Specifically, what you're trying to learn more about, we can pull some information for you.

But looking at page 391, because I don't have the other one, this was shared with me.

Um, where it talks about West included, you've got the description and the scope.

So is all of your traffic common measures are lumped in here, your pedestrian safety and crossing, your ADA enhancements, your uh traffic control devices that I just relayed to you, as well as the various programs and how those funds have been spent in the past.

I think you're looking for individual uh request what this two million.

Yeah, so it's listed in here.

Um, so I I still need some specifics because I I think I understand what you're saying.

I don't think it's the same as what this council member is saying.

You want more detail within various areas, but what type of detail are you looking for?

Because that would be in your specific questions.

So you've got two million allocated for photo speed enforcement.

So you know that the first responder uh wellness program is where that $2 million sits is under criminal justice services.

You know, the purpose is to promote well-being of current and retired first responders.

The funding opportunities intended to provide resources to agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Sounds like in that area, you're gonna be looking for the specific projects.

You wouldn't necessarily have that laid out in your budget book, but I'm not sure.

That sounds like what council member Lynch is looking for.

Well, at the moment, we're we're gonna address, we'll get to Councilmember Lynch.

I'm gonna question to get clarification here with council member Gibson.

Yeah.

Um I we are in a process of looking at a budget to determine if it's gonna meet the needs of city residents.

And we've seen multiple city residents die.

Yep.

And what I'm understanding is that it perhaps it may not be reasonable for me to expect that there would be information in this budget enough to determine if what we've allocated towards this effort is sufficient to prevent future residents from dying.

That that's that's what I'm trying to get at.

I would recommend that we dedicate a future meeting here in OD to look really specifically at Vision Zero funding, how much money we're getting from these speed cameras and red light cameras, how it's being allocated, and and what we've done with that funding specifically, understanding that that funding is supplemented by additional federal funding.

I want to have a comprehensive understanding about how this money is being used to ensure that our residents are going to be safe.

And that's the will of the council.

If y'all do that, and if the administration agrees to it, I'm sure you could have that either one-on-one, you could ask some of those questions with the I think right now we're at about 600 questions that have been asked total that we've responded to.

Uh I'm not sure again, you want a work session on this part of the budget.

I think you mentioned you like work sessions on a lot of the various parts of the budget.

I'm still trying to understand the individual question that you're asking, because we believe that we have put together a budget that helps to move us closer to vision zero.

So we'll we'll work to determine the best strategy to make sure that the questions that the council member is asking gets answered, whether that's individual or OD or whatever the case, and get back to you and staff.

Thank you.

So the other question that I had was regarding the people's budget.

Has any of the money, the 1.7 million dollars allocated been used?

And then just to finalize my questions on the CIP, I would also like to understand a bit more information about the fiber optic program.

There was 1.2 million dollars that was allocated in last year's budget.

This year's budget, it's been modified so that there's no future allocations through 2028.

And I wanted to understand what is going on with that program and um what the plans are.

Thank you.

Well, our leaders come back on uh fiber optics on the people's budget, as you know, uh that group was actually with council up until a couple of months ago.

And so there was a total of I think three million allocated.

I'm not fully up to speed on that.

So what we've done is basically revamp the full program.

You've got 1.7 million that was voted on.

Those uh dollars have been allocated in the budget and they've been assigned to specific projects.

We've been working with Mr.

Slatz and his team since we brought them on so that we can provide full reporting.

Um, some of that was actually included.

That process was included in the budget supplement that I provided you that tells every area in which those dollars have been allocated, what has been spent, and what the status of those projects are.

Next step for us is to then give you a full report on those allocations and the status update for each one.

That's not complete yet.

They just transitioned over to us about two months ago when that process was completely done.

So we're still going through that process, but we've allocated all of those 1.7 million, I believe.

And then we're doing a review of an additional 1.3.

So no funding has been spent yet.

That's not true.

I didn't I didn't say that.

I said right now I don't have those numbers in front of me, but I've already provided it to you in the budget supplement that I provided about two days after the budget transmitted letter and the budget was transmitted to you.

Did you get a chance to check that out?

I guess I'm unclear.

I've I've reviewed the materials.

What I'm unclear is is why it appears in the this budget document that no money has been spent.

So I just wanted to understand, you know, what that status is and if there's other documentation that's showing something different.

It is, and I I provided it to you already, but I'll actually reissue it to all of council, but it's also on our budget page.

It's actually, I think it was the 13th of March, and it's the first bullet on the budget page.

And I believe it's about halfway through there, which would be around page 16 or 17, and it breaks down the entire process, including when they were transitioned to the administration and what steps we've taken as well as what dollars have been allocated and spent.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

Councilmember uh Tremmel.

I just like to um I guess we're going back to the we won't go back to the first part.

We're going back to the budget as far as with the seniors for their tax relief and things like that.

But I just want to say too that I know that I, as a council person doing this for 25 years, that I know I'm not able to tell you or the mayor who to fire, who to hire.

It's up, they work at the pleasure of you all.

So we do not, council members don't have the authority to question you or the mayor about who you hire, who you fire, especially when I heard the other day that seven people in HR was let go, and one two of them are pregnant.

But anyway, I know you don't have to answer that one.

But anyway, you would talk about the um you know there, I think 30 days they have to leave to no longer have a job.

And that's really broke my heart because um council member, do you have specific if you can help me understand as far as how to how did these seniors how were they taking off a tax belief?

We're gonna scramble.

If you will we'll do that, would you guys have an update on all of the things that you've asked initially?

We're trying to get through the questions on CRP and then have uh CAL Donald answer specifically.

Okay, I'm good with with that.

I'm good with all that.

We're gonna have somebody, I know we're gonna be out at Hickory Hill.

We agreed to that once a month.

I think you asked for that, and we're gonna have that.

So we're gonna do a special session for that.

But I've also in between the time that you asked that initial question in the previous budget session and now I've actually asked our team to go ahead and review that.

What I've also asked is because I know I got your voicemail when you mentioned this to me, um, along with the mayor.

We have asked at our newly formed transformation office give a look at why this is apparently happening so that we can resolve it in the future.

So we'll make sure to take care of that.

Okay, then another thing.

So it's something that brought up about the um was about the this happened back, I think in 2020 with the fire department about burning towers, something about the burn building, yes.

Yeah, let's make sure we do not put that in the ape district.

