I'm sympathetic finance and Budget Committee to order. For the sake of city clerk and will very briefly take attendance just because we're also chair yea That's never fully. Councilmember Colin here. Councilmember Johnson. Councilmember Joe PRESIDENT, a Kurd here council vice PRESIDENT Hre is 5 present to absent. We have court and we will continue today. We have one of the best apartments in the city. Dsi. Thank you much for coming. A favorite department is here to present to you our budget committees to please join me in welcoming director of Department of Safety Inspections and Director Angie, we see. Thank you so much for being here today. We'll kick it off to you to roll through the pesentation.
We really appreciate the time. Thank you very much. Thank you for having me. Welcome. Home. My first time in front of since you've been sworn in. So welcome. And you directors, safety ispections going to talk to you today about our 2026 budget proposal. So starting with our executive summary, I think you're well aware this is a very, very tight budget year. And so we really hone in on what our main core mission is and make sure that we're meeting the needs of customers. So to promote safety and wellness where we live work and prevent life and property laws support neighborhood vitality and promote equitable, innovative and sustainable solutions that
work for also what that means for 2026 budget proposal. We focus on creatively utilizing non Jennifer and resources for some of that critical work this year. That includes opioid settlement dollars. The recycling and solid waste fund some grant money. It also means that for 2027, we're committing to ongoing personal adjustments after utilizing 2026 as a kind assessment period I rna, postpone the world for us and then also supporting state introduced regulatory. This is lying. A cannabis. So as a reminder free highlights responsibilities and priorities in Dsi. We always go back to these. This is comes straight out of our continuity of operations plans. Any time things get
really rough. This is where we hone in and it's to maintain the safety and have that ability of as many structures that businesses as possible, including the safe keeping of animals. And below that, you see all of the business lines that really feed into that mission. And secondarily, to support the financial and economic systems of the city. I think you'll see a sign of that, too. And I get the policy update on kind of how that shows up. And of course, great customer service scoring every interaction. So 2025. Recap as I was trying ding this. I thought, my gosh, there's been a lot that's happened this certainly a lot that we didn't know about when we were in the same position last year talking about the 2025 budget. So we've had a huge focus finalization downtown. Cyber incident. Of
course, the accelerated, which that 8 of accelerated rollout of Polly. We've had high profile, long-lasting appeals in nearly every business line. Animal services. Well, not part of our general fund budget. It's part of the cip budget, but it's a challenging construction site for us and administrative citations. Were we? We hit a high. We hit a pause with ballot vote. That's upcoming. Just personnel turnover, which is something that we experience all the time, obviously. But get to that really experience folks go into the next chapter in their can be the real challenge. I know that we get to the unfilled positions later in the presentation. But I did want to highlight kind of what experienced personnel turnover looks likes Dsi for
2025. We've hired 19 people to fill vacancies for India And we also hired a 17 to 3 team members 2025. And those run the gamut. Not all to preserve are like so we've got the post retirement employment option. We have couple long-term leaves that are being backfield, that some special projects like Polly and some are support for our active summer season. Also in the 2025, budget recap for tenant protections and this is was proposed to be funded from the hra. Funds from the Housing Trust Fund. But we've had really great working relationship with feet in this project. The Safe program had started a fee many years ago. And so working with them and continuing to work with them has been fantastic. Since there was content produced and previously for tenant
protections. We have that historic information. You know, have a track or going and kind of what can be kept. What needs to put gaps need to be filled because language is not the same as the new. And the staff position on it forms our under review, kind of with all of the stakeholders. And our side before we turn it over to hr and get their assessment on the. They're concurrence on what the positions need to do and what titles they will be given. Before we can do any requisition. We do need an accounting it to be able to request for those positions. That $380,000 was what we were projecting in 20 $24 of what was needed for these for the work. And that was 4% now equipment and services services being things like mailings. Translation Services center. Said that that content record is really where the
bones are of where we're tracking what needs to be done. What's left to do. But we do need more bandwidth to be able to together educational plan, both for tenants for landlords intake process. The investigatory process. Website needs to integration with Polly. All of that needs to be worked out and work through and then multimedia tools. We know that our customers communicate in a variety of methods. And so. We would be looking at a variety of methods to be able to communicate with the different. Survey says. If you recall and it's okay if you don't, but chapter 13 is size administrative authority tat changed to 10 protections to that. And also the repealing of chapter 54, which conflicts now with Chapter one. 93 are ready any time. And I did talk to The deputy city attorney yesterday she suggested working with him on that. If
that meaningful to council. And then ongoing funding source for the program is needed. I'm not expecting a cherry funds, but it's understanding that the 2025 funds have not been spent that they could be rolled over 2026 to fund the program. And we've 2 questions. Council pesident will go Johnson. Thanks. Comes as PRESIDENT. Actually yelled. I suspect Johnson's questions relate to the sideline actually to the previous slide keep the flow in Okay. Just go back in time and just for a second. So deck to add. You mentioned that there were no new positions hired in 2025. And then refresh your memory from last year's budget conversation. I know originally the department head proposed 5 new lefties for
state energy. Could adoption. Council approve all of those? But believe we did approve some of those new fte is are you saying that none of those folks were hired in 2020 at? Correct comes with the those hires were wth the implementation of a new fee. So because we don't like t that was in our eyes a package. And so without the information implementation of the new fee, we have not gone forward with the new hires and we won't because we're committed to having sound budget. So even though my team has asked many times if we hire those positions since we have not implemented the new fee, we won't be hurting them
until that's implemented. And as a follow-up, I remember new energy complaints discussed as part of the budget process last year. So those positions were going to be revenue neutral. Why have we not implemented the nw fee? That I prefer to talk in a closed meeting related the closed hearing on the stories Okay. Thanks for a slide. I will just simply say to my colleagues as well. Some of you have been on that email exchanges that we've had. I really appreciate being able to have a conversation with a lengthy. I'm learning more about the check ins have appreciated that, you know, is that we have received somewhat response to the memos that we back I JULY. But it has been very difficult to communicate with your office about. To the protections overall. And it's been slightly disappointing. I'm very supportive of this of this work. But, you know, I I think one of the things that's
