* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:20] ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD'S BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR 2027, AND I WELCOME DIRECTOR HERBERT SIMS AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. ALRIGHT, THERE WE GO. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS FRIDAY MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY RECOGNIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD STAFF WHO'S JOINING US THIS MORNING BEHIND US. WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE STAND? DON'T JUST WAVE, STAND UP. SO THESE INDIVIDUALS WORK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PARTNERS DAILY. THEY ANSWER THE CALLS FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEY ATTEND EVENTS AND MEETINGS IN THE EVENINGS AND ON THE WEEKENDS. THEY SOLVE PROBLEMS AND REMOVE OBSTACLES TO IMPROVE RESIDENTS LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. THEY MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT, FOR THEM TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. WHEN I TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH MORE THAN 200 PARTNERS, WHEN I TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH 14 CITY DEPARTMENTS EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COLLABORATION AND ALL YOU DO TO GET US WHAT WE NEED. UM, SO NOW THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, EVERYBODY'S ON THIS SIDE AND COMMITMENTS TO GET BACK TO, UM, I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME THIS MORNING, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE ME PRESENT, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY. BUT THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED HERE. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DEPARTMENT IS OUR HONOR TO SERVE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AS THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS MOVES FORWARD AND BUILDS ON PARTNERSHIPS AND OUTREACH WE'VE ESTABLISHED, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARPEN OUR FOCUS ON FINDING WAYS TO HELP RESIDENTS FEEL HEARD INCLUDED AND EMPOWERED. AND WITH THAT, I'LL BEGIN MY BUDGET PRESENTATION. SO PLEASE SKIP THE STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT SIDE FOR ME. SO OUR WORK IS CENTERED AROUND PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATING WITH, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE FIRST SLIDE, MOST OF OUR PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH MAYOR'S QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, WHICH FALL UNDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, PRIORITY. THE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS PRIORITY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IS ABOUT 48% OF OUR BUDGET BECAUSE IT INCLUDES ALL INDIRECT RESTRICTED AND DEPARTMENT COSTS THAT SUPPORTS OTHER PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. SO OUR PLANS TO ELIMINATE THE GAP. UM, THE DEPARTMENT, UH, IMPLEMENTED ABOUT $286,000 IN TARGETED REDUCTIONS THROUGH OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. THESE REDUCTIONS INCLUDED ONE VACANT POSITION, ADJUSTMENTS TO PROGRAM EXPENSES, FOCUS REDUCTIONS IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LANGUAGE ACCESS, WHICH INCLUDED LANGUAGE ACCESS SOFTWARE WE ANTICIPATED NEEDING. BUT, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, ACHIEVE OUR GOAL WITHOUT THAT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. WE ALSO, UM, HAVE REDUCTIONS IN SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FUND, BUT IT STILL LEAVES US 170,000 TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE SPEND A HUNDRED THOUSAND ABOUT EACH YEAR, SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF DOLLARS TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM AND TO OFFER MORE, UM, SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS GRANTS, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN FY 27, UM, THESE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN WITHOUT COMPROMISING CORE SERVICE DELIVERY. AND SO, UM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET OUR SER CORE SERVICES COMPLETED WITH THESE REDUCTIONS. NEXT SLIDE. ON THIS SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS A 9% INCREASE OVER 26 ADOPTED BUDGET. THIS VARIANCE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE INCLUSION OF THE REDUCTION IMPACTS AND THE FULL ACCOUNTING FOR THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EXPENDITURES, WHICH WERE NOT INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE GENERAL FUND. WE DO NOT HAVE, UM, ANY OTHER FUND IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. NEXT SLIDE. I DO WANT TO NOTE, UM, WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THAT