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[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on January 25, 2024.]
CALL THE JANUARY 25TH, 2024 PARKING RECREATION BOARD MEETING IN ORDER AT 10 10:01 AM THE FIRST ORDER OF THIS IS OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS, MADAM SECRETARY.THIS MORNING WE HAVE EIGHT PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
I'LL OVERSIGHT THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL GIVE IN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.
ONLY ANY SPEAKER WHO MAKES PERSONAL AND PERTINENT, INAPPROPRIATE, OR SLANDER REMARKS OR VOICE WHILE ADDRESS THE BOARD WILL BE REMOVED.
AND IMMEDIATELY, BARR FROM ME, OUR FIRST SPEAKER TODAY IS MR. ERIC KWRIGHT.
YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM, SIR.
I'M PART OF FORENSIC SUPPORTERS OF, UH,
AND, UH, WE COME TO, UH, THE BOARD AS FAR AS THE, UH, STATUS OF THE, OF THE, UH, PART NAME CHANGE.
UH, WE WERE, UH, GIVEN TWO DATES BY, UH, PART MEMBER, MEMBERS OF, EXCUSE ME, UM, TWO DATES TO, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, TO PROCESS THIS AND VOTE ON THIS.
AND ACTUALLY ANOTHER DATE TO MEET ABOUT THIS PROCESS WITH THE FAMILY AND MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY.
SO WE'RE JUST CHECKING ON THIS STATUS.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME DEPARTMENT MEMBERS DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT WHO MR. FIGHTING JAY WAS, BUT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, HIS HISTORY SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED IN WHAT HE DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO NO ONE SHOULD IGNORE THAT.
EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE RESERVATIONS AND, UH, FEELINGS AND DIFFERENT POLITICAL, UH, IDEAS ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF, UH, WHAT
AND SO THE THING IS THAT WE WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, GET SOME OF THESE ANSWERS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE COME FROM RESPECTFULLY TO GET SOME OF ANSWERS AND NOT FOR THIS TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
UH, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND IN DALLAS CITY OF DALLAS THAT A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO MADE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SWEPT THINGS UNDER THE RUG AS THOUGH IT DIDN'T EXIST AND IT DIDN'T MATTER.
BUT THE OVERALL DALLAS COMMUNITY NOTED IT DOES MATTER AND THAT MR. MA MATTERS.
AND SO WE ARE COMING HERE TO SAY, HEY, LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, DONE WHAT WE SAID WE COULD DO.
RIGHT? WE'VE DONE WITH THROUGH THE PROCESS AND DONE WHAT THE PART SAID WE SHOULD DO.
SO THE COURT BOARD SHOULD, UH, HONOR ITSELF BY DOING WHAT IT SAID SHOULD DO.
SO THE COLLEGE PARK IS A, IS A COOL, OKAY.
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REVEREND PETER JOHNSON.
UM, WE ARE FAHE NICO'S DAUGHTERS.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T ALLOW POOLING.
IT JUST HAS TO BE THE ONE PERSON WHO'S THAT'S FINE.
UM, WE ARE THE YOUNGEST OF THE BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN.
UM, MY FATHER HAD MANY CHILDREN, NIECES, NEPHEWS, HONORARY, UM, BONUS CHILDREN THAT HE REFUSED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY WITH HIS STEPCHILDREN.
UM, WE WANNA LET YOU KNOW THE BACKGROUND.
DO YOU KNOW DOCUMENTATION OF OUR FATHER? WE KNOW HIM.
OUR FATHER ACTUALLY PASSED AWAY MENTORING A CHILD.
HE WENT TO A TRACK MEET AFTER TRACK PRACTICE WHERE I LAST SAW HIM 20 MINUTES BEFORE HE PASSED.
HE WAS COACHING MY OLDEST SON FOR HER, AND HE KEPT SAYING, OH MY, I HAVE TO GET TO THE TRACK TO SEE LACEY.
I PROMISED HER I WAS COMING TO SEE HER ROOM.
SHE LEFT THE TRACK PRACTICE, GOT TO THE FACILITY, SPOTTED LACEY AND COLLAPSED THE DOCTOR WHO TRIED TO
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REVIVE HIM THAT MET THIS ON WHEATLAND.I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SHORT OR NOT, I ALWAYS GET THAT CONFUSED.
UM, SAID THAT HE PASSED AWAY BEFORE HE HIT THE BREAK.
MY FATHER PASSED AWAY, MENTOR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.
HE COACHED LACEY FROM THE TIME, I BELIEVE SHE WAS LIKE EIGHT YEARS OLD.
LACEY, HER MOTHER AND HER TWO SISTERS MOVED HERE WITH NO FAMILY.
MY FATHER WAS LACEY'S HONORARY GRANDFATHER.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WE ARE ASKING YOU TO NAME THE PARK AFTER.
BEFORE ALL OF THIS, MY DAD DID BIKE ROCKS, FISHING TRIPS.
WE RODE BIKES FROM OAK CLIFF TO THE FAIR PARK, LITERALLY DOWN HIGHWAY 45.
WE HAD MEN AND WOMEN WHO, WHO WOULD GO AHEAD OF US AS IF THEY WERE POLICE ESCORTS.
WE HAD MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD RIDE BEHIND US AS IF THEY WERE POLICE ESCORTS.
AND WE AS CHILDREN RODE BIKES WITH THE COMMUNITY.
MY DAD WOULD SEE BIKES ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET.
HE WOULD PICK THEM UP, REFURBISH THEM, GIVE THEM TO KIDS WHO DIDN'T HAVE BIKES IN THE COMMUNITY.
MY MOM WOULD FILL THEM WITH FOOD, DRINKS FOR ALL OF THOSE KIDS, 40 PLUS KIDS.
HE DIDN'T ASK FOR A DIME FROM ANYONE.
ALL OF THIS CAME OUT OF OUR HOUSEHOLD FUNDING.
THAT'S WHO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO NAME THE PARK AFTER, NOT JUST SOME RANDOM GUY.
LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW HIM ON PAPER.
YOU MAY KNOW A CREDIT REPORT, YOU MAY KNOW PANTHER PARTY, BUT EVEN THAT HE FOUGHT FOR FREE, FREE BREAKFAST FOR JUDY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. DAVID CARRANZA.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY, UH, THE DALLAS PARK BOARD.
GOOD MORNING TODAY, I COME BEFORE YOU IS NOT AS A PROPERTY OWNER, UH, JUST AS A PROPERTY OWNER, BUT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CAVER COMMUNITY, SERVING AS A PRESIDENT OF THE CAVER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND THE PRIME WATCH, I'M HERE TO PERSONALLY ADVOCATE FOR THE PROPOSAL THAT HOLDS IMMENSE PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE ACQUISITION OF THE 12 700 CLEAVER PROPERTY AS PART FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA EXPRESS THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT MERELY A PERSONAL AGENDA.
IT'S A REFLECTION ON THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THROUGH EXTENSIVE DIALOGUE, TOWN HALLS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE HAVE ACHIEVED A RARE UNIT, AN OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS THAT THE 12 700 AVER PROPERTY SHOULD BE EMBRACED AS A PARK.
THIS IS A SHARED VISION FOR A BRIGHTER AND MARKET, THE NEGATIVE FUTURE FOR AVER.
I WISH TO REASSURE THE ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE PARK BOARD THAT THE GILBERT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OF CRIME WATCH IS WHOLEHEARTEDLY COMMITTED TO PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS PROPOSED PARK.
