[00:00:01]
[Call to Order]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.IT'S ONE THIRTY ONE AND I'M ON CALL TO, IT'S AT NOW ONE THIRTY TWO ON JULY 30TH, UH, 2025, AND I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
UH, WE ARE MEETING AT THE, UH, HEADQUARTERS OF THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS LOCATED AT TWO OH THIRD COLORADO STREET IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
A BOARD MEMBER GARZA IS NOT GONNA BE WITH US TODAY, AND WE'LL HAVE, UM, EVERY, WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH PRESENCE IN TERMS OF THE QUORUM ON ANY ACTION ITEMS AS WE TAKE THEM FORWARD.
OUR CHAIR IS JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND WE'RE PLEASED TO, TO SEE HER THERE.
UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AS PART OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WE WILL MOVE
[2. Executive Director Report]
TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT AND I'LL, UH, TURN TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY AT OUR, UH, JULY BUDGET MEETING, UH, AND BOARD MEETING.
WE'RE EXCITED TO GO THROUGH, UM, WHERE WE ARE ON THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS GO THROUGH OUR, UH, BRIEFING ITEMS TODAY ON BUDGET AND AUDIT.
BUT REAL QUICK, UH, WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT WE, EVERY QUARTER WE PUT OUT AN OVERALL PROJECT STATUS REPORT THAT INCLUDES UPDATES ON WHERE WE'RE ON ICE ON AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL, AS WELL AS THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING LED BY OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CAPITAL METRO.
AND THAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
JUST A REMINDER, WE ARE CONTINUING TO KIND OF JOIN OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SEVERAL OF US HERE WERE, UH, I KNOW DOTIE AND I WERE IN THE CHAMBER, AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVOCACY TRIP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS GOING ABOUT HERE IN AUSTIN.
IT WAS A GREAT VISIT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT CHAMBER CONVENING.
UM, YOU KNOW, A LIST OF 70 FOLKS AROUND THE COMMUNITY GO UP AND, AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE.
IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL TRIP.
UM, SOME OTHER THINGS GOING ON HERE.
WE HAD A GREAT CHANCE, UH, UH, GONNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, TO, UH, TO GIANNIS.
SO GIANNIS IS, HE SAID, DID I SEE GIANNIS HERE? MINUTE GIANNIS HERE.
UM, WON A GREAT COMMUNITY ENG ENGAGEMENT EXCELLENCE AWARD, UH, PART OF COMP TO, UM, AND, UH, ALSO ERIC, OUR, ONE OF OUR NEW, UH, EMPLOYEES OVER OUR DBE PROGRAM WAS PART OF A, UH, A KIND OF A CELEBRATION OF AUSTIN PROCUREMENT CONSORTIUM DAY OVER AT CITY HALL.
SO CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AS WE, AS WE ADVANCE ALL OF OUR BIG PROCUREMENTS.
UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, WE HAD A GREAT DAY HERE YESTERDAY, UH, IN THE BUILDING WE HAD, THIS WAS THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL INTERNSHIP, UH, PROGRAM, UH, PARTNERSHIP WITH A TP AND AECOM, WHERE WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COME IN AND, AND LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS, NOT ONLY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL, BUT THEY GOT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU TALK AND WORK THROUGH ALL OF THESE BIG PROJECTS AT A LOCAL LEVEL.
UH, MAYOR, I KNOW THEY HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH YOU.
THEY, EVEN THAT LITTLE SLIDE UP THERE, THEY USE YOU AS THEIR PROFILE PICTURE ON THE STATION AT WOOLDRIDGE SQUARE.
SO, UM,
SO, SHORT, SHORT FAT GUY AT WOOLDRIDGE.
SO, BUT REALLY IT WAS, IT'S SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF REMINDING THEM I DON'T QUITE REMEMBER WHAT I WAS DOING BETWEEN NINTH AND 10TH GRADE, BUT, UH, TO SEE THEM PUTTING THIS ENERGY INTO THIS COMMUNITY, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY NEAT, UPLIFTING FOR ALL OF US TO SIT THERE AND, AND, AND SEE WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED OVER THE SUMMER, BUT REALLY SEE WHAT OUR FUTURE LOOKS LIKE HERE IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON, ON, ON THE BIG THING THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO YOU SO MANY TIMES ABOUT OUR CONTRACTING TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS.
THIS IS TRULY AT THIS POINT, UH, A BIBLE FOR US.
