All right.

Before we get started, I need to read through uh a brief message here.

Please silence all electronic devices while attending the governing body meeting.

For the record, I will announce the names of the governing body members.

When I say your name, please acknowledge your present by saying present.

Councilor Dabson.

President.

Councilor Lennon Tyne.

I don't see him here yet.

In route.

Okay.

Counselor Tyler.

Present.

Councillor Colbreath.

Present.

Counselor List.

Present.

Pursuant to the governing body rules and procedures.

Public comment will not be taken at the work session public meeting.

Public comment will be taken at the governing body meeting of May 14th and May 28th.

All right.

So up for discussion.

City manager's response to the mayor's comments and recommended fiscal year 27 budget.

City manager, guys.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body, good afternoon.

Good not good afternoon, good morning.

Afternoon in Europe, I guess.

Just uh as you received uh via email, uh former mayor Hall, who was the mayor on April 25th, uh transmitted a uh short letter um regarding the uh recommended budget.

Uh you know, the his letter did not propose uh any changes uh to the budget, um, and just broadly speaking, uh it you know highlighted and referenced um you know the general direction of the budget uh of the you know our budget our budgeting approach and our budget philosophy that we've had for the last uh several years.

Um so with that, I would just like to acknowledge the receipt of former mayor halls in this case's uh uh response letter and next year will be coming from you.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Is that all you have?

That was very short and sweet, Matt.

All right, moving on to the uh line by line document.

This is my this is my favorite part.

All right, so I'm gonna read through the different sections and what page numbers they are on, and so if counselors have any comments or questions, we can discuss them at this point.

Mr.

Mayor, um would you like uh to go through the brief overview of the I'm sorry that's not on my list, no?

Absolutely.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Uh just uh wanted to provide uh just a kind of a quick recap.

A couple of these slides are uh recycled from the April 21st meeting, but also provide some information uh to answer one of the questions that we received on April 21st.

So obviously we're here for our May 21st budget work session.

Um as we know, process timeline, April 15th, uh which we uh was the city manager's recommended budget was um was was published.

Uh the FY27 budget spans July 1 of this calendar year through June 30th of 2027 uh per the charter, the mayor of Rio Rancho provided uh comments to the uh to the budget on uh April 25th.

Continuing on the the process timeline.

Uh today is that first uh referenced uh budget hearing.

Uh we also have placeholders for additional budget hearings on May 11th and or May 14th at 3 p.m.

Uh if there is a will desire or need to discuss uh any items of the budget, answer additional questions, go a little deeper on anything in the budget.

Um we'll see uh you know, based on today's dialogue and and so forth.

The governing body will take public comments on the FY27 recommended budget and capital program during its regular meetings at City Hall on May 14th and May 28th at 6 p.m.

A vote to adopt the budget for FY27 and the capital program will occur at the governing body's meeting of May 28th.

Uh that would also be um a potenti a potential time to make any amendments to the uh recommended budget that may uh spur from uh today's meeting or subsequent meetings around the budget or the public hearings.

Also at that time uh we will be bringing forward uh uh an amendment or an adjustment to the budget for approximately 1.4 million dollars uh to uh to the to factor in the compensation compensation adjustments uh with the Rio Rancho Police Department and the Rio Rancho uh Police and Communications Association that we discussed on uh April 21st.

As I referenced at that time, also the fire union has uh TA'd on the 5% salary increase.

We open union negotiations with them, which will include a full contract review on compensation in December of 2027, and uh we are initiating um uh negotiations on the annual reopener with ASME.

Uh they responded to us earlier this week to get a meeting scheduled.

So we may have updates for you over the course of May on how that is progressing.

Ultimately, in July, the governing body will consider and vote on a final budget for FY27, which accounts for the end of FY26 um financial closeout, what we call the rollovers, uh also the the reversions as we close out the budget, and then so that sets the beginning the this year's ending fund balance, next year's beginning fund balance, as well as some minor adjustments.

This is what um we refer to as the adopted budget, and it is the budget that we use in compare to for the first six months of the year leading into mid-year.

Page uh slide four here.

Um the FY27 budget is structurally balanced and furthers the goals outlined in the city strategic plan.

The five-year general fund forecast reflects a consistent structural balance with recurring revenue projected to exceed recurring expenditures throughout the planning period.

Ending fund balance is projected to meet or exceed the city's 25% reserve policy minimum for the next five fiscal years.

Slide five is a graphical uh depiction of that, uh, where we see the uh recurring revenues, the dark line exceeding uh the recurring expenditures, the five-year period is uh is uh forecasted using an uh economic model, economic projection, uh using a pessimistic scenario, um, which is conservative in nature, but then also uh you know, factors in escalating cost of business and anticipated inflation.

You'll see over here in the right hand side a um the uh a high level summary of our revenues.

Uh you will see that the two primary revenue sources, property tax and gross receipts tax are modeled or anticipating an increase this year.

So those are the two primary again, primary funding sources you know for the city.

They're seeing an increase.

Overall revenue is projected to increase by about.

I'm doing public math here, um four and a half, five and a half million dollars.

Someone correct my public math, Don, please.

Um, like the highlight that you'll see that uh at the at the top, um, the beginning fund balance uh shows that there is a reduction from the beginning fund balance that we started this year versus the the beginning fund balance that we were projecting going into next year.

That will come up when we go into the year-end closeout.

So we have the reversion, so I think a more accurate picture of what the beginning fund balance is all part of that that that closeout.

Um then you can see total sources.

I highlight that because uh there is a newspaper article saying our budget is shrinking.

Um it's a little these are snapshots in time as we go through them and when we uh um when we do the final rollout, that number will come up.

Um but you can see that our revenues are growing.

So I think that uh that characterization of uh the budget shrinking is not accurate.

Um so I just wanted to uh point that out.

Slide six, we talked about this um uh on April 21st.

Uh two you know, two overviews here of sources and uses uh for the city on the left-hand side.

You see the the sources and the uses uh captured into the uh the categories of recurring revenue, non non-recurring revenue, and then the major line items of personnel materials and services, which are recurring expenditures, and then they're in the uh power ring, um, the percentage allocation combined of expenditures, material and services, salary by department from the general fund.

Some of the departments have additional have their own funding source, such as the utilities, fire department receives uh funding from the fire fund, etc.

Um slide seven, recap of the new positions, 21 new positions, 13 of those are in the realm of public safety.

Nine uh nine, we're recognizing nine of the 15 firefighters to open fire station eight, two police officers, two real-time crime center operators, um, and then other positions that I discussed on 421 can answer any questions of those as we go through the line item.

Uh slide eight, uh five percent compensation.

Uh as we discussed the we have built into the recommended budget a five percent uh compensation increase across the board.

One of the benefits of um when we started working on this at 5% is it allows us to shift uh one pay grade, um, which is really important for in particular for a lot of our ASME positions.

The the adjustment would occur beginning the first uh full pay period in the next fiscal year, which is July 13th.

The estimated recurring cost uh for this adjustment in FY27 is 2.6 million for the general fund, 82,000 for the utilities fund, and 15,000 for the convention and the visitors bureau fund.

Slide nine, you saw this previously.

We we discussed the uh five percent health care increase on to our health care premiums.

The City of Rio Rancho is uh self-insured with our health care, and so that there's a five percent increase on the portion that we pay, and then a five percent increase also on the portion that um the employees pick up.

Going on to slide 10, start to answer the question uh that was posed uh by counselor Colbreth on five percent compensation versus uh five five percent compensation increase versus five percent health care.

Five equal you know, five doesn't equal five in this case.

Um and so if you we look at the the basic uh you know the the the the lowest hourly rate that we have in the city's pay scale at 14 uh 14 dollars and 14 cents, a five percent increase um it translates to uh 1485 or 71 cents per hour on an 80 hour pay period that translates to 56.56 cents.

Um if we go on to slide 11, here's a graphical representation that shows the um the the 56 point the 56.56, the increase in um health insurance depending on the plan that the individual would be on ranges between 81 cents and 11.97 cents for that five percent.

So the net impact on call it take home pay or increase to gross pay actually would be between 44.5 uh 44 uh 44 dollars and fifty fifty-nine cents or fifty-five dollars and seventy five fifty-five dollars and seventy-five cents.

So um at about it's a it's a multiplier of about four point seven X.

Um so that five percent would you know if it nets out to being four point seven.

So Councillor Colbert, I hope this is uh answers the question.

It's a it's a very important question, so thank you for posing that.

Um with that, just would like to uh uh remind anyone viewing in the public that the the budget can be viewed online at rrnm.gov forward slash FY27 budget.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Thank you, Mr.

City.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Any comments by council?

Mr.

Mayor Counselor.

Um Matt, I tried that link and it didn't work.

The one that worked was actually had the words um preliminary, I think, budget.

That would give took me to a no no good page.

Thank you, Mr.

We'll double check.

Okay, thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, Councilor Tyler, Matt, you said that the pay has not yet been worked out for the unions.

So they're not getting the five percent, they're going somewhere different.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the government body, counselor Tyler.

Um FIRE has agreed tenant TAID at five percent.

Yeah, police has TA'd at with additional compensation, which is will be a budget adjustment of 1.4 million that we bring forward on April 28th.

Um, you know, recognizing and reacting to some changes that we've seen in the in the the labor market with uh with sworn officers, and ask me is is we've just started conversations with them.

They responded uh to the request to meet uh earlier this week.

Did they actually respond?

Yes, they did.

Okay.

We have a meeting scheduled.

Okay, and so that's not in the current budget, so we're gonna come back for a budget adjustment to address those, or are they already decided or is it already figured in this budget cycle that we're gonna do?

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body, um the only the five percent is contemplated in the budget.

Okay.

So there will need to be a budget adjustment for Rio Rancho PD, which is you know the mainly the sworn officers in the dispatch and also some civilian members in the union, um, plus the cascading effect that it has on the non-sworn and the command or the excuse me, sworn but command staff to be determined with ASME.

Okay.

So the only thing that's currently in the budget that you see today is the five.

The five.

Okay, thanks.

The estimated cost for for police is 1.4 million Mr.

Mayor.

Anything further?

Councilor Lennon Time.

Uh I just checked in the link is um working, so if the public want to access that, they can.

Thank you.

I didn't just think anything further.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Um, Mr.