In the wet night in the district, do not put that in.

It's actually outside of the city.

So it is where is it?

Stansa Henrico.

So it's in here in RICO.

And uh we actually, I don't know if we have the presentation up, but that is the location, and we are investing in it to improve it, make it better.

And then of course it's a burn building, so you got to do repairs and all that good stuff, but it will remain in Henry Co.

There are no plans to move it or anything of that nature.

We've we've got it taken care of and uh adding some additional maintenance prepare.

It's not this one, it's the it's either before or after that, but it's it's in your presentation, and we're leaving it there.

We're just adding additional resources for it.

So maybe you could bring that to the public safety meeting or whatever.

Have you ever to do that?

Yeah, give an update on the funds that we've allocated and how we use it.

Then just one more thing, that's all.

Can I have the 8 million?

I mean, 800,000, not no eight million, eight hundred thousand for the Richmond Am Lamps Authority.

Council member Trim.

I know she says she's one.

She can say I didn't say it.

Okay, thank you.

But thank you for trying.

I I know, but I didn't want to be said I didn't say I got you.

No, understood.

I I would um just highlight because I do know that as in our CIP, we did allocate a million dollars, uh, which is more than what was projected and more than we committed to to the Richmond Ambulance Authority.

I actually also sent out a memorandum to the council, including um our partners at RAA to highlight our investments in the proposed budget, which includes everything from CIP investments again, which were more than in uh more than recommended, but also uh the overall budget to include the subsidy is much higher than committed as well.

So I did want to highlight that, and we provided that presentation to the council um previously.

If you would like us to, we can resend it, but I believe it is already in your possession.

I think we are in receipt of it.

However, um I am no, I am, and other members are desirous of having some more conversation about that.

Understood.

And before the week is out.

So understood.

Okay.

Um I'm back to council woman Jones.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, thank you, Mr.

Donald.

Uh, a couple of questions in the active improvement plan on page 467.

Uh is there a way that we could get a um list of or yeah, list of the neighborhoods in Bloom projects.

So 467 is list of neighbor, and you're gonna get those to me, Mr.

Warren, those questions, right?

Okay.

So your questions are from three 467.

We've got page 312 and we've got page 391 from uh council member lynch.

So I think Mr.

Warren is keeping track of those.

But okay, so if we could get a list of the projects that were included in this six million dollars for neighborhoods in bloom.

Um, can you speak to or whomever the new curb and gutter program dash urban and the new sidewalk program dash urban?

Um, what what what are those specifically and what areas?

Good afternoon, everyone.

Bobby Vinson, director of public works.

Um those are general um projects that we wind up doing about 200 maintenance projects a year and just over 100 CIP projects that are assigned to contractors, and we pick those projects based on the availability and the need in the within the public right away.

We do our best to try to prioritize them based upon um density, whether or not it's schools, um churches, um, or retail, as well as the density of traffic and pedestrian um pedestrian usage in terms of how we prioritize those.

Is it is it any reason why they specifically say urban?

Urban, yeah, just because of the city.

Okay.

Can we get a list of those as well of those projects?

Yes, ma'am.

All right.

So curb and gutter program and sidewalk program, the urban ones.

Then my next page, I'm sorry, page 467.

467.

Thank you.

And then the next question I have is for parks.

Um the parks improvement projects.

Um under this 10 million, uh it says improvement to parks throughout the city.

Is it possible that we can get a list of those?

Mr.

Warren.

Okay.

Um these questions are for Mr.

Warren.

Warren I'm assuming well in between thanks no no yes he'll take he's compiling the list and his staff and we'll get that back to you okay thank you and then um can we speak to the um the Southside Community Center project um it says construction of Southside regional park and community center can I get some intel on that page four poor page 469 sorry the one that's already those improvements have already happened but the uh what do you call it the uh what do you call it when you go through the punch list um is not complete so that's why that's still there so those funds until the punch list is fully complete and every item is done it won't be closed out but we can get you a general status I wouldn't add that to your list okay so that's the funding that's left over on to the right of it okay yeah that's just a small portion okay we do it we have to include everything okay yeah um right I'm familiar with that one now yeah and I and I and my other question like I'll just go back to that one with the neighborhoods bloom program I didn't see that in the budget this year is that in the budget again but the neighbor the neighborhoods and blooms was that in the budget because I didn't see it that's active yeah that's not that that doesn't continue forward.

No I understand that it's active but I'm asking is there funding in the budget no there is not no ma'am okay that's why you don't see it I get what you're asking it's too much um RJ comment you can keep the clock rolled sorry oh this it's so confusing now these ones that are going to that are gonna end up going to Mr.

Warren if you like you can just send those because some of those we may not have the answers for similar to one of the council members asked something that we'll have to follow up on might have been might have been Ms.

Gibson all right um council member Jerry has specifics that you'd like I did but go ahead because the pages is so confused.

Go ahead just go okay so you'll get the rest of the questions too yeah okay all right councilman Breton okay so um I had a question about the utility um CIP I mean there's a lot of uh additional spending this year like hundreds of millions of dollars extra which um I want to think is fantastic news um I would normally want to rely on our public utility oversight commission to also weigh in on that um they are a volunteer commission they don't have any staff um I'm interested to know is there anything preventing us from you um redirecting paygo funds to potentially fund a staffer for a commission um to help us get transparency into our utility spending your capital funding your your cash allocation you're saying to use your cash capital allocation to fund a staff member for your volunteer organization for the public the public utility oversight commission but yes I would suggest doing that differently I think we if if that would be something that the council and mayor agreed to or was through your amendment process or however y'all coordinate that you would just allocate a staffer and DP DPU to provide services to them versus using your try to use your capital dollars for an operating activity.

Okay um also around this around our bond financing um so I know that um we recently utilized uh funding from our uh rainy day fund to to fund the land transfer of the um sports packers stadium I mean is there anything preventing us should we so choose to of taking out a short term or long term loan to finance that and and replenish our Rainy Day fund.

Yeah, I think your bond capacity is just simply not that high, which is why we're trying to, and I think that's what the council is unified on us using a more pay-go capital approach so that we can uh provide some some room, some capacity, our bonding capacity there.

You also didn't necessarily uh use your rainy day fund per se.

According to accounting principles, what you did is you provided a short-term learn loan, but it's an asset um that you have created.

But even those things have limits.

