[00:00:04]
[Call to Order ]
MORNING EVERYBODY.IT'S 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON AUGUST 8TH, 2024, AND I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THIS WORK SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH IS LOCATED AT CITY HALL 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT, UM, MEMBERS, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS, UH, LATE YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED, UM, UH, A COPY OF A COURT ORDER, UH, RELATED TO ONE OF THE LAWSUITS.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, UH, WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING.
IF THERE IS SOMEONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS BUDGET WORK SESSION RELATED TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE, UH, 20 24, 20 25 BUDGET, YOU'LL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK, UH, FOR THREE MINUTES.
UH, WHAT WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU DO IS IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AND YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN A, IN JUST A MOMENT, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'LL JUST HAVE YOU COME DOWN AND CLEARLY STATE YOUR NAME AND, AND THEN GIVE YOUR YOUR COMMENTS.
IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY UNTIL 11 O'CLOCK, AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE'RE GONNA MOVE, MOVE FORWARD.
UH, BUT IF, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO COMMENT AND YOU'RE NOT IN THE CHAMBERS, PLEASE GO DOWN TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, THE CLERKS THAT ARE HERE AND LET THEM KNOW SO THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW.
AND AN APPROPRIATE POINT IN TIME, WE WILL BREAK FROM THE WORK THAT THE COUNCIL'S DOING, UH, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REVENUE UPDATE FROM OUR BUDGET STAFF AND THEN MEMBERS WE WILL GO THROUGH AS WAS PLANNED FOR THIS MEETING, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED, UH, OUR STAFF HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PUTTING THOSE AMENDMENTS IN BLOCKS, IF YOU WILL, WHERE THEY'RE RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER, WHICH OF COURSE IS ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF US BEING HERE TODAY, IS TO, TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT MIGHT WORK TOGETHER, WHAT MIGHT BE REDUNDANT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THE ORDER THAT I WILL GO IN AS WE, AS I CALL ON FOLKS, IS IN THE ORDER OF THE PACKET ITSELF.
SO, UH, LOOK AT THAT PACKET AND, AND, UH, JUST FOR PURPOSES OF US BEING PREPARED, UM, BEFORE I CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER IS, IS GOING TO BE DELAYED.
UM, AND IF SHE'S NOT HERE, UH, WHEN THIS GETS LAID OUT, WE'LL, WE'LL JUST, WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT APPROPRIATELY.
AND, UH, WE ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, MAY NOT BE PARTICIPATING TODAY, UH, BUT WE'LL, YOU HAVE THE AMENDMENTS AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN READ THOSE AMENDMENTS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT THAT WISHES TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON THE 20 24 20 25 BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT AND CONSIDERING, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN IFCS TODAY? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO BE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK ON THE 20 24, 20 25 BUDGET? ANYONE THAT WISHES TO BE HEARD? OKAY.
IF SOMEBODY DOES, UH, FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, PLEASE GO TO THE CLERK AND GIVE THEM, GIVE THE CLERK'S OFFICE YOUR NAMES, AND AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, WE WILL CALL THOSE PEOPLE UP.
BUT ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE, UH, AT 11 O'CLOCK.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL TURN TO,
[1. Presentation and discussion of the City Manager's Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Proposed Budget. ]
UM, OUR STAFF, UH, FOR A REVENUE UPDATE.PART OF THE REASON FOR DOING THIS TODAY IS BECAUSE, UH, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, WE GET THE SALES TAX UPDATE ON A ROUTINE BASIS AND, AND WE NOW HAVE THE LATEST UPDATE SO THAT THE STAFF CAN HELP US, UH, WALK THROUGH OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
CARRIE LANG, BUDGET OFFICER WITH THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO, WHEN WE, UM, START TALKING ABOUT, OR LOOKING AT OUR SALES TAX, UM, WE RECEIVED OUR SALES TAX PAYMENT ON YESTERDAY FOR AUGUST.
OUR AUGUST PAYMENT WAS FIVE POINTS NEGATIVE 5.7% GROWTH OVERALL, UM, A NEGATIVE 2.2% GROWTH IN THE CURRENT.
SO THAT'S JUST LOOKING CURRENT MONTH TO MONTH.
THE NEGATIVE 5.7 ADJUST, UM, TENS TO LOOK AT ADJUSTMENTS OR INCLUDES ADJUSTMENTS THROUGH NINE PAYMENTS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE ARE AT A GROWTH RATE OF 1.6% OR 9.6 MILLION BELOW OUR, UH, BUDGET.
[00:05:02]
CURRENTLY WE HAVE COLLECTIONS, UM, EXCLUDING THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO BE AT A 1.9% GROWTH.AND SO THIS CHART JUST SHOWS THE, UM, SALES TAX REVENUE OVER THE LAST 18 OR SO MONTHS TO SHOW WHAT WE ARE, UM, WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, UM, YEAR TO DATE, SHOWING THE NEGATIVE 2.2 FOR AUGUST, AND GIVING YOU A HISTORY OF THE, UM, SALES TAX OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED OUR CER CERTIFIED PROPERTY ROLE AND TECH, AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE THAT UPDATE AND AN UPDATE ON OUR TAX RATE.
THE CERTIFIED ROLE WAS $236 BILLION IN VALUE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, WE PROJECTED 246.7 BILLION AND OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, IT IS A 0.9% GROWTH OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
OUR TOTAL NEW PROPERTY VALUE IS 5.4 BILLION, WHICH IS RIGHT AT WHAT WE ANTICIPATED, UM, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF 5.5 BILLION.
AND THEN OUR, UM, OFFICIAL VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH WE DISCUSSED, UM, EVEN LAST WEEK, IS 47.76 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE.
THAT IS AN INCREASE OVER OUR PROPOSED BUDGET OF $2 AND TWO, 2.83 CENTS, EXCUSE ME.
AND THEN, UM, THE TYPICAL RATE PAYER, THE, OUR HOME PROPERTY TAX BILL IMPACT IS ABOUT A 10.6% INCREASE PER MONTH.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IMPACT, EXCUSE ME, IT IS, UM, 682.2 MILLION BASED ON THE CERTIFIED ROLE.
WE HAVE 15.6 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR FISCAL, FOR, UM, VERSUS WHAT WE HAD PROPOSED.
SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE SEE THOSE, UM, THE IMPACTS OF OUR SALES TAX AS WELL AS OUR PROPERTY TAX, AND WE LOOK AT OUR REVENUE OVERALL, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE REDUCE OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 SALES TAX REVENUE BY 5.3 MILLION.
WE'RE ALSO, UM, PROPOSING THAT WE INCREASE OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY 15.6 MILLION, LEAVING A NET INCREASE OF $10.3 MILLION FOR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
THAT WILL LEAVE AN ADDITIONAL 10.3, UM, OF ONGOING.
AND THEN IT MAINTAINS OUR 17% OF, UH, RESERVES FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE $4 MILLION PLACEHOLDER THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ONE-TIME COUNCIL PRIORITIES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF BASED UPON THAT UPDATED REVENUE? OKAY.
UM, THEN I'M GONNA ASK AGAIN, IS IT, OH, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T, I CAN'T THAT'S OKAY.
