Jan 31, 2019 City Council A Session on 2019-01-31 9:00 AM

>> MAYOR AND LEADERS, THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW HOW THOSE BIOS READ.

YOU CAN'T BELIEVE A WORD OF THEM.

[LAUGHTER] AND I ALSO NEED TO BE FORGIVEN TO HAVE MY BACK TO YOU, OR TO YOU.

SO FORGIVE ME FOR HAVING MY BACK TO SOMEBODY HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LEADERSHIP AS A TEAM.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON, THE MILITARY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT.

WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE THOSE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE, NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL THAT GOVERNMENT IS AT.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO HELP YOU.

BECAUSE THE INTENTION HERE IS THAT IF WE CAN BUILD A PATTERN OF RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE COMMUNICATE MORE OFTEN, AND THAT WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST WITH EACH OTHER, THAT THIS POWERFUL UNIQUE GIFT THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS, WHERE YOU HAVE MORE MILITARY PRESENCE THAN ANY OTHER CITY ON PLANET EARTH, THAT THAT CAN BE OPTIMIZED INTO SOMETHING THAT REALLY PROPELS FORWARD YOUR VISION FOR THIS CITY NESTED WITH THIS STATE AND THIS COUNTRY, AND ALL OF THE MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CITY BENEFIT FROM THAT SAME VISION.

SO FOR ALL OF YOU HERE, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU I'VE SEEN A LOT OF LEADERS AND A LOT OF TEAMS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

BUT YOU ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY SPECIAL.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO SEE WHEN YOU'RE SO CLOSE TO IT, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO DEAL WITH ALL THE COMPETING AGENDAS OF A COMMUNITY.

BUT YOU HAVE A LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT IS BLESSED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S RESPECT.

THERE MAY BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENDAS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT HOW YOU MOVE FORWARD, BUT THERE'S A UNIQUE SENSE OF RESPECT HERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INNOVATING IN THE FUTURE, I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU THAT THE SEED TO INNOVATION IS THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT.

IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO SPEAK THEIR MIND WITHOUT BEING SHOUTED DOWN AND WITHOUT BEING TURNED OUT.

AND SO WHAT I SEE IS I SEE THIS UNIQUE GIFT WHERE THE COLOR, THE DIVERSITY, AND THE BEAUTY OF SAN ANTONIO IS YOUR MAGIC KEY TO INNOVATING INTO THE FUTURE.

THIS CITY -- AND I'VE TOLD THE MAYOR THIS MANY TIMES -- I BELIEVE THIS CITY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GUIDE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY INTO THE 21ST CENTURY AS YOU SHOW HOW YOU MAKE INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROTECT PEOPLE'S ENERGY, THEIR INFORMATION, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEIR FREEDOMS. SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF THAT JOURNEY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS PATTERN OF COMMUNICATING AND BUILDING TRUST AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, SIR.

[APPLAUSE] BERG: THANK YOU, GENERAL.

I THINK EVERYONE WHO HAS GOTTEN A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH YOU AND MEET WITH YOU QUICKLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT A TRUE FORCE OF NATURE YOU'VE BECOME AND WHAT A STAR YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

YOU HAVE MY UTMOST RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEARS AHEAD AND ALL THE WORK WE WILL BE DOING TOGETHER.

I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S GOTTEN A CHANCE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU.

I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

AND WHAT GREAT WORDS.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE A THREE-STAR GENERAL.

THAT WAS AWESOME.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY WELCOME AGAIN TO SAN ANTONIO.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE AND PARTICIPATE AND BE A PART OF THE CITY AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT AND CONTINUING AND WORKING THAT DIALOGUE BETWEEN US AND YOURSELF AND THE MILITARY HERE IN TOWN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT MORE HERE IN THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT TRIP COMING UP THIS NEXT WEEK TO D.C.

OUR SA DELEGATION, AND I THINK THE MAYOR AND I WILL BE SPENDING A GOOD PART OF THAT TIME IN THE PENTAGON TALKING WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES UP THERE.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND THE CITY AS WELL.

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, AND GO AIR FORCE!

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OUR BEST TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, GENERAL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.

WE HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AGENDA THIS MORNING.

[Consent Agenda]

ALTHOUGH MOST OF OUR ITEMS ARE FOR CONSENT, WE DO HAVE ITEMS 4 AND 5 THAT WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.

I KNOW THERE ARE COLLEAGUES THAT WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ON ITEMS THAT I ANTICIPATE WILL REMAIN ON CONSENT, BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION BESIDES 4 AND 5.

ITEM Z-1.

ANY OTHERS? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND TAP IN NOW AS WE BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE CITIZENS WHO HAVE COMMENTS ON THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT.

I'LL TAKE CITIZENS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS NOW.

WE'LL START WITH BRIAN TICKLE FOLLOWED BY JOHN TABOLE.

>> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, BRIAN TICKLE ACCESS FUND, REGISTERING IN SUPPORT OF ITEM EIGHT, THE SALADO FUNDING.

I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT FUNDING FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED IN THE NEWS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT MY ORGANIZATION, THE ACCESS FUND, HELPED FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY ALONG THE SALADO CREEK GREENWAY TO A LOCAL ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE HOPING TO OPEN THAT PROPERTY TO THE PUBLIC ONCE THE SALADO CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL IS FINISHED.

SO WE'RE REALLY EAGER TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE ALSO REALLY HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND FEEL THAT THE MEDICINE WALL, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S CALLED, IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY ADDS VALUE TO THE CITY.

I JUST THINK THE SALADO CREEK GREENWAY IS A FANTASTIC THING AND VITAL FOR NOT ONLY THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY IN TEXAS AND IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, IS THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE U.S.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. TICKLE.

WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL COMMENT AFTER ALL THE CITIZENS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, JOHN.

JOHN TABOLE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMEN AND COUNCILMEN.

I'M A PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEY OUT OF AN OFFICE ON GOVERNMENT HILL SINCE 2001.

SO BEFORE PEARL WAS EVEN PURCHASED, BEFORE PEARL DEVELOPMENT, MY FAMILY HAS HAD THAT BUILDING FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME .

WE RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT CLOSURE OF RODGERS AVENUE IN BETWEEN CARSON AND QUIPMAN AVENUE.

QUIPMAN IS A ONE WAY, SO TO LEAVE OUR OFFICE WE GO DOWN QUIPMAN, TURN LEFT ON RODGERS TO ACCESS I-35.

THE CLOSURE OF RODGERS WOULD BE AN INCONVENIENCE TO OUR FAMILY AND OUR OFFICE, PEOPLE THAT ACCESS OUR OFFICE.

SO WE WERE INITIALLY OPPOSED TO IT.

AFTER I SUBMITTED THE OPPOSITION I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MR. JOHN FIKE, JUNIOR, AND WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS OF FINDING SOME WAY TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP THE PROPERTY THEY OWN ON BOTH SIDES OF RODGERS INTELLIGENTLY, BEING SOME SORT OF ACCESS BETWEEN QUIPMAN AND CARSON.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THEY'VE DONE GREAT, GREAT, GREAT RE-PURPOSING OF OLD BUILDINGS IN THAT COMMUNITY BETWEEN THE QUIPMAN AND -- EXCUSE ME, QUIPMAN AND NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS.

BUT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

WE'VE MET A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WE MET TWO WEEKS AGO, AND HE'S ACTUALLY IN TALKS WITH THEIR DESIGNERS TO SEE WHAT, IF ANY ACCESS WE CAN PROVIDE BETWEEN QUIPMAN AND CARSON, POTENTIALLY MAYBE A ONE-WAY ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS RODGERS TO I-35.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, MY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SPOKE IN CITY COUNCIL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

JACK FINGER.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.

WELL, WITH ALL THE CON CONGENIAY

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OVER HERE, I HATE TO BE THE ONE WHO THROWS A LITTLE BIT OF COLD WATER, BUT WHAT THE HECK? WHY NOT? I MIGHT AS WELL.

THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A FEW THINGS.

ITEM 17, 18, 19.

BASICALLY SOME, WHAT I CALL CORPORATE WELFARE GIVEAWAYS.

YOU'RE INVITING THE LGS INNOVATIONS CORPORATION TO COME BY.

YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A GRANT OF $180,000.

THAT'S OUR TAX DOLLARS.

THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPOSEDLY CREATE ABOUT 42 OR SO JOBS HERE.

I DID SOME CALCULATIONS, THAT'S ABOUT $2500 A JOB.

NOW, YOU KNOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND IF THEY WERE GOING TO SETTLE IN ON THE POOR AREAS OF TOWN.

WEST SIDE, EAST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE.

BUT THIS IS OVER ON BULVERDE ROAD, WAY UP IN THE NORTH SIDE THERE.

AND, I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW -- I TAKE IT BACK.

THAT'S THE OTHER ONE.

THIS IS OVER AT PORT SAN ANTONIO.

BUT THE VERY FACT THAT WE'RE GIVING THEM $180,000.

I'M SORRY.

ITEM 18, THAT IS PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT.

AND THEY ARE THE ONES SETTLING WAY UP ON BULVERDE ROAD.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM, WHAT IS IT? $221,000 JUST OUTRIGHT IN A GRANT? YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM A 60% TAX REBATE AGREEMENT.

THAT'S ABOUT -- THEY SAID -- THAT'S OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S WHAT THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS TELL US, FOR 571 JOBS.

IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT, LIKE I SAY, IF THEY WERE HARD PRESSED AND THEY WERE REALLY GOING TO HELP OUT THE POOR PEOPLE HERE IN TOWN.

BUT THEY AREN'T.

I'M SORRY.

I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES CAN GET SUCH BENEFITS LIKE THESE GUYS CAN.

EVEN ON A PRORATED BASIS.

NO, YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

JUST FOR A FEW SPECIAL INTERESTS HERE.

ITEM 19.

WELFARE HOUSING.

YOU CALL IT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT BASICALLY IS.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT.

BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS AND IT TELLS US IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE WITH 60% BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

MR. HALL, THAT'S IN YOUR AREA.

DOES DISTRICT 2 REALLY NEED ANY MORE WELFARE HOUSING? I DON'T THINK SO.

MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN START A REVOLUTION AND SAY NO TO THIS STUFF.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

ROSE HILL.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND COUNCILMAN HALL.

MY NAME IS ROSE HILL AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM 11.

THE GOVERNMENT HILL ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT OF CLOSING THE SMALL STREET THAT'S IN RODGERS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

WE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

WE DID FEEL THAT WORKING WITH MR. FIKE, HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH US OVER THE SEVERAL MONTHS AND HE'S DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HE'S SHOWN THAT REACHING ACROSS THE TABLE WITH US, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, HAVING AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION, WE FELT THAT THAT SMALL LITTLE STREET WOULD BE FEASIBLE TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE.

WE ARE HEARING THAT -- JUST HEARING THAT THERE IS A COMPROMISE BEING WORKED WITH MR. WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN'S OPPOSITION, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO TALK WITH HIM AS WELL.

WE TRIED OUR BEST TO GET THE COMMUNICATION OUT -- IT WAS ALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDING THAT ONE STREET OF CLOSING.

IT'S NOT A VERY BIG STREET.

ANYWAYS, THE GOVERNMENT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAD VOTED AND WE ARE IN AGREEMENT TO CLOSE THE SMALL LITTLE STREET THERE ON RODGERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. HILL.

THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS. ITEMS NO. 17 AND 18.

AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE I'M EXCITED TO SEE THESE KEY INDUSTRY PARTNERS COMING AND GROWING IN SAN ANTONIO AS A RESULT OF SO MUCH WORK AND COLLABORATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LGS AND TO PEN FED.

PEN FED'S DECISION TO OPEN THE REGIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY SPEAKS TO SAN

[00:25:01]

ANTONIO'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE A WORKFORCE CAPABLE OF MEETING THE BUSINESSES' NEEDS.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TEAM SAN ANTONIO.

EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER.

WE ARE NOT ONLY GAINING A NEW HIGH-PAYING JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS, BUT ALSO A CORPORATE SPONSOR -- PARTNER THAT RECOGNIZES AND WILL INVEST IN OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE A LEGACY OF THIS WORKFORCE IN OUR FUTURE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BOTH LGS AND PED FED TO SAN ANTONIO.

LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU, ROCKY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE REY FEO CONSEJO AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION THEY CONDUCT DURING FIESTA AT THE EVENT IN MARKET SQUARE.

WE HAVE MANY FOLKS HERE.

PLEASE, YES, IF WE CAN COME UP FOR A MINUTE.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, BECAUSE YEAR AFTER YEAR YOU ARE ONE OF THE SIGNATURE EVENTS OF FIESTA AND PROVIDE SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT AND HOW THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY HAS PROVEN TO BE AN AMAZING SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, AND ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP GOING ON OUR NINTH YEAR.

NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT WE REPRESENT 130 MEMBERS OF THE CONSEJO MEMBERS.

AND WE ALL THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S SUPPORT.

SHERYL, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT FROM THE BEGINNING.

ROBERT, THANK YOU.

WE LOOK FORWARD FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, HOPEFULLY, AND WE'RE HERE TO JUST ENJOY FIESTA AND THE PARTNERSHIP WITH SAN ANTONIO MAYOR HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS.

AS YOU HAVE SEEN, IT IS GROWING AND GROWING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TEN MORE YEARS WITH YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO.

12, KABOOM! GRANT FOR KENNEDY PARK, A $65,000 GRANT WITH A TOTAL PROJECT AMOUNT OF $93,500.

THE KABOOM! PLAYGROUND PROGRAM BEGAN IN SAN ANTONIO IN 2009 THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.

SINCE THAT TIME, A TOTAL OF 11 PLAYGROUNDS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ACROSS THE CITY.

KABOOM! HAS INVESTED $1.7 MILLION IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE CITY HAS MATCHED $417,000.

THE PLAYSCAPE AT KENNEDY PARK WILL BE THE 12TH PLAYGROUND INSTALLED THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP.

IT IS THE THIRD KABOOM! INSTALLATION IN DISTRICT 5, IN ADDITION TO THE PLAYGROUNDS INSTALLED AT ROSEDALE AND MARTINEZ PARK.

THE INSTALLATION WILL BE COORDINATED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ABOUT 200 VOLUNTEERS.

THIS ALSO COMPLEMENTS $250,000 IN THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM FOR KENNEDY PARK.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THE THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

SO THANK YOU TO RAY LOPEZ AND THE TEAM OVER THERE FOR BEING SUCH A SUPPORTIVE GROUP THERE AND WORKING TOGETHER TO SEE THIS PROJECT COMPLETED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO REHIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 8.

A FEW MINUTES AGO WE HAD A SPEAKER ON THAT, BRIAN TICKLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BRIAN TO COME BACK UP.

AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK JOHN KENT AND ALISA GARZA, IF THEY'RE IN THE AUDIENCE, TO COME UP FRONT.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ARTICLE, OR THIS ITEM.

LET ME START OFF.

BRIAN HAD A FEW MINUTES AND WAS PRETTY QUIET ABOUT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS ORGANIZATION.

SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HE'S HERE TODAY.

AND AS THE TEXAS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ACCESS FUND.

THAT'S A NATIONAL NONPROFIT CONSERVATION ADVOCACY GROUP.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAINTAINING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE LAND, WHICH WAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY THE TEXAS CLIMBER'S ASSOCIATION.

AND THEY'RE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY BY ALISA GARZA, WHO IS A DISTRICT 9 RESIDENT.

