* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [1. CALL TO ORDER]
          [00:00:03]
          ALL RIGHT. 
          I'D LIKE TO, UH, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TO THE SPECIAL MEETING, UH, FOR THE BUDGET. 
          AND BEFORE WE PROCEED, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THE INTERPRETER, TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE CITY'S INTERPRETIVE SERVICES, UH, THAT WILL BE OFFERED FOR THIS EVENING'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. 
          SPECIAL MEETING. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THEN CLICK AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO O UH, TO ORDER AND THE NOTICE AGENDA AND INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF NASHVILLE CITY'S WEBSITE INFORMS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT THEY MAY SUBMIT A GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT OR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, IN PERSON AND THE CITY COUNCIL BY SUBMITTING ONE OF THESE SLIPS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BACK, AND GET THAT OVER TO OUR CITY CLERK'S DESK, OR EMAILING NO LATER THAN FOUR HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING. 
          ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP AND PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IF RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE WITH THAT'D LIKE ASK ROLL CALL, PLEASE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER BUSH HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA PRESENT. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. 
          PRESENT, VICE MAYOR YAMANI. 
          HERE. 
          MAYOR MORRISON. 
          UH, PRESENT. 
          WE HAVE A QUORUM. 
          OKAY. 
          UH, CAN WE PLEASE STAND FOR THE, UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? AND I'LL ASK, UM, MEMBER BUSH, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, PLEASE, RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART. 
          READY? BEGIN THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. 
          ALL. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          WITH THAT, WE HAVE JUST ONE ITEM ON THIS, ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA, WHICH WILL BE OUR PRESENTATION OF OUR, UH, BUDGET. 
          [4. PUBLIC COMMENT]
AND WITH THAT WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS. 
          WE WILL HEAR THOSE AT THIS POINT. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UH, WE'LL GIVE EACH PERSON, UH, THREE MINUTES, AND THOSE HAVE TO BE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. 
          SO WITH THAT, WE WILL START WITH, UH, MITCH BEUM, FOLLOWED BY TED GODSHAW. 
          BE FOLLOWED BY, WELL KELSEY, SEE YOU BACK THERE. 
          AND EDWARD, THEN EDWARD NA. 
          I HAVE, UH, TWO COMMENTS TODAY. 
          UM, ONE IS ON THE RESERVES AND, UH, INSURANCE ISSUE. 
          RESERVES ARE MANDATED IN SOME CASES BY LEGISLATION AS A PERCENTAGE OF PAST FISCAL EXPENDITURES. 
          SOME ARE SET AS POLICY AT THIS CITY LEVEL. 
          THEIR PURPOSE IS TO HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR UNFORESEEN BUT PLAUSIBLE SITUATIONS. 
          DECISION MAKERS NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO THIS CONCEPT OF RISK. 
          YOUNGER DECISION MAKERS OR THOSE WITHOUT BUSINESS EXPERIENCE OR RISKS ASSOCIATED IN LIFE ARE LIKELY TO MINIMIZE. 
          THESE BUDGET ASPECTS DO NOT GAMBLE WITH THE CITY'S OPERATIONAL FUTURE FOR SOME SHORT TERM SPECIAL INTEREST BY REDUCING RESERVES. 
          RESERVES ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. 
          THEY ARE THERE TO COVER CONTINGENCIES OR EMERGENCIES WHILE EARNING INTEREST. 
          THEY ARE FOR VERY SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF GOVERNANCE. 
          SPECIAL INTERESTS ARE NOT CONCERNED FOR THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT, SO THEY CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BE IN FAVOR OF RESERVES AND THE ASSOCIATED PROTECTIONS. 
          THAT IS WHY YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT ALL THE RESIDENTS, MAKE THE RESERVES DO THEIR JOB. 
          STAFF HAS DETERMINED WHAT LEVELS ARE REALISTIC. 
          THE SECOND ISSUE IS RELATING TO DISTRICT DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. 
          THESE MISAPPROPRIATIONS OF THE BUDGET HAVE BEEN PRECIPITATED BY THE DISTRICTING OF THE CITY. 
          HAVING TO REPRESENT FEWER RESIDENTS DOES NOT LOGICALLY FOLLOW THAT MORE STAFF OR SUPPLY REQUIRED FOR CONSTITUENCY SUPPORT. 
          THIS IS JUST MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DEW TRYING TO LOOK LIKE THE BIG BOYS AT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, WHO NOW FIND THEIR FINEST CITY INSOLVENT. 
          THE MAN MALFEASANCE IN THE USE OF THESE FUNDS IS ALREADY EVIDENT. 
          THE FUNDS ARE ALSO SEEN BY THE PUBLIC AS CORRUPTION, PURE AND SIMPLE. 
          NO POLICIES ON THE USE OF THESE FUNDS WILL CHANGE THAT. 
          THE TURNOVER OF THE NOW SWEEPS THROUGH OUR CITY'S OPERATION 
          [00:05:01]
IS NOT ASSUAGED IN THE PUBLIC'S EYE BY THIS FLAGRANT WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. 
          IN THIS DEFICIT ENVIRONMENT, THE CITY IS HERE TO PROVIDE SAFETY TO THE RESIDENTS. 
          FOCUS ON THESE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THESE MANNERS AND VANQUISH THE PERCEPTION OF CORRUPTION. 
          REMOVE THE DISTRICT DELEGATION OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM THE BUDGET NOW VOTE SUPER MAJORITY TO BRING IT TO THE AGENDA AND KILL IT. 
          STOP THE CORRUPTION NOW ALONG WITH THE PERCEPTION. 
          THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NEXT WE HAVE TED GOTCHU. 
          MARY WE FOLLOW KELSEY, AND THEN EDWIN NETO. 
          THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. 
          TED GOTCHU HERE. 
          I'M A LITTLE DISTURBED THAT THE MATERIALS WEREN'T OUT THERE, THE POWERPOINT WASN'T PRINTED FOR THE PUBLIC. 
          WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AND GENERALLY IT HELPS. 
          AND I'M ASSUMING THAT EVERYBODY UP HERE HAS SEEN IT AND HOPEFULLY HAS IT. 
          THIS IS THIS YEAR'S GENERAL, UH, FUND FIVE YEAR FORECAST. 
          THIS IS LAST YEAR'S HEATHER. 
          AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT LAST YEAR THERE WAS THIS ONE, AND THAT'S CALLED THE RECESSIONARY SCENARIO, WHICH ENDS UP LOOKING A LOT LIKE THIS YEAR'S. 
          BUT YOU DIDN'T WORK OFF THIS THIS LAST YEAR. 
          YOU WORKED OFF THE ONE THAT LOOKED A LOT ROSIER. 
          SO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO ADD THREE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON MY MIND SINCE THE LAST MEETING. 
          I TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM AT YOUR LAST REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS TO PUT FORWARD THE FUNDING FOR BATHROOMS AT PARADISE CREEK. 
          UH, I SPOKE WITH YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF 19TH STREET UNDERPASS AND THE WAY THE ENGINEER AT THE TIME, MR. YANO PROCEEDED WITH A CONCEPT WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING ALL THE IMPACTS OF HIS DESIGN. 
          I INSIST THAT YOU NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THIS TIME WITH THE NEXT PHASE OF PARADISE CREEK EDUCATIONAL PARK, AND THAT YOU REQUIRE STAFF TO WORK WITH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE GOING FORWARD. 
          AND THAT IS JUST GOOD PLANNING. 
          YOU SHOULD REQUIRE THIS NOW AS A CONDITION OF YOUR APPROVAL OF THAT FUNDING SHOULDN'T JUST GO TO BATHROOMS. BATHROOMS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE IN THAT. 
          BUT IN THAT ESTIMATE, NUMBER TWO, I LOOK ONLINE AND SEE MANY CCL FIX REPORTS. 
          THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH STAFF MEMBERS TO HANDLE THE REPORTS. 
          YOU NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON YOUR MONITORING OF IT TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO PICK UP THE TRASH IN THE STREETS, FILL POTHOLES CORRECTLY, TRIM TREES, CLEAN OUT STORM DRAINS. 
          THIS IS, THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH STAFF MEMBERS IN THE FIELD, BUT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET ADDS $1.8 MILLION FOR FRONT OF THE HOUSE OR MANAGEMENT, NOT PEOPLE IN THE FIELD. 
          AND NUMBER THREE, FOR ME, YOU NEED TO VOTE TO DEFUND THE DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICES BUDGETS SO YOU CAN ALLOCATE THE MONEY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE WORK PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT DONE IN THEIR TOWN. 
          AT THE FIRST BUDGET MEETING, I HEARD THE WORD WEAPONIZE. 
          THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, BLOWING THE WHISTLE, THE DOG WHISTLE SAYING SOMETHING THAT WASN'T TRUE, USING A WORD TO ATTACK ANOTHER PERSON. 
          YOU GUYS SHOULDN'T DO THAT. 
          AT THE LAST REGULAR MEETING I HEARD SOME COUNSELORS PUSH FOR A POLICY TO ALLOW UNLIMITED AND UNCHECKED SPENDING FOR IDENTIFYING CLOTHING, LOGOS, NAMES, LABELS ON SHIRTS, JACKETS, WHATEVER, HATS. 
          THESE ARE TOOLS OF ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION. 
          IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO PROMOTE YOURSELVES WHEN YOU'RE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR POSITION WHEN YOU MEET WITH OTHER POLITICOS, LOBBYISTS AND DEVELOPERS. 
          I WAS THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR 10 YEARS, ALL OF THE NINETIES, AND I WAS GIVEN A PIN TO SHOW AND TO PUT ON MY LAPEL. 
          I STILL HAVE THIS ONE. 
          I HAVE AN EXTRA IF ANYONE NEEDS ONE . 
          AND THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD USE TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF LIKE WE DID. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT IN PUBLIC THANK YOU. 
          AND THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOUR PROMISE TO SERVE. 
          THANK YOU TED. 
          UH, KELSEY GENE BE FOLLOWED BY EDWARDO. 
          GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD. 
          MY NAME IS KELSEY NESSI AND I'M THE NATIONAL CITY POLICY ADVOCATE AT EHC. 
          AS YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS OF WEST NATIONAL CITY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIMS OF 50 YEARS OF UNJUST MIXED LAND USE THAT IS A BLEND OF POLLUTING INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS AND HOMES. 
          THE INCOMPATIBLE MIXED LAND USE PATTERN LENDS TO ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATION RATE THAT IS TWICE THE COUNTY AVERAGE. 
          AND IN, IN ADDITION TO ASTHMA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY ISSUES, THE POLLUTION CAN ALSO RESULT IN PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS AND INCREASED CANCER RISK. 
          THE CITY HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED THE AMORTIZATION ORDINANCE UNDER THE WEST SIDE SPECIFIC PLAN TO ADDRESS THE MIXED LAND USE, BUT FOR YEARS, THIS ORDINANCE HAS REMAINED STAGNANT. 
          LOOKING AHEAD AT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THE CITY NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE THE AMORTIZATION PROCESS AND INVEST IN THE NECESSARY 
          [00:10:01]
RESOURCES TO MOVE THE ORDINANCE FORWARD. 
          WE ARE ASKING THAT ENOUGH FUNDS BE ALLOCATED TO AMORTIZATION TO COVER A NEW CONSULTANT TO EITHER RE-RANK THE NON-CONFORMING USES OR VALIDATE THE ALREADY EXISTING DATA AND SUCCESSFULLY PHASE OUT AT LEAST TWO BUSINESSES WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. 
          I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF EHC MEMBERS WHO HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA FOR DECADES, AND THEY KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT EVEN IF THESE BUSINESSES DO BETTER AND ARE UP TO CODE, THEY WILL STILL POLLUTE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ALREADY UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY. 
          THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE MIXED LAND USE IN WEST NATIONAL CITY IS HARMFUL TO ITS CONSTITUENTS, AND OVER TIME THESE BUSINESSES NEEDS TO BE PHASED OUT. 
          WE ARE ASKING THAT THE BUDGET REFLECT THE CITY'S EFFORT TO REVIVE THE ORDINANCE AND PRIORITIZE THIS IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, RATHER THAN OTHER EXPENDITURES THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF YOUR RESIDENTS. 
          LAST YEAR, YOU APPROVED $80,000 THAT WENT UNUTILIZED, AND THIS YEAR WE ARE ASKING NOT ONLY FOR A MINIMUM OF $100,000 TO FUND THE ORDINANCE, BUT ACTION FROM THE CITY STAFF AND COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT THE ORDINANCE IS EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR AND IN THE YEARS TO COME, LEAVING AMORTIZATION OUT OF THE BUDGET OR A LACK OF FUNDING TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IS NOT AN OPTION FOR RESIDENTS WHO LIVES DEPEND ON BREATHING CLEANER AIR. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. 
          THANK YOU, UHTO. 
          WELL, IT'S A WHOLE YEAR, . 
          LAST YEAR WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET. 
          UH, WE HAD A LOT MORE MEETINGS LAST YEAR. 
          I NOTICED IN THIS YEAR, THE MATERIAL IS A LOT LESS DETAILED. 
          UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS PROBABLY, AND, UH, I'M SURE YOU HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A TOUGH JOB FOR $6.8 MILLION. 
          YOU HAVE TO DIG YOURSELVES OUT OF AND REDUCING EXPENDITURES, AND I JUST DON'T SEE HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT. 
          IT'S GONNA BE LIKE A PULLING A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT RIGHT NOW. 
          AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS IN WHY THERE'S VARIANCES, WHY THESE EXPENDITURES POSSIBLY COULD BE OVERSTATED AND JUST NOT TAKE PEOPLE'S WORDS THAT IT IS. 
          WE SHOULD CUT IT DOWN. 
          YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND WHY WAS IT OVERSTATED? WAS IT INTENTIONAL? WAS IT NOT INTENTIONAL? WAS IT JUST FLUFFING THE BUDGET UP SO THAT YOU LOOK BAD AT THE END OF THE YEAR? YOU GOTTA GET INTO THE DETAILS AND I SUSPECT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SO I I I HOPE YOU, UM, TAKE, UH, NOTICE OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T COME UP WITH THAT SIX POINT $80 MILLION, THE CITY CITY'S JOBS ARE GONNA BE, CITY WORKERS' JOBS ARE GONNA BE AT STAKE. 
          WE SHOULDN'T BE DIPPING INTO THE RESERVE, HUH? JUST LIKE THIS IS NOT, THAT'S NOT MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE. 
          SO EITHER COME UP WITH SOME GOOD SOLUTIONS AND DON'T, UH, DIP INTO THE RESERVE BECAUSE YOU GOTTA CONSIDER THE TAXPAYERS DON'T WANT TO PAY ANYMORE MONEY. 
          THEY DON'T WANT, THEY, YOU HAVE THE SLUSH FUND CATASTROPHE, WHICH, WHICH IS A FAILURE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. 
          JUST SHEDS A BAD LIGHT ON THE BUDGETARY PROCESS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. 
          DON'T ASK PE TAXPAYERS FOR ANY MORE MONEY AND DON'T DIP INTO THOSE RESERVES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE. 
          UM, 
          [5.1 Presentation of the City Manager’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25, Consider Acceptance of the Proposed Budget, and Set a Public Hearing for Final Consideration and Adoption.]
WE WILL NOW GO ON AND GET THE STAFF REPORT, CITY MANAGER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          UM, THE FIRST PART OF THE PRESENTATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY, UH, PAUL VALEZ, OUR BUDGET MANAGER, AND HE'LL DO AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW. 
          UM, NEXT WE WILL HAVE, UM, BRIEF INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS HIGHLIGHTING, UM, SOME OF THE, UM, COMPONENTS IN THEIR DEPARTMENT. 
