[1. ID 25-0751 QUARTERLY REPORT FROM OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES – Josh Swetnam and Patricia Williams, Office of Social Services; Jon Pilbean, Homeless Engagement Assessment & Response Team (HEART)]

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DISCUSSION. SO JOINING US TODAY WE HAVE A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

JOSH YOU'RE GOING TO START US OFF I THINK OR. DIRECTOR YOU'RE GOING TO START US OFF. IF YOU COULD JUST START BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF. AND THEN FLOOR IS YOURS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS PATRICIA WILLIAMS, CO-DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES I'M GOING TO START US OFF, AND THEN MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOING TO JOIN US AS WELL. SO I WANT TO REMIND US, FIRST OFF, THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUNDS IS ABOUT $1.2 MILLION THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED FOR TWO VERY DISTINCT PURPOSES. WELL REALLY THERE'S THREE. IT'S TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER TO REDUCE JUSTICE TREATMENT AND INVOLVEMENT, AND TO PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES. SO TO PROVIDE CONNECTION, REDUCE JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, AND TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME OUTCOMES AND DATA FROM FY 25 TO KIND OF SHOW YOU ALL HOW WE MET THOSE GOALS, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE PLANNED AND CURRENTLY IN PROCESS FOR FY 26. JOSH. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JOSH SWETNAM, CO-DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES. AND AS DIRECTOR, WILLIAMS SAID, WE'LL START OFF WITH JUST A REVIEW OF OUR OUTCOMES FOR FY 25. WITH OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUNDS. WE SERVED AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUND GRANT, 1458 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE FUNDED THROUGH HIFF. AS DIRECTOR, WILLIAMS SAID, WE HAVE KEY GOALS OF KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, REDUCING JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT AND PROVIDING CONNECTION TO CRITICAL RESOURCES. FOR THAT FIRST OBJECTIVE. WE SAW ZERO KNOWN EXPOSURE DEATHS AMONG THOSE SERVED IN THOSE PROGRAMS AND FY 25, WHICH IS OUR MOST CRITICAL OUTCOME. WE ALSO SAW THAT 1349 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE SHELTER IN PROGRAMS THAT WERE FUNDED BY HIFF, 88% DID NOT HAVE AN LMDC BOOKING DURING FY 25 WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, AND THEN OVERALL, WE SAW OVER OVER 3500 SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN THOSE AFFILIATED PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, WE SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE SERVICES PROVIDED THAN THERE ARE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS SERVED, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE RECEIVING MULTIPLE SERVICES. OFTEN THE THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE IS TRYING TO MOVE FOLKS FURTHER ALONG THE CONTINUUM OF HOUSING STABILITY, BUT ALSO HELPING PEOPLE WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE OVERNIGHT SHELTER, FOOD AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE.

AND THEN OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN FY 25, 76 BECAME HOUSED WHO WERE PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAMS. AND SO ONE OF OUR SERVICES THAT IS CRITICAL WITH HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUNDS IS SUPPORT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE HEALTHY AND SAFE ON THE STREETS DURING THE THE HARSHEST WEATHER. SO I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO JOHN, DIRECTOR OF THE HEART TEAM, TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. SO JOHN TOBIN, DIRECTOR OF THE HOMELESS ENGAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT RESPONSE TEAM. SO FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER, JUST TO KIND OF REMIND YOU, WHITE FLAG IS WHEN THE HEAT INDEX IS ABOVE 95 DEGREES OR THE WIND CHILL IS BELOW 35 DEGREES. SO FOR THE THAT YEAR, FY 25, WE HAD 18 EXTREME HEAT DAYS, 101 COLD DAYS. AND IF YOU REMEMBER KIND OF LAST YEAR WE HAD 33 SNOW DAYS PARTICIPATING. YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE'S SOME FORM OF PRECIPITATION ON THE GROUND. THERE WERE 813 INCLEMENT WEATHER CLIENTS SERVED. SO I ALSO GET TO TALK ABOUT THE REPORTED PROGRAM SUCCESSES. I GOT A LITTLE EXCITED, SO I THINK I MAY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THEM ALL, BUT I'LL TRY TO PICK OUT A COUPLE HERE. SAINT JOHN'S CENTER HAD 69 UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS TO HOTELS, SUPERB, SURPASSING THEIR TARGET OF 50, 14 OF WHICH BECAME FULLY HOUSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR. 19% OF SAINT JOHN SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL'S CLIENTS EXITED HOTELS INTO HOUSING. WAYSIDE EXITED 13 INDIVIDUALS TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND MAINTAINED 89% SHELTER OCCUPANCY. OCCUPANCY RATES. SOUTHWEST FAMILY MINISTRIES HELPED 14 INDIVIDUALS ENTER TREATMENT PROGRAMS. YMCA PROVIDED SAFE HOUSING FOR 19 YOUNG ADULTS AND CHILDREN DURING FREEZING WEATHER. IN 17, VETERANS RECEIVED SHELTER AND SERVICES FROM EITHER SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL WAYSIDE OR SOUTHWEST FAMILY MINISTRIES. I THINK I PASSED IT BACK TO JOSH. WE WORK

