[FY2023 Budget Workshop: Administration & Regulatory Affairs ]
[00:00:08]
WELCOME DIRECTOR, AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE FY 23 BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
WITH ME IS VALERIE BERRY, THE CFO FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
A RA HAS 18 SEPARATE BUSINESS UNITS.
UH, WE ARE, UH, A COMPOSITE OF MULTIPLE FUNCTIONAL AREAS ACROSS THE CITY THAT DIDN'T FIT INTO A SINGLE TYPE OF DEPARTMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE THIS SPREAD ACROSS 10 DIVISIONS, SPREAD ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT FUNDS.
AND SO WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR GENERAL FUND DIVISIONS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OF OUR ADS AND OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR HERE, THE DIVISIONS ARE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.
THE DIRECTOR'S OBVIOUS OFFICE, OBVIOUSLY SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE, WHICH IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR PRIYA ZACHARIA, WHO IS HERE.
VALERIE BARRY, REGULATORY PERMITTING.
CATHERINE BRUNING PAYROLL SERVICES IS KAREN DAVIDSON, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE HER HUSBAND'S IN THE HOSPITAL OPERATIONS IN 3 1 1, WHICH IS CHARLES JACKSON AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, WHICH IS ALSO VALERIE BARRY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO NOTE BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SLIDE IS I'D LIKE YOU TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU AS OUR PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OF 32.174 MILLION.
HOWEVER, 10.8 MILLION OF THAT AMOUNT IS THE TRANSFER TO THE BARK SPECIAL FUND FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
SO OUR ACTUAL BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS $21.4 MILLION.
SO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE SHOWED YOU OUR GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS.
THIS SLIDE, AS WELL AS THE NEXT THREE, WILL REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION CHARTS FOR THE SPECIAL FUNDS AND THE CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING FUND THAT WE MANAGE.
ON THIS SLIDE, WE SHOW THE BUDGET AND DIVISION BREAKOUT FOR THE PARK HOUSTON SPECIAL FUND PARK HOUSTON IS LED BY MARIA ERSHAD AND THEY MANAGE ALL OF THE CITY'S ON STREET PARKING INVENTORY.
BARK IS THE CITY'S ANIMAL SHELTER.
IT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE BARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, AND IT'S LED BY GREG DAMION, OFF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WHO IS ALSO HERE.
THE BARK OPERATIONAL DIVISION INCLUDES SIX SECTIONS THAT ADMINISTER ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR HOUSTON'S PETS AND PET OWNERS.
THE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY FUND IS A REVOLVING FUND WHERE ARAS RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION IS FUNDED.
RISK MANAGEMENT IS LED BY TINA PICKETT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WHO IS ALSO HERE TODAY.
RISK MANAGEMENT HANDLES ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING FUND IS A CHARGEBACK FUND.
YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY OF THE DIRECTORS HERE TODAY THAT THEY RUN SERVICES THROUGH THE REVOLVING FUND.
THERE'S NO FTES ASSIGNED TO THIS BECAUSE THOSE ARE REFLECTED IN OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT OUR BUDGET.
UM, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE COSTS FOR THE CITYWIDE MAIL ROOM, THE CITYWIDE PRINT SHOP, CITYWIDE PAYROLL SERVICES AND EMPLOYEE TRANSIT ARE FLOWED THROUGH.
AND THESE ARE THE CATEGORIES OF SERVICE THAT A RA PROVIDES AND THE STATUTORY MANDATES THAT REQUIRE US TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
AND THESE ARE THE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE MANDATED SERVICES BECAUSE A RA IS PRIMARILY A REGULATORY DEPARTMENT, THE MAJORITY OF OUR SERVICES ARE MANDATED BY EITHER FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL ORDINANCES.
AND THE PENALTIES FOR NON-DELIVERY OF THOSE SERVICES CAN BE ANYTHING FROM SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL PENALTIES AS THEY ARE FOR PAYROLL TO EVEN CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES AS WELL AS OUR SPECIAL FUND REVENUES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR ESTIMATED GENERAL FUND REVENUES FOR FY 23 WILL BE DOWN BY $1.9 MILLION COMPARED TO YEAR-END FY 22, PRIMARILY DUE TO FRANCHISE FEE DECREASES.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, THIS BIG OLD BIGGEST SINGLE LOSS WILL BE TELEPHONE FRANCHISE FEES.
AND THESE WILL CONTINUE TO DROP EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LANDLINES IN HOUSTON, AND MOST OF US DON'T USE LANDLINES ANYMORE.
WE ALSO HAD A DROP IN OUR PERMITTING REVENUES.
THIS IS MAINLY FROM ALCOHOL LICENSES AND TAXI CAB PERMITS.
ONE BRIGHT SPOT IN OUR REVENUE PICTURE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SMALL, IS A SOURCE OF REVENUES CALLED DAS FACILITIES OR NETWORK NODES.
