[1) CALL TO ORDER]
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. >> MAYOR PITTS: THE JUNE 2ND, 2022, SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. THE FIRST LADY WILL LEAD US IN THE PRAYER. AND THE COUNCILPERSON RICHMOND WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE. I'LL INVITE EVERYONE TO STAND. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN NE, OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THIGH NAME, THIGH WILL BE DONE THIGH KINGDOM COME ON EARTH LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THEIN IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER, AMEN.
>> >> FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."
>> . >> MAYOR PITTS: MEMBERS PLEASE REGISTER YOUR
ATTENDANCE. >> MAYOR PITTS: MADAM CLERK?
>> TAKE THE ROLL. >> ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNCILPERSON LITTLE, COUNCILPERSON REDD, COUNCILPERSON AL LEN AND
[5) FY23 BUDGET WORK SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY)]
COUNCILPERSON SHAKEENAB? >> THE ONLY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS TO HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS, SHE'LL UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION THAT SHE GAVE US IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT WEEK'S FIRST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE '23 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> SO, TODAY I'M GOING TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL BUDGET FOR THE WORKSHOP BEFORE IT COMES TO YOU FOR AN ACTUAL FIRST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK. OUR BUDGET SUMMARY WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, THE CHRONICLE ON MAY 29TH, AS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND OUR CHARTER. SOME OF YOU, I'M SORRY, SOME OF THIS WILL BE A REPEAT, BUT I FELT SOME INFORMATION IN OUR PRESENTATION WAS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF COUNCIL TO HEAR AND THERE WERE MANY OF YOU NOT PRESENT AT THE COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION. SO, I'M SORRY IF I REPEAT MYSELF. >> SO, I WANTED TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT OUR PROCESS IS QUICKLY. WE STARTED OUR PROCESS IN MID FEBRUARY WITH THE CAPTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE FIVE YEAR PROGRAM WHICH IS ON THE AGENDA LATER TONIGHT AND THAT'S TO SHOW YOU THAT OUR DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR WHAT'S UPCOMING. ONCE WE GET THROUGH THAT, THEN IN MARCH IS WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS GET INTO HIGH GEAR WITH PUTTING THEIR BUDGETING INTO THE SYSTEM SO THAT FINANCE RECEIVES THEM IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL.
THEN, WE START TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS AND BALANCE THE BUDGET. AND IN MAY, THE DEPARTMENT'S PRESENTED THEIR NEEDS TO THE STANDING COUNCIL COMMITTEES. THE SUMMARY OF THE BUDGET WAS POSTED AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING. WHICH WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 9TH, WITH THE SECOND AND FINAL READING ON JUNE 14TH. WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BUDGET PASSED BY JUNE 30TH IN ORDER TO CONTINUE WITH OPERATIONS.
OUR BUDGET IS COME PRIZED WITH GENERAL FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND IS THE MAIN OPERATING ACT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE 19 DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. THE GENERAL FUND ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO MANY OTHER ENTITIES AND GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS WITH THE LARGEST TRANSFERS BEING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE DEBT SERVICE FUND AND THE CAPTAIN PROJECT FUND. OKAY. SO, AS WE PREPARE OUR FY '23 BUDGET, WE AMEND OUR FY '22 BUDGET AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS ALLOWED FOR US TO DO SO THAT WE COULD FINE TUNE OUR CURRENT BUDGET AND UPDATE THE PROPOSED ENDING FUNDING BALANCE WHICH ONLY HELPS US WITH OUR FY '23 BUDGET. SO, AT THE TIME YOU ARE APPROVING FY '23 YOU'RE APPROVALING AN AMENDMENT TO '22 THIS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AS WELL AS OUR CHARTER TO BE PART OF THIS ORDINANCE. A QUICK SUMMARY FOR THE CHANGES TO THE FY 22 AMENDMENT, IS LIVE LIST DOES THEP UP THERE TOO, THE REVENUE ARE INCREASING $10.8 MILLION. THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO THAT CENSUS
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IMPACT THAT I'VE EXPLAINED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY. AS WELL AS INCREASE IN STATE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX. OUR GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS DECREASED THEIR BUDGETS BY $1.5 MILLION. MOST OF THAT IS DUE TO THE INABILITY TO FILL POSITIONS. OTHER EXPENSES THAT WERE INCREASED WAS $2.9 MILLION FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AND THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE THE COUNTY'S SHARE OF THE LIQUOR TAXES, WE'RE REQUIRED TO PAY THE COUNTY 50% OF ALL LIQUOR TAXES THAT WE RECEIVE. WE'RE COLLECTING MORE SO WE NEED TO PAY MORE. OUR OTHER FUNDED ENTITIES INCREASED, THE SENIOR CENTER NEEDED $14,600 EXTRA, THE MUSEUM NEEDED AN ADDITIONAL $32,000, AND A BIG THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT, NO HARM NO FOUL OR ISSUES, WE MOVED THE ROXIE BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE ARPA FUNDS. NOTHING THAT'S OCCURRED CAUSED THIS, I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE LEAVING THEM IN THE GENERAL FUND RATHER THAN KEEPING THEM IN THE ARPA FUND. PACED ON THE FINAL RULE, I CAN EASILY SUPPORT THAT WE COVERED THE SENIOR CENTER WITH THE ARPA FUNDS, BECAUSE THEY WERE A SHUTTER VENUE AS WELL AS BEING AN UNDERSERVED AND HIGHER RISK POPULATION OF PEOPLE. AND ALSO, WITH THE MUSEUM, WE FUND THE MUSEUM WITH HOTEL MOTEL TAX. WE HAD ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND HOTEL MOTEL TAX, AND THAT SUPPORTED LEAVING THEM THERE, I WAS MORE COMFORTABLE PUTTING THE ROXIE IN THE GENERAL FUND. WE TRANSFERRED $2.5 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE HEALTH FUND. WE'RE SELF INSURED FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, THIS IS HEALTH PHARMACY AND PHARMACY. OUR EXPENSES FOR HEALTH FUND IS INCREASING RAPIDLY. WEAR STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE PHARMACEUTICALS AS WELL AS THE MEDICAL CARE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES NEED. AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THE FUND BALANCE STRONGER AND PUT LESS IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEES, WE TRANSFERRED $2.5 MILLION FROM THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND. A LITTLE LATER WE'LL TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASES FOR THE PREMIUMS COMING IN '23.WITH THE CHANGES LISTED ABOVE, OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IS ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE $8.2 MILLION INSTEAD OF DECREASING $1.2 MILLION AS WE ORIGINALLY BUDGETED. AND AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY BECAUSE OF THAT CENSUS MONEY. SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FUND BALANCE, WHAT IT'S NOT, FUND BALANCE IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THE GENERAL FUND. AND IT SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR RECURRING EXPENSES. WHAT FUND BALANCE IS, IT'S A TRIED AND TESTED POLICY TO MAINTAIN 20% OF OUR FUND GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCIES THAT MAY ARISE. THE POLICY'S GOTTEN US THROUGH THE 100 YEAR FLOOD, THE DEVASTATING TORNADOS, AND ICE STORMS AND NOW THE PANDEMIC. IT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS AND AVAILABLE TO MITIGATE RISKS AGAINST MAJOR EVENTS FOR CITIZENS. WE'VE BEEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT REDUCING OUR FUND BALANCE BEST PRACTICES FROM THE GFOA WHICH IS OUR GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL OFFICE ASSOCIATION IS TO HAVE 3 MONTHS OF EXPENDITURES OR 20%. THREE MONTHS IS $36 MILLION, AND 20% IS $28.8 MILLION. THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THE 20%, IT'S BEEN TESTED, LIKE I SAID, AND IT'S EFFICIENT TO COVER ANY RISKS. THE RISK OF REDUCING OUR POLICY COULD CAUSE A CREDIT DOWN GRADE AND THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL INTEREST ON OUR BONDS. WE WERE JUST UPGRADED FROM FITCH IN THE LAST BOND ISSUANCE FROM THE DOUBLE A TO A DOUBLE A PLUS AND WE HAD 13 MARRIAGE INVESTORS BIDDING ON OUR BONDS AND THAT'S MORE THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE THIS YEAR. MANAGES OUR BUDGET BALANCE IT'S A DELICATE BALANCING ACT. WE DON'T WANT IT TOO HIGH, AND WE DON'T WANT TO TOO LOW BECAUSE THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO RESPOND TO THOSE EMERGENCIES. SO, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE, THE FIRST STEP OF PEEPING OUR BUDGET IS TO GET THAT NEWLY UPDATED ENDING FUND BALANCE. WE PROJECTED FJ 22 BALANCE AND WE SET ASIDE THE 20% REQUIREMENT TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AND WE COME UP WITH THE $11.5 MILLION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO
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APPROPRIATE FOR FUND BALANCE FOR A ONE-TIME EXPENSE ONLY AND WE ADD WHAT WE PROJECT ARE THE NEW REVENUES WHICH BRINGS US TO $144 MILLION IS AVAILABLE TO BE BUDGETED FOR FY 23. SO, A FEW MORE SIGNIFICANT HIGHLIGHTS, UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE FUND BALANCE PIECE AGAIN. SO, FY '22 WE AMENDED THE TRANSFER TO THE HEALTH FUND AGAIN TO THE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND. TO ENSURE THAT THE FUND IS HEALTHY AND SUFFICIENT. WE ALSO INCREASED THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS HEALTH CARE IN OUR FY '23 BUDGET BY $100 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH. AND THE CITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO INCUR THE COST FOR THE EMPLOYEES SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PASS THAT ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE EMPLOYEES.THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF CHANGES IN THE BUDGET BOOKS FROM THE TIME WE PUT THEM OUT INTEREST A FEW WEEKS AGO TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. AND I PRINTED YOU OUT THE PAGES AND YOU HAVE A PACKET IN FRONT OF YOU SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT CHANGED AND WE UPLOADED AN ADDITIONAL BUDGET BOOK TO YOUR I PADS ON THE BUDGET BOOKS. I'LL CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CHANGES. FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, EVERY YEAR THEY LET US KNOW WHAT THEY EXPECT IN ORDER TO GET OUR BUDGET APPROVED. AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY MADE A CHANGE IN HOW WE BUDGET, SINCE I'VE BEEN DOING LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS SINCE 2005, WE'VE DONE IT ON A CASH BASIS. THEY HAVE NOW DIRECTED ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE TO DO IT ONNEN A ACCRUAL BASIS. IT'S AN ACCOUNTING THING AND YOU'LL NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE LISTED ON THE BUDGET ORDINANCE. WE DID NOT INCREASE OR CHANGE THEIR BUDGETS, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENCE IN HOW IT GETS ACCOUNTED FOR SO IT LOOKS DIFFERENT. BUT THEY HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANYMORE MONEY. WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE BUDGET BOOKS, THE DETAILS BUDGET FOR THE SENIOR SEPTETER AND THE ROXIE BY ACCIDENT WERE NOT IN THERE. SO WE ADDED THOSE FOR YOU. WE ADDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LINKS OF LIBERTY MUSEUM, AND THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT LATER HAD EVENING AS WELL. AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE ADDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU. AND THAT'S INCLUDED THERE. AND, WE FINALIZED THE BUDGET ORDINANCES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON, SO WE'VE INCLUDED THOSE. AND I GAVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE ENTIRE CITY WIDE BUDGET SO THAT YOU COULD SEE THAT. THESE ARE IN YOUR BOOK, THEY'RE ON
LINE AND YOU HAVE COPIES IN FRONT OF YOU. >> SO, QUICKLY, THIS IS PICTURE OF THE ENTIRE CITY'S BUDGET. WHICH IS JUST OVER $685.7 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES ALL FUNDS OF THE CITY. ON THE GRAPH, EVERYTHING TO THE LEFT OF THE RED LINE IS ALMOST EXACTLY 50% ARE THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS. THE PIE PIECES PULLED OUT TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT, THOSE ARE THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS ALMOST 25%, THOSE ARE DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY, STREETS, PARKS AND SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS. THE OTHER% ON THE TOP RIGHT IS COME PRIZED OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS. OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS SERVES THE ALL
