great meeting and we are And the same pass City Council Finance and Budget Committee to order. We've got 2 presentations today be at 10 and the other will be at 1 o'clock. And so we will have a shirt recess. The first presentation that we have up today is from everyone's favorite department, city attorney's office and we have none other than our simple city attorney Lindsey all said in the house to present to us today, the city turned the city attorney offices. Budget. With that, feel ready to presentation ready. And the PRESIDENT Counselors are Thanks your time today. End here are size.
Follow your basic outline. With the exception we combined recent initiatives projects together to talk about updates So the executive summary just shows our divisions just want a fair. We are combining the ceo and the often have safety presentation today. Be doing the bulk of the free for that. A safety. But it is also here today. If you have really specific questions. About she might go to jump couple of things. Here's the mission values of the We want to highlight update that we need this year, which is adding equity to arise values. Equity has always been a baseline of everything that we do. But we felt especially given where we're at. In our community and
the world that we needed to add equity. And in specific. And so we incorporated excellence into the rest of our values and wanted to double down on our commitment to equity. Here's a city attorney organization charts. Again, this does include accident that safety. Here's the illness or chart. It's very high level. they are adding several new positions, which we'll talk about in more deaths. And if you have questions on that. For 2025, budget recap. The 23.1 million dollars that is Maine as well as the office safety Sale is about 14 million of that weekend. City safety make interest and that is all of our different types of funds and grants. We took a budget reduction of 300,000 that wanted for
this past year. We added the designation for the eso's program funding. So we actually have a line item in the budget for the frst time. The program has operated for about 7 years without its own budget. From nation of money that we gt in the city council as well as some grants that we had. That we don't know. We'll be renewed. So we wanted to make sure that that program continue to have an operating budget. We received 100,000 last year and then the ongoing operating budget will be $70,000. We also were able to shift last year. One victim witness coordinator friend are a victim witness unit that has been on crime victims service grant and several of those grants are ending as well. We have been for several years and that's another unit in our office that's by grants that
we want to make sure. Is able to continue statutorily required work. So update on recent initiatives. Esos was expanded last year. We have had a goal to keep expanding it. Every year we were able to increase referrals by 60% from 2023. 2024. Wanted to show the full year number. We don't have a a full year number from 2025. Yet, but we increased from 120 cases into the program in 2, 2000. I'm sorry, 202 cases in 2024. Wanted to include a quick reflection. Is like those I. We did also provide a whole document several of the reflections, they're just really fun to all of our participants in the most of do reflections as part of your work with the circles. So we always have those coming in they just show how much impact
this program has. We like this one a lot because It talks about the fact that this participants. Their experience was that this was as close to justice as they. Could get to in our type of system. They felt that that was just what justice was supposed to be. They didn't feel ashamed or diminish and they wanted this type of program to be a model for how people go through the justice system. We're really proud of that. That's what we want to see from people and be helped to keep expanding this for folks in community. Project, Peace updates. They launched a new pay system that's called after caught. And that's a case management system that some other cities using their gun violence reduction programs. It's a comprehensive case management system. And it's
really helped the team to organize their work, especially between the work of the project, peace focus in on us. And then the U.S. For folks the police department. We're also exploring additional public safety uses for that effort. The app as well. We do have a plan. Success story from loneliness and from project piece specifically that we wanted to share. We do have to get permission for these. So if you are interested in hearing more of we are collecting and we can show Of those as well. Jay is an individual began with project peace in 2024. And he was in the Red Wing Juvenile Center. He's worked with a life coach and he's been able to consistently attend the Saint Paul Secondary school. He earned enough credits to stay on
track for graduation. He's participating in the construction program gaining hands-on training skills and he's become more independent. These making progress towards achieving person professionals. And so this is somebody who was pulled out of the cycle of violence and is on the right track now to become successful to have skills for a job remain love it. The has making those types personal success. Stories happen the last couple years. This is the first time you really start publicly sharing those stories. So we'll continue to do that. And I've got a question for you. What are sort of the key differences Because there are obviously very key like vlue similarities like methodology similarities. But are the differences between those and project piece? Is it? Age? Is it what sort of the distinguishing factor between the So is a program for is a restorative jstice program.
That's an alternative to traditional prosecution. So it's a. It's diversionary pogram within criminal division in the same city attorney's office. So when a criminal case comes in from the police, we review it. And I it is a case that That, you know, can fit into the programmatic guidelines for each We then that ask aparticipant if they would like to do that instead of traditional court, they have to agree to that. And seek counsel for that. Before they enter into the program. So it's a completely different type of track. And that Office of neighborhood safeties Project piece is what's called gun violence intervention, Community violence
Intervention, Hybrid program. It tkes aspects of the gun violence intervention program. We use the model primarily from John although we also have worked a lot with research and works of Thomas Apt to run and gun violence interventions for New York he has a book that we has a model in it that we also keen to, you know, place into our hybrid model the community violence intervention piece of that is more working with on. People in the community and community organizations to help intervene with folks in the community that can act trusted messengers and help support people and pull people out of violence along with city officials. Do you have anything else to add all that sure.
Welcome good morning take out. So did not have plans on attending today, but was able to show up and this talk about the labor of love of the Office of Safety Project piece was started 3 3 years ago when we started to it is part of the as city attorney also said it's part of the gun violence reduction strategy that we have here for the city of Saint Paul. It is a work Operation aspires Sdpd Ramsey County Public Health and several based organizations. And so it's the strategy that we have been working with that has but down crime statistics and argan statistics that you see most of the time the police department talk about and they're not fatal gun unit. So it's a collaborative work between all of us that really have been driving down those numbers, which is in the
next slide. Send us your question. Comes present. Answers my question. We've got a full from has been not question more. So hopefully I can not. Also and that that that you hear director of key and then also I really appreciate the additional from the Office Neighborhood Safety Project. The site. And next as well the demographic. I think also just being able to hear a little bit more about both programs. I don't personally for me. I know you have to get permission for the success stories, but I think it's always I'm personally interested in and reading a little bit more about that. And especially the feedback that we came for, the knowing that I think the 2025 funding wasn't the first established
ongoing funding for the program itself. I just want uplift that work and then also say thank you for the response to my questions and being able to see really contributed both your turn danger but also like nba picks for a little bit more information about some of these programs that I think are really in many ways. Setting a tone for that. How the city response to some of pieces that I think would really eventually be in a space where it can help relieve to divert Future directions with the system for some of our neighbors. That only have maybe a more chance of re-entry. So I just appreciate that. Wanted to know that because it was something that I asked at the preceding that. So it's just great to see the questions. So thank you. If you want to The site is really great. Has a lot of information on
it. About the and we have a 33% reduction in gunshot victims, which is a huge and are really great. Our average age of victims remains pretty young about 25 in So are split folks in program about 50% of 50% adults. It's pretty evenly split. We have over 50 community interventions. We still have a majority of black folks that are coming through majority mail. And we have 6 it partnered apartments in the work. Our Murders by Have gone down significantly as well. And I think you're you're tracking that. We have 9 this year. And that is a significant production from previous years. And you can see that. The chart as well.
