[00:00:18]
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED SINCE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING.IT IS, UH, I'M DELIGHTED TO WELCOME PLANNING DIRECTOR JENNIFER OSLAND.
GREAT TO SEE YOU AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ROGER HAMILTON, AND THEY WILL NOW PRESENT THE FY 2025 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
STEVEN, THE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
UM, GOOD MORNING, UH, CHAIR ALCORN AND VICE CHAIR CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COUNCIL STAFF.
UH, I'M JENNIFER OSLAN, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S, UH, PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, ACTIVITIES, AND SO FORTH.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR.
UH, LET'S GO TO SLIDE THREE, PLEASE.
SO, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SERVICES ARE GROUPED INTO SIX CORE FUNCTIONS AND OPERATE UNDER FOUR DIFFERENT FUNDS.
UM, THAT'S A GENERAL FUND, OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING FUND, AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND.
THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES HOW OUR DEPARTMENTS, SIX MAJOR FUNCTIONS ALIGN TO THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ALIGN WITH GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS, COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL SERVICES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ALIGN WITH QUALITY OF LIFE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND DESIGN REVIEW GIS AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ALIGN WITH INFRASTRUCTURE.
OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 IS $17.8 MILLION.
THIS IS AN OVERALL DECREASE OF 13.7% AND IS DUE TO THE ELIMINATION OF ONE EXECUTIVE LEVEL VACANCY, ELIMINATION OF ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR THREE SPECIAL PROJECTS AND ELIMINATION OF INTERNAL CHARGEBACKS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT'S GENERAL FUND AND THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
AND I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
UM, FIRST, OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS DEDICATED TO THE DEPARTMENT'S DEVELOPMENT RELATED SERVICES, SUCH AS SUBDIVISION PLAT REVIEW AND SITE PLAN REVIEW.
AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY, UH, THE FEES THAT PEOPLE PAY FOR THOSE REVIEWS.
THE INTERNAL CHARGEBACK PROCEDURE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016 WHEN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WAS CREATED.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE TIME STAFF MEMBERS ASSIGNED TO ONE FUND SPEND WORKING ON PROJECT SUPPORTED BY A DIFFERENT FUND.
FOR EXAMPLE, MY POSITION IS LOCATED IN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BECAUSE I ALSO SPEND TIME WORKING ON GENERAL FUND RELATED PROJECTS.
A PORTION OF MY TIME HAS BEEN CHARGED TO OUR GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT DUE TO THIS PRACTICE, OUR GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS HAVE SHOWN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT ARE GENERATED INTERNALLY.
UH, THIS ACCOUNTING PRACTICE DOES NOT CHANGE THE ACTUAL BUDGETED AMOUNTS.
IT'S REALLY JUST INTERNAL HOUSEKEEPING, KIND OF KEEPING TRACK OF WHERE PEOPLE'S TIME IS SPENT.
UH, WORKING WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE DETERMINED THAT THIS PRACTICE IS NOT NECESSARY BETWEEN INTERNAL PROGRAMS AND IT'S CREATED ADDITIONAL WORK FOR THE FINANCE TEAMS. SO WE ARE ELIMINATING THIS PRACTICE.
SO YOU'LL HEAR ME TALK ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE ELIMINATING THE CHARGEBACKS, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ABOUT.
WE EXPECT TO COLLECT 10.7 MILLION IN REVENUE IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
AND THE LION'S SHARE OF THIS COMES FROM DEVELOPMENT FEES.
WE ALSO RECEIVE REVENUE FROM GIS SERVICES TO CITY DEPARTMENTS.
A VERY SMALL AMOUNT FROM INTEREST ON OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND AND AN EVEN SMALLER AMOUNT, UM, IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT'S JUST FROM OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.
THIS IS A 9.3% DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR, AND IS LARGELY DUE TO ELIMINATING THE INTERNAL CHARGEBACKS BETWEEN GENERAL AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
AND ALSO THERE'S BEEN A LEVELING OFF IN PLATING AND PERMITTING ACTIVITY IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
SO NOW WE'LL DISCUSS OUR SIX CORE FUNCTIONS.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES INCLUDE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND THE DIRECTOR'S.
