Motion to approve, Mr.

Chairman.

Members, if you would take a look at the minutes and there's a motion.

Motion to approve, Mr.

Chairman.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Minutes are adopted.

Ms.

Stanford's item number one under new business general budget revision number 15.

Yes, thank you, Council.

This first uh general fund budget revision is a request to use insurance proceeds by the fire department.

Um they had a few um uniforms that were damaged in the um in a fire event, and so we have gotten insurance proceeds from that.

They then repurchase those uniforms from their regular general fund budget operating accounts, and so they're requesting to use the insurance proceeds in the purchase of a vehicle that needs to be replaced.

Um, the amount is $63,000 that we are requesting to take out to to recognize an insurance proceeds and put in their equipment line item.

So they would have to purchase that vehicle in the next couple of months.

Chief Delk is here to talk about any operational decisions that go into that.

Sure, Chief.

Uh tell us what uniforms cost $63,000.

These are actually uh they could be termed uniforms.

This is actually turnout gear.

So not the uniforms that you're probably thinking about, the dress shirts and stuff like that.

This is protective gear.

So thermal layer, um moisture layer, and so these are pretty expensive pieces, boots, things like that that were ruined by the products that were burned.

It was the pet boys fire that this was ruined in.

And so I think they had gone out of business.

There was a little, you know, there was some stuff out there, whether it was gonna insurance was gonna pay these or not, because we did have to absorb the cost of those guys that responded out there in the turnout gear that was that was ruined.

We attempted to clean some of it, you can you it was past the point of cleaning.

How many uniforms did that go?

Uh there was 12 sets.

Oh yes, ma'am.

Okay, okay.

So that was and that was from all the first two companies that were there that made entry on that building and tried to try to do the best they can.

I remember reading the report uh how these were full rubber product, you know.

Yeah, think about all the stuff that would be in a in a mechanic shop that was burning that that was exposed to, and so we didn't want to put our guys in, and you don't ever want to put guys that that that exposures in their gear into another environment like that.

Gotcha.

All right, thank any other questions, comments?

Not is there a motion?

Motion all in favor say aye.

Aye, item is approved.

Item number two, water and sewer reserve for future improvements, budget revision number seven.

This is the um the seven million dollars in the 10-year plan uh projects discussion that we had last week for uh the water and sewer but uh water and sewer budget adoption.

So if you'll recall, there were seven uh there's seven million dollars in the tenure plan escrow amount that is on top of what we are uh needing to pay for debt service from the uh I can I can't pull words today.

Um from the rate increases that we've done over the past four years, those projects are the Mercedes Force Main list stations for 1.2 million, the phase three improvements for um Fletcher at 2.3 million, the Hillcrest Tank Rehabilitation at 1.2 million, the outfall line replacement at 1.7 million, um, expansion of the sewer and sewer betterment at the airport runway for 400,000, and the line A raw water main repair at 150,000.

All of that totals up to the seven million that was presented last week.

Okay, as we discussed and we went through the machinations of how that seven million is arrived at from rate increases and questions or comments.

Which which I couldn't pull the words today.

I'm so sorry.

I couldn't hear it again.

I couldn't remember.

I sat there we get a bond.

That's what's up.

Don't feel bad on there with you today.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Item is approved.

Thank you.

Um item number three, Miss Standard's authorization to contract with Warren Averett for PL 113-2 audit services.

PL 113-2 is a fancy way of saying the 2013 uh CDBG disaster recovery grant.

Back in 2013, we were awarded a second round of disaster recovery grant that was for 43 million dollars.

Within that grant funding, we had a requirement for certain internal audit review services that were um required to be able to maintain compliance within that grant.

To be able to do the internal audit services, we contract out with Warren Averett to perform these.

Um, and the total amount that uh we need to do for the new contract year is $25,000.

It's the exact same price as it was the last three years.

Okay, and you and I discussed on the phone at what point does that legacy requirement for audit eventually leave us?

Yeah so as soon as we do closeout so we have spent all the money and we are closing out with the federal government this specific requirement will sunset we will still have other compliance reports that we have to file the federal government for that exact grant but this specific one will sunset at that time and the grant does pay for this contract completely motion all in favor say aye aye item is approved uh item number four Ms.