OUR COMMUNITY IS READY AND WILLING TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS, ENSURING THAT THE PARK NOT ONLY MEETS THE CITY'S STANDARDS, BUT ALSO ENCAPSULATES THE UNIQUE SPIRIT OF CLEAVER.
MOREOVER, ACCEPTING THE 12,700 CLEAVER PROPERTY AS PART ALIGNS SEAMLESSLY WITH THE LONG WEIGHTED WEST CLAYBURN PLAN, WHICH GAINED CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL IN 2007.
THIS PROPOSAL CAN SERVE AS A CATALYST TO PERFECT START TO BEGINNING THE VISION OF THE WEST FREEBIRD PLAN.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BREATHE VITALITY INTO A PLAN THAT HAS BEEN EAGERLY ANTICIPATED FOR OVER A DECADE.
THIS PARK REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST GREEN SPACE.
IT SYMBOLIZES THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SHARED EXPERIENCE.
A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN GATHER, CHILDREN, CAN PLAY, AND RESIDENTS CAN CONNECT BEYOND THE RECREATIONAL BENEFITS.
IT IS THE INVESTMENT IN THE SOCIAL FABRIC AND WELLBEING OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN MY ROLE AS PRESIDENT OF THE CRIME WATCH, I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON SAFETY.
A WELL-DESIGNED AND ACTIVE PARK HAS THE POWER TO ENHANCE SECURITY BY FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND A DISCOURAGING AND DESIRABLE ACTIVITY.
ITS INVESTMENT IN NOT JUST RECREATION, BUT THE OVERALL SAFETY AND HARMONY.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE CULTURE AND RECREATIONAL HUB THAT ENHANCES THE APPEAL OF PEOPLE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALL ALIVE.
I EMPLOY THE CITY DALLAS PARK BOARD TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER AND ENDORSE PROPOSAL AND ACCEPT THE 12,700 FREE WEEK PROPERTY AS PARK.
THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF, OF JUST A PARCEL OF LAND.
IT'S A MANIFESTATION OF A COMMUNITY'S DREAM AND ASPIRATIONS.
WE STAND READY AS PARTNERS TO WORK ELABORATELY WITH THE CITY IN TURNING THIS VISION INTO REALITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND YOUR DEDICATION
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TO THE VETERAN SPEAKER, SPEAKER KELLY GOLET.IMAGINE AN AREA THAT IS ONLY 15 MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS, FAR SOUTHEAST DALLAS.
THAT ONCE WAS CALLED CLEAVER, TEXAS.
THAT WAS ANNEXED TO DALLAS IN THE 1970S.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS GREAT POTENTIAL AND HAS BEEN NEGLECTED, BUT HAS THE MOST UNDEVELOPED LAND LEFT IN DALLAS, AN AREA THAT IS A DIAMOND IN THE RUG.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT TURNING THE 23 ACRE LAND ON 12 700 CLEAVER INTO A PARK.
I HAVE VISITED THIS LAND AND IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
IT DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE YOU'RE IN DALLAS.
IT HAS TREES AND THE PROPERTY IS AMAZING.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE AREA FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
WE NEED AND DESERVE THE CLEAVER TRAIL AND THE 23 ACRE CLAYBROOK PARK.
THIS WILL NOT ONLY BLESS OUR COMMUNITY NOW, BUT GENERATIONS TO COME.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK UP.
AND WE'RE SO, SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE GRANTS FOR THIS DALLAS PARK AND AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, WE LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY AND WE SEE THE, THE, THE DEVELOPMENT THAT, THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT THAT IT WOULD COME UP AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE KNOW THAT ANY PART OF RECREATION WOULD HELP OUT, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG ONES, THE FUTURE OF OUR GENERATION TO BE BETTER OFF IN THIS, UH, COMING DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE, WE URGE YOU TO THIS, UH, CONSIDER THAT PLACE TO BE A, UH, A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND BE PART OF, UH, RECREATION FOR THE BENEFIT AND NOT ONLY BENEFIT, BUT DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA.
JUST WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
12 700 CLEAVER, UH, PROPERTY SLASH ACREAGE.
I PERSONALLY, UH, HAVE LIVED BESIDE THIS PROPERTY.
I'M NOT TALKING AS PROPERTY, ANYTHING LIKE, BUT LEADING WITH THE CRIME WATCH, UH, HELPING THEM IN TERMS OF SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PROPERTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ACREAGE BE A PLACE WHERE I COULD SEE NEIGHBORS GO TO INSTEAD OF THE PAST TWO, THREE YEARS.
THERE WE SEE UNSAVORY INDIVIDUALS USING AS A ACTIVITY AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THE AREA HAS BEEN CLEARED AND I HOPE THAT IT'S BEEN CLEARED THE LAST TIME OF, UH, OF, UH, THAT TYPE OF, UH, ACTIVITY.
AND SPEAKER JESSICA RAMIREZ, BRITTANY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OF THE MEMBERS OF BOARD PARK AND RECREATION.
WE ARE THE ESTEEM RESIDENTS AT BROOK AS STAND TODAY FOR EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION AS WE DISCUSS A MATTER OF SIGNIFICANT
THIS ENDEAVOR IS NOT NEARLY ABOUT ESTABLISHMENT ATION SPACE, BUT IS DEEPLY ROOTED INFORMATION HERITAGE OF
TODAY WE FIND OURSELVES AT A PIVOTAL MOON WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE, TO UPHOLD THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF CLEVELAND, AND TO PROMOTE A STRONG RURAL ATMOSPHERE THAT HAS DEFINED OUR COMMUNICATION.
AND THE VISION PARK IS NOT JUST A GREEN SPACE IS A TESTAMENT OF OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING A CONNECTION WITH OUR ROOTS.
AND WHILE FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS US FOR A SENSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOGNIZE THE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PART.
IT IS NOT MERELY, IN ADDITION TO OUR CITY'S LANDSCAPE, A SYMBOL OF OUR DEDICATION TO THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE SHAPED OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S A SPACE FOR FAMILIES CAN GATHER WHERE CHILDREN CAN PLAY, AND WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OUR SHARED HISTORY AND ENVISION OUR SHARED FUTURE.
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WILL BE DESIGNED WITH THEIR CONSIDERATION, 18 2007, ENSURING THAT EVERY ELEMENT REFLECTS THE ESSENCE OF BOTH SEA.WHEN THE DESIGN OF THE WALKING TRAILS TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FACILITIES, EVERY ASPECT HAS BEEN METIC, METICULOUSLY THOUGHT OUT TO RESONATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A PART.
IT'S A LIVING TRIBUTE TO THE VALUE THAT HAS DEFINED US.
I URGE EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF SPARK HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR IDENTITY, A COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND A LEGACY FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
BY APPROVING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPARK, WE ARE NOT JUST CREATING A RECREATION SPACE.
WE CREATING THE LIVING TESTAMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF
LET US EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AS, AS STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO ENDORSE AND SUPPORT THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEW PARK.
TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE THAT CLEAVER CONTINUES TO THRIVE, RESPECTING ITS TASKS AND EMBRACE
WE HAVE MR. ROBERT KEN MORNING PARK BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TO HAVE THE AGENDA.
UH, I'M WITH TRUST REPUBLIC LAND AND ALSO REPRESENTING THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION.
