Closed Caption Log, Council Worksession
Wednesday, August 7, 2002

Note: Since these log files are derived from the Closed Captions created during the Channel 6 live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. These Closed Caption logs are not official records of Council Meetings and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records or transcripts, please contact the City Clerk at (512) 974-2210.

Mayor Garcia: WE HAVE A QUORUM. DO WE HAVE THE AGENDA? THERE BEING A -- THERE BEING A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IN THE ROOM -- I'M GOING DO CALL TO ORDER THE WORK SESSION OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST THE 7th, 2002. IT IS 10:09, WE ARE AT ONE TEXAS CENTER, 505 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD. THIRD FLOOR PLANNING ROOM HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. WE HAVE TWO BRIEFING, THEY BOTH HAVE TO DO WITH THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003. THE FIRST ONE IS PROTECTIVE SERVICES, FIRE, E.M.S., POLICE AND MUNICIPAL COURT, THE NEXT ONE IS ENTERPRISE SERVICES, AVIATION, CONVENTION AND SOLID WASTE SERVICES. CITY MANAGER?

Futrell: WELL, I HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE ROLE OF GIVING SOME SOBERING BUDGET NEWS BEFORE WE START THIS PRESENTATION. WE RECEIVED OUR LATEST SALES TAX NUMBER THIS MORNING. IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST MONTH WE WERE NEGATIVE 3.3%. LET ME SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER THIS. 3.3%. THE MONTH BEFORE THAT, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. FOUR MONTHS AGO IT WAS NEGATIVE 11.1. THEN WENT FLAT, JUST SLIGHTLY POSITIVE, ABOVE ZERO. WE DROPPED AGAIN LAST MONTH'S REPORT TO NEGATIVE 3.3. THE NEW NUMBERS ARE IN, STATE-WIDE, AND WE ARE NEGATIVE 10.2%. WE ARE THE LOWEST SALES TAX MONTHLY NUMBER FOR ANY OF THE MAJOR TEXAS CITIES. FOLLOWED BY HOUSTON AND DALLAS AT NEGATIVE 7.5%. I STRESS THIS AS AN INDICATOR THAT WE CANNOT RELY ON OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS AT THIS POINT. IT'S ALL OVER THE MAP. THIS IS A VERY BAD NUMBER FOR US. WE WERE COUNTING ON A NEGATIVE 7.3. IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT $330,000. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT 15 OF THE 20 LARGEST CITIES IN TEXAS WERE ALL NEGATIVE. AND STATE-WIDE CITY SALES TAX ON AVERAGE WAS ALSO NEGATIVE. 4.7%. IT IS IN THAT CONTEXT THAT WE ARE STARTING THE FIRST OF OUR BUDGET WORK SESSIONS FOR YOU. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING PUBLIC SAFETY, AS THE MAYOR HAS SAID, POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND MUNICIPAL COURT. WE WILL FOLLOW THAT BY THREE OF OUR ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS, AVIATION, CONVENTION CENTER AND SOLID WASTE SERVICES. I WANT TO STRESS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO FOCUS ALL OUR WORK SESSIONS IN AUGUST ON THE BUDGET. AND TO HOLD THE WEDNESDAY WORK SESSIONS FOR BUDGET RELATED TOPICS ONLY. NEXT WEEK, WE ARE OFF. BUT THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE WILL PICK UP AGAIN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WATER AND WASTEWATER AND AUSTIN ENERGY. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY PRESENTATION TODAY, AND THE -- THE NEXT WORK SESSION PRESENTATIONS ON THE REST OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE THE TRENDS THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS MATCHING UP WITH THE BUDGET OBJECTIVES WE OUTLINED FOR YOU A WEEK AGO. YOU WILL NOTICE THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS OF WORKING SMARTER, EXAMPLES OF PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND EFFICIENCIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE TO HELP US CUT DOWN ON OUR BUDGET GAP. YOU WILL ALSO HEAR A DISCUSSION OF HOW EACH DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO REDUCE THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD AND MANAGEMENT COSTS SO THE OPERATING -- THE OPERATING LEAN OBJECTIVE. REMEMBER THE OTHER TWO BUDGET OBJECTIVES BEING CLOSING THE STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE WITHIN TWO YEARS, OUR GOAL BEING 60% PERMANENT OR ONGOING EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS AND REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS THIS FIRST YEAR. THE FINAL OBJECTIVE BEING NO CITY EMPLOYEE LOSES THEIR JOB AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO LAURA HUFFMAN WHO IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE INTRO TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Mayor Garcia: JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NO CITY EMPLOYEE BEING LAID OFF, I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE THAT HAVE PERMANENT JOBS.

Futrell: THAT'S TRUE. THE CITY POLICY ON TEMPORARY POSITIONS HAS NOT CHANGED. ALL CITIES WHO -- ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO HIRE TEMPORARIES SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THOSE TEMPORARIES FOR ONLY SIX MONTHS. THEY ARE NOT PERMANENT JOB, THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEED A JOB. THERE IS AN EXTENSION PROCESS TO TAKE TEMPS TO ONE YEAR, AFTER ONE YEAR IT SHOULD BE REQUIRE AND REVIEWED REGULARLY AND ONLY IN CERTAIN KINDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES SO THOSE TEMPORARIES STAY ON BEYOND ONE YEAR. TO TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ARE MEANT TO FILL A TEMPORARY GAP AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE USED FOR PERMANENT STAFFING OR ONGOING PROJECTS. SO, YES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NO LAYOFFS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

Mayor Garcia: THE REASON I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE SOME TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, I THINK PROBABLY WE NEED TO WORK ON HOW WE ARE WORDING THIS, SOME TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN GIVEN A LETTER SAYING WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN THE '03 BUDGET FOR YOU, SO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE WORKING HERE. THEY ARE INTERPRETING THAT AS A LAYOFF, IN ESSENCE THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.

Futrell: I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT ANYONE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LETTER LIKE THAT, SO I WILL LOOK INTO THAT.

Mayor Garcia: BACK TO YOU CITY MANAGER.

GOOD MORNING, I'M LAURA HUFFMAN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER PUBLIC SAFETY. LAST WEEK YOU RECEIVED THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '03, THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO SHIFT GEARS AND MOVE INTO OUR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET PRESENTATIONS AND KICK THAT OFF WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. E.M.S., FIRE, POLICE AND MUNICIPAL COURT. WITH ME TODAY ARE RICHARD HERRING TON OUR DIRECTOR OF E.M.S., ED ROCK OR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, FIRE CHIEF GARY WARREN, POLICE CHIEF STAN KNEE AND OUR MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK REBECCA STARK. TOGETHER WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGETS FOR THE YEAR. I THINK PROBABLY THE MESSAGE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THIS YEAR IS THAT YOUR BUDGET, YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS PUBLIC SAFETY AS A COMMUNITY, A BUDGET AND A STAFFING PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. A COMMUNITY PRIORITY. IN THE FIRST SLIDE THAT YOU SEE, WHAT YOU WILL FIND IS HOW OUR CITIZENS RANK PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES, E.M.S., FIRE AND POLICE AS A PRIORITY. EVERY YEAR WE ASK OUR CITIZENS ABOUT OVER 100 CITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. WE ASK THEM TO IDENTIFY WHAT LEVEL OF PRIORITY THESE SERVICES ARE AND HOW WE ARE DOING IN THE DELIVERY OF THOSE SERVICES. WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE IS THAT ACROSS THE BOARD OUR CITIZENS DEFINE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES AS A HIGH PRIORITY. BETWEEN 90 AND 91% OF THOSE SURVEYED INDICATE A HIGH PRIORITY IN THIS AREA. WHAT YOU CAN ALSO SEE FROM THIS SLIDE IS THAT CITIZENS GIVE PUBLIC SAFETY SOME OF THE HIGHEST SATISFACTION RATINGS OF ANY OF THE CITY'S SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. SO IN OTHER WORDS THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN DEFINE PUBLIC SAFETY AS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY AND THEY HAVE RELATIVELY HIGH SATISFACTION LEVELS WITH THIS GROUP OF SERVICES. A BUDGET PRIORITY. THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS CONTINUED TO INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY AS A BUDGET PRIORITY AND THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT. AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED LAST YEAR, IN FACT, WHEN WE BEGAN THE CUTBACKS IN THE BUDGET, WE HELD UNIFORMED FIRST RESPONDERS HARMLESS. AND DURING THE PROPOSED BUDGET THIS YEAR, YOU WILL ALSO SEE THAT UNIFORMED PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN HELD HARMLESS IN TERMS OF BUDGET CUTS. WE CONTINUE TO INVEST HEAVILY IN PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF THESE STATISTICS BEFORE, BUT THEY ARE WORTH REPEATING. NEARLY 53.6% OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE DEVOTED TO FUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY. ON THE REVENUE SIDE, 95% OF OUR SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES ARE DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES: POLICE, FIRE AND E.M.S. AS A GROUP, THESE BUDGETS TOTAL $256 MILLION THIS YEAR. YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $12.6 MILLION. THOSE INCREASES ACCRUED TO THE UNIFORMED FIRST RESPONDERS AND EACH OF THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE HAPPENING IN EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS. BUT WE ARE IN FACT ACHIEVING SOME MAJOR GOALS IN PUBLIC SAFETY THIS YEAR, INCLUDING 2.0 STAFFING AND FULL-YEAR FUNDING FOR TASK FORCE STAFFING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. BEYOND OUR UNIFORMED PERSONNEL WITHIN EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, WE DID LOOK CLOSELY AT ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT AREAS. AND WHERE WE COULD STREAMLINE SERVICES WITHOUT COMPROMISING SERVICE DELIVERY, WE DID MAKE CUTS. AND WHAT YOU WILL SEE REFLECTED IN THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS A CUT OF -- A TOTAL CUT IN PUBLIC SAFETY OF $5 MILLION. IN KEEPING WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OVERALL GOAL OF MAKING STRUCTURAL PERMANENT CUTS VERSUS ONE-TIME CUTS, YOU WILL FIND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF THESE CUTS ARE STRUCTURAL OR PERMANENT CUTS. A STAFFING PRIORITY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR UNIFORMED PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES WERE HELD HARMLESS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE HAVE 2,588 UNIFORMED FIRST RESPONDERS IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS. AND AGAIN WE ARE ACHIEVING SOME MAJOR GOALS WITH THESE PERSONNEL THIS YEAR, INCLUDING 2.0 STAFFING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND TASK FORCE STAFFING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE RESPONDED TO A RECORD NUMBER OF CALLS LAST YEAR. WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THIS SLIDE IS 842,285 CALLS ON THE 911 SIDE. WHEN YOU ADD INTO THAT THE INITIATION OF OUR 311 CALLS, WE HAD OVER A MILLION CALLS INTO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S VERSUS FEWER THAN 800,000 LAST YEAR. SO THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE, AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED LAST YEAR, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SERVICES THAT DIDN'T SEE A REDUCTION IN ITS DEMAND LAST YEAR. IN FACT THIS GROUP OF SERVICE DELIVERERS SAW AN INCREASE IN THEIR WORKLOAD LAST YEAR. IN LOOKING AT OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY SCORE CARD, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT ACROSS THE BOARD. OUR STANDARD FIVE-CITY COMPARISON, AUSTIN AT A PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE OF $361.95 IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK. WHAT I THINK IS MOST STRIKELY ABOUT THIS DATA IS THAT ALL FIVE TEXAS CITIES CLEARLY DEFINE PUBLIC SAFETY AS A STRONG PRIORITY. YOU CAN SEE THAT BY THE FACT THAT THE INVESTMENTS CLUSTER AT ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL THROUGHOUT THOSE CITIES. IN ADDITION TO BEING A COMMUNITY PRIORITY, OUR SCORE CARD STATISTICS, WHICH IS HOW WE COMPARE OURSELVES AND BENCHMARK OURSELVES ANNUALLY, CONFIRM THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE SERVICES THAT WE DELIVER THIS PUBLIC SAFETY HERE IN AUSTIN. AND E.M.S. -- IN E.M.S. WE LOOK AT CARDIAC ARREST PATIENTS DLIRED DELIVERED TO A MEDICAL CENTER WITH A PULSE. YOU SEE THAT 23.8% OF THE TIME WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. THIS MAKES US THE SECOND HIGHEST PERFORMER IN OUR COMPARISON OF OTHER CITIES SURVEYED. IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, 80% OF FIRES WERE CONTAINED TO THE ROOM OF ORIGIN. WE ARE THE SECOND HIGHEST PERFORMER AMONG OUR ICMA COMPETITORS IN THIS STATISTIC AS WELL. IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE SURVEY OUR CITIZENS TO DETERMINE HOW SAFE THEY FEEL WALKING ALONE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS DURING THE DAY AND ALSO AT NIGHT. THIS YEAR WHAT WE FOUND WAS 94% OF OUR CITIZENS FELT SAFE DURING THE DAY AND 69% AT NIGHT. WHAT I THINK IS PARTICULARLY REMARKABLE ABOUT THIS STATISTIC THIS YEAR IS THAT THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AFTER THE EVENTS OF 9-11. AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS HIGHLY OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR ABILITY TO ENSURE A SENSE OF SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY DURING A YEAR WHEN FEW PEOPLE FELT SAFE. COURT COMMUNITY SCORE CARD. YOU WILL SEE 80'S RELATIVELY LOW PRIORITY FOR THE CITIZEN -- break in transcript -- THE NORMAL AMBULANCE CHARGE FOR PATIENTS THAT WE TRANSPORT THAT DO NOT HAVE A CITY OF AUSTIN OR TRAVIS COUNTY ADDRESS. SEVERAL OTHER CITIES SUCH AS SAN ANTONIO, CORPS, FORT -- CORPUS, FORT WORTH AND DALLAS. ALSO AID AT THE SCENE CHARGES. RESPONDS TO SOMEONE, MAKES AN ASSESSMENT, PROVIDES SOME LEVEL OF MEDICAL TREATMENT, YET THE PATIENT REFUSES TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER. WE FORECAST THIS WILL YIELD APPROXIMATELY 09,000 NEXT YEAR. THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 540,000 FORECAST BASED UPON INCREASES IN CALL VOLUME, MEDICARE ADJUSTMENT, SLIGHT INCREASES TO THE BASIC TRANSPORT RATE AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS FEES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. ONE OF OUR KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES IS THE NUMBER OF PRIORITY ONE OR POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CALLS WHERE E.M.S. RESPONDS IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. WE CURRENTLY ESTIMATE COMPLIANCE AT 84% FROM THIS YEAR. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, THIS IS A DECREASE FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE IMPROVEMENT FROM FISCAL YEAR 2000 TO 2001 IS ATTRIBUTED PRIMARILY TO THE ADDITION OF 7 COUNTY AMBULANCES DURING THAT PERIOD. CALL VOLUME ALSO INCREASED OVER 19% SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2000. WITH NO NEW CITY STATIONS BEING OPENED UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. WE OPENED THE MACONDA STATION MAY 15th AND THE NEW WEST AUSTIN STATION OFFICIALLY OPENS THIS SATURDAY. HOWEVER WE MOVED INTO THE STATION YESTERDAY, SO IT IS OPERATING TODAY. WE ARE FORECASTING A 1% IMPROVEMENT FOR NEXT YEAR, PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTED TO HAVING THE TWO STATIONS OPERATIONAL FOR A FULL YEAR, SLOWER THAN USUAL CALL VOLUME GROWTH WHICH WE [INAUDIBLE] FOR F.Y. '03. NEXT SLIDE ED ROCK, THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO HIS HEART.

