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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL B SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2018.
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
[1. Briefing on proposed dockless vehicle regulations. [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development and Operations]]
SESSION AGENDA.WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA REGARDING PROPOSED DOCKLESS VEHICLE REGULATIONS.
CITY MANAGER SUMMA CUM SCULLEY.
>> SCULLEY: THIS SUBJECT WAS PRESENTED TO THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE ON AUGUST 20TH.
WE'VE BEEN TAKING COMMUNITY INPUT FROM RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR CENTER CITY OFFICE HAS HOSTED A CUM -- COUPLE OF MEETINGS TO GET INPUT AND WE, OF COURSE, TALKED WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE ABOUT THAT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH TO GARNER SOME INPUT.
THE RIVER AUTHORITY, CENTRO, VIA, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS.
SO BIRD LUN LAUNCHED AS YOU KNOW BACK IN LATE JUNE, JUNE 22ND, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, A FLEET OF SCOOTERS, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY ADDITIONAL SCOOTERS ON JULY 27TH.
SO WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF OPINIONS.
I SPOKE AT A LUNCHEON TODAY AND I ASKED HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD USED A SCOOTER, AND THEN WHETHER OR NOT THEY THOUGHT THEY SHOULD BE ON THE SIDEWALK OR THE STREET.
AND IT'S ALL OVER THE BOARD IN TERMS OF WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
AND SO WE'RE GETTING LOTS OF INPUT ON THIS, NONETHELESS, WHAT WE'D LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU -- SCOOTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY, SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES, TRYING TO REGULATE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND LORI HOUSTON IS GOING TO DISCUSS WITH YOU SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE'VE FOUND, AS WELL AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FROM YOU THIS AFTERNOON IS SOME POLICY DIRECTION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THIS EVENING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS REGARDING DOCKLESS VEHICLES, SO WE'RE EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AGAIN THIS EVENING.
SO LET US PRESENT THE FINDINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DATE AS WELL AS THE INPUT WE'VE RECEIVED, AND RECOMMENDATION WITH REGARD TO THE PILOT PROGRAM.
OUR GOAL IS TO ALLOW ANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT WOULD LIKE TO OPERATE IN SAN ANTONIO DO SO SAFELY AND TO ACCOMMODATE OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME INTRODUCE LORI HOUSTON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE RESEARCH AS WELL AS OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR A PILOT PROGRAM.
>> HOUSTON: AS SHERYL MENTIONED, TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS ON AN ISSUE THAT ALL CITIES ACROSS THE U.S. ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS OF DOCKLESS VEHICLES.
WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES THAT WILL HAVE A POLICY, AS A LOT OF OTHER CITIES ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING THEIR OWN POLICY.
AND BEFORE I GO INTO THE REGULATIONS AND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, I DO WANT TO STRESS THIS HAS BEEN A TEAM EFFORT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK JOHN STEVENS FROM THE CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR LEADING THIS, ALONG WITH ART REINHARDT WITH TCI, CAPTIVE BENAVIDES AND CHIEF MCMANUS WITH SAPD, XAVIER UTIERRA WITH PARKS AS WELL AS ABIGAIL -- SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, EDDIE RAMIRO WITH CENTRO, AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUTOUT TO DAVID HEARD AND TECH LOCK.
THEY'VE REALLY HELPED US WITH HOW WE COME UP WITH SOME REGULATIONS THAT STRIKE A BALANCE WITH PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT'S CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE BUT ALSO PROVIDES FOR THAT SAFETY THAT WE NEED FOR BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND RIDERS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE VENDORS.
I THINK THERE'S A FEW OF THEM HERE WITH US TODAY, CASEY WITTINGTON WITH BLUE DUCK, I THINK WE'VE GOT BIRD AND LINE BIKE AND THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS IN THE CROWD.
THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO HELP US COME UP WITH A POLICY THAT STRIKES THAT BALANCE WITH PROVIDING THAT ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT'S CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE, BUT ALSO FOR SAFER RIDERS AND
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PEDESTRIANS.AND SO FIRST, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MENTION, WE HAVE TWO OPERATORS IN -- OPERATING RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE BIRD, AND THEY'RE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1700 SCOOTERS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE LINE BIKE, WITH APPROXIMATELY 300 SCOOTERS.
BLUE DUCK IS POSITIONED TO LAUNCH ANY DAY NOW, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MORE OPERATORS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMING INTO SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT WOULD BE RAZOR, SPIN, SKIP, AND ZACHSTER.
NOW, TO HELP US COME UP WITH THIS POLICY, WE DID A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.
WE FIRST DID PUBLIC INPUT AND STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
WE HAD A MEETING ON JULY 31ST, 150 ATTENDEES.
WE ALSO DID A SURVEY, AND ABOUT 3800 PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED TO THAT ELECTRONIC SURVEY.
WE'VE DONE FOCUS GROUPS THAT INCLUDE ALL OF OUR INTERNAL PARTNERS AND OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, AND THEN WE'VE MET WITH SEVERAL VENDORS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN COMING TO THE MARKET.
WE'VE ALSO, FROM OUR SURVEY, WE LEARNED QUITE A BIT.
ABOUT 75% OF THOSE SURVEYED, AND WE HAD 3800 WHO WERE SURVEYED, HAVE A POSITIVE OR A SOMEWHAT POSITIVE OPINION OF SCOOTERS, VERSUS HAVING A NEGATIVE OR SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE.
THE POSITIVE OPINION REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE CONVENIENCE, THE AFFORDABILITY, AND ALSO HAVING THAT EXTRA MODE OF TRANSPORTATION THAT GETS THEM FROM THE BUS TO WORK OR OTHER MODES THEY'RE USING TO GET TO AND FROM HOME.
THE NEGATIVE OPINION REALLY HAD TO DO WITH BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS AND ISSUES REGARDING RIDER SAFETY AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS, WE HAD 150 PEOPLE ATTEND THE MEETINGS, 82% WERE SUPPORTIVE OF DOCKLESS BICYCLES, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.
76% WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE DOCKLESS SCOOTERS.
THERE WAS ABOUT 50/50 WHO FELT THAT RIDERS SHOULD BE USING HELMETS.
THE MAJORITY OF 85% SAID THAT RIDERS MUST BE 16 YEARS OR OLDER TO USE A SCOOTER, AND THEN DOCKLESS VEHICLES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS -- FOR TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AS BICYCLES, AND FINALLY, THEY ALL SUPPORT US HAVING A FEE FOR THOSE SCOOTERS THAT ARE PARKED IN PROHIBITED AREAS.
WE ALSO DID A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CITIES THAT CAB POLICIES IN THE WORKS OR CREATING POLICIES.
I'LL MENTION THAT CHICAGO AND SEATTLE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THEIR PROGRAM, BUT AUSTIN, THEY HAVE A 500 PER VEHICLE CAP PER VENDOR.
THEY DO NOT HAVE AN APPLICATION FEE, BUT THEY HAVE A $30 PER VEHICLE FEE FOR EVERY SIX MONTHS.
NORTH CAROLINA, IN DUR HAM, THEY HAVE A 250 APPLICATION 53 BUT A $10 VEHICLE FEE BUT THERE ISN'T A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES.
SAN FRANCISCO, THEY HAVE A 1250 FEE WITH A VENDOR CAP OF 500, APPLICATION FEE OF 5,000, AND THEN AN OVERALL PERMIT FEE OF 25,000.
AND THEN FINALLY DALLAS, TEXAS, THEY DON'T HAVE A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, BUT THEY DO HAVE AN APPLICATION FEE OF $808 FOR YEAR 1 AND THEN 404 FOR A RENEWAL.
AND THEN THEIR PER VEHICLE FEE IS STRUCTURED MORE OF IF YOU HAVE UP TO 100 VEHICLES, YOU PAY 1600, SO IT'S TIERED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES.
WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE CITIES, WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL CITIES THAT HAVE DOCKLESS BICYCLE PROGRAMS AS WELL AND LOOKED AT WHAT CITIES ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW AS THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CRAFTING THEIR POLICY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO COME UP WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE POLICY.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE RECOMMENDING A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM, IT'S A $10 PER VEHICLE FEE WITH A VENDOR APPLICATION FEE OF $500.
SO FOR SIX MONTHS, YOU'LL PAY $500 TO GET IN THE MARKET, AND THEN IT'S A 10-DOLLAR PER VEHICLE FEE.
THAT IS IN LINE OR ACTUALLY BELOW THE MARKET WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER CITIES.
WE ARE NOT PLACING A CAP RIGHT NOW ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES OR A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF VENDORS.
WE WANT TO SPEND THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO SEE WHO'S INTERESTED, WHO COMES IN THE MARKET.
WE ARE REQUIRING THAT ANY OPERATOR WHO RECEIVES A PERMIT, THEY MUST HAVE A SAN ANTONIO-BASED FLEET MANAGER.
THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO THAT IS ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT FLEET.
WE ARE NOT PLACING ANY GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATIONS ON THIS PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE REQUIRING THAT EVERY OPERATOR SUBMIT A MONTHLY REPORT THAT GIVES US INFORMATION ON THEIR TRIP USAGE, THEIR ACT
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WALTRIP DATA AND -- ACTUAL TRIP DATA OR ANY VIOLATIONS AND WHEN WE DO OUR SIX-MONTH ASSESSMENT WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO REPORT OR MAYBE DO ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICY.AND EVERY OPERATOR HAS TO HAVE A VENDOR APP, AND WE'RE REQUIRING THAT IN THAT VENDOR APP, THEY HAVE EDUCATION ON RIDER SAFETY, THEY EDUCATE THE RIDER ON WHERE THEY CAN AND CANNOT PARK, AND THEY EDUCATE THEM ON WHERE RIDING IS PROHIBITED.
AND SO BEFORE YOU START YOUR RIDE, THERE IS THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.
NOW, WE ALSO HAVE SAFE RIDING REQUIREMENTS, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THERE BE A MINIMUM AGE OF 16 OR OLDER.
THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN THE ONES THAT ARE OPERATING IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE ALSO ARE REQUIRING, AND IT'S A MANDATE, THAT DOCKLESS VEHICLES MUST ALWAYS YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW RIDERS TO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALKS; HOWEVER, THEY MUST RIDE IN A BIKE LANE AND IN THE ABSENCE OF A BIKE LANE, USE THEIR BEST JUDGMENT.
AND SO THEY CAN RIDE IN THE SIDEWALK OR RIDE IN THE STREET.
IF THEY CHOOSE TO RIDE IN THE SIDEWALK, THEY MUST PROVIDE A TWO-FOOT PEDESTRIAN PATH ON THAT SIDEWALK.
IF THEY CHOOSE TO RIDE IN THE STREET, THEY CANNOT RIDE IN THE STREET THAT HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MILES PER HOUR OR HIGHER.
THEY ALSO MUST HAVE A LIGHT ON THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE SCOOTER, AND EVERY SCOOTER MUST HAVE SOME TYPE OF SOUND MECHANISM FOR WARNINGS.
WE ARE PROHIBITING DOCKLESS VEHICLES ON THE RIVERWALK, ON OUR TRAILS, ON OUR CREEKWAYS AND IN THE PARKS.
WE ALSO ARE ALLOWING DOCKLESS VEHICLES, THOUGH, IN PARKS IF THERE IS A STREET GOING THROUGH THAT PARK.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, EAST NUEVA GOING THROUGH HEMISFAIR, YOU CAN RIDE A SCOOTER ON THE STREET WITHIN THAT PARK.
THE SAME ON THE STREETS IN BRACKENRIDGE, WHAT YOU CAN'T DO IS RIDE A SCOOTER IN THE PARK ITSELF OR PARK THE SCOOTER IN THE PARK.
WE HAVE PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES.
WHERE CAN THEY PARK? SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO PARK ON A SIDEWALK, WE ARE REQUIRING THAT YOU KEEP A THREE-FOOT CLEARANCE FOR PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.
NOW, YOU CANNOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE NEXT TO CERTAIN COMPONENTS ON THE SIDEWALK.
SO YOU CAN'T BE WITHIN 8 FEET OF A BUS STOP, WITHIN A COMMERCIAL OR PEDESTRIAN LOADING ZONE, YOU CAN'T BE WITHIN 4 FEET OF STREET FURNITURE, CANNOT INTERFERE WITH ADA RAMPS, AND YOU CANNOT BE WITHIN 8 FEET OF A BUILDING ENTRANCE.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING BIKES -- I MEAN, DOCKLESS VEHICLES TO PARK IN BIKE RACKS; HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT PARK IN OUR B CYCLE DOCKING STATIONS.
AND THEY MAY NOT PARK IN PARKS, PLAZAS, OR ON TRAILS, INCLUDING ALAMO PLAZA, LA VILLITA, MAIN PLAZA, MARKET SQUARE OR ON THE RIVERWALK.
NOW, HERE'S SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME GOOD PARKING.
YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, YOU HAVE A -- NOT INTERFERE -- I'M SORRY, 36-INCH CLEARANCE.
IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE STREET FURNITURE AND THEY'RE UPRIGHT AND PLACED NEATLY.
THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GREAT PARKING.
THEY'RE AT A BIKE RACK, AND THEY STILL PROVIDE FOR THAT 36-INCH CLEARANCE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, YOU CAN PARK AGAINST THE CURB, SO PROVIDING THAT 36-INCH CLEARANCE OR PARK NEATLY AGAINST BUILDINGS, BUT STILL PROVIDING THAT 36-INCH CLEARANCE.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A VIOLATION.
YOU'RE BLOCKING AN ADA RAMP OR YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE ADA SIDEWALK RAMP, AND YOU'RE ENCROACHING ON THE 36-INCH PEDESTRIAN CLEAR PATH.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO THE BUILDING ENTRANCE AND YOU DON'T PROVIDE THAT 36-INCH CLEARANCE, AND THEN OTHER EXAMPLES MAINLY ASSOCIATED WITH NOT PROVIDING THAT PEDESTRIAN CLEARANCE.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THIS? WE ARE GOING TO REQUEST THAT ALL OPERATORS CORRECT VIOLATIONS WITHIN TWO HOURS, AND IF YOU'RE WITHIN A PROHIBITED AREA, YOU HAVE ONE AREA TO CORRECT THAT VIOLATION.