TODAY I COME BEARING GIFTS FOR ALL OF OUR PARK BOARD MEMBERS HERE.
THESE ARELY NEW, THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION T-SHIRTS, WHICH I HOPE YOU WILL WEAR WITH PRIDE AT ALL OF THE NEXT, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS COMING UP AND ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR PARKS.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, PARKS AND THE BOND IS JUST AN ESSENTIAL WAY TO FUND THE PARK DEPARTMENT AND THE DALLAS PARKS COALITION.
AND THE MORE THAN 20 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WE REPRESENT IN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PARK USERS.
WE REPRESENT STAND FIRMLY BEHIND THE PARK DEPARTMENT AND YOUR REQUEST FOR FUNDING
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL PUT IN $350 MILLION FOR PARKS, UM, AND EVEN MORE IF THEY CAN.
UH, WE'D SPEND THE WHOLE BOND ON PARKS IF WE COULD.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO, AND PROBABLY TO MAKE THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS IN DALLAS.
I'VE GOT A BOX OF SHIRTS HERE AND I HAVE A COUPLE THAT I'LL PASS UP TO THE BOARD NOW.
UM, AND THEN STAFF, I'LL LEAVE A FEW I SHIRTS THAT WILL FRONT AS WELL.
I'M GONNA GO BACK TO MR. REVEREND PETER JOHNSON.
SIR, GOOD MORNING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS PART COUNTRY SINCE 69.
UH, I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE NAME WAS FRED, THAT FRED AND I STARTED WORKING TOGETHER IN 19 SEVEN, TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BLACK BOYS GOING TO THE PENITENTIARY IN SOUTH DALLAS AND THE WEST DALLAS.
FRED LITERALLY DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO TRYING TO HELP AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE BOYS MAKE A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF OUR BOYS GOING TO THE PENITENTIARY.
EVERYONE IN THIS CITY, IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS COMMITMENTS TO PEOPLE JESUS CALLED THE LEAST, TO LEAST IT'S FOR HIM.
I REQUEST THAT YOU ALL SIMPLY CONSIDER HAVING A STREET IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR LAND FOR THIS GIANT.
HE SPENT A LIFE TRYING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE, YOUNG MEN, LOST IN THIS SOCIETY.
PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO HAVE AN EXTREMELY CITY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR NAMED FOR A BLACK PANTHER.
IT MEANS SOMETHING FOR THIS CITY.
QUESTION, WOULD YOU MAKE YOUR SPEAKERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR COME SPEAK TO THE
UM, NOW WE MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION, UH, MR. SPOTTER? DO I HAVE A SECOND MR. ALL? SOMEBODY TO SAY AYE.
ALL RIGHT, ALL, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION MR. CONNOR? DO I HAVE A SECOND? MAKE ONE CLEAR NOTE.
UH, FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, THE NORTHVIEW TRAIL, THE CORRECTED ADDRESS IN THE SUBJECT OF IT AND IN THE BACKGROUND.
SHOULD BE 1 1, 2, 3 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY.
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1, 2, 3, 2 NORTH CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY.DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS? ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, WE'LL BE GOING OUT OF ORDER BEFORE WE MOVE ON FOR A BRIEFING.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RACHEL BERRY WILL GIVE THE BUDGET UPDATE.
MS. BERRY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO, INSTEAD OF US DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WE KIND OF DO THIS TIME OF YEAR
SO BASICALLY THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS IS A FULL OVERVIEW, UM, AND A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY IS WE KIND OF WANNA GO THROUGH TO SET THE STORY FOR THE CASE FOR OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AS TO HOW WE WENT OR HOW WE MANAGE IN OUR CLOSE YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR
AND THEN KIND OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TOWARDS THE PARK BOARD TO DISCUSS CHILD WORK.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR OUR 24 25 AND ALSO 25 26 AS WE DO TWO BUDGET SESSIONS AT A TIME.
SO EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS PLANNED FOR TWO YEARS.
SO, HEADING OFF WITH OUR FISCAL YEAR 42, 3 BUDGET SUMMARY.
UM, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE GRAPHICS, WE CLOSE THE YEAR AT $113 MILLION 906,051.
UM, WHAT YOU WILL NOTE IS THAT IS NOT HOW WE STARTED OUR FISCAL YEAR.
WE STARTED OUR FISCAL YEAR AT AROUND $106 MILLION.
HOW WE GOT TO THE ONE 13 IS THAT WE DID HAVE TO ASK THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR TWO APPROPRIATIONS.
WE DID A MIDYEAR APPROPRIATION, WHICH WAS AT 4.4 MILLION.
AND THEN, UM, END OF YEAR APPROPRIATION AT 2.6 MILLION.
AND THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP AT THE ONE 13, WHICH YOU CAN SEE, UM, NOTING THERE.
AND THESE WERE JUST, THIS IS A LOT OF, SOME OF THIS IS INFLATIONARY COSTS.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT, THAT A LOT OF THE INFLATION COSTS, A LOT OF THE OTHER COSTS THAT WE WERE STRUGGLING WITH LIKE SECURITY, UM, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS UNTIL THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THOSE THINGS THAT, THOSE STRUGGLES, THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE UNPLANNED MAINTENANCE ITEMS KIND OF CARRIED THROUGH IN FISCAL YEAR 23.
SO THAT'S THE TREND WE WANT YOU TO SEE GOING FORWARD.
ALSO, YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE NUMBERS.
UM, WE ARE BUDGETED AT $11.5 MILLION, WHICH MEANS WE'RE REQUIRED TO BRING IN 11.5 MILLION OF OUR OWN BUDGET NUMBERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ACTUALLY CLOSED OUT THE YEAR AT 8.9 MILLION.
SO, UM, THANKFULLY THE BUDGET OFFICE DID NOT ASK US FOR THE DIFFERENCES WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS EXERCISE.
UM, IN VERY LEAN YEARS, THEY WILL ASK US FOR THE DIFFERENCE, WHICH IS BASICALLY WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SAVINGS AND OUR EXPENSE.
AND SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD TWO YEARS WHERE WE MIGHT BE WORKING A LITTLE BIT MORE LEAD, UM, THAT THAT MIGHT BE AN ASK.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO
I KIND OF MENTIONED THEM THAT THE THING, AND I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS IS GONNA BE A TREND.
YOU'RE GONNA KEEP SEEING A LOT OF THESE SAME THINGS THAT HAVE TURNOVER.
UM, OUR HIRING CHALLENGES ARE REALLY CAUSING, ARE STRESSING OUR OVERTIME COST AND IT'S STRESSING OUR O OUR TEMPORARY STAFFING, WHETHER IT BE WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE ONBOARDED ON TIME OR WE ARE JUST NOT GETTING THE RIGHT CANDIDATES.
WE STILL HAVE SOME POSITIONS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO HIRE.
SO THAT HAS, THAT HAS PRESENTED A CHALLENGE BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU HAVE TO MITIGATE THAT, THE COST IS ALWAYS MORE THAN WHAT WE PLANNED FOR.
AND THEN MOVING FORWARD ALSO, WE HAVE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT PREVENTATIVE MAJOR MAINTENANCE AND THE SECURITY, THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE, WERE NOT IN OUR BUDGET AT THAT TIME.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR BUDGET,
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BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE LAST YEAR.UM, SO THOSE WERE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO COVER INTO THE, INTO THE NEW BUDGET YEAR, FISCAL 2324.