PORTS OF THE CITY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CE. >> SO, BEFORE YOU IS A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS COMBINED. WE HAVE $375 MILLION WORTH OF REVENUE AND $333 MILLION WORTH OF EXPENDITURES. SO, THIS YEAR, FY '23 WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT HOW TO IMPROVE PROCESSES OR HOW TO MAKE IT CLEARER. SO WE MADE A FEW CHANGES IN OUR BUDGETING. AND A LOT OF IT IS HOW WE BUDGET FOR SERVICES. SO, WHEN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES A SERVICE TO AN ENTERPRISE FUND, WE HAVE TO CHARGE THEM FOR IT JUST LIKE IF THEY PROVIDE A SERVICE TO US, THEY HAVE TO CHARGE US FOR IT. AND THERE ARE LAWS AROUND THIS, WE CAN NOT PROVIDE A BENEFIT FOR EACH OTHER WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THIS WE STARTED REDUCING THE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS PROVIDING THE SERVICE BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUND WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THE SERVICE. IT WAS A MINIMAL AMOUNT AND WE CALLED THEM CHARGEOUTS, BUT AS THEY'VE
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GOTTEN LARGER AND THE CITY'S GOTTEN LARGER, I FELT LIKE IT WASN'T GIVING A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO RUN THE DEPARTMENT. SO, THERE ARE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE CHARGE OUTS AND IT'S HR, PURCHASING, AND LEGAL ARE THE MAIN ONES WITH CHARGE OUTS. WHAT I DID IN THE BUDGET BOOKS, I'VE PROVIDED YOU AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON THERE TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE PRIOR YEAR'S BUDGET WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THE PRIOR YEAR'S EXPENSES IF WE DIDN'T HAVE CHARGE OUTS IN THERE AND THEN WHAT THEY ARE WITHOUT THE CHARGE OUTS THIS YEAR SO YOU COULD SEE ANY INCREASES OF THE BUDGET. AND I THINK IT GIVES YOU A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT IT COST TOSS RUN THAT DEPARTMENT. SIMILARLY, THE PARKING FUND WAS SET UP WHERE WE CHARGED A MANAGEMENT FEE TO THE PARKING FUND TO PAY THE GENERAL FUND FOR SERVICES. WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY OR HOW IT WAS SET UP THAT WAY, IT WAS SET UP MANY YEARS AGO AND WE FOUND IT WAS QUITE CONFUSING TO EVERYBODY THAT WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IT TO. WHY WERE THE PARKING EMPLOYEES SITTING IN THE FINANCE GENERAL FUND AND WE MOVED THEM TO BUILDING, FACILITY MAINTENANCE, WHY ARE THEY THERE WHEN THERE'S A PARKING FUND. IT'S ALL IN ONE FUND, THE EMPLOYEES ARE THERE, NOTHING CHANGES FOR THE EMPLOYEES, THEY'RE ACCOUNTED FOR IN A DIFFERENT PLACE. WITH THE PARKING I PROVIDED YOU AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON LIKE IF WE HAD DONE IT THE YEAR BEFORE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO THIS YEAR. AND ANOTHER BIG ONE WE STARTED WAS AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS. A COMMON ISSUE WITH ALL GOVERNMENTS, NOT JUST THIS CITY IS THAT WHEN BUDGET CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE, THE FIRST THING THEY LOOK TO IS CAPITAL OUTLAY AND IT'S THOSE VEHICLES AND HEY CUT THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN DEFER THE PURCHASES OF NEW VEHICLES, BUT WHAT THIS CAUSE SUNSHINE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO KEEP THEM RUNNING AND KEEP THEM GOING AND EVENTUALLY, WE'RE JUST HAVING TO SPEND MORE AND MORE MONEY. BACK IN 2013, BEFORE I GOT HERE, I THINK IT WAS 2012, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO ISSUE A CAPITAL OUTLAY NOTE TO BUY POLICE VEHICLES BECAUSE THEY HAD GOTTEN SO FAR BEHIND THAT WE HAD AN ISSUE OF DEBT TO PAY FOR ALL THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAD TO BUY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO, WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT BOAT AGAIN AND WE BEEN GOOD ABOUT KEEPING YOUR VEHICLES UP-TO-DATE, BUT WHAT IT DOES CAUSE WHEN TOUGH ALL OF THESE CAPITAL OUTLAY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGETS, IT MAKES THEIR BUDGETS PEEK AND VALLEY. SO, WHEN THEY NEED A LOT OF EQUIPMENT, THEIR BUDGETS TEND TO GO UP A LOT AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO APPROVE THAT BUDGET, YOU'RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN A TEPDEPARTMENT. AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH, THE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS DROP DOWN. SO, WE STARTED AN INTERNAL SERVICE VAPID THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO IN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THEY'RE GOING TO PAY A FIXED AMOUNT INTO IT. IT SHOULD STABILIZE THEIR OPERATING BUDGETS AND THE FUNDS WILL BE THERE. IT'S A MULTIYEAR FUND, SO THIS YEAR IS ONE OF THOSE FUND YEARS, WE'LL HAVE A MARRIAGE ROLLOVER OF EXPENDITURES BECAUSE OF THINGS NOT ARRIVING TIMELY BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, THAT WON'T HAPPEN IN THE REPLACEMENT FUND, IT'S A MULTIYEAR FUND AND THEY DON'T GO AWAY. ONE OF THE BIGGEST STICKING POINTS AND I'VE HEARD THIS FROM PROBABLY EVERY DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY GET A VEHICLE DAMAGE ADD AND THEY DIDN'T CAUSE THE DAMAGE, AND NOW THEY DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED, THEY CAN'T BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WASN'T BUDGETED, THEY HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURE FOR THAT. THIS FIXES THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THAT REIMBURSEMENT INTO THE REPLACEMENT FUND, AND THOSE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED. WE STARTED THE FUND WITH $1.2 MILLION. AND THIS $1.2 MILLION WAS FROM ONE OF OUR FEDERAL GRANTS, A VERY UNEXPECTEDLY, REIMBURSED US FOR A LITTLE OVER $1.2 MILLION FOR A PUBLIC SAFETY SALARIES AND BENEFITS. NOW, THAT'S JUST A SMIDGEN COMPARED TO WHAT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS US, BUT IT WAS $1.2 MILLION THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING TO RECEIVE. SO WE THOUGHT WHAT BETTER PLACE TO PUT THAT THAN TO SUPPLY THEM WITH VEHICLES THEY NEED. SO, THAT'S OUR STARTING BALANCE FOR THAT FUND. THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE GENERAL[00:20:03]
FUND, OUR REVENUE ARE PROJECTED TO BE $133.7 MILLION. WITH THE MAJORITY OF THOSE REVENUES COMING FROM TAXES. THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE ARE JUST OVER $144 MILLION, WITH NEARLY HALF OR $69.4 MILLION FOR POLICE AND FIRE, $17.4 MILLION FOR STREET DEPARTMENT AND $57.2 MILLION FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL EXPENDITURES WHICH INCLUDES PARKS, GOVERNMENT COURSES, BUILDING CODES, CITY COURTS, SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS AND DEBT SERVICE AND OTHER, INCLUDES TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND. THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR DEPARTMENTS ALONE IS ONLY $116.9 MILLION. THE OTHER $27.2 MILLION ARE THOSE OTHER TRANSFERS AND ENTITIES THAT WE FIND.>>> SO, YOU MAY ASK, HOW COULD WE SPEND MORE THAN WE COLLECT AND IS IT OKAY?
