[0:00] >> friendly faces in here.
[0:01] people who care very deeply to
[0:03] want to go around and do some
[0:05] cooking or introductions
[0:07] starting from
[0:09] are left.
[0:11] also, brian parks, you've got a
[0:12] little thing up here. If you
[0:13] want.
[0:18] I don't know why between 2
[0:19] council members for her.
[0:23] >> he's there to our of city
[0:25] council district. One
[0:28] bryant park's counselor's
[0:29] office.
[0:30] >> it afternoon tavern a
[0:31] climber redistricting or good
[0:33] afternoon monet holder and
[0:35] large one
[0:36] afternoon jimmy palooza
[0:37] district 7.
[0:39] >> that's a no reginald
[0:40] gaffney. Enjoy your district.
[0:42] >> good afternoon. When a
[0:43] gauge.
[0:45] >> all right. Thank you all.
[0:47] think before we even really get
[0:48] started, I'd like to do.
[0:50] it's great that like to turn it
[0:53] over to co-chair a review of
[0:55] the chair.
[0:57] >> and I appreciate that.
[0:58] so I guess the reason why we're
[0:59] here, you know, for me lately I
[1:02] have received no mayor has
[1:04] caused numerous states emails
[1:07] and bosses about relief.
[1:10] I'm not sure if you guys know
[1:11] I'm not. We completed a
[1:13] 2 billion dollar budget a few
[1:15] weeks ago and at the end of the
[1:17] meeting,
[1:19] opera polls against
[1:21] legislation, $200,000. As far
[1:24] as really my colleagues,
[1:27] those of course, many thought
[1:29] would have been doing, I guess,
[1:31] came in in the in on budget
[1:32] night. So that's why we're here
[1:34] today to talk about really,
[1:36] you know, some of that all they
[1:37] have received a councilman
[1:38] gaffney. You know, right now
[1:40] rain is high. Gas prices are
[1:43] $4.50 thing, you know, food is
[1:45] high. We need relief.
[1:48] and I question myself and I
[1:49] asked myself, is city council
[1:51] doing enough?
[1:52] you know, so we had this
[1:54] conversation has a couple of
[1:55] weeks ago at budget me. We also
[1:57] had this me and transportation
[2:00] utilities, me so tonight when I
[2:02] would like to discuss with our
[2:04] colleagues to see, are we doing
[2:06] enough, you know, whether this
[2:07] jta, whether that's a social
[2:09] services, whether that's a city
[2:11] council committee. So that's
[2:13] pretty much why we're here
[2:13] today. So thank you, jen.
[2:16] >> nothing think. Thank you,
[2:17] councilmember you. Yeah.
[2:19] I mean, we were we got some
[2:20] great things done by tonight.
[2:22] with the first time in years we
[2:24] got a real funding for
[2:26] affordable housing and it was
[2:27] at that time we kind of stood
[2:28] up and it was just we're mixing
[2:30] a lot of streams and they're
[2:31] having to be some frustrated
[2:32] faces at the moment. So we
[2:33] said, all right, if we're going
[2:34] to do to litija assistance,
[2:36] let's do it outside the budget
[2:38] process.
[2:40] and so here we are outside the
[2:41] budget process.
[2:45] I mean, I was saying it earlier
[2:48] when it comes to funding for
[2:49] emergency funding of any kind
[2:51] in maney. It may mean that we
[2:53] have to go through our our
[2:54] reserves.
[2:55] and the reason we have reserves
[2:57] is it's known as a rainy day
[2:59] fund.
[3:00] I think if you look outside,
[3:01] it's pouring.
[3:02] we got a lot of families.
[3:04] we got a lot of folks in all of
[3:06] our districts that are hurt an
[3:08] and and that's their taxpayer
[3:09] dollars to. And so, you know,
[3:12] I was trying to find out,
[3:13] I believe a lot of us have been
[3:14] kind of research on this,
[3:15] the different methods for
[3:16] utility assistance within the
[3:17] city of jacksonville, jta and
[3:19] our nonprofit partners. And and
[3:22] so it without further ado,
[3:23] I do kind of want to pass it
[3:24] off to as good and see kind of
[3:26] what you know, what are you
[3:27] hearing jta about utility
[3:29] assistance and what kind of
[3:30] programs the you guys and to
[3:33] work with whether be the city
[3:34] or with your outside partners.
[3:36] >> so thank you, chair. Thank
[3:37] you. My name is rene and with
[3:40] jay am and government relations
[3:43] jta. We do have some challenges
[3:46] with our customers. Right now
[3:48] we are seeing that our
[3:50] customers are having
[3:54] trouble paying their bills
[3:57] whenever they have trouble
[3:58] paying their bills. Jta is
[4:00] taking it a step further and we
[4:03] have processes in place.
[4:05] we have programs in place.
[4:08] we have
[4:09] partners that we work with
[4:12] within the city of jacksonville
[4:13] like councilman plusa said.
[4:15] but we also have a list of
[4:18] agencies.
[4:19] >> so we work with.
[4:22] >> the united way we work with.
[4:24] and in our folders here,
[4:25] there's a list of agencies that
[4:27] gaa partners with.
[4:30] we have set up processes with
[4:33] these agencies. So whenever a
[4:36] customer calls and they say
[4:37] they can't pay their bill,
[4:39] we have a manager who was in
[4:41] the audience today and we have
[4:43] our chief customer experience
[4:45] officer who's in the audience
[4:46] today. They have set up a pro,
[4:48] the process where they can
[4:50] assist our customers to call
[4:52] those agencies and get them
[4:55] assistance if they qualify for
[4:57] an
[4:59] so some of those agencies that
[5:01] we work with. There is 2
[5:04] people. There's 3 people that
[5:06] work at those agencies. So when
[5:08] council incluso called me and
[5:10] we talked, we talked about this
[5:11] and
[5:13] share the the amount that you
[5:16] are thinking, it was a little
[5:18] bit concerning because I'm not
[5:19] sure that the agencies that we
[5:22] work with are able to
[5:25] funnel all that money to the
[5:26] customers that jay is it
[5:28] needed.
[5:29] so that's kind of a high level.
[5:32] we do have processes in place
[5:34] for jta customers to call.
[5:38] we have got it on rj a website.
[5:40] we have
[5:42] our customer care. Consultants
[5:43] are very versed and the agency
[5:46] process. And again, we have a
[5:48] manager that works really
[5:50] closely with our customers as
[5:52] well.
[5:53] so I hope that answers your
[5:54] question.
[5:55] >> it does. I think another
[5:56] thing that I've been hearing
[5:57] that amount from folks is,
[5:59] hey, there might be past do a
[6:01] couple months. And I know you
[6:03] guys have some kind of meta
[6:04] payment program stuff like
[6:06] that. Has there ever been
[6:09] and you guys do investigations
[6:10] to see like that number does
[6:11] seem ridiculously high. Let's
[6:13] let's make sure there's not a
[6:14] leaper. Something can give you
[6:16] sort of back pay for that.
[6:17] >> thank you, councilmember.
[6:18] so jay does have energy audits
[6:20] and water audits and those are
[6:23] free service that we have with
[6:25] for customers.
[6:26] we go in and we look to see if
[6:29] your if your meter is
[6:31] registering a high consumption
[6:33] on your water is there is high
[6:36] consumption on your water.
[6:38] we look at that for a month.
[6:41] if it is
[6:42] if it stays high for a month,
[6:44] we will send you a letter and
[6:46] say you have excessive water
[6:48] use.
[6:49] let's look at your bill.
[6:51] let's look at your to see if
[6:53] you have any leaks in your area
[6:55] in your yard. And then if you
[6:58] don't see anything than you can
[6:59] call us and we'll come out and
[7:01] we'll do an audit.
[7:02] so our guys are are gentlemen
[7:05] are very versed in looking at
[7:08] the problems, the challenges
[7:10] that our customers have.
[7:12] if there is a high consumption
[7:14] on the water side,
[7:16] we also have an energy audit
[7:18] side. Where are our gentleman
[7:20] go out and they look at if you
[7:23] have weather stripping around
[7:25] the windows, if you have
[7:26] insulation in your attic,
[7:28] there is a bunch of
[7:29] conservation things that items
[7:32] that we have on jta dot com as
[7:34] well. But that's a service that
[7:36] we have that we can go out and
[7:37] look at your water meter,
[7:39] look at your electric meter and
[7:40] that's a free service that we
[7:42] offer.
[7:43] >> understood. Why are there
[7:45] any other kind of quick
[7:46] questions just for to it go?
[7:47] I do have one question.
[7:48] students hurt in this room that
[7:49] we have like a list of
[7:50] individuals, not names, but
[7:53] approximately how many people
[7:54] this van on a utilities,
[7:56] no nays.
[7:59] I mean, what is it that this is
[8:00] hundreds? I mean, I think,
[8:03] you know, and if we somehow
[8:06] proposed legislation when we
[8:08] go, matt, not colleagues,
[8:09] we need to let them know this a
[8:11] little. We got 3040500 people,
[8:15] families that's behind on the
[8:17] utility's.
[8:18] >> that said through the chair,
[8:19] I'd like to introduce
[8:21] charles moore, dr. Charles
[8:23] moreland. He is our chief
[8:25] customer experience officer.
[8:27] so this program falls under his
[8:29] area and I'll let doctor
[8:31] moreland address them.
[8:32] >> okay, good afternoon,
[8:33] everyone. And let me just
[8:34] simply say from the very
[8:36] beginning and thank you for
[8:37] taking the time to have this
[8:39] conversation around how we can
[8:41] help our customers, our
[8:43] communities, our neighbors,
[8:45] as we all know, there's an
[8:47] alice population that's out
[8:49] there that talks about 39 to
[8:51] 40% of working. People have
[8:53] difficulty pan their bills,
[8:56] rather, it's utilities, rather,
[8:57] is buying groceries, rather is
[9:00] health. And the list goes on
[9:02] and on. And so for us, jay,
[9:05] we're always looking for ways
[9:07] in which we can help our
[9:09] families, our friends, our
[9:11] neighbors, to be able to meet
[9:13] those needs and meet them where
[9:15] they are. So as it relates to
[9:18] how many people are are are
[9:20] maybe struggling to take care
[9:22] of their utility. Bill, I want
[9:24] to get back with you on that
[9:25] just to make sure I have an
[9:26] accurate answer for you.
[9:28] but what I will tell you,
[9:29] and it's give you a little bit
[9:31] of a glimpse that that there is
[9:33] a number and this will give you
[9:35] a glimpse of why that I don't
[9:36] want to be careful with that.
[9:38] so, for example, we talk about
[9:40] pay arrangements a lot of times
[9:42] when people get on pay
[9:43] arrangements. That's because
[9:44] there have been some sort of a
[9:45] difficulty of meeting there.
[9:47] the need monthly their regular
[9:49] just pan their their bill.
[9:52] we have pale arrangements of to
[9:55] 6,719 active payment
[9:58] arrangements right now. So
[10:00] that's a good indicator that a
[10:02] little bit of a red fly for us
[10:04] pay plans. We have people that
[10:06] are on short-term agreements
[10:07] tattooing the pay plan. That's
[10:09] 19,516 active pay plans that
[10:14] are out there now my way where
[10:16] people are leveraging their
[10:18] their leftover of a balance and
[10:21] working through that process.
[10:23] 21,627 current j customers on
[10:28] on my way. And so and then I
[10:30] can go on with that. But you
[10:32] say that there is a healthy
[10:35] number of folks that are having
[10:38] some challenges paying their
[10:39] bills.
[10:42] >> thank you very much. I think
[10:43] it's very helpful. Other
[10:45] another ge related questions
[10:47] you might have. Yeah, mclemore.
[10:49] thank you, jack. And one of the
[10:51] few combat.
[10:52] >> I just need you to repeat
[10:54] the number in regards to the
[10:55] pay arrangements.
[10:59] >> the pairing schmidt number
[11:00] was 6,719.
[11:03] I took payment arrangements
[11:06] and then their pay plans,
[11:07] which is a short-term agreement
[11:09] that provides terms and
[11:10] conditions mutually agreed upon
[11:12] by the customer in jay to pay a
[11:15] pass to that. No later than 51
[11:17] days of the bill day and there
[11:19] there are about 19,516 pay
[11:23] plans for that.
[11:25] >> thank you so much. You're
[11:26] welcome to it through the
[11:28] chair. I know that we do have a
[11:32] myriad of organizations that
[11:34] assist with.