City Manager, I see the next item is the read the budget line by line, but it also says presenter um Stephanie Yara is she speaking after we go line by line or is it just she's here for comments?

Okay, perfect.

All right.

She's the co-navigator for the line.

Yes, indeed.

That works for me.

All right, line by line.

This is the fun part.

All right, we will start with city manager's report.

And the uh leader fund on 40 pages 46 and 47.

4344.

4344.

4344, yes, that's the city manager.

Let's start.

Let's start there.

Any comments?

Yes.

Councilor Tyler.

Uh Matt, on the ED part, economic development.

So in this in the materials and services in that area, there's a 473.2% increase in one line item, 233 in another, and 172 in another.

One's in travel.

And I think we've got that worked out.

And then advertising, there's an increase there.

Can you tell me about that one?

It's two, it's like 50,000 more.

So it was 35,000 more.

It was at 15, now it's at 50.

Mr.

members of the governing body.

Um, as one of the positions that we are proposing is to add a communications manager, and uh we've had some conversations around opportunities for the city to um to do more to get the message out.

Um, as we know, we currently have our newsletter as well as the community outreach events uh for the city councilor.

So uh this money is uh additional advertising uh money if there's opportunities for us to highlight um you know highlight programs and activities uh not restricted to the city manager's um city manager's uh office per se um used to support other departments as well as needed.

And that's the same with the technical initiatives, correct?

That 127?

So line two after materials and services an increase of 104,000.

Counselor Tyler, that's a combination of things.

Um that is a series of things that have been combined into one line item.

What are the past years?

So Don, do you have the detail?

I'm gonna have Don give you the detail.

Okay.

Yeah, thanks, Donald Trump.

Mr.

Mayor, governing body.

Mr.

Mayor, governing body.

Um that particular account 3106 technological initiative includes several new items.

Um streamlined software, dock access, and there's also a business consumer intelligence software that's new to the budget in 27.

Um Civic Plus, which is the city's website and intranet site.

Um there is an additional, there was a move from contract services.

Um right now it's in contract services, and we're moving it to technological initiatives to more properly reflect the classification.

So that's why you're seeing that that increase.

And I think Peter can speak to some of those softwares more specifically.

Um yes, governing body.

So um there was a couple years ago um upgrade um federal regulations requiring more advancements on ADA and accessibility for all websites and platforms.

So for the last year we have been endeavoring to address that through our website, and we were able to achieve that uh through uh an additional software.

It's an overlay on our website to make documents more accessible to meet those federal standards.

But lo and behold, uh about five days before the requirements were to go into effect last month.

The federal government uh delayed the rollout of that based on the cost and difficulties for communities to do that.

We managed to get it done on time and would have been ready to go, but we do still need to have that software because that rule, even though it got delayed a year, is still going to come out at some point.

So that's one of the new items, and as uh Don Martinez said, you do see a reduction of 71,000 in contract services because some of the existing things like our website and those costs are being shifted in that one line item.

In the business software.

I'm gonna let the city manager speak to that one.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

This is uh an item um in for Alberto supporting economic development.

Uh uh there's a few platforms out there that provide consumer analytics um and business analytics, so helps inform the you know the the commercial trends and the economic trends in the community um in supporting uh local businesses as well as identifying opportunities uh for new businesses that come into the community.

Okay, and then the economic development.

So now let me just this is gonna be the one um we were at 106,000.

That's for C, correct?

That's C's line item.

Right, Mr.

Mayor members of the governing body, that is the line item.

The 75,000 that is in the FY27 recommended budget is for SCA.

I would have to ask Don what we accounted for in that line for the 31,250 that was in FY26.

So it was 106 and 250 in 26, now it's at 75.

Um that business rule, and there's no secret, I'm not a big fan of C.

I think it's money that we can spend in other places, just like right now, we're buying business software to track and do what C should be doing or should have done.

I think that um that's money that we can I don't want to just eliminate because I know that the it used to be over 100,000, and I saw it in 26, and I thought we were gonna go somewhere with it, but I think all we're doing is we're just giving them money to pay their bills.

Um, and I think the county is doing the same thing because I spoke to some of the county folks yesterday, or it was yesterday, and uh they're looking at making some modifications because of the lack of deliverables from that organization.

Um I would like to maybe reduce that down to 55,000 and give 20,000 and move it over to um the Rio Rancho Chamber, who I think is just as important in the economic development strategy of the City of Rio Rancho as C is, and I have uh some of the deliverables that they have had and some of their successes over the last couple of years.

Um it's something that I would like to see.

I can go over some of those if my peers would like.

Um, and I can give you some of my thoughts on the the budget adjustment um for the chamber.

Okay.

Um as far as um C is C has I don't I haven't I don't have any of their numbers, they were supposed to give us give us numbers, but I haven't seen any.

The chamber events, uh the chambers had 251 events in the last 24 and 25.

Um in addition to that, they've had over uh 40 ribbon cuttings in 24 and 41 in 25.

I think that um the Rio Rancho Chamber continues to serve as a key driver in economic activity business engagement and community visibility across the city of Rio Rancho, which is very important to our business community and as well as our GRT for the City of Rio Rancho.

I would also say that the chamber I think performs and reflects a strong evolving organization, and it's adapting to better serve Rio Rancho's business community with consistent business growth and indicators.

Um I think that the chamber remains a critical partner in advancing uh our Rio Rancho businesses and keeping Rio Rancho a strong place to come and do business with.

Um they're very visible, they're out in the public all the time.

I know all of us get invites to all their ribbon cuttings, and some of those events that I mentioned aren't even to talk about the luncheons and all the special things that they do on the side, the mayor's galas and all that other stuff.

These are just things that um just different events that they hold.

So I would I would like to just propose that that they um get some some funding and we can use it from the economic development funding piece and leave the leave 55 in there for C and give um 20,000 to the chamber.

I'd like to to make that uh recommendation to the council, Mr.

Mayan.

Councilor Cole breath.

Thank you.

Um I I certainly agree that um that the Rio Rancho Chamber um you know it's very active in the community and supports um lots of the the business activities within the community.

Um I think before and you know we we still have time to make decisions.

Um if we can get some additional information um as we look at whether or not to allocate these funds um having some requirements and stipulations set up and deliverables um for the chamber.

Um also I think getting some feedback on um what SCA has accomplished.

They serve like somewhat different purposes, right?

The I think the chamber is more um functioning on the kind of post-launch space for businesses, and so that's why they're much more visible in the ribbon cuttings, um, which is very important, and then um SEA is a bit more in the um the the business acquisition and the business recruiting, and so they just function in different spaces.

Um so I what I we may end up uh wanting to look at is just going back to a budget line item that looks a little bit closer to a hundred thousand and having um a portion allocated for SEA for for their continued work um and then adding uh rather than dividing up that 75,000.

Um I think as we move through these hearings, um, I'd like to know what those um deliverable requirements would be uh for the chamber so that we can make sure we're sorting the city's funds appropriately, um, and then also just take a look at um the work that SCA has done on that um early um early develop early business development portion.

It's just I I think it's just less visible the work that they're doing.

Um but I think it's it's important economic development is absolutely necessary in the city, and we need more of it.

Thank you.

And I would agree, I think that my I guess my thought on it is is that I've asked in 2000, well, eight years ago, I'm the one who cut C's money or recommended C's money be cut to zero because they're non-performance, um, and they've since hired someone new to run that organization.

And I know I continue to ask for quarterly updates or updates from C, still haven't received any, me personally.

I know city staff says they have, that's great.

Um, but at the end of the day, if we're going to hold one group accountable for a set of metrics, then that set of metrics be accountable to both groups and not just one group.

So if the chamber is going to be held accountable to say whatever their metrics are going to be, then by God, C is going to be held accountable to their metrics because I don't think it's you can't do one and not the other.

That's just and but I do agree with you that metrics should be met.

And we should be updated on their metrics.

That's great.

Thanks.

Mr.

Mayor.

Just for the record, um, let the record show that Councillor Lennon Tyne has joined us.

Uh Counselor Lennon Tyne.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, to just uh continue off of Councillor Colbras's point.

I do agree that uh the functions of those two organizations are quite different.

So I think trying to have a set of metrics that apply to both of them would be uh would not be advantageous.

Um also I'm I was for reducing C's money.

If we want to reduce C's money, that's okay.

I think though that we're mixing up the point of the chamber if we start funding the chamber.

And um they they obviously work with businesses in the area, they do a good job of working with businesses in the area.

I think that maybe at the end they jump in just to to go to ribbon cuttings.

That doesn't mean they necessarily got the business there.

So yes, they're more a lot more visible than C.

Um, but I think that if we start funding them, then we're really mixing up what the point of the chamber is.

And um if they you know if they're doing a good job, then that will be reflected in the fact that businesses want to be a part of the chamber for what they can offer to the community, uh, not only from a ribbon cutting standpoint, but from standpoint uh moving forward.

And so um I don't I don't think that we should be funding them at all from just from the city budget in general, and I think that that's probably uh a take that most cities you know have as well.

And so I think we're mixing up the function of the chamber.

I think we'd be throwing them a lot of money when they don't really have a lot of strong uh inputs in place in order to be recruiting business, and that's really what we're talking about here is recruiting business, and I know that that's uh is what Alberto is focused on as well.

And so that's just my thoughts on it.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councillor Lennatine.

Anything further, Mr.

Mayor, Councillor List.

Um I kind of agree with everyone in that I'm sitting in a position where I think that we have a little bit of a lack of exact direction or information of what this would look like to reallocate money where it is or is not.

Um I'm very open to learning more about what it would look like to give the chamber money.

I also very much understand um councillor Lynn and Tyne's perspective on the situation, so I think that before we could do anything, there would have to be a very clear direction of what that would look like, and I'm not in disagreement with that, but at the same time it needs to be very clear what does that look like and why, and is that outside of what their current responsibilities are anyway.

So, is it something very specific to the city that they would be doing in a partnership that does meet those types of expectations?

I also think it's a very fair ask um that SEA provides some information to satisfy the questions that have been asked by the council so that we can then continue to justify and support our financial um support of them.

I think that that's something that our residents in Rio Rancho are continually asking is for a little bit more clarity as to where the money's going, so it's not an unfair ask.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, Councillor Dobson.

Yeah, I just want to expand a little bit on what um counselor list said.