WE ALSO ARE REQUIRING THAT VENDORS WHO RECEIVE REPORTS ON BROKEN VEHICLES, THEY MUST SHUT THEM DOWN SO THEY CANNOT BE USED AND COME PICK THEM UP WITHIN ONE HOUR.
ENFORCEMENT, THE CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT WILL ADMINISTER THE
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PERMITTING PROCESS.PARKING ENFORCEMENT WILL ENFORCE THE PARKING REGULATIONS, SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING PARKED ILLEGALLY IN AN AREA, WE WILL MOST LIKELY BE CORRECTING THEM, IF IT'S A COUPLE INCHES.
BUT IF IT'S A REPEAT VIOLATION OR IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED IF REPORTED WITHIN THE TWO-HOUR TIME FRAME, WE WILL CONFISCATE THEM.
CENTRO AMBASSADORS AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED ON THE APPROPRIATE WAYS TO PARK, AND SO ON THE REGULAR ROUTES, IF THEY SEE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED A COUPLE OF INCHES AND WE CAN DO THAT, WE'LL DO THAT.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS A REPORTING VIOLATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONNECTED OR -- CORRECTED OR IT'S A REPEAT VIOLATION WE WILL CONFISCATE AND CHARGE A FEE FOR THE OPERATOR TO COME BACK AND COLLECT THAT SCOOTER.
VIOLATION, WE ARE ENCOURAGING VIOLATIONS TO BE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR.
SO EVERY VENDOR WILL HAVE IN THE APP THE NUMBER TO CALL; HOWEVER, IF YOU DO CALL 3-1-1, WE ARE EQUIPPED TO TAKE THAT CALL, BUT WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALL VENDORS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND LIST THAT NUMBER FOR PEOPLE TO CALL AND TAKE THAT COMPLAINT AND CORRECT IT IMMEDIATELY.
WE HAVE ASSESSED SOME FEES ON HOW TO RECOVER THE COST ASSOCIATES WITH ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM, AND THESE FEES WILL BE USED TO COVER THE COST FOR THE PERMITTING PROCESS, RELOCATING VEHICLES CITYWIDE, CATALOGING THE PROPERTY AND HOLDING THE PROPERTY FOR THE OPERATORS THAT COME BACK AND PAY THEIR FINE SO THEY CAN COLLECT THEIR PROPERTY, AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING A FEE OF $10 PER VEHICLE FOR THAT SIX-MONTH PERMIT PERIOD, A PERMIT APPLICATION FEE FOR SIX MONTHS.
SO YOU MUST PAY $500 FOR THE APPLICATION FEE, AND THEN A RELOCATION FEE OF $50 PER INCIDENT.
SO IF YOU ARE REPEAT OFFENDER, YOU HAVE NOT PICKED UP THE SCOOTER THAT WAS PARKED IN A PARKING VIOLATION, WE WILL CONFISCATE IT AND WE WILL CONTACT THE OPERATOR AND FOR THEM TO GET THAT SCOOTER BACK, THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY $50 TO GET THAT BACK.
NOW, ALL OF THAT WILL BE USED TO HELP US COVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING THIS PROGRAM.
NOW, OVER THE SIX MONTHS, OF THAT FIRST PERMIT WAVE, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME ASSESSMENT AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE STAFF TIME AND COST RELATED TO ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM.
I'M LOOKING AT THE USAGE AND TRIP DATA THAT EACH OF THE OPERATORS PROVIDE US ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
SO WHERE ARE THE SCOOTERS BEING USED THE MOST? HOW MANY TIMES IS A SCOOTER BEING USED PER DAY, BECAUSE THAT COULD HELP US IF WE WANT TO COME INAND POTENTIALLY PUT CAPS ON THAT DATA, BUT -- ON THAT OPERATOR BUT WE NEED THAT DATA TO COME UP WITH THE POLICY.
VIOLATIONS AND 9-1-1 CALLS, ACCIDENT SCAWLS, WE'LL LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.
WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THE VENDORS, WORKING WITH RIDERS, CONTINUING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TECH LOCK AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
WE WILL BE DOING RIDER EDUCATION THROUGHOUT BUT WE MAY NEED TO DO MOREMENT SO WE'LL LOOK AT THAT DURING THIS SIX-MONTH PROGRAM.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT DURING THIS FIRST SIX-MONTH PERMIT TIME FRAME, IS DEDICATED SCOOTER PARKING.
OTHER CITIES HAVE LOOKED AT TAKING AN ONSTREET PARKING SPACE AND MAKING DEDICATED SCOOTER PARKING.
WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT GEOFENCING THAT WOULD PREVENT RIDERS FROM GOING INTO PROHIBITED AREAS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT JUST YET, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME -- PRESENT OUR ASSESSMENT AND ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES THAT MAY NEED TO BE MADE.
SO OUR TIME FRAME IS TODAY WE ARE PRESENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE B SESSION.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE THE SURVEY THAT'S STILL AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO FILL OUT.
THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL WE TAKE THE POLICY TO COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE OCTOBER 11TH, AND THEN WE'LL SPEND THE NEXT SIX MONTHS DOING OUR PROGRAM ASSESSMENT, AND WE'LL COME BACK TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE OR CITY COUNCIL IN A B SESSION OR A SESSION WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES RELATED TO A FEE STRUCTURE, ANY CODE AMENDMENTS, AND ANY OTHER REGULATIONS THAT WE FEEL THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE SIX-MONTH PERMIT PERIOD.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
WE FEEL THESE REGULATIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FLEXIBILITY.
IT PROVIDES THAT BALANCE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE REGULATIONS ON THE LIGHTER SIDE, BUT ALSO PROVIDE FOR PEDESTRIAN AND USER SAFETY.
AND SO I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
I THINK IT'S A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH, AND I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD APPROACH THIS ONE IN CONTRAST TO THE WAY A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WE HANDLED UBER AND LYFT.
AND I'M PLEASED THAT WE'VE DONE
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THAT.WITH REGARD TO THE ACTUAL REGULATORY PERIOD, THOUGH, TELL ME ABOUT THE PILOT TIMELINE.
AFTER THE SIX MONTHS, WHAT HAPPENS? I MEAN, WE WOULD BE ASKED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, WILL IT BE SUNSETTED OR IS THE INTENT JUST TO GO BACK TO REVIEW.
>> HOUSTON: GO BACK TO REVIEW.
SO WE'LL COME BACK TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND REPORT ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE ACTED ON BY COUNCIL, WE'LL TAKE THOSE FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN A PRETTY WIDE BERTH OF OPINION ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS, INCLUDING THE SIDEWALK VERSUS BIKE LANE ISSUE.
I'M GUESSING THERE WAS PROBABLY SOME DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON THE HELMET ISSUE, AS WELL AS THE AGE.
I AM PERSONALLY COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE YOU'VE LANDED ON THAT.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROBABLY NOT EVER GOING TO PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM RIDING WHERE THEY THINK IS THE SAFEST WHEN THEY'RE ON A VEHICLE LIKE THAT, SO ASKING PEOPLE TO BE REASONABLE IS A GOOD APPROACH.
BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK YOU'VE LANDED ON A GOOD HEALTHY MEDIUM HERE.
SO I'LL MOVE DOWN TO MY COLLEAGUES STARTING WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN?
AND I FIRST WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SALDAÑA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, AND ALSO LETTING US SEE THIS AT A B SESSION FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO DON'T HAPPEN TO BE IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM YOU-ALL WERE.
AND I THINK AS WAS MENTIONED, I THINK WE'VE LANDED AT A HAPPY MEDIUM AND A PLACE WHERE MANY PEOPLE CAN UTILIZE THIS AND MANY PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPTIONS THAT ALL OF THESE DOCKLESS VEHICLES HAVE.
ON THAT NOTE, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A SIX-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT IS -- AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THE AMOUNT THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE PERMITS AND THE FEES.
BECAUSE IT IS -- THEY ARE BEING PARKED AND USED ON CITY RIGHT OF WAYS SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT DOLLAR -- THOSE DOLLARS FOR WHAT WE NEED TO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN UPKEEP.
IN THE SURVEY THAT YOU HAD, YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT IF YOU COULD REITERATE IT TO ME AGAIN, THERE WAS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF VERY POSITIVE AND SOME -- WHAT, LESS THAN 10% OF VERY NEGATIVE.
BUT CAN YOU REMIND ME AGAIN WHAT WERE THE VERY POSITIVE STATEMENTS AND WHAT WERE THE VERY NEGATIVES?
>> HOUSTON: THE POSITIVE STATEMENTS HAD TO DO WITH CONVENIENCE, AFFORDABILITY, AND FLEXIBILITY.
>> HOUSTON: THE NEGATIVE STATEMENTS HAD TO DO WITH BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK AND ALSO HAD TO DO WITH RIDER SAFETY.
>> HOUSTON: AND SO THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS.
>> VIAGRAN: AND SO I THINK THE ELEMENTS IN BOTH OF THOSE ARE -- YOU KNOW, THE VERY POSITIVE WAS CONVENIENCE AND COST, BUT THE VERY NEGATIVE HAD TO DO WITH SAFETY.
AND HOW ONE FEELS BEING ABLE NOT TO FALL OFF OF ONE AND BEING CLOSE TO PACKS OF PEOPLE RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET.
SO I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD -- MAKE SURE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WHATEVER WE'RE GOING WITH AND INVESTIGATING, AS IT'S NOT IN CONTRADICTION TO WHAT WE AS A COUNCIL HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE VISION ZERO POLICY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY AND SAFETY AS OUR NUMBER ONE MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO -- WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SIDEWALKS IN THIS CITY.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR EVERYONE AND MAKING SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO'S GOING TO STILL BE -- OR CAN BE A WALKABLE CITY.
NEXT, TALK ABOUT THE LIABILITY.
IS THERE ANY LIABILITY ON THE CITY IF SOMETHING HORRIBLE WERE TO HAPPEN ON OUR STREETS OR ON OUR SIDEWALKS?
>> HOUSTON: THE LIABILITY IS THROUGH THE OPERATOR THEMSELVES.
AND ONE OF THE -- ONE OF THE ITEMS, TOO, WHEN YOU'RE -- I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ABILITY TO USE THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON OUR RIVER, ON OUR MUSEUM REACH OR OUR MISSION REACH, IS THAT CORRECT.
PEOPLE WILL JUST HAVE TO BIKE OR WALK OR JOG THROUGH THOSE AREAS.
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AND TELL ME -- SO WHEN THEY ARE PARKED IN VIOLATION, THEN WALKING BY, PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO REPORT THEM OR -->> VIAGRAN: OR -- AND WHO'S GOING TO BE MONITORING THAT, IF THEY'RE PICKED UP WITHIN THE HOUR OR TWO OR WHAT HAVE YOU?
>> HOUSTON: SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING THAT THE VIOLATIONS BE REPORTED TO THE VENDOR THEMSELVES.
>> HOUSTON: NOW, WE DO HAVE PARKING ENFORCEMENT AND WE DO HAVE OUR CENTRO AMBASSADORS WHO WILL CORRECT VIOLATIONS IF THEY NEED TO BE MOVED A COUPLE INCHES OR SO, BUT IF THE CITY COMES ACROSS A VIOLATION, WE WILL CALL THE VENDOR AND WE WILL GIVE THEM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO CORRECT THEM.
AND WE WILL GO BACK TO CONFIRM THAT THEY'VE BEEN CORRECTED.
WE WILL ALSO ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE 3-1-1 IF THEY WANT TO TO CALL, AND THAT NUMBER -- THAT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR AS WELL.
AND CCO STAFF WILL MONITOR THAT AND SO WE WILL REQUIRE THAT WE BE NOTIFIED WHEN IT IS CORRECTED.
I THINK -- AND JUST MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN ABLE TO MEET A NICHE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW I'VE EVEN SEEN SOME OF THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES IN DISTRICT 3, SO THEY'RE RIDING THEM ALL OVER.
AND THAT -- IT IS MEETING A NEED, AND I WILL SAY ONE OF THE BENEFITS HAS BEEN -- ESPECIALLY DURING THESE HOT SUMMER MONTHS, IT MAKES IT EASIER THAN WALKING FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER IN 102° HEAT WITH A COAT AND HEELS ON, IT'S EASIER TO HOP ON A LINE AND GO FORWARD IN THAT.
HAVE BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT IT AND USE THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES, BUT I ALSO HAVE A VERY CUTE HELMET TO WEAR AS WELL, BECAUSE FOR MY PREFERENCE.
IF I'M GOING TO TAKE MY LIFE IN MY OWN HANDS AND USE THIS VEHICLE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A HELMET, IF I NEED TO USE ONE AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I THINK I'M HAPPY TO WHERE WE'VE LANDED AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING AND LOOKING AT THIS MOVING FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE PROPOSAL, HOW IT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT IT IS WORTHWHILE FOR US TO SPEND SIX MONTHS TAKING A LOOK AT THIS.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I HOPE THAT WE'LL CONSIDER AS WE DO THIS PILOT.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, CAN BE PROBLEMATIC IF WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF THEM ON THE STREET, AND SO I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT WHAT MIGHT BE A REASONABLE NUMBER AND MAYBE PER LICENSEE HOW MANY.
AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US CONSIDER WHAT THE CHARGES PER COMPANY AND PER VEHICLE MIGHT BE TO BE AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY AS WE CAN BE.
SO I HOPE WE'LL CONSIDER AND FIND OUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE CONTINUING TO DO ON THAT.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF HEALTH-RELATED REPORTS WE MAY HEAR ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I MENTIONED TO YOU, I SAW ON CBS NEWS THIS MORNING A DISCUSSION ON INJURIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RIDING THESE, IT WAS IN A CALIFORNIA CITY, AND THEY HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, REPORTED 50 INJURIES AT HOSPITALS IN THE MONTH OF JULY, 45 IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD -- THIS PILOT PROJECT AND ASK THEM TO WATCH FOR AND REPORT INJURIES THAT MAY BE RELATED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THE SCOOTERS.
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS I KNOW THAT WHENEVER I'M GOING TO SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING ONLINE, THEY ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRIVACY OR SOMETHING.
[INDISCERNIBLE] READ THEIR PRIVACY STATEMENT AND SIGN OFF ON IT, I NEVER READ THOSE, I WANT TO USE THAT SERVICE AND I JUST SIGN OFF ON IT.