WITH THE EXPANSION OF 5G, THIS SOURCE OF REVENUE IS ACTUALLY GOING UP.
IT PRODUCES CURRENTLY ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR.
THERE IS A 52% GROWTH IN THIS THAT'S PROJECTED FOR FY 23.
WE ALSO ADMINISTER TWO SPECIAL FUNDS, THE BARK SPECIAL REVENUE, AND THE PARK HOUSTON SPECIAL
[00:05:01]
REVENUE FUND.AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DON'T EXPECT MUCH GROWTH IN THE BARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
THIS IS PRIMARILY NOT, UM, AN AREA THAT PRODUCES REVENUES.
THE LITTLE BIT THAT WE DO PRODUCE IS IN ADOPTION FEES, LICENSE FEES, AND WELLNESS SERVICES.
AND BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD TO FIND VETERINARIANS THESE DAYS, WE HAD ANOTHER RESIGNATION TODAY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, SO OUR REVENUES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO COME BACK UP IN FY 23 FOR PARKING.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE AN A BETTER, BETTER STORY POST PANDEMIC.
HOUSTONIANS ARE GETTING BACK OUT.
THEY'RE STARTING TO PARK IN ALL OF OUR INNER CITY AREAS, AND THEY'RE USING PARKING METERS.
SO THIS YEAR THEY'RE PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 7% OR 1.3 MILLION.
WE'RE ALSO PROJECTING INCREASE IN INCREASES IN THE REVOLVING FUNDS.
NOW REMEMBER, THESE ARE NOT REVENUES.
THEY, THESE ARE JUST PAYING BACK THE GENERAL FUND FOR COSTS.
SO WHAT YOU SEE THERE IN THE $1.7 MILLION INCREASE FROM FY 22 TO FY 23 IS THE 10% INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, I SHOWED YOU ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND THE ANTICIPATED DECLINE FOR FY 23.
SO I WON'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ON THIS ONE BECAUSE JUST THIS JUST PROVIDES THE NARRATIVE FOR EVERYTHING THAT I JUST SAID.
BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT THREE THINGS.
FIRST IS ELECTRICITY REVENUES.
CENTERPOINT REMAINS THE HIGHEST SOURCE OF REVENUES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, PAYING US $95 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE USE OF OUR STREETS.
TELEPHONE FRANCHISE FEES ARE THE SECOND HIGHEST FEE THAT WE COLLECT.
AND AS I SAID, THIS IS A RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING SOURCE OF FRANCHISE FEES.
AT ONE POINT IT WAS $16 MILLION.
WE CAN COUNT ON THAT DECREASING EVERY BUDGET YEAR WHEN I'M HERE.
UM, AND CABLE TV FRANCHISE FEES ALSO ARE DISAPPEARING BECAUSE MANY OF US ARE USING NETFLIX AND HULU AND PRIME AND WE'RE NOT USING CABLE TV ANYMORE.
SO THAT IS ALSO A RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING SOURCE OF REVENUE.
SO THE TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLIDE IS THAT BETWEEN DECREASING TELEPHONE AND CABLE FRANCHISE FEES, YOU'RE LOSING ALMOST $30 MILLION AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR $30 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET NEXT YEAR.
YOU CAN EXPECT THAT TO BE MUCH LOWER.
ON THIS SLIDE, WE TALK ABOUT MORE DETAIL RELATED TO REVENUES.
PERMANENT LICENSE REVENUES, AS I SAID, HAD GONE DOWN BECAUSE ALCOHOL ESTABLISHMENTS WERE CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET MANY OF OUR FEES AS WELL AS TAXI CAB PERMITS.
UM, TAXI CABS HAD ALREADY BEEN DECIMATED BY THE TNCS.
THIS PRETTY EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATED THE INDUSTRY.
AND AS ALWAYS, WE DO ATTEMPT TO OFFSET OUR REVENUE LOSSES THROUGH AGGRESSIVE AUDITING AND AGGRESSIVE COMPLIANCE EFFORTS.
THIS YEAR, WE EXPECT TO COLLECT $300,000 IN DELINQUENT REVENUES JUST BASED ON THOSE AUDITS.
AND JUST AS I SHOWED ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT WE ADMINISTER ON THE REVENUE SLIDE, THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE EXPENDITURES FOR ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED BY A RAI HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, THE ROW WITH THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
SINCE I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE MOST INTERESTED IN.
AND IN A FEW MINUTES WHEN WE GET TO THE NET CHANGE SLIDE, I'LL ACTUALLY WALK YOU THROUGH IN DETAIL THAT REVENUE INCREASE OF 1.344 MILLION.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'LL WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIAL FUNDS.
THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES THAT YOU SEE HERE IS BASED ON TWO SOURCES.
