May 21, 2025 Budget Hearings FY 2025-2026

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I GET. IT. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY, OKAY. YEAH. SO. YEAH. SO. ANYWAY.

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AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW, I. IN ORDER TO GET THE. RIGHT. WELCOME TO THE

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[ ID 25-0223     Office of Strategic Initiative]

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SO WITH THAT BEING SAID. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY OUTCOMES LISTED, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME. AND CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR? WELL, AGAIN, IT'S NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S A SEPARATE 500 1C3. SO I SIT ON THE BOARD AS, AS THE MAYOR'S DESIGNEE. BUT IT'S A SEPARATE 501C3. THE PAST YEAR THEY HAVE WORKED ON FORMING A BOARD AND CREATING AND HIRING AND RECRUITING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. AND REALLY THE FOCUS AND FUNDRAISING $1.6 MILLION. AND THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS BUILDING UP THE WORKFORCE OF EARLY EDUCATORS SO THAT YOU CAN SAY CHILDCARE, YOU CAN SAY EARLY LEARNING, YOU CAN SAY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. BUT THAT'S BEEN THE FOCUS, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM IN THE FALL FOCUSING ON QUALITY, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EXISTING CHILD CARE CENTERS AND EARLY LEARNING. WE KIND OF USE THEM INTERCHANGEABLY. EARLY LEARNING CHILD CARE CENTERS. HAVE YOU SPENT THE 5 MILLION YET, AND IF SO, WHAT HAVE YOU SPENT IT ON? WHY DON'T YOU JUMP IN HERE? YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ME. DO YOU WANT TO GO? YEAH. THIS IS RAYLENE ROBINSON. SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THRIVE BY FIVE. HI. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NOT SPENT THE $5 MILLION YET. WE DID. IT IS TO NOTE THAT WE DID RECEIVE THE CHECK FOR THE $5 MILLION IN DECEMBER. SO SINCE DECEMBER, WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY

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COUNCILMAN LINENGER. THANK YOU. CHAIR. SO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE FOR FAMILIES IS REALLY IMPORTANT WORKING CLASS ISSUE. AND I REALLY SUPPORT THE THRIVE BY FIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE. WE'VE SEEN ALMOST $1 BILLION IN FUNDING HELD UP SO FAR THROUGH THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THERE'S ANTICIPATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE PROBABLY A 10% DROP AT A MINIMUM THROUGH BUDGETING ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED IN HEAD START. THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT IN OUR AREA. YOU KNOW, HOW IS HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THRIVE BY FIVE. AND IN ORDER TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEED? WELL, IT'S GREAT THAT THRIVE BY FIVE IS HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE HEAD START FUNDING. RIGHT? SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH EXISTING CHILD CARE CENTERS THAT DON'T GET HEAD HEAD START FUNDING AND WORKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND BUILD UP THE WORKFORCE. SO. RIGHT. BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THAT WOULD ANTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, A MUCH GREATER BURDEN ON PROGRAMS LIKE THRIVE BY FIVE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, FIVE BY FIVE IS GOING TO BE MEANS TESTED TO A DEGREE. MORE KIDS ARE GOING TO FALL INTO THE BUCKET OF WHAT THRIVE BY FIVE HAD INITIALLY, YOU KNOW, BUDGETED, YOU KNOW, FOR SERVING. YEAH. COUNCILMAN. YES. THIS IS A VERY REAL

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THEY'RE THE ONES DOING THE WORK. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO KNOW BEST HOW TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT'S BEST FOR THE CHILDREN. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME BUILDING IF HEAD START GOES AWAY. BUT LET'S CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HAWKINS. THANK YOU. CHAIR. THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO I CAME IN A LITTLE LATE. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. IT WAS A QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED ABOUT AS FAR AS THE FUNDING. RIGHT. YOU SAID YOU ALL JUST GET SOME OF THE FUNDING. YES, THAT WAS GIVEN. SO YOU'VE NOT REALLY BEEN ABLE TO YOU JUST HIRED SOMEBODY. SO THE PROCESS REALLY JUST GOT STARTED. SO. RIGHT OKAY. YES. SO THAT ANSWER IS ONE. SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS UNDER THIS DEPARTMENT, HOW MANY PROGRAMS IS UNDER THIS DEPARTMENT. I KNOW WE GOT ABOUT FIVE BUT AND WHICH WILL LEAD TO MY NEXT QUESTION BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT AS CLOSE TO THE BUDGET AS POSSIBLE. I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION ABOUT THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. YES. HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER I KNOW WE GOT ABOUT FIVE. RIGHT. WELL, THRIVE BY FIVE IS A SEPARATE 500 1C3 THAT CAME OUT OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. CORRECT? OKAY. SO I GUESS MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE REST OF THESE DEPARTMENTS DOING? AND HOW IS THERE IS THIS 5 MILLION GOING TOWARDS TOWARDS THOSE DEPARTMENTS? I'M JUST WHEN YOU SAY DEPARTMENTS LIKE SO STRAP FIVE IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS UNDER OFFICE FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. WELL IT'S NOT A DEPARTMENT. IT'S A IT'S A SEPARATE 501 C3. YEAH. YEAH. SO RIGHT. SO THE 501 C3. SO HOW MANY OTHER 501 C3 IS UNDER THIS DEPARTMENT. WE THIS WAS CREATED OUT OF OUR DEPARTMENT. AND THAT'S IT. SO IS THIS THIS THAT'S IT. RIGHT. THAT'S AND WE EXCUSE ME. WE DO NOT REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE MARIANA ON OUR BOARD AS THE DESIGNEE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND SO OUR WORK IS VERY COLLABORATIVE WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, BEEN VERY COLLABORATIVE WITH METRO COUNCIL, WHICH WE GREATLY APPRECIATE. BUT WE ARE A SEPARATE 501 C3. AND THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR EARLY LEARNING SECTOR, THAT IS SMALL BUSINESS, SOME OF IT IS THAT IS NOT FOR PROFIT. AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THOSE WATERS AS A 501 C3. OKAY. AND WHERE IS YOUR OFFICE LOCATED? WELL, I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE GIFT OF LIFE FOUNDATION, WHO HAS GIVEN ME A PLACE TO LAND UNTIL WE FIND AN OFFICE. BUT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR SOME OFFICE SPACE AND WE'LL BE LOOKING TO HIRE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I'M THE ONLY STAFF MEMBER RIGHT NOW, BUT ASHLEY NOVAK, BUTLER AT THE FOUNDATION, HAS BEEN SUPER GRACIOUS TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AGAIN. PLEASE CALL THE RECORD. REFLECT. WE'VE BEEN JOINED VIRTUALLY BY COUNCILWOMAN PARISH. RIGHT. AND IN CHAMBERS BY COUNCILMAN BACHON. COUNCILMAN

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SORT OF A NEXT PHASE IS CREATING A PILOT PROGRAM LIKE AN ACTUAL CHILDCARE PILOT PROGRAM. BUT THE LONG TERM PLAN, WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE STATE MONEY TO SUSTAIN EARLY CHILDHOOD, RIGHT? THERE'S NOT A BELIEF THAT IN THE METRO BUDGET THAT WE WOULD BE THE PROVIDER OF 3 TO 5 CHILDCARE PERMANENTLY. THAT REALLY IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE AN ASK OF THE STATE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

THAT IS WHAT WE WERE, WHAT WE WOULD ULTIMATELY LIKE TO GET TO. AND WE DO KNOW THAT FOR THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, THAT EARLY LEARNING IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN, IN LOOKING AT AND WORKING ON. AND SO, YES, WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR HELP FROM ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE REAL QUICK I THINK QUESTIONS I'M LOOKING AT PERSONNEL NUMBERS IN TERMS OF EXPENSE. THE METRO WIDE PERSONNEL CONTROL REPORT SUGGESTS 367,525 VERSUS WHAT YOU GUYS SUPPLIED, WHICH IS 35,000 225,200. WHERE'S THE GAP IN THERE? COULD YOU REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN PLEASE? YEAH. SO I'M LOOKING AT THE METRO WIDE PERSONNEL CONTROL REPORT FOR THE COMBINED THREE POSITIONS. THE EXPENDITURE SHOULD BE $367,525.45. THAT'S OUR REPORT.

VERSUS 325,200, WHICH IS THE PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS DEPARTMENT. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. WERE YOU YOU'RE LOOKING AT JUST LIKE THE SALARY. I'M LOOKING AT NUMBERS ON THE PCR REPORT AND THEN EXTRAPOLATING WHAT THE PERSONNEL FOR THE ON THE ON THE METRO PERSONNEL CONTROL REPORT, THE SALARIES ASSIGNED TO THIS DEPARTMENT. AND THEN I'M LOOKING WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT SAYS AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT. SO THE PCR REPORT WOULD INCLUDE MISS FRENCH BUT SHE'S ACTUALLY FUNDED. SO THE GENERAL FUND PORTION. THANK YOU. THAT YEAH THAT ACTUALLY LEADS ME INTO MY SECOND QUESTION WHICH IS AN ARP QUESTION. IT'S HARD TO TELL. AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH OUR FUNDING FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THIS AGENCY, OTHERS AS WELL. BUT IN THIS AGENCY, FOR SURE, HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ARP MONEY VERSUS HOW MUCH OF THIS IS LIKE OURS? YOU DID NOT INCLUDE ANY ARP FUNDING IN 23, 24, 25 BUDGETS, WHICH DISTORTS KIND OF WHAT'S BEING SPENT. HOW MUCH OF THE 2.9 MILLION BEING SPENT IN FY 26, IN THIS YEAR IS ANTICIPATED TO BE ARP MONEY? IS THAT 2.6 MILLION OR 2.9? I'M SORRY, IS IT 2.9 MILLION AND 26? IS THAT ALL GENERAL FUND MONEY? OR WE USE ARP MONEY THERE. ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND DETAIL PAGE OR THE. ARE YOU LOOKING IN ONE OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS? SO LA TI 0086 HAD ARP OF OKAY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LAT REPORT. I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME. SO WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THOSE NUMBERS I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S I'M SORRY. I JUST WASN'T SURE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ARP MONEY IS AND ISN'T. AND SURE, THIS SAYS 2.9 MILLION. I CAN'T TELL IF ANY OF THAT'S ARP MONEY OR IF IT'S WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. SURE. GREAT. THANKS. SO IF YOU'LL JUST LET ME KNOW, COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI. JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I HAVE ZERO DISAGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THE VICE CHAIR SAID ABOUT WHAT OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M JUST ASKING THEN. OKAY. GIVEN ALL THAT, WHAT WHAT DO WE THINK THIS MAY COST OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS? LIKE WHAT? YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, BECAUSE I MEAN THAT THAT I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT YOU'RE NOT ASSUMING THAT THE CITY WOULD BE THE PRIMARY FUNDER. I JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS FROM A JUST A BALLPARKING. DOES THAT MEAN 500 A YEAR? DOES THAT MEAN 50 MILLION A YEAR? RIGHT.

AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. RIGHT. SO BUT YEAH. SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I'M ASKING FOR. I THINK I TOTALLY GET WHAT THE DIRECTION IS AND APPRECIATE THAT. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT THE SCOPE COULD LOOK LIKE. RIGHT. AND GIVE US SOME VISIBILITY TO

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MAYBE THEY NEED TRANSPORTATION. SO WE'RE EXPLORING ALL OF THOSE AREAS. SO THERE IS GOING TO BE A PILOT PART THAT IS GOING TO BE DIRECTLY WITH CENTERS. BUT THERE ARE WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SOME SECTOR WIDE INITIATIVES. SO WE CAN ALSO LIFT THE BROADER SECTOR UP. OKAY. AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. I MEAN, AGAIN, AS WE TRY TO PLAN OUT, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE VERY MUCH IN THE STRATEGIC PHASE, THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PHASE. AND I GET THAT. AND SO LIKE WE HAVE SAID, THE SOONER WE HAVE BETTER IDEAS OF WHAT THOSE PARAMETERS LOOK LIKE. ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL CIRCLE BACK AROUND WITH YOU ALL AS SOON AS WE HAVE SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND VOTED ON AND KIND OF FIRMED UP, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF GREAT IDEAS FLOWING THROUGH NOT ONLY OUR BOARD, BUT OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL FROM THE PROVIDERS THEMSELVES. AND SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH PART WE CAN TAKE AND IMPLEMENT IN SOME WAY TO HAVE A REALLY NICE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITIES IS WHERE WE'RE AT, RIGHT? I UNDERSTAND THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEP. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO POSE THIS NEXT QUESTION. IT'S I'M HALF TEMPTED TO QUOTE A COLLEAGUE OF MINE AND SAY, I'VE ONE QUESTION IN THREE PARTS, BUT SO HERE'S HERE'S WHERE I WANT TO START. I WANT TO START WITH, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND YOU GUYS CAME IN LAST YEAR AND SAID, THIS IS WHO WE ARE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, I WOULD LIKE TO START THERE LIKE THIS. WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT LIKE? WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN? AGAIN, A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE RELATIVELY NEW. AND SO JUST THAT ALONE THAT THAT BASELINE UNDERSTANDING I THINK WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE ANSWERING THAT AS YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION, IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT YOU WERE PLANNING ON DOING AND WHAT WAS ALREADY BEING DONE, BECAUSE THE IDEA YOU WEREN'T TRYING TO RECREATE THE WHEEL, RIGHT? I

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YEAH, RIGHT. IT CHANGES WHERE YOU'RE EXPECTING TO GET IT. AND I THINK THERE IS A RETICENCE ON MANY OF US HERE TO THINK THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT'S, YOU KNOW, RUN BY A NONPROFIT, THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE KIND OF GAPS. ABSOLUTELY. THE EXPENSES THERE ARE WELL BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE HERETOFORE CONTEMPLATED. AND IF THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET THAT CONVERSATION STARTED. YEAH, THAT'S A LOT. YEAH. SO WE I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR VISION HAS CHANGED. WE HAVE THREE MAIN AREAS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON WORKFORCE, OUR FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THE WORKFORCE, WHEN WE START TO INVEST IN WORKFORCE, WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT WHAT THE WORKFORCE ISSUE IS AS A TRUE WORKFORCE ISSUE, WE DO KNOW THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAVE IMPLICATIONS, POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE JC, FOR THE GREATER LOUISVILLE HEAD START, FOR OVAC, BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING UP THE SECTOR. AND SO THAT PART STANDS. BUT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE FOR MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING TO THE DENVERS AND THE CINCINNATI'S AND THE DAYTON'S ABOUT HOW DID THEY GET TO THAT CONSISTENT FUNDING SOURCE. NOW, A LOT OF THOSE CITIES HAVE DIFFERENT TAX STRUCTURES THAN WE HAVE HERE IN KENTUCKY, BUT THAT IS STILL ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL. THAT IS STILL STILL WHERE WE WANT TO GET. WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE IN DENVER, THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR 22 YEARS. THEY HAVE AN AMAZING PROGRAM THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN DATA, AND THEY'VE SEEN THE CHANGES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND SO, YES, THAT IS STILL WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS WITH JUST BEING ON THE JOB FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. I HAVE CHOSEN TO SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS TALKING TO PARENTS, TALKING TO THE PROVIDERS, BECAUSE WE WANT, AGAIN, THE $5 MILLION INVESTMENT TO BE USED WISELY. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW IMPACT, BUT WE ALSO WANT IT TO BE MEANINGFUL CHANGE FOR OUR FAMILIES. AND SO WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE OUR DISCUSSIONS ARE SHIFTING ABOUT, OKAY, THIS IS THE DATE, THIS IS THE DATA.

THIS IS ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN DONE. AND HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT THIS SO THAT WE HAVE THE DATA WE NEED HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO GO FOR WHATEVER TYPE OF LONG TERM FUNDING THERE IS, IF IT'S A BALLOT INITIATIVE, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE MADE NO DECISIONS AS OF YET WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, BUT WE DO. WE HAVE EXPLORED WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE. IS THAT HELPFUL? IT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT I JUST HEARD AND MY COLLEAGUES, I HOPE, HEARD THE SAME THING. YOUR ORIGINAL INTENT HASN'T CHANGED. REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR WHOEVER ELSE PROVIDES OR STOPS PROVIDING OR CHANGES WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. IT DOESN'T CHANGE YOUR FOCUS. RIGHT? GREAT. THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE THAT CONCLUDES THIS HEARING. I KNOW WE'RE A BIT EARLY IN OUR CONCLUSION. I HOPE THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU GUYS. SO WE'LL MOVE IMMEDIATELY INTO PARKS. I BELIEVE THE FOLKS FROM PARKS ARE ALREADY HERE. SO SINCE WE'RE A I GET PARKS. JUST A MOMENT, BUT TWO, WE'VE ONLY BEEN IN HERE 20 MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, FIVE MINUTES. BUT I'M SETTING MY ALARM.

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[ ID 25-0224     Parks and Recreation]

COUNCILMAN HUDSON IS HERE. HUDSON, RIGHT. SPEAKING OF, COUNCILMAN HUDSON IS IN THE ROOM, SO I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. THE SECOND HEARING IS PARKS AND RECREATIONS. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THEIR NEW DIRECTOR, MICHELLE KING, TO THE CHAMBERS. AS A REMINDER, DEPARTMENTS WILL NOT MAKE OPENING COMMENTS, AND WE WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITH COUNCIL QUESTIONS. PARKS AND RECREATION PROPOSED A $41.1 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET AND A $7 MILLION CAPITAL BUDGET. WELCOME, DIRECTOR KING, LET ME START OUT WITH A QUESTION ABOUT THE NEW PARK RANGER PROGRAM. THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET CONTAINS $300,000 FOR THIS NEW PROGRAM. HOW MUCH IS PROPOSED FOR THE FY 26 PROGRAM? I UNDERSTAND THE FIRST PARK RANGER EMPLOYEE WAS JUST HIRED IN APRIL OF 25. HOW MANY RANGERS WILL BE HIRED AND WHAT IS THEIR FUNCTION IN FY 26? WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THE PERSONNEL THAT WE ARE HIRING WITH THE FY 25 BUDGET, SO THAT WILL INCLUDE THE CHIEF PARK RANGER, WHICH IS ALREADY ON BOARD, AS WELL AS TWO PART TIME PARK RANGERS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO GET POSTED AND HIRED RIGHT NOW. SO WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL PLANNED FOR FY 26. WE THINK THAT WE CAN GET IT OFF THE GROUND AND START SHOWING RESULTS AS WE BUILD OUT THE PROGRAM IN THE COMING YEAR. GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WE GOT A LIST HERE THAT I THINK WAS SENT OVER FROM DEPARTMENT. IT'S A BREAKDOWN. LET ME MAKE SURE I GET IT RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S A MULTI-PAGE LIST. EXHIBIT B PREVIOUSLY FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND THEN THERE'S PARENTHESES. CAPITAL COUNCIL FUNDED PROJECTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. IT BREAKS THEM DOWN IN A 4 OR 5 AREAS HERE. BUDGET, ENCUMBRANCE, ACTUAL YEAR TO DATE. ACTUAL, WHATEVER L.T.D IS AND THEN WHAT'S REMAINING. AND WHEN I GO TO THE END OF THIS MULTI-PAGE CHART, WE HAVE $31,671,387 NOT SPENT AND NOT ENCUMBERED. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH. AND THAT EXCLUDES ANYTHING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. CAN CAN YOU TALK ABOUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S IN HERE THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT SAYS WE HAVE ABOUT 55 MILLION IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES WITH PARKS AND ALL THIS STUFF. WELL, WE GOT 31 MILLION OF ROUNDING TO 32 MILLION OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVEN'T EXECUTED ON MIGHT SOLVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. CAN YOU CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH OUT THERE? I CAN SPEAK BROADLY TO THAT. AS YOU POINT OUT, THIS IS A VERY LONG LIST.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS, AND EACH PROJECT HAS A STORY. TYPICALLY SOME OF THOSE MAY HAVE REMAINDERS WHERE A PROJECT IS PARTLY COMPLETED, BUT WAITING FOR SOME OTHER PHASE IN THE PROJECT. AND THOSE FUNDS JUST WAIT FOR WHETHER IT'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR ADDITIONAL DESIGN CONCEPTS OR PERMITTING NEEDS. SOME OF THEM MAY BE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS FOR IT TO START THE PROJECT AT THAT POINT, AND SO THEY SIT THERE AS WELL. SOME OF THEM ARE UNDERWAY.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS LIST THAT WILL COME OFF THE LIST BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED, AND THOSE FUNDS CAN THEN BE RELEASE.

IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THAT SPECIFIC SITUATION. NO, I MEAN, I WANT TO KEEP IT MORE BROAD. I MEAN, I SEE A COUPLE THINGS WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THIS, RIGHT? THERE ARE 1 OR 2 BIG THINGS THAT JUMP OUT, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE SHAWNEE NATURE CENTER, $7 MILLION. NOTHING'S ENCUMBERED, NOTHING'S DONE. IT'S JUST SITTING THERE. RIGHT. BUT IF I GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING, I MEAN, WE HAVE STUFF IN HERE. FOR EXAMPLE, I JUST SAW IT THE FISCAL YEAR 18 LOUISVILLE LOOP GRANT MATCH, $190,000, NOT $1 HAS BEEN ENCUMBERED ON IT. SO, I MEAN, MY POINT HERE IS TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, I'M NOT CONVINCED. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE MY SORT OF THEME RELATED TO THE BUDGET, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO

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THERE'S ONLY SO MANY THAT ANY PROJECT MANAGER CAN WORK ON AT ONE TIME. AS TO THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, THAT PROCESS, WE WILL CERTAINLY BE WORKING WITH OMB TO REVIEW THIS LIST.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS SEAT, AND I THINK IT'S DUE FOR THAT AT THIS POINT.

AND THIS IS A GOOD POINT IN TIME TO DO THAT. SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE ON HERE, YOU MENTIONED LOUISVILLE LOOP PROJECTS, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL ON THIS LIST. THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BEING COMPLETED IN PUBLIC WORKS. THEY ARE THE ENTITY NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING OF THE LOOP. AND A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE USING FEDERAL DOLLARS AS WELL. AND THEY TAKE JUST A LONG TIME TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS. YEARS TO ANY ONE TIME. SO THAT IS ONE SPECIFIC, BUT I DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO GOING THROUGH AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN CONSOLIDATE, MOVE AND GET DONE. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUICK SECOND QUESTION AND MAYBE JUST MORE OF AN ASK THAN A QUESTION. I SEE THAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS DETAILS OF ANY CHANGES TO FEE SCHEDULES, IMPACT ON REVENUE, REASON FOR CHANGE, DECREASE IN TENNIS CENTER RESERVATION FEES WILL BE COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT. AND YOU BREAK DOWN THAT AND THAT'S CAN CAN YOU GIVE US SEND US THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF THE SORT OF PNL OF THE CREASE IN TENNIS CENTER REVENUE AND EXPENSE. I WILL I WILL PROVIDE WHAT WE HAVE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT WAS OPERATED UNDER AN AGREEMENT WITH PRIVATE TENNIS PROFESSIONAL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WE HAD. WE'RE STARTING FRESH WITH A NEW LICENSE AGREEMENT THIS YEAR AND WE WILL BE REQUIRING THOSE. YEAH, WE DO SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH GOLF, RIGHT? WE HAVE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTS, BUT THEY REPORT TO US PARTIALLY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO FRAUD ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE. SO YEAH, IF YOU COULD SEND THAT OVER THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. COUNCILMAN LINDNER THANK YOU. CHAIR. SO IN, YOU KNOW, 24 AND 25, THERE WAS 17.8 MILLION APPROPRIATED FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, ONLY 7.1 MILLION SPENT. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NEED FOR FILLING CAPACITY TO IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR PREVIOUS ANSWER, IN ORDER TO MEET THESE NEEDS, WE HAVE ANOTHER 3.2 MILLION APPROPRIATED HERE. HOW IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU FILL THOSE ROLES AND I'M ROOTING FOR YOU, I WANT THOSE ROLES FILLED, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO WIPE OUT THE 24 TO 26 DEFERRED MAINTENANCE APPROPRIATIONS? WOULD WE BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE THIS YEAR AND FULFILL THOSE PROJECTS? I WOULD LIKE TO PHONE A FRIEND ON THIS ONE. DIRECTOR JASON CANTWELL IS THE ONE WHO MOVES ALONG MANY OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND I REALLY VALUE HIS OPINION ON THAT QUESTION. JASON, IF YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD. SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JASON CANTWELL, THE DIRECTOR AT LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION. AND JUST KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON, I GUESS, THE STAFFING LEVELS WITH THE PROJECT MANAGERS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ONE VACANT AND ONE LONG TERM FMLA INDIVIDUAL. SO WE'RE DOWN TWO. SO WE'VE GOT A PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF FOUR PEOPLE. SO I THINK WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE FMLA ISSUE RESOLVED. AND HOPEFULLY WE

[01:10:06]