YOU KNOW, THE CLIMBING ENTHUSIAST WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO TRAVEL HOURS FROM SAN ANTONIO TO GET IN THEIR CLIMBING FIX.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE

[00:30:01]

RODGER'S FAMILY AND BITTER BLUE DEVELOPMENT FOR GRANTING ACCESS ADJACENT TO THEIR NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS PROJECT.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE AND THANK JOHN KENT, WHO IS MY DISTRICT 9 APPOINTEE TO THE LINEAR PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.

THEY HAVE KEPT ME APPRAISED OF THIS PROJECT.

THERE'S A NEW FOUR-MILE SECTION OF SALADO CREEK GREENWAY TRAIL THAT WILL CONNECT TO EISENHOWER PARK.

THIS HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS AND IS ESPECIALLY UNIQUE AS THIS TRAIL WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE MEDICINE CLIMBING WALL.

AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ON THIS, BUT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE CONSOLIDATED EFFORT FROM ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY IN BRINGING THIS RECREATIONAL FACILITY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE PUBLIC AND REALLY MAKING A POINT OF CONSERVING THIS AND BUILDING THE RECREATIONAL ASPECTS OF IT.

IT IS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF DISTRICT 9, PRETTY CLOSE TO DISTRICT 8, ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY.

>> I THINK YOU SAID IT REALLY WELL.

I THINK IT WAS A FANTASTIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND BITTER BLUE.

I HAVE TO COMMEND THEM FOR REALLY UNDERSTANDING BOTH THE RECREATION AND CONSERVATION VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY.

AND ALSO COMMEND BRANDON ROSS FOR ALL THE WORK HE'S DONE ON THE TRAIL AND ITS RECENT DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL.

I THINK THAT'S A FANTASTIC THING.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN ITEM, SIR.

ITEM NO. 9.

IS ANYBODY HERE? WE GOT SOME FOLKS HERE FROM TCI.

WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME ON UP HERE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR PULLING THIS PROJECT TOGETHER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE HAVE RIDDEN ON JUDSON ROAD.

DO YOU KNOW THAT JUDSON ROAD DOESN'T HAVE ANY SIDEWALKS ON IT? WE'VE GOT A SCHOOL.

WE JUST OPENED UP ANOTHER BRAND NEW SCHOOL.

IT'S A CHARTER SCHOOL ON JUDSON.

WE'VE GOT KIDS.

WE'VE GOT FAMILIES.

WE'VE GOT ELDERLY WALKING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

IN FACT, THERE'S TRAILS ALL ALONG THE ROAD THERE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TRAILS WILL COME UP TO A BRIDGE AND THEY STOP.

WHERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE GOING? THEY'RE WALKING IN THE ROAD.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT.

I'VE SEEN WHEELCHAIRS OUT IN THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY ACCESSIBLE SIDEWALKS.

NO SIDEWALKS AT ALL ALONG THE ROAD.

SO WE WORKED WITH TCI AND TXDOT AND THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S A LONG, LONG SIDEWALK, BUT VERY MUCH NEEDED.

TXDOT IS GOING TO BE REIMBURSING US ABOUT 80% OF THAT COST.

AND Y'ALL FOUND THE MONEY FROM OTHER PROJECTS THAT WAS LEFT OVER.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT SIDEWALK.

I THINK THE CONSTRUCTION'S SUPPOSED TO START SOMETIME THIS SUMMER AND BE DONE THIS YEAR.

SO THE PEOPLE ALONG JUDSON ROAD ARE ETERNALLY THANKFUL ON GETTING THIS PROJECT FINALLY ON THE BOOKS AND GET IT CONSTRUCTED.

SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR WORKING TOGETHER WITH US TO PULL THIS TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> PERRY: YES, SIR.

>> HALL: I I WANT TO RECOGNIZE FORMER DISTRICT 10 COUNCILMAN WHO WAS HERE WITH THE REY FEO GROUP EARLIER.

COUNCILMAN HALL.

I WANT TO THANK ROSE HILL FOR COMING UP AND SPEAKING ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM .

AND I KNOW THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT CONVERSATIONS ARE ALREADY HAPPENING WITH MR. FIKE.

HE'S ALREADY REACHED OUT AND GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE HE'S REACHING OUT TO YOU.

KNOWING MR. FIKE AND WHAT HE'S DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY ON THE BUILDING SIDE, BUT GENERALLY I THINK THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL CONTINUE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT HE AND YOU AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ARE GOING TO DO IN THAT AREA.

I DO WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING UP AND SPEAKING ON THAT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL.

BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE MOTION, I DID WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

JANUARY'S BEEN A VERY BUSY MONTH FOR OUR TEAM SAN ANTONIO, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY MONTH, MORE PROOF THAT SAN ANTONIO IS INDEED ON A ROLL.

AND I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR NEWEST CORPORATE CITIZENS AS THEY GROW HERE.

FIRST, THE PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION SELECTION OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THEIR NEW REGIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IS A HUGE

[00:35:01]

WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I'M PROUD TO WELCOME THEM TO OUR CITY.

THEIR OPERATION AND INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL OFFER SUPPORT SERVICES AND I.T.

PROGRAMMING FOR IT'S MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDE MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AS THE THIRD LARGEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION IN THE UNITED STATES, THE COMPANY PROVIDES A WIDE ARRAY OF FINANCIAL SERVICES TO ITS MEMBERS AND PEN FED WILL ADD 571 NEW JOBS AND INVESTING NEARLY $9 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

AS PART OF ITS DECISION TO LOCATE IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE BY PARTICIPATING IN INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

WE ARE A CITY WHERE BUSINESSES KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME AND SUCCEED DUE TO OUR CAPABLE WORKFORCE, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE, AND BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, AND THIS IS JUST MORE PROOF POSITIVE AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING PED FED AS THEY GROW AND SUCCEED IN THE YEARS TO COME.

WELCOME, GUYS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, LGS INNOVATIONS FOR SELECTING SAN ANTONIO AS THE LOCATION FOR THE COMPANY'S NEW HUB FOR CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS.

LGS INNOVATIONS PROVIDES MISSION CRITICAL COMMUNICATION PRODUCTS, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO BOTH COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AROUND THE WORLD.

LGS WILL BE EXPANDING THEIR CURRENT WORKFORCE IN SAN ANTONIO, ADDING 46 NEW HIGH-SKILL, HIGH-PAYING JOBS AND INVESTING OVER $3 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMPANY'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITY WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVED UP OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE STRONGEST RESOURCES IN OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OF IS OUR WORKFORCE, AN ASSET THAT OFTEN DIRECTLY STEMS FROM OUR UNIVERSITIES.

THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES OUR DESIRE TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED AND GROW IN SAN ANTONIO SO THAT ALL LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL BENEFIT.

WE ARE IN FACT, AS EVIDENCED, A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION AND HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ATTRACT TOP OF THE LINE JOBS AND COMPANIES SUCH AS LGS INNOVATIONS.

SO I AGAIN WANT TO THANK LGS INNOVATIONS FOR CHOOSING SAN ANTONIO AS ITS SITE FOR ITS NEWEST HUB AND WELCOME THEM TO SAN ANTONIO.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AS WELL.

RENE, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? DO WE WANT TO BRING THE TEAMS FORWARD SO THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED OFFICIALLY?

>> I CAN INTRODUCE YOU TO THE GENTLEMEN THAT ARE HERE REPRESENTING THOSE COMPANIES.

AS YOU SAID, THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT, MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EDF FOR SHEPHERDING THIS PROJECT.

TOM LONG IS HERE.

THE PORT OF SAN ANTONIO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN TERMS OF LGS, AS DID CYBERSECURITY SAN ANTONIO.

TEAM EFFORT.

FROM PEN FED, THEIR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT IS HERE, ROCKY MITCHELL COMING IN FROM VIRGINIA.

HE'S HERE.

AND THEN FROM LGS, THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS COMING OUT OF VIRGINIA, SO I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT COLD WEATHER TAKE EFFECT AND PERHAPS MORE JOBS AND MORE OF THEIR OPERATIONS MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO.

ROCKY.

>> THANK YOU, RENE.

MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE.

LET ME JUST SAY WE ARE NOT COMING INTO SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 25 YEARS THROUGH SEVERAL OF OUR BRANCHES.

TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MERGE WITH ALAMO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION.

AND BECAUSE OF YOU ALL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY, WE ARE MILITARY CREDIT UNION.

WE BECAME THE WAR DEPARTMENT CREDIT UNION EVEN BEFORE THERE WAS A PENTAGON, 84 YEARS AGO.

SO THIS WAS A NATURAL FIT FOR US.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IF I COULD JUST PARAPHRASE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE, SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY WHEN HE SAID THE SUCCESS OF AMERICA IS GUARANTEED WHEN YOU COMBINE THE BEST OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WITH THE BEST OF GOVERNMENT AND THE BEST OF COMMUNITY.

WE FEEL THAT THIS PROJECT IS A REFLECTION OF THIS.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING A HUGE INVESTMENT, NOT ONLY IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE BRING IN, BUT ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL SERVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.

>> AND WITH LGS, JASON NGUYEN IS HERE.

>> YES, ESCAPING THE POLAR VORTEX.

I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND

[00:40:01]

COUNCIL, THE SUPPORT ALSO FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, AND PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK FOLKS LIKE RENE DOMINGUEZ, TOM LONG, THOMAS DAVIS FOR CHAMPIONING THIS FOR US.

ON BEHALF OF LGS, I ACTUALLY LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO, I HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE 2004.

DID A LOT OF WORK UP ON SECURITY HILL AND IN 2014 JOINED LGS WITH THE TASK, IF YOU WILL, OF LET'S BREAK INTO THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET.

SO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE IN THAT REGARD.

AND WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY HERE, SERVE THE NATION, AND LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT SUCCESS MOVING FORWARD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Y'ALL.

THANK YOU, RENE AND TOM AND WILL.

I ALSO SEE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR ITEMS 4 AND 5.

PLEASE VOTE.

[4. Ordinance appointing Erik Walsh as City Manager, authorizing the execution of an employment contract, and establishing a commencement date to assume the office. [Andrew Segovia, City Attorney]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 4.

>> ITEM NO. 4 IS AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING ERIK WALSH AS CITY MANAGER, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, AND ESTABLISHING A COMMENCEMENT DATE TO ASSUME THE OFFICE.

>> MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M VERY HONORED TO BE UP HERE AND START OFF THE ITEM IN WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEXT CITY MANAGER.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

ON NOVEMBER 29 CITY MANAGER SHERYL SCULLEY ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT AS CITY MANAGER AS SERVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR MORE THAN 13 YEARS.

THE CITY COUNCIL THEN INITIATED AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS TO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT A NEW CITY MANAGER.

AND WE RECEIVED 31 APPLICATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND INCLUDING ONE FROM CANADA.

AGAIN, THIS PROCESS STARTED LATE LAST YEAR WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND WENT THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY.

THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEWED APPLICATIONS THAT FIRST WEEK.

AND THEN BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND JANUARY 16, EIGHT OF THE PREFERRED CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEWED BY THE COUNCIL.

CITY COUNCIL THEN ON JANUARY 16 NAMED ERIK WALSH AS THE PROPOSED FINALIST.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND PUBLIC SYMPOSIUMS THAT WERE HELD BETWEEN JANUARY 21 AND JANUARY 30.

AND TODAY THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE APPOINTMENT OF ERIK AS THE NEW CITY MANAGER.

FOLLOWING THAT, THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS THAT WILL RUN THROUGH THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.

THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THE COUNCIL INITIATED A STRATEGY TO GIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE PROPOSED FINALIST, ERIK WALSH.

THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS RANGED FROM FIVE TO 100 PARTICIPANTS.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT WAS THE SA SPEAK UP EVENT THAT WAS HELD ON JANUARY 23RD.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LOCAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING FOR THAT EVENT.

AND A LOT OF THAT NOTICE WAS BOTH IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.

AND THE EVENT WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.

AND ON THE LIVE FACEBOOK STREAM, WE HAD OVER 2,000 VIEWS ON THE FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM.

BEFORE I GET INTO THE NEXT SLIDE ON THE CONTRACT, FOR THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE REMOVED THE 20 PLUS SLIDES WE HAD SHOWING ALL OF ERIK'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS.

SO I'LL JUST GO OVER THOSE VERY, VERY BRIEFLY.

ERIK WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO.

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY IN 1994 AS A BUDGET ANALYST.

IN 2006 HE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

AND IN 2011, SHERYL APPOINTED HIM AS A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

HE'S CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT, AND OUR 311 CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THESE AREAS REPRESENT 862 MILLION OF OUR $2.8 BILLION BUDGET FOR FY2019.

AND THAT REPRESENTS ROUGHLY 6,000 POSITIONS OF OUR 12,374

[00:45:02]

CITY EMPLOYEES.

THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT ERIK WENT TO CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY HIS MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION, AND GOT HIS EDUCATION AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY.

SO ONCE AGAIN, JUST A REAL QUICK OVERVIEW OF HIS QUALIFICATIONS.

WE'LL GET REAL QUICKLY INTO THE CONTRACT TERMS. CONSISTENT WITH PROP B, ERIK IS -- THERE'S NO TERM, BUT THE CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY SAYS HE CAN NOT SERVE AS CITY MANAGER FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS.

ALSO CONSISTENT WITH PROPOSITION B, HIS BASE SALARY HAS BEEN SET AT $312,000.

THERE IS A PERFORMANCE REVIEW THAT'S INCORPORATED INTO THE CONTRACT, A YEARLY PERFORMANCE REVIEW THAT THE COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT.

THE BENEFITS IN THE CONTRACT ARE CONSISTENT WITH EXECUTIVE BENEFITS THAT ARE AUDIO] AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

IN CONTRACT TERMS, WE HAVE TERMINATION PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO TERMINATE WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE THOSE INCIDENTS INCLUDE AN ACT OF MORAL TURPITUDE, VIOLATION OF A CRIME, DERELICTION OF DUTY THAT LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT HARM TO THE CITY .

THERE'S ALSO A PROVISION FOR SEVERANCE PAY THAT'S TRIGGERED IF THE COUNCIL TERMINATES WITHOUT CAUSE.

THAT SEVERANCE PAY IS NOT TRIGGERED IF THERE'S A TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OR THERE'S A COMPLETION OF THE EIGHT YEARS, OR THERE'S A VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION.

FINALLY, UNDER THE BENEFITS, WE HAVE ACCRUED LEAVE, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TEXAS RETIREMENT, HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, CAR AND PHONE ALLOWANCE, AND ALLOWANCE FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ERIK TAKING THE ROLE OF CITY MANAGER.

AND THAT COMPLETES THE PRESENTATION, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANDY.

WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO. 4.

I'LL CALL HIM NOW.

JACK FINGER.

>> MR. MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.

WELL, MR. WALSH, YOU MADE THE BIG TIME.

YES.

I ACTUALLY CONGRATULATE YOU, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR PERFORMANCE AS THE MANAGER OF A CITY, THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

A MILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE.

I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION IS YOU WERE TAUGHT RIGHT FROM WRONG.

YOU WENT TO SCHOOLS THAT TAUGHT YOU SOMETHING ABOUT ETHICS, MORALITY, AND SO FORTH THERE.

