[00:00:01]
EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE APRIL 28TH, 2025 BOARD OF ALDERMAN BUDGET WORK SESSION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK ALDERMAN LOYAL IF SHE WOULD OPEN US UP IN PRAYER.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE? HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE GATHER TODAY, WE ASK THAT YOUR SPIRIT OF UNITY BE PRESENT AMONG US AND GUIDE US AS WE ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION.
WE PRAY TODAY THAT FATHER, WE WILL ADDRESS THE BUDGET AND THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US THE WISDOM THAT WE NEED, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US THE UNDERSTANDING AND CLARITY THAT WE NEED, AND THAT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS SESSION, THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, COMPLETED THE TASK WITH OUR CITIZENS IN MIND AND OUR STAFF.
WE PRAY THIS PRAYER IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND WITH PLEDGE TO ALLEGIANCE TO, TO OUR I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO APPLY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE ALL.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.
AND, UM, MADAM CLERK, YOU SAID ALDERMAN KENZIE'S GONNA BE ABOUT HOUR LATE.
AND ALDERMAN FRILL, HE IS OUT OF TOWN.
[1. Discussion of Recommended FY2025-26 Budget]
THE DISCUSSION OF RECOMMENDED FY 25 26 BUDGETS.UH, MR. MANAGER, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND ALDERMAN.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE FFY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
UM, AND JUST A LITTLE RECAP WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS, IT WAS BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2024 WHERE WE RECEIVED, STARTED RECEIVING INPUT AND HAVING MEETINGS WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.
IN DECEMBER, WE DID A BRIEF SURVEY, UH, WITH THE BOARD TO SEE, UM, WHAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT AND WHAT YOU WOULD NOT SUPPORT.
THAT WAS IN THE FORM OF, UH, IF WE RECOMMENDED COLAS OR IF WE HAD TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OUT OF FUND BALANCE WITH WHAT WOULD BE TOLERABLE AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO WE MOVED THROUGH THE EARLY PARTS OF, OF 2025, UH, CONTINUED TO MEET WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE, PROJECTED REVENUES, AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL EXPENDITURES WOULD BE FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME TO, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I MADE WITH THE APRIL 22ND BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING DURING THE CITY MANAGER'S PRESENTATION.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING INTO MORE OF THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU SHORTLY.
UH, THE AGENDA FOR TODAY WILL BE AN ELECTRIC UTILITY PRESENTATION, WHICH WE'LL BE DOING SHORTLY.
THEN WE'LL GO ON TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND AND THE OTHER FUNDS.
AND THEN JUST AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
AND, AND WE'VE GOT, UH, TIME FOR COMMENT.
FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT TIME? SO THERE, THERE AGAIN, THAT WAS OUR TIMELINE WHERE ONLY WE'RE AT TODAY.
THE GOAL IS FOR, TO, UH, ADOPT THIS BUDGET AT THE MAY 13TH MEETING, UH, WHEN WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA ASK, UH, CHARLIE BAARD TO COME UP WITH THE ELECTRIC UTILITY PRESENTATION.
HE HAS CHRIS LU WITH UTILITY FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS AND ONLINE.
WE'VE ALSO GOT DON LINE, WHO WILL PROBABLY BE JAM IN SOMETHING.
HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT.
UM, I HAD A REQUEST FOR SOME PAPER COPIES OF THE PRESENTATION STAFF'S WORKING ON THOSE.
SO THEY MAY COME IN HERE FOR SOME PAPER COPIES IF YOU NEED HERE SHORTLY.
UM, AS, AS YOU KNOW, OUR ELECTRIC, UH, SERVICE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR ALL THAT WE DO HERE.
UM, SO HOW DO WE DO THIS SAFELY, RELIABLY, AFFORDABLY? THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY'S INVESTMENT AND OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ENSURE IT'S FINANCIALLY HELPFUL.
UM, A FEW OF THE ITEMS THAT I PLAN ON DISCUSSING TODAY, THE SUBJECTS INCLUDE, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION ENGAGEMENT SERVICES, CUSTOMER TEXT NOTIFICATIONS.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS EMERGING INTO OUR INDUSTRY.
SO I'LL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
UM, OUR LINE EXTENSION POLICY AND HAVE SOME DATA ON THAT POLICY THAT WE VIS A FEW YEARS AGO.
WE'LL DISCUSS MY CAPITAL PLAN, OUR POWER TYPE COST
[00:05:01]
FORECAST, UM, RATE MODERNIZATION.WE'VE HEARD WE USE THAT TERM IN THE PAST.
UM, AND OUR FINANCIAL STUDY, WE DID ONE LAST YEAR.
UH, UTILITY FINANCIAL SERVICES HELPED US WITH THAT.
SO I INVITED BACK THIS YEAR TO, UH, CONTINUE THAT PROCESS AND THEY'RE HERE TO SPEAK TO THAT, THOSE ISSUES TODAY.
AND THEN FINALLY, I'LL CONCLUDE WITH MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT, CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT SERVICES.
UM, OUR CURRENT SERVICE PROVIDER IS NOT, UM, MEETING OUR NEEDS NOR OUR EXPECTATIONS.
SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING FOR, FROM OUR CURRENT SERVICE PROVIDER TO DOC.
SO, AND WE SHOULD BE COMPLETED SOMETIME IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
THIS IS THE SERVICE PROVIDER THAT HELPS US WITH PRINTING OUR BILLS, MAILING THEM OUT, UM, PAYMENT HISTORIES, CUSTOMER USAGE INFORMATION, AND OUR AUTOGRAPH.
AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR ELECTRIC, THIS IS FOR ALL OF OUR ENTERPRISE RESPONSE.
SO THIS IS OUR CURRENT BILLING FORMAT.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAT MEOW, UM, A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN WE, WE WENT TO THIS NEW VERSION.
IT STILL FALLS SHORT, UM, OF MY EXPECTATIONS AND I THINK OUR CUSTOMERS, UH, EXPECTATIONS.
SO HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK OF OUR NEW BILLING FORMAT DRAFT OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UM, WITH OUR NEW SERVICE PROVIDER OVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE, THAT FIRST COLUMN, YOU'LL NOTICE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE, UM, YOU CAN NOW SEE A PERCENTAGE OF USAGE IN YOUR BILL.
AND THEN TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT, YOUR COSTS ARE ITEMIZED.
BELOW THAT, WE NOW HAVE MORE SPACE FOR MESSAGING AND, AND WE CAN EXPAND ON OUR MESSAGING AND FOR FLAVOR OF THE DAY TYPE OF MESSAGES.
AND WE'RE NOW ABLE TO USE A QR CODE, UM, EMBEDDED INTO OUR, UM, OUR BILL FOR THINGS THAT REFERRING CUSTOMERS TO THE RIGHT WEB LENGTH TO CONNECT FOR, UM, UH, AUTO DRAFT PAYMENTS AND THINGS OF THOSE NATURES ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
UM, YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE START BREAKING DOWN THE BILL INTO USAGE COMPONENTS AND BILLING COMPONENTS SO CUSTOMERS CAN SEE THE DETAILS OF THEIR USAGE.
AND OVER TO THE VERY FAR RIGHT.
UM, A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM OUR CUSTOMERS WHEN WE HAD TO REMOVE THE GRAPH.
OUR, OUR CURRENT SERVICE PROVIDER, ONE OF THE AREAS THEY FELL SHORT ON IS THEY COULD NOT TELL US WHERE THE DATA WAS COMING FROM THE GRAPH, AND I COULD NOT VALIDATE IT.
UM, WITH THE LAST BILLING IMPROVEMENT.
THEY LIKE TO REFER TO IT, I BELIEVE BY USING THAT GRAPH A LOT, IT SAVES A LOT OF CUSTOMERS FROM CALLING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION ANSWERS A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS IN HERE THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD AND WE'RE PUSHING FOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, I'D LIKE TO LINE UP TEMPERATURES GRAPH, UH, THAT ANSWERS A LOT OF QUESTIONS SO YOU CAN SEE SEASONALLY USAGE.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, I CAN EMAIL YOU A COPY AND YOU CAN SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AND IDEAS, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO INTEGRATE IT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
TEXTING CAPABILITIES, WE LAUNCHED OUR TEXTING CAPABILITIES ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND WE'RE NOW EXPANDING ITS USE.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A CUSTOMER, UM, THAT HAS AN UPDATED, UH, PHONE NUMBER WITH OUR, UH, CUSTOMER INFORMATION SYSTEM, YOU MAY HAVE STARTED NOTICING MORE ACTIVITY.
UM, AND AS A RESULT, WE'RE RELYING LESS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PUSHES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FOCUSING OUR MESSAGE DIRECTLY TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, FIRST EXAMPLE IS SOME, WHAT WE CALL AUTOMATED, AUTOMATED AND PRESCRIPTIVE TYPE TEXT SCAN.
IF YOU START ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE PAGE, POWER GOES OUT, OUR METER SEES IT, AND OUR METER TRIGGERS A MESSAGE THAT IS PRESCRIPTIVE IN NATURE.
ELECTRIC SERVICE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED OUT AT YOUR LOCATION.
WHEN THAT'S RESTORED, THE METER SEES POWER HAS BEEN RESTORED, TRIGGERS IN OTHER MESSAGE, ELECTRIC SERVICE HADN'T BEEN RESTORED.
NOW THE CUSTOMER ALSO GETS AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT MESSAGE, THEY CAN TEXT OUT.
THEY STILL HAVE AN AVERAGE, THEY CAN ASK US FOR THEIR STATUS OR THEY CAN QUIT AND OPT OUT OF THIS ALTOGETHER.
THEY HAVE A NOT TO BE ANY LONGER.
WE STILL HAVE THEIR SYSTEM, UM, IN SOME OF OUR RESPONSES THERE, THERE ARE NO, NO S AT THIS TIME.
WE NOW EXPANDED AND WE'RE DOING SOME CUSTOM SCHEDULE TEXTS SO WE CAN SCHEDULE THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO GO OUT.
UM, WE CAN ALSO DO 'EM ON AD HOC, UH, AS NEEDED.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT POWER SYSTEM OPERATORS RESPONDING TO WEATHER RELATED OUTAGES, TEXT OUT REPORT AN OUTAGE.
SO WHEN WEATHER STARTS HEATING UP, WE'RE GETTING BAD, WE CAN SEND OUT A MESSAGE TO DO THAT.
[00:10:01]
I USED IT THIS WINTER DURING, UM, OR A COLD SNAP THAT WE HAD.ONE IN JANUARY AND ONE IN FEBRUARY, WE DID HIT AN EMERGENCY ENERGY EMERGENCY.
AND I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGH TEXT THAT, UM, LOCAL DEMANDS FOR ENERGY, UM, ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS THE SITUATION ESCALATED.
AND THAT EMERGENCY ESCALATED, WE ESCALATED THE MESSAGE AND STARTED ASKING CUSTOMERS TO CONSERVE.
WE HAD FURTHER MESSAGING THAT WE WERE READY TO GO OUT WITH SHOULD IT HAVE ESCALATED TO THAT POINT.
BUT FORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T THIS YEAR.
AND WE SENT OUT ANOTHER MESSAGE, UH, TERMINATING THE EMERGENCY ALERT FROM LETTING OUR CUSTOMERS KNOW THE ENERGIES BACK TO PREDICTIVE LEVELS.
UM, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, UH, UH, SCHEDULED OUT OR SCHEDULED NOTICES IS, UH, WE HAD IRREGULAR OFFICE HOURS AT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER.
SO WE POSTED THOSE DIRECTLY TO OUR CUSTOMERS, AND THEN WE ALSO USED IT TO, UH, UM, TO TAP OUR CUSTOMERS ON THE, ON THE SHOULDER AND ASKING TO PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY THAT WE DID RECENTLY.
I'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH THOSE RESULTS ONCE THEY COME IN.
UM, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPAND THE NUMBER OF CHARACTERS THAT WE CAN USE IN A TEXT.
THE ABILITY TO USE WEB LINKS IN THE TEXT, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, WE, WE THINK WEATHER'S GONNA BE BAD.
HERE'S A LINK TO OUR OUTAGE NOTIFICATION, OUR OUTAGE PASS.
FOLLOW IT YOURSELF, TAKE THEM RIGHT TO THAT SITE.
SO WE'RE REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I THINK IT'S HELPING OUT, UM, OUR CUSTOMERS.
IT'S HELPING OUT OUR OPERATIONS.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON THIS, LET ME KNOW AND CONTINUE TO, TO EXPAND THIS.
CHARLIE, IS THIS FOR ELECTRIC ONLY OR ELECTRIC ONLY USE CUSTOMERS? YEAH, IT GETS WEIRD WHEN WE TRY TO, UM, INTEGRATE OTHER SYSTEMS BECAUSE A, A LOT OF IT'S TIED TO THE ACTUAL METER.
UM, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN APPLICATION IN MIND, WE'LL CERTAINLY TRY AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
UM, I CHAMPIONED A LOT OF THINGS IN MY CAREER OVER THE LAST 30 PLUS YEARS, UM, AND AS EARLY AS LAST YEAR, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE CHAMPIONING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AI.
UM, OUR CURRENT CUSTOMER SERVICE BILLING AND PAYMENT SERVICE PROVIDER HAS OFFERED US A PROOF OF CONCEPT PROJECT, UM, TO USE, UM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IT'S HAZMAT TENSION.
UM, WE'RE FOCUSING ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY'RE OFFERING US TWO USE CASES AND TWO PORTALS SUCH AS, UM, OUR PHONE NUMBER, OUR PHONE SYSTEM, AND POSSIBLY OUR WEBSITE.
SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS AND WE'RE GIVING A LOT OF THOUGHT, UM, ON WHAT PARTICULAR USE CASES MAY BE BEST TO RELIEVING PRESSURE OFF A CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR THOUGHTS ON THIS, LET ME KNOW.
UM, AS WE EXPLORE THIS IN MORE DETAIL, UM, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT, UH, IF WE ARE NOT COMMITTED TO DOING IT, WE SHOULD, PROBABLY SHOULDN'T GO THROUGH THE PROOF OF CONCEPTS.
SO IF WE GO THROUGH THE PROOF OF CONCEPTS, SAY, YEAH, WE REALLY LIKE THIS, THIS IS GOOD.
AND THEN PULL THE PLUG, PROBABLY A WASTE OF TIME.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO VET THAT UP FRONT.
ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON AI AND HOW WE CAN USE IT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS WE EXPLORE THIS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES NOW AND TALK ABOUT OUR LINE EXTINCTION POLICY, UM, AND HOW IT'S BEEN PERFORMING.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ADVISED OUR, OUR, OUR PREVIOUS POLICY IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.
AND THAT WAS LARGELY DRIVEN IN PART DUE TO PRESSURES FROM DEVELOPERS.
SO TODAY, TOTAL LOTS METERS THAT I HAVE FORECASTED, I HAVE PLANS FROM DEVELOPERS, THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IT OR DOING IT.
I'VE HAD 21,000 METERS READY TO BE CITED WITH LINE EXTENSIONS.
21,000 METERS THE DATE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2022.
WE'VE DONE LINE EXTENSIONS THAT SERVE 741 METERS.
AVERAGE COST TO SET SERVICE AT EACH LOT FOR THE UTILITY IS 5,100 BUCKS, ALMOST 5,200 BUCKS.
THE AVERAGE COST TO THE DEVELOPER FOR US TO GIVE THEM SERVICE IS THAT 21,000 OR 2100 CHARLIE 2100.
DID I TYPE IT WRONG? DID I SAY IT WRONG? THANK YOU.
UM, THE AVERAGE COST OF THE DEVELOPER IS $872 PER WA.
IF I LOOK AT ALL 2100 FORECASTED METERS AND THE AVERAGE, UM, COST FOR THE UTILITY TO SERVE IT, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL FORECASTED INVESTMENT
[00:15:01]
ABOUT $11.2 MILLION OVER THE TIME OF DEVELOPMENT.TO DATE, THE UTILITIES CONTRIBUTED $3.8 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES OUR LABOR MATERIAL AND OUR EQUIPMENT.
AND TO DATE, THE DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTED 548,000.
THAT'S WHAT THEY PAID US, THAT UPFRONT JUST TO DO THOSE LINE EXTENSIONS.
SO THE UTILITIES DEFERRED $3.3 MILLION TO ANOTHER TIME.
AND THE WAY OUR POLICY IS WRITTEN, THE INTENT IS TO COLLECT THAT $3.3 MILLION IN OUR RETAIL RATES.
AND IF WE DO THAT IN OUR RETAIL RATES, THE AVERAGE INVESTMENT RECOVERY LESS OUR POWER SUPPLY COSTS IS $386,000 PER YEAR THAT WE'LL RECOVER.
SO THE CURRENT TIME TO RECOVER OUR $3.8 MILLION INVESTMENT IS EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.
THAT'S ASSUMING ALL HOUSES ARE BUILT TODAY.
ALL HOUSES ARE AT FULL LOAD, NO CHANGES IN OUR WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY COSTS AND NO CHANGES IN RETAIL RATES.
SO, UM, IS THAT GOOD? IS IT BAD? THAT'S UP FOR YOU FOLKS TO DECIDE.
I I CAN TELL YOU IN MY EXPERIENCE, TRADITIONALLY COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, UM, BUSINESSES, IF YOU CAN'T GET A ONE TO ONE AND A HALF YEAR RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THEY'RE TAPPING OUT.
OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE GO LONGER.
UM, MEDICAL SERVICES GOES LONGER, GOVERNMENT GOES LONGER.
UM, INFRASTRUCTURE HAS A TENDENCY TO GO LONGER.
IN SOME CASES, UM, EDUCATION SYSTEMS GO LONGER IN THEIR INVESTMENTS, BUT RIGHT NOW OUR INVESTMENTS, IT'S TAKEN ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS TO TO PAY BACK.
CHARLIE, I DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY.
UM, SO WE'LL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW THIS CONVERSATION GOES.
BUT FOR MANY YEARS, IT WAS ALWAYS THE MENTALITY OF THE CITY TO GROW OUR CUSTOMER BASE, TO SPREAD THE COST OF THE INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE BACK IN THE EIGHTIES THROUGH ELECTRICITIES.
NOW THAT THOSE PLANTS HAVE BEEN SOLD TO DUKE, UM, THAT ACTUALLY COMES OFF NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE.
WHAT REMAINING DEBT WE OWE? UH, I'M, I'M ASKING YOU A QUESTION.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE A A PROBABLY A DIFFICULT QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER.
BUT FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NO LONGER NEED TO GROW BECAUSE IT'S UNPROFITABLE? THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.
UH, MY ANSWER IS, IS ULTIMATELY TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT AS YOU'RE BEST OFF SERVING DENSITY, SO YOU'VE BUILT YOUR LINES UP SO FAR, IT'S BEST TO FILL THAT AREA IN WITH MORE METERS AND COLLECT MORE REVENUE.
THE MORE REVENUE YOU COLLECT, THE MORE THE UTILITY CONTRIBUTES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, CHASING A LIGHT BULB TO MORE HEAD CITY, PROBABLY NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
SO WE START GETTING INTO TERRITORIAL LAWS, WHICH ARE VERY COMPLEX AND, UM, DIFFICULT TO, TO NAVIGATE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
UM, WE DO HAVE COMMITMENTS OUT THERE ALREADY OF THESE LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE 2100 METERS THOSE DEVELOPERS ARE EXPECTING US TO SERVE.
BUT, UH, TO YOUR POINT, I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHASE SOME LIGHT BULBS TO, TO KINSTON OR MORGAN CITY.
WE SHOULD FOCUS ON FILLING IN THAT DENSITY IN THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE.
SO, SO THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE EXPECTING US TO SERVE THEM, WE ESSENTIALLY BEEN TOLD THAT IT COSTS MORE FOR THEM TO GET ON CITY OF NEWMAN ELECTRIC BECAUSE OF OUR LINE EXTENSION POLICY VERSUS DUKE.
CORRECT? IT DEPENDS WHO'S TELLING ME IT, IT'S MIXED.
DUKE HAS A POLICY, UM, THAT IS SIMILAR TO OURS.
OURS IS THREE YEAR, UH, CREDIT.
UM, I KNOW THE DEVELOPERS WANT TO WORK WITH US, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE FASTER.
UM, WE WOULD GET DONE QUICKER, AND THAT'S PART OF THEIR, UH, CONCERNS.
I, I THINK IT GOES BACK, FALLS TO THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.
WE'RE SERVICING CUSTOMERS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS AND DUKE IS SERVICING CUSTOMERS INSIDE OF OUR CITY LIMITS.
IT STILL, STILL FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION WITH DUKE ON WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, BECAUSE THE FURTHER WE EXPAND OUT, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS TO SERVICE THOSE CUSTOMERS WHEN WE LITERALLY HAVE CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE STREET THAT ARE ON DUKE VERSUS CITY OF NEW ROOM.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, PROBABLY THE NEW BOARD, UH, WHEN THEY'RE SEATED NEXT YEAR, THAT CONVERSATION WITH DUKE REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
I KNOW WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH A COUPLE TIMES ABOUT IT, BUT, UH, I THINK THEY'VE HAD SOME CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN THAT DEPARTMENT AT DUKE
[00:20:01]
THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK TO US AT THIS POINT.COULD I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, SIR.
ON THE, THE NEXT PAGE, I, I GAVE SOME DATA IN CASE YOU WANTED TO MAYBE JUST SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
CHARLIE, ON THIS NEXT SLIDE I GAVE YOU A, UM, JUST THE, THE DETAILS IF ANYBODY WANTED TO DIVE INTO, IT'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IT.
UH, BUT TO YOUR POINT, A LOT OF THESE EXISTING, A LOT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ALREADY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, UM, BRAG, MOORE, NEW WATER RISE, WESTBURN, UM, SO THE DATA, THE DETAILS, EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT.
HERE'S MY RECOMMENDED OPERATING CAPITAL FOR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 26.
I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER'S GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT MORE OF THIS, UH, LATER THIS MORNING.
UM, SO I WON'T SPEND A A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
UM, IT'S T MY TYPICAL, UM, OPERATING BUDGET'S, THREE TO $4 MILLION.
THIS IS KIND OF THE SAME RANGE EQUIPMENT, UM, SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND, UH, SYSTEM MAINTENANCE INCLUDED IN HERE.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE IS MY FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
I DO HAVE A 10 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE IT.
UM, STARTING OVER IN FISCAL YEAR 26, UM, METER DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, UH, IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR RATES AND OUR A MI SYSTEM.
UM, THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED IN THE 2023 BUDGET, BUT DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF SCOPING THIS OUT AND GETTING A, UH, CONTRACT THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE WITH ALL THE SCOPE IN IT, UH, I WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT IN THAT FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND THAT SHOWS UP IN MY OPERATING, UM, BUDGET OR MY CAPITAL PLAN, I SHOULD SAY.
UM, $7 MILLION TO REPLACE THE GLEN SUBSTATIONS.
AND WE HAVE THREE SUBSTATION TRANSFORMERS, I SHOULD SAY.
WE HAVE THREE TRANSFORMERS THERE.
ALL THREE OF 'EM ARE 50 YEARS OLD.
AND THEN A $20.4 MILLION IS THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM CAP CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH IS, UM, THE SUBSTATION WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE FORM OF A PROJECT FUND AND THEY FUNDED IT WITH SOME MAKE READY MONEY, WHICH WE'VE USED TO, UM, ACQUIRE LAND EASEMENTS RIGHT OF WAY, START SOME PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING FOR FUNDING OF THE REST OF THAT.
AND 2027, UM, LOOKING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR OPERATIONS AND CONTROL CENTER AND MODERNIZE THAT, THAT PART OF THE ORGANIZATION, OUR GENERATION FLEET IS, UH, BEYOND ITS, ITS SERVICEABLE LIFE.
UM, AND THAT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION A MEGAWATT.
WE'RE AUTHORIZED 19 MEGAWATTS OF ALLOCATED GENERATION.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 12 MEGAWATTS IN SERVICE DUE TO ITS AGE THAT CAN ONLY GET ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN MEGAWATTS EACH MONTH RUNNING.
UM, SO IF YOU APPLY THE AVOIDED COST FOR RUNNING THIS, THIS GENERATION, WHICH IS $22,000 PER MEGAWATT, UM, IT'S ABOUT A 3.1 TO $3.7 MILLION COST AVOIDANCE, UM, TO US IN OUR POWER SUPPLY COST IF WE WERE TO REFRESH OUR GENERATION FLEET AND THE REST OF IT, UH, $400,000 FOR SERVERS.
THAT'S
AND THEN IMPROVING SOME, UH, RIGHT SIZING, SOME CRITICAL FEEDERS THAT ARE, WE CAN NO LONGER USE TO TRANSMIT POWER BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDERSIZED AT THIS TIME.
'CAUSE LOAD IS GROWTH AND THEN UNDERGROUND IN CRITICAL FEEDERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN HIGH SPEED ARCHITECTURE IS $11 MILLION TO BASICALLY MORE SECTIONALIZED WHERE FAULT ARE OCCURRING.
AND WE HAVE, UH, THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING AN AVERAGE.
NEXT SLIDE IS, UH, POWER SUPPLY COST AND THE FORECAST THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE KEA, UM, I WOULD EXPECT THIS TO CHANGE.
UM, IT'S LARGELY INFLUENCED BY FUEL COSTS CARBON REDUCTION, UM, DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS IN DUKE ENERGY.
CAROLINA'S INTENT TO MERGE IN 2027.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT DUKE ENERGY CAROLINAS IS LOWER COST OF POWER THAN THAN THE EAST SIDE OF THE STATE, WHICH IS US.
SO WE'RE IN, IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
THE CAROLINA SIDE, THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE'S NOT GONNA WANT TO PAY OUR COSTS AND WE CERTAINLY WANT THEIR COSTS.
SO THAT'S DRIVING SOME OF THE SPECULATION IN THE POWER SUPPLY MARKET.
[00:25:01]
IN STATE MANDATES ARE ALWAYS A, A FACTOR, UM, IN A POWER SUPPLY COST.BUT, UM, MOST RECENTLY OR NOW, UM, JULY, 2025, UM, THE KEMP HAS APPROVED AT THREE POINT HALF PERCENT OUR OVERALL RATES.
UM, RIDER EIGHT DROPS OFF, WHICH IS A DEBT SERVICE WE HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER SUPPLY COSTS ABOUT $283,000 A MONTH.
AND THEN ANOTHER RIDER ONE ON THOSE ARE THE TRUE UPS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OVER THE, THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
THAT SHOWS BACK UP IN OCTOBER, $80,000 PER MONTH FOR 24 MONTHS.
THEN THE FORECASTING FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT RATE OVERALL RATE INCREASES ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2029 WITH MORE RIDERS COMING ON AND OFF AND ON AND OFF.
MOST YEARS WE HAVE TWO TO THREE RIDER ON AT ONE TIME.
AND THAT TAKES US TO, UH, UM, OUR FINANCIAL STUDY DISCUSSION.
UM, UTILITY FINANCIAL SERVICES CAME IN LAST YEAR AND HELPED US WITH A FINANCIAL STUDY AND I ASKED THEM TO COME BACK THIS YEAR AS WELL.
AND I ASKED THEM TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT RATE MODERNIZATION.
YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.
WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING SOME OF IT.
WE DID IT, UH, WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE, UH, CHARGING RATES.
THEY HELPED US WITH OUR UNMETERED, UH, RATES, UM, DESIGN.
THEY HELPED US IDENTIFY AND WORK THROUGH RETIREMENT OF SOME UNDERPERFORMING AND UNDERUTILIZED RATES.
AND, UH, THEY'RE ALSO PRESENTLY WORKING WITH ME ON IMPROVING OUR SOLAR, OFFERING OUR PRODUCT HERE.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHRIS FINANCIAL SERVICES TO TALK ABOUT THE STUDY AND RATE MODERNIZATION.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN.
UM, OUR COMPANY WAS HERE, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UM, TO PRESENT OUR STUDY FINDINGS FROM FROM LAST YEAR.
UM, WE HAVE REFRESHED, UH, OUR STUDY TO COME TO YOU TODAY AND WE DO WHAT WE'RE THINKING IT LOOKS LIKE A, UH, BEST OF APPROACH ON MOVING FORWARD.
UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CHRIS LONG.
I'M WITH UTILITY FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS.
UH, AGAIN, WE DID YOUR STUDY A YEAR AGO, UH, JUST COMPLETED THIS STUDY HERE FOR NEXT, UH, FISCAL YEAR.
UM, I BELIEVE WITH US REMOTELY ON THE OWL THERE IS, UH, DAWN LUNCH.
SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF UTILITY FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS.
DAWN, CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? YES, I CAN.
SO DAWN IS, UH, WHAT I CALL THE FINANCIAL GURU OF OUR COMPANY.
UH, SHE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE MY WIFE.
SO SHE'S MY BOSS, UH, ON AND OFF THE FIELD, SO TO SPEAK.
SO, UH, SHE, UH, DOES A GREAT JOB WITH, UM, BRINGING ALL THIS FINANCIAL DATA TOGETHER.
UH, WE WORK AS A TEAM TO THEN FORMULATE A PLAN, UH, CONSIDERING ALL ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT, UH, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN.
HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO RATES TO KEEP THE UTILITY FINANCIALLY SOUND? HOW CAN WE DO THAT TO KEEP MINIMIZING THE IMPACTS TO YOUR CUSTOMERS AND, AND KEEP THE UTILITY HEALTHY? ONE THING THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT, BUT I THINK YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERMINOLOGY, IS WE REFER TO IT AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
OKAY? AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND, IT MEANS THAT THE REVENUE THAT YOU CHARGE OR THE RATES THAT YOU CHARGE YOUR CUSTOMERS, THE THE DOLLARS YOU COLLECT FROM YOUR CUSTOMER IS USING THAT SERVICE, NEED TO FUND AND PAY FOR RUNNING THAT DEPARTMENT.
SO THEY TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
TYPICALLY DOESN'T HAVE REVENUE SOURCES FROM TAXES, REVENUE SOURCES, CONSISTENTLY FROM ANY, UH, GRANT FUNDING OR THAT'S GUARANTEED.
SO THE WAY THAT THEY SUSTAIN THEMSELVES IS THROUGH THE RATES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
SO THAT'S TRUE FOR YOUR ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT, YOUR WATER DEPARTMENT, YOUR WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS YOUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I WAS KIND OF STRUCK THIS MORNING WHEN I LEFT THE HOTEL.
I GRABBED A, A BOTTLE OF WATER RIGHT HERE AND I WENT TO PAY FOR IT 'CAUSE I'D ALREADY CHECKED OUT OF MY HOTEL AND SHE SAID, IT'LL BE $4 80 CENTS, PLEASE.
AND, AND I WAS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT SHOCKED AND, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, I QUICKLY PULLED UP THE NEW BERN WATER RATE SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW, KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CHARGE FOR A THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER DELIVERED TO THE TAP TO YOUR CUSTOMER'S HOME, $3 AND 3 CENTS FOR A THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER.
SO THAT ONE BOTTLE OF WATER JUST BOUGHT US FILL INTO ABOUT 1500 GALLONS OF WATER DELIVERED RIGHT THROUGH TAP.
[00:30:01]
I'M BRINGING THAT UP IS WE TEND TO REALLY UNDERVALUE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SERVICES, ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WATER WASTE, WATER, ELECTRICITY, SOLID WASTE, ALL OF WHICH HAVE TO BE FUNDED FROM THE CUSTOMER DUE SERVICES.SO WE HAVE TO BALANCE THOSE THINGS WITH WHAT VALUES ARE REALLY PROVIDING AND HOW DO WE FAIRLY DO THAT AND KEEP THE UTILITY FINANCIALLY SUSTAINED AND NOT SHOCK YOUR CUSTOMERS AND DO IT SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY SO IT'S TOLERABLE.
SO THAT'S THE PLAN THAT WE'VE TRIED TO PUT TOGETHER TODAY IN A NUTSHELL.
SO AGAIN, UH, WE'RE A UTILITY FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS.
WE'RE AN INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING FIRM.
WE DO STUDIES LIKE THIS AROUND THE WORLD.
UH, WE, UH, QUITE OFTEN SPEAK FOR AND TEACH FOR AM AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC ORGANIZATION.
WE ALSO SPEAK AT A LOT OF THE, UM, ELECTRICITIES CONFERENCES.
UH, WE USUALLY ARE, UH, SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS AT THEIR CONFERENCES AS WELL.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE SEE A NATIONAL VIEW OF POWER, BUT WE ARE, UM, VERY HONED IN AND VERY MUCH, UM, OFTEN WE OFTEN WORK WITH, UH, NORTH CAROLINA, UH, CITIES THROUGH LARGER CITIES.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AND THIS IS A PRETTY DEEP CONCEPT, IS, UH, RATE, RATE MODERNIZATION.
CHARLIE HAS MENTIONED THAT WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED ON AND TOUCHED ON A FEW OF THESE AREAS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING, WORKING ON SOLAR, WORKING ON A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SORT OF AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ENVISION, UH, YOUR RESIDENTIAL RATES POTENTIALLY LOOKING LIKE FIVE, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
SO DON'T GET PANICKED THAT I'M PROPOSING THAT THE RATES ON THE RIGHT ARE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NEXT YEAR.
AND THE RATES ON THE LEFT ARE YOUR CURRENT RATES.
THIS IS A FUTURE LOOK TO WHAT THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATES ON THE LEFT, UH, THOSE ARE ALL HIGHLIGHTED IN THE BLUE.
THOSE ARE YOUR CURRENT ELECTRIC RATES THAT YOU CHARGE YOUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
YOU HAVE A FIXED $11 AND 20 CENTS, YOU CHARGE 'EM PER METER EACH MONTH.
THEN YOU HAVE VARIOUS CHARGES FOR DIFFERENT USAGES OF ENERGY FROM ROUGHLY 11 CENTS UP TO 13 CENTS.
YOU HAVE THAT POWER COST ADJUSTMENT, WHICH IS THAT BALANCING MECHANISM FOR POWER SUPPLY CHANGES.
UM, YOU BRING THAT ALL DOWN AND THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILL PER MONTH IS AROUND $145 PER MONTH.
SO ALL IN, UH, WE'LL GET TO IT LATER.
I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT OFF THE TIP OF MY TONGUE, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS, DON'T QUOTE ME, BUT I THINK IT'S AROUND, UM, 15 OR 16 CENTS PER KI HOUR.
SO YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THIS POTENTIAL FUTURE LOOK OF WHAT THOSE RATES MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER'S BILL DOESN'T NOTICEABLY CHANGE.
YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT ON THE LEFT AT ROUGHLY $145 IS THE SAME AS ON THE RIGHT AT ROUGHLY $145.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING THOUGH IS WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE AND FINE TUNE WHERE THOSE CHARGES AND WHERE THOSE COLLECTIONS COME IN FROM.
SO WE WANT TO SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY INCREASE THAT FIXED PORTION OF THE CUSTOMER'S BILL.
WE WANT TO SLOWLY DECREASE THAT ENERGY CHARGE.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT SO EVERYONE EVENTUALLY HAS ACCESS TO WHOLESALE POWER COSTS.
THAT MIGHT SOUND STRANGE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE FIXED COST RECOVERY FAIRLY AND APPROPRIATELY UP FROM THE CUSTOMER CHARGE.
GIVE EVERYBODY ACCESS TO WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY AND THE ENERGY COST AND THEN CHARGE WHAT WE CALL A DISTRIBUTION PEAK USAGE CHARGE DOWN TO FUND YOUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
SO IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT WAY THAT THE COMPONENTS WOULD BE ON THE BILL.
AND YOU SAY, WELL WHY GO THROUGH ALL THIS CASTLE IF ALL YOU'RE GONNA DO IS HAVE THE SAME BILL? WELL, UH, TRADITIONALLY WHEN WE DO THESE STUDIES, WE ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS PAYING IS FAIR VERSUS WHAT THE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER'S PAYING, WHICH IS ALL ALSO FAIR WITH THE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS PAYING.
WELL, WHAT WE LOSE SIGHT OF OFTEN IN THAT STRATEGY IS, WELL, IS IT FAIR TO EVERY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WITHIN HOW OUR RATES ARE CURRENTLY STRUCTURED? SO IF YOU TAKE YOUR CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE AND APPLY IT TO A CERTAIN CUSTOMER AND APPLY IT TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER, THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNFAIRNESS GOING UP.
OKAY? AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO BY EVOLVING TO THIS FUTURE RATE STRUCTURE IS IT LEVELIZE THAT AND MAKES IT FAIR ACROSS ALL CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE SAME GROUPING.
SO ONE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER TO ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WOULD BE FAIR.
SO IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT, UM, CHARLIE HAS MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES, IT'S M-D-M-A-M-I, THERE'S BUZZWORDS BASICALLY TO SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO METER THAT DATA SO WE KNOW WHAT THEIR USAGES ARE AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO APPROPRIATELY BUILD THAT METER DATA.
[00:35:01]
SO THE PROPER METERING SYSTEM, THE PROPER DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM, THE PROPER WAY TO GET THAT DATA FROM THE METERING TO YOUR BILLING SYSTEM, THAT WILL ALL FUNNEL INTO THE LINE OF ALL THOSE RATES.SO THIS IS A, UH, LITTLE REMINDER OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UH, WITH THE NEW BERN ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT RATES.
UH, LAST YEAR WE PRESENTED THIS WHEN WE CALLED IT THE 10 YEAR HISTORY.
UH, 'CAUSE AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RATE INCREASES.
UM, WELL WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RATE CHANGES FOR OVER 10, WELL, ALMOST 10 YEARS.
THE LAST TIME YOU HAD CHANGES AT THAT TIME WERE A SERIES OF RATE DECREASES FROM 2015 THROUGH 2017.
UM, WHICH CUMULATIVELY ON SIMPLE MAP EQUALS JUST UNDER 18% RATE DECREASE AT THE TIME.
UH, LAST YEAR YOU MADE SOME HARD DECISIONS AND PUT THROUGH A SERIES OF TWO RATE INCREASES TO AT 6% ON THE BASE RATES.
AND YOU ALSO ALLOWED THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT TO INTRODUCE THAT POWER COST ADJUSTMENT TOOL OR PCA BALANCING MECHANISM.
AND I MIGHT SAY THE REASON WHY IT SAYS WITH RESTRICTIONS IS WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW IS THAT PCA PERFORMING AND WHAT MIGHT BE LEADING TO THAT, EITHER PERFORMANCE OR UNDER PERFORMANCE.
SO THEN FROM THERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES THE PLAN LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE SEEING, WHAT ARE WE RECOMMENDING BEST PRACTICE FOR YOU TO DO FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR 26? AND THEN WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE OUT TO FISCAL 30? SO I BELIEVE CHARLIE ASKED YOU TO AT LEAST COMMIT TO ONE YEAR OF RATES, UH, LAST YEAR.
AND IT WAS, UH, AN EVOLUTION OF WHAT WE JUST MENTIONED THERE.
AND I THINK THE INTENT IS TO HAVE YOU CONSIDER WHAT TO DO FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND TAKE THE FOLLOWING YEARS AT A LATER DATE.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO COMMIT TO MULTIPLE YEARS AT THIS TIME, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A LOOK TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUT IN THE FUTURE.
SO WHAT THAT FUTURE PLAN LOOKS LIKE IS ESSENTIALLY THREE TO 4.5% RATE INCREASES TO YOUR BASE RATES OVER THAT PROJECTION PERIOD OF 2026 TO 2030.
WE'LL COME IN BACK TO THAT DETAIL AND SHOW YOU SOME DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OF WHY I'M SUGGESTING THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBLE RANGE THAT WOULD WORK FOR YOU.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE IS SHOWING YOUR CASH HISTORY AND CASH BALANCE.
OBVIOUSLY THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN LEVELS OF CASH SO IT CAN, UH, PAY ITS BILLS SO IT CAN RESPOND TO, UH, OUTAGES, TO STORMS. UH, SO IT CAN PAY ITS POWER SUPPLY, IT CAN PAY ITS STAFF, IT CAN PAY ITS, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS.
SO YOU CAN SEE WE WENT BACK TO, UH, 2015, UH, ACTUALLY THIS WAS 27 FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2018.
AND YOU CAN SEE YOU HAD, UH, CASH AVAILABLE IN THE, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF $19 MILLION.
YOU SEE THE TOP GREEN LINE IS, UM, A UM, 110 DAYS.
YEAH, IT'S A HYUNDAI 110 DAYS OF CASH.
UH, THE RED LINE IS YOUR CURRENT, UH, FISCAL, FISCAL POLICY, UH, THAT YOU HAVE A 90 DAY, UH, MINIMUM CASH POLICY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO STRIVE FOR TO HOLD CASH IN THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT.
AND YOU CAN SEE YOU FELL BELOW THAT POLICY BACK IN 2022.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN SEE BACK IN, UH, 2024 IS WHEN IT SORT OF BOTTOMED OUT.
UM, AND I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF WHERE IT'S TRENDING BACKWARD WITH THE SERIES OF RATE INCREASES YOU DID DO LAST YEAR.
WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE, UH, A LITTLE REBOUND, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
ALRIGHT, SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING TO END THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH ENDS IN, UH, JUNE, UM, AT JUST UNDER $9 MILLION.
SO WE'RE STILL, UH, QUITE A WAYS AWAY FROM THAT MINIMUM 15 MILLION OR HIGHER THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE YOU AT.
UH, BUT AT LEAST IT'S NOT CONTINUING TO DROP KIM, BACK, BACK TO THAT CHART.
WHEN, WHEN DO WE TAKE THE FUNDING OUT FROM METRONET? WE TAKE SOME PROJECT, SOME MONEY OUT AND PUT IN A PROJECT FUND WE DID IN 2021, I THINK.
SO THAT'S REFLECTIVE IN THIS CHART, CORRECT? IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO ARE YOU REFERRING TO ROUGHLY 2.8 OF M-C-G-F-T? MM-HMM.
UH, MAKEAND MAKE READY BROADBAND, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THERE WAS, UM, MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED INTO A PROJECT FUND, ABOUT $3 MILLION RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THEN ACCOUNTED FOR AS, I DON'T WANNA SAY THE WORD ENCUMBERED, BUT THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD.
UM, WELL WE CLOSED THAT ACCOUNT THEN AFTER, AFTER THAT PROJECT FUND, AND THEN NOW IT'S
[00:40:01]
THAT POINT IN TIME, THAT MONEY WAS MOVED OVER SINCE THEN, FINANCE HAS MOVED THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE, UM, FUND BALANCE AND WE'RE NOW EXPENSING THAT OUT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET.AND THEN HOW MUCH WAS THE DOT PROJECT? THE DOT PROJECT, WE NEVER HAD TO PUT ANY MONEY INTO.
UM, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, THEY OWED US ABOUT $450,000 AND I STOPPED THE PROJECT AND SAID, UNTIL WE GET REIMBURSED, WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
SO WE RESOLVED THAT THEY GAVE US $450,000 FINANCE, CREATED A PROJECT FUND, AND WE LOADED THAT MONEY IN, IN THAT PROJECT FUND AND WE'D BEEN EXPENSING OUT OF THAT PROJECT FUND FROM THAT SO-CALLED SEED MONEY.
AND WE'RE ALSO, UM, GETTING REVENUES INTO THAT BASED ON THE COST OF THE
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, THANK YOU.
SO WE'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR, THE AGE OF YOUR SYSTEM OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO TO RUN THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT, SIMILAR TO ALL YOUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ELECTRIC, SEWER OR WATER AND SEWER AS WELL.
YOU HAVE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU HAVE TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN IN ORDER TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES.
SO YOU LOOK OUTSIDE, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, THE POLES, THE WIRES, THE TRANSFORMERS, ALL THE SUBSTATIONS, ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, THAT IT TAKES TO DELIVER POWER ACROSS YOUR SYSTEM.
UH, THAT'S WHAT WE, UH, TRACK OVER THE YEARS AND WE CALL IT HISTORIC INVESTMENT, MEANING HOW MUCH MONEY IS HISTORICALLY HAVE YOU INVESTED INTO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NEXT LINE IS SOMETHING CALLED NETWORK VALUE, MEANING AS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AGES AND AS IT WEARS OUT, UM, WE TRACK IT THROUGH A SY SOMETHING CALLED DEPRECIATION.
UH, ESSENTIALLY THE AMOUNT, THE VALUE OF THE AMOUNT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEING CONSUMED EACH YEAR, WE REDUCE THAT OFF THE BOOKS.
AND THEN THAT'S THE NET VALUE OF THE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN YOUR SYSTEM.
SO THE REASON WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IS IT GIVES US SORT OF A GAUGE AS TO HOW AGED OUR SYSTEM IS.
AND YOU CAN SEE WE USED 2018 AS A BENCHMARK, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AT THAT TIME YOUR SYSTEM WAS 55% DEPRECIATED, MEANING YOU HAD, UM, 45% USEFUL LIFE OF YOUR SYSTEM.
OKAY? YOU CAN NOW SEE PASS FORWARD TO 2025 AND WHERE 60% DEPRECIATED.
SO YOU HAVE 40% OF USEFUL, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINING.
SO WHAT THAT IS SUGGESTING IS YOU'RE NOT REINVESTING BACK INTO YOUR SYSTEM AS QUICKLY AS YOUR SYSTEM IS AGING.
SO IT'S JUST A LITTLE GAUGE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, UM, THE LEVEL OF YOUR REINVESTMENT IN YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH DIRECTLY TIES TO UH, CHARLIE'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE NEED FOR THAT.
SO THE NEXT, UH, FOUR SLIDES, THERE'S A LOT, THERE ARE A LOT OF NUMBERS ON THESE SLIDES.
THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL THE FINANCIAL PROJECTION SUMMARY.
UH, WHAT THIS DOES WHEN WE DO YOUR STUDIES, WE PULL IN ALL SORTS OF DATA.
WE PULL IN ALL OF THE FINANCIAL DATA FROM THE REVENUE FROM CUSTOMERS, WE PULL IN ALL OF YOUR EXPENSE AND BUDGETS.
WE PULL IN ALL OF YOUR LOAN, UH, THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY ON.
WE, UH, LOOK AT YOUR CAPITAL PLANS.
WE, WE BRING IN ALL OF THE FINANCIAL DATA AND THIS IS THE ONE SCREEN THAT WE PULL IT ALL INTO.
AND THIS ALLOWS US, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DASHBOARD ON A CAR WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE ALL THE AGES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
WELL, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY OUR FINANCIAL DASHBOARD, IF YOU WILL.
SO WE CAN BENCHMARK, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE THINGS ALL COMING TOGETHER AND WHAT THIS SCREEN IS SIMULATING, IF YOU WERE TO DO 0% GRADE INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THIS IS WOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH YOUR CASH BALANCE, WITH YOUR FINANCIAL TARGETS, LIKE YOUR DEBT COVERAGE RATIO, WHICH IS A MEASUREMENT OF HOW, UH, YOUR DEBT AFFORDABILITY, CAN YOU AFFORD YOUR, YOUR DEBT, MAKE YOUR DEBT PAYMENTS.
UM, THIS ALSO WOULD BE TRACKING, UH, WHAT WOULD YOUR CASH BALANCE LOOK LIKE? AND THIS WOULD ALSO SHOWS THE PROJECTED CAPITAL PLAN.
SO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE FISCAL YEAR, UH, 2026 THROUGH 2030.
THE NEXT COLUMN IS THE PROJECTED RATE CHANGE.
THAT MEANS HOW MUCH IN THIS PLAN WOULD YOUR CUSTOMERS BILL CHANGE? AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE SET THIS TO ZERO TO SIMULATE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION IF YOU DIDN'T RAISE RATES.
OKAY? AND YOU CAN SEE THE NEXT COLUMN IS THAT DEBT COVERED RATIO, MEANING THAT'S HOW MUCH REVENUE YOU'RE BRINGING IN NET CASH FROM OPERATIONS TO PAY YOUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, CAN YOU AFFORD TO PAY YOUR DEBT? UM, AND YOU CAN SEE OUT IN, UM,
[00:45:02]
AS SOON AS 2027, IT DROPS BELOW A ONE.ANYTHING THAT DROPS BELOW A ONE MEANS YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MAKE YOUR DEBT PAYMENTS IN THAT YEAR.
SO VERY QUICKLY YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EVEN AFFORD MAKING YOUR DEBT PAYMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE THOUGH, IN THIS ASSUMPTION WE HAVE, THIS IS A PLAN TO TRY TO SUPPORT THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 28 MILLION, UH, THE FIRST YEAR, 29 MILLION, 27,000,003 AND SEVEN, OR EXCUSE ME, 3.6 AND 3.7.
UH, SO YOU CAN SEE IF, IF WE SUPPORT CHARLIE AND HIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS, BUT DON'T RAISE RATES, THIS IS WHAT THE FINANCIAL SCENARIO WOULD LOOK LIKE, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.
OKAY? UM, SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR ADJUST OPERATE INCOME, WHICH IS THE BOTTOM, BOTTOM LINE FINANCIAL LINE OF WHAT THE FINANCIALS WOULD LOOK LIKE.
YOU'D BE OPERATING AT A LOSS AS, AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR.
UM, YOUR CASH WOULD GO PROJECTED TO GO NEGATIVE TO 3.5 MILLION NEGATIVE, WHICH WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DO UNLESS YOU'RE, UH, DOING SOME BORROWING OR OR TAKING MONEY FROM SOME OTHER FUNDS, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE, THAT MONEY WOULD COME FROM OUT IN 2029.
UM, YOU CAN SEE YOUR, UM, YOU DAYS WORKING CAPITAL, UM, WOULD, WOULD NEVER EXCEED THAT MINIMUM 90.
SO GO FROM 75 DETERIORATED TO 66 AND BE NEGATIVE BASE CASH ON HAND.
SO OBVIOUSLY THIS, THIS PLAN DOESN'T WORK, BUT THE REASON WHY WE'RE SHOWING IT TODAY IS WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN'T SUPPORT YOUR CURRENT COST OF RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT HAVING RATE INCREASES.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS, WELL WHAT IF WE TELL CHARLIE JUST TO GO AWAY AND WE DON'T PUT ANYTHING BACK INTO THE SYSTEM? SO NOTICE IN THIS PLAN, UH, YOU GO TO THAT THIRD COLUMN,
WE'VE COMPLETELY ZEROED IT OUT.
HE SAID, CHARLIE, PUT THE BRAKES ON INDEFINITELY.
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SPEND ANOTHER PENNY ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN PAYING STAFF AND KEEPING THE SYSTEM LIMPING ALONG.
WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? OKAY, YOU WANT TO HOLD RATES AT ZERO IF THAT'S THE DECISION HERE, WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEND ANY MORE MONEY.
WHAT DOES YOUR BANK LOOK LIKE? YOU CAN SEE EVEN WITH THAT, WITH CUTTING ALL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OVER THE FIVE YEAR PLAN, YOUR DEBT COVERAGE RATIO STILL GOES NEGATIVE.
YOUR SYSTEM BECOMES 73% DEPRECIATED.
WE ONLY HAVE 27% OF YOUR USABLE SYSTEM LEFT.
YOUR ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME GOES NEGATIVE BY THE THIRD YEAR.
IF YOU LOSE A MILLION DOLLARS PLUS 2 MILLION, 2 MILLION, 6 MILLION, AND THEN, UH, YOUR CASH, UH, WOULD JUST HOVER AROUND 14 TO $18 MILLION.
SO YOU WOULD BASICALLY BARELY BE ABLE TO HOVER THE CASH WHERE YOU MIGHT START TO FEEL A LITTLE MORE REASONABLE.
BUT AGAIN, YOU HAVE NOT RAISED RATES, YOU HAVE NOT REINVESTED ANYTHING IN THE SYSTEM AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO IMPROVE YOUR CASH POSITION.
YOU'RE LOSING MONEY AND YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANY DEBT.
SO EVEN IF YOU TELL CHARLIE TO GO AWAY AND DON'T MAKE ANY REINVESTMENTS, UH, A ZERO RATE INCREASE REALLY STILL DOESN'T WORK.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE WOULD BE, WELL, WHAT IF WE DID A 3% CUT? CHARLIE'S CAPITAL DON'T WAIT CHARLIE, WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY.
WE WANT TO BUILD CASH, SO LET'S RAISE SOME RATES.
WE'LL SUPPORT YOU ON THAT, BUT WE'RE GONNA WAIT ON SPENDING ANY MORE CASH.
OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW QUICKLY AND WHAT SORT OF CASH COULD WE BUILD BY IMPLEMENTING FIVE YEARS OR 3% RATE INCREASES IF WE DIDN'T SPEND ANY MORE CASH AT ALL? YOU CAN SEE THERE OUR CASH BALANCE WOULD BE PROJECT TO BE ABOUT 42 MILLION.
THAT SOUNDS KIND OF NICE, RIGHT? WELL, HOWEVER, WE REALLY DON'T EVER WANT TO SPEND IT DOWN BELOW 15 TO 20 MILLION.
SO IF YOU SAY WE CAN SPEND 20 MILLION OF IT, HE COULD THEN THEORETICALLY IN THE SIXTH YEAR, MAYBE JUST START ON THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS CAPITAL LEAVES FIVE YEARS, FIVE TO SIX YEARS FROM NOW AFTER DOING 3% RATE INCREASES AND HAVING THEM WAIT.
UH, THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS MORE THAN LIKELY, UM, I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT IF THE FUTURE'S ANY, LIKE WHAT IT'S SPEND, THIS CAPITAL BUDGET, IF YOU WAIT SIX YEARS, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT BUDGET.
SO BY YOU WAITING TO SAVE 20 MILLION OVER SIX YEARS TO HAVE HIM START SPENDING, HE'LL PROBABLY NEED TO DOUBLE IN TRIPLE HIS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, 10 IS, UH, WHAT WE FEEL IS THE BEST COMBINED APPROACH GIVEN YOUR CURRENT PCA POLICY.
[00:50:01]
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE DETAILS HERE IN A SECOND.THIS WOULD BE A SERIES OF FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT RATE INCREASES.
THIS WOULD BE BONDING, ISSUING REVENUE BONDS FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF CAPITAL NEEDS AND THEN PAYING CASH FOR YEARS 20 FISCAL OF 2029, FISCAL 2030, UH, FOR YOUR CAPITAL NEEDS.
SO WE NEED TO BORROW US FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS AND WE CAN PAY CASH FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
AND YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING ON THIS CHART WITH DOING THOSE LITTLE BIT MORE INCREMENTAL RATE INCREASE FROM A THREE TO FOUR AND A HALF.
WITH THAT BONDING ALLOWS YOU TO MEET ALL THOSE FINANCIAL GOALS THAT WE'VE SET UP FOR YOU, KEEPS YOUR CAP CASH HEALTHY AS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS TO YOUR CUSTOMERS BY DOING IT SLOWLY AND INCREMENTALLY AND ALLOWS CHARLIE TO GET GOING ON REINVESTING AND KEEPING YOUR SYSTEM RELIABLE AND STABLE AND TRYING TO HEDGE THAT THOSE PROJECTS DON'T GO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE AND COST, UH, THE LONGER YOU RAISE SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR CASH, UH, BALANCE LOOKS HEALTHY, WE HAVE THE PLAN 23 MILLION CASH.
UM, THE DEBT COVERAGE RATIO STAYS HEALTHY, YOU'RE ABLE TO PAY YOUR BILLS, YOUR SYSTEM HAS BEEN BEING REINVESTED OVER TIME, SO IT'S BECOMING LESS DEPRECIATED.
SO A NEWER SYSTEM, UH, YOU CAN SEE YOUR DAYS WORKS FROM 90 DAYS TO 91 DAYS UP TOWARD CLOSE TO 120 DAYS, WHICH, UH, WE FEEL AS FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS IS WHERE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU GO CLOSER TO 120 DAYS VERSUS HOVERING BELOW OR, UM, UNDER OR NEAR THAT 90 DAY.
UM, A LOT OF BOND RATING AGENCIES ARE LIKELY TO SEE UTILITIES IN THE 200 PLUS DAYS CASH ON HERE.
SO DON'T LET THIS 120 DAYS SCARE YOU.
THAT'S PRETTY COMMON THAT MOST, UM, ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE STRIVING TO, TO BRING THEIR DAYS CASH ON HANDOFF.
SO THE REASON WHY WE FEEL THIS IS COMBINED BEST APPROACH, AGAIN, IT'S 'CAUSE IT KEEPS THE, IMPACTS THE CUSTOMERS, UH, AS MINIMAL AS POSSIBLE.
GETTING, ALLOWING, UH, YOU TO CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN YOUR SYSTEM, KEEPING YOUR CASH, UH, POSITION HEALTHY, YOUR, UH, FINANCIAL KEY TARGETS HEALTHY AND YOUR BASE CASH ON HAND HEALTHY.
THIS SCENARIO IS UNDER YOUR CURRENT POWER COST ADJUSTMENT METHODOLOGY, WHICH IF YOU RECALL, UM, WELL THAT'S IN TWO SLIDES FROM NOW, SO I'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
UH, THIS NEXT SLIDE IS BASICALLY THE SAME PLAN, WHICH WOULD ALSO BE A COMBINED BEST APPROACH, UH, BUT ALLOWING YOU TO POTENTIALLY DO A SERIES OF 3% RATE INCREASES EACH YEAR.
AND INSTEAD OF FOUR AND A HALF, AND YOU MIGHT SAY, WELL, WHAT GIVES, WHY ARE YOU SAYING THREE THERE AND FOUR AND A HALF THERE? THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THIS METHODOLOGY WOULD ASSUME THAT, UH, YOU WOULD ALLOW, UH, ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT STAFF TO KEEP THAT POWER COST ADJUSTMENT AND BALANCE.
AND WE'LL GO INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THAT IN THE, IN THE SUBSEQUENT THREE OR FOUR SLIDES.
UM, SO THAT, THAT MIGHT BE, SO IF YOU HAVE POLICY CHANGE, UH, TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO KEEP THAT POWER, COST AND BALANCE AND WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU THESE THREE PERCENTS INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT HARBOR COST ADJUSTMENT METHODOLOGY AT FOUR AND A HALF.
SO IT GOES NICELY INTO THAT HARD COST ADJUSTMENT DISCUSSION.
AGAIN, WHAT IS A POWER COST ADJUSTMENT? IT'S A MECHANISM THAT STAFF TRACKS THE ACTUAL COST OF POWER COSTS, UM, ON YOUR MONTHLY POWER BILLS.
AND WE SET A BASE RATE THAT WE'RE COLLECTING IN OUR RATES.
CURRENTLY IT'S 8.17, DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT TERM? SO EMBEDDED IN YOUR RETAIL RATES OF CUSTOMERS, YOU'RE COLLECTING AND ALLOCATING 8.17 CENTS FOR POWER COSTS, OKAY? FOR PAYING THE POWER BILLS.
WHAT WE DO IS WE TRACK ALL THOSE MONTHLY POWER BILLS AND WE SAY, HEY, IS THE COST CHANGING FROM THAT 8.17 CENTS? AND WE TRY TO COLLECT AS IT CHANGES, WE TRY TO COLLECT THAT DIFFERENCE THROUGH THAT PCA CHARGE, WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE PER KILOWATT HOUR ON THE CUSTOMER'S BILL.
NOW THE CURRENT METHODOLOGY HAS A COUPLE RESTRICTIONS, UH, THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED THEM TO IMPLEMENT.
THIS IS ONE, IT IT CAN GO OVER A PENNY AND A HALF.
UM, AND ALSO THEY CAN'T DO ANY, UM, MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RATE TO KEEP THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IN BALANCE.
AND, AND I'LL, AND I'LL SHOW THAT IN DETAIL IN A FEW, UH, SUBSEQUENT SLIDES HERE.
SO IT IS VERY COMMON THAT, UH, MANY UTILITIES WHEN THEY HAVE A PCA WILL ALLOW STAFF TO DO THE NEEDED, UH, ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PCA TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY TRUE UP AND, AND RECOGNIZED IN THAT THAT RECOVERY.
UH, POWER COSTS IN YOUR RATES ARE 8.17 CENTS.
UH, WE'RE TRACKING POWER COSTS IN THIS EXAMPLE THAT SAYS, HEY, WHAT IF POWER COSTS WENT UP TO EIGHT SEVEN 1 CENTS?
[00:55:01]
THE PCA ON THE BILL WOULD BE JUST OVER ASSET.SO YOU TAKE THE NEW COST OF POWER MINUS WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY COLLECTING AND THE DIFFERENCE IS WHAT YOU'RE ADDING TO THE BILL TO TRY TO KEEP IT IN BALANCE.
WELL, THE REASON WHY IT DOESN'T ALWAYS STAY BALANCE PERFECTLY IS THE TIMING OF WHEN YOU PAY THE BILL VERSUS WHEN YOU CHARGE YOUR CUSTOMERS.
THERE'S DIFFERENT CYCLES ON WHEN THE BILLING COMES FROM, UM, THE KEMP VERSUS WHEN YOU'RE METER READING AND BILLING YOUR CUSTOMERS.
SO THERE'S A MISALIGNMENT OF UNITS SO THEY CAN NEVER SAY PERFECTLY IN BALANCE.
SO THAT'S THAT ADDITIONAL PIECE THAT WE ARE WE'RE MISSING CURRENTLY IS ALLOWING THE STAFF TO KEEP IT IN BALANCE.
SO THIS NEXT ONE IS TRYING TO GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT PCA.
YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, ZERO LINE HERE.
IF WE COULD KEEP YOUR POWER SUPPLY FULLY COLLECTED, ALL THESE LINES WOULD BE AS CLOSE TO THE ZERO LINE AS POSSIBLE.
WE WANT TO BE COLLECTED, WE WANT YOUR POWER COSTS TO BE COLLECTED FROM YOUR CUSTOMERS FAIRLY SO THAT YOU'RE BASICALLY A BREAKEVEN ON YOUR COST.
BUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IS YOUR POWER COSTS LINE UP HERE MONTHLY HAS REALLY BEEN DRAMATICALLY VARYING.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, I THINK THIS IS UH, JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME, YOU HAD A REALLY COLD, COLD SNAP.
SO THE POWER BILL, UH, FROM THE CAMPER WENT UP AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE, THE PCA, UH, SINCE WE COULDN'T DO ANY MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS IS PREDICTED TO UNDERPERFORM.
SO IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, I JUST KIND OF ZERO IN ON THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU FOLLOW THIS LINE ACROSS FOR THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE PROJECTING YOU TO BE UNREFLECTED BY ABOUT $1.5 MILLION TO THE NEGATIVE.
SO THE UTILITY WOULD NOT HAVE PUT THROUGH ENOUGH THROUGH THE PCA FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR TO FULLY BALANCE YOUR INCREASING THE POWER COSTS.
OKAY? UM, AND THAT'S A DYNAMIC BEING CAUSED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE UNITS AND THE TIMING AND ALSO THAT STAFF DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MANUALLY ADJUST IT TO KEEP IT IN BALANCE.
SO IT MIGHT BE ONE CONSIDERATION IF YOU WERE TO ALLOW 'EM TO DO THAT.
WE COULD LOOK MORE TO THAT 3% PLAN INSTEAD OF THE FOUR POINT HALF PERCENT PLAN.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS ON THIS SLIDE, BUT UH, WHERE THE PRIOR SLIDES SHOWED IT IN GRAPHICAL FORM, THIS IS ACTUALLY SHOWING IT IN ICAL FORM.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE'S THE, UM, 2025, UH, WHERE THAT GREEN LINE WAS ENDING UNDER ZERO, MEANING YOU'RE UNREFLECTED, THERE'S THAT UNDER REFLECTION RIGHT THERE.
SO I MENTIONED ABOUT 1.5, IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OVER 1.6 MILLION UNDER COLLECTED.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS THE POWER SUPPLY FORECAST GOING OUT THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
IT IS PROJECTED TO GO DOWN NEXT YEAR, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT SERVICE DROPPING OFF, BUT YET OTHER RIDERS ARE CLOSE BEHIND.
SO WE ARE EXPECTED UNDER THE CURRENT METHODOLOGY THAT YOU'LL STILL BE 1.4 MILLION UNDER REFLECTED AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR UNDER THE CURRENT PLAN, NOT ALLOWING STAFF TO BALANCE IT.
SO THE REASON WHY WE DIDN'T GO MORE NEGATIVE IS BECAUSE POWER COSTS HAVE COME DOWN.
SO WE'LL CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE'RE STILL GONNA BE CONTINUE TO BE BEHIND.
SO IF YOU FAST FORWARD WITH THIS POWER SUPPLY PROJECTION, GIVEN THE CURRENT PCA METHOD AT THE END OF 2030, WE PROJECTED BE, UH, BEHIND ALMOST $15 MILLION IN POWER SUPPLY COLLECTION THROUGH THE PCA, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE A PCA, BUT IT'S NOT BEING, UH, FULLY UTILIZED BECAUSE IT HAS A PENNY AND HALF CAP.
YOU CAN SEE HERE OUT IN THESE THREE YEARS WITH THIS PROJECTION, YOU'D BE EXCEEDING THAT CAP.
AND HERE, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T KEEP AN I BALANCE, UH, 'CAUSE COSTS ARE PROJECTED GO UP AND GO HIGHER THAN THE PENNY HALF AND IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE RECONCILED THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT POTENTIAL UNDER PERFORMANCE.
SO THAT FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT PLAN THAT I SHOWED YOU IS DESIGNED TO RECOLLECT THIS SLOWLY EVENLY SO THAT THIS DOESN'T BECOME A NEGATIVE 14.
IT WILL BE A NEGATIVE 14 IN THE PCA, BUT BECAUSE YOUR BASE RATES ARE FOUR POINT HALF PERCENT INSTEAD OF THREE, YOU CATCH IT UP THERE.
SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THE CUSTOMER NEEDS TO PAY FOR IT, BUT ONE PLAN IS IT'S GONNA BE IN BASE RATES VERSUS ONE PLANET COULD BE IN THE PCA.
SO THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE, UM, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IMPACTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF DATA AGAIN HERE AS WELL, BUT YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY SEE THAT THE CURRENT AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS PAYING ABOUT $145
[01:00:01]
A MONTH, 1 43 49, UH, FOR THE MONTHLY ELECTRICITY UNDER THIS PLAN OUT 2030, THEY'D BE PAYING ON AVERAGE $177 AND 41 CENTS.SO ABOUT 33 ISH DOLLARS I THINK LAST I CALCULATED ABOUT $7, OR EXCUSE ME, $6 AND 78 CENTS A MONTH, UH, INCREASE PER YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU CAN AVOID BUYING THAT BOTTLE OF WATER AT THE HOTEL, YOU COULD PROBABLY OFFSET THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.
THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS, UM, WHAT I ALWAYS FIND INTERESTING, IF YOU DON'T MIND FLIPPING BACK THE PREVIOUS ONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT AM I PAYING ALL IN FOR ELECTRICITY? IF YOU TAKE THE INTERNET MEASUREMENT WHEN YOU DELIVER POWER IS USUALLY REFERRED TO AS A KILOWATT HOUR OF USAGE.
YOUR AVERAGE CUSTOMER, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER USES 998 KILOWATT HOURS A MONTH.
SO YOU TAKE ALL OF THESE BILLING LINE ITEMS, YOU ADD 'EM ALL UP, DIVIDE 'EM BY THE 998 KILOWATT HOURS THEY USED, AND THAT'S ON AVERAGE.
WHAT DO THEY REALLY PAY FOR THAT INCREMENTAL KILOWATT? AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST OVER 14 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR THERE, AND IT'S JUST UNDER 18 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR HERE.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH UM, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A LUXURY TO LIVE IN A MUNICIPAL SERVICE AREA.
I AM SERVICED BY AN INVESTOR OWNED ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT COMPANY, AND MY BILL IS OVER 18 CENTS A KI HOUR TODAY.
UM, CHARLIE, I KNOW YOU DID SOME ANALYSIS ON WHERE WERE WE IN 2015, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA GET TO THAT.
SO I'M NOT GONNA STILL CHARLIE CENTER, HE'S GONNA BASICALLY SHOW YOU WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD POSITION NOW.
SO, KEY TAKEAWAYS, UH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT NEXT FISCAL YEAR, UH, INCREASE THE BASE RATES OF FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT, ASSUMING THAT YOU, UH, STICK WITH YOUR CURRENT PCA METHODOLOGY.
IF YOU DO ALLOW STAFF TO KEEP THE PCA IN BALANCE, WE CAN BRING THAT DOWN TO A 3%.
UM, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER, UM, SUPPORTING CHARLIE'S NEEDS FOR HIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO KEEP THE SYSTEM FROM AGING AND KEEP YOUR SYSTEM RELIABLE.
UH, LOOK TO INVEST IN THAT MDM THAT CHARLIE NEEDS TO COMPLETE THAT FROM THE METERING ALL THE WAY TO THE BILLING SO WE CAN EVOLVE THOSE RATES OVER THE NEXT FIVE PLUS YEARS.
AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, EXPECT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE BACK EACH YEAR AND TELL YOU HOW, HOW'S THE PLAN PERFORMING? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE? UH, BUT HOPEFULLY IF WE CAN ALL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS, UH, WE SHOULDN'T BE BACK, UM, ASKING FOR MORE THAN INFLATIONARY TYPE INCREASES IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE ALL GET ON THIS TYPE OF A ROUTINE AND PLAN, UM, WE WOULD, WE WOULD EXPECT IN THE FUTURE TO BE MORE INFLATIONARY TYPE INCREASES.
AND THEN AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION TO STRIVE TO 120 PLUS DAYS CASH.
SO WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF DON, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? CHRIS, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YEP.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, CHRIS.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE, UH, QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION NOW OR LATER, OR AT ANY TIME.
UH, SO LAST YEAR YOU BOTH MADE A PRESENTATION WITH RECOMMENDATION, AND MY QUESTION FOR YOU WOULD BE IS WHAT DID THE BOARD DO AS FAR AS IF YOU ASKED FOR SOMETHING, DID WE GIVE YOU 50% OF WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED? DID WE GIVE YOU 80? DID WE GIVE A HUNDRED? WELL, IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, THE, THE CORE OF OUR PRESENTATION LAST YEAR WAS A SERIES OF THREE 5% BASE RATE INCREASES PLUS A TRADITIONAL PCA, WHICH IS MORE THAT FULLY BALANCED PCA.
UM, AND AT THE TIME, I, I WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW UNIQUE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN.
ONE, UNFORTUNATELY, CHARLIE DIDN'T GET THE GRANT FUNDING WE THOUGHT AND WERE HOPEFUL FOR LAST YEAR.
SO LAST YEAR, UM, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
UH, LAST YEAR, THE IN THE PLAN WITH THAT ASK OR WITH THAT PLAN WAS AN ASSUMPTION THAT CHARLIE COULD POTENTIALLY GET 20 MILLION WITH GRANT FUNDING, UM, THAT THAT HAS DRIED UP.
[01:05:01]
NEW PLAN ABSORBS THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON ANY GRANT FUNDING ANY LONGER.UM, IT ALSO, UM, CONSIDERS THE FACT THAT INSTEAD OF, UH, THREE YEARS OF INCREMENTAL FIVES PLUS A FULL PCA PLUS THAT GRANT, UH, YOU HAVE, UH, SUPPORTED A SERIES OF TWO 6% RATE INCREASES LAST YEAR AT, AT DIFFERENT TIMING.
UH, ONE IN JULY AND ONE IN DECEMBER.
SO THE TIMING, UM, THE COMPOUNDING EFFECT IS, IS, IS NICE, BUT THE TIMING, UM, WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE, THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
AND THEN AGAIN, AS I DESCRIBED, THE PCA, UH, THE WAY IT'S BEING ALLOWED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IS PROJECTED AND CONTINUE TO BE UNDERPERFORMING.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES.
BUT THE NICE THING IS IF YOU JUST TAKE ROUGH NUMBERS OF WHAT YOU DID AT TWO 6% AND YOU TAKE A 3%, UM, JUST SIMPLE MATH, THAT'S 15%.
SO WHAT YOU DID DO AT TWO SIXES PLUS, NOW WE'RE SAYING THREE MORE, UH, IS 15%, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO OUR THREE F AT FIVE.
SO THEY'RE VERY, VERY SIMILAR PLANS STILL.
BUT SOME CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, GRANT FUNDING AND, UH, THE WAY THAT THE INCREASES WERE TIMED AND, AND INTRODUCED AND THE WAY THE PCA WAS IMPLEMENTED.
SO IT'S STILL VERY, VERY SIMILAR.
THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD WOULD BE, UM, FROM YOUR CAPITAL REQUEST TO UPGRADE AND, AND EXPAND THE SYSTEM, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FOR CONTINUITY AND TO CONTINUE SERVICING OUR CURRENT LOAD OF CUSTOMERS VERSUS HOW MUCH OF THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT IS TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL LOAD? NONE OF IT IS, IT, IT, IT ALL WILL SERVE OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
UM, RIGHT NOW, THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE, THE $707 MILLION FOR GLENBURN THAT SERVES ALL THE CUSTOMERS IN THE GLENBURN AREA.
UM, SO IF THOSE FAIL, UM, THOSE CUSTOMERS FEEL THAT THE AGE OF THOSE TRANSFORM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL GLENFORD.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPANDED CAPACITY BUILT INTO THAT.
UM, THE $20 MILLION FOR THE SUBSTATION IS TO SERVE OUR CAPACITY NEEDS FOR OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
IT IS SIZED TO ALLOW FOR THE CURRENT CUS FOR ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING THE GROWTH THAT I'M SHOWING IN THE LINE EXTENSION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF TERRITORIES WITHIN IN OUR, IN OUR BOUNDARIES THAT IF THAT, IF THAT LOAD COMES ONLINE, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE.
UH, WE WERE ALSO, WE WERE INTERRUPTED IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH, UM, THAT SOLVES THAT PROBLEM.
SO NONE OF IT'S DESIGNED REALLY TO GO OUT AND, AND, AND CHASE MORE LOAD ANYWHERE IS TO, UH, ACCOUNT FOR, UH, THE RELIABILITY AND THE RESILIENCY OF OUR CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE AND FILL IN THE GAPS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITUATIONS ARISE WITHIN OUR OWN FOOTPRINT THAT WE CAN RESPOND TO.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE, TAKE A COUPLE MOMENTS AND, AND WRAP UP.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD BEFORE CONTINUES? I HAVE A QUESTION IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE ASKED IT WITH THE MAYOR'S QUESTION, BUT I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE CLARITY ON IT AGAIN LAST YEAR WITH THE PCA.
DID WE, I KNOW WE DID NOT ADDRESS OR GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU ASKED FOR, BUT LET ME SEE AGAIN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.
LIKE I SAID, IT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE MAYOR'S QUESTION.
I DIDN'T GET THE CLARITY ON IT.
LAST YEAR, WE RECOMMENDED, WE RECOMMENDED A SERIES OF THREE 5% RATE INCREASES.
WE WERE ASKING FOR 5% PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND WE WERE ASKING FOR ALL THOSE TO BE APPROVED AT THE SAME TIME.
PLUS, WE WANTED, WE ASKED FOR A FULLY IMPLEMENTED PCA, WHICH WOULD ALLOW, HAS NO CAP ON IT, AND ALLOW THE STAFF TO MAKE THOSE BALANCING ADJUSTMENTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
UM, AND WE WERE ASKING FOR THAT EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.
[01:10:03]
UM, WHAT WHAT YOU FOLKS DECIDED THEN, UM, AND DIRECTED US TO DO IS HAVE A 6% RATE INCREASE STARTING JULY 1ST AND THEN LATER EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, AND THEN LATER IN DECEMBER DIRECTED US TO HAVE ANOTHER 6% RATE INCREASE.AND YOU AUTHORIZE THE PCA, BUT THE, THE PCA HAS SOME RESTRICTIONS ON IT THAT DON'T, DOES NOT ALLOW STAFF TO BALANCE IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND IT HAS A CAP BUILT INTO THAT AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, A POWER SUPPLY FORECAST AT THAT TIME, UM, WAS FOR A 0% RATE INCREASE THIS YEAR.
AND THE CAPITAL THAT WE HAD BEEN REQUESTING, UH, WE WERE HOPING FOR AND PLANNING ON IN THAT PLAN TO BE FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS.
AND THOSE GRANTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, SIR.
SO THIS BUDGET, YOU'RE ASKING, EXCUSE ME, YOU'RE RECOMMENDING A 4.5% INCREASE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, JUST ONE YEAR.
UM, WE'RE REP AND I'LL GET TO MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, I'LL BE CLEAR ON THEM HERE SHORTLY, BUT YES, WE'RE ASKING DO CONSIDERATION TOWARDS A FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT RATE INCREASE THIS YEAR AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
CONSIDER A 3% RATE INCREASE WITH A REDRAFTED PCA THAT ALLOWS STAFF TO UPDATE AND BALANCE IT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND THEN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK IN FUTURE YEARS AND HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATION AND REFRESH IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THINGS CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, JUST LIKE OUR OWN PERSONAL BUDGETS AT HOME.
WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND, AND, UM, PUT A LOT THOUGHT INTO IT.
DOES THAT THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, SIR.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO CHRIS AND DAWN, UM, JAY AND JOHN WORKING ON IT AS WELL, AND, AND NEW BERN STAFF, UH, SHERRY AND AMBER AND JOSH.
I THINK THE FOLKS KNOW THOSE PEOPLE.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS LONG FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
SO WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING IS, UH, APPROVING THE M-D-A-M-D-M PURCHASE EITHER OUT OF HIS CURRENT BUDGET YEAR THROUGH BUDGET AMENDMENT OR FINDING IT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET.
UM, APPROVE MY OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2026 THAT I'M RECOMMENDING, UM, APPROVED FINANCING FOR MY FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, APPROVE A 3% RATE INCREASE WITH MANUAL MONTHLY PCA BALANCING FOR UNCOLLECTED POWER SUPPLY COSTS.
AND ALTERNATIVE TO THAT WOULD BE APPROVING A 4.5% RATE INCREASE WITH THE CURRENT PCA RESTRICTIONS, SUPPORT ANNUAL RATE REVIEWS, JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING NOW AND CONSIDERATION TOWARDS ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, CONSIDER TARGETING MINIMUM CASH, UM, BALANCES OF 120 DAYS CASH ON HAND.
NEXT SLIDE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE, UM, INSIGHT INTO THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THEY MAY BE SEEING.
UM, AND GET, BEFORE I GO THERE, JUST OUR, OUR RETAIL RATE TRENDS.
UM, YOU CAN SEE BACK IN 2014 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAPH RATES WERE JUST UNDER 15 CENTS.
AND IF YOU GO TO 2026 AND YOU USE THE 4.5% RATE INCREASE METHOD, WE'RE JUST OVER THAT NOW, 11 YEARS LATER, THAT, THAT'S BEEN GREAT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO EXPERIENCE THOSE LOWER POWER COSTS DURING THOSE YEARS.
BUT AS A RESULT OF TO ACHIEVE THAT, WE'VE HAD TO SPEND DOWN THEIR CASH AND PUT OFF OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION JUST EXPRESSED BY TOTAL COST.
SO BACK IN 2014, OUR CUSTOMERS WERE SEEING A, A BILL REALLY CLOSE TO $150 A MONTH FOR ELECTRIC, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA BE JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER $150 PER MONTH IN 20 26, 11 YEARS LATER.
AND AGAIN, THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AS WE'VE, WE'VE DRAWN DOWN IN CASH TO KEEP THOSE BREAKS DOWN.
NEXT SLIDE, USING THE 4.5% RATE INCREASE METHOD.
UM, HERE'S A COUGH, HERE'S A, HERE'S A COMPARISON OF WHAT THE COMPETITION LOOKS LIKE.
JUST SIMPLY BENCHMARKING AND NOT SAY, SAYING IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG, BUT JUST WHERE WE'RE AT WITH REGARDS TO OUR COMPETITORS.
UM, THEY'RE AT 16 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR NOW WE'RE AT 14.
UM, GOING THROUGH WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, WE TAKE OUR CUSTOMERS RIGHT AROUND TO 15 CENTS
[01:15:01]
PER KILOWATT HOUR.DUKE'S, UM, HAS APPROVED RATE INCREASES FOR NEXT YEAR THAT PUSH THE CUSTOMERS TO 17.
AND YOU CAN TRACK THAT ALL, ALL THE WAY UP.
UM, CHARLIE DUKE JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO DID A RATE REDUCTION.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT? I THINK THAT WAS CAROLINAS AND WHEN THEY, SOME YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE READ ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THAT AS WELL.
THEY CALL, WHEN THEY ADD OR SUBTRACT RIDER OR OTHER BILLING COMPONENTS TO YOUR BILL, THEY BUNDLE THAT INTO THE TOTAL COST AND THEY SAY A RATE DECREASE OR A RATE INCREASE.
IT'S NOT A RATE, IT'S WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
UM, AND THIS IS WHAT WE, WHAT WE HAVE MAPPED HERE IS WHAT WE CAN SEE THAT DUKE HAS APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY CONDITION.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'S, I'M SHOWING THE SAME INFORMATION.
I'M JUST EXPRESSING IT, UM, DIFFERENTLY.
UM, RIGHT NOW OUR CUSTOMERS AT ABOUT $143 PER MONTH TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT 1 57 FOR THE AVERAGE RETAIL CUSTOMER.
YOU GOT A BIGGER HOUSE, YOU GOT MORE THINGS GOING ON.
YOU LIKE IT WARMER, YOU LIKE IT COLDER, IT'S GONNA BE REFLECTIVE.
BUT THIS IS WHAT THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER SEES.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE PROPOSING USING THE 4.5% METHOD IS ABOUT A $7 INCREASE PER MONTH.
CUSTOMERS WOULD GO TO ABOUT $150.
DUKE CUSTOMERS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND 63, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT ALL THE WAY OUT TO 2028, WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE, UM, AROUND 63 FOR MODIFIED CUSTOMERS IF THIS GREAT PATH CONTAINS.
AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO, UH, WHEN YOU BEGAN, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NEW BILLING FORMAT.
UH, IS THERE, WHAT WOULD BE THE POTENTIAL COSTS THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN CHANGING IT? IT, IT IS INCLUDED IN OUR MIGRATION TO OUR NEW BILLING SERVICE PROVIDER AND IT, IT IS BUDGETED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
UM, WE'RE NOT PAYING, WE HAVE THE OPTION EITHER WHEN THIS CONVERSION'S DONE, WE'RE EITHER GONNA STAY WITH THE SAME FORMAT OR THEY'RE GONNA ENHANCE OUR FORMAT AND WE'VE CHOSEN TO TRY TO GET SOME ENHANCEMENTS OUTTA IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE COST.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TEXT THAT LET NOTIFICATIONS, UH, WILL THERE BE ANY LIGHT, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CUSTOMERS WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE TEXTING INFORMATION OR NOT SUBSCRIBE TO IT.
IS THERE ANY LANGUAGE ON THE, UH, BILLING THAT WILL INSTRUCT CUSTOMERS HOW THEY CAN SIGN ON TO THE TEXT NOTIFICATION? THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEW BILL UNDER THE MESSAGING, WE COULD POSSIBLY ADD IT THERE OR MAYBE GIVE THEM A QR USE THAT QR CODE SECTION.
UM, SO SOME NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT TEXTING CAPABILITIES.
THIS ONE, I, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AND I'M SURE, UH, WITH THE NUMBERS THAT PEOPLE DIAL AND CONSTANT, UH, TRYING TO CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ACCESS THAT DEPARTMENT THAT THIS TEXT MESSAGING WOULD BE GREAT FOR STAFF.
IT, IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL WHEN WE CAN CONNECT DIRECTLY TO OUR CUSTOMER.
AND CHARLIE, THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE ON, ON THE PHONE NUMBERS, THAT'S BASED ON WHEN THE CUSTOMER SIGNED UP FOR THE, FOR THE BILL.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE PHONE NUMBER YOU'RE USING TO REACH OUT? CORRECT.
OR AS OFTEN AS WE CAN GET THEM TO COME IN AND UPDATE IT.
AND, UH, WE JUST DISCOVERED ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO, MAYBE A WAY TO, TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL PHONE NUMBER.
UH, IT WAS SET UP FOR JUST A PRIMARY PHONE NUMBER, BUT AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THERE'S SEVERAL PRIMARIES LIVING IN THE HOUSE.
SO MY, I WANT MY WIFE TO GET THE TEXT JUST AS I GET THE TEXT.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT SO WE'RE ABLE TO ADD MORE PHONE NUMBERS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE COUNCIL.
SO CHARLIE, WHAT IS THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF DAYS THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP ON HAND? I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING HERE ONE 20, BUT WHAT IS THE OUR POLICY IS 90.
UM, I, I CAN'T IGNORE WHAT I HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAYING, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST 120, AND I THINK AS I MAKE MY ROUNDS IN THE INDUSTRY, I HEAR, UM, TAKES CASH ON HAND HIGHER THAN THAT.
BUT STEP ONE, LET'S GET TO 90 STEP TWO.
[01:20:01]
AS I SAID BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YOU COME FOR US HERE AND YOU TELL US WHAT, WHAT'S NEEDED.AND YOU KNOW, YOU ARE THE EXPERTISE HERE.
AND, UM, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH WHAT YOU HAVE RECOMMENDED.
I MEAN, IF IT'S GONNA, WE NEED, WE NEED OUR POWER
AND THESE ARE BASIC, THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR OUR CITIZENS.
SO I, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE, UM, THE 4.5 AND THE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
ANY THOUGHTS OR QUESTION DISCUSSIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.
GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE, WE CAN, WE'VE SOME REFRESH IN THE, UM, LET'S, UH, LET'S TAKE A RECESS UNTIL 10 30.
UH, WE WILL GET STARTED BACK AGAIN.
AND, UH, MR. HUGHES, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
SO ON MARCH 28TH OF THIS YEAR, YOUR BUDGET WERE AVAILABLE AND SO YOU HAD SOME TIME TO BE, TO LOOK THROUGH THOSE THINGS.
SO NOW AS A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA START LOOKING THROUGH THAT.
I'M GONNA ASK TANYA TO, TO GO THROUGH JUST TO HELP US NAVIGATE AS, AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY, TANYA.
ALRIGHT, SO IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR BUDGET BOOK IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, JUST EXPLAINING HOW IT'S, IT IS BROKEN DOWN IN THE BEGINNING, OF COURSE, THE INTRODUCTION THAT INCLUDES THE CITY MANAGER'S MESSAGE FOLLOWING THAT IS THE BUDGET SUMMARY.
IN THAT SECTION YOU'LL FIND THE BUDGET AND FINANCIAL REPORTS, UH, STAFFING AND POSITIONS, DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS, TRAVEL AND TRAINING, UH, CAPITAL SUMMARY, AND THEN THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES FOLLOWING THAT SUMMARY SECTION, UH, GOES INTO EACH OF THE FUNDS, STARTING WITH THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN INTO THE, EACH OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
AND EACH OF THOSE AREAS WE HAVE THE, IT'S THE BEGINNING, THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE SUMMARIES, FOLLOWED BY REVENUE DETAIL.
AND THEN, UH, AFTER EACH OF THOSE, THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AND EACH DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURE DETAIL AFTER THAT IS THE OTHER FUNDS THAT WOULD BE MSD, UH, THAT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND ANY OF THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS IN THAT SECTION.
AND THE LAST TAB IN YOUR BOOK IS, UH, GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS. WE HAVE A LOT OF ACRONYMS, ESPECIALLY IN LIKE THE DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AND TRAVEL AND TRAINING AREAS.
SO, UM, IN THAT ACRONYM SECTION THAT EXPLAINS WHAT EACH OF THOSE ARE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BOOK SO FAR? NO.
SO TO GET DOWN INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE DETAILED BUDGET COMPARISON REPORTS, SO IN EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS, UM, THIS IS WHAT THE BUDGET COMPARISON REPORT REPORTS LOOK LIKE.
UM, I HIGHLIGHTED, UM, AND READ THE CIRCLED AREAS.
SO THAT FIRST OF ROW ACROSS THE TOP, THOSE ARE YOUR COLUMN TITLES, THAT'S AT THE ACCOUNTS.
AND THEN EACH OF THE EXPENDITURES.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS THE FISCAL YEAR 24, THE ACTUALS FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
UH, THE FOLLOW LINE, YOU COULD PICK PAGE ONE 20 TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT.
SO YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WHAT SHE'S REFERRING TO.
SO, UH, 2025, THOSE ARE OUR ACTUALS FROM THE DATE THAT WE WERE PULLED THE LAST TIME WE PULLED THIS REPORTS TO PRINT.
THEN IT'S THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
BUT NEXT COLUMN, THAT'S THE FISCAL YEAR.
26 MANAGERS RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
AND THEN THAT LAST COLUMN IS THE PERCENT CHANGE, UH, IN THE LIGHTER BLUE.
THAT JUST IS LIKE THE, WHAT YOU SEE, THOSE ARE THE DIVISIONS.
SO, UH, LET'S SAY FOR FINANCE, WE'VE GOT ACCOUNTING AND PURCHASING AND WAREHOUSE.
SO UNDER FINANCE YOU'LL SEE EACH OF THOSE DIVISIONS AND YOU'LL HAVE THAT SUMMARY.
THE GRAY, UH, RO, THOSE ARE OUR CHARACTER CODES AND THAT'S WHAT'S USED TO CATEGORIZE THE ACCOUNTS BY THAT CAT BY A CERTAIN CATEGORY.
SO 61 IS PERSONNEL SERVICES OR SALARIES.
ANYTHING THAT STARTS WITH SIX TWO, THOSE ARE BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN THERE'S EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AFTER THAT 71,
[01:25:01]
UM, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, MY CURRENT OBLIGATION.SO, AND THERE'S A SUMMARY OR A TOTAL FOR EACH OF THOSE SESSIONS.
UM, FOR THE BLUE OR THE WHITE AREA.
FOR NUMBER FOUR, JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT IN EACH OF THESE, THE ACCOUNT NUMBER IS LISTED FIRST OR ABOVE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOUNT.
I, IT'S KIND OF REVERSED OF WHAT WE'RE USED TO.
WE'RE USED TO SEEING THE NAME FIRST AND THEN THE NUMBERS.
BUT IN THIS REPORT IT PULLS THE ACCOUNT NUMBER FIRST.
SO THOSE LINES FOLLOW ACROSS AND SHOW THE TOTALS FOR EACH OF THOSE AREAS.
AND THE DESCRIPTION IS BELOW THAT.
AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT WAS, UM, THE PERCENT CHANGE IN THAT LAST COLUMN, THAT IS THE PERCENT CHANGE FROM THE REVISED CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, NOT THE ADOPTED BUDGET, AND WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR FISCAL SCHOOL YEAR 26.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE DETAILED REPORTS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
BUDGETED REVENUES SOLD $165,840,915 FOR ALL ANNUAL FUNDS.
GENERAL FUND CONSISTING OF 32% IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,630,306.
COMBINED UTILITIES ACCOUNT FOR 61% IN THE AMOUNT OF 101,500 AND 668 $6 WITH WATER FUND AT 8% IN THE AMOUNT OF 13,490,000 SEWER FUND AT 9% IN THE AMOUNT OF 14,275, $14,275,629 ELECTRIC FUND AT 41% IN THE AMOUNT OF $68,651,475 IN SOLID WASTE FUND AT 3% IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,083,600.
OTHER FUNDS AT 7% IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,709,923.
THOSE CONSIST OF THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND, UM, WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 10.4 BILLION OF THAT.
OTHER FUNDS ALSO INCLUDE VARIOUS SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS CONSISTING OF REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION, THE EMERGENCY 9 1 1, AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND SPECIAL INVESTMENT FUNDS.
SO THAT'S THE PIE I'VE ANTICIPATED REVENUE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
NOW GENERAL FUND, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT SHORTLY.
ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO HAVE TO GENERATE THEIR OWN REVENUES FOR THAT.
BUT THIS IS HOW WE SLICE THE PIE.
WE'VE ONLY GOT SO MUCH TO TO GO AROUND.
SO JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, THIS PROVIDES PRETTY MUCH THE SAME INFORMATION AS BEFORE.
BUT, UM, THIS IS IN PAGE 11 OF YOUR BUDGET BOOK.
IT SHOWS THE COMPARISON OF THE FY 25 ADOPT BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED FY 26 OF BUDGET FOR EACH FUND REFLECTING THE CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR AS A PERCENTAGE.
THE CHANGE FROM FY 25 ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS 7%.
WATER BEING 5.3%, SEWER 6.3 ELECTRIC FUND 6.1, AND SOLID WASTE FUND FOR 8%.
OTHER FUNDS, UM, COM COMBINED IS, UH, 23%.
SO THE OVERALL TOTAL OF 7.4% FOR ALL CITY ANNUAL FUNDS.
KIM, WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? WELL, THIS IS THE, UM, THIS, THIS IS ALSO ON PAGE ELEVEN'S SIMILAR TO JUST BROKEN DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE'RE GOING LOOK AT THE, THE FIRST OF THE BOOK AND WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STAFFING AND POSITION, DO SOME SUBSCRIPTIONS, TRAVEL AND TRAINING AND CAPITAL.
THEN WE'LL COME TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
SO TURN PAGE 19, BOOK RIGHT AFTER THE STAFFING TAB.
SO THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS 500 FREE BUDGET POSITIONS AND, UM, THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED 17 NEW POSITIONS AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS AND A LOT OF THOSE WE'LL TALK ABOUT SHORTLY.
I ONLY RECOMMEND EIGHT NEW POSITIONS AND A RECLASSIFICATION OF A PART-TIME POSITION.
UH, IN THIS BUDGET, THERE ARE SIX RECLASSIFICATIONS, UM, THAT WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE PROPOSING.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THE LIST OF PROPOSED NEW POSITIONS.
I'M ASK THE DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT'S EFFECTIVE TO COME UP AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT WHY THEY FEEL THEY NEED THAT
[01:30:01]
POSITION.THEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DURING THIS, PLEASE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
SO ON PAGE 19, THE FIRST POSITION REQUEST WAS IN TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
ERNEST, IF YOU COME UP AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR REQUEST, GOOD MORNING.
BASICALLY THE REQUEST IS, SO THAT, EXCUSE ME, WE COULD FOCUS MORE ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS THAT ARE PART OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE SPEND A, A LITTLE AMOUNT OF OUR TIME AWAY FROM THE TECHNICAL PART OF THE JOB THAT WE NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS.
SO WHETHER IT'S PURCHASING, WHETHER IT'S MANAGING INVOICES, WHETHER IT'S CHASING DOWN ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS, THAT'S REALLY WHAT THAT POSITION WOULD BE FOR.
SO THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT HAS NOT HAD AN ADMIN TECHNICIAN PREVIOUSLY IN THAT POSITION.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ERNEST? WHERE, WHERE WOULD THAT PERSON BE LOCATED? RIGHT NOW TECHNOLOGY IS LOCATED IN CITY HALL ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND THAT POSITION WOULD BE TODAY, UPSTAIRS, THE THIRD FLOOR.
COULD THAT PERSON WORK ON THE MAIN FLOOR OF CITY HALL IF THEY'RE DOING ADMIN WORK? SURE.
THE NEXT RECOMMENDED POSITION IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR FINANCE.
KIM, WHAT THE ONE, I DIDN'T RECOMMEND THEM.
I'M ALL WE'RE MINE MIGHT COVER ALL OF 'EM AND EXPLAIN 'EM, BUT, UM, SO I REQUESTED TWO NEW POSITIONS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, AND THEN THEY STARTED AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
ONE CURRENT POSITION, UM, IS TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS AN ACCOUNTING AUDIT COORDINATOR.
I'VE GIVEN THIS REQUEST A GREAT AMOUNT OF THOUGHT COMING ON, ON BOARD A FEW YEARS AGO.
OUR DEPARTMENT WAS, UM, HAD SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME, INCLUDING STAFFING SHORTAGES AND SIGNIFICANT IN INSUFFICIENCIES, ALONG WITH IMPLEMENTING SEVERAL NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BACKLOG.
WE HAVE SINCE IMPLEMENTED EFFICIENCIES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND STREAMLINED AND OUR DEPARTMENTAL PROCESSES ARE NO LONGER RUNNING AND BACKLOG.
HOWEVER, SOME STAFF ARE STILL REGULARLY WORKING, UM, MORE THAN THEIR SCHEDULED HOURS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES OF THE JOB, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR A HEALTHY WORK, WORK LIFE BALANCE.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSESS AND IDENTIFY DEPARTMENT NEEDS THAT WILL IMPROVE AND SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND STABILITY THE DEPARTMENT.
LONG TERM, THE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR POSITION WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THE CITY MAINTAINS FISCAL COMPLIANCE WITH FINANCIAL REGULATIONS AND CITY POLICY, ASSIST WITH PREPPING OR PREPARING AND ANALYZING FINANCIAL REPORTS, DEVELOPING, OVERSEE INTERNAL AUDIT PROCESSES, AND PROVIDE EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT TO STAFF IN OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
IDEALLY, THIS POSITION WILL BE KEY IN, UM, SUCCESSION PLANNING TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND CONTINUITY IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED WITH THIRD PARTY AGENCY, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BEEN, UM, APPROVED IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
IT IS, UM, DIFFICULT TO KEEP THAT POSITION AS A TEMP POSITION.
UM, IF THEY DO WANT STABILITY AND BE HIRED WITHIN, UM, THE RECLASSIFICATION OF AN ACCOUNTING TECH TOO.
IT, UM, TO AN ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT COORDINATOR IS GREATLY NEEDED.
WE ARE CURRENTLY REORGANIZING AND CHANCE TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER PROGRESSION.
THIS POSITION WOULD SUPPORT STAFF GROWTH IN THE REORGANIZATION PLAN.
WE RESEARCHED STAFFING COMPARED THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS TO THE GENERAL FUND AND UTILITY FUND OPERATING BUDGETS FOR 20 MUNICIPALITIES, WHICH INCLUDED 10 ELECTRIC CITIES.
EVERY MUNICIPALITY, EXCEPT FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN HAS AT LEAST ONE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR OR DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR.
HALF OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES ARE EITHER THE SAME SIZE OR SMALLER THAN THE CITY OF NEW BERN WITH POPULATIONS OF 33,400 OR LESS.
COMPARING ALL 20 MUNICIPALITIES, THE AVERAGE BUDGET PER FINANCE POSITION WAS $7.5 MILLION.
LOOKING AT MUNICIPALITIES WITH A POPULATION OF 30,000 TO 36,000, WHICH WAS 3000.
YOU KNOW, GIVE OR TAKE OF NEW BERN, THE DATA SHOWS AN AVERAGE OF 7.2 BUDGET DOLLARS PER POSITION.
LOOKING AT ONLY ELECTRIC CITIES, THE AVERAGE WAS 8 MILLION OF BUDGET DOLLARS PER POSITION.
NEW BERN IS OVER 11 MILLION OF BUDGET DOLLARS PER FINANCE POSITION.
THIS MEANS WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE THAT ARE MANAGING MORE MONEY THAN COMPARATIVE CITIES, COMPARING BUDGETS WITH POSITIONS WITHIN $10 MILLION OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN'S.
TOTAL OPERATING BUDGETS, THE AVERAGE WAS 17 FUNDED POSITIONS.
NEW BERN HAS 14 FUNDED FINANCE POSITIONS.
LASTLY, 2018 19, THE FINANCE HAD 13 POSITIONS.
SEVEN YEARS LATER, WE HAVE 14 POSITION POSITIONS IN AN INCREASE OF 40 MILLION IN OPERATING BUDGET, THIS PRINT AND PROJECT FUNDS.
[01:35:02]
SO THAT'S WHY I'M REQUESTING THOSE POSITIONS.SO, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR, I DID MAKE THAT, I DID NOT MAKE ONE ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
SHE HAS A CAREER PROGRESSION NOTE, UM, TO, UH, UH, COUNTY AND AUDIT COORDINATOR THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE RECLASSIFYING ONE POSITION.
SO THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A, UH, PERSON WHO'S CURRENTLY IN THAT POSITION.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR IN THAT CURRENT POSITION.
ONE WOULD BE PROMOTED IF THAT IS APPROVED, THE NEXT DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO KIM, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, 14 EMPLOYEES AND YOU WANT TO ADD ON ONE? OKAY.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT DO RESPONSIBILITY DO YOUR ACCOUNTING MANAGER HAVE THAT YOU WOULD NEED AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR? OUR COUNTY MANAGER OVERSEES THE OVERALL GENERAL LEDGER, THE AUDIT AND, UM, IS REALLY INTO THE DETAILS OF THE TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE GENERAL LEDGER WITH, UM, IN HELPING STAFF, UM, OVERSEEING THE GENERAL INTEREST AND SUCH.
SO THE ACCOUNT, THE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR WOULD BE AT MORE OF A HIGHER LEVEL, UM, MANAGING SOME INTERNAL AUDITING.
SO THAT WE HAVE A DEFINITELY A LOT, UM, SMOOTHER AUDIT PROCESS.
UM, I HONESTLY, I KIND OF WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT MY HOURS THAT I HAVE WORKED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND, UM, LAST YEAR I HAD GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL, UM, WHAT WAS IT, 130 DAYS OR 260 DAYS WHEN YOU TAKE THEM ON HOURS THAT I PUT IN.
LAST YEAR WAS 130 EXTRA DAYS, 110, I'M SORRY, THAT'S TWO YEARS, BUT 110 LAST YEAR, EXTRA DAYS AND I THINK 150 EXTRA DAYS.
THE PRIOR YEAR I WORKED A LOT AND I JUST, IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO CONTINUE.
I UNDERSTOOD IT, I KNEW IT WHEN I TOOK THE JOB ON AT THE TIME, BUT IT'S NOT, NOW THAT WE'RE RUNNING EFFICIENT, MORE EFFICIENTLY, I MEAN THERE'S STILL ALWAYS EFFICIENCIES, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE RUNNING MORE EFFICIENTLY AND WE HAVE, UM, OUR DAY-TO-DAY TASKS, WE'RE NOT HELD UP WITH A TON OF BACKLOG WHERE WE'VE IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL THINGS WITHIN THE, UM,
AND, UM, I'M STILL WORKING BOTH HOURS.
SO WELL I JUST, I, WITH THE SALARY THAT IS PROPOSED HERE TO BRING IN THIS, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, I CAN SEE THAT AS BEING, UM, REPLACED WITH TWO FULL-TIME, UH, SENIOR ACCOUNTANTS.
THE SALARY OF 109, THAT'S, THAT FALLS WITHIN THE UM, YES, I COULD, I MEAN, I, I DO SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE MEET WOULD BE MORE THAN, UM, AN ACCOUNTANT OR SENIOR ACCOUNTANT EXPERIENCE.
SO YOUR BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR ONLY IS, IS A SENIOR ACCOUNT, BUT THEY ACTUALLY JUST SPECIFICALLY PERFORM DUTIES OF THE BUDGET, THE, OR IS IT OF THEIR OVERALL TRAIN, UH, CROSS TRAIN TO COVER MORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOB DUTIES WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT? THE BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR CURRENTLY DOES OVERSEE THE REVENUE, THE BUDGET, THE UM, FOR BOTH ALL OF OUR, OUR FUNDS.
DO YOU WANT TO SHARE MORE? A LOT OF IT SPECIFICALLY DURING PERIODS OF TIME, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE TIME IS SPENT ON THE BUDGET DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YEAH, IT'S THE TAX REVENUE, ALL THE REVENUE.
I DO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES.
