESSION, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF, WE'RE LOOKING ACROSS THE, UH, THE INCUMBENTS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND, UM, AND THERE'S NO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE IT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE END OF, BEFORE THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY WAS THE PROGRESS AND, AND OUR ESTIMATE FOR WHEN WE BE FULLY STAFFED.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE? WE WANNA BE FULLY STAFFED SOON.
UH, WE WERE, WE'RE LOOKING, WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, REDUCE THE, UH, THE THOSE LEAVING AND BRING IN THOSE TO, TO REPLACE AND A REALISTIC NUMBER TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT STAFFED.
THERE'S PROBABLY EIGHT MONTHS AT THE, AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING NOW, UH, HOPEFULLY SOONER.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES TO EVEN BRINGING IN FULL-TIME FOLKS IS WE JUST HAD SOME BRAINSTORMING SESSION YESTERDAY ABOUT WHEN WE HIRE CADETS FOR WHETHER IT'S POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, TO MAYBE COME IN AS KIND OF AS NEW HIRES TO COME IN.
AND IF THEY'RE MOVING FROM OUTTA STATE, THEY'RE GONNA START THE FIRE ACADEMY.
I HAVEN'T TALKED TO FIRE CHIEF YET, BUT I'M SURE HE'LL BE FINE WITH THAT.
IS THAT, SEE
AND THAT WHILE AT THE MEANTIME WE'RE TRAINING, HIRING, RECRUITING, TRAINING OUR PERMANENT 9 1 1 AND DISPATCHERS.
AND AT THIS POINT, GIVEN WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT ALLOCATED FOR 9 1 1, YOU DON'T REQUIRE ADDITIONAL BUDGET TO ACHIEVE THIS PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, NO, NOT THIS TIME.
UM, AND THEN COLLEAGUES, I WANTED TO, UM, BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE 29 OF THE SLIDES, WHICH IS THE VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT GRANT POSITIONS.
THESE ARE POSITIONS IN VICTIM SERVICES, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN FOCUSED.
THERE'S 10 POSITIONS CURRENTLY THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CRISIS RESPONSE.
UM, THAT GRANT IS UP IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE CAN ONLY APPLY FOR FIVE NEW POSITIONS AND WITHIN THE BUDGET THEY HAVE GOT FUNDING FOR THREE BUT NOT FTES FOR THE THREE.
SO AT A MINIMUM, IN THE PERFECT SCENARIO WHERE WE GET THE GRANT, WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE NEED TO FUND FULLY AND HAVE FTES AND THREE THAT WE NEED FTES FOR.
UM, WE ARE STILL EXAMINING WHETHER THE OTHER FIVE POSITIONS, UM, WOULD BE SERVING THE VERY IMPORTANT NEEDS FOR OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. AND SO
[04:40:01]
WE WILL NEED TWO TO SEVEN POSITIONS, UM, FOR VICTIM SERVICES DEPENDING ON HOW THAT WORK, UM, FALLS OUT.UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS, HAS, UM, SIGNED ON TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WITH ME, UM, AS AN AMENDMENT IF NECESSARY, IF STAFF DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF IT.
AND I WOULD WELCOME OTHER FOLKS, UM, TO JOIN ME IN THAT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEW TO THE DAAS, UM, WE WERE SUED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS FOR HOW WE HANDLED OUR RESPONSES.
WE MADE PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS IN BOTH THE SETTLEMENT BOTH LEGALLY AND IN SPIRIT.
IT IS NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF THOSE COMMITMENTS AND THOSE PROMISES FOR US TO ALLOW THIS FUNDING TO LAPSE AND FOR THOSE POSITIONS TO GO AWAY.
UM, THESE ARE REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL TO OUR EFFORTS TO HELP FOLKS, UM, ACHIEVE HEALING I JUSTICE AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, UM, TO JOIN ME IN THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO, UM, OUR ANTI HATE CAMPAIGN.
WE ALL BELONG THAT WE LAUNCHED LAST FRIDAY THAT WAS INITIATED THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT I HAD LAST YEAR, UM, IN RESPONSE TO A SERIES OF HATE AND ANTISEMITIC CRIMES THAT WE HAD AND INCIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU'LL SEE THE BANNERS OUTSIDE ON THE STREET, UM, AND THERE'S A WEBSITE.
WE'RE HAVING AN EVENT ON AUGUST 12TH, UM, TO LAUNCH WITH PRIDE.
I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THAT.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS STEP.