So I think your accounting principles as well as uh the process that we've recommended would be considered best.

As a matter of fact, um later today, if we haven't announced it already, we'll be announcing some good news uh on our bonding activities uh coming forward.

We'll do that before the end of the day, which would show our process that we're utilizing now and how we are adding through our coffers through surplus, compressing our spending, as well as uh what we did with the 2% cut during their most recent visit.

We let our bondholders know about those activities and our our process is something that they're really focused on.

I think what you'll also see is that we'll be very focused on improving and investing in the future workforce, which includes Richmond uh public schools as well as some of our programming here in the very near future, and that also is a focus that will take us to that triple A level so that we can borrow money much cheaper and improve that capacity.

So I think the only thing that would be stopping us from doing it is what it would end up doing to our rating and how it would impact our overall bond capacity.

Yeah, I guess and given that it's central to our budgetary decisions.

I would looking forward to seeing all the information about our bonding capacity and how how we feel about where we are and how much extra capacity we have and don't do or don't want to use.

Yeah, now I know that um Davenport did a report about a month ago and included most of those documents that actually uh I'd call that our uh our our financial religious text when it comes to um our bonding capacity.

So I would refer you to that.

But if you have questions about it as you peruse it, we can answer any of those as well as bring them in to do so.

Okay, thanks.

Um so my questions are a little bit similar to what Councilmember Gibson was asking about next, they're related to our um safe streets for all and complete streets.

And I was wondering if I could get um, I know we have about um 21 million for complete streets, 11 million for safe streets for all.

Would love to know the breakdown of what those end up going into.

And if that's sometimes people can just like say those by heart, other times I need to get them by email, but I'd love to see what those are.

Got it.

So the and I'm sorry, I'm just making sure because I know he's taking note, but we're taking note as well.

So it is the 21 million for complete streets, and 11 for safe streets for all.

For safe for all.

Okay.

And those are the same questions or they're similar.

I mean, well, similar vein as um, you know, we we say we're doing we see all this money going, and it would be great to be able to explicitly say here are the things that we're doing to better understand that we're doing the right thing.

I I get that.

Yeah, okay.

I follow you.

Um now I also know that a lot of that money comes from a six about 60 million dollars in special funds that relate to CDTA and um some other um uh street maintenance funds.

And so I was wondering if we were able to know that 32 million going to those two projects, where the rest of those 60 million of the special fund goes to?

That's the state the state streets and the C VTA.

Or do we know what what else those special funds go to?

We probably should follow up with you on that question, unless you got it.

How would you want to bring it back?

Oh there's about 60 million in in special funds.

Um, and I know that 2030 million of that goes to our complete streets and safe streets for all, but I was wondering where the rest of that 60 million goes in this from the special funds.

Yeah, come on.

Good afternoon, everyone, Bobby Benson, director of public works.

Um the 21 million that goes to complete streets, the rest of the dollars go towards, which is about 40 million, go to urban forestry, street cleaning, uh, roadway maintenance that takes care of everything within the public right-of-way, inclusive of sidewalks, curb and gutter potholes.

Um, it also goes towards grounds maintenance, but for gosh, all of the vegetation um control within the public right-of-way.

It also goes towards our right-of-way permit reviews that impact um right-of-way maintenance and portions of traffic engineering um as well as street lights.

Um a significant portion of it goes towards street lights.

I believe it's about 10 to 11 million per year that goes towards not just the maintenance um and replacement of street lights, but also towards the actual power bill itself.

Okay.

Um thank you.

I may I may follow up with a more specific version of that question uh by your email.

Okay.

Um I do have uh the budget question where I look at the safe streets for all and I see 10 million last year and I see 10 million this year.

Does that mean it wasn't spent?

Or like why is it when I see that like the budget document on page 467 says safe streets for all is 10 million and available is still 10 million?

So the Safe Streets for All, the way that those funds are spent are based upon projects that are put off a bid for intersection improvements throughout the entire city.

So that's where all of our signalization projects come from.

Um, some of our pedestrian signal signalization.

Also, when we um do some conversions of our um streets as well, that's where those line items come from.

So that's one line item budget, but it could have about 80 to 100 actual individual projects and/or intersections connected to it.

Okay.

Um now I know that uh lighter quicker cheaper projects, which are these quick build projects, they they won't last 10 years.

Um is there any does that mean we have to fund them through operations or or can we still use CIP?

Is that a like a is it still within policy to use CIP budget for a lighter, quicker short-term infrastructure project?

Um yes, sir, very good question.

And the way that we do that is through our planning.

So the way that our department is broken up into now, it's um planning, implementation, um, as well as um being proactive.

What did I I had a name for maintenance?

So planning, implementation, and maintenance of projects throughout the city of Richmond and everything within the public right away.

So anything that we're utilizing those state funds for um in relationship to planning, implementation, or maintenance, that's how we can utilize those dollars.

Okay.

Um, I know that I've asked about this before, is there's a school safety study recently that had a lot of recommendations for projects, and I would love to know the estimated uh amount for in order to actually fulfill those projects.

Um many of them are CIP, some of them are operational.

So, you know, it was like nine schools across the city um would love to know what you know what it would take to fund those projects.

Sorry, could you apologize?

We were transitioning if you could repeat that question.

Yeah, there was a great school safety study for eight schools across the city with a bunch of recommendations, and I I want to know if they're not currently funded, what it would take to fund them.

Got it.

That's a question we'll just bring back.

Thank you.

And that's you got that, Mr.

Warren.

Um, I noticed there's a line item for called bike boulevard.

I'm interested to know just what what we've spent that on in the past two years, like what has that been used for.

That one as well.

And Mr.

Brandon, you have about one minute left.

Okay.

Um maybe an explanation for why the bike boulevard line item is separate from complete streets.

Thank you.

Um federal funds uh with the um bike infrastructure and complete streets are state funded.

Okay.

And can I confirm I saw we had two traffic signals on Patterson coming in recently and um can verify those were paid for with geo bonds and not grants.

Okay.

Um I see a six million dollars of citywide traffic calming in the current year's budget F 26.

Um, would love to know what that was spent on or what it is being spent on.

Yeah, and I we're still within this budget years.

I know some of those are active projects, but we'll get you updates on those.

Okay.

Um, a question about the RPD airplane.

Um, when did we commit to funding it?

And you know, how soon will another airplane like this come up for that decision again?

