[FY 2025 Budget Workshop: Finance Department]
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OKAY.MEMBERS, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M NOT GONNA GO AROUND AND RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY AGAIN, WHO'S HERE.
WE'LL, WE'LL SEND A, A, WE'LL SEND A, UM, A, A, UM, A WE'LL SEND SOMETHING AROUND FOR YOU TO SIGN THAT YOU'RE HERE AT THIS MEETING.
UM, ALSO, UM, DIRECTOR, IF WE CAN JUST, AND ALL DIRECTORS.
SO, UM, I'M REALLY JUST INTERESTED IN THE NUMBERS.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE CAN READ THE PRESENTATIONS, YOUR GOALS, YOUR, YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UH, YOUR ORG CHART.
UM, UM, WE, WE JUST WANNA HIT THE NUMBERS.
WE'RE, WE'RE RUNNING BEHIND ALREADY, AND, AND WE JUST WANNA HIT THE NUMBERS AND THE, THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT ARE, THAT ARE TRANSPIRING AND OF COURSE, PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
WE WANNA ALWAYS LOOK AT PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
SO IF YOU COULD FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS IN THE PRESENTATIONS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
WELL, YOU'RE GONNA BE GLAD WHEN TODAY'S OVER, I BET.
UM, OKAY, SO I KNOW YOU SAID NOT TO FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THE ORG CHART, BUT I DO HAVE TO, UM, INTRO, I DO HAVE TO INTRODUCE AND, UM, COMMEND MY WHOLE TEAM THAT'S HERE SUPPORTING.
SO, UM, I HAVE MY ASSISTANT, EVA BARRIO SITS BACK AT THE OFFICE, UH, WATCHING.
AND THEN, UM, UH, FINANCE CHIEF OF STAFF.
UM, SHEILA MURPHY, WHO HEADS UP THE BUSINESS OFFICE FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SURE SHE'S WATCHING VIRTUALLY.
PAULA LICH UPON, UH, PAULA'S TEAM IS THE ONE THAT DID THE, UH, OPERATING BUDGET BOOK, THE LONG NIGHTS, THE LONG WEEKENDS.
UH, ALMA TAM, SHE'S IN CHARGE OF THE TREASURY AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
UH, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, PROPERTY TAX RATE SETTING, SALES TAX PROJECTIONS, AND COLLECTIONS.
UH, JUD GREENFIELD, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW HIM.
HE IS THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY.
UH, HE IS THE FINANCIAL REPORTING AND OPERATIONS, UM, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THAT AREA.
THEY HANDLE THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, DISASTER, THE GRANTS, UH, COST ALLOCATION PLAN, THE, I'M SURE I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
AND THEN MS. VER VENITA JONES, I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW HER.
UH, SHE HANDLES THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW SLIDES, SO WE'LL GO ON TO SLIDE THREE.
UM, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE MAYOR'S FOUR, UM, PRIORITIES ARE.
UH, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS PROGRAMS IN TWO OUT OF THOSE FOUR PRIORITIES, UH, PREDOMINANTLY IN THE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AREA.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT, UM, PROGRAMS THAT FALL IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
AND FOR EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS, UH, THERE IS A SLIDE THAT DESCRIBES THE, THAT PROGRAM AND, UH, THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. ON SLIDE FOUR, THIS IS THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM.
UH, THE FY 25 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS AROUND $31.9 MILLION.
UH, THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 1.8% FROM THE Y 24.
OUR REVENUE BUDGET BY PROGRAM, UM, OUR REVENUES IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FAR OUTWEIGH OUR EXPENDITURES, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE MOST OF THE CITY, UH, MOST OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES COME THROUGH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
THE, UM, FFY 25 PROPOSED REVENUE BUDGET FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, 2.37 BILLION.
UH, IT'S MADE UP PREDOMINANTLY OF THE PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX, UH, LIKE I MENTIONED THAT WE DO THE COLLECTIONS FOR.
AND THE, UH, THE OVERALL PERCENT CHANGE ON OUR, UH, REVENUES THERE IS 2.6%.
SO GETTING INTO THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UM, FOR EACH OF THE AREAS.
THE FIRST PROGRAM TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY IS THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING PROGRAM.
AND, UM, THIS PROGRAM IS, UH, ENCOMPASSED IN THE, UH, DIVISION THAT'S HEAD HEADED BY A REEF RASHID.
UH, THE PRIORITY IT'S ALIGNED TO IS THE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS.
THERE'S, UH, 54, UH, FTES IN THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AND GENERALLY SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, YOU CAN SEE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT THIS AREA DOES, UM, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, HANDLE THE, UM, THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, UM, I FORGOT TO MENTION THE ANNUAL AUDIT.
UM, TRUST AND FUNDS MANAGEMENT, CAPITAL, FIXED ASSETS, UM, FEE STUDIES, INTERNAL CONTROLS, UH, INDIRECT COST ALLOCATION PLANS, UM, AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS YOU CAN SEE IN THEIR PERFORMANCE, UM, MEASURES THAT THEY HAVE.
UH, WE DO THE EMS COLLECTIONS, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ONE OF THOSE, UM, CONSOLIDATED, UH, WHERE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS CONSOLIDATED THE FINANCE FUNCTION.
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SEE SOME OF OUR AREAS THERE.WE ALSO, UM, MANAGE THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCESS.
WE'VE CONSOLIDATED 10 DEPARTMENTS UNDER ACCOUNTS PAYABLE IN OUR AREA.
UM, AND YOU SEE SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ASSOCIATED THERE.
AND I GUESS BEFORE I, I GO TOO FAR INTO THE PRESENTATION, I DID WANT TO, UH, TALK GENERALLY ABOUT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES, BUT ALSO CITYWIDE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, UH, HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THEIR PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND YEAR OF THE OUTCOME-BASED BUDGETING.
SO LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST YEAR.
I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT, UM, BASED ON WHAT PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE NUMBER ONE, MEASURABLE, NUMBER TWO, MEANINGFUL, UM, NOT JUST TO OURSELVES, BUT ALSO TO THE PUBLIC.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT DEPARTMENTS DO TRACK INTERNALLY THAT YOU MAY NOT SEE HERE IN THE BUDGET BOOK.
INTERNAL THINGS THAT WE TRACK FOR OURSELVES, WHAT'S IN THE, WHAT'S IN THESE PRESENTATIONS AND IN THE BUDGET BOOK IS MEANT TO BE A REFLECTION OF WHAT IS, UM, MEANINGFUL TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, WE DO, I, UM, I KNOW I MENTIONED IN IN MY OTHER PRESENTATION, BUT I WANNA REITERATE AGAIN ON THE OPEN FINANCE WEBSITE.
