[FY 2024 Budget Workshop: Planning ]
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OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START.
UM, WELCOME DIRECTOR MARGARET WALLACE BROWN, UH, WHO WILL PROVIDE US AN UPDATE ON PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTS BUDGET PROCESS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR CFO FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, ROGER HAMILTON.
HE'S SITTING NEXT TO ME AND THE REST OF OUR FINANCE TEAM, WHICH IS, UM, ALEJANDRO AND DANELLA, UM, BEHIND US.
AND THEN I ALSO HAVE IN OUR PRESENCE THE CHIEF, UH, TRANSPORTATION OFFICER, UH, DAVID FIELDS.
SO IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M CONFIDENT THEY CAN HELP.
UM, SO MY NAME IS MARGARET WALLACE BROWN AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
I WANNA START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANKING CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE PLANNING TEAM AS WE CARRY OUT OUR MISSION TO GROW AND PRESERVE HOUSTON'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND CREATE A RESILIENT CITY.
I WANNA START BY TAKING A MOMENT TO BRAG ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT.
NOW, I KNOW ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE GREAT, BUT I THINK OURS IS SUPER GREAT STUPENDOUS EVEN.
WE HAVE SOME MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR THAT I WANNA POINT OUT TO YOU.
IN 2022, WE REVIEWED 3,701 SUBDIVISION PLAT APPLICATIONS.
THAT IS AN ALL TIME RECORD AND A 20% INCREASE FROM 2021, WHICH IN ITSELF WAS AN ALL TIME RECORD.
WE REVIEWED 19,370 COMBINED PERMIT APPLICATIONS IN 2022, AND THAT WAS ANOTHER RECORD SITTING YEAR.
BUT PERHAPS THE BEST NEWS OF THAT IS THAT WE REDUCED OUR DAYS IN THE SYSTEM COUNT FROM A HIGH OF 31 DAYS DOWN TO 17 DAYS, AND WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THAT.
WE PROVIDED ALL THE DATA ANALYSIS AND MAPPING NECESSARY FOR YOU TO COMPLETE A REDISTRICTING PLAN THAT ENSURES THAT ALL HOUSTONIANS HAVE A VOICE IN HOW OUR CITY GOVERNMENT OPERATES.
WE TOOK GREAT STRIDES IN PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND RESIDENTS BY GIVING YOU SEVERAL ORDINANCE CHANGES TO CONSIDER, AND YOU AGREED TO ALL OF THEM.
THEY INCLUDE THE RESIDENTIAL BUFFERING AND DUMPSTER SCREENING ORDINANCE, A FEE IN LIEU OF SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE, AND ESTABLISHING A SIDEWALK FUND TO EXTEND OUR SIDEWALK NETWORK, CREATING THE BRUNER HARMONIUM HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THE CREATION OF A CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROGRAM THAT WILL IMMEDIATELY FOCUS ON SIX NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT 44 OUT OF THE 50 ACTIONS IN OUR VISION ZERO PLAN AND IMPLEMENTED MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS SIX NEW MILES OF SIDEWALKS, 214 NEW OR RECONSTRUCTED CURB RAMPS, 20 MILES OF NEW BIKE LANES WITH 155 IN PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION.
AND WE COMPLETED THREE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE PLANS.
WE WILL COMPLETE THREE MORE THIS YEAR.
THE ICING ON THE CAKE, HOWEVER, WAS BEING AWARDED THE NINTH ANNUAL CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD BY OUR PARTNERS AT OBO.
WHOEVER SAID THE NOMINATION DIDN'T MATTER, DIDN'T WIN THIS AWARD.
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, OPERATES BASICALLY WITH FIVE DIVISIONS, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN DETAIL AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET.
THEY ARE THE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING DIVISION, THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, THE GIS SERVICES DIVISION, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION.
THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE DEPARTMENT'S ALIGNMENT TO THE MAYOR'S IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES AS DEFINED IN HIS STRATEGIC GUIDANCE.
ALL PROGRAMS ALIGN TO A TO A MAYORAL PRIORITY, AND THE OVERALL DEPARTMENT BUDGET IS BROKEN DOWN AS SUCH.
THERE IS AN OVERALL 12% INCREASE DUE TO THE INDIRECT COST RECOVERY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRACKER WEB APPLICATION REDESIGN, A ONE-TIME CREDIT FOR RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES MATCHING GRANT.
THE HOPE INCREASES CHANGES IN THE CHARGEBACK, FILLING, VACANT POSITIONS, AND ADDITION OF THE FTES, THE ADDITIONAL FTES, SUPPORT SITE PLAN REVIEW AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE IN EITHER INCREASING OR NEW TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
NEXT SLIDE, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT EACH OF THE DIVISIONS, EACH OF THE PROGRAMS SEPARATELY.
NOW, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S SOUND.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ENCOMPASS THE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND DIRECTOR'S OFFICE.
THE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING BUDGETING, PURCHASING, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION MAIL-OUTS.
THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE
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FOR OPEN RECORDS, COMMISSION SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR, COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.OUR COMMUNITY REGIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PRIORITY.