WILL YOU ALSO UPDATE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE OUT YEARS BASED ON THIS? I THINK NORMALLY YOU WOULD, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
WE'LL PROVIDE A FULL FORECAST UPDATE AS WELL.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT STEP IN THIS, UH, WORK SESSION, I'LL, I WILL ASK AGAIN IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE 20 24 20 25, UH, BUDGET.
COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, QUICK QUESTION.
THE AUGUST, UH, INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED REFLECTS SALES TAX PAYMENTS FOR WHICH MONTH? JUNE.
SO THESE ARE THE, THE NUMBERS WE'RE SEEING ARE JUNE SALES TAX PAYMENTS THAT CAME IN, UH, BELOW EXPECTATIONS WELL BELOW.
UM, ALRIGHT, WITH THAT MEMBERS, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GO TO THE AMENDMENTS, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET.
UH, AS I INDICATED, UH, STAFF WORKED TO PUT TOGETHER, UH, A A BOTH A SPREADSHEET AND YOU HAVE, UH, ALSO OF COURSE YOU'VE BEEN RECEIVING THE BUDGETS ON THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FORMS, UH, THAT WE UTILIZE STAFF, PUT THEM TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT THEY, THEY THINK IS HELPFUL WITH REGARD TO BLOCKS OF ITEMS THAT ARE SOME THAT ARE RELATED OR SOMEWHAT RELATED.
AND, AND SO IF I, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, UM, WE'LL JUST GO, WE'LL GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO JUST EVERYBODY LAYS OUT THEIR, THEIR 2, 3, 4, WHATEVER.
WE'LL JUST, WE'LL GO IN IN THAT ORDER.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, AND IT WOULD BE RYAN ALTER TWO ON THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FORM.
SO THIS AMENDMENT IS TO CREATE A CITYWIDE LAND ACQUISITION FUND.
[00:10:01]
WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AS THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, STATED IN THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN.AND SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT, UH, THEIR NEEDS TO ADDRESS WHETHER IT'S PARKLAND OR FLOODING ISSUES.
AND SO TO UTILIZE THE LEVERS WE HAVE AVAILABLE AS A COUNCIL, UH, THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO GO FORWARD AND BEGIN THE, THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING LAND OVER THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR AS WE LOOK TOWARD, UH, THE BROADER CONVERSATION OF WHERE THIS FITS IN.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN A UNIQUE MARKET SITUATION WHERE PRICES ARE DOWN AND WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE, UH, FULLY UTILIZED THEIR 2018 BOND FUNDING.
AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF PROVIDE THAT BRIDGE TO WHATEVER THE ONE OR TWO YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, UH, WE HAVE FOR OUR BOND PROGRAM.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBERS, THE, THE WAY WE'LL PROCEED ON THIS, UM, UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING ELSE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE COMMUNICATION IS IF AFTER SOMEONE LAYS OUT ONE OF THEIR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UM, I'M GOING TO ASK IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS WE, WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE, BUT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO UTILIZE THE, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN A PUBLIC SETTING, AND IF STAFF HAS ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO SAY, IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.
SO WITH THAT FIRST ONE BEING LAID OUT, LET ME ASK, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO, UH, WHAT WILL BE, WHAT IS LABELED R ALTER TWO? YES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEED FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
UM, WOULD ALL THAT DEBT NEED TO BE ISSUED IN ONE FISCAL YEAR OR WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT AS LAND IS AVAILABLE, WE AUTHORIZE IT AS EACH TRACT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US, US TO PURCHASE.
WE, WE WOULD NOT ISSUE ANY BONDS, UM, UNTIL COUNSEL HAD APPROVED AN ACQUISITION.
AND THEN EVEN THEN, AFTER THE EXPENDITURES OCCURRED, IT WOULD BE LATER THAT WE WOULD REIMBURSE OURSELVES THROUGH A DEBT ISSUANCE.
OKAY, ITEM NUMBER TWO, AND I'LL QUIT SAYING NUMBERS 'CAUSE WE'RE RAPIDLY GONNA SCREW THAT UP.
UM, BUT I'LL, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
SO THIS ITEM WOULD EXPAND AUSTIN ENERGY'S HOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS AT 80%, MEANING FAMILY INCOME OR BELOW.
UH, IT IS A FULLY, IF, IF A HOUSEHOLD, UH, QUALIFIES, THEY'RE FULLY COVERED TO GET THINGS LIKE ATTIC INSULATION, SOLAR SCREENS, THINGS THAT MAKE THEIR HOME, UH, MORE EFFICIENT SO THAT THEY NOT ONLY USE LESS ENERGY AND LOWER THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS, BUT ALSO THE UTILITY, UH, HAS, DOESN'T HAVE TO GO BUY THAT ENERGY FROM THE MARKET OFTEN AT A A GREATER COST.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THIS PROGRAM, UH, HAS BEEN THE, THE UTILIZATION RATE HAS BEEN IN THE KIND OF SIX TO 800 RANGE OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE HOUSEHOLDS BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM.
AND SO BUMPING IT UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT MFI, WHICH IS STILL, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE DISPOSABLE INCOME TO DO THIS, BUT, UH, WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR HOME MORE EFFICIENT.
THIS WOULD, UH, ALLOW THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM.
IT WOULD BE, UH, PAID FOR THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT CHARGE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER 'EM.
BUT I WANT TO DRAW, UH, I WANT TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT AS WE LAY THESE OUT, THE, HE, HE INDICATED WHERE THE, THE REVENUE WOULD COME FROM, BUT THAT WOULD ALL, THAT WOULD FOR CLARITY PURPOSES AND FOR PUBLIC, UH, CONSUMPTION THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
OTHER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE A ALLISON, A ALTER TWO, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE CLIMATE COLAB.
AND AS I INDICATED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAS HAD, UM, AN UNEXPECTED SITUATION COME UP.
AND SO SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE WITH US AT LEAST AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING.
UM, BUT MEMBERS, UH, THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE CLIMATE COLAB, YOU'LL RECALL, WE HAVE HEARD TESTIMONY, UH, A PUBLIC COMMENT RELATED TO THE CLIMATE COLAB.
UH, THIS, UH, WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
I THINK WE'RE GENERAL, GENERALLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
IT'S 175,000, UH, DOLLARS, UH, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
IT WOULD COME FROM GENERAL FUND AS AN ONGOING EXPENDITURE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? YES, MR. I JUST WANNA, UM, I WANT TO CLARIFY HOW THIS,
[00:15:01]
UM, SUMMARY SHEET IS, IS WORKING.SO FOR CLARITY'S PURPOSE, THIS DOES EXPLAIN WHEN THERE'S AN EXPENDITURE COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND VERSUS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
IN THE CASE OF THIS SITUATION, THE, UH, APPROPRIATION WOULD BE TO, UH, THE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE, WHICH IS A SUPPORT SERVICE FUND.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S LIKE A, A SUPPORT SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHANGE, YOU'LL SEE ON THIS SUMMARY SHEET HALF OF THE EXPENSE SHOWN AS AN ENTERPRISE AND HALF SHOWN AS A GENERAL FUND.
SO THIS ITEM IS ACTUALLY FOR THREE 50.
AND I, BECAUSE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T POINT THAT OUT CLEAR CLEARLY.
ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL IN THAT REGARD? OKAY, GREAT.
UM, MEMBERS, THE NEXT SET OF AMENDMENTS, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
UH, I, I'M GOING TO, UH, ASK THAT COUNCIL SPEND TIME LOOKING AT THOSE, UH, BEF AND NOT, I'M NOT GOING TO LAY OUT EACH ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALLY.
UH, SHE UNFORTUNATELY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S JUST NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US, UH, TODAY.
MAYOR, CAN YOU REMIND ME, ARE WE HAVING A WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY? NO, IT, WE, WE HAVE THE NEXT, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, WHICH IS WHEN WE TAKE UP THE FULL BUDGET.
UM, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, REGARDING SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS SHE'S PROPOSING.
SO I'LL, WELL, WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IN THAT REGARD, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY SHE CAN'T BE HERE, IS THAT IF YOU COULD PUT THOSE ON THE MESSAGE BOARD SO THAT WE COULD ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY FOR HER TO BE HERE TO ANSWER THE, OKAY.
IF WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S WELL THAT WOULD, THAT, THAT WOULD SURE.
IF THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF AND I'LL, AND I'LL COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU FIRST IN CASE YOU DO.
AND THANKS FOR POINTING IT, POINTING IT OUT.
UH, THIS ALL OF HERS OR JUST NUMBER ONE? OR LET'S JUST START WITH NUMBER ONE OR KELLY TWO.
MINE, MINE IS NOT TOLD MUCH LATER IN THE KELLY LINE.
UH, WELL THEN LET'S, LET'S DO THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, WHY DON'T YOU, UH, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF REGARDING, REGARDING COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY'S, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT, JUST GO AHEAD AND START AND LET'S JUST GO THROUGH 'EM.
I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, SHE, THERE ARE 21 AMENDMENTS RIGHT? THAT SHE'S FILED, SO I JUST NEED A FEW MINUTES TO SURE.
WHAT I WILL DO IS I'LL GO TO, UH, WELL, THAT, THAT INCLUDES COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
ARE YOU, DO YOU WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS NOW ON KELLY, OR I JUST HAVE ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS OKAY.
AS IT RELATES TO SOME OF HERS, BUT HOWEVER YOU WANNA HANDLE IT IS FINE WITH ME.
AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, I RECOGNIZE YOU AND I'LL, I'LL CALL ON YOU AFTER COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, UH, KELLY 19, THE END, THE BASIC INCOME PROGRAM.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THAT PROGRAM WAS NOT IN THE BUDGET.
THAT'S WHY COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES HAS AN AMENDMENT TO ADD IT TO THE BUDGET.
SO THIS ONE WOULD NOT YIELD $1.3 MILLION AT ALL? NO, WE HAD, WE HAD INTENDED TO REACH OUT TO HER.
WE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO HER ON THAT SPECIFIC ITEM, BUT SHE, UH, SHE WAS NOT AVAILABLE YESTERDAY.
AND THEN ON KELLY 13 SAYING, USE BOND FUNDS FOR THE I BELONG IN AUSTIN PROGRAM ARE GEO BONDS.
CAN WE USE BOND FUNDS FOR THIS PROGRAM? NO.
THIS, THIS PROGRAM ISN'T, UM, ELIGIBLE FOR BOND PROGRAMS. OKAY.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, FUENTES, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, UM, THAT MR. VAN ENO'S RESPONSE WAS EXACTLY WHY I RAISED MY HAND.
I'M NOT PROTESTING, I'M NEVER GONNA QUESTION YOUR JUDGMENT
THAT STAFF DOESN'T QUITE HAVE, BUT I JUST WONDER IF THIS IS MAYBE CIRCUMVENTING HER ABILITY TO, WELL, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO LAY A STAFF.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF THAT STAFF CAN ANSWER RELATED TO THOSE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
AND OF COURSE, BOTH OF THOSE QUESTIONS WERE VERY SPECIFIC TO WHAT IS LEGALLY ALLOWED.
UM, AND SHE, IF SHE'S HERE NEXT THURSDAY, UM, I'M, I'M SORRY, NEXT WEDNESDAY, I DON'T WANNA CREATE
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ANY, WELL, I SAID IT'S WEDNESDAY.UH, UH, IF SHE'S HERE NEXT WEDNESDAY, UM, THEN SHE CAN LAY OUT THE AMENDMENT AND IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS OF HER THEN, OR SHE WANTS TO PROVIDE CLARITY, SHE CAN DO THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, SHE'S, UH, NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND, AND, UM, AND, AND THAT'S JUST THE, THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE FACED WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
UM, THIS QUESTION IS FOR STAFF.
THERE IS A PROPOSAL BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TO REDUCE COUNCIL MEMBER SALARIES AS WELL AS TO DECREASE THE SALARIES OF COUNCIL.
WANTED TO ASK, IS THIS A ABILITY THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD DO THEMSELVES? SHOULD THEY LIKE TO, THAT WITHIN A COUNCIL MEMBER'S OWN AUTHORITY TO REDUCE THEIR STAFF SALARIES? UM, SO THERE, THE WAGES ARE SET BY ORDINANCE, SO ANY CHANGES TO THE WAGES WOULD'VE TO BE APPROVED BY ORDINANCE.
THERE IS A PROCESS, THOUGH, FOR AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER TO WAIVER OR REDUCE THEIR, THEIR SALARY.
COLLEAGUES JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER CAN, HAS THAT AUTHORITY, HAS THAT OPTION TO DECREASE THEIR SALARY AND THAT OF THEIR STAFF.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYTHING ELSE ON THESE ITEMS? OKAY.
MEMBERS, WHAT THAT WILL DO? OH, I'M SORRY.
YES, I'M, I, I APOLOGIZE, COUNCIL, I'M SORRY I WASN'T VERY QUICK GETTING MY HAND UP.
I JUST HAD A GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT THE REFERENCES TO ELIMINATING SOME OF THE CIP TRANSFERS.
CAN YOU GIMME A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO WHAT THAT MEANS? WOULD THAT MEAN CERTAIN BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS CAN'T BE MADE OR CERTAIN PROJECTS COULDN'T BE MOVED FORWARD? OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH ON THAT LANGUAGE? SO, UM, THE TRANSFERS TO CIP IS, IS THROUGH THE CAPITAL REHAB PROGRAM.
AND SO PER, UH, COUNCIL DIRECTION, WE TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL REHAB PROGRAM TO DO, UM, CIP TYPE PROJECTS THAT DO NOT FALL INTO, UH, BOND PROGRAMS OR IS SOME, IN SOME CASES PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS. AND, UM, SOME OF THESE DOLLARS, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT DEBT ELIGIBLE.
UM, AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHICH AREAS WERE DEBT ELIGIBLE AND WHICH WERE NOT TO SEE IF THEY COULD EVEN BE MOVED OVER.
SO IS THIS, I KNOW A COUPLE, UH, BUDGET CYCLES BACK THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF SOME OF OUR RECREATION CENTERS NEEDING ROOF REPAIRS OR AC MAINTENANCE.
WOULD THOSE BE THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT THIS, THESE FUNDS MIGHT GO TOWARD? YES, THOSE ARE SOME, THOSE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, THE PROJECTS THAT, THAT THIS CAPITAL REHAB FUND.