YOU KNOW, SINCE THEN, I THINK WE'VE HAD ROUGHLY 18 TO $20 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. BUT WHAT THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THE 176 MILLION DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION. SO ALTHOUGH YES, WE'VE BEEN CHIPPING AWAY, YOU KNOW, AT THREE, FIVE, $6 MILLION INCREMENTS EVERY YEAR, I DON'T THINK WE'RE REALLY MAKING A WHOLE LOT OF HEADWAY, BECAUSE THE MORE WE DO, THE MORE WE TAKE CARE OF. IT'S JUST THE EXACT OPPOSITE IS HAPPENING ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE MORE IS DEGRADING. SO. RIGHT. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. NO, IT ABSOLUTELY DOES. SO IN YOUR OPINION, WE ARE POSSIBLY AT BEST IN AND IF WE HAVE A MAGIC WAND THIS YEAR ON FULFILLING STAFF ROLES AT BEST. TREADING WATER AGAINST A GROWING, YOU KNOW, HOLE IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN PARKS THAT CANNOT POSSIBLY BE FILLED UNDER THE CURRENT FUNDING. I WOULD SAY TREADING WATER IS A GOOD OKAY. HOW FAR BEHIND ARE WE IN THE FUNDING FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN PARKS FOR ALL? ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, THROUGH THE PAST FISCAL YEARS, INCLUDING THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THIS YEAR BUDGET TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE UNDER PARKS FOR ALL. I DON'T HAVE THAT ANALYSIS, BUT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK. YEAH, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE THAT WAS THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT PAST THIS CHAMBER 26 TO NOTHING AND WAS ENDORSED BY THE MAYOR. SO THAT'S THAT'S A PROMISE THAT LOUISVILLE HAS MADE TO OUR PARK SYSTEM. AND I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROBLEM THAT IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY DEGRADING QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS CITY. AND OUR ACCESS TO PARKS. YOU KNOW, WE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. AND, AND I, I REALLY QUESTION WHETHER WE ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDING PARKS EVEN WITH THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN RUBY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I AGREE, WE ARE WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED. WE KNOW THAT. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO TO TRY AND KEEP PLOWING FORWARD WITH THE FUNDS THAT YOU HAVE. SO MY QUESTION IS, I WAS LOOKING AT ALL THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND WHAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THEM AND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY COST, AND MOST OF THEM CAME IN UNDER BUDGET, BUT THERE'S A FEW OF THEM THAT CAME IN OVER BUDGET AND THEY WERE LIKE MASSIVELY OVER BUDGET. WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS COME OUT WITH AT THE END? SO DO WE WIND UP WITH MORE MONEY LEFT OVER? DO ALL THOSE PROJECTS WIND UP COSTING MORE IN TOTAL THAN WAS ORIGINALLY LAID OUT FOR IT? ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NUMBERS? YES. JASON KENNEY WELL, AGAIN, AGAIN, JASON KENNEY WILL INTRODUCE EVERY SINGLE TIME.

JASON CANWELL, DIRECTOR, LOUISVILLE PARKS RECREATION. SO WE KNEW GOING INTO THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIST THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE COMING UP WITH PROPOSALS AND NUMBERS FOR PROJECTS THAT DON'T HAVE PLANS DONE AREN'T PERMITTED, AND WE ARE USING OUR BEST EDUCATED GUESS ON HOW MUCH THAT THEY WERE TO COST. AND YOU ARE CORRECT, SOME ARE UNDER BUDGET, SOME ARE OVER BUDGET.

AND I THINK IN THE END, I WE'RE HOPING THAT IT'S GOING TO THE TREND IS THAT IT'S GOING TO KIND OF COME OUT AS A WASH. YOU KNOW, SOME ARE OVER, SOME ARE UNDER. BUT THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED ON THERE, THE LAST TIME THAT WE REALLY LOOKED AT IT REALLY CLOSELY WAS PROBABLY FOUR MONTHS AGO THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE WHAT INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY ON THE PROJECTS THAT AREN'T DONE, THAT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT IS THERE, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE ADDRESSED. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. MY FIRST ONE IS I SEE ON THIS CHART HERE THAT PARK OPERATIONS, TURF AND GOLF IS $12,314,000. IS THAT COMING OUT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET OR IS THAT COMING OUT OF THE GOLF ENTERPRISE BUDGET? LET ME KNOW WHICH WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT. I'M LOOKING AT A CHART THAT SAYS PROGRAMS OPERATING COST. IT'S ON THE QUESTIONS WHERE IT SAYS ADMINISTRATION, CEMETERIES, ENGINEERING, SKILLED TRADES, RECS AND AQUATICS, PARKS OPERATIONS, HISTORIC HOMES, AMPHITHEATER, JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST, URBAN FORESTRY, PAGE SIX. I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY THANK

[01:15:06]

OKAY. THAT JASON. YEAH. AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, THAT THAT THAT NUMBER DOES INCLUDE THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES. SO THAT THAT $12 MILLION NUMBER YOU SEE DOES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE REVENUE THAT'S BROUGHT IN, AS WELL AS THE EXPENSES FOR THE GOLF COURSES. SO IT'S SO THE REVENUE COMING IN IS COMING ALSO OUT WITH THE EXPENSES. AND THIS IS THE LEFTOVER DIFFERENCE FOR THE OPERATING COST. SO THERE'S NO GENERAL FUNDS THAT ARE PUT INTO GOLF THERE. IT'S THE ENTERPRISE FUND OKAY. YEAH. MY NEXT QUESTION IS ON DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. AND I GUESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE SLASH PROCUREMENT. RIGHT. HOW MANY BIDS ARE WE RECEIVING FOR THE RFP TO GET THINGS DONE. AND ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO. WORK ON SOME TYPE OF BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENTS WITH WITH SMALLER CONTRACTORS TO GET SOME OF THESE SMALLER JOBS DONE, LIKE THE SHAWNEE GOLF COMMUNITY ROOM, HVAC REPLACEMENT? YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN USING A MASSIVE CONTRACTOR THAT WOULD DO A BUILDING LIKE THIS, USING A SMALLER ONE, THAT COULD PROBABLY SAVE US HALF THE MONEY. ARE WE LOOKING AT THOSE OPTIONS IN YOUR PLAN? WE ARE. WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, METRO'S GOT THE SMALL PROCUREMENT POLICIES. ANYTHING LESS THAN $5,000 WE CAN DO, WE CAN ENTER THE PURCHASE THINGS AND SERVICES WITHOUT NECESSARILY A CONTRACT. WE METRO IS ALSO HAVE ANNUAL CONTRACTS THAT ARE THAT ARE BID OUT AND AWARDED ON A YEARLY BASIS. SO THERE'S A PLUMBING CONTRACTOR WITH A WITH AN ANNUAL CONTRACT. THERE'S AN HVAC CONTRACTOR WITH AN ANNUAL CONTRACT. AND I THINK THE LIMIT TO THAT I THINK IS $150,000. SO THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THOSE ON SOME OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS LIKE THAT.

ANYTHING OVER THAT, WE TYPICALLY WILL PUT PLANS TOGETHER AND PUT THAT OUT FOR BID. AND THAT'S JUST BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, TRYING TO GET THE BEST PRICE FOR THE BEST FOR THE PROJECT. TYPICALLY HERE RECENTLY, WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING ON THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE BIDDING, WE'RE NOT GETTING, BUT 2 OR 3 BIDS BACK, AND IT'S NORMALLY THE 2 OR 3 CONTRACTORS HERE IN LOUISVILLE THAT BID ON EVERYTHING. SO THERE'S AND WE'VE WE'VE TRIED TENNIS COURTS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO CONTACT TWO COMPANIES IN LEXINGTON TO TRY TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN SOME OF THE TENNIS COURT PROJECTS WE HAVE HERE IN TOWN. AND THEY THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED. SO AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH ALL, ALL, ALL WAYS TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE, TRYING TO THINK OF ALL THE WAYS THAT WE CAN GET THINGS DONE. WITH. MR. CHAIR, YOU TALKED ABOUT PROJECT MANAGERS AND NEEDING STAFFING AND PROJECT MANAGERS. HOW MANY ARE YOU SHORT? WE HAVE ONE VACANT AND ONE THAT'S OUT ON LONG TERM FMLA. SO WE'RE DOWN TO WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE A PROJECT MANAGER? I DON'T HAVE THE JOB DESCRIPTION IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THERE'S I THINK A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR BETTER IN CIVIL MECHANICAL ARCHITECTURE OR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION RELATED FIELDS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE. EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE MAYBE NEED TO TAILOR TO GET ADDITIONAL PROJECT MANAGERS INTO OUR SYSTEM, SO THAT WE CAN EXECUTE THESE PROJECTS IN A MORE EFFICIENT WAY AND TIMELY MANNER? RIGHT. SO WHAT WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE, THE REQUIREMENTS, IT'S THE SALARY, YOU KNOW, THE SALARY THAT WE'RE PAYING RIGHT NOW FOR A PROJECT MANAGER, WE REALLY CAN'T COMPETE WITH WHAT THEY WOULD BE MAKING ON THE PRIVATE SIDE RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN 1 OR 2 DIFFERENT INCREASES. THE COMPENSATION STUDY HELPED US OUT QUITE A BIT ON TRYING TO RAISE THAT SALARY UP. IT RAISED IT UP, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT IN THE SAME BALLPARK AS WHAT THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY IS PAYING. WHERE DO YOU NEED TO BE

[01:20:01]

THANK YOU. AND SO AGAIN, I WOULD JUST SAY IF WE COULD LOOK BROADER THAN JUST PAVING. AND I THINK YOU'VE WE'LL COMMIT TO THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD IS SO ONE AND THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A BUDGETARY CURIOSITY QUESTION. I KNOW WE SPLIT OUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND I THINK IMMEDIATE REPAIRS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AS TWO SEPARATE CAPITAL LINE ITEMS. IT JUST SORT OF CURIOUS WHY DO WE SPLIT THOSE. THAT IS JUST BECAUSE THE IMMEDIATE REPAIRS ARE SORT OF LIKE MORE FLEXIBLE FOR STUFF THAT BREAKS IN REAL TIME OR. BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH I MEAN, FUNCTIONALLY, THEY'RE BOTH DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, RIGHT? AND IN A WAY, YES. SO THE GENERAL REPAIR ACCOUNT IS USED FOR THINGS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY BROKEN. SO THAT RESTROOM GETS VANDALIZED. YOU KNOW, WE'LL USE GENERAL REPAIR DOLLARS TO FIX THE RESTROOM AND THE DOORS. THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS MORE OF A PLAN THAT WE COME INTO EVERY YEAR SAYING, HERE'S, HERE'S, HERE'S OUR PLAN, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LAY OUT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR. THE GENERAL REPAIR IS, IS THE. THE IMMEDIATE NEED OF REPAIRING THINGS. OKAY. SO STAY THERE, JASON, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER THE NEXT QUESTION TOO, WHICH IS THERE'S $3.2 MILLION OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN THE BUDGET. I KNOW WE HAVE. WE GOT A DETAILED DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS AS OF MARCH 31ST. THAT TOTALS 22 MILLION. SHOULD WE CONSIDER THAT LIST IN ORDER, LIKE ARE THOSE PRIORITIZED IN ORDER OR IS THERE NO REAL, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY ALPHABETIZED OR, YOU KNOW, BY CATEGORY? I THINK THEY'RE BY CATEGORY. THEY'RE MORE CATEGORICAL. BUT HOW WE COME UP WITH THAT LIST, THAT $22 MILLION LIST, THOSE ARE MORE THINGS THAT WE DETERMINE ARE MORE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. SO WE PUT A HIGHER PRIORITY ON THAT $22 MILLION. IF THERE'S ONLY 3.2 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, THEN WE'VE GOT TO GO TO THAT LIST AND TRY TO PICK OUT THE 3.2 THAT ARE ON THE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. SO IT'S ALL LIFE SAFETY ISSUES RIGHT NOW. SO I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK OFF COUNCILMAN LEONARD'S QUESTION. SO A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE PASSED THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN THAT SET OUT A SERIES OF PRIORITIES FOR METRO GOVERNMENT AS IT RELATES TO OUR PARKS INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I'VE GOT A TWO PART QUESTION. ONE IS THIS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PLAN CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS PASSED IN PARKS FOR ALL? AND TWO, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET HOLISTICALLY, INCLUDING THE THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR PARKS, INCLUDING THE OLMSTEAD MATCH, HOW DOES THAT ALIGN TO THE STRATEGY OF PARKS FOR ALL? I THINK THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS, IS, YES, IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PARKS FOR ALL PLAN IN THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FUNDING AT WHATEVER LEVEL IT PER YEAR. SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE WE'RE YOU ALL ARE AGREEING TO CONTINUE TO GIVE US

[01:25:07]

WHAT IS PARK? THE PARKS DEPARTMENT'S PLAN FOR A. WELL, LET ME ASK IT THIS WAY. DOES THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BELIEVE THAT METRO LOUISVILLE HAS ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF ALBERTA JONES PARK, OR IS THAT EXCLUSIVELY ON THE PARKS FOUNDATION TO FUND AND DEVELOP? IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EXCLUSIVE. I MEAN, WE HAVE A HAND IN THE ACTUAL DESIGN. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WORK WITH BROOK A LOT ON WITH PHASE ONE, ON WHAT WAS IN THE PARK, HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE FUTURE. AND PHASE TWO, WE'VE TAKEN THAT SAME RESPONSIBILITY WORKING WITH THEM. SO WE'RE WE'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THEM ON THAT PROJECT, AS WELL AS BALLARD PARK, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE, AND GIGI MOORE, WHICH IS COMING UP, AND SYLVANIA COMING UP AFTER THAT. SO. COUNCILMAN HUDSON, THANK YOU. THANK YOU CHAIR. I TYPICALLY LIKE TO FLY AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE THAN THIS AND AVOID CHERRY PICKING. IT'S ON.