OFFICE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING BUDGETING, PURCHASING, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PUBLIC NOTIFICATION MAILS OUTS, AND ASSISTING WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
[00:05:01]
THE TEAM PREPARES HUNDREDS OF NOTIFICATION LETTERS EVERY TWO WEEKS FOR CERTAIN PLAT APPLICATIONS AS REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT THEY ALSO ASSIST WITH NOTIFICATION FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING EFFORTS.THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPEN, OPEN RECORDS, COMMISSION, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH MAYOR, COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.
COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL SERVICES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENT THEIR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE PLANS AND ASSISTING NEIGHBORHOODS PRESERVE THEIR CHARACTER THROUGH MINIMUM LOT SIZE, MINIMUM BUILDING LINE AND PROHIBITED YARD PARKING PROGRAMS, AND MANAGING THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING CIVILITY ORDINANCES.
THIS TEAM ALSO ASSISTS SOME OF OUR OTHER GROUPS WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
UH, IN THE COMING YEAR, WE WILL PAUSE COMMUNITY PLANNING EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING, UH, THE 16 PLANS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
AND THOSE ARE THE 10 COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PLANS AND SIX NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE PLANS.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THOSE, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS ON NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE PROJECTS THAT THEY CAN COMPLETE.
ALSO, UM, YOU MIGHT NOTICE ON OUR, UM, UH, PERFORMANCE MEASURES, UM, THE HIGH NUMBER OF LOTS THAT WERE PROTECTED THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, THIS WAS DUE TO SEVERAL, UH, UH, PROHIBITED YARD PARKING AREAS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED, AND THOSE TEND TO BE LARGE, UM, ENCOMPASSING WHOLE SECTIONS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE ARE NOT EXPECTING AS MANY OF THOSE APPLICATIONS THIS COMING YEAR.
SO THAT NUMBER, UM, WE'RE PROJECTING, UH, SORT OF BACK TO NORMAL NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ONE THING I'D LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WORK ON, UM, DEVELOPING A DEPARTMENT WIDE STRATEGY FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONNECTING WITH THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR WORK, AND THAT THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE MEANINGFUL, EXPECTATIONS ARE CLEAR, AND WE CLOSE THE LOOP BY LETTING PEOPLE KNOW HOW, UM, THEIR INPUT AND FEEDBACK HAVE AFFECTED THE OUTCOME.
WE DO ENGAGEMENT A LOT ACROSS OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WE, THERE'S MANY WAYS OF COURSE, THAT WE CAN IMPROVE AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
NOT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING TO MEETINGS.
UM, EVERYBODY'S BOMBARDED WITH ELECTRONIC MESSAGING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE, UM, IN ENGAGING FOLKS AND NOT JUST THE USUAL FOLKS.
UM, SO WE, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE WILL IDENTIFY MORE MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT MEASURES.
UM, SO, UH, AND THOSE WILL BE WE, AS SOON AS WE HAVE 'EM, WE'LL START MEASURING.
BUT, UM, WE EXPECT TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT NEXT YEAR.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND DESIGN REVIEW TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBDIVISION PLAT REVIEW, SITE PLAN REVIEW, AND ADMINISTERING NUISANCE ORDINANCES THAT GOVERN THE LOCATION OF TOWERS, HOTEL MOTELS, AND HAZARDOUS ENTERPRISES.
THE TEAM PROVIDES STAFF SUPPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE TOWER COMMISSION.
WE'VE RECEIVED RECORD NUMBERS OF PLAT AND SITE PLAN APPLICATIONS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
THIS HEIGHTENED ACTIVITY HAS BEEN LEVELING OFF.
THOUGH THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS STILL REMAINS HIGH AND MEETING STATE AND LOCAL DEADLINES WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGING.