I'M CONCERNED PEOPLE WILL HAVE THAT SAME ATTITUDE ABOUT ANY OF THE WARNINGS OR REGULATIONS THAT SUPPOSEDLY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO READ BEFORE THEY GET ON THAT.
IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE IT POPS UP ON THE SCREEN AND YOU JUST SIGN OFF THAT YOU READ IT OR THAT YOU AGREE, AND THEN THEY GO ON TO GO AHEAD AND RENT THE VEHICLE AND GET ON IT WITHOUT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE, ARE THERE ANY KIND OF PROTECTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THEY'RE READ OR A SUGGESTION I MIGHT OFFER IS THAT WE PLACE ON EVERY VEHICLE A CARD IN SOME KIND OF A PLASTIC WATER-PROOF OLDER THAT WOULD HAVE THE DOS AND DON'TS AS YOU RIDE THIS, AS YOU OPERATE THIS VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS.
[00:30:02]
SHOULDN'T BE VERY EXPENSIVE, AND IF THEY DISAPPEAR, YOU KNOW, THE DISTRIBUTOR CAN SIMPLY FIT IN ANOTHER CARD.IF WE CHANGE SOME OF THE DOS AND DON'TS, THEY CAN SET THAT IN, RATHER THAN RELYING ON THEM TO READ A LONG MESSAGE ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THEY RIDE THAT VEHICLE, BECAUSE I WOULD BET HALF OF THE PEOPLE WON'T READ IT.
SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, AND IF THERE'S A WAY OF ADDRESSING THAT UP FRONT.
AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE US TO CONSIDER IS WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT AFTER THIS PILOT PERIOD ON OUR B CYCLES AND BUS TRANSPORTATION? B CYCLE, EXACTLY, I THINK IS GOING TO TAKE A HIT.
BUT IT COULD ENHANCE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BUS.
WILL VIA BE ABLE TO DETERMINE, HEY, MORE PEOPLE ARE RIDING THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN GET ON THAT TO GET TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO WHEN THEY GET OFF, OR, NO, THEY'RE INTERFERING, THEY'RE IN OUR BUS STOPS OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE MORE OF A HINDERANCE, WE'RE LOSING BUS RIDERS BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THAT.
SO I THINK BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT WITH THOSE PARTNERS AT THE END IS ALSO SOMETHING WE SHOULD INCLUDE IN OUR OVERVIEW.
SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THOSE UP.
OTHERWISE, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A GOOD PILOT PROGRAM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE SOME GREAT POINTS, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ANCILLARY ISSUES HAPPENING.
AND SO FIRST, I WOULD POINT OUT THAT I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THAT IMPACT'S GOING TO BE, I GUESS, AFTER SIX MONTHS AND HOPEFULLY BY THEN WE'LL HAVE THE PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY OFFICER ONBOARDED AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT PERSON REALLY VALIDATE THAT AND GIVE US THEIR OPINION ABOUT THESE ISSUES, BUT FOR ME, IT BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF THINGS WITH REGARDS TO HOW THEY'RE FUNCTIONING HERE.
AND ONE OF TH ISSUES WAS ACCESSIBILITY.
AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR SCOOTERS, I WANT TO MENTION THE IMPACT OF MOBILITY SCOOTERS WHICH DEAL WITH ADA ACCESS AS WELL, AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO ALSO STUDY WHAT THAT IS, BECAUSE WHAT THE IMPACT IS TO THE MOBILITY SCOOTERS AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THESE SCOOTERS GO THROUGH DOWNTOWN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ISN'T A DAY THAT DOESN'T GO BY THAT WE DON'T SEE SOME OF THESE MOBILITY SCOOTERS HAVING TO SOMETIMES GET OUT ON THE ROAD TO THEN POP BACK ONTO THE SIDEWALK, SO I THINK WE NEED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTAND ING OF WHAT THAT IMPACT MEANS.
SO WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THIS IS REALLY KIND OF EXPOSING AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE FOR US TO REALLY DIVE INTO AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A WORTHY STUDY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING SAFE PASSAGEWAY TO ALL OUR PEDESTRIANS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE IN MOBILITY SCOOTERS, NOT JUST THESE NEW SCOOTERS.
AND WE RECENTLY JUST SAW A MOBILITY SCOOTER WHO HAD TO POP OFF WHERE THEY WERE ONTO A STREET, AND THEN BACK ON.
AND IN SOME CASES, THERE'S EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US OF VEHICLES THAT PARK AND CREATE AN OBSTACLE FOR SOME OF OUR MOBILITY SCOOTERS.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
THIS IS HANDICAP AND DISABILITY IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THESE DOCKLESS VEHICLES, LET'S REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS DOING TO SUPPORT THAT ACCESSIBILITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> PELAEZ: I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS, AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE FROM PILOT TO, YOU KNOW, CITYWIDE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS IMPACTING DISTRICT 8 IN REAL WAYS.
I'VE GOT -- I'VE GOT SCOOTERS LITTERING OUR SIDEWALKS AND BEING PARKED IN WAYS THAT YOU SHOWED US AND CALLED BAD PARKING.
AND SO THERE'S LOTS OF BAD PARKING -- MOVE AT A FASTER RATE, AND SO I'VE GOT A VISION ZERO PROBLEM IN THE MAKING UP THERE, YOU KNOW, AND AS AN EXAMPLE, THIS PAST WEEKEND OR THIS PAST FRIDAY, I HAD A YOUNG MAN RUB OVER IN FRONT -- RUN OVER IN FRONT OF BRANDEIS HIGH SCHOOL JUST WALKING.
IT COMPLICATES MATTERS MORE WHEN I'VE GOT THESE 15 MILES PER HOUR SCOOTERS ZIPPING ON THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS BETWEEN CARS AND ALL THAT, AND SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, LORI.
MY QUESTION IS, IS IMPOUNDMENT OF THE SCOOTERS ONE OF OUR ENFORCEMENT TOOLS?
>> HOUSTON: CONFISCATION BY PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
>> HOUSTON: WE WILL TAKE THE SCOOTER AND WE WILL HOLD IT IN ONE OF OUR FACILITIES AND
[00:35:01]
THEY'LL HAVE TO COME DOWN.RIGHT NOW WE'RE ASSESSING A $50 FEE.
IT MIGHT BE MORE AFTER THE SIX-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD.
AND YOU'VE GOT PARTNERS IN THIS BY THE WAY.
OUR FRIENDS AT UTSA IS ALSO -- CONFISCATING, THEY'RE CALLING IT IMPOUNDING THEM AND CHARGING A FEE TO BUST THEIR SCOOTER OUT OF JAIL.
>> PELAEZ: AND SO THE SECOND THING I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW IS THAT-- I DON'T LIKE REGULATION FOR THE SAKE OF REGULATION AND ALL THAT, BUT I HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, LORI, BUT I RODE A SCOOTER RECENTLY.
SHERYL, YOU SAW ME ZIPPING AROUND ON A SCOOTER, BUT IT WAS AS HILARIOUS AS IT SOUNDS.
MY SON AND I RODE FROM, YOU KNOW, THE BOURBON STREET RESTAURANT OVER BY THAT PARAMOUNT BUILDING.
HE RODE ON ONE, HE'S 12, AND I RODE ON THE OTHER.
AND MY SON WAS RIDING BEHIND ME AND I WAS RIDING IN FRONT.
SOMETIMES ON THE STREET AND SOMETIMES ON THE SIDEWALK.
I'M SURE I WAS BREAKING ALL SORTS OF RULES BECAUSE I HADN'T SEEN YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION YET, BUT THE -- AND I THOUGHT I WAS DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF, YOU KNOW, MOVING THROUGH TRAFFIC AND AVOIDING PEOPLE.
AND MY SON YELPS MIND ME AND HE SAYS -- BEHIND ME AND HE SAYS, WHOA, DID YOU SEE THAT, DAD? HE SAID I ALMOST HIT A LADY COMING OUT OF ST. ANTHONY HOTEL.
I SAID, WELL, DID YOU HIT HER? NO, SHE'S OKAY.
MY SON'S MOM PICKED US UP OVER AT CITY HALL.
SHE SAID DID YOU FEEL UNSAFE AT ANY TIME? AND MY SON LOOKS AT HER AND SAID, ALL THE TIME.
I FELT UNSAFE THE ENTIRE TIME.
I WAS LIKE, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU TELL YOUR MOM, DUDE.
THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE FUN WHEN SHE'S NOT AROUND, BUT THE POINT IS HIS INSTINCTS ARE RIGHT.
ONE FALL OFF OF A 15 MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE CAN HAVE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES, RIGHT? AND KNOCKING OVER SOMEBODY AS THEY'RE KNOCKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK CAN HAVE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PERSON YOU'RE KNOCKING OVER.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO WALK AND HIPS ARE BRITTLE AND BONES ARE BRITTLE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES OF ALL THIS, BUT I'M STILL CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LONG BEFORE THE HONEYMOON WEARS OFF AND WE START SEEING PEOPLE FALL DOWN AND HURT EACH OTHER AND MAKE MISTAKES.
AND SO I'M WORRIED BUT I THINK WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT EXCEPT I HAD MY THREE-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW RIDE ONE WITH ME, AND WE ACTUALLY LIT TWO SENIORS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, I'M JUST MESSING AROUND.
I JUST CAN'T BEAT THE PELAEZ HAS ONE UPPED ME AND I HAVE NO WAY TO OVERCOME IT EXCEPT TO SAY I PUT A TODDLER WITHOUT A HELMET ON A SCOOTER.
I THINK TO THE COUNCILMAN'S POINT, MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT EIGHT IS TALKING ABOUT, HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY A SIX-MONTH PILOT.
IT APPEARS TO ME AS THOUGH YOU'VE KIND OF DONE THE LEG WORK ALREADY, EVERYTHING'S THERE.
WHAT'S THE MISSING PIECE TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE AS OPPOSED TO STRETCHING OUT A SIX-MONTH PILOT.
>> HOUSTON: SO WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL WITH REGULATIONS ON OCTOBER 11TH.
AND THEN IN SIX MONTHS, WE'LL GO TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND DO AN ASSESSMENT.
AND THEN IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO THOSE REGULATIONS, WE'LL MAKE CHANGES AND WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL.
IF NOT, AND THE POLICY STAYS IS, WE'RE GOOD.
BUT WE WANT TO COMMIT TO A SIX-MONTH ASSESSMENT PERIOD BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE TWO OPERATORS IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THAT'S PANT 2,000 SCOOTERS.
WE HAVE FIVE MORE OPERATORS WAITING, AND IF THEY EACH BROUGHT IN, YOU KNOW, THREE TO 400 SCOOTERS, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL 2000, SO WE HAVE 400D THAT COULD BRING DIFFERENT REGULATIONS.
WE DON'T KNOW THESE ISSUES YET.
AND ALL THE CITIES, INCLUDING LIKE I SAID, CHICAGO, SEATTLE, OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THE SAME THING, THEY'RE REALLY JUST ASSESS, TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT ARE THE OTHER ISSUES THAT COULD POP UP? AND SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE MAY COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, SIDEWALK CONGESTION IS TOO MUCH.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE -- THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS THAT WE MIGHT BE MAKING CHANGES TO.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW THE MARKET OPERATES OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF GETTING TO AN ORDINANCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE'RE IN THE GAME, THEY'RE SHOWING UP, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S OF CONCERN TO ME IS THE QUALITY TO PARTNER TO, WHO'S COMING INTO THE FIGHT.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, DON'T WANT TO BE TOO DISPARAGING HERE, BUT ONE ORGANIZATION SHOWED UP IN THE DARK OF NIGHT AND DROPPED THEM.
[00:40:01]
THE REGULATIONS.AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE SECONDARY TEAM THAT CAME IN WAS THAT THEY PROVIDED A TON OF INFORMATION, LIKE THEY'RE SENDING IN DATA STATS AND SO THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT -- I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALSO ASK THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS SEND INASMUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.
THE FIRST COMPANY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, NOR DID THEY MEET WITH ANYBODY, AND THE SECOND ORGANIZATION MET WITH US, WENT THROUGH IT, IS PROVIDING GOOD INFORMATION TO HELP MAKE A LOGICAL, SOUND DECISION OVER A -- WELL, AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IF IT'S A SIX-MONTH PILOT.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS, AS PART OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS, THAT THEY COMMIT TO SOME LEVEL OF REPORTING THE DATA.
WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT, WHAT I'M INTERESTED IS IN TRIPS AND WHERE THEY'RE OPERATING AND THEIR CORE FUNCTIONALITY.
THE AGE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, THAT'S' ANOTHER CONCERN.
SOME OF THEM ARE, LIKE I CAN GO GET -- I MEAN, GO GET THEM ANYWHERE, OTHER ONES LOOK A LOT MORE STURDY.
I'M INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT ALL THAT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET TO IT, BUT I DO HAVE A GENUINE CONCERN ABOUT NOT REVISITING ORGANIZATIONS THAT LIKE TO COME IN AND BULLY THEIR WAY INTO THE MARKET, IN THAT MANNER, THE UBER AND LYFT CONVERSATION AND ALL THAT THING AGAIN, IF WE CAN DO IT DONE CORRECTLY AND THEY'RE BEING PARTNERS WITH THE CITY, I THINK THAT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AS EVERY OTHER DATA POINT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
HOW ARE THEY PARTICIPATING, WHAT INFORMATION ARE THEY PROVIDING? OTHER THAN THAT, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING TO THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY.
ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST MILE, LAST MILE CONVERSATION AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE GOOD WORK OF IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SUCCESS OF.
BUT ORDINANCE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS WHAT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR, AND THANK YOU, LORI.
GREAT PRESENTATION FT I DO HAVE A QUESTIONS HERE.
THE FEE, RIGHT OFF THE BAT ON THE FEE, HOW DID Y'ALL DETERMINE THE FEES ON THESE?
>> HOUSTON: WE LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES, THE FEES THAT THEY ARE ASSESSING, BOTH FOR SCOOTERS AND BICYCLES.
WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE VENDORS AND ASKED THEM WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THE MARKET, AND THEN WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS LIKE TECH LOCK AND CENTRO, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE FEE WOULD RECOVER OUR COST BUT IT WASN'T COST-PROHIBITIVE TO THE USER.