been really challenging is the reason why jury has not had an action too released. The funding has been because when we set the memo, we didn't receive a response. When asked for a meeting with the mayor and with your office. But the you directly, we did not receive a response to schedule that. And so really it's really frustrating and my into no kind of where this work is that I getting the updates on the and hearing about some of the things they would like to see around trends, lesions services. But then to the website confirmed the communications It concerns me that Have not you know, requisition know that there's a need for an accounting unit, but that burden see is, you know, is there. Feel like we would hve the urgency of working together to ensure that the funding goes where it's supposed to. And I
haven't felt the urgency. It's called a little bit like we've had to prioritize many things, which I I definitely impose I empathize with when it comes to Polly. The recent cybersecurity attack that we've had. And we made request back in JULY because we recognize that even with the requisition. Even with the hr process that can take up to 6 months to hire for positions. So with this being implemented and MAY I've asked specifically toyour office and to try my son and as well as director specifically on timelines and he was able to respond to us with their former right there from response, including timelines, including what they anticipated the timelines to be. We have not seen that from Dsi. We have not seen like anything really further than
we have a $380, Requests. That's coming in from yes, I 3, 3, of the injury. Can't necessarily speak to the ins and outs of it. But we haven't had a meeting on to the protections since ordinance passed. And I think that that one of things that's really concerning with me is that this is our offices. Top priority. And I just really haven't really have appreciated that. And I think in many ways like I just want to be transparent about that because this work has a start. Date of MAY 10th 2026. The party passes an ordinance. What's also with me being able to plan ahead and think about, you know, our capabilities as well. If this is of interest to all of our colleagues as well. Bike the partnership on this work and moving it forward will be really important because I struggle with we need account and you that before the requisition,
we've asked to see the requisition. We haven't received that. I struggle with the opposition out of 4 is being drafted. But there's been no communication with our office about what that is, how that looks, you know, the routine meetings that take place with the lefty. Our office has not been invited or been a part of that. We haven't had any communication and to the protection since it passed the plans you outlines education like when this was first passed. This was also inclusive of the council office that was running to the protections. I know that to be true because I sing the different types of beating them instructions that they had. It doesn't follow that. Carry this time. And as the country chair, I wouldn't want nothing more. Change to give you the funds and to be able
to release the content at sea and te silence in relation to my response. Even upon your return afterwards because we accidentally must of had. The state where addressing the community's scheduled on a time when you'd be out of town. But we did not know that until the day before you left. And so I really, you know, not and I don't want to belabor this point. I don't eat too. Get a full conversation. I'm sure you kind of anticipated that. Minister Chapter 13 amendments, the repealing was that of chapter. 54. Our office made a commitment to bring those back to the council. So they're ready at any time, MR. Greenfield, our office has said multiple times that we would be doing that and had plans to do that in the
supplementary can period. I don't think the issue is that we don't want to. We don't want to the program move forward. The issue is that the communication has lagged so bad to the point that I don't necessarily know what's actual going on ordinance that I let it happen. Pass. And that's what's frustrating. And so I hope that we a good remedy that be able to work through what that's going look in the past that our office has made multiple attempts to do that in an enclosed media. We live up attempts to do that in a one to one meeting. We have heard nothing and the last check and we had was canceled. So I think in being able to have a some partnership and that capacity in to even be able to address this budget. This budget point that I hope
we do address before the end of the year. I really want to know like the plans, the timelines and the communication with the with the they have been responsive in that regard. I don't understand why it's been so difficult to get some of the answer. The question now aligned in the memo answered from the site. Yeah, and I will just jump in a really appreciate the question. And I just want to name that in the the prefer as a nation have that we had together. I don't think I. Carry your concerns across the board chair. John, since I really appreciate you speaking both on record but also so that we all can hear them. So. I just want to note for my own due diligence as budget chair. I don't think that in terms of like stressing the importance of the information and sort of like getting out the really great, really
great, critical questions that you ask. I don't know if I did a good enough job sort of like offering those over the table and I'm sorry that you know, I think that's a little more. I need to connect those dots. But I will just say then we have here and Tim and our staff this. I think this is a great one. Really take notes of like what the concerns were, what the requests were and my office absolutely interested as budget chair interim budget chair. To help push this information and get it back to council in a timely matter. So I think this is one that certainly rise to the top for the follow-up. And I just really appreciate I think Johnson year continued like requests for transparency. And I also think just like a timeliness of communication with our department directors be. You know, always want to look past sort of like what the intent is. And just for the sake of time today sharing all of the concerns that you have will make sure they that
we address them together and I think not the only reason, but we also have a good update on Pali. So lets just keep it moving. But all of the it commits on notes at needs and notes be captured them. And I just really appreciate you naming those concerns and also a name that I don't as budget chair and the prix as the only councilmember those in the presentation time. I don't think I carried that that tone and message. So I just want to on that as well. So let's I think just keep it pushing that. I also want to on the part that I don't up those concerns in a way that would have also assisted the director. We see to answer some of those today in this moment. So we've got all the notes and concerns will keep it pushing for the sake of time. But I do think it's very well noted that information has been requested and more war on timelines together to make sure the department will
report back to the council members about the tenant protections break that I think Johnson fought so hard for sort of like an ok plan. Director, we see. Yeah, I'm not sure right now it's unfunded mandate and the work that we're able to fee. And as I have very different scopes of work, their defense cuts are working everyday life if different scopes of work related to this ordinance, they have been tremendous partner I'm happy that they're more in this regard to defendant were satisfactory. The but we're able to do is what we're able to do without funding the Updates on Pali. So biggest recent initiative is polity. we placed 25 35 year-old systems with a modern system.