[11:36] >> utility services. Is this
[11:39] liz, this good is it?
[11:41] >> on coca see as to what jta
[11:43] nose or?
[11:47] >> through the chair? The
[11:48] council member clark murray,
[11:50] that is a list of organizations
[11:51] that gaa has a process set up
[11:54] with. Okay. So we've worked
[11:56] with them. We vetted them.
[11:58] we know that there as an
[12:00] organization that can help our
[12:03] customers.
[12:04] >> and when you say process,
[12:05] do you mean any of these type
[12:07] of arrangements that dr more
[12:09] limited?
[12:11] >> so the arrangements dr
[12:12] moreland mention is internal to
[12:14] jta customers.
[12:16] so what you're looking at
[12:18] clinton tyrants like murray is
[12:22] is all of the agencies that jay
[12:26] works with when our customers
[12:27] are behind him pass to. Okay.
[12:29] thank you so much for that.
[12:30] and then I know that.
[12:32] >> this going on the city's
[12:33] website, we have the emergency
[12:34] assistance program and if I'm
[12:36] not mistaken, I think parks may
[12:39] have.
[12:40] >> 2 senior show says I'm
[12:42] looking back as I've been
[12:43] staring at you and even when
[12:44] was she stared at me because I
[12:45] know.
[12:46] >> would you do you have any
[12:47] data for us? Can you come up
[12:49] and talk about that? If you
[12:50] >> have any data through that
[12:51] area, if you don't mind because
[12:53] the city does offer quite a few
[12:55] programs as well, many think
[12:57] it's just I'm sorry going,
[12:59] please but ice. And once again,
[13:03] because this is a large city
[13:05] and we do a lot at the
[13:07] disconnect is making sure that
[13:09] people know about those
[13:10] programs. If you could talk
[13:12] about 2 things at the introduce
[13:14] yourself and of course, you
[13:14] know, your dress,
[13:17] the program itself and how.
[13:19] >> it's communicated to the the
[13:22] to the community at large to
[13:23] know, but to know that this
[13:25] assistance is available for
[13:26] them.
[13:32] >> it'll get there we go.
[13:34] >> good afternoon. 3 robinson
[13:36] chief of senior services.
[13:37] my address is on and through
[13:39] the chair. The program that
[13:41] you're referring to is our
[13:42] emergency heating energy
[13:44] assistance program also known
[13:46] as e he is specifically
[13:48] services, older adults in the
[13:50] community individual 60 years
[13:52] and older. Those funds were
[13:56] available to us through june
[13:57] 30th of this year. Our contract
[14:01] has since expired and we are
[14:03] waiting to renew that contract
[14:05] with the provider was
[14:06] eldersource and their
[14:07] representatives from
[14:08] eldersource here today. We do
[14:11] advertise that a program
[14:13] throughout a multi multiple
[14:17] ways throughout the community,
[14:19] specifically in our senior
[14:21] centers. We provide information
[14:24] the our social media. It is
[14:26] also available on the city of
[14:28] jacksonville's website where
[14:29] individuals can request support
[14:32] the my jax.
[14:34] >> thank you so much for that.
[14:35] do you have any data as to how
[14:36] many seniors you have served?
[14:39] >> so in total, for instance,
[14:41] this year at the conclusion of
[14:43] our contract on june 30th,
[14:45] we had awarded approximately
[14:46] $114,000 in crisis support.
[14:50] we were averaging about if the
[14:53] seniors per month and that
[14:55] contract ran from july one of
[14:58] 2025 to june 30th of 2026.
[15:02] >> thank you.
[15:09] they had to say.
[15:11] >> I do have one question.
[15:12] do just for senior citizens,
[15:14] correct? That's correct.
[15:15] for this year. 6 devices up on
[15:16] all the guide us through the
[15:18] chair. 60 and older are 6 and a
[15:20] look like
[15:22] I don't believe you're eligible
[15:23] that we have.
[15:24] >> now to that end, though,
[15:27] actually, actually the council
[15:30] hold or do you want to chime in
[15:31] on this?
[15:32] >> I do have a question for you
[15:34] said there were 100 in $14,000
[15:36] awarded in crisis support.
[15:38] but how many and folks in
[15:41] elders and the elderly
[15:42] population would actually serve
[15:43] is do we know the number?
[15:45] >> I don't have that number
[15:46] readily available.
[15:48] >> for instance, I have an
[15:50] average number. And on average
[15:51] we were assisting 50 family or
[15:53] 50 seniors per month.
[15:56] >> and do we know when that
[15:58] contract ended with those
[15:59] seniors roll into any of the
[16:01] existing programs where they?
[16:03] >> as those and to my
[16:05] knowledge, it would have been
[16:07] itself elect. We don't auto
[16:08] role individuals into any of
[16:10] the additional programming
[16:11] that's available. There are
[16:13] some caps and limits so it
[16:14] varies from individual to
[16:16] individual.
[16:17] >> understood. Thank you.
[16:19] and I have one more question
[16:20] for renee. So on this, she
[16:23] lists there's a few here,
[16:25] organizations that you will
[16:26] work with the financial
[16:27] assistance before the ones that
[16:29] don't provide financial
[16:31] assistance and you like food or
[16:32] shelter and housing. How do you
[16:34] all work with them to just
[16:35] identify that there is a
[16:37] financial need and then try to
[16:39] help them get food assistance
[16:41] to maybe set why they can't pay
[16:42] their utility bill. I'm just
[16:43] trying to figure out why these
[16:45] additional organizations on the
[16:46] sheet.
[16:49] >> through the chair to
[16:51] councilmember holder said this
[16:52] is a sheet that we give out
[16:54] whenever we have our senior day
[16:54] at j. So we try to incorporate
[16:58] all the information that we can
[17:00] to help our seniors. So this is
[17:02] a pamphlet that's passed out at
[17:03] our senior day.
[17:05] >> ok and dr. Michael morley,
[17:09] if you have an easy question
[17:10] before us.
[17:15] thank you. Thank you.
[17:20] >> this pamphlet is to just
[17:23] provide our seniors and others
[17:25] that come to rj a headquarters
[17:28] with all the wraparound
[17:29] services that could be
[17:30] potentially available to them
[17:32] if they needed not everyone is
[17:34] coming for utility assistance.
[17:36] some folks may be coming to
[17:37] home repair or food assistance
[17:39] or sheltering or veteran
[17:41] services. So we just wanted to
[17:43] provide all of this information
[17:45] and one location for our
[17:46] college visors to be able to
[17:48] provide to the citizens that
[17:49] come in or for the individuals
[17:51] that actually call him jta and
[17:54] looking for and reaching out
[17:55] for information. The next thing
[17:57] I just wanted to mention this
[17:59] about seniors since we were on
[18:00] that conversation, we do singer
[18:03] day the 3rd wednesday of every
[18:06] month over a j headquarters.
[18:09] and so for fy, 26 said just
[18:11] send it. We had 658 seniors
[18:15] that attend it senior day with
[18:17] approximately 70 attending for
[18:20] the first time and 127 of those
[18:25] seniors received 6, $67,233.72
[18:31] and direct utility assistance
[18:33] and fy. 26. So the city and
[18:37] others. That's why you see the
[18:38] city on on this list of
[18:40] partners that are at our senior
[18:43] day activities as well. So we
[18:46] all partner together trying to
[18:48] help our neighbors, our
[18:51] friends, our families, our our
[18:53] community, as best as we
[18:55] possibly can.
[18:58] >> thank you, doctor. And it
[18:59] might just a real quick
[19:01] question at the heap
[19:02] surgery.
[19:04] so those dollars can just go to
[19:06] like one month's worth of
[19:08] assistance. And is it an entire
[19:09] month's worth of
[19:11] payment or do you go to a
[19:12] certain dollar number?
[19:14] >> that threw the chair.
[19:15] what we do is pay their paths
[19:17] do for the electrical portion
[19:19] of their bill. So whatever
[19:20] number that is, whatever that
[19:22] number is, is that it is the
[19:23] past due amount per cent.
[19:25] thank you much.
[19:27] and that can please.
[19:30] >> but before you thank you for
[19:31] that to its employee that I put
[19:33] on record and I want to
[19:36] embarrass and one. But
[19:38] quite often I get calls from
[19:40] constituents.
[19:42] that's 8 when we reach out to
[19:43] these pardons. What is jay a 2,
[19:45] 1, 1, 6, on the city.
[19:48] people not picking up the phone
[19:50] and I know how funding are we
[19:52] call and the doors are closed.
[19:54] so, you know, you know, I'm not
[19:57] sure what happened that that is
[19:58] me in, but I think is critical
[20:01] that we could at least evaluate
[20:03] the process because
[20:05] it's good to have these
[20:06] services. But I promise you if
[20:08] I have a constituent call them
[20:10] are. And it is 15 companies
[20:13] that the term dow but 13 of 14
[20:16] and most willing to be anyone
[20:18] here that they happened to be
[20:20] the column. I 9 o'clock.
[20:21] it'll be hard for them to get
[20:23] assistance and then what they
[20:24] do in this column office.
[20:26] and that's the issues that here
[20:28] that hey, so and that may
[20:29] explain, I'm doing is called
[20:31] the ceo of his company, calling
[20:32] itself, you know, say, hey,
[20:34] no one at picking up. So that's
[20:36] one of the biggest challenges
[20:37] that half as well that the
[20:39] process, these automated
[20:42] dow, 30 dupree's find the top
[20:45] that I it's not working for me.
[20:47] you know, it's I'm not sure
[20:49] what we could do about the
[20:50] partisan evaluate
[20:53] the process. But I think I need
[20:55] to be changed to also want to
[20:57] add one more thing that I think
[20:58] it's very important. I got a
[20:59] lot of calls
[21:01] and a lot of questions and
[21:03] people have asked me while the
[21:05] che go up
[21:07] on a rate
[21:08] and I think it's important to
[21:09] put that our record because
[21:11] that's when the major things I
[21:13] got wind now, could they have
[21:16] waited?
[21:17] >> so it through the chair to
[21:19] councilmember gaffney. First of
[21:20] all,
[21:22] we hear your concerns about the
[21:23] agency's and when councilmember
[21:26] palou so called me about this,
[21:28] I called our manager who who
[21:31] takes care of our customers and
[21:32] our customers assistance
[21:33] program. And I was informed
[21:35] that some of these agencies,
[21:37] they have 2 people, they have 3
[21:39] people. So they don't have the
[21:41] bandwidth to answer the calls,
[21:44] to make the appointments to do
[21:46] the intake, to do what it takes
[21:48] to actually service these
[21:49] customers. So that's that's
[21:52] also a concern that that we
[21:54] might need to look at going
[21:55] forward.
[21:58] if I could.
[21:59] I bring up ted phillips,
[22:02] who is our cf of j. A
[22:05] todd phillips is the one who
[22:07] manages all of our rates,
[22:08] all of our our financials.
[22:11] he's the one who's able to
[22:12] address the reason that j a had
[22:16] a rate increase.
[22:19] >> I don't know if I'm calling
[22:21] for the government. This talk
[22:23] loud. How's that?
[22:24] so, yes, my name is ted
[22:26] phillips on the cfo. Jay.
[22:28] so to your question, why now or
[22:30] write what like it? Why can't
[22:32] we wait a few years, right?
[22:34] so a couple of things. So one
[22:37] we're seeing the same increases
[22:40] that are our consumer customers
[22:42] are right. You talked about
[22:44] fuel gasoline, right? So
[22:49] our trucks
[22:51] drive about 11 and a half
[22:53] million miles every year to
[22:55] service our customers. So we're
[22:57] having to put gasoline and
[22:59] diesel into those trucks just
[23:01] like our customers are having
[23:03] to put gasoline into their car
[23:06] so they can get to work every
[23:07] day, too. So those additional
[23:09] cost we have to pass along.
[23:13] also the fact that we are
[23:15] building a lot of new
[23:17] infrastructure. So
[23:19] right now we're in the process
[23:21] of building a new combined
[23:23] cycle plant, which cost about
[23:25] 1.5 billion dollars.
[23:27] and so that plant, the biggest
[23:30] thing that is going to do is
[23:31] it's going to replace another
[23:33] natural gas plant we have
[23:36] that went into service in 1977,
[23:39] so that that plan is almost 50
[23:41] years old. We are seeing a lot
[23:45] of reliability issues with that
[23:47] plant. And so it is time for
[23:50] us. It's we're late. We should
[23:53] have already replaced plant.