We also a focus that we are looking at Prevention o the prevention side. I'm looking at, you know, working with folks earlier and that commitment has really been built out by. Adding The new. Team members that are coming on. Life coach Gene. As well as case management folks that can really step and build out that those wrap-around services. And I think while you're moving to the next slide, the thing that I do really, really appreciate is seeing sort of what the case load it is. And I know for some folks, you know, if you think about case management and you know, 202 folks, 3 throws in 2024. Might seem like a small caseload. Given what we know about Lake
client management, but 202 is actually a huge undertaking of time and attention and investment in these folks. I think that's just really a statement of the success of the program is the level of intentionality provide to every single person is coming that program. And so, you know, at first blush, you might think, oh, that's quite a small number. But the amount of work that you are doing to take someone from someone who's cause harm to both restoring and healing themselves like a framework through our public safety committee and also that in turn feeling the person that they've harmed and being sort of a much more positively can tap someone who positively contributes to their community. So I just I really want to lift up that that case management, he says it is just so instrumental, but also as
is the bulk of this works. I just really, really appreciate seeing those numbers. Thank you. Council. Vice PRESIDENT Yeah, those numbers I just spoke about your from the project. Peace portion of of the team's work. But there is a crossover program that you MAY be thinking of, which is our gun violence. It's again. Reduction. Gun violence reduction. Alternative to traditional prosecution. Yes, yes, that has a defense company. Here's a project. Success story. And we wanted to share its a little bit I will read it out for please take a moment to read it. This is from a family member. Of the things that is has been really great about the work o the office and safety team. Is that they were not only with the individual that is involved in gun violence themselves, but also their family. And so that is part of
the work is ensuring that they have stability in in there community and they have stability in their home and a lot of times they MAY have siblings or other relatives that are also evolving and violence or things happening in the homes. Look at, you know what, what the cause? What are the shuns of that reality? What's you underline traumas happening if you know things like that. So that we can really assist somebody in not only changing their own past but have support sticky moving in a positive direction? This is really important as well. And I want call that out because sometimes it's it's not exactly clear like why are you helping a family member or why are you spending this time? A person who isn't the justice involved person
specifically? And this individual was also you can see out in the streets. Did not have all the direction and really, really benefited from the work with the life coach and considers a person to be a support in their life help them get on a path to get their ged. And he, you know, if you know, without under my life coach, I would just be another guy out on the streets trying to figure out his life and and so, you know, this is the real work that's happening. What this tax every day. This is a continuation of the recent initiative specifically to our projects. Onus has been working So as mentioned, they on board or 3 life coaches and those are specifically for the project. Peace Gvi cbi work. And they're working the group Violence Intervention,
folks. And the hosted 3 goals, not Campaigns in partnership face-to-face Academy. Also Saint Paul City School and use on board. Saint Paul Rec centers is hosting the final campaign. And that's going on right now. And those contest winners are going to be announced shortly I was trying to get them here today. But they're not announced yet. So. I I want give away any of the secret information at this point, but will you getting? I think 3 new shirts, right? So that's exciting. That are always really cool. And we'll be putting that information out so that folks can support these organizations. The money does go back to those organizations. They also piloted outreach with boots on the ground, community patrol and in partnership with Sdpd and they went to priority
locations threw one of the micro grants that the acc does. And they have also been hosting on U.S. Podcast, which I hope you had the opportunity to listen to. And they have partnered broadcast organization as well that can carry up to 150,000 listeners. So there are a lot of people that are listening to the work that's going on in Saint Paul. So there are other platforms are carrying that podcast. In addition to Saint Paul's platform. That's pretty safe. And this is just a little more on the 3 schools that have been working on the Ghost Guns campaign. I thought this is really fun. These are the shirts from the APRIL campaign that had been announced, unfortunately can't purchase them anymore. But if you're excited about the shirts, you'll be excited
about the new And we also have an update for data practices will be bringing in a centralized to handled out of practice requests will be housed a city attorney's office. We will have 3 Ft at this point that will directly support that work. One is a supervising attorney that will supervise folks hr law as well as the folks in data practices. And then the addition of to back to specialist which are on the proposed budget for this year. And we're working also building work flow with the council director of the city clerk yourselves otc. And folks from the mayor's office. Here's some brief information on the criminal backline know if you remember, that's an a r p funded.
Project as well. And that there are era peace funded. Attorneys and staff that are currently in the office that will be. Ending their time this year. You can see the backlog has come down quite a bit. We still have 250 cases that are in a backless status. The reason it is so hard to clear these backlogs is because the is is flowing at the same time this regular caseload work. And during covid, the those numbers went down significantly. But now they're back up to pre-covid numbers. So we have prosecutors taking a large amount of cases that is well over the recommended amount of cases for each individual prosecutor by the aba. So we're struggling with large case loans. In Twenty-twenty 6, your proposed changes as mentioned in the last item promote it, a senior attorney to supervise the attorney to build that
data practices group as well as supervise the church attorneys. We have to get back to specialists that are in the proposed budget. We're eliminating that has been host and the litigation division and we took an attrition adjustment as well for a total 265,007. 84. And we also took a reduction from the travel and training budget and get 9,752. And I want to ask production from their subcontractors budget of 154,000. For a total of 163 7.52. And this is a proposed change for reduction in staff that's happened in criminal division. These are issues that are funded by p and they are people be ending. 4.5 of those folks as the end of 2025, we're able to keep one attorney aarp status. And for him to 2026. And then victim. Witness coordinator
will also spending their time. And what the shifting to the victim that grant service on the victim witness Grant. So we'll be able to keep them for another year as well. And this is just a Deeper breakdown of that. Here's a budget summary on our spending. By fund. You'll see grants are taking a large reduction. And that's we are still applying for. Some grants we've been we've had several grants for several years probably won't renew. And you're also aware the federal government treatments but differently. So great, sir. To get. And then the 79% reduction in the coming of that project about the ending of their humanity and that of questions, are. Thank It comes PRESIDENT I
have a question just can you help me? Kind of further quantify just some of the work that. That has captured in Novak like Project. The victim, witness coordinator, the kind of roles that we're referring to and just the work that they would be helpful just to fully capture. hear the funding pieces of But like I don't actually know how that turns into the work that is being done. That wouldn't be done if we are able to find alternative funding sources in the future. Yeah. Thank you. Council emergency for that question. The work that is being done those for has concentrated largely on reducing that backlog. See, saw those numbers go from over. 3100 down to 250 cases. But they're still, you know, those 250 cases that are there. The
addition of those 5 attorneys has helped shift the caseload across the office as well. Weve has a huge problems over time really burdensome case loads for folks. The aba recommended caseload for prosecutors, about 400 cases. Our folks carry anywhere you like aywhere between. 5 to 600 cases and then it will shift to even more when these prosecutors believe certainly jus with Its numbers off the top of my head and we do have some numbers in here. In the end, they're specifically in the appendix, a breakdown of. You can see court appearances have gone up. The prosecutor court appearances have gone up for victim. Witness coordinators. And you can see individual
case loads and we listed both with showing with the aarp edition as well as what will happen to those case loads when those folks are no longer supporting us. And one of the things that has been done ancillary. Benefit being more right-sized and staffing with prosecutors has been that were able to focus more on the East Coast work, any building that that ufo's work is is not something that is requires we do it because we feel that it's important. Those diversion programs are kind of taken out of high for us and we think it's important. We we we are committed to that work but having supports to have attorneys going into court for these cases every day, which is are statutorily required work has allowed us to have other staff that is building
out the East Coast work and and so that has been a real ancillary benefit that you know, we're going to be. Struggling less figuring out how to. Keep the staff and we need to support those as well as staff cases. Yeah, I think as a follow-up, I one of the common things of this. But just like feel like that has been articulated from multiple presentations trying to capturing of the cost of doing business at the especially in the 2 that were here fom today. And there's a lot of work that goes into it with staffing. Does a lot the stuff, the numbers that we see that reflect the work that but the hours spent. Yeah. And so I just I would really encourage the conversations for next year to be proactive, especially with the city attorney's office around what the impacts that
we are seen and that because I know with the back to the current backlog piece like I'm glad that was able afford an opportunity to get kind of caught up with that. It does make me wonder about what happened when we didn't have for money to do so. Alleyway to just and then also just, you know, how do prevent from getting to a place? We have 3100 cases back live. The future for not be able to find And so I consider that a part of conversation. And so I say that I welcome that competition and the parents of the 2027 budget cycle knowing that be have this potential, I think plan ahead a little bit and this MAY not be like the you know, is that the shiny budget topic the kind of the fosters the headlines in different ways, but it's incredibly important. And so
just want echo that. Sure that that the kind raise whenever a little bit when I was kind of going through that and wondering what some of the work would be if that for the funding, if we are able to get funding. So just some pieces but wanted to quickly back to just to let you know like that. That is actually something that I. A slightly raises concerns to me, but also think that we can plan accordingly. And so there a few places that I see opportunities for that this is one area. And so hoping that we can have that. Continue those conversations as we head into 2026. And I welcome the feedback that you all there. Real-time numbers and stuff that you're seen knowing that the case law has pretty much stayed. Similar am and the amount of cases over the last couple years. So what appreciate just kind of whatever feedback comes from
their staff that are working on it or just like impacts to the apartment as money begins to run out. So we are aware of just the real cost of like what it would look like to continue the work that you're Thank you, house and for the for those words that support. Yeah, we are. Really concerned about it as well. Numbers that I was mentioning arm our start on Page 39 in next And then there a few different slides that show. Numbers there and and information on that. The cases where we're at. ship, other questions specifically on those numbers will will definitely be updating you and. Continue to let folks where it stands. And because we they are committed to doing individualized justice and ensuring that giving prosecutors the time they need to thoughtfully
review cases and and really, you know, work with folks in the right way. To get great outcome. So they need space to do that. And I appreciate your got question from Chair Yang. Thanks. Vice PRESIDENT. I have a couple of questions here. Thanks so much for your presentation today. And looking at the 2026 proposed changes slide. And I'm wondering if you can explain a bit more about what the data practices specialists will be doing and also why make the decision to funded the 2 additional positions for those 2 additional positions rather continuing some of those attorney positions office over other ones that were funded by a r p. So many inconsistencies
members. Thank you for your question. So the data for to specialist the data practice centralization was a priority for the mayor's office and shifting the work really from the work of departments are right now. The data practices done in a more decentralized way, kind of by department. There each department has person in the department wo is assigned to that work in. The data practices work, maybe their full job or it MAY be. And additional duty for a lot of people. I think a lot of the departments have their pa. I was doing that work. And so the mayor's office recognize that. We could, you know, have a streamlined system, better coordination to do we did some centralization of that work. Mst other cities have groups that do
data practices for the city that focus on that work all the time. So they have training, you know, and background and specifically working on the requests. And then also working with, you know, our city clerk as well in that in that process, of course. But at I would say for us in the process, it wasn't a question Prioritizing those specialists over our attorneys. We did request, you know that that we are able to keep actually for several budget years. We made requests and 2 to keep the folks that on aarp because of the reasons that we talked about just in terms of the case load and the effect of the work. the data for up to specialists were place to help
her rebuild that program. For this budget year in the conversations that we had with the mayor's office. And that's where we landed. I know year is a particularly difficult year. For a couple of reasons. So. And that's where we landed out of the process with the mayor's office bringing us to new positions in. And those are non attorney positions that. With the folks directly supporting the centralization of power. ok, thank you. I appreciate transformation. And I know that. The decrease that we see and the in proposed spending for 2026, it's really because of the. The aarp dollars getting access to their site. I know that you are always looking for ways you grants for physicians and just programming overall. They want to thank you for that and encourage all to keep doing
that, too. Because it is significant decrease that you see there. The the 2.8 million dollars. And then I have another question, I'd like to go to the slides about the sec goals. Nikon's camping trip. So just one thing that stuck out to is that. Yeah, Saint Paul Parks Recs that part of this. They're all one and same wondering, is this is this supposed to be Ward? One is the campaign. But as word one specific work we're not. And if it's not, and can you explain why it's so concentrated just in that area? Is that something you can talk to Thank you for the question. I can expand on that. These were the rec centers that had use that were interested in attending the use on boards represent all of the wars. So that second group represents
all of the awards and then Saint Paul City schools has a representation students from across all of the wards in the city. And so that is how those were selected. So I know that they show up in Ward one, but those were the rec centers that had young people that were interested in engaging with the program, not from lack of recruitment, our engagement with other boards, but those were the boards where young people were also more likely affected by gun violence. But we're also ready to engage with the work. And so we continue the recruitment through the sec, but also because we have circulars and a lot of other things that happening, we have use that don't necessarily live in a specific ward, but come to these rec centers because that's where there supporting front groups or locate it. I'm just so then pair fake
question for You are you saying then that there were no use? In other words, that from centers, in other words that were interested in being a part of this. Can you repeat cycle? Racks 100 used to attend rec centers. In other words, they showed no interest in being a part of this. I would say that the recruitment show that there was no one that where it's currently interested to have a cold hard in that space. But that recruitment is still happening and various wards and I would encourage you if you're interested in making sure that your word is represented to reach out to them, manager Jacobson and she can provide and you can help recruit young folks in your war to participate in that.