I don't actually know what the either one of those organizations would do what they're doing with the money that we might give them or we might you know donate.

I would love to know before we decide which what to do with the money, exactly how it would be used.

And I think that's basically what uh council was saying, but I just wanted to make sure that I I want to be really clear that I I kind of get why why we give money to SEA, but I'm not sure what we would be getting out of giving money to the chamber.

And I would love to know that before I make a decision on that.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilor Debs.

And anything further?

Um Mr.

City Manager, it there's been some discussion on the possibility that there actually has been documentation of what has been done by either C, well, certainly C for the money that we spend.

Is that accurate?

Mr.

Mayor, members of the government body, um uh council.

It's gonna take a couple weeks.

For all of us, sir.

So please forgive me in advance.

Mayor Weimer, uh, yes.

Um a couple things specific to your your question um in reference to uh also counselor um Tyler's comment.

When I came back to the city, I think it was early 2020.

Um we had uh a work uh work session, I think it was February 2020.

Um who knew what was around the corner a few weeks later.

Um we talked about different economic development approaches, economic models, the and then from there the budget was revised uh down to 75,000 uh for what is for SCA for economic development contract services.

The we've had a contract in place with SCA for a few years.

They have three uh work areas or work focus areas in the past, the 200,000 was just a contract to be, a contract to exist as an operating subsidy or an operating grant, um, which is a form of of granting money to an organization.

Um there's you know three specific areas um in that uh that contract in its uh business retention and expansion, um, working with our economic base companies.

Um, you know, there's data that shows 85% of job growth comes from existing businesses.

So it's being present um with those organizations, and SCA actually does a in my book and a very fine job, and I've been a champion of BRE since I was in Alberto's role a dozen years ago in a cabinet secretary of economic development.

One of the things I focused on when I was a cabinet secretary of economic development was fortifying the department's initiatives around business retention expansion and staying in touch and supporting and communicating with existing existing industry.

Um site readiness, um, one of the biggest challenges, not just in Rio Rancho, um not just in New Mexico, but across the country.

Um, is the dirt buildable and how fast can it be buildable?

And uh Alberto and SEA have been working in in that area.

And then uh um what we call microeconomic gardening, working in particular coming out of the pandemic, the smallest of entrepreneurs, because we saw a lot of home-based businesses spawn uh during uh that period.

So there's been uh you know good positive work in that area.

Um some of it has quantifiable deliverables.

SEA does uh quantifiable metrics, shall I say others a little more uh this you know activity-based, um, and there's other work that they do in addition to that uh on behalf of the city, um, in particular uh responding to the statewide generated uh what we call PROs.

Um those are economic development requests for bids that come from either the economic development department or what's the new Mexico Partnership, which is um the statewide EDO that uh works at a statewide for on the behalf of the state, across the country and global, even to generate leads and opportunities, um attraction opportunities and uh uh uh SCA works on the response um to represent Rio Rancho and Sandoval County.

Uh they provide us with quarterly reports, um, and they are reviewed by Alberto and I, and that that quarterly report is part of the issuance of their quarterly uh their quarterly payment.

Um what I would uh hearing the dialogue, what I would like to suggest um, be it at uh May 11th or May 14th, where we have two budget hearings penciled on the books, or at our June work session, um, that we take a deeper dive into the topic of economic development, uh starting with uh SCA providing uh an update.

We can send you those reports um, you know, in in advance, so you can formulate questions for them if you have questions, but they can come in and they can talk, uh they can present.

I would like to have um Alberto uh at that time present.

Um, because one of the things that we see in economic development, and there's lots of economic development organizations.

There's groups that are federally funded, there's groups that are state funded.

Um, and there's you know different areas of economic development, uh, workforce development, uh, business retention and expansion, uh recruitment and uh and attraction, then there's business advocacy when it gets into you know advocating for a business climate.

Then there's business advocacy when it gets into you know advocating for a business climate.

Um, and so you see things like the SBDC, which is the small business development center that's funded by the federal government.

Um there's different folks doing different things.

There's in everyone has a mission.

There is some overlap in that mission.

One of the things that we don't do well in New Mexico is navigating the overlap in that mission.

When we have that overlap in the in the mission, I think Alberto has really, because he's been spending a lot of time working on this, talking to individuals is when we have overlap in mission, because I think as some of the counselors pointed out, in this specific case, chamber, SCA or a chamber and an economic development organization, large part have different purposes.

And it's in the best interest of a community to have a strong economic development organization and to have a strong chamber.

The emphasis on the word there is and not or.

And one of the flaws in economic development is New Mexico is we argue too much around the word or I'm not talking about the or in a rowboat.

I'm talking about OR.

Um, we don't talk enough about and sometimes and requires additional resources and additional commitment and an additional time.

But one of the things going back to you know, Alberto is he's talking to the different entities, workforce development, which is CNM, the Department of Workforce Solutions, for instance, or the SBDC or West, which is a nonprofit that works in very small organizations.

When we have that overlap in the missions, you know, this does sound a little bit of a cliche, and I'll say this, but those present opportunities for collaboration and cooperation for the outcome of improving, you know, employment opportunities, economic opportunities, or they present opportunities for conflict, chaos, and friction.

Too many times in New Mexico, and maybe here in Sandoval County, and even here in Rio Rancho, we fall into that bucket of friction, chaos, and confusion rather than saying, hey, let's all take a step back and figure out how we roll in this boat together and work on cooperation, collaboration and cooperation.

There's different types of personalities in economic development.

Some people want to be the fullback who has the ball and rams it in every time.

There's others who are comfortable being the point guard, and you pass the ball around and get into the hands of the folks.

So I would propose on you know, uh Mr.

Mayor, look for some direction from you.

Um maybe at 511, 514, if we want to do it in caliente now and talk about it in June at the work session.

Um, and then if there's any decisions, those can be added into the final final budget uh in in July.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

I think it would be beneficial, listen, just me speaking, to see the documents that have been provided so we can get our arms around those and understand what's included in those, and then formulate additional questions or concerns.

I'd be uh if there's any other thoughts on this from the council, I'd be I'd entertain some discussion.

Mr.

Mayor, Councilor Denatine.

I agree with you on that.

Um also to to not to rob from future conversation, but just to make my point clear, uh we've been talking about this for four or five years.

Um, and there's counselor list and counselor Dabson and uh a future counselor um are newer to the discussion we've had for a long time.

So historically, we you know, there's area and there's C and we would do C in order to go to an in-house position here uh with Alberto previously, as far as like um economic development, recruitment, things like that, bringing business to Rio Rancho, uh chambers never been part of that conversation in the past.

Now, um what uh what I would like to see, whether this is um kind of separate meetings or or whatever else are part of uh part of the order of business in a council meeting or maybe even just email is is you know more information coming from uh Alberto.

I know that he's doing stuff.

I know that economic is playing the long range game.

I understand all that.

Sometimes we get updates about what's happening because it's in our district.

We had a conversation last two weeks about some things that might be coming to my district, that's great.

Um, but if we we purposefully, I think moved from saying, okay, let's move this more in-house where we have more control and we can be quicker to the ball and more directive on what we want to see, both from the city manager side and also as a council.

And counselor Tyler drove that, and we drove that together, really.

And so um I I like that direction.

I want to continue in that direction, but I would like to see maybe some more updates, even if it's just like, hey, made some recruitment calls, no hearing.

I get it.

You know, I mean, you're talking to a lot of people, you're probably getting a lot of no's and rejections, it takes a long time.

We get it.

Um, but having that information, but coming starting from an in-house perspective, is where I've been consistently now for four years.

And I'm not and I'm open to changing, I'm open to hearing all the stuff and getting the reports uh, Mr.

Mayor, but that's what I'd like to see is continue.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councillor Denatine.

Uh Counselor Tyler.

Yeah, just real quick.

I agree, Matt.

I think that'd be a great idea to sit back and have a long-range discussion about that.

I like what you said about everyone rowing in the same direction and the groups working together, that would be a change because that's not going on in Sanibal County, even in the city right now.

And I think that that would be amazing to see that.

But then everyone's got to put their biases aside and work together to row in that same direction.

And I think that would be awesome.

And that would be welcome from me specifically, and I'm sure all my peers would like it as well.

So thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Counselor Tyler.

Anything further.

All right.

So we covered a lot there.

Um it was around economic development, but we didn't get to the line item for pages 46 through 47 for LEDA.

Is there any additional discussion on the LEDA funds?

All right, we'll move on to strategic planning and initiatives fund, pages 49 and 50.

No discussion.

Move on to another second second lead uh fund 720 on page 51.

Point of clarification on uh 720.

This is the money that we hold on behalf of the state of New Mexico when they transfer their their lead of support to an entity, but hasn't been distributed yet.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Any discussion?

All right, we will move on to the mayor's fund, page 545.

I didn't no I didn't I didn't decide this fund.

I think it was decided for me.

All right, moving on.

Fiduciary.

Fiduciary cost center, pages 57 through 59.

Oh 59.

Counselor Tyler.

On real vision, Matt, did we ever get that?

Did you solve that question that I had?

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Um question was that.

It was the real vision cable and then the increase.

And I think it was about technology or whatever, but we really didn't know, so I just kind of wanted to know.

Sure, uh, sure.

Um governing body, counselor Tyler.

So um ultimately um our Rio Vision services, which is making this meeting happen, right?

Having the the streaming capabilities, the closed captioning that goes along with that, the event the staff behind the curtain over there, um, keeping the Channel 15 available on Sparklight up and running.

So we have a contract uh for that and services for that, and ultimately um has that's been funded by the franchise fees that Sparklight pays.

Yeah, um, that's going down over time because they're really no longer a cable company, but the federal law that's very outdated still limits what we can charge for franchise fees to cable television, even though they're internet companies, but there's no money coming from the internet side of that.

So ultimately, revenue continues to go down, it has been going down.

So ultimately, the general fund now has to subsidize more and more of the cost to keep us broadcasting and streaming for and the services for that.

So yeah, I just saw the increase in and I know Matt, I think we did talk about the the franchise fees, but I just wanted to make sure that that was where it was at.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Counselor Tyler.

Anything further?

Uh move on to the permanent fund, page 61.

No discussion there.

We'll move on to city council pages 6465.

I think all right, moving on, city clerk 67 pages 6768.