UM, WE ARE ADHERING TO BOTH OUR, OUR CONTRACTING TIMELINE AND MAKING SURE WE HIT EACH OF THE MARKS FOR OUR CIVIL RAIL AND STATION SYSTEMS, OUR OMF INTO THE VEHICLES AS WELL.
WE HAVE REALLY SPENT THREE YEARS AT A TP WORKING, LISTENING, ENGAGING WITH INDUSTRY TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE PUT THIS PROJECT TOGETHER FOR AUSTIN, IT IS TRULY A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, UH, ON THE CIVIL RAIL STATION SYSTEMS, PDB, WE ARE, IT IS A TWO STAGE, UH, PROCESS.
WE JUST FINISHED STAGE ONE, THE RFQ, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UH, AND ON MONDAY WE WILL HIT OUR MARK AND PUT OUT THE RFP.
UM, WE ARE ON SCHEDULE AND ON MARK, UH, TO WORK THROUGH THAT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND BRING BACK TO THIS BOARD, UH, PDB FOR FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL, UH, IN EARLY 2026.
SO, AND THIS, WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS HIGHLY COORDINATED AND SYNCHRONIZED WITH OUR FEDERAL PROCESSES, UH, OUR FEDERAL PROCESSES AROUND, UH, THE NEPA PROCESS, WHICH WE ARE ON TRACK TO COMPLETE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS WITH OUR GRANT PROGRAM WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT.
ALL OF THIS WORK IS HIGHLY SYNCHRONIZED.
UM, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO KEEP IT ALL MOVING FORWARD AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT, UH, AND UM, WHERE
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WE HAD THE SOLICITATION PROCESS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING MONTHS WITH THAT MAYOR, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER.LEMME MAKE SURE, UH, MEMBERS YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT, THANK YOU.
[5.1 Annual Audit Recommendations Follow-Up.]
THAT WE WILL TAKE UP IS THE ITEM THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR INTERNAL AUDIT.AND SO WE WILL HAVE OUR, UH, CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVE KATIE HUT, HOUSTON, UH, PRESENT ON THIS ITEM.
AND I'M HERE WITH CAMERON LA TO TALK ABOUT OUR AUDIT FOLLOW UP PROJECT.
AS A REMINDER, WE DO THIS ONCE A YEAR.
WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE ISSUED IN OUR PRIOR WORK, AND THEN WE TALK TO MANAGEMENT ABOUT THE ACTIONS THEY'VE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE RISKS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY NOTED.
WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS HERE, UH, SPOILER ALERT, BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CAMERON TO COVER THE DETAILS.
UH, SO LIKE KATIE SAID, IT'S ALL GOOD NEWS.
WE LOOKED AT SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WERE OUTSTANDING IN OUR DASHBOARD AND A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPLEMENTED.
THAT'S FROM TWO DIFFERENT AUDITS.
AND SO I'LL TALK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THOSE NOW.
OH, SORRY, THAT WAS PROBABLY ME.
SO THE FIRST ONE WE LOOKED AT WAS ONE FROM FY 23.
THIS WAS THE JOINT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AUDIT.
THERE WERE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE LEFT OVER ON THIS ONE.
ONE HAD ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND WE REPORTED THAT TO YOU LAST SUMMER.
SO FOR THESE, UM, LIKE WE SAID, ALL THREE ARE IMPLEMENTED NOW.
MANAGEMENT HAS DONE ACTIONS, UH, TO MEET THESE, LIKE COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO CREATE AN, UH, A PERMITTING PLAN FOR LIGHT RAIL.
UM, THEY ARE IN LIEU OF CREATING A COMMUNITY DASHBOARD, THEY HAVE BEEN REPORTING ALL OF THEIR PUBLIC OUTREACH RESULTS VIA THE WEBSITE AND DIFFERENT REPORTS, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN FOR FDA.
AND THEN THEY DO, UH, HAVE IMPLEMENTED A MONITORING PROCESS THAT HAS REGULARLY SET JOINT MEETINGS WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT PARTNERS, UM, AS WELL AS DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPORTS ON PROJECT PROGRESS, LIKE THE ONE THAT GREG JUST GAVE YOU ALL.
NEXT ONE, I'M AFRAID TO TOUCH IT.
THE SECOND AUDIT WAS THE LANGUAGE ACCESS AUDIT, WHICH WE ISSUED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
UM, FOR THIS ONE WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE, AND ALL FOUR OF THEM HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY MANAGEMENT FOR THESE.
