City Council Budget Workshop

Meeting notes - May 26, 2009

Kristen Wright, Jun 04, 09.

Tagged with government, city of houston, budget

City Council Budget Workshops
May 26, 2009, 1:30 pm

Houston Tomorrow publishes notes from public meetings to help local governments in their mission to provide transparency and to allow a greater pool of Houstonians to participate in important policy discussions. These notes are not official meeting minutes, nor do they record every agenda item.

Budget Workshop Opening Presentation

Michelle Mitchell, the Director of Houston’s Finance Department, proposed a 5 Year Scenario based on the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. She emphasized that this budget is “not the plan,” but the situation that Houston will face if the budget is not “managed” appropriately. She reassured the Council that the budget has always been “managed” effectively during the White Administration. (For an interesting spin on this discussion, read Charles Kuffner’s analysis of a Houston Chronicle article about the budget). Mitchell’s plan is in effect from 2010-2014, and covers legal mandates, staffing for new facilities, and contractual escalators.

Mitchell also explained that Electric Franchise Revenues will be 2.5 million dollars in FY 2010 because of Hurricane Ike. Also, the Department will offer a $25 million Metro reimbursement under the General Mobility Agreement (the same as in 2008). Mitchell also argued that compensation will increase as contracted pay increases.

The Finance Department would also like to decrease solid waste landfill fees by $2.5 million in 2010, $1 million in 2011, and $500,000 thereafter. In 2011, solid waste fees will be increased for Houstonians with higher incomes.

The Capital Improvement Plan will be maintained, along with ad valorem taxes for drainage improvements. The Department has also allotted $500,000 to support the 2010 Census.

Planning and Development

The Department of Planning and Development spent $25,000 on a machine that addresses and stamps their mail, thus eliminating a position in their office. There has also been a slight reduction in training for the department. However, the Department has added a part-time position for the Flexible Work Initiative.

The representative indicated that the Department has received $21,000 in request for matching grants, which is a smaller amount than usual. As a side note, current employees are working on process documentation.

The office has one employee who is a certified GIS trainer, and he has saved the Department $115,000, or $750-1350 per course. The GIS system (including the My City application) will eventually be made available to citizens online. Also, Planning and Development is actively involved in the administration of the 2010 Census.

There was also some debate about Mercury Drive (East Houston), and whether it should be removed from the Major Thoroughfare Plan.

Public Works and Engineering

The Public Works and Engineering Department is responsible for building and development codes, drinking water, and wastewater (among other responsibilities). They currently have 198 water, 82 wastewater, 46 storm, and 107 street and bridge projects in progress. The Department is developing plans for long-term drainage and the inspection of multi-family properties.

For FY 2010, 60 MGD of water will be delivered to the North, Central, and West regional water authorities. The Department also plans to maintain 15,850 lane miles of streets and 1,350 bridges. 8 bridges will be replaced. The total outstanding debt is $6 million.

Telephones will also be replaced with VOIP telephones, a bar code system will be implemented, and aging equipment will be replaced with equipment that is energy efficient. However, the Department’s primary emphasis is on consolidation, and they plan to open a central permit facility at 1002 Washington Avenue. Public Works and Engineering is one of the most outsourced departments in Houston, but is willing to bring projects back “in house” if it is more cost-efficient. The Department has saved $1.8 million per year by assuming responsibility for the Southeast Water Park.

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