AND SO, AND THE BUDGETING DOES TAKE UP, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY FOR THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, FOR THESE FEW YEARS OR FEW MONTHS WHEN WE ARE REALLY GETTING INTO IT.
BUT IT IS A, A CONTINUAL PROCESS.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER DUTIES THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR.
WE KICKED OFF THIS BACK IN NOVEMBER IS WHEN WE FIRST PICKED IT OFF.
AND HONESTLY WE SHOULD BACK IT UP EVEN JUST AS SOON AS WE WRAP THIS UP.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT FY 27 ALREADY AND START THAT PLANNING PROCESS.
AND THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO DO MULTI-YEAR BUDGETING AS WELL, WHICH TAKES UP, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT OF TIME AND THEN ADDING, UM, IMPLEMENTING ONE OF THE MODULES WITHIN THE BUDGET PROGRAM.
I CAN AGREE WITH, UH, ALL OF THIS, UH, THAT YOU HIRE TWO OTHER PEOPLE TO PROBABLY COME IN AND DO THE SAME THING.
IF EVERYBODY IS ACTUALLY LOOKING
[01:40:01]
AT, IN CROSS TRAIN TO DO THIS HERE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, UM, YOU WOULD HAVE THE EXPERIENCE ALREADY THERE INSTEAD OF ADDING ON THIS OTHER BIG COST FOR ONE PERSON AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY HIRE TWO PEOPLE FOR THE COST OF ONE TO DO THE SAME THING.YOU KNOW, THEREFORE WE WON'T HAVE THE GLITCHES THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING IN FINANCE.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER MORE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE TO GET RID OF THE GLITCHES FIRST AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER AVENUES.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF GLITCHES THAT WE NEED TO CORRECT AND THEN PUTTING THE PEOPLE IN PLACE TO BE CROSS TRAINED AS WELL AS, UH, GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT ALL THE WAY.
I DISAGREE WITH ALL THE, THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE, EVERY STAFF IN EVERY POSITION EXCEPT FOR MINE.
IT PEOPLE HAVE CROSS TRAINING, WE HAVE CROSS TRAINING THAT'S HAPPENED.
THAT WAS OUR FOCUS OVER THE LAST YEAR.
SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT CAN PROCESS PAYROLL.
MOST PEOPLE THAT CAN PROCESS ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, UM, GRANTS, UM, BANK, YOU KNOW, BANKING, THAT KIND OF STUFF.
ALL THAT COSTING ASSETS, ALL OF THAT HAS HAPPENED IN MY DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED SOMEBODY AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN THAT.
A HIGHER LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE THAN, UM, THE TRANSACTIONAL LEVEL FOR THAT YOU FIND IN ACCOUNTING, UM, MANAGERS OR, UH, SENIOR ACCOUNTANTS.
I THOUGHT WE HAD ALL OF THAT IN PLACE.
UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE I SAID, THE GLITCHES.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF DIFFERENT NICHES IN, IN, IN FINANCE.
SO WHEN ARE WE GONNA CORRECT THAT AND GET THAT TOGETHER? WHAT? THAT'S JUST MY, THAT'S MY TAKE.
CAN I ASK WHAT GLITCHES YOU'RE REFERRING TO? UM, TUESDAY NIGHT ONE.
TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE MEETING WE SUPPOSED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE SUPPOSED TO WENT OVER THE BUDGET, BUT WE DID NOT BECAUSE IT WASN'T ADVERTISED.
THAT'S A BIG GLITCH FOR THE STATE.
IS IT NOT TO MISS SOMETHING THAT BIG? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAD BUMPED THE CALENDAR BACK SO THAT WE COULD PUT THAT IN THERE IN THE PAST.
THAT HAS HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY BEFORE.
UM, SO I DO AGREE THAT WAS AN OVERSIGHT, BUT THAT'S WHY WE NEED IN OUR DEPARTMENT SOME NEED HELP AT THAT LEVEL.
SO WHAT YOU SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOBODY AT THAT LEVEL TO RUN FINANCE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME? YOU HAVE ONE PERSON, ONE PERSON AT THAT LEVEL TO RUN A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND OVERSEE QUITE A BIT.
AND SO I I I'M JUST SAYING WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I PUT IN, IT'S NOT A HEALTHY WORK LIFE BALANCE.
SO WE NEED SOMEONE THAT CAN DO THE JOB BASICALLY IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME.
I'M JUST TAKING, I NEED SOMEBODY HELP SHARE THE, FOR MYSELF, I NEED HELP WITH, I NEED HELP SHARING RESPONSIBILITIES IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
SO THE BOARD NEEDS TO SIT DOWN AND SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER TO FIND OUT, UH, WHAT WE ARE MISSING AND WHAT TYPE OF PERSON WE NEED TO HIRE TO COME IN TO OPERATE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
THAT'S JUST MIGHT TAKE, HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS ON, ON, ON FINANCE STAFF IN A LATER TIME AS WELL.
HOW MANY DEPARTMENT HEADS DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE THAT LOOK? MAYBE 10 OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD MAYBE.
HOW MANY OF 'EM HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS? UH, DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW, UH, DID YOU KNOW SONYA, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME ON.
WHAT I THINK EVERYBODY DOES AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, TANYA DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, HR, HUMAN RESOURCES AND PUBLIC WORKS.
AND PUBLIC WORKS CURRENTLY HAVE THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS CURRENTLY HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS.
GOING BACK TO BOB'S QUESTION, ARE ALL OF THESE THINGS NECESSARY? IS IT NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE? I MEAN, I'M JUST THINKING OUT OF THE BOX, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD HAVE, BUT STILL YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE AND WHAT YOU BRINGING IN BECAUSE AT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW YOU CAN SAY, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO OPERATE THIS WAY HERE.
SO NOW WE NEED ANOTHER DEPUTY TO COME IN TO HELP TO EXECUTE OR EXPEDITE WHERE WE
[01:45:01]
ARE GOING.'CAUSE WE ARE GROWING YEAR TO YEAR.
WELL, I CAN SAY THIS AND I ONLY ONE, THAT ONLY THING THAT I CAN SPEAK OF IS WHEN WE'RE DOING FEMA WORK, I KNOW THAT IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR STAFF TO DO THE FEMA WORK FOR REIMBURSEMENTS.
AND I KNOW THAT THE DIRECTOR IS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT AND OVERSEEING THAT BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME THE CITY MANAGER OR I OR ONE OF US ASKED IT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY.
EVERYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH THERE HAS TO RUN THROUGH THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
I, I AGREE THAT SHE NEEDS SOME HELP.
SHE WORKED 130 EXTRA DAYS LAST YEAR, 130 EXTRA DAYS.
SO I AGREE THAT SHE NEEDS SOME HELP.
AND HIRING TWO TO REPLACE ONE IS NOT THE SKILL LEVEL THAT SHE NEEDS.
SHE NEEDS SOMEONE THAT CAN BE IN CHARGE WHEN SHE WALKS OUT THE DOOR.
SOMEONE LIKE MARVIN WHEN THE CITY MANAGER WALKS OUT THE DOOR.
UH, SO IT IS, I AGREE THAT SHE, SHE NEEDS, UH, AN ASSISTANT.
SHE'S, I'VE SEEN IT, I'VE SEEN HER WORK HARD UP THERE.
EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON UP THERE HAS TO GO ACROSS HER AND BE APPROVED BY HER.
UH, OR AT LEAST HER NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED OF, OF, OF IT.
AND I JUST, I JUST THINK IT'S PROBABLY TIME.
HOW MANY, UM, FINANCE DIRECTORS DID YOU SURVEY OR DO YOU KNOW? WE, UM, AND HOW MANY OF 'EM HAVE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS? IT WAS 20 MUNICIPALITIES AND MUNICIPALITY EXCEPT FOR THE CITY ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR.
DID YOU SAY YOU ALREADY HAVE A TEMP IN ACTING AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR? NO.
ATTEMPT AS, UM, FILLING AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, SORT OF LIKE A PROJECT COORDINATOR ROLE AND UM, IF THE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR IS HIRED, WOULD THAT BE IN-HOUSE? YES, IN-HOUSE.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE WITH THE, UH, PROMOTION MM-HMM
RECLASSIFICATION, THAT WOULD BE A PROMOTION, CORRECT? FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL? MM-HMM
SO KIM, WHAT, LET, LET, LET ME MAKE THIS STATEMENT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT I'M, UM, BELITTLING ANYBODY'S JOB DUTIES.
UM, WHEN, WHEN YOU CAME IN, YOU CAME IN AS YOU WERE THE, WHAT, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT? WHAT DID YOU COME IN AS A COUNTY MANAGER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED WITH THE CITY? YEAH, SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE CITY, I CAME IN AS A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT AND I PLANNED ON STAYING VERY SHORT TERM.
I WAS JUST GETTING DOWN HERE TO NEW BERN.
'CAUSE I CAME IN AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OR WORKED AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL WHERE I WORKED BEFORE.
I, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME ACCOUNTANTS OUT THERE, SENIOR ACCOUNTANTS THAT HAVE THE, THE JOB, THE SAME JOB THAT YOU COME IN, YOU TOOK AS ACCOUNTING MATH AT THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE THAT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE CAN COME IN AS A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT AND WORK THEIR WAY UP JUST LIKE YOU DID.
YOU HAVE, BUT YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THEY MAY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, I JUST SEE AS TWO INDIVIDUALS COMING IN TO THAT DEPARTMENT THAT CAN AID YOU.
AND YOU ARE A COUNTY MANAGER, UM, BECAUSE, UH, UH, YOU ARE THE COUNTY MANAGER, CORRECT? NO, I'M IS THAT HE HELEN'S A HELEN.
SO I I JUST SEE THAT THE TWO MORE, TWO MORE WORKER BEES COMING INTO YOUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, I JUST THINK WOULD, WOULD, WOULD, UH, SUFFICE FOR AS THIS POSITION IS CONSIDERED, AS WE CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, THIS POSITION AS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, I HEAR YOU.
BUT THE RES THE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT FALL UNDER A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT OR AN ACCOUNTING MANAGER ARE NOT THE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE OR THAT FINANCE DIRECTOR HAS.
SO IF YOU BRING SOMEBODY IN, I MEAN, SAY, I'LL JUST GIVE AN EXAMPLE.
THAT'S WHY I WAS PLANNING ON LEAVING.
I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO DO THE WORK AT A HIGHER LEVEL, HIGHER FUNCTIONING LEVEL AND GET PAID A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT QUITE FAIR.
MAYBE THAT'S, MAYBE THAT'S OUR PROBLEM THEN WE NEED
[01:50:01]
TO PAY THESE PEOPLE THAT COME IN WITH THE EXPERT AND THE KNOWLEDGE AND ALL THAT WE NEED TO PAY THEM.BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT.
RE I MEAN, I KNOW THEY'RE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
I KNOW THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT I JUST LOOK AT YOU HOW YOU CAME IN AND THE JOB THAT YOU WAS IN AND NOW WHERE YOU ARE AT NOW.
SO I, BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR INFORMATION.
WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS? I KNOW YOU RECOMMENDED IT SO I I DID RECOMMEND IT.
UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE ALL EXTREMELY A AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT AN OVERALL HUNDRED $56 MILLION BUDGET.
SO THAT IS NOT WHAT IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, 10 YEARS AGO.
SO, YOU KNOW, NO ONE, NO ONE DISAGREED WITH THE FACT THAT THAT DEPARTMENT STAYS QUITE 50.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING AND OVERSEEING THE GRANTS, MAKING SURE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF.
ALL OF THE REPORTING HAS TO BE DONE.
SO IT, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT EVERYTHING THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES DO IN, IN, IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
SO, SO YES, I, I DO SUPPORT SOMEONE THAT CAN BE ON A HIGHER LEVEL AND, AND TO ASSIST WITH THAT, THOSE FUNCTIONS.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ON THE, THE POSITION THAT IS BEING FILLED BY TEMP HELP NOW, WHICH, WHICH ONE IS THAT? IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION, KIND OF WORKING MORE LIKE A PROJECT COORDINATOR.
SO, SO THE REQUEST IS TO REPLACE A TEMP POSITION WITH A FULL-TIME POSITION.
THAT WAS THE, SO ON PAGE ONE 20 UNDER TEMP HELP SERVICES MM-HMM
IS THAT WHAT IS BEING REPLACED? IF THIS IS A, A NEW POSITION IS APPROVED, THE, NO, I'M NOT RECOMMENDING HER, HER ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION.
IF YOU'LL LOOK ON THIS, THE GRAY SHADE OUT OR, OR WHAT I HAVE NOT RECOMMEND NOT RECOMMENDING ONE.
YEAH, I, I KNOW THIS IS MY QUESTION IF, WELL I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK THIS OTHER QUESTION TOO.
UM, THE, WHERE, WHERE DID THE COST BENEFITS COME FROM IN RELATION TO THE SALARIES? THAT'S, THAT'S ON THESE NEW REQUEST, THERE'S A FORMULA THAT WE USE.
IT AVERAGES OUT TO ABOUT 40%, BUT IT IS BASED ON, WE PLUG IN THE, UH, PROPOSED SALARY AND IT'LL CALCULATE IT.
IT WILL VARY FOR EACH ONE BECAUSE SOME OF 'EM ARE FLAT RATE, SOME OF 'EM ARE PERCENTAGES.
SO THE, THE ADMIN POSITION, IS THAT THE ONE THAT'S 45,000 PROPOSED HOUR THAT YOU WANTED THAT WASN'T APPROVED? YES.
AND IT SAYS THE TOTAL COST OF BENEFITS WOULD BE 72 MM-HMM
AND WE'VE GOT BUDGETED 68,000 67 6 FOR TEMP HELP.
IS THAT, IS THAT EQUAL? THAT'S TRUE.
THERE'S, THAT'S NOT, UM, THE TEMP HELP I DON'T THINK WAS FULL YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME MONTHS OR EVEN HAD SOMEBODY IN THAT POSITION.
SO I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
IT'S REALLY FOR YOU FOSTER, FROM A MANAGER STANDPOINT, WE'RE PAYING 67,000 FOR A TEMP AND YOU CAN GET A FULL-TIME STAFF FOR 70.
IS THERE A REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T DO THAT? NO.
AND AS WE GET INTO THAT BUDGET, DEFINITELY.
AND THEN THE, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT WHEN GEORGE COMES UP, BUT 67 AND 76% BENEFITS FOR A COUPLE OF THESE POSITIONS.
THAT SEEMS AWFULLY HIGH TO ME.
SO ON PAGE 21, WE DID HAVE A RECLASSIFICATION REQUEST AND THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR, UM, OFFICE ASSISTANT THREE TO A PERMITTING TECHNICIAN.
JESSICA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT, ABOUT THAT.
UH, THIS IS JUST A REQUEST TO MODERNIZE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN A, A LEGACY POSITION.
UH, WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY THAT WORKS IN OUR DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY.
UH, WHEN WE WERE RECRUITING HER, I REALIZED WE HAVE ALWAYS CALLED THE PERSON IN THAT ROLE OF PERMITTING TECHNICIAN.
UM, BUT ON PAPER IT WAS A LITTLE TOO LATE LAST YEAR WHEN OUR LAST PERMITTING TECHNICIAN DEPARTED TO GET THIS UPDATED.
AND SO WE ARE REQUESTING TO NAME THE PHYSICIAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
A PERMITTING TECHNICIAN DOES SLIGHTLY MORE TECHNICAL WORK THAN AN ASSISTANT DOES.
I, EVERY, EVERY PERMIT THAT GETS ISSUED OUT OF OUR OFFICE IS DONE SO CONNECTED IN CONNECTION WITH A STATE LAW OR A, A LOCALLY ADOPTED LAW, AND THEY NEED TO HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN JUST ASSISTANT TYPICALLY DOES.
SO THEY'RE DOING SLIGHTLY MORE TECHNICAL WORK ALSO WHEN PERMITS, UH, WHEN THEY GET ISSUED IN ERROR, THAT CAN CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A PERSON IN THERE THAT'S, THAT'S QUALIFIED TO DO THAT.
THE STATE ALSO KEEPS THROWING AROUND LEGISLATION
[01:55:01]
THAT WOULD REQUIRE PERMITTING TECHNICIANS TO HAVE A CERTIFICATION AND I ANTICIPATE THAT'S GONNA BE ADOPTED AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.SO THAT JUST REALLY SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT THIS POSITION IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AND NEEDS TO BE, UM, RENAMED, UH, AND COMPENSATED AS SUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? SO YOU SAID YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD A PERMITTING TECHNICIAN? WE, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A PERSON IN THAT ROLE, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CALLED A PERMITTING TECHNICIAN.
I'M ASKING TO CALL IT A PERMITTING TECHNICIAN RATHER THAN AN ASSISTANT ALONG WITH A PAY INCREASE.
BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL WORK ASSOCIATED WITH PERMITTING AND THE CONNECTION TO THE STATE LAW AND THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND SO WITH PERMITTED OUR CURRENT PERMITTING TECHNICIAN, HAVE THEY BEEN CERTIFIED? UH, NO.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF BEING PERMITTING TECHNICIAN.
THEN WE GO THROUGH THAT CERTIFICATION AS WELL, WHICH YES.
SO THEY'RE ALSO REQUIRED TO TAKE COURSES AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE IN LAW AND ADMINISTRATION TO ISSUE.
SO THE NEXT ITEM WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH, WITH A, UM, A CONSULTANT ON, UM, A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR BUILDING INSPECTOR LEVEL THREE TO BE, UM, REGRADED.
AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY, WE'RE GOING WITH THE CONSULTANT ON THAT, SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION COMPLETED.
UH, WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATION, BUT WE WANTED THE CONSULTANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT.
SO WE'LL HAVE THAT FOR OUR NEXT MEETING NOW ON PUBLIC WORKS.
GEORGIA, IF YOU'LL COME UP, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL POSITIONS AT PUBLIC WORKS RECOMMENDED AND, AND I HAVE INCLUDED THAT IN MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ANSWER THE, THE MAYOR'S QUESTION ON THE BENEFITS, WHY IT'S SO HIGH FOR THOSE.
SO THE POSITIONS THAT ARE LOWER GRADES, LOWER SALARIES, THE, THE GREATEST, UH, BENEFIT COST IS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
SO RIGHT NOW, THIS CURRENT YEAR IT'S 12,500 PER EMPLOYEE.
AND I MIGHT BE JUMPING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE ARE PROPOSING AN INCREASE IN THAT BECAUSE OF THE ACTUAL COST OF INSURANCE UP TO 14,500.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY'S GOT A HIGHER SALARY, YOU KNOW THAT FLAT RATE IS GOING TO BE A LOWER PERCENTAGE.
BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SALARY OF, YOU KNOW, 30 SOME THOUSAND, IT IS A, A HUGE PERCENT OF, OF THOSE BENEFITS.
AND THE OTHER BENEFITS ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE SOCIAL SECURITY, UM, MEDICARE RETIREMENT.
SO THAT 12,500 THAT'S FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE PER EMPLOYEE PER YEAR.
WE, WE PAY THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT CLAIMS, THAT'S NOT THE ACTUAL COST THAT WE OUT OF POCKET.
SO ALL OF THOSE ARE ACTUAL TRANSFERS INTO THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND TO COVER THE COST.
ALRIGHT, SO THE FIRST POSITION IS IN PUBLIC WORKS AS A CUSTODIAN UPGRADE FROM SEASONAL TO FULL TIME.
UM, I'LL JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THIS.
THE PROPOSAL, UH, THIS POSITION IS CURRENTLY FUNDED BY PUBLIC WORKS AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TAKE UM, 50% OF THE FUNDING TO FULL-TIME STATUS AND PULL THAT FROM MSD.
THIS, THIS CUSTODIAN WORKS ACTUALLY OUT OF CITY HALL, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES MOVING FORWARD IF THIS IS APPROVED TO BE, UH, WORKING ON THE STREETS OF THE MSD TO PICK UP ANY TRASH AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND TROUBLE MONITORING DURING THE DAY.
SO GEORGE, I'LL LET YOU ADD ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO.
ALRIGHT, FOLLOW, FOLLOW UP ON WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID, LY, THIS IS A SEASONAL POSITION, BUT WE'RE ALREADY FINDING THAT, UM, IT'S EXCEEDING THE THOUSAND HOURS THAT WE CAN USE THE SEASONAL TO MAINTAIN CURRENT FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
MAYBE WITH CONSIDERATION OF US ADDING ON THE ANNEX TO CITY HALL, UM, AND SOME ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES DOWNTOWN, WE FEEL IT'D BE BETTER SERVED BY FULLTIME POSITION AND THEN TO FOLLOW WITH, WITH SOME ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA DISTRICT.
UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE PERSON THAT CLEANS CITY HALL AND THE CUB HOUSE IS WORKING MORE THAN 20 HOURS A WEEK? NO, THEY, THEY'RE BASICALLY WORKING HALFTIME PARTTIME EMPLOYEE OR THAT HOURS, 20 HOURS A WEEK.
AND WE THINK THAT WE CAN ADD ENOUGH
[02:00:01]
WORKLOAD TO DOUBLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE.BECAUSE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE GOING OUT IN THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN TO BE TAKING CARE OF SOME ISSUES THERE.
THEY'D ALSO BE MAINTAINED THE FOUNTAIN MOVING FORWARD AND, AND SOME YOU WANNA CHIME IN ON ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, AND THEN THE MS D DISTRICT NOT IN RESPONSIBILITIES, SO, SO THAT WOULD ALSO ADD TO THE HOURS DOWN OF THEIR SERVICE.
SO, SO THIS PERSON WOULD ONLY BE, UM, RESPONSIBLE FOR DOWNTOWN CITY HALL AND CUB HOUSE DOING ANY OTHER, THEY MISSED THE AREA DOWNTOWN.
SO SIDEWALKS PICKING NO TRASH, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I GOT THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OTHER, UM, AREAS OF THE CITY OR OTHER NO MA'AM.
NOT IF THE OTHER FUNDING CAME FROM MS. D DIRECTLY THAT WOULD RESTRICT THEIR, THEIR BENEFIT OF WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING.
SO THESE, YOU'RE SAYING THIS WOULD BE COMING FROM M MS D? UH, HALF HALF OF IT IF WE TRANSITION FROM THE SEASONAL, WHICH CURRENTLY IS FUNDED TO A, A FULLTIME POSITION AND HALF OF THAT FUNDING COME FROM MS. OKAY, THANK YOU.
WOULD THIS PERSON ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING LIKE THE RESTROOM AND CLEANING UP DOWN AT UNION POINT PARK? CURRENTLY THOSE ARE SERVICED BY MARCH AND REC STAFF FACILITATING THAT OCCUR? YES.
AND HOW ABOUT WHEN THE, WE GET THE RESTROOMS IN THE AREA DOWN AROUND PIER, WOULD THAT ALSO FALL UNDER THIS PERSON OR, OR WOULD THAT BECAUSE IT CMSD IT COULD MEAN BE THE MS D SO SOME OF THAT CLEANED UP WOULD BE IN THAT ZONE TOO.
SO GEORGE, WHAT DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS
CLEANING YOUR CITY OFF QUESTION? YES MA'AM.
IF A LARGE FOCUS IS GOING TO BE THE MSD FOOTPRINT INSTEAD OF M MS D PAYING HALF, WHY CANNOT NOT? THEY ABSORB THE WHOLE COST.
WELL, CURRENT, CURRENTLY THIS POSITION, UH, FULFILLS THE DUTIES AT CITY HALL AND THAT'S REALLY NOT IN CHARGE OF THE M MS D PARTICULAR, BUT THAT'S ABSORBED OVER, OVER THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO THE PROPOSED SALARY IS 31 2? YES MA'AM.
SO THE CITY WILL PAY HALF THAT M MSSB WILL PAY THE HALF THAT WOULD THAT THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION.
AND BUT AS FAR AS THE CITY IS CONCERNED, WE'LL JUST GETTING THE CUP HOUSE AND THE CITY HALL SERVICE DI DIRECTLY FROM THE GENERAL FUND? YES MA'AM.
AND THEN THE M MSS P STUFF, THERE WOULD BE BENEFITS TO DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S WITHIN THE MSD CORRIDOR THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WALKING AROUND JUST PICKING UP TRASH AND JUST DEALING WITH IN THAT AREA ON THE SIDEWALKS IN THE MS D, UM, WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT SERVICE DIRECTLY EVERY DAY TO THE REST OF THE TOWN.
SO MSS D WOULD BE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT FUNDING.
WHO PAID FOR IT THE LAST TIME WHEN WE HAD PERRY IN THE STREETS GARBAGE.
WHO PAID FOR THAT? THAT WAS COMING OUT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
SO WHY THEN HAVE THEY USED MS. D FOR WELL AS, AS AS A PERIOD TRANSITION TO, UH, SEASONAL OR PART-TIME THE NEED TO BE USED DOWNTOWN AS HAS TRANSITION AND WE NEED A FULLTIME PERSON BECAUSE WE, WE LIMITED TO GO FROM TWO TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH TO ONE.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A LOT OF CLEANING THERE.
BUT WE ALSO HANDED, ADDED THE ANNEX TO THE CITY TO CITY HALL.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL, UM, TO, TO DEAL WITH THAT.
AND, AND HIGHER USES OF THE CLUBHOUSE.
SO CURRENTLY CITY HALL IS BEING CONTRACTED OUT? NO MA'AM.
CURRENTLY THE SEASONAL THE SEASONAL JAN RIGHT NOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT POSITION? UM, JUST WE, WE CAN MOVE ON, BUT I JUST DON'T, I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT IF YOU ARE HOT OUTSIDE AND HAVE
[02:05:01]
SOMEBODY COME IN AND DO THAT.CLEANING MYSELF, I MEAN WHEN I WALK INTO THE CITY HALL SOMETIMES I CAN'T TELL IF YOU'VE BEEN CLEAN OR NOT.
OUTSIDE CONTRACTING WOULD BE BETTER.
I MEAN I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO SEE A PROPOSAL.
I MEAN I, I UNDERSTAND PICKING UP TRASH ON THE STREET AND THAT SORT OF THING AND THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT MSD MAYBE M MSS D HIRES A PART-TIME PERSON JUST LIKE THEY HIRE A PARKING ATTENDANTS.
BUT TO HAVE A FULL-TIME CUSTODIAN BECAUSE OF THE EXTRA SQUARE FOOTAGE OF CITY HALL, YOU COULD PROBABLY CONTRACT THAT OUT AND HAVE A COMPANY COME IN AND DO THAT CLEANING ABOUT A FEW HOURS A WEEK.
CAN YOU CHECK ON THE PROPOSAL FOR DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT JUST TO GIVE US, IN THOSE, GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK ON YOUR OPINION.
YOUR OPINION? ALRIGHT, UH, CONTINUE MOVING ON TO THIS, UH, STREETS.
UM, THE, WE HAVE, UH, THREE POSITIONS FOR THE STREETS DIVISION.
ONE WOULD BE AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, ONE WITH TWO MAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
SO WE CAN CREATE A NEW CREW CURRENTLY THE ASPHALT CREW AND SUPPLEMENT, UM, STAFF TO RUN THE LOOSELY FROM NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY.
AND THAT LEAVES US WITH A LONG LAG OF ASPHALT REPAIRS FROM EITHER WORSE DEGRADATION OF THE ROAD FOR PERIOD, JUST DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING RUN THE ASPHALTS.
AND AS, AS THE MILEAGE OF ROADS, UH, CONTINUES TO GROW, UM, THAT'LL BE A CONTINUED, CONTINUED ISSUE.
THIS WOULD ALSO ALLOW US FOR, TO HAVE A DEDICATED CREW TO DO SIDEWALK, UH, VEGETATED MAINTENANCE, UM, AND EDGING AND, AND CLEAN UP THE SIDEWALKS.
AND THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE ANYTHING WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO WITH THE, THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE SMALLER DRAINAGE ISSUES AS THEY GO THROUGH THE RIGHT WAY, WHETHER IT'S A ROAD OVER OR AN INLET THAT'S JUST GOT LEAVES IN FRONT OF IT.
UM, THEY, THOSE WE ALSO HAVE TWO POSITIONS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE WORKERS THROUGH, THROUGH STORM WATER.
UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE 180 MILES OF ROAD.
WE'VE GOT FIGURE THAT MOST ROADS OR SERVICE EITHER BY ROADSIDE DITCH FOR A CULPRIT SYSTEM.
SO AS WE EXPAND THE ROAD, THE ROAD AREA, THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
CURRENTLY, UM, WE'RE FINDING WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET TO THINGS OR BE IN FRONT OF PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE JUST DUE FOOTAGE OF AREAS WE HAVE TO COVER.
HOW MANY MEN DO YOU HAVE THAT'S ON THAT? UH, THERE FIVE CURRENTLY WORKING THAT ARE IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY.
UM, AND, AND WHEN WE GET INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A BACKER TRUCK, WE CERTAINLY LIKE IT TO BE ON THE ROAD.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET TWO, TWO ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE WORKERS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR TO HAVE AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR THAT CAN BE A LITTLE DEDICATED, RUNNING THE BACK, CLEANING OUT BOXES, PIPE.
AND THESE ARE JUST ITEMS THAT KEEP, KEEPS US AHEAD OF A PROBLEM THAT WOULD BACK UP THE DRAIN SYSTEM.
SO YOU SEE FIVE THAT, THAT WOULD BE ADDITION TO THE, THE SIX CREW THAT THEY HAVE THAT RUNS THAT.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO PULL GUYS FROM OTHER, FROM OTHER DETAILS TO COME IN TO BACK UP? WELL, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY CROSS HELP EACH OTHER, BUT, UM, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S EITHER WITH TRUCKS OR, OR EXCAVATORS DEPENDING ON THE SIZE.
AND THEN THE LAST POSITION THIS WOULD FOLLOW, UH, SOLID, SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FOR LIMIT.
UM, WE'RE REQUESTING FOR AN OFFICE ASSISTANT THREE.
THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE ANYBODY FUNCTIONING IN THAT ROLE.
UM, CURRENTLY OUR OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE THREE FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT HAVE BEEN HANDLING THESE DUTIES.
WE DID AN EXERCISE OVER EIGHT MONTHS WHERE THEY TRACKED PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS RELATED TO SOLID WASTE AND THEY RECEIVED OVER 2,600 THAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT WERE JUST SOLID WASTE, UH, RELATED, UM, CONTACT.
[02:10:01]
IT'S CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME WHERE THESE TWO PEOPLE ARE DEDICATED TO OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT.AND WE THINK COMMUNITY AND OUR DEPARTMENT BE WELL SERVE TO FILL THIS POSITION AS, AS NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS GROW, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO CONTACT US IS EASIER THROUGH EMAILS OR, OR CALLS.
GEORGE, HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT? SOLID WASTE RIGHT NOW.
HOW MANY SUPERVISORS, I RECKON I'D SAY WOULD UTILIZE A ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT STAFF? REALLY, REALLY JUST ONE? JUST JUST ONE.
JUST D SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE FOR AUDITING.
WE TAKE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS RELATED TO ACTUALLY COUNTY RECYCLING THAT WE HAVE TO REDIRECT TO PEOPLE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
UM, LOOSELY, PHONE CALLS COME IN, VEGETATIVE DEBRIS, BROWN GOODS, WHITE GOODS, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SOLID WASTE.
I RECKON WITH MY QUESTION AND EXCEPT, OH, I YOU, BUT AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE START PAYS LIKE 45,000 AND YOU'RE CURRENTLY ASKING FOR 38.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU TOOK ONE, BUT YOU HAVE TWO ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS OR JUST ONE CURRENTLY WE HAVE, UM, ONE IN OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE THREE, WHICH IS, UH, IS BE ROSE WHO HANDLES OUR INSURANCE AND ALSO THE WORK ORDERS AND PHONE CALLS.
THE OFFICE OF THE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR RIGHT NOW FOR, I THINK MY, I RECKON MY QUESTION WAS IF WE, INSTEAD OF HIRING A NEW POSITION, IF WE CHANGE ONE OF YOUR OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITIONS INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POSITION TO HANDLE THAT EXTRA, THAT LOAD WOULD THAT OUR OUR ADMIN CURRENTLY ALSO HANDLES ALL OF OUR INSURANCE.
SO UNDER HER, SO WE, WE HAVE ASSISTED IN DELEGATION OUTSIDE OF WHAT THEIR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO FACILITATE SOLID WASTE AND WE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
YEAH, AND I DO KNOW, I CAN CONCUR WITH YOU THAT FOR THE NEED FOR THAT POSITION BECAUSE THOSE TWO YOUNG LADIES WORK, THEY REALLY DO.
AND, AND I CAN SAY LEAST MUCH WHEN I CALL THAT DEPARTMENT, SOMEBODY ALWAYS THE PHONE AND ASSISTS ME AND CUSTOMERS.
OUR, OUR CITIZEN RESIDENT, THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
ALRIGHT, SO I THINK THAT'S ALL WE RECOMMEND ON POSITION.
I LIKE TO GET ANY DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD IF THERE ARE ANY POSITIONS THAT YOU DO NOT SUPPORT OR IN WHICH YOU DO SUPPORT, LIKE TO THAT NOW, SO WE CAN, ANY ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED? I'LL DELAY THE PROCESS.
UM, I RECOMMEND I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE, UM, THE IT RECOMMENDATION.
UM, I DON'T HAVE, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FINANCE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FULL TIME.
I JUST THINK THAT IF YOU NEED THAT HELP, WE NEED TO HURRY TWO OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, I, UH, CONCUR WITH BOTH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BY, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND, UM, I DON'T AGREE TO THE COT WORKS FOR THE UPGRADE TO THE, THE SEASONAL, THE FULL TIME FOR THE CUSTODIAN.
AND I DO AGREE WITH GEORGE WITH HIS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POSITIONS THAT HE IS REQUESTING.
UM, BECAUSE I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IT'S THE STORM WATER AND THIS MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AND SIDEWALKS IS, THAT'S A BIG JOB.
AND I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE STAFF IN PLACE THAT CAN HANDLE THOSE PROBLEMS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY CALL AND, AND NEED ASSISTANCE.
ANYONE ELSE? I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH, UH, MS. DENNIS.
YEAH, I I MEAN THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS QUESTIONED THAT I WOULD HEARD WAS REALLY, THAT I DISAGREED WITH IS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR'S POSITION.
ANY, ANY DIRECTOR THAT WORKS 130 DAYS ABOVE HER NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE IS DEFINITELY IN IN MIND FOR SOME HELP.