          AND THEN I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH, UH, UM, FINAL COMMENTS AND SEEKING DIRECTION FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME. 
          SO FOR NOW, LET'S, UH, PASS THE, I'D LIKE TO PASS THE BATON TO PAUL AND TO CONDUCT HIS, UM, PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER MARTINEZ. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR MORRISON, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL PAUL VALDEZ, BUDGET MANAGER. 
          TODAY, I'LL BE GOING THROUGH A FEW SLIDES THAT RECAP THE INFORMATION PRESENTED AT THE MAY 3RD BUDGET HEARING, AS WELL AS AN OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL FUND NUMBERS CONTAINED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT. 
          UH, BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, UH, I WANTED TO, UH, LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT HISTORICAL BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE COUNCIL, BUT NOT PART OF THIS PRESENTATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN THE LOBBY. 
          AND THIS JUST ADDS, UH, ADDITIONAL CONTEXT TO THE, UH, TO THE INFORMATION I'LL BE PROVIDING TODAY ON THE GENERAL FUND. 
          THIS IS A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL BE COVERING THE SLIDESHOW. 
          [00:15:01]
UH, FIRST ON THE REVENUE, I'LL JUST BE, UM, THIS IS INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD'VE SEEN AT THE MAY 3RD HEARING, BUT I'LL, UH, GIVE AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THEM AND, AND, UH, THE ORIGIN OF THESE NUMBERS. 
          UH, THE FIRST TWO CATEGORIES, SALES TAX AND DISTRICT TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES PROVIDED BY OUR SALES TAX CONSULTANT. 
          THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES BASED UPON VALUATION REPORTS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO PROPERTY TAX IN LIEU OF VLF IS INCREASED BY THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. 
          OTHER REVENUES ARE MADE UP OF TOT FRANCHISE FEES AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAM REVENUES. 
          AND THE $5,500 TRANSFER IN IS FOR THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS RELATED TO THE MILE OF CARS LANDSCAPE DISTRICT. 
          ON THE GENERAL ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, PERSONNEL SER SERVICES ARE MADE UP OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ALL FULL-TIME BENEFITED AND HOURLY STAFF. 
          AND ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES CONTAIN THE ANNUALIZED COST OF SALARY INCREASES RECEIVED IN THE SECOND HALF OF FISCAL YEAR 24, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE FUNDING FOR ANY POTENTIAL INCREASES RESULTING FROM THE UPCOMING LABOR NEGOTIATIONS. 
          THE M AND O CATEGORY IS MADE UP OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTRACT SERVICES, AS WELL AS OTHER COSTS NECESSARY FOR THE CITY'S OPERATIONS. 
          CAPITAL OUTLAY IS FOR EQUIPMENT COSTS SUCH AS COMPUTERS, COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, AND PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT. 
          INTERNAL SERVICE CHARGES ARE COST ALLOCATIONS FOR IT FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, PUBLIC LIABILITY COSTS, AND VEHICLE PURCHASE PURCHASES, LEASES AND MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSFERS OUT ARE FOR SUBSIDIES OF $1.6 MILLION TO THE LIBRARY FUND, 1.1 MILLION TO THE PARKS FUND, 270,000 TO THE NUTRITION CENTER AND 360,000 FOR RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS. 
          WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TOTAL ESTIMATED REVENUES AND TRANSFERS IN AGAINST THE TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES AND TRANSFERS OUT, THERE IS A BUDGET GAP OF $6.9 MILLION. 
          AND WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE FY 25 DEFICIT? ON THE REVENUE SIDE, WE HAVE THE ENDING OF AR ARPA FUNDING AND THAT THAT WAS $2 MILLION IN FY 24, UH, A REDUCTION IN THE FORECASTED SALES TAX OF $1 MILLION, THE EXPIRATION OF A SAFER GRANT, WHICH, UH, USED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS $500,000. 
          AND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE PUBLIC LIABILITY COVERAGE OF $1 MILLION. 
          UH, THAT'S BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OUR ACTUARY, AND WE STARTED OF THE UN RESTARTING OF THE UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY PAYMENT OF 700,000. 
          AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UH, THE POB. 
          AND, UH, WHEN WE REFUNDED THAT LIABILITY PAYMENT, WE TOOK ONE YEAR OFF OF THE PAYMENT. 
          IT RESUMES IN FY 25 TO THE TUNE OF $700,000 AND THE GENERAL FUND, UH, NEW ITEMS FOR 25. 
          THESE ARE EN ENHANCEMENT ITEMS, UM, SUBMITTED BY DEPARTMENTS DEEMED CRITICAL TO THEIR OPERATION, AND THAT'S MADE UP OF THE RIGHT SIZING OF STAFFING AND, UH, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY COSTS $2 MILLION. 
          HERE IS THE UPDATED GENERAL FUND FORECAST. 
          THESE PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON ECONOMIC INDICATORS, HISTORICAL TRENDS, INDUSTRY RESEARCH, INFORMATION FROM THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX AND SALES CONSULTANT AND KNOWLEDGE OF CITY STAFF. 
          WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS IS THAT IF EVERYTHING PLAYS OUT AS CURRENTLY PROJECTIVE AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES AREN'T TAKEN, THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE WILL BE BELOW THE CITY'S 10% POLICY BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 27 AND BE COMPLETELY DEPLETED BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 28. 
          SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIC MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN? THE FIRST IS A COMPREHENSIVE FEE STUDY, WHICH IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. 
          THE LAST COMPLETE STUDY WAS DONE IN FISCAL YEAR 18, AND WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN MINOR UPDATES, THE CITY HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL COSTS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. 
          THIS UNDERSTATES THE COST OF CITY SERVICES, WHICH ARE REFLECTED IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND FEES. 
          THE SECOND BULLET POINT IS TO EXPLORE AVENUES TO INCREASE REVENUE GENERATED BY TOT. 
          THIRD 
          [00:20:01]
ONE IS JUST TO CONTINUE PURSUE REVENUE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES DURING FY 25 FOR FY 26 AND BEYOND. 
          THE NEXT BULLET POINT IS TO IDENTIFY COSTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY REGARDED AS ONGOING TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE CHANGED TO ONE TIME OR SHORT TERM COSTS. 
          ANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE IDENTIF ARE IDENTIFIED WILL HELP CLOSE THE GAP IN THE OUT YEARS OF THE FORECAST. 
          THE NEXT ITEM IS TO BEGIN UPDATING THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST TWICE ANNUALLY. 
          ALTHOUGH WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE A QUARTERLY BUDGET UPDATE, ADDING A MID FORECAST UPDATE WILL ALLOW US TO VIEW THE NEW INFORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW IT IMPACTS FUTURE YEARS. 
          IT'LL ALSO SHOW THE IMPACTS OF ANY IMPLEMENTED STRATEGIC MEASURES OR IF ADDITIONAL ACTIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN. 
          ONE OF THOSE MEASURES WOULD BE TO FREEZE VACANT POSITIONS IF OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE. 
          THERE ARE CURRENTLY 3.25 FROZEN POSITIONS IN THE FY 25 BUDGET. 
          PAUL, UH, I THINK YOU INADVERTENTLY FORGOT ITEM TWO, WHICH WAS TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES. 
          AH, YES, I DID. 
          SO, UH, AND THAT, UH, THE FIRST ITEM KIND OF FEEDS IN WITH THAT. 
          UH, IF WE, WHEN WE DO OUR FEE STUDY AND WE KNOW OUR TRUE COSTS, THAT'LL GIVE US SOLID FOOTING WHEN WE NEGOTIATE WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES, UM, TO NEGOTIATE THE COSTS, UH, FOR OUR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. 
          AND THAT'S, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THE PORT OR ANY OTHER AGENCY THAT THE CITY HAS AGREEMENTS WITH. 
          AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO CITY MANAGER MARTINEZ. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU PAUL. 
          UM, LET'S SEE WHO RAISES THEIR HAND DEPARTMENT HEAD. 
          WHO WANTS TO START TONIGHT? SHOULD WE? OH, LOOK. 
          OH, PHIL, PHIL DAVIS BEAT YOU. 
          SORRY. 
          SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH PHIL DAVIS, OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. 
          UM, THANKS PHIL. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          PHILIP DAVIS, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR. 
          THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS A CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS OF THE CITY. 
          THE GOAL IS TO ALWAYS PROVIDE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC. 
          THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THE RECENT UPGRADE OF THE CITY'S ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. 
          THE CITY RECENTLY MIGRATED FROM THE EDEN ERP SYSTEM TO THE MUNI ERP SYSTEM. 
          THE EDEN SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE 1999. 
          MUNIS WILL PROVIDE A MORE ROBUST ACCOUNTING SYSTEM THAT WILL ENABLE ROUTINE ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR ITS USERS. 
          FINANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES ARE WORKING ON THE NEXT IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF MUNI MUNIS, WHICH IS HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT. 
          THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO IMPROVE REVENUES IN THE CITY BY UPDATING THE CITY'S FEES. 
          AS MENTIONED BY PAUL EARLIER, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY'S CONSULTANT TO UPDATE THE CITY'S COST ALLOCATION PLAN. 
          THE COST ALLOCATION PLAN ENSURES THAT INDIRECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CENTRAL OVERHEAD SERVICES LIKE FINANCE AND CITY CLERK ARE ALLOCATED TO OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AND ULTIMATELY IS A COST COMPONENT OF FEES FOR SERVICE. 
          ONCE THE CAP IS COMPLETE, THE CONSULTANT WILL WORK ON UPDATING THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE CITY. 
          THE LAST FEE UPDATE WAS IN 2018. 
          ADDITIONALLY, FINANCES WORKING WITH THE CITY'S CONSULTANT AND PUBLIC WORKS TO UPDATE THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES. 
          THESE FEES ARE GENERATED BY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY AND CAN BE USED FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, SHARE OF PLAN FACILITIES, AND AS ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE CITY. 
          IN ADDITION, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO STREAMLINE THE BUSINESS LICENSE, APPLICATION AND RENEWAL PROCESS. 
          THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND TO EVENTUALLY ESTABLISH A LOCAL RESOURCE WITHIN THE CITY FOR BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICANTS AND RENEWALS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY, LET'S CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE. 
          DENNY, I AM DANIELLE GUILLO, YOUR ACTING CITY LIBRARIAN. 
          THE NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVES THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT. 
          THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, THE LIBRARY FOSTERS LIFELONG LEARNING GROWTH, INCLUSIVITY, AND EMBRACING THE CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FREE ACCESS TO MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY, THE LIBRARY AIMS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND SOCIALIZE, BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS, CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT CELEBRATES AND HONORS THE CITY'S RICH TRADITIONS, ULTIMATELY PROMOTING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY 
          [00:25:01]
AND BELONGING FOR ALL RESIDENTS. 
          THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR DIVERSE AGE GROUPS, EXCEEDING OVER 640 PROGRAMS THIS YEAR. 
          THIS IMPRESSIVE NEVER INCLUDES INNOVATIVE ADDITIONS SUCH AS AFTERSCHOOL HOMEWORK, HELP STAY AND PLAY LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY, YOGA TEAM, CRAFTS, NOTARY SERVICES, AND LINK PLUS, WHICH CATER TO VARIOUS INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN SECURING FUNDRAISING FOR VARIOUS INITIATIVES WITH A NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT OF BEING AWARDED THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY SUSTAINABILITY GRANT TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST TOOL LENDING LIBRARY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. 
          IN FISCAL YEAR FRONT 24, THE LIBRARY WAS AWARDED OVER $150,000 IN GRANTS FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY AND PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS ESL, ADULT AND FAMILY LITERACY LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY AND STAY IN PLAY DEMONSTRATING OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 
          FURTHERMORE, THE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO ACTIVELY PURSUE OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, AND ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES SUPPORT ITS DIVERSE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. 
          THE LIBRARY HAS MADE A STRATEGIC MOVE TO ENHANCE ITS GRANT WRITING AND LITERACY SERVICE CAPABILITIES BY REASSIGNING THE MANAGEMENT ANALYST TO POSITION, TO FOCUS ON THESE AREAS WHILE ALSO STRENGTHENING OUR CHILDREN'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE ADDITION OF A NEW CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN. 
          THIS SHIFT WILL ENABLE STAFF TO GROW AND EXPAND THEIR SERVICES, ULTIMATELY BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY AND ENHANCING THE LIBRARY'S OVERALL IMPACT. 
          THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGULAR STEP INCREASES FOR STAFF ALONG WITH TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES HAS SIGNIFICANTLY BOLSTERED STAFF MORALE. 
          THIS INCLUSIVE APPROACH HAS ALSO EXTENDED TO PART-TIME STAFF DEMONSTRATE DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO GROWTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL EMPLOYEES. 
          THE PROVISIONS OF IN-HOUSE TRAINING AND CROSS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES HAS FURTHER ENHANCED MORALE AS IT SHOWS THAT THE ORGANIZATION IS INVESTED IN THEIR EMPLOYEES' DEVELOPMENT AND WILLING WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NEW SKILLS AND CHALLENGES. 
          THE LIBRARY HAS ALSO SUCCESSFULLY STRENGTHENED ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY SERVICES, NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ENGINEERING, PUBLIC WORKS, ALLWOOD GARDEN, OCEAN CONNECTORS, ART SUITE SCIENCE CENTER, AND THE UNITED LOW RIDER COALITION. 
          AMONG OTHERS. 
          THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT HAS NOT ONLY FOSTERED UNITY AND COOPERATION, BUT ALSO ENABLED THE LIBRARY TO LEVERAGE THESE PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE MORE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, WHILE ALSO RESULTING IN TANGIBLE BENEFITS SUCH AS BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF BROKEN WINDOWS, HVAC REPAIR, AND A NEW FRONT DOOR, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL JANITORIAL STAFF TO MAINTAIN CLEAN AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PUBLIC. 
          THANK YOU, DANNY. 
          UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO MS. CHAP SO WE DON'T FORGET ABOUT HER. 
          . 
          GO AHEAD, SHELLY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, GOOD EVENING. 
          I'M SHELLY CHAPPEL, YOUR CITY CLERK. 
          CITY CLERK'S OFFICE SERVES AS THE IMPARTIAL CONTACT FOR THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO CITY RECORDS. 
          THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS DAILY DEVELOPING CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS, RECORDS AND PUBLIC NOTICING. 
          THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE SERVES AS THE ELECTIONS OFFICER. 
          THIS YEAR, THE ELECTION AND THE RECORDS ARE THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE OFFICE. 
          IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS. 
          AS THE ELECTIONS OFFICER, THE CITY CLERK WILL RUN A SUCCESSFUL ELECTION. 
          IN ADDITION, WE WILL FOCUS ON PROVIDING VOTER REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES AT COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY BREAKFAST, ALONG WITH PROVIDING THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. 
          IN ADDITION TO THE ELECTION, WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON RECORDS OVER THE NEXT YEAR. 
          THIS WILL BE AN AGENCY-WIDE COLLABORATION WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS. 
          WITH THE CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION OF LASER FISH, WE WILL BE CLEANING UP THE FORM EE DATABASE. 
          WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS TO, UM, ASSESS THEIR RECORDS TO DETERMINE WHICH RECORDS CAN BE SCANNED, MAKING THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND CITY STAFF. 
          UPDATING THE CITY RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE THE RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE TO PROVIDE AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAN. 
          AS PART OF THE SUCCESSION PLAN IN OUR, UH, OFFICE IS THE PLAN IS TO RECLASSIFY THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO A RECORDS MANAGER. 