THE FIRST IS THE ADDITION OF FTES FOR A NEW PLANNED FOURTH SHIFT FOR COMPLIANCE.
THE SECOND IS AN INCREASE IN THE TRANSFER OF REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE PARKING DURING THE PANDEMIC, SO THE TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND WAS MUCH SMALLER.
FOR FY 23, WE WERE PROJECTING TO TRANSFER $5.5 MILLION FROM THE PARKING SPECIAL REVENUE FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND, AN INCREASE OF $2 MILLION OVER WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR.
THE NEXT SPECIAL FUND IS BARK.
BARK IS THE OPPOSITE OF PARK HOUSTON.
RATHER THAN TRANSFERRING MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND, BARK RECEIVES MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
FOR FY 23, THEY'LL BE RECEIVING 10.8 MILLION.
FOR FY 22, IT WAS 10.5 MILLION.
AND FINALLY, IN THE PROPERTY CASUALTY FUND, YOU SEE THE INCREASE THERE.
AGAIN, THAT'S AN INCREASE IN BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
AND THIS IS THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED FY 23 GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BIGGEST PIECES OF THIS BUDGET ARE PERSONNEL, WHICH IS 54% OF THE BUDGET ARE 17.3 MILLION.
THE SECOND BIGGEST PIECE IS THE $10.8 MILLION TRANSFER TO BARC, WHICH IS 34% OF OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS REPRESENT MORE THAN HALF OF THE 12% THAT REMAINS OF ARAS GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET.
SO ONLY 1.6% OF OUR TOTAL $32.2 MILLION FY 23 PROPOSED BUDGET IS WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL DISCRETIONARY, MEANING THAT IT'S NOT ALREADY OBLIGATED TO PERSONNEL OR SOME SORT OF CONTRACTUAL OR MANDATED OBLIGATION, BUT IT'S EVA AVAILABLE FOR SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.
THIS IS THE SAME BREAKDOWN FOR THE BARK SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
BARK'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS WHAT, 13.3 MILLION.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THE LION'S
[00:10:01]
SHARE OF THAT IS THE $10.8 MILLION TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND IN BARK.AND THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN FOR THE PARK HOUSTON SPECIAL REVENUE FUND PERSONNEL IS 34% OF THE EXPENDITURES OF THIS SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
THE OTHER BIG PIECE OF THIS IS 26%, WHICH IS THE TRANSFER FROM THE PARK HOUSTON SPECIAL REVENUE FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN FOR A'S PORTION OF THE PROPERTY CASUALTY SERVICE FUND.
AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE OUR RISK MANAGEMENT GROUP IS FUNDED.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ONLY 3% OF THIS FUND GOES TO PAY FOR PERSONNEL.
97% IS INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, THIS IS THE MORE COMPLICATED SLIDE.
THERE'S FIVE BLOCKS HERE, AND WE'RE GONNA WALK THROUGH THOSE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN WHILE GIVING YOU THE DETAIL.
AT THE TOP IS BROKEN OUT AT THE TOP BLOCK, YOU'LL SEE $17.741 MILLION.
THAT'S OUR ACTUAL FY 22 OPERATING BUDGET.
THESE ARE THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
ADDED TO THAT AMOUNT IS THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, TOTALLY 2.048 MILLION, AND THEN THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO BARC, WHICH IS 10.5 MILLION IN FY 22.
SO IF YOU ADD THE RESTRICTED ITEMS FOR FY 22 PLUS THE TRANSFER TO BARC, WHICH WAS 10.5, THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO A RA AND FY 22 WAS $12.6 MILLION, LEAVING ONLY THE 17.74 MILLION FOR OUR OPERATIONS.
THE NEXT BLOCK IS CALLED ADJUSTMENTS TO FY 22 BUDGET.
THESE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT WERE ADDED OR TAKEN OUT OF OUR BUDGET DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
AND SO YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE THE CONTRACTUAL HOPE MUNICIPAL PAY RAISES IN THE AMOUNT OF $283,000 FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND $161,000 FOR BARK, A RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS ADJUSTMENT OF $71,000.
$21,000 RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CIRO'S BUDGET SURPLUS FUND TO FUND SPAY NEUTER EFFORTS FOR BARK A $17,000 ADJUSTMENT FOR SCANNING SERVICES RELATED TO THE RECORDS RETENTION PROJECT AT THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, WHICH A RA IS MANAGING.
AND THEN THE LAST ITEM IN THE SECOND BLOCK IS A $117,000 INCREASE FOR BARK SHELTER CLEANING AND A RESCUE INITIATIVE.
THOSE ARE EXPLAINED IN FOOTNOTE THREE.
ALTOGETHER, THESE ITEMS YIELD A NET INCREASE FROM OUR FY 22 BUDGET OF $527,000, BRINGING THE FY 2 22 YEAREND ADJUSTED BUDGET TO $30.83 MILLION.