Yeah, so it's actually one of those projects that I mean we're committed to it when it passes in the budget.

And so that is the time frame, but there is a need currently right now.

Uh you usually I think the life cycle, what is it, about a decade or so of each one of those.

And so we've been uh in conversations, and I think we're past our life cycle.

That's why it's starting to become a uh a life safety and public safety issue.

Um I know that if you again look at uh in RICO uh Chesterfield and our other partner locality budgets, you'll see it in there, and it is just a requirement for us to pay our fair share.

Yeah, I mean, I know that like with with drone technology, I can imagine there may be ways to get similar outcomes with lower costs, and I was wondering if it was too late to ask that.

No, I think some of this is transported.

Which the plane is not just drone technology cover.

Yeah, that's not they they're not aligned at all.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Breton.

Councilwoman Robertson.

So the clock side when you call my name.

Yes, it did.

It does.

Gee.

Okay.

Um, I thought it started when I started speaking, but anyway, tell me um.

It's only 24 seconds.

Y'all gotta start that thing.

Y'all can have me up there all day.

She will have five minutes to ask questions to the question.

I understand what it says.

I'm joking.

I'm all right, okay.

Okay, so let's set the clock for five minutes.

Please.

Um, where are we?

One of the things that we've talked about previously is trying to align CIP funding with shovel ready affordable housing.

Yeah.

So generally, I mean, we've made some great progress on that.

Um, you've seen the one, you've added more tools to your tool belt that help to accelerate uh the process for affordable housing.

Uh, we've also done just uh better job of really highlighting what projects are shovel ready and making sure that we fund them and then accelerate bringing those things through the board.

The I think it's also the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board is the name of it.

So we have made some progress.

I don't think it's a well-oiled machine just yet, but there has been uh some progress in both aligning our tools, making sure we get people through the pipeline a whole lot quicker than we have in the past, and then making sure that we get that approval through the board so that we can uh move things along.

The one catch though that I think is I'm not taking your time, right?

I'm only using my time now.

Okay, okay.

So I'll just spend a second to um highlight that.

So with these projects, we fund a portion of it, but in some instances, while we approve it first, we are the last uh set of dollars that they receive.

They get our approval and then they go to the state and others to be able to uh get their deals approved.

So the average time frame, I think, from our approval to a shovel in the ground is ranging somewhere between 12 and 18 months, depending on where they are in that process.

So that is something that's not totally in our control, but getting those approvals on the front end helps to expedite the process, and that's something we've learned over the past few months.

So, my my question, what I want to be sure of is that we uh have some provision in place so that if there is a affordable housing development that we approve, but infrastructure is critical to the success of that.

Yeah.

A process or policy process that we can allocate CIP funds for affordable housing is what I'm asking you for.

We may not have it in place, but I am asking for that.

Yes, ma'am.

And we we don't have one in place now, but there is actually a process that we used in a previous locality where you're able to expedite and uh it's kind of like the mayor's one-stop shop um proposal that he has for permitting or whatnot to move those projects to the front of the line and also um be able to take care of some of those pesky uh infrastructure challenges, and we actually plan to bring those back before the council here in the next few months.

We'll go through the mayor first to make sure something that you know aligns with his vision, and then once he's got it locked in, we'll bring it uh before the council.

Okay, thank you.

Um the other question I have is in regards to the general fund general assembly requests we made combined sewer overflow as well as additional money to support uh water treatment.

Yes, ma'am.

You're asking for status or yeah, so I think the first portion, you know, they're coming back to approve their budget, and so uh we'll continue to do our uh lobbying for additional resources, but there's already a joint commitment that is both in the House and the Senate.

I believe that number is 50 million.

Don't have it in front of me.

Um for that is the number, okay.

So 50 million, which only takes care of a portion, but it is the the I'd call it the down payment, which we need.

We're also advocating for additional funding and resources uh related to think one is uh our CSO, and then the other would be around our capital improvement funds.

And so that process is not done.

We're still at the state house.

We've been great partners at least for this year, and we do expect to see some benefit coming forward.

Okay, so I'd like us once we get past that stage of status and a strategy moving forward, just be outstanding.

The other is in regards to downtown central business district.

That's a hole in the donut that's been there a long time.

Um, how much funding is in this budget to take care of moving forward with the plans for the Coliseum as well as May Island and Browns Island.

Where's the funding in the budget for both of those status?

The great part of this one is we've got external partners for which we pay into as well, because sometimes that gets lost.

That we are a paying member of Greca, we're a paying member of GRTC, we're paying members of all of these organizations.

That often gets lost.

And so for GR for Greca, uh we are actually uh working through the RFP process for that now.

And there is funding in Greca for the uh demolition that has already been allocated.

Uh, but it or we'll call it earmarked, but it cannot be fully allocated until we go through the process.

We've had studies that have been done that have shown the estimates, and what I've seen over the past three years, those estimates range from around 40 to 70 million dollars.

Greca has those and they're prepared to support that regional uh effort.

And so those funds, you won't necessarily see them uh within our budget, but that's because we've already made our contribution.

Uh you asked about Mayo Island.

There is funding in Mayo Island.

Mayo and Brown.

Yeah, it's been appropriated already.

Uh those funds have already been appropriated, and we'll make sure to get you the update on exactly where those are because those funds exist in the budget.

I yeah.

You can come up.

They can bite my head off.

You come on up, man.

You gotta keep your hair.

So I will say with the um with the Mayo Island one, the project, the first phase of the project should be complete by October, I believe, because that was one of the conditions of the grant.

And then you asked about Browns Island.

The last five million contribution from the city is in the CIP.

Venture Richmond has already raised their funding, so they're working on that.

I believe the whole Browns Island thing.

Parks and rec can correct me, but I think that should be done by the end of the year.

We have to provide, we do have to provide those funds.

I'm uh familiar with that one because I had a chance to talk to Ms.

Sims and their general counsel.

We're working with uh legal to make sure we transfer those funds when appropriate.

Good news.

Glad to hear that.

Um small area plans that we have in the district, six point and oak road bell meet.

Are there any appropriation out of CIP to move these plans forward?

We spent a lot of money on planning, but I'm looking for some kickoff.

Six point and bell me, we will add that to page 467, 312, 391, and then specific project six point and bail mead.

And I think that's just uh yes or no.

I'm just not familiar because we may name it under something.

That's bail me and six points.