THANKS, COUNCILMAN MAYOR PRO, TIM.
I'M LOOKING AT THE EXTENSIVE LIST OF CUTS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I COULD NOT SUPPORT, UM, THESE, UH, ELIMINATE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CIP TRANSFER, THE BUILDING SERVICES TRANSFER, THE HEALTH TRANSFER PARD TRANSFER LIBRARY TRANSFER HOUSING TRUST FUND TRANSFER, AND SO FORTH.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT, UH, THESE FUNDS, SUPPORT POLICIES AND IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT THIS DIOCESE HAS, UH, BY AND LARGE FOR A LONG TIME SUPPORTED AND LOOK TO EXPAND.
SO, UM, I AND ELIMINATE THE FOOD SYSTEM PLANNING CONTRACT, THAT'S ACTION THAT WE TOOK IN JUST A RECENT, A RECENT MEETING.
SO, UM, SO EVEN IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER WERE HERE TO PRESENT HER ITEMS, I WOULD NOT BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT THEM.
AND JUST GOING OFF WHAT MAYOR PROTI POOL HAD JUST SAID, I THINK ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS THE, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IN THIS DIOCESE.
AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY HAS BROUGHT UP BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF FOLKS THAT WE REPRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, UH, THAT WILL TAKE US, I THINK, AND Y'ALL CHECK MY MATH, BUT THAT WILL TAKE US TO R ALTAR 11, FOLLOWED BY FUENTES TWO, AND THEN FUENTES FIVE R ALTAR.
SO THIS, UH, HEARKENS BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THE AIRPORT ABOUT THE FOUR FTES THAT THEY'RE HAVING DEDICATED THERE, UH, FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
UH, IT IS MY OPINION THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA HIRE FOUR NEW OFFICERS BASED ON OUR VACANCIES, UH, TO DO THIS.
THESE ARE GONNA BE FOUR OFFICERS WITHIN OUR CURRENT FORCE THAT ARE BEING REALLOCATED.
AND SO IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME TO JUST ADD FOUR ADDITIONAL SPOTS TO THE ALREADY LARGE VACANCY NUMBER.
WE SHOULD KEEP THIS WITHIN OUR CURRENT 1812 SWORN STAFFING, UH, NUMBER.
AND ANYTIME WE WANT TO ADJUST THAT, YOU KNOW, BE BASED ON A, A STAFFING STUDY OR SOME OTHER MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK.
[00:25:02]
THANK YOU.ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? YES, MAYOR PRO TIM? UM, IF THE STAFF COULD REMIND, UH, ME WHAT FUND THE AIRPORT POLICE FTES COME FROM, IS THAT FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUND WITH AVIATION, OR IS THAT THE AVIATION WOULD PAY FOR IT.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? I, I, ONE, ONE THOUGHT ON THAT, MAYOR IS, UM, WE COULD CERTAINLY REMOVE THE FTES BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMIC THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 300 VACANT POSITIONS.
THEY'RE NOT, IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE FOR US TO GET CAUGHT UP ON ALL THOSE POSITIONS.
UM, BUT, BUT MOVING FOUR SWORN POSITIONS OVER TO THE AIRPORT TO BE DEDICATED TO THE AIRPORT, IT CREATES, UH, SERVICE GAPS ON THE, ON THE, ON THE REST OF THE PROGRAMS. AND SO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE IT WOULD INCREASE THE OVERTIME EXPENDITURES.
UM, SO THE AIRPORT WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE FOUR FULL-TIME POSITIONS.
BUT THEN THERE'S AN EXPENSE CREATED IN OVERTIME.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, IF ANY OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT COULD GO, COULD GO, COULD GO AWAY.
WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE, UH, DEPARTMENT TO DO MORE ANALYSIS ON THAT, I THINK, AND THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND, AND SO, AND FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL, SO THANK YOU.
UH, DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIMILAR TO, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EMS THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED TO THE AIRPORT, UH, I BELIEVE WE ALSO HAVE A FIRE STATION, UH, SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THE AIRPORT.
DO WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THE AIRPORT? AND HOW MANY OF THEM DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE? WE DO HAVE THEM SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED.
I I THINK THE POLICE, UH, STAFF JUST WALKED IN SO THEY COULD MAYBE RESPOND TO HOW MANY HENDERSON.
AND IN A RELATED QUESTION, ARE THOSE PAID OUT OF, UH, AIRPORT FUNDS? YES, THOSE ARE.
SIR, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 49 POSITIONS OUT AT THE AIRPORT, AND THOSE ARE ALL POSITIONS THAT ARE PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED OUT THERE.
AND THAT IS THEIR SOLE FUNCTION IS AIRPORT SECURITY AND SAFETY.
AND YOU SAID 49, HUH? CORRECT.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE MULTIPLE AT THE AIRPORT.
MR. SCHMIDT, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, MR. SCHMIDT, SHE'S GONNA GET THAT SPECIFIC NUMBER FOR YOU, SIR.
AND CHIEF, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
UH, THAT WILL TAKE US TO FUENTES TWO.
THIS AMENDMENT IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT.
THIS IS A GRANT PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
SO THIS WOULD BE, UH, THE THIRD YEAR.
AND, UM, IT WOULD HELP ONE UP, IT WOULD HELP 97 FAMILIES WITH A MONTHLY GRANT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH ANY EMERGENCY EXPENSES, UH, HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES THAT MIGHT ARISE.
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES.
I'M TRYING TO PULL UP YOUR AMENDMENT.
I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF YOU ALREADY HAD FOUR CO-SPONSORS, WHICH IS WHY WE HADN'T SPOKEN PREVIOUSLY.
BUT I KNOW THAT THERE, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HAS SHOWN THAT FOLKS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL OR TO GET EXTRA ACCREDITATION SO THAT THEY CAN GET RAISES AND GET PROMOTED.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HAVE SUCCESS IN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY VOICE TO THAT.
IT, IT'S A, AN INTERESTING PILOT.
I KNOW WE DID IT TO KIND OF SEE HOW, WHAT THE EFFECT WOULD BE, WHAT THE FEEDBACK IS FROM THE, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE RECEIVING.
UH, I, I, I WOULD SUPPORT CONTINUING IT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE IMPACTS, GET THE DATA, AND THEN SEE WHAT WE WANT TO DO, WHAT, WHERE WE WANT TO GO IN THE FUTURE.
THANK COUNCIL MEMBER AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES WILL NOW GO TO FUENTES FIVE.
IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY VELASQUEZ ONE AND THEN WATSON ONE.
THIS, UH, FUENTES FIVE AMENDMENT IS AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIAL SERVICES CONTRACT ADJUSTMENT.
IT IS A 5% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF THIS CONTRACT.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WORKFORCE SECTOR ARE LARGELY WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR.
SO THIS AMENDMENT SEEKS TO, TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
UH, I RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ ON VELAZQUEZ ONE, FOLLOWED BY WATSON ONE AND THEN WATSON TWO.
THIS, UM, AMENDMENT IS FOR OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.
UM, IT, UH, IT'S A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
IT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE, UH, 10 EXTRA PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND ESSENTIALLY COVER ALL OF OUR TITLE ONE CAMPUSES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S 74 IN TOTAL.
