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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 16, 2019.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
[1. Invocation]
THE TIME IS NOW 9:15 A.M.WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION, GUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER BROCKHOUSE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS IS PASTOR MICHAEL KRAFT, AND I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE HIM, ONE OF OUR DISTRICT 6'S OWN PASTORS.
MIKE, YOU GREW UP IN ILLINOIS.
MY FATHER'S FAMILY IS FROM THE SAME AREA.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
LOOK, MIKE GREW UP IN MOLEAN, ILLINOIS.
MIKE TRUSTED IN JESUS AT AN EARLY AGE AND IN HIGH SCHOOL MADE THE DECISION TO BE A HOLY DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF JESUS.
MIKE HAS HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES FROM TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND HE COMPLETED HIS MASTERS OF DIVINITY IN 2009 FROM TRINITY AS WELL.
MIKE HAS SERVED AS THE PASTOR OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT STUDIES AT CAVALRY CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT.
AND THEN GOD LED HIM AND HIS FAMILY TO PURSUE CHURCH PLANTING HIMSELF, AND HE CAME TO DISTRICT 6 HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND STARTED MISSION COMMUNITY CHURCH, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP INVOLVED WITH THE YMCA.
SO HIS CHURCH IS ACTUALLY -- CONDUCTS THE SERVICES WITHIN THE YMCA FACILITY.
AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP.
MIKE AND HIS WIFE ARE BLESSED WITH THREE BEAUTIFUL AND PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRLS.
AND THIS IS AN INTERESTING PART OF YOUR BIO.
YOU ARE AN AVID SPORTS FAN AND STILL MARVEL AT THE FACT THAT THE CHICAGO CUBS WON A WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP.
IN HIS FREE TIME MIKE SPENDS MOST OF IT WITH HIS FAMILY PLAYING AND WATCHING SPORTS.
MIKE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT SEEING [INDISCERNIBLE] TO LIVE ON MISSION TOGETHER AND ADVOCATING FOR THE MARGINALIZED, THE OPPRESSED AND PARTICULARLY CHILDREN.
MIKE, I AM PROUD OF THE WORK YOU DO IN DISTRICT 6.
HE HAS PARTNERED ON US WITH SEVERAL OF OUR HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVES AND ACTS AS A TRI-CHAIR.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE COMMUNITY HELPING OUR HOMELESS FOLKS.
AND I HAVE SEEN MIKE HIMSELF ON THE CORNER OF 151, 1604, POTRANCO ROAD MINISTERING INDIVIDUALLY BY HIMSELF TO HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN.
AND IT IS AN AMAZING CALLING YOU HAVE, MIKE, AND I'M THANKFUL YOU DO FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR CITY AND COMMUNITY AND I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THOSE WATCHING AT HOME.
WOULD YOU ALL JOIN ME IN PRAYER? GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU SO THANKFUL THAT YOU, THE GOD OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE ALLOW US TO APPROACH YOU AND THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HEAR OUR PRAYERS.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A GIFT FROM YOU AND I PRAY THAT ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, ALL OF US WATCHING, ALL OF US IN OUR GREAT CITY WOULD STEWARD IT WELL AND USE IT FOR YOUR GLORY.
LORD JESUS YOUR WORD SAYS THAT YOU CAME AS A SERVANT AND YOU WERE FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN.
AND YOU PLACED THE NEEDS OF OTHERS IN FRONT OF YOURSELF.
JESUS, YOU ASK THE SAME OF YOUR FOLLOWERS AND SAID WHOEVER WANTS TO BE GREAT MUST FIRST BECOME A SERVANT.
GOD, I THANK YOU FOR THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS HERE THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN TO SERVE OUR CITY.
AND, GOD, I THANK YOU THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS IN FRONT OF THEMSELVES.
LORD, THEY DO MANY THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES.
THEY SACRIFICE SO GREATLY THAT MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE.
BUT WE THANK YOU THAT YOU SEE THEM AND I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD STRENGTHEN THEM THROUGH YOUR SPIRIT.
GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD LEAD THEM, GUIDE THEM, STRENGTHEN THEM, ENCOURAGE THEM, PROTECT
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THEM.WOULD YOU GUARD THEIR FAMILIES AND PROTECT THEIR MARRIAGES? WOULD YOU BLESS THEIR CHILDREN? LORD, THIS IS A SEASON OF TRANSITION AND CHANGE WITH A NEW COUNCIL TEAM COMING ON IN A FEW WEEKS, WOULD YOU BLESS THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED FAITHFULLY AND ARE STEPPING OFF THE COUNCIL.
BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE CONTINUING AND BE WITH THOSE STEPPING ON.
GOD, THAT YOU WOULD GALVANIZE THIS NEW TEAM AS THEY WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR CITY.
FATHER, AS OUR COUNCIL MEETS TODAY, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD UNITE THEM.
LORD, PART OF THE BEAUTY OF THIS GROUP IS THEY ARE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND CONVICTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT UNITY DOESN'T MEAN UNIFORMITY.
I PRAY IN THEIR DIVERSITY THEY WOULD BE UNITED IN THEIR GREAT LOVE FOR OUR CITY.
THAT YOU WOULD HELP THEM WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITY THAT THEY FULFILL THE LEADERSHIP YOU HAVE CHOSEN THEM FOR.
GOD, WE TRULY THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN THE GREAT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE ARE HUMBLED THAT WE GET TO CALL THIS OUR CITY.
WE PRAISE YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL CITY THAT'S SO FULL OF LIFE AND VIBRANCY AND HISTORY AND CULTURE.
GOD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON OUR PEOPLE.
THAT'S TRULY WHO MAKES THIS CITY GREAT IS OUR PEOPLE.
WOULD YOU HEAL THOSE WHO ARE BROKEN AND HURTING? ALLOW THE HOMELESS TO FIND REFUGE.
COMFORT THE PRECIOUS CHILDREN IN OUR CITY WHO NEED HOMES AND WHO ARE IN OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
GOD, WOULD YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO SURROUND THEM AND LOVE THEM WITH YOUR LOVE.
THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR MILITARY, AS THIS IS MILITARY CITY, USA, AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN THAT NAME.
WOULD YOU PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE MANY OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS.
CONTINUE TO REVEAL YOURSELF TO US AND MAY WE REPRESENT YOU IN THE WAY THAT WE LOVE AND SERVE AND TREAT ONE ANOTHER.
GOD, AGAIN, WE'RE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS DAY.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOU AND MAY WE LIVE IT FOR YOU THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.
WE PRAY THESE THINGS IN THE MAJESTIC NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AND IT IS IN HIS NAME WE
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
PRAY, AMEN.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR KRAFT.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
[3. Approval of Minutes of the City Council Regular Meetings of April 17 - 18, 2019]
THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 17 AND 18.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 3, WHICH IS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 17 AND 18.
[Additional Item ]
MOTION CARRIES.I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE WERE HERE, A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO WE WERE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE KNOW MY STATUS CAMPAIGN REGARDING HIV AND THE RISING NUMBERS THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
AND THE EXEMPLARY WORK OF OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN MAKING THAT A THING OF THE PAST.
SO, JENNIFER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT IT.
AND THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.