WE ARE STARTING THIS YEAR AT ONE $120 MILLION.
UM, BUT WHAT I DO WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND THAT 17% OF OUR BUDGET, OR AROUND $20 MILLION ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER THE SACRED CODES.
THOSE ARE COSTS, INTERNAL COSTS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL.
WHETHER WE USE THE SERVICE OR NOT, WE PAY FOR IT.
SO THAT IS A SET COST IN OUR BUDGET.
SO WHAT YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING AT US WORKING THROUGH
RICHARD, WE GIVE OUR, GIVE THE BOARD EXAMPLES OF WHAT MAKES POLICY, EXCUSE ME, SOME OF THE FIXED COSTS, SAMPLES OF FIXED PUMP.
I, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE, THE LARGEST FIXED COST THAT WE HAVE AND IT AFFECTS US BECAUSE OF OUR STAFFING SHORTFALLS.
UM, HEALTHCARE IS A FIXED COST THAT WE PAY BASED ON THE POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE ON HAND.
WHETHER WE FILL THE POSITIONS OR NOT, WE STILL PAY THE ALL COST.
SO IT IS STILL A COST TO US BECAUSE WHEN THE INSURANCE IS PURCHASED, IT IS PURCHASED AND IT WILL BE PAID FOR.
IF WE DO NOT HAVE A PERSON IN PLACE TO PAY THEIR INSURANCE COSTS, THE DEPARTMENT IS PAID.
UM, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST SUPPORTS.
UM, AND WHAT WE SEE, WE'LL PROBABLY SEE MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE HUGE IT COSTS JUST FOR OPERATIONS.
UM, SOME OF THE LARGER THINGS THAT ARE AFFECTING US, OUR ELECTRICAL COSTS, IF THOSE GO UP, UM, OUR GAS COSTS, IF THOSE GO UP, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF ITEMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, OUR FLEET IS A COST THAT IS SET IN.
ANY TIME ANY OF THOSE ITEMS INCREASE, IT'S SET IN OUR BUDGET, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
ONCE AGAIN, WE MUST BALANCE THOSE.
SO WE SAY THIS IS THE SET COST.
IF WE HAVE THE SAVINGS, THEY STILL WANT THE MONEY.
IF WE RUN OVER, THEY WANT MORE MONEY.
SO KEEPING IN MIND WHEN, UM, LAST YEAR, THE ONE THAT AFFECTED US THE MOST WITH THE COST.
UM, SO, AND KIND OF ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT, UM, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR SERVICES VERSUS OUR STAFFING COST, YOU, YOU'LL SEE THEY'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.
UM, AND, AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CONTRACTED SERVICES IN THOSE CONTRACTED SERVICES STARTING TO COST A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, EVERY TIME WE USED THEM.
SO WHAT WE DID HERE IS, THIS IS JUST A BREAKOUT SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THESE BUDGETS LOOK LIKE BY DELETING.
UM, HERE THE DIVISIONS ON THE SIDE, THE LARGEST COST OF COURSE, ARE SALARIES AND OUR BENEFITS.
AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT BREAKOUT IS PER DIVISION.
UM, WHAT THEIR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS MIGHT BE LIKE AND THEIR SERVICES, OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY.
AND THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS, KEEP IN MIND THE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR, THAT'S THE MONEY THAT THOSE DIVISIONS ARE BRINGING IN TO OFFSET SOME OF THEIR COSTS.
UM, WHETHER IT'S
BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF CONTRACTED SERVICES.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE CONTRACTED SERVICES THAT ARE COST THAT ARE THEY, THAT, THAT'S THE OVER WELL ON THEIR PART.
AND OF COURSE THE FUTURE VENUE.
ALL OF OUR CONTRACT PAYMENTS WERE CONSIDERED SERVICE COST.
SO NOW THAT YOU SEE WHAT OUR BUDGET LOOKS LIKE, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT 23, 24, WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY TRENDING AT.
SO I MEAN, WE HAVE THESE CONTINUED COST, UM, ONCE AGAIN, AND HE SAID YOU'RE GONNA KEEP SEEING THESE OVER AND OVER OUR HIRING, UM, THAT OVERTIME THAT WE'RE USING TO MITIGATE OUR STAFFING SHORTAGE, UM, SHORTAGES IS VERY MUCH ARENT AFFECTING OUR BUDGET.
UM, TEMPORARY STAFFING, TEMPORARY STAFFING COSTS ARE 38% HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL STAFF COSTS THAT WE HAVE, UM, PLANNED FOR.
SO, UM, AND IT'S, SOME OF IT COULD BE JUST, UM, THE USED PHYSICIANS, THEY'RE NOT ONBOARDED.
UM, WE CAN'T GET THEM DONE IN TIME OR WE CAN'T GET THEM PROCESSED IN TIME OR WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE COMING IN WANTING TO WORK THOSE SHORT HOURS AT THE AQUATIC FACILITIES.
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AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT GET ANY, UM, LAND, UH, LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUNDS.UM, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW, UM, PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT THAT ARE PAST THEIR LIFE CYCLE AND WE HAVE CAPITAL REPAIRS.
UM, OUR ATHLETIC FOOD LIGHTS ARE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW US INTO THIS YEAR THAT WE NEED TO PAY FOR.
AND OF COURSE, SINCE WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT FOR SOMEONE THAT IS INSPECTING OUR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES, THOSE REPAIR COSTS WILL CONTINUES TO FOLLOW US INTO THIS YEAR.
ALSO, ANOTHER BULLET THAT WE HAVE HERE IS SECURITY.
UM, KEEPING IN MIND, YES, WE HAVE SECURITY MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT REMEMBER THAT OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST, AND WE DIDN'T SEE FUNDED THIS WAY, BUT WE'RE, WE'LL PROBABLY ASK FOR IT AGAIN.
OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST WOULD BE THE SECURITY COSTS.
WE KNEW WE NEEDED AROUND 10 MILLION.
SO YOU WILL SEE ADDITIONAL SECURITY COSTS THAT WE CAN PROBABLY BE GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
UM, OUR INFLATIONARY COSTS, WE RECEIVE SOME MONEY FOR INFLATIONARY COSTS, BUT SOME OF THE COSTS THAT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING OR HEARING BACK FROM STAFF IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE POOLS THAT COST HAS INCREASED OR THE PORT RESURFACING IS HIGHER THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE MONEY COMING NOW, THE COSTS ARE ACTUALLY EXCEEDING WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO NEED.
AND WE WILL PROBABLY SEE THAT CONTINUING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
SO LOOKING FORWARD INTO FISCAL YEAR 24, 25, TRYING TO DEVELOP THAT YEAR OR WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO, UM, MAKE SOME CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS TO.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE MITIGATE THE, THE PAST CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD AND ALL AND ALSO THE CURRENT TRENDS THAT ARE ALSO FOLLOWING US ALREADY.
UM, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO BECOME MORE SUSTAINABLE PARTS SYSTEM.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE WILL SEE THESE CONSIDERATIONS COME FORWARD.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING STAFFING ADJUSTMENTS.
WE'RE CONSIDERING WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE PART-TIME VERSUS FULL-TIME, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT STAFF VERSUS CONTRACTED LABOR, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, ANYTHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN INSTRUCTED, IF WE WANT TO REQUEST ANY KIND OF VACANCY RATE, MONEY WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT.