UM, BUT WE STILL NEED MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE THE CAMPAIGN, UM, AND THE BROADER EFFORT TO IMPROVE OUR REPORTING STRUCTURES AND OUR RESPONSE TO HATE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND I SERVE ON THE HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND WE ARE GONNA BE BRINGING A ONE-TIME FUNDING AMENDMENT TO CONTINUE OUR CAMPAIGN AND OUR WORK TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO HATE.
SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN THAT EFFORT AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, I MAY BE BRINGING SOMETHING FOR E M S, UM, WITH RESPECT TO, UM, THE C FOUR, THE PARAMEDIC PRACTITIONERS, I'M STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS ON THAT.
IF THAT'S INTERESTING TO YOU, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE ANTI HAIGHT CAMPAIGN.
I, UM, AM SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT AND WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SEE THAT FUNDING CONTINUED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE QUESTIONS I HAD ARE AROUND THE, UM, WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS WANNA, UM, ECHO COUNCIL RIVERA'S REMARKS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SHARING OUT THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS APPROVED RECORD, UH, POLICE FUNDING THESE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND, UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY DOES INCLUDE AN INCREASE TO THE POLICE BUDGET, BUT WE'VE ASKED FOR A BREAKDOWN SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE, UM, THE LINE ITEM AMOUNT OF THAT 20 PLUS MILLION, WHERE THAT WOULD GO WITH RETIREMENT FUNDING.
UM, AS WELL AS FOR THE RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES THAT WE APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN THE ASSOCIATION WALKED AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATION TABLE.
I WANTED TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A COMMENT ON HOW THE RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES HAVE BEEN WORKING, THE 15,000 THAT WE ADDED FOR CADETS.
HAVE WE SEEN PROGRESS IN THE AMOUNT OF CADETS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT? YES, MA'AM.
IT HAS ENHANCED THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED ONLINE, BUT AS WE WORK THROUGH AND PROCESS THOSE APPLICATIONS, THE ATTRITION RATE, UM, IS ABOUT THE, IS ABOUT THE SAME.
SO IT HAS HAD AN INCREASE IN INTEREST, BUT AS FAR AS ACTUAL NEW HIRES, UM, IT HASN'T COME TO FRUITION AS, AS WE HAD, UH, ANTICIPATED OR HAD LIKED.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ALSO HEARING WHAT ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING.
AND I APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY AROUND, UM, THE CALL TAKERS AND HAVING CADETS HELP WITH THAT.
I THINK THAT'S, UM, REALLY, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
UH, BUT WOULD BE OPEN TO HEARING FEEDBACK ON WHAT ELSE WE CAN BE DOING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, TO GET TO OUR NUMBERS.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND THE DATA REPORTING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE HAVE PERSONNEL FOR THE OPEN, UH, FOR THE OPEN DATA.
WE KNOW THAT THE KROLL REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT WE PROVIDE THIS DATA IN A TRANSPARENT FASHION.
I'M CURIOUS, DID THE DEPARTMENT THINK THROUGH, UH, AN ALTERNATIVE AND WHEN AND WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE THE DATA OR THE INDIVIDUAL'S PLACED? AND TO ME IT WOULD MAKE, JUST KNOWING THE MISSION AND SCOPE, IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THESE POSITIONS TO BE HOUSED WITHIN O P O, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
SO I'M CURIOUS, WAS THAT AN OPTION YOU ALL CONSIDERED OR IF YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE AS TO WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR IT TO BE HOUSED IN A P D? ABSOLUTELY, YES MA'AM.
SO UNDERSTAND, UM, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DRAW THAT INFORMATION FROM THOSE DATA SOURCES,
[04:45:01]
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THOSE BE HOUSED WITHIN A P D WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER IT'S, UH, AXON OR OUR VERSADEX, WHICH WHICH IS OUR REPORT REPORTING SYSTEM, OR WHETHER IT'S OUR CAD, IT IS FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT IN ORDER TO HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SYSTEMS, THEN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACCURATELY PULLING THAT IN INFO INFORMATION.IT'S, IT WOULD BE CRITICAL FOR THEM TO BE HOUSED WITH WITHIN OUR RESEARCH AND PLANNING TEAM WITH DR.
IS IT BECAUSE TO BE, IS IT A LEVEL OF AUTHORIZATION TO THE SOFTWARE OR IS IT, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL PROXIMITY TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT? SO ANYONE WHO WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE CJS COMPLIANT IN THAT.
AND UM, OUR CONTENT EXPERT ON THAT IS, UH, MR. CHIP BURLESON, AND I CAN HAVE HIM ANSWER THAT IN A C B Q AND HAVE, UH, DR.
KREGAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THAT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I MEAN, 'CAUSE I, I DO, YOU KNOW, I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND MORE THE SITUATION AND ALL THE FACTORS THAT Y'ALL ARE CONSIDERING.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION I THINK FOR CHIEF BAKER.
UM, SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, TAKE IT DOWN.
YOU TAKING QUESTIONS CHIEF? I HEARD MY NAME CALL.
UM, I, UM, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OVERTIME.
WE HAD IT, YOU KNOW, UH, A CONVERSATION IN AUDIT AND FINANCE.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD A MEMO ABOUT OVERTIME AND THE BUDGET ADDS AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION, UM, TO THE BUDGET FOR OVERTIME.
UM, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, ACCOUNT FOR THINGS, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY SOLVING THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM.
UM, AND I AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT ADDING 20 OFFICERS INSTEAD OF 2 MILLION.
LIKE IT COSTS THE SAME, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS? UH, JOEL BAKER, AUSTIN, FIRE CHIEF, UH, THE CITY MANAGER, HONOR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THAT QUESTION.
I THINK THE $2 MILLION IS A GOOD START.
UH, YOU GOTTA KEEP IN MIND WITH ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFER, THIS GREAT CITY, IT IS UNFUNDED, UH, ALSO INCREASE OVERTIME, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE HAVE A HIGH WILDLAND FIRE CONDITION.
YOU ALL MENTIONED EARLIER HOW HOT IT IS OUT THERE, HOW DRY IS OUT THERE.
AND SO WHEN WE STAND UP ADDITIONAL, UH, TASK FORCE UNIT TO SUPPORT WILDLAND, UH, POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS, UH, THAT'S A OVERTIME CAUSE THAT'S NOT FUNDED AS WELL AS WHEN WE HAVE, UH, OTHER WEATHER RELATED INCIDENT OR MAN MAY CAUSE INCIDENTS, UM, THAT INCREASE OUR OVERTIME.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO COVER THOSE UH, AREAS, SO WE HAVE TO HIRE OVERTIME FOR THAT.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL OVERTIME IS A GREAT START.
UH, SO WE WOULD NEED TIME TO REALLY EVALUATE THAT, SEE HOW THAT LOOKS.
BUT I THINK THAT'S A GREAT START FOR US.
BUT WHEN WE DO OVERTIME, WE PAY TIME AND A HALF.
IF I HIRE 20 OFF 20 FIREFIGHTERS, I'M GETTING MORE HOURS THAN I WOULD FROM OVERTIME.
UM, AT SOME LEVEL I, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT DOESN'T, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM JUST BY PUTTING THE OVERTIME COUNCIL MEMBER.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I, I'D ADD TO WHICH JUST CHIEF BAKER TALKED ABOUT.
'CAUSE ONE IS WE HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
TWO, I THINK AS I UNDERSTOOD THE AUDITOR'S REPORT IN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE HANDLE VACATION AND SICK LEAVE, WE NEED TO EVALUATE THAT TO SEE IF IT COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY.
SO I THINK THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS WE'VE GOTTA DO FIRST TO SEE WHETHER THE OVERTIME RUN RATE CHANGES WITH SOME MANAGEMENT WITH SOME IMPROVED, IMPROVED, UH, MANAGERIAL POLICIES, IF YOU WILL.
AND THEN, UH, AND THEN WE CAN EVALUATE IF ADDITIONAL STAFF ARE NEEDED.
BUT I WOULD BE REALLY HESITANT TO JUST LAND ON THAT ONE TO BEGIN WITH WITHOUT MORE ANALYSIS UPFRONT.
AND I, AND I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, I WASN'T PROPOSING THAT WE WOULD DO THIS IN THE BUDGET, BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BEYOND THE MEMO, THERE'S ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT STEPS IS NOT CLEAR FROM THE MEMO THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT STEPS THAT WERE BEING TAKEN.
UM, SO I, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO LEAVE AND, AND THE OTHER PIECES, THE, YOU KNOW, THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD IN THAT MEMO WERE ADD TO THE OVERTIME AND HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS AND NOT A LOT WAS SUBSCRIBED TO THE LEAVE.
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THERE'S POTENTIALLY A LOT OF SOLUTION IN MANAGING, UM, HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH OUR STAFF.
UM, SO I WOULD JUST REALLY APPRECIATE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HEAR BACK AGAIN A FOLLOW UP TO THAT MEMO.