CAN YOU. IS THAT BETTER? YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS IN THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIST THAT I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME ENLIGHTENMENT ON, BUT WE'LL JUST FOCUS ON ONE SUN VALLEY RESTROOM REPLACEMENT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY A BATHROOM COST $765,000? I HAVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONE, TOO. HE'S BUILT MORE BATHROOMS THAN ANYONE, I THINK, IN THIS BUILDING. SO. WHEN WE ARE DESIGNING A PUBLIC FACILITY, IT'S DESIGNED TO BE THE MOST INDESTRUCTIBLE MATERIALS THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY GET BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET ABUSED, THEY'RE GOING TO GET VANDALIZED, THEY'RE GOING TO GET GRAFFITI. SO WHAT WE HAVE GONE WITH THE DESIGN AT SUN VALLEY IS A PRECAST BASIC BOX. SO AS FAR AS THE COST GOES, I MEAN, WE PUBLICLY BID THAT PROJECT OUT AND THE BIDS THAT WE GOT BACK THAT THAT ONE, I THINK IN PARTICULAR, THAT ONE THAT WAS THE LOW BID. SO WHY IT COST THAT MUCH? I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OPINION IS OF GENERAL CONTRACTORS HERE IN LOUISVILLE OR IN THE REGION. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DOESN'T GET MORE ATTENTION, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IT DOES SEEM DOESEEM HIGH, BUT COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI RESTROOM, IT DOESN'T COST THAT MUCH. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOWER BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER. GOT THEIR OWN RESTROOM. WELL, WHICH PARK WAS THAT? THAT WAS IN SUN VALLEY. WAS THERE AN EXISTING BATHROOM THERE THAT WAS BEING REPLACED? THERE WAS. YEAH.

SO THOSE THOSE TWO RESTROOMS, LONG RUN, LONG RUN WAS 500,000. YEAH. THOSE WERE BOTH BUILT IN 1974. SO WE'RE JUST NOW REPLACING THEM WITH 50 YEARS LATER. MY, MY GUESS IS THAT IT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE. AND WE'RE PAYING THE PAYING TAX ON ON HOW HARD IT IS TO WORK WITH US. BUT IF IT'S IF IT'S NOT THAT, THEN THEN LET'S DIG INTO IT AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS. IF IT IS THAT, LET'S FIND OUT WHERE THOSE PAIN POINTS ARE. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE CASE. SO I MEAN, WHEN WE PUT THE WE PUT THEM OUT FOR BID, THE BIDS THAT WE'RE GETTING BACK, THEY'RE ALL RELATIVELY CLOSE. SO WHETHER IT'S THE LABOR, THE AMOUNT OF THE COST OF LABOR HERE IN LOUISVILLE, THE COST OF MATERIALS HERE IN LOUISVILLE, I DON'T KNOW. BUT IF THEY'RE ALL THAT SIMILAR, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE ODDBALL TO LOW BALL BID IT IN ORDER TO GET IT. SO I'M NOT REAL SURE HOW TO ANSWER THAT. YEAH.

MY POINT BEING, IF WHATEVER PRICE COMES BACK AT A LOW BID THAT WE NOT JUST ACCEPT IT, WE DON'T. WE'VE CANCELED BIDS IN. BUT WE DIDN'T CANCEL THIS ONE. NO. AND THAT'S AN EXTREME ONE. I WOULD LINE UP PORTA POTTIES BEFORE I'D PAY ALMOST $1 MILLION FOR A 500 SQUARE FOOT. THAT ONE IS. IT'S A MEN'S RESTROOM, WOMEN'S RESTROOM, CONCESSION STAND AND A STORAGE ROOM AND AN

[01:30:06]

OKAY. COUNCILMAN PARISH. RIGHT. OKAY. I WAS TRYING TO GET OFF MUTE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THANK YOU. I SOME OF MY QUESTIONS WERE COVERED. I JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT AROUND BUDGET. THE MOST VISIBLE THING WE CAN SEE AS WE ARE. THE POWER OF THE PURSE IS WITH OUR PARKS.

AND SO I, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I SEE THE PASSION AND THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING. AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE ONGOING WORK WITH WITH ALL THE RENOVATIONS. AND THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THOSE THINGS DOWN. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS AROUND WITH THE HIRING OF HIRING WHAT YOU NEED AND KIND OF, I GUESS A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF THE WHAT MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. HAS THERE BEEN DIFFERENT APPROACHES WITH MAYBE YOUNGER APPRENTICE PEOPLE WITH THE UNIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO SEE ABOUT ADDRESSING THE HIRING SHORTAGES AND GETTING THESE PROJECTS DONE? WE DO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR UNION TEAM TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES THAT OUR UNION POSITIONS, THE PROJECT MANAGER POSITIONS, ARE NOT UNION POSITIONS. WE HAVE WORKED TO TRY TO GET THOSE POSTINGS OUT MORE WIDELY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR BEST STRATEGIES IS TO TRY TO GET THOSE INTO SOME UNIVERSITY CAREER CENTERS SO THAT WE CAN GET MAYBE SOME RECENT GRADUATES THAT KIND OF STRATEGY. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE ALL AIMING TO DO.

WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO WORK WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT TO GET THOSE POSTINGS UP AND TURNED AROUND QUICKLY. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR HIRING TIMELINE AS WELL. SO IF WE DON'T HAVE CANDIDATES FROM ONE POSTING, WE REPOST AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THEN TRY AGAIN TO GET THE WORD OUT AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE. I THINK WE'LL ALSO BE WORKING WITH OUR PEER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE SIMAR POSITIONS TO SEE HOW WE CAN JOIN FORCES TO ND CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITIONS AMONG US AS WELL. THKOU. WOUL LE TO LP. D TN TH N QUEN ERE'S SOME SMALLER CONSTRUCTION AND DIFFERENT COMPANIES WHO HAVE SAID THAT IT'S BEEN HARD FOR THEM TO GET IN LINE. IS THERE DO YOU ALL REFER PEOPLE TO GET TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE A METRO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR? DO YOU ALL REFER THEM OR HAVE OTHER COMPANIES ADDRESS THAT WITH YOU? WHAT IS LIKE AS YOU'RE RECRUITING FOR YOUR STAFF SHORTAGES? I ALSO THINK WE HAVE A SHORTAGE ON ON METRO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS THAT CAN DO SOME OF THE SMALLER JOBS. I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE $750,000 RESTROOM. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THOSE THINGS COST, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO OUTSOURCE SOME THINGS, THERE'S A LIMIT ON WHO'S ABLE TO DO IT. JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE YOU WERE WITH THAT IN THE PURCHASING PROCESS. WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFER OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO CONTRACTORS THAT WE KNOW MIGHT DO THAT KIND OF WORK, AND WE WILL DO THAT FRONT END WORK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO TRY TO FIND THE POTENTIAL BIDDERS AND PRESENT THAT INFORMATION TO OMB THROUGH THAT PURCHASING PROCESS. AND SO THAT WHEN THAT RFP GOES LIVE, THEY GET DIRECTLY NOTIFIED THAT IT IS THERE AND AVAILABLE. OBVIOUSLY, THAT ASSUMES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM. SO I'M NOT SURE IF OMB HAS SOME ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES FOR TRYING TO GET THOSE BIDS OUT MORE WIDELY TO MORE CONTRACTORS, BUT WE DEFINITELY TRY TO DO THAT HOMEWORK ON THE FRONT END TO FIND AS MANY POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. PLEASE CALL THE RECORD. REFLECT THAT. WE'VE BEEN JOINED VIRTUALLY BY COUNCILMAN REED. COUNCILMAN CHAPPELL, THANK YOU. HELLO, MR. EAR HEADQUARTERS TODAY. AND SO LONG TIME NO SEE. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT. YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. I'LL GIVE YOU AN A PLUS. I KNOW THAT I

[01:35:03]

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS AND IT'S A TRANSITION, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT EVERY YEAR. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS IDENTIFY FOR EACH CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WE PUT IN FRONT OF YOU, TRYING TO SHIFT TO A PROCESS WHERE THE PROJECTS ARE SHOVEL READY OR ARE CLOSER TO BEING READY TO GET KICKED OFF THE GROUND SO THAT WE'RE NOT CARVING OUT MONEY TO PUT INTO A PROJECT THAT MAY NOT GET STARTED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS. AND SO I THINK WITHOUT KNOWING THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT IS SOME OF THE AT LEAST THE INTENT OF HAVING A LONG TERM PLAN THAT GOES ALONG WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET. NOT EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THAT LONG TERM PLAN IS GOING TO SHOW UP IN YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT FROM A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE AND THEN PUT IN FRONT OF YOU THE PROJECTS THAT ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO GET STARTED SOMETIME WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUDGET FOR. THAT'S SORT OF JUST A BIG PICTURE IDEA OF THE LONG TERM PLAN VERSUS AN ANNUAL BUDGET THAT'S PUT THAT'S PUT BEFORE YOU. SURE. IT'S ALSO JUST ADDITIONALLY CONFUSING BECAUSE THE MAYOR THIS YEAR INTRODUCED HIS PRELIMINARY FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, WHICH GOES FROM FISCAL YEAR 26 TO FISCAL YEAR 30. AND THERE'S ONLY FOUR PROJECTS IDENTIFIED FOR PARKS IN THAT PLAN. SO THAT DOESN'T MATCH UP. AND IT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND DIFFICULT AS A COUNCIL PERSON COMING INTO THIS MEETING. PARDON ME. WE HAVE A PARKS FOR ALL PLAN. WE HAVE PARKS THAT WE KNOW NEED INVESTMENT. WE HAVE THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT THE MAYOR'S PUT TOGETHER. WE HAVE A SLEW OF MASTER PLANS THAT ARE OUTDATED BUT HAVE A TON OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUR GUIDING LIGHT, AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD IN THAT WAY? AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP FUNDING FOR PARKS WITH SHOVEL READY PLANS. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE, AND I HATE TO KEEP BRINGING IT UP, BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PROVIDED IF YOU DIDN'T WANT ME TO BRING IT UP. BUT THE LONG TERM CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN IN THOSE 20 PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, THERE'S SOME THAT DO HAVE PLANS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, YET THEY ARE NOT FUNDED. AND SOME OF THESE ARE PLANS, SUCH AS ALBERTO JONES PHASE TWO PARK, ALSO EMERSON PARK PHASE TWO, THOSE HAVE PLANS. THOSE HAVE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. SO I WAS WONDERING, IN THE $7 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED IN THIS BUDGET, HOW MANY OF THOSE HAVE SHOVEL READY PLANS? BECAUSE WHILE I DO LOVE IROQUOIS PARK, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO HAVE FUNDING, THERE IS NO PLAN FOR THAT PLAYGROUND. SO BY ALL

[01:40:01]