WE WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO SUBMIT TO THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THAT WOULD BECOME A BID.
SO THAT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU WOULD SEE BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO REQUEST OUR FUNDS BACK.
UM, REPLACEMENT OF LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT AND THESE MAJOR MAINTENANCE PARKING FACILITIES, THOSE ARE TWO BIDS THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED IN THE PAST AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUBMIT THEM, UM, EVEN AT SOME POINT THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE TYPES OF ITEMS. OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, SECURITY, WE ALREADY KNEW WE NEEDED MORE MONEY.
WE WERE NOT FULLY FUNDED FOR THAT.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE LOOKING FORWARD FOR MORE SECURITY COSTS.
UM, AND THEN ALSO OUR INFLATIONARY COSTS AS WE'RE ALREADY EXCEEDING THOSE INFLATION COSTS.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ITEMS LIKE THAT TOWARDS OUR INFLATIONARY COSTS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, WHAT ARE, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING? WHAT OPERATIONAL CHANGES CAN WE DO TO REST OUR SUSTAINABILITY? UM, SO WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE LIMITATION ON THE COST FOR EVENTS, UM, PROGRAMMING NEW INITIATIVES.
WE, UM, DONE A SOFTWARE PURCHASE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BETTER HELP US TRACK OUR ASSETS, THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH BETTER NUMBERS ON OUR MAJOR MEETINGS ON REPLACEMENT SCHEDULES.
UM, WE'RE EXPLORING APPROPRIATE FEE CHANGES TO OFFSET SOME OF THE PROGRAM COSTS.
UM, SO THAT MIGHT BE A REQUEST THAT YOU'LL SEE COMING THROUGH.
AND THEN OF COURSE LEVERAGING OF THE NEW SPONSORSHIPS.
SO WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? SO SINCE THIS IS JUST A
UM, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THIS, IF THERE ARE POLICY ITEMS, UM, JUST BE AWARE THAT WE'LL BRING THEM BACK TO EITHER COMMITTEE OR FULL PARK BOARD IF WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT.
UM, AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO GOING FORWARD, UM, AND THIS IS KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF THE OVERVIEW, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE SOME OPERATIONAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS, UM, BY DIVISION.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT'S GONNA DO SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT BY DIVISION, THOSE FEES, THE CHALLENGES ARE EVEN OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING MOVING FORWARD THAT WILL HELP US WORK THROUGH OUR BUDGET ITEMS. SO, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT TODAY WE ARE STARTING THAT OFF ALREADY AND PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES WILL COME UP, UM, AND PROVIDE US, UM, AN IMPACT BOARD, UM, WHERE THEY ARE WITH THEIR BUDGET AND THEIR OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES BEING FORWARD FOR INITIATIVES.
[00:35:03]
MR. WETA? UH, YES.WHAT, WHAT IS, WHERE'S THE SHORTFALL OF THE $3.43 MILLION IN REVENUE? THE DIFFERENCE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DEPARTMENT DID EXCEED THEIR NUMBER? IT IT'S AN OVERALL DEPARTMENTAL WIDE.
UM, I WILL BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE US SAYING THAT
IF YOU DO THAT
AND BECAUSE WE DID NOT SUBMIT A BID THAT SAYS, HEY, WE WANT TO CUT ALL OF THIS, OR WE WENT TO DO THREE SERVICES OR WE WENT TO THESE TYPES OF ITEMS, THEY DID NOT DECREASE OUR REVENUE NUMBER.
SO YOU MAY SEE THAT, YOU MAY NOT SEE THAT DEPENDING WHAT WEEK.
AND ACTUALLY BACK TO THE PARK BOARD, EITHER WE WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT A BID THAT SAYS BE WITH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THESE SERVICES WHICH YOU'VE BEEN WILLING TO ACCEPT, REDUCE REVENUES, BECAUSE NORMALLY IF YOU REDUCE REVENUES, REDUCE SERVICES, WHICH MEANS THEY TAKE MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE TRUE OFFSET TO EACH OTHER.
UM, OF COURSE AQUATICS HAS BEEN STRUGGLING TO COME BACK FROM COVID.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE INITIAL PETITION.
UM, SEE, I THINK THEY'RE GONNA PROBABLY WORK ON A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE THIS YEAR TO SEE WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND UM, THOSE NEW SCHEDULES, PRODUCE FEES AND ALL OF THOSE FEES, YOU CAN SEE IT REFLECTED HERE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST GRAPH, YOU SEE WHERE WE HAD A LOW BUDGET HERE, WE INCREASED IT HERE, WE HAD A HIGH REVENUE BUDGET.
AND LIKE I SAID, THANKFULLY THEY HAVE NOT COME BACK AND PASSED US FOR THOSE FUNDS YET.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS WE CAN
I ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY'RE TELLING US, UM, WHERE WHEN THEY FUNDED US AND GAVE US LEAVE, IT'S BECAUSE THE CITY ACTUALLY HAD EXCESS REVENUES AND THAT'S HOW THEY FUNDED THE PARK DEPARTMENT WITH THEIRS.
AND THEY ARE INDICATING THAT THERE ARE NO EXCESS REVENUES THIS YEAR.
AND NOT ONLY INDICATING THAT THERE ARE NO EXCESS REVENUES INDICATING THAT YOU'RE NOT EVEN NEED THE REVENUE.
AND THAT IS A FOREWARNING THAT WE MUST BE
IT HAS, UH, YOU EXACTLY SAID IT, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT GOING UP ON OUR RATES ARE ARE ARE POOL TO CLOSE FOR TWO HOURS TO THE DAY.
SOME DEPENDS ON THE POOL AND CONFIDENCE, BUT WE STILL NEED CHEMICALS.
WE STILL NEED WATER THE FRESH, SO THE POOLS OPERATE 24 7 ONLY OPERATE JUST FOR SIX HOURS, WHATEVER OPERATIONAL HOURS.
AND OUR FLEX CENTERS 10, WE GO DOWN THE LIST, RIGHT? SO OUR CHALLENGE SHOULD BE TO ALL OF OUR, OUR, OUR TEAM IS LIKE, WHO, WHERE DO WE RAISE OUR RATES UP WITHOUT FILLING OUR NUMBER? RIGHT? THAT KINDA MAKES, YOU KNOW, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DILEMMA EVERYBODY FACES.
HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO WITHOUT HAVING A KID OR PARENTS OR SOMEBODY NOT INVOLVED? SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
I I THINK IT'S A HARD CHALLENGE JUST BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT WERE EITHER LOWER THAN STANDARD COST-WISE, NOT, NOT, NOT PRODUCT-WISE, LOWER THAN STANDARD OR FREE.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GO FROM FREE TO 75 HOURS A WEEK.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE, THE NUMBERS MIGHT BE DOWN, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A, A LOAD TREND, BUT AT SOME POINT THEY'LL ALL EVEN DOUBT BECAUSE LESS LESS KIDS OR LESS PEOPLE COMMITT TO YOUR PROGRAM, LESS STAFF OR WHATEVER YOU NEED.
SO THAT MIGHT HELP YOU OUT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WE'RE STILL, RIGHT NOW WE'RE A DEFICIT OF 3.43 MILLION ROUGHLY FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND THEN THIS YEAR WE MIGHT TREND DOWN AGAIN.
UM, WE JUST GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST SUBSIDIZE THAT.
AND APPARENTLY $18 AN HOUR FOR LIFEGUARDS DID NOT WORK OUT.