UH, WE'RE PREPARED TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES IN SEVERAL WAYS.
UH, FIRST, UM, WE ARE TRAINING MORE OF OUR TEAM TO HANDLE A PORTION OF, UM, OUR WORK.
SO ONCE THEY'VE MADE IT THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS, UM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY TO BE RECORDED WITH THE COUNTY.
WE KNOW WE'VE BEEN BACKED UP THERE, AND SO WE, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MORE, UH, OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS FASTER.
ALSO, THIS YEAR, WE'LL LAUNCH OUR MUCH ANTICIPATED PLAT TRACKER 2.0.
THIS IS ONLINE PLAT SUBMITTAL SYSTEM WILL REPLACE OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, WHICH WAS DEPLOYED IN 2013 OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
THE NEW SYSTEM WILL BE EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC AND OUR STAFF TO WORK IN AND WILL CREATE MORE EFFICIENT WORKFLOW AND BETTER DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS CAPABILITIES.
WE, WE HOPE TO DEPLOY THAT THIS SUMMER.
NUMBER THREE, WE'RE RIGHT SIZING OUR SITE PLAN REVIEW TEAM OFFICE AT THE HOUSTON PERMIT CENTER.
THIS TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
OUR SPECIFIC FOCUS IS BUILDING SET PACKS, OFF STREET PARKING STANDARDS AND LANDSCAPE STANDARDS.
[00:10:01]
EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE MEETING OUR REVIEW TARGETS AT THE PERMIT CENTER SINCE JANUARY.UH, THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THREE NEW STAFF MEMBERS AND ONE CONTRACT STAFF PERSON.
UH, WE'RE ASSESSING THE EFFECT, UM, THIS CONTRACT PERSON HAS AND IF WARRANTED, WE'LL TRY TO CONVERT THAT TO A FULL-TIME POSITION, WHICH WILL BE LESS EXPENSIVE.
GIS OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR LONG.
UH, THIS DIVISION MANAGES AND MAINTAINS MUCH OF THE DATA THAT WE USE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS USE FOR MAPPING AND ANALYSIS.
WE ALSO MAIN THIS MAINTAIN THE CITY'S ADDRESSING SYSTEM, ADDRESSING DATABASE, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITIES AND REGIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO PROVIDE MAPPING ANALYSIS AND ADDRESSING FOR EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
THIS INCLUDES SPENDING THE NIGHT AT THE HEC CENTER, UM, AS THEY DID THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, AND OR BEING ON CALL REMOTELY TO PROVIDE DATA MAPS AND ANALYSIS DURING A DISASTER AND TO ASSIST WITH RECOVERY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING OUR GIS TEAM.
SERVES ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, COUNCIL MEMBER'S OFFICE, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND ASSISTS IN PROVIDING MAPS AND DATA TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MOSTLY THROUGH OUR, UM, INTERACTIVE MAPPING PORTAL.
UM, THE, UH, HOUSTON OFFICE OF PRESERVATION FACILITATES THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND MAINTAINING THE CITY'S HISTORIC RESOURCES.
THIS TEAM STAFFS THE HOUSTON ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND THE HOUSTON, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION APPEALS BOARD DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS IS STRONG AND THE TEAM WORKS HARD TO ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS IN NAVIGATING THE CITY'S PRESERVATION STANDARDS.
EDUCATION IS A BIG PART OF OUR EFFORTS IN THE COMING YEAR.
WE'RE PREPARING, UH, DAY LONG TRAINING FOR COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, WHICH WILL HELP, UM, IMPROVE CONSISTENCY IN DECISION MAKING.
WE'RE ALSO, UM, EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH THE RICE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE ON A PROJECT TO, UM, HELP, UH, IN THE GLENBROOK GLENBROOK VALLEY, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UH, PLEASE NOTE, UM, THAT OUR FY TARGET FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY HHC IS NOT 36%.
WE ARE, WE'RE SHOOTING MUCH HIGHER THAN THREE SIX.