I GO TO SOMEONE ELSE AND COME BACK TO ME IF YOU WILL CALL ME.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US THE CITY POPULATION
[02:15:01]
CHANGE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND HOW THAT RELATES TO STAFFING AND HEADCOUNT? SO WE WERE 470 SOME ODD EMPLOYEES IN 2014 AND IN 2024 WE WERE AT FIVE, CURRENTLY 5 0 3 AND PROPOSALS FIVE 11.SO WE ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO 2010.
2010 WAS NOT A GREAT YEAR, UM, BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS REALLY THINKING AND STARTING TO RECOVER AT THAT TIME.
BUT WE DID DO SOME, SOME NUMBERS.
IN 2010, THE CITY HAD 5 54 EMPLOYEES.
OF COURSE THAT STARTED BEING REDUCED.
YOU MENTIONED 2014, I THINK THAT'S WHEN IT GOT DOWN TO THAT NUMBER.
UM, TAX RATE, UH, IN, IN 2010 A PENNY, THE VALUE WAS TWO 34,000.
THAT'S DOUBLE DOWN TO 532,500 POPULATION GROWTH IN THAT TIME.
CURRENTLY OUR POPULATION IS 2023 IS RECOGNIZED 33,758.
SO WE'VE SEEN A 14.3% INCREASE IN OUR POPULATION OVER THAT TIME.
IN THE 15 YEARS OR 14 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN, UH, A TOTAL OF NET NEW HOUSING UNITS IN THE AMOUNT OF 4,102 AND OUR SQUARE MILES HAVE GROWN FROM 28.71 TO 30.37.
NOW, WE HAVE NOT DONE, WE HAVE NOT HAD A CONSULTANT COME IN AND ANALYZE BASED ON WHAT THE CITY'S OPERATIONS ARE, WHAT WE HAVE WITH UNIQUE ELECTRIC UTILITY.
UM, BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE AN ANALYSIS ON SIMILAR SIZE CITIES TO SEE WHAT WE'RE OFFERING AND WHAT OUR COMPARABLES OFFERING, WHAT THE STAFF SIZES ARE.
UM, I, I'M OKAY WITH THE IT ASSISTANT IF THEY CAN MAN THE DESK AT FRONT DESK AT CITY HALL IF THEY CAN WORK FROM THAT POSITION.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY WALKS IN CITY HALL, THERE'S SOMEBODY THERE TO GREET 'EM AND DIRECT THEM.
UM, YOU'VE RECOMMENDED THE FINANCE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR AND YOU'VE CUT DOWN ON A LOT OF OTHER POSITIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED.
SO I'LL TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT ON THAT SINCE YOU'VE WORKED THERE A LOT CLOSER THAN I DO.
UM, THE CUSTODIAN, I'VE ALREADY STATED MY STANCE ON THAT.
UM, THE ONE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN WITH IS THE, THE STORMWATER AND STREET CREW.
UM, WE JUST WENT THROUGH ALL THAT FEMA WORK TO DO THIS AND, AND CLEAN THESE DITCHES OUT, WHICH WAS SOMEWHAT, I'LL JUST SAY PERSONALLY DISAPPOINTED.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN MORE OUT OF THAT PROCESS, BUT, UM, I, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD BE OKAY IF WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA SEE SOME TANGIBLE BENEFITS FROM THAT AND BE MORE PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE ON THAT.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE, THE EXCUSE HAS BEEN, OR THE JUSTIFICATION IN THE PAST HAS BEEN WE'RE REACTIVE 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STAFF.
SO IF WE HAD STAFF, WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE.
IF NOT THE BOARD CAN TAKE IT AWAY NEXT YEAR.
SO WHAT I'M SEEING JUST ON THE LITTLE POLL I'VE DONE, UM, IN TERMS OF THE MAJORITY, UM, NO SUPPORT FOR THE CUSTODIAN.
UM, NO SUPPORT, NO OVERALL FOR, I DON'T, I THOUGHT WE CAN STATE ANYTHING USED.
WE WERE GONNA ACTUALLY CHECK TO SEE IF IT CAN BE NO, WE'RE WE'RE, WE DIDN'T.
SO MOVING FORWARD, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO DO SUBSCRIPTIONS.
ON PAGE 27, THIS LIST, TOTAL DUES IN SUBSCRIPTION CITYWIDE.
NOW THIS REPRESENTS A 21% DECREASE OVER CURRENT YEAR.
TAKE LOOK THROUGH THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER.
[02:20:07]
THERE'S NOT A COMPARISON.IN THIS LIST TO PRIOR YEAR, WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT YOU KNOW OF THE MAIN CHANGES WE SAW? WE SAW SOME, SOME FEES AND CHARGE, SOME DUE SUBSCRIPTIONS, INCREASED SOME, AND THEN SOME OF, UH, SOME DEPARTMENTS CHOSE TO JUST DO THE WIN OF THE MEMBERSHIP.
SO THAT'S WHY WE SEE THIS NET DECREASE IN THAT.
THE ONE I'D REALLY LIKE TO ASK CHARLIE IS THE $93,000 FOR MEMBERSHIP OF OF ELECTRIC CITIES.
WHAT DO WE GET OUT THAT? BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP ALREADY KNOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON? NO.
OUR NEXT ONE STARTS ON PAGE 31.
THIS IS EMPLOYEE TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
TOTAL TRAVEL AND TRAINING CITYWIDE.
THIS REPRESENTS A 13% CURRENT YEARS BUDGET.
THIS INCREASE IS ALSO REFLECTED OF STAFF NEEDING TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO, UH, RECEIVE AND LAST BUDGET YEAR AND HAVE IT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS.
HAS OFFICER, HAS, HAS ANYONE GONE HAVE YOU OR, OR, UM, YOUR, YOUR STAFF DESIGNATED PERSON? UM, HAVE I GONE THROUGH THIS TO SEE IF SOME OF THESE, UM, THIS TRAVEL TRAINING IS, IS NECESSARY FOR SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES? WE DID THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, UH, ON AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT STRIKES.
WE GAVE THE DEPARTMENTS THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE CUTS, BUT YES, WE, WE WENT THROUGH THAT TWICE DURING OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
SO YOU OBVIOUSLY AGREE WITH ALL THIS TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION AS YOU PROPOSED TO THIS, CORRECT? I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT.
NOW IF THE BOARD WANTS TO SEE A REDUCTION, THEN BASICALLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE A PERCENTAGE REDUCTION, THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND DO FROM THERE AND HAVE CONVERSATION THE DEPARTMENT HEAD SO THEY CAN MAKE THE APPROPRIATE EFFECT.
IT'S ALREADY LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S.
IT INCREASE 13% OVER LAST YEAR.
WELL, I KNOW LAST YEAR WE TR WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO TRIM IT.
I KNOW YOU WENT BACK TO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.
UM, IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT AGAIN THIS YEAR TO SEE IF IT CAN BE FURTHER TRIM.
SO I HEARD COMMENT ABOUT TRIMMING.
SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET WAS LAST YEAR WITH, WITH THE BOARD SUPPORT, THAT SAME, THAT SAME LOCATION, I WOULD BE IN PAPER OF IT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE, YOU SAID IT WENT UP HOW MUCH? 13.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS GENERAL FUND VERSUS ENTERPRISE? UH, IN GENERAL FUND LAST YEAR OUR BUDGET WAS 147,589.
SO THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.
ALL ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, MOVING ON.
THIS, THIS STARTS ON PAGE 37 AND WE, SO ONE ALSO AT THE FRONT OF YOUR BOOK, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN THAT ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS SUBMITTED DURING, DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
THIS IS WHAT WE USE AS PART OF THE BUDGET FEE PROCESS.
SO WE HAD OVER $13.3 MILLION IN CAPITAL REQUEST DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING CITYWIDE 5.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL THIS YEAR.
AND THE GENERAL FUND THAT INCLUDES $2,329,000 REDEVELOPMENT FUND IS 200,000.
THE WATER FUND, 525,000, THE SEWER FUND, 1,253,000.
THE ELECTRIC 55,002 50 IN SOLID WASTE FUND, 250,000.
[02:25:03]
SO ON PAGE 41, WHICH IS WHERE THE GENERAL FUND REQUEST START, YOU'RE GONNA SEE PICTURES OF THOSE REQUESTS AND WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED.SO, AND YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE? I BRING DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY.
WE RECOMMENDED, UM, THESE PIECES BECAUSE THEY'RE END OF LIFE AND THEIR REQUIREMENT TO CONTINUE OUR TECHNOLOGY.
ON PAGE 42 WITH, WITH POLICE CAPITAL REQUEST, WE RECOMMENDED FUNDING $678,000 TO REPLACE 10 POLICE VEHICLES.
THAT'S A CONSTANT THING THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
WE DO NOT COMMEND ANY OTHER CAPITAL FOR POLICE.
ON PAGE 45, YOU RECOMMENDED WHAT WE RECOMMENDED PLEA REPLACEMENT SIX 78,217.
IF YOU SEE ANYTHING IN RED THAT IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION.
WHILE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID MAKE QUITE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS, WE, I, WE APPROVED THE SHELVING FOR THE EVIDENCE.
WE DID, WE DID PHASED IT WITH THE FIRST PHASE IT HAS BEEN INSTALLED.
THEY WANTED GO AHEAD AND SEE ABOUT THE SECOND PHASE.
WE COULDN'T JUSTIFY THIS, BUT, UM, QUESTION ON THE PARKING LOT EXPANSION.
UM, I KNOW THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR QUITE A WHILE IS IF, IF THAT WERE TO BE DONE, WOULD THOSE SPACES BE AVAILABLE FOR FER PARK WHEN PD IS OUT? NOT TYPICAL SHOP HOURS, NO, THEY WOULD NOT.
PD IS RECOMMENDED FING THAT IN SO THEY COULD HAVE THEIR SPECIALTY EQUIPMENT HOUSE THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PARKING AT THE MALL PUT OUT THERE, QUESTION I IF THIS IT OR NOT, BUT WITH THE, WE'LL BE GETTING THAT SHORTLY.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON PD, WE'LL GO TO FIRE.
THE FIRE RESCUE, WE DID RECOMMEND FUNDING EXTRICATION TOOLS AND PAGAN HEIGHT, WHICH IS A WALL COVERING THAT THEY INSTALLED IN THE FIRE, UH, THE FIRE TOWER ON THERE WHEN THEY WERE PRACTICING THAT FIREFIGHTING.
SO THAT WAS A REPLACEMENT THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THAT.
NO QUESTIONS WITH MR. PARK AND RECREATION.
UH, CAN I, SINCE YOU'RE ON PARK AND RECREATION, JUST TO JUMP BACK, WHERE ARE WE WITH THE PART-TIME POSITIONS FOR STANLEY WHITE? I THINK WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THAT WERE OPEN.
ARE THEY GOOD YET? IS CARRIE WARREN HERE SAW HER A FEW MINUTES AGO? SHE SAID SHE HAD A POP BACK OUT THE SHE'LL.
SHE'LL BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON WHEN WE GET THROUGH EACH, EACH UM, DEPARTMENT.
SO IN PARKS AND RECREATION ON PAGE 47, WE DID RECOMMEND FUNDING ON THE TOP DRESSER FOR THE TURF ON ALL OF OUR, ALL OF OUR PARKS.
WE ALSO RECOMMENDED PAVING AND THAT WOULD BE TO, UM, TO REPAIR ISSUES AT LAWSON CREEK PARK BOAT LAUNCH TO LOOP AROUND JACKS ISLAND, UNION POINT PARK AND GLENBURN PARK ENTRANCE.
IS THIS, UM, BOAT RAMP LOCKED AREA? ARE WE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE ACTUAL RAMP ITSELF? NOT THE RAMP ITSELF.
THIS IS GOING TO THE RAMP, GOING TO THE RAMP.
THE ASPHALT IS JUST NOT HELD UP.
SO LITERALLY RAMP BUT CONCRETE IN THOSE AREAS, UH, BECAUSE IT'S JUST GRAY OUT SO MUCH OVER THE YEARS.
AND THE ASPHALT DOES NOT WORK IN, IN SEVERAL OF THOSE AREAS.
IT, IT'S A BIT OF AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF THIS RAMP DOWN THERE.
BUT YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ONE AT THE FAR END, THE ANGLE.
WELL, NOT ONLY THAT, THEY DROP OFF WHERE YOU CON WHEN YOU DROP OFF THE AXLES.
I, I MEAN I'VE HAD PEOPLE JUST PULL THEIR AXLES OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER TRYING TO GET UP OUT OF THERE.
UM, LET ME JUST ASK YOU THIS ONE QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE A SIGN OR SOMETHING UP THERE SAYING END OF BRAND? WE DO.
WELL THEN IT'S JUST BE AN ISSUE.
THE QUESTION WITH THE SECURITY CAMERA INSTALLATION IS THAT ALL PARKS?
[02:30:01]
SO NO, WE'VE BEEN DOING PHASES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF THAT.I THINK THE ONLY TWO PARKS THAT ARE REMAINING ARE MARK MARIETTA PARK AND PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER.
THAT, UH, PLEASANT HILL PARK, THOSE ARE THE ONLY PARKS THAT ARE REMAINED AND WE ONLY PUT CAMERAS IN EITHER WE KNEW THAT WERE HIGH CRIME AREAS OR, OR WE HAD LARGE CROWD.
SO THAT, SO THERE REALLY ONLY TWO PARTS THAT ARE LEFT IN THAT PROJECT.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THE PARTS THAT THE, THE, UH, UH, NOT FISH AND PEERS, BUT THE DIFFERENT PEERS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY MM-HMM
IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION OR, WE'VE ALREADY DECIDED WHICH ONES WILL BE UPGRADED.
SO THE ONES THAT WERE IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE PURCHASED ALL THE MATERIALS.
SO THEY WILL BE UPGRADING THOSE AND THAT THAT'S THE PROJECT THAT, THAT WILL BE IN HOUSE ALSO ON THE, UM, CEMETERY UPGRADES.
UM, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT FUNDING COULD HELP FOR SOME EXPANSION IF I'M READING THIS CORRECT.
UM, TO ADDIUM IS WE LOOK AT THE RETURN ON, WE SPEND 75,000, WHAT WOULD WE GET OUTTA THAT? YEAH, THE REASON THAT WE DID NOT COMMEND THIS TIME IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BRING THIS BACK TO THE DOOR FOR ACTUAL PRESENTATION.
SO I DON'T THINK STAFF IS READY TO, TO MAKE AN ACTUAL RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLEMENT ANYTHING.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED.
UM, AND THEN MY, MY LAST ONE ON PARTS OF REC IS THE SCOREBOARDS.
WHICH, WHICH LOCATIONS WILL THE SCOREBOARD BE ADDED TO? I BELIEVE THE LAST TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAD WERE, UM, IT'S ONE OF THE OTHER, IT'S EITHER GONNA BE, UM, PIERCE PARK OR FORT TOT AND, AND ONE THE FIELDS OVER AT S SOUTHWEST FAIR PARK.
SHOULD WE, SINCE SETH WEST PAR INCLUDED THE BOND REFERENDUM, SHOULD WE HOLD OFF ON THAT ASPECT OF IT AND SEE HOW THE BOND REFERENDUM? YES, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON PARKS AND RECREATION? UH, YEAH, WITH THE MARTIN MARY PARK, UM, YEAH, WE NEED TO HOLD OFF ON THAT QUESTION.
I'M NOT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS UNTIL THE BOND THAT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS.
IF YOU SEE AN ITEM IN RED WHERE IT SAYS RECOMMENDATION AND ZERO, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT.
ONLY, ONLY IF YOU'LL SEE IT IN BLUE UNDER THE REQUESTED AMOUNT.
YOU SAID IT'S NOT NOT RECOMMENDED.
YEAH, BUT I'M SAYING IT'S SAYING RECOMMENDED.
ON PAGE 50, IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT AND THAT REPLACES AN EXISTING VEHICLE.
WE MOVE TO PUBLIC WORKS ON PAGE 51.
AND SO IN PUBLIC WORKS, THERE'S REQUEST FLEET MAINTENANCE SERVICE EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS A DIESEL COMMERCIAL TRUCK DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM, THEN AN ADDITIONAL AC SERVICE MACHINE SHOP, FLOOR SCRUBBER, THOSE ARE THE REQUESTS FOR THE GARAGE CLOSING BUILDINGS.
THERE'S A REQUEST FOR UTILITY GOLF CART.
I ASSUME THAT'S GONNA HAVE TAGS ON IT.
IT SAYS IT'S FOR GREATER ACCESS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE DRIVING ON THE STREETS, THEN IT'LL NOT HAVE, YOU'RE NOT TAGGING GEORGE LIKELY? NO, NOT UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN ANY.
WELL HOW, HOW'S IT GOING GET FROM? YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT? HE KNOW THE CHIEF POLICE.
I DON'T BELIEVE, NO, THE POLICE AND CHIEF POLICE LETS US, UH, GET AROUND LAWS A LOT OF TIMES.
THIS IS FOR, UH, VENUS AND LONG WE STREET, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
[02:35:03]
THEN IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS WE HAVE, UH, SOME FLEET REPLACEMENTS, ROOF REPLACEMENT ON THE BOLT CENTER, ALL ABOUT THAT ONE.UM, I THINK THE BOARD NEEDS TO GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THIS.
UM, VOLT CENTER'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.
UH, WE'VE TOUTED IT WAS FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY ALL INVOLVED IN THIS AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT DEAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, BUT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE BURDEN'S STARTING TO FALL IN THE CITY.
UM, I I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE BOARD'S THOUGHTS WOULD BE ON TRANSITIONING THE VAULT CENTER PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY OR THE COLLEGE AND LETTING THEM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE SUCH AS THIS.
AND, AND MAYOR, YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT AT ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS AND, AND WE'RE DOING SOME RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TIED TO THE GRANT.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU ON THAT, MOST LIKELY THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, BECAUSE THIS IS TWO ROOFS, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN TWO OUT THERE.
SO WE WILL HOLD OFF ON THIS UNTIL WE FINISH GATHERING DECLARATION.
THEN WE HAVE, UH, REPLACEMENT OF HVAC UNITS.
THIS A CITYWIDE 210,000 FOR THAT.
UM, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW BUILDINGS AND SO THOSE UNITS DO GO OUT.
WE DO THAT IN HOUSE AS WELL, DON'T WE? DON'T WE DO THE INSTALLATIONS IN HOUSE? I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING AS MUCH AS WE USED TO WITH THAT.
WE DO, WE CAN, WE CERTAINLY CAN HANDLE FOUR REPLACEMENTS AND WE DO THAT.
UM, THIS LAST PAST CYCLE WE DID A A LOT OF UNITS AT KALE ROAD AND THAT WAS, WE DID CONTRACT THAT, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT, ALL THEIR CONDITIONERS WERE ALL THE SAME AGE AND WERE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE.
SO IT MADE SENSE TO CONTRACT BECAUSE WE HAD MULTIPLE UNITS FACILITY, UM, JUST DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE BUILDING WOULD DEPEND ON, WE THEN IN STREETS, THERE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR BOBCAT CENTER, MOUNT MOWER, ALAMO SIDE MOUNT MOWER ATTACHMENT AND REPLACE, UH, THE F FIVE 50 DUMP BED ON DUMP BED WITH A FLATBED ON THAT.
ALSO TO REPLACE ANOTHER DUMP BED, 1998 INTERNATIONAL AND F-150 SUPER CAB $150,000 IN SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, $800,000 IN ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, $120,000, UH, IN UPDATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL PATROL CABINETS FOR, FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT THE CITY OWNS.
AND A SKID STEER POWER WRECK ATTACHMENT FOR STORM WATER.
NOW HOW MANY FEET OF ASPHALT DO WE GET FOR $800,000? I'M SURE IT'S NOT MUCH.
THIS IS VERY, DEPENDING ON THE STREET AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE TO ROAD, IF IT'S ASSOCIATED UR 40,000 FOR A CITY BLOCK.
SO ONE OF THE BOND REFERENDUMS WILL BE FOR TRANSPORTATION STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
THE, THE $800,000 I SEE THE NOTE HERE FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
SO IS IT STILL $800,000? IT'S JUST THAT 400,000 IS COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND 400,000 IS COMING FROM, UH, THE MOTOR VEHICLE VEHICLE, YEAH.
THE 400,000 IS, WILL BE A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE PROJECT FUND.
SO YEAH, SOME OF THAT WILL BE COVERED WITH POWER BILL MONEY AS WELL.
SO IF WELL POWER BILL COMES INTO PLAY, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, BECAUSE THIS BUDGET RECOMMENDS TAKING A HALF A MILLION FROM FUND BALANCE.
SO IF WE WERE TO COME UP WITH A HALF A MILLION AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE THAT AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE BOND WOULD BE, WE MAY NOT HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT MONEY ON THIS.
UM, I THINK ANY OF THE STREETS AND, AND PA ANY OF THE STREETS
[02:40:01]
AND THE, AND THE SIDEWALKS WILL RELY MORE ON POWER BILL FUNDS FOR THAT.AND SO I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANY CUTS ON THOSE SINCE, SINCE WE HAVE TO SPEND WHATEVER OUR ALLOCATION IS FOR THE FILE BILL.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE ON THE TABLE FOR YOU FOR YOUR DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON, ON BOTH WORKS? THE LAST, ON PAGE 56, PAGE 55 AND 57, STORMWATER OF SKID STEER POWER WRECK ATTACHMENT, ANOTHER TRASH TROUT THAT YOU PUT IN THE, UH, STREAM TO PRODUCE TRASH AND THEN A REPLACEMENT, TWO REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
SO IS IT $170,000 FOR BOTH VEHICLES? NO, THAT'S THE TOTAL FOR BOTH VEHICLES.
TOTAL FOR BOTH? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PRICE OF JUST THE TRUCK VEHICLE.
GEORGE, DO YOU HAVE BREAKDOWN? WELL, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS ONE HERE, THIS ONE HERE AND THIS ONE HERE.
AND THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT PRICING ZONE.
I JUST, YEAH, AND IT'S THE SAME TRUCK AGAIN, I THINK WITH CERTAIN CAVEATS, UM, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS, HAS CERTAIN, CERTAIN THAT THEY, THEY HAVE WHATEVER THEIR UNIQUE OPERATIONS.
SO SOME, SOME OF THE TRUCKS MAY HAVE, UH, MORE ONE BODY ON IT OR MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT FEATURE LIKE A DUMP BED OR, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT.
SO NOT, NOT EACH TRUCK IS, IS GENERAL ACROSS THE WHOLE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON STORM WATER MOVING INTO THE WATER FUND REQUEST, SEVERAL REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
ALSO WE HAVE REHABILITATION OF, OF, OF WELLS AND WASTEWATER AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY REQUESTED IN WATER AND SEWER ON PAGE 59.
VEHICLE REQUESTS, REPLACEMENT MOWER REPLACE OUTDATED EQUIPMENT CONTROL COMPONENTS.
AND THIS TRUCK'S ONLY KIDS 5,000.
WE WANT ALL OF THEM TO BE, WE WANT 'EM ALL
SOME ARE 60, SOME ARE 65 IS THE SAME PICTURE.
SO, SO FOSTER QUESTION, UM, ON THE MOWERS MM-HMM
ARE WE TYPICALLY GOING WITH THE SAME BRAND? SO THEY'RE SOMEWHAT INTERCHANGEABLE IF WE NEED REPAIRS DONE.
I MEAN, DO WE HAVE EACH DEPARTMENT HAVE THEIR FAVORITE BRAND? EACH DEPARTMENT DOES DO THEIR FAVOR BY, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF MOWING IS IN PARKS AND RECREATION.
THEY MAINTAIN THEIR OWN MOWERS THERE AND WATER RESOURCES.
JORDAN COULD PROBABLY SPEAK MORE TO THIS THAN MYSELF.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE GOTTEN ANY MOWERS.
UM, BUT JORDAN, YOU, YOU'RE MORE THAN TO SPEAK ON THAT.
THE REASON I'M ASKING IS THAT WE'RE BUYING MULTIPLE UNITS FROM THE SAME VENDOR TYPICALLY TO GET A BETTER PRICE IN IT.
OR JUST BECAUSE OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT HAS FERENCE, THEY WANT JOHN DEERE VERSUS A MAYOR.
ALL OF OURS ARE THE SAME, BASICALLY SAME MAKE MODEL ONES, WASTE MAKE MODEL OR ONES HOWEVER WE NEED.
SO WE DON'T, WE NEVER NEED TWO OR THREE A YEAR.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS, IT'S ALWAYS KIND A ONE OFF DISCOUNT.
NEXT TO AFFIRM REQUEST, THERE ARE SEVERAL REPLACEMENT VEHICLES IN THERE.
YEAH, I'VE ALREADY COVERED THOSE.
THEN ALSO SOME, SOME SEW SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF, UM, OF THE SEWER PUMP STATION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THOSE OTHER REQUESTS IN THE ELECTRIC FUND? WE DID RECOMMEND, WE DID RECOMMEND, UM, REPLACE AN OVERHEAD UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000 TOWN CROSSING $250,000 FOR GREENBRIER REPLACE SUBSTATION BATTERIES IN THE AMOUNT OF 35,000.
A SUBSTATION SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000
[02:45:03]
CONTROL SYSTEM SERVERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 UPS BATTERIES.THE AMOUNT OF $6,000 COMMUNICATION CONTROL IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,000.
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER PIECE OF, UH, TECHNOLOGY FOR $10,000 FOR COMMUNICATION CONTROL.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ELECTRIC? YES I DO.
UM, ON PAGE 62, UM, THE REPLACEMENT, WHY WAS THAT NOT RECOMMENDED? 62 UNDER THE ELECTRIC.
SO, SO IN JUST A MINUTE WE'RE GONNA GET INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS THEMSELVES AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
YOU, YOU HEARD CHARLIE'S, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS EARLIER AND SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA KIND OF DIVE INTO THAT.
THEN THE FINAL FUND WE HAVE IS SOLID WASTE FUND AND THERE'S A, BASICALLY THERE ARE TWO, TWO REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR THAT.
I'M SORRY, ONE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE.
I'LL JUST, UM, I KNOW I GUESS IT WAS A YEAR OR SO AGO, UM, THERE WAS A LOCAL COMPANY THAT WAS REQUESTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESSENTIALLY BID ON THE SOLID WASTE REQUEST.
MM-HMM
UM, IT MAY NOT BE VIABLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO THAT BECAUSE WE CONTINUE AND THIS SYSTEM'S SIGNIFICANT EQUIPMENT THAT WE INVEST IN THAT DEPARTMENT AND THAT COMPANY THAT SPOKE TO US WAS VERY CONFIDENT THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE THE SAME OR HIGHER LEVEL SERVICE, UM, AT A LOWER COST, WHICH TOOK OFF SOME OF THE WORKLOAD THAT GEORGE MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, OF STAFF BUILDING CALLS.
I THINK HE SAID 2000 CALLS OR SO ABOUT THAT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT TYPE OF THE BOARD IS, BUT TO ME I THINK IT'S, IF IT'S A MINIMAL COST TO SEE WHAT OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE, I THINK WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO AT LEAST GIVE THAT, THAT SOLID WASTE.
SOLID TRASH PICKUP? NO, NO, NO.
WHITE GOODS, BROWN GOODS THAT WE DO.
I MEAN, I DON'T THE SERVICE, EVERYBODY REALLY LIKES IT, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE SERVICE, I'M OKAY.
CHECKING ON ANYTHING, IS ANYBODY OPPOSED TO HEARING WHAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE? NO, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HEARING.
ALL NOW WE'RE GOING INTO SCHEDULE A SEASON CHARGES PAGE 69 AND MAYOR, I THINK Y'ALL WILL BE AT 1230 TO TAKE A BREAK.
I SAID WE READ ON PAGE 69 THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.
UH, ALL OF THE CHANGES ARE, UH, REDLINING.
JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, SOME OF THESE ARE NOT ALL CHANGES TO THE FEES, BUT MAYBE JUST A, A CLEANUP OF THE, THE LAYOUT.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN SECTION TWO FOR CEMETERIES, UH, THERE WAS ONLY ONE CHANGE TO THE FEES.
THE REST OF IT IS CLEANING IT UP, MAKING IT CONSISTENT TO WHERE RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS ARE ALL ON ONE LINE TRYING TO SIMPLIFY AND ORGANIZE THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES LAYOUT.
SO THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANGES TO EACH OF THE, TO EACH OF THE SECTION OR SEVERAL SECTIONS THAT HAVE CHANGES.
SO WE CAN GO THROUGH EACH ONE IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT JUST BY SECTION AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS CAN COME UP AND ANSWER THOSE.
THE BUREAU ONES BEING, BEING COLLECTED BY RAVEN COUNTY, CORRECT? NO.
I THINK WHEN YOU DO HAVE A BEER WINE LICENSE, YOU PUT YOUR A, B, C, THEN YOU PAY THE COUNTY AN AMOUNT AND YOU PAY THE CITY AMOUNT AS WELL.
SO WHICH DEPARTMENT COLLECTS THAT? FINANCE?
[02:50:02]
LEMME SEND OUT INVOICES ANNUALLY.ARE WE NOW SET? WE'RE RESIDENT, NON-RESIDENT.
THAT ON EVERYTHING, ON EVERY FEE, THAT'S DEFINITELY IN PARK AND RECREATION MAY NOT BE DOUBLE, IT'S NOT DOUBLE ON EVERY SINGLE THING WHERE, WHERE THERE'S A RESIDENT NON-RES FEE, WE CAN, WE, WE DO THAT.
SO OUTSIDE OF PARKS AND RECREATION, WHERE COULD WE NOT DO THAT? THE, THE MAIN THING I THINK ABOUT IS, UM, IF, IF WE CHARGE WATER CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AT DIFFERENT RATE STATUTE CUSTOMERS, SO THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE RATES, THIS IS JUST FEES AND CHARGES, EVERYTHING HERE SHOULD BE RESIDENT AND THEN NONRESIDENT DOUBLE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR ANY, ANY, ANY DEPARTMENT, WE'RE HAPPY TO BRING THEM UP TO DISCUSS THOSE WITH YOU.
MAYBE IF, UM, GEORGE, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME CLARITY, UM, SEEMS TO HAVE COME UP A LOT RECENTLY ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER SERVICES.
THE CITY CHARGES SOMETHING AND THEN THE CUSTOMER ACTUALLY GETS THE BILL FROM GFL AS WELL.
CAN YOU MAYBE JUST PROVIDE SOME CLARITY AROUND HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS? SO IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE FRONT SERVICE WITHIN THE CITY MEMBER, YOU'RE REQUIRED GFL FOR, FOR THIS SERVICE, OBVIOUSLY A COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER WOULD BE BILL FOR THAT SERVICE.
THE, THE BACKING CHARGE FROM GFL IS IF THEY RENT A CAN FROM GFL DIRECTLY AS THE CITY DOESN'T RENT A CAN, NOW THEY'RE FREE TO RENT PURCHASE A CAN RENT A CAN FROM SOMEONE ELSE, BUT THE SERVICE MUST BE PROVIDED BY GL.
SO YOU COULDN'T GET A SEPARATE BILL AS GFO IS PROVIDING THE CAN TO THE PUBLIC PARKING CUSTOMER.
AND IF SOMEBODY, IF THEIR DUMPSTER GETS FULL AND THEY CALL FOR A OUT OF SINK PICKUP, THEY GET, THEY GET CHARGED FOR AN ADDITIONAL PICKUP BY THE CITY OR BY GFO, THEY GET CHARGED BY THE CITY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON FEES AND SERVICES OR SCHEDULE FEES? OKAY, THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ON THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD, JUMP IN YOUR BOOK TO THE WATER FUND TAB PAGE TWO 15.
SO ON PAGE TWO 15, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR SLIDE HERE, AS OF MARCH 31ST, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY THREE 14 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND, WHICH SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE BENCHMARK OF TWO 40 DAYS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2014 BY THE GOVERNING BOARD.
UH, NOW SOME OF YOU, UH, MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD AT THAT TIME, SOME MAY HAVE NOT.
SO WE HAVE PASSED OUT THAT THAT POLICY IN FRONT OF YOU SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT TO REVIEW.
THIS BUDGET IS FOCUSED ON CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS IN SEED WATER PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE SERVICE TO OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND TO SUPPORT DEMAND FROM REGIONAL GROWTH.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $13,490,000, WHICH REFLECTS A 10.8% DECREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES 525,000 CAPITAL PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THE WATER FUND? YEAH, JORDAN, I, I PROMISE I ASKED, I WOULD ASK THIS TO SOMEBODY.
UM, WHEN WE MADE THE SWITCH FROM THE BLACK CREEK AQUIFER MANY YEARS AGO AND OUR WATER QUALITY IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT WAS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SOFTEN THE WATER SO IT'S NOT AS HARD AS IT'S NOW? UH, SO WE TRY TO DO A COUPLE THINGS.
FIRST IS WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF BLACK CREEK WATER WE CAN USE EVERY DAY.
SO WHAT WOULD ALLOW TO USE BY PERMIT? WE USE THAT MUCH EVERY DAY.
WE MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE WITH ORDER FROM THE SHALLOW
[02:55:03]
A 50 50 BLEND RIGHT NOW.UM, AND THAT'S A UNIFORM PRODUCT ACTUALLY ALL THAT MIXING HAPPENS BEFORE WE OUT TO ANY CUSTOMERS.
EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME PRODUCT.
UM, WE START INTO SOME WEIRD WATER CHEMISTRY.
WHEN YOU TRY TO GET THE WATER TOO SOFT, IT CREATES SOME CONSEQUENCES.
WE RUN A BALANCE NOW IT'S FAIRLY SOFT.
IT'S NOT WHAT IT WAS BEFORE, IT WAS STRICTLY BUT LIKE CREEK WATER, MAYBE YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS, IT'S STILL WAY DOWN ON, ON THE SPECTRUM.
UH, IF YOU GET WATER TOO SOFT, IT BECOMES UH, YOU KNOW, IT CREATES SOME OTHER ISSUES.
UH, MOST NOTABLE YOU INCREASE YOUR LIKELIHOOD OF LEACHING METALS INTO THE WATER.
SO METALS FROM GALVANIZED PIPES OR UH, COPPER PLUMBING, LEAD PLUMBING, GETTING INTO THE WATER SOURCE, THAT BECOMES A GREATER RISK IN ONCE YOU GET THE WATER TOO SOFT.
IT'S ALSO OUR NUMBER ONE EXPENSE IN WATER TREATMENT.
SO, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE QUALITY VALUE, ALL THAT AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THE PRODUCT WE GET, WE DO GET COMMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME, UM, THAT IF ANYBODY THAT REALLY HAS A PROBLEM OR REALLY SEND TO, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS THAT YOU CAN INSTALL THE HOUSE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OR CALLS OR QUESTIONS WE GET A YEAR FROM 20,000 CUSTOMERS, A FRACTION, FRACTION FRACTION OF 1%.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE GOT A PRODUCT THAT VALUE WISE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S OKAY QUALITY WISE, PEOPLE ARE ACCEPTABLE OF IT.