Actually, it's 66, 67, and 68.

I thought so, yeah.

Counselor Tyler.

Matt, did we fund a new IPRA position?

No.

Do they?

Okay.

Not this year.

Shaking your head like I don't know.

Not a good question.

All right.

All right.

I'm sorry.

Counselor Tyler.

We're actually okay in APRA.

The staff I've made some process changes.

And we're we're navigating through.

We did fall behind due to the election because I did pull a lot of the staff out to help.

Um, but within the next three months, our numbers should be back under 300.

Well, and I think because most of the IPRAs are coming from police and fire, I think they volunteered their command staff one day a week to come over and fill IPRA requests.

But I may be wrong on that, but I don't know.

Um I love that I just keep it.

Um I'm not quite sure.

I mean, I think Captain Reedy's been pulling like triple duty here.

So I don't know.

Yeah, I'm sure.

All right.

Sorry.

Thank you, Councilor Tyler.

Anything further?

All right.

Um Real Vision Fund, page 70 through 71.

City Attorney 7475.

All right.

Human resources 778.

Workers compensation fund, pages eighty and eighty-one.

Health self-insurance fund, pages eighty-three and eighty-four.

Dental self-insurance fund, page eighty-six.

Actually eighty-six, eighty-seven.

All right, moving on to financial services, page ninety-one.

Actually, ninety-one through looks like ninety-five.

Oh, this is broken out separately though.

Okay, so uh the administration portion portion of financial services, pages ninety-two and ninety-three.

Your favorite counselor Tyler, ambulance billing.

Page ninety-four.

We have to give money through money to throw it away.

Purchasing division, pages ninety-four and ninety-five.

Information technology, pages ninety-eight through ninety-nine.

Pages one oh one, one oh two.

We do not have municipal court listed on my chart here, but if anybody has that see that Mr.

Mayor, members of the government body, um, but just uh we we we covered the uh municipal court on four twenty-one.

Okay, thank you.

With the judge and uh Mrs.

Mascarina's present.

Okay.

All right, parks and community services beginning on page one eleven, administration one twelve through one thirteen.

Outdoor aquatics, pages one thirteen and one fourteen.

Mr.

Mayor.

Councilor Dunantine.

113.

Um there's a hop up in all you all the utilities there, electric gas and water.

Is that is there a new facility coming online or two?

Did no mat left.

Electric gas and water, yeah, utilities there all grouped together.

113.

Right in the middle.

Still an administrative Ursuline administration.

Mr.

Mayor, uh Governor Body.

Um the utilities forecast uses uh uh Excel tool, it's a statistical tool, exponential smoothing, and so we take um three to five years history and we uh run it through this model and it spits out uh an amount um based on that trend it captures seasonality and it weights the most recent data points heavier than older data points, and so this reflects not a new facility per se but just the the trend in um those particular utility usages uh uh in this cost center.

Um as a follow-up, you know, we can definitely get with Connie to understand some of those um usages at particular facilities.

Um there obviously is reasons behind um maybe why we're getting uh a higher usage or being billed more.

Um so if that's something you'd like us to do, we can definitely look more closely at that.

Uh no, it's okay.

Um I just thought that that with those kind of increases that we would be looking at bringing on a new facility or expanding a facility, which would make sense.

Um okay, all right.

So same same uh same facilities, just increase in potential price prices and things like that.

Okay, that makes sense.

Mr.

Mary Governor Body, um that that is correct.

Um I'll also point out that what you're looking at here is comparing one budget to the to the previous budget.

And so, insofar as the 26th budget reflects a uh accurate or um close enough estimate, um you know the comparison column is gonna tell you something about the change.

Umso far as it does not reflect a good estimate, it's not really gonna tell you much at all.

So uh we look at actuals quite a bit, and that's the um data that we're using to project 27.

So again, if there's any um you know follow-up, uh please reach out and we'll get you uh the information you need.

Thank you very much.

Anything further?

No, we'll move on to aquatic outdoor aquatics, pages 113, 114 and Rio Rancho Aquatic Center, page pages 114 and 115.

Also on page 115 programming parks and facilities, pages 115, 116 beautiful, 116-11 animal resource center 117-118, Mr.

Mayer.

Councilor Colbreth.

Thank you.

Um Mr.

Geisla, I recall um during our meeting previously that we were we had made some investments in the uh animal resource center.

Could you just remind us of those um investments?

Um governing body, counselor colbreth.

Uh one of the main um items that's reflected in this budget this year.

Um, and I'm gonna I'll ask us Don with about 600 and well, 600,000 plus that we're adding to the additional money uh or adding to the money that you funded last year, uh and that's gonna be for a kennel expansion.

We've not had a kennel expansion at the animal resource center in a very long time.

So with the 600,000 plus that's in this budget paired with the 775 K that you uh allocated last year, we've now got about 1.2 million dollars available uh to do that uh kennel expansion.

Um that'll add 12 kennels.

Um that site is challenging based on the topography and the dirt work.

Uh so I know 12 kennels doesn't sound like a lot, but it will be very beneficial, but it does come with a price tag of 1.2 million dollars.

But that is in this budget, and we hope to get that project started um here, you know, uh very soon uh once we get this funding and into the new fiscal year.

Thank you very much.

I know that's been an area um of need uh in the communities, so uh thank you for um ensuring that that will be able to be fully funded in this budget year.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilor Coberth.

Anything further move on to senior services pages 118 and 11 Mr.

Mayor, Councilor List.

Uh this is not so much a question, just as a comment that um there's a huge appreciation because I know that the budget for parks and rec is is fairly uh significant, but I think when you talk about quality of life in our area, this is one of the tangibles that actually produces for people to uh access and participate in.

And as we reviewed the budget, you see multiple aspects.

You've seen how we can provide um opportunities for families with with the younger children.

You've seen what you can do in the in the senior realm, and we've seen what we've done with our animal control center.

So I just want to say thank you for our thoughtful um budget presentation.

And I know that um several of us have a goal to continue to increase some um opportunities for our youth in our community, and so I look forward to seeing those opportunities and and more asks in the future.

Thank you.

Anything further on senior services.

All right, moving on to donations fund, page 121 animal resource center donations fund, page 123 fund page 129130 Rio Rancho Convention and Visitors Bureau Fund 132-134 environmental GR tax fund pages 136-137.

Cannabis fund.

Oh, Mr.

Mayor, Councillor Tyler, the narcotics agent in me wants to know how is that fund operating?

And why is it in parks and recs?

I never understand that.

Are you guys mowing the grass over there or what are you doing?

Tell me a little bit about this fund.

Is it is it the no-all end all to all of our problems in the state of New Mexico like everyone says it was?

Uh governing body, uh, Councilor Tyler, I'll take a crack at answering this.

So um obviously designated a special fund, so the revenue is segregated.

Um, and what we've been doing with that over the last few years is uh, and if you recall, we have a lot of facility improvements.

In the last few years, we've been really taking a whack at whether it's the HVAC at the rec centers, flooring, doors, safety, all those types of things.

So what we've been using this money that's been starting to come in the last few years is we've been using it to transfer out from the special fund, so it comes in here first, and then we transfer it out to the different line items of the different departments to do those types of facility needs.

So ultimately, we have a little bit of a we have a little bit of joke when we do this is that we've been really allocating this for a lot of our quality of life facilities.

So the weed is for the children.

Well back to the old days, right?

I mean, back to the Darren Great programs back that they didn't exist anymore.

But anyways, I just I wondered, I saw that and I was just like it's just amazing.

I want to hear about the cannabis fund.

It's just so surprising to me.

But anyways, thank you.

Yes, this is uh summarizes Peter, it's been using to fund small capital projects facilities improvements.

I think uh mumbled in his ear fire.

We did fire alarms and security alarm upgrades, replacements the last couple years in like the community centers and the libraries and things like that.

So trying to spread it to the broadest use possible rather than you know so has there been operational costs that have that those businesses have created them uh from the police or fire or inspections or anything like that that's been burdensome to any point to where we've had to replace any of that through this fund.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body without putting the the two chiefs on the spot um for the items that come across my desk from their departments, no.

Um I we can have a little sidebar.

Yeah, I can and we can look at call data and things like that, but um it is not one of the things that puts you know information on my radar screen.

Perfect.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Anything further on the cannabis fund.

If not, we'll move on to rec recreational development fund.

That is on page 141.

Impact fees, bikeways, trails fund, page 144.

Impact fees parks fund, page 146 multipurpose event center fund pages 149 150.

All right, we're going to take a recess at this point.

We'll resume at what 1015.

All right, we are on library and information services budget line items 153 or pages 153 and 155.

Next step, development services starting on page 156.

Administration is 159 and 16.

Building inspection 160 161.

Development engineering 16162.

Zoning and planning 162, 163.

Next up, public works starting on 167.

Administration 168-169.

Buildings, fleet, building maintenance 168.

Building fleets custodial 170.

Streets and right-away.

170-171.

That's actually 171-172.

Engineering 172-173.

Mr.

Mayor.

Council Colbreath.

I'm sorry.

Um just to go back for the streets and right away.

Um, the decrease in contract uh services, that's because that work is moving to in-house work.

On streets and right away, page one seventy-one in the bottom quarter of the page.

I don't know if BJ is here.

Uh Director Gottlieb is actually uh um uh dealing with another city matter right now, so we couldn't be here.

Um but we do have public work staff here.

Um I might have Don take a whack at that first, but if not, then I might bring Minerva and we have other opportunities uh to discuss it, but I I I believe it's due to the work being moved to in-house rather than contracted.

Um and we can just answer that at a later date.

That's all thank you.

Do you Don?

Can you answer that now real quick?

Yeah, well, let's just do it now so we don't forget about it.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the body.

Um the 26th budget comparison column includes uh prior year roll forward.

So uh uh that's one of the aspects of of what you're seeing there.

Um we rolled forward in 26 3.7 million, and so that's obviously not included in that 27 uh budget that you're looking at.

Um there are also uh minor changes um in the news and waste management contract for road maintenance, that's increasing by 40,000.

There's a new item request um for median and shoulder maintenance that relates to the new contract pricing that was included in your mid-year budget.

Um, and it's also included here.

Um so on a net basis, all of that is why you're seeing the decrease, but it mainly relates to the fact that your 26th budget column includes roll forward from the prior year.