AND DURING THIS PILOT, I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU'LL BE COLLECTING HOW MUCH IT REALLY -- I MEAN, YOU'LL BE COLLECTING THE DATA ON HOW MUCH IT'S REALLY COSTING US TO PROCESS.
AND WE MAY ADJUST THAT FEE,ETTE MAY INCREASE OR DECREASE.
>> HOUSTON: WE FEEL THAT WE'RE AT THE RIGHT MARK FOR $10 A FOR THE% SIX MONTHS BUT IT COULD BE ADJUSTED.
>> PERRY: WHO'S GOING TO CONTROL THOSE FEES.
>> HOUSTON: IT WILL BE COLLECTED THROUGH THE CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND WE'LL BE ASSESSING THE TIME COMMITTED TO OUR PERMITTING AND REVIEW PROCESS, OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT STAFF.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH CENTRO, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT AS PART OF THE REGULAR DUTIES, BUT IF IT BECOMES TIME-PROHIBITIVE, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT A FEE STRUCTURE WE PAY THEM TO HELP US WITH THIS ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO BE COLLECTING THIS INFORMATION TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE COSTS THAT WE NEED TO RECOVER.
AND THAT -- AND I UNDERSTAND THEM DOING THIS DOWNTOWN, BUT AS COUNCILMAN PELAEZ MENTIONED, IT'S UP IN DISTRICT 8.
WHO'S GOING TO BE DOING THAT UP IN DISTRICT 8, OR I HAVE THEM UP IN DISTRICT 10 ALREADY, UP IN THE BROADWAY AREA.
WHO'S GOING TO BE DOING THAT IN THOSE AREAS.
>> HOUSTON: OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT IS CITYWIDE, AND SO WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, LIKE PEARL, AT UTSA, AND THEY WILL BE HELPING US MONITOR.
AND IF YOU'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, LIKE UTSA, THEY'RE ENFORCING IT THEMSELVES.
BUT IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION AND PARTNERSHIPS, BUT WE DO HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND PARKING ENFORCEMENT AVAILABLE TO HELP US WITH THIS ENFORCEMENT.
>> PERRY: U I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE OUTLYING AREAS, WITHIN THE DISTRICTS THAT, YEAH, YOU DON'T SEE TOO MANY PARKING ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE COMING AROUND IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE THERE'S NO PARKING METERS, THERE'S NO -- YOU KNOW, NOTHING IN THOSE AREAS FOR THEM TO GO TO.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET CODE ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED IN THIS ALSO?
>> SCULLEY: NOT -- WELL -- IT'S NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT SECONDLY, THIS IS ON A COMPLAINT BASIS, AND SO WE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO CALL THE OPERATORS FIRST, SO IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE SCOOTERS, THEY SHOULD CALL THE COMPANY DIRECTLY FOR TO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.
THEY CAN ALSO CALL 3-1-1 FOR OUR FOLLOW-UP, BUT THEN WE'LL BE CALLING THE COMPANY.
AND THEN IF THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE, THAT'S WHEN WE RESPOND.
[00:45:01]
COMPLAINT BASIS.WE'RE REALLY ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO CONTACT THE VENDOR TO CORRECT.
AND THERE -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS, SO WE'LL EVALUATE.
IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO LOOK AT HOW WE ARE ENFORCING CITYWIDE AND MAKE SOME CHANGE, BUT I THINK THE PILOT GIVES US A CHANCE TO WORK WITH IT AND THEN --
>> SCULLEY: -- WE'LL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF WE THINK IT'S MORE THAN THE PARKING SYSTEM CAN HANDLE.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON COMPANION COURAGE'S COMMENTS -- COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE B CYCLES, WERE THOSE PUT OUT WITH AN RFP OR ARE WE JUST LICENSING THOSE, OR HOW IS THAT PROGRAM WORKING.
>> SCULLEY: SO THE B CYCLES WERE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT YEARS AGO.
AND THEY'RE OPERATED BY A B CYCLE PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TODAY THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS AND ADVERTISING ON THE CYCLES.
SO THEY'RE OPERATING THEM TODAY.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE COULD BE AN IMPACT ON THE B CYCLES IN THE FUTURE, NONETHELESS, WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT AS WELL.
THE CITY DID SUBSIDIZE THE B CYCLE PROGRAM OPERATIONALLY IN THE EARLY YEARS, AND NOW THEY ARE OPERATING THE B CYCLES THROUGH THEIR ADVERTISING.
AND DO WE CHARGE THEM A FEE OR DO THEY HAVE A LICENSING FEE OR ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR TO OPERATE.
>> SCULLEY: WELL, THEY'RE NOT A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY.
>> SCULLEY: -- ORGANIZATION THAT IS MANAGING BICYCLES THAT WERE PROCURED THROUGH A GOVERNMENT GRANT.
SO IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION, UNLIKE THE SCOOTERS WHICH ARE -- THEY'RE THERE TO MAKE MONEY.
>> SCULLEY: I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE MAKING -- ARE THEY, LORI? THEY'RE NOT PAYING A FEE.
>> SCULLEY: THEY'RE NOT PAYING A FEE.
THEY ARE A NONPROFIT, AS SHERYL MENTIONED.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT OFFLINE, YOU KNOW, ON THAT PARTICULAR.
AND THEN THESE PARTICULAR -- THIS TEST, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE THAN THE SCOOTERS, WE'VE GOT PRIVATE SCOOTERS OUT THERE.
I'VE SEEN THEM, LITTLE ELECTRIC THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND, ARE THEY GOING TO BE FALLING UNDER THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS HERE FROM THE CITY?
>> HOUSTON: WE WILL REQUIRE THAT IF YOU'RE PARKING YOUR SCOOTER, TO KEEP THAT CLEARANCE.
YOU SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THE TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, THEY'LL BE ENFORCING THOSE.
AS FAR AS BEING ON THE SIDEWALKS VERSUS THE STREETS AND BIKE LANES AND --
>> HOUSTON: IT WILL BE THE SAME REGULATIONS.
>> PERRY: HOW WILL WE ENFORCE THAT? I UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN ENFORCE OR FINE, YOU KNOW, THESE COMPANIES FOR THESE, BUT HOW DO WE ENFORCE THAT AGAINST SOMEONE THAT'S RIDING THEIR OWN PRIVATE SCOOTER.
>> HOUSTON: IF YOU'RE RIDING YOUR OWN PRIVATE AND RIDING IT ON THE RIVERWALK, IT'S PROHIBITED BY ORDINANCE, SO YOU CAN BE TICKETED.
IT'S A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR UP TO $500.
YOU TALKED ABOUT IMPOUNDMENT OR CONFISCATION.
WHAT FACILITIES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? IS THIS DOWNTOWN OR --
>> HOUSTON: IT WILL BE IN ONE OF OUR PARKING FACILITIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ST. MARY'S GARAGE, AND WE'LL HOLD THEM THERE ALONG WITH OUR PARKING OPS OFFICE RIGHT THERE.
AND THEN SAFETY, YOU TALKED ABOUT A SAFETY COURSE OR IS THIS JUST SOMETHING THAT, AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE WAS TALKING ABOUT AGAIN, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO READ OR DO PRIOR TO -- I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT ON WHAT'S REQUIRED BEFORE THEY GET ON ONE OF THESE.
>> HOUSTON: SO EVERY APP FOR EACH OF THE OPERATORS HAS INFORMATION ON SAFETY.
SO THEY'LL BE REQUIRED TO EDUCATE THE RIDER ON SAFETY.
HOWEVER, OUTSIDE OF THIS, CCDO WILL BE WORKING WITH TCI AND THE VENDORS TO CREATE OTHER TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON RIDER SAFETY.
WE MAY DO SOMETHING ON TVSA, DO PLACARDS OR RACK CARDS AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER.
SO WE WILL BE EDUCATING RIDERS OUTSIDE OF WHAT YOU WOULD READ IN THE APP AS WELL.
VIAGRAN USES, THE USE OF HELMETS.
>> PERRY: HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE WE --
>> HOUSTON: THAT WE KNOW OF, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 20 SINCE JULY 1, AND THAT'S ONLY ONES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED THROUGH SAPD OR EMS.
>> PERRY: AND DO WE HAVE ANY KIND OF FEEL FOR HOW MANY RIDER MILES OR HOURS OR WHATEVER
[00:50:01]
THAT'S IN RELATION TO?AND THAT'S WHY THIS MONTHLY REPORTING THAT WE'LL BE REQUIRING, WHEN YOU GET A PERMIT TO KEEP YOUR PERMIT, YOU'LL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A MONTHLY REPORT.
AND YOU'LL HAVE TO SUBMIT TRIP DATA USAGE, ANY VIOLATIONS OR ANY OTHER DATA THAT WE'LL BE COLLECTING SO WE CAN REVIEW THAT IN OUR ASSESSMENT.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 20 THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.
AND THIS IS -- THIS, AGAIN, IS OPEN TO ANY VENDOR THAT WANTS TO COME TO TOWN.
WE'RE NOT CAPPING VENDORS RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOT CAPPING THE NUMBERS OF VENDORS OR THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES.
>> PERRY: SO DO WE HAVE A NUMBER OUT THERE, WHAT WE THINK IS ENOUGH OR TOO MANY OR WE'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE MARKET BRINGS.
>> HOUSTON: WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE MARKET COULD SUPPORT AND SEE IF IT WILL ADJUST.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CHEW COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> GONZALES: JUST A FEW COMMENTS, I'VE HEARD THIS PRESENTATION A FEW TIMES BECAUSE I CHAIR THE BICYCLE MOBILITY ACTION COMMITTEE.
AND SO THE BICYCLE MOBILITY ACTION COMMITTEE, IT'S QUITE A LARGE GROUP, ABOUT 20 PEOPLE, AND MOST OF THEM ARE ACTIVE CYCLISTS IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, AND SO SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM THAT MEETING THIS MORNING PERHAPS THAT THE FEES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE MAINTENANCE AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED A FEW TIMES.
ALSO THERE WERE SOME HOPE OR SOME THOUGHTS THAT PERHAPS BY EXPANDING MULTIUSE LANES, YOU KNOW, WE COULD USE THE DATA THAT'S -- THAT WILL BE SHARED, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND -- IN AUDIO] -- THEY WILL [INDISCERNIBLE] BICYCLE LANES.
WE'VE ALREADY CHARACTERIZED THEM FOR BICYCLE LANES.
I FOR MANY, MANY YEARS HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR BICYCLE LANES, BUT IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THERE WAS ALSO OTHER MODES THAT COULD USE THEM.
SO PERHAPS THAT IS MUCH MORE INCLUSIVE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MULTIUSE.
SO WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPLETE STREETS, AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A STRUGGLE WITH CYCLISTS VERSUS AUTOMOBILES VERSUS PUBLIC TRANSIT, I THINK THIS -- HOPEFULLY EXPANDS A CONVERSATION SO WE'RE HAVING MULTIUSE LANES AND THAT HAS BEEN -- MAKES THEM SAFE FOR PEOPLE USING THESE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT 1ST/LAST MILE.
I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING SOME OF THE DATA THAT I KNOW THEY ARE WILLING TO SHARE, WHICH I THINK IS ALSO DIFFERENT FROM WHEN UBER/LYFT AND THEM CAME INTO TOWN EARLY ON, THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO SHARE DATA, AND PERHAPS STILL NOT WILLING TO SHARE DATA.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'VE EVOLVED AS YET.
HAVING THAT DATA WILL BE HELPFUL AS WE EVOLVE AND DO OUR COMPLETE STREETS, WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE -- 450 MILLION IN COMPLETE STREETS AND THAT SHOULD BE TAKEREN INTO -- TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE'RE GETTING THIS DATA.
AND MY LAST MOSTLY JUST COMMENT, Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT MY SON WHO RIDES A BICYCLE, HE'S NOT YET FIVE, AND HE'S PRETTY -- HE CAN RIDE HIS BICYCLE A VERY LONG DISTANCE, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REMIND HIM -- NOT SOMETIMES, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMIND HIM THAT WHEN HE'S RIDING HIS BICYCLE ON THE STREET, THAT THAT'S NOT FOR FUN.
THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO BE POPPING WHEELIES, THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO BE MOVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC.
IF HE WANTS TO PLAY, WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO A PARK, SO HE CAN PLAY.
AND I THINK THESE ARE NOT TOYS.
AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE TOYS.
IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF FUN, AND I KNOW I CERTAINLY HAVE ENJOYED THEM, BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT TOYS.
THEY ARE POTENTIALLY VERY -- ANOTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK THAT'S -- WE CAN LOOK AT THEM AS A TRANSPORTATION TOOL AND NOT A TOY, THEN PERHAPS PEOPLE WILL START TAKING THE RULES OR ORDINANCES A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUSLY.
SO WE'LL LOOK JUST FORWARD TO WHAT WE COME UP WITH IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
I JUST HAVE ONE BRIEF QUESTION.
ARE WE EXPECTING MORE -- ASKING SAPD OR PARK POLICE TO CITE FOR ROAD VIOLATIONS, I.E., DWI, GETS ON A SCOOTER AND DRIVES.
ARE WE REQUESTING THAT SAPD CITE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
>> HOUSTON: SAPD WILL BE ABLE TO CITE AN INDIVIDUAL IF THEY ARE RECKLESS DRIVING.
ALSO THERE'S ORDINANCES ON -- WE HAVE ORDINANCES SET UP FOR LIKE I SAID PROHIBITED ON RIVERWALK, ON CREEKWAYS, SO SAPD AND PARK
[00:55:02]
POLICE CAN CITE THOSE.BUT IF YOU ARE RIDING A BIKE AND YOU COULD GET CITED FOR A DUI IF YOU'RE RECKLESS DRIVING.
>> SHAW: SO CITED OR ASH -- ARRESTED? DWI IS A CLASS B.
THEY CAN ARREST IF YOU'RE INTOXICATED.
>> HOUSTON: I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, AND I'LL ASK ANDY SEGOVIA, OUR ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> SEGOVIA: COUNCILMAN, IF THEY'RE ON THE STREET AND DRIVING THE SCOOTER AND THEY'RE INTOXICATED, YES, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO A DUI.
IF THEY'RE ON THE SIDEWALK, IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED.