THOSE ARE THE TWO REAL CONCERNS.
ONE, IF WE TRY TO GET IT TOO SOFT, IT'S A WORK CHEMISTRY AND TWO, IT INCREASES THEIR COST.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE WATER SIGN? ALRIGHT, MOVING TO THE NEXT TAB OF THE SEWER.
SO FROM THE SLIDE UP ON THE SCREEN, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE AS OF MARCH 31ST, THERE APPROXIMATELY TWO 20 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND.
THIS SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, 75 BAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 2014.
AS I STATED, THIS BUDGET IS FOCUSED ON CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY SEWER TREATMENT AND COLLECTION SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE SERVICE TO OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
AS TO SUPPORT FROM REGIONAL ROAD, WE COMMEND BUDGET 14 2 70 5,000 6 29.
THIS REFLECTS A 1.3% DECREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
IT'S ALSO INCLUDED 1.1 50 IN CAPITAL AS WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SEWER? ALL RIGHT, NO QUESTIONS.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE ELECTRIC PHONE ON PAGE 257.
SO YOU HEARD THE PRESENTATION THAT CHARLIE MADE EARLIER AND HE MADE A LOT OF VERY GOOD POINTS.
I AGREE WITH CHARLIE ON THE NEEDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT WE WERE GOING HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PASS THOSE COSTS ALONG TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO AS WE LOOKED AT THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR AND, AND GRANTED WITH THE PRESENTATIONS YOU SAW EARLIER, WE RECEIVED THIS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, FINANCES NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VALIDATE THE NUMBERS.
I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO IT.
SO THE BUDGET THAT I'M RECOMMENDING WAS THE BUDGET THAT IS IN THIS BOOK.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE IS MARCH 31ST, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 34 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND.
THIS SHOWS A DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH ON JULY, 2024.
THE DAYS OF CASH ON HAND IS 67, THE BENCHMARK IS AT 90.
NOW WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET THAT BENCHMARK, I BELIEVE SINCE 2022.
SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY GOTTA INCREASE THAT CASH.
MY COMMENT ON, ON SUPPLYING ANY OF THE NEEDS THAT CHARLIE NEEDS, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO PUT CASH AWAY AND WE HAVE TO PROVE THAT WE'RE FINANCIALLY SOLID BEFORE WE CAN GO OUT FOR, UM, A REVENUE BOND OR FOR BIG TICKET FUNDING.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE.
AND PART OF THAT IS GOING TO BE TO INCREASE THOSE RATES AS WELL.
UM, THIS BUDGET'S FOCUSED ON DELIVERING SAFE AND RELIABLE ELECTRIC SERVICE THROUGH SYSTEMS TO OUR ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS.
DURING THE BUDGET YEAR, WE SEEN A 12% INCREASE PLUS A PCA TO HELP MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND.
WE HAVE AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH IT, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER.
CHARLIE WAS WORRIED THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE A FAILURE.
AND THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN WHEN, WHEN IT GETS HOT, BUT WE'VE GOTTA GET A HOLD OF OUR DAYS OF CASH ON HAND FIRST AND WE'VE GOTTA SEE THAT INCREASE.
AS CHARLIE SAID, HE'D LIKE TO SEE 120, EVEN THE CONSULTANT SAID THAT THEY WERE SEEING, UH, SOME ELECTRIC UTILITIES WITH OVER 200 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND.
THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR IS $68,651,457.
[03:00:02]
THAT REFLECTS A 3.1% INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.WE'RE ALLOCATING $955,250 IN CAPITAL.
2.6 MILLION OF THAT ALLOCATION IS TO GO TOWARD THAT FUND BALANCE.
UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
SO I, I KNOW WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED INCREASE IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR IN THE ELECTRIC ELECTRIC RATES.
SO WHAT WE HEARD FROM CHARLIE AND CHARLIE COME UP HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
I BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING MORE WAS A 4.5% INCREASE IN ELECTRIC RATES.
IS THAT CORRECT, CHARLIE? YES, SIR.
AND WE JUST HAD A 12% INCREASE.
WE HAD A, WE HAD 6% JULY 1ST, A 6% PLUS PCA ON JANUARY.
WELL, I'M GONNA SAY NO DISRESPECT, I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, BUT I'M REALLY NOT INTERESTED IN PUTTING ANOTHER 4.5% INCREASE IN THE ELECTRIC FUND.
I KNOW WE HAVE TO DO IT, BUT I'M JUST NOT IN INTERESTED IN, WE JUST PUT 12% IN ANOTHER 4.5%.
I, I'M JUST, I KNOW WE HAVE TO DO IT, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO PASS THAT ON, THAT BURDEN ON TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO, SO, BUT I KNOW WE CAN'T KEEP IT OURSELVES.
I'M NOT MAD
UH, IF THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN, IN, UH, AN INCREASE AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THAT.
THAT WON'T BE A PART OF THIS BUDGET.
THAT WILL BE A FOLLOW UP AFTER THIS BUDGET IS ADOPTED SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE DONE PREVIOUSLY.
SO THIS, BUT DOCUMENT THIS BUDGET DOES NOT, WOULD NOT ADOPT A 4.5% INCREASE? NO, IT WILL NOT.
I GUESS WE JUST OFFER JUST SOME CLARIFICATION.
IF YOU OPTED TO CONSIDER THE 3.5%, 3% RATE INCREASE WITH THE UNRESTRICT PCA OR THE FOUR POINT HALF INCREASE WITH THE PCA RESTRICTIONS AND ALL OF THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED AND THE FIRST YEAR OF MY CAPITAL PLAN, UM, WE CAN PAY DEBT SERVICE ON THAT AND WE COULD GET A LOAN ON THAT MONTH THAT WOULD COVER THIS YEAR'S OPERATING EXPENSES.
AND THE FIRST YEAR, THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN.
I, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST OFFER THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GET THROUGH THIS BUDGET AND SOMETIME THIS SUMMER WE HAVE A WORK SESSION DEDICATED TO THIS.
UM, BECAUSE ONE QUESTION THAT I WOULD, I WOULD HAVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A, A CHART THAT SHOWS THE WHOLESALE POWER INCREASES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FOR WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME YOU THINK IS BENEFICIAL.
BECAUSE THIS CHART, I CAN'T SEE THOSE NUMBERS, UM, WHERE THE CASH ON HAND IS GOING DOWN.
HOW MANY OF THOSE DATA POINTS ARE AFTER WE'VE HAD THE INCREASES IN THE PCA INSTALLED? THREE OR FOUR, I'M GUESSING.
NO, NOT 12 ONE, UH, FEBRUARY 1ST, 2025.
BUT WE HAD ONE INCREASE IN JULY OF LAST YEAR.
BUT WE GET ORIENTED HERE ABOUT THREE, MIND YOU THAT IT WAS A 6% IN JUNE, THEN 6% IN DECEMBER WITH THE PCA.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A TIME THAT WAS THERE.
SURE, BUT I STILL SEE THE CORRECT, THE TREND GOING DOWN.
THERE HASN'T BEEN EVEN A LEVELING OFF UNLESS FINANCE TELLS ME THAT I'M RIGHT ON SEEING SOMETHING THAT, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S POWER AND, AND DURING A WORK SESSION WE CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
SO WHAT'S YOUR, YOU RECOMMEND A 3% RATING, PLEASE? CORRECT.
WITH A UNRESTRICTED PCA, RIGHT? WHERE, WHERE YOU, WHERE IT BE, WHERE IT CAN BE BALANCED MONTHLY, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND THEN YOU'RE WANTING TO APPROVE A 4.533%.
[03:05:01]
YOU, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD, UM, GIVE US ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND MY RECOMMENDED OPERATING BUDGET AND, AND GET LENDING ON THE FIRST YEAR OF MY FIVE CAPITAL PLAN.AND SO I DON'T, I DON'T SEE WHY, WHY Y'ALL ARE OBJECTING TO THAT.
WELL, I DIDN'T, I I MEAN I'M NOT SURE I I'M NOT OBJECTING TO IT.
I WANT, I SAID, I ALSO SAID I KNOW WE HAVE TO DO IT.
YEAH, BUT WHAT'S POINT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR A MINUTE.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT WHERE YOU DON'T, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU DON'T HAVE NO ELECTRICITY? WELL, BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO WHAT THIS MAN IS ASKING US TO DO.
I, I WE, NUMBER ONE THAT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AT THE, WHAT'S THAT POWER PLANT NOW? I MEAN THAT SUBSTATION LEWIS FARM SUBSTATION IS THE ONE THAT'S, THAT'S GIVING THE PROBLEM.
I LIVE OVER THERE WHERE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
I WAS CALLING CHARLIE AND THE CITY MANAGER CONSTANTLY DURING THAT COLD WEATHER ASKING WHAT IS OUR USAGE, HOW CLOSE ARE WE? AND THEY WERE SITTING ON PINS AND NEEDLES.
I, BUT, BUT UNTIL WE COME UP WITH THAT $20 MILLION TO BUILD THIS NEW SUBSTATION, NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, AND IT'S 4.5% INCREASE WITHOUT A RESTRICTED PCAA 3.3% WITH A RESTRICTED PCA BY ITS UNRESTRICTED.
SO IT IS ONE OR THE OTHER, BUT IT IS GOING TO COME UP TO ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE, FOUR, 5% INCREASE PERIOD.
WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT.
I MEAN WE CAN'T KEEP GOING IN THE HOLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE.
BUT I JUST SAID I HATED TO DO IT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH PREVIOUS BOARD BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO YOUR DIRECTOR AND IT'S WHAT GOT US IN SOME THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
PREVIOUS DIRECTORS DIDN'T KNOW, DIDN'T DISAGREE WITH THE TIME IS OUR WHOLESALE POWER COST HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE AS A BOARD, WE FINALIZE, WE'RE THE ONE THAT GIVE THE ULTIMATE APPROVAL FOR THIS.
AND THERE WAS NOT NO INCREASES IN OUR POWER RATES.
FOR THE LAST, WHAT WAS IT, NINE YEARS.
SO THAT IS A BOARD, THAT WAS A BOARD DECISION THOSE NINE YEARS, WHOEVER SERVED ON THE BOARD THOSE TIMES.
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PART OF IT AS WELL, BUT STILL, BUT, BUT YOU SAID, I THINK I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT THE BOARD DIDN'T LISTEN TO THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME.
WELL, THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME, TWO YEARS AGO, CHARLIE DIDN'T ASK FOR AN INCREASE.
I'M NOT JUST SPECIFICALLY SAYING TWO YEARS AGO.
I MEAN, WHENEVER HE COMES UP AND ASKS US FOR AN INCREASE, HE SEE THE NEED FOR IT.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M, I I'M, I'M LOOKING AT CHARLIE, LEMME ASK YOU DID THIS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT MEETING OR MATCHING DUKE'S COST.
UH, IF WE'D HAVE DONE THAT SIX MONTHS AGO, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
IF, IF WE WERE, IF WE WERE TO EITHER GO TO THE SAME KILOWATT HOUR RATE AS DUKE OR EITHER ONE PENNY UNDER DUKE, WOULD THAT HELP YOU? I, I, I TRIP OVER HOW YOU ASKED THE QUESTION.
OH, SO DO I I TRIPPED OVER TO ASKING
I'VE BEEN RAISE THE COST SO THAT THE CUSTOMER'S EXPERIENCE IS VERY SIMILAR TO DUKES.
UM, UM, MY PROPOSAL IS A MORE GRADUAL APPROACH OVER THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS ON REACHING THEM.
BUT WE COULD, I COULD COME BACK WITH A RATE DESIGN THAT GETS YOU RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NOW.
I JUST GET TIRED OF HEARING THE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN AND YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
FOLKS, I, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS DISCUSSING THIS, UH, CONSTITUENT OF MINE.
YOU KNOW, I HEAR THAT, I HEAR THAT A LOT AND EVEN, AND IT IS JUST NOT TRUE.
NOW, DUKE POWER DON'T SELL WATER AND SEWER AND TRASH PICKUP UP.
CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? CAN YOU SET US UP A MEETING WITH THAT CONSTITUENT AND I'LL BRING MY DUKE POWER BILL AND I'LL SIT DOWN AND SHOW HIM.
OH, I THINK HE, HE'S ALREADY BEEN, I THINK HE'S ALREADY, BECAUSE I, I'VE MADE THAT OFFER AND NOBODY SEEMS TO TAKE UP ON YET.
I, I GUESS I GOT CONFUSED A MINUTE AGO.
I WANNA CLARIFY THE, THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT OCCURRED THIS WINTER.
ONE WAS IN DECEMBER, AND WE REACHED OUR PEAK CAPACITY FOR THOSE FARM SUBSTATION.
[03:10:01]
RESPONSE TO THAT, I HAD TO DISCONNECT CUSTOMERS AND MOVE THEM ON THE SYSTEM.IN THE EMERGENCY SITUATION, THEY LOST POWER RIGHT THEN THAT WAS LOCALIZED TO THAT STATION.
THAT PART OF THE SYSTEM CAPACITY, THE SUBSTATION, THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM CAPACITY PROJECT THAT I HAD ON THE FIRST YEAR OF MY PRIVATE CAPITAL PLAN, THE $20 MILLION RESOLVES THAT PROBLEM AND IT FIXES SOME OTHER THINGS.
UM, THEN IN FEBRUARY, TEMPERATURES DROPPED AND OF COURSE WE'RE CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
BUT MY MOVEMENT OF THOSE CUSTOMERS IN DECEMBER, WE WERE HOVERING AROUND THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOVE 'EM AGAIN.
I DIDN'T LOSE ANY CUSTOMERS, BUT THEY WERE, WE WE'RE APPROACHING OUR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY LIMITATIONS ON THE SYSTEM AS WELL AS DUKE WAS SENDING ME NOTICES SENDING, WE MAY HAVE CAPACITY LIMITATIONS ON THE DUKE SYSTEM AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
WHEN, WHEN THEY SHUT US OFF, THEY SHUT US OFF.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS CLEAR.
THE 20 POINT $20 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF MY FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN RESOLVES THE CAPACITY PROBLEM, RESOLVES THE PROBLEM,
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET ONE MORE AND THEN WE'LL BE ABOUT TIME FOR, FOR A LUNCH BREAK.
SO IF YOU'LL TURN TO PAGE 2, 9 3.
YOU CAN SEE MARCH 31ST THERE APPROXIMATELY 201 DAY OF CASH ON HAND, WHICH SHOWS A DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
NO BENCHMARK WAS EVER SET ON THIS FUND.
THE BUDGET'S FOCUSED ON THE OVERSIGHT OF SOLID WASTE AND SANITATION COLLECTION SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION TO, UH, DEBRIS, BOTH WASTE AND CITYWIDE ABATEMENT.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $5,083,600, WHICH REFLECTS AN 8% INCREASE OF THE CURRENT YEAR.
REVISED BUDGET RATE INCREASE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS IS EXPECTED TO BE 20 CENTS PER MONTH.
CURRENTLY 65 GALLON CART AND ONE SERVICE PICKED UP A MONTH IS A WEEK IS $19 35 CENTS.
THAT WOULD GO UP TO 1955 PER MONTH.
THIS IS MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE G-S-L-G-F-L AGREEMENT WHERE WE HAVE HAVE AUTOMATIC INCREASES AND ALSO THE LANDFILL IS CHARGING MORE THIS YEAR AS WELL.
DUMPSTER SERVICES WILL ALSO INCREASE, UH, PER THE SLIDE YOU SEE HERE.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES ONE NEW POSITION, THE OFFICE ASSISTANT THREE THAT WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, AS WELL AS 50 IN CAPITAL PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHO IT WAS THAT THE MAYOR WAS TALKING TO THAT WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT THE SERVICE? I DO.
UM, SO YOU WANT US TO TAKE A BREAK AT THIS TIME? I, I SAY WE'LL TAKE A BREAK NOW AND, AND THEN WE'LL PICK BACK UP AFTER LUNCH AND, OKAY.
IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO RECESS FOR HOW LONG? 30 MINUTES.
UH, UP UNTIL 1:00 PM I HAVE A MOTION FROM ALDERMAN PASTOR AND A SECOND FROM ALDERMAN.
ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, WE RECESS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
MR. HUGHES, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, WE'RE AT, UH, 1D THE GENERAL FUND IF I'M CORRECT? YES, SIR.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO THOMAS, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT SLIDE.
SO, SO THE ENTIRE BUDGET, WHETHER IT'S ENTERPRISE ON A GENERAL FUND, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE A 3% COST OF LIMIT ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
UM, THEN THAT'S JUST GOT INFORMATION.
EIGHT EIGHT PROPOSED, UM, POSITION AND THE GENERAL FUND.
SO VALOR, TAX REVENUE, JUST JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THIS REAL PROPERTY, $4.4 BILLION PERSONAL PROPERTY, 350 MILLION CERTIFIED VALUATION, 60 MILLION REGISTERED VEHICLE, UH, MOTOR VEHICLE VALUATION IS 515 MILLION.
THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE GET OUR $5.3 BILLION VALUATION.
OUR CURRENT TAX RATE IS AT 39 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION, WHICH GIVES US, UH, ABOUT 20,767,000 IN REVENUE.
UM, THE ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE INCREASED BY 380 MILLION FROM FY 25 TO, WE'LL PROPOSE FOR FY 26, WHICH GIVES US AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES OVER LAST YEAR.
AND ONE PENNY IS EQUAL TO $532,500
[03:15:02]
IN THE NEXT BUDGET.SO WE ALWAYS DO THIS COMPARISON OF, OF CITIES AROUND THE STATE.
UH, AND SO AS YOU'LL SEE FROM THE VERY TOP OF GOLDSBORO, THE TAX RATE, THIS IS THE THIRD COLUMN, THEY'RE AT 82 CENTS.
AND WE'RE AT 39 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS VALUATION.
NOW, THE INTERESTING THING, AND WE, I HAVE 'EM ADD THIS HERE, IS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S A PENNY GETS YOU, THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING TO SEE.
OUR, OUR VALUATION, I'M, I'M PLEASED WITH OUR VALUATION, BUT I LIKE TO SEE IT HIGHER BECAUSE REALLY THE, THE HIGHEST ONE IS IN GREENVILLE AND THEY'RE AT $806,000 PER PENNY ON THAT RATE.
THIS IS IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK WITH ME.
IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT, CHECK THAT OUT IN MORE DETAIL.
THIS JUST BREAKS, BREAKS IT DOWN ON THE EXPENSE CATEGORY ON SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
SO WE'RE SEEING A 7% CHANGE OVER THE, OVER THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR.
OUR OPERATING CAPITAL IS ABOUT 4.6% INCREASE.
OUR CAPITAL FOR GENERAL FUND IS A 12.9% INCREASE.
AND THEN, UH, THE, THE DEBT TRANSFER IS ABOUT 10% INCREASE.
OVERALL, WE'RE SEEING A 7% INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP THIS SLIDE UP FOR, FOR A LITTLE BIT.
UH, TO HELP YOU WITH PAGE NUMBER, WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR GOVERNING BOARD.
THIS WILL START ON PAGE 89 AND THE GOVERNING BOARD TAB AS WELL.
SO THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $295,614.
THIS REFLECTS A 6.4% INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
THE BUDGET INCLUDE THE BOARD SALARIES AND BENEFITS.
ALSO CONTINUED SUPPORT OF MEMBERSHIP FOR THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS.
UNC, SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT, NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, THE NEWBURN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ALLIES FOR CHERRY POINT TOMORROW.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR GOVERNING BOARD AND THE AMOUNT, TOTAL AMOUNT OF $3,000 OR $500 FOR ALL OF THEM.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GOVERNING BOARD? BUT THIS IS ON PAGE 89 OR THE GOVERNING BOARD TAB.
HAVE YOU PULLED PAGE 90 OF TWO REPORTS? I JUST GOT IN.
I WENT OUT, UH, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, I COME IN ON TLE AND FALSE.
SO WHAT I, WHAT I MENTIONED WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE ALOR, UH, TAX RATE, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING A TAX RATE INCREASE THIS YEAR.
THAT'S, THAT'S WOULD BE FLAT 39 CENTS.
UH, THIS BUDGET DOES INCLUDE 3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ENTERPRISE PRICE FUND AND GENERAL FUND EMPLOYEES.
THE TOTAL RECOMMENDED BUDGET GOVERNING BOARD IS TWO $95,614, WHICH REPRESENTS 6.4% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS INCLUDED, UH, THIS DISCOVERS THE BOARD'S SALARY AND BENEFITS AND ALSO, UH, SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIPS TO THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, THE EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL GOVERNMENT, THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND ALLIES TO CHERRY POINT TOMORROW.
AND THIS ALSO INCLUDES TRAVEL ALLOWANCE.
SO A TOTAL OF $3,000 OR $500 PER ALDERMAN.
FOR WHAT, WHAT'S DO YOU GET OUTTA THE ALLIES TREATMENT TOMORROW? WHAT EXACTLY DO IS THAT ORGANIZATION, MARTIN, I'LL LET YOU COVER THERE.
YEAH, BASICALLY, UH, WHAT THEY'RE, UH, IT'S WITH THE BASE, UH, A LOT OF THE, UM, BENEFITS THAT WE GET FROM EMPLOYMENT BASES AND HOW THEY SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY, UH, BECAUSE WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, UH, FRCS AND ALL THAT, THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN NEW, THAT WORK ON, ON THE BASE.
SO WITH REVENUE THEY BRING IN THERE, WE'RE JUST HELPING SUPPORT, SUPPORT THOSE THAT, HOW DO WE HELP SUPPORT WITH, WITH, UH, HAVING A MEMBERSHIP THERE, THAT COURSE ON THE BOARD AS TO, UM, THEY, THEY UTILIZE THE PERSONNEL ON BOARD TO GO AND DO, UM, TALK TO THE, UM, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN, IN DC SO THAT THEY'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TO THE BASE.
UH, MOST MUNICIPALITIES IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
YEAH, WE GOT, UM, I KNOW CRAVEN COUNTY IS RICCO.
[03:20:01]
EVERYONE ALL AROUND US, SURROUNDING US ARE MEMBERS.YOU KNOW, THE MILITARY IS A LARGE
EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS UNDER, LET'S SEE HERE.
IT'S PRESCRIPTIONS, DUES, AND UNDER DUES SUBSCRIPTIONS.
THIS IS UNDER, ON PAGE NINE IN THE FIXED CHARGES.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
HERE ON, UH, 90, UH, FOR THE BOARD, UM, YOU SAID YOU IT WAS A 3% FOR THE BOARD.
THAT, THAT INCLUDES ALL EMPLOYEES.
SO I LIKE TO DO FOR THE BOARD IS 4%, SEVEN, THREE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BOARD IS THAT WITH THAT.
WHATCHA TALKING ABOUT COST OF THEY PUT COST OF LIVING? YES.
JOHN, WHAT IS IT YOU WANT? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
OH, 4% FOR WHAT? WELL, OF COST OF LIVING FOR THE BOARD.
FOR THE BOARD OR FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES? FOR THE BOARD.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IF WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES ALTOGETHER.
WELL WE DO 4% ACROSS THE BOARD.
HOW MUCH IS THAT NUMBER HERE, BEAR? ONE SECOND.
SO TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, UH, LET'S SEE HERE.
A, A 3% COAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING, AND THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, 3% COAL.
THAT, THAT, THAT COST IS 1 MILLION.
AN ADJUSTMENT WOULD GO TO $1,680,000.
SO SINCE WE DID ALL THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, WE HAVEN'T HAD A MERIT.
THAT IS THAT, UM, IS THERE A CONCERN THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BEHIND AGAIN? SO EACH YEAR WE DO A COLA THAT INCREASES THAT CLASSIFICATION PLAN THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE WON'T GET BEHIND ON THAT.
AMER AMER IS GREAT TO HAVE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD, YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO PULL RECURRING COSTS OUT OF FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD'VE TO DO.
UH, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT CONTINUED COST YEAR IN, YEAR OUT IF WE HAD IT AND AVAILABLE FUNDS THAT WELL, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THIS YEAR, BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME IN THE FUTURE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES A LITTLE BIT.
I MEAN, WE JUST CAN'T KEEP ON DOING, I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE THE OTHER DAY, THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, WE EITHER RAISE TAXES OR DO AWAY WITH A SERVICE OF SOME SORT.
AND I ASKED THEM, WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT US TO DO AWAY WITH? YOU KNOW, AND NONE OF 'EM COULD COME UP WITH AN ANSWER.
WELL, I, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OVERALL, UM, ASKING FOR 4% ON MCKENZIE, AND THAT'S MY OPINION.
AND YOU HAVE YOUR, UM, AND I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 3% COLA ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, 3% FOR THE EMPLOYEES, YES.
BUT NOT 3% FOR OUR, OUR, UH, STAFF IN PLACE.
CITY MANAGER ASSISTANT, CITY MANAGER, NOT DEPARTMENT HEADS.
I JUST FEEL THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST GIVE THEM A BONUS.
AND THE COST OF LIVING AT 3% OR 4% WE GIVE TO THE EMPLOYEES.
IF WE LOOKED AT A BONUS, HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE THE BUDGET? WHATEVER IS DECIDED TO BE THE AMOUNT.
ANYTIME YOU DO A, IT'S A ONE TIME THING.
SO THE AMOUNT WOULD BE SET BY THE, THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE SET BY THE,
[03:25:02]
WELL, I, I'M JUST CONCERNED.I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET BACK IN THE SAME POSITION THAT WE WERE IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND A 3% TO SOMEONE, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING, UH, OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR MIGHT BE A LITTLE SOMETHING, BUT WHAT'S OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEE? YOU KNOW, 30,030, IT'S WHAT, 3% OF THAT.
HUH? NINE, $900 OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD.
THAT'S NOT MUCH OF A, AND THEN TAXES HAVE COME OUT OF THAT.
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF INCREASE FOR, FOR THEM.
SO THE BUDGET'S BEEN PRESENTED WITH A 3% COLA FOR EVERYONE.
WOULD THE BOARD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT? AND YOU'VE GOT TIME THROUGHOUT THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST ON THE GOVERNING BOARD INFORMATION.
SO YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS UP AFTER WE GO THROUGH THIS OKAY.
OR WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.
DISCUSS IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO BOARD, IF YOU DID A BONUS VERSUS A SALARY INCREASE, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WON'T CHANGE IF YOU STICK WITH 3%.
OTHER THAN IT NOT REOCCURRING.
WELL, I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE BONUS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OF COURSE EITHER THREE OR 4% FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
THEY DESERVE THE, UH, I LIKE TO CALL 'EM, BUT THAT'S WHAT ALL OF US ARE.
BUT, UH, I, I'D LIKE THEM TO TAKE THAT IDEA ALSO.
AND YOU CAN TAKE MY EQUATION OUT FOR, AS A BOARD MEMBER, I, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIMME A 3% OR 4%.
SO LET'S, LET'S TAKE IT ONE AT A TIME.
SO ALDERMAN ROYAL IS SUGGESTING A BONUS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS? YES, SIR.
AND THE CITY, BY THE WAY, CITY MANAGER IS EXCLUDED FROM THIS ANYWAY.
HE IS A CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEE, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT UP SEPARATELY.
BUT EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE, THE EXCEPTION OF THE CITY MANAGER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WOULD BE A BONUS VERSUS A YES SIR COLA.
WHAT'S THE AND THE, IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE CAN DO A 4% CALL FOR EMPLOYEES.
WELL, IT'S STILL SAME, SAME MONEY.
IT'S STILL GONNA BE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THE ONLY, THE ONLY RELIEF THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING WOULD BE FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THAT RECURRING COST.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WITHOUT THE CITY MANAGER INCLUDED, A 3% BONUS IN LIEU OF A COLA AND CONTINUE WITH A 3% COLA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU GO TO FOUR, YOU GOTTA FIND THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, BUT JUST REMEMBER, DO YOU GIVE THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS A BONUS? LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT, IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT.
IT HAS NO EFFECT ON THEIR RETIREMENT, HAS NO EFFECT ON THEIR NEXT YEAR SALARY OR NOTHING.
IT'S JUST A ONE TIME THING AND A BONUS THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE MONEY.
I MEAN, A 3% INCREASES IN THEIR SALARY AS WELL IS GOING TO ADVANCE THEM.
SO NEXT YEAR IF THEY GET ANOTHER 3% IS THEIR, YOU KNOW, IS IT IS GOING TO PROGRESS.
BUT A ONE TIME BONUS DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
IT'S A ONE TIME $500 CHECK AND OR WHATEVER IT WOULD BE.
IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THEIR RETIREMENTS OR ANYTHING.
QUESTION 3% WAS ON THEIR, A 3% BONUS WOULD BE ACCORDING TO THEIR INCOME.
SO IT'S TO SET THE 3% WOULD BE THE SAME AMOUNT, WHETHER IT'S IN, WHETHER IT'S GIVEN TO 'EM AS A COLA, WHICH WOULD BE SPREAD OUT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, OR WHETHER IT'S A ONE-TIME BONUS, IT IS STILL THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO IT REALLY DOESN'T AFFECT THE BUDGET NUMBERS AT ALL.
WHAT WOULD AN AVERAGE DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARY BE? LET'S JUST, LET'S SAY 120,000.
[03:30:03]
AVERAGE.SO WHAT'S 3% OF THAT? WHAT BONUS WOULD THEY GET? 45, 4200, 40 $200.
SO WITH EACH SALARY, THE 3% DIFFERENCE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, AS A FURTHER DISCUSSION, I JUST, I, I MEAN I I, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO, TO 3% AND SO IT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE RETIREMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE BECAUSE A BONUS, YOU WOULDN'T TAKE OUT THOSE TYPE OF BENEFITS, WOULD YOU? YOU WOULD, BUT IT, I BELIEVE SO.
JUST, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE, IT WOULDN'T BE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE ANY BENEFIT FOR NEXT YEAR.
BUT IT'D STILL BE AT THE SAME SALARY RATE THAT THEY'RE AT THIS YEAR, NOR WOULD THE COLA HAVE.
THE COLA IS, THEIR SALARY IS INCREASED BY 3% AND THEN NEXT YEAR IF YOU GET ANOTHER COLA THAT INCLUDES THAT 3%.
SO THEY'LL GET A 3% RAISE THIS YEAR, WHICH 3% NEXT YEAR WILL BE OF THE NEW, THEIR NEW PAY.
IF YOU GET A BONUS, THEY DON'T, IT WON'T WORK LIKE THAT.
I THINK THE ONLY ADVANTAGE TO WHAT YOU PROPOSE WITH A BONUS VERSUS A COLA IS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT 3% FOR ALL THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE MADE UP IN THAT BUDGET.
THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY ADVANTAGE THAT I SEE.
START WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL DERMAN.
IS THERE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR IDEAS THE BOARD WANTS TO PONDER OR FUND? IT'S JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THE EMPLOYEES UP, KNOCKED DOWN BECAUSE THAT ONE TIME BONUS IS NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING FOR THEM.
YOU KNOW, WITH THIS 3% YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT INCREASE IN SALARIES.
UM, DID YOU DO, I'M QUITE SURE, DID YOU GO OUTSIDE THE SURROUNDING CITIES AND GET A COMPARISON TO SALARIES IN, IN TERMS OF COLA OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF SALARIES? PARDON? I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF SALARIES WAS DONE BEFORE.
THAT WAS ALL BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR IS COLA WHAT OTHER CITIES WAS GIVEN.
THE MAJORITY OF CITIES IN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO GOING BY THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF
UH, ON THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, THE AVERAGE COLA WAS 3.1%.
WE RECOMMENDED 3% BASED ON THE, UH, MOST RECENT SOUTH REGION CBI ARE, ARE THEY GIVEN MERITS AS WELL? I THINK THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN 40% OF THE CITIES ON EASTERN PART OF THE STATE THAT, THAT ARE DOING A OLA AND A MERIT.
UH, THEN THEY WERE KIND OF ALL OVER SOME.
WHAT'S CLAYTON COUNTY DOING? DO YOU HAVE A CLUE? I DO NOT SIGN.
DO YOU HAVE IT SO THAT YOU BEST, SO YOU SAYING THAT, UM, YOU THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BONUS VERSUS, UM, YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.
I TOLD SOMEBODY THAT I KNOW REAL WELL.
JOY, WHAT YOU THINK YOU PUT YOU ON, I DON'T BLATANTLY SPEAK TO THE GROUP, BUT I THINK Y'ALL POINTED, POINTED THE DIFFERENCES IN THE TWO, THAT THE BONUS IS A ONE TIME THING.
IT DOESN'T IMPACT YOUR SALARY BOARD.
UM, EXCUSE ME, WITH WITH THE COALS ACROSS THE BOARD, THE SALARY INCREASES, THAT DOES HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUR RETIREMENT, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS AND CALCULATIONS FOR RETIREMENT.
SO, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY SPEAKING, COLA IS A YOU IS A BETTER THING.
THE SAME THING WITH BUDGET FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
THE COLA ENDS UP BEING THE BETTER CHOICE BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THEM BROADER.
THE BONUS IS SIMPLY JUST KIND OF A CASH ONE TIME.
UM, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVES TO THE COLA VERSUS Y'ALL SPOKEN.
JORDAN, WHAT DO Y'ALL SAY IN THE BACKGROUND? YES OR NO? THANK YOU.
WHAT YOU THINK THEY GONNA SAY? NO
[03:35:01]
WOULD YOU THINK THEY GONNA SAY NO IF I WAS SITTING THERE? I SAY YES.
I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS SECURE SINCE THE MOTION FELL.
WE ARE BACK TO THE RECOMMENDATION 3%.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING COLA OR SO, OKAY.
OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ADMINISTRATION.
YOUR, THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS FIVE 20, WHICH 2.5% INCREASE IN CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR STAFF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AT THE OF THE CITY MANAGER AND CONTRACT SERVICES ALERT.
YOU HAVE ANY? ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LEGAL AND IT'S ON PAGE 99 IN YOUR BOOK.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $341,556, WHICH WILL REFLECT NO INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR OF OUR BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET COVER SERVICES PROVIDED TO PROTECT LEGAL INTEREST FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURY, THIS CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY ATTORNEY.
ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT CURRENT OBLIGATIONS? $4,000 THAT MIGHT BE LIKE ANY OTHER, UM, LIKE FILING FEES OR ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT OKAY.
OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL, THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ELECTION STAFF.
