>> Well. Good morning, Wichita and thank you for joining us at our City Council workshop meeting today since we're here and It's not pretty agenda at that. The flag is here at would you please rise to say the Pledge of Allegiance? the Republic stands. Thank you again. Madam Clerk, please call the first item. >> Approve the minutes of regular meeting of February. 20th 2024. >> Council members, any discussion regarding the regular meeting minutes for February 20. >> Motion to approve. >> Second motion and a second. They She passes 7, 0, at place called the next consent agenda items one through. 26. Council members, questions discussion. Items to people. I see Motion to approve the consent agenda items. 126. >> I move approve this Senate giant items from one to 26 seconds. Police. >> Motion passes 7, 0, but a clerk please call the next item. >> of bits and contract state in February. 26 2024. >> Morning Mayor City Council Josh Lauber, Department Finance, Orbitz in contract to mean 2/26/2024. with the following recommendations. We have for engineering the Edge. Moore Park Plaza renovation for Barkley, Construction, LLC. But get bit total of $243,845.90. The purchasing. We have the application magnesium chloride near schools. Scott would Industries LLC and the amount of $67,675.17. We have 5 philosophy pump or apparatus for Conrad Fire equipment and the amount of 5 million, 697,207 dollars and $0.90. They have the variable frequency drives for and wells for Logic incorporated and the amount of $73,452. And $0.32. We have the John Deere Twenty-twenty a pro Gators for McDonald Golf Course for Van Wall equipment and the amount of $94,891.8. This is how to become a vendor with the city of Wichita. These are over request for proposals out on the street today. And I'd be happy to try to answer your questions. I recommend approval. Questions for staff. >> I see Is motion to approve? >> I move to approve basin contracts or conditions. I >> Motion. second, any further discussion. To pass a 70 and a of the next Petitions for public improvements. >> Good morning. Mayor City Council members, Paul Gausman public works and utilities for the record morning, I have one location Titian's for you. The signatures on the petitions represent 100% of improvement district. And the petitions are valid for Kansas statute. Brady and 53 0nd edition located in District 6. The project will provide water improvements. Storm water, sewer improvements in Senator Unser sanitary sewer improvements required for new commercial development. It's recommended that city council approved a new petitions and budgets adopt the new resolutions and authorize necessary signatures. And I will stand for questions. Questions for staff. Motion to approve. I move to approve. Any discussion. police in the role. >> Motion passes 7, 0, Adam please Councilmember appointments and comments. >> Are there any okay? We'll start with Councilmember title. Thank you very much. I would like to point to Naomi Thompson to the Cult Funding committee and I provided the name for the clerk. Thank >> Vice Mayor Ballard. I would like to point Stephanie Merritt reappoint Stephanie mayor to the food in from council. >> I have a list a. Appointees. start with 3 appointments. Bicycle and pedestrian advisory point reappoint Alan Taylor. Food and Farm Council reappoint on on Historic Preservation Board reappoint rally. New appointments. Affordable housing Rebecca Kiessling. Board of Park Commissioners, Doug Heye. Library board Sarah Balderas Rosemary Metropolitan Area Planning Commission just like And for council members, you know, appointments. For the NBC Councilmember Jaisol and Vice Mayor Ballard. This it which top Councilmember Glass Cup. And Wen. 2 new council members, Johnston and class caught Jaisol and title. motion to approve. >> Motion to approve the appointments. >> Any discussion? Police open the role. Motion passes 7, 0. clear. tournament. We comments Councilmember Johnson. Thanks, mayor. >> Just want to shout out our park and rec team. We had the table installed over Murdoch Park and I drove by yesterday and they were already some kids from families playing chess. So that was pretty awesome. Want to thank them. And Kansas, AARP, for the grant. >> Council member Valerie. Vice Mayor Valley. I just wanted to tell Councilmember title. Thank you for coming to my coffee. We have about 50 people on Saturday and it was awesome. We had lots robust discussions. So thanks. Coming to chat. thank you mayor, for coming to the by great on Saturday to that. City manager, Leighton for joining us. We a very good right and hopefully we can do it again sometime soon. Thank you. Council members, we will adjourn the for February 27th so that start workshop. Motion to approve that. >> Move to approve Motion getting a The manager probably thank you, Mayor. >> We threes important items for your consideration today. The first one is to ask you to review and endorsed the federal agenda. You won't be a actually voting on it today, but we just want to make sure moving the right direction. And then we have a legislative update from our lobbyist and the as you know, we're headed into a pretty crucial time in the legislature in terms of a deadline so more we would like to give an update so in turn over to Jim Jonas to introduce federal agenda. >> E the agenda item said state and a federal but it really is most of work. Today's on federal side with Jim Davenport. But as Bob its turnaround week, it's important time in state Legislature in Topeka. So we invited Morley to to give us an update. If you have questions for her of where things are headed to peak of Marley, you want jump in. >> Sure. Thank you, who live near council. >> Just a couple of quick items. It is. >> In turn around week, which means that >> It is half way of the legislative session. >> The House and Senate are out today and welcome back on Wednesday for the 2nd half once they come back, they will have 3 weeks to work bills in committee and then another week to work bills on the floor. Just to update you very quickly on a few items. grant fund. And is in the Senate budget. As of today, the full committee will look at that. The Sub committee is chaired by Caroline again. And she has recommended that the funding stay in. The House committee has removed defending from the budget, which we have, which we did expect. There is, however, a hospital. 27 23 that referred to the committee on Welfare. We expect a hearing on that March 5th that day could change. But we are anticipating a hearings that date or sometime that week. That Bill does have clawback provisions does require enforcement at the camping ordinances. Regarding passenger rail Senate bill 3.49 did pass the Senate and has been referred to the House Transportation Committee. We'll keep you updated on the. Hearing in the House. Regarding commercial air service. There is a proviso that is being drafted for to be put into the budget for the economic development and provisions for the commercial Air Service and we'll keep you updated on that. Looking at tax policy. There is a star Bronzeville that we need to pass or possibly be part of the proviso that will. >> Fun to start on speed sales tax fund. We're looking at maybe a standalone bill as well. That has been a proviso the last few years, Todd does have one star von District that. With the reduction in the food sales tax. There is a gap. And so so state is looking at filling that gap as well. So we'll keep a price on that. And the one wpd issue that is moving is House Bill 27. 55, which is the bail bonds still that did pass that. House on a vote of 69 to 49. It is being referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and we expect to hearing the week of March 11th on that Bill. Their local preemption bill and presenting governments from banning plastic bags and plastic products was pulled from the calendar in possibly will be worked after the turnaround deadline. The final issue I wanted to let you know about is the open item would. That would remove the ability to charge for open records. Request that Bill did not advance and has been stricken from the House calendar. With that, I'm happy to answer any questions. >> couple on the start on legislation. Is there anything in there? that's what the Lieutenant Governor was for Starbucks to help theaters. >> Yes, that is a part of the bill as well. >> And then House Bill 27, 55, that will be Senate judiciary that week of the 11 to set. >> We believe so. There's not been scheduled yet. But I'll keep you updated it when it is. >> Thanks Marling. We appreciate it. Know like to turn it over to Jim Who's our lobbyist in D C for those who own counsel have through this with Jim. No help a great. He's been his partner with us all get a sued in D C I a gym if you get a little bit of state of play of where Washington is currently and then move into his presentation. As with the legislative priorities. We don't want get false impression that that these preclude us from going for anything else. And Jim will tell us when there are opportunities for funding and grants opportunities for the city throughout. But to give an overview of some of the target pieces of legislation in grants are available out there. So, Jim, if you're on a police taking away. >> Thank you, and Jim. I think started you're going to pull up a slide deck in a moment. I believe. Okay. All right. I'll get started with the state of play and then I'll ask you to do so. Thank you mayor members of the city Council. Nice to see all of all obviously see everyone about 2 weeks. quick update on the National League of Cities. I already secured meetings center's Moran and Marshall. You have a Capitol tour with Congressman And you can do your meeting with him And we got a meeting with the Federal Railroad Administration as well. To talk about a couple of their grant opportunities that are of interest to the city. As it pertains to Amtrak. And I don't recall off the top of my head if we have another meeting scheduled or not, but that's that basic itinerary. Along with the dinners are finished off the day. So Washington. Let's talk a little bit about what they Supposed This Friday is the deadline. >> For the first tranche of appropriations bills to be finished. >> And we're not sure whether Congress is going to meet that deadline. If you remember, they have extended. Fiscal year 2020 for spending. Twice. Now. Through a continuing resolution. They had targeted March 1st. And as dates. To finish all appropriations bills. But there's been some last minute. Talking. But the House Freedom Caucus on the speaker on the new speaker. add some policy riders to the legislation. That just would not fly in the Senate or with the President Biden. So hopefully they'll come to a resolution on those policy riders this week. And get moving forward with. The appropriations legislation. What that means to Wichita. Number one, you have a project funding. 2 point 1 million up. I remember skews may. For a U.S. a 54 400, which is the Eisenhower Airport Parkway Project. Senator Moran put that funding in one the appropriations bills for the city. So we're waiting on those bills to be approved. So that you can get that money. In addition. Every program that effects a city. Whether it's a cdbg funding. Funding for the state revolving fund. Cops funding you name that. Everything is tied up in those fy 24 bills. So that's sort of the state of play on the appropriations process. Things are developing. Pretty much every hour and all continue to update you. Receive our tip sheet in the morning. For some of the do and that kind explains the daily ongoing is on Capitol Hill. there's any questions about that. We can pause for a moment. Before I start on the power point. >> I think we're good. Jim, thank you. I want to pull up the power point. Yeah. You have logic. >> There it is. Okay. You're you're good, Jim. >> Okay. I said no. Thank you. I mean, just expand my screen. OK? Thank you. Okay. This is what's 2024. Federal priorities that I've been talking city manager and your staff about. And city council in the past. And these are been ongoing. And there's maybe 2 in here. I think there >> But let's start with captain Skate skis. Make Cascade Creek watershed. This is a project that the city has twice. If not 3 times. Applied for a brick grant. And brick is building resilient. Infrastructure and communities. It's a grant that is run. Through FEMA, but Kansas Department Emergency Management. So you've been denied grant funding, least twice. As I said. >> so this year we talked about trying to secure congressional funding. Through Senator Brandes office. >> I have sent a law. >> Some information that we will need to pursue that request. And we need to know weather. A smaller amount of money. Would make a dent. And think it's a 40 million dollar project. we need to continue to discuss the path forward. And whether we want to seek that funding from Senator Moran. That makes sense. Next level. This is the project I mentioned a moment ago. Senator Moran has secured funding for this project for the city. It's tied up in Fy 24 spending. You've also gone after a raise grant for it. We've secured congressional support for the raise. Grant. So I think we're making headway in this. I don't know if I have much more to say on that right now. Next slide up. This is a project that the city has put the front of me. Weekends, seek congressional funding. For this project through Senator Moran as well. And let me pause for a minute. The reason I'm I keep saying Senator Moran. It's because Senator Marshall and Congressman Estes did not pursue Congressionally directed spending. Senator Brandes on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is the perfect spot for him to be. For congressionally directed spending. And he does go after these projects. So we'll talk to his staff about this. Next slide. Please. 21st Street corridor. The city was awarded the first 1 Billion. For the planning portion of the project. Through the reconnecting communities planning Grant. That now allows you to go for the next step of the grant program. Which would be construction phase or implementation. And I believe you're going to go out to that this year from correct. And we'll work with you to review your application. It letters of support we set your senators and members call over to DOT. And if there's any clarifying information you need from DOT, we're happy to get important. Next lot. One of the first projects I started to work on to the city when you all retain Maine. This project I believe he's been a tremendous success. Given that we had no money when I started yet very little toward the project from the federal government. And then the last I think 3 years. We've received 12 Million. That's true. the Bureau of Reclamation spend plan. And at the urging of Sen Rand. He's put language in one of the Senate appropriate appropriations bills. For the project and that's really pave the way towards us getting some money. So we'll continue to work with the bureau. And Senator Rand and you and the rest of your congressional delegation to go after funding for this project. Next slide. Please. And track extension. Also, one of the first projects we've one initial projects that was brought to us by the city and the county. We secured K went after corridor identification grant. These are this is a new grant from the bill program. And they secured 500,000 toward the planning grant. So the next steps are additional applications. To those new programs to bring Amtrak to Wichita. I'm in regular contact with Amtrak here in D C. you know, they keep me apprised of what Kate going after. And what we're going to do when you're in Washington is talk to the Federal Railroad Administration. About other types of grants that can support Amtrak's extension and Wichita. And we've got that first thing in the morning. Next slide. This is a newer project that's been brought to my attention. I don't have as much information about this. I'm not going speak to it. But we are familiar with the low. No grant funding. There's about 3. Other programs that I can think Pertaining to solar panels we transition for electric buses and so forth that we can talk all about that. Sometime after this meeting. Next. Lot. And of course, is on every local governments mind right now. Public affordable housing. Congress is. there was talk about the increasing the low-income housing tax benefit or tax credit. In new is tax bill. That bill is not moving right now. Other than that, Congress is sort of there's all these ideas floating around about how to build affordable housing. But we're not a good position pass any type of significant legislation to do that given. The dynamics on the Hill right now. And I think that might be a certain other I question >> I have 2 things I'd like to bring up and maybe chat about. First off. It's good to hear from gym. I look forward to seeing you again here couple of weeks. I'm wondering if one were talking to the railroad administration, if we can bring up oh, wait times or the railroads park over our tracks for 2 hours at a time and traffic up for a couple of hours. This is something I think obviously there's a lot of discussion around how the railroads aar ran nationwide with some of the derailment and whatnot. But I know this is a particular issue in my district and a couple of other districts as well. So sure. So I want to bring that up in discussion with them. The second thing I'd like to add possibly talking to our representatives and our senators about the process at the Post office goes through in regards to moving mail boxes to the curb after dog incidents. I think ours are being moved at a rate that's far exceeding the national norm and there's a lot that goes to to follow that people have been the bear. They're the burden of the cost of moving the mail boxes out there. Some of the incident I think are being overplayed. So I would like to have a discussion with our senators or representatives like that. We can follow with some further. So statistics and guidelines. And I know Ali is Councilmember Johnson. I believe a few other. The council members had this concern as well. definitely councilmember hizo Jim, good to see you. Talk to you as always. Just to add some more specifics to that. What we have found from this postmaster is when there is alleged incident of the dog attack. And I say alleged because this last one wasn't actual attack. >> They had agreed to potentially work with us to give notification to neighbors on the first ones to that. And then the second incident sent out a letter basically stating that mail service would stop going to the mailbox attached to the House potentially, to a mailbox that needed to be placed by the cur and on the 3rd instance of an attack, mailboxes would be consolidated into one space. This postmaster said that the cost of that was $1500 to do so and that they would never reverse that trend. And it's really impacting seniors and those with disabilities, especially when it's cold to have to go a block or 2 to go get their mail. And before they could get it at their house. We're also told in a meeting with the postmaster that they were trying move that throughout the city of Wichita and their newest order of were not equipped to handle curbside mail delivery. So they are essentially trying to move away from model. And that's a problem for many of our neighborhoods in especially our seniors. >> Jim, great to hear from you. Looking forward to seeing you in a couple weeks and to councilmember whole has all this is just a suggestion. We can certainly check more after this. But they had a meeting with one of Senator Grant staff last week who is responsible for all of his postal work. so it might be good if we could try and schedule a time and I can step out and just give you the the introduction, whatever you prefer. But I think if we may met with the staff person just to get him up to speed and he will be in the meeting with us. What Senator Moran might be helpful in might make some more progress that we and he can get Senator Rand to speed. So if you're interested in that, after this. Appreciate that. Thank you. it was about to one of our postal with post offices in my district and a pothole. So we had a whole meeting about it ended up being very, very productive and get the situation resolved pretty quickly. And then I just wanted to say regarding their federal priorities and very excited. And I'm sure that our director of public works and our city engineer is as well to see the red. But Pat completion in this something that I've been working on for the 5 years that I've been here and hope to see this past come to fruition Councilmember Johnson soon. So thank you. Looking forward to seeing you didn't. >> I have 2 quick questions, Jim. This is a council Glasscock look for to meeting coming up soon regarding the chips funding act. Is there an update on Does the city need to lean and to make sure Integra secures funding? What is the status update for chips funding? >> Up ship's. There's a lot of moving parts of the They would probably be better if I. Sent you some information. Maybe after colleague actually. Actually represents Integra. If you're not aware of that so we we. working on that project. >> think you my second question would be under housing concerns. I cannot find on here for the portability of vouchers. Have we ever discussed what Porter Billy looks like from the federal a-level and whether or not there's pros or cons to the city allowing portability? Well, the federal government mandates that we do so if portability is in the best interest of the something that we want to address. >> I'm sorry that some ear to the council. It would be more to you first off, if they're if we address portability. I didn't see it listed under housing as part of the housing choice voucher. I also don't see Sally here. So able to answer that question. But we take an opinion that currently. >> personally don't recall that being brought up the store. >> The manager, do you know if that's been brought up as a priority? The council Pryor. >> Affordability, Portability, portability. I'm sorry. No, it hasn't >> They'll be something that would