The program. Oay. I just asked comment to make on ai and bringing the bringing this up. Because for me like there, I I have an interest in making sure that. Programming that is funded by the city that the work is spread all and I'm hearing what you're seeing on directive. Lucky about the interest if the concentration being in Ward one here. But I just sound you know, other conversations, 75 even at the library board where? Even and not some of the one of our library programming for youth. That is what one focused and there many of us that the people who are like, hey, you know, we're really interested in bringing that to I wore, too. I think it was around when like the vehicles transporting transporting kids to the programming that was offered and what one. And is really important to spread out
the the over the program. Ian, yet there's even incidents is over and we're fi it that this is really recent where a youth carried a gun to school. You know, we it's so common for us to the hearing stories like that. And so definitely know that the interest is there. I know like get in. You know, you have to be a part of the sun if they would come in being done. I think that's really great. But I think we should have a larger conversations and be more strategic about how we can have the work, the more spread out knowing that there are other areas inner-city that have, you know, very deep disparities to and I just want to name the east side north and area areas being part of Thos. Counseling respectfully, should be noted that a lot of
our work does include other wards. Again as a comb city councils and stated a lot of that information. Those individuals don't like to be recognized in the work. And so it's very hard to come in front of the city council and put things for individuals that are prepared to have their name recognized in that space. But the young gentlemen that took gun to school, we are working with that family. So the work that on s is definitely represented outside of Ward. One and of the representation. But I would encourage you to engage a little bit more with Director Jacobson and the neighborhood Safe Neighborhood Safety Community Council and then therefore, you would be a little bit more clearly informed about the members that are in your board that participate and activities in
on us. And so it would Well coming to have a little bit more interaction from you, councilmember so that we come in, talk about individuals, you'll be more clearly informed about the individuals that participate in your ward. Also really shouldn't Haitians other rec center last night and saw some of the gbi programming stuff there. So and advertise. But again, it's like the the interest of the kiddos that are showing up to. I very interested in. Interested and appreciate the open invitation. We have Councilmember Coleman back to council member Johnson and I see Councilmember can respond overcome tough. This great. So Kuzma home. Thank you, MR. PRESIDENT Kim, thank you. City Attorney Wilson and thanks to its
presentation. It's very helpful. I just want come back quickly start bounce around, but that the data practices specialists curious about. That strikes me that I see a lot of value in and centralizing that that operation in history might expect to see significant savings either in terms of staff resources that are currently more difficult come court because their cost apartments also potentially in terms of revenue saving for the city. If we think that for standardized operations. Well, that litigation as a result of Thanksgiving through the cracks around I'm just curious if there's been any attempt quantify that or any reflections, I You know, I don't expect that will recoup those costs directly. But where we might see it tangible value in other ways as a result of consolidating that worked. Thanks some of the
question. Yes, I would anticipate that that's the case. That's one of the reasons that we're looking at the centralization of it. I don't know that we have historical data How many are spent IPOs on across the departments gathering information. Because it has been to centralize that way. We we have done some preliminary work. I know that one of my deputies or flowers as well as the hr department. initial work you know, thinking about the idea of centralizing and what that work would entail. We had recommended a few more staff than were initially getting. I do anticipate that we'll see, you know, the need for additional staff because data
practice requests have continued to increase jst in volume as well as a number. So that that accounts for, you know, like just trend line that's going up for people's time and attention. To to these requests and having folks that do the work all of the time media, you know, a closer or needed system between the functionalities of otc. So how we can pull down and data is stored. I think also something you know, can be closer for needed. There is a an otc staff member is pretty much been dedicated to data practices throughout the city and this would be a way for that person then to support
into this team rather than taking. You know, directions from 14 different points of contacting all those different departments. So we expect to see some streamlining the network as well. And we continue to work with otc on. Kind centralizing where the data is held and how it's held so that easier to pole and then it is. Councilmember Johnson. I guess my question is related actually to council meeting. The follow-up and the Friends of Prevent Gun Violence Prevention. I was just curious and wondering if were working with at all Hokies connects and there's their safe streets. Save lives, keep it in any Just more of curiosity of other avenues for potential
partnership I know some of folks are pretty involved on the side particular. So. Just was more curious if that was any sort of I reached a then record a nation that way. Thank you. Councilmember down some council members see as we continue to work with Youth Connect and they are engaged with. We help them secure grant that grant because they community-based indicators work with Harvard. And so we help support application to that. And we continue to work with them. Currently working and they're presenting with us with Beer Institute next week. And so our continued work with Williams connected, engaging with those young folks and then as well as several of those folks with life coaches and work that they do from probation. So we continue a very strong relationship with World Youth covid go World Youth, Connect as well Urban village. And so they do a lot
of work on that ed of of the ward. Again, like a set up. A lot of them don't want that recognition because they are trying to protect that glorify the work that they're doing with young folks that in places of struggle right now. And so we really try to recognize who and what we talk about in the public eye because as they transition into individuals later on down the line. We don't want somebody enable Google them and Google this presentation and see that information. So we're very particular and making sure that when we engage until stories that it just makes a lot of sense. But what we're doing it very intentional.
And just have a quick out Councilmember Johnson's earlier point around staffing. So I am really bad at math. But just based on first flush based on the excess, the excess caseload and the number of cases the east lay should have. That math. It appears the 12 more lawyers to be at more manageable kmc knots and not that bad at math. It was kind of tax can yo do this mandate in his tech? But it's to say that, you know, a we think about again, what is that just the cost doing business like we? That is that is a number that I'm interested in. That is. I don't I don't think any department would find that any department director would find that acceptable to be. 12 staff shortcut in the case so that they're working on. And I think we see that across the city for varying certain services that we're providing. But as one lift that upper
really appreciative that point. And I thought, well, how many lures with that? The and I came up with no less than 12. We will hand it back to you. And I think I mean, we're still doing really great on time. So we'll just keep having patients as tey come. yes, please, had a question before we get too far. But first of JUNE, the so happy to see you on track to Blakey. Thank you so much for your commitment. Your dedication to building this foundation of the sport. I three-pronged questions really an ashes to, you know, just get a refresher. I also will be following up with questions. If there's more of the detail. But the 3 questions is based off like staffing and capacity. Just getting an update because I remember last year we talked committed to creating unite
union. The eis positions. And I know that had took wow. So just curious around, if we have if you have met the fully goals and also just any impact program delivery. And in my second questions around, like funding with the impact in a reduction of federal funding. What does that mean? Mike? Was the impacting current services? Are we going to see, you know, potential cuts in services and my last question is, you know, connected to the second question was just like, what is the plan? The strategic plan for 2026? Just with the adjustments and specially with. We're seeing like temporary like the library and the corridor way. There's going to be a lot of need just, you know, wondering around what is the strategic
plan for 2026, especially you the challenges of of the deep productions. Every seeing in this budget. Thank you, councilmember early for your question. Has been consumers Can I just clarify, are you asking about seal across the board or specifically regard to Yeah, think my colleagues really covered some of the questions, but I'm just particularly around like Oval Office and safety students for peoples probably to that. Counsel counsel present Councilmember blieve that is a real in-depth question that I think we don't have a lot of time too going down. And so I think a follow-up would be more appropriate answer all of those questions and we can share on a strategic plan.