>> SHAW: I RIDE THESE ALL THE TIME, I'M SEEING INDIVIDUALS THAT USE THESE AS A SCAPEGOAT OR NOT DRIVING THEIR VEHICLE TO BARS, DRINK AND THEY GET ON THE SCOOTER AND IT'S CAUSING ISSUES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT PEOPLE WHO USE THESE SCOOTERS DO NOT THINK THAT'S A WAY TO NOT GET A DWI.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I ASKED THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> SALDAÑA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE OFFERED SOME FEEDBACK.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND HAVE WATCHED THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BOTH GOOD AND BAD.
AND TRIED TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO COME UP WITH HOW DO WE -- YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE THREAD A NEEDLE ON SOME RULES AND SOME REGULATIONS AND THE TERM "RULES AND REGULATIONS," NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, APPLY TO INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S ABLES -- ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY WHEN WE GET CALLS FROM RESIDENTS WHO SAY THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC CONCERN, I THINK THAT'S WHY AT THE VERY LEAST, WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH WHAT ARE THE FRAMEWORKS THAT WE CAN ALLOW THESE DOCKLESS VEHICLES, IN THIS CASE SCOOTERS, TO GO FORWARD.
AN IMPORTANT HISTORY LESSON ON THIS, A FEW MONTHS AGO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA THAT SCOOTERS WERE GOING TO BE A THING.
WE WERE WELL PREPARED TO ACTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT DOCKLESS BIKES, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE NEXT BIG THING IN TRANSPORTATION AND THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING AND REGULATING.
AND THEN OUT OF NOWHERE, THESE SCOOTERS COME ABOUT, SO JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND JURISDICTIONS, WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO START TO CREATE THESE RULES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO RESPOND TO RESIDENTS.
SO THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IN A FEW MONTHS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE REGULATING TELEPORT SYSTEMS. [LAUGHTER]
>> SALDAÑA: AND I'LL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES WILL ARISE FROM FOLKS WHO DON'T END UP AT THE TELEPORT LOCATION THEY INTENDED TO END UP AT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO WE HAD THAT KIND OF CONVERSATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DRIVERLESS CARS AS WELL.
WE'RE STILL NOT AT THE POINT WHERE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT REGULATIONS MAKE SENSE.
SO IN SIX MONTHS WE WANT TO BE SMARTER ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH SCOOTERS AND THE RULES AND THE REGULATIONS, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT FOLKS DO FEEL IN SOME WAYS UNSAFE ON SIDEWALKS WHEN FOLKS ARE COMING THROUGH, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES I WAS GOING TO MAKE SURE -- THE BIGGEST LEARNING LESSON, I THINK IS I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BAT 1,000.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPETELY PERFECT AFTER SIX MONTHS.
I THINK THERE WILL PROBABLY BE ACCIDENTS THAT WILL HAVE US, AGAIN, SCRATCHING OUR HEADS AND WONDERING ARE MORE RULES GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS.
YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE -- WE HAVE ALL OF THE RULES YOU CAN THINK OF TO APPLY TO VEHICLES, DRIVER'S TEST, DRIVER'S LICENSE, RULES ON THE ROADS, WE HAVE SPEEDING ZONES AND AREAS, AND BUFFERS BETWEEN FAST AND SLOW LANES, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE STILL HAVE, YOU KNOW, 2600 DEATHS JUST IN TEXAS WITH VEHICLES.
THAT HASN'T STOPPED VEHICLES AND THE INDUSTRY THERE, AND TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF RULES WILL APPLY.
AFTER WE PUT THOSE RULES IN PLACE, WE'RE GOING TO LET THE COMMUNITY WALK FROM THERE AND WE HOPE THEY'LL USE THE BEST JUDGMENT.
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE BIKE LANES OR SCOOTER LANES IN EVERY AREA WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE THEM, AND FOR THAT RB, -- REASON, I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ALLOW SIDEWALKS TO BE AN OPTION, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, WHETHER IT'S PROVIDING PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY, THAT WE CLOCK IT WHEN WE NEED TO WITH RESPECT TO SAPD, IF THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE EXAMPLE OUT OF SOMEBODY WHO JUST WAS NOT RESPECTING THE RIGHT OF WAY OF A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS WALKING, WE'LL MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THAT, BUT I KNOW WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS TO TRY TO CREATE REGULATIONS TO MOVE SCOOTERS OUT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND THAT HAPPY MEDIUM HERE.
THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN OFFERING US FEEDBACK.
WE TOOK THIS ON, THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, BUT THIS WAS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE OND AND ON THE TOPS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS' MINDS TO HAVE A FULL
[01:00:02]
BLOWN DISCUSSION AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT IT LATER DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING.GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE LISTENING IN AND TAKING FEEDBACK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.
>> SANDOVAL: I'M OF VERY SIMILAR OPINION, I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING SAFETY MEASURES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS TO GET AROUND.
I THTY SCOOTERS ARE A GREAT WAY TO PROVIDE THOSE OPTIONS SO I AM SUPPORTIVE OF SEEING THEM IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDED THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- UTILIZE THEM FEEL SAFE AND THAT THEY'RE BEING SAFE WITH THOSE FOLKS AROUND THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT -- IF THERE MUST BE A THREE-FOOT CLEARANCE FOR -- YOU KNOW, FOR A PEDESTRIAN WHEN THE SCOOTERS ARE -- -- BLOCKS IN THE CITY WHERE YOU JUST CAN'T PARK A SCOOTER, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO I THINK WHEN WE -- BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOME SCOOTERS ON THREE-FOOT SIDEWALKS, JUST ON THE EDGE, BUT THAT MEANS THERE'S NOT A 36-INCH CLEARANCE, SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE KIND OF BLACK AND WHITE WITH THE USERS ABOUT THAT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN JUST ON THE EDGE.
IT MEANS 36 -- OR HOWEVER IT IS WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE IT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID THAT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU DO COME BACK TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AS PART OF THE MEMO THE ATTACHMENT OF WHAT THE APPLICATION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE CRITERIA ARE, JUST SO WE KNOW WHAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE IN SIX MONTHS AFTER WE PASS VEGAS IN
[Executive Session]
OCTOBER.THE TIME NOW IS 3:11 P.M. ON THIS 12TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2018, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT THE CITY COUNCIL WE RECESS INTO EXEC STIF SIGNIFICANCE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE EVENING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SESSION.
IT'S RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE REMAINING ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN UP TOMORROW DURING CONTINUATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[2. Public Hearing on the proposed FY 2019 Storm Water Utility fee. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Mike Frisbie, Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]]
TONIGHT, IN ADDITION TO OUR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.SO WE WILL BEGIN BY OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE STORM WATER UTILITY FEE.
AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE STORM WATER UTILITY FEE IS HEREBY OPENED.
I WILL BEGIN BY CALLING THE FIRST NAME SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE STORM WATER UTILITY FEE.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, COMMENTERS ARE ASKED TO KEEP THEIR COMMENTS TO THE SUBJECT, ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IF COMMENTS VEER OFF FROM THE SUBJECT AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU'LL BE ASKED TO WRAP UP AND RELINQUISH THE PODIUM.
MEREDITH MCGUIRE? FOLLOWED BY THERESA BERLONGA.
MEREDITH MCGUIRE? THERESA BERLONGA? FOLLOWED BY MARK BETTIS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE IF I OFFENDED ANYONE LAST WEEK BY BEING IMPOLITE OR RUDE.
I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT.
IT'S JUST THAT I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
WHEN I AM ASKED, BACK IN THE LATE '70S, EARLY '80S, WHAT WOULD I DO FOR MY CITY, I SAID, I DON'T KNOW, I'D HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS WERE NUMBER ONE, THE THEATERS WAS NUMBER TWO AND THE WEST SIDE WAS NUMBER THREE.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS ANYTHING RELATED TO THE STORM WATER IS -- THAT AFFECTS MY PROPERTY IN SKYLINE ESTATES, AND MY HOMESTEAD, THE BUILDINGS ON
[01:05:02]
THE WHOLE BLOCKS, THE FOUNDATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE ONE OVER IN THE PARIN BASIN, I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE HAVE EVER REALIZED THAT WE HAVE TWO BASINS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.AND THE PARIN BASIN IS THE BIGGEST ONE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT STORM WATER HAS BEEN OUT TO THE HOUSE, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, AND I BELIEVE THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE UTILITIES ARE ABOUT.
I GUESS I'LL LEARN SOMETHING NEW HERE TONIGHT.
BUT IF IT'S A FEE FOR THE 12-FOOT SETBACKS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE NEW NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE UTILITIES ARE BURIED, AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE THERE, BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEN I BELIEVE THAT STORM WATER NEEDS TO HAVE ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
IT WAS DISTURBED BY WORK ON ERLANE, AND IT WAS DISTURBED, THE PARIN BASIN ON OUR PARTICULAR SIDE WAS DISTURBED BY THE SUBDIVISION THAT CAME UP BEHIND US.
AND IT IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATER THAT COMES FROM BACK THERE.
I MOVED INTO THAT HOUSE TEMPORARILY, SO THAT I COULD MONITOR THE FLOODING.
IN 2012, I PUT $10,000 WORTH OF WORK INTO THAT HOUSE, AND WHEN I REALIZED THAT IT WAS IN VAIN, AND THAT THE STORM WATER WAS GOING TO BE MORE, AND IT WAS GOING TO DESTRUCT THE HOUSE AGAIN, I STOPPED THE CONSTRUCTION, PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD, AND EVERYTHING THAT I PUT INTO THE HOUSE, REPLACING THE CEILING, AND -- IT JUST -- WELL, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY, BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT TOOK THEIR LEGAL APPRAISERS OUT AND --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS BERLONGA.
MARK PETIS? MARK PETIS? HARTMAN GLENN? FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ.
MR. PEREZ INFORMED ME THAT WHEN PEOPLE PAY THEIR TAXES AND THEY DON'T DO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STORM DRAINAGE, AND I KNOW FOR ONE PLACE, I SPOKE ABOUT IT MAYBE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET SIDEWALKS AND BETTER DRAINAGE.
ONE OF THE BLEDSOE CHILDREN AT BELLINGER AND FARRIS, ONE OF THE BLEDSOE CHILDREN GOT INTO THAT WATER AND DIED.
AND THE OTHER PLACE, RIGHT AT MARTIN LUTHER KING AND WWW WHITE.
IT'S A FLOOD, RIGHT WHERE THE BUS TURNS.
BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE ON BEL BELLINGER SINCE IT'S BEEN RAINING.
BUT I WANTED TO MENTION THOSE TWO PLACES, SINCE YOU HAD THAT ON THE AGENDA.
AND THE REST OF IT, WE'RE DISCUSSING AS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, MAYBE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BLAND.
ANTONIO DIAZ? ANTONIO DIAZ? DE DEANNA OREGGEAS? OKAY, THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE STORM
[3. Second public hearing regarding the November 6, 2018 annexation election for voters to choose between limited purpose annexation or land use controls within five miles of the boundary of Camp Bullis and Camp Stanley Military Bases and the Lackland Air Force Base and Medina Training Annex. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Bridgett White, Director, Planning]]
WATER UTILITY FEE.WE'LL NOW TAKE UP THE ORDER OF EVENTS FOR THE ANNEXATION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'LL BEGIN TO CALL THE NAMES SIGNED UP ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS CONTAINED TO THE ITEMS REGARDING ANNEXATION IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IS JANE LUCIO.
MS. LUCIO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ.
[01:10:01]
I WAS HERE LAST TIME.AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT LAND USE INVOLVES, THE MANAGEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OR WILDERNESS INTO BUILT ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS SETTLEMENTS AND SEMI-NATURAL HABITATS, SUCH AS FIELDS, PASTURES AND MANAGED WOODS.
MAYBE IF YOU SENT A LETTER OUT TO THE PEOPLE TELLING THEM HOW YOU WERE GOING TO MANAGE THEIR LAND, AND HELP THEM TO BUILD IT, WHICH IS ALREADY BUILT, BUT THE ISSUE THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS TONIGHT IS THE ANNEXATION PART OF IT.
AND I SEE ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE OFFERING, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THAT.
IN FACT, WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
WE HAVE REALLY GOOD POLICE PROTECTION.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF WATER AND WASTE WATER FACILITIES IN THE AREA, WE BELONG TO S.A.W.S., THEY'RE THE ONES THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR WATER.
THE PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS ARE OWNED BY THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN FACT, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE PAID FOR BY US THROUGH OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEES.
AND NOT EVEN ASK FOR US TO PAY FOR THEM TWICE.
BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO PAY OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEES AND HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND PAY SAN ANTONIO.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I AM TOTALLY AGAINST IT.
I THINK YOU NEED TO SEND A LETTER OUT TO THE PEOPLE AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON.
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE FIRST LETTER THAT YOU SENT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
I HAD TO READ IT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD IT.
AND EVEN THEN, I HAD TO GO AND LOOK UP THE WORDS, LAND USE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
SO YOU NEED TO SEND THAT OUT TO THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON.
AND YOU CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS LUCIO.
ANTONIO DIAZ? ANTONIO DIAZ? DEANNA ORELLAGOS? OKAY, THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ANNEXATION.
[4. Public Hearing to gather community input on the proposed dockless vehicle ordinance. [lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development & Operation]]
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.WE'LL NOW PROCEED TO THE SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE REGULATIONS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
I'LL BEGIN BY CALLING THE FIRST NAME SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING.
PLEASE CONTAIN YOUR COMMENTS TO THIS ITEM.
WHICH IS THE DOCKLESS VEHICLE ORDINANCE.
AND I'LL CALL THE FIRST NAME, AND THEN I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME COMING UP.
IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
MARK PETIS, FOLLOWED BY BRIDGET GARZA.
MARK PETIS? BRIDGET GARZA? BRIDGET GARZA? CASEY WHITTINGTON? MR. WHITTINGTON WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL VU.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE.
MY NAME IS CASEY WHITTINGTON, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL COMPANIES THAT IS AROUND FOR ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.