We went through about 1800 business lines in those 2 systems, 270. And that was it like decreasing. The working that we looked at the work differently. We combine things to make sure that we could. We challenge everyone to look at this differently. And I'm reporting, you know, today as the U.S. Side. But really when I'm speaking about Pauli, it's citywide effort. So we challenge everyone to look at their work differently. The accelerated timeline month that we're looking at a minimally viable product and that meant that about two-thirds of those 570 business lines went forward with the mentally viable product. Critical documents only but I also make sure to have sound occassionally practice us. In the first week of Polly to catch up on that backlog of all of the applications and payments that are that weren't able to
be done because of the cyber incident. We had over. 4600 applications entered. Polly 86 business licenses 109 professional licenses. 46 plans and almost 2 million dollars in payments for processed through policy. That call the role that week was it was still very SEPTEMBER 15th. And so that first week we accomplished a lot. We had probably 80 people entering applications to help us get with backlog. It was all hands on deck. That is actually reason Johnson. My meeting was canceled that week because of the focus on Collier of So we still have more to go. The historic data is not yet converted. So the cyber incident did impact our systems of the data itself is good. It's clean, but it does need to get converted to
Pauline because we challenge everyone to look at their work so differently. It's not really an apples to apples migration. So it's being worked on every day to try to get the historic data into policy. But we're still working on that. Biggest impacts for that, our business license thing. And our contractor licensing vacant buildings and the first to pick back up into program. We still have a lot more reports in documents to get done summer in flights need to be created. Some just the little tweaks, you know, missing a phone numbers, something like that. Shuns its to teach decision that didn't have many of the on a mission's life because it was easier to turn them on then to turn them off. So we're going to be rolling those out as we make sure that
fair working properly that's goes with e-mail confirmations online inspection, scheduling and connection to outlook. That's been I think the largest adjustment for inspectors is just getting used to a new way of communicating with our customers ad managing their own schedule. Ijust think system or stamp as you might know it we still need a sustainable solution for that. That's not part of Polly per se, but it feeds Polly. Enterprise Service request connection to Polly is I think finally on solid ground, it took us a little bit longer to get there. Then with the mvp. Reported concern. Is to the website would go to an Ms farm that would feeding e-mail. Now
it feeds into Poly. And so that work can be cnverted right to our inspectors and the field to determine whether the issue is is founded and unfounded and next steps in the workflow for that. As we've been rolling this out, people have come up with new ideas of things that they. I want to see him Polly. And so we're working on that as well. At this one is my favorite Polly tp 10. And then I realize that David Letterman hasn't been on the air for a long time. And that these are all things that Polly can do that or legacy systems didn't. And I know during yesterday's meeting, some of them do appear to be like, really, you couldn't you couldn't do that But having an inspector mobile ap is huge
for inspectors to be able to perform inspections in the field, record them in the field and have it be a appear immediately. Both for the customers and for anyone who on the team working on that back of House. Record crest apartment interviews. I think the best example of this is like an hpc review an application comes in on a mechanical permit. hpc team pd gets a notification at the same time that our plan reviewers gets a notification. They're able to make an assessment at the same time, the same record. Real-time application updates. It is huge for our customers. Online inspection requests to mention that before the 24 hour. Access to critical documents is really big for our customers. So being able to have things like a copy of
their license available any time they need If there MAY be applying for a loan or need to do any sort of business and they need that document. Able to get which goes to the self-serve historic look up also and it's public or customer to look at historic records. For anything says we get our historic data in U.S.. Emailing directly from the system. This is something, believe it or w could not do with their legacy systems. Have to. Say information out of the system onto computers or drives go into outlook and email and now we can be mailed directly from the system. The other thing that that allowed us to do is now it's not in our email. It's actually in the system and anybody who's helping that customer can see the communication. That has been going on with
that customer. And we've got Saint Jude Rock n concert. PRESIDENT Maker, thanks so Vice PRESIDENT. This not this is a budget question because we're Pali with my colleagues. Commissioner Dyson asked a question about performance indicators. Really glad poly long-awaited I'm continuing to get. And not just jundt and many but really desperate requests from businesses needing permits and it's escalated not just during the cyber attack that was worse, but throughout the year. And it's frustrating. I's not service. I know you know that your department working on that. But I'm curious in the appendix, you talk about performance measurement and you talk about how Poly provides as management tools. I'm curious what our metrics are going to be in terms of responsiveness and efficiency
with permitting specifically and responsiveness. And I'm also curious whether department staff in their performance reviews are be held to account for those performance metrics and whether that's part of the evaluation of staff performance on a yearly basis. Thank you for their mission. In actually tes into this slide, too, because of the attrition adjustment. So I know that you'll be hearing a lot of department directors coming up here and talk about. Cuts of positions and what we propose t the mayor's office to just carry on, say extra high attrition for next year because our pain points going to be different in a post Poly world and permits is precisely one of them. Our former system could not do address verification for
plans, which meant that every single permit had to be manually entered. If it had a plan because there is no address verification. Polly has address verification. People can self-serve the can into their own applications so that pain point it would be. I would say on average 2 weeks just to get entered into the computer and that's before anyone even looked a it. So, you talk about the timelines, I think of when it was submitted the city, not from the time that a of your first touched it. So we know our pain points are going to look different. And that's what this attrition is really. We're committing to building the extradition so that for the 2027 budget and be on can come with data that says these
are where pinch points are. This is where we can afford to to These are the things that we don't have pinch points. It would not be reasonable to say that we don't need a plan. You're right now because we certainly have pinch points in plan review. But we also have pitched points at the front counter and just doing the entry. Chance. Your question about performance for you is yes, the that timelines are very confident to say that the timelines are not reflective of our staffs abilities. It is capacity. And the capacity to. And it's it's twofold. Earlier this year, you all approved us having a up front fee, 4 applications and it's not the it was in a new views, just a portion of fee to paid up front. And that is in part so we get better plans up front because the better plans we
have front the sooner we can get through that application and move on to the next application. Our team really tries hard to work with customers on whatever is given to them. And that means a lot of times a plan that you might look at and say, look, this isn't ready for review. They continue to work with that customer instead of just saying no, come back when it's ready. That slows us down and other projects and other projects for it. People are ready and they have done their due diligence and they are. 100% construction level drawings means 100% construction of a giant. But continuing to monitor. And yes, Polly has performance metrics. The managers will be able to have dashboards that are specifically tailored to. Managed performance of their