Located on our website. And so you can look at what the strategic plan for those are as far as funding and funding gaps go as you see, there is $154,000 reduction to so subcontractors that the office we'll be absorbing in cut and just as we said, the price of doing business more and more expensive. The need will definitely outweigh the capacity that the Office Neighborhood Safety has to do the work as well as the steep cuts in federal funding, as well as our position as a city to support the residents equitable way makes ineligible for several potential federal grants. And so we're looking at how do we navigate that
arena and making sure that we can provide the services that we have done before. We are leaning into our county partners as social service and human services work. That is where that lies. The city hs jumped in and done those things because we've seen a gap on us as fill that gap to the best of their ability with the capacity and staffing that we have. We are reaching our staffing Korda based on the dollars that we have 2 arpa that we re allocated. And so we have if you see in the slide, I think it's a couple more slides over a little talk about the vacancies and the the filling of those things. We are still looking to bring on 3 additional lfe coaches.
4 familiar faces as well. That looks at the whole cross section of the ecosystem. So not only gun violence, which isn't project peace, but also familiar faces, which is also housed in one s which is housed in Cao. So as we continue to look at what that is across the board, we are onboarding individuals in that space. As far as being able to provide the services to te level that we have in past. Yes, it will be a strain. No, we don't have funds. Yes, we are looking at how do we diversify the funding platforms? But as we're talking about cuts and things like that, yes, there will be cuts that will happen and it will impact the city about capacity just as we talked about the number of case loads of individuals that we have
and Cao doing that work. And we're talking about the human work. I think and average caseload should be 12 to 15 and roughly our life coaches have about 25 to 30 that there are working with in managing that are deep rooted in trauma. And so it's not only the individual but the family as a whole and then how they show up in our schools, parks, libraries also have an effect. So when you talk about the relocation of the library and the things that are happening corridors, not only te university corridor, but our Marilyn Street corridor, the impacts of all of those different things says addressing we have Kris Michaels who has a staff of 3 that has just killing it as
far as I can say and doing the work with our unsheltered and our folks experiencing mental health and chemical dependency. Life coaches have been balancing showing up at hospitals, rec centers, libraries and other places to provide support support. Not only to our staff but to families and other folks in the community that are experiencing the quality of life issues that we're seeing. So there's just a lot of work that still needs to be done. But I think requires a further conversation and I'm pretty sure that city attorney also been individuals and my staff. One side, the part will be able to provide you with some of that additional information. Yu can provide them with some pointed questions and email that would
be great. Expected be Kuzma. Really? I I'm happy to follow up with If you have additional questions on any of that. I also want to know along that same line, you know, the federal grant landscape has changed quite significantly. And in specific supports from o j p which used to fund significant grants for programs like Gvi cbi that really have a lot of data behind them for success. Not only in Saint Paul, but in many cities and that work has just almost completely gone away from the federal level. They're just not they're not funding the work. They're not supporting the work. So that is a direct impact that the city is going to feel because we had been in the past receiving a lot of support in training and in grants through
the White House through a gp and, you know, supporting the great results that we've got. So far. The team across the city is tracking where grants are at a lot of languages being inserted into those grant. Applications that we find to be illegal to strip illegal. Unconstitutional in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. The city has filed 2 lawsuits so far with a coalition of other cties that ae currently in process. We have injunctions on 2 of them allowing us to proceed and applying for grants for various departments across the city and we expect to file additional suits and the not too distant future. So we're really tracking a lot of those effects not only and asked and
the work that they do and the support that comes through there, but also to other departments across the city for just, you know, fighting for the money that's due to our communities. So this side here and because budget to actuals historically. to the general fund and the first slide you can see from 2021 forward. We normally had a bit over That's pretty standard. Historically. We do kind of run a tight ship here. We try to be very responsible with public dollars and just keep doing more with less. And with the exception of 2024, we did. As you are aware, raises across the board for attorney
salaries. That Burkett. The shifts and really helped with retention and recruitment. in 2025. You see a big percentage left. That variance just just due to the fact that most of that those dollars are salary dollars and French dollars. And so they'll continue to come out. This is as SEPTEMBER. So we still a lot of money going out the door there will will end up. You know, somewhere in that in that same percentage rate at the end of the year or less. Here every And tis is the budget to actual general fund for o n Sand the officer did in 2022. So that's why you see it only back to 2022. And the original variance there is positions that have we've been trying to hire. We're the a lot of these positions are new to the city and we've heard
this before. But they've challenging to hire to find the right background. The right experience with the right individuals to fill those positions. So some of them we've had to build from scratch with with hr their new classifications as well. So a lot of that work is kind of behind the scenes work that has pushed out the timeline on our ability to hire. We've also shifted from the general due to the budget this year in specific money into special funds that coming out of general fund accounts. So that is that's the variants that you see this year. Has to do with some of that kind looking at, you know, how are we supporting the budget freeze and you know, trying for the city that this
requests U.S.. This is our fte summary and we've spent a lot of time talking about some already and want to spend 2 mission here in this. You have specific questions. And, you again reduction on the 5.5 and that is a criminal back on project. And that represents the prosecutors there. The the grants a does have a change for f to use as well. They've been hiring the life coaches and some of the folks life which is correct. Yes. And this is and each owner, personal budget can just it's a breakout we have the salaries and wages versus benefits and then attrition number, which reflects so quick, they can seize that happen And then the same us here. You'll notice. You know, a large shift in the onus
grants. Fund numbers. That is because the grants are decreasing as well folks. You know, we've shifted some folks office grants, but there are still several on a staff there. Also. Grant fund it or not in a true fte status. Which is something will come up again before this body in and future budget years. As we look at, you know, how we commit to this really successful work. Here's your current financial positions. And we have a senior attorney position. That isn't criminal. We've asked to fill these positions with the administration in the war on hiring freeze. We had a pet. We had a retirement as we've talked about, the prosecutor numbers are are low for the work and so filling that position, especially considering we're out with the those is really, really important so that we can
continue all the work there. And the supervising attorney is in the Civil Division. That's the position that will be Be running The work for death taxes. And then the 2 specialist would be the new ad. And so those vacancies the approval of those 2 positions. Unfilled positions. And when I say no, that I think Councilmember Johnson had a question about some specifics on these vacancies. We will be following up with you as well to make sure their questions are answered. That. 3 that are vacant 3 different classifications are project manager for g I outreach specialists for Project piece as well as life coaches and those have been in process of hiring. They've
done interviews. They have several officers out. So we're hopeful that those positions will be able to filled up patiently us. I have follow from I want go into that. But I think just for context pieces I know like the thus the the different positions that were established to the Office of Neighborhood Safety have then taking a little bit longer when it comes to setting up through the teacher process and all the things we feel like. That's like the presidents because I don't want. Is that like the setup piece is taking the longest or do we kind of for see some of those continued like challenges? If we are to able to get additional funding for more staff in the future, like is this kind of like since we're doing this for the first time? But afterwards, it will be a little bit more easier. Where do we kind of for see
just like it? Continuing to take a little more time through that traditional. Brackettville press. Thanks continue for Johnson to that question. Council members. A lot of that has been I think initial growing pains for building the work in this work is different than anything the city's done in the past. And so work last patients that we need a bill that really want. And in any other department that had been contemplated previously. And that that is a process that. You know, you're probably familiar with takes a while. Just in terms of looking at where the classifications go and doing the research working with unions and things like that. I think we've, you know, in recall up to you to see if there's any additional classification that we would need to add. That's not
reflected. But the life coaches now reach specialist. I think that's been a bit of a heavy less just kind of. To get to a place where these folks are being recognized for the level of complexity of the work that they do. In an appropriate salary band and an appropriate prosecution that. You know, I'm going through like does do we have something that matches this or is this different and getting to an understanding on on where that is? I think as the work continues to build out, they'll be a deeper understanding of that going forward. We're hopeful that that will be the case. But those have been, too. And I think the sticking points. As well as kind of building out what management of project piece is and what what positions are needed and and again, you know, have a case most folks. You want to just a yet, Councilmember Johnson, only positions that are left. Our mental health and behavioral health. Folks that
we will be hiring for familiar faces. And again, as City City attorney also said these are not positions that are readily available in the city. So they have to be designed to make sure that. We're getting the appropriate certification levels that we need for some of the rougher, a working peace is that we have sound necessary as well. The other sticking point that have found is also making sure that we're hiring people that have lived experience and going through that We have individuals that yes have had previous criminal backgrounds or other types social determinants that make it very difficult do a traditional civil service hearing process. And so the city and been committed to making sure that we hire residents from Saint Paul. That representative of the
work that we do. And so it has taken just a little bit more time, but I think thought and careful this and planning has been put into it. And so it's kind of course, the the growing pain and just making sure that we're giving people livable wages for the work that we do. A lot of the individuals in the work that doing a very similar to those that we find in our police department and trying to make we. Equate the the work that they do to the same work that some of our officers are doing as well as super important and talking with the chief and things like that. They he finds value in that as well because it brings legitimacy and long-term sustainability for the office together. And so it's worth the growing pains that has been a lot of growing pains in that sense. But I think once we get it also defied that it won't be a continuing. Think so. We will
gladly take all of the funding and money that you give us to fill those positions will be able to fill them once have the funds to do that. I think also just some of the uncertainty of where city, you know, people hear about hiring freezes and things like that. And so they're just looking for some stability. And so we want to make sure that if we're bringing people in to do this work, that we have the support and the right pay pay that they deserve to to do this work. Thanks. Thank you. New at that little bit time here. So move into the appendix. And we have a few more additional sides. This to their their day-to-day work that they're doing updates on. What's happening with the partnership with expired building up the case management support. We talked about. Building out a different mechanism. They continue to partner closely with sps as well as Ramsey
Juvenile probation. Implementing the new case management system as well. Here's a slide on client demographics. I spoke a little bit about this earlier just in terms of the clientele that is coming in us. You can see a large percentage. Of faces black or African American and sent that plant age. We have almost an even split more juveniles adults as well as more meals than fuels. Here's the outputs in terms what folks are achieved. Mobility is been a huge one. As you can see. But the folks continue to work with all aspects of stability community engagement education. And family life. So we're truly doing a background. Process and the interactions you see are pretty high here.
