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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
TO ORDER TIME IS 6 0 1.AND STATE THAT THE NOTICE OF THIS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS DULY POSTED.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM OF COUNCIL THAT'S HERE.
[2.(a) Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget overview. (Proposed presenter: Director of Financial Services Allena Portis)]
NUMBER TWO, A PRESENTATION OF PHYSICAL YEAR, 2022 BUDGET OVER YOU.I WOULD ASK THE ACTUAL CITY MANAGER TO OPEN US UP.
WE'LL PICK UP WHERE WE WERE LEAVING OFF LAST NIGHT.
AND I BELIEVE WE WERE AT A FINANCIAL SERVICES IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
SO ALLINA WILL PRESENT THAT AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LET US KNOW.
MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WHEREAS I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TONIGHT.
THIS IS OUR ORGANIZATION CHART WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
WE HAVE BUDGET AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.
WE HAVE PROCUREMENT AND WE ALSO HAVE TREASURY AND ACCOUNTING.
OUR TREASURY DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REVENUE COLLECTION, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, BILLING BANKING INVESTMENTS.
COUNTING DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PAYROLL, OUR GENERAL LEDGER, UM, HANDLING AUDITS MONTH AND YEAR END CLOSE AND PROCUREMENT OF COURSE DEALS WITH ALL OF OUR SOLICITATIONS AND CONTRACTS WITHIN THE CITY AND BUDGETING WHERE WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, THIS IS SOME OF THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021.
UM, IS WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AWARDS FOR ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION, UH, AWARD OUR, OUR AWARD FOR OUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
LET'S SEE, WE ALSO, UH, COMPLETED OUR AUDIT WITH A CLEAN OPINION.
AND OF COURSE THAT'S A GOAL THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.
WE ALSO COMPLETED THE CITY'S FIRST REVENUE MANUAL, WHICH DOCUMENTS ALL OF OUR REVENUE SOURCES AND THE AUTHORITY FOR THOSE REVENUE SOURCES AS WELL AS HISTORY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE CREATED.
THAT'S ALSO IN THE REVIEW PROCESS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE SHORTLY AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE, UH, WORKED ON THE COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL POLICY AND PROVIDED UPDATES.
AND THAT WAS ALSO ADOPTED ON THE FISCAL SIDE OF THINGS.
UH, WE REFUND IT TO BOND ISSUES, UH, WHICH RESULTED IN A PRESENT VALUE SAVINGS OF OVER $800,000.
UH, AND TWO ITEMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE COMPLETE BY SEPTEMBER 30TH IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW BIDDING SOFTWARE CALLED PERISCOPE, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR A MORE COMPETITIVE, BECAUSE THERE'S MORE VENDORS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH THROUGH THAT SOFTWARE WHEN IT COMES TO POSTING SOLICITATIONS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF TESTING ONLINE PAYMENTS, OUR SOLID WASTE CUSTOMERS.
CURRENTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY, BUT WE'RE GOING THROUGH TESTING.
AND BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE WILL HAVE THAT ABILITY AS FAR AS GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR.
UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING TYLER MUNIS TO A NEW VERSION AND AT HOME, YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO SPEAK, BUT ONCE THAT'S DONE, WE ARE GOING TO BE, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT MODULE.
WE DO USE THE MODULE NOW, BUT WE USE IT MORE AS A DEPOSITORY, BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE WITH IT.
UH, WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING A PROCUREMENT CARD MODULE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE SOFTWARE THAT IS THROUGH OUR PROCUREMENT CARD COMPANY, BUT HAVING IT THROUGH OUR, UH, ERP SYSTEM WILL ALLOW FOR MORE EASE WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING AND RECONCILIATION OF STATEMENTS.
WE ALSO WANT TO ENHANCE OUR SMALL BUSINESS POLICY AND REPORTING, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DISPARITY STUDY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE TEETH WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS POLICY.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT, UM, FROM COUNSEL SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS AND, UH, WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE GOALS SINCE WE HAVE INFORMATION WHEN IT COMES TO AVAILABILITY AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PRACTICE, WHEN IT COMES TO USE OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR AREA.
UH, SO IF WE WERE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IT IN OUR POLICY SO THAT WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE WE'RE UTILIZING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA, THE CITY PROCUREMENTS, AS ALWAYS, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ALWAYS WANT TO WORK TO HAVE A CLEAN AUDIT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES, UH, DAILY WORK.
AS FAR AS OUR PRACTICE IN ACCOUNTING, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RECORDING ALL OUR REVENUE AND OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR ASSETS LIABILITIES CORRECTLY, AND THAT RESULTS IN THE CLEAN OPINION.
AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING, UH, WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR THE PROPOSED NOVEMBER, 2021 BOND ELECTION.
I KNOW ONE OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS WAS TO MAINTAIN OUR BOND RATING,
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BUT WE'RE WORKING DAILY TO, UM, MAYBE INCREASE OUR BOND RATING.SO A AAA RATING, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO A AAA BOND RATING.
UH, WHEN WE ISSUED DEBT LAST, UH, FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN WE ISSUED IT, WE ACTUALLY HAD THE SCORECARD FROM MOODY'S THAT HAD A AAA RATING, BUT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND SOME OTHER THINGS, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY FELT COMFORTABLE WITH CHANGING RATINGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I THINK SOME OF THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS, UH, BUDGET, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE PENSION MIGHT, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE SCALE A LITTLE HEAVIER ON THE AAA SIDE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN INCREASE OUR RATING AND HOPEFULLY DECREASE THE INTEREST EXPENSE THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE GO OUT TO ISSUE DEBT IN THE FUTURE.
SO FAR BUDGET, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST.
OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS APPROXIMATELY 2.3 AND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022, OUR BASE BUDGET IS A 2.2, ALMOST 2.3.
THE VARIANCE IS DUE TO ONE TIME ALLOCATION THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, AND SOME, UH, SMALL ROLLOVER, A PURCHASE ORDERS, WHICH OF COURSE WE ACTUALLY EXPANDED.
SO THE $100,000 WAS USED IN OUR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AREA.
UM, AND SO THAT IS, UH, COMING OUT.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE SAME 3.5 SALARY INCREASE THAT YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
AND AS FAR AS OUR STAFFING, WE HAVE 17 FTE.
UH, WE HAVE ONE VACANCY RIGHT NOW IN OUR ACCOUNTING, UH, DIVISION, WHICH IS AN ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN POSITION.
THEY ACTUALLY HELD INTERVIEWS YESTERDAY AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
UH, THAT POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE REVENUE COLLECTION WITHIN THE CITY.
SO AGAIN, I HAVE NO, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
AS OF TODAY, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN REGARDS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES.
GREAT JOB ON THE WORK OF THE CFO, UM, ON THE FINANCIAL REPORTING, I JUST HAVE, UH, JUST ONE QUESTION I KNOW THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, OR IN THE PAST, I DID HEAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT P CARDS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON? YES, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF, UM, ESTABLISHING THE CRITERIA FOR PCARDS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SO, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES, UM, AND SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS THAT USE IT FOR, UH, DRY CLEANING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM WITH PAYING FOR DRY CLEANING, WHETHER IT'S A VENDOR AGREEMENT OR POSSIBLY, UM, UH, YEAH, AND ALLOWANCE IN THERE, HEY, CHECK THAT WAY.
IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THE RESOURCES IN PLACE BEFORE WE TAKE THE A P CARDS AWAY.
BUT BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE OUR P CARDS, UH, DOWN BY AT LEAST 50% BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ELENA ALSO, DO YOU DO INTERNAL AUDITS? I KNOW YOU SAY INTERNAL WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENTS.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDIT DIVISION, BUT ALL OF THE PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, UM, INCLUDE SOMEWHAT INTERNAL AUDITING BASED ON THE WORKFLOW PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE.
UM, SO WHEN IT COMES TO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, WE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POSITIONS THAT ARE REVIEWING ALL OF THE BATCHES FOR, UH, ITEMS POSTS.
UM, WE DO HAVE OUR ANNUAL AUDIT THAT TAKES PLACE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
UM, AND THEY WILL BE OUT IN SEPTEMBER TO BEGIN TO PRELIMINARY WORK.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THEY COME OUT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR TO FINALIZE THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME, SOME CITIES MIGHT HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDITOR.
WE DON'T HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDITOR, BUT WE DO MAKE SURE WE ARE REVIEWING AND AUDITING WORK, UH, ON A DAILY BASIS.
MAY ONCE AGAIN, I LIKE TO COME IN, UH, ELENA, HER STAFF, BECAUSE LAST YEAR I SERVED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE AND SHE AND HER STAFF HAS DONE A YEOMAN'S JOB IN DEVELOPING PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES AND MANUALS.
SO ONCE AGAIN, KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
ANYBODY ELSE? UH, QUESTION IS ON THE, UM, OF THE BOND RATING.
WHEN DO YOU GO FROM A, WHAT ARE WE AA TO NOW? WE'RE AA TO GO TO A AAA.
WHAT, WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THAT YOU NORMALLY SEE OR WOULD YOU SEE AS FAR AS THE, UH, I GUESS THE INTEREST RATE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO, WELL, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT'S OUT IN THE MARKET AT THAT POINT IN TIME, BUT IT SHOULD BE A BETTER INTEREST RATE WHERE WE'RE PAYING LESS INTEREST, BUT I CAN'T, UM, PROJECT AS FAR AS INTEREST RATES, WHAT ACTUALLY WHAT A CARB, BUT I'M SURE IT'S ENOUGH TO SAY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT A DEBT IS PAID OVER A 20, 25 OR 30 YEAR PERIOD.
BUT IF YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN TALK TO OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, SEE IF HE HAS ANY ADULTS.
WE KNOW THAT GOOD GETTING THE AAA IS GOING TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS GARNERING A LOWER RATE.
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TELL THE BOND RATING AGENCIES HOW TO RATE US, BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR FINANCES, UM, CONSTANTLY AND LOOKING AT THEIR SCORECARDS AND SEEING HOW WE'RE, UM, MANAGING OUR FUNDS, WHATEVER WE CAN IMPACT, WE WANT TO, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE RATINGS, UM, WELL, ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THE SCORECARD IS BASED ON THE ASSESSED VALUATION.AND SO TO GET A AAA RATING IN THAT SECTION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE, I BELIEVE A VALUATION OF $12 BILLION.
AND AT THIS MOMENT WHERE WE'RE APPROACHING EIGHT, SO WE WANT TO TRY TO CONTROL WHAT WE CAN MEYERS, YOU KNOW, UH, EVALUATIONS TO INCREASE OR MORE DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHATEVER AREA WE CAN CONTROL THROUGH OUR PRACTICES, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO THAT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE ON THE WAY I THINK.
SO I WAS ARGUING FOR IT WITH THE LAST TIME.
WELL, YOU, IT DOWN HERE AS A GOAL, SO WE KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND COUNCIL IS THE INFORMATION, INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY, LORD CHART, UM, DIETARY DEPARTMENT COVERS ALL ASPECTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
WE TAKE CARE OF MULTIPLE DATA CENTERS, SECURITY, CAMERA SYSTEMS, AUDIO, VISUAL COMPUTERS, EVERYTHING FROM THE SWITCHES, WIRING, FIREWALLS, AND CYBERSECURITY AND TRAINING.
UM, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 21, WE UPGRADED THE DATA CENTER COMPUTE SOLUTION THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND ALSO WE INSTALLED A NEW CAMERA SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
UM, FROM THERE THROUGH COVID WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT, UM, SOLUTIONS TO HELP MOBILE WORKFORCE SO PEOPLE CAN WORK REMOTELY AT HOME.
UM, WE ALMOST IN A PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING THE SMART CITY KIOSKS, WE DO HAVE SOME ON SITE.
UH, WE DID A WALKTHROUGH THIS WEEK TO SEE WHERE WE GOING PLACE THEM.
AND ALSO WE DID THE WIFI PRO PILOT THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE ARE TWEAKING IT TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET BETTER RECEPTION THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, UM, FROM INDEPENDENCE, OUR WAY TO, UM, CITY HALL.
UM, ALSO WE IMPLEMENTED THERMAL SCANNERS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND PORTALS.
UM, SO WE CAN TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND CLEAN, UM, FROM THE, UH, COVID ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CONTROL ACCESS IN AND OUT DEEP LOCATION, THE 2020 GOALS.
UM, WE LOOK AT, I BRING HIM IN HIS HOME.
UM, RIGHT NOW THAT'S IN THE CAR BASE SOLUTION.
FROM THERE WE'D BE ABLE TO RUN BETTER REPORTS, UM, IMPLEMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, TECHNOLOGY FOR, TO HELP OUT THE COUNTY, TO THEIR, UM, JOB IN A GOV.
WE WILL BE UPGRADING AFTER WE BRING MUNIS BACK IN FROM THERE.
WE WERE ALSO HELP, UM, INCLUDE THE FIRE MARSHALL DEPARTMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, THE NEXT GOAL WE HAVE IS TO UPGRADE OUR FIREWALL, TO HAVE OUR OWN CYBERSECURITY.
UM, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING RIGHT NOW IN THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, FROM THERE WE WILL IMPLEMENT NEW SWITCHES, UM, TO GET BETTER THROUGHPUT AND BACKUP STORAGE.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER LARGE ERP PROJECT IS COMING UP, WHICH IS, UM, CHOREOGRAPH FOR PUBLIC WORKS, BUDGET SHARE.
UH, WE HAVE A VARIANCE OF A 46,000, UM, FROM MATERIALS.
WE HAD, UM, THE COMPUTER, NOT COMPUTER PRINTER UPGRADES, UM, FROM LAST YEAR, THAT'S WHAT A VARIOUS COME IN AT.
AND THEN YOU GOT TO 3.5 THAT YOU WILL SEE DO EVERYBODY'S BUDGET.
THERE'S STILL 5.8 FOR THE 2020 BUDGET.
WE ENTER THE ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A GOOD CANDIDATE TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM AND WE'D HAVE SOME METALS.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, THE FIRST SECTION WASTE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
90% OF THAT IS FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, TO HELP THEM BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT AND MOBILE IN THE FIELD.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO MAKE THEM A TRUE MOBILE OFFICE SO THEY CAN GO IN AND DO EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO IN THE FIELD INSTEAD OF COMING BACK TO THE OFFICE AND DOING THEIR JOBS.
UM, THE OTHER 10% IS ACTUALLY, UM, THEN THE HARDWARE REPLACEMENT AND FOR COUNCIL TO GET IPADS, UM, BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING INTO LIFE AND WE NEED TO REPLACE THOSE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
UM, THE OTHER BIG THING, UH, OTHER BIG SUPPLEMENTALS WE HAVE WILL BE, UH, THE BUILDER FOR THE CIP INFRASTRUCTURE AND DUE TO COVID.
UM, WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, WEBEX, UM, OTHER SOLUTIONS.
AND WHEN YOU KEEP THAT GOING, SO THE LICENSE DID INCREASE, UM, AND THE TOTAL HAVE COME UP TO 670,000 FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL, OUR REQUEST, UH, WE DO HAVE AN ITEM
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REPLACEMENT PLAN THAT WE IMPLEMENT IT.UM, THE GOOD SITUATION THAT WE INNIS YEAR IS THAT I IMPLEMENTED WHEN WE HAVE A GAP YEAR, EVERY EIGHT TO NINE YEARS, THIS IS THE GAP YEAR.
SO I WILL NOT BE SPENDING ANY MONEY FROM OUR REPLACEMENT.
WELL, WE DO STILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD IT BECAUSE AS WE LOOK FORWARD, NEED TO REPLACE TECHNOLOGY AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
A QUESTION THAT YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON IT, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THE NOTORIETY, WITH, UH, RANSOM, UH, WHERE THAT'S HITTING SOMEBODY, THE, UH, UH, I GUESS BUSINESSES, AND I WOULD ASSUME MAYBE SOME REALITIES, UM, YOU HAVE DOLLARS IN YOUR BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET.
UH, ADDRESS WHATEVER, UH, SOFTWARE ARE, ARE SAFEGUARDS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO GIVE US PROTECTED.
SO I HAVE MULTIPLE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE AND IT IS BUDGETED, BUT AGAIN, TRAINING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE YOU ARE A FIRST-LINE DEFENSE NOW HEAR NOT FINE ONCE EVERY DAY, ALL DAY, THEY REALLY ARE.
AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IF YOU CLICK ON THAT LINK, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BRING THEM IN FROM THE FRONT END, THEY TRYING TO GET YOUR INFORMATION AND NOT TRYING TO GET AS MUCH THROUGH THE FIREWALL THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO YOU.
SO EVERY TIME, YOU KNOW, IT COMES IN, UM, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE TRAINEE, SO YOU'D BE MINDFUL WHAT TO CLICK ON WHAT NOT TO CLICK ON THEM.
HEY, UH, THIS STATEMENT, UM, IS REALLY NOT SO MUCH JUST FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON THAT IS TODAY, ANYWAY, THAT HAS PROVIDED US A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST.
BUT I THINK FOR ALL OF THE DIRECTORS AND BILL, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, UH, TO PRIORITIZE WHICH ONES FROM GREATEST TO LEAST ARE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
IF WE WERE TO, IF WE COULDN'T DO ALL SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS, LIKE WHICH ONES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, UH, THAT WAY WE CAN KIND OF IDENTIFY, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU DEEM AS, AS OKAY.
IF, IF I CAN'T DO ALL OF THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE TOP THAT ARE MOST, ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
UH, SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME, UH, AS IT RELATES TO WHETHER WE CHOOSE TO, UH, INCLUDE THAT IN THE BUDGET WHEN WE, UH, THIS IS AGAIN A PRELIMINARY, AND THEN WE'LL BE PUTTING THEM INTO A DIFFERENT DOCUMENTATION AND WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU THE PRIORITY RANK, RANK ORDER, AS WELL AS INFORMATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS TO WHAT'S BEEN, UH, RECOMMENDED NOT, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME BACKUP DATA AS TO WHY FOR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
NO, THERE WAS A WIFI, I THINK A PILOT STUDY, CORRECT.
WHERE ARE WE ON THAT? IS THAT PART OF THIS, OR IS THAT ALREADY THROUGH THIS YEAR? IT'S FULLY INSTALLED RIGHT NOW.
IT'S FROM INDEPENDENCE, OUR, WITH THE CITY HALL, UH, WHERE THE CONNECTION IS, UM, WITH THE SOLUTION IN PLACE WAS DONATED A LOT OF EQUIPMENT.
UM, WE FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF IT IS DIRECTIONAL, SO IT WAS POINTING IN ONE DIRECTION VERSUS THE OTHER.
SO WE'LL BE TESTING IT, TRYING TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO REALLY BE OF EFFORT FOR THE CITY.
AND YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE WEBEX AND OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WERE DEPENDENT MAKE THAT WE HAD, WE HAD TO HAVE IT, SO THE LICENSES ARE COMING UP, RIGHT? SO ARE WE CONTINUING WITH THOSE OR DROPPING? NO, WE SHOULD PERTAIN WITH THAT SOLUTION.
UM, WE HAD IT HERE SEVEN YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO OR IMPLEMENTED IT.
NOW WE USING IT AND WITH US HAVING TO PLACE, IT REALLY HELPED US PUSH FORWARD THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
AND GOING BACK TO A CONCERT MEMBER, BONNIE'S TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE RATE OF WHERE YOU STAND.
MY ONLY SUGGESTION IS THAT WHEN YOU BUILD ALSO, WHEN YOU MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, IF ANY OF THESE TOUCHES ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, THAT'S A MUST HAVE, OR THAT'S GONNA HINDER THEM FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH SOMETHING ELSE, UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU AND THE, AND CEDRIC AS A DEPARTMENT WORK TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO SEE BEFORE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED, UM, MAKE THAT DECISION WITH OTHERS BECAUSE IT MAY HINDER SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
SO JUST, THAT'S JUST MY RECOMMENDATION AND MY SUGGESTION.
WE DID ACTUALLY WITH THE TEAM, SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTORS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS AND THE SERVICES FOR THE TECHNOLOGY.
SO THIS, WE SAT DOWN WITH EVERY DIRECTOR THAT CENTER THEIR REQUESTS FROM A TECHNOLOGY STANDPOINT, INTERVIEW THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL FIT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ONE.
AND IF IT'S A TRUE NEED, AND THIS IS A TRUE NEED.
SO THE $20,000 FOR THE TRAINING FOR STAFF ARE WE BRINGING IN AN OUTSIDE COMPANY WITH THE
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FIRE MARSHAL, THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING A NEW SOLUTION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE PART OF INTER GOV.AND THEY NEED A TRAINING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO UTILIZE THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN AND OUT OF THE FIELD.
SO WITH THAT IN A GOV HEAVY TRAINING MODULE OR TRAINING PLAN, WHATEVER IT BRING SOMEBODY HERE AND TRAIN THEM ON HOW TO UTILIZE A SYSTEM, MORE EFFICIENT, ANYONE ELSE HEARING NONE.
I GUESS YOUR IDEA OF REPLACEMENT WAS THAT PART OF THIS GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.
HOW ARE YOU ON TONIGHT? ALRIGHT, SO GOOD EVENING.
MAYOR ELLA CAT, CITY, COUNCIL, STAFF, GUESTS, AND VIEWERS.
UH, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT RESPECTFULLY PRESENTS PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 22 BUDGET REQUESTS.
THESE ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STRATEGIC AND BUSINESS PLAN OBJECTIVES AND GOALS SET FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE GOING TO SET FORTH PROPOSED FUND USES FROM THE TWO TO FOUR MCTV FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT FOR THE PURCHASE OF NECESSARY PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT.
UH, WE FURTHER REQUEST THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL THE TWO FULL-TIME VACANCIES IN OUR DEPARTMENT FOR THE MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST TO THANK YOU AND COMMUNICATIONS WRITER.
I'LL REQUEST, WE'LL PROVIDE ADEQUATE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO ENSURE CONTINUANCE OF OUR EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH INITIATIVES.
ANY BUDGET INCREASES, REFLECT RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR AND COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARKETING BRANDING PROMOTION AND FULL YEAR OPERATION OF ESSENTIAL OUTREACH PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE HOA AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM.
THE MUNICIPAL VOUCHER PROGRAM, THE SIXTH ANNUAL CITIZENS UNIVERSITY OVERSIGHT OF SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, DESIGN, AND PRODUCTION OF THE SHOW.
ME MISSOURI CITY HPO AND ACTION EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER AND THE MISSOURI CITY FOCUS ANNUAL REPORT, THE LAUNCHING AND MAINTAINING OF THE WEBSITE MOBILE APP, THE UPGRADING OF LIVE STREAM SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES, PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY, AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADES FOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS, SOFTWARE UPGRADES FOR 1690 AM, SPECIAL INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS SUCH AS STATE OF THE CITY AND TRAINING AND TRAVELING.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH COMCAST UPDATE, THAT, UH, CABLE CHANNEL HUB AT CITY HALL FROM STANDARD DEFINITION TO A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHER QUALITY.
THEY DON'T DO HD FOR MUNICIPAL CHANNELS, BUT ALL MUNICIPALITIES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW CHANNEL EQUIPMENT.
AS ARE WE, UH, BENEFITS FOR THE CITY SHOULD PROPOSALS BE APPROVED, WOULD INCLUDE ENHANCED CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.
THE EXPANSION OF OUR BRAND REACH INCREASE IN PARTNERSHIPS AND SPONSORSHIPS AND ALL OF THESE WILL FURTHER ASSURE EXEMPLARY QUALITY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED MY STAFF.
I'M VERY HONORED TO WORK WITH A COMMITTED AND EXPERIENCED TEAM OF AWARD-WINNING PROFESSIONALS.
WE HAVE SIX PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT'S MCTV, WHICH IS CHANNEL 16 ON COMCAST AND CHANNEL 99 ON AT AND T U-VERSE PUBLIC INFORMATION WEBSITES, CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS, SOCIAL NETWORKING, AND MARKETING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.
IF YOU SEE OUR ORG CHART ABOVE, WE HAVE TWO OPENINGS CURRENTLY, AND THAT'S THE MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST TOO.
AND THE COMMUNICATIONS WRITER, WHICH WE ARE WORKING TO SEE IF WE CAN FILL, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING AND HIRING FOR THOSE POSITIONS WERE ASKED TO HOLD OFF WHILE THE COMPENSATION STUDY WAS COMPLETED WITH GALLAGHER.
UH, WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT THE HOA LIAISON COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR POSITION WAS 30% UNDER MARKET.
UM, AND THAT THAT SALARY WOULD BE ADJUSTED.
AND WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN THE MTTB PRODUCER POSITIONS AND THE WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER POSITION WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MOVED TO A PREMIUM PAY SCALE BECAUSE THOSE, UM, PROFESSIONALS DO DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN AS WELL AS VIDEO PRODUCT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2021.
WE COORDINATED AND RECEIVED ABOUT 1300 CARES ACT PROGRAM APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS
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THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE.WE PROVIDE A CONTINUED MARKETING PROMOTION OUTREACH FOR THE CITY'S PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE CITY WEBSITE, BECAUSE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS HAD TO PAY AN EXTERNAL INTERNAL ORGANIZATION TO BUILD THEIR WEB PLATFORM BECAUSE OF OUR INTERACTIVE WEB PLATFORM.
AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEVELOPER ON STAFF, THERE WAS NO COST TO THE CITY.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT IN-HOUSE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE ACTUALLY RECEIVING THE APPLICATIONS THAT THEY CAME IN AND COORDINATING, SENDING THEM TO IMPACT.
UH, WE ALSO PROVIDED COMMUNICATION COVERAGE, EDUCATION OUTREACH DURING THE FEBRUARY, 2021 WINTER STORM.
UM, AS WELL AS PROVIDING LIVE COVERAGE AND PRODUCING NEWS CONFERENCES FOR OTHER EMERGENCIES, INCLUDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, OUR DEPARTMENT WORKED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UH, PANDEMIC ON THE FRONT LINES AND THE 2021 HURRICANE SEASON.
WE INCREASED COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
THERE WERE 384 BUSINESSES CANVASSED ON FOOT BY THIS DEPARTMENT FOR THE CARE ZACK PROGRAM.
THAT'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVE DIRECT OUTREACH FROM THE CITY.
AND NOT ONLY DID THEY RECEIVE CARES X PROGRAM INFORMATION, WE ALSO SHARE PANDEMIC INFORMATION WITH THEM.
UM, IN ADDITION TO ANY INFORMATION ABOUT PPE AND FOOD DRIVES AND OTHER SERVICES THAT COULD HELP THEIR BUSINESSES CONTINUE TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE.
UH, THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, WE ALSO DESIGNED AND PRODUCED CUSTOMIZED MATERIALS FOR ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
WE PLANNED PROMOTED AND HOSTED SEVERAL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EVENTS, AND WE PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PHOTO VIDEO COVERAGE FOR ALL CITY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
UM, MCTV HAS PRODUCED MORE THAN 100 MUNICIPAL VIDEOS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THAT WAS CRITICAL DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE HAD TO CONTINUE OUR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCURACY WITH CITIZENS.
AND I REALLY HAVE TO APPLY THE MTTB TEAM AND THE MEDIA TEAM AS A WHOLE, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT, WE'RE ABLE TO, WE WERE ABLE TO CONVERT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE INTO OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO LIVE STREAM AND SHOW THE CITIZENS WHAT WERE GOING ON THROUGHOUT.
SO VERY PROUD OF THEM AND THEY HAVE TO DO WITH ME.
SO, UM, THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THAT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, VERY CANDID CONVERSATIONS IN TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET FROM CITY COUNCIL, CITIZENS AND THE STAFF ABOUT OUR TEAM CHALLENGES.
AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE AS ENFORCING PROJECT DEADLINES WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS, UH, BECAUSE IT IMPACTS OUR BUSINESS PLAN PROJECTS AND GOALS, UH, PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS FOR PROJECT WORKFLOWS, MAKING TIME TO IMPLEMENT LESSONS LEARNED AND TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE POST-MORTEM MEETINGS.
WE DON'T DO THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND IT REALLY IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GAUGE WHEN WE'RE STARTING A PROJECT AND ENDING A PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE REQUEST LOAD.
BUT THOSE POSTMORTEMS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF METRICS.
AND SO WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE OF THOSE, UM, OUR TEAM STRENGTHS, OUR CLARITY OF PURPOSE AND GOALS, COLLABORATIVE TEAM CULTURE, THAT INSPIRES IDEATION, A BROAD RANGE OF EXPERTISE WITHIN ONE TEAM AND AN APPRECIATION OF DIVERSITY.
AND WE VALUE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
WE HAVE A GREAT ABILITY TO MANAGE CRISES ABILITY TO MANAGE MULTIPLE STRATEGIC PROJECTS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND WE REALIZED THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TEAM EXIST BECAUSE THERE ARE ALREADY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO FURTHER INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND BRAND AWARENESS.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WE BUILD WITH THE EMERGING BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CITY'S BRAND AND THAT IT GIVES US THE POTENTIAL TO PERSONALIZE AND CUSTOMIZE NEW AND CURRENT RESIDENT EXPERIENCES.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING VERY CLOSELY ON STRENGTHENING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, THE TEAM THREATS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED ARE THE FEELING AND FUNDING OF THE TWO OPEN FULL-TIME POSITIONS, ALSO LIMITED RESOURCES, UH, THROUGH DIFFERENT BUDGET CYCLES.
OUR ADVERTISING FUNDS HAVE BEEN REDUCED, AND THAT IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO PROMOTE AND MARKET STRATEGIC CITY EVENTS AND INITIATIVES.
AND IT ALSO REDUCES OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE ON PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIUMS. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO WATCH OVER TIME COSTS.
SO THE OTHER AREA THAT WE TRY TO LOOK AT ALSO IS THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND DEVELOP.
AND AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND DEVELOP, THERE'S AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR COVERAGE AND PRODUCTION ACROSS ALL THOSE AREAS.