[23:55] and so we're having to pay the
[23:56] debt service on that plan as we
[23:59] borrow money to build it.
[24:00] so
[24:04] our rate, it's a are the way
[24:06] that we have to collect money
[24:08] to pay for that. And I know
[24:10] that I mean, that's not good.
[24:12] but
[24:13] that one is that I mean good.
[24:14] so
[24:16] I hope that helps.
[24:19] >> thank you for one coach.
[24:21] are you thinking when you just
[24:23] voiced is the frustrations that
[24:26] I think we've all heard
[24:27] consistently from our
[24:28] constituents and you did in
[24:30] such a way that I think was
[24:31] as kind as it could be, because
[24:33] I think we all get those calls.
[24:35] and I've heard the same thing
[24:36] about like all this person call
[24:37] that person. There's nothing
[24:38] there, what's going on. And we
[24:40] did just passed the budget.
[24:41] so a lot of these organizations
[24:42] should have some funding right
[24:43] now, which is a good thing,
[24:45] but for the purposes of making
[24:46] sure that we have long-term
[24:48] longevity and making sure that
[24:50] we have the ability to help
[24:52] these families for a while.
[24:54] I think we're going to mean
[24:55] some weird economic times for a
[24:56] while. And the reason why I
[24:58] think this is necessary now is
[24:59] because inflation is higher
[25:00] than it should be. Gas prices
[25:02] are $2 higher. Then they were a
[25:04] year ago, right?
[25:06] I'm gonna blame to see on this
[25:07] one. I am. You can you can not.
[25:11] that's why we're in the
[25:12] position that we're in. The
[25:13] economy is in a very poor place
[25:15] to build. The dollar that
[25:16] people have in their hand is
[25:17] weaker today than it was a
[25:18] while ago. And now everything
[25:19] else is getting more expensive.
[25:21] so I know that we as a city
[25:22] government can do limited
[25:25] staff, we can do utility
[25:27] assistance. Ga needs to make
[25:29] sure that it's able to
[25:31] do power generation. We need to
[25:33] generate our electricity is
[25:34] that we're not beholden to fpl.
[25:37] duke energy, private
[25:39] corporations. That's that's why
[25:41] it's that's why I'm I'm
[25:43] comfortable. The ga is moving
[25:45] forward on some their
[25:46] activities because they told us
[25:48] they would have the past
[25:49] several years. We had prior
[25:50] administrations put us in this
[25:52] position. I'm just going to put
[25:53] that out or what I will say is
[25:55] as we are seeing family
[25:56] struggle now we have the
[25:57] ability out
[26:00] and specially as we wait out
[26:01] this bad economy and maybe
[26:03] other things in dc
[26:04] I do want to bring up, you
[26:06] know, the way that's okay.
[26:08] we do have a limited amount of
[26:09] time in here and I want to make
[26:09] sure that we're digging into
[26:11] the other programs and why.
[26:13] and frankly, I think, you know,
[26:14] credit if you if you can speak
[26:16] to this, some of the
[26:17] frustration that counselor
[26:18] gaffney brought up like,
[26:19] why is it that when some people
[26:21] call you were having issues?
[26:22] and I think I think maybe you
[26:23] can help explain some of that
[26:25] and hopefully help us with a
[26:26] solution.
[26:27] >> to the chair, I'm probably
[26:29] the shortest one. So I was
[26:30] standing name for the record
[26:32] and for the record so that your
[26:34] career to heal my with as chief
[26:37] operating officer with united
[26:38] way of northeast florida
[26:39] addresses on file. Thank you
[26:42] for this conversation again
[26:44] into the chair. First, I'd just
[26:46] like to say and share and that
[26:48] this is a very big in real
[26:51] concern for our community.
[26:53] and I will also show that even
[26:55] before the rate increases,
[26:57] our families have been
[26:59] struggling. And I know that
[27:00] we've we've share that our
[27:01] families can have struggled in
[27:03] the rate increase is going to
[27:04] exacerbate that.
[27:05] what I like to give you are a
[27:06] few dayton numbers from us and
[27:09] give you a little bit more
[27:10] share a little bit more about
[27:11] the process at 2, 1, 1,
[27:13] what I can share with you is
[27:14] that someone at 2, 1, 1,
[27:16] will eventually answer the
[27:18] phone. However, what I can tell
[27:20] you is that depending on the
[27:22] timing of that call are wait,
[27:24] times are longer. And I want to
[27:26] give you a little more insight
[27:28] on the process. So 2, 1,
[27:29] 1, we have a community of
[27:31] community navigation network
[27:33] of partners, probably some of
[27:35] those on your list. One of them
[27:37] is here today. Catholic
[27:38] charities to his family,
[27:40] community services and desk are
[27:42] 3 of our community navigation
[27:44] partners. Right now. We're
[27:46] looking to expand that.
[27:47] what 2, 1, 1, provides is we
[27:50] are the hub, which answers the
[27:53] calls. And also does the priest
[27:55] screening for appointments that
[27:58] we know are available during a
[28:00] current week. So, for example,
[28:02] this week, my colleague in my a
[28:05] staff member who leads to 1,
[28:07] 1, received converse or had
[28:09] conversations with these
[28:10] partners, they indicated based
[28:12] on their funding availability,
[28:14] how many appointments they and
[28:16] also how many appointments and
[28:19] based on those eligibility
[28:20] requirements, every funding
[28:22] source also has a different
[28:23] eligibility requirement.
[28:25] so it is a very complex,
[28:27] wham, because it not only is it
[28:30] about, you know, getting an
[28:32] appointment for a person who is
[28:33] in need of help, but also
[28:34] making sure they're eligible.
[28:36] and we provide that service to
[28:39] these organizations so that by
[28:40] the time they reach the
[28:41] organization, it helps cut out
[28:44] some of the port, the complex,
[28:46] red tape and paperwork. And
[28:48] they already know there are at
[28:49] least look at least eligible as
[28:51] long as they show up with their
[28:52] required paperwork. So that is
[28:54] what we do. And once at the end
[28:57] of the h week on tuesday,
[28:59] those are the calls that we get
[29:01] for emergency financial
[29:03] assistance, people who are
[29:04] aware that they are calling in
[29:07] to give you an idea of the
[29:08] scale of the volume of those
[29:10] calls, we receive an average of
[29:11] about 500 calls on a tuesday
[29:15] and we have 7 individuals
[29:18] fielding those calls. So that
[29:19] is why I say we will answer the
[29:21] call,
[29:22] but there is a wait time and
[29:25] that wait, time on a tuesday
[29:26] can be an average of about 30
[29:28] to 45 minutes. And when we get
[29:30] calls into 1, 1, individuals
[29:32] who called to 1, 1, they have
[29:34] already likely exacerbated many
[29:36] times. They call to one win for
[29:38] the last resort because there
[29:40] are so many other
[29:41] organizations, many of them
[29:43] know those organizations and
[29:44] they may go directly to them.
[29:46] but the community navigation
[29:48] network that I mentioned,
[29:49] they purposely field. Those
[29:51] calls are asked their clients
[29:53] the call to win one for the
[29:54] purposes of us being able to
[29:57] not only collect the data,
[29:59] but also to help navigate that
[30:01] network a little more
[30:02] successfully. The other data
[30:04] point that I'll share with you
[30:05] is just on utility assistance
[30:06] alone in duval county last
[30:09] fiscal year for u.s. Beginning
[30:11] july one through june, 30th,
[30:14] 5100 calls were connected in
[30:17] appointments made to one of
[30:19] these organizations to have the
[30:21] utilities taking care of.
[30:22] so 5,100 people plus did get
[30:26] their needs met at that
[30:27] particular moment.
[30:28] on the other side of that,
[30:30] though, we also track unmet
[30:32] needs in for 2, 1, 1, for us
[30:34] and unmet need means either the
[30:36] funding was no longer
[30:37] available. So we did have an
[30:39] appointment to provide or we
[30:41] didn't have a resource to give.
[30:43] and that number is 1159 unmet
[30:47] need specifically to utility
[30:49] assistance. That doesn't
[30:50] include the other emergency
[30:52] financial assistance we've
[30:53] talked about this is we hear
[30:55] about utilities out. Give you
[30:56] that number. The other thing
[30:58] that I would like to say is
[30:59] that partnership is imperative
[31:01] and that is the reason that 2,
[31:02] 1, 1, united way to win one is
[31:04] in this business because we
[31:06] connect the dots. Our role is
[31:08] at that as a hub is to connect
[31:10] those dots in the community.
[31:11] we are grateful for our
[31:12] partnership with j a we
[31:14] actually provide the
[31:15] appointments for those senior
[31:16] days through 2, 1, 1, so
[31:18] seniors call in to get their
[31:20] appointments for senior day.
[31:23] the other thing that I will
[31:25] mention just in yield the floor
[31:27] back is that
[31:29] hour wait. Times are are also
[31:33] increasing because of a number
[31:36] of of community issues that
[31:38] have increased, including
[31:39] transportation and what we have
[31:41] seen through our data because
[31:43] we capture every day to from
[31:45] every zip code and we can share
[31:47] with every council member here
[31:49] and transportation needs have
[31:52] become increasingly or even
[31:55] more in need. And that has
[31:57] increased on wait times as
[31:58] well.
[31:59] answer any questions.
[32:03] thank you. Appreciate it.
[32:04] >> this is the last time
[32:06] talking. Hopefully one of the
[32:07] things I forgot to mention,
[32:09] I think it's very essential
[32:11] that I mentioned is that
[32:12] decisions and then much of this
[32:14] a question for you, ms elbagir,
[32:15] if you want to trust, you can
[32:17] just to constituents are
[32:19] telling me
[32:20] councilman gaffney, these
[32:21] programs.
[32:22] >> only to be halfway. It be
[32:24] before I get help.
[32:27] you know the stuff, you know,
[32:29] lie. So they they tell me that
[32:31] wanted to get assistance.
[32:33] they have to already be a 30
[32:35] day notice
[32:37] on the door, rather they time
[32:40] and you call me prior to them
[32:42] getting the but they can get
[32:44] assistance. So when they call
[32:46] these programs,
[32:48] well, you've got to have a 30
[32:49] day notice already being
[32:50] evicted.
[32:52] so,
[32:53] you know, like I said, I don't
[32:55] know. That's a question for
[32:56] you. I mean, it's just the
[32:58] issue is a real issue.
[33:01] I don't know how you solve it,
[33:02] but these is typical questions.
[33:05] comments. Concerns like that
[33:06] about it. I don't want to give
[33:08] it the but I got a good way to
[33:11] get help.
[33:13] you know,
[33:15] and I love what I do. What I
[33:17] can tell them,
[33:18] you know, so
[33:20] it's not as part of a lot of,
[33:21] you know, something that we can
[33:22] discuss today. But I think
[33:24] that.
[33:25] >> but to the chair, what I
[33:26] will say in and I think I have
[33:28] other colleagues here who could
[33:29] probably speak for their own
[33:30] areas of business. What I will
[33:32] say to the chair that the
[33:34] answer to your question is
[33:36] flexible funding
[33:38] because most of the time when
[33:40] an organization receives
[33:41] funding a funding source,
[33:43] it is very restrictive. I can
[33:45] speak to my colleagues in the
[33:46] room. We would prefer flexible
[33:48] funding so that we can provide
[33:50] the resources based on a lot
[33:53] more flexibility in the
[33:54] requirements of the
[33:55] eligibility. And so really that
[33:57] is that is my my answer as I
[34:00] speak for the organizations.
[34:02] I know I represent.
[34:06] >> I've heard you speak as
[34:07] passionately about the need as
[34:08] much today. I mr. Help please
[34:11] step every time. I was so
[34:13] sorry. I'm sure that you might
[34:14] have questions for you to do
[34:16] that and get your program right
[34:18] now or through the 2 on
[34:19] programming through your
[34:21] providers
[34:23] that so it's only one month
[34:24] that you guys are providing
[34:25] assistance or could you
[34:26] multiple months of the year?
[34:28] >> no. You mean the people
[34:30] calling to to 1, 1, correct?
[34:32] knows fort for utility
[34:33] assistance for utility bill
[34:35] assistance. So our
[34:37] >> calls come in every day for
[34:39] emergency financial assistance.