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IN COLLABORATION IN OSS. WE ALL WE ALL JOIN IN. SO I WANT TO TALK NEXT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUNDS IN FY 26. SO WE HAVE THREE KEY PRIORITY AREAS WITH HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUNDS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE FIRST IS EMERGENCY SHELTER, THE SECOND IS INCLEMENT WEATHER. AGAIN, TO ENSURE THAT FOLKS ARE HOUSED OFTEN IN HOTELS DURING THE HARSHEST WEATHER AND THEN INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THESE AS THREE HIGH PRIORITY AREAS THAT OFTEN NEED MORE FUNDING SUPPORT THAN WHAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STANDARD BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR EXTERNAL AGENCY FUNDS OR GENERAL FUNDS. AND AGAIN, WITH A FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST OFF THE STREETS SAFE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HARSHEST WEATHER, AND ALSO THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING CASE MANAGEMENT, PARTICULARLY INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE GREATEST CHALLENGES EITHER WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR TRADITIONALLY HARD TO REACH, THAT WE HAVE MORE EFFORTS ON THE STREET TO TRY TO HELP CONNECT WITH THOSE FOLKS WITH SERVICES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE STARTED AT FY 25 WAS MEETING QUARTERLY WITH OUR HF PARTNERS. THERE WERE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THAT. ONE, JUST SO THAT WE AS METRO COULD STAY CURRENT ON THEIR OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS. THE SPEND DOWN OF FUNDS, BUT ALSO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS OR NEEDS WITH OUR PARTNERS. IT ALSO PROVIDED A REGULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COMPARE NOTES AND SEE HOW WE COULD SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AND HOW OUR PARTNERS COULD SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THE WORK, WHICH MADE US MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE HOMELESS. SO IN THOSE QUARTERLY MEETINGS, WE STARTED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON FOR FY 26 AND WHAT THE PRIORITY POPULATION SHOULD BE. AND AGAIN, THE CONVERSATION PRETTY QUICKLY TURNED TO FOLKS THAT ARE HARDER TO SERVE OR HARDER TO SHELTER AND FOR FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

BUT TYPICALLY THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE UNDERSERVED. SO AS A TEAM, WE DECIDED TO FOCUS THIS YEAR ON OLDER ADULTS AGE 55 AND OLDER, YOUNG ADULTS IN THAT AGE GROUP OF 18 TO 25. THOSE WHO ARE JUSTICE OR TREATMENT INVOLVED ARE LEAVING INCARCERATION OR INPATIENT TREATMENT, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES THOSE WITH SERIOUS CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS, WHICH MAY EXCLUDE THEM FROM CERTAIN SHELTERS. WE ALSO FOCUSED ON THOSE WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES, AND FINALLY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. AND SO WE REALIZED, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS THAT THAT THERE WERE SOME GAPS IN SERVICES. AND WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FILLED THOSE NEEDS THROUGH THE HIFF AS A WAY TO KIND OF ROUND OUT AND COMPLEMENT THE SERVICES WE OFFER THROUGH HEART AND OSS. SO I THINK TO CLOSE IT OUT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK OVER TO DIRECTOR WILLIAMS TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT HOW WE'RE TRACKING AND REPORTING FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. THANK YOU. SO LASTLY, WE JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF OUR PARTNERSHIP THAT CONTINUES WITH ICS, WHO IS OUR VENDOR THAT IS PROVIDING SERVICES SUCH AS EVALUATING THE WORK AND ANALYZING THE DATA. SO THAT HELPS US AND VERY MUCH ASSIST US WITH BRINGING THIS REPORT AND INFORMATION TO YOU ALL. WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT REPORTING ENHANCEMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN FY 26 FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER, ESPECIALLY, WE'VE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF REPORTING FROM QUARTERLY TO MONTHLY. SO WE HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE SPEND. AND THEN ALSO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACCESSING ACCESSING SERVICES. SO I THINK THIS CONCLUDES THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU ALL. WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I'LL START US OFF WITH A QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW TO WHICH OF THE DIRECTORS THREE HERE TO DIRECT THIS SO YOU ALL CAN DECIDE, BUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT SORT OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CAN YOU SPEND JUST A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK WE ARE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HAVE WE ADDRESSED ALL OF THE KEY PIECES? ARE THERE STILL GAPS IN THAT CONTINUUM, YOU KNOW, FROM EVENING SHELTERS, EMERGENCY SHELTERS, DAY SHELTERS TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING? AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING YEARS IN TERMS OF CLOSING THAT GAP? AND ALSO BEFORE YOU ANSWER, LET ME WE WERE JOINED QUITE SOME TIME AGO BY COUNCILMAN MCCRANIE. AND SO, MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD RECOGNIZE HER, I THINK SHE WAS HERE SORT OF RIGHT AFTER WE STARTED. SO I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN TRYING TO EXTEND THAT CONTINUUM OF SERVICES. ONE OF THE THINGS IN DIRECTOR WILLIAMS

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TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'RE KIND OF MEASURING AND TRACKING THIS YEAR'S OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS.

ONE OF THE KEY OUTCOMES IS WHAT WE CALL HOUSING STABILITY. AND WE'VE DEFINED THAT AS MOVING ALONG THAT CONTINUUM, BECAUSE WE REALIZE WHEN WE ENCOUNTER SOMEONE ON THE STREET, WE MIGHT MEET THEM AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THEIR JOURNEY. THEY MAY BE, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY STREET HOMELESSNESS, OR THEY MAY BE IN A SHELTER OR IN A TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM. BUT IN GENERAL, WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS ALONG THAT CONTINUUM BY SUPPORTING THE ADDITION OF OVERNIGHT SHELTER BEDS AND ALSO THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, INCREASING 24 HOUR SHELTER BEDS, WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS TO LEAVE ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT STAY, WHICH INCREASES STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE SERVICES. WE'VE ALSO SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN DAY SHELTER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND FOR EMERGENCIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS LIKE EXODUS MINISTRIES, TO PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS FOR JUST RELIEF DURING THE COLDEST MONTHS. AND WE ARE SUPPORTING, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVES LIKE HOME FOR GOOD, INCREASING THE AMOUNT, THE NUMBER OF TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SO THAT WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING FROM SHELTER AND FROM HOMELESSNESS. SO IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE IT'S A BIG TASK AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO. BUT I FEEL LIKE OVERALL, AS A CITY, WE'VE MADE GOOD USE OF OUR RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE OPTIONS. THANK YOU.