AND THEN IN THE NEXT SECTION YOU SEE THE OPERATING BUDGET ASSIGN, UH, UH, ADJUSTMENTS THAT GET US TO FY 23.
THESE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT ARE ADDED TO OR REDUCED FROM THE FY 22 BUDGET TO GET US HERE.
SO THE $21,000 ONE TIME RECEIPT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS FROM HER BUDGET SURPLUS WOULD BE SUBTRACTED OUT IN FY 23.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE $216,000 OF ONE-TIME FUNDS FROM AN FY 22 BUDGET AMENDMENT.
AND THE DETAILS OF THOSE ARE SPELLED OUT IN FOOTNOTE FIVE.
AND THEN IN THE THIRD BLOCK, YOU ALSO SEE $328,000 BEING ADDED TO FUND VARIOUS ONE-TIME PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE 3 1 1 HIRING INITIATIVE.
AND THEN THE DETAILS FOR THE $328,000 ARE LAID OUT FOR YOU IN FOOTNOTE FOUR.
AND I'LL ALSO GO THROUGH THOSE IN JUST A SECOND ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHEN YOU NET OUT THE REDUCTIONS IN THE INCREASES IN THAT THIRD BLOCK, WE END UP WITH A $91,000 NET INCREASE TO ARAS BUDGET FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS FOR FY 23.
CONTINUING DOWN THE PAGE, WE'RE NOW TO THE FOURTH BLOCK.
YOU SEE OUR CONTRACTUAL OR MANDATED ADJUSTMENTS AND, AND THIS INCLUDES THE INCREASES FOR HEALTH BENEFITS, HOPE CONTRACTUAL PAY RAISES, MUNICIPAL PENSION COSTS, AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
THE TOTAL IS AN INCREASE OF $1.25 MILLION TO THE A RA BUDGET.
AND FINALLY, IN THE FIFTH BLOCK, WE ARRIVE AT THE PROPOSED FY 23 BUDGET OF 32.174 MILLION.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE A RA GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS INCREASING BY 1.344 MILLION.
BUT OF THAT AMOUNT, ONLY $91,000 IS AN ACTUAL INCREASE TO OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A CONTRACTUAL OR MANDATED AMOUNT.
AT THE BOTTOM BLOCK, YOU HAVE THE PAGE THAT CONTAINS THE FOOTNOTES THAT DETAIL EVERY ADJUSTMENT I JUST DISCUSSED.
AND THEN THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE BIG PICTURE EXPENDITURE CHANGES THAT WE DISCUSSED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AS WELL AS THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR SPECIAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASES FOR HEALTH BENEFITS PENSION CONTRIBUTION AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE CONTRACTUAL PAY INCREASES ACROSS ALL FUNDS.
LET ME REITERATE TO THE GENERAL FUND, THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE ARE THE $36,000 IN ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR THE CITY SECRETARY RECORDS RETENTION PROJECT, THE $20,991 IN FUNDING FOR A HIRING INCENTIVE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN NEW 3 1 1 AGENTS AND $224,861 IN RESILIENCE FUNDING TRANSFERRED FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO A RA FOR THE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.
FOR THE BARK SPECIAL FUND, WE RECEIVED $256,000 FOR A SHELTER CLEANING CONTRACT,
[00:15:01]
$30,000 FOR A RESCUE RESCUE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, $39,000 FOR THE PEP MICROCHIPPING INITIATIVE.AND THEN A REDUCTION OF OF FY 22 NONRECURRING NONRECURRING PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS OF $563,000.
AND FINALLY, FOR PARK HOUSTON, WE RECEIVED PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS, FUNDING FOR 10 ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO ADD A FOURTH SHIFT OF COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
AND WE REALIZED AFTER WE PUBLISHED THIS SLIDE THAT THERE IS AN ERROR ON THE PARK HOUSTON BULLET.
THE AMOUNT FOR THE FOURTH SHIFT IS $280,000.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION.
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS DETAILS, ORGANIZATION CHARTS, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED AS APPENDICES TO THIS PRESENTATION, INCLUDING THE TOP 3 1 1 SERVICE REQUEST FOR EACH ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
UM, SO JUST FORWARD THINKING SOME OF YOUR REVENUE SOURCES LIKE CABLE AND TELEVISION, UM, WE'RE SEEING REDUCED, UM, REVENUES COMING IN BECAUSE OF LESS USAGE.
SO THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE SOME CREATIVE IDEAS OR WAYS IN WHICH YOU THINK WE CAN GENERATE MORE REVENUE? IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE PIPELINE MAYBE DISCUSSED AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT WOULD GENERATE MORE REVENUE THROUGH FEES? SO AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO ERODE OUR FEES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THEY TOOK AWAY ATCS, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A $70 MILLION REVENUE BY NOW.
