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Proposed Budget Riders

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 10:06 am
by Ann Kitchen
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 100403.pdf

Colleagues:

Attached is a budget rider I intend to bring with my cosponsors - Mayor Adler and CMs Tovo, Fuentes, and Vela

The purpose is to continue the successful HEAL Initiative at the same level and avoid a drop in services when the Northbridge Shelter is converted to PSH later in the year. The rider is funded with a combination of already dedicated ARPA Funds, General Funds, and CIP funding.

The City Manager is directed to continue the HEAL Initiative, serving at least 200 additional individuals by the end of FY 2022-23, drawing from a total of $3 million in ARPA funds currently dedicated for HEAL Rapid Rehousing through FY2025.

The Rider also adds acquisition and operational funding to maintain bridge sheltering capacity for the HEAL initiative at or above current levels as the 60 rooms at the Northbridge property are converted to permanent supportive housing (PSH) units.

As you all are aware - the HEAL Initiative is intended to compassionately close the most unsafe encampments in our city by offering people experiencing homelessness a direct pathway to crisis shelter and opportunities to attain stable housing, sustainably reducing public camping in unsafe areas.

The program was created by City Council in February of 2021, and the first encampment relocation occurred in June of that year. Since that time, 9 encampments have been addressed, with a tenth currently in process. Approximately 90% of individuals offered transfer to the City's two bridge shelters have accepted; this has resulted in 327 persons moving into the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters. To date, 94 people have exited to permanent housing, primarily through dedicated Rapid Rehousing programs run by community service providers such as Family Eldercare.

Thank you so much for your consideration of this Rider. The Council has been a strong supporter of services for our unhoused neighbors, including the HEAL Initiative in previous years.

Best
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: Proposed Budget Riders

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:01 pm
by Ann Kitchen
Colleagues

Attached is my proposed budget rider with CMs Pool, Fuentes, and Kelly to implement the District Level Planning resolution we all passed in June.

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 165452.pdf

Funding provides for implementation of District Level Planning for the second half of FY 2022-23. Establishment of a district level planning team will further the implementation of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Growth Concept Map and better address citywide planning needs.

Resolution 20220609-069 requires the City Manager to "identify and include appropriate resources in the 2022-23 City Budget to initiate the district level planning process". The resolution also directs the City Manager to establish guidelines for prioritizing planning areas throughout the city to include the Del Valle area, and with emphasis on Project Connect commuter, light rail, and MetroRapid corridors in coordination with eTOD planning process, to proaactively address growth so that opportunities to plan for affordable housing, parks, transportation, and transit are not lost due to planning that occurs after areas are fully developed.

Without the 5 new FTEs, the Housing and Planning Department would be able to complete only one new plan per year. An additional 5 FTEs would allow staff to complete 2-3 plans per year and provide a consistent capacity for planning efforts year over year. The amount in the rider would cover staff costs for 1/2 a year along with related costs. The full-year cost for these FTEs would be $538,187. Housing and Planning Department envisions the 5 FTEs to be one Principal Planner, two Senior Planners, one Planner III, and one Planner II.

Best Regards
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

Re: Proposed Budget Riders

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:01 am
by Ann Kitchen
Colleagues
Below is my list of Budget Riders, which I expect to complete posting today. I also anticipate supporting additional Riders that many of you have proposed.
Thank you for your consideration!

Best
Ann Kitchen
City Council District 5

Budget Riders, Funding Required:
1. HEAL (Rider posted above)($1.75M to continue bridge shelter operations for complete year, $100K for shelter contract oversight, Ongoing Funding)

2. District Level Planning (Rider posted above) ($269,094 Ongoing Funding)

3. Personal Attendants Pilot (Rider posted) ($385,000 One Time Funding)
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 095350.pdf

4. Age Friendly FTE (about $100K to address recommendations and maintain Age-Friendly Status)
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 095908.pdf

5. Homeless Response System Public Education ($250,000 One Time Funding)

Budget Riders, No Budget Impact
1. 911 Call Takers (Direction to report progress on addressing vacancy rate)
2. Senior Tax Exemption (Direction to raise exemption level mid-year to address potential for increased costs from Housing Bond)