MAJOR SERVICES INCLUDE THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE PLANNING, NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER PRESERVATION THROUGH MINIMUM LOT SIZE PARKING AND YARDS, PROHIBITION AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.
NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND RESILIENCE PROGRAMS ARE BECOMING STRONGER, MORE COHESIVE, AND BETTER PREPARED TO RECOVER FROM FLOODING, HEAT, ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, AND OTHER STRESSES.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER PRESERVATION TOOLS CONTINUE TO HELP STABILIZE AND STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS THROUGH COMMUNITIES WHO REAPPLY AFTER THEIR ORDINANCES EXPIRE.
AND THESE TOOLS ARE ORDINANCE DRIVEN, REQUIRING ADHERENCE TO STRICT DEADLINES AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES.
OUR THREE NEW NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE PLANS WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR, AND THIS WILL ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN IMPLEMENTING EXISTING PLANS AND PARTNER WITH THE OFFICE OF PRESERVATION TO ESTABLISH SIX NEW CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DESIGN AND REVIEW PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S SERVICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY.
MAJOR SERVICES IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND DESIGN REVIEW TEAM INCLUDE PLAT REVIEW, SITE PLAN, REVIEW UPDATES TO DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND OTHER REVIEWS AND UPDATES FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE RECEIVED RECORD NUMBERS OF PLAT AND SITE PLAN APPLICATIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND WHILE WE EXPECT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY TO LEVEL OFF IN FY 24, THE NUMBERS WILL REMAIN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN IN RECENT PAST MEETING.
THE STATE AND LOCAL GUIDELINES WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGING.
RECORD PLANNING REQUESTS, OR AS I SAID, 3,701 SUBDIVISION PLAT APPLICATIONS IN 2022 CAUSE AN INCREASE IN OUR WORKLOAD FROM 2021.
AND IN FY 24, WE EXPECT TO WRAP UP THE LIVABLE PLACES PROGRAM AND HOPE TO CONVENE A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE CITY'S PARKING STANDARDS.
IN FY 24, WE LOWERED THE TARGET NUMBER OF PLAT APPLICATIONS REVIEWED BECAUSE WE SEE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IN HOUSTON LEVELING OFF.
THIS IS AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH.
THE TARGET FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SITE PLAN REVIEWS HAS ALSO BEEN ADJUSTED DOWNWARD.
THIS IS TO ACCOUNT FOR MORE ADDITIONAL STANDARDS BEING ADDED, INCLUDING THE SIDEWALK MODIFICATION REQUEST, RESIDENTIAL BUFFERING, LIGHT SCREENING, AND DUMPSTER STANDARDS.
THE GIS INFORMATION SYSTEMS SERVICES PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S SERVICE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY.
THIS DIVISION MANAGES AND MAINTAINS MUCH OF THE CITY'S GIS INFORMATION AND COORDINATES WITH REGIONAL EMERGENCY PROVIDERS WITH MAPPING AND ANALYSIS FOR EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY PROVIDE MAPS AND INFORMATION INDICATING SERVICES, FAC, MAPS, AND INFORMATION INDICATING SERVICES, FACILITIES, AND DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
THE GIS WAS INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE RECENT REDISTRICTING PLAN.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S COMPLETE COMMUNITY'S PRIORITY.
CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE FACILITATES THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND MAINTAINING THE CITY'S HISTORIC RESOURCES THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROPERTY OWNERS.
THIS GROUP MANAGES CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 33 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, AS WELL AS COORDINATING STATE FEDERAL REVIEW OF HISTORIC RESOURCES IN THE COMING YEAR.
THIS TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CREATION OF SIX CONSERVATION DISTRICT PILOT NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY.
THIS DIVISION HAS ADVANCED THE VISION TO CREATE SAFE, MULTIMODAL, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL.
THEY HAVE DONE THIS THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING VISION ZERO, THE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES ON HOUSTON STREETS.
BY 2030, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOUSTON BIKE PLAN WITH OVER 1800 MILES OF HIGH COMFORT BIKE FACILITIES, WHICH CAN BE USED BY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
MANAGING THE CITY'S EFFORTS ON THE NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S VISION TO MAKE THIS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT.
AND LASTLY, MANAGING THE CITY'S NEWLY FEE IN LIEU OF FOR SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION.
THEY ALSO MANAGE THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLANNING EFFORT.
THE FY 24 BUDGET INCLUDES MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES, GULFTON AND BEYOND PLANNING STUDY, PRIMARILY FUNDED BY THE U-S-D-O-T.
I WILL NOW SPEAK ABOUT THE EXPENDITURES BY FUND.
OVERALL, WE ARE PROPOSING AN EXPENDITURE INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 12% ACROSS ALL THREE OF OUR FUNDS.
THE INCREASE IS LARGELY DUE TO THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE'S.