WE JUST WANTED TO COME OUT HERE TONIGHT AND THANK EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FOR KEEPING AN OPEN MIND, AND ESPECIALLY CITY STAFF, LORI OVER THERE HAS BEEN GREAT, CENTER CITY HAS BEEN EXCELLENT TO WORK WITH, AS WELL AS ONE OF YOU ALL'S OFFICE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPENNESS AND THE WILLINGNESS TO LEARN ON THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
I KNOW COUNCILMAN PERRY, I KNOW HAVING YOU OUT THERE ON CITY HALL STEPS AND YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF QUITE A BIT.
WE WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE PROCESS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD IN THE PARTNER IN THE SIX-MONTH SORT OF LEARNING PROCESS.
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, Y'ALL KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WHITTINGTON.
MICHAEL VU? FOLLOWED BY LONNIE GLYCO.
>> COUNSELL MEMBERS, MAYOR NIRENBERG.
SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ME AS THE GUY WHO RIDES ON THE STANDING ELECTRIC UNICYCLE AROUND SAN ANTONIO.
SO I DON'T PERSONALLY USE THESE SCOOTERS, BUT I FULLY SUPPORT THEM FOR ONE MAIN REASON, AND THAT'S FOR SAFETY.
THE MAIN POINT I'M MAKING ABOUT THAT IS, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT
[01:15:01]
RIDE THESE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AROUND TOWN MEANS MORE CARS OFF THE ROAD.NOW, MORE CARS OFF THE ROAD MEANS IT'S SAFER FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, ESPECIALLY FOR DOWNTOWN.
BUT ALSO, IT OPENS UP THE STREETS FOR PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED TO USE THE ROADS, HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, AND THE DELIVERY DRIVERS.
SO WITH THAT SAID, WE SHOULD REALLY BE THINKING ABOUT NOT ONLY TOLERATING THESE NEW FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT ALSO EMBRACING AND PROMOTING THE NEW FORM OF TRANSPORTATION FOR PERSONS FOR SAFETY.
WITH THAT SAID, WHEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE RIDE ALL AROUND TOWN, THEY'LL BE RIDING IN PLACES THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.
SUCH AS MAINLY LIKE THE TRAIL SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THERE'S A LAW THAT SAYS NO MOTOR VEHICLES ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM, WHICH I'VE BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE RIDING MY UNICYCLE ON THE ROAD.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ARE DOING A STUDY OR SOMETHING TO EVALUATE THAT POLICY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN IT COMES TO -- AGAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY, AS LONG AS THE PERSONAL VEHICLE IS NO BIGGER THAN A BICYCLE, NO HEAVIER THAN A BICYCLE AND CAN'T GO NO FASTER THAN A REGULAR BICYCLE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO DISCRIMINATE THESE PERSONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLES FROM USE ON THESE TRAILS WHEN IT COMES FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
IT'S UP TO US TO PROMOTE -- FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE RESPONSIBLY ON THE ROADS, OR ON ANY SHARED PUBLIC ACCESS IN THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
JUST AS THEY WOULD, IF THEY WERE DRIVING A CAR.
SO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VU.
LONNIE KAPECKO? MISS KAPECKO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER HERMAN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.
I WON'T SAY ANYTHING YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY HEARD.
BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO HEAR MAYBE SOME MORE SUPPORT AND RHETORIC THAT GOES TOWARDS ALLOWING THESE SCOOTERS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON OUR CITY ROADWAYS UNDER 35 MILES AN HOUR.
AND CONSIDERING YOUR POLICY THAT WE DO INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS A PSA POSSIBLY TO GET EDUCATION OUT THERE ON HOW TO OPERATE THESE SCOOTERS SAFELY, AS WELL AS MINDFULLY, SO THAT WE ARE NOT GETTING IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO USE TRANSPORTATION MODES TODAY.
WHEN WE ARE OUT THERE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION MODE OF BICYCLE I RIDE TO WORK, MY SCOOTER WHICH I JUST PURCHASED, WE WANT TO RIDE AND INTERACT WITH MOTORISTS ON A SAFE TRANSPORTATION ACCESS WAY.
MOTORISTS NEED TO LEARN ABOUT HOW TO INTERACT WITH US, AND WE ALSO NEED TO INTERACT AND LEARN HOW TO WORK WITH MOTORISTS.
HOW DO WE STOP AT STOP SIGNS, HOW DO WE NOT BLOCK CROSSWALKS, HOW DO WE RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK, WHEN TO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK, WHEN TO RIDE ON THE ROAD AND WHEN A MOTORIST CAN ALLOW US BEHIND THEM WITHOUT BEING UPSET WITH US, BECAUSE THEY DO GET UPSET WITH US.
ARE WE SUPPOSED TO RIDE NEAR THE CURB? HOW WIDE IS THE LANE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO RIDE ON THE STRIPES AREA? SO I HOPE THAT WE DO CONSIDER ALL THOSE THINGS IN OUR POLICY.
IT'S A GOOD POSITION FOR THE CITY TO ALLOW THESE DIFFERENT MOTORIZED ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION MODES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF LOWERING EMISSIONS, MAINTENANCE ON OUR ROADWAYS, MAINTENANCE ON OUR SIDEWALKS AND CONSIDERATION OF TRANSPORTATION WITHIN OUR CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS DOPECKO.
JENNIFER HERMAN? MISS HERMAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ.
THANKS FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.
I JUST HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INSTANCES WHERE I'VE BEEN WALKING WITH MY DAUGHTER, AND HAD THE SCOOTERS COME UP AROUND ME AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW I WAS CARRYING A CHILD WITH ME AND THEY KIND OF ZIPPED PAST ME AND DON'T REALLY GIVE ME ANY WARNING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I REALLY AGREED WHAT SHE WAS SAYING ABOUT HAVING SOME KIND OF PSA AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO RIDE THESE THINGS ON THE STREETS.
BECAUSE AS IT IS, PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY FOLLOWING ANY SAFETY REGULATIONS.
FIRST FRIDAYS, PEOPLE ARE RIDING THEM DRUNK, WHICH IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.
OH, AND THE FACT THAT THEY FALL INTO THE STREET SOMETIMES FROM THE SIDEWALKS.
AND ALSO THAT THEY'RE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS FOR PEOPLE.
THEY'RE SERVING A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.
AND THINGS NEED TO CHANGE TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR EVERYONE, BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING A LOT OF OBSTACLES AND THINGS.
[01:20:01]
THAT'S ALL.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS HERMAN.
ANTONIO DIAZ? LYDIA KELLY? MISS KELLY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ARIANA VEGAS.
I'M GOING TO READ IT BECAUSE I GET NERVOUS.
I SAW A PRESENTATION ON THIS AT THE BICYCLE MOBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TODAY.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.
MY THOUGHT IS, THOUGH, THAT ALL KINDS OF TALK IS ABOUT EDUCATING THE DOCKLESS RIDER.
JUST LIKE THERE'S BEEN LOTS AND LOTS OF TALK ABOUT EDUCATING MOTORISTS, WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING ALONG WITH CYCLISTS, TO GIVE US A THREE-FOOT CLEARANCE.
TO DATE, THOUGH, I HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH OF THAT EDUCATION DONE THROUGH THE CITY, OR THROUGH ANY ORGANIZATION AS FAR AS GIVING MOTORISTS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY SHOULD STAY THREE FOOT AWAY FROM A CYCLIST, TO BE SAFE.
I NO LONGER RIDE ROOSEVELT BECAUSE ROOSEVELT IS VERY DANGEROUS ON MY BICYCLE.
WHEN THE PRESENTATION WAS HAPPENING, THEY WERE SUGGESTING THAT ON SIDEWALKS, AND ON THE ROADWAYS, THAT THEY WOULD GIVE PEDESTRIANS TWO-FOOT CLEARANCE.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY HARD PROJECT TO DO WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR CYCLISTS YET.
IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'LL BE ALLOWED ON BICYCLE LANES.
AND THE ONE THING THAT I SEE WONDERFUL ABOUT THAT IS THAT IF THE DOCKLESS VEHICLES ARE ON BICYCLE LANES, MAYBE WE'LL GET MORE BICYCLE FACILITIES AND WE'LL GET MORE PROTECTED BIKE LANES IN TOWN, WHICH I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE.
SO IN THAT INSTANCE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT THIS ORGANIZATION -- I MEAN, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BRINGING THESE, THEY KNEW THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
THEY ARE ASKING FORGIVENESS INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR PERMISSION.
SO B CYCLE ASK FOR PERMISSION BEFORE THEY BROUGHT IN THE BICYCLES TO SHARE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS KELLY.
DEANNA ORIEGOS? RODNEY KIDD? MR. KIDD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AARON RODRIGUEZ.
THE WAY I LOOK AT THESE SCOOTERS IS, IT'S GOOD FOR SAN ANTONIO, IT'S GOOD FOR CLEAN ENERGY, IT'S GOOD FOR THE CITY.
THE PROBLEM OR CONCERN I HAVE RATHER IS WHY NOT LET VIA LEAD THIS INITIATIVE.
THEY'RE THE TRANSPORTATION EXPERTS, THEY DEAL WITH THE ADA COMPLIANCE AND PROBLEMS THAT COME DAILY WITH THESE SCOOTERS.
AND I FEEL, YOU KNOW, YOU OPEN YOURSELF UP TO SOME RISK AND SOME LAWSUITS POTENTIALLY.
THEY'VE GOT SMALL TIRES, POTENTIALLY POTHOLES.
YOU'VE GOT WIND, RAIN ISSUES OF WHERE THESE SCOOTERS ARE LEFT, IF THEY GO OUT TO THE STREETS, CARS HIT THEM.
SO MY MAIN THOUGHT IS MAYBE LET VIA BE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, VIA USA, GOOGLE, TRY TO GET THIS DATA, HARVEST THIS DATA AND LET THE CITY DICTATE THE TERMS. RATHER THAN ASKING FORGIVENESS LATER.
SO I JUST ASK YOU THAT YOU REALLY THINK THIS OUT CRITICALLY AS TO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY MOVING FORWARD FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND TRANSPORTATION IN THE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. KIDD.
AARON RODRIGUEZ? FOLLOWED BY DAVID HURD.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU REALLY QUICK FOR HAVING THIS MEETING, AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I DON'T USE THE BIRD SCOOTERS THAT OFTEN.
I AM A FAN, THOUGH, OF WHAT'S CALLED A BOOSTED BOARD.
AND I FEEL THAT ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS AND BICYCLES SHOULD -- ELECTRIC BICYCLES SHOULD BE GROUPED IN WITH NORMAL BICYCLES, PEDAL-POWERED BICYCLES.
WE CAN KEEP UP WITH BIKES, OR IN MANY CASES EXCEED THE SPEED OF AN AVERAGE PERSON CAN BIKE.
ON THIS BOARD I CAN GO UP TO 22 MILES AN HOUR, THEY CAN REACH 34
[01:25:03]
MILES AN HOUR.ONE OF THE CONCERNS I'VE HEARD IS WITH SAFETY.
THEY DO HAVE BRAKES, SO DOES THIS BOARD.
I CAN CONTROL MY SPEED VERY EASILY.
I CAN CONTROL THE BOARD VERY EASILY.
AND I FEEL THAT THEY'RE BEST IN THE STREETS, JUST LIKE A BICYCLE RATHER THAN ON THE SIDEWALK.
THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN I'VE HEARD.
THEY'RE ON THE SIDEWALK WHERE SOMEONE MIGHT RUN INTO A PEDESTRIAN THAT'S WALKING.
SO ANOTHER THING THAT I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE HERE IS IT'S AN ISSUE OF EDUCATION, AND MUTUAL RESPECT FOR PEDESTRIANS, USERS OF ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION LIKE THESE BOARDS OR SCOOTERS.
I LOVE CARS, I CANNOT IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT CARS, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE ELECTRIC IS THE FUTURE.
AND BY PROMOTING THESE BOARDS NOW, NOT ONLY WILL SAN ANTONIO SHOW THAT IT'S A CITY OF THE FUTURE, BUT IT WILL HELP EMBRACE FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES FOR EVERYBODY.
I REALLY BUTCHERED MY WORDS THERE.
BUT I DO HOPE THAT YOU GUYS LOOK INTO A WAY TO REGULATE THESE VEHICLES, ENCOURAGE THEIR USE AND PROMOTE SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY, PEDESTRIANS, USERS OF THE VEHICLES ALIKE.
IT TOOK ME AS LONG TO NAVIGATE DOWNTOWN AS IT DID TO GET FROM WHERE I LIVE OVER BY UTSA, 20 MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN, AND ABOUT 20 MINUTES DRIVING AROUND.
THAT'S JUST ONE CASE WHERE THESE VEHICLES ARE PERFECT.
I DID PARK -- THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. RODRIGUEZ.
DAVID HURD? MR. HURD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LAURO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M A VOLUNTEER CEO OF TECH LOCK.
WE'RE A MEMBER ORGANIZATION, WE REPRESENT ABOUT 5,000 TECH WORKERS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
THREE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS CATASTROPHE AROUND RIDE SHARE.
IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT CITY, VERY DIFFERENT TONE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COOPERATION, THE DILIGENCE AND THE OPENNESS IN THE PROCESS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WE'RE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT DRAFT REGULATORY STRUCTURE.
WE FEEL LIKE IT STRIKES A DIFFICULT, BUT VERY GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN INNOVATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THERE'S NO PERFECTION IN THESE THINGS, BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GOOD APPROACH, AND CERTAINLY A GOOD LAUNCHING STRUCTURE.
WE'LL MONITOR, THE CITY WILL MONITOR WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM THIS POINT ON AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF NEEDED.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF, AGAIN, FOR THE DILIGENT COLLABORATIVE WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE, FROM THE CITY MANAGER TO LORI HOUSTON, TO JOHN JACKS.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE TECH INDUSTRY.
WE'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE THIS PROCESS.
I REALLY BELIEVE SAN ANTONIO IS BECOMING A MODEL CIVIC FOR CIVIC INNOVATION, THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HURD.
THE REASON THAT I'M HERE IS BECAUSE WE ARE FORMED IN A GROUP THAT IS CALLED THE WALK WEST SIDE COALITION.
IT'S COMPOSED OF DISTRICT 5, DISTRICT 6, DISTRICT 7, AND PART OF DISTRICT 1.
WE ARE ADVOCATING THAT THE SIDEWALKS ARE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK.