GOOD MORNING, I'M ED ROCK, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR FIRE AND E.M.S. I'M SORRY? MY APOLOGIES. THE SLIDE THAT -- THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS -- IS ACTUALLY A FAIRLY SOPHISTICATED WAY OF A COMMUNITY MEASURING THEIR PERFORMANCE IN ONE MEASURE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THAT IS CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVAL. IN TERMS OF GOING THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF THIS SLIDE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS -- WHILE IT SAYS AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY E.M.S., THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD MEASUREMENT OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY AND THE E.M.S. TRANSPORT PIECE. THE FIRST LINE, THE TOP LINE ARE PATIENTS WHO ARE DELIVERED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A PULSE, THOSE ARE PATIENTS WHO DON'T HAVE A PULSE, WHEN 911 IS ACTIVATED AND THE SYSTEM IS ABLE TO GENERATE A PULSE IN THE FIELD. THAT'S CONSIDERED TO BE A VERY APPROPRIATE INDICATOR FOR WHAT A COMMUNITY CAN DO OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL IN TERMS OF RECESSATION. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR PROJECTION IS ABOUT 20%. WE HAVE DROPPED FROM ABOUT 26.1 SPEAKERS TO THE -- 26.1% TO 23.8% THAT MEDICINE WOULD PROBABLY NOT SEE AS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT WE ARE MOST INTERESTED IN. WHICH IS PATIENTS WHO ARE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER THEIR CARDIAC ARREST. AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE. THE OVERALL NATIONAL REPORTED DATA FOR SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ON CARDIAC ARREST IS 6.4%. THAT'S A STUDY OF ABOUT 35,000 PATIENTS. SO WE ARE FORTUNATE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT OUR SURVIVAL IS IN THE 9.3 OR 9% RANGE. JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, WE ARE ALSO VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATION, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC SAFETY TO GET DEFIBRILLATORS OUT THERE IN THE HANDS OF OUR PUBLIC.

E.M.S. IS CONTINUALLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THREE PROCESSES THAT HAVE REDUCED COSTS AND IMPROVED PERFORMANCE FOR ELM. THE FIRST ONE CHANGING SHIFT TIME WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE CITY MANAGER IN HER BUDGET BRIEFING LAST WEEK. IN ESSENCE WE FOUND BY MOVING SHIFT CHANGE FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 7:00 A.M. WE COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HOURS OF OVERTIME. SECOND CHANGE THE WAY WE DISTRIBUTE SUPPLIES TO THE STATION. SINCE WE SERVICE AN AREA OVER 1100 SQUARE MILES, PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTING SUPPLIES IS VERY LABOR EXTENSIVE, RESULTS IN EACH STATION HAVING ITS OWN LITTLE WAREHOUSE. WE ARE EVALUATING SETTING UP DISTRIBUTION POINTS IN MOST OF THE HOSPITALS OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS SO THE CREWS CAN EASILY RESTOCK AWAY FROM THEIR STATION. THIS WILL SAVE TRAVEL TIME AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF INVENTORY IN CIRCULATION. RESULTING WE HOPE IN A SAVINGS OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 06 AND $100,000 -- 60 AND 100,000 NEXT WEEK. USING THE INTRANET TO COLLECT INFORMATION. PRIOR TO THAT DISTRICT COMMANDERS HAND DELIVER TO THE STATIONS ANY KIND OF OPERATIONAL ADVISORY, POLICY CHANGE AND JUST GENERAL INFORMATION MANUALLY. WITH THIS NEW PROCESS THE -- WE DO SCHEDULING, WE DO PAYROLL, WE DO INVENTORY ORDERING AND ALL ADVISORIES ARE HAND THROUGH THE INTRANET. LASTLY, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE HAVE CONTINUALLY LOOKED AT OUR REVENUE STREAM, REVENUE PROCESSES, WE ARE PROUD TO SAY WE HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE PATIENT CARE REVENUE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT OVER THE LAST YEARS TO ABOUT 90% FROM 4.6 MILLION TO 8.7%, AT 8.7 MILLION. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

Mayor Garcia: LET ME SEE -- LET ME SEE IF -- IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PRESENTATION. COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER?

Slusher: THANK YOU, MAYOR. LET ME GET BACK TO THAT PAGE HERE. I WAS NOTICING ON THE PER CAPITA EXPENSES COMPARED TO THE OTHER CITIES, WHICH I'M SOMEHOW NOT FINDING THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT -- BUT THAT --

Futrell: PAGE 5.

Slusher: THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE -- YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS RIGHT NOW, I REALIZED WHEN THEY WERE TALKING FIRE, E.M.S. AND POLICE, BUT -- BUT WE HAVE A HIGHER PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE THAN HOUSTON. BUT THEY HAVE MORE OFFICERS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE COMPARISON ON WHAT MAKES --

THEN IF I COULD. I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET, I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO READ ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS YET. BUT THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CRIME RATES COMPARED FOR THESE SAME CITIES AND ALSO THE STATISTICS THAT WE GOT FROM FIRE AND E.M.S. TO SEE THOSE FOR THESE CITIES.

OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER, HOUSTON IS GOING TO BE ANANOML, THEY MADE A FIRE STAFFING THAT WASN'T IN THIS BUDGETED NUMBER. WE WILL GIVE IT TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT ACTUALLY IS HAPPENING AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY BUDGETED.

Slusher: ONE MORE, COMPARISONS OF TRAFFIC DEATHS BOTH PER CAPITA AND OVERALL.

Futrell: WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.

Slusher: THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW, MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON THE E.M.S. SIDE, ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET SUMMARY, WE ARE SHOWING A $5 MILLION ADMINISTRATIVE COST REDUCTION. DO WE KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN BETWEEN FIRE, POLICE, E.M.S.? WHERE WERE THOSE ADMINISTRATE ACTIVE CUTS MADE?

WE HAVE JUST UNDER A MILLION IN E.M.S., ABOUT $3.3 MILLION IN POLICE AND 750 -- 752,000 IN FIRE, FOR A TOLL OF JUST OVER $5 MILLION.

Wynn: OKAY. GREAT. THEN DR. ROCK, SPECIFICALLY ON THE -- THIS CHART THAT SHOWS THE -- THE CHART YAK ARREST PATIENTS -- CARDIAC ARREST PATIENTS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, DISCHARGED ALIVE, I NOTICED THAT ON -- ON THE '01 -- WE ARE SHOWING THE '01-'02 ESTIMATE BEING DOWN TO 7.5%, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS STILL SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. BUT WHY THAT ONE YEAR REDUCTION ON THE ESTIMATE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE SEE THAT THE PROPOSED '02-'03 IS BASED ON 9% AGAIN.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IN GETTING CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVAL DATA OBVIOUSLY IS THE PATIENT HAS TO BE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. WE THEN HAVE TO GET THE MEDICAL RECORDS, BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. PART OF THAT THEN CONTRIBUTES TO THAT. I THINK THE -- IN A GENERAL MEDICINE IS PRETTY COMFORTABLE WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS ARREST SURVIVAL OVER TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN HAVE A SERIES OF CARDIAC ARRESTS THAT DON'T SURVIVE BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL MEDICS OR FIRST RESPONDERS INITIATED RESCUTATION IN FOLKS WHO WOULD NOT BE VIABLE CANDIDATES. I KNOW THAT'S KINDS OF CONFUSING, BUT IT THE NEW MEXICOATOR AND DENOMINATOR. NUMERATOR AND DENOMINATOR. LET ME BACK BACKTRACK. IF A PATIENT IS PULSELESS AND NOT BREATHING, THE FIRST DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE IS ARE THERE A RESCUTATION CANDIDATE. THERE ARE WELL DEFINED CRITERIA WRAP FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE DEAD AND PATIENT IN NEED OF -- PATIENTS IN CARDIAC ARREST. WE TEND TO ATTEMPT RESCUTATION ON MORE PATIENTS SO THAT WE WOULD BEGIN RESCUTATION ON PATIENTS THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD NOT BE RESCUTATION CANDIDATES. I THINK THAT CHANGES THE DENOMINATOR SOMEWHAT. BUT IN TERMS OF A 7.5% DIP, AS THAT DATA COMES IN, THEN I DON'T THINK WE WOULD SEE THAT AS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN -- IN OVERALL COMMUNITY ARREST SURVIVAL. DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

Wynn: I THINK SO. [ LAUGHTER ] BUT -- IT'S A GOOD ATTEMPT. THAT'S FINE. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THIS NATIONAL BENCHMARK, IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW WELL WE ARE PERFORMING AGAINST THAT. ON THE BUDGET SIDE, I THINK -- I HEARD THAT TRAVIS COUNTY FUNDS WERE APPROXIMATELY 29% OF THE OVERALL DEPARTMENTAL COSTS AND JUST SORT OF INTUITIVELY THAT SORT OF MAKES SOME SENSE TO ME. WE ARE TOLD THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE POPULATION OF TRAVIS COUNTY AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT CALL VOLUMES. DO WE BOTHER TO SORT OF TRACK -- I'M SURE WE DO, SORT OF WHERE THE CALLS ARE COMING FROM AND ARE THE CALLS SORT OF MORE -- MORE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RELATED. BASED ON THIS LARGER REGIONAL COMMUTING PATTERNS OR -- OR HOW DOES THE CALLS RELATE TO SORT OF THE PERCENTAGE OF CITY-COUNTY FUNDING AND POPULATION.

THIS YEAR THE DATE 16% OF OUR CALL VOLUME HAS BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THE CALL TYPES OF DEMOGRAPHICS PRETTY MUCH MIRROR WHAT'S IN THE CITY. WE DO HAVE A SHIFT MORE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS TO RECREATION AND DROWNINGS ARE HIGHER IN THE COUNTY THAN IN THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE LAKE AREAS. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CALL MIX IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT. TRUTHFULLY IN THE LAST 12 YEARS, NO AMOUNT -- THE AMOUNT OF COUNTY CALLS AVERAGED BETWEEN 14 AND 16% CONSISTENTLY, REGARDLESS OF CITY ANNEXATION PATTERNS OR POPULATION GROWTH IN THE COUNTY. DOES THAT ANSWER IT?

YES, THANK YOU MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLY?

Dunkerly: LET ME SEE IF I KNOW HOW TO TURN THIS ON. IS IT ON? THERE IT IS. I HAVE TO TRY TO WORK ON THAT.

Mayor Garcia: SHE'S A NEW COUNCILMEMBER. [ LAUGHTER ] SHE'S GOT TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT. TO PUSH BUTTONS.

Dunkerly: I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE SOBERING NEWS THAT YOU GAVE US BEFORE THE PRESENTATION. THE 330,000 IMPACT ON THE NEGATIVE SALES TAX NUMBER FOR THIS MONTH, DOES THAT NUMBER REFLECT THE IMPACT FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THE IMPACT ON THE '03 BUDGET, IS THAT THE TOTAL IMPACT FOR BOTH.

IT'S JUST THAT THE 330,000 NUMBER THAT I GAVE YOU IS JUST THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED COMING IN FOR THAT MONTH REPORT AND WHAT WE GOT.

YOU HAVE NOT PROJECTED THAT FAR --

WE HAVE PROJECTED A 2% GROWTH IN '03. WE ARE STILL JUST SLIGHTLY AHEAD FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THAT'S A FUNCTION OF THAT ONE MONTH WHERE IT WENT UP TO JUST ABOUT FLAT AND GAVE US A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY.

MY SECOND --

Futrell: ONE LAST THING, COUNCILMEMBER, REMEMBER WE ALSO HAD THE SALES TAX FREE WEEKEND, SO -- SO OUR NEXT NUMBER PROBABLY WILL --

Dunkerly: TWO MONTHS FROM NOW IT WILL BE PROBABLY GRUESOME, TOO. MY NEXT QUESTION IS TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF WHETHER WE ARE RELATIVELY IN BALANCE. I THINK LAST TIME YOU REPORTED THAT YOU HAD FOUR TO $500 MORE IN PROPERTY -- 4 TO 500,000 MORE IN PROPERTY TAX, I'M ASSUMING UNLESS YOU'VE HAD FLUCTUATIONS, BOTTOM LINE WE ARE STILL RELATIVELY IN BALANCE.

ER IN BALANCE. WE CAME IN ABOUT 470,000 ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR PROPERTY TAX BY GETTING THE CERTIFIED ROLE LITERALLY THE DAY AFTER WE WENT TO PRINT. CERTIFIED ROLL. WE HAVEN'T HAD A NEGATIVE NUMBER LIKE THAT NOW IN FOUR MONTHS, ONCE AGAIN IT'S THE WORST IN THE STATE. SO IT NOT GOOD NEWS.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

Alvarez: A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I NOTICED THAT A COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE THE LARGEST I THINK SAVINGS ARE FOR E.M.S., ONE OF THEM IS FOR DECREASE FOR ONE-TIME CAPITAL OUTLAY. IT'S ABOUT 450,000, IS THAT FOR -- FOR AN OUTLAY THAT WE -- THAT HAPPENED THIS FISCAL YEAR AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT FISCAL YEAR?

THAT WAS JUST ONE TIME FOR -- YES, SIR.

Alvarez: OKAY. WHAT WAS THAT OUTLAY, DO YOU KNOW?

COMPUTERS. SOME -- WE ARE REPLACING ALMOST ALL OF THE CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT STILL BEING REPLACED. WE DEFERRED FROM THE COMPUTER REPLACEMENTS, SOME OF THE STRETCHERS AND ITEMS LIKE THAT.

Alvarez: THEN SUPPORT SERVICES SEEMS TO BE WHERE -- WHERE A LOT OF THE -- OF THE REMAINING I GUESS SAVINGS OCCUR AND I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE CUTTING THREE F.T.E.'S. DO WE KNOW, DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MANY F.T.E.'S TOTAL WE HAVE THERE IN SUPPORT SERVICES?

I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. 281 PARAMEDICS. THOSE POSITIONS ARE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, FLEET MANAGER AND A -- AND A CPR COORDINATOR.

Alvarez: OKAY. IF YOU COULD JUST FORWARD THAT INFORMATION TO ME, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

Futrell: JUST AS A REMINDER TO COUNCIL, ON THE PUBLIC, UNLIKE THE REST OF THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS, FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, WE HELD ALL SWORN AND FIRST RESPONDER POSITIONS HARMLESS AS WE MOVED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE HELD THEM WHOLE AND IN FACT ADDED. BUT PUBLIC SAFETY DID PARTICIPATE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD AND MANAGEMENT CUTS.