CONTRACTUAL PAY INCREASES, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRACK, WEB TRACKER, WEB APPLICATION REDESIGN, AND A ONE-TIME CREDIT FOR
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THE RECON RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES MATCHING GRANT.THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES TWO GRAPHS OF THE FY 24 PROJECTED BUDGET EXPENDITURES FOR PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL AND THE GENERAL FUND AND THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
THE GENERAL FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 4.8 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH INCLUDES 68% OR 3.2 MILLION FOR PERSONNEL COST AND 32% OR 1.5 MILLION FOR NON-PERSONNEL COST.
SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 13.3 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH INCLUDES 58% OR 7.7 MILLION FOR PERSONNEL COSTS AND 42% OR 5.6 MILLION FOR NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
IS THAT RIGHT? I'M NOT SURE WHERE I AM NOW.
WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO BE? I'M SORRY.
I DON'T HAVE A PAGE 15 IN THIS BOOK.
THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES TWO GRAPHS OF THE FY 2024 PROJECTED BUDGET EXPENDITURES FOR PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL IN THE CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING FUND AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND.
CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 1.7 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING 86% OR 1.5 MILLION FOR PERSONNEL COSTS AND 14% OR 252,000 FOR NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND IS APPROXIMATELY 150,000 IN EXPENDITURES AND IS ENTIRELY FOR NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
THERE ARE NO FTES PAID FOR IN THIS FUND.
NOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT REVENUE BY FUND.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS SHOWING AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN EXPECTED, IN EXPECTED REVENUE FOR FY 24.
HOWEVER, AN INCREASE IN REVENUE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM IS DUE TO THE CHARGEBACK.
THE DECREASE IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND DESIGN REVIEW PROGRAM REVENUE IS DUE TO A LEVELING OFF OF PLATING ACTIVITY.
OVERALL, WE ARE PROPOSING A REVENUE DECREASE OF $106,000 ACROSS ALL FUNDS, WHICH I'LL EXPLAIN IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS LARGELY DUE TO MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
CONTRACTUAL PAY INCREASES AND CHANGES TO THE CHARGEBACK PERCENTAGES.
THE DECREASE IN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS DUE TO A LEVELING OFF OF PLATTING ACTIVITIES.
THE GENERAL FUND IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 324,000.
THE GENERAL FUND IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 324,000 FROM THE FY 23 ESTIMATE.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS EXPECTING A DECREASE OF 471,000 COMPARED TO THE FY 23 ESTIMATE.
DUE TO, AGAIN, THAT LEVELING OFF OF PLATTING ACTIVITY.
THE NEXT LINE SHOWS ESSENTIAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND.
QUESTIONS,
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE, UH, IF YOU GO TO SLIDE 14 REAL QUICK PLEASE.
SO IS THAT, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT IN YOUR DEPARTMENT 68% OF YOUR COST ALLOCATION IS FOR PEOPLE IN THE BUDGET GENERAL FUND ONLY? YES.
SO WHY DO YOU HAVE A 16% CHANGE IN YOUR BUDGET WHEN 68% OF THE COST IS IN PEOPLE? THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.
UH, SO THE 16% INCREASE IS DUE LARGELY TO THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
UM, THE, THE PAY INCREASES, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRAP WEB APPLICATION REDESIGN.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A MOMENT.
IN A ONE-TIME CREDIT FOR THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES GRANT.
SO THE LAST TWO, THE, THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES GRANT IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO MATCH THE GRANT WE'VE RECEIVED.
BECAUSE WHEN WE WENT TO THAT SLIDE, YOUR COMMENT WAS THE INCREASE OF THE 12% WAS RELATED TO THE INCREASE FOR PERSONNEL RAISES.
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I DIDN'T HEAR THE OTHER PART.SO THE 16% GIVE ME THE, THE CATEGORIES BESIDES PERSONNEL NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
OKAY, SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME, OKAY.
THE 12% FOR THIS SLIDE IS ACROSS ALL FOUR OF OUR FUNDS.
THE 16% IN THE GENERAL FUND IS DUE TO THREE THINGS.
THE EMPLOYEE INCREASES, WHICH IS THE 3% CORRECT.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRACKER WEB APPLICATION.
SO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS COME TO THE OFFICE THROUGH SOMETHING CALLED HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRACKER.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REDESIGNING AND REBUILDING THAT WITH, WITH THE IT DEPARTMENT.
IT'S, I DON'T KNOW, 8-YEAR-OLD TECHNOLOGY.
IT'S NOT VERY USER-FRIENDLY FOR EITHER OUR CUSTOMERS OR OUR STAFF.
AND SO WE ARE REBUILDING THAT.
AND THIS FUND INCREASE INCLUDES $586,000 FOR THE COST FOR THAT.
IT'S A ONE-TIME COST FOR THAT PROGRAM.
AND THEN IT ALSO INCLUDES A ONE-TIME CREDIT FOR THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES MATCHING GRANT.
WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM U-S-D-O-T TO FOR, UM, ON BASE THE RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES FOR THE GULFTON STREET REDESIGN.
AND THIS IS OUR 100 AND 100 AND $120,000 MATCH FOR THAT.