[34:42] and once the once a week,
[34:44] every week we funneled the
[34:46] specific community navigation
[34:48] network where we take
[34:49] appointments. And the reason
[34:51] for that is because the need is
[34:54] so high even envision a final
[34:56] the need is at the top of that
[34:58] funnel in the resources are at
[34:59] the end of the final in order
[35:01] to really help navigate the
[35:03] network in the system. We
[35:05] created a process for once a
[35:08] week on tuesdays every tuesday
[35:10] where emergency financial
[35:12] assistance calls come in more
[35:14] regularly and more often
[35:15] because people are aware that
[35:17] they are likely to at least be
[35:21] eligible or if they get through
[35:24] to receive an appointment.
[35:25] if they're eligible first for
[35:26] sale in depending on how many
[35:27] appointments we have available.
[35:29] >> so if I were a pair, could I
[35:30] get multiple
[35:32] the times a year that I can get
[35:33] assistance? If you are a rate
[35:36] payer 5, I'm in need of
[35:37] assistance. Can I call you
[35:39] still around?
[35:40] >> if you are in need of
[35:42] assistance multiple times,
[35:43] it depends on the requirements.
[35:46] most of them do not allow you
[35:48] to receive assistance based on
[35:50] the requirements more than once
[35:51] a year. There's some that
[35:53] actually required once every 2
[35:55] years depends on the resource.
[35:57] >> so if it was if the city
[36:00] were to provide,
[36:02] I'm trying to fit a new thing.
[36:04] this body's trying to figure
[36:05] out
[36:06] if we if we were to put city
[36:08] dollars behind some program,
[36:09] what the united way's 2,
[36:10] 1, 1, program would be the
[36:12] committee navigation network.
[36:13] would it be that to the
[36:14] providers who do direct
[36:15] support? And if so, can we make
[36:17] sure that their program allows
[36:18] for a little more openness and
[36:20] flexibility? How does one do
[36:21] that?
[36:23] >> so what you have bought it,
[36:25] certainly if you were to
[36:27] provide additional support
[36:28] through 2, 1, 1, right now,
[36:30] a united way, our united way to
[36:32] 1, 1, the community navigation
[36:33] that were that is one and the
[36:35] same. I'm looking at my
[36:37] colleague ali center, who's
[36:38] here from catholic charities.
[36:40] right now, catholic charities
[36:42] is the direct resource and
[36:44] partner for the current
[36:46] neighbor to neighbor dollars
[36:48] from j a they receive those
[36:50] dollars directly in there
[36:52] actually is a monthly payout
[36:56] that goes directly to catholic
[36:57] charities. Our role is to
[36:59] schedule those appointments for
[37:01] those emergency assistance
[37:02] calls. If that was something
[37:04] that the city really light
[37:06] would like to do to that span,
[37:07] to be able to prada, did
[37:08] provide additional dollars for
[37:10] our duval county residents.
[37:12] and we would love to be able to
[37:14] use. We would use a similar
[37:15] process, of course, with any
[37:18] additional funding. There will
[37:20] also be increased volume of
[37:22] calls in volume of need.
[37:24] and as I mentioned before,
[37:26] 7 is very already people not
[37:29] quite enough to answer the
[37:30] call. So we with absolutely
[37:32] like to advocate as well for
[37:34] the ability to actually field
[37:36] those additional resources.
[37:38] so
[37:39] >> I appreciate the terminology
[37:41] you're using a thing could be a
[37:42] little bit more strict with us.
[37:44] it's my understanding that if
[37:45] we gave you substantial amount
[37:46] of money,
[37:48] I believe the words yesterday
[37:49] said to me like we could we
[37:50] would it would almost be a loss
[37:52] for us to take on those dollars
[37:53] and we didn't have the staff to
[37:54] be able to process. Absolutely.
[37:56] no. I think you're saying you
[37:57] need more staff at some of
[37:58] these dollars would have to go
[38:00] instead. That is. And what you
[38:01] told me that I just yes,
[38:03] we got to make sure everyone
[38:03] fully understands and the
[38:04] summer.
[38:05] >> that is great chance to the
[38:06] chair. We we could not managed
[38:08] an additional volume of calls
[38:10] or even with additional funding
[38:13] to pay out to those who are
[38:16] being supported by
[38:17] organizations like catholic
[38:19] charities without additional
[38:20] staff support? Absolutely not.
[38:22] not in a very successful way.
[38:24] we'll continue to get calls
[38:26] that we were not able to meet.
[38:27] their needs are quite literally
[38:28] like I think.
[38:29] >> I'm trying to make sure we
[38:30] walk out of here. We have a
[38:31] good idea that the issues that
[38:33] you're hearing that we're all
[38:34] hearing are going to be better
[38:35] addressed by our actions,
[38:37] right? Like it can't just be
[38:40] you. There's more money.
[38:41] but yeah, you're just going to
[38:42] have to keep calling for the
[38:43] next 7 weeks.
[38:45] I know that I've heard from a
[38:46] number of people. There are
[38:47] several months past due.
[38:50] >> by no, by no other issue
[38:51] than just where we are on the
[38:52] economy. And I just want to
[38:54] make.
[38:55] >> we're able to help address
[38:56] those monies to the chair.
[38:57] if I me me, I yield some of my
[38:59] time with. I mean, really,
[39:00] I just want her to share
[39:02] because she didn't have to come
[39:03] here and the u.s. And wanted to
[39:05] make sure because catholic
[39:06] charities, they are doing the
[39:07] work to actually a lay catholic
[39:09] charities has been no, you
[39:10] can't either to
[39:13] I later catholic charities to
[39:15] answer your question about the
[39:17] multiple months.
[39:18] >> so it is true that typically
[39:20] we would only serve somebody or
[39:23] household every 12 months to
[39:25] clarify if they are several
[39:27] months behind on their utility
[39:29] bill. Our goal is to always
[39:31] make them whole. And we work
[39:32] really closely with jta on
[39:34] that. So they may not have paid
[39:35] their bill for 3 months.
[39:37] so in effect, they are getting
[39:38] 3 months of assistance with
[39:39] that one time payment. There's
[39:42] we will work, which as well on
[39:44] things like leaks. And they've
[39:46] been very great to work with us
[39:48] on that. So if we get a bill
[39:49] that's significant, you know,
[39:51] we can kind of work with them
[39:52] on that.
[39:53] but all co
[39:55] and what united way is saying
[39:57] if there was an additional
[39:59] appropriation,
[40:00] we wouldn't be able to do it
[40:01] for free. We need to build the
[40:03] infrastructure in order to be
[40:04] able to actually serve these
[40:06] people. We do need to screen
[40:08] the people, make sure that they
[40:10] are who they say they are,
[40:11] that they're actually leasing
[40:13] the place. They say they're
[40:14] leasing and that takes time and
[40:15] professionals to do.
[40:17] >> and if funding were
[40:18] available, would you say that
[40:19] it's appropriate for the united
[40:21] way, or would you say that you
[40:23] go to
[40:24] the individual providers as
[40:26] well? Or?
[40:27] >> I think if you want the
[40:29] system to work well, it would
[40:31] need to go to both places.
[40:32] 2, 1, 1, needs that
[40:33] infrastructure in order to be
[40:35] able to feel the additional
[40:36] calls. And then whoever is
[40:38] distributing the money would be
[40:39] case managers to be able to do
[40:41] that.
[40:42] to put it in perspective.
[40:43] right now, the neighbor to
[40:44] neighbor program is only about
[40:46] $190,000 a year.
[40:49] and that's not very much money.
[40:52] we're talking about trying to
[40:54] make people whole on their
[40:55] utility bills.
[40:57] council heard dr johnson,
[40:58] thanks for joining us and you
[40:59] have a question.
[41:01] >> actions more and a lot more
[41:03] question comment. I've been
[41:04] keeping up with it. I was in
[41:05] another meeting. Thank you for
[41:06] doing this. First of all,
[41:07] to you guys been getting
[41:08] counseled holder like this is
[41:10] this is so necessary and can
[41:13] sign is if they have and,
[41:15] you know, I want to
[41:17] I do every time seriously.
[41:20] this is a an issue that I know
[41:22] all of us have heard about
[41:23] consistently. Why are we
[41:25] talking about building out
[41:26] infrastructure and going other
[41:27] places when nafta does it
[41:29] already? If I'm not mistaken,
[41:32] there is the lee happ
[41:35] low income energy assistance
[41:36] program. And so they have like
[41:38] he took a lie. He but I knew
[41:40] that never did. I know they've
[41:41] been doing for decades. If
[41:43] they've already got the
[41:44] infrastructure and can do it
[41:45] and that's why we go and try to
[41:46] find other people to do the
[41:48] thing that they already do on a
[41:50] regular basis. What is net net
[41:52] but never cut the northeast.
[41:54] florida community action
[41:55] agency.
[41:56] listen to it.
[41:59] they have a member. Just nation
[42:00] comes up. I guess we could
[42:04] as you know. Okay with that.
[42:11] >> okay. So through the chair
[42:12] to councilman johnson mask was
[42:17] the the mediator for the law he
[42:21] funds about a year ago. Then it
[42:23] shifted to the state of florida
[42:26] to the promise network, the
[42:28] promise network through the
[42:30] state of florida can actually
[42:31] get the funds out a whole lot
[42:33] quicker than nafta because they
[42:34] have the resources to be able
[42:36] to do it. So, for example,
[42:39] when we get a lot of heat fund,
[42:41] cisco, low-income home energy
[42:43] assistance program from the
[42:44] federal government down to the
[42:46] state and when thomas and
[42:48] promise get that, we can get
[42:50] those funds out through them
[42:52] 30 to 45 days. We have of the
[42:56] voucher, the people that are in
[42:58] need of the utility assistance
[43:00] to do not get there disconnect
[43:02] because we know that the
[43:03] boucher is there and the
[43:04] dollars are there and it gets
[43:06] move quicker. Give you a great
[43:08] example and I won't hold it too
[43:09] long. But and they had some
[43:12] some dollars that they needed
[43:13] to repurpose spurlock e for.
[43:15] 23 fy. 23 24 25. It ran through
[43:20] to promise network they
[43:22] provided some funding for for
[43:24] food, for for us at j a to be
[43:26] able to get it out. We were
[43:27] able to help over 14,600 of our
[43:31] her neighbors that need some
[43:33] support.
[43:34] that's because promise was able
[43:36] to move those dollars. Quick us
[43:37] on offense still does their
[43:38] thing as for us trying to
[43:41] manage and, you know, different
[43:43] processes. But the lockheed
[43:45] dollars come directly through
[43:47] promised to us.
[43:49] >> and but to administer them
[43:51] and started to take it over.
[43:52] but to administer those funds,
[43:54] you was still dr. Martin need
[43:55] additional infrastructure for
[43:57] what? You know, we don't
[43:58] administer any of those funds.
[44:00] we do not bring money into us.
[44:02] the money comes through the
[44:04] process to promise and they put
[44:07] the dollars on the individual's
[44:10] bills like they're just kind of
[44:11] paying the bill for the right.
[44:12] we do not take in anything or
[44:14] we utilize our partners that we
[44:16] just talked about that have the
[44:19] get those resources like our
[44:21] neighbor to neighbor program.
[44:22] that's our individual employees
[44:25] given citizens given on their
[44:27] bill, things of that nature,
[44:29] those dollars go directly to
[44:31] catholic charities. That's why
[44:32] she was mentioning has about
[44:34] 190,000 a year. Those are
[44:36] donated dollars to various
[44:38] means go straight there to help
[44:40] our that help our customers and
[44:43] those dollars are generally use
[44:45] doing the senior day for
[44:46] neighbor to neighbor. Thank
[44:47] you, dot councilmember. I would
[44:50] I I think one of the things
[44:51] that I've discovered were not
[44:52] discovered, but I noticed I
[44:54] think all of us can say they
[44:55] can do you not talked about
[44:56] before we're in so many silos
[44:59] and everybody this person's
[45:00] over here in this person's in
[45:01] talking to this group and vice
[45:02] versa. So I think once we do
[45:04] get this legislation ready,
[45:06] we need to those organizations
[45:07] would be to 1, 1, would be on
[45:09] this more and the city's
[45:11] organization neighbor to
[45:12] neighbor the promise network
[45:13] where there was a need to sit
[45:14] in a room with them and say,
[45:15] guys, you got to talk to each
[45:16] other. It is additional funds
[45:18] because the one thing this is
[45:19] as concerning which I've heard
[45:21] over and over and dr moreland,
[45:22] you just said a moment ago,
[45:24] there's like a 30 45 day period
[45:26] to those funds getting there.