GREAT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HAWKINS. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE, MICHELLE. I JUST GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS. OKAY, SO FOR THE PARK RANGERS, WE GOT 300,000 IN THE BUDGET. HOW MANY PARK RANGERS DOES PARKS PLAN TO HIRE? AND I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE ONLY GOT ONE. RIGHT. SO IS THAT PARK RANGER GOING AROUND TO EACH PARK, OR IS THERE LIKE. AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT? YEAH. RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE OUR CHIEF PARK RANGER. CHIEF JAMES BROWN IS ON BOARD. HE'S BEEN WITH US ALMOST A MONTH NOW, SO HE IS CERTAINLY WORKING TO DEVELOP THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE ADDITION HIMSELF AND THE ADDITIONAL TWO PART TIME PARK RANGERS THAT WILL BE HIRED WITH THE FY 25 FUNDING THAT WAS SET ASIDE, AND THEN THOSE WILL CONTINUE INTO FY 26. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE HAVING FUNDING TO ADD ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR, BUT AMONG THOSE THREE PARK RANGERS, THERE WILL BE A PATROL PLAN THAT WILL IS BEING DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY, AND THAT'S REFLECTED FROM THE DATA THAT WE HAVE GATHERED ON, WHERE WE HAVE INCIDENTS, WHERE WE HAVE VANDALISM, WHERE THE NEEDS HAVE BEEN GREATEST AMONGST OUR 124 PARKS. SO THEY'LL BE PRIORITIZING THOSE ON A REGULAR ROUTE, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO NEEDS AS THEY ARISE IN OTHER PARKS AS WELL. OKAY, GREAT. MY NEXT QUESTION IS ALSO SEEN IN THE BUDGET THAT OLMSTEAD MATCHES CERTAIN PROJECTS. RIGHT. BUT I'M ALSO NOTICING THAT OLMSTEAD IS ON SEVERAL PARKS THAT THAT THEY'RE NOT SEEN IN FOR ONE ALGONQUIN. I

[01:45:03]

SO I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN QUITE ACTIVE THERE, AND I CAN GET YOU A MORE COMPLETE LIST FOR SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN JOSEPH. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY QUESTION IS ACTUALLY FROM THE BINDER THAT WE GOT FOR THE NEW MEMBERS, THE DISCUSSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ALLOCATIONS FROM METRO BUDGET FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT WOULD ALSO, I WOULD ASSUME, GO TO RIGHT NOW. AND IT HAS IT'S THIS PAGE RIGHT HERE THAT HAS THE DIFFERENT GREEN AND YELLOW DOTS THAT ARE SYMBOLIC OF THE MONEY AND INVESTMENT THAT IS TAKING PLACE AROUND THE CITY WITH PARKS. AND MY QUESTION, IS THERE ANY PLAN IN PLACE FOR INCREASED SPENDING OUTSIDE OF THE WATERSON, AS IT SEEMS MOST OF OUR SPENDING HISTORICALLY IS INSIDE THE WATERSON, AND WE KNOW THAT THE POPULATION IS SHIFTING OUTWARD. ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT PARKS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME GREAT INVESTMENTS IN SOME OF OUR SOUTHWEST PARKS. AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT SOME INVESTMENTS AT SUN VALLEY. CERTAINLY, JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST HAS SEEN A RESURGENCE OF INTEREST IN FUNDING TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. I DO NOTICE THAT THAT IS FROM THE PARKS FOR ALL STUDY, AND THE DATA ANALYSIS THAT WENT INTO THAT DEFINITELY WEIGHED HEAVILY INTO POPULATION DENSITY, WHICH ENDED UP WITH A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE MORE POPULATION DENSE AREAS.

BUT AS YOU SAY, WE HAVE MOVING DEMOGRAPHICS. SO ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHERE SOME OF THE DATA THAT'S LESS DEPENDENT ON THAT DENSITY MIGHT POINT US TO.

SOME OF THE OTHER UNDERINVESTED PARKS THAT WE KNOW ARE IN OUR SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH ENDS. WHERE WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD TO SAY AN AREA? AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A SOUTH END ANSWER. I'M JUST CURIOUS. THAT IS THE MOST UNDERINVESTED WITH PARKS. I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE A MORE INFORMED ANSWER FOR YOU ON THAT AT THIS POINT. I DO THINK THE PARKS FOR ALL STUDY DOES A GOOD JOB OF EVALUATING OUR INVESTMENTS, AND WE DO NEED TO UPDATE THAT TO REFLECT SOME OF OUR RECENT YEAR INVESTMENTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN REALLY TARGETED AT SOME OF THOSE UNDERINVESTED PARKS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE STUDY. BUT I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT WITH MORE CLARITY. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN PARKER. THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE HAS TO DO WITH PROGRAMING AT YMCA, AND THE OTHER ONE HAS TO DO ABOUT SPECIAL EVENT. RENTALS. FIRST ONE YMCA. AND SORRY, I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN WHAT THE BUDGETED AMOUNT WAS FOR YMCA, BUT IT WAS FOR EARLY LEARNING READINESS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? I DO OKAY, SO MY QUESTION IS WE JUST CAME THROUGH THE OR JUST HAD OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THREE BY FIVE. SO THEY'RE ALL ABOUT EARLY LEARNING READINESS. READINESS. I'M JUST WONDERING ARE YOU ALL COLLABORATING WITH THEM? ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FUNDING THAT IS COMING THROUGH US TO THE Y TO BRING PROGRAMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, I THINK THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THEIR OFFICE. WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE COLLABORATING. SO THE OTHER ONE, SPECIAL EVENT RENTAL. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE SPENT ABOUT 6000. AND WE'VE GOT 429,000 BUDGETED THIS YEAR. ARE WE ANTICIPATING MORE EVENTS OR. DID WE JUST PAY OUT THE WHERE WE. SO YOU MEAN AS FAR AS OUR RECEIPTS FROM SPECIAL EVENTS RENTALS? I MEAN, ARE YOU ANTICIPATING MORE EVENTS OR I.

THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK THAT THAT'S BASED MORE ON PROJECTIONS FROM, FROM PRIOR

[01:50:04]

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THE BOARD. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PUBLIC OPINION OR PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF PARKS AND RECREATION ON A REGULAR BASIS, NOT JUST WHEN WE GET TO COME HERE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US. SO IT'S A WAY TO BRING MORE VOICES INTO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKS, INCLUDING OUR PARK PARTNERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN OWEN. THANK YOU. CHAIR, I KNOW THIS IS THIS IS A LITTLE BIT REDUNDANT. AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE WITHIN METRO GOVERNMENT AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO DEAL WITH THIS. AND PART OF THE REASON WE'RE FOCUSED SO MUCH ON THIS IS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE CAPITAL COSTS WITHIN PARKS, AND WE'RE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PARKS. AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEMS, AND WE WERE JUST BLOWN AWAY BY THE COST OF THESE THINGS. AND SO I THINK WE ARE MISSING ON A COUPLE OF FRONTS. I THINK WE'RE MISSING SOME OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK I AM VERY MUCH A PROPONENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT I HOPE THAT WE'RE FLEXIBLE IN OUR HIRING, BECAUSE IF WE SAY THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING

[01:55:05]

AND WE'RE NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A BACHELOR IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER, BECAUSE OF COURSE, IF I'VE GONE TO COLLEGE AND I'VE SPENT $100,000 TO GO TO COLLEGE, THEN I NEED TO GET PAID 98 IN ORDER TO PAY MY COLLEGE LOANS BACK. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FLEXIBLE AS METRO GOVERNMENT. AND THIS ISN'T SPECIFIC TO PARKS NECESSARILY.

IT'S MORE BROAD THAN THAT. BUT THEN ALSO THIS IDEA ABOUT THE CONTRACTING, I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS GOING ON HERE. YES. THE PAIN POINTS THAT THAT COUNCILMAN HUDSON WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE PAYING WE'RE GETTING A PREMIUM FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH METRO GOVERNMENT. WE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT. BUT WE'RE ALSO PAYING A PREMIUM BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR POOL IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH. AND WE COUNCILMAN WEBER AND I MET WITH CHAN KEMPER RECENTLY IN THE ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW SHE'S FOCUSED ON ON ON THIS EXACT THING, BUT WE NEED AS A METRO GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEEPEN THAT CONTRACTOR POOL, BECAUSE IF WE SPEND TIME AND EFFORT ON THAT, IT IT CHECKS OFF SO MANY BOXES. IT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER ON PROJECTS. IT DRIVES COSTS DOWN BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A DEEPER CONTRACTING POOL. IT PROMOTES SMALL, SMALL BUSINESS FORMATION AND THEREFORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT HELPS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, AND IT CAN HELP IN EQUITY GOALS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT ACROSS GOVERNMENT. I MEAN HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS DO WE CONTRACT WITH BETWEEN PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS, QUASI GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, WATER COMPANY MSD, ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, IF WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE HELP WITH PAYROLL, FLOAT FOR SMALL CONTRACTORS, WHICH HAS GOT TO BE A BIG, YOU KNOW, OBSTACLE IN DOING BIG CONTRACTING JOBS. AND WE CAN HELP WITH BONDING CAPACITY FOR SMALLER COMPANIES AND WE CAN INCREASE THAT CONTRACTOR POOL.

IT'S A WIN WIN, WIN WIN. SO I KNOW THERE'S FOCUS ON THAT WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT CONVERSATION FORWARD, BECAUSE IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS IN SO MANY WAYS. THANK YOU. SO, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE LEFT IN THE QUEUE AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 MINUTES LEFT. SO IF WE STICK WITH, YOU KNOW, BUDGET QUESTIONS AND MAKE SURE THERE'S A QUESTION IN THERE SOMEWHERE, AND WE'RE GETTING TO WHAT WE CAN USE IN OUR FIGURING OUT WHAT THE NEXT BUDGET LOOKS LIKE. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SO, COUNCILWOMAN, AND IF YOU WANT TO GET IN THE QUEUE, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE. BECAUSE WITH FOUR PEOPLE IN 20 MINUTES, I THINK WE'LL BE FINE. IF WE ADD TOO MANY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALL HAVE A CHANCE. COUNCILWOMAN RHEE. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THERE ARE BUDGET QUESTIONS. SO THE FIRST ONE IS REGARDING THE LEAFY GRANT, THE EQUITABLE FOREST INITIATIVE. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT HAS BEEN HIT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NO SURPRISE. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT IMPACTS YOUR BUDGET AT THIS POINT? WE STILL RETAIN THAT GRANT. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

THIS REPORT SAYS IT'S NOT THERE. SO WHY WAS THIS GRANT NOT AWARDED? SO WE STILL HAVE THAT GRANT. WE DO STILL HAVE THAT GRANT. THANK YOU. I'M GLAD TO BE AFFIRMED ON THAT. SO THAT MAKES ONE LAST QUESTION OKAY. NEXT ONE THEN YOU TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOWER TURNOVER RATE, YOU NOW HAVE MORE MONEY AVAILABLE AND TIME WHATEVER FOR TRAINING. AND THEN IT'S BROUGHT UP IN OUR BRIEFING HERE THAT YOU HAVE A BUDGET OF 29,200 FOR TRAINING, AND RIGHT NOW YOU'VE ONLY SPENT 18,900. IF YOU'RE SPENDING MORE ON TRAINING, WHERE WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM? WHAT'S IT BEING CHARGED? SO ONE OF THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING, THE METRO TRANSIT DISTRICT. HI, I'M SARAH, I'M

[02:00:08]

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HERNDON. THANK YOU, SIR. ONE QUICK FOLLOW UP ON THE PAIN POINTS THAT COUNCILMAN HUDSON MENTIONED. AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION OF YOU ABOUT WORKING WITH JC WITH PARKS. THE PAIN POINTS ARE TRUE. HAVING DEALT WITH WITH GOODS AND SERVICES BEFORE WITH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP, FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR YOU PUT IN $300,000 FOR NEW GARBAGE CANS FOR DOWNTOWN. IT TOOK NINE MONTHS TO GET THE RFP OUT, AND IT WAS 27 PAGES LONG FOR GARBAGE CANS. AND THAT AND THAT CAUSED MOST OF THE PEOPLE NOT EVEN TO RESPOND. AND COUNCILMAN VACHON'S POINT, IF WE ONLY GET THE BIG BOYS THAT CAN HANDLE THAT KIND OF THING, THEN THEY CAN'T DO THE SMALL JOBS FOR A FAIR PRICE. AND WE END UP HAVING ASKING DA VINCI TO PAINT OUR KITCHEN, AND THAT'S WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH. ON THE OTHER POINT, DO YOU EVER WORK OR HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO USE PARTS OF THEIR PROPERTY FOR POCKET PARK, FOR EXAMPLE? WE'RE OUT IN THE COUNTY WHERE MANY SCHOOLS SELL LARGE PARCELS OF LAND. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO SLICE OFF A BIT OF THAT AND PROVIDE A PUBLIC POCKET, PUBLIC POCKET PARK FOR USE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? BECAUSE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE CITY WE HAVE WALKABLE PARKS. BUT AS YOU GET FURTHER OUT, THAT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT. AND THEN LAND IS ALSO EXPENSIVE. BUT WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO DO THAT KIND OF THING, NOT TO SHARE A PLAYGROUND WITH THE PUBLIC? BUT IF THERE'S A BIG SWATH OF LAND THAT WE COULD USE FOR A POCKET PARK THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS OTHERWISE AT A MUCH LOWER COST OF JUST A LEASE, IS THAT POSSIBLE TO DO? I DO KNOW THAT IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE JC PROPERTY WAS USED AS A PARK, AND PARK PROPERTY MAY HAVE GONE TO JC. I KNOW AT LEAST THE FIRST PART IS TRUE, SO IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD EXPLORE. OKAY, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LINENGER.

THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. CHAIR. SO YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IS GIVING OUR KIDS SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN BE WITH IT'S SAFE, THAT'S PRODUCTIVE, THAT'S POSITIVE IMPACTS IN THEIR LIVES. AND YOUR YOUR DEPARTMENT REALLY INTERACTS WITH THAT A LOT. SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THAT. THE FIRST IS YOU KNOW HOW MUCH AND I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS, YOU KNOW, ILLITERACY ON MY POINT, BUT I'M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING WHERE THE BREAKDOWN IS ON. WHAT ARE WE SPENDING IN THIS BUDGET ON YOUTH PROGRAMING IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS? AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO PREVIOUS BUDGETS? IT ISN'T ALWAYS BROKEN OUT THE WAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE. IS IT. YEAH, I, I, I SHARE THAT SOMETIMES I NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT. I THINK WE'LL NEED TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH THAT. THOSE SPECIFIC DETAILS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. WE MIGHT HAVE AN ANSWER COMING UP BEHIND YOU. YEAH. THERE'S A AND I DON'T KNOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD FOR SURE. BEN JOHNSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE RECREATION DIVISION, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION FOR ME, PLEASE? I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON YOUTH PROGRAMING IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN THIS BUDGET. AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO PREVIOUS BUDGETS? OKAY. WELL, I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU SO I CAN LOOK AT THOSE SPECIFIC NUMBERS. BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO QUITE A BIT IS ALSO PARTNER

[02:05:02]

NOT. NOT AT THIS TIME, NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE TWO POOLS THAT WE DO HAVE ACTIVE WORK ON. AND SO LET ME MOVE HERE IN THE NOTES WE HAD. EXCUSE ME. THERE'S 423,000 APPROPRIATED FOR 15 NEW POSITIONS FOR SECURITY AND SECURITY AT ALGONQUIN AND CAMP TAYLOR. SO. ARE THESE IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUS FY 25 AND HOW MANY WOULD BE NEEDED FOR US TO OPERATE THESE POOLS AT A LEVEL THAT GOES BEYOND, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, THE CURRENT ONE IS I THINK IT'S LIKE LIKE NOON TO THREE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'M SURE I'M BEING BEING A LITTLE BIT FACETIOUS, BUT IT'S NOT HOW LONG IT SHOULD BE OPEN. YEAH. OUR OUR POOLS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN FROM NOON TO FIVE. THE AMOUNT REQUESTED IS WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS PROGRAMED IN THE CURRENT YEAR. WE DID TAKE A LOOK AT THE QUESTION OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HAVE POOLS OPEN FROM NOON TO 7:00, AND THAT'S ROUGHLY AN ADDITIONAL $190,000. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE ALL FOUR OF OUR OUTDOOR POOLS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WINKLER. I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT POOL RECEIPTS. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IN THE BUDGET, I THINK WE'VE ONLY BUDGETED LIKE $1,200 TOTAL FOR POOL ADMISSIONS. AS SUCH A DE MINIMIS AMOUNT. YOU KNOW, IS IT EVEN WORTH CHARGING KIDS TO USE THE POOL? YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT? WELL, AND I MAY NOT HAVE HEARD THE LAST PART OF YOUR YOUR QUESTION, I APOLOGIZE. YEAH. I MEAN, WHY ARE WE CREATING A BARRIER FOR KIDS TO USE OUR POOLS? I MEAN, IT ISN'T AND SHOULDN'T BE A REVENUE GENERATOR. YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE TO GO TO THE POOL, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS AN EXPENSE AND IT IS A BARRIER. AND WHAT IF WE ELIMINATED THE FEE? THAT'S YOU. THAT'S AN OPERATING QUESTION. YES. THERE ARE THERE ARE A LOT OF OPINIONS ON NOMINAL CHARGES FOR ENTRANCE INTO POOLS. ONE OF THEM IS THAT. THE PHRASING IS WE DON'T VALUE WHAT WE DON'T VALUE. SO BY PUTTING SOME VALUE ON THAT, IT DOES, YOU KNOW, CONVEY THAT THIS IS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE TAKING A PART OF. WE DO HAVE SOME ABILITY TO HAVE THAT REVENUE. AND HONESTLY, THERE'S ALSO BEEN THE QUESTION OF SHOULD IT BE MORE TO HAVE ENTRY TO THAT POOL COMPARED TO OTHER ASSETS. SO YOU ASK A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME THERE IS SOME BUDGET QUESTION IN THERE, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME PHILOSOPHY IN THERE AS WELL. YEAH. AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD POINT. AND I DON'T WANT US TO MAKE, YOU KNOW,

[02:10:01]

I DON'T SEE THOSE IN THE IN THIS NEXT YEAR'S CAPITAL PLAN, NOR DO I SEE THEM IN THE LISTED FOR THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND ATTACHMENT. A CAN YOU EXPLAIN THOSE TO ME? THEY ARE NOT AS HIGH A PRIORITY AS SOME OF THE OTHER LIFE SAFETY PROJECTS ON THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIST.

THEY ARE STILL OPERATIONAL POOLS, BUT WE WOULD AGREE THAT THEY COULD USE INVESTMENT. MY CONCERN WITH THAT, AND THIS IS JUST AN OPINION, IS WE PUSHED THAT TO A LOW PRIORITY CONTINUOUSLY. THEN WE END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE REBUILDING A POOL, LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING NOW WITH ALGONQUIN, WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR OVER A FEW YEARS TO NOW, A $6 MILLION NEW POOL, I WOULD PROBABLY RETHINK THAT A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, CHAIR, IS IN REGARDS TO GOLF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TEAM OF GOLF EMPLOYEES UNION PAID. I UNDERSTAND GOLF IS ENTERPRISE, BUT IS THERE NOT A WAY WE CAN DO A PROVISION ON GOLF WORKERS IN THE OFF SEASON TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THE PARK STAFF? THE GOLF EMPLOYEES DO HAVE ADDITIONAL TASKS THAT THEY TAKE ON DURING THE WINTER SO THAT THEY THEY ARE NOT IDLE DURING THAT TIME. SO THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE AT OUR GOLF COURSES IN THE WINTER MONTHS AS WELL THAT, YOU KNOW, PREPARATIVE PREPARING, THE MAINTENANCE ON THE EQUIPMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS. SO THAT. WOULDN'T FREE UP A LOT OF

[02:15:06]

[02:20:01]

SO AS FAR AS THE CHIEF RANGER, THE CHIEF RANGER IS NOT ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT, HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING OUT THE PROGRAM. WE ARE ESTABLISHING A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FROM THE GROUND UP YOU, WHICH REQUIRES A LOT OF DETAIL AND A LOT OF NUANCES. JUST IT'S A VERY DETAILED PROCESS THAT WE ARE STILL ACTUALLY WORKING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO HE IS ABLE TO ASSIST ME IN THAT BECAUSE I AM NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO HE KNOWS THE LANGUAGE, HE KNOWS THE NEED, AND THAT IS A HUGE PORTION OF NOT ONLY HIS SALARY, BUT HIS REQUIREMENT IS TO HELP BUILD THIS PROGRAM SO IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL THREE YEARS FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW. SURE. I JUST HOPE THAT AN LMPD OFFICER, FORMER LMPD OFFICER, IS ABLE TO BUILD A PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON OUR PARKS OVER POLICING. HE IS NOT A FORMER LMPD OFFICER, MA'AM. HE'S A RETIRED SHERIFF. HE'S A RETIRED OLDHAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. HE HAS NEVER WORKED FOR LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HE'S ACTUALLY IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND AT LEAST TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER ON TIME. I KNOW MY LAST QUESTION. I THINK THAT MY COLLEAGUES MAY BE AWARE THAT THERE'S TENNIS COURTS AT JOE CREASON PARK, BUT THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ASK. CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE IT'S $2.50 PER COURT PER HOUR, AND IT'S PROPOSED TO GO UP TO $10 PER COURT PER HOUR. AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT ANNUALLY MAKES AND THEN HOW MUCH IT'S PROJECTED TO MAKE? AND IF THAT INFORMATION IS INCORRECT, IT'S INCORRECT ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE NEED TO FIX THAT. THE $2.50 PER PER HOUR PRICE IS THE PRICE FOR THE TENNIS COURTS EVERYWHERE, EXCEPT FOR THE LOUISVILLE TENNIS CENTER. THOSE ARE ALL HARD COURTS AND OTHER PARKS. THE LOUISVILLE TENNIS CENTER HAS ITS OWN OPERATIONS RIGHT NOW. THAT WEBSITE INFORMATION IS INLUX BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARD A NEW OPERATIONS PLAN FOR THAT. THAT HAD BEEN, I BELIEVE, IN THE PAST HAS BEEN AROUND 12 OR MORE DOLLARS AN HOUR PER COURT. I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION ON HAND GOING FORWARD. WE ANTICIPATE IT TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE 10 TO $12. TEN WAS WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE OPERATING IT FULLY OUT OF PARKS WITHOUT A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH AN OPERATOR, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE THAT, WHICH MEANS THAT THAT BUILDING WILL BE ABLE TO BE STAFFED, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE INDOOR BATHROOMS AVAILABLE INSTEAD OF PORTA POTS. SO IF IT DOES INDEED END UP AS A $12 COST, I THINK THAT THE ADDITIONAL COUPLE DOLLARS IS PROBABLY WORTH IT FOR MOST OF OUR TENNIS PLAYERS AT CREASON TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUILDING ITSELF AND THOSE RESTROOMS, AND TO HAVE ON SITE STAFF MAINTAINING THE COURTS DAILY. SURE, I'D STILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MUCH THAT CENTER MADE LAST YEAR. YEAH WE ARE. WE'LL BE GOING BACK AND GATHERING UP ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET FROM THAT PREVIOUS OPERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PARKER. YOU WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD. YES. JASON. DANIEL, REAL QUICK. I'M SORRY.

JOE CREASON PARK. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID THAT THE FOOTPRINT IS ALREADY THERE FOR THE CENTRALIZED FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, AND YOUR ESTIMATED COST FOR THAT IS $5 MILLION. AND YOU SAID THE COST WOULD BE REDUCED IF YOU COULD GET IT BACK THERE. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA IF IT WOULD, HOW MUCH LESS IT WOULD BE THAN $5 MILLION IF WE PUT IT THERE. AND WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR US TO GET THAT DONE? BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR AND IT NEVER HAPPENS. I'D EVEN THOUGH WITH THE FOOTPRINT BEING THERE, I STILL THINK THE $5 MILLION NUMBER IS GOING TO BE THE CORRECT RANGE. AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A SET OF PLANS. IT'S NOT BEEN DESIGNED OR DRAWN, BUT I WOULD I WOULD STILL THINK THAT THE 5 MILLION IS THE NUMBER WE WOULD USE. SO WE NEED TO BUDGET FOR THE PLANS FIRST. CORRECT. AND DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH A DESIGN PLAN WOULD BE A GOOD A VERY HIGH ESTIMATE WOULD BE 10% OF THE OF THE $5 MILLION. OKAY. THANKS. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE. THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION FOR OUR PARKS HEARING. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT HEARING AND THAT WILL BE THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES. WE ARE ALREADY NINE MINUTES LATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, SO AS SOON AS THEY ARE SET UP, WE WILL BEGIN.

[02:25:17]

PUBLIC.

DEMANDING FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

OKAY, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE SET. DIRECTOR SWETNAM ARE ARE WE CLOSE TO READY? ARE WE? I'M. I'M

[ ID 25-0225     Office of Social Services]

WELCOME DIRECTORS WILLIAMS AND SWETNAM. THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES HAS A PROPOSED $35 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 22. APPROVED. APPROVED BUDGET HAD $15 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT EXPECTATIONS, BUT IT APPEARS IT WAS NOT AWARDED, BUT ANOTHER 15 MILLION IS EXPECTED IN FY 26.