IF YOU GO YEAR FOR YEAR, OUR REDUCTION IS ABOUT 3.6%. SO HERE, PERSONNEL VERSUS NON PERSONNEL, I'M SURE THIS HAS BEEN QUITE REDUNDANT WITH YOU ALL. WE'RE ABOUT 79% PERSONNEL, 1% SUPPLIES, 12% SERVICES, AND 8% IN RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS IN THE DEPARTMENT. NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE YOU SEE EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM. UM, THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM. YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTION IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH I EXPLAINED BEFORE, WHICH IS OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD FUND AS WELL AS AN FTE THAT WE, UM, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION AND THE VOLUNTEER RETIREMENT MOVED TO THE, UM, [00:05:01] NEW AMERICANS DIVISION OUT OF MAO. AND SO AS MENTIONED EARLIER, ALSO INCLUDES THIS YEAR THE OFFICE, UM, FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH IS NOW INCLUDED. AND THAT A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN, A HUNDRED AND SEVENTY K IS THERE REPRESENTED ON THE LAST ROW. NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE ALIGNS WITH MAYOR'S GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS PRIORITY. OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT INCLUDES THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE AND FUNDING FOR OUR RESTRICTED ACCOUNTS. THESE FUNDS BENEFIT ALL DIVISIONS. UM, THERE WAS ALSO ABOUT A, UM, 45,000 UM, REDUCTION HERE TOO FOR, UM, DEPARTMENT-WIDE NEEDS SUCH AS, UM, RELOCATION, UM, TRAINING AND THINGS OF SUCH. SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AS IN ALL PROGRAMS TO FOLLOW INCLUDED ARE THE CURRENT KPIS AS WELL AS OUR NEWLY DEVELOPED FY 27 KPIS THAT ARE UTILIZING THE TURN THE CURVE PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UM, OUR PRIMARY DIVISION HERE IS MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE. UM, IT ALIGNS WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE PRIORITY. THE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ITEMS INCLUDE PERSONNEL PENSION OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS FUND 1000 AND IT IS $1.365 MILLION BUDGET. NEXT SLIDE. WE ESTIMATE TO BE ON TRACK WITH OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS SERVED THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE. UPDATED KPIS INCLUDE NUMBER OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS ATTENDED BY MAYOR'S, ASSISTANCE OFFICE STAFF, AND PERCENT OF SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE ESTABLISHED BYLAWS AND CONDUCT COMMUNITY MEETINGS. NEXT SLIDE. GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION ALIGNS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY OF THE MAYOR'S SIGNIFICANT. UM, FUNDING INCLUDES PERSONNEL AND PENSION OBLIGATIONS AS WELL AS FOR GANG YOUTH OUTREACH AND INTERVENTION COUNSELORS. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS FUND 1000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $599,000. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WE ESTIMATE TO BE ON TRACK TO EXCEED, UM, ALL KPIS, BUT ONE WHICH TRACKS THE NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL AND GANG AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS PROVIDED TO PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS. UH, NEXT SLIDE. BUT WE'VE ALSO UPDATED THESE KPIS TO INCLUDE PERCENT OF YOUTH PARTICIPANTS ASSESSED AS NEEDING ADDITIONAL SERVICES WHO ARE REFERENCED TO AND CONNECTED WITH APPROPRIATE EXTERNAL SUPPORT SERVICES AND PRESENT A YOUTH WHO COMPLETE THE GOALS STATED IN THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICE PLAN WITHIN 90 DAYS. NEXT SLIDE. NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES ALIGNS WITH OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS WELL. SIGNIFICANT ITEMS INCLUDE PERSONNEL AND PENSION OBLIGATIONS AS WELL AS YOUTH LEADERSHIP, CONSTITUENT EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS 1000, THE AMOUNT IS $883,000. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WE ESTIMATE TO EXCEED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PROJECTS COMPLETED USING VOLUNTEER LABORS THIS YEAR, UM, AT AN ESTIMATE OF $503,000 IN SAVINGS TO THE CITY AND AREA NONPROFITS. NEXT SLIDE. UPDATED KPIS HERE INCLUDE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS PARTICIPATING IN CITY SUPPORTED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND ESTIMATED DOLLAR VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOURS PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DEPARTMENT PARTNERSHIPS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. NEXT SLIDE. OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICAN AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. UM, NEW AMERICANS ALIGNS WITH QUALITY OF LIFE. SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ITEMS INCLUDE FUNDING FOR PERSONNEL AND PENSION OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS FOR TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERVICES. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS FUND 1000 AND IN THE AMOUNT OF $438,000. NEXT SLIDE, WE SAY TO MEET OUR PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN MOST CATEGORIES. MANY OF YOU HAVE MET OUR NEW, UM, LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR, KATIE FAN, WHO WILL BE ASSISTING US TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES TRAINED IN LANGUAGE ACCESS, WHICH IS WHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE A DEFICIT. NEXT SLIDE. UPDATED KPIS INCLUDE PERCENT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH STAFF WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAMMING. I MEAN TRAINING, I'M SORRY, AND PERCENT OF OUTREACH MATERIALS MEETINGS, ESTABLISHED LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE AND ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. NEXT SLIDE. HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IT ALIGNS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY. SIGNIFICANT BUDGET ITEMS INCLUDE FUNDING FOR PERSONNEL AND PENSION, UM, AS WELL AS OUR SHELTER COLLABORATIVE WITH HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER AND SALVATION ARMY. THE DIVISION IS FUNDED THROUGH POLICE SPECIAL SERVICES FUND. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS FUND 1000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $243,000. NEXT SLIDE. [00:10:02] DESPITE THE RECENT ORGANIZATION ON STAFF TURNOVER PROGRAM MANAGER, TANISHA MOSLEY HAS ENSURED THAT THE PROGRAM IS ON TARGET WITH THEIR CURRENT KPIS. WE PLAN TO TAKE MORE OF A DIRECT SERVICES APPROACH TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS THAN THE PREVIOUS POLICY FOCUSED PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE, VETERANS AFFAIRS. NEXT SLIDE. I'M SORRY. THERE WE GO. VETERANS AFFAIRS ALIGNS WITH QUALITY OF LIFE. PRIORITY, UH, SIGNIFICANT ITEMS INCLUDE FUNDING FOR PERSONNEL AND PENSION OBLIGATION AS WELL AS OPERATING BUDGET AND SUPPLIES FOR OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE CONNECTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO RESOURCES. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS FUND 1000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $131,000. UM, WE ESTIMATE TO BE ON TRACK TO MEET OR EXCEED THE CURRENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES. AS I SAID, WITH, UM, MS. MOSLEY AND DR. JONES HAS KEPT US ON TRACK WITH OUR, UH, CURRENT KPIS. BUT THE NEXT SLIDE I WILL SHOW YOU THE UPDATED KPIS, WHICH INCLUDES NUMBER OF VETERAN FOCUS RESOURCE EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS ORGANIZED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, AND NUMBER OF RESIDENTS INCLUDING VETERANS AND THE FAMILY OF VETERANS CONNECTED TO CITY SERVICES OR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF VETERANS. NEXT SLIDE. OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLES WITH DISABILITIES ALIGNS, UM, WAS INTEGRATED WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN FY 26. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE OFFICE IS INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET. UM, THE DIVISION'S FUNDING IS REIMBURSED VIA PUBLIC WORKS. THE REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS 1000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $870,000. NEXT SLIDE. UPDATED KPIS INCLUDE NUMBER OF A DA FOCUS MEETINGS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, TRAININGS, ORGANIZED AND PERCENTAGE OF OUTREACH MATERIALS, MEETING ESTABLISHED LANGUAGE AND ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. NEXT SLIDE. OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IS FUNDED VIA THE DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS. HOWEVER, ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT CONTINUES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. EDUCATION ALIGNS WITH THE MAYOR'S QUALITY OF LIFE. PRIORITY. SIGNIFICANT ITEMS INCLUDE PERSONAL AND PENSION, AS MENTIONED BEFORE IN OTHER PROGRAMS. IT INCLUDES BUDGET AND SUPPLIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO EDUCATION. JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH REFERENCE ACCOUNT IS 1000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $238,000. YOU CAN GO. NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. SO REVENUE, UM, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. I DON'T HAVE TO REPORT ANY INSPECTION REVENUE, BUT REVENUE, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM IS FUNDED