UM, MANAGEMENT COMPLETED A COST ESTIMATE OF, UM, KIND OF ENHANCEMENTS TO ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THOSE.
UM, AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE CURRENT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT THEY'RE USING FOR OUTREACH.
UM, AND THESE PLATFORMS ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE, HAVE NATIVE TRANSLATION FEATURES ON THE PLATFORMS TO TRANSLATE THE POSTS INTO WHATEVER LANGUAGE IS THEIR PREFERENCE.
THEY MAINTAIN INTERNALLY A MEDIA AND OUTREACH RESOURCE LIST THAT HAS LISTS OF MEDIA SOURCES OR OUTREACH SOURCES FROM VARIOUS LANGUAGE GROUPS.
AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THAT AS MORE AFFILIATES AND OUTREACH GROUPS ARE, UM, IDENTIFIED.
AND THEN, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING A LIST OF RESOURCES FOR MULTILINGUAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE.
UM, AND THAT LIST IS BEING SHARED WITH ALL AT P EMPLOYEES DURING ORIENTATION TO CONTINUE IDENTIFYING, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP OUT IN THAT WAY.
UM, SO THAT IS THE SUMMARY OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, LIKE WE HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE'LL COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND DO ANOTHER UPDATE FOR Y'ALL.
UM, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION LIVES ON THE DASHBOARD ON OUR, UH, A TP INTERNAL AUDIT WEBSITE.
SO YOU CAN FIND, UM, ALL THE DETAILS WITH CATEGORIES, RISK LEVELS, YOU KNOW, COMPLETE MANAGEMENT RESPONSE ON THERE IF YOU WANT MORE INFO.
UM, BUT THAT'S IT FOR US FOR THIS YEAR.
UH, MEMBERS, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS? ANYTHING STRAIGHTFORWARD? ALRIGHT.
I JUST WANNA COMMEND THE TEAM FOR THEIR THOROUGH ASSESSMENT AND FOR FOLLOWING UP AND FOR MANAGEMENT TO HAVE IMPLEMENTED ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
[4.1 Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation.]
UH, ITEM RELATED TO, UH, A REPORT ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.AND SO WE'LL ASK THE CFO, BRIAN RIVERA MAKE THAT REPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, IT, FIRST I, I WANNA TURN THIS OVER
[00:10:01]
TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CANE TO GO OVER THE PRIORITY OUTCOMES OR CERTAINLY.FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START WITH THANKING, UH, ALL THE A PP TEAM, BRIAN, YOUR TEAM, AND EVERYONE REALLY INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TOGETHER.
UH, WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR IS REALLY THE BUDGET THAT REFLECTS OUR PRIORITY OUTCOMES, UH, AS AN ORGANIZATION AND US ADVANCING, UH, AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL, AS WELL AS THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF PROJECT CONNECT.
AND THAT'S ROOTED REALLY IN FOUR AREAS, OUR FEDERAL PROCESS, I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT, UM, WE ARE BOTH IN THE NEPA PROCESS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO COMPLETING THAT, UM, AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROCESS AND ALL OF THAT WORK.
UM, THAT IS, THAT IS PART OF THAT, BRIAN, WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, GETTING READY FOR OUR RISK WORKSHOP WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT THE END OF 26.
UH, THIS WORD READINESS, I THINK WE'VE PROBABLY SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES IN THE LAST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS, BUT WE TAKE IT TO HEART.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT OUR NEXT PHASES OF WORK AND HOW WE ARE ALIGNED AND ORGANIZATIONALLY READY, UH, TO DO ALL THIS MAJOR NEXT STEP OF WORK FOR WHICH IS US IS BRINGING ON THESE TWO NEW CONTRACTORS TO JOIN OUR EXISTING DP AS WE ADVANCE THIS PROJECT.
UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT AND THE BUDGET REFLECTS RESOURCES FOR BOTH OF THOSE EFFORTS.
UM, WE ARE ALSO ALWAYS MINDFUL OF OUR, OF WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR FINANCES AND OUR ENDING BALANCE.
AND BRIAN HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF MANAGING OUR RESOURCES, BOTH FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS FROM AN INVESTMENT PERSPECTIVE.