>> WELL, THE ANSWER IS YES. AND REMEMBER, THE DELICATE BALANCE THAT I MENTIONED ON THE FUND BALANCE SLIDE, THIS IS PART OF THAT. IF WE DON'T SPEND SOME OF OUR FUND BALANCE, WE'RE HOLDING TOO MUCH OF OUR CURRENT TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS. IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO SPEND FUND BALANCE ON RECURRING EXPENSES LIKE SALARIES OR BENEFITS OR OFFICE SUPPLIES. BUT, IT'S ACCEPTABLE AND ADVISABLE TO USE FUND BALANCE FOR ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES, WE'RE BUDGETING NEARLY $10.4 MILLION USE OF FUND BALANCE AND HERE'S A LIST OF THE EXACT ITEMS THAT WE PLAN SON SPENDING THAT ON AND IT TOTALS NEARLY $15 MILLION OF ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES. SO, A LITTLE MORE ABOUT OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES, OUR TAXES ARE OUR LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE WITH THE CITY FOR $81 MILLION, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL PROPERTY TAXES. THE CURRENT YEAR PROPERTY TAXES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE $43 MILLION WITH OUR LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX AS THE OTHER MARRIAGE SOURCE OF REVENUES WITHIN THE TAXES CATEGORY AND IT'S BUDGETED AROUND $25 MILLION. OTHER TAXES INCLUDE THE LIQUOR BY THE DRINK, BUSINESS LICENSES, PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES FROM OTHERS, OTHER THAN OUR OWN ENTITIES, FRANCHISE FEES AND HOTEL MOTEL TAXES. AND THEN THERE'S THE ENTER GOVERNMENTAL TEXT WHICH IS MOSTLY MADE UP OF THE STATE SHOWED REVENUE THAT IS I TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CENSUS THAT CALCULATES THOSE AND ALSO THE STATE STREET AID IS PART OF THAT, THE GAS TAX, THE TVA REPLACEMENT TAX, THERE'S LIQUOR, EXCISE AND GAS TAX, TOO. THIS YEAR, STATE REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TOTAL $26.9 MILLION FOR THE CITY. THIS SECTION IS WHERE WE ACCOUNT FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE. CHARGES FOR SERVICES THIS IS WHERE WE ACCOUNT FOR COURT COST STREET CUTS, CEMETERY FEES, ALSO, A PARKS AND REC, AND THE GOVERNMENT COURSE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR HERE. LICENSE AND PERMITS, YOU GUESSED IT, THIS IS WHERE BUILDING PERMITS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, PEDDLERS PERMITS AND (INAUDIBLE) LIKE LAST YEAR, A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAXES ATTRIBUTED TO THE TAX RATE INCREASE WE DID HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND FOR THE TRAFFIC 2020 PROJECTS AND WE DID THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
>> SO, HISTORY ABOUT THE PAY FOR OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS OUR EMPLOYEES. IF 2011 A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED THAT COST THE CITY $3 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A GENERAL WAGE INCREASE ANNUALLY IN AN ATTEMPT TO STAY UP WITH THE MARKET. IN 2017 WE CONDUCTED ANOTHER PAY STUDY WHICH COSTED OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLAR TO IMPLEMENT AND IN 2021 WE IMPLEMENTED A PUBLIC SAFETY STUDY THAT COSTED US JUST OVER $4 MILLION. MOST RECENTLY WE DID A MINI ANALYSIS TO BRING STARTING PAY FOR ALMOST ALL ENTRY LEVEL POSITION TOSS $15 AN HOUR. WE HAD MANY STARTING AT $10 AN HOUR, AND THIS COST US $1.5 MILLION. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CONDUCTING ANOTHER PAY STUDY OR A CLASS AND COMPENSATION STUDY, WE EAR-MARKED 5% OF ALL WAGES IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD OFFSET THE INCREASED COST NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PAY PLAN. WE'RE FINDING IT HARDER AND HARDER TO COMPETE IN THE MARKET, WE CAN NO LONGER HANG OUR HAT ON OUR BENEFITS ALONE. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE LOST REALLY GOOD EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR BUT ALSO TO SMALLER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WE'RE FIND TING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT
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TO GET QUALITY APPLICANTS TO HIRE AND WE'RE STRUGGLING TO RETAIN THEM. THERE IS A REAL COST TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR TURNOVER. SO, PAY IN OUR BUDGET ORDINANCE, I KNOW EMPLOYEES ARE USED TO A GENERAL WAGE INCREASE BEING IN OUR BUDGET, WE'RE WAITING ON THE RESULTS OF OUR CLASS AND COMPENSATION STUDY, WE'RE STILL HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL HAVE THEM BEFORE THE SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET. WITH EVERY PAY STUDY THERE'S A RECURRING COST AND A ONE-TIME COST TO CATCH US UP. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN AFFORD IT, THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED 5% INCREASE TO ALL DEPARTMENTS FOR THE WAGES IN THE BUDGET. AT THIS TIME WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE STUDY WILL COME BACK OR WHAT IT WILL COME BACK AT. IT COULD BE MORE THAN 5% OR LESS THAN 5%, BUT WE NEEDED TO PUT SOME KIND OF PLACE HOLDER IN THERE TO HAVE THAT PLAN. I HANDED OUT THOSE PAGES THAT WERE UPDATED IN THE BUDGET BOOKS AND I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE VERY FIRST PAPER ON THE TOP PAPERER CLIPPED TOGETHER. THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, ON THE LAST PAGE THERE'S A SECTION THAT'S LABELLED SECTION 15.I REALLY WANT Y'ALL TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT PARAGRAPH BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE CLASS COMPENSATION PLAN AND THAT'S WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE 5% BEING A PLACE HOLDER AND THAT WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THIS BUDGET THE CLASS AND COMP STUDY WILL COME BACK SOON AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO UPDATE THIS. BUT I WANT YOU TO ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING, WE'RE NOT APPROVING A DEFINITE GENERAL WAGE INCREASE AT THIS TIME. IN THIS BUDGET, WE HAVE 32 NEW POSITIONS, THEY'RE POSITIONS THAT WE NEED AND REALISTICALLY EXPECT TO FILL. FIRE HAS 15 NEW HIRES WHICH IS MADE UP OF 12 FIRE-FIGHTERS AND THREE CAPTAINS, THE POLICE HAVE 16 NEW HIRES AND MADE UP OF 12 OFFICERS AND FOUR SUPPORT POSITIONS INCLUDING ONE DISPATCHER, HRS NEW POSITION IS FOCUSED ON DIVERSITY,
EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. >>> SO, WHILE WE DO OUR BEST TO CONTROL OUR EXPENSES, THE COST TO PROVIDE SERVICES CONTINUES TO OUTPACE THE GROWTH OF OUR REVENUES, ON AVERAGE FROM 2016-2023, EXPENSES HAVE OUTPACED OUR REVENUES BY 6.14%. REMOVING THE OUTLIERS BRINGS THE AVERAGE DOWN TO 2.4%. THAT LARGE DIP IN 2023 AS CAUSED BY THE PAY INCREASES AND INCREASE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AS WELL AS THE NEW HIRES AND THE INCREASES IN SUPPLIES ACROSS THE BOARD. SO, TAKING THAT OUT, THE INCREASE IS ABOUT 2.41%. OUR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF ALL THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE ALL IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK.