THAT'S A TYPO, AND I REALLY APOLOGIZE THAT THAT MADE IT IN THERE.
ALSO TO NOTE THERE, UM, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING HARD WITH THE NOR HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT TO, UM, GET CONSENSUS FROM THE COMMUNITY ON DESIGN GUIDELINES.
AND WE HOPE TO DO MORE DESIGN GUIDELINES IN THE COMING YEAR.
UM, VISTA DIVISION WORKS CLOSELY WITH HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS AND OUTSIDE PARTNERS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE SAFE MOBILITY OPTIONS FOR HOUSTONIANS.
OUR ROLE IS TO GUIDE POLICY THROUGH PLANNING ACTIVITIES, COORDINATING STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSIONS, AND ENSURING ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
THE TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ANNUAL UPDATES TO THE CITY'S MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AND FREEWAY PLAN MONITORING AND OR LEADING A VARIETY OF PLANNING STUDIES, UM, INCLUDING, UM, THE, UH, NEWEST ONE, WHICH IS THE TRUCK ROUTE PLAN.
ASSISTING WITH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT FOR THE NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, PARTICIPATING IN INTERAGENCY REVIEW OF ROAD AND SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION, AND COORDINATING THE PRIORITIZATION OF SIDEWALK AND BIKE LANE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE TEAM PROVIDES STAFF SUPPORT TO THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE FY 25 TARGET NUMBER, UH, TARGET FOR PUBLIC CONTACTS IS NA UH, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE PROPOSING TO REFINE THAT MEASURE.
UH, IN THE COMING YEAR, WE PLAN TO BE MORE SPECIFIC BY MEASURING THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETINGS RELATED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
AND WE'RE DEFINING MEETINGS TO BE AN IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL DIALOGUE, UH, MEANT TO INFORM OR GAIN INPUT, INPUT AND FEEDBACK.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BIG PUBLIC MEETING.
IT COULD BE STANDING OUT AT THE BUS STOP OR, UM, GOING TO AN EVENT THAT'S ALREADY SCHEDULED.
UM, ALSO IN THE COMING YEAR, WE'LL FOCUS OUR VISION ZERO EFFORTS ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS IS, UM, TWO NEW TARGETS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE BUDGET BOOK, BUT THAT WE WILL BEGIN TRACKING, UM, SOON.
YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY, UM, IS, IS SIDEWALKS.
HE'S REALLY FOCUSING ON MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE, UM, SAFE, UH, EFFICIENT CONNECTIONS.
AND SO WE WILL BE HELPING, UM,
[00:15:01]
UH, THE TEAM, THE PUBLIC WORKS AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IDENTIFY, UH, SIDEWALK CONNECTIONS, UM, BASED ON THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK.NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN YOUR FOCUS FROM OUR CORE FUNCTIONS TO OUR FOUR FUNDS.
UH, THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATION FOR THE CITY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS.
UH, WE'RE PROPOSING 3.4 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES FROM OUR GENERAL FUND.
90% OF THAT IS FOR PERSONNEL COSTS AND 10% FOR OTHER PERSONNEL, OF COURSE, IS SALARY, PENSION, FICA, AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
OTHER EXPENDITURES ARE FOR OUR, UM, OUR RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS, PHONE COPIERS, THINGS THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, UM, AND A SMALL AMOUNT FOR SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND SUPPORTS OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF LAND WITHIN THE CITY AND ETJ AND ALSO COMPLIANCE, UM, OF INDIVIDUAL, INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WITH THE CITY'S, UM, BUILDING STANDARDS.
WE'RE PROPOSING 12.3 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES FROM OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
61% OF THAT IS FOR PERSONNEL AND 39% IS FOR OTHER COSTS.
AND THE OTHER COSTS INCLUDE, OF COURSE, THE RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
UM, ALSO, UM, SUPPLIES AND SERVICES.
THAT'S A TOTAL OF 3.9 MILLION, WHICH IS BROKEN DOWN INTO INDIRECT COST RECOVERY.