          THIS WILL PROVIDE FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON RECORDS TO INCLUDE RESPONDING TO P UH, PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS AND SCANNING RECORDS TO REDUCE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS BY MAKING THOSE RECORDS ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY ON THE CITY WEBSITE, PASSPORT ACCEPTANCE FACILITY, THE, UH, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE STAFF HAVE ALL COMPLETED AND PASSED OUR PASSPORT AGENT TRAINING AND EXAMS. WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR CERTIFICATION AS AN APPROVED ACCEPTANCE FACILITY BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
          WE ARE EXCITED TO BE MOVING FORWARD AS AN ACCEPTANCE FACILITY, AND WE ARE DUE TO OPEN THIS SUMMER. 
          THIS IS A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL ALSO GENERATE GENERAL FUND REVENUE. 
          THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE DOES NOT CURRENTLY 
          [00:30:01]
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ASKS OF THE BUDGET AT THIS TIME. 
          THANK YOU, SHELLY. 
          I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH, JOANNE, UH, MCGEE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE COMMUNITY. 
          IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION. 
          THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. 
          CONSISTING OF TWO DIVISIONS, THE RECREATION SERVICES DIVISION AND THE SENIOR NUTRITION SERVICES DIVISION. 
          UH, THE GEORGE H. WATERS SENIOR NUTRITION SERVICES PROVIDES CONGREGATE AND HOME DELIVERED MEALS TO APPROXIMATELY 240 PARTICIPANTS DAILY WITH HOME DELIVERED MEALS, OFFERS WELFARE CHECKS, AND A FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION WITH ANOTHER MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, HOME DELIVER, OR EXCUSE ME, CONGREGATE MEALS ARE PREPARED FRESH ON SITE DAILY. 
          AND THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE NUTRITION SERVICES, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT IN OUR RECREATION DEPART, UH, DIVISION. 
          OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE SENIOR AND OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS, UH, YOUTH AND OUT SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. 
          UH, WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTOR IN CONTRACT INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO INCLUDE SPORTS PROGRAMS HELD AT CAMACHO RECREATION CENTER AND CASA DE SALUD. 
          THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY AND, UH, SERVICE DAY SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES, MISS NATIONAL CITY EDUCATIONAL PAGEANT, A KIMBALL HOLIDAY REINDEER RUN, AND NC GETS ACTIVE. 
          THESE SERVICES ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. 
          SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR, WE WERE AWARDED THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CONTRACT FOR OLDER CALIFORNIANS NUTRITION PROGRAM AWARDED THE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT TO PURCHASE TWO NEW HOTSHOT VEHICLES, A GRIDDLE MENU BOARD, INDUSTRIAL MIXER, AND INSTALLATION FOR SERVING STATION AT THE NUTRITION CENTER. 
          WE'VE CONTINUED TO SEEK OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND REVENUE SOURCES. 
          WE'VE CONTINUED CROSS TRAINING THROUGHOUT OUR DEPARTMENT STREAMLINED THE CONGREGATE DINING PROGRAM TO ENSURE, ENSURE PRIORITY TO LOW INCOME SENIORS. 
          WE HAVE COMPLETED SUCCESSFUL AUDITS BY THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FOR FOOD SAFETY. 
          WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED UNIFORMS AND SAFETY WEAR TO MEET INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR ALL OF OUR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS AT THE NUTRITION CENTER, THE RECREATION SERVICES DEPART DIVISION, WE HAVE RELOCATED SENIOR PROGRAMMING FROM CASA DE SALUD TO MLK TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS. 
          WE WERE AWARDED THE COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT GRANT TO SUPPORT THE A KEMBA HOLIDAY. 
          UH, WE HAVE PROGRAMMED OVER FIVE YOUTH FIELD TRIPS, 21 SPECIAL EVENTS HOSTED THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, COLLABORATED WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT TO ONBOARD 18 PART-TIME RECREATION PROFESSIONALS. 
          WE'VE CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A LIAISON FOR THE PARK AND RECREATION SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE. 
          WE PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE CONFERENCES AND EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS. 
          WE'VE IMPROVED COLLABORATION WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND BOTH DIVISIONS. 
          STAFFING REQUESTS FOR THE 24 25 BUDGET INCLUDE ENHANCING THE PART-TIME POSITION OF SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT TO THE FULL-TIME POSITION OF SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, JOANNE. 
          UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE DOWN THE LINE AND TO CAPTAIN SULLIVAN. 
          CORRECTION. 
          LEMME DO THAT AGAIN. 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, STAFF AND RESIDENCE. 
          MY NAME IS CHRIS SULLIVAN, CAPTAIN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I'M CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PATROL DIVISION. 
          THE NATIONAL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES QUALITY LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR. 
          THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AVERAGES 60,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE PER YEAR THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY ALLOTTED. 
          90 SWORN POLICE OFFICERS AND APPROXIMATELY 40 PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          AS THE CITY DEVELOPS THE DEMAND FOR MORE POLICE SERVICES INCREASES AT THE START OF THE YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT HAD A STAFFING SHORTAGE OF 10 POSITIONS DUE TO RETIREMENT RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES AND OVERALL LACK OF INTEREST IN THE PROFESSION. 
          SINCE THEN, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AGGRESSIVELY SOUGHT TO INCREASE OUR NUMBERS WITH EFFORTS TO RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS. 
          THIS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AS WE HAVE SIX OFFICERS CURRENTLY IN THE POLICE ACADEMY. 
          OUR STAFFING REQUEST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGETER AS FOLLOWS, TWO POLICE OFFICERS. 
          THE PATROL DIVISION IS THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO CALLS FOR SERVICE. 
          THE TWO ADDITIONAL OFFICERS BE PART OF A COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM, A NEWLY DEVELOPED TEAM THAT WILL FOCUS ON COMMUNITY 
          [00:35:01]
OUTREACH. 
          WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BUSINESS RELATIONS OFFICERS WILL HAVE A WIDE ARRAY OF DUTIES TO INCLUDE COORDINATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS TEAMS TO PROVIDE SECURITY DURING CLEANUP EFFORTS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH TO THE UNHOUSED POPULATION, AND WORKING WITH BUSINESSES, BUSINESS AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO MAKE OUR CITY THRIVE. 
          ONE COMMUNITY SERVICES OFFICER, A CSO. 
          THIS IS A NON-SWORN UNIFORMED POSITION WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          THE CSO WILL AID POLICE OFFICERS BY RESPONDING TO AND INVESTIGATING LOWER PRIORITY CALLS FOR SERVICE. 
          THIS ALLOWS POLICE OFFICERS TO REMAIN AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO HIGHER PRIORITY AND EMERGENCY CALLS FOR SERVICE. 
          ONE CRIME ANALYST. 
          THE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT PROVIDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO POLICE PERSONNEL, ENABLING THE DEPARTMENT TO BETTER ALLOCATE OUR SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO THE PUBLIC. 
          A CRIME ANALYST WILL AID THE CRIME AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST WITH THEIR WORKLOAD AND ALSO ASSIST, ASSIST WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA UNIT. 
          ONE FULL-TIME IT PERSON. 
          THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY IS EVER CHANGING AND IN NEED OF CONSTANT UPDATE. 
          THIS POSITION WILL GREATLY ENHANCE AND BENEFIT THE DEPARTMENT AND THE IT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE DIGITAL WORLD, WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING THE IT UNIT FOR FUTURE SUCCESSION. 
          THE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTING IN UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY WITH NICHE, WHICH IS A NEW REPORTING SYSTEM. 
          CITIZEN CONNECT A WEB-BASED SYSTEM FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VIEW CALLS FOR SERVICE LIVE 9 1 1, WHICH ALLOWS OFFICERS TO HEAR, HEAR CALLS IN REAL TIME WHILE RESPONDING. 
          THESE SYSTEMS WILL ENHANCE OUR SERVICE AND WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL IT ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT AND MAINTAIN THESE SYSTEMS. ONE FULL-TIME. 
          CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR. 
          THIS POSITION WILL AID THE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT WITH THE PERSONNEL WHO CAN MANAGE DIGITAL FORENSICS, BODY-WORN CAMERA, REDACTIONS, AND OTHER RELATED DUTIES REQUIRED OF THE UNIT. 
          POLICE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BECOME MORE TECHNOLOGICAL AND REQUIRE A MUCH BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF DIGITAL FORENSICS, VIDEO, ET CETERA. 
          UH, IN REGARDS TO BUILDING UPGRADES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS OVER 30 YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT USE. 
          THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A NEED OF REPAIR, REPLACING OR INSTALL, INSTALLING INSTALLATION OF IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          A POWER GENERATOR IS A PROJECT THAT WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING AND OUTDATED GENERATOR TO ENSURE POWER REMAINS FLOWING DURING ENERGY SHUT SHUTDOWN OR BLACKOUT. 
          SO SERVICES CAN REMAIN CONSTANT. 
          THE ROLLUP GATES IS A PROJECT THAT WILL REPLACE THE FAULTY ROLL-UP GATES THAT PROTECT THE SECURED PARKING LOT AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          THESE GATES ARE A SECURITY MEASURE AND THE COST OF UPKEEP OUTWEIGHS THE PURCHASE OF NEW GATES. 
          THE RANGE, THE POLICE RANGE HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE FOR MANY YEARS AND HAS FORCED THE DEPARTMENT TO SEEK OUT ALTERNATIVE RANGES FOR OFFICERS TO TRAIN IN FIREARMS. THE UPGRADE OF THIS RANGE WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING OTHER RANGES WITHIN THE COUNTY FLOORING. 
          THE FLOORING IS A PROJECT THAT WILL REPLACE TO REPLACE THE FLOORING WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THE EXISTING FLOORING IS WORN IN A DISREPAIR  PLUMBING WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          IT IS A PROJECT TO REPLACE EXISTING PIPES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS THE CONTINUAL COST TO REPLACE BROKEN OR COMPACTED PLUMBING PIPES, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATED COSTS WITH THE DAMAGE. 
          AND THE REPAIR TOO WILL ALLOW THE BUILDING TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING WELL INTO THE FUTURE. 
          REMODEL AND UPGRADE OF WORKSTATIONS. 
          THE UPGRADE AND REMODEL OF WORKSTATION WORKSTATIONS WAS AN IDENTIFIED NEED AS THESE WORKSTATIONS HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE BUILDING WAS INSTALLED. 
          THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE HOST NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS TO ENHANCE OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND WILL STRIVE TO MAINTAIN OUR LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM. 
          THESE ADDITIONS TO OUR STAFFING LEVELS WILL ALLOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. 
          BEING FULLY STAFFED WILL IN TURN, LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME OFFICERS WILL NEED TO WORK AND EASE A STRAIN OF BUDGETARY ISSUES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, CAPTAIN. 
          UM, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NEXT. 
          GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UH, MY NAME IS BARRY SCHULTZ AND I'M YOUR CITY ATTORNEY. 
          UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY. 
          THE OFFICE PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND CITY DEPARTMENTS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THE OFFICE PROVIDES LEGAL SUPPORT TO THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AT 
          [00:40:01]
SOMEWHAT OF A HIGH LEVEL. 
          DURING THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, OUR OFFICE HAS PROCESSED APPROXIMATELY 134 REQUESTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES. 
          THESE ARE FORMAL REQUESTS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY FOR LEGAL OPINIONS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE PREPARED 181 RESOLUTIONS AND OVER 18 ORDINANCES. 
          MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT MY DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN, UM, INCLUDE CODE ENFORCEMENT FOCUS, GENERAL PLAN, AMENDMENT AND ZONING AMENDMENTS, PORT COMMISSION MATTERS, AND ASSISTING, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IN IMPLEMENTING THE CITY'S, UH, RESTRUCTURING. 
          THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ALSO MANAGES AND PROVIDES OVERSIGHT TO THE CITY'S RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          THIS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING THE CITY'S PROPERTY FIDELITY AND SPECIAL EVENT INSURANCE COVERAGE. 
          RISK MANAGEMENT HANDLES ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY MANAGES ALL LITIGATION. 
          OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE CITY HAS PROCESSED APPROXIMATELY 60 CLAIMS AND HAS ALSO RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 54 CLAIMS AS A RESULT OF THE JANUARY RES. 
          UM, CURRENTLY THE CITY IS INVOLVED IN 12 ACTIVE LITIGATION MATTERS. 
          UH, THE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING FOR NO ENHANCEMENTS FOR THIS YEAR. 
          OUR STAFF REMAINS AT A CITY ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT, CITY ATTORNEY, DEPUTY, CITY ATTORNEY, AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. 
          UM, AS WE DID LAST YEAR, MY OFFICE WILL MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND DISCUSS PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING NEW FISCAL YEAR AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET. 
          AND I ANTICIPATE THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT PRO, PRO PROSTITUTION, UH, ENFORCEMENT AND ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE WILL BE CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY. 
          AND WE WILL ALSO BE, UH, WORKING ON THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR LABOR GROUPS, UH, AND ASSISTING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IN THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. 
          THANK YOU, BARRY. 
          UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS EXACTLY THE HALFWAY MARK, BUT I'M GONNA INTERJECT WITH SOME OF MY COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE OTHER HALF. 
          IF ONE THING, AND I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF TIME AND INFORMATION, BUT IF ONE THING THIS SHOWS IS THAT WE ARE A FULL SERVICE CITY . 
          WE, WE ARE A FULL SERVICE CITY. 
          UM, UH, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I SPENT TIME IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY WITH SI SIMILAR SIZE CITIES. 
          UM, AND, BUT THEY WEREN'T FULL SERVICE. 
          I MEAN, WE CONTRACTED OUT WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER AGENCIES FOR A LOT OF THESE SERVICES. 
          EVERYONE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SMALLER SIZED CITIES, WE ARE FULL SERVICE AS, AS NOTED FOR HOW LONG IT TAKES JUST TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS DESCRIPTION OF ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS. 
          UM, I WANNA NOTE AGAIN IN, IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE COMMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL KIND OF GET TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE COMMENTS. 
          I'M, IT'S RINGING TRUE TO ME SOME OF THE THEMES OF EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGY. 
          UM, UH, INCREASED REVENUE AND FEE COLLECTIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, COLLABORATION AMONGST DIVISIONS, TRAINING AND CROSS TRAINING OF STAFF, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES BEING SOUGHT EQUIPMENT, UM, FOR PROTECTION. 
          ANOTHER, ANOTHER NEEDS, UH, FACILITY NEEDS, UH, EMERGENCY PREPARATION. 
          WE'RE GONNA GET TO THAT. 
          UH, AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND, AND BUSINESSES AS WELL AS STAFF MORALE. 
          UM, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ESSENTIALLY HAVE BEEN, UM, THESE ARE THE THEMES, THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE, ARE THAT I, AS YOUR NEW CITY MANAGER, HAVE BEEN TACKLING, UH, SINCE I STARTED. 
          AND I GOTTA SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE A SHORT TIME INTO THIS KIND OF, UM, RESTRUCTURING OF CITY HALL. 
          YOU HEARD A NUMBER OF THE TITLES AS ACTING AND, YOU KNOW, INTERIM. 
          UM, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT THERE YET. 
          WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST STARTING. 
          BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU WE'RE MAKING CONTINUAL, CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT. 
          UM, I DON'T SEE, UH, US BEING A SUCCESSFUL CITY HALL, IF WE CAN'T ACHIEVE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MAYBE EVEN A FEW MORE, WE, WE GOTTA DO IT. 
          THAT'S, THAT'S THE GOAL, THAT'S THE AIM FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL. 