look They'll be interested talking counselors about I know a solid brought it up in one of our meetings regarding how there's disadvantage. someone gets a housing voucher here, they ported to New York. There's high rent costs. We pay the rent costs for than living in New York. But it takes away one of our vouchers here locally so I have some concerns about that. They're only be able to be addressed at the federal level. I'm good with that. >> Thank you, Council. Thanks, Jim. Appreciate it. Thank you. Everyone. See also him. >> Okay. that's it for our state and agendas. The next has to do with cultural arts and I'm going to turn over to Lindsey, but not we have 2 items for you. We have a preview of the cultural arts strategic plan, but also happily discuss the results of the arts and economic prosperity, prosperity study. >> Good morning. Mayor Council. We've got a lot to cover this morning. It's at 2 years worth of work that we're really excited to share with us. So bear with me, we're going to talk about lots of fun things, but it got handful of slides to go through just a quick just brief. Did everyone received a copy of this gorgeous document? Get okay. So we'll dive into this a little bit later. But before we get there, we thought would be important to really talk about recap of what we did in 2023 couple weeks ago. I was here to talk about festival's contracting. There are some questions about her annual reporting structure and we have some some great kind of overall data that we received from all of our various community partners. With that your reporting structure. So we'll dive into that kind of to kick off the conversation. Really looking at what is the Division of Arts and Cultural Services It's kind of hard to explain because we navigate a lot of different areas across the city city of which ties organization and the variety I can be a partnership. So that we facilitate an and help manage contracts for so this pie chart is kind a general overview as get through today's discussion about what it is that the city does in terms of arts and cultural services. We own and operate several things we have privately manage organizations and we have a lot of different admin administrative support programs as well as just special pop up here and there what we do for the sake of today's conversation goes, what we look at is our public art collection or cultural funding program, which is how we distribute resources to our partners and then the management of our cultural institutions as well. So the recap from 2023, this is kind of a very a bridge to annual reports at the city's cultural funding program in particular is and our support for cultural institution. So those are competitive grants organizations like the Art Museum. The Aviation Museum, the Historical Museum and the list goes on oppose, really exciting to get the totals from all of our partner organizations and in and the ones that we own and operate to really see the breath of services and events that we're providing throughout the community. So from like a very macro, a few we had over 1.5 million attendees to arts and cultural events and 2023 over 4,000 of those events are completely free for visitors and our residents. There were 10,000 well over 10,000 paid events available of those 10,000 events we had over 600,000 attendees to those paid events. And then I like those last couple steps there about the amount of artists who are actually paid for their creativity, based artists we had over 1000 local artists paid for their creative services and our partner organizations invited 432 artists from outside of which had direct county to share their creativity with our community. And then just of note that this does not include century to our And this also doesn't include a whole bunch of organizations were doing really stellar work in the community. So between our operating grants cultural institutions represents about 36 organizations. When we know there's over 70 nonprofits and arts and culture sector and which So this really is just really small snapshot of the work that we do. So our community is just crushing it terms of arts and cultural services. Lindsey, I the answer to this question, but I just want to confirm when it says number of attendees, I'm assuming that's not unique encounters rate. >> So like I could 10 times. So I would be in their 10 So if we don't track all of that, but I just want to make this is general admission and special particular. So this could be outreach events or it could be going to a facility or riverfest are going to an event. Thank you. So we had some updates and kind of change isn't strategies. And our public art program in 2023. >> I'm kind rewinding a little bit backwards towards the end of 2022, we hired a new public art manager. Jenner went. I really spent the last year really assessing our public art collection and making sure that we had a competitive bid process for public art program at the tail end of 2019, we passed a new ordinance for the percent for art program. So a portion of all capital improvement projects budget go towards public. Art. We really saw to that ordinance taken in 2023. and we were really pleased that we're able to offer 11 rfq sorry, a competitive applications for for artists to participate our public art program. We utilized a new platform called Call for entry or we affectionally Call Cafe which is the national kind of standard for artists are looking more creative. Our consultants are looking for public art opportunities. So that's just put a huge new window on the city's public art opportunities that that we've received a ton of applications probably more than we anticipated, too. But that's a good problem to have over 700 artists from across the country applied into car or public art program for various projects. A handful of our projects worth local. Only some of them were national calls at the water treatment facility. We're really looking at expanding that that we definitely had projects only looking for local artists as well. And then we had 2 projects that kind of came in before instituted best practices to projects had artists selected with the prime consult at the big process, which is just another way to camp to somewhere function. The graphic you on the right of your screen is at ongoing rfq that we have right now for a public consultant for the West Bank Riverfront Development Project. So that's an example of kind advertising that we're doing to making sure that when we have these opportunities that anyone who's interested can successfully. I know about and can that about them as well. And if anyone is watching this presentation are interested in how to become involved in our public arts sector. We also the public art registry artists art consultant or anyone in the industry can apply get on our mailing list. So when we have a caller bit go open, you get notified that, hey, there's this new opportunity up and running. So we're really pleased outreach. And the impact was able to have with our public art 2023. And question. >> One of the things that but we took a tour that was shelled. Waterworks public air and we asked the question regarding maintenance. So because of bought signage from capital projects going into public art. Is that also going maintaining the public? Are that the ones that we already have? >> Thank you for that question because that's definitely something that we're considering as we're growing our collection. Can we keep up with it? And can we maintain that? We have short answers can yes, I know a part of the ordinance that was passed late 2019 was that the design Council could opt to spend a portion of our capital improvement dollars on maintenance. So this is actually our first year of using a portion of that that cip percent for money for maintenance itself. It's a little bit over $100,000, plea for park maintenance. Our general operating budget has about $25,000 for for public art maintenance. And then we had a $50,000 contract for our conservation where we have a conservator CA Mau waxes the bronzes on basis gives us an assessment so, yes, we do have an art maintenance budget. We have over 300 plus pieces that are our collection. So it doesn't go very far. When you look at that that he wants and the uniqueness of our sculptures and fr I'm here all throughout the community. So for example, the keeper of the Plains, we did. We did some restoration in the plaza. over the last year. That project was about $25,000. Just to do that project alone. So that one project can sweep our maintenance budget pretty easy. But then when we look at our collection at large were really kind comprehensively. Looking at what needs to be done right now for says Wait, what would be an additional cip project are stand-alone project. So we're working through all those challenges, but we are taking care of the collection that we have. >> guess point dollars need to be spent on maintaining we currently have. I think that's what heard from a lot residents regarding our infrastructure for public So if that can part of the moving how we can. With 300 plus keep maintaining what we currently have versus always thinking about creating something new. >> Absolutely. I of Sir Alex missile SoCal that from absolutely. We have maxed out our existing funding models for the amount of the ordinance funding that can be spent on maintenance has been maxed out. So staff believe that we've put in what we can and the design councils approved the max a lot and forming because we we we definitely agree. All right. There's no other questions on kind of where where we were last year kind of where we're going. We'll dive into our cultural planning process. So a little bit of background is that we've had a culture alert, strategic plan of some sort since about 1994 when we had our first plan created. It was later revised in 22,008 and then 2013, we received a large that outlines our cultural funding program and has been the same since since then. All 3 of these documents really set the pathways for the city to support advanced the creative sector in which I'm I'm very proud of the work that the city has done over the last few decades in the sector. But definitely it's time for. To look at revision and what could coming next. So what is this culture alert? Strategic plan exists for several reasons. But just for the sake of today's conversation, the document that we prepared, it's to provide vision and direction for the city's division of Arts and cultural services and really define our role within the local community. It clarifies the scope of public and private partnerships are funding models and some aspirational goals. And I really ensures the sustainability and vitality of the local local communities, cultural offerings. Why do we need a new plant and specifically white? And we need one right The document that you've received has a handful of pages on this, but from a very large overview, justice system is changing in I mentioned kind of in earlier slide that we fund about 36 organizations. Currently, we know there's over 70 working in the sector. We've just grown very significantly over the last handful of years. And we want to make sure our plan is reflective of the work that's being done in the community and that local organizations have an opportunity partner with the city received funding from the city are really kind of aligned themselves with the work that's happening across the sector with also had some really significant leadership changes across our local arts community which have just fostered a need for change and the inevitable change that comes with new leadership. So from about a dozen nonprofit organizations and the institutional category. We've just seen as prolific change in leadership that we want to make sure that we're keeping up with a new direction that our community is going in the creative sector and particularly the performing arts sector is really struggling to come back from the pandemic. So we're subscription audiences at all of our performing arts spaces. But we know that the performing arts center first to close down in the pandemic and there's the slowest to return as we want to make sure that we have a plan and some strategies to help support that sector. We'll talk about the bullet point number 3 in a little bit. When we talk about art and economic prosperity study. But then also now is the time to preserve and celebrate our rich cultural heritage. So last year we really groundbreaking public art moment in parks moment with the unveiling of Chester. I was Park. That's a great example is really preserving and celebrating our history. There's more projects in the pipeline along these lines. And we really want to make sure that that's part of the direction that we're going in and the tail making sure that we're keeping up with our public articles and goes for a to sign. Our methodology and process for this process It's really been about 2 years since we started the creation of this 5 year plan, but just a boatload of work and strategic engagement happened. We contract with Wsp is public policy Management Center. UPMC in May of 2022, the planning process included a whole bunch of different community engagement, a sessions and opportunities. We had a steering committee just a really wonderful and met about dozen times or so reviewed all the documents throughout the process. We'll strategic focus groups. We have 9 individual or small group interviews. They held a public information session and we had a public survey both in English and Spanish that had just shy of 700 responses. We also did in-depth research your cities, inspirational cities that we're looking to What are they doing right? That we could piggyback on. So we did a lot of in-depth research. And then although it wasn't part of this planning process, we were conducting this up 6 study at the same time. So we're working very closely with our local art and But arts and cultural providers in the community by showing up in a lot of their events and having strategic engagement. So that wasn't part of this project. We're working very closely with community over the past 2 years. Do all There are some trends that emerged. So when we asked this question a variety of different settings, what does a thriving arts community look like in which a preface it with the rezoning to the common theme was we had a thriving arts community, but almost everyone agreed that there are opportunities for improvement. So this is a you can find in the appendix drafted plan. But Paul highlights here are that we want equitable support for all the forms of art and culture. So not just highlighting one form of art over another that residents are aware of cultural art happenings in the community and that their experiences are available and accessible to all communication calendar. knowing that things are happening was a top. The back point that we received that these there's lots of things happening in the community, but we hear about them after that. after they happened. So just making sure that we're aware of whats happening was a big team and then obviously the discussion around performing arts center was not lost on our survey. Participants our community members that spoke to throughout this project. And then finally, our cultural funding process to ensure that it's inclusive and supportive of those making an impact in the community. I am very pleased to share that we have a drafted, a mission and vision statement before I read those, I do want to just highlight our cover for this work. This is a what I think is a very stunning image by local artists Avenue. As also goes by the artist's name, graphic CD item on Instagram and he's got a great Web site Evan stories really unique. I met a minute arts mixer, which is a program that we He's a young Native American artists who just graduated from WSU last year shortly after he graduated his father, unfortunately passed away like so many in vulnerable situations. He found himself and housed and I'm pleased that he's found stable housing. and that he has a new full-time job as a graphic designer. But I think he's a perfect artist for us to have cover image because the vulnerability and the fragility of young emerging artists in our community is exactly what we're trying to preserve and as planned to make sure and then as an artist so we can retain our community and that he has professional and creative off. for certain street. So really proud of this and thank you. Haven't for for sharing it with our community. Our mission statement, we believe is to ensure that everyone has equitable access to cultural arts opportunities by activating and strengthening the creative potential of our community. And our vision is bolt. We want which had to be recognized as a community. Artistic expression is an integral part of the city success. drive and cultural heritage is preserved and celebrate it. We find areas of focus that are lovin throughout the plan to ensure that all residents have equal opportunities to engage in cultural arts to address the of our city on cultural arts facilities to engage strategically with historically underserved populations. Stimulate the creation of new cultural opportunities and artwork for the community and identify or anticipated partners. All of this work. We have 4 goals and I'll dive into them a little but I won't bore you with all nitty-gritty because you have a copy of the plan with you. But we have 4 goals. The first goal is to increase participation president specifically those historically underserved and and culturally diverse and cultural art opportunities and happenings. Our second goal is to strengthen the capacity of the division within within the community. And Arthur goal is to increase the impact of city-owned cultural arts assets and facilities. And then our 4th goal is to support efforts to stimulate the creation artwork and cultural opportunities. So to dive into each a little bit with some of the objectives and strategies whole remind anyone that's watching or listening that this is a 68 page document. So there's a lot of meat here that we're going to gloss over. encourage everyone to to look at the document full. Our first goal to increase the participation of residents. We have 2 objectives here to to really increase and ultimately track those underserved residents who may not have access to cultural art opportunities. then on the flip side, we hope to remove those barriers are find ways to target those ZIP codes to ensure that there is a connection point for those to it access and appreciate those opportunities. Our second objective is to improve communication with residents and build brand recognition for the division at this goes back to that. That communication side of things that there lots of things that are happening in the community great, but people just don't know about him. So we want to make sure we we can build out listings on our social media. And art are different engagement opportunity so that we can share what's happening and I guess where we come into play in the sector we're kind of a puzzle master for everything that's happening in the community. We might not be present in everything, but people do look to us to say like what's going on around. I'm interested in this. Do you know of anyone that's doing this type of worker, this type of event that we can put them in the right direction. >> Can you talk about that community calendar? What currently exists and help maybe that also incorporates or collaborate which it as love to sew this, hasn't really great outward-facing calendar. But it's really everything that happens in the community. It's not sector specific. So. >> It includes sporting events and major tour is happening at the request from the community is really an art and culture locally Centro centralized calendar, a specific to say performing arts. So I can know what the other productions are happening this weekend or this month. So something that's a little bit more isolated it into sector. What we do have that we started last year is an internal community calendar for arts partners. So it's not for the general public. It's really just to make sure that we're not stepping on each other's toes with major events your signature event is going to be this state great on mind this week or oh, you're going to be doing the show we were thinking about doing that showed now we to kind of pivot and go go a different direction. So that's been really helpful internally for community or arts leaders across the sector. But we hope to develop a public place inside of it. There are some efforts in the private sector with some the name escapes me at the moment. Community Foundation funded some some different in this area that we're really excited about that the potential to have a theater critic in our community and some news releases and blog posting that strategic to the cultural sector. So we know that this is happening elsewhere in the community. We don't intend to be the sole provider of this, but we want to help the a puzzle master to get information to the public. All right. Fine into her second goal to strengthen the capacity of the Division of Arts and Cultural services. And this kind of flows nicely after that last discussion point, are 2 objectives here to increase funding sources and resources for the cultural arts. So we want to explore all over current funding baselines and percentage increases. We want to make sure that we're leveraging private contributions were applying for and receiving Mark Rance. We have that high. At least 4, 5, grants outstanding right now with the national down at arts. And we're looking at some national down communities, France. So will we likely will come to this body at some point requesting funding increases. We want to make sure that we're also looking at all other a funding opportunities that we can leverage public and private dollars. Anyway, we can. We want to make sure with that percent for art program that was passed is working and really assess it to see if there are modifications that need to be made. Now that we're seeing how it works, we want to assess her funding structures, structures and our market rates for all of our cultural