Um it's a timing, it's a timing issue, right?

Budgets move uh roll forward because we have bills to pay or projects are incomplete.

I hope that answers your question.

Okay.

Oh, you did.

All right, we're so we are on real metro fund under public works, page 175.

Yep, Councilor Tyler.

Mr.

Mayor, I just want to back up one um because of course I wasn't here, but code enforcement.

Uh Amy, I know I wanted to.

It's actually kind of code enforcement and for parks and recs, but all of our the folks who are in those forward-facing potentially conflict-driven uh situations.

I wanted to look at maybe in the future budget or somewhere down the line we get the body worn cameras for those folks, the the folks that are doing animal control and the folks that are out doing um all the code enforcement, and they can use them.

I mean it's use or however, but I would like to look at doing something like that in the future, uh, Mr.

City Manager, just because I think that it may help us out if we have any problems in those areas.

Or I'd be interested for discussion to hear if there is a problem in those areas, and we see that there's a a need for it, but I would hate for them to go out have um interactions with the community, and we could have saved ourselves some some difficulties by just having them have those body worn cameras.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Uh it's a I don't know, it's uh an involved conversation.

Yeah.

Um and uh with definitely uh you know opportunity maybe start off counselor Tyler.

We can sit down with uh with a couple folks and and have that conversation and we can also look at bringing it as a as an update to the governing body at a work session or via memo report.

So we uh um Ryan Chavez uh excuse me, Ryan Armijo.

Um uh city attorney Josh Rubin did uh an analysis on it a couple of years ago, so we get opportunity to kind of freshen that up.

We can sit down with you.

Okay, that'd be perfect.

Thanks.

My apologies, Ryan.

No, and sorry for going backwards, Mr.

Mayor.

No, no, you're good.

Anything further on development services, Councilor Tyler.

No, I'm good, thank you.

Okay, back to public works.

We are on the municipal road fund 171 through 178.

No, we're not 171, sorry, 177, 178.

Infrastructure fund 180, 181.

Equipment replacement fund, page 183.

City Facility Improvement Replacement Fund.

Impact fees for roads 188-189.

Impact fees drainage 19192.

Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Mayor.

Yesterday when we were talking, you had a question about uh impact fee revenue forecasting.

Yes.

Wouldn't you for the just the benefit of conversation?

Um like I can have Don talk a little bit about that kind of fits into his the overall revenue uh forecasting.

Um but it it starts with an estimate of of single family residential root uh rooftops that we anticipate to be built.

Um that that data uh and then that analysis comes from a combination of uh Bieber and Metro Study or Zonda on what the the the you know the demand slash supply and supply would be for single family housing.

So it starts with that.

So don't Don if you want to elaborate a little bit on how you and Don just to clarify my question was was specific to why the budget is so different this proposed fiscal year 27 versus the adjusted budget in 26 under road impact fees and so Don I know you budgeted about six hundred and fifty thing single family starts one eight page one eighty-eight Mr.

Mayor Governing Body give me just one second here uh for the FY27 budget the uh staff is estimating number of single family residential starts of six hundred and thirty-five.

Um we also estimate approximately two hundred thousand in non-residential square footage.

Um all of those are charged at different rates and for different facility categories, and so uh essentially what we do is we multiply that out and then we apply a collection factor to account for the fact that there are existing um credits out there for which the city will not receive the cash and that we we're giving credit for um dedicated infrastructure at the window, right?

So we essentially um take the total number of how uh construction activity, multiply it by the current rate rates, and then we discount it for for those credits that will what we will result in the city not getting cash for infrastructure improvements.

And so a couple of the resources that we look at is um as Matt mentioned, we subscribe to a service called Zonda.

It's a uh single family residential uh uh data source.

Um they're sending people out there in the community, they're tracking every single um hammer being swung, they're tracking sites being prepared for for homes, that sort of thing.

They give us uh uh detailed data so that we can track and we can understand where the growth is happening, in which subdivisions, in which master plan communities.

Uh we also use um uh beaver, which is the UNM business of bureau business uh economic research.

Uh we use data from them to understand the direction that they think that uh the construction industry is going, the housing starts are going.

So we pull all of that uh together, and we come up with what amounts to really our best estimate.

Um thank you.

Thank you, Don.

And so I think you said 600 and some, the assumption being 600 and some residential units.

How does that compare to fiscal year 2026?

Do you know what that number is?

Sure.

The estimate for 2026 is uh above nine hundred.

Um the reason that's going uh down, we think at least is uh there's ebb and flows right to the um home construction industry.

We always want to be conservative in every aspect of our revenue estimation so that we don't overshoot the revenue.

We don't allocate what we think will be resources that we then don't have.

And so uh it just reflects those two principles um the ebb and flow of the of the industry itself and the home building itself, and then being conservative.

Thank you.

Any anything further, Mr.

City Manager?

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

I started an opportunity based on our conversation yesterday to kind of you know elaborate on that a little bit.

That that forecast also influences our the construction growth receipts tax portion of the budget, has a also in the you know development services general government fees, a big chunk of those development, those fees and development services plan review, things like that are all influenced uh by that that number.

Um and uh, you know, and you know, combination of I think you know, so listen to Don, there's these macroeconomic factors that influence uh you know uh home purchase um and also demographic factors, and then the you know the more localized factor is what's the look, you know, what's the lot supply on the ground in rear enter of the anticipated lot supply coming uh vis-a-vis other portions of the the metro area?

Okay, thank you.

I think we were on impact free drainage, and not sure we got through that 1919 two next up, police starting on page 196.

Administrative services 1971 communications 198-199-201 training page 2010, Councilor Colbright.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, um Mr.

City Manager, you've said this already like three times, but I apologize.

I'll ask one more time.

Um so um on what date will we be reviewing the uh the adjustments requested by the police union?

Um that's in the either the May 11th or 18th meeting.

Mr.

Mayor Mayor There, it's on Mr.

Mayor uh Counselor Colbreth.

Uh we would bring that forward as an amendment to the budget, the adopted budget on May 28th.

Okay.

So we will have the budget prepared, and then you know, this is the call the baseline budget.

Perfect, and then any amendments will be there, and then what it would look like if those amendments are approved.

Perfect.

And so this this budget here though does reflect the five percent.

The five percent.

Thank you.

All right, moving on local government corrections, pages two oh three-204.

Mr.

Mayor, Councilor Tyler.

Uh talk to me a little bit about corrections, Matt.

We got some increases going on.

What's the charge from the county?

I mean, we're gonna be up to a million dollars here before too long.

So what are we paying per inmate over there?

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Um sounds like Peter has the exact number uh ready to go.

No doubt Peter has a combination of and we'll um I think uh deputy chief salgado may be the best person to provide the exact numbers putting him on the spot, but a combination of uh there is an increase.

Um, you know, a few years ago, a few years back, it was I think $90 a day, and it's 120, 130 a day at uh the Sandoval County Detention Center.

Um Bernalio County Detention Center.

Um has eliminated video arraignment.

Um so the stays, shall we call them the stays in uh Bernalillo County detention center are longer?

Um so that's caused an increase.

And then there's also the factor of uh sentencing on daily at Bernal County, you know.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Um I'm looking to DC Sel Gotham.

He's trying to figure it out right now.

Oh no, we have to have you at the mic, Bob.

Come on, get that beard up there.

Thank you.

I believe it's somewhere in that ballpark, uh, but I'll I'll I'll defer to DC Salgado.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, uh Councillor Tower, members of the governing body.

I'm pulling up the invoice so I can give you exact numbers.

Okay.

Um go ahead.

And then I'll if it would give me a bit.

Yeah, yeah.

I just I I look at the um the constant increase over there.

Um I don't know if there's a way that we can maybe talk to Bernalillo County about the video arrangements and try to get that back.

I don't know if it's something that maybe we can reach out to some of their governing body or Mr.

City Manager, you can reach out to the county manager and see if there's a possible way to um bring that back.

I wanted to see how ours was going, but it seems like everything's going good between our our judicial system and um getting things expedited through and getting folks released.

Just having people stay there just waiting on these arrangements is just kind of it's a it costs us a lot of money, and I don't think people realize how much it costs.

But um, especially at Burnley County, I don't know what their their cost is, but it's probably more than 130 bucks a day.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, uh members of the governing body, I can tell you that um as far as Sanibel County Detention Center, it's pretty it's pretty um it's pretty baseline.

We we can predict that and it wasn't this year, but the last fiscal years when we saw the big uptick, the beginning of 526, now going into FY27.

Um, and it had to do with video arrangements um being canceled because that forces our our local judicial system to actually transport them, which means inmates get held a little bit longer.

So that that's what I believe the main uh reason for the increases um along with a little bit of higher sentencing here and there.

Okay.

Well, I can get you exact numbers here instead of I mean I'm cool, I I understand, but I guess the biggest thing is is maybe Mr.

City Manager and Deputy Chief, maybe we research a possibility of having an open discussion with Ornalio County and and try to work out this arrangement piece because I don't I don't know if they stopped it for everybody or just for us.

If and it's probably through Metro Court, not necessarily through um it's the jail is probably not allowing it to be live feed from because I'm sure the judges are still doing video arrangements, they're just not doing it through the jail system, correct?

Well, in in just for context, we have spoken to the Burnley County uh detention center, and they have stopped the video arrangement process for all agencies, and it would be it would have to be a conversation with somebody beyond um MDC at this point.

So the head judge at Metro Court, probably.

I don't know.

All right, I'm I'm just trying to figure out a way.

I know it's creeping up there, so I know you guys aren't responsible for it.

And we should put corrections also under parks and recs with everything else.

So I agree.

Just kidding.

Thanks.

Mr.

Mayor, members of government body will um we'll definitely explore the opportunity to converse with the county manager and uh probably the director of public safety start there at Bernalillo County, and then see where that conversation takes us.

I think I think it's probably gonna be the chief judge at Metro Court, is probably who made the decision on the video arraignment piece.

But yeah, I I would agree.

Thank you, Matt.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilor Tyler.

Anything further on corrections moving forward on to law enforcement page 206 traffic education and enforcement 208-209.

Public safety, miscellaneous revenue donations, page 211 to 12.

All right, on to fire and rescue beginning on page 214 emergency management, page 216 through 217, Mr.