5.21. And that's just plain contacts working with folks and 250 total hours along with 47 testimony stations in in the For familiar faces. And this is the work that Christine Michael's leads. She is working with a charter group of unsheltered residents who are most frequent folks that we see within the community have frequent interactions paramedics, police or in our justice system. These folks also coordinating closely. And and you MAY have seen a recent article. That talked about the partnership between your faces and the police department. In that work as well as working with Dsi. And Saint Paul Fire. They have hired 2 additional outreach - specialists that are coming on board still working on best practices to integrate into court and a system for community first public safety.
That would. Build out the capability of familiar faces as well provide his support for, you know, the homeless work that the city's been engaged in for these past years. And here's the outfits. You can see how busy for us has been. She's got 343 individuals outreach since SEPTEMBER 2024. And she has slow to build staff. She has a couple folks know that a lot of that is just for So the work that you're looking at middle of the night work. It's 20 for work. It's we can work. It's holiday that's what you've got like. Us are free to end. You know, it's very similar to the work our other first responders if you know, we should be considering are folks that are on the front
lines of gun violence reduction and homeless are each t be first responders as well. In terms of, you know, coming to difficult, stressful, tragic events that happened for folks in our community. And that will take some time for doing that. It work. Her interactions are at 95 supposed 1000 individual honor think about, you know what's happening where that puts her on a daily basis around the city. And she's working 25 active folks 23 individuals housed. true. Those efforts just the short she has been I Israel's and if you I'm really interested in hearing about the community neighborhood Safety Community Council. But I think at that
point we'll questions after forward just like keep on your role can to finish on the familiar faces. And then if we can get to the Neighborhood Community Council Neighborhood Safety Committee counsels like that would be Absolutely. Thank Yeah, I do want to share the success story again. You know, we have many success stories many these folks, don't want their stories shared publicly. But this one is a particularly heartwarming one to that. We were able to share individual and his brother were both house through familiar faces and they sent this communication frward to to the team to just say how much it had to use their lives. They were. You know,
unsheltered and moved from an encampment that unsafe and they were able to be housed and this individual has been stable in housing. And you can see are his words that. We're both here sfely because of your thank you from the bottom knots. That's what every you know, every interaction or if I can lead to. Housing folks at the streets in our community. And so that's that's just really important work that's done every day. And that team. And then it safety Community Council Lenny Jacobsen friends that work with a 15 member group that selected through the leadership of the city and represents all of the words across the city. they have been great work. They have some fruit grants.
And I think a list on the next slide and they have an open application and grants, right that. Goes t the end of this week. And know there's been encouragement put forward any organizations that might meet the criteria that maybe you're aware of o. just publicize this great opportunity for folks to be involved in. The gun violence reduction work community safety work across the city. put in their grant proposals. These are some of the things that they have been working on had a slide earlier as well about. A lot of things that they have done with some of Arab peace funding that had been provided. They've done 9 meetings today as a council and they have ben involved a safe summer nights as well. They've done a listening session. And that happened last year at the unity, a library. And there was a
report that came out about the work there some of the conversation that happened this community and that space. They've also had discussions and done research on zoning work with the library's in that space is as well as goals. Not. goal is not done work. And the podcast. So here are the 3, 3 current contracts that Coming to an end at the end of 2025. Or beginning of 2026. These are. 3 of contractors that they've been working with boots on the ground. Morning. They've done the onus podcast and unable to help us put that out. Hired organization youth gun violence prevention events. And served almost 200 participants. Youth participants across the city. And they signed safe commitments as well and work with us on gun safety. thank looks like we've got
a question for from vice PRESIDENT At. Thank you so To turn ios and I have a questions particularly around on. It was like the 52 signed gun commitments can use playing little bit more. What that means. Sure. I'll have come Give you some of the details of that work. Thank you. Councilmembers councilmember commitment is basically a commitment to that carry a weapon on their persons. These are use that have made a pledge is kind of the same as you see in there to stay. Drug-free. It is pretty much a signature from young folks that have participated in their program where they have vowed to not carry weapons. a quick follow-up. So yes, with the youth who have made this commitment, I think that's a really profound.
Are these have asked formally had possession of a of a gun. Ae these just you just in general? I'm just wondering in terms of it's a combination it's a combination. That they're young folks that we have gotten refer to us from various different organizations and have worked with hired in in various different spaces. And so they have listened to some of the work that world is connect has done that. Charlie Adams has done that. Some of the work got I'm gonna Let's represent its. Not going to say it, but another organization that engage with the young people. And so with that, they put that pledge together to really
to stay gun-free. Thank Teacher goes beyond the scope of the presentation today so it might be more appropriate for Just want to ask about showing Immigration legal Defense Fund with the county. And if that's something that city attorney office resources either in terms of time or direct financial investment are going to and what if so, what that might look like for 2026 as we experience fully expect to be more different. Haitians more need for that fund. Sure. Thank you can looking for that question I can absolutely fly you. You've had a chance to meet to the in their office, he does. And then to the director producers for And is actually only funded by the city at this point in that funding ran out the end of
this month. Saying at the county hasn't hasn't joints did that for a couple of years. If again, is a joint program with some funding from fear as well. And over the years that the funding shame to just changed and the council recommitted to that we're going mayor's office the last couple of years and it just didn't make it didn't make the top line this year. And so so, yeah, the work that's defense will. You know, we we will be continuing and you might mean, how how much we put into that for this year. And have to get back to you on that. I don't recall. I don't think there was a new. Not sure that there was a new put forward last year. We're not. I will check on that. I know that we've had
funding that rolled over. Make sure that you get a direct answer that thank Had just a comment I want to make and I really appreciate Councilmember coming for bringing that out. I I agree that the need for that tickets we needed even compared to yours before, especially with this really horrendous Trump administration. We know that deportations are happening all across our city and that people. They have been taken Ward 5 recently. That really just traumatizing. And there many neighbors who witnessed that as well and elected officials. And I'm glad that they were there to speak up also defend the people who taken the team But I I would be I would appreciate if the numbers to kick it shared and also if we can get know, lke some sort of report back on
how program has. But basically any any sort of like end of sort of end of year results that could be 2. I would be really interested in figuring out how we can to numbers a bit to provide continue fighting for that next year. I will that for sure. Thank you. Come know. Just one last thing, it would be helpful to hear from the cty attorney's office. What would be a meaningful amount to for next year if the council were to support funding it? Ok, thank Shouldn't be able get that too. didn't see any other questions. So I just really appreciate the time. I think I'm just going use a few moments, too. Embarrass are now exiting Director Blakey. I just I said this to write for the meeting started. And, you know, of course, encourage my colleagues to join in on the fun. But I saw a former city staff member and director when you your Listen, I had the
opportunity tell last night as well. But it's not often that you get to be the first to start a department in a city in a certainly a city like Saint Paul. It's not everyday that you get to establish legacy programs that have just a positive ripple effect to my neighborhood neighborhoods like mine, the ones I represent. And even though we haven't had a ton of time to get to know each other, I can absolutely tell you for certain that the programs that you're and stood up. And now will you know, I'm I'm hoping and I believe to be the goal to serve the pillar programs of o n s. My constituents feel it and they know and they see it. And so I just really have such a deep gratitude for your work.
