[FY 2024 Budget Workshop: General Services]
[00:00:19]
AND I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE.WE HAVE FROM DISTRICT A COUNCIL MEMBER AMY PECK, DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, AND WE HAVE STAFF FROM DISTRICT D, DISTRICT F, DISTRICT H, POSITION ONE AT LARGE, POSITION TWO AT LARGE, POSITION FOUR AT LARGE, AND POSITION FIVE AT LARGE.
AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER MARIANNE HUFFMAN OF DISTRICT G ONLINE.
TODAY'S BUDGET WORKSHOPS ARE A GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PRESENTING, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE FOLLOWED BY THE HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AT ONE HOUSTON INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AT 2:00 PM AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WILL BE LAST AT 3:00 PM.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BUDGET WORKSHOP SCHEDULE IS POSTED ON THE B-F-B-F-A WEBSITE.
ALL BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND BUDGET WORKSHOPS ARE BROADCAST ON HTV THROUGH THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL CHANNEL.
IN ADDITION TO STREAMED ON THE HTV FACEBOOK PAGE, A PUBLIC SPEAKER'S LIST HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS.
HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON AND DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SIGN UP BY YESTERDAY'S DEADLINE, THERE'S A SIGN IN SHEET AT THE FRONT TABLE, AND MY STAFF WILL BE MONITORING THE PUBLIC SPEAKER'S LIST.
THE MAIN PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 24 BUDGET IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 31ST.
DURING OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 9:00 AM COUNCIL, MEMBERS SHOULD SUBMIT ANY DEPARTMENT BUDGET WORKSHOP QUESTIONS IN A WORD DOCUMENT AND UPLOAD IT TO THE SHAREPOINT BUDGET WORKSPACE.
OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THE DISTRICT E STAFF HAS SHARED LINKS TO THE SHAREPOINT BUDGET WORKSPACE AND HELD A REFRESHER TRAINING TO MAKE SURE COUNCIL OFFICES ARE PREPARED FOR THE BUDGET SEASON.
ALL PRESENTATIONS FOR BUDGET WORKSHOPS WILL BE POSTED ON SHAREPOINT 48 HOURS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S WORKSHOP AND DELIVERED TO COUNCIL INBOXES IN THE ANNEX LOBBY.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STAFF IS UTILIZING THE WORKSPACE AND PICKING UP DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS IN YOUR MAILBOXES IN A TIMELY MANNER.
THESE PRESENTATIONS WILL THEN BE UPLOADED TO THE BFA WEBSITE.
DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO PROVIDE RESPONSES WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR PRESENTATION TO ANY QUESTIONS POSTED BEFORE THE START OF THE WORKSHOP.
DEPARTMENT RESPONSES WILL ALSO BE UPLOADED TO SHAREPOINT FOR ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW IF QUESTIONS ARE SUBMITTED.
AFTER THE PRESENTATION, DEPARTMENTS HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND VIA SHAREPOINT FROM THE TIME OF POSTING.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN BE UPLOADED AT ANY TIME DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP PROCESS.
THE EARLIER THE BETTER, ALLOWING DEPARTMENTS PLENTY OF TIME TO PROVIDE RESPONSES.
PUBLIC SPEAKERS SHOULD HAVE SIGNED UP ONLINE BY 3:00 PM YESTERDAY.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT TEMPLATE HAS ALSO BEEN UPLOADED TO THE SHAREPOINT BUDGET WORKSPACE.
MAYOR TURNER SENT OUT A MEMO TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCIL OFFICES TO ENSURE PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS ON THE FY 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET RELATED TO COUNCIL MEMBER AMENDMENTS.
IF SHE WAS LISTENING, PER HIS MEMO ONLY OPERATION BUDGET RELATED AMENDMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED.
POLICY AMENDMENTS SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED AND WILL BE RULED OUT OF ORDER.
PLEASE SEE THE MAYOR'S MEMO FOR ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE.
I ENCOURAGE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE YOUR AMENDMENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL OR YOU CAN WORK WITH THE MAYOR TO IDENTIFY A PATH FORWARD.
AMENDMENTS ARE DUE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 31ST.
COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY ARE ASKED TO KEEP THEIR CAMERAS ON OR LEAVE THE MEETING.
IF YOUR CAMERA IS OFF FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, YOU WILL BE REMOVED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ATTENDING VIRTUALLY IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND TYPE IN THE CHAT.
MY STAFF WILL THEN COMMENT IN ON THE CHAT WITH EXISTING QUEUE AND PROVIDE UPDATES AS AVAILABLE.
ONCE YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED, PLEASE LOWER YOUR HAND AND WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE REST OF THE QUEUE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, AND LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST PRESENTATION.
AND I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN JOINING US IN PERSON AS
[00:05:01]
WELL, AND STAFF AND STAFF FOR COUNCIL MEMBER KUBO.AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO WELCOME GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CJ MESSIAH JR.
AND DEPARTMENT CFO, RUSSELL LEE, TO PROVIDE THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
GENTLEMEN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
AND IF YOU COULD GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, SLIDE PLEASE.
I HAVE THREE CORE PRINCIPLES THAT I SHARE WITH THE GSD TEAM.
INTEGRITY FIRST SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO.
WITH ME TODAY IS THE GSD SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM, CHIEF OF STAFF, ENIT HOWARD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
RICHARD VALA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, ERIC ALEXANDER, INTERIM DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SECURITY, JD WALTMAN, DIVISION MANAGER, DARNISHA DAVIS COLLIER, WHO OVERSEES OUR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SECTION, EXECUTIVE STAFF ANALYST, SHELLY CARTER, WHO OVERSEES THE ENERGY RESILIENCE AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAM, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT LEVON DE DONAHUE, AND TO MY RIGHT CFO RUSSELL LEE, WHO WILL BE ASSISTING ME IN ANSWERING ANY FINANCIAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE FY 24 PROPOSED BUDGET.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART.
GSD OPERATIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR CORE PROGRAMS OF SERVICE.
ONE, PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, TWO, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES, THREE, SECURITY MANAGEMENT, AND FOUR, ADMINISTRATIVE FINANCIAL AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SERVICES WITH THE PRIMARY GOALS OF REDUCING COSTS AND CONTINUING TO IMPROVE OUR LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THIS TABLE SHOWS HOW GSDS PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES AND THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET DEDICATED TO EACH ONE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF RESILIENT HOUSTON, OUR ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPRESENTS $111 MILLION OF OUR BUDGET, ROUGHLY 54.9%, AND UNDER THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY OF SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR 60 MILLION OF OUR BUDGET, ROUGHLY 29.6% OF THE BUDGET.
OUR PROPOSED PROGRAM EXPENDITURE BUDGET FOR FY 24 IS 203 MILLION.
BUDGET FOR SERVICES INCREASED 5.6% OVER FY 23 CURRENT BUDGET.
THE NEXT EIGHT SLIDES WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAIL FOR EACH PROGRAM.
OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM BUDGETED AT $14.9 MILLION.
PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND EXECUTIVE SUPPORT, INCLUDING TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, BUDGET CREATION AND MONITORING, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND RECEIVABLE, AND FUNDING FOR RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS CONTRACTS AND IS BUDGETED AT $111.6 MILLION.
THE FACILITIES DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM PROVIDES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS EXCEPT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM.
THIS PROGRAM IS BUDGETED AT JUST OVER $8 MILLION.
THE FACILITIES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES AS WELL AS MOLD, ASBESTOS AND LEAD REMEDIATION, AND IS BUDGETED AT $1.7 MILLION.
THE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE PROGRAM HAS A BUDGET OF $51.7 MILLION AND PROVIDES REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE, HEALTH, LIBRARY, AND SOLID WASTE.
THE FACILITY SECURITY PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AT CITY FACILITIES AND MAINTAINS CCTV ACCESS CONTROL AND INTRUSION ALARM SYSTEMS AND INVESTIGATE STOLEN CITY ASSETS AND EMPLOYEE POLICY VIOLATIONS.
THIS PROGRAM IS BUDGETED AT $12.5 MILLION.