arts needs and facilities. So really looking at rental rates, everything that we're doing across our business structure to make sure that we're maximizing their potential. And then our second objective here is to create an efficient and effective workplace environment for the division. So this is really internal just to make sure that we're addressing and streamlining our church services across the division and across the city as an organization previously, we've it manage star weeks. This kind of in unique spot within the city under parks and recs sometimes under city manager's office. Sometimes so that that phone, administrative services, we just want to make sure streamline to make sure that our invoices, honor alright contracts are processed in a timely manner. So just that's really an internal opportunity. Let's sorry, other question, go for >> There are 36 out of 70 organizations which arts sector. What about when you buy that? It so. Speak to how many board that would and that that question following back would be we have reconsidered opportunity of seen how we could leverage opportunities that so that shared services or or just efficient by to sure. >> I might. that second question its name and or to because I know discussions have happened to some capacity for the first time. That question is maybe it does counties support any of these organizations. Are there additional organizations across the county? Additional time? I don't know off the top of my head, the amount of arts organizations that exist outside of city of Wichita proper, but within the But definitely more. You know, we have a lot of community theaters and arts council's within the surrounding community area from Cedric County. Kind of as a business model. They do find a handful of organizations at the top of my head T camera Fest expiration place that has such a county sue. I'm in different way than the city does so there is some duplicity in those services, it's really for it from my outside the plan that the county structure and a little bit different than how we operate. But some do have to a funding from Cedric County and the city. The county does not have a competitive grant program the way the city does so for an arts organization to receive county funding, it really has to exist within their current umbrella. I will offer Kaufman said on our steering committee for for this project because we want to make sure that we're we're not competing against each other, but we're really leveraging public assets across the board. So from what I can tell, they're following our lead a little bit. And whatever happens with this planning process to afford. >> few years the city staff and county staff got together along with that was shot states P p m C and went through an exercise to look at what emerged, Park, recreation and Cultural Services Department will look like I if I remember right it took about 9 to put the plan together and we reached agreement at the staff level. However, we were not successful and actually incorporated into our budget as if we were to have emerged apartment. The county did it would did not incorporated in their budget at the time. However, it's my understand elected officials are indicating that they'd like to consider that this year and have discussions and in fact, we have that heat up as maybe topic for a non bonk this spring or early summer. >> The about the thank you that a little bit more to that. chairman of the city county commissioners, Bryan Beatty, and I've met several times and also with city and county staff just to keep the conversation going. So and it's my understanding to that. We would like to have on back later this spring. So steps are being taken to move forward. >> Is there any savings identified with that? >> The commitment we made during the process was that any savings that was generated in there would be some in administrative positions and maybe some field positions. pretty much at the management level, any savings that we generated would go back into the cultural arts. That was one of the basic premises as started effort and the mayor and council at the time had endorsed that Of course, all it will be up to you and the county commission determine what the parameters are. If we do go forward with the >> Thank Okay. We're about halfway through articles care. Number is to increase the impact of city-owned cultural arts assets in facilities. And Maryland comes from a glass Kirk. I think section will speak 10, making sure that we're maintaining what we have another, our local assets source of community pride in excess Our second objective here is to increase the number of cultural facilities and assets available to meet our communities need so we've got a lot of really wonderful facilities that we are really products that are used to the max capacity. But we also know that there's a need for additional facilities across the board. So one just example, one of the projects that were heavily involved with his adopted for use of the Central main library building. And then also looking at what could a new performing arts facility look like the expansion of pop around and then looking collaboration with non-traditional venues as well. Our 3rd objective here is to establish which ties a regional hub for cultural arts. This is very inspirational, but there's a lot of national lists accolades that we would like to go after to make sure that but shes not best kept secret in this area that we can really be recognized. So thinking about that communication side of things just a little bit ago looking at having a theater critic for community is really important because currently don't happen. Which means week are her local production house is urging incredible theatrical works but not be eligible to be in the running for regional Tony Award, although we're doing the production quality. We want to make sure that we have opportunities in an ecosystem that can import that can inform and be part of those top accolades, which our and our local artists that are doing this work are definitely deserving of an could compete. at that top level, but we just don't have the infrastructure right now in a couple different areas to get there. So we want to be supportive of a building those infrastructures and to make sure that we can be recognized on a regional and national level. And then our 4th and final goal is to support the efforts to stimulate the creation of new artwork and cultural opportunities. So this was really special to me because it's very easy to talk about the canon of the arts industry, your Shakespeare, your NUTCRACKERS and we love the cannon. But we also want to make sure that we're providing opportunities for for artists to create new work. The creation of Newark comes at a lot of risk significantly, the financial risk because we know they're not going to sell apartments is or sell at work. But we want to make sure that there's opportunities for the creation of new artwork within the community. So we have one clear objective here, which is really linked to our cultural funding program to really work with our partner organizations to increase the number of paid professional opportunities for artists and arts organizations in the community. So really elevating that financial side of what we do to make sure that for allowing strategic investment for the creation of new work and also to making sure that we're having accountability on the back end of that. We're incentivizing the development of new work. I'm part of this is the development of a public. Our tool kit set. Our local artists can successfully bid on and be competitive in public art program. And we want to do things like explore, establish explore establishing housing isn't units at a lower rate than market values for visiting and local artists. that we heard from a handful of of art organizations is that when they're bringing artists in the town? They have great opportunities. But there's no one know where to put them. Even Airbnb industry. You're there tell there, just aren't the rooms. Are the units available despite the talent and opportunity being here? So the conversations that you're having across the park board are not unique. To that arts and culture sector. So that's a very high level overview of our planet the timeline for it is it is a 5 year plan. We recognize that there's a lot of lofty goals in here to make to accomplish them will take a coordination with the community and some resources over the next 5 years. We do anticipate having progress Reports made annually to the city manager and City Council in the form of an annual report. So we're tracking this. So we do want to make sure that this plan doesn't just sit on a shelf, but it's something that we're working through over the next 5 years. It is Week. If we have leap day this week. So we have one bonus day this year to accomplish some of this work. So even though we're coming in already a couple months into October, we're going we're not going away. Stepped on the stage as well. And with that, our next steps are to present a till today and receive feedback on the direction that we're headed in tonight, we have claim, a state of the art event, which is a public opportunity for local artists, community members, general public to come and hear more about this plan and also about the art not prosperity study. So tonight at at century to in the concert hall will be presenting this to the public and then will be carrying all the feedback that we receive making the edits. And then we plan to seek city council approval sometime in March or early April to pan how to counter false. That's our our timeline. And next steps. I paused there to see if there's any questions or direction from council on the plan before we dive into that, the financial side of things. One is a quick question. You mention. >> Excuse voice. Terrible day that this evening there's the event to provide feedback. What other opportunities with community have to provide feedback aside from that, CD. >> So we've we've done a lot of strategic engagement throughout the So we do feel like we it. We've had those opportunities that have created. This plan has says, by all means anyone welcome to reach out to their city council member or to anyone in my office to help adviser have been testing out. Look for other options. Obviously someone attending tonight's event is probably a strong supporter of the so how can we engage all citizens going Be a question I would have as their and >> Online survey that people can take what are other ways possible. >> That's a great idea. We can definitely work with our communications team developed that I will say the draft or the plan is live on our website clash, arts and where you can see the draft and fall and we can we can create a polar. We can talk with the comms team to see what look and I have to get engagement on how people are feeling about the plan will thank you for work on this. >> Lindsay, I one question one comment first. Thank you for the presentation thus far. My question did I hear correctly that the survey was done and it said that we should better adequate performing arts facility. Just a question. For the 2% for the I was. >> I appreciate >> effort to use some of those funds to maintain. >> But I think personally speaking for myself, I would like to see the effort public works says on our facilities. They have a list of what those needs are. And then that becomes a cip item. I think the 2% should be used more so no heart. I know we need to maintain what we have. But the whole goal of the 2% was to increase our. collection and opportunities for local artists. So I would like to see more of that used for the new art. And then as we look at the needs of the current art collection, make that a cip item accounts. A look at every year. >> Absolutely. Can do. Lindsey, thank you for all your work and decided to suspend a labor of love for you, especially with some of the other challenges that we've had within our culture station with some folks leaving us. But and just a fantastic document. You can tell us very well thought out. I love all the data, including this, the Dem aggressive demographics of the folks who responded. But one of my favorite things is that you are very forward thinking you anticipated partners are ready. And when I looked at the list of partners, I would not have thought of some of the ones that you included. I'd love to sing trained to done here, for example, in some of our other non for profit agencies within the community. So just really great work to you and your team in all of your efforts are very much appreciated. And that look for to adopting the plan next month. >> All right. We'll dive into the next part of the presentation, the final. But I I think probably one the most exciting part of the presentation is art and economic prosperity study or will be calling to AP 6 for the sake of this presentation. So 86 national study that work with Americans for the arts on completing this is a 6 economic prosperity study the Americans for the arts have done. We have Randy Cohen here all introducing a moment. So that last bullet point we're talking with him yesterday that were not but positive, that which I was part of that first it or ration of it. But we definitely have been involved in the AP study for at least 20 years and have a lot of great feedback and study results to show the growth and progression of our arts and culture sector. Specifically the nonprofit sector. So city of Wichita, this hear it when the study was completed 2022. we are one of municipalities, regions across the country that was involved in the study. So when we look at kind that, McFarland said the last the Times we've conducted this study, you can see that the rapid growth rate from 2005 from the A P 3 to the 2000. 22 23 AP 6 growth rate over the last 20 years is just phenomenal really think about. We're now 184.7 million dollar not-for-profit sector rain is going to talk a little bit about how we got these numbers and what we do with them. given that that the growth and job jobs from full-time equivalent positions just shy of 3,000 jobs supported by the art and culture sector makes this one of the largest employers in the region that we're really proud the work that's happening across the community. So we've got to a specialist in the expert in the room. So I won't belabor that too much longer. It's my privilege to introduce Randy Cohen, who is the vice president research with Americans for the Arts the national advocacy organization that the arts that does a lot of really great park across the country. His office published the study amongst a handful of other studies about the art and economic impact that they playing communities. So I mean, welcome. Randy Cohen. Should people think you. >> Good Mayor members, the city measure late it's great to see many of you again. I've been as you see here, I've been coming to which that after more than 20 years to talk about the arts and if the growth is just I mean, you see it in the numbers. But just got to tell you, it's You walk through the community, the downtown of how that, you know, more cultural opportunities, the public art. And really a community where the residents, if your cultural omnivore, this is a wonderful place. You got performing arts, visual arts, it's in the built environment. We see it across the community. So I just the leadership, the community, the artist. I just a wonderful, steady development over over the decades. >> And so we've got a good story to talk about today and, you know, you heard about about where we are and where we've been and definitely lot about where we going. There's good news when we think about the arts, it a little bit of a different way. And that is as an economic engine as an industry that supports jobs generates government revenue provides household income. We all love and appreciate the arts inspire us. They view to fire communities. You know, they create the places where we want to live. You know, young people than education ridge in the arts are performing better academically, the arts to so much to create more livable, healthier communities right here in Wichita. But we're going to expand 2 of the arts as an industry, which isn't usually how people think about the arts. But I want you to just sort reflect a moment that. The last time maybe went to an arts event could have been an exhibition or a festival or, you know, a performance just sneak out of the house. See the show run home before anybody saw you? Probably not. Right. You you may have come downtown and paid for parking. Had dinner. Saw the show went out afterwards. You know, that have gone home, paid for a dog walkers and childcare. Something like that. There's lots of economic activity related to attending that arts event, which is a boon for local and so that's certainly going to talk about today. Arts and economic prosperity 6, yes, as you heard economic Impact study of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audience Wichita. 2373 study regions from across the country were in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. We study communities as small as 4,000 people as large as 4 Million. You know the arts are happening in the community. Economic impact is happening there as well as a matter how large, how small, rural it's an industry. A little bit about the study. Real As you heard, we focused on nonprofit arts and culture organizations a number, what he's doing that Washington, D.C., evening with his fingers nonprofit, right? What's he hiding? So, yes, of course, they're nonprofit arts organizations. But we also included this. You know, it might be municipally owned performing Arts Center or a state-owned museum and sometimes that are smaller or underserved communities, it might be a library or social service organization or even a fraternal organization or a faith-based organization that's providing that arts and culture connection to the community. So we capture that is, well, we don't have the whole library budget in there just just the program. But that's what we're after. What we don't include is Hollywood motion pictures, the commercial art galleries, architecture firms, all really important part of the cultural ecology here, but not part of this study and why is that? We'll typically when the city invest in the arts. That's where those dollars are going. That nonprofit sector. And it's an appropriate question to ask, right? What's the public getting for that investment? What's that? Our ally? I think most people acknowledge sure we're getting cultural benefits. But what else you So we're having and talk about economic benefits as well because we all know are under pressure, strengthen the economy, grow jobs, so a little bit about what we did. We take a very conservative approach to economic impact in this study, we collected from 68 organizations. So there's still more out there that didn't respond to the survey, but that's what we go with. We only use data from the organizations that provided we don't make estimates for non respondents every number I talk about every dollar figure put our hands all over. So it's a conservative approach. It's a reliable approach. I've got a team of economists. We work with the implant platform which, you know, 1000 cities across the country subscribe to what that enables us to do is customizing input, output analysis right here for Wichita. Because as we know, right, 50 bucks spent here have a different economic impact and 50 spent St. Louis or Dallas or Chicago wherever right. So very localized analysis. All right. So what we find out? Well, the first thing economic activity just got a little sneak peek of that arts and 184.7 million dollar industry right here in Wichita. This is not statewide. This is your which it high number. And you can see that figure is actually composed of 2 numbers. First spending by the organizations themselves. 78.5 million dollars. That's though 68 respondents that right. There is a myth buster again. We all appreciate the arts, you know, is wonderful community amenities and they are. But the fact is there also businesses, they employ people locally. They purchase goods and services from neighboring businesses. They're members of the Chamber of Commerce Day remembers the Rotary Club. We had a great meeting yesterday. They help drive arts organizations are good business citizens now like any business, they've got an economic impact. That's no surprise, right? So does the dog catchers office. So does the gas station. However, few industries generate the kind of event related spending that the arts too. And again, just think about when you've gone to an arts event, sometimes, you know, there's the ticket price, but then you spend so much more. We go to and having a cultural experience and we just make it a whole event so often. So that leverages spending by arts audiences. And that's 106.2 million dollars. And then a break that down a little bit. But, you know, there's a real value. Add to that. So what's the economic impact of that? With the first thing we look at is jobs right here in Wichita, 2,929 jobs supported as a result. That 184 million dollars of economic activity. Now a little something about arts jobs. You know, when we go to an arts event, we see those performers on the stage or we see you know, a lecture from the curator. And of course, those are arts jobs. But that is just the tip of the iceberg because the fact is arts organizations employ a whole range of industries in our community. They've also got electricians and plumbers and they pay, you know, if you're a cultural facility, you know, and you all know this because you have a number of them, you know, a huge utility bill, everybody, accountants and auditors and marketing people in box-office people and security staff. So arts organizations employ a range of industries across the community. these are not just artists. These are not just artists and arts organizations. It's all those jobs supported. And of course, also included. This are those hospitality dollars related to, you know, restaurants and lodging, that type of thing, little something else about arts jobs. These aren't necessarily local jobs. This is not an industry that is going to be off short because when we go to arts event, we need those performers. You know, we go to news em. We need the people hang in the art arts, education. We need arts educators, arts in the hospital's arts therapist. These are local jobs. Bottom line arts, not just food for the soul, putting food on the table for 2,929 households right here in Wichita. What else we look at government revenue. 