WE DO HAVE A QUARTERLY UPDATE ON ALL THE, UM, OBB PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WE REPORT QUARTERLY, UH, WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE OUR TARGET IS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR AND WHERE WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
UM, SO ON THAT, IF YOU SEE EITHER THERE COULD BE NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT YOU'RE SEEING THIS YEAR, UH, WHERE DEPARTMENTS, UM, WENT AND, UH, WANT TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE, UM, PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO YOU MAY SEE, UM, NEW PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN PREVIOUSLY OR POSSIBLY, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, TRYING TO ELABORATE ON THE MEASURE DESCRIPTION TO TRY AND MAKE IT MORE UNDERSTANDABLE.
SO WE SEEK TO HAVE THAT IMPROVEMENT EVERY YEAR AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.
UH, THIS AREA IS HANDLED BY THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE.
UM, THIS IS THE OVERALL, UM, PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE THIS IN, I THINK EVERY SINGLE CITY DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN THIS AREA, UM, LAYOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPENDITURES, UH, ACTUALS AS PERTAINS AND I GUESS IN RELATION TO WHAT THE BUDGET WAS.
AND SIM, SIMILAR ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
SLIDE EIGHT, UH, THIS IS THE CAPITAL PROJECT AND DEBT MANAGEMENT, UM, PROGRAM.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS PART OF THE TREASURY AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, UM, DIVISION THAT'S HEADED BY ALMA.
THERE ARE 11 FTES IN THIS AREA.
IT'S ALIGNED TO THE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS PRIORITY.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS THE GROUP THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, UH, AND THE, UM, ALL THE DEBT ISSUANCE FOR THE CITY AS WELL.
UM, SO HERE YOU SEE SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
ONE THING I DID WANNA, UM, HIGHLIGHT IS THE THIRD PERFORMANCE MEASURE, UM, WHERE WE SEEK TO REVIEW ALL FOUR OF THE CITY CREDITS ANNUALLY.
UH, SO THIS INCLUDES THE AIRPORT, THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION, AND THE CONVENTION ENTERTAINMENT CREDIT TO LOOK AT OUTSTANDING, UH, DEBT AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUNDING FOR SAVINGS.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PROGRAM, CITYWIDE PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.
THIS AREA IS HEADED BY JED GREENFIELD.
THERE'S 66 FTES IN THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS AN AREA THAT A LOT OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
ALL THOSE ITEMS THAT COME TO COUNCIL, UH, EVERY WEEK GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
SO JED AND HIS TEAM HANDLE ALL THOSE PROCUREMENTS, UH, FOR, UM, I SHOULDN'T SAY ALL OF THOSE PROCUREMENTS, A LOT OF THOSE PROCUREMENTS, UM, FOR SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE CONSOLIDATED PROCUREMENT, SOME DEPARTMENTS DO HAVE, UM, DELEGATED AUTHORITY FOR OTHER PURCHASES, BUT LARGELY, UM, PROCUREMENTS ARE OVERSEEN BY HIM AND HIS TEAM.
UM, SOME OF OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES HERE, I WANNA PARTICULARLY HIGHLIGHT THE LAST ONE, THE AVERAGE DAYS TO COMPLETE RFPS.
SO THAT'S ONE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, THIS YEAR WE'VE IMPLEMENTED OUR NEW, UH, VENDOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS CALLED ARIBA.
UH, SO VENDORS ARE NOW GOING THROUGH THIS NEW PLATFORM.
UH, THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO ST STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, MAKE IT MORE, UH, ORGANIZED, DATA DRIVEN, UM, AND WE HOPE TO FIND SOME EFFICIENCIES AND TIME SAVINGS THROUGH THAT NEW PLATFORM.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, REVAMPING THE WAY EVALUATION COMMITTEES, UM, PROCESS WORKS IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR THE EVALUATION COMMITTEES TO MAKE DECISIONS POST RECEIVING THE PROPOSALS.
SO THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE THINK WE COULD GET SOME IMPROVEMENT TO TRY TO COME CLOSER TO OUR TARGET.
SLIDE 10, DISASTER COST RECOVERY MANAGEMENT.
UH, THIS PROGRAM IN THIS AREA IS HEADED UP BY A REEF RASHID.
THERE ARE SIX, ABOUT SIX FTES IN THIS AREA.
UH, THIS AREA OVERSEES ALL THE DISASTER COST RECOVERY.
UH, THEY MANAGE ALL THE REPORTING OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS.
SO THAT ARPA, UH, FUNDING WEBSITE THAT I MENTIONED, UM, THIS AREA, UM, WILL WORK ON THAT.
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NOT JUST ARPA, BUT ALL THE OTHER DISASTERS AS WELL.UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN MENTIONED, WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE DECLARED DISASTERS FREQUENTLY.
UM, SO THIS GROUP DOES A LOT OF WORK ON, UH, LIAISING WITH OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING ALL THOSE RESOURCES.
SLIDE 11, THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS AREA IS HEADED BY THE CHIEF OF STAFF, UH, WILLIAM BRYANT.
THERE'S 2.3 FTES IN THIS AREA.
SO, UH, THIS AREA MANAGES THE ELECTRICITY CONTRACT FOR THE CITY.
UM, THAT'S, UH, AND THE NATURAL GAS AS WELL.
UH, YOU SEE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ASSOCIATED HERE.
UM, ONE OF THE AREAS WE WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS OUR TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE.
UH, THERE IS A, A GOAL OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND TREES PLANTED, UM, BY THIS YEAR.
UH, YOU SEE OUR TARGET AND WHERE WE ARE, AND THIS IS, UH, THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE WE COLLABORATE WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
ON SLIDE 12, THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, THIS AREA IS, UH, WILLIAM BRYANT, BUT ALSO, UM, INCLUDES RENITA JONES AND HER TEAM.
THERE ARE 17 FTES IN THIS AREA, AND THIS IS WHERE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS CONSOLIDATED SOME FINANCE OPERATIONS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE IT DEPARTMENT, FIRE FLEET, UH, AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
WE, WE HANDLE YOUR BUDGET AS WELL.
UH, SO, UH, THE MAIN GOAL IS, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING THE RECORDS AND THE INFORMATION, UH, PROVIDING INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE CLIENT DEPARTMENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, THE FINANCE TEAM IS SUPPORTING THE OPERATION SO THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN GET DONE WHAT THEY NEED.
UM, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING ALL THAT INFORMATION.
UH, WE SEEK TO HAVE, UH, EVEN, YOU KNOW, AN AN INTERNAL TYPE OF BACK OFFICE FUNCTION DEPARTMENT.
WE SEEK TO PERFORM, UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE.
UH, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE, UM, WE SEEK FEEDBACK FROM OUR CLIENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SERVE.
SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR, UM, THAT'S ONE OF OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES YOU SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SLIDE 13, FINANCIAL PLANNING AND BUDGETARY SERVICES.
THIS IS THE AREA, AREA HEADED UP BY PAULA PONIT.
THERE'S 17 FTES IN THIS AREA, IN THIS PROGRAM, I SHOULD SAY.
UM, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, COMPILING THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT WE'RE HERE DISCUSSING.
UH, THEY DO THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLANNING, MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS, UH, AND OTHER ANALYSIS AS ASSIGNED.
UH, THIS AREA ALSO INCLUDES THE CONSOLIDATION OF LEGAL'S FINANCE FUNCTION.
UH, SO WE, UM, PERFORM SERVICES FOR THEM AS ONE OF OUR CLIENT'S DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR PERFORMANCE MEASURES, UH, RELATE MORE SO TO THE GENERAL OVERALL FUND EXPENDITURES, UM, AND REVENUE UTILIZATION, AS WELL AS TRACKING OF THE FUND BALANCE.
THE NEXT PROGRAM ON SLIDE 14, GRANTS MANAGEMENT HEADED BY ARIF RASHID.
THERE'S EIGHT FTES IN THIS AREA.
UH, THIS AREA IS TASKED WITH DIRECTING AND MONITORING THE GRANT ACQUISITION AND THE REPORTING, PARTICULARLY AROUND COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE, UM, GUIDELINES THAT ARE TIED TO THOSE GRANTS.
UM, ONE OF THE MAIN AREAS HERE WE WANNA FOCUS ON IS ACCOMPLISHING THE ZERO AUDIT FINDINGS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, UM, AND IS OUR GOAL, OF COURSE, EVERY YEAR TO HAVE ZERO AUDIT FINDINGS.
SLIDE 15, THE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE AREA HEADED BY JESSE BOUNDS.
UH, THERE'S THREE FTES IN THIS AREA.
UM, THIS IS PART OF THE, UM, PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
UH, THEY WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO, UM, MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
THEY FOCUS, THEY USE THE LEAN SIX SIGMA GREEN BELT PROGRAM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEIR, UM, PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
YOU SEE BELOW SLIDE 16, THE TREASURY PROGRAM, AGAIN HEADED BY ALMA.
THERE'S THREE FTES IN THIS AREA.
UH, AND, AND THEY DO, UM, I MEAN, EVERY PROGRAM, EVERY DIVISION DOES A LOT OF WORK, BUT THIS AREA IS RESPONSIBLE.
UH, ALTHOUGH THERE'S ONLY THREE FTES, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE, UH, COLLECTIONS OF OUR TWO LARGEST GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCES, THE PROPERTY TAX AND THE SALES TAX.
SO THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF ANALYSIS, UH, INTERNAL MODELING.
UM, THEY WORK WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY, UM, TAX OFFICE WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.
UH, THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY HAND IN HAND WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO UNDERSTAND, UH, STATE LAWS AND HOW THEY IMPACT, UM, OUR REVENUES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
UH, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR PERFORMANCE MEASURES BELOW, OF COURSE, WE TRACK, UH, HOW OUR PROPERTY TAX ACTUALS COME INTO TO BUDGET SALES TAX, AND MIXED BEVERAGE TAX AS WELL.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAMS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE 17, BREAKS DOWN OUR PERSONNEL VERSUS NON-PERSONNEL.
UM, WE'RE A VERY PERSONNEL HEAVY DEPARTMENT WITH 78% OF OUR, UH, GENERAL FUND BUDGET, UM, BEING PERSONNEL.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME, UM, CONTRACTS WITH OUTSIDE ENTITIES TO HELP US WITH THE ANNUAL AUDIT WITH BILLING AND COLLECTIONS.
UH, THAT'S, UH, MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET.
WE ALSO HAVE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND AS PART OF OUR BUDGET.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE THE AREA WHERE, UH,
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YOU KNOW, WE WORK.UM, WE HAVE GENERAL FUND EMPLOYEES, AND WE ALSO HAVE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND EMPLOYEES.
SO THESE ARE THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH THE CLIENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, LIKE THE, THE HITS THE FLEET.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND EMPLOYEES THAT ASSIST, UM, WITH, UM, SOME OF THE PUBLIC WORKS, CONSOLIDATED FUNCTIONS LIKE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, AND AGAIN, LARGELY PERSONNEL ON SLIDE 18, OUR EXPENDITURES BY FUND.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR FY 25 PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, IN THE GENERAL FUND AND IN THE, UH, REVOLVING FUND DO REPRESENT AN INCREASE, UM, OF ABOUT 1.8% FROM THE FY 24.
ON THE REVENUE SIDE, AGAIN, OUR REVENUE IS, UM, PREDOMINANTLY THE PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX.
THIS IS ON SLIDE 19, AND YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASES THERE.
AND THESE REFLECT THE NUMBERS THAT I WENT OVER IN THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST.
UM, LARGELY LIKE I MENTIONED, PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER REVENUE ITEMS IN HERE, UM, BUT THOSE ARE THE LARGEST TWO.
SO SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THOSE REVENUES, AND I DON'T WANNA REPEAT AND GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT WE ALREADY SPENT THE LAST TWO HOURS TALKING ABOUT, BUT, UH, THE SAME NUMBERS ON THE PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED.
AND, UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY PREPARED SLIDES, ALTHOUGH I DID WANT TO, UM, TOUCH ON THE BUDGETARY REDUCTIONS THAT, UM, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TOOK.
WE DID FOCUS ON, UM, ELIMINATING VACANT POSITIONS.
UM, SO OUR, OUR, OUR TARGET FOR OUR DEPARTMENT WAS AROUND NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX, NINE HUNDRED SIXTY $7,000 FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE MET ABOUT HALF OF THAT THROUGH, UM, UM, EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS.
UH, THERE'S, UM, ONE VACANT POSITION WE ARE, UM, PROPOSING TO DELIT.
UM, WE'RE PROPOSING TO DECREASE SOME OF OUR, UM, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE'RE PREDOMINANTLY PERSONNEL, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDING FOR, UM, OUTSIDE CONTRACTUAL, UM, ASSISTANCE WITH SOME OF THE WORK WE DO.
SO WE ARE, UM, PROPOSING TO REDUCE, REDUCE SOME OF THOSE CONTRACTUAL LINE ITEMS, UM, AND STILL FEEL WE CAN, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT, UM, TO SUPPORT THE CITY.
UM, WE ALSO, UH, HAVE A LINE ITEM, NOT JUST ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SEEK TO, UM, INCREASE REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS THROUGH SOME REBATE PROGRAMS THAT WE GET ON OUR PCARD.