[00:10:02]
THE REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, EXCUSE ME, IS BUDGETED AT $357,000 AND HANDLES THE ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY ASSIST CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH LEASING OFFICE SPACE AND MANAGES LEASING OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY.THE DEBT SERVICE AND INTERFUND TRANSFER PROGRAM IS BUDGETED AT $2.4 MILLION.
THIS PROGRAM IS USED FOR THE REPAYMENT OF DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS MADE BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
OUR PROPOSED PROGRAM EXPENDITURE BUDGET FOR FY 24 INCLUDE $47.4 MILLION BUDGETED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, $7.3 MILLION BUDGETED OUT OF THE PROJECT COST RECOVERY FUND, $111.6 MILLION BUDGETED OUT OF THE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND, AND $36.9 MILLION BUDGETED OUT OF THE MAINTENANCE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT FUND, ALSO KNOWN AS MRR FUND.
PERSONNEL SALARIES COUNT ACCOUNT FOR ROUGHLY 30% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS REPRESENT ROUGHLY 38.4% OF THE TOTAL NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
THE REMAINING NON-PERSONNEL BUDGET IS FOR SERVICES SUCH AS JANITORIAL SERVICES, SECURITY MANAGEMENT, SEWER SERVICES, AND LANDSCAPING.
THE PROPOSED REVENUE BUDGET IS $161 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF $13 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 8.8% FROM THE FY 23 BUDGET.
THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL HAVE A BREAKOUT OF REVENUE BY FUND.
OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS BUDGETED AT APPROXIMATELY $4.2 MILLION.
OUR PROJECT COST RECOVERY FUND IS BUDGETED AT JUST UNDER $7.4 MILLION.
OUR CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND REVENUE IS BUDGETED AT $111.6 MILLION AND OUR MRR, BUT REVENUE IS BUDGETED AT $38.6 MILLION, WHICH IS AN IN INCREASE OF $8.7 MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS A 22.7% INCREASE.
SIGNIFICANT REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE SHOWN ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
FUND 2105 MRR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND REPLACE HAS INCREASED DUE TO $2.2 MILLION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR GSD TO MAINTAIN SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT FACILITIES AND $4.5 MILLION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF HPDS EMERGENCY GENERATORS AT THE WEST SIDE COMMAND STATION.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR FY 24 BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AND STAFF FOR ALL OF YOU ALL'S HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE QUEUE.
UH, FIRST IS COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN.
THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANKS DIRECTOR FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
A FEW QUESTIONS ON YOUR PRESENTATION, UM, ON NINE SLIDE NINE, ENERGY MANAGEMENT.
UM, I FEEL, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M REALLY FOCUSING SINCE THIS IS OUTCOME BASED BUDGETING ON KIND OF OUTCOMES AND, AND WHAT, WHAT WERE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT ARE LISTED.
SO IF YOU CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN, YOU'RE GONNA INCREASE SOLAR PANELS AT THE ANNEX AND THE PERMITTING CENTER, AND YOU'RE GONNA REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION WITH LED LIGHTING RE RETROFITS.
I'M SURE THAT THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION DOES MORE ACHIEVES MORE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ON THAT.
AND IT MIGHT BE JUST TOO MANY OF THE LIST ON THE SLIDE OR THINGS THAT WE'D BE REALLY INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW WE ARE BRINGING ENERGY COSTS DOWN.
UM, HOW WE CAN MEASURE THAT, IS THAT WHAT THIS DIVISION DOES? DO I HAVE THIS RIGHT OR RIGHT? SO THEY LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE FOR ENERGY SAVINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE UNDER A PROGRAM WITH, UM, CCO, THE STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE IN TEXAS A AND M WITH REFITTING FIVE BUILDINGS WITH, UM, LED LIGHTING, INCLUDING CITY HALL.
AND WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO PHASE TWO OF SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ADD I THINK FIVE MORE BUILDINGS.