Mayor Garcia: THE LAST TIME THAT -- THAT I SAT HERE LOOKING AT A BUDGET, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS ELM WAS CONCERNED WAS A -- AS FAR AS E.M.S. WAS CONCERNED WAS RESPONSES FROM CALLS TO CALLS FROM THE HOMELESS POPULATION AND AT THAT TIME MY BEST RECOLLECTION WAS WE HAD QUITE A FEW CALLS THAT WERE REPETITIONS, THERE WERE SOME -- SOME MAYBE NOT THE -- MAYBE THE WORD IS NOT INEFFICIENCIES, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOW HAS THAT PROCEEDED? ARE WE -- ARE WE GOING TO INCREASE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION, HAS THAT HELPED? WE HAVE INVESTED IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. IN PARTICULAR THAT AREA AROUND 7th AND RED RIVER AND THROUGH THERE.

I'M -- MY BEST GUESS RIGHT NOW WOULD BE THAT -- THAT WE REALLY -- IT WOULD REALLY HAVE TO CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN MORE HOMELESS. BUT THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE DON'T REALLY TRACK. EVEN THE HOMELESS USUALLY GIVE AN ADDRESS, WE DON'T KNOW, THE TRULY HOMELESS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY OF TRACKING THAT CONSISTENTLY ACCURATELY.

BUT GIVE YOUR PROFESSIONAL GUESS, BECAUSE RICHARD BOTH YOU AND ED ARE OUT ON THE STREETS TAKING A LOOK AT THIS PERIODICALLY, WHAT'S YOUR FEEL FOR IT.

THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT IT, THE BEST WE CAME UP WITH AROUND 5% OF OUR PATIENT POPULATION IS PROBABLY THE TRUE HOMELESS, WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THE FREQUENT FLIER, THE ONE THAT USE OUR SFG BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE OTHER ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, THEY USE US AS THEIR PRIMARY ACCESS.

I THINK, TOO, MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD, I THINK THE PROBLEM PROBABLY IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT WORSE. THAT POPULATION TENDS TO USE THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OBVIOUSLY FOR THEIR PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE, NOT NECESSARILY EMERGENCY CARE. AND THAT POPULATION ALSO TENDS TO USE A LOT OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE. I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HAS CHANGED IS IN THE PAST YEAR FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING ISSUES RELATED TO DIVERSION, THERE ARE A LOT MORE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY GETTING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT BETTER ALTERNATIVES, THAT THAT PATIENT POPULATION CAN BE BETTER SERVED IN A DIFFERENT ARENA. GETTING SOCIAL SERVICES INVOLVED TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THEM SPECIFICALLY WHAT -- WHAT A BETTER AVENUE OF CARE SHOULD BE. AND -- BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE. IT'S A CHALLENGE, I THINK, TO THE E.M.S. SYSTEM. IT'S A CHALLENGE TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS WELL. ONE BIG DIFFERENCE IS EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BETTER SERVE THAT POPULATION IN PRIMARY CARE, EMERGENCY CARE WILL OBVIOUSLY REMAIN THE SAME.

Mayor Garcia: LET ME GET A CLARIFICATION FROM YOU MR. HERRINGTON. YOU SAID 5% OF WHAT IS THE HOMELESS POPULATION, 5% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION?

NO, 5% OF THE CALLS, PATIENTS THAT WE TRANSPORT, WE ESTIMATE TO BE HOMELESS.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

Goodman: MAYOR, COULD I --

Mayor Garcia: MAYOR PRO TEM?

Goodman: COULD I FOLLOW UP ON THAT. WHEN WE TRACK, DO WE TRACK RELATIVE TO COUNTY AND CITY, DO WE TRACK WHERE THE CALL WAS FROM, DO WE TRACK WHERE THE PERSON ACTUALLY IS A RESIDENT OF -- DO WE DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS?

YES, COUNCILMEMBER. WE DO. THE LOCATIONS, WHERE THE CALL OCCURS, THAT'S OUR PRIMARY INDICATOR. AND THEN WE GET THEIR HOME ADDRESS. WE TRACK THAT TO THE BILLING PROCESS.

Goodman: SO THE NUMBERS WE ARE FIGURING ON CITY VERSUS COUNTY IS ACTUAL RESIDENT OF THE CITY VERSUS --

THE NUMBERS THAT I QUOTED, 16% THOSE ARE INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WHERE THE ACTION OR THE CALLER ORIGINATED.

Goodman: DO YOU KNOW WHAT PERCENT OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY CITY RESIDENTS OUT IN THE COUNTY AT THE TIME?

NO, I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER.

BUT THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE AN INTERESTING NUMBER. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. WE CAN RUN IT BASED ON THE BILLING AND TELL YOU HOW THOSE NUMBERS LINE UP IN TERMS OF RESIDENCY INSTEAD OF WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

Mayor Garcia: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR E.M.S. PERSONNEL?

Thomas: JUST ONE MAYOR IF YOU DON'T MIND.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS.

Thomas: ON YOUR PROCESS OF IMPROVEMENT, SHIFT CHANGES, COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING TO DO.

WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT -- WE SAW OUR OVERTIME WAS GOING UP IN THE AREA OF WHAT WE CALL LAY CALLS, THAT THE CREWS WERE SHIFT CHANGE AT 9:00 AND ONCOMING CREW WOULD COME TO THE STATION, THE OFFGOING CREW WAS NOT THERE. THEY WERE OUT ON A CALL. WE LOOKED AT THE DIERNAL PATTERNS, IT WAS A PEAK PERIOD. WE ARE CHANGING SHIFT, WHAT USED TO BE SLOW 10 YEARS AGO, NOW A VERY BUSY PERIOD. WE LOOKED AT WHAT'S THE BEST TIME TO CHANGE. QUITE FRANKLY IT WAS 4:30 A.M. IN THE MORNING. MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME TO WORK WITH 4:30. WE WORKED WITH DAYCARE ISSUES, OTHER THINGS, SETTLED ON 7:00 A.M., WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS A REDUCTION IN LATE COSTS, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REDUCTION IN OVERTIME FOR LATE CALLS SINCE WE MADE THAT CHANGE.

Thomas: THANK YOU.

Wynn: WITHIN LAST QUESTION, ON LAURA'S SUMMARY, I THOUGHT I HEARD HER SAY THAT EMERGENCY CALLS HAVE GONE FROM LESS THAN 800,000 LAST YEAR TO OVER A MILLION THIS YEAR. THAT'S A 25% INCREASE.

THAT INCLUDES CALLS TO OUR NEW 311 SERVICE, WHICH WAS UP AND RUNNING DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THAT STATISTICAL PERIOD.

Wynn: DO WE -- DO WE -- DO WE HAVE THE NUMBER AS TO WHAT THE INCREASE IN -- AND SORT OF TRUE 911 EMERGENCY CALLS HAS BEEN. ACROSS THE BOARD, FIRE, POLICE, E.M.S.

YEAH, WE DO HAVE THAT NUMBER.

THAT'S NOT UP 25%, RIGHT?

911 CALLS WERE 797,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2000 TO 842,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 2001.

Wynn: OKAY. THANK YOU.

NOW, THERE WAS A SPIKE THERE. WE ESTIMATE THAT WILL COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE EVENTS OF 9-11, BUT PARTLY BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE CALLS WILL NOW BE SHIFTING OVER TO 311. SO THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATE IS 736,000, BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A SPIKE LAST YEAR IN OUR 9-11 TRAFFIC.

Futrell: OF COURSE OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL REMEMBERING RUNNING 41 INCIDENTS A DAY BASICALLY RELATED TO ANTHRAX, THERE WILL BE AN ANOMALY YEAR THAT WOULD MAKE IT HARD TO BENCHMARK IT.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN THE POLICE PRESENTATION BECAUSE THAT AFFECTED THEIR SERVICE DELIVERY THIS YEAR.

Mayor Garcia: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE EMS MANAGEMENT TEAM? I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY NEED TO STAY HERE? GIVEN THE REDUCTIONS IN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, THESE FOLKS MAY NEED TO GO. [ LAUGHTER ] THEY HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. ROCK --

Futrell: YOU ARE TROUBLE IN NOW, WE ARE WORKING IN CONCERT HERE. EVERYONE BACK TO WORK. ACTUALLY, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW I THINK TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF WARREN AND HIS TEAM WILL BE JOINING US.

Mayor Garcia: GOOD MORNING, CHIEF.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR, COUNCIL. I'M GARY WARREN, I'M -- I'M YOUR FIRE CHIEF. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT'S PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002 AND 2003.

Futrell: COUNCIL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, CHIEF WARREN HAS WON THE AWARD FOR THE BEST INTRODUCTION. WE JUST ALL LOVE THAT I'M YOUR FIRE CHIEF INTRODUCTION. SO -- [ LAUGHTER ]

I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HERE WITH ME. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TO MY RIGHT I HAVE ONE OF THE FIVE BEST ASSISTANT CHIEFS EMPLOYED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S PAUL MALL DID A IN MALDANADO AND TO MY LEFT THE BEST FINANCIAL ANALYST JUSTIN MEYER. THEY ARE HERE TO HELP ME MAKE THIS PRESENTATION. THE OVERVIEW FOR THE BUDGET, THE OPERATING BUDGET, SHOWS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING 8-POINT -- $81.1 MILLION BUDGET COMPARED TO THIS CURRENT YEAR WHICH WAS 79.9. AND WHAT THAT BUYS US FOR THE MOST PART IS 996 SWORN POSITIONS, COMPARED TO 993 THIS CURRENT BUDGET. THAT REFLECTS SOME OF THE WMD WORK THAT WE DID AND THE PRIORITIES THAT WERE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL THIS LAST YEAR. IN THE -- THE NUMBER OF NON-SWORN POSITIONS, THIS COVERS 127 POSITIONS, COMPARED TO CURRENT 131. NOW, OF THOSE 127, 60 OF THEM ARE THE POSITIONS THAT WE HOLD MOST OF THE YEAR VACANT SO THAT WE CAN HIRE CADETS. AND IT -- SO REALLY -- IT REALLY COMES TO MORE LIKE 67 THAT WE HAVE FOR NON-SWORN POSITIONS. THAT ARE ACTUALLY FILLED MOST OF THE TIME. OUR CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST, WE INCLUDE $2.5 MILLION FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A -- OF A COMBINATION FIRE/E.M.S. STATION AT SPICEWOOD SPRINGS AND [INAUDIBLE] THEN THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS BUDGET HAS SEVERAL FEATURES. ONE OF THEM IS THAT WE WILL BE PILOTING A PUBLIC SAFETY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BY WHICH WE HIRE PEOPLE FROM TARGETED AREAS OF THE CITY TO WORK AS INTERNS TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND AN INTEREST IN WORKING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN IT ALSO FUNDS A CADET CLASS THAT WILL START IN SEPTEMBER AND LAST INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH OUR APPLICANT POOL THIS YEAR HAS BEEN RECRUITED UP TO A 50% MINORITY AND WOMEN MAKEUP. IT ALSO CONTINUES FULL YEAR FUNDING FOR THE TASK FORCE STAFFING INITIATIVE AND THEN ALSO FOR THE HOMELAND SECURITY INITIATIVE THAT YOU ADOPTED THIS LAST YEAR. IT INCLUDES SALARY INCREASES FOR STEP AND LONGEVITY AND THAT AMOUNT IS $690,000 AND IT FUNDS THREE NEW PUMPER TRUCKS OUT OF OUR REPLACEMENT FUND. TALKING ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHIC MAKEUP OF THE DEPARTMENT, IT'S STILL NOT AS GOOD AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE 81% CAUCASIAN, WE ARE 13% HISPANIC, 5% AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND ASIAN 1%. GENDER MAKEUP IS STILL 97% MALE AND 3% FEMALE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE HERE LATELY WITH OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS. WE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER OUR VERY FIRST CONTRACT AND THEN IT WENT DOWN FROM THERE. TO THE CLASS OF 104 WHERE IT HIT A 19% LEVEL OF MINORITY PARTICIPATION OUR CADET CLASS. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE INTENSIFIED OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS. WE HAVE INCREASED OUR STAFFING FROM 5 TO 13 IN RECRUITING, PLUS INTERNS THAT WE BORROW OUT OF THE OPERATIONS. WE HAVE ORIENTATION CLASSES FOR THE PHYSICAL ABILITY TESTING. WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A U.T. STRENGTH STUDY, WE HAVE TARGETED RECRUITING, INCLUDING SOME ROAD TRIPS THAT WE HAVE NOW WHERE WE STOP AT EVERY TRADITIONAL MINORITY COLLEGE ALONG THE WAY TO CHICAGO OR DETROIT, OR OTHER AREAS, WHERE WE HAVE TARGETS THAT WE WANT TO INCLUDE IN OUR RECRUITING. AND WE PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY FIRE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TARGETS THE 969 CORRIDOR. THE RESULTS OF THAT, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR INTENSIFIED PROCESS, IS WHERE THE ARROW IS ON THE CHART, SINCE THAT I'M IN CADET CLASS 106, WE HAD A 37% PARTICIPATION, NOW OUR CADET POOL IS MADE UP OF 50% MINORITIES AND WOMEN. SO WE HAVE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS. OUR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT YOU HA TO DO WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE 50 DIFFERENT WORK LOCATIONS SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE CITY. SO FOR -- FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON DOING EVERYTHING ONLINE. AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS DISTRIBUTE ALL OF OUR PAPER STUFF ONLINE NOW. WE USED TO HAVE OUR BATTALION CHIEFS MAKING DELIVERIES OF ALL OF THE PAPER AND NOW THE BATTALION CHIEFS ARE NOT -- WHICH ARE PRETTY HIGH PAID COURIERS, THEY ARE NOT HAVING TO MAKE ALL OF THESE DELIVERIES ANYMORE BECAUSE WE ARE DOING OUR EARNINGS STATEMENTS ONLINE AND WE HAVE AN INTRANET FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DOWN LOAD THEIR -- OR TO PRINT OUT THEIR EARNINGS STATEMENTS THEMSELVES AT THE PRINTERS AT THEIR WORKPLACE AND WE DO OUR -- OUR TIME AND ATTENDANCE PAYROLL BOOKKEEPING, ELECTRONICALLY. OVER THE INTRANET. THEN ALSO ALL OF YOU OUR MEMOS, INFORMATION BULLETINS, SPECIAL ORDERS, THINGS THAT WE SEND OUT TO ALL OF THE STATIONS AND WORK SITES ARE ALL AVAILABLE ON THE INTRANET AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PAPER DELIVERS THAT WE MAKE THROUGH OUR BATTALION CHIEFS TO MORE AN INTRANET BASIS. IT SAVED US A LOT OF PRODUCTIVE TIME FOR OUR MANAGERS. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS --

Mayor Garcia: I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, CHIEF.

YES, SIR.

Mayor Garcia: ON THE GENERAL PRESENTATION ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S -- IT'S ON PAGE 6 SAID THAT -- THAT 80% OF THE FIRE IS CONTAINED TO THE ROOM OF ORIGIN.

YES, SIR.