SO WE KNOW THAT IT'S STEADILY INCREASING AND WE HAVE TO STEADILY, UM, LOOK AT OUR BUSINESS PLAN TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
AND THEN ANY LACK OF SYNERGY WITH SOME INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONSTITUENCIES, UH, AS WAS YESTERDAY, UH, BY INTERIM CITY MANAGER ATKINSON, THE LEAN SIX SIGMA DIRECTOR, JOSEPH KUNIS IS CURRENTLY MEETING WITH COMMUNICATIONS TEAM MEMBERS, UH, TO EVALUATE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS.
AND SO FAR, UH, HE'S INQUIRED ABOUT DATA AND THE 2020 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS, UH, WHICH WE SHARED WITH HIM, OUR CONCERN THERE IS
[00:30:01]
THAT THE SOURCES OF OUTREACH IN THAT SURVEY ARE NOT SOURCES.THE CITY USES TO COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
WE DON'T USE LEADERSHIP LUNCHEONS, SO IT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE NEWSLETTER OR THE HOA PROGRAM.
UM, IT DIDN'T INCLUDE NEXT DOOR AND ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW WE EDUCATE AND ENGAGE RESIDENTS.
AND SO WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 2016, JUST SO YOU KNOW, COUNCIL.
SO ETC THAT THEY LOOK AT THAT GOING FORWARD AND TRY TO CORRECT IT.
UM, WE HAD A BASE SURVEY IN 2014 THAT DID INCLUDE THOSE OUTLETS.
AND SO THE RESULTS WERE VERY DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF HOW RESIDENTS VIEWED EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PERSONNEL COSTS, UH, AND OUR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, IT'S ALL OUTLINED THERE AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES.
UH, BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, UH, WE HAVE NOT FILLED TWO OF THOSE, UH, FULL-TIME POSITIONS.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, UM, INTERIM CITY MANAGER, ATKINSON, UH, NOTIFIED ME THIS WEEK THAT THE FRONT DESK POSITION THAT'S THE CUSTOMER RELATION SPECIALIST THREE WOULD BE MOVED TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MOVING FORWARD.
UH, THAT POSITION HAS BEEN REALLY KEY WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND TRACKING TOPICS AND TRENDS.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO STILL GET THAT INFORMATION, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING COVERAGE TO CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM FOR OUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS.
THERE'S A CELL PHONES WILL ALLOW THEM TO REQUEST FOR THE PRODUCER THREE POSITION.
UM, SOMEHOW THAT HAS FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS OVER THE YEARS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, FOR SOME REASON IT WASN'T IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE AGAIN ASKING FOR THAT THIS YEAR, UM, THAT POSITION MANAGES ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING AND ZONING PARKS, BOARD MEETINGS AND ZOOM MEETINGS.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CELL PHONE ALLOWANCE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, UM, AS WELL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, AND THAT'S, UH, PRECISELY FOR ANY NEW COMPUTER EQUIPMENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR THOSE TWO FTE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WOULD COME ON BOARD.
AND THEN ALSO FOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, UH, PROCURING A STATIC PODIUM, MUCH LIKE THIS, AND THEN A PRESENTATION PODIUM THAT WOULD HAVE TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE CAN USE FOR THEIR PRESENTATION SO THAT THEY CAN BE MORE INTERACTIVE WITH THAT.
AND WITH THE COUNCIL FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS EXPENSE, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY WITH THE CITIZEN NEWSLETTER.
THAT IS FEEDBACK THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CURRENT COUNCIL THAT THERE NEED TO BE MORE, UM, REGULAR ADDITIONS OF THAT NEWSLETTER PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL AS TO CONTINUE PRODUCING OUR ANNUAL REPORT MILEAGE.
UH, WE HAVE TWO VEHICLES ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT, BUT OUR TEAM MEMBERS DO A LARGE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL AND TWO VEHICLES DON'T COVER NINE PEOPLE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE USING THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES, BEING COMPENSATED FOR THAT MEMBER SAID SHIPS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS.
WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN DILIGENT ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT, UM, WITH THE TEAM AND ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF TRAVEL AND TRAINING AS WELL.
THERE IS A MARKETING ORGANIZATION CALLED THREE CMA.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE ENGAGE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND THE CITY'S BRAND, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AS WELL.
THE MCTV FUND IS ESSENTIAL TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY IS INDUSTRY STANDARD AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO, UH, MOVE FROM HAVING STANDARD DEFINITION EQUIPMENT TO HAVING HD EQUIPMENT.
UH, WHEN WE INHERITED THIS DEPARTMENT, MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS WAS STANDARD DEFINITION.
THE RESOLUTION AND THE QUALITY WAS LOW, AS WELL AS THE CONNECTIVITY.
UM, OUR MCTV TEAM HAS WORKED TO IMPROVE THAT AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVE IT OVER TIME.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN AS A PART OF THEIR WORK IS AGAIN, THE LIVESTREAM CAPACITY AND THE ABILITY TO COVER EVENTS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO BACK TO YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST, THE $60,000, IS THAT JUST FOR THE NEWSLETTERS? CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT IS YES.
COUNCIL MOBILE CLOUDS, OR THAT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITIZEN NEWSLETTER? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THAT ACCOUNT FOR NEWSLETTERS AND ANNUAL REPORTS.
[00:35:01]
SO THAT COVERS TWO NEWSLETTERS AND ONE ANNUAL REPORT.THE DIFFERENCE IN EACH OF THOSE PUBLICATIONS IS THEY ARE DIFFERENT PAGE SIZES.
AND, UH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ALSO HAVE INSERTS.
SO DEPENDING ON WE USED TO HAVE AN EIGHT PAGE NEWSLETTER, BUT THE CITY HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND EXPAND.
SO IT'S PRIMARILY ABOUT 12 PAGES NOW WITH AN INSERT.
UM, WE DESIGNED THE NEWSLETTER IN HOUSE AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
THAT'S USUALLY A $5,000 COST PER PUBLICATION.
THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY ANY OF THAT COST BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ON STAFF WHO DOES THAT, SO THAT MONEY PRIMARILY COVERS PRINTING, BINDING MAILING, AND ANY OTHER DELIVERY.
SO THE ROOFTOPS ACROSS THE CITY HAVE INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY.
SO IT'S DELIVERED TO ALL BUSINESSES AND ALL RESIDENCES.
SO THAT'S ABOUT 46,000 PLACES RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH A PRINTING COMPANY THAT IS OWNED BY MISSOURI CITY TAXPAYERS.
UM, SO WE, AND THEY ALSO PRINT FOR A METHODIST HOSPITAL AND OTHER LARGE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A BULK MAIL POSTAGE, UH, RATE WHEN WE SEND OUR NEWSLETTER OUT.
SO IN ORDER FOR US TO DO, WE WANT TO TRY TO DO FOUR NEWSLETTERS A YEAR AND ONE ANNUAL REPORT, AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY OTHER SPECIAL MAILING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO FOR A PANDEMIC AND EMERGENCY A SPECIAL EVENT, UM, ANY COUNCIL OUTREACH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THE NEWSLETTER YOU'RE SAYING IS 12, IT'S GOING TO BE 12 PAGES.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GUESSTIMATING.
THAT'S WHAT I KNOW FOR A FACT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL ADDITIONS.
THE ONE THAT WE JUST SENT OUT WAS 12 PAGES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL RECEIVED THAT, BUT THIS NEWSLETTER IT'S 12 PAGES AND IT HAS AN INSERT.
SO IT COVERS ALL CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
AND TWO OF OUR MAJOR INITIAL THREE OF OUR MAJOR INITIATIVES.
SO, BUT JULY 4TH, FESTIVAL CITIZENS UNIVERSITY, AND THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SWEEP.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION HURRICANE SEASON IS IN HERE.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO COVER THAT IN EIGHT PAGES WITH A GROWING CITY AND A GROWING STAFF.
SO THIS IS PRIMARILY WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE WITH THE LOWEST PAGE PRODUCTION SPACEY I'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
I KNOW WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION LAST YEAR WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD YEAR AND A HALF A YEAR AND A HALF AGO ABOUT HAVING YOUR INTERNAL STAFF TO, UH, PRODUCE AND DESIGN, UM, UH, MATERIALS WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY OUTSOURCING.
AND IT WAS COSTING US AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO I'M DELIGHTED THAT YOU DO HAVE A TEAM TOGETHER WHEN YOU CAN PUT THAT TOGETHER HERE, WHERE WE CAN SAVE COST FOR THE CITY.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON, UM, HOW YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WITH SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF STAFF AND MAKE SURE YOU COVER ALL EVENTS, MAKING SURE WE ALL INFORMED, AND THE RESIDENTS ARE INFORMED ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ON THE COMMITTEE ON THAT.
UM, SPEAKING OF THE TWO STAFF THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING AND YOU GIVE US A BREAKDOWN ON WHAT THE STAFF, UM, CURRENTLY DO AND WHAT WILL BE THE NEEDS OF THE NEW STAFF THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING, WHAT TO NEW STAFF.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKING SINCE WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR, UM, THAT WAS ONE OF YOUR REQUESTS AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF CONTINUOUSLY GROWING.
AND IT'S HARD YOU GUYS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
SO AS I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON WORKING ON SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF STAFF AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL INFORMED OUR VIDEOS, CAN YOU SPEAK ON THOSE, THOSE TWO ITEMS? YES.
UM, SO, UM, GOING BACK TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SO I CAN TRY TO FOLLOW THAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES THAT I HAVE IN PLACE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARDS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF IS CROSS-FUNCTIONAL.
SO THEY'RE CROSS TRAINED AND I HIRE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE ABILITY ABILITIES, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO I WOULD SAY FOR OUR SENIOR MTTB PRODUCER, UM, THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS EXTENSIVE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE TRANSITION OF THE PRODUCTION TALENT TECHNOLOGY FROM STANDARD DEFINITION TO HIGH DEFINITION.
UM, THIS IS RESULTED AGAIN IN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE MCTV PROGRAMMING IN REAL TIME THROUGH LIVE STREAMING.
SO ALL OF THE VIDEO AND PHOTOS THAT YOU SEE THAT ARE AERIALS ARE DONE IN HOUSE FOR THE CITY AT NO COST.
SO WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE LIVE, UM, COVERAGE BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO FLY THE DRONE AND SHOW THE CITIZENS EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
UM, WHEN YOU SEE IN THE NEWS THAT OPENING AERIAL FOOTAGE THAT'S DONE, UH, THROUGH THIS INDIVIDUAL, HE ALSO PRODUCES A HIGH QUALITY
[00:40:01]
STRATEGIC VIDEOS SUCH AS THOSE THAT ARE DONE FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.THEY, SO THE CITY HE'S DONE VIDEOS WITH FORT BEND COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THAT VIDEO WAS SHOWN AT CONSTELLATION FIELD, AND THEN THEY USED IT AS A FUNDRAISER, A SECOND MILE MISSION DURING THE PANDEMIC NIAGARA, BENNY KEITH, THE COVID-19 NEWS CONFERENCES, WCA.
HE DID EXTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS WHEN WE TRANSFER TO THAT SERVICE.
UM, AND HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN EAT LIVE AND WORK CAMPAIGN WITH, UH, ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS THAT MCTV PRODUCER THREE POSITION.
UH, THIS INDIVIDUAL ALSO HAS EXTENSIVE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND HAS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.
AS I STATED EARLIER FOR RECORDING AND LIVE STREAMING AND ARCHIVING CITY COUNCIL PLANNING AND ZONING PARKS, BOARD ZOOM, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN I CAME ON BOARD IN THE CITY, IT TOOK FOUR PEOPLE TO DO WHAT ONE PROFESSIONAL WAS DOING.
AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOWS GREAT VALUE THAT THE CITY WAS ABLE TO RECRUIT AND HAVE A PROFESSIONAL OF THAT CALIBER ON STAFF.
UM, HE ALSO UPDATES ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE CITY HALL LED SIGN, UM, AND THAT INCLUDES HCC PROGRAMMING, INTERNAL, EXTERNAL EVENTS.
UM, AND HE MAKES SURE THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS HAVE AN ONGOING PRESENCE.
HE'S ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF HELPING TO UPGRADE THAT SIGN WITH THE HOA LIAISON.
UM, HE REPORTS AND EHRS THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, UH, VIDEOS OR MESSAGES THAT YOU HEAR ON THE 1690 AM RADIO STATION.
HE MANAGES THE HUB EQUIPMENT, UM, FOR THE CITY'S COMCAST CHANNEL.
UM, AND HE MITIGATES, UH, CABLE SYSTEM OUTAGES ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, HE, UH, FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS, SO A FIRE HAS A CABLE OUTAGE.
THEY CALL HIM IF PD HAS THE CABLE OUTAGE, THEY CALL HIM, UM, HE MITIGATES ALL OF THAT STUFF AS WELL.
AND HE IS A VIDEO DOCUMENTARIAN.
HE DID A GREAT VIDEO ON CITIZENS UNIVERSITY THAT WAS AIRED AT STAR CINEMA GRILL ON THE BIG SCREEN.
UM, HE WRITES FOR HTML CODE AND HE USED TO PRODUCE THE SAME UPDATE.
HE'S ALSO CONDUCTED A CITY-WIDE CABLE AUDIT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO SAVE COSTS BECAUSE SOME OF OUR CITY FACILITIES HAVE, UH, COURTESY ACCOUNTS AND THEN THEY HAVE BUSINESS ACCOUNTS.
SO HOW CAN WE AS A CITY, MAYBE NOT HAVE TWO ACCOUNTS AT ONE FACILITY AND SAVE SOME MONEY THAT WAY.
SO, UM, HE DID, UH, THAT CITY-WIDE CABLE AUDIT THAT WE SHARED WITH MR. SNIPES AND MR. JONES, UM, TO TAKE A LOOK HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE COST SAVINGS.
AND I'VE ALSO MENTIONED THAT TO BILL AS WELL.
UM, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I THINK, UH, THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL IS BILINGUAL.
UH, THE MCTV PRO PRODUCER PROFESSIONAL IS ALSO MULTITALENTED.
UM, THIS IS AN ON-AIR PERSONALITY AND, UH, THIS INDIVIDUAL ALSO DOES VIDEO AND EDITING PRODUCTION.
UH, SHE ALSO MANAGES THE DESIGN, LIKE I SAID, FOR ALL OF THE CITY'S NEWSLETTERS AND PUBLICATIONS AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
IF YOU GUYS CAN SEE THIS, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS TONIGHT, SHE'S DESIGNING THESE FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO IT'S BASICALLY OUR CITY CORE VALUES, AND IT WILL HAVE IMAGES THAT APPLY TO ALL DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LOCAL PRINTER TO HAVE THESE PRODUCED AS WELL, BUT ALL OF THE DESIGN IS DONE.
IN-HOUSE UM, SHE DOES PSA'S, UH, SHE HAS CONCEPTUAL LIVES AND DEVELOP NEW CONTENT CALLED KIDS CORNER THAT'S AWARD-WINNING.
SHE DOES MARKETING AND BRANDING.
UH, SHE USED TO HANDLE THE LEADERSHIP NOW SYMPOSIUM ALL OF THAT, UH, MARKETING CONTACT FOR MR. SNIPES.
THERE'S A LITTLE ID CARD THAT ALL EMPLOYEES GET WHEN THEY COME ON BOARD, IT'S LIKE A LITTLE CARD THAT HAS ALL THE CITY'S CORE VALUES ON IT.
SHE DESIGNED THAT PRODUCED THAT.
UM, SHE DOES THE BUDGET BOOK, UH, DESIGNED FOR THE SALES TAX THAT COUNCIL RECEIVES ALSO THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.
AND THEN THERE'S AN INTRANET DESIGN THAT WE DID FOR IT.
AND THAT IS NOW USED FOR THE CITY SCORECARD SYSTEM.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF EEG AND THE ERC, AND SHE'S WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH TIBORA AND ALSO ROGER ON THOSE PROJECTS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE, AGAIN, A PROFESSIONAL FOR CALIBER.
SHE STARTED WITH THE CITY AS AN INTERN AND THROUGH SUCCESSION PLANNING WITH ME, SHE THEN BECAME PART-TIME AND NOW SHE'S FULL TIME.
UM, OUR MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALISTS, THREE, THIS, UH, PROFESSIONALS ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SUCCESSION, SUCCESSION PLANNING AND EMPLOYEE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT WORKS.
THIS PROFESSIONAL STARTED AT THE FRONT DESK AND WITH TRAINING AND ALSO COACHING AND MENTORING.
UH, SHE'S NOW THE MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST THREE, SHE'S OUR PUBLICATIONS EDITOR.
SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR A CONTENT CREATION MANAGEMENT DISTRIBUTION FOR NEWS RELEASES, NEWSLETTERS, COUNCIL CONNECTION, UH, THE ANNUAL REPORT.
SHE DOES RESEARCH AND WRITING FOR TALKING POINTS FOR COUNCIL, UH, FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR STAFF.
[00:45:01]
UH, THE FIRE STRATEGIC PLAN WAS CREATED TWO YEARS AGO.SHE WAS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN ALONG WITH THE MCTV PRODUCER THAT DOES DESIGN SHE'S THE SECONDARY PIO.
SHE DOES ALL THE WEBSITE, CONTENT MANAGEMENT AND UPDATES.
UH, SHE'S ALSO PART OF OUR STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN MARKETING TEAM, AND SHE CREATED ALL OF THE ORIGINAL CONTENT FOR THE FIRST PARKS FOUNDATION WEBSITE.
AND THAT CONTENT IS ALSO CURRENT, UH, IS ALSO PRESENT ON THE CURRENT WEBSITE.
SHE EDITED THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT WE WROTE LAST YEAR, AND SHE IS THE REASON WHY OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS ARE VERIFIED.
AND THAT'S A VERY ARDUOUS PROCESS FOR CITIES.
AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGH THE THREE CMA PROGRAM THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, UM, THROUGH HER PARTNERSHIPS.
I SEE, I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT MAYOR, UM, WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND WHILE I APPRECIATE HEARING ABOUT THE VARIOUS ROLES OF THE RESPECTIVE INDIVIDUALS, WE REALLY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
UH, CAUSE THIS IS A BUDGET WORKSHOP.
I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD REALLY FOCUS ON THESE BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AND KIND OF MOVE FORWARD.
THESE ARE REQUESTING TWO NEW STAFF, SO IT'S NOT, UM, I DIDN'T SEE THAT SHE REQUESTED TWO NEW STAFF AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING HER, WHAT ARE THE DUTIES ARE THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY STAFF AND HOW WOULD THE DO STAFF FIT INTO THAT? SHE ALREADY REQUESTED THOSE STAFF MEMBERS IN THE LAST BUDGET.
AND SO THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED.
SO I GUESS I DON'T SEE THAT THERE'S A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST HERE FOR ANY NEW STAFF POSITIONS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG STATES.
WHAT I, WHAT I STAYED AT COUNCIL MEMBER BONY IS THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO FILL THE POSITIONS.
AND SO WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ASSESSMENT ON WHETHER THOSE TWO NEW ROLES ARE NEEDED.
AND SO I'M JUST PRIMARILY EXPLAINING THE ROLE, THE WORK THAT'S DONE.
NOW, THE, THESE TWO NEW POSITIONS WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN FACILITATING THAT ADDITIONAL COVERAGE, THAT ENHANCED COVERAGE.
WE NEED A WRITER WHO CAN WRITE ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS. THAT SHOULD BE THAT INDIVIDUAL'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.
WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN FOCUS ON COMMUNITY PROFILES.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW WHAT WE DID ON RICHARD BROWN, WHO WAS THE PGA PROFESSIONAL, WHAT DID ON GLEN MARTELL, WHEN HE STARTED WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH CHLOE JOINER, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S SOLE, UM, BEAT.
THEY JUST NEED TO BE AN ENTERPRISE WRITER.
AND STORYTELLING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR THE CITY COMMUNICATIONS IS OF THE ESSENCE.
AND IF WE CAN HAVE ONE PERSON PRIMARILY DOING THAT, IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.
COUNCIL MEMBER EMORY HAS REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT HAVING SUMMARIES MUCH LIKE COUNCIL CONNECTION FOR SPECIAL MEETINGS.
IF I HAD A SPECIAL WRITER, WE COULD DO THAT.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO FILL THE WEBSITE, UM, OR THE MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST TO POSITION THAT PERSON WAS PRIMARY LIVE COVERAGE.
SO AT COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE USED TO HAVE SOMEONE POSTING TAKING PHOTOS, WATERMARKING THEM, AND POSTING THEM LIVE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE BANDWIDTH RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALWAYS ABLE TO DO.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO.
I THINK IT SETS US APART FROM OTHER CITIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BEING ABLE TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT RIGHT, I GUESS THE ONLY POINT THAT I WAS MAKING AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT INFORMATION ON THOSE TWO POSITIONS IS THAT THOSE POSITIONS WERE ALREADY APPROVED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 20, 22 BUDGET, WHICH DOESN'T, UH, YOU'RE NOT REQUESTING ANY NEW ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
AND I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, I GUESS, THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS GETTING FAILED, OR I GUESS PUT BACK OUT THERE WOULD BE A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
THE REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST, UH, IS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD I'D HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT EVALUATION, BUT I WOULD HAVE ADDED IT AS A SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST.
IF I HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT STAFF.
SO IF I NEED TO GO BACK AND DO THAT, I WILL, BILL, ARE THOSE POSITIONS STILL APART OF THE 21, BUD, THEY'RE PART OF THE 21 BUDGET.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A COMMUNICATIONS EVALUATION DONE BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE AND WE'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION AND HAVE THE LEAN SIX SIGMA COORDINATOR WORKING WITH COMMUNICATIONS TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, TO SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE MIGHT BE FOR BOTH EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED TO BE DONE.
BUT THEY WERE BORN IN 21 BUDGET.
SO THEY'RE STILL, SO THERE'S STILL MONEY BUDGETED FOR THAT POSITION.
IF IN FACT YOU DECIDE OR THE LEAN SIX SIGMA PERSON BELIEVES THAT THIS IS THE BEST DIRECTION TO GO IN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THEY MENTIONED,
[00:50:02]
EXCUSE ME.I DON'T THINK SHE GOT TO FINISH.
WELL, WE, WE WERE, SHE WAS, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE POSITIONS ON THE ORG CHART AND NOT THE TWO IN PARTICULAR.
SO I WAS TRYING TO, FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUSED ON YOUR ACTUAL ORIGINAL QUESTION, WHICH WAS ABOUT THOSE TWO POSITIONS.
I BELIEVE SHE WAS GETTING TO THAT BASICALLY QUICKLY.
CAN YOU GO OVER THIS? I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR COUNSEL'S TIME AND I CAN CERTAINLY SEND THAT INFORMATION.
WHAT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME IS THAT COUNCIL AND OTHERS ARE SAYING THAT COMMUNICATIONS IS DOING IS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND THAT AS A PART OF THAT AND WHATEVER THIS ASSESSMENT IS FROM THE CONSULTANT THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF, THESE TWO POSITIONS COULD BE CUT FROM OUR BUDGET.
SO WHAT I'M RESPECTFULLY SAYING TONIGHT IS THAT THIS ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT IS BEING PRESENTED, THERE'S ALREADY ONE POSITION THAT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
THERE COULD BE TWO MORE POSITIONS TAKEN AWAY.
IT WILL IMPEDE OUR ABILITY TO MEET OUR BUSINESS AND WORK PLAN PROJECTS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, UM, IN PART, AS A PART OF MY PRESENTATION TO BE TRANSPARENT, SO THAT COUNCIL STAFF AND THE CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR BUSINESS PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S STILL A QUESTION ON THE TABLE AND WE ANSWER THAT, WHICH ONE, HOW SOMEONE BRAD WORKS.
SO I CAN VERY BRIEFLY, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CONTINUE VERY BRIEFLY? YES, PLEASE.
SO OUR HOA LIAISON, YOU ALL ARE PRETTY MUCH FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL DOES AND HAS PRIMARY OVERSIGHT OF CONSTITUENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CITIZENS, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, THIS INDIVIDUAL ATTENDS REGULAR AND ANNUAL MEETINGS AND MAKES ADDITIONS TO THE COUNCIL AND APPOINTED CALENDARS.
COORDINATES COUNCIL DISTRICT MEETINGS HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE MOTHER'S DAY LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE VETERANS SALUTE.
AND AGAIN, CANVASSING IS A MAJOR PART OF THIS, UH, ROLE.
AND THIS DOOR TO DOOR OUTREACH IS CRITICAL TO THE CITY SUCCESS.
UM, AS WELL AS WRITING NEWS RELEASES AND DOING OTHER COVERAGE AND MANAGING THE MVP PROGRAM, THE WEBSITE SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER IS AN EXPERT ACROSS, UM, ALL OUTLETS IN TERMS OF SOLE SOURCE, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN.
UH, HIS FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB, HE DEVELOPED THE FIRST WEBSITE FOR THE PARKS FOUNDATION AND MANY ELEMENTS OF THAT SITE, UM, ARE ON THE CURRENT SITE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN HURRICANE SEASON, THERE WAS A SHIFT FROM THE PIER, UM, OUTLET TO JEDI.
OTHER CITIES HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR NEW PLATFORMS DEVELOPED.
MISSOURI CITY DID NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL OF THIS CALIBER IN HOUSE.
SO HE WAS ABLE TO REBUILD OUR MISSOURI CITY READY PLATFORM.
AND HE MANAGES THAT AS WELL AS THE CITY WEBSITE, SHOW ME CITI.COM.
THE CITY SEAL, WHEN I INTERVIEWED HIM DID NOT EXIST IN A DIGITAL FORMAT.
IT WAS A BLACK AND WHITE PIECE OF PAPER.
YOU NOW SEE THE CITY STILL IT'S ON THE POWERPOINT TEMPLATE, RIGHT THERE.
HE IS THE ONE WHO DESIGNED THAT AND MADE IT A DIGITAL IN COLOR AND BLACK.
AND HE DOES ALL OF THE POWERPOINT TEMPLATES, THE BANNERS, UM, ALL MARKETING MATERIALS, UM, JUST A VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUAL.
UH, THE FRONT DESK POSITION THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AGAIN, BECAUSE I SAID IT HELPS US TRACK TRENDS.
THE MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST TO POSITION IS ALSO A PIO POSITION IN TERMS OF ALL THE WRITING THAT I DESCRIBED.
AND THIS PERSON IS ALSO A DEPARTMENT LIAISON WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR STRATEGIC COVERAGE.
THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER HAS BEEN REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNICATION, STRATEGIC PLAN AND MEDIA RELATIONS WORKSHOPS.
AND SHE AND I ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS ASSESSMENT FROM THE CONSULTANT THAT THOSE TWO POSITIONS NEED TO BE DONE AWAY WITH.
SHE WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL AND COVERAGE OF THE CITY'S CARES THAT PROGRAMS AND THE PANDEMIC, THE REOPENING GUIDELINE FOR COVID THAT COUNCIL RECEIVED.
UM, SHE ALSO FOUND A GAP IN THE FMLA FORM FOR EMPLOYEES DURING COVID AND WITH HER HELP, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO UPDATE THAT AND BRING IT CURRENT.
UH, SHE'S NOW WORKING ON NEWS RELEASES ON A PLETHORA OF MAJOR ISSUES, INCLUDING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SUITE, THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT, UH, THE SPECIAL PERMIT REQUIRES, UH, THE ZIP CODE STUDY THAT WAS DONE THAT SHOWS TWO OF THE PREDOMINANT AFRICAN-AMERICAN ZIP CODES IN THE COUNTRY ARE IN MISSOURI CITY, 7 7, 4 8 9, WHICH PEOPLE SAY TEXAS PARKWAY IS NOT A WEALTHY AREA.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE KINDER INSTITUTE AT RICE INSTITUTE, WHICH IS A GREAT PART, A PARTNER FOR THE CITY TO PROFILE THAT SHE'S ALSO OUR PRIMARY
[00:55:01]
PRESENCE ON LINKEDIN.UM, AND SHE WOULD MANAGE THOSE WRITING POSITIONS THAT ARE NOW VACANT AND THE, UM, THE WRITER POSITION, LIKE I SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER BONEY WOULD BE PRIMARILY AN ENTERPRISE POSITION, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN OUR ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND THAT PERSON WOULD ALSO COVER, UM, ANY ANIMAL SHELTER DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO DO OUR PETS OF THE WEEK, ANY AWARDS AND GRANTS PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, I'VE GOT ONE, JUST ONE QUESTION AND ONE OBSERVATION, NUMBER ONE, UH, ON THE, UH, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS FOR THE, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, UM, COMMUNICATIONS, UH, NEWSLETTERS THAT WE, THAT, UH, ARE BEING SUGGESTED.
UH, I THINK THAT IS A REAL EFFICIENT WAY OF GETTING OUR MESSAGE OUT TO OUR, UH, OUR CITIZENS.
NOT ALL CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, TO, UH, OUR PLATFORMS. UH, SO THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM, AND I THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF, OF THE CITIZENS, UH, HAVE LITTLE ACCESS AND HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT, UH, WHAT IS GOING ON IN A CITY.
AND I THINK INCREASING THE NUMBER OF THOSE NEWSLETTERS, I THINK WILL GO A LONG WAY IN BRINGING OUR CITIZENS UP TO DATE WITH WHAT THE HAPPENINGS ARE.
SO, UH, I WOULD, UH, SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, UH, IN MY, IN MY ESTIMATION A PRIORITY ITEM.
SO THE SECOND OBSERVATION, EXCUSE ME, IS, UM, IS THE, WE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WHAT, UH, THE, UH, THE TV, UH, ACCESS THROUGH, UH, COMCAST INTO, AT AND T.
UM, BUT, UH, IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER MEDIUMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COMCAST ISN'T THE ONLY, OR I DON'T THINK THE PREVALENT CARRIER, YOU KNOW, AND I, I REALIZE THAT THEIR CABLE ARE EITHER NOT, BUT, UH, UH, SOME OF THE OTHERS, UH, ADDITION AND THE OTHER SATELLITE TYPE OF, UH, OF, UH, MEDIUMS, UH, UH, HAVE A LARGE SHARE.
SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT I WOULD THINK MAYBE IF THERE IS EXPLORED WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, EMORY, AND, UM, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER.
I JUST HAD A MEETING THIS WEEK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOLO TV THAT IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT DOES MARKETING AND BRANDING CONTENT FROM MUNICIPALITIES.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTION IS THAT IT HEARS ON NETWORK TV.
SO I'M TALKING TO THEM ABOUT EXPANDING OUR NETWORK, TV PRESENCE, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
AND THEN WE WERE PLANNING ON MEETING WITH ALL OF THE NETWORK OUTLETS, AGAIN, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR PRESENCE.
WE ALREADY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD REACH, BUT I'M PRIMARILY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE A LOT OF OUR NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND HAVING OUR STAFF APPEAR ON THOSE PROGRAMS AS EXPERTS, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT TOPICS.
SO THIS IS JUST A BRIEF COMMENT.
UH, I NOTICE IN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DO YOUR DEPARTMENT IS CROSS TRAINED AND WILL AS WELL AS UTILIZE ITS SUCCESSION PLAN.
AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU BECAUSE I'M HOPING THAT THE REST OF YOUR DEPARTMENT'S BILL WOULD PICK THAT UP BECAUSE COUNCIL MEMBER EMORY AND I ARE VERY STRONG OPPONENTS OF SUCCESSION PLANNING.
SO ALL, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PERMEATES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR A SYSTEM FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES? WHEN I FIRST, WHEN I WAS ELECTED, I HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT BUSINESSES NEEDING CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION.
ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES, AS WE WERE DOING OUR INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, WE ASKED ALL OF THEM, SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY SAW, MANY OF THEM DON'T GET INFORMATION CONSISTENTLY.
NOW THAT WE HAVE A FORMAL COMMITTEE THEY'RE GOING TO BE MEETING, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS CONSISTENTLY.
THEY SAID, WE'RE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION.
SO WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THAT? AND IS THAT BUILT INTO IT? IS THAT TOOL BUILT INTO THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME WAY OF REACHING ALL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN A CONSISTENT MANNER.
AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS COMMUNICATIONS WAS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN
[01:00:01]
THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND ALSO TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL IN GAPS.WE'VE NOT BEEN INVITED TO ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS.
SOME OF THESE MAY BE NEW BUSINESSES.
SOME OF THESE MAY BE EXPANDED BUSINESSES.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A CORE BUSINESS BASE THAT WE WORK WITH TO HELP GET INFORMATION OUT.
UM, THAT'S WHY THE CANVASSING PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY THE NEWSLETTERS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY THE LEADERSHIP LUNCHEONS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY STATES OF THE CITY ARE SO IMPORTANT.
SO NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A GAP, THERE'S A NEWSLETTER THAT WE CAN DESIGN.
WE USED TO DO A ONE PAGER JUST FOR BUSINESSES.
AND SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS DISTRIBUTE THAT THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP LUNCHEONS, AND THEN WE WOULD DISTRIBUTE THAT THROUGH MAIL OUT.
SO NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO GET A CURRENT LIST OF BUSINESSES IN THE CITY, BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO START THAT PRODUCTION.
WE WANT IT TO START THAT OUTREACH AGAIN.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF OUR BUSINESS PLAN AND THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGET.
BUT IF WE COULD SOMEHOW BE A PART OF THESE DISCUSSIONS OR BE APPRISED OF THE DISCUSSIONS, IT WOULD HELP US TO FILL IN THAT GAP.
AND THEN OTHER ONE OTHER QUICK THING THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS MISSOURI CITY CITIZENS UNIVERSITY, THE SIX CLASS IS STARTING ON AUGUST 19TH, WE'VE INVITED SMALL BUSINESSES IN FOR YEARS TO PRESENT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TO PRESENT WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, TO PREVENT PRESENT FOR ANY INPUT WORKSHOPS.
WE'VE DONE THAT AS A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY NEEDS, ANY FEEDBACK THAT'S THERE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS IT, BECAUSE THAT IS OKAY.
AGAIN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, MY QUESTION IS AROUND MAKING SURE WE'RE BEING INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THE BUSINESSES IN MISSOURI CITY AND WHAT SOFTWARE WE'RE GOING TO USE TO MAKE SURE NUMBER ONE, THAT WE'VE CAPTURED ALL OF THEM AND NOT CHERRY PICKING DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE VISIBLE BECAUSE THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT DON'T EXIST ON THE MAIN STREETS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES ARE GETTING THE SAME INFORMATION AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WHETHER THAT'S THE SOFTWARE THAT YOU NEED TO BUILD INTO THIS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT BECAUSE GOING FORWARD, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
I WAS TRYING TO GIVE A DIPLOMATIC ANSWER, BUT LET ME NOT BE DIPLOMATIC.
WE DON'T MANAGE THE COLLECTION, UH, OR THE FILTERING OR THAT DATABASE.
WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES, UM, WE'VE ASKED WHAT TECHNOLOGY THEY HAVE IN PLACE.
WE'VE ASKED WHAT LISTS THEY HAVE IN PLACE, UM, BEYOND GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM THAT DEPARTMENT THAT HAS PURVIEW.
UM, OUR FALLBACK IS TO ONCE AGAIN, GO OUT AND CANVAS DOOR TO DOOR, WHICH WE'VE DONE BEFORE, WHICH WE WILL DO AGAIN.
UM, WE DID IT FOR CARES THAT WE DID IT FOR THE WEBSITE REDESIGN.
UM, WE'VE DONE IT FOR STATE OF THE CITY, BUT THAT'S NOT MY PURVIEW.
UM, I CAN ASK THE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES HAVE PURVIEW IF THEY DO HAVE SOFTWARE OR TECHNOLOGY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE WORKING TO SECURE TO CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS CRITICAL TO WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL TO WHAT THE BUSINESSES ARE REQUESTING.
I JUST HAVE A OBSERVATION AND A COMMENT.
NOW I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE KUDOS TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
UM, FROM THE TIME THAT I GOT HERE TO WHERE WE ARE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WINTER PHRASE, WITH THE PANDEMIC, WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON.
I DID SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, COMMUNICATION IS OVERALL THE FRONT DOOR OF THE CITY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT TOUCHES ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S SITTING HERE, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, THAT CITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
UM, SO WHAT I LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, AS SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WAS, THAT CAME OUT HERE, UH, WITH THE SIX SIGMA, WITH THE EVALUATION, WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SURVEYS, LET'S PUT TOGETHER A STRONG COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT AND ATTAIN.
SO THAT WAY WE'RE PROJECTING OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER EMORY TALKED ABOUT.
AND ALSO CAUSE SOME MEMBER CLOUDS ARE TALKED ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF US.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING AND PUTTING TOGETHER.
UM, IT'S, IT'S A HUGE MESSAGE OUT THERE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN WELL RECEIVED, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE WINTER PHRASE.
AND THEN I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT WITH THESE TWO POSITIONS THAT'S BEEN IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, WORKED THROUGH WITH THE CITY MANAGER
[01:05:01]
AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THAT PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAILS OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HADN'T MENTIONED, BUT LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO PUT OUT A COMMUNICATION, UM, PORTFOLIO OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH WE'RE SEEING IT.AND THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS NUMBERS OF THINGS THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED BY YOUR AREA, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IS GREAT COMPARED TO OTHER LOCAL CITIES THAT WE SEE NEARBY.
SO IT'S A
AND I WOULD ASK BILL THE SAME THING, WHERE IS WORK IT OUT, LET'S COME OUT WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE TO MAKE THINGS MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE US LOOK EVEN BETTER AND WHAT IT IS.
AND IT TOUCHES EVERY DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S JUST A COMMENT I CONCUR.
I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT FOR US TO KEEP REQUIRING THEM TO DO SO MUCH MORE ASKING THEM TO CREATE A DATABASE TO TRACK, UH, WELL, PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION TO SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT YOU GUYS ARE STILL UNDERSTAFFED.
SO ONCE WE CAN TACKLE THAT AND PROVIDE THOSE TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS, I THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE A HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FOR YOU GUYS, BUT IT'S ALREADY SLAMMED.
I MEAN, THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS WERE KNOCKING ON DOORS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THE CARES ACT THAT JUST SHOWS THE DEDICATION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO THE CITY.
AND ME PERSONALLY, I CAN JUST SAY THAT I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE I MEAN, IT'S JUST A PART OF, UM, PERSPECTIVE IS WHO'S ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT KNOWLEDGE OR SEEK THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU GUYS HAD.
YOU GOT OFTEN OUT THERE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UPDATING ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO SEEK INFORMATION, IT'S THERE FOR YOU.
I WANTED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF ANY INFORMATION OR FEEDBACK THAT THE LEAN SIX SIGMA PROVIDED TO YOU GUYS IN THE DEPARTMENT, AS FAR AS IMPROVING OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THAT AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.
SO FIRST THANK YOU, MAYOR OCAD, AND THANK YOU, UH, MULBERRY WORDS.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK PER SE.
UH, THERE JUST HAVE BEEN, UM, OR, UH, I, UH, UH, STAND CORRECTED.
THE FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED FROM HIM IS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT SEE COMMUNICATIONS DOING A GOOD JOB BASED ON THE 2020 COMMUNITY SURVEYS.
SO I PROVIDED HIM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SOURCES THAT WERE USED TO VERIFY THAT INFORMATION AND HOW IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED MOVING FORWARD.
UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HE DID ASK IS ABOUT DATA IN TERMS OF, UM, REACH FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND HIM AS THE REACH OF ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE WE HAVE 2,843 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE REACHED 93 NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE CITY THROUGH NEXT DOOR.
SO THAT'S 24,324 PEOPLE EVERY TIME WE POST.
UM, SO I MEAN, THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE HIM IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S REACH, BUT ALSO A REMINDER THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE BI-WEEKLY DIGITAL NEWSLETTER THAT REPLACED THE BIWEEKLY CITY MANAGER UPDATE.
AND THE OUTREACH FOR THE CITY MANAGER UPDATE WAS 855, UH, INDIVIDUALS, 1,961, PEOPLE ARE READING THAT DIGITAL NEWSLETTER AND THAT ONLY STARTED IN JANUARY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, HE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT DATA.
SO THAT'S THE KIND OF DATA WE WILL BE PROVIDING HIM ABOUT THE CITIES OUTLETS AND ALSO THE REACH THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT HE SAID IS THAT THE CITY WEBSITE IS, IS UNWIELDY AND NEEDS TO BE A HOMEPAGE, NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED, THAT FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL TOO.
SO, UM, I PROVIDED HIM AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE WEBSITE CAME TO BE IN TERMS OF THE FORMAT IT IS NOW, WHICH WAS A REQUEST FROM THE CITIZENS CITY, COUNCIL AND STAFF.
UH, WE WERE ASKED TO PLEASE RESPECT THAT REQUEST AND BUILD THE WEBSITE OUT THAT WAY, EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREED.
UM, AND NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T WORK, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH A REDESIGN.
UM, THE GOOD THING IS THAT WHEN COMMUNICATIONS NEGOTIATED THAT REDESIGN IN 2016, WE, WE, WE NEGOTIATED THE NEXT DESIGN WOULD BE FREE.
AND SO THE CITY WON'T HAVE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A DEVELOPER AND A DESIGNER ON STAFF THAT WILL MITIGATE ANYTHING ELSE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM MR. KENNETH.
AND, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM AND WORK TOWARD, THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD RELATIVE TO
[01:10:01]
THE 2022 BUDGET.I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, AS IT RELATES TO BILL AND ELENA, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
I KNOW I'D ASKED BEFORE ABOUT THE PEG FUNDS, THERE WAS SURROUNDING CONVERSATION AROUND THAT AND REACHING OUT TO THE ENTITY WHO OVERSEES THAT, UH, TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE WERE SOME FUNDS THAT THEY WOULD ALLOW US TO SPEND, UH, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME DIRECTLY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND OR A COMMUNICATIONS BUDGET THAT, UH, WE IDENTIFY THEM, OR AT LEAST TO GET AN ANSWER FROM THEM.
HAS THAT BEEN REACHED, HAVE THEY BEEN REACHED OUT TO, DO WE HAVE A RESPONSE ON THAT? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOW I CHECK ON THAT AND SAY, YEAH, CAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, IF WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY AS WE HAD IN THE PAST, WITHOUT IT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND OR OUT OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, UH, WHEREVER IT WAS COMING FROM, UH, THAT WE, WE IDENTIFIED IT AND, AND KNOW THAT GOING IN.
I THINK, UH, I THINK EGO IS WE HAD A MEETING AND I THINK, UH, CAUSE I REACHED OUT TO TML MYSELF.
AND SO WHEN I THINK YOU WERE SUPPOSED FOLLOW UP ON, UM, WITH THE TPA FUNDS WITH TML, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MAYBE LAST MONTH TO DATE, I DON'T ACTUALLY, I THINK ELENA TOO, BECAUSE THERE WAS CERTAIN THINGS, UM, I CAN GET MY NOTES.
THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WERE AT THIS HE'S MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO SPAN IN THERE, CERTAIN THINGS THAT'S NOT IN.
WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THE ATTORNEY AND CML, THEY GAVE ME ALL THIS, IT'S A LONG, IT'S A THICK BOOKLET.
THEN I THINK IT HAS TO BE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL AS WITH THE FINANCE.
AND I DON'T RECALL THAT, BUT I AM TELLING YOU THAT GENERALLY THE FEDERAL LAW PROVIDES WHAT A PEG CAN BE UTILIZED ON.
AND THE CITY, I BELIEVE IN JANUARY ACTUALLY ADOPTED A PROCESS BY WHICH THE REQUESTED ITEM WOULD BE REVIEWED BY BOTH FINANCE AND FINANCE, AS WELL AS LEGAL TO ENSURE THAT A RECOMMENDATION WAS PROVIDED AS TO THE USE OF THE FUNDS FOR THOSE ITEMS. IT'S TRICKY WITH THE STATE.
SO I THINK IF, WELL, I W I WOULD LIKE, AGAIN, TO GET A, A RULING OR A, SOME SORT OF A, SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE ENTITY WHO PROVIDES US WITH THOSE RESOURCES, UH, I KNOW AUSTIN, THE CITY OF AUSTIN ACTUALLY USES THOSE FUNDS FOR THE STREAMING SERVICE AND WE HAVE A STREAMING SERVICE AS WELL.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT WERE REIMBURSED BACK.
SO IF WE COULD FIND OUT SPECIFICALLY, IF IN FACT WE COULD USE THOSE BIG FUNDS DIRECTLY FOR, UH, THOSE RESPECTIVE SERVICES, THAT COMMUNICATION DELIVERS, UM, AND, AND ACTUALLY GET THAT CONCRETE, A RESPONSE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE, UM, BOTH FUNDS ACTUALLY ARE DERIVED FROM THE CABLE COMPANIES THEMSELVES.
AND SO IF YOU'RE ASKING, I MEAN, THE CITY CAN CERTAINLY REQUEST AS THE CABLE COMPANY REVIEW IT, BUT I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND WHAT I'M SAYING IS AUSTIN, THE CITY OF BOSTON IS USING PE FUNDS OR STREAMING SERVICE.
AND SO IF THEY'RE ABLE TO USE IT FOR STREAMING SERVICES, WHY CAN'T WE? SO I GUESS MY, THEY CLEARLY HAVE GOTTEN SOME SORT OF INDICATION FROM SOMEONE THAT THIS IS ALLOWABLE.
SO I WANT TO ENSURE THAT ANY OF THE FUNDS THAT WE ACTUALLY SPENT FROM PEG FUNDS THAT WERE DEEMED BY THE INTERNAL AUDIT THAT WAS DONE TO, TO HAVE TO BE REIMBURSED OR THAT THEY WERE DONE ILLEGALLY, SOMEHOW THAT WE ACTUALLY GET VERIFIABLE, UH, RESPONSE FROM SOMEONE, WHOEVER THAT ENTITY IS, UH, THAT TELLS US THAT WE CAN AND UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR THOSE THOSE SERVICES.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE, THERE ISN'T AN ENTITY THAT TELLS YOU WHETHER, UH, TELLS THE CITY WHETHER OR NOT IT CAN OR CANNOT UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF RISK TOLERANCE AS IT RELATES TO APPLYING THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS, TO WHAT THE LAW AUTHORIZES THOSE FUNDS TO BE UTILIZED FOR.
SO WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, LEGAL, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED.
IT'S BASED ON PREVIOUS CASE LAW, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING THOSE DETERMINATIONS.
IF SOMETHING LIKE THRIVING SERVICES HAS NOT BEEN LITIGATED, AND THERE'S NOT A DIRECT CONNECTION THAT WE CAN TIE OR THAT THE TEAM CAN KIND OF SHOW RELATES
[01:15:01]
TO THE TELEVISION AND THE PROVISION OF THOSE SERVICES, THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD NOT BE TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE.THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TEAM MEMBERS THAT MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER RISK TOLERANCE AND MIGHT BE MORE COMFORTABLE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
OKAY, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL END WITH THIS.
WE MADE OUR DETERMINATION BASED OFF WHAT IT, AN AUDITOR, AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR THAT CAME IN THAT REVIEW REVIEW PIG FUNDS AND STATED THAT THESE THINGS WERE ILLEGAL.
DID LEGAL CONCUR WITH THE AUDITOR, AS YOU JUST SAID THAT.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING AND I'M LIKE, UM, FINANCIAL SERVICES KIND OF HAPPENED HERE.
I WASN'T DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE AUDITING, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT FARM REVIEWED THE PROCESS.
WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO ACTUALLY REVIEWING THE EXPENDITURE, MY OFFICE DID REVIEW THOSE EXPENDITURES.
I BELIEVE FINANCE ALSO REVIEWED THOSE EXPENDITURES, AND I KNOW COMMUNICATIONS ALSO REVIEWED THOSE EXPENDITURES.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
UH, ONLY THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE FIRM ACTUALLY REVIEWED THE EXPENDITURES, THE PROCESS BY WHICH THEIR CITY AND OF MADE THOSE DECISIONS.
SO WHAT WAS THE CITY YOU'RE BASED OFF OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID? IT WAS THE CITY WHO MADE A DETERMINATION THAT THESE FUNDS WERE ILLEGALLY EXPENDED.
I WOULDN'T SAY, I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL, BUT NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL LAW, KIND OF THE PARAMETERS THAT FEDERAL WILL SET SCORE FOR THE USE OF TECH AND THE AUDITOR DID ACTUALLY REVIEW SOME OF THE EXPENDITURES.
THEY ONLY LOOKED AT THE EXPENDITURES FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND, UH, DEEMED THEM TO BE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DEFINITION OF CAPITAL COSTS.
AND SO USING THAT INFORMATION, WE WENT BACK TO 2013.
SO WHEN THEY DID THEIR AUDIT, THEY ONLY LOOKED AT ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF INFORMATION.
SO MOVING FORWARD, I GUESS, CAUSE I DID FOR THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
SO I'M ASKING NOW, BECAUSE I HADN'T GOTTEN IT, ARE WE HAVE WE TAKEN A POSITION AS A CITY THAT THOSE FUNDS, UH, ARE THOSE BANK FUNDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE USED FOR ANY OF THOSE, THOSE ITEMS THAT THEY WERE USED FOR BEFORE, BUT JUST SCREAMING SERVICES, ET CETERA, REIMBURSE TO THE PAC FUNDS.
WE WILL NOT BE USING THE FUNDS FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.
IT WAS, IT WAS PREPARED BY PLANTS WITH THE ATTORNEY, WITH THE TML AND IT WAS UNDER THE SENATE BILL FIVE AND IT'S IN THE CHAPTER 66.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I AM GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION, UH, BEFORE I BEGIN WITH THAT, LET ME STATE THAT, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND, AND ROUNDING THE CORNER WITH RESPECT TO THE HIRING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
UH, WE HAVE SOME INTERVIEWS, INITIAL INTERVIEWS COMING UP, UH, THIS WEEK AT THE END OF THIS WEEK.
AND THEN FROM THERE, WE WILL BE SETTING UP PANEL INTERVIEWS WITH STAKEHOLDERS THAT CONSIST OF, UH, THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS, UH, HAVING SOME FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, UH, INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY TO, UH, TO, UH, HELP FIT THIS PROCESS AND OR EVENT THE, UH, THE CANDIDATES THAT WE ARE SEEKING.
SO, UH, WE HOPE TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT, UH, UH, WITH THAT.
UH, WE HAVE, AS, YOU KNOW, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THAT CONSISTS CURRENTLY OF THREE BUDGETED POSITIONS, ONE BEING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO, UH, REDEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS.
WE HAVE ONE, UH, PRIOR TO THE 20, 21 BUDGET, WE HAD ONE DEVELOP FREE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR.
AND IN THIS PAST BUDGET OR THE CURRENT BUDGET WE HAVE, UH, NOW ANOTHER ONE ADDED.
AND SO THAT CONSISTS OF THREE, UH, IN THE BUDGET.
YOU'LL SEE THAT, UH, WE, ALTHOUGH THE POSITION HAS BEEN VACATED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT, UH, THAT VACATION TOOK PLACE, I BELIEVE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TIMEFRAME WITH THE DEPARTURE OF JYOTISH, UH, THE CITY HAS HAD ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH 2021.
UH, AND SO TAKING A REDEVELOPMENT OF THE GLEN LAKES, PROFESSIONAL BUILDING, UH, COMPLETION OF MARKET ASSESSMENT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, UH, COMPLETED THE GRAND PART CENTER INCENTIVE AGREEMENT, UH, COMPLETED THE LETTER OF INTENT WITH THE NEW QUEST FOR DEVELOPING THE FORT BEN TOWN CENTER TO SEND THE MARK, UH, PROPERTY ONE, SORRY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, AND THEN ALSO WE HAD THE SILHOUETTE OF THE PLANE
[01:20:01]
DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN AND AROUND, UH, 98.AND AS YOU WE'RE IN PROCESS NOW IN 2022 OR 2021, ALSO HAVE SOME PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE TEXAS PARKWAY, CARTWRIGHT CORRIDORS, UH, THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO AND, AND WORKING TO DEVELOP.
AND SO, UH, THOSE ARE STILL, UH, FORTHCOMING AND ALL ARE ACTIVE AS WE SPEAK OR
UH, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO, UH, TO, UH, ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY OF THE CITIES THROUGH, UH COVID-19 AND ALSO NOW WITH THE, UH, RECOVERY ACT, WE ARE REVIEWING WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE MIGHT BE WITH RESPECT TO THAT AND USE WITHIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT, UH, IMPLEMENTATION THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED IN 2017.
AND, UH, ALSO WITH RESPECT TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT YOU JUST UPDATED WITH, UH, MANY ITEMS IN THERE THAT SPEAK TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS EFFORTS TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS, AND THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH PLANS AGAIN FROM FM 2234 TEXTS PARKWAY, CAR RIDE ROAD 10 92.
AND AS YOU DRIVE THOSE CORRIDORS, ESPECIALLY THE 10 92 CORRIDOR, YOU'LL SEE LIGHT ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE AT THIS TIME.
SO, UH, WE DO SEE THOSE FILLING IN VERY QUICKLY.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT IN THE INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PARK ZONE PROPERTIES ON THE LIGHT VIEW BUSINESS PART, BELTWAY PROCESSING, AND THEN PARK EIGHT 90 AND FINALLY SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS, AGAIN, THESE ARE THE TOP, UH, WELL WE'D ASKED, UH, STAFF DUES PROVIDE THEIR TOP FIVE IN ORDER TO, UH, MAKE SURE YOU SAW WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT AND THAT WE DIDN'T BLAME HER, UH, THE ISSUES OR THE GOALS.
BUT, UH, THE FOLLOWING THAT WAS THE TOP FIVE WAS THE SUPPORTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY ALONG THE FOUR BEND HALLWAY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IN FACT, UH, JUST BEFORE THIS MEAN, THERE WAS A TERSE TO ME TAKING PLACE WITH RESPECT TO SOME OPPORTUNITIES, UH, IN THE FORT BEND TOLLWAY, UH, REGION WITH REGARD TO TOURISTS TOO.
SO, UH, AGAIN, WE, UH, WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS WILL BRING LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, DEVELOPING THAT STAFF.
AND, UH, AND AGAIN, TAKING IT A FOCUS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON GREENFIELDS, AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE FILL IN.
AND AS WE DO THAT, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT RE REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, ALONG THE TEXT'S PARKWAY, CAR RIDE, PORT OARS, AND OTHER PLACES WITHIN THE CITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET SUMMARY.
YOU HAVE A VARIANCE IN PERSONNEL COSTS OF $22,000.
AND AGAIN, AS WE'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE OTHER, THANK YOU MAYOR WITH RESPECT TO THAT.
UH, WE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT IS AN ADJUSTMENT OF 3% OF OUR SALARY STRUCTURES TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT INCREASE.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO POINT OUT WITH THESE THREE POSITIONS BEING VACANT AND WITH ALL POSITIONS, WE BUDGET THEM, UH, AT THE POINT, UH, FOR THE, UH, SUFFER FIRE AND POLICE.
WE PATCHED THEM TO THE MIDPOINT AND THEN, UH, UH, THAT'S ACCOUNTING FOR THE 20,000 A STATE FLAT WITH REGARDS TO THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
UH, WE DID HAVE A REDUCTION $50,000.
AGAIN, WE HAD SEVERAL, UH, WE HAD ADDITIONAL MONEY LAST YEAR, AS YOU WILL RECALL OF THAT AS A RESULT OF NEW EVALUATIONS OF ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT CAME IN FOR, UH, PROPERTY FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE HAD PUT IN, UM, IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAD INCREASED THAT, UH, FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND SO WE'RE REDUCING THAT SLIGHTLY WITH REGARD TO CONTRACT SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
AND THEN FINALLY, OTHER EXPENDITURES, UH, THIS IS YOUR CALL IS THE $1.5 MILLION, UH, OR PORTION OF THIS, THE $1.5 MILLION THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, LONG-TERM PROGRAM THAT IT WAS CALLED AT THE TIME WE REVIEWED THAT DETERMINED THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
HOWEVER, UH, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY WITH OTHER TYPES OF INCENTIVES WITH THIS MONEY THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY UTILIZE IT, UH, TO DO OTHER PROGRAMS, UH, POTENTIALLY.
AND SO, UH, WE ARE GOING TO TREAT IT SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'D SEE WITH AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND THAT WE WOULD BE ROLLING THIS AMOUNT FORWARD INTO 2022 AND, UH, WITH WHAT WE DO NOT SPEND IN 21.
SO, UH, AGAIN, UH, WE HAD A SMALL REDUCTION IN $28,000 AND, UH, SO THAT REDUCTION, YOU KNOW, GAM WAS ONE-TIME CONVERSIONS.
UH, SALARY DOLLARS WAS ONLY AREA.
WE SAW THAT AGAIN, UH, LOOKING AT IT, WE HAD THREE POSITIONS IN THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH TWO COORDINATORS, THE ONE DIRECTOR, UH, OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO DO WAS TO GET THE DIRECTOR ON BOARD SO THAT THEY, CAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT HIRING THE, UH, THE OTHER POSITIONS TO REDEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS, UH, IN UNISON OR, UH, PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPER, UH, THE DIRECTOR, EXCUSE ME.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT PERSON BE ABLE TO ASSESS WHAT THEY NEED, UH,
[01:25:01]
GET THAT, KNOW WHAT THEIR STRENGTHS ARE AND ALSO KNOW WHAT, UH, WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE THEY NEED TO BRING ON BOARD TO HELP SUPPORT THEM.SO THAT IS, UH, INFORMATION THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, I THOUGHT I SAW UNDER THE POSITION, NOT HERE.
THERE WAS A ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WELL, WE HAVE TWO REDEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE EVER WE'VE HAD THIS POSTED MARTIN.
WAS THERE A POST-IT YES, THAT WAS A POSTING THAT WAS IN ANTICIPATION OF ANOTHER PERSON MOVING INTO THAT POSITION THAT WAS CURRENTLY ON STAFF, BUT THAT PERSON DECLINED THAT OFFER.
SO WE ACTUALLY TOOK THAT POSITION.
WE WERE GOING TO RECLASSIFY IT, BUT WHEN THAT PERSON DIDN'T TAKE THE POSITION, WE, UM, WE STOPPED THE POSTING.
SO GOING BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS.
SO WHEN WE, WE CLASSIFY THAT, OBVIOUSLY THE REDEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR TO POSITION, RIGHT? THE SALARY ON A, SOMETHING SUCH AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DELMA WILL BE MUCH HIGHER.
BUT WHEN YOU RECLASSIFIED, YOU BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? NOW? WE DO NOT RE BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL UNLESS WE WERE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL POSITION, BUT THIS WAS A, AN EXISTING POSITION THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO RECLASSIFY AT THAT POSITION DIDN'T EXIST IN THIS DEPARTMENT THOUGH.
THE TITLE DID NOT, UH, EXIST IN THAT DEPARTMENT AT THAT TIME, BUT THE POSITIONS WERE IN THE DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS THE FTES THAT WERE ALLOCATED TO THAT DEPARTMENT.
BUT JUST SO I'M CLARIFIED ON THIS.
SO YOU HAVE A POSITION IN A PERSON IN THIS POSITION RIGHT HERE, YOU'RE MOVING THAT PERSON TO RECLASSIFYING INTO ANOTHER POSITION.
THEN THAT WOULD LEAVE THIS POSITION.
THAT POSITION DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.
YOU'D HAVE TO GET AN FTE, RIGHT? YEAH.
W WHAT, WHAT, UH, WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED? WE WERE GOING TO MOVE, UH, IN THIS CASE WE WERE GOING TO, NO, NO, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO THERE.
I KNOW WHAT, I KNOW WHAT I'M ASKING.
ALL I'M ASKING IS YOU SAID THAT WHEN WE WERE RECLASSIFIED, WE DON'T NEED TO BRING IT TO COUNCIL AT ALL.