SO THE ENERGY, UH, SECTION DOES LOOK AT THEIR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO IMPLEMENT WHAT THE DECARBONIZATION POLICY, WHICH HAS RECENTLY SIGNED, UM, PUTS OUT AND WANTS US TO DO
[00:15:01]
AND WORK WITH A RA AND FINANCE IN FINDING THOSE WAYS TO SAVE.SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A PERFORMANCE MEASURE OR AN OUTCOME I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THIS SECTION IS WHAT ARE WE SAVING, WHAT IS THE GOAL FOR US TO SAVE? DO WE HAVE A, DO WE HAVE A GOAL? DO WE HAVE AN OUTCOME WE WANNA ACHIEVE? AND, AND HOW, HOW, HOW ARE OUR RESOURCES DIRECTED TO DO THAT? THAT'S JUST A COMMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN CHANGE THAT IN.
UM, ALSO, UM, THE BIG STORY HERE IS IN FUND 2105, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GETTING THE ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION FOR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO I NOTICED IN IN YOUR PERSONNEL, UH, PIE CHART, JUST 8 MILLION OF THAT IS FOR PERSONNEL.
THE REMAINING 28 MILLION IS ACTUALLY THE WORK, RIGHT? CORRECT.
THE, THE STUFF YOU'RE DOING
SO ARE YOU ABLE TO USE THAT? UM, SO IT'S A TOTAL, I THINK OF $42.9 MILLION RIGHT.
I KNOW IT SAYS 28 ON THAT, BUT I'VE HEARD THE, WITH THE 11 MILLION, IT'S 42.9 MILLION.
INCLUDING, YES, THAT'LL INCLUDE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S PORTION OF MRR.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE 42.9 MILLION COMES.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO HANDLE, UM, THE ADDITIONAL, THE ADDITIONAL WORK, WHETHER IT BE IF WE CONTRACTED OUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OR PEOPLE IN HOUSE OR, OR, OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO BOLSTER THAT AMOUNT? SO I WOULD SAY THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.
WE WILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND USE CONTRACT PROP, UH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MAYBE IN THE FUTURE LOOK AT, UM, ADDING TO THE CURRENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STAFF FOR PROJECT MANAGERS BECAUSE THE, MY PEOPLE CAN ONLY HANDLE SO MUCH.
AND THE PROJECTS KEEP COMING, AND THE MORE YOU PILE ON, I FIND OUT ON PROJECT MANAGERS, THE MORE THAT GETS MISSED IN A PROJECT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE.
AND TO, UH, STOP THE MISSING OF THOSE ITEMS, YOU HAVE TO ADD PEOPLE.
YOU, UH, DO WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS? OKAY, GREAT.
UH, TO FOLLOW UP ON THE, ON THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S COMMENTS, UM, WHEN WE GET PEOPLE WHO COME TO US, UH, THROUGH PUBLIC SESSION OR THEY SEND US PROPOSALS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS ON WAYS IN WHICH, UH, THEY CAN PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S IN ENERGY COST OR OVERALL MAINTENANCE, AND THEY WANT TO HAVE PILOT PROGRAMS, RIGHT? UH, UH, WE PRESENTED ONE WHERE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT LOOKS AT ENERGY SAVINGS OR WE HAD A GENTLEMAN THE OTHER DAY THAT APPROACHED US WITH, UH, TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD HELP WITH, UH, WITH RODENTS AND OTHER, UH, ISSUES.
ARE THOSE THINGS THAT YOU ALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IN, UM, PREPARING FOR, UH, THE FISCAL YEAR AND WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN CUT COSTS TO USE OUTSIDE PRIVATE VENDORS TO DO PILOT PROGRAMS WITH THE CITY FOR THINGS THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IN A COST SAVINGS TO THE, TO THE CITY? WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW INNOVATION OR, UM, TALKING TO ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY CAN SAVE THE CITY MONEY.
AND SO WHEN, WHEN WE, WHEN THEY DO PRESENT THAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THAT? BECAUSE I THINK WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS IF A, IF A PERSON HAS A PILOT PROGRAM, THEY MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM BEING ABLE TO BID IN THE FUTURE ON THAT TO, TO AVOID SOME TYPE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
SO WE HAVE HAD, UM, SO ONE, IF A PERSON COMES TO US WITH A PROGRAM TO DO A PILOT, WE FIRST HAVE TO LOOK AT ARE THEY THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN DO THIS OR IS, ARE THERE OTHER FIRMS THAT CAN DO IT? IF THERE ARE OTHER FIRMS THAT CAN DO IT, WE HAVE TO DO A SOLICITATION AND PUT IT OUT THERE AND THEN GET THE PILOT PROGRAM RUNNING.