Budget Rider Cosponsorship
1. Raising Living Wage to $20/hour
2. AEDC Funding
3. Park Shade Structures

Re: Proposed Budget Riders

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:30 pm
by Ann Kitchen
Colleagues,

Thank you for your consideration to raise the Senior and Disabled Property Tax Exemption by $11,000 to $124,000. This amount will mitigate the impact of the proposed Housing Bond, with an estimated savings of $50.90 and can be found at the following link:

http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 152513.pdf

The City’s property tax exemption for senior and disabled homeowners currently stands at $113,000. Due to a recent change in the state Comptroller’s interpretation of Texas law, the City may now increase its property tax exemptions without incurring a loss in the amount of General Fund revenue it can generate at the voter‐approval rate. While the Council is authorized to raise the exemption level at any time during a fiscal year, to avoid this revenue loss, any exemption increase must be approved in time for the change to be reflected on the certified property tax rolls.

This Rider has no revenue impact as it directs an increase in the exemption level on October 1st, the first of fiscal year 2022-2023.

Best,
Ann Kitchen
D5

Re: Proposed Budget Riders

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:29 am
by Ann Kitchen
Colleagues

Attached are my Budget Amendments and Riders – as I discussed yesterday at Council. I have also signed onto a number of Amendments / Riders of my colleagues and expect to support others (co-sponsorships include raising wage to $20/hour (Fuentes), AEDC (Mayor, Tovo), ECHO funding (Mayor), Goodnight Ranch Fire Station (Fuentes), Tenant Relocation Funds (Fuentes), Rental Assistance (Vela), Shade Structures (Vela), Lifeguards (Vela)

I am also exploring one additional Amendment related to sufficient funding for inclement weather shelter, particularly for unsheltered individuals in response to requests received from the Leadership Council, TOOF, We Can Now, Sunrise, and Austin Mutual Aid. I am checking to see if any of you are pursuing similar amendments and hope to file an amendment later today if still needed.

Best
Ann Kitchen
City Council D5

1. Budget Amendments

HEAL SHELTER Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182204.pdf
Purpose: (1) Revenue neutral direction to continue serving at least 200 people (the current level) under the HEAL Initiative; and (2) Funding to purchase and operate a new bridge shelter to replace the Northbridge shelter when that shelter is converted to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).
Co-Sponsors: CMs Fuentes, Tovo, Vela, Adler
Funding: Ongoing
Amount: $1.75 Million shelter operations; $100K FTE for shelter oversight; TBD funding to supplement funds for purchasing replacement shelter
____________________

DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182323.pdf
Purpose: Funding for implementation of Resolution 20220609-069, and establishment of district level planning team.
Co-Sponsors: CMs Pool, Fuentes, Kelly, Ellis
Funding: Ongoing
Amount: $269,094 (5 FTEs for 2nd half of 2022-2023
_____________________

AGE FRIENDLY SENIOR SERVICES STAFFING Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182355.pdf
Purpose: Community Engagement Specialist to help advance Age-Friendly Action Plan, as recommended by the Commission on Seniors
Co-Sponsors: CM Pool
Funding: Ongoing
Amount: $100,083 (1 FTE)
_____________________

PERSONAL ATTENDANT PILOT Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182048.pdf
Purpose: One-time funding for pilot personal attendant recruitment and retention backup system and registry to reduce assist calls to EMS and Fire Department and alleviate higher cost of emergency room and hospital care.
Co-Sponsors: CM Fuentes, Kelly
Funding: One-Time
Amount: $385K
_____________________

HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM PUBIC EDUCATION Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 181956.pdf
Purpose: One-time funds for consultant to develop a public education program, in collaboration with community stakeholders, to provide information on the community-wide homeless response system
Co-Sponsors: Mayor Adler, CMs Fuentes, Vela
Funding: One-Time
Amount: $250K