I'M JUST ASKING IS WHEN YOU TAKE AN EXISTING, THAT'S AN FTE, CORRECT? THAT'S FILLED, YES.
YOU RECREATE OR RECLASSIFIED CLASSIFY THAT TITLE OR THAT PERSON INTO A DIFFERENT POSITION.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE, THAT, THAT OTHER POSITION? SO THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU HIRE A DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, THEN YOU HAVE TWO REDEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS, BUT THEN YOU STILL, ON THE FTE SIDE, IT WOULD SHOW THAT YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, RIGHT.
I MIGHT NOT, WE WERE GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THE TWO POSITIONS AND MAKE BAD POSITION AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR UNDERSTOOD.
AND WE WERE NOT GOING TO INCREASE IT, BUT WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THAT ONE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS AND RECLASSIFY IT TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
THAT'S WHERE THAT POSITION IS COMING.
SO THAT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE A DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
YOU WOULD HAVE HAD AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, BUT ONE COORDINATOR.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING, IF THERE'S AN, IF, BECAUSE OF WHAT I WAS ASKING, WAS IT WITH THE FTE INCREASE, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.
BECAUSE THE WAY THAT IT WAS SHOWN HERE, IT STILL SHOWED IT AS DIRECTOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
AND, UM, AND I WASN'T SURE ABOUT THE COORDINATORS OF THE TWO POSITIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE, UM, BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20, 20, 20 22 ON BEHALF OF MY DIRECTOR WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
UM, SO I WILL ANSWER AS MANY QUESTIONS AS I CAN.
UM, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T ANSWER, I WILL CERTAINLY JOT THOSE QUESTIONS, YOUR TITLE, I'M THE DEPUTY COURT ADMINISTRATOR.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN'T ANSWER, I'LL CERTAINLY WRITE THOSE DOWN
[01:30:01]
AND WE'LL GET AN ANSWER TO YOU.UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND COVER, UH, JUST OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
UM, ALL OF THESE POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED.
SO WE HAVE, UM, NO VACANCIES, UM, COURT OF COURSE, IS, UM, OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO PROCESS CASES AND TRY TO GET RESOLUTION TO CASES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO COURT.
UM, WE IN THE COURT SYSTEM ARE CHARACTERIZED BY EXCELLENCE.
WE STRIVE TO OBTAIN JUSTICE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY THROUGH THE RULE OF LAW.
UM, SO THERE ARE OUR POSITIONS CURRENTLY.
NOW I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL COURT ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2021 AND JUST COVER A LITTLE BIT OF THAT 20, 21.
UH, WE IMPLEMENTED INCODE 10, WHICH IS THE COURTS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.
OH, I GUESS I NEED TO CHANGE THAT.
WE IMPLEMENTED THE SOFTWARE FOR STREAMLINING COURT PROCESSES, UM, AND WHAT THAT SYSTEM DOES, JUST BASICALLY IT, UM, UH, PROCESSES, SEVERAL REPORTS QUICKER FOR US.
IT ALSO, UM, WAS PHASING OUT, UH, IN CODE NINE, WHICH IS THE PREVIOUS VERSION.
AND, UH, THEIR SUPPORT WAS NO LONGER GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
SO WE DID HAVE TO GO TO INCODE 10.
WE DID THAT IN OCTOBER OF THIS PAST YEAR.
UM, AND IT WORKED, WHICH WAS WHAT WORKED BEST FOR US.
WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC COMING INTO COURT.
UM, SO THAT WORKED VERY WELL FOR US.
AND THE PROGRAM IS WORKING AS WE EXPECTED.
UM, ALSO, UM, ON, UH, THE SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT, WE MAINTAINED OUR LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC BY HAVING CONSISTENT, UM, COURT SCHEDULES AND ALL OF THE COURT OPERATIONS TEAM WAS ONSITE TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS VIA PHONE, EMAIL, AND LOBBY.
SO WE WERE AVAILABLE AT COURT, THEY NEEDED ANYTHING.
WE ALSO, UM, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVEL WAS MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE THE TEAM REMAINED ONSITE AND THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE ALSO, UM, WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, IF THEY NEEDED TO COME INTO THE LOBBY, WE SET THEM UP BY APPOINTMENT.
UM, COURT SESSIONS TRANSITIONED TO VIRTUAL FOR ALL DOCKETS, UH, WHICH WERE ALLOWED AT THAT TIME, THE ONLY, UH, DOCKETS WE COULDN'T HAVE WERE JURY TRIALS.
AND, UM, THAT WAS THE, DURING THE BULK OF THE PANDEMIC JURY TRIALS, WHERE THE ONLY THING THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE AT THE TIME, UH, WE TRANSITIONED BACK TO IN-PERSON SESSIONS SMOOTHLY.
AND WE TRANSITIONED BACK IN, UH, LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS MY, UM, THE JURY TRIALS, UH, WERE, WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO JURY TRIALS IN JUNE, AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD THREE JURY TRIALS THIS MONTH.
WE'RE HAVING OUR FOURTH JURY TRIALS, UH, SETTING IN, UH, NEXT WEEK, ACTUALLY.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS COME INTO COURT AND ALSO WE'RE HAVING, UM, A LOT OF OUR JURORS APPEAR.
SO THAT'S REALLY HELPED WITH OUR CASES.
UM, SO JUST KIND OF WANTED TO COVER THAT.
UM, ONE OTHER THING IS OUR OUTREACH.
UM, WE DID, UH, ALSO CONTINUE WITH OUTREACH DURING THE PANDEMIC, UM, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T ACTUALLY GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND, UM, TRY TO EDUCATE OUR, OUR CHILDREN.
WE WENT AHEAD AND PASSED OUT SCHOOL PAMPHLETS.
UH, WE WAIT, I MADE, UM, ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE SCHOOLS AND TO PASS THOSE OUT FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WERE IN CLASS.
SO WE REACHED OUT TO GLOVER ELEMENTARY AND FULL VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO WE DID PASS OUT THAT INFORMATION TO THEM TO HELP EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS.
AND OF COURSE OUR CHILDREN, UM, ALSO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A TOTAL NEW PROCESS FOR HANDLING CASES.
UH, WE HAD THE VIRTUAL SETTINGS THAT WAS, UM, SOMETHING THAT WAS YOU TO ALL OF US, BUT IT WORKED WELL.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OUR VIRTUAL SETTINGS, UH, AND IT REALLY, UM, WE UTILIZED IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND IT TOOK QUITE A BIT OF US TO GET IT DONE, BUT WE GOT IT DONE.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO STILL PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT, UM, OUR CITIZENS EXPECTED.
UM, AND ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, UM, THROUGHOUT 2021, WE IMPLEMENTED A CALL NOTIFICATION CAMPAIGN FOR OUR OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
AND WHAT WE DID WITH THAT IS WE SENT OUT WARRANT POSTCARDS THAT WERE MAILED TO CITIZENS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'D HAD OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
AND THESE WERE WARRANTS THAT WERE ALREADY IN PLACE PRIOR TO COVID.
UM, SO THEY WOULD KNOW THAT THEY STILL HAD AN OUTSTANDING CASE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO HAVE IN COURT THAT REALLY HELPS JUST THE REGULAR CITIZEN THAT HAS CITATION, THEY WILL RECEIVE A TEXT NOTICE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN UPCOMING COURT DATE OR PAYMENT, UH, FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THAT INITIAL DATE OR THE DATE THAT IT'S DUE, OR THEIR DATE, THEIR DUE IN COURT.
THEY ALSO WILL GET AN EMAIL IF THEY, IF WE HAVEN'T EMAILED IT, THEY'VE PROVIDED.
SO, UM, WE DO TRY TO REACH OUT TO OUR CITIZENS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TO TRY TO GET RESOLUTION.
[01:35:01]
NOT TO PUT, TO GET A WARRANT ISSUED IT'S TO GET RESOLUTION TO OUR CASES.AND 2022, OUR GOALS ARE TO EVALUATE AND STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES, WHICH THAT IS ONGOING, BUT WE WORK ON THAT ALL THE TIME.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK TO STREAMLINE OUR PROCESSES AND ADDITIONAL WAYS TO IMPROVE RESOLUTION OPTIONS.
UM, AND, UM, THE SECOND GOAL FOR 2022 WAS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH PD TO TRY TO GET, UM, INFORMATION OUT TO THE KIDS.
UM, WE DID THAT IN 2021 PRIOR TO, AND PRIOR TO THAT, UH, PRIOR TO COVID, SO, UM, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE'VE ALSO HAD MOCK TRIALS AND ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE CHILDREN TO, UH, THE COURT SO THAT ACTUALLY THEY COULD ACTUALLY SEE A TRIAL IN PROGRESS.
AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY REALLY ENJOYED AS WELL.
UM, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, WE CONTINUE TO CROSS TRAIN OUR DEPARTMENT TEAM, AND WE ALSO, UM, WE HAVE SORT OF SEX SUCCESSION PLANNING IN OUR DEPARTMENT SO THAT IF WE HAVE A VACANCY THAT SOMEONE CAN FILL THAT ROLE.
SO, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ON CONTINUALLY AS WELL.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS UP TO THIS POINT? OKAY.
UM, CURRENTLY THERE'S NO CHANGES IN OUR EXPENSES.
UH, THE ONLY VARIANCE WE HAVE IS THE 3.5% SALARY INCREASE.
OTHER THAN THAT, OUR BUDGET HAS REMAINED THE SAME.
UM, AND WITH THAT ALSO WE HAVE SEVEN FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
UH, LIKE I SAID, ALL THE POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY FILLED.
IS THAT YOUR REPORT? YES, I HAVE ONE.
UM, I HAVE THE, UM, THE ONLY THING THAT WE DO HAVE IS A RECLASSIFICATION OF AN EXISTING POSITION.
UH, WE'RE REQUESTING TO RECLASS THAT, UM, AND IT'S A POSITION WE CURRENTLY HAVE FAILED WITH AS A SPECIALIST, UH, COLLECTIONS COLLECTION SPECIALIST.
WE DO HAVE A, UM, PART-TIME CLERK POSITION, UH, THAT IS VACANT AND WE'RE GOING TO DISSOLVE THAT POSITION IS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO AND, UM, UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR THE RECLASS.
AND THEN, UM, FINALLY ON THE LAST PAGE, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WHICH THESE ARE FUNDS THAT, UM, BY STATUTE CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CERTAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR CERTAIN, UM, FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED AND WE THEN DICTATED WHAT THEY'RE FOR.
UM, SO OTHER THAN THAT, THAT IS OUR BUDGET.
UH, WE DON'T ASK FOR VERY MUCH EVERY YEAR.
AND SO, UM, THAT IS MY PRESENTATION TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.
ONE OF THE COMMENT IS FOR A DEPUTY COORDINATOR MINISTER.
UH, ONLY ONE THING I, I JUST WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE, UH, ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT WE DID HERE, THE, AS PANDEMIC POST COVID, RIGHT AS WE'RE COMING IN, UM, WE'RE BACKED OUT TO, I DON'T KNOW, THREE, FOUR MONTHS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO GET CAUGHT UP IS THAT WE'RE BEYOND THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW ON, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT TRIALS OR CASES, OR I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, BUT I DID HEAR YOU HAVE SOME OF THEIR BACKLOG AS A RESULT OF COVID.
SO WHAT STEPS ARE Y'ALL TAKING? HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE CATCHING UP, I GUESS, IS THAT, UH, YES, SIR.
WE DID HAVE, SINCE WE COULDN'T HAVE TRIALS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC, AND THAT WAS OF COURSE, UM, A STATE, THE STATE WOULDN'T ALLOW US TO DO THAT UNTIL JUNE.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE BACKLOG OF CASES FOR JURY TRIALS ALREADY SET THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, THEY'VE ALREADY GIVEN IT BEEN GIVEN A DATE AND THEY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE COMING TO COURT, WE'RE ALSO ADDING CURRENT CASES THAT ARE, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ASKING FOR JURY TRIALS.
UM, THEY'RE ALREADY BEING SET IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, SO WE ARE WITHIN A THREE MONTH TIMELINE TO GET OUR CASES RESOLVED.
AND SO WE'RE CONTINUALLY ADDING NEW CASES TO IT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
ONE ONE ON TWO FIRE DEPARTMENT COUNSEL HERE AT PRESENT THE
UM, WE RECENTLY MADE A MODIFICATION TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND PREPARATION FOR CIVIL SERVICE.
WE PREVIOUSLY HAD TWO ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEFS.
UH, SO WE, WE ALIGNED, UH, ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS TO THE DIVISION CHIEF, UH, WHICH IS A FIRE MARSHALL.
UH, THE CIVIL SERVICE ONLY ALLOWS ONE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF WITH A POPULATION OUR SIZE.
[01:40:01]
UH, SO WE RESTRUCTURE THAT'S REALLY, THE ONLY CHANGE IN OUR, UM, ORGANIZATIONAL CHART IS REALLY AT THE TOP.SO WE PUSHED ONE DOWN TO ANOTHER, TO A LOWER LEVEL.
I WANT TO GO OVER SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS PAST YEAR.
THERE WERE SEVERAL, BUT WE OUTLINED, UH, KIND OF OUR TOP FIVE.
UH, THE FIRST IS THE STATION SIX AND FIRE ADMINISTRATION GROUNDBREAKING THAT OCCURRED THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO PREPARING, UH, THIS CONSTRUCTION, WHICH STARTED WITH HIRING AN ARCHITECT FARM, UM, WORKING WITH THE FIRE STATION COMMITTEE AND THE ARCHITECT ON DESIGN, AND THEN FINALLY HIRING A CONTRACTOR.
SO THAT STATION IS IN PROGRESS AND IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
NOW, UH, OUR SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF COURSE, WAS, UH, REALLY MITIGATING AND WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE CITY STAFF TO MITIGATE THE COVID-19, UH, RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS.
UH, THIS INCLUDED, UH, SEVERAL THINGS.
THIS INCLUDED PROCEDURAL CHANGES, POLICY CHANGES, EMS RESPONSE CHANGES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IS WORKING WITH COMMUNICATIONS CLOSELY TO, TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO KEEP THEM INFORMED AND ENGAGED ON WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH COVID-19 AS WELL AS, UH, ANY SERVICES THAT WE COULD PROVIDE TO SUPPORT THEM DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE ALSO SUPPORTED, UH, THE ELC DURING THIS TIME, UH, WHICH OPERATED THE ENTIRE YEAR, A FULL CALENDAR YEAR.
UH, SO THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER WAS UP IN LIVE, UH, FOR THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.
THE WE'VE COMPLETED RENOVATIONS ON THREE FIRE STATIONS THIS PAST YEAR, UH, COUNCIL APPROVED, UH, THROUGH THE CIP PROPS PROCESS TO RENOVATE, UH, THREE OF OUR STATIONS STATION ONE, THREE AND FOUR.
UH, WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR STATIONS AND WORK WITH FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THESE FACILITIES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE AND, UH, BECAUSE OUR PERSONNEL WERE LIVING THERE 24 HOURS A DAY.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE AND OPERATIONAL.
AND SO IT REQUIRES MAINTENANCE AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, THROUGH THE CIP PROCESS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE REQUESTS.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE STATIONS AND MAKE FUTURE REQUESTS TO DO THE CIP PROCESS.
UM, THIS PAST YEAR, UH, WE FOCUSED ON OUR EMS CARE AND WE HAD 30 MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT THAT ARE PARAMEDIC LEVEL, UH, GO THROUGH PALS TRAINING, WHICH IS PEDIATRIC ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT.
SO THEY WENT THROUGH ADVANCE TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM TO DEAL WITH, WITH, WITH CHILDREN AND PEDIATRICS, UH, OUT IN EMERGENCY, UH, RESPONSES.
SO THAT WAS, UH, A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR OUR PARAMEDICS ON OUR STAFF AND THE LAST, UM, ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT, THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FIREFIGHTER SAFETY TRACKING SYSTEM.
AND BASICALLY IT'S A SYSTEM THAT'S BUILT INTO THE BREATHING AIR PACKS THAT ARE FIREFIGHTERS WEAR WHEN THEY GO INTO A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND IT IS TRACKING LIVE TO THE INCIDENT COMMANDER OUTSIDE, UH, THEIR AIR CONSUMPTION.
IT TELLS THEM HOW MUCH AIR THEY HAVE LEFT, AND IT REALLY BUILDS A SAFETY NET FOR THEM WHILE THEY'RE OPERATING INSIDE OF THESE ENVIRONMENTS.
IT ALSO COMMUNICATES WITH THE OUTSIDE COMMANDER, UH, TO THE COMPUTER OUTSIDE AND LETS THEM KNOW WHEN THERE'S HAZARDS AND THEY CAN ALERT EITHER TO THE FIREFIGHTERS OR THE FIREFIGHTERS ALERT TO THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT IS A REALLY ADVANCED SYSTEM THAT KEEPS OUR FIREFIGHTERS SAFE, OR IT HELPS THEM STAY SAFE IN THESE ENVIRONMENTS.
AND FINALLY, ON THAT SYSTEM, IT'S COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBOR DEPARTMENTS.
SO WHENEVER WE'RE ON SITE OF A LARGE MULTI-AGENCY RESPONSE, UH, ALL THE INCIDENTS COMMANDERS CAN KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE.
SO, SO THAT'S A PLUS, UH, NEXT I'LL GO TO OUR GOALS GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
UH, CIVIL SERVICE IS, IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR, UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING, UH, WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, UH, TO ESTABLISH, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY RULES AND REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS DOING SOME INTERNAL TRAINING AND DEPARTMENT POLICY UPDATES TO MEET CIVIL SERVICE.
CIVIL SERVICE WILL GO LIVE THIS OCTOBER OF 2021.
SO WE'RE PREPARING FOR THAT, FOR THAT CHANGE FIRE STATION SIX, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR WORK AND PREPARING TO OPEN THAT STATION.
UH, AND ADMIN ADMINISTRATION OFFICES IT'S SLATED TO BE COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY OF 22.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS, UH, THAT ARE IN MOTION FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION.
UH, AND FOR THAT COMPLETION, UH, THERE WAS A FIRETRUCK THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THAT WILL BE HERE SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE'LL BEGIN EQUIPPING THAT TRUCK AS WELL.
AND IT WILL ALSO BE HIRING PERSONNEL, UH, OR REQUESTING THE HIRING PERSONNEL TO STAFF THE FIRE STATION, UH, WITHIN THIS BUDGET REQUESTS, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, UH, REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR US AS THE CITY GROWS AND DEVELOPS.
UH, THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE PLAYS A KEY ROLE, UM, IN APPROVING, UM, FIRE INSPECTIONS, PRIVATE HYDRANTS, DESIGNED
[01:45:01]
FIRE DESIGN, UH, FIRE PLAN REVIEWS, UH, BEFORE BUSINESS CAN EVEN OPEN.SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH ALL THE REQUESTS THAT ARE COMING IN.
UH, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BE THE BOTTLENECK THAT SLOWS DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN THE CITY, UH, WITHIN THE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REQUESTING SOME GROWTH AND CAPACITY WITHIN OUR FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE TO MEET THAT NEED, UM, MERCY MANAGEMENT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, FOR MIKA JUDD DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB OF MANAGING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, BUT EVEN WITH THE SUPPORT OF SEVERAL KEY DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, POLICE, AND FIRE, SHE'S STILL AN OFFICE OF ONE.
UH, SO SHE IS STRETCHED PRETTY THIN.
UH, SO WE HAVE A REQUEST TO TRY TO GET HER SOME SUPPORT AS WELL, UH, GOING INTO, UH, THIS NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN FINALLY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US IN FIRE.
UH, THERE'S NOT A BUDGET REQUEST TIED TO THIS, BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY TRYING TO CHANGE HOW WE DO BUSINESS WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, OTHER THAN YOUR NORMAL REQUESTS THAT WE GET FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS, GOING TO SCHOOLS, GOING TO BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
UH, WE WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WE WANT TO BE OUT WITH OUR FIRE STATIONS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS ENGAGED IN LITTLE, LITTLE LEAGUE OPENINGS, THE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHEREVER, WHATEVER EVENT IS OCCURRED IN ART AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE WANT OUR CITIZENS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR CITIZENS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND THAT GROWTH.
SO THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITIES GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
THE BUDGET SUMMARY, UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS A VARIANCE DUE TO TWO ITEMS. ONE IS A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT SALARY INCREASE.
UH, AND THE SECOND IS A REMOVAL OF SOME ONE-TIME ALLOTMENTS THAT WE REQUESTED LAST YEAR.
THERE WERE ONE-TIME PURCHASES.
UH, WE, WE, UH, HAVE 78 AUTHORIZED, UH, FTES AND WE ARE CURRENTLY CARRYING FIVE VACANCIES, THREE ARE FIREFIGHTERS, AND ONE IS A LIEUTENANT AND ONE IS AT A DRIVER RANK.
SO WE ARE WORKING CURRENTLY WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THE FIREFIGHTER RANKS.
UH, WE JUST COMPLETED A HIRING PROCESS, UH, AS FAR AS WRITTEN EXAM, UH, OF A POLL AND THIS FRIDAY, THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST AND THEN WE'LL NARROW DOWN OUR LISTS TO FOUR JOB OFFERS, AND THEN THEY'LL GO INTO BACKGROUND CHECKS AND MEDICAL EVALUATIONS.
UH, SO WE EXPECT TO FILL THESE VACANCIES WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS GO RIGHT INTO OUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS.
UM, AGAIN, THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, UH, A REQUEST THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF BEEN PLANNED FOR A WHILE IS, IS PREPARING FOR STAFFING FOR THE FIRE STATION.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING 12 PERSONNEL TO STAFF THAT FIRE STATION.
THAT'S A FOUR, WE HAVE THREE SHIFTS THAT WORK ON A ROTATING BASIS.
UH, WE'RE REQUESTING FOUR PER SHIFT.
UH, THE SECOND IS THE REQUEST FOR AN ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHALL.
UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY OUTSOURCING OUR FIRE PLAN REVIEWS 100%.
SO WHEN A FIRE, WHEN, WHEN, UH, A NEW BUSINESS SUBMITS A FIRE PLAN REVIEW, WE'RE OUTSOURCING IT AND WE'RE SPENDING, UH, RIGHT AROUND $90,000 FOR THAT OUTSOURCING.
SO WE WANT TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE, UH, TO MONITOR THE QUALITY AND TO BRING THAT EXPERTISE IN HOUSE.
AND, UM, SO WE THINK THIS WILL BE, UH, UH, THIS, THE OUTSOURCING WILL COVER MOST OF THE SALARY BECAUSE THE SALARY FOR THIS POSITION, UH, PLUS BENEFITS IS 85,000 A YEAR.
AND WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT 90,000 ON OUTSOURCING THE FIRE INSPECTOR.
UM, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS ALSO TASKED WITH DOING ROUTINE FIRE INSPECTIONS OF BUSINESSES, DAYCARES, UH, SENIOR FACILITIES.
AND THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING SHORTHANDED ON STAFF AT THE INSPECTION LEVEL.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING ONE ENTRY LEVEL INSPECTOR, UH, BECAUSE CURRENTLY OUR DATA'S SHOWING THAT THAT THERE'S THREE LEVELS OF INSPECTIONS THAT THEY'D CONDUCT AND SAY IT'S UP HIGH, MODERATE, AND LOW RISK CATEGORY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE MEETING THE HIGH RISK AT 50%, THE MODERATE GROUP AT 10% AND OUR LOW RISK AT 5%.
SO, SO WE REALLY WANT TO BRING THOSE NUMBERS UP, UH, BUT THAT THEY ARE STRETCHED THIN, UH, ON THE INSPECTION SIDE.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING ONE, UM, ENTRY-LEVEL INSPECTOR.
THE NEXT ONE IS, UM, IS A SUPPORT PERSON FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, AGAIN, TAMIKA JEWETT IS A, IS KIND OF AN OFFICE OF ONE.
SO SHE IS STRETCHED IN, UH, THERE ARE TIMES DURING ACTIVATIONS WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO OPERATE OUT OF MULTIPLE FACILITIES.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, AT CITY HALL, WE MIGHT HAVE THE POLICY GROUP, WE MIGHT HAVE THE ELC AND FIRE ADMINISTRATION OR PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS.
AND SO SHE'S HAVING TO RUN BACK AND FORTH TO TRY TO SUPPORT BOTH THOSE, THOSE AREAS.
UH, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SHE'S ON STATE FEDERAL AND A COUNTY PHONE CALLS AND CONFERENCE CALLS THAT,
[01:50:01]
UH, SOMETIMES SHE HAS TO CHOOSE WHICH ONE TO TAKE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, OR SHE'LL GRAB ONE OF US TO ATTEND ONE OF THE CALLS.UH, SO WE, UH, ARE REQUESTING A, UM, A SUPPORT PERSON FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, WHICH HAS A SPECIALIST, WHICH IS SHE HAS REQUESTED, UH, THERE'S MULTIPLE LEVELS THAT WE COULD FILL THE LOWER SHE'S REQUESTED TWO LEVELS DOWN, UH, WHICH IS AN EMERGENCY MEDICINE SPECIALIST INSTEAD OF AN ASSISTANT.
AND THEN ON THE, UH, THE ONE AFTER THAT IS AN OVERTIME EIGHT PRIESTS FOR THE PREVENTION OFFICE, UM, THAT AMOUNT, UH, THE $18,000 IS FOR, THEY CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE OVERTIME.
SO WE'RE JUST, UH, THEY HAVE LIMITED OVER TIME FOR CALLBACKS.
SO WHENEVER WE HAVE A FIRE AND THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AFTER HOURS OR ON WEEKENDS TO WORK THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, AND THOSE ARE DONE OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL 40 HOUR WORK WEEK.
UH, SO WE'RE REQUESTING OVERTIME FOR, FOR THOSE JOBS.
THEY ALSO WORK INVESTIGATIONS.
SO THEY HAVE TO DO, UM, OUTSIDE INVESTIGATIONS ON THESE FIRES.
AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE TO, UH, UH, FOLLOW UP WITH FILINGS SPECIFICALLY TO THESE CALLS, UH, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR NORMAL INSPECTIONS AND OTHER WORDS, FIRE PLAN REVIEWS, TRAINING AND SUPPLIES, UH, FOR STATION SIX.
THIS, THIS IS A KIND OF BATCHED, UH, FOR, FOR THE PERSONNEL, FOR FIRE STATION SIX.
THESE ARE TRAINING SUPPLIES, UH, ANNUAL PHYSICALS AND MANDATORY REGULATORY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS BY THE STATE COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION, AS WELL AS, UH, DSHS, WHICH REGULATES OUR EMS SIDE.
SO THESE ARE MANDATORY TRAINING, UH, THAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN REGARDS TO CE.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR THAT OPERATION AND OPERATING SUPPLIES.
THE 46,000, THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEM, EIGHT CRISIS, SUCH AS, UM, REPAIRS, UH, JANITORIAL SUPPLIES, EMS SUPPLIES, MAINTENANCE, OR REPAIRS, AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS UNIFORMS, UH, FOR THE INCREASE OF OPENING FIRE STATION SIX.
SO THE STATION ITSELF NEEDS ITS OWN SUPPLIES.
AND THEN THE LAST TWO ITEMS ARE, ARE VEHICLE RELATED.
UM, THERE'S A FIRETRUCK THAT IS COMING THIS SEPTEMBER, AND THERE WAS A TWO PHASE APPROACH TO PURCHASING THE EQUIPMENT FOR THAT TRUCK.
THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS $263,382, UH, IN YEAR ONE
UH, SO WE'RE REQUESTING, UH, THE CONTINUATION OF THAT FUNDING, UH, WHICH HAS 1 43, 3 82, UH, TO EQUIP THAT TRUCK.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, FLEET, UH, OUR FLEET DEPARTMENT DID A PHENOMENAL JOB OF ACQUIRING, UH, THREE HIGH WATER VEHICLES, UH, FOR RESPONSE DURING, UM, FLOODING EVENTS.
UH, ONE OF THEM IS, IS, IS BEING DEDICATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR RESCUE AND GOING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND BRINGING PEOPLE OUT.
UH, THESE TRUCKS CAN DRIVE IN DEEP WATER.
UH, SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT THOSE TRUCKS ARE HERE, UH, BUT THEY, THEY ARE MILITARY SURPLUS TRUCKS THAT NEED SOME, UH, MAKE READY AND SOME UPDATING.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE'RE REQUESTING $40,000 FOR THAT MAKE READY.
AND, AND THE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE ITEMS IS A HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, UH, BECAUSE THE TRUCK SITS PRETTY HIGH, UH, BUT A HYDROTIC LIFT WOULD HELP GET THE ELDERLY UP INTO THE TRUCK, UH, FOR THE UNDERNEATH, IT MIGHT BE IN A WHEELCHAIR, UH, BUT, BUT THIS IS A LIFT IT'S NEEDED SO THAT WE CAN GET THE ELDERLY IN THE TRUCK OR ANYBODY THAT, THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CLIMB A LADDER, UH, BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY HIGH TRUCK.
AND THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, UH, THAT I SAW IS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, IN YOUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FOR, UH, A FIRE MARSHALL, I'M SORRY, RIGHT THERE.
AND THEY, UM, UH, ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL AND FIRE INSPECTOR, UH, HELP ME AREN'T THESE FAIRLY CRITICAL.
AND AS FAR AS GETTING INSPECTIONS DONE FAR NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN EITHER MARSHALL OR OUR RETAIL.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY A KEY ELEMENT OF, UH, BRINGING A BUSINESS ONLINE IS MAKING SURE THAT THOSE FIRE INSPECTIONS ARE DONE TIMELY.
AND THEN THIS, UH, THE, THE INABILITY TO COMPLETE THOSE INSPECTIONS, THAT THE SIGN-OFF ON THOSE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS, SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, UH, IS IMPORTANT TO A BUSINESS OPENING.
SO, UH, WITH THE CAPACITY OF THE STAFF, UH, IT'S GOING TO REALLY BRING THEM UP TO SPEED AND ESPECIALLY BRINGING THE FIRE PLAN REVIEWS IN HOUSE, BECAUSE THERE'S A DELAY, UH, WHEN WE OUTSOURCE THOSE.