Mayor Garcia: HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO NATIONAL OR STATE STATISTICS? ARE WE IN --

IT'S VERY HIGH. I THINK THAT THE REASON THAT WE ARE HIGH IN COMPARISON TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE NATION IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LOW AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME. OUR AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME IS BELOW FOUR MINUTES RIGHT NOW. AND IT STANDS TO REASON TO ME THAT -- THAT THE FASTER YOU GET THERE, THE QUICKER YOU CAN CONTAIN THE FIRE AND CONTAIN IT TO THE ROOM OF ORIGIN. WE JUST LIKE THAT ROOM OF ORIGIN PERFORMANCE MEASURE BECAUSE IT REALLY DESCRIBES WHAT WE DO MORE THAN AN AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME DOES.

HERE LATELY WE HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW APARTMENT FIRES, THE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED HAS TO DO WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, BASICALLY NOT YOUR THING, BUT IN DOING THE INVESTIGATIONS OF THESE FIRES, DO YOU FIND THAT PERHAPS WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, PARTICULARLY AS REGARDS TO ELECTRIC WIRING.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVE NOTICED IN A -- IN A LOT OF THE APARTMENT FIRES LATELY IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE BUILT WITHOUT DRAFT STOPS IN THE ATTICS. THE REASON A LOT OF THESE FIRES ARE GETTING SO LARGE AND AFFECTING SO MANY PEOPLE IS BECAUSE THE FIRE WILL GET INTO THE ATTIC AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE WHOLE BUILDING. WE HAVE OVER THE LAST YEAR STARTED AN INSPECTION PROGRAM TO WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY APARTMENT BUILDING ATTIC NOW. WE DIDN'T USED TO TOO THAT, BUT WE ARE DOING IT NOW. WE ARE FINDING A LOT OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITH NO DRAFT STOPS IN THE ATTICS. GETTING THOSE INSTALLED. I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE IF WE ARE NOT MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW.

Futrell: TELL THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FIRE INSPECTION PROGRAM SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DO VERSUS CODE ENFORCEMENT.

WHAT WE DO IS CALLED MOSTLY MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS. BECAUSE THE BUILDING CODE SETS OUT ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL CONSTRUCTION. WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES IS THAT WE -- WE GO TO DO INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFETY FEATURES ARE MAINTAINED. AND MANY TIMES WE FIND THAT THEY ARE NOT. AND WHEN THERE ARE DRAFT STOPS AND NEW CABLING NEEDS TO BE RUN OR NEW PIPING NEEDS TO BE RUN, HOLES WILL BE PUNCHED THROUGH THE DRAFT STOPPING AND NEVER REPAIRED. SO WE DO NEED TO MAKE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUTURES THAT WERE BUILT-IN STAY WHOLE. GUS GARCIA ON PAGE --

Mayor Garcia: ON PAGE 21 WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOMELAND SECURITY, IS THE DEPARTMENT GETTING ANY FEDERAL FUNDING, ANY FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR THIS INITIATIVE?

YES, WE HAVE RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT IT'S MOSTLY FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. WE HAVE PURCHASED QUITE A BIT OF EQUIPMENT. WE ARE -- WE ARE PURCHASING MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND INCLUDING MONITORING DEVICE THAT HELPS US TO -- TO -- TO DETECT ANTHRAX IN THE FIELD WITHOUT HAVING TO NECESSARILY SEND IT TO THE LAB TO HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHETHER IT COULD BE ANTHRAX OR NOT. IT'S NOT 100% EFFECTIVE, BUT AT LEAST IT GIVES US A GOOD IDEA OF WHETHER IT COULD BE ANTHRAX OR NOT. AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE DIFFERENT MONITORS THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED. WE HAVE ALSO PURCHASED SOME DEVICES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO -- TO AUTO INJECT OURSELVES, SHOULD WE BECOME EXPOSED TO NERVE GAS. WE ARE GETTING THOSE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO USE.

Futrell: WE HAVE A -- AS PAR OF OUR HOMELAND DEFENSE INITIATIVE, WE HAVE A SINGLE DATA BASE, A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT WE ARE TRACKING IT IN ONE PLACE. EVERYBODY CALLS IN WHAT THEY ARE HEARING, WHAT THEY FIND. WE LOAD IT IN ONE PLACE AND NOTIFY EVERYONE WHO NEEDS TO KNOW. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SYNERGY BETWEEN HEALTH ISSUES, AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AS PART OF THE HOMELAND DEFENSE MONEYS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CAPITALIZING ON IT THE BEST WAY WE CAN.

Mayor Garcia: ON THE -- THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION MORE FOR YOU THAN FOR THE CHIEF. ON THE SITUATIONS FOR THE CHIEF -- WHERE THE CHIEF FINDS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE LAWS -- THOSE WALLS BETWEEN BUILDINGS, I GUESS IS THAT WHAT IT IS CHIEF --

IT'S TO SUBDIVIDE THE ATTIC AREA OF A BUILDING INTO SMALLER SECTIONS SO THERE WON'T BE SO MUCH FIRE SPREAD.

Mayor Garcia: THE CURRENT ORDINANCES OR CURRENT RULES SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO BUILD THOSE, RIGHTS?

WELL, DIFFERENT CODES AT DIFFERENT TIMES HAVE HAD DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS.

Futrell: CURRENT CODE.

OUR CURRENT CODE DOES.

Mayor Garcia: WHEN YOU FIND ONE THAT IS NOT MEETING CODE THAT IS BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT BEFORE THAT CODE PROVISION WAS PUT IN PLACE?

YES, SIR.

Mayor Garcia: ARE OUR CODES CURRENT NOW? DO WE HAVE -- DO OUR CODES MEET THE NATIONAL STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE --

YES, SIR, THEY DO, THEY DO.

Mayor Garcia: WHEN YOU FIND ONE THAT DOES NOT MEET THE CURRENT CODE, WHAT DO WE DO?

Futrell: I BELIEVE WE CAN REQUIRE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE CAN REQUIRE THE PROPERTY OWNER TO INSTALL THEM, RIGHT OR WRONG?

ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A NEWER BUILDING, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY REQUIRE THEM.

Futrell: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HIT A GRANDFATHERED BUILDING, A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT PRE1950'S WHERE IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CODE, WHAT'S THE OBLIGATION THEN?

I WILL LEFT CHIEF MALDANODO SPEAK TO THAT.

Futrell: THIS IS ACTUALLY IN HIS AREAS IS THAT IN THOSE SITUATIONS IT'S BEEN GRANDFATHERED WE CAN'T REQUIRE THEM TO DO THAT, BUT WE WORK VERY DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO UPGRADE THEM IN THE CURRENT STANDARDS. THERE IS A MINIMUM SQUARE FOOT AREA BEYOND WHICH IF YOU ARE BELOW THAT, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE THE DRAFT STOP. SO NOT ALL APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE DRAFT STOP.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY.

Futrell: IF YOU FIND ONE THAT UNDER OUR CURRENT CODE WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A DRAFT STOP AND THEY WERE BUILT PRIOR TO THE CODE, WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS RATE IN GETTING THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GO ON AND INSTALL THE DRAFT STOPS.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER.

BEST GUESS.

WE HAVE A GOOD SUCCESS RATE. MOST OF THE APARTMENT OWNERS CARE ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR PROPERTY. SO THEY WORK WITH US. AND IT -- IT OCCURS OVER TIME AS WE GO BACK AND ASSIST THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PUTTING THOSE IN PLACE.

Mayor Garcia: QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRE CHIEF?

Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

Wynn: CHIEF, ON THE SUMMARY WE SHOW SALARY INCREASES FOR CIVIL SERVICE STEP AND LONGEVITY INCREASES. IS THAT -- IS THAT PER THE EXISTING MEET AND CONFER CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE OR --

NO, SIR, THAT'S MOSTLY DICTATED BY CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND ALSO BY STEP INCREASES ARE SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL HAS VOTED FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO RECEIVE THAT EVERY FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE THEY GET A LITTLE BUMP IN SALARY, JUST FOR STAYING IN THE DEPARTMENT.

REMIND ME. WE ARE GOING INTO THE MEET AND CONFER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS NOW. I GUESS THAT'S BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OUR EXISTING CONTRACT IS EXPIRING OCTOBER 1 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

SEPTEMBER 30th.

Wynn: OKAY. I MEAN, SO -- SO IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING SOME FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS AS TO -- AS TO THE FUTURE CONTRACT OR -- OR CAN I READ INTO THIS THAT -- THAT IN LIEU OF A NEW CONTRACT, WE ARE STILL CONTINUING TO DO -- TO DO, YOU KNOW, PAST POLICY STEP INCREASES.

WELL, SOME OF THIS IS REGULATED BY STATE LAW. AND -- AND EVEN THOUGH MEET AND CONFER CAN SUPERSEDE STATE LAW, IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAY SCALE FOR SOME TIME AND HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS SO FAR.

OKAY.

FOR STEP AND LONGEVITY.

Mayor Garcia: THE QUESTION I THINK HE'S MAKING IS WHAT [INAUDIBLE] DID YOU MAKE IN THE OUT-- WHAT ASSUMPTIONS DID YOU MAKE WITH REGARD TO THE MEET AND CONFER.

NO ASSUMPTIONS AT ALL BECAUSE THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE JUST STARTED.

Futrell: THIS WOULD BE IF YOU FOLLOWED YOUR PAST PRACTICE AND CIVIL SERVICE LAW WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANYTHING WITH MEET AND CONFER, THIS WOULD BE YOUR COSTS.

Wynn: THANK YOU. [ONE MOMENT PLEASE FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] 11:01 A.M.

Wynn: HOW DO WE TRACK MORALE AND HOW DO WE TRACK HOW THE -- BESIDES NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT EVERY THREE YEARS, WHAT DO WE DO ON AN ONGOING OR ANNUAL BASIS TO TRACK MORE RAIL MORALE OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE ASK 120 QUESTIONS THAT INCLUDE MORALE, SATISFACTION WITH PAY, FAMILIARITY WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND SAFETY ISSUES. AND WE KEEP THOSE GOINGS ON EVERY TWO YEARS AND KEEP A RECORD OF THAT. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO.

Wynn: OKAY. AND IN REGARDS TO THE OPERATIONAL CHANGES THAT YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO DO, LITERALLY THE REDUCTIONS AND NON-UNIFORMED STAFFING, DO OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVE INPUT IN THAT? IS THERE A SORT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EQUIPMENT AND ABOUT NON-UNIFORM STAFF BEING IN ELECTRONIC REPORTING AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS?

WE DO HAVE FEEDBACK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THE ASSOCIATION TO TALK ABOUT ANY ISSUES THAT THEY WANT TO BRING UP. BUT I DON'T RECALL US HAVING VERY MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT NON-UNIFORMED STAFFING OR EQUIPMENT PURCHASES, JUST MOSTLY POLICIES.

Wynn: MY INSTINCT IS WE'RE PROBABLY -- GENERALLY SPEAKING, THEY'D BE PLEASED TO SEE THE EFFORT THAT WE'RE MAKING TOWARDS UNIFORMED FIRST RESPONDERS VERSUS JUST THE ADMINISTRATIVE SORT OF OVERHEAD THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING TO CARRY. JUST A COMMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER THOMAS?

Thomas: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CHIEF, IN THE '07 CLASS YOU HAVE 50% AS FAR AS WOMEN AND MINORITY PARTICIPATION. WOULD YOU HAVE -- IS THAT CLASS ABOUT READY TO START OR IS IT STILL IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DOING THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND THE CLASS WILL BE HIRED TO START IN THE LATTER PART OF SEPTEMBER.

AND

Thomas: AND THAT SEPTEMBER CLASS, IS THE NUMBER STILL 50 PERCENT OR HAS IT COME DOWN?

ACTUALLY, THIS APPLICANT POOL IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IN THE PAST. IF WE WERE TO HIRE THE TOP 60 OR SO PEOPLE THE PERCENTAGE IS MORE LIKE 53% MINORITY AND WOMEN. ONCE WE GO PAST THAT IT BEGINS TO DROP BACK DOWN AGAIN. SO THIS IS JUST AN AVERAGE FOR THE ENTIRE APPLICANT, WHICH IS 50%.

Thomas: ON PAGE 22 YOU HAVE THE DEMOGRAPHIC FORM MAKE MAKEUP-UP. IF YOU COULD GET TO ME THE PERCENTAGE OF EACH ONE OF THE NUMBERS OF FIREFIGHTERS AND ALSO THEIR RANK, IF YOU COULD DO THAT FOR ME.

OKAY.

Thomas: THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

Alvarez: JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, CHIEF. YOU MENTIONED THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE INITIATED THIS FISCAL YEAR. ABOUT HOW MANY INTERNS DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE ON WITH THIS PILOT?

IT'S STILL IN THE DEVELOPING STAGES, BUT MY ESTIMATE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE ON SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 18 AND MAYBE 70 PEOPLE DEPENDING ON HOW WE BUILD THE PROGRAM. AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE SOME TRAINING INVOLVED. AND ONCE WE GET THE TRAINING DEVELOPED AND HOW LONG WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO BETTER NAIL DOWN HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN HIRE PER YEAR.

Alvarez: AND WHO WOULD THEY BE TEAMING UP WITH AS KIND OF A MENTORSHIP TYPE PROGRAM OR ASSISTING I GUESS WITH NON-FIRE OR NON-SWORN POSITION SERVICES, LIKE SUPPORT SERVICES?

WELL, A POORTION OF THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE TRAINING AND ORIENTATION TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT ANOTHER PORTION OF IT IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH FIREFIGHTERS AT THE STATION SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE MORE OF A MENTORING APPROACH.

Futrell: THERE'S ALSO AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, COUNCILMEMBER, IN ADDITION TO THAT AND THERE IS A MENTORING COMPONENT TO IT MUCH LIKE YOU MENTIONED. WE'RE REALLY VERY EXCITED BY THIS PILOT. WE'RE GOING TO BE REPORTING ON OUR OUTCOMES AS WITH MOVE FORWARD.

Alvarez: I THINK IT'S VERY PROMISING AND I WAS WONDERING IF WE WERE GOING TO SHOOT FOR FIVE, 10, 15. IF WE COULD GET 20 OR MORE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

18 IS THE MINIMUM THAT I'M LOOKING AT. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.

Alvarez: AND I KNOW WHEN WE DID -- DISCUSSED THE TAX ANTICIPATION THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION UNIT, CREATION OF THAT. SO THAT IS IN THE BUDGET?

SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE ASKED FOR IN THAT WMD PRESENTATION WE HAVE.

Alvarez: SUCH AS CARRYING OVER THE CREATION OF THAT NEW UNIT THIS FISCAL YEAR? OKAY. THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: MORE QUESTIONS ON THE FIRE BUDGET? THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: WE'LL APPLY THE SAME PRINCIPLES THAT WE DID BEFORE. GO BACK TO WORK.

Futrell: MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, OUR NEXT DEPARTMENT IS THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOUR POLICE CHIEF, STAN KNEE.

Mayor Garcia: MORNING, CHIEF.