UM, AND THIS COST IS FOR INDIRECT SERVICES PROVIDED BY CENTRAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, NOT CONTROLLED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
IT MAKES UP 1.4 MILLION OF THE NON-PERSONNEL COSTS IN THIS FUND.
INTERFUND SERVICES IS THE CHARGEBACK PAID TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT RELATED WORK AND MAKES UP $385,000 OF THE NON-PERSONNEL COSTS.
MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES INCLUDES LARGER PROJECTS, UH, PRIMARILY OUR UPDATE OF THE PLAT TRACKER, UH, WEB APPLICATION, UM, WHICH IS, UM, STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
AND ALSO, UM, STAFF AUGMENTATION AT THE HOUSTON PERMIT CENTER.
AND THAT, UM, THOSE TWO THINGS MAKE UP ABOUT $1.6 MILLION OF THAT AND SUPPLIES, UH, GENERAL SUPPLIES AND TRAINING.
OUR CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING FUND IS, UM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GIS OR EGIS FUND.
AND ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS PAY INTO THAT FUND.
WE EXPECT 1.7 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES IN THE NEXT YEAR.
AND 85% OF THAT IS FOR PERSONNEL COSTS AND 15% FOR OTHER, UM, OTHER COSTS INCLUDE, OF COURSE OUR RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS AND SUPPLY SERVICES AND TRAINING.
AND WE HAVE OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND.
THIS FUND WAS ESTABLISHED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WITH THE SALE OF SEVERAL, UH, HISTORIC FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
UM, AND IT'S FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
IT MOSTLY COVERS, UM, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, UM, TRAINING.
THERE ARE NO FTES DESIGNATED TO THAT ONE.
UM, WE'RE BUDGETING 150,000 IN EXPENDITURES FOR THE COMING YEAR.
UM, AND SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, UH, YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST.
SO, LOOKING AT EXPENDITURES BY FUND, UM, COMPARED OVERALL, WE'RE PROPOSING AN EXPENDITURE DECREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 2.8 MILLION OR 13% ACROSS ALL OF OUR FUNDS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS QUICK OVERVIEW.
UH, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS PROPOSED TO DECREASE, UH, A DECREASE OF 1 MILLION OR 7.5%, RESULTING, UH, MOSTLY FROM ELIMINATING INTERNAL CHARGEBACKS, A DECREASE IN INDIRECT COSTS AND RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND, NO CHANGE IS PROPOSED.
CENTRAL SERVICE REVOLVING FUND, UM, THAT'S EGIS.
THE REVENUE IN THIS FUND IS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENDITURES.
AS A RESULT, THE REVENUE CAN GO UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON VACANCIES, UM, IN THE FUND OR OTHER COST SAVING MEASURES.
UM, IN THIS CASE, WE'RE ACT, WE'RE PROPOSING AN INCREASE OF 13, UH, THOUSAND OR 1% RESULTING FROM INCREASES IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS AND GENERAL FUND.
UM, IN THE ORANGE, WE'RE PROPOSING A DECREASE OF 1.8 MILLION OR 34.4%.
IN OUR GENERAL FUND, THIS DECREASE IS LARGELY DUE, BUT NOT ENTIRELY TO THE REDUCTION OF ONE-TIME FUNDING.
[00:20:01]
HISTORIC APP TRACK APPLICATION, ONETIME FUNDING FOR, UM, UH, RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES GRANT A MATCH, UH, UH, ONETIME FUNDING FOR THE B CYCLE PROGRAM, AND ALSO ELIMINATING THE PRACTICE OF CHARGEBACKS BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.OVERALL, WE'RE PROPOSING A REVENUE DECREASE OF 1.1 MILLION OR 9.3% ACROSS ALL FUNDS.
WE EXPECT A DECREASE, UM, FOR THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, UM, SHOWN IN GRAY, UH, A REVENUE DECREASE OF 212,000 OR 2.3% IN THIS FUND COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
UH, MOSTLY DUE TO LEVELING OFF, UM, IN PLANNING ACTIVITY AND ALSO ELIMINATING THE CHARGEBACKS.
THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND SHOWN IN YELLOW, UM, IS ANTICIPATING A DECREASE OF $3,000 OR FIVE, UH, ABOUT 5%.
AND THAT'S JUST INTEREST IS WE EXPECT LESS INTEREST.
UH, CENTRAL SERVICES REVOLVING REVOLVING FUND IS, UH, EXPECTED TO SEE A REVENUE INCREASE OF $125,000 OR 7.5%.
AND THE GENERAL FUND, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, WILL SHOW NO LONGER SHOW ANY REVENUES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT, UM, DO, UM, DOING THE CHARGEBACKS.
I JUST WANNA REITERATE, THE PRACTICE OF CHARGEBACKS BETWEEN FUNDS IS AN ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE.
ELIMINATING IT DOES NOT AFFECT OUR ACTUAL REVENUES OR EXPENDITURES OR OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. AND JUST A QUICK RECAP TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE DECREASE IN GENERAL FUND IS LARGELY DUE TO CHANGES TO THE INTERNAL CHARGEBACK PROGRAM AND THE DECREASE IN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND IS DUE, UM, LARGELY TO A LEVELING OFF OF PLATTING ACTIVITY AND ELIMINATING THE CHARGEBACKS.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
ON PAGE 10, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THESE, I SEE MIKE BERGER OUT THERE, UM, ON GETTING THESE NUMBERS, UH, YOU KNOW, UP FROM 26% TO 80%.
AND YOU SAID YOU'VE REALLY BEEN HITTING YOUR TARGETS ON THE TURNAROUND.
15 DAYS FOR COMMERCIAL AND 10 DAYS FOR RESIDENTIAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SEE AS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE IS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT EXACTLY, BUT YOU KNOW, RESUBMITTAL, YOU KNOW, LIMITING THE NUMBER OF RESUBMITTAL, UM, 'CAUSE THAT, THAT'S OFTEN THE PROBLEM.
THEY GET THROUGH THE FIRST THING IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT THEN THEY HAVE TO BE RESUBMITTED A BUNCH OF TIMES.
YOU SAID THREE NEWS, THREE NEW STAFF MEMBERS, UM, YOU HAVE AND ONE THAT'S CONTRACT, BUT YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO GET ON BOARD IS THEN THAT'S, THAT'S GOTTA BE THE REASON YOUR NUMBERS ARE IMPROVING.
I REMEMBER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PRESENTATION WHEN THEY MADE, THEY HIT THEIR TARGET 3% OF THE TIME.
UH, WE, I THINK WE'VE HIT ON THE RIGHT NUMBER AND ALSO, UM, WE LOVE THE BUSINESS, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE ACTIVITY WAS GOING UP THAT IT WAS JUST IMPOSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, THE TIME IT TAKES TO, TO, TO FIND THE STAFF, TO TRAIN 'EM, IT TAKE, YOU CAN'T JUST PUT PEOPLE TO WORK INSTANTLY.
SO LAST FALL, WE WERE ABLE TO FILL OUT THE TEAM.
UM, WE, WITH THAT, THAT ONE, THE STAFF AUGMENTATION CONTRACT, THE ONE PERSON WE, IT'S EASY.
AND IS THAT, WHICH, THAT'S THE HPC STAFF AUGMENTATION, BUT DO YOU KNOW THE CONTRACTOR? OH, UM, ASANI.
AND SO, UM, SO I THINK THAT JUST HELPS.
LIKE, 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS OUT ON, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THEY GO VACATION OR THEY'RE ON MILITARY LEAVE OR SOMETHING.
SO I THINK ONE MORE PERSON WILL, YOU KNOW, IF THINGS STAY STEADY, IF THE ACTIVITY STAYS STEADY, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'LL NEED.
I THINK ONE MORE PERSON AND WE'LL BE ABLE AND ARE YOU STILL SEEING LOTS OF RESUBMITTAL? YEAH.