JUST ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION THAT YOU MADE ME THINK OF WITH YOUR ANSWER, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THAT THE THE BEST WAY TO TREAT HOMELESSNESS IS TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND SO I'M CURIOUS, WHAT VISIBILITY DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE VISIBILITY INTO PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF JUST UPSTREAM OF STREET HOMELESS, I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE COUCH SURFING IS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND THEN MAYBE TRANSITION TO YOUR CAR AND THEN YOU TRANSITION TO STREET. SO I'M CURIOUS, DO YOU HAVE VISIBILITY INTO THOSE UPSTREAM ACTIVITIES, AND DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO TRY TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE UPSTREAM OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE CAN GET INTO A WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT EVEN FURTHER, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF EVICTION PREVENTION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M I'M REALLY LOOKING SORT OF IN THAT IMMEDIATE STEP PRIOR TO STREET HOMELESS, IF YOU'VE GOT VISIBILITY TO THAT, IF YOU'VE GOT TARGETED PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THAT AND IF YOU'RE RESOURCED APPROPRIATELY TO INTERVENE AT THAT POINT. WELL, AND CERTAINLY WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER SOME OF THAT OUT AS DIRECTOR PILBEAM COMES UP? I'LL, I'LL SAY THAT I KNOW THAT OUR HOMELESS ENGAGEMENT ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE TEAM HEART IS A KEY PIECE OF WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS WHEN WE ARE AWARE OF THOSE FAMILIES IN NEED TO TRY TO PROVIDE PREVENTION WHEN POSSIBLE. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH AGENCIES THROUGHOUT LOUISVILLE, BUT AS WELL AS WITHIN OFFICE OF SOCIAL SERVICES, TO PROVIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES BEFORE SOMEONE BECOMES HOMELESS. YOU MENTIONED EVICTION PREVENTION. THAT'S ONE PIECE, BUT ALSO CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING, NAVIGATION, FOR EXAMPLE, ADDING A NEW LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST TO OUR HEART TEAM TO TRY TO MAKE REDUCE BARRIERS TO HOUSING FOLKS QUICKLY AND PREVENTING THEM FROM MOVING HOMELESSNESS, BUT GETTING THEM HOUSED QUICKER. SO I DO THINK THAT I THINK WE HAVE AWARENESS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND WE TRY TO ALIGN THE RESOURCES AS BEST WE CAN. I THINK DIRECTOR SWETNAM PROBABLY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION PRETTY WELL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PERSON, SO THAT PERSON'S GOING OUT TALKING TO BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAMS, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, LET THEM KNOW ABOUT OUR OUTREACH TEAM IN CASE SOMETHING COMES UP OR SOMEBODY'S HOUSE IS COUCH SURFING. PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN WEBER, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE GET ONTO YOUR RADAR? I MEAN, WHAT'S THE THE USUAL POINT OF REFERRAL OR CONNECT? IS IT DIRECT OUTREACH? IS IT SOMEBODY CALLING YOU? IS IT SOMEBODY CALLING LMPD? YES. SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE A LOT OF IT WOULD BE 311 REPORTS. YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET THOSE. WE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO COME OUT. WE'LL PUT THAT IN. THERE'S OUTREACH BUTTON ON THAT 311 REPORT SO THAT WE COULD SEND OUR OUTREACH TEAM STRAIGHT THERE. WE GET THEM FROM COUNCIL. WE GET THEM FROM NEIGHBORHOODS. WE GET THEM FROM SOMEBODY JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. SURE. AND WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED METHOD? 3311 WOULD BE THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO RECEIVE THOSE. IT'S JUST YES, THAT'S THE WAY WE PREFER IT. OKAY. TO A CALL OR AN ELECTRONIC REPORT? I ONLY ASK BECAUSE MY MOTHER TODAY WAS LIKE, HONEY, THERE'S A WOMAN HERE WHO IS COLD AND SITTING ON BARDSTOWN ROAD. WHAT SHOULD I DO? SO CALL ON THE APP OR EMAIL TO 311. YOU HEAR THAT MOM? THANK YOU SIR. OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN.

OWEN. THANK YOU CHAIR. I WAS IN A MEETING THE OTHER DAY WHERE WE WERE KIND OF GOING BACK OVER THE GLIDE TRIP TO MILWAUKEE, WHERE THEY'VE DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB OF PREVENTING STREET HOMELESSNESS. AND I THINK THE NUMBER THAT WE DISCUSSED WAS, ONCE WE AS A CITY, HAVE FOUND

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HOUSING FOR SOMEONE. AND I'M GOING TO KIND OF BUTCHER THIS A LITTLE BIT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS PERMANENT HOUSING ONLY, BUT ONCE WE HAVE FOUND HOUSING, SO WE'VE MOVED SOMEBODY FROM A HOTEL ROOM OR MOVED SOMEBODY INTO HOUSING, OUR SUCCESS RATE OF THAT PERSON'S STAYING HOUSED IS SOMEWHERE LIKE SOME CRAZY NUMBER, LIKE 98%. IS ARE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU DISCUSSED MOVING FROM, FROM HOTEL TO HOUSING, OR DO THEY FIT INTO THAT NUMBER, OR IS THAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING VERSUS PERMANENT HOUSING? ABSOLUTELY. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRAG ON ANOTHER TEAM THAT WE HAVE. OUR HOUSING AND SUPPORT TEAM PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RAPID REHOUSING, WHICH IS A TWO YEAR PROGRAM VERSUS PERMANENT. AND THAT SUCCESS RATE SPEAKS TO TO THE OUTCOMES FOR THAT TEAM. THEY RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM THE COMMON ASSESSMENT TEAM FROM THROUGH PHOENIX HEALTH FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN ASSESSED AND GIVEN A SCORE BASED ON THE LEVEL OF RISK. AND WHEN THEY FINALLY GET TO THE TOP OF THE WAITING LIST, THEN THEY ARE HOUSED THROUGH OUR TEAM. WE FIND AN APARTMENT.