I'm sorry, six point and mail meet, but bail meet and six points.

I'll follow up with uh with those, and I know that's either a yay or a nay, it may not be uh allocated, but I like to double check and be factually correct.

Okay, and for your housing, I see for the equitable affordable housing initiative.

We you've got 10 million, is it showing 10 million this year and next year in the budget?

Yes, you're talking about for the this year, I think it's 11.7 million total, and you have that additional 10 million as a holding place, and then based on whatever that 2.5 million dollar number, I know you gave us a two year, I probably shouldn't even be saying this on record, but we got the grace period.

I probably shouldn't even be saying this on record, but we got the grace period.

But the goal is to be able to coordinate whatever that formula is and provide those dollars and a combination of CIP and uh general fund dollars before we go fully into implementation following that transition period.

Okay.

Uh in your CIP, I see some budget dollars for Broad Street, but my interest in knowing what we are doing really in the tourism zone uh for Broad Street.

It seems as if what I see may not be coming past 2nd Street.

Well, so that's only part of the investment.

I think you also see 250,000 and facade grants um that are also included in the budget.

Those funds would be able to be coordinated throughout that uh area, and the vision for it is to specifically be able to support where you're referring to as the tourism district to be able to assist those businesses.

Okay, and last question.

Yes, ma'am.

I guess I can reserve my time if I don't use it all.

Um gotta get his time.

I know you're good.

Well, two questions.

One, well, I want to know whether or not what's the timeline of finishing out Hoshkiss field because we're trying to get that reopen as a um voting precinct.

I'm sorry, which one is the I apologize?

Hoshkiss field on Brooklyn Pop.

Add that to my questions to get the timeline back for you.

I don't have that.

I think it's just a uh checklist point at the present time, but we want to make sure that we have some timeline so that we can open it back up as a voting thing.

There's no problem.

I'll I'll follow up.

I just that one I don't have off the top of my head, but I'll make sure to for us to bring that one back.

Okay, and uh in your presentation slide number 16, it makes a lot of reference to public utilities.

My question is whether or not those funds come out of the enterprise.

I don't want to.

There's a little nuance there.

I'm gonna let the Oracle so outside of that 14 million for the flood wall, that's the the flood wall project, that's bond funded, geo bond funded, like on the city's end.

Everything else is the from the utility fund.

Thank you very much.

And I reserved my time.

Thank you for your questions, council member Robertson.

If you have any additional, please get to staff and we'll put them in the list to be able to.

Well, that one I did want to say there is because there are a few projects like that.

When you have the enterprise fund, what this council has done, which I think is a great practice.

A lot of the larger most successful cities do it is you supplement some of those resources to accelerate projects and make sure they get started on time as you allocate resources.

And so you've done the same uh with that particular project.

So just wanted to highlight that some of your enterprise funds do operate like that.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Lynch.

All right.

Um let's see.

Shall I where shall I begin?

Um so councilman Bretton and Councilmember Gibson, I think did a good job kind of addressing our, and you're hearing it from the council that you know we we we place vision zero at a high priority given the fact that we've had 15 fatalities.

Um I think complete streets and what we were asking for more detail there would certainly be helpful.

Um, especially knowing now, as Mr.

Binzer just said, that over half of that 21 million, and really it's only 19 million if you take out the two million for project design.

So, I mean, really, we're working with nine million dollars to um address and respond to projects, traffic calming projects that aren't already on our books.

All we have is nine million dollars, and that's got to do alley paving, public right-of-way maintenance, traffic calming measures, and repaving.

That's just not enough money.

I mean, I'm just just not enough money to do what we need to do.

Yeah, to address this.

I don't think that's accurate.

I want Mr.

Vincent to actually come and give you some insights on that.

Because I I'll start and you come on up.

I mean, it's 250,000 to do one square block of side pockets.

349,000 to do a pedestrian hybrid break, and I mean, I've eaten up, you know, a third of your nine million right there, you know.

You know, I think you want to let him explain because I think there are additional resources that we're I don't think we're looking at those dollars as an apple's two apples uh piece, and then I'll give you some insights on just the holistic approach that we're good afternoon, Bobby Vincent.

Hi, hi, Councilwoman Lynch.

Um, so the the dollars that you're referencing you're asking for them from where again?

Because we have we have more money than that.

Okay, so complete street.

So if I come to you, as I often do and say, Bobby, we just had a serious vehicular accident, um, and there's been multiple, you've done years worth of traffic studies on this particular street.

We've got to have speed tables tomorrow.

What line item are you pulling them from?

I'm pulling it from uh combination of complete streets as well as CBTA dollars.

So complete streets is comprised of C V T C A.

That is the funnel for the local C VTC dollars that fund those types of speed tables, traffic infrastructure, et cetera.

We don't do we have a separate bucket other than complete streets that I'm not aware of that you look at.

Streets uh well, let me go back.

Paving is $15 million a year.

We have $5 million of it that comes from CBTA and 10 million of it that comes from our geobonds with regards to complete streets.

Um the remaining dollars and complete streets make up for um the the other 21 million is where traffic calming, other projects of that nature um wind up coming into play.

We also get an additional roughly five to six million dollars annually from DPU for paving.

So when we pay, that's when we install um uh speed tables, and that's how we're able to install the quantity of speed tables that we do, in fact, install.

Yeah, so what you just said is you have to get really creative with the go bonds and the C V T CA money that we do have, but what do we have specifically allocated for traffic calming measures?

And I'm not just talking about speed tables, I'm talking about hybrid, you know, pedestrian beacons, raised crosswatch, et cetera.

Um wayfare signage, um, you know, the additional nice little flashing you're going this fast under the speed limit signs, all those things that we know cost quite a bit.

I mean, those those are high price, not to mention out of the same pot, you have alley paving, right?

No, ma'am.

We don't we do alley maintenance out of the general fund.

Um but we're for that's not your coop, that's what the complete streets budget set.

I'm just going off what's in the so with with regards to and looking at um pedestrian hybrid beacons, we normally get those dollars from state andor funded uh federally funded um grants.

And so that's the good part about us having several different line items within one line item budget because that's the way that we're able to move those projects around.

But if there's a specific location that is requesting a pedestrian hybrid beacon, we can put those in as a separate individual project.

And it oftentimes gets approved um through state funding.

If not, then we can look at geo funding.