teams for service level agreements based on the activity for that person. It also has the ability to do load balancing that indicates. If this person has all of these things, this person has a lower case load at this time. It said help direct manager to make some shifts responsibilities short term or long term to be able to address customer needs. And those just really weren't available it with our Legacy Systems, Thanks, Vice PRESIDENT, thanks. Director. And I'm not, by the way, suggesting that staff at the reason for delays. But I do. Thanks. When we set goals. If those schools that are not baked into how we evaluate staff performance, then they tend to just remain. Also, I think I'm just
asking about how those calls are incorporated into the daily work of the department please share those metrics with us when they're developed towns probably will make things esier, which is great. But I think it's really important for us to be public about. We respond to a request within 48 hours. We respond to completed plan application within a week. We right. And and the percentage of those requests that we do and don't meet our metrics on to something that the department has presented to us in the past would be good to see in the future. Absolutely. Yeah. Also excited to see that mostly because they feel like with all the atomated systems like in the year 2025, you can now use a credit card online. So I do hope that this assume that certainly improve says I'm
also very excited to see that but much more in the and the way of just like, you know, continuing to support, I think just like the very robust and up of the system continue to find a sort of silly. Hear you calling her old systems, legacy systems when they were just like really So we've got a question from consummate Thank you. Chair of the directories have a couple questions. I that's okay just the Polly and the permit permitting review process. So first question about and also understand like what we're talking about permits and plan reviews, you could have a project that's, you know, got dozens of pages drives review and one that's maybe like a few. So some of can certainly
manage. And how much time to take. But about how many the construction permit reviews to have 3 year. And then how many Stafford are dedicated to that process? I don't have those numbers and 9 through my eail that I don't have hand. But I think bank to okay, okay, thank you. And I guess the other question is I know that cybersecurity attack created a lot of challenges in. And some of our process processes for reviewing. permits in doing inspections because of some of the I'm assuming some of the file types that we that we have for construction drawings and is that, you know, with the new college system or just with kind of the progress we've been making moving through the cyber security attack. Do you
see those like delays early times improving? 100%. One of the things that I skipped over on the Pali tab 10 utilizing a different plan. Review trying find review suffer system it's more customer centered now. So. We were using project toxin will now be using blue and. Exactly. Is that that's that's customer focused. People who do this work used living in their everyday work and we were using an electronic. Thank The software that nobody uses in everyday work other than Government folks who are reviewing plans. So to be utilizing a product that our customers are incredibly familiar with is a
big change in and of itself to assist both it really that back and forth communication between customers integrated. Better with pa live in era of legacy. Process and that or the edges verification rally is game changer with this because you could do electronic prairie view. But you have to start with e-mail that location or mailed or faxed or walked in application. Okay, thanks. Appreciate I think I'll just I'll just add I know that we have a lot of you called them legacy processes. And when you just told me that we now have blooming. Which is something my other job, I switched over to using almost a decade ago it just really informs me just how behind we are in some of these processes. And really grateful
that we've made this a Prince. proposed changes for 2025 in general computer least criminals and office supplies. I mentioned this yesterday, go into a little bit more after getting their follow-up questions. with the mobile inspection mobile app, we have. Now inspectors utilize IPads for their work that was funded through the fema bric Grant in the match for that being provided by air p dollars. But that this is not everybody can switch to and iPad, but this is where we felt comfortable and taking a conservative estimate of where we could save money with least Also just like the laptops and of your desks. Right now, we utilize for laptops see us
think leasing for our laptops and with the IPads were able to save some money on going forward. Fully support tc and being able to support IPads in the future. I rechecked about the attrition adjustment. The Cannabis Registration Administration and I should say zoning administration as well. But the funding comes from the registration, portion of this. We have did the we've done the audit form for this hr agrees that it is a tsa inspector. 3 position and that is position see it in the future site, but that requisition is approved. Looking forward to. Hiring that in the future. And then a shift of heart funds. From the
general fund to to actually special funds And so nothing's changing with the heart team per se. Just what is funding the her team. So the staff coming out of the opiate settlement dollars as well moderate amount of supplies and training and then at some of the cleanup work is being shifted to recycling and solid waste. Since all make a quick comment. We've got a question from council PRESIDENT. One thing that I'm really interested in this sort of budget ccle and beyond a certain what is cost of doing business. And so why do you agree? 100% that moving positions that can be funded by other sources to help alleviate the general fund like super smart rate not are. You need that? But part of me just wonders then what is? For
later question in time. But if those positions were to be on the general fund and if every position that you hadn't dsi, you know, Sands special fund or grant funded? Well, with that cost actually look like for you to be staffs presently. So sort of rhetorical. One will follow up. But when I see that as I think, yes, that sounds great. And I think even from the overall city perspective and budgeting perspective, I having a sense of how many staff would be required to be paid through the general fund for even our constituents and residents to know that next percent. Levy is just the cost of keeping our staff. I think it's just a really sort of a nuanced question, but in part on to lift up so rhetorical, you don't have to answer that. But just seeing higher and best use of money. Always yes. What sort of that level
setting expectation come that we can set residence sort of recognizing than We are making active decisions to take positions off the general fund and that nothing that the opioid dollars are ongoing. But just like. It's not Necessarily permanent are ongoing source of funding which we usually look at in terms of the general fund. So then I'll go to the question the PRESIDENT Thanks, vice PRESIDENT. It's very much a follow up on your questions. So I guess, director and maybe also this is a question for him. Doctor Mitchell and I am. I'm concerned about the shift of her team from the general fund to the opioid settlement dollars primarily for a couple of reasons. One, it as the
council must present pointed out, we don't typically use one time sources for ongoing expenses and all other. The opioid settlement dollars have some tail. They're not and ongoing source that they can rely on forever that's one concern. Second of all, I We've been talking about the opioid settlement dollars for a while and we've been asking the administration and Ramsey County for sort of a joint coherent plan for the opioid dollars between the 2 of us and we haven't seen that. And what I'm worried about happening now is that we are. We are shifting something that we would be doing anyway from the General Fund, which is homeless assistance response, which is incredibly important and we're using dollars that are designated for opioid response and teatment and prevention, which is also incredibly important to fund something that we can no longer carry in the general