UM, NETWORK NODES BY NOW WOULD'VE BEEN A $40 MILLION REVENUE, BUT THAT WAS ALSO DECIMATED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IT'S STILL A GROWING REVENUE, BUT BY NO MEANS THE SIZE THAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN.
AND SO WHAT THE MAYOR CHARGED US WITH WAS, WAS FINDING ANYTHING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE WERE NOT CHARGING FEES FOR ALREADY.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IT BELONGS TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TASKED OUR GROUP TO DO.
WE'RE SPEAKING TO PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT WHAT THING, WHAT THINGS THAT THEY ARE CHARGING, PERMITTING FEES FOR THAT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE RENTAL BECAUSE THE CITY CHARTER DOES CALL FOR USES IN THE RIGHT OF WAY TO, TO BE REIMBURSED AS RENTAL RATHER THAN PERMIT FEES.
THANK YOU VICE CHAIR AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT 3 1 1 AND ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE IN THE BUDGET TO FIX THE 3 1 1 APP AND THE 3 1 1 SYSTEM THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR? I'M, I'M VERY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE WE ARE COMPLETELY EXPECTING THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE'LL HAVE A NEW APP.
UM, WHEN WE ROLLED OUT THE NEW 3 1 1 SYSTEM, WE WERE EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT HAS ALL KINDS OF REALLY COOL FUNCTIONALITY IF YOU'RE AT YOUR DESKTOP.
UM, AND WE THOUGHT THAT WHAT MOST PEOPLE WANTED, BASED ON THE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK THAT WE'D GOTTEN, WAS TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE STATUS OF THEIR SERVICE REQUEST WAS.
THAT WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST COMPLAINT WE GOT UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM.
AND WHEN YOU USE THE OLD APP, IT CHANGED THE NUMBER OF YOUR SERVICE REQUESTS BY THE TIME YOU GOT TO, TO THE ACTUAL SYSTEM AND WENT INTO THE WEB TO CHECK IT.
EVERYBODY WAS ANGRY ABOUT THAT.
SO WE THOUGHT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO INSTEAD IS OPTIMIZE THE DESKTOP APP FOR MOBILE AND THEN EVERYONE WILL HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY WANT.
AND WHAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT WHAT CUSTOMERS ALSO WANTED TO DO WAS TAKE PICTURES AND BE ABLE TO DROP A GIS PIN.
SO THE NEW APP, UM, IS GOING TO HAVE THE BEST FEATURES OF ALL OF THAT.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO SEE CLICK FIX, WHICH WAS THE APP WE USED BEFORE, BUT WE'RE ENHANCING IT NOW SO THAT IT HAS A LOT OF THE NEAT FUNCTIONAL FEATURES THAT WE ADDED TO THE DESKTOP APP.
AND IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT PICTURE TAKING NGIS AND THAT WILL BE OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SPEND ON GOING TO THIS NEW THROUGH ONE APP AND ARE WE JUST OUT THAT MONEY THAT WE SPENT TRANSFERRING OVER AND THEN GOING BACK? SO THE NEW APP WAS ACTUALLY IN THE ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT COST OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
UM, IT WAS, IT ACTUALLY WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY HARD FOR ACCENTURE TO DO.
'CAUSE ALL THAT THEY DID WAS WAS OPTIMIZE THE, THE DESKTOP APP.
UM, AND IT'S NOT A MATTER OF RECOUPING THAT THERE IS A COST TO THE NEW APP THAT'S COMING UP AND THERE WILL BE A NEW CONTRACT THAT HITS WILL ACTUALLY BE BRINGING TO YOU TO APPROVE AND VET.
UM, FIRST OFF TO ALL OF YOUR DIVISIONS, I DON'T KNOW HOW A RA ENCOMPASSES SO MUCH.
BUT, UM, MY, MY STAFF JUST DID A TOUR OF 3 1 1.
UH, AND I CANNOT THANK THE OPERATORS ENOUGH THERE.
UH, THE RETENTION, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE IS EXTRAORDINARY.
I KNOW THAT TIMES HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING.
I THINK YOU JUST MENTIONED WE JUST LOST ANOTHER VETERINARIAN.
ARE WE DOING, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO TO RECRUIT RIGHT NOW OTHER THAN FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, UM, FOR VETERINARIANS? I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE EVEN BEFORE COMING INTO OFFICE.
AND I KNOW I EVEN TALKED TO VETERINARIAN OFFICES AROUND THE CITY, OR AT LEAST IN MY DISTRICT, SAME THING THAT IT'S, IT'S HARD RIGHT NOW.
ARE WE, WHAT ELSE ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THAT? RIGHT
[00:20:01]
NOW IT'S A NATIONAL SHORTAGE.SO WHAT WE USED TO DO IS REGULARLY JUST GO AROUND THE COUNTRY AND POACH.
AND NOW MOST VETERINARIANS WHO ARE GRADUATING DO NOT WANNA DO SHELTER MEDICINE.