          IF WE MISS OUT ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT I JUST LISTED, WERE NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL. 
          UM, SO HALFWAY THROUGH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE STAFF FOR THIS, BUT LET'S GET TO THE OTHER HALF. 
          THAT WAS KIND OF A COMMERCIAL BREAK MAYBE TO KIND OF INTERJECT, UH, SOME THOUGHTS AS WE, AS WE MOVE ALONG. 
          UM, LET'S MOVE TO THOUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THIS IS, UH, BRIAN KREPPS. 
          PERFECT. 
          THANK YOU, UH, MR. CITY MANAGER. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL CITY STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. 
          BRIAN KREPPS BATTALION CHIEF WITH THE NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          THE 
          [00:45:01]
NATIONAL CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FORWARD TO OPPORTUNITIES AND INCREASING EFFICIENCIES. 
          DURING THE FISCAL 25 BUDGET YEAR. 
          WE'RE LOOKING TOWARDS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH OUR CURRENT AMBULANCE PROVIDER, AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE, AND EXPLORING FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAY RESULT IN INCREASED REVENUES TO THE CITY. 
          ADDITIONALLY, TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO BRING IN NEW REVENUE AND TO PROVIDE THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE POSSIBLE, WE'LL BE CONTINUING TO TRAIN OUR NEWER FIREFIGHTERS TO BECOME PARAMEDICS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          IN COLLABORATION WITH FLEET SERVICES, WE'LL BE PLACING INTO SERVICE A NEW FIRE ENGINE AND FIRE COMMAND VEHICLE, AND EQUIPPING THOSE TO MEET THE DAILY NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          WE'LL ALSO BE REPLACING TECHNICAL RESCUE EQUIPMENT, FIRE HOSE, FIRE NOZZLES, WELLNESS EQUIPMENT, AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE ENSEMBLES THAT HAVE ALL COME TO THE END OF THEIR SERVICE LIFE. 
          PROVIDING FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR FIRE FACILITIES IS ALSO A PRIORITY FOR US DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR FACILITIES TEAM, WE'LL BE ASSESSING THE THREE FIRE STATIONS AND DEVELOPING I LIST OF NEEDS, AND THAT WE AS A DEPARTMENT CAN ASSIST IN ACCOMPLISHING OUR COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION DIVISION AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. 
          BE ONBOARDING NEW STAFF, INCLUDING A PLAN CHECKER TO HELP EXPEDITE THE PROCESS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AND A NEW FIRE INSPECTOR WHO WILL BEGIN EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY ON MAY 28TH. 
          OUR GOAL IS TO BE ATTENTIVE, EFFICIENT, EXPEDIENT, AND PROVIDE OUR BUSINESSES WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY EXPECT AND DESERVE. 
          OUR EMERGENCY MANAGER WILL BE TASKED WITH UPGRADING THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE CITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, AND DEVELOPING AND COORDINATING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FOR KEY STAFF POSITIONS THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          WITH THIS IN MIND, WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT HUMAN CAUSE OR NATURAL DISASTER THAT AFFECTS THE CITY, NATIONAL CITY. 
          OUR EMERGENCY MANAGER IS ALSO EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE CITY IN THE FORMS OF ANOTHER SAFE AND ADEQUATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS A SAFER GRANT AND AN ASSISTANT TO FIREFIGHTER FIRE PREVENTION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF ROUGHLY $1 MILLION COMBINED. 
          FURTHERMORE, HE'LL BE REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENTS FOR APPROXIMATELY $288,000 FOR COVID-19 AND SEEKING REIMBURSEMENTS RELATED TO THE JANUARY STORM EVENT. 
          DUE TO THE EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES STORED IN THE TIDELANDS AREA, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGER WILL BE EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO AND PASHA TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THE THREAT OF ELECTRICAL VEHICLE FIRES. 
          LASTLY, OUR ORGANIZATION WILL BE FOCUSING ON SUCCESSION PLANNING TO MEET THE FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. 
          WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING A COMPANY OFFICER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, IMPROVING UPON OUR DRIVER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, AND WORKING TO DEVELOP STAFF THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING DURING THE FISCAL 25 YEAR BUDGET. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          BRIAN. 
          LET'S MOVE ON TO CARLOS, UH, AGUIRE, UH, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 
          YES, THANK YOU. 
          BEN CARLOS AGUIRE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MAYOR, VICE MAYOR OF CITY COUNCIL. 
          UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS COMPOSED OF FOUR DIVISIONS, THE BUILDING DIVISION, PLANNING, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          UH, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DEFINITELY REFLECTS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE NOTED BY THE CITY MANAGER, INCLUDING A FOCUS ON IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE, COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIVISIONS, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, UH, FOCUSED ON BEING, UH, EFFICIENT AND VERY BUSINESS FRIENDLY IN OUR PROGRAMS AND, UH, PRACTICES LEVERAGING THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY AND, UH, PURSUING THE GRANTS AND OTHER REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE POSSIBLE. 
          UH, WE ARE OUR ENHANCEMENTS REQUESTED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE, REALLY, UH, PINNED ON TRAINING AND SAFETY AS WELL AS IN THE BUSINESS DIVISION. 
          TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ITEMS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN MOVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DIVISION, UH, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED, UH, A CASE CODE, CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. 
          WE WERE TYPICALLY DOING, UH, CODE CASES MANUALLY, AND NOW THE SYSTEM COMPLICATE ALLOWS US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT. 
          UH, WE'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND CROSS TRAINING TO STAFF SO THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THE NUMBER OF ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, WE ARE, UM, UPDATING, UH, AS AS POSSIBLE OUR LPR LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY, UH, SO, UH, THAT OUR PARKING AUTHORITY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE. 
          UM, LEVERAGING, UH, PART-TIME INSPECTORS IS POSSIBLE. 
          AND, UH, FOR THE, OUR HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH, IT'S BEEN EVOLVING OVER THE LAST FOUR TO FOUR, UH, FIVE YEARS SINCE, UH, WE BEGAN TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS AS PART OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. 
          AND THE HOME TEAM IS, IS KIND OF THE LAST WONDERFUL RENDITION OF THE PROGRAM. 
          WE'RE STARTING TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE WHAT THEY CAN DO. 
          UH, THERE'S SOME GRANTS THAT ARE COMING OUT, UH, INCLUDING THE, UH, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT RESOLUTION PROGRAM, AND WE'RE, UH, PLANNING TO APPLY FOR THAT IN COLLABORATION WITH, UH, UH, PARTNERING AGENCIES. 
          UM, WITHIN OUR BUILDING DIVISION. 
          UM, UH, WE'VE WORKED TO CONSOLIDATE THE PLAN, CHECK REVIEW TO ONE VENDOR, WHICH HAS CREATED SOME INTERNAL EFFICIENCIES, UH, IMPLEMENTED, UH, TECHNOLOGY FOR SCHEDULING OF INSPECTIONS AND 
          [00:50:01]
CONDUCTING VIRTUAL INSPECTIONS ON SITE. 
          UM, WE, UH, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND CROSS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND ARE WORKING WITH, AS FINANCE MENTIONED, UPDATING OUR FEE SCHEDULE, UM, TO, TO, TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR DEVELOPMENT PERMITS. 
          UM, WITHIN OUR PLANNING DIVISION, UH, WE RECENTLY HIRED A PLANNING TECHNICIAN AND ARE RECRUITING AND ASSISTANT PLANNER. 
          UH, THERE'S A ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS FRIENDLY FOCUS TO OUR, UH, BUILDING AND PLANNING, UH, DIVISIONS INCLUDING, UH, DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH, UH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND, UM, LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, INCLUDING, UH, THOSE FOR OUR PLANNING MECHANISMS SUCH AS, UH, UH, OUR, UH, CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. 
          WE RECENTLY APPLIED, UH, FOR THE FUNDING OF OUR, UH, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. 
          AND LASTLY, BUT NOT LEAST, OUR HOUSING DIVISION. 
          WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE CITY COUNCIL'S HOUSING, UH, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, UH, REALLY, UH, FOCUSING ON BEING AS EFFICIENT AS, UH, AS POSSIBLE. 
          I COULD PROBABLY SAY THAT WHEN, UH, THREE YEARS AGO WE WERE ABOUT 95% LEASED UP IN SECTION EIGHT. 
          WE ARE NOW, UH, HISTORICALLY AT 98%, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST EFFICIENT WE CAN BE. 
          SO THAT BRINGS IN MORE, MORE ADMINISTRATIVE REVENUE TO THE PROGRAM, UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT. 
          SO, UH, THE LAST RENDITION OF THIS WOULD BE THE FOCUS GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE COST SAVINGS THROUGH THOSE TYPE OF COLLABORATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, CARLOS. 
          UM, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, STEVE MANGANELLO. 
          UH, THANK YOU. 
          GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. 
          STEVE MANGANELLO, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
          THE ENGINEERING PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE, PARKS, BUILDINGS, AND FLEET, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
          STARTING WITH PUBLIC WORKS, UH, SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS. 
          WE'VE CONSOLIDATED OUR STREETS IN WASTEWATER INTO ONE DIVISION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR CROSS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE AND ABILITY TO PERFORM SPECIAL PROJECTS. 
          WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY CREWS TO CONSTRUCT SMALLER CAPITAL PROJECTS INVOLVING SIDEWALK REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE, ROADWAY SIGNING, AND STRIPING PARKING LOT SLURRY SEALS, AND MINOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO BETTER PREPARE STAFF TO COMPETE FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO FILL VACANCIES RATHER THAN HAVING TO HIRE FROM THE OUTSIDE. 
          WE BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THESE FIRST THREE ACTION ITEMS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS LED TO AN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT IN EMPLOYEE MORALE, RETENTION, TEAMWORK, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 
          IN ADDITION, WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE QUALITY LIFE SERVICES, SUCH AS REMOVING TRASH AND SHOPPING CARTS FROM PUBLIC RIGHTS AWAY, LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AND WEED ABATEMENT ALONG COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, REPAIRING POTHOLES AND SIDEWALKS, AND CLEARING DEBRIS FROM STORM DRAINS AND CHANNELS. 
          WE ARE, UH, FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR REQUESTING ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT FOR THE STREETS AND WASTEWATER DIVISION. 
          FIRST IS A TRAILER MOUNTED TRAFFIC CONTROL DIGITAL MESSAGE BOARD, OR ARROW BOARD, WHICH OUR, OUR CREWS, UM, NEED TO, UH, SET UP LANE CLOSURES AND DETOURS FOR VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION WORK. 
          IN ADDITION, UH, WE NEED NEW CAMERA, UH, EQUIPMENT AND LOCATORS TO, UH, EFFECTIVELY INSPECT AND RECORD CONDITIONS OF OUR SEWER AND STORM DRAIN PIPES. 
          MOVING TO ENGINEERING. 
          UH, NOTABLY FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR A CITY ENGINEER TO MANAGE THE ENGINEERING DIVISION. 
          THIS WILL FILL A CRITICAL GAP IN OUR DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO MANAGE MORE PROJECTS AND GRANTS IN-HOUSE WITH LESS RELIANCE ON CONSULTANTS. 
          WE'LL ALSO BE COORDINATING WITH THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT PROJECT ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OFFSET GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES FOR STAFF TIME SPENT ON PROJECT DELIVERY THROUGH REIMBURSEMENT BY ASSOCIATED GRANT FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S AGING BUILDINGS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT FACILITIES. 
          WE'LL BE COORDINATING WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT, TO STRATEGICALLY PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AND FUNDING. 
          WE'LL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES GROUP, WHICH INCLUDES ENGINEERING, BUILDING PLANNING, AND, UM, UH, FIRE INSPECTIONS TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ESTABLISH 
          [00:55:01]
A MORE EFFICIENT PROCESS FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN, CHECKS, PERMITS, AND INSPECTIONS. 
          AND LASTLY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT DELIVERY OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE SAFETY, MOBILITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UH, THANKS STEVE. 
          AND NEXT IS, UH, LYDIA HERNANDEZ, OUR NEW HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. 
          GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. 
          THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT COLLABORATES WITH DEPARTMENTS TO HIRE, SUPPORT AND CREATE A WORKFORCE DEDICATED TO DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES. 
          SINCE JOINING THE ORGANIZATION, I HAVE LOOKED AT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE HOW TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES OFFERED TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS. 
          SINCE 2022, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN STAFFED BY A HALFTIME ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, THREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND MANAGEMENT ANALYST, AND HAD A TOTAL OF FOUR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, THREE MANAGEMENT ANALYSTS, AND ONE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR. 
          EACH PARTTIME STAFF WORKED APPROXIMATELY 20 HOURS PER WEEK, AND WERE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 1000 HOURS PER FISCAL YEAR. 
          I PROPOSE THE ELIMINATION OF THE PART-TIME POSITIONS AND, AND AM REQUESTING THE FUNDING OF FULL THREE, THREE FULL-TIME POSITIONS, TWO MANAGEMENT ANALYSTS AND ONE SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT. 
          THE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ASSIGNED AS FOLLOWS, ONE. 
          MANAGEMENT ANALYST ASSIGNED TWO WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. 
          ONE MANAGEMENT ANALYST ASSIGNED TO RECRUITMENT, CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION. 
          AND FINALLY, ONE SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT TO ASSIST BOTH THE BENEFITS AND RECRUITMENT AREAS BY PERFORMING BASIC CLERICAL DUTIES. 
          IN FISCAL YEAR 2223, THE HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF ADMINISTERED 65 RECRUITMENTS, PROCESSED 4,059, EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS REFERRED 383 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AND HIRED 58 NEW EMPLOYEES. 
          RECRUITMENTS FOR NEW EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS FROM START TO FINISH. 
          RECRUITMENTS THAT REQUIRE AN UPDATED JOB DESCRIPTION OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND OR EXPERIENCE CAN LENGTHEN THE PROCESS TO SIX MONTHS. 
          ALL NEW AND UPDATED JOB DESCRIPTIONS REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, WHICH MEETS SIX TIMES PER YEAR. 
          THE CURRENT REPRO RECRUITMENT PROCESS INCLUDES THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CREATING JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SCREENING APPLICATIONS. 
          IT IS THEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS, CREATE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND RATING SHEETS. 
          THE DEPARTMENTS THEN SELECT A CANDIDATE AND CREATE JOB OFFERS. 
          ONCE THE OFFER IS ACCEPTED, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT SCHEDULES BACKGROUND CHECKS AND PHYSICALS. 
          I AM PROPOSING THAT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE NEW FULL-TIME STAFF, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE CURRENT RECRUITMENT PROCESS. 
          INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS WILL NO LONGER BE BURDENED WITH THE CREATION OF INTERVIEW DATES, TIMES QUESTIONS, AND RATING SHEETS. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THE RECRUITMENT STAFF WILL ACTIVELY LOOK AT NEW WAYS TO ADVERTISE TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. 
          WE CONTINUE TO REVIEW AND UPDATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY REMAINS IN COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. 
          WE ARE ACTIVELY COMMUNICATING AND COLLABORATING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND BARGAINING UNITS TO IMPROVE THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, LYDIA. 
          UM, I, UH, AS CITY MANAGER, I DON'T DO THIS ALONE. 
          UM, WE, WE HIRED A GENTLEMAN NAMED BRIAN HADLEY, AND HE'S OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. 
          I, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY ASK HIM OR PREPARE, ASK HIM TO PREPARE REMARKS, BUT, UH, SO I THINK HE'S BETTER AT WINGING IT ANYWAY. 
          UM, AND I GOTTA SAY, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO IT ALONE. 