NO, THIS IS ON A SUPPLEMENTAL, SO KNOW BE PLACED
[01:55:01]
IN PRIORITY SEQUENCE WITH OTHER BEST PARENTAL REQUEST, UH, DECIDE, WHICH IS MOST CRITICAL TO, UH, UH, TO ADDRESS.AND THEN AS THE CHIEF HAD MENTIONED, THIS'LL HAVE AN OFFSET WITH IT AS A RESULT OF TRANSFERRING THE CONTRACT DOLLARS TO THE PERSONNEL DOLLARS.
SO, UH, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT SEE THAT FULL COST, UH, BEING BORN BY THE CITY, UH, AS ADDITIONAL COST.
SO WE'LL CERTAINLY BE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT.
LIKE I HAVE A TWOFOLD QUESTION.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST, WHICH IS THE IN ADDITION OPTION, CORRECT? OR NO, NO.
WE'RE ASKING FOR ONE NEW POSITION WHICH WILL BE WORKING ON THE SAME THING THAT SHE'S DOING IS THAT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT TWO TIERS DOWN, SO THERE'LL BE DOING OTHER WORK.
UM, SHE'LL BE DOING MORE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS, UH, AND THE OTHER PERSON WILL DO MORE OF THE OPERATIONAL, UH, KIND OF SOME OF THE TRAINING THAT SHE'S TRYING TO DO, UM, AND THEN ASSISTANCE WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ELCS AND DURING AN ACTIVATION.
AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, UH, THE OVERTIME INCREASE FOR PREVENTION OFFICE.
YOU WOULD JUST WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT IS.
UM, THE OVERTIME INCREASES FOR CALLBACKS.
UH, SO THEY WORK A NORMAL SCHEDULE DURING THE WEEK.
UH, BUT THEY'RE ON CALL AFTER HOURS.
UH, SO THIS IS OVER TIME WHEN THEY GET CALLED BACK.
SO THIS IS WHAT, UH, GOING THROUGH HISTORICAL SPENDING FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
THIS IS A, AN AMOUNT THAT FITS, UH, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY GET CALLED BACK ON WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS, UH, AFTER OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL 40 HOUR WORK HOURS, I HAVE A QUESTION FROM THEM.
SO WHEN YOU, AND DO THE BUDGETS ON EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THAT KERR OVERTIME, IS THAT GOING TO A SEPARATE BUDGET OR IS IT COMING OUT OF EACH OF THE, EACH OF THE SEPARATE DEPARTMENT BUDGET AS PART OF HIS PERSONNEL COSTS LESS LINE ITEM WITHIN PERSONNEL IN THAT DEPARTMENT? SO HOLD ON AND IT WILL BE BY DIVISION, CORRECT.
SO IN THE FIRE, IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PERSONNEL COST, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 217,000, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THE OVERTIME IS BUILDING INTO THAT.
THIS IS A ROLLED UP, UH, PERSONNEL COSTS OF ALL COMPONENTS OF, OF, UH, PERSONNEL.
SO WHY WOULD WE PUT OVERTIME INCREASE FOR PREVENTION OFFICE AS A, AS A SEPARATE ITEM? WOULDN'T THAT GO INTO THE PERSONAL COSTS? YES, BUT THIS IS A SUPPLEMENTAL COST REQUEST FOR, IT'S NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN THE EXISTING BUDGET.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH CALLBACK TODAY? WHERE DOES IT GO THAT THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD GO OVER THEIR BUDGET.
THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE FULL CAPACITY OF THIS OVERTIME, BUT THEY STILL CALL BACK, BUT THERE'S, THEY'LL GO OVER.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR, ADDING AS A SUPPLEMENTAL OFF AVERAGE OR WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE CORRECT.
SO THIS NUMBER CAME FROM HISTORICAL SPENDING ON OVERTIME TO MEET THAT LINE ITEM ESTABLISHED.
SO WILL THAT INCREASE MORE THAN 18,000, JUST BECAUSE OF THE NEW FIRE STATIONS COMING ON BOARD? IT SHOULD NOT.
CAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE FIRE STATION AS MUCH AS IT'S RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT.
SO THIS, THIS IS BASED ON THE TREND OF DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, CHIEF, I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES GOING ON ACTIVITIES? YEAH, I MEAN, I'M BARELY SEE, I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
IS THERE, WE DO HAVE FIREFIGHTERS THERE.
I MEAN, IT SEEMED LIKE A SO DESOLATE.
MA'AM, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A UNIQUE STATION BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S OFF TO THE SIDE OFF THE BELTWAY.
UH, SO IT'S NOT A REAL, UH, VISUAL STATION.
UM, SO THERE ARE FIREFIGHTER STATION THERE.
SO WE HAVE A LADDER TRUCK THAT HAS ASSIGNED THERE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIG AERIAL TRUCKS, UH, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE, UH, THE BUSINESS PARK AREA THAT'S ADJACENT TO THAT AREA.
UH, WE HAVE THREE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE ASSIGNED THERE 24 HOURS A DAY.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF OUR GOALS IS, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO EXPAND THAT VISUAL, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO DO THAT AT ALL THE STATIONS, AS WELL AS THAT.
DURING A STORM URI, THAT WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR GENERATORS.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY OUTFITTING, SOME OF OUR EXISTING FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE ANY FUTURE NEEDS, WHETHER IT'S SELTER OR, UH, WARMING STATIONS OR WHATEVER, BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED OF THE POTENTIAL OF GETTING ACTUAL PORTABLE
[02:00:01]
GENERATORS ASSUMPTIONS.SO WHAT I THOUGHT THEY HAD BEEN ORDERED, I THOUGHT, LIKE THEY TALKED ABOUT FOUR OF THEM BEING ORDERED.
WOULD THAT FALL UNDER YOUR DEPARTMENT OR WOULD THAT FALL UNDER A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT? IT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, BUT WE'RE INVOLVED.
UH, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO PIECES TO THE GENERATOR.
UH, INITIATIVE FIRST WAS WE WANTED TO IDENTIFY, UH, ANY ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT GENERATORS AT EACH OF THE STATIONS, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS.
UH, SO WE WORKED WITH FACILITIES WHO DID A, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT GENERATORS AND HOW THEY PERFORM.
UH, SO I BELIEVE SASHI HAS IN PUBLIC WORKS, A PRESENTATION ON PART OF HIS PRESENTATION IS TO COVER SOME OF THAT.
UH, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT, UM, THE STATION GENERATORS, UH, NEED SOME SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS, WHICH I BELIEVE HE'S ADDRESSING IN HIS PRESENTATION AS WELL AS, UH, ANY OTHER CAPACITY FOR OTHER BUILDINGS, BUT IT WAS ADDRESSED.
AND I THINK THAT BRINGS UP TO THE BOARD.
OTHER QUESTIONS, THE QUESTION, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO GO OVER OUR PROPOSED FISCAL 22 BUDGET.
SO, UH, LET'S START WITH THE ORG CHART.
I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN SEE THAT BECAUSE THE FONT IS SO LARGE, BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BROKEN INTO FOUR DIVISIONS.
UH, THE LARGEST BEING PATROL, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU FOLLOW THAT PATROL LINE DOWN, WHICH WOULD BE TO YOUR LEFT, UH, EACH, UH, SHIFT HAS A LIEUTENANT THAT SUPERVISES IT AND THEN THEIR SERGEANTS OVER ALL THE PATROL OFFICERS THAT EXIST IN THE PATROL DIVISION.
WE TRY TO MAINTAIN THE MILITARY STANDARD OF A ONE TO SEVEN, UH, SUPERVISOR SUBORDINATE RATIO.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS THAT SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU WONDER WHY THERE'S SO MANY LIEUTENANTS AND SERGEANTS THERE, AND WE TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT, UH, I NEED NOT PROBABLY REMIND YOU IF YOU DON'T HAVE SUPERVISION IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU MAKE THE NEWS A LOT.
WE DON'T LIKE TO MAKE THE NEWS A LOT FOR NEGATIVE THINGS.
SO, UH, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT.
IF YOU SLIDE OVER TO THE CID DIVISION, YOU SEE IT'S RUN BY A CAPTAIN AND THEN THOSE ARE CRIMES ANALYSTS THERE.
YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT OF HIS WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, SAY NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T REALLY PATROL THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE PULL UP ALL THE DATA TO SHOW JUST HOW MUCH WE ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO YOU ALL PROBABLY SEEN THOSE REPORTS.
THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM IS FROM THAT, UH, THAT CRIMES ANALYST.
UH, YOU'LL ALSO SEE FURTHER DOWN IN THAT BLOCK THERE ON THE CID DIVISION, UH, FIVE DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A NAME THERE.
THOSE ARE, UH, UNDERCOVER OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THOSE DIFFERENT TASK FORCES, WHICH ARE FORCE MULTIPLIERS FOR US, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT, UH, ONE THAT SAYS, UH, THAT TAG GROUP THAT LOWER LEFT HOUSTON TAG GROUP, THAT'S AN FBI TASK FORCE.
UH, IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT TASK FORCE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE SOLVED THE, UH, THE HOMICIDES THAT WE HAD SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN BUFFALO RUN PARK.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS HAVE CEASED.
SO, UH, CONTINUE TO GO THAT ROUTE.
THE ONLY CHANGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY IN THAT ORG CHART, AS FAR AS THOSE, UH, UNDERCOVER OFFICERS IS THAT SPECIAL PRAMS UNIT IS NOT GOING TO EXIST, UH, FOR MUCH LONGER THAT A PERSON IS GOING TO BE REASSIGNED TO ANOTHER FEDERAL TASK FORCE.
MOST LIKELY WITH THE US POSTAL SERVICE, BECAUSE, UH, PEOPLE RAN QUITE INGENIOUS ON SHIPPING.
A LOT OF THINGS THROUGH THE MAIL THAT ARE CAUSING SOCIAL HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY NEED LOCAL PEOPLE TO HELP THEM WITH SOME OF THAT INTERDICTION.
SO, UH, THAT OFFICER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TASKED OVER TO THAT FEDERAL TASK FORCE.
UH, SUPPORT SERVICES IS PRIMARILY OUR CIVILIAN GROUP.
YOU'LL NOTICE, UH, THE LOWER PART.
IT'S AN AREA THAT I'M KIND OF PROUD OF IS, UH, THE RECORDS TECHNICIANS.
WE HAVE FIVE OF THEM IN OUR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A RECORDS TECHNICIAN OR A PERSON THAT HANDLES ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OR SECRETARIAL TYPE DUTIES IN EACH ONE OF THOSE DIVISIONS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THEM ALL CENTRALIZED UNDER SUPPORT SERVICES BECAUSE WE CROSS TRAIN THEM.
SO THEY ACTUALLY GET TO HANDLE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING FROM PATROL DEALS WITH, TO WHAT CID DEALS WITH INCLUDING CRIME SCENE, UH, WHAT SUPPORT SERVICES DEALS WITH, UM, MEANING OUR SEIZURES.
YOU ALL HAD THE CJIS CERTIFIED AND JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HAS HAD TO GET SEIZURES CERTIFIED.
AND UNDER THAT, YOU'LL SEE THE DISPATCH MANAGER, WHICH IS THE SECOND OR THE THIRD FROM THAT, UH, CAPTAIN SPOT.
UH, IF YOU COUNT THE CAPTAIN AS FIRST, THAT'S THE PERSON THAT MAKES SURE YOU ALL ARE CJIS COMPLIANT AND YOU CAN WALK IN OUR BUILDING WITHOUT ESCORT.
AND THEN ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAPTAIN, WHICH BY THE WAY, I
[02:05:01]
ROTATE THOSE CAPTAINS ABOUT EVERY TWO AND A HALF TO THREE YEARS.AND THEY REALLY LOVED THAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A PART OF OUR SUCCESSION PLANNING.
SO, UH, WHEN I'M NO LONGER HERE, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD BENCH THAT YOU ALL CAN SELECT YOUR NEXT POLICE CHIEF FROM WITHOUT SPENDING THE MONEY TO GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK FOR, UH, TALENT OUTSIDE.
YOU HAVE A, QUITE A STABLE, IF YOU WILL, IN THAT ORG CHART THAT COULD STEP UP AT ANY DAY AND KEEP THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT CLICKING ALONG JUST FINE.
UM, ALSO, UH, THAT ADMINISTRATIVE CAPTAIN IS BOMBARDED WITH, WITH, UH, A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS, INCLUDING OUR ONBOARDING AND RECRUITING.
AND WE HAVE AN ACTIVE RECRUITING, UH, INITIATIVE GOING ON ALL THE TIME WITH OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, MOVING ON.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? I HAVE 139 PEOPLE BY THE WAY, KEEP IT MOVING.
UM, OUR 21 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE PARTNERED WITH FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON OUR TAKE ME HOME PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM IDENTIFIES AND HELPS SPECIAL NEEDS PERSONS IN CRISIS, PRIMARILY PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING.
SO, UM, HOPE FOR THREE, WE PARTNERED WITH THEM FOR YEARS.
SO, UH, THEY CERTAINLY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT STARTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO DATABASE, SO PEOPLE THAT ARE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE PEOPLE WITH, UH, COMMUNICATE CHALLENGES CAN PUT THOSE FOLKS A NAME IN A DATABASE.
AND IN THE EVENT THAT WE ENCOUNTERED THEM, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET THEM, UH, REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
ALSO, WE SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER $30,000 GRANT IN THE STRATEGIC, UH, SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
SO THOSE OFFICERS THAT YOU SEE WORKING HIGHWAY SIX ON THE MOTORCYCLE, STOPPING PEOPLE FOR RUNNING THE RED LIGHTS AND SPEEDING A LOT OF TIMES THAT IS OVERTIME PAID FOR BY THAT GRANT.
UH, WE SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVED THAT GRANT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE DO A FINE JOB.
OUR, OUR OFFICERS DO A FINE JOB EVERY YEAR IN, IN CARRYING OUT THE DUTIES OF THAT GRANT.
ALSO, OUR DEPARTMENT TOOK IN OVER 556 POUNDS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR DRUG TAKE BACK PROGRAM THAT WE PARTNERED WITH THE DA ON THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GET RID OF THEIR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
SO THEY'RE NOT LEFT IN THEIR HOUSE, SO THEIR KIDS CAN, UH, CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS WITH IT.
SO, UH, NOT EVERYBODY YOU THINK DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT THEY DON'T ALSO, UH, WE REQUEST, I TOLD YOU EARLIER ABOUT THE, UH, TCO SUPERVISOR TO THE DEEP, UH, DISPATCH MANAGER POSITION.
UH, THIS PROVIDED BETTER SUPERVISION BECAUSE WE RUN A 12 HOUR SHIFT FOR OUR DISPATCHERS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS WE'RE HAVING A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FILLING THE VACANCIES.
WE HAVE, UH, CURRENTLY FIVE VACANCIES OUT OF 16 PEOPLE IN THERE.
SO THAT'S A 31% VACANCY RATE IN OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU AND THEN 11% VACANCY IN OUR PATROL BUREAU.
BUT, UH, UH, MOVING THAT DISPATCH MANAGER THAT ALSO HANDLES ALL THE CG SETS, STREAMLINED THE SUPERVISION OF THOSE TWO RESPECTIVE SHIFTS.
LIKE I SAID, THEY RUN 12 HOURS, SIX TO SIX, UH, IN THE MORNING AND SIX TO SIX IN THE, IN THE EVENING, WE ALSO STARTED A PROGRAM WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CALLED THE, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LETHALITY SPREADING.
AND THIS SOUNDS A BIT MORBID, BUT WE ACTUALLY SCREENED VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SEE IF THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR EASEL USER POTENTIALLY CAUSING, UH, THEIR DEATH IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE, WE INTERCEDE AS BEST WE CAN TO RUN IT OFF AT THE PAST BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT.
UH, THAT SOUNDS QUITE TERRIBLE, BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU ALL EXPECT US TO DO.
AND WE'VE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
OUR 20, 22 GOALS, WE WERE ASKED TO LIST FOUR OF THE MANY THAT WE HAVE.
WE WANT TO INCREASE OUR PATROL CONTACTS.
AND THE WAY WE CAN DO THAT, FIRST OF ALL, IS MAKE SURE THAT WE FILL OUR VACANCIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TIME FOR OUR OFFICERS TO BE PROACTIVE.
UH, OFFICERS ACROSS THE NATION ARE BEING LESS PROACTIVE.
YOUR DEPARTMENT I'D LIKE TO PROUDLY REPORT BECAUSE THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT PULLED BACK FROM THAT OTHER THAN WHAT WE'VE PULLED THEM BACK FOR, FOR COVID.
CAUSE WE TOLD THEM TO LIMIT YOUR CONTACTS DURING THE, UH, THE COVID OUTBREAK.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON THE, UH, HOPEFULLY ON THAT, OUTSIDE OF THAT FOR COMING ON THE OUTSIDE OF ALL THAT.
SO WE, WE, UH, ALSO WANT TO REDUCE CRIMES IN OUR, UH, DETOX AREA DDX AND MOST OF YOU ALL THAT HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I KNOW I KIND OF BRIEFED YOU ALL THAT ARE DUE ON COUNCIL, WHAT THAT IS.
AND THAT'S A, UH, A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT WE ADOPTED WITH A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S A, A DIRECT APPROACH TO TRAFFIC AND PRIME USING TRAFFIC STOPS.
CAUSE MOST OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS AREN'T PEDESTRIAN.
SO THEY USE A VEHICLE OF SOME SORT AND SO DO THE CRIMINALS SO WE CAN MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SOMEWHAT OF A GAUNTLET TO COME IN HERE AND DO A MISCHIEF THAT ENCOURAGES THE, DO NO GOODS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
WE TRY TO REDUCE OUR, UH, OUR PART ONE CRAMPS EVERY YEAR BY 10% OR OUR GOAL IS 130 THIS YEAR.
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR COVID AND THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY WAS HOME AND THE FACT THAT MASK MAKE IT REALLY EASY TO COMMIT ROBBERIES, WE PROBABLY WOULD BE A LOT CLOSER TO THAT THAN WE ACTUALLY ARE.
[02:10:01]
IN THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING DURING YOUR ANNUAL REPORT.SO I'LL GIVE YOU A LOT MORE IN DEPTH REPORT ON THAT.
ALSO WE WANT TO REDUCE OUR CRASHES AND WE USE EVERY EVERYTHING'S DATA-DRIVEN.
SO IF YOU SEE US APPLYING TRAFFIC RESOURCES, IT'S USUALLY NOT A KNEE-JERK REACTION TO A COMPLAINT IN A, IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT SPEEDING.
WE NORMALLY DO A, A TRAFFIC STUDY ON THAT BEFORE WE START COMMITTING RESOURCES, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS DATA-DRIVEN.
SO OUR DATA, OUR DETOX AREAS FOR TRAFFIC AND, AND UH, CRASH REDUCTION HAPPENS TO BE HIGHWAY SIX AND MURPHY ROAD AREA, AND THE TEXAS PARKWAY, 98 OLD, UH, ALTERNATE QUARTERS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE, AS YOU KNOW, YOU TRAVELED THESE ROADWAYS, YOU SEE THAT'S A HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC AREA, HIGH VOLUME, AND USUALLY INDICATES MORE CRASHES.
AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THOSE ARE SOMEONE'S FACE BURIED INTO A CELL PHONE THAT CAUSES A CRASH.
AND WE GO AFTER THAT AS BEST WE CAN.
UH, OUR COMMUNITY AG INTERACTION HAS BEEN DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID THAT'S STARTING TO RAMP BACK UP.
UH, WE, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE AT LEAST 300 MEETINGS ATTENDED AND 300 OUTREACHES ATTENDED PER YEAR.
UH, ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I DID AND I'LL CONFESS NOW WE WENT AHEAD AND WENT WITH THE, UH, CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
CAUSE YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS THE VERY FIRST PLACE ACADEMY, CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAD ONE IN 1986 AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO BREAK THE TRADITION.
SO, UH, W I DIDN'T ASK FOR PERMISSION.
NOW WE WENT WITH 10 PEOPLE, STAYED WITH NCA CDC GUIDELINES, DIDN'T HAVE FOOD AND MADE THEM STAY APART FROM EACH OTHER.
AND WE JUST GRADUATED, UH, ALL 10 OF THOSE FOLKS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BY THE WAY.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FOR HIM TOO.
AND, UH, IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
SO WE'LL TAKE OUR LUMPS LATER.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, WANNA INCREASE OUR CRAMP CLEARANCE RATE BY 2% OVER LAST YEAR, THE STATE AVERAGE CRAM CLEARANCE RATE, UH, AND THEY ONLY HAVE THE 2019 NUMBERS POSTED RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WEBSITE.
IT WAS 15%, UH, WE HOVER AROUND 37%, SO THAT THAT'S REALLY OUTSTANDING FOR YOUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS AND THE CITIZENS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE CITIZENS SUPPORT, WE WOULD NOT BE NEAR AS SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY IN PRIME CLEARANCE, AS WE ARE BECAUSE OUR CITIZENS TELL US WHO COMMITS CRIME.
AND WE LOVE THAT THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T ACT LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
THEY DO GET INVOLVED AND LET US KNOW.
UH, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET IS RELATIVELY FLAT.
YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, 3.5 SALARY INCREASES THE LARGEST LARGEST VARIANCE AND OUR PERSONAL COST THAT SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS REDUCTION IS, UH, SOME OF IT'S ONE-TIME PURCHASES.
AND SOME OF THE, UH, REDUCTION IS BASED ON OUR STREAMLINING.
WE ARE THE FRONT SEAT OF THE PATROL CAR IS THE OFFICER'S OFFICES.
SO IF YOU SEE HIM SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEY'RE REALLY NOT PLAYING ON THE X-BOX OR TALKING TO THEIR BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND OR WHATEVER.
THEY REALLY ARE WORKING IN THEIR CAR.
UM, ALSO, UH, WE HAD A $21 INCREASE IN, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND CONTRACTS, AND THEN THE, UH, OTHER EXPENDITURES HAS TO DO WITH, UH, SOME TRAINING INITIATIVES.
WE HAVE A NEW CANINE OFFICER THAT CAME ON BOARD, AND THEN WE ALSO, WITH ANY NEW HIRES, WE TRY TO GET THEM TRAINED IN CIT CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL, BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH CALLS, UH, ACTUALLY VIRTUALLY DAILY.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAINED UP IN THAT IS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL WE CAN POSSIBLY GET THEM.
AND WE HAVE IN-HOUSE PERSONNEL THAT TRAIN THAT PROGRAM.
SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO OUTSOURCE, BUT THERE IS STILL A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UM, BACK TO THE FTES, UH, AGAIN, HAVE 11 OPENINGS, UH, FIVE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SIX IN PATROL.
SO WE HAVE PEOPLE, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN BACKGROUND NOW TO TRY TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH IN BACKGROUND NOW TO FILL EITHER ONE OF THEM COMPLETELY.
UH, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET A QUALITY POLICE OFFICERS THAT WANT TO BE POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
UM, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND THEN SAME WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
AND THEN OUR, UM, SUBLINGUAL REQUESTS WERE QUITE FLAT.
WE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS WHERE SOME, UH, PEOPLE WERE, UM, NOT RECEIVING THEIR CLOTHING ALLOWANCE WHEN THEY PROMOTED TO, UM, TO DETECTIVE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DETECT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET.
AND WE REALIZE THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF FOLKS, ACTUALLY, SEVERAL FOLKS THAT WEREN'T GETTING THAT.
SO WE MADE THAT ADJUSTMENT AND THE OVERTIME SUPPORT FOR STOP SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION.
THAT'S THOSE, UH, DISPATCHERS THAT, UH, AGAIN, I TOLD YOU WE'RE A BIT SHORT IN THAT AREA.
UH, THE ONBOARDING PROCESS FROM THE TIME THEY APPLY FOR THE JOB TO THE TIME THEY'RE ABLE TO OPERATE THE POLICE AND FIRE RADIO SOLO IS, UH, ALMOST A YEAR.
IT'S ABOUT NINE AND A HALF MONTHS IF THEY DO WELL.
AND BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY TECHNICAL, I THINK YOU ALL HAVE BEEN IN THE EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS AREA AND YOU'VE SEEN JUST HOW TECHNICAL THAT IS.
UH, THOSE LADIES THAT WORK IN, THEY'RE DOING A REMARKABLE JOB.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM.
[02:15:01]
FUND, UH, THAT'S THE, UH, SEIZURE MONEY I TOLD YOU ABOUT THOSE, UM, THOSE UNDERCOVER PERSONNEL IN THE EVENT THAT THEY SEIZE CASH OR ASSETS.ONCE IT GOES THROUGH THE COURTS WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE 2.3% OF THE TOTAL SEIZURE.
SO, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPENDING OF THAT, MAINLY BECAUSE WE SPEND IT WRONG GUESS WHO GOES TO THE, HIS SCOUT, BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO APPROVE IF IT'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND YOU SEE THOSE FROM TIME TO TIME, THE MOST RECENT ONE, I THINK YOU SAW IT'S NOT ON THIS.
IT'S ACTUALLY A, UH, CURRENT WAS THAT 244,000 FOR THE FLOCK CAMERA SYSTEM THAT YOU ALL JUST APPROVED US TO SPEND.
AND THAT CAME OUT OF DRUG, SEIZURE MONEY.
WHAT YOU SEE REFLECTED THERE IS, UH, WE BOUGHT, UH, POLICE CARS BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH POLICE CARS FOR THE STAFF WE HAD.
AND THAT HAD TO DO WITH BACK IN 2012 OR 2011, UH, THAT THE CHIEF BEFORE ME WAS ABLE TO GET POLICE OFFICERS WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT HE WOULDN'T GET CARS FOR HIM.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THAT CAUGHT UP WITH US.
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT THE CARS NOW, AND WE USE DRUG SEIZURE MONEY FOR THAT.
AND THEN WE ALSO BOUGHT A, UM, A NEW TRAILER, A BOX TRAILER TO HAUL OUR EQUIPMENT FOR OUR TRAINING DIVISION, BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR TRAINING HAS TO BE OFF SITE, ESPECIALLY FARMS TYPE TRAINING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, THE OTHER EXPENDITURES DOWN THERE, UH, HAS TO DO WITH, UH, DIFFERENT TRAINING INITIATIVES THAT JUST WEREN'T WITHIN BUDGET.
AND THAT'S ALSO WITHIN THE REALM, UH, LEGAL REALM OF SPENDING DRUG, SEIZURE MONEY ON.
SO WE'RE REAL PARTICULAR ON HOW WE SPEND THAT.
WE'RE VERY CAUTIOUS AND THEN A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THAT ACTUALLY SHOULDN'T BE ON THERE.
AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN WITH ELENA YET.
I'M KIND OF PROUD THAT WE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THIS, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY IT'S A JAG GRANT.
AND IN ORDER FOR YOU TO QUALIFY FOR THAT, WE WERE GOING TO GET MOBILE FINGERPRINT SCANNERS, BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO QUALIFY FOR THAT $11,000, OUR VIOLENCE RATE HAD TO BE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN IT IS.
SO I'M ACTUALLY PROUD THAT WE DIDN'T MEET THE THRESHOLD THAT OUR VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY WAS NOT AS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO RECEIVE THAT.
SO THAT ACTUALLY COULD PROBABLY COME OUT, UH, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING FOR.
SO WE'LL PULL THAT OUT OF A BUDGET.
AND SINCE IT'S ONLY $11,000, THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T HIT THE BUDGET, UH, OFFICIAL BUDGET, UH, I'LL BE AUTHORIZED USE DRUG, SEIZURE MONEY IN THE EVENT THAT IT DOES IT, THE BUDGET.
SO IT REALLY NEEDS TO COME OUT.
THEN I, UH, I CAN'T SPEND THAT BECAUSE THEN THAT MEANS I VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW AND I'M NOT REAL PROUD OF WANTING TO DO THAT.
AND THEN, UH, LET'S SEE, THIS IS A RADIO SYSTEMS FUND.
AND IF YOU WANT TO STOP ME ON ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING THAT I PRESENTED TONIGHT, THIS IS THE ONE BECAUSE OUR RADIO SYSTEMS MANAGER IS A DUAL EMPLOYEE IS PAID BY THE CITY OF SUGARLAND AND THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY IN A WAY, BECAUSE THAT IS A DUAL OWNED RADIO SYSTEM.
THERE ARE, UH, THREE ORGANIZATIONS OR ENTITIES THAT PAY US TO USE THAT RADIO SYSTEM, ACTUALLY FOUR, TECHNICALLY, BECAUSE IF IT'S FORMATTED CITY, THE ENTIRE FORT BEND ISD, STAFFORD PD AND STAFFORD FIRE.
SO I'M COUNTING THEM TWICE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON RENT SPACE, AS WELL AS ANOTHER COMPANY RENT SPACE FOR OUR CO OWNED RADIO TOWER.
SO THAT, UH, ENTIRE OPERATION JUST ABOUT FUNDS ITSELF.
SO ZURI CITY IN SUGARLAND, TECHNICALLY A RADIO TOWER AND THE RADIO SERVICE AND ALL OF THAT FOR A NET OF ABOUT $18,454, BECAUSE ALL THE OFFSET FROM ALL THE OTHER REVENUES.
SO, UH, IF WE GET SOME MORE PEOPLE ON THERE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFSET THAT, BUT IT'S BASED ON HOW MUCH WEIGHT THAT TOWER CAN HOLD.
AND THAT'S AS FAST AS I CAN GO IN.
I KNOW IT SOUNDED LIKE AN INFOMERCIAL.
SO ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THEM.
WELL, SINCE YOU ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN FORGIVE, IT'S NOT MARIO AND ASK FOR IT LIKE THE FIREMAN.
UM, I JUST HAVE TWO JUST QUESTIONS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, TASK FORCE.
I SEE A LOT OTHER CITIES DOING WHAT COUNTY FORT BEND COUNTY.