[00:30:01]
COMMENTS? THANK YOU.NEXT ONE IS, UH, WATSON ONE AND MEMBERS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THIS IS RELATED TO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, UH, FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
YOU WILL NOTE THE NUMBER IN THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT WAS THE NUMBER WE HAD PRIOR TO THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY.
UH, IT MAY VERY WELL BE THAT WE NEED TO AMEND THAT DOWN BASED UPON WHAT WE WERE TOLD ON TUESDAY AND WHAT THE EXPLANATION WAS.
YOU'LL RECALL IS THAT 4.2 WOULD BE THE SUPPORT SERVICES NECESSARY FOR FISCAL YEARS 25 AND 26, 24, 25, 25, 26, AND NOT JUST THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, IS AS WE LOOK AT THINGS, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF OTHER AMENDMENTS, UH, INCLUDING ONE, I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES, I THINK I, I'M RIGHT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PUENTES HAS RELATED TO, UM, UH, RAPID REHOUSING.
THAT MAY, IF YOU DROP THAT 4.2 DOWN IN THE TWO POINT, WHATEVER THE RANGE IS THAT WE KIND OF CAME TO ON TUESDAY, THAT MAY FREE UP SOME, ADD SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY, UM, IN WHAT IS MY SENSE OF THE COUNCIL'S, UH, O OVERALL DESIRE, BUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY OR ANY COMMENTS.
UH, THEN WATSON NUMBER TWO, UM, MEMBERS, THAT IS, UH, ALSO SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED, UH, ABOUT.
AND THAT IS THE, UH, UH, SERVICES FOR OUR BRIDGE AND, UM, EMERGENCY SHELTERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR OUR BRIDGE AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
AND SO THIS WOULD FILL THE GAP THAT WE HEARD ABOUT YES, ON TUESDAY, WHICH I, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
THAT WILL TAKE US TO HARPER MADISON ONE FOLLOWED BY FUENTES THREE, AND THEN RAR ONE.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
UM, SO MY AMENDMENT IS ABOUT THE DECK, AND I JUST WANNA KIND OF LAY OUT REAL QUICK WHAT THE DAC DOES AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
SO THE DAC MOBILE COURT, THIS PILOT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL.
IT CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS TO COURT SERVICES.
IT CLEARED WARRANTS, UM, IT ENROLLED PEOPLE IN ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR AMENDMENTS, WE'RE THINKING WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO BE THE MOST IMPACTFUL POSSIBLE.
SO THIS SUCCESS WAS BECAUSE THE COURT WENT TO WHERE PEOPLE WERE SEEKING, THEY NEEDED SERVICES, AND SO THEY WENT TO THEM.
SO ADDITIONALLY, THIS AMENDMENT REQUEST THAT WE NEED TWO CLINICAL CASE MANAGER FTES AND FUNDING FOR SOCIAL SERVICES CONTRACTS TO REALLY SUPPORT THE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT THAT OUR FOLKS NEED.
THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDING HOUSING FOCUSED SERVICES, LOW CASE LOADS, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT WRAPAROUND SERVICES LIKE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS.
SO DURING THE COURSE OF OUR LAST SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS, YOU SEE HOW THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED.
COMBINED, THIS AMENDMENT DIRECTS THE MANAGER, UM, RESPECTFULLY TO IDENTIFY ONGOING FUNDING FOR AT LEAST $254,178 FOR THE MOBILE COURT PROGRAM AND $730,000.
AND A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE FOR THE FTES AND SERVICES THAT WE NEED THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO SUPPORT THESE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, IT IS BEYOND CRUCIAL AS THIS DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN ON A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING ROLE IN AUSTIN'S OUR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY EFFORTS.
IT DOES NOT ALWAYS REQUIRE BRICK AND MORTAR.
WE CAN BE OUT HERE DOING THE WORK WHERE PEOPLE NEED US THE MOST AND BE THE MOST RESPONSIVE.
THE DVO COURT IS ONE OF OUR BEST EXAMPLES OF THAT.
SO I WELCOME YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
OUR DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, THE DAC IS NO LONGER JUST DOWNTOWN NOW.
IT REALLY IS A CORE PILLAR OF OUR RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN AUSTIN.
AND WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THIS, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY, THIS IS JUST ONE MORE TOOL THAT WE GET TO INSERT AND OUR APPROACH TO FIXING THIS.
AND I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD AS THE ONE THAT IS LIKE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT.
MAY, I'D JUST LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR TO THIS.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL AMENDMENT.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
[00:35:01]
YOU, MAYOR.COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER AND, AND YOU'LL HAVE, UH, FOR FOLLOWING THAT.
THIS AMENDMENT'S AROUND RAPID REHOUSING AND ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION ON TUESDAY, UH, WHERE WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT OUR HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AS WE KNOW, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT GAP WHEN IT COMES TO RAPID REHOUSING.
UH, SO THIS AMENDMENT WOULD HELP ADDRESS ANY NEW INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT.
IT IS LISTED AT, AT A RANGE OF BETWEEN, AT MINIMUM 2 MILLION TO FOUR, AT TO A $4 MILLION MAXIMUM, UM, FOR THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.
AND I WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK OR SUGGESTIONS FROM THE DAAS ON AN AMOUNT THAT THE, THE DIOCESE WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.
COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES? GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED ON RT ALTER ONE.
THIS GOES KIND OF HAND IN GLOVE WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON JUST LAID OUT ABOUT THE, THE WONDERFUL SERVICES THAT THE DAC IS DOING.
UH, WE RECENTLY EXPANDED, AS SHE MENTIONED, IT'S NO LONGER THE DOWNTOWN, IT STILL IS IN THE NAME, BUT, UH, IT IS NOW.
THEIR JURISDICTION IS CITYWIDE.
AND SO PART OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING, UH, IS PROVIDING SOME OF THESE SERVICES.
NAVIGATION LIKE SERVICES, UH, THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A CRITICAL GAP BY THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
UH, IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IN DISTRICT FIVE WE SEE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS GOING TO BASICALLY THE ONLY WALK-UP CENTER IN TOWN.
AND SO RECOGNIZING THIS NEED, WHAT THIS ITEM DOES IS LOOKS TO CREATE TWO NEW LOCATIONS, ONE NORTH AND ONE SOUTH THAT WOULD SERVE KIND OF AS SATELLITES FOR THE D WHERE THEY COULD SERVE THOSE COMMUNITIES, UH, WHERE THERE IS THE NEED AND STILL THEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UM, UTILIZE THE MOBILE PROGRAM BEYOND THAT, BUT HAVE THESE, UH, SATELLITE FACILITIES WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO THEN ALSO BUILD IN THAT COMPREHENSIVE NAVIGATION, UH, LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE ARE SO FAR ONLY SEEING IN ONE LOCATION.
AND SO BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT AND HAVE, UH, TWO FACILITIES THAT HELP OFFSET SOME OF THAT NAVIGATION NEED, AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE, UM, JUDICIAL SERVICES THAT THE DAC PROVIDES.
AND SO THIS IS, THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO THIS.
THERE IS A, A DEBT COMPONENT THAT IS FOR THE ACTUAL FACILITIES.