THESE ARE MULTIYEAR FUNDS, SO YOU'LL SEE SOMETIMES THE EXPENDITURES ARE PROJECTED TO BE MORE THAN THE REVENUES AND THE PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THE COVID FUND IT LOOKS LIKE REVENUES ARE $4,000 AND WE PLAN ON SPENDING $8 MILLION. IT'S DUE TO THE WHEN THE EXPENSES OCCURRED. THEY'RE DONE ON A CASH BASIS. THIS YEAR, OUR BUDGETING TO GET THE REVENUE IN IN '21 IN '22, I DON'T KNOW THE YEAR WE'RE IN. IN '22 WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET THE SECOND TRANCHE OF COVID MONEY FROM ARPA BY THE END OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR AND THIS WILL BE $12.7 MILLION. >>> JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DEBT. THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEBT IS $131.4 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES THE $50 MILLION THAT WE JUST ISSUED LAST MONTH. THE TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUND DEBT IS $204000000.8 WE ISSUE DEBT PER DEBT PROJECTS SO THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE ASSET ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR IT. THIS IS CALLED GENERAL EQUITY.
ESPECIALLY IN CLARKSVILLE WITH US HAVING A TRANSSEEIENT COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT END UP PAYING THE ASSET MAY NOT LIVE IN CLARKSVILLE BY THE TIME WE BUILD THE ASSET. SO WE USE GENERATIONAL EQUITY. I KNOW $131.4 MILLION IS SOUNDS LIKE A LOT. THE TYPICAL BENCH MARK IS $209 MILLION PER CAPITA OF DEBT AND WE'RE WELL BELOW THAT. AND WE'RE BELOW WHAT THE OTHER TOP CITIES ARE. OUR DEBT FOR
[00:30:07]
THE GO BONDS ARE $780 PER CAPITA. AND WE'RE STILL. >> SO, COVID FUNDS, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD MANY POTS OF MONEY PROVIDED TO US TO HELP MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19. ARPA IS THE LATEST WITH THE ALLOCATION OF $25.5 MILLION. WE SIFTED THE FIRST TRANCHE LAST MAY AND I REQUESTED THE SECOND TRANCHE TWO WEEKS AGO. THE FIRST WAS TO BE USED FOR THE REVENUE LOSS, OUR SHUTTERED VENUES, FIRE STATIONS, SEWER REPAIRS AND PREMIUM PAY. PREMIUM PAY ALONE TOTALLED $12 MILLION ACROSS ALL (INAUDIBLE) THE STATE HIRED INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING TERMS TO ASSIST CITIES. WE ASKED ALL DEPARTMENT TOSS SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS AND WE HAD A MASSIVE LIST TOTALLING OVER $150 MILLION FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. FROM THIS LIST, EACH PROJECT WAS RATED BASED ON OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESTRICTION'S ABILITY TO COMPLETE WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME REQUIRED AND THE IMPACTS TO OUR CITIZENS. FROM THE LIST WE SUBMITTED THE PROJECTS TO THE STATE FOR JUSTIFICATION, WITH JUSTIFICATION TORE THEIR REVIEW. WE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT IN THEIR OPINION OUR PROJECTS WOULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING. THE ABOVE LISTED PROJECTS ARE THE ONES INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET TO BE FUNDED WITH ARPA FUNDS. AGAIN, PREMIUM PAY TOOK UP $12 MILLION OF THE $25 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED. OKAY. QUESTIONS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS THAT I CAN. >> MAYOR PITTS: ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. MATA?
>> COUNCILPERSON REYNOLDS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> I KNOW THAT WE DISCUSSED IT AT OUR MEETING BUT ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THE STUDY AND EQUALIZING THE PAY AT THE POLICE AND EVERYTHING, I MEAN, ARE WE GOING TO GET TO A POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHERE WE COULD JUST PERHAPS, INSTEAD OF PAYING FOR STUDIES, IMPLEMENT A PAY RAISE BASED ON A COST OF LIVING PAY RAISE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A STUDY AND PAY A
LOT OF MONEY EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS? >> SO, PROBABLY THE BEST PERSON TO ANSWER THAT IS WILL WYATT. WE CALLED IT A GENERAL RAISE INCREASE AND BY CITY CODE, OUR HR DIRECTOR IS REQUIRED TO CHECK THE MARKET AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, AND I'M SUPPOSED TO FIGURE OUT IF WE COULD AFFORD IT AND THEN COMBINED WE BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE MAYOR FOR POTENTIAL INCLUSION IN THE BUDGET. THAT'S OUR VERSION OF WHAT A COLA IS. WE JUST CALL IT A GENERAL
WAGE INCREASE. >> SO, DO WE STILL DO THAT? >> WE TYPICALLY DO. THIS YEAR, WE DID AND DIDN'T, BECAUSE WE FELT THAT WE WERE NEEDED MORE WITH THE COMP
STUDY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> YOUR WELCOME.