fund and I worry about that because it seems like rather than cannibalizing the opioid fund which we desperately need for opioid treatment prevention. Perhaps we should be doing is having larger conversation about a homeless assistance response. And Ramsey County and how those services can be better coordinated and shared in addition to having a larger conversation with Ramsey County about are opioid dollars that each of us is getting and how we're going to create a coherent plan for using those. So. I'm curious, but I guess from both of you how what the thinking is behind this shift. Can you you want to a We would. Ramsey County is responsible for public health in the county and they do that in partnership with the city. So yes, to partnership with
Ramsey County and how they're showing up for winless assistance, homeless assistance. As a fact of a strong tie in with our opioid crisis. So. I say that next year's budget isn't just a commitment to these changes. It's also a commitment to fund things that already fund. And given the tight budget year in order to have a commitment to fund this effort with our unsheltered population. Iran Schulter residents who struggle with opioid addiction to keep the commitment and the level of service that we provide through the heart program. Utilizing opioid settlement dollars is in my opinion, a wise decision. It does have tails, I think and I'm not going to speak for but I think they've done a good
job of kind of planning for how we would have to off forward. Things from the opioid settlement dollars in the fture and really conservative and practical making sure we're not over committing ourselves in one year. Let's say to plan for the future. Council PRESIDENT, I think what director we see just just said at the end, there was what I was going to add that opioid settlement dollars are one time, but they are coming in over. I want to say if 15 years, so the way that we have currently structured is to sort of ramp up as those cuts that we have there. But it there grow with inflation and then have a face-off. So that has those cars returned to the
general fund. There won't be anything major cliff for that. We're coming So just to clarify the logic here is tat if a special fund has more than one year's worth of funding, it are ongoing contributions to the special fund. it is all right to fund ongoing expenses from a special fund. Council that yes, ish, I would depending answered the length of of they expected funding this we felt was long enough that it was reasonable to put it the special fund. Provided that we also had a plan to slowly return it back. And the plan fully return it back. Just to be clear is that we'll need to front of the general fund again later. That's the plan. It can also add that we've
actually done this one time before from Air Pete. And part started as r p fnded it slowly returned to the general fund and so this isn't this isn't new for this program. Think. But 4 air p dollars this program exist we be seeing higher costs and a lot of other areas of the city because of having this resource available. Will 2 cuts Johnson Cherry. And then pause silly. And so we can allow director we see increase of the remainder of the slides. But we'll take 2 questions Johnson. I wanted to better understand director Michel about the the special allocation and for 2026, stuck. Clarify how much every anticipating
getting from the opioid settlement in Twenty-twenty 6. Council vice PRESIDENT Chair Johnson. I don't have that number of top my head, but I can follow up with that. Okay. And then the sme. Fund. Arpa funding is currently in. Councilmember, yes, it's the same fund. It's a different accounting unit. Within the face Okay. And then how are I guess if when we get the chance to know, I don't like the opioid settlement dollars. That's separate from the opioid 1 million dollar allocation. You know you're accounting for that. The 1 million dollar allocation is part is is funded with opioid settlement dollars. Okay. So would be possible to get breakdown of the opioid
settlement as it relates to how the power anticipating spending for 2026. And anticipating getting yes, yep. We can follow up with that for Thank you. Yeah, if curfew him, but feels like that might be able even be answered before we leave today. What is the anticipated up your dollar amount for 2026? Is that? Feeling something recently produced before? can Or the meeting today. We can. We can try a very tightly on the is like you know, okay. Thank a stricken, I just want to be And the same page, just one of the questions that were asked wear their customer. Johnson d asked about 1 million dollars. Is that what the like that? Is that what mayor was posing life
where for treatment and yeah, okay. I I am arm. Just a bit confused. But I'm I really like all the questions that we asked was that those are the same questions that I have have to lay. Just wondering how much are we getting fit for the settlement for next year? And I think you would be I do find it. It would be valuable for us to just get a deeper dive on it. The opioid settlement overall because it is really confusing. I mean, I from the office to me clarify some of the questions. But was even thinking the prior to the meeting today, the 1 million dollars in the mayor's proposal like what was about how money was that coming out of? And so if there are money than you, if you really helpful to understand like what are the other proposed uses for the
rest, of what is remaining? Yeah, those are just That's what I want to share. As PRESIDENT You just have to I agree. 100% councilor Yang. I wonder I was just wondering if we already have budget presentation scheduled specifically about the opioid settlement dollars. But the 1 million proposed this year and just kind of overall. How much were of our thing to do is tat part of our schedule could added to it. Is It's not scheduled yet, but it's definitely something that we will look into. It sounds like a really important follow-ups. C had not good. We unfortunately you'll be first in line. We so you'll be first in line. I'm sorry. We're just we have 10 minutes left me of when get her to the size of the new only for constantly. So history look at general
fund spending. I can see in this light and just for breakdown of what that means for 2026. Dollars, they don't have the percentages on here. But you can see that the vast majority of Dsi is. But it is for personal followed by services and safe by materials. I'm so sorry to stop I I'm running a schedule and I realize that we will take an additional comment and question from constantly some of the remarks are made and the questions and give us some about 2 months ago, I have reached out. To administration also, director easy, particularly around getting a briefing on the opioid settlement dollars. I was informed that that was going to be in the budget
conversation. I'm not sure exactly which administration which department head is posted, provide In the no lack of the transparency. I saw that it was putting to ensure that we have to conversations with our with constituents. On the town Hall Council member Coleman cause present maker was there for the conversation coming from mainly community providers and Ramsey County was present as well. We have not heard back from Office of Neighborhood Safety about what their plan And I would say I do have a I'm happy to, you know, see that the opioid dollars are incrementally inside the size budget. But I
think this conversation is level funding really deserves attention and coordination. And like you mentioned, like the Joint partnership because it's not just incremental change like this is these one time funding are limited amount of funding that really deserves the thoughtfulness and intentionality in the - winter governmental, you know, partnership. So I just want to to mention that I am also here to hold the line to make sure that we get that that briefing from the administration as well. Sums are doesn't. Yeah, I council thank you for that. Thank you for comment on that earlier. I also spoke to some of the same challenges that we're facing a ton of protections. I overall just think like one of the things that I really want to
echo is te council's involvement collaboration and partnership on some of the things that are really important to us. And that's necessarily regarding to this. You have like, you know, this is the 700,000 of the pie is going to the U.S. I look like Asian. But the heart team and the work that our team does very supportive of, you know, someone who really wants to continue to see some of these initiatives, the community First Public Safety program initiative that I felt was very initially designed to respond to that facing here in the city has been our team. And so the ongoing nature of our team for me is like really important as a Interest. But I also want to make sure that like always get like opioid settlement dollars. We're seeing multi-million dollar funding source is make passing major ordinances that require