GOOD MORNING. THE PROPOSED 2002-'03 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTS A 7.7% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OR $12 MILLION. THE GENERAL FUND MAKES UP 93% OF THE TOTAL POLICE BUDGET OR $155.2 MILLION. THE REMAINING SEVEN PERCENT IS MADE UP OF REIMBURSEMENTS SUCH AS GRANTS, SF 4 PICTURE. THE BUDGET FULLY FUND 60 SWORN POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO REACH THE TWO OFFICERS PER THOUSAND IN THE FISCAL YEAR '03. IN ADDITION TO THAT IT FUNDS 108 NON-SWORN POSITIONS. IT FUNDS CRITICAL POLICE EQUIPMENT AND OVER 60 PERCENT OF THIS BUDGET WAS DEDICATED TO PATROL OPERATIONS. BEFORE I GO FURTHER ON THE BUDGET I WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 11TH. AS YOU KNOW THE POLICE ROLE EXPANDED AFTER THIS DATE. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE IMPACT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT. FROM SEPTEMBER TO JANUARY, A PERIOD FIVE MONTHS, CALLS FOR SERVICE INCREASED 65%. THOSE ARE CALLS COMING INTO COMMUNICATIONS INCREASED BY 65%. DISPATCH CALLS INCREASED BY ABOUT EIGHT PERCENT. HAD WE NOT HAD 311 IMPLEMENTED JUST MONTHS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION. INDEX CRIME, THAT IS THE CRIME THAT IS REPORTED, SERIOUS CRIME REPORTED TO THE F.B.I., INCREASED BY 20% DURING THAT FIVE-MONTH PERIOD. THE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO REVERSE THE RISING CRIME RATE AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH. WE HAVE -- AS OF THE END OF JUNE WE HAD CUT THE 20% INCREASE OF INDEX CRIME IN HALF. WE ARE CONTINUING TO APPLY NEW STRATEGIES TO ELIMINATE THE INCREASE. THESE STRATEGIES INCLUDE FOCUS ON REPEAT OFFENDERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EXTENSIVE USE OF CRIME ANALYSIS INFORMATION IN DEPLOYING RESOURCES. FISCAL YEAR 2003 BUDGET FIGHTS CRIME AND WORKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. IT INCLUDES FULL YEAR FUNDING FOR OFFICERS ADDED IN '02 AS A RESULT OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE COPS GRANT. THE 2.0 2.0 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND STAFFING WILL BEGIN A PRODUCE THAT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS TO ADD TWO NEW AREA COMMANDS. ONE WILL BE THE SOUTH CENTRAL AREA COMMAND, WHICH IS SCHEDULED AT THIS POINT TO BE ONLINE IN SEPTEMBER 2003 AND THE NORTH CENTRAL AREA COMMAND SCHEDULED TO BE IN LINE IN OCTOBER 2003. IT ALSO -- ALSO, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO REDUCE THE SPAN OF CONTROL IN ALL AREAS. AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH IS SUPERVISION WITH REGARD TO POLICE SERVICES. THE CREATION OF TWO NEW AREA COMMANDS WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SERGEANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUPERVISE IN PATROL WHERE OUR NEWEST AND MOST INEXPERIENCED OFFICERS ARE ASSIGNED SIGNIFICANTLY. IT ALSO CREATES A WALKING BEAT IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN, A PROGRAM THAT WE'RE CALLING GETTING TO KNOW YOU, WHICH MEANS TO THE RESIDENTS, LAW-ABIDING RESIDENTS, THAT WE'LL BE MAKING AN EFFORT TO KNOCK ON DOORS AND TALK TO THEM AND GET TO KNOW THEM. IT MEANS TO CROOKS THAT WE WILL IDENTIFY THEM AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET. ALL 60 NEW POSITIONS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING. IN SEPTEMBER 1998 WE CREATED THE AREA COMMANDS. AT THAT TIME WE HAD SIX AREA COMMANDS. WHAT WE DID NOT WANT TO BECOME IS A HUGE BUREAUCRACY IN WHICH ALL POLICE SERVICES ARE CENTRALIZED. IN OUR REVIEW OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT PROGRAM IN PREPARATION FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WHAT WE HAD OBSERVED IS THAT OUR SUCCESS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHEN WE CREATED THE SEVENTH ARREST COMMAND WAS SIGNIFICANT. THE SECOND MOST SUCCESSFUL AREA COMMAND ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A RATHER SMALL AREA EXAND IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN. SO AS WE LOOKED AT THE DATA, WHAT WE SAW WAS TWO AREAS IN BLUE CIRCLES UP ON THE MAP, IN WHICH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF REPORTED CRIME, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF CITIZENS REPORTING A POOR QUALITY OF LIFE AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL ELEMENT WAS OCCURRING. AND WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT POLICE OFFICERS WERE RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE IN THESE AREAS, SO IN SOUTH -- FOR INSTANCE IN THE SOUTH CIRCLE YOU WOULD HAVE OFFICERS IN THE SOUTHWEST, IN THE SOUTHEAST IN NEIGHBORHOODS HAVING TO RESPOND TO THE RIVERSIDE AREA TO HANDLE CALLS FOR SERVICE. SO THOSE AREAS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN, PATROLLING AND DOING PREVENTIVE PATROL, WERE LEFT UNGUARDED. THE SAME FOR THE NORTH. THE I-35 CORRIDOR. WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT OFFICERS FROM NORTHWEST WERE RESPONDING TO THE I-35 CORRIDOR. THE OFFICERS IN NORTHEAST WERE RESPONDING TO THE I-35 CORRIDOR. SO AS WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET AND LOOK AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE 60 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, WE CHOSE TO CREATE TWO NEW AIR COMMANDS. THE NORTH AREA TAKES IN THE GENERAL AREA OF BRAKER TO ANDERSON AND BURNET TO MIDDLE FISKVILLE ROAD. THE SOUTHERN AREA TAKES IN THE AREA SOUTH OF THE RIVER TO BEN WHITE AND JUST EAST OF LAMAR THROUGH THE MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WE BELIEVE SMALLER IS BETTER AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT SERVICE. IF YOU LOOK BACK ON THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE PER THOUSAND POPULATION, THIS IS HOW POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE IN FACT COMPARED. IN FISCAL YEAR 2002 WE ANTICIPATE A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME. VIOLENT CRIME IS HOMICIDE, RAPE, ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS. OUR GOAL FOR 2003, WHICH I BELIEVE WE WILL OBTAIN, IS 4.4 CRIMES PER THOUSAND POPULATION. AUSTIN TRADITIONALLY IS NUMBER 3 IN THE NATION AS FAR AS MAJOR CITIES IN VIOLENT CRIME RATE. WE'RE THE THIRD BEST. NORMALLY IT'S FAIR FAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA OR VIRGINIA BEACH THAT ARE THE ONLY CITIES THAT HAVE FEWER REPORTED VIOLENT CRIME THAN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IN TEXAS AMONG THE FIVE CITIES, AUSTIN, FORT WORTH, SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON AND DALLAS, WE ARE THE SAFEST. WITH REGARD TO PROPERTY CRIME RATE, PROPERTY CRIMES ARE GENERALLY CATEGORIZED BY BURGLAR, THEFT AND AUTO THEFT. OUR GOAL FOR THE YEAR 2003 IS 57.2 CRIMES PER THOUSAND POPULATION. WE BELIEVE THAT THAT GOAL, IF REACHED, AND WE BELIEVE IT IS REACH BELIEVE, WILL MAKE AUSTIN THE SAFEST IT HAS EVER BEEN WITH REGARD TO PROPERTY CRIME. AGAIN, OF THE FIVE MAJOR TEXAS CITIES, HOUSTON, FORT WORTH, SAN ANTONIO AND DALLAS, WE ARE AMONG THE SAFEST OF THOSE FIVE CITIES.

Mayor Garcia: WE ARE THE SAFEST OR AMONG THE SAFEST?

WE ARE THE SAFEST. I'M GOING TO HEDGE MY BET A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE THE SAFEST. WITH REGARD TO TRAFFIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, TRAFFIC FATALLITY AND SERIOUS INJURY COLLISIONS CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE. WE EXPECT TO WRITE OVER 230,000 TICKETS THIS YEAR AND ARREST NEARLY 5,000 DRUNK DRIVERS. NEXT YEAR WE WILL CONTINUE OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, WE WILL, HOWEVER, SPEND MORE TIME ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ATTEMPT TO GET AUSTIN DRIVERS TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER. ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUCCESS WE HAVE HAD IS WITH THE JACK WITH LIEN TAPE, THE YOUNG WOMAN VISITING FROM CENTRAL AMERICA WHO WAS SEVERELY DISFIGURED BY A DRUNK DRIVER. WE HAVE PRODUCED HUNDREDS OF THOSE 15-MINUTE TAPES AND PROVIDED THEM TO AGENCIES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS AND WE HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT GOOD FEEDBACK. IT WAS ALSO A FEATURE ARTICLE IN THE AMERICAN-STATESMAN NEWSPAPER. BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS AGENCY THAT LICENSES ALCOHOL ESTABLISHMENTS, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS APPROXIMATELY 1900 LICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS WHERE ALCOHOL IS EITHER SERVED OR SOLD. DOING THE MATH, I THINK THAT COMES TO ABOUT 1 PER EVERY 340 RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. SO EDUCATION WE FEEL IS GOING TO BE A KEY COMPONENT OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FATALLITIES ON OUR ROADWAYS. AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR PRIORITY 1 CALLS: IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER 11TH RESPONSE TIME INCREASED TO A HIGH OF NINE MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS. THAT WAS IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. HOWEVER, BY JANUARY WE HAD DECREASED RESPONSE TIME TO EIGHT MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS, AND IT HAS SLOWLY DECREASED SINCE THEN. I THINK AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY COMMEND THE COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL UNDER ED HARRIS AND OUR PATROL SUPERVISORS WHO HAVE TAKEN AGGRESSIVE STEPS TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2003 WE EXPECT TO SEE RESPONSE TIMES AGAIN DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. I'M NOT SURE THE CITY HAS EVER HAD A RESPONSE TIME OF UNDER EIGHT MINUTES. WE EXPECT TO GET IT CLOSE TO SEVEN MINUTES. FISCAL YEAR 2003 BUDGET ACHIEVES FULL SWORN STAFFING. THE A AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ENDS FISCAL YEAR 2002 AT 94% FULL STAFFING. IN NOVEMBER WITH GRADUATING CLASSES, WE WILL INCREASE TO 97% STAFF. AND IN MAY 2003 WE WILL HAVE 100% STAFFING. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND POINT OUT TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE PUBLIC THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S SUPPORT WITH REGARD TO RESOURCES TO FIGHT CRIME. IN FISCAL YEAR 2002 AND '03, WE HAD ADDED A TOTAL OF 143 NEW OFFICER POSITIONS. WE ADDED 66 AS THE FIRST YEAR OF A FIVE-YEAR PLAN IN '02. WE ADDED 17 FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE MIDYEAR. AND WE WILL ADD IF THE BUDGET IS APPROVED 60 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS FOR '03. IF YOU LOOK BACK FOUR SHORT YEARS, THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER HAVE AUTHORIZED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 199 SWORN POSITIONS IN ORDER TO FIGHT CRIME AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. WITH REGARD TO DIVERSITY OF A.P.D. COMPARED TO DIVERSITY OF CITY OF AUSTIN, UP IN THE UPPER TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE SLIDE SHOWS A.P.D. SWORN STAFFING. THE BOTTOM RIGHT SHOWS A.P.D. SWORN AND CIVILIAN, IN OTHER WORDS, TOTAL EMPLOYEE. WE ARE DOING QUITE WELL IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN REPRESENTATION, ALTHOUGH STRONGLY REPRESENTED, WE ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE GROWTH OF ASIANS AND HISPANIC POPULATION IN AUSTIN. WE WILL CONTINUE CONCENTRATING OUR RECRUITING EFFORTS IN THIS AREA. AND FINALLY, FISCAL YEAR '03 BUDGET ENHANCES EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR IS WHAT WE CALL THE AREA TEAM TACTICAL ANALYSIS OF CRIME, ATTACK, WHICH IS A MONTHLY MEETING WITH COMMANDERS TO REVIEW CRIME TRENDS, STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING THOSE CRIME TRENDS, AND EACH AREA COMMAND IN EACH AREA REPORTS BACK ON HOW THEY ARE MANAGING THEIR RESOURCES, THEIR BUDGET AND THEIR OVERTIME. IN ADDITION -- AND THAT HAS PROVED VERY VALUABLE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION IN KEEPING US FOCUSED ON OUR TASKS. I THINK ONE OF THE SECOND MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS HAS BEEN THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS. MIDYEAR AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH WE CREATED THE CIVIL SERVICE BATTALION. CURRENTLY NEARLY 100 VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN CIVIL DEFENSE. AND IN FACT, IN JUNE WHEN WE HAD THE FLOODS WE WERE ABLE TO CALL IN CIVIL DEFENSE WORKERS TO RELIEVE OFFICERS STATIONED AT STREAMS AND RIVERS IN WHICH WE FEARED WOULD RISE OVER THEIR BANKS, THUS RELIEVING THOSE OFFICERS TO GO BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT IN ADDITION TO THE CIVIL DEFENSE BATTALION, WE STARTED A SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEER UNIT WHICH WILL NUMBER APPROXIMATELY 100 AFTER -- AFTER TRAINING IN SEPTEMBER. THIS COMPLIMENTS OUR NEARLY 280 VOLUNTEERS THAT VOLUNTEER TIME WITHIN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SUPPORT BY DOING CLERICAL WORK AND OTHER SUPPORT WORK. CALL MANAGEMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT ARE TWO AREAS THAT A POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO STAY FOCUSED ON IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY. AND SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY EVALUATING HOW CALLS ARE CLASSIFIED, DISPATCHED AND RESPONDED TO IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE OFFICER PRODUCTIVITY. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING TO TRACK HOW A REPORT GOES THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND EXAMINE OUR INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT WORK THAT IS DONE PROVIDES VALUE. AGAIN, NEXT YEAR IN '03 THE INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY WILL MAKE US MORE EFFECTIVE. OR AFIS SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT INFORMATION SYSTEM, WILL ALLOW US TO COMPARE THE FINGERPRINTS OF ARRESTEES VIA THE COMPUTER RATHER THAN THE OLD 19 30'S FASHION OF PUTTING A CARD IN FRONT OF AN EMPLOYEE AND COMPARING THEM TO A PREVIOUSLY TAKEN SET OF FINGERPRINTS. WE COMPARE FINGERPRINTS FOR EVERY ARRESTEE BOOKED AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL. SO THE AUTOMATION OF THIS SYSTEM WHICH CURRENTLY UTILIZES 19 FINGERPRINT TECHNICIANS, WILL HELP US IMPROVE OUR EFFECTIVENESS AND OUR EFFICIENCY. WE ALSO HAVE PURCHASED A COMPUTERIZED STAFFING PROGRAM WHICH WILL MAXIMIZE OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN PUTTING OFFICERS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE WHEN THEY NEED TO BE THERE. IT ALSO PROVIDES DATA TO REDRAW PATROL BOUNDARIES, WHICH WILL ASSIST WITH RESPONSE TIME. AND FINALLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME SERVICE CONSOLIDATION. IF FISCAL '03 WE WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS TO CONSOLIDATE PARK POLICE AND THE MARSHAL PROGRAM UNDER APD MANAGEMENT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND NATIONAL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS TO BOTH AGENCIES. WITH THAT I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

Mayor Garcia: QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF KNEE? COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLEY?