Yeah, so and I think what would be helpful, and I'm gonna move off of this, but I think I think the the general theme is it's hard to make a decision on whether or not we're allocating enough every year to traffic safety infrastructure because we we get those calls, right?

Yes, ma'am.

We are held responsible.

The citizens are looking at us saying, what are you guys doing to fund traffic safety infrastructure?

And why are we so behind other cities and municipalities that seem to really have it together when it comes to traffic infrastructure?

One thing that we would say, well, because we don't have enough funding.

No, we we definitely I would never say that we don't have enough funding with regards to traffic safety.

I would also never say that we're behind other cities.

The city of Richmond is actually leading the way.

Um just left from Washington, DC.

And uh we are at the same par as Washington, DC.

What we're trying to change, which goes back to vision zero, it's a mental concept.

So it's very difficult for the Department of Public Works, City Council, the police, or anyone else to stop people from drinking and driving, to stop people from shooting up drugs and then getting behind the wheel and hitting someone.

So it's very difficult for us to do that.

So the way that we tend to do that is through awareness.

We go out there with education, we go out there with engineering, and we go out there with enforcement.

And that combination of efforts it is what lowers the numbers, but it's not going to lower the numbers to where nothing bad ever happens anywhere through our budget.

That that's not going to be what um is going to stop everything.

Right.

Um, but it will reduce the numbers and lower the probability of something of that nature happening.

100%.

It's a multi prime approach.

Yes, ma'am.

I get that.

However, those bump outs, the speed tables, the hybrid pedestrian vegans, they've really worked.

So maybe we need to be funding more of that.

That's that's my my challenge question to you all.

Um, all right.

Second question is for the um for the water plant um and wastewater, the two projects at 254 million and 237 million.

You all had a um kind of an estimate on what the average monthly bill would increase to.

Can you all just give us a straight, you know, answer on what what are these pro how many, how what percentage are we raising people's actual utility rates to fund those projects?

Got it.

Mr.

Moore, Director Morris is going to answer that question, but you moved away from that other question very quickly.

And your time then I get everything's fast.

So I want to make sure I uh uh answer that also more fully because there we've got two different uh perspectives here, and I want to make sure they're the same.

I think council is right in that we want urgency on death tragedy, preventable acts.

Like you're just right, you know, and while I think Mr.

Vincent is also correct that the perception is likely a little bit worse than the reality.

I mean, if you look at the statistics, our vision zero numbers, and you look at you know the our statistics, the efforts are working.

But one death is too many, it's vision zero.

And so we had a time period where I think it was like six deaths in like two months or something of that nature.

And those were all behavioral activities.

And so it's a it's a lot, you know, what do they say?

Uh uh ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

So we've got to do some of those things, but we also have to make sure, as y'all being the people who are going to receive the most calls, the most feedback from the public, make sure you know what we're doing.

So definitely taking your request uh seriously around the budget, but I also think there might be a different avenue for us to be able to do like a uh CIP one-on-one, which we did, we had to do for the mayor and putting this together.

It looks like that could be helpful for the council because you're seeing something in this page and you're seeing something there, and together they all work together.

So we'll make sure to add that to our process to make sure you know where all of these uh resources are, and that we're providing you the things that you need, especially because I know y'all are kind of district specific, making sure you know what's coming to your district, which is why we included it in the presentation here to make sure that we showed that.

For your second question, um, I think she's trying to identify just what is the potential uh rate increase, which I know some of that just before you come, I'll mention that some of that is dependent on our state partners.

We got a large percentage.

I won't say large, I'll say uh reasonable investment from the state uh based on our ask, and we're looking for additional resources so that we can keep those rates as low as possible.

But again, we won't know that until the special session.

I'll turn it over to you direct.

Um Director Morris um to answer your question.

Um the values that are in there are based off the average consumer bill.

So you know, looking at between like six and seven CCFs, um, but the rate increase for water is right around 7% rate increase.

Um, and then sanitary is 6.95% rate increase.

And that's in perfect, like 7% every year.

That's for this year and then projected in the near future as well until we get all these projects done.

Did y'all catch that?

That's that's quite an increase.

Yeah.

Okay.

Now we we will obviously be going through every year rerunning the rate model, um, trying to do some process improvements and efficiency improvements, um, trying to reduce those future needs and try to lower that as much as possible.

We have several initiatives already underway to try to improve and be a little bit more efficient in our operations.

So the hope that we have here is that we can reduce those as much as possible in the future.

Okay.

Um the other uh question that I had was in regards to parks.

Um the 900, was it 900 or 800, 800,000?

Um that was um allocated.

Do you have a breakdown?

I think another council member might have asked that question, so I'll maybe I've just skipped that.

But I'm also interested in a breakdown of where that 800,000 is going for parks for um the parks maintenance allocation.

Um then likewise in that six point two million.

Um, just just wanting to know because we have a lot of pools in our in our district, and um it's it's a real gem to have that in the summer, but they cost a lot.

A lot of them are failing and have significant maintenance needs.

So I'm just wondering how much are we actually setting aside for aquatics out of that 6.2 million.

That answer, I'll tell you part of the reason why we did some of the realignment that we did is because we're gonna be able to have some cost savings by aligning all of our maintenance activities, all of our uh, I mean, some of it is ground maintenance, of course, but also our facilities maintenance and things of that nature, all under one umbrella will allow us to essentially have a master crew of availability to be able to do some of this work in-house, which means we'll resolve some of those cost issues of contracting it out.

But I know you're you're asking about a specific area, so I do have to follow up with you on that.

Okay.

And last question was in regards to the John Marshall courthouse.

That the total um uh estimated allocation for that or the proposal that we saw last was over 300 million.

We're for a new facility.

Yeah, so we're expediting 15 million to basically, you know, patch things up with bubblegum and shoelaces.

What what have we gotten an official response or can we get a response from our stakeholders at the John Marshall Courthouse on their and and you may know and you may be prepared to share on um what their resolve was in the 15 million and what they're asking for.

Yeah, so I mean, we're actually working with them regularly.

We'll be meeting with the chief judge.

Um, I'm not sure if I I'm pretty sure I everybody has the letter and the correspondence that I sent out.

And so the first piece is the 15.6 million, just looking at other localities, some more expensive, some less, that will modernize that building is not just patchwork, and not to mention we've already allocated quite a few dollars.