WE GET THEM FROM SHELTER OR STREET HOMELESSNESS INTO AN APARTMENT, TYPICALLY WITHIN 30 DAYS OR LESS, AND THEN HAVE A RATE OF 95 TO 98% OF KEEPING THEM HOUSED PAST 12 MONTHS. AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT CITYWIDE, THERE'S A SIMILAR AMONG ALL THE PROGRAMS PROVIDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THERE'S A SIMILAR SCORE. SO WHAT THAT TELLS US IS THAT HOUSING IS CRUCIAL, BUT SERVICES ARE ALSO CRUCIAL. AND SO THEY REALLY GO HAND IN HAND. AND SO WHEN WE HAVE EFFECTIVE SERVICES AND EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED. I MEAN, THE SUCCESS RATE BLEW ME AWAY. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN, IF WE REMOVE THE BARRIERS AND WE FIND PEOPLE A PLACE TO LIVE, THE SUCCESS RATE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 95 AND 98% ONCE WE GET THEM THERE. AND I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM TO SOLVE. WE JUST HAVE TO IDENTIFY PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE AND THEN SUPPORT THEM ONCE WE GET THEM THERE. RIGHT. AND WITH JUST SPEAKING AGAIN FOR OUR PROGRAM, ALMOST 100% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SOME TYPE OF DIAGNOSED DISABILITY. SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, WHICH CAN OFTEN BE BARRIERS TO HOUSING. BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THROUGH THE TEAM'S WORK WITH LANDLORDS AND THEN THE CASE MANAGEMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY MAINTAIN A HIGH RATE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY. SO THEN I THINK I WOULD JUST WOULD AGAIN SAY THAT SERVICES ARE CRUCIAL AND IT TALKS, SPEAKS TO THAT. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR TEAM. I MEAN, THE WORK WILL CONTINUE. I'M NOT SAYING CONGRATULATIONS. WE CAN REST ON OUR LAURELS. BUT THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE THAT'S IT'S I MEAN YOUR TEAM AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE A RATE THAT HIGH UNLESS YOU WERE DOING GREAT WORK. SO GOOD JOB. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER PARKER. YES. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT AGENCIES THAT YOU WORK WITH, AND DO YOU WORK WITH THE ANOTHER WAY PROGRAM? YES, WE DO WORK WITH THE GOODWILL. ANOTHER WAY PROGRAM. OKAY. AND DIRECTOR CAN CAN HELP WITH THAT. ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESS INITIATIVE FUNDS. THEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EXODUS OR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY MINISTRIES, SAINT JOHN'S CENTER, UNITING PARTNERS FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, WAYSIDE CHRISTIAN MISSION, WELLSPRING AND YMCA. OKAY, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH. YES. A HOW ARE YOU IDENTIFYING THE HOMELESS POPULATIONS? ARE YOU JUST TAKING CALLS? ARE YOU ACTUALLY VISITING THE THE CAMPS AND THE SITES? ABSOLUTELY. I WILL DEFER TO DIRECTOR PILBY. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING OUT TO THE SITES. OUR OUTREACH TEAM GOES OUT. SO ONCE THAT OUR ASSESSMENT TEAM GOES OUT, DOES THE ASSESSMENT ON THE CAMP, THEY'LL SEND THE OUTREACH TEAM OUT OR THE OUTREACH TEAM FINDS THEM ON THEIR CANVASING. IF IT'S A PHONE CALL AND IT'S JUST ASKING FOR OUTREACH, THE OUTREACH TEAM WILL THEN GO OUT TO WHATEVER LOCATION IS REQUESTED. OKAY, CAN I TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GOOD LIKE THE GOODWILL? ANOTHER WAY, IF I COULD JUST ADD THEY'RE THEY'RE A GREAT PARTNER FOR US. SO EVEN IF WE GO OUT THERE AND IT'S NOT AN ENCAMPMENT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUST SOME TRASH THAT SOMEBODY LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ODWILL, WE CAN CALL THEM AND THEY'LL GET THEIR OUT THERE MOST OF THE TIME WITHIN THAT DAY OR THE NEXT DAY TO CLEAN UP FOR US.

AND THEN OUR TEAM WILL GO BY AND PICK UP THAT DEBRIS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LINENGER. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I THINK THIS WILL ALSO BE A QUESTION FOR YOU, DIRECTOR PILBEAM. WHEN BETWEEN THE TIME THAT THE NOTICES, THE SIGNS ARE GOING UP AT A CAMP TO WHEN THE CAMP IS STRUCK, WHAT IS OUR SUCCESS RATE RIGHT NOW ON GETTING PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY MOVING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE GETTING OFF THE STREET, THAT THEY'RE EITHER GOING INTO SHELTER OR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. WHAT'S OUR SUCCESS RATE THERE

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RIGHT NOW? I DON'T HAVE THAT THAT SPECIFIC NUMBER IN FRONT OF YOU. BUT WE COULD EVEN START WITH, YOU KNOW, IS THAT COULD WE HELP THAT PERSON GET AN ID? CAN WE HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, GET ON THE HOUSE. THE COMMON ASSESSMENT HOUSING LIST. IT'S THOSE LITTLE STEPS THAT I KNOW OUR TEAM STARTS WORKING WITH EVEN BEFORE WE DO THE 21 DAY NOTICE. YEAH, I GUESS TO ME IT'S A REALLY CRITICAL PERIOD. ONCE, ONCE, ONCE THE CLOCK IS TICKING AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MOVED ON. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DISRUPTION AND IN MANY CASES THEY'RE LOSING, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY THAT THEY DO HAVE. AND SO I GUESS TO ME IT'S SORT OF THE MIRROR OF THE CHAIR'S QUESTION IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH PEOPLE IN THE UPSTREAM BEFORE THEY'RE FALLING INTO STREET HOMELESSNESS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS, WE'RE IN A REALLY CRITICAL PERIOD. AND SO I REALLY I REALLY WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE ANY SERVICE UPTAKE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET SERVICES.