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT DO IT, WE GO THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS AND SEE IF IT FITS WHAT GSD NEEDS, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, THEN WE'RE OPEN TO LOOKING AT IT.
DO YOU THINK THOSE PILOT PROGRAMS ARE BENEFICIAL? LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL WANNA MAKE A PRIORITY TO SEEK OUT, UH, DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES AND PILOTS THAT COULD TO, UH, INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY OR, OR, OR MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT FOR YOU? YES, SIR.
UH, NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
UM, OFTENTIMES IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU DO, UM, AND WORKING WITH OUR OFFICES ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS OR DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARISE.
AND I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS, BUT AGAIN, YOU ALL WORK VERY DILIGENTLY AND WITH, UM, A VERY HIGH STANDARD OF INTEGRITY, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU DO AND THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE.
[00:20:02]
REALLY QUICKLY GOING BACK TO SOLID WASTE, 'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL ARE GONNA BE TAKING ON, UH, MORE OF THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT.DO Y'ALL, UM, ARE Y'ALL INVOLVED WITH, UH, THE LANDFILL, UH, REVIEW AND MAINTENANCE? AND AS WE APPROACH, WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS AS WE APPROACH GETTING TO THE END OF THOSE LIFE CYCLES OF SOME OF OUR LANDFILLS, I'M, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE COST OF THAT WILL BE AND THE NEED TO EXTEND THE LIFETIME OF SOME OF THOSE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE'RE, UM, SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY, SOLID WASTE HAS NEVER BEEN UNDER GSDS PURVIEW.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING STARTING IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WHERE WE'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THERE ARE FOUR FACILITIES IN THE QUADRANT AREAS OF THE CITY, AND WE'LL BE TAKING ON, UH, THEIR EMPLOY MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HAVE.
AND, UM, OF COURSE WE NEED TO DO A FACILITY CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT ON THOSE FACILITIES, WHICH AS WE SAY, HAVE BEEN RUN TO FAIL.
UM, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE GIVEN US SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO, TO HANDLE THAT, BUT THE LANDFILL PART, I DON'T BELIEVE IS A PART OF THAT.
AND GOING BACK, AND I'M GONNA POINT OUT YOU ALL DO A LOT ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET.
UM, SO THE THINGS THAT I'M GONNA POINT OUT ARE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS COMPLAINING TO YOU ALL.
IT'S BECAUSE THE PUBLIC MAY NOT BE AWARE, UH, BECAUSE ALL OF OUR FUNDS ARE GOING OUT TO PUBLIC FACING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OUR BUILDINGS AND A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE IN A VERY HISTORIC BUILDING, AND THE, UH, YOU KNOW, PAINT AS YOU WALK UP THE STAIRS IS CHIPPING AWAY.
AND THAT'S, AGAIN, FROM A HISTORICAL PRESERVATION PERSPECTIVE.
UM, NEEDS, WE HAVE DAMAGE FROM HARVEY THAT I KNOW CONTRACTORS ARE WORKING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, AND THAT'S JUST ONE BUILDING.
SO WHAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE MAYOR SAID IN HIS, UH, PRESENTATION THAT WE ARE DIRECTING MORE FUNDS TOWARDS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
UH, BUT IS THAT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT? WHAT I'M SEEING THAT A LOT OF THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET ARE RELATED TO PERSONNEL, UM, PAY INCREASES, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNMET NEEDS THAT WE AS COUNCIL NEED TO BE AWARE OF, UM, THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED, THAT YOU ALL ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW? AGAIN, NOT SAYING THAT'S YOUR FAULT, JUST THE REALITY AND THE, THE IMPACTS OF THE REVENUE CAP.
SO I, I'LL ADDRESS THE, UH, REAL QUICK.
THE PAINT IN THE STAIRWELL WILL BE ADDRESSED AFTER THE BASEMENT IS DONE.