OR TAKE A COUPLE DOLLARS, MAKE SURE.
SO THE GENERAL FUND INCREASE OF 16 IS RELATED TO 3% FOR OUR STANDARD RAISE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRACKER OF $586,000.
AND THEN A MATCHING GRANT COMPONENT FOR US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF 120,000.
ONE 30, I'M SORRY, 1 38 1 3 8.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THE PRESENTATION.
ON, ON SLIDE NINE, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
UM, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY HERE.
I THINK THIS TELLS THE STORY CERTAINLY OF WHAT WE HEAR, UM, IN THE TARGETS, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE OF COMMERCIAL PROJECTS REVIEWED IN 13 DAYS GOAL WAS 90%, YOU GOT 3% AND NOW YOUR GOAL AGAIN IS 80%.
AND THEN SAME THING ON THE RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS.
JUST AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY TOUGH YEAR THERE.
VERY TOUGH YEAR, AND WE HAVE REALLY LONG LAG TIMES.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW WE ARE EXPECTED? I SEE IN YOUR FTES YOU ARE LOOKING AT GAINING FROM 51.5 FTES TO 57.5 FTES.
DO YOU THINK SIX MORE PEOPLE CAN HANDLE THIS CASELOAD AND GET US UP TO THE 80% GOAL? AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO HELP? I MEAN, I KNOW WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, DOING STAFF AUGMENTATION, UH, CONTRACTS, WHICH I'M ALL ABOUT.
AND WE'LL DO MORE IF I NEED TO AND IF, IS THAT BEING FACTORED IN TO THIS? SO WE ARE, WE ARE WORKING WITH HPW ON THE STAFF AUGMENTATION, BUT THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SIX FTS THAT WE HAVE ADDED.
BUT IT'S, BUT IS IT INCLUDED? ARE YOU USING THAT WHEN YOU PUT YOUR 80% TARGET DOWN? YES.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE, THAT ARE REALLY TAKING PLACE OVER THERE.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FI THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, MANY OF OUR, UH, PERMITTING EMPLOYEES WERE RELATIVELY NEW.
WE HAVE, UM, UH, I THINK THE NUMBER IS ABOUT 40% OF OUR EMPLOYEES OVER THERE HAVE BEEN HERE LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
IT IS A VERY ONEROUS TRAINING PROGRAM TO BRING THEM UP TO SPEED.
SO UNTIL YOU GET FULLY TRAINED, FULLY CONFIDENT, FULLY COMFORTABLE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU ARE, YOU, YOUR WORK IS SLOWER, CLEARLY.
AND SO NOW THAT WE'VE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, THEY'VE BEEN ON BOARD LONGER, THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING MORE EFFICIENT WITH THEIR WORK.
UM, WE HAVE ALSO HAD ONE EMPLOYEE WHO'S A STELLAR EMPLOYEE WHO HAS GONE, WHO WAS GONE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BECAUSE HE WAS DEPLOYED WITH THE, I BELIEVE, THE ARMY.
AND THAT, THAT OUR NUMBERS CHANGED IMMEDIATELY THE DAY HE CAME BACK.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE THAT BACK.
SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT YES, I, I COULD USE MORE PEOPLE OVER THERE.
UM, BUT STAFF AUGMENTATION IS REALLY WHAT'S GONNA, IT WILL ASSIST.
CO COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
UM, DIRECTOR, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
'CAUSE GIVEN THE LIMITED TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY WHEN IT COMES, RIGHT, NO ZONING.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WE KNOW EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIAL MINIMUM LOT SIZE, THE PROTECTIONS WE DO HAVE, THE STATE IS TRYING TO TAKE THOSE AWAY.
SO Y'ALL ARE WORKING WITHIN PARAMETERS, BUT WE STILL IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS GOT, UH, NOT JUST THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR CONSERVATION DISTRICTS,
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BUT, UM, THE BUFFERING ORDINANCES AND THE OTHER CERTAIN PROTECTIONS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR.SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK AND RECOGNIZE YOUR ENTIRE TEAM IS AMAZING.
I THINK DAVID FIELDS DESERVES SOME SPECIAL CREDIT FROM DISTRICT C FOR THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT, UM, THAT HE HAS PROACTIVELY DONE IN WORKING WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT.
UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE, AS AN EXAMPLE, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, WE TALK ABOUT THE NOTICE, UM, THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW A PROCESS, RIGHT? MM-HMM
THAT RESIDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN CHECK A BOX IF YOU WANT THIS, ET CETERA.
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY TYPE OF NOTICE THAT GOES OUT FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, USUALLY THAT'S THROUGH JUST SNAIL MAIL, POSTAGE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT THE COST OF POSTAGE IS? AND HAVE WE CONSIDERED, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WITH CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, A CONSTITUENT HAD REACHED OUT WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, WHETHER OR NOT RESIDENTS COULD RESPOND VIA EMAIL, RIGHT? SO THEY, WE MAY NEED TO SEND SOMETHING BY MAIL, BUT HAVE WE LOOKED AT ELECTRONIC ENGAGEMENT THAT MAY ONE, SAVE COSTS, BUT ALSO, UM, MAKE IT EASIER ON RESIDENTS? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION.
