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Good evening. Welcome to the September

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15th, 2026 meeting of the Topeka, Kansas

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governing body. I will now call this

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meeting to order. This evening's

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invocation is from Council Member

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Valivia Alkala. Please give her your

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attention and rise if you are able.

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>> Thank you, mayor. Our invocation tonight

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will be given by Imam Omar Hazim. If you

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want to go ahead and come up to the

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podium, sir, right here.

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And just a little bit of background, the

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uh Imam is with the Islamic Center of

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Topeka. He is the Islamic adviser to the

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Kansas Department of Corrections and has

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served in these positions since 1990.

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Imam Hazim was the first Muslim to give

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the invocation to the Kansas House of

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Representatives in Senate on March 9th,

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1995.

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So with that, Imam,

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>> thank you.

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With God's name, the merciful

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benefactor, the merciful redeemer,

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creator of the heavens and the earth,

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and everything contained therein. We

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come before you today in humble prayer

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and ask you to have mercy on and give

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guidance to this governing body of

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honorable minds. Please grant them the

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wisdom, the patience, and the courage to

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make the best decisions for the people

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and communities that they serve. Please

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reward them for the noble work that they

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do. Our Lord, help every individual of

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this governing body recognize and

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respect the inherent worth, the honor

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and the dignity that you, our creator,

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has given every human soul. We are here

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this evening to pray for the success of

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our leaders. And we ask you, dear God,

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to grant success to our mayor and the

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members of this governing body. Amen.

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I aliance to the flag of the United

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States of America.

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Duncan

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>> here.

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>> Council members Hiller

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>> here.

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>> Valdivia Aqua

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>> here. Ortiz

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>> here.

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>> Banks

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>> here.

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>> Kell

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>> here.

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>> Miller

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>> here.

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>> Bradberry

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>> here.

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>> McGee

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>> here.

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>> And Hoer

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>> here.

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>> All right, we have 10 present.

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>> Uh, with that we will move on to

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appointments. City clerk. A is a board

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appointment recommending um the

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appointment of Joe Shereé to the city of

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Tika Americans with Disability Act ADA

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Advisory Council for a term ending

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September 30, 2028.

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>> All right,

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comments or questions on the

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appointments?

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Not motion is always in order. Motion to

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approve from Council Member Hiller,

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second from Council Member Miller. With

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that, take a vote, please.

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Okay, we have nine. Yes, the motion

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carries.

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» All right, with that we move on to

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presentations. Presentation A. City

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clerk

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>> A is the 2027 sales tax initiative.

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>> City manager.

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>> Thank you, mayor, members of the

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governing body. In this item this

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evening, we will discuss proposed sales

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tax and city audit initiatives that if

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approved by the governing body will go

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to voters in March 2027. Through the

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last three budget processes, I've shared

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that we have a structurally imbalanced

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budget and that our expenditures have

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been exceeding our revenues. During this

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budget process, we've submitted for

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consideration a balanced FY2027 proposed

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budget, but our 5-year financial

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forecast presentation indicates

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indicated stagnant revenues. Most

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notably, our sales tax collections,

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coupled with increased costs for

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materials and contractual personnel

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increases, would lead to projected

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deficits of 13.3 million in FY2028 and

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17.4 million in FY2029 and incrementally

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increasing to 22.9 million in FY20 2031.

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We have continued to reduce costs over

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the last three budget cycles,

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particularly in personnel reductions.

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Please note that in 2024, we had 1,187

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positions. The proposed FY2027 budget

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shows 1,155 positions, but we have froze

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it or unfunded another 32 positions,

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which means we are budgeted for 1,123

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positions, which is a reduction of 64

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positions since 2024. Our budgeted

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personnel savings in the FY2027 proposed

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budget alone is $5.1 million. To this

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point, we have managed cutting vacancies

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and holding positions vacant while

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maintaining our current service levels.

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As I shared in a council discussion on

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August 25th, to balance our future

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budgets, we will need to either consider

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significant budget reductions or revenue

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adjustments. While I understand that tax

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increases are not popular, sales taxes

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are one consideration for those needed

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revenue adjustments. And this evening,

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we will discuss potential sales tax

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initiatives that could address our

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projected shortfalls and provide for

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funding for housing priorities. I know

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that what we will be discussing this

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evening is deviating from previous sales

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tax discussions, but my recommendations

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will fund our current staffing levels

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and planned capital projects and sustain

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our budget over the next 5 years of the

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forecast. My recommendation could also

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help support the 4,220 housing units

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needed in Topeka as shared in our recent

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housing study update. While I understand

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that homelessness is a priority, by

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considering funding our housing needs

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through cash, which we would uh be

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provided which will be provided by all

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who do business in Topeka, we could

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break the cycle of foregoing future

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property tax value increments which we

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have typically uh awarded for

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development incentives at all market

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rates and instead add those dollars to

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our tax base as soon as a property

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appreciates in value. This in turn would

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free up funding for initiatives deemed

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as priority by the community. With that,

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I will lead us through this discussion

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and afterwards Josh McInarney, deputy

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director of budget and finance and I

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will be here to answer any questions.

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So, it's presented in the 5-year

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financial forecast as we discussed on

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August 25th. Revenue generated by the

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general fund is insufficient to cover

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budget expenditures, creating a

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recurring imbalance between ongoing

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revenues and expenses. Assuming no

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change in expenditures are tax base and

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capping the 2027 budget, projected

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revenue growth will not break even with

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the expenditures until 2023. I do want

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to point out here again uh second

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column, I guess third column over 2028

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budget. Uh well, first I'll point out

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2027 budget. We are submitted a proposed

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balance budget for 2027. But in 28 you

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see our projected deficit going to 13.3

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million and in 2029 you see it going to

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17.4 million. After 2028 if all of our

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revenue and expenditure projections hold

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we will be go we'll basically go into

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negative reserves uh in 2029.

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As mentioned our sales tax uh through

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the first 6 months of this year have

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actually come in uh 1.2% 2% lower uh

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than the first 6 months of 2025. Um so

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you can see uh typically what we do is

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we project I believe a 2.5% growth

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year-over-year in um sales taxes and as

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you can see we're actually 1.2% lower as

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mentioned uh this first 6 months of this

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year compared to 2025.

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As we discussed during our financial

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forecast um presentation, a combination

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of about $17.5 million of reductions

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would have to be considered without any

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significant increase in our uh tax or in

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our revenues. Um so we'll just see

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basically the reductions would have to

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touch every service area uh of our of

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our city. So, you'll see here personnel

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reductions. You'll see here CIP uh

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changes, changes in our uh purchase of

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vehicles, um travel, and actually the

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travel we'll talk about this evening as

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part of a proposed amendment. But

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essentially, we just we'd have to have

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about $17.5 million of budget

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adjustments uh over the next couple

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years in order to balance without any

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significant changes in our revenues.

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Again, these are some of the things that

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we discussed in the CIP that could

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potentially be reduced uh as part of

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those changes. I just want to point out

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that I acknowledge that the governing

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body hasn't approved any of these. Um

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again, as part of the forecast

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discussion um these are just potential

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options.

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So to address projected deficits and

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maintain current service levels, sales

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tax initiatives have been discussed.

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I've actually been talking about this

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for the last three budget cycles.

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So, previously where we were considering

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a half cent that would include public

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safety and affordable housing and

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homelessness, given our uh projected

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financial forecast, I'm asking for

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consideration of a half cent for general

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use tax. That half cent would generate

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about $20 million annually uh and that

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would be used for all of our services

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across the city. Um and that again that

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would be uh police, fire, code, etc. I'm

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also uh proposing a new onetenth of a

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cent uh citywide sales tax that would

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generate approximately $4 million a

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year. I know that uh funding and and

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identifying a recurring funding source

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for the affordable housing trust fund

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has been a priority. Um so I would

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propose that we use at least uh 50% of

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that roughly $2 million uh to fund the

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affordable housing trust fund. The

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remaining I would ask to consider a

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market rate housing fund. So as

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mentioned we

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historically have just given RHIDs uh

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which essentially forces us to forego

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the incremental increase in value of

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property when we build a structure house

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on top on that property. So, I'm I'm

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just using an example. At $100,000 uh

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value of a property, vacant property,

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once the uh house through an RHID

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program, once the house is built and say

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that the property goes up to $200,000 or

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two, yeah, $200,000 value, that we've

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basically just been foregoing that

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increment and giving it to the

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developer. A cash fund would actually

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allow us to cash fund those incentives

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so that as soon as a property were to

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appreciate, as soon as a house was built

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and the assessed value went up the

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following year, those tax dollars could

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actually go into our property uh tax

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base. Um therefore identifying and

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freeing up additional funds uh that can

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be used for other priorities uh as

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deemed necessary and desired by the

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00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,399
community.

278
00:11:04,399 --> 00:11:07,200
So, as part of a March 2027 ballot, um

279
00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,320
in addition to the uh sales tax, uh the

280
00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,240
new sales tax, I'd also ask us to

281
00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,320
consider um re reapproving or approving

282
00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,440
uh the current uh half wide the halfsent

283
00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,240
citywide infrastructure sales tax that

284
00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,480
currently uh funds our ongoing

285
00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,800
maintenance of our streets, sidewalks,

286
00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,680
traffic lights, etc. And then also too,

287
00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:31,760
I would ask for consideration uh based

288
00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,680
upon recommendations

289
00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:35,600
uh as part of another measure on that

290
00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,320
March 2027 ballot uh implementing an

291
00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,079
office of city auditor that would report

292
00:11:40,079 --> 00:11:42,320
uh directly to city council. Uh if we go

293
00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:43,600
down that route, that would be a

294
00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,560
necessary uh vote uh public vote uh

295
00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:47,760
given that it would be a charter

296
00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,030
amendment.

297
00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,680
So, as far as a comparison here, uh, we

298
00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:57,279
break out, uh, our total sales tax, uh,

299
00:11:57,279 --> 00:11:58,800
within Shauny County and and what the

300
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,440
city of Topeka, uh, uses or what the

301
00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,320
city of Topeka collects. Currently, our

302
00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,720
sales tax rate is 9.35. And you can see

303
00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,040
that in comparison to other cities, uh,

304
00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,320
surrounding cities. If one of the if the

305
00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:13,760
half cent were to go through, that would

306
00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,720
take us up to a 9.85 uh,% sales tax

307
00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,720
rate. And if both initiatives were

308
00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,279
approved would take us to 9.95% sales

309
00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:23,519
tax rate.

310
00:12:23,519 --> 00:12:25,680
This is a breakdown of our current sales

311
00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:27,440
tax collections. Uh we bring in

312
00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,320
approximately $70 million a year. 41

313
00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:31,680
million of that goes to general fund

314
00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:34,160
use. 20 million of that uh is a citywide

315
00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,399
half cent for our infrastructure. And

316
00:12:36,399 --> 00:12:38,079
then the 9 million comes in from the

317
00:12:38,079 --> 00:12:40,800
half cent countywide uh sales tax that

318
00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,279
funds our JTO. the additional if

319
00:12:43,279 --> 00:12:45,600
approved uh the onetenth of a cent would

320
00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,639
bring in $4 million for housing and then

321
00:12:48,639 --> 00:12:50,800
the half cent general fund use would

322
00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,240
bring in another $20 million.

323
00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,160
I'm going to just point you out to the

324
00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,120
two red boxes. The top uh red box shows

325
00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,200
what our current projected 5-year

326
00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,839
financial forecast is. As mentioned, um,

327
00:13:03,839 --> 00:13:06,800
we start dipping into our reserves, uh,

328
00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,240
reserve amounts, uh, going into 2028 and

329
00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,880
they're depleted in 2029.

330
00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,440
The bottom income statement includes the

331
00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,680
halfsent general, uh, government sales

332
00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:21,040
tax. And you can see uh, the difference

333
00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,160
uh, 2020 at the end of 2027, we would

334
00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,720
assume $10 million half-year collection

335
00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,320
in uh, 2027, beginning in July if

336
00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,800
approved in March. So you can see how

337
00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,120
that $10 million uh layers in with the

338
00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:36,800
additional $20 million going through

339
00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,360
2031. So you'll see the new projected

340
00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:42,480
reserve amounts uh respectively at 37.9

341
00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:47,360
million in 2027, 44.6 million in 2028,

342
00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,480
47 uh 2 million and so forth in 29 and

343
00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,839
beyond. I show I I point out the uh

344
00:13:53,839 --> 00:13:56,240
percentage uh underneath that second red

345
00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,959
box, the 31.82%

346
00:13:58,959 --> 00:14:03,199
32.43% 31 So essentially we have a

347
00:14:03,199 --> 00:14:05,760
target to have a 20% uh reserve

348
00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,320
operating reserve. So essentially if

349
00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,160
everything held um as as shown here in

350
00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,680
2028 we'd actually have 11.82% above our

351
00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:18,240
20% reserves. So that's why I say that

352
00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,240
there's additional funding that could be

353
00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:22,639
it's the the last row uh at the bottom

354
00:14:22,639 --> 00:14:25,920
of the page. um essentially we'd have

355
00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:27,120
additional funds that could be

356
00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,839
reprogrammed to whatever priorities um

357
00:14:29,839 --> 00:14:32,240
we wanted to uh while still maintaining

358
00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,399
20% reserve uh throughout the 5-year

359
00:14:34,399 --> 00:14:38,389
financial forecast.

360
00:14:38,399 --> 00:14:41,920
So for the timeline, uh we did uh have a

361
00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:43,519
discussion at policy and finance on

362
00:14:43,519 --> 00:14:45,839
September 3rd. Uh this evening council

363
00:14:45,839 --> 00:14:49,040
discussion uh on October 6, we'd ask for

364
00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:50,959
council consideration and approval of

365
00:14:50,959 --> 00:14:52,720
ballot language, which there's samples

366
00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,839
on the next few slides. by the October

367
00:14:55,839 --> 00:14:59,040
20th uh meeting, we'd have to have if we

368
00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:00,639
if council were to approve this, we'd

369
00:15:00,639 --> 00:15:03,600
have to have our final uh ballot

370
00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,760
language and ask for an approval to call

371
00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,560
for an election. Uh again, March 2nd

372
00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,880
would be the special election held March

373
00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,800
2nd of 2027. And if approved, um any

374
00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,360
ballot questions will become effective.

375
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,720
If approved, the sales tax collections

376
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,639
uh first uh first day collections would

377
00:15:22,639 --> 00:15:25,680
be July 1st of 2027 as we can only start

378
00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:27,040
collections on the first day of a

379
00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,760
quarter each year. Uh the recommendation

380
00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,160
would be to do a mailin ballot. Uh

381
00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,160
historically melon ballots have had uh

382
00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,639
higher voter participation and cost a

383
00:15:36,639 --> 00:15:38,800
little bit less than uh inerson

384
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,189
election.

385
00:15:43,199 --> 00:15:45,920
So, uh, I won't go through all of the

386
00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,600
language here. They're in the slides.

387
00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,880
Um, but essentially, uh, for a new, uh,

388
00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:53,360
general use sales tax, the half cent,

389
00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,120
uh, is on slide 11. Um, the recommended

390
00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,279
language for the affordable housing and

391
00:15:59,279 --> 00:16:01,920
market rate housing, um, language

392
00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,160
specifies at least 50% of that over $2

393
00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,160
million, uh, would go to, um, go to the

394
00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:09,440
affordable housing trust fund with the

395
00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,759
remaining funds. uh establishing a

396
00:16:11,759 --> 00:16:14,240
market rate housing fund.

397
00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,920
Um and then this is a little less uh

398
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,160
this is uh the the information or this

399
00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,720
is the proposed language uh to renew the

400
00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,040
existing half cent citywide sales tax

401
00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,519
for infrastructure. Uh again that

402
00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:30,240
measure if passed would not be imposed

403
00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,079
until the current measure sunsets in

404
00:16:32,079 --> 00:16:37,110
2029.

405
00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:38,880
And then we've also included uh

406
00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,279
recommended language for city auditor uh

407
00:16:41,279 --> 00:16:44,560
that would uh be uh reporting to the

408
00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,040
governing body.

409
00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:48,240
With that, we stand for any questions

410
00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,639
you may have.

411
00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:54,310
>> Council member Miller.

412
00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,360
» Thank you, Mayor. Um I know a lot of my

413
00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:58,560
colleagues up here are going to have

414
00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,199
some great questions to ask. Um, but the

415
00:17:01,199 --> 00:17:03,440
most pressing and important thing to me,

416
00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,160
um, is because I understand this the

417
00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,839
sales tax initiative and I think it's an

418
00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:09,439
important one to do, uh, because I

419
00:17:09,439 --> 00:17:12,000
understand the finances of it. Um, but I

420
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,679
would rather us find a way to adjust our

421
00:17:13,679 --> 00:17:18,000
RHIB process than to put in anything

422
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,799
about market rate housing

423
00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:24,480
w with a initiative that a lot of people

424
00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,799
have already worked on and they agree

425
00:17:26,799 --> 00:17:29,200
upon and that we have agreed upon

426
00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,280
publicly. Um, we cannot change that at

427
00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:34,640
the end. And I understand there's some

428
00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:35,840
people that's going to be clapping right

429
00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:37,440
after this. I say this and I know that

430
00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,679
that's not why I do this.

431
00:17:39,679 --> 00:17:41,039
I'm saying this because it's the right

432
00:17:41,039 --> 00:17:43,440
thing to do.

433
00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,760
Keep it the way it is. That's my

434
00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,240
thought. Um and I hope my colleagues

435
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,160
agree with me and and I look forward to

436
00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,160
the conversation on this. But um we

437
00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,080
cannot change the temporary housing. We

438
00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:55,840
have a lot of unhoned individuals who

439
00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:57,679
need some help. We need to help the

440
00:17:57,679 --> 00:17:59,840
process to help those folks in our area.

441
00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:01,440
We are not trying to just give them

442
00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,840
places to live for free and to do

443
00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:05,760
nothing. That's not what down the line

444
00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:07,919
is what it's going to look like. But we

445
00:18:07,919 --> 00:18:10,160
need some help to our most vulnerable in

446
00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:17,029
this community. Thank you,

447
00:18:17,039 --> 00:18:18,480
» guys. We got a meeting. We got to keep

448
00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,400
moving. Council member Dubaka.

449
00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,160
>> Thank you, mayor. So, last night

450
00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,799
I met with about 15 to 20 folks from

451
00:18:26,799 --> 00:18:30,400
community and read the the components of

452
00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,880
the ballot initiatives.

453
00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,760
Um there was viciferous no we're not

454
00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,360
going to vote for anything that has

455
00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:39,679
market rate housing

456
00:18:39,679 --> 00:18:42,480
um because that was not what the

457
00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,160
intention was. If we are having issues

458
00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,679
with what is being given to developers

459
00:18:49,679 --> 00:18:52,960
for RHIDs then the bottom line is we

460
00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,120
need to stop giving them to high-end

461
00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:57,840
developers. If high-end developers

462
00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,880
cannot afford to build here or if like

463
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:02,640
the last high-end developer that was

464
00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,200
here says we need to redo the process

465
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,360
and I think people on this governing

466
00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:09,360
body were open to listening what that

467
00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:12,080
could entail then we need to be going

468
00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,840
that way. We need to stop so we're not

469
00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,000
bleeding so much money out with not

470
00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,400
collecting on property taxes. We need to

471
00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,240
stop these special ordinances like we

472
00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,559
did for Clausman

473
00:19:26,559 --> 00:19:29,280
and we need to get back to the basics of

474
00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,200
what the RHID is actually for. If we

475
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,960
find that the RHID is too cumbersome,

476
00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,919
then we need to consider lowering the

477
00:19:39,919 --> 00:19:43,840
amount of years that we are not gaining

478
00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,360
that property tax because I think it is

479
00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:51,280
it now anywhere from 20 to 25 years.

480
00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,160
That's

481
00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,160
>> I would really like a comparison to see

482
00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,160
what other cities RHID in in this area

483
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,799
of the country because I think that is

484
00:20:00,799 --> 00:20:05,440
just a massive a massive giveaway.

485
00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:10,640
And so I agree wholeheartedly with um

486
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,960
Councilman

487
00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,679
Miller. This is not the original

488
00:20:15,679 --> 00:20:18,480
intention. And I also think that we have

489
00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,960
to have something that spells out when

490
00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,600
we talk affordable housing

491
00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:29,200
how much we see going to the built for

492
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,320
zero program. We have been designated as

493
00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,360
a built for uh zero city. My

494
00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:37,120
understanding

495
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:40,000
Carrie that's correct through the state

496
00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,360
of Kansas Carrie and her staff are

497
00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:46,720
working as hard as they can but there

498
00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,640
are so many moving pieces to

499
00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,120
abide by the methodology that is proven

500
00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:56,320
to work. Those include specific housing,

501
00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:57,760
which I know that they've been looking

502
00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,200
at, and it also goes with the need for

503
00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,520
wraparound service and some wraparound

504
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,120
services, otherwise it's not going to

505
00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:08,799
work. We do have a homeless crisis in

506
00:21:08,799 --> 00:21:10,720
this city. I know I've been hearing that

507
00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,280
some people think that we don't, but we

508
00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,559
do. And so I believe it should be

509
00:21:16,559 --> 00:21:19,200
spelled out more succinctly when we talk

510
00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,400
about putting this as a ballot measure.

511
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,840
I have asked Carrie and I'm going to be

512
00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,640
asking you as city manager that we can

513
00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:32,559
have a um presentation to the governing

514
00:21:32,559 --> 00:21:34,159
body

515
00:21:34,159 --> 00:21:37,200
from Carrie and her team specifically

516
00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,559
about built for zero that includes

517
00:21:40,559 --> 00:21:45,440
a a budget so we can see what it is that

518
00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,280
we're really looking at because up until

519
00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,880
this point we have not. And as far as

520
00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,679
the halfsent sales tax, it is way too

521
00:21:53,679 --> 00:21:57,039
broad. I don't know if you deeply

522
00:21:57,039 --> 00:21:59,840
understand what the feeling is out there

523
00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,039
in the community. People are really mad.

524
00:22:03,039 --> 00:22:05,600
People are upset for any number of

525
00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,200
things. And for this to be as broad as

526
00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,840
it is, hoping we'll have some dialogue

527
00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:13,760
about this tonight because I'm anxious

528
00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:15,840
to hear, you know, what people's

529
00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,559
suggestions are. We need to be bullet

530
00:22:18,559 --> 00:22:22,720
pointing out that halfsent sales tax as

531
00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,159
well so people understand what it is

532
00:22:26,159 --> 00:22:28,320
specifically going to go towards and

533
00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,799
that we are bound to that at least I

534
00:22:30,799 --> 00:22:33,520
would think we would be bound to that.

535
00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,919
The other thing, and then I'll stop

536
00:22:35,919 --> 00:22:37,280
because I'm sure there's lots of good

537
00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,520
conversation out here, is that with this

538
00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:42,400
half cent sales tax, I will not in any

539
00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,559
way, shape, or form support any increase

540
00:22:46,559 --> 00:22:49,840
with fire and police. I support fire and

541
00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,559
police. I support unions, but we had a

542
00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:57,440
27% increase over 3 years with uh TPD.

543
00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,679
And I think with fire, what was it 14 or

544
00:22:59,679 --> 00:23:00,159
16?

545
00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:02,320
>> It was 12 now. Four years. Yeah.

546
00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:03,120
over over three years.

547
00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:04,000
>> Yes, ma'am.

548
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,400
>> And I think that if we need to have

549
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,880
shared suffering in this city, I would

550
00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,520
not support in any way for that to be

551
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,360
something that is listed on here. Thank

552
00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:14,880
you, Mayor.

553
00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:21,909
>> Deputy Mayor Hoer,

554
00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:23,280
» I'm going to assume this is our

555
00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:24,080
baseline.

556
00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:25,520
>> This is the baseline. We're here for

557
00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:26,400
discussion.

558
00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,120
>> Okay. Um I agree with Christina. I'd

559
00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:31,919
like to see more definition to what

560
00:23:31,919 --> 00:23:34,080
we're spending the money on. The other

561
00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:35,919
thing that I'm see missing is a time

562
00:23:35,919 --> 00:23:38,720
frame. I don't want to give somebody in

563
00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,600
any group an open-ended sales tax that

564
00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,720
goes on in perpetuity. We need to put

565
00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:46,480
some kind of a time frame whether it's 5

566
00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:47,520
years, 10 years.

567
00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:48,400
>> Yes, ma'am.

568
00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,520
>> But I'd like to see that in uh future

569
00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:52,159
drafts.

570
00:23:52,159 --> 00:23:53,280
>> Yes, ma'am.

571
00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:54,960
>> That's all I had.

572
00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,520
It would be 10 is the 10-year time frame

573
00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,120
is what I would be considering.

574
00:23:59,120 --> 00:23:59,840
>> Okay. Okay.

575
00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:00,240
>> Thank you.

576
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:01,120
>> Yes, ma'am.

577
00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:04,080
>> Council member Bradberry.

578
00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,510
>> Thank you.

579
00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,840
» I really don't have a whole lot much

580
00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,159
different to say. Um I can't support a

581
00:24:12,159 --> 00:24:14,640
half cent sales tax that is just so

582
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:18,080
vague. um especially when I'm not

583
00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:20,240
completely confident that we have

584
00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:21,840
actually addressed the structure the

585
00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,080
structural imbalance in the proposed 27

586
00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,799
budget. Um, additionally, the onetenth

587
00:24:28,799 --> 00:24:34,789
of a cent sales tax

588
00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:38,400
is for affordable housing and to

589
00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,240
proactively

590
00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,400
begin to address the homelessness crisis

591
00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:48,320
that we have in this community. Um,

592
00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,039
I will not support a market rate and

593
00:24:51,039 --> 00:24:52,720
neither have any of the constituents

594
00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,440
that I've heard from about this either.

595
00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:59,840
um they don't support it either. Um,

596
00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,919
additionally, there needs to be language

597
00:25:03,919 --> 00:25:06,080
that

598
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,600
identifies how it's going to be spent.

599
00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:13,760
Um, I think we need to have a clear plan

600
00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:15,440
with how that money is going to be

601
00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,919
spent. I think we need to be transparent

602
00:25:17,919 --> 00:25:19,760
with that plan. I think we need to have

603
00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,600
outcomes and metrics to help us

604
00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,159
determine if we're meeting our goals.

605
00:25:24,159 --> 00:25:28,080
Um, so that way

606
00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,600
it it's it's transparency and we'll

607
00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:35,679
know, you know, how we're doing. Um, but

608
00:25:35,679 --> 00:25:37,360
again, yeah, I can't support the half

609
00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:42,240
cents. Um, definitely not the 10th with

610
00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:47,360
part of it going to market rates. Um and

611
00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:50,960
definitely when we do decide to address

612
00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:54,480
affordable housing and uh the

613
00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:58,400
homelessness um crisis, we need to do

614
00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,880
something that's um evidence-based

615
00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,919
and again have some metrics to help us

616
00:26:05,919 --> 00:26:08,400
determine whether or not we're actually

617
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,720
meeting what we

618
00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,559
say we want to what we want to do. Um, I

619
00:26:14,559 --> 00:26:16,960
know I have something else, but it

620
00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,600
slipped my mind, so I will come back to

621
00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:19,760
it.

622
00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:21,200
>> While while you think about that, I I

623
00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:22,640
will point out the memorandum that I

624
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,240
sent to you all on uh Friday

625
00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:25,679
specifically addresses performance

626
00:26:25,679 --> 00:26:28,080
measures by each department and our

627
00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:29,840
intent to report on those monthly here

628
00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,200
in council uh to include our budget um

629
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,960
our expenditures and as well as our

630
00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,440
strategic goals. So, um it will be

631
00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:38,880
transparent. It will be out there and

632
00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,200
everybody will be updated.

633
00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:41,760
>> Appreciate it.

634
00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:42,960
>> Thank you, ma'am. Thanks,

635
00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:44,480
>> Council Member McGee.

636
00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:48,320
>> Thank you. Um, I also would not support

637
00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,159
this for

638
00:26:50,159 --> 00:26:52,960
market rate housing. I think it needs to

639
00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,640
be for affordable housing and to address

640
00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,320
homelessness.

641
00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,600
There is a ton of data out there.

642
00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,039
There's a group out of Witchah,

643
00:27:05,039 --> 00:27:09,120
uh, the Candace Data Trust. It does a

644
00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:11,360
ton of information. I think we need to

645
00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:14,720
tap into that so that we can back this

646
00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:20,159
up with good data. I think we need

647
00:27:20,159 --> 00:27:26,240
specifics more specifics than this. Um,

648
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,880
yeah, I I I just we need to discuss this

649
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,840
in more detail, but I do not support

650
00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,679
this for

651
00:27:33,679 --> 00:27:35,520
market rate housing. We need to follow

652
00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,159
through with what we said and what the

653
00:27:38,159 --> 00:27:40,480
people have said they wanted and that is

654
00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,240
for affordable housing and homeless

655
00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,720
program. Thank you,

656
00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:53,430
>> Council Member Kell.

657
00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,200
» I see a little bit where the market rate

658
00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,360
is coming from because you're having

659
00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:59,360
people move up, which opens up the

660
00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:00,880
affordable housing more, but I think we

661
00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,399
need to focus more on the affordable

662
00:28:02,399 --> 00:28:04,799
housing aspect of things.

663
00:28:04,799 --> 00:28:06,080
I think that'll be our biggest

664
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:07,760
initiative for the homelessness aspect

665
00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:11,520
of things. Um, if we get affordable

666
00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:12,799
housing, especially those people that

667
00:28:12,799 --> 00:28:14,320
are just coming out of out of a house

668
00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:16,720
because of job losses or that medical

669
00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:19,360
bills, it allows them to kind of work

670
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:20,880
back into the system rather than going

671
00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,640
to a shelter or on the streets.

672
00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,669
Um,

673
00:28:27,679 --> 00:28:30,799
I'd like I said, I'd rather focus more on the on the affordable housing

674
00:28:30,799 --> 00:28:32,640
side than than the homelessness side. is

675
00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,159
I think for the six years I've been up

676
00:28:34,159 --> 00:28:35,840
here, we've thrown a ton of money at

677
00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,240
homelessness and haven't seen very many

678
00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,159
results. But I think the biggest result

679
00:28:40,159 --> 00:28:45,120
is having housing available for uh

680
00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,480
low-income families um is where we need

681
00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,760
to focus that at. Um

682
00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:53,360
as some other people said, it's a little

683
00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:55,760
too vague. Um

684
00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:57,360
I I think what we're going to get into

685
00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:58,960
is

686
00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:00,399
people are going to say no just for

687
00:29:00,399 --> 00:29:02,240
certain reasons. like one piece of it is

688
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,320
going to be a no for them. They'll be if

689
00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:06,480
there's eight pieces there. They may

690
00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,080
agree with seven of them, but that one

691
00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:09,360
piece is going to be a no for them and

692
00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:10,559
it's just going to shoot it down. I

693
00:29:10,559 --> 00:29:12,399
think we need to look at certain aspects

694
00:29:12,399 --> 00:29:14,399
of what's our priority as a city, what

695
00:29:14,399 --> 00:29:17,200
our needs are, our greatest needs are

696
00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:22,240
and take that moving forward. Um

697
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:24,159
I said for years we need, you know, we

698
00:29:24,159 --> 00:29:25,520
need to look at our mil levy and then I

699
00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,120
had to talk with someone and said sales

700
00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:28,720
tax is the way to go. It gets everyone.

701
00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:30,480
I know there's people that are all 5

702
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,240
milesi within the city limits outside

703
00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,120
that city limit uh area. They contribute

704
00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,470
also.

705
00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:40,880
But I I'll tell the people if if we're

706
00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:42,799
not looking at this then it's going to

707
00:29:42,799 --> 00:29:43,919
be some other things and we're going to

708
00:29:43,919 --> 00:29:44,960
have major cuts and then there's going

709
00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:46,399
to be cuts to programs like social

710
00:29:46,399 --> 00:29:48,240
service grants committee which affects a

711
00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:51,039
lot of the low-income households. So we

712
00:29:51,039 --> 00:29:52,720
need to look at different things or else

713
00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:53,760
we're going to have to make more and

714
00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:56,080
more cuts. And people keep on telling us

715
00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:57,760
the last couple weeks, we'll just make

716
00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,480
cuts. Make cuts. We've been making cuts

717
00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:02,640
for the last two years. We're getting

718
00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:03,919
down to the bottom of the barrel of

719
00:30:03,919 --> 00:30:05,440
making cuts before. It's police, it's

720
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:08,240
fire, it's street crews,

721
00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:09,919
and then we're just going backwards as a

722
00:30:09,919 --> 00:30:12,559
city tremendously fast. So, this is

723
00:30:12,559 --> 00:30:14,159
something as as a city people need to

724
00:30:14,159 --> 00:30:16,240
look at is this is just not the citizens

725
00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:17,440
of Topeka. This is everyone that comes

726
00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,679
to PA, everyone lives around Topeka.

727
00:30:19,679 --> 00:30:23,840
there if a sales tax passes and if it's

728
00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,360
a mill levy that we have to go to, it

729
00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:26,720
only affects the citizens and doesn't

730
00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,720
affect anyone else outside outside the

731
00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,279
city. So,

732
00:30:31,279 --> 00:30:33,279
we've made our cuts. We've tried to do

733
00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:35,760
our best. You know, everyone says, "Oh,

734
00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:37,760
live within your budget." Well, we we've

735
00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:40,480
had to pay a reasonable rate to our

736
00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,640
fire, our police, our other unions just

737
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,720
to make sure we have those people here.

738
00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,279
And that's our biggest budgetary cost

739
00:30:47,279 --> 00:30:49,520
right there is personnel. And we've got

740
00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:51,200
cut as much personnel almost as we could

741
00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:52,960
possibly cut. And we start cutting

742
00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:53,919
anymore, then it's going to start

743
00:30:53,919 --> 00:30:56,559
affecting every citizen with delays in

744
00:30:56,559 --> 00:30:59,200
fire, delays in police, delays in road

745
00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:00,720
projects, and it's all going to cost

746
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,159
more in the long term. Thank you,

747
00:31:04,159 --> 00:31:07,679
>> Council Member Ortiz.

748
00:31:07,679 --> 00:31:12,950
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um

749
00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:17,360
several years ago we

750
00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:19,120
to get caught up on some of our streets.

751
00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,200
We passed the abs and sales tax on the

752
00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:23,440
streets

753
00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:27,840
and and we went for hours to figure out

754
00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:29,520
the wording. And there's one wording in

755
00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:31,919
there that changes the whole dynamics of

756
00:31:31,919 --> 00:31:33,679
everything and that's existing. And I'll

757
00:31:33,679 --> 00:31:36,000
never forget that word. And I'll tell

758
00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,640
you why. because where I live, I have

759
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,679
ditches. I don't have any curves. I

760
00:31:41,679 --> 00:31:44,640
don't have any gutters. And so to use

761
00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,720
that money, and you'll hear me asked

762
00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:50,549
time and time again,

763
00:31:50,559 --> 00:31:53,039
is this that is this that sales tax? If

764
00:31:53,039 --> 00:31:54,720
they come and fix my street, they have

765
00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:56,559
to put it back exactly how they found

766
00:31:56,559 --> 00:32:00,399
it. Even though I pay into it, I pay

767
00:32:00,399 --> 00:32:03,360
into that sales tax. All my constituents

768
00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,039
over there, they pay into that sales

769
00:32:05,039 --> 00:32:07,679
tax. But we can't get anything like

770
00:32:07,679 --> 00:32:10,080
that. We have to You have to put it back

771
00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:13,039
exactly how you found it.

772
00:32:13,039 --> 00:32:15,200
So, we can't get a new curb. We can't

773
00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:16,880
get a new gut. We can't get any gutters.

774
00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:20,559
We can't get any sidewalks. Um,

775
00:32:20,559 --> 00:32:24,559
our streets are narrow, very narrow,

776
00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:26,799
and we can't even widen it unless we

777
00:32:26,799 --> 00:32:29,279
have other funding to go with that. But

778
00:32:29,279 --> 00:32:32,240
it's not fair that we have to pay into

779
00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,679
that but we don't get to

780
00:32:35,679 --> 00:32:37,600
utilize it. You know, we don't get the

781
00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:39,679
benefits of it.

782
00:32:39,679 --> 00:32:41,840
And so I want to make sure because the

783
00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:43,360
wording is very vague. When I was

784
00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,000
reading it, it is very vague. as bad as

785
00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,799
I want a fire station up, but I have to

786
00:32:48,799 --> 00:32:53,440
be very careful because when we when we

787
00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,480
pass that, if it does pass, we have to

788
00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:58,880
make sure that we use it only for those

789
00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:01,519
that specific. Now, we have one city

790
00:33:01,519 --> 00:33:03,200
manager and he said maintaining the

791
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:04,960
streets, we couldn't use that sales tax

792
00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:06,960
money. Now, we got another city manager

793
00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,679
that says we can. So, it needs to be so

794
00:33:09,679 --> 00:33:11,279
the people understand it because I tell

795
00:33:11,279 --> 00:33:12,960
you what, they're tired of being taxed

796
00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:16,080
to death. They're tired of it. I would

797
00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:18,880
agree. We do have a homeless problem. I

798
00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:20,320
I've been working with Carrie on

799
00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,799
something on on a It's like they can't

800
00:33:22,799 --> 00:33:25,760
get any help until until they they're

801
00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,159
homeless. So, they have to get put out

802
00:33:28,159 --> 00:33:31,760
of their house and all of that. Um

803
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:33,919
and and people need people want to need

804
00:33:33,919 --> 00:33:36,960
to understand that they do want to help

805
00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:38,399
them, but they want to they don't want

806
00:33:38,399 --> 00:33:40,240
to give them a new house or, you know,

807
00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:41,919
they want to get them up on their feet.

808
00:33:41,919 --> 00:33:43,679
They want to make sure that they have

809
00:33:43,679 --> 00:33:45,919
the services that they need to stay on

810
00:33:45,919 --> 00:33:49,600
their feet. Um, no market rate housing.

811
00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:51,679
I can't I can't agree with that.

812
00:33:51,679 --> 00:33:53,200
Constituents don't want it. They don't

813
00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,039
want no sales tax. They don't care who

814
00:33:55,039 --> 00:33:56,320
pays for it. They don't want it. They

815
00:33:56,320 --> 00:33:59,279
feel like they're being taxed to death.

816
00:33:59,279 --> 00:34:00,799
And I think we need to be really, really

817
00:34:00,799 --> 00:34:02,320
careful with that or we're going to lose

818
00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:06,159
our street our street um taxes. What's

819
00:34:06,159 --> 00:34:08,320
affordable housing? I ask people that

820
00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:09,599
all the time. What is affordable

821
00:34:09,599 --> 00:34:12,159
housing? And you know what? I get a

822
00:34:12,159 --> 00:34:15,280
different answer. Um I have some

823
00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:18,560
beautiful town homes

824
00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,839
um out there in um Eastgate and that

825
00:34:21,839 --> 00:34:24,320
that's affordable housing. But they're

826
00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,520
like 12 to 15 to $1,700.

827
00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:29,760
That's not affordable housing. Not to

828
00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:33,440
me. You know, I have people that say I

829
00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:35,119
my you know, I had one lady when I was

830
00:34:35,119 --> 00:34:37,200
campaigning out there and she's like my

831
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:41,679
check all my whole check goes on rent,

832
00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:44,639
you know, and so I don't know what

833
00:34:44,639 --> 00:34:46,639
affordable housing is cuz I know my

834
00:34:46,639 --> 00:34:48,639
house, thank God, is paid off, but I

835
00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:54,800
know I could not survive that if I had to do that. So,

836
00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:56,879
it it's it's very it's very interesting,

837
00:34:56,879 --> 00:34:59,760
but I can't support this. Not at this

838
00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:02,000
time. and and I would need to look at

839
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,560
the wording. I I would like to see it go

840
00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:08,400
for a vote only for one reason so that

841
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,720
you can understand that the citizens of

842
00:35:10,720 --> 00:35:13,200
DPIA do not want this sales tax and

843
00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:14,400
we're going to have to find a way out of

844
00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:16,400
the way. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

845
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,200
>> Council member Banks.

846
00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:23,200
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh for weeks now as

847
00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:24,800
we've been going through the budget

848
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:28,160
process, I've mentioned that I did not

849
00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:32,960
think that our RHID process matched uh

850
00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,079
affordable housing. Uh it it just didn't

851
00:35:36,079 --> 00:35:38,640
match up. So as I'm looking in the

852
00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,040
audience, I'm seeing some signs that

853
00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:46,240
says 67% of the peakans want uh to fund

854
00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:48,560
affordable housing. I think that's what

855
00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:52,240
we need to focus affordable housing. And

856
00:35:52,240 --> 00:35:56,480
if 67% of our constituents

857
00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:59,760
think that we need that, then maybe the

858
00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:03,599
process of uh a tax increase is not that

859
00:36:03,599 --> 00:36:05,280
farfetched.

860
00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:08,400
You know, I know I'm hoping right now

861
00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:10,640
the information that you gave us tonight

862
00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:13,280
that uh several of our colleagues have

863
00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,440
talked about how vague the information

864
00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:19,280
is. Uh, I'm hoping I'm understanding

865
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:22,079
that this is not the final

866
00:36:22,079 --> 00:36:25,680
process. This is not the final

867
00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,240
blueprint. Correct, city manager.

868
00:36:28,240 --> 00:36:30,480
>> So, so keep in mind, councilman, cuz

869
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:31,839
we've been asked questions, right? Like

870
00:36:31,839 --> 00:36:33,839
even for the affordable housing piece,

871
00:36:33,839 --> 00:36:35,599
what what projects will be done? How

872
00:36:35,599 --> 00:36:37,040
many bedrooms will we get? What will be

873
00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:39,040
the square footage of structures? I

874
00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,040
can't tell you that right now. like I

875
00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:42,640
mean very much as we gone through like

876
00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:44,560
the process with the affordable housing

877
00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:45,839
trust fund which you'll hear about here

878
00:36:45,839 --> 00:36:48,800
in a little bit. I I can't it would I

879
00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,560
would envision that those dollars would

880
00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,440
be um worked on and allocated through

881
00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:54,720
the affordable housing trust fund

882
00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:56,720
committee. And right now I mean we don't

883
00:36:56,720 --> 00:37:00,640
have any projects in the pipeline. So, I couldn't tell you I couldn't tell you

884
00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:02,640
specifically that, you know, we're going

885
00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:06,400
to get 100 units. Um, you know, like one

886
00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:07,920
of the one of the proposals or one of

887
00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:09,920
the projects that was awarded money was

888
00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:12,640
were five single family homes uh that

889
00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,440
were developed by Scent and we provided

890
00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:17,119
uh buyer incentives to help folks get

891
00:37:17,119 --> 00:37:18,880
into those homes. And if I remember

892
00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:20,640
correctly, I think even one of them went

893
00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:26,800
up to 100 120% AMI. So, so the thing is that I can't I can't tell you today

894
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,960
specifically that we're going to develop

895
00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:34,240
a thousand affordable housing units. I I mean I I can't tell you that today. Um

896
00:37:34,240 --> 00:37:37,119
so again, that that is part of the

897
00:37:37,119 --> 00:37:39,280
reason why why the language is vague

898
00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:41,440
because I can't specifically say with

899
00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:43,839
any certainty either, you know, either

900
00:37:43,839 --> 00:37:45,920
the affordable or market rate how many

901
00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:47,920
we would get out of it. All I know is

902
00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:51,680
that we need 4 4220 units across the

903
00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:54,640
spectrum of of affordability. Um which

904
00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,119
again the idea of cash funding some of

905
00:37:57,119 --> 00:37:59,839
those uh would actually put property tax

906
00:37:59,839 --> 00:38:01,920
dollars into our coffers that we don't

907
00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,960
have today. So uh so that that that is

908
00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:06,560
part of the reason why uh some of that

909
00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:08,720
language is vague. I can tell you as I

910
00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:10,240
mentioned going back to the halfsent

911
00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:13,440
public or the halfsent general use tax

912
00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:14,720
essentially we'd have to take cuts

913
00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:17,280
across every department if we if we

914
00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:20,400
can't come up with significant dollars

915
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:22,480
to sustain our budget. So that's why

916
00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:24,720
it's general use. The other piece too,

917
00:38:24,720 --> 00:38:26,480
uh, and city attorneys, city attorney

918
00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:28,640
can help me with this or Josh, I think

919
00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:30,800
we only have a half cent capacity in our

920
00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,839
general use, uh, tax, uh, sales tax, and

921
00:38:33,839 --> 00:38:36,079
then we also have a half cent capacity

922
00:38:36,079 --> 00:38:39,119
in special use. So the reason that, and

923
00:38:39,119 --> 00:38:41,200
again, going back to the projected

924
00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:44,800
deficit in our forecast,

925
00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,720
we would need that funding to basically

926
00:38:46,720 --> 00:38:49,040
sustain our general fund. we we would

927
00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:51,440
need the full $20 million to sustain our

928
00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:53,119
general fund budget over the next 5

929
00:38:53,119 --> 00:38:55,599
years. So if I use a half cent in

930
00:38:55,599 --> 00:38:57,680
general use tax or if I use a half cent

931
00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:00,640
public um I'm sorry special use I don't

932
00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:02,240
have that additional tenth of a cent

933
00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:06,800
capacity to do 6/10 of a cent uh for

934
00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:10,400
half of that half a cent going towards u

935
00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,079
general or public safety and then

936
00:39:12,079 --> 00:39:14,960
another tenth of a cent to go towards uh

937
00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:17,760
affordable housing and homelessness. So

938
00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:19,440
basically there's a capacity issue on

939
00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:22,800
both of those um both of those um

940
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:26,079
measures as well.

941
00:39:26,079 --> 00:39:29,440
>> Well, I I appreciate that explanation.

942
00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:31,760
It it clears things up a little bit for

943
00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:36,240
me. Uh I don't know how the community

944
00:39:36,240 --> 00:39:40,240
sees it right now. Uh, I can't say that

945
00:39:40,240 --> 00:39:44,079
I would not support it your efforts, but

946
00:39:44,079 --> 00:39:47,119
certainly would consider it.

947
00:39:47,119 --> 00:39:49,280
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

948
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:50,800
>> Council member Hiller.