[45:27] and if if their energy
[45:28] assistance needs, they're
[45:29] usually needed within the 10
[45:31] day period, if not sooner.
[45:33] so I think that's important.
[45:34] we we take into account.
[45:36] >> understand and thank you for
[45:38] for
[45:39] the bringing all that up.
[45:40] the in my conversations with
[45:42] jta with united way with parks
[45:44] department is parks,
[45:44] recreation, community services.
[45:46] committee services also
[45:48] provides like the funding as
[45:49] well. And so I initially
[45:51] thought, ok, well, we have the
[45:52] city of jacksonville. Let's put
[45:53] the money in the city of
[45:55] jacksonville. But under
[45:56] community service is the only
[45:57] do one payment assistance for.
[45:59] I don't know if it's 10 months
[46:00] or 18 months. It's only one was
[46:02] like, okay. Well, we already do
[46:04] provide some funds for that.
[46:06] so city jax, florida has some
[46:07] dollars to do that for one-time
[46:08] assistance. So then what do we
[46:11] go next? What we have a
[46:12] contract with 2, 1, 1, already,
[46:14] right, that a contract with the
[46:16] city of jackson has been
[46:16] longstanding and they have the
[46:18] network has after talking with
[46:20] jta
[46:22] and parks. That's where they
[46:23] said, like, you know, we we
[46:24] kind already have a
[46:26] relationship in talking with 2
[46:27] on one and obviously going
[46:28] through catholic charities,
[46:29] judicial services and desk.
[46:32] the conversation was more about
[46:34] how the dollar's get the
[46:35] providers to provide that
[46:36] funding to people immediately
[46:38] because they're already getting
[46:39] the calls. Right? I think that
[46:40] was the point is like you just
[46:41] heard from catholic charities.
[46:43] they're getting calls right
[46:44] now. And sometimes they have to
[46:46] say, well, we're out of money
[46:47] are restricted funds and how to
[46:49] use them. I think what my goal
[46:50] is here is to get some
[46:51] consensus from folks on that.
[46:54] we want to do this. I I know
[46:55] that that I believe myself and
[46:57] counsel kathy certainly do what
[46:59] the dollar number looks like if
[47:00] there is infrastructure needs
[47:01] to be built because to the
[47:02] point of what
[47:04] councilman gaffney it said and
[47:05] what we heard from folks in the
[47:06] past,
[47:08] people are calling people are
[47:09] trying to get assistance,
[47:10] but it takes
[47:11] days if not weeks to get a
[47:12] return, see need to another
[47:14] staffer. To that. You're going
[47:15] to get the more funds to
[47:16] administer.
[47:18] you need to hire another person
[47:19] or 2. And if the city did it,
[47:21] that's an fda and it's a lot of
[47:22] money. So it's even better that
[47:23] we go through a 3rd party in
[47:26] this case, possibly, you know,
[47:27] united way and their network,
[47:29] the community avigation at
[47:30] work. So that's that's why I
[47:32] want to make sure we're going
[47:34] down that route is how we make
[47:35] sure the dollar's get out the
[47:37] fastest and make sure that the
[47:38] programs
[47:39] are administered in such a way
[47:41] that like there isn't a
[47:42] restriction that we can and
[47:43] can't get the flexibility as
[47:45] was said earlier.
[47:47] that's that's where I hope to
[47:48] be in this. And so I just did a
[47:51] lot of talking. It's my
[47:54] do we have any comments from
[47:56] from our colleagues, youth
[47:58] coach air first for my chair.
[48:00] >> chair that mr. Pfizer time
[48:02] in regards to funding because
[48:05] we're talking about dumping
[48:06] ahead.
[48:07] >> and you have less is on to
[48:09] the lookouts.
[48:10] >> councilman, larry, you and
[48:11] not your in my mind at all
[48:13] times you are to do you know,
[48:16] we are we are. But please,
[48:18] if you I mean, they're
[48:19] councilmember parks here in a
[48:20] just sentence in a pair like is
[48:23] appealing his own. And I think
[48:24] now this is like a day of the
[48:27] and this morning all of the
[48:29] year and he's the money.
[48:31] and so guy had a spark to tell
[48:33] us where we're going at this
[48:34] catch.
[48:37] >> at this point time as we
[48:38] talk to our meeting, it would
[48:39] have to be from operating
[48:40] reserves. There's not a spot.
[48:41] you know, we just approved the
[48:42] budget. You're not seeing
[48:43] weather a variance that you can
[48:45] take through. So at this point,
[48:46] it would have to be a ratings
[48:47] or reviews. And it depends on,
[48:49] you know, is this going to be a
[48:51] recurring is it's going to be a
[48:52] one-time kind of, you know,
[48:53] to get things going. So I kind
[48:55] of handed over to you on that
[48:56] beats.
[48:57] >> and thank you for the most
[48:58] part. And that was the
[48:59] conversation I have with me
[49:00] today was they would be about
[49:02] 2 million.
[49:03] that's my that's my number that
[49:06] I believe is going to look at
[49:07] him at work is a two-year
[49:08] program.
[49:09] so it's a one-time payment 2
[49:12] years, an additional 300,000
[49:15] for administrative support.
[49:16] the infrastructure needed to
[49:17] help
[49:19] a paper staffing to
[49:20] to get these dollars out path.
[49:23] and every 6 months we get a
[49:25] report
[49:26] and we see how people are being
[49:28] service. I mean, if we're
[49:29] seeing that there was 5100
[49:30] calls last year last year was
[49:33] before gas prices went up to
[49:35] the level that they're at it
[49:36] was before inflation when I
[49:38] think it was ali 3 and now it's
[49:40] at 3, 4, 3, 5, and then
[49:43] we just saw the right height.
[49:46] so
[49:48] I think if we saw 5100 calls
[49:50] last year, especially if we
[49:52] have a program that's really
[49:53] being well administered,
[49:54] this is going to go well into
[49:56] the 8 to 10,000 range. I would
[49:57] think conservatively, frankly.
[50:00] and if that's households and
[50:02] families that need help and we
[50:04] could do it, let's do it.
[50:05] ms ellen believe you're at
[50:07] that.
[50:08] >> so sorry, chair I just
[50:09] wanted to. The calls were
[50:11] actually significantly higher.
[50:12] the calls of the 5100 where
[50:14] where the number of people who
[50:15] receive support who actually
[50:17] got. Yeah, that actually
[50:18] correct. The number of calls
[50:19] week have gotten from duval
[50:21] county is over 46,000 each
[50:24] year, anderson. That's that
[50:25] includes all emerges. The
[50:27] calls, you know, regarding the
[50:28] issue, I just wanted to make
[50:29] that.
[50:31] >> and just very shows that
[50:32] 515100 calls that were just for
[50:34] utility assistance and got that
[50:37] or was at 46,000 calls for is
[50:39] as goes for everything and
[50:40] anything that.
[50:42] >> yes, sir, the to the chair.
[50:44] 46,000 calls for in duval
[50:46] county. That total
[50:48] 5100 of those calls were able
[50:52] to reap because the sense
[50:53] really connected to get their
[50:55] utilities
[50:57] assistance, emergency says.
[50:59] >> okay. And to the to the
[51:00] point earlier about okay,
[51:02] what
[51:04] if dollars are appropriate?
[51:05] and I just gave a number of
[51:06] like everyone not just in
[51:07] showing that
[51:08] if if if you know 2 million in
[51:10] public funds was a contract
[51:13] that out,
[51:14] would it be just to to 1,
[51:16] 1, to be distributed to the
[51:18] providers? That would be the 2,
[51:20] you know, certain number 2,
[51:22] 1, 1, especially administrative
[51:24] support to make sure the calls
[51:25] get out and then a couple extra
[51:27] and then extra dollars to the
[51:28] different organizations.
[51:31] is that how that would work?
[51:32] >> so to the chair, it is
[51:34] there. There are 2 options
[51:36] really united way, of course,
[51:38] as a as a an organization that
[51:40] his partner, we have a grant
[51:42] making, obviously
[51:44] infrastructure already built.
[51:45] so we absolutely can distribute
[51:47] the funds to the partners.
[51:49] I would also agree with eileen
[51:51] that if there is an
[51:52] opportunity, I think in order
[51:54] to expedite to the beginnings
[51:56] of of receiving support so that
[51:58] if the organizations who are in
[52:00] this network, which there are
[52:01] many of us, as we mentioned
[52:03] several in this room, if they
[52:05] were able to receive the direct
[52:07] support along with the
[52:09] additional dollars to help us
[52:11] expand the ability to take
[52:12] those pre screening calls.
[52:14] and that would also be a
[52:15] resource to make it simple.
[52:18] the simpler ways certainly
[52:19] would be to partner with united
[52:22] way. And we would be that co
[52:25] grantee or some grantee for it
[52:27] for you on behalf of the city.
[52:29] we could also do the opposite
[52:31] because I do. Our partners
[52:33] would appreciate the direct
[52:35] support immediately as well.
[52:37] >> I want these dollars to hit
[52:39] the streets as soon as humanly
[52:40] possible. And I think we just I
[52:42] think I want to be comfortable.
[52:44] I think my colleagues, I want
[52:45] to be comfortable with. How
[52:46] does that happen? If you're
[52:48] telling me that's the best way
[52:49] to make it happen. Where then?
[52:51] all right, foot. I also now
[52:53] question a case. We've got
[52:55] multiple providers that do to
[52:57] do all the providers. A sense
[52:58] it is anything like was des 2
[52:59] different than catholic
[53:01] charities that usual services
[53:02] or nafta or nafta, right?
[53:03] like whatever it is a converse
[53:04] because they got there.
[53:05] >> to the chair. So what I will
[53:08] I will save in terms of our
[53:10] partners who only make
[53:12] appointments for which includes
[53:15] the 3 that I mentioned. That is
[53:16] expanding. We will be able to
[53:18] announce those other partner
[53:19] shortly. But for those we make
[53:21] free screening appointments for
[53:24] every partner does do emergency
[53:26] financial assistance, both
[53:28] housing rental kind of housing,
[53:30] stability, related utilities,
[53:32] and every partner generally
[53:35] speaking provides that
[53:37] assistance based on psg
[53:40] dollars. All most of the
[53:41] receive psg dollars and other
[53:43] funding. The majority of the
[53:46] utility assistance that's
[53:49] provided is done through
[53:50] catholic charities. Mainly,
[53:52] of course, is the neighbor to
[53:53] neighbor partner and also
[53:55] because of additional dollars.
[53:56] but the others do provide
[53:57] utility assistance as well.
[54:00] nafta, they are one of the
[54:02] organizations we have referred
[54:04] callers to that they are not
[54:07] one of the organizations we
[54:08] free screen for. They to your
[54:10] point, councilmember count
[54:12] councilman, they are receiving
[54:15] those cars directly in so we
[54:16] don't have any insight to their
[54:19] infrastructure.
[54:20] >> it's because united way does
[54:21] under the 2 in one process.
[54:23] they do all the pre screening
[54:24] before it goes to make sure
[54:26] that people are eligible
[54:27] ferdaus before it comes to the
[54:29] to the
[54:31] organizations that put it out
[54:32] to go ahead.
[54:33] >> and that's where it gets
[54:34] confusing. You got all these
[54:35] organizations doing the same
[54:37] thing in a vice talking to
[54:38] anybody. And so now you have
[54:39] people who don't know whether
[54:40] to call if we're going to say
[54:42] it's been the money is a 2,
[54:43] 1, 1, is it into one needs to
[54:45] be able to partner with all of
[54:46] the agencies, not just one or 2
[54:47] agencies or not just us preset
[54:49] list the partners, but
[54:50] everybody who was doing this
[54:51] work or we need to be doing
[54:53] direct contracts with the city.
[54:54] but I digress. Let me ask
[54:57] board, mr. Parts to the chair.
[55:00] I'm thinking about those that
[55:02] serve the reason I'm a little
[55:03] bit reticent for when it comes
[55:05] to the money that council can
[55:07] do so is is talking about going
[55:08] to use him go into the
[55:10] reserves. Obviously that's a
[55:11] higher threshold to reach to
[55:12] get the funds out of the
[55:14] reserves. The debt service
[55:15] fund. There were some funds
[55:16] that would put are we able to
[55:17] touch those funds without going
[55:19] through the same 13?