Dunkerley: CHIEF KNEE, WOULD YOU GO OVER YOUR F.T.E.'S AGAIN? I THINK IN THE -- YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE FULL YEAR FUNDING FOR THE 60 NEW OFFICERS THAT YOU WERE GIVEN IN THE CURRENT BUDGET. THEN IN '03 BUDGET DID I HEAR YOU SAY YOU HAVE A NEW 60 INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET? OR WHAT DID I HEAR?

IT'S SOMEWHAT CONFUSING. WHAT WE WERE GIVEN WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF '02 WE GOT 66 POSITIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR TOWARDS THE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM TO GO '02. MIDYEAR AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH WE RECEIVED 17 POSITIONS FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE. WE WERE THEN NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE ONE OF ONLY FIVE CITIES TO RECEIVE COP GRANT MONEY FOR 60 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS: WE RECEIVED THAT NOTIFICATION THIS YEAR. COUNCIL HAD TO AUTHORIZE THOSE 60 POSITIONS IN ORDER FOR US TO RECEIVE THOSE GRANT FUNDS. WE KNEW THAT NEXT BUDGET YEAR WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR THOSE 60 POSITIONS. SO WHAT WE HAD THIS YEAR WAS 66 PLUS 17 IN '02 AND 60 IN '03.

FOR.

Dunkerley: FOR THE 143.

YES, MA'AM.

BUT I THINK ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE, ONE OF THE BIG WINS, ONE OF THE BIG PRIORITIES IN THIS BUDGET, IS YOU HAD ASKED US TO A PUT A PLAN IN PLACE TO GO TO 2.0 OFFICERS IN FIVE YEARS. AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS BUDGET IS WE HAVE TAKEN YOU TO 2.0 2.0 OFFICERS PER THOUSAND IN JUST TWO YEARS. AND THAT IS REALLY ONE OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS BUDGET AS A PRIORITY ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER WYNN?

Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M STILL CONFUSED, THOUGH. WHEN I LOOK AT PAGE 28, IT -- I'M READING THIS TO WHERE THERE IS A NET INCREASE OF THREE SWORN POSITIONS FROM CURRENT YEAR TO PROPOSED.

WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT RECENTLY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TURNED OVER THE ANIMAL CRUELTY DUTIES TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IN DOING THAT THEY'RE FUNDING AN ADDITIONAL DETECTIVE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE -- THAT'S ONE OF THE POSITIONS. THE SECOND POSITION IS THAT WE HAVE A GRANT IN FRONT OF THE STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY THAT WOULD GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL OFFICER TO DO -- FOLLOW UP ON SEXUAL OFFENDERS RESIDENT CHECKS. AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS AN ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT POSITION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IF IN FACT ASSISTANT CHIEF McDONALD REMAINS AT CITY HALL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THOSE ARE THE THREE POSITIONS OVER AND ABOVE THE 60 THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT BUDGET YEAR.

Wynn: SO IF WE'RE STILL ATTEMPTING TO GROW OUR POLICE FORCE BY 60 OFFICERS, IS THAT 60 ALREADY INCLUDED IN THIS CURRENT YEAR 1358 FIGURE?

YES, THEY ARE.

Wynn: AND BY PROPOSED, WE MEAN PROPOSED NEXT YEAR. A YEAR FROM NOW THERE WILL ONLY BE THREE MORE --

NO, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MONEY COMING OUT OF THE COPS OFFICE. ONE DAY WE RECEIVED A LETTER AND A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT THEY HAD MONEY TO FUND 60 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOW, IN ORDER TO GET THAT MONEY FROM THE COPS OFFICE, WE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY GO TO COUNCIL THIS BUDGET YEAR AND HAVE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THOSE 60 POSITIONS, KNOWING THAT THE FUNDING AND THAT THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES TO SUPPLEMENT THOSE 60 POSITIONS WOULD BE NEXT YEAR, IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO THE AUTHORIZED STRENGTH WAS INCLUDED, BUT THE FUNDING WAS ANTICIPATED IN OCTOBER 1. WIN THE FUNDING AND THE BODIES WEREN'T THERE.

THE REASON WHY WE HAD TO EXPEDITE MOVING TO COUNCIL WITH THIS IS BECAUSE WE WERE ACTUALLY PLACING THEM INTO AN ACADEMY THAT STARTED THIS BUDGET YEAR SO THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT ON THE STREET EARLY '03 BUDGET YEAR.

Wynn: OKAY. AND ON THE -- DOES YOUR BUDGET INCLUDE THE POLICE MONITOR BUDGET, THE NEW SORT OF OFFICE THAT --

NO, IT DOES NOT.

Wynn: OKAY. ON PAGE 31, THE GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE OBVIOUS HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CALLS IN A COUPLE OF SPOTS IN TOWN -- I MEAN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO HAVE, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THIS GRAPH IS COMPARING THOSE AREAS TO AVERAGE CALLS. AND I PRESUME THAT MEANS AVERAGE CALLS ACROSS ENTIRE CITIES. MY CONCERN IS SORT OF -- SORT OF PHILOSOPHICALLY IS THAT WE'RE NOT BENCHMARKING WHAT'S SORT OF AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF CALLS. THAT IS, IF WE SEE AN AREA OF TOWN THAT IS AVERAGE NUMBER OF CALLS, THE FOLKS THAT ARE MAKING THOSE CALLS, YOU KNOW, AREN'T FEELING VERY AVERAGE.

WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF THINGS. THIS IS JUST THE TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN PEOPLE CALL THE POLICE AND SAY I NEED A POLICE OFFICER HERE, WE SIMPLY DO AN AVERAGE PER DISTRICT. AND THIS MAP SHOWS THAT THERE'S A HIGH CONCENTRATION, BUT WE ALSO LOOK AT SELF-INITIATED ARRESTS BY POLICE OFFICERS. WE ALSO LOOK AT OTHER KINDS OF QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. AND THESE CONTINUE TO BE THE AREAS THAT WE POWER RESOURCES INTO WITHIN THE CITY. AND AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING AREA COMMANDS THERE, WHAT YOU FIND IS AN OFFICER OUT AT 360 AND 183 BEING SENT OVER TO THE RUNDBERG AREA, FOR INSTANCE, TO BACK UP AN OFFICER WHO IS ENGAGED IN SOME INVESTIGATIVE WORK OR SOME POLICE WORK. AND SO WE LOSE TRAVEL TIME THERE BACK AND FORTH, PLUS THAT OFFICER IS NOT ABLE TO DO THE KIND OF PREVENTIVE WORK THAT HE NEEDS TO DO AT 360 AND 183 WITH REGARD TO TRAFFIC, SHOPLIFTERS AND SUCH. AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE SAME THING DOWNTOWN, WHAT WE SAW IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY HAD A LARGE RESIDENTIAL AREA INITIALLY ATTACHED TO IT, WAS THAT THE AREA COMMANDER SPENT ALL OF HIS TIME ADDRESSING THE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT WERE DOWNTOWN AND DID NOT HAVE TIME NOR THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO WHEN WE CREATED THE DOWNTOWN AND A SEPARATE COMMAND, WE HAD A MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOWNTOWN WITH THE RESOURCES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME. WE ALSO THEN HAD AN AREA COMMAND IN THE RESIDENTIAL NORTH AND EAST OR NORTH AND WEST OF DOWNTOWN THAT FOCUSED ON THE AREA THAT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED. SO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT'S BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. WHAT THIS DOES FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE IS THAT FOR THIS AREA HERE IN WHICH THE MAYOR AND I ATTENDED A RALLY, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE NORTH, I HAVE ONE MANAGER. I CAN GO TO HIM AND SAY WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO REDUCE CRIME AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE? AND YOU'VE GOT THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SET IN EXPECTATIONS WITH THAT MANAGER. SO THOSE TWO AREA COMMANDS I THINK WILL GREATLY ASSIST US IN REDUCING CRIME OVERALL IN THE CITY, BUT WILL CERTAINLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THOSE TWO AREAS.

Mayor Garcia: BEFORE I CALL FOR ANY MORE QUESTIONS, CITY MANAGER, WE'RE ABOUT 25 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE 12:00 O'CLOCK HOUR ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY. WE STILL HAVE MUNICIPAL COURT. I DON'T SUSPECT WE'LL GET TO THE AVIATION OR CONVENTION CENTER OR SOLID WASTE SERVICES TODAY. AND USUALLY PEOPLE HAVE SCHEDULED SOMETHING FOR 12:00 O'CLOCK. SO IT MIGHT BE VISIBLE HE O.O. ADVISABLE TO SEND THOSE FOLKS BACK TO WORK.

Futrell: LET ME TRY THIS. WHY DON'T WE AT LEAST TRY TO GET ONE OF THOSE IN? I'M WORRIED SINCE WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS IN AUGUST THAT WE WILL FALL WAY BEHIND. MUNICIPAL COURT IS SHORT AND FAIRLY SIMPLE. AND SO WHY -- WHO DID WE HAVE FIRST UP, AVIATION? AT LEAST LET'S HAVE AVIATION STAY AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT BY NOON.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY. SO CONVENTION CENTER AND SOLID WASTE SERVICES WE'LL PICK UP. WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS, WHETHER ON THE FRONT END OF A REGULAR MEETING WHERE WE MEET A LITTLE BIT EARLY.

Futrell: WE'LL ON WOOLS OKAY AT SOME TIME ADJUSTMENTS AT THE OTHER TWO WORK SESSIONS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE REST OF THIS.

Wynn: MAYOR, I DO HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND THESE ELECTRONICALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND COPY EVERYBODY AND LET YOU SEE THEM BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GET AS MUCH PRESENTATION TIME TODAY AS WE CAN FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS.

Mayor Garcia: MAYOR PRO TEM?

Goodman: COULD I ASK IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE DO MAPS, COULD WE TRY TO PUT IN JUST A FEW KEY ROAD NAMES SO THAT --

Futrell: SO YOU HAVE BENCHMARKS.

Goodman: SORRY TO BE PICKY, BUT I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES.

Mayor Garcia: I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I'M IN ONE OF THESE AREAS, AND I THINK I AM. THE ROADS ARE NOT THAT WELL IDENTIFIED. OKAY. FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF?

Alvarez: MAYOR?

Mayor Garcia: COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

Alvarez: A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. CHIEF, YOU MENTIONED THE FIGURE OF 199 NEW SWORN POSITIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. WHAT PERIOD WAS THAT?

THE LAST FOUR FISCAL YEARS, INCLUDING THE 60 THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IN '03.

Alvarez: ALL RIGHT. AND THAT -- THAT'S WHAT GETS US TO THIS MAGICAL -- MAYBE NOT SO MAGICAL, BUT THIS FIGURE OF 2.0 PER THOUSAND WHICH WE DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF MY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S MORE OF A WAY OF COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING THERE AND GETTING THERE QUICKER THAN WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED. I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE CITY MANAGER AND YOURSELF FOR HASTING THAT ALONG, ESPECIALLY GIVEN ALL THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES WE'RE ADDRESSING. AND SO I THINK LOOKING AT THE MAP THAT WAS UP THERE WHICH DETAILS THE AREAS -- I GUESS THE NEW AREA COMMANDS AND WHAT THEY WILL FOCUS ON, I THINK IT REALLY IS GOING TO HELP ADDRESS THE CRIME OR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS. WE'VE SEEN THE EFFECT THAT THE DOWNTOWN COMMAND HAS HAD IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THOSE SAFETY ISSUES, SO I THINK BY DOING -- TAKING THIS WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE HIGH CRIME AREAS AND LIKE YOU SAID, FREE UP OFFICERS FROM BOTH NORTHEAST AREA COMMAND AND SOUTH -- I GUESS NORTHWEST AREA COMMAND AND NORTHEAST AREA COMMAND ALL GET CALLED TO THAT SAME AREA, TO PROVIDE BETTER COVERAGE IN THE NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA WHICH WAS A VERY LARGE AREA COMMAND AND NOW BY UNDERTAKING THIS ACTION WE CAN HAVE THOSE OFFICERS IN THE SOUTHEAST PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS MORE IN THE AREAS THAT AREN'T CLOSE IN TO DOWNTOWN AND FOCUS WITH THIS NEW AREA COMMAND ON THOSE AREAS AND HAVE BETTER RESPONSE TIMES AND MORE OF A PRESENCE AND HELP PREVENT SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND BRING DOWN SOME OF THE CRIME STATISTICS. SO I DO WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. ALSO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT OFFICERS HAVE RAISED WITH ME THE COUPLE OF YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL IS THE AREA OF THE HISPANIC COMMAND THAT THE SERGEANTS -- THE SPAN OF COMMAND THAT THE SERGEANTS HAVE. SO IN REACHING THIS GOAL OF 2.0 PER THOUSAND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS HOW DOES THAT HELP US IMPROVE THIS -- IN THIS AREA OF WHERE IT'S PERCEIVED OR MAYBE IN ACTUALITY WE DO HAVE TOO MANY FOLKS REPORTING TO ONE SERGEANT. AND I THINK THE CURRENT FIGURE IS LIKE A SERGEANT OVERSEES ON THE AVERAGE OF 11 TO 12 12 12 OFFICERS. SO GETTING US TO THE 2.0 FILLING IN CREATING THESE TWO NEW AREA COMMANDS, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE SPAN OF COMMAND ISSUE?

IT ACTUALLY INCREASES THE -- THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PATROL BEATS, BUT THAT -- THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT'S ON A SHIFT FOR A PARTICULAR SERGEANT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO NEW AREA COMMANDS, WILL ACTUALLY SHRINK TO EIGHT OR NINE. WE ALSO HEARD THAT SAME CONCERN FROM A NUMBER OF SOURCES. AND AS YOU KNOW, PATROL IS WHERE NEW POLICE OFFICERS START OUT, THE MOST INEXPERIENCED FOLKS GO TO PATROL. WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS, SO WE HAVE A VERY YOUNG PATROL FORCE, SO IT WAS A TWO-STEP PLAN. ONE WAS TO BRING IN A CORPORAL AS KIND OF AN ASSISTANT SQUAD LEADER, WHICH WE DID THROUGH MEET AND CONFER LAST CONTRACT. AND THEN THE SECOND WILL BE THE REDUCTION IN THE OVERALL NUMBER THAT THE SERGEANT HAS TO SUPERVISE ON ANY GIVEN SHIFT. AND THAT WILL DECREASE IN SOME AREAS FROM 12 TO NINE AND 11 TO EIGHT. AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING I THINK FOR THE CITY.