SO YES, WE HAVE LOOKED AT ELECTRONIC ENGAGEMENT AND IN SOME INSTANCES WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, SOME OF, SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES THAT IN SOME OF OUR WORK, UM, THE STATE ACTUALLY MANDATES IT.
AND SO WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO THAT IN A NUMBER OF INSTANCES.
UM, WE HAVE LOOKED AT OUR BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR ON POSTAGE AND WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND WITH A HERITAGE DISTRICT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, WHICH REQUIRES NOTIFICATION.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, IN, UM, 2021, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UM, THE STATE SUPREME COURT, UM, UPHELD OUR, OUR, UM, HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
BUT IN THEIR EFFORT OF DOING SO, THEY ACTUALLY SAID THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON MUST FOLLOW CHAPTER TWO 11 IN CREATING AND MANAGING THEM.
AND THAT FALLS ALSO TO THE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.
AND SO CHAPTER TWO 11 IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE NOTIFICATION THAN WHAT, UM, WE HAD BEEN DOING WITH HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
SO WE ARE CONCERNED THAT OUR, OUR MAILING, OUR BUDGET, OUR POSTAGE, UM, OUR POSTAGE BUDGET WILL, UM, NEED TO BE RECONSIDERED.
AND, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW, HOW MUCH MORE WE THINK WE WILL NEED FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
RIGHT NOW, OUR BUDGET FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR IS THE SAME AS WHAT IT WAS FOR LAST YEAR.
WE'LL, WE'LL SUBMIT THAT QUESTION ONLINE.
UM, AND LASTLY, UH, I KNOW THIS PRIMARILY FALLS TO TWO OTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, THIS PRIMARILY FALLS TO PUBLIC WORKS, BUT WE'VE HAD RESIDENTS COME TO US WITH CONCERNS ABOUT DEED RESTRICTION ENFORCEMENT MM-HMM
AND BECAUSE YOUR DEPARTMENT PLAYS SUCH AN INTEGRAL ROLE, UH, IN DEED RESTRICTIONS, RIGHT? AND REVIEWING THINGS LIKE THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT WE CAN BE DOING? FOR EXAMPLE, ONE RESIDENT SAID THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE'S MAYBE BUILDING IN A DEED RESTRICTED AREA, THEY'RE JUST CHECKING A BOX THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE DEED RESTRICTIONS VERSUS A FORMAL REVIEW OF IF THAT ACTUALLY COMPLIES.
I DON'T KNOW THE TRUTH TO THAT, BUT THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT MORE CAN WE BE DOING AS A DEPARTMENT AND AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BURDEN IS NOT FALLING ON INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS TO KEEP UP WITH ENFORCEMENT.
SO THERE'S TWO ASPECTS OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH DEED RESTRICTIONS.
WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO THE, TO THE PERMITTING CENTER SIMPLY TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT, THEY SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT AND JUST CHECK THAT BOX.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
WHEN SOMEONE IS SUBDIVIDING, UM, PIECE OF PROPERTY OR GETTING A DEVELOPMENT PLAT THROUGH OUR OFFICE, THROUGH THE PLATTING PROCESS PROCESS, AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO A PUBLIC HEARING THAT ACTUALLY IS REVIEWED THROUGH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT PULLS THE TITLE ON THOSE PROPERTIES AND LOOKS VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE IF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED MEETS THE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THAT IS AN INCREDIBLY THOROUGH PROCESS THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DOES AS A PARTNER WITH US.
ALL THOSE TITLE REPORTS ARE NOT CHEAP TO, TO, UM, TO GET.
SO, UM, THAT WE BELIEVE IS A REALLY THOROUGH, GOOD WAY TO REVIEW DEED RESTRICTIONS AND TO UP AND FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO UPHOLD THEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WE OFTEN FIND IS THAT NEIGHBORS WHO BELIEVE THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE VALID.
ONCE OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT LOOKS AT 'EM IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS PLAT, THEY WILL BE, IT'S DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE NOT VALID IN THE WAY THE NEIGHBORHOODS THINK.
UM, SO THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE TO HELP NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON WHAT THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS SAY, THE VALIDITY OF THEM, AND, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO, UH, REINSTATE OR RENEW THEM EASIER.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WOULD FALL.
THERE'S RIGHT NOW NOBODY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP WITH THAT.
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PAGE 12, UM, ONE OF THE, UM, OUTCOMES, TARGETED OUTCOMES IS TO HAVE FOUR, I BELIEVE, FOUR NEW SIDEWALKS, SIDEWALK PROJECTS CREATED UTILIZING THE FEE IN LIEU OF, UM, IS IT ONLY FOUR BECAUSE THAT FUND IS STILL BUILDING, UH, AND I'M ASSUMING JUST FOR THE RECORD, IT WILL GROW WITH TIME.AND WITH THAT FOUR, IS THAT SPECIFIED AS TO WHETHER THOSE FOUR ARE WITHIN THE AREAS WHERE THAT, THAT FEE WAS GENERATED FROM, OR THOSE FOUR UTILIZING THE PERCENTAGE, RIGHT.