949
00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,200
>> Thank you, Mayor. I've got a lot to say

950
00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:55,680
on all of these things. For one thing,

951
00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:57,280
we should have had this conversation two

952
00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,760
months ago because all the things about

953
00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:01,040
considering what we're going to do with

954
00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:02,960
the budget or what we would do with any

955
00:40:02,960 --> 00:40:05,040
special taxes

956
00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:06,800
needed to be figured out. And here we

957
00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:08,880
are at the last minute on the budget.

958
00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:11,920
And I don't like being in a position to

959
00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:15,280
say that this way here. But it's been

960
00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:19,599
very frustrating and and to um to not

961
00:40:19,599 --> 00:40:22,000
just we we've talked again and again

962
00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:23,680
about looking from a management

963
00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:25,200
perspective

964
00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:27,280
program and department by department on

965
00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:30,079
what we do and is it critical? Are we

966
00:40:30,079 --> 00:40:32,160
doing it the best that we can? Are there

967
00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:33,119
ways we could do it more

968
00:40:33,119 --> 00:40:34,640
cost-effectively?

969
00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:36,480
and you've not been willing to do that.

970
00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:38,000
You just wanted to look at cuts or

971
00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:41,119
getting more money. And here we are. Um,

972
00:40:41,119 --> 00:40:42,480
some of us have come up with some

973
00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:43,839
things, but the things that have been

974
00:40:43,839 --> 00:40:46,400
listed as things that might be cuts, the

975
00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:48,000
best I can tell, have been things you

976
00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:49,280
were pretty sure nobody would want to

977
00:40:49,280 --> 00:40:51,119
give up.

978
00:40:51,119 --> 00:40:54,800
So, I'll stop at that point on on the

979
00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:57,040
housing and homelessness. I thought that

980
00:40:57,040 --> 00:40:59,520
was agreed long ago. The people in this

981
00:40:59,520 --> 00:41:00,800
room worked so hard on getting the

982
00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:02,960
affordable housing trust fund going. We

983
00:41:02,960 --> 00:41:04,800
went back and forth on that. We didn't

984
00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:06,480
always agree. I still feel like we could

985
00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:08,319
have raised private money, but here we

986
00:41:08,319 --> 00:41:11,359
are. And the consensus was no, go after

987
00:41:11,359 --> 00:41:13,920
a half of a a tenth of cent. And then

988
00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:16,160
with the good work that so many people

989
00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,240
have been doing on homelessness and

990
00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:20,960
looking for money for that, too. Um, I

991
00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:23,200
thought that that the consensus

992
00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:27,119
communitywide really to add a a half of

993
00:41:27,119 --> 00:41:31,760
a tenth of cent to another one and get a tenth of a of a cent together for

994
00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:33,200
house affordable housing and

995
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:36,640
homelessness was long decided and my

996
00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:38,240
colleagues who've mentioned it are

997
00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:40,240
right. You know, one of the things I've

998
00:41:40,240 --> 00:41:41,920
been asking for some time is when do we

999
00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:43,760
know when enough is enough? At

1000
00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:45,520
different, you know, incentives are fun

1001
00:41:45,520 --> 00:41:47,359
and they're they're catchy and so on.

1002
00:41:47,359 --> 00:41:48,960
We've done a lot and and people are

1003
00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:51,359
responding well to seeing new housing

1004
00:41:51,359 --> 00:41:53,599
going up. But then we just did the

1005
00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:56,800
housing study and you know half of us

1006
00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:58,720
represent older neighborhoods with lots

1007
00:41:58,720 --> 00:42:01,599
of vacant structures and infill vacant

1008
00:42:01,599 --> 00:42:04,079
lots and we look at this housing study

1009
00:42:04,079 --> 00:42:06,960
and it says oh well things have changed.

1010
00:42:06,960 --> 00:42:08,720
So it's not 10,000 units we need

1011
00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:11,359
anymore. It's just four. But we got told

1012
00:42:11,359 --> 00:42:14,000
not to count vacant structures when we

1013
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:15,520
were looking at what the need was and

1014
00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:16,960
what our availability was for

1015
00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:19,280
redevelopment.

1016
00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:22,079
You know, we the latest census said that

1017
00:42:22,079 --> 00:42:25,920
we um update in 2024 said that we had

1018
00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:27,440
2416

1019
00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:29,839
more households than we more housing

1020
00:42:29,839 --> 00:42:32,560
units than we had households. We have a

1021
00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:34,480
lot of vacant housing. So to just be

1022
00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:37,520
looking at vacant lots and building new

1023
00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:41,520
and building building by formula to

1024
00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:44,319
market or upper rates doesn't address

1025
00:42:44,319 --> 00:42:47,359
where our real needs are. And and when

1026
00:42:47,359 --> 00:42:49,520
you look at the housing study, when you

1027
00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:52,160
look at what they model as the mortgage,

1028
00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,960
the affordability for buying a home or a

1029
00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:57,280
rent rate for somebody who's at 30% or

1030
00:42:57,280 --> 00:43:00,319
60% a median, almost every one of us in

1031
00:43:00,319 --> 00:43:02,720
this room knows they can't do that. So,

1032
00:43:02,720 --> 00:43:04,560
I don't know where that comes from. So,

1033
00:43:04,560 --> 00:43:06,240
the idea, and I've already floated with

1034
00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:12,240
you, but I didn't get very far, that we if we go ahead with that 4,000 number

1035
00:43:12,240 --> 00:43:14,800
that we target at least 25% of it, if

1036
00:43:14,800 --> 00:43:20,880
not 50% at getting people back into at revitalizing the houses in our

1037
00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:22,880
existing neighborhoods. Those aren't

1038
00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:26,079
necessarily fancy. And for me, I want to

1039
00:43:26,079 --> 00:43:28,800
keep the the the the prices of the

1040
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:31,440
houses andor the rents at or below what

1041
00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:33,359
they are today. Now, we're talking about

1042
00:43:33,359 --> 00:43:34,960
really meeting the needs of people that

1043
00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:37,200
are out there to get them on their feet.

1044
00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,520
And that also revitalizes that that

1045
00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:40,960
fills in their vacant house.

1046
00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:42,960
Councilwoman Beldiva is so good at

1047
00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:44,960
talking about the social determinance of

1048
00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:47,359
health and and what it's like when you

1049
00:43:47,359 --> 00:43:51,520
live when you when you walk down past a house that's overgrown and empty and

1050
00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:54,560
scary. It's important. And so alto

1051
00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,160
together

1052
00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:58,880
long way to loop around I too support

1053
00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:01,280
making sure that that 1% does happen but

1054
00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:03,599
that it is targeted at homelessness and

1055
00:44:03,599 --> 00:44:05,920
truly affordable housing and there are

1056
00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:07,440
some ways that we can do that very

1057
00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:09,520
simply. I think through changing our

1058
00:44:09,520 --> 00:44:11,280
culture we've already got some developer

1059
00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:15,760
roundts set. Um our landlords affordable

1060
00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:17,359
housing landlords are one of our most

1061
00:44:17,359 --> 00:44:19,119
priceless commodities and so we need to

1062
00:44:19,119 --> 00:44:20,480
support them instead of drag them

1063
00:44:20,480 --> 00:44:22,319
around. and the people in the

1064
00:44:22,319 --> 00:44:23,440
neighborhoods that are willing to buy

1065
00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:25,440
the house next door and and get it fixed

1066
00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:30,000
up and rent it out or sell it. Um, in

1067
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:32,480
terms of the the halfsent, I agree with

1068
00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:35,200
my colleagues that it's too vague.

1069
00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:37,440
Also, your very own projections have

1070
00:44:37,440 --> 00:44:41,040
shown that it's more than we need. So

1071
00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:43,200
even if it's going to be general to go

1072
00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:46,800
04 makes more sense to me. I'm still not

1073
00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:49,200
sure people will support it unless we

1074
00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:51,040
have demonstrated that we put some

1075
00:44:51,040 --> 00:44:53,200
thought into how we could trim that

1076
00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:57,280
budget once and for all beforehand and

1077
00:44:57,280 --> 00:44:58,960
here we are on this date. So I don't

1078
00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:01,119
know what my colleagues all want to do

1079
00:45:01,119 --> 00:45:03,680
but I think we could have done that and

1080
00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:06,319
probably should have. Maybe if we trim

1081
00:45:06,319 --> 00:45:08,880
the request for the general sales tax

1082
00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:12,800
back, it it'll fly. I don't know.

1083
00:45:12,800 --> 00:45:14,880
Related to that general one is there's

1084
00:45:14,880 --> 00:45:16,319
been the discussion of the fire

1085
00:45:16,319 --> 00:45:20,079
stations. Um in my opinion, and kind of

1086
00:45:20,079 --> 00:45:21,839
when we all settled on that homeless and

1087
00:45:21,839 --> 00:45:23,520
housing thing, we talked about the fire

1088
00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:25,599
station some as well. If those were

1089
00:45:25,599 --> 00:45:29,200
going to be um financed, um cost 33

1090
00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:31,440
million to build three of them. I guess

1091
00:45:31,440 --> 00:45:33,119
the decisions haven't been quite clear

1092
00:45:33,119 --> 00:45:35,359
yet on where they would be. Maybe we can

1093
00:45:35,359 --> 00:45:38,480
wait. But nonetheless, that's an easy

1094
00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:41,920
10% sales tax in threeear tranches to do

1095
00:45:41,920 --> 00:45:46,480
them for um for cash and save the

1096
00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:49,680
taxpayers over $13 million.

1097
00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:51,839
That's what I'm talking about us looking

1098
00:45:51,839 --> 00:45:56,160
at when we look at at um cash versus

1099
00:45:56,160 --> 00:46:01,359
bonding for um capital projects. Um I

1100
00:46:01,359 --> 00:46:02,720
haven't been able to get very far with

1101
00:46:02,720 --> 00:46:04,560
you on that. I think we could start that

1102
00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:07,040
even now when things are really tight.

1103
00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:09,359
To Councilwoman Ortiz's point, what

1104
00:46:09,359 --> 00:46:11,280
we've done in the past is used the

1105
00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:12,960
halfsent sales tax that was just for

1106
00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:15,359
existing streets, curbs and gutters and

1107
00:46:15,359 --> 00:46:17,440
sidewalks and then used our capital

1108
00:46:17,440 --> 00:46:19,760
budget to supplement that and put in

1109
00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:22,240
curbs that never were there or work with

1110
00:46:22,240 --> 00:46:24,079
utilities to put storm sewers that were

1111
00:46:24,079 --> 00:46:26,800
never there. As long as we keep spending

1112
00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:28,960
things that really should have been paid

1113
00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:31,520
for with cash instead of bonding, we

1114
00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:33,200
don't have room for that in our capital

1115
00:46:33,200 --> 00:46:35,520
budget and we could work that around and

1116
00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:40,400
do it. Um, in terms of performance and

1117
00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:42,880
planning, which I really support, I've

1118
00:46:42,880 --> 00:46:45,680
asked you for 3 months at least to get

1119
00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:48,160
us a map of what streets are done and

1120
00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:49,920
which ones aren't and what their ratings

1121
00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:51,920
are. And for some reason though that's

1122
00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:54,240
what we used to do all the time before I

1123
00:46:54,240 --> 00:46:56,480
was on council and since to kind of get

1124
00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:58,880
an idea of where we are. You haven't

1125
00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:00,960
wanted to do that. So for us to kind of

1126
00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:04,160
figure out where we are in terms of

1127
00:47:04,160 --> 00:47:06,720
having operating budget money. One of

1128
00:47:06,720 --> 00:47:08,640
the things that's happened is that and I

1129
00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:10,480
think that's part of your plan right now

1130
00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:12,160
is to move even more preventive

1131
00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:14,560
maintenance into the halfsent sales tax.

1132
00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:16,240
But we haven't yet fixed all the streets

1133
00:47:16,240 --> 00:47:19,119
that needed to get fixed. So for us to

1134
00:47:19,119 --> 00:47:20,720
be able to look at it, we need to be

1135
00:47:20,720 --> 00:47:22,400
able to look at those ratings in that

1136
00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:25,200
map and then make a very a really

1137
00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:26,960
responsible decision about whether we

1138
00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:28,480
should migrate more prevented

1139
00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:30,640
maintenance into the new halfcent sales

1140
00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:32,160
tax or whether we need to make sure

1141
00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:34,400
there's room for it in the operating

1142
00:47:34,400 --> 00:47:36,240
budget.

1143
00:47:36,240 --> 00:47:40,230
Um

1144
00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:42,800
let's see.

1145
00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:46,560
Something to keep in mind is that the countywide house and sales tax is

1146
00:47:46,560 --> 00:47:48,640
coming up probably not till what

1147
00:47:48,640 --> 00:47:49,200
>> 2031

1148
00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:50,079
>> 2032

1149
00:47:50,079 --> 00:47:51,200
>> 32

1150
00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:53,119
>> um but that one has always been

1151
00:47:53,119 --> 00:47:55,040
collaborative with the county to do big

1152
00:47:55,040 --> 00:47:57,440
street projects as well as other capital

1153
00:47:57,440 --> 00:48:00,560
projects and so you know for us to be

1154
00:48:00,560 --> 00:48:02,800
thinking out 10 years that's not even 10

1155
00:48:02,800 --> 00:48:05,040
years to kind of have those things in

1156
00:48:05,040 --> 00:48:07,119
mind

1157
00:48:07,119 --> 00:48:10,000
um

1158
00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:11,680
I think I'll go ahead and stop right now

1159
00:48:11,680 --> 00:48:13,440
but I really apprei appreciate what

1160
00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:16,079
everybody's been saying. I don't know

1161
00:48:16,079 --> 00:48:20,800
how fast we can can work this oper this

1162
00:48:20,800 --> 00:48:23,440
budget if we have to and mayor you and I

1163
00:48:23,440 --> 00:48:25,440
talked about a little bit if we have to

1164
00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:26,640
get this passed because we have a

1165
00:48:26,640 --> 00:48:29,920
deadline. I think there needs to be uh

1166
00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:32,640
language in the motion that we make that

1167
00:48:32,640 --> 00:48:34,319
says we understand that we are going to

1168
00:48:34,319 --> 00:48:37,280
steadily starting the day after we vote

1169
00:48:37,280 --> 00:48:39,760
get these various budget cuts or plans

1170
00:48:39,760 --> 00:48:42,240
in place and get them implemented. not

1171
00:48:42,240 --> 00:48:45,599
just wait another year.

1172
00:48:45,599 --> 00:48:47,520
So, thank you,

1173
00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:54,069
>> Council Member Valdo,

1174
00:48:54,079 --> 00:48:55,839
» Mayor Councilwoman Hiller, I've never

1175
00:48:55,839 --> 00:48:59,440
heard you that fiery before. So, um

1176
00:48:59,440 --> 00:49:01,839
Ouch.

1177
00:49:01,839 --> 00:49:06,079
I I I want to go back to the 110

1178
00:49:06,079 --> 00:49:09,200
and I don't think I could be wrong but

1179
00:49:09,200 --> 00:49:11,599
and not to speak to colleagues but I can

1180
00:49:11,599 --> 00:49:13,599
or colleagues

1181
00:49:13,599 --> 00:49:16,079
but with the expectation of you telling

1182
00:49:16,079 --> 00:49:19,280
us with affordable housing you know you

1183
00:49:19,280 --> 00:49:22,800
can have this much done and this much done you know per

1184
00:49:22,800 --> 00:49:25,680
year I don't think I don't expect that

1185
00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:29,119
but when it comes to moving away from

1186
00:49:29,119 --> 00:49:32,400
the market rate when it comes to the

1187
00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:34,400
homelessness

1188
00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:37,359
and the built for zero, which is why we

1189
00:49:37,359 --> 00:49:38,640
need to have Carrie make her

1190
00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:40,160
presentation with the budget wrapped

1191
00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:44,559
around it and the methodology that shows

1192
00:49:44,559 --> 00:49:46,240
that can give you the metrics that

1193
00:49:46,240 --> 00:49:47,760
you're looking for because this is an

1194
00:49:47,760 --> 00:49:49,280
established

1195
00:49:49,280 --> 00:49:51,680
program that has worked on on you know

1196
00:49:51,680 --> 00:49:53,440
the coast.

1197
00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:55,440
So, we would have that. I think that we

1198
00:49:55,440 --> 00:49:59,119
can attach a specific dollar amount to

1199
00:49:59,119 --> 00:50:01,920
that every year on this ballot and what

1200
00:50:01,920 --> 00:50:04,720
that would go for because we have a

1201
00:50:04,720 --> 00:50:07,520
program already. We just have not had

1202
00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:10,480
the dollars to get it up and off the

1203
00:50:10,480 --> 00:50:12,240
ground plus all the groundwork that

1204
00:50:12,240 --> 00:50:15,920
needs to be laid which has taken a while

1205
00:50:15,920 --> 00:50:18,319
with challenges with partners and that's

1206
00:50:18,319 --> 00:50:20,800
just the nature of the beast. So, I

1207
00:50:20,800 --> 00:50:22,640
think there can be quite a bit of

1208
00:50:22,640 --> 00:50:24,240
specification when it comes to the

1209
00:50:24,240 --> 00:50:27,680
homeless component. And Councilwoman

1210
00:50:27,680 --> 00:50:29,359
Hiller, I just want to say when you were

1211
00:50:29,359 --> 00:50:32,480
saying about the halfsent sales tax, you

1212
00:50:32,480 --> 00:50:34,240
think it's too high and that's based on

1213
00:50:34,240 --> 00:50:37,359
how you see our reserves

1214
00:50:37,359 --> 00:50:41,520
growing from if we go and looked at look

1215
00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:43,839
at the revised income statements. So

1216
00:50:43,839 --> 00:50:45,920
from 2027

1217
00:50:45,920 --> 00:50:49,200
we would be our reserves would be at

1218
00:50:49,200 --> 00:50:52,870
$37,900,000

1219
00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:56,960
and then in 2031 they would go all the

1220
00:50:56,960 --> 00:51:02,390
way up to 44 million222,44.

1221
00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:05,280
I had never thought about that before

1222
00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:09,520
that like that totally escaped me. But I think that there's some merit there

1223
00:51:09,520 --> 00:51:12,000
that may need to be looked into as we

1224
00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:13,599
move forward. Thank you, mayor.

1225
00:51:13,599 --> 00:51:15,040
>> So, if I could just comment on that

1226
00:51:15,040 --> 00:51:16,400
really quick.

1227
00:51:16,400 --> 00:51:18,319
>> As we said during the I think you guys

1228
00:51:18,319 --> 00:51:20,559
allowed some questions during the public

1229
00:51:20,559 --> 00:51:21,760
comment when we were talking about the

1230
00:51:21,760 --> 00:51:23,200
forecast

1231
00:51:23,200 --> 00:51:25,920
>> for all the things that you uh have said

1232
00:51:25,920 --> 00:51:28,559
here to include being able to pay for

1233
00:51:28,559 --> 00:51:30,720
things with cash. That's what this would

1234
00:51:30,720 --> 00:51:33,200
allow us to do. As I mentioned, doing

1235
00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:35,440
this would free up dollars to go towards

1236
00:51:35,440 --> 00:51:38,240
whatever priority or list of priorities

1237
00:51:38,240 --> 00:51:39,839
that our community has had for a long

1238
00:51:39,839 --> 00:51:43,760
time. Um, so again, I I said that uh

1239
00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:45,359
during the forecast discussion, I'm

1240
00:51:45,359 --> 00:51:47,280
saying that again tonight. Whenever you

1241
00:51:47,280 --> 00:51:48,640
talk about freeing up cash, we could

1242
00:51:48,640 --> 00:51:50,720
potentially, honestly, with this, we

1243
00:51:50,720 --> 00:51:52,240
could probably use some of that money to

1244
00:51:52,240 --> 00:51:58,960
fund cash fund our fire stations. My my whole premise of this again is that

1245
00:51:58,960 --> 00:52:02,079
where our 20% mark for our reserves is

1246
00:52:02,079 --> 00:52:05,599
what we abide by again that first year.

1247
00:52:05,599 --> 00:52:07,200
And I want to say that the we projected

1248
00:52:07,200 --> 00:52:09,599
we'd probably have about $16 million of

1249
00:52:09,599 --> 00:52:11,359
onetime dollars that could be programmed

1250
00:52:11,359 --> 00:52:14,559
into whatever it is that we wanted. The

1251
00:52:14,559 --> 00:52:16,960
$16 million again could be spent out of

1252
00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:20,160
cash for whatever capital improvements,

1253
00:52:20,160 --> 00:52:22,160
you know, or however we want to program

1254
00:52:22,160 --> 00:52:24,559
it. But again, the whole point is that

1255
00:52:24,559 --> 00:52:27,359
we're able to maintain our 20% reserves.

1256
00:52:27,359 --> 00:52:30,400
So that that is you're right. It's it's

1257
00:52:30,400 --> 00:52:33,359
more than 20%. Um, but again, going back

1258
00:52:33,359 --> 00:52:36,000
to my comments on the forecast, we could

1259
00:52:36,000 --> 00:52:38,720
then in turn use cash to fund some of

1260
00:52:38,720 --> 00:52:40,559
these things. And by funding even just

1261
00:52:40,559 --> 00:52:42,559
the fire stations out of cash, we take

1262
00:52:42,559 --> 00:52:44,800
$33 million out of our CIP, out of our

1263
00:52:44,800 --> 00:52:48,800
debt service fund. So again, um, while

1264
00:52:48,800 --> 00:52:51,599
still also being able to support our our

1265
00:52:51,599 --> 00:52:55,520
operating services. Thank you,

1266
00:52:55,520 --> 00:53:01,990
>> Deputy Mayor Hoer.

1267
00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:05,359
We have a lot of diverse ideas.

1268
00:53:05,359 --> 00:53:08,630
So,

1269
00:53:08,640 --> 00:53:10,640
I'm not a fan of sales tax. I'll admit

1270
00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:12,160
that.

1271
00:53:12,160 --> 00:53:15,200
But we're we're going to have to do

1272
00:53:15,200 --> 00:53:20,800
something. So, I want to get an idea

1273
00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:23,280
what we need to do. Do we need do you

1274
00:53:23,280 --> 00:53:27,520
want us to write up our own versions

1275
00:53:27,520 --> 00:53:31,359
and submit them to be looked at before

1276
00:53:31,359 --> 00:53:33,520
we get to the October that gives us two

1277
00:53:33,520 --> 00:53:36,720
weeks before the October 6th meeting.

1278
00:53:36,720 --> 00:53:39,839
I'm trying to look forward so we're not

1279
00:53:39,839 --> 00:53:43,760
upon that October 20th deadline.

1280
00:53:43,760 --> 00:53:49,599
>> Um I have some ideas on a couple. Um, I

1281
00:53:49,599 --> 00:53:52,000
think we all have ideas,

1282
00:53:52,000 --> 00:53:56,800
but it's what do you want us to do next?

1283
00:53:56,800 --> 00:53:58,880
>> If the council would be okay to it, I

1284
00:53:58,880 --> 00:54:00,240
would love probably a 2-hour work

1285
00:54:00,240 --> 00:54:02,960
session between now and, you know, the

1286
00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:04,559
end of the month. So that way by the

1287
00:54:04,559 --> 00:54:07,359
time we get to the 6th, we, you know,

1288
00:54:07,359 --> 00:54:10,000
have an idea of of a consensus at least

1289
00:54:10,000 --> 00:54:13,040
or close to consensus of what would be

1290
00:54:13,040 --> 00:54:15,200
considered if the council were open to

1291
00:54:15,200 --> 00:54:18,160
that. if you want to submit um you may

1292
00:54:18,160 --> 00:54:20,640
not you may not believe this but um

1293
00:54:20,640 --> 00:54:22,160
there might be 10 different

1294
00:54:22,160 --> 00:54:23,920
>> oh you know opinions and so

1295
00:54:23,920 --> 00:54:24,960
>> yeah there probably will be

1296
00:54:24,960 --> 00:54:27,040
>> yeah and so uh if there's an opportunity

1297
00:54:27,040 --> 00:54:29,200
for us to come together for a special

1298
00:54:29,200 --> 00:54:31,040
work session I would greatly appreciate

1299
00:54:31,040 --> 00:54:34,480
that that would help us as a team uh

1300
00:54:34,480 --> 00:54:36,079
develop the appropriate language and so

1301
00:54:36,079 --> 00:54:38,720
forth again the sixth is really just to

1302
00:54:38,720 --> 00:54:40,240
get our draft language together so we

1303
00:54:40,240 --> 00:54:43,280
can send it to the elections office have

1304
00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:46,079
to finalize that Brenda until the 20th

1305
00:54:46,079 --> 00:54:47,280
So that way we can get it to the

1306
00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:48,559
elections office by the end of the

1307
00:54:48,559 --> 00:54:52,160
month. So again, a work session would be

1308
00:54:52,160 --> 00:54:54,319
great. Um, if you want to submit

1309
00:54:54,319 --> 00:54:56,480
individual comments and proposed

1310
00:54:56,480 --> 00:54:58,800
language, I mean, I can take that too.

1311
00:54:58,800 --> 00:55:02,480
Um, but again, trying to uh morph that

1312
00:55:02,480 --> 00:55:05,680
into one uh agreeable

1313
00:55:05,680 --> 00:55:08,480
um measure or language is it's I think

1314
00:55:08,480 --> 00:55:10,640
we still come back to council and and

1315
00:55:10,640 --> 00:55:12,880
still have robust discussion about it.

1316
00:55:12,880 --> 00:55:14,960
So, if it is possible for work session,

1317
00:55:14,960 --> 00:55:17,280
I would love that. If not, then um you

1318
00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:18,720
can submit your individual comments and

1319
00:55:18,720 --> 00:55:19,839
we can go from there.

1320
00:55:19,839 --> 00:55:20,480
>> Okay.

1321
00:55:20,480 --> 00:55:21,920
>> I just want to look at

1322
00:55:21,920 --> 00:55:23,280
>> I'm going to get some clarification cuz

1323
00:55:23,280 --> 00:55:24,880
I I'm a little confused about the

1324
00:55:24,880 --> 00:55:26,720
deadline, I guess, because I thought

1325
00:55:26,720 --> 00:55:29,599
statute was 90 days, it had to be

1326
00:55:29,599 --> 00:55:31,760
submitted, which

1327
00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:33,280
even though they have to mail it out 10

1328
00:55:33,280 --> 00:55:35,599
to 20 days, it'd be a March 2nd sort of

1329
00:55:35,599 --> 00:55:38,319
date still, which would be December 1st.

1330
00:55:38,319 --> 00:55:39,680
And I'm not suggesting we wait until

1331
00:55:39,680 --> 00:55:41,680
December, but I guess I'm confused why

1332
00:55:41,680 --> 00:55:44,240
our deadline is say no October 20th

1333
00:55:44,240 --> 00:55:46,559
versus November 10th, for instance, when

1334
00:55:46,559 --> 00:55:49,200
we come back after the election.

1335
00:55:49,200 --> 00:55:50,640
>> You You are correct, Mr. Mayor. The

1336
00:55:50,640 --> 00:55:53,200
statute says 90 days. Shauny County, the

1337
00:55:53,200 --> 00:55:54,960
elections office has told us they like

1338
00:55:54,960 --> 00:55:59,680
120. Their deadline is 120. Um, but by

1339
00:55:59,680 --> 00:56:02,400
statute, yes, it's 90.

1340
00:56:02,400 --> 00:56:07,760
So, the 120 is November 2nd. Um,

1341
00:56:07,760 --> 00:56:09,680
so I don't know if we wanted to push the

1342
00:56:09,680 --> 00:56:11,839
county on the the issue of 90 versus

1343
00:56:11,839 --> 00:56:13,040
120, but the county has told us

1344
00:56:13,040 --> 00:56:14,559
>> I'd like a follow-up question with them.

1345
00:56:14,559 --> 00:56:16,400
And if if they have the right under the

1346
00:56:16,400 --> 00:56:18,319
stat if they have statutory authority to

1347
00:56:18,319 --> 00:56:19,760
set that deadline, then that's fine.

1348
00:56:19,760 --> 00:56:21,599
That's the law and they can do that. And

1349
00:56:21,599 --> 00:56:23,119
I understand why they want in advance.

1350
00:56:23,119 --> 00:56:24,880
Again, I'm not trying to push it until

1351
00:56:24,880 --> 00:56:27,920
the last minute. But I mean, if there

1352
00:56:27,920 --> 00:56:29,359
was an opportunity for us to actually

1353
00:56:29,359 --> 00:56:30,960
have the month of October to work

1354
00:56:30,960 --> 00:56:32,880
through this as a council versus

1355
00:56:32,880 --> 00:56:35,359
essentially three meetings in October,

1356
00:56:35,359 --> 00:56:37,680
that's a pretty big difference. I mean,

1357
00:56:37,680 --> 00:56:39,119
that versus having to make that

1358
00:56:39,119 --> 00:56:40,480
decision. So, if that's what we have to

1359
00:56:40,480 --> 00:56:41,920
do, then but that would be good

1360
00:56:41,920 --> 00:56:43,119
information to have.

1361
00:56:43,119 --> 00:56:43,839
>> Sure.

1362
00:56:43,839 --> 00:56:45,839
>> So, again, I understand there. and and

1363
00:56:45,839 --> 00:56:48,079
maybe if they understood that our goal

1364
00:56:48,079 --> 00:56:50,960
was to get it to them by like a November

1365
00:56:50,960 --> 00:56:53,200
10th versus waiting until December 1st,

1366
00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:54,960
they might be willing to give us that

1367
00:56:54,960 --> 00:56:57,359
leeway if they understood what our

1368
00:56:57,359 --> 00:56:59,359
request was. So, I think that'd be

1369
00:56:59,359 --> 00:57:01,920
helpful. Um

1370
00:57:01,920 --> 00:57:03,760
just Yeah, just to know. All right.

1371
00:57:03,760 --> 00:57:05,280
Sorry, Deputy Mayor. Did not mean I'm

1372
00:57:05,280 --> 00:57:05,440
done.

1373
00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:09,359
>> Hi, Jack here. Uh Council Member Kell.

1374
00:57:09,359 --> 00:57:13,270
>> All right. Um,

1375
00:57:13,280 --> 00:57:14,880
I don't expect you to have those numbers

1376
00:57:14,880 --> 00:57:16,559
for affordable housing because that's

1377
00:57:16,559 --> 00:57:19,520
going to be a a fluid thing. I mean, we

1378
00:57:19,520 --> 00:57:20,559
can sit there and say, "Well, we're

1379
00:57:20,559 --> 00:57:23,920
going to focus on four bedrooms now, but

1380
00:57:23,920 --> 00:57:26,079
in 3 years, that could be our lowest

1381
00:57:26,079 --> 00:57:28,400
demographic that we need." So, I think

1382
00:57:28,400 --> 00:57:29,520
it's one of those things we need to make

1383
00:57:29,520 --> 00:57:31,680
it as fluid as possible on that. So,

1384
00:57:31,680 --> 00:57:33,520
that way we know what our needs are

1385
00:57:33,520 --> 00:57:36,799
versus what the plan is. because we can

1386
00:57:36,799 --> 00:57:38,319
plan out forever, but if we're not

1387
00:57:38,319 --> 00:57:40,000
hitting our needs, then it's it's kind

1388
00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:42,079
of a waste.

1389
00:57:42,079 --> 00:57:44,240
Um, I think this is definitely a

1390
00:57:44,240 --> 00:57:45,920
learning experience, especially on the

1391
00:57:45,920 --> 00:57:47,839
halfent sales tax on the roads, as the

1392
00:57:47,839 --> 00:57:52,640
counciloman put out there, that uh the the wording needs to be looked at

1393
00:57:52,640 --> 00:57:53,839
and this has been a good learning

1394
00:57:53,839 --> 00:57:55,599
experience over the years to what we've

1395
00:57:55,599 --> 00:57:58,000
done to what we we've been kind of

1396
00:57:58,000 --> 00:58:00,480
pigeonhold into. But the one thing I

1397
00:58:00,480 --> 00:58:03,680
want to make sure is that we what we put

1398
00:58:03,680 --> 00:58:06,319
in there is what we have to stay with.

1399
00:58:06,319 --> 00:58:08,000
Um, you know, you see it too many times

1400
00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:10,000
that people, you know, citizens vote on

1401
00:58:10,000 --> 00:58:11,440
something. Good example is the expo

1402
00:58:11,440 --> 00:58:13,280
center. We got half of what was

1403
00:58:13,280 --> 00:58:16,160
presented to us for the expo center.

1404
00:58:16,160 --> 00:58:18,720
Half was was was actually gone through

1405
00:58:18,720 --> 00:58:21,920
with. And so, uh, there was all the

1406
00:58:21,920 --> 00:58:23,200
extras that were supposed to be there

1407
00:58:23,200 --> 00:58:26,400
that never showed up. And so, if we say

1408
00:58:26,400 --> 00:58:27,599
this is what we're going to do, this is

1409
00:58:27,599 --> 00:58:30,880
what we're going to do. and uh no major

1410
00:58:30,880 --> 00:58:32,240
changes, nothing like that unless we

1411
00:58:32,240 --> 00:58:34,799
take it back to the citizens again.

1412
00:58:34,799 --> 00:58:36,960
Um the only thing I can say about, you

1413
00:58:36,960 --> 00:58:39,440
know, as counciloman put built for zero,

1414
00:58:39,440 --> 00:58:42,319
my only problem with looking that too

1415
00:58:42,319 --> 00:58:44,319
much is, you know, you mentioned the

1416
00:58:44,319 --> 00:58:45,760
coasts. I've lived on the coast. The

1417
00:58:45,760 --> 00:58:47,599
coasts are different animal to what we

1418
00:58:47,599 --> 00:58:49,680
are here. And I'd much rather look at

1419
00:58:49,680 --> 00:58:51,359
some of our communities like Rockford,

1420
00:58:51,359 --> 00:58:53,760
Illinois, Lake County, Illinois. that

1421
00:58:53,760 --> 00:58:56,640
are similar to us and look at those

1422
00:58:56,640 --> 00:58:58,079
rather than look at the coast because

1423
00:58:58,079 --> 00:59:00,720
you have a good example uh I know

1424
00:59:00,720 --> 00:59:02,960
several families living on they have

1425
00:59:02,960 --> 00:59:04,880
three four five generations living in

1426
00:59:04,880 --> 00:59:08,160
one house uh because for affordability

1427
00:59:08,160 --> 00:59:10,079
and we don't really have that here where

1428
00:59:10,079 --> 00:59:12,720
we have five generations

1429
00:59:12,720 --> 00:59:14,720
a good a good amount of houses being

1430
00:59:14,720 --> 00:59:16,319
multiple generations living in one house

1431
00:59:16,319 --> 00:59:18,160
so I'd like to you know look at what

1432
00:59:18,160 --> 00:59:20,799
they do but not really focus on those

1433
00:59:20,799 --> 00:59:23,680
and look at more what cities like us are

1434
00:59:23,680 --> 00:59:27,680
like and focus on those

1435
00:59:27,680 --> 00:59:29,599
>> council member.

1436
00:59:29,599 --> 00:59:32,079
>> So I should have been more broader in

1437
00:59:32,079 --> 00:59:34,319
the scope. This all started with bill

1438
00:59:34,319 --> 00:59:36,319
for zero looking and searching and

1439
00:59:36,319 --> 00:59:38,640
bringing it here. The idea and us

1440
00:59:38,640 --> 00:59:41,200
talking back in 2021

1441
00:59:41,200 --> 00:59:44,160
I think it was and then equity access

1442
00:59:44,160 --> 00:59:47,440
shelter was a small component of that

1443
00:59:47,440 --> 00:59:49,920
without the full built for zero program.

1444
00:59:49,920 --> 00:59:52,240
I think Carrie was part of meetings. The

1445
00:59:52,240 --> 00:59:54,880
Badia was part of meetings. Um there

1446
00:59:54,880 --> 00:59:57,280
were a number of people part of meetings

1447
00:59:57,280 --> 00:59:59,440
when we first got started with Built for

1448
00:59:59,440 --> 01:00:01,599
Zero with the people in Rockford,

1449
01:00:01,599 --> 01:00:04,400
Illinois because they have a built for

1450
01:00:04,400 --> 01:00:06,799
zero program there and they have for

1451
01:00:06,799 --> 01:00:09,839
close to 20 years and they have similar

1452
01:00:09,839 --> 01:00:12,720
demographics as we do. So, I should have

1453
01:00:12,720 --> 01:00:15,440
named Rockford, Illinois right off the

1454
01:00:15,440 --> 01:00:18,240
bat, but they also, you see that Built

1455
01:00:18,240 --> 01:00:22,160
for Zero has I think now perhaps maybe

1456
01:00:22,160 --> 01:00:24,240
close to a hundred. I'm not I'm not

1457
01:00:24,240 --> 01:00:26,000
sure. And some of them are on the coast,

1458
01:00:26,000 --> 01:00:28,559
but some of them are smack in the area

1459
01:00:28,559 --> 01:00:31,280
that have similar demographics as we do.

1460
01:00:31,280 --> 01:00:34,000
Again, Rockford, Illinois is who we had

1461
01:00:34,000 --> 01:00:36,400
a number of meetings with about how they

1462
01:00:36,400 --> 01:00:38,400
got their bill for zero off the ground.

1463
01:00:38,400 --> 01:00:41,599
Thank you, Mayor. Council member Hiller.

1464
01:00:41,599 --> 01:00:43,680
>> Um, just one thing I I thought maybe I

1465
01:00:43,680 --> 01:00:46,079
could clarify a little about the the

1466
01:00:46,079 --> 01:00:48,880
halfsent street tax before and the term

1467
01:00:48,880 --> 01:00:50,799
existing. We had the same kind of

1468
01:00:50,799 --> 01:00:52,319
conversations that we've been having

1469
01:00:52,319 --> 01:00:54,960
today about using homeless and

1470
01:00:54,960 --> 01:00:56,720
affordable housing instead of market

1471
01:00:56,720 --> 01:00:59,920
rate back when we did the first half

1472
01:00:59,920 --> 01:01:02,400
sales tax as well as the renewal. And

1473
01:01:02,400 --> 01:01:05,040
the reason that the word she's right and

1474
01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:07,280
the key word was existing and that was

1475
01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:10,799
because um that at that time we had lots

1476
01:01:10,799 --> 01:01:13,359
of plans at least on paper to turn this

1477
01:01:13,359 --> 01:01:15,040
street into five lanes and this street

1478
01:01:15,040 --> 01:01:16,960
into five lanes and you know mega

1479
01:01:16,960 --> 01:01:20,000
streets and growing and the the citizens

1480
01:01:20,000 --> 01:01:22,240
said no we want to take care of what

1481
01:01:22,240 --> 01:01:24,720
we've got first. These these streets

1482
01:01:24,720 --> 01:01:26,559
need more than a mill and overlay. They

1483
01:01:26,559 --> 01:01:28,480
need to be rebuilt and that's enough

1484
01:01:28,480 --> 01:01:31,440
money right there. So if we if we target

1485
01:01:31,440 --> 01:01:33,520
this money that's in the halfsent sales

1486
01:01:33,520 --> 01:01:37,119
tax for our existing streets then we can

1487
01:01:37,119 --> 01:01:39,280
work work additions to it. But that's

1488
01:01:39,280 --> 01:01:41,280
why that was there and that's one of the

1489
01:01:41,280 --> 01:01:43,200
reasons why I've asked for the map

1490
01:01:43,200 --> 01:01:44,960
because we used to be able to just look

1491
01:01:44,960 --> 01:01:47,520
at well so how we doing how's where did

1492
01:01:47,520 --> 01:01:49,520
we start and where are we now and I'm

1493
01:01:49,520 --> 01:01:50,960
not quite sure.

1494
01:01:50,960 --> 01:01:51,359
>> So

1495
01:01:51,359 --> 01:01:52,640
>> but everybody knows there's cones

1496
01:01:52,640 --> 01:01:53,599
everywhere right now.

1497
01:01:53,599 --> 01:01:55,440
>> So council member we do have existing we

1498
01:01:55,440 --> 01:01:56,880
do have existing pavement condition

1499
01:01:56,880 --> 01:01:58,799
index rating maps. I'm going to just

1500
01:01:58,799 --> 01:02:01,119
tell you that there's no corresponding

1501
01:02:01,119 --> 01:02:03,520
score on those streets compared to when

1502
01:02:03,520 --> 01:02:05,200
they were done. I think you and I have

1503
01:02:05,200 --> 01:02:08,160
discussed the um the example of Sixth

1504
01:02:08,160 --> 01:02:14,640
Street by McVicker. Um that street was done I think uh a year before the

1505
01:02:14,640 --> 01:02:18,160
cross street uh McVicker. Um and I mean

1506
01:02:18,160 --> 01:02:18,960
you can see the

1507
01:02:18,960 --> 01:02:20,400
>> crummy on the concrete.

1508
01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:21,839
>> Well, I'm just saying though you can see

1509
01:02:21,839 --> 01:02:24,400
it it there's no correlation no real

1510
01:02:24,400 --> 01:02:25,520
correlation. And there might be some,

1511
01:02:25,520 --> 01:02:26,640
but there's not a significant

1512
01:02:26,640 --> 01:02:28,640
correlation between when a street was

1513
01:02:28,640 --> 01:02:30,240
done and its condition. You can have a

1514
01:02:30,240 --> 01:02:32,400
street that was done 50 years ago and

1515
01:02:32,400 --> 01:02:33,760
it's in great condition cuz it doesn't

1516
01:02:33,760 --> 01:02:36,240
get a lot of traffic. So I I I hear what

1517
01:02:36,240 --> 01:02:38,160
you're saying. I don't see a lot of

1518
01:02:38,160 --> 01:02:40,960
value in that. Uh putting the date when

1519
01:02:40,960 --> 01:02:43,599
it was last done. Um because you can

1520
01:02:43,599 --> 01:02:45,760
again the street on Sixth Street was

1521
01:02:45,760 --> 01:02:47,599
done a year before the one on McVicker

1522
01:02:47,599 --> 01:02:49,839
and the the street on Sixth Street is in

1523
01:02:49,839 --> 01:02:51,839
worse condition than McVicker even

1524
01:02:51,839 --> 01:02:53,839
though it was done just a year before.

1525
01:02:53,839 --> 01:02:56,000
So, I I hear you and we can talk more

1526
01:02:56,000 --> 01:02:59,599
about it. Um, again, um, the PCI is

1527
01:02:59,599 --> 01:03:02,000
really what you should be looking at,

1528
01:03:02,000 --> 01:03:03,680
uh, is the condition of the street.

1529
01:03:03,680 --> 01:03:05,359
>> Well, and and that's that's why I asked

1530
01:03:05,359 --> 01:03:08,160
because we are I've thought maybe once a

1531
01:03:08,160 --> 01:03:09,599
year was too often, but we're spending

1532
01:03:09,599 --> 01:03:11,680
money to get the streets rated on their

1533
01:03:11,680 --> 01:03:14,160
PCI level every year, so we might as

1534
01:03:14,160 --> 01:03:17,520
well be able to see where they are.

1535
01:03:17,520 --> 01:03:18,480
>> It's every three years.

1536
01:03:18,480 --> 01:03:19,359
>> Every three years.

1537
01:03:19,359 --> 01:03:22,160
But at the same time

1538
01:03:22,160 --> 01:03:24,640
when they were when they were done

1539
01:03:24,640 --> 01:03:27,039
matters. You know something that as much

1540
01:03:27,039 --> 01:03:29,039
as people fuss about this and that that

1541
01:03:29,039 --> 01:03:31,839
we don't do well. This this city has

1542
01:03:31,839 --> 01:03:34,720
always been really good about geographic

1543
01:03:34,720 --> 01:03:36,559
diversity about parity and getting

1544
01:03:36,559 --> 01:03:38,640
streets done in different parts of town.

1545
01:03:38,640 --> 01:03:40,480
And so when you look at the dates on the

1546
01:03:40,480 --> 01:03:41,920
streets when the last time they were

1547
01:03:41,920 --> 01:03:44,640
done that gives you an idea of what that

1548
01:03:44,640 --> 01:03:46,799
rhythm has been as we've gotten to to

1549
01:03:46,799 --> 01:03:48,400
this point. and then looking at the

1550
01:03:48,400 --> 01:03:51,920
PCIs, no matter when they got done, you

1551
01:03:51,920 --> 01:03:53,680
know, may provoke some conversation, but

1552
01:03:53,680 --> 01:03:55,599
then you can see the ones that need

1553
01:03:55,599 --> 01:04:00,400
work. So, I think it we've got the data.

1554
01:04:00,400 --> 01:04:02,559
Thank you.

1555
01:04:02,559 --> 01:04:04,640
All right, city attorney. I guess I have

1556
01:04:04,640 --> 01:04:07,359
a question about the definition. Maybe

1557
01:04:07,359 --> 01:04:10,720
there's no gray area about special use

1558
01:04:10,720 --> 01:04:14,640
versus general use, right? And I guess

1559
01:04:14,640 --> 01:04:17,039
maybe it's an eitheror. So in other

1560
01:04:17,039 --> 01:04:19,359
words, if it's not under under the way

1561
01:04:19,359 --> 01:04:21,200
it's defined is if it's not could be

1562
01:04:21,200 --> 01:04:23,520
used for say everything

1563
01:04:23,520 --> 01:04:27,039
once you qualify it for any specific use

1564
01:04:27,039 --> 01:04:29,680
it becomes a a specific use act even if

1565
01:04:29,680 --> 01:04:31,520
it's generalized and by that I mean for

1566
01:04:31,520 --> 01:04:33,039
example some of the discussions at this

1567
01:04:33,039 --> 01:04:34,400
point have been about quote unquote

1568
01:04:34,400 --> 01:04:37,119
public safety which is 70% of our budget

1569
01:04:37,119 --> 01:04:39,039
which includes multiple departments

1570
01:04:39,039 --> 01:04:40,799
could also include fire stations as part

1571
01:04:40,799 --> 01:04:43,599
of that I assume that then if you is

1572
01:04:43,599 --> 01:04:46,559
still makes it now a speech special use

1573
01:04:46,559 --> 01:04:49,280
not qualifies for general use under that

1574
01:04:49,280 --> 01:04:51,119
definition even though it's not one

1575
01:04:51,119 --> 01:04:53,359
specific thing. Does that make sense

1576
01:04:53,359 --> 01:04:54,319
what I'm asking?