IT'S A VERY HEALTHY WAY OF EXERCISING, AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT THERE IN THE STREETS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE SCOOTERS GOING REAL FAST, AND TWICE I'VE SEEN UP THERE AT THE CENTER, AT THE BUS STATION WHERE PEOPLE ALMOST GOT HIT.
AND I DIDN'T WRITE THE LAWS, BUT THIS ORGANIZATION, THEY HAVE LAWYERS ON RETAINERS, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM HERE IS WORTH A PENNY OR TWO.
SO I CAN JUST SEE SOMEBODY GETTING HURT, AND GOING THROUGH
[01:30:05]
LITIGATION.AND YOU'RE COMPETING WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOT A LOT OF LAWYERS.
WHAT CHANCE DOES A PERSON HAVE WHEN THEY GET HIT? SO THOSE ARE WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT, AND INSTITUTE.
ARE THEY A VEHICLE? OR ARE THEY ENTITLED TO USE THE SIDEWALKS? SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUNG, WILD, DRUNK AND EVERYTHING.
YOU SHOULD SEE THEM SOMETIMES.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE OUT OF THE CITY.
AND ALSO, THEY'RE VERY CARELESS.
SO I SAY, WHEN I FIRST CAME IN AND THEY ASKED ME, ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST, I SAID, REALLY, I DON'T CARE.
AS LONG AS THEY STAY OUT OF THE SIDEWALKS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DELEON.
DEBRA PLASET? FOLLOWED BY ANDREW VALEZ.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PERSONS.
MY NAME IS DEBRA PLASET, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 9.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF TECH LOCK.
AND I ALSO FEEL LIKE I'M MARRIED TO TECH, SINCE MY HUSBAND'S ALSO A LOCAL TECH LEADER.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH MR. WU, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS MY HUSBAND KNOWN AS THE GUY RUNNING AROUND DOWNTOWN ON THE ELECTRONIC UNICYCLE.
I BELIEVE FOR SAN ANTONIO TO CONTINUE ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EXPAND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS CITIZENS, IT HAS TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY IN A NEW CREATIVE ECONOMY.
AND FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, SAN ANTONIO HAS TO BE A PLACE THAT'S SMART, CREATIVES WANT TO LIVE.
WE HAVE TO INVEST IN CERTAIN KEY AREAS, INCLUDING URBAN CORE DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN A CULTURE THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF INNOVATION.
DOCKLESS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS I BELIEVE ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF ALL OF THESE AREAS.
I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND FOR PRODUCING AN ORDINANCE THAT SENDS A POSITIVE MESSAGE OF WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY.
THE CITY STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE WORKED CREATIVELY AND COOPERATIVELY WITH SCOOTER COMPANIES, CITIZENS, AND STAKEHOLDERS, TO CREATE A SENSIBLE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, THAT ALLOWS SCOOTER COMPANIES AND THE CITY TO BOTH MONITOR ISSUES, TEST SOLUTIONS, AND MAKE NEEDED CORRECTIONS.
IN ADDITION, BY ALLOWING A COMPETITIVE OPEN MARKET STRATEGY, RATHER THAN SELECTING A SOLE VENDOR.
THE CITY IS HELPING ENSURE THAT SCOOTER SHARE COMPANIES ARE INCENTIVIZED TO DEVELOP CREATIVE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PUBLIC CONCERNS.
THAT'S WHAT INNOVATIVE COMPANIES DO.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND THANK YOU FOR LEADING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS PLASET.
ANDREW VALEZ? MR. VALEZ, WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MR. SHIMMY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREW VALEZ.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS FOR HAVING THIS FORUM.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING, SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.
I'M A PERSONAL SCOOTER OWNER THAT I'VE OWNED SINCE NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND I JUST WANT TO DESCRIBE THE OVERWHELMING TRANSFORMATION OF WHAT IT'S DONE FOR ME TO BE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND BE AN ADVOCATE FOR HOW IT CAN PROVIDE MOBILITY FOR JUST ANYONE WHO IS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND JUST THAT IN THE TIME I'VE OWNED ONE, AND THE TIME I'VE USED ONE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK, TO AND FROM THE LIBRARY, EVERYWHERE I GO, IT HAS OPENED UP NEW AVENUES FOR PEOPLE'S POSSIBILITY FOR SAN ANTONIO.
AND SINCE I'VE SEEN SCOOTER SHARE COME AS AN OWNER, WHAT WE DECIDE TODAY, OR WHAT YOU GUYS DECIDE TO DO REALLY SPEAKS TO HOW I'M PERCEIVED AS AN OWNER.
I WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
AND I WANT PEOPLE TO NOT LOOK AT HE IN A BAD LIGHT FOR PROVIDING JUST AN ALTERNATIVE TO GET TO AND FROM WHERE I WORK, OUTSIDE OF WALKING IN 100-DEGREE HUMIDITY, OR HAVING TO TAKE A BUS THAT TAKES ONE EVERY 30 MINUTES.
THAT I HAVE TO DO A TRANSFER FOR.
THIS HAS PROVIDED SUCH A NEED, THAT I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF, IN THAT I THINK TWO
[01:35:02]
YEARS AGO THERE WAS SOME TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS THAT PROVIDED THAT 76% OF ALL RIDES WERE DRIVEN ALONE.SINGLE OCCUPANCY, ONE TO THREE MILES, WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A BACKPACK OR SMALL BRIEFCASE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT DOCKLESS SCOOTERS PROVIDE IN SPADES.
I CAN ONLY SAY THAT WITH THE CONTINUED ADVENT OF THIS INNOVATION, THIS USAGE WILL CONTINUE.
AND IT'S PROLIFERATION AND EVOLUTION WILL CONTINUE.
I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN A POSITIVE, POSITIVE MANNER, THAT I HOPE WE FIND A WAY TO OPEN UP THE CONVERSATION OF OUR PUBLIC ROAD.
IF I WOULD SAY THAT THE PUBLIC ROAD WAS ACCESSED, OR THE RIGHT TO TRANSPORTATION, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT RIGHT NEEDS TO EXPAND.
AND WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE VOCABULARY OF THE ROAD.
SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A SAFER STREET FOR EVERYONE.
AND WITH THAT SAID, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS AUDIENCE.
I REALLY CANNOT EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A TRANSFORMATIVE MODE FOR ME, THAT I ACTUALLY SOLD MY CAR AS A RESULT OF IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO -- SO THEREFORE, I PROVIDE A CLEANER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VALEZ.
S.T. SHIMMY? FOLLOWED BY DEBORAH WALKER.
SO, I LIVE IN SOUTH TOWN, WHICH IS A DESTINATION SPOT FOR LEISURE RIDERS.
I'M A PEDESTRIAN, AND A NONDRIVER WHO USES PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY MORE THAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE WALKABILITY, BIKE LANES, INFRASTRUCTURE.
HOWEVER, DOCKLESS SCOOTERS ARE MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
THEY CAN GO UP TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.
TOO MANY OF THEM PUSH PEDESTRIANS AND WHEELCHAIR USERS OUT OF THE WAY.
TOO MANY GET IRRESPONSIBLY IN PATHWAYS.
I JUST ENCOUNTERED TWO OF THEM WALKING DOWN COMMERCE STREET.
THEY SHOULD BE REGULATED AS MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
OTHER CITIES LIKE PORTLAND HAVE FIGURED IT OUT.
I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS BLUE DOT FOR NOT DUMPING THEIR PRODUCT.
PLEASE INVEST IN THE SIGNAGE AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.
WHO WOULD PAY FOR THEM IS ANOTHER ISSUE.
I WOULD SAY THAT COMPANIES WANTING TO KEEP THEIR PRODUCTS IN THIS TOWN HELP WITH THAT.
I WOULD LIKE THE POLICE TO BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND AWARE OF THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND SIDEWALK AND TICKET ACCORDINGLY.
I SEE TOO MANY OF THEM RIDING THEIR BIKES ON THE SIDEWALK, AND IGNORE THE SCOOTERS ROLLING DOWN TOWARDS ME IN THE SAME WAY.
DOC DOCKLESS -- RIDERS NEED TO BE FINED FOR VIOLATIONS.
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO TAKE A VESTED INTEREST IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
IF YOU ARE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER, YOU SHOULD WANT THESE REGULATIONS IN PLACE TO PROTECT YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE, WHILE YOU STRIVE TOWARDS A MORE CAR-FREE URBAN LIFESTYLE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS SHIMMY.
DEBRA WALKER, FOLLOWED BY ROSALYN COGBURN.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEN.
I AM AGAINST THE DOCKLESS RIDERS.
I SPEND AN HOUR AND A HALF A DAY, EACH MORNING, AND EVENING SOMETIMES, ON THE RIVER WALK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THESE SCOOTERS, I'VE SEEN THEM HIT -- NOT HIT, BUT ALMOST HIT, LIKE WITHIN TWO INCHES ELDERS, TWO DIFFERENT ELDERS.
WE LIVE ON A STREET THAT HAS LOTS OF TOURISTS, GETTING OFF OF THE BUS, GETTING BACK ON THE BUS.
THEY WHIZ BY LIKE THEY'RE NOT EVEN THERE.
I'VE ALSO SEEN THEM COME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING A 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD AND A 5-YEAR-OLD CHILD.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR, BUT I HOPE THAT IT'S NOT THESE DOCKLESS SCOOTERS.
BECAUSE YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR IT.
AND I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST TO TRY TO FIGHT AGAINST THESE DOCKLESS SCOOTERS, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HURT SOMEBODY.
I'VE SEEN A 13-YEAR-OLD ON THEM.
I'VE SEEN AN 11-YEAR-OLD ON THEM.
AND THEY ARE ON THE STREET GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR.
I CAN'T EVEN -- YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DOLLAR.
BECAUSE THE POLICEMEN, I'VE CALLED THEM FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES TO MOVE THE SCOOTERS OFF THE STREETS FOR THE TOURISTS, AND THE POLICEMEN SHOW UP, AND THEY MOVE THEM, AND ARE THEY GOING TO
[01:40:02]
DO THAT? IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO? IS THAT THEIR ROLE? THE DOCKLESS SCOOTERS DON'T COME AND MOVE THEM.ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THE DOLLAR.
AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CITY IS EVEN CONSIDERING THE SCOOTERS.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GOOD HEALTH? WALKING, EVEN THE BICYCLERS HAVE A CODE OF HONOR.
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER IT, AND I HOPE YOU WILL REMEMBER IT FOR WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. WALKER.
ROSALYN COGBURN? FOLLOWED BY BILL COGBURN.
LIKE DEBRA, WHO JUST SPOKE, I LIVE ON THE CORNER OF KING WILLIAM AND GUENTHRE.
LOTS OF CARS, TRUCKS, TOUR BUSES.
FREQUENTLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT CORNER, THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF SCOOTERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET COMPLETELY BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK, SO THAT PEDESTRIANS, INCLUDING THE TOURISTS THAT ARE COMING IN TO SAN ANTONIO, ARE FORCED TO GET DOWN OFF THE CURB AND INTO THE BUSY STREETS TO GO AROUND THE GROUPS OF SCOOTERS THAT ARE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALKS.
BUT AT LEAST PEDESTRIANS CAN USUALLY DO THAT.
IT'S KIND OF A STEEP CURB, BUT THEY CAN GET UP AND DOWN.
BUT WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS, WHICH WE OFTEN SEE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY CANNOT GET PAST THE SCOOTERS.
THEY CAN'T GET DOWN OFF THE CURB.
THEY HAVE TO DO A LOT OF MANEUVERING TO BACK UP AND FIND THEIR WAY BACK DOWN THE STREET TO A DRIVEWAY SO THEY CAN GET IN THE STREET AND GO AROUND THE CROWD OF SCOOTERS.
EVEN THAT IS BETTER THAN ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, MR. GEORGE GILLIGAN, A RETIRED GENTLEMAN WHO ON THE EVENING OF AUGUST THE 20TH WAS WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK BESIDE HIS HOUSE ON TURNER STREET, AND HE JUST FELL COMPLETELY DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK, TRIPPING OVER A SCOOTER THAT HAD BEEN ABANDONED ACROSS THE SIDEWALK.
AND IT WAS JUST DARK ENOUGH THAT MR. GILLIGAN COULDN'T SEE IT.
HE IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT HE DID NOT BREAK A BONE, BECAUSE AT HIS AGE, BONES DON'T HEAL ALL THAT QUICKLY.
HE WAS ABRADED ON HIS ARM AND HIS HAND, AND HE SAID IT TOOK TWO WEEKS BEFORE HE FELT THAT IT WAS HEALED.
I JUST WANT TO ASK, WHAT IS THE CITY'S LIABILITY FOR INJURIES? BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT MORE THAN MR. GILLIGAN WAS HURT.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE SERIOUS INJURIES.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A SCOOTER RIDER WEARING A HELMET.
I KNOW IT SAYS ON THE SCOOTER THAT YOU SHOULD WEAR A HELMET.
BUT ESPECIALLY TOURISTS DON'T PACK THEIR HELMETS IN THEIR LUGGAGE WHEN THEY'RE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.
THE CITY SURELY MUST HAVE SOME LIAB LIABILITY, AND IS IT US, THE TAXPAYERS, THAT ARE GOING TO END UP PAYING FOR THAT LIABILITY? SO WHEN YOU SEE TWO PEOPLE -- TWO ADULTS RIDING ONE SCOOTER, OR AN ADULT AND A SMALL CHILD RIDING A SCOOTER --
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS COGBURN.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE INJURY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. BILL COGBURN? FOLLOWED BY STEVEN WALKER.
>> I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK -- TO SPEAK TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
I WAS STANDING ON HOUSTON STREET THE OTHER DAY, WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO JOIN ME FOR LUNCH, AND THREE SCOOTERS CAME ALONG AND PRACTICALLY RAN OVER ME.
AND I REALIZED THAT BYRD HAS NO CONTROL ABOUT HOW THESE PEOPLE OPERATE THE SCOOTERS.
NOT FROM THE BYRD FOLKS, NOT FROM THE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. COGBURN.
[01:45:02]
FOLLOWED BY PATTY ZIONS.>> MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE DOWN HERE TO VISIT THIS EVENING.
I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO ADD ANYTHING STARTLING TO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.
BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT SCOOTERS.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE REGULATED.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE AND THEIR HEALTH.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND THE DESK OVER THERE HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET HURT ON THESE THINGS.
WE DON'T HAVE PERFECT STREETS.
AND EVEN IF WE DID, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE HURT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WEIGH ON YOUR CONSCIENCE WHEN YOU DECIDE HOW THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE UTILIZED IN OUR CITY.
I DON'T THINK SCOOTERS ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL MYSELF.
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY WHO COME TO SEE US, BECAUSE WE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THE GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE IN A WHEELCHAIR TWO NIGHTS AGO, HAD SEVEN SCOOTERS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN WALK PAST THOSE, MUCH LESS GO MANEUVER IN A WHEELCHAIR, I WANT TO SEE YOU DO IT.
SO I THINK REGULATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK PEOPLE'S HEALTH -- I THINK PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE AND TRY TO GET TO WORK EVERY MORNING, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDER ED -- THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE WHAT KEEPS THIS PLACE GOING.
AND GIVE IT SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT IS ALL I'M ASKING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WALKER.
ABEL RODRIGUEZ? I'M SORRY, ABEL RAMIREZ.
MR. RAMIREZ, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PATTY ZIONS.
AND YOU ALL HAVE HEARD IT ALL.
I'M FOR THE SCOOTERS, BUT I DO HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, AS FAR AS THE SAFETY OF MIXING THE SCOOTERS WITH THE PEDESTRIANS ON THE SIDEWALKS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANSWERS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF ALL THESE THINGS, AND THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE MOBILITY P PEOPLE.
I'M AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE LEGAL AMERICAN WHEELMAN.
AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR BICYCLE SAFETY, NONMOTORIZED VEHICLES.
BUT THE MOTORIZED VEHICLES ARE COMING.
THE ELECTRIC BIKES ARE COMING.
I'M AMAZED THAT WE'RE NOT STILL IN THE HORSE-AND-BUGGY DAYS.
AND THESE PROBLEMS HAVE ALWAYS COME UP.
SO THE MAIN THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD TODAY IS THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS, MIXING PEDESTRIANS, AND THE EDUCATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. RAMIREZ.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, MISS ZIONS.
>> MAYOR, YOU'RE GIVING ME A COMPLEX.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS PATTY ZIONS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR HAVING US, COUNCIL PERSONS THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
FOR ONE TIME I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIETY.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD SINCE THE SCOOTERS HAVE ARRIVED IN OUR LOVELY CITY.
AFTER A TOUR GUIDE MEETING AT THE ALAMO, I WAS WALKING TO MY CAR, AND ON THE SIDEWALK, AND HERE COMES TWO SCOOTERS BARRELING TOWARD ME, AND I HAD TO JUMP INTO THE DOORWAY OF THE VISITORS CENTER TO AVOID BEING PLOWED OVER.
LAST WEEK, I WAS WITH A GROUP OF COLLEAGUES, WE WERE WALKING FROM LASOYA TO COMMERCE, RIGHT BY THE LOOP.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IS IN A WALKER.
[01:50:02]
SIDEWALK.AND HERE COMES THREE SCOOTERS, BARRELING BY.
SHE WAS TRYING TO GET TO A BENCH, BECAUSE SHE NEEDED TO SIT DOWN.
SHE COULD NOT, BECAUSE THE SCOOTERS WERE ON THE SIDEWALK, AND THEY'RE GOING VERY, VERY FAST.
AS WERE THE TWO, BY THE WAY, THAT PASSED BY ME WENT, WHEE! BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PASS AN OLD LADY GOING DOWN THE SIDEWALK.
A WEEK AGO I WAS GOING TO THE KING WILLIAM AREA.
I ROUNDED CAESAR CHAVEZ, AND HERE COME THREE SCOOTERS FLYING OUT OF KING WILLIAM, AND I HAVE TO SAY, THESE GUYS WEREN'T SPRING CHICKENS.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO BRAKE THE SCOOTER AND STOP IT.
SO WHAT STOPPED THEM WAS THE CENTER MEDIAN, RIGHT THERE ON ST. MARY'S WHERE KING WILLIAM INTERSECTS.
NOW, IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BUSES AND THE CARS THAT ARE GENERALLY BEHIND ME, WHEN I'M TURNING INTO KING WILLIAM, THOSE GUYS WOULD HAVE BEEN TOAST.
THIS MORNING I WAS COMING INTO TOWN, AND I WAS ON CAESAR CHAVEZ BY THE HOV, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR AND HE WAS TRYING TO ACCESS THE RAMP ON THE ATV SIDE.
THE SCOOTERS WERE SO PROLIFIC ON THAT CORNER, THAT HE COULD NOT USE HIS MOBILITY -- HE WAS TRYING TO REACH DOWN WITH HIS HANDS AND GET THOSE SCOOTERS SCOOTED OUT OF THE WAY SO HE COULD GET UP THAT RAMP.
THANKFULLY A GOOD SAMARITAN CAME AND MOVED THOSE SCOOTERS FOR HIM.
AS A TOUR GUIDE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE ACCESS ON OUR STREETS.
AND ACCESS ON OUR SIDEWALKS, ON OUR PLAZAS, ON THE RIVER.
MILTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE ME YOUR TIME? HE'S CEDING HIS TIME TO ME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU HAVE ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
I DO NOT DISAGREE THAT LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION IS NECESSARY -- HE'S A GOOD HUSBAND, WHAT CAN I SAY -- LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION IS NECESSARY IN OUR CITY.
AND IT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT STAYS OFF THE RIVER WALK AND NEEDS TO STAY OFF THE PLAZAS, IT NEEDS TO STAY OUT OF LABIETA.
TOURISTS, MY CLIENTS, THEY'RE LIKE ME, THEY'RE NOT REALLY YOUNG LIKE YOU GUYS.
I THINK THE SCOOTERS SERVE A PURPOSE, BUT THAT IS TRANSPORTATION.
AS SUCH, THOSE SCOOTERS SHOULD ADHERE TO REGULATION THAT KEEPS THEM OFF OF PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS.
SO IN CLOSING, I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER THOUGHTFULLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT COME HERE TO SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
OUR SIDEWALKS SHOULD NOT BE CLUTTERED WITH SCOOTERS.
THEY HAVE A PLACE, AND THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN THE BIKE LANES, WHERE THE BIKES GO.
BUT KEEP THEM OFF THE SIDEWALKS, AND KEEP THEM AWAY FROM OUR HISTORIC SITES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. ZIONS.
BLANCA LABOARD? BL BLANCA LABORE? SHE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JAMES LAFORM.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS BLANCA LABORE.
I'M SENIOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR FOR BYRD RIDES.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.
AND BYRD IS VERY HAPPY TO BE PROVIDING A SAFE, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION OPTION FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF DOCKLESS MOBILITY WITH YOUR PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
WE BELIEVE THAT RESPONSIBLE REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT IS IMPORTANT, AS DOCKLESS MOBILITY CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN SAN ANTONIO, AND IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE.
BYRD HAS BEEN IN OPERATION IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 83 DAYS.
DURING THAT TIME, CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE TAKEN MORE THAN 157,000 RIDES.
50,000 UNIQUE RIDERS, AND TRAVELED MORE THAN 201,000 MILES.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO ARE HAPPY TO HAVE US.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP.
MANY OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
[01:55:03]
IN YOUR ORDINANCE ARE CRITICAL TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAFE AND RELIABLE OPTION.I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ROLLED OUT A NEW PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, STARTING TOMORROW YOU WILL SEE SOME PEOPLE RIDING AROUND ON SCOOTERS WITH BYRD T-SHIRTS ON, AND THESE ARE OUR BYRD WATCHERS.
WE'LL BE STARTING OUT WITH ABOUT 40 OF THEM.
AND THEIR JOB IS GOING TO BE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY, RIDING AROUND THE CITY ON THEIR SCOOTERS, MAKING SURE THAT SCOOTERS ARE UPRIGHT, MAKING SURE THEY'RE NOT BLOCKING ACCESS, AND OTHERWISE KEEPING EVERYTHING LOOKING NICE AND NEAT.
AS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU, WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE EDUCATION OF THE RIDERS, AND OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
WE REALLY PUT A PRIORITY ON SAFETY.
AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING NEW TOOLS TO HELP EDUCATE AND INCENTIVIZE RIDERS ON PROPER PARKING, AND WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU TO RESOLVE ANY SPECIFIC SAFETY ISSUES TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE ARE HERE TO WORK WITH YOU, AND PARTNER WITH YOU TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS LABOARD.
JAMES LAFORM? MR. LAFORM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PAUL FRANCIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SPOKEN BEFORE Y'ALL.
I AM A NURSE AND I AM NOT AGAINST TECHNOLOGY.
I LIVE IN THE MONTE VISTA AREA.
AND MY WIFE AND I WALK THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK TOWARD THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR EXERCISE AND TO EAT OUT.
SINCE THE OPEN-THESE DOCKLESS RIDER BIKES HAVE STARTED, WE'VE SEEN A LOT.
NOBODY WE'VE EVER SEEN RIDING WITH HELMETS.
CONSTANTLY SEEN UNDERAGED DRIVERS.
AND MY PET PEEVE IS THE DOUBLE RIDERS, AND THE RIDERS WITH BABIES ON THEIR BACKS.
THESE THINGS DO NOT STOP ON A DIME.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ROUND A CORNER OF A BUILDING AND THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN, AND THEY'RE RIDING FASTER THAN WALKING SPEED.
I'M ABOUT SAFETY, BUT I HAVE MY OWN LITTLE STORY.
I NEARLY GOT HIT TWO DAYS AGO COMING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL BY SIX RIDERS, TWO OF THEM WERE SPEEDING, TURNED AROUND FACING THEM ASKING WHAT'S THE DEAL, THE OTHER FOUR BEHIND ME ALMOST GOT CLOTHESLINED BY ME BECAUSE I DID THIS.
NOT A PRETTY SIGHT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.
I'M HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT REGULATIONS COMING UP.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS IF THEY WOULD ONLY FOLLOW THE RULES THAT ARE ACTUALLY STATED ON THE BYRD'S LITTLE POSTAGE SIZED STAMP RULES AND REGULATIONS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM ON THE LINE BIKES YET.
WITH THE CURRENT RELYINGULATION COMING UP, I HOPE THEY GET THEM OFF THE SIDEWALKS, PLEASE.
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF REGULATIONS WITH ALL OUR OTHER VEHICLES, SUCH AS CARS, BIG RIGS, YOU NAME IT.
AND THESE THINGS ARE POWERED VEHICLES.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SIDEWALKS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYONE BRING UP SINCE THE REGULATIONS WHEN THEY GO INTO EFFECT IS ENFORCEMENT AND FINES.
AND WILL THERE BE NEW SIGNS TO BACK OFFICERS AND LAW ABIDING CITIZENS WHEN THEY'RE ON A SIDEWALK AND AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS HAPPENS AND THEY COME RIDING BY FAST.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS IT OFF THE SIDEWALK.
I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE A MAJOR LAWSUIT OR SOMEBODY GETTING HURT BY THESE RIDERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. LAFORM.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I KNOW ANY OF YOU GUYS.
I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS DOWNTOWN CALLED ALTA VISTA SKATE SHOP.
IT'S RIGHT THERE AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TRADE CENTER BUILDING.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT BUILDING.
THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS TO NOT PROMOTE OR TAKE AWAY WHAT BYRD HAS BROUGHT HERE AS TRANSPORTATION USAGE FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE, BUT ALSO TO BRING SAFETY AWARENESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE STATING HOW THEY NEED TO BE OFF THE SIDEWALKS.
I'M SURE THAT'S A GOOD FACT RIGHT THERE.
PEDESTRIANS DON'T WANT TO GET HIT.
AND THESE BYRD RIDERS WHO ARE NEW TO THIS DON'T WANT TO GO IN THE STREET, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET HIT.
SO I'M SURE THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF YOUR HOPEFUL REGULATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP, SINCE THERE IS NO REGULATION RIGHT NOW.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO BRING TO ATTENTION THAT THESE COMPANIES, WHICH THE BYRD REPRESENTATIVE JUST SAID, IT HAS BEEN USED 165,000 TIMES THIS YEAR, AND IT'S ONLY BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS.
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WELL, THAT'S OVER $1 MILLION -- EXCUSE ME, THAT'S $$$165,000 GENERATED IN SIX MONTHS, THAT THOSE THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY HERE.THAT'S OVER 4,000 SCOOTERS THAT COULD BE POSSIBLY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO UNLESS REGULATION IS GOING TO BE STARTED ON THIS.
WITH ALL THIS MONEY COMING UP, AND ALL THIS ISSUE OF ALL THIS FUNDING, WHERE DOES THE SAFETY ISSUE COME UP ON WHO'S GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE SAFETY HELMETS OR ANY OF THAT STUFF? SOME OF THESE COMPANIES SAY IF YOU REQUEST IT, THEY WILL SEND YOU A FREE HELMET.
YOU'VE GOT TO PAY SHIPPING CHARGES.
AND NOW BYRD REPRESENTATIVES HERE WILL BE ON SCOOTERS WITH THEIR SHIRTS ON, YET THERE'S STILL NO HELMETS THAT CAN BE GIVEN AWAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MONEY THEY'RE MAKING RIGHT NOW.
SO ON TOP OF THE ISSUE, THESE BYRD SCOOTERS ARE ON THE SIDEWALKS.
THEY COULD EASILY BE IN THE STREETS.
I'M SURE ON THESE STREETS, ON THESE BIKE LANES, IT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT ON THE SIDEWALKS, THEY NEED TO BE KEPT OFF.
EVERY DAY, EVERY MORNING, EVERY AFTERNOON, I SEE PEOPLE RIDING UP AND DOWN THE SIDEWALK, RIGHT THERE AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BUILDING, AT THE 110 BUILDING ON BROADWAY, ALMOST GETTING HIT, EVENTUALLY GETTING HIT, AND JUST WHAT LESS THAN A WEEK AGO SOMEONE DIED IN BAYLOR ON ONE OF THESE BYRD SCOOTERS.
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT STORY HERE.
I WANT SOME REGULATION DONE, BECAUSE THIS IS AN LEK VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FRANCIS.
THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE DOCKLESS REGULATIONS HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS HEREBY CLOSED.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITIZENS TO BE HEARD HEARING.
AND WE HAVE MANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS PARTICULAR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.