BUT I THINK SPECIFICALLY SHELTER HOUSING IN THOSE MOMENTS IS REALLY CRITICAL. AND I AND I UNDERSTAND I'M ASKING YOU A QUESTION ON THE SPOT. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION. I'LL DO MY BEST TO GET THAT FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOME OF IT THOUGH, IS THE HOUSING IS A LITTLE BIT LIMITED. SO FOR US TO IMMEDIATELY PUT SOMEONE INTO HOUSING IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. BUT OUR I THINK THAT'S THOSE LITTLE STEPS THAT WE DO EVERY DAY THAT'S GOING TO HELP SOMEONE GET HOUSED. SURE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOUSING IS LIMITED, BUT WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING INTO THE CAMP. YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A POLICY TENSION THERE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO BE I'M TRYING TO AVOID USING THE WORD. I KNOW PEOPLE GET UPSET IF I USE THE WORD CLEAR, BUT IF WE'RE CLEARING CAMPS AND PEOPLE'S TENTS, SLEEPING BAGS, THEY'RE LOSING POSSESSION OF THOSE THEY ARE GETTING. THEY'RE BECOMING MORE DESPERATE SITUATION. AND WE'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF SOME SERVICES, BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING THESE PEOPLE WITH A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. THEN THIN ARE GETTIN WORSE. AND SO TO ME, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF HOW WELL WE'RE DOING ON THAT SPECIFIC QUESTION IN THAT VERY CRITICAL MOMENT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WOOLDRIDGE. THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THESE NUMBERS. I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE AMAZING. I APPRECIATE THE REPORT. READ OUT THAT YOU HAD MY QUESTION GOES TO THE RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, THAT TWO YEAR PROGRAM. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE GOAL OF THAT IS THEN TO GET THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING THAT THECAN SUPPOR YES. OKAY. THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN QUEUE. APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING TODAY COLLEAGUES. IF YOU DIDN'T NOTIC IT' AO ALUMNI NIT IN THE CHAMBER. SO WE'RE IN B NUMBER THREE, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 091,

[3. O-286-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 091, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 OPERATING BUDGET, BY TRANSFERRING $25,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND (DISTRICT 19) TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL GENERAL OPERATIONS (DISTRICT 19). Action Required By: June 4, 2026 Sponsors: Anthony Piagentini (R-19) ]

THERE WERE TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, IN. APOLOGIES IN SEVEN YEARS OF BEING ON THIS COUNCIL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M DOING THIS. SO THIS IS NOT MY NORMAL M.O. BUT THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT CHANGED THIS YEAR IN OPERATING OFFICE. ONE WAS ATTENDING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, SO THERE WERE SOME TRAVEL EXPENSES. I'VE NEVER OCCURRED AS AN OFFICE BEFORE, AND THE OTHER WAS ACTUALLY A SORT OF MORE LONG TERM STAFF ASSISTANT THAT NOW HAVE HAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO IT WAS COVERING HIS EXPENSES. SO THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF WHAT THIS IS COVERING. SO APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN MAKING THIS SHIFT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. VICE CHAIR. COLLEAGUES, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY IN QUEUE. OKAY. AND MADAM CLERK, PLEASE LET THE RECORD REFLECT. WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILWOMAN SHAMIKA. AND NOW I'M READY. OKAY. SO THE ITEM IS OPEN FOR VOTING. COUNCILMAN PARISH. RIGHT. I KNOW YOU JUST JOINED. WE'RE VOTING ON ITEM THREE, WHICH IS A MOVE WITHIN COUNCILMAN BUDGET. FOR THE COST CENTER MOVES. YEAH, OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH RIGHT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCRANEY.

YES. MISTER CHAIR, YOU HAVE EIGHT YES VOTES. THANK YOU. THE ITEM PASSES AND WE'LL MOVE TO CONSENT CALENDAR. NEXT IS ITEM 4028725. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 91, SERIES

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2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2526 OPERATING BUDGETS BY TRANSFERRING $20,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND OF DISTRICT 23 TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL.

GENERAL OPERATIONS. BUDGET 23. IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO TALK TO? YEAH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN OWEN. IS THERE

[4. O-287-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 091, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 OPERATING BUDGET, BY TRANSFERRING $20,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND (DISTRICT 23) TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL GENERAL OPERATIONS (DISTRICT 23). Action Required By: June 4, 2026 Sponsors: Jeff Hudson (R-23) ]

ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? YES. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR JOHN AND COUNCILMAN JEFF HUDSON'S OFFICE. WE'RE TRANSFERRING SOME SOME FUNDING FROM THE NDF TO OUR COST CENTER.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSFERRING SPECIFICALLY TO PRINTING AND COPYING PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES TO HELP US GET THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. JOHN. ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRING A ROLL CALL VOTE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE OPEN THE VOTING. COUNCIL MEMBER. PARISH RIGHT. YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCCRANEY. YES. MISTER CHAIR, YOU HAVE EIGHT. YES. THANK YOU. THE ITEM PASSES

[5. O-288-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 091, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 OPERATING BUDGET, BY TRANSFERRING $50,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND (DISTRICT 01) TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL GENERAL OPERATIONS (DISTRICT 01). Action Required By: June 4, 2026 Sponsors: Tammy Hawkins (D-1) ]

AND WE'LL MOVE TO CONSENT. NEXT ITEM 5028825. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 91, SERIES 2025 RELATED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2526 OPERATING BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING $50,000 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUND OF DISTRICT ONE TO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL GENERAL OPERATIONS FUND, DISTRICT ONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PIACENTINI. IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO DISCUSS COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS? OF COURSE. UNLIKE MY COLLEAGUE. I'M ALWAYS MOVING MONEY AROUND. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, I SAW SERVE A VERY DIFFERENT POPULATION, SO I'M GOING TO NEED TO MOVE SOME MONEY OVER FOR MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES, PUBLIC MEETINGS. I LIKE TO FEED MY SENIORS AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.NGS OF THAT NATURE. SO I HOPE I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE IN THE QUEUE WITH QUESTIONS. THIS ITEM REQUIRES A ROLL CALL VOTE.