staffing and such that like it's not optional to partner with some of te offices that are leaning on the work. You know, I think that that would be really, really helpful to reiterate, you know, and this role where we have a lot of women and particularly women of color and I think it's really important and the partnership he's and the respect the constituencies that we serve and the rules that we have as well. So as that what we could potentially bring it concerns me t hear that your public safety not be able to get for the information of the opiate home just like it concerns me to be the chair of the nature the first black woman, chair of the jury unable to get information on to the protections. And I just want to name because I don't want continue to go unchecked. I think in so many different
ways and It's a common denominator. And I think I'm just so the tired of asking and backing for that partnership. The previous slide was related to general fund spending history. This is general fund financing and because tsa has a lot of fees for service that for the department. This is the historical look at that. The 2025 is through JULY. 30th. Those will be a little bit off as you because sea. Separate incident. But when we look at trends which will be coming I don't expect that escalate. To me. Things were activists. So spending, this is just a little bit further breakdown to other funds other than the general fund. City grants. You see Various from there. The special fund for to 11. And as you noted, that includes more
than just appeared to them and dollars to 11 is a a lie just like the general fund, this very has different county and it's within it. Assessment financing of payments that we per for that then go to. Tax assessment to recoup. Those costs charitable gambling fund be offloaded back in 2023. And as noted 6.45 recycling and organize trash tis. Proposed for 2026. Question from has pressed, Thanks. Vice PRESIDENT And not seen this any of the side. So correct me if I'm just missing it. But in terms of the summary of some of revenue. Are planning to increase our fees for permits for licenses, such the inflationary cost that we've experienced this past year. It is not part of the, a and why are we not
increasing those to just cover our costs in this year? Something for to talk about at the like we're going to fall. We'll get a follow-up on that. Historical spending. This includes all of counts just mentioned probably redo this press that comes in 2 different farms because having right my disparity, there is a little bit hard to read this graph Slow escalation ft summary Our teams are really divided into housing and economic development. But when? Rather than put every different accounting and here it seemed more profit, too. Can separate our folks into folks who are focused on housing and folks who are focused on economic development. There's certainly
a lot of crossover. That roughly a fifty-fifty press press. The department. The big change here is just the 5 fte is for. Okay settlement that are moves over to the opiate settlement dollars rather than the general fund. The negative for us because for us adding that one us. Unfilled positions. These are the states are approximate dates and I believe we used the requisition date for these states. And the positions that remain unfilled and the steps of And have a quick well, you just to follow over note for that, I think was slide 15 that just had the total fte summaries. What I've seen from other department presentations like the police and also the
fire really saw it helpful to have a breakdown because right here with the description saying Housing economic development as a council member, I'm not sure exactly what and competence thank you. Even with having if there's it can be like a number of fte is next of those boxes are some type of follow up with the breakdown of how many inspectors, how many staff and zoning, cetera, animal control. We really helpful. They have that saved on my desktop. So this is easy one follow. Back actually in the same format. But just as the ft is and that different activities, each of those sections performance. On the Air p project, priority give update on the pali and that
was big Part of that Match for Brick Grant. That's also where few fund. And so I did include grant on here. Allowed the purchase of those mobile devices so that I staff training and then so peas for. Remote virtual inspections and with the launch of politics that celebrated launch of - Polly, those are still in draft form. But as we get used to our new technology get from The sec financial assistance fo is we're finalizing the close out of that one. And then others are. Have been completed. And important to mention all the other work that our air p projects that Dsi benefited from where that our customers benefited from. And listed them here and that's because, yes, I wasn't responsible for
managing the funds of these programs, but they certainly had an impact the work that we can. For new trends changes and outlook. The is use on the graphic for the chart revenue has steadily increased. That was just for general fund. But if we look at all of the funds that Dsi collects revenue for, there very large amount of all say high dollar infrastructure investments that the city MAY that dsi now collecting permits. So island bridge storm water. That was a huge investment that was made several years ago. And has permits are applied for on the site they pay in to help recoup the cost of that. Those investments. Here, United, though it's not unite the green Infrastructure, Riverview and Water the sewer
infrastructure in the lift station. Those investments had to be made in order for that development to take off there because without the investments sewer and lift station wealth and people wouldn't be able to fresh fruits protection or so making those upfront are important. And yes, lax. Fees related to those upfront investments as permits are issued. Also just Polly was a huge one, huge investment. And then. The change from parks performing the garbage to address the needs and still acts to having a contractor perform that work. That was also investment that were starting to see it abatements. The recouping of that investments. Pause for questions Yes, thank you, chair. Thank you, Director
Easy. I just I appreciate you bringing up the Island bridge stormwater future. Which is a storm water feature, not a place to swim. I also make sure I say that publicly whenever I can. Did see more about the you know, since Highland Ridge is on pause and we're not as many permits being issued, do anticipate that and we're starting recover some of those cost. You think that will? Have even more revenue coming as kind of that. That site continues continues to build out the stormwater future. Also a cause building up. Because there's not as much storm water going into it. It's not a it's not the water is not flowing the way it normally would. And there's been a lot of buildup of lg. And so that's kind of been an issue, too. But hopefully now with more projects coming through, hoping that'll that
will improve as well. So I guess yet to see more more revenue coming through. Soon from that particular site. Thank you for the question. saying it's on pause would be news to me because part of the te permits that were entered for 2 projects for bridge. That included. Some very high dollar. Recouping of costs related to the green infrastructure fee. So Quinn was over $00,000 and another was over $160,000 a single permit to help recoup the costs of. Infrastructure. I wasn't part of the original planning and the cost recovery piece of that initial investment. But as I understand it, the the feet per square foot of land developed goes over year over year. So the further out we get the higher the cost for the prices for. Per square foot. That's just because
inflation. I mentioned the U.S.. The expectation that it covers the cost of the initial investment. Think a follow-up and that is probably us. Yeah, that sounds great. Yeah. In some projects around cars like they're lot of things moving forward. But there are a few few things that had been on pause that now not not on pause, which I think were the project's republic. Thank you. Because we're Thank you. A council vice PRESIDENT. Yes, the question really is for their turn to be Deputy Director Michel. With that have a station and just like the cannabis work overall, let's say we don't get State. So tax revenue that said we don't it doesn't do anything to alleviate some of the costs that this with me and tell what is the plan for funding