WHEN THE TIME COMES AND PUSH COMES TO SHOVE AND YOU HAVE YOUR BOSSES HERE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THEY SUBMIT SOMETHING TO YOU THAT REALLY DOESN'T PASS THE SMELL TEST, WHAT WILL YOU DO? WILL YOU SAY YES OR WILL YOU SAY NO? WILL YOU TAKE THE STAND THAT YOU WERE DESTINED TO TAKE THROUGHOUT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE? I MEAN, IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU KNOW IS DOWNRIGHT UNETHICAL, IMMORAL, OR ANY EVIL, WHAT WILL YOU DO? IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU DO TAKE THAT STAND INSTEAD OF JUST LETTING BUSINESS FLOW AS USUAL.

WE'VE HAD TOO MUCH OF THAT FOR TOO MANY YEARS AROUND HERE.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR PERFORMANCE HERE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

AT THIS TIME I'LL RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY REALLY DESCRIBING WHAT IS THE SITUATION IN WHICH WE ALL GET TO PARTAKE IN VOTING ON THE NEXT CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

IT IS HISTORIC IN MANY WAYS.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ONLY HAD, TO THIS POINT, 20 CITY MANAGERS.

AND ACTUALLY, ERIK, YOU WOULD BE THE 20TH IF YOU ARE VOTED ON HERE TODAY.

SO THERE'S A REASON AUDIO] OR IF I WAS TRYING TO DO THE MATH CORRECTLY, ERIK HAS BEEN IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR ABOUT 24 YEARS.

THIS IS PROBABLY YOUR AUDIO], ABOUT 45 MEETINGS A YEAR

[00:50:02]

FOR 24 YEARS.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST MEETING OR, YOU KNOW, YOUR THOUSANDTH MEETING, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING WE DO UP HERE EMANATES FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEADER THAT WE HAVE.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS, ERIK, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE THE MICROPHONE, AS YOU HAVE DONE MANY TIMES.

AS THE LONGEST-SERVING COUNCIL MEMBER I HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE YOU AS A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AND I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE AS SEEN YOU AS A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

YOU WERE PROMOTED IN 2006 TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT NEW, ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT BE SEEING MORE OF YOU RECENTLY IN NEWSPAPERS OR ON TELEVISION.

YOU'RE SAN ANTONIO THROUGH AND THROUGH, THROUGH YOUR EDUCATION AND THROUGH YOUR LOVELY PARENTS, WHO ARE JOINING US HERE TODAY.

SO BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION, WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS TO INTRODUCE SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE WITH US HERE ON THE FIRST ROW, WHO I THINK HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH YOUR BIOGRAPHY AND YOUR RESUME AND YOUR EXPERIENCE TO THIS POINT.

BECAUSE I THINK THE ONLY PERSON I'VE GOT ON HERE WITH A NAME, BECAUSE THE OTHER FOLKS I WANT YOU TO NAME AS WELL FOR US, IS SANDRA, YOUR LOVELY WIFE, WHO I THINK IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

IF YOU WILL DO US A FAVOR AND INTRODUCE US TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF ERIK WALSH BY INTRODUCING US TO YOUR FAMILY.

>> IT'S A GREAT TURNOUT.

LET ME START OFF AT THE END, MY WIFE, SANDRA, MY SON, BRENDON.

MY DAUGHTER, CLAIRE.

MY WONDERFUL IN-LAWS, GEORGE AND LILLIAN KIELBASA.

MY BROTHER, BRIAN.

MY MOM AND DAD.

I'VE GOT A WHOLE SERIES OF COUSINS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES.

I'VE GOT THE FAMILY -- I'LL CALL HIM THE FAMILY PRIEST, BECAUSE HE'S MARRIED ALL OF US AND BAPTIZED ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

A LONG-TIME FAMILY FRIEND, FATHER BILL COLLINS.

MY SISTER-IN-LAW, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW.

IT'S A BIG DAY AND I'M GLAD THEY'RE HERE.

>> SALDANA: LET ME JUST REFLECT FOR A SECOND HERE, ERIK.

IF ANYONE WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WHETHER YOU WERE EITHER LATINO OR IRISH, THEY WOULD JUST TAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROW IS YOUR FAMILY, WHO IS HERE FROM SAN ANTONIO AND BEYOND.

LET ME JUST DO A QUICK LITTLE BIO RECAP HERE.

ERIK, YOU HAVE BEEN, OF COURSE, CITY MANAGER FOR 24 YEARS.

THE LAST EIGHT OF WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AND YOU'VE ALSO BEEN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SINCE 2006.

YOU HAVE OVERSEEN METRO HEALTH, THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 311 CUSTOMER SERVICE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, THE BUDGET OFFICE.

AND I SAY ALL THAT TO ENCOMPASS THE FACT THAT WE'VE SELECTED YOU AS OUR FINALIST, BUT I WANT TO ALSO PAINT A BIGGER PICTURE, WHICH IS IN REGARD TO ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WE HAVE HAD WHO APPLIED.

WE HAVE INTERVIEWED EIGHT.

AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WE INTERVIEWED ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY AS FOLKS THAT WOULD WORK FOR YOU.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE YOU INTERVIEW, BUT ALSO SEE THE REST OF THE FOLKS INTERVIEW, THAT WE HAVE A WEALTH OF TALENT ON THE BENCH IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE CITY MANAGER SHERYL SCULLEY FOR HER 13 YEARS IN HELPING TO BUILD THIS BENCH OF STRONG PLAYERS, BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION DECIDING BETWEEN ALL OF THE QUALITY CANDIDATES.

AND YOU, ERIK, SURFACED TO THE TOP AS NOT JUST YOUR INTERVIEW OR YOUR RESUME, BUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'VE HAD WORKING WITH EACH ONE OF US, THE MAYOR INCLUDED, WHEN HE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE.

SO WITH THAT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS I'D LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 4, APPOINTING ERIK WALSH AS THE 20TH CITY MANAGER AS OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

I THINK I HEARD A SECOND.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE TWO MORE COMMENTS, IF I CAN.

ERIK, YOU JOINED US LAST NIGHT FOR THE DISTRICT 4 GATHERING WITH SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS.

AND WE HAD TWO VERY ASTUTE QUESTIONS.

ONE OF WHICH I THOUGHT WAS, AS MY DISTRICT LEADERSHIP WILL DO EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, THEY'LL SURPRISE ME.

AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, MR. WALSH, TELL US WHY -- OR TELL US HOW, IF YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB, I KNOW ABOUT IT OR WHEN YOU'RE DOING A BAD JOB I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND THE QUESTION WAS REALLY KIND OF WHY CAN'T I JUST GO UP AND DO YOUR JOB, WHICH IS WHAT ONE OF THE RESIDENTS SAID.

AND YOU REALLY DESCRIBED THE BEST KIND OF WORK THAT OUR CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN UNDERTAKING AND THAT YOU WILL UNDERTAKE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IF YOU ARE SO LUCKY, WHICH IS WE MAY NOT EVER HEAR FROM YOU.

THE COMMUNITY MAY NOT EVER KNOW WHAT ERIK WALSH OR WHAT CITY MANAGER SCULLEY HAS DONE BEHIND THE SCENES, BECAUSE YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TRASH IS PICKED UP ON TIME.

THAT PARKS ARE CLEAN, THAT

[00:55:01]

LIBRARIES ARE OPEN, THAT THE POLICE RESPOND WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME.

SAME WITH FIRE.

AND IF THOSE THINGS ARE WORKING, WE NEVER HAVE TO HEAR OF YOU OR YOUR WORK.

BUT IT'S WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING THAT IT IS ON THE 10:00 OR THE 9:00 NEWS.

OR IT IS IN THE NEWSPAPER.

AND SO THEY ASKED A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, WHICH IS WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU THAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM ANYBODY ELSE WHO APPLIED FOR THIS JOB OR IS TAKING IT ON? AND YOUR RESPONSE WAS I WILL WORK HARDER THAN ANYONE ELSE FOR THIS POSITION.

AND YOU PROVIDED EVIDENCE AS A DATA POINT TO US LAST NIGHT.

YOU TOLD US RIGHT BEFORE YOU WALKED IN YOU WERE ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR WIFE, WHO WAS DESCRIBING YOUR -- WHAT YOU WERE MISSING, WHICH WAS YOUR DAUGHTER'S BASKETBALL GAME WHERE SHE SCORED A WINNING POINT.

>> BUZZER BEATER.

IT WAS A BUZZER BEATER.

>> SALDANA: AND TO SANDRA AND TO YOUR TWO CHILDREN, YOU'RE GOING TO LIKELY LIVE OUT THAT PROMISE TO WORK HARDER THAN ANYONE ELSE WOULD AT THIS POSITION.

AND SO SANDRA AND TO THE FAMILY, WE HOPE YOU'LL FORGIVE THIS CITY AND THIS COUNCIL, BECAUSE IT WILL CALL ON ERIK IN WAYS THAT ONLY MIKE SCULLEY COULD DESCRIBE TO YOU.

[LAUGHTER] SO WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD YOUR APPLICATION, ERIK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

AND I FORGOT -- AND I THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE WONDERFUL FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE HERE, ERIK.

IT'S A SHOW OF STRENGTH TO SEE A PUBLIC SERVANT STAND WITH THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY BEHIND YOU.

SO I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THE THINGS THAT I DO WANT TO REFLECT ON TODAY, THOUGH, ARE VERY LARGE.

THIS IS A WEIGHTY MOMENT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN ALMOST TWO DECADES.

AND IT IS A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT FOR SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY.

AND ALMOST CERTAINLY THE SIGNATURE DECISION THAT WE WILL BE MAKING AS A CITY COUNCIL.

APPOINTING A CITY MANAGER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL CAN FACE, AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.

HASN'T HAPPENED IN THE LAST 13 YEARS.

IN FACT, ERIK WALSH WILL BE THE ONLY -- ONLY THE 20TH CITY MANAGER IN SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY.

AS WE TAKE MEASURE OF THE HISTORIC GRAVITY OF THIS MOMENT, I AM PROUD OF MY CITY COLLEAGUES, MY CITY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THIS RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE PROFESSIONAL APPROACH THAT IT MERITED, DEMONSTRATED A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DECISION, AND THEY DEMONSTRATED THE WILLINGNESS AND DETERMINATION TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.

AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE GREAT WORK OF MANY PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND THAT INCLUDES OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HERE AT THE CITY, AS WELL AS OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ANDY SEGOVIA AND LIZ.

THEY ENSURED THAT THE PROCESS WENT VERY WELL PROFESSIONALLY, AND WE ADHERED TO BEST PRACTICES.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, SOME OF WHOM ARE STANDING IN THE BACK, ESPECIALLY VICTORIA GONZALES AND EVA, WHO HELPED ORCHESTRATE THE LISTENING TOUR THAT WAS PRETTY DAUNTING ON YOU, I KNOW, ERIK .

I SAID FROM THE OUTSET THAT I WANTED THIS PROCESS TO BE ONE THAT MET THE STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND TRANSPARENCY THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS, AND THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DECISION REQUIRES.

AND I WANTED THIS PROCESS TO SHOW A STRONG FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE SUCCEEDED.

THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST OPEN CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT PROCESS EVER THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, ERIK'S TEAM, AND GPA.

AND THE PROPOSED FINALIST, AS ERIK, HAS BEEN MEETING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, LISTENING TO THEIR CONCERNS, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS SINCE WE NAMED HIM THE PROPOSED FINALIST TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND I KNOW HE PLANS TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.

IT WAS THE RIGHT START TO THIS IMPORTANT TRANSITION.

MY COLLEAGUES AND I SELECTED ERIK WALSH FROM AN INCREDIBLY STRONG GROUP OF CANDIDATES.

SHERYL SCULLEY PUT TOGETHER THE STRONGEST LEADERSHIP TEAM IN THE NATION AND IT WASN'T AN EASY TASK.

WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT SEVERAL OF THEM WERE INTERESTED IN THE CITY MANAGER POSITION.

IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION AND I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT ERIK IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB.

HE IS A PROFESSIONAL WITH A COOL AND CALM DEMEANOR.

HE IS IN TOTAL COMMAND OF THE MUNICIPAL ISSUES HE WILL FACE.

HE HAS ADVANCED TO DEPUTY CITY MANAGER DURING HIS 24 YEARS WITH THE CITY, DEMONSTRATING STRONG LEADERSHIP ABILITIES WHILE RISING THROUGH THE RANKS.

HIS SKILL AND EXPERIENCE WILL ENABLE HIM TO SERVE THE CITY WELL.

SAN ANTONIO IS ON A ROLL.

WE HEARD THAT BEFORE.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO LIVE AND INVEST HERE.

AND ERIK WALSH WILL BE A CITY MANAGER WHO WILL ENSURE THAT THIS CITY'S MOMENTUM WILL KEEP GOING.

ERIK, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU PERSONALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE BY YOUR SIDE ON SOME VERY DIFFICULT OCCASIONS.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE YEARS TO COME.

CONGRATULATIONS, ERIK.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: ERIK, I HATE

[01:00:01]

STARTING MY COMMENTS WITH DISAGREEMENTS, BUT I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH ANDY SEGOVIA.

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION IS NOT THAT YOU WENT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL YOU WENT TO.

IT'S WHERE YOU WENT TO COLLEGE.

CAN YOU TELL US WHERE THAT WAS, PLEASE?

>> TRINITY UNIVERSITY.

ANDY'S JADED.

>> PELAEZ: BUT HE COULDN'T GET INTO TRINITY LIKE YOU AND I COULD.

[LAUGHTER] ERIK, THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHO OUGHT TO BE THE BOSS IS A LOT LIKE ASKING WHO OUGHT TO BE THE TENOR IN A QUARTET.

OBVIOUSLY THAT CANDIDATE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE PERSON WHO CAN SING THE TENOR.

AND YOU'RE THAT GUY, RIGHT? IT'S NOT UP FOR DEBATE THAT YOU HAVE THE TEMPERAMENT, THE QUALIFICATIONS, THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO DO THIS JOB.

YOU'RE THE TENOR.

AND ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE COMING IN TO FILL SOME REALLY BIG SHOES.

YOU KNOW, SHERYL, OUR MANAGER, I'D GO INTO BATTLE WITH SHERYL ANY TIME.

AND IF WORLD WAR III EVER BROKE OUT OR ZOMBIES TOOK OVER, I WOULD BE LOOKING TO SHERYL.

SHERYL HAS FACED CHALLENGES WITH US COURAGE.

SHE HAS NEVER EVER, YOU KNOW, BEEN THE KIND OF PERSON WHO SHIES AWAY FROM DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS OR REALLY SCARY CHALLENGES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I ADMIRE ABOUT YOU TOO.

AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE EVER GO INTO BATTLE AND IF WE NEED DIFFICULT THINGS DONE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.

AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT SHERYL'S VERY GOOD AT, AND I'VE ADMIRED PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, IS SHE SOMEHOW MANAGES TO INSPIRE 12,000 PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US.

WHO CALL THEMSELVES CITY OF SAN ANTONIO STAFFERS.

THAT MIGHT BE THE HARDEST JOB OF THEM ALL.

AND I'VE SEEN YOU AND YOUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU INSPIRE THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND OFTENTIMES THE WAY THAT YOU DO THAT, ERIK, IS BY GETTING OUT OF THE WAY.

AND I'VE ADMIRED THAT VERY MUCH ABOUT YOU, WHICH IS WHY I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PERFECT FOR THIS JOB BECAUSE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE IS TO SORT OF POINT OUT WHAT THE MISSION IS, SET THE PARAMETERS, AND THEN JUST GET OUT OF THE WAY AND WATCH YOUR TEAM DO IT.

AND EVEN EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU DOING THAT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE 12,000 PEOPLE.

SO I HAVE TWO REQUESTS.