THIS YEAR WE DID INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE TESTED, AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DO THAT IN YEARS TO COME.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ASSISTED US WITH KNOW YOUR STATUS CAMPAIGN.
THAT WAS SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION, THE BEAT AIDS COALITION.
MY FAVORITE -- NOT THAT I HAVE FAVORITES, CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND HEALTH ANALYTICS.
IN ALL, WE HAD 119 TESTING EVENTS.
WE HAD OVER 4,400 INDIVIDUALS TESTED FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.
AND THE THIRD PLACE -- WELL, ACTUALLY, THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD THE MOST TESTS WERE, IN THIRD PLACE, CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES WITH 105 INDIVIDUALS.
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FOUNDATION TESTED 510 INDIVIDUALS.AND THEN THE RESULTS OF THE DISTRICTS COMPETING.
THIRD PLACE, DISTRICT 8 WITH 462 INDIVIDUALS TESTED.
DISTRICT 2 CAME IN SECOND WITH 483 INDIVIDUALS TESTED.
AND NUMBER ONE, DRUM ROLL PLEASE, IS DISTRICT 5 WITH 540 INDIVIDUALS TESTED.
[APPLAUSE] TWO YEARS IN A ROW DISTRICT 5 PREVAILS.
THANK YOU ALL THE CONSTITUENTS FROM DISTRICT 5 FOR PARTICIPATING AND KNOWING YOUR STATUS.
>> COULD WE INVITE THE FOLKS WHO PARTICIPATE IN HELPING GETTING FOLKS TESTED? I KNOW BEAT AIDS IS HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN KNOW YOUR STATUS.
I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AGAIN FOR RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL BIKE MONTH.
>> SANDOVAL: CLEARLY I DREW THE SHORT STRAW HERE.
THESE ARE ALL VERY EXCITING THINGS.
IT'S SPONSORED BY THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN CYCLISTS, BICYCLISTS.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1956 AND NATIONAL BIKE MONTH IS A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THE MANY BENEFITS OF BICYCLING AND ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO GIVE BIKING A TRY.
SO TOMORROW, FRIDAY MAY 17 IS OFFICIAL BIKE TO WORK DAY.
SO WE ARE CALLING ALL NEW AND SEASONED BIKE COMMUTERS TO RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK TOMORROW AND STOP BY ANY OF THE ALAMO AREA PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS, TEN ENERGIZING STATIONS.
THERE WILL BE NINE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ONE IN THE CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS FROM 7:00 TO 9:00 A.M.
SO YOU CAN'T GET IN TOO LATE TO WORK IF YOU WANT TO CATCH ONE OF THE ENERGIZING STATIONS.
THERE WILL BE FREE REFRESHMENTS AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND BIKE ADVOCACY GROUPS.
WELL, I THINK WE'LL MAKE THESE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
I WON'T READ THEM ALL RIGHT NOW.
IN TERMS OF WHERE THESE ENERGIZER STATIONS WILL BE -- YES.
ALAMO AREA MPO.ORG/BIKE MONTH.
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FOR PARTICIPATING IN BIKE TO WORK DAY.TOMORROW, WHICH IS OFFICIAL BIKE TO WORK DAY, I'LL BE WORKING OFF OF DE ZAVALA AND I-10, WHICH I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO BIKE OFF I-10.
I THINK IT'S ILLEGAL FOR ME TO RIDE MY BIKE ON I-10.
SO WE DECIDED TO OBSERVE BIKE TO WORK DAY TODAY.
THANK YOU, MATEO, FOR SOLIDARITY WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN.
NOT TOO BAD AROUND WOODLAWN LAKE.
BUT FOR THE REST OF YOU WHO DON'T WORK ON I-10 OR ANOTHER DANGEROUS FREEWAY, GO AHEAD AND TRY RIDING TO WORK.
I WANT TO THANK THE ALAMO AREA MPO FOR ENCOURAGING OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO TRY COMMUTING TO WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMAN TREVINO HAS SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE.
STRINGER'S AP FRESHMEN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY CLASS FROM ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 1.
[APPLAUSE] THEY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS PROCESS AND ARE HERE TODAY TO SEE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ACTION, NOT INACTIONS, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, WE WELCOME YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
[Consent Agenda]
COUNCILMAN TREVINO.WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA FOR TODAY.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM -- ACTUALLY TWO ITEMS ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR CONSIDERATION.
I BELIEVE 18 IS PULLED FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES.
ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM WHICH WE'D LIKE TO PULL FROM CONSENT AGENDA? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 5, AND 18.
I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE NOW OUR CITY CLERK, WHO ALSO HAS A SPECIAL GUEST WITH US TODAY.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY JEANETTE GOODAL.
SHE IS THE STILL CLERK FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SHE IS HERE TO LOOK AT OUR VOTING SYSTEM AS THEY ARE LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING A VOTING SYSTEM AS OURS.
CURRENTLY THEY DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO HER AND HER STAFF.
SHE DOES HAVE STAFF HERE TODAY AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE ARE TWO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR ITEMS REMAIN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MR. DEHORSEY, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN SO QUICK.
TWO YEARS AGO -- WELL, I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE OPPOSITION TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S GOING IN AT OVERLOOK PARKWAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO NOT -- WE LIVE -- WE DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE WERE PART OF THE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT.
I HAVE SAT DOWN WITH MR. COURAGE AND WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY.
THIS PROJECT HAS TO HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT.
COMMUNITY INPUT DOES NOT MEAN WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS GOING INTO IS NOT IN -- THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING THIS AND ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ARE NOT IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HOUSES ARE TWO MILES AWAY FROM THIS.
THIS IS PART OF THE FINGERLING ANNEXATION AGREEMENT THAT WAS ACCEPTED TWO YEARS AGO.
SO THIS PROJECT THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS NOT RIGHT.
WE -- TWO YEARS AGO WE WANTED A HOUSING PROJECT, A LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT AND WE VOTED, BOTH MOUNTAIN LODGE AND SUMMER GLEN APPROVED AND WROTE LETTERS TO COUNCIL.
AND WE APPROVED A LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT IN THIS SAME AREA, THIS SAME ZONED PARCEL.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS DO SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS IS NOT RIGHT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
ESPECIALLY, MR. COURAGE, I'LL SAY TO YOU.
THE COMMUNITY HAS OVERWHELMINGLY
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GONE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.AND WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE COMMUNITY, WHERE WE ARE, IS OPPOSED TO THIS.
IF YOU WANT OUR INPUT, WE'RE 98% AGAINST THIS.
I DON'T KNOW IF MR. COURAGE EVEN HAS ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ABOUT THE PROJECT OR EVEN ACCEPTS THE PROJECT.
THAT'S A QUESTION FOR MR. COURAGE.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE AGAINST AFFORDABLE LOW-INCOME HOUSING, WE'RE AGAINST THIS PROJECT AT THIS TIME.
I KNOW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ACCORDING TO THE DEVELOPER, THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY.
SO HOW CAN YOU VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ALREADY PARTNERING WITH? ISN'T THAT KIND OF -- IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
SO I ASK YOU PLEASE, WE NEED TO KNOW MORE FROM THE DEVELOPER.