AND WE ARE IN GOOD STANDING WHEN IT COMES TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO BE APPLYING FOR FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND THEN LASTLY, AND, AND I WOULD SAY ALMOST MOST IMPORTANTLY IS OUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
WE STARTED THIS YEAR, UM, WITH, UH, AROUND OF SOME GREAT ENGAGEMENT WITH AUSTIN AROUND OUR DRAFT DIS AND WALKING AND TALKING ABOUT ALL THE GREAT BENEFITS OF AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL AND ALSO LISTENING.
UM, WE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS, UH, UNDER THE DRAFT DIS PROCESS.
WE RESPONDED AND HAVE RESPONDED TO EACH ONE OF THOSE.
UM, AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT IS NOT A SINGULAR EFFORT FOR US.
IT'S AS AN ONGOING PERPETUAL DIALOGUE THAT WE WILL BE HAVING THROUGHOUT THIS UPCOMING YEARS OF PLANNING AND FINAL DESIGN, BUT ALSO THROUGH CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
SO, UH, THE BUDGET THAT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT BRIAN IS GONNA PUT IN FRONT OF YOU REFLECTS ALL THESE OUTCOMES AND EXCITED TO START THE DIALOGUE AROUND THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF, LET'S SEE IF THIS WORKS.
YEAH, THE CLICKER IS NOT WORKING.
AND AGAIN, BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM AND, AND JUST A BIG THANKS TO THE TEAM AS A WHOLE ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION AND HELPING US PULL TOGETHER ALL THE INFORMATION TO PUT THIS BUDGET AHEAD OR IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.
UM, ONE THING I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE HERE IS FOR OUR LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WE PROPOSED TO THE BOARD, WE DID RECEIVE, UM, A DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
UM, IT'S A NATURAL HAS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED GUIDELINES TO KIND OF HELP ENSURE THAT INFORMATION IS BEING COMMUNICATED BOTH INTERNALLY AND PUBLICLY, EXTERNALLY TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO BIG KUDOS TO THE TEAM FOR THAT.
UM, ALSO ENCOMPASS IN OUR BUDGET AS IT IS EVERY YEAR, OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE POLICIES TO HELP GUIDE US IN OUR DECISION MAKING FOR THE YEARS TO COME.
AND, AND YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN, UM, SOME OF THESE POLICIES, COVER ACCOUNTING, BUDGET RESERVE AND CONTINGENCY IS GONNA BE ONE THAT YOU HEAR A LOT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, ESPECIALLY AS WE KIND OF MOVE FROM DESIGN INTO CONSTRUCTION AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE MANAGING CONTINGENCY AND RESERVES FOR UNEXPECTED ITEMS THAT MIGHT ARISE.
AS WELL AS, UM, DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICIES, WHICH, UM, WHEN WE ARE IN THE MARKET ISSUING OUR OWN OBLIGATIONS, WE HAVE CERTAIN POLICIES THAT WE WANT TO ADHERE TO.
UM, AGAIN, SO KUDOS TO THE TEAM FOR THAT NEXT SLIDE.
YEAH, AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO A, A SLIDE THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED AND I THINK IT'S BEEN SUPER HELPFUL OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO JUST KIND OF COMMUNICATE TO THE BOARD AND, AND TO THE PUBLIC HOW OUR BUDGET IS STRUCTURED BETWEEN OUR DIFFERENT FUNDS.
AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE HERE SHORTLY AND KIND OF DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER.
BUT ULTIMATELY THERE'S TWO MAIN COMPONENTS OF OUR BUDGET.
WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WHERE WE RECEIVE THE PROP $8 FROM THE CITY, AND THOSE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED ONLY AVAILABLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE ARE IN OR THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
AND THE OTHER ASPECT OF OUR BUDGET IS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, WHERE OUR, THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT AND ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUNDS AND THE CAP METRO COMPONENTS, UM, ALL LIVE.
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO TWO ITEMS ARE THAT THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL
[00:15:01]
BUDGET ARE AVAILABLE MULTI-YEAR, MEANING, UM, WE HAVE MULTIPLE YEARS TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE SHORTLY AS WE WALK THROUGH THE DIFFERENT FUNDS ARE WE DO HAVE SOME RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US FROM FISCAL YEAR 2025 THAT WE'RE COMING OUT OF THAT WE'RE UTILIZING TO COVER OUR SPEND PLAN FOR 2026.