It's this quiet. But steadfast commitment values that are really hard sometimes to implement indyk systems and values to implement in systems like our that intersect with cursor, a system justice system. And so I just really commend the work that you've done you will be missed. Yeah, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity when you're in chambers too. To commend you on the work and you know, you'll be very missed and best of luck to everything that you have in the future. I can only imagine where everyone will just Incredibly lucky to have you, sir. Thank you so much for the service to city. Then I I want to everything that you set to direct public. He and started leaking. I. really commend you for the work that you 2 in the Office of Neighborhood Safety is
really tough to build something from the ground up you. Came in with a determination to do that. And I really appreciate how every time you're here in the chambers and your staff are here, too. You all uplift the stories of people who you work with directly and and for U.S. council members who who are not there, know day in and day out doing the ground work. It is so important here. The impacts that are the office in upper safety does have 2 people in the community, which I know that the situations in which they are sometimes find themselves are some of the toughest to. So you really can't hear determined to deliver. And I know that there were a lot of challenges along
the way. But if you believe that you and your staff have have overcome a lot of huge hurdles, whether it was bringing on staffing capacity, hiring them on or even building out the programs. And I I really look forward to seeing the Office of Neighborhood Safety continue to grow. And I know that there will be more hurdles for us to overcome, but we have a will to figure it out. So thank you all. I know that's probably like more more opportunities for us to honor your work and your service to the city's soul. I I wish you all the best you transition out. Seeing no other comments. Your questions. The Finance Committee is adjourned until place recess. Thank you. And tell We go about our lives every day, especially in the public sector trying to do our best. And one thing that I've come
out of with this recovery and coming out of this incident is a renewed love for the city. My colleagues here, our colleagues here are top notch. When we were going through this. If I went to any single director, if I needed something, if they needed something from me, they came to me with what can I do to help Real k everything's fine. And I know that everything was not fine, but I just want to highlight. How critical it was to have these really close partnerships and relationships. And I just I absolutely love being here and I'm so glad to be in front of you today and that right there. We will get started. Executive summary focuses on our three-year strategy. Otc remains fully committed to our 2024 to 2026 three-year
strategic plan. From the outset. This plan was designed to be forward looking deliberately aligns to the major changes needed to improve our security posture, modernize city technology, and strength and resilience. That force it matters even in the face of this summer's digital security incident. We are not changing direction. Are planning to sup 8 at the challenges ahead. And it positioned us to respond with confidence. Now as we enter year 3, we are doubling down on the same strategic priorities honoring our people powering city services and securing city data. While ensuring our budget reflects built fiscal responsibility and target future targeted future, ready improvements. Honoring our people is about investing in the people who make our city work. We're rolling out a talent and that
talent performance management platform to support and develop our workforce. We embarked on a reorganization plan that highlights career pathways for talented staff. We're expanding. Hey otc with surf. Self-service check getting staff is your ways to find answers and resolve issues quickly and we're dancing title 2.88 digital accessibility, ensuring city digital services are inclusive and compliant. Powering city services is about strengthening the backbone of city operations. Completing a time keeping system modernization. No race. And we can connects to the main that's easier. Just. Working. Nic came over and helped make it set And we can, just should we just get up there? I can help us get it on here since. Yeah, Super easy to do that. I think. Of course, technical
difficulties during the technical presentation inevitable perfect. Back in action. I was talking about honoring our people. As moving over now to powering city services and the work that we've been on, including our time keeping system modernization implementing enterprise reporting our enterprise reporting flat form Enterprise technology, governance framework. And really this is all about bringing alignment and accountability across city departments. I want to focus on app to ms Ation of Saint Paul dot Gov, which is wrapping up right now. That's about modernizing the city's digital front door for residents, businesses and
staff. We've improved 6 department's Web presence, including Hero pd police. Public works garbage and recycling. And parks in NOVEMBER will launch a new version of Saint Paul dot Gov. That will include improved navigation and wayfinding for the site responding to user feedback about the site is in data-driven and user centered approach and representing critical support of Enterprise priorities, the of the community first public safety in downtown revitalization efforts. Safeguarding city data has always been at the heart of this plan. We are advancing network and infrastructure modernization, building resilience into the city's technology environment. We are completing network event, recovering hardening ensuring lessons from the summer's incidentally to long-term defense U.S.. We are working toward a data governance framework for the
city that will strengthen security and privacy while enhancing departmental collaboration, operational efficiency and ai readiness. And we're finalizing identity and access management. The framework for secure, reliable access across city systems. That ws previously distributed across rotc teams. Provide additional details about our budget in the coming slides. But here's a quick 2025 to 2026 snapshot, which includes net reductions in both years with the addition of one fte proposed reduction in 2026. However, there are some critical investments being made for 2026. $60,000 special Fund Investment and part of a joint initiative between otc I didn't plan for a consolidated and more efficient enterprise mobile data management plan. Cybersecurity investments. Totaling a 1 million 1 1 million 81 thousand dollars. Add it to strengthen the city's ability to prevent
detect and respond to cyber threats. That includes a $700,000 one time investment and 381,000 in ongoing funding for enterprise, digital security technology in the central service and finance to a general fund transfer. Our 2025 budget recap this year is focused on the digital security incident. The work we were doing leading up to it to secure the city, the work we are doing right now on the Post event to continue and protect to protect our data and our systems. Council members. It's important to understand that this response didn't start on JULY. 25th. It started use years earlier. We had already been investing in modern defenses like and point detection operating system upgrades and secure by design methodology. We had to consistently maintained
offline backups. I just want to give one more shot out to David and the amazing server admin team who do that work every single day. They did that so we could restart our recovery immediately after educating the threat actor from our system. We to build a culture of security across the enterprise. Citywide Multicenter multi-factor authentication e-mail system protections, tighter credential controls fishing awareness, training and our firewall newsletter. Most importantly, our dedicated staff has developed deep knowledge of the city's infrastructure over many years. That expertise meant we could adapt quickly and contain the incident. That experience mattered. We did make the hard calls to shut down the city's network. That decision will disruptive was the only way to fully contain the threat and prevent further
spread. We engaged in a national incident response team partnered with federal and state experts. The Minnesota National Guard, Cyber Protection team was mobilized to work alongside our teams to expand capacity and sustain our operations. We implemented a citywide reset of more than 3,000 employee accounts spearheaded by married like Matthews right here. Job that, you know, under normal circumstances would probably take months of planning and she didn't like 3 days. That massive undertaking, not only restore security, but it built and back stronger controls for every single user in the city. At the same time we deployed advance and point detection across every workstation and server. Verifying tat systems were clean and putting in place real plus protections for the future. These were bold, decisive steps that required coordination across
every department in the city. And because of our preparation, we could execute them swiftly and effectively. We're coming back stronger. The recovery has been remarkable and it's not by accident with clean, an encrypted backup systems could be restart with confidence. We implemented a structured check-in check-out process for employees for the device is ensuring that no compromise machines were let back on to the network. Modernization efforts already underway like Polly the Wax Asset Management System Ws and time keeping system. And hey, otc. Meant that we had new cloud-based resilient platforms ready to support critical operations instead of slowing us down. They accelerated recovery. This was a coordinated citywide event. We had we have
top notch emergency management department led by our enterprise maximize or director Rick shoot, who has been a collaborative partner and leader every step of the way that partnership was key to our swift action and recovery. Every department lead in more than 3,000 employees were supported through new security protocols and partners at every level have helped accelerate our timelines. We're not just recovering. We are coming back stronger. Our network is more secure. Our defenses are hardened and our modernisation Redknapp is moving faster because of what we've accomplished together. Let me be clear. While Wi-Fi is back at pluck Haitians are up. Network drives are available. That doesn't mean that everything is back to normal. We already had a backlog of
critical projects prior to the incident and our recovery does continue. We are still actively rebuilding deliberately carefully and strategically to ensure long-term resilience. You've requested updates on recent initiatives. I'm going to focus on our modernization and flight. Our modernization efforts are strategically aligned. We are powering city services, safeguarding city data and telling Saint Paul story in ways that strengthen trust and improve how the city delivers every day. I won't go through each of these, but I'll highlight just a couple. I'll start with the in for a cloud. Because we had already moved many departments and to enforce workforce management platform payroll and Timekeeping continued uninterrupted during the digital security incident departments on this platform didn't have to revert to manual paper-based processes. Now we are accelerating the move so that all departments aren't secure. Cloud platforms for payroll procurement and
vendor payments. And then the bottom item, civic newsroom, modernization also means rethinking how we communicate. The Civic newsroom is our effort to tell same poll story every single day using the talents of our incredible an award-winning communications and digital media team led by chase next. Well. It showcases the work of staff across departments and ensures residents see themselves reflected in the work their government doing. Safeguarding city data else. Focus Hey otc. Our new service platform. It was just launched last week. I believe these week still seeing a little bit line here. Hey, otc is our secure front door for it and communications services at launch. We already have over 30 catalog items and 60 knowledge articles and those are going to continue to