THE PROCUREMENT, UM, SPDS, UM, IS IN CHARGE OF THE PCARD PROGRAM.
SO WE THINK THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE REVENUE BY, UH, GOING AFTER SOME REBATES, UH, THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
SO ALL THAT TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE TO EXCEED OUR, UM, OUR TARGET OF THE 967,000.
MY, MY MAIN QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE REDUCTIONS, I THINK YOU SAID.
SO THE DEPARTMENT HAS, UH, REDUCED OR GONE DOWN 967,000 IN, IN BUDGET THIS YEAR.
WE MET, WE MET IT THROUGH A COMBINATION OF EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS AND INCREASED REVENUE.
SO THE EXPENDITURE PIECE WAS ABOUT 400,000, AND THE REVENUE PIECE WAS ABOUT 400,000.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OFF THAT PAGE, I'M SORRY.
BUT IT WAS A COMBINATION OF EXPENDITURES AND INCREASED REVENUES.
AND, UM, WHAT PERCENT IS THAT IN TERMS OF A BUDGET REDUCTION FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? 5%.
IT IS AT 5% JUST ON THE GENERAL FUND PORTION.
UM, I MISSED IF YOU COULD JUST, WE'LL FOLLOW UP, WE'RE SUBMITTING THIS QUESTION TO EVERY DEPARTMENT AS A HEADS UP, JUST SO WE HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS AND WHAT DIVISIONS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY, LET'S SEE, THAT, UM, POSITION CUT MM-HMM
UM, ONE QUESTION I HAD DIRECTOR, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN BETTER TO HAVE ASKED THIS IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT WOULD, WOULD FINANCE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ITEMIZED LIST OF COSTS, LET'S SAY, SO THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, CONSTRUCTION PAUSES OR REDESIGNS THAT ARE HAPPENING, THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT THE CITY MAY BE INCURRING, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO A REDESIGN, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD WE GET THAT INFORMATION? WOULD FINANCE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, OR WOULD WE HAVE TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEES THAT PROJECT? I THINK IT COULD BE A, A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.
SO I THINK IF IT PERTAINS TO A CAPITAL PROJECT THAT IS IN THE CIP BUT HASN'T YET BEEN APPROPRIATED, THAT'S INFORMATION WE WOULD BE GATHERING AND PROPOSING IN THE CIP, UH, IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS.
UM, IF IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S ALREADY IN FLIGHT, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THAT INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE THAT ESTIMATE.
SO IF THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT HAS THAT, WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE IN THE HEADLINES THAT'S OBVIOUS IS HOUSTON AVENUE, AND I JUST USE THAT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IT, BUT THERE COULD BE OTHERS.
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TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND ADDITIONAL COSTS, YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF A MILLION PLUS DOLLARS THAT STARTS TO ADD UP.SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT FINANCE AS A DEPARTMENT ALSO LOOKS AT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PROJECTED COST OF SOMETHING IS, AND THEN WHAT THE ACTUAL OR UNEXPECTED COSTS MAY BE LATER ON FOR, FOR, LIKE I MENTIONED, FOR PROJECTS THAT HAVEN'T YET BEEN APPROPRIATED? YES.
THAT WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE PROPOSE THE CIP.
UM, AND I THINK WHAT I WOULD, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT THOSE ADDITIONAL PROJECT COSTS, UM, WE DIDN'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT, UM, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, ENTERPRISE FUNDS GENERAL FUND, BUT THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS WOULD HAVE TO BE BORNE BY THE FUND THAT THE PROJECT ORIGINATED IN.
SO IF IT'S A STREETS PROJECT, THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND, BUT IT WOULD IMPACT D-D-S-R-F, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO WE COULD WORK, I'M ASSUMING WITH YOU, YOUR OFFICE, AND TRACKING DOWN WHAT THE BEST WAY TO GO IF WE HAVE A QUESTION ON A PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UH, DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI, UH, ONE OF YOUR, SOME OF YOUR OBJECTIVES IN THE BIG BOOK, UM, INCLUDE WORKING WITH OPERATING DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES, CENTRALIZING FINANCIAL WORK FUNCTIONS.
MIGHT THAT INCLUDE A SORT OF CONSOLIDATING OR CENTRALIZING, UM, GRANT APPLICATIONS AND SUCH? IS THERE ANY, IS ANY THOUGHT TO THAT? SO RIGHT NOW, THE, THE GRANT FUNCTION THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS IS MORE ON THE REPORTING SIDE, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE APPLICATION FOR GRANTS.
UM, SO WE REALLY FOCUS ON ARE THE, UM, ARE THE GRANT, ARE THE DEPARTMENTS COMPLYING WITH THE GRANT, UH, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, ALL THOSE, UM, ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING FOR APPLYING FOR GRANTS.
UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD, COULD LOOK AT A CONSOLIDATION, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY THE FUNCTION THAT WE HOUSE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
MOVING TO YOUR, UH, SLIDE SHOW NUMBER, UH, SLIDE, YEAH.
PRESENTATION SLIDE NUMBER SIX TALKS ABOUT COLLECTION RATE FOR VENDOR MANAGED REVENUES.
WHAT, WHAT IS, UH, THAT REFERRING TO VENDOR MANAGED REVENUES REFRESH SHEET? UH, SO IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE DO MANAGE ALL THE REVENUE STREAMS ACROSS THE CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR THE SECONDARY COLLECTIONS AND FOR EMS PRIMARY COLLECTIONS.
SO WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY VENDOR WHO DOES THE COLLECTION.
SO WE MONITOR THE VENDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE UNDER THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE GROUP THAT MANAGES AND MAKES SURE THAT THE VENDORS ARE COLLECTING ACCORDING TO THE RATES, AND TRY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND GO AFTER THE, UM, THE DEFAULT PEOPLE ON THE VARIOUS REVENUE STREAMS TO COLLECT MORE EACH YEAR.
SO THAT'S THE PROGRAM WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE THE COLLECTION RATES, MANAGING THOSE VENDORS.
AND, AND WHAT DOES THAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IMPROVING THE, UH, COLLECTION RATE WHEN YOU'VE GOT A THIRD PARTY, UH, VENDOR WORKING ON THAT AS WELL? HOW DOES THAT WORK? I'M SORRY, SAY REPEAT.
HOW DOES THAT WORK WHEN YOU'VE GOT A THIRD PARTY VENDOR COLLECTING AS WELL? SO WE MANAGE EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL THIRD PARTY VENDORS UNDER VENDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO SEE IF THEY ARE DOING, UH, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO THESE, UM, DEBTORS, THOSE WHO ARE IN DEFAULT TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTIONS FOR THE CITY.