          UM, THE PLAN IS TO EVENTUALLY HIRE TWO DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS. 
          UM, WE WE'RE NOT MOVING ON THAT, UH, AS QUICKLY AS, AS, AS AS THOUGHT, AS ONE'S THOUGHT. 
          UM, UH, BRIAN'S HANDLING, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, A GOOD, A GOOD AMOUNT OF, OF, OF THE WORK THAT MAYBE TWO DEPUTY DIRECTORS MIGHT HAVE DONE. 
          UM, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE THOSE, THAT FU FUTURE DECISION LATER. 
          BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN CREATING EFFICIENCIES IN, IN BETTERING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE BRIAN IN, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT MIX. 
          I MEAN, THI THIS PERSON, BRIAN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WILL COME UP. 
          HE'S RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, TACKLE THE ISSUE. 
          UM, CALL IT OLD FASHIONED, BUT THAT'S THE WAY HE WORKS. 
          AND, 
          [01:00:01]
AND WE'RE SEEING RESULTS. 
          UH, I, THEY'RE TOO NUMEROUS TO, TO, UM, TO TELL HERE IN A PUBLIC MEETING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE, THE EFFICIENCY HE IS BRINGING, THE COMMUNICATION HE'S BRINGING AMONGST DEPARTMENTS AND HIS EXPERIENCE IN, IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FIELD, IS PAYING OFF DIVIDENDS IN, IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF OUR CITY. 
          AND THAT'S TO THE BENEFIT OF, OF, YOU KNOW, UH, DEVELOPERS AND INVESTORS AND HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS, UH, COMING TO, TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AT CITY HALL. 
          UM, I WANT TO SAY, UM, THAT CONCLUDES KIND OF OUR, OUR STAFF PRESENTATIONS. 
          I WANNA SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS, THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET CYCLE WITH THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY. 
          UM, I WASN'T GIVEN AN EASY ONE, WASN'T AN EASY HANDOFF. 
          A LOT OF THESE ITEMS, THE LOST REVENUE, ET CETERA, WERE DISCUSSED BRIEFLY LAST YEAR. 
          NOW THEY'RE IN FULL, FULL FRONT. 
          THEY'RE STARING AT US IN THE FACE, $2 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING, ET CETERA. 
          UM, AS I'M SPEAKING, MAYBE WE CAN PULL UP THE, UH, STRATEGIC MEASURES. 
          UM, IS THAT DAMON ON THE POWERPOINT? UM, SO I'M NOT, I WASN'T GIVEN AN EASY CHALLENGE. 
          I THINK THAT'S, I NOTICED THAT IN MY CAREER, WHEREVER I GO, WHATEVER I DO, IT'S ALWAYS, UH, I'VE NEVER GIVEN THE, UH, THE READY-MADE MEAL AND IT'S READY TO GO, AND I JUST GOTTA SERVE IT. 
          IT'S ALWAYS, UH, IT'S, IT IS ALWAYS REAL, REAL HEAVY, HEAVY CHALLENGES WHEREVER I GO. 
          AND I BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THAT'S JUST, UH, MY MODUS OPERANDI OR JUST WHAT GETS THROWN AT ME. 
          UM, SO IT'S NO EXCEPTION, AGAIN, BEING REBORN HERE AT THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, UM, FROM MY PREVIOUS CAREER HERE, THAT WE ARE FACING MAJOR CHALLENGES. 
          UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S TIME TO PANIC. 
          I NEVER PANIC. 
          SERIOUSLY, I DON'T PANIC. 
          THAT IS NOT IN MY, THAT IS NOT IN MY MODUS OPERANDI. 
          AND NEITHER WITH BARRY SCHULTZ, BY THE WAY. 
          I NEVER SEEN HIM PANIC. 
          NEVER. 
          UM, WE DON'T, WE DON'T PANIC. 
          WE, WE, WE STUDY AND WE LOOK AT WHAT WE GOTTA DO AND WE ADDRESS IT. 
          AND I ST I THINK THESE STRATEGIC MEASURES OUTLINE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GONNA TAKE SERIOUSLY OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. 
          WE ARE LOOKING AT UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE USAGE OF NEARLY $7 MILLION. 
          IT'S DAUNTING, BUT I THINK PIECE BY PIECE, WE CAN START TO ADDRESS THAT. 
          WE'RE NOT GONNA TACKLE IT ALL IN ONE YEAR. 
          UM, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS, REMAIN CONSERVATIVE AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO TURN THIS TIDE. 
          I DON'T, AND I WON'T HOWEVER, RUIN WHAT WE GOT GOING HERE. 
          WE'RE NOT EVEN, WE'RE NOT EVEN DONE. 
          WE JUST STARTED. 
          LYDIA AND HR, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST, JUST, JUST LANDED. 
          I, WE, WE CANNOT RUIN THIS MAYOR CITY COUNCIL. 
          WE, AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'VE SEEN THIS IN MY CAREER IN OTHER CITIES, IF WE WRITE THE SHIP, IF WE PUT THE ADEQUATE RESOURCES, IF WE WORK TOGETHER, IF WE'RE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, WE WILL ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT. 
          WE WILL ATTRACT REVENUE, WE WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE. 
          WE, WE HAVE, IN MY OPINION, UM, SOME MAKING UP TO DO FOR THE RECENT PAST. 
          AND I'M SPEAKING VERY GENERALLY THAT WE CAN BE A BETTER CITY. 
          WE CAN BE, PROVIDE A BEST, BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE. 
          WE CAN BE MORE WELCOMING, INVITING, UH, TREAT BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, FAMILIES, UM, THAT CHOOSE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS OR LIVE IN OUR CITY WITH, WITH MORE RESPECT. 
          UM, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. 
          AND WE'RE JUST AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THAT. 
          SO IT IS A VERY HARD CHALLENGE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFICIT. 
          YOU, YOU WANT TO SAY, OH, LET'S JUST CUT EVERYTHING. 
          LET'S JUST FREEZE EVERYTHING. 
          UM, AND, AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT LATER. 
          BUT WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOTTA ADDRESS THIS DEFICIT NOW. 
          NO, I DISAGREE. 
          WE HAVE A TEAM HERE OF HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS. 
          WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF, OVERALL, FABULOUS STAFF. 
          I CAN I COMPARE THEM TO MY OTHER EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BAR NONE. 
          ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS I'VE EVER WORKED FOR OVERALL. 
          AND WE'RE JUST BEGINNING. 
          AND SO WE NEED TO STAY ON THIS PATH. 
          WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES WISELY. 
          I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE ADDRESS THESE STRATEGIC MEASURES OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AT THE MIDYEAR. 
          WE COME BACK WITH A REPORT. 
          WE WILL BE UPDATING THOUGH ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. 
          WE COME BACK WITH A REPORT TO ADDRESS HOW WE'RE DOING WITH OUR STRATEGIC MEASURES. 
          DO WE SEE ADDITIONAL REVENUES? HOW IS OUR 
          [01:05:01]
SALES TAX SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY DEPENDENT UPON? HOW IS THAT TRENDING? WE LOOK AT ALL OF THESE MEASURES AND THEN WE ADDRESS MAYBE SOME OF THOSE TOUGHER DECISIONS AT, AT THE MIDYEAR. 
          IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IF THE COUNCIL APPROVES THIS BUDGET, WE'RE NOT GONNA APPROVE IT TONIGHT. 
          WE'RE GONNA COME BACK ON JUNE 4TH TO DO THAT, TO CONSIDER THAT ADOPTION, UM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMMEDIATELY GO ON A SPENDING SPREE, YOU KNOW, SPEND IT ALL, HIRE EVERYBODY. 
          THE BUDGETS TO ACTUALS CHART THAT PAUL PUT TOGETHER, THAT WE'VE DISTRIBUTED SHOWS THAT WENT, THAT ADOPTED BUDGETS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ADOPTED BUDGETS VERSUS ACTUALS IS A, IS A, IS A VERY, UH, A DIFFERENT THING, RIGHT? WE, WE ADOPT A SEARCH, CERTAIN BUDGET AND A LIVING DOCUMENT, SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA CHANGE EVERY DAY. 
          AND THE ACTUALS AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHOW THAT THE DEPENDENCY UPON UNFUNDED, UH, BALANCES ARE, ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT COMMENSURATE WITH, WITH HOW WE BUDGETED. 
          SO WE, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS WE KEEP WORKING TOGETHER, AS LONG AS WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS ON A DAILY AND WEEKLY BASIS, AS LONG AS WE'RE MINDFUL OF WHERE WE'RE AT, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA BE FINE. 
          UM, THAT'S MY, THAT'S SORT OF MY PLEDGE TO YOU AS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          NOW, IN DISCUSSIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK ALSO JUNE 4TH, UH, ANOTHER OPTION TO, FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. 
          AND THAT WOULD BE A, A MORE IMMEDIATE REDUCTION RIGHT NOW TO, TO SOME DEGREE. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. 
          I NEED TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. 
          UH, I CAN TELL YOU THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN THE BUDGET. 
          ALL NEEDED. 
          WE'RE A LEAN STAFF. 
          EVERYTHING WE ASK FOR, WE'RE STILL LEAN. 
          AND I SAY THAT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE HAVING WORKED FOR, FOR MANY CITIES, WE DO A LOT WITH WHAT WE HAVE. 
          UM, SO, BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE CAN LOOK AT THE ENHANCEMENTS. 
          WE CAN LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURES AND SEE HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY REDUCE THEM IN AN OPTION THAT WE WOULD PRESENT TO YOU IN, IN JUNE. 
          SO WE'RE NOT GONNA ADDRESS THE, THE, THE USE OF, UH, UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE ALL IN ONE SWOOP, ALL IN ONE MONTH, ALL IN ONE ACTION. 
          WE NEED TO DO IT WISELY. 
          AND OVER TIME, I'M GONNA PROVIDE AN OPTION THAT STARTS TO ADDRESS IT, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DO THAT IN JUNE. 
          HOWEVER, I DO FEEL, AND I DO RECOMMEND THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN LOOK AT THIS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, AND THEN AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT CALENDAR YEAR, UM, WE, WE, WE LOOK AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE TABLE. 
          OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PORT OF SAN DIEGO AND OUR FEE STUDY UPDATE, UH, TO NAME A FEW THAT ARE CRITICAL IN OUR JOURNEY FORWARD. 
          WE'RE JUST STARTING, UM, THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND THOSE, THOSE, THOSE, UM, THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, NEGOTIATIONS. 
          UM, AND, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO, TO FILL OUT THESE MEASURES AND WORK ON THEM. 
          UM, SO AGAIN, WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, WE'RE GONNA SCRUTINIZE EXPENDITURES, WE'RE GONNA MONITOR REVENUES. 
          UM, WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. 
          EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE MESSAGE OF WHERE WE'RE AT. 
          UH, THIS ISN'T PANIC TIME, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY THE RUBBER'S MEETING THE ROAD HERE. 
          WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS. 
          THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. 
          THIS IS, THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, DEFICITS WE'VE SEEN. 
          AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO PANIC. 
          UM, I THINK I'M GONNA CLOSE MY COMMENTS NOW AND, AND SEEK, UH, GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNCIL. 
          MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU DIRECT US TO COME BACK ON JUNE 4TH WITH A PROPOSED BUDGET AND WITH AN OPTION, ANOTHER ADDITIONAL OPTION THAT WOULD LOWER THE USE OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. 
          I, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER'S GONNA BE, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET OUR SHARPENER AND OUR SHARPENER RACER AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO COME BACK WITH, UH, THAT RECOMMENDATION. 
          THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE CAN DO FOR YOU TONIGHT. 
          WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS TOP OF MIND FOR US. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UH, CITY MANAGER, YOUR, YOUR RECOMMENDATION ABOUT BRINGING BACK OPTIONS ON JUNE THE FOURTH, THAT WOULD BE, I'M ASSUMING, WITH THE INTENTION OF US MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON THOSE OPTIONS OR NOT, THOSE OPTIONS, WHAT, WHATEVER. 
          AND ACTUALLY ADOPTING A BUDGET AT THAT POINT? THAT'S CORRECT. 
          THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. 
          [01:10:01]
SO THAT WOULD NOT BE, SINCE WE HAVE TO ADOPT A, UH, A BUDGET HAS TO BE ADOPTED IN A REGULAR MEETING, UH, THAT WOULD NOT BE IN A, A, A SPECIAL MEETING LIKE THE ONE WE'RE HAVING TODAY. 
          IT WOULD BE DURING THE SIX O'CLOCK MEETING. 
          THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THING, THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          AND THE OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE, IT WAS SAID BY PAUL, BUT IT WAS SAID IN FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL EASE LANGUAGE. 
          AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS YEAR WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET FOR ANY, UH, RELATED TO OUR, UH, UH, ASSOCIATION, UH, EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATIONS. 
          WE DO HAVE A 3% FACTOR STARTING NEXT YEAR, MOVING FORWARD, BUT NOTHING IN THIS CURRENT, UM, BUDGET. 
          SO I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT AS WELL. 
          UM, ANOTHER KEY FACTOR IN, IN, IN, IN OUR WORK, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS. 
          SO ANY, ANYTHING THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD HAPPEN DURING NEGOTIATIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDED TO WHATEVER BUDGET THAT WE ACCEPT. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          UM, OKAY. 
          WE'VE HEARD RECOMMENDATIONS, ANY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING? OKAY. 
          UM, MAYOR MARINA. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STAFF FOR, UH, ALL OF THE INFORMATION. 
          UM, I, I DO RECALL LAST YEAR HAVING RECEIVED THE ASKS FROM EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN WRITING, UH, I THINK EVEN THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT THAT HELPED US, UM, SORT OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ASKS WERE. 
          SO, SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT EITHER WE GET AN EMAIL OR AT THE NEXT MEETING THAT WE HAVE A DETAILED IN WRITING, UM, BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL JUST PROVIDED. 
          NOW, I, I TRIED MY BEST TO TAKE NOTES, , BUT, UM, YEAH, WE NEED THIS IN WRITING, PLEASE. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT IN WRITING HERE TONIGHT. 
          UH, THE, I DO WANNA ASK A FEW QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY TO THE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE JUST DETAILED. 
          ONE IS, UH, FOR CITY MANAGER. 
          I THINK I UNDERSTOOD THAT OUR NEW ORG CHART SHOWS TWO DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS, HOWEVER, ONLY ONE IS LISTED ON THE STAFFING. 
          IS THIS BECAUSE YOU DON'T INTEND TO HIRE THE SECOND CITY MANAGER OR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR? YEAH, I WOULD SAY IT'S ON HOLD AT THIS POINT, YES. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THAT'S MY QUESTION THERE. 
          ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, SORRY, LET ME LOOK AT MY NOTES. 
          UH, CITY LIBRARIAN, I SEE THAT THERE'S, UH, THREE, NOT CITY LIBRARY ON THE ASKS FOR LIBRARY. 
          WHERE'S LIBRARY? SORRY. 
          IT SHOWS THREE, THAT'S PLUS ONE FROM LAST YEAR, IS THAT CORRECT? I'LL ADDRESS THAT. 
          IT SHOULD BE A, UH, ONE OF THOSE LIBRARIANS SHOULD BE CITY LIBRARIAN. 
          UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IS IS THERE A CITY LIBRARIAN POSITION? SO I'M ACTING CITY LIBRARIAN, BUT I'M THE PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN IS MY CURRENT POSITION. 
          UHHUH . 
          SO THERE'S A, A VACANCY FOR CITY LIBRARIAN. 
          GOT IT. 
          VACANCY FOR CITY LIBRARIAN. 