THAT GOES TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I THINK WE LOOKED FIRST AT THE AREA WHERE THE, WHERE THE FEE IS GENERATED.
UM, DAVID MIGHT BE ABLE TO CORRECT, CORRECT ME ON THAT, BUT, UM, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THAT FIRST.
DO YOU WANNA, SO TO THE FIRST QUESTION, YES.
UH, BECAUSE IT'S A NEW FUND, THE MONEY NEEDS TO GET IN THERE AND GROW BEFORE WE HAVE ENOUGH TO BUILD A REASONABLE PROJECT.
THE SECOND IS, UH, WE WILL LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT, BUT IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE 30% CITYWIDE MAY ACTUALLY GROW FASTER.
SO IT MAY BE PROJECTS THERE FIRST.
SO DOVETAILING ON, UH, WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN STARTED, UM, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS PERMITTING ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR OFFICE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND MY APOLOGIES 'CAUSE I WENT TO, UH, DIRECTOR HADDOCK WITH IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE WAS RUNNING WITH IT, WITH THIS.
AND IT WAS RELATED TO, UH, PERMITTING, STAFF AUGMENTATION THAT WE PUT IN PLACE.
AND I UNDERSTAND MR. BUTLER, UH, LOST HIS MOTHER, AND I DID NOT WANNA BOTHER HIM IN MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIM.
BUT, UH, I THINK THERE IS A SIMPLE FIX OUT THERE THAT I BROUGHT TO DIRECTOR HADDOCK.
AND THAT IS WE SIGNED A CONTRACT AND APPROPRIATED MONEY, UH, WITH A FIRM CALLED VERSA, V-E-R-S-A THAT I LOOKED UP.
BUT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT WERE VERY NARROW IN SCOPE, MEANING THAT THE MONEY THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED FROM CITY COUNCIL, UM, WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH BECAUSE THE SCOPE WAS NARROWED.
SO IN TALKING TO DIRECTOR HA HADDOCK, I THOUGHT IF YOU PUT IN SOMETHING, UH, JUST ADDRESSES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ON A WORK ORDER BASIS, WOULD PROBABLY TAKE CARE OF THAT.
SO YOU TAKE THE SCOPE THAT'S BEEN NARROWED.
WE HAVE THE MONEY, BUT THE SCOPE IS SO NARROW THAT IT CAN'T ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
IF YOU BROADEN THE SCOPE BY PUTTING IN PROFESSIONAL, AND THIS HAS TO BE RUN THROUGH LEGAL, THIS IS JUST DAVE MARTIN'S WORDS PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ON A WORK ORDER BASIS, I THINK THAT'LL HELP.
UM, AND THEN PUT IN THERE TO AUGMENT THE PLAN REVIEW STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
SO I WOULD, I BROUGHT IT UP TO DIRECTOR HADDOCK THINKING THAT IT WAS HERS, BUT IT IS NOW, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL ARE WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH HPW ON SOME OF THIS.
NO, SO, SO THE CONTRACT WILL BE ACTUALLY MANAGED BY HPW.
WE WILL BE ONE OF THE, THE PEOPLE THAT HAS ADDED ONTO, IT'S OKAY.
SO DIRECTOR HADDOCK WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PERSON, BUT I'LL, I'LL, I SEE HER REGULARLY.
DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE THOUGH? THAT WAS JUST MY IDEA, BECAUSE IN TALKING, WE DO HAVE STAFF AUGMENTATION OUT THERE, BUT THE SCOPE IS SO NARROW THAT THE MONEY ALLOCATED ISN'T BEING UTILIZED BECAUSE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE'VE LOST A NUMEROUS PEOPLE, UH, IN PERMITTING MM-HMM
IN CERTAIN AREAS AND STAFF AUGMENTATION.
IT'S TAKEN FOREVER TO GET PERMITS THROUGH.
SO STAFF AUGMENTATION WAS BROUGHT IN TO TEMPORARILY HELP, BUT WHEN THE SCOPE IS SO NARROW THAT IT DOESN'T SERVE THAT PURPOSE, YOU HA NEED TO, TO WIDEN THE SCOPE A LITTLE BIT.
SO IF YOU WOULD WORK WITH DIRECTOR HADDOCK, I, I SENT DIRECTOR A NOTE JUST LAST NIGHT, AND I TOLD HER THAT I'D GET WITH HER BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW AND SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
THAT, UH, WE HAVE NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
WE DO HAVE THREE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, HOWEVER.
SO OUR FIRST IS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, MR. DOUG SMITH.
THIS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM, WHICH SAYS THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE ZERO TRAFFIC DEATHS BY 2030, UH, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY DIFFICULT GOAL TO, UH, REACH, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE INTERIM GOALS TO SEE HOW WELL THE PROJECT IS DOING.
UH, RATHER THAN JUST SAYING BY 2030, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ZERO.
UH, THEY SHOULD TRY TO HAVE INTERIM GOALS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN SO THAT WE CAN MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF IT.