AND WE WORK, UM, WE THINK THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT THAT IS TO, IS TO REALLY MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW YEAH.
WHAT THEY NEED TO SUBMIT AND HOW TO DO IT.
AND SO THERE'S THAT, AND WE, THERE'S ALWAYS A BETTER WAY TO DO IT AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO HOW TO REFINE THAT, BUT ALSO TO TRAIN OUR TEAM IF THERE'S THINGS THAT CAN BE RESOLVED WITH A PHONE CALL, RIGHT.
UM, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, IT'S A FINE LINE.
WE WANT OUR TEAM TO, TO ADMINISTER THE RULES, RIGHT? UM, AND, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WITHIN THOSE RULES, UH, QUICKLY.
UM, ON PAGE 17 AND 18, UH, UH, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THAT, THAT
[00:25:01]
WAS KIND OF SUPPOSED TO PAY, I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN THIS WAS CREATED AND IT WAS CREATED SO THAT ALL THE MONIES COLLECTED FROM THE PERMITTING ACTIVITIES COULD SUPPORT THE PERMITTING ACTIVITIES.BUT, BUT IT'S NOT, I MEAN, WE HAVE WAY MORE EXPENDITURES THAN, THAN REVENUES.
WHAT, WHAT CAN WE DO THERE? WHAT'S, ARE OUR FEES TOO LOW? UM, I'M NOT SURE.
WE HAVE TO, UM, WE HAVE SOME BIG EXPENDITURES WITH THE PLA TRACKER, SO THERE IS THAT.
AND THAT IS, UM, SO IF YOU BACK THOSE KIND OF ONE TIME THINGS OUT, ARE WE MORE IN LINE? WE, WE ARE, WE PROBABLY COULD, UM, INCREASE THEM SOME.
WE HAVEN'T DONE A STUDY, SO I CAN'T, I DON'T WANNA SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THEM.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A FEW YEARS AGO, UM, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND STARTED PAYING FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING I'M LOOKING AT HOW TO BACK THOSE OUT.
UM, AND THAT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT WE NEED, IF IT'S SUFFICIENT OR NOT, BECAUSE THAT, THAT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART.
I REMEMBER WHEN SETTING THIS UP THAT WE WANTED IT TO PAY FOR PAY FOR ITSELF.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING OUT A NUMBER OF YEARS TO SEE, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SUSTAINABLE AND THAT IT CAN SUPPORT US.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES? GOSH, JENNIFER, YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
EVERYBODY'S, EVERYBODY'S UH, EVERYBODY'S HUNGRY.
UM, UM, LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
MIKE, MIKE BERGER HERE TO TELL ME NOT TO RAISE THE FEES.
PROBABLY
AND I'M ALSO THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE BUILDER ASSOCIATION TWO YEARS.
SO LAST YEAR WAS THE LAST SECOND TIME.
UM, BRIEFLY, I KUDOS TO THE, UH, PERMANENT DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE GETTING MEETING THE 10 QUITE A BIT.
UM, UH, THE ONE PART THAT HOLDS UP PERMITS IS PLATTING.
WHILE IT'S SUPER EASY, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR LOT, YOU CAN GET IT SUBDIVIDED REALLY FAST.
YOU DID APPROVED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
HOWEVER, IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO GET A RECOMMENDATION APPOINTMENT, WHICH MEANS YOU GO IN NOW THERE'S SOME LITTLE WORK HAS TO BE DONE.
IF YOU GET IT APPROVED, THEY ALWAYS SAY FIX A COUPLE THINGS ON THERE, YOU FIX IT, THEN YOU GOTTA SIGN UP FOR A RECORDATION APPOINTMENT.
UM, ALL THE ONES I DID IN NOVEMBER, WE GOT RECORDATION APPOINTMENTS END OF MARCH, 1ST OF APRIL, FOUR MONTHS LATER.
AND SO WHAT A REC, WHAT A, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A RECORDED PLAT, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS.