WHAT GRANT DID WE NOT RECEIVE AND WHY ARE WE EXPECTING A EQUAL GRANT IN THE COMING YEAR? SO JOSH SWETNAM, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND I WILL CERTAINLY TAG IN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL, BUT CERTAINLY WE ARE SET TO RECEIVE ALL OF THE HUD FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR. AGAIN, WE ARE EXPECTING RENEWAL OF THOSE GRANTS. THE PRIMARY FUNDING THAT HAS LAPSED IS THE FEDERAL ERAP FUNDING. SO, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE CITY SINCE 2021 HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE ERAP PROGRAM. COVID CARES FUNDING THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO EVICTION PREVENTION AND RENT ASSISTANCE.

THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN FULLY EXPENDED, SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN FY 26. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WINKLER. THANK YOU. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE PASSED THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL ORDINANCE. AND BASICALLY LEGAL AID PROVIDES THE SERVICE FOR EVICTION COUNSELING. DOES THIS BUDGET ADEQUATELY FUND THE LEGAL AID ASK THAT'S NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE INTENT OF THAT ORDINANCE? SO I WOULD. AS FAR AS RIGHT TO COUNSEL, WE KNOW

[02:30:10]

THEY ARE CURRENTLY ON SCHEDULE WITH THEIR BUDGET. THEY HAVE NOT SPENT IT ALL. THEY HAD SOME BUDGET LEFT OVER FROM THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LAST YEAR. SO THEY DIDN'T DIP INTO THIS MONEY UNTIL A LITTLE BIT LATER. SO THEY ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. THEY TELL US THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND FULLY EXPEND THE MONEY, BUT THERE'S NOT ANY WORRY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NOT FULLY SPEND IT. BUT I DON'T THINK MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATION REACHED OUT TO ME DIRECTLY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY DID ASK FOR MORE THAN WHAT THEY GOT. RIGHT. I THINK THEY ASKED FOR $50,000 AND THEY GOT 20,200. I THINK THAT'S JUST THE GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION. AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE OTHER BUCKETS THAT THEY WERE UNDERFUNDED RELATIVE TO THEIR ASK. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO THEY DID GET SOME MONEY FOR THEIR TAP PROGRAM. THEY GOT SOME FOR HOPWA, BUT THEY DID NOT GET PROJECT HELP THROUGH ESG OR THROUGH EAF. THEY WERE BELOW THE THRESHOLD FOR FUNDING THAT THE PANEL SAID. SO I DIDN'T HAVE THIS QUESTION. BUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS INTERESTING, GIVEN THE CONVERSATION WE HAD YESTERDAY ABOUT EXTERNAL AGENCY PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE LIKE ONE OF THE I CAN'T REMEMBER IF YOU TESTIFIED ON HOPWA YESTERDAY. YES. THE RELATIVELY WHAT I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY YESTERDAY IS I THINK THE DISCUSSION WAS IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION. COUNCILMAN SHOEMAKER, RIGHT AT A PAIR I DID ASK ABOUT HOUSE OF RUTH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID IS THERE'S RELATIVELY FEW ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR HOPWA FUNDING BECAUSE THAT IS EARMARKED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. A WEEK, SPENDING 100% OF THE FUNDING WE HAVE AND HAVE IF WE DO HAVE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THAT POPULATION, HAVE WE SET AND I KNOW THIS IS AN EXTERNAL AGENCY QUESTION AND I APOLOGIZE FOR.

BUT HAVE WE POTENTIALLY THEN SET REGULATIONS IN THAT GRANT PROCESS THAT ARE TOO HIGH, THAT ARE ELIMINATING OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE ELIGIBLE? I DON'T BELIEVE SO, SIR. WE DO TRY TO OFFER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ANYONE THAT ASKS WHEN DURING THE GRANT PROCESS, WE TRY TO OFFER EXTRA TRAINING AND THINGS. SO I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK, OKAY, SO NOT TO TAKE UP TIME. AND HERE I WOULD LOVE TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHY THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY UNDER THE HOPWA. IF THEY ASK FOR HOPWA MONEY AND THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY, THEY DID GET HOPWA, SIR. YEAH, THEY DID OKAY. THEY DID THEY, THEY FULLY GOT THEIR ASK. SO THEY GOT HOPWA AND THEN THEY DID GET TAP FUNDING. I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE CDBG. IT IS CDBG. THEY JUST DIDN'T GET PROJECT HELP, WHICH HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY FUNDED THROUGH ESG AND THROUGH EAF. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU AND I APOLOGIZE. I DID NOT MEAN TO GET OFF ON A TANGENT ABOUT THOSE QUESTIONS. SO I'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE AND LIHEAP SUPPORT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CENTER? I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE LIHEAP ASSISTANCE THERE IN THE BUDGET, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THAT CENTER THAT YOU KNOW, IS OFFERS ALL OF THE SERVICES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE, AND IS IT FUNDED APPROPRIATELY? AND THEN I KNOW COUNCILMAN SHANKLIN ISN'T HERE, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ASK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE THAT IS IN. IS IT THOMAS

[02:35:04]

EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

CASSANDRA MILLER, EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR SO THERE'S GOING TO BE KIND OF TWO PROJECTS THAT HAPPENS ON THAT SAME CAMPUS, THAT FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE, THE MAIN BUILDING. THERE'S A MAIN BUILDING IN WHAT DIRECTOR SWETNAM CALLED THE BRUCE BUILDING. THERE'S TWO BUILDINGS ON THE SAME CAMPUS. WHEN THE MAIN BUILDING GOES UNDER RENOVATION, THE STAFF FROM THE MAIN BUILDING IS GOING TO RELOCATE BACK TO THE BRUCE BUILDING. SO THERE WILL BE A FULL COMPLEMENT OF STAFF AND SERVICES THAT REMAINS ON THAT CAMPUS. ONCE THE MAIN BUILDING IS READY FOR STAFF TO MOVE BACK IN, ALL THE STAFF THAT'S BACK IN THE BRUCE BUILDING WILL MOVE TO THE MAIN BUILDING, AND THE BRUCE BUILDING WILL COME DOWN BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE JC DUBOIS PROJECT. OKAY, SO JUST TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY, THE SERVICES WILL STILL BE OFFERED IN THE SAME, MAYBE NOT IN THE EXACT SAME BUILDING, BUT ON THE SAME CAMPUS. YES. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN PIAGENTINI. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK THE VICE CHAIR DID MORE THAN TWO QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL KEEP MINE TO TWO TO STICK WITH THE FORMAT. YEAH. THAT'S TRUE. FIRST, ON LOOKING THROUGH YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO IT'S NOT A LOT AS A AS OPPOSED TO PARKS, BUT YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING AT YOU KNOW IT'S JUST ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR PROJECTS HERE. THE LARGEST ONE BEING THE VOA VETERANS HOUSING OR DIXIE HIGHWAY PROJECT. YOUR TOTAL PROJECT TOTAL BALANCE OF THESE FOUR PROJECTS IS 6.1 MILLION. 5 MILLION IS UNENCUMBERED, UNSPENT, AND OR A LITTLE OVER 5 MILLION. THE 5 MILLION OF THAT IS THE VOA PROJECT. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW. THIS COUNCIL AND OTHERS, SOME OF WHICH WEREN'T ON COUNCIL ANYMORE, FOUGHT VERY

[02:40:04]

I'M SORRY. SO THE FUNDING IS SPLIT BETWEEN OSS AND OCD, BUT OCD IS MANAGING THE ENTIRE PROJECT. OKAY. WHEN ARE THEY COMING? DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHEN THEY'RE COMING? OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. DO WE KNOW WHEN THEY'RE COMING? THEY'RE COMING ON JUNE 2ND OKAY. THANK YOU LATONYA OKAY. SO I'LL ASK THEM. SO BUT BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YOU SAID IT'S BETWEEN BOTH OF YOU. IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CAN. NO YOU CAN'T COME UP. DEPUTY MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR GEORGE. THANK YOU. DEPUTY MAYOR NICOLE GEORGE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES. SO JUST TO BE FAIR TO SAY, I DON'T I CAN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE MONEY AND SOMEONE FROM OMB CAN CAN CERTAINLY COME UP. I DO KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT IS MANAGED OUT OF HOUSING. I THINK THE LAST UPDATE WE GOT IS THAT THEY STARTED SITE PREPARATION RECENTLY, AND THEY'RE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE IT BY SEPTEMBER OF 2026. OKAY. THE WATSON LANE RFP WILL BE OUT NEXT WEEK. OKAY. SO THAT'S THE MOST UP TO DATE THAT I HAVE. BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALSO SPEAK WITH THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS I'M LOOKING AT A BREAKDOWN. LET ME MAKE SURE I GET THIS RIGHT. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAD ASKED, A LIST OF LINE ITEMS IN THE DETAILED BUDGET WITH, QUOTE, SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM FISCAL YEAR 25 IN A CHART. SO WE HAVE FEDERAL FUNDS, EXTERNAL AGENCY CONTRACTS, GRANT SUPPORT SERVICES, PROFESSIONAL SUPPLIES AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE OKAY.

INSIDE. OKAY. LET ME BACK UP. SORRY. THE FISCAL 26 BUDGET IS FOR 6 MILLION, 6.5 MILLION, 6 MILLION, $547,600. BUT PAGE 187 ONLY LISTS THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS UNDERNEATH THAT UNDER THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES. AND IT LISTS A BUNCH OF PROJECTS. DARE TO CARE.

GOODWILL. HOPE BUS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS. NEIGHBORHOOD. PLACE. WHICH MAY BE WHAT VICE CHAIR WINKLER WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE VITA PROGRAM SEVEN COUNTIES, SOS LOCAL HEALTH PROGRAM, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, THE HEALING PLACE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. THAT ALL ADDS UP TO FOUR POINT JUST SHORT OF 4.4 MILLION, $4,397,600. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE DISCREPANCY. SO YOU HAVE CONTRACTS THAT YOU'RE SAYING ARE BUDGETED FOR 6,527,000, BUT THE LISTED CONTRACTS ONLY ADD UP TO $4,397,000. RIGHT. WHEREAS THE OTHER 2 MILLION. THAT'S EXACTLY.

RIGHT, YOU KNOW. THAT HELPED. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN MY HEAD. HI, I'M NIKKI GORDON, I'M A FISCAL COORDINATOR FOR OMB AND HELP WITH OSS. I THINK YOU SAID 2 MILLION WAS THE DIFFERENCE CORRECT? APPROXIMATELY. APPROXIMATELY. SO ABOUT 1.1 ALMOST 1.2 MILLION IS FOR THE HOMELESS DIVISION HART. THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS THAT THEY WILL SET IN PLACE. THEY HAVE NOT CHOSEN THOSE. THEY PUT THOSE OUT FOR A SEPARATE COMPETITIVE PROCESS. THOSE JUST AREN'T CHOSEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BECAUSE TYPICALLY THEY ARE FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.

DID YOU? I'M SORRY, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF YOU NAMED THE COMMUNITY MINISTRIES AS PART OF THAT. NO, THEY ARE PART OF THIS BUDGET. SO WHILE THEY ARE LISTED IN THE BACK OF THE EAF OR THE EXTERNAL AGENCY LIST, RIGHT? COMMUNITY MINISTRIES IS PART OF THAT 6.5.