I think you saw in my report, I included pictures just so you can see what we've done for HVAC and all of those other areas, key cards, which look I'm gonna be honest, I'm shocked that those things had not been taken care of in all of this time.

And so our focus is to ensure that we keep everyone safe.

They have a modern building, a modern facility.

Hey, our city attorney works over there.

We gotta make sure she can work over there and make it over here, you know, for for you guys.

So I mean, we're we're making sure that we do that.

But at the same time, I've also committed to a 60-day study and we have brought in uh some additional resources to be able to see one what the market shows.

So what is available and what facilities uh are even potential because I know that there's a conflict and whether we can lease or not.

I think there are just differences of opinion there.

Second piece is once we identify what's available, are there multiple uses that might allow us to utilize a facility, take on some of that costs and uh utilize that they can utilize it as well, or is there something that they ask for that we can provide?

They are open to that, and we'll have a conversation here in the very, very, very near future so that we can really establish the lines of demarcation.

How does this 15.7 million, I believe it is, help, which I think it does, make the facility safe, modernize it, and provide things that have never been provided before.

That is vital because you can't just go somewhere tomorrow and have a turnkey place.

From what I understand, it's been about 26 years that this has been kicked down the can.

So we're committed to do something.

We've identified that in the 15.6 or 7 million.

Again, I don't have it in front of me.

I know you have your budget books, but we'll do that, and so we've got to be able to chew gum and walk at the same time.

So that's the chewing gum, and the report is the walk in to show them what we'll be presenting here shortly.

And like I've done before, I'll make sure to keep the council engaged in that, and you'll ever report that they get, you will get.

Thank you.

Councilmember Amelbacher.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, my colleague answered or asked some of the questions I was gonna ask around the DPU utility um rates, but I'll I will just echo my sentiment.

I'm interested in getting exact numbers because I think that 7% year over year increase is uh uh correct me if I'm wrong, Director Morris, a little bit higher than the affordability index that we're trying to, I thought I thought we were trying to stay under six percent.

Trying to stay under the affordability index, but I think that does keep us under the affordable, the affordability index.

Okay.

Um confirmation on that would be good.

Um going back to the John Marshall Courts.

I I can confirm now it does keep us under the affordable.

It does, okay, yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Um back to the John Marshall Courts building, uh, I do appreciate the investment in um in the capital improvement of that building.

You know, one of the things that the they came to us uh in public safety last year was just sort of about overall, I guess what is have we before we're investing a ton of money in the courts building, albeit necessary.

Have we really taken stock into how that fits into the greater picture of the the downtown district?

Yes, ma'am.

That's actually some of that is included.

I've sent three memorandums.

I'm not sure if it's in the first, the second is not in the third, but our overall plans for downtown, including the demolition of the Coliseum, uh the future plans for that space, uh, as well as even looking at whatever, whether it be growth in City Hall buildings that we utilize, uh, as well as what the market is doing downtown in general is a part of that.

Now that is in the third memorandum because uh one of the things we committed to doing is a market assessment so that we can make sure that our investments downtown, even the temporary ones, you know, uh align with what is left for the the current plans for downtown.

So, yes, it fits into those plans.

The market assessment is going to help and uh ensuring that there is safety and accessibility to the courthouse in the near term is vitally important, especially as you make those investments uh on the balance of downtown.

Okay, and then the um investments in city hall.

I know that Director Johnson at one point had mentioned I had asked the question around, you know, when's the last time we did a space uh space study?

Um just given like what what are we investing in the space of City Hall versus what is actually being utilized right now and what is the future state of utilization?

Yeah, so current utilization study, I believe is underway now.

I have to follow up with uh Director Johnson and Ms.

Wiggins on that, because it's utilization space, and then uh if there is a way for us to be a little bit more efficient.

I know uh I'm looking at the clerk's office, and I know they need uh some support, and we've done an assessment there because I think they need an additional space.

So we're they can vouch for that.

We're looking at every nook and cranny within this building to be able to identify the best uses of space and aligning things appropriately.

One example of that, because uh the initial look at space and utilization, we did not have a space for uh emergency operations.

Apparently they were going to the library and just kind of pulling stuff out of the closet during the water crisis.

And so you had a bunch of challenges there.

And so we used an available space that I think was a large conference room and made it into our uh basically our emergency operations headquarters, which we refer to as the MAC.

We're looking at all types of areas in City Hall and how we can better uh support and provide resources, including this base.

Okay, and then um I was looking at the line items for uh fire station building maintenance and fire station renovations, the fire station renovations, the prior year availables, negative 200,000, and then the the building maintenance is we're we're hovering at just you know, 400,000.

Having gone to many of these fire stations, knowing that they are in dire need of modernization and repair, it what is like what is the city, what are we saying with this number um in terms of our commitment to uh the firefighters?

I mean, some of the fire stations still don't have adequate separation of the genders at this point.

So I'm I'm wondering like how are we how are we working to invest in that?

They don't have several I'm I would we should bootleg.

Let's just say that.

Yeah, I mean the first it's not cute.

The first thing is we've just got to improve our facilities.

That's something.

I mean, I just say you can follow my track record everywhere I've been, the facilities have been improved for our public safety rock stars.

They the people we run it from danger, they run into it.

So we gotta make sure that they're taken care of.

So one of the things like you, I visit all the fire stations as well, spent the night at which one was that, Chief?

The busy one?

11.

Spend the night at 11.

And what's the is two of them that I'm supposed to do next?

Five, one and five.

So, you know, we are doing an assessment, not only uh through the specialist, but doing it ourselves.

So making sure that we see what's going on there and investing appropriately.

I think in one of them, the one that is, I think negative 200,000, that's because we overspent to make sure to deliver and get the job done.

Uh, but I would say our investment in our firehouses, our apparatus, and all of those things are on track, but we want to do more.

And you see some of those investments in uh the CIP.

I want to highlight a couple of those fire stations in particular, because I know there are a couple of them that are uh, you know, going getting the finishing touches, but then others that are on track.

So uh I think the numbers you're referring to, I think those are was that in the active project section?

Like the 400 pages, and it's got that big table, and it's just like yeah, it's yeah, it's the it's the prior year appropriation and then the balance.

Yeah, yeah.

So a lot of those are like older awards and whatnot.

Like you said, we have to go back and reconcile and look at the funding there.

But so much of that fire station maintenance now is under the generalized capital maintenance program.

They kind of consolidated everything.

So that's the that's city hall is parks and rec.