32.3 million dollars in local state, federal government revenue and again, kind of a myth buster. You it's I love hearing the support of the questions for arts and in the way arts and culture supported this community. But those dollars are disappearing down some black hole. That goodness, it's given back to the community, right. In terms of jobs, government revenues. So those dollars are just on their way out of town. Small investment, big returns. That's what we see with the arts. All right. So let's start to break this down a little bit because, you know, to this is the real value added aspect of the arts. And that is that event related spending again, arts organizations businesses we've established that we did 966 interviews of arts attendees across the region, a city and a whole range of arts events performing visual free festivals to get a really good representative sample. And what we found is the typical attendee Spence $40. And $0.75 per person per event, not including the cost of admission. So check those pieces of the pie. None of those are admission. You know, you can see I'm in the east. This is, by the way, 40 75 is a couple dollars larger than the national average. this is this is a large number. And, you know, you can see how you know food and drink, you know, average of $12 and $0.33 and, you know, local transportation that might be or parking might be looking at lodging. You know, can you still get room here for $4 and You know, that's an average, right? Not everyone's got that are who's going you know, I was child care was still $0.83, you know, but other is very interesting. I can just tell you the kinds of things we've seen other nationally. We did 224,000 audience surveys and all those communities across the country. One of my favorite other there was a farmer in Wisconsin who paid somebody $60 to milk cow so we could go to the theater that night. So there's that great people are doing what it takes to get to the arts. And so this is how we've captured some of those dollars. In addition to how much did you spend related to this arts event? We also asked those 966 people that were interviewed for their zip code because we want to find out today live in Sedgwick County, which would local they from outside the county 23% of attendees came from outside the county and they spend differently. bet they do. $56 and $0.75 per person per event. And we see more on more in transportation. And this is where we see lodging coming up. We asked it was not a local attendees. Yet another question, which was why are you here? We're glad you're here. Thanks for are you here business here? Visiting friends and family. 2 big reasons. People travel right. 81% of attendees said we came specifically for this arts event. C can really see the pulling power that the arts, half right. And then we asked or local kind of a similar question. What if this arts event was taking place? you've done state held an something else. We gave people a bunch options. 47%. just about half said we travel to a different community to attend a similar kind of arts event. So what that also tells us is that not only is your arts investment, bringing people to the community and they're spending money. But it's keeping our neighbors and they're hard. What discretionary dollars right here in Wichita and so a little bit about the lodging, right? Because that's the best kind of economic development. We love that right? So 23% of attendees from outside the county, 17% of those folks had a lodging costs. They average $170 per person per event, not including admission. And I would add we only count one night, you know, people travel. I mean, there's so many things to do here. Their sports. There's. You know, Riverwalk. I mean, there's so many, you know, events, culture and type of things. But we really want to take the conservative approach in attached to that arts So that's that's that number. So if you look at tourism dot, you know, data sometimes, you know, those numbers will be bigger. Just 2 different approaches I 68 responding organizations. 2.6 million attendees just that those 68 organizations. Again, we know there's more out there and this is for fiscal. 22, I should also add 2023. We've seen growth pretty much everywhere. If you're a local business, you love the arts, right? It's, you know, all those feet on the streets. Putin heads in beds, cheeks in seats, terriers and cafe chairs, right? Arts are good for local businesses. One of the other things we look at and you know, you have the report for folks the city's website. You can download the whole reports. 58 page. Everything I'm talking about is in there we also ask about volunteerism because, you know, it's it's the community engagement is the volunteer army that really help keep our arts and culture organizations thriving and bringing these benefits to the public. Just those responding organizations over 12,000 volunteers that contributed 204,000 hours. because we modify everything today, right? You can actually put a dollar value volunteerism. So the independent other national organizations, studies studies nonprofit organizations. they've value the average a volunteer. Our in Kansas at $28 and $0.50. And that's any nonprofit, you know, to be board could be take a take it or whatever. So you do the math. That's a 5.0. 8 million dollar value just in volunteerism. Now, that's not part of that one. because there's actually no dollars changing hands here. But again, I really just to call out very supportive a community for the arts, something that we've done differently and a few, you know, have been in this chamber over the years several times as sharing this good news is this time we added some new some social impact questions because, you know, we may be making our decisions about what we're going to do this weekend. We're probably back in a pick what we're going to do based on like, well, which of arts event has the best economic impact, you know, so there's more likely something to be like this. We asked each of the attendees. These 4 questions and all these responses are in the 80's. Percentile. So just just huge numbers. But, you know, I'm 88.9%, almost 9 out of 10 respondents said this arts and culture event is a source of pride in community identity. So much percentages. I feel a sense of loss if this arts and culture event were no longer available and when things I think it's just so 85% of the respondents said it's important to me that this venue that this cultural experience be available for future generations. What that tells me is that and the arts are more than just a onetime transactional experience that people are doing. But it's really it's part of our history, our heritage, our culture. It's about where we've been where we are and where we're going. So these numbers are also mostly higher than the national average is. people both attendees and the people who visit value the arts deeply. So I'm in Washington, and I know you're all headed there and We work with organizations like the National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, a national City County Management Association, on National Partners and your study, DC is the land of national organizations. I know you all know that. And of course, there's so many in DC there's a national organization for the national organizations. That's how many there are. But you can make this work for you these organizations, our partners on your study, turn to the back of report. You'll see listed it. So if you're in the tourism world, you've got destinations international, maybe you're in the leadership world. You pay attention with. The conference board is doing the national Organization for Big Business You know, cultural advancement organizations like race forward. You know, black leaders network. So elected cultural business community leader organizations and their partners because one they too believe arts culture, a fundamental component of a healthy community. And 2, they buy into the methodology. They bind at the results. Trust me if they thought this thing wasn't going smell right later, you know, they're not going to get involved. So again, you can very confident about these numbers and we We work with these organizations all the time. Interestingly, the public gets this as well. So I did a big national public opinion survey I do it every couple years no surprise. 86% of the American public. You know, believes arts create more livable communities. 79%, though, agree arts good for local jobs. Good for local business is good for the local economy. I think once we remind people about a $40.75 every time we go to an arts event. You know that registers for people and it's also touching us and connecting our communities as well. You know, I we really talk about the arts and a lot of different ways. 72% of the American public nationally the arts create opportunities for shared a experiences with people of different age race, ethnicity. Face similar percentages when dealing with important community issues, the arts create a safe space to have those conversations. 63%, two-thirds say arts, help me understand other cultures in my community. So I just want to put some of that out there you know, the arts really touch or communities socially educationally, 21st century workforce. We can talk a lot about different issues. It's a wrap up with a picture from 1913, bad news that the Loo the Mona Lisa was stolen. Took him 2 years to get it back. That's where it had been hanging. But in the 2 years, the Mona Lisa was gone. More people went to see where it had been hanging and saw the painting itself in the previous 14 years. And I just that to illustrate its so easy to take arts and culture for granted for us to assume it's always going to be there. you know, but we've all got a job to do. We've got to, you know, maintain our support for the make sure there's opportunities for artists and arts organizations and everyone in the public to have the opportunity experience and engage in the arts really love, you know, have that plan is evolving. so there's, you know, there's funding there's volunteering for the arts there's attending the arts. You're all the community leaders just being at an arts event really makes all the difference. Everything you do to support the arts is important. Important for doing Thanks very much. We have some time for questions. I think. I'll jump I think my colleagues to my friends and family know I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I've been talking about the AP 6 with Lindsay for several months. We actually did a podcast together this summer, just kind of gear the for this. thank you for being here. Thank thank you for sharing this information with us. And I had the pleasure having dinner with us tonight to su bunch of questions already. But one that I just wanted to make sure that that highlighted Jesse did an amazing job of going out into the SUV and serving people 966 people and enough to make it statistically valid. Right. So thank you to justice for all of your efforts. Get some rest. I know you deserve So when we're looking at the 966 people that were surveyed, can you just speak a little bit about? I don't know if the word is effort to make sure that we were getting a really good sample of our community. >> There's also oftentimes in our community and I think across the nation that there's the misconception that the arts or just for the rich are just for the Just for one segment of our population. And so to ensure that this is reflective of our community. Can you talk a little bit about how we ensure that our our community was culturally represented in terms demographics? Yes, thank >> So there's couple we looked at, you know, a kind of a grid of to ensure a broad representation and inclusion. In fact, this is the most inclusive study, you of the one that we've ever done over the last 30 years. I already mentioned, you know, we get a whole range of arts and culture events, right? So it's not just performing events or, you know, visual arts events. >> This time with that, we work with all the communities and Lindsay great work. >> Have expanding the universe of we actually in this study, we switch for economic impact of the arts. >> Economic impact of arts and culture because we wanted to make sure this was more inclusive and that we were, including in be more inclusive of of bipoc organizations, black, indigenous people of color, arts and culture organizations and arts and culture communities of color, smaller underserved communities and the like. So we did a lot of you know, at the local team to make sure we had a more complete universe and also we had a representative share of organ of audience surveys collected from those bipoc arts and culture organizations or organizations serving communities of color. So that was a very change. This time. And what I can say and it's, you know, there's more details in the report and we did this nationally kind of unsure what to expect, right? You know, it's sort of taking research and a whole expansive direction. there wasn't much difference in the social and economic by You know, across the community or attendees a at those bipoc arts and culture organizations, social impact data were the same. Just a couple dollars difference in terms audience pending. And so it's it's been very It creates a set of data to begin a conversation about, you know, the equity in the allocations process and that type of thing. So nationally and, you know, I'm not sure exactly know how the numbers, you know, in terms of allocations and funding and public and private sector here. But, you know, I before the pandemic, we did a big national study looking at 550 grantmaking programs. So thousands and thousands and thousands of grants. What we found is the 16% of the largest arts and culture organizations by budget pulling 75% of the dollars and foundations have done similar research. Some states of it started analyzing their own data. And so, you know, in some places this is you know, I think begin a question of all right. If these organizations are providing the same social and economic benefits to a community you know, why are these organizations not competing as well? You know, for charitable giving for city investment, that type of thing. So and this is one of those data points where it's the beginning of the conversation. You know, the date is not the end of the conversation. >> I had one quick thing here we go back to slide. 60 place. All right. Appreciate It was part of the survey that you were just referencing users at the events that so, yeah, this >> this is your local This based on the 966 attendees a locally. >> Could you describe? And I don't know. This is a question for you where Lindsay what then and then so was this a taken that? >> That's a great question. So we had 68 participating organizations and whether they were formal nonprofit. Alex School groups with WSU are our local things so we attended hundreds of events and pulled a small sample size at each event. So we I I know we went to Hamilton and we've got 3 survey Hamilton, as we really want to make sure that we've got a really broad sample size from everything from the dance. Recitals, sidled high school acquire competition to those large commercial dense as well. So we we're hundreds of events over over the course of a year and a with 68 providers of services. Is that broken down that we have that information broken down? >> think that's within the but I'm sure Jesse has a massive calendar somewhere and everything that he personally attended to make sure that we had representation as many events as we appreciate maybe just Ivan and that a little more. >> And then it that's enough as the couple pages from the end of the report, you actually can see the list to 68 organizations. You know, that participated in the study. So that's the first answer. Anyway. >> I appreciate Just some of these 81.6%. That's the spirit. Your facility is a pillar for me within my community. kind of curious to see what people treasure around the city. So I do appreciate that. So. >> One of the and kind of made what I you were going to go a little bit. Councilman was these are people already attending the arts, right? So maybe there's already some partiality. you know, towards the arts. >> I largest national public opinion survey arts ever last summer. >> And we, amir and some of these questions as well to get at that and you know, the numbers are a little bit lower nationally. So that's going to include people who are not attending the arts. And so those were in the 70's generally. So still majority of the obviously people are at the arts and event probably predisposed to like the arts. But what we see in different kinds of studies people don't attend the arts still have an appreciation for the arts and, you know, I may not like a museum, but but when my mother comes to visit, thank God, it's their right. You know, so existence values. What economists like to call that sometimes. >> Are there questions they have? sitting make a comment. So please go I really appreciate the slight regarding volunteers. So you don't mind going back to that slide I started volunteering with the cultural arts organizations as I was 18 years And so which time he should festival has been around more than 42 we host annual which time stubble. >> it's a completely volunteer and not a single paid person, a nonprofit that puts together event every year. So this reminds me of the importance of volunteering in our community. And so I want to thank the 12,000 masks individuals who volunteer for arts organizations. We really appreciate that. And this is also opportunity for community to remember that there are organizations always wanting and willing teach you a trader teach you a specific task to help these nonprofit organizations that require that human capital. So thank you again to the individuals volunteer. I just wanted to say. Thank you again for being here. It's been a pleasure and we appreciate your time and your content expertise here. Just an absolute. >> Treasure value to our community. And thanks for Independent. Thank representing which appreciate that as we want to make sure the community knows that this is on our website anyone who wants to take a deeper dive and look at the data for themselves, print it out and enjoy it thoroughly and you can go to Wichita, DOT, Gov, Backslash Arts and learn all about culture in our community, but especially about the AP 6. And also I want to thank the Arts Council we have a couple more members, but we certainly have one member here. The Arts Council, which council member excuse me, Vice Mayor Ballard and I are proud members of the board. We will be working now in the community to make sure this information gets out further. And we want to make sure that people really understand that our means business in Wichita and the importance that it has not only for making us more inclusive and more vibrant, but also former economically stable and then finally, just one more reminder tonight 5.30, at century, too. We hope that the community will come. They'll have an opportunity to socialize, but also be able to hear the information from you hear the information from Lindsay. So 05:30AM, Mark, your calendars, its entry to safe travels home reading. Thank you. >> Mayor of with the talk about that profits. That's a good segue into the topic. Like to share with you. We'll talk a little bit about the budget our updated forecast. But before we do that, I'd like to share with you some information from some nonprofits in the community that received arpa funding from the Council of you remember the council received a little over 70 million dollars in arpa funds and the decision was made that many nonprofits and more importantly, the people that were served by those nonprofits were especially hit hard by COVID and the period of time after COVID during recovery and so the council put 20 million dollars back into the community to help nonprofit agencies. And we have, I believe 5 agencies that want to share with you how they spent those dollars and the impact that they had in the community. So with that, we turn over with culture who's kind of coordinating this part of the response. >> Good morning. I'm taking things a little bit out of order. So wait for that presentation to come up. But as the city manager mentioned, we over. We have a during our planning process, which is amazing to think that that started in 2021 nearly 3 years ago and 20 million dollars was set aside for community partners. And we have a little bit over 20 a separate appearance. >> That we have a >> had contracts with since that time. And today there are 5 of them. going to be providing us with updates and just kinda. take the wheel in that presentation. So here we are so are total 72 million 20 million of the 72 million was considerable investment. >> And we do have This is we put together this arpa quarter. That's our recovery plan every quarter. So we just finished the one for the period ending December 31st. Spending accelerated quite a bit in quarter 4, 2023 and our life to date expenditures currently sit at 24 Million. And that's just expenditures. That doesn't things that we have under contract or in conferences or things like that. We have extensive project updates included in that quarter for recovery plan. Every flecked or new capital projects from that quarter, as well as updates from our difference. Every city and partners. The for the several city and or into groups when a small business development projects and the other way its workforce development projects. So I believe that last September, their presentations from WSU talk about their health care, their future ready center's for health care and also for manufacturing. So these also said