[55:20] >> we're past october,
[55:21] september 30. So we're in the
[55:23] new year. There are no debt
[55:24] savings that existed in as part
[55:26] of this year's budget. We
[55:28] changed up how that's.
[55:29] >> I get it. I get my question
[55:31] was I certain understand that
[55:33] the question was out of the
[55:34] debt savings fund, those funds
[55:35] that were there and understand
[55:37] when a new fiscal year did
[55:39] those funds go back into the
[55:40] reserve, go into the reserves,
[55:42] anything that was left falls to
[55:43] the operating users at the end
[55:44] of it, I was trying to find to
[55:45] see if there's any way that we
[55:46] could find. It really did think
[55:48] about that. Yeah, that's the
[55:49] problem where you're at on
[55:50] october 8th, we are 8 days and
[55:53] you don't have that like where
[55:54] in september we can look at
[55:55] what is available with that.
[55:57] you had some of those separate
[55:58] bills that came through and you
[56:00] some of that at the end of the
[56:01] year. But at this point in
[56:02] time, you're basically left
[56:04] with operating serves unless
[56:05] you're going in and saying,
[56:06] I don't want to do this other
[56:07] previewing type of programs and
[56:09] stuff like that. One of the
[56:11] last things I want to say,
[56:12] councilmember, if I may
[56:13] quickly, I appreciate you give
[56:15] me that insight. When we look
[56:16] at this, let's make sure.
[56:18] well, I do understand there are
[56:19] multiple providers in multiple
[56:20] people doing things in
[56:21] different ways. One of the
[56:23] things I think that we do not
[56:24] use enough is technology.
[56:26] I've said before over and over
[56:28] again, their people, whether
[56:29] they go to the library's with
[56:30] their on their phones, whatever
[56:31] the case may be. But some of
[56:33] those some of the reserve
[56:35] reservations can be done in
[56:37] that way. In many ways. I can
[56:38] tell you how many calls they've
[56:39] gotten. And as more does an
[56:41] amazing job and her and her
[56:43] team there, people are calling
[56:45] in literally within 2 minutes
[56:46] of the morning opening of the
[56:48] lines, their appointments or
[56:50] field. So if we are able to use
[56:52] technology so people can book
[56:53] appointments may be whatever
[56:55] the case may be to do it
[56:57] without talking to a person.
[56:58] I think we need to make sure
[56:59] we're looking at that so we can
[57:01] get those funds.
[57:02] >> we want to ask questions as
[57:03] a precaution.
[57:04] >> when I was not a question
[57:05] that we need to do it, it's not
[57:06] a question that something
[57:08] answer. And this morning I
[57:09] right,
[57:10] that's we need to whether it's
[57:11] allocating the resources,
[57:12] whatever the case may be,
[57:14] we need to make sure it's not
[57:15] just someone calling in on the
[57:16] phone saying it to get my light
[57:18] bill paid and they're calling a
[57:19] line that doesn't get answered
[57:21] for a week or 2 because like I
[57:22] said it after a 10 day period,
[57:24] the lights are off.
[57:27] >> thank you. That this year
[57:29] just want to say I have to step
[57:30] out for another meeting,
[57:31] but it did get a chance to
[57:32] digest the 2 million dollars
[57:34] and in support of it and want
[57:36] to wreck. You want to say that
[57:37] I would like to be a coal
[57:39] introduce whatever legislation
[57:41] comes out of this because as an
[57:42] at-large councilmember, I do
[57:44] get all the calls. The same
[57:45] calls a council member. Gaffney
[57:47] is mention looking to me newly
[57:49] elected to fix the problems
[57:50] that haven't been fixed over
[57:52] that period of time. So I am in
[57:54] support. Thank you, everyone
[57:55] for coming out expressing your
[57:56] concerns and thank you to both
[57:58] chance for this meeting.
[58:01] >> thank councilman. We
[58:02] appreciate your time. And we we
[58:03] were supposed to end this at 5
[58:05] mile out of continue to go
[58:07] further. Relied to public
[58:08] comment. Everything goes
[58:11] okay. Excellent. That's gonna
[58:12] make sure the next thing I just
[58:15] to the point of what council
[58:15] member don't talk to johnson
[58:18] was bringing up with somebody
[58:20] credit. You can come back up or
[58:21] or anyone else even eileen as
[58:23] well.
[58:24] >> yeah. Want why is that the
[58:26] method in which we
[58:30] get get recipients are people
[58:32] who are applying? Why is that
[58:34] the method in which we use?
[58:36] I just got a call one day,
[58:37] a call at one time as opposed
[58:38] to using a more automated
[58:39] system.
[58:42] >> to the chair, that is a
[58:44] method that also is
[58:48] use and has venues because
[58:51] technology, of course, is
[58:53] absolutely an investment that
[58:54] requires funding to do so.
[58:56] what I will say to first I
[58:59] wanted to just acknowledge.
[59:01] >> kuzma doctor johnson,
[59:02] your comment about the
[59:04] importance of collaboration.
[59:06] that is absolutely what we do a
[59:09] united way, our network.
[59:10] and actually we have quarterly
[59:11] meetings with organizations who
[59:13] are part of that network in
[59:15] also, the reality is not every
[59:17] organization either.
[59:20] >> also wants to be included in
[59:22] the day at the database or some
[59:24] refer prefer not to be a part
[59:26] of the communion avigation
[59:27] network because it does require
[59:29] ongoing communication
[59:31] collaboration. In addition to
[59:33] we close the loop. So not only
[59:35] do we I partners help the
[59:38] individuals who we're sending
[59:40] appointments to those
[59:42] organizations are also putting
[59:44] that data back into speaking of
[59:46] technology back into a system
[59:48] that lets us know they were
[59:50] successfully helped. And that
[59:52] allows for us to take a look at
[59:54] this data. And this is a
[59:55] system, by the way, a system
[59:57] issue that has been a system
[59:58] issue for a long time and are
[1:00:02] alice community. And thank you,
[1:00:03] dr moreland for your comment
[1:00:04] there because I alice
[1:00:05] community, they're often making
[1:00:08] decisions about what bills even
[1:00:10] pay. They're making day-to-day
[1:00:12] decisions. Do I pay utilities
[1:00:13] first or do I keep a roof over
[1:00:15] my head in? So that is a
[1:00:17] systemic change that is going
[1:00:19] to require coordination.
[1:00:21] and that is why united way is
[1:00:22] actually part of a strategy to
[1:00:25] strengthen that system. It is a
[1:00:27] a lot of hard work because as
[1:00:29] you mentioned, there are a lot
[1:00:30] of partners and it is
[1:00:32] disjointed at times and it
[1:00:34] requires is to really be on
[1:00:36] aligned. But the reality is
[1:00:38] there will be a network that
[1:00:39] does want to be a part of that
[1:00:41] conversation. And there will
[1:00:43] always be some who preferred to
[1:00:45] remain independent. And that's
[1:00:47] that is why it continues to be
[1:00:49] a challenge. But we are
[1:00:50] committed to solving that
[1:00:51] problem as much as possible.
[1:00:54] >> first and I appreciate that
[1:00:55] for one.
[1:00:58] we just got one final. Thank
[1:01:00] you so much for that would let
[1:01:01] me ask. And one of the things
[1:01:02] and I tried to china, you know,
[1:01:04] watch and be a part of this.
[1:01:05] I want as senior citizens
[1:01:08] 2 right now as I see miss holly
[1:01:10] misses holly in the front row.
[1:01:11] I see him as robinson a day
[1:01:14] when seniors are in this space
[1:01:16] ms robison. What are you seeing
[1:01:18] them is how you're dealing with
[1:01:19] that every day when you speak
[1:01:20] to what we're doing to
[1:01:22] specifically address that for
[1:01:23] senior citizens. And the
[1:01:24] question is, can one of the
[1:01:25] organizations like I know as
[1:01:26] robertson, you're dealing with
[1:01:27] this every day with seniors?
[1:01:29] we're in our senior sites
[1:01:30] around the city. What can we do
[1:01:33] to get immediate relief to
[1:01:34] senior citizens, especially
[1:01:35] those who are in your program?
[1:01:36] can you speak to that or what
[1:01:37] isn't needed? What could you do
[1:01:39] in your program?
[1:01:40] >> as she walks about the the
[1:01:41] state state hasn't given the
[1:01:43] money since june. Yeah. Yeah.
[1:01:45] >> it's so we are hearing
[1:01:47] through this year we are
[1:01:49] hearing councilman johnson.
[1:01:50] the need is significant.
[1:01:52] we receive approximately
[1:01:53] anywhere from 40 to 50 calls a
[1:01:55] day from seniors who are
[1:01:57] expressing a need to have
[1:01:59] support for their utility bill.
[1:02:01] as I shared earlier, we are
[1:02:03] awaiting a contract with
[1:02:05] eldersource to be able to
[1:02:07] resume our heat program.
[1:02:10] and so then we are referring
[1:02:12] any individual calls out to one
[1:02:15] of the community partners.
[1:02:20] >> if we didn't have the chief
[1:02:22] operations officer of
[1:02:23] eldersource. Chris, thank you
[1:02:25] all for hosting us and bringing
[1:02:26] attention to this prevalent
[1:02:28] issue. As our colleague ms
[1:02:31] robison stated, we are
[1:02:33] receiving those calls. We're
[1:02:34] likely the
[1:02:37] eldest l the helpline. So we
[1:02:39] get all of the senior elder
[1:02:42] calls that would go to to 1,
[1:02:44] 1, I build a hotline, gets
[1:02:46] those. And one thing we can say
[1:02:48] about the senior population as
[1:02:50] well. We have the working class
[1:02:54] who are experiencing these
[1:02:56] issues.
[1:02:57] seniors, unlike them, have
[1:02:59] fixed incomes. So as things go
[1:03:02] up,
[1:03:03] their income stays the same.
[1:03:04] so the effects and impacts of
[1:03:08] these challenges hit them
[1:03:09] really, really hard. And so the
[1:03:11] choice becomes whether I pay
[1:03:14] utility bill or where they get
[1:03:16] my medication.
[1:03:18] and so we're seeing that so
[1:03:20] much so that we designed
[1:03:22] outside of the state funding
[1:03:23] because we provide the funding
[1:03:26] to the city of jacksonville for
[1:03:28] these the heap services.
[1:03:29] and as rob son stated, that
[1:03:32] contract is being still
[1:03:33] negotiated with the states.
[1:03:36] these services are not
[1:03:37] happening right now for
[1:03:38] seniors. So there is a way to
[1:03:40] get these particular funds to
[1:03:43] seniors right now. It would be
[1:03:46] critical. And we also as
[1:03:48] illness or saw this being an
[1:03:50] issue for years. We designed
[1:03:52] internal program where we
[1:03:54] actually provide utility
[1:03:56] assistance outside of the state
[1:03:57] funding that we get. So that's
[1:03:59] true. Additional grant funding
[1:04:01] has been a drop in an effort.
[1:04:02] and outside of that, we also
[1:04:04] service in additional
[1:04:05] population that don't go to
[1:04:07] through the same scrutiny as a
[1:04:10] state dollars. So because of
[1:04:13] the issues that you pointed out
[1:04:14] earlier.
[1:04:15] >> and I at least want to say
[1:04:16] it's my intention that there
[1:04:18] would be no,
[1:04:20] this will not be income
[1:04:21] restricted or a district in $20
[1:04:24] for for those who need help,
[1:04:28] that that would be mind before
[1:04:30] ivan up to public comment.
[1:04:31] customer america.
[1:04:32] >> yeah, thank you, mister
[1:04:35] chair.
[1:04:37] I'm sitting here in in
[1:04:39] everything that's been stated
[1:04:40] my previous career of
[1:04:42] experience. And so the cry I'm
[1:04:45] very familiar with
[1:04:47] a few nights ago, we were open
[1:04:49] arms and it wasn't an appeal
[1:04:53] for residents who are having
[1:04:56] difficulty, too
[1:04:58] to be there, if you will.
[1:05:01] in my opinion, I thought the
[1:05:03] attendance of support
[1:05:06] if the cry israel he attended
[1:05:09] since poor.