Mayor, yeah, Councilor Denning.

217.

Um, so um 217 under fire department.

Uh it's gone, the exempt full time and non-exempt full time has gone up just like uh police has.

However, the overtime um uh went significantly up as well.

Are we um under staffed there or under the police budget budget?

Um salaries went up, however, over time remained flat here, both uh full time went up and over time went up.

And so just wondering if we're do we if we need to hire or um if it's just more of a volatile um allotment there.

No, you want to talk about that.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Um the way we estimate excuse me, the way we estimate the overtime this year was based on actuals where in prior years uh we were sort of putting a placeholder um number there, and so in 23, and I will defer to the the Chief Wensell to speak specifically about the staffing levels.

Uh these are just the the numbers and the approach for budgeting and the actuals and fiscal year 23 for fire overtime, we spent 1.7 million in 24 it was 1.37 million, and 25 it was 1.6, and in 26 the current budget year to date, it's 1.48 million.

And so you can see it there's a range and it varies.

Um so this 27 budget reflects our our best estimate, um, and we're bringing that up to reflect what is actually happened instead of just carrying forward a budget number that we've used in prior years.

So we're trying to align it with reality, and that's why you see the large increase from last year was 800 that we used.

Now we're using 1.5.

So really it's it's that um in terms of the budget is aligning it with reality.

And then of course I'll defer to Chief Wentzeld to talk about the staffing if if that's uh what you're asking about more specifically.

Yeah, uh Chief, if you don't mind.

The reason I ask is I know that we we put uh fire station back online.

We're starting to build another one.

Um so I know our our you know our cadet classes are full, all of that stuff.

So it's my understanding that we were staffed pretty well.

Um so chief?

Yes, so uh the overtime budget also includes a couple different funds for us.

Uh it includes our minimum staffing, so the daily amount of firefighters that are needed run emergency calls within the city, and then we also have our scheduled PTO, but we also have a lot of scheduled uh special events.

So in 2025, we actually ran uh 62 special events, so those are events that uh generate overtime.

Um those can be from staffing, you know, winter fest, uh park in the park, events like that.

And then we also have um our fire prevention month, so all of October when we go out to all the schools, that's been increasing as well.

So those events partnered with you know our car seat technician courses that we put on with PD, we pair those the beginning of every month.

Those also contribute to the overtime cost.

Uh in terms of daily staffing, we are at a place right now where we're good to go.

Um we're we're growing with station eight, obviously.

So uh we'll be bringing in the additional firefighter positions to that to staff it with 15 firefighters by the time it opens.

And then there's there's always the balance of the daily minimum staffing paired with allowing members to take scheduled time off, and then when they call in sick, um as well as professional developments and making sure that we're giving them the time off to go to trainings and so on and so forth.

So kind of a unique situation, but there's there's a lot of different impacts into the overtime budget overall.

Okay.

To push in on that a little bit, so 62, those are mostly community-facing awareness events and or city-sponsored events.

Is that correct?

Kind of a balance.

I I would say mostly, yes.

Um every now and then we do get requests from uh outside entities that are requesting you know a fire uh prevention service with uh the smokehouse um communities who will request next Monday.

Mariposa is requesting us to go out for international firefighter appreciation day.

So they've requested that units go out there and uh do some education to the community for for Mariposa.

Okay.

Do you feel like it's those are worthy causes for what we're asking people to do?

Not just from not just from a money standpoint, but also from asking someone who's already worked however many hours to go out and to do this type of thing.

I'm all for us being in the schools and awareness.

Um, you know, I I understand that that's part of prevention.

Uh but what do you think?

Yeah, Mr.

Mayor, members of the company body, council and I think it's I think it's huge.

I think it's uh it's a way for us to interact with the community in a non-emergency capacity, right?

So most of our interactions gonna be they've called 911, uh something's gone bad.

So when we have these opportunities to showcase what our services are, I think it's really advantageous for us.

I think it allows us to uh educate on fire prevention.

I think it allows us to educate what we do.

There's still some members of the community who aren't fully aware of what re-arranged fire rescue is capable of or what some of our services are.

So I I fully support uh what we do.

Does it tax our current membership?

Um it's hard to say, right?

I mean, the the members of our department are very engaged, they're very committed to that.

So I think they like to go out to these events.

We have a fire prevention team.

They try to schedule this ahead of time, so we know exactly uh when these events are gonna be, and then they can kind of plan ahead for it a little bit.

Uh and we do have some limits in our policies for ensuring that our members don't work so many continuous hours, and that's for a safety, obviously.

We don't want them working 20, 40 days straight.

That would be uh detrimental to their health and the service that they can provide to the community.

Okay.

So we're not we're not adding more events.

I mean, this is kind of what we've been doing for the last couple of years, because we're I mean it is a jump up of 700,000, but there's nothing that that's being added.

We're just looking at historically over the last five years, this has increased, and so this is where we're probably going to be.

Is that what we're saying?

Yeah, I would say we're pretty in line with what our overtime budget.

I'll kind of refer to Don uh to elaborate a little bit more.

But this is uh I I would say in terms of events, very very streamlined with what we normally run.

We're in about 58 to 65, maybe 70 events a year is what we see.

Okay.

All right.

Just to add to that.

So um so I'm gonna I'm gonna rat Don out a little bit on this.

So there has been a there's been a philosophical difference in the budget office over the years between Juan, who retired last year, our budget manager, and now Don, our new budget manager.

Don't been here very long time.

Juan believed in putting sort of a lower baseline number, right?

And then we would account for it.

Don believes in using actuals.

So this is uh we're a recommendation from Don to start putting in there what we've seen historically as opposed to a number that we weren't, we were exceeding every year.

So we knew you were probably gonna ask this question.

Thank you for asking that question.

So it is not as if we're doubling our events or doing anything like that.

It is basically Juan's now running the excuse me, Don is now running the budget shop, and he's doing a little bit more based on actuals than then sort of uh a holdover number from the past.

Okay.

Okay.

Um I have another question on this page, but it takes us a different direction.

So I'm gonna I have a follow-up question.

Okay, go ahead.

Mr.

Mayor, Councilor List.

Uh, I just want to clarify uh Chief Wenzel, when we're talking about overtime, not only is it special events, but this would also account for when our HRT team goes out and people have to then fill in their spots, or this would account for if we're covering um with any of our MOUs out in the county and people have to come in and do fill in spaces that are vacated because our members are uh doing additional jobs other places as well.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body, counselor list, that's uh so we actually have a fund for that.

We have an HDR balance.

We'll use that to subsidize those fees when our team does have to go out.

Same similar with our wildland team.

So when the wildland team gets deployed, we backfill that.

We actually charge the fire uh wherever the wildland fire is to then reimburse us for those fees.

All right, thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, Councilor Tyler.

Uh um to Councilor Lennon Time's point and Councilor Lewis's point.

So you're not the only one, it's PD as well.

So I'm not picking on the fire guy because I'm not fire department.

But um, when you look at overtime for both agencies, we're looking at close to four million dollars, even more in overtime alone.

And to counselor list point, like the chiefs overtime, the wildland fire overtime, all of that's accounted for in different items.

This this piece of the overtime is just mainly main operational overtime.

But I know because I was one of the folks who used to use overtime a lot, just like every other law enforcement officer.

Um the one thing that I would ask, and I I think we're councilman time's going is do we look at adjustments?

So when I say adjustment, meaning if we have whatever group is going to go out and work the special event, scheduling folks who are already on shift.

You can't take away from the fire staff to do that.

But if you have a firefighter who's scheduled the work Monday through Friday, we have an event on Saturday, they've agreed to go work that event.

Well, then why don't we adjust their schedule on the other end so that they're not occurring overtime on the other end?

And and I know that it may not help solve the million dollar question, but at the end of the day, every little bit of readjusting some of their hours to make some of these events less costly on the city, I think is where Councilor Lennon time is trying to go, would be beneficial to everybody.

I and I know everyone wants overtime.

I I mean I completely get it.

But when I sit and I look at some officials that aren't that are sergeants or whatever, and they're making over a hundred and something thousand dollars a year, I know that's driven by overtime.

And so if we can make adjustments, I think that that's where we need to go, if possible.

We're not saying cut out events or any of that other stuff because that's community relations um driven, but I think making adjustments to to staff current scheduling would be scheduling it out better, basically, is what it comes down to.

Mr.

Mayor, members of anybody, Councilor Tyler.

Yeah, that's that's a great point.

So there are times where we'll we'll actually run into staffing issues for those special events, and to do that, what we'll do is primarily in the fire marshal's office, we can flex their schedule.

So exactly with what you said.

So they might work a Monday through Thursday, and we'll say, hey, take Monday off and then work the event on Saturday.

Yeah.

Um the hard part that we're running into with some of those events is do we have the flexibility to not have them do their normal job on Monday or Tuesday or whatever the administrative role is.

Um at times we can and other times we cannot.

Prior, we used to be able to do that.

We would take our on-duty crews, and for a lot of our special events, we'd have them go show up and we wouldn't put it out as overtime.

The problem was we would commit to the event, the school or whoever was requesting it, would be very excited for us to be there, only to find out we never showed up because we're continuously on calls, or we would have to shift a different district.

So i.e.

we'd have station five come all the way down from the north, or perhaps uh an event at Maggie Cordova because stations one, ten, two, they were running calls already.

You're now leaving that district unprotected.

So we've kind of gone to the uh subscribe to the notion of let's fill it with overtime so we can ensure the crew is there for the duration of the actual uh ceremony or the parade or whatever it may be, rather than fill it with overtime crews.

There's a balance with it.

So we are trying to be, I don't want to use the the word picky, but maybe picky with what we um what we we fill for requests.

There are a lot of people that call the fire department that that want us to show up and and be there for them, and we appreciate that, but there's only so much we can do.

So we are choosy with with what the request is and there are times of those, you know, 55 to 65 events, there's probably about 15 events that we are unable to fill every year.

We just don't have the the ability to fill that overtime.

That's not even just the minimum staffing, that's just individuals who they kind of want to enjoy their weekends and their time off, and rightfully so.

So we cancel those events, we try to do so in a timely manner so they understand we are not gonna be there.

Um but it is a balance trying to figure out emergency operations and and pair that with community engagement.

And I think too, and I appreciate that.