MADAM CLERK, PLEASE OPEN THE VOTING. COUNCIL MEMBER PERISH, RIGHT? YES, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCRANEY. YES. MISTER CHAIR, YOU HAVE EIGHT YES VOTES. THANK YOU. THE ITEM IS ADOPTED AND MOVED TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. NEXT IS ITEM 6029325. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE

[6. O-293-25 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 181, SERIES 2022, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 YEAR-END OPERATING BUDGET AND ORDINANCE NO. 092, SERIES 2025, RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 CAPITAL BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING $150,000 FROM A PROJECT TITLED NORTON/CAMP TAYLOR AND ESTABLISHING A NEW PROJECT TITLED D10 KLONDIKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS. Action Required By: June 4, 2026 Sponsors: Josie Raymond (D-10) ]

NUMBER 181, SERIES 2022 RELATED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 2021 YEAR END OPERATING BUDGET, AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 92 SERIES 2025 RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 CAPITAL BUDGET BY TRANSFERRING $150,000 FROM A PROJECT TITLED NORTON CAMP TAYLOR AND ESTABLISHING A NEW PROJECT TITLED D-10 CONDUCT PARK IMPROVEMENTS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE? MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LINENGER. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WOOLRIDGE. THE ITEM IS BEFORE US. IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK TO IT? JEFF, UP TO YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. JEFF WALL, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT, METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT TEN COUNCILWOMAN JOSIE RAYMOND.

COUNCILWOMAN RAYMOND IS WORKING WITH METRO PARKS DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY TO MAKE SOME BIG IMPROVEMENTS TO KLONDIKE PARK, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS TO PUT IN NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.

AND SHE WANTS TO MOVE THIS MONEY OVER TO ADD OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING BASKETBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, PICKLEBALL, POSSIBLY. MAYBE SOME NEW WATER FOUNTAINS.

THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO CAMP ZACHARY TAYLOR MEMORIAL PARK, AS YOU KNOW, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE NEW WATER PARK THAT WILL BE OPEN ON MEMORIAL DAY, AND A BORDER OF BOULDERS AROUND THE PARK. NEW BASKETBALL COURT GOING TO BE PUTTING IN NEW BLEACHERS THERE FOR THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND SOME NEW EXERCISE STATIONS. SO KLONDIKE PARK NEEDS SOME LOVE TOO. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. OKAY. THANK YOU JEFF I SEE NOBODY IN QUEUE. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE OPEN THE VOTING. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. RIGHT? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCRANEY. YES. SORRY. MISTER CHAIR, YOU HAVE EIGHT YES VOTES. THANK YOU. THE ITEM PASSES AND WE'LL MOVE TO CONSENT CALENDAR. THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS ITEM SEVEN.

[7. R-157-25 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK’S 2026 BUDGET. Action Required By: June 4, 2026 Sponsors: Markus Winkler (D-17), Kevin Kramer (R-11)]

RESOLUTION R15725. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE JEFF JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK'S 2026 BUDGET. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE? MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER WOOLRIDGE, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LINENGER. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? I BELIEVE, CLERK YATES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THANK YOU. MISTER CHAIR. COLLEAGUES OR FORMER COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE BUDGET AS YOUR JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK. I KNOW EACH OF YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME? FOR THE RECORD, I ALREADY GOT SLAPPED ON THE WRIST. DAVID YATES, JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE BUDGET, THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. I DID NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF NOT TALKING TO BETH FIRST, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT. I KNOW EACH OF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE, BUT I

[00:35:04]

WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE THAT WE REALLY DID DIVE DOWN ON SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES. WE LOOKED AT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, OUR OPERATIONAL READINESS FOR A TWO YEAR, YOU KNOW, TWO ELECTIONS COMING UP. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE GO WITHOUT A HINGE. AND THEN ALSO JUST CONTINUING THE SERVICE OF EXCELLENCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. SO I KNOW THAT YOU LOOKED AT THE REVENUE OUTLOOK. IT'S CONSERVATIVE, IT'S REALISTIC. AND WE'RE PROJECTING AT 29.8 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR 2026. AND IT'S AN INCREASE DRIVEN ALMOST ENTIRELY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE THE TWO THE TWO ELECTIONS, WHICH ARE COSTLY. WE KNOW THAT. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL THE COST THAT WOULD BE THAT WE'VE SEEN EACH YEAR WORRIED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SECURITY ISSUES. THE PERSONNEL IS LEAN AND STRATEGIC.