I'M TALKING TO, WHETHER AS A TASK FORCE, I SEE DIFFERENT CHIEFS, YOU KNOW, IN, UH, TENDING THE MEETINGS AND ALL OF THAT, BUT JUST WALK ME THROUGH, WHAT DO WE DO HERE ON THAT TASK FORCE OPERATIONS.
WE JUST DON'T DO PRESS CONFERENCES.
UM, IF YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU TEND TO DO PRESS CONFERENCES.
NOPE, NO OFFENSE, BUT THOSE SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES ARE ELECTED.
SO THEY DO IN DA'S ARE ELECTED THOSE, UH, WE PARTNER WITH THOSE AGENCIES OR NO, WE'RE JUST PART OF THEIR, PART OF THE SAME TASK FORCE.
IN FACT, THE TWO LARGER OPERATIONS YOU PROBABLY JUST SAW, UH, RECENTLY HAPPENED AT YOUR FAIRFIELD IN THAT WAS OUR OPERATION WITH OUR UNDERCOVER OFFICER THAT RAN THAT.
AND THEN THE ONE PRIOR TO THAT WAS SUMMER HILL SUITES WITH OUR UNDERCOVER OFFICER AND OUR LADY OFFICER'S OPPOSES WORKING LADIES, YOUR POLICE OFFICERS,
[02:20:02]
THAT'S OUR PEOPLE.I ASKED YOU, UM, GIVE CREDIT TO OUR TASK FORCES AND WE DO HAVE OFFICERS AS DEDICATED PRIMARILY TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
WE DO, AND I DO GIVE CREDIT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA THAT WE DO A LOT OF PRESS CONFERENCES ABOUT, UH, PROSTITUTION IN OUR CITY.
IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET DEVELOPERS AND, UH, PEOPLE TO INVEST IN OUR CITY AND STAY IN OUR HOTELS.
SO I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO AND PUT IT OUT THERE A WHOLE LOT THAT WE'VE GOT, UH, THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES OCCURRING IN OUR HOTELS IN OUR CITY.
IF I CAN HELP THEM, WELL, NOT NECESSARILY A PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT JUST LET A MAYOR KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH, UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
WE WERE ACTUALLY THE FIRST AND HE'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
I JUST REALIZED YOU REALIZE, YOU KNOW, WHO THAT PERSON IS.
I NORMALLY DON'T DISCLOSE NAMES, RIGHT? THE REASON THAT I FORGOT TO DO NOTHING.
YEAH, ACTUALLY ALL OF MY UNDERCOVER GUYS DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.
UM, SOMETIMES WE'RE HERE IN THE MORNING AND THEY MIGHT BE IN THE JUNGLES OF EL SALVADOR BY THE AFTERNOON.
SO THEY, UH, THEY TRAVELED QUITE A BIT.
I HAVE MY LAST QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS YOU TALKED ABOUT, THERE WERE SEVERAL POSITIONS OPEN ON THE PATROLLING SIDE.
HOW LONG HAVE THOSE POSITIONS BEEN OPEN? UH, WE'VE STARTED HAVING, UH, A DEPARTURE ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO.
A PRETTY GOOD QUICK DEPARTMENT.
HOW MANY PEOPLE, HOW MANY, I MEAN, I SHOULD SAY HOW MANY POSITIONS DO WE HAVE OPEN FOR PATROL SIX? ALL OF THAT SIX HAPPENED IN THE, IN THE MONTH, UH, ABOUT FOUR, FOUR AND A HALF OR SO WITHIN THE PAST THREE MINUTES, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.
SO ONE, ONE RETIREMENT AND ONE, UH, A PERSON, UH, GOT IN TROUBLE.
AND ONCE HE GETS ALL THAT STRAIGHTENED DOWN, IF IT WORKS OUT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS IF OTHERS DO, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
MA'AM UH, YEAH, WE ACTUALLY GET THAT IN SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM TIME TO TIME.
UM, WHAT WE DO IS WE PULL THE STATISTICS AND WE SHOW THEM, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY, I'LL TALK ABOUT PONDERING PARK, FUNDER PARK.
SO THAT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO WE PULLED STATISTICS AND PRESENTED IT AT THEIR BOARD.
AND THEY SAID WE HAD NO IDEA, UM, WHAT WE USED TO DO, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TELL THEM TO DO IT ANYMORE.
BUT WHEN WE USED TO HEAR THAT YEARS AGO, INTERESTINGLY FROM FONDREN PARK, WE USED TO BUMP OUR SIRENS.
EVERY TIME WE ENTERED THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY TIME WE STOPPED SOMEBODY ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, AND THEN THEY START COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT.
SO WE WERE NOT TELLING THEM TO DO THAT, BUT, UH, LATELY WE'VE GOT A COMPLAINT OF PEOPLE CUTTING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, GOING FROM FONDER ROAD TO THE BELTWAY.
WE HAVE A TRAFFIC STUDY GOING ON, BUT I, BUT I'VE COMMITTED EVERY BIT OF MY, UH, SELECTIVE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM AND ALL OF MY, UH, MOTOR UNITS, MY TRAFFIC MOTOR UNITS, SHORT OF ONE ONE'S OUT ON, ON FAMILY, LEAVE TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE'VE HAD NEIGHBORS NOW ASKING US WHAT'S THE BIG, HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE WE EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WE HAD A COMPLAINT ABOUT CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND EVER JUST VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY THAT'S ASKED US WHY WE'RE THERE.
SO THEY HAD NOTICED THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC VISIBILITY IN THE AM AND THE PM AS WELL.
THEY DON'T SEE PROMISE YOU WE'RE OUT THERE.
I PROMISE YOU, WE, WE HEARD YOU, UH, LAST WEEK AND I HAD, UH, CONTACTED CHIEF BEARS AND, AND, UH, THEIR STATISTICIAN PUT TOGETHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOURS THAT ARE BEING MARKED THAT REPORT'S GOING TO BE IN YOUR FRIDAY OR TO COUNSEL WITH REFERENCE TO THAT SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THAT.
AND ACTUALLY THAT REPORT ONLY DOESN'T COVER OUR PASS THROUGH.
IT COVERS ACTUALLY DEDICATED TIME IN THERE.
UH, I THINK APRIL WAS THE ONLY ONE WE WERE LACKING IN, BUT THAT WAS ALSO WHEN WE WERE TOLD PEOPLE NOT TO MAKE CONTACTS.
YOU KNOW, THE COVID NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE A BIT ODD FOR US BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY INSTRUCTED OUR PERSONNEL NOT TO MAKE ANY UNNECESSARY CONTACTS WITH ANYBODY DURING THE COVID TIME.
CAUSE AT ONE TIME I HAD, I THINK MARTIN WOULD LIKE 16 PEOPLE OUT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH COVID AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY.
IF THEY SHOW UP WITH COVID IN THEIR, IN THEIR SHIFT OF 18 PEOPLE THAT WE SEND 17 PEOPLE HOME CAN'T DO THAT.
SO IT JUST KEPT SPREADING IN OUR OWN DEPARTMENT BECAUSE KIDS SEND THE WHOLE SHIFT HOME.
YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE TRAINED PEOPLE FOR THE MIDDLE OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
[02:25:01]
THOSE ARE POLICE OFFICERS.THEY HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE TRAINED.
THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING OR THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFERS.
WE HAVE PERSONNEL THAT ARE INSTRUCTORS IN THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE HAVE 80% OR SO I GET MY NUMBERS NOW BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME TURNOVER AND ALL THAT.
BUT MY MOST RECENT NUMBERS, I, 80% OF ALL OF OUR PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED TO THAT LEVEL TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WITH MENTAL CHALLENGES.
AND I LIKE YOUR SUCCESSION PLANNING.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER STERLING'S QUESTION, I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TRAINING FOR SOME MENTAL HEALTH MAYBE ONCE A YEAR.
IS IT ONCE A YEAR, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
WE, WE DO ONGOING TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, EVERY OFFICER.
THEY, UH, ONCE THEY GET THAT 80 HOUR TRAINING, THAT IS PART OF YOUR ANNUAL TRAINING.
SO IT GETS TOUCHED ON, WE WERE, UH, UH, V UH, ONE OF OUR VENDORS IS POLICE ONE.
SO THEY DO THE ONLINE TRAINING AND SHIFT CHANGE TRAINING.
AND ONE OF THOSE BLOCKS HAS TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH PERSONS STILL IT'S ONGOING, LIKE HE SAID, OKAY, THAT'S GREAT.
UM, WHAT OTHER FACTORS, OTHER THAN PE HAVE YOU SEEN AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT WITH OFFICERS? AND MY SECOND PART OF THAT IS HOW HAVE HR BEEN HELPING ASSISTING WITH THAT? YEAH, HR HAS, IS STRETCHED PRETTY THIN.
SO WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH OUR OWN RECRUITING DIVISION.
SO WE, WE GO AFTER THE, UH, THE KIDS IN THE ACADEMY, WE ACTUALLY IDENTIFY PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE QUALITY CANDIDATES.
WE SPEAK TO THE ACADEMY STAFF AND WE, WE BASICALLY GET THEM TO SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT, UH, KIND OF LIKE RECRUITING COLLEGE KIDS TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL BALL ALMOST.
AND, UH, ONCE THEY GET OUT OF THE ACADEMY, WE ASSIGN A MENTOR TO THEM WHILE THEY'RE IN THE ACADEMY.
SO THEY'LL EVEN DO BETTER THAN THEY WERE DOING BEFORE.
AND THEN WE TRY TO ONBOARD THEM THAT WAY.
THAT'S BEEN OUR RECRUITING STEPS SO FAR, BUT, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE PAY IS DEFINITELY BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US, UH, AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE, UH, BECAUSE, UH, OUR ADJACENT NEIGHBORS ON THIS SIDE OF THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON START OUT BETTER THAN WE DO.
AND IF THEY'RE GONNA WORK ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GO ACTUALLY, NO, PROBABLY THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THOSE OTHER AGENCIES.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE AS AN INCENTIVE, AS EFFECTIVE, WE HAVE EXCELLENT TECHNOLOGY HERE.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE PRETTY FINE EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN THE TECHNOLOGY, AND WE HAVE A FOUR 10 WORK SCHEDULE.
UH, SOME OF THESE OTHER AGENCIES DON'T OFFER THAT.
SO THAT'S THE PERKS WE CAN OFFER AROUND THE ACTUAL BOTTOM LINE PAY SALARY.
OH, NO, WE DON'T OFFER, UM, PAY FOR COLLEGE TUITION.
DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADD AS AN INCENTIVE OR YOU DON'T? OKAY.
WELL, THEY PAY, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PAYMENT IF YOU GO TO COLLEGE, BUT THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A INCENTIVE.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF EDUCATION, ANY INCENTIVE WOULD CERTAINLY HELP.
I THINK IT WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT, UM, OFFICERS SAID REACH HIGHER EDUCATION AND, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT AND BE BETTER ASSETS THAT THEY WERE TOO I'M UP.
THE LADDER CERTAINLY HELPED WITH OUR RETENTION.
SO YOU HAD A QUESTION, I THINK MY QUESTION, AS FAR AS OUTLOOK OF BEING A RECRUIT OR THE 11TH POSITION THAT YOU HAVE OPEN, I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON THAT OTHER QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE CYCLE.
I THINK I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE.
I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT.
THE COURSE IS JUST THAT, UH, JUST TO CONFIRM WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT, AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ASKED ABOUT THE HR WHAT'S THE ENROLLMENT OR WHAT THAT WAS.
SO YOU SAID THAT YOU GO ON AND RECRUIT YOUR OWN.
CAN WE DO, UH, I'LL JUST MENTION NAMED LIEUTENANT RUSSELL, TERRY, WHO'S ACTUALLY A PART OF SESSION TIME.
WE'LL BRAG ABOUT HIM A MINUTE.
HE GRADUATES FRIDAY FROM LEADERSHIP COMMAND COLLEGE AT SAM HOUSTON STATE.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE SUCCESSION PLANNING ALSO, SORRY, A RABBIT TRAIL THERE, BUT LIEUTENANT RUSSELL, TERRY HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS.
HE HAS A PLETHORA OF PATROL OFFICERS AND THAT HE'S TRAINED UP IN HOW TO RECRUIT AND HOW TO REALLY SELL OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND IN HIS ABSENCE, ARE THOSE HIS PROTEGES, IF YOU WILL HAVE GONE OUT AND REPRESENTED AS WELL.
SO, UH, YEAH, SO WHAT'S THE ROLE THAT HR PLAYS.
ONCE WE, ONCE WE GET THE PEOPLE ENCOURAGED TO GO ON, UH, SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTENT, THEN THEY'LL SCREEN THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO WORK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY WORK WITH OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT
[02:30:01]
TO SET UP THE TESTING AND THE PHYSICAL BUILDING, THE WRITTEN TEST.AND THEN, UH, OFTENTIMES THEY SIT IN ON OUR ORAL BOARDS.
SO WHEN WE'RE DOING AN ORAL BOARD WITH A PROSPECTIVE NEW HIRE, THEY'RE ALSO, THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DOES HAVE AN EXCELLENT POLICE ACADEMY.
I MEAN, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE, WHAT TO YOU IS RIGHT IN THE CITY ITSELF.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S AN EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS ISSUE? YEAH.
YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING OR SOMETHING THAT ON THE HR, IS THAT DONE AT YOUR OWN? UH, NO, NO.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE TO GO TO HR WITH.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT THEY WOULD GO TO HR.
UM, GENERALLY THEY WERE, WE'RE A PARAMILITARY ENVIRONMENT.
SO GENERALLY THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THEIR SUPERVISOR AND LET'S IT'S ABOUT THAT SUPERVISOR.
AND THEN THEY GO TO THE SUPERVISOR ABOVE AND WE TEND TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
IN-HOUSE UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO REACH BEYOND, AND THEN WE'LL INVOLVE HR.
IF IT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, UH, DISCIPLINE, INCLUDING UP TO TERMINATION, THEN WE GET HR INVOLVED BEFORE THAT, UH, THAT SWITCHES TRIPPED DURING THE HIRING PROCESS IS DONE TO RUSSELL.
TERRY, AS YOU MENTIONED, YOUR RECRUITING PROCESS, THE RECRUITING PROCESS HAS DONE THROUGH RUSSELL TERRI.
WE SH WE MERELY POINT THE CANDIDATE TOWARD HR THROUGH THE LETTER OF THE NOTICE OF INTENT ON THE WEBSITE.
AND THEN HR COMMUNICATES WITH THEM ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE TESTING.
SO HR HANDLES THE HIRING, WE JUST HANDLED THE RECRUITING POINT, THEM TOWARD HR.
IN FACT, THE NUMBER ON THE, JUST THE HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY CHARGE SAYS, WELL, I DON'T THINK THIS PERSON IS FIT, NOT PHYSICAL, NOT SHOOTING RANGE, NOT ALL THAT, THAT YOU LOOK AT.
THEY ACTUALLY, THEY ACTUALLY DON'T INTERVIEW THEM.
THERE'S A SET OF QUESTIONS THAT THE CANDIDATE THEMSELVES FILL OUT.
AND IF THERE'S A CERTAIN MARKERS, THEY HIT IT AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THAT CANDIDATE.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'VE USED TO LOOSEN TO NEW JOB DRUGS, IF THEY HAD AN ARREST WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME IN BOTH, MOST OF THOSE DISQUALIFIERS ARE BASED ON WHAT THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT SETS FOR A PERSON THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR LICENSING.
SO IT'S, IT'S THOSE SET OF QUESTIONS.
UM, ARE YOU GUYS ALLOCATING ANY FUNDING FOR TRAINING TO BUILD THE MORALE OR ADDRESSING ANY TYPE OF CULTURAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT? UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THE CULTURAL ISSUE PROBLEMS OR THE MORALE.
UH, OUR MORALE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER SEEN.
SO I, IF, UH, IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T, AND I PROBABLY OUGHT TO BE MADE AWARE OF IT.
SO, UH, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUES, BUT SOME TYPE OF MORALE, SOME TYPE OF CULTURAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS, I'M JUST ASKING, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING TO MAKE SURE YOUR OFFICERS HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY, IF THEY HAVE ISSUES, UM, HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS? UM, AND DO THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING ON THOSE STATIONS? I WOULDN'T HAVE BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT THE ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS DO THEY HAVE TO ENTER THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IN JUST THE OPEN DOOR POLICY.
I THINK IF YOU COME TO MY DEPARTMENT, YOU'LL SEE THAT I HAVE THE, UH, IN YOUR TRENCH POLICY.
SO I'M NOT STOPPED OUT THERE WITH THEM EITHER IN THEIR OFFICES OR IN THEIR CARS OR HANGING OUT WITH THEM.
SO, UH, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD OPEN DIALOGUE WITH ALL OF OUR OFFICERS, IF THEY WERE HAVING AN ISSUE, THEY'D LET ME KNOW THROUGH THE YEARS THEY HAVE, AND WE'VE DEALT WITH ISSUES.
SOMETIMES IT'S MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTIES AND WE WORK IT OUT.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD TO LET SOME PEOPLE GO BECAUSE THEIR PHILOSOPHY AND HOW THEY NEED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES AT WORK, DID DIDN'T FIT THE PHILOSOPHY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE A WORKING PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.
SO, AND WE'VE HAD TO DO THAT BEFORE, AND THEN THEY GO TO SOME OTHER AGENCIES AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL AND SOMETIMES THE LEOPARD DOESN'T CHANGE THEIR SPOTS AND THEY GO THERE AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. SO IF YOU'RE AWARE OF ANY MAJOR MORALE OR CULTURAL ISSUES, I REALLY NEED TO KNOW, WELL, NOT A QUESTION.
COULD ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, UM, WHICH IS THE GOLF COURSE THAT WE ARE IN TODAY.
SO WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I WANT TO START TALKING ABOUT OUR VISION.
OUR VISION HERE IS TO INSPIRE AND CREATE HAPPINESS WITH WARM HOSPITALITY.
THAT THAT MOTTO WAS REALLY DESIGNED BASED ON THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONSTANTLY TELLING ONE ANOTHER, WHEN WE HAVE OUR EVENTS IS AS LONG AS THE CUSTOMER'S HAPPY AND
[02:35:01]
SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON WHEN WE CREATED OUR VISION.SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS HAPPY WHEN THEY'RE HERE, AND IF THEY LEAVE, WHEN THEY'RE HAPPY, WE HOPE THAT THEY COME BACK.
AND THAT DOES THAT AS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL, THINGS THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2021, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE COSTS BY ROUGHLY $75,000.
THAT WAS THROUGH NEGOTIATION OF OUR GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT RENEWAL.
UM, WE DO HAVE, I BELIEVE ONE MORE RENEWAL, UH, BEFORE WE NEED TO GO TO BED, BUT WE STILL CAN GO TO BED AT ANY TIME.
UM, WE DID COMPLETE THE BID PROCESS FOR 50 NEW GOLF CARTS.
THOSE GOLF CARTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED IN SEPTEMBER, HOPEFULLY BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST.
SO WE CAN BEGIN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, UM, WITH SOME NEW GOLF CARDS.
AND THAT WILL INCLUDE A GPS SYSTEM, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN IT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE LGC BOARD.
UH, THAT'S A VERY EXCITING THING, NOT ONLY FOR, UM, VALUE ADD TO OUR GOLFERS, BUT ALSO TO, UH, US AS A MANAGEMENT TEAM FROM A BACKEND ASSET MANAGEMENT AND AS A CONTROL AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY VALUABLE TOOL FOR US.
UM, ONE THING THAT IS IT'S PUT OUT HERE AS PAST TENSE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
AND THE MONTH OF JULY IS THAT WE ARE REPLACING THE NORTH SIDE RANGE NETTING, THE SAFETY RANGE NETTING ON THE PRACTICE RANGE.
UM, WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THAT IS THAT AS BEING DONE THROUGH OUR FACILITY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, SO WE HAVE A $3 FEE, UH, IS A USER FEE THAT IS ADDED TO ALL OF OUR GREEN FEES.
UM, P $2, BASICALLY THAT GOES INTO A LONG-TERM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS FUNDING THE NORTH RANGE NETTING.
SO THAT IS OUR FIRST PROJECT OUT OF THAT NEW FUND THAT WAS CREATED IN 2019 IN 2020, I'M SORRY.
IN 2021, WE ARE, UH, CURRENTLY WE'RE, WE'RE HOSTING ALMOST NEAR RECORD ROUNDS OF GOLF, UH, EVERY MONTH, UH, IRONICALLY ENOUGH COVID WAS GOOD TO THE GOLF INDUSTRY, UH, BUT NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT WE JUST ARE ALL ACCEPTING IT AND PUTTING THEIR HEADS DOWN AND KEEPING UP WITH THE WAVE OF GOLFERS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS.
UH, BUT IT HAS BEEN A VERY, UH, EXCITING TIME IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND FINALLY, WE DID SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE A LOT OF COVID RESTRICTIONS PROTOCOLS.
WE DID HAVE A THREE-WEEK SHUTDOWN IN 2020, BUT WE, WE WERE, UM, OUR STAFF WAS RESILIENT.
OUR STAFF, UH, TOOK THE CHALLENGE ON TO REDO HOW WE DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
UM, I, I DO RECALL AS A SIDE NOTE WITH A 30 MINUTE CONVERSATION, WE HAD ONE DAY IN A STAFF MEETING ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO SERVE BREAD AT EVENTS, UM, SO THAT IT JUST, IT TOOK EVERY DETAIL OF WHAT WE DID AND TURNED IT UPSIDE DOWN AND OUR STAFF WAS WONDERFUL.
THE OTHER THING, AND PART OF THAT, THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF IS THAT WHAT THE EXCEPTION OF A THREE-WEEK TEMPORARY LAYOFF FOR MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WE DID NOT HAVE TO TERMINATE ANY EMPLOYEES FOR FINANCIAL REASONS DUE TO COVID.
SO EVEN OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR, AS A FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGERS, AND EVEN OUR EVENT MANAGER, WE WERE ABLE TO RETAIN, UM, THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND THAT HAS HELPED US TO REGAIN OUR BUSINESS QUICKER THAN MANY OF OUR CLIENTS COMPETITORS MOVING INTO 2022.
UM, OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR ARE TO INCREASE OUR STAFF TRAINING SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN CONSISTENT STANDARDS.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE JUST, WE TEND TO HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND KIND OF LEARN BY TRIAL BY FIRE, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON IN THIS INDUSTRY, BUT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF STANDARDIZING OUR TRAINING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY NEW HIRES AND CONTINUE TRAINING SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR STANDARDS OF SERVICE UP, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD.
UM, NEXT THIS YEAR WE ALSO PLAN TO REVITALIZE OUR PRACTICE RANGE OPERATION THAT WE PLAN TO CHANGE HOW WE DISTRIBUTE THE GOLF BALLS, UH, THROUGH A MECHANICAL MACHINE OPERATION.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF GOLF BALLS.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, WE'LL BE, UM, HOPEFULLY SOME INCREASE IN PRICES AND INCREASES IN REVENUES.
WE ARE GOING TO A, IT SAYS, MAKE PREPARATIONS TO BRING THE GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE IN HOUSE.
REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE, WE DID A STUDY, UH, THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT IN 2020 TO LOOK AT, UH, OUR GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS ACTUALLY MOST BENEFICIAL WAY OF DOING THIS FOR US.
UH, THE CONSULTANT CAME BACK AND SAID, WE'RE REALLY NOT DOING BAD WITH IT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DO BETTER IF WE WERE TO BRING THIS IN HOUSE.
SO WHAT WE'LL BE PLANNING TO DO IN 2021 IS TO GO GREATER IN DEPTH IN THAT ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US, IF WE WANT TO DO THAT, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION AND THE TOOLS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT SHOULD THE COUNCIL AND THE LDC BOARD DECIDED TO DO SO.
UM, WE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE CURRENT, UH, TALKS OF MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES, UH, INDUSTRY LIKE OURS WITH SO MANY FOOD AND BEVERAGE EMPLOYEES.
AND A LOT OF OUR GOLF COURSE EMPLOYEES, MINIMUM WAGE IS THE BASE WAGE THAT WE PAY FOR MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO WE ARE VERY, UH, PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT AND LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN INCREASE THAT, UH, WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT UP IN OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL HERE AS WELL.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA, UH, LOOK TO INTEGRATE RELATIONS WITH THE LOCAL HOTELS,
[02:40:01]
UM, AS WE BOOK EVENTS AND BOOKED GOLF TOURNAMENTS, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, CITY MANAGERS HAVE ASKED THE LGC TO LOOK INTO.WE KNOW THAT THE LGC IN HOTEL STAYS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW VERY, VERY WELL.
WE'VE NEVER DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRACKING IT.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A GOLF TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND THAT HAS 10 MINIMUM, 10 HOTEL NIGHTS, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WHEN THEY TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY ACTUALLY OVERBOOKED THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ROOMS THEY WENT OVER, BUT THEY DID.
UM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO LEARN WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE USING FROM THE HOTELS AND FIND A WAY TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE JOINING THIS PARTNERSHIP OR LOOKING TO JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LGC AND THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT.
LOOKING AT OUR ACTUAL BUDGET FOR 2022, YOU WILL SEE THAT OUR CHARGES FOR SERVICES, WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR REVENUES FOR ALL OF OUR SERVICES, GREEN FEES, CART FEES, UM, MEMBERSHIPS, FOOD, AND BEVERAGE, THE BEVERAGE CART, THE GRILL EVENTS, ALL OF THOSE ARE SHOWING AT $4.1 MILLION.
UH, WE HAVE SEEN A, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF GOLFERS WE ARE SEEING.
WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT TO LAST FOREVER.
UH, I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A MATTER OF FACT FOR US, WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIND WAYS TO SUSTAIN THAT AND LET THAT TAPER OFF VERSUS FALL OFF A CLIFF.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO DO IN 2021.
UH, YOU ALSO WILL SEE THEY TRANSFER, UH, FROM ADMIN.
THAT REALLY IS THEY TRANSFER FROM THE HOT DEPARTMENT FROM HOT TOURISM FUNDS INTO THE LGC FOR A POTENTIAL AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OF THE HOT FUNDS.
WHEN IT COMES TO EXPENSES, OUR PERSONNEL COSTS, UH, ARE LOOKING UP COMPARED TO PAST.
WE ARE LOOKING TO GIVE RAISES TO ALL OF OUR MANAGERS, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR, UH, EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE BOARD.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM NUMB NONE, NO ONE HAS SEEN A RAISE IN, UH, NEARLY FOUR YEARS.
UM, AND THAT IS, UM, STRICT, UH, NOTHING AT ALL.
UM, SO THAT, THAT IS WELL-DESERVED.
WE ARE HAVING A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
THEY NEED TO BE REWARDED FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
ALSO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING COMPETITIVE FOR WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE PAYING IN OUR INDUSTRY.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE THAT WAY.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT INCREASING, UM, PAY FOR ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEES, STARTING TO BUMP THAT UP, UH, THAT IS GONNA START GOING UP AND WE DON'T WANT TO GO FROM 7 25 TO $15 IN A YEAR, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO JUST BE A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM OF EVERYBODY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING TO INCH THOSE THINGS UP.
UM, SO THAT WHEN THAT WAS, WHEN THOSE MANDATES DO COME DOWN, WHICH THEY PROBABLY WILL, UH, WE WILL BE AHEAD OF THE GAME COMPARED TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY.
UH, WE ALSO ARE LOOKING WITH THE PERSONNEL COSTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT WE HAVE WORKING FOR CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY IN CERTAIN EVENTS.
UM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE SERVICE THAT OUR CLIENTS ARE EXPECTING AND HAVING AN EXTRA BODY OR TWO IN THE FACILITY TO HELP CLEAN, HELP, JUST MONITOR THE SITUATIONS ON THINGS THAT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THAT.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON THAT PERSONNEL COSTS ARE LOOKING TO GO UP.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES, UH, AT $1.4 MILLION, 1.1 MILLION ON THAT IS OUR GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S ABOUT 25% OF OUR OVERALL EXPENSES IN ONE CONTRACT.
THAT'S ONE REASON WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO WITH THAT CONTRACT, UM, TO SAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS, YOU KNOW, EVEN A 5% SAVINGS THERE, IT GOES A LONG WAYS TOWARDS OUR BOTTOM LINE.
WITH THAT, THAT IT REALLY DETAILS OUR LGC BUDGET.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS, UH, WITH REGARDS TO THAT, I WILL BE DISCUSSING THE HOT FUND, UM, AFTER THAT.
I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE OF YOUR SLIDES WHERE IT SHOWS, UM, UNDER, I THINK IT WAS EXPENSES THAT SHE HAS SHOWN, UM, $140,143,000 REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SO WHEN YOU SAY, BRING IN REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, THAT IS NOT THE ONE, THAT'S THE 1.1 MILLION, RIGHT? A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVERS THAT'S UNDER PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES, THE GOLF COURSE GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE MOWING CONTRACT, UM, THAT, THAT MAINTAINS THE GOLF COURSE.
SO WHAT IS THE 143,000 THAT'S SHOWS IS REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE? WHICH, WHAT IS THAT, UH, THAT IS BASICALLY THE COST OF REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY EQUIPMENT HERE IN THE LGC AND ON THE GOLF COURSE.
SO IF WE NEED TO DO PLUMBING ON THE GOLF COURSE AND WHERE THE RESTROOMS THAT GOES IN THERE, UH, IF WE HAVE TO REPLACE FIXTURES IN THE FACILITY
[02:45:01]
THAT GOES IN THERE, UM, WHEN WE HAVE, UM, HVAC WORK THAT THAT ALL GOES IN THERE.SO ALL OF THE FACILITY EXPENSES TO MAINTAIN THE FACILITY AND OUR GENERAL SURROUNDS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT.
WELL, I JUST GOTTA TELL YOU, I LEFT IN 2015 AND THE PLACE LOOKS JUST LIKE WHEN I LEFT.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN KEEPING IT WELL ORGANIZED, WELL MAINTAINED.
ONE ONLY ONE QUESTION I HAVE, THIS MAY NOT BE FOR YOU.