SO WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH LIFEGUARDS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THERE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT IS, I I I DON'T KNOW HOW WE BRING THOSE NUMBERS UP AND, AND FIX THE COSTS ON EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, I KNOW I'M PRETTY SURE WE'RE GETTING PRICE AGREEMENTS ON CHEMICALS FOR POOLS AND CHEMICAL AND DIRT FOR, FOR, FOR PMO AND ALL THAT.
I HOPE WE ARE, IF WE'RE NOT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT, GO BACK AND REREAD THOSE CONTRACTS AND TRY TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
OR A PRICE GUARANTEE FOR THOSE COMPANIES THAT NEXT FIVE YEARS NOTHING GOES UP, SOMEHOW FIX THAT.
I KNOW, I KNOW I DO THAT A LOT AND JUST TRY TO KEEP MAINTAINING MY COSTS NEARLY THE SAME.
UM, SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING, JUST FACTORS.
AND I KNOW THE HIRING PROCESS HAS BEEN BETTER AND SOMETIMES IT GETS REAL GOOD, SOMETIMES IT GETS REALLY BAD.
IT JUST TO KIND OF GO, COMES BACK HAVING TO DO WITH WHAT IS CITY HR.
BUT AGAIN, I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA WRITE A DOCUMENT AS A BOARD
[00:40:01]
TO TRY TO GET OUR HIRING PROCESS DONE DIFFERENTLY.DID THAT EVER HAVE ANY LEGS OR DID WE JUST NOT DO THAT? CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? JI THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA WRITE FOR OUR HIRING PRACTICES TO BE DIFFERENT IN THE CITIES, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SUBMIT THAT TO THE CITY'S HR AND TRY TO GET HIRING PROCESS DONE FASTER FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
OKAY, SO I, I'LL ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TURN THIS FILTER.
I'LL ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SO IN REGARD TO THE HIRING PROCESS, ALTHOUGH THE REPORT THAT RACHEL SHARED WITH YOU DOES SHOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WORKING WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT, UM, WE HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB IN REALLY REDUCING OUR VACANCY RATE.
THIS YEAR WE HAD SEVERAL JOB FAIRS WE THINK HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF WHICH WAS JUST ABOUT A WEEK AGO, 416 PEOPLE SHOWED UP FIVE, I THINK IT WAS 56 THAT WERE HIRED ON THE SPOT.
SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO OFFER THOSE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE OF A COMPETITIVE WAGE.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THAT AND WE ARE MAKING STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO PRODUCE THAT VACANCY RATE.
AND I THINK IN THE FUTURE WHEN YOU START SEEING THOSE REPORTS, YOU'LL BE VERY PLEASED AT THE STEPS THAT WE'VE MADE.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE REVENUE LOSS.
I THOUGHT RACHEL DID A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED OVER THE YEARS, BUT YOU ASKED A VERY DIRECT QUESTION ABOUT THE 3.4 MILLION WHO FELL SHORT.
AND BECAUSE WE DID REDUCE COST ON MANY THINGS, THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE DEFICIT, IF YOU WANNA CALL IT THAT.
UM, WHEN WE DECIDED TO GO FREE WITH THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WAS ABOUT $1,000,001.
AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT PHILOSOPHICALLY WHAT IS OUR POSITION AND HOW DO WE STILL PROVIDE GREAT SERVICES AT EITHER A FREE OR A REDUCED RATE, BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A REDUCTION IN THE REVENUE THAT THE CITY RECEIVES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THE WEEKS TO COME.
I APPRECIATE THAT MS. FAR, UH, BECAUSE I'M LET THE, THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM TAKES ONE VAN.
WE PRINT THAT OUT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS, OR WE, WE OWN THE VANS NOW.
UH, WE CHANGED THAT ONE THEN, RIGHT? YES, WE DO.
AND BUT IT TAKES TWO STAFF MEMBERS TO GO PICK UP THE KIDS.
ONE IN THE BACK, ONE IN FRONT.
I KNOW THE, I KNOW THE HOLISTIC POLICY, BELIEVE ME DID.
AND THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE'RE KEEPING KIDS SAFE FOR, WE'RE DOING IT FREE AND PARENTS ARE JUMPING ON IT, FILL IT IN.
I KNOW IN NORTH
BUT WE, WE ALSO GOTTA TELL PARENTS, HEY, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO MAYBE HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE SOMETHING, IF NOT ALL OF IT, TO HELP US GET BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE AT.
'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE STAFF AT REC CENTERS AND, AND ALL THAT.
BUT IT'S JUST, IT JUST CHALLENG ME THAT, AND I, I KNOW THAT WE HAD A LOT OF REVENUE CHALLENGES AND ALL THAT, BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST A NUMBER THAT'S NOT STANDING.
A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO TOO IF WE GET, AND THAT'S JUST ONE NUMBER.
WE CAN ALSO REDUCE THINGS ELSEWHERE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER, EVERYBODY'S GOTTA GO BACK AND LOOK AND REFRESH THEIR BALANCE BOOK AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DEPARTMENT IS NOT MAKING OUR NUMBER.
TRY TO CHALLENGE THE DIRECTORS CO-DIRECTORS, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SORRY GUYS, ALL YOU BACK THERE.
UM, HOW TO REAMP THEIR, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR PROGRAMS AND MAKE 'EM VIABLE FOR THE FUTURE TO COME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. SY HAD A HAND UP.
AND I THINK MY
I THINK EXPECTED EVIDENCE AROUND 11 MILLION SOMEWHERE.
IS THAT ANY BETTER? MUCH BETTER.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IF WE WERE THAT FAR OFF ON OUR REVENUE AND THEY DIDN'T MAKE US PAY THEM BACK AND YET WE STILL WENT TO THEM FOR WHATEVER THE AMOUNT WAS THAT GOT US UP TO 120 MILLION, THAT TO ME IS A, A POTENTIAL REALLY BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THEY MOSTLY WANNA PUSH OUR BUDGET IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
SO IF WE'RE NOT MEETING OUR REVENUES, THAT'S SUCH A BIG NUMBER AND WE ASK FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY.
IF WE HAVE A TOUGH YEAR, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GIVE US ADDITIONAL MONEY AND THEY'RE GONNA MAKE US REPAY THOSE REVENUES AND WE'RE REALLY GONNA GONNA BE IN A TOUGH LOT.
SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR REVENUES IF IT'S INCREASING OUR GOALS FOR OUR PROGRAMS BECAUSE I'M JUST NERVOUS GOING FORWARD THAT WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE A GOOD YEAR, THEY'RE
[00:45:01]
NOT GONNA LET US OFF THE HOOK FOR THAT MONEY.AND THEY'RE ALSO NOT GONNA GIVE US EXTRA MONEY FOR OUR EMERGENCIES THAT
SO REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF BETTER ANSWER FROM THAT.
YEAH, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
MS.
AND YOU'RE GONNA, AND THINK RACHEL MAY HAVE TOUCHED ON IT, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A SERIES OF BRIEFINGS GONNA COME TO THE BOARD.
AND I THINK MR. WORK THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT EACH DIVISION, WE'RE GONNA SEE EACH DIVISION MAKE A PRESENTATION ON WHAT'S THE CHALLENGES IN THEIR DIVISION, WHAT ARE SOME OF THEIR PLANS TO OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES.
HOW CAN THEY IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES.