ONE, MY FIRST REQUEST, IS WIN A LOT.

WIN.

AND, TWO, MY SECOND REQUEST IS DO ME A FAVOR AND CALL MY MOM.

SHE'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S TRYING TO GET YOU TO CALL HER BACK.

SHE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER.

SO SHE'S LITERALLY WATCHING US RIGHT NOW AND INSISTED THAT I INCLUDE THAT.

AND SO HELP A BROTHER OUT AND CALL MY MOM, WILL YOU?

>> OKAY.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

ERIK, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU UP HERE.

LET ME TELL YOU, ALL THE INTERVIEWEES DID A GREAT JOB, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE SIX HERE FROM THIS CITY, WE DID INTERVIEW THE TWO FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE HAD WINNERS OUT OF THOSE SIX PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOURSELF, THAT CAME TO THE INTERVIEWS.

SO I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED.

IT WASN'T THAT WE WERE SURPRISED.

WE WORK WITH Y'ALL EVERY DAY AND WE KNOW THE QUALITIES THAT Y'ALL ALL POSSESS.

AND THAT'S WHAT MADE IT TOUGH.

THAT'S WHAT MADE IT TOUGH.

BUT WE DID HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

AND YOU WERE SELECTED.

YOU'RE BEING PROPOSED.

WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.

AFTER THAT VOTE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVEN THE REIGNS TO THE CITY.

YOUR LEADERSHIP QUALITIES ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT , AND IT'S THOSE LEADERSHIP QUALITIES WHERE A BIG PART OF, TO ME, ON GETTING YOU TO THIS POINT.

AND I'M PROUD OF YOU, AS YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IS PROUD OF YOU AT THIS MOMENT.

AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU MORE.

AND MORE CLOSELY HERE IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE WILL MAKE THINGS WORK AND THIS CITY WILL SUCCEED.

MY FAITH IS IN YOU.

PRAYERS ARE FOR YOU.

AND WE'LL MARCH ON TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, ERIK.

[01:05:02]

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

ERIK, I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TACKLED A LOT OF TOUGH ISSUES.

AND YOU SAID SOMETHING A WHILE BACK THAT I REALLY TOOK TO HEART THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED TODAY, AND THAT'S YOU'RE NOT THE GUY THAT'S USUALLY WITH THE GOOD NEWS OR AT THE RIBBON CUTTINGS.

YOU'RE THE GUY THAT OFTENTIMES HAS TO DELIVER THE HARD NEWS, DEAL WITH THE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

AND WHILE I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOME GREAT STORIES ABOUT THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE RIDE SHARE AND HOW CREATIVE THAT WHOLE PROCESS WAS.

AND, BY THE WAY, I EXPECT TO HAVE ANOTHER WHATABURGER WITH YOU IN CELEBRATION AFTER THIS, AS BECOME OUR TRADITION.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, THERE WAS THE TRAGEDY AT THE WEDGWOOD FIRE.

AND I GOT THAT CALL FROM YOU.

AND THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT YOU HANDLED IT MASTERFULLY.

LIVES WERE SAVED BECAUSE OF IT.

OF COURSE, WE WERE THANKFUL FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER.

BUT ALL OF THAT WAS LED BY YOU.

AT THE HEART OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN OUR CITY AND THAT LIVES ARE AT STAKE SOMETIMES.

AND THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE, OTHERWISE THOSE LIVES COULD BE LOST.

A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER I REMEMBER BEING AT HOME ON A SUNDAY NIGHT.

I THINK IT WAS AFTER 10:00 ALREADY, AND I GET A CALL FROM YOU.

I'M LIKE, WHY AM I GETTING A CALL FROM ERIK WALSH AT 10:00 AT NIGHT? AND YOU ASKED IF I WAS OKAY.

AND I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU SAID, DO ME A FAVOR.

GO OUTSIDE.

I WANT TO CHECK BECAUSE WE HAD AN INCIDENT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT WAS A TORNADO THAT HIT.

IT WAS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE INCREDIBLE EFFORT THE CITY PUT TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES, TO COORDINATE, TO SHOW, TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT A WELL-RUN CITY DOES FOR PEOPLE.

AND WHAT IT REALLY MEANS.

PEOPLE ALMOST NEVER REALLY SEE THAT.

THEY HAVE COME TO EXPECT IT, BUT THAT COMES FROM A LOT OF HARD WORK.

THAT COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BUILT THAT RESPECT, COMMANDS THAT LEADERSHIP AND GETS PEOPLE ON THE JOB.

GETS THEM MOVING.

YOU COORDINATE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

NOT JUST FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE HANDLE SOME OF THESE IMPORTANT RESPONSES.

I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW YOU'RE GOING TO TACKLE THIS JOB.

YOU'RE GOING TO TACKLE IT THE SAME WAY.

CERTAINLY I DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO SOME OF THOSE UNFORTUNATE CALLS THAT I KNOW ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE INCREDIBLE RESPONSE I KNOW YOU WILL COORDINATE.

WITH THAT, JUST KNOW THAT I SPECIFICALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CREATIVITY, THAT THOUGHTFULNESS, AND THAT RESPONSIVENESS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

LET'S GET THIS SOLVED.

AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO IT.

YOU GOT MY VOTE.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILMAN HALL.

>> HALL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER THAT WAS HERE 13 YEARS AGO WHEN WE SELECTED SHERYL SCULLEY, I WOULD LIKE TO START MY COMMENTS BY THANKING YOU, SHERYL, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.

YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BOTH THEN AND NOW.

CITY MANAGEMENT AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BOTH THEN AND NOW.

BUT I STILL SAY, TO THIS DAY, THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS THAT WE EVER MADE.

PART OF YOUR -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN THESE 13 YEARS.

BUT I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WAS YOU HAVE TRANSFORMED A CITY TO A POINT WHERE THE COUNCIL WAS BENT ON NOT SELECTING SOMEBODY INTERNALLY.

TO ONE WHERE OUR TOP CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN THE ONES THAT ARE INTERNAL CANDIDATES.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT BELIEVED

[01:10:01]

AT THAT POINT, I THOUGHT WE HAD AT LEAST TWO INTERNAL CANDIDATES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS CITY MANAGER.

JEANETTE BURLEY WAS ONE OF THOSE AND ERIK WALSH WAS THE OTHER.

BUT COUNCIL AT THAT POINT WAS NOT INTERESTED IN SELECTING SOMEBODY INTERNAL.

THEY WANTED SOMEBODY EXTERNAL TO COME IN AND TRANSFORM THE CITY, AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT.

TO THE POINT I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT OUR TOP CANDIDATES NOW HAVE BEEN ALL INTERNAL.

AND WE HAVE A COUNCIL THAT HAS MOVED FROM BEING BENT ON NOT SELECTING SOMEBODY INTERNET TO BEING ONE THAT IS BENT ON SELECTING SOMEBODY INTERNAL.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THAT, FOR ME, OF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THAT'S PROBABLY YOUR BIGGEST.

YOU WERE THE GOLD STANDARD THEN AND I THINK YOU'RE THE GOLD STANDARD NOW.

BUT YOU'VE ALSO CREATED THE GOLD STANDARD IN THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM HERE.

WHEN PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY LOOK AT CITY MANAGERS, THEY LOOK TOWARDS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR LEGACY.

I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT WERE THERE, PARTICULARLY THE INTERNAL CANDIDATES, WE HAVE SOME GREAT CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM MEMBERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND SO WHETHER IT BE CARLOS, WHETHER IT BE LORI OR PETER OR ROD, OR WHETHER IT BE MARIA, WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU.

TO MARIA IN PARTICULAR, AND I'VE TOLD YOU THIS, AND I'LL SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU THAT I TOLD ERIK 13 YEARS AGO.

AND THAT IS I THOUGHT ERIK -- I THOUGHT HE WAS READY.

BUT I ALSO BELIEVED THAT TIME HAS HELPED HIM.

13 YEARS HAS DONE NOTHING BUT IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN HIS ABILITY.

I TOLD MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL THAT MARIA, I THINK YOU'RE READY.

I THINK YOU'RE READY TODAY.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE NEXT FEW YEARS TIME WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN AND BENEFIT YOU OVER THE YEARS.

ERIK HAD THE GREAT MENTORSHIP AND DIRECTION AND INSTRUCTION FROM SHERYL THESE LAST 13 YEARS.

MARIA, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO WELL LONG TERM, AND I THINK YOU'RE A CITY MANAGER.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE DIRECTION, MENTORSHIP, AND INSTRUCTION FROM ERIK AND OTHERS.

SO THEN TO ERIK, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN OF YOURS EVER SINCE I WAS ON COUNCIL.

WHEN WE WERE ON COUNCIL BACK THEN, YOU AND JALEN IN PARTICULAR, YOU TOOK ON THE HARDEST ISSUES.

AND YOU MADE THOSE HARD ISSUES VERY SIMPLE, YOU SOLVED THEM, AND YOU GOT THE JOB DONE.

THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS APPRECIATED ABOUT YOU IS YOU FIGURED OUT WHAT WE NEEDED AS A COUNCIL, WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU FIGURE IT OUT AND YOU GET IT DONE.

AND YOU'VE DONE THAT.

YOU DID THAT THEN.

YOU HAVE DONE THAT FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GET THE JOB DONE AS WELL.

AND THEN TO THE COUNCIL IN GENERAL, I KNOW WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SO FORTH.

I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

WE MAY NOT GET THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I KNOW AUDIO] WILL PULL THIS CITY TOGETHER TO GET THE JOB DONE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR OUR CITY SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROGRESS AND MOVE A UNITED FORMAT GOING FORWARD.

SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT ERIK AS WELL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN HALL.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY JUST THANKING ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.

AND PARTICULARLY, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I REALLY WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO OUR CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM, THE SIX OF YOU WHO ALL STEPPED FORWARD AND SAID I WOULD BE HONORED TO DO THIS JOB.

AND I BELIEVE ALL OF THOSE CANDIDATES HAVE GREAT SKILLS AND POTENTIAL FOR DOING THIS.

AND IT'S REALLY A CREDIT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT TEAM AND LEADERSHIP TEAM IN THIS CITY.

AND THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT STRUCK ME WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL.

AND I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID, THAT WE NEED TO THANK SHERYL FOR DEVELOPING THIS TEAM OVER THE YEARS THAT SHE'S BEEN THE LEADER.

I HOPE THIS TEAM CONTINUES TO WORK TOGETHER AND WORK WELL TOGETHER.

IT'S FOR THE CITY AND IT'S FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

[01:15:01]

ERIK, I THINK YOU'VE EARNED THIS JOB.

AND I'VE WORKED WITH YOU AND HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE TO VIEW HOW YOU WORK WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES, HOW YOU WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WITH THEIR STAFF, AND HOW YOU WORK WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND I HAVE THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS OUR NEW CITY MANAGER.

BUT I WANT TO CAUTION YOU.

IN THIS JOB THERE'S NO HONEYMOON.

AND I, AND I'M SURE THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL CHALLENGE YOU AND EXPECT YOUR COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION ON A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO COME UP.

BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I OFFER YOU MY SINCERE AND HONEST COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION ON ALL THOSE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.

AND YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE MY SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ERIK, JUST REAL QUICK.

VERY PROUD OF YOU, THE WAY YOU CAME OUT TO THE DISTRICT 6 COMMUNITY AND ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION PUT TO YOU.

YOU WERE A CANDIDATE, HONEST, STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.

AND THE RESIDENTS, TO A T, EXPECTED THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE AS YOU INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY I'M BLESSED TO LEAD.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AGAIN, ECHO EVERY COMMENT THAT'S COMING DOWN THE LINE HERE.

YOU EARNED THIS JOB.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND YOU FOR TEN YEARS ON THE STAFF SIDE AND AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL NOW.

AND I'M JUST HONORED AND PROUD TO MAKE THIS VOTE TODAY, AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS OF YOUR SERVICE, HOPEFULLY.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, THE WORK YOU'RE GOING TO DO, I THINK, IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE, AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND HELPING KEEP ME STRAIGHT.

YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS OFTEN.

SOME DAYS IT WAS YOU THAT STOOD THERE WITH ME AND ANSWERED THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND HELPED ME THROUGH WHAT WAS -- WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT JUMPING RIGHT IN.

WHEN YOU GET ELECTED, YOU JUMP RIGHT INTO IT.

FOR ALL THE WORK I HAVE SEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE WHEN I GOT INTO THE JOB, YOU WERE ASSIGNED AS MY LIAISON.

IT WAS A GOOD FIT FOR ME, AND YOU SAVED ME ON MANY A DAY AND YOU WORKED WITH ME.

IT'S A TRUE BLESSING FOR YOUR FAMILY.

I KNOW MOM AND THE ENTIRE WALSH CREW -- I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TURN OUT AT THE DISTRICT 6 EVENT, BUT IT WAS ONLY THAT HIGH, I THINK, BECAUSE IT WAS THE WALSH FAMILY THAT SHOWED UP.

SEVERAL OF THEM ARE DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS.

I'M SURE I HAVE TO BE ON EXTRA SPECIAL BEHAVIOR, BUT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT.

TO YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN, THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE.

EVERY ONE OF US UP HERE KNOWS WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND, AND IT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT EASY.

AND WHEN YOU'RE MISSING YOUR DAUGHTER'S GAME, YOU KNOW, I MISSED MY SON'S STUFF AND HIS CUB SCOUT STUFF IT HURTS.

YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

SO WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING FROM YOUR FAMILY, FROM US, THANK YOU.

IT IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

TO SIT ON THE SIDE OF A PUBLIC SERVANT AND BE THERE.

I KNOW MOM AND YOUR FAMILY ARE BEAMING WITH PRIDE, AS AM I, TO MAKE THIS VOTE TODAY.

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

TODAY WE CAST A VOTE FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO AND FOR THE CHANGE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD IN MAKING MY VOTE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ERIK WALSH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ERIK, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS APPOINTMENT.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR FAMILY.

YOU MUST BE EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD.

THIS IS REALLY JUST AN ABSOLUTE CAREER HIGH POINT FOR MR. WALSH.

CLAIRE, I'M SORRY THAT YOUR DAD MISSED YOUR SHOT THE OTHER NIGHT.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HERE.

I DO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR LEADING THE HIRING PROCESS.

I THINK IT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, ANDY AND LIZ.

I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK CITY MANAGER SHERYL SCULLEY FOR PUTTING US AT THIS POINT WHERE WE COULD MOVE ON.

AND WE JUST HAD A WHOLE SLATE OF CANDIDATES WE COULD HAVE CHOSEN FROM AND JUST BEEN JUST FINE.

BUT, ERIK, I THINK YOU WERE CLEARLY ONE AT THE TOP.

YOU AND MARIA, WHO MOVED FORWARD TO THE SECOND ROUND OF INTERVIEWS, BOTH I FELT REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHERE THE CITY WAS RIGHT NOW.

THE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE NEEDED TO FACE, AND BOTH OF YOU HAVE WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

MARIA, I HOPE YOU'LL STILL BE WITH US IN A FEW YEARS WHEN THESE EIGHT YEARS ARE GONE.

NOT THAT I DON'T WANT THEM TO GO BY QUICKLY, ERIK.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

I ALSO -- I REALIZE THAT WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL IS NOT THE ONLY PART OF YOUR JOB.

LIKE YOU SAID, YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH A 12,000 PERSON ORGANIZATION.

YOU HAVE TO LEAD THEM.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO WORK WITH

[01:20:01]

THE COMMUNITY.

OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS WE'VE SEEN YOU INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AT BEING APPROACHABLE, VERY HONEST, VERY CANDID, STRAIGHT SHOOTER.

AND THEY REALLY RESPECT THAT.

WHEN YOU CAME OUT TO THE DISTRICT 7 FIELD OFFICES AND MET WITH THE LEADERSHIP THERE, I THINK JUST THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

AND THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU TAKE THE HELM.

I ALSO MENTIONED TO YOU THAT NIGHT THAT I MADE SOME CALLS TO SOME OF YOUR FORMER AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HAVING A LEADER THAT CAN INSPIRE THEM AND THAT CAN LOOK UP TO IS VERY IMPORTANT.

ERIK, I HEARD NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT YOU.

AND THERE ARE FOLKS ALL OVER THIS AGENCY THAT ARE VERY EXCITED FOR YOU TO TAKE THE LEAD.

AND THEY WILL BE BEHIND YOU.

AND JUST ONE LAST POINT IS IT TAKES A VERY SPECIAL PERSON TO BE A DEDICATED LIFE-LONG GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.

I'VE WORKED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF GOVERNMENT FOR TEN YEARS BEFORE I CAME TO THE COUNCIL.

AND EVERY SO OFTEN YOU COME ACROSS FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY HAVE REALLY JUST LOST THEIR MOJO.

THEY LOVE THE SECURITY OF THE JOB.

AND YOU NEED TO CONTINUALLY FIND A WAY TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND KEEP THAT INSPIRATION.

ERIK, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN HERE 24 YEARS AT THE SAME AGENCY AND STILL LOVES WHAT HE DOES, FINDS A WAY TO STAY INSPIRED, STAY CREATIVE.

AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE NEED AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ERIK, NO SURPRISE TO US THAT YOU WERE NOT MY FIRST CHOICE FOR THIS JOB.

YOU WERE NOT EVEN MY SECOND CHOICE FOR THIS JOB.

AND THEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE-ON-ONE.

AND THEN I WAS ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED YOU WERE NOT THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS JOB.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE PRIORITIES OF MY DISTRICT, WHICH HAVE BEEN EQUITY, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, YOU ARE NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH.

AND THEN YOU HAD YOUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY AT WEST SIDE PRESIDENT'S MEETING.

IT WAS A VERY SPONTANEOUS MEETING.

IT WAS ALREADY SCHEDULED AND WE ASKED IF YOU COULD JOIN US.

AND SOMEBODY FROM THE AUDIENCE ASKED HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE WEST SIDE.

AND YOU COULDN'T ANSWER.

AND SO THEN WE HAD OUR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, UTSA, ANOTHER DOWNTOWN.

AND I SAW YOUR WHOLE FAMILY THERE.

YOUR PARENTS, YOUR WIFE, YOUR IN-LAWS, YOUR COUSINS, YOUR BROTHERS.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE HE'S NOT SO BAD.

[LAUGHTER] I MEAN, IF HE'S GOING TO BE SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY HE MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING GOOD IN HIS LIFE THAT THEY KEEP SUPPORTING HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND THAT THEY'LL BE WILLING TO COME OUT ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

BUT, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I WAS SCHEDULED OUT OF TOWN THIS LAST WEEKEND.

KEVIN WAS GOING TO BE IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR A CYBER CONFERENCE AND I WAS SCHEDULED TO TAG ALONG WITH HIM.

SO I HAD SOME TIME TO SPEND WITH MY HUSBAND AND THEN I HAD LOTS OF TIME TO SPEND ALONE.

AND I WANDERED THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO THINKING OF HOW OUR CITY FUNCTIONS, THINKING OF THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF OUR CITY, THE DECISION WE MAKE TODAY, WHAT WOULD THEY LOOK LIKE.

AND I CAME UP WITH A LIST OF THINGS I THOUGHT WOULD BE PRIORITIES FOR ME AND FOR THE DISTRICT AND HOW THIS DECISION THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE MAKE TODAY WOULD REALLY IMPACT US FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

AND I HAVE SOME URGENCY TO WORK TOGETHER, GIVEN THE FACT THAT I'M TERM LIMITED IN TWO YEARS.

I HAVE A LONG LIST OF THINGS TO DO.

AND SO AFTER AN ADDITIONAL MEETING, I RECOGNIZED THAT I THINK YOU HAVE ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT 5 DOESN'T GET LEFT BEHIND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE A MAN WHO'S VERY COMMITTED.

A MAN WHO'S HARD WORKING, HONEST, RELIABLE, OPEN-HEARTED, OPEN TO IDEAS.

A MAN OF GREAT REFLECTION.

AND WHO WILL ENSURE THAT EVERY PART OF THIS CITY HAS THE

[01:25:04]

OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.

AND IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE FOR A PERSON TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT THAT YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERY PART OF THE CITY EQUALLY, ESPECIALLY THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND AND PERHAPS GIVE A LITTLE EDGE TOWARDS THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE THAT PERSON.

AND SO IT HAS BEEN WITH SOME REFLECTION AND SOME COMMITMENT ON YOUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND BRING ADVANCEMENTS OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY.

AND I BELIEVE VERY MUCH THAT YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND SO I FEEL VERY EMOTIONAL AS I SEE ALL YOUR FAMILY HERE BEHIND YOU TODAY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY MORE IMPORTANT MISSION IN LIFE THAN TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN.

I THINK THAT THAT IS TRULY THE MAN THAT YOU ARE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE, TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICT 5 IS ON THE TOP LIST OF YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES, ESPECIALLY, TO ISSUES OF EQUITY.

SO I WILL LOOK FORWARD AND VERY PROUDLY SUPPORT YOU, ERIK, TO BE OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK ALL OF THE APPLICANTS WHO PUT FORWARD THEIR NAMES HERE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK SHERYL FOR YOUR STRONG TEAM THAT YOU HAD PUT HERE IN PLACE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH SUCH A GREAT, STRONG TEAM.

AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT DECISION FOR US TODAY.

AND IT'S THANKS TO A STRONG TEAM THAT IT'S MADE IT SUCH A DIFFICULT DECISION.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK SPECIFICALLY SOME OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

FIRST, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, REY, AND COUNCIL MEMBER HALL.

AND, AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES FOR THEIR INSIGHT AND THOUGHTS.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TO HIGHLAND HILLS THIS WEEK.

IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AND THEY ASKED THE QUESTIONS -- AND THANK YOU, ERIK, FOR BEING THERE.

AND IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, FOR BEING VERY FORTHCOMING AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH YOUR ANSWERS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS WANTED TO MAKE SURE ABOUT.

WE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE INTERNAL CANDIDATES, BECAUSE THEY ALL CARE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY CALL HOME.

AND THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER IS CRUCIAL TO OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

AND IT WORKS TO IMPLEMENT COUNCIL POLICY AND DIRECTION.

AND THERE ARE MANY PRIORITIES.

AND LIKE WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, ERIK, YOU KNOW MY CONCERNS THAT I HAVE AND THE PRIORITIES THAT WE LISTED.

AND MY CONCERNS OF THIS PROCESS.

ALSO I HAVE TO SAY YOU KNEW I HAD CONCERNS GOING IN AFTER THE FIRST INTERVIEWS AND THE SECOND INTERVIEWS.

AND MY CONCERNS ARE IS THE INFORMATION IN YOUR BASE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITY.

AND SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR POSITION AND YOUR VISION WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

THE PRIOR HOUR BEFORE THIS ITEM WERE GREAT EXAMPLES OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

WE'RE WELCOMING NEW COMPANIES INTO TOWN.

EXAMPLES OF EXPANSION.

THE MANAGER'S ROLE IN THAT IS TO IMPLEMENT AND DEVELOP AND BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH THE COUNCIL'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES.

IT'S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.

WE HAVE TARGETED INDUSTRIES THAT THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S ACTIONS.

AND THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN FRONT OF US.

THAT'S THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND AN EFFORT THAT I CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL IN ORDER TO

[01:30:05]

>> WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THAT.

MY VISION OF THAT, COUNCILWOMAN, IS TO EXECUTE YOUR DIRECTION.

THAT'S MY VISION, ALL RIGHT? PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A CITY MANAGER'S VISION AND THEN A CITY COUNCIL VISION.

IT'S A SHARED VISION, SO MY PLAN IS TO ATTEMPT AND SUCCEED IN DEVELOPING THIS ORGANIZATION'S, THIS BODY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSITION.

AND THE ISSUE OF EQUITY HAS BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL FOR THE LAST TWO BUDGETS.

AND A LOT OF THAT BEGAN EARLY ON WITH SOME WORK THAT WAS DONE BY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT IT GOES BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THROUGH THE BUDGET THE LAST TWO YEARS A RECOGNITION, AND FRANKLY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT AT EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING I'VE BEEN TO, AND I SUSPECT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, AND THAT'S DIRECTING AND FOCUSING ON AREAS OF TOWN, SERVICES WHERE CERTAIN -- CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE HAD HISTORIES, CHALLENGES OR BACKGROUND, AND MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

AND IT'S THAT BALANCE.

THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE -- I'M GOING TO PROBABLY SPEAKING ON Y'ALL'S BEHALF, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY OF THIS COUNCIL, AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A PRIORITY OF THE NEXT CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF BECAUSE THAT SETS THE TONE.

AND IT'S RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT IN THE PAST.

I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S SENSIBLE, I THINK IT'S A COMPASSIONATE WAY, I THINK AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS THE LARGEST PUBLIC ENTITY IN THIS COUNTY, WE SET THE TONE FOR EVERY OTHER PUBLIC AGENCY.

AND SO I THINK OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR IT AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT YOU AND THE REST OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL EXPECT IT OF ME.

AND I'M COMMITTED TO IT.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, ERIC.

SOME OTHER PRIORITIES ARE -- AND I MENTIONED THESE THE OTHER NIGHT, BUT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN TRANSITION, THE INCLUSIVE GROWTH STRATEGY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW WE DETERMINE WHERE PUBLIC POLICE SUBSTATIONS GO, HOMELESSNESS AND PROPERTY APPRAISALS.

I WANT TO THANK GENERAL QUAS FOR HIS COMMENTS TODAY ABOUT HIS COMMENTS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK, AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE APPLICANTS, BECAUSE YOU CAME PREPARED, YOU WERE ALL -- YOU TOOK THIS PROFESSIONALLY, READY FOR THOSE INTERVIEWS, AND YOU TOOK THEM SERIOUSLY.

AGAIN, FOR THE LOVE OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND THIS MORNING I WAS REFLECTING ABOUT MY DECISION, AND THINKING ABOUT THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER'S, MARIA, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGERS, PETER, AND THE ROLE OF THE CITY MANAGER, AND WHAT CAME TO MIND WAS SCRIPTURE.

AND THIS IS FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 12.

JUST AS A BODY THOUGH ONE HAS MANY PARTS, BUT ALL ITS MANY PARTS FORM ONE BODY.

NOW, IF THE FOOT SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE I AM NOT A HAND, I DO NOT BELONG TO THE BODY, IT WOULD NOT FOR THAT REASON STOP BEING A PART OF THE BODY.

AND IF THE EAR SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE I AM NOT AN EYE, I DO NOT BELONG TO THE BODY, IT WOULD NOT FOR THAT REASON STOP BEING A PART OF THE BODY.

IF THE WHOLE BODY WERE AN EYE, WHERE WOULD THE SENSE OF HEARING BE? IF THE WHOLE BODY WERE AN EAR, WHERE WOULD THE SENSE OF SMELL BE? IF ONE PART SUFFERS, EVERY PART SUFFERS WITH IT.

IF ONE PART IS HONORED, EVERY PART REJOICES WITH IT.

WE ARE A TEAM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE IN TEAMWORK, BECAUSE WE SAT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, ERIC.

AND ERIC, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

SOME OF Y'ALL MAY NOT KNOW THIS, AND HE MAY NOT EVEN REMEMBER THIS, BUT I DO.

I FIRSTMETER RICK IN 1998 WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL AID HERE AT CITY HALL.

AT THE TIME, I ALSO MET PETER AND BEN AND HE HAS WORKED HARD SINCE THEN AND HE CONTINUES TO WORK HARD EVERY DAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR FAMILY FROM -- FAMILY HERE, BECAUSE YOU PROVED THAT YOU ARE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO ME.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE YOUR CONNECTIONS IN THE SOUTH SIDE, TOO.

BUT WHAT I ALSO WANT TO TALK -- SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, ERIK.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE COMMUNICATION, THAT WE CONTINUE THE TEAMWORK, AND THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER.

WE NEED TO BUILD BRIDGES, WE NEED TO BREAK STRONGHOLDS, AND WE NEED TO MOVE INTO THIS NEW ERA TOGETHER WITH YOU AS OUR CITY MANAGER.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

[01:35:02]

>> WALSH: THANK YOU.

THAT'S EVERYONE, ERIK, WHO'S YOUD UP TO SPEAK.

-- CUED UP TO SPEAK.

I THINK YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEK, AND SO HAVE EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW WEIGHTY THIS DECISION IS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOUR IN-LAWS, GEORGE AND ILIANA, TO YOUR PARENTS, JOHN, IRENE, TO YOUR WIFE, SANDRA, YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR SON RIGHT NOW.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAYS AND THE WEEKS AND THE MONTHS AND THE YEARS AHEAD, BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR SON.

ERIK WALSH, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU START ON MARCH 1ST.

SHERYL, YOU'RE NOT DONE.

WE WILL HAVE A MOMENT IN THE SUN FOR YOU, AS WILL THIS WHOLE CITY IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR GREAT WORK AND THE TEAM THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER TO BRING US TO -- TO THIS POINT TODAY.

BUT WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ERIK, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE -- BEFORE WE TAKE OUR VOTE?

>> WALSH: I'LL JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS, MAYOR.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE PRESSED FOR TIME.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MANY OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SAY, BUT I AM EXCITED, HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER, IF APPROVED BY YOU, OF OUR GREAT CITY.

IT IS A CAREER OPPORTUNITY FOR ME PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY IT'S A CAREER ACHIEVEMENT MOMENT.

AND IT'S PERSONAL BECAUSE -- BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS HOME.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIDENCE, AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THE BEST FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND COMMITTED TO WORKING AND TAKING THE DIRECTION FROM THIS MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AND ANY OTHER FUTURE MAYOR AND COUNCILS.

MANY OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE GREAT TEAM WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAVE A GREAT LEADERSHIP IN EXECUTIVE TEAM, AND I AM EXTREMELY FORTUNATE BECAUSE OF THAT.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, THEY ARE ALL DEDICATED LEADERS WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND MANY OF US HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME AND I WILL CERTAINLY NEED THEM, THEY ARE PART OF THAT CORE TEAM AS WE WORK WITH 12 -- OVER 12,000 TEAM MEMBERS.

12,000 TEAM MEMBERS THAT DELIVER SERVICE EVERY DAY AND ARE COMMITTED TO THIS CITY.

I'M EAGER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO OVERSEEING THAT TEAM AND SUPPORTING THEM.

THEY'RE CRITICAL.

SHERYL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

EVERYBODY'S SAID IT AND I'LL SAY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE PLAINLY, THAT YOU'VE DEVELOPED A COHESIVE, PROFESSIONAL TEAM.

THERE ARE PEOPLE -- FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR PROFESSION THAT WOULD QUIT THEIR EXPWROBS -- JOBS AND MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COME WORK FOR SHEFERL.

WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES.

SHE'S PREPARED US, SHE HAS SET THE TONE.