recipients. so the first time we have today to present to you is the garage is a Cleveland partner. Come on to Good morning. Thank you. I'm Janelle King and honor the work room and founder of the Garage Cleveland Corner. >> I have to say is now known as the garages. So what started as one single location has now been able to expand out which I meant a little bit more about. So project on corner. Mind Control here. intended as a retail incubator. So the my personal experience, a local retail owner, we know that the more we have in our downtown core of local retail, small business says it's not competition for one another. And instead building and history then we it just compounds on itself. So for the success of my business relies on the success of that industry within our downtown core. And so our goal is to really seek out new and innovative entrepreneurs and consulates and how can we help them get started to really expand that which So what we says we're bending the rules, a traditional retail. As I mentioned, we are looking for ideas, new concepts and the demand for residents. I hear all the time about, you know, there's we've got a lot of neat. Little may be spots throughout our community, but not really that downtown walkability core that we I think we're all working towards and growing. And so the more we can start put placing people in these clusters is really benefiting the greater community as well. To do this, though, we that local retail, it is a high-risk things these entrepreneurs to start with. And I kept hearing all the time people tell me how did you do it? Like what can I do? And so what we want to do is take that risk factor and minimize as much as possible at the same time, providing a support system to give him the greatest chance of success and a low barrier low-risk situation. So think of it as a springboard. We provide entrepreneurs with an incubator location. Cluster near other small business retailers, which we have found drive success we help subsidize those rents. We provide mentorship, financial and human resources. And what I think sets us apart from any other small business development programs and which as one our focus on the retail industry. But number 2 is really that we have a customized support program. It's not just like, you know, here's what you Jennifer, 6 weeks. There's no it. Instead we tailor list one-on-one to what our on needs, what their goals are, what the areas that they might need some assistance with. And we've match them up with mentors and professional services to help them get those next steps. Tess try an experiment. Our average entrepreneur typically about one year within the program. And at that point, the goal is that we've created and developed a successful new concept, new entrepreneur that is ready to get with their feet on the ground into a permanent brick and mortar location. But during approximately one year standpoint, we are providing them a low-risk opportunity, try new ideas, experiment. FOX figure out your best business that labor and employment like there's so much to learn. You might have a great idea. also need the dozen a skill sets to do it right. So we're going to help them through that and give them a safe space to really try an experiment, which in the end means we get cooler more unique concepts within our community. So we received and 2023, 46,800 and city arpa funds. As I mentioned, the started with a single location in 2019 and because of this funding as well as contributors within our community, including that which Schott Foundation, Fidelity Bank. But development just to name a few we were able to know now have, as I mentioned, 4 locations. And which Derek at the is we have we helped cover rents and subsidize these rents for these entrepreneurs. What's been really interesting is as we continue to grow the steamroll effect that it's occurred. So during Twenty-twenty 3, we had 53 for our program, which was an 800% increase from the previous year. And 22 of those applicants came specifically from the equity impact. Sounds. It was I would say an unintentional, but amazing thing that we have found comes from this is the minority and within our communities tend to be the ones that are most frequently applying and needing the help and assistance or core front. Current for tenants, including 2 beats BT Class Athletes Demand Peril and the black print are composed of 2 black females, a Hispanic male and a member of our LGBTQ community. We do have 7 past tenants that it gone on. To I think it's in a previous picture. You may have recognized grow is like one just one of the products that's come from That has been such an amazing success story downtown. And by the numbers. So what does all this mean currently between our existing tenants and pass. We have 40 jobs for current impasse. Tenants. As I mentioned, 53 applicants, 16,000 annual average investment per entrepreneur and just in 2024. So far estimated 450,000 in sales from our current tenants. We can talk about our program all day long. But at the end, I just want to say we are grateful for the contributions that are made and we look forward to seeing where this program continues to grow and expand the in their words. Felicia Thompson from 2 beats Batik says collaboration and mentorship is key for entrepreneurs and working with the garages has been a game changer for me as I open my first brick and mortar store, I received the guidance and mentorship I needed to navigate the process. Thanks for that. It is a and you know, as a committee, we evaluate all these applications a few years ago and >> one of the reasons why that stood out is because at that time there was such because we had all gone online to make so many purchases during the worst part of the pandemic. program that focused on in-person retail, particularly in our downtown and helping small business owners that might have been laid off during a job during that. That big wave of layoffs getting started with at this as this one that stood out to us. So really excited to see how that program has been successful. Our next program that we have a speaker phone is ICT food rescue and presenters. Stephanie Merritt. >> And though mayor and the council. So I am Stefani, Mayor, I am the executive director and founder of ICT Food Rescue, which we began with what we called direct route food recovery in 2016. So we didn't do my team and I we did this really kind of cheesy video instead of a power point. But it's kind of fun. But I think it really shows you the totality of how we spend funding. We $126,555 from the arpa funding our project called the Upcycled Kitchen Project. $15,000. 600 of that was for temporary employment wages. 100,000 per facility cost and $10,995 for equipment. I don't know how start that video. that's your video here. I think it's just a form fitness. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> saw our beautiful store front there that we have. So going forward will be able to use. ♪ ♪ ♪ What you need hear. ♪ ♪ Was all of ♪ ♪ We have ♪ >> that's we have to find. chefs. One of that are running behind me right now because Tyler's Egypt island there I was going to talk to you a little bit about what our shops ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> are ready? Things that we're just sending off? We've got cookies up here. We've got man front of the other side and then we even do our best to make sure that everything's label David. ♪ I just wrong. He's with our meals over here. me. And they ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ and so just what we may have. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ How many rescues to have a week. >> We have over 100. I don't exact. surplus. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ talking to Stand front of you all. ♪ I look forward to seeing you all in couple weeks. >> Okay. So I want to talk a little bit about our challenges that we had with our defense. Well, not with defenses are great, but our original location that we're going do. The remodel at with was a nonprofit organization that closed down rather suddenly. So we're left without a location in the kitchen. We spent quite a little bit of time. Before we actually got started on the project with locating somewhere that is how we ended up in town last square, which works perfectly for us. And just so that when we get to the Q and a part, yes, the electricity was shut off again this morning. that would be one of our challenges now is that we can't afford to go anywhere else. And so we've just learned not to open the freezer doors, just leave them shut and hope that the power comes back on. If it does not, we will 5 freezer. Full is like the one that you saw that are simply meals that we could served. Our community will cross that bridge when we come to So another we did serve as our own general contractor. Which several people said, you don't do that. And I said, well, we don't have a choice. So we did do that on our That did allow us 2. We did a lot of the remodel ourselves and then we were able to use that money and other ways. So just the learning process, which was a challenge, but also accomplishment. You know, I had no idea what the Kansas Department of Agriculture. We're going to be a food processing plant instead of a commercial kitchen. So we have to label everything. Everything comes in. We say where it came overall of those vegetables will come from is that we partner with at K State Extension office for the plan to row program so people can drop off all of their excess vegetables. And we have to label that and say where it came from. And then when it goes back out, we have to follow it in case there. Is that an illness or something that comes along? So there are a lot of challenges, but they're well worth it. So our accomplishments again, we served as their own general contractor. That was very big accomplishment for us. Did all the remodel. And so we have been We took possession a year ago and we have been all licensed and up and running for 6 months. I just look back over the last 6 weeks for some numbers for you we over the last 6 weeks, just directly out of the upcycled kitchen program not are existing program that we had. We've been able to serve 3 other nonprofits in the city. And alcohol recovery home and 2. 2 other organizations. But those organizations have 3 foster care homes our chefs in that amount of time have been able to utilize 1451 pounds of recovered food. They have produced 1210 meals out of that food and we utilize a match and software program that has this algorithm and in it that tells us that that food has not recovered. Food has saved our community. $2,787. mean, we don't even scratch. I could buy 50 more freezers. We've had to say we can't take any more food. We can't. We had 3 kitchens up and running fully staffed and I didn't have to worry about funding. We would still have a hard time keeping up. So we can rescue from anywhere from caters restaurants, grocery so and then another important thing that we do in the kitchen as we follow the EPA is food hierarchy, recovery hierarchy. So first, we're trying to source reduction. So currently we just started to share table at Northeast Magnet school where students we are retraining students that here is a shared table. You can put the food here. OK, the government says it's OK, so we're trying retraining and they're learning that they can put their apples and oranges there on the table in a refrigerator and other students can get them and whatever is left. At the end of the week, we send in a volunteer to pick it up. Then the next tier is to feed hungry people, which we obviously do and and the next here is to feed animals. So if we have food that comes in, that is not able to go to human consumption, we have a hog farms, hog farm in chicken farmers that we get to and then they will give us chicken or eggs in return. The next one is industrial uses. We don't really ever do that. And the next 2 years composting. So everything that we don't send anything to the landfill. We compost it. And then the bottom line as landfill. So our entire ICT Food Rescue Rescue program in 2023. We rescued 191,917 pounds of food that otherwise would've contar landfill. Here. So I don't know 10 minutes call it get. Where where do you compost? And that compost? Yeah. They just come and pick it up. That's miraculous. stuff and just want to say thank you. You guys do. >> Really incredible First of all. Second of all, if the electricity to come on CNN, please reach all kinds news and preserve that you work so hard doesn't go somewhere to store and asked that it doesn't. A spoil. And also thank you so much for working so this year to people that makes me crazy that. Those went away. I mean, understand that not So. Thank you for to bring that back. We're wasting so much food not doing anymore. So other schools bring this back and start so. Is that just something that you or did the school kind of took those away during right? Can you talk a little bit more about Israel as a student at North East Magnet had volunteered with us and he was very passionate about just seen. He sees that food on the trash and he wanted to do something about it. So he reached out to me. >> And I said, let's just make it happen. So it's very important that we have a student is there that is passionate about it and getting it up and running. And I just said we'll do it. And so we gave him a table cloth and a runner and magnets for their refrigerator. And and they are retraining. The money isn't passionate teacher that's helping him as well. So yeah. If you very appreciate Thank you all so much. All right. And >> our next presenter is envision we 2 envision joining us today as well as to program participants. So Emily in team, if you'd like to come down. >> bit. >> And with that. Hey, good to friends. Try to be brief. think just taken the information of these all the time. So how can I? I don't I don't know about Dalton, but can I can raise the hands of who does has not feeling super confident in end, nitty-gritty of what envision does you're not feeling Super Cup in the nitty-gritty of threat of invasion. Radiance. But we know Sorry. That's Did you raise and my? day I experts. Okay. So we received a great There are some recipient of the Arpa grants fund. So we received $441,000 and that falls within one of my departments, which is called the Workforce Innovation Center, which with business grant, it was really leveling up upskilling individuals who are blind and visually impaired and others with disabilities with the types of skills, certifications and agrees to test really focus on more knowledge base careers. The last 100 years has been focused on things like manufacturing. But with technology and just a variation of lovely intelligence that all humans have. There's no reason that they can acquire anybody else. Can I have the next slide or do this? Do I do it? Okay. that paying attention. So through this one of the barriers that we found an individual's finding placement within our community as that, not a lot of our local company's Web sites are accessible for people with disabilities. >> So it's just a technology is really what allows an individual with a disability to be able to do a job just like anybody else. Whether you're a CFO, I'm a cybersecurity analysis or just an administrative assistant. so we needed to make sure that the place is the individuals were looking for employment had websites where they could go on and apply for a position in the digital age, especially with the disparity that COVID created. You know, that playing for position is almost always a line and we need to make sure that whether you have arthritis and you can't use a mouse a keyboard to access website or you're blind or visually impaired. Part of me and you need to scream later to be able to access that website. Accessibility is really important. And that's just a piece of knowledge that is missing from a lot of our local web development companies and, you know, people that like to companies that but development, content creation. It's just a set of knowledge that's really easy to update on your website to make sure your excess Abul for everybody. So we've with 42, what local, which a cop which talk companies to date to help make sure that they are accessible for individuals with disabilities and that knowledge is spread. We're also providing training for local marketing companies and individuals to make sure that we're upskilling the whole community. There have been to a really exciting partnerships that have developed from this One is WSU Tech. So guys are probably familiar with the niche Culinary Institute. That's downtown. we have been able to partner with them to create one of the first of its kind blind visually impaired certificates for culinary. And I have with me today, Lauren I'll let her speak. If you guys have questions for her just to say thank you. She has completed her colors certificate she had to do before the partnership and falls. But it has now. So she went through Butler and she has been Chapel was chart chart. Well, sorry. Haha, which is Ws food, food, providing services. So she is a pastry chef and it is really, really cool. So now we have other individuals who are participating in the news program with WSU Tech to get their culinary certificate. I have to say taking this position it has really eliminated a lot bias enable that I had with him myself thinking about what people with disabilities can do for careers right? So I've really humbled by that and thankful for that experience. I want to give another quick plug for section of us. over there. She has her awesome graduation photo. But if you guys are familiar vision has an art gallery that is downtown on Washington and Douglas. And she is also an artist that works in our studio and the studios just for individuals with disabilities. It is free to them and then they're available to sell their our in our gallery downtown. It's such a cool stuff about for today. And so I it's a little plug for the and one of our amazing artists post with food and ceramics and painting and all of the things. >> Ups. So next is Curtis. And he's over here to our left. He hit a really cool partnership. Came up with no the coast. If you guys are familiar there and it company that has their headquarters here in Wichita. And so we've worked with them to intentionally focused a training program for security. Plus it cybersecurity certifications. And so they have their APEX program is now fully accessible for individuals who are blind officially impaired and they intentional focus on hiring people who are blind and visually impaired in this program, not only in Wichita, but now all across the nation. So Curtis used to work transition, but he championed taking that certification, getting his what what? You certifications to have Curtis, can you tell me what it's called? Security? Plus a net plus not to take personal over coast hired him right away, which is a huge celebration. We have 5 more individuals in Wichita, her going through the training. Now and part part of like I said no to coasts. partnership is that they are intentionally hiring the graduates from this program. And if if they don't have placement specifically in their organization were working with other it organizations to place them there. Let me think, go. >> Yeah. Back to here. In case you guys have any questions. Does anybody want to speak with Curtis are questions for me? >> I would love to hear from both born and Curtis, I watched your story. Curtis, note that can used and I really am proud happy that you're now a cyber security analysts now the coast. So or Curtis could pose and share their experiences step to the right. There's a microphone in case. >> Yeah. So I'm like and just said I went through or can coach for the second time to come point a culinary degree of chef flew least paying in a su and supporting it. ages early know what. But let's go have But once police are no and they started in the question was Mia sustaining and then eventually. A volunteer instructor can force O Lord Bruce, to me, sir, and within the classroom. Being able to create dishes was with the stance. What's in the clash it's. Whitney and so is other people seeing. Need to completely. Complete this program. Onion Kane. Or addition. So to me the country question for can learn how to cook on their own. So at their profession. Yeah, it has been. Part of the grant helped after she was employed with chart what were able to provide. Assistive technologies are. >> Making sure that I'm we'll have all the resources they They can accommodating and firemen and train on assistive technology like payroll system to be able to pocket. I just want step over if you works. >> just want to take that. But I did that. Thank all of you for the grandpa. Because without the grant, it wouldn't be possible for me to go through the APEX program. cause has been great and there to get more people. there. Systems fully accessible and and healthily. You guys will see the importance and the grand and continue outset. Way of the people can. The same thing. I have a passion for it. And cybersecurity. >> Other people think that much about this. development Oh, yeah. Has that. have launched this Noble Cause partnership with the national It's 2 for the blind. And so this is now becoming a national initiative where we're hoping that hundreds of wind eventually impaired individuals will be able to complete this start careers. Any questions. >> I just want to say thank you guys so much for coming and sharing your story. This is awesome. Sometimes when give out these grants, we don't always hear the feedback. So this is really awesome to hear some of the success stories. >> It's been really cool and a lot of fun. And I invite you guys. So if you ever want to come down to Main Street and see our Mission Bay Services or come down to water street where we have our manufacturing floor. Give me a call. You guys have a number. defense. So one of the objectives that came with the arpa or was not just >> recover from the pandemic, but to have an equitable recovery this incision program definitely. I mean, people are being included in the workforce and ways that they were. >> Before the pandemic and it's it's very inspiring. Our grant. He that's here to present today as hurt Kenney and Senator Bradley. I'm I'm so grateful that they're here There a word and had 2 components. One is a leadership program and one a child care assistance program. Inland. So happy they're here today. is because this cancer. Quite experiment a number of ways and hurt Spring. He's run into challenges with these grants. need to challenge, though. Excuse me. there's been a lot of discussion about the importance of >> And Bradley that grants administrator. And like Elizabeth said, we had to and grant projects. One was our leadership program and one was care club conversion costs. start with the leadership program. And this really was a workforce development. Coalition pilot project an effort with organizations within Wichita. We received 116,750 for this project. Well, our goal was was create a work pull the had a knowledge of all of these N. Basically the pandemic really created sst of direct service professionals. And so and that really carried over from health care All of these like organizations. And so what we wanted to do is we wanted to create a way to train individuals, but also give them an opportunity to empower them to make employment A lot of times the organizations that kind of compete for the same and you kind of have that concept grass is thing. So we thought if we work together Cheney's employees and gave them the education they needed to make empowered informed about their employment. It would help increase retention for all of the organizations involved. So the organizations that we worked with, let's child star, of course, Hart Spring, Rainbows Starkey Goodwill. And so as we started this pilot we we did find that there are some constraints and working to gather and one of those is that the organization's itself different budget sizes. And so when. When we were going to provide job opportunity for. Our participants trying to figure price plan and wage that would work for everybody. And then when and employment offer was extended, if it was an organization that might pay less than another We don't want to set any of the organizations for failures. So that was the first kind of barrier that we over had to overcome. And then also employment management. And I will talk about that in a minute. So and employer of higher who is going to take liability to onboarding those kinds of things, employment for all partners, our employees, employment screening was different for everybody. So how do you do that in a timely manner and me, all of those qualifications and then retention through the transition the model that we came up with is that we. Not only came up with, is that we recruit participants. 