THAT WHATEVER THE REVENUE IN STREAM IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AMBULANCE SERVICES, EMS COLLECTIONS, THE AMBULANCE, WHERE THE INSURANCE OR THE, UH, MEDICARE DOES NOT PAY.
THEN THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THEY SEND THEIR NOTICES.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DO NOT REPORT IN THE CREDIT CREDIT REPORTING, BUT WE DO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO RE TO PAY THOSE AND HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN.
UM, CAN I, MAY I CONTINUE? GO AHEAD.
UH, SLIDE EIGHT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS, WHO THIS WOULD GO TO DEBT SERVICE EXPENDITURES IS A PERCENT OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
UH, THE TARGET FOR FY 25 IS 18%, AND THEN TARGET CONTEXT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FINANCIAL POLICIES IS THERE, IS THERE A PERCENT OVER WHICH YOU, YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO OR CANNOT GO.
SO THE FINANCIAL POLICIES TALK ABOUT, UM, SETTING A STARTING TARGET.
I THINK THE STARTING TARGET STARTED IN FY 19, UM, AND THERE IS A SCHEDULE, UM, BY YEAR OF, OF THE LIMIT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GO OVER.
[00:25:01]
I CAN SHARE THAT SCHEDULE WITH YOU.MOVING TO SLIDE NINE, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, PROCUREMENT, THE LAST CATEGORY, AVERAGE DAYS TO COMPLETE, UH, THE PROCESS, THIS IS THE COMPLAINT I PROBABLY HEAR THE MOST FROM, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDERS IN BUSINESS IS THE LENGTH OF TIME THIS WHOLE PROCESS TAKES.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU TELL US, OR CAN SOMEONE TELL US WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SHORTEN THIS, UH, THIS TIMEFRAME? MM-HMM
AND I THINK I, I, I TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT IN MY COMMENTS, BUT I THINK IF, UM, JED MAYBE WANTS TO ADD TO SOME OF THAT, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE PARTS WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT EACH STEP, EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS TO SEE HOW LONG EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS TAKES, AND ONE OF THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS, IT TAKES A LONG TIME, AND WE THINK WE CAN GAIN EFFICIENCIES, IS ON THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE PROCESS.
THE TIME FROM WHEN WE RECEIVE THE PROPOSALS TO THE TIME WHEN THE COMMITTEE MAKES A RECOMMENDATION.
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA LET JED MAYBE EXPAND ON THAT.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, AND, AND THAT'S A COMPLAINT THAT, THAT WE HEAR FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT IS THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE, UH, THOSE PROCUREMENTS.
SO THE THINGS THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WERE ONE, FILLING OUR VACANCIES, RESTRUCTURING, AND THEN GETTING A NEW E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEM THAT AUTOMATES A LOT OF THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE SOME OF THAT REDUCTION COMING.
WHERE WE'RE GOING IS, UH, AS DIRECTOR DE DEPA, AS MELISSA SAID,
UH, AS SHE SAID, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS, SO FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE TAKEN THE ENTIRE RFP PROCESS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS WITH THE CITY, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT CATEGORIES OR WHAT WE CALL GATE CHECKS ARE TAKING THE LONGEST.
SO THE EVALUATION PIECE IS PART OF THAT.
HOW MANY EVALUATORS DO WE HAVE FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN AND MANAGING SCHEDULES, AND HOW DO WE THEN SHORTEN THAT TIME PERIOD SO THAT WE CAN SHRINK THE OVERALL PROCESS.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE MOVING NOW, IS TO LOOK DIRECTLY AT EACH OF THOSE STREAMS AT A SEALED BID AT AN RFP AND IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN GET THOSE EFFICIENCIES IN THAT TIMELINE.
JED, UM, CAN WE MOVE TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT? I'VE GOT A QUESTION ON THAT SLIDE AS WELL, WHICH IS 11 MM-HMM
SO, UH, THE TARGET DATING BACK TO FY 23 AND PROBABLY BEFORE THAT PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY CONTRACT HAS BEEN A HUNDRED PERCENT.
DO WE KNOW, UH, HOW MUCH LESS WE WOULD PAY IF WE HAD A TARGET OF LESS THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, RENEWABLE THERE? I KNOW THAT THIS IS PART OF OUR ELECTRICITY CONTRACT ALREADY, SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WENT THROUGH ON RFP PROCESS ON THAT PRICING, BUT YEAH.
SO THROUGH OUR ELECTRICITY CONTRACT, ALL OF OUR ENERGY IS 100% RENEWABLE Y.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE, THE SLIDESHOW, UH, UH, STATES.
BUT IF, IF WE DID NOT HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT, UH, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH LESS WE MIGHT PAY IF WE DIDN'T, IF WE WEREN'T BOUND BY THIS 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY? SO ARE THE, THE RATES I THINK ARE SET THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
SO I THINK WHEN THE RFP, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE RFP PROCESS HAPPENED, YOU HAVE THOSE REQUIREMENTS IN THE, IN THE DOCUMENT.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT DATA, UM, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE RFP WAS, WAS WORDED WHEN IT WENT OUT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT PROCUREMENT AND JED, I DO SEE THAT WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
UM, SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL, WE ALL GET, UM, GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND, UH, DIRECTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
AND I DO, I DO SEE WHERE SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN CHANGED SOMEWHAT.
AND, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION, UM, SINCE YOU KIND OF GOVERN ALSO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT PORTION OF THE BUDGET MM-HMM
UM, THE, THE BIGGEST INCREASE I SEE IN THAT, UM, GENERAL, GENERAL GOVERNMENT SECTION IS, UM, REAL ESTATE LEASE SLASH OFFICE RENTAL.
UM, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT? SURE.
SO THAT'S THE, UM, PREDOMINANTLY THE LEASE, UM, PAYMENT THAT THE GENERAL FUND MAKES FOR OUR SPACE IN THE SIX 11 WALKER BUILDING.
UH, SO WE PAY A RENT PAYMENT TO, UM, HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SINCE THE COMBINED UTILITY SYSTEM IS THE OWNER OF THAT ASSET.
UM, SO THE INCREASE IN THE RENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH, UM, SOME BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS THEY WANNA MAKE TO THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
UM, I DON'T THINK THE ELEVATORS ARE IN THERE, ALTHOUGH I WISH THEY WERE, THEY SHOULD BE
SO SOME BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS LIKE THAT, THAT, THAT THEY DO HAVE TO, UM, SINCE THEY'RE AN ENTERPRISE UTILITY, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE CHARGING US ACCORDINGLY.
SO YOU, YOU ARE LESS OR THE REST OF THE OTHER GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS, UH, PAY RENT TO PUBLIC WORKS.
I SEE NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE.