COUNCILMAN HALL'S RIGHT, BACK THEN, I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS A CONTENDER BACK THEN, BUT BACK THEN, I THINK THERE WERE -- IT WAS A DIFFERENT SITUATION AND YOU LOOK TODAY, YOU HAD SIX STRONG CANDIDATES FOR THIS POSITION.

AND THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO SHERYL'S PROFESSIONALISM.

THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO HER MENTORSHIP, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW SHE EXPECTS US TO DO OUR WORK.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY.

THIS IS A FAMILY COMMITMENT, SO I SAID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE SPURS DON'T PLAY BASKETBALL WITHOUT A BACKBOARD, AND I CAN'T DO THIS JOB WITHOUT MY FAMILY.

THEY'RE MY BACKBOARD.

SO, SANDRA, THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE, SUPPORT AND PATIENCE TO GET ME HERE TODAYCH.

I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO NEED THAT GOING FORWARD.

SO I'M READY AND EAGER TO GET TO WORK AND LOOKING FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BUSINESS FEBRUARY AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIDENCE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HOLD ON A MINUTE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DON'T WANT TO BE ANTICLIMACTIC HERE, BUT WE HAVEN'T VOTED HERE, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 4.

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS, ERIKUAL -- ERIK WALSH.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR CURRENT CITY MANAGER SHERYL SCULLEY TO MAKE SOME REMARKS AS SOON AS ERIK GETS BACK TO THE PODIUM.

[01:40:35]

>> SCULLEY: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT ERIK THIS MORNING.

MOST OF YOU KNOW SINCE 2005, TALENT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIES FOR ME AS CITY MANAGER AND FOR OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

ERIK HAS SERVED AS A VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO PROMOTE HIM TWICE.

FIRST IN 2006 TO BECOME AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND THEN IN 2011 TO BECOME DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

NOW, AS YOU KNOW, ERIK HAS A HISTORY AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER, AND IN THE MOVIE "BLINDSIDE" WE CAME TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE, IN PARTICULAR THAT THE LEFT TACKLE'S JOB IS TO PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK.

NOW, IN ERIK MAY HAVE BEEN AN OFFENSIVE GUARD AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY, BUT ON THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM, HE HAS BEEN PROTECTING MY BLINDSIDE SINCE 2005.

AND LIKE EVERY GOOD OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, ERIK IS SMART, QUICK ON HIS FEET, ABLE TO READ THE FIELD WELL, AND PROTECTS THE QUARTERBACK FROM WHAT SHE CAN'T SEE COMING AND TO PROTECT HER BLINDSIDE.

SO TODAY, I AM VERY CONFIDENT IN ERIK'S ABILITY TO SERVE AS QUARTERBACK OF THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM AND KNOW HE WILL CARRY THE CITY ON TO MANY VICTORIES.

SO MAYOR, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME, WE HAVE A GIFT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH ERIK THIS MORNING AS THE CITY'S 20TH CITY MANAGER.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR

[5. Approving the following appointments relating to CPS Energy: [Leticia M. Vacek, City Clerk]]

PATIENCE.

WE DO HAVE ONE MORE ITEM -- WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEM 5.

>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 5 APPROVING THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS TO THE CPS ENERGY.

ITEM 5A IS THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE NOMINATION OF JUANITA JANE MY GONZALEZ BY CPS ENERGY BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO SERVE AS TRUSTEE OF THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF THE CPS ENERGY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A TERM THROUGH JANUARY 31ST,

[01:45:03]

2024.

ITEM B IS THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THAT APPOINTMENT AND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MAYOR RON NIRENBERG, EDWARD L. KELLEY, JOHN T.STEEN, PAULA GOLD-WILLIAMS TO THE SA MANAGER ACQUISITION PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION FOR TERMS THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, 2021, AND THAT OF COURSE INCLUDES JANE GONZALEZ.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.

WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WE'LL TAKE IN NOW.

START WITH JUAN SOLIS.

MR. SOLIS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL BELLDON.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

IT WILL BE HARD TO FOLLOW WHAT WE JUST SAW TODAY.

IT'S AN HONORS AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY.

I WAS REMINDED AS I SAT IN THE AUDIENCE THERE ARE SOME PERRIN YELLS THAT HAPPEN -- PERRIN PERENNIALS, YOU HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE FLAG, AND THEN YOU HAVE JACK FINGER TALK TO Y'ALL.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.

I AM HERE TODAY THE SOUTH CHAMBER TO ENDORSE FOR US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HAVING WE BELIEVE A UNIQUE PERSON SERVE ON THE CPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

JANIE HAS A UNIQUE SET OF TALENTS AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN SHE HAS HONED HER KIDS TO PROPERLY ARTICULATE A VISION, COMPLETE THE TASK AHEAD OF TIME AND UNDER BUDGET.

AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, SHE UNDERSTANDS THE ROLE AS A POLICYMAKER AND HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF GOALS FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF ALL OUR COMMUNITY.

AND LASTLY, AS A MOM AND A BUSINESSWOMAN, SHE'S RAISED CHILDREN, SHE'S MENTORED EMPLOYEES, AND NOW SHE'LL RAISE THE LEVEL OF COMPETENCY, EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING AS A MEMBER OF THE CPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

IT IS TRUE, THAT WHEN ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE AN EQUAL VOICE AT THE TABLE, THAT IT IS THEN THAT OUR COMMUNITY PROGRESSES.

OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AROUND JOBS, AS INNOVATION AND GREEN TECHNOLOGIES BECOME AN IMPLEMENT L PART OF WHAT WE DO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT -- UNDERSTAND THAT THE RETRAINING OF THE CPS WORKFORCE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT -- BE PROTECTED, BE RETRAINED AND BE PREPARED.

BUT WE REST ASSURED, MAYOR, AND YOU SHOULD, TOO, KNOWING THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF JANIE GONZALEZ TODAY ENSURES THAT THE CPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL HAVE A LEADER EXPERIENCED AND FULLY PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF TOMORROW.

FOR THAT, MR. MAYOR, WE'RE HAPPY TO ENDORSE JANE GONZALEZ.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SOLIS.

MICHAEL BELDON, FOLLOWED BY MAYOR MARY DENNIS.

>> MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, BEFORE TALKING ABOUT JANIE GONZALEZ, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIK WALSH AND TO SHERYL FOR -- YOU KNOW, '13'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN UNLUCKY NUMBER.

FOR SAN ANTONIO, 13 WAS A REALLY LUCKY NUMBER TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR THAT LONG.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.

YOU ALL KNOW JANIE'S BACKGROUND, AND SO YOU -- THERE'S NO POINT IN MY BELABORING THAT, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THAT IS IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT REALLY IS THE AMERICAN DREAM.

SOUTH SIDE GIRL, GOES TO COLLEGE, BUILDS A COMPANY, BECOMES AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, DOES A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS AND NOW HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BOARD, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOARDS ON THE CITY.

I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW JANIE ON THE ALAMO FOUNDATIONS BOARD WHERE WE'VE SERVED TOGETHER FOR, ABOUT, GOSH, EIGHT YEARS NOW I THINK.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT JANIE IF SHE SERVES ON THIS BOARD, SEVERAL THINGS WILL BE TRUE.

NUMBER ONE, SHE'S A DATA-DRIVEN PERSON AND INSTITUTION LIKE CPS IS DATA DRIVEN.

SHE WILL BE A HUGE ASSET.

SHE WILL BE THERE, SHE'S ALWAYS THERE.

SHE WILL BE PREPARED, SHE'S ALWAYS PREPARED.

AND SHE WILL BE ENGAGED.

SHE WILL BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THAT BOARD.

MAYBE SOMETIMES TOO ACTIVE, BUT -- [LAUGHTER] -- JANIE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE AND JUST WITH JANIE'S BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING AND SERVING WITH HER ON THE ALAMO COLLEGES FOUNDATION, ONE OF THE THINGS SHE'S ALWAYS REMEMBERED IS WHERE SHE CAME FROM.

SHE'S THE FIRST IN FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE AND SHE HAS

[01:50:01]

ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE BACKER OF THOSE KIDS THAT -- MOST OF THE KIDS AT ALAMO COLLEGES WHO ARE FIRST IN FAMILY.

SO YOU COULD -- YOU WILL DO YOURSELF A GREAT FAVOR BY SELECTING HER FOR THIS BOARD.

I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'RE DOING.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BELDON.

MAYOR MARY DENNIS FOLLOWED BY JANE GONZALEZ.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY A QUICK THANK YOU TO SHERYL SCULLEY.

SHE'S AN AMAZING PERSON AND BEEN A FANTASTIC CITY MANAGER.

AND THANK YOU FOR HOW WHEN MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY, YOU SPENT THE DAY WITH OUR FAMILY.

WE'LL NEVER FORGET THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIK.

BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON OUR NOMINEE FOR THE CPS ENERGY BOARD AND THAT'S MRS. GONZALEZ.

I KNOW YOU'VE READ HER BIO, IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

SHE'S GOT INNOVATIVE IDEAS, I LOVE HER KNOWLEDGE ON CYBERSECURITY, I KNOW THAT THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR CPS ENERGY AND OUR CITY GOING FORWARD.

SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS I SERVE AS A CITIZEN MEMBER OF THE CPS ENERGY PANEL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND GO SPURS GO! AND WELCOME, AGAIN, TO LIVE OAK.

WE'LL BE -- ALL TO COME OUT, SO THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MAYOR DENNIS.

>> RUB IT IN, RUB IT.

IN JANE GONZALEZ FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL DE LA GARZA.

>> HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S BEEN QUITE AN AMAZING MORNING THIS MORNING.

I'M SO GLAD I WAS HERE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF JANIE GONZALEZ.

I BELIEVE THAT WHEN I'VE LOOKED AT HER RESUME, SHE IS PASSIONATE, SHE HAS EXPERIENCE, SHE'S A FILL LAN THROPPIST, SHE DOES A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK ACROSS ALL DIFFERENT SECTORS, INCLUDING EDUCATION, ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.

BUT THE ONE FOR ME, ALL OF YOU KNOW MY PASSION HAS TO DO WITH WE'VE MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITY.

AND CURRENTLY IN OUR CITY, I SIT WITH JANIE ON THE SOUTH SIDE FIRST WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS A DISPARITY THAT DOES EXIST IN REGARDS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITY.

AND SO JANIE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THE EDUCATION CHALLENGES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH SIDE AND ACROSS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE THE MAYOR AND I'M GOING TO SCHAL EVENING CITY COUNT -- CHALLENGE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M GOING TO PRESENT ONE LITTLE SIMPLE THOUGHT FOR YOU GUY, AND I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, WORKING WITH JANIE THROUGH CPS.

CPS, A YEAR AGO, RECEIVED A D ON THEIR REPORT CARD.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE DOLLARS THAT THEY WERE KEEPING HERE LOCALLY WITH THE SWIM BEES WAS VERY POOR.

SO ONE WAY WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE MENTIONED CURRENTLY ABOUT RECRUITMENT.

WE JUST GAVE GRANT MONEY AND INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES TO RELOCATE OUTSIDE OF THE AREA INTO SAN ANTONIO.

WHAT I CHALLENGE US TO SAY IS, DO WE HAVE GYMS IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN? DO WE HAVE LOCAL SWIMBEES, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, COUNCILMAN HALL, ESPECIALLY WITH YOU COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES WHERE I'M SO PROUD OF YOU TALKING AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, THERE IS AN EQUITY DISPARITY THAT EXISTS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT JANIE GONZALEZ, WORKING WITH CPS, ALONG WITH THE SOUTH SIDE FIRST, WE CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES BY LOOKING AT RECRUITMENT EXPANSION WHERE THERE'S A DISPARITY, NOT ALLOCATING THE SAME INCENTIVES THROUGH GRANTS, OPPORTUNITIES, CROSS-COLLABORATION, ALLOWING LOCAL COMPANIES TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL AGENCIES.

SO I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE AND I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO ERIK WALSH.

I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH HIM WHERE HE WAS PUT INTO THE FIRE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.

I SAW HIM AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND A SMALL ENTREPRENEUR, HE PUT 2 FEET INTO IT AND HELPED FIX THE PROBLEM.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. GONZALEZ.

MICHAEL DE LA GARZA?

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

CITY MANAGER SCULLEY AND STAFF, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING AND WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THAT'S JUANITA JANIE MARTINEZ GONZALEZ.

I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER INITIALLY AS A CLIENT OF HERS WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THE FIRST LAST

[01:55:07]

MISSIONEZ FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN THAT BEGAN IN THE EARLY 2000S UNDER ARCHBISHOP FLORES AT THE TIME, AND SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF OUR WEBSITE AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE TIME.

ONE OF THE FEW MEXICANAS, I THINK, THAT REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT TECHNOLOGY AND BRING IT TO THE TABLE AND MAKE IT A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PURSUE.

I ALSO LATER WORKED WITH HER AS A COLLEAGUE ON A PROPOSAL AND THEN ACTUAL WORK FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND IN BOTH INSTANCES WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT JANIE WAS I THINK WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT HER.

JANIE IS AN INTELLIGENT, INQUISITIVE INDIVIDUAL.

JANIE IS AN OPINIONATED INDIVIDUAL, BUT I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT SHE BRINGS HER OPINIONS TO THE TABLE, BUT THEY'RE WELL THOUGHT OUT AND WELL PREPARED.

SHE DOES HER HOMEWORK.

AND WHEN YOU DISAGREE, YOU HAVE ANOTHER THOUGHT, SHE DOESN'T CUT YOU OFF.

SHE DOESN'T DISCREDIT YOUR ALTERNATIVE WAY OF THINKING, SHE TAKES IT INTO CONSIDERATION AND SHE BRINGS IT INTO PLAY WITH HER OWN, AND FROM THAT, DRAWS OTHER CONCLUSIONS THAT MAY ACTUALLY GO COUNTER TO HER ORIGINAL THOUGHT THAT SHE BROUGHT INTO THE MEETING.

THAT, TO ME, IS ALWAYS A SIGN OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S GIVING GREAT THOUGHT AND GREAT CONSIDERATION TO THE INFORMATION AT HAND, AND SOMEONE VERY VALUABLE.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH CPS ENERGY, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MANAGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AND I WAS PRIVY TO THE TRUSTEES THAT SERVED AT THAT TIME.

AND I THINK I'VE GOT A SENSE OF THE DEMEANOR AND THE NOTION OF WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD TO GREAT TRUSTEE, AND I THINK JANIE HAS ALL THOSE CHARACTERISTICS.

SOMEONE WHO'S COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, AS YOU CAN SEE BY HER PHILANTHROPY, HER COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY THE STEM EFFORT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND BE INVOLVED AS VIGOROUSLY AND QUITE FRANKLY AS COMPREHENSIVELY AS SHE HAS BEEN.

AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO -- I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER HER, A SOUTH SIDE GIRL, A PALM HEIGHTS GIRL, SOMEONE WHO I THINK HAS A GREAT AFFINITY AND AN AMENABILITY TO UNDERSTANDING THOSE ISSUES AND BRING THEM TO THE TABLE.

AND LASTLY, TO MR. WALSH, ERIK, SHARON DE LA GARZA AND THE REST OF THE DE LA GARZA FAMILY PASS ON THEIR CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WELL.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, MR. MRS. KIM HARL, FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF JANIE GONZALEZ.

