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Home My WebLink About2023/08/24-Minutes-Budget Workshop-City CouncilCITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 Present: Mayor Mattie Parker Mayor Pro tem Gyna M. Bivens, District 5 (Virtual) Council Member Carlos Flores, District 2 Council Member Michael D. Crain, District 3 Council Member Charlie Lauersdorf, District 4 Council Member Jared Williams, District 6 Council Member Macy Hill, District 7 Council Member Chris Nettles, District 8 Council Member Elizabeth Beck, District 9 Council Member Alan Blaylock, District 10 Council Member Jeanette Martinez, District 11 Staff Present: David Cooke, City Manager Leann Guzman, City Attorney Katherine Cenicola, City Secretary Staff 1. Call to Order - Mattie Parker, Mayor With a quorum of the City Council Members present, Mayor Parker called the Budget Work Session on the FY2024 Budget of the Fort Worth City Council to order 10:08 a.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2023, in the City Council Conference Room 2020 of the Fort Worth City Hall, 200 Texas Street, Fort Worth, Texas. 2. Opening Comments - David Cooke, City Manager 3. Fort Worth Water Utility FY2024 Recommended Budget - Chris Harder, Water Director Council Member Beck requested budget and rate consequences of accelerating the cast iron pipe replacement schedule. City of Fort Worth Page 1 Printed on 91112023 CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 Page 2 of 6 Council Member Flores asked for information on any additional fund allocation to help with the replacement of cast iron pipes. Mayor Pro tem Bivens requested clarification on what is under the Water Department's authority and what is out of their control. 4. Stormwater Flood Mitigation and Maintenance Needs - Jennifer Dyke and Lane Zarate, TPW Assistant Directors Council Member Beck requested information regarding the credit program offered. Mayor Parker requested information on the development issues in the Linwood area. Council Member Beck and Mayor Parker recommended and challenged the team go back to the drawing board to help ensure the stormwater needs be resolved quickly. Council Member Lauersdorf requested information on the fee increase and impacts flood insurance of home owners. Council Member Beck requested getting a map of flood prone areas and working to get this information out to residents. Mayor Parker requested details on how we take care of our stormwater crew. Council Member Blaylock requested clarification on the estimated delivery plan. Council Member Hill requested an itemized FY2024 and 5-year budget. Council Member Flores requested information about stormwater development in the Historic Stockyard area. Council Member Lauersdorf requested information on the issues encountered when applying for grants and questioned if the rate increase was enough to meet the stormwater needs. Council Member Hill requested information if there was an increase in purchasing land regarding these projects. City of Fort Worth Page 2 Printed on 91112023 CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 Page 3 of 6 5. Proposed FY2024 Solid Waste Fees - Valerie Washington, Assistant City Manager Council Member Beck requested information regarding the Environmental Collection Center and use by regional partners. Council Member Lauersdorf requested additional details on the smart truck. Meeting recessed at 12:18 p.m. Meeting reconvened at 1:03 p.m. 6. Plan to Implement Fire Ad Hoc Staffing Recommendation -Jim Davis, Fire Chief Council Member Flores requested clarification on the average annual attrition rate. Council Member Williams and Council Member Nettles requested additional information about the timing of the funding for the new positions. Council Member Lauersdorf and Council Member Hill requested information on the recruitment process and funding for recruitment. Mayor Pro tem Bivens requested staff clarify when the full funding will be available. Mayor Parker requested details on the application and testing of the applicants. Council Member Beck requested details about the internal promotion timeline and issues with the Civil Service Exam. Council Member Blaylock requested information on the conversation status regarding pay and timeline. 7. Park and Recreation Department FY2024 Recommended Budget - Jesica McEachern, Assistant City Manager Council Member Williams requested additional information on what community centers are getting vans, if they can meet the need, and clarification on the mowing contracts. City of Fort Worth Page 3 Printed on 91112023 CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 Page 4 of 6 Council Member Beck requested details on how close resident to community centers and challenged staff to look at the policy for distance from parks in urban villages. Council Member Crain requested clarification on the Community Center Facility Study and requested that the study include an inventory of services. Council Member Lauersdorf requested addition information on the mowing contractors and how they work with the Code Compliance Department. Council Member Flores requested additional information on athletic fields and their irrigation systems. Council Member Martinez requested additional information on the Aquatics Master Plan. Council Member Nettles requested additional information on the capital plan projects and additional personnel for the community centers. Mayor Parker provided clarification on the 10-minute walk to a park initiative and the open space initiative. 8. Neighborhood Services - Fernando Costa, Assistant City Manager i. Housing ii. Homelessness Initiatives Council Member Beck requested additional information on the staffing with homelessness initiatives and if the Rapid Exit Program is meeting the needs of the City. Council Member Williams requested additional information on Rapid Exit Program and how we can protect people from raising rent prices. Council Member Hill requested additional information on the Rapid Exit Program budget from previous years. Council Member Nettles requested addition information on facilities being cold weather emergency shelter, shuttling services, and incentives. 9. Economic Development - Robert Sturns, Economic Development Director Mayor Parker requested infonnation about what success looks like regarding food deserts. City ojFort Worth Page 4 Printed on 91112023 CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 Page 5 of 6 Council Member Williams recommended working with the communities in food deserts to see what solution they would like to see and how we can incentivize home delivery of food. Council Member Hill requested additional information on Fort Worth Economic Development partnership and how we can be competitive. Council Member Hill recommended having an itemized budget during Budget Work Session presentations. Council Member Williams requested additional information on FY2024 budget in regards to certain projects. (Mayor Pro tem Bivens left the meeting.) 10. Workforce Initiatives - Dianna Giordano, HR Director Council Member Williams requested clarification on the parental leave policy. Council Member Flores requested information on how the Marshall's Office compares to the rest of the city regarding retirement and voluntary separations. Council Member Flores recommended looking at how the Marshall's Office compares to other law enforcement departments. Council Member Williams requested additional information regarding the market competitive pay changes and recommended the City needs to lead the way in entry level jobs and requested to know how many people are receiving the entry level pay. Council Member Lauersdorf and Council Member Beck requested additional details on recruitment and benefits. Council Member Beck requested additional information how does our employee makeup compares to other cities. Council Member Flores recommended having a market analysis for the Marshall's Office and how they compare to other cities in Texas in regards to pay. City of For[ Wort: Page 5 Printed on 91112023 CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023 Page 6 of 6 11. New Environmental Services Department - Valerie Washington, Assistant City Manager Council Member Beck requested additional information on a staffing study for Code Compliance. Council Member Hill requested additional information on Animal Control, their budget and leveraging partnership. Mayor Parker requested additional information on the trends for animal shelters in the area. 12. Long-term Infrastructure Needs - William Johnson, Assistant City Manager This item was not discussed during this meeting, but will be brought before the Council at a later date. 13. Wrap-up Discussion & Schedule Forward - David Cooke, City Manager 14. Closing Comments - Mattie Parker, Mayor ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Parker adjourned the meeting at 4:02 p.m. These minutes approved by the Fort Worth City Council t st: Ronald P. Gonzales Assistant City Secretary •sDme 19th day of September, 2023. Matte Parker Mayor City of Fort Worth Page 6 Printed on 91112023