1577
01:04:54,319 --> 01:04:58,480
>> I I think so. Um the special use is

1578
01:04:58,480 --> 01:05:01,520
restricted to specifically whatever is

1579
01:05:01,520 --> 01:05:03,760
defined under that ballot question and

1580
01:05:03,760 --> 01:05:06,000
then the cap is lower and there's a

1581
01:05:06,000 --> 01:05:08,079
specified timeline. It can only be up to

1582
01:05:08,079 --> 01:05:11,039
10 years. the general use still requires

1583
01:05:11,039 --> 01:05:13,440
some type of a narrative as to what it

1584
01:05:13,440 --> 01:05:14,880
will be used for, but it can be used

1585
01:05:14,880 --> 01:05:17,760
generally. I mean, across it's not

1586
01:05:17,760 --> 01:05:20,160
you're not held to those specific things

1587
01:05:20,160 --> 01:05:22,400
that are necessarily named in that

1588
01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:23,680
narrative, if that makes sense.

1589
01:05:23,680 --> 01:05:24,880
>> Yeah, that makes sense.

1590
01:05:24,880 --> 01:05:27,039
>> And and they have different caps. I

1591
01:05:27,039 --> 01:05:29,520
think the general use cap is 2% total

1592
01:05:29,520 --> 01:05:33,039
aggregate. special use cap is 1%

1593
01:05:33,039 --> 01:05:36,160
aggregate and then there's no required

1594
01:05:36,160 --> 01:05:39,920
um deadline or you know sunset date for

1595
01:05:39,920 --> 01:05:40,799
a general

1596
01:05:40,799 --> 01:05:44,079
>> and and what are we cap are we does the

1597
01:05:44,079 --> 01:05:48,480
gauge park authority count against our

1598
01:05:48,480 --> 01:05:50,880
special use even even though we had

1599
01:05:50,880 --> 01:05:52,000
nothing to do with it?

1600
01:05:52,000 --> 01:05:54,160
>> No. Uh, I believe right now we only have

1601
01:05:54,160 --> 01:05:57,039
we have 0.5% in place for special use

1602
01:05:57,039 --> 01:05:58,960
right now and that's why we're capped at

1603
01:05:58,960 --> 01:06:01,520
a a.5 at this point in time.

1604
01:06:01,520 --> 01:06:03,599
>> Got Okay.

1605
01:06:03,599 --> 01:06:05,760
>> Okay. So then I have other thoughts.

1606
01:06:05,760 --> 01:06:07,440
These are in no particular order, so I

1607
01:06:07,440 --> 01:06:09,039
apologize, but as I've been taking notes

1608
01:06:09,039 --> 01:06:11,280
throughout the conversation,

1609
01:06:11,280 --> 01:06:12,880
I do want to point out and I've said

1610
01:06:12,880 --> 01:06:15,039
this when we have whenever we have RHID

1611
01:06:15,039 --> 01:06:17,200
conversations is the RHID program was

1612
01:06:17,200 --> 01:06:19,359
not created for affordable housing. It

1613
01:06:19,359 --> 01:06:21,440
was created for all housing. And I think

1614
01:06:21,440 --> 01:06:22,960
that's important as we have this

1615
01:06:22,960 --> 01:06:25,760
conversation because it is a tool at our

1616
01:06:25,760 --> 01:06:28,240
disposal that we should be utilizing to

1617
01:06:28,240 --> 01:06:30,880
build market rate housing. We should

1618
01:06:30,880 --> 01:06:32,799
also be using it for affordable, but

1619
01:06:32,799 --> 01:06:34,720
it's one of those tools at our disposal

1620
01:06:34,720 --> 01:06:37,359
to put towards those efforts that that's

1621
01:06:37,359 --> 01:06:39,920
less harmful to our bottom line and our

1622
01:06:39,920 --> 01:06:41,520
budget and and isn't us putting out

1623
01:06:41,520 --> 01:06:43,200
cash. And and I bring that up because as

1624
01:06:43,200 --> 01:06:45,599
we talk about then finding a source for

1625
01:06:45,599 --> 01:06:47,119
affordable housing in the affordable

1626
01:06:47,119 --> 01:06:50,640
housing trust fund, it allows us then if

1627
01:06:50,640 --> 01:06:52,799
we can do that to have those sort of

1628
01:06:52,799 --> 01:06:54,880
circular program that says great, we can

1629
01:06:54,880 --> 01:06:57,039
use RHID on everything, but we can

1630
01:06:57,039 --> 01:06:58,640
really focus it to help with things like

1631
01:06:58,640 --> 01:07:00,559
market rate while we also have programs

1632
01:07:00,559 --> 01:07:01,920
through the affordable housing trust

1633
01:07:01,920 --> 01:07:03,680
fund that are also making sure we're

1634
01:07:03,680 --> 01:07:05,119
keeping up with and doing what we want

1635
01:07:05,119 --> 01:07:07,119
to accomplish on on the affordable

1636
01:07:07,119 --> 01:07:09,520
housing piece. So, so they can be used

1637
01:07:09,520 --> 01:07:11,760
as sort of this nice complement to each

1638
01:07:11,760 --> 01:07:13,520
other if we can find some ways to make

1639
01:07:13,520 --> 01:07:16,799
them work that way uh over time. Josh,

1640
01:07:16,799 --> 01:07:18,319
you can totally correct me if I'm wrong.

1641
01:07:18,319 --> 01:07:19,440
I don't know where you are. You don't

1642
01:07:19,440 --> 01:07:22,559
even need to. But we keep talking about

1643
01:07:22,559 --> 01:07:26,160
the 20% reserve threshold. I say this

1644
01:07:26,160 --> 01:07:28,400
every year during budget time. Unless

1645
01:07:28,400 --> 01:07:30,160
I'm wrong, we have never actually as a

1646
01:07:30,160 --> 01:07:31,920
governing body, and I've told staff, if

1647
01:07:31,920 --> 01:07:33,280
you want us to change it, bring it to

1648
01:07:33,280 --> 01:07:36,480
us. But I believe it's 15%. That we have

1649
01:07:36,480 --> 01:07:38,720
established as our official threshold. I

1650
01:07:38,720 --> 01:07:41,760
understand 20% why we want that at times

1651
01:07:41,760 --> 01:07:44,480
and the bond council has advised us. But

1652
01:07:44,480 --> 01:07:46,480
my my understanding is unless I'm wrong,

1653
01:07:46,480 --> 01:07:48,400
it's 15%. And I think that's important

1654
01:07:48,400 --> 01:07:50,480
to this conversation because through the

1655
01:07:50,480 --> 01:07:52,319
years and Councilman Dobble and I when

1656
01:07:52,319 --> 01:07:53,680
he was here used to say this every year

1657
01:07:53,680 --> 01:07:57,359
is if it's 15% let's be at 15%. So I'm

1658
01:07:57,359 --> 01:07:59,520
happy to revisit that if at some point

1659
01:07:59,520 --> 01:08:01,200
staff wants to bring that back because I

1660
01:08:01,200 --> 01:08:03,280
understand why. But I think if you work

1661
01:08:03,280 --> 01:08:06,480
off of that 15 or even a 17% based on

1662
01:08:06,480 --> 01:08:09,359
the numbers we've seen, that 3% makes a

1663
01:08:09,359 --> 01:08:11,200
difference too in some of these numbers

1664
01:08:11,200 --> 01:08:13,359
uh that we discuss as we're looking at

1665
01:08:13,359 --> 01:08:16,880
how to formulate something that that the

1666
01:08:16,880 --> 01:08:19,120
citizens might be amendable to and also

1667
01:08:19,120 --> 01:08:20,480
still meet the needs that we're trying

1668
01:08:20,480 --> 01:08:24,000
to reach over time. Um

1669
01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:27,520
the affordable housing trust fund exists

1670
01:08:27,520 --> 01:08:29,279
for the purpose of a lot of the

1671
01:08:29,279 --> 01:08:31,440
discussion we've had up here tonight.

1672
01:08:31,440 --> 01:08:32,799
some we aren't going to be able to

1673
01:08:32,799 --> 01:08:34,880
answer some of those questions, but they

1674
01:08:34,880 --> 01:08:36,640
can. That's why we put them together.

1675
01:08:36,640 --> 01:08:37,920
That's why they're in place. That's why

1676
01:08:37,920 --> 01:08:39,759
they're made up of citizens. It's why

1677
01:08:39,759 --> 01:08:41,520
that they have standards and things that

1678
01:08:41,520 --> 01:08:43,120
they have put in place and will continue

1679
01:08:43,120 --> 01:08:45,920
to be put in place. And so, I think that

1680
01:08:45,920 --> 01:08:48,239
is something we can reassure folks if if

1681
01:08:48,239 --> 01:08:50,719
this moves forward to say it's not just

1682
01:08:50,719 --> 01:08:52,480
going into some random pot that we're

1683
01:08:52,480 --> 01:08:53,839
going to figure out later. It's going

1684
01:08:53,839 --> 01:08:55,839
into a structured program that we spent

1685
01:08:55,839 --> 01:08:57,759
years working on and developing in and

1686
01:08:57,759 --> 01:08:59,279
it's going to have community oversight

1687
01:08:59,279 --> 01:09:01,199
into that. And so I think that is also

1688
01:09:01,199 --> 01:09:03,679
important for the conversation. The same

1689
01:09:03,679 --> 01:09:06,480
is if we go back to the homeless piece,

1690
01:09:06,480 --> 01:09:08,319
that's what the build for zero model

1691
01:09:08,319 --> 01:09:10,799
also has given us. It's given us a

1692
01:09:10,799 --> 01:09:12,480
structure. We spent a lot of time over

1693
01:09:12,480 --> 01:09:14,400
the years sort of using the shotgun

1694
01:09:14,400 --> 01:09:16,159
approach to address the issue instead of

1695
01:09:16,159 --> 01:09:18,239
that scalpel approach. And by bringing

1696
01:09:18,239 --> 01:09:20,159
in built for zero and yeah, it's taken

1697
01:09:20,159 --> 01:09:21,679
us a while to ramp up, but we knew that

1698
01:09:21,679 --> 01:09:22,880
when we did it. We knew that it was

1699
01:09:22,880 --> 01:09:24,319
going to be a year or a year and a half

1700
01:09:24,319 --> 01:09:26,400
plus before we could actually fully kind

1701
01:09:26,400 --> 01:09:28,560
of utilize that. And at some point we'll

1702
01:09:28,560 --> 01:09:30,319
get that update and and you'll see that

1703
01:09:30,319 --> 01:09:32,080
that's where we're at. But again, I

1704
01:09:32,080 --> 01:09:34,080
think that we have that structure in

1705
01:09:34,080 --> 01:09:36,719
place to help reassure folks that if we

1706
01:09:36,719 --> 01:09:38,640
can put resources there, we have a

1707
01:09:38,640 --> 01:09:39,839
program that's going to make a

1708
01:09:39,839 --> 01:09:41,199
difference in this community. We've just

1709
01:09:41,199 --> 01:09:42,640
got to find a way to put resources

1710
01:09:42,640 --> 01:09:46,080
towards it. Um,

1711
01:09:46,080 --> 01:09:48,480
this debate has come up and I know the

1712
01:09:48,480 --> 01:09:50,159
city manager, we're not all agree with

1713
01:09:50,159 --> 01:09:51,759
the approach at this point maybe or the

1714
01:09:51,759 --> 01:09:53,679
questions, but it's real simple. This

1715
01:09:53,679 --> 01:09:55,679
community has been clear to us. You got

1716
01:09:55,679 --> 01:09:57,360
to find a way to figure out how to pay

1717
01:09:57,360 --> 01:09:58,800
for things without raising property

1718
01:09:58,800 --> 01:10:01,120
taxes. That leaves us with only so many

1719
01:10:01,120 --> 01:10:02,640
options. And so this is the option the

1720
01:10:02,640 --> 01:10:04,080
city manager has brought us. And he and

1721
01:10:04,080 --> 01:10:05,600
I have gone round and round about this

1722
01:10:05,600 --> 01:10:07,840
issue for a year on various things. I

1723
01:10:07,840 --> 01:10:09,280
like this part. I don't like this piece.

1724
01:10:09,280 --> 01:10:10,719
We're going to have to talk about this.

1725
01:10:10,719 --> 01:10:12,080
I can get on board with this. What are

1726
01:10:12,080 --> 01:10:13,440
you thinking? We've had all of those

1727
01:10:13,440 --> 01:10:15,679
conversations over the past year. But

1728
01:10:15,679 --> 01:10:17,040
I'm going to sit here and at least say

1729
01:10:17,040 --> 01:10:18,880
whether we push this forward or don't or

1730
01:10:18,880 --> 01:10:19,920
whatever the outcome of these

1731
01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:21,840
conversations are, this is part of what

1732
01:10:21,840 --> 01:10:23,440
we've asked him to do is to bring this

1733
01:10:23,440 --> 01:10:24,880
community options to continue to

1734
01:10:24,880 --> 01:10:27,120
diversify our tax base when citizens

1735
01:10:27,120 --> 01:10:29,360
have been clear that property taxes have

1736
01:10:29,360 --> 01:10:31,040
got to find a way to be lowered. And

1737
01:10:31,040 --> 01:10:32,640
when we get to the budget conversation,

1738
01:10:32,640 --> 01:10:34,239
cuz I'll save my comments for that,

1739
01:10:34,239 --> 01:10:35,760
you're going to see that we have done a

1740
01:10:35,760 --> 01:10:38,560
lot to this budget that isn't raising

1741
01:10:38,560 --> 01:10:40,640
taxes or even expenses. and we we've

1742
01:10:40,640 --> 01:10:42,640
done trimming to try to to hear that

1743
01:10:42,640 --> 01:10:44,880
message and still find ways to pay for

1744
01:10:44,880 --> 01:10:46,640
things.

1745
01:10:46,640 --> 01:10:49,760
I do to some degree prefer

1746
01:10:49,760 --> 01:10:51,600
I guess it'd be a special approach, a

1747
01:10:51,600 --> 01:10:55,760
more targeted approach. I think that the as the council has said um I

1748
01:10:55,760 --> 01:10:56,640
think we're going to have a difference

1749
01:10:56,640 --> 01:10:58,800
on what that looks like. As I said

1750
01:10:58,800 --> 01:11:01,040
earlier, public safety is 70% of our

1751
01:11:01,040 --> 01:11:03,679
budget. And as I will tell anyone in the

1752
01:11:03,679 --> 01:11:06,480
public safety sector, if we could target

1753
01:11:06,480 --> 01:11:08,159
a little more towards those efforts,

1754
01:11:08,159 --> 01:11:09,760
that doesn't mean you're getting more

1755
01:11:09,760 --> 01:11:12,320
money. The goal is not to give you more,

1756
01:11:12,320 --> 01:11:15,120
but it is to find a way to take 70% of

1757
01:11:15,120 --> 01:11:17,360
our budget and find a way to free up

1758
01:11:17,360 --> 01:11:19,679
some of those funds on the other side of

1759
01:11:19,679 --> 01:11:21,360
the ledger so that we have more

1760
01:11:21,360 --> 01:11:23,600
flexibility with our general fund to

1761
01:11:23,600 --> 01:11:26,239
fund more essential services. So, it's

1762
01:11:26,239 --> 01:11:28,080
not about giving public safety, as I

1763
01:11:28,080 --> 01:11:29,280
move through this conversation over the

1764
01:11:29,280 --> 01:11:31,360
next movie, more money, but it is about

1765
01:11:31,360 --> 01:11:33,920
an offset of that budget for me to

1766
01:11:33,920 --> 01:11:35,920
figure out a way to be more productive

1767
01:11:35,920 --> 01:11:38,880
with what we have. Um, I also think it

1768
01:11:38,880 --> 01:11:40,800
some of that could help us cover fire

1769
01:11:40,800 --> 01:11:42,719
stations if it was part of a a more

1770
01:11:42,719 --> 01:11:44,400
general public safety. Now, it sounds

1771
01:11:44,400 --> 01:11:46,320
like we can't do that just for public

1772
01:11:46,320 --> 01:11:48,480
safety at a half cent and a quarter cent

1773
01:11:48,480 --> 01:11:51,120
or a tenth of a cent for the other. So,

1774
01:11:51,120 --> 01:11:52,320
we're going to have to think about that.

1775
01:11:52,320 --> 01:11:53,600
I'm going to have to digest that over

1776
01:11:53,600 --> 01:11:54,960
the next week or two as it was brought

1777
01:11:54,960 --> 01:11:56,800
up. maybe based on these numbers it's a

1778
01:11:56,800 --> 01:11:58,960
fourth and a tenth and that gets us our

1779
01:11:58,960 --> 01:12:01,199
half and we go from there and so I think

1780
01:12:01,199 --> 01:12:03,600
that's a valid discussion. I think the

1781
01:12:03,600 --> 01:12:05,040
message has been pretty clear from the

1782
01:12:05,040 --> 01:12:06,719
council tonight that we want a

1783
01:12:06,719 --> 01:12:08,560
re-examination of the market rate versus

1784
01:12:08,560 --> 01:12:10,000
the homelessness as we look at that

1785
01:12:10,000 --> 01:12:11,920
question. So I think that

1786
01:12:11,920 --> 01:12:14,800
>> open

1787
01:12:14,800 --> 01:12:17,440
>> council member

1788
01:12:17,440 --> 01:12:19,840
and so I I do think that message has

1789
01:12:19,840 --> 01:12:22,560
been clear. I I do appreciate and I

1790
01:12:22,560 --> 01:12:26,480
think we've already determined that if anything goes forward. Um we do want

1791
01:12:26,480 --> 01:12:28,000
something that's on the ballot that

1792
01:12:28,000 --> 01:12:29,920
relates to the auditor position. I think

1793
01:12:29,920 --> 01:12:31,520
that's another reassurance to folks that

1794
01:12:31,520 --> 01:12:32,719
we're taking these conversations

1795
01:12:32,719 --> 01:12:35,120
seriously. So that's where my head is at

1796
01:12:35,120 --> 01:12:37,440
with this conversation. Um hopefully

1797
01:12:37,440 --> 01:12:38,640
city attorney can get us some

1798
01:12:38,640 --> 01:12:42,320
clarification. If it's October 20th, And when we get that

1799
01:12:42,320 --> 01:12:44,880
information back, we'll we can decide

1800
01:12:44,880 --> 01:12:46,640
have a talk amongst ourselves or with

1801
01:12:46,640 --> 01:12:48,000
the through the city manager about

1802
01:12:48,000 --> 01:12:49,199
whether we need a special meeting or

1803
01:12:49,199 --> 01:12:51,040
whether we think we can get it done uh

1804
01:12:51,040 --> 01:12:53,520
in October. And then after that, we can

1805
01:12:53,520 --> 01:12:55,600
start to make some make some decisions.

1806
01:12:55,600 --> 01:12:57,199
So,

1807
01:12:57,199 --> 01:12:59,600
yeah, city attorney. Uh I will just add,

1808
01:12:59,600 --> 01:13:01,440
Mr. Mayor, I was looking through some of

1809
01:13:01,440 --> 01:13:02,880
our correspondents with the county and

1810
01:13:02,880 --> 01:13:05,360
it it appears that that extra amount of

1811
01:13:05,360 --> 01:13:07,360
time has to do with what they need to do

1812
01:13:07,360 --> 01:13:09,760
to prepare federal mail service ballots

1813
01:13:09,760 --> 01:13:11,040
due to some changes in federal

1814
01:13:11,040 --> 01:13:12,560
regulations. So, I'm not sure exactly

1815
01:13:12,560 --> 01:13:14,560
what those changes are, but apparently

1816
01:13:14,560 --> 01:13:16,719
has to do with federal compliance. So,

1817
01:13:16,719 --> 01:13:21,679
>> okay. Thank you, Council Member Hiller.

1818
01:13:21,679 --> 01:13:23,679
>> Before we continue, we just had this

1819
01:13:23,679 --> 01:13:26,480
discussion. If if I heard you right, we

1820
01:13:26,480 --> 01:13:29,199
are capped at 0.5

1821
01:13:29,199 --> 01:13:32,960
for a a special

1822
01:13:32,960 --> 01:13:33,520
funds.

1823
01:13:33,520 --> 01:13:34,320
>> Correct. Right now

1824
01:13:34,320 --> 01:13:36,719
>> and.5 for general.

1825
01:13:36,719 --> 01:13:38,480
>> I'm not sure on the general. Josh might

1826
01:13:38,480 --> 01:13:40,000
be able to answer that. I'm I'm not sure

1827
01:13:40,000 --> 01:13:42,480
where we're at, but we're back overall.

1828
01:13:42,480 --> 01:13:45,600
>> We already have a 0.5 half cent sales

1829
01:13:45,600 --> 01:13:48,159
tax for streets. So, does that mean

1830
01:13:48,159 --> 01:13:50,320
we're already at the cap and we can't be

1831
01:13:50,320 --> 01:13:51,040
talking about that?

1832
01:13:51,040 --> 01:13:54,000
>> No. No. We have capacity county five. So

1833
01:13:54,000 --> 01:13:56,400
the 0.5 for streets already exists. We

1834
01:13:56,400 --> 01:13:58,080
are capped at 1% in

1835
01:13:58,080 --> 01:14:00,159
>> one total. So we've we've still got 0.5

1836
01:14:00,159 --> 01:14:02,480
to go. Okay. Thank you.

1837
01:14:02,480 --> 01:14:03,120
>> That's it.

1838
01:14:03,120 --> 01:14:04,960
>> All right.

1839
01:14:04,960 --> 01:14:06,239
Are there any other comments

1840
01:14:06,239 --> 01:14:11,350
or questions on this issue at this time?

1841
01:14:11,360 --> 01:14:12,320
» Oh, so close.

1842
01:14:12,320 --> 01:14:12,960
>> Okay.

1843
01:14:12,960 --> 01:14:15,280
>> No, you're fine. You're fine.

1844
01:14:15,280 --> 01:14:16,880
>> Okay. So, what are we looking at right

1845
01:14:16,880 --> 01:14:19,920
now? I heard what you said. I heard city

1846
01:14:19,920 --> 01:14:22,719
manager say, you know, a work session

1847
01:14:22,719 --> 01:14:24,640
would be nice. I would prefer to have

1848
01:14:24,640 --> 01:14:27,360
meetings in October, you know, at our

1849
01:14:27,360 --> 01:14:29,360
regular council meetings. So, when are

1850
01:14:29,360 --> 01:14:32,239
we supposed to find out about that?

1851
01:14:32,239 --> 01:14:33,600
>> I imagine Nick will have our first

1852
01:14:33,600 --> 01:14:35,280
answer by tomorrow. Won't take the

1853
01:14:35,280 --> 01:14:36,960
election office long to get our

1854
01:14:36,960 --> 01:14:39,600
response. And so, my guess is he could

1855
01:14:39,600 --> 01:14:41,360
notify us in the next day or two. And

1856
01:14:41,360 --> 01:14:42,239
then, okay,

1857
01:14:42,239 --> 01:14:43,600
>> we feel like we need a special meeting,

1858
01:14:43,600 --> 01:14:45,440
we can we can take a poll and find out.

1859
01:14:45,440 --> 01:14:47,280
Do we feel like we have discussed it or

1860
01:14:47,280 --> 01:14:49,120
there will be further discussion in

1861
01:14:49,120 --> 01:14:52,000
October so that folks can get a deeper

1862
01:14:52,000 --> 01:14:54,000
understanding of what this

1863
01:14:54,000 --> 01:14:55,600
>> Oh, there will be further conversations

1864
01:14:55,600 --> 01:14:57,120
because I think as you heard tonight, we

1865
01:14:57,120 --> 01:14:58,320
all have

1866
01:14:58,320 --> 01:15:00,000
>> different variations of the question

1867
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:01,679
we're going to need to consider and see

1868
01:15:01,679 --> 01:15:02,400
if we can come

1869
01:15:02,400 --> 01:15:04,560
>> but explanation on what this auditor

1870
01:15:04,560 --> 01:15:07,040
will really be doing that we want, you

1871
01:15:07,040 --> 01:15:08,640
know, that we're changing up the ballot

1872
01:15:08,640 --> 01:15:10,320
for

1873
01:15:10,320 --> 01:15:12,400
later. I I think the best advice I can

1874
01:15:12,400 --> 01:15:14,880
give is I would suggest that our second

1875
01:15:14,880 --> 01:15:17,840
meeting in October have as little as

1876
01:15:17,840 --> 01:15:19,920
humanly possible on that agenda so that

1877
01:15:19,920 --> 01:15:21,760
we can dedicate it as much as possible

1878
01:15:21,760 --> 01:15:25,120
to this issue if necessary. Just just as

1879
01:15:25,120 --> 01:15:26,480
>> and mayor, thank you for that. Um,

1880
01:15:26,480 --> 01:15:28,400
council member, as going back to the

1881
01:15:28,400 --> 01:15:30,560
schedule, we talked about having draft

1882
01:15:30,560 --> 01:15:32,719
language together right by the October

1883
01:15:32,719 --> 01:15:35,920
6th uh meeting again is so that we can

1884
01:15:35,920 --> 01:15:37,440
send that draft language over to the

1885
01:15:37,440 --> 01:15:39,280
elections office. We don't have to

1886
01:15:39,280 --> 01:15:42,000
finalize until October 20th. So to your

1887
01:15:42,000 --> 01:15:44,080
mayor, to your point, mayor, and to your

1888
01:15:44,080 --> 01:15:46,239
question, council member, um we can

1889
01:15:46,239 --> 01:15:47,679
probably use that second meeting in

1890
01:15:47,679 --> 01:15:50,000
between as another work session.

1891
01:15:50,000 --> 01:15:52,320
>> Okay. And just as an aside, I think it's

1892
01:15:52,320 --> 01:15:53,920
important. I don't think we're going to

1893
01:15:53,920 --> 01:15:58,719
be able to discuss all of it, but the chair of the citizens government

1894
01:15:58,719 --> 01:16:01,360
review committee gave us a lot of

1895
01:16:01,360 --> 01:16:04,159
information about the city auditor, Jim

1896
01:16:04,159 --> 01:16:06,400
Cop. I hope I'm saying your name right.

1897
01:16:06,400 --> 01:16:08,640
Jim C. What is it?

1898
01:16:08,640 --> 01:16:09,280
>> Cal.

1899
01:16:09,280 --> 01:16:13,679
>> Calp. Okay. And so I think that's worth,

1900
01:16:13,679 --> 01:16:16,239
you know, reviewing as as we go further

1901
01:16:16,239 --> 01:16:18,000
down this whole

1902
01:16:18,000 --> 01:16:19,440
>> helpful hole. Thank you.

1903
01:16:19,440 --> 01:16:22,000
>> Thank you.

1904
01:16:22,000 --> 01:16:24,159
>> All right. Anything else?

1905
01:16:24,159 --> 01:16:25,199
All right. Thank you, city man.

1906
01:16:25,199 --> 01:16:28,239
>> Thank you all.

1907
01:16:28,239 --> 01:16:29,600
>> All right. We got through one thing.

1908
01:16:29,600 --> 01:16:31,840
Look at us.

1909
01:16:31,840 --> 01:16:34,400
Next up, presentation B, affordable

1910
01:16:34,400 --> 01:16:36,560
housing trust fund. City clerk.

1911
01:16:36,560 --> 01:16:39,440
Affordable housing trust fund affordable

1912
01:16:39,440 --> 01:16:40,960
housing trust fund update and Carrie

1913
01:16:40,960 --> 01:16:43,040
Higgins will present

1914
01:16:43,040 --> 01:16:46,390
>> city manager.

1915
01:16:46,400 --> 01:16:47,840
» Thank you mayor. Just give me one

1916
01:16:47,840 --> 01:16:57,830
moment.

1917
01:16:57,840 --> 01:16:59,440
Thank you again uh mayor and members of

1918
01:16:59,440 --> 01:17:01,360
the governing body. In this up in this

1919
01:17:01,360 --> 01:17:03,120
item, we will provide an update of the

1920
01:17:03,120 --> 01:17:04,560
activation of the affordable housing

1921
01:17:04,560 --> 01:17:07,199
trust fund, which is one of our FY2026

1922
01:17:07,199 --> 01:17:09,440
strategic uh goals and discuss the

1923
01:17:09,440 --> 01:17:10,480
affordable housing trust fund

1924
01:17:10,480 --> 01:17:11,760
committee's recommended use of the

1925
01:17:11,760 --> 01:17:13,920
remaining funds for smaller projects and

1926
01:17:13,920 --> 01:17:16,080
a sales tax recommendation. With that,

1927
01:17:16,080 --> 01:17:17,199
I'll now turn this over to Carrie

1928
01:17:17,199 --> 01:17:18,560
Higgins, director of housing homeless

1929
01:17:18,560 --> 01:17:19,920
services to lead us through this item.

1930
01:17:19,920 --> 01:17:20,480
Carrie,

1931
01:17:20,480 --> 01:17:22,960
>> thank you. Good evening. So, tonight I

1932
01:17:22,960 --> 01:17:25,040
have a fairly brief update for you on

1933
01:17:25,040 --> 01:17:27,840
the affordable housing trust fund. So,

1934
01:17:27,840 --> 01:17:29,520
just some background. Uh the purpose of

1935
01:17:29,520 --> 01:17:31,120
the trust fund is to expand the

1936
01:17:31,120 --> 01:17:32,880
availability of affordable housing based

1937
01:17:32,880 --> 01:17:35,840
on ordinance 20554.

1938
01:17:35,840 --> 01:17:37,840
The trust fund met its initial goal of

1939
01:17:37,840 --> 01:17:41,840
$1 million in June of 2023 and it made

1940
01:17:41,840 --> 01:17:44,800
its first project awards in July of

1941
01:17:44,800 --> 01:17:47,040
2026.

1942
01:17:47,040 --> 01:17:49,440
So the initial projects that were funded

1943
01:17:49,440 --> 01:17:52,320
were sent with five infill homes,

1944
01:17:52,320 --> 01:17:54,159
Highland Park town homes for

1945
01:17:54,159 --> 01:17:56,880
construction costs to rehab those units

1946
01:17:56,880 --> 01:17:59,120
and then initially Wal property

1947
01:17:59,120 --> 01:18:01,600
development. However, we did receive an

1948
01:18:01,600 --> 01:18:04,159
update late last week um after this

1949
01:18:04,159 --> 01:18:06,400
PowerPoint was sent out and I believe

1950
01:18:06,400 --> 01:18:08,640
the city manager also sent out a memo to

1951
01:18:08,640 --> 01:18:11,360
the governing body on Friday that gave

1952
01:18:11,360 --> 01:18:13,280
um an update on the situation as well.

1953
01:18:13,280 --> 01:18:15,760
Unfortunately, uh, Wyel has had to

1954
01:18:15,760 --> 01:18:18,159
withdraw their project and so we will

1955
01:18:18,159 --> 01:18:22,709
not be funding that project.

1956
01:18:22,719 --> 01:18:24,640
So that brings our remaining fund

1957
01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:27,600
balance from the little over 319,000

1958
01:18:27,600 --> 01:18:29,760
that you see on the screen to actually

1959
01:18:29,760 --> 01:18:31,760
the new balance would be a little over

1960
01:18:31,760 --> 01:18:33,760
684,000.

1961
01:18:33,760 --> 01:18:35,760
So the committee is proposing that we do

1962
01:18:35,760 --> 01:18:38,000
a second round of funding, but that it

1963
01:18:38,000 --> 01:18:40,800
is focused more on smaller agencies such

1964
01:18:40,800 --> 01:18:43,520
as NAS or individuals. We've received

1965
01:18:43,520 --> 01:18:45,440
feedback from the committee that or from

1966
01:18:45,440 --> 01:18:47,440
the community that they would support

1967
01:18:47,440 --> 01:18:49,600
and they want to see two different types

1968
01:18:49,600 --> 01:18:52,320
of RFPs. One that is more geared towards

1969
01:18:52,320 --> 01:18:55,840
individuals or smaller entities. We are

1970
01:18:55,840 --> 01:18:58,880
also holding a public forum tomorrow at

1971
01:18:58,880 --> 01:19:01,280
11:00 a.m. at the holiday building in

1972
01:19:01,280 --> 01:19:03,840
order to get more community feedback on

1973
01:19:03,840 --> 01:19:06,480
how the initial process went and what

1974
01:19:06,480 --> 01:19:08,640
the community would like to see with the

1975
01:19:08,640 --> 01:19:11,040
second round. So, we will take all of

1976
01:19:11,040 --> 01:19:13,280
that feedback, uh, make any adjustments

1977
01:19:13,280 --> 01:19:15,360
or changes that we need to, and then the

1978
01:19:15,360 --> 01:19:17,280
goal is to put out a second round of

1979
01:19:17,280 --> 01:19:21,520
funding in the next few months,

1980
01:19:21,520 --> 01:19:24,000
which brings me to the issue of ongoing

1981
01:19:24,000 --> 01:19:26,080
funding. And we've we've discussed this

1982
01:19:26,080 --> 01:19:28,480
before. So, at the November 12th

1983
01:19:28,480 --> 01:19:30,239
committee meeting, the affordable

1984
01:19:30,239 --> 01:19:33,600
housing trust fund did vote to propose a

1985
01:19:33,600 --> 01:19:36,880
point uh 01 a/10enth special sales tax

1986
01:19:36,880 --> 01:19:38,400
that would go specifically to

1987
01:19:38,400 --> 01:19:40,560
homelessness and the affordable housing

1988
01:19:40,560 --> 01:19:42,719
trust fund in order for it to have that

1989
01:19:42,719 --> 01:19:44,719
sustainable funding source long-term

1990
01:19:44,719 --> 01:19:47,120
that we've been looking for. So, the

1991
01:19:47,120 --> 01:19:49,040
committee tonight is uh recommending

1992
01:19:49,040 --> 01:19:52,320
that the governing body uh moves forward

1993
01:19:52,320 --> 01:19:55,360
with that recommendation for uh half

1994
01:19:55,360 --> 01:19:58,080
homelessness, half the trust fund, and

1995
01:19:58,080 --> 01:20:00,400
we are hoping to see that on the March

1996
01:20:00,400 --> 01:20:04,960
27th ballot for a community vote.

1997
01:20:04,960 --> 01:20:08,080
Uh just a a refresher of the voting comm

1998
01:20:08,080 --> 01:20:10,159
community, excuse me, the voting

1999
01:20:10,159 --> 01:20:12,640
committee members you see listed here. I

2000
01:20:12,640 --> 01:20:14,000
think it's also important to note that

2001
01:20:14,000 --> 01:20:16,719
there are um a lot of additional city

2002
01:20:16,719 --> 01:20:19,280
staff that are an integral part of this

2003
01:20:19,280 --> 01:20:22,320
work as well that are not listed here.

2004
01:20:22,320 --> 01:20:24,080
And with that, I'm happy to answer any

2005
01:20:24,080 --> 01:20:25,600
questions you might have.

2006
01:20:25,600 --> 01:20:27,040
>> Questions or comments from the governing

2007
01:20:27,040 --> 01:20:30,950
body at this time.

2008
01:20:30,960 --> 01:20:32,159
» Council member Hiller.

2009
01:20:32,159 --> 01:20:34,000
>> Thank you. Carrie, I've got a specific

2010
01:20:34,000 --> 01:20:36,400
question about the project on Tyler.

2011
01:20:36,400 --> 01:20:36,960
>> Yes.

2012
01:20:36,960 --> 01:20:39,520
>> Um how much money was Mr. Wibley

2013
01:20:39,520 --> 01:20:42,709
seeking?

2014
01:20:42,719 --> 01:20:47,110
It was $365,197.50.

2015
01:20:47,120 --> 01:20:49,040
» No, but it's private funding.

2016
01:20:49,040 --> 01:20:50,719
>> I would need to get back to you on that

2017
01:20:50,719 --> 01:20:51,440
amount.

2018
01:20:51,440 --> 01:20:53,440
>> Okay. Let's say it was a million

2019
01:20:53,440 --> 01:20:55,040
dollars. I just want to throw it out to

2020
01:20:55,040 --> 01:20:57,679
this group while you're here that, you

2021
01:20:57,679 --> 01:20:59,920
know, I hope that we move into having a

2022
01:20:59,920 --> 01:21:02,239
housing summit and getting a master plan

2023
01:21:02,239 --> 01:21:04,000
for affordable housing in this community

2024
01:21:04,000 --> 01:21:06,239
so that we've got some help in targeting

2025
01:21:06,239 --> 01:21:09,679
money and and efforts. But meanwhile, if

2026
01:21:09,679 --> 01:21:12,320
anybody knows an individual

2027
01:21:12,320 --> 01:21:16,000
or um maybe a a faith-based denomination

2028
01:21:16,000 --> 01:21:18,640
or some source, a lot of times when

2029
01:21:18,640 --> 01:21:20,480
really good affordable housing projects

2030
01:21:20,480 --> 01:21:22,480
develop, they come from unlikely sources

2031
01:21:22,480 --> 01:21:24,800
that have not been involved before. If

2032
01:21:24,800 --> 01:21:26,880
there's a way 817 Tyler's in my

2033
01:21:26,880 --> 01:21:30,000
district, but it his proposal was to was

2034
01:21:30,000 --> 01:21:33,440
to develop a 24 unit co-op in right in

2035
01:21:33,440 --> 01:21:35,199
the middle of that area. I think it's a

2036
01:21:35,199 --> 01:21:37,679
wonderful project. It is not traditional

2037
01:21:37,679 --> 01:21:40,560
and times are very very turbulent right

2038
01:21:40,560 --> 01:21:42,719
now in private markets. I get that. But

2039
01:21:42,719 --> 01:21:45,440
if anybody knows somebody who might

2040
01:21:45,440 --> 01:21:47,360
personally or through their company be

2041
01:21:47,360 --> 01:21:51,040
willing to do that, let Carrie know

2042
01:21:51,040 --> 01:21:52,960
because it would be wonderful to see.

2043
01:21:52,960 --> 01:21:56,480
Thank you. But anyway, overall with the

2044
01:21:56,480 --> 01:21:58,320
trust fund, you know, that flexibility

2045
01:21:58,320 --> 01:22:00,400
to provide just 10,000 bucks for

2046
01:22:00,400 --> 01:22:03,520
somebody who did a gut rehab on a on a

2047
01:22:03,520 --> 01:22:06,719
house on wherever um and brought it to

2048
01:22:06,719 --> 01:22:09,280
code and and put it out. It we define

2049
01:22:09,280 --> 01:22:12,000
what we think affordable is for for

2050
01:22:12,000 --> 01:22:14,320
people of different incomes and start

2051
01:22:14,320 --> 01:22:17,040
really targeting making sure that we get

2052
01:22:17,040 --> 01:22:19,600
and keep our housing affordable. I live

2053
01:22:19,600 --> 01:22:21,360
in Tennessee Town on Lane Street. those

2054
01:22:21,360 --> 01:22:23,600
people know where I live. But um you

2055
01:22:23,600 --> 01:22:25,600
know, for us, having property values go

2056
01:22:25,600 --> 01:22:27,679
up isn't a priority. We want to keep

2057
01:22:27,679 --> 01:22:29,840
those property values where they are and

2058
01:22:29,840 --> 01:22:33,040
keep it affordable. And um I think we've

2059
01:22:33,040 --> 01:22:36,080
got the the horsepower in this community

2060
01:22:36,080 --> 01:22:37,840
to do it and do things that people

2061
01:22:37,840 --> 01:22:40,480
didn't think we could and keep it truly,

2062
01:22:40,480 --> 01:22:43,840
you know, create those first. We've got

2063
01:22:43,840 --> 01:22:45,600
landlords and people who want to help

2064
01:22:45,600 --> 01:22:47,679
that can be that first stop for people

2065
01:22:47,679 --> 01:22:49,360
that have been homeless.

2066
01:22:49,360 --> 01:22:50,960
um we've got those next steps through

2067
01:22:50,960 --> 01:22:52,880
our neighborhoods and people care a lot

2068
01:22:52,880 --> 01:22:55,520
and so I'm excited to be see everybody

2069
01:22:55,520 --> 01:22:58,639
here and to see us move forward with not

2070
01:22:58,639 --> 01:23:01,520
only the initiative or the this halfent

2071
01:23:01,520 --> 01:23:03,280
sales tax but thinking about who we

2072
01:23:03,280 --> 01:23:07,280
know. Thank you council member Valdiv.

2073
01:23:07,280 --> 01:23:10,480
>> Um thank you mayor. You know, there's a

2074
01:23:10,480 --> 01:23:13,360
lot of merit in what uh Councilwoman

2075
01:23:13,360 --> 01:23:16,560
Hiller is saying because Wyel's project

2076
01:23:16,560 --> 01:23:19,760
was really thinking outside of the box.

2077
01:23:19,760 --> 01:23:22,800
And I think as far as co-op, don't we

2078
01:23:22,800 --> 01:23:25,920
only just have one other in Topeka?

2079
01:23:25,920 --> 01:23:28,639
Maybe two at at the most.

2080
01:23:28,639 --> 01:23:29,440
>> Fox Ridge.

2081
01:23:29,440 --> 01:23:31,199
Okay.

2082
01:23:31,199 --> 01:23:33,199
>> There's just a few think.

2083
01:23:33,199 --> 01:23:35,760
>> So, it is a wonderful idea for that

2084
01:23:35,760 --> 01:23:39,120
area. It is so sad to see him continue

2085
01:23:39,120 --> 01:23:41,040
to look for funding through financial

2086
01:23:41,040 --> 01:23:44,320
institutions and not being able to find

2087
01:23:44,320 --> 01:23:47,679
it. if there is private donors or a cash

2088
01:23:47,679 --> 01:23:50,639
of private donors or

2089
01:23:50,639 --> 01:23:52,639
you know somebody that has an extra

2090
01:23:52,639 --> 01:23:54,480
amount that that would be certainly

2091
01:23:54,480 --> 01:23:56,960
wonderful because it would be I believe

2092
01:23:56,960 --> 01:23:58,480
transformative

2093
01:23:58,480 --> 01:24:00,080
but I would also request for the

2094
01:24:00,080 --> 01:24:02,080
information that Hiller's asking for if

2095
01:24:02,080 --> 01:24:03,840
you could send that amount to the full

2096
01:24:03,840 --> 01:24:05,600
governing body so in case they're having

2097
01:24:05,600 --> 01:24:08,080
any conversations with anyone that may

2098
01:24:08,080 --> 01:24:09,840
know a lot of loaded people you know

2099
01:24:09,840 --> 01:24:11,440
they'll be able to say hey there's a

2100
01:24:11,440 --> 01:24:14,239
great project and this is how

2101
01:24:14,239 --> 01:24:16,000
they're looking for. And thank you for

2102
01:24:16,000 --> 01:24:19,600
the presentation. Thank you, mayor.

2103
01:24:19,600 --> 01:24:22,159
>> Comments or questions?

2104
01:24:22,159 --> 01:24:23,600
>> Gone. Any other comments or questions

2105
01:24:23,600 --> 01:24:26,159
for Carrie?

2106
01:24:26,159 --> 01:24:27,440
>> All right. Looks like you're free.

2107
01:24:27,440 --> 01:24:28,080
>> Okay. Thank you.

2108
01:24:28,080 --> 01:24:31,910
>> Thank you.

2109
01:24:31,920 --> 01:24:34,239
All right. With that, we will move on to

2110
01:24:34,239 --> 01:24:43,189
the consent agenda. City clerk.

2111
01:24:43,199 --> 01:24:45,679
Right. A is a approval of a public works

2112
01:24:45,679 --> 01:24:47,199
department contract between the city of

2113
01:24:47,199 --> 01:24:49,440
Topek and Alfred Vanish and Company for

2114
01:24:49,440 --> 01:24:51,120
professional engineering and design

2115
01:24:51,120 --> 01:24:53,120
services in an amount not to exceed

2116
01:24:53,120 --> 01:24:55,440
$85,300.

2117
01:24:55,440 --> 01:24:57,360
B is a resolution introduced by city

2118
01:24:57,360 --> 01:24:59,520
manager Dr. Robert Perez authorizing the

2119
01:24:59,520 --> 01:25:01,199
city attorney's office to initiate

2120
01:25:01,199 --> 01:25:04,080
litigation. C is approval of municipal

2121
01:25:04,080 --> 01:25:05,600
court contract between the city of

2122
01:25:05,600 --> 01:25:08,080
Topeka and Kaza Law Office, PA for

2123
01:25:08,080 --> 01:25:10,560
courtapp appointed council services. Dur

2124
01:25:10,560 --> 01:25:12,080
are minutes of the regular meeting of

2125
01:25:12,080 --> 01:25:14,560
September 8, 2026. And there are no

2126
01:25:14,560 --> 01:25:16,320
applications.

2127
01:25:16,320 --> 01:25:18,320
>> All right. Thank you. We have a motion

2128
01:25:18,320 --> 01:25:20,400
to approve from council member Kell and

2129
01:25:20,400 --> 01:25:22,800
a second from council member Ortiz. The

2130
01:25:22,800 --> 01:25:35,350
clerk will take the vote, please.

2131
01:25:35,360 --> 01:25:37,120
Okay, we have 10. Yes, the motion

2132
01:25:37,120 --> 01:25:39,199
carries.

2133
01:25:39,199 --> 01:25:40,480
>> All right, with that we move on to

2134
01:25:40,480 --> 01:25:45,440
action items. Action item A, city clerk.

2135
01:25:45,440 --> 01:25:47,120
>> A is an ordinance introduced by city

2136
01:25:47,120 --> 01:25:48,960
manager Dr. Robert Perez relating to

2137
01:25:48,960 --> 01:25:50,960
imposing a real estate lean pursuant to

2138
01:25:50,960 --> 01:25:54,000
KSA 12808C upon certain lots and pieces

2139
01:25:54,000 --> 01:25:56,239
of ground in Shauny County, Kansas to

2140
01:25:56,239 --> 01:25:58,400
pay the cost for utility services where

2141
01:25:58,400 --> 01:26:00,080
such payments to the city have not been

2142
01:26:00,080 --> 01:26:02,480
made due to neglect, failure, or refusal

2143
01:26:02,480 --> 01:26:03,600
to pay.

2144
01:26:03,600 --> 01:26:04,960
>> City manager.