AT THE SAME TOKEN WHERE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO REDUCE THE COST WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAM.
BECAUSE TO MISS HASTON BE POINT, WE KNOW THERE MAY BE TIGHT YEARS IN THE FUTURE AND SO WE ARE GONNA DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE POSITION OURSELVES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF TRENDS IN THE FUTURE.
CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME AT ALL? A LITTLE BIT.
MY, MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION WAS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE PAYING INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HIRE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AND WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS? SO, UM, SO BECAUSE THE, THE CITY PURCHASES OF COURSE INSURANCE, PREREAD INSURANCE, THAT INSURANCE PROCESS BASED ON HOW MANY POSITIONS WE HAVE, HOW MANY WE ESTIMATE WILL BE ONBOARDED
SO WE DO ASSIGN AT SOME POINT, AT SOME TIME A START DATE FOR ALL OF OUR POSITIONS.
SO THE, THE BUDGET OFFICE LOOKS AT THAT NUMBER, THEY CHARGE THE INSURANCE FEE TO THAT, AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE BILL HAS TO BE PAID FOR ANYTHING THAT'S SHORT FOR
UM, SO WE HAVE TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE.
THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR WE PAID CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS FOR INSURANCE COSTS ON STAFF.
OKAY, LET ME, AND LET ME JUST MAKE SURE 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT US GET TOO CAUGHT UP INTO ALL THE TECHNICAL STUFF.
UH, OKAY, SO BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS, YOU KNOW, END OF THE DAY THE CITY IS GONNA BUDGET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR HEALTHCARE, PERIOD.
THEY'RE GONNA BUDGET THAT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS WE HAVE THAT WE PLAN ON FAILING THAT YEAR.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE HIRING CHALLENGES WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO GET MORE CREATIVE SO THAT WE DON'T GET CHARGED THAT ADDITIONAL COST.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAW IN MISS, UH, VERY BRIEFING WAS YOU SAW WHERE TEMPORARY COST IS VERY EXPENSIVE WHERE IT IS BECAUSE WE, BECAUSE OF OUR HIRING PROCESS AND THE CHALLENGES OUT THERE, WE HAVE TO GET CREATIVE.
SO WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH TEMPORARY SERVICES SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE ON BOARD BECAUSE WE GOTTA GET THE SERVICE TO WORK DONE AND I CAN'T WAIT THREE MONTHS TILL SOMEONE GET HIRED 'CAUSE THAT WORK WON'T BE DONE.
SO GUESS WHAT? WE PAYING A PREMIUM COST.
AND SO WE'RE MAKING SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO GET MORE EFFICIENT ON HOW WE BRING PEOPLE ON BOARD, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL COST WE ARE GOING TO ABSORB.
'CAUSE THE WORK HAS TO GET DONE.
I I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I'M DOUBLY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ONBOARD THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE PAYING FOR INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR PEOPLE WE HAVEN'T HIRED, BUT WE'RE PAYING A PREMIUM TO FOR TEMPORARY STAFFING AND CONSULTING
[00:50:01]
POSITIONS.SO WE'RE, I MEAN WE'RE PAYING SO MUCH BECAUSE OF AN INEFFICIENT SYSTEM AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE WE NEED.
SO THIS IS JUST, TO ME, IT'S LIKE A DOUBLE KICK IN THE GUT.
YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DO WE NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE WE NEED, WE HAVE TO PAY WAY MORE THAN WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO HIRE TO FILL IN THOSE POSITIONS.
AND WE'RE GETTING SLAMMED WITH A, IN A MILLION DOLLAR INSURANCE BILL FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE, WE DON'T HAVE ON STAFF.
SO I'M SUPER FRUSTRATED ABOUT THIS.
I'M JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE ON YOU TO WORK WITH THE CITY'S HR AND OUR R TO LIKE SEE IF WE CAN DO BETTER ON THIS GOING FORWARD.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY AS THEY MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK WITH MS. BRAS.
UH, BUT OUR HR GROUP ARE GONNA BE COMING IN AND PREVIEW YOU ALL AS WELL SO YOU CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING.
AND I THINK YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE THIS YEAR ALONG WITH ALL THE DIVISIONS.
WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS EXCEPT EIGHT.
SO YOU'RE GONNA BE, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE IMPRESSED.
WELL I'M HOPING THAT THE NEXT REPORT WILL BE A GOOD NEWS REPORT ON THAT FRONT, SO THANK YOU.
I SEE THAT, UM, MR. JENKY HAS, HAMMOND HAD THEIR INTENT OF, BUT, UM, MR. CONNOR, OH, HE WAS BEFORE YOU.
UM, WELL, MS. HASSMAN, HE KIND OF SAID EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY, UH, ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I I WAS, AND DIRECTOR JENKINS MOSTLY ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT, UH, BUT THE, IF THERE COULD BE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON WHY IT'S TH COSTS US 38% MORE FOR THE, UH, TEMPORARY.
AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT.
IT'S JUST YOU'VE GOTTA PAY A PREMIUM FOR THAT KIND OF SHORT NOTICE THING.
SO, BUT I WOULD ADD THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK WE GOT A COPY OF THIS BRIEFING AND IT, DID WE GET A, WERE WE SENT A COPY IN ADVANCE? I WAS WORKING ON IT WITH RACHEL AND, UH, PATRICK UNTIL ABOUT SEVEN SOMETHING LAST NIGHT.
SO, UH, MY SUGGESTION, AND SINCE WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE BRIEFINGS IN THE FUTURE, UH, ON THIS, IS THAT IT WOULD BE TO POSTPONE BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES, AS AN OVERSIGHT BODY, IT HAMPERS US GREATLY WHEN WE'VE GOTTA SORT OF PROCESS THIS INFORMATION.
IT STOPS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO ASK THE MORE PROBING QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ASK IF I HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THESE POINTS.
AND SO I THINK, UH, IF THERE'S NO CRITICAL TIME FACTOR, IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DELAY IT JUST 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PRESENTATION ENOUGH IN ADVANCE TO COME UP WITH SOME GOOD QUESTIONS.
UH, SO GOING FORWARD FOR THESE FUTURE ONES, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND IF THE BRIEFINGS NOT READY ON THE SCHEDULED DATE, THEN DELAY IT UNTIL WE, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS IN ADVANCE.
UM, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SALARY? THOUSAND? SO WE HAVE 846 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
SO WITH THE, THE GRADE OVER 22 MEANING IS THAT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL AS YOU'RE REFERRING TO? I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GRADES ARE.
SO I I WOULD SAY ARE YOU REFERRING TO MY LEADERSHIP TEAM? YEAH.
OR PEOPLE LIKE, EVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE LIKE TRENDING PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
SO WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT SENIOR ENDS PEOPLE, UH, WHICH AT ONE TIME THEY USED TO BE CALLED EXECUTIVES, THEY DON'T CONSIDER 'EM EXECUTIVES ANYMORE, RIGHT.
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU GET TO THAT NUMBER, PROBABLY AROUND 30 OUT OF 857, UM, HOW MANY EMPTY POSITIONS DO WE HAVE? UH, VANESSA'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK SHE'S SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
CAN WE GO BACK TO THE, TO THE, UH, CAN WE BRING UP THE PRESENTATION? CAN YOU GO TO THE SLIDE THAT BRINGS DOWN THE COST PER DEPARTMENT? THERE
[00:55:01]
YOU GO.IT'D BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE, GETS DATA AROUND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY IN EACH, EACH ONE.