AND HOW MUCH WAS BEING GIVEN TO THEM? 1.6 RIGHT NOW. SO ALSO THE 750,000 THAT IS THE COMPETITIVE AMOUNT IS NOT IN THAT BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS RESTRICTED. SO IT'S GOING TO BE UNDER THE RESTRICTED LINE ITEM. SORRY, I HAVE AN ENTIRE LIST THAT I CAN. SO LET'S YEAH LET'S DO THIS. LET'S DO THIS. YEAH. AND THIS WAS AND AGAIN I WILL SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT WE AGGREGATED ALL THESE

[02:45:05]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. COUNCILMAN WEBER, AND IF THIS THIS IS CONNECTED TO THAT, IT MIGHT BE BE ABLE TO BE SERVED IN THE SAME WAY, BUT JUST A FULL LIST OF ALL THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET IN A WAY THAT JUST LISTS THEM. AND IS THIS PART OF A GRANTING PROCESS, WHICH MAKES SENSE FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT ALSO OR IS THIS A CONTRACT? AND I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH MARY HEARST AROUND SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THAT'S A CONTRACT OF, HEY, IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR US TO BE NOT HAVING THOSE SERVICES INTERNALLY. THAT'S AN EXTERNAL CONTRACT. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT FULL LIST IN THOSE AMOUNTS SOMEWHERE. WE COULD WE CAN CREATE AN AGGREGATED LIST AND GET THAT TO YOU. THAT'D BE GREAT BECAUSE COUNCILMAN ARGENTINA'S POINT, THEY'RE IN SOME DIFFERENT SPOTS AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOT VISIBLE. OKAY. AND THEN SPEAKING OF WHICH, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT TO THE PROCESS BY WHICH YOU'VE SAID IN HERE, OKAY, GREAT. THIS IS SERVICES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD PROVIDE WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT. BUT WE DON'T. WE WOULD. WE THINK IT'S BETTER TO CONTRACT WITH A LOCAL NONPROFIT VERSUS THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE CHOSEN TO INTERNALIZE WITH STAFF. SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM AT OSS AND IT'S VERY VALUABLE WORK. AND THEY DO WONDERFUL WORK. BUT WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING, AND WE DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE IN EVERY FIELD. AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A HOST OF NONPROFITS WHO DO GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I FEEL LIKE OSS, IN ADDITION TO BEING KIND OF THE CRUCIAL SAFETY NET FOR THE COMMUNITY, IS ALSO A HUB OF CONNECTION FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND NONPROFIT WORK. SO I THINK THE SIMPLEST ANSWER IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S VALUE IN PARTNERING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE GREATER REACH AND GREATER IMPACT AND SUPPORT THE WORK, BECAUSE AS METRO GOVERNMENT, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET ALL THE NEEDS OURSELVES. OKAY. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL ARE DEPLOYING TO STREET OUTREACH AND HOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FROM A CONTEXT OF BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS VERSUS WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN-HOUSE VERSUS THANK YOU. JOHN PHILBIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OSS. I LEAD THE HOMELESS SERVICES TEAM. CAN YOU KIND OF REPEAT THAT JUST FOR ME? CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO HOW YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT STAFFING INTERNALLY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK OR TO OR VERSUS CONTRACTING SOME OF THAT OUT? I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN THE PAST. I JUST LOVE FOR YOU TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO HOW THAT HAS EVOLVED AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE BUDGET. SURE. SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED THREE YEARS AGO, I WAS THE OUTREACH PERSON. WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT TO A TEAM NOW OF TEN. ON OUR OUTREACH TEAM, WE HAVE A SUPERVISOR, TWO COORDINATORS AND SEVEN. WE CALL THEM HOMELESS RESOURCE OUTREACH SPECIALIST. AND THOSE FOLKS DID COME ON. THEY WERE MAKING 1670 AN HOUR. WE FOUGHT NOW TO GET THEM RAISED UP TO ALMOST 2150 BEFORE THE JULY PAY INCREASE. RIGHT. SO WE'RE GETTING SOMEBODY WITH MAYBE A LITTLE MORE EDUCATION THAN WE WERE GETTING BEFORE. PAST PARTNERS HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, BUT WE FELT LIKE WE COULD DIRECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS A LITTLE BETTER IF THEY WERE IN STAFF IN-HOUSE, AND THAT'S WHY WE BROUGHT THEM IN. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I WERE NOT ASKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT CREDENTIALING THOSE FOLKS AND POTENTIALLY OFFSETTING SOME OF THE COSTS BY BILLING SOME OF OUR FAVORITE FEDERAL AGENCIES, NAMELY MEDICAID. YES, SIR. SO THEY ARE CURRENTLY I HAVE TWO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. THE REST ARE BEING TRAINED IN COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER. AND THEN WE HAVE THREE THAT ARE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WORKING IN GOVERNING. I THINK AN ADDITIONAL THREE TO BE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS. THAT'S EXCELLENT. DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ON THAT MIGHT BE IN THIS BUDGET SYSTEM? NOT YET I DO NOT I CAN I CAN SPEAK TO THAT WITH AGAIN WE CAN GET YOU SOME VERY SPECIFIC PROJECTIONS LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT PER UNIT. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO BE IS TO BUILD MEDICAID THIS YEAR AND TO BUILD THAT OVER TIME. SO THAT BECOMES

[02:50:05]

OKAY. YOU'RE ON. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I KNOW THAT YOU HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THE AREA COMMUNITY MINISTRIES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET, AND YOU HAVE A LINE FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

YESTERDAY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ACM, WE LEARNED THAT SEVEN OF THOSE 13 ORGANIZATIONS, THAT MONEY WENT DIRECTLY TOWARDS OPERATING COSTS AND NOT TOWARDS PROGRAMS LIKE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. AND SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT INFORMATION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL WOULD BE ABLE TO GET HOW MUCH YOUR OFFICE PROVIDES VERSUS THE ACMS. AND THAT WAY WE COULD UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED IN LOUISVILLE METRO FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. OR DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? I THINK I CAN PARTIALLY ANSWER. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE CAN ALWAYS GET BACK WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WE DO THROUGH OUR PLANNING COMPLIANCE TEAM. WE DO GET REPORTS FROM COMMUNITY MINISTRIES. AND SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT BREAKDOWN FROM THEM. BUT I CAN SPEAK TO. SO JUST TO MENTION A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, I MENTIONED THE ERAP FUNDING, WHICH WAS NOT ONLY BEING ADMINISTERED THROUGH OUR OFFICE, BUT ALSO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HAD A PARTNERSHIP WITH ACM. SO AND I THINK THIS WAS BEFORE OUR TIME HERE AT METRO, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PURPOSE WAS TO MAKE

[02:55:04]

ACM AND BUT AS THAT MONEY HAS RUN OUT, THEN THE CDD IS NO LONGER IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING ADMINISTER EVICTION PREVENTION FUNDS. SO IN THAT WAY, IT MIRRORS WHAT WE FACE AT OSS. YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE ENDING OF ERAP FUNDING. AND SO ANOTHER PIECE THAT AS AS WE HAVE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET WITH OSS AND OUR GRANTS, WE REALIZED THERE WAS CARRIED FORWARD IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WHICH WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SPEND DOWN THIS YEAR TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR GRANT AGREEMENTS. AND SO WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT 1.3 MILLION IN GENERAL FUNDS FOR EVICTION PREVENTION IN FY 26. THAT MIRRORS WHAT WAS IN GENERAL FUNDS LAST YEAR. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE HAD OTHER ADDITIONAL POTS OF MONEY TO HELP WITH EVICTION PREVENTION. SO IT'S NOT A REDUCTION IN TERMS OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S AVAILABLE OVERALL, THERE'S LESS JUST BECAUSE OF CERTAIN FUNDING STREAMS ENDING. AND SO THAT INCREASES, THOUGH YOU'RE AT 849,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 25 THIS YEAR, YOU'RE ASKING FOR NEARLY, YOU KNOW, 1.3 A LITTLE OVER 1.3. SO THAT'S AN INCREASE IN FUNDING. CORRECT. SO THERE'S THERE WAS 1.3 MILLION, BUT BETWEEN SOME DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS. SO I BELIEVE IT'S JUST BEEN MERGED IN THE LINE ITEM FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. BUT THE TOTAL AND I MAY ASK NICKI GORDON, BUT JUST THE AMOUNTS WERE IN DIFFERENT LINES. BUT COMBINED, THAT WAS THE TOTAL OF WHAT WE HAD TO WORK WITH LAST YEAR. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. SURE. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE NEED IS, BUT AT 1.3 PLUS WHATEVER ACM IS OFFERING, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT MAYBE LIHEAP IS PART OF THAT. 1.3 LIHEAP IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT AMOUNT. SO THE AMOUNT THAT THAT WE'RE THE 1.3 IS TRULY FOR AT LEAST IN THE OSCE'S BUDGET, IS TRULY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, SPEAKING FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, THAT AMOUNT IS TRULY PASSED ON TO OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE OUR EXISTING TEAM. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANY INCREASE IN OUR STAFFING COMPLEMENT, BUT WITH THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE, WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN SERVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WITH THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE. AND OF COURSE, ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE WOULD HAVE THE CAPACITY ALREADY TO DISTRIBUTE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THAT FUNDING TRULY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO OUR NEIGHBORS. SO I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY LOUISVILLE METRO HAS $3 MILLION IN THE IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, A AMONG ALL THESE PARTNERS THAT WORK WITH LOUISVILLE METRO. I JUST WANT TO HAVE AN IDEA FOR THAT NUMBER. SO THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. COUNCILMAN ON. YOU, MATE, YOU HAD ASKED ABO, PLSENTROCE YEL ASIO L,DEF MIST.D MENTIONED YESTERDAY. IT IS THE CASE THAT SEVEN OF THE 13 OF US DO USE OUR METRO MONEY TO GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND THAT IS BECAUSE METRO FUNDS ARE ONE OF THE ONLY FUNDS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. MANY OF THE GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE ARE STRICTLY FOR DIRECT CLIENT ASSISTANCE AND CAN'T BE USED THAT WAY, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE TO DO THE TO DO THE WORK. IT'S ALSO THE CASE THAT WE REPORT QUARTERLY TO OSS, AND WE REPORT ON ALL OF THOSE FUNDS AND HOW THEY'RE USED. IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT IN IF WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE LIKE OKAY, SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE SPENDING ALL OF YOUR MONEY TO GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, WHAT'S GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2324, WE GOT AN INCREASE LAST YEAR OF $275,000. THANK YOU. THANKS TO THE COUNCIL, IN THAT FIRST NINE MONTHS, IF WE COMPARE THOSE NINE MONTHS TO THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL $318,000 IN ASSISTANCE THAT WENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WAS AN INCREASE OF 8% IN THE NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED.

RIGHT. SO WE GOT $275,000 ADDITIONAL, AND WE PUT AN ADDITIONAL $318,000 OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO IT'S CLEAR THAT THE MONEY THAT'S COMING FROM METRO IS BEING ADDED TO AND PUT BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN METRO MONEY FUNDS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IS THAT THAT FREES UP MINISTRY MONEY TO SERVE DIRECTLY TO CLIENTS. DOES THAT HELP? SURE.

[03:00:03]

WE'RE CURRENTLY FUNDED AT 1.4 MILLION. THE MAYOR'S BUDGET CAME ACROSS WITH 1.65 MILLION IN IT FOR US FOR THIS COMING YEAR. WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AT 1.4. ACM IS COMING TO COUNCIL REQUESTING AN INCREASE TO 2.5 MILLION BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SEE COMING DOWN THE PIKE IN TERMS OF INCREASED NEED AND DECREASED FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN OWEN. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS IN THE QUEUE. I'M SORRY. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN, YOU WOULD BE FAR FROM THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE CONFUSED THE TWO OF US. HONESTLY, I DON'T I READ, COUNCILMAN, I'LL TRY. I'LL TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE TAKES IT, ACTUALLY, THAT THAT ANSWER MY QUESTION. SO THE TOTAL ASK FOR ACM IS 2.5 FOR THIS COMING YEAR, IN ORDER TO MEET THE CLEARLY INCREASING NEEDS. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. COUNCILWOMAN WOOLRIDGE YEAH, I NOTICE THAT THERE IS A GRANT THAT IS NOT CONTINUING THIS NEXT YEAR. THAT'S FOR THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP WITH EVICTIONS, PREVENTION ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

HOW MUCH OF IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN 26 WITH THAT GRANT GOING AWAY? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT VERY LAST QUESTION, PLEASE? YEAH. HOW MUCH IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THAT GRANT GOING AWAY? IT'S THE 1.3 MILLION. THE OTHER THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, KNOWING THAT THERE HAS BEEN THE, YOU KNOW, SLOW REDUCTION IN FEDERAL FUNDING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS SPECIFICALLY FOR EVICTION PREVENTION. WE REALIZE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE ONE OF OUR GREATEST ASSETS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, SPECIFICALLY STABILITY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE FOCUSED ON IN OUR NEW THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN AS WELL THROUGH OSS. AND SO OUR TEAM FOR, FOR THOSE WHO COME IN FOR ASSISTANCE AND ARE WILLING TO WORK ON SOME MEDIUM TERM GOALS THAT WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE GREATER STABILITY, OUR TEAM WRAPS AROUND THEM WITH SOME VERY INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. AND SO THAT IS, I THINK IN AN ERA WHERE THERE IS LESS FUNDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE VIEW THAT AS OUR LONG TERM PLAN TO TRY TO HELP SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY BY WALKING ALONGSIDE FOLKS AND HELPING CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IN ADDITION TO WHAT METRO PROVIDES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. FOR THE RECORD, CASE MANAGEMENT WITHIN MEDICAID IS CODE T1016, T1017, AND IF IT'S ON A MONTHLY BASIS THAT HITS A MINIMUM OF 15 HOURS, IT'S T2022. NOW THAT'S THAT'S IN THE RECORD GUYS. AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT MODIFIERS FOR THOSE AS WELL DEPENDING ON WHO WE SERVE.

[Adjournment Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]