2 at a time would go through a rotation of each organization then they would be at organization for 2 weeks and then have 4 weeks of job shadowing employment. They would get paid that whole entire And they would have 2 weeks off and to do an evaluation through last UW issue. They PP and so they evaluate and help us come up with positive feedback. And at the end, we would have a solid project with feedback to move forward. That may be other organizations can also use this model so that we can work together in Wichita to create. A place where we work together and city competing against each other. And so that's really the whole point of what we were we're trying to do however, trying to get the participants, get them through onboarding. Sometimes we have that hard time. Keeping them retained in order for them to start because people needed money so they need to get started and get jobs. we really had a struggle and keeping them through those transition points. So well, we kind of learned and what our recommendations going forward would be actually have like a 3rd party and player and we actually goodwill come in and they offered to be our player of higher. And they took that role and they were initially a part of our coalition. But they stepped in. And but with that, they have their own program, their own outcomes. And so that also kind of created a struggle for them because they also had to the accountable for that. So we would recommend that we have a more and a 3rd party where they could create a timely and the compensation benefit plan, pay employment screening. And that would be a starting point. And then a front organization wanted to be a part of that coalition. They would understand without onboarding prior to and be able say yes to that before they move forward and then actually having a 3rd party independent liaison to kind of coordinate and facilitate that because sometimes there might hearts spring was the lead. So sometimes there might be perception that because your partner agency, you have your motives to move forward. So those would we do see that this is an innovative solution. We feel like we created a that this is really something that could be. so we are providing a white paper with our experiences and what we've But we really do think that this is something that we can build on to the fans. The community forward. That's all I have not won our next one, which child care. And so really one of the things we learned in the pandemic is that health care is a huge barrier for employment and with a 24 7 facility hearts spring really struggled specially with our second 3rd shift and we can shifters. And so what we really wanted to do was have a 24 7 facility to be able to serve our employees as well as the community. A We did receive some dollars and we have a stopgap solution to a conversion of one of our fists one of our buildings on our campus and convert that to a stop gap facility care until we can get. Get a 24 7 facility. However, we had some barriers to that. One them is the increased cost from the time that we submitted the application to the time that we got it just for childcare facility renovation. Increased one point 15%. So the cost was really a barrier, also supply chain. At that time, we all know was worse than even when we had Smith. The application and then employee shortages for construction. So we didn't feel that we would be able to you. Implement strategy during that time frame. So we went back to the city. Childcare is still really important barrier to overcome or pretty much everybody but our employees. Again, we have that second 3rd and weekend shift and there just aren't facilities are open during those hours. And so it really is a struggle. So we went back to the city and we agreed to serve R. Employees to kind of see what their needs were. We're going to we distributed those survey results develop guidelines for assistance and really focus on a subsidy. So did work with Casey SL and WSU and we implemented the get kids are good business survey model. We had 77 responses. Unfortunately, our survey followed a large employee survey for the whole organizations are sponsors for a little low but what we found it was extremely important for employees, but they said we weren't doing well less ability to bring the children on site. But you've already talked about various to that our access to parenting education and subsidize childcare. Costner plays packages and then also pay time. Leave. What we found were already doing that we we do do leave. We do parent education. So we have to educate our staff and what we had available. But then we focused on that subsidize subsidy. So we came up with requirements and that guidelines and also that we could implement. And so it is incumbent aced for full-time employees dependent 13 or younger or 18. If a child have a disability, does have to be a care and then they can receive up to 5,000 per household. The barriers we found biggest barrier we had to that was at licensed daycare requirement for several reasons. The high cost limited openings and transportation. So for our staff to get their children to a facility or a licensed day care and get them to work as a huge bear. Plus, again, we have that second 3rd week and chest so they struggled to find licensed day care for time. For for For those shifts. So a possible solution is really looking at, think child care, which is family and friends, there has been a lot of studies in recent years that this is really a viable option. It is more flexible, more reliable, affordable, but also a lot of people want shared and sensitivity for their children. We have a lot because we do serve neuro diverse kids. We actually have a lot of employees that kind of our come to us and our employees. But they also have their own children that are narrow, diverse. And so that's a real important part of their child care is making sure there's someone that can care for their child and have the for that. And so that is one of the possible solutions. Scott. We have researched and looked at 2 increased the participation and also be able to really focus and off Other things that came up that are just a side note is that our employees also are looking for assistance with elder care and also adult children with disabilities as are also 2 structures that are in place have. I just want to applaud you for your efforts? I've been an advocate for child care in our community and at the state level for the last couple years and >> we'll continue to champion some initiatives to make sure that we have more community members have access to safe and reliable child care. It's not even just a family issue. It's not even just a community issue. It's a workforce issue and it's economic development issue. And so if you're any kind of employer childcare is on your radar. So I really applaud you starting this in for lessons learned. I had one from what I'm understanding your subsidizing child care for parents who work at Hertz. Bring my offering them. So what will you do for sustainability after the arpa funds if it exhausted? So we together grant proposals in are seeking grant funding to continue to do that. And then also just looking at other >> options, Islip to connect with you if you can reach out to me later. And there's a childcare worker group that I'm on. And one of the things that we've been trying to do is champion that state's child care tax credit. >> You would not apply because you're not you're for nonprofit, but I wonder if we could, even we're having work employers really challenging to get them to utilize it. But it seems like you're kind of crack at the coat a little bit about how you've done it internally. So you would be really valued addition to so some of this conversation. So if you can, let's connect. thank you. Thank you for your presentation. >> I've a question real quick. Don't so help me. Kids. Did you help and child care program? >> I can tell you how many we actually right now have 6 employees that are participating and and then we have open the application enrollment going on. But again, the biggest bear year is that license state here. And that's a per our agreement and our pick a lights. They still haven't got your not license. Then. >> We are not So we did not move forward with the facility. We just move forward with the subsidy. >> And that $125,500. That's how it was spent. Yes to the subsidies, subsidies. 7.7 employees. >> Right now we have right now he think spend all the money. And I and I have been in conversations with the city to make sure that it's. You know, at other ways that we might be able to expand that if we don't use the other people can so. Had those conversations. >> In the leadership program and people that you. >> So we ended up not having any because in the we had some recruitment. But the biggest thing was people not being able like once they and then getting them placed that was taking too long. We lost a lot of people there. And then we also lost a lot of just go Steen. I'm so like goodwill would have that initial application and they would reach out and they wouldn't be there. So we tried several strategies. So we increased our how much we're going to pay them. We increase that we decreased the We did another huge marketing campaign. Eat right several times. So we went back and said basically we've tried everything we possibly can at this point in time. It might not be the right time for this so that we are creating a white paper that outlines everything we did and, you know, if we're going to do this again, what maybe we can do to make work. >> Our spring does great work. But you say this experiment really didn't work. Then. >> Not not really. I mean, we learned a lot and I think we have a because I think that this idea of people working together so that we're not competing against each other, but we're really creating informed I think it's a great idea. >> So I think we see. It's one of those tell your success that no, it didn't work the way we wanted it to. But we do have a foundation that we will give all our feedback at 2. >> So question it's a follow-up but does happen with items that don't get Yes, that's a great Each of these grants has a timeline and the unexpected fence go back into to be available funds for re. Redirecting to another project. Verify can. >> We do have some recaptured funds from other projects as well. And I think will be presented a recommendation on how those funds could help with our MAC project as we continue to search for dollars, it's eligible expense for the use of arpa. And we you've already tentatively designated 4 million dollars in arpa funds for that purpose. But that's going we're still going to be short, depending on what other funding sources and made available. Now, I know some council members may have different thoughts about their use of the recapture funds. And so ultimately you make that decision. But I'm right now I'm most concerned about our ability to move forward. Capital commitments a Mac. that fits every sip and we have here today. It's the YMCA job prep program. And this is was it a program that existed before the pandemic, however, was suspended because as a lot of concerns during the pandemic. And so and we've got and tie room Baker and Nicole Hernandez with find CA. >> Well, thanks for having us Can I see maybe was council members city want to just say thank you for supporting the YMCA as we at this joint mission to sort of improve the health of of our communities that we serve today, you know, think chopped up. It's just an example of many that we that we do together with the city. It's just a beautiful partnership with, you know, multiple nonprofits, multiple for profits. The YMCA, the city and so many. I'm coming out of Tyrone was telling us in the car she said we it sort of for a minute and then. Tom talking about the need. And so we ended up hiring Iraq starting the coal was going to talk to you in just a second. And we have been doing this as many of, you know, for a decade, right? Workforce development program think that King very well. and and, you know, we've been, you know, growing, you know, 15 16, 7 inches. I'm coming out of we had that the kind sign up today and just completely overwhelmed with over 300 kids coming up And so the timing of funding actually enabled us to serve offering kids. We're in the second year of 300 kids with a waiting list. So even more possibilities here. But just a really great example of youth development and workforce development coming together. So it's really wanted to introduce time on the call. Are officers? >> A little bit about how the YMCA job Prep program works. It's a 12 week Professional development curriculum designed for high school students. And within this, we're teaching the students standards and techniques on how to find a job, but also how to keep a job and how to find value in the work that you're doing. Regardless of what that job is, the job itself on the curriculum itself is designed to be a pass fail curriculum designed for students to pass. We for students to pass in order for students the past they have 3 benchmarks. Students are required to attend every single class so that way whenever they're working this summer, we are able prove to those companies that those students are working for that they do have a positive improving attendance record. In addition to that, students also become CPR and first aid certified that able to develop the skill and then also have that skill that they can use not only within the job for programming that summer, but in addition that, also throughout the next 2 years, whenever that certification expires, but also, of course, helping the community with. And I'm having a life saving skills. The end of the program, our students get to showcase what they learned. and mock interviews. So we invite. Local nonprofits. We end local city leaders. In addition to CEOs, BP's HR representatives. >> From all over the area and they come in and they do mock interviews for our students. Our students do have to receive a high score on their market. Our view for them to move on to the second phase, which summer employment. Last year. These are some of the very many places that we had students working at. So and we were trying to work with and different types of programs, nonprofits, small businesses. How the program works is that the students they interview with these places, but they are paid through the YMCA and then finding that we're able to raise within the community, which last time I was finding. So all of this, all of the students who worked throughout the summer had worked at these places. The place is on your screen to not pay anything. We're able to do that professional development. And we're also to pay those students during the summer. As had mentioned before, we had a proven track record about 14, 15 years with 8200 students within the program. And last year we had well over 304 students that signed up to be in the program and to be and rolled. We were able to work with and multiple job sites. Local small businesses, nonprofits are students are able to choose what positions that they interview for to work this summer. We don't place them in. hope that they like it. They're able to choose those positions. We had well over open positions for those students to choose from. 22,000 hours with and high school students working best summer with and our community and additions have that all of the students who are able to graduate from program, they did receive some type of summer job offer. And then all of our students had mentioned that they would recommend the program someone else based off of their experience with These are just a little Just some bio pics of our and what they were able to accomplish with in top row program. And we have some testimonials up there's so many. So just to name a in the middle is Here was a junior at North what we have noticed a lot of these students, they were coming out of the pandemic and most of their development with with the middle school years. So they had missed out most of them, their entire middle school development. has a really great story about how. Within the top program we talk a lot about make eye contact how to properly introduce yourself. How to look. People are properly shake hands properly, how to develop some type of confidence whenever you are going within the Zahn had mentioned that prior to the job program. He couldn't even order off of the menu at a restaurant. He just had develop those skills yet within being out of the school that are out of friends and not with in environments that a lot of people are talking to. lot expectations of him looking people in the eyes and actually he was able to speak our job prep celebration in front of well over 200 people right here at And that was just within that 12 weeks of him being within the program. These are also testimonials from our parents. So we have found that a lot of our while they are getting some of this information at home these are teenagers. So they really appreciate having a 3rd party or an outside source coming in and being able to help and walk alongside them and what they're teaching them home. If they're getting top that at home within the YMCA job Prep program. So as had mentioned, it's generally about 100 students that we have had a track record of and last year we served well over 300 students within job program and so have the ability to work on side. You guys and not have to turn any students away from the program that they so desperately need. desperately wanted was just such a huge benefit for our community and that the Y. So we are just so thankful for everything that you guys were able to The team that we were able to work with the state has tick just to be chosen. We are just so thankful. >> I'm sorry. Have to make burger wasn't my job when I was at the wise. police believe in and I saw the impact that it had not only in the kit is, but I wanted to expand. >> That entire it worked together closely. The graduation gap still one of the highlights of my career every year because parents told us their kids were bringing the information home to them, too. And many times it wasn't the parents trying to guide the kiddos. The kiddos were trying to guide the parents and some of those financial literacy and skills. So this is not only impacting the kids that go through the program, but also their families in our community. So thank you for what you do. Truly. Thank you. Thank you. >> I had do you recruit Kids, York and counselors in schools. >> You're looking I worked with and the USC to 5 school I also have put them out. We are able to put them out within social media and Facebook even know that some of you guys have pass them along to constituents. seniors So we literally just partnership with USC to 5 yes, the news, if they're able to put the word out, we talk within our community, but that's really. >> recruitment Thank Yeah. Thank you. disclosure under Steve Clarke YMCA board and I. >> Very much wholeheartedly believe in workforce for so. Thank you so very much for what you do. But job Pratt. I wanted to ask a couple questions so that folks understand the value that you provide the CPR and first aid certification that every gets to a tell me the value of that. What was the cost? But what's the value for the student? I'm I'll let answer that. And the second one is since you've been around for a I'd like to know if there's an effort to see the