2145
01:26:04,960 --> 01:26:06,400
>> Thank you, mayor, members of the

2146
01:26:06,400 --> 01:26:08,159
governing body. As discussed during our

2147
01:26:08,159 --> 01:26:10,000
September 8th council meeting, City of

2148
01:26:10,000 --> 01:26:11,679
Topeka provides utility services for

2149
01:26:11,679 --> 01:26:14,000
water, wastewater, storm water, and fire

2150
01:26:14,000 --> 01:26:15,840
line services to a variety of customers

2151
01:26:15,840 --> 01:26:17,679
located both inside and outside city

2152
01:26:17,679 --> 01:26:19,840
limits. When utility accounts become

2153
01:26:19,840 --> 01:26:21,679
delinquent, state law permits the city

2154
01:26:21,679 --> 01:26:23,520
to institute a lean on the property of

2155
01:26:23,520 --> 01:26:25,600
these customers in order to recover

2156
01:26:25,600 --> 01:26:27,679
payment for services rendered. This

2157
01:26:27,679 --> 01:26:28,880
ordinance, for which I recommend

2158
01:26:28,880 --> 01:26:30,560
approval, would authorize staff to work

2159
01:26:30,560 --> 01:26:31,760
with the city clerk to add the

2160
01:26:31,760 --> 01:26:33,920
delinquent utility fees to the tax

2161
01:26:33,920 --> 01:26:35,840
statement that is issued in November.

2162
01:26:35,840 --> 01:26:36,960
With that, I will turn this over to

2163
01:26:36,960 --> 01:26:38,480
Nicole Malot, deputy director of

2164
01:26:38,480 --> 01:26:40,000
utilities to lead us through this item.

2165
01:26:40,000 --> 01:26:41,520
Nicole,

2166
01:26:41,520 --> 01:26:43,120
>> good evening, mayor, members of the

2167
01:26:43,120 --> 01:26:44,560
council. I don't really have anything

2168
01:26:44,560 --> 01:26:46,719
new to add from last week. I will just

2169
01:26:46,719 --> 01:26:49,040
update that you would have received a

2170
01:26:49,040 --> 01:26:51,120
new ordinance uh I believe in front of

2171
01:26:51,120 --> 01:26:54,000
you. Uh remaining we had two additional

2172
01:26:54,000 --> 01:26:57,120
accounts removed. So remaining are

2173
01:26:57,120 --> 01:27:03,910
136 accounts for a total of 122,8914.

2174
01:27:03,920 --> 01:27:05,360
Uh, with that, if you have any other

2175
01:27:05,360 --> 01:27:07,120
questions, I'm happy to answer them for

2176
01:27:07,120 --> 01:27:08,159
you.

2177
01:27:08,159 --> 01:27:09,920
>> We do have one individual signed up for

2178
01:27:09,920 --> 01:27:11,920
public comment on this issue, so we will

2179
01:27:11,920 --> 01:27:14,320
call them up. Miss Danielle Twimllo, I

2180
01:27:14,320 --> 01:27:15,520
will also tell you, we have a number of

2181
01:27:15,520 --> 01:27:16,880
people still signed up throughout the

2182
01:27:16,880 --> 01:27:18,719
evening for public comment, so we're

2183
01:27:18,719 --> 01:27:20,560
going to try to keep it within four

2184
01:27:20,560 --> 01:27:22,400
minutes this evening. So, thank you very

2185
01:27:22,400 --> 01:27:22,960
much, Daniel.

2186
01:27:22,960 --> 01:27:24,719
>> Thank you. And consistent. And I have a

2187
01:27:24,719 --> 01:27:28,639
suggestion. Um so this utility lean that

2188
01:27:28,639 --> 01:27:30,800
we need to be talking about from year to

2189
01:27:30,800 --> 01:27:33,920
year um is happening with a balance of

2190
01:27:33,920 --> 01:27:36,800
approximately $63 on some of the

2191
01:27:36,800 --> 01:27:39,840
accounts. Um and so this is really

2192
01:27:39,840 --> 01:27:43,120
becoming an admin inefficiency or really

2193
01:27:43,120 --> 01:27:44,800
an operational loss when we're going

2194
01:27:44,800 --> 01:27:46,960
after accounts at that level. We should

2195
01:27:46,960 --> 01:27:49,040
be asking a very basic question. What

2196
01:27:49,040 --> 01:27:51,120
are we actually accomplishing when the

2197
01:27:51,120 --> 01:27:53,520
city uses a property lean to collect a

2198
01:27:53,520 --> 01:27:55,760
debt this small? Municipal government

2199
01:27:55,760 --> 01:27:57,920
has an obligation to have standards,

2200
01:27:57,920 --> 01:28:00,239
proportionality, and common sense in the

2201
01:28:00,239 --> 01:28:02,480
way it collects that debt. The cost and

2202
01:28:02,480 --> 01:28:04,560
the consequences of placing a lean are

2203
01:28:04,560 --> 01:28:07,280
not justified in that situation. A lean

2204
01:28:07,280 --> 01:28:09,679
is not simply another bill. It requires

2205
01:28:09,679 --> 01:28:11,920
staff time. It requires documentation.

2206
01:28:11,920 --> 01:28:14,239
It requires legal processing. It

2207
01:28:14,239 --> 01:28:16,239
requires recording against real

2208
01:28:16,239 --> 01:28:18,719
property. it creates another obligation

2209
01:28:18,719 --> 01:28:20,800
that has to be tracked, reconciled, and

2210
01:28:20,800 --> 01:28:22,880
eventually released. And when the

2211
01:28:22,880 --> 01:28:25,440
underlying debt is $63, we need to know

2212
01:28:25,440 --> 01:28:27,760
whether the city's cost of pursuing and

2213
01:28:27,760 --> 01:28:29,679
maintaining that lean is actually less

2214
01:28:29,679 --> 01:28:30,880
than the amount they're trying to

2215
01:28:30,880 --> 01:28:34,000
collect. Um, if it isn't, then we aren't

2216
01:28:34,000 --> 01:28:36,400
protecting the utility fund. We are

2217
01:28:36,400 --> 01:28:38,320
spending public resources to chase small

2218
01:28:38,320 --> 01:28:40,159
balances in a way that can cost

2219
01:28:40,159 --> 01:28:42,320
taxpayers and rateayers even more in the

2220
01:28:42,320 --> 01:28:44,400
long run. We have historically done

2221
01:28:44,400 --> 01:28:46,880
this. Um each year there have been as

2222
01:28:46,880 --> 01:28:49,520
little as $69

2223
01:28:49,520 --> 01:28:52,960
um 68.56 I mean on and on. So it's not a

2224
01:28:52,960 --> 01:28:56,480
new question. Um but we need to have a a

2225
01:28:56,480 --> 01:28:58,719
different standard here. We have not had

2226
01:28:58,719 --> 01:29:00,880
a cost of service of really what does it

2227
01:29:00,880 --> 01:29:02,960
maintain? Many of these properties are

2228
01:29:02,960 --> 01:29:06,080
spending quite a bit more on their um

2229
01:29:06,080 --> 01:29:07,440
utility rates because they're right

2230
01:29:07,440 --> 01:29:10,400
outside um of the city line. So what is

2231
01:29:10,400 --> 01:29:13,199
the actual cost of serving them um

2232
01:29:13,199 --> 01:29:15,040
versus what we are putting in that

2233
01:29:15,040 --> 01:29:17,840
collection. Um we know that we have seen

2234
01:29:17,840 --> 01:29:19,840
this come time and time again of not

2235
01:29:19,840 --> 01:29:23,840
really evaluating you know where the um

2236
01:29:23,840 --> 01:29:25,520
readiness to serve charge came within

2237
01:29:25,520 --> 01:29:29,760
that. At one point it was discussed that was potentially um something that

2238
01:29:29,760 --> 01:29:33,360
was going to be used to offset um some

2239
01:29:33,360 --> 01:29:36,400
uh costs for people who were developing.

2240
01:29:36,400 --> 01:29:38,400
um we never really got an answer to what

2241
01:29:38,400 --> 01:29:40,239
that looked like and how often that was

2242
01:29:40,239 --> 01:29:42,000
actually used because then it was really

2243
01:29:42,000 --> 01:29:43,760
found out that this was a charge that we

2244
01:29:43,760 --> 01:29:46,239
were always doing. So where is that

2245
01:29:46,239 --> 01:29:49,520
offset cost? Um because that matters. Um

2246
01:29:49,520 --> 01:29:51,360
we also don't really look like many

2247
01:29:51,360 --> 01:29:55,679
other cities use the vacant fee um and

2248
01:29:55,679 --> 01:29:58,080
structure it in a way um that offsets

2249
01:29:58,080 --> 01:30:00,960
that utility piece. Um, but I also I

2250
01:30:00,960 --> 01:30:02,480
know it's been brought up a couple times

2251
01:30:02,480 --> 01:30:05,040
whether we collect that vacant fee. Um,

2252
01:30:05,040 --> 01:30:06,800
and then what does that look like? How

2253
01:30:06,800 --> 01:30:09,199
is that structured? Um, and are we

2254
01:30:09,199 --> 01:30:11,920
actually collecting on that? Um, so I

2255
01:30:11,920 --> 01:30:14,719
ask just very simply year after year

2256
01:30:14,719 --> 01:30:17,600
that we continue not to wait until it is

2257
01:30:17,600 --> 01:30:19,600
time to pass these things to really look

2258
01:30:19,600 --> 01:30:22,480
at how efficient um, we are actually

2259
01:30:22,480 --> 01:30:24,480
being because again in the long run

2260
01:30:24,480 --> 01:30:26,560
we're likely paying more money to

2261
01:30:26,560 --> 01:30:28,960
service than um, if we were running more

2262
01:30:28,960 --> 01:30:30,960
efficiently. Thank you.

2263
01:30:30,960 --> 01:30:33,679
>> Thank you.

2264
01:30:33,679 --> 01:30:35,360
>> All right. Questions or comments for

2265
01:30:35,360 --> 01:30:38,800
staff? for Nicole.

2266
01:30:38,800 --> 01:30:40,560
>> Council member Cal,

2267
01:30:40,560 --> 01:30:42,800
>> just curious, was there a decrease in

2268
01:30:42,800 --> 01:30:45,679
the number from last week? Uh,

2269
01:30:45,679 --> 01:30:47,040
>> two accounts.

2270
01:30:47,040 --> 01:30:55,350
>> Yep.

2271
01:30:55,360 --> 01:30:56,560
» Don't see any other questions or

2272
01:30:56,560 --> 01:30:58,960
comments. Do we have a motion?

2273
01:30:58,960 --> 01:31:01,920
>> Oh, council member Hiller. just to her

2274
01:31:01,920 --> 01:31:04,960
to some of her points. Um I guess my

2275
01:31:04,960 --> 01:31:06,880
understanding from when you presented

2276
01:31:06,880 --> 01:31:08,800
about this before was that it's pretty

2277
01:31:08,800 --> 01:31:10,560
straightforward that instead of going

2278
01:31:10,560 --> 01:31:12,320
through collections and handling these

2279
01:31:12,320 --> 01:31:14,560
things one at a time, you're able to

2280
01:31:14,560 --> 01:31:17,840
just take which whatever was due and

2281
01:31:17,840 --> 01:31:22,080
just take them record them as you need

2282
01:31:22,080 --> 01:31:24,080
to, but just in one block and send them

2283
01:31:24,080 --> 01:31:26,239
over to the county. And that you also

2284
01:31:26,239 --> 01:31:28,480
have,

2285
01:31:28,480 --> 01:31:31,280
let me not misquote it, a really high

2286
01:31:31,280 --> 01:31:33,040
pay rate that people just pay it with

2287
01:31:33,040 --> 01:31:35,120
their taxes and it's done.

2288
01:31:35,120 --> 01:31:37,120
>> Was that it's over 90%, right?

2289
01:31:37,120 --> 01:31:39,040
>> Correct. Yeah. Everything you say that's

2290
01:31:39,040 --> 01:31:41,440
correct there. Uh this is actually a

2291
01:31:41,440 --> 01:31:44,239
less cost inensive process than anything

2292
01:31:44,239 --> 01:31:50,870
>> for us. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

2293
01:31:50,880 --> 01:31:55,030
» Any other questions or comments?

2294
01:31:55,040 --> 01:32:00,870
All right. Do we have a motion?

2295
01:32:00,880 --> 01:32:02,480
to approve from council member

2296
01:32:02,480 --> 01:32:04,719
Miller. Oh, and a second from council

2297
01:32:04,719 --> 01:32:06,560
member Kell. There's no other comments

2298
01:32:06,560 --> 01:32:08,400
or questions and I will ask the clerk to

2299
01:32:08,400 --> 01:32:20,550
take the vote, please.

2300
01:32:20,560 --> 01:32:22,480
Okay, we have nine yes with council

2301
01:32:22,480 --> 01:32:24,880
member Vald Divia Oklo voting no. The

2302
01:32:24,880 --> 01:32:26,639
motion carries.

2303
01:32:26,639 --> 01:32:35,669
>> All right, with that

2304
01:32:35,679 --> 01:32:39,760
you'll be it'll be good. Uh with that we

2305
01:32:39,760 --> 01:32:42,639
move on to action item B. City clerk. B

2306
01:32:42,639 --> 01:32:44,480
is an appropriation ordinance introduced

2307
01:32:44,480 --> 01:32:46,320
by city manager Dr. Robert Perez

2308
01:32:46,320 --> 01:32:47,920
approving and adopting the operating

2309
01:32:47,920 --> 01:32:49,600
budget for the city of Topeka for the

2310
01:32:49,600 --> 01:32:52,719
year 2027 and appropriating the amounts

2311
01:32:52,719 --> 01:33:02,310
for the purpose as set forth therein

2312
01:33:02,320 --> 01:33:03,520
» city manager.

2313
01:33:03,520 --> 01:33:05,199
>> Thank you mayor members of the governing

2314
01:33:05,199 --> 01:33:06,880
body. Although we presented our balanced

2315
01:33:06,880 --> 01:33:10,159
FY2027 proposed budget on July 14th, we

2316
01:33:10,159 --> 01:33:11,920
really started this process in January

2317
01:33:11,920 --> 01:33:13,760
this year. Since we presented the

2318
01:33:13,760 --> 01:33:14,880
proposed budget, we gone through

2319
01:33:14,880 --> 01:33:16,560
departmental overviews and presented our

2320
01:33:16,560 --> 01:33:18,960
5-year financial forecast. Over the last

2321
01:33:18,960 --> 01:33:20,159
few weeks, the team and I have shared

2322
01:33:20,159 --> 01:33:21,440
thoughts on proposed amendments, and

2323
01:33:21,440 --> 01:33:22,800
we'll share those again this evening for

2324
01:33:22,800 --> 01:33:25,280
consideration and discussion as part of

2325
01:33:25,280 --> 01:33:28,400
the adopted budget uh consideration.

2326
01:33:28,400 --> 01:33:29,840
With that, I will now turn this over to

2327
01:33:29,840 --> 01:33:31,360
Josh McCannney, deputy director of

2328
01:33:31,360 --> 01:33:32,800
budget and finance to lead us to this

2329
01:33:32,800 --> 01:33:33,360
discussion.

2330
01:33:33,360 --> 01:33:34,639
>> Thank you, city manager. Just three

2331
01:33:34,639 --> 01:33:38,239
things. So, we've gone through all the formal publishing of the public

2332
01:33:38,239 --> 01:33:40,639
hearings, held the public hearings, and

2333
01:33:40,639 --> 01:33:42,239
um posted the appropriate notice that

2334
01:33:42,239 --> 01:33:44,000
we've required to do so. We can now

2335
01:33:44,000 --> 01:33:45,520
officially actually take action on the

2336
01:33:45,520 --> 01:33:46,880
budget, which we have to submit by

2337
01:33:46,880 --> 01:33:49,840
October 1st. And then secondly, um just

2338
01:33:49,840 --> 01:33:51,760
we um because we approve a budget

2339
01:33:51,760 --> 01:33:53,440
tonight doesn't mean we can take

2340
01:33:53,440 --> 01:33:55,199
measures to reduce expenses deadline.

2341
01:33:55,199 --> 01:33:56,719
All the budget does is just set the

2342
01:33:56,719 --> 01:33:59,120
topline expenditure authority by fund

2343
01:33:59,120 --> 01:34:01,440
that we submit um to the state. So we

2344
01:34:01,440 --> 01:34:03,199
can over time proactively take

2345
01:34:03,199 --> 01:34:04,480
approaches if that's the method

2346
01:34:04,480 --> 01:34:06,560
preferred by the governing body. And

2347
01:34:06,560 --> 01:34:08,719
then third, one thing that will be an

2348
01:34:08,719 --> 01:34:10,320
area of emphasis for us over the next

2349
01:34:10,320 --> 01:34:12,000
year is monitoring revenue. So just

2350
01:34:12,000 --> 01:34:13,760
because we approve a budget, we still

2351
01:34:13,760 --> 01:34:15,360
have to monitor and make sure that the

2352
01:34:15,360 --> 01:34:17,040
revenues come in cover expenses because

2353
01:34:17,040 --> 01:34:18,320
just like in the private sector, if the

2354
01:34:18,320 --> 01:34:19,920
revenues don't come in, we have to

2355
01:34:19,920 --> 01:34:21,280
adjust on the expense side. So that's

2356
01:34:21,280 --> 01:34:28,470
just one thing to keep in mind.

2357
01:34:28,480 --> 01:34:31,199
» I I can't hear you.

2358
01:34:31,199 --> 01:34:31,600
Mayor,

2359
01:34:31,600 --> 01:34:35,280
>> I I my computer I don't have it on me.

2360
01:34:35,280 --> 01:34:40,149
So,

2361
01:34:40,159 --> 01:34:41,040
» city major.

2362
01:34:41,040 --> 01:34:43,040
>> No, mayor. So, at this point, uh we want

2363
01:34:43,040 --> 01:34:45,360
to um begin discussion with any proposed

2364
01:34:45,360 --> 01:34:47,440
amendments that the governing body has.

2365
01:34:47,440 --> 01:34:48,560
>> Okay. Well, first we have some

2366
01:34:48,560 --> 01:34:49,760
individuals signed up for public

2367
01:34:49,760 --> 01:34:51,520
comment. So, we will go to them first

2368
01:34:51,520 --> 01:34:53,920
and then before we start governing body

2369
01:34:53,920 --> 01:34:57,360
discussion. So, with that, first up, uh

2370
01:34:57,360 --> 01:34:59,600
Mr. Lebet told me he left. So, we will

2371
01:34:59,600 --> 01:35:08,870
go to Pastor Christine Potter.

2372
01:35:08,880 --> 01:35:10,880
» Good evening. My name is Reverend

2373
01:35:10,880 --> 01:35:12,880
Christine Potter. I'm the pastor at Low

2374
01:35:12,880 --> 01:35:14,480
Man United Methodist Church here in

2375
01:35:14,480 --> 01:35:17,920
Topeka. I'm co-chair of Topeka Jump and

2376
01:35:17,920 --> 01:35:19,760
I am on the homelessness steering

2377
01:35:19,760 --> 01:35:22,239
committee at Topeka Jump. Um, and I'm a

2378
01:35:22,239 --> 01:35:25,120
lifelong Topekan. I'm here today to

2379
01:35:25,120 --> 01:35:27,199
speak about the proposed sales tax of

2380
01:35:27,199 --> 01:35:29,760
1/10enth of a penny. As I shared last

2381
01:35:29,760 --> 01:35:31,600
week with the policy and finance

2382
01:35:31,600 --> 01:35:34,719
committee, I am and to peek a jump is

2383
01:35:34,719 --> 01:35:37,280
deeply troubled by the recent and abrupt

2384
01:35:37,280 --> 01:35:39,840
switch on this proposal that has been

2385
01:35:39,840 --> 01:35:42,239
spoken about a lot tonight. For a year

2386
01:35:42,239 --> 01:35:43,760
now, we've heard the city and the review

2387
01:35:43,760 --> 01:35:45,440
committee talking about proposing a

2388
01:35:45,440 --> 01:35:47,440
onetenth of a penny sales tax for the

2389
01:35:47,440 --> 01:35:50,080
citizens of Topeka to vote on to go

2390
01:35:50,080 --> 01:35:52,159
towards affordable housing and homeless

2391
01:35:52,159 --> 01:35:54,639
services. While affordable housing

2392
01:35:54,639 --> 01:35:56,560
remains on the proposal, support for

2393
01:35:56,560 --> 01:35:58,800
homelessness services has been replaced

2394
01:35:58,800 --> 01:36:01,760
by market rate housing. As a pastor and

2395
01:36:01,760 --> 01:36:04,719
as a citizen of Topeka, I feel compelled

2396
01:36:04,719 --> 01:36:07,199
to speak against this sudden switch as

2397
01:36:07,199 --> 01:36:10,159
both unethical and undemocratic.

2398
01:36:10,159 --> 01:36:12,400
It is undemocratic because there has

2399
01:36:12,400 --> 01:36:14,159
already been a poll done by the city

2400
01:36:14,159 --> 01:36:17,040
that indicated 67% of Topekans would

2401
01:36:17,040 --> 01:36:19,760
vote in favor of this tax supporting

2402
01:36:19,760 --> 01:36:22,320
affordable housing and homelessness, not

2403
01:36:22,320 --> 01:36:24,880
market rate housing. Further, the

2404
01:36:24,880 --> 01:36:26,480
affordable housing trust fund review

2405
01:36:26,480 --> 01:36:28,000
committee who was established and

2406
01:36:28,000 --> 01:36:30,560
empowered to do this work approved the

2407
01:36:30,560 --> 01:36:33,440
original proposal back in November, not

2408
01:36:33,440 --> 01:36:35,360
the new proposal for market rate

2409
01:36:35,360 --> 01:36:36,719
housing.

2410
01:36:36,719 --> 01:36:38,880
Please listen to your constituents who

2411
01:36:38,880 --> 01:36:40,639
have been focused on this problem and

2412
01:36:40,639 --> 01:36:43,760
are actively proposing solutions.

2413
01:36:43,760 --> 01:36:46,639
In terms of the ethics, it is wrong to

2414
01:36:46,639 --> 01:36:49,600
prioritize market rate housing over the

2415
01:36:49,600 --> 01:36:51,600
needs of our homeless and unhoused

2416
01:36:51,600 --> 01:36:54,239
neighbors. As I shared at policy and

2417
01:36:54,239 --> 01:36:57,119
finance last week in Topeka, market rate

2418
01:36:57,119 --> 01:36:59,520
housing equates to housing that's

2419
01:36:59,520 --> 01:37:02,960
affordable for a family of four making

2420
01:37:02,960 --> 01:37:06,080
about $120,000 a year.

2421
01:37:06,080 --> 01:37:08,320
I stand here before you to say that

2422
01:37:08,320 --> 01:37:10,159
market rate housing is not affordable

2423
01:37:10,159 --> 01:37:13,440
for me and my family. It is luxury

2424
01:37:13,440 --> 01:37:16,480
housing. There is just no way that we

2425
01:37:16,480 --> 01:37:18,560
can sit here and deny that it is

2426
01:37:18,560 --> 01:37:22,400
unethical to prioritize luxury housing

2427
01:37:22,400 --> 01:37:25,040
over the homeless human beings on our

2428
01:37:25,040 --> 01:37:27,360
streets right now.

2429
01:37:27,360 --> 01:37:29,280
If the city decides to keep this new

2430
01:37:29,280 --> 01:37:30,880
proposal with half the money going

2431
01:37:30,880 --> 01:37:32,880
towards market rate housing instead of

2432
01:37:32,880 --> 01:37:35,520
homelessness, our jump membership can no

2433
01:37:35,520 --> 01:37:37,760
longer support it. In fact, we will

2434
01:37:37,760 --> 01:37:39,920
actively campaign against it for these

2435
01:37:39,920 --> 01:37:43,040
important reasons that I've named today.

2436
01:37:43,040 --> 01:37:44,719
There are millions of dollars on the

2437
01:37:44,719 --> 01:37:47,760
line here and we the people of Tika Jump

2438
01:37:47,760 --> 01:37:50,400
representing 37 faith communities and

2439
01:37:50,400 --> 01:37:53,840
over 7,000 of your constituents do not

2440
01:37:53,840 --> 01:37:56,480
just want to see the entire proposal

2441
01:37:56,480 --> 01:37:59,679
shot down by the council or voted down

2442
01:37:59,679 --> 01:38:03,360
by the public. We emphatically want the

2443
01:38:03,360 --> 01:38:06,880
original proposal to succeed. the

2444
01:38:06,880 --> 01:38:08,560
original proposal that the review

2445
01:38:08,560 --> 01:38:11,119
committee agreed on with half the sales

2446
01:38:11,119 --> 01:38:13,679
tax going to affordable housing and half

2447
01:38:13,679 --> 01:38:15,520
to homelessness.

2448
01:38:15,520 --> 01:38:18,000
The original proposal has the chance to

2449
01:38:18,000 --> 01:38:20,880
do something incredible in Topeka.

2450
01:38:20,880 --> 01:38:22,560
Something that Topekans have been

2451
01:38:22,560 --> 01:38:25,760
excited to get on board with something

2452
01:38:25,760 --> 01:38:29,280
that benefits us all. The homelessness

2453
01:38:29,280 --> 01:38:32,719
crisis affects all of us. We have a very

2454
01:38:32,719 --> 01:38:34,800
real chance here to prioritize these

2455
01:38:34,800 --> 01:38:39,360
humans and this crisis with dedicated

2456
01:38:39,360 --> 01:38:42,239
funding for researched and proven

2457
01:38:42,239 --> 01:38:45,199
homelessness services. This is what we

2458
01:38:45,199 --> 01:38:47,840
will advocate for and vote for. And this

2459
01:38:47,840 --> 01:38:51,119
is actually what 67% of already pulled

2460
01:38:51,119 --> 01:38:54,639
to Peacans said they would vote for. We

2461
01:38:54,639 --> 01:38:56,159
can have the market rate housing

2462
01:38:56,159 --> 01:38:59,040
conversation another day, but not at the

2463
01:38:59,040 --> 01:39:01,280
expense of dedicated funding for

2464
01:39:01,280 --> 01:39:02,960
homelessness.

2465
01:39:02,960 --> 01:39:05,360
Let's do something amazing together for

2466
01:39:05,360 --> 01:39:09,199
Topeka. Let Topeka vote on one/tenth of

2467
01:39:09,199 --> 01:39:12,480
a penny sales tax for affordable housing

2468
01:39:12,480 --> 01:39:14,800
and the recommendations of the city's

2469
01:39:14,800 --> 01:39:18,560
2024 homeless innovation team study.

2470
01:39:18,560 --> 01:39:19,679
Thank you.

2471
01:39:19,679 --> 01:39:21,840
>> Thank you.

2472
01:39:21,840 --> 01:39:28,229
Next up, we have Reverend Julie Mcola.

2473
01:39:28,239 --> 01:39:29,760
» Reverend Julie Mcola.

2474
01:39:29,760 --> 01:39:46,149
>> Okay.

2475
01:39:46,159 --> 01:39:47,520
Welcome, ma'am. When you hear the first

2476
01:39:47,520 --> 01:39:48,800
beep, it's going to mean you have one

2477
01:39:48,800 --> 01:40:04,070
minute still remaining.

2478
01:40:04,080 --> 01:40:10,070
Mayor Duncan. Oh, I'm sorry.

2479
01:40:10,080 --> 01:40:14,159
City Manager Dr. Perez, Mayor Duncan,

2480
01:40:14,159 --> 01:40:17,600
city council members, other officials,

2481
01:40:17,600 --> 01:40:21,440
and citizens of Topeka.

2482
01:40:21,440 --> 01:40:24,320
My name is Julie McCulla.

2483
01:40:24,320 --> 01:40:26,719
As I have begun writing this public

2484
01:40:26,719 --> 01:40:31,040
comment, Thursday, September 10th.

2485
01:40:31,040 --> 01:40:35,360
I have lived in Topeka for 11 years.

2486
01:40:35,360 --> 01:40:38,320
I am neither a businesswoman nor a

2487
01:40:38,320 --> 01:40:40,000
politician.

2488
01:40:40,000 --> 01:40:43,600
I must confess that I am very ignorant

2489
01:40:43,600 --> 01:40:47,280
regarding business, finance, politics,

2490
01:40:47,280 --> 01:40:50,400
and many of the ways of the world.

2491
01:40:50,400 --> 01:40:53,920
While I readily confess my ignorance, in

2492
01:40:53,920 --> 01:40:58,320
many areas, I am smart in one way. I am

2493
01:40:58,320 --> 01:41:00,960
smart enough to know that I don't know

2494
01:41:00,960 --> 01:41:04,480
what I don't know.

2495
01:41:04,480 --> 01:41:07,600
In the years I have lived here,

2496
01:41:07,600 --> 01:41:10,480
I have seen affordable housing growing

2497
01:41:10,480 --> 01:41:13,280
less affordable and homelessness

2498
01:41:13,280 --> 01:41:15,360
increasing.

2499
01:41:15,360 --> 01:41:18,480
I believe that those who are not wealthy

2500
01:41:18,480 --> 01:41:22,159
are likely to be in for a wild ride in

2501
01:41:22,159 --> 01:41:25,280
the next couple of years and maybe much

2502
01:41:25,280 --> 01:41:28,550
longer.

2503
01:41:28,560 --> 01:41:32,639
to peek a jump put forth a proposal

2504
01:41:32,639 --> 01:41:36,159
a tenth on one tenth of a penny sales

2505
01:41:36,159 --> 01:41:39,199
tax with half going to affordable

2506
01:41:39,199 --> 01:41:42,000
housing and half toward homelessness

2507
01:41:42,000 --> 01:41:43,600
services.

2508
01:41:43,600 --> 01:41:47,280
But I understand that there is a push to

2509
01:41:47,280 --> 01:41:50,719
change our proposal so that half of this

2510
01:41:50,719 --> 01:41:54,320
tax would go to market rate housing and

2511
01:41:54,320 --> 01:41:57,040
the example given was for a luxury

2512
01:41:57,040 --> 01:42:00,880
apartment complex downtown.

2513
01:42:00,880 --> 01:42:04,719
We have many needs in this city. Luxury

2514
01:42:04,719 --> 01:42:09,280
is nice to have, but it is a desire, a

2515
01:42:09,280 --> 01:42:10,960
want.

2516
01:42:10,960 --> 01:42:14,960
Why change this proposal and call people

2517
01:42:14,960 --> 01:42:18,000
who are getting less and less able to

2518
01:42:18,000 --> 01:42:21,840
afford our own li our own housing to pay

2519
01:42:21,840 --> 01:42:25,840
a tax for luxury that we will never be

2520
01:42:25,840 --> 01:42:29,600
able to live in or enjoy.

2521
01:42:29,600 --> 01:42:32,480
We're struggling just to meet our basic

2522
01:42:32,480 --> 01:42:34,000
needs

2523
01:42:34,000 --> 01:42:38,000
and some no longer can and are now

2524
01:42:38,000 --> 01:42:39,840
homeless.

2525
01:42:39,840 --> 01:42:43,840
Some are on waiting lists for assistance

2526
01:42:43,840 --> 01:42:48,560
that can be two years or more long.

2527
01:42:48,560 --> 01:42:52,639
And as our economy grows more and more

2528
01:42:52,639 --> 01:42:54,560
out of control,

2529
01:42:54,560 --> 01:42:57,280
these waiting lists will grow much

2530
01:42:57,280 --> 01:42:59,440
longer.

2531
01:42:59,440 --> 01:43:02,000
So, let's stop worrying so much about

2532
01:43:02,000 --> 01:43:03,600
luxury

2533
01:43:03,600 --> 01:43:08,080
and attend to basic needs so that we can

2534
01:43:08,080 --> 01:43:13,280
all have safe, secure places to live.

2535
01:43:13,280 --> 01:43:16,320
And that may get a lot of people off the

2536
01:43:16,320 --> 01:43:19,760
streets. And the upside of that is that

2537
01:43:19,760 --> 01:43:23,360
when people have home addresses, they

2538
01:43:23,360 --> 01:43:27,920
can more easily secure jobs. and that

2539
01:43:27,920 --> 01:43:30,560
will help our economy.

2540
01:43:30,560 --> 01:43:34,159
I know that won't be nearly as simple as

2541
01:43:34,159 --> 01:43:38,639
it sounds, but it's a much more

2542
01:43:38,639 --> 01:43:42,639
practical goal worth working toward.

2543
01:43:42,639 --> 01:43:46,080
It can better the lives of many rather

2544
01:43:46,080 --> 01:43:48,880
than the lives of just a few that are

2545
01:43:48,880 --> 01:43:52,320
already well on track.

2546
01:43:52,320 --> 01:43:55,119
Let's think about that.

2547
01:43:55,119 --> 01:44:01,669
Thank you.

2548
01:44:01,679 --> 01:44:07,590
Next up, we have Steve Harvey.

2549
01:44:07,600 --> 01:44:09,280
» Steve Harvey.

2550
01:44:09,280 --> 01:44:11,440
>> Is that Henry?

2551
01:44:11,440 --> 01:44:15,600
>> Says Steve Harvey is what I

2552
01:44:15,600 --> 01:44:17,920
>> see. No Steve Harvey. I think it's Steve

2553
01:44:17,920 --> 01:44:18,880
Henry.

2554
01:44:18,880 --> 01:44:21,600
>> Okay.

2555
01:44:21,600 --> 01:44:24,480
>> He doesn't like saying the word.

2556
01:44:24,480 --> 01:44:27,600
that that's a common uh mistake that's

2557
01:44:27,600 --> 01:44:33,280
made with my name. Uh I am Steve Henry.

2558
01:44:33,280 --> 01:44:36,320
I've been in 4 in Topeka for 49 years. I

2559
01:44:36,320 --> 01:44:38,880
live in district 8. I've served as

2560
01:44:38,880 --> 01:44:42,400
member of uh Jump's affordable housing

2561
01:44:42,400 --> 01:44:45,360
and homeless committees.

2562
01:44:45,360 --> 01:44:48,960
And I want to start by saying hooray.

2563
01:44:48,960 --> 01:44:53,360
for the buyin to first create and

2564
01:44:53,360 --> 01:44:56,320
now on the horizon to fund the

2565
01:44:56,320 --> 01:44:59,440
affordable trousing housing trust fund

2566
01:44:59,440 --> 01:45:03,280
in a meaningful and ongoing way. What an

2567
01:45:03,280 --> 01:45:06,960
exciting thing. What a piece of work.

2568
01:45:06,960 --> 01:45:09,360
Imagine blighted housing being

2569
01:45:09,360 --> 01:45:11,840
rehabilitated or replaced with new

2570
01:45:11,840 --> 01:45:14,159
housing. Imagine

2571
01:45:14,159 --> 01:45:16,560
communities becoming

2572
01:45:16,560 --> 01:45:18,560
uh

2573
01:45:18,560 --> 01:45:21,440
new housing in communities

2574
01:45:21,440 --> 01:45:24,560
with houses being re rehabilitated or

2575
01:45:24,560 --> 01:45:27,119
replaced with new housing.

2576
01:45:27,119 --> 01:45:30,719
Imagine communities becoming safer and

2577
01:45:30,719 --> 01:45:34,000
more attractive to move move into.

2578
01:45:34,000 --> 01:45:35,520
Imagine

2579
01:45:35,520 --> 01:45:38,560
reversing long-term trends of de

2580
01:45:38,560 --> 01:45:41,440
decreasing population within our city

2581
01:45:41,440 --> 01:45:44,719
boundaries. This is at hand. This can

2582
01:45:44,719 --> 01:45:47,440
happen. I see it.

2583
01:45:47,440 --> 01:45:49,119
So, that part of the proposal I'm

2584
01:45:49,119 --> 01:45:52,080
excited about. But what a disappointment

2585
01:45:52,080 --> 01:45:53,920
to see what happened with the other half

2586
01:45:53,920 --> 01:45:58,080
of the proposal where the home homeless

2587
01:45:58,080 --> 01:46:01,199
support got pushed out with this concept

2588
01:46:01,199 --> 01:46:04,159
of market housing.

2589
01:46:04,159 --> 01:46:06,800
can't support that obviously and I have

2590
01:46:06,800 --> 01:46:08,639
to say I'm heartened to hear the

2591
01:46:08,639 --> 01:46:11,679
discussion at council today that uh

2592
01:46:11,679 --> 01:46:15,360
suggests that there is a lot of support

2593
01:46:15,360 --> 01:46:19,119
for uh the homeless initiative piece of

2594
01:46:19,119 --> 01:46:22,320
this. I hope that comes to fruition.

2595
01:46:22,320 --> 01:46:28,320
I want us to take a pause for a m minute to reflect on some important

2596
01:46:28,320 --> 01:46:31,440
groundwork we did together to address

2597
01:46:31,440 --> 01:46:34,000
homelessness in Topeka.

2598
01:46:34,000 --> 01:46:38,239
In 2023, the city of Topeka wisely hired

2599
01:46:38,239 --> 01:46:41,760
an outside cond consultant to conduct a

2600
01:46:41,760 --> 01:46:44,880
community community engagement process

2601
01:46:44,880 --> 01:46:48,320
that included a systematic review of

2602
01:46:48,320 --> 01:46:51,440
homelessness in Topeka and to identify

2603
01:46:51,440 --> 01:46:54,000
best practices used to address

2604
01:46:54,000 --> 01:46:59,189
homelessness across this country.

2605
01:46:59,199 --> 01:47:02,320
Many sessions were held over a period of

2606
01:47:02,320 --> 01:47:04,080
several months.

2607
01:47:04,080 --> 01:47:07,360
Many leaders of the city of Topeka,

2608
01:47:07,360 --> 01:47:10,159
Shauny County government, social service

2609
01:47:10,159 --> 01:47:13,679
agencies and the community participated.

2610
01:47:13,679 --> 01:47:16,960
Many good ideas were generated for uh

2611
01:47:16,960 --> 01:47:19,920
taking a much more comprehensive,

2612
01:47:19,920 --> 01:47:22,400
systematic and integrated approach to

2613
01:47:22,400 --> 01:47:24,400
homelessness

2614
01:47:24,400 --> 01:47:28,000
um to meet the needs of the homeless.

2615
01:47:28,000 --> 01:47:32,560
on May 21st, 2024.

2616
01:47:32,560 --> 01:47:33,360
>> One minute.

2617
01:47:33,360 --> 01:47:34,239
>> You have one minute still.

2618
01:47:34,239 --> 01:47:36,159
>> Rihanna Silver presented the city

2619
01:47:36,159 --> 01:47:39,199
council findings of that process and a

2620
01:47:39,199 --> 01:47:40,800
comprehensive plan for addressing

2621
01:47:40,800 --> 01:47:44,159
homelessness in Topeka. Uh it included

2622
01:47:44,159 --> 01:47:46,719
goals, detailed steps, and a multi-year

2623
01:47:46,719 --> 01:47:49,040
timeline for addressing homelessness in

2624
01:47:49,040 --> 01:47:51,760
a comprehensive and systematic way. It

2625
01:47:51,760 --> 01:47:54,400
represented the hard work and the best

2626
01:47:54,400 --> 01:47:57,199
thinking of many people and it produced

2627
01:47:57,199 --> 01:48:00,080
seven recommendations, two of which were

2628
01:48:00,080 --> 01:48:03,679
create a one-stop homeless center

2629
01:48:03,679 --> 01:48:05,760
investment in a continuum housing

2630
01:48:05,760 --> 01:48:08,880
solution uh specifically a low barrier

2631
01:48:08,880 --> 01:48:11,280
shelter and permanent tiny homes. the

2632
01:48:11,280 --> 01:48:13,119
council received for their work,

2633
01:48:13,119 --> 01:48:16,560
received this report, but determined no

2634
01:48:16,560 --> 01:48:19,040
action should be taken because we had a

2635
01:48:19,040 --> 01:48:21,520
new city manager coming in and it would

2636
01:48:21,520 --> 01:48:24,239
not be prudent to proceed.

2637
01:48:24,239 --> 01:48:26,639
Uh

2638
01:48:26,639 --> 01:48:32,550
so a year later, here we are.

2639
01:48:32,560 --> 01:48:33,679
» Sorry, I'm out of time.

2640
01:48:33,679 --> 01:48:39,990
>> It's all right. Thank you, sir.

2641
01:48:40,000 --> 01:48:43,040
Time to dust off that report. Time to

2642
01:48:43,040 --> 01:48:46,320
implement it with the support of the

2643
01:48:46,320 --> 01:48:47,280
other half.

2644
01:48:47,280 --> 01:49:00,709
>> Next up, we have Mr. Rick Tyler.

2645
01:49:00,719 --> 01:49:03,199
Mr. Mayor, council members, thanks for

2646
01:49:03,199 --> 01:49:04,800
uh allowing me to be here tonight. I'm

2647
01:49:04,800 --> 01:49:06,000
going to change the pace a little bit

2648
01:49:06,000 --> 01:49:07,760
and talk about data centers. What a

2649
01:49:07,760 --> 01:49:12,000
surprise, right? Um but I want to talk I don't want to give you a lot of facts

2650
01:49:12,000 --> 01:49:14,719
and figures. I want to talk to you a

2651
01:49:14,719 --> 01:49:18,239
little bit about the more human side of

2652
01:49:18,239 --> 01:49:20,560
what a data center can do to your

2653
01:49:20,560 --> 01:49:22,000
community. Sir,

2654
01:49:22,000 --> 01:49:23,280
>> I'm going to pause you for a minute. I'm

2655
01:49:23,280 --> 01:49:24,159
going to let you finish because we're

2656
01:49:24,159 --> 01:49:25,920
going to be here a while, but this is

2657
01:49:25,920 --> 01:49:29,360
our budget agenda item. So, I don't know

2658
01:49:29,360 --> 01:49:31,679
if we got put in the wrong spot. I'm

2659
01:49:31,679 --> 01:49:32,639
gonna let you go ahead and finish

2660
01:49:32,639 --> 01:49:33,600
tonight, but I just

2661
01:49:33,600 --> 01:49:34,719
>> Well, I can if you

2662
01:49:34,719 --> 01:49:36,000
>> No, because we're in a budget

2663
01:49:36,000 --> 01:49:37,679
conversation going to take a while. So,

2664
01:49:37,679 --> 01:49:40,000
I have you on here twice. So, I don't

2665
01:49:40,000 --> 01:49:41,199
know if you're going to only speak once

2666
01:49:41,199 --> 01:49:41,920
tonight.

2667
01:49:41,920 --> 01:49:42,480
>> Just once.

2668
01:49:42,480 --> 01:49:44,000
>> Since you're the last speaker, I'm going

2669
01:49:44,000 --> 01:49:45,360
to speak. I'm just clarifying that

2670
01:49:45,360 --> 01:49:46,480
that's what we're talking about. So,

2671
01:49:46,480 --> 01:49:48,159
that's it. Go ahead. All right. Okay.

2672
01:49:48,159 --> 01:49:49,520
>> You're back on. You're good.

2673
01:49:49,520 --> 01:49:50,719
>> Your time was paused. So, you didn't

2674
01:49:50,719 --> 01:49:51,600
lose any time there.

2675
01:49:51,600 --> 01:49:55,030
>> Thank you.

2676
01:49:55,040 --> 01:49:56,639
So what I'd like to do is talk to you

2677
01:49:56,639 --> 01:49:58,560
about the little bit more human side of

2678
01:49:58,560 --> 01:50:01,040
what a data center can do to a

2679
01:50:01,040 --> 01:50:03,920
community. Um

2680
01:50:03,920 --> 01:50:06,480
I have a article here that was written

2681
01:50:06,480 --> 01:50:08,480
just a few days ago from the Kansas

2682
01:50:08,480 --> 01:50:10,719
Reflector and it was written by a

2683
01:50:10,719 --> 01:50:12,639
gentleman who lives and works in

2684
01:50:12,639 --> 01:50:14,960
Emporia, Kansas and he talks about

2685
01:50:14,960 --> 01:50:18,239
what's going on in Emporia. Um, but a

2686
01:50:18,239 --> 01:50:20,159
lot of it can uh be applied to what's

2687
01:50:20,159 --> 01:50:23,040
going on here with our data center

2688
01:50:23,040 --> 01:50:24,800
situation.

2689
01:50:24,800 --> 01:50:26,159
I'm going to read you just a couple of

2690
01:50:26,159 --> 01:50:29,520
paragraphs uh from that article.

2691
01:50:29,520 --> 01:50:32,719
It says, "Thank God for open courts.

2692
01:50:32,719 --> 01:50:34,880
Secrecy has been a hallmark of the data

2693
01:50:34,880 --> 01:50:37,440
center assault on rural America. And few

2694
01:50:37,440 --> 01:50:39,440
subjects have been as secret or as

2695
01:50:39,440 --> 01:50:41,840
enigmatic as the money behind the

2696
01:50:41,840 --> 01:50:44,639
proposed digital campus for my town of

2697
01:50:44,639 --> 01:50:46,639
Emporia at the edge of the Flint Hills

2698
01:50:46,639 --> 01:50:49,280
in East Central Kansas. The stakes are

2699
01:50:49,280 --> 01:50:51,920
enormous and the fight over a thousand

2700
01:50:51,920 --> 01:50:54,560
recently annexed and largely pastoral

2701
01:50:54,560 --> 01:50:57,440
acres at the western edge of the city is

2702
01:50:57,440 --> 01:50:59,840
representative of a conflict conflict

2703
01:50:59,840 --> 01:51:04,239
taking place just about everywhere.

2704
01:51:04,239 --> 01:51:06,400
For decades, employ has been a pleasant

2705
01:51:06,400 --> 01:51:08,960
if sleepy college town whose legacy was

2706
01:51:08,960 --> 01:51:12,080
that of a heartland utopia envisioned by

2707
01:51:12,080 --> 01:51:14,320
the editor and author William Allen

2708
01:51:14,320 --> 01:51:17,280
Wright White. In recent years, it has

2709
01:51:17,280 --> 01:51:19,600
lost hundreds of manufacturing and meat

2710
01:51:19,600 --> 01:51:22,239
processing jobs, creating economic

2711
01:51:22,239 --> 01:51:25,520
desperation of historic proportions.

2712
01:51:25,520 --> 01:51:27,840
Civic leaders sought a big fish

2713
01:51:27,840 --> 01:51:30,880
solution. The Kansas Park Place must

2714
01:51:30,880 --> 01:51:33,520
have seemed like a whale. The choice

2715
01:51:33,520 --> 01:51:35,600
we've been repeatingly told by business

2716
01:51:35,600 --> 01:51:38,400
leaders since early June is to embrace

2717
01:51:38,400 --> 01:51:42,159
prog progress or to wither away.