>> MAYOR PITTS: COUNCILPERSON ALLEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> SO, THE REASON WE'RE NOT DOING THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THIS ANALYSIS TO BRING US CLOSER TO WHERE THE MARKET TRULY IS
AT? >> YES, AND IT COULD BE MORE. YOU KNOW, WE PUT 5% IN THERE, IT COULD BE MORE THAN THAT WITH THE PAY STUDY THAT COMES BACK, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL KIND OF FEELING IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE HAVE IT IN TIME SO THAT WE GET IT QUICKLY FOR THE 1ST.
>> OKAY. AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS THE HEALTH CARE, I HEARD YOU SAY THAT WE HAD TO ADD $2.5 MILLION AND I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS EXCELLENT BENEFITS, IS THERE A LOOK IN THE FUTURE TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DO?
>> SO, YEAH, AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT AHEAD AND INCREASED THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE MAKE PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH AS WELL. AND I'M, YOU KNOW, TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOU, DENISE IS OUR EXPERT IN OUR HEALTH PLAN AND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW DENISE HAS BEEN TELLING ME, I NEED MORE MONEY, I NEED MORE MONEY, I NEED MORE MONEY. AND I'M LIKE, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU MORE MONEY, WE COULD ONLY GIVE YOU THIS MUCH AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GIVE HER WHAT SHE NEEDED. WE DID REALLY REALLY WELL, DURING THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T GO TO THE DOCTOR, SO, WE DID PRETTY WELL WITH OUR EXPENSES BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T GOING AND THEN EVERYBODY STARTED GOING AGAIN AND OUR EXPENSES ARE RISING DRASTICALLY. SO, TO TRY AND HELP THE FUND, AND I KNEE THAT DENISE IS OUR EXPERT AND I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN HER ABILITY TO
[00:35:02]
PROJECT THE COSTS. WE KNEW THAT WE COULD AFFORD THE $2.5 MILLION BECAUSE WE HAD EXCESS FUNDS THIS YEAR THAT WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON. AND WE LOOKED AT OUR BUDGET AND FIGURED WE COULD HANDLE ANOTHER $100 A MONTH TOWARDS WHAT WE ALREADY PAY FOR EMPLOYEES INTO THE HEALTH FUND. THE MAYOR AND I AND HR SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT TO AN EMPLOYEE, AND, IN THIS MARKET, WE REALLY JUST COULDN'T PASSTHAT ON TO THE EMPLOYEES, SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? >> SO, NONE OF THAT IS
BEING PASSED ON TO THE EMPLOYEE? >> NO.
>> AND DENISE ASKED FOR MORE, WE FELT LIKE WE CAN HANDLE THE $100 AND LET THE CITY ABSORB THAT COST AND NOTHING'S BEING PASSED TO THE EMPLOYEE.
>> MAYOR PITTS: THANK YOU, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MS. MATA. NEXT WE HAVE A BRIEFING ON THIS EXCITING PROJECT, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NEW, BUT AN EXCITING PROJECT, THE WINGS OF LIBERTY MUSEUM, AND THERE'S EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE.
GENERAL BRAUER YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO SPEND WITH YOU TODAY. AS THE MAYOR SAID THIS IS NOT A NEW PROJECT, THE WINGS OF LIBERTY PROJECT, BUT WHAT'S NEW IS THE NAME ASSOCIATED WITH IT, WHICH IS THE TENNESSEE WINGS OF LIBERTY PROJECT, THE STATE OF TENNESSEE PLACED $23 MILLION INTO THE STATE'S BUDGET AND THAT'S LED US TO CHANGE THE NAME TO REPRESENT THE COMMITMENT THAT THE STATE'S MADE AND CALL IT THE TENNESSEE WINGS OF LIBERTY MUSEUM. THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROJECT NOW, IS THERE'S A 33-ACRE SITE ON FORT CAMPBELL RIGHT NE INTERSECTION OF TINY TOWN ROAD AND ROAD A. THAT SITE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THIS BUILD AND IT'S THERE'S BEEN OVER $5.4 MILLION PLACED INTO THAT PREPARATION RIGHT NOW. THE BEAUTY OF THIS SITE IS THAT IT'S ADJACENT TO THE END OF THE FACILITY AND ONCE IT'S COMPLETED WE'LL HAVE A SECURITY FENCE ON THE BACK SIDE OF IT THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ACCESS INTO THIS MUSEUM WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH SECURITY ONTO FORT CAMPBELL. OBVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD CONSUME A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME IF YOU HAD A SCHOOL FIELD TRIP GOING ON TO GO THROUGH THE SECURITY THE ANNUAL VISITS COULD INCREASE FROM 35,000 UP TO $300,000 INDIVIDUALS. THAT'S BASED ON THE COORDINATIONS AND INTERACTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AT THE MILITARY MUSEUMS IN NEIGHBORING STATES. AND WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN'S SCIENCE MUSEUM IN NASHVILLE TO DETERMINE THAT. THAT INCREASE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL FOR US.