graduation rate of kids who've been part of job Pratt and what that percentage we're just high school graduation. If you'd like to delve deeper what the students decide to do after graduating high school. >> So within CPR and first aid certificate says you could imagine getting. Over 300 so learn the skill, but also to be able to test out of the skills to be knowing it CPR. Plus, 80 plus first aid. >> And some of our students, they just had it necessarily. Completed. So started something And as a mayor, we had to their certificate. So it's bow. 75 $65. Just depending to get all of those certifications kind of and within the YMCA. We do have 2 years volunteer their own time or work within the YMCA budget to be able to help her find that the certificates itself could be upward toward 65 $75 per student. But again and then they're also able to take and then use that for the next 2 years to put on their estimate there mayor is correct. And the terms of students who have. Jobs during the summer that they're in high school are more likely to graduate from their high school. They're also less likely to be involved with criminal activity and they are more likely to be higher wage earners whenever they are adult than their counterparts who maybe did not have that experience whenever they were in high school. So the impact is, of we're so thankful to be able to provide students with jobs, but highlighting a lot of way which a tie is able to do so if they are too graduate than they know that they can work with in Wichita with something that they are interested in and additions have that if they stand there, there's opportunity for them to come back and work with in Wichita. So we're exposing them to different types of jobs. That may be a high schooler dog doesn't usually get expose the question. >> I think one of the cool things about this program also is what the court said, you know, had a good job, how to keep a job so that some of these companies will have some students work for them to summertime, for instance, insurance, they had students work for them this past summer and then they went on to hire the student. So that's is now full-time employee for that company. So it's a good way to avenue to help We help them get talent they keep. >> I will add one thing we have and sharing a lot of opportunities and this is specific to the lie that the city of which also has job team prep program as well. The way to at and the work Force enters also have a summer program I appreciate the collaboration that is happening between the 3 entities that help provide chopped prep programs for. I me I did get a report from Michelle Williams that 321 applicants came through from the way to work. So already I'm seeing lots more youth being this summer and that makes me very happy to see and hear reports because we do have activities for argues Through employment and aren't those throughout year. But I like that. The starting point is it's summer. And how Thank you so much. >> That concludes the presentations for Merced. Every SiP this is a quarterly reports say we will continue to make the score or provide these quarterly reports. And through 2027 and so. >> Its. It's exciting to see the feedback. It's been an people call once in a A word that we received this arpa funding and so >> I'm hearing is he today? It's been great. >> this is adequate questions you might be for You mentioned that if some of the funds came back to the city. We talked about reallocating those. What does that process look maybe what does it? I might look like. Well, I think that. >> Council will need to make a decision on general category or categories in terms of how you want to spend those funds. Do you want to go back and community groups? you know? Again, I mentioned shortfall that we have on Mac. If you decided the high level what you want to do, then we can design a process for slows. If you decide to go for community projects again and we decide on a process. If it's someone who has been doing business with and we've allocated funds to in the past, we you know, pretty much short cut an RFP process. It's a matter of soliciting proposals from agencies that haven't been funded in the past. Then we have to go through some kind of competitive process and again, have to be a tied to problems that were created by and are maybe still presenting issues for those agencies going forward. So just going to have that and, you know, you all know challenges we're having a mac right now. So it kind kind decide on a course and how much money we've got. >> Thank So so put a pin in it. For a minute. What happens at the state Legislature? >> I thought and by then we'll have a little bit idea how much we have recaptured funds. I think if I had to guess today, we're probably. Those with help me. 800 to 800 billion 2 million, possibly. That could come back assembly. I mean, definitely around 300,000 safely. But yeah, a number at these contracts >> Ending in February and March. And so. We want to let them be able to spend through their contract period. so I think that heart spring has been very honest and forthright with us about their program. So that's one that we probably won't wait until the end. The contract period to revise their budget. >> Are there any other organizations that have and are spending >> Yeah, I'm one of the and a Catholic charities which is another child Care Assistance program will have and are spending but probably only in the neighborhood of $30,000. Those are they 2 off the top of my head? I'm sorry, but do track that. And where are the timeliness and their spending? But most of the ones you've seen today, I see 2 food rescue is fully expended as his garages and the YMCA and envision is probably 60 70% expended at this point. And and confident that they will fully extend their word. >> There are agency or 2 that we're still evaluating that we may recommend terminate based lack of performance. 2, it a little prefer not to at this point until we've been able to work with the agency a little bit more. >> Elizabeth, can you remind me when the funds have to be allocated yet expended? >> Yes, I can. Yes, in needs to be encumbered under contract by the end of this year. So by the end of 2024, and then all funds need to be spent by the end of 2026. and we to not stretch it out that anything because we have received the funds already from U.S. Treasury, anything that's under expended have to be sent back to them, which is and administrators and financial burden. So and we prefer to avoid any of those kind of problems and un market noise. Word about state hit with usually we want to do, you know, capital projects we save in this case. Usually don't want to do stuff. He wanted to staff. But in end, the you want to do stuff. Yeah. And that's and that's why the funny accelerated in quarter 4 of 2023 of the year. We always have the year and gender report for budget adjustments. >> And that included directing our findings to some existing capital projects that we had through a legible for you, the use of this funding. So it's out the door. >> I would just like and additional on top of. If we have dollars potentially for the back end of the state delivers also some consideration for addressing food desert and specifically food production. Rather than since we have money already allocated refrigerators and freezers. >> Yeah, there's already a healthy Corner Store initiative project that's been initiated. And I think they're in the RFP review process. that that's not food production. That was storage. So I was saying if we have additional funds okay. >> I just like to say thank you to staff and everybody has been working on We decided as a city that we were going to make sure to get money back out into the community. And look, the community work and many organizations out there who have been struggling because of lack of funding like of the public having the ability to get to some of organizations. So hats off to staff and our community partners been working on this for quite a few years. >> Yeah, thank you. In addition, Josh Law for you see regularly percent for defense. He's part of our team has is Nikki Babcock. The controller. So we do have a dedicated arpa staff. We just I call it hustle. So it's been interesting and we've learned a lot. >> to the comments, when we went back out with the revised RFP. For Healthy Corner Store initiative, the issue per food production is included in there. But remember correctly, I don't it's not here. But we want to talk about the creation of sustainable program in so I think that peace was ignored in the first RFP. And so I had to do believe that we're going to be looking at that as a component in the new RFP. The second thing thank you, councilmember for the comments we've our external auditor has reviewed the way the staff has administered that this 20 million dollars and it been complementary in terms of the work of done by finance team believe that we've kind of gone almost above and beyond in terms working through with agencies that have experienced some problems trying to again, try work through those issues and not just to recapture funds and then only come back when we couldn't meet the objectives agree. So again, thank Elizabeth, Nikki Babcock and everybody else who have been involved. If you can hang in there, probably every pizza for you after this. But we do have I I do think it's important as we finished February to talk our financial position as we going into year, more substantive budget discussions March and beyond. And so with that, we're going to go ahead and give you a little preview of where we thought we would be in. 24. We currently are and where we're headed as start planning for 25 and beyond >> so analysts, cool to in the Finance Department and the budget officer and this workshop today since we have monthly workshops and the good news don't need to go into great depth it this is to highlight the important things last month that have been. update you on our financial plans and projections last month, if you was his presentation on the community survey work that we're doing a in work that we're doing and performance measures. Today. The outline for the presentation is reminder E. Review of the 2024 adopted budget financial plan. And you'll find that in the budget book under that have called Financial Plan. It's my favorite section of budget and then provide you with an overview of the variables that will can impact a financial plan. Provide some insight and the development as a financial plan. For next, the budget that we're working on now. And then some elements to strategic budgeting that will be incorporating into the financial plan and then we will KU out of here with updated calendar. So what is a financial plan? A financial plan is it's a we take all of the you know, we we budget. All of our everything is budgeted by far and we appropriate 35 funds every year and the adopted budget. Like I said, it has a five-year financial plan for each of those funds. Most of the focus and the operating budget is on general fund and the debt service fund these financial plans are based and number of different variables. And we continue to update them and the plan is guided by policy direction from the City Council. Overall economic conditions and also technical considerations. So those are update center provided to us by departments. What does it matter? And the financial plan provides the basis for the development as a budget, especially with the general fund, which funds so many different departments. It's really important for us to put it all together. Keeping updated, keeping up to date with a financial plan. And it's very important provide early warning system and assist us with the identification of potential issues. The financial plan supports our engagement process. It enables strategic planning wreck, but are they engaging with the budget and tactical manner and also supports a policy discussion. And then the controller's office prepares quarterly financial reports for your review. And the financial plan is used as a comparison to this quarterly financial reports. So in the 2024 adopted we expected drive revenue growth and that's what's included in there. Growth in property tax, which is about 35% of the general fund revenue portfolio and local sales tax which is around 13 to 15%. So about 40% of the revenue portfolio we were expecting to have rose during a period and that moderating grows in the out years. We also forecasted at normally strong cyclical revenue growth and that is really a function of global economic conditions monetary policy. Like we said, will show you in a graphically the roller coaster of interest earnings. And the expenditure say expenditure is you remember if the from the pipes, the chart I'll show you on salaries and benefits are about 75% of the acts as an expenditure budget. the city of which is experiencing inflationary pressure, especially when it comes to wages and providing competitive wages very tight job market. So there's pressure and that 75% of the budget. The financial plan had surpluses in. 23. 24, which the plan was to direct those 2 reserves and then moderate deficits in the out years. And the idea was to. Use reserves to balance the budget during that period. So this is a graph that demonstrates the financial plan in the adopted budget. So the one that's printed and hopefully in your office so and from 22 to 23. And 24, the expectation was that revenues but outpace expenditures and that that night game that be directed to reserves and then from. 26 27. There would be the ability to use reserves to stabilize the budget. So just a during budget process last year, there's a lot of discussion, reserve policies. Yeah. city Council policy is our reserve in place that's currently in place. And so surpluses in 23. And 24 could provide buffer for it. economic conditions in the out years at the budget. So some technical considerations. So what doing, it's not the last Tuesday month. For example, so it's very early in the year January. Budget workshop is unheard doing this in February is also fight early usually kick off the budget workshop. Season in March and we will consider to continue to receive additional data points monthly. So ice of experience on revenue and on expenditures, we will keep tabs on what positions are filled labor market conditions. We've had some changes, but this classification and compensation ordinances. And so be interesting to see that will impact the budget, not just from the cuts to the budget filling positions and then, of course, economic conditions and benefits costs and the health insurance rates are approved every year in the fall. And then pension rates and the late spring. So some other variables and developing that budget and the reserve policies, which I mentioned level practices that we will talk more about as we get into the cip. But generally when we talk about level practices, we talk about the GEO general obligation out large debt compared to property tax revenue. Revenue We haven't talked about it as much but went too far and guiding revenue cost recovery, period. And that is the CA the concept, things that have a narrower benefit to an individual or group of people have higher cost recovery. That's something that has a broader benefit to the community at large. And then, of course, compensation strategies which I've already mentioned and then priorities and desired outcomes. And that it right back to the community survey and the performance measurement work. I've already mentioned this that salaries and benefits. They're actually where 70% of the adopted budget last year because this budget does include the transfers out. How much pretty sizable. But generally speaking, sellers and benefits or 3 quarters of the budget and then over the left the services that people rate is most important in the community survey are the ones that we spend the most time and police fire and public works police budget will be increasing quite a bit to the classification and compensation changes that were approved last December. And that's one of the things I'm doing. An excellent point is we incorporate revise labor contracts and benefits rates into the budget projection. Adjustments are made to update costs. So these are pretty at things the departments are aware of regarding contracts or it goes from anything to the cost of yellow paint for traffic for, you know, street markings to it contracts and those sorts things. And then also we'll be looking at utility and fuel costs, especially this year. And there's been some stabilization in commodities costs. And I think that that could be one of tailwinds when it comes to the expenditure budget this year because you have a lot of headwinds on the wage site. So this is what we're expecting in the general fund expanded general fund expenditure budget for future years. This is insurers already out of date. But this what you know, it's constantly updating that this is our best effort today. This excludes transfers out to reserve. So this is just the operating budget. Doesn't include any transfers for reserves expenditures are expected to be higher due to wage growth and we have waged creases modeled in the forecast. But their modest wage increases so more typical of what we've seen in the past. Any questions? mean, clarifying questions about expenditures before you move to revenues. All right. Moving like that. Revenues. And we I think a lot of times people just think of property tax. We have no more revenues and not franchise fees are about 20% of the operating budget revenue. So a very volatile revenue do highlight that and a little bit. And then also interest that used to be near 0. And now it's 29 million dollars. And the 2024 budget. So there's some rest there. And there's a lot of different types of revenue. They respond differently to economic conditions and they have different periods in which they So, for example, sales tax, we get to that months after the transaction occurred wears property tax between the sale of property and reappraisal are the sale property or the construction and occupancy permit and appraisal and people paying property tax a 2 year lack. So it's lots of different lagging patterns. And there are overlapping recovery periods in an economic downturn have for revenue. And that's important to that are shorter duration recession like we saw during the pandemic has less of an impact on us. Then a longer period to recession like we experienced after the great financial crisis where we had flat property tax for 5 years flat. Talk for 5 years. And there's a lot of cyclical characteristics to our revenue. So the first one here is interest earnings. So you'll notice that this isn't even very long ago. Interest earnings were around $300,000 a year and then up to 26 million dollars during the same period. very variable wrote for the new stores. This has been updated since the 24 adopted budget to have orgin played downward sloping curve. If that makes sense rate cuts are appear to be slower than was expected when we developed a financial plan last year. Our investments are guided by our investment policy, which approved by you all each year and November expanded powers from the state of Kansas. All of this is set by policy. The next year for interest earnings is relatively predictable. It's just there's a lot of exposure economic conditions when it comes to interest earnings. So that is interest earnings. Franchise fees is definitely one of the more volatile revenue sources that we have. And in 2020 and during the onset of the pandemic. There was a big decrease in demand for commodities and prices. I think that fuel futures and event that negative people quit driving. People quit occupying commercial facilities and the like and then fast forward to 2 years ago with the conflict Ukraine. was constrained to that conflict. And so that resulted in increased in commodity prices. And even though lot that oil but oil at that impacts natural gas prices. And it also impacts electricity rates because there's a generation surcharge. And so well is one of one of the types of fuels that used to generate electricity. So I know that's pretty. Sorry to get into the weeds, but it does explain what's going with this fine I would say last year revenue was compared to the year before and based on the first months of the year. I think it would be optimistic to have flat revenue in franchise fees this year. And that's good news for consumers because that means that they're paying less in their electricity and natural gas bills. like I said, this is about 20% of our revenue. And so I that when I say we're collecting more data points and 2 months, 2 months, 2 months to 12 months in the year. But this is one that I will continue to monitor closely. Sales This is around 14% of general fund At this point, we're projecting moderate growth of 3 and a half percent a year. Inflation is projected to be about 2% typical expansionary period. Our sales tax growth outpaces inflation by about one-half percent. So that. Is the basis for that modeling. Again, we only have one month of actual so far for January. just have January and there's 12 months in the air. so I've been checking my email for February and we don't have that yet. We'll continue to monitor sales tax. Property taxes a little over the 3rd of general fund revenue. And just a note that it's directed to the General fund and also the debt service fund. And the revenues are based on 2 variables. One is assessed, valuation grows in what is in the levee rate. The baseline projection at this point is around 4% growth per year 2% from reappraisal and 2% from and new construction. And so a summary of general fund revenue and that this, again, like the expenditure side, it excludes any transfers from reserves that we had in me last year for stabilization. And so just in general at. Some providers as we move is the property tax. levy in this projection is unchanged. And the prior year. Revenues and this year expected to be lower due to franchise fee softness and then hire them to to interest earnings. Do do interest rates being lowered slower than expected longer term revenue growth is expected to be moderate consistent with prior trends. So the thing to remember here, really, if you take away anything, is it wages salaries and benefits or 75% of the expenditure budget? We have a tremendous amount of pressure here. But on the revenue side, when you look at bright spots in revenue their last of the revenue portfolio. Then the pressure that we have on the expenditure side. So it's just a reminder. I think I've settled the saying so less cars fresh ice case, logos and other places, pressure police wager, on track and other wage costs. So and the out years of this again, we're still we're not expecting a revenue decline. We're expecting moderate revenue. Grossness is good news. But again, just lots of wage pressure. I guess when we put this together, we really want you to get that It's hard that. So this is a graph for the general fund outlook. Ideally, if you committed, in and I think that we are to using a stabilization reserve for stabilization. So to address cyclical problem so that if cyclical problems arise. There's not a panic or a hiring freeze and also to use the stabilization Reserve. 