2718
01:51:42,159 --> 01:51:44,000
But the conversation cannot be reduced

2719
01:51:44,000 --> 01:51:47,360
to progress versus provincialism. Those

2720
01:51:47,360 --> 01:51:49,520
who engage in the expected arguments

2721
01:51:49,520 --> 01:51:51,760
about environmentalism or economic

2722
01:51:51,760 --> 01:51:53,840
development soon find that they have

2723
01:51:53,840 --> 01:51:56,080
lost the larger narrative driving people

2724
01:51:56,080 --> 01:51:59,520
to action. The question is who are we as

2725
01:51:59,520 --> 01:52:01,760
a community?

2726
01:52:01,760 --> 01:52:03,920
We stand at a pivotal if not terminal

2727
01:52:03,920 --> 01:52:06,480
moment in human history. Taken by

2728
01:52:06,480 --> 01:52:09,040
surprise at the speed at which it

2729
01:52:09,040 --> 01:52:10,960
arrived just six years just six years

2730
01:52:10,960 --> 01:52:13,440
ago. We are paralyzed and separated by

2731
01:52:13,440 --> 01:52:16,719
co. Now things are moving so fast it

2732
01:52:16,719 --> 01:52:19,040
seems impossible to keep pace with a

2733
01:52:19,040 --> 01:52:21,760
changing political, cultural, and

2734
01:52:21,760 --> 01:52:24,480
technological landscape. We must not

2735
01:52:24,480 --> 01:52:27,440
give into exhaustion or despair because

2736
01:52:27,440 --> 01:52:29,599
the decision we make now will shape our

2737
01:52:29,599 --> 01:52:32,800
communities for generations to come.

2738
01:52:32,800 --> 01:52:35,280
Some readers have objected to my

2739
01:52:35,280 --> 01:52:38,800
referring to Emporia as my town in these

2740
01:52:38,800 --> 01:52:40,719
columns, pointing out that I was not

2741
01:52:40,719 --> 01:52:43,119
born here. Others have said, "I don't

2742
01:52:43,119 --> 01:52:44,719
understand the community because I

2743
01:52:44,719 --> 01:52:47,040
didn't go to high school here." But

2744
01:52:47,040 --> 01:52:48,880
citizens are more than accidents of

2745
01:52:48,880 --> 01:52:51,440
birth or survivors of shared secondary

2746
01:52:51,440 --> 01:52:53,920
education. After 20 years on

2747
01:52:53,920 --> 01:52:56,320
Constitution Street, I can confidently

2748
01:52:56,320 --> 01:52:58,960
call this is my town. Just as the town

2749
01:52:58,960 --> 01:53:01,119
where you live, where you live is your

2750
01:53:01,119 --> 01:53:03,440
town. Also,

2751
01:53:03,440 --> 01:53:05,599
give me a community that values humanity

2752
01:53:05,599 --> 01:53:09,360
over machines, compassion over profits,

2753
01:53:09,360 --> 01:53:12,159
and fact over folksy fictions. Let us

2754
01:53:12,159 --> 01:53:14,880
use technology with restraint and pursue

2755
01:53:14,880 --> 01:53:17,920
economic development with wisdom. Give

2756
01:53:17,920 --> 01:53:20,639
us competent judges and lawyers and open

2757
01:53:20,639 --> 01:53:23,440
courts, transparent government and

2758
01:53:23,440 --> 01:53:26,159
responsive lawmakers, reliable healthc

2759
01:53:26,159 --> 01:53:29,119
care and food for all. Give us art and

2760
01:53:29,119 --> 01:53:32,080
music and love. Let us make communities

2761
01:53:32,080 --> 01:53:34,639
what they are worthy that they are

2762
01:53:34,639 --> 01:53:36,800
worthy of our best and most engaged

2763
01:53:36,800 --> 01:53:39,760
selves. We cannot revisit the past, but

2764
01:53:39,760 --> 01:53:41,760
we can't imagine a future worth striving

2765
01:53:41,760 --> 01:53:44,719
for. No machine or should do that for

2766
01:53:44,719 --> 01:53:46,719
us. Thank you for your time. Thank you,

2767
01:53:46,719 --> 01:53:49,360
sir.

2768
01:53:49,360 --> 01:53:50,960
All right, that was our last sign up for

2769
01:53:50,960 --> 01:53:53,840
this is close enough to 8:00 that maybe

2770
01:53:53,840 --> 01:53:55,520
before we dig into the budget and our

2771
01:53:55,520 --> 01:53:56,800
conversations, we will go ahead and take

2772
01:53:56,800 --> 01:53:59,679
our 8:00 break. So, 10 minute be back

2773
01:53:59,679 --> 01:54:02,480
here at 8:05 and then we will continue

2774
01:54:02,480 --> 01:54:04,480
the conversation.

2775
01:54:04,480 --> 01:54:11,030
Hey, Josh.

2776
01:54:11,040 --> 01:54:12,880
» Okay. All right. We are back from our

2777
01:54:12,880 --> 01:54:16,400
recess. With that, I guess I will now

2778
01:54:16,400 --> 01:54:18,239
open it up to the governing body or

2779
01:54:18,239 --> 01:54:21,119
actually does the city manager have a

2780
01:54:21,119 --> 01:54:21,760
>> Thank you, mayor. I

2781
01:54:21,760 --> 01:54:23,679
>> see spreadsheets on my screen. So,

2782
01:54:23,679 --> 01:54:25,920
>> yeah. So, um to start the discussion, I

2783
01:54:25,920 --> 01:54:26,960
wanted to ask for council's

2784
01:54:26,960 --> 01:54:28,639
consideration of this of these proposed

2785
01:54:28,639 --> 01:54:31,679
amendments to the budget. Um again, we

2786
01:54:31,679 --> 01:54:37,199
discussed some of these uh in previous briefings. And so, just

2787
01:54:37,199 --> 01:54:39,119
kind of wanted to go one by one for

2788
01:54:39,119 --> 01:54:41,280
council's uh consideration of these as

2789
01:54:41,280 --> 01:54:44,880
we look to adopt a budget. Josh.

2790
01:54:44,880 --> 01:54:46,639
>> So, yeah, I'll we like city manager

2791
01:54:46,639 --> 01:54:48,000
said, we reviewed a lot of these last

2792
01:54:48,000 --> 01:54:49,360
week. There have been some slight

2793
01:54:49,360 --> 01:54:52,000
changes, but um the first one of note is

2794
01:54:52,000 --> 01:54:54,400
that that first line item where there's

2795
01:54:54,400 --> 01:54:55,599
been a lot of talks about having a city

2796
01:54:55,599 --> 01:54:57,599
auditor. So, a way to get the ball

2797
01:54:57,599 --> 01:54:59,760
rolling on that would be to reclassify a

2798
01:54:59,760 --> 01:55:02,080
current position um to be that position

2799
01:55:02,080 --> 01:55:03,199
and the council and city manager can

2800
01:55:03,199 --> 01:55:04,800
work in tandem. That that doesn't

2801
01:55:04,800 --> 01:55:06,719
necessarily have to have a expense line

2802
01:55:06,719 --> 01:55:08,080
item change since that money is already

2803
01:55:08,080 --> 01:55:09,440
levied for in the budget. This is more

2804
01:55:09,440 --> 01:55:10,639
of an acknowledgement if the council

2805
01:55:10,639 --> 01:55:16,719
wants to go that direction that that's a footnote in the budget. Um and then we

2806
01:55:16,719 --> 01:55:18,880
talked about amendment number two

2807
01:55:18,880 --> 01:55:20,400
through

2808
01:55:20,400 --> 01:55:23,520
um six last week um in regards to the um

2809
01:55:23,520 --> 01:55:25,599
just some just lower expenditures for

2810
01:55:25,599 --> 01:55:27,760
various line items. But one change is on

2811
01:55:27,760 --> 01:55:30,159
the revenue side is that since that

2812
01:55:30,159 --> 01:55:32,080
contract SRO contract is for half the

2813
01:55:32,080 --> 01:55:34,000
year, we had $300,000 really that should

2814
01:55:34,000 --> 01:55:36,080
be $150,000 less since they pay in

2815
01:55:36,080 --> 01:55:38,159
quarterly installments. But on the flip

2816
01:55:38,159 --> 01:55:41,119
side, we'll have to um PD since they did

2817
01:55:41,119 --> 01:55:42,719
not get a grant, we'll have to fund some

2818
01:55:42,719 --> 01:55:45,040
um printers for their services. So

2819
01:55:45,040 --> 01:55:48,159
that's an offset. Um we talked about row

2820
01:55:48,159 --> 01:55:50,800
nine or amendment number nine about uh

2821
01:55:50,800 --> 01:55:52,719
having the internal payment preservation

2822
01:55:52,719 --> 01:55:54,159
program. That's outside of the general

2823
01:55:54,159 --> 01:55:56,880
fund. Um and then also a decrease in

2824
01:55:56,880 --> 01:55:58,960
revenue to the insurance fund since we

2825
01:55:58,960 --> 01:56:02,960
lowered that on um line five. And then

2826
01:56:02,960 --> 01:56:04,880
finally, I sent an email out a couple

2827
01:56:04,880 --> 01:56:07,440
times on this, but currently we have

2828
01:56:07,440 --> 01:56:10,560
embedded in the budget $28,000 of

2829
01:56:10,560 --> 01:56:14,159
revenue and $1.76 million thereabout um

2830
01:56:14,159 --> 01:56:17,440
of expenditures in the general fund. So

2831
01:56:17,440 --> 01:56:19,040
related to planning. So we're going to

2832
01:56:19,040 --> 01:56:20,800
move that revenue and expenses out into

2833
01:56:20,800 --> 01:56:23,599
the 616 planning development fund.

2834
01:56:23,599 --> 01:56:25,920
However, if we do that, there's that

2835
01:56:25,920 --> 01:56:27,440
fund would be in the red. So it still

2836
01:56:27,440 --> 01:56:28,880
requires a subsidy. So we're just

2837
01:56:28,880 --> 01:56:30,880
literally moving money out to still

2838
01:56:30,880 --> 01:56:32,320
subsidize it. That way we can better

2839
01:56:32,320 --> 01:56:34,239
track it going forward. And the the

2840
01:56:34,239 --> 01:56:36,480
hopes is if you raise fees over time

2841
01:56:36,480 --> 01:56:38,639
given levels of demand that that will

2842
01:56:38,639 --> 01:56:39,920
eventually be self- sustaining, but

2843
01:56:39,920 --> 01:56:42,000
that's all predicated on supply and

2844
01:56:42,000 --> 01:56:47,589
demand within the city market.

2845
01:56:47,599 --> 01:56:50,320
» Any questions specific to this these

2846
01:56:50,320 --> 01:56:51,520
changes?

2847
01:56:51,520 --> 01:56:54,719
>> Council member Kell. Now on that uh city

2848
01:56:54,719 --> 01:56:56,320
auditor is that is that's just kind of a

2849
01:56:56,320 --> 01:56:58,400
place marker on that salary because I

2850
01:56:58,400 --> 01:57:00,800
know it's you know

2851
01:57:00,800 --> 01:57:03,040
to get someone

2852
01:57:03,040 --> 01:57:06,480
that's for a city our size. Uh just

2853
01:57:06,480 --> 01:57:08,880
looking at average salary we're probably

2854
01:57:08,880 --> 01:57:10,320
going to need to bump that up a little

2855
01:57:10,320 --> 01:57:13,040
bit just to get to be able to compete to

2856
01:57:13,040 --> 01:57:14,960
actually get a qualified person. So, so

2857
01:57:14,960 --> 01:57:17,440
a couple things. We've looked at what

2858
01:57:17,440 --> 01:57:21,440
that I think we're right in line with that actually in looking at it cuz

2859
01:57:21,440 --> 01:57:23,520
that's going to be their only job. And

2860
01:57:23,520 --> 01:57:25,280
so, we did look at some other cities and

2861
01:57:25,280 --> 01:57:26,960
if that's what we come down to and we

2862
01:57:26,960 --> 01:57:28,560
need to have that conversation, we can.

2863
01:57:28,560 --> 01:57:30,000
But this at least gives us an option to

2864
01:57:30,000 --> 01:57:32,480
start that search sooner rather than

2865
01:57:32,480 --> 01:57:35,119
later. So, but I think we're going to be

2866
01:57:35,119 --> 01:57:36,800
okay just based on looking at other

2867
01:57:36,800 --> 01:57:38,239
cities and the market and some other

2868
01:57:38,239 --> 01:57:38,880
things. Right.

2869
01:57:38,880 --> 01:57:39,360
>> Thank you.

2870
01:57:39,360 --> 01:57:40,880
>> At least that's the hope based on the

2871
01:57:40,880 --> 01:57:49,510
information I've looked up.

2872
01:57:49,520 --> 01:57:52,080
I think what I'm going to Oh, sorry. Did

2873
01:57:52,080 --> 01:57:53,920
you have other comments on this?

2874
01:57:53,920 --> 01:57:58,629
>> Oh, Council Member Miller.

2875
01:57:58,639 --> 01:58:00,320
» Um,

2876
01:58:00,320 --> 01:58:02,080
proposed amend number seven, the

2877
01:58:02,080 --> 01:58:04,719
decrease in the SRO program. I

2878
01:58:04,719 --> 01:58:06,719
understand where we're at. I get the big

2879
01:58:06,719 --> 01:58:09,520
picture. Um,

2880
01:58:09,520 --> 01:58:12,960
but I I still don't want to see change

2881
01:58:12,960 --> 01:58:16,320
in there until there's an adequate

2882
01:58:16,320 --> 01:58:18,880
situation for

2883
01:58:18,880 --> 01:58:20,960
USD501

2884
01:58:20,960 --> 01:58:24,000
to be able to do their part. I know that

2885
01:58:24,000 --> 01:58:26,560
they're trying to come up to something.

2886
01:58:26,560 --> 01:58:29,760
Um, I just don't want to see

2887
01:58:29,760 --> 01:58:32,000
change on our end until we can make sure

2888
01:58:32,000 --> 01:58:34,159
that that they will be able to take over

2889
01:58:34,159 --> 01:58:36,639
the program in a way that the community

2890
01:58:36,639 --> 01:58:41,119
feels safe in because it is very clear

2891
01:58:41,119 --> 01:58:43,920
that they don't think they can do it. I

2892
01:58:43,920 --> 01:58:45,360
don't know why they don't believe they

2893
01:58:45,360 --> 01:58:47,199
can do it, but I hope that they can get

2894
01:58:47,199 --> 01:58:49,440
to a place to where they can. But I hope

2895
01:58:49,440 --> 01:58:51,440
that we can continue to help funding

2896
01:58:51,440 --> 01:58:53,360
towards that.

2897
01:58:53,360 --> 01:58:55,440
That's just my thought. I I'm going to

2898
01:58:55,440 --> 01:59:01,030
stand on that.

2899
01:59:01,040 --> 01:59:03,679
» Council member Cal,

2900
01:59:03,679 --> 01:59:05,920
>> I'm I'm in agreeance with Council Member

2901
01:59:05,920 --> 01:59:08,960
Miller on that. Uh I know the TCAL

2902
01:59:08,960 --> 01:59:10,880
teaching position, I I I could see

2903
01:59:10,880 --> 01:59:12,719
maybe, you know, let them just take care

2904
01:59:12,719 --> 01:59:14,639
of that themselves. Uh but when it comes

2905
01:59:14,639 --> 01:59:17,440
to the actual SRO officers,

2906
01:59:17,440 --> 01:59:22,960
uh until it's gone, done for. Contract's over.

2907
01:59:22,960 --> 01:59:25,440
No, no, no more no more negotiating. I'd

2908
01:59:25,440 --> 01:59:27,040
like to see it stay there because if

2909
01:59:27,040 --> 01:59:28,800
we're planning for it to be gone and

2910
01:59:28,800 --> 01:59:30,639
then we go to negotiate, now we got to

2911
01:59:30,639 --> 01:59:32,800
find another place. So, I'd almost

2912
01:59:32,800 --> 01:59:34,880
rather keep that in there rather than

2913
01:59:34,880 --> 01:59:38,000
have to rearrange later. Council member

2914
01:59:38,000 --> 01:59:40,639
Ortiz.

2915
01:59:40,639 --> 01:59:42,159
>> Guess I'm not understanding because

2916
01:59:42,159 --> 01:59:44,719
it'll be in there until the contract

2917
01:59:44,719 --> 01:59:50,950
ends in May and June. Um

2918
01:59:50,960 --> 01:59:54,719
they they um we've done there they we've

2919
01:59:54,719 --> 01:59:56,880
had a lot of discussion. We've had a lot

2920
01:59:56,880 --> 02:00:01,840
of discussion for over a year

2921
02:00:01,840 --> 02:00:03,599
and

2922
02:00:03,599 --> 02:00:07,360
I feel confident that they will be okay.

2923
02:00:07,360 --> 02:00:10,400
Um their director of safety, he wanted

2924
02:00:10,400 --> 02:00:15,280
this um because we had an issue of do

2925
02:00:15,280 --> 02:00:18,159
our officers answer to him or do they

2926
02:00:18,159 --> 02:00:21,119
answer to the chief? And I agree with

2927
02:00:21,119 --> 02:00:23,840
Mr. Avery at that meeting and he said it

2928
02:00:23,840 --> 02:00:26,000
doesn't matter what we do but the one

2929
02:00:26,000 --> 02:00:28,080
thing that we need to get that we need

2930
02:00:28,080 --> 02:00:30,880
to straighten out straighten out is to

2931
02:00:30,880 --> 02:00:34,239
make sure that they know who they answer

2932
02:00:34,239 --> 02:00:36,960
to cuz they're public health and safety.

2933
02:00:36,960 --> 02:00:40,960
Um, the judge talked about how he has to

2934
02:00:40,960 --> 02:00:44,480
swear them in TPS

2935
02:00:44,480 --> 02:00:47,440
and our chief has said he would do the

2936
02:00:47,440 --> 02:00:48,960
following.

2937
02:00:48,960 --> 02:00:51,199
Campus security assessments, including

2938
02:00:51,199 --> 02:00:54,000
walkthroughs and safety recommendations

2939
02:00:54,000 --> 02:00:56,000
for free.

2940
02:00:56,000 --> 02:00:57,679
Critical incident response and

2941
02:00:57,679 --> 02:00:59,599
coordination consistent with citywide

2942
02:00:59,599 --> 02:01:01,280
protocols.

2943
02:01:01,280 --> 02:01:03,520
Participate in safety planning meetings,

2944
02:01:03,520 --> 02:01:05,599
emergency drills, and preparedness

2945
02:01:05,599 --> 02:01:07,840
efforts. Access

2946
02:01:07,840 --> 02:01:10,239
to community outreach programs including

2947
02:01:10,239 --> 02:01:12,880
police police athletic league PAL

2948
02:01:12,880 --> 02:01:16,080
program. Access to investig to

2949
02:01:16,080 --> 02:01:18,960
investigative services for major crimes

2950
02:01:18,960 --> 02:01:21,360
that are beyond the scope of USD501

2951
02:01:21,360 --> 02:01:25,199
investigative comp capabilities.

2952
02:01:25,199 --> 02:01:27,520
Ongoing cons consultation with the

2953
02:01:27,520 --> 02:01:30,800
USD501 director of public safety on

2954
02:01:30,800 --> 02:01:32,880
security concerns, threats or emerging

2955
02:01:32,880 --> 02:01:34,480
issues.

2956
02:01:34,480 --> 02:01:37,040
Joint deescalation and active shooter

2957
02:01:37,040 --> 02:01:39,280
training with USD501

2958
02:01:39,280 --> 02:01:41,280
police personnel.

2959
02:01:41,280 --> 02:01:44,000
Access to daily shift recaps for

2960
02:01:44,000 --> 02:01:47,119
intelligence sharing including emerging

2961
02:01:47,119 --> 02:01:49,440
trends or concerns.

2962
02:01:49,440 --> 02:01:51,760
City crime trim believes to share

2963
02:01:51,760 --> 02:01:54,719
relevant youth related information.

2964
02:01:54,719 --> 02:01:56,480
Threat assessment support with

2965
02:01:56,480 --> 02:01:59,040
specialized police insights.

2966
02:01:59,040 --> 02:02:01,440
Insight is needed. Emergency

2967
02:02:01,440 --> 02:02:03,920
communication consult consultation,

2968
02:02:03,920 --> 02:02:06,719
including inoperability and notification

2969
02:02:06,719 --> 02:02:09,920
protocol guidance, access to specialized

2970
02:02:09,920 --> 02:02:13,040
units when appropriate, including K9

2971
02:02:13,040 --> 02:02:15,199
support or cyber crimes cons

2972
02:02:15,199 --> 02:02:16,719
consultation,

2973
02:02:16,719 --> 02:02:19,119
support for reunification planning

2974
02:02:19,119 --> 02:02:22,080
during major incidents, assistance with

2975
02:02:22,080 --> 02:02:24,400
updating district safety policies and

2976
02:02:24,400 --> 02:02:28,239
procedure. participate in joint tabletop

2977
02:02:28,239 --> 02:02:31,040
talk exercise to strengthen coordinate

2978
02:02:31,040 --> 02:02:34,480
coordinated response capabilities.

2979
02:02:34,480 --> 02:02:37,040
These services ensure we remain a

2980
02:02:37,040 --> 02:02:39,760
reliable partner to USD501 while

2981
02:02:39,760 --> 02:02:42,000
allowing us to deploy our staffing and

2982
02:02:42,000 --> 02:02:44,320
resources in the most effective manner

2983
02:02:44,320 --> 02:02:47,520
for the entire city. And that says a

2984
02:02:47,520 --> 02:02:49,920
handful. He's doing all of that for

2985
02:02:49,920 --> 02:02:52,480
free. We cannot continue to go on to

2986
02:02:52,480 --> 02:02:54,960
have a 7624.

2987
02:02:54,960 --> 02:02:57,760
I believe um their counter offer was

2988
02:02:57,760 --> 02:03:00,800
360. We pay over a million dollars to

2989
02:03:00,800 --> 02:03:03,760
have those SRO's there. They get a lot

2990
02:03:03,760 --> 02:03:05,920
of our retired officers who are not the

2991
02:03:05,920 --> 02:03:07,440
bottom of the barrel as they were

2992
02:03:07,440 --> 02:03:10,000
referred to who are officers. Cochran

2993
02:03:10,000 --> 02:03:12,560
has been a chief, has been an intern,

2994
02:03:12,560 --> 02:03:14,880
the director of public health and of

2995
02:03:14,880 --> 02:03:17,920
their safety. He has been a a chief. He

2996
02:03:17,920 --> 02:03:20,000
has been an intern city manager. He has

2997
02:03:20,000 --> 02:03:23,199
been an officer. So he knows he knows

2998
02:03:23,199 --> 02:03:25,440
how to train them. What we need to have

2999
02:03:25,440 --> 02:03:27,920
moving forward is them to be trained.

3000
02:03:27,920 --> 02:03:30,080
That's what we need forward. I love our

3001
02:03:30,080 --> 02:03:33,199
SRO's. I love our kids,

3002
02:03:33,199 --> 02:03:35,520
but I cannot continue to sit here and

3003
02:03:35,520 --> 02:03:37,679
chop away at different parts of the

3004
02:03:37,679 --> 02:03:40,719
budget and say, "No, no, we're going to

3005
02:03:40,719 --> 02:03:43,599
do this." So, that's why I support it

3006
02:03:43,599 --> 02:03:46,639
wholeheartedly. We asked our chief to go

3007
02:03:46,639 --> 02:03:48,880
through and look through his budget

3008
02:03:48,880 --> 02:03:52,080
which is however much percent Josh you

3009
02:03:52,080 --> 02:03:57,030
can tell me of of of

3010
02:03:57,040 --> 02:03:59,040
how much how much of it is personnel in

3011
02:03:59,040 --> 02:04:00,159
the police department

3012
02:04:00,159 --> 02:04:01,599
>> of the just the police department like

3013
02:04:01,599 --> 02:04:02,560
91%.

3014
02:04:02,560 --> 02:04:04,800
>> 91%

3015
02:04:04,800 --> 02:04:06,560
and we say well what are we going to

3016
02:04:06,560 --> 02:04:09,840
cut? What are we going to cut? Nope.

3017
02:04:09,840 --> 02:04:15,599
that, you know, we've done it for for 20 years. 20 years, just like every

3018
02:04:15,599 --> 02:04:17,280
other there's a lot of contracts being

3019
02:04:17,280 --> 02:04:18,719
looked at, and I will agree with the

3020
02:04:18,719 --> 02:04:20,960
mayor. We're going to have to make some

3021
02:04:20,960 --> 02:04:23,840
tough decisions. Some tough decisions.

3022
02:04:23,840 --> 02:04:26,719
So, again, you know, I've had a lot of

3023
02:04:26,719 --> 02:04:28,560
parents contact me that they don't

3024
02:04:28,560 --> 02:04:32,480
understand the whole ordeal. Um, Marcus,

3025
02:04:32,480 --> 02:04:34,719
when I was in high, junior high, we

3026
02:04:34,719 --> 02:04:36,320
didn't have SRO's. You either got your

3027
02:04:36,320 --> 02:04:38,320
butt whipped or you got or you didn't

3028
02:04:38,320 --> 02:04:40,320
and you came on out of there. And guess

3029
02:04:40,320 --> 02:04:41,599
what? I didn't take too many butt

3030
02:04:41,599 --> 02:04:43,360
whipping. But that's that's the

3031
02:04:43,360 --> 02:04:45,679
realistics of it. And you know what? I

3032
02:04:45,679 --> 02:04:47,280
said this in that meeting and I'll say

3033
02:04:47,280 --> 02:04:49,520
it again. And I do like what Mr. Avery

3034
02:04:49,520 --> 02:04:51,760
said. Mr. Avery said he said he was a

3035
02:04:51,760 --> 02:04:55,360
SRO and he would even have them walk

3036
02:04:55,360 --> 02:04:57,520
through, you know, that they could do

3037
02:04:57,520 --> 02:04:59,760
that to help them. But I said this in

3038
02:04:59,760 --> 02:05:02,080
that meeting and I'll say it again. the

3039
02:05:02,080 --> 02:05:04,480
guys that they have there, they need to

3040
02:05:04,480 --> 02:05:06,159
come out from them monitors and they

3041
02:05:06,159 --> 02:05:07,599
need to get in them hallways and they

3042
02:05:07,599 --> 02:05:09,440
need to talk to them kids and they need

3043
02:05:09,440 --> 02:05:12,080
to make a relationship with them. That's

3044
02:05:12,080 --> 02:05:15,199
who needs to do it. We have teachers, we

3045
02:05:15,199 --> 02:05:17,280
have parents

3046
02:05:17,280 --> 02:05:19,280
at the high school level who are who are

3047
02:05:19,280 --> 02:05:20,880
breaking up lights. That's not their

3048
02:05:20,880 --> 02:05:24,000
job. That's not their job. A gentleman

3049
02:05:24,000 --> 02:05:25,679
near and dear to me, he quit. He said,

3050
02:05:25,679 --> 02:05:27,360
"I" he said, "I'm the only one that's

3051
02:05:27,360 --> 02:05:30,159
walking these halls at a high school."

3052
02:05:30,159 --> 02:05:32,159
And he said, "You know what? I can go

3053
02:05:32,159 --> 02:05:34,560
somewhere else. So, they need to figure

3054
02:05:34,560 --> 02:05:37,440
it out. Thank you. That's why I support

3055
02:05:37,440 --> 02:05:39,040
it.

3056
02:05:39,040 --> 02:05:42,870
>> Council member Kell

3057
02:05:42,880 --> 02:05:45,360
and I I get more back to having an

3058
02:05:45,360 --> 02:05:48,800
inside person helps that relationship

3059
02:05:48,800 --> 02:05:51,040
happen because sometimes our priorities

3060
02:05:51,040 --> 02:05:53,040
may not be 501's priorities. Uh, a good

3061
02:05:53,040 --> 02:05:55,199
example right now we've had a lot of car

3062
02:05:55,199 --> 02:05:57,520
breakins and

3063
02:05:57,520 --> 02:05:59,040
um

3064
02:05:59,040 --> 02:06:00,560
porch thievery and things like that.

3065
02:06:00,560 --> 02:06:02,000
they've been caught on video. They're

3066
02:06:02,000 --> 02:06:04,239
middle school, high school age kids. We

3067
02:06:04,239 --> 02:06:06,800
can send that over to TP uh the the 501

3068
02:06:06,800 --> 02:06:08,159
police and say, "Hey, can you help

3069
02:06:08,159 --> 02:06:09,520
identify?" If they're like, "I would,

3070
02:06:09,520 --> 02:06:11,599
it's not our problem." having that

3071
02:06:11,599 --> 02:06:14,239
inside person there that knows who these

3072
02:06:14,239 --> 02:06:16,320
students are

3073
02:06:16,320 --> 02:06:18,080
can sit there and maybe help out even if

3074
02:06:18,080 --> 02:06:19,440
there is talking to those kids and

3075
02:06:19,440 --> 02:06:21,040
trying to get them when we have certain

3076
02:06:21,040 --> 02:06:22,880
things going on where we have a lot of

3077
02:06:22,880 --> 02:06:25,119
middle school high school age uh issues

3078
02:06:25,119 --> 02:06:26,880
going on where it's maybe breaking into

3079
02:06:26,880 --> 02:06:28,639
cars and things like that they can do

3080
02:06:28,639 --> 02:06:31,199
presentations and do do educational

3081
02:06:31,199 --> 02:06:34,079
things for those where we ask t the 501

3082
02:06:34,079 --> 02:06:36,079
police to do it they say no we don't we

3083
02:06:36,079 --> 02:06:38,239
don't feel like doing that but then

3084
02:06:38,239 --> 02:06:39,520
there also when it comes to this

3085
02:06:39,520 --> 02:06:41,520
planning of things. They know what's

3086
02:06:41,520 --> 02:06:43,599
going on in the school having our our

3087
02:06:43,599 --> 02:06:46,000
five our TPD in there. So, when it comes

3088
02:06:46,000 --> 02:06:47,760
to planning how they're going to work

3089
02:06:47,760 --> 02:06:51,360
with 501, they're not coming into a cold

3090
02:06:51,360 --> 02:06:53,119
situation, not knowing what's going on

3091
02:06:53,119 --> 02:06:55,199
in schools, not knowing the heartbeat of

3092
02:06:55,199 --> 02:06:57,599
that school is, and coming up with a

3093
02:06:57,599 --> 02:06:59,440
plan just because, well, here's a new

3094
02:06:59,440 --> 02:07:02,159
hot idea. We're going to go with this.

3095
02:07:02,159 --> 02:07:03,280
they can sit there through their

3096
02:07:03,280 --> 02:07:05,520
experience and say this is you know I

3097
02:07:05,520 --> 02:07:08,480
don't like your proposed plan because of

3098
02:07:08,480 --> 02:07:10,880
these reasons of this school don't work

3099
02:07:10,880 --> 02:07:12,639
together right having an inside person

3100
02:07:12,639 --> 02:07:15,920
allows 501 and TPD to to really work

3101
02:07:15,920 --> 02:07:17,760
together

3102
02:07:17,760 --> 02:07:20,480
rather than having another police force

3103
02:07:20,480 --> 02:07:23,280
in our town that may not even want to

3104
02:07:23,280 --> 02:07:27,599
work with us at some points and um like

3105
02:07:27,599 --> 02:07:29,760
you said I mean I've seen it personally

3106
02:07:29,760 --> 02:07:31,280
just sitting in the monitor room

3107
02:07:31,280 --> 02:07:32,800
watching those monitors not being in the

3108
02:07:32,800 --> 02:07:35,199
hallways cuz I use a substitute for 501.

3109
02:07:35,199 --> 02:07:36,560
We can't force them. You know, we can

3110
02:07:36,560 --> 02:07:38,000
say we want them to get out out in the

3111
02:07:38,000 --> 02:07:40,079
hallway, but we can't force that issue.

3112
02:07:40,079 --> 02:07:42,239
501 will have to force that and they may

3113
02:07:42,239 --> 02:07:44,000
not enforce it themselves. So, at least

3114
02:07:44,000 --> 02:07:46,079
having that inside person in there, I

3115
02:07:46,079 --> 02:07:49,440
think allows for us to have somewhat of

3116
02:07:49,440 --> 02:07:51,520
a safety measure for for our students

3117
02:07:51,520 --> 02:07:54,079
and our teachers because our teachers,

3118
02:07:54,079 --> 02:07:55,199
you're saying breaking up fights, but

3119
02:07:55,199 --> 02:07:56,560
our teachers are also being assaulted

3120
02:07:56,560 --> 02:08:01,199
right now on on a a very scary level.

3121
02:08:01,199 --> 02:08:02,960
And

3122
02:08:02,960 --> 02:08:05,199
this way, you know, it allows, I think,

3123
02:08:05,199 --> 02:08:06,960
a little bit more when we have those

3124
02:08:06,960 --> 02:08:09,360
active SRO out in the hallways to know

3125
02:08:09,360 --> 02:08:11,199
what's going on and to be able to react

3126
02:08:11,199 --> 02:08:13,599
to things a lot quicker. Thank you,

3127
02:08:13,599 --> 02:08:15,199
>> Council Member Valdivia.

3128
02:08:15,199 --> 02:08:17,520
>> Thank you, Mayor. As stated before, I

3129
02:08:17,520 --> 02:08:19,199
totally support and continue to support

3130
02:08:19,199 --> 02:08:21,280
the chief and city manager in making

3131
02:08:21,280 --> 02:08:23,840
this very hard decision. With everything

3132
02:08:23,840 --> 02:08:26,560
that Councilwoman Ortiz

3133
02:08:26,560 --> 02:08:29,760
just read off, there is every indication

3134
02:08:29,760 --> 02:08:32,639
that this this program is not being

3135
02:08:32,639 --> 02:08:36,480
dropped cold. Uh I think that perhaps

3136
02:08:36,480 --> 02:08:39,280
people underestimate uh Chief Cochran or

3137
02:08:39,280 --> 02:08:42,400
whatever he's calling himself now. Um,

3138
02:08:42,400 --> 02:08:43,920
and I think they definitely

3139
02:08:43,920 --> 02:08:46,960
underestimate Anderson because she was

3140
02:08:46,960 --> 02:08:53,119
quite uh um adept at bringing forth a

3141
02:08:53,119 --> 02:08:56,000
number of teachers and students etc. I

3142
02:08:56,000 --> 02:08:57,920
think what needed to be said, mayor,

3143
02:08:57,920 --> 02:09:00,719
when you said it the other night, uh,

3144
02:09:00,719 --> 02:09:02,639
was something very important, and I know

3145
02:09:02,639 --> 02:09:04,480
that you may have hesitated a little bit

3146
02:09:04,480 --> 02:09:07,280
on that, but someone from the leadership

3147
02:09:07,280 --> 02:09:09,679
realm that was at that meeting needed to

3148
02:09:09,679 --> 02:09:12,239
state exactly what went on at that

3149
02:09:12,239 --> 02:09:14,719
meeting. All players that were at that

3150
02:09:14,719 --> 02:09:17,920
table and that this was not a done deal.

3151
02:09:17,920 --> 02:09:21,040
that all of you have stated behind you

3152
02:09:21,040 --> 02:09:23,599
know talking to colleagues or whatever

3153
02:09:23,599 --> 02:09:26,960
but you spoke it and that was that the

3154
02:09:26,960 --> 02:09:29,520
communication was supposed to continue

3155
02:09:29,520 --> 02:09:33,679
on. The chief sent us how many emails

3156
02:09:33,679 --> 02:09:35,920
spelling out everything to us that this

3157
02:09:35,920 --> 02:09:39,199
was not going to be a cold dead end

3158
02:09:39,199 --> 02:09:40,719
street that there was going to be a

3159
02:09:40,719 --> 02:09:43,840
continuation going on. And I consider it

3160
02:09:43,840 --> 02:09:45,440
pretty

3161
02:09:45,440 --> 02:09:48,079
it it almost seems to me that there was

3162
02:09:48,079 --> 02:09:52,880
a side a sideswiping almost of some of

3163
02:09:52,880 --> 02:09:55,840
the folks with 501 after all of these

3164
02:09:55,840 --> 02:09:57,840
meetings and all this communication and

3165
02:09:57,840 --> 02:10:00,159
all of this communication with the

3166
02:10:00,159 --> 02:10:02,400
governing body at at different meetings

3167
02:10:02,400 --> 02:10:04,639
went through. So again, I think what

3168
02:10:04,639 --> 02:10:06,960
Councilwoman Ortiz brought through was

3169
02:10:06,960 --> 02:10:09,119
so much information

3170
02:10:09,119 --> 02:10:11,840
and I think that they really have had a

3171
02:10:11,840 --> 02:10:14,159
hesitancy in the meeting that I had with

3172
02:10:14,159 --> 02:10:17,119
them to get their campus security, which

3173
02:10:17,119 --> 02:10:19,360
they were adamant that it be said campus

3174
02:10:19,360 --> 02:10:20,960
security

3175
02:10:20,960 --> 02:10:23,360
uh getting them trained and up to par,

3176
02:10:23,360 --> 02:10:25,199
especially knowing how many of them are

3177
02:10:25,199 --> 02:10:27,599
ex law enforcement. Thank you,

3178
02:10:27,599 --> 02:10:30,880
>> Council Member Miller.

3179
02:10:30,880 --> 02:10:34,480
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I appreciate the

3180
02:10:34,480 --> 02:10:38,000
thoughts of my colleagues here. Um, and

3181
02:10:38,000 --> 02:10:42,159
I understand um the options that the

3182
02:10:42,159 --> 02:10:44,239
chief and city manager are making

3183
02:10:44,239 --> 02:10:47,520
available to the 501 district um as a

3184
02:10:47,520 --> 02:10:49,440
continuation of support. It's just not

3185
02:10:49,440 --> 02:10:53,360
as a financial one. Um, I think big

3186
02:10:53,360 --> 02:10:57,119
picture we probably should get to that.

3187
02:10:57,119 --> 02:11:00,000
So, I'm not totally against it, but what

3188
02:11:00,000 --> 02:11:04,079
I am against is understanding that this

3189
02:11:04,079 --> 02:11:06,239
has been a conversation

3190
02:11:06,239 --> 02:11:10,800
for a little while. Um, I would like a

3191
02:11:10,800 --> 02:11:12,320
little bit of an onboarding or

3192
02:11:12,320 --> 02:11:13,840
offboarding, I guess you could say, a

3193
02:11:13,840 --> 02:11:17,920
little bit of a ramp. You know, those those ramps that they have for

3194
02:11:17,920 --> 02:11:20,800
semiis when they go off when there those

3195
02:11:20,800 --> 02:11:22,800
hills,

3196
02:11:22,800 --> 02:11:25,040
that little ramp that allows it to slow

3197
02:11:25,040 --> 02:11:27,599
down until it gets to a point to where

3198
02:11:27,599 --> 02:11:29,360
then they can take over and then they

3199
02:11:29,360 --> 02:11:31,119
can stop and be safe for everybody

3200
02:11:31,119 --> 02:11:37,030
involved. I don't

3201
02:11:37,040 --> 02:11:40,320
I am not a 501 in school every single

3202
02:11:40,320 --> 02:11:44,639
day employee ever every as of now.

3203
02:11:44,639 --> 02:11:46,400
I still work at the school. I still

3204
02:11:46,400 --> 02:11:48,400
coach there. I still support that

3205
02:11:48,400 --> 02:11:51,440
school. But um right at school, that

3206
02:11:51,440 --> 02:11:53,280
district,

3207
02:11:53,280 --> 02:11:55,199
but that's um that's not the district

3208
02:11:55,199 --> 02:11:56,719
that I went through middle school and

3209
02:11:56,719 --> 02:11:59,599
high school at.

3210
02:11:59,599 --> 02:12:02,079
I went through one that had their SRO

3211
02:12:02,079 --> 02:12:04,639
supported all the time.

3212
02:12:04,639 --> 02:12:08,079
And I knew mine. I still know him to

3213
02:12:08,079 --> 02:12:10,560
this day. So when I was at Shauny

3214
02:12:10,560 --> 02:12:11,760
Heights for middle school and high

3215
02:12:11,760 --> 02:12:14,960
school that was important and I can't

3216
02:12:14,960 --> 02:12:16,800
compare I can't compare our budget to

3217
02:12:16,800 --> 02:12:19,119
the counties

3218
02:12:19,119 --> 02:12:21,440
obviously different

3219
02:12:21,440 --> 02:12:23,840
but I do know that their schools don't

3220
02:12:23,840 --> 02:12:26,159
have to pay for their officers to be

3221
02:12:26,159 --> 02:12:28,639
there

3222
02:12:28,639 --> 02:12:31,679
but they are

3223
02:12:31,679 --> 02:12:33,119
there's ever overtime and the school

3224
02:12:33,119 --> 02:12:35,920
pays for it but the county finds that

3225
02:12:35,920 --> 02:12:38,960
important to do

3226
02:12:38,960 --> 02:12:40,480
So, I just hope that we can continue to

3227
02:12:40,480 --> 02:12:43,280
do that as well. Even if we have to to

3228
02:12:43,280 --> 02:12:45,040
change the program up to where it's more

3229
02:12:45,040 --> 02:12:48,079
of a support role, cool.

3230
02:12:48,079 --> 02:12:49,760
But, uh, let's let's just not drop it

3231
02:12:49,760 --> 02:12:51,920
next year. Allow the district to be able

3232
02:12:51,920 --> 02:12:54,480
to find some funding in the coming years

3233
02:12:54,480 --> 02:12:59,030
to get that done.

3234
02:12:59,040 --> 02:13:01,040
» So, I think I've been pretty clear that

3235
02:13:01,040 --> 02:13:03,520
I wouldn't support this change, but for

3236
02:13:03,520 --> 02:13:05,280
some reasons. First of all, I get

3237
02:13:05,280 --> 02:13:06,719
frustrations at times with some of the

3238
02:13:06,719 --> 02:13:08,480
current officers that may be 501

3239
02:13:08,480 --> 02:13:09,920
employees, but I'm going to circle back

3240
02:13:09,920 --> 02:13:12,079
and I was clear last week I got a little

3241
02:13:12,079 --> 02:13:13,119
offended when they kept calling them

3242
02:13:13,119 --> 02:13:15,119
security guards.

3243
02:13:15,119 --> 02:13:16,880
They are not security guards. I want to

3244
02:13:16,880 --> 02:13:19,360
re reiterate this. They are certified

3245
02:13:19,360 --> 02:13:22,000
police officers and there are 16 of them

3246
02:13:22,000 --> 02:13:24,719
that work for 501. And I've also been

3247
02:13:24,719 --> 02:13:26,960
told by 501 if they don't have to pay

3248
02:13:26,960 --> 02:13:28,480
into this contract, they can actually

3249
02:13:28,480 --> 02:13:31,440
hire more officers and and to add to

3250
02:13:31,440 --> 02:13:34,880
that 16. And so again, they have a

3251
02:13:34,880 --> 02:13:36,800
certified police department that they

3252
02:13:36,800 --> 02:13:39,119
can use and incorporate and there's no

3253
02:13:39,119 --> 02:13:40,800
reason in conversations that we had with

3254
02:13:40,800 --> 02:13:43,280
them, they are absolutely open to taking

3255
02:13:43,280 --> 02:13:46,239
support services from us, which we are

3256
02:13:46,239 --> 02:13:49,440
now offering at no cost to them because

3257
02:13:49,440 --> 02:13:51,599
we can offer those services if if we

3258
02:13:51,599 --> 02:13:54,320
don't have this contract.