>> IT >> THE MUSEUM ITSELF IS DESIGNED, RIGHT NOW, THE BREATH MUSEUM ON FORT CAMPBELL HAS 6,000 SQUARE FEET OF DISPLAY SPACE. THE MUSEUM DESIGN ALREADY COMPLETED HAS 60,000 SQUARE FEET OF DISPLAY SPACE AVAILABLE TO TELL THE HISTORY OF OUR UNITS RIGHT NOW. ALSO, THERE'S BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT SO ENSURE THAT WE'RE INCLUDING THE THREE MAJOR COMBAT UNITS ON FORT CAMPBELL, THE SPECIAL FORCES GROUP AND THE 160 SPECIAL OPERATIONS REGIMEN AND WE FEEL THAT THE INCLUSION OF THE LAST TWO IS IN ADDITION AND TO FOCUS ON THOSE UNITS AND HAVING SERVED ON ONE OF THEM FOR CLOSE TO 10 YEARS IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THE MEMBERS OFTEN LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES AND OFTEN CHOOSE TO SEPARATE FROM THE SERVICE AND RETIRE RIGHT HERE, EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE. SO, WE DO BELIEVE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE UNITS, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE VIETNAM ERA AND FORWARD THAT'S NOT TO SHOW ANY DISRESPECT TO OUR WORLD WAR II VETERANS OR OUR KOREA ERA, IT'S JUST THE NUMBER OF THOSE VETERANS UNFORTUNATELY IS LOSING VETERANSS INCREASINGLY. THIS IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU GO AND LOOK AT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WAS HELD BY SOMEBODY, IT'S DESIGNED TO BE AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH BOEING, THE SPECIAL OPERATION'S AVIATION COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE -- (INAUDIBLE)
>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE ME. >> BUT, THE HELICOPTER FLOWN BY CW 5 DOUG ENGLAND
[00:40:10]
ON T ON THE BINLADEN RAID, AND FOR THAT TO BE AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE TO PLACE CHILDREN AND AMERICANS ON THE BACK OF THAT AIRCRAFT, TO HAVE THE VIBRATION AND THE SOUND THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT EXPERIENCE AND TO ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF HISTORY RIGHT THERE.>> GETTING BETTER AT THIS. >> NOW, THERE'S SEVERAL PURPOSES FOR THIS MUSE THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, ONE, IT IS TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THOSE THREE PRIMARY COMBAT FORMATIONS, THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS HONORED, EVEN JUST RECENTLY, SPEAKER JOHNSON MENTIONED OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES, HERE WE'RE RIGHT AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, HOW WE COULD HONOR OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES, OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY FROM BLANCHFIELD AND OTHER MEDICAL POSTS WE WILL HAVE THOSE POSTS THAT HONOR DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR MILITARY. WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR CURRENT SOLDIERS, THE MUSEUM PLACE A PART IN THAT TO HAVE THEM FEEL LIKE THEIR PART OF THOSE UNITS, OUR AMERICAN SONS AND DAUGHTERS SERVING, LET'S LET THEM UNDERSTAND THE LEGACY AND THE COMMUNITY IT TAKES TO HONOR THAT UNIT AND CARRY IT FORWARD AND WE WANT TO HONOR CITIZENS AS WELL. WE WANT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE'S, K-12 EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL BRING ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY\. JUST FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT DONE, WE BELIEVE THESE NUMBERS TO BE ACCURATE WHERE THE ONE-TIME CONSTRUCTION, RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES RIGHT HERE WILL BE IN EXCESS OF A HALF MILLION DOLLAR AND THAT ANNUAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT BASED ON THE VISITORS THAT WILL COME TO THE COMMUNITY, THE HOTEL TAX, VISITING RESTAURANTS, STAYING IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL GENERATE THAT TYPE OF REVENUE IN RETURN ON INVESTMENT RIGHT THERE. SO, THOSE ARE THE SLIDES THAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. AGAIN, I THINK THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE IS THE INVESTMENT THAT THE STATE'S MADE THAT'S PLACING ON IN A NEW ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO AND WE'RE FULLY COORDINATING WITH A FUNDRAISING TEAM TO BRING ABOUT THE REST OF THOSE DOLLARS WE ENVISION BREAKING GROUND IN THE SUMMER OF '23 WITH A TWO-YEAR CONSTRUCTION PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE US OPENING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF 2025. I FEEL VERY ENCOURAGED THAT THIS CAN BE SOMETHING THAT ADDS TO MAKING CLARKSVILLE A DESTINATION LOCATION FOR FOLKS VISITING HERE IN TENNESSEE. AND I'LL STOP THERE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ME, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME TONIGHT. >> MAYOR PITTS: THANK YOU, GENERAL. QUESTIONS?
COUNCILWOMAN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED >> SO PRATT GOES AWAY?
>> NO, PRATT WILL STAY, BUT WE WILL LIKE TO HAVE THAT AS A MAINTENANCE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL BE ABLE TO HANG ONTO IT BUT THIS WILL REPLACE PRATT.
>> OKAY. MY OTHER QUESTION IS ARE YOU WORKING WITH AUSTIN P THE MILITARY
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT? >> YES, WE ARE, WE HAVE A DOCTOR PART OF OUR TEAM ON THE EDUCATION EFFORTS THERE AS WELL AS SPEAKER SEARRY, WE INTEND ON BRINGING IN SIGNIFICANT FIGURES SUCH AS GENERALS AND OTHERS THAT HAVE LED CONFLICTS AND ARE IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY OF THE UNITS AS WELL AS RECORDING ORAL HISTORIES, DR. BROWER HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT IT RECORDING THOSE HISTORIES, TOO MUCH IS LOST. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY, I'M PARTLY TO BLAME AS WE WERE GOING ROTATION AFTER ROTATION, WE WEREN'T CAPTURING OUR HISTORY AS MUCH AS WE COULD HAVE BEEN.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH A COMMANDER THAT WAS PART OF THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN UKRAINE WHEN THEY WERE DEPLOYED IN EUROPE AND WHAT THEY DID TO ASSIST THE UKRAINIANS ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, IT'S AWE INSPIRING WHAT THEY DID TO ASSIST THE PEOPLE FIGHTING THAT FIGHT RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO CAPTURE THAT HISTORY
AND WE WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH AUSTIN P TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR PITTS: COUNCILPERSON SMITH, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GENERAL, THIS SOUNDS SO GREAT. I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE ANOTHER ENTITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND VISIT CLARKSVILLE TO MAKE US BETTER. WOULD IN HONOR ANY HISTORIC COMBAT GROUP THAT
[00:45:02]
FOUGHT IN VARIOUS WARS, LIKE CIVIL WARS OR THE BUFFALO SOLDIER ARE, OR ANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WARS I KNOW THAT YOU ARE HONORING THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'LL BE ANY HISTORY WITH REGARD TO THEAFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND SUCH. >> WE FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY UNITS BUT I THINK TELLING THE STORIES OF DIFFERENT CONFLICTS AND DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. OUR METAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND WE HAVE SEVERAL METAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS AND INCLUDING THEM IN THESE DISCUSSIONS I THINK JUST ADDS, RIGHT, TO THE DEPTH OF WHAT OUR MILITARY IS. IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST MELTING POTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CRCOUNTRY AND I KNOW THAT OUR FOUNDATION'S COMMITTED TO SHARING THOSE STORIES.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR PITTS: COUNCILPERSON STREETMAN YOU'RE RECOGNIZED Z THANK YOU, THANK YOU GENERAL, I APPRECIATE YOU GIVE US THIS PRESENTATION. I THINK THAT IS A GREAT THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I RECOGNIZE HOW INTEGRAL PART OF THE MILITARY IS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND KIND OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON SAID WHO LED THE PUSH FOR THIS ON THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS WOULD BE, SOMETHING FOR OUR NORTH CLARKSVILLE SIDE OF TOWN AS WELL. I THINK THEY ESTIMATED, I THINK NATIONAL TOURISM ESTIMATED ABOUT 300,000 TOURISTS COMING THROUGH THERE A YEAR, AND THAT'S JUST A HUGE ECONOMIC BOOM FOR US HERE IN CLARKSVILLE AND WHAT THAT COULD BENEFIT US AS WELL. SO, I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND EVERYBODY
THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED THIS THIS PROJECT. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM, I
APPRECIATE THAT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. ARE YOU AT LIBERTY AT THIS POINT IN THE PROJECT TO SHARE WITH US WHAT COME OTHER STAKE HOLDERS IN THE PROJECT, I KNOW THAT BEING ON THE CUSTOMS HOUSING MUSEUM BOARD, I LEARNED A TREMENDOUS IDEA OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HISTORICAL MUSEUMS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE PRATT MUSEUM, AND IT WAS PHENOMENAL TO SEE OLD ABE FLYING AROUND. I LIKE HIM. I WOULD FIGHT FOR HIM. ARE YOU AT LIBERTY AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME TO SHARE WITH US OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO TALK THIS PROJECT UP WITH WITHIN THE COMMUNITY?