I think too, like you said, if if you have that fire marshal staff that needs to be in there on Monday morning for whatever, well then you cut them four hours short or whatever their day is, cut them short to make I mean there's ways to do it, but I understand that no one really wants to get rid of the overtime because then no one really wants to go.

So that's the encouragement piece.

But at the end of the day, when we're doing budgets, then when we turn around, we have to cut something, we may have to cut something just because now we have to worry about overtime all the time.

And I think that that's the biggest part of it is we don't want to have to get to that position.

So the best that you guys can do to manage and have flexibility built into those schedules would help us be confident, and which I am, I'm not saying we're not, be confident that we're doing the best of what we can to make sure that we're minimizing the amount of overtime.

Because when I look at other numbers, the overtime when I look at how much some people are making through the roof.

Like I can't imagine people making that kind of money because that just didn't happen before, and now they're making more than the damn city manager is half the time.

So that's kind of crazy.

So I think that's where Councilor Lennon time may be going, but I I appreciate it, Chief.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thanks, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councillor Tyler.

I believe that conversation was specific to the fire department pages two seventeen through two nineteen.

Does any any further discussion on fire department?

Uh I had one more.

Councilor Lennon time.

Sorry, guys.

So this is across all departments, actually.

Um but uh and maybe you covered this earlier and I missed it, but um uh workers comp has gone way up everywhere.

Is that just to uh a new Don Juan uh budgeting approach, or is that has something happened as apologize?

Has something happened there um to significantly drive up costs across all departments?

Yeah, yeah.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the government.

Um it is not due to any philosophical philosophical change or uh change in approach.

Um it is due to New Mexico State insurance fund quote.

So they they give us what the what the cost is, what those rates are going to be.

Um we have little to no control over that.

Um their premium increase was um across the board with every entity.

So it was not anything specific to us.

It's nothing that we're doing necessarily that we're having more accidents, so on so forth.

Um it was to um address the solvency um of the workers' comp fund as administered by the self-insured fund.

Okay, that's what I was kind of wondering if we had a lot of claims or if we had lost maybe like a tier status or something, but okay, out of our control.

Thank you.

And I think Chief Wenzel, you can return to your seat.

Thank you.

We'll beat up on you later.

All right, moving on, fire protection fund page two twenty-one two twenty-three emergency medical services fund two twenty-five to twenty-six.

All right, moving on to utilities enterprise.

Starting with accounting on pages two thirty-four-two thirty-five.

Engineering two thirty-five.

Environment management two thirty-six-237.

SCADA and security two thirty-seven, two thirty-eight.

Water production page two thirty-nine.

Recycle water, page two forty-one.

Water rights acquisition two fifty-seven, two fifty-eight.

Mr.

Mayor.

Counselor Colbry.

Thank you.

Um so as it relates to water rights acquisition, we know that those continue to go up and uh continue to just be a challenge overall, though we are in a very strong position.

Um is this a place that we um anticipate not necessarily this uh budget year, but as we start to project towards future years, are we going to need to allocate more money uh towards these funds so that we can maintain our current trajectory towards water right acquisition.

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body.

Um, Councilor Colbert, uh, to your question.

The the primary funding source um of uh of water rights acquisition is the the water rights acquisition fee that is charged to the um uh that is that it is part of the uh the the the utilities budget.

So we are generating revenue to to purchase.

Um if we saw a scenario where uh the opportunity to purchase water rights exceeds the um exceeds the the revenue available, uh we most likely have to look at um either internally lending the money, you know, the general fund lends the money to the utilities fund, um, or we've also looked at uh, you know, but you know, payment plans with it with the seller.

So um, you know, as we continue to look at it and we see escalation, uh we see escalation in um water rates, uh the you know the cost per acre foot.

Um we would, you know, I think first have to, you know, combination of looking at, you know, borrowing money, then pledging that revenue source against against that, or looking at that fee structure in itself.

Um one thing that we don't do in Rio Rancho is uh development um does not pay a water rates acquisition fee.

Um very common in other communities in New Mexico, that new development um it whether it's bring the actual water rights or make a cash contribution you know as part of that we call it you know we we have a a water and a wastewater impact fee for the capital expenditure.

You know, some communities would have a third fee associated where they they bring uh a water rights acquisition fee to help with that cost.

So that's another revenue opportunity to potentially explore at a future date, perhaps.

Perhaps.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Coberth.

Anything further on water rights acquisition?

Moving on to water impact fee fund 60, 261.

Capital Improvement Fund Wastewater 263-264.

Wastewater impact fee fund 266.

All right, that takes us to grant capital and special funds.

Higher education gross receipts tax fund, page 269-270.

Algae abatement opioid fund page 272.

Uh Mr.

Mayor, um I don't know if anybody has any questions on the opioid fund, but I just wanted to provide a little bit of uh some information.

So obviously it's uh it's a multi-million dollar figure that's accumulated, and there's more um scheduled to come that comes from that uh uh the that settlement that the state entered into with the different pharmaceuticals uh companies years ago.

Um we are actively looking to use that money.

There are strict limitations on how that money can be used related to opioid treatment uh and follow-up.

Um myself and um Ryan Armijo have uh done some research, done some site visits.

Uh we're gonna probably uh in this fiscal year uh look to bring in some um consulting help to try to identify within the region um and locally some some uses for that.

Um so it is a balance that has accumulated.

We are looking for ways to use it.

It's a little bit challenging.

Um it's a good thing that Rio Rancho does not have a significant issue uh with this.

Um there are there are of course people struggling with this, but identifying those folks, getting them services, getting that paid for, we're trying to figure out how to triangulate that data can be limited when it comes to folks uh struggling with this issue.

Um so again, we are that we are efforting uh as the best way to say it to get this money used as soon as possible.

And as we do that, we'll give you updates.

But again, very limited based on the settlement terms, what we can use it for, and so we do have to find an applicable use.

Um just Rio Rancho just doesn't have a lot of those services to start with, um, whether it be public or private sector.

So, but we are looking at that, and we're hoping to make some progress in the next little bit regarding getting some of these funds used and then identified and then get some services rolled out and uh so I just want to give a little bit of update on that since this fund has uh has it has started to accumulate a uh a healthy balance.

Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Mayor, Counselor Taylor.

On that note, quick question.

Can we use that for counseling, say at the jails and come in an agreement with maybe some of the jails and use that to offset some of our other costs for folks being there?

So say Santa Ball County has an opioid program that we could use some of this money to pay for because it has to be I it probably has to be used for treatment and services, right?

So if we utilize that for treatment services, say at that jail where we uh put a lot of our uh folks, then can that be in an agreement between us and Sanibal County saying, hey, we're gonna give some of this money for this to offset some of these other costs.

Could we do that?

Governing body, council tire.

So you are correct that so it could be used for treatment services of just opioids, so no other type of treatment substance abuse issues.

So, yes, if there was a program or we could come to some arrangement where we could you know provide funding to them, obviously they would they would then take that money.

So, yes, there is we could use it if it was very opioid issue specific.

Yes, we could, and and that's one of the things that we want to bring in some outside some help to kind of identify that, make those outreaches, and then try to find partners.

Ultimately, this money is not going to be used to build a facility because you actually can't do that, it's not going to be used, and it's one time money, that's the other challenge, right?

So we're trying to find existing services, existing services providers that we can help and supplement here for a period of time.

And so, yes, that is one of the options.

We're trying to get some extra help to explore and do the outreach on, yes.

I think it would be, I mean, I know that for us we don't have service any services within the city of Rancho that I'm aware of for that particular addiction.

But I I do know that both jails, Burnville County and Sandoval County have counselors on hand that would actually work with folks, and I think that might be a good way to try to offset the cost.

Maybe if we can do it.

I I don't know, it's just a a question.

No, absolutely, that's one of the things that we'd we'd like to.

We we're trying we want to find a partner, you know.

We want to make you know, make sure that it complies with the terms and conditions.

But yes, that is something that is a that is a one of those options we're gonna explore.

We've explored several um and we've had some conversations with the folks in Albuquerque and Bernalio County, but and we're circling back within San Diego County.

It is like it is limited, but yes, that is one of the things we want to go more in depth on, and we'll give you an update as soon as we kind of have some more concrete information finalized and an approach.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

May.

Council Colbrith.

Thank you.

Um, just um to extend that's um a bit um so the the stipulations um do they include prevention or only treatment of active uh use?

Um you can do ad campaigns and things of that nature.

Um, but but it's very much only opioids, and it's sort of it's a lot of post, and then there is some pre.

There is some pre.

There's some education, um, some things like that.

So that's one of the uses.

But it's it's funny, it's not limited you can't do brick and mortar necessarily.

Um, and so that is so that's one of the things we're gonna explore too.

You know, is there some is there an existing you know, state program?

Because the interestingly enough, the uh state agencies have sent out sent out a questionnaire to all the communities about how are you using this money?

Are you having challenges?

And you know, are you having challenges with data?

Are you having challenges with providers?

How can we help?

So we're actually hoping that that's gonna get some more collaboration and get some more pooled resources.

But yes, there is the opportunity opportunity to use uh the money for um prevention and education, and then then our targeting youth or targeting different groups, yes.

Yeah, yeah, and so I think that's kind of leaning towards um, you know, one of the things that that I would like to see us explore with the consultant is that unfortunately opioid addiction among youth um continues to rise because of increasing access.

And so if there are ways that we can um identify prevention programming to be targeted towards youth, and many of those programs are really finding ways for them to be involved and active in other things, um, so that it helps to abate um any of those issues, also thinking about mental health um options and services uh for youth again as a prevention method.

Um, and so um and and really right in that youth space, it's getting them involved in other things, and data shows that if they are active and involved in other things, that is a high prevention tool.

Um, so I would really like to see um opportunities for how we can explore youth prevention um as one of the ways that we can use this resource.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Mayor.

Uh Counselor List.

Uh I just wanted to chime in on the conversation in that um I can imagine what a challenge this is because um just to let counselor Tyler know there may not be specific treatment programs for opioid use, but there are substance abuse supports within the community, um, not uh not a plethora, but we do have more and more behavioral health supports coming into our community.

Um, and so I think that that's actually one of the things that we could maybe look for in the future is trying to connect and and maybe have um an opportunity on a on a basis to kind of meet with those folks and see what they're providing.