Herbert resolution to obtain stop loss insurance coverage from high mark for fiscal year 26 good afternoon council yeah um this is a request to select high mark for our annual stop loss coverage we've had high mark for the last couple of years um stop loss is the insurance that we have for our health insurance it helps to protect our health insurance against catastrophic losses so that if we have high dollar claimants which we do have high dollar claimants it will help protect our health insurance so that the stop loss will pick up and cover on that okay and then what are the what are these uh in this the table that somebody has passed out to us you want to go over these and what they are okay so currently uh in that first column you'll see what our current coverage is for this fiscal year we have a three hundred thousand dollar deductible and that is per um individual that's covered on our plan and then a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars is just a deductible that the city has on the plan overall the contract basis is for the 12 month period that our coverage ends if say we get a late claim in that's within 60 months prior the stop loss will pick up that claim and cover it um and then of course medical and RX medical and RX claims is what's covered so are we expanding the contract basis yes high mark is going to expand the contract basis for us um and then 170 is the number of contracts we have so we have approximately around 300 employees independents that are covered by our plan but it's 1,170 um contracts and then the rate that is the rate per employee contract per month so currently it's 4945 if we were to renew exactly what we have it would be 6923 a month per contract but we're asking to go with option one it's still under high mark the deductible is just a little higher and the reason we're asking for that we take a look at the number of high dollar claimants that we have and then we also look at the diagnosis and see if we will continue with those high dollar claimants based on what we are seeing so far we feel like some of these claimants will continue to get treatment that will exceed the amount of the deductible and the aggregate specific deductible okay members comments questions a good recommendation to make thank you for motion motion all in favor say aye aye item is approved item five chair discussion regarding helicopter insurance coverage go ahead Mr.

Holmes yes sir it is uh it is with a little bit of sadness Mr.

Busby that I present to you the last discussion of helicopter insurance here at the city of Tuscaloosa as uh as you're aware we are sunsetting the helicopter unit that is expected to be completed by December 31st of this year.

Our helicopter insurance was due to renew before then we've reached out and been able to secure an extension of our current policy through uh January 1st so rather than having to get a full uh our last policy was 52400 something rather than having a full $52,000 dollar policy uh we're gonna get a $7600 policy to get us through the end of that unit and if this committee is good with that we'll have that resolution prepared for next week.

And this will take us through when Mr.

Yes, sir.

There's a lot of options.

Well, Pickens County.

Any questions or comments?

Is there a motion?

No, sir.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Item is approved.

COVID.

Item number six is my ear mark for uh short-term memory, and I have none today.

Is there anything anybody wants to bring up on the committee?

Before we adjourn, sure.

Can we get the mayor again to maybe give us a little overview of next week?

Sure, please, Mr.

Mayor.

What you will see is a budget that I think is going to be trends a little more positive than we anticipated probably a month ago due to revenues gonna be what maybe a little trend a little more positive than what we anticipated than what we anticipated probably four to six weeks ago.

Positive in that there's more revenue than the general fund side.

A little when I say more revenue, I'm not talking about significant portions of revenue, just marginally a little bit more revenue than what we anticipated.

Um since we're presenting this two weeks early, um we do think you're gonna have possibly a little bit more revenue to work with than what we had in presenting this budget, and so we're compiling uh list of things that we think you you should put into your consideration uh with those revenues that we just couldn't include because we have to have a balanced budget.

Um it is a very basic budget.

Many of you came in um in 2021.

We probably were handed the most complex budget, one of the more complex budgets the city's ever had.

This one by comparison will be one of the most even killed.

The most important thing in this budget to me was making certain that we continued our you know our march towards RSA.

We've been able to in our budget, and I I can't say enough about Andridge and her team.

They have been able to hopefully reduce the amount of budget cuts we were planning.

I think you'll see that in my budget presentation.

Been able to identify some revenue sources that we've been able to plug in to help us meet our obligation that we showed the rating agencies of those four million dollars that had to be dedicated for RSA conversion for this year.

So, what you'll see is their good work that I'm gonna take full credit for, but they're the ones who did the real work and doing that.

Um again, there's there's going to be nothing in there that I think is you're gonna go.

Wow, this is complex, or this is something that's really new and dynamic.

RSA is our goal, and that's where we're solely focused on.

There are a couple of things in there that uh have more of a big ticket item.

One would be looking at some AI opportunities that we would like to invest in.

We'll be talking about that.

Um, the other is security, um just overall security.

When I say big items, nothing compared to what y'all did today in projects committee.

But you know, for this budget, when you look at this budget overall, it's it's in that realm.

Ms.

Sanders, can you think of anything?

Um I'm ad-lib in here.

Um that that pretty much covers the the the major gist of it.

I think that the main um focus area was investment in employees um and you know the the concern for uh inflationary aspects of the economy.

Um and then I think any of the council members that went to New York with us and saw the plan for RSA conversion and the four million dollar per year influx that needs to happen into that plan that is is being taken care of for fiscal 26.

We were able to get that in.

Um, and that really was is the main crux of what the budget is going to be about.

Okay.

So I think overall, you you will be I I believe you'll be very satisfied with it.

Um there will be a couple of things.