AND ONE, ONE THING ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IS, IS JUST A TIMELINE, UM, OF, OF THE BUDGET AND HOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, SO WE'RE HERE BEFORE THE BOARD PRESENTING THE BUDGET IN AUGUST, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, SO, UM, THE CAC TEAM AS WELL AS THE AUSTIN LIGHT ROD ADVISORY GROUP IN AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER.
AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK BEFORE THE BOARD FOR BUDGET ADOPTION IN SEPTEMBER.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANNA MAKE IT KNOWN WHERE MY STAFF AND I ARE AVAILABLE BETWEEN NOW AND BUDGET ADOPTION.
IF, IF, IF YOU GUYS WANNA SET UP SOME ONE-ON-ONES TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER ON THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE BUDGET.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE, UM, WE'VE INCORPORATED THIS, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS THE, WE'VE SHOWN THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY, BUT THIS KIND OF JUST SHOWS HOW THE DIFFERENT FUNDS WORK TOGETHER.
UM, WE HAVE THE PROP A DOLLARS AGAIN, THAT COME IN FROM THE CITY AT FLOW INTO OUR OPERATING FUND.
WE DO HAVE A FULLY FUNDED OPERATING RESERVE FUND THAT'S STIPULATED WITHIN OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AND FROM THE OPERATING FUND.
WE THEN, WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TRANSFER DOLLARS OR APPROPRIATE DOLLARS TO THE VARIOUS CAPITAL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE, THE ENTITY AND THE GRAY BOXES THERE.
JUST SHOW THE, THE TWO FUNDS THAT WE'LL HAVE EVENTUALLY AS, AS WE MOVE FURTHER ALONG INTO THE PROJECT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A A FULL PICTURE.
SO WITHIN THE OPERATING FUND THIS YEAR, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO RECEIVE $185 MILLION IN PROP $8 AND FY 2026.
UM, CURRENT YEAR ESTIMATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE WHAT WE INCLUDED, WHICH IS A GREAT THING IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS, AS GREG MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE BEEN UTILIZING THE, THE RESOURCES AFFORDED TO US AND INVESTING IN THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR INVESTMENT POLICY.
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE SOME, SOME INCOME TO HELP, AGAIN, FURTHER THE PROP $8 THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING, UM, FROM THE OPERATING FUND IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET, WE ARE INCLUDING ABOUT $99 MILLION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO GET TRANSFERRED TO THE VARIOUS CAPITAL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE WILL COVER THE SPEND PLAN FOR THOSE FUNDS HERE NEXT.
SO WITHIN THE LIGHT RAIL CAPITAL FUND, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE, THE BENEFIT WE HAVE WITH HAVING THESE MULTI-YEAR APPROPRIATIONS AVAILABLE TO US IN OUR CAPITAL FUNDS ARE THAT WE ABLE, WE ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE, UM, THE DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, WE'RE ESTIMATING TO HAVE ABOUT $63 MILLION IN APPROPRIATIONS AVAILABLE TO US FROM PRIOR YEAR APPROPRIATIONS.
AND WITH THE TRANSFER IN FROM THE OPERATING FUND, WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO HAVE A SPEND PLAN WITH IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 OF $119 MILLION ROUGHLY.
UM, THOSE ARE REALLY FALL INTO TWO BIG BUCKETS.
SO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WHICH WE'LL DIVE INTO A LITTLE DEEPER HERE SHORTLY, ARE THE SERVICES THAT WE'VE PROCURED AND ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF PROCURING TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT.
SO THE WAY I THINK ABOUT OUR, THESE DOLLARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH COSTS THAT WE ARE GONNA SEEK FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT ON.
UM, SO OUR DELIVERY PARTNER, WHICH THE CONTRACT WAS APPROVED BACK IN JANUARY AND SOME OF THE OTHER COSTS INCLUDED IN THE ADMIN EXPENSE BUCKET, ARE ALL OF THE OTHER EXPENSES TO RUN THE ORGANIZATION.
SO WE'LL DIVE, WE HAVE A SLIDE HERE SHORTLY THAT WE'LL DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER ON, BUT AGAIN, WAGES, OTHER CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION, WHETHER THOSE ARE LEGAL FINANCIAL CONTRACTS, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, RENT FOR, FOR OUR CURRENT SPACE.
SO AGAIN, JUST TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER ON THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SPEND PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, WE HAVE SIX MAIN BUCKETS REALLY THAT THESE DOLLARS FALL INTO.
UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE OUR DELIVERY PARTNER, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO ONBOARD EARLIER IN 2025.
[00:20:01]
BIG STAFF AUGMENTATION CONTRACT.REALLY WE HAVE A, A A LOT OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO HELP MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD AND HELP WITH OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE RANGE FROM, AGAIN, PROJECT MANAGEMENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO DESIGN MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW.
UM, ALSO INCLUDED IN THE FY 2026 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SPEND PLAN, OUR SERVICES PROVIDED FROM OUR ON-CALL ENGINEERING AND PLANNING CONTRACTS THAT WERE APPROVED, I BELIEVE IN 2025 AS WELL, OR EARLY LATE 2024.
UM, AGAIN, A A LOT OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE HELPING ARE REALLY WITH U UTILITY CO COORDINATION ACROSS THE, THE PROJECT AND THE ALIGNMENT AND REALLY HELPING STAFF, UM, STAY ON TOP OF THOSE, THOSE ITEMS. AND AS, AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CANALI MENTIONED, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OUR PDB, UM, LRT SOLICITATION FOR THE CIVIL RAIL STATIONS AND SYSTEMS WORK, AS WELL AS WE'RE GONNA BE ADVANCING THE PROCUREMENT OF THE PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILDER FOR OUR OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE FACILITY AND REALLY INCLUDED IN FY 2026, UM, FOR BOTH OF THOSE SERVICES ARE THOSE ITEMS HERE.
AND THEY KIND OF, THEY OVERLAP IN THAT.
THE KEY ASPECT TO THAT IS GONNA BE MOBILIZATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ONE READY INTERNALLY AS AN ORGANIZATION ALSO SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS TO ONBOARD THOSE, THOSE CONTRACTORS SO WE CAN HIT THOSE MARKS AND CONTINUE HITTING OUR, UM, MILESTONES TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE BUCKET WITHIN THE LIGHT RAIL CAPITAL FUND.
UM, WE DO HAVE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ABOUT $41 MILLION IN ESTIMATED SPEND FOR FISCAL SCHOOL YEAR 2026.
UM, THESE ITEMS RANGE AS, AS I MENTIONED, ALL THE WAY FROM PERSONNEL MATERIALS AND STAFF AND BUSINESS SUPPORT CONTRACTS.
UM, AS, AS YOU SEE HERE, WE HAVE THEM BROKEN OUT WITHIN THOSE THREE BUCKETS.
AND THE ONE INTERESTING POINT TO, TO, I GUESS TAKE AWAY FROM THIS SLIDE IS REALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PERSONNEL AND MATERIALS AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND WE LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT INCOME THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE WITHIN THE OPERATING FUND WITH OUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR, UM, WE'RE ULTIMATELY AT A NET ZERO FOR THAT.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES, AS I MENTIONED, TO SORT OF STRETCH THE PROP A DOLLARS TO HELP COVER OUR OPERATING EXPENSES TO A CERTAIN DEGREE FOR THE ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE ADMIN EXPENSE BUCKET FOR PERSONNEL, UM, INCLUDED IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET IS A FTE COUNT OF 65 POSITIONS.
UM, ONE INTERESTING POINT I GUESS TO, TO TAKE AWAY HERE IS THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE'VE COME FROM, FFY 23 AND FY 24, UM, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, WITH SOME DILIGENCE ON OUR SIDE AND LOOKING AT THE LONG-TERM STAFFING FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND REALLY DOING A DEEP DIVE ON THE RESOURCES WE NEED.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN FROM, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 87 FTES AT ONE POINT DOWN TO 65, WHICH IS GREAT.
AND I JUST COMMEND THE TEAM FOR THAT.
UM, WITHIN THOSE 65 POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, 57 ARE CURRENTLY FILLED.
SO WE'RE CARRYING EIGHT VACANT POSITIONS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET.
AND, UM, WITHIN THOSE EIGHT POSITIONS, THERE ARE NO VACANCY SAVINGS, MEANING WE'RE ASSUMING THOSE POSITIONS GET FILLED OR WE'RE FUNDING THOSE POSITIONS AS OF OCTOBER, KNOWING THAT AT, AT SOME POINT WE WILL ONBOARD THOSE POSITIONS IF, IF IT'S DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE ITEMS. UM, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE FUNDS AVAILABLE IF, IF NEEDED FOR THOSE.