THERE IS, UH, ONGOING EXPENDITURES TO, AND THAT'S GENERAL FUND FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES THAT, UH, THE DAC PROVIDES.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME ONE-TIME GENERAL FUND, UH, AMOUNT TO, UM, HELP BUILD UP SOME OF THAT.
UH, WHETHER IT'S CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING, NAVIGATION OR OTHERWISE.
UH, ATTACHED TO THIS IS ALSO A $1.5 MILLION REDUCTION, UH, THAT COMES FROM, UH, A REALLOCATION FROM CAPITAL REHABILITATION FUNDS, UH, THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE DEBT FINANCED.
UH, YOU CAN SEE CBQ 2 25 THAT PARTIALLY DISCUSSES THIS.
SO THAT WILL OFFSET, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF THE COST WITHIN THIS AMENDMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MEMBER, TIM, I WAS CURIOUS IF, IF STAFF COULD TELL US, DO WE HAVE LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED? UM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY COURT IN PAST YEARS.
DO WE, AND I THINK AT ONE POINT THERE WAS SOME INTEREST IN LOOKING IN DISTRICT SEVEN OR, YOU KNOW, AROUND 180 3 NORTH.
DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATED UPDATE INFORMATION ON WHERE THAT FACILITY MIGHT BE LOCATED? HOW FAR ALONG IS THAT PLANNING? UM, STAFF DOESN'T HAVE ANY SITES IDENTIFIED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UM, WE WOULD, WE, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, DAC STAFF, HSO STAFF ABOUT A COUPLE, UH, BUILDINGS THAT ARE ON THE MARKET THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED AS VERY, UM, GREAT CANDIDATES.
AND SO THIS, WHAT THEY SAID IS THEY COULDN'T REALLY MOVE FORWARD IN ANY OF THAT ENGAGEMENT UNTIL THEY KNEW THE FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE.
AND SO THIS MAKES THAT FUNDING AVAILABLE SO THAT THEY CAN GO FORWARD WITH REAL ESTATE STAFF AND DO THE DUE DILIGENCE AND NEGOTIATIONS TO, UH, POTENTIALLY PURSUE THOSE PROPERTIES.
SO THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT BACKWARDS TO ME.
USUALLY WE GET THE STAFF PRESENTATION AND THEY GIVE US KIND OF A SENSE OF, OF THE COST AND WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED AND THIS ALSO.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD ACTUALLY KNOW IF 16 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT, UM, AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE RIGHT AMOUNT.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE IN SHORT ORDER THIS YEAR.
AND THIS FEELS VERY RIPE FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN GET
[00:40:01]
A SENSE OF SUPPORT FOR IT, WHICH ALSO THEN BUILDS SUPPORT FOR THE BONDS IF THEY ARE APPROVED TO BE PUT ON A BALLOT.SO I APPRECIATE THE, UM, ENTHUSIASM BEHIND THIS.
THIS IS A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BY THIS DIOCESE BY THE CITY.
UM, OVER TIME, UH, JUST NOT SURE MAYOR IF THIS IS READY, UH, TO BE, UM, BROUGHT IN THIS FASHION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BOND ELECTION ADVISORY TASK FORCE HAVE THIS ON ITS AGENDA.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, PROCESS IS GONNA TAKE A YEAR OR TWO.
THIS IS AN A, A NEED THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR YEARS.
UH, AND THE NAVIGATION ELEMENT, UH, FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN DOWN TO DISTRICT FIVE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE CAME TO A TOWN HALL WITH ME AND GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE NEED FOR THIS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR MANY YEARS, AND I, UH, AM NOT WILLING TO ASK THEM TO WAIT, UH, ADDITIONAL YEARS TO BE ABLE TO START THE PROCESS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES, UH, WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALSO JUDICIAL FACILITIES ARE SQUARELY WITHIN WHAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO, UH, FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
AND SO I THINK THE, THE TIME THAT WE, WE WE SHOULD, WE ARE READY TO ACT NOW.
AND IT'S, IT'S UNCLEAR HOW LONG THE BOND TASK FORCE WILL, WILL TAKE.
AND SO I WOULD JUST URGE, UH, MY COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND ACT NOW.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCIL MORE ELLIS? YEAH.
UH, DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AND, AND WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT HOW TO BEST SERVE THE POPULATION THAT WOULD NEED THESE TYPES OF SERVICES AND LOCATIONS.
I THINK MY MAIN QUESTION IS GONNA BE SIMILAR TO LAND ACQUISITION IS IF WE WERE GOING TO ISSUE THAT DEBT, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL ANYWAY.
AND WE WOULD PROBABLY SIT DOWN WITH REAL ESTATE AND UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IS THIS THE RIGHT DEAL? IS THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING STAFF IS SUPPORTING IN THAT MOMENT? SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT FITS INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE, BUT WE WOULDN'T ACTUALLY ISSUE THE DEBT UNTIL WE KNOW THERE'S A DEAL TO BE MADE.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HOW THAT FITS IN WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET.
SO FROM STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, THE APPROPRIATIONS, UM, OF THESE ITEMS, THE AMOUNT, 50 MILLION, 60 MILLION, A HUNDRED MILLION, 20 MILLION ISN'T THE IMPORTANT PART.
THE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL FOR STAFF TO GO OUT AND, AND LOOK FOR AND TRY TO ACQUIRE LAND OR, OR TO LOOK FOR AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE A PRICE WITH A, WITH A BUSINESS OWNER THAT COULD SERVE THIS DAC NEED, WE WOULD GO DO THAT.
AND IF WE IDENTIFY TWO FACILITIES THAT FIT THE NEED AND THEY HAPPENED TO BE $18 MILLION, WE WOULD BRING THOSE BACK TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
WE WOULD APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY FUNDS AND DO A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION TO PAY FOR THEM THROUGH BONDS.
SO, UM, THE DIRECTION WOULD GET THE BALL MOVING ON THIS.
SO, SO THE NEED FOR AN APPROPRIATION AND AN OPERATING BUDGET IS NOT WHAT YOUR YOU STAFF WOULD NEED IF YOU WANTED TO CARRY THIS OUT.
ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT MIGHT BE THROUGH OUR ITEM FROM COUNCIL PROCESS WHERE, WHERE THE COUNCIL TELLS YOU IT'S A PRIORITY AND THEN BRINGS IT BACK IN THE ORDINARY COURSE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE WILL DO THE EXACT SAME WORK AS STAFF, WHETHER YOU APPROPRIATE MONEY OR NOT, WE'LL IDENTIFY THE PROPERTY AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, ONCE WE'VE NEGOTIATED AN AGREEABLE PRICE.
I INTERRUPTED YOU, I APOLOGIZE, THAT WAS THE NEXT THING I WAS GOING TO SAY.
THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, UH, IT SEEMED TO ME LIKE IT WAS KIND OF SPLITTING BETWEEN A MONETARY APPROPRIATION AND A, AN ITEM FROM COUNCIL WHERE MAYBE COUNCIL SAYS, WE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THIS, BUT BRING IT BACK TO US WHEN, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THERE ARE LOCATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WHEN THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE READY TO PROGRESS, AND WE'LL BLESS THE, THE DEBT ISSUANCE AT THAT POINT.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT EARNESTNESS AT WHICH STAFF PURSUES THESE FACILITIES AND LAND DOESN'T CHANGE.