3259
02:13:54,320 --> 02:13:55,840
There's nothing that stops us from

3260
02:13:55,840 --> 02:13:57,760
continuing to have conversations with

3261
02:13:57,760 --> 02:14:00,560
501 if we even leave what we have in

3262
02:14:00,560 --> 02:14:02,320
place. In fact, I'm worried about the

3263
02:14:02,320 --> 02:14:04,480
opposite because of the way, as I

3264
02:14:04,480 --> 02:14:06,159
indicated last week, that they have

3265
02:14:06,159 --> 02:14:08,400
approached this issue. I think if we

3266
02:14:08,400 --> 02:14:09,840
leave it in there, they're going to even

3267
02:14:09,840 --> 02:14:11,840
continue to take it less serious and

3268
02:14:11,840 --> 02:14:13,040
drag it out and we're going to have some

3269
02:14:13,040 --> 02:14:14,719
of the same problems that we've been

3270
02:14:14,719 --> 02:14:17,119
having. I think if nothing else,

3271
02:14:17,119 --> 02:14:19,760
allowing us to take this steps sort of

3272
02:14:19,760 --> 02:14:21,440
forces some of those in-person

3273
02:14:21,440 --> 02:14:23,599
conversations that despite the email you

3274
02:14:23,599 --> 02:14:26,159
all received, they simply have not been

3275
02:14:26,159 --> 02:14:29,199
open to. They they've chosen to do this

3276
02:14:29,199 --> 02:14:30,800
through email. And that's fine. I'm

3277
02:14:30,800 --> 02:14:32,719
really not that upset about that, but I

3278
02:14:32,719 --> 02:14:34,079
at least want it to be understood that

3279
02:14:34,079 --> 02:14:35,440
that's been part of the frustration with

3280
02:14:35,440 --> 02:14:38,079
these conversations. And so, as the

3281
02:14:38,079 --> 02:14:39,679
chief sat here and said, and as I've

3282
02:14:39,679 --> 02:14:41,040
said before, doesn't mean we're going to

3283
02:14:41,040 --> 02:14:44,000
stop talking to 501, but it does mean we

3284
02:14:44,000 --> 02:14:45,760
can pass this budget and they can sit

3285
02:14:45,760 --> 02:14:47,199
now at the table and say, as of right

3286
02:14:47,199 --> 02:14:48,960
now, folks, this contract's ending, so

3287
02:14:48,960 --> 02:14:51,119
let's have some real conversations and

3288
02:14:51,119 --> 02:14:52,880
put that clock on it. And I I think

3289
02:14:52,880 --> 02:14:54,639
that's critical to us actually moving

3290
02:14:54,639 --> 02:14:56,000
forward if we want to get something

3291
02:14:56,000 --> 02:14:58,560
done. I appreciate that the sheriff's

3292
02:14:58,560 --> 02:14:59,920
office does some work in those other

3293
02:14:59,920 --> 02:15:01,520
school districts. I'm also here to tell

3294
02:15:01,520 --> 02:15:03,599
you that we have residents of the city

3295
02:15:03,599 --> 02:15:06,960
of Topeka who send their kids to all

3296
02:15:06,960 --> 02:15:09,360
four school districts in this area. And

3297
02:15:09,360 --> 02:15:11,360
if they came to the table tomorrow and

3298
02:15:11,360 --> 02:15:14,239
said, "We now have an expectation too

3299
02:15:14,239 --> 02:15:15,760
because let's say that the sheriff one

3300
02:15:15,760 --> 02:15:17,119
day has to make some tough budget

3301
02:15:17,119 --> 02:15:20,239
decisions too. You need to give us 501

3302
02:15:20,239 --> 02:15:22,960
or police support like you do 501." How

3303
02:15:22,960 --> 02:15:24,960
do we say no to that? What is our

3304
02:15:24,960 --> 02:15:26,480
justification for saying, "Well, I'm

3305
02:15:26,480 --> 02:15:27,840
going to take pick one of my school

3306
02:15:27,840 --> 02:15:30,079
districts over the other four over the

3307
02:15:30,079 --> 02:15:32,320
other three or four." I think that's a

3308
02:15:32,320 --> 02:15:33,760
tough position and we've been lucky that

3309
02:15:33,760 --> 02:15:35,599
hasn't happened. But the county is

3310
02:15:35,599 --> 02:15:36,960
looking at a budget deficit right now

3311
02:15:36,960 --> 02:15:38,159
and if you've looked at any of their

3312
02:15:38,159 --> 02:15:39,440
conversations or meetings, they have

3313
02:15:39,440 --> 02:15:40,960
some tough decisions to make too and

3314
02:15:40,960 --> 02:15:42,639
including their departments. It's why

3315
02:15:42,639 --> 02:15:44,079
they're looking at a mill levy increase

3316
02:15:44,079 --> 02:15:45,440
that they're hoping not to do, but a

3317
02:15:45,440 --> 02:15:48,079
pretty significant one, right? We've not

3318
02:15:48,079 --> 02:15:51,040
taken that step because we've gone a

3319
02:15:51,040 --> 02:15:52,480
different path. And as I said from day

3320
02:15:52,480 --> 02:15:54,320
one, as as the counciloman said, we have

3321
02:15:54,320 --> 02:15:56,239
to make tough decisions and this is one

3322
02:15:56,239 --> 02:15:58,320
of those tough decisions and getting

3323
02:15:58,320 --> 02:16:01,199
those officers help. I actually believe

3324
02:16:01,199 --> 02:16:03,119
it's a win-win for us to find a way to

3325
02:16:03,119 --> 02:16:05,280
continue to support 501 and the

3326
02:16:05,280 --> 02:16:08,000
infrastructure they have and also while

3327
02:16:08,000 --> 02:16:09,520
we have freezes in our department and

3328
02:16:09,520 --> 02:16:11,280
budget issues, be able to return those

3329
02:16:11,280 --> 02:16:13,679
officers from those schools back to the

3330
02:16:13,679 --> 02:16:15,040
streets where they can continue to serve

3331
02:16:15,040 --> 02:16:17,280
the cit all the citizens of Topeka. So

3332
02:16:17,280 --> 02:16:18,800
it's not an easy choice. No one up here

3333
02:16:18,800 --> 02:16:20,159
is sitting and saying, "Woo, finally

3334
02:16:20,159 --> 02:16:21,679
we're out of those middle schools." In

3335
02:16:21,679 --> 02:16:24,400
fact, quite the opposite. But we're in a

3336
02:16:24,400 --> 02:16:26,079
position that we can do that. We can

3337
02:16:26,079 --> 02:16:27,760
continue to support certified officers

3338
02:16:27,760 --> 02:16:29,040
who are already part of that school

3339
02:16:29,040 --> 02:16:30,960
district. And so that's why I'm still

3340
02:16:30,960 --> 02:16:33,200
inclined to to be okay with what we've

3341
02:16:33,200 --> 02:16:34,880
decided at this point with an

3342
02:16:34,880 --> 02:16:36,000
understanding that we'll continue to

3343
02:16:36,000 --> 02:16:37,599
have the conversations as we get into

3344
02:16:37,599 --> 02:16:41,910
2027.

3345
02:16:41,920 --> 02:16:43,679
So, I don't know if at this point we

3346
02:16:43,679 --> 02:16:47,200
have an official amendment in a second

3347
02:16:47,200 --> 02:16:50,240
or where where we're at.

3348
02:16:50,240 --> 02:16:51,519
>> Council member Hiller,

3349
02:16:51,519 --> 02:16:52,960
>> I wanted to just support the

3350
02:16:52,960 --> 02:16:55,120
conversation that I've heard so far. I I

3351
02:16:55,120 --> 02:16:58,160
did do one of the one-on- ones early and

3352
02:16:58,160 --> 02:17:00,160
what I heard, thank you so much for the

3353
02:17:00,160 --> 02:17:01,760
time you've spent on this and and

3354
02:17:01,760 --> 02:17:03,920
reading through the list. What what I

3355
02:17:03,920 --> 02:17:07,280
heard in in brief was we could probably

3356
02:17:07,280 --> 02:17:08,800
figure out how to come up with the money

3357
02:17:08,800 --> 02:17:10,719
and there are some grants and so on.

3358
02:17:10,719 --> 02:17:13,120
What we don't want to lose is the fact

3359
02:17:13,120 --> 02:17:15,280
that these are genuinely police officers

3360
02:17:15,280 --> 02:17:17,679
and that we have a a connection with the

3361
02:17:17,679 --> 02:17:19,359
department. So instead of calling the

3362
02:17:19,359 --> 02:17:21,439
front desk if something is happening

3363
02:17:21,439 --> 02:17:23,280
with one of our kids, we've got this

3364
02:17:23,280 --> 02:17:24,719
connection. That that was their

3365
02:17:24,719 --> 02:17:33,599
description of it. What I heard is that even if the core is is 501 police

3366
02:17:33,599 --> 02:17:35,200
that there's enough affirmative

3367
02:17:35,200 --> 02:17:37,760
connection that chief our chief has

3368
02:17:37,760 --> 02:17:40,000
offered and that they can reach out to

3369
02:17:40,000 --> 02:17:41,760
so that there could be a presence from

3370
02:17:41,760 --> 02:17:45,120
time to time of our our police officers

3371
02:17:45,120 --> 02:17:48,080
in those schools and and the

3372
02:17:48,080 --> 02:17:49,599
relationship there. I mean, they felt

3373
02:17:49,599 --> 02:17:53,599
like it was important and and beneficial

3374
02:17:53,599 --> 02:17:56,319
to have the kids have met police

3375
02:17:56,319 --> 02:17:58,639
officers, but if we're still leaving

3376
02:17:58,639 --> 02:18:01,840
that in and that also that much more

3377
02:18:01,840 --> 02:18:04,479
direct line so that if there's something

3378
02:18:04,479 --> 02:18:06,800
that is happening at home for one of the

3379
02:18:06,800 --> 02:18:09,679
kids and or that emerges during the day

3380
02:18:09,679 --> 02:18:14,479
that that that they can connect with our

3381
02:18:14,479 --> 02:18:17,200
police force quickly and work jointly

3382
02:18:17,200 --> 02:18:20,639
where needed. And I I'm hearing that and

3383
02:18:20,639 --> 02:18:23,120
that seemed to be the the fundamental

3384
02:18:23,120 --> 02:18:25,040
when they talked through what they

3385
02:18:25,040 --> 02:18:27,840
didn't want to lose. So I'm comfortable

3386
02:18:27,840 --> 02:18:30,960
that that we'll have it.

3387
02:18:30,960 --> 02:18:33,760
Council member Ortiz,

3388
02:18:33,760 --> 02:18:38,080
>> Karen, the the middle schools have hired

3389
02:18:38,080 --> 02:18:41,120
a lot of um social workers

3390
02:18:41,120 --> 02:18:44,240
>> and a lot of them come from DCF and a

3391
02:18:44,240 --> 02:18:46,000
lot of them cuz they're my buddies and a

3392
02:18:46,000 --> 02:18:48,479
lot of them are trained in what to look

3393
02:18:48,479 --> 02:18:51,040
for when these kids, troubled kids come

3394
02:18:51,040 --> 02:18:51,679
in,

3395
02:18:51,679 --> 02:18:53,519
>> come come, you know, come to school and

3396
02:18:53,519 --> 02:18:56,160
all of that. So the officer doesn't even

3397
02:18:56,160 --> 02:18:59,359
get involved with any of that until the

3398
02:18:59,359 --> 02:19:01,840
social worker asks them to come and

3399
02:19:01,840 --> 02:19:04,160
remove them or to get involved. That's

3400
02:19:04,160 --> 02:19:06,479
all social work, which I've heard

3401
02:19:06,479 --> 02:19:07,679
they're getting ready to cut some of

3402
02:19:07,679 --> 02:19:09,920
their social workers, which you know, I

3403
02:19:09,920 --> 02:19:11,439
agree with Christina. Take that money

3404
02:19:11,439 --> 02:19:13,679
and and do something cuz there's a lot

3405
02:19:13,679 --> 02:19:15,840
of kids out there. There's a lot of

3406
02:19:15,840 --> 02:19:20,880
kids. Again, I've had to remind several

3407
02:19:20,880 --> 02:19:23,840
of

3408
02:19:23,840 --> 02:19:27,200
the principles and our SRO's that they

3409
02:19:27,200 --> 02:19:30,319
are mandate reporters. Y they're mandate

3410
02:19:30,319 --> 02:19:32,319
reporters. And I know firsthand a young

3411
02:19:32,319 --> 02:19:34,719
man that was going to the teachers,

3412
02:19:34,719 --> 02:19:36,800
going to the principal and saying, "My

3413
02:19:36,800 --> 02:19:38,559
mom is doing this. My mom is doing

3414
02:19:38,559 --> 02:19:41,679
that." And it fell on deaf ears. And I

3415
02:19:41,679 --> 02:19:43,679
and and you know what? Then when it

3416
02:19:43,679 --> 02:19:45,840
happened, I even went back to that

3417
02:19:45,840 --> 02:19:47,760
principal and said, "Yeah, I remember

3418
02:19:47,760 --> 02:19:50,000
you. By the way, I can show you legal

3419
02:19:50,000 --> 02:19:52,720
documents where this finally got

3420
02:19:52,720 --> 02:19:55,439
corrected." You have to build a

3421
02:19:55,439 --> 02:19:58,479
relationship with these kids. You have

3422
02:19:58,479 --> 02:20:00,880
to or they're not going to talk to you.

3423
02:20:00,880 --> 02:20:03,040
got a lot of kids that are out there

3424
02:20:03,040 --> 02:20:04,960
fighting because they're in a fight

3425
02:20:04,960 --> 02:20:08,000
orflight mode because of what's going

3426
02:20:08,000 --> 02:20:10,479
on. there's they're not eating at school

3427
02:20:10,479 --> 02:20:12,720
because of the parents because because

3428
02:20:12,720 --> 02:20:15,200
of the abuse.

3429
02:20:15,200 --> 02:20:18,080
Our our SRO's they're good at filling

3430
02:20:18,080 --> 02:20:19,840
that gap, but they're not social

3431
02:20:19,840 --> 02:20:22,720
workers. They're not,

3432
02:20:22,720 --> 02:20:25,280
you know, but they they can take take

3433
02:20:25,280 --> 02:20:26,960
them when it, you know, they they do

3434
02:20:26,960 --> 02:20:28,479
have their part to play. Don't

3435
02:20:28,479 --> 02:20:31,760
misunderstand what I'm saying. But we

3436
02:20:31,760 --> 02:20:34,000
need to have more social workers in

3437
02:20:34,000 --> 02:20:37,520
there and we need our principles and we

3438
02:20:37,520 --> 02:20:39,840
need our everybody on board who's a

3439
02:20:39,840 --> 02:20:41,920
mandate reporter to be that mandate

3440
02:20:41,920 --> 02:20:43,520
reporter. I don't care if you call it in

3441
02:20:43,520 --> 02:20:46,399
10 times a day. That's what we need.

3442
02:20:46,399 --> 02:20:48,960
I love our SRO. I

3443
02:20:48,960 --> 02:20:52,399
like what they do. Um and they care. And

3444
02:20:52,399 --> 02:20:55,359
the ones I talked to, they said they're they're just going to go ahead

3445
02:20:55,359 --> 02:20:58,000
and retire. I I'm sorry because I

3446
02:20:58,000 --> 02:21:00,000
thought that they were going to go ahead

3447
02:21:00,000 --> 02:21:02,160
and and continue a force with their own

3448
02:21:02,160 --> 02:21:05,280
funds. Either way, I appreciate that. I

3449
02:21:05,280 --> 02:21:06,080
mean, I

3450
02:21:06,080 --> 02:21:07,760
>> I don't know what they're doing cuz they

3451
02:21:07,760 --> 02:21:09,439
just they knocked her down when she

3452
02:21:09,439 --> 02:21:11,120
started saying, which, you know, gave

3453
02:21:11,120 --> 02:21:12,960
them some suggestions, which were some

3454
02:21:12,960 --> 02:21:13,840
good suggestions

3455
02:21:13,840 --> 02:21:15,520
>> cuz I remember when they first got them,

3456
02:21:15,520 --> 02:21:16,800
there were people that I knew that

3457
02:21:16,800 --> 02:21:19,359
worked in 501 that were concerned that

3458
02:21:19,359 --> 02:21:21,439
they that the teachers and the

3459
02:21:21,439 --> 02:21:23,359
principles needed to have that role and

3460
02:21:23,359 --> 02:21:26,160
didn't need to have somebody step in. I

3461
02:21:26,160 --> 02:21:28,240
just remember their their comments about

3462
02:21:28,240 --> 02:21:29,520
being able to connect with the

3463
02:21:29,520 --> 02:21:34,960
department and get action quickly and it sounded like we'd offered that

3464
02:21:34,960 --> 02:21:38,720
and that was comfortable to me

3465
02:21:38,720 --> 02:21:40,720
not not stepping in or being on campus

3466
02:21:40,720 --> 02:21:40,960
but

3467
02:21:40,960 --> 02:21:43,280
>> if I may Mr. Mayor that meeting that we

3468
02:21:43,280 --> 02:21:45,520
had with them was an eyeopener. There's

3469
02:21:45,520 --> 02:21:47,680
a lot of things that are not being

3470
02:21:47,680 --> 02:21:48,800
communicated.

3471
02:21:48,800 --> 02:21:49,200
>> Okay.

3472
02:21:49,200 --> 02:21:52,399
>> And you know why? because our SRO say

3473
02:21:52,399 --> 02:21:54,720
they answer to this person and not this

3474
02:21:54,720 --> 02:21:58,319
person and and and Avery was right on on

3475
02:21:58,319 --> 02:22:00,640
the money to say we've got to get on one

3476
02:22:00,640 --> 02:22:03,120
accord because we are talking public

3477
02:22:03,120 --> 02:22:06,640
safety here and when we got we got that

3478
02:22:06,640 --> 02:22:09,600
scattered I think Cochran could build

3479
02:22:09,600 --> 02:22:12,240
his army. I think he could he knows what

3480
02:22:12,240 --> 02:22:14,560
to do. He I I think the training that

3481
02:22:14,560 --> 02:22:16,000
him and the chief that they could do

3482
02:22:16,000 --> 02:22:16,479
that

3483
02:22:16,479 --> 02:22:16,960
>> right

3484
02:22:16,960 --> 02:22:19,359
>> and they have a little under a year. If

3485
02:22:19,359 --> 02:22:22,160
it was me, I'd be I'd be hiring them to

3486
02:22:22,160 --> 02:22:24,240
come in and show them what they do.

3487
02:22:24,240 --> 02:22:27,120
>> Yeah, that's that's what I was hearing

3488
02:22:27,120 --> 02:22:30,160
and supporting. So

3489
02:22:30,160 --> 02:22:31,680
>> So I want to make sure we're not missing

3490
02:22:31,680 --> 02:22:33,280
a step or passing over something we

3491
02:22:33,280 --> 02:22:35,359
shouldn't be. Is there a formal motion

3492
02:22:35,359 --> 02:22:40,150
anyone wants to make

3493
02:22:40,160 --> 02:22:43,680
regarding this specific issue or I make

3494
02:22:43,680 --> 02:22:45,439
a another motion?

3495
02:22:45,439 --> 02:22:50,720
>> Is this page a one part of

3496
02:22:50,720 --> 02:22:53,359
the budget? We need to do more of these.

3497
02:22:53,359 --> 02:22:56,880
>> No, we we'll get to that. Let's I

3498
02:22:56,880 --> 02:22:58,080
promise that's that's going to be my

3499
02:22:58,080 --> 02:23:01,359
motion is to adopt this. So, let's But I

3500
02:23:01,359 --> 02:23:03,760
want to make sure we're not

3501
02:23:03,760 --> 02:23:05,760
passing over this issue first.

3502
02:23:05,760 --> 02:23:06,160
>> Okay.

3503
02:23:06,160 --> 02:23:08,080
>> I promise we'll get there.

3504
02:23:08,080 --> 02:23:09,600
>> Council member Meler,

3505
02:23:09,600 --> 02:23:12,720
>> um I know I'm probably not going to get

3506
02:23:12,720 --> 02:23:14,319
support on this. That's okay. But I make

3507
02:23:14,319 --> 02:23:18,399
a motion to uh adopt those changes. Um

3508
02:23:18,399 --> 02:23:20,399
but taking out the decrease in the SR

3509
02:23:20,399 --> 02:23:21,200
program.

3510
02:23:21,200 --> 02:23:22,319
>> I have a question.

3511
02:23:22,319 --> 02:23:23,040
>> Put that on the record.

3512
02:23:23,040 --> 02:23:24,560
>> Council member,

3513
02:23:24,560 --> 02:23:27,439
>> did you just say that you work for 501?

3514
02:23:27,439 --> 02:23:29,680
Isn't that a conflict? It's not a

3515
02:23:29,680 --> 02:23:31,600
conflict of interest because I am not a

3516
02:23:31,600 --> 02:23:34,000
part of the SRO program. I coach

3517
02:23:34,000 --> 02:23:35,840
basketball.

3518
02:23:35,840 --> 02:23:37,760
>> I have I don't answer to the

3519
02:23:37,760 --> 02:23:40,640
administration of the SRO program. I see

3520
02:23:40,640 --> 02:23:42,399
what you're trying to do, but that's not

3521
02:23:42,399 --> 02:23:45,200
a direct. It's because I would want you

3522
02:23:45,200 --> 02:23:47,040
to ask me that question.

3523
02:23:47,040 --> 02:23:47,359
>> Oh,

3524
02:23:47,359 --> 02:23:49,120
>> if it was on the other if the shoe was

3525
02:23:49,120 --> 02:23:50,000
on the other foot.

3526
02:23:50,000 --> 02:23:52,640
>> Oh, yeah. I don't have an interest that.

3527
02:23:52,640 --> 02:23:54,080
>> Yeah. I don't have an interest. I'm a

3528
02:23:54,080 --> 02:23:57,120
rule 10 coach. I don't work for 501 like

3529
02:23:57,120 --> 02:24:01,349
that. I'm a contracted coach basically.

3530
02:24:01,359 --> 02:24:02,800
» Well, I don't know what

3531
02:24:02,800 --> 02:24:05,920
>> what rule 10 means.

3532
02:24:05,920 --> 02:24:08,160
>> You said you're a contracted coach.

3533
02:24:08,160 --> 02:24:10,479
>> Contractor. Then we're good, right?

3534
02:24:10,479 --> 02:24:10,800
>> Yeah.

3535
02:24:10,800 --> 02:24:11,760
>> Then we're good. Okay.

3536
02:24:11,760 --> 02:24:13,280
>> Yeah. Do we have a second for council

3537
02:24:13,280 --> 02:24:19,190
member Miller's motion?

3538
02:24:19,200 --> 02:24:20,800
» Council member Ortiz.

3539
02:24:20,800 --> 02:24:22,720
>> But you were working at the grade

3540
02:24:22,720 --> 02:24:25,359
school, right? The metals. Is it

3541
02:24:25,359 --> 02:24:27,840
>> was is not at this time. So

3542
02:24:27,840 --> 02:24:28,640
>> y

3543
02:24:28,640 --> 02:24:30,560
>> can do do we have a second for council

3544
02:24:30,560 --> 02:24:32,160
member Miller's motion

3545
02:24:32,160 --> 02:24:33,600
>> motion

3546
02:24:33,600 --> 02:24:37,680
>> that to accept the proposed amendments

3547
02:24:37,680 --> 02:24:43,830
except for line seven.

3548
02:24:43,840 --> 02:24:44,960
» Okay. Does everyone understand

3549
02:24:44,960 --> 02:24:45,600
>> question on that?

3550
02:24:45,600 --> 02:24:46,880
>> Council member Hiller

3551
02:24:46,880 --> 02:24:49,680
>> because the the the item number seven is

3552
02:24:49,680 --> 02:24:52,160
a decrease in revenue,

3553
02:24:52,160 --> 02:24:52,560
>> right?

3554
02:24:52,560 --> 02:24:55,760
>> It's not a cut. it. I'm not sure we

3555
02:24:55,760 --> 02:24:57,120
understand what that line is.

3556
02:24:57,120 --> 02:25:00,319
>> I I don't want

3557
02:25:00,319 --> 02:25:03,040
Okay. So, what I'm trying to say is that

3558
02:25:03,040 --> 02:25:05,680
I don't want the SRO program to be

3559
02:25:05,680 --> 02:25:08,240
changed and I don't want us even

3560
02:25:08,240 --> 02:25:10,640
thinking about that as as we go through

3561
02:25:10,640 --> 02:25:12,080
our proposed amendments, if that makes

3562
02:25:12,080 --> 02:25:16,550
sense.

3563
02:25:16,560 --> 02:25:20,960
I'm just not sure that

3564
02:25:20,960 --> 02:25:22,960
>> it's complicated I think but

3565
02:25:22,960 --> 02:25:24,720
>> it is because the contract as of right

3566
02:25:24,720 --> 02:25:26,000
now expires

3567
02:25:26,000 --> 02:25:26,399
>> right

3568
02:25:26,399 --> 02:25:27,200
>> at the end of June

3569
02:25:27,200 --> 02:25:28,160
>> at the end of May

3570
02:25:28,160 --> 02:25:29,920
>> right and so

3571
02:25:29,920 --> 02:25:32,640
>> and so this dollars which is revenue to

3572
02:25:32,640 --> 02:25:33,680
us

3573
02:25:33,680 --> 02:25:36,720
>> right removing the item seven is not

3574
02:25:36,720 --> 02:25:37,439
going to

3575
02:25:37,439 --> 02:25:38,000
>> right

3576
02:25:38,000 --> 02:25:40,479
>> preserve the SRO program okay

3577
02:25:40,479 --> 02:25:42,000
>> okay

3578
02:25:42,000 --> 02:25:44,560
let me clarify let me clarify I think I

3579
02:25:44,560 --> 02:25:46,960
understand I I understand that this next

3580
02:25:46,960 --> 02:25:50,000
2027 budget already has that in there

3581
02:25:50,000 --> 02:25:52,640
because that's phasing out. But what I'm

3582
02:25:52,640 --> 02:25:55,920
trying to talk about,

3583
02:25:55,920 --> 02:26:00,640
please clarif clarify uh if I'm seeing

3584
02:26:00,640 --> 02:26:01,680
that shaking head.

3585
02:26:01,680 --> 02:26:02,720
>> I'm just trying to pay attention.

3586
02:26:02,720 --> 02:26:05,040
>> I'm not talking respectfully. I was

3587
02:26:05,040 --> 02:26:07,040
talking with them. I believe what you

3588
02:26:07,040 --> 02:26:09,359
would like to do was to see the funding

3589
02:26:09,359 --> 02:26:12,479
for the SRO program added back into the

3590
02:26:12,479 --> 02:26:15,200
operating budget. Is that my

3591
02:26:15,200 --> 02:26:16,399
understanding correctly?

3592
02:26:16,399 --> 02:26:18,399
>> There's still, but the the thing is is

3593
02:26:18,399 --> 02:26:20,479
that they are still uh the funding is

3594
02:26:20,479 --> 02:26:22,399
still there for the positions. This

3595
02:26:22,399 --> 02:26:23,920
essentially would be an indication that

3596
02:26:23,920 --> 02:26:25,280
we're not going to continue with the

3597
02:26:25,280 --> 02:26:28,560
program as is. Uh the the contractual

3598
02:26:28,560 --> 02:26:30,800
dollars that come to the city, it's

3599
02:26:30,800 --> 02:26:32,960
approximately $300,000.

3600
02:26:32,960 --> 02:26:34,960
So what this does is we're basically

3601
02:26:34,960 --> 02:26:37,439
saying for half of the year because

3602
02:26:37,439 --> 02:26:40,399
again going through June the rest of the

3603
02:26:40,399 --> 02:26:42,800
year the basically the full year 300,000

3604
02:26:42,800 --> 02:26:44,880
is in the budget today. This essentially

3605
02:26:44,880 --> 02:26:47,040
takes out $150 of that assuming that

3606
02:26:47,040 --> 02:26:49,680
we're only going to collect $150,000 of

3607
02:26:49,680 --> 02:26:53,840
the $300,000 in 2027 once the contract

3608
02:26:53,840 --> 02:26:58,160
uh completes in June of 27.

3609
02:26:58,160 --> 02:27:00,240
So, it's 300,000 total that comes to us

3610
02:27:00,240 --> 02:27:02,319
and that's in it's included in the 2027

3611
02:27:02,319 --> 02:27:03,520
budget. Right. Right.

3612
02:27:03,520 --> 02:27:05,200
>> Assuming that the position assuming that

3613
02:27:05,200 --> 02:27:07,600
the position uh or I'm sorry, assuming

3614
02:27:07,600 --> 02:27:10,560
that the program sunsets in June, we

3615
02:27:10,560 --> 02:27:13,200
would only get 150,000 of that $300,000

3616
02:27:13,200 --> 02:27:15,359
for the year. So, essentially, this is

3617
02:27:15,359 --> 02:27:17,280
taking 150,000 of revenue out of our

3618
02:27:17,280 --> 02:27:19,840
budget.

3619
02:27:19,840 --> 02:27:21,359
>> Right. I understand that. But what I'm

3620
02:27:21,359 --> 02:27:23,600
saying is, do we even need to have this

3621
02:27:23,600 --> 02:27:29,520
on there if if my motion were to pass?

3622
02:27:29,520 --> 02:27:31,439
>> So, my only fear with that, councilman,

3623
02:27:31,439 --> 02:27:34,800
is that if we come up to June of next

3624
02:27:34,800 --> 02:27:37,280
year and say we don't do this, then

3625
02:27:37,280 --> 02:27:39,680
that's $150,000 that we know will not

3626
02:27:39,680 --> 02:27:41,600
>> I have to account for.

3627
02:27:41,600 --> 02:27:42,880
>> That's correct. Yeah. Okay.

3628
02:27:42,880 --> 02:27:43,920
>> I thought you said you have an account

3629
02:27:43,920 --> 02:27:52,309
for that, but Yeah. But yes.

3630
02:27:52,319 --> 02:27:52,960
Okay.

3631
02:27:52,960 --> 02:27:55,760
>> So, here's what we're going to do

3632
02:27:55,760 --> 02:27:57,359
because

3633
02:27:57,359 --> 02:27:59,520
we can make any changes at any time

3634
02:27:59,520 --> 02:28:02,319
before this budget discussion is over.

3635
02:28:02,319 --> 02:28:04,160
So, if you'd like to think about it for

3636
02:28:04,160 --> 02:28:06,080
a little bit,

3637
02:28:06,080 --> 02:28:09,280
we can still adopt this and then still

3638
02:28:09,280 --> 02:28:11,760
make any change whether it's a proviso

3639
02:28:11,760 --> 02:28:13,520
or whether it's an actual budgetary

3640
02:28:13,520 --> 02:28:16,640
request before this evening is over.

3641
02:28:16,640 --> 02:28:18,800
>> We can't. Wow.

3642
02:28:18,800 --> 02:28:22,399
>> That would not that would not impact

3643
02:28:22,399 --> 02:28:24,160
this decision, but still then allow you

3644
02:28:24,160 --> 02:28:31,510
to to take some time to see if there's a better approach.

3645
02:28:31,520 --> 02:28:34,160
» That's that's fine. Um I got I'll

3646
02:28:34,160 --> 02:28:36,880
retract my motion. Um I I got to leave.

3647
02:28:36,880 --> 02:28:38,240
My wife's outside waiting on me right

3648
02:28:38,240 --> 02:28:46,319
now. So um I will uh I I'll retract my motion. I I do think if it helps,

3649
02:28:46,319 --> 02:28:48,800
everyone has continued to say that the

3650
02:28:48,800 --> 02:28:50,240
door is still open to continue

3651
02:28:50,240 --> 02:28:52,479
conversations with 501. The chief hasn't

3652
02:28:52,479 --> 02:28:55,359
shut that door. City manager hasn't shut

3653
02:28:55,359 --> 02:28:56,479
that door. And I don't even think those

3654
02:28:56,479 --> 02:28:58,560
of us who are have issues have shut that

3655
02:28:58,560 --> 02:29:00,240
door. But what we have said is we have

3656
02:29:00,240 --> 02:29:03,040
to plan. They just haven't been at the

3657
02:29:03,040 --> 02:29:04,800
table as much to help us make that plan.

3658
02:29:04,800 --> 02:29:06,479
So, we got to move forward with the goal

3659
02:29:06,479 --> 02:29:09,040
of maybe incurring some of those

3660
02:29:09,040 --> 02:29:11,280
conversations. So, I I I will say I

3661
02:29:11,280 --> 02:29:13,439
don't take this as a as an allout. we're

3662
02:29:13,439 --> 02:29:16,319
done with 501 and talking to them for

3663
02:29:16,319 --> 02:29:20,080
whatever that's worth. If that helps. It seems like it because of the

3664
02:29:20,080 --> 02:29:22,560
budgetary decision, but again, as said,

3665
02:29:22,560 --> 02:29:24,479
that money is still going to be there.

3666
02:29:24,479 --> 02:29:26,720
We still have to pay these officers. We

3667
02:29:26,720 --> 02:29:28,240
just eventually have to decide where

3668
02:29:28,240 --> 02:29:29,760
they're going to be. So, it's not like

3669
02:29:29,760 --> 02:29:31,920
we're removing the money from the budget

3670
02:29:31,920 --> 02:29:33,600
that pays these officers and they're

3671
02:29:33,600 --> 02:29:35,280
out. They're out of out of work and

3672
02:29:35,280 --> 02:29:37,439
we're we're taking them out. So, if that

3673
02:29:37,439 --> 02:29:40,240
helps a little, the the actual dollars

3674
02:29:40,240 --> 02:29:42,479
that we spend towards it are still in

3675
02:29:42,479 --> 02:29:44,399
the in the budget.

3676
02:29:44,399 --> 02:29:48,319
>> Yeah, I I get it. I get it. Okay.

3677
02:29:48,319 --> 02:29:52,309
>> Thank you, Mayor.

3678
02:29:52,319 --> 02:29:55,120
» All right, Council Member Ortiz.

3679
02:29:55,120 --> 02:29:56,560
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to make

3680
02:29:56,560 --> 02:29:59,040
a motion that we let both contracts

3681
02:29:59,040 --> 02:30:02,479
collapse. That's my motion. Well,

3682
02:30:02,479 --> 02:30:04,960
>> there's

3683
02:30:04,960 --> 02:30:07,280
>> So, that would stay right the way it is,

3684
02:30:07,280 --> 02:30:08,800
right?

3685
02:30:08,800 --> 02:30:10,720
>> Right. I mean, you can make that motion.

3686
02:30:10,720 --> 02:30:11,920
For what it's worth, it's already

3687
02:30:11,920 --> 02:30:13,200
happening. So

3688
02:30:13,200 --> 02:30:14,560
>> Oh, it's already happening. Oh, okay.

3689
02:30:14,560 --> 02:30:15,520
So, I don't need to make that.

3690
02:30:15,520 --> 02:30:16,080
>> Correct.

3691
02:30:16,080 --> 02:30:17,200
>> Well, I was just trying to

3692
02:30:17,200 --> 02:30:19,120
>> No, that's already No, we don't need

3693
02:30:19,120 --> 02:30:19,520
that.

3694
02:30:19,520 --> 02:30:20,160
>> Okay.

3695
02:30:20,160 --> 02:30:21,760
>> All right. So, the motion I was going

3696
02:30:21,760 --> 02:30:22,960
>> I just want to move forward.

3697
02:30:22,960 --> 02:30:25,439
>> The motion I was going to make then so

3698
02:30:25,439 --> 02:30:27,040
we don't forget it later or make the

3699
02:30:27,040 --> 02:30:29,040
wrong motion is to simply adopt this

3700
02:30:29,040 --> 02:30:30,479
amendment. I'm going to make I'm going

3701
02:30:30,479 --> 02:30:32,640
to move to adopt the amendment in front

3702
02:30:32,640 --> 02:30:34,560
of you so that way it's in our budget

3703
02:30:34,560 --> 02:30:36,319
and then when we adopt it later we don't

3704
02:30:36,319 --> 02:30:37,920
leave something out on accident.

3705
02:30:37,920 --> 02:30:38,240
>> Okay.

3706
02:30:38,240 --> 02:30:39,680
>> That's the motion I'm making is to adopt

3707
02:30:39,680 --> 02:30:40,800
this amendment.

3708
02:30:40,800 --> 02:30:43,600
>> You got to take away your motion there.

3709
02:30:43,600 --> 02:30:45,040
>> I don't have to. I will.

3710
02:30:45,040 --> 02:30:47,280
>> Okay.

3711
02:30:47,280 --> 02:30:49,600
>> So is wonder if I have a second for my

3712
02:30:49,600 --> 02:30:50,160
motion.

3713
02:30:50,160 --> 02:30:53,910
>> I can't.

3714
02:30:53,920 --> 02:30:55,439
» How did I do it?

3715
02:30:55,439 --> 02:30:56,479
>> I don't know.

3716
02:30:56,479 --> 02:30:58,960
>> So motion made by the mayor. Right.

3717
02:30:58,960 --> 02:31:00,240
>> I don't have a second yet.

3718
02:31:00,240 --> 02:31:06,230
>> I'll second it.

3719
02:31:06,240 --> 02:31:07,680
» All right. Any questions about the

3720
02:31:07,680 --> 02:31:09,200
motion or comments? Council member,

3721
02:31:09,200 --> 02:31:10,880
>> just the the process which somebody was

3722
02:31:10,880 --> 02:31:13,040
asking earlier, too. So, what you're

3723
02:31:13,040 --> 02:31:15,680
planning to do is is there's an

3724
02:31:15,680 --> 02:31:17,520
assumption that we'll get to the the

3725
02:31:17,520 --> 02:31:19,280
motion to adopt the budget at the end

3726
02:31:19,280 --> 02:31:21,120
and we're going to do one amendment at a

3727
02:31:21,120 --> 02:31:22,880
time. Counciloman, stack it up.

3728
02:31:22,880 --> 02:31:25,280
>> Okay. Respectfully, this is your 17th

3729
02:31:25,280 --> 02:31:27,439
year. Everyone is allowed to offer an

3730
02:31:27,439 --> 02:31:29,359
amendment at any time and adopt it into

3731
02:31:29,359 --> 02:31:31,520
the budget any time during this process.

3732
02:31:31,520 --> 02:31:33,120
City manager and staff have offered an

3733
02:31:33,120 --> 02:31:34,000
amendment. Okay.

3734
02:31:34,000 --> 02:31:35,680
>> And technically, we could wait until the

3735
02:31:35,680 --> 02:31:37,359
end and hope that we don't forget to to

3736
02:31:37,359 --> 02:31:39,680
make a motion that says I move to adopt

3737
02:31:39,680 --> 02:31:41,600
the budget with all these amendments

3738
02:31:41,600 --> 02:31:43,280
that have been offered. I think that's

3739
02:31:43,280 --> 02:31:45,200
sloppier. I would prefer if the

3740
02:31:45,200 --> 02:31:46,640
amendments presented, whether it's from

3741
02:31:46,640 --> 02:31:48,160
the staff or from you or from anyone,

3742
02:31:48,160 --> 02:31:49,680
that we deal with it in the moment and

3743
02:31:49,680 --> 02:31:51,040
adopt it. And then that way when we

3744
02:31:51,040 --> 02:31:53,040
finally adopt the budget, everybody

3745
02:31:53,040 --> 02:31:54,560
knows what's in it and if they support

3746
02:31:54,560 --> 02:31:55,920
every change we've made, they can vote

3747
02:31:55,920 --> 02:31:57,280
yes. And if they have issues with what

3748
02:31:57,280 --> 02:31:58,720
we've done, they can say no on the

3749
02:31:58,720 --> 02:32:00,000
budget and then we will have a path

3750
02:32:00,000 --> 02:32:00,319
forward.

3751
02:32:00,319 --> 02:32:01,680
>> That was my question. Thank you.

3752
02:32:01,680 --> 02:32:04,240
>> So that that's how I'd like to make sure

3753
02:32:04,240 --> 02:32:05,920
we all know what we're voting on at the

3754
02:32:05,920 --> 02:32:07,359
end of the night of what's in front of

3755
02:32:07,359 --> 02:32:08,399
us.

3756
02:32:08,399 --> 02:32:09,680
>> Yeah.

3757
02:32:09,680 --> 02:32:11,520
>> So any other comments or questions on

3758
02:32:11,520 --> 02:32:13,200
this amendment, which is to just adopt

3759
02:32:13,200 --> 02:32:15,760
the amendment in front of us?

3760
02:32:15,760 --> 02:32:18,080
>> If there are none, I would ask this

3761
02:32:18,080 --> 02:32:19,920
clerk to take our vote, please. No,

3762
02:32:19,920 --> 02:32:21,120
we're adopting all.

3763
02:32:21,120 --> 02:32:22,240
>> This is the vote to adopt this

3764
02:32:22,240 --> 02:32:22,640
amendment.

3765
02:32:22,640 --> 02:32:23,439
>> The whole thing?

3766
02:32:23,439 --> 02:32:25,439
>> Yes, the whole thing.

3767
02:32:25,439 --> 02:32:26,080
>> The whole thing.

3768
02:32:26,080 --> 02:32:27,280
>> Just this amendment.

3769
02:32:27,280 --> 02:32:31,120
>> This all 13. Yes, this amendment.

3770
02:32:31,120 --> 02:32:32,560
>> Not the budget.

3771
02:32:32,560 --> 02:32:38,150
>> Just thisud.

3772
02:32:38,160 --> 02:32:38,800
» Calm down.

3773
02:32:38,800 --> 02:32:41,280
>> How long you been here?

3774
02:32:41,280 --> 02:32:43,920
>> I just want to make sure.

3775
02:32:43,920 --> 02:32:47,359
>> I've been here too damn long.

3776
02:32:47,359 --> 02:32:48,880
Some folks say you can't do an amendment

3777
02:32:48,880 --> 02:32:51,760
till you get a motion.

3778
02:32:51,760 --> 02:32:55,520
>> You can do what you want to do, Karen. N

3779
02:32:55,520 --> 02:32:58,640
>> I'm just asking what we're doing.

3780
02:32:58,640 --> 02:33:00,479
>> Okay, we have eight yes with council

3781
02:33:00,479 --> 02:33:02,960
members Kell and Miller voting no. The

3782
02:33:02,960 --> 02:33:04,319
motion carries.

3783
02:33:04,319 --> 02:33:05,600
>> All right. So, that amendment has been

3784
02:33:05,600 --> 02:33:07,600
adopted and is now part of the budget.

3785
02:33:07,600 --> 02:33:08,880
So, we're back to just general

3786
02:33:08,880 --> 02:33:11,040
conversation, discussion, suggestions,

3787
02:33:11,040 --> 02:33:13,840
recommendations, amendments on our 27

3788
02:33:13,840 --> 02:33:19,830
budget.

3789
02:33:19,840 --> 02:33:23,590
anyone?

3790
02:33:23,600 --> 02:33:25,840
» Council member Hiller. Well, I think

3791
02:33:25,840 --> 02:33:27,760
everybody knows I've got lots of issues

3792
02:33:27,760 --> 02:33:30,399
with this, but it sounds like where

3793
02:33:30,399 --> 02:33:32,560
people are going is that we need to just

3794
02:33:32,560 --> 02:33:36,160
get this adopted, but understand clearly

3795
02:33:36,160 --> 02:33:38,000
that we're going to start working

3796
02:33:38,000 --> 02:33:40,319
immediately on the programmatic and

3797
02:33:40,319 --> 02:33:42,000
specific

3798
02:33:42,000 --> 02:33:47,280
pieces of all these possible changes. So

3799
02:33:47,280 --> 02:33:49,680
I would like to propose a proviso that

3800
02:33:49,680 --> 02:33:52,640
would go with this motion

3801
02:33:52,640 --> 02:33:55,840
that would uh the proviso would say that

3802
02:33:55,840 --> 02:33:59,750
um

3803
02:33:59,760 --> 02:34:02,399
all that all concerned are aware that

3804
02:34:02,399 --> 02:34:04,720
various alterations and changes in

3805
02:34:04,720 --> 02:34:08,000
personnel and programming will likely be

3806
02:34:08,000 --> 02:34:10,319
needed starting immediately and through

3807
02:34:10,319 --> 02:34:13,840
the 2027 year. and the city manager is

3808
02:34:13,840 --> 02:34:15,760
expected to continue to invite the

3809
02:34:15,760 --> 02:34:18,080
governing body's involvement in any

3810
02:34:18,080 --> 02:34:23,190
reductions, additions, or changes.

3811
02:34:23,200 --> 02:34:25,120
» Things not I I would second that. I

3812
02:34:25,120 --> 02:34:26,800
mean, I think it's in line with things

3813
02:34:26,800 --> 02:34:28,720
we've talked about that this is a living

3814
02:34:28,720 --> 02:34:30,240
breathing budget and that while we've

3815
02:34:30,240 --> 02:34:31,840
got this balanced budget, we know we've

3816
02:34:31,840 --> 02:34:34,160
got challenges in the coming year just

3817
02:34:34,160 --> 02:34:35,760
as we talked about whether it's sales

3818
02:34:35,760 --> 02:34:37,520
tax or whether it's additional

3819
02:34:37,520 --> 02:34:39,439
efficiencies, cuts, revisions to the

3820
02:34:39,439 --> 02:34:41,439
budget. So I think that's what this

3821
02:34:41,439 --> 02:34:43,280
proviso does is just say that we're

3822
02:34:43,280 --> 02:34:45,520
committed to working through the budget

3823
02:34:45,520 --> 02:34:47,600
as the year goes on and making decisions

3824
02:34:47,600 --> 02:34:50,319
as the budget goes to help

3825
02:34:50,319 --> 02:34:52,720
defer our 28 issues if we can to

3826
02:34:52,720 --> 02:34:55,359
whatever level that means. So that

3827
02:34:55,359 --> 02:34:57,120
that's all this proviso would do from my

3828
02:34:57,120 --> 02:35:00,960
perspective. So I can second it.

3829
02:35:00,960 --> 02:35:04,880
>> Can we hear from the attorney?

3830
02:35:04,880 --> 02:35:06,800
>> I mean he's not going to be here much

3831
02:35:06,800 --> 02:35:08,880
longer. I'd like to know what he thinks

3832
02:35:08,880 --> 02:35:11,600
>> about provisos in general.

3833
02:35:11,600 --> 02:35:12,960
>> Oh, okay.

3834
02:35:12,960 --> 02:35:14,960
>> I I don't have any legal commentary on

3835
02:35:14,960 --> 02:35:17,439
this improvis other than you can you can

3836
02:35:17,439 --> 02:35:19,840
add it.

3837
02:35:19,840 --> 02:35:21,280
That's my legal commentary. Anything

3838
02:35:21,280 --> 02:35:22,800
else would be policy related and that's

3839
02:35:22,800 --> 02:35:25,040
really not my that's really not my

3840
02:35:25,040 --> 02:35:27,830
position.

3841
02:35:27,840 --> 02:35:29,760
Well, well, to that point, provisors

3842
02:35:29,760 --> 02:35:30,960
like this, I guess from legal

3843
02:35:30,960 --> 02:35:32,960
perspective, are not, it

3844
02:35:32,960 --> 02:35:34,800
>> it's not legally binding, correct?

3845
02:35:34,800 --> 02:35:36,800
>> But it is direction for staff and for

3846
02:35:36,800 --> 02:35:38,240
council as we work through it.

3847
02:35:38,240 --> 02:35:39,840
>> It would be a commentary essentially.

3848
02:35:39,840 --> 02:35:41,760
It's something that you're adding on

3849
02:35:41,760 --> 02:35:43,280
>> to give direction, but it's not Yes,

3850
02:35:43,280 --> 02:35:45,200
it's not legally binding.

3851
02:35:45,200 --> 02:35:46,800
>> I may have misunderstood the question.

3852
02:35:46,800 --> 02:35:52,150
Apologies.

3853
02:35:52,160 --> 02:35:54,000
I think the flip side is we have so many

3854
02:35:54,000 --> 02:35:57,120
moving parts here and and you know to

3855
02:35:57,120 --> 02:35:59,120
have the city manager with this budget

3856
02:35:59,120 --> 02:36:01,439
or even until then just be totally on

3857
02:36:01,439 --> 02:36:03,280
his own about it when there's so many

3858
02:36:03,280 --> 02:36:06,399
pieces to go through um just to make

3859
02:36:06,399 --> 02:36:08,800
sure we we've committed as well as put

3860
02:36:08,800 --> 02:36:12,000
on the table

3861
02:36:12,000 --> 02:36:12,880
if I could.

3862
02:36:12,880 --> 02:36:15,200
>> Yes, you may. I I just want to say again

3863
02:36:15,200 --> 02:36:16,720
as as we mentioned earlier and as I've

3864
02:36:16,720 --> 02:36:18,800
shared with y'all uh I do intend every

3865
02:36:18,800 --> 02:36:21,120
month to have a budget discussion with

3866
02:36:21,120 --> 02:36:23,280
you uh here in council. I've already

3867
02:36:23,280 --> 02:36:25,439
told the staff every third uh every

3868
02:36:25,439 --> 02:36:27,760
third meeting of the month again to go

3869
02:36:27,760 --> 02:36:32,000
over our our status of our budget uh

3870
02:36:32,000 --> 02:36:34,800
reported our strategic goals and then um

3871
02:36:34,800 --> 02:36:38,000
also on our um

3872
02:36:38,000 --> 02:36:39,920
performance metrics. So again sent that

3873
02:36:39,920 --> 02:36:41,920
in the memo last Friday. So, I just want

3874
02:36:41,920 --> 02:36:43,200
to make sure that council understands

3875
02:36:43,200 --> 02:36:44,720
that that is the intent moving forward.