WE'RE ACTUALLY DECREASING PERSONNEL COST BY $454,000 FROM 2025, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MANAGING THE SAME NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND INCREASING TOTAL WAGES WILL BE A TOTAL OF 9.2% INCREASE IN WAGES. SO THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE SAVING MONEY AND INCREASING REAL WAGES. AND SO WE'RE REALLY DID A DEEP DIVE IN THERE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RUNNING THIS THING RIGHT I HAVE A GREAT TEAM BEHIND ME. I'M NEW ON THE JOB. SO I CANNOT TAKE CREDIT OTHER THAN JUST LOTS OF PEOPLE SURROUNDING ME LIFTING UP. WE BROUGHT IN SOME OF THE VERY BEST FROM OUTSIDE, BUT WE ALSO UTILIZE SOME OF THE BEST FROM THE INSIDE, INCLUDING FROM OUR CHAMBER HERE. SO WE'LL INCREASE. WE'RE WE KNOW THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE IN OUR OFFICE IS GOING TO HAVE A 4% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE RETROACTIVE TO JANUARY 1ST BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, TO KEEP GOOD EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IT. OUR OFFICE, A LOT OF YOU KNOW, THAT HAS DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT THAN SOME OTHER METRO OFFICES. SO IF YOU BEAR WITH ME AS WE INCREASE THOSE COSTS TO MAKE THEM COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER METRO AGENCIES, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. OUR OPERATING EXPENSES, IT'S MOSTLY ELECTION DRIVEN. WE KNOW WITH TWO ELECTIONS WE KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THOSE ARE. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE POLL BOOKS, WHAT I'VE DONE IS WE'VE SETTLED DOWN AND WE'RE HAVING COMPETITION. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE VERY BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT WE HAVE BEST SERVICES. AND THE ELECTIONS ARE TOO IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE ANY MESS UPS CAPITAL. WE'RE REINVESTING OUR SAVINGS INTO THE FUTURE. WE'RE LOOKING AT 3.75 3.735 MILLION IN LONG TERM OVERDUE UPGRADES. AND THIS IS NOT ASKING FOR ANY NEW MONEY. THAT'S WE'RE TAKING THE BUDGET FROM WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE. I THINK THAT'S A RESPONSIBLE WAY. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT AND LET THAT CONTINUE TO GET HIGHER AND HIGHER. I'M GOING TO TRY TO KNOCK THAT OUT IMMEDIATELY. AND AND I COULD GOOUGH AND LAY OUT THE LIST. YOU'VE SEEN IT. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REVENUE, BUT TO BE HONEST, I'M PROUD. I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK OUT ALREADY. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT YEAR COMING UP, AND I HOPE YOU SEE OUR OFFICE AS A PARTNER. I LOOK AT IT, I'VE SERVED AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. I'M EXCITED TO BE ACROSS THE STREET AS WE WORK TO TRY TO DO THE VERY BEST. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PIACENTINI. THANK YOU. I THINK YOUR NEW HONORIFIC WILL BE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SENATOR CLERK YATES. SO THAT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK YOUR BUDGET'S GREAT. I DO WANT TO. I FEEL LIKE I'M CHANNELING MY INNER KRAMER HERE SINCE SINCE CHAIR KRAMER CAN'T BE HERE TO SAY. AND FOR THE PUBLIC. I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS. HELL, I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL KNOWS THIS, BUT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE VERY, VERY UNIQUE POSITIONS. AND IF YOU RUN A BUDGET DEFICIT, IT COMES OUT OF YOUR POCKET PERSONALLY. SO SO THERE IS SO I HAVE ZERO OBJECTION WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE ON HOW YOU BUILD THIS BUDGET AND ENSURE THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN, BECAUSE I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT YOURSELF OR SHERIFF JAMES TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A BIG CHECK TO WRITE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. AND THOSE OF YOU HAVE SERVED WITH ME, YOU KNOW HOW CONSERVATIVE I CAN BE WITH THOSE. SO WITH THAT SAID, YOU DID FINISH THIS LAST YEAR WITH A SURPLUS OR YOU WILL END THIS YEAR WITH A SURPLUS. SOUNDS. I SEE WHERE YOU'RE MOVING IT AND HOW YOU'RE DOING IT AND YOUR ONGOING COSTS, EVEN GIVEN IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR, VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH HISTORICAL TRENDS. SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. AND I DO WANT YOU TO UPGRADE CAPITAL. THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO NO OBJECTION. BUT I DO WANT TO ADVOCATE IN THE FUTURE THAT WE TRY TO CONTINUE THE TREND OF IF THEY'RE SURPLUS FUNDS, YOU KNOW, IN GOVERNMENT, WE TEND TO SAY, OH, THERE'S EXTRA MONEY THERE. LET'S JUST SPEND IT. IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THAT BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS GENERALLY, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE BASE OUR OVERALL TAX RATES ON IT AND ALL THIS WOULD APPRECIATE IT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING. WE DID INCLUDE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF 4.6 MILLION FOR ELECTION BOOKS. HAS THAT ALREADY OR HAVE WE DONE THOSE UPGRADES OR WHAT'S THE STORY WITH THE

[00:40:02]

ELECTION? SO COMING IN, BECAUSE I WAS APPOINTED A NEW CLERK, THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT NOT SET.

SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATION WITH TWO DIFFERENT VENDORS. HAVING THEM COME BACK IN THE OFFICE AND TALK TO THEM. AND WE'RE AN ACTIVE NEGOTIATION. I'M WORKING TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK ON THERE. SO THAT'S CONTRACT HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED. WE HAVE TWO LIKE DOWN AT THE TABLE. THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES IN STATE LAW THAT'S MADE SOME A COUPLE DIFFERENT CHANGES. BUT THIS IS WHAT I'M GOOD AT. WE'RE DIVING DOWN INTO IT AND I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE VERY BEST SERVICES FOR THE COST. YEAH I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CLARK. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. I SEE NOBODY ELSE IN QUEUE. THIS IS. OH. I'M SORRY. YES, COUNCILMAN. PARISH. RIGHT. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT INFORMATION TO US. MY QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO THE BUDGET, BUT I KNOW THAT WITH THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE, THERE WAS A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND DATA. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN YOUR COST THAT YOU'RE ACCOUNTING FOR ANY UPGRADES OR ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. SO THOSE UPLOADS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE DELAYED. AND THEN MY MY LAST QUESTION IS AROUND, THERE WAS TALKS BEFORE ABOUT THE EARLY VOTING SITES AND ALL OF THAT AND YOU KNOW THE COST WITH THAT. AND ARE THOSE A PART OF OPERATION BUDGET OR DO YOU PLAN TO KEEP THOSE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH EARLY VOTING OPTIONS.