UM, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND IF IT PROVES
[04:50:01]
THAT JUST ADDING OVERTIME IF WE, IF WE HAVE ALL, WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT THE CHIEF MENTIONED THAT ARE RUNNING ON OVERTIME THAT YOU COULD HAVE REGULAR FIREFIGHTERS IN, OR AS WE'RE BALANCING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH OUR STAFFING, HAVING FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE TAKING THOSE ROLES COULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE.AND, AND I THINK WE NEED THAT ANALYSIS.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL IN OVERTIME DURING THIS YEAR.
AND I, AND, AND IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT JUST ADDING OVERTIME HELPS OUR FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE THEN THEY'RE WORKING MORE, ET CETERA.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, I WANNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM OVER TIME, EVEN IF THIS IS A FIRST STEP.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE DONE WITH THAT CONVERSATION.
SO I WANNA JUST THAT ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL PUT TOGETHER A, A UH, PLAN OF ACTION, UM, TO REDUCE SICK LEAVE AND OTHER, UM, CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO TURN TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER REAL FOR ME.
IT, IT IS RELATED TO YOU, I, NOT AS A QUESTION, BUT A COMMENT AND, AND FROM THE MANAGER, UH, JUST AS IT RELATES TO THE RECENT CHALLENGES WE'VE HAD WITH AIR CONDITIONING, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE NEED TO DO IN THE BUDGET, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ON IT.
AND SO JUST, UM, I I JUST WANT TO TO SAY THAT IF, IF, IF WE NEED TO PUT ANYTHING UP EXTRA IN HERE TO, TO TAKE CARE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SITUATION, I CAN'T IMAGINE DRIVING AROUND, LET ALONE IN 50 POUNDS OF GEAR.
BUT, UH, JUST WANNA MAKE THAT COMMENT.
I, I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE CHIEF, BUT I KNOW IT'S ON OUR LIST.
WE'VE GOT A MEMO THAT WENT OUT TODAY AND, UH, YES SIR.
AND, UH, LEMME ADD ABOUT THE CONDITION.
UH, THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 100 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, WHETHER IT BE SUVS, PICKUP TRUCKS, FIRE TRUCKS, AREA TRUCKS, ET CETERA.
UH, I BELIEVE, UH, I, ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW IS FLEET HERE OR NOT, I THINK FLEET IS DOING A, A GOOD JOB, UH, UH, HONORABLE JOB AND WORKING VERY HARD.
BUT EVEN BEFORE COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, BROUGHT FORTH AND ANOTHER COUNCILMAN BRA FORTH THE AC ACQUISITION CHALLENGES WE'RE HAVING, OUR FLEET DEPARTMENT HERE IN AUSTIN WAS WORKING DUE DILIGENCE TO TRY TO GET THOSE ACS UNIT UP, UP IN SERVICE.
UM, SO, BUT AS SOON AS THEY WORK ON THE AC UNIT, WE HAVE ANOTHER APPARATUS ISSUE, WHETHER IT BE THE PUMP GO OUT OR THE FLAT TIRES.
SO THEY'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE PLAN THAT THE FLEET SERVICES PUT TOGETHER.
WE HAVE THE FLEET SERVICES DIRECTOR HERE, IF SHE COULD SPEAK TO THE ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK THAT, OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, THE, BECAUSE THIS IS, AND CITY MANAGER, I, I COMMENTED ON THE, UM, ON THE MESSAGE BOARD POST THE AC UH, FUNCTIONALITY IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE WITH OUR FIRE TRUCKS, IT'S ALSO AN ISSUE WITH OUR COLLECTION TRUCKS WITHIN AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY.
UM, I'VE, YOU KNOW, BEEN AT OUR LIBRARY IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN AND HAD THE AC GO OUT.
SO LIKE I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A SYSTEM-WIDE FACILITY ISSUE AND VEHICLE ISSUE.
BUT IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO WHAT, SO, GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M JENNIFER WALLS, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FLEET MOBILITY SERVICES.
UM, YES, WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN AC ISSUES IN THE SUMMERTIME THAT'S STANDARD THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, THERE'S BEEN AN UPTICK.
UM, I ABOUT 50% FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'RE WORKING, LIKE YOU SAID, DILIGENTLY TO GET THESE, UH, VEHICLES REPAIRED AND IN SERVICE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, OUR FLEET MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, AS I INDICATED IN THE MEMO, IS TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONAL READINESS AT ALL OF THE FIRE STATIONS.
SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS HOW WE MANAGE THE FLEET AND REPAIRS, WE MUST PRIORITIZE KEEPING THAT OPERATIONAL READINESS AT ALL.
THIS ALL OF THE FIRE STATIONS.
SO WHEN A VEHICLE COMES IN FOR REPAIR, WE'LL PUT IT IN A CATEGORY OF WILL THIS DOWN THE VEHICLE, WHICH THROWS US INTO KIND OF MAKING SURE ALL THE FIRE STATIONS ARE HOUSED OR IS THIS SOMETHING SIMPLE THAT WE CAN TAKE AND, AND GET BACK OUT AND NOT IMPACT THAT.
SO DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF REPAIR, WE WILL PRIORITIZE THAT WAY.
SO IF, FOR INSTANCE, IF A AC IS DOWN BUT IT'S NOT DOWNING THE VEHICLE ITSELF, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF ANCILLARY TO THE RESPONSE EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT COMES IN THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR A BRAKE PROBLEM, WE WILL PUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM OR THE TRANSMISSION, UM, PROBLEM AHEAD OF IT BECAUSE THAT COULD BE OUT FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS.
AND AGAIN, THAT BALANCE OF HAVING ALL THE FIRE STATIONS HOUSED, IT IMPACTS THAT, THAT OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SO I JUST WANT, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW WE OPERATE AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE REPAIRS, BUT THE, THE MAIN THING IS, IS THAT OPERATIONAL READINESS, FIRE TRUCKS AT ALL THE FIRE STATIONS READY TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS IS NUMBER ONE.
AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THAT FLEET AND A F D
[04:55:01]
ARE TIED AT THE HIP.WE'RE NOT CALLED FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY TIED TO THEIR MISSION.
SO, UM, ALL OF OUR TECHNICIANS AND ALL OF OUR FACILITIES KNOW A LOT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY REALLY WORK HARD AND THEY KNOW THAT MISSION, THEY'RE PROUD OF WHAT SUPPORT THEY BRING TO A F D.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHILE BALANCING THE MULTIPLE OTHER ACCIDENTS AND TIRES AND ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT COMES THROUGH THE DOOR.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, WITH A R R AND AND PUBLIC SAFETY FLEETS, THERE IS THAT CONSTANT DEMAND AND SO THEREFORE IT, IT ALSO CREATES LESS OF A WINDOW FOR US TO GET AHOLD OF THAT TRUCK.
SO FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRE STATION COULD GET UP, START A TRUCK, AC DOESN'T WORK, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE GETTING CALLS TO GO OUT AND SERVE FIRE.
SO YOU MAY SEE A REPORT OF AN AC BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY JUST DRIVE IT STRAIGHT UP TO US AND WE FIX IT.
THERE'S A DELAY 'CAUSE THAT TRUCK STILL HAS TO OPERATE AND WE STILL HAVE TO FIND A RESERVE UNIT TO PUT IN ITS PLACE.
AND LIKE I SAID IN THE MEMO, THAT'S A COORDINATED EFFORT SO THAT WE MAINTAIN COVERAGE OF THAT AREA FOR THAT FIRE TRUCK AS WE SWITCH THEM OUT.
SO LIKE I SAID, THE, WE PRIORITIZE REPAIRS ON MAINTAINING THAT OPERATIONAL READINESS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CONFUSING.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU IN TERMS CITY MANAGER FOR ADDRESSING THE MEMO THAT I PUT OUT ABOUT THE CONCERNS RELATED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING BEING OUT IN THOSE UNITS.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND TAKING AN APPARATUS OUT OF SERVICE IN ORDER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THAT YOU HAVE TO BACKFILL THAT.
IT'S QUITE LIKE WHEN YOU TAKE PEOPLE OUTTA SERVICE FOR TRAINING, YOU HAVE TO BACKFILL THEM SO YOU CAN STILL CONTINUE THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF.
UM, I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF BYERS AND CARRIE LANG ON MONDAY REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT IS PROMPTLY BEING ADDRESSED.
UM, I GUESS MY, MY BIGGER CONCERN OUTSIDE OF THIS IS THAT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ARE OPERATING ON APPARATUS, IT DOES REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIALIZATION THAN IT WOULD ANYTHING TYPICAL OF A REGULAR VEHICLE.
AND SO MY CONCERN IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH MECHANICS WHO ARE CERTIFIED TO WORK ON FIRE APPARATUS, BUT ALSO THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE AT FLEET SERVICES FOR WHEN THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS OCCUR.