UH, AND JUST SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT JANET I WAS SPEAKING TO, UM, WHEN ON THE PROCUREMENT SIDE HAVE, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE
[00:30:01]
DO TO SOME EXTENT, UM, KIND OF WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BUY IT AT A BETTER PRICE, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, VEHICLES, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE NOW AND WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, PARTNERING WITH, UH, HARRIS COUNTY METRO TO BUY VEHICLES? AND THAT'S JUST ONE SPECIFIC, UH, UH, ITEM, BUT JUST ACROSS THE BOARD MM-HMMSO WE DO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE CONTRACTS THAT MAY BE LED BY OTHER ENTITIES.
SO WE HAVE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH HARRIS COUNTY.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, A RECENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHERE WE SHARE CONTRACTS.
UH, SO IF THEY'VE LET SOMETHING AND WENT THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WE CAN PIGGYBACK OFF OF THOSE SERVICES AND BRING THEM TO, UM, THE CITY.
UH, I THINK WE RE RECENTLY SAW THAT WITH THE METER REGISTERS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET IN A VERY QUICK TIMEFRAME.
SO WE LEVERAGE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN UTILIZING THEIR CONTRACTS AND IT, IT'S RECIPROCAL, SO RIGHT.
THEY, THEY LOOK AT WHAT WE LEVERAGE AND THERE'S, UH, SHARED CONTRACTS BACK AND FORTH.
I THINK, UH, HOWEVER WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, UM, IT JUST, IT DEFINITELY HELPS, UH, OF COURSE OUR BOTTOM LINE AS WELL.
ONE MORE THING, UM, DIRECTOR, I THINK IT WAS SLIDE 13, THE $150,000 REDUCTION.
WAS THAT JUST A VACANCY REDUCTION I THINK IN FINANCIAL PLANNING AND BUDGETARY SERVICES? $150,000 REDUCTION IN YOUR SIGNIFICANT BUDGET? YES.
SEEING NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN QUEUE WILL GO TO PUBLIC SPEAKERS LAST CHANCE ON THE, OH, AND ALSO SIGN UP IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY ON THE SIGNUP SHEET.
AND, UM, DIRECTOR, JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH AND EVERYBODY IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE KNOW HOW MUCH WORK THIS IS AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND, AND DEDICATION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM, SO THANK YOU.
Y'ALL CAN JUST SIT DOWN SO I DON'T HAVE TO
JUST GO AHEAD AND SIT, SIT DOWN IF YOU DON'T MIND, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE EASIER ON THE, THANKS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS WEIRD UP AND DOWN.
UM, CURRENTLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS AN OUTDATED AND INEFFECTIVE AND OFTEN NON ENFORCED LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN.
AND MOST DEPARTMENTS DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS.
UM, THAT MEANS THAT THOUSANDS OF CRITICAL DOCUMENTS DO NOT HAVE PROPER TRANSLATION, WHICH CREATES, WHICH CREATES BARRIERS, UH, TO ACCESS IN HEALTH AND HOUSING AND LEGAL AND OTHER NECESSARY SERVICES.
WHILE WE APPRECIATE THAT SOME DISTRICT OFFICES ARE PROVIDING SOME LANGUAGE ACCESS, IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBER.
ALCORN MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD QUESTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS REGARDING THIS, BUT MY REQUEST IS THAT LANGUAGE ACCESS SHOULD BE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
UM, HOUSTONIANS USE EVERY DEPARTMENT.
SO LANGUAGE ACCESS SHOULD BE IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO MY QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FOR DIRECTOR DEBOWSKI, CAN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH EACH DEPARTMENT, UM, TO INCLUDE A LANGUAGE ACCESS LINE ITEM TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY? I THINK WE'LL BE SUBMITTING QUESTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENTS.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE TOO CUMBERSOME TO HAVE THEM COME ADDRESS EVERY QUESTION.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL SUBMIT THOSE QUESTIONS AND GET YOU AN ANSWER BACK, EVEN IF IT'S A YES OR NO.
WELL, I'M SORRY, I'M JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO KEEP CALLING HER BACK UP.
THANK, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF, IS SHE STILL HERE? OH, SHE'S GONE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO, UM, TO, UH, GET IN THE WAY OF THIS.
I JUST THINK THAT WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE ISSUING THE QUESTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND GETTING YOU ANSWERS BACK.
NEXT WE WILL HAVE STEVEN WI, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT DURING THIS PAST PRESENTATION, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT OUTCOMES BASED BUDGETING AND HOW THAT WE ARE NEAR TWO, WHERE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF LEARNINGS THAT ARE ONGOING, WHICH MAKES SENSE.
IT'S IF IT'S A NEW PROCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE USING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
AND SO I ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT IS A VERY PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE ONGOING ENGAGED DIALOGUE WITH THE COMMUNITY ON ESTABLISHING WHAT METRICS OF SUCCESS LOOK LIKE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD METRICS OF SUCCESS AT THE BEGINNING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW EFFECTIVE YOUR PROGRAMS ARE.
IT'S, I, I COME FROM, IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, THAT'S JUST A VERY STANDARD WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS.
AND SO I WANTED TO ASK WHAT ARE THE STEPS, UM, THIS BODY IS TAKING
[00:35:01]
TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON AN ONGOING AND EVERGREEN PROCESS IN DETERMINING WHAT OUR KPIS SHOULD BE FOR EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS? I APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION.IF YOU LOOK ON MY WEBSITE, ON THE BUDGET WEBSITE, I DID SUBMIT AN 11 PAGE MEMO GOING THROUGH EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OF WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THESE AND YOU HAVE IDEAS YOU'D LIKE TO ADD OR SEE, I AM HAPPY TO SUBMIT THOSE.
WE WANNA MAKE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN THIS BUDGET AS, UM, MEANINGFUL TO THE PUBLIC AS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.
IS IT ON TOP OF THAT? AND I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S AN ABILITY FOR US TO SUBMIT IDEAS ON LIKE ONGOING MEETINGS.
SO AS AN EXAMPLE, ON THE COUNTY SIDE, OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE MONTHLY DIALOGUES WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY, UH, EQUIVALENTS OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO TALK THROUGH WHAT THESE SUGGESTIONS COULD LOOK LIKE, WORKSHOPPING THEM, UM, VERSUS JUST SUBMITS AND THEN WAIT FOR A RESPONSE AND THEN GET FEEDBACK.
AND I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU 'CAUSE I'M REALLY TRACKING THESE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, SO I'M HAPPY TO SET UP THOSE MEETINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE A MONTHLY, UH, BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING.
YOU'RE HAPPY TO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THAT.
AND THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT THERE, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET, UM, WITH ME, 'CAUSE I, I'LL BE DIRECTLY DEALING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS ON THESE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, I'D, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO OPEN MY DOORS TO YOU.
HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS AANDRA.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT A.
I'M ALSO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR AT RE JUSTICE CENTER.
WE'RE A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT SERVE IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE THROUGH LEGAL SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES AND POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK.
AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THE PA CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW NUMBERS ARE DETERMINED FOR THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AND IF ANY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DETERMINING PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SET PROGRAMS. THIS IS MY FIRST QUESTION.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THIS IS THE OPERATING BUDGET.
SO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN COMES RIGHT AFTER THIS.
WELL, THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE A DIVISION OF THEIR, OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS ON THE CAPITAL SPAN.
UM, AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION, UM, I ALSO WANNA REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CREATE AN ACCOMMODATING AND ACCESSIBLE SPACE.
WE'VE MENTIONED LANGUAGE ACCESS HERE TODAY, UM, FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE TOWN HALLS.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY RELATED TO THIS PART, BUT IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION AND WE DIDN'T GET TO ASK.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BEFORE SHARING OUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND TOWN HALLS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IF THERE WILL BE LANGUAGE, UM, INTERPRETATION THERE, IF THERE WILL BE CHILDCARE THERE, WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE? BECAUSE OFF THE FLYER IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE, THIS IS THE DATE, THIS IS THE PLACE AND NOT MUCH ELSE.
WE DO HAVE, UM, I THINK SOME LANGUAGE, UM, PROVISIONS AT, AT SOME OF THE TOWN HALLS.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE, I APOLOGIZE.
BRING YOUR KIDS AND, UM, AND, UH, FOOD.
UH, BUT I, I UNDERSTAND AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR, THIS IS OUR FIRST GO ROUND OF DOING THIS AND WE WANNA HEAR STUFF LIKE THIS AND WE WILL, WE'LL WANNA KNOW HOW TO IMPROVE THEM IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE A PERFECT TOWN HALL
WE WANNA HEAR YOUR PRIORITIES.
WE WANNA HEAR HOW WE CAN DO THIS JOB BETTER.
WE WANNA HEAR HOW YOU WANT YOUR, YOUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT.
AND WE WILL TAKE ALL THIS FEEDBACK THAT WE GET TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND, AND TO SHARE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.
SO WE'VE HEARD VARIOUS TIMES TODAY THAT, UM, WE ASK A QUESTION AND THEN Y'ALL RESPOND BY SAYING THAT THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW UP.
SO WE'RE WONDERING WHAT THAT FOLLOW UP PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
SO WE HAVE YOUR, TO THE EXTENT WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION, AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
OH, WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT WHEN YOU SIGN UP ONLINE AND HERE.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL FOLLOW UP VIA EMAIL, UM, WHEN WE GET A RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION.
AND THEN LAST QUESTION, UM, HOW IS THE CITY PLANNING TO ADDRESS THE INCREASED GENERAL DOLLARS GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT, UM, NEEDS AS THE CITY RUNS OUT OF ARPA DOLLARS? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A LOT OF STUFF WAS BEING FUNDED BY ARPA.
I THINK YOU HEARD MANY, UM, IDEAS SET FORTH TODAY BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
DID YOU WANT OH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, I'M GLAD YOU, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE TOWN HALLS AND THE STRUCTURE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE BEING DONE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S EXCITING FOR US TO, TO DO THIS, BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOW TO HELP MAKE THEM AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE IS GONNA BE VITAL.
SO, UH, YOUR QUESTIONS HELP GET THOSE THOUGHTS GOING,
[00:40:01]
BUT IF YOU CAN SHARE SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, INPUT, WE HAVE THE LOCATIONS, IF YOU KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE, UM, A CERTAIN LANGUAGE THAT MAY BE NEEDED AT A CERTAIN TOWN HALL MM-HMMTHAT ALSO JUST HELPS US PREPARE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN START ASKING AND, AND LOOKING FOR RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP MEET THAT NEED.
UM, SO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US AHEAD OF TIME, WE'LL JUST HELP MAKE THEM AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST GO AROUND.
SO THEN I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AND BASICALLY THE STRUCTURE, AS I SAID BEFORE IS THE VICE CHAIR AND I WILL BE MAKING SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
THERE WILL BE FINANCE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE ON THERE IN CASE WE RUN INTO A QUESTION THAT WE NEED, BUT THEY WON'T REALLY BE PRESENTING.
IT'LL BE JUST A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET, AND THEN WE REALLY WANNA JUST HEAR FROM PEOPLE.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AND THERE WILL BE SPANISH TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE SOUTHWEST MULTI-SERVICE CENTER.
SO I, YEAH, THINKING ABOUT THE, THE TOWN HALLS DEFINITELY PLUS ONE ON THE CHILDCARE AND ALSO LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT, NOW THAT I'M HEARING THE QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO ABOUT LIKE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OF COURSE, AS THE BUDGET IS RELEASED, UM, WE WANT TO HAVE WORKSHOPS THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO, AND, AND REALLY INFORMING PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES.
BUT OFTENTIMES THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM, UH, FROM, FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING ARE CONTINUOUS.
SO JUST THINKING ABOUT PERHAPS IF WE, EVEN IF WE CAN'T GO A MONTH EARLIER, AS STEVEN WAS SAYING, RIGHT, IN TERMS OF GETTING THE BUDGET OUT, UH, GIVING PEOPLE A HEADS UP ON WHAT WE'RE, UM, LIKE THE, THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CURRENT BUDGET LOOKS LIKE EVEN BEFORE THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS RELEASED MIGHT BE, UH, MIGHT BE A WAY OF STARTING THERE.
SO THROWING, THROWING THAT OUT AS A CONSIDERATION.
UH, ADDITIONALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS HAVE EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT UNMET NEEDS IN TERMS OF SERVICE DELIVERY.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IN CODE ENFORCEMENT AND HOUSING RESOURCES, UH, FOR, FOR RENTERS, RIGHT? LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I REMEMBER HEARING FOR FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND FROM DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
I IMAGINE THAT'S PROBABLY STILL AN ISSUE THIS YEAR.
SO IS THERE A WAY FOR THESE UNMET NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED IN THIS, UH, IN THESE, IN THESE BUDGET SLIDES? I KNOW I'VE SEEN IT NOT CONSISTENTLY, BUT OCCASIONALLY IN, IN PRESENTATIONS BEFORE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW FUNDING PROPOSALS, UH, IN ALIGNMENT WITH ACTUAL METRICS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT DOES.
AND AND OFTEN IT'S ASKED WHAT YOUR BUDGET, YOU PRESENTED YOUR BUDGET, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR UNMET NEEDS IS A GOOD QUESTIONS FOR US TO ASK.