2. To fund innovation. What you should have ideally is issued almost look like they should look a little bit like a bow tie. And then if you, you know, square, I and crimp the out years that you have another edge of the bow tie there and that your area on the left side should equal your area. The right side. makes sense. So that that the stabilization Reserve finds that you put away when you had this cyclical poignancy from, you know, the interest earnings, for example, and we're also struggling with filling the positions. That cannot use more than that. 2. Get to the point where you're back to 0 in the out years. And if you do that, it's no longer a stabilization reserve. You're really not stable site. Stabilizing yourself due to cyclical patterns. You have a structural problem. So. So, you know, these are really just bring it home. You know, workplace expenditures will purge reduce the projected surplus this year. So in the 2024 adopted budget, we had a surplus. We had a transfer out to the stabilization reserve. That was pretty sizable. And the interesting thing is that 2023, we're expecting more of a transfer out to the stabilization reserve. Then we had budget for 2023. And though the extra in 2023. It's not too far off from the increased cost of the police contract. Which sounds like great news is great news for 2024. But the police contract costs are ongoing and will be compounded. So it only gets you wind here. The position in the financial plan is a road 25 to 27. A lot of that is due to wage growth. That is greater than what we had assumed at the time. And then the franchise, reset on commodities costs and the franchise fees does have an impact long-term projection. Again, it's great for consumers, but and it is a part of our revenue portfolio. A key variable for that long-term forecasting simply because it's so much the budget is employee turnover And that's something that we need to look into more. And in forecast, those and it's really important to have and police and have full staffing because one of the most we we're in the service delivery division that that does have an impact. All Expenditures that the turnover rates in the vacancy rates are really 2 sites it's you want to have the positions filled. But then on the other side. so there's a detriment of the service delivery side when the positions aren't filled. But then on the financial side it can lead to gains. This or we finish up here or move into last section. Just reminder on the tax lead. By start state statute, we will receive an estimated valuation notice from this from such a county by June. 15th. In the city has until July 20th to notify the county clerk of the intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate. Notifying the clerk of this intention, does it? There's 2 binding actions. What it says are calendar for the remainder of the budget process because there are 2 different calendars in 2, the county clerks. It's sends out a mailing to every other property owners. And so that will be part of mailing. So the 2 binding actions with that. All right. Our notification. At this point, we expect that compliance with the rnr would reduce revenues by estimated 5 million per year and it would be compounding. The financial plan is based on that. I presented today is based the levee being flat. This with lower than the levee. Reducing property taxes, levied impacts sales, tax revenues as well because the sales tax formula is based taxing effort of population. Another thing just to consider like, there's just a lot of things to consider with the R and r one of them is. The East Bank TIF is ending during planning period. And so any evaluation that came online with the expiration of that TIF, we wouldn't be able to capture with the R and R or any expiration of payments. Those types of things where we have and cannot make development programs in order to grow our tax base, it wouldn't benefit from a revenue standpoint if you were to pursue the R and R. Just a little bit more oh, goodness. policy property tax. So again, half of valuation typically have evaluation is from a new development and half is firmly appraisal last 30 years than the rate has been flat and all property most meaning all growth and property tax revenue has been for evaluation growth. And a few things about reserves. We've mention reserves that reserve policy at a stabilization reserve and such. reserves have an impact on ability to overcome sensitive, cyclical and certainty with the use of the stabilization reserve. is levels also have an impact on our borrowing costs. And for those yearn you are going through. Well, we'll have a bond sale soon. good to be part of that. And reserve levels are very important rating agencies, rating agencies. Take notice of our budget surpluses and growing reserve levels. I know systematic use of reserves rather. It's over the use of reserves in a way that is not they. They look at our reserve policies. It if you I can't speak for them. But if you have a stabilization reserve and its intended for cyclical use and then you replenish it that's few different lane. just having built up a reserve and just keeping on and being structurally balanced. So there's 2 different concepts for a rating agency and the rating agency which they have a rating that they also provide they provided report that some people read It can impact borrowing costs and a small and it just we, you know, small bases point shifts like parts of percentage shifts and are borrowing costs because of the amount that it makes a big impact the cost Capital improvement program. So City Council policy is there for us to guide when it comes to reserves, the pensioner reserve is set aside for specific cyclical most often when there's a change in pension rate sits to market conditions. The city kept the stabilization reserve you all. That's one of your policy cul. One of your policy directives is to provide directive direction on the and stabilization reserve. So that is what I have on revenues. So question, Rick Lazio, but what's what is the fund balance right now? Stabilization? >> It is 15%. >> Noelle, that General Fund fund balance is 15%. The stabilization reserve. Is it different fund? It was a sub fund of the general fund but it separate from the General Fund balance and that is are what I consider to be slight 8. It's right after. Says Financial can 24 adopted budget it is 26.0. 1 million. >> What are turnover rate right now? >> You know, have backed the information from 20 23 back. But I will break that tie. Performance measures are coming in from departments this very week. All right. So moving to putting the 20 age, you know, developing the 2025 budget. And we've already talked a I-40 presented a lot financial forecast and the community survey was presented last month as was the updated concepts for performance management program from Porch. Light insights and what will be receiving for annual performance data from departments is to this Friday. And so one thing that even if you think that I'm a pessimist in that these arrests, revenue projections. They they this deficit right. So even if you think that I have a tendency to or pessimism, I think there's still room for service delivery. Innovation that is because over because of our community survey results. So again, here is this graph yeah, it's a grass grass that was presented last So the city manager mentioned last month the focus will be on the right side of the graph during the budget process this year and things that are rated. It's higher importance a residence. And as a reminder, the question during the survey was, what should the city of Wichita be focusing on that next focusing on for the next 2 years. So it wasn't what you think are the most important services, we say importance, but that they're they're like it's almost like having an annual review, right? What should you be focusing on? So that's what they say that we should be focusing for the next 2 years. And an example of something. We said we're doing a follow up on streets and we did that in January. And so we asked because on a survey, they just ask about street repair, which is really quite broad people could interpret is the job that we do of repairing streets or they repair of the streets. Are the overall condition. So they didn't do a follow-up survey on streets. we asked about state and federal highways just to get a baseline. I it. Like, you know, the turnpike and in those things. 66% of respondents rated our state and federal highways is excellent or good. It's a good point of reference. Major streets. 43% it rated as excellent or good. And on that one and other options are fair and poor. And so for that one, good and fair, basically tied and major streets. We asked secondary streets only 18% rated them excellent or good. And the most common response on that one was fair at 46%. And then our neighborhood streets only 17% rated them as excellent or good. And the most common response on that was poor 49%. So this is the kind of this would be an example of the kind work that we will be doing to learn more about things that are important to residents for that they think are important for us to be focusing on the next 2 years. That we have ratings and that case that are lower than our average. You might be saying, well, streets Cosh treats are in the cip. She's talking out the operating budget. What does this have to do with each other? And that just a reminder property taxes and number, you know, the largest source of revenue for the general fund. It also and it also funds or cip. So are geo out larger general obligation at large projects are funded by debt service fund, a levee to and in the past, we have shifted no levee from And most the time I've been doing this and is for working in the budget office and it's been a while. From the debt service fund to the general fund. So we used to have 10 mills and the debt service fund in the past in our 7 and a half because we shifted over to the general fund to the police staffing study is the primary thing. And then also there is a shift that occurred for the 2021 budget. Related to COVID and just economic conditions at the time. So the cip in the operating budget in that way are connected. And here's the next one. So these below average, but things to focus on it. 2 years. And you look like this 80 85%, you know, for looking at this, if you're to drive lying more than 85% of people said things to focus the next year's. Our economic development, crime prevention and Street repair. So if you know everyone has different ideas and like there's a lot of people with this idea. So it's pretty So on that one. And then these are things that are of higher quality. So people rated the high quality higher than our typical our average on the survey. >> But again, you draw that 85%. And 85% of people say in the next 2 years we should be looking at fire fire services in. We are, in fact, building 2 new fire stations, for example, ambulance or EMS. We a have a pilot project underway for that and drinking water where building a water treatment plant. So I think a lot of times to a one-year the extent to which people say you should focus on this is you are focusing on this. I'm not exactly sure. And then police services and I know there's been a great focus on that. But the ginseng, que study and the dashboard that they've been to Maine to keep up with the implementation items on those. But in most of these cases that people the things people say are important for us to be focusing on in the next 2 years are things that we have historically funded with a lot you know, that the general fund matches how we fund these things matches but importance people place on next 2 years and that there's probably and some of these years that gap between people's expectation for service delivering what's happening. But then again, if people only 66% of people re our state and federal highways as excellent or it's like, you know, it's a good frame of week. yes, right there >> So what I do, I'm this is kind of a check-in point if the council is comfortable with this mechanism or this approaching terms in the Matrix as a starting point for some of the big budget discussions, what you're hearing is and street repairs. I think we'll see what you're probably see are some options for OSS, especially in terms of residential streets. I have your expenditure, the cip and then maybe some ships with other expenses in order to prioritize street repair. so would like to bring some options forward in that regard. Crime prevention and police services, I think will bring some program options forward in that area. That's an area that community's communities been talking about. Councils talked about for a number of years. I we're going to use some data that's being generated by the police department target some initiatives and then economic development. We started talking last year about Bean more. Focused on helping small business in new businesses, especially with our economic development initiatives. And I know the council also want to talk about economic development policies and how we go forward in that regard because that will help shape. It's not just the expenditure, but it's the incentives that we use as well. We'll probably want to spend a little more time looking at the cip in terms of storm water. Also, we have a project on the drawing boards right now which is a large in Dist primarily or I guess it's all in district. One it with the corridor that are an area that has Signet has had significant flooding issues for a long period of time. However, I also hear from some of you about which I would call spot flooding that her problems in your districts. And I think we may be looking at ways to shift some funds into into those projects as well, which I think is reflective of what you're seeing from the community. Those are probably some the big maybe some of the big issues, if you concur that the that you'll see 4 new initiatives or additional spending and then will there's tradeoffs. Obviously, then we do that. So we'll be looking at other areas in the budget that may be Wilde emphasize a little bit based on the feedback we have from community survey in from the community as a whole. That's a starting point. Want to discuss some of that with you. There are also want to test that through our social media town hall. Our budget simulator and the other tools that we've got to make sure that we're ended and dad discussions make sure that we're headed in the right direction. We can't be everything to everyone. started this several years ago about excellence and service delivery. What should we shed? What should be emphasized which we DFA size to me. This is the next step in that discussion. I guess I'm looking for feedback we're headed in the right direction because we've got a lot of work to do now and March and April in order to start positioning, I'm a good decision package is for you to look at. >> Just outside of the important smart there at 63%. I think it's about 23% far quality rating a code enforcement and maybe cities. So I I'd like this. Take a look at that, too. Just outside the margin. There was what we're looking at considering so. I know that submission a lot of us in the course. >> I agree with that. >> I would love to see if we could get the responded, some street repair to break down concrete street to Nashville. Because I would assume that the folks with Concord Street to the ones writing that lower, but it's just an assumption. >> We drilled we did we and drill down that far. We used actually kind of modified to another city and used what we're going to bring forward to you will address both surfaces will again, we know the expense on concrete. we don't have enough ci cip capacity to be able to do that. But we need to start putting more money aside for concrete streets. But I do think we heard loud and clear. The biggest concern, our residential streets. we've residential streets and that's where I think we've not made enough progress in order satisfy residence. >> Yeah. And I think this is an interesting it's I work in the budget office. So I think people see me and think budget dollars. But it's also an interesting tool from the standpoint of prioritizing our time. Prioritizing discussions and, you know, the budget is a financial document, but it's also strategic planning document and operations document is just that one. 450 pages of putting it all together. And so important to have this great us. >> I think a little bit information budget dollars for public services. One thing that I notice from going around the is a lot of folks don't know the services we already do provide including phone numbers website information. I was really glad to see such a big turn out to the town last week. But again, it takes multiple different types efforts to try to reach So I'd like to know what the current budget is regarding public information and what are some innovative our community one take away from school closure discussions is to count? 2 board members mentioned that communication happened earlier. So us getting early regarding in the next few years having these challenges, we have to start talking about it even stronger. Now. So again, what I took away was to communicate better earlier and often. Thank you. We'll we'll provide that information, certainly. And it's interesting. >> It really talking about that meeting that we have. It dovetails nicely into the Green Square because the people who were at that meeting, a lot of them are on dads are are graduates this graduates of the Civic Engagement Academy. And they well, people in great things that that way, if they knew. That's really optimistic, I don't know that that's necessarily true. But it is what they're saying is that there's an information. They feel that there's an information So. >> When we look at priority objectives as well, I think it's been highlighted in conversation for mayor wound also myself and other members of the board as well, especially article chart services. But other things, parks and recreation, additional facilities that we're focusing more on deferred maintenance aspects of the set of creation of new facilities as well and making sure that we're manage your assets and have long-term management plans for So the priority, which I don't know how to be manifested. Yes, stated policy that that is a stated policy in the cip. But I think it's a worth talking about and maybe emphasizing even greater. >> What are comparing? >> Plans for new or improved Parks vs what we're doing already with existing Parker. I think it's Good point. Yeah. And in the in the cip transmit their policy issues, there is a policy issue of where we break down the cip by those categories. >> I know already sent this email myself. Mayor will councilmember all eyes But I would like to see on crime prevention, baby, working with different groups to kind of develop that a little bit as we have a violence interrupter program, which is a little over budget. You know, how can we have that effort with surrounding support of services? What does that look like and getting kind of an alignment there? What? What? What that Cosby not to say. We find it all. But if we can get some alignment amongst us and other agencies and community, maybe that's something that helps us out. >> the next steps is saying you will continue to update the budget. Like I said every month we get new information. I think that we've got a good start on a framework for developing a structurally balanced budget and also great in the cip process. And then it's your role to continue to provide U.S. policy feedback. Think i'ts our work. And we'll also do so the next thing I've got, is there another resident engagement budget round table on March 7th, the Defense Learning Library. And then we have a we already have some workshop scheduled but will be fitting and more. Resident engagement opportunities to the social media town hall. The budget simulator will be finding the right places in the calendar to put those and in June, June is when the budget book all comes together and it will be present it to you on July 16th and then the budget adoption process So that's all I have for you So that's it's an ongoing conversation. So as always, if there's something that you think about just, know, the city manager and will help. And I've got some follow-up questions from you all today. And I thank you for your attention. You know, it's been a long it's afternoon now. Haha. So, but this is important work and it gives us energy for the road ahead to see how committed you are to the budget process much appreciated. Thank you, Elizabeth, all you do I sent you an e-mail but others may want it to the slide deck. This last flight, we got copies of the other sites that we didn't get caught. You didn't get this Cayden. Listen. Missing it and see it. it good. You that? I was like funny but yes, we know. Yeah. I'm about that. When we say we do just in time budgeting, we're constantly updating things. We are kidding. Thank you. kidding. All right. >> Thank you all. I appreciate you. Have a nice lunch. >> Or that's always