THE DEVELOPER HAS ONE MEETING WITH US.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DRAINAGE.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR FLOOR PLANS.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT BACKS UP TO SUMMER GLEN NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE NEED TO FIND OUT MORE FROM THE DEVELOPER.
SO I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL NOT TO KILL THIS BUT LET'S DELAY IT.
LET'S MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER AGAIN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DEHORSEY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER HAS DRAWN ATTENTION TO SOME THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN RAILING ABOUT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
IN FACT, ON TODAY'S AGENDA, NOT JUST ONE ITEM BUT AT LEAST TWO OR THREE OR FOUR DEALING WITH THESE VERY ISSUES.
ITEM NO. 20 AND 21 DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH THAT.
ITEM 21 IS, QUOTE, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AND TRUST FINANCE CORPORATION TO ISSUE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING REVENUE BONDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAJESTIC RANCH APARTMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF AROUND $23 MILLION.
WITH FINAL TERMS AND DOCUMENTS TO BE APPROVED HEREAFTER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
MS. SANDOVAL, THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT.
AND ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO QUITE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOT VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT IN THE WOODLAWN HILLS AREA WITH THE MAJESTIC RANCH APARTMENTS BEING PROPOSED HERE.
THEY SEE IT AS WELFARE HOUSING.
THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON LOW-INCOME AND BEING SUBSIDIZED BY OTHERS, LIKE TAXPAYERS LIKE OURSELVES, ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO SOME REAL FANCY APARTMENTS HERE.
THEY ALSO SEE DRAINAGE ISSUES OVER THERE.
IN FACT, QUITE FRANKLY THAT'S WHERE I GREW UP AND I CHIMED IN WITH THEM THERE.
BUT WE'RE FINDING OUT TODAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE -- WHAT'S IT SAY HERE? MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, SHOW THAT, IF YOU WOULD.
MAJESTIC RANCH APARTMENTS AND THE UNDERLYING PORTION AT THE CORNER OF CALLAGHAN ROAD.
100% OF THE UNITS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
MEANING A FAMILY WITH A MAXIMUM INCOME OF $40,000 THERE.
CITY HAS APPROVED $1,250,000 GRANT FOR THE PROJECT STRUCTURED FOR THE CASH FLOW.
SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY IS CONTRIBUTING $2 MILLION TO THE OWNER PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
NOT JUST THAT BUT ALSO THIS IS IN -- THE ITEM JUST BEFORE THAT, ITEM NO. 20, ALSBURY AREA.
MR. HALL, THAT'S NOT TOO FAR FROM YOUR AREA THERE.
IF YOU WOULD, BLOW THAT UP, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
DISTRICT 2, 100% OF THE UNITS RESTRICTED TO 60% OF THE AREA INCOME.
CITY HAS APPROVED A MILLION AND A QUARTER THERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 5, AND 18.
[18. Ordinance approving a five-year Interlocal Agreement with Alamo Community College District for Educational Access Channel operation and capital improvements for the Educational Access Channel studio facility in an amount up to $200,000.00, with an option to extend. [Carlos Contreras, Assistance City Manager; Jeff Coyle, Director, Government & Public Affairs]]
MOTION CARRIES.ITEM 18 WAS PULLED FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT ONE UP FIRST.
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DEPART.>> ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A FIVE-YEAR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS CHANNEL OPERATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL ACCESS CHANNEL STUDIO FACILITY IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $200,000 WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM 18.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 18.
NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
[4. Ordinance amending the FY 2019 Annual Operating Budget based on actual revenues and expenditures for the first six months of FY 2019 (October 2018 to March 2019) and projections for the remaining six months of FY 2019 (April 2019 to September 2019) in the General Fund and various Restricted Funds. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget]]
MOTION CARRIES.>> ITEM NO. 4 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET BASED ON ACTUAL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR 2019, OCTOBER 2018 TO MARCH 2019 AND PROJECTIONS FOR THE REMAINING SIX MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR 2019, APRIL 2019 TO SEPTEMBER 2019, IN THE GENERAL FUND AND VARIOUS RESTRICTED FUNDS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AND TODAY I WILL BE PRESENTING A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 SIX PLUS SIX FINANCIAL REPORT AND MID-YEAR BUDGET ADJUSTMENT.
DURING LAST WEEK'S CITY COUNCIL B SESSION WE PROVIDED AN EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION OR THE FORECAST AND THE MAJOR BUDGET REQUEST.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON THE MAJOR BUDGET REQUEST.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 CITY BUDGET IS $2.8 BILLION.
THE FIRST COMPONENT OF THIS IS RESTRICTED FUNDS AT $889 MILLION.
RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE GOVERNED BY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAWS AND THE REVENUE OF THESE FUNDS MUST BE USED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR AIRPORT FUND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL LAWS AND ALL REVENUES GENERATED AT THE AIRPORT MUST BE USED TO SUPPORT AVIATION-RELATED ACTIVITIES.
THE NEXT COMPONENT IS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET AT $690 MILLION.
THIS PROVIDES FUNDS FOR SOME OF OUR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM AS WELL AS AIRPORT PROJECTS.
FINALLY, OUR GENERAL FUND IS OUR LARGEST OPERATING FUND AT $1.26 BILLION.
THE GENERAL FUND PROVIDES FOR THE CITY'S CORE SERVICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY, STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, PARKS AND RECREATION, AS WELL AS ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
THE GENERAL FUND IS FUNDED BY FOUR MAIN REVENUE SOURCES.
THE FIRST IS CPS, WHICH GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $363 MILLION IN REVENUES.
AS A REMINDER, THE CITY RECEIVES UP TO 14% OF ALL CPS GAS AND ELECTRIC GROSS REVENUES AS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE AT $362 MILLION.
AND SALES TAX GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $295 MILLION.
THE FINAL COMPONENT OF REVENUES IS THE OTHER RESOURCES.
THIS INCLUDES REVENUES SUCH AS EMS TRANSPORTS, TELECOMMUNICATION, AND OTHER USER FEES.
THESE REVENUES COMBINED FROM THE BASIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.
THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY AT 63% OF THE GENERAL FUND, FOLLOWED BY STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, PARKS, AND THE REMAINING FUNDS SERVICES SUCH AS LIBRARIES, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THE NEXT SLIDE ILLUSTRATES THE GENERAL FUND YEAR-END PROJECTION.
WHEN WE PRESENTED THE THREE PLUS NINE WE HAD PROJECTED TO HAVE A BETTER ENDING BALANCE OF SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF $17 MILLION.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE REVISED OUR REVENUES AS A RESULT OF LESS REVENUES FROM CPS AND ADDITIONAL REVENUES FROM SALES TAX.
WE ARE NOW PROJECTING A BALANCE OF 4.7 THE GENERAL FUND IS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT $600,000 IN LESS REVENUES AND $1.3 MILLION IN DEPARTMENT SAVINGS, WHICH IS 0.1 OF 1% OF THE GENERAL FUND.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO OUR MAJOR BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
BEFORE WE GET INTO DETAILS OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO SUMMARIZE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
IN THE GENERAL FUND, THERE ARE FOUR ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING ABOUT $288,000.
THESE ARE PROPOSED TO BE FUNDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY.