I think they're also open to where's the what's a need that could be filled, and I think they would be open to that as well.

Um, I would be interested to see what the parameters are because it is um very unique that someone would just have an opioid issue.

There's generally co-occurring um things, and so if one is more prominent than another, would it be exclusionary of checking out the opioid when right something else is there proceeding, and this is secondary, which usually one leads to the other, and then they all cycle together.

So I think this is probably a much larger conversation.

Um, but I would love to be a part of any conversations.

Absolutely, absolutely governing body, and uh that's one of the challenges that this is sort of become more check with legal if you can use it because there's a lot of no's on the funding as opposed to yeses, and so um, so we're we're in that process, and yes, and uh once we get a little bit more information, we'd love to follow up with you on a work session, a discussion, and and let you know where we're at.

But again, we just want to let you know that um this is something that we've been looking at.

We put in some time and more time and efforts on the way.

All right, anything further on the opiate fund?

If not, we'll move on to impact fees public safety page 274-275 service fund page 27.

All right, that takes us to grant capital and special funds, starting with the higher education gross receipts text, page 2692 70.

Yeah, we have gone with you.

I'm sorry, I I backed up.

Apologize.

Um let's let's move on then to uh Geobond Series 2018, page 280 geobond series 2020, page 282 bond series 2022, page 284 geobond series 2024, pages 286-287.

NMFA government debt service page 289 2025 State Shared GRT bond debt service page 281.

Sorry, 291.

I think we're yeah, this is yeah, I was gonna say.

All right, before before we move on to ICIP, let's take another recess.

15 minutes, they be back at 1025.

1125.

Next item on the agenda is the ICIP.

Um I was just talking with City Manager Geisel.

We did have a conversation about this on the 21st.

Um we can certainly revisit that, or if there are specific questions that the governing body has, um that's probably a more streamlined way to do that.

So what is the pleasure of the I think we just go with the uh questions because we had it on the 21st.

That's my recommendation.

All right.

Where's Councilor Den at time?

Um cookie or something.

All right, so I'll entertain any questions on the ICIP that may have resulted from the presentation on the 21st.

Mr.

Mayor.

Councilor Colbreath.

Thank you so much.

Um I think um one it's very nice to start to see um items that have been on the ICIP move forward through their various stages of of the process.

Um, one of those um that was on the ICIP um, I believe when I I first came on the council uh was a new fire station.

Um, and so we'll we'll do the groundbreaking for that this coming Monday.

Um, and then um the multi-generational facility um has been on the ICIP, I think, since I've been on the council, um, and we're moving that forward in the process.

So um this document as a long range uh planning document that sets forth our priorities as we move forward, um it is is just that um that it sets the stage for what will come to be in you know the next five to ten years, um and we can see that um reflected in this document.

And we can see that reflected in this document.

So I'm actually very excited to see it.

It gives us a vision into where we're going and what our city will look like down the road.

And I just want to point out that I do believe the multi-generational facility has been in this document that's been publicly available, at least since I've been on the council, if not before.

And so I would encourage the citizens to use the link that we know is functional and see that document to start to get a vision into where uh where we're looking to head as a city.

So that's all.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilor Colbreth.

Any further questions on the ICIP.

Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

City Manager.

Mayor Weimer.

Good practice saying it.

Thank thank you, Councilor Colbreth, you know, for that.

Those comments.

I think as you all pointed out, we spent some time with us on the this section, you know, in our PowerPoint, have the PowerPoint from the 21st up here.

We talked about you know sources and uses of this upcoming year, um, carry over rollover balances.

The adoption of the budget um provides provides the authority for us to move forward with the FY27 portion of the budget, and then has the subsequent four years, which is the guiding document, which is you know one of the requirements for us to apply for capital outlay um with the legislator is that it's on the ICIP.

Very common for federal grant programs and federal funding programs that it be identified and you know as part of a capital outlay.

So the adoption of the ICIP is an important planning document, but also opens those doors for us to pursue external grant funding as well.

Um, so building also on you know uh the the comments raised by by counselor Colbert, uh, as we know in September we have a we have our annual goal setting and priorities meeting with the governing body.

It's a version of a work session, it's a it's an extra one focused on that.

And uh one of the themes that we have been approaching, I think several years now, four or five years uh in that uh September meeting is the facilities master plan.

Um the Phil Facilities Master Plan being a I'll call it a parallel document, part of this part of the strategic plan and a parallel document to the ICIP looking at kind of you know, at that point when we really started talking about the uh the facilities master plan.

We talked about the big five and fire station eight was one of the first priorities in the big five.

Um, and we're doing other efforts in that, such as uh you know, analysis of a police headquarters, fire training facility, um, multi-generational facility, and a uh streets and right-away complex operational annex.

So you know, talking about those as part of our strategic plan update, annual goal priority setting, facilities master plan has been a really helpful document for us, the run in parallel with the ICIP.

One of the ideas that we are kicking around at a staff level, um, and I mentioned this on the 21st, um, and stay tuned is looking to potentially have a an ICIP work session in October or December time frame, a combination of a you know, as I mentioned on the 21st, there's portions of the uh you know the ICIP that are you know with TBD funding.

Um so if we look at kind of the historical and Don was the you know the capital programs manager for several years before assuming this the responsibility this position.

Um, you know, we've been you know, so it's really are with the ICIP, how we're building building that out, what are the funding sources as well as some you know project updates because we'll be taking on uh later later this year um you know kicking off the biggest road project in the city's history um and building uh you know a fire station so be an opportunity for us to to do that.

So um look forward to coming back and um we have to work through as a staff level like what does that mean when we say we want to give you you know uh an ICIP overview or a project update at a at a work session in the fall or or in the in the winter time, but also looking to forward to bring that you know come back before you to talk about that in greater detail.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

Anything further from the governing body counselor Tyler.

I just I would like to just and I know that uh Matt, you and I talked about it.

I just want to make sure that we set that work session for the economic development project uh how we're gonna work to work everything out sooner than later.

So I know we talked about maybe June, so maybe we could work it out, and then that way if there's is additional funding to be sent somewhere or however we're gonna do it, we can discuss it in the work session and try to make it happen for the July uh finalized budget if that's possible.

Um and then the other thing that I wanted to bring up to council is is I would or I would also like to for next budget cycle, just start to think about uh just uh discretionary fund for counselors.

Um I know that there is other communities that have discretionary funds or other uh government bot government bodies that have them.

I would look at I would like to look at how we would do it, um, if it would be manageable, um, and I would like to maybe set up some work sessions on that so that for the next budget cycle, not necessarily for this this one currently, um, that we can maybe look at implementing something like that for the governing body.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Councilor Tarter.

Anything further?

Mayor.

Sorry for hitting the buzzer here, the uh the the Jeopardy buzzer.

Um the June work session.

If my calendar opens up, I believe it is on the 16th of June, the third Tuesday.

Um and so we'll uh bring those topics forward uh you know around economic development at that work session.

Um if it seems like there's an interest for that.

And I think uh you know, maybe something for us to think about looking forward is maybe the June work session on an annual basis, you know, just like April has become the roads update.

Maybe June be, you know, portion of at least one of the topics in April is roads, maybe one of the topics in June on an annual basis can be economic development on a kind of a carry-over um carry over basis or continual basis.

Um, and then with respect to discretionary funds, we'll look uh to the direction um Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body at uh, you know, the opportunity when you'd like to get that scheduled.

Um staff can do some you know background research and provide some information.

Ultimately, it's a program um you know discretion funds agreed to be a program of the governing body and really needs a lot of input um you know from the governing body in and formulating and adopting the policy if that were the will of the governing body.

Um with your guidance and input on you know, direction on timing, we can look to add that to a future work session.

Mr.

Mayor I I just wanted to voice my um.

Oh my god, the word just left me.

I I agree with uh with what Bob was asking for.

Counselor Tyler was asking for.

I think it would be a I think it's a worthwhile subject to talk about and potentially do specifically the a can uh discretionary fund for counselor.

So I just wanted to support that.

Thanks.

Thank you, Councilor Debson.

Any further discussion.

And any closing closing remarks, Mr.

City Manager.

Mr.

Mayor, Mayor Weimer, members of the governing body.

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to uh thank all the folks in this room, and then there's several folks who are back at their desk watching.

Um, you know, Stephanie and her team, the budget team, as well as the accounting team that supports the budget process.

We have you know the deputy director Spangler in the in the room as well.

But Steph, the budget team, Don, our new budget manager, um, doing a great job of carrying forward the the hard work and the discipline uh that one built up over several years.

I think for us to that have a long runway with the city to know where we were in 2000 and you know, eight, nine ten building a budget to see how we build the budget today.

Um it's a it's a good fruit.

It's a it's an efficient process uh building this the budget.

It it's it's disciplined.

Um we focus on service delivery, outcomes, um, and data in building this budget and uh the departments um get on board sometimes at kicking screen.

Um, but in large part uh you know the departments uh you know put a lot of pride and professionalism into the development of their budgets and come prepared for our internal meetings.

This process starts for us in February with Peter and me, which means Don's working with the departments starting in December and January.

It is very much like a never-ending uh people mover at the airport.

Um because we go from now into you know adopt adopting a balance budget we send to the state, then in July we have the final final.

And by October, we're already talking about the mid-year budget.

Then it just continues.

Um, but just want to again uh thank Stephanie, Don, the budget team, everyone in finance, and then all the folks in this room from the departments who would work on developing the budget.

Um we have a we're fortunate to have a good budget process, can send you some articles of other communities and how they go through their budget process, and uh um, you know, you find it entertaining maybe, but thank you very much to everyone on our team and you the governing body.

Appreciate um we had some good dialogue today and some good conversations uh and appreciate your you know your preparation um coming into today's meeting as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

City Manager.

I see there's one other item uh governing body amendments on our agenda.

Is there anything specific that that was intended to case we can just talk about I mean bring them forward?

Mr.

Mayor, members of the governing body, um I think uh based on the conversation that potentially after the June work session we could have some amendments which we would integrate into the final budget in July.

Um and then obviously as as mentioned, we'll be bringing forward uh the the budget adjustment um for the the the police department compensation uh on May 28th, and depending on where we are uh with AFSME, um you know, maybe that's in in May or we integrate that in in July.

Sounds sounds good.

Any further discussion from the council?

Hearing none, we are adjourned.