IT'S NOT PART OF THE PROJECT, BUT, UM, MY STAFF FELT THAT DOING THAT AT THE SAME TIME THE BASEMENT WAS GOING ON WAS NOT GONNA BE PRODUCTIVE AS FAR AS, UM, PERSONNEL U WHO UTILIZE THE STAIRWELL.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, WHERE OUR, AGAIN, OUR NEEDS FALL SHORT, UM, ON PERSONNEL BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE ARE CARRYING OVER SOME PROJECTS FROM FISCAL YEAR 23 AND THE 24 CAPITAL PROJECTS, ALONG WITH THE PROJECTS THE PROJECT MANAGERS CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR FY 24 THAT HAVE TO GET STARTED.
AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SURPRISE ISSUES THAT COME UP, UM, THAT UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO TELL ME WHEN, UM, A FIRE STATION'S GENERATOR'S GONNA GO OUT OR A, UH, COOLING TOWER IS GOING TO GO OUT.
THAT IS A, UM, HUGE CAPITAL PROJECT, WHICH I HAVE TO ASSIGN TO SOMEONE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR FACILITIES ARE OVER AVERAGE, OVER 40 YEARS OLD.
UM, WE HAVE ROUGHLY $594 MILLION WORTH OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE COSTS.
AND THAT RANGES, UH, SAY, SAY THAT NUMBER ONE MORE TIME.
AND, UM, WITH THE STUDY WE HAD DONE LAST YEAR OR YEAR BEFORE LAST, THAT NUMBER WILL START TO INCREASE AGAIN, UH, NEXT YEAR, UH, AROUND, UH, THE TIME WE MEET AGAIN NEXT YEAR, THAT NUMBER WILL START INCREASING.
WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON, UM, HAVING TO NOW OVERSEE THE FOUR FACILITIES WITH SOLID WASTE? DO YOU THINK THAT'S, UH, A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? DO YOU THINK THAT WILL, UH, HELP WITH EFFICIENCIES OF MAINTENANCE AND OVERALL UPKEEP OF, OF THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT? UM, WHAT'S, WHAT'S YOUR VIEWS ON THAT? SO, I MEAN, AGAIN, YOU HAVE FACILITIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN MAINTAINED, UM, THAT HAVE RUN THE FAIL.
I WOULD SAY ONCE WE DO THE ASSESSMENT AND CAN GET THEM UP TO SOME TYPE OF STANDARD AND US MAINTAINING IT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THOSE BUILDINGS.
[00:25:01]
YOU.SO I LOOKED AT, AT THE, THE RAW DATA AND THE, ON THIS DEPARTMENT, AND I SEE IT'S $38 MILLION OF REGULAR DEPARTMENTS AND THEN 5 MILLION FROM, OR 4.5 FROM PARKS.
SO, AND THEN IN THE PARKS YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF ROOFING COSTS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHERE A BIG HIT, A BIG THING, AND A A LOT OF STRUCTURAL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THE PARKS MONEY.
DO YOU KEEP IT LIKE THE PARKS MONEY, MRR STAYS WITH THE PARKS AND THE OTHER STAYS WITH ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS? IS THAT HOW IT WORKS OR IS IT ALL ONE BIG FUND? YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THE, GO AHEAD.
SO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR OWN BUDGET WITHIN MRR THAT WE DON'T USE AT ALL.
THEY USE THAT FOR THEIR ROOFING ON THEIR FACILITIES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
Y'ALL AREN'T MESSING WITH THAT.
Y'ALL ARE DOING THE 38 MILLION? CORRECT.
THERE'S A CONTINGENCY OF $5 MILLION IN THAT MONEY.
WHAT, WHAT'S THAT? SO THAT IS BUILT IN FOR US TO USE FOR UNEXPECTED, UH, THINGS THAT POP UP THAT CJ MENTIONED, LIKE A GENERATOR GOING OUT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT LAST YEAR IT WAS LIKE 2 MILLION AND IT WAS, IT WAS 4 MILLION BEFORE.
OH, WAS, IT WAS BEEN 4 MILLION THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
AND THE NUMBER'S WRONG IN THERE, AND WE INCREASED IT TO 5 MILLION BECAUSE WE WERE TAKING ON SOLID WASTE.
I HAD A DIFFERENT NUMBER IN HERE, BUT, UM, UM, ALSO ON THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR, FOR THIS DIVISION.