IF THEY'RE GONNA DO, IF THEY'RE GONNA DO VETERINARY MEDICINE AT ALL, THEY WANNA WORK IN A PRIVATE PRACTICE WHERE THEY GET TO USE THE COOL NEW TECHNOLOGY AND, AND DO A LOT OF DIAGNOSTICS.
UM, SPAYING AND NEUTERING NOT THE MOST FUN THING TO DO.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS START AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH ONE OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS LED AN EFFORT TOWARD THAT.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH TRACTION WITH A AND M HONESTLY, BUT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING NATIONAL WITH ANY OTHER VET SCHOOL THAT'S WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US.
AND WE WOULD FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR THEIR INTERNS THAT COME HERE, EVEN IF IT'S THROUGH PRIVATE FUNDING.
BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH BEST FRIENDS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS LOCALLY TO TRY TO TROUBLESHOOT THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE HEAD OUT TO PARKING.
UM, INCREDIBLE JOB, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE INSIDE THE DISTRICT AND OBVIOUSLY THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE MONUMENTAL AND HISTORIC WORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE THERE.
ONE, SCANNING FOR, UH, ALL OF OUR RECORDS AND ARCHIVING.
IS THAT REALLY HAPPENING? THAT'S REALLY HAPPENING? UM, THE MAYOR ASKED US LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE TO GO OVER TO CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AND AT LEAST START BOXING EVERYTHING UP TO GET IT ORGANIZED.
AND WE DID THAT AND SHE HAS BEEN SO WELCOMING TO US IN WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
AND THEN HE GAVE US MONEY TO START THE SCANNING PROJECT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THEY HAVE SOMEONE WHO ARCHIVES ALL OF THEIR RECORDS AND WE'RE SENDING UP A HUNDRED BOXES AT A TIME TO GET THEM SCANNED AND MAKE THEM SEARCHABLE.
'CAUSE REMEMBER, THERE'S NO POINT IN HAVING THEM JUST BE PDFS.
THEY NEED TO BE SEARCHABLE PDFS.
AND DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE? ESTIMATED TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION ON THAT? THE MAYOR WANTS IT DONE BEFORE HE LEAVES.
UM, CAN I BE PLACED BACK IN QUEUE PLEASE? YOU'RE BACK IN THE QUEUE AND NOW.
UM, UH, DIRECTOR, ONE THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, UH, AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK OFFLINE ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, LAST YEAR COUNCIL DID PASS AN AMENDMENT, UM, THAT I DRAFTED RELATED TO.
AND FIRST OFF, THANK YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THE WORK ON THE SOUND ORDINANCE CHANGES THUS FAR.
UM, THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING WE HAD ASKED THE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT, WHICH IS WEEKEND HOURS AS IT RELATES TO CONSTRUCTION.
UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN WEEKDAY AND WEEKENDS.
UH, WE'RE GETTING CONSTRUCTION 7:00 AM SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AND RESIDENTS NEED A REPRIEVE.
UH, IS THAT AGAIN, WE HAD, UH, SET A TIMELINE FOR THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND I KNOW IT'S COMING UP, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, CHECK ON THE STATUS OF THAT.
IF Y'ALL, UM, ARE READY TO PROCEED WITH STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS ON THAT.
UH, AND WHAT WE CAN DO, WE HAVE NOT EVEN BEGUN THAT THE CHANGES TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE THAT WE MADE TOOK SO MUCH LONGER THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED THEY WERE GONNA MAKE WITH STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE PUT THIS ON THE BACKGROUND BACK BURNER.
'CAUSE REMEMBER IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS THAN RESTAURANTS AND, AND EVERYONE ELSE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO CIRCLE BACK WITH, WITH THE MAYOR AND ASK HIM IF WE CAN NOW START HAVING THOSE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS FOR THAT.
IF WE COULD TALK OFFLINE ABOUT THAT AND JUST COME UP WITH KIND OF A, A PLAN OF ATTACK, I, OUR RESIDENTS WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, YOU'VE ADDRESSED A LOT OF NEEDS.
UH, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANNA MENTION TO US THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IN TERMS OF UPCOMING NEEDS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, GIVEN HOW TIGHT THIS BUDGET IS? SO, UM, WE, YOU'VE BEEN ASKING EVERY DEPARTMENT THAT QUESTION.
SO WE'VE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IT.
AND, AND THE MAYOR HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT GIVING ONE TIME MONEY WHERE IT WAS NEEDED.
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR OUR HIRING INITIATIVE FOR 3 1 1.
BY THE WAY, OUR, OUR TURNAROUND TIME RIGHT NOW, OUR AVERAGE SPEED ER FOR 3 1 1 IS CONSISTENTLY LESS THAN A MINUTE.