2. Budget Riders. No budget impact

SENIOR & DISABLED TAX EXEMPTION Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182248.pdf
Purpose: Direction to City Manager to raise (as of October 1, 2022) the Senior and Disabled Property Tax Exemption by $11,000 to $124,000. This amount will mitigate the impact of the proposed Housing Bond, with an estimated savings of $50.90 for average senior/disable taxpayer
Co-Sponsors: Mayor Adler, CMs Pool, Fuentes, Harper-Madison
________________________________________

911 CALL TAKERS Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 181916.pdf
Purpose: City Manager is directed to report to the City Council in three months, progress on reducing the vacancy rate and the impact on wait times for 911 call center response
Co-Sponsors: CMs Kelly, Fuentes, Vela, MPT Alter

Re: Proposed Budget Riders

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:38 am
by Ann Kitchen
Colleagues

Attached are my Budget Amendments and Riders – as I discussed yesterday at Council. I have also signed onto a number of Amendments / Riders of my colleagues and expect to support others (co-sponsorships include raising wage to $20/hour (Fuentes), AEDC (Mayor, Tovo), ECHO funding (Mayor), Goodnight Ranch Fire Station (Fuentes), Tenant Relocation Funds (Fuentes), Rental Assistance (Vela), Shade Structures (Vela), Lifeguards (Vela)

I am also exploring one additional Amendment related to sufficient funding for inclement weather shelter, particularly for unsheltered individuals in response to requests received from the Leadership Council, TOOF, We Can Now, Sunrise, and Austin Mutual Aid. I am checking to see if any of you are pursuing similar amendments and hope to file an amendment later today if still needed.

1. Budget Amendments

HEAL SHELTER Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182204.pdf
Purpose: (1) Revenue neutral direction to continue serving at least 200 people (the current level) under the HEAL Initiative; and (2) Funding to purchase and operate a new bridge shelter to replace the Northbridge shelter when that shelter is converted to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).
Co-Sponsors: CMs Fuentes, Tovo, Vela, Adler
Funding: Ongoing
Amount: $1.75 Million shelter operations; $100K FTE for shelter oversight; TBD funding to supplement funds for purchasing replacement shelter
____________________

DISTRICT LEVEL PLANNING Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182323.pdf
Purpose: Funding for implementation of Resolution 20220609-069, and establishment of district level planning team.
Co-Sponsors: CMs Pool, Fuentes, Kelly, Ellis
Funding: Ongoing
Amount: $269,094 (5 FTEs for 2nd half of 2022-2023
_____________________

AGE FRIENDLY SENIOR SERVICES STAFFING Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182355.pdf
Purpose: Community Engagement Specialist to help advance Age-Friendly Action Plan, as recommended by the Commission on Seniors
Co-Sponsors: CM Pool
Funding: Ongoing
Amount: $100,083 (1 FTE)
_____________________

PERSONAL ATTENDANT PILOT Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182048.pdf
Purpose: One-time funding for pilot personal attendant recruitment and retention backup system and registry to reduce assist calls to EMS and Fire Department and alleviate higher cost of emergency room and hospital care.
Co-Sponsors: CM Fuentes, Kelly
Funding: One-Time
Amount: $385K
_____________________

HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM PUBLIC EDUCATION Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 181956.pdf
Purpose: One-time funds for consultant to develop a public education program, in collaboration with community stakeholders, to provide information on the community-wide homeless response system
Co-Sponsors: Mayor Adler, CMs Fuentes, Vela
Funding: One-Time
Amount: $250K

2. Budget Riders. No budget impact

SENIOR & DISABLED TAX EXEMPTION Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 182248.pdf
Purpose: Direction to City Manager to raise (as of October 1, 2022) the Senior and Disabled Property Tax Exemption by $11,000 to $124,000. This amount will mitigate the impact of the proposed Housing Bond, with an estimated savings of $50.90 for average senior/disable taxpayer
Co-Sponsors: Mayor Adler, CMs Pool, Fuentes, Harper-Madison
________________________________________

911 CALL TAKERS Link: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 181916.pdf
Purpose: City Manager is directed to report to the City Council in three months, progress on reducing the vacancy rate and the impact on wait times for 911 call center response
Co-Sponsors: CMs Kelly, Fuentes, Vela, MPT Alter