SO THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $95,000 BASED ON BELIEF, BASED ON THE EQUIP WE RECEIVED FROM CRAVEN COUNTY.
THE BUDGET COVERS THE COST OF THE UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION, INCLUDING EARLY VOTING AND RUNOFF ELECTION.
IF THE RUNOFF ELECTION IS NOT NECESSARY, THE ESTIMATED COST WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? WITH THIS, UM, UH, ESTIMATED COST HERE? WOULD THAT INCLUDES THE COST OF, IF WE AS A BOARD DECIDE NOTE THE BOND REFERENDUM THAT, IS THAT INCLUDED IN THIS NINE FIVE OR THE ADDITIONAL THAT'S NOT IN THAT? I THINK THAT WE WOULD, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL FEES? I DON'T THINK, I THINK THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING.
WON'T BE ANY ADDITIONAL FEES IF NO QUESTION.
OUR NEXT TAB IS SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS AND THIS IS ON PAGE 1 0 3.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $121,658.
IT REFLECTS THE ZERO INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
AND THAT INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS FOR TAKEN TO THE NEWBURN CRAVEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP TO CRAVEN 100 ALLIANCE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT OCCUR DURING THE YEAR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING OF THE GOVERNING BOARD.
CURRENTLY THAT'S SET AT $3,500 FOR THE ENTIRE BOARD, UH, OR $500 EACH.
AND THE LAST BUDGET OF THE BOARD AGREED THAT IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS WERE NEEDED, THEN THAT WOULD JUST COME BACK AND FORTH THE BOARD TO VOTE ON AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FOR CITY HALL AFTERNOON.
THE NEWMAN CRAVEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, NONE IS THE BUILDING.
THERE'S JOINT OWNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF NEWMAN AND CRAVEN COUNTY.
SO THAT MEANS WE BOTH CONTINUE TO PAY ON THAT EVERY CYCLE OR EVERY YEAR.
IS THAT UNDER CONTRACT THAT, ARE WE OBLIGATED THAT THAT WAS ON A CONTRACT? UH, BRENDA DO YOU HAVE THE DATE WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT AGREEMENT WAS DONE? I'LL HAVE TO PULL WHAT WELL, THE, THAT WAS PART OF THE MANY OTHER THINGS, INCLUDING RATES AT THE INDUSTRIAL PART.
THERE WAS ONE DOCUMENT THAT ENCOMPASSED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, COUNTY HAS SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY UPGRADING THE LIBRARY BUILDING, WHICH WE OWN HALF OF THAT BUILDING.
UM, SO IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT DO WE SEE AS THE CITY OF NEW BERN'S PLACE IN THE FUTURE OF THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND SINCE WE OWN HALF THE BUILDING AND WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PAY 75,000 A YEAR, IT MAY BE WORTH HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY IF WE WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
DO WE STILL PAY MONEY TO THE AIRPORT TOO AS WELL? THAT'S OVER WITH, OVER WITH.
I WAS WONDERING THIS ONE WAS GONNA BE SO THAT, LIKE YOU SAID, JEFF,
[03:40:01]
I FEEL WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH, LIKE YOU JUST SAID WITH THE UH, COMMISSIONERS QUESTION, WHAT IS THE PAYMENT FOR? I SEE CONTRACTUAL PAYMENT, BUT ACTUALLY THE MONEY IS USED FOR WHAT I BELIEVE HISTORIC, THAT'S GONE FOR PERIODICALS AND BOOK REPLACEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SUPPLEMENTED INTO THEUM, WHAT IS, UH, THE 25,000 SPECIAL PROJECTS? SO WE ALWAYS KEEP AT LEAST $25,000 IN THERE.
AND THAT MAY BE IF THE BOARD WANTS TO ALLOCATE, UH, VOTE ON FUNDS FOR, UM, MOST RECENT THING WE DID IS A FEW YEARS AGO WE DID A DINNER FOR, FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM OR THE BOARD MAY WANT TO HAVE AN APPRAISAL ON THE PROPERTY PAYING FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S REALLY WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO DO AND THEY, THEY BRING THAT UP.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO SIR.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE TO PAGE ONE FIVE.
SO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS 48,004 $56, WHICH REFLECTS A 4.2% INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
THIS INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR LIVE BROADCAST, RECORDING AND INDEXING THE CITY BOARD MEETINGS AS WELL AS SOCIAL MEDIA, LIVE STREAM AND SOUND SEARCH CAPABILITIES OF OUR MEETINGS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES LIVE STREAMING TO ROKU AND IT ALSO INCLUDES PURCHASING A NEW VIDEO CAMERA.
UM, AND WHILE WE'RE ON THIS, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT WE RECENTLY HEARD FROM OUR INSURANCE CARRIER THAT, UH, UM, THEY ARE GONNA BE
SO STAFF IS WORKING ON ORDERING THAT NEW EQUIPMENT NOW AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE BACK ONLINE VERY SOON.
GOOD, BECAUSE I'VE HAD PEOPLE ARE REALLY CASTING CD THREE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING COLLEEN, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? UH, THE NEW CAMERA REPLACES THE LARGER ONE, UM, THAT YOU SOMETIMES SEE US USE, WHICH IS ORIGINAL TO THE PEG CHANNEL.
YOU MAY RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE HAD A WORK SESSION AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO GO FINE.
THE VIDEO ENDED UP LOOKING LIKE A, A BAD FOREIGN FILM, UH, 'CAUSE THE AUDIO AND VIDEO DIDN'T MATCH UP.
UH, WHEN I LOOKED BACK AT THE POS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THAT CAMERA, IT WAS PURCHASED IN THE 20 10 20 11 FISCAL YEAR.
SO THE ONLY THING ADDITIONAL TO MY BUDGET THIS YEAR IS TO REPLACE THAT CAMERA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE MOVE TO TECHNOLOGY.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $2,151,030, WHICH REFLECTS A 0.5% INCREASE IN THE CURRENT YEAR VIS BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET INCLUDES THE ACQUISITION OF MANY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND SECURE OPERATION OF THE CITY'S VAST IT SYSTEM.
IT ALSO INCLUDES AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO HELP WITH THIS BUSY DEPARTMENT AND $32,000 IN CAPITAL FOR END OF LIFE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? OUR NEXT IS FINANCE.
ON PAGE ONE 15, THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS 2,302,186, INCLUDES TWO DIVISIONS, COUNTY AND PURCHASING WAREHOUSE.
THIS AWARD-WINNING DEPARTMENT RECEIVED TRIPLE CROWN BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION FOR DISTINGUISHED BUDGET AWARD, CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE, THE FINANCIAL REPORTING AND THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD.
AND THIS DID RECOMMEND ONE NEW POSITION.
WE GOT YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AND RECLASSIFICATION OF MY POSITION.
ANY QUESTION PAUL? UM, HE'S, HE'S NOT HERE, BUT DID ALMAN PROVIDE YOU ANY COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK ON THE BUDGET? YES.
SO HE SHARED THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA BE IN TOWN.
HE STATED THAT HE HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET.
HE JUST WANTED TO SEE THE PRESENTATIONS ON ON THE ELECTED UTILITY.
AND WE WILL BE VOTING ON THIS IN MAY 13TH.
ANY QUESTIONS ON FRIDAY? GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO HUMAN RESOURCES, WHICH IS ON PAGE 1 25.
[03:45:01]
BUDGET IS $959,058, WHICH REFLECTS A 9.9% INCREASE OF THE CURRENT YEAR OF BUDGET.THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO FOCUS ON WORKPLACE SAFETY, EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTING FAIR HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND MANAGING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE POLICE TAB.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $15,538,898, WHICH REFLECTS A 4.6% INCREASE OF THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
THIS AWARD WINNING DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION THROUGH KALIA, THE BUDGET COURT, A WELL TRAINED FORCE OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF WHOSE MISSION IS THE PROTECTION, SAFETY, AND PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW FOR OUR CITIZENS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SIX $78,278 IN CAPITAL TO REPLACE 10 VEHICLES.
ANY QUESTIONS? JUST, UM, ON PAGE 1 39, IT'S UNDER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR PARKING.
AND I ASSUME THAT THAT'S ALL DOWNTOWN WHERE WE DO PARKING ENFORCEMENT? YES, SIR.
WAS WASN'T THAT MSD FUNDING? SO THE PARKING CONTROL OFFICERS, THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S MSD DETECTIVE? YES.
ANY QUESTIONS? GIMME JUST A SECOND.
CHIEF GALLAGHER, UM, CHIEF ASKED IS, UH, LOOKING OVER YOUR BUDGET, YOU MAY WANT BE PREPARED.
ALTHOUGH THE MANAGER IS ASKING FOR 15 MILLION, I WOULD ACCEPT 16 WHEN YOU GIVE IT TO ME.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN HERE THAT YOU ASKED FOR THAT YOU REALLY NEED? YOU DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING I ASKED FOR.
WE NEEDED, HOWEVER, I'M A REALIST.
I THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO PLAY NICE WITH THE REST OF THE DIRECTORS AND SO, UM, I'M FORTUNATE AND BLESSED TO HAVE, UH, GOOD STAFF AND WORK USE WHAT WE'RE GIVEN TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
WE WANNA MEET THE MISSION REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU APPROVE.
AND I ASSUME SHOP SPOTTER IS IN THIS BUDGET SHOP SPOTTER IS IN THIS BUDGET IS GOOD.
ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, MOTION ON PAGE NINE.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS 8 673 812, WHICH REFLECTS A 6.1% DECREASE OF THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THIS AWARD WINNING DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON FIRE ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONAL.
AND THIS INCLUDES $72,000 IN CAPITAL FOR EXTRICATION EQUIPMENT TO REPLACE WALL COVERING AT THE FIRE TRIM GROUND AS WELL.
THE BUDGET SUPPORTS PROTECTION FROM THE DEVASTATION OF FIRE AND LIFE ING EMERGENCIES AS WELL AS PROVIDING QUALITY RISK AWARENESS PROGRAMS, TRAINING AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS.
HOW DID WE GET A DECREASE? I BELIEVE IT WAS BECAUSE OF CAPITAL.
WHAT? S COGNIZE SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
WHAT HAS POPPED UP WOULD BE A $35,000 CONTRACT.
SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS IF YOU SEE THEM MORE ABOVE THE 7 3 2 SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS, IT WAS JUST SEPARATED AND THAT WAS A LINE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE LY LAST YEAR.
SO THE UH, CONTRACT SOFTWARE, IT IS DIRECT MANAGEMENT.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN, AND I DON'T THINK THE INCREASE THIS TWO DIFFERENT LINES.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, WE ADDED A NEW ACCOUNT JUST TO SEPARATE OUT BECAUSE OF THE TRACKING UP WHATEVER REQUIRED TO DO.
AND THEN I SEE THERE'S 74 9 14 AT 80% INCREASE OFFICE MATERIALS HAPPENED HERE.
WAS UM, FROM TRAINING EQUIPMENT? YEAH.
THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF REQUESTING WAS THE SAME.
[03:50:01]
REMOVED FROM THE BUILDING RESTRICTED, IT WAS PLACED IN THIS PARTICULAR LINE TO ASSIST.RE NOT SO THE 80% IS ACTUALLY ACCOUNT, THIS IS WHERE WE WERE TALKING AT THE BEGINNING WHERE IT'S CONFUSING.
THE ACCOUNT NUMBER DOES COME FIRST.
SO 7 4 9 1 4 IS THE FURNITURE AND NON EQUIPMENT CAPITAL.
SO IT WENT FROM 10,000 TO 18,000.
YOU YOU WANT COPY IN THERE WITH ANY ONCE THAT AND ALSO 7 4 9 54 AND 7 4 9 70.
I THINK THOSE TWO FIGURE ARE BACKWARDS GIVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT $99,000 AND HE ONLY $7,000.
AND FIRE SUPPRESSION SUPPLIES FIRE, FIRE COLLECTION SUPPLIES.
THAT'S, THAT IS THE, THE ACCOUNT NUMBER ABOVE 7 4 9 5 2.
UH, THE ONE BELOW THE 7,000 THAT'S FIRE VOLUNTEERS.
WELL WHERE'S THIS $99,000 COMING IN THAT SIX, THAT SAFETY, IT'S THE ACCOUNT NUMBER FIRST AND THEN THE DESCRIPTIONS UNDERNEATH.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT THEY DON'T LINE UP.
RIGHT? YEAH, I TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER AND PUT ACROSS THEM IN UNDER 74.
THE, THE TITLE IS UNDERNEATH THE ACCOUNTING NUMBER.
YOU SEE THE ACCOUNT NUMBER BELOW THAT? OKAY.
WELL IF YOU SAY SO, IF YOU SAY SO I, YEAH, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.
FOR US IT LOOKS LIKE THAT COLUMN NEEDS TO BE WIDER SO IT, IT DOESN'T WRAP THE TEXT.
SO THE DESCRIPTION CAN BE NEXT TO, AND THE, WHEN THIS CHANGED IS WHEN WE WENT TO DO THE PORTRAIT FORMATTING INSTEAD OF THE LANDSCAPER.
I DIDN'T SEE IT IN HERE CHIEF, BUT YOU, I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT WAS IN NEED OF DRONE.
IS THAT BUDGETED IN HERE UNDER FIRE SUPPRESSION SUPPLIES OR SOMETHING? YES.
FOR WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED MORE? I, I'LL, I'LL SPEAK TO THAT.
'CAUSE WE DID INCLUDE, I BELIEVE IT WAS $3,000 UNDER, UNDER, UM, IT'S UNDER THAT FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT NON-CAPITAL.
THE ONE THAT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT THE 80%.
UH, I ASSUME THAT THE 971,000 WAS FIRE TRUCK.
SO WE, WE FINANCE THAT OR DID WE PAY CASH? UM, FOR FIRE TRUCK, WE, WE HAVE IT FINANCE FIGHTING.
SO IT'S RECEIVED SOMETHING WE RECEIVED.
HAVE WE RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THE CHANGE, THE SCOPE OF WORK ON THAT? WE, WE HAVE NOT.
WE MOST RECENTLY REACHED OUT ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HEARD ANYTHING.
WE ACTUALLY HAD ENGAGED OUR CONSULTANTS TO ALSO INQUIRE.
SO WHAT DID THE, WHAT DID THE CURRENT, WHAT DID WE GET APPROVED TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON TO REPLACE THE OLD PP BUILDING? SO IF WE WERE TO BUY REAL ESTATE, THAT WOULD SUFFICE AND SATISFY WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED.
OH YEAH, I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
BUYING, JUST BUYING REAL ESTATE.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD STILL CREATE THE CHANGE IN SCOPE FOR THE, IT WAS TO REPLACE A BUILDING AT THAT SITE.
THAT'S WHAT THAT AT THAT SITE.
SO ANYTHING WOULD BE A CHANGE, BUT THEN WE, WE, UH, HAD THAT MONEY TO GO TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF THE FIRE TRUCK.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING ON.
WHEN'S YOUR DELIVERY DATE ON THAT? IF YOU'VE HEARD? SO RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THAT WE'VE UM, MANUFACTURER SIX MONTHS REDUCTION.
SO YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL PURCHASE WAS AROUND FOUR YEARS, UH, FOR TURNAROUND TIME.
SO THEY'RE TELLING US NOW THAT THEY'VE GOT BACK DOWN AT LEAST BY SIX MONTHS.
SO WE'RE HOPING SEE FURTHER AS FAR AS THE TURNAROUND UNIVERSITY WASN'T THERE, WASN'T THERE WHERE WE GET A DISCOUNT PAID IN FOR? I THINK THAT CORRECT AT THE TIME PURCHASE WAS.
DO YOU ALL REMEMBER HOW WE DEPOSIT ON THE, ON THE FIRE TRUCK OR IT'S 50%? YEAH, I'M SORRY.
I THOUGHT I JUST SAID IT'S 50% DEPOSIT AND THEN THE BALANCE IS DUE AND IT'S DELIVERED.
I THINK WE RECEIVED SOME, UM, DISCOUNT BY DOING 50%.
[03:55:01]
THINK THE GREATER IS THE DISCOUNT.BUT I DUNNO HOW MUCH IT FLUCTUATED.
IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT DISCOUNT THOUGH.
IT WAS CHEAPER THAN INTEREST THAN WE WOULD'VE MAKE.
WE, YEAH, IT WAS A, IT WAS A LARGE DISCOUNT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE TO PARK AND RECREATION STARTS ON PAGE 1 59.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS $4,340,306.
HIGHLIGHT TO THIS, THE AWARD-WINNING DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL ACCREDITATION THROUGH CAPITAL AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THEIR REACCREDITATION THIS WEEK.
SO GARY, UH, GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON THAT.
THIS BUDGET FOCUSES ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF 26 PARKS, MULTIPLE FACILITIES, PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS OFFERED TO OUR CITIZENS.
THIS INCLUDES $178,000 IN CAPITAL FOR A TOP DRESSER TRACTOR MOUNT, LOWER TO SCHOOL BOARDS, SECURITY CAMERAS AND PARKS AND PAVING REPAIRS AND PARKS AND COMMENTS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AS WELL? THE POSITIONS HERE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
CARRIE, COULD YOU GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PART-TIME POSITIONS THAT, UH, WE HAVE HERE? STAND WHITE RECREATION CENTER.
UM, WE HAVE FIELD TWO OF THOSE PART-TIME POSITIONS WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT APPEALED YET.
WE HAVE MADE AN OFFER ONE THAT DID NOT ACCEPT.
UM, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT APPLICATIONS AND SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS.
WOULD THOSE TWO PART-TIME POSITIONS BE BETTER SUITED IF IT WAS A FULL-TIME POSITION? YEAH, I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD.
UM, WE CURRENTLY ARE USING SEASONAL STAFF TO FILL THAT PART-TIME GAP AND THOSE PART-TIME ROOMS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD NOT SCHEDULED FOR BEING TO GET MORE THAN 20 HOURS AND THE SEASONALS ARE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP.
SO IF WE COULD MAKE IT ONE, I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT.
IT WOULD GIVE SOME, UH, RELIEF TO THE STAFF HERE.
BECAUSE YOU HAD SOME CHALLENGES FILLING THE PART-TIME POSITIONS, RIGHT? MM-HMM
YEAH, WE'RE ONLY ADVERTISE I FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
SO THE FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE THE BENEFITS ONLY? CORRECT.
SO TO THE BOARD IF THEY WANNA CONSIDER THAT.
SO YOU FEEL THE TWO UH, FULL-TIME MA'AM, WE FILLED THE TWO FULL-TIME, UH, SLOTS FULL.
WE FILLED, UM, THREE FULL-TIME, THREE FULLTIME, TWO PART-TIMER FIELD AND TWO PART-TIMERS STILL AVAILABLE.
SO WHAT ARE YOU RECOMMENDING, MAYOR? TO CONVERT THE TWO PART-TIME POSITIONS TO FULLTIME POSITION? SO SHE'S ONE FULLTIME? CORRECT.
WOULD THAT BE BETTER FOR YOU? YES SIR.
CONSIDERING WE HAVE TROUBLE DEALING THE PARTTIME.
I'M ASSUMING IT'S 20 TO $30,000 INCREASE.
IT WOULD, THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY BE A PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION.
CAN YOU PULL THAT UP IN THE CLASSIFICATION? WAS THE TWO PART-TIME POSITION FOR WHAT? THE TITLE FACILITY ATTENDANT FOR THE OPERATIONS HERE AT STANLEY WHITE.
AND THE FULL TIME WOULD BE FOUR.
IT WOULD BE FOR RECREATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR HERE AT STANLEY WHITE.
SO 20,000 DIFFERENCE, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YEAH.
SO FOR 20,000 DIFFERENCE INSTEAD OF TWO PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, SHE WOULD GET ONE FULL-TIME, TWO PART-TIME IN TOTAL.
MORE ABOUT MAYBE 30 20,000 DIFFERENCE OR HAVE A PREFERENCE.
UM, I WANTED TO ADD TO IT, I WANTED TO KNOW, UM, WHY DO WE NOT HAVE A CENTER SUPERVISOR HERE
[04:00:01]
TO STAND WIFE.BUT YOU HAVE A, A CENTER SUPERVISOR OVER AT WEST NEWBURN? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO POSITIONS OVER WEST NEW RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT IN THAT SUPERVISORY POSITION HERE.
WHEN WE, UM, OPENED THIS FACILITY AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE BASICALLY RECLASSIFIED SOME POSITIONS TO HAVE STAFF TO WORK HERE.
AND THEN WE ALSO, UM, APPROVED FOUR PART-TIME POSITIONS TO, TO WORK AT THIS FACILITY AS WELL.
SO WE DIDN'T HAVE, WHAT IF THIS BOARD WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND WE HIRE A CENTER SUPERVISOR FOR THIS? WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
SO DO YOU HAVE PLANS ON SHIFTING THE CENTER SUPERVISOR FROM WEST NEWBURN OVER HERE SINCE THE WEST NEWBURN HOURS HAS NOW BEEN CUT? NO, WE DO NOT.
SO WHAT IS THE DIRE NEED FOR HAVING CENTER SUPERVISOR OVER THERE AND NOT HERE? THAT PERSON? WE HAVE A BIGGER, LARGER FACILITY HERE WITH MORE PROGRAMMING, MORE HERE IN THIS, IN THIS FACILITY.
I, I CAN TELL YOU MY OPINION ON THAT.
THIS FACILITY HAS QUITE A FEW STAFF HERE THAT CAN OPERATE THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AND MAINTAIN ITS FACILITY WITH THE CURRENT STAFFING AS OPPOSED TO OVER WEST NEWTON RECREATION CENTER WHERE YOU HAVE ONE PERSON THAT STAYS THERE FULL TIME, THAT FACILITY IS OPEN, 10:00 AM 6:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND THEN TWO OR THREE HOURS ON SATURDAY.
THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM COORDINATOR THAT'S GOING BACK AND FORTH.
SO THAT ONE FACILITY, UH, MANAGER CAN DEFINITELY HANDLE THAT.
WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE WITH ANY PROGRAMS OR SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED AS WELL AS ANY FACILITY S BUT YOU STILL HAVEN'T CHANGED YOUR STAFF IN HERE.
I MEAN THE NUMBERS ARE THE SAME SINCE 2223.
YOU HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF, IT STILL REMAINS THE SAME.
I JUST THINK THAT HERE WITH THIS FACILITY YOU HAVE A LAR A LARGER WORKLOAD HERE YOU HAVE MORE PRO YOU HAVE PROGRAMS. WE WE DO HAVE A LARGE WORKLOAD OVER HERE.
YEAH, YOU HAVE A RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT HERE.
YOU HAVE TWO ATHLETIC STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE.
YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COORDINATOR THAT IS HERE AND THEN YOU HAVE A PROGRAM COORDINATOR HERE.
THEN YOU ALSO HAVE A FITNESS COORDINATOR.
YOU'VE GOT SIX FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE OPERATING THIS FACILITY AND WHO'S OPERATING, WHO'S MANAGING THEM? UM, JAMES BULLOCK IS THE RECREATION CENTER SUPERINTENDENT.
SO THEN SINCE THIS CENTER HAS COME INTO INCEPTION, WE ARE NOW YOU HAVE, UH, MR. BULLOCK'S IN PLACE? HE'S IN CHARGE.
SO YOU HAVE UH, IS HE ONE OF THE ONES THAT FOR THAT YOU, THAT WE REQUESTED? I I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT FOR A SALARY INCREASE BECAUSE OF YOUR JOB DUTIES? NO, HE HAS NOT.
I DON'T, SHE HASN'T MADE A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT.
I HAVEN'T MADE A REQUEST FOR HER.
WHY, WHY NOT? IF YOU, YOU HAVE THE LARGER FACILITY HERE AND YOU, YOU HAVEN'T FULLY STAFFED IT BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTING OTHER EMPLOYEES.
SO I DON'T GET WHY THE WORKLOAD IS HEAVIER ON THESE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITHIN THIS FACILITY.
BUT WHY HAVEN'T ANY OF THEM BEEN RECOMMENDED TO BE UPGRADED SALARY WISE? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING DUTY WHAT THEY BEFORE OTHER THAN A DIFFERENT CENTER.
LIKE THEY'RE, THEY RUN DIFFERENT PLACES BEFORE THEY WERE HOUSED AT DIFFERENT FACILITIES.
SO THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE DOING PROGRAMMING HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN DOING THAT AT WEST.
THEY'VE COME OVER HERE, THEY BROUGHT THEIR PROGRAMS, PARTS LOCATED AT THE AQUATIC CENTER BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE OFFICE SPACE FOR HIM ANYWHERE ELSE.
UM, HIS, UM, ATHLETIC COORDINATOR WHO WAS ALSO HOUSED AT THE POOL BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER OFFICE SPACE IS NOW OVER HERE.
THEIR DUTIES HAVE NOT CHANGED.
THEY'RE JUST IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
SO THE THE TWO POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU ARE THE TWO NEW HIRES, THE FACILITY ATTENDANCE? CORRECT.
THEY DO NOT WORK MORE THAN 20 HOURS A WEEK, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED HOURS MORE TIME.
WELL I KNOW MR. HUGHES SUGGESTED, UM, ACTUALLY STATED IN THIS BUDGET THAT SANDY WHITE REC CENTER CENTER SUPERVISOR IS NEEDED.
SO THAT'S MY QUESTION WHY I ASKED WHY ISN'T THE CENTER SUPERVISOR IN PLACE ALREADY? LAST YEAR'S BUDGET I REQUESTED
[04:05:01]
WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.SO SO WHY SO WHY WAS IT PUT IN YOUR TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS YEAR? BECAUSE WE JUST OPENED POSITIONS THAT WE DID GET WERE REALLOCATED.
SO, BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME POSITION.
YOU HAD THOSE POSITIONS LAST YEAR AND YOU ASKED FOR IT AND YOU DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T GET APPROVED.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE SAME POSITIONS THIS YEAR AND, BUT IT WASN'T ASKED FOR BECAUSE WE JUST OPENED AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THE YEAR GOES BEFORE WE PUT IN ANOTHER FULLTIME POSITION OF THAT CAPACITY.
IF MR. BULLOCK IS NOT ABLE TO DO HIS OTHER DUTIES ON TOP OF THAT, THEN YEAH WE CAN ADD ANOTHER POSITION OR REQUEST.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU TYPICALLY HAVE HERE DURING THE DAYTIME? UM, THEY VARY, UM, WHEN THEY COME IN.
SOME MAY COME IN AT NOON AND WORK TILL NINE.
SOME COME IN AT SEVEN, WORK TILL FOUR.
UM, BUT THROUGHOUT THE DAY WE HAVE FOUR TO FIVE STAFF HERE AT ALL TIMES.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY PAGES COME TO THE FACILITY ON A DAILY BASIS? YEAH.
AVERAGES ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 120.
HOW MANY PROGRAMS ARE YOU OFFERING ON A DAILY BASIS HERE? UM, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR FITNESS CLASSES THAT GO ON.
WE HAVE, UM, OPEN GYM THROUGHOUT ALL DAY AND THAT'S SETTING UP PICKLEBALL, BASKETBALL, UH, CORNHOLE ACTIVITIES AND THEN THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT STAFF ARE PLANNING AND PROVIDING THAT ARE SOMETIMES ONE TIME OR A SERIES OF PROGRAMS. SO BACK TO THE TWO PART-TIME POSITIONS YOU HAD STRUGGLE FILLING.
UM, WOULD THE BOARD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN CONVERTING THOSE TO FULL-TIME, WHICH WOULD GIVE ANOTHER FULL-TIME BODY AT THIS FACILITY? AND YOU SAID MS. WARREN, THAT THAT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED BY YOU TO COMBINE THE TWO? I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO COMBINE THE TWO TO ONE SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
ANYTHING ELSE ON PARKS AND RECREATION? YES SIR.
SIR? UM, THE, THE, UH, SUPERVISORY ARE THE PLAN ON, ARE YOU GOING TO SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, UM, LOOK AT PROMOTING SOMEONE OR MOVING SOMEONE UP TO BE THE SUPERVISOR HERE AT THIS FACILITY? IF WE GET THAT POSITION AS A CENTER SUPERVISOR, IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BASED ON MILLION HOUSE.
IF I APPLY, THAT'S WHEN IT COMES OVER.
I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THAT ALSO.
FOR THE NEW POSITION TWO TO ONE, DO YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND? IN HOUSE? ARE YOU STILL, UH, APPLICATIONS ARE STILL OUT.
UM, I DUNNO IF WE'VE HAD ANYBODY PART-TIME THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT POSITION.
UM, THERE ARE PREVIOUS APPLICANTS I INTERVIEWED WHEN WE WERE HIRED, BUT THEY WERE INTERESTED.
I WOULD LOOK AT BRINGING THEM BACK.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET 59 $50 WILL REQUEST NINE POINT PERCENT INCREASE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET INCLUDES AN EMPHASIS ON ORDINANCE AND POLICY MODERNIZATION, ALL DELIVERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND LAND USE PLANNING, ZONING PERMITTING, INSPECTIONS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION MAPPING, FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT, NUISANCE STATEMENT, HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
THIS INCLUDES RECLASSIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE TO PERMANENT TECH.
AND WE'RE WAITING ON FINAL INFORMATION FROM OUR CONSULTANTS ON, WELL, THREE BUILDING INSPECTORS AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS ALSO INCLUDES CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITMENT OF RETAIL BUSINESSES TO NEW ROOM AND 43,500 FOR REPLACEMENT BID.
ANY QUESTIONS? WHO THAT DIVISION WEARS? UNIFORMS? UM,
[04:10:01]
I'LL LET JESSICA COME UP AND, AND UNIFORM UNIFORMS. YOU MAY BE LOOKING STA THEY HAVE STA SHIRTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THEIR BUILDING INSPECTORS, BUT NO STANDARD UNIFORM PANTS AND SHIRT TYPE THING.BUT JESSE, YOU CAN ADD MORE IF YOU'D LIKE.
OUR BUILDING INSPECTORS WEAR SHIRTS THAT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES? NO.
I SEE ON PAGE 1 76 THAT THE R THE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS MOVED FROM PLANNING.
WHERE IS THAT? SO WE HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT SHORTLY.
SO WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WELL, THERE'S BEEN SOME DIS THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION THAT THAT POSITION MIGHT NEED TO BE MOVED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT, UM, COMMISSION.
IT MIGHT BE BETTER SERVED IN THAT AREA IN A UNDER JAIL AND, AND BECAUSE OF THE DISTRICT, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT SHE'S WORKED ON.
MAYBE THEY'LL BE, COULD UTILIZE THE POSITION AND THAT COULD PROBABLY HELP SPEND THE MONEY IN THE REDEVELOPMENT CONDITION.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OF THE DISCUSSION, BUT I'M HAPPY IF THE BOARD WANTS TO GIVE DIRECTION WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT AND GO FROM THERE.
WELL, I MIGHT HEAR WHAT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THINK.
ANYBODY ELSE? SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING TAKING THE 200, I THINK IT WAS TWO 80 SOME DOLLARS, WE GOT THIS 2025 BUDGET ON FOCUS, UH, CDDG PROGRAM AND PUTTING IT INTO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? ALONG WITH THE, THE YOUNG LADY THAT WORKS THERE.
AND, AND SO JUST JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE ALLOCATION THAT WE GET, CT D UH, FUNDS THAT WE GET, THAT CAN ONLY BE USED ON CERTAIN THINGS.
SO THERE'S A PROCESS THAT HUD THAT ESTABLISHES FOR HOW WE DETERMINE WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GONNA BE, ARE GOING, GOING TO GO.
SO, BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR REHAB AND HOUSES, RIGHT? WELL WE HAVE FOUND OUT HISTORICALLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT VERY WELL ON THE HOUSING REHAB.
ONE BECAUSE THERE AREN'T A LOT OF OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSES IN THE AREA WHERE CDPG FUNDS CAN, THEY'RE MORE RENTER OCCUPIED.
AND SO THAT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR C DPG.
UM, THEY, THE UM, STAFF HAS TRIED TO GET NON-PROFITS TO BE PARTNERS IN THAT AND THEY FOUND OUT WITH THIS AS C DG GUIDELINES ARE THAT THEY HAVE TO ONE, PROVIDE PREVAILING WAGES.
THEY'VE GOTTA FIND A CONTRACTOR TO WORK WITH THAT WILL PAY PREVAILING WAGES AND FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND THINGS.
AND SO IT HAS BEEN I THINK, ONE COLOSSAL FAILURE AFTER ANOTHER WITH THAT HOUSE IN REHAB.
TELL ME IF I'M INCORRECT ON THIS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, YOUR HONOR.
CCA UH, YOU KNOW, THIS LOOKS REALLY WONDERFUL ON PAPER.
WE WANT TO DO THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND I THINK, UH, DEIA DID A WONDERFUL JOB EXPLAINING A FEW MEETINGS AGO.
THE FRUSTRATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH ACTUALLY EXECUTING THIS PROGRAM IS THAT THE NONPROFITS ARE NOT CAPABLE AT THE, THE PRICE LIMITS AND THINGS TO FIND QUALIFIED WORKERS THAT NEED ALL THE RED TAPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES TO DO THESE PROGRAMS. AND IT'S JUST THE, UM, LIKE YOU SAID, A COLOSSAL FAILURE DUE TO ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE QUALIFICATIONS YOU NEED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO DO THE WORK.
UM, I THINK THAT FRUSTRATION WOULD EXIST NO MATTER WHICH UMBRELLA THIS, THIS PROGRAM FELL UNDER.
UM, THAT SAID SHE DID ALSO PROVIDE A, A RECOMMENDATION THAT IF WE WANT TO RE-LOOK AT DOING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS 'CAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL BEFORE THAT SOMETIMES, UM, IT, IT MAY BE WORTH THAT FINDING A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT WHO IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THESE PROGRAMS WORK TO OVERSEE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BETTER CONNECTIONS WITH SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND FIRMS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT WORK UNDER THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
'CAUSE BEFORE WE HAD A CONTRACT SERVICE, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME.
UM, AT POINT AND THEY WERE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
AND 'CAUSE I SEE THIS PROGRAM, THE CDBG MONEY IS, UH, FOR, I SEE THIS IS GOING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
[04:15:01]
BROAD, UH, UNDER THIS PROGRAM IT COVERS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF, UH, HUD IT COVERS, UM, UNDER THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT, IT COVERS A LOT AND IT COMES FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSING REPAIRS AND ALL OF THIS.AND I KNOW BEFORE WE HAD THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING AND WE HAD CITIZENS THAT APPLIED FOR IT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED SOME UPKEEP AND REPAIRS TO THEIR HOME, CEILING, FLOORS, WINDOWS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT MONEY THERE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO MANAGE IT.