ALSO WITHIN THE PERSONNEL BUDGET, WE HAVE A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT WAGE INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR, FOR EMPLOYEES.
IT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR OTHER PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE.
ALSO, ONE THING WE, WE DID DO SOME INTERNAL DIVING ON OUR SIDE WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT LONG-TERM STAFFING FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND SORT OF RETENTION WAS HOW CAN WE INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYEES TO STAY WITH THE ORGANIZATION TO RETAIN THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, WHICH IS, AGAIN, SUPER IMPORTANT FOR A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
UM, SO THERE IS A STABILITY PAY PROGRAM IN THERE THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR VESTING SCHEDULE FOR OUR DEFERRED COMP PROGRAM.
UM, ONE THING TO ALSO NOTE HERE, AGAIN, THE, THE STAFFING ANALYSIS IS AN ONGOING EXERCISE THAT WE DO FOR THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TEAM IS ALWAYS LOOKING AT, ESPECIALLY IN MAKING SURE, AS I MENTIONED, THE MOBILIZATION PHASE FOR THE PDB CONTRACTOR AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE READY AS AN ORGANIZATION TO, TO MONITOR AND, AND REALLY SUPPORT THAT
[00:25:01]
CONTRACT.SO, UM, AGAIN, THERE, THERE MAY BE CHANGES TO, TO THE STAFFING PLAN OR THE FTE COUNT IN FUTURE YEARS, BUT IT'S JUST MORE SO A COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR US AT POINT IN TIME.
SO IN THE OTHER, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS, WE HAVE THE CAP METRO PROJECTS, WHICH THEY'VE BEEN ADVANCING THE THE BRT LINES, AND WE HAVE THE LAST LITTLE BIT OF PROJECTED SPEND FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY.
ALSO INCLUDED, OUR TWO OTHER PROJECTS WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD WITH INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS FOR ONE IS THE PARK AND RIDE FACILITIES FOR THE END OF LINE FOR THE EXPO AND PV PROJECTS, AS WELL AS SOME CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THERE TO SUPPORT THE ELECTRIC BUSES THAT WILL RUN ALONG THE ALIGNMENT AS WELL AS, UM, SOME COST REIMBURSEMENT FOR A RESPONSE FACILITY THAT THEY'RE ALSO ADVANCING UNDER PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, LASTLY WE HAVE HERE THE ANTI DISPLACEMENT FUND, WHICH THE CITY HAS BEEN OVERSEEING.
UM, ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT WITH THIS $20 MILLION APPROPRIATION, WHICH IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR, IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY, FOR THESE UM, DOLLARS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A TOTAL APPROPRIATED AMOUNT OF 160 MILLION FOR THESE, FOR THIS, THIS PORTION OF, OF THE PROJECT.
UM, ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THEY ARE ADVANCING SOME SITE ANALYSIS AND, AND SORT OF PRE-DEVELOPMENT ON THE TOKYO ELECTRON SITE, WHICH WAS ACQUIRED EARLIER IN 2025, UM, AS WELL AS THEY WERE ABLE TO TO PURCHASE THE FORMER GAO RESTAURANT SITE, WHICH ARE ALSO GONNA BE ADVANCING SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON AND ISN'T ALONG THE ALIGNMENT.
SO I JUST WANT TO WRAP UP REALLY WITH SOME KEY ACTIVITIES FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
AGAIN, AS, AS GREG MENTIONED, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ADVANCING THE PROJECT BOTH FROM A CONTRACT PROCUREMENT STANDPOINT AS WELL AS ADVANCING THROUGH THE FEDERAL PROCESS.
UM, ONE OF THE REALLY KEY MILESTONES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ACHIEVING HERE SOON IS, IS THE FINALIZATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT OBTAINING A RECORD OF DECISION UNDER THE NEPA PROCESS.
UM, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE I'VE HIT ON THIS POINT A A BUNCH, BUT AGAIN, JUST PREPARING THE ORGANIZATION RIGHT TO SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD CONTRACTORS THAT ARE SLATED TO BE ONBOARDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE READY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, UM, TO SUPPORT THOSE.
AND, UM, THE REALLY THE LAST, THE LAST POINT IS ONCE THOSE REALLY THE LRT PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILDERS ONBOARDED, UTILIZING THOSE SERVICES AND MAKING SURE WE HIT OUR BENCHMARKS SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THAT RISK ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GOING THROUGH FOR THE CIG OR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROCESS.