grow as we work to get more help directly to our users. Additionally, a new implementation we're focusing on is the GIs addressing platform. Modernize address data is foundational for the city supporting public safety systems and the next generation of service delivery and or community first public safety. We are excited for latest project to modernize addressing data press critical systems and departments. I also want to mntion what isn't up you know, are one of I think I was talk about. It is our top priority is honoring our people because without our people, you know where we we can support the city. A couple modernization efforts we have on that side include number one, monitoring our systems and patforms. And so we can take advantage of automation, reduce some of the
repetitive work that our teams are doing and have them focus on higher level work. Revising our job classification system, which is over 2 decades old technology has changed a little bit in that time and formalizing our career pathways for everybody so that whether you're new to otc, you've been an otc for decades or you're in new city employee or your city employee who's moved into otc. We want to be able to support your career and professional development and technology. Now to the fun stuff. This budget year is about absorbing productions and making one time strategic security investments. The cuts are ongoing and build and reductions from prior years. They represent a commitment to being disciplined and responsible stewards public funds. Even as we leave recovery from a major digital security event. The reductions
include one fte. Reducing support for Saint Paul dot Gov. And trending turning some mobile costs. At the same time we're making a targeted edition. The move work Service automation platform to better support 3,000 employees to new technology, support and guidance at hand. This year's budget also includes. Us at about a million dollars of new security investments, which include recurring ongoing costs for and point it action new one time funding that will be used for continuing our security recovery security tooling staffing og and other ways that we are going to protect our city. Johnson, thank To me year. Can talk little bit about how? Funding sources for some of the
central service foe. Pieces were identified to us. Is that the funding for just noticing that most of the million dollar funding is actually coming from spine to 11 government special partisan instead of like 5, 7, 10 for innovative technology. I'm just kind of curious, like what went into the thought process about setting that was going to be the use for it. Absolutely. Thank you. Councilmember Johnson and I will refer to our budget representative or we can take that offline. I I'm not aware of how that came to be. Chair Camden Council Johnson. I'm not either. And so I would say I wasn't those conversations happen. So I would say we should follow a Apologies Madeline Mitchell is
out sick today. Yeah, no worries. I think as and also as a caveat additional I'd be curious to know. On the side of Office of Financial Services as well. Other. Other efforts that we took to potentially find a couple more compatible funding source. Cent and sincerely the game at some of the cybersecurity pieces. The 700,000, for example. And, you know, in this piece or this capacity could be important. So definitely not coming from a place of, you know, not understand, kind of fully what the magnitude of it is. I just I'm curious as to if we have like other funding sources that also could be able to be utilized for that as well. Sully will work with our partners and left to get you that information. Thank you. So, really briefly, you know, we are very appreciative of million dollars of additional funding you know, we really do
believe it's going to help support a recovery. Help secure the city of Saint Paul. One of the difficult part says platforms today are not one time funding rate. It could takes recurring funding. And so we need to be very thoughtful to ensure that these one-time funds can can lead to enhance security for years to come. Our history of budget to actual shows our dedication to fiscal responsibility. Projecting a balanced budget based on assumptions we've received from the budget office regarding the use of salary savings to cover are needed staff, augmentation and reimbursements for overtime for the security incident. Spending summary, our general fund increases due to the investment in cybersecurity. Historical spending, but I MAY
just kind of gloss over this. I talk to council PRESIDENT. Kim about this the instructions we received might not aligned with the intent here. So I'm just gonna skip over that. But if you have questions, please let me I can just say one more thing about it you know, we sent over the to all the department directors and certainly with really good intent, unassuming like that. We want to see historical trends, but it's not the most dynamic way to present the information. So we're going to be going back and asking for a different way for this information to be presented to us because for the most part, every presentation we've seen the lines just very flat. But we know that's not necessarily true. It doesn't illustrate the amount of change is changing. That is actually
happening every year. So it's just to note that is why it is not as dynamic of the visuals. We had initially so thank you for the flexibility and just for the context, the councilmembers bring the asking for this to be in a different form for all the presentations get just to have better sense. But yet I think this is a great example of why this image is not the most dynamic one-two. Thank you. Thank Director Scala say appreciate your presentation. The council today just have a question about the history of the budget to actuals. So it looks like for this the department has used up the they called exhaust the funding for this. You are ready. And so do you have any thoughts on what the projection will be for? How much is spent in the department for the end of the year. And yes, we are working on that right now it when it
comes to the response to the incident, we still working on those numbers. We you know, talk to last line about that. But for right now, we don't have that information ready to go public. Thank you. Yeah, I know we're getting bits and pieces of the. The proposed budget for next year. They do all these different presentations. And so it if U.S. As you all are working on it, if you can explain like, hey, you know, we here's what we're thinking the year will look like for otc and where MAY be using dollars from other departments from that would really helpful. And chair councilor I think I'm going say you're referring to this storm, what it actually 11 million to 1.8 million in that column is a projection. Based spending trends. So I don't know what the actual is right now. It's probably like
8 or 9 a You know, you're today got on Grand Canyon on internal projections and otherwise indicated they're very close to that. Now save or incident. You know, it's still a question, mark as to what first and that sort of thing. Yeah, they're projected to come in very, very great things in the general fund. At t summary this year we are being reduced or going into 2026. We are being reduced by one e that continues a mostly downward trend from our peak at 76 f. Otc currently has 10 unfilled positions. In JUNE after a targeted initiative to rethink our teams and how we work. Otc presented our organization. One service modernization plan to our partners and talent and equity resources. The plan focuses on 3 things. Streamlining technology services and betting
cybersecurity into daily operations and aligning our workforce are in specialized roles. Filling these critical positions is very important. These are key positions. And we still have several critical leadership promotions that remain unfilled. That means that modernization work MAY be slowed. We can't complete all the essential security work we want to complete and our existing staff got us through this summer's. Emergency. Can't get a break. Continued reduction under resources. It's imperative that build the right specialized roles that make the most of the staff. We do have. These positions are discretionary. They were deliberately identified in JUNE as essential to sustaining our progress. Leaving them unfilled means the city continues to carry
risks prolongs recovery. Time lines and delays promised modernization benefits. And for a another view of what that looks like for with an otc. Here is an updated chart. Got a question from cuts Thank this was wondering if you know, so what would you say to someone who's like a listening to? Some of that feedback as well. So they'll things saying, okay, so then what's the barrier to filling them? The buried a filling the out their their vital. They're part of the work. They're kind of a part of the planning in future years. Including some of the things that you kind of shared with us about the goals and where we would like to see where we like to see us going 2026. Does more simplistic of just like so then. What is the plan to fill positions? Which is a plan to fill positions? Yeah,
absolutely. I Councilmember Johnson Councilmembers Cherry. We are currently in a budget and hiring freeze. And that started a few weeks ago. We are working with the administration with town to neck and and talent and equity resources to put forward a plan to continue this hiring. Like I said, we did bring this to talent and equity resources in JUNE. We weren't able to make any progress and too many steps there terms of getting those tires out there, the wrecks out there and we do have a couple of wrecks out there that we're hoping to complete that were there before the hiring freeze. But it really
is about with our partners and county talent and equity resources to prioritize. These is key roles that we do need to fill and move forward. You know, like I said, one of our strategic projects is to revisit the job classifications that are 20 years old. These roles, the majority of them aren't really easy to fit in there because they are so much more advanced or nuanced are different than than that. So it really is about trying to work with in a sick system that has been around for decades as technology evolves. Very quickly and trying to match our needs to this old system. But again, we're going to be focusing on working with our partners and Townsend Equity Resources. As soon as we can get those wrecks out and get these vital critical positions hired. We have a follow-up question with council meeting. Thank you. I just want to
on the same page if you all of the positions under the unfilled positions list, you'd like to see them continue to next year's budget. Is that right? Yes, Okay. Inc. All right. I see 2 positions that have been unfilled since end of 2024. So Can you? Can you just explain a bit about what you're hoping to see with those 2positions, especially since the nfl almost a year a year now. Absolutely. So we undertook with the Lee under the leadership of make like Matthews. a review of our org chart of our work of our strategy to figure out how can we do more with less? How can we continue to modernize and to provide the daily support every day? And so twork started at the end of 2024 and went through the 1st quarter 2 of
us this year. So we held a couple positions knowing that we wanted to make sure we were making the exact investment that we believe the needs. And so that's why we do have a couple that have that they can see dates that are older I I am by no means an expert in how we hire and how we track these things. One thing I do know also though, is that in order to promote people in the city. You have to have an open position. And so I don't know if one of those positions could have potentially been held for a promotion and then and then kind of moved forward. So it's it is complicated. And I probably should just not say anything else because I don't know all the details. But yes, they are