Um is looking at line of credit on OSR.

How might that be structured?

Um, the only other major new item that will be in there, and not to make a spoiler alert is Freeman Park and Freeman Park pool.

Um Mr.

Eatman and I have been doing some work over there, and and we'll I'll have more to explain about it next week, but um I I want to I think we probably need to move up some timetables on that.

So that'll be you know in the budget, and we'll be happy to talk about it.

Saving center and those types of types of things.

Thank you.

Saving center and and just again, it's not compared to some of the budgets we've had in the past.

This is it's very focused, frankly, because of the budget process or the planning process that we've really since 2021.

And you shouldn't have given me the floor because now I'm gonna preach.

Number one, we wanted to tackle the issues within water and sewer, and number two, we wanted to invest in our firefighters and police officers and get them to RSA, plus get them top of the line pay in our state.

As best as we could get them what?

Top of the line pay.

Sure.

You know, not necessarily we may not be the top in every category, but certainly in the upper echelons.

And we started planning for it.

And everything that we've done from the creation of the public safety fund to the creation of the capital fund in the water and sewer, and every year we've been planning and building methodically, which is why we held on to our credit rating.

That's coming to fruition now, and that's leading to some boring budgets.

But that is a lot of great work that took place back five years ago.

And um, Miss Standridge really her team and and y'all deserve the credit for your leadership on that.

And that's to me, I'm very proud.

This budget will be very kind of plain.

We should be very proud of it because we're tackling some big issues, but doing it methodically, that's gonna help our community in in the decades ahead.

So you shouldn't have given me the floor, but always happy to hear you know Mr.

Busby, we spend months and so much time and effort, it's it's we take a lot of pride in it, and so thank you for letting me say a few words on that.

Can I ask one more question?

Thank you, Mr.

Man.

Uh Mr.

Chairman, what is your your thoughts on how we will proceed once we receive the budget from the administration?

Are we planning on kind of doing as much as we can in committee?

Are we gonna plan on having a work session kind of like we did the other day one afternoon, maybe in the next couple two or three weeks?

I mean, that would I'm for me that'd be preferable, but that's I mean, I'm gonna do that.

I'm thinking we you know, uh forget two or three, four years ago.

I think we scheduled something like two full days in the in the council in the main council room as a work day.

I don't I don't believe I want that meeting again, but it was important because a lot of this and we we only have one new member, so you know six of the seven have seen this before and uh so I'm just gonna schedule the new council member for two days of budget.

Let them interview them interview the 40 plus agents.

Mr.

Crow, I do think you know there are pockets.

So if you know, if as advertised, this comes through as a dull plain vanilla budget.

No, that's correct.

There's still some pockets in there that I want us to have the time to go down into.

And the and the the 45-minute you know, Tuesday afternoon committee meetings is rarely I always feel that it can't run over because we're eating up somebody else's time.

So, Ms.

Crow, I will probably schedule at least one or two-hour sessions during the week as work sessions.

Those morning sessions y'all do can be very I like it when I've still got my brain in the morning.

It helps us when when y'all have a focus because then we can prepare for your focus, and um I I would say agencies again is one of those.

We really rely on the city council.

I don't suspect any agency is gonna love my budget.

And then we're gonna do exceptional recommendations.

No, there's never enough money, and there's always more that can be done.

And and if I were them, I would make by the way.

That's the same argument our departments make.

So it makes it, but I think it's very important.

They want to several of the large agencies.

I really think it's important to spend some time in front.

In our case, those are things that we work with our partners on.

I don't think it would be a bad idea for them to come meet with y'all as well.

Can I ask a crazy question?

I mean, just if we had a an afternoon work session, I know that we do not have council plan would not for September the second.

And I know that's a time that people are off and vacations.

I I kind of wonder, Mr.

Chairman, if that might be a day to have, you know, again, if people are here, I don't know, people may be gone.

I don't know, to have agencies or have something or or try to figure out, if not that day, I guess we're supposed to not have, but that we kind of just work around everybody's schedule to say maybe we have one morning session, you know, or maybe we take a if we can take a whole Tuesday, you know, have budget stuff all morning, have an afternoon.

I'm not against a working session.

I'm not against the side.

Yeah, work session or morning work session.

I can think more clearly on that.

And I think that'd be fine.

It's just I would two couple of hour morning work sessions.

And uh and we may not need all that.

Let's let's see what comes out next week.

And then I'm certainly willing to do that.

I'm not gonna, you know, one year we did all was it 35 agencies.

That alone was two days.

We and that was just brutal.

Um but you know the but it didn't forces through getting to know those agents.

This may be a bad statement because I again I couldn't remember that we took out a bond.