SO YOU SHOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
BUT, UM, OUR BIGGEST NEED IS EMBARK.
WE CAN'T KEEP PEOPLE, WE CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE.
WE CONSISTENTLY HAVE BETWEEN A 20 TO 35% VACANCY IN THAT DIVISION.
AND IT'S NOT, UM, EVEN AN ANIMAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE CAN KEEP THOSE.
IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO CLEAN THE SHELTER EVERY DAY.
SO THE MAYOR SAID, WELL, OKAY, HOW IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO, TO KEEP THE SHELTER CLEAN AND THEN ALSO BE ABLE TO FEED AND WATER AND, AND TREAT THE ANIMALS, LET'S GET A CLEANING CONTRACT IN THERE AND GET SOME CONTRACTORS IN TO CLEAN IT TO FREE UP THE EMPLOYEES.
AND YOU SEE THE MONEY HERE FOR IT.
THE FIRST WEEK THEY SHOWED UP, UH, THEY CAME WITH FOUR PEOPLE AND THREE OF THEM LEFT AND SAID, THIS IS NOT MY GIG.
SO WE'RE STILL TROUBLESHOOTING THAT, BUT OUR SINGLE BIGGEST NEED IS PEOPLE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK THERE.
THANK Y'ALL, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
YOU WANNA HAVE YOUR TEAM STAND UP IN THE BACK SO WE CAN, WE CAN SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
WE KNOW YOU MAKE THE MOST OUT OF A LITTLE, AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS, ALL THE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR OFFICES, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE DAYS AHEAD.
SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND MS. BARRY
[00:25:01]
FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND YOU ARE DISMISSED.WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE'LL START WITH THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME.
UM, DOES A RA OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT DO ANALYSIS ON THE 3 1 1 CALLS TO IDENTIFY BROAD OR PERSISTENT GAPS IN SERVICE DELIVERY? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT MYSELF.
UM, WE WILL RESPOND TO THAT, UH, QUESTION WITHIN 48 HOURS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO PLEASE SEND THAT OVER TO DISTRICT E@HOUSTONTX.GOV, UH, WE'LL GET A RESPONSE FOR YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MS. SHE? NO, I DO NOT.
UM, I KNOW STAFF, UM, HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WERE ANY ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES, UM, BARK NEEDED TO ADDRESS HOUSTON'S, UH, STRAY POPULATION.
I'M SURE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE, ARE GREATLY NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.
MANY OF OUR OFFICES USE OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT SERVICE FUNDS TO ALSO PUT THROUGH PROJECTS TO WORK WITH BARK AND THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY FOR SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS. UM, SO IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER ON WAYS IN WHICH TO, UH, UNDERSTAND THE MONEY THAT THEY MAY BE ALLOCATING OR ANY OF THE 11 DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
BUT PRETTY REGULARLY AROUND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PUTTING FORTH SPAY AND NEUTER, UH, PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC TO TAKE, UH, TAKE NOTICE OF AND BE A PART OF.
JASON OLIVER, OUR FIRST QUESTION FOLLOWS UP ON AMANDA.
UH, I, I DEFINITELY AM INTERESTED IN THE 3 1 1 ANALYSIS.
I'M ALSO, I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT OTHER PERFORMANCE MEASURES A RA HAS FOR THREE ONE ONE.
UH, CALL ANSWERING TIME IS IMPORTANT AND AS, AS IT SHOWS LIKE THERE'S MAJOR ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, UM, JUST SEE MORE METRICS AROUND THE SERVICE, AROUND SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND THEN SECOND, GOING BACK OR HEARKENING BACK TO FLEET MANAGEMENT'S, UH, METRICS.
THE CITY CONSISTENTLY USES AROUND 10 MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL EVERY YEAR.
WHERE DOES FUEL REDUCTION SHOW UP IN THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY PLANS? AND LIKE, HOW ARE WE DOING WITH, WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON.
MR. OLIVER, ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION FROM YOU, UM, ABOUT OUR, UH, FUEL GOALS THAT, UH, THE REDUCTION OF OUR RELIANCE ON BOTH, UH, PETROLEUM GAS PRODUCTS IS IN BOTH OUR, UH, CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AS WELL AS THE RESILIENT HOUSTON PLAN.
THE EXACT SECTION AND REFERENCE AND GOALS ARE, UH, OUTLINED IN THAT.
AND SO I, I AGAIN, COMMEND YOU FOR THE GOOD QUESTION.
WE CAN, WE CAN HELP YOU LOCATE THAT IF YOU'RE UNAWARE OF THAT OR OTHERWISE, UH, GET AN UPDATE FOR YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF, UH, OF ATTAINING THOSE GOALS.
I'LL CHECK THE REPORTS AND SEE WHAT, UH, SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AND THIS CONCLUDES OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS BUDGET WORKSHOP.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO BEGIN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD OTHER SPEAKERS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO SIGNED UP.