          AND THE, THE PLUS ONE ON HERE IS THAT VACANCY, IS THAT CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN? UHHUH. 
          . 
          OKAY. 
          CITY LIBRARIAN. 
          SO, UH, THAT'S ANOTHER POSITION THAT IS IN THE, THE, THE 19 THAT ARE BEING ASKED. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT'S THAT ONE FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
          UM, THANK YOU MR. KREPPS, YOU DIDN'T COVER THE PLAN CHECKER THAT'S ON HERE. 
          WHAT, UH, THERE'S, UM, SOMETHING ABOUT A PLAN CHECKER. 
          IT'S, IT SHOWS THAT THERE WASN'T ONE FOR 23 OR 24, AND THEN THERE'S ONE FOR 25, CORRECT? CORRECT. 
          CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? WHAT'S A PLAN CHECK? YEAH. 
          UH, TO HELP ASSIST WITH, BASICALLY WITH THE, UH, MOVING, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH DEVELOPMENT, WE WE'RE REQUESTING A PLAN CHECKER TO HELP AUGMENT AND, AND EXPEDITE THE PROCESS. 
          OKAY. 
          AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE, AT LEAST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. 
          NO, WE HAVEN'T. 
          SO, GO AHEAD, MR. I, I CAN PROBABLY ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE THE, THE IDEA WAS BORN WITH ME, UH, IN, IN REGARDS TO FIRE. 
          SO IN, IN TRYING TO ENHANCE, UH, SERVICES BY, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND OUR FIRE PREVENTION TEAM IN, UH, CONVERSATION WITH, UH, FIRE PREVENTION, UH, CHIEF MORA AND, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF HERNANDEZ, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS DOWN THERE, THEY HAVE A, A ROBUST, UH, INSPECTION DEPARTMENT. 
          AND THEN ALSO THEY, WE HAVE, UH, UH, CHIEF HERNANDEZ, HE'S DOING A, A, A LION'S SHARE OF WORK. 
          BUT HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THAT, THERE'S NO IN BETWEEN. 
          AND PART OF IT IS THAT THE PLANS, PLANS, LIKE IN BUILDING AND SAFETY, WERE GOING OUT TO THE CONSULTANT TO BE REVIEWED. 
          SO TO BUILD A BETTER ORGANIZATION AND, AND, AND PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC. 
          IN TERMS OF FIRE PREVENTION PLAN CHECK IS TO BRING IN A PLAN CHECKER, AND WE WOULD RETAIN REVENUES THAT WOULD NORMALLY GO OUT TO THE CONSULTANT. 
          MM-HMM. 
          . 
          SO WE, WE PUT THE POSITION IN AS, NOT IN A FULL YEAR, BUT ON A THREE QUARTER YEAR. 
          AND SO THE THING WITH THAT IS THAT ALSO IT'LL PROVIDE A, UH, INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF, UH, EXPERTISE 
          [01:15:01]
IN THERE. 
          ONE WHERE CHIEF HERNANDEZ CAN PASS ON HIS HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE TO, TO THIS INDIVIDUAL. 
          ALSO A RESOURCE FOR THE FIRE INSPECTORS TO GO, UH, DISCUSS ISSUES WITH, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE THAT IMMEDIATE RESPONSE IN TERMS OF, UH, RESOLUTION OF ISSUES IN, IN THE FIELD FOR PERMITTED ITEMS OR ALSO MINOR PLAN CHECKS THAT COME TO THE FRONT COUNTER. 
          MM-HMM, , VERY GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR, UH, ADDRESSING THAT QUESTION. 
          UM, JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS. 
          I HAVE ONE FOR PUBLIC WORKS. 
          UM, SORRY, MY NOTES ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. 
          OKAY. 
          PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR, I SEE THAT, UM, WE'RE INTENDING FOR THAT TO BE MOVED TO THREE, WHEREAS IN 23 AND 24 WE HAD ZERO. 
          CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW SUPERVISOR? YEAH. 
          WE, THOSE WERE, UH, TWO NEWEST, TWO NEW SUPERVISOR POSITIONS THAT WERE CREATED LAST FISCAL YEAR OR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, FY 24. 
          THOSE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED AND THEY WERE CARRIED FORWARD. 
          WE OPTED TO REMOVE THE THIRD POSITION AND THAT WILL NO LONGER BE MOVING FORWARD, UM, AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          OKAY. 
          ARE YOU STILL ASKING, THOUGH, FOR FOUR NEW, FOUR ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS? NO, I'M LOOKING, I'M LOOKING AT THE, UM, IN THE BUDGET BOOK IS THE STAFFING, UM, STAFFING LEVEL LIST IS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. 
          AND I DID MY BEST TO TAKE NOTES AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER IS, UH, MOLINA? YES. 
          PAUL EZ HERE, BUDGET MANAGER. 
          UH, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN THE, IN THE STAFF COUNT IS THE FY 24 ADOPTED VERSUS THE FY 25. 
          RIGHT. 
          UH, PROPOSED. 
          SO, UH, THAT'S A MIX OF POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, APPROVED MID-YEAR, AS WELL AS POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD FOR FY 25. 
          GOT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IN THE CASE OF, UH, I BELIEVE WAS THE POSITION PUBLIC WORK SUPERVISOR? YES. 
          I BELIEVE THERE WERE RE CLASSIFICATIONS THAT CAME MID-YEAR. 
          GOTCHA. 
          AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOW SEEING THEM IN, UH, FY 25 PROPOSED WHERE THEY DIDN'T SHOW AN FY 24. 
          OKAY. 
          GOOD. 
          THANK YOU FOR CLEARING, CLARIFYING THAT. 
          UM, AND SO, SO THEN, OKAY, SO LET ME ASK YOU, MR. VALDEZ, UH, ACCORDING TO THIS LIST, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL STAFFING REQUEST FOR 19.5 POSITIONS. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. 
          AND SOME OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED MIDYEAR? THAT IS CORRECT. 
          BUT NOW WE ARE CAPTURING IT AS PROPOSED FOR 25. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          19.5. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THEN TO MY COMMENTS, UM, THE ONE, OKAY, SO, SO THESE 19.5 POSITIONS, AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED, UM, THE ADDITION THERE ON THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS, UH, I'M LOOKING AT THE SLIDE NUMBER SIX, UM, ADDRESSING THE DEFICIT. 
          THE, THE LAST ITEM ON HERE SAYS NEW ITEMS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 RIGHTSIZING OF STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL COSTS. 
          THAT TOTALS, UM, 2 MILLION, ROUGHLY THESE 19.5 POSITIONS MAKE UP THAT 2 MILLION. 
          IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? THE GENERAL, THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THAT 19.5 POSITIONS. 
          OKAY. 
          AS WELL AS THE, FOR EXAMPLE, I DIDN'T GET TO WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, FOR POLICE, THEY'RE NOT ONLY ASKING FOR SIX ADDITIONAL STAFF, THEY'RE ASKING FOR FACILITY UPGRADES, POWER GENERATOR, POLICE RANGE FLOORING, ALL OF THIS, I'M SURE OTHER ASKS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ARE IN ADDITION TO STAFF. 
          SO IS IS ALL OF THAT PART OF THIS 2 MILLION? THAT IS CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, I REALLY DO NEED THIS BROKEN OUT. 
          I NEED THIS IN WRITING SO THAT I CAN, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST RELY ON MY NOTES. 
          SO PLEASE, MR. CITY MANAGER, IF YOU CAN HAVE THAT EMAILED US TO US. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, MY LAST POINT ON THE SLIDE FOR STRATEGIC MEASURES, I AM IN COMPLETE, UM, UH, APPROVAL IN COMPLETE FAVOR FOR THESE 19.5 POSITIONS. 
          I HAVE SEEN HOW LEAN OUR STAFF IS. 
          UH, I CAN CITE CONCRETE EXAMPLES. 
          MOST RECENTLY, I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME WITH, UH, MISS, UH, MARTA JUAREZ AND, AND, UM, UH, TIER SA GONZALEZ FROM ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS. 
          AND IT IS ASTOUNDING TO ME TO HEAR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT OUR, UM, CITY EMPLOYEES DO. 
          UH, IT IS A MOUNTAIN OF WORK AND THEY MANAGE TO DO IT. 
          AND, UM, IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OVERBURDENED, OVERBURDENED WITH WORK, UM, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. 
          [01:20:01]
I WANT TO SEE ALL OF THESE POSITIONS FILLED, YOU KNOW, IF ACCORDING TO OUR BUDGET AND ACCORDING TO THE CONSENSUS HERE, IF THAT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY DESIRES, I ABSOLUTELY, UH, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. 
          SO THIS STRATEGIC MEASURE, THIS LAST BULLET POINT, FREEZE VACANT POSITIONS IF OPERATIONALLY, OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE. 
          I, I, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE STRICKEN OFF OF THIS LIST. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS A STRATEGIC MEASURE WE SHOULD CONSIDER GIVEN THAT, UH, WE ARE SO LEAN AND WE HAVE A TON OF WORK, AND OUR CURRENT STAFF COULD HIGHLY BENEFIT FROM HELP FROM ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS. 
          SO, UM, I, I, THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE IS, UM, THE 2 MILLION OR SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE, UH, DEDICATED TO THIS FOR STAFFING, FOR HELP FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TO, TO BETTER THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR FACILITIES, ET CETERA, ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE ASKED, UM, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT IT WOULD CAUSE A 2 MILLION ADD TO THIS DEFICIT THAT THEN WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS FOR, SUCH AS USING OUR RESERVES TO COVER FOR THAT. 
          UM, SO ON THESE STRATEGIC MEASURES, I REALLY THINK THIS LAST ONE, FREEZING, UM, VACANT POSITIONS, UM, WOULD BE THE VERY, VERY LOWEST POSSIBLE POTENTIAL, UM, REMEDY HERE. 
          I THINK, UM, THERE'S GOTTA BE OTHER WAYS TO DECREASE THE BENE THE DEFICIT THAT DOESN'T JEOPARDIZE THE ASKS FROM THESE DEPARTMENT LEADERS THAT KNOW THE WORK THAT THEY'RE TEAM IS DOING. 
          AND, UM, YOU ARE SO HUMBLY COMING HERE AND ASKING US FOR MORE HELP. 
          AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. 
          AND I, I, I'M IN FAVOR OF ALL OF THAT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          OKAY. 
          ANYONE ELSE FOR COMMENTS? JUST A QUICK RESPONSE, MAYOR. 
          YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER MOLINA, WE'LL DEFINITELY COME BACK WITH THAT DE DETAILED REPORT AND WE'LL PUT IT IN A WAY THAT IT'S EASILY, UH, READABLE AND THE OPTIONS AND THE, THE DETAILED ASKED BY DEPARTMENT. 
          SO WE'LL, WE'LL PUT THAT TOGETHER AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT BEFORE THE MEETING. 
          AND THEN OF COURSE IT'LL BE IN THE STAFF REPORT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          MEMBER, YOU MIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, I THINK I HAVE, UM, DISSECTED THIS BUDGET, UM, MANY HOURS. 
          AND I HAVE SAT DOWN WITH OUR BUDGET MANAGER AND OUR, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, UM, SEVERAL TIMES WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WITH SOME OF THE DIRECTORS THAT I HAVE QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THEIR, THEIR, UH, BUDGET. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THIS IS VERY, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN DONE VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVELY IN A VERY, VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, UM, RESPONSIBLE, UM, UM, UM, OPERATIONS THAT OUR, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ASKING. 
          I HAVE SPOKEN TO OUR CITY MANAGER WITH REGARDS TO THOSE FROZEN, UM, UH, POSITIONS THAT HE ALREADY HAD MADE. 
          UM, AND, UH, WE'LL REVISIT THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, MEAN THAT, THAT ARE, UH, UM, REQUESTING FOR SOME POSITIONS THAT MAY BE, UM, UM, UM, MAYBE REVISITED, UM, IN THE MEANTIME. 
          AND THAT'S WHY THE CITY MANAGERS COMING BACK WITH AN OPTIONS TO US TO BE ABLE TO, UM, SEE WHAT THIS OPTIONS ARE, OPTIONS ONE AND TWO. 
          UM, I HAVE REQUESTED, UM, NOT TO, UH, GIVE US TOO MANY OPTIONS BECAUSE THAT WOULD JUST BE MORE CONFUSING. 
          I APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT, UM, WE CAN SEE THE HISTORY OF, OF OUR NUMBERS, UM, SINCE 2020 THAT THIS NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THE BOOK, OUR BUDGET IS A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE AS THE, UM, THE LEADERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION OR OUR CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REVISIT IT JUST LIKE WHAT OUR CITY MANAGER HAVE STATED. 
          AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THINGS THAT, UM, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF, OF, OF THE WORKING SITUATION OF OUR, OF OUR WORKFORCE. 
          'CAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF 'EM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESSES AND GENOME AND OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. 
          UM, I AM, I HAVE MY FULL CONFIDENCE WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, UM, IN MAKING SURE THAT HE WILL COME BACK WITH A RESPONSIBLE OPTIONS WITH THE HELP OF OUR DIRECTORS. 
          AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THE DIRECTORS FOR REALLY TAKING OUR CITY AT HEART IN MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO OUR PEOPLE. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANY 
          [01:25:01]
COMMENTS? OKAY. 
          MEMBER BUSH. 
          YEAH, I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF WORK ON, UH, THIS BUDGET. 
          AND I AGREE WITH YOU, CITY MANAGER. 
          IT'S NOT TIME TO PANIC. 
          UM, I KNOW IT'S SEEMS SCARY WHEN WE LOOK AT PROJECTED DEFICITS AND IF WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, AND I, UH, REALLY WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, TO VICE MAYOR YAMANI FOR, FOR BRINGING THIS UP AND TAKING THE INITIATIVE ON, ON THAT PART, ON ON. 
          AND, UM, OUR BUDGET MANAGER, UH, MR. UH, VALEZ, UH, FOR ACTUALLY ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK. 
          SO THANK YOU ON THIS. 
          UM, SO I, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, UH, HERE IN THE PUBLIC, UM, AND OUR EMPLOYEES TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS, UH, GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, THE ADOPTED BUDGET VERSUS THE ACTUALS DATING BACK TO 2020. 
          SO BECAUSE OF OUR CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING, WHICH I AGREE WITH, I LIKE THAT WE SHOULD DO THAT, UM, EV ALMOST EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE, AND POTENTIALLY THE EXCEPTION OF THIS YEAR. 
          UM, WE HAVE IN OUR ACTUALS, WE'VE ADDED TO OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. 
          AND ANOTHER WORD FOR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS ESSENTIALLY A SURPLUS. 
          AND YES, WE DO HAVE, UM, A SET NUMBER, A PERCENTAGE IN OUR POLICY ON OUR, UM, WHAT OUR ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE. 
          I THINK IT'S 10%. 
          UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE OVER THAT. 
          SO THIS IS, UM, WHAT I VIEW AS EXTRA CASH LYING AROUND. 
          AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE LIKE THE COUNTY THAT HAS HAD ISSUES WITH NOT PROVIDING FULL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC TO, UM, TO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE HOARDING CASH. 
          UH, WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGED, UH, COMMUNITIES, UM, AND IN TERMS OF OUR PEOPLE AND, UM, AND WE HAVE A LIEN STAFF. 
          AND SO I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST SIT ON A PILE OF CASH. 
          WE NEED TO BE, I THINK, MINDFUL OF THE TRENDS. 
          SO WE SEE HERE A PROJECTED, YOU KNOW, 7 MILLION DO DOLLAR, UH, DEFICIT. 
          UM, BUT LET'S, LET'S REALLY, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. 
          UM, I, I DON'T WANT US TO LIKE JUST START HACKING AWAY. 