UM, SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT HAVE ANY UNMET NEEDS OVER THERE THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP NOT JUST EXPEDITE, EXPEDITE AC REPAIR, BUT ALSO MIGHT HELP JUST OVERALL MAINTAINING OUR APPARATUS.
BECAUSE AS YOU'RE AWARE, I'M NOT SURE THE COMMUNITY IS, SO I'M GONNA REPEAT THIS PART.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE FRONTLINE APPARATUS AS FAR AS THE APPARATUS REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE GO OUR FRONTLINE FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN THEY GO INTO RESERVE FOR FIVE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT 15 YEARS OF A FIRE TRUCK LIFESPAN AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED AND THAT APPARATUS IS IN TIP TOP SHAPE.
AND SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAINTAIN THE INVESTMENT OF THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND ON THESE APPARATUS AND WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO, AND, AND THAT WAY IT CAN GO OFF TO AUCTION AND LIVE A HAPPY LIFE OUT IN SOME FIELD, SOMEWHERE AT A DIFFERENT FIRE STATION.
WELL I APPRECIATE YOU A LOT OF TIMES WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT, UM, EXPANDING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY FLEET.
YOU KNOW, THE FLEET COMPONENT KIND OF IS WE BUY THE VEHICLE AND IT ENDS THERE.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE, WHEN YOU GET A PET, IT ISN'T, YOU JUST GET 'EM THAT DAY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 14 YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE LADDER OR QUINN, IT'S 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW, FROM FRONTLINE AND RESERVE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU THAT, APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT.
UM, RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT SHOP, UM, SERVICE CENTER SIX, UH, IS WHERE FIRE AND E M SS APPARATUS ARE REPAIRED.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE 14 TECHNICIANS THAT TAKE CARE OF BOTH.
UM, THEY ARE SHORT ON TECHNICIANS, TECHNICIANS THERE FLEET WIDE.
UM, WE HAVE BUDGETED 114 TECHNICIANS AND WE HAVE, UM, 15 VACANCIES.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, WE, WE ARE HAVING, THERE'S A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF TECHNICIANS AND WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING.
WE ARE WORKING WITH DELL VALLEY.
WE GET A ROBUST AMOUNT OF AUTOMOTIVE STUDENTS OUT THERE THAT COME INTO ORGANIZATION AS, UM, INTERNS AND THEY WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH SOME OF OUR TECHNICIANS TO KIND OF LEARN THE TRADE.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'VE, WE'VE DECIDED WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO GROW OUR OWN BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT OUT THERE.
AND SO WE, WE ARE WORKING FROM THAT ANGLE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT MARKET STUDY, UM, WE'RE DOING AN INTERNAL MARKET STUDY RIGHT NOW TO, TO HELP SEE WHERE WE'RE AT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING FOLKS THAT WILL LEAVE FOR MORE MONEY.
UM, SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY HITTING THAT TO TRY TO TRY TO RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE INTO THE FIELD.
UM, TYPICALLY, UM, A VEHICLE TO TECHNICIAN RATIO IDEALLY WOULD BE AROUND 50 TO ONE.
RIGHT NOW WITH OUR VACANCIES WE'RE AROUND 70 TO ONE.
UM, IF WE FILL ALL OUR VACANCIES, WE'LL BE AT 62 TO ONE.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE DON'T, IF WE HAVE
[05:00:01]
VACANCIES, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HIRE MORE, I GET IT.BUT WE DON'T REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN THE FLEET.
SO IF WE CAN GET UP TO GET ALL 115, WE'LL BE AT, AT UM, AT 62.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD EMAIL ME THAT INFORMATION? YEAH, SURE.
UM, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF A MARKET STUDY HAD BEEN DONE RECENTLY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT.
YEAH, I WOULD LIKE THE RESULTS OF THAT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT THAT MAY BE PART OF THE ISSUE OVER THERE AT FLEET, THAT THESE MECHANICS ARE GETTING PAID MORE TO GO ELSEWHERE.
AND I WANNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO RECRUIT AND MAINTAIN THOSE MECHANICS BECAUSE THAT IS A SERVICE THAT IS VERY NECESSARY TO MAINTAINING OPERATIONS ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
NOT JUST AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO WHILE THAT MEMO WENT OUT ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONERS AND FIRETRUCKS, IT DOES SPEAK TO A LARGER AREA OF OPPORTUNITY I THINK THAT WE CAN ADDRESS ON COUNCIL AND DO SO IN A WAY THAT'S COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH AND LONG TERM THAT OUR VEHICLES AND OUR APPARATUS WILL BE MAINTAINED IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
AND THOSE ARE ULTIMATELY INVESTMENTS IN THE TAXPAYER'S RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND TO CALLS FOR SERVICE ACROSS THE CITY AND ALWAYS POSSIBLE SO I APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE COMPREHENSIVE ANSWERS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR SENDING YOUR STAFF OVER TO SPEAK WITH ME.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, CITY MANAGER, FOR BEING VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE CONCERNS.