[1:05:10] but what I discovered with that
[1:05:12] experience is that the jta has
[1:05:15] has made a diligent effort to
[1:05:17] address
[1:05:19] the needs of its rate but
[1:05:21] repairs and so and that
[1:05:24] experience, they were
[1:05:26] addressing human behavior,
[1:05:28] which is a big contributor to
[1:05:30] high bills, not just the rate
[1:05:32] increase and so they were able
[1:05:34] to assist some individuals,
[1:05:36] look at their bills in real
[1:05:38] time and guide them as to how
[1:05:41] they too, can begin saving some
[1:05:44] money, if you will.
[1:05:46] I'm not trying to be debbie
[1:05:47] downer here. I think this is a
[1:05:49] very ambitious effort.
[1:05:51] I think there are some
[1:05:52] realities
[1:05:54] if you're able to get 2 million
[1:05:56] out of operating reserves,
[1:05:58] how do you persuade 10 votes
[1:06:01] when you're saying that 300,000
[1:06:03] is going to go to
[1:06:05] administrative costs versus
[1:06:06] helping to pay bill this?
[1:06:10] if you don't change your
[1:06:11] address, eligibility guidelines
[1:06:14] where
[1:06:16] folks have to jump these
[1:06:17] thresholds to be able to get
[1:06:19] help
[1:06:20] once a year or 3 times a year
[1:06:22] or 2 times a year
[1:06:24] how you're going to maximize
[1:06:25] the use of these dollars.
[1:06:28] if you can't have crossed
[1:06:29] communication between the
[1:06:31] different service providers
[1:06:33] because as you heard united
[1:06:35] way, they just navigate,
[1:06:37] they're not distributing funds,
[1:06:39] then how are you going to help
[1:06:41] those folks?
[1:06:42] what we're experiencing is the
[1:06:44] result of an extremely hot
[1:06:45] summer
[1:06:47] winter's coming.
[1:06:49] so we're going to have that
[1:06:50] cycle all over again. So I just
[1:06:53] food for thought as I sit here
[1:06:55] and again, very ambitious
[1:06:57] effort. But these are some
[1:06:59] realities that can can become
[1:07:00] stumbling blocks to achieve
[1:07:02] anything.
[1:07:03] >> no, thank you. Consummated.
[1:07:07] what are some of the u.s.
[1:07:08] government?
[1:07:09] >> yeah, thank you. Opportunity
[1:07:11] at what I do recommend and it's
[1:07:14] up to the body is that
[1:07:17] we might need to have another
[1:07:18] meeting, you know, might be to
[1:07:19] have another notice, meaning
[1:07:20] the next few weeks to try to,
[1:07:22] I guess, figure out the,
[1:07:24] you know, the process itself.
[1:07:26] you know, council and mayor
[1:07:27] brought us some great points in
[1:07:29] the last thing we want to
[1:07:30] brian todd colleagues is a bad
[1:07:32] bill in. We are written or
[1:07:35] requires 13 votes, you know,
[1:07:38] and we had a him and 3 coming
[1:07:40] up.
[1:07:41] >> you know, so I maybe I don't
[1:07:42] know if he's going to be
[1:07:43] urgency. I don't know. Does
[1:07:44] that go through the committees
[1:07:45] what we think? And so what I'm
[1:07:47] suggesting and proposing may be
[1:07:49] recommending,
[1:07:51] maybe nestle going to follow
[1:07:52] and we might need to come back
[1:07:53] again
[1:07:54] and try to figure out some of
[1:07:56] these things that we heard
[1:07:58] today is these issues and
[1:08:00] hopefully we can fix it.
[1:08:01] so we get a better piece of
[1:08:02] legislation. You know, as I
[1:08:04] mean, that they want is
[1:08:05] legislation
[1:08:06] the failed. But we just want to
[1:08:08] have a great product and right
[1:08:10] now that so we have a great
[1:08:12] product the past.
[1:08:17] >> frankly, I I I think this
[1:08:19] was your your eye. You thought
[1:08:21] so I'm like, yeah.
[1:08:22] >> yet whatever you want to
[1:08:23] guide. So I think what will go
[1:08:26] from here and they got public
[1:08:27] comments. And now a lot of the
[1:08:28] colleagues that I mean this
[1:08:30] week, the league to have one
[1:08:31] goal of the meeting they
[1:08:32] minutes few weeks and we could
[1:08:33] try to streamline the first to
[1:08:36] see can we get a better piece
[1:08:37] of legislation? One of the
[1:08:38] things the u.s. Army is I think
[1:08:39] my my colleagues go out,
[1:08:41] our colleagues got have harbor
[1:08:43] when he's talking about in the
[1:08:44] strait of these. You know,
[1:08:45] it's one thing if it's going to
[1:08:47] services and self. But, you
[1:08:48] know, in 300,000 provide for
[1:08:51] another staff, you know,
[1:08:52] if the
[1:08:54] it'll be tough. But, you know,
[1:08:56] you know, so I think that we
[1:08:58] just need to have more diallo.
[1:08:59] you know, so if you can,
[1:09:01] you can call it a notice mean
[1:09:02] maybe not mislead the following
[1:09:04] weekend. I understand the
[1:09:06] point. We need to do this now,
[1:09:07] but I read the we have a great
[1:09:10] piece of legislation.
[1:09:11] >> before we all for its our
[1:09:14] colleagues.
[1:09:15] >> and we have a greater chance
[1:09:16] of passing. It may be that if
[1:09:18] we come back with something
[1:09:20] tangible, right, with still
[1:09:23] stuck on this island piece
[1:09:24] where we just literally heard
[1:09:26] some organizations are doing it
[1:09:27] some or not, we don't know
[1:09:28] where to go. We need to come
[1:09:30] back with something tangible
[1:09:31] that we can look at all of us
[1:09:32] who have to vote on this thing
[1:09:34] around the table. And we can
[1:09:36] say here is what it looked
[1:09:37] like. Councilmember morrow said
[1:09:39] here, the thresholds like
[1:09:40] those. We need some tangible
[1:09:41] that we can work through at the
[1:09:43] next meeting and I think it's
[1:09:44] going to do that.
[1:09:45] >> yeah, I think I think
[1:09:46] meeting next week, right?
[1:09:47] I think we kind of to the point
[1:09:50] of the emergent nature of all
[1:09:51] this. I don't think we want to
[1:09:53] belabor it. I think we know
[1:09:54] that it's in the u.s.
[1:09:57] I'm hearing a lot. Councilman
[1:09:59] gaffney, I believe is hearing a
[1:10:00] lot. I'm sure councilman mary
[1:10:03] and certainly I'm sure you hear
[1:10:04] in alton.
[1:10:06] >> I heard in my household
[1:10:08] half. Yeah, but but
[1:10:11] >> but the to the to the end of
[1:10:12] all your questions, I think,
[1:10:13] yeah, I mean, I think a lot
[1:10:14] more people can eat you want to
[1:10:15] when it comes, the
[1:10:17] administrative support. I mean,
[1:10:18] that's just I think the nature
[1:10:19] of
[1:10:20] we want this thing to work.
[1:10:22] we want to make sure people
[1:10:22] aren't sitting on the phone for
[1:10:24] 7 days like the you know.
[1:10:26] so so I get it. I think I don't
[1:10:27] think you're wrong. I think 13
[1:10:30] is a tough number to get
[1:10:31] through and take a lead on
[1:10:32] that. I do want to dive into
[1:10:35] these ghost beings. I will say
[1:10:37] to everyone in the audience I
[1:10:38] expect to have another meeting
[1:10:38] may be next thursday or friday.
[1:10:40] what will will will figure that
[1:10:41] out and also council latest
[1:10:43] tuesday. So make sure to be
[1:10:44] able to announce that our
[1:10:45] council colleagues are aware of
[1:10:46] it in case they can come as
[1:10:47] well. By then we can get a few
[1:10:49] more answers, I think to some
[1:10:50] of these questions and make
[1:10:51] sure that we can kind of shore
[1:10:52] up some of the some of the
[1:10:53] commentary that was brought up
[1:10:54] today, which I think is
[1:10:56] important. And by the way,
[1:10:57] that still
[1:10:58] puts us in a good position.
[1:10:59] we do. It's unlikely the bill
[1:11:00] tomorrow filing deadline is
[1:11:02] still
[1:11:04] 13 days from now. So like it
[1:11:06] gives us time to kind of put
[1:11:07] something together if we need
[1:11:08] to. And I think we do an
[1:11:09] emergency because of the new
[1:11:10] 13, anyway, you might want to
[1:11:12] run emergency. This is an
[1:11:13] emerging issue. I believe
[1:11:16] it's one of the councilmen
[1:11:17] partner.
[1:11:18] >> thank you. Councilmember
[1:11:20] gaffney mention the fact that
[1:11:21] amendment 3 is looming.
[1:11:23] I am hoping that it will fail
[1:11:26] and I'm working towards making
[1:11:28] sure that it does fail.
[1:11:31] so with that being said,
[1:11:32] italy was to not propose
[1:11:35] anything or actually
[1:11:37] legislation drafted until after
[1:11:40] november. The 3rd, I think that
[1:11:42] would be like it or not to file
[1:11:44] it until after november 3rd.
[1:11:46] >> that too. So make to make it
[1:11:48] more palatable to our
[1:11:49] colleagues. I mean, is that the
[1:11:51] economy is not going to change
[1:11:52] whether amendment 3 are not
[1:11:54] passes and what it will.
[1:11:56] it will cause some other
[1:11:58] colleagues not to have as much
[1:11:59] angst about this bill.
[1:12:05] >> if we file it, though,
[1:12:06] and
[1:12:08] but you which would be the 20
[1:12:10] first is the next filing,
[1:12:11] right?
[1:12:14] the 21st should be the next
[1:12:15] filing means business committee
[1:12:16] week. So we won't get to
[1:12:18] committees remembers. Got to go
[1:12:19] through those first and second
[1:12:20] reading. So we still won't get
[1:12:21] the committee into.
[1:12:22] >> after so it might be a good
[1:12:23] idea to have it. Let's pilot we
[1:12:25] will. We will have to debate it
[1:12:26] so that way because think about
[1:12:28] it. If we wait till after the
[1:12:29] vote and then finally we will
[1:12:31] still have to go through that
[1:12:33] too.
[1:12:34] >> periods like it's got file
[1:12:35] an emergency. And we do want to
[1:12:36] get to these weeds at numbers.
[1:12:38] we could also I was about to
[1:12:39] say, let's have known as being
[1:12:40] next week. I do want to get to
[1:12:41] some public comment cards and
[1:12:42] certain people have been
[1:12:44] waiting.
[1:12:45] >> well, sean taylor,
[1:12:47] come on. Come on up. We're
[1:12:48] going to have you have 2
[1:12:49] minutes to speak, sir, if you
[1:12:50] don't mind afterwards, suzanne
[1:12:52] staff followed by dr reverend
[1:12:55] russell meyer.
[1:12:56] >> go ahead, sir. Yeah, I do.
[1:12:58] and thank you for having this
[1:13:00] meeting.
[1:13:01] I just want to come. We had is
[1:13:02] mean, I mean, this ne-yo talk
[1:13:04] about other things, mr. Khan
[1:13:06] right here is by don't want to
[1:13:07] be close to what we're talking
[1:13:08] about. We need to talk about
[1:13:09] what's going on. Why begins
[1:13:10] program is jay a lot about a
[1:13:13] yelp and the seals all his
[1:13:14] money. But now he's in the
[1:13:15] head. Here we go to the south.
[1:13:17] so I want to hear these
[1:13:20] a jacksonville resident.
[1:13:21] I'm a veteran.
[1:13:23] >> okay. Here tonight is did
[1:13:24] you guy that he was going to
[1:13:25] recently? I received a bill
[1:13:27] from 19 $93. At the same time I
[1:13:29] was even notice from jay tell
[1:13:31] me my deposits going increase
[1:13:33] $886 because my count has been
[1:13:35] experiencing what they call
[1:13:37] risks. Events mean. I've been
[1:13:39] late payments. My my my
[1:13:41] payment. Could a single parent
[1:13:42] got 3 kids at home. Okay.
[1:13:44] it's hard. Also in february of
[1:13:46] 20 foreign profits security.
[1:13:48] what do you know on south korea
[1:13:49] works? You can't you don't get
[1:13:51] the money, you know, uneven to
[1:13:53] determine you disable when they
[1:13:54] determine it takes almost 2
[1:13:56] years. I have no money coming
[1:13:58] in within that time. Okay.