3876
02:36:44,720 --> 02:36:48,479
So, uh again, as I mentioned, um we

3877
02:36:48,479 --> 02:36:49,920
actually started this budget process. We

3878
02:36:49,920 --> 02:36:51,680
had a first session in January, but we

3879
02:36:51,680 --> 02:36:53,920
really started last October uh going

3880
02:36:53,920 --> 02:36:56,479
through this. So, um so your points

3881
02:36:56,479 --> 02:36:58,720
noted now. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor.

3882
02:36:58,720 --> 02:37:00,399
>> So, we have a motion and a second on a

3883
02:37:00,399 --> 02:37:02,160
proviso. I don't know if either council

3884
02:37:02,160 --> 02:37:03,520
member Hiller or the city clerk would

3885
02:37:03,520 --> 02:37:05,680
like to read it back to us before we

3886
02:37:05,680 --> 02:37:06,319
take a vote.

3887
02:37:06,319 --> 02:37:08,399
>> I can read what I've got and I've got it

3888
02:37:08,399 --> 02:37:08,880
for you.

3889
02:37:08,880 --> 02:37:11,040
>> Okay. So just to be clear, this you're

3890
02:37:11,040 --> 02:37:13,200
approving the budget along with

3891
02:37:13,200 --> 02:37:16,240
>> No, this is just on the proviso. We have

3892
02:37:16,240 --> 02:37:19,439
a motion and a second just to adopt this

3893
02:37:19,439 --> 02:37:20,160
proviso.

3894
02:37:20,160 --> 02:37:28,710
>> Hold on.

3895
02:37:28,720 --> 02:37:30,240
» Don't want to mess this up. It's the

3896
02:37:30,240 --> 02:37:34,710
budget. We got to get it right.

3897
02:37:34,720 --> 02:37:37,920
So were you going to read that or

3898
02:37:37,920 --> 02:37:39,600
>> move to adopt with the proviso that all

3899
02:37:39,600 --> 02:37:41,040
concerned are aware that various

3900
02:37:41,040 --> 02:37:43,280
alterations and changes in personnel and

3901
02:37:43,280 --> 02:37:45,439
programming will likely be needed

3902
02:37:45,439 --> 02:37:48,000
starting immediately throughout the 2027

3903
02:37:48,000 --> 02:37:50,240
year and the city manager is expected to

3904
02:37:50,240 --> 02:37:51,920
continue to invite the governing body's

3905
02:37:51,920 --> 02:37:54,000
involvement in any reductions, additions

3906
02:37:54,000 --> 02:37:56,160
or changes.

3907
02:37:56,160 --> 02:37:57,680
>> All right. So is everybody clear? We're

3908
02:37:57,680 --> 02:37:59,840
just voting on the proviso to adopt it

3909
02:37:59,840 --> 02:38:02,000
with the budget. So unless there are any

3910
02:38:02,000 --> 02:38:03,680
other comments or questions on that, I

3911
02:38:03,680 --> 02:38:05,280
will ask the city clerk to take a vote,

3912
02:38:05,280 --> 02:38:09,349
please.

3913
02:38:09,359 --> 02:38:11,840
» We had the motion in a second.

3914
02:38:11,840 --> 02:38:15,439
>> Okay, there we go.

3915
02:38:15,439 --> 02:38:16,240
>> I second it.

3916
02:38:16,240 --> 02:38:19,270
>> Yeah,

3917
02:38:19,280 --> 02:38:21,600
sorry.

3918
02:38:21,600 --> 02:38:24,160
>> Gotcha.

3919
02:38:24,160 --> 02:38:26,960
Council member Council Member Miller

3920
02:38:26,960 --> 02:38:31,429
your vote.

3921
02:38:31,439 --> 02:38:33,120
» I want to be clear. I just popped off

3922
02:38:33,120 --> 02:38:34,240
one. I want to be clear on what I'm

3923
02:38:34,240 --> 02:38:35,280
voting on.

3924
02:38:35,280 --> 02:38:37,840
>> This is the proviso suggested by council

3925
02:38:37,840 --> 02:38:40,160
member Hiller. Would you like me to read

3926
02:38:40,160 --> 02:38:42,399
it again?

3927
02:38:42,399 --> 02:38:44,160
>> Please. I I just got into

3928
02:38:44,160 --> 02:38:46,240
>> Okay. The proviso is to move to adopt

3929
02:38:46,240 --> 02:38:48,399
with the proviso that all concerned are

3930
02:38:48,399 --> 02:38:50,240
aware that the various alterations and

3931
02:38:50,240 --> 02:38:51,920
changes in personnel and programming

3932
02:38:51,920 --> 02:38:53,359
will likely be needed starting

3933
02:38:53,359 --> 02:38:56,080
immediately and throughout the 2027 year

3934
02:38:56,080 --> 02:38:58,000
and the city manager is expected to

3935
02:38:58,000 --> 02:38:59,600
continue to invite the governing body's

3936
02:38:59,600 --> 02:39:01,760
involvement in in any reductions,

3937
02:39:01,760 --> 02:39:06,790
additions, or changes.

3938
02:39:06,800 --> 02:39:10,150
» Yes.

3939
02:39:10,160 --> 02:39:11,840
» Okay, we have 10 yes. The motion

3940
02:39:11,840 --> 02:39:14,800
carries.

3941
02:39:14,800 --> 02:39:16,800
All right. Other comments, amendments,

3942
02:39:16,800 --> 02:39:21,990
suggestions for the budget.

3943
02:39:22,000 --> 02:39:23,680
» I'm going to make a few comments, then

3944
02:39:23,680 --> 02:39:25,680
we'll see if we have a motion or what we

3945
02:39:25,680 --> 02:39:27,600
want to do next. But I want to remind

3946
02:39:27,600 --> 02:39:29,280
everybody, just the public out there and

3947
02:39:29,280 --> 02:39:31,840
everybody, that this budget is about

3948
02:39:31,840 --> 02:39:35,280
cuts. We said from day one, I repeated

3949
02:39:35,280 --> 02:39:37,120
it as many times as I could, everywhere

3950
02:39:37,120 --> 02:39:38,560
I could, so that everyone was prepared

3951
02:39:38,560 --> 02:39:39,760
in terms of the public that we were

3952
02:39:39,760 --> 02:39:41,840
going to have to make tough decisions.

3953
02:39:41,840 --> 02:39:44,240
This budget does that. We did not

3954
02:39:44,240 --> 02:39:47,040
increase the mill levy. Yes, we did not

3955
02:39:47,040 --> 02:39:48,960
stay revenue neutral, but for the 15th

3956
02:39:48,960 --> 02:39:50,560
year in a row, we did not increase the

3957
02:39:50,560 --> 02:39:52,960
mill levy. We are capturing that 4 and

3958
02:39:52,960 --> 02:39:54,479
a.5%.

3959
02:39:54,479 --> 02:39:56,240
But I will tell you as you walk through,

3960
02:39:56,240 --> 02:39:57,920
if you watched any of our presentations,

3961
02:39:57,920 --> 02:40:00,720
that 4.5% does not even begin to cover

3962
02:40:00,720 --> 02:40:03,359
the percentage increases in our public

3963
02:40:03,359 --> 02:40:06,319
safety personnel salary increases alone.

3964
02:40:06,319 --> 02:40:09,120
That 4 and a.5% does not cover that.

3965
02:40:09,120 --> 02:40:11,439
Right. and and so that's not a knock.

3966
02:40:11,439 --> 02:40:13,200
They needed the pay raise and we worked

3967
02:40:13,200 --> 02:40:15,040
out those contracts and that's how we

3968
02:40:15,040 --> 02:40:16,960
got here. But I think when people ask

3969
02:40:16,960 --> 02:40:19,359
what our two primary drivers are of this

3970
02:40:19,359 --> 02:40:21,760
year's budget issues and the next year's

3971
02:40:21,760 --> 02:40:23,359
budget issues and ongoing, it's

3972
02:40:23,359 --> 02:40:26,000
personnel and it's rising costs that we

3973
02:40:26,000 --> 02:40:28,240
have no control over. We don't control

3974
02:40:28,240 --> 02:40:29,840
what insurance is going to charge us or

3975
02:40:29,840 --> 02:40:32,000
what asphalt costs or what the new cost

3976
02:40:32,000 --> 02:40:34,080
to lay, you know, go out and purchase

3977
02:40:34,080 --> 02:40:36,479
new water lines. Those are not costs we

3978
02:40:36,479 --> 02:40:39,359
control. So, we did make the decision

3979
02:40:39,359 --> 02:40:42,080
within those constraints to cut over $10

3980
02:40:42,080 --> 02:40:45,439
million out of this budget. To put that

3981
02:40:45,439 --> 02:40:48,479
in perspective, this budget is less than

3982
02:40:48,479 --> 02:40:50,160
$500,000

3983
02:40:50,160 --> 02:40:53,040
more than last year's budget. This

3984
02:40:53,040 --> 02:40:55,359
budget is less than half a percent

3985
02:40:55,359 --> 02:40:58,880
increase than last year's budget. So, I

3986
02:40:58,880 --> 02:41:00,640
understand people's frustration when we

3987
02:41:00,640 --> 02:41:02,319
made the decision not to stay revenue

3988
02:41:02,319 --> 02:41:04,319
neutral, but I will push back against

3989
02:41:04,319 --> 02:41:06,479
the narrative that we are out there just

3990
02:41:06,479 --> 02:41:08,080
spending like crazy and that we've

3991
02:41:08,080 --> 02:41:09,680
increased our spending and that we've

3992
02:41:09,680 --> 02:41:13,200
gone wild. We haven't. We made the cuts

3993
02:41:13,200 --> 02:41:15,120
that we needed to make to get to this

3994
02:41:15,120 --> 02:41:17,200
budget and the numbers bear that out and

3995
02:41:17,200 --> 02:41:19,520
the percentages bear that out. I think

3996
02:41:19,520 --> 02:41:21,120
all of us acknowledge in this room, we

3997
02:41:21,120 --> 02:41:22,319
would have loved to stay revenue

3998
02:41:22,319 --> 02:41:24,080
neutral. We'd love to cut the mill levy.

3999
02:41:24,080 --> 02:41:26,479
We'd love to do all those things. We are

4000
02:41:26,479 --> 02:41:28,960
not in a budgetary position to do so,

4001
02:41:28,960 --> 02:41:30,880
but we've managed to make those tough

4002
02:41:30,880 --> 02:41:33,280
choices that we talked about tonight.

4003
02:41:33,280 --> 02:41:35,359
Whether it's our SRO program, whether

4004
02:41:35,359 --> 02:41:37,040
it's the positions that we've eliminated

4005
02:41:37,040 --> 02:41:38,720
or frozen, whether it's the projects

4006
02:41:38,720 --> 02:41:41,120
that we've had to move around, right?

4007
02:41:41,120 --> 02:41:42,640
Whether it's the equipment we're not

4008
02:41:42,640 --> 02:41:45,680
buying or that we're pushing off, we did

4009
02:41:45,680 --> 02:41:47,760
decide to go that route as opposed to

4010
02:41:47,760 --> 02:41:49,439
the other routes we could have, which is

4011
02:41:49,439 --> 02:41:51,680
just simple one of finding ways to raise

4012
02:41:51,680 --> 02:41:55,359
revenue. And so I I do appreciate, as

4013
02:41:55,359 --> 02:41:56,800
I've said before, and I'll reiterate

4014
02:41:56,800 --> 02:41:58,720
again, we asked staff to help us make

4015
02:41:58,720 --> 02:42:00,800
those tough decisions all the way from

4016
02:42:00,800 --> 02:42:02,560
the city manager's office to the finance

4017
02:42:02,560 --> 02:42:04,319
department, but to every department head

4018
02:42:04,319 --> 02:42:06,319
who then had to go to their staff at

4019
02:42:06,319 --> 02:42:08,560
every level and say, "We've got to make

4020
02:42:08,560 --> 02:42:10,640
changes here, folks, because this is the

4021
02:42:10,640 --> 02:42:13,120
budget reality." And so everybody who

4022
02:42:13,120 --> 02:42:14,960
works for this city at every level

4023
02:42:14,960 --> 02:42:16,720
deserves a thank you for understanding

4024
02:42:16,720 --> 02:42:19,840
our situation for working within these

4025
02:42:19,840 --> 02:42:21,840
constraints and for providing input

4026
02:42:21,840 --> 02:42:24,000
through this process. Everybody up here

4027
02:42:24,000 --> 02:42:27,359
on this days deserves thank you for I

4028
02:42:27,359 --> 02:42:29,200
know at some days Josh was like oh my

4029
02:42:29,200 --> 02:42:31,840
gosh that's enough emails please. But

4030
02:42:31,840 --> 02:42:33,600
those conversations were important to

4031
02:42:33,600 --> 02:42:35,120
making sure that everybody understood

4032
02:42:35,120 --> 02:42:36,880
what the issues were and how we get to

4033
02:42:36,880 --> 02:42:38,720
these decisions. So I just want to

4034
02:42:38,720 --> 02:42:40,160
reiterate to the public it's not a

4035
02:42:40,160 --> 02:42:42,080
perfect budget. There's always things we

4036
02:42:42,080 --> 02:42:44,000
wish we could do better, but it's a

4037
02:42:44,000 --> 02:42:45,600
pretty slim budget compared to where we

4038
02:42:45,600 --> 02:42:47,920
were last year. We did not increase our

4039
02:42:47,920 --> 02:42:50,640
spending significantly. And that is very

4040
02:42:50,640 --> 02:42:52,479
important and it's not something every

4041
02:42:52,479 --> 02:42:56,000
city is doing right now. And so I I I

4042
02:42:56,000 --> 02:42:57,520
just want the public to understand that.

4043
02:42:57,520 --> 02:42:58,720
And as you heard tonight with the

4044
02:42:58,720 --> 02:43:00,240
proviso that we've added and with the

4045
02:43:00,240 --> 02:43:02,640
conversations we've had on on future

4046
02:43:02,640 --> 02:43:04,560
budget years, we all understand we're

4047
02:43:04,560 --> 02:43:05,760
going to have some other decisions to

4048
02:43:05,760 --> 02:43:07,200
make as we move forward. We got to be

4049
02:43:07,200 --> 02:43:09,439
fluid and flexible and and ready to

4050
02:43:09,439 --> 02:43:11,840
continue to to take a real close look at

4051
02:43:11,840 --> 02:43:14,319
all of this spending. But I also think,

4052
02:43:14,319 --> 02:43:15,920
as I said before, I'm proud of the fact

4053
02:43:15,920 --> 02:43:17,520
that two years we've had to make tough

4054
02:43:17,520 --> 02:43:19,840
choices. And yes, we have frozen

4055
02:43:19,840 --> 02:43:21,680
positions and yes, we aren't filling

4056
02:43:21,680 --> 02:43:23,439
positions. We also haven't laid anybody

4057
02:43:23,439 --> 02:43:25,840
off, right? And we have a plan, I think,

4058
02:43:25,840 --> 02:43:27,680
over the next few years to also continue

4059
02:43:27,680 --> 02:43:29,920
to maybe reduce some positions. I'm not

4060
02:43:29,920 --> 02:43:31,520
sure what that looks like, but I do tell

4061
02:43:31,520 --> 02:43:34,319
staff we can do it in a way that again

4062
02:43:34,319 --> 02:43:36,640
lets the people who work for us know

4063
02:43:36,640 --> 02:43:39,040
your job is safe. We appreciate what you

4064
02:43:39,040 --> 02:43:40,399
do and we're going to continue to work

4065
02:43:40,399 --> 02:43:43,359
towards a path that focuses on unfilled

4066
02:43:43,359 --> 02:43:46,000
positions and when people leave making

4067
02:43:46,000 --> 02:43:47,439
tough decisions as to what we do with

4068
02:43:47,439 --> 02:43:49,760
that position. So, I I think that's what

4069
02:43:49,760 --> 02:43:51,520
everyone's committed to and I just

4070
02:43:51,520 --> 02:43:52,880
wanted to put some of those numbers out

4071
02:43:52,880 --> 02:43:54,720
there for people to understand that we

4072
02:43:54,720 --> 02:43:56,640
did make cuts this year as opposed to

4073
02:43:56,640 --> 02:43:58,080
going the route of just looking for new

4074
02:43:58,080 --> 02:43:59,920
revenue. And they've been it's been a

4075
02:43:59,920 --> 02:44:01,439
tough process, but it's also what we

4076
02:44:01,439 --> 02:44:03,279
were elected to do. There's nothing more

4077
02:44:03,279 --> 02:44:04,880
important than getting a budget done

4078
02:44:04,880 --> 02:44:06,160
because everything else flows through

4079
02:44:06,160 --> 02:44:07,680
it. So, thank you to everybody for their

4080
02:44:07,680 --> 02:44:10,560
work on that. Um,

4081
02:44:10,560 --> 02:44:12,160
and so I'm not going to make a motion to

4082
02:44:12,160 --> 02:44:13,680
approve it yet, unless cuz I don't want

4083
02:44:13,680 --> 02:44:15,279
to cut off conversation. If anyone has

4084
02:44:15,279 --> 02:44:17,120
more amendments, but if not, then a

4085
02:44:17,120 --> 02:44:18,720
motion is always in order and I'm happy

4086
02:44:18,720 --> 02:44:22,640
to make it if the time comes.

4087
02:44:22,640 --> 02:44:24,160
Any other comments or questions from the

4088
02:44:24,160 --> 02:44:28,800
governing body on the 2027 budget?

4089
02:44:28,800 --> 02:44:32,240
Council member Ortiz,

4090
02:44:32,240 --> 02:44:35,040
I have a question for Josh.

4091
02:44:35,040 --> 02:44:36,399
I'm not going to let him get out of

4092
02:44:36,399 --> 02:44:38,319
here. As nice as he looks, I want him on

4093
02:44:38,319 --> 02:44:40,160
the screen.

4094
02:44:40,160 --> 02:44:43,120
He did take my advice and dressed up for

4095
02:44:43,120 --> 02:44:45,600
the last meeting here. So,

4096
02:44:45,600 --> 02:44:47,920
>> I know HR's here. They're listening.

4097
02:44:47,920 --> 02:44:50,399
Josh, um,

4098
02:44:50,399 --> 02:44:52,640
you know, um, I think me and you've

4099
02:44:52,640 --> 02:44:55,439
talked about this before, like Wade came

4100
02:44:55,439 --> 02:44:58,000
in and changed and, you know, now they

4101
02:44:58,000 --> 02:45:00,160
get so much money for food and stuff

4102
02:45:00,160 --> 02:45:03,040
like that. What is the total amount on

4103
02:45:03,040 --> 02:45:05,359
that for all departments if we were to

4104
02:45:05,359 --> 02:45:06,960
cut that out?

4105
02:45:06,960 --> 02:45:08,479
>> I think when we talked it's about

4106
02:45:08,479 --> 02:45:11,760
$48,000. Now, some of that is co binding

4107
02:45:11,760 --> 02:45:13,040
to meal allowances and evening

4108
02:45:13,040 --> 02:45:14,720
contracts. So, take that out. It's about

4109
02:45:14,720 --> 02:45:16,479
probably I think $48,000.

4110
02:45:16,479 --> 02:45:19,040
>> 48. Okay. All right.

4111
02:45:19,040 --> 02:45:24,469
Um,

4112
02:45:24,479 --> 02:45:26,640
can you tell me in the fire department,

4113
02:45:26,640 --> 02:45:29,120
do we is our um safety guy in for this

4114
02:45:29,120 --> 02:45:33,439
year or was he taken out for 2028

4115
02:45:33,439 --> 02:45:34,640
>> safety position?

4116
02:45:34,640 --> 02:45:35,279
>> He's in there.

4117
02:45:35,279 --> 02:45:36,640
>> He No, he Yeah, he's in there.

4118
02:45:36,640 --> 02:45:38,240
>> He's in See, this is what happens when

4119
02:45:38,240 --> 02:45:39,840
you start throwing a lot at me. I'm just

4120
02:45:39,840 --> 02:45:41,520
a one-year girl.

4121
02:45:41,520 --> 02:45:43,520
>> So, he's in there for 2027.

4122
02:45:43,520 --> 02:45:45,279
>> Yes, ma'am. Uh what we did in the fire

4123
02:45:45,279 --> 02:45:46,960
department was freeze 10 firefighter

4124
02:45:46,960 --> 02:45:49,600
positions uh in 2027. I'll remind you

4125
02:45:49,600 --> 02:45:51,680
that we have uh seven firefighters in a

4126
02:45:51,680 --> 02:45:54,800
battalion chief frozen for 2026. So uh

4127
02:45:54,800 --> 02:45:57,680
they the increment is basically um two

4128
02:45:57,680 --> 02:45:59,200
more positions that we're freezing and

4129
02:45:59,200 --> 02:45:59,920
fire.

4130
02:45:59,920 --> 02:46:02,399
>> Okay. So Josh, we're holding the

4131
02:46:02,399 --> 02:46:04,000
position just not putting no money

4132
02:46:04,000 --> 02:46:05,520
there. Is that what we're doing? Because

4133
02:46:05,520 --> 02:46:06,960
I know it was explained to me and you

4134
02:46:06,960 --> 02:46:07,840
talked about that.

4135
02:46:07,840 --> 02:46:08,560
>> Mhm.

4136
02:46:08,560 --> 02:46:10,560
>> Okay.

4137
02:46:10,560 --> 02:46:12,240
Josh, do you see anywhere else we could

4138
02:46:12,240 --> 02:46:15,279
cut? No, I think it it it comes down to

4139
02:46:15,279 --> 02:46:16,800
they what service levels you want to

4140
02:46:16,800 --> 02:46:19,279
balance. So, right now, and we kind of

4141
02:46:19,279 --> 02:46:20,960
shared last week, we're operating more

4142
02:46:20,960 --> 02:46:22,399
services than more revenue. So, we're

4143
02:46:22,399 --> 02:46:23,760
going to have to focus on what services

4144
02:46:23,760 --> 02:46:25,600
do we want to really value as a city.

4145
02:46:25,600 --> 02:46:28,319
So, we can either do a lot of services

4146
02:46:28,319 --> 02:46:29,920
um but that requires more revenue or we

4147
02:46:29,920 --> 02:46:31,439
just don't do them well or we can do

4148
02:46:31,439 --> 02:46:33,279
less services and with the revenue we

4149
02:46:33,279 --> 02:46:34,880
have. So, that's that's literally what

4150
02:46:34,880 --> 02:46:37,760
it comes down to. And then the two major

4151
02:46:37,760 --> 02:46:39,920
things we spend money on are personnel

4152
02:46:39,920 --> 02:46:42,640
and capital project costs. And if there

4153
02:46:42,640 --> 02:46:44,800
is no, we have a structural imbalance.

4154
02:46:44,800 --> 02:46:46,319
So if there's no tax increase, those are

4155
02:46:46,319 --> 02:46:47,680
the first things that have to be cut.

4156
02:46:47,680 --> 02:46:49,600
That's just the reality.

4157
02:46:49,600 --> 02:46:52,160
>> Josh did remind me it's about the badge.

4158
02:46:52,160 --> 02:46:53,840
Wait a minute. Let me get it right. It's

4159
02:46:53,840 --> 02:46:58,240
about the badge, the the shield,

4160
02:46:58,240 --> 02:46:59,279
>> shovel hose badge.

4161
02:46:59,279 --> 02:47:01,439
He put it to me like

4162
02:47:01,439 --> 02:47:02,319
that.

4163
02:47:02,319 --> 02:47:04,640
>> Can you do that again, Josh? It was the

4164
02:47:04,640 --> 02:47:07,200
shovel hose and the badge. Yeah.

4165
02:47:07,200 --> 02:47:09,200
Remember, you got it.

4166
02:47:09,200 --> 02:47:12,560
>> All right. Thank you. All

4167
02:47:12,560 --> 02:47:13,760
right. Well, if there's no other

4168
02:47:13,760 --> 02:47:15,279
questions or comments, we have a motion

4169
02:47:15,279 --> 02:47:17,439
to approve the 2027 budget from Council

4170
02:47:17,439 --> 02:47:22,080
Member Kell, a second from myself.

4171
02:47:22,080 --> 02:47:23,600
Any other comments or questions before

4172
02:47:23,600 --> 02:47:28,950
we take a vote on the 2027 budget?

4173
02:47:28,960 --> 02:47:30,240
» Council member Belo,

4174
02:47:30,240 --> 02:47:31,840
>> just, you know, I'm going to vote for

4175
02:47:31,840 --> 02:47:35,920
the budget. Um there

4176
02:47:35,920 --> 02:47:39,040
I think what gives me more peace of mind

4177
02:47:39,040 --> 02:47:42,240
knowing of voting yes for this budget

4178
02:47:42,240 --> 02:47:44,560
are what we have coming down the pike

4179
02:47:44,560 --> 02:47:49,920
which is going to be the emphasis on

4180
02:47:49,920 --> 02:47:53,200
an internal auditor which I believe is a

4181
02:47:53,200 --> 02:47:55,520
very serious commitment that we're

4182
02:47:55,520 --> 02:47:59,279
making so that the people can understand

4183
02:47:59,279 --> 02:48:01,840
that we are trying to look at everything

4184
02:48:01,840 --> 02:48:06,560
when we look at these looming deficits

4185
02:48:06,560 --> 02:48:10,560
and not just depending on let's try to

4186
02:48:10,560 --> 02:48:15,439
get more money out of sales tax. So,

4187
02:48:15,439 --> 02:48:18,160
I'm still in the way of the forensic

4188
02:48:18,160 --> 02:48:20,000
audit. We'll see what happens with this

4189
02:48:20,000 --> 02:48:24,640
internal auditor. Um, and so I just

4190
02:48:24,640 --> 02:48:26,560
needed to say that. Thank you.

4191
02:48:26,560 --> 02:48:29,990
>> Thank you.

4192
02:48:30,000 --> 02:48:32,000
» Anyone else?

4193
02:48:32,000 --> 02:48:32,479
Yeah.

4194
02:48:32,479 --> 02:48:33,920
>> Oh, sorry, Council Member Hill.

4195
02:48:33,920 --> 02:48:35,600
>> And I haven't voted for the budget for

4196
02:48:35,600 --> 02:48:38,640
the last couple of years and I will this

4197
02:48:38,640 --> 02:48:42,160
evening um based on the fact that we

4198
02:48:42,160 --> 02:48:45,600
have really broken it open. I think um

4199
02:48:45,600 --> 02:48:47,520
in terms of all of us understanding

4200
02:48:47,520 --> 02:48:50,399
what's at stake and my provisal was

4201
02:48:50,399 --> 02:48:52,080
important to me and I it sounds like to

4202
02:48:52,080 --> 02:48:54,720
all of you that we you know we'll talk

4203
02:48:54,720 --> 02:48:57,040
about the sales taxes in two weeks and

4204
02:48:57,040 --> 02:48:59,200
three weeks and and so on, but really

4205
02:48:59,200 --> 02:49:01,840
get inside those. We've kicked it off.

4206
02:49:01,840 --> 02:49:04,000
We've just got a lot of work to do, but

4207
02:49:04,000 --> 02:49:05,600
seems like we have a framework. I

4208
02:49:05,600 --> 02:49:07,200
appreciate that on the part of

4209
02:49:07,200 --> 02:49:10,399
everybody, staff, council, and the

4210
02:49:10,399 --> 02:49:12,640
public has really weighed in as well.

4211
02:49:12,640 --> 02:49:17,030
Thank you.

4212
02:49:17,040 --> 02:49:18,720
» All right. Any other council member

4213
02:49:18,720 --> 02:49:21,120
Miller?

4214
02:49:21,120 --> 02:49:22,880
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I would just like

4215
02:49:22,880 --> 02:49:25,120
to second that I do also appreciate the

4216
02:49:25,120 --> 02:49:27,279
fact of how much work was put in into

4217
02:49:27,279 --> 02:49:29,359
the exact cuts that are going to be made

4218
02:49:29,359 --> 02:49:31,840
or that are proposed to be made. I know

4219
02:49:31,840 --> 02:49:36,720
that job that is not easy. Um, and I may not like every single piece of the

4220
02:49:36,720 --> 02:49:38,800
decisions that have been made or the

4221
02:49:38,800 --> 02:49:41,600
ideas that are on the table. Um, but

4222
02:49:41,600 --> 02:49:43,600
that's okay. It's part of this job. Um,

4223
02:49:43,600 --> 02:49:45,600
I don't have to agree with everything.

4224
02:49:45,600 --> 02:49:47,680
Uh, but I do appreciate the work that

4225
02:49:47,680 --> 02:49:50,160
was that's been done to get us to this

4226
02:49:50,160 --> 02:49:52,080
point. Um, it looks more robust than

4227
02:49:52,080 --> 02:49:54,160
anything I've ever seen, even since

4228
02:49:54,160 --> 02:49:55,840
before I even started thinking about the

4229
02:49:55,840 --> 02:49:58,319
council. So, I do appreciate that. Thank

4230
02:49:58,319 --> 02:50:04,309
you.

4231
02:50:04,319 --> 02:50:05,840
» Any other comments or Council Member

4232
02:50:05,840 --> 02:50:07,840
Ortiz?

4233
02:50:07,840 --> 02:50:09,200
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to

4234
02:50:09,200 --> 02:50:12,000
support this budget and I want to

4235
02:50:12,000 --> 02:50:14,399
personally thank Josh. Josh, you're

4236
02:50:14,399 --> 02:50:17,040
going to be missed by me by me and my

4237
02:50:17,040 --> 02:50:20,000
questions. And I appreciate how you have

4238
02:50:20,000 --> 02:50:23,840
taken the time. You were patient and um

4239
02:50:23,840 --> 02:50:25,279
you know this like the back of your

4240
02:50:25,279 --> 02:50:27,120
hand. I will need your sale number for

4241
02:50:27,120 --> 02:50:29,279
next year to remind me what happened

4242
02:50:29,279 --> 02:50:32,240
this year. But um you're going to be

4243
02:50:32,240 --> 02:50:35,200
missed and you're you're a valuable

4244
02:50:35,200 --> 02:50:38,399
employee and um thank you for all the

4245
02:50:38,399 --> 02:50:39,840
hard work that you've done. Thank you

4246
02:50:39,840 --> 02:50:42,000
for helping me understand it and thank

4247
02:50:42,000 --> 02:50:43,840
you for helping even the community with

4248
02:50:43,840 --> 02:50:44,800
their questions.

4249
02:50:44,800 --> 02:50:51,349
>> I appreciate that. Thank you.

4250
02:50:51,359 --> 02:50:54,800
» Anybody else?

4251
02:50:54,800 --> 02:50:57,680
If not, then I'm going to ask the clerk

4252
02:50:57,680 --> 02:50:59,520
to take the vote, please. Just to be

4253
02:50:59,520 --> 02:51:03,040
clear, we're voting on the 2027 budget.

4254
02:51:03,040 --> 02:51:05,600
>> Council member Miller, your vote.

4255
02:51:05,600 --> 02:51:07,840
>> Yes.

4256
02:51:07,840 --> 02:51:14,230
Guess

4257
02:51:14,240 --> 02:51:15,760
we're voting on the 27 budget as

4258
02:51:15,760 --> 02:51:17,200
amended, by the way.

4259
02:51:17,200 --> 02:51:17,760
>> Correct.

4260
02:51:17,760 --> 02:51:20,479
>> I know the city clerk already knew that.

4261
02:51:20,479 --> 02:51:22,399
She's been here a little while, too. She

4262
02:51:22,399 --> 02:51:23,120
knows what's up.

4263
02:51:23,120 --> 02:51:25,040
>> All right, we have 10. Yes, the motion

4264
02:51:25,040 --> 02:51:26,479
carries.

4265
02:51:26,479 --> 02:51:29,040
>> All right,

4266
02:51:29,040 --> 02:51:30,960
with that, we will move on to public

4267
02:51:30,960 --> 02:51:33,520
comment. We have several people signed

4268
02:51:33,520 --> 02:51:35,600
up this evening. We'll begin with

4269
02:51:35,600 --> 02:51:38,720
Reverend Julie Mcola. No, that was

4270
02:51:38,720 --> 02:51:40,160
>> Oh, you're done. All right. Well, then

4271
02:51:40,160 --> 02:51:41,120
we're up to

4272
02:51:41,120 --> 02:51:42,960
>> No, you're good. Ralph Anderson is next

4273
02:51:42,960 --> 02:51:57,269
on my list.

4274
02:51:57,279 --> 02:51:59,120
» Good evening,

4275
02:51:59,120 --> 02:52:03,040
Mr. Mayor, Dr. City Manager, ladies and

4276
02:52:03,040 --> 02:52:06,080
gentlemen, city council and citizens of

4277
02:52:06,080 --> 02:52:09,520
Topeka that are watching. I dress you

4278
02:52:09,520 --> 02:52:14,319
only as a born citizen of Topeka.

4279
02:52:14,319 --> 02:52:18,479
I've come to realize Topeka is broken.

4280
02:52:18,479 --> 02:52:22,160
Even our election method is broken.

4281
02:52:22,160 --> 02:52:25,840
Voting is not a popularity contest or a

4282
02:52:25,840 --> 02:52:30,240
beauty contest or a my party over yours

4283
02:52:30,240 --> 02:52:32,000
contest.

4284
02:52:32,000 --> 02:52:34,720
It should be about listening to the

4285
02:52:34,720 --> 02:52:37,760
candidates and picking the person who

4286
02:52:37,760 --> 02:52:42,560
can serve the citizens first and best.

4287
02:52:42,560 --> 02:52:46,000
That is for we the voting citizens to

4288
02:52:46,000 --> 02:52:48,080
take care of.

4289
02:52:48,080 --> 02:52:51,120
And to say government is not in business

4290
02:52:51,120 --> 02:52:53,439
to make a profit.

4291
02:52:53,439 --> 02:52:56,800
Is to serve the citizens rich, poor,

4292
02:52:56,800 --> 02:53:00,560
worker, business owner or homeless

4293
02:53:00,560 --> 02:53:04,800
equally.

4294
02:53:04,800 --> 02:53:07,359
We do not have a chief executive

4295
02:53:07,359 --> 02:53:11,040
officer, a chief operations officer, and

4296
02:53:11,040 --> 02:53:13,600
a board of directors.

4297
02:53:13,600 --> 02:53:15,600
We don't want a profit or loss

4298
02:53:15,600 --> 02:53:19,359
statement. A surplus is when you didn't

4299
02:53:19,359 --> 02:53:22,160
serve the citizens fully.

4300
02:53:22,160 --> 02:53:24,880
A defeat is when you didn't use your

4301
02:53:24,880 --> 02:53:29,990
money properly and overspent.

4302
02:53:30,000 --> 02:53:33,040
This is tax money we paid to make

4303
02:53:33,040 --> 02:53:37,120
everyone in Topeka's life safer and as

4304
02:53:37,120 --> 02:53:39,920
comfortable as possible.

4305
02:53:39,920 --> 02:53:42,800
Topeka is not a metropolis.

4306
02:53:42,800 --> 02:53:45,840
It may not be for the lifetime of even

4307
02:53:45,840 --> 02:53:49,040
the newest newborn in Topeka.

4308
02:53:49,040 --> 02:53:51,920
Do we need six plus lane expressway in

4309
02:53:51,920 --> 02:53:56,319
downtown so visiting jurist and city uh

4310
02:53:56,319 --> 02:54:00,479
visitors can just zoom right on through?

4311
02:54:00,479 --> 02:54:05,190
I don't know.

4312
02:54:05,200 --> 02:54:08,319
Do we need more traffic circles on the

4313
02:54:08,319 --> 02:54:11,120
edge of town?

4314
02:54:11,120 --> 02:54:13,040
driving in town. I have to wonder if

4315
02:54:13,040 --> 02:54:15,359
some people can even match driving in a

4316
02:54:15,359 --> 02:54:18,479
straight line.

4317
02:54:18,479 --> 02:54:20,319
I mean,

4318
02:54:20,319 --> 02:54:22,880
do we need to give tax breaks to

4319
02:54:22,880 --> 02:54:25,760
businesses here that when that tax break

4320
02:54:25,760 --> 02:54:28,880
is over, they'll move on to the next

4321
02:54:28,880 --> 02:54:32,720
city that offers them a tax break?

4322
02:54:32,720 --> 02:54:36,960
We need to take care of each other,

4323
02:54:36,960 --> 02:54:39,600
not hire alert people from other cities

4324
02:54:39,600 --> 02:54:41,920
and states that have no investment in

4325
02:54:41,920 --> 02:54:44,240
Topeka's history.

4326
02:54:44,240 --> 02:54:47,279
I was born in Topeka.

4327
02:54:47,279 --> 02:54:50,240
I've lived here most of my life and love

4328
02:54:50,240 --> 02:54:54,080
the history of the city and my family in

4329
02:54:54,080 --> 02:54:55,840
this town.

4330
02:54:55,840 --> 02:54:58,640
I joined organizations that try to work

4331
02:54:58,640 --> 02:55:01,040
with city council,

4332
02:55:01,040 --> 02:55:04,960
which hasn't proved totally successful.

4333
02:55:04,960 --> 02:55:07,520
I care about people. I want enough

4334
02:55:07,520 --> 02:55:10,000
police to have safety and traffic

4335
02:55:10,000 --> 02:55:13,279
enforcement. An area the homeless can

4336
02:55:13,279 --> 02:55:15,680
camp where they won't be treated like

4337
02:55:15,680 --> 02:55:17,520
criminals.

4338
02:55:17,520 --> 02:55:19,279
and

4339
02:55:19,279 --> 02:55:22,080
owe my neighbors

4340
02:55:22,080 --> 02:55:27,590
in a safe place where they can sleep.

4341
02:55:27,600 --> 02:55:30,560
You're not helping with tax increases.

4342
02:55:30,560 --> 02:55:32,960
Raise taxes mean the owners must

4343
02:55:32,960 --> 02:55:35,840
increase rent, which means some people

4344
02:55:35,840 --> 02:55:37,760
are going to be forced out of their

4345
02:55:37,760 --> 02:55:40,399
homes or else,

4346
02:55:40,399 --> 02:55:42,720
you know, just not afford be able to

4347
02:55:42,720 --> 02:55:46,080
afford to t that the rent. they'll move

4348
02:55:46,080 --> 02:55:49,840
out of town or they become homeless.

4349
02:55:49,840 --> 02:55:52,800
Let's get realistic budget and some

4350
02:55:52,800 --> 02:55:56,640
realistic plans that help all of us to

4351
02:55:56,640 --> 02:56:00,960
be every one of us.

4352
02:56:00,960 --> 02:56:04,080
Ask yourself, what would Jesus do if he

4353
02:56:04,080 --> 02:56:06,479
is on the city council?

4354
02:56:06,479 --> 02:56:07,279
Thank you.

4355
02:56:07,279 --> 02:56:08,720
>> Thank you, Ralph.

4356
02:56:08,720 --> 02:56:11,359
>> I have a question,

4357
02:56:11,359 --> 02:56:13,359
mayor. Okay. This isn't

4358
02:56:13,359 --> 02:56:15,359
>> it's something you you can ask

4359
02:56:15,359 --> 02:56:16,640
yourselves.

4360
02:56:16,640 --> 02:56:20,150
>> Okay.

4361
02:56:20,160 --> 02:56:23,680
» Will this Hutch

4362
02:56:23,680 --> 02:56:26,399
development,

4363
02:56:26,399 --> 02:56:28,880
do we have any guarantees it won't end

4364
02:56:28,880 --> 02:56:33,040
up like the apartment complex

4365
02:56:33,040 --> 02:56:36,880
out at the uh former Topeka hospital

4366
02:56:36,880 --> 02:56:38,800
grounds.

4367
02:56:38,800 --> 02:56:41,040
It's been sitting there for two years

4368
02:56:41,040 --> 02:56:42,000
closed.

4369
02:56:42,000 --> 02:56:43,600
>> I'll tell you what, leave your email and

4370
02:56:43,600 --> 02:56:45,359
I can answer both those questions for

4371
02:56:45,359 --> 02:56:46,960
you. All right. If you leave your I

4372
02:56:46,960 --> 02:56:48,399
think I even have your email still, but

4373
02:56:48,399 --> 02:56:49,600
if not, if you could leave your email

4374
02:56:49,600 --> 02:56:51,600
with the clerk before you leave tonight,

4375
02:56:51,600 --> 02:56:52,880
I'll make sure I get you answers on

4376
02:56:52,880 --> 02:56:54,000
what's happening with both of those

4377
02:56:54,000 --> 02:56:54,960
projects.

4378
02:56:54,960 --> 02:56:55,680
>> Okay.

4379
02:56:55,680 --> 02:56:59,030
>> Thank you.

4380
02:56:59,040 --> 02:57:07,510
» Next up, we have Henry Mccclure.

4381
02:57:07,520 --> 02:57:10,080
My name's Henry Mccclure. Good evening,

4382
02:57:10,080 --> 02:57:15,429
your honor. I'm a native Topeka.

4383
02:57:15,439 --> 02:57:17,600
What did you know and when do you know

4384
02:57:17,600 --> 02:57:19,520
it?

4385
02:57:19,520 --> 02:57:22,080
What did you know and when did you know

4386
02:57:22,080 --> 02:57:25,600
it? That was the common theme

4387
02:57:25,600 --> 02:57:27,920
during Watergate.

4388
02:57:27,920 --> 02:57:29,920
What did you know and when did you know

4389
02:57:29,920 --> 02:57:32,960
it? So, let's talk about I think I've

4390
02:57:32,960 --> 02:57:35,359
uncovered

4391
02:57:35,359 --> 02:57:38,399
some places where your contractor

4392
02:57:38,399 --> 02:57:40,080
goa

4393
02:57:40,080 --> 02:57:43,120
who manages the $5 million in economic

4394
02:57:43,120 --> 02:57:44,720
development

4395
02:57:44,720 --> 02:57:47,840
is breaking the law.

4396
02:57:47,840 --> 02:57:50,240
So, now you know that I and I think I've

4397
02:57:50,240 --> 02:57:52,560
made a pretty decent case. I've emailed

4398
02:57:52,560 --> 02:57:54,160
it all to you. I'll leave it here as

4399
02:57:54,160 --> 02:57:56,720
public record.

4400
02:57:56,720 --> 02:57:58,720
What did you know and when did you know

4401
02:57:58,720 --> 02:58:00,000
it?

4402
02:58:00,000 --> 02:58:02,880
I can't change it. You guys could change

4403
02:58:02,880 --> 02:58:05,359
it today. It was interesting.

4404
02:58:05,359 --> 02:58:07,840
It was really interesting to uh hear

4405
02:58:07,840 --> 02:58:10,560
some of this stuff and then your epistle

4406
02:58:10,560 --> 02:58:13,520
at the end about the the numbers that

4407
02:58:13,520 --> 02:58:18,000
you gave. We haven't talked about we

4408
02:58:18,000 --> 02:58:21,120
didn't talk about the use of all these

4409
02:58:21,120 --> 02:58:24,240
funds. We didn't talk about the hotel.

4410
02:58:24,240 --> 02:58:27,359
We didn't talk about AT&T, but we we we

4411
02:58:27,359 --> 02:58:32,640
haven't talked about the $125 million

4412
02:58:32,640 --> 02:58:34,399
of the current sales tax. And the

4413
02:58:34,399 --> 02:58:36,880
current sales tax was supposed to be the

4414
02:58:36,880 --> 02:58:39,359
silver bullet, the magic pill. It was

4415
02:58:39,359 --> 02:58:40,640
going to be the thing that was going to

4416
02:58:40,640 --> 02:58:43,600
make our city grow. We were going to uh

4417
02:58:43,600 --> 02:58:46,640
broaden the tax base.

4418
02:58:46,640 --> 02:58:48,000
We were going to increase the

4419
02:58:48,000 --> 02:58:51,840
population. And as a businessman, being

4420
02:58:51,840 --> 02:58:54,960
the uh

4421
02:58:54,960 --> 02:58:58,720
a co-developer of the business park,

4422
02:58:58,720 --> 02:59:01,120
I've been a part of this longer than

4423
02:59:01,120 --> 02:59:03,439
anybody in here

4424
02:59:03,439 --> 02:59:05,680
and watched it as a businessman through

4425
02:59:05,680 --> 02:59:08,319
the eyes of business. So, here's what's

4426
02:59:08,319 --> 02:59:12,240
interesting. these these funds where go

4427
02:59:12,240 --> 02:59:15,520
your contractor is breaking the law that

4428
02:59:15,520 --> 02:59:18,000
nullifies I think that should nullify

4429
02:59:18,000 --> 02:59:20,160
their contract

4430
02:59:20,160 --> 02:59:22,000
then all of a sudden you guys have got

4431
02:59:22,000 --> 02:59:25,200
$5 million to figure out how to uh divvy

4432
02:59:25,200 --> 02:59:28,080
it up with the county. You got four

4433
02:59:28,080 --> 02:59:31,520
votes on Jetto.

4434
02:59:31,520 --> 02:59:35,520
How can you how can you go forward

4435
02:59:35,520 --> 02:59:38,640
knowing and and the thing about oop the

4436
02:59:38,640 --> 02:59:40,800
thing about it

4437
02:59:40,800 --> 02:59:43,760
is this is just I mean you you guys keep

4438
02:59:43,760 --> 02:59:46,160
talking about an auditor.

4439
02:59:46,160 --> 02:59:48,080
Well, you yourselves are saying there's

4440
02:59:48,080 --> 02:59:51,200
something fishy here in River City.

4441
02:59:51,200 --> 02:59:54,720
Get that auditor to start going through

4442
02:59:54,720 --> 02:59:56,560
every bit of Jetto. How many if you've

4443
02:59:56,560 --> 02:59:58,800
been to Jetto meetings, there's all this

4444
02:59:58,800 --> 03:00:01,760
whizbang. Hey, you're going to get a 39%

4445
03:00:01,760 --> 03:00:04,000
ROI. You're going to get these huge

4446
03:00:04,000 --> 03:00:06,479
returns on investment,

4447
03:00:06,479 --> 03:00:13,920
but it's not working. So, when do you look at your contractor and

4448
03:00:13,920 --> 03:00:15,920
say, "Well, not only are you breaking

4449
03:00:15,920 --> 03:00:18,560
the law now, we need to investigate the

4450
03:00:18,560 --> 03:00:21,520
whole shoot and match and audit it all."