YOU EVERY ONCE SUBMITS THEIR PLANS WITH, WITH THE APPROVED BUT NOT RECORDED PLAT, YOU THEN WAIT, ONCE YOU GET THE RECORDED PLAT BACK A COPY OF IT, YOU CAN PAY EXTRA, HAVE IT COME BACK FASTER, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT AND GET A NEW CALLED WCR LETTER, WHITE WASTEWATER LETTER.
SO I THINK IT'S A COUPLE MORE WEEKS, THEN YOU CAN FINALLY SUBMIT IT A SECOND TIME IN THERE.
SO WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? EVERYONE IS PROBABLY SUBMITTING WITH THE, JUST THE APPROVED PLAT.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN KEEP THINGS GOING.
BUT IT TURNS A PROCESS THAT PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE, 'CAUSE WE'RE GOING FAST NOW.
PERMITS TO BE KNOCKED OUT, YOU KNOW, IN A COUPLE MONTHS.
IT'S TAKING SIX MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS FOUR MONTH DEAL.
AND, AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME, THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN I DO.
IT'S JUST LIKE, ALL IT IS IS SOMEONE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT, MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT, AND PEOPLE SIGN IT LIKE IT IS THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND SOMEONE ELSE SIGNS THE, THE PLAT AND IT'S DONE.
IT GETS RECORDED AT HARRIS COUNTY.
IF WE GET THAT TIME PUSHED BACK, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
AND BY THE WAY, SIR, WHEN AS I WAS PART OF THIS, THE FEES AT THAT TIME WERE QUADRUPLED, WHATEVER THE FEES WERE, WE WENT FOUR TIMES.
AND WHILE WE WERE AFRAID OF, I HEARD THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WE WERE AFRAID OTHER THINGS WERE STARTING TO GET PAID OUTTA THE REVENUE FUNDING, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST BUNCH OF YEARS.
SOMETIMES THE, THE FUND GETS KIND OF RATED TO HELP BALANCE THE BUDGET AND, AND, AND DO OTHER PROJECTS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MONEY STAY IN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND AND DO INTENSIVE AND PURPOSES, WHICH WAS PERMITTING AND THE PLATTING PROCESS.
SO IF WE COULD GET THOSE TIMES DOWN, AND I, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF, UM, SLA FOR THAT ALSO SAYING, HEY, MAX AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET A PLAT AFTER IT'S BEEN APPROVED IS X NUMBER OF WEEKS.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME KIND OF HEARING ABOUT THAT, SO WE CAN, WE CAN D DIG INTO THAT A LITTLE DEEPER.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLICKINGER THE FOUR MONTHS, WHAT KIND OF A COST DOES THAT ADD TO YOU? OH, IT'S, UH, GREAT IF YOU OWN A PIECE OF LAND NOWADAYS INSIDE THE CITY, ANOTHER $10,000 IN INTEREST JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR IT.
AND I ASSUME THOSE PA COSTS ARE PASSED ON TO, OF COURSE THEY ARE THE HOME BUYER AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
OF COURSE, NOBODY DOES ANYTHING FOR FREE.
EVERYONE WANTS BUSINESS TO MAKE A PROFIT.
SO, SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT'S CAUSING 'EM TO BE LESS AFFORDABLE, I WOULD SAY ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BUILT IN HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES.
BUT FOR MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE STUFF YOU HAVE TO REPL, YOU REPL IN A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD OR A LARGE BIG TRACK OF LAND TO BUILD THESE HOUSES.
[00:30:01]
WELL, WE'LL CERTAINLY ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO SHORTEN UP THAT TIMEFRAME.THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
ANY OTHER, UM, PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT? OKAY, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR.
AND MR. HAMILTON, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND WE LOVE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THANKS FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF OUR INQUIRIES AND EVERYBODY GO HAVE SOME LUNCH.
BE BACK TOMORROW AT 1:00 PM ONE 1:00 PM TOMORROW WE'LL START WITH THE HELP DEPARTMENT.