AND THEN, UH, I'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE DIRECTOR AS PART OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE, AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED BACK AND FORTH POPULATION GROWTH IN THE CITY.
[00:30:01]
EIGHT OR SEVEN BUDGETS, THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR POPULATION, HAS DECREASED ABOUT 1%.AND YET THE DEPARTMENT IS BASING A LOT OF THEIR PLANS, PARTICULARLY THE, UH, LIVABLE PLACES ON THE FACT THAT POPULATION IS GOING TO BE, BE INCREASING.
AND I FRANKLY THINK THAT POPULATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECREASE.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT TREMENDOUS BUDGET DEFICITS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND YESTERDAY, THE SENATE PASSED THE MANDATORY ARBITRATION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT'S GOING TO, AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT WAS PASSED BY A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY.
THEY SAID, OKAY, IF NOT SEPTEMBER THOUGH.
AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT'S GONNA COST.
SO I THINK YOU ALL AND THE DEPARTMENT NEED TO REALLY LOOK SERIOUSLY AT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE POPULATION AND HOW YOU PLAN FOR THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW.
THAT'S A INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE, UM, THAT CAN GO ANYWHERE.
IT DEPENDS ON, IN SAN ANTONIO, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT WELL FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, BUT THEY IMPLEMENTED IT IN OTHER AREAS THAT IT HAS WORKED OUT WELL.
SO, UM, HOW DO YOU BUILD THAT IN A BUDGET THAT WE'RE GONNA PASS, TALK ABOUT ON MAY 31ST? NO, AND I'M NOT, THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
I JUST THINK IN GENERAL, LONG TERM, THIS DEPARTMENT AND COUNCIL NEEDS TO, UH, CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW IN POPULATION AS A CITY.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW.
SORRY, I, I SAID I, I, I WOULD, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.
UM, SABA, HEY, UM, THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE MORE DIRECTED TOWARDS MY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGOS.
I, I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED BY ALL THE BIKE LANE EXPANSION ON THE EAST END.
I MEAN, EVEN MY 5-YEAR-OLD WAS ABLE TO RIDE HER LITTLE BIKE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY.
AND I THINK YOU ON ANY EFFORTS YOU'VE HAD TOWARDS MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
AND, UM, MY QUESTION, KIND OF GOING BACK TO PARKS AND GUESS WORD THEM IS WE HAVE THAT GREAT METRO RAIL THERE, AND THEN WE HAVE THAT GU WORD THEM AND ALL THIS STUFF, UM, THERE, BUT THE SIDEWALKS ARE ABYSMAL AND NOT REALLY SAFE TO BE WALKING FROM 45 ALL THE WAY TO THE METRO RAIL AND ALL THOSE BUS STOPS AND INTERCONNECTING THAT TRANSPORT.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO WITH THESE ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK PROJECTS TO MAKE, UM, OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM MORE INTEGRATED, ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST END? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER GALLEGO.
THANK, THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL FOR COMING HERE AND BRINGING THAT TO MY ATTENTION.
UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IN REPRESENTING DISTRICT, I, I KNOW THAT, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO WIDEN THE SIDEWALKS, FOR EXAMPLE, AROUND GUS WEAM GOLF COURSE.
UH, SO THAT WAY THERE IS, UH, EEA EASIER ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS, UH, GOING TO THE METRO, UH, THE HARRISBURG, UM, UH, OR THE MAGNOLIA, UM, TRANSIT CENTER.
UH, AND THEN WITH THE BIKE LANE THERE ON LAWNDALE.
UM, MY, MY VISION IS THAT IF WE PLAN THIS RIGHT, UH, AND WE'RE WORKING IN REGARDS TO THE TELEPHONE ROAD, ALSO IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE JUST HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING LAST WEEK ON THAT, UH, WHERE WE'RE, IF WE, IF WE PLAN THIS RIGHT, THEN INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN, UH, CAN GET ON A BIKE SAFELY, UH, AND, AND GO DOWN THESE BIKE LANES, UH, AND END UP AT UM, UM, BRACE BAYOU FOR EXAMPLE.
UH, AND THEN THAT WAY THEY CAN CONTINUE SAFELY ON BRACE BAYOU ON THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS ALL THE WAY TO HERMAN PARK.
UH, ON, ON, ALSO IN REGARDS TO TELEPHONE ROAD, IF ALL THIS FALLS IN PLACE WITH THE HARRISBURG TURS DOING THEIR SECTION, UH, WITH THE RAISED GRANT, THEN WE WAS APPROVED THAT THEY, THE $26 MILLION I BELIEVE FOR TELEPHONE ROAD.
AND THEN IF THE GULF GATE TURS IS ABLE TO GET FUNDING FOR THEIR SECTION OF TELEPHONE ROAD, RESIDENTS CAN THEN GET ON TELEPHONE ROAD, THEY CAN GO ALL THE WAY TO SIMS BAYOU, UH, AND THEN AT SIMS BAYOU, THEY CAN SAFELY GO ON TO THE BOTANIC GARDEN.