I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT DOING ANYTHING WITH THE MONEY OTHER THAN MOVING IT TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY ALSO ARE IN THAT AREA DOING WORK IN THAT AREA.
AND THERE MAY BE A HOUSE THAT'S COULD BE REHABBED OVER THERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THEY WOULD KNOW ABOUT.
I MEAN, UH, IT MIGHT, IT MIGHT BE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IT GO BACK TO DOING LIKE REHABBING HOMES, RIGHT? LIKE THE, THE LITTLE OLD LADY THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WORKED, LIVED OVER ON THE CANAL.
I MEAN SHE SAT IN HER HOUSE WITH BUCKETS SON IN HER LIVING ROOM CATCHING THE RAIN WATER.
THAT'S WHAT I NO, THAT'S, AND THAT'S MY POINT AS WELL.
I I'M THINKING THAT THE DEB, WHICH IS KNOWS HE SURVEYED AREAS, HE KNOWS WHAT'S OVER THERE.
HE KNOWS WHAT COULD, WHAT MIGHT BE NEEDED.
AND I'M JUST THINKING IT MIGHT BE BETTER SERVED OVER IN THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY MAY KNOW A HOUSE THAT NEEDS TO BE REHABBED.
YEAH, RIGHT BESIDE, RIGHT BESIDE THE UM, THE HOUSES THAT WE BUILT.
THERE'S ONE OVER THERE THAT THAT, THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WOULD LOVE TO HAVE.
WELL SEE, I UNDERSTAND IN REHAB I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF, I'LL JUST SAY MYSELF FOR INSTANCE, IF I WAS LIVING IN MY HOME RIGHT NOW AND I NEEDED MY FLOORS REPLACED, I DON'T WANT GOING THROUGH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
HOW LONG IS THAT GONNA TAKE FOR THEM TO GET TO ME TO DO OR JUST A REPAIR FOR MY FLOORS? WELL KNOW IT'S THE SAME PERSON.
NO, IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND NO CURRENT ATTENDANT ZE AND HIS TEAM 'CAUSE THEY'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A FASTER PROCESS.
I JUST THINK THE MONEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF SPENT ON HOMES VERSUS BUS STOPS.
SO ONE, ONE CONCERN I HAVE WOULD BE THIS, THE REDEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME AS OUR CDDG BOUNDARY.
THEY'RE, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING AS THAT CAN ALSO COME SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, AS FAR AS GOING BACK TO A HOUSING REHAB PROGRAM, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN REPACKAGE AND, AND LOOK AT CONSULTANTS AND GET IN AN ANNUAL ELECTION PLAN.
UM, DEIA DOES A, A PRETTY ROBUST JOB TRYING TO SEEK INPUT EVERY YEAR WHEN THIS, THIS ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS PUT TOGETHER.
WE GOT MORE THIS YEAR, UM, THAN WE HAVE TYPICALLY BEFORE.
AND I KNOW THAT'S, UM, SOME OF YOU HAVE CERTAINLY HELPED WITH THAT.
UH, ANOTHER POINT, UM, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED A LOT OF OUR HOUSES THAT NEED THE MOST HELP AND ARE THEY, THEY HAVE TENANT OCCUPANTS IN THEM.
THEY ARE NOT OWNER OCCUPIED AND THAT ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIES YOU.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT Z AND I HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY EVALUATING OTHER PROGRAMS WHERE WE CAN HELP SOME OF THESE LANDLORDS FIX THEIR HOUSE UP, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE TENANTS AND HE CAN SPEAK BETTER TO THAT 'CAUSE HE'S MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
BUT THERE ARE SOME WORKAROUNDS AND GRANT PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP THEIR, AND WE'RE NOT SITTING IDLE AND JUST SAYING, WELL YOU'RE A RENTER SO WE CAN'T HELP YOU.
HE'S BEEN REALLY TRYING TO WORK HARD AT THAT, BUT THAT DOES NOT FALL UNDER A-C-D-P-G UMBRELLA OF THEIR PROGRAM.
LIKE THEY WANT TO GIVE MONEY TO OWNERS AND, AND ALLMAN ASKED HER THAT CDB OBLIGATION DOES THE CITY A NEW, NOW THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO DO ANY TYPE OF PROGRAM.
THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY FOR THEM TO GET FUNDS THROUGH THE HUD PROGRAM IF THEY WANTED TO DO ANY TYPE OF PROGRAM THAT QUALIFIES.
CAN CEBG FUNDS BE USED? I'M SORRY IT BE USED TO DEMOLISH DERELICT HOUSE.
AND IN FACT IN OUR LAST ANNUAL EXIT PROGRAM, YOU CAN PUT UP TO 3% IN THERE.
AND WE DID AND WE ARE DRAWING THAT DOWN RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE RECENTLY APPROVED ONES THAT ARE BEING FUNDED BY THAT PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE DONE THAT THE LAST TWO YEARS GETTING THE FACTS THAT WE CAN FOR THAT ON THE BOARD.
WE, THIS IS THE SECOND CONVERSATION THE BOARD HAS HAD THAT I RECALL ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THAT AGENCY WAS THAT COULD WE HAVE THE HOUSES? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU NEED FROM THE BOARD OF ALL THAT
[04:20:01]
WE CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD IN FINDING SOME CONTRACTORS? SO IN THE ANNUAL ELECTION PLAN, UH, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE COME BACK AND DEANGELO WILL OFTEN STAND BEFORE YOU AND SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT FOR THIS BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS NOT WORKING.WHEN WE CREATE THAT ORIGINALLY, UM, WE CAN PUT THAT IN THERE.
THERE'S, THERE'S CERTAIN PERCENTAGES OF YOUR ALLOCATION YOU CAN USE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND SO WE CAN, BASED ON THE PROGRAM THAT WAS EFFECTIVE BEFORE, PUT THAT IN A PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
AND I BELIEVE SHE'S EVALUATED PUTTING THAT IN THE NEXT ONE THAT IS GOING TO COME BEFORE YOU, ALONG WITH MAINTAINING THE 30%, UM, FOR THE DEMOLITION OF, OF THE ATED HOUSES.
SO THAT CLAIM JUST HASN'T TRACKED YET.
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS NOT GIVING ME A TIMELINE OF WHEN I CAN TELL YOU WE EXPECT TO SEE THIS.
UM, NORMALLY IT'S ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET WITH ALL THE MOVING PIECES UP AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.
WASN'T THAT, WAS IT MC? THAT SOUNDS CORRECT.
SOMEBODY AND IT WAS, IT WAS PRE ME, BUT THAT SOUNDS ACCURATE.
SO IN THE NEXT ACTION PLAN WE CAN INCLUDE THIS IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY PASSED THE, THE, THE FORMULATION OF IT.
IT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED YET THOUGH.
SO YES, WE ABSOLUTELY CAN STILL PUT THAT IN.
RIGHT NOW IT'S BEING BASED ON THE PUBLIC INPUT.
I CAN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN, HOWEVER, IF THIS IS IN THE PLAN CHECK, WE WORK WITH A CONSULTANT THAT THAT HELPS US DO THIS.
SO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN IS WAITING ON THE ALLOCATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SINCE THAT'S FROZEN, WE CAN'T PROPOSE ANYTHING FOR ADOPTION.
SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ETA ON WHEN THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WILL COME OUT.
WAS THAT THE 280 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS? YES.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE AN ENTITLEMENT CITY, THOSE FUNDS ARE FOR THE MOST PART FROZEN.
SO WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH NEXT YEAR.
WHEN THE PLAN COMES TO YOU, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SEE IN IT, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO BRING IT UP WHEN THAT'S OUT FOR PUBLIC.
THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE HOUSES WE HAVE.
MY ONLY COMMENT IS, I THINK WE JUST GOT ANOTHER LETTER LAST MONTH THAT WE HAD UNSPENT FUNDS.
SO WHATEVER PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE, WHEREVER THAT DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO SIT, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE THIS SIMPLER.
BECAUSE LIKE
WE PUT A BASKETBALL COURT THAT COST US THREE TIMES, THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE WOULD CAUSE IT CDBG FUNDS.
I JUST WANT US TO GET TO A POINT TO WHERE THE FUNDS CAN BE USED EFFICIENTLY AND TIMELY.
SO WE QUIT GETTING THESE NOTICES THAT WE'RE PAST DUE OR BEHIND.
AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE CONTRACT REPLACED LIKE MCKAY AND ASSOCIATES TO MANAGE THAT MONEY AND WE CAN GET THESE PROJECTS DONE.
I JUST, SOMETHING RE SOMETHING REMINDS ME THAT THERE'S A REASON WHY WE QUIT USING THAT PROCESS.
I JUST DON'T RECALL WHAT IT WAS.
I CAN SPEAK ON TWO OF THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT LETTER YOU'RE REFERRING TO COMES EVERY YEAR REGARDLESS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE SPEND IT QUICK OR SLOW, THEY'RE JUST REPORTING US TO HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE LEFT TO SPEND.
UM, AND AS FAR AS WHY THEY STOPPED PAYING THE CONSULTANT, IT WAS FOR THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION.
UH, THE CHOICE TO SAVE ON ADMINISTRATION BASICALLY ELIMINATED HAZARD REHAB FROM BEING AFFECTED.
DID THE CONSULTANT GO OUT AND PEOPLE THAT NEED THEIR HOUSE OR HOUSE? I MEAN, I'M GONNA, I'LL HAVE TO RECORD THAT TO UH YEP.
DID THE CONSULTANT GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TRY TO FIND PEOPLE THAT NEEDED ASSISTANCE? SERVICE PROGRAM EXISTED BEFORE I WORKED HERE, SO I I CAN'T COPY ANSWER.
SO IN THE, IN THE CURRENT WE HAD, UM, DOESN'T FEEL WHAT TWO GROUPS.
IT WAS DEATH FIELD, PHOENIX PROJECT AND IT WAS, UM, WHAT WAS THE OTHER GROUP THAT WE WORKED WITH? UM, THERE WAS THREE NON-PROFIT GROUPS THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY WORKING WITH AND UH, THE LAST ONE, IT RSC AND DEATH FIELD PHOENIX.
SO THE ISSUES WITH HOUSING REHAB WHEN WE GOT HERE IS THERE WAS A ARBITRARY $10,000 AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO PER HOUSE.
AND EVEN IF WE JUST DID AC UNITS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TWO GROUPS THAT COULD DO THAT, UH, AN HVAC UNIT COSTS $10,000 AND LABOR ISN GREAT.
[04:25:02]
IT WOULD STILL, I MEAN IT COULD BE THAT THEY COULD AFFORD TO BE ABLE IF WE THE PROGRAM BROUGHT, BOUGHT THE UNIT OR SOMETHING.
I JUST THINK IF I HAD A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNEW THEIR HOUSES FIXED, I BELIEVE I COULD FIND SOMEBODY THAT WOULD NEED THE MONEY ENOUGH THAT WE COULD SPEND IT ON THEIR HOUSE.
THE HARD THING IS FINDING A CONTRACTOR THAT WANTS TO WORK THROUGH THOSE GUIDELINES, WHICH IT NO KIDDING.
IT'S A LOT OF RED TAPE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY SEEN THE ISSUE THEY HAVE.
SO WHY DON'T WE EVEN GET THE MONEY THEN? I MEAN, WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T WE KEEP APPLYING FOR THE MONEY DON'T BASED OFF OF OUR POPULATION'S.
AN EXAMPLE, WE RECENTLY HAD A PROJECT GO AFTER BID, UH, AND WE REACHED OUT TO 15 OR 16 INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES AND ONLY ONE RETURN BACK THAT EVEN QUALIFIED.
AND THIS, WE'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THE SAME PROBLEM IN CURED EVERY YEAR UNTIL IT GOT TO THIS POINT HERE.
NOW, LIKE MAYOR JUST SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, DUE TO OUR POPULATION THAT WE ARE GONNA RECEIVE THE MONIES ANYWAY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, COULD WE SPEND THE MONEY? NO.
BECAUSE OF THE QUALIFICATION THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TO MEET AND THEY CAN'T MEET THAT STANDARD THAT THEY WOULD QUALIFY TO RECEIVE.
WE, WE HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK IN REPAVING ROADS AND DOING STREETS.
MATTER OF FACT, WE USE THE CBG ALLOCATIONS TO REPAID GASTON, BUT A SIDEWALK BEHIND THE RECREATION CENTER.
SO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK'S BEING BID OUT NOW AND WE'LL BE ASKING FOR A QUICK THING.
SO I MEAN, BEFORE, BEFORE THE UPCOMING YEAR WHEN, WHEN JESSICA RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF NOTIFICATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT FUNDS HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, LIFTED, UM, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, IF WE HAVE CITIZENS THAT HAVE COME TO THE CITY OF NEWBURN THAT HAS A, UH, MISS DA BEFORE FULL MORE 'CAUSE SHE'S THE ONE HANDLE THIS PROGRAM.
SO IF SHE HAS ANY SISTANCE THAT HAVE COME TO HER TO, WITH AN APPLICATION WANTING TO APPLY FOR SOME OF THAT FUNDING BECAUSE OF HOUSE REPAIRS, THEN THAT'S WHERE SHE CAN TAKE THAT, THOSE FUNDS AND LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE IF YOU CAN HIRE A CONTRACTOR TO PERFORM THOSE, THOSE REPAIRS.
IS IT AS SIMPLE AS THAT BECAUSE YOU NOT, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAD ONE CONTRACTOR THAT, UM, CORRECT THE, THE OTHER 1415 DECIDED THAT THE JOB WAS ESSENTIALLY TOO SMALL.
OR THAT THEY COULD NOT MEET THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
AND ANOTHER THING IS THIS, A LOT OF THEM ARE RENT.
I KNOW THAT, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT HOMEOWNERS.
I'M TALKING, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY MAIL, TRYING TO FIND, THEY HAVE LOOKING FOR PROGRAMS OR WHATEVER TO, TO HELP THOSE, UH, LANDLORDS TO, YOU KNOW, UP TO UPGRADE THEIR PROPERTIES AND WHATEVER.
BUT I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT, AND I'M QUITE SURE YOU KNOW, SOME THAT LIVE WITHIN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT NEEDS SOME FINANCIAL HELP WITH REPAIRS TO THEIR HOME.
AND IF THE CDG WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY DON'T QUALIFY? I MEAN, THE ONES THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WHOLE PROBLEM RIGHT THERE.
I I HAVE REFERRED NUMEROUS PEOPLE TO THAT MS. FULL THAT QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM.
BUT THE ONES THAT I HAVE SEEN, AND I, AND I'M BASICALLY, A LOT OF 'EM ARE EITHER WIDOWS OR SENIORS.
THAT, YOU KNOW, NEED, NEED HELP.
SO I GUESS, AND THE FEW THAT DO QUALIFY, THEN IT'S VERY HARD TO HOOK THEM UP WITH THE CONTRACTOR QUALIFY TO DO THE WORK.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE, TO DO THE WORK HER CORRECT.
AND DEAN DOES A GREAT JOB TRYING TO FIND ALTERNATIVE HELP FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WE HAVE TO TURN AWAY, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY IN HER JOB DESCRIPTION, BUT SHE NEVER JUST SAYS, WE CAN'T HELP YOU.
SHE, SHE TRIES TO HOOK THEM UP WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP HER WITHOUT ALL OF THE RESTRICTIONS OF THIS PROGRAM.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A FLAW OF FEDERAL PROGRAM.
IT'S, YES, IT'S QUOTE UNQUOTE FREE MONEY.
WE GET IT BECAUSE WE'RE ENTITLED.
BUT THE RED TAPE AND THE STRINGS THAT COME ATTACHED TO IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.
THAT'S WHY WE STILL HAVE THE HOUSE THAT WAS SITTING RIGHT HERE ON THIS LOT.
IT'S STILL VACANT RIGHT THERE.
YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T CHECK ALL THE BOXES THAT'S REQUIRED FROM CDV.
ALRIGHT, I THINK WE BEAT THAT DEAD HORSE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
[04:30:01]
STARTS ON PAGE 180 5.THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS ONE 57,004 20, WHICH IS 5.9% INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
THIS INCLUDES SALARY, BENEFITS, TRAINING, AND SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES $200,000 IN CAPITAL FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FUND, BALANCE FOR LAND ACQUISITION SITE PREPARATION AND DEMOLITION FOR THE FY 26 YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE RE WHERE HAS THAT? IT'S ITS OWN REDEVELOPMENT.
IT'S THE REDEVELOPMENT IS ITS OWN LISTED AS ITS OWN DEPARTMENT FROM PLANNING, BUT IT'S, THEY, THEY'RE HOUSED IN, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
AND THEN OUR, OUR NEXT ONE IS ON PAGE 1 91 PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS NINE 59,058, WHICH REFLECT A 9.9% INCREASE OF CURRENT YEAR REVISED BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS SLEEP MAINTENANCE, BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, STORM WATER TRAFFIC CONTROL AND LIABILITY AND PROPERTY INSURANCE, $502,000 IN CAPITAL FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, ROADWAY AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, TRAFFIC CONTROL BUILDING AND IMPROVEMENTS IN STORM WATER ENHANCEMENTS ARE INCLUDED.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT.
WE COVERED THIS DURING MY BUDGET PRESENTATION AS WELL.
M MSCS PROPERTY EVALUATION REMAINS 200 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR.
THE MSD ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023 AND THEY STARTED MEETING IN JANUARY OF 24.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SEVERAL PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE ANTICIPATE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING TO THE BOARD WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THIS BUDGET, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE CUSTODIAN, SO THAT WILL NOT BE IN THIS, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES PARKING CONTROL, PERSONNEL AND MAINTENANCE RELATED PROJECTS.
AND THEY INCLUDE TREE MAINTENANCE, PRESSURE WASHING IN SIDEWALKS, RESING, CITY PARKING LOTS AND SIGN UPGRADES, REPLACING THE BANNERS, OCK STREET PARKING LOT, CONCRETE GUTTER PROJECT AND REPAINTING UTILITY POLES.
WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY CHANGE TO THE MSD
UM, IF YOU LOOK UP AT THE SCREEN HERE, WE'VE GOT, UH, VARIOUS, UM, OTHER FUNDS DIVIDED OUT INTO THEIR, UM, WE'VE GOT THE PAGE NUMBER NEXT.
SO, BUT I JUST WANNA GO OVER THAT PP REAL QUICK.
UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THAT ONE IS PROPOSED AT ZERO BECAUSE WE WAIT TO LOOK AT THE ALLOCATION, UM, FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, WHICH IS PAGES THREE 13 THROUGH THREE 14, THAT'S AT 233,900.
UM, THAT COVERED THE PURPOSE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, OF COURSE, IS THE LAND PURCHASE, UM, DEVELOPMENT, UH, I'M SORRY, DEVELOPMENT LAND, RIGHT? AND THEN PROFESSIONAL COSTS, UTILITIES AND OTHER SUPPLIES MATERIALS.
THE 2 1 2 4, WHICH IS A METROPOLITAN PLANNING OR ORGANIZATION, THAT'S PAGES THREE 15 TO THREE 18 IN THE AMOUNT OF 220,005, $250.
AND THAT CONSISTS OF ST AND BENEFITS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
UM, NEW VERN HAS A SHARE OF 32,900 FOR THAT.
UM, IN 29 11, WHICH IS THE EMERGENCY.
THAT'S PAGE THREE 19 THROUGH THREE 20.
UM, THAT'S REPLACED VOICE LOGGING RECORDER AND TIME SYNCHRONIZATION HARDWARE OVER.
AND THAT WE HAVE OVER $500,000 SURVEILLANCE AVAILABLE.
THE, UH, POLICE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND PAGES 3 21 AND 3 22 IS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR $30,000.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EQUITABLE
[04:35:01]
SHARING.PAGE 3 23 AND 3 24 IS FOR EMPLOYEE TRAVEL AND TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE, CONTRACT AND SUPPLIES RELATED POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, 29 24 IS THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY AFFORDABLE SHARING, AND THAT AGAIN, IS ZERO AT THIS POINT.
UM, 21 29 25 IS THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
THAT'S THE PADE PROGRAM FOR $10,000 WE SET ASIDE EACH YEAR.
IS THAT, IS THAT BEING USED? I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN USED THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LEGAL LAW IS JUST LIKE WITH CDDG, UM, THERE'S A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WE DON'T JUST GIVE YOU THE MONEY.
YOU HAVE TO EITHER STAY IN THE HOUSE OR STAY IN THE BUSINESS FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
SO ATTORNEYS ARE WORKING THROUGH A ACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH WHOEVER RECEIVE THAT.
WE HAVE 43 11, WHICH IS THE WATER CAPITAL RESERVE FUND.
THAT'S JUST TO SET ASIDE, UM, FUTURE FUNDING FOR CAPITAL PURCHASES.
RIGHT NOW THE SEWER CAPITAL, SEWER DEBT AND ELECTRIC RATE STABILIZATION FUNDS, THOSE THREE FUNDS ARE IN HERE 'CAUSE THEY HAD PRIOR YEAR EXPENDITURES.
AND THOSE ARE $0 TO MOST FUNDS RIGHT NOW.
61 11 IS THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND COVERS OUR HEALTH DENTAL, LIKE, UM, WORK COMP AND UNEMPLOYMENT 'CAUSE WE'RE SELF INSURANCE AND THAT'S $10,440,000.
YOU'LL FIND THAT ON PAGES 3 37 TO 3 38.
AND THEN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS PAGES 3 39 AND THREE 40.
THAT'S FOR THE POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT SET ASIDE.
RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING BUDGETED IN THAT.
UH, WE TRANSFER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY AT THE END OF THE YEAR IF WE HAVE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE FUND BALANCE TO HELP, UM, CONTRIBUTE THAT FUND.
THESE ARE YOUR SPECIAL REVENUES AND YOUR FUNDS.
OKAY, SO TO RECAP, UM, THE GENERAL FUND PROPOSED BUDGET IS AN INCREASE OF 7%, UM, AS IT STATES WITH 52 MILLION HUNDRED $30,306.
OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, UM, WITH WATER FUNDS HAVING A 5.3% INCREASE, SEWER FUND, 6.3%, ELECTRIC 6.1% AND SOLID WASTE ONE TO EIGHT 8%.
UM, ALL OTHER FUNDS, WE HAVE ABOUT A 23% INCREASE.
REMEMBER MOST OF THE, UH, WHAT CONSIST OF THE OTHER FUNDS IS THE, UM, EMPLOYEE BENEFIT INSURANCE FUND.
SO A TOTAL CITY BUDGET, IT'S HUNDRED $65,840,915 WITH A 7.4% INCREASE FROM THE FY 25 ADOPTED BUDGET.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? 7.4%.
WHAT MAKES UP THAT OTHER 4%? IF I 0.4%, IF I DIDN'T SEE WHERE IT WAS THERE, I SEE THE 7.0 INCREASE, IT'S STILL A TOTAL OF ALL OF THOSE 7.4%.
SO YOU TAKE THE FY 26 PROPOSED, SUBTRACT FY 25 AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU A 7.4% INCREASE.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN? UH, SO WILL YOU, UH, SOME OF THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES, HOW WILL THEY BE ADDRESSED? SO WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL GET TOGETHER TOMORROW MORNING TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
WE'LL END UP SENDING SOMETHING OUT TO THE BOARD, UM, WITH WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE, HOW THAT WILL AFFECT, AND THEN THAT WILL BE ON THE, UH, AGENDA FOR THE MAY 13TH COMMITTEE.
AND WITHIN THAT, THE CHANGES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WERE PROPOSED TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE BUDGET COURT.
THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED.
CORRECT? WE NEVER, AS I, AS I STATED EARLIER, THE, WHAT I'VE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET IS WHAT I'M RECOMMENDED, WHAT CHARLIE RECOMMENDED, I CANNOT JUSTIFY BASED ON THE RECORDS.
SO WHAT I ALSO SAID WAS WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS A, A RATE INCREASE.
AND SO, UM, AS THE MAYOR MADE THE COMMENT OF DOING A WORKSHOP AT SOME POINT THIS SUMMER, AND WE'LL GET WITH YOU A POLL THE BOARD AND, AND DO A WORKSHOP EITHER
[04:40:01]
IN JUNE OR JULY TO GET BACK TOGETHER TO MEET, TALK ABOUT THAT.WHAT, WHAT THAT RATE INCREASE INCREASES ONCE WE SEE THE ELECTRIC UTILITY START GOING IN A BETTER DIRECTION FINANCIALLY TO WHERE WE CAN AFFORD A REVENUE BOND OR TO GO OUT FOR LOANS, THAT'S WHEN SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS CHARLIE HAVE WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING BY THE BOARD.
[2. Discussion of General Obligation Bond]
ON THE ITEM NUMBER TWO.SO, UM, JUST, JUST A REMINDER ON OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND REFERENDUM, WE'VE HAD FOUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
OUR FIRST ONE WAS IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, FOLLOWED IT UP ON NOVEMBER, THEN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, APRIL 8TH TO THE BOARD MEETING.
AND NOW WE'RE JUST HAVING ANOTHER GENERAL COMMENT TODAY.
SO YOU HAVE THE LIST OF PROJECTS.
SO OUR, ON THE RECOMMENDATION WE'VE MADE, AND WHAT YOU'LL BE SEEING ON THE AGENDA ITEM ON MAY 13TH ARE PARKS AND RECREATION, STORMWATER PROJECTS AND STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
SO PARKS AND RECREATION WE'RE RECOMMENDING A TOTAL OF $3 MILLION IN PROJECTS AND THAT WOULD AFFECT THE AQUATIC CENTER PARK, MARIETTA PARK AND SET WEST PAR PARK, UH, REDEVELOPMENT UNDER STORMWATER, THAT WOULD BE $6 MILLION.
IT WAS 8 MILLION FOR PARCEL RECREATION.
RIGHT, YOU SAID, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE END OF THAT.
I APOLOGIZE FOR STORMWATER, THAT WOULD BE $6 MILLION AND THAT INCLUDES ABOUT 11 DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
ONE PROJECT THAT WE DID NOT INCLUDE IN, IN THE POTENTIAL PROJECT WAS, UH, UH, TRYON GEORGE, TRYON STREET.
AND UH, AS GEORGE HAS GOTTEN SOME, UH, SOME INFORMATION BACK, THAT, THAT IS 1.75 MILLION TO DO THAT.
WE CAN INCLUDE THIS IN, IN THAT FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IF YOU LIKE, WHICH WOULD BRING THAT TO $8 MILLION IN STORM WATER PROJECTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE STREETS, SIDEWALKS IN THE AMOUNT OF 10 MILLION TOTAL OF $24 MILLION AS OF RIGHT NOW THAT THE DOOR WILL BE CONSIDERING AT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL, CORRECT? THIS IS JUST INFORMATIONAL.
HOW MUCH IS IT FOR ROADS? FOR ROADS? IT'S $10 MILLION.
AND THAT'S JUST CERTAIN ROADS THAT, THAT, THAT IS GONNA FOLLOW THE PCR REPORT.
WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT, I THINK THE STAFF'S GOAL WOULD BE TO START KICKING 'EM OFF THE, THE MOST DIFFICULT, WORST ROADS TO START WORK ITS WAY DOWN.
TIM, YOU WANNA TALK ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? UM, ALRIGHT, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SAYING IT TOO.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT WAS SHARED.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT WAS SHARED.
SO BOTTOM LINE IS THE BOARD'S GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SAY, YES, WE SUPPORT THIS AND WE WANT TO GIVE THIS, UH, UH, TO THE CITIZENS TO PUT ON THE, UH, THE BALLOT FOR THIS OCTOBER.
AND IF THE BOARD DOES, UH, CHOOSE TO DO THIS, THEN WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TO DO ALL THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER THAT DOES INCLUDE A PUBLIC HEARING.
IT WILL BE COMING UP, FORGIVE ME EITHER JUNE OR JULY FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON, ON THE PROPOSED, UH, PROJECTS AND THE BOND AMOUNT.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE INFORMATION UNDER PROPOSED BOND REFERENDUM THAT LISTS ALL OF THE MEETINGS, ALL OF THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS WE'VE COVERED SO FAR.
SO THE PUBLIC CAN GO TO THAT AND, AND LOOK AT THAT.
IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS INITIATIVE, THEN WE WILL HAVE A ROBUST Q AND A ON THERE.
WE'LL HAVE A VARIETY OF INFORMATION TALK IN DETAIL ABOUT A LOT OF THE PROJECTS AND THE FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE POPULATED AFTER THE VOTE ON MAY 13TH.
ANY QUESTIONS? UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT.
UM, NOW I I I CAN AGREE WITH, UH, SUPPORTING THE GEO BOND FOR OUR STREETS AND SIDEWALKS AND STORM WATER, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT IT FOR PARTS AND WRECKS.
UM, I THINK THAT THIS MONTH, THIS IS THIS 16,000, $16 MILLION, UM, DEBT THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING ON THE, OUR TAXPAYERS BACK.
UM, AND AT THIS POINT, I, I AM NOT FOR THIS GEO BOND.
I'LL JUST BE UPFRONT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH YOU.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT FOR THIS GO BOND.
UM, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT ON OUR TAXPAYERS BACK AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN THIS, IN, IN
[04:45:01]
THIS, UH, ECONOMY AND ALL THE UNCERTAINTIES AND EVERYTHING.AND, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I I'M ALWAYS OPEN CONVERSATION ON, AND ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD, I KNOW WE'RE GETTING MORE IN DEPTH IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS, IS THAT HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT OUR TAX PAYING CITIZENS WHEN IT COULD ON THE BALLOT NOW ANY REGISTERED VOTER HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE ON THESE PROJECTS, CORRECT? MM-HMM
ANY, ANY RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF NEWMAN THAT IS REGISTERED TO VOTE CONDUCT FOR THIS? YES.
NOW YOU MAY LIVE IN A, AN APARTMENT BUILDING, SO YOU ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS BOND REFERENDUM, YOU'RE NOT PAYING FOR THIS BOND, THIS DEBT, IT'S TAXPAYER CITIZENS THAT OWN THE PROPERTY THAT'S PAYING FOR THIS DEBT.
SO I, I LOOK AT THAT AS
SO WHERE'S THE, THE TOTAL, THE TOTAL FUNDING IF, IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE ENTIRE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF $24 MILLION? I BELIEVE THAT WAS 5 CENTS.
IT WAS LESS THAN FIVE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ALL AT ONE TIME.
I CAN FIND THE PRESENTATION, BUT I THOUGHT SO LET'S JUST ROUND MR. ROUND UP AND SAY 5 CENTS.
SO HOW WOULD THAT, HOW WOULD THAT AFFECT IF YOU OWNED A A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PARCEL, IF WE HAD A FIVE STEP INCREASE THAT WOULD AFFECT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ABOUT $50 EACH YEAR.
LIKEWISE, IF YOU HAD A $400,000 PROPERTY, THAT WOULD AFFECT YOU BY ADDITIONAL $200 EACH YEAR FOR THE DURATION OF THAT LOAN, WHICH IS WHAT, 20 YEARS FOR THE DURATION? THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THAT WILL VARY BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHEN YOU, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA START WHEN YOU WOULDN'T START EVERY SINGLE PROJECT.
THE FIRST YEAR IT WOULD BE PHASED IN.
WE HAVE SEVEN YEARS PLUS WE HAVE AN OPTION TO, UH, APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS.
THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
YOU GOTTA PAY BACK THIS 24 MILLION.
I THINK THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS THE PEOPLE GET THE CHANGE IF THE PEOPLE AGREE WITH YOU ALL INVEST AND THEY DON'T WANT THEIR TAXES TO GO UP TO FUND PARTS OF RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS OR TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AMENITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR THAT PARTICULAR ONE.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE, THOSE THAT DON'T OWN REAL ESTATE, DON'T OWN PROPERTY, DON'T OWN HOME, BUT THEY'RE RENTING.
THAT'S THAT I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AS WELL.
IF THIS GETS TO THE BALLOT, WILL IT BE ITEMIZED? THERE WILL THREE.
THERE WILL BE, I WOULDN'T SAY BOND
IF, IF THE BOARD APPROVES THE THREE, THERE WILL BE THREE QUESTIONS.
ONE WILL BE PARKS AND RECREATION.
YOU CHECK YES OR NO STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
YOU CAN CHECK THAT YES OR NO STORMWATER PROJECTS.
SO IT'LL BE, IT'S BROKEN DOWN.
DAVENPORT PRESENTED, UM, AND THEY RECALCULATED IT WITH 3.46 CENTS.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE GEO BOND DISCUSSION? NO SIR.
[3. Public Comment on Recommended Budget]
IF ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD AND MAYOR.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.
I, I DO APPRECIATE FOR HEARING NOT, UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, THE CDEG FUNDS THAT WERE USED, UM, FOR THE EUBANKS HOUSE TO MOVE IT, WAS IT AUTHORIZED TO USE THAT MONEY TO MOVE THE HOUSE? I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A QUESTION BACK, UM, WHEN MR. BLUE GARY WAS HERE THAT FUNDS COULDN'T BE USED TO MOVE THE HOUSE AND WHEN THEY WERE, SO JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT.
[04:50:01]
UM, AND WHEN THE CDBG COORDINATOR PRESENTED, UM, TO Y'ALL, I THINK IT WAS IN JANUARY, SHE SAID THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS DIFFICULTY FINDING, YOU KNOW, CONNECTING THE, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED REHAB BECAUSE THE COST WAS $10,000 AND, UH, THE MATERIALS, BUT THE, THE COST FOR $10,000 WAS SAID A LONG TIME AGO.MATERIALS HAVE THE PRICES INCREASED.
WHO DETERMINES THE 10%? IS THAT, UM, BUD, WHO, WHO DOES THAT? OR IS THAT THE BOARD THAT SETS THAT AMOUNT? AND, UH, WHAT OTHER FEMA FUNDS WERE FROZEN? I MEAN, SORRY, FEDERAL FUNDS WERE FROZEN AND HOW MUCH WAS PAID FOR THE DEPOSIT ON THE FIRE TRUCK? HOW MUCH IS PENDING AND WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST IF THE ENOUGH DOES NOT COVER THAT CHANGE ORDER FROM THE DP STATION TO THE FIRE TRUCK.
WANT TO TAKE TIME TO ADDRESS THIS QUESTION? YES.
WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
ANYONE TO THE BOARD AS WELL FROM THE PUBLIC? CAN YOU HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AT THE MAY 13TH? YES, MA'AM.
UH, SO NEXT AND LAST ITEM IS THE ITEM TO ADJOURN.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MAKE THE MOTION ADJOURN.
HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY ANY OPPOSED? THERE YOU GO.