UM, WITH THAT, I THINK THAT'S MY LAST SLIDE THERE IS, UH, THE, I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE WHICH JUST OUTLINES THE ACTIVITIES NEXT STEPS.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, AGAIN, I, I REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR, FOR THE BOARD IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU GUYS WANNA SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER.
DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING AS FOLLOW UP? I'M GOOD MEMBERS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, MR. TRUVIA ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH, WITH THE DETAIL THAT YOU GIVE US.
ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HOW YOU WALK US THROUGH ORGANIZATIONAL, UM, INITIATIVES.
I'M INTERESTED IN, UM, CAN YOU PUT YOUR MIC ON THE CHAIR? IT'S ON.
I AM RARELY TOLD THAT I'M NOT LOUD ENOUGH.
UH, AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH OUR STAFFING ANALYSIS, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EVOLVING ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THINGS WE LOOK FOR OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO AUGMENT STAFF FOR, UH, CERTAIN SPECIALTIES.
MY QUESTION IS, AS WE, UH, AS WE, UH, LOOK INTERNALLY, HOW DO WE ADDRESS CAREER PROGRESSION TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE COMING, LOOK AT SOME OF THE TRAININGS AND CERTIFICATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN BUILD UP OUR EXISTING STAFF IN ADDITION TO STAFF AUGMENTATION.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN THAT, THAT IS A POINT THAT WE GO THROUGH WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT STAFFING AS AS A WHOLE.
UM, ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT IS ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE PHASE THAT WE'RE
[00:30:01]
IN.DESIGN, DESIGN REVIEWS, SORT OF DESIGN PROGRESSION AND THINKING ABOUT HOW OUR ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS ARE GONNA CHANGE AS WE PROGRESS INTO CONSTRUCTION.
AND LOOKING AT, AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT, OUR RESOURCES INTERNALLY AND SEEING HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT STAFF ARE READY TO MAKE THAT SHIFT SO THAT WE CAN, AGAIN, BELABOR THE POINT ON RETENTION, RIGHT? MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN RETAIN THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO HELPING FOLKS GET DIFFERENT ASPECTS, UM, WITHIN THEIR CAREER.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE THINK ABOUT.
THAT'S, THAT, THAT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR ME AS YOUR FORMER 30 YEAR, UH, PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.
WANT TO BE ABLE TO, AS I WORK IN THE ORGANIZATION, SEE HOW I GROW WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND ARE THERE CERTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES, ARE THERE TRAINING OP OPPORTUNITIES? JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A, A, A, UH, KEEN EYE ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THOUGHTS? OKAY.
GOOD REPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOW UP AND BEING IN TOUCH.
[3.1 Approval of minutes from the May 21, 2025 ATP Board Meeting.]
TO OUR TWO ACTION ITEMS AND FOR THE RECORD.AND THE RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENT IN PERSON.
THE CHAIR IS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY AND IS PRESENT VIRTUALLY.
AND BOARD MEMBER GARZA IS NOT WITH US TODAY.
UH, THE ITEM THAT WE WILL TAKE UP AS, AS OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 21ST BOARD MEETING.
IS THERE A MOTION MOVE? APPROVAL MOTION IS, UH, MADE BY COMMISSIONER ILIAN.
AND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THE MOTION IS ADOPTED AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED WITH BOARD MEMBER GARZA, UH, ABSENT MEMBERS.
[3.2 Approval of a resolution appointing one community member to fill a vacancy and serve as a member of the Project Connect Community Advisory Committee (CAC), as recommended by the CAC, for a term ending December 31, 2027.]
THE SECOND ITEM RELATES TO TAKING UP THE APPOINTMENT OF ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMISSION COMMITTEE.YOU HAVE, UH, IN YOUR PACKET A RESOLUTION THAT WE WILL BE A, THE MOTION WILL BE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
IT INDICATES THAT THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO FULFILL AN UNEX, TO FILL AN UNEXPIRED TERM.
AND THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE JOSEPH L HABER IS, UH, THEIR MOTION MOTIONS MADE SO MOVED.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED BY SECOND COMMISSIONER WITH, UM, ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA FOR THE JULY 30TH, A TP BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
UH, THE MEETING OF THE EIGHT WITHOUT OBJECT IS THERE, UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
THE A TP BOARD, UH, STANDS ADJOURNED AT 2:04 PM THANKS EVERYBODY.