THEY WERE ON THE LIST EMAILED TO US.
UM, OUR FIRST IN-PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKER IS MEREDITH POWELL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, MY NAME IS MEREDITH POWELL.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT A, UM, BY PROFESSION.
I'M A COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS CONSULTANT.
UM, I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND HER STAFF HEAR FROM ME REGULARLY.
UM, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES AND I RECOGNIZE THE ROLE FOR BARK.
I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO'S LIKE BARK IS BAD AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.
I AM HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL, WHETHER IT IS IN WITH YOUR, WITHIN YOUR OWN DISTRICTS OR, UM, AS A COUNCIL TO INCREASE RESOURCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR BARK BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS LIVE ON THE STREET AND NEED RESCUING.
AND WHILE THERE ARE MANY RESCUE GROUPS AND STREET RESCUERS
[00:30:01]
LIKE MYSELF, WE CAN'T DO, WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.I WORK WITH RPM AND STRAIGHT OUTTA TEXAS TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE AS MANY RESOURCES TO BARK BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GIVE RESOURCES TO BARK AND ANIMAL CONTROL, IT JUST EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING BECAUSE WE HAVE STRAY ANIMALS ON THE STREET THAT ARE NOT FIXED.
AND IT'S JUST CREATING EVEN MORE OF A POPULATION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO RAISE IS WHEN WE DO THE TRANSPORT RESCUES, MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN OTHER STATES ASK, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH HOUSTON? WHAT IS THE CITY DOING ABOUT IT? AND IT MAKES US LOOK REALLY BAD.
I MEAN, HOUSTON'S LEADER IN ENERGY, SPACE EXPLORATION, HEALTHCARE, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
YET, YOU KNOW, WE GET QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT IS THE LEADERSHIP POSITION THAT HOUSTON IS TAKING TO DEAL WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES? SO I, I KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON MICROCHIP LAWS AND I APPLAUD CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND STRAY AND NEUTER EFFORTS.
I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO BARK TO ADDRESS OUR CITY'S ONGOING ANIMAL, UH, ISSUE.
ARE THERE SOME SPECIFIC AREAS WITHIN BARK THAT YOU THINK THE DOLLARS WOULD BE MOST BEST UTILIZED FOR? I MEAN, SOMETIMES I SEE PROGRAMS THAT I DON'T THINK MAKE SENSE.
I UNDERSTAND WHEN WE WANT TO OFFER ADOPTIONS AT LOW RATES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ADOPT AT LOWER COST HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THE ANIMALS.
'CAUSE THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS ANIMAL TURN INS OR, OR THEY RELEASE THEM AS STRAYS.
I THINK THERE'S A, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
WE DO SO MUCH WITH LIKE OUR THEATER DISTRICT AND SPORTS AND ALL OF THESE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THESE HUGE COMPANIES WHO, WHO ARE SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS WITHIN THE CITY.
WE DON'T REALLY SEE THAT WITHIN BARK AND ANIMAL CONTROL.
I THINK THAT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU MEREDITH FOR SPEAKING TODAY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UM, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT A WHEN IT COMES TO THE ANIMAL POPULATION.
I MEAN, SHE'S CONSTANTLY OUT THERE, UM, RESCUING STRAY PETS AND DOING SO MUCH WORK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR COMING TODAY.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS WITH RESCUED PETS MOVEMENT.
I KNOW WE'VE PARTNERED IN OUR OFFICE, UM, WITH THEM IN THE EFFORTS.
MY MOM'S EVEN VOLUNTEERING NOW.
LIKE IT REALLY JUST AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL WORK.
I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IS DEAD ON AND EVEN INCLUDING, UM, I WAS THINKING ESPECIALLY WITH THE VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE, HOW DO WE TAP INTO THE VET SERVICES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE CITY AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND GETTING VOLUNTEERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO ALL THAT'S TO SAY THANK YOU.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER PECK REALLY RESPECTS AND APPRECIATES ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE DISTRICT.
AND I, AND I'LL ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO COUNCIL MEMBER PECK AND, AND ANY OF US IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS.
I KNOW AS THE PRESENTATION WAS, UH, STATED, THAT THE MAYOR HAS A COMMITMENT TO SOMETIMES PUT ONE-TIME FUNDING SOURCES TOWARDS SPECIFIC NEEDS WITH BARK.
AND THEY STILL SOMETIMES HAVE CHALLENGES, UH, WITH RECRUITMENT, WITH RETAINING AND WITH GETTING SOME OF THE SERVICES DONE.
UM, BUT ANY IDEAS, A PERSON LIKE YOURSELF WHO HAS VAST EXPERIENCE AND, AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THAT, UH, THAT ENTITY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
ARE THERE ANY IN PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD? WELL, NOW THIS CONCLUDES OUR ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS BUDGET WORKSHOP.