AND I, WELL, I, I THINK, UH, JENNIFER CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION, BUT IF IT IS AN HR ISSUE WHERE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OUR FOLKS ARE BEING PAID, RIGHT? IT'S THE SAME AS WHAT BRUCE JUST SAID ABOUT, UH, OUR 9 1 1 THAT WE NEED TO DO A, A RAPID RECLASS.
I MEAN THAT, UH, SO THEY'LL, IF SHE, IF YOU'LL GET WITH ED AND YOU GUYS GET WITH, UH, REBECCA, WE, WE DON'T NEED DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING AS ADMINISTRATION WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING COUNSEL GET A, UH, DIRECTING US TO GO DO SOMETHING THAT'S OUR ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY.
I'D ASK YOU GUYS TO GO DO THAT.
AND IF IT'S A PROBLEM, GO FI FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIX IT.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE, WE WANNA MINIMIZE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
AND FILLING THOSE VACANCIES AND BEING COMPETITIVE IN OUR PAY WILL HELP US TO GET TO THAT POINT.
I WANNA INVEST IN THAT LONG TERM BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.
I JUST WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS FROM MS. WALLS.
I MEAN, THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE YEARS OF US HASN'T, OF US HAVING CONSISTENT CONVERSATIONS AROUND EVEN REMEDIATION.
SO LIKE I HAVE AT 12TH AND HEART GRADE, A SITE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO CONSIDERABLE REMEDIATION ON, UM, BECAUSE IT'S JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, A, A FLEET GRAVEYARD, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD ANY INSTANCES OF IRRESPONSE, IN WHICH CASE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE SHOULD ADD TO OUR LIST OF CONSIDERATIONS WHEN WE HAVE TO REMEDIATE THESE SITES, THESE FLEET SERVICES SITES THAT SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
NOW, IF WE'RE GONNA REPURPOSE THEM AND MAKE THEM FOR HOUSING, WE HAVE TO REMEDIATE THEM.
WE'VE HAD DIESEL FLEET ON THESE SITES FOR YEARS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO ADD TO OUR LIST OF CONSIDERATIONS.
UM, THE ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS, UM, WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS AROUND US TRYING TO TAKE OUR FLEET SERVICES TO, UM, BEING MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT? OH, THE VEHICLES THEMSELVES, WE DO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE ELECTRIFICATION, UH, PLAN.
UH, MATTER OF FACT, THIS FRIDAY WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD A GRANT, HOPEFULLY, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, ON THE FIRST WE HAVE A GRANT THAT WE'RE NEEDING TO ABOUT $500,000 FOR ELECTRIFICATION AND, UH, OF OUR, SOME OF OUR CITY FLEET VEHICLES AND SOME OF OUR C N G FOR OUR AVIATION, UH, VEHICLES.
SO WE'RE HEAVILY INVESTED IN ELECTRIFYING THE FLEET AS FAR AS THE FACILITIES.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO GET A NEW FACILITY, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
WE HARGRAVE, WE'VE OUTGROWN THAT SPACE.
AND LIKE SHE SAID, WE ARE KIND OF IN AN AREA THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY RESIDENTIAL
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND VISIT THE SITE.
UM, ANYTHING WE GET FROM THERE, IT'S RIGHT ON THE CORNER.
ANYBODY CAN JUST DRIVE RIGHT DOWN STREET AND IT'S RIGHT THERE TO YOU RIGHT AT HEART GRADE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A, I MEAN, I LAUGH ABOUT, WE SAY WE STILL HAVE THE HITCHING POSTS THAT WERE THERE AND WE PARK OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THEM,
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S INTERESTING THAT THAT'S HOW OLD THE FACILITY IS, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A MOVE WITH YOUR SUPPORT, AND THAT'LL GO A LONG WAY TO OPEN UP SPACE, UM, AND MAKE OUR FACILITIES MORE ATTRACTIVE, UM, FOR CANDIDATES COMING HERE.
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THEY, THEY COME AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, THIS IS, THIS
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IS THE, THE SHOP I'M WORKING INSO IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING THAT WE, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT NEW SPACE.