So uh, but my memory, Carly helped me here, was that we did a lot of agencies in finance in our normal.

We'd we time if we didn't do in the last few years.

We've done a lot during our regular time in the finance committee.

But here's what our here's what I want to be careful of on that.

So we all, all of us have our pet agencies.

Okay, we do.

I I want to focus on getting the big ones through, and then let's see what's left and who wants what before asking for it on the agenda because whatever we do for one or two, we're gonna have to do for the others.

And all of a sudden, that accordion's out, and you've got there's no time for anything.

One of the things we we each year don't meet with every agency.

I know the agencies that we meet with, usually are the bigger ones that we have questions, and we don't do the you know, where they come in and they show PowerPoints about all the great things they do because certainly we know they do great things, otherwise we they wouldn't be receiving significant funding.

We literally get into a financial discussion of your balance sheet, your reserves, the number of employees, no different than we treat a department.

And you know, I think that's a good thing, and I think that would be good for the council because as I told one of the agencies, they're like, Well, this is tough this year, you know.

Why are y'all why are you asking even more questions?

I said, Well, we call it Tuesday at City Hall.

I mean, you know, every Tuesday, y'all should ask us questions about what we do.

I think it's very good we do that with the agencies because I think it makes them it makes them sharper.

It it no one likes to be questioned.

I don't I know our team members probably don't, but I think it makes us all sharper, and I think that helps too with the agencies as well that they see well that's just not Maddox there who's being a pain in our rear end about this this issue, it's it's the council as well.

Um so I I would encourage you the bigger ones, especially there's a you know, there's a couple that I think we need to, you know, you're gonna see a couple of things, right?

Pearl will be a little bit different because last year we didn't subtract out the parks we took over.

This year we're subtracting out the parks we took over.

We also have the issue of the arts council.

You you are aware that the arts council that Paranown no longer funds the arts council.

So you're gonna see that.

And I and and we had a very standalone standalone, and we had a very good, we what we met with Paris for about an hour and a half.

Yeah, a really good meeting, a very positive meeting with Paris.

Um, but it helped us understand a lot of what they're thinking.

Uh Tuscaloosa Public Library, as you recall last year, we all three shook when I say we all three.

The three local governments shook hands that we're gonna fund the five year plan.

And to this council's credit, you funded it.

Now I'm not I'll leave it at that.

So this year we had to have a discussion of well, you know, we're committing to the five-year plan, but it's if this is truly a metro library, then where does everyone else stand?

And they're you know, we all shook hands and agree we would do this.

I think it's really good that you answer those, you're part of those same questions.

Why do we fund this library?

This and this, that are good things.

Um I've talked way too much, Mr.

Busby.

You shouldn't have opened it up.

That's all right.

I'll learn, but I think those are that helps us too as a team here.

So they realize this is just not us asking these questions.

I asked one more procedural question.

Yeah, this is I'm asking Carly 50 questions about procedurally in order to meet the deadline of September 30.

The 22nd is Tuesday.

The budget stuff will have to start moving by the 22nd of September, correct?

In order to pass on the 29th, no later then correct.

You know, I I know we don't well we talked too about parts, you know.

There may be parts of the budget, Mr.

Chairman, that are very, very vanilla that are pretty easy to say this particular department when they stand up there and present this to us.

There is no issue with that.

How do we?

I mean, I would like to see us move certain things forward where if there's something, I mean, if there was something that was contentious, that doesn't hold up.

I mean, we would move things forward as we go.

I mean, try to get some of these departments done where we know that because usually the uh there's you know, probably four or five things that we we will really probably I don't want to say don't make sense, Carly.

That's the wrong word.

Don't there it just you look at this and you say I know wait a minute now that right there we need to spend more time on this, right?

A lot of it is pretty self-explanatory on some of the departments.

I think it is, but I don't I don't know how we can do that, Mr.

Chairman.

In a way that we've all we don't hold that, we don't hold things up.

We can always move the large chunks on up to the deck to be in the sort of to be ready, that's fine.

Uh and and reserve the time we need for the the areas that need attention.

So I don't see a problem with that.

Uh I think that's that'll make things move.

Mr.

Holmes, is there any changes?

And this I'm not gonna give you the same leeway I gave the mayor, but be thinking, please, if there are any changes in regulatory oversight and environment that impact these decisions, particularly agency funding.

Advice, yes.

Okay.

Any other questions or comments?

So we will see some agencies and we will have at least one work station.

Well, we're certainly gonna see the big agencies and we'll talk internally.

If if y'all have got a special one, you want to uh we'll work to get them on the finance committee.

Just remember though, when we when we uncork that model, everybody's gonna get a shot.

So we need to be judicious in doing that.

Count there, is there a motion to adjourn?