[1:13:59] so now I got it. I got to meet
[1:14:00] this outfit because my life was
[1:14:02] getting cut. They didn't help
[1:14:04] me. It's a real community
[1:14:05] service. The double the
[1:14:07] double-a say we're going to
[1:14:08] double your deposit that out of
[1:14:10] his service with over 15 years.
[1:14:13] okay. So I'm trying to figure
[1:14:15] out where is it helping?
[1:14:16] it had 100 and cdc bounce to my
[1:14:19] next month's bill. I just hate
[1:14:21] them on 9.28. I paid him $500.
[1:14:24] the timely right now today.
[1:14:26] I mean, 583 not immediately on
[1:14:28] an intern. Amanda, great to be
[1:14:30] internal. Then guess what?
[1:14:31] they said they some minimal
[1:14:33] bill. I send it to you guys.
[1:14:34] you know that he does morning
[1:14:35] some in an abuse and october
[1:14:37] 27th. I got to $1800,
[1:14:40] $1800. And then governor sat
[1:14:43] back on on the bottom of the
[1:14:44] site will community-based the
[1:14:47] weather.
[1:14:48] I had a friend.
[1:14:50] he's like to turn off 140,007
[1:14:53] fence. He paid 240 files with
[1:14:55] home thinking it was going to
[1:14:56] be on his case said in a dog,
[1:14:58] you know, they call until you
[1:14:59] meet a $0.07 payments are.
[1:15:05] >> this is said in jacksonville
[1:15:07] got all his money to do
[1:15:08] everything else. 40 million
[1:15:10] dollars you the baby's people.
[1:15:12] it pays people always money.
[1:15:13] this event to do what he didn't
[1:15:15] know a whole lot. You can hunt
[1:15:16] them down out of the year.
[1:15:18] he not even sweating.
[1:15:20] so you went out doing and this
[1:15:21] is what the money is going.
[1:15:22] >> this you're trying to oust
[1:15:24] him to trying to figure out
[1:15:25] what that's not helping people
[1:15:26] right now. That's not helping
[1:15:28] that family and the daylight.
[1:15:29] so could a one game
[1:15:31] won't give him the power to the
[1:15:32] ice and on iraq by family
[1:15:35] dollar young $150 may close in
[1:15:37] city right now than I see the
[1:15:38] lights.
[1:15:39] think about. Cvs and walgreens.
[1:15:41] see the lights on that
[1:15:42] building. Thank you, sir.
[1:15:43] need to get stick around after
[1:15:44] the meeting at appreciate.
[1:15:45] I'm a veteran. Is there a
[1:15:47] disabled veteran and I've got 3
[1:15:48] kids at home.
[1:15:49] >> I want it the humid today.
[1:15:52] >> next, sarah, a project
[1:15:56] suzanne cent. Come on out.
[1:16:01] I assume your doctor, reverend
[1:16:03] russell, my I have.
[1:16:06] >> and the pastor, saint john's
[1:16:07] lutheran church in human
[1:16:08] infield hit to 10th in silver.
[1:16:10] and after you, it's a michel
[1:16:11] rivera. And then john, any
[1:16:13] better?
[1:16:14] yes, I live in a historic
[1:16:18] riverside had a certain
[1:16:20] historic springfield. 28 1% of
[1:16:24] the homes in jacksonville's
[1:16:26] service by jta were built
[1:16:27] before 1970. They were built
[1:16:29] before air conditioning.
[1:16:31] they all need energy
[1:16:32] efficiency.
[1:16:34] when we bought our home,
[1:16:36] I had the funds.
[1:16:37] I spent somewhere between 5
[1:16:39] $10,000 to insulate my home so
[1:16:42] that we brought down our bill
[1:16:43] from $400 a month to $200 a
[1:16:47] month.
[1:16:49] je provides no assistance
[1:16:53] for low-income people are for
[1:16:54] renters to take their
[1:16:58] living spaces and to energy
[1:17:00] efficiency. It doesn't have to
[1:17:02] we need to get to an ethical
[1:17:03] foundation because where
[1:17:05] municipal utility will have to
[1:17:07] play by the rules that investor
[1:17:09] utilities have to play with
[1:17:11] going before the psc. Tampa
[1:17:13] electric provided energy
[1:17:16] efficiency for 32,000 people.
[1:17:18] last year
[1:17:20] I lived in tampa. I one time I
[1:17:22] was able to get a rebate on my
[1:17:27] energy, put $600 of insulation.
[1:17:29] my attic. And I say $2000 that
[1:17:32] month that here on my electric
[1:17:34] bill,
[1:17:35] we don't have an energy
[1:17:37] efficiency program. It's on
[1:17:39] ethical as a community-based
[1:17:42] public utility not to be
[1:17:44] helping.
[1:17:46] 40% of the population have
[1:17:49] affordable bills. Whatever the
[1:17:50] rate is, I have members who are
[1:17:53] behind an extended in except
[1:17:55] for a I have members who who
[1:17:58] who can't go out and borrow the
[1:18:00] money. Yeah, they can get an
[1:18:02] audit, but it dotted just tells
[1:18:04] you what you need to do.
[1:18:05] there's no help for what needs
[1:18:07] to be done. 1300 seniors
[1:18:10] perhaps were helped. This is
[1:18:12] unconscionable.
[1:18:15] jay eas money is the public's
[1:18:18] money. It's not their money
[1:18:20] 140 million a year to the city.
[1:18:22] an extra 40 minute million this
[1:18:25] year. You're talking about
[1:18:26] 2 million coming back to the
[1:18:28] rate payers.
[1:18:29] >> who are in desperate,
[1:18:30] desperate, desperate need.
[1:18:32] where's the ethics? And this?
[1:18:34] where is love the neighbor as
[1:18:36] yourself? I don't see it.
[1:18:38] I would like to see it. I'd
[1:18:40] like my public utility to
[1:18:42] actually love me and the rest
[1:18:44] of the public. And I like the
[1:18:45] city council that oversees it
[1:18:47] to make certain the execute on
[1:18:49] that love and levin public
[1:18:51] means doing right to doing
[1:18:52] justice for everybody in the
[1:18:54] community. Please, please go
[1:18:56] the whole way. Not just an
[1:18:58] inch. Thank you.
[1:19:02] shower there.
[1:19:08] >> good afternoon or good
[1:19:09] evening. Michelle rivera,
[1:19:12] retired navy chief.
[1:19:16] I'm a realtor with keller
[1:19:17] williams led by any houses.
[1:19:22] I live in a community and you
[1:19:23] love love landing in committee
[1:19:25] page. Everyone has are
[1:19:27] complaining about include
[1:19:28] myself about the half
[1:19:30] the high rate that the increase
[1:19:32] in our budget bill.
[1:19:33] my over the past few months,
[1:19:36] I like to bill,
[1:19:37] almost tripled,
[1:19:39] almost tripled in the last few
[1:19:41] months. I've been a home on or
[1:19:42] since 2014 in that community.
[1:19:45] I did receive a letter out of
[1:19:47] the consumption. There may be
[1:19:48] an increase in consumption.
[1:19:51] okay. Let me call to make an
[1:19:52] appointment for somebody come
[1:19:53] on and do an audit. It takes
[1:19:55] over a month.
[1:19:57] why did you why the turnaround
[1:19:59] time so long? In the meantime,
[1:20:02] my bill is increasing and
[1:20:03] increasing.
[1:20:05] it is with all the new
[1:20:06] infrastructure that's going on
[1:20:08] around the city, which I love.
[1:20:09] I love that. You know, you
[1:20:10] know, we're trying to build up
[1:20:12] this city says, because I guess
[1:20:14] that was warren city in
[1:20:15] america.
[1:20:17] but I those additional costs
[1:20:19] coming to us as a residence,
[1:20:22] our goal or the contractor,
[1:20:24] the commercial contractor,
[1:20:25] they not plant put pulling
[1:20:26] their share with jay and 2 to
[1:20:30] subsidize our our cars that
[1:20:33] were the one paying for those
[1:20:34] increased building
[1:20:36] infrastructure.
[1:20:38] can the extra money that the
[1:20:39] council are getting? Can can
[1:20:40] they subsidize with jake's
[1:20:42] honest and you guys do need to
[1:20:44] fix infrastructure, get your
[1:20:46] coding up to date. So beware
[1:20:48] fission with the power.
[1:20:49] but we're paying for it was a
[1:20:51] relief in the these the whole
[1:20:53] time. I sat here
[1:20:55] to listen to relief was the
[1:20:57] only one time my goes up to
[1:20:59] date was still was one payment.
[1:21:02] that's a help.
[1:21:03] we need a total. I look at this
[1:21:06] again because I me for my bill
[1:21:08] to the almost 3 times. More is
[1:21:10] ridiculous.
[1:21:13] very much. Thank you for
[1:21:15] coming. And then john, any
[1:21:23] yes, it is. And
[1:21:25] >> got a h*** land. John.
[1:21:28] jay new knee
[1:21:30] jacksonville's, 83. 56 bascom
[1:21:33] row jacksonville, florida,
[1:21:34] 3, 2, 2, 6,
[1:21:39] you know, I want to start with,
[1:21:41] you know, just year I just came
[1:21:44] from the truth commission
[1:21:45] meeting
[1:21:46] and on the truth commission,
[1:21:48] you know, as amendment 3
[1:21:51] and then this notice
[1:21:55] notice meeting and j a utility
[1:21:57] assistance programs. Will the
[1:21:59] true commissioner coming out
[1:22:00] with a true to your system?
[1:22:02] so jay utility assistance
[1:22:05] programs, northeast florida
[1:22:06] regional council
[1:22:08] find yesterday. Well, I just
[1:22:11] want to share with you.
[1:22:13] this was a notice meeting with
[1:22:14] monet holder
[1:22:16] and it's j. You know, jordan,
[1:22:19] pope one for, you know, and
[1:22:23] term sorry, ogc and where I'm
[1:22:26] going with it is with data
[1:22:28] centers.
[1:22:30] you know, I was asked yesterday
[1:22:32] new look at all 3 television
[1:22:34] networks and data centers.
[1:22:35] it's like hello
[1:22:37] besides how big they are.
[1:22:39] but you know what I was asking,
[1:22:41] which is the small stuff
[1:22:43] data center.
[1:22:46] the reason I'm saying
[1:22:49] is because
[1:22:51] they are small
[1:22:53] and it could be utilized
[1:22:56] in my opinion
[1:22:58] as a revenue stream
[1:23:01] for utility assistance and the
[1:23:03] council districts,
[1:23:07] you know, you talk about
[1:23:09] creating jobs and everything
[1:23:11] else.
[1:23:12] I just wanted to bring that to
[1:23:14] your attention
[1:23:15] and
[1:23:19] it could be just part of an
[1:23:22] answer. And again, jay, like
[1:23:25] you said,
[1:23:26] when just just look into that
[1:23:29] because I will be and I asked
[1:23:31] that yesterday
[1:23:33] and so I can't wait to see jay
[1:23:36] a
[1:23:37] with the smallest that isn't
[1:23:39] yours
[1:23:42] because it's a national news
[1:23:43] story.
[1:23:45] any could be utilized
[1:23:49] for the cake for districts
[1:23:54] assisting
[1:23:55] with this.
[1:23:57] thank you. It's me.
[1:24:04] >> I think we've said a lot
[1:24:06] here today. I think we're kind
[1:24:07] of moving in a similar
[1:24:08] direction. I think what
[1:24:09] councilmember american summer,
[1:24:10] dr johnson, obviously chair
[1:24:14] gaffney and kind of says let's
[1:24:16] catch you on this all the more
[1:24:17] puzzling together. It's a
[1:24:18] little more concrete. I agree
[1:24:20] with that assessment. We do
[1:24:21] have some time to do it like
[1:24:22] tonight. Notice next week next
[1:24:24] week. And I think we'll be in
[1:24:26] touch with many of the folks
[1:24:27] who spoke here today to make
[1:24:28] sure that we're kind of getting
[1:24:29] a better plan, bring down some
[1:24:31] legislation, kind of going that
[1:24:33] route. Any other comments,
[1:24:35] anyone else
[1:24:36] meeting's adjourned.
[1:24:42] I've never heard a sound like
[1:24:43] that.