THESE APARTMENTS, UH, FOR JUST INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE SO AND WHAT THOSE ACRONYMS MEAN.
SO I'M, I DON'T KNOW WHAT LVM IS.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT VERY QUICKLY.
UM, SO CARE IS WIDE ATHLETIC, UM, RESERVATION AND EVENTS.
THAT IS BY, UM, MS. LAWRENCE LEISURE REVIEW MANAGEMENT IS A SECTION OF ADMINISTRATION THAT IS UNDER A MEETING.
UM, PMO IS PART MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS HEADED BY MS. JOHNSON.
UM, PL MEETING IS PLANNING AND DESIGN THAT IS HEADED BY, UM, MS. TURNER WHERE, UM, REC IS RECREATION BY DEPUTY DIRECTOR ROSS.
AND UM, PSI IS PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AS HEADED BY MR. MEDICINE PRESENTATION.
DO THESE SALARIES INCLUDE, UH, WHICH NEED TWO OR WHATEVER? ALL THE SALARIES PER DIVISION.
AND KEEPING IN MIND ALSO JUST
THEY ALSO VARY BY STAFF COST OUTSIDE
SO I AGREE WITH MS. HASTY AND MR. DICKEY.
I THINK THAT, UH, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT MARK BEING, YOU KNOW, A, A COMMON GOOD OR A GREATER GOOD THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CITY, WHICH I AGREE WITH.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE
I MEAN THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION WHEN WE WENT FREE AFTER SCHOOL.
UM, THERE WERE PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THIS SMALL HORSE SHOOTER DID NOT WANNA DO THAT.
UM, AND UH, I THINK RESULTS OF THAT.
SO, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO CHARGE SOME OF OUR SERVICES IMPORTANT.
ALEXA, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, ONCE AGAIN, I'M DOING THIS PROCESS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
THIS IS TODAY IS JUST INTENDED AS AN OVERVIEW, JUST AN OVERVIEW.
SO WHEN WE START BRINGING YOU THESE BRIEFINGS, AND I AGREE YOU WILL GET 'EM IN ADVANCE,
BUT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE FACING AND, AND I'M GONNA SAY THIS AGAIN 'CAUSE AS WE HAVE TO USE YOUR WORDS.
WELL, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO TOLD ME K THREE, I NEED TO RIGHTSIZE THIS DEPARTMENT AND YOU ALL NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE REAL CHALLENGES ARE AND THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.
OKAY? SO TODAY WAS NOT INTENDED TO GO THROUGH WHAT TO CUT, WHAT SHOULD WE NOT DO? IT IS TO TRULY MAKE SURE AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU HAVE THIS DOCUMENT AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS HERE.
AND WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ALSO WHAT'S THE BALANCE BETWEEN FREE AND A FEE? WHAT SHOULD THAT LOOK LIKE PHILOSOPHICALLY FOR THIS DEPARTMENT? YEAH, FOR SURE.
I THINK THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT, WE TALK ABOUT INFLATION A LOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, AT LEAST WITH THE PLANNING DESIGN COMMITTEE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CHRIS DO THIS MASSIVE EXERCISE ABOUT THE CHANGE ORDERS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
WE'VE INVESTIGATED THAT AS IT RELATES TO COVID AND WE KEPT UP COMMISERATE WITH INFLATION.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT.
UM, CAN YOU BRING BACK UP THE PIE CHART THAT WAS ON THE PRESENTATION OF THE BREAKDOWN OF, UH, OF HOW THE MONEY'S SPENT.
SO WHERE ON THAT IS ACTUAL LIKE SO MATERIALS WOULD BE, I KNOW THERE'S A COMBINATION, BUT I KNOW WE KIND OF LIKE LUMP MAINTENANCE IN JOHN.
YOU KNOW, WE SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO FIX SOMETHING OR YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE, SO WE'RE, WE'RE WITH, THERE'S A COMBINATION OF THAT BETWEEN SALARIES, MAINTEN, UH, MATERIALS AND SERVICE.
IT'S COMBINATION BETWEEN MATERIALS AND SERVICE.
UM, IF THEY DO THE WORK THAN THEMSELVES, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO PURCHASE THE MATERIALS THEY NEED.
UM, IF THEY CONTRACTED OUT AND IT TAKES THEIR SERVICE.
SO IF WE'RE DOING IT IN-HOUSE, SALARY COST, THEN IT'S MATERIAL.
WE DO IT BY CONTRACT, IT IS A SERVICE COST.
UM, LAST THING I'LL SAY, BECAUSE I'M EARNING OUTTA TIME, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS AND I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE PART OF OUR PHILOSOPHICAL CONVERSATIONS.
WERE MOVING FORWARD, BUT LAND'S
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NOT GETTING ANY LESS EXPENSIVE AND I KNOW THAT WE WANNA BUY LAND.UM, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT.
UM, MARIA, PROBABLY MOST OF ALL, UM, THAT BUYING LAND WHEN WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME PAYING TO MAINTAIN THE LAND WE ALREADY OWN.
I THINK THAT WE'RE, I MEAN LIKE THIS SMACKS ME IN THE FACE OF THAT.
SO, UM, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE BUILDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF EXPANSION AND I, WE BOUGHT LAND IN DISTRICT 12, BUT, BUT EVEN LAND THAT'S GIVEN TO US AND THEN HAVING TO MAINTAIN THAT, LIKE WE NEED TO BE VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT THE LAND.
AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, I'M JUST SAYING THIS FOR THE RECORD, VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT WE'RE REQUIRING SO WE CAN, WE KNOW WE CAN BE PAID FOR.
SO YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, SO MS. EVAN, WAS THAT ME? I COULDN'T HEAR
UM, SO JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE UH, PROBABLY VERY, JUST TO BE CLEAR, JUST VERY POINTED QUESTIONS.
SO NO LONG EXPLANATION NEEDED.
UM, SO WITH THE, I THINK I PROBABLY UNDERSTAND BETTER THAN ANYBODY HOW HARD IT IS TO HIRE PEOPLE AT CITY HALL, BUT IS THERE A PARTICULAR AREA OF, UH, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, IS IT ONE OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS? LIKE WHICH POSITIONS ARE WE HAVING TROUBLE HIRING? I JUST DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW THE, THE HISTORY, SO I'M JUST KIND OF ASKING FOR MY OWN INFORMATION.
I CAN TELL YOU, UH, WITH IRRIGATORS, JUST TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE, IRRIGATORS WERE OUR TECHNICAL POSITIONS IN THE PAST HAS BEEN HARD TO HIRE.
HOWEVER, FORTUNATELY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRY TO WORK WITH OUR HR AND THE CITY HR WHERE WE CAN OFFER SOME INCENTIVES.
AND SO, BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING A HARD TIME HIRING IRRIGATORS.
SO IS IT MORE, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS KIND OF AN ISSUE.
IT'S MORE OF THE TECHNICAL POSITIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO OTHER PLACES AND PROBABLY MAKE MORE MONEY AND GET HIRED ON A LITTLE EASIER AND NOT TAKE SIX MONTHS THAT WE'RE WE HAD.
IT'S JUST A COMPETITION IN THE MARKET TYPE THING.
SITUATION, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET PEOPLE ON BOARD AND IN LIKE A WEEK WE'RE SAYING FOLKS GO TAKE ANOTHER JOB.