SO I THINK THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, US, YOU KNOW, REALLY ENCOURAGING THE USE OF THE COMMITTEES AS LIKE RESOURCES.
SO THE COMBINATION OF, I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT FLEET AND RESOURCE RECOVERY ARE THINKING ABOUT A COMBINED EFFORT.
AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO USE OUR COMMITTEES AND DO A JOINT COMMITTEE EFFORT AROUND TRANSPORT, TRANSIT, MOBILITY AND HOUSING AND REALLY TALK THROUGH LIKE THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC IMPLICATIONS ABOUT REMEDIATION AND SOME SPECIFIC IMPLICATIONS ABOUT Y'S FUTURE EFFORTS.
AND THEN THINKING THROUGH, UM, MAYBE EVEN OUR AUDIT AND FINANCE FOLKS.
LIKE WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO ELECTRIFY ALL THESE VEHICLES? OH, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE HAVING MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE DATA THAT SUPPORTS ELECTRIFICATION, COST SAVINGS, ALL OF THAT.
SO, UM, WELL, WE OUGHT TO GO, I'M SORRY.
WELL, WE OUGHT TO VISIT AND, AND, AND TAKE THAT ADVICE AND RUN IT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AND, UM, AND, AND BRING, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL MAKE SURE THE MANAGER DOESN'T TELL ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT I THINK WE'RE AT THE END OF THIS SESSION.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT I, I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO ANNOUNCE TO THE PUBLIC A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST IS, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT ON AUGUST 1ST, NEXT WEEK AT 3:00 PM THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, THERE'LL ALSO BE A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'LL DO A PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WILL OPEN WILL BE ON THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE.
AND, BUT WE WILL ALSO AT THE SAME TIME TAKE COMMENTS REGARDING THE BUDGET.
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY AFTER THAT FOR, FOR PUBLIC INPUT WILL BE ON AUGUST 16TH AT 10:00 AM THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO AUGUST 1ST AT 3:00 PM A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE, ALONG WITH A COM, A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REGARDING THE BUDGET AUGUST 16TH AT 10:00 AM A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.
NOW HAVING SAID THAT, WHERE I'M TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COMMENT, LET ME RUN THROUGH THE ENTIRE CALENDAR.
AUGUST 1ST, THERE WILL BE A WORK SESSION.
THAT WORK SESSION WILL BE ON THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
MUCH LIKE WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY ON THE GENERAL FUND, WE WILL DO WITH REGARD TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE THREE O'CLOCK THAT, THAT MEETING STARTS AT 10.
BUT THEN WE WILL HAVE THE THREE O'CLOCK PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AUGUST 3RD AND EIGHTH IF WE NEED THEM, HAVE BEEN POSTED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A WORK SESSION IF NEEDED.
OTHERWISE, UH, WE, AND IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT WE PROBABLY WILL NOT NEED THEM, BUT WE'LL MAKE THAT DECISION LIKE ON AUGUST 1ST WHEN WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AND WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
THEN, AS I'VE MENTIONED, AUGUST 16TH AT 10 O'CLOCK WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE, BUT IT'S AUGUST 16TH, UM, AUGUST 16TH THROUGH THE 18TH, THAT WE WILL END UP VOTING ON THE BUDGET AS WE GO FORWARD.
UH, THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO GATHER ON THE 10TH FOR US TO, AS, AS YOU'VE HEARD DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, YOU'VE HEARD DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIAL ITEMS FROM COUNCIL.
IT WILL BE ON THE 16TH THAT WE WILL HAVE A MEETING WHERE WE WILL HOPEFULLY LAY OUT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS SO THAT OUR COLLEAGUES WILL SEE THEM BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON THEM, BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEM, AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO, UH, MOVE WITH MORE EFFICIENCY WHEN WE GET TO THE 16TH THROUGH THE 18TH.
SO, YES, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, UM, I WANTED TO ASK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER A PARTICULAR TOPIC FOR THE ENTERPRISE DISCUSSION.
UM, AT AUDIT AND FINANCE LAST WEEK WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, THE HILTON HOTEL.
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UM, BUT IN THE COURSE OF THAT DISCUSSION, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A 35% VACANCY AT THE AIRPORT.UM, SO REALLY VACANCY RATE AT THE AIRPORT.
SO WE REALLY WANTED TO, UM, DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE VACANCIES AT THE AIRPORT, UM, AS PART OF THIS BUDGET.
SO IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
ANYTHING ELSE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THIS WORK SESSION IS ADJOURNED AT 3:42 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE.