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Welcome to the March 2019 issue of The Edwards Edition!
Over the past two months, the work of my office has required us to look ahead to Houston's economic future, to take stock of our city's present challenges, and led us to acknowledge the men and women from our past whose boldness enabled the diverse and dynamic city we live in today.
As was highlighted in our recent Special Announcement, I have focused on high capacity transit mobility solutions in anticipation of the more than 4 million people that are expected to move to our region over the next two decades. In early April, the Houston-Galveston Area Council voted to include the
recommendations of the High Capacity Transit Task Force,
which I lead,
into its Draft 2045 Regional Transportation Plan
. The Task Force created three work groups to: (1) develop a Vision Network of service concepts along select corridors due to travel demand, (2) examine costs associated with the Vision Network (on various levels), (3) identify funding options for the Vision Network and (4) explain the economic impacts of the Vision Network. This is the type of forward thinking that is needed to solve a looming mobility crisis and ensure our region is an economic powerhouse well into the 21
st
century. For more information,
please see the "Around
the City" section of The Edwards Edition.
In mid-April, I also had the opportunity to participate as a panelist in a discussion on workforce development in the 21st century sponsored by Microsoft's Internet of Things Smart City event. The discussion centered around the Brookings Institute study on the evolving workforce, including in Houston.
While discussion about the future of work is critical, we must also ensure that today's economy is inclusive. To that end, our Women and Minority Owned Business Task Force met in mid-April for the second time to continue its two-pronged mission of (1) increasing access to capital for women and minority-owned businesses and (2) scaling up such businesses to compete in an ever-expansive market place. The future of our economy depends on making sure these businesses can compete, grow, and thrive in an inclusive Houston, today. While fortifying the commercial viability of women entrepreneurs is but one method of empowering women, our office has also focused on other means of empowering women, as well. Accordingly, I partnered with the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, WatchHerWork, and the Houston Chapter of The Links to host "An Evening of Women's Empowerment" on May 2nd. For more information, please see the "On The Issues" section of The Edwards Edition.
At City Hall, we have been in the middle of closing a budgetary deficit being largely impacted by the fire fighter pay parity pay increase. In late April, a judge ordered the Mayor and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association (HPFFA or the "Fire Fighter's Union") leaders undergo mediation, a non-binding process whereby two parties meet with a neutral third party to resolve a dispute. On the evening of May 2nd, the mediator officially declared an impasse between the two parties, ending formal mediation. Please find more information on this on-going process in the "Happening at City Hall" section of The Edwards Edition.
Another point of contention at City Hall in April was the passage of legal documents Hurricane Harvey survivors who receive CDBG-DR long-term housing assistance from the City will be expected to sign. The goal of the Harvey-related Homeowner's Assistance Program is to use the CDBG-DR funds in a way that makes sure the assisted property remains the primary residence of those assisted.I fought against language in the proposed requirement for residents accepting more than $20,000 in CDBG-DR assistance to seek advance written permission from the City to be absent from their homes for more than 90 consecutive days, to not potentially face an event of default under the documents. An event of default could result in serious ramifications for the homeowner, such as the full or partial repayment of the CDBG-DR funds. I proposed two amendments, but my amendments were not adopted because the Administration offered an amendment to remove the permission component, which passed. However, the Administration's amendment did not go far enough; residents are still facing the risk of an event of default if gone from their homes for more than 90 days because it is still within the discretion of the City's Housing Department to declare an event of default if the 90-day provision is triggered. I will continue to monitor this program to alert residents of potential issues and proffer changes necessary to ensure residents are able to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Finally, my office had the pleasure of jointly hosting viewings of the film "The Strange Demise of Jim Crow" with Texas Southern University and the nonprofit, Positive Black Male Association. The film details the unique way in which civic activists quietly desegregated Houston using a more subtle approach than what is typically associated with the era of desegregation nationally. We were pleased to be joined at the TSU screening by Dr. Halcyon Watkins, whose activism as a TSU student who participated in the sit-ins at the time is featured in the film. If you would like to host a complimentary screening of the film for your organization, contact Leslie Williams at
leslie.williams@houstontx.gov
or 281-520-2420.
Stay connected with me by contacting the At-Large 4 office at
atlarge4@houstontx.gov or (832) 393-3012, and by following us on social media. Let us hear your thoughts and ideas on the issues most important to you!
Sincerely,
Amanda K. Edwards
Houston City Council Member, At-Large Position 4
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ON THE ISSUES: An Evening of Women's Empowerment Inspires Women to Break Glass Ceilings
"No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens." -Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States of America
On May 2
nd
, hundreds of women stood together at attention after hearing the insights of a host of speakers; these women were feeling bolder, inspired, and empowered to follow Council Member Edwards' charge to go home and dream bolder dreams with the comfort that with the support of those around them, those dreams can come true. This scene originated from "An Evening of Women's Empowerment" -an event that served as a beacon of hope in today's trying times.
This nation is currently undergoing a moment in its trajectory where inequalities in opportunities for men and women are still pervasive. Women are still often
socialized to apologize for having the audacity of ambition
and often lack access to opportunities in business, among other things. In fact,
a 2017 U.S. Senate Report on Women Entrepreneurs
found three unique obstacles facing women business owners
:
(1) a lack of role models, (2) the gender pay gap, and (3) unequal access to funding and venture capital. The same report found U.S. women working full-time typically make 20% less than their male counterparts. The data is clear, to defy the odds, more women need mentors who have blazed trails so that they can access opportunities they would not otherwise have. As illustrated through the amplified voices of women through the #MeToo movement to those who have participated in Women's Marches across the nation, women are being energized to break barriers of a variety of sorts and must be encouraged to break more glass ceilings in pursuit of their goals.
Defying the Odds: The Need for An Evening of Women's Empowerment
Rather than simply identifying problems, Council Member Edwards uses her Community Empowerment Signature Series to "be the solution" to problems facing various communities. In light of the need to share stories of women that can inspire others to shatter glass ceilings of a variety of sorts, Council Member Edwards partnered with the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, WatchHerWork, and the Houston Chapter of The Links, Inc. to host An Evening of Women's Empowerment on May 2nd at the Houston Chronicle. This event featured trail-blazing women that are a source of hope, inspiration, and fuel for women on the cusp of breaking the glass ceilings of their own lives.
Hundreds of women joined Council Member Edwards from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on May 2nd at the Houston Chronicle to be empowered by the courageous stories of trailblazing women who carved their own paths, as artists, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and motivators. Attendees left the event with the drive to dream their boldest dreams and pursue their greatest visions after hearing from an unforgettable panel of leaders.
The Featured Women
The event featured numerous trailblazers who gave advice, shared their triumphs and setbacks and inspired the audience. The event featured Samina Farid, former founder and CEO of Merrick Systems; Donna Cole, founder of Cole Chemical; renown concert pianist, Jade Simmons; the Honorable Germaine Tanner, Harris County Judge for 311th Family District Court; Suzan Deison, Founder of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, Denise Hamilton, founder and CEO of WatchHerWork, and many more.
As a leading energy and technology entrepreneur, Samina Farid serves as special adviser to the CEO at P2 Energy Solutions Incorporated. Despite the obstacles in her path as a woman entrepreneur, Ms. Farid founded Merrick Systems, an oil and natural gas data company, in 1989 and served as its Chairman of the Board, COO, CFO, and Executive Vice President for 25 years until the company was acquired by P2 in 2014.
At the age of 27, recently divorced with $5,000 in savings, and a four-year old daughter at home, Donna Cole founded Cole Chemical. Thirty-four years and $85 million in sales later, Ms. Cole grew that company into a globally ranked industry giant with customers that included the likes of BP America, Chevron, ExxonMobil Shell, and Lockheed Martin to name a few.
As a law student at Houston's own Thurgood Marshall School of Law, seventeen years ago,Germaine Tanner discovered a passion for helping families navigate the criminal justice system and began a journey that would lead her to becoming Judge for the 311th Family District Court in Harris County. She is part of the Harris County 19-the sweep of 17 African-American women judges who were elected in November 2018.
Suzan Deison has devoted her life to the empowerment of other women entrepreneurs. As the founder of the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) she has helped women develop and enhance their businesses and has made the GHWCC one of the fastest growing chambers of commerce in the nation.
As a digital innovator, Denise Hamilton has created a platform that has impacted women all over the world. Ms. Hamilton founded WatchHerWork as a portal cataloguing the professional experiences of hundreds of women so that it could be used as a resource to close the gap professional women face in the work place and in business.
Insight from the Panel Discussions and Featured Speakers
Mentorship was a recurring theme in each of the panel discussions from the evening. All of the panelists noted that it was not enough to be the first in their fields. Samina Farid and Donna Cole conveyed the personal responsibility they felt in sharing their insights with other aspiring women entrepreneurs, stating that each of them mentors between 20 and 30 women per year. Suzan Deison remarked that it was her personal mission to break the glass ceiling of finance, noting that women business owners still account for so few loans and other financial instruments from major banks compared to their male counterparts. Judge Germaine Tanner shared her story of clear vision and perseverance and Denise Hamilton explained how she uses her platform to bring a variety of resources to women when they need them.
Through the retelling of her own journey, Jade Simmons encouraged the audience of women to redefine fear in their lives and silence the nay-sayers telling them to stay in their lane. As Ms. Simmons described it, fear in the pursuit of one's goals should be awe-inspiring. She implored her audience to dream dreams so big that they cause one to shudder, but to not be deterred from the pursuit of those dreams. She went on to say that when others tell ambitious women that they should "stay in their lane", this is in fact a compliment, indicating that those women have achieved a level of mastery in one sphere of influence, and are ready to move on to another. After an evening filled with inspiration, participants left motivated to pursue their purpose no matter what the obstacle.
Chef Spotlight
Houston would not be Houston without its famed food culture, and the delectable dishes of the women who are the culinary masterminds of that culture were on display for An Evening of Women's Empowerment. The event featured Chef Erin Smith of Feges BBQ; Chef Jane Wild of the Kitchen at the Dunlavy; Chef Sylvia Casares of Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen; Chef Yolanda Henry of Nuksy's Fine Catering; Chef Bonita Edwards of Nita Cakes, and Chef Jasmine Chida of Sweet Cup Gelato & Sorbet Orginale.
More on the Signature Series
An Evening of Women's Empowerment is a part of Council Member Edwards' Community Empowerment Signature Series, a series of events and efforts designed to educate, equip, empower, and encourage Houston teens, adults, and seniors by presenting tailored programming helping residents to "be the solution" in their respective communities.
The next major Signature Series event, "The Empowered You: Houston Senior Citizens Conference" will take place in the Fall of this year.
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HAPPENING AT CITY HALL: Budget Season is Here!
The budget season for the City of Houston officially begins each May and concludes in June with the adoption of a new fiscal year budget. This May marks the beginning of Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020) budget season. During budget season, all City Department heads come before the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee to present an overview of the work of their departments, as well as a look ahead to the anticipated budgetary needs of those departments. As Vice Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, Council Member Edwards has a unique responsibility in confirming that the financial position of the City is sound, in ensuring adherence to the most transparent process possible for all parties involved and relaying budgetary information to residents in a way that illuminates the happenings at City Hall. After having a chance to review the needs of all departments and offer amendments to their proposed budgets in consultation with the Mayor, City Council will vote to approve the FY 2020 budget in June.
In 2018, Council managed to close a $114 million FY2019 budget shortfall without lay-offs. This year presents a unique challenge as City Council and the Mayor look to adopt a budget that incorporates the voter-approved Proposition B of 2018: Fire Fighter Pay Parity. The City's Finance Department outlines the total estimated deficit needing closure for the FY2020 budget as being approximately $179 million.[1] Some drivers of this gap range from costs of health benefits to the pay raises of municipal workers and police officers, as well as Proposition B (fire fighters pay parity). The issue of how the City goes about implementing Proposition B has dominated headlines since it was approved by voters in November of 2018. Despite the airplay and headlines, what often goes unexplained is the larger budgetary framework in which Proposition B implementation is being worked out, namely the City's structural deficit and its primary drivers.
Closing the Budget Gap
Major Drivers of the Structural Budgetary Deficit
The City's structural deficit is driven primarily by five major factors: (1) the voter approved Revenue Cap of 2004, (2) Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), (3) Pension Liabilities, (4) Deferred Maintenance and now (5) Pay Parity between Police Officers and Fire Fighters.
The City's tax rate is currently set close to 1987 levels,[2] and according to a General Fund Structural Imbalance Breakdown produced by the Finance Department, since 2015, over $500 million has been lost to the implementation of the Revenue Cap.[3] Were it not for the voter-imposed Revenue Cap, the City would have had an additional approximate amount of $152 million in its coffers in FY 2019 alone.[4]
According to the Finance Department, Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), which are mostly health care benefits offered to retirees and family members, was the source of an over
$76 million deficit in expenses in FY 2019
,
[5]
and it is estimated that there will be an approximate $67 million OPEB contribution for FY2020 (approximately $57 million of that will originate from the General Fund).[6]
Pension costs are another driver of the structurally imbalanced budget. Through the Houston Pension Solution of 2017 , the following occurred: (1) the $8.2 billion in unfunded pension liability was reduced by approximately $3 billion, (2) the underfunded pension systems of police and municipal workers were funded by bond proceeds, and (3) other frameworks, such as the corridor, were put in place to contain future uncontrolled growth of the pension system.
Deferred maintenance refers to building upkeep and upgrades the City has delayed over a number of years. According to the Finance Department's Structural Imbalance Breakdown, in FY2019 the City contributed approximately $121 million to deferred maintenance needs, of which only $21.9 million was not related to CIP expenditures, and in FY2020 $21.3 million in non-CIP deferred maintenance is being contributed.[7]
Finally, compared against FY2018 in which no contractual pay increases or pay parity measures were applied, according to the Finance Department, Pay Parity (Proposition B implementation) will drive up the City's deficit by an estimated $80 million cumulatively from base year FY2018 to FY2020;[8] and according to the Office of the City Controller, implementation will drive the deficit up by an estimated $100 million cumulatively from base year FY2018 to FY2020.[9] According to the Houston Fire Department's FY2020 Staffing and Deployment report, the fire fighter force is now being reduced to generate approximately $20 million[10] in cost savings; however, the implementation of Proposition B is still a costly proposition that exceeds these reductions.
According to the Finance Department, and an April 17,2019 Proposition B Financial Analysis the Mayor sent to City Council Members, if the City were to implement Proposition B starting with back pay dating back to January 1, 2019 the FY2019 cost would be $31 million and $79 million for FY2020.[11] Such immediate implementation would require 47 municipal employees, 67 firefighter cadets, and 220 firefighters to be laid off to balance the FY2020 budget[12]-to say nothing of how the budget of future fiscal years might be balanced. The reductions made within the Fire Department amount to cost savings of $20 million in FY2020.[13]
On April 18, 2019
, a court judge ordered the City of Houston, the Houston Police Officer's Union (HPOU) and the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association (HPFFA or "Fire Fighter's Union") to attend mediation. An impasse was declared by the mediator on May 3rd, and as of the publication of The Edwards Edition, no agreement had been reached between the parties.
Pay Parity Proposals Exchanged:
Fire Fighter's Union's Three and a Half Year Request (Four Fiscal Years)
On April 15, 2019 the Fire Fighter's Union met with the Mayor to negotiate a resolution to the implementation of Proposition B. Prior to the meeting, the Union sent an open letter to the Mayor indicating a willingness to accept a three and a half year phase in of Proposition B provided such implementation came with no layoffs of firefighters or a reduction in fire and EMS services before, during, or after implementation.[14]
Mayor Turner's Three and a Half Year Implementation (Four Fiscal Years)
There are multiple proposals on the table to implement Proposition B. According to the Finance Department, implementing pay parity dating back to January 1, 2019 (FY2019) to June 30, 2022 (FY2022) would cost $9.9 million in FY2019, $33.6 million in FY2020, $32.5. million in FY2021, and $12.8 million in FY2022. No firefighter layoffs, cadet layoffs or firefighter demotions would result from this proposal.[15]
Mayor Turner's Four and a Half Years Implementation (Five Fiscal Years)
According to the Finance Department, implementing pay parity starting on January 1, 2019 (FY2019) to June 30, 2023 (FY2023) would result in no lay-off and would cost $9.6 million in FY2019, $32.8 million in FY2020, $31.9 million in FY2021, $9.2 million in FY2022, and $5.3 million in FY2023.[16]
Fire Fighter's Union's Four Year Request (Five Fiscal Years)
On May 3rd, the Fire Fighter's Union proposed a four-year implementation of Proposition B. The Union indicated a willingness to agreement provided (1) salaries and incentive pay between the Police and Fire Departments were fully equalized, (2) the City disclose what each fire fighter would earn in incentive pay and base salary, (3) no mass demotions or layoffs before, during, or after Proposition B implementation, and (4) the City rescind the demand that Proposition B be declared unconstitutional.[17]
The above-mentioned proposals have not been implemented. As was previously stated, an impasse has been declared by the mediator as negotiations have been unsuccessful. Reductions are now underway to implement Proposition B.
Difference in Finance Department and the Office of the City Controller's Projections
It should be noted that the cost estimates for implementing Proposition B range from a low of approximately $80 million (according to the Finance Department)[18] to approximately $100 million (Office of the City Controller's projection).[19] According to the Office of the City Controller's April 4, 2019 memorandum sent to the Mayor and City Finance Director and the Mayor's April 17, 2019 response to the City Controller, the reason for the variance in these projections stems from the ambiguity in defining parity amongst two different departments with differing educational requirements and incentive pay structures.[20] For example, some Police Officers receive an incentive pay known as Patrol Pay. The Finance Department does not include Patrol Pay for Fire Fighters in its tabulation of pay parity because the Legal Department has determined fire fighters do not engage in patrol activities.[21]
The budget must be balanced by the end of the fiscal year no later than June 30, 2019. Residents are encouraged to attend the budget workshops to have their questions and comments answered during this process, as well. For more information about the Budget Workshop schedule, please visit the Budget and Fiscal Affairs FY2020 Budget Workshop Schedule. Also, to access the Proposed FY2020 budget, please click here.
AROUND THE CITY: High Capacity Transit Task Force
As was discussed in the recent Special Announcement, over the next couple of decades, the eight county Houston-Galveston area region will absorb an estimated additional 4.2 million people. That means our regional population will grow from over 6.5 million to 10.76 million by 2045. A gap in mobility capacity could mean the region's anticipated population growth, and its accompanying economic growth, could go unrealized in our region. Accordingly, our region must act with urgency to manage the mobility challenges that exist today and those that will severely worsen tomorrow if robust action is not taken soon.
To address the mobility gap,
the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Transportation Policy Council (TPC) created the High Capacity Transit (HCT) Task Force in 2017 to identify (1) a high capacity transit vision for 2045, (2) the costs associated with varying high capacity transit options, (3) the economic impacts on the region, and (4) the funding options needed to finance a high capacity transit network.
The HCT Task Force created four separate high capacity transit scenarios: High, Medium-High, Medium-Low, and Low. Each of the four scenarios represent differing levels of capital investment and modes of transit-from the High Scenario, which envisions a fully grade separated rail network, to the Low Scenario, encompassing a network of at-grade Bus Rapid Transit (BRT); the two middle networks would be composed of a patchwork of at-grade Light Rail Transit (LRT) and BRT routes throughout, and some smaller portions of grade-separated rail. The various scenarios were predicated on data obtained from the travel demand analysis conducted by HGAC. To access the full report for all scenarios, click here .
Recommendations for Next Steps
- Substantially invest in high capacity transit to accommodate anticipated regional growth and maximize regional economic viability
- All TPC investments related to transportation should be treated as opportunities to advance HCT concepts
- The HCT Task Force should begin a Phase II of their work to further address details surrounding funding sources, regional transit priorities, and implementation of the network
- Additional public engagement is needed to develop new transit services and concepts, including engagement around funding and implementing such new services
- The region must speak with one voice when engaging decision makers at the state and federal level
- Embrace concepts such as regional fare and Universal Accessibility to encourage the increased use of transit throughout the region
- Include the Priority Network in HGAC TPC's 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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The Edwards Empowerment Talks:
Karina Gonzalez Edwards |
As part of Council Member Edwards' Community Empowerment Series, The Edwards Empowerment Talks highlight examples of people who refused to let their obstacles or false starts in life define them or give up despite every reason to do so. Through this series, Council Member Edwards interviews unique individuals from around the country to share their stories of perseverance and fortitude. These stories are intended to encourage people to "be the solution" in their own lives and their communities, no matter their starting point or obstacle. This Spring, Council Member Edwards sat down with Karina Gonzalez Edwards, Principal Ballerina for the Houston Ballet. A native Venezuelan, in 2013 Karina made history by becoming the first Latina Principal Ballerina for the Houston Ballet. Check out her story of defying the odds to break barriers and make history. Check out the video shown above.
Thank you for taking the time to read The Edwards Edition! Please follow Council Member Edwards on social media to stay informed on future events and happenings around Houston!
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[1]
City of Houston (2019, May 7). Proposed FY2020 Budget.
[2] City of Houston. Department of Government Relations (2019, February 27). Testimony on H.B. 2 House Committee on Ways and Means.
[3] City of Houston. Finance Department (2018, August 21). Estimated Impact of the Revenue Cap. Presented to Budget and Fiscal Affairs Leadership in March 2019.
[4] City of Houston. Finance Department (2018, August 21). Estimated Impact of the Revenue Cap. Presented to Budget and Fiscal Affairs Leadership in March 2019.
[5] City of Houston. Finance Department (2019, March). General Fund Structural Imbalance Breakdown for the Period Ending December 31, 2018).
[6] City of Houston (2019, May 7). Proposed FY2020 Budget.
[7] City of Houston. Finance Department (2019, March). General Fund Structural Imbalance Breakdown for the Period Ending December 31, 2018). City of Houston Proposed FY2020 budget.
[8] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, April 17). Proposition B Financial Analysis.
[9] City of Houston. Office of the Houston City Controller. Houston Fire Department- Pay Parity Cost Analysis.
[10] City of Houston. Houston Fire Department (2019, April). FY2020 Staffing and Deployment.
City of Houston. Houston Fire Department (2019, May 15). FY2020 Budget Presentation.
[11] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, April 17). Proposition B Financial Analysis.
[12] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, April 17). Proposition B Financial Analysis.
[13]
City of Houston. Houston Fire Department (2019, April). FY2020 Staffing and Deployment.
[14] Houston Professional Fire Fighter's Association Local 341 (2019, April 15). Letter to Mayor Sylvester Turner. Proposition B Implementation Over Three and a Half Years.
[15] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, May 3). Proposal to Fire Union.
[16] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, April 17). Proposition B Financial Analysis.
[17] Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341 (2019, May 3). Letter to Mayor Sylvester Turner. Four Year Phase-In of Proposition B.
[18] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, April 17). Proposition B Financial Analysis.
[19] City of Houston. Office of the City Controller (2018, October 18). Houston Fire Department- Pay Parity Cost Analysis.
[20] City of Houston. Office of the Mayor (2019, April 4). Proposition B Implementation Costs.
City of Houston. Office of the City Controller (2019, April 4). Proposition B Implementation Costs.
[21] City of Houston. Legal Department (2019, April 17). Proposition B Implementation Costs.
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