IN OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS WE HAVE THREE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS
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TOTALING $1.3 MILLION.THESE WILL BE FUNDED FROM BETTER THAN BUDGETED REVENUES.
IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET WE HAVE TWO ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING $2.4 MILLION RECOMMENDED TO BE FUNDED FROM OUR CAPITAL BUDGET CONTINGENCY.
THE FIRST BUDGET AMENDMENT ADDS FUNDING FOR TWO POSITIONS TO BROADCAST AND LIVESTREAM CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS.
THESE TWO POSITIONS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
ADDITIONALLY, $300,000 IN CAPITAL EQUIPMENT TO EQUIP THE ONE-STOP BOARDROOM FOR BROADCASTING CAPABILITIES.
THIS WILL BE PURCHASED THROUGH CURRENT APPROPRIATIONS IN THE PEG FUND.
NEXT WOULD ADD TWO POSITIONS TO COMPLETE 11 CITY INITIATED LARGE AREA REZONINGINGS DATING BACK TO 2014.
THESE TWO POSITIONS WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
THE NEXT GENERAL FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REQUEST WOULD REALLOCATE $45,000 FROM CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 POLICE SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 65 YOUTH IN THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM.
AND OUR FINAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUEST IS $200,000 TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY HOMELESS SERVICES, IDENTIFYING GAPS, AND DEVELOP AND CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE GAPS.
MOVING ON TO OUR RESTRICTED FUNDS.
FIRST, IN OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WE HAVE A REQUEST OF $256,000 FOR SIX POSITIONS TO MEET REVIEW GOALS FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PLAN INTAKE AND REVIEWS AND ADDRESS AN INCREASE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
IN OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND WE HAVE TWO REQUESTS.
THE FIRST BEING $523,000 TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN TO REPLACE THE ROOF AT THE CONVENTION CENTER DUE TO WEATHER DAMAGE.
THE SECOND IS $500,000 TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO DRIVE ADDITIONAL VISITATION DURING THE SUMMER IN 2019 AS WELL AS 2020.
AND FINALLY ON OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, THERE ARE TWO REQUESTS.
$2.4 MILLION FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE TO COMPLETE RENOVATIONS TO AN EXISTING BUILDING, TO ADD 120 BEDS SERVING 500 HOMELESS ANNUALLY.
AND, FINALLY, A REQUEST TO REALLOCATE $100,000 FROM DISTRICT 7 PARK DEVELOPMENT TO JANE DUVEL PARK.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
ERIK, YOU HAD SENT A MEMO TO THE COUNCIL YESTERDAY.
I SENT THE MEMO TO THE COUNCIL YESTERDAY OUTLINING KIND OF THE CURRENT CONDITIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE CITY HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE THE END OF MARCH.
SINCE THE END OF MARCH THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON HOW THEY PROCESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY SEEKING ASYLUM.
MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT AT THE END OF MARCH, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION, THE FOOD BANK, A NUMBER OF DOWNTOWN CHURCHES, TRAVIS PARK CHURCH AND THE CITY, SINCE THE END OF MARCH, HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN A PRETTY SPECIAL COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT WHERE WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PASSING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO.
THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE LEGALLY AND WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE ASYLUM-SEEKING PROCESS OUTLINED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
MOST OF THEM SPEND AT LEAST ONE NIGHT HERE AS THEY TRANSITION TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
SINCE THE END OF MARCH, WE HAVE HAD 8,000 INDIVIDUALS COME THROUGH THE CITY.
AND, AS I MENTIONED, THE DOWNTOWN CHURCHES HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SHELTER FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO SPEND THE NIGHT HERE WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR BUS SERVICE.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.
AND IN SOME CASES PAYING FOR TRAVEL.
MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS -- PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT HERE ARE FROM THE EAGLE PASS AND DEL RIO AREA OF THE STATE.
EARLY ON THE POLICE CHIEF AND MARIE AND I VISITED THE BUS STATION WHEN THIS SURGE FIRST HAPPENED.
THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT HERE BY THE BORDER PATROL ARE BEING BROUGHT HERE AND DO NOT HAVE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.
AND THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STAY IN THE
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BUS STATION OVERNIGHT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.THAT WEEKEND WE CONTACTED THE BORDER PATROL AND THE SECTOR CHIEF IN THAT AREA AND SINCE THEN THEY HAVE BEEN -- THE BORDER PATROL HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT GIVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE NONPROFITS ADVISORIES WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED HERE.
SO THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE END OF MARCH.
I'VE BEEN INCLUDING THIS IN MY END OF WEEK REPORT TO YOU EVERY WEEK.
I HEARD THIS MORNING ON THE NEWS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING TO BUILD ADDITIONAL CAMPS ALONG THE BORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THIS ISSUE.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE HAD 8,000 INDIVIDUALS COME THROUGH SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE OVER 3,000 WHO HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT HERE AT OUR DOWNTOWN CHURCHES.
THE CITY HAS OPENED UP A RESOURCE CENTER RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION.
IT'S A CITY-OWNED PARKING GARAGE AND STORE FRONT AREA, 2100 SQUARE FEET.
I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACE TO WAIT FOR THE BUS.
A SCENARIO WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN BE FED.
THE FOOD BANK HAS SERVED OVER 11,000 MEALS SINCE THE END OF MARCH.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE FOOD BANK HAVE SPEND $170,000 SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT.
WE HAVE HAD ALMOST 340 CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED .
TO WORK AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.
SO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY SPEND THE DAY AT THE RESOURCE CENTER, IF THEY DON'T DEPART THAT DAY, ARE TAKEN DOWN THE STREET TO TRAVIS PARK AND SPEND THE NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING THEY ARE BROUGHT BACK TO THE RESOURCE CENTER.
THE RESOURCE CENTER HAS BEEN KIND OF A FOCAL POINT TO FACILITATE DONATIONS OF COMMODITIES OR STUFF THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAVELING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY MAY NEED.
MANY OF THEM ARRIVE WITH VERY LITTLE.
MOST ARRIVE HERE NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE AT.
BUT HAVE AN EYE ON ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO EITHER BE CONNECTED WITH SPONSORS, AS PART OF THE ASYLUM-SEEKING PROCESS, OR FAMILY MEMBERS.
I MENTIONED THAT THE BORDER PATROL HAS BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT ABOUT ADVISING US OF ACTIVITY.
WE NOTICED OVER THE LAST WEEK, TEN DAYS AN UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN COMING TO SAN ANTONIO OR TRANSITING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO.
ON MONDAY WE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL FROM THE BORDER PATROL ADVISING US THAT ACTIVITY AND NUMBERS WERE GOING TO INCREASE.
AND THAT WAS AFTER A NUMBER OF DAYS OF RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS AT THE SHELTER.
THAT NUMBER HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVERY NIGHT.
AND LAST NIGHT WE HAD 232 PEOPLE AT TRAVIS PARK CHURCH, THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THE END OF MARCH.
I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SEND A MEMO -- I KNOW THIS IS UNUSUAL.
I THINK IF WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT ADVISORY LAST MONDAY I WOULD HAVE INCLUDED IT IN LAST WEDNESDAY'S PRESENTATION TO YOU AT THE PART OF THE MID YEAR.