that? In the future? I guess on the city side. Thank you for the question. The funding that associated with this position is for the registration for tax revenue. So the registration fees are outlined in ordinance. Part of the briefing that gave the couple months ago and hopefully will come across cases desks for actual approval pretty soon. And for the testimony. But the registration fee is what is meant to cover the cost of this position. I do mention the sales tax because I would be remiss to not mention the sales tax that is no longer in state to help from the
activities that are associated with having cannabis business in our community. So. Yes, the registration dollars from the actual position. But to say that. Dsi is one position is the only thing that would be associated with the regulation of large change in our community, I think would be. Widely overstating. Thanks. Well, guys, Apollo, I guess like that's kind of what I'm getting at is like, will there be some sort of way that we're tracking our costs and like what it actually costs to? I'm not as this time, just been really good about the state and the federal government right now. In other ways, I'm just not as optimistic about relying on that as a funding source that I'm winning here. The local level with that, you know, if we do have that one employee. think that is funded through the he's how are we be tracking the costs that the
additional cost that incurred potentially budgeting for to know like what the actual full expense will be. O at least the projections or how it's going Yeah, and I mention it here because it's more of a citywide. Framework for that sales tax peace because the and the same can be said for. Unlike the licensing revenue that comes in right it helps fund other elements that support business licensing like police response and ems response and public elements related him side, walk cafes and all of that mean There's nothing the tsa does where we do in a silo. So the it's and that's where it all goes into general But the costs associated this, I think. tbd. And they're going to be from a lot of other
departments to. And it all depends on kind of how. So we'll That will be monitoring it for sure. And I will always advocate that some of that sales tax. Should be retained. To the city hasn't been a string supporting the business U.S.. As far revenue trends and changes. Expected to b flat or in elements of size business to be down example. That would be our fire certificate of occupancy program without having the historical data in our system. We're not able to keep in line with the legal requirements of notification and a proper notification to be able to do our inspections as we would normally do them. And so going to see a decline in some. Of
business lines and others. Makes increase. But overall, I think can plan for flat revenue expectations. we've got a question from Councilmember. Just thank you so Kim, thank you so much. Stricter ec. I just had a fall around the candidates. Sales tax. Is that something that we the council would see included our legislative agenda for next year. I think that's something for I guess, full the franchise fee, right? We weren't able actually utilize our leverage funds until state statute change. So is that something we can anticipate seeing? For dot that into our agenda for next year? Can expect that you will see that this case. Thank you. a quick question, sorry. Feel like I literally asked did on Monday. For slide 16. Can you kind talk us through what cause
different positions, the customer service specialist make sense. Well, this principal city planner connected to was that like a project? That's that. Can refreshment Rams. Sorry thank you very efficient. So principal city planner is within our zoning team and that's the pristine. So if you're familiar that was the position that she was in a She took a position with planning and economic development. So gracious enough to stick with some of the projects. But feel of that position is desperately needed. And it's really for those really large projects that hve a ton of moving United Village piling bridge. The Heights. Fees are the large things that that principal city planner really. Monitors. That also is that direct connection, that kind
of one point of contact to. From the development side to the city in order to make sure that connecting of the dots within the departments. Thank you. I really appreciated. Can suppress. Thanks as PRESIDENT. Just a quick follow-up on that director because will be. Hearing from director newborn talent and Equity Resources Department What what do you attribute the delay in hiring, you know, having vacancies in FEBRUARY or MARCH or APRIL, some of these I know are positions that. We talked about last year being really important to is that and the tr is that your department side. Is that just general interest? Is that mismatch of? Salary to position tell us more about what's what seems to be going on. Yeah, they're a little bit different. Skipped the for your safety inspector because that's super noon. Te
structural engineer has said posted for months and that's that's no joke. It was posted until there was applicant. We received applicant. Who would've been great foot, unfortunately except a different position. So still working with hr to get some creative ideas on how we can get that position filled. The inspector one. it notes that 4 were hired after the current list there's one more to go. So it's just the timing of. See Dsi inspector one there. 3 different units in the department that can hire off of that list. And so some of that is timing can who has greatest need being able to stay there. Some of that to.
And the skill inspector one you could be looking at to addressing the needs are you could responding to so inquiries. These vastly different work. But it's the same titles. So. Still working on that one. That one will probably go to a new list so be re posted. It is promotion a position be posted internally first before externally. The principal city planner position we had so rounds of interviews. So that just took longer than given the nature of that role, we really we needed to be somebody who is. Self-managed and able to work cross department Tully and
really bridge the gap between our customers needs and the city's needs so we just very diligent about that one. 50 just incredibly difficult to find somebody who's willing to work halftime on that role. But we did hire are too full times the list and the customer service specialists. Did interview candidates. Because the poly work was starting to ramp up for the front counter specifically right after that. They didn't move forward with any of their candidates for fear of not having the time to dedicate to training that higher. Unfortunately, we did not. Hire that person. And probably be if you can't 2026
for good. Many of their thoughts or questions from my colleagues. Other isn't. Yes, we've got budget officer committed and then we'll go to councilmember ugly. Thank you. Council vice PRESIDENT. I just wanted to play to find that they have a schedule update regarding the expense to county. However, that is no information available this time regarding an update on opioid settlements. Okay. Doesn't get sounds like there's a request to have it on schedule. But just thanks for I just I think the request was just for how many dollars are expected to come to the city in 2026. And I think we know that information we had presented to us in the past as to how many dollars would be coming in. And 26 so. I have much of a question,
but it's more. So it's kind of feedback. And it's my thoughts after hearing about the so the challenges hiring staff my office primarily, I would say Dsi complains requests for information. I like majority of my constituents are asking know they're easy. You see my e-mails and I know you've been had your hands full getting this piling up and running and getting through a cyber attack. So and I don't blame for the department's inability to get back me. But there is still huge gap and there is a still a huge boys at constituents are filling when they're reaching out to office and we don't have access to software to even get a simple information around when inspector had went our what was the status of an
inspection or what's the status of a complaint that comes from a constituent and they to see some type accountability. So whenever we can do to help recruiting. New staff to help lead, you know, ensuring the customer service demonstrates a level at excellence that is expected the city. I'm here to support Also here to support what ever worked. Workforce development. Investments to actually be able to know train. Our residents into these really valuable positions look to. No certain models actually retain think these are really incredible jabs act like you