UH, SO, SO THESE THINGS ARE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I'M WORKING ON.
AND AGAIN, I ONLY HAVE A FEW MONTHS LEFT, BUT HOPEFULLY MY PREDECESSOR WILL CONTINUE, UH, WITH THAT VISION.
UH, AND UH, THESE ARE THINGS THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, WILL BE USED UH, BY RESIDENTS IN THE AREA SO THAT WAY THEY CAN SAFELY GO TO THE, THESE DESTINATIONS.
IF ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WANNA TALK ABOUT SIDEWALKS, GO
[00:35:01]
AHEAD,SO MY QUESTION IS, WE'RE SEEING TURNAROUND TIMES CONTINUING TO BE FAR GREATER THAN OUR TARGETED TIMES.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW THIS AFFECTS CITY REVENUE BY SCALING UP PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT? WILL WE BE ABLE TO IMPROVE PROJECT REVIEW TIMES AND INCREASE REVENUES? I'M NOT SURE ABOUT HOW IT AFFECTS REVENUE, BUT I DO KNOW HOW IT AFFECTS CUSTOMER SERVICE.
AND IT'S NOT A PRETTY PICTURE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, WE'VE DEALT WITH THIS LITERALLY FOR A, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE YET BETTER.
AND I BROUGHT UP, THERE'S A CONTRACT OUT THERE FOR STAFF AUGMENTATION.
THIS IS WHY WE DO STAFF AUGMENTATION, BUT THE SCOPE OF THE AUGMENTATION IS NARROW AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO UTILIZE IT FOR THE FULL BREADTH OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN PERMITTING.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN PERMITTING AND THE CONTRACT IS VERY NARROW AND LIMITED TO THE NUMBER OF AREAS WITHIN PERMITTING THAT IT CAN ADDRESS.
SO WHILE IT CAN ADDRESS SUMS THAT ARE RELATED TO, UH, ONE COMPONENT, IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE TOTALITY OF IT.
SO ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IS GET THE LAWYERS TO WORK OUT THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS WE CAN USE IT FOR STAFF AUGMENTATION AT THE DIRECTION OF THE PERMITTING DIRECTOR, MR. CHRISTIAN BUTLER, WHO DOES A GREAT JOB DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UH, WE JUST HAD A LOT OF TURNOVER RECENTLY WITH THE STAFF THERE AND IT'S CAUSING THEM CHALLENGES.
THUS IT'S CAUSING US CHALLENGES.
'CAUSE GUESS WHO GETS THE CALLS? WE DO.
SO, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW IT AFFECTS THE REVENUE COUNCIL MEMBER.
THESE STAFF AUGMENTATION CONTRACTS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THEY SHOULD, UH, WE, THEY'VE HELPED A LOT IN BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT OFFICE OF CITY ENGINEER AND PLANNING WE'RE REALLY STILL HURTING.
AND IT ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS OUR REVENUES.
IT, I MEAN, WE NEED GROWTH IN THE CITY FOR OUR REVENUES TO GROW.
AND IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE, WE'RE KEEPING PROJECTS FROM BEING BUILT BECAUSE OF DELAYS, THAT AFFECTS OUR REVENUES, DEFINITELY AFFECTS THE, THE CUSTOMER'S REVENUES BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOANS OUT ON ALL THIS STUFF.
THEY HAVE INTEREST CARRY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. SO IT AFFECTS REVENUE ON ALL SIDES.
IT'S VERY MUCH IN THE TAXPAYER'S INTEREST FOR US TO FIX THIS.
CAN I ASK ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION? YEAH.
SO, UM, IF YOU NOTICE THE MAJORITY OF THINGS WHEN I COME UP HERE TO SPEAK EQUITY IS THE LENS TO WHICH I LOOK AT ALL THE BUDGET ISSUES.
AND SO IN TERMS OF PERMITTING, IS THERE A SLIDING SCALE? FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUILDING IN RIVER OAKS, YOU KNOW, IS, ARE THEY PAYING A DIFFERENT AMOUNT MAYBE THAN SOMEONE IN THE FIFTH WARD OR IS IT ALL THE SAME? UH, I'M GONNA SAY IT'S ALL THE SAME'S.
I DON'T THINK WE, WE DO ANY, NOT, NOT UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION, I PROMISE YOU THAT.
SO, BUT IT IS ALL THE SAME NOW.
I'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT THINGS THAT REALLY HELP.
ALL OF OUR, YOU ALWAYS HAVE GREAT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PLANNING AND DEPARTMENT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WORKSHOP AND ALSO DAY FOUR OF OUR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
WE WILL RECONVENE THE WORKSHOPS TOMORROW AT ONE O'CLOCK WITH HOUSING.
BUT BEFORE WE ADJOURN, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS WILL GO THROUGH THURSDAY, MAY 25TH, REMINDER TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CHECK SHAREPOINT AND UPLOAD WHERE THE UPLOADED PRESENTATIONS WILL BE.
AS WELL AS THE RESPONSES TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYBODY BEING HERE TODAY.