TIMING IS NOT ON OUR SIDE, AND I KNOW IT'S UNUSUAL TO MAKE A SUPPLEMENTARY STAFF RECOMMENDATION, BUT I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION -- AN ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION TO YOU THIS MORNING THROUGH THAT MEMO YESTERDAY.
THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO ALLOCATE $86,000, PRIMARILY FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE FOOD BANK TO CONTINUE THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS THAT COUNCILS HAVE ALLOCATED MONEY TO NONPROFITS WHO ARE DOING THE MAJORITY OF THE HEAVY LIFTING.
EL PASO, BROWNSVILLE, AND MCALLEN ARE CITIES WE'VE SEEN.
I THINK PRIMARILY MOST OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS FOR THE SAME REASON THE STATE RELIES ON SAN ANTONIO TO BE A SHELTER HUB DURING AN EMERGENCY ALONG THE COAST.
EVERY MAJOR HIGHWAY SOUTH RUNS THROUGH SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE ARE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE PRETTY ROBUST BUS SERVICE.
ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE MOVING ON TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
THAT $86,000 WOULD, IN OUR ESTIMATION, PROVIDE CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND FOOD BANK THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE WITH THIS COOPERATIVE EFFORT AND RELY UPON THE
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NONPROFITS TO DO MUCH OF THAT DIRECT SERVICE.THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND DONATIONS AND I'VE NOT ASKED CATHOLIC CHARITIES OR FOOD BANK WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MONEY.
BUT THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE SET ASIDE $55,000 THAT THE CITY WOULD MATCH FOR EVERY TWO DOLLARS RAISED BY THOSE AGENCIES.
THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO CONTINUE.
I DON'T THINK THE -- I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANY TIME SOON.
AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS TO YOU IN THIS MANNER.
I THINK THAT PROBABLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AND THE PUBLIC KNOW IS THAT WE ARE -- THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING HERE AND THEY HAVE AN APPOINTMENT MADE WITH AN ICE OFFICE SOMEWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES, WHO IN SOME CASES, IS ACTUALLY PAYING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THEY'VE GOT A DATE THAT THEY'VE GOT TO REPORT TO THE CHICAGO OFFICE OR THE CHARLOTTE OFFICE.
AND SO I THINK THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE LOCALLY, THE COLLECTIVE WE, IS FACILITATING THAT FEDERAL PROCESS.
I DID MENTION IN THE MEMO AND WE HAVE REACHED OUT OFFICIALLY TO OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.
AND I THINK A NUMBER OF CITIES ARE PROBABLY DOING THIS, NOT JUST IN TEXAS.
BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REQUEST THAT WE BE REIMBURSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THIS EFFORT.
AND WE'VE SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUING EFFORT.
WE HAVE ALSO, AS WE HAVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE STATE, THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
THIS DOES NOT MEET THAT TYPE OF DEFINITION, BUT NEVERTHELESS CITIES ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.
I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PUSH THE ISSUE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE SPENDING.
LASTLY, MAYOR, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH HAS BEEN CARRYING ON KIND OF THE COORDINATING ROLE.
MELODY WOOSLEY AND THE LEADERSHIP OF HUMAN SERVICES HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB REPRESENTING THIS ORGANIZATION AND THIS COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW BUT I WOULDN'T BE DOING MY JOB IF I DIDN'T ADVISE YOU OF THESE THINGS AND MAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIK.
WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND THEN WE'LL GET TO OUR COUNCIL.
WE'LL START WITH LAURA MOLINAR.
MS. MOLINAR WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ISABEL RAMOS.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND GOOD MORNING COUNCIL, MY CITY COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS LAURA MOLINAR AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION WHICH IS SPANISH FOR DREAMS WITHOUT BORDERS.
I AM HERE TO ASK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE CONTINUED ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TOWARDS THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
AS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WE LEAD EFFORTS IN PROVIDING DIRECT HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO THE ASYLUM SEEKERS AS WELL AS CREATING A NETWORK OF WRAPAROUND RESOURCE AND SUPPORT FOR THE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THEIR DESTINATION CITY.
SO FAR WE HAVE ESTABLISHED NETWORKS IN LOS ANGELES, BOSTON, NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, AND PORTLAND, OREGON.
OUR WORK IS BUILT UPON THE BELIEF THAT HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
AND THAT AN IMMIGRANT'S MENTAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE OVERALL HEALTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND OUR NATION AS A WHOLE.
W HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE FOOD BANK AND OUR OWN MEMBERS IN BEARING WITNESS AND OFFERING OUR OWN RESOURCES TO THE RESOURCE
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CENTER AND TO THE TRAVIS PARK EFFORTS.THE MIGRANT POPULATION PASSING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IS A VULNERABLE POPULATION FACING UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT CHANGE EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE FREQUENTLY HEARD FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, KIDNAPPINGS BY MEXICAN CARTELS, AND ABUSES AT THE HANDS OF CUSTOM AND BORDER PATROL.
FOR MANY ASYLUM SEEKING FAMILIES THE SAN ANTONIO RESOURCE CENTER IS THE FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HUMANITY AND COMPASSION.
AS A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS GREAT POWER IN THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF OUR PEOPLE.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE FROM A CITY THAT WAS BUILT FROM UNIQUE CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGES THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY IMMIGRATION.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING A WELCOMING CITY TO ALL.
THIS IS THE TEJANO WAY AND THIS IS THE SAN ANTONIO WAY.
OUR COLLECTIVE HAS BEEN CLOSELY WORKING WITH THE CITIES OF ACTION COALITION, WHICH INCLUDES OVER 175 MAYORS AND EXECUTIVES ADVOCATING FOR PRO-IMMIGRANT POLICIES.
AS A MEMBER OF THE CITIES FOR ACTION NETWORK, SAN ANTONIO HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ENGAGE WITH THIS NATIONWIDE COALITION IN ORDER TO LEAD A PRO-IMMIGRANT AGENDA AND HUMANE IMMIGRATION REFORM.
A CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AND SHELTER IS INTEGRAL TO ENSURING THAT THE CITY'S EFFORTS ARE COMPREHENSIVE, CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND SUSTAINABLE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. MOLINAR.
ISABELLA RAMOS FOLLOWED BY JOHN GARLAND.
I HAVE SAID THIS GREETING TODAY OVER 200 TIMES.
GREETINGS ARE IMPORTANT IN MANY CULTURES, SOCIAL SPACES, AND RITUALS AND CEREMONY.
IT SAYS I SEE YOU, I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EXISTENCE, AND I WISH GOOD UPON YOU.
LAST NIGHT OVER 200 PEOPLE KNOWN TO SOME AS ASYLUM SEEKERS OR IMMIGRANTS, WOKE UP IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
FOR MANY OF THEM THIS IS THE LAST SHELTER THEY WILL BE THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY.
AND FOR MANY OF THEM THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE IN A SHELTER IN THE UNITED STATES.
MANY OF THEM WEAR CLOTHES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WEARING THEIR WHOLE JOURNEY.
MUDDY TENNIS SHOES THAT WALKED THROUGH JUNGLES, RAIN, RIVERS, DESERTS.
AND SOMETIMES EVEN WITH POWERFUL COLLABORATIONS, LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE HERE, WE CAN'T OFFER THEM A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.