>> I THINK, WE'VE BEEN TO THE CUSTOMS HOUSE, WE TALKED WITH THEM, HOW ARE THEY DOING. WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THOUGH LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS, WE DID THAT WITH FORT BRAGG AND BENNING, BUT AS FAR AS THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, I SPOKE TO THE ROTARY CLUB, I THINK THAT A STRONG PARTNER SHOULD BE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> AND MAY BE THAT WAS A BETTER QUESTION, WHO CAN WE LOOK OUT FOR TO SEND YOUR
WAY AS CITY COUNCIL. >> NO, I PERFECTLY, FINE. I THINK THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD BE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF MY LIST, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR CURRICULUMS AND WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING TO OUR CHILDREN AND MAKE SURE THAT'S INTEGRATED. AND THE OTHER PIECE IS WHEN WE CAN TIE DIFFERENT THINGS TOGETHER AND FIND SYNERGY. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THAT VETERAN PIECE. WE'RE HERE BECAUSE I DEPLOYED OFF OF FORT CAMPBELL SIX DIFFERENT TIMES AND MY FAMILY STAYED IN THIS COMMUNITY. THIS VILLAGE HELPED TO RAISE MY CHILDREN AND I'M IS ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, THAT'S WHY SCOTT AND JEN ARE STILL HERE, CREATING THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS VERY, VERY, IMPORTANT. WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, TODAY, APPROXIMATELY 24% OF SOLDIERS THAT TRANSITION OUT OF THE MILITARY ACROSS THE ARMY STAY CLOSE TO THEIR INSTALLATION. FORT CAMPBELL IS 31%. RIGHT, SO WE'RE HITTING BETTER THAN AVERAGE, RIGHT? BUT THERE'S ANOTHER 20% THAT WE BELIEF, IF MATCH.COM WORKS WELL, WE CONNECT THEM TO THE RIGHT
[00:50:05]
JOB AND SCENARIO, THEY'RE WILLING TO STAY HERE, BUT HAD THEY DON'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN, THEY HIT DEFAULT, AND GO BACK AND START AT ZERO, RIGHT, WHICH IS BACK HOME WHERE THEY'RE FROM IS PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE NEED FOR LABOR, THE BELIEVE THAT VETERANS, MILITARY MEMBERS TEND TO BE MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITY JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU ARE, I THINK KEEPING THEM HERE TO JOIN THAT LABOR FORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT THIS MUSEUM PROJECT HELPS WITH. AND IT SETS AN EXAMPLE FOR, RIGHT, THE COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO, ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR BUSINESS LEADERS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, THERE'S MORE MONEY THAT NEEDS TO BE RAISED FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT I THINK THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS ARE THE ONES THAT WILL SEE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THIS PROJECT. DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR?>> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR PITTS:
COUNSELPERSON REYNOLDS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. HOW
MUCH MORE DO YOU NEED TO RAISE? >> SO, THE NUMBER, SO, WITH THE ARMY, THEY WANT US TO HAVE 100% OF THE BUILD DOLLARS ON HAND, WHAT THEY DON'T WANT IS SOME PARTIAL CONSTRUCTION ON THE INSTALLATION. CURRENT ESTIMATES RIGHT NOW WITH INFLATION AND THE INCREASE OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS AND ALL, WE BELIEVE RIGHT NOW, THE ESTIMATES WHICH ARE CURRENT AS OF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IS BETWEEN 30-$35 MILLION RIGHT NOW. SO, WE'RE SITTING AT 20 WITH THE STATE, THAT WILL MEAN WE HAVE ANOTHER 10-$15 MILLION TO GO TOTAL.
>> OKAY. AND, UM, YOU SAID THAT THE RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE SURE OF BETWEEN BOTH MUSEUMS IS THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE HISTORY OF FORT CAMPBELL. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THE TRUE HISTORY, NOT JUST THE PRETTY HISTORY, BUT BOTH SIDES OF THE HISTORY THAT WE DON'T LOSE THAT WHEN WE TRANSITION, I HOPE THAT EITHER BRING IT OVER TO OUR
CITY MUSEUM BUT THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME. >> YES, MA'AM. I'M NOT SURE WHAT BOTH SIDES IS, NOT JUST THE PRETTY STUFF, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN, BUT, I MEAN I THINK TELLING THE STORY OF, THERE'S ALWAYS MULTIPLE --
>> WHOSE LAND GOT BOUGHT WHEN WE BUILT? >> GOT IT. YEAH. AND I DO THINK THAT TELLING THOSE STORES -- I MEAN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE LITTLE ROCK NINE. IT WAS SOLDIERS FROM THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION WHEN PRESIDENT EISENHOWER 20 OVER TO LITTLE ROCK, AND OUR PRESIDENT HAS HEARD FROM ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN AS A GROWN WOMAN SAY THAT WHEN SHE SAW THE SOLDIERS FROM 101ST, SHOW UP THAT THEY WERE LIKE GIANTS AND ANGELS AT THE SAME TIME. THAT'S PART OF THE HISTORY THAT I HOPE THAT WE COULD CAPTURE, THERE'S SOME UGLINESS IN THAT STORY LINE, BUT ALSO SOME BEAUTY. SO, MAY BE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT, THE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. >> MAYOR PITTS: THANK YOU, GENERAL VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOLKS, I APPRECIATE YOU. >> THAT COMPLETES OUR WORK SESSION, THE PURPOSE FOR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.