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

WE'RE HAVING THE TWO COMPARE WHAT WOULD WORK. WE'RE TRYING TO RUN A COUPLE TESTS REAL TIME TO SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES TO TAKE IN THE ABSENTEE VOTING. IN THE EVENT THAT YOU OPEN IT UP AND PEOPLE ARE VOTING. SO IF WE KNOW THAT'S 1 HOUR OR 2 HOURS RIGHT NOW, THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN SEPARATED OUT SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY CAN ACTUALLY DOWNLOAD SOME OF THOSE BALLOTS AS THEY'RE VOTING. OBVIOUSLY, WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, YOU BETTER BELIEVE I'M, I'M IT MAKES ME NERVOUS. AND SO THAT'S WHY THE SIGNATURES HAVEN'T BEEN SIGNED. AND THAT'S WHY THAT I CONTINUE TO FLY IN EXPERTS. AND WE AND WE'RE MEETING AROUND THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE VERY BEST. AND THEN IT'S ACCURATE AND IT'S FAIR. I'M NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES. OKAY. THANK YOU. SEEING NO ONE ELSE IN QUEUE. THIS IS A RESOLUTION ALLOWING FOR A VOICE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS ITEM WILL MOVE TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. AND THE LAST ITEM. THANK YOU FOR THE ANOTHER WAY PROGRAM TO THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. OUR 158-1- 25 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S 2026 BUDGET MAY HAVE A MOTION. MOTION BY COUNCILMAN, SECOND BY

[8. R-158-25 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S 2026 BUDGET. Action Required By: June 4, 2026 Sponsors: Markus Winkler (D-17). Kevin Kramer (R-11)]

COUNCILMAN LINENGER. IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? SHERIFF DAVID JAMES, WELCOME. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD. AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS, SIR. HELLO, DAVID JAMES, SHERIFF FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE 2026 BUDGET. AND MUCH LIKE MY COLLEAGUE, CLERK YATES, WE'RE BOTH NEW TO THESE POSITIONS.

AND AND WE'RE LEARNING AS WE GO. SO WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE BUDGET AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE BUDGET. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN MOLLY WOOLRIDGE, THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. I DO NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE ON THE

[00:45:02]

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BUDGET AS MY HUSBAND IS EMPLOYED THERE. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL BE SURE TO CALL FOR A ROLL CALL. VOTE AT THE END. COUNCILMAN PIACENTINI, THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO THE BUDGET. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SAME SIMILAR STATEMENT TO THE CLERK, RIGHT? IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITIES, BUT YOUR BUDGET IS VERY MUCH IN LINE. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, BECAUSE I DON'T GET YOU HERE VERY OFTEN, BY THE WAY, ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DEPUTY MAYOR, SHERIFF JAMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOUR TITLE GETS LONGER BY THE MOMENT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM OF ALL THE WORK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET APPOINTED TO A POSITION, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE COMING OFF THE HEELS OF SOMEBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN DOING IT FOR SO LONG. BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MYSELF AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ASKED FOR WHAT I'LL JUST CALL AN ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP SOLUTION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT. OR TO THE TO OUR CRIME EPIDEMIC HERE. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS STEPPED UP. AND JUST IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE ASKED FOR IT MORE. SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I HOPE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AN IMPROVEMENT IN THAT RELATIONSHIP OVER TIME WITH LMPD, WITH OUR OTHER AGENCIES. BUT THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT WORK, SHERIFF. THANK YOU. IT ISN'T THE WORK I'VE DONE. IT'S THE WORK THEY DO. AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO BE GOOD PARTNERS WITH YOU ALL AND LMPD AND ALL OF OUR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AS WELL.

THANK YOU. YEP. THANK YOU. AND, SHERIFF, I WOULD JUST ECHO COUNCILMAN COMMENTS THERE AS WELL. COLLEAGUES, I SEE NO ONE ELSE IN QUEUE. AND AS I MENTIONED, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A RESOLUTION ALLOWING FOR A VOICE VOTE, WE WILL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE SO THAT WE CAN CORRECTLY COUNT COUNCILMAN MULVEY WOOLRICH'S ABSTENTION. SO, MADAM CLERK, PLEASE OPEN THE VOTE. COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION FOR SHERIFF JAMES. OKAY. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. AND FORGIVE ME FOR NOT HAVING MY NOTES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BE THERE. ONE, I WANT TO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE TAKING ON THIS NEW POSITION. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THE UNIFORM. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. I DO CARE ABOUT THOSE THINGS, AS THE SHERIFFS ALSO INTERACT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I INTERACT WITH DAILY, AND MOST OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOOD. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR STAFFING NUMBERS ARE. ARE YOU SHORT ANY STAFF AND WHAT'S THE THE MEDIAN INCOME? OR IF YOU HAVE THAT, I DON'T HAVE THE NOTES IN FRONT OF ME OF THE INCOMING SHERIFF OFFICE. YOU KNOW, A NEW SHERIFF HIRE. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE SHORT ABOUT 58 POSITIONS. I BELIEVE THAT 50 OF THEM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ARE SHERIFF'S POSITIONS, DEPUTIES POSITIONS. WE ARE GOING TO NEGOTIATE A NEW FOP CONTRACT THIS THIS SPRING, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP US WITH OUR RECRUITING. ALSO, I THINK WITH SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF INTEREST FROM OTHER AGENCIES FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO BECOME DEPUTIES. SO I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD UPON THAT PRETTY QUICKLY. AND I'M SORRY, I FORGOT THE OTHER QUESTION. OH YEAH. STARTING SALARY. I THINK. DON'T HOLD ME TO THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT $66,000 A YEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. NOW, SEEING NO ONE ELSE. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. PLEASE OPEN THE VOTING. COUNCIL MEMBER.

PARISH RIGHT. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCCRANEY. YES, MR. CHAIR, YOU HAVE 8 OR 7 YES VOTES AND ONE PRESENT. THANK YOU. ONE ABSTENTION. ABSTENTION? YES. THANK YOU. THIS ITEM WILL MOVE TO OLD BUSINESS SO THAT COUNCILWOMAN MULVEY WILL BE ABLE TO ABSTAIN ON THE FLOOR.

COLLEAGUES, THERE IS NO MORE BUSINESS BEFORE US. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. NOT ONLY DOES THIS MARK THE LAST BUDGET COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR, BUT I BELIEVE IT ALSO MARKS THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOTWITHSTANDING. SO CORRECT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK THIS YEAR. I'M SURE ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN KRAMER, I THINK IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL BUDGET YEAR. APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

[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.]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WITHOUT OBJECTION. MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

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