          I TALKED TO, UH, TO BEN ABOUT THIS EARLIER. 
          I WOULDN'T WANT US TO JUST START HACKING AWAY, LIKE WITH THE MATA AND JUST LIKE, JUST ACROSS THE BOARD CUTS, BECAUSE THAT COULD DO MORE DAMAGE TO US IN THE LONG RUN, ESPECIALLY IF THE TRENDS DON'T PLAY OUT THAT WAY. 
          WE'VE PROBABLY DONE MORE DAMAGE BY, BY LAYOFFS OR CUTTING STAFF OR CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT MAY HAVE, UM, RESULTED IN A FUTURE, UH, INCREASED REVENUE POTENTIAL. 
          SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT. 
          I THINK IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD BE SURGICAL, UM, WITH POTENTIAL CUTS OR FREEZES. 
          I REALLY WANT TO TRY TO AVOID LAYOFFS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. 
          THERE ARE SOME OF THESE, UH, POSITIONS THAT I THINK WILL HELP US FLOW BETTER AS AN ORGANIZATION. 
          UH, REALLY WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, MS. UH, HERNANDEZ, OUR HR DIRECTOR FOR BEING SO FRANK AND CANDID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PAST HAS BEEN BECAUSE THE HR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN A MESS IN THIS LAST COUPLE YEARS. 
          LIKE, LET'S, LET'S JUST BE HONEST ABOUT THAT. 
          AND THAT'S CAUSED ISSUES WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. 
          AND SO WE'RE NOW FINALLY GETTING TO ADDRESS THAT. 
          I DO WANNA HAVE MORE OF A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT JUST, UH, LOOKING AT THE, THE STAFFING LEVELS AND JUST E EVEN IN ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, RIGHT? SO NOT JUST OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, BUT OUR FIRE, OUR POLICE, UM, LIBRARY. 
          I, I, I PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE, UH, DEEPER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DETERMINE, OKAY, WHERE CAN THERE BE EFFICIENCIES? WHERE ARE THOSE IDEAS FOR, UH, FUTURE RE REVENUE GENERATION POTENTIAL? UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WHERE YOU'RE ASKING FOR INCREASED STAFF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LONG-TERM, UH, UH, PROJECTION LOOK LIKE? SO, UM, SO I'M OPEN. 
          I I DE I DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE, UM, MORE CONVERSATIONS, NOT, NOT HERE BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE SHORT ON TIME. 
          UM, BUT, UH, BUT I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S GONE IN INTO THIS. 
          UH, I THINK, I THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY EFFICIENCIES. 
          I STILL SEE A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, UH, MONIES ON HERE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THE HIRING OF, UH, CONSULTANTS AND STAFF. 
          I STILL DO SEE A LOT OF, UH, BUDGETED OVERTIME, WHICH, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE JUST HOLDOVERS FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET CYCLES, WHICH I UNDERSTAND. 
          BUT NOW THAT WE'RE UP TO FULL STAFFING, LIKE WITH FIRE AND POLICE, IN A LOT OF INSTANCES, I DO WANNA SEE LIKE WHAT WE CAN DO TO STILL ADDRESS OVERTIME. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OTHER ISSUES, UH, HERE AND THERE. 
          UM, PUBLIC WORKS, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR, UM, AND, AND STEVE, YOU'VE BEEN, YOU'VE BEEN GREAT AT THIS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR YEARS PAST, BUT GETTING A LOT OF THE, THE, THE GRANTS, THE OUTSIDE GRANTS, SO THERE'S THE I IRA, UM, THE, UM, INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. 
          THERE'S, UH, SOME FUNDING THERE FROM THE STATE ON, ON CLIMATE INITIATIVES. 
          SO I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY REFLECTED HERE. 
          UM, BUT I, BUT I STILL WANNA MEET WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND IN THAT, THAT POTENTIAL. 
          UM, SO YEAH, OVERALL, I, UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE ARE IN A, A DIRE SITUATION, BUT I, I DO THINK THIS IS A, A POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT, UM, WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE OUR EFFICIENCIES. 
          AND I THINK I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT EFFICIENCIES. 
          AND, AND SOMETIMES THAT GETS INTO PERSONNEL ISSUES, WHICH WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANNA DISCUSS ON THE DIET HERE, 
          [01:30:01]
BUT, UM, IT, IT'S, TO ME, AND IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF LAYOFFS OR GETTING RID OF PEOPLE, UM, IT'S WHERE SHOULD WE SHIFT OVER, UM, POSITIONS, LIKE WHAT'S OUR STRATEGIC, YOU KNOW, PLAN? WHERE, WHERE CAN PEOPLE BE BETTER? WHERE DO WE HAVE WE NOT INVESTED IN CERTAIN AREAS AND NOW IT'S, IT'S COSTING US, AND WHERE DO WE NEED TO REINVEST? SO I, I'M REALLY OPEN, UM, BUT I, I, I THINK WE'RE IN, UH, THIS, LIKE THE, THE PROJECTED DEFICIT. 
          IT'S A, IT'S A CONCERN, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK, LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID, BEN, IT'S NOTHING TO PANIC ON, BUT LET'S, YOU KNOW, BREAK OUR PENCILS OUT. 
          LET'S, LET'S BE CREATIVE AND F AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO. 
          UM, ONE EXAMPLE, JUST TO PUT AN EXAMPLE, THEN, UH, I'LL WORK MORE WITH, UH, CITY STAFF AND, UM, AND, UH, BRING THIS BACK TO MY COLLEAGUES. 
          BUT WE DO HAVE, UH, THE VAC VACANCIES, UM, WE ALWAYS FI HAVE SA SAVINGS IN, IN VACANCIES. 
          SO I'D LIKE US TO, WHEN WE COME BACK TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THAT, UH, THAT'S PART OF WHAT INFLATES THINGS AND IT FEELS GIMMICKY. 
          AND I, I'D LIKE US TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT. 
          I, I GET IT. 
          AND THERE HAS BEEN, UH, JUST ISSUES WITH, WITH HIRING, SO MAYBE THAT THE VACANCY RATE WON'T BE AS BIG AN ISSUE, UH, MOVING FORWARD. 
          UM, BUT I, I, I THINK LIKE IF WE CAN, IF YOU CAN BRING BACK SOME JUST INFORMATION UPDATES ABOUT LIKE, UH, WHAT, WHAT THE VACANCIES ARE, AND IN FREEZING POSITIONS, ONE OF THE POSITIONS I REALLY, UM, ADVOCATED HARD FOR WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PLANNER POSITION. 
          THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT, WITH THIS DEFICIT, I DO THINK WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE FREEZING. 
          UM, AND I, UH, DID GO ATTEND THE, UM, THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT. 
          THEY HAVE, UH, ANNUAL ALL STAFF ON HANDS MEETING, AND THERE WERE SOME IDEAS FLOWN, UH, AROUND, UH, HIGHER LEVELS OF STAFF THAT I'D LIKE TO CONNECT YOU WITH BEN, UM, OF, UH, HAVING, UH, DIFFERENT CITIES CONTRIBUTE TO A PER CAPITA FUND, UM, SO THAT THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT CAN BETTER ASSIST WITH, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES WITH, UH, UM, AIR QUALITY MONITORS, UM, AND ALL OF THAT. 
          SO MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE TO NOT UTILIZE THE EJ POSITION OR FREEZE IT, BUT MAYBE WORK WITH THE A PCD AND SAVE MONEY INSTEAD, SINCE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AN OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT, IT MIGHT NOT WORK, BUT I, I JUST THINK THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING CREATIVE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT COULD SAVE US MONEY SO WE'RE NOT, UM, MAYBE REINVENTING THE WHEEL AND JUST UTILIZING SOME EXISTING RESOURCES. 
          SO, UH, SO OTHER THAN THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? UH, MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. 
          I JUST HAVE A, A FEW, UH, QUESTIONS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. 
          SO, UM, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR, UH, UH, FUNDS, UH, FOR YEARS, BUT JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, UM, WE HAVE NUMEROUS FUNDS INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY, UH, CONTINGENCY EMERGENCY FUND. 
          CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET IS THE FUND COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ? YES. 
          THAT IS 20% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY FUND, 20%. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, UH, WHAT ABOUT THE UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE? UM, I THINK IT'S IN THE MID TWENTIES. 
          IT'S CURRENTLY IN THE MID TWENTIES, YES. 
          UM, AND WHAT IS OUR GOAL FOR THE UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE PERCENTAGE WISE? THE TARGET GOAL IS 10%. 
          OKAY. 
          SO MID TWENTIES FOR THE UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE, PLUS A 20% EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY FUND IS MID FORTIES IN TERMS OF RESERVES, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO I WANNA REITERATE THAT BECAUSE, UM, UH, WE HEARD THIS A LOT LAST YEAR. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH OUR FUNDING IS BEING DEPLETED BY THESE, UH, PROPOSED BUDGETS THAT OFTENTIMES ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN THE APPROACHES, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD. 
          UM, BUT I DO WANNA REITERATE HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN RESERVES. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF IDEOLOGICAL POSITION. 
          I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF HOARDING MONEY AS A CITY, AS A MUNICIPALITY. 
          I THINK IT'S OUR JOB TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND A 45%, UM, UM, UH, JUST FUNDS THAT ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED SEEMS TO BE A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. 
          SO I WANNA JUST REALLY WANT TO QUICKLY JUST GO OVER A COUPLE OF THINGS, MAYBE ASK SOME OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE ENDED UP, UH, SUPPORTING AN INCREASE IN OFFICERS AND DISPATCHERS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT 
          [01:35:07]
CHRIS SULLIVAN WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? SO, TRYING TO GET TO FULL STAFFING IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, AND WITH THE BACKGROUNDS UNIT, TRYING TO GET THE PROPER PERSONNEL INTO THE DISPATCHERS AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS BEING FULLY STAFFED. 
          HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE THERE, UH, VERY SOON. 
          WITH ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE. 
          UM, ONCE AGAIN, THE STAFFING IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE CONSISTENTLY STRIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO BEING FULLY STAFFED. 
          SAME THING WITH THE OFFICER LEVELS AS WE, UH, EXPLAINED IN MY OPENING REMARKS. 
          AND DO YOU FEEL THAT HAVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDES A BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? HAVING THE STAFF TO SUPPORT WHAT THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPERATIVE. 
          HAVING THE STAFFING LEVELS, UM, AT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE BELIEVE WILL GET US TO THE, WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR THE POLICE SERVICES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WAIT, 1, 1, 1 MOMENT. 
          UH, CAPTAIN SULLIVAN, YOU'RE BEING OUTRANKED. 
          THE, UH, THE, UH, CHIEF IS WANTING TO SAY SOMETHING TO REPLY. 
          SO, YEAH, I, I, UH, IF I CAN INTERJECT COUNCIL MEMBER AND THEN, AND THEN CHIEF, UH, THANKS FOR JOINING US, CHIEF. 
          OH, THERE HE IS. 
          HERNANDEZ ON THE SCREEN. 
          UM, I'LL SAY, JUST FROM A HIGH LEVEL ALTITUDE COMMENT, WHEN I TOOK THE REINS AS CITY MANAGER TALKING TO THE FORMER CHIEF, THIS WAS A REALLY HOT TOPIC. 
          UM, WE WERE KIND OF IN THE DANGER ZONE OF, OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. 
          AND I, I, UH, I THINK GENERALLY WE'RE, WE'RE WE'VE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE COUNCIL'S DECISIONS AND SUPPORT, WE'RE, WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS. 
          SO I FEEL MUCH BETTER. 
          I KNOW I PERSONALLY FEEL MUCH BETTER BASED ON, UH, EIGHT MONTHS AGO. 
          BUT CHIEF, COULD YOU SHED SOME MORE LIGHT TO THIS QUESTION? OF COURSE. 
          OF COURSE. 
          I'M JOINING YOU GUYS FROM PALM SPRINGS, SO MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING THERE. 
          UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON IS BOTH DISPATCH AND POLICE OFFICERS. 
          UH, WHEN WE STARTED AT THE START OF THE YEAR, WE WERE DOWN 10 OFFICERS. 
          NOW, UH, I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH POLICE OFFICERS. 
          BY THE TIME THAT WE HAVE A POLICE OFFICER HIRED, WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE THAT OFFICER ON THE STREET FOR A WHOLE YEAR, THEIR ACADEMY SIX MONTHS, THEIR TRAINING IS SIX MONTHS. 
          UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UH, A TOTAL OF SIX IN THE ACADEMY. 
          WE'RE GONNA HAVE FIVE OF 'EM GRADUATE IN THE EARLY PART OF JUNE. 
          SO THAT'S GONNA BE VERY HELPFUL, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT GONNA SEE THEM OUT IN THE FIELD TILL PROBABLY AT THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, RIGHT, OR THE START OF NEXT YEAR. 
          UH, AS FAR AS OUR BACKGROUNDS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERY YEAR IN 2022, WE HIRED 15 PEOPLE. 
          20, 23, WE HIRED 16. 
          WE AVERAGE LOSING ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF PEOPLE PER YEAR. 
          SO IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US TO STAY ON TOP OF THESE, UH, MEASURES. 
          SO, UH, CAPTAIN SULLIVAN HIT IT ON THE HEAD THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE DO HAVE, UH, MOVING FORWARD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, UM, LOOKING AT, AGAIN, AT OUR, UH, LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE WENT INTO A FOUR PERSON CREW AT ONE OF OUR ENGINES. 
          HOW HAS THAT WORKED OUT? YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE. 
          WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FIRES AS OF LATE IN THE CITY, AND THE, THE WORKLOAD AND THE SHARING OF THE WORKLOAD AMONGST THE FIREFIGHTERS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. 
          THE THE AMOUNT OF SPEED THAT WE CAN GET WATER ON THE FIRE, JUST HAVING THAT ONE EXTRA PERSON IS NIGHT AND DAY, WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD A FIRE TO ONE BUILDING INSTEAD OF LOSING THE ENTIRE BUILDING, BE ABLE TO AFFECT A RESCUE, UH, JUST RECENTLY. 
          AND HAVING THAT STAFFING IS IMPERATIVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE ALSO PROVIDED DIRECTION, UH, TO OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UM, TO BRING IN SERVICES IN HOUSE. 
          UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, ADVOCATING FOR A MORE ROBUST, UH, PLAN CHECK, UM, UM, AND, AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL. 
          HOW, HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT? WELL, I CAN CERTAINLY SAY IT'S DONE A 180 AND, UM, IT'S KIND OF, I WOULD SAY IT'S ADVANCED THAT BUILDING DIVISION ALONE, AT LEAST 20 YEARS,  IN, IN, IN TERMS OF WHERE IT WAS AT. 
          BUT IN TERMS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT WOULD, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME HERE, IT, IT JUST, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE THE WAY IT WAS SET UP. 
          AND A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH DO TWO CONSULTANTS WORKING IN THEIR CONSULTANT STAFF, AND IT, AND IT WASN'T BALANCED. 
          AND, UM, THE INTERIM BUILDING OFFICIAL, ERIC DENNIS, HE HAD, HE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT THERE, BUT, UH, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY 
          [01:40:01]
WITH THE, UH, BUREAU OF VERITAS CONTRACT ABOUT READY TO SUNSET. 
          AND SO IT JUST MADE SENSE. 
          IT WAS JUST REALLY OFF BALANCE. 
          AND SO, UH, THEN WE, WE LET THAT CONTRACT SUNSET THE CONTRACT, YOU KNOW, THE CONSULTANT STAFF THAT WAS THERE, YOU KNOW, AL ALSO, UH, WENT WITH THE CONTRACT. 