That's um again, fire stations and police stations, like you mentioned.

So there's money out there.

I can't remember projects off the top of my head right now, but there's that also includes like roof replacements and stuff like that, too.

So uh so maybe we could as a follow-up get that number of uh the total investment both in renovations and in um deferred maintenance, general management.

Yeah.

Um let's see if uh did want to ask a question.

Oh, um, the Richmond Fiber Optic Network.

Um it seems like a uh substantial investment.

I I guess some questions that are are still needing to be answered are um do we have the necessary resources to develop and maintain our own fiber optic network?

Um who are the customers for this?

Like what is our ROI?

So there are a few.

I mean, I think that's one that we want to get you a robust answer for, so we've answered that one in writing.

But I in short, we don't do that alone.

I mean, when we are looking at installing fiber optics, there are others who we have to make sure we acquire right away, and there's a bunch of other activities that go with it.

So we'll just get you a robust answer on that because the the short answer is yes, but I want you to see the detail behind it.

I guess um for a high level for the for the public.

Could you explain why we're why we're investing in our own fiber optic network, the big 30,000 foot Y?

Yeah, I mean, I think for more reliability on dependency and to be able to keep up with uh modern technology requirements is the big picture why.

But uh, I don't know if y'all want to come up and speak to some of those things, you can.

But I I think it'd likely be easier for everybody to get a full detail review because it the reason we're making that decision is one to make sure we kind of keep up with the times and invest with technology and fiber optics, but those costs do require in many instances uh right-of-way acquisition easements and other activities that go into just you know, you're not just digging up dirt and uh installing things into the ground.

Thank you.

Yep, no problem.

Thank you, Mr.

Donald.

Um, want to thank you.

Um, Mr.

Vincent, Mr.

Morris.

Oh, and Mr.

Nixon Garrison for uh the presentation.

I do have a question, but I'm just coming to well, several questions, but gonna give them to RJ to include in the list.

So I want to say thank you.

And then last but not least, uh, would like if you can provide the information uh that council member Trammel um requested earlier uh in the meeting at the yes, and so we'll be getting some information on that.

I think I mentioned to the council member that we will have.

I just went ahead and sent somebody to find out what's going on now, but I do know our monthly check-ins at Hickory Hill will be able to bring some of those uh uh documents to folks because I think you want people to be able to fill those out uh in person, and then I think we're checking out or trying to create a process where people can come into City Hall as well and do the same.

But for people who I'm assuming you're saying are being kicked off of the roles, which not sure what the answer to that is, but you know, that's the work that this transformation manager will be doing.

And so we've already, uh, thanks to the mayor's leadership, assigned that to her today.

So we'll have a follow-up on that as well on why that's happened is if it's systematic, is it something that they need to do that they may not be aware of that's triggered by something, and so we'll make sure to follow up on that.

Mr.

Donald, just want to be clear because Ms.

Tramm and some of the others of us have had um residents calling us.

And so for those individuals, she's gotten information that who's the touch point that that information is going to.

Yeah, so that's gonna come to our finance department, it'll go to tax or whatnot.

So if you've got a particular person.

Well, if you've got a list and you get it to Mr.

Warren, he normally sends it to myself, uh chief of staff and the DCAO of finance.

So if you allow him to continue to compile it, we'll keep that process going.

Okay.

That way at the highest level we see it, and we make sure to push it down and follow up.

And someone will follow up with the end with the residents, but and follow up to the council member as well.

Usually what happens is Mr.

Warren sends us pretty detailed.

Hey, this is depending on the issue.

This is district five, this is district seven, this is district eight nine.

Here are the names, here are the issues, and then we would respond back.

Now he just disperses it to y'all in his way, which that's you know, it's council business.

I don't get into that, but we'll make sure he he'll make sure we he gets we get what we need, and we'll make sure he gets what you need.

Thank you.

And we'll do that um as soon as possible, probably.

Yes, ma'am.

Yeah.

Yeah, tomorrow.

Councilwoman Robertson, did you what did you say?

Sorry.

I I thought I reserved um a couple of minutes and guys, I had additional one additional question I wanted to ask.

Okay, so a additional question, but if because there you had not completed your time.

But if there are other persons with questions, please get those to RJ so we can get them to Mr.

Donald and the administration.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Um thank you, Mr.

Donna.

Thank you, Dr.

Newbill.

Um question.

I know that we are looking at a significant increase in uh capital improvement efforts this year, and that goes on from one year to the next.

Um there's some conversation at the General Assembly about uh putting a freeze on the gasoline tax that contributes a lot to the CDTA.

And so I'm interested in knowing from you, and you know that the council has been trying to reduce the real estate tax for some time.

What kind of impact and what's what's the possibilities based on now that we are in that the budget cycle that we can kind of address that from a holistic perspective?

Yeah, so listen, I I think what um I don't want to make any breaking news or anything like that, but I I will tell you, I'm a believer, and I've I know that the mayor is as well, is that he has heard the council loud and clear that I think you wanted to do uh what was it, a 116 reduction or something of that nature previous.

And one of the things that was asked is that we look at what the feasibility is.

I think you know, prices are going up for everybody, and we have to have resources to be able to deliver.

I think I've heard from the council just in this meeting, but in previous meetings, we we need more.

Have we allocated more?

We need more, we need more.

That takes resources.

But at the same time, we have to make sure that our community is affordable for the people who are already here, not just affordable for the people coming from all of these high-end places who can afford to live here.

And so, and looking at the budget that the mayor has put forth.

Now I know y'all are gonna do amendments and add some things in, take some things out or whatever, but I think based on the budget that has been presented and something that is reasonably close.

I think it would be a fair assertion that our goal should be, and I I say this because the assessment, we purposely tighten our belts.

2% cut across the administration to ensure that we can do more with less, and so that we get a bigger windfall when we come forward with the assessment next year.

If we do that, and if we're all tightening our belts this year, and the amendments don't add 20 million and 30 million to what our goals are, we should be able to potentially reduce that tax rate.

Now I don't know if it's the 116, but I think as water goes up and other things like that, a 119 or 118, which is a significant reduction for our taxpayers, has to be feasible and has to be something that we look at ultimately.

That, you know, I think the mayor is committed to some type of reduction, and he is the boss.

He makes the final say, but I know that he has been very interested in that.

And I think that is is our goal in moving forward.

And so the hope is.