mentioned, cvers all aspects of people's lives, safety and and and housing. But I just want to say that be remiss for any my residents who MAY be watching the million who MAY be watching and having a a presentation from dsi and I just want to ensure that we really, really, really need staff to be able to be on that front line. And have that follow up with constituents. I appreciate that. We feel the same. We don't have so right now. That is tracking complaints. And that's part of the historic data that needs to be converted. Like all-staff email to figure out who has touched something. We also have no ability to. To find out where it's once. On sme of these
desk and it's in their notes because we have no. Software to be able to track the complaints were because that was part of the. The remaining one-third that need to deployed. Related to complaints getting that. Nail down some elements for their summer. Not in that enough for them to be able to do the the full. Scope. Bt they also need to be able to get the last 2 months of work back into the system. So it's still in their handwritten notes. When they were out someplace, what they actually did, they've been issuing. Carbon copy. Orders. So, you you get one copy. I get copy. That's that's the level work that they're doing while not having something. Starting Monday Cheney will
go to chest. things I struck him, I just wanted to share my thoughts about the about the opioid Settlement Budget request, a presentation request for me personally. I would be interested in us having a presentation around it if don't have time to. Finally, our schedule is really full. It would be good to just get briefing like to e-mail Earth and even for sure. And then if customers want to want to want to think that big it to offer that up, too. I just have a few questions to follow. I was like 13 director we see for the general government special projects in 2025 adopted. There's about 1.6 million dollars and that cell there is for the homeless assistance response team. What what? What is that for? He just refresh us on that. I shook my head, the pledge
is part of it is shelter's response. Part of it The d federalized air p dollars. And we have to look at the budget book. But I think there's other thing failing to remember. Okay for those Okay. So the heart team that was fun to really, for this year, for example, is that correct? For 2025? Yes and no. So it was it is funded in the general fund. I is supported by the opioid dollars. 2025. So not all of the ftc's, part of the funding. You know, county unit, but it is. Converted from the general fund to that to happen. To that's that's a foot. I this is one that it will definitely put somewhere thoughts into.
One of the things do my colleagues to do is to conversations with county commissioners about this. I am also very supportive of our heart team and the ways in which we as a city have to have had to step up and step in to do the work that counted on government partners to deal. I at to wonder, how much of it is the car? I'd be getting our fair share of the work really in the house certain are we that? When we are putting in our own dollars that we are getting the service that other cities in the county are getting as well that we were not want to in the work. But just because they're putting in our own money tat the county's not counting us out basically in like I brought this up for so many other topics to like, for example, we have dollars, Florida home homeowners that broken that we have in our city to him. There's definitely like there's there's so much overlap and duplication. And I
just want to really mean that. And it I I just want to be really frank, that I'm not I the. I'm not certain that these answers are getting. These questions like in the answer really the way that we we want them to it. And I'm not also not certain how much work is really being put into analyzing all of this, too and saw I I have have had conversations with our commissioner in in the area that I represent just commissioners on. And if you really interesting the here, what other commissioners have to say about it, too, because for, know, like any program university, it's always up to us decide. Is this something that we want to have long-term inner city or there are ways in which we can really partner up and make sure that there is better and more effective coordination across government
partners and the latter is really what I am very interested in. And I really like to have conversations that the to be about this So if you have conversations for commissioners, really interesting hearing how the school. Also students. thank you, chair director easy. I just said a a comment I wanted to add to a counselor. Bree said I'm really supportive of the work that your department does and being able to fill positions. You know, for me the see the work that Dsi does is really about making sure that it's very much related to public safety regional councilor We also cares cares a lot about being the chair. That committee. It's about making sure that our buildings are safe in our infrastructure is safe. And it's just such important, critical work. And I know that. The experiences that have a staff of been really great. We
had a really challenging issue this year and a building in our city. And I request someone. From yes, I reach out to me and someone called me that day. And then off also joined a meeting with some vry concerned constituents in my ward, an arc and my constituents. And we're very, very appreciative of that. And so I know if we're able to fill these positions and really get the steps that we need and also move through this transition with Polly, which is a huge transition and takes time to like, rally, really gt the hang of for our staff and for our constituents that will be able to deliver the the services that constituents really expect from us. So looking forward looking forward to that. Any other? That's your questions from my colleagues. I think.
I will just sort of wrap on a similar Johnson is just continue continually in pursuant of and that is I think transparency and I think oftentimes are asking questions and looking for a little more accountability. You know, I am when he crosses council a nice to see women that look like the and women that don't look like the right. And I think the worst thing that we can do in terms of the relationship dynamic with departments and the administration is that we go back and we think is it because I'm a black woman on the council that is asking tough question. And so I know that's never the intent. But I want to let that opinion that and I just look at the partners of my colleagues and
again, and sure that is not the intent. But if that is the impact, that's one that I would really be interested in sort of the dressing in bridging with with all department staff. But having heard tat today, I just would be remiss chair of the bodies, not. Add my voice to support that. We will be asking tough questions. We will be very direct and that is certainly should never be taken as a detriment because of who we are at or what culture we come from or what nasty background is. So I want to listen up and it not the intent. But when we think about how difficult it is for women to lead, how difficult it is for black women to lead. I just want to name that. You have my complete support and sort of digging in a little bit mre about making sure that we have sort of kind of mechanisms of accountability when we're
asking tough questions. And and you have the full support. And on that very last Church on Snday, somebody's mail on Sunday regarding tenant protections. That is 100% my bed tonight. What dd that that up in our meeting together? Director, we see so I will I absolutely on that. That was sent to me within a timely manner. I did not look at it did not have a chance to champion your questions and because of that, you know, part of the process that we agree to was having having directors come to get those previews of those questions. And that's it. I haven't done it for your behalf as well. Director, we see. So I also want to project apologize and own that. That was a definitely oversight my part. But I will partner up continue to be a champion. I think the questions that you're asking you're directing good. So thank your time today. We are right at time. Full 90 minutes
just to receive. Thank you so much for your time and energy. And I think just like the robustness of this apartment, really appreciate your partnership. So thank you so much for your time. The council today. Thank without your