VIA A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FUNDS FROM HPD PAID BY SEXUAL ORIENTED BUSINESSES. AND THAT AMOUNT TOTALS $243,000 AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THROUGH THE EXPENDITURES, ADMIN SUPPORT REVENUE IS PRODUCED BY TPIA, REQUESTS AND OFFICE FOR, UM, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. EXPENDITURES ARE REIMBURSED VIA HPD FUND 2312. NEXT SLIDE. ALL REVENUE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS ALLOCATED VIA THE GENERAL FUND. NEXT SLIDE. AND I THINK WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SIMS, YOU ARE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY DEPARTMENT AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I, WE GO TO THESE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ALL OVER TOWN. I SAW SOMEBODY OUT IN FORT BEND, HOUSTON TILL THERE, THERE HE IS. ELDRIDGE YEAH. TILL 9:00 PM SO I KNOW HOW HARD YOU GUYS WORK AND YOU REALLY OFFER A VERY VALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE ENGAGED AND HOW, HOW TO, HOW TO INTERACT WITH ALL OF US. SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I'LL START WITH QUESTIONS. OH, I WANNA MAKE SURE AND WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER MARY ANNE HUFFMAN, WHO'S BEEN HERE, AND ALSO VICE MAYOR PRO TEM PECK WHO JOINED US. SO COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. AND I WANNA SECOND THAT. I MEAN, I SEE YOUR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE AND, UH, YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH KATIE F WHO'S HERE, UH, LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR. AND, UH, I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT, UM, THAT POSITION HAS BEEN RENEWED AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME GRANT SUPPORT AS WELL. YOU'LL RECALL, THAT'S FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO. MM-HMM . UM, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER MARTINEZ PUT SOME MONEY IN TO START THAT POSITION. AND THEN YOU WERE ABLE TO MULTIPLY THAT BY GETTING A, A GRANT FROM THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT. YES, SIR. WAS IT? YES, SIR. YEAH. AND VISITED WITH KATIE ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT SHE'S DOING IN THAT POSITION, AND IT SOUNDS REALLY EXCITING. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UH, THE WORK TO CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM. AND WE'RE EXCITED AS EVERY TIME WE SEE THAT QRA CODE, WHEN, UM, COUNCIL MEETINGS, IT, IT, IT, UM, SHOWS [00:15:01] HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE DEDICATED TO THE PROJECT, TO, TO MOVE THAT WORK FORWARD. AND SO WE APPRECIATE WHAT KATIE'S DONE AND WE APPRECIATE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILE, RAMIREZ AND MARTINEZ FOR THAT SUPPORT BECAUSE THAT IN-KIND FUNDING DID ASSIST US IN, IN GETTING THE, THE ENDOWMENT GRANT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . GREAT POINT. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR, FOR DOING THAT. YOU GUYS MADE THAT HAPPEN. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS'S OFFICE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND GOOD MORNING DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND KATIE, UM, FOR PILOTING THE, UH, I SPEAK PROGRAM AT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION ORDINANCE, COMMUNITY MEETINGS. UM, IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. AND THEN OF COURSE, THE FIRST OF THOSE MEETINGS WAS IN DISTRICT F, WHICH IS, UM, ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY. AND SO, UM, I'M SURE AS VERONICA KNOWS, BEING POSTED UP AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER ALL THE TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO SPEAK A MULTITUDE OF LANGUAGES. AND SO THAT SERVICE WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND WE APPRECIATE HER FOR ALLOWING US TO PILOT IT THERE. NO, IT WAS WONDERFUL. AND, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING IT EXPAND, UM, IN THE COMING YEAR. UM, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT DON, UM, UTILIZES AND HOW IF RESIDENTS IN, YOU KNOW, OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT FOR EXAMPLE, WANTED TO GET INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEERING AND, YOU KNOW, UM, PROVIDING SERVICES, UM, ALONGSIDE YOUR DEPARTMENT, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? SURE. UM, OUR VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES COORDINATOR IS ROMAN AGUILAR, AND WHAT HE DOES IS LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE WITH, UM, IM, WHICH USED TO BE INTERFAITH MINISTRIES AND VOLUNTEER HOUSTON, WE UTILIZED THEIR GALAXY PROGRAM. UM, THE CITY, WE PROCURED GALAXY AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET, IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO BECOME EFFICIENT. AND SO WE, UM, JUST PARTNERED WITH VOLUNTEER HOUSTON TO ALSO USE GALAXY. SO THEY'RE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS A PAGE, AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PAGE, YOU CAN IDENTIFY A RA DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND I'M SURE THERE'S MORE I'M NOT MENTIONING. AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS THERE. SO IF CITY COUNCIL WANTS THEIR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS TO BE ON THE PAGE TO HELP RECRUIT, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE ECONOMY SCALE TO GET YOU ON VOLUNTEERS. IF WE STARTED ON DATABASE, WE WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO REACH THE LEVELS THAT VOLUNTEER HOUSTON HAS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THAT DATABASE. AND SO, UM, WORK, WORK WITH ROMAN OR HIS DIVISION MANAGER, PAUL GREEN, TO HELP GET THAT STARTED. AND, UM, WE DEFINITELY TRACK THOSE VOLUNTEERS, THEIR HOURS. WE HAVE PROJECTS FROM, UM, FROM THE DEPARTMENT, FROM CLEANUPS TO, UM, ASSISTING IN DEPARTMENT EVENTS TO AIRPORT HAS, UM, GREETING HEALTH HAS, YOU KNOW, GARDENING PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH THEM ON. THE DEPARTMENT HAS WILL CLINICS WITH VOLUNTEER LAWYERS, UM, NOTARIES. SO THERE'S, THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE, WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, STAFF FROM COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEMS OFFICE. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, DIRECTOR SIMS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND, UM, MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM ECHOES WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS STATED. UM, KUDOS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, TO ALL YOUR STAFF, UM, FOR THE WORK AND EFFORTS THAT YOU DO, UM, IN THE CITY AND, AND, UH, AND BEYOND. WANT TO ALSO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN HELPING THE CENTRAL SOUTHWEST SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, 40 BEING REVITALIZED, YOU KNOW, RHONDA SOLDER AND TEAM AND KIKO. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN GETTING THAT DONE. UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE, UH, THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, IN DISTRICT A AND A PORTION OF DISTRICT D UM, BACK IN ACTION AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS HAPPENING, UM, WITH THE ENGAGEMENT. UM, I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT MAYOR PRO TEM KESS TATUM IS AN ADVOCATE, UM, FOR THE DISTRICTS HAVING A DEDICATED CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. UM, AND SHE WOULD LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO COME TO FRUITION. UM, ALSO WANNA THANK, UM, THE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ATTENDED, UM, HER IMPACT MEETING IN APRIL AND, AND, UM, AND ALSO HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS. AND THAT WAS VOICED, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME THAT A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS, IS VERY WELL WANTED, UM, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS. SO I KNOW THAT, UM, SHE'LL BE ADVOCATING FOR THAT, UM, AGAIN, AS WELL. AND I'LL ADVOCATED RANDY FOR HER WITH HER. I'M JUST KIDDING. , THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR CASTILLO. THANK YOU CHAIR DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO ECHO ALL THE, THE PRAISE THAT HAS BEEN PUT UPON YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING, UH, WHETHER IT'S IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY ROUND TABLES AND YOU'RE THERE [00:20:01] REPRESENTING, YOU KNOW, ALL THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING EFFORTS THAT ARE PROVIDED OR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, REESTABLISHMENT OR ESTABLISHMENT, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD FORUMS, UH, THAT Y'ALL WENT AROUND AND DID ACROSS ALL THE DISTRICTS. UM, YOU'RE PRESENT, YOU'RE RESPONSIVE AND THERE'S A LOT THAT Y'ALL HELP FACILITATE FOR, UM, DISTRICT H. I APPRECIATE IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH Y'ALL. THANK YOU. AND I WANNA THANK THE, YOUR ANSWERS, YOU ANSWERED MY WRITTEN QUESTIONS ALREADY. I JUST FELT LIKE I JUST SUBMITTED 'EM, SO THANK YOU AND THEY WERE GOOD ANSWERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, THE WORK ALL OF YOU DO. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANY MORE IN THE QUEUE, SO WE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO, UM, PUBLIC. DOUG, YOU WANNA COME UP FOR DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS? MY FRIEND DOUG. UH, FIRST THING I HAVE TO DO IS, UH, FIND OUT, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS GET AN ALLOCATION OF MONEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND I'VE GOTTEN OUR $2,000 AND HOPEFULLY ALL THE OTHER SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE GOTTEN THEIRS, BUT WE NEED ANOTHER $2,000 SOMEHOW TO BE FOUND IN THIS BUDGET, UH, FOR THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPENSES AND WE HAVE NO WAY OF PAYING FOR THEM. THE MAIN THING WE'VE GOT TO HAVE HAPPEN RIGHT NOW IS TO, UH, GET A NEW, UH, MAILING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ONE, THE THING WE'RE USING EMAIL SYSTEM, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONE WE'RE USING IS NOT, IT'S WORKING, BUT JUST BARELY. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE LAST TIME WE HAD A MEETING, I GOT FOUR NOTIFICATIONS THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE A MEETING. SO IF WE COULD GET $2,000, IF THEY COULD FIND THAT IN THEIR BUDGET, WE WOULD CERTAINLY VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. UH, NEXT, UM, AS FAR AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE. I KNOW RHONDA AND RENEE AND VERONICA, WHO IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE, BUT I SEE THEY ALSO HAVE 10 PEOPLE IN THAT DEPARTMENT. AND IF I COULD GET A BREAKDOWN OF WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE AND, AND WHAT THEIR JOBS ARE, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. AND THEN REGARDING, THERE ARE TWO DEPARTMENTS, OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND THEY ARE VERY UNEVENLY FUNDED. THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE OF DISABILITIES AND ONE PERSON IN THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. AND I THINK THAT DEPARTMENT, CERTAINLY WITH THE NUMBER OF VETERANS WE HAVE IN OUR AREA, DESERVES MORE ATTENTION GIVEN HOW MUCH THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE, UH, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND FIND, WELL, NO, UH, THE LAST THING, UH, THERE ARE TWO DEPARTMENTS, OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT AND MAYOR'S ASSISTANCE OFFICE. AND WHEN I SAW THAT, WHEN I REVIEWED THE BUDGET, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO? AND THERE ARE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES, BUT THE THING I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT BOTH OF THEIR GOALS ARE TO BUILD CIVIC CAPACITY, FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND CONNECTING AND IMPROVING RESIDENTS ACCESS TO SERVICES. SO THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME GOALS. DO THERE HAVE IS DOES THERE HAVE TO BE TWO SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS TO HANDLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR, AND I GUESS IT WOULDN'T MAYBE DO TOO MUCH, UH, DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S, IT'S CONFUSING TO SEE THOSE TWO WHEN IT SEEMS SO MUCH THE SAME. I ASKED THAT VERY QUESTION IN WRITING AND I'M GONNA SEND, I'LL EMAIL TO YOU THEIR RESPONSE. THEY HAD A GOOD RESPONSE TO THAT. GOOD. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOUG. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO OH, COME ON UP. LAURA GALLAGHER, THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME UP. UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY IN REGARDS TO THE GANG PREVENTION EFFORTS THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE CREDIBLE MESSENGER PROGRAM FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE BEEN AT A NUMBER OF THEIR TRAININGS. I'M, I'M, UH, UH, I HAVE WATCHED THE LEADERS OF THAT PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THE GRADUATES OF THAT PROGRAM AND I THINK IT'S DOING MIRACULOUS WORK AND I'M PUTTING A PLUG IN FOR THAT TO BE CONTINUED AND EXPANDED. I KNOW THE PILOT WAS IN DISTRICT BI BELIEVE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE GANG PREVENTION THAT'S IN DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT IT'S REALLY A POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAM. YES. AND, AND I ASKED ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT HOW THEY WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MUNICIPAL COURTS ON ALL OF THIS AND, AND GOT A GOOD RESPONSE SO WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU. UM, ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS? OKAY. SEEING NONE. HAPPY FRIDAY, DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. [00:25:01] Y'ALL ARE ALL OUT LATE EVERY NIGHT. GO, GO, GO BACK TO WORK. I GUESS I CAN'T SAY GO HOME , BUT HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. UH, WE'LL TAKE ABOUT A FIVE TO 10 MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL DO THE, UM, OUR LAST PRESENTATION TODAY FROM CITY LEGAL. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.