AS THE GENERAL SO ELOQUENTLY PUT IT THIS MORNING THE ABILITY WE HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY TO SPEAK WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, ASK QUESTIONS, LISTEN TO ALL POINTS OF VIEW AND HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION IS A GIFT AND JANIE TRULY EMBODIES THAT GIFT.

HER ULTIMATE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO MAKE OUR CITY STRONGER FOR US AND OUR KIDS.

AS AN SAISD FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER I SERVED WITH JANIE AND I SAW HER COMPASSION FOR EVERY STUDENT.

SHE WAS ALWAYS OPEN TO LISTENING TO DIFFERING OPINIONS IN ORDER TO COME TO THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THE DISTRICT, EDUCATORS AND KIDS.

AS A GREATER CHAMBER BOARD MEMBER WITH JANIE, I WAS INSPIRED WHILE SHE WAS NEVER SCARED TO THOUGHTFULLY SPEAK HER MIND AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS FIRST TO OFFER TO SERVE ON A COMMITTEE OR COLLABORATE WITH A TEAM TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX ISSUES.

SHE ASKS TOUGH, VERY THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND DEMANDS EXCELLENCE, WHICH ALWAYS LED TO THE CREATION OF A BETTER AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT AND PROGRAM.

AS A MOTHER, I'M INSPIRED EVERY DAY AT JANIE'S PASSION AND DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO BEING AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MOM AND A FIERCE FEMALE CEO.

I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER PERSON TO SERVE ON THE CPS ENERGY BOARD.

THANK YOU EACH FOR YOUR TIME, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, MRS. HALL.

MR. JACK M. FINGER, FOLLOWED BY ELINDA SEFUENTES.

>> MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.

FIRST, A LITTLE PREPARATORY REMARKS HERE.

PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY I ALWAYS INFORM YOU AND NOTIFY YOU AS MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.

[02:00:02]

WHY I HAVE TO INSERT THE MIDDLE INITIAL THERE, AND I TELL THEM, WELL, IT'S TO DIFFERENTIATE MY NAME FROM OTHER JACK FINGERS THAT ARE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THERE ARE AT LEAST -- AT ONE POINT THERE WERE AT LEAST THREE OF US.

AND PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO EXPLODE IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE JACK FINGER, BUT FORTUNATELY, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

BUT ONE OTHER PERSON'S NAME WAS JACK FINGER WAS MY DAD, MR. JACK L FINGER.

HE PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 91 YEARS OLD, AND, YES, I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES ON THAT.

BUT IT LEADS ME TO THE POINT AT HAND HERE, FROM 1951 THROUGH 1970, MY DAD WORKED AT CITY PUBLIC SERVICE UTILITY.

HE -- FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS, HE WAS THERE -- WITH THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, BUT FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THAT, HE WAS THEIR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAN, AND HE EDITED THE -- MANAGED THE COMPANY NEWS MAGAZINE, THE BROADCASTER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS STILL IN EXISTENCE IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM.

THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, HE SAW THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY PUBLIC SERVICE CUSTOMER BASE, GREW BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, SAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAUNIC LAKE OPERATIONS, THE DEALY PLANT AND SO FORTH THERE.

HE LEFT IN THE EARLY 1970S.

FORTUNATELY JUST BEFORE THE BIG SCANDALS BROKE WITH THE ENERGY ACQUISITION, THE COMPANY, I THINK IT WAS COASTAL STATES AT THE TIME.

I THINK THAT WAS THE NAME OF IT.

ANYWAY, CITY PUBLIC SERVICE HAS SEEN ITS OTHER SCANDALS OVER THE YEARS, SOME THAT WE ARE FIGHTING TO THIS VERY DAY.

SMART METERS COME TO MIND.

WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THAT.

WE'RE STILL FIGHTING WHAT WE CONSIDER EXORBITANT RATE HIKES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND, OF COURSE, THE -- WHAT OTHER BOONE DOGGERS WE LOOK AT, AS SOLAR AND WIND RESOURCES.

NOW, SOLAR AND WIND, THOSE ARE FINE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE PRIVATE SECTOR DO THAT INSTEAD OF THE RATE PAYERS SUBSIDIZING IT ALL THE TIME.

YES, MRS. GONZALEZ, WE APPRECIATE YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE A GOOD HARD QUESTIONS LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE ONCE IN A WHILE SAY NO TO IT THERE.

ANYWAY, BASICALLY THAT'S IT.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, MRT CONDOLENCES ON YOUR FATHER'S PASSING.

MRS. ELINDA SEFUENTES?

>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, MAYOR RON NIRENBERG AND CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENDLESS WORK AND MANY OF YOU TOUCH ME IN DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO, SO I KNOW Y'ALL WORK HARD AT WHAT YOU DO.

TODAY, I AM SPEAKING AS A COMMUNITY VOICE.

I'M A RETIRED EMPLOYEE, BUT I'M VERY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SO I COME AND SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF JANIE GONZALEZ.

SHE'S A PERSON OF COMMITMENT AND VISION, AND I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE HERE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT JANIE TODAY.

HAVING WORKED IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOR 41 YEARS, I KNOW THAT SHE'S GOING TO BRING GREATNESS TO CPS WITH HER INTERNET AND SECURITY SENSE THAT SHE HAS.

I'D LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT IN MANY AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY, SHE HAS BEEN THERE, HER VOICE HAS BEEN THERE, HER PRESENCE HAS BEEN THERE, AND THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, A LOT TO SAY ABOUT HER, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME IS THAT SHE IS A LATINA WHO HAS REALLY SHOWN HOW MUCH LATINAS AND HOW SUCCESSFUL LATINAS CAN BE.

AND I -- SHE'S -- HER SUCCESS, HER BUSINESS, HER PASSION SPEAKS FOR WHAT SHE IS, FOR THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT SHE IS.

SHE'S AN AMAZING TRAIL BLAZER.

ALL I CAN SAY IS SHE'S A PERSON OF TRUST AND HIGH INTEGRITY, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK CPS FOR CONSIDERING HER TO BE -- TO THE BOARD, AND THEY WILL BE IN MUCH BETTER PLACE AND POSITION TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT OUR GRANDKIDS AND THE WHOLE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

I LEAVE YOU WITH JUST SAYING THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND THANKS CPS FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT THEY DO.

IT'S NOT EASY.

IT'S A HARD JOB FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM AND SHERYL SCULLEY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

AND OUR NEW CITY MANAGER AND

[02:05:01]

FAMILY, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AS WELL.

I LEAVE YOU AND ALL I CAN SAY IS

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU.

WE'LL NOW TAKE COUNCIL COMMENTS STARTING WITH COUNCILMAN ART HALL.

>> HALL: AND ACTUALLY MAYOR, I'M GOING TO DEFER THE FIRST SPOT TO COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.

>> SALDAÑA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU ART HALL.

I WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST AND MAYBE MAKE THE MOTION ON BEHALF OF THE QUADRANT, AND I KNOW THAT ART BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH, BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL EAGER TO BE ABLE TO GET TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF JANIE.

AND JANIE, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING YOURSELF HERE TO BE VETTED.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EACH ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

SO BEFORE I JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, I WANT TO -- ON BEHALF OF THE CPS QUADRANT AND FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT I REPRESENT AND THE BUSINESSES AND ALL THE RATE PAYERS IN SOUTHWEST SAN ANTONIO, I'M HONORED TO MAKE THE MOTION OF 5A AND 5B, CONFIRMING THE NOMINATION OF JAW JUANITA JANIE GONZALEZ TO SERVE AS BOARD OF TRUSTEE THROUGH A TERM THROUGH 2024.

>> SECOND.

>> SALDAÑA: NOW THAT WE HAVE A SECOND, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I MAKE THE MOTION IN SUPPORT OF YOU TAKING ON THE POSITION WITH CPS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WILL NOT FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM AND WHO YOU WORK FOR, AND I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT JANIE, PERHAPS, AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF VETTING PROCESSES THROUGH OUR CITY MANAGER AND YOURSELF HAVING MET MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FROM EVERY DIFFERENT IDEOLOGY, PERSPECTIVE, EVERY DIFFERENT COUNCIL DISTRICT, HAS MEANT A LOT TO US, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IN MANY CASES, YOU OR REALLY ANYONE, DOESN'T PASS EVERYONE'S BENCHMARK WITH RESPECT TO IDEOLOGY OR POSITION.

AND I HOPE WITH TIME AND STUDY ON THE ISSUES OF ADDRESSING AND FORMULATING RATES, ON COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE, ON TACKLING FINANCIAL DECISIONS WILL PROVE THAT WE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

BUT LET ME ALSO SAY THIS: YOU KNOW, LET ME POINT OUT THAT AS A LATINA, I PROMISE THAT IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME PEOPLE HAVE HAD MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE'S CAPABLE OF.

SO LET'S ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT HAVING A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHERE SHE MIGHT STAND ON AN ISSUE OR WHAT SHE IS CAPABLE OF IS NOTHING THAT JANIE IS A STRANGER TO.

AND WE'RE WELCOMING NOT ONLY HER PERSPECTIVE, BUT THE FACT THAT SHE AND HER INDUSTRY AND IN HER BUSINESS HAS OFTENTIMES HAD TO RUN FASTER OR JUMP HIGHER AND GO THROUGH HOOPS THAT PERHAPS OTHER COLLEAGUES WITHIN YOUR INDUSTRY HAVE NOT HAD TO GO THROUGH.

AND SO YOU'VE MET AND EXCEEDED EVERY STANDARD THAT I WOULD HOPE TO REPRESENT THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT, AND I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOXES, IF YOU WILL, THAT I WOULD HAVE WANTED CHECKED ON THE PERSON WHO REPRESENTS THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT IS SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY AND IN A FAMILY THAT STRUGGLES TO STRING A BUDGET TOGETHER, AND HOW OFTEN IT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GROCERY BILLS AND THE LIGHT BILL.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PERSPECTIVES THAT I REALLY WANTED IN SOMEBODY WHO WAS REPRESENTING, AND JANIE, AS, YOU KNOW, A DAUGHTER OF THE SOUTH SIDE AND A REPRESENTATIVE WHO, AGAIN, KNOWS WHO SHE WORKS FOR AND WHERE SHE COMES FROM, I'M EXCITED TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

AND NOW COUNCILMAN ART HALL?

>> HALL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, JANIE, FOR STEPPING UP.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT JANIE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR MANY YEARS.

SHE'S ALSO AS A DEMOCRAT, SHE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE REPUBLICANS, BUT, JANIE, I THINK YOU'RE SMART.

I THINK YOU'RE THOUGHTFUL, I THINK YOU'RE INVESTED, I THINK YOU'RE COMMUNITY-ORIENTED, MR. KELLEY SAID THAT YOU'RE DATA-ORIENTED, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO CPS WITH NO AGENDAS EXCEPT FOR WHAT'S DOING BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT SIDE AND I THINK YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JANIE, FOR STEPPING UP, AND WE KNOW THAT YOUR TIME -- ALL OF OUR TIME, BUT YOUR TIME IS PULLED IN MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, AND WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL BILLIE JANE AND WITH ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND CONGRATULATE THE BOARD MEMBERS OF SOUTH SIDE FIRST WHO CAME OUT IN FULL FORCE.

IF NOT HERE, THEY SENT LETTERS IN SUPPORT, PLEASE KNOW THAT.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE BOARD MEMBERS OF CPS ENERGY WHO MOVED FORWARD WITH JANIE AS THE SELECTION FOR THIS PROCESS.

I'M VERY PROUD THAT SHE HAS A

[02:10:04]

CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

I WILL SAY I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE A LATINA AND A WOMAN, AND NOW ON THE CPS ENERGY BOARD AND JANIE, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A TRAIL BLAZER, YOU ARE A STRONG VOICE, YOU ARE A VERY SAVVY AND PATIENT BUSINESSWOMAN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE AND YOU'VE WORKED THROUGH THROUGHOUT THIS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE -- YOU WILL SPEAK UP AND YOU WILL SHOW UP AND YOU WILL SPEAK ON EQUITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AT CPS ENERGY AND WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S MY HONOR TO SUPPORT THIS AND RATIFY THIS DECISION FROM OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO ALL THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.

I JUST SIMPLY ADD MYSELF ENJOY HAVING TO GOT TO KNOW YOU, JANIE.

THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT STEP AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE CITY VERY, VERY WELL.

I WANT TO SAY THAT WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR WANTING TO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT, SOME DIVERSITY IN THE THOUGHTS THAT THIS BOARD BRINGS TO THE WAY CPS MOVES FORWARD, AND WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR STEPPING UP, FOR BEING SOMEBODY THAT REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY IN SUCH A SPECIAL WAY.

YOU'LL HAVE MY SUPPORT TODAY.

THANK YOU, JANIE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, EXAM TREVINO.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES?

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, JANIE, FOR COMING THIS MORNING FORRAL -- FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND SUPPORT YOU AS A MEMBER OF THE CPS BOARD.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS LITTLE SIDE STORY, BUT MANY YEARS AGO, YOU AND I WERE BOTH SELECTED TO REPRESENT -- I WANT TO SAY IT WAS THE SAN ANTONIO DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND YOU DIDN'T SHOW UP TO THE INTERVIEW.

AND SO AS A RESULT, I GOT THE JOB.

I GOT THE POSITION.

AND I WAS GRATEFUL THAT YOU DIDN'T COME THAT DAY.

[LAUGHTER] GONZALEZ BECAUSE I KNOW THAT --

>> GONZALES: I KNOW THAT IF YOU HAD, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SELECTEDDED OVER ME BECAUSE OF YOUR VAST QUALIFICATIONS, EVEN AT THAT TIME.

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO.

AND SO SINCE THEN, YOU HAVE HAD YOUR OWN BUSINESS, YOU WERE A WORKING MOM, YOU WERE ON THE VERGE OF THE LA TINA CEO, YOU WERE THE FIRST NOT JUST WOMAN, BUT FIRST PERSON I KNEW THAT HAD A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT WAS SORT OF STILL IN THE BEGINNING PHASES WHERE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE INTERNET WAS GOING OR WHAT WE WERE DOING.

AND SO YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON I KNEW IN THAT INDUSTRY.

AND REALLY SHAPED MY OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN A CHANGING, EVOLVING INDUSTRY.

AND SO THEN IT'S NO SECRET THAT YOU WOULD BE SELECTED HERE TODAY, THAT YOU WOULD BE OUR CHOICE TO MOVE THIS AGENCY FORWARD, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF TRANSITION.

I HAVE HERE THE CLIMATE ACTION READY PLAN, WHICH WE KNOW THAT CPS WILL BE A MAJOR PART IN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO STUDYING IT WITH YOU AND COMING UP WITH WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN DISTRICT 5 FROM BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL AND LIVED OFF OF ROYSTON IN THE AREA RIGHT THERE THE NOGALITOS H-E-B, AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW OUR COMMUNITY WELL.

AND FINDING THE PROPER BALANCE OF WHAT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS NEED IN TERMS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, BUT ALSO THE -- WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE VERY RISING COSTS.

SO WE NEED TO GET THAT IN BALANCE.

AND I THINK YOU ARE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN DIVERSE WORLDS; THAT OF A WOMAN IN TECHNOLOGY BEFORE HER TIME; THAT OF A VERY EARLY IN LIFE MOM, AND THEN A VERY LATE IN LIFE MOM, SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I ALSO HAVE IN COMMON.

KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL JUST BABIES, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LEARNING LESSON FOR BOTH OF US, AND I KNOW WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THE SUPPORT OF THE TEAM AT CPS ENERGY, WE WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

THANK YOU, JANIE, FOR STEPPING FORWARD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILMAN PERRY?