DEPENDING UPON WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S AN APPROPRIATION ASSOCIATED AT, WE UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION AND WE'LL GO DO THAT WORK.
UM, I DID WANT TO ADD ON THIS ITEM THAT EVEN IF WE COULD FIND A WILLING BUYER TOMORROW, IT TAKES TIME TO CLOSE THESE TRANSACTIONS.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY UNLIKELY THE FULL 1.25 MILLION OF ONGOING EXPENDITURES WOULD BE NEEDED IN FISCAL YEAR, UH, UH, 25, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT'S, IT TAKES TIME TO CLOSE ON A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, TRANSFER THE BUILDING OVER, GET IT, GET IT RECONFIGURED TO WHAT WE NEED IT TO, TO TO SERVE AS.
AND SO JUST KEEP THAT AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING THIS.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE WOULD KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE, IF WE BRING THE FACILITY BACK TO YOU IN DECEMBER AND DETERMINE IT'S GONNA TAKE THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO CONVERT IT TO THE NEW USE, WE WOULD KNOW AT THAT TIME HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO AMEND THE, THE BUDGET BY TO FUND THE O AND M COST FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU.OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES, MAYOR PRO TIM.
I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT ADVERTISING HOW MUCH MONEY WE MIGHT HAVE IN ORDER TO BUY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN ENGAGED IN NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT, BECAUSE IT KIND OF SETS A MARK FOR WHOEVER IT IS WE WOULD BE BUYING FROM.
AND SO I CAN GUARANTEE WE WOULD LIKELY END UP PAYING MORE FOR THE PROPERTY.
I'M SURE NOBODY'S WATCHING, RIGHT? LET'S HOPE
THANK YOU MAYOR COMMISSIONER RYAN ALTAR.
YES, I, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE TOOK THIS APPROACH WAS BECAUSE WHEN, UH, HSO REACHED OUT TO THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE ABOUT ONE OF THESE POTENTIAL PROPERTIES, THE QUESTION ASKED WAS, IS THERE FUNDING IDENTIFIED FOR THIS? AND WE CAN'T PROCEED UNTIL THERE IS.
AND SO IF, IF WE NEED TO GO ABOUT THIS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ROUTE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT CAPITAL APPROPRIATION BE DIRECTED THROUGH AN IFC WHERE THEY COME BACK WITH THE NUMBER, UH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THE, THE OPERATING PART THAT IS GONNA HAVE TO BE IN AN AMENDMENT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TIMING OF THAT, I THINK WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH REAL ESTATE ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK IS A REALISTIC TIMELINE.
BUT, UM, I I, I FULLY APPRECIATE THE, THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, JUST TRYING TO REACT TO WHAT HAS BEEN TOLD TO US UP TILL NOW.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, BUT YOU KNOW, I USED TO SAY EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE CITY TAKE TOO LONG AND COST TOO MUCH.
SO I THINK TO SOME DEGREE WE'RE PREEMPTING, RIGHT? AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ECHO AND HUNGRY HILL WHO ARE ON THE STREET, THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT GUARANTEES ABOUT BRICK AND MORTAR.
THEY'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES.
AND SO I THINK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET BEHIND YOU SO ENTHUSIASTICALLY BECAUSE LIKE THE SERVICES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE CRITICAL IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK TO MR. VANNY KNOW'S POINT LONG RANGE PLANNING AROUND THE ACTUAL BRICK AND MORTAR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT IS A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION FROM THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPARTMENTALIZE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW HE LAID THAT OUT.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN FULL SUPPORT OF US PROVIDING THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE WE CAN FIGURE OUT FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION.
COUNCILMAN WALTER, BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT, UH, WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE THE 11 O'CLOCK CUTOFF THAT I INDICATED, IF THERE'S ANYONE WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE 20 24 20 25, UH, BUDGET OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, PLEASE GO TO THE CLERK AND, AND, AND SIGN UP WITH THE CLERK SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL CLOSE THAT AT 11 O'CLOCK.
COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER ON OUR ALTAR.
THIS AMENDMENT IS A CONTINUATION AND RELOCATION OF FOUR FTES.
THAT CARD CURRENTLY UTILIZES TO DO ABANDONED HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP.
SO THEY IDENTIFIED, UH, THIS NEED WITHIN THE PARK SYSTEM TO GO AND, UH, BASICALLY PICK UP ALL THE, THE TRASH AND, AND OTHER LITTER ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, AN ENCAMPMENT THAT HAS BEEN ABANDONED.
THE, GIVEN THAT THAT WHOLE, UH, PURPOSE FITS WITHIN WHAT A RR ALSO DOES, AS IT RELATES TO, UH, CLEANUPS, WHETHER THAT'S HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT OR NOT, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TAKING THESE FOUR FTES, UH, AND PUTTING THEM WITHIN THE AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY UMBRELLA THAT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH, UH, AN ADDITIONAL SIX TO 7 CENTS ON THE CLEAN COMMUNITY FEE TO FUND THESE, UH, ADDITIONAL, THESE FOUR FTES TO GO CLEAN UP OUR SENSITIVE PARK SPACE, MAKE THEM USABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO, AND JUST IN TERMS OF HOW THAT WOULD TRANSLATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT A DOLLAR A YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE BRINGING THIS.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION OVER THE YEARS ABOUT LITTER ABATEMENT AND SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S CLEAR TO MOST FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE ASSISTANCE WITH LITTER ABATEMENT IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S KIND OF NUANCE BETWEEN WHICH PROGRAMS IN WHICH AREAS WORK IN THESE SPACES.
LIKE THE, UH, CLEAN CREEKS CREW THAT WE CREATED A COUPLE YEARS BACK WORKS OFF OF A WATERSHED PROTECTION WORK PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, APPROPRIATELY GOING INTO THE RIGHT SPACES AT, AT THE RIGHT, UM, CADENCE WITHIN, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, SO I, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLAN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS.
UM, I'VE ALSO BEEN WORRIED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT, UM, PARK STAFF BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM PARK'S WORK TO HELP WITH OTHER ISSUES THAT
[00:50:01]
IN MY OPINION SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN, UH, PARK'S RESPONSIBILITIES.AND SO I APPRECIATE THIS CREATIVE THINKING IN, UM, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PUBLIC SPACES ARE USEFUL AND CLEAN FOR EVERYONE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCILMAN, MORALE AND ALTER? GOOD MORNING.
UM, I, I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO, TO FUND THIS.
I DID WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON THE CLEAN COMMUNITY FEE EXPENSE.
SO WE GOT A, THERE'S A CBQ ABOUT, UH, EVERY 1 CENT IS JUST OVER $50,000.
SO ABOUT 7 CENTS GETS YOU THIS AMOUNT, UH, 7 CENTS PER MONTH FOR A HOUSEHOLD OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR IS JUST UNDER A DOLLAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON RAR FOUR? WE'LL NOW GO TO RAR SEVEN.
THIS IS A, AN AMENDMENT THAT BUILDS ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ON TUESDAY ABOUT LOOKING HOLISTICALLY AT OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, UH, APPROPRIATELY INVESTING IN PREVENTING INFLOWS INTO OUR SYSTEM.