SO I, I'D BE INTERESTED IN SEEING, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WORK ORDERS COMPLETED, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
YOU'RE GONNA DO 18,000, THAT'S A LOT.
AND, BUT NUMBER OF CONTRACT AMENDMENTS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN A WHOLE LOT TO ME.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE LIKE HOW ARE WE KIND OF, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ARE WE TACKLING EACH YEAR OF THAT $594 MILLION WORTH OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, KIND OF HOW ARE WE CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT? I MEAN, THAT'D BE A MEASURE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, LIKE WHERE, WHERE ARE WE GETTING WITH THIS EXTRA MONEY THAT'S BEING GONE? WHAT, HOW ARE WE, OR HOW ARE WE DRAWING THAT DOWN? HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE? I KNOW THAT IN THOSE FACILITIES CONDITIONS ASSESSMENTS, THEY HAVE A PRIORITY LIST.
RIGHT? CJ, THEY HAVE LIKE, AND YOU, YOU JUST TAKE THE LEVEL ONES FIRST AND SO YOU, YOU HAVE YOUR LEVEL ONES, YOUR LEVEL TWOS OR, UM, THE MOST IMPORTANT OR THE LIFE SAFETY, UM, ISSUES, HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES WE TACKLE FIRST.
AND THEN YOU JUST OF COURSE GET THE CALLS FOR THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE STUFF TOO.
SO YOU AND ALL COMES OUT, YOU KNOW, SO WE GET, YOU HAVE THE FCA FOR CURRENT PROBLEMS AND THEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, TOMORROW SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS.
AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO.
STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ'S OFFICE.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK YOUR OFFICE IS DOING UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH DEPOSITORIES THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF A LAND ACQUISITION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO SATISFY A CONSTITUENT AND CONTRACTOR REQUEST TO ACCESS NEW OR GROWING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES.
SO ARE YOU ASKING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTRACTORS? NO, I'M ASKING IS YOUR DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ACQUISITION OF LAND? AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO.
THAT COMPLETES THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW TURN TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER AND YOU ALL MAY BE DISMISSED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, PRESENTATIONS.
THE FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER WILL BE MS. SABA BLANDING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF, UM, DISTRICT I, AND I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS OR YOUR STAFF, UM, DO YOU SUPPORT CHANGING OUR CITY HALL ACCESS POLICIES SO THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE STATE ISSUED IDENTIFICATION ARE ABLE TO ENTER WITHOUT A PROBLEM? WE'RE ONLY GONNA BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION.
UH, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PRESENTATION YOU JUST HEARD, WE CAN ANSWER THOSE.
BUT ALL OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, YOU CAN SUBMIT TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO ANY, LIKE, BUILDING QUESTIONS.
UH, IF IT HAS TO PERTAIN TO THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU JUST SAW REGARDING THE, THE FINANCES AND THE FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED BUDGET, WE CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
SO WE'LL JUST SUBMIT THIS VIA EMAIL.
[00:30:01]
IT VIA EMAIL, UH, BUT THE ANSWERS YOU WILL GET WILL HAVE TO DO WITH THE PRESENTATIONS OF THE BUDGET.OH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAMAN? YEAH, REALLY QUICKLY, SABA, JUST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME BACK AND FORTH ON THIS, IT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE BUDGET SPECIFICALLY, BUT SINCE YOU'RE HERE, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO HEAR GSD HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE PERSONNEL BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A STATE ISSUED ID THAT YOU CAN USE TO COME INTO CITY HALL.
IF THERE'S INDIVIDUAL, UM, ISSUES, LET'S SAY WITH A, A SECURITY OFFICER WHO'S JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB, RIGHT, THEY MAY NEW, UM, BUT THAT, THAT IS NOT THE POLICY OF THE CITY TO ONLY, UH, ALLOW ACCESS FOR A STATE ISSUED OR IDS.
SO THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT IF YOU KNOW OF A SPECIFIC INSTANCE WHERE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, LET YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER KNOW ALSO.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS, UH, DEPARTMENT.
SO WE WILL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS, UH, UNTIL WE'RE GEARED UP FOR THE NEXT PRESENTATION.