THIS MAY BE FOR BILL OR, UH, ELENA.
WHY, WHY THEY DON'T GET A RAISE FOR FOUR YEARS.
SO THEY MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS AN LGC IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND THAT OPERATES WITHIN ITSELF.
THE LGC, UH, AS A CO OR AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT MANAGES THE GOLF COURSE ON OUR BEHALF, WE DON'T, THE CITY DOESN'T MANAGE IT TYSON.
AND THE GROUP THAT HE HAS UNDERNEATH HIM ARE THE ONES THAT MANAGE IT.
HE'S THE ONE THAT, UH, BRINGS FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS, UH, PAY AND, AND, AND, UH, THE DIFFERENT, UH, BUDGET ITEMS THAT HE BRINGS FORWARD.
AND SO I'M NOT TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK TO TYSON, BUT AGAIN, THAT IS SEPARATE ORGANIZATION AND WE WORK IN CONCERT WITH THEM.
SO A LOT OF, A LOT OF IT IS A MINIMUM WAGE, CORRECT STAFF.
I WOULD ASSUME WHITE STAFF, A LOT OF OUR STAFF HAS MINIMUM WAGE.
THEY DO MAKE TIPS AND GRATUITIES, BUT THAT IS A LOT OF IT.
BUT THE PRIMARY REASON IS THAT THE FINANCIAL SUCCESS OF THIS FACILITY OR THE LGC HAS BEEN A HOT BUTTON ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS.
AND WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH AND ROUNDS ARE DOWN AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO BUILD THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OFFER AS MUCH IN INCENTIVES AND WEIGHT AND INCREASES TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO WE HAVE TRIED TO HOLD THAT BACK AND BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THAT, BUT IT IS, WE FEEL TIME THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE.
SO I'M JUST ASKING, THIS MIGHT BE A REALLY DUMB QUESTION.
SO WHEN WE HAD THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT RAISE THAT WE GAVE, UM, TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT EXCLUDED SO CORRECT, CAUSE IT'S A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION.
WE DIDN'T NEED, ACTUALLY, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THEM INCLUDE IN THE ANALYSIS OR THE STUDY.
I YELLED BACK AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE POINT CAME ACROSS OR THESE ARE NOT CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT THE ENTERPRISE ENTERPRISE EMPLOYEES.
SO, UH, THEY, UH, ARE CONTROLLED BY THE, UH, WITH NO NOTHING, NO INCREASE.
WELL, AND AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT TYSON IS TRYING TO ADDRESS NOW AS A RESULT.
AND THEN, AND THEN ALSO THE NEXT SET OF INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING WITH YOU AS THE HOTEL TECH OR HOT TAX.
AND YOU MIGHT RECALL IF I COULD, UH, CAUSE IT TIES WELL INTO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, SO ANYWAY, WITH THE HIGH TAX FUND, AS YOU KNOW, UH, WE BRING IN, UH, WITH STAYS THE CALM THERE'S PORTION OF THE TAX AT THE HOTELS THAT COMES BACK TO THE CITY, INTO THE HOT TAX.
THOSE HAVE SPECIFIC WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN BE SPENT ON, UH, VARIOUS ITEMS. AND, UH, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY USE THE PHRASE HEADS IN BEDS, SO WHATEVER WE'LL BRING IN AND YOU CAN PROVE THAT HEADS AND BEDS ARE BEING PUT THERE AS A RESULT OF YOUR ACTIVITIES, THEN YOU CAN USE THOSE MONIES TOWARDS THOSE PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES.
IN THIS CASE, WHAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE PAST YEAR IS THAT, UM, THE HEADS IN BEDS ARE A LOT TO DO HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THIS FACILITY.
THERE'S ROUGHLY 126,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING THROUGH.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE NUMBERS THAT ARE ROUGHLY 100, DO THE ANALYSIS YES.
THAT UTILIZE THIS FACILITY, THAT'S GOLF THAT'S EVENTS.
AND SO, UH, COMPARE THAT TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT THIS CITY HAS, AS FAR AS A DRAW, THIS WOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE DRAW WITHIN THE CITY.
UM, THEY, AS TYSON WAS POINTING OUT, THEY BRING AND PUT HEADS IN BEDS.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HOTEL ASSOCIATION OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM TO, UH, IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPORTS TOURISM, AND WORKING WITH, UH, JASON MANGUM AND PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND IN CONCERT WITH HIM, SPORTS TOURISM IS A BIG INDUSTRY, AS YOU MAY KNOW.
SO YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT A TOURISM THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE NOT USING RIGHT.
FOR AN ABBEY CROWD OR BECAUSE OF LGC DOESN'T WORK THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.
WHAT WE ARE, UH, LOOKING AT IS HAVING, UH, FOUR AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON WITH OUR, UH, LG OR EXCUSE ME, OUR HOT TAX DOLLARS THAT IS ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS.
AND THAT'S A HELP THIS FACILITY BECAUSE IT IS THE BIGGEST DRAW IN MISSOURI CITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UH, AND IT ALSO HAS THE BIGGEST OR THE MOST DIVERSE, UH, MAINS OF DRAW.
YOU HAVE THE GOLF, THE EVENTS THAT BRING PEOPLE IN FROM DIFFERENT AREAS AND, UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY FROM DIFFERENT PARTS
[02:50:01]
OF THE CITY AND IN THE AREA, UH, THEN SECONDLY, SPORTS TOURISM, AS I WAS JUST MENTIONING WITH TOURNAMENTS AND THE LIKE, AND THAT WOULD BE THROUGH JASON AND THE PARKS PROGRAM BEING UTILIZED AND FUNDING FOR IT.AND THEN THE, ALSO THE, UH, THE GOLF OR THIS FACILITY WE'RE LOOKING AT, IF THERE'S POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE FUNDING FOR THIS FACILITY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT, UH, MORE DIFFICULT WE FOUND OUT, BUT WE'RE STILL ENLIST LOOKING INTO THAT AND POSSIBILITIES OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO THIS FACILITY TO IMPROVE IT OR TOURISM.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, PUBLIC ART, WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE YOU, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RECENTLY, UH, YOU HAVE A COMMISSION THAT'S BEEN APPOINTED AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT PEOPLE CAN UTILIZE, UH, HOT FUNDS FOR.
AND SO ONE THING THAT WE FOUND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THEN ALSO ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE MAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING DOLLARS ON AS FAR AS ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS IS JUNETEENTH.
AND SO, UH, WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT CAN MANAGE THAT, THOSE, UH, PROGRAMS AND HELP COORDINATE THOSE EFFORTS AS WELL AS THINGS LIKE JUNETEENTH AND GO OUT AND RECRUIT, UH, OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BRING PEOPLE IN PUT HEADS IN BEDS.
SO I'VE BEEN IDENTIFY THE IDENTIFYING TYSON HAS THE TALENT AND THE EXPERTISE WITH HIS BACKGROUND AND THE PROMOTION HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE, AS WELL AS HIS BACKGROUND WITH SPORTS TOURISM AND, UH, THE CORE VALLEY GOLF COURSE AND JASON, A TEAMING WITH HIM THAT WE UTILIZE SOME OF THESE DOLLARS AND YOU CAN TO, UH, HAVE THIS PERSON PAID OUT OF HOT FUNDS AS PART OF THEIR SALARY.
AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE TYSON IN THIS CASE.
UH, AND SO WE WERE GOING TO BE COMING TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS TO DO JUST THAT WITH PLAN TO DO IT PREVIOUSLY, BUT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS GOING ON, WE DID NOT GET AROUND TO IT.
AND, UH, SO THAT'S THE CONCEPT.
AND THEN JASON, MAYBE TOUCHING A LITTLE BIT ON THE OPPORTUNITY AND THEN THEY CAN TAG TEAM AND TELLING YOU WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE MIGHT BE FOR THESE FOUR PROGRAMS DOING THAT.
SO THE POSITION THAT WAS, THAT WAS NOT IN NOW, WAS THAT PAID OFF THROUGH HIGH TECH.
YES, THERE WAS A TOURISM MANAGER, UH, BUT GIVEN WHAT A COMMUNITY IS, WE FELT LIKE THAT THIS IS A BETTER FOCUS OF THE DOLLARS IN TOURISM AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE REALLOCATED IT TO YOUR WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND AT LEAST TO REALLOCATE IT TO THESE FOUR AREAS AND, UH, TYSON AS FAR AS MANAGING IT.
SO THAT WOULD MEAN TYSON WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL MISSOURI CITY EMPLOYEE.
NOPE, NO, MA'AM, UH, HE WOULD STILL BE PAID OR WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AT LEAST IS HE IS STILL BEING TRADED OUT OF THE LGC, BUT, UH, FOR THE DUTIES THAT HE'S DOING FOR THE, UH, HOT, HE WOULD BE PAID OUT OF THERE FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL DUTIES.
TYSON, I HAVE A QUESTION SINCE YOU WERE A SEPARATE ENTITY, I GUESS IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT I'M JUST THE CLARITY, LOOKING AT YOUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE TOOLS.
AND THIS IS YOUR NET ANNUAL NET 1 25 FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
IF ANYONE CAN ANSWER THIS, DO ANY OTHER CITIES UTILIZE, UM, HEART ATTACKS THAT HAVE A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE SUCH AS US RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD? I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY I'VE, I'VE HAD TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THAT SO FAR, BUT NOT THAT I'M NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
CAN YOU FIND OUT AND LET US KNOW, BUT WE DO KNOW IN TALKING TO THEM AND TYSON SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN TALKING TO THEM ABOUT WE'VE VETTED THIS AS TO HOW IT COULD BE USED AND WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING TO USE IT FOR.
AND IN TALKING TO SCOTT JOCELYN, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS A, A VIABLE AND A CORRECT USE OF THE FUNDS.
NEXT QUESTION IS, I KNOW WE RELY HEAVILY OFF OF COMMUNITY SURVEYS, HEAVILY DONE ONE ON THE PRODUCT.
WE'LL PRETTY MUCH HAVE THE HORSE AND HOW IT'S MOVING IN AND HOW THEY LIKE IT AND LOSING DOWNS AND THINGS WE CAN PERFECT ON.
THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE IN 2019 BY THE NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION AS PART OF THEIR OVERALL, UH, OVERALL SURVEY OF THE GOLF COURSE, THEY DID A CUSTOMER SURVEY.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THOSE EXACT RESULTS, BUT THEY ARE AVAILABLE.
ONCE YOU FOUND THAT INFORMATION ON THE OTHER MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE, HOT TAX, COULD YOU PROVIDE THAT? AND IN THE FUTURE, I WILL LOVE FOR THIS TO START WORKING ON ANOTHER COMMUNITY SURVEY.
UM, MAYBE I HATE TO THROW COMMUNICATIONS UNDER THE BUS, BUT IF WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO GET ONE OUT, JUST TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING OUR GOLF COURSE, AND WE CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN WITH THIS EXPERTISE IN ALL, UH, LIKE MARKETING AND UNDERSTANDING THIS, THEY UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THINGS TO ASK AND LIKE A TAG TEAM THAN THAT.
UM, BUT WE'LL START TO DO THAT.
WE'LL ALSO, IF TYSON WILL BE, UH, CAN GIVE ME THE 2019 STUDY, UH, I'LL PROBABLY HAVE IT, BUT, UH, WE'LL PROVIDE THAT IN YOUR FRIDAY REPORT AS WELL.
AND IS THERE ANY REASON IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN OUR RECENT COMMUNITY SURVEY, BUT THAT INFORMATION NOW
[02:55:01]
THIS IS FROM THE NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATIONS I'M ASKING.IS THERE ANY REASON WHY OUR SURVEY WASN'T INCLUDING IN THE RECENT SURVEY, WHEN WE CONDUCTED SURVEYS ON ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, COMMUNITIES, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.
I DON'T RECALL HER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IF THERE WAS ANYTHING IN THERE REGARDING IN THE GOLF COURSE, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN, AGAIN, AN UPSET THAT STOPPED AT THAT AND SEE IF THAT WAS INCLUDED OR NOT.
I'M NOT SURE WHEN IS OUR PROJECTED NEXT SURVEY THAT IS BEING WORKED ON AS WE SPEAK FOR DATE BEING DONE NEXT YEAR, CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED? HOW OFTEN WOULD WE DO THAT? EVERY OTHER COMMITTEE SURVEY.
WE DO THAT EVERY OTHER YEAR WE DID IN 2020.
AND WE'RE SLATED TO DO IT AGAIN IN 2022.
ANYONE ELSE? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, I GUESS THE ONLY THING I'D, UH, YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT IN THE SURVEY IS THAT THERE'S A LARGE MAJORITY OF, OF INDIVIDUALS WHO USE THIS FACILITY THAT ARE NOT MISSOURI CITY CITIZENS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO TEMPER IT WITH THAT, THAT THERE ARE, UH, AND, AND YOU CAN, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU WOULD REACH THOSE AND GET THEIR OPINION, BUT JUST TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT, UH, THE SURVEY ONLY SUCH A SMALL PART OF THE CLIENTELE THAT USES THIS FACILITY AND TO THAT POINT, THINKING ABOUT THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
UM, WE COULD, WHAT WE COULD DO IS WORK WITH THOSE THAT WE UTILIZE TO DO THOSE, THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND MAYBE THROUGH A CUSTOMER SURVEY, UH, AND HAVE THEM DO IT THIRD PARTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE INDIGENCE LIKE WE DO WITH THE COMMUNITY SURVEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO INFLUENCE IT IN ANY WAY.
AND I THINK HAVING OURS CITIZENS GIVE US THEIR FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW, OFFICIALLY WE CAN DO IT IN BOTH.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN TARGET CITIZENS WHO AREN'T REALLY INTERESTED IN GOLF, LIKE ENCOURAGING THEM TO UTILIZE THE FACILITY? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN PROMOTE THAT AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME OUT AND UTILIZE AS FAR AS LIKE JUST GENERAL ADVERTISING? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
WE DID SCALE BACK OUR ADVERTISING THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF, WE BASICALLY WIPED OUT EVENTS IN THE LAST YEAR.
THOSE ARE REALLY STARTING TO COME BACK VERY QUICKLY FOR US.
SO IF WE ARE GOING TO BE RAMPING UP OUR ADVERTISING FOR THAT, SO WE DO A LOT OF ADVERTISING RIGHT NOW, ONLINE FOR WEDDINGS, UM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE CAPTURE A LOT OF OTHER SOCIAL EVENT BUSINESS THROUGH THAT ONLINE ADVERTISING.
UM, WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO SOME MORE DIRECT LOCAL, UM, TRADITIONAL THINGS, MAYBE SOME PAPER AND THINGS, SOME THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE GOOD IF WE HAVE SOME MIXERS HERE, MAYBE SOME YOUNG ADULTS NIGHT, UM, ENCOURAGE THEM TO UTILIZE THE FACILITY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ASK THEM IN SOME PRETTY MUCH SOCIAL EVENTS HERE WHERE WE CAN JUST GET THEM TO COME OUT AND MORE INTERESTED IN PLAYING GOLF AND GET OUT OF THEIR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE CITY.
AND THAT'S ONE THING I WAS GOING TO HAVE TYSON SAY OR MENTION IS THAT OF THE HUT.
AND I KEEP USING THAT NUMBER 120 OF THAT 1 26.
HOW MANY ARE YOUR GOLFERS VERSUS YOUR NON-GOLFERS? THAT WAS ABOUT A $56,000.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT COME FOR THE RESTAURANT COME FOR EVENTS, UM, COME FOR, TO USE THE DRIVING RANGE.
UM, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY REASONS PEOPLE COME HERE BESIDES JUST AROUND A GOLF WE NEED IN HERE, RIGHT? WE NEED TO MEASURE THAT AND SEE WHAT THOSE, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEYOND THE GOLF ITSELF.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HOW WOULD YOU SAY WE'RE DOING SO FAR THIS YEAR? I DON'T LIKE TO, TO GO TOO FAR FROM MY SHOES, SIR.
UM, I PROJECT THAT WE WILL HAVE OUR BEST YEAR EVER BY FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WELL, YOU DO THAT NEXT YEAR TOO, RIGHT? THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR GOAL AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE SEEN, WHAT WE'VE SEEN OUT OF COVID IS THE, THE AMOUNT OF GOLFERS THAT WE HAVE HAD AS, AS EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO WAS MEET TO CAPTURE THAT WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP THEM COMING BACK AND NOT LET THEM GO BACK INTO THE OTHER ACTIVITIES.
NOW, THAT SOUNDS REALLY BAD, BUT WE NEED WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A GOLF INDUSTRY IN GENERAL.
BUT SPECIFICALLY, SPECIFICALLY HERE AT COLE VALLEY IS FIND A WAY TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE COMING BACK, UM, SO THAT WHEN THEY DO START TO DO OTHER ACTIVITIES, THAT GOLF IS STILL A PART OF THEIR, OF THEIR ACTIVITY LIFE.
UM, AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE EXPECT THAT OUR ROUNDS OF GOLF WILL START TO TAPER DOWN, BUT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT TAPER DOWN AND NOT FALL OFF A CLIFF.
AND IF WE CAN DO THINGS, UM, LONG-TERM BY IMPROVING OUR FACILITIES, THIS, THIS CLUBHOUSE, IF WE CAN IMPROVE OUR GOLF COURSES AND DO THINGS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE GPS ON THE GOLF CARTS, A NEW GOLF CARTS, THE MORE THINGS WE CAN DO TO ATTRACT PEOPLE AND
[03:00:01]
BRING THEM COMING BACK, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THOSE GOLF ROUNDS.AND WHEN WE COME OUT OF THE END OF THIS BUDGET YEAR, AND I SHOW YOU THE NUMBERS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT IT'S THE GOLF ROUNDS THAT ARE DRIVING OUR, OUR SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EVENTS AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T LOSE MONEY IN THOSE EVENTS.
WE MAY MAKE MONEY ON EVENTS, BUT THEY DON'T TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR.
UM, I JUST RAN SOME QUICK NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE 15% AHEAD ON GOLF ROUNDS THROUGH THE MONTH OF MAY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
UM, I MEAN, EVERY, EVERY THOUSAND ROUNDS OF GOLF WE DO IS APPROXIMATELY $30,000 IN REVENUE.
AND A THOUSAND ROUNDS OF GOLF IN A YEAR IS THREE MORE ROUNDS PER DAY.
AND YOU JUST HAVE TO PRODUCE IT NEXT YEAR.
JUST, WE JUST GOT TO FIND THOSE EXTRA THREE PEOPLE EVERY DAY.
AND IF YOU GET SIX PEOPLE EVERY DAY, WE'RE DOING EVEN BETTER.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY, I THINK THERE'S SO MANY OTHERS THAT CAME BEFORE YOU, BUT IS THIS A KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM? AND YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE COME IN HERE, I'VE SEEN YOU GETTING DOWN, WHETHER IT'S FOOD SERVICE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE, FOOD, OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM WITH THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE.
SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU DON'T SEE THEM ON THE GOLF COURSE AND THEY HAVE TIME TO PLAY GOLF, OR I DON'T TELL THEM THIS HANDICAP NOW, PLEASE, DON'T TELL PEOPLE THAT.
ALL RIGHT, DO WE NEED TO COVER HOT THE HOT FUND? DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS THEN YOU COVER IT? WELL, NOT SPECIFICALLY.
SO THE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING, UH, LET ME PREFACE THIS.
I AM, I WAS STANDING UP HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AS A, A LIAISON FOR THE CITY.
UM, I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW THESE NUMBERS AND HELP OUT AT THIS POINT.
I AM NOT CURRENTLY AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY, UM, FOR THE HOT FUNDS THAT WOULD TAKE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE LGC TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WHICH IS WHAT'S GOING TO BECOME TO YOU HOPEFULLY IN A FEW WEEKS.
UM, SO I'M JUST HERE REPRESENTING THE NUMBERS FOR YOU.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEEN IS IN FISCAL 21, IS THAT THE REVENUES FROM THE HOT FUND HAVE EXCEEDED THE BUDGET, UH, WHICH IS VERY, VERY ENCOURAGING.
CONSIDERING THE TRAVEL WAS DOWN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE REALLY REBOUNDED AND TRAVEL WAS COMING BACK.
SO OUR LOCAL HOTELS, UM, HAVE BEEN SEEING GOOD STAYS.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HERE IS THE RE THE ELIMINATION BASICALLY OF THE TOURISM MANAGER.
SO THERE ARE NO SALARIES, UM, INCLUDED ON THIS BUDGET BECAUSE THAT POSITION THOUGH, IT'S NOT BEEN ELIMINATED IS NOT BEING FUNDED RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT YOU'RE GONNA PUT THAT STAR, WE WOULD COME BACK WITH THE ASH AND WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IT WOULD COME BACK INTO THE, THE 21 AND 22 BUDGET AS SALARY FOR THAT POSITION.
AND THE WAYS THAT IS THAT IN THE IS BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY ELIMINATED, RIGHT? YES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE POSITION BUILD AT THIS TIME.
UM, THE, THE CHANGE, THE OTHER CHANGE THERE THEN IS THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ADVERTISING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE UNDER YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACT SERVICES.
UM, WE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SOME STATES, THERE ARE SOME STATUTES THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW WHEN IT COMES TO ADVERTISING.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADHERING TO THOSE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE OUR ADVERTISING BUDGET, WHICH IS ALSO ONE OF OUR GOALS, UH, THROUGH, UH, THE FOUR POINTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FOR THE HOT FUND THIS COMING YEAR.
AND THEN THE LAST THING IS THE TRANSFER TO FUNDS.
THAT IS THE TRANSFER TO THE LGC, UM, PER THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OF THE HOT TAX.
THANK YOU ABOUT THAT LAST SLIDE.
THEN THERE WAS A BREAK OR SOMETHING, BUT I GUESS WE'LL GET GOING.
THIS IS OUR ORGANIZATION CHART.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE THREE DIVISIONS.
WE HAVE A PARKS AND ADMINISTRATION DIVISION.
WE HAVE A FORESTRY DIVISION, THEN A RECREATION DIVISION, AND THE FORESTRY DIVISION WAS, IS NEW THIS YEAR.
WE, WE SEPARATED OUT FROM THE PARKS DIVISION SO THAT WE CAN TRACK OUR FORESTRY OPERATIONS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
UH, NOTHING CHANGED BUDGET WISE.
WE JUST, UM, WE JUST CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE TRACK IT, LOOKING AT OUR A 20, UH, 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONFERENCE FOR THIS YEAR.
THIS IS NOW THIS INCLUDES, UH, ANTICIPATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UH, THROUGH THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THAT THE THREE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE LEFT, UM, THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, RECEIVING ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON THE ACCREDITATION OF PARKS AND RECREATION AGENCIES.
THERE'S A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION.
[03:05:02]
UM, I MEAN, YEAH, AT OUR VISIT IN THE END OF APRIL, WE HAD THREE VISITORS.UH, COMMON WAS DONE VIRTUALLY, USUALLY IT'S DONE IN PERSON, BUT, UH, WE DID IT VIRTUALLY BECAUSE OF COVID AND REVIEW ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTATION.
UH, JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF A REFRESH, THERE'S 154 STANDARDS, UH, THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR, UH, ACCREDITATION.
THERE'S 36 THAT ARE MANDATORY.
WE HAVE TO MEET THOSE 36, UH, STANDARDS.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE 75% OF THE REMAINING, UH, STANDARDS, THE REMAINING 136 STANDARDS.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAD OUR VISIT AND WE RECEIVED OUR REPORT AND, UH, ON OUR FIRST, UH, STAB OUR FIRST CRACK AT ACCREDITATION.
SO A HUNDRED PERCENT, I'VE BEEN A ACCREDITATION VISITOR, UH, FOR SINCE 2008.
SO FOR 12 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A VISIT WHERE SOMEONE HAS GOTTEN A HUNDRED PERCENT ON THEIR FIRST TRIAL.
SO, UH, KUDOS TO THE TEAM FOR, UH, FOR DOING THAT WORK CITED FOR SEPTEMBER WHEN WE'LL GET OFFICIALLY ACCREDITED.
UM, JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW RARE ACCREDITATION IS JUST REAL QUICKLY.
THERE'S ONLY, UH, UH, THREE CREDIT AGENCIES IN THE HOUSTON AREA.
YOU'RE ONLY 20 IN TEXAS, AND THERE'S ONLY 183 NATIONWIDE.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, UH, THERE'S A 19,450, UH, INCORPORATED CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S NINE TENTHS OF 1% OF THE, UM, CITIES AND TOWNS, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS ARE ACCREDITED.
AND SO IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST.
UM, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THE CITY'S VETERANS MEMORIAL.
UH, WE ARE STILL ON A TRACK TO, TO DEDICATE THAT ON A VETERANS DAY, UH, 2021, UM, AS IT'S NO SECRET, IF YOU'VE WATCHED THE NEWS THAT, UH, SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE, UM, UM, THE, THE LEAD ON THESE THINGS HAVE, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OUT OF HAND.
UM, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM IN PUBLIC WORKS THAT HAS BEEN, UH, ON TOP OF THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, UM, THINGS ARE BEING ORDERED AND THAT THE LEAD TIMES ARE COMING THROUGH, UH, THROUGH.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE ON SCHEDULE FOR, I'M STILL ON SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER 11TH, UH, DEDICATION.
UH, WE DID, I RECEIVE A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, UH, FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE THIS YEAR.
ORIGINALLY, IT GOT NOTICED THAT IT WAS DENIED AND THEN IT CAME BACK AND OFFERED US A GRANT THAT ALLOWS US TO OFFER, UH, OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS. UH, WE STARTED, UH, THIS FISCAL YEAR DOING SOME OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS, KAYAKING, AND ARCHERY, AND THEY'VE, UH, UM, THEY THEY'VE EXPLODED, UH THEY'VE THAT THE DEMAND IS HIGH.
UM, EVERY TIME WE OFFER SOMETHING, IT SELLS OUT AND, UH, WE HAVE WAITING LISTS AND WE'RE OFFERING MORE AND MORE, UH, THIS GRANT IS WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO, UM, ACTUALLY TRAIN OUR STAFF TO BECOME INSTRUCTORS IN SOME OF THESE AREAS SO THAT WE'RE NOT INCORPORATING A LOT OF EXTRA COSTS TO OFFER THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT.
SO WE'LL BE OFFERING PROGRAMS IN NATURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, OUTDOOR COOKING, UM, GEOCASHING, UM, MORE PADDLING AND ARCHERY CLASSES.
SO, UM, THESE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, UM, HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY POPULAR AND WE'RE EXCITED TO, WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE EXCITED FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOR THIS GRANT.
UM, WE COMPLETED, OR WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A NEW, COMPREHENSIVE, UH, PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.
UM, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT WILL COME TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION IN THE COMING COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UH, WE WE'VE JUST RECEIVED A DRAFT OF OUR FINAL REPORT AND WE'RE REVIEWING THAT, UH, RIGHT NOW, UM, AND WE'VE COMPLETED THE CITY'S, UH, FIRST, UH, ADA ASSESSMENT TRANSITION PLAN FOR ALL CITY FACILITIES.
UH, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTUALLY, UM, BEEN A LAW SINCE 1992, I BELIEVE.
UM, AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAD NEVER DONE.
UH, IT WAS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
AND SO, UM, LAST YEAR IT WAS BUDGETED.
AND, UH, WE, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND, UH, WORKED WITH CONSULTANTS, COMPLETED THAT PROCESS, UM, FOR ALL OF OUR CITIES, THOSE, BUT THEY ALSO LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, MAKE SURE THEY WERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH, UH, UM, THE ADA AS WELL.
UM, THAT REPORT HAS SINCE BEEN AGAIN, HANDED OFF TO OUR PARTNERS AND PUBLIC WORKS AND THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT WILL BE CARRYING OUT THAT TRANSITION PLAN AND MAKING THOSE, UH, UM, NEEDED, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, UH, FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, AS FAR AS OUR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2022 GOALS, UM, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT AND RECREATION PROGRAMS NOW FOR SPACES.
SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO OFFER NEW RECREATION PROGRAMS, UM, AND TO IMPROVE OUR OUTDOOR SPACES, UH, SO THAT THEY, UM, ARE MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR.
UM, WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT AN ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR OUR PARK SYSTEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE.
UM, AND WE W WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE IT AND PUBLIC WORKS TO GET THE NECESSARY SOFTWARE TO DO THAT.
THIS WILL PROVIDE US WITH DATA THAT IS NECESSARY, UM, TO, TO MOVE OUR PARKS SYSTEM
[03:10:01]
FORWARD AND KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES.UM, WE WANT TO COMPETE, UH, COMPLETE A FEE STUDY FOR RECREATION PROGRAMS, UM, PARK MENTEE RENTALS, INDOOR FACILITY RENTALS.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T DONE A FEE STUDY, UH, IN PARKS AND RECREATION.
UH, SO IT'S, IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE DO THAT AND, AND, UH, UM, BRING, BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TO Y'ALL.
UH, SO WE WANT, UH, WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT THIS YEAR, UM, AND GOING BACK TO THE, THE DISCUSSION ON HOT AND WORKING WITH THE GOLF COURSE, UH, WE'D LIKE TO, UM, DO SOME RESEARCH ON, ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, TOURISM AND, AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IT BRINGS TO, UM, TO OUR, TO OUR CITY, UM, TO OUR BUSINESSES.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOTEL NIGHTS, BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE WANT TO LOOK AT, UM, WE WANT, WE WANT TO LOOK AT, UM, ALL KINDS OF HOSPITALITY, GAS, UM, STORES, WHAT, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE, UM, THE IMPACT THAT COMES FROM, FROM OUR PARKS, FROM OUR RECREATION FACILITIES, FROM OUR EVENTS, FROM THIS FACILITY.
UM, AND SO THAT WE HAVE AGAIN, GOOD DATA, UH, AND THEN, UH, WE WANT TO, AS WE WENT THROUGH OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS, WE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE, UM, OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, UM, PRODUCT COMES UP A LITTLE BIT LACKING.