NOT ONLY IS THAT THE POINT IN TIME WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE GREATEST SUCCESS FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY, BUT IT'S ALSO TYPICALLY THE CHEAPEST INTERVENTION.
UH, AS JOE CATHERINE MENTIONED ON TUESDAY, THEY HAVE A 97% SUCCESS RATE OF KEEPING INDIVIDUALS HOUSED.
THE ONLY OTHER PROGRAM WE SEE WITH THAT LEVEL OF SUCCESS IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BUT THAT'S AT 10 TIMES THE COST.
SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS THEY IDENTIFIED A NEED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF 1,362, UH, HOUSEHOLDS TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES.
ORIGINALLY WE HAD, UH, CUT IT DOWN TO 500, JUST GIVEN SOME CONSTRAINTS.
HOWEVER, WE DID, UH, IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UH, THROUGH, AS YOU ALSO SEE ON CB Q2 25, THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE SOME CTM UH, RADIOS THROUGH, UM, KOS INSTEAD OF, UH, GENERAL FUND.
AND SO THAT WOULD FREE UP, UH, 3,000,867, WHICH WOULD MORE THAN FULLY COVER THE COST OF THIS PREVENTION AMENDMENT.
AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS MEMBERS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WILL TAKE US TO RAR EIGHT, FOLLOWED BY CADRE THREE AND ELLIS TWO.
THIS AMENDMENT ADDRESSES A UNIQUE NEED, OR I SHOULD JUST SAY A, A SPECIFIC NEED WITHIN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UH, WE HAVE A RAPIDLY GROWING NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT ARE EITHER ENTERING OUR HOMELESS SYSTEM OR JUST BEING UNSERVED BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT MANY FAMILY, UH, SHELTERS OR FAMILY SPECIFIC, UH, BEDS OR, OR, UM, FACILITIES AVAILABLE.
AND SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS A $300,000 GRANT TO FOCUS ON THOSE SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, UH, WHERE THEY HAVE FALLEN INTO HOMELESSNESS, AND REALLY LOOK AT A MODEL THAT WE HAVE SEEN WORK THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OF, UM, PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE AND, AND A PATH KIND OF LIKE THE RAPID REHOUSING MODEL WHERE YOU, UH, RAMP DOWN OVER TIME THE DEPENDENCES ON THE SUBSIDY IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS FAMILY ULTIMATELY SELF-SUFFICIENT AND SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO, UH, THIS WOULD BE $300,000 TOWARDS THAT PURPOSE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE ON CADRE THREE, FOLLOWED BY S TWO AND THEN S SEVEN.
UM, GATHER MEMBER NUMBER THREE, THE HOMELESSNESS ENGAGEMENT ASSISTANT ASSISTANCE RESPONSE PROGRAM.
UM, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM.
UH, IT'S THE HART PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY A PILOT, UH, THAT STARTED IN FEBRUARY, IS GONNA GO UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY URBAN ALCHEMY.
UH, OUR, UM, OUR ITEM IS LOOKING TO MAKE THIS A PERMANENT FIXTURE, UH, FOR AN AMOUNT OF 2 MILLION ONGOING FUNDING.
AND THEN THE DOWNTOWN, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE WOULD ALSO PAY $400,000 ON ONGOING FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
UM, WHAT WHAT THE ITEM WILL DO, UH, IS ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR A TEAM OF TRAINED OUTREACH PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TO PREVENT AND REDUCE INCIDENTS INVOLVING UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NON-CRIMINAL, NON-VIOLENT, AND NON-MEDICALLY URGENT.
UH, AND I, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE RESULTS, UH, THANK MY SPONSORS AND THEN, AND THEN I'LL BE ON MY WAY.
BUT, UM, FROM FEBRUARY, 2024 TO JUNE, 2024, UH, THERE WERE 1,182 TOTAL INTERACTIONS.
81 FOLKS GOT SHELTERED, 37 WERE, WERE REUNITED WITH FAMILIES.
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WERE REFERRED TO THE OASIS, WHICH IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT, UH, URBAN ALCHEMY IS, IS, IS RUNNING.AND THEN 1,935 WERE PROVIDED SOCIAL SERVICE, UH, ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT BE NARCAN CLOTHES, SHOES, MEALS, FIRST AID, UH, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
SO, UH, REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS ITEM.
UH, AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, UH, JOSE VELASQUEZ VELA AND VANESSA FUENTES FOR, FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS ON ELLIS TWO, ELLIS SEVEN, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS FOR MORE TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEES.
UM, THIS IS A NEED THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AND PROPOSED IN FISCAL YEAR 2026.
AND SO THIS IS A NEED THAT I KNOW HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED.
UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR WORK STARTED QUICKER.
AND SO WE WANTED TO ADD THAT INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
UM, IT IS COMING OUT OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION USER FEE AND THE TRANSPORTATION FUND.
AND SO, UM, IT SHOULD NOT NEED TO COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ABLE TO FUND THIS.
SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR AMENDMENTS CAN BE SELF-SUSTAINING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND ALLEVIATE THEIR PRESSURE ON, ON THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER SORTS OF THINGS.
SO, UM, IT IS FOR 10 FTES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I APPRECIATE THE NEED FOR THIS AND I APPRECIATE THAT THIS WAS PUT IN THE BUDGET, EXCUSE ME, FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FEE IMPLICATION WOULD BE FOR THE TOUGH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN EXACT AMOUNT AT THIS POINT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND THAT OUT AND POST THAT TO THE MESSAGE BOARD.
UNLESS CARRIE, THERE'S ACTUALLY REALLY A QUESTION MORE FOR STAFF, I THOUGHT.
STAFF IS HERE AND THEN THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER RICHARD MENDOZA, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
SO THE OPERATIONAL IMPACT TO THE TRANSPORTATION USER FEE IN THIS YEAR WOULD BE 31 CENTS ON THE MONTHLY RESIDENTIAL BILL.
AND WHAT THAT WOULD INCLUDE WOULD NOT ONLY BE THE, THE ONGOING COSTS YOU'VE IDENTIFIED HERE IN THE AMENDMENT, BUT IT WOULD ALSO COMPENSATE FOR ONE-TIME CAPITAL COSTS TO EQUIP, UH, THESE ADDITIONAL CREWS WITH THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, TRUCKS, AND SUPPLIES.
SO, MR. MENDOZA, UM, SINCE THIS WAS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 THOUGH, WAS THAT 31 CENTS ALREADY PLANNED TO GO INTO EFFECT IN 26 OR IS THAT THE ADDITIONAL WE NEED IN THIS YEAR RELATIVE TO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO NEXT YEAR? JUST COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT 31 CENTS ACCELERATING 31 CENTS OR ARE WE, WE ADDING 31 CENTS.
THE 31 CENTS I HAD INCLUDED IN MY FINANCIAL FORECAST TO GO IN EFFECT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
I WAS TRYING TO SPREAD THE COST OUT OVER TWO YEARS.
I JUST, I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE THESE IMPACTS SO THAT WE CAN BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS I UNDERSTAND THE, THE, THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPERTY TAXES, THE, THE TAX IMPACTS ARE MUCH HIGHER.