WE STILL CANNOT OFFER THEM SHOWERS.
AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE EFFORTS HAVEN'T BEEN GREAT AND WONDERFUL AND POWERFUL.
BUT THERE'S STILL SPACE FOR US TO GROW AS A CITY, AS A NATION, AND AS HUMAN BEINGS.
SAN ANTONIO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THIS NATION.
A NATION WHERE NOT ONLY -- A NATION NOT ONLY FOR LIBERTY FOR ALL, BUT ALSO DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL, COMPASSION FOR ALL.
AND I HOPE WE CONTINUE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO ALLOCATE -- CONTINUE ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS SO WE CAN CONTINUE GROWING OUR HUMANITY TOGETHER IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. RAMOS.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION AS A MEMBER OF THEIR BOARD AND ALSO A PASTOR OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH HERE IN SOUTH TOWN.
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR MEMBERS AND LEADERS HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WELCOMING REFUGEES FROM CENTRAL AMERICA AND FROM CENTRAL AFRICA.
AND WE NEED TO REITERATE WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID.
THESE NUMBERS ARE UNPRECEDENTED.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN YEARS.
AND THE RESPONSE OF THE CITY, THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE OF THE CITY A FEW WEEKS AGO, AS IT BEGAN, REVEALED THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY.
AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR DR. BRIDGER SAY IN A MEETING, WOW, OUR BUREAUCRACY MOVES SO WELL.
AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT THE FABRIC OF THE CITY, FROM THE VERY TOP, IS GOOD FABRIC.
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AND WE ALSO WANT TO AFFIRM THAT THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY DOWN TO THE BASE IS ALSO VERY GOOD.MANNING THIS MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER ARE LIBRARIANS AND TRANSPORTATION MANAGERS FOR THIS CITY.
WE'VE WORKED LATE NIGHTS WITH HEAD START EMPLOYEES.
AND THE GUYS WHO ARE DRILLING HOLES UNDER THE STREET AND PULLING WIRE.
AND THEY ARE OFFERING WELCOME AND THEY ARE OFFERING THEIR HOURS AND THEY ARE OFFERING THEIR ENERGY.
AND IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT THE FABRIC OF THIS CITY IS THE FRUIT OF THIS WORK, Y'ALL IS CHILDREN GETTING RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SAVING THEIR LIVES.
THE FRUIT OF THIS WORK IS KEEPING CHILDREN AND MOTHERS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY'RE GIVEN ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE BEFORE IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
THE FRUIT OF THIS WORK, Y'ALL, IS KEEPING YOUNG WOMEN OUT OF THE HANDS OF PREDATORS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKERS.
THE FRUIT OF THIS WORK IS KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER.
AND TO THAT, WE AS A FAITH GROUP, SAY AMEN AND PLEASE, PLEASE LET OUR CITY CONTINUE TO LEAD THE NATION.
THERE ARE NOT OTHER CITIES DOING THIS LIKE THIS.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
AND PLEASE LET THE CITY CONTINUE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL LIGHT-BEARING IN THE DARKNESS WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR GARLAND.
THERE ARE OTHERS FROM THE GROUP? I'M SORRY.
>> GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE SINCERELY THANK THIS CITY FOR SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO OUR COUNTRY AND LOOKING FOR WELCOME.
WHAT ELSE DID WE EXPECT FROM A CITY THAT HAS A CHARTER OF COMPASSION? THAT SAYS WE LIVE BY THE GOLDEN RULE.
WHO ELSE COULD THAT BE? WE GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US ALONG THE WAY.
THE THINGS THAT ISABEL AND LAURA SAID AHEAD OF US.
AND I ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH JOHN GARLAND, OUR PASTOR WHO IS ACCOMPANYING US AND WHO HAS BEEN WITH US ALL ALONG THE WAY.
WE GIVE THANKS TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
WE GIVE THANKS TO THE TRAVIS PARK, THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE CONTINUED.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOU THAT WE GIVE THANKS ALSO FOR THE FIREMEN WHO TAKE TWO-HOUR SHIFTS TO BE WITH US OVERNIGHT AT TRAVIS PARK.
AND I THANK THE MAYOR AND A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO VISIT US AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU HAD 230 WOMEN, MEN, AND CHILDREN ON THE STREET IN THIS CITY LAST NIGHT? I CEDE MY TIME TO SISTER DEROCK, HEAD OF THE VOLUNTEER MINISTRY AT IWC.
>> WE WANT TO THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG FOR YOUR VISIT AND YOUR SUPPORT.
AS THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY.
WE WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK COLLEEN BRIDGER, THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
MELODY WOOSLEY, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES.
ALSO JESSICA AND EDWARD AND MARK ALSO FOR THEIR AMAZING LEADERSHIP DURING THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE IMMIGRATION LIAISON FOR HIS DEDICATION AND THE MANY HOURS HE HAS PUT IN.
FOR THE LIAISON OF THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY WHO HAS DONE A LOT TO MOBILIZE THE FAITH COMMUNITY DURING THIS TIME.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MANY CITY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR TIME TO HELP THESE FAMILIES IN SUCH NEED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SISTER.
>> I AM THE BUS STATION PROJECT MANAGER AT RAICES.
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OVER TIME IS THAT OUR TASK OFTEN EXTENDS WAY BEYOND THAT.
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MANY CASES OF FAMILY SEPARATION, PEOPLE IN
[00:55:02]
NEED OF SHELTER AND VARIOUS OTHER INJUSTICES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN DETENTION CENTERS THAT REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION AND REQUIRE THAT WE RESPOND IN A WAY THAT IS COMPASSIONATE AND RESTORES DIGNITY.AND WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE WORK THAT WE DO COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE FORMED WITH THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION AND THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
THE WAY THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER HAS BRIDGED GAPS IN ENSURING THAT THE BASIC NEEDS AND THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE ARE MET HAS BEEN A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF THE WORK WE DO, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE NEGLIGENCE THAT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE UPON THEIR ARRIVAL, APPREHENSION, AND DETENTION HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, WE HAVE HEARD TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL FACILITIES WHERE FAMILIES ARE HELD AFTER APPREHENSION AT THE BORDERS.
ONE DECLARATION FROM A MOTHER WHO FLED HONDURAS WITH HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, SHE SHARED WE WERE NOT GIVEN ANY WATER TO DRINK.
WE HAD TO DRINK WATER FROM A FAUCET IN THE HOLDING CELL WHERE WE WERE DETAINED WITH 50 OTHER PEOPLE.
THE FOOD WE WERE FED CONTAINED MEAT THAT WAS ROTTEN AND MY DAUGHTER BECAME SICK AS A RESULT.
THE HOLDING CELL WAS EXTREMELY COLD, WHICH ONLY WORSENED MY DAUGHTER'S CONDITION.
I WAS LATER TOLD BY A MEDICAL PROVIDER WHEN I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE DETENTION CENTER THAT MY DAUGHTER HAD A LUNG INFECTION AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO GIVE HER WATER.
THE INFECTION WOULD SOON PASS.
HOWEVER, WHEN SHE ARRIVED TO SAN ANTONIO SHE WAS MET BY AN IWC VOLUNTEER WHO NOTICED HOW SICK THE CHILD WAS.
THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CHILDREN WHERE SHE COMPLETED A HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND ACCOMPANIED BY STAFF.
THERE SHE RECEIVED THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AND CARE THAT SHE NEEDED AND WAS ALSO PROVIDED SHELTER AFTER HER DISCHARGE.
THIS IS ONLY ONE STORY THAT REPRESENTS THE POWER OF THE COLLABORATION THAT HAS BEEN FORMED BETWEEN RAICES, THE INTERFAITH CLINTON MIGRANT RESOE CENTER AND THE ABILITY WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE NEEDS I ASK THAT THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER CONTINUE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS ALBERT MACIAS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5.
I AM 20 YEARS OLD, CURRENTLY A STUDENT AT TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY.
I'M A FIRST-GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICAN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO READ A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF A FRIEND, MRS. MARIA [INDISCERNIBLE] WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
I AM SORRY I CANNOT BE PRESENT TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST FOR MORE FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S IMMIGRANT IN ADDITION, I WANT TO EXPRESS DEEP APPRECIATION TO ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE BEEN GIVING OF THEIR TIME TO HELP THESE FAMILIES.
I ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE YES ON THIS ITEM.
WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING WITH THE VARIOUS FAITH GROUPS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IS LEVERAGING ITS RESOURCES WITH THE GOOD WILL PRESENT IN THE CITY AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS.
THIS TYPE OF COLLABORATION NEEDS TO BE ENCOURAGED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IF I MAY ADD, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.
THIS ENVIRONMENT IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT TO ME.
IT'S VERY OVERWHELMING TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
WITH THAT SAID, EVEN I CAN SAY CONFIDENTLY THAT PEOPLE DON'T STOP BEING PEOPLE NOR DO THEY STOP DESERVING HELP BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY COME FROM OR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH.
SO LET'S CONTINUE MAKING HISTORY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MACIAS.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
I'M A PASTOR AT TRAVIS PARK CHURCH, BUT WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING THE MIGRANTS FOR ABOUT SEVEN WEEKS NOW AND IT'S BEEN A JOY TO DO SO.
THEY ADD TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VIBRANCY WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO.
IN NOVEMBER I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO TRAVEL WITH THE ASYLUM
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SEEKERS TO MEXICO.JUST NORTH OF MEXICO CITY I CLIMBED ON TOP OF AN 18-WHEELER.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON TOP OF AN 18-WHEELER BEFORE AND IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A SCARY SITUATION.
I WAS HANGING OFF THE EDGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I WAS THERE THESE LEGS WRAPPED AROUND ME AND ALL I SAW WAS BROWN SHOES.
AND THAT'S A VERY AWKWARD WAY TO MEET SOMEBODY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND I LOOK BACK AND HE SMILED AND HE SAID I GOT YOU.
AND THE WHOLE TIME WE RODE TOGETHER LIKE A HUMAN PRETZEL.
EVERYBODY WAS CLINGING ON TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE HAD EACH OTHER'S BACK.
AND THAT'S THE LOVE THEY SHOWED ME, WHO REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO BE THERE.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS CITY IS GETTING EACH OTHER'S BACK.
WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED WHO ARE COMING THROUGH, WHO ARE LEGAL, WHO HAVE RECEIVED ASYLUM FROM OUR GOVERNMENT AND WHO ARE GOING TO THEIR HOST HOMES.
THE CITY HAS DONE A FABULOUS JOB.
THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR MEN TO STAY OVERNIGHT ALL THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TO KEEP WATCH AND KEEP US SAFE.
THE CITY STAFF HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
WE HAVE LIFTED STUFF OUT OF ROOMS ALL NIGHT LONG AND JUST MADE PEOPLE WELCOME.
I'VE CRACKED EGGS ON MELODY WOOSLEY DURING AN EASTER EGG HUNT, AND EVERYBODY HAS EMBRACED EACH OTHER, AND THIS CITY IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
I ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE DOING, SERVING THESE PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM TO THEIR HOST HOME SAFELY.
IT'S A JOY AND AN HONOR TO SEE THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE TRAVELED SO LONG TO SEEK A BETTER LIFE.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WHO IS CARING, ERIK WALSH, WHO HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB PROVIDING RESOURCES.
IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING BUT WE'RE ALWAYS THERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PASTOR ROGERS.
OUR CLERK HAS A WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO PLACE IN THE RECORD.
IT IS FROM AARON BELL AND IT'S FROM THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION IN FAVOR OF THE FUNDS.
AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH A FEW COMMENTS.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TWO MONTHS BUT I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD TO BE A RESIDENT OF A CITY AND A PUBLIC SERVANT OF THIS CITY THAN I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS CITY SPRING TO ACTION OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THE CITY'S CHARTER FOR COMPASSION WAS MENTIONED.
AND I GOT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT WARMS MY HEART BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZE A CHARTER FOR COMPASSION AS A PROCLAMATION, AS A SYMBOL FOR WHICH WE JUST POST ON THE WALL.
AND, GRANTED, IT IS PROUDLY POSTED ON MY WALL.
BUT IT WAS ALSO A DECLARATION THAT THIS CITY WOULD BE LED BY COMPASSION.
THAT THE FOUNDATION OF POLICY MAKING, THAT THE INITIATIVES AND THE RESOURCE PLANNING OF THIS CITY WOULD BE LED FROM THE HEART AND THAT NOTHING WE DO, WHETHER IT'S PAVING STREETS OR PAYING POLICE OFFICERS HAS DONE JUST FOR THAT PURPOSE, IT'S FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING PEOPLE AND FOR IMPROVING PEOPLE'S LIVES.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD OF MY CITY THAN WHEN I GOT A CALL FROM ERIK WALSH INFORMING ME THAT THEY HAD STOOD UP THE IMMIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
NOT BECAUSE OF A COUNCIL CCR, NOT BECAUSE OF A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR.
NOT BECAUSE OF A THREAT FROM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION BUT BECAUSE THAT IS IN OUR DNA AS A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IMMIGRATION HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE, THAT THAT MAKES ALL OF YOU VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS WE'VE SEEN COMPASSION IN SA IN ACTION.
WE HAVE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION WITH THE TRANSIT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS LEGALLY THROUGH SAN ANTONIO, AND OUR COMMUNITY RESPONSE HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE.
THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, FAITH, AND NONPROFIT LEADERS SUCH AS CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THE FOOD BANK, THE INTERFAITH WELCOMING COALITION, TRAVIS PARK CHURCH, AND THE CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AND GIVING THEIR HEARTS, THEIR ENERGY, THEIR TIME AND THEIR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN NEED.
THEY'RE DOING THIS WORK NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO BUT BECAUSE IT'S WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
WE SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR DNA AND IT'S WHO WE ARE.
AND THUS FAR WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN 150 VOLUNTEERS, PROVIDED OVER 11,000 MEALS AND SHELTERED OVER 3,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR
[01:05:03]
PARENTS BEFORE THEY CONTINUED ON THEIR TRAVELS.LAST NIGHT I WAS THERE AND SPOKE WITH A GROUP OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WAS MANNING THE SHELTER FOR OVER 230 PEOPLE.