4451
03:00:21,520 --> 03:00:24,720
You haven't performed for the beginning.

4452
03:00:24,720 --> 03:00:28,960
sales tax is a great way to uh fund uh

4453
03:00:28,960 --> 03:00:31,760
the community. It's a great way because

4454
03:00:31,760 --> 03:00:35,120
we import so many dollars from, you

4455
03:00:35,120 --> 03:00:37,680
know, our MSA outside of Shauny County.

4456
03:00:37,680 --> 03:00:40,960
It's a great way to do it, but it's hard

4457
03:00:40,960 --> 03:00:43,200
to support it

4458
03:00:43,200 --> 03:00:46,240
when the the sales tax you've got now

4459
03:00:46,240 --> 03:00:51,120
isn't being shephered appropriately.

4460
03:00:51,120 --> 03:00:55,359
Josh's mom, Amy, watches these shows.

4461
03:00:55,359 --> 03:00:58,399
And I want to tell Amy that you you got

4462
03:00:58,399 --> 03:00:59,920
to be proud of your son. Man, what a

4463
03:00:59,920 --> 03:01:02,960
good kid. And I'm glad he's moving on.

4464
03:01:02,960 --> 03:01:04,960
I appreciate the opportunity to come

4465
03:01:04,960 --> 03:01:08,240
talk to you. What did you know? And when

4466
03:01:08,240 --> 03:01:11,120
did you know it?

4467
03:01:11,120 --> 03:01:25,990
Next up, we have Miss Daniel Twimmel.

4468
03:01:26,000 --> 03:01:29,600
Okay, thank you for the 2027 budget. So

4469
03:01:29,600 --> 03:01:32,080
there I said that and I didn't sign up

4470
03:01:32,080 --> 03:01:35,200
to speak on that because um didn't want

4471
03:01:35,200 --> 03:01:37,040
to complicate what was already there and

4472
03:01:37,040 --> 03:01:38,560
the hard work that had already been

4473
03:01:38,560 --> 03:01:42,479
done. But um I do want to address some

4474
03:01:42,479 --> 03:01:44,399
things that we can look at moving

4475
03:01:44,399 --> 03:01:46,800
forward as we're looking at creative

4476
03:01:46,800 --> 03:01:49,120
ways. Um I do want to reiterate that

4477
03:01:49,120 --> 03:01:52,160
yes, while the RHID has the purpose for

4478
03:01:52,160 --> 03:01:55,760
any housing needs that we do have within

4479
03:01:55,760 --> 03:01:58,240
our our local ordinance that um it

4480
03:01:58,240 --> 03:01:59,920
should meet the needs of that housing

4481
03:01:59,920 --> 03:02:05,040
study, which we stretch that very very

4482
03:02:05,040 --> 03:02:07,439
thinly to include absolutely everything.

4483
03:02:07,439 --> 03:02:10,000
And as we're seeing um we have outpaced

4484
03:02:10,000 --> 03:02:11,760
ourselves on that luxury and high-end

4485
03:02:11,760 --> 03:02:13,600
and we should really be using those

4486
03:02:13,600 --> 03:02:16,800
incentives um to offset costs on the

4487
03:02:16,800 --> 03:02:19,120
housing that we really need for that low

4488
03:02:19,120 --> 03:02:21,040
to moderate income affordable housing.

4489
03:02:21,040 --> 03:02:23,439
But did you know that we could also be

4490
03:02:23,439 --> 03:02:25,600
really creative with the RHID? is the

4491
03:02:25,600 --> 03:02:30,160
city can actually um collect the RHID

4492
03:02:30,160 --> 03:02:32,160
funds if they do infrastructure

4493
03:02:32,160 --> 03:02:34,960
development around a housing unit that

4494
03:02:34,960 --> 03:02:37,680
is either being rehabilitated or built

4495
03:02:37,680 --> 03:02:39,680
instead of giving it to the developer.

4496
03:02:39,680 --> 03:02:42,160
So if it aligns with infrastructure

4497
03:02:42,160 --> 03:02:44,479
needs or putting sidewalks or gutters or

4498
03:02:44,479 --> 03:02:46,960
replacing the water line that we in turn

4499
03:02:46,960 --> 03:02:49,120
could do that work and collect that

4500
03:02:49,120 --> 03:02:51,359
incremental increase. So we need to be

4501
03:02:51,359 --> 03:02:53,279
looking at some of those more creative

4502
03:02:53,279 --> 03:02:54,960
ways that are going to benefit us

4503
03:02:54,960 --> 03:02:57,120
instead of people who are already making

4504
03:02:57,120 --> 03:03:00,080
millions of dollars. Um so this is a

4505
03:03:00,080 --> 03:03:01,840
very common thing when we have a budget

4506
03:03:01,840 --> 03:03:03,760
deficit and a population loss and talked

4507
03:03:03,760 --> 03:03:05,760
about this many times that u

4508
03:03:05,760 --> 03:03:07,840
municipalities often keep looking at

4509
03:03:07,840 --> 03:03:10,160
ways that you know the instinct to chase

4510
03:03:10,160 --> 03:03:12,800
growth um one more development one more

4511
03:03:12,800 --> 03:03:14,560
incentive package one more ribbon

4512
03:03:14,560 --> 03:03:17,359
cutting um but none of the data supports

4513
03:03:17,359 --> 03:03:20,800
that and we know that city planning

4514
03:03:20,800 --> 03:03:24,080
engineers over and over again show that

4515
03:03:24,080 --> 03:03:27,439
we need to slow that type of growth. We

4516
03:03:27,439 --> 03:03:30,800
need to focus on our infrastructure that

4517
03:03:30,800 --> 03:03:33,359
is currently here um and the current

4518
03:03:33,359 --> 03:03:35,840
people, our current tax base and the

4519
03:03:35,840 --> 03:03:37,760
things that they need. Um we're not

4520
03:03:37,760 --> 03:03:40,000
going to get fixed by a big data center

4521
03:03:40,000 --> 03:03:42,160
or another development that we must

4522
03:03:42,160 --> 03:03:44,720
optimize our current tax base. And this

4523
03:03:44,720 --> 03:03:46,880
logic applies on how we handle this

4524
03:03:46,880 --> 03:03:50,319
debt. We're not currently maximizing the

4525
03:03:50,319 --> 03:03:52,960
transient uh guest tax dollars like we

4526
03:03:52,960 --> 03:03:55,600
absolutely could. Um I see cuts all over

4527
03:03:55,600 --> 03:03:59,279
the place. um for um jobs within the

4528
03:03:59,279 --> 03:04:01,520
city, but nothing was really discussed

4529
03:04:01,520 --> 03:04:03,120
on how we were going to stop

4530
03:04:03,120 --> 03:04:05,439
incentivizing luxury or high-end

4531
03:04:05,439 --> 03:04:08,399
development or how we could kind of

4532
03:04:08,399 --> 03:04:12,160
improve on a 2025 ordinance where um we

4533
03:04:12,160 --> 03:04:14,640
were collecting um some of that

4534
03:04:14,640 --> 03:04:16,640
incremental increase on the transient

4535
03:04:16,640 --> 03:04:19,120
gas tax. we have the power and authority

4536
03:04:19,120 --> 03:04:21,680
to go ahead and stop that type of

4537
03:04:21,680 --> 03:04:23,600
economic or slow that economic

4538
03:04:23,600 --> 03:04:25,680
development growth for a period of time

4539
03:04:25,680 --> 03:04:30,399
and pay off um more of the hotel um

4540
03:04:30,399 --> 03:04:33,040
bonds that we have. That is going to

4541
03:04:33,040 --> 03:04:34,960
lower the amount of time we're spending

4542
03:04:34,960 --> 03:04:37,520
on paying back that hotel and decrease

4543
03:04:37,520 --> 03:04:40,399
the amount of um interest that we will

4544
03:04:40,399 --> 03:04:42,960
be paying and free up that general fund

4545
03:04:42,960 --> 03:04:45,200
balance. So, we can slow that kind of

4546
03:04:45,200 --> 03:04:46,960
economic development for a while. and

4547
03:04:46,960 --> 03:04:49,279
it's within our purview to do so. So,

4548
03:04:49,279 --> 03:04:51,439
looking at all of these creative ways

4549
03:04:51,439 --> 03:04:54,080
that we can free up money, um when we're

4550
03:04:54,080 --> 03:04:56,080
looking at ways that we're going to keep

4551
03:04:56,080 --> 03:05:00,960
taxing people, um we have to do better,

4552
03:05:00,960 --> 03:05:02,479
right? We have to do better and there's

4553
03:05:02,479 --> 03:05:05,359
lots and lots of ways to do that. So, I

4554
03:05:05,359 --> 03:05:08,160
am hopeful that this um audit will

4555
03:05:08,160 --> 03:05:10,319
happen very soon so that by the time

4556
03:05:10,319 --> 03:05:12,880
we're looking at that 2028 budget, we

4557
03:05:12,880 --> 03:05:14,319
can be seeing how some of these

4558
03:05:14,319 --> 03:05:16,960
different ways that we could be um

4559
03:05:16,960 --> 03:05:18,800
finding dollars to be spent more

4560
03:05:18,800 --> 03:05:21,439
effectively um in the short term so that

4561
03:05:21,439 --> 03:05:23,840
we are not nickel and dimming our

4562
03:05:23,840 --> 03:05:28,230
citizens out of their homes.

4563
03:05:28,240 --> 03:05:30,800
» Thank you.

4564
03:05:30,800 --> 03:05:32,720
All right.

4565
03:05:32,720 --> 03:05:34,160
With that, I don't have anyone else

4566
03:05:34,160 --> 03:05:36,800
signed up for public comment. We will

4567
03:05:36,800 --> 03:05:39,520
move on to announcements. City clerk,

4568
03:05:39,520 --> 03:05:43,600
>> there is no meeting next week.

4569
03:05:43,600 --> 03:05:46,479
>> City manager. Thank you, mayor. Um, I

4570
03:05:46,479 --> 03:05:48,960
just wanted to announce uh that this

4571
03:05:48,960 --> 03:05:51,680
evening would be uh Josh McCannernney's

4572
03:05:51,680 --> 03:05:54,240
last budget meeting or I'm sorry, uh

4573
03:05:54,240 --> 03:05:57,200
council meeting. Um, and just wanted to

4574
03:05:57,200 --> 03:06:00,080
say thank you for the last few years,

4575
03:06:00,080 --> 03:06:02,880
man. like it's been it's been fun and

4576
03:06:02,880 --> 03:06:05,279
learned a lot from you too. Um so I just

4577
03:06:05,279 --> 03:06:08,720
uh just um not happy to see you go. Um

4578
03:06:08,720 --> 03:06:11,600
but to council member Ortiz's point um

4579
03:06:11,600 --> 03:06:13,040
you look good, you look sharp, you're

4580
03:06:13,040 --> 03:06:14,479
ready to move on to the next the next

4581
03:06:14,479 --> 03:06:16,960
level. So congratulations and good luck.

4582
03:06:16,960 --> 03:06:18,800
>> I also want to announce mayor that this

4583
03:06:18,800 --> 03:06:20,960
evening will be uh Nick Jefferson's

4584
03:06:20,960 --> 03:06:24,080
final council meeting as well. Um Nick,

4585
03:06:24,080 --> 03:06:25,600
you've been an amazing city attorney

4586
03:06:25,600 --> 03:06:27,279
over the last year. here. I think that

4587
03:06:27,279 --> 03:06:34,000
uh got nothing but rave reviews from uh the team uh on what you've

4588
03:06:34,000 --> 03:06:36,720
brought to the office and I hope that

4589
03:06:36,720 --> 03:06:38,640
you do get bored in your next role and

4590
03:06:38,640 --> 03:06:41,439
you come back. Um but uh but just want

4591
03:06:41,439 --> 03:06:44,560
to make that announcement to just let you both know I'm very appreciative

4592
03:06:44,560 --> 03:06:46,720
of having had the opportunity to work

4593
03:06:46,720 --> 03:06:49,040
with y'all and good luck to both of you.

4594
03:06:49,040 --> 03:06:49,600
>> Thank you, Mayor.

4595
03:06:49,600 --> 03:06:51,359
>> Thank you.

4596
03:06:51,359 --> 03:06:55,830
>> All right, Councilman Vivcala.

4597
03:06:55,840 --> 03:06:59,359
Good luck to both um

4598
03:06:59,359 --> 03:07:01,520
Nick and

4599
03:07:01,520 --> 03:07:03,760
to Josh.

4600
03:07:03,760 --> 03:07:05,920
Um seems like we're losing a lot of

4601
03:07:05,920 --> 03:07:10,560
folks, but um good travels to you. Just

4602
03:07:10,560 --> 03:07:13,200
a couple of quick things. Uh deepest

4603
03:07:13,200 --> 03:07:15,920
condolences once the name was released

4604
03:07:15,920 --> 03:07:18,240
are definitely due to 9-year-old

4605
03:07:18,240 --> 03:07:22,479
Alexander Hona, I think it was. his

4606
03:07:22,479 --> 03:07:24,720
family was part of that devastating fire

4607
03:07:24,720 --> 03:07:27,040
on the 100 block of Northeast Coach

4608
03:07:27,040 --> 03:07:32,800
Light in the trailer park. Um

4609
03:07:32,800 --> 03:07:35,040
there's no words to say how horrific it

4610
03:07:35,040 --> 03:07:39,439
was listening to witness testimony and

4611
03:07:39,439 --> 03:07:42,560
um kudos to the fire department. I want

4612
03:07:42,560 --> 03:07:45,200
to make sure and talk to Chief Long

4613
03:07:45,200 --> 03:07:47,359
staff to see how that doortodoor went

4614
03:07:47,359 --> 03:07:49,120
with

4615
03:07:49,120 --> 03:07:52,319
um having fire detectors and telling

4616
03:07:52,319 --> 03:07:55,359
folks how to put them in or how the fire

4617
03:07:55,359 --> 03:07:58,399
department can help uh put them into the

4618
03:07:58,399 --> 03:08:00,960
households. Um,

4619
03:08:00,960 --> 03:08:02,720
also,

4620
03:08:02,720 --> 03:08:08,080
um, just kudos to how quickly,

4621
03:08:08,080 --> 03:08:11,040
uh, the Topeka Police Department was

4622
03:08:11,040 --> 03:08:13,279
able to identify,

4623
03:08:13,279 --> 03:08:16,640
um, a suspect in the Noto double

4624
03:08:16,640 --> 03:08:18,720
homicide.

4625
03:08:18,720 --> 03:08:21,680
um that

4626
03:08:21,680 --> 03:08:24,880
shortly after it happened, um one of the

4627
03:08:24,880 --> 03:08:28,399
business owners in Noto um

4628
03:08:28,399 --> 03:08:30,399
sent me an invitation to go into their

4629
03:08:30,399 --> 03:08:32,399
chat into their neighborhood kind of

4630
03:08:32,399 --> 03:08:37,279
watch chat room. And I honestly believe

4631
03:08:37,279 --> 03:08:40,000
that everything was moved along so

4632
03:08:40,000 --> 03:08:43,840
quickly because of the immense help that

4633
03:08:43,840 --> 03:08:46,880
the Nto businesses slash those that live

4634
03:08:46,880 --> 03:08:50,240
there. Also with the voluminous amount

4635
03:08:50,240 --> 03:08:53,359
of video footage that they had, camera

4636
03:08:53,359 --> 03:08:56,720
footage which offered excellent

4637
03:08:56,720 --> 03:08:59,200
uh photos for identification

4638
03:08:59,200 --> 03:09:02,479
and um I know that it was very traumatic

4639
03:09:02,479 --> 03:09:06,080
for everyone. Obviously the loss of life

4640
03:09:06,080 --> 03:09:07,920
no matter how it came about was

4641
03:09:07,920 --> 03:09:13,200
terrible. Um you know the

4642
03:09:13,200 --> 03:09:16,880
just reaching out with a real sense of

4643
03:09:16,880 --> 03:09:19,760
gratitude that Jennifer and John

4644
03:09:19,760 --> 03:09:23,600
Bolander were okay as well and all of

4645
03:09:23,600 --> 03:09:26,479
the folks and businesses

4646
03:09:26,479 --> 03:09:29,200
um along that notto strip. And I know

4647
03:09:29,200 --> 03:09:32,640
that they are a resilient community and

4648
03:09:32,640 --> 03:09:38,000
I also believe that this was tragic and isolated. So hopefully it

4649
03:09:38,000 --> 03:09:41,040
will not keep people from visiting the

4650
03:09:41,040 --> 03:09:44,399
area and also kudos to the capital um

4651
03:09:44,399 --> 03:09:47,680
police capital peace project that was

4652
03:09:47,680 --> 03:09:50,640
out there I think today with signs about

4653
03:09:50,640 --> 03:09:53,760
stopping the violence. Thank you, Mayor.

4654
03:09:53,760 --> 03:09:56,880
>> Council member Ortiz.

4655
03:09:56,880 --> 03:10:00,880
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, first, Brenda,

4656
03:10:00,880 --> 03:10:03,279
do we have a meeting on the 26th or the

4657
03:10:03,279 --> 03:10:05,920
29th?

4658
03:10:05,920 --> 03:10:07,760
>> Uh-huh. Cuz you said there's no meeting

4659
03:10:07,760 --> 03:10:09,680
next week. That's the 22nd.

4660
03:10:09,680 --> 03:10:11,200
>> Yeah, there's no no meetings on the

4661
03:10:11,200 --> 03:10:12,560
fourth or fifth Tuesday of any month

4662
03:10:12,560 --> 03:10:13,600
unless it's a special.

4663
03:10:13,600 --> 03:10:14,960
>> Just want to make sure. Just want to

4664
03:10:14,960 --> 03:10:15,600
make sure. I just

4665
03:10:15,600 --> 03:10:16,960
>> I told you yes. And see if you showed

4666
03:10:16,960 --> 03:10:17,760
up.

4667
03:10:17,760 --> 03:10:22,150
>> Well, I wasn't.

4668
03:10:22,160 --> 03:10:24,399
» Just make sure that city manager hears

4669
03:10:24,399 --> 03:10:28,080
us loud and clear. We need a break. I need to go to Chicago

4670
03:10:28,080 --> 03:10:30,479
real quick. So, I don't I don't need

4671
03:10:30,479 --> 03:10:33,520
that. Um Nick, it's been a pleasure.

4672
03:10:33,520 --> 03:10:35,520
Maybe we can do a proviso and bring you

4673
03:10:35,520 --> 03:10:38,000
back or something. I don't know. It's

4674
03:10:38,000 --> 03:10:40,800
that gray area, you know. But, um I

4675
03:10:40,800 --> 03:10:42,479
appreciate that. Appreciate what you've

4676
03:10:42,479 --> 03:10:47,680
done. Um so, good luck to you. Um

4677
03:10:47,680 --> 03:10:50,960
East North and South um not this

4678
03:10:50,960 --> 03:10:53,279
weekend, but the next weekend, September

4679
03:10:53,279 --> 03:10:55,520
the 26th is fight the blight, drag it to

4680
03:10:55,520 --> 03:10:57,439
the curve. There's no kids. You got to

4681
03:10:57,439 --> 03:11:00,319
keep your kids. They want all of your

4682
03:11:00,319 --> 03:11:03,840
unwanted items out there by 7:00. So,

4683
03:11:03,840 --> 03:11:06,080
um, let's get that get that trash out

4684
03:11:06,080 --> 03:11:08,640
there. We We've had a had a lot of

4685
03:11:08,640 --> 03:11:10,960
dumping and I know our residents are on

4686
03:11:10,960 --> 03:11:12,479
alert. We're trying to catch these

4687
03:11:12,479 --> 03:11:14,000
people that are dumping. But if you do

4688
03:11:14,000 --> 03:11:16,240
see a mattress or a chair or something,

4689
03:11:16,240 --> 03:11:18,080
just drag it to your curb so it can get

4690
03:11:18,080 --> 03:11:20,479
picked up. So, um, hopefully the weather

4691
03:11:20,479 --> 03:11:22,160
will be right. We're really excited

4692
03:11:22,160 --> 03:11:24,960
about that. to my buddy Josh there. When

4693
03:11:24,960 --> 03:11:26,399
I seen him come through the door, I

4694
03:11:26,399 --> 03:11:28,720
said, "He has graduated. He's got his

4695
03:11:28,720 --> 03:11:31,279
graduating

4696
03:11:31,279 --> 03:11:34,319
suit on." So, he has graduated. And

4697
03:11:34,319 --> 03:11:37,120
you've done a great job, Josh. A great

4698
03:11:37,120 --> 03:11:38,800
job. I just I just can't say that

4699
03:11:38,800 --> 03:11:42,160
enough. Um, you listen to your mom. You

4700
03:11:42,160 --> 03:11:44,880
got your hair cut and you put that suit

4701
03:11:44,880 --> 03:11:46,640
on. You look so You look better than

4702
03:11:46,640 --> 03:11:48,240
Banks tonight. And I don't say that a

4703
03:11:48,240 --> 03:11:49,840
lot. I don't say that like, but you're

4704
03:11:49,840 --> 03:11:51,920
in the you're in the running there.

4705
03:11:51,920 --> 03:11:54,160
you're in the running. So, good luck to

4706
03:11:54,160 --> 03:11:55,439
you. They're going to treat you right

4707
03:11:55,439 --> 03:11:57,120
over there cuz I worked over there and

4708
03:11:57,120 --> 03:12:00,000
you're going to have so much fun. And um

4709
03:12:00,000 --> 03:12:01,840
dig into the cases. That's what's

4710
03:12:01,840 --> 03:12:03,920
exciting. Ask Nick. Ask Nick about them

4711
03:12:03,920 --> 03:12:06,240
Supreme Court cases. So, again, good

4712
03:12:06,240 --> 03:12:10,080
luck to you and keep keep dressing up.

4713
03:12:10,080 --> 03:12:11,760
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

4714
03:12:11,760 --> 03:12:14,640
>> Council member Banks.

4715
03:12:14,640 --> 03:12:17,279
>> Thank you, Mayor. I'd just like to say

4716
03:12:17,279 --> 03:12:20,399
thank you to Nick and Josh for all those

4717
03:12:20,399 --> 03:12:23,920
times I come in needing help, especially

4718
03:12:23,920 --> 03:12:27,279
with numbers. I really appreciate that.

4719
03:12:27,279 --> 03:12:29,200
Also like to give a shout out to my

4720
03:12:29,200 --> 03:12:31,200
youngest grandson

4721
03:12:31,200 --> 03:12:34,080
who is on his way to being a better

4722
03:12:34,080 --> 03:12:37,200
athlete than his grandpa.

4723
03:12:37,200 --> 03:12:39,840
>> Kid is really amazing. So shout out

4724
03:12:39,840 --> 03:12:42,319
Isaiah. Thank you, Mayor.

4725
03:12:42,319 --> 03:12:45,120
>> Council member Kell. Well, the count can

4726
03:12:45,120 --> 03:12:48,640
help you with numbers. So, uh I want to

4727
03:12:48,640 --> 03:12:51,760
say thank you to Nick and to Josh. Um

4728
03:12:51,760 --> 03:12:54,319
great to work with. Uh people I I could

4729
03:12:54,319 --> 03:12:56,560
trust and lean on and get information

4730
03:12:56,560 --> 03:12:59,120
from. Uh I worked a lot closer and

4731
03:12:59,120 --> 03:13:01,600
longer with Josh and and I felt like he

4732
03:13:01,600 --> 03:13:05,520
was my most trusted employee that when it came from him, it was the truth.

4733
03:13:05,520 --> 03:13:07,439
And and not not to knock any other

4734
03:13:07,439 --> 03:13:08,560
employee, but this was one of those

4735
03:13:08,560 --> 03:13:11,120
things of when he shoving all those

4736
03:13:11,120 --> 03:13:12,560
numbers around all the time. It's one of

4737
03:13:12,560 --> 03:13:14,800
those things of uh it always pinned out

4738
03:13:14,800 --> 03:13:17,359
the way it was supposed to.

4739
03:13:17,359 --> 03:13:19,279
All right, as you see, I'm wearing my

4740
03:13:19,279 --> 03:13:22,479
duck tie, my duck pin. The C uh COMA

4741
03:13:22,479 --> 03:13:25,439
Club of Topeka Duck Race is on the uh

4742
03:13:25,439 --> 03:13:28,880
26th. You can still buy your ducks.

4743
03:13:28,880 --> 03:13:31,439
There is a lot of uh lot of good prizes

4744
03:13:31,439 --> 03:13:35,120
out there and the Chroma Club

4745
03:13:35,120 --> 03:13:37,520
uh have helped out so many causes. uh

4746
03:13:37,520 --> 03:13:41,920
this is I think the u

4747
03:13:41,920 --> 03:13:44,960
30th year that they've done this. So uh

4748
03:13:44,960 --> 03:13:46,640
thanking to them for for taking care of

4749
03:13:46,640 --> 03:13:48,560
our community and being involved in our

4750
03:13:48,560 --> 03:13:52,000
community. Um also on October 3rd is the

4751
03:13:52,000 --> 03:13:54,560
childcare aware celebrity suare. I will

4752
03:13:54,560 --> 03:13:57,120
be involved with that. I kind of float

4753
03:13:57,120 --> 03:13:58,399
around and do different things. I'm not

4754
03:13:58,399 --> 03:14:00,160
one of the celebrity waiters but I help

4755
03:14:00,160 --> 03:14:03,840
out where I can. And finally, uh, when

4756
03:14:03,840 --> 03:14:08,790
it comes to notto, um,

4757
03:14:08,800 --> 03:14:10,720
that was that was a scary moment and,

4758
03:14:10,720 --> 03:14:13,200
uh, one of the councilomans, uh,

4759
03:14:13,200 --> 03:14:15,840
mentioned, uh, Jen at, uh, at the tattoo

4760
03:14:15,840 --> 03:14:18,160
parlor there, and,

4761
03:14:18,160 --> 03:14:19,760
uh, she's, she's very involved in, and

4762
03:14:19,760 --> 03:14:23,110
no doub

4763
03:14:23,120 --> 03:14:25,600
I I, you know, I trust very much with

4764
03:14:25,600 --> 03:14:27,200
her opinion, but also with my body cuz

4765
03:14:27,200 --> 03:14:34,399
she does all my artwork on me. Um but uh that was a scary moment uh to uh you

4766
03:14:34,399 --> 03:14:37,200
know hear about. But uh she did mention

4767
03:14:37,200 --> 03:14:40,399
that the the officers involved were uh

4768
03:14:40,399 --> 03:14:42,160
very professional and and very very

4769
03:14:42,160 --> 03:14:46,239
compassionate. And so uh but my wife and

4770
03:14:46,239 --> 03:14:48,080
um I and our youngest daughter went to

4771
03:14:48,080 --> 03:14:50,960
Nto on u Friday night to spend some

4772
03:14:50,960 --> 03:14:53,040
money cuz notto is an arts district but

4773
03:14:53,040 --> 03:14:55,439
is also a business district. So, uh, I

4774
03:14:55,439 --> 03:14:56,399
know some people are sitting there

4775
03:14:56,399 --> 03:14:57,439
saying, "Oh, I'm going to stay away from

4776
03:14:57,439 --> 03:14:58,880
NTO. It's dangerous and all that."

4777
03:14:58,880 --> 03:15:01,760
That's a very isolated incident. Uh, so

4778
03:15:01,760 --> 03:15:03,359
please don't don't avoid Noto because

4779
03:15:03,359 --> 03:15:04,720
you think it's unsafe. To me, it's a

4780
03:15:04,720 --> 03:15:07,439
very safe neighborhood. It's a very, uh,

4781
03:15:07,439 --> 03:15:09,680
involved neighborhood. So, please make

4782
03:15:09,680 --> 03:15:11,680
sure you go go there. But, uh, I wanted

4783
03:15:11,680 --> 03:15:15,279
to make sure that I was supporting Nodo and their in their

4784
03:15:15,279 --> 03:15:17,680
businesses they have there. So, uh, if

4785
03:15:17,680 --> 03:15:19,040
you had the time, especially on a first

4786
03:15:19,040 --> 03:15:21,279
Friday, go up there and check it out.

4787
03:15:21,279 --> 03:15:23,359
Thank you.

4788
03:15:23,359 --> 03:15:27,590
>> Council Member Miller.

4789
03:15:27,600 --> 03:15:31,279
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, I I do also want

4790
03:15:31,279 --> 03:15:35,200
to appreciate, Nick, and I I think that

4791
03:15:35,200 --> 03:15:36,319
you and I have had some great

4792
03:15:36,319 --> 03:15:40,160
conversations. Um, and and I appreciate

4793
03:15:40,160 --> 03:15:42,319
what you have done. Uh, you keep your

4794
03:15:42,319 --> 03:15:44,239
straightforward, and I have noticed the

4795
03:15:44,239 --> 03:15:45,840
facial expressions every once in a

4796
03:15:45,840 --> 03:15:52,640
while. I didn't get past. Those were good. Um Josh, uh you just

4797
03:15:52,640 --> 03:15:54,239
like council Ortiz said, you will be

4798
03:15:54,239 --> 03:15:57,600
greatly missed. Um you do know the stuff

4799
03:15:57,600 --> 03:15:59,439
like the back of your hand in and out

4800
03:15:59,439 --> 03:16:01,840
and um that's not going to be easily

4801
03:16:01,840 --> 03:16:05,920
replaced. Um I won't go on anymore cuz

4802
03:16:05,920 --> 03:16:07,920
as the kids would say this glazing

4803
03:16:07,920 --> 03:16:09,920
anymore, so I'm I'm keep pushing on

4804
03:16:09,920 --> 03:16:11,760
that. But I wish you the best of luck

4805
03:16:11,760 --> 03:16:15,439
going forward. Um, as I as I left

4806
03:16:15,439 --> 03:16:19,439
tonight, um, had had to head home

4807
03:16:19,439 --> 03:16:23,439
because of, uh, our our household being

4808
03:16:23,439 --> 03:16:25,680
down a bit.

4809
03:16:25,680 --> 03:16:27,760
And so I need to get our son to bed at a

4810
03:16:27,760 --> 03:16:29,600
certain time.

4811
03:16:29,600 --> 03:16:31,439
And as I got in the car, my son asked

4812
03:16:31,439 --> 03:16:32,720
me, "Why are you 20 minutes late? Cuz I

4813
03:16:32,720 --> 03:16:34,239
was going to leave at 8:30." He said,

4814
03:16:34,239 --> 03:16:35,760
"Why were you 20 minutes late getting

4815
03:16:35,760 --> 03:16:37,920
your bed?" And I said, "Well, Councilman

4816
03:16:37,920 --> 03:16:39,359
Ortiz and I had to have a quick

4817
03:16:39,359 --> 03:16:42,160
conversation." And obviously it wasn't

4818
03:16:42,160 --> 03:16:45,120
just with castle

4819
03:16:45,120 --> 03:16:48,399
womaniz but uh I I explained to him he's

4820
03:16:48,399 --> 03:16:50,399
like so so we not cool with her now. I

4821
03:16:50,399 --> 03:16:51,920
said no son that's not the way this

4822
03:16:51,920 --> 03:16:55,120
works we have conversations as adults um

4823
03:16:55,120 --> 03:16:58,560
and you work through it and and I want I

4824
03:16:58,560 --> 03:17:02,319
want to let her know and council me as

4825
03:17:02,319 --> 03:17:04,080
we have these discussions like everyone

4826
03:17:04,080 --> 03:17:06,880
else um I appreciate the fact that we're

4827
03:17:06,880 --> 03:17:08,560
able to talk about issues without it

4828
03:17:08,560 --> 03:17:11,439
ever getting personal. um even when we

4829
03:17:11,439 --> 03:17:13,200
may think that we have something like

4830
03:17:13,200 --> 03:17:15,840
that personal that we need to address,

4831
03:17:15,840 --> 03:17:18,080
it's not because every single bit of

4832
03:17:18,080 --> 03:17:19,520
conflict of interest and everything else

4833
03:17:19,520 --> 03:17:22,239
is always taken care of. Uh so we want

4834
03:17:22,239 --> 03:17:24,800
to make sure that uh we continue going

4835
03:17:24,800 --> 03:17:27,279
forward with the understanding that uh

4836
03:17:27,279 --> 03:17:29,520
everything's always on the up and up.

4837
03:17:29,520 --> 03:17:32,239
But uh I I told him that it's part of

4838
03:17:32,239 --> 03:17:33,439
this job to be able to have

4839
03:17:33,439 --> 03:17:36,319
conversations and um disagreements and

4840
03:17:36,319 --> 03:17:37,760
still be able to do what's right for the

4841
03:17:37,760 --> 03:17:39,359
people. So, thank you for that

4842
03:17:39,359 --> 03:17:42,399
opportunity to show my son that. Thank

4843
03:17:42,399 --> 03:17:44,080
you very much,

4844
03:17:44,080 --> 03:17:47,359
>> Council Member Bradberry.

4845
03:17:47,359 --> 03:17:48,800
>> Thank you. I just wanted to say

4846
03:17:48,800 --> 03:17:53,200
congratulations to Nick and Josh.

4847
03:17:53,200 --> 03:17:57,520
Um, best wishes moving forward in your

4848
03:17:57,520 --> 03:18:01,120
new adventure and you will be missed.

4849
03:18:01,120 --> 03:18:02,720
>> Council member McGee.

4850
03:18:02,720 --> 03:18:05,200
>> Thank you. Uh, I also wanted to say

4851
03:18:05,200 --> 03:18:08,960
thank you to Nick and Josh. Uh, I

4852
03:18:08,960 --> 03:18:11,200
haven't been on the council a long time,

4853
03:18:11,200 --> 03:18:14,479
but we've had our interactions and work

4854
03:18:14,479 --> 03:18:17,359
together, and I appreciate your input,

4855
03:18:17,359 --> 03:18:20,080
your feedback. I appreciate what you do

4856
03:18:20,080 --> 03:18:22,880
and have done for the city and for the

4857
03:18:22,880 --> 03:18:27,120
residents of our community. Thank you,

4858
03:18:27,120 --> 03:18:30,870
>> Deputy Mayor Herford.

4859
03:18:30,880 --> 03:18:32,960
Okay, I've got something a little

4860
03:18:32,960 --> 03:18:36,560
different tonight. Um, last Friday was

4861
03:18:36,560 --> 03:18:39,279
the last uh open house for the fire

4862
03:18:39,279 --> 03:18:42,319
department, and I think that was an

4863
03:18:42,319 --> 03:18:44,000
excellent way for the public to be able

4864
03:18:44,000 --> 03:18:47,680
to get out and see all 12 of the

4865
03:18:47,680 --> 03:18:49,040
stations.

4866
03:18:49,040 --> 03:18:50,640
>> Can I Can I interrupt you? Sure.

4867
03:18:50,640 --> 03:18:53,439
>> I've talked to Chief Long staff about uh

4868
03:18:53,439 --> 03:18:54,640
starting those over again. So, we're

4869
03:18:54,640 --> 03:18:56,560
going to continue with Fire Station One

4870
03:18:56,560 --> 03:18:58,800
uh next uh next month.

4871
03:18:58,800 --> 03:19:00,720
um it'll be an opportunity to put out

4872
03:19:00,720 --> 03:19:02,720
the smoke alarm detector or the smoke

4873
03:19:02,720 --> 03:19:05,600
alarm application. So, just FYI. Sorry,

4874
03:19:05,600 --> 03:19:09,600
just wanted to point that out. Thanks.

4875
03:19:09,600 --> 03:19:13,200
>> And last Wednesday night, we graduated

4876
03:19:13,200 --> 03:19:16,319
six young men from the academy. So, our

4877
03:19:16,319 --> 03:19:19,040
newest fire officers, our firemen are

4878
03:19:19,040 --> 03:19:23,439
going to be Joseph Drai.

4879
03:19:23,439 --> 03:19:25,520
Sorry, I can't pronounce that one. Aiden

4880
03:19:25,520 --> 03:19:29,040
Garcia, Brett Hoochin Hart, George

4881
03:19:29,040 --> 03:19:33,279
Meyer, Connor Scott, and Brian Wing. Um,

4882
03:19:33,279 --> 03:19:36,239
Councilman Banks and I were very happy

4883
03:19:36,239 --> 03:19:39,520
to be there and to enjoy that ceremony

4884
03:19:39,520 --> 03:19:42,720
with the graduates, the officers, and

4885
03:19:42,720 --> 03:19:46,720
their families. It's always

4886
03:19:46,720 --> 03:19:48,720
heartening to see them when they come on

4887
03:19:48,720 --> 03:19:52,720
board with um

4888
03:19:52,720 --> 03:19:55,040
a little bit of trepidation but also a

4889
03:19:55,040 --> 03:19:58,720
lot of excitement. So congratulations to

4890
03:19:58,720 --> 03:20:02,000
them and I will also add thank you to

4891
03:20:02,000 --> 03:20:05,920
Nick and thank you to Josh. I'm not one

4892
03:20:05,920 --> 03:20:08,239
to say a whole lot so good luck with

4893
03:20:08,239 --> 03:20:11,040
both of you.

4894
03:20:11,040 --> 03:20:13,840
Council member Hiller,

4895
03:20:13,840 --> 03:20:15,760
>> thank you. Not too much this evening,

4896
03:20:15,760 --> 03:20:18,560
but I too wanted to really give a shout

4897
03:20:18,560 --> 03:20:21,359
out and and a thank you to Nick and to

4898
03:20:21,359 --> 03:20:25,279
Josh. And uh to echo Dr. Perez's words,

4899
03:20:25,279 --> 03:20:27,920
we hope that um though you have though

4900
03:20:27,920 --> 03:20:29,359
we hope you have a great time. Hope you

4901
03:20:29,359 --> 03:20:30,800
get a little bored and decide to come

4902
03:20:30,800 --> 03:20:32,399
back.

4903
03:20:32,399 --> 03:20:34,960
Thank you.

4904
03:20:34,960 --> 03:20:36,720
>> All right. Well, I'll echo everyone

4905
03:20:36,720 --> 03:20:38,960
else's comments about Nick and Josh. I

4906
03:20:38,960 --> 03:20:40,720
will say, you know, these jobs turnover

4907
03:20:40,720 --> 03:20:42,720
is higher sadly in government than it is

4908
03:20:42,720 --> 03:20:44,160
out in the private sector in these

4909
03:20:44,160 --> 03:20:46,399
positions. And we get why. We we work

4910
03:20:46,399 --> 03:20:48,720
pretty hard and the long hours and and

4911
03:20:48,720 --> 03:20:50,960
we ask a lot of you. Uh I'm not going to

4912
03:20:50,960 --> 03:20:53,040
apologize for that, but I do appreciate

4913
03:20:53,040 --> 03:20:55,920
that you uh hang in there with us. Um

4914
03:20:55,920 --> 03:20:57,680
you know, in in terms of both of these

4915
03:20:57,680 --> 03:20:59,760
folks, sadly for us, they've just got

4916
03:20:59,760 --> 03:21:01,520
better opportunities, and I will never

4917
03:21:01,520 --> 03:21:03,120
be grudged, even though I like to say

4918
03:21:03,120 --> 03:21:05,439
sometimes they're dead to me now, right?

4919
03:21:05,439 --> 03:21:07,359
Um, I I will acknowledge that you got to

4920
03:21:07,359 --> 03:21:08,880
make the decisions that are best for you

4921
03:21:08,880 --> 03:21:10,640
and and we know that your opportunities

4922
03:21:10,640 --> 03:21:12,880
are are important for next phase of your

4923
03:21:12,880 --> 03:21:14,800
life. And so

4924
03:21:14,800 --> 03:21:16,800
now that means that Kelly and Dalton,

4925
03:21:16,800 --> 03:21:19,760
welcome to the hot seat. Uh, you know,

4926
03:21:19,760 --> 03:21:21,680
welcome to now getting to step in. And

4927
03:21:21,680 --> 03:21:23,040
hopefully both of them will take your

4928
03:21:23,040 --> 03:21:24,479
call still every once in a while, at

4929
03:21:24,479 --> 03:21:26,319
least for a few weeks or a month or so,

4930
03:21:26,319 --> 03:21:28,239
is to be like, "Oh my gosh, how do you

4931
03:21:28,239 --> 03:21:30,560
deal with this?" Um, so you will be

4932
03:21:30,560 --> 03:21:32,239
missed and and you know to the public I

4933
03:21:32,239 --> 03:21:34,720
always say it stinks to lose good

4934
03:21:34,720 --> 03:21:36,479
people. Um, but it is part of the

4935
03:21:36,479 --> 03:21:38,880
process. I I even have to remind myself

4936
03:21:38,880 --> 03:21:41,120
that the the city was here before I got

4937
03:21:41,120 --> 03:21:42,800
here and it's going to be here after I

4938
03:21:42,800 --> 03:21:45,040
get here. And all we can do is is leave

4939
03:21:45,040 --> 03:21:47,359
the best mark we can. And I know that in

4940
03:21:47,359 --> 03:21:48,960
both Josh and Nick's case, they they

4941
03:21:48,960 --> 03:21:50,319
definitely left their mark for the work

4942
03:21:50,319 --> 03:21:51,920
that they did that that will have a

4943
03:21:51,920 --> 03:21:54,080
lasting impact for a while. And so I

4944
03:21:54,080 --> 03:21:55,600
think more than anything that's what we

4945
03:21:55,600 --> 03:21:57,200
appreciate you both for is that the work

4946
03:21:57,200 --> 03:21:58,720
you did here is going to have a lasting

4947
03:21:58,720 --> 03:22:00,319
difference on the work we all do moving

4948
03:22:00,319 --> 03:22:02,800
forward. So thank you for that. With

4949
03:22:02,800 --> 03:22:04,960
that sadly we have one executive

4950
03:22:04,960 --> 03:22:06,800
session. Nick wanted to punish us one

4951
03:22:06,800 --> 03:22:10,560
last time before he left. Uh so two now

4952
03:22:10,560 --> 03:22:12,239
I'm not going to have us go past 10

4953
03:22:12,239 --> 03:22:13,040
because we're going to start it

4954
03:22:13,040 --> 03:22:14,560
immediately and it's only supposed to be

4955
03:22:14,560 --> 03:22:18,080
15 minutes. So we can make it. So to all

4956
03:22:18,080 --> 03:22:19,600
of you as you hear, we love you, but

4957
03:22:19,600 --> 03:22:21,279
please get out here as quick as you can

4958
03:22:21,279 --> 03:22:23,359
and and we appreciate you coming and

4959
03:22:23,359 --> 03:22:24,720
we'll start the executive session here

4960
03:22:24,720 --> 03:22:33,590
in just a minute.

4961
03:22:33,600 --> 03:22:34,880
» Do you want me to read the motion?

4962
03:22:34,880 --> 03:22:36,560
>> Oh, we need a motion. Can you please

4963
03:22:36,560 --> 03:22:39,439
read the motion? I forgot that part.

4964
03:22:39,439 --> 03:22:41,359
>> Yes. As my as my parting gift, Mr.

4965
03:22:41,359 --> 03:22:43,200
Mayor, the motion would be to recess

4966
03:22:43,200 --> 03:22:44,960
into executive session for a period not

4967
03:22:44,960 --> 03:22:47,520
to exceed 15 minutes to discuss current

4968
03:22:47,520 --> 03:22:49,359
litigation as well as other matters

4969
03:22:49,359 --> 03:22:50,720
deemed privileged under the attorney

4970
03:22:50,720 --> 03:22:52,080
client privilege pursuant to

4971
03:22:52,080 --> 03:22:54,880
KSA75-4319B2.

4972
03:22:54,880 --> 03:22:56,560
The open meeting will resume in this

4973
03:22:56,560 --> 03:22:58,399
room, the governing body chambers. The

4974
03:22:58,399 --> 03:22:59,840
following staff will be necessary to

4975
03:22:59,840 --> 03:23:00,880
assist the governing body in its

4976
03:23:00,880 --> 03:23:02,640
deliberations. The city attorney and

4977
03:23:02,640 --> 03:23:04,319
other staff members is needed.

4978
03:23:04,319 --> 03:23:06,560
>> I'm going to move to approve. Do I have

4979
03:23:06,560 --> 03:23:07,920
a second?

4980
03:23:07,920 --> 03:23:09,680
>> All those in favor say I.

4981
03:23:09,680 --> 03:23:12,160
>> I. I was supposed to say nay.

4982
03:23:12,160 --> 03:23:13,520
>> Oh, look at you. You didn't want to

4983
03:23:13,520 --> 03:23:16,560
spend 15 more minutes with Nick.

4984
03:23:16,560 --> 03:23:18,160
>> All right. Again, can could someone get

4985
03:23:18,160 --> 03:23:20,160
Mr. Anderson's email?

4986
03:23:20,160 --> 03:23:31,429
>> Okay. And then they can

4987
03:23:31,439 --> 03:23:33,439
» No,

4988
03:23:33,439 --> 03:23:36,710
>> not yet.

4989
03:23:36,720 --> 03:23:52,870
Let's

4990
03:23:52,880 --> 03:24:03,990
go.

4991
03:24:04,000 --> 03:24:06,800
Is he not going to help Julie L. Ralph?

4992
03:24:06,800 --> 03:24:11,910
Don't forget Julie.

4993
03:24:11,920 --> 03:24:14,560
» Sorry guys.

4994
03:24:14,560 --> 03:24:16,160
>> Did you get everything?

4995
03:24:16,160 --> 03:24:17,600
>> We're waiting for Just so the audience

4996
03:24:17,600 --> 03:24:18,880
knows, we're waiting for the room to

4997
03:24:18,880 --> 03:24:20,319
clear. It's all right. And then we will

4998
03:24:20,319 --> 03:24:22,080
go into executive session. No worries.

4999
03:24:22,080 --> 03:24:23,520
Take your time.

5000
03:24:23,520 --> 03:24:31,429
>> You're safe.

5001
03:24:31,439 --> 03:24:34,479
We're family here.

5002
03:24:34,479 --> 03:24:36,239
>> All right, we will now move into

5003
03:24:36,239 --> 03:24:40,070
executive session.

5004
03:24:40,080 --> 03:24:44,950
» All right,

5005
03:24:44,960 --> 03:24:46,640
» we have come out of executive session.

5006
03:24:46,640 --> 03:24:48,720
No action is being taken. This meeting

5007
03:24:48,720 --> 03:24:54,200
is adjourned at 9:49 p.m.