          THEN WE JUST REALLY SAT DOWN, IDENTIFIED WHAT THE NEEDS WERE FOR THE DEPARTMENT. 
          WE HAVE OUR FULL-TIME STAFF. 
          WE HAVE ADDED TWO PART-TIME STAFF FUNDED BY CONSULTANT MONEY. 
          AND THEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO BETTER BRING IN, UH, YOU KNOW, BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE PUBLIC. 
          AND THAT IS THROUGH, UH, PROVIDING, UH, MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR IN-HOUSE PLAN, CHECK TO TURN THINGS AROUND AND MEET THOSE TURNAROUND DEADLINES IN TERMS OF PERMIT ISSUES, ISSUANCE. 
          AND WE'VE REALLY DONE A, A, A GREAT JOB. 
          WE'VE HAD MORE INFORMATIVE HANDOUTS. 
          WE'VE CHANGED OUR PROCEDURES. 
          UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN, THERE WAS SOME INTERPRETATIONS, YOU KNOW, OF, OF BUILDING CODES THAT WERE REALLY UNWARRANTED, BUT THAT THEY WEREN'T VERY DEVELOPMENT FRIENDLY. 
          AND SO WE PUT A MORE CLASSIC INTERPRETATION TO THOSE JUST TO IMPROVE LEVEL OF SERVICE. 
          ALSO, OUR COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PERMIT PROCESS AND, AND FIRE HAS, HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY. 
          AND, UM, SO IT'S NOT SILOED ANYMORE AS FAR AS THE PROCESS GOES. 
          UM, SUCH AS, BY THAT I MEAN, OH, WE'RE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, WE'VE DONE OUR THING. 
          AND SO IT'S JUST SITTING OVER WITH, UH, SOME OTHER DIVISION AND, YOU KNOW, SO NO, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S LINES OF COMMUNICATION HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED, AND WE'VE ALSO UN BLURRED THE LINES BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS IN THE SENSE OF THIS IS BUILDING'S RESPONSIBILITY, THIS IS PLANNING'S RESPONSIBILITY, ENGINEERING, FIRE, AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT. 
          SO WE ALL KNOW OUR ROLES, BUT ALSO WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S EXPECTED. 
          AND THEN IN THAT, UH, COORDINATION THAT WE'VE BEEN AROUND, UH, UH, IT'S ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE IN A MORE TIMELY SERVICE WEBSITE. 
          WELL, WE DO, WE DEFINITELY IMPROVED THE WEBSITE. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, UH, CARLOS AGIRI, UH, HIGHLIGHTED WAS, UH, REMOTE VIDEO INSPECTIONS. 
          THAT'S A CUTTING EDGE, UH, UH, UH, THING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WILL. 
          IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S LIKE, KIND OF LIKE, UH, FACETIME ON STEROIDS, IF YOU WILL, BUT IT ALLOW, HERE, HERE'S THE, HERE'S WHAT IT AFFORDS THE DEVELOPER OR THE PERMIT HOLDER. 
          IT'S FOR MINOR PERMIT INSPECTIONS, LIKE SOLAR WATER HEATERS AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT. 
          THE INSPECTOR DOESN'T NEED TO, TO GET IN A CAR, MAKE A TRIP. 
          UM, THEN LIKEWISE, THE PERSON THAT'S OUT THERE COULD BE THE HOMEOWNER, COULD BE THE CONTRACTOR. 
          THEY'RE JUST SENT A LINK THROUGH THEIR, UH, THROUGH THEIR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET. 
          AND THEN THE, THE SOFTWARE THAT WE USE GEOLOCATES, THE, UM, THE WHERE, WHERE THAT CELL PHONE IS LOCATED, THE JOB ADDRESS. 
          SO IT'S, THAT'S ALL DONE FOR US. 
          IT'S VIDEO RECORDED. 
          IF WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, WE CAN ACTUALLY MARK UP THEIR SCREEN CIRCLE ITEMS AND SO FORTH, AND WE GET A, A, WE GET A PERMANENT RECORD OF THAT INSPECTION. 
          SO THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS AND A CONSI CONSIDERABLE, UH, UH, UH, CONVENIENCE TO, TO THE PERMIT HOLDER. 
          THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE, BEFORE WE USED TO TAKE ON INSPECTION REQUESTS VIA ANSWER MACHINE, YOU KNOW, 1970 STYLE. 
          SO YEAH, THAT'S CONVENIENT, BUT THEN WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF TRANSCRIPTION IN THE MORNING, LISTEN TO IT, TRANSCRIBE IT ONTO A PIECE OF PAPER THAT GOES TO AN INSPECTOR, AND THEN THAT INSPECTOR SHUFFLES THOSE PAPER AND ROUTES THOSE. 
          SO NOW WE HAVE A, A MORE EFFICIENT TOOL TO DO THAT. 
          UH, AN INSPECTION REQUEST, IT'S A WEB-BASED PROGRAM THAT, UH, UH, PERMIT HOLDERS CAN DO ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT WITH THEIR SMARTPHONE, WITH THEIR DESKTOP THAT CAN REQUEST AN INSPECTION. 
          THEY GET A CONFIRMATION THAT THEY REQUESTED AN INSPECTION, AND IT GOES INTO A QUEUE. 
          AND THEN IN THE MORNING, UH, THE INSPECTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THE RECEIPT OF THAT, THEY GET ANOTHER, UH, EMAIL THAT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AND THAT IT'S GONNA BE ON SCHEDULE FOR A CERTAIN PARTICULAR TIME. 
          THEN THEY CAN ALSO, UH, WHEN, WHEN THE INSPECTION OCCURS, THEY CAN LOOK UP THE REAL TIME STATUS OF HOW THAT INSPECTION WENT IF THEY WEREN'T THERE. 
          SO THIS, THIS ONE ELIMINATES ALL THE PAPER ACTIVITY IN THE MORNING, AND THEN ALSO IT, UH, UH, ELIMINATES CALLBACKS ON THE, ON TO OR CALLS TO THE BUILDING DIVISION. 
          HEY, DID YOU GET MY REQUEST? UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT TIME ARE YOU GONNA BE THERE? THEY'RE ALREADY GONNA KNOW ALL THAT. 
          THEY'RE ALREADY GONNA KNOW THAT THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT BY THE EMAILS THAT, THAT THEY RECEIVE. 
          AND SO 
          [01:45:02]
THIS PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY FOR US, FOR NATIONAL CITY. 
          UH, THERE'S ONLY, MAYBE THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER JURISDICTION THAT I KNOW, UM, THAT EMPLOYS THIS AND THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. 
          AND IT'S BEEN A HIGH SUCCESS THERE, BUT IT WAS A VERY INEXPENSIVE PROGRAM, AND IT'S GONNA DELIVER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, OF SERVICE TO OUR BUILDING PUBLIC. 
          I, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, SO I, I WANNA REITERATE ALL OF THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE, FOR A LONG TIME, AS A CITY, HAVE BEEN USED TO HAVING AN AUSTERITY MINDSET, LIKE, UH,  MINDSET. 
          AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT INVESTMENTS IN OURSELVES, IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND I'LL GIVE YOU LIKE A BRIEF EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS AN ELECTED. 
          YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CANNABIS AND THE CANNABIS ORDINANCE FOR A LONG TIME NOW. 
          IT'S HOPEFULLY GONNA BE, UH, OPENING UP, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, THE LOUNGE LATER THIS YEAR. 
          BUT THAT, UH, INITIAL ORDINANCE WAS IN 2019. 
          IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. 
          AND, UM, WHEN WE'RE INSIDE, WE GET TO SEE KIND OF THE DYNAMICS UNFOLD. 
          SO THERE WAS A PERSON IN CHARGE WITHIN THE CITY, MAKING SURE THAT THAT MOVES FORWARD. 
          AND THAT PERSON, UM, UH, ASKED FOR A RAISE AND DID NOT GET IT. 
          AND AS A RESULT, THE PROJECT STALLED FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS. 
          SO IT GOES BACK TO INVESTMENT. 
          YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN'T BE IN AN AUSTERITY MINDSET WHEN REALITY, WE NEED ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO DO THE WORK, THAT ARE GOING TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS, ADDITIONAL REVENUE, ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? WE NEED TO BECOME A MORE DEVELOPMENT FRIENDLY CITY, AND THAT MEANS CREATING A GOOD, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, A GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE FROM THE AVERAGE RESIDENT, BUT THAT REQUIRES JUST SO MUCH INVESTMENT. 
          ANOTHER THING THAT COMES TO MIND, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR, UH, UM, CHIEF FERNANDEZ FOR BRINGING THIS UP. 
          UM, HAVING POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO VISIT BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, IT'S A VERY PROACTIVE THING TO DO THAT I THINK IS JUST SO CRITICAL. 
          AND, AND THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK TO ANYBODY ON NATIONAL CITY BOULEVARD AND THEY'LL TELL YOU REAL QUICK WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, AND THOSE BUSINESSES SUFFER AS A RESULT OF, UM, PEOPLE FEELING UNSAFE, PEOPLE NOT VISITING THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. 
          SO HAVING A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO ACTUALLY VISIT THEM AND SAYING, WHAT DO YOU NEED? HOW CAN WE MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY SAFER? WHAT ARE THE ISSUES HERE SO THAT YOU CAN GET A CLIENTELE BASE THAT IS ULTIMATELY GONNA STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, HELP SUPPORT THAT BUSINESS? SO THAT, THAT IS CRITICAL. 
          THE PLAN CHECKS, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH. 
          YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD IS SUCH A SMALL WORLD, AND, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S CARRIED EXPERIENCES, UH, THEY SHARE FREELY. 
          I, I'VE NEVER BEEN, I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT WHEN, WHEN I FIRST CAMPAIGNED IN LIKE 2018 OR SO, I WAS KNOCKING ON SOME DOORS. 
          I HEARD THE SAME PERSON'S NAME COME UP THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SAID, PLEASE TELL ME THAT PERSON'S NO LONGER WORKING THERE. 
          , I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE. 
          BUT THAT WAS THE, UM, SORT OF MINDSET THAT EXISTED WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WITHIN, WITHIN INSPECTIONS THAT JUST MADE IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO NOT INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SO IN ORDER TO REVERSE THAT, WE JUST NEED TO, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT, SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORT OUR INVESTMENT, SUPPORT OUR CITY WORKERS. 
          AND, UM, I ALSO JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REALLY QUICK, UM, ASK, UH, MR. CITY MANAGER. 
          UM, IT IS A, A RELATIVELY LARGE PROJECTED DEFICIT. 
          UM, AS YOU BRING A REVISED VERSION, I WOULD LOVE TO, UM, HAVE CONTINUED INVESTMENT, BUT, UH, FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER TERM, KIND OF BOTTOM UP POSITIONS. 
          UM, WE, UM, CAN BE VERY TOP DOWN AT TIMES. 
          SO IF WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE BOTTOM UP POSITIONS IN ORDER TO, UM, IN, IN EVERY ONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR RESIDENTS, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LOOK, I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          YEAH, WE DO HAVE A, UH, AS WE LOOK THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS AND BUDGET PROCESSES ARE VERY ORGANIC. 
          THEY DO CHANGE DURING THE YEAR. 
          UM, AND WE HAVE, FOR THE MOST PART, THROUGH THE YEARS, TAKEN ON A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE LOOK. 
          I MEAN, IF SOME CITIES ADD THINGS INTO THEIR BUDGET, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF REVENUE THAT THEY KNOW IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN, AND THAT'S WHAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T WANNA DO, JUST SO YOU, SO THINGS LOOK ROSY. 
          AND, UH, AND I WILL SAY THAT OUR STAFF HAS NOT NEVER GOT INTO THAT HABIT AND, UH, UH, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. 
          UM, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF, A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF, OF, UM, 
          [01:50:01]
UNFILLED POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AND PRIORITIZE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW NECESSARY IS THIS? AND WE LOOK AT OTHER ONES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO US NOW TO ACTUALLY ADD SOME POSITIONS. 
          AND MANY TIMES THOSE ARE GONNA BE A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOME, UH, UNFILLED POSITIONS. 
          AND WE HAVE TO EVALUATE THAT, GO THROUGH IT ALL AND SEE WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE. 
          THE, UH, UH, I SAY, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE, UH, NOT GONNA BE EASY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN YOU SEE THE KIND OF DEFICITS COMING BEFORE US, WE DO NEED TO BE CONCERNED. 
          DO WE NEED TO PANIC AT THIS STAGE? NO, BUT WE DO DO NEED TO BE CONCERNED, PARTICULARLY IN THE DAY AND AGE THAT WE LIVE. 
          UH, WE ARE STILL LIVING, FOR THE MOST PART, GOVERNMENT AND FUNDING IS STILL SET UP THE WAY IT WAS 20, 30 YEARS AGO. 
          UH, AND AS WE'VE SEEN, MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY GRANTS ARE NICE, BUT MOST GRANTS GO FOR THINGS THAT AREN'T PART OF OUR BUDGET. 
          THEY'RE, THEY'RE OTHER OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE NORMALLY DO OUTSIDE OF OUR BASIC MISSION STATEMENT. 
          AND SO, WHILE THOSE ARE GOOD, AND, AND, AND AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT TAKE AWAY FROM OUR MISSION STATEMENT, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A GOOD THING TO, TO GRAB ONTO. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE BASICS THAT WE DO NORMALLY COMES OFF OF, OF THE, THE REVENUE STREAMS THAT WE'VE HAD. 
          THOSE REVENUE STREAMS ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO GAIN AS WE SEE MAJOR BUSINESSES GOING UNDER. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU SEE LESS AND LESS, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST IT WAS BASICALLY ALL RETAIL. 
          AND AS WE'VE SEEN, EVEN OUR SHOPPING MALLS, EVERYTHING ELSE GOING LESS AND LESS RETAIL, MORE AND MORE IS GOING INTERNET THINGS ALONG THIS LINE. 
          AND THERE, THEREFORE, THE, IT'S HARDER AND HARDER TO GET NEW REVENUES. 
          IT'S VERY EASY TO GET NEW EXPENDITURES. 
          AND WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU DON'T, EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING E EXTRA AT HOME, THE COST IS JUST GOING UP AND THAT BECOMES THE EXPENDITURE. 
          SO EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING EXTRA, SO THOSE ARE GONNA NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. 
          AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD CAUTION US ON HOW WE, HOW WE LOOK AT OUR RESERVES. 
          NO ONE WHO WORKS IN WITH MUNICIPAL FINANCING AT ALL WOULD EVER REFER TO RESERVES AS HOARDING. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          THAT'S IT. 
          IT, THAT'S, THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TERM, UH, TO PUT WITH IT. 
          THEY ARE AN INSURANCE POLICY, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT INSURANCE THEN, AND ESPECIALLY IN LONG TERM, THEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING FOR PROBLEMS. SO WE NEED TO, IT'S GONNA BE A BALANCING ACT AS WE LOOK TOWARD ALL THIS POSITIONS, RESERVES, UH, EXPENDITURES, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS AND WHAT OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR INCREASED, UH, INCREASED RESERVES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE VERY BEST LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE CAN. 
          UM, SO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT STAFF WILL BE BRINGING BACK ON, UM, JUNE, THE, UH, THE FOURTH, AND, UH, AND, UH, SAY WITH THAT, WE WILL, UH, ADJOURN THIS SPECIAL MEETING AND WE WILL HAVE A SHORT RECESS. 
          LET EVERYONE GET THEIR STUFF TOGETHER SO WE CAN START OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. 
          WITH THAT, OUR MEETING IS ADJOURNED. 
          THANK YOU, MAE.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.