Alvarez: I THINK THAT'S A VERY POSITIVE MOVE AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO HELP US RUN A TIGHTER SHIP. BUT I DO WANT TO KIND OF WORK WITH YOU TO -- BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE WE SPOKE YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN TYPES OF INFORMATION WHERE YOU WANTED MAYBE A SERGEANT TO GO AND ASSIST AN OFFICER. IS THERE A WAY OF TRACKING WITH THE NINE -- BY REDUCING THE SPAN OF COMMAND TO NINE OFFICERS, DO WE HAVE THAT AFFAIR RAJ AND ARE WE ABLE TO HAVE THE SERGEANTS REACH OUT TO THE OFFICERS FOR THOSE TYPES OF SITUATION WHERE'S THAT'S NECESSARY OR DO WE NEED MAYBE TO REDUCE THAT FURTHER AND DOES THAT MEAN MAYBE INCREASING THE FIGURE OF 2.0 PER THOUSAND IN ORDER TO REACH THAT GOAL? I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY OF FIGURING OUT WHETHER THE NINE -- HAVING THAT FIGURE OF, THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS SUPERVISED BY A SERGEANT BE NINE, IF THAT'S GETTING US TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN TERMS OF THE SPAN OF COMMAND. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT IN THAT ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, BUT JUST IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT 2.0 PER THOUSAND FIGURE AND WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT -- SHOULDN'T OUR GOAL BE BASED ON SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES IN TERMS OF SPAN OF COMMAND AND WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH DISTRICT GRANTS AND ENOUGH STREET RESPONSE? SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS TO A COMPARISON OF THE DIFFERENT AREA COMMANDS AND HOW MANY DISTRICT REPS WE HAVE IN TERMS OF STREET RESPONSE, HOW MANY OFFICERS AND THOSE KIND OF ISSUES. SO CERTAINLY I THINK THAT INFORMATION WILL BE HELPFUL. I'M REAL HAPPY WITH THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE BECAUSE IT WILL HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE HIGH CRIME AREAS AND IMPROVE SERVICE IN SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT MAYBE AREN'T GETTING AS MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THESE HIGH CRIME AREAS. AND I BELIEVE YOU ALSO. AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A TRAFFIC INITIATIVE AS PART OF THIS BUDGET AS WELL. I BELIEVE WE'VE DONE SOMETHING ON THIS FISCAL YEAR IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND FOCUSING MORE ATTENTION ON THAT, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR NEXT YEAR? ARE WE CONTINUING MORE EFFORTS? I THOUGHT I READ SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET ABOUT THAT. YES, WE WILL BE WE WILL BE INCREASING THE POLICE PATROLS IN THE AREA OF D.W.I. ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY IN REGARD TO OUR HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. AS YOU KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AREA COMMAND AND EACH AREA COMMAND HAS A MOTOR SQUAD THAT WORKS THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEN WE HAVE A CENTRALIZED TRAFFIC THAT COORDINATES TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ON THE HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS. AND THAT EFFORT WILL BE PICKED UP AND THERE WILL BE GREATER EMPHASIS AS I SAID BEFORE ON D.W.I. AND SOME REORGANIZATION WITH REGARD TO THE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT UNIT.

Alvarez: BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS AN ISSUE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING MORE ATTENTION ON THAT. AND FINALLY, I DO JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE EFFORTS ITS UNDERTAKEN AND IN RESPONSE TO THE SEPTEMBER 11TH-RELATED ISSUES IN CREATING THE CIVIL DEFENSE BATTLE YOB AND EN-- BATTALION AND ENLISTING THE RESOURCES OF OUR COMMUNITY IN HELPING TO SECURE OUR COMMUNITY FROM SOME OF THE RISKS OUT THERE, THE DANGERS THAT WE'RE ALL MORE CONCERNED ABOUT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MANY FOLKS HAVE ALREADY ENLISTED TO BE PART OF THAT CIVIL DEFENSE BATTALION. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GETTING A LOT OF INTEREST FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND THE OTHER ISSUE -- I KNOW THAT THE CITY UNDERTOOK, AND I THINK IT WAS THROUGH A.P.D., WAS A SAFE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME OF THE PASTORS TO HELP IN TERMS OF COUNSELING BECAUSE OF THE -- BECAUSE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH AND HOW TO HELP THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES. SO THESE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A BUDGETARY IMPACT, BUT I THINK IT REALLY SHOWS WE'RE LEVERAGING SOME OF THE RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO INCUR MORE EXPENSES TO HELP DEAL WITH THOSE MORE DIRECTLY OR WITH OUR OWN RESOURCES. SO THOSE TWO INITIATIVES I THINK ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE AND REALLY KIND OF BRING THE COMMUNITY INTO THE PROCESS OF SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY. SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS HARD WORK AND IT'S REAL IMPRESSIVE. SO THANK YOU CHIEF AND ALL YOUR STAFF AND CITY MANAGER.

Mayor Garcia: WE SAID EARLIER IN THE PROCESS, BUDGET PROCESS, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE GOING TO DO WAS ASK THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US DO A BETTER JOB OF ADMINISTERING. AND HERE I HAVE A PAGER AND I NOTICED THAT SOMEBODY REPORTED AN UNCONSCIOUS INFANT IN A LOCKED VEHICLE AND THEN THEY WENT AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE GONE AND THERE WAS NO UNCONSCIOUS INFANT THERE. I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO CHECK SOMETHING BEFORE THEY REPORT IT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THAT. AND I GET A LOT OF THIS WHERE THEY FIND OUT AFTER THEY GET THERE THAT IT WAS NOT WHAT SOMEBODY REPORTED. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO REPORT SOMETHING TO 911, MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS AN ACCURATE REPORT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND POLICE OFFICERS OVER THERE AND USE THEIR TIME RESPONDING TO BASICALLY WHAT IS AN UNFOUNDED SITUATION. SO ANYWAY, IT'S JUST A REQUEST TO THE COMMUNITY. AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO SEND THE PAGES TO LET US KNOW ABOUT THAT. FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF?

Thomas: JUST ONE FOR THE CHIEF. ON PAGE 36 YOU HAVE -- IN YOUR STAFFING -- AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE 94% FOR STAFFING IN '02 AND THEN NOVEMBER '97 STAFFING, AND THEN '03 YOU HAVE 100% STAFFING. AND IN THAT PERCENTAGE YOU ARE LOOKING AT RETIREMENTS, RIGHT?

YES. WE ACTUALLY BUDGET -- WE USUALLY BUDGET BETWEEN 40 AND 45. WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT 50 BECAUSE WE'VE GROWN IN SIZE AND REDUCED THE YEARS NECESSARY TO WORK BEFORE YOU RETIRE.

Thomas: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

Mayor Garcia: THANK YOU, CHIEF. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE CHIEF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME ANNOUNCE THAT SOLID WASTE SERVICES AND CONVENTION CENTER BRIEFINGS CAN BE DONE TOMORROW IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE A LIGHT AGENDA. TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN KEEP THE CONSENT AGENDA FULL, THAT WILL GIVE US ENOUGH TIME. SO WE'LL BE POSTING -- WE OUGHT TO POST IT AT A TIME WHEN WE CAN HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO BRING IT IN.

Futrell: WHAT TIME DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE THE POSTING THERE?

IT'S CURRENTLY AT 6:00 O'CLOCK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO WE CAN DO IT AT THE SAME TIME.

Futrell: ALL RIGHT. LET'S TRY TO GET THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MOVE THROUGH AVIATION. YOU WILL NOTICE WE PICKED JIM TO BE OUR ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF HIS I AMAM INFAMOUS REPUTATION FOR BEING VERY QUICK, SO I THINK WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS BY NOON. SO MUNICIPAL COURT.

WE HAVE EVELYN MCKEE, OUR JUDGE, THE CLERK FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND OUR COURT ADMINISTRATOR.

WE ALSO HAVE PRESENT THE SUBSTITUTE JUDGE FOR THE COMMUNITY COURT, JUDGE MICHAEL COFFEE. MS. STARK IS GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR THE THREE COMPONENTS OF OUR COURTS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE COURT FOR THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2003 BUDGET. ANTICIPATED REVENUE AND THE GENERAL FUND HAS INCREASED BY A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR DUE TO OUR RECENT CONTRACTING WITH AN OUTSIDE COLLECTION AGENCY TO COLLECT ON OLDER CASES, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL WARRANT ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS PLANNED BY THE MUNICIPAL COURT. PROPOSED EXPENDITURES HAVE DECREASED BY APPROXIMATELY $900,000 PRIMARILY DUE TO THE PERMANENT REDUCTION IN STAFFING OF 12 F.T.E.'S AND A TRANSFER OF NEXT YEAR'S COMPUTER AND TELEPHONE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT TO THE TECHNOLOGY FUND. OH, THEY'RE OTHER R. OVER THERE. OKAY. SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COURT'S BUDGET ARE THE PURSUIT OF $1.1 MILLION THIS GRANT FUNDING BY THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT. AND SEVERAL MAJOR COURT WIDE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, LARGEST OF WHICH IS UPGRADING THE COURT'S CASE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER SYSTEM BASICALLY FROM A MAIN FRAME SYSTEM TO ONE BASED ON WINDOWS NT. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE A CALL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, QUIEWG SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OF CITATIONS OVER THE INTERNET AND THE TELEPHONE. THE COURT'S ONGOING PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS HAVE ALLOWED US TO MEET THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGETARY GOAL OF WORKING SMARTER. SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY OR RECENTLY COMPLETED ARE PAYMENTS OVER THE INTERNET AND NON-STAFF ASSISTED TELEPHONE PAYMENTS WILL IMPROVE THE USE OF STAFF TIME. WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING 11 PROPOSALS FOR THIS SERVICE. WE WILL CONTINUE CROSS-TRAINING AND WORK LOAD LEVELING TO IMPROVE UTILIZATION OF STAFF TIMES AND REDUCE OVERTIME. EXPANDED INTERNAL TRAINING WILL REPLACE MOST PAID OFF SITE TRAVEL AND TRAINING, STANDARDIZATION OF OUR MAJOR NOTICES AND MAJOR PROCESSES WILL ALLOW US TO SAVE PRINTING AND POSE STAGE COST. ALSO A COMBINED WARRANT AND PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT FORM HAS SPREED UP THAT ISSUE AND SHOULD REDUCE PAPER CONSUMPTION BY 50%. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COURT'S STAFF AND SPRFZ FOR ALL THE WORK THEY PUT INTO THE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY DIRK GOSS, OUR BUDGET GURU. AND WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

Futrell: I THINK JIM IS IN DANGER. MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK YOUR POINT?

Goodman: COUNCILMEMBERS, QUESTION?

Wynn: REAL BRIEFLY, SO $17 MILLION IN REVENUE, NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN EXPENSES. SO THERE'S ACTUALLY AN 8-MILLION-DOLLAR SORT OF NET PROFIT THAT'S BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO THE GENERAL FUND?

THAT IS CORRECT.

Wynn: OKAY. AND THEN SECONDLY, THE PURR SIEWNS -- PURSUING GRANT FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY COURT, LIKELY WHERE WOULD THOSE GRANTS COME FROM? IS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

THESE ARE DIRECT APPLICATION FUNDING PROGRAMS FROM THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S CORRECT. AND THEY WILL GO PRIMARILY TOWARD SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING, WHICH IS A LARGE COMPONENT OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY COURT DOES.

Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

Goodman: OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

Futrell: JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP AS WE'RE CHANGING PACE HERE, YOU'LL NOTE EARLY ON IN LAURA'S PRESENTATION THE VERY GOOD JOB MUNICIPAL COURT DOES OF REVENUE PER EXPENDITURE. SO WE GET A LOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK OUT OF OUR MUNICIPAL COURT SERVICES. AND NOW WE HAVE AVIATION. AND AS THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED, WE WILL FOLLOW UP AND FINISH SOLID WASTE SERVICES AND CONVENTION CENTER BY HAVING THEM PRESENT BEFORE THE 6:00 O'CLOCK PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO DISCUSS ISSUES IN THESE DEPARTMENTS.

MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M JOHN STEVENS, ACTING ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER THE NON-UTILITY ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AND WITH ME ALSO IS JIM SMITH. BEFORE HE BEGINS I'LL TELL YOU THAT NEITHER GARY COOPER NEAR CLINT EASTWOOD HAVE ANYTHING ON HIM IN TERMS OF BREVITY, SO I'LL TR TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO HIM presentation over to him AT THIS POINT.

MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL, WITH ME IS CHARLES GATES, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION. THE FIRST SLIDE I'LL TRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE COMMAND FOR OUR SERVICES. YOU CAN SEE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE WERE ANTICIPATING ABOUT 7.5 MILLION IN PASSENGERS. WE'RE GOING TO HIT ABOUT 6.2, SO THAT'S ABOUT 1.3 MILLION FEWER PASSENGERS PASSING THROUGH THE AIRPORT THAN WE WERE ANTICIPATING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEARMENT WE'RE ANTICIPATING NEXT YEAR THAT THAT WILL MOVE UP TO 6.6, BUT STILL SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW WHERE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THE CONTINUED GROWTH OCCURRED THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AT 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY TRANSLATES TO FEWER PEOPLE USING THE PARKING LOTS, FEWER PEOPLE BUYING FOOD AND FEWER PEOPLE RENTING CARS, WHICH MEANS A DROP IN REVENUE. ALSO IN TERMS OF DEMAND FOR SERVICES, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CARGO TONNAGE HAS GONE DOWN FROM WHAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING BASED ON PREVIOUS GROWTH FROM ALMOST 170,000170,000 TONS TO 136,000 TONS. IN TERMS OF OUR SOURCES OF FUNDS, AIRLINES PRODUCE ABOUT $30.8 MILLION IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE THAT COMES IN AND OUR AIRLINE REVENUE, JUST TO REMIND YOU ALL, IS BASICALLY A BREAK EVEN THING. WE BASICALLY ONLY CHARGE THE AIRLINES FOR WHAT IT COSTS TO PROVIDE THEM THE SERVICES. WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY IS ON THE CONCESSION SIDE WHERE WE HAVE OUR PARKING, RETAIL, FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND RENTAL CAR ACTIVITY. AND THAT'S ABOUT 30.1 MILLION. IN TERMS OF THE USES OF FUNDS, OUR OPERATIONS AND TRANSFERS IS ABOUT $43 MILLION. WE ANTICIPATE A TRANSFER TO OUR CAPITAL FUND AT THE END OF THE YEAR OF ABOUT 4.3 AND TO DEBT SERVICE ABOUT 20.8 TO PAY OFF THE DEBT. AND OUR DEBT IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THAT, BUT WE COLLECT ABOUT $10 MILLION IN PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGES, WHICH IS A SURCHARGE WHICH COMES TO THE AIRPORT TO HELP PAY THE DEBT AND THAT'S ABOUT $10 MILLION FOR THE YEAR. SO OUR DEBT IS ABOUT $30 MILLION, SO WE HAVE $10 MILLION TO OFFSET THAT. IN TERMS OF THE FUND SUMMARY, IF YOU COULD DROP DOWN TO THE SECOND LINE YOU CAN SEE THAT AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WE WERE ANTICIPATING ABOUT $46.1 MILLION IN REVENUE. THAT'S GOING TO COME IN FROM ABOUT 62.3. WE ESTIMATE FOR THE YEAR, WHICH IS A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $14 MILLION. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL RISE IN TERMS OF 68 SO WE'RE PROJECTING $68 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THE LINE BELOW THAT YOU CAN SEE THE CORRESPONDING IN TERMS OF REQUIREMENTS. WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IF YOU DROP DOWN TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CAPITAL FUND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THE AIRPORT WOULD LIKE $11.5 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CAPITAL FUND AND THAT'S GOING TO DROP TO 2.7 THIS YEAR. SO WE'RE NOT LOSING MONEY, BUT NOT MAKING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY EITHER, BUT WE'LL ANTICIPATE THAT NEXT YEAR IT WILL GO UP TO 4.3 MILLION. THIS IS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE SHORT-TERM BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE IN THE POSITIVE. ON THE LONG-TERM BASIS THIS COULD BECOME AN ISSUE IF WE DON'T START GETTING A HIGHER TRANSFER TO CAPITAL BY THE TIME WE HAVE TO START MAKING SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS AT THE AIRPORT AGAIN IT MAY HAVE TO BE G.O. BACK DEBT SAID OF REVENUE BACKED DEBT. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AIRPORT TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO TRANSFER IT TO CAPITAL SO THAT WE DON'T PUT THE CITY IN THAT POSITION. IN TERMS OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WHICH IS OCCURRING IN THE BUDGET, THE MAJOR ONE IS PARKING REVENUE. WE WERE ANTICIPATING 26.3 MILLION IN PARKING BASED ON OUR PREVIOUS HISTORY. THAT'S GOING TO COME IN AT ABOUT 17.5, SO WE'RE REALLY LOSING ABOUT WILL .8 MILLION -- $8.8 MILLION IN THE ANTICIPATED PARKING REVENUE. WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT NEXT YEAR TO GO TO ..2. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY DRIVEN BY A DROP IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT IN THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE HAD TWO PARKING LOTS, PRIVATE PARKING LOTS OPEN UP TO COMPETE FOR THE PARKING DOLLAR. IN TERMS OF EXPENSES, MAJOR CHANGES, WE'VE HAD TO BEEF UP OUR SECURITY OPERATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY. WE'RE ADDING FIVE NEW POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET FOR POLICE OFFICERS, AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE 11 POSITIONS WE'VE TRANSFERRED FROM OUR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT GROUP TO OUR POLICE GROUP, WHICH IS GOING TO BE POLICE OFFICERS AND SECURITY. SO WE BEEFED UP OUR EXPENSES AND SECURITY SIGNIFICANTLY AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE EXPENSES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING INTO THE AIRPORT IN TERMS OF CHANGING THE WAY THE CHECKPOINTS OPERATE AS WELL AS THE EXPLOSIVE DETECTION EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE INSTALLED AND DO 100 SCREENING OF ALL BAGS. OUR FOCUS AREA FOR THE COMING YEAR IS, ONE, SECURITY, MANAGEMENT OF ALL AIRPORT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE FACT THAT A THIRD WHEEL HAS NOW BEEN INTRODUCED. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A BALANCE BETWEEN THE AIRPORT OWNER AND THE AIRLINES BASICALLY MADE ALL THE DECISIONS ON HOW YOU WOULD DO SECURITY AND HOW YOU WOULD PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE. NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME A MAJOR PLAYER IN HOW THE AIRPORT IS RUN. A FEDERAL SECURITY DIRECTOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED HERE IN AUSTIN. HE'S IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING HIS STAFF AND HIRING THE FEDERAL GORK R. WORKERS WHO WILL TAKE OVER -- WHICH WILL TAKE OVER SCREENING AND BAGGAGE CHECKING. ULTIMATELY WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT NOW HOW TO INTEGRATE THAT THIRD WHEEL INTO MAKING A SEAMLESS OPERATION FOR SECURITY AS WELL AS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE HAVING TWO POLICE DEPARTMENTS OPERATING IN THE SAME BUILDING IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA. AND THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE WHEN THE FEDS START STAFFING UP AND BUILDING THEIR OPERATIONS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO GET ALL OF THAT TO WORK AND HAVE THE CUSTOMER NOT SEE AN UNUSUAL SITUATION.

Mayor Garcia: WE ALREADY SEE AN UNUSUAL SITUATION. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THEY TAKE MY SHOES OFF EVERY TIME I GO BY THERE!

YOU'RE ON THE LIST.

Futrell: I WAS GOING TO SAY, JIM, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE MAYOR OFF THE LIST!

Mayor Garcia: DO I HAVE TO SHAVE MY MUSTACHE OFF? WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

WHAT DID PAUL RODRIGUEZ SAY THE OTHER NIGHT? HE SAID HE WOULD WEAR A SOMBERO? THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

A FINAL PAGE REVIEW OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET WE ANTICIPATE SPENDING ABOUT $15.5 MILLION THIS YEAR TOWARDS CAPITAL, 10 MILLION OF THAT IS GRANT FUNDS, 5.5 MILLION IS COMING FROM THE AIRPORT. THE LARGEST PORTION OF THAT WILL BE A CONTINUATION OF OUR NOISE MITIGATION PROGRAM. THERE ARE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS SOME MINOR AIRFIELD IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT PRETTY MUCH GOES OVER WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BUDGET. MAYOR ON THE NOISE MITIGATION, IS THIS -- ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BUYING ANY HOMES OR --

THAT'S ABOUT A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING GEARED UP. AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF PURCHASING HOMES OR DOING SOME SOUND INSULATION OF HOMES, SPEND DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PARTICULAR INFORMATION IS. THERE ARE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WILL BE INVOLVED, A LITTLE OVER 900 PEOPLE. LIKE I SAID, THAT WILL BE A FIVE-YEAR PROCESS BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY COMPLETE IT.

Mayor Garcia: ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE RIGHT THERE ACROSS FROM -- ACROSS HIGHWAY 71 IS THAT THE AIRPLANES -- I GUESS THE CARGO PLANES START COMING IN MUCH EARLIER THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO COME IN. AND I THINK SOME OF THOSE AIRPLANES COME IN BEFORE 5:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, IS THAT CORRECT?

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS THAN THE PASSENGER JETS, SO THEY WOULD COME IN AT ALL TIMES LIKE THAT. OBVIOUSLY PART OF THE NOISE COMPATIBILITY PROGRAM, WE'VE DRAWN NOISE CONTOURS AROUND THE AIRPORT AND THE COUNCIL COOPERATED WITH ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE US TO DO IS ON A PREVENTIVE BASIS IS TRY AND CREATE THE ZONE WHERE NEW NON-EXAT BELIEVE USES LIKE -- COMPATIBLE USESLY RESIDENCES DON'T MOVE INTO THAT AREA. SO WE'VE TRIED TO STOP THAT. THE NOISE MITIGATION PROGRAM THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING IS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THOSE THAT ARE KIND OF TRAPPED THE NOISE CONTOUR AS A RESULT OF THE AIRPORT GOING IN THERE AND FIXING THOSE PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS BEST WE CAN.

Mayor Garcia: BUT THOSE CARGO PLANES ARE BIGGER. ARE THEY THE PHASE 3 PLANES ARE WERE THEY --

ALL THE PLANES COMING IN NOW HAVE TO MEET THE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR NOISE. BUT YES, SOME OF THE CARGO PLANES ARE OLDER AND THEY WILL BE NOISIER EVEN THOUGH THEY DO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS. THEY CAN'T COME INTO THE AIRPORT UNLESS THEY MEET THE NOISE REQUIREMENT. SO IT'S REALLY OLDER ERIC AIRCRAFT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MORE NOISY. IT DOESN'T MEAN THE BIGGER AIRCRAFT MAKING THE MOST NOISE.

Mayor Garcia: OKAY. QUESTIONS? [ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, FOR CHANGE IN CAPTIONERS] 12:00 O'CLOCK NOON

YOU ALL ARE A BUNCH OF WEENIES COMPARED TO WHAT HAPPENS TO US IN FRONT OF THE AIRLINES. [ LAUGHTER ]

Mayor Garcia: I HAVE BEEN CALLED THAT, BUT I GUESS THAT'S OKAY.

THE AIRLINES ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE. THEY CHALLENGE US ON ALMOST EVERY EXPENSE WE STICK IN THE BUDGET. WE ARE COMING UP ACTUALLY IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH SITTING DOWN WITH ALL OF THE PROPERTY MANAGERS WHO COME IN FROM CORPORATE, FROM THE AIRLINES, WE GO THROUGH EVERY DOLLAR OF EXPENSE. YES, IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING, NEGOTIATING THING WHERE THEY WANT THE -- THE OPERATION TO WORK FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY. IT'S KIND OF A TUG OF WAR BETWEEN AIRPORT AND AIRLINES TO MAINTAIN THE BALANCE OF WHERE IS THAT LINE. HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND TO MAKE A GOOD FACILITY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AT THE SAME TIME NOT GET THE AIRLINES EXPENSE PER PASSENGER WAY UP THERE. IT'S A NEW FACILITY, SO IT'S CARRYING A HIGH DEBT LOAD RELATIVE TO SOME OLDER FACILITIES. ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES FOR AN AIRLINE IN GOING TO AN OLDER FACILITY IS LOWER COST. SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ENTITIES LIKE SOUTHWEST, STUFF LIKE THAT, GOING TO SOME OF THE OLDER AIRPORTS, OUT OF WAY AIRPORTS, IT REALLY REDUCES THEIR COST STRUCTURE. THE MORE YOU SEE THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY START MOVING TOWARD THE LOW COST CARRIER AS THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL ONES LIKE JET BLUE, SOUTHWEST, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE CONTINUING PRESSURE ON AIRPORTS TO REDUCE THEIR COSTS SO THAT THE AIRLINES CAN BE PROFITABLE.

Wynn: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

Mayor Garcia: FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER ALVAREZ?

Alvarez: YES. I HAD A QUESTION ON THE AIRPORT SECURITY ISSUE. I THINK THAT YOU DID MENTION THAT THERE WAS SOME FEDERAL PARTICIPATION. HAS THAT HELPED AT ALL WITH GRANTS OR IS IT JUST BY SENDING PERSONNEL TO ASSIST WITH THE CHECK POINTS AND JUST KIND OF SECURITY IN GENERAL OR HOW DOES IT LOOK? DO WE ANTICIPATE THERE WOULD BE ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THEM OR MORE IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL?

IT'S AN EVOLVING PICTURE. OBVIOUSLY CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING IT, IS KINDS OF NOW HAVING STICKER SHOCK FROM THE COSTS WHICH THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IS BRINGING TO THEM IN TERM OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST. SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DEBATING, WELL, DO WE MAKE THIS NEW MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS OR DO WE STEAL THE EXISTING GRANT MONEY THAT THE AIRPORTS HAVE BEEN GETTING FOR OTHER PURPOSES AND THROW IT TOWARDS SECURITY. SO RIGHT NOW IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL. RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, $10 MILLION GRANT MONEY, WE HAVE FROM MAKING IMPROVEMENTS OUT AT THE AIRPORT. WELL, TO WHAT DEGREE THAT TYPE OF GRANT MONEY IS AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE VERSUS NOW ALL OF IT BEING SUCKED OFF TO GO OVER AND SUPPORT SECURITY, IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL HOW THAT'S ALL GOING TO WORK. MY GUESS IS CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO FIND A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW MONEY, SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE LEANING ON THE GRANT MONEY TO -- TO PICK UP SOME OF THE SECURITY COSTS, WHICH MEANS MOST OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, IMPROVEMENTS OF THE AIRPORTS MAY FALL ON THE AIRPORT ITSELF TO TRY TO GET THOSE IN PLACE.

Alvarez: THAT MISCELLANEOUS SORT OF GRANT FUNDING, THAT CONTINUING OR HAVE THEY FROZEN ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO --

THEY ARE ALL STILL PROCEEDING BUT THE RULES ARE CHANGING UNTIL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDES WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BEEF UP THE SECURITY BY THE TIME THE DEADLINES --

Alvarez: THANKS.

Mayor Garcia: THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS IS DROWN, ARE THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS DOWN, ALSO.

SLIGHTLY FROM WHERE WE WERE PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 11TH. THAT'S INCREMENTALLY BEEN COMING BACK. UNITED ADDING MORE FLIGHTS. SO THE AIRLINES ARE ACTUALLY GETTING THEIR TRAFFIC PRETTY MUCH BACK. BUT WE ARE STILL HAVING A LITTLE DIFFICULTY GETTING THE PASSENGER NUMBERS UP. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S AFFECTING US MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER AIRPORTS, WE HAD A LARGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC ON SOUTHWEST BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON, AND THAT SHORT HAUL MARKET JUST ISN'T COMING BACK AS WELL AS SOME OF THE LONG HAUL MARKETS WERE. WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING BETTER AT SOME OF THE LONG HAUL MARKETS, REALLY GETTING COLLABORATORED ON THE SHORT HAUL MARKET.

IN REGARDS TO USAGE OF GATES, LESS FLIGHTS TO HOUSTON AND DALLAS, WOULD THAT MEAN SOME OF THOSE GATES COULD BE USED BY MORE THAN ONE AIRLINE.

YES, THEY ALREADY ARE. IT'S COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. OBVIOUSLY THE MORE FLIGHTS AN AIRLINE GETS AT A GATE, THEY WOULD LIKE KIND OF EXCLUSIVE USE OF THAT GATE. BUT WHERE THE GATES ARE NOT BEING UTILIZED ALL THE TIME, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN AND TALKS TO US ABOUT ADDITIONAL BUSINESS, THEN, YES, WE TRY TO GET THEM TO MATCH UP WITH ANOTHER AIRLINE AND JOINTLY USE THAT GATE.

Mayor Garcia: I WOULD LIKE AT SOME POINT TO GET SOME STATISTICAL DATA AS TO THE PERCENTAGE OF USE OF THE GATES.

WE CAN DO THAT. WE KEEP THAT ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

Mayor Garcia: FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. SMITH? GOOD YATES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOTH OF YOU. THAT'S ALL THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS MORNING.

Alvarez: MAYOR, I DID HAVE ONE GENERIC REQUEST. IT MAY BE SOMEWHERE IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENTATION ALREADY. BUT I KNOW WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE, THERE WAS -- THERE WAS SOME STATISTICS ABOUT HOW MANY VACANT POSITIONS IN EACH DEPARTMENT, HOW MANY WERE FROZEN, HOW MANY WERE VACANT AND NOW THAT WE HAVE SORT OF MOVED FORWARD AND ACTUALLY ELIMINATED SOME OF THE VACANT POSITIONS AND STILL PROBABLY HAVE SOME REMAINING FROZEN VACANT POSITIONS AND IF WE CAN HAVE THAT SAME SPREAD SHEET JUST TO SEE KINDS OF WHERE -- HOW IT ALL WORKED OUT OR -- OR NOT NOW THAT WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DRAFT BUDGET TO LOOK AT.

Futrell: COUNCILMEMBER, WE WILL GET YOU THAT.

Alvarez: GREAT, THANKS.

Mayor Garcia: IF THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL MEETING, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADD YOWRNG. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER SLUSHER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER WYNN. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED, NO. VOTE CARRIES ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 0 TO 1 WITH COUNCILMEMBER DUNKERLY TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE ROOM. 12:08 P.M.

End of Council Session Closed Caption Log