very critical positions. And we wanted to make sure that we were making the right steps that we needed for the city and set fast-tracking and just throwing people into a team where we knew we were doing really on strategic modernization effort across our teams. Please I this just a general question. It would probably be something more for office in nature. But I just want to make sure that that all of the the unfilled positions that are being proposed to go into next year that there is an adjustment to dollar amount for it because I'm sure that the hiring process. It's going to take a while. And so there's probably going to be a delay. And even with the hiring date is going to be so
all right. Are you all adjusting those numbers to make sure that they are actually reflecting now that the plan to to pay off for that position. Church council with dc currently has a thing say $493,000 attrition adjustment in their personal number hasn't. I mean, we haven't crosscheck that number with te hiring plan that we see here. But if you know, it does allow for. Roughly well, almost half a million dollars of. Within there within the personal budget over here. So hasn't planning a specific ways are ascribing right But there is it's not that there is money for someone each for an entire year and their personal it's kind of halfway
what you described. Okay. Okay. I just some want to reaffirm that. I do feel it's really important for us to make sure that the the proposed amounts at least for the council before we bought final budget. Be really. Hone in on that and get and get the numbers to accurate. Like there's like when I look at this, she they see that the vacancies, I think about the financial dollar amounts allocated for these budgets. And then I kind of have a similar question to to councilmember being about, you know, like why would that the slide? And then assuming just even if being fair, like if we said 80,000 per position and there's 10 of them 100,000 to me. That's your cyber investments that are needed. If you did to you those at this time where there's like something that can go towards the overall emissions around
the hiring freeze around, being able to compensate for some of the the pieces that we're trying to do right now, actively of the city for the budgets. So I guess I'm just wondering like, how much are you see, how much of your budget that you have allocated right now for staffing positions where wages is not being utilized. Thank you, councilmember. I think I will defer to ofs but essentially in light of the security incident, we are utilizing every penny. I'm because any positions that are unfilled that that funding and assuming it's going to be going toward filling security incident. Yet can count with I don't have the numbers in front of me because they're dynamic and
evolving. But regularly check in with otc staff on person that like. Current your personal projections those projections MAY account for vacancies, like, for example, that we can. Thank very much. We forget 2 additional months of intense heat before we hire. We will say x number of dollars from this particular project that can So we compare those numbers with the attrition budget hearing that is already built in. You know, don't quote me on this. But the last time we checked in on this evening, they're coming in pretty close like church. It was mentioned pretty closely with their projected savings. School year 2025. I haven't checked in on that in a few weeks. So I mean, you know, was like I said, those things changed regularly. Yah. Followed a helpful know and something really, really supportive of the budget to actual or station what our city and how we do our budget process and
even just being able to track some of the numbers that people are asking. Ford has come up in this budget cycle. I really hope that we can overall the cat as a city continue to strive towards that, having an accurate understanding of the budget to actual is more than twice a year and especially during the time when we should be talking about some of those pieces, not necessarily for the peace of the responding, but planning for. One thing that is very clear to and several other presentations and just how passionate you are about planning for some of the but some of the cybersecurity issues that we are seeing and playing the head and years in advance is planning for catastrophe and for the Times in which something happens that we don't account for and something that I actually think that we could do with the city better. Ensuring that we haven't actually allocated in the budget that we planned
for. And so I really supportive of of thinking ahead of what that could look like in future years, especially going back to this aspect notion that, you know, when something happens or city is experienced a cyber attack, their potential other things that could have up. And then, you know, we don't want to speak about it, but it's something a matter of if, but like when. And a lot of these things that we're thinking about and have learned about experience. It makes me hesitant to then replicate, you know, peace where when I'm looking at the vacancies, listen, even if they were to move within the hiring freeze into next year, and if we take that, what we've learned from each hr. 4 to 6 months or so to even get some of these dishes hired for. You're talking about a half a year price of cost savings in your
budget for next year. If we put all the And so that is something that like from ay department as well, something that I've just freeze does like initial feedback for us all. But when I look at that and then I see some of the proposals for some of the things that are one-time funding, but a more immediate things you could move on and the beginning of the year. I do wonder how important it might be great too, feel that hr consultant role if you operated within without it for a year. Ad it's about cyber attack been ale to do so much with your team capacity. It gives me pause, I think and I think a reason to dig further. But for the piece is a front for ofs. Ad I think some of the follow-up, he says, when we have not just your department, there's other vacancies and other places
that are on food. Realistically, the timeline for those feeling, the physicians, especially with the current state of where we're at with the hiring freeze has until the middle of next year. I hope we're also taking that into account over actual expenses as well from budgetary sense. It doesn't make sense to plan for that all year. Knowing that half of the you might be behind 10 positions when we MAY have. I need to invest in things like cyber security day one. So that's something that I'm seeing just because I see are the importance of all the things are presenting and all the goals that we have. It's just one has a JANUARY first time line of like hitting the ground one the of and actively working on it. Now. Well, as others, including several positions on this list, MAY not even get to it until the middle of JUNE of next year.
So that's just something that I. For the first thought my colleagues and also just like initial response that day. Whenever people us. Thank you. Councilmember Johnson Council members. a quick response to that. First otc every single year. Hasta gives that $400,000 of salary savings as attrition. Right? So I can't hire all 10 positions next year because I have to give that money back to the to to to shore up the budget deficits. Right? That's an ongoing thing. Second, I I think mentioned, you know, the $700,000 that were getting could go toward staffing. But again, that's just one time, right? We need recurring staffing really quick, really just quick story to tell you about a couple of the positions here. So we haven't
identity and access management lead and network administrator and a server and the server storage and data base. Lisa, for really, really key positions. A lot of the work across those 4 positions is being done by one person. A lot of it, everybody has you know, we were in public service. We know once I'm in Lee is we have to take that on. But a lot of that is one person. And in the first couple of days of the security incident when we were working 17 to 20 hours a day fighting for our city's data, our systems, one comment that came to me that I shared with my team in that room. We were in way too way too long. Every day was. Now. I know what it's like to be, Brian. Every single day because Brian plays
those 4 or 5 or 10 roles every single day in the city. And that is not sustainable. We are we are seeing impacts of these long hours of the responsibility and duty that these people feel. And so we can't keep working at that pace. We can't dishonor our people by not filling these critical roles that are going to keep us safe for years to come. And s I just wanted to share that because yes. We are doing all of all of the work and more without these positions. But heck, if I could have saved one to 2 hours a day during those 17 hours by not having to schedule my own meetings, which I had to do and that that and as you know, if anyone who scheduled meetings before it is a lot of work to get people in the room.
And I had to do it on the fly with. You know, firms you know, incident response plan or so again. We are here because we love public service. We love this city. But we can do better really, you sure of our security and provide better modernization I we do sell these decisions. And just a really quick view. I wanted to show you of what this looks like. And I wanted to just Talk about doing the work that married like Matthews lead. We're moving to something called a demand develops service model. And that's what or chart shows. So on the demand side, it's about engaging departments to understand business needs gather requirements and prioritize work that aligns with city goals. That's what you see
with the executive team in the office of the ceo. We just have one of t open right now we're able to to work on that pretty well once where, you know, full further on in our recovery. The develop is where our teens design build and test it solutions. Everything from software development to systems integration. That is the team under enterprise applications and digital experiences. And then finally service. You know, we we ensure reliable day-to-day support, managing infrastructure, resulting security incident says and keeping our systems running smoothly. And that's where we see the majority of our open ease 4 fte is under infrastructure and security for under our service
management that those are the people that help the city-run every single day. Answer questions provide guidance. So that's just really brief picture to show where we are right now. And just to go back to our strategic priorities. You know, honoring or people. We're building up the teams that perform critical infrastructure and security work to deliver our services to reduce that strain. Yeah, we really want to see these vacancies filled. Both on the infrastructure and security team and on the it Service management team. Reduced staffing, you know, really reduces our capacity to meet our strategic goals. Now we get into their revenues here is our revenue overview for the general fund. As you said, that the story has been over
the past couple of years. Our cable tv franchise fee is decreasing annually as residents move away from cable tv service. Our Council Chamber Technology and Peg Grant funds. And again, those paid fair entice. These continue decrease as the cable subscriber ship goes down. And then our final revenue for is really about the phone play computers that our internal charges a from a for otc. And that covers our budget for this year and going into 2026. Any other questions discussion and tiny, any additional questions from my colleague So our budget, officer mood, you know, is taking notes for follow-up. So any additional questions that we asked later he sent teacher community. Thank you so much for the time today. Extremely informative. Thank you for sticking to our farm and just
giving us little grace on that one slide. But just really appreciate all the contacts information provided on tc today. So thank you so much. And with that, the Budget Committee of the Council is adjourned.