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

THIS IS A BIG DAY.

YOU KNOW, FIRST WE GOT ERIK AND NOW WE'VE GOT JANIE ON THE BOARD.

AND I WILL CERTAINLY -- IN AUDIO] -- SUPPORT YOUR

[02:15:01]

TRUSTEE, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD ABOUT BEING DATA-DRIVEN. LET'S LOOK AT THE DATA FIRST BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.

AND TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING.

WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS, 50 YEARS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE AT THE HIGHER LEVEL, THAT'S WHAT THIS BOARD IS TO DO, IS SET THE DIRECTION BASED ON PREDICTIONS, WHERE YOU THINK THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE, TECHNOLOGY, WHERE THAT'S GOING.

THERE'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT IN AN OPERATION LIKE THIS, BUT -- SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHALLENGE, BUT WHO BETTER TO HANDLE AND PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION THAN SOMEBODY THAT IS DEALING WITH THOSE CHALLENGES ON A DAILY BASIS RUNNING A BUSINESS, RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD.

I JUST THINK THIS IS A PERFECT FIT.

BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, LAST NIGHT I GOT A LETTER, I THINK ALL THE COUNCIL FOLKS GOT A LETTER FROM A GROUP SAYING PLEASE VOTE NO.

AND I HAD TO READ THAT LETTER LIKE THREE TIMES.

I SAID, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? HERE WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS A SUCCESSFUL PERSON IN BUSINESS AND IN THE COMMUNITY, WILLING TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP ON A BOARD, NOT GETTING COMPENSATED FOR, AND STILL HAVING TO RUN A BUSINESS.

I -- I JUST HAD TO -- AGAIN, I HAD TO READ THAT LETTER AT LEAST THREE TIMES.

IT'S BEYOND ME.

IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY ALL THE TIME.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN GETTING THAT LETTER, THAT THERE'S GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE THE FORETHOUGHT AND THE EXPERTISE TO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A MEMBER OF A BOARD LIKE THIS AND TO PROVIDE THAT STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION FOR A LARGE AGENCY LIKE THIS THAT SO MANY -- WE ALL DEPEND ON ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

SO I JUST -- I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT LETTER TO BEGIN WITH, BUT I OFFER MY WHOLE SUPPORT.

AND, AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU WITH YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR KNOWLEDGE, HOW YOU'VE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY AND HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU HAVE BEEN AS A BUSINESSWOMAN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT AND CONGRATULATIONS, JANIE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

FOR ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS EVER THOUGHT WOW, I'M THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM, LOOK AROUND AND MAKE SURE JANIE'S NOT IN THE ROOM, BECAUSE SHE'S THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ?

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

SERIOUSLY, JANIE, YOU HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST FRONTAL LOBES I'VE EVER COME AROUND, AND IT'S LIKE SCARY, SCARY SMART.

YOU'RE ALSO ONE OF THE MOST, YOU KNOW, IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING IMMUNED TO BS.

YOU JUST DON'T PUT UP TO IT.

AND YOU MANAGE TO CUT RIGHT TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID, RIGHT, AND WHAT IT IS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

YOU'RE ALSO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST HUMAN BEINGS I'VE EVER MET, AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, JANIE DOESN'T KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

SHE KILLS TWO STONES WITH ONE BIRD.

THAT'S HOW TOUGH SHE IS, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, IF EVER YOU GUYS SAW TOM BRADY THROW, I THINK HE THROWS LIKE 77-YARDS, YOU KNOW, JANIE THROWS TOM BRADY 77-YARDS.

JANIE, YOU'RE PERFECT FOR THIS JOB.

WHAT YOU'VE MANAGED TO DO WITH WEB HEAD AND THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE THAT YOU'VE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED ON THE CPS BOARD, AND THE SUPPORT THAT PAULA AND HER TEAM NEED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THIS TRADITION OF INNOVATION AND TAKE US INTO THE NEXT EVOLUTIONARY STEP OF WHAT CPS NEEDS TO BE FOR THIS NEXT FUTURE SMART CITY.

I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE BETTER THAN JANIE.

SO, JANIE, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU'VE GOT MY SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU TODAY.

IT'S BEEN -- IT'S RARE WHEN YOU COME ACROSS TWO BIG ITEMS LIKE THIS, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY EASY VOTES.

IT'S A VERY -- IT'S A NICE DAY.

AND YOU MAKE IT EASY BECAUSE YOUR RECORD OF SUCCESS IN JUST WHO YOU ARE.

AND WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY, OBVIOUSLY, AROSE, AND I TALKED TO DR. GUEVARA -- I MEAN,

[02:20:02]

HOMER'S RUNNING AROUND SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY TODAY.

I MISSED HIM LAST NIGHT ON THE PHONE, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT AND 10-YEARS SERVICE MEMBER, I BELIEVE IT'S 10 YEARS --

>> HE'S TEACHING.

>> BROCKHOUSE: F OF HIM TO BE -- NERVE OF HIM TO BE MISSING THIS AND EDUCATING PEOPLE.

BUT DR. GUEVARA, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE, WE'RE PROUD OF HIS SERVICE.

AND YOU SAY YOU'VE GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT I THINK YOU'VE GOT THIS THING HANDLED.

WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY OPENED UP, YOUR NAME WAS IMMEDIATELY AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.

I THINK WE HAD A MEETING, AND I SAID HOW ABOUT JANIE GONZALEZ, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S APPLIED YET.

I'M GOING TO FIND OUT FOR THAT.

YOU'RE JUST RIGHT FOR THE ROLE, YOU'RE THE RIGHT PERSON, AND THOSE THINGS ARE HARD TO FIND, RIGHT PERSON, RIGHT ROLE, RIGHT TIME.

MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO YOU AND WHEN WE SPOKE ONE-ON-ONE INDIVIDUALLY IS OBVIOUSLY I DON'T HAVE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU THINK, AND YOU AND I ARE MIRROR IMAGES OF EACH OTHER IN THAT, AND I RESPECT THAT IN YOU DEEPLY, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THAT DIVERSITY, NOT JUST OF WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON BUT OF YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS TO THE BOARD.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC FOR CITIZENS.

AND THEN THE SECOND CHALLENGE WAS -- AND MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 4 ALLUDED TO THIS, THE CHANGING NATURE OF A CPS ENERGY BILL FOR THOSE OF US IN THE COMMUNITY WHO STRUGGLE THE MOST, IT'S THE ONE BILL THAT ALWAYS CHANGES.

USUALLY YOUR CAR PAYMENT'S THE SAME, YOUR CELL PHONE PAYMENT'S THE SAME, UNLESS YOUR MY KID BUYING A BUNCH OF APPS ON IT OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, YOUR MORTGAGE, YOUR RENT, ALL THESE THINGS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME, YET YOUR FLUCTUATING NATURE OF YOUR CPS ENERGY BILL CAN BE THAT 50 OR 60 BUCKS IF YOU'RE NOT WISE WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOUR HOUSE IS NOT AS ENERGY EFFICIENT, ALL THESE CHANGES AND THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST OF IT, THAT 10, 15, 20 BUCKS IS A DIFFERENCE MAKER, IT'S GAS MONEY FOR THE WEEK.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN THAT GROUP OF FOLK WHOSE ARE ALL SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE.

AND THE CPS ENERGY BILL IS MAYBE NOT AS IMPORTANT TO THEM IN THEIR LIFESPAN BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THEY'RE MAKING AND THE SUCCESS THEY'VE HAD, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WRITE THAT CHECK, I SEE THAT CHECK, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT SOMEBODY'S LIVING ON SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN ON THE WEST SIDE AND THAT 25 BUCKS IS JUST DIFFERENT AND IT'S TOO MUCH.

IF YOU CAN DO THAT FOR ME, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME WORKING TOGETHER.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU SUPPORTING YOU MAKING THIS VOTE.

I'M PROUD OF THIS AND THINKING YOU'RE GOING TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT US.

I KNOW WE SAID ABOUT THE RATE INCREASES, CPS HASN'T DONE IT IN FIVE YEARS AND I THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR THE SIXTH YEAR, WHICH IS A REALLY TOUGH GOAL CONSIDERING THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE LIVING IN AND THE COST-CUTTING MEASURES YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AS A UTILITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I MEAN, THIS IS SIX YEARS RUNNING, AND THOSE ARE THE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS YOU'RE GOING TO BE FACING, JANIE, WHICH IS EVERY PENNY COUNTS TO PEOPLE AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING THEM.

THANK YOU TO YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU TO BILLIE JEAN AND THE FAMILY, LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

COUNCILMAN COURAGE?

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THERE'S NO DOUBT, JANIE, THAT YOU'RE CAPABLE AND QUALIFIED AND READY TO STEP INTO THIS SIGNIFICANT DECISION-MAKING BODY.

AND MY HOPE IS THROUGH YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, THAT YOU'LL HELP MOVE CPS ENERGY BOARD TOWARD DEVELOPING THE POLICIES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE ENERGY NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS A GROWING CITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL LOOK TOWARDS CHANGING OUR HEAVY RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY PRODUCTION TOWARDS THE ALTERNATIVE AND HEALTHIER METHODS OF ENERGY PRODUCTION THAT ARE DEVELOPING.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO REALLY RECOGNIZE THE CLIMATE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HOLD AS ONE ENTERPRISE WITHIN ONE CITY.

AND WE NEED TO ACT ON THAT.

SAVING OUR CLIMATE AND THE PLANET AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR JOB AS A MEMBER OF THAT BOARD.

SO, JANIE, PLEASE REMAIN, ALSO, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW, KEEP THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES' FOCUS ON LISTENING TO WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY AND INFORMING THEM CONSTANTLY ABOUT WHAT CPS ENERGY'S PLANS ARE FOR THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL?

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CPS TEAM THAT'S HERE, PAULA, CHAIRSTEIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS NEW APPOINTMENT.

AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THAT BOARD CHAIR.

YOU DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

JANIE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.

IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT FINANCIALLY LUCRATIVE IN ANY WAY, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A VERY BUSY INDIVIDUAL.

[02:25:01]

AND YOU HAVE LOTS OF OTHER THINGS TO DO, SO THANK YOU FOR SETTING ASIDE THIS TIME TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY.

YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE YOU, NOT JUST REPRESENTING PARTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALL THOSE CUSTOMERS AND RATE PAYERS IN THE COUNTY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU TOOK TO ENGAGE WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, WITH SOME CONSTITUENTS.

YOU WENT OUT AND YOU VISITED WITH SOME, AND WITH MY STAFF AS WELL.

I KNOW THEY GAVE YOU THE LECTURE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATION, AND WITH MYSELF.

I SPECIFICALLY DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH THE CPS ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS GROUP, AS HAS BEEN STATED BY MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN COURAGE, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEIR TO BE SOME CONTACT BETWEEN THE BOARD MEMBERS DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO LISTEN TO THEM.

I THINK THAT BODES VERY WELL FOR A DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIP IN THE FUTURE.

I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE PROGRESS THAT THE CPS BOARD WILL BRING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

THE LISTENING SESSIONS ON THE FLEX PLAN WERE A WONDERFUL START TO OPENING THAT DIALOGUE, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRESS TO MAKE AND THAT THE MAYOR IS DEDICATED AND JANIE, THAT YOU HAVE ALSO LENT YOUR EAR TO THAT AS WELL.

I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO OUR WORK ON THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN, THE DRAFT WAS RELEASED, AND, JANIE, I AM -- I WAS IMPRESSED BY YOUR EAGERNESS IN TAKING THAT PLAN.

I WAS SHOWING IT TO YOU, I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO WALK OFF WITH IT, BUT YOU DID.

SO THANK YOU FOR -- I'LL JUST PRINT ANOTHER COPY, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR EAGERNESS IN TAKING THAT ON. YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON MAKING SURE THAT GETS -- THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, AND ULTIMATELY IMPLEMENTED.

I WILL BE LONG GONE FROM COUNCIL WHEN, YOU KNOW, THAT FINALLY GETS ALL IMPLEMENTED, BUT YOU WILL STILL BE ON CPS PROBABLY LONGER THAN I WILL BE ON COUNCIL, SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN STILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION.

SO THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SERVICE ON THIS, AND CONTINUING OUR DIALOGUE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

AND, JANIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND TO SERVE.

THIS IS NOT JUST ANY APPOINTMENT.

THIS HAS A LOT RIDING ON IT, AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

WHEN THESE POSITIONS COME OPEN AND WE DO THE OPEN APPLICATION PERIOD, WE'RE OFTEN KIND OF BRACING OURSELF, HOPING THAT WE WOULD GET THE PERFECT PERSON TO FILL THE POSITION, BE ONE THAT APPLIES.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS SOON AS I SAW YOUR APPLICATION COME THROUGH, I KNEW THAT THAT HAD ARRIVED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOUR BUSINESS ACUMEN THAT YOU'LL BRING TO THE BOARD, YOUR OPEN MINDEDNESS TO DATA AND YOUR CONSTANT PROFESSIONALISM.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THIS CAPACITY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON THIS NEW VENTURE.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 5.

PLEASE MOTION CARRIES.

WELCOME ABOARD.

[APPLAUSE] THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL LEADERS.

AS YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS JANIE GONZALEZ.

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE AND I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR MANY IN THIS ROOM I WAS NOT THE NOMINEE OF CHOICE.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD YOU.

YOUR PRIORITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AND I AM COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

I MUST ASSERT MY FIRM BELIEF THAT I AM UNIQUELY QUALIFIED, DIVERSE IN THOUGHT, IN ACTION AND COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY.

AS Y'ALL MENTIONED MANY TIMES, I AM A HARD-WORKING MOTHER, WIFE, CITIZEN WITH STRONG COMMUNITY AND FAMILY VALUES INSTILLED BY MY PARENTS.

THEY TAUGHT ME FAITH TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, TO BE HONEST, TRUSTWORTHY, AND ADD VALUE TO THE WORLD.

I HAVE INCORPORATED MY BILINGUAL CULTURE, PHILOSOPHY AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, TOLERANCE, PRIDE IN DIFFERENCES, RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY, COOPERATION, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, ALONG WITH MY FINANCIAL BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL BACKGROUND TO BUILD A BUSINESS WITH THE SAME PRINCIPLES.

DETERMINED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE FOR MY FAMILY, EMPLOYEES IN THE COMMUNITIES I SERVE.

AGAINST MANY ODDS TO INCLUDE INCLUSION AND EQUALITY.

I VOLUNTEER FUND RAISING,

[02:30:01]

ADVOCATING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, VETERANS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT , CANCER AWARENESS, AND CARE.

AND PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS OUR SAN ANTONIO RIVER.

YOUR VOTE IN CONFIDENCE TODAY GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE MY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, SOFT AND TECHNICAL SKILLS AND PASSION TO BUILD UP ON THE [INDISCERNIBLE] MEANINGFUL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, TRANSPARENCY, AND A SUSTAINABLE CITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF EXISTING AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME.

YOUR CONFIDENCE TODAY ALSO SHOWS THAT YOU TRUST MY SINCERE DESIRE AND ABILITY TO WORK IN A RESPECTFUL, COLLABORATIVE MANNER WITH AN ARRAY OF INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT DELIVER TANGIBLE BENEFITS.

I ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO LOOK AT CYNICISM DIRECTLY IN THE EYE AND HAVE THE FAITH THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

I AM READY TO TAKE ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER, LET'S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND START THE WORK NOW.

AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR TRUST.

GRACIAS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JANIE.