WE, WE, WE PASS ALL OF OUR, UM, UH, STANDARDS, BUT WE FELT LIKE IT WASN'T WORKING AS WELL AS IT COULD.
SO WE WANT TO KIND OF REDEVELOP THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WITHIN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ALIGN WITH THE INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES.
HERE'S OUR BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, UM, THE VARIANCES AGAIN, UM, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS COMING FROM THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT SALARY INCREASE.
AND THEN THE REMOVAL OF ONE TIME ALLOCATIONS APPROVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR, 21 BUDGET, UM, SOME OF THE BIG ONES FOR PARKS AND RECREATION WITH MASTER PLAN, UM, AND THE ADA, UM, STUDY AS WELL.
SO THOSE ARE TWO TO TWO OF THE BIGGER ONES THAT WERE ONE-TIME, UM, ALLOCATIONS.
HERE'S OUR, UH, AUTHORIZED FTES.
UM, WE HAVE 21, WE WERE AUTHORIZED, UH, 20, UH, AND THIS, UH, THIS ONE YEAR.
BUT IF YOU REMEMBER, UH, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, UH, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED ONE MORE, UH, TO DO THE MOWING AND BAGGING, UM, ON THE INDEPENDENCE AND, UM, LEXINGTON, UM, AREAS.
AND SO WE'VE, WE NOW HAVE 21, UH, FTES, UM, LOOKING AT OUR SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON, OR W W WE'RE TRYING TO TRY AND FOCUS ON, WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON, UM, BRINGING OUR, UM, STAFF, UH, NUMBERS UP TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE AROUND DURING THE RECESSION OF 20, UH, 2008, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT USED TO HAVE, UM, MANY, UH, INDIVIDUALS TAKING CARE OF THE PARKS AND, UH, THEY, THOSE HAVE BEEN REDUCED.
AND WE'D LIKE TO, TO START BRINGING THAT BACK TO THOSE, TO THOSE LEVELS, UM, TO DO, TO DO THAT.
THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, TWO NEW PARKS CARETAKER, ONE POSITIONS.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS, UM, WE WOULD TAKE THAT ONE, ONE POSITION THAT WE CREATED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND WE WOULD TURN THAT INTO A MOWING CREW INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING ONE PERSON, WE WOULD ACTUALLY, UM, THE GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE A LOW END CREW THAT WE COULD GO AROUND AND NOT JUST MO AND BAG, UM, LEXINGTON AND, UH, INDEPENDENCE, BUT REALLY ALL OF THE ENTRYWAY, HIGH VISIBILITY, ENTRYWAY, UH, AREAS INTO THE CITY.
WE CAN MOW THEM BACK THOSE AREAS.
SO, UM, IT WOULD TAKE ONE PERSON AND TURN INTO A CREW SO THEY CAN HAVE A MUCH FURTHER REACH, UM, THREE NEW FULL-TIME FRONT DESK STAFF, UM, THE RECREATION TENNIS CENTER, UH, ONE OF THE BUSIEST FRONT DESKS, I WOULD THINK IN THE CITY.
I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR 'EM ALL, ALL FRONT DESKS AND ALL, UM, UH, OF THE, UH, RESIDENT FACING PUBLIC FACING, UH, UM, SPOTS IN THE CITY AT OUR FACILITIES, BUT JUST TO PUT IT A LITTLE BIT IN PERSPECTIVE, UM, I THINK WE, WE ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT STAFFS IT PRIMARILY WITH PART-TIME, UH, PERSONNEL AND THIS PART-TIME PERSONNEL MAKE $8 AND 50 CENTS AN HOUR.
I HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS.
UM, AND, UM, WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY HIGH TURNOVER RATE, WHICH, UH, REALLY PUTS US IN A BIND OFTEN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, UM, TO MAINTAIN OUR FRONT DESK.
UM, WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE AT THE FRONT DESK AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AND THEN ONE PERSON IN THE WEIGHT ROOM.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF NUMBERS JUST KIND OF PUT IN PERSPECTIVE.
LAST YEAR WE ANSWERED 14,820 CALLS AT THE FRONT DESK.
UM, WE HAD 29,339, UH, TRANSACTIONS AT THE FRONT DESK, UM, FROM MEMBERSHIP SCANS TO, UM, UH, PROGRAM REGISTRATIONS TO NEW MEMBERSHIPS, TO FULFILLING RENTALS TO, UM, 29,339, PRIMARILY WITH KIDS THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL MAKING EIGHT 50 AN HOUR.
UM, AND, UM, IT'S JUST BEEN A STRUGGLE I HAVE SINCE,
[03:15:01]
UH, JANUARY 1ST, 2021, UM, UM, SIGNED, UH, 15 DIFFERENT REQUESTS TO FILL, UM, POSITIONS AT THE FRONT DESK.UM, AND SO WE'RE HAVING A REALLY, REALLY HIGH, HIGH TURNOVER RATE THERE.
SO IT WAS WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS IT WOULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS, UM, PUT, PUT THEM INTO A FULL-TIME POSITION SO THAT WE CAN HAVE FULL-TIMERS, UM, THAT ARE, THAT ARE PAID A LIVABLE WAGE AND, AND, UH, UH, WOULD BE MORE ALONG THE LINES OF THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST OR PERMIT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES OR, UM, SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
THAT'S THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.
UM, THE THIRD ONE IS TO RECLASSIFY A POSITION FROM, UH, A FOREST OR A PARKS CARETAKER, ONE TO A FORESTRY TECH, THREE POSITION.
UM, WE HAVE A FORESTRY TECH THAT'S, UH, RIGHT NOW BEING PAID AS A CARETAKER ONE, BUT HAS THE EXPERTISE, UM, THAT IS THAT WE HAVE, WE REALLY GOT LUCKY WHEN WE HIRED, UH, THIS PERSON AND THEY'RE REALLY WORKING IN A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL THAN, UM, WHAT THEIR CLASSIFICATION IS.
UM, NEW, NEW PARKS CARETAKER, THREE POSITION.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS ABLE TO HANDLE, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR BALL FIELDS, OUR RECREATIONAL SPORTS FIELDS, UM, SOMEONE THAT HAS SOME TURF GRASS EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS, UM, SOMEONE THAT CAN SPEND SOME TIME, UH, PREPPING FIELDS AND TAKING CARE OF FIELDS.
UH, WE, WE HAVEN'T QUITE RUN ALL THE NUMBERS, BUT WE KNOW THAT, UH, HAVING THIS POSITION WOULD ALLOW US TO, UH, INCREASE OUR REVENUE FROM RENTALS OF, OF, UH, CERTAIN SPORTS FIELDS, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE, UM, IN A CONDITION WHERE WE COULD RENT THEM.
WE, WE DO GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR SPORTS FIELD RENTALS, AND, UH, SOMETIMES WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THEM.
AND SOMETIMES WE CAN'T BECAUSE THE FIELDS AREN'T IN, UM, THE SHAPE THAT THEY NEED TO BE, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO GET THEM THERE.
UM, AND THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, REBUS BY A RECREATION ATTENDANCE.
THIS IS ONE THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT UNTIL THIS YEAR, BUT, UH, THIS IS OUR, UH, OUR TENNIS, UH, COORDINATOR RECREATION ATTENDANT OVER TENNIS.
WHEN THIS POSITION WAS CREATED, WE HAD A PERSON THAT, THAT HOW'S THAT OF OUR OFFICE THAT RAN ALL OF OUR TENNIS PROGRAMS, UM, AND HE WAS CONTRACT EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE.
UM, AND THEN THIS POSITION, UM, REALLY HANDLED MORE OF THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TENNIS ORGANIZATIONS, UH, SCHEDULING OF TENNIS COURTS, UM, WORKING WITH THAT CONTRACTOR AND THAT CONTRACTOR A FEW YEARS AGO, UM, LEFT.
UM, AND, UM, WE, WE STILL CONTRACT OUR INSTRUCTION.
SO WE HAVE, OUR INSTRUCTORS ARE CONTRACTED, BUT EVERYTHING THAT, THAT PERSON WAS DOING IT IN THE OFFICE, UM, IS NOW BEING DONE BY OUR RECREATION ATTENDANT.
UM, IN ADDITION, SHE HAS, UM, INCREASED THE PROGRAMS, UH, AT THE RECREATION AND TENNIS CENTER, UH, STARTED THE PICKLEBALL PROGRAM, UH, BADMINTON PROGRAMS. SO BASICALLY ALL OF OUR, UM, PADDLE PADDLE SPORTS, UH, RACKET SPORTS AT THE RECREATION TENNIS CENTER.
UM, SO BASICALLY DOING THE JOB OF A RECREATION SPECIALIST, BUT BEING PAID AS A RECREATION ATTENDANCE.
UM, SO THOSE WERE OUR PERSONNEL, UM, UH, REQUESTS FOR THE YEAR, UH, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, UH, DIFFERENT PROJECTS, UH, FIELD LIGHTING, 111 PARK PARKWAY, ONE FIELDS LIT IT'S A, IT GETS USED, UH, A WHOLE BUNCH.
UM, THAT'S PROBABLY OUR NUMBER ONE REQUESTED FIELD FOR RENTAL, UM, ESPECIALLY, UM, UH, AT NIGHT WITH LIGHTS AND WE HAVE ONE WITH LIGHTS WOULD LIKE TO LIGHT THE OTHER ONE, BE ABLE TO DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY, A HUNDRED SLUMP PARK.
UM, A LOT OF OUR YOUTH FOOTBALL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE USING THAT PARK.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, THIS YEAR WE BUDGETED $20,000 TO DO SOME OF THE REPAIRS ON THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
WE HAD A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, 2018, LIKE CONTINUE, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, ONE THING IS TO REPLACE THE PLAYGROUND EVERY YEAR.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TRYING REALLY HARD TO CATCH UP AND REPLACE THE PLAYGROUNDS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN, UH, THE CITY.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE STILL HAVE TWO PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE WE'RE DUE TO BE REPLACED IN 2016.
UM, SO WE'RE FIVE YEARS PAST DUE ON, ON REPLACING THOSE.
UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE, UM, A LOT OF THEM WITH ALTERNATIVE FUNDING.
UM, WE'VE REPLACED THEM WITH GRANTS.
UM, WE HAD, UH, THE DONATION FROM, UH, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.
WE HAD THE DONATION FROM NIAGARA.
WE HAD DONATIONS FROM LOWE'S, UM, ALL TO REPLACE PLAYGROUNDS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
UM, IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A RECURRING COST WHERE WE COULD REPLACE ONE EVERY YEAR.
UM, AND SO, UM, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE WHAT THIS REQUEST WOULD BE IS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO GO OUT AND TRY TO FIND, UM, ALTERNATIVE FUNDING, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE CAPITAL DOLLARS, IT'D BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUT IN OUR OPERATIONS AND WE'D BE ABLE TO, UM, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
UM, JUST, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, WE WERE ABOUT A MONTH AWAY FROM REMOVING THE PLAYGROUND AT ROWAN PARK, UM, AND LEAVING IT WITHOUT
[03:20:01]
A PLAYGROUND WHEN WE FINALLY SECURED THE, THAT KABOOM GRANT, BECAUSE IT WAS, UM, GET TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS ALMOST DANGEROUS.IT WAS DANGEROUS, IT WAS NOT MEETING STANDARDS OR THE REPAIR COSTS WERE HIGHER THAN, UM, WE COULD, WE COULD BUDGET.
WE WERE ABOUT A MONTH FROM JUST PULLING THE WHOLE PLAYGROUND OUT.
UM, WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT IN ANY OF OUR PARKS.
AND SO, UM, HAVING A PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WOULD BE, UM, THE ANSWER TO THAT, UM, THAT PROBLEM BEFORE YOU MOVE ANY FURTHER, UM, I HAD A RESIDENT REACH OUT TO ME ABOUT THE GRAPPLE, THE TRAIL OF, UM, HOW DOES GRAHAM PARK, YOU HAVE ANY ANTICIPATION WHEN THAT GRAVEL WILL BE REPLACED? WE DID IT ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO.
WE, WE, WE TOOK, WE TOOK CARE OF THAT.
UM, NOW THAT PARK IS, IS ONE THAT WAS IT'S VERY, VERY FLAT, HOLDS A LOT OF WATER.
UM, AND IT WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM A, A, UH, A CONCRETE PATHWAY INSTEAD OF THE, THE GRAVEL, I MEAN, PROJECT THAT PROJECT AND, UM, COMPLETED SOON OR CONCRETE CON WE DON'T, IT'S NOT THAT, NOT THAT IT'S NOT BUDGETED, NO, BUT IT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GRAVEL PATHWAYS THAT WOULD, UM, WOULD, WOULD BENEFIT FROM TURNING THEM INTO CONCRETE, WHICH, UH, WOULD ALSO REDUCE OUR MAINTENANCE COSTS BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE COST FOR A DECOMPOSED GRANITE PATHWAYS IS A LOT HIGHER THAN CONCRETE.
JASON, HAVE WE BEEN REACHED OUT TO H GAC IT'S H GAG HAS A LOT OF FUNDING.
UM, AND I NOTICED MOST ABOUT NEIGHBORING CITIES ARE REALLY CAPITALIZING ON THE FUNDS TO DO HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO AGE GAP? YEAH, YEAH.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN TO, UM, A HANDFUL OF ACAC MEETINGS.
UM, THEY HAVE A, UM, A, A PARKS, NATURAL RESOURCES, UM, THAT I'VE, UM, IN THE LAST FIVE, I'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE, MORE ACTIVE WITH IN PREVIOUS YEARS THAN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UM, BUT YEAH, I'M, I'M DEFINITELY DEFINITELY FAMILIAR WITH THEM AND WE'VE, WE'VE LOOKED AT THOSE GRANTS ON, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE MATCHES AND, UM, AND SO SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISCOURAGING, BUT WE, WE DO LOOK AT THOSE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
JASON, IF YOU COULD, IN COUNCILMAN EDWARDS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTION ABOUT, UH, CONCRETE PATHS, UH, ABOUT THE BOND AND WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED THERE WAS THAT ONE OF THEM.
SO, UM, THAT IS ACTUALLY, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED IN THE, UM, UH, PRESENTED TO THE BOND COMMITTEE IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE ALL OF OUR GRAVEL PATHS AND WE WOULD TURN THEM INTO CONCRETE.
IT WASN'T BUDGETED, BUT I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS THE FUTURE.
YEAH, YEAH, NO, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS, I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT, I MEAN, WE HAVE, AND IT WOULD BE REPAIRING EXISTING ONES AS WELL AS, UH, CONVERTING, UM, GRAVEL ONES TO, TO CONCRETE.
UM, UH, I MENTIONED BEFORE, ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY OF PARKS, RECREATION, TOURISM, MISSOURI CITY.
SO THERE'S A REQUEST THERE, LANDSCAPE SERVICING, BLACK VOTE, BLACK BACKFLOW INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT INCREASE.
UM, THAT'S TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CURRENT CONTRACT, AS WELL AS, UM, DO OUR INSPECTIONS ON OUR BACKFLOW PREVENTERS, WHICH I THINK IS LAW.
WE DO IT EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN, UM, SPEND, WE HAVE A $20,000, UH, FOR STORE MANAGEMENT FOR, FOR TREES.
UH, WE GET THESE STORMS AND THERE'S A STORM DAMAGE AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONTRACTOR, UH, HELP US OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH BIG, UM, UM, THINGS FROM STORMS. AND THEN THIS YEAR, UM, WE, WE USE SOME MONEY FROM SNOW FEST TO EXPAND THE 4TH OF JULY, UM, EVENT.
UH, AND SO TO MAKE THAT A, AN ANNUAL OCCURRENCE TO, TO, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MUSICAL ACTS AND THE LEVEL OF MUSICAL ACTS.
UM, SO THOSE WOULD, THOSE WOULD BE OUR, UM, ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, JASON, BESIDES MARIO, I THINK YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE POSITIONS TODAY, RIGHT? AND NO, HE HAS A LOT OF, UH, NEW STAFF THAT'S COMING UP, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO A SLIDE IF WE MAY, UH, RIGHT THERE, SEE WHERE IT SAYS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES VERSUS YOU SHOWING A VARIANCE OF 290,000, WHAT IS THAT JUNCTION WITH? SO, UM, THAT IS, AS I MENTIONED, OUR ADA ASSESSMENT WAS, WAS BUDGETED.
OUR MASTER PLAN WAS A ONE-TIME COST.
UM, WE DID A LEVEL OF SERVICE STUDY, WHICH IS THE ONE-TIME COST.
I'M NOT SURE, UM, THE ENTIRE $290,000 AMOUNT, BUT, UM, SO I KNOW THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGER FALLS IN THERE.
UM, WELL, IT WOULD BE, THERE'S A LOT THAT FALLS INTO THERE.
UM, ANYTHING THAT WE, UM, UM, CONTRACTS.
YEAH, WELL, FOR A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS, OUR CONTRACT SERVICES PARK DESIGN, UM, IS COM COMES OUT OF THERE.
UM, ANY OF THE STUDIES OR ATTEMPT TO HIRE A CONSULTANT, UM, COMES OUT OF THERE AND AS WELL FOR US, WE HAVE, UM, OUR MOWING
[03:25:01]
CONTRACT COMES OUT OF THERE, UM, UH, LANDSCAPE SERVICES, UM, OUR BED MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, UM, TRASH.SO WHEN YOU TAKE ON UP FORWARD, THAT'S LIE.
WHEN YOU SAY THAT THREE, UH, TWO NEW PARKS CARETAKER, AND YOU HAD WALKED US THROUGH THAT, THAT WAS GOING TO BE, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE, NOW WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT COUNCIL APPROVED.
SO THAT WOULD BE A MOWING CREW.
WE'LL HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL, I SEE THAT INCREASE OF TWO WITH
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN THIS NUMBER.
SO, UM, WHAT THE OFFSET FROM THE CONTRACT WOULD BE IS REFLECTED IN THIS NUMBER.
SO YEAH, WE DID TAKE THEM AWAY.
SO THAT TWO 90, IS THAT TRUE? THAT IS SHOWING THAT IF WE HAD THESE TWO POSITIONS IN THERE THAT THE PIECE OF WHATEVER THE MOLDING THAT WAS, THAT W THAT WAS REDUCED IN THERE TO SHOW THAT ALMOST OF A 300,000.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
NO, NO, IT WON'T BE BECAUSE THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL RIGHT.
SO THAT WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO TWO 90, BUT YOU WOULD ALSO REDUCE YOUR, UH, YOUR CONTRACT BY AN AMOUNT AND THAT WOULD HELP OFFSET THAT COST, CORRECT? YES.
AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT NUMBER SHOWS IS.
THIS IS NOT REFLECTIVE IN THE PAGE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS JUST TELLING ME A BIG CHUNK OF THIS.
ALSO THIS 290 WAS ROLLOVERS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO WE HAD, UM, SHE SAID OVER $75,000 OF PROJECTS THAT WE WERE, THAT WE CONTINUED TO WORK ON FROM FISCAL YEAR 20, 20 TO 2021.
AND THAT'S WHY THOSE, THAT THREE POSITION ULTIMATELY CREATING THAT YOU WANTED THAT THREE, WHICH IS ONE YOU HAVE, AND THEN THE TWO ADDITIONAL WILL THAT TAKE CARE OF ALL THE MOVING CONTRACT THAT WE WOULD HAVE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT, YOU TALKED ABOUT, WELL, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT ALL THE, ALL THE ENTRANCES OF THE CITY WOULD BE COVERED.
JUST, JUST THE, THE MEDIANS AND THE, UM, AND THE, UM, THE RIGHT OF WAYS.
AND AT THE MAJOR ENTRANCES, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD COVER WITH THAT ONE CREW.
WE'D STILL HAVE ALL THE REST OF OUR RIGHT.
OF WAYS, RIGHT AWAY MOWING ALL THE REST OF OUR MEDIANS, ALL THE REST OF OUR PARKS, ALL THE REST.
I MEAN, WE STILL, WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THAT WOULD BE DONE WITH A, UM, WHICH IS COVERED TODAY BY THE CONTRACT.
SO HOW WILL THE BENEFIT HAVING THREE PEOPLE MORE THAN JUST THE ENTRANCES? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCES, WHAT I'M ASKING? UM, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS, NUMBER ONE, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO COUNCILS THAT FROM COUNCIL WAS THAT WE WANTED OUR ENTRYWAYS TO LOOK BETTER, UM, THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A LOT OF FACTION ON THINGS THAT ARE LEFT OUT.
SO WE PURCHASED THE MOWING, UH, A MOWER WITH A BAGGER.
SO, UM, AND PLUS IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER IT.
WHEREAS YOU HAVE A, UM, A CONTRACT AND THEY'LL DO WHATEVER THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT, UNLESS IT'S RAINING.
UH, AND THEN, AND THEN THEY WILL TRY TO COME BACK TO IT.
AND SO THIS GIVES US MORE CONTROL OVER THE AREAS THAT ARE HIGH, VISIBLE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO LOOK NICE SO THAT WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT WE GET ON AREAS THAT AREN'T.
WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU ON CONTROL.
I DON'T YOU THINK THAT CONTRACTOR IS CHARGING US MUCH MORE, RIGHT? YES.
AND POSSIBLY THERE'LL BE MORE SAVING THERE IS BECAUSE I AM A CONTRACTOR.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE REALITY.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, YES, YOU HAD A BETTER CONTROL, RIGHT.
TO MAKE THOSE AREAS LOOK BETTER, BUT IT TAKES AWAY.
NOW YOU'RE PAYING A MUCH HIGHER FEE THAN YOU WOULD PAY THE 103, JUST FOR TWO PEOPLE, BUT POSSIBLY THEY MAY NOT BE PAYING THE SAME RATE THAT WE'RE PAYING THE SAME BENEFITS WE'RE PAYING AS PINT BENEFITS, BENEFITS.
AND THEN TWO, WE WILL HAVE ONGOING MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT OR EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE, EXCUSE ME.
SO THAT COUNCIL JUST APPROVED.
I REMEMBER, I THINK THIS WAS PROBABLY WHAT TWO, THREE MONTHS AGO, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY APPROVED BECAUSE OF THE BAG FOR BAGGING AND ALL OF THIS.
SO IS THAT WHAT PROMPTED OR TRUMP THAT'S WHAT PROCESS IS, IS TO TAKE BASICALLY THE PRINCIPLE THAT COUNCIL WANTED WAS THAT ARE, ARE, ARE HIGH VISIBLE AREAS OF BETTER QUALITY MAINTENANCE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS, BUT I THOUGHT UNDER THAT, UH, ON THAT DISCUSSION, IT WAS JUST BROUGHT UP AS THAT ONE PARTICULAR AREA.
AND SOME OF THE HIGH VISIBILITY AREAS THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT BESIDES JUST THAT ONE AREA.
AND THEN ONE LAST THING FOR ME IS WHEN YOU RECLASSIFY A POSITION
[03:30:01]
TO DIVORCE THREE TECH THREE, WHAT, WHAT POSITION IS THAT? IT'S PARKS CARETAKER ONE RIGHT NOW.AND WE WOULD CHANGE IT TO A PARK SPORTS STRATEGIC.
SO UNDER THE FOREST, OR WE HAVE A CITY FORESTER UNDER THAT FOREST, OR DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY EMPLOYEES, ONE OR ALL THE CARETAKERS? HE'S A CHARACTER.
HE WAS A CARETAKER ONE, AND HE REPORTS TO THE FORESTER, BUT HE DOES MORE THAN A REGULAR PARKS CHARACTER.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ASKING TO RECLASSIFY.
SO WHEN YOU RECLASSIFY WILL, THAT WILL, FOR THAT PERSON, THE JOB DUTIES CHANGES, OR IS STILL REMAIN THE SAME JOB DUTIES.
AND YOU JUST, WE CHANGED THE CLASSIFICATION IS WHAT I'M DOING WITH BOTH OF THESE RECIPE IS I'M TRYING TO, UM, RECLASSIFY THEM TO THE LEVEL WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING, BECAUSE THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING, UM, AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN WHAT THEY'RE GETTING PAID.
SO I'M TRYING TO BASICALLY MAKE ONE LAST THING, STAY MOST PART.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION, UNFORTUNATELY, MAYOR PRO TEM MOROSE IS NOT HERE.
AND I KNOW THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
IS THAT ANYWHERE IN, IN, IN THIS, OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT PLAN ON COMMITTEE DISCUSSION TO THE BOND COMMITTEE? IT IS PUT THROUGH, WELL, THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED BY THEM.
AND WE HAD ASKED FOR 15 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS WITH A PORTION OF THAT POTENTIALLY COMING BACK FROM THE COUNTY.
IT'S REALLY NOT, IT'S NOT JUST IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S REALLY A WHOLE RECONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO, EXCEPT FOR THE PARKING LOTS, WE HAVE REDO DRAINAGE AND EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, IT'S A $15 MILLION PROJECT.
UM, AND WE HAVE A TENTATIVE COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY, NOTHING IN WRITING RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE A TENTATIVE COMMIT FROM THE COUNTY TO OFFSET THAT.
SO THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF JULY 4TH DEMAND, I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE, WE TOOK SOME MONEY WHERE WE HAD SOME MONEY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THE SNOW FAST.
UM, SO MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE'RE, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE SNOW FAST.
ALL OF THESE ARE COMING BACK THEN FOR THE JULY 4TH, THEN WHY WOULD WE SUPPLEMENT AN ADDITIONAL 30 EVERY TIME BECAUSE WE WERE DOING THEM BEFORE.
SO WE, THIS YEAR, UM, AT THE, AT, AT, AT THE REQUEST, WE, WE DID MO WE'RE DOING MORE FOR 4TH OF JULY.
SO IF WE WANNA, IF WE WANNA CONTINUE TO GO ALL OUT FOR 4TH OF JULY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO A 4TH OF JULY EVENT AT, AT THE LEVEL WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR.
WE NEED 30,000 MORE DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
IF WE DON'T, WE WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR OLD LEVEL, WHAT WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE, WHERE WE MAYBE HAVE ONE ARTIST, UM, A LOCAL ARTIST AND A DJ INSTEAD OF NATIONAL LEVEL ACTS, UM, AND MULTIPLE OF THOSE, THEN, THEN WE CAN, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE OLD LEVEL.
I WOULD THINK IT'S MY OPINION.
I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR ANYBODY ELSE UP HERE.
I MEAN, I THINK WE TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF HEAT WHEN THIS AMOUNT WAS RAISED WITH 30,000, JUST FOR THIS ONE COST, I WOULD SAY, IS THAT TO RETHINK ABOUT THIS AND RATHER THAN SPENDING ADDITIONAL $30,000 TO BRING IN MORE ACTS, IF WE ARE CONTINUING WITH SEVERAL OF THESE EVENTS, AS, YOU KNOW, SNOW FAST AND ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A PARK IN THE HALLOWEEN? UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
I HONESTLY DON'T THINK THAT THAT MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT IN JUST, UH, IN THE JULY 4TH.
AND WHEN THEY, IF WE ARE CONTINUING THAT THE, I THOUGHT THIS ONE THIS TIME, IT WASN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WHERE WE SAID, OKAY, WE HAVEN'T ADDED ANYTHING.
WE WANTED TO KIND OF BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AS POST COVID.
AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S WHY WE ADDED THAT.
SO IN REVIEW OF THIS, AND THIS IS JUST ME THINKING, I ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AND DO AN ANALYSIS OF THE REQUEST.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D PROBABLY COME BACK TO JASON AND SAY IS TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE MIGHT GET TO START OPENING UP OUR EVENTS FOR SPONSORSHIPS TO POTENTIALLY DO MUSIC AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
UH, AND SO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, UH, IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW, BUT, UH, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D TALK ABOUT, PROBABLY THOSE OUT THERE, BECAUSE I THINK WE JUST GOT TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR 4TH OF JULY, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE COUNCIL'S APPETITE IS ON THE 4TH OF JULY EVENT.
YOU WANT IT, LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE THIS YEAR EVERY YEAR, OR DO YOU WANT IT TO BE LIKE, IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST AND EITHER WAY, WE'RE HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER SERVICES YOU GUYS FEEL ARE IMPORTANT.
I WOULD HATE FOR US TO GO ALL OUT THIS YEAR AND THEN, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SAYS, OH, WOW, THIS IS GREAT.
AND THEN NEXT YEAR WE GIVE THEM A FRACTION OF THAT AND THEY'RE LIKE BAD.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I DON'T WANT TO RAISE THE BAR AND THEN DISAPPOINT.
WHILE WE'RE HERE, WE'LL, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WITH A CREATIVE MIND AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS SPONSORSHIP.
AND IF THERE'S A CREATIVE MIND IN THIS ROOM, THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE THAT YOU CAN FIND MONEY.
[03:35:01]
I THINK I'M THE GUY THAT FINDS THE MONEY, BUT, UH, I CAN SPEND IT ON OTHER FUNDING SO YOU CAN ALL RIGHT.SO IF I NEED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM, THERE'S NO MAYOR PRO TEM.
WHAT DO I DO? I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FORENSICS.
SO THE REMAINING MEMBERS MAY ELECT ANOTHER MEMBER TO PROVIDE A TABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR MORE.
SO I THINK, GO AHEAD AND PUT IT OUT THERE.
SO MAY I, MY SUGGESTION IS, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 MORE PRESENTATIONS, AND THEN COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS IS 9 37.
UM, MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE BREAK FOR THE NIGHT AND THEN RESUME.
WE CHOOSE ANOTHER DAY TO RESUME NEEDS.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO BRUH.
I MEAN, TO END IT TONIGHT AND THEN BRING IT BACK.
THERE'S BEEN A SECOND BY, UH, CONSTANTLY FAIRLY, UH, ANY OF THE DISCUSSIONS I KNOW.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF OR IN, IN YOUR TIME HERE? NO, THE DISCUSSION, UM, I GUESS, AND WE CAN, UH, WE'LL WORK, ERIC, I GUESS MARIA, YOU CAN WORK WITH US TO FIGURE OUT A DATE WORKS FOR EVERYONE TO COME BACK.
DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE DIS UH, THIS SAY, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED THE AYES HAVE.