AND I KNOW THAT QUESTIONS COME FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN BEFORE EXPLICITLY, BUT, UH, BUT INCLUDING, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S THAT MANY DEPARTMENTS HAVE UNMET NEEDS, SO HAVING THAT EXPLICITLY WRITTEN OUT I THINK WOULD, WOULD BE REALLY VALUABLE.
HI, SABA BLANDING, DISTRICT D.
UM, MY QUESTION IS WITH GRANT ACQUISITION AS A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY, IT SEEMS LIKE GRANTS, LIKE THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT COULD HAVE AN OUTSIZED IMPACT ON CITY REVENUES.
COULD WE ADD MORE INFORMATION TO THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ABOUT THE GRANTS THE CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE RECEIVING? UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, PERHAPS WE COULD INCLUDE TOTAL REVENUES AND GRANTS ACQUIRED THROUGH THE DIVISION'S EFFORTS AS AN ANNUAL KPI.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF MY MEMO THAT I SUBMITTED, UM, IS ADDING ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS AT A PERFORMANCE MEASURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF GRANTS AWARDED, UM, VERSUS THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS MADE.
AS YOU HEARD THE DIRECTOR SAY THAT THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT IS REALLY MORE OF A, A, A JUST REPORTING DIP.
I THINK THAT'S A REAL VOID IN THE CITY THAT WE DON'T TRACK GRANTS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE I MEAN, WE COULD PROBABLY DO, DO A LOT BETTER JOB IF THERE WAS A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT, AT GRANT GETTING.
SO, I'M, I'M WITH YOU ON THAT.
AND THEN JUST TO FLAG, SINCE WE'RE LOOKING FOR REVENUE AND ALL IDEAS ARE ON THE TABLE IS WHAT I HEARD EARLIER.
LIKE IF THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT IS EFFECTIVE, I, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO USE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO INVEST MORE MONEY, UM, IN FTE TOWARDS THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE THEY'RE GETTING MONEY FOR US.
THANK YOU SABA E ALICIA NEWMAN.
I THINK THINK OF LIKE ALLEGIANCE ALLE.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I'M AEIA WITH THE, I'M THE SENIOR POLITICAL ORGANIZER WITH NAKASEC
[00:45:01]
ACTION FUND IN URI JUNTOS.SO AS HOUSTON GROWS MORE AND MORE, UM, AND PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO ALREADY LARGELY POPULATED CITY, UM, THERE ARE NEW NEEDS BEING ADDED.
UM, THERE ARE MANY PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS.
AND THE MAYOR OFTEN POINTED OUT DURING HIS CA POINTED THIS OUT DURING HIS, DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, UM, A DA COMPLIANCE FOLLOWS REGULATIONS.
ADAPTABILITY IS MORE THAT WE ARE CHANGING THINGS TO FIT SPECIFIC DISABILITIES OR NEEDS.
AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.
SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY IS NOT ONLY ADAPTABLE AND A DA COMPLIANT, BUT THAT WE ARE FITTING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO ACTUALLY ARE LIVING IN THE CITY RATHER THAN JUST PUTTING SOMETHING IN? SO FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE A CHRONIC DIS I HAVE CHRONIC PAIN, MY OWN DISABILITY, AND, UM, THEY'RE OFTENTIMES THAT DISABILITY PARKINGS ARE NOT NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF A FACILITY, BUT JUST PLACED IN A WAY THAT A WHEELCHAIR RAMP CAN BE ACCESSIBLE AS SOMEONE WHO IS AMBULATORY.
THAT'S NOT A NEED THAT I HAVE.
RIGHT? SO AN ADAPTABLE MEASURE WOULD BE TO PROVIDE OTHER DISABILITY SPOTS OR MAKE THEM WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE IN FRONT OF MULTIPLE DOORS OF A LOCATION.
UM, SO I'M WONDERING HOW YOU PLAN TO INVOLVE THE, THE VOICES OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED TO THE CITY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, AND, UM, WHAT YOU, WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SAY I, UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I WOULD LOVE IF YOU OWN THAT.
AND WE WILL, UH, WE DO WORK WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON INITIATIVES AND, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL BE PRESENTING.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS DURING THE MAYOR'S WHEN, WHEN THAT THIRD MAY 23RD AT 11:00 AM I JUST HEARD.
AND SO, UH, WE CAN SEE WHAT THE, WHAT THE PLANS ARE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
I KNOW ON THE PART OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE ALL ENGAGED AND WANNA MAKE THIS CITY AS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL AS POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
OKAY,
UM, MY NAME IS SARAH, SENIOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AT WOODY JUNTOS.
UM, I HAD A QUICK QUESTION, UM, JUST TO KIND OF, UH, FOLLOW UP WITH SOME OF MY COMMENTS.
CURRENTLY, THE, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CANNOT BE FULLY ACCESSED WITHOUT A, LIKE A FLYER REQUEST OR AN INQUIRY INTO THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE IS WHAT I'VE NOTICED, UM, AT LEAST BY THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND WHEN IT IS ACCESSED, IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH.
UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ADDITIONALLY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT HOW INVESTMENTS ARE VETTED, HOW TRADE AGREEMENTS ARE PROCURED, UM, AND HOW, UM, OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED OR WHERE THERE ARE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
GIVEN WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM OUR COMRADES TODAY, WE ASK THIS BODY TO REALLY COMMIT TO THE CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT FINANCE BOARD OF TRUSTED ORGANIZATIONS, NOT JUST BUSINESSES OR BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FACILITATE AND WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE PIECES, ACKNOWLEDGING THE UNMET NEEDS AND CONTRIBUTING TO OVERALL STRATEGY.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO HEAR EVERYTHING SARA, BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND AN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR THE FINANCE FINANCIAL REVIEW.
WE WILL TAKE THAT ALL UNDER ADVISEMENT AND, AND, UM, GET BACK WITH YOU.
UM, I'M THE HOUSTON POET LAUREATE FROM 2023 TO 2025 AS APPOINTED FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT SECTION OF THE FINANCE PLAN.
THERE'S ABOUT LIKE AN OVER, THERE'S OVER LIKE A 10 PER SEAT PERCENT DECREASE IN THIS LINE ITEM.
UM, I JUST WANTED SOME CLARITY ON IS THIS THE PERFORMANCE BEING MEASURED FOR EACH DEPARTMENT? UM, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT QUALITATIVE MEASURES ARE BEING TRACKED AND WHO IS DETERMINING WHETHER THOSE ARE ENACTED.
AND I ALSO AM CURIOUS ABOUT HOW DO WE EXPECT TO UPHOLD IMPROVEMENT WITH SUCH A LARGE DECREASE TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION? YES.
I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO ASK THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION.
SEEING NO OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS, WE WILL TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
FINANCE, FINANCE'S, BEEN HERE SINCE.