AND I ASKED WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? SHE SAID A CHEESEBURGER AND A MILKSHAKE.
BUT THAT WHILE THE WORK IS DRAINING, IT WAS UPLIFTING AND GIVING OF ENERGY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT FUELS US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IS BEING ABLE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK AND PUBLICLY THANK ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE 339 CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES WHO STEPPED UP AFTER HOURS AND ON THE WEEKEND TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES.
THANK YOU FOR LEADING AN ORGANIZATION WHO SNAPS INTO ACTION NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE TOLD WHAT TO DO BUT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
NOW THE CITY COUNCIL'S EFFORTS WITH ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES.
THIS WEEK WE WERE INFORMED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THAT THEY WOULD BE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TRANSITING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO IN THE FUTURE WITH NO END IN SIGHT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE TO MEET THESE GROWING NEEDS.
THE CITY IS PREPARED TO BOLSTER OUR PARTNERSHIP PROVIDING FUNDING TO OFFSET THEIR COSTS WHILE ALSO PURSUING FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.
STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED LAUNCHING A MATCHING PROGRAM AS A WAY TO INCREASE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR TOP PRIORITY IS PROVIDING CARE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED AND WE'LL DO SO IN A FINANCIALLY PRUDENT MANNER, BUT WE'LL DO SO REGARDLESS, BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FAITH LATELY.
AND I AM SO PROUD TO SEE THE FAITH COMMUNITY PRESENT TODAY.
AND FOR ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF THE FAITH, WE TAKE LESSON IN SOME OF THE CHAPTERS AND VERSE IN ANY OF THE BOOKS.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ ONE NOW THAT YOU KNOW PROBABLY BY HEART, MATTHEW 25:35 AND 36.
I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT.
I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK.
I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU INVITED ME IN.
I NEEDED CLOTHES AND YOU CLOTHED ME.
I WAS SICK AND YOU LOOKED AFTER ME.
I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO VISIT ME.
THAT'S COMPASSIONATE SAN ANTONIO THESE FAMILIES SEEKING ASYLUM ARE VULNERABLE IN NEED OF FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHES, AND CARE.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED WE PROVIDE THE CARE THEY DESERVE.
OUR CITY IS A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY.
IT'S WHO WE ARE AND I'M PROUD, JUST AS YOU ARE, OF SAN ANTONIO'S RESPONSE OF ALL THE FAITH AND NONPROFIT VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND THEIR EFFORT TO SERVE OTHERS.
THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE VERY BEST OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR CITY MANAGER, TO OUR STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR THE RECOMMENDATION.
I'M IN FULL SUPPORT AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ADVANCE THE PLAN.
AND YOU KNOW, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE IN MY HOMETOWN OF MCALLEN.
LAST YEAR WE WENT DOWN TO MCALLEN TO HELP OUT SISTER PIMEN TELL.
I WAS JOINED MY LAURA MOLINAR, WHO IS HERE TODAY, TO DO A LOT OF WORK, AS SHE EXPRESSED TO YOU, IN RECOGNIZING THAT WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AT THE HEART OF THIS IS TRULY ABOUT HUMAN COMPASSION.
AND COMPASSION IS JUST A CONCEPT UNTIL IT'S PUT INTO PRACTICE.
I THINK THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, DID WE THINK THIS WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? DID WE REALLY THINK THAT? YOU KNOW, I LOOKED UP TO SAN ANTONIO WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN MCALLEN AND SAID THAT'S A CITY I WANT TO LIVE IN.
THAT'S A CITY I WANT TO MAKE MY LIFE IN.
[01:10:02]
WALSH ABOUT HOW CAN WE HELP THE CITY OF MCALLEN AND HOW CAN WE HELP SISTER PIMENTELL.I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THAT, BECAUSE HE DID JUST THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT OVER THESE LAST -- ALMOST A YEAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
HE GOT PAT TO HELP CREATE AN EMERGENCY MANUAL FOR SISTER PIMENTELL WHO IS NOT A SPECIALIST IN THIS ISSUE.
WE HAVE MANY MORE RESOURCES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAN MCALLEN.
AND SISTER PIMENTELL IS ONE PERSON OUT OF MANY ALONG THE BORDER WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
I CALLED MARIA VILLAGOMEZ ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SIMPLE REQUEST.
DO WE NOT HAVE SHOWERS THAT WE CAN SEND SISTER PIMENTELL? MARIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING SO GRACEFULLY.
YOU KNOW, THOSE SHOWERS HAVE MEANT A LOT TO THAT ORGANIZATION.
AND IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHERE I GOT THE NOTION FOR SHOWERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THERE IT IS.
THANK YOU, DR. BRIDGER, FOR MAKING THAT A REALITY HERE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE I WAS ASKING FOR THESE SHOWERS.
AND YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT COMPASSION? THEN BE FOR SHOWERS.
I SAW A LOT OF KIDS SUFFERING.
I SAW A LOT OF KIDS DEALING WITH A VERY TOUGH ISSUE.
AN ISSUE THAT I THINK A LOT OF US IN THIS ROOM COULD NOT DEAL WITH.
I HELD ONE KID WHO SAID BROUGHT ME TO TEARS.
ISN'T THAT -- OR ISN'T THOSE THE PEOPLE WE WANT IN THIS COUNTRY? PEOPLE THAT CAN HANDLE IT.
I CAN REMEMBER SPENDING THE NIGHT AT THE MENNONITE CHURCH WITH JOHN GARLAND AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THEY DO.
I WANT TO THANK THE COALITION, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE.
AND RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE NOT ONLY A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, BUT REPRESENTING THIS COMMUNITY IN THIS SEAT WHERE I KNOW THAT I GET TO SAY SOMETHING AND THEN IT'S HEARD.
YOU CAN COUNT ON MY OFFICE, MYSELF VOLUNTEERING AT THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO AS WELL ABOUT THIS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES.
AND I GOT TO SEE HOW IT'S WELL ORGANIZED.
IT'S NOT THE SAME DOWN IN MCALLEN.
IT'S NOT THE SAME IN MANY OTHER AREAS.
MY ONLY ASK IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A SAN ANTONIO PROBLEM OR ISSUE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE I ASK US TO LEAD AND LEAD REGIONALLY.
OF COURSE I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.
OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE.
I WANT TO THANK THE FOOD BANK.
THANK YOU, ERIK, COOPER, ALL THOSE INVOLVED.
WE KNOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
IT'S ABOUT BASIC HUMAN COMPASSION.
THEREFORE, I MOVE TO INCLUDE AN ALLOCATION OF $141,000 FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF FOOD, SHELTER, AND JANITORIAL, LAUNDRY, AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN SUPPORT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TRAVELING THROUGH OUR CITY.
OF THE $141,000, $86,000 SHALL BE ALLOCATED IMMEDIATELY IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS.
$56,000 TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
$30,000 TO THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
AND THE REMAINING $55,000 SHALL
[01:15:02]
BE ALLOCATED TO THE SAME ENTITIES PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 AS PART OF A COMMUNITY CHALLENGE TO RAISE UP TO IN AUDIO] FOR EACH CITY DOLLAR INVESTED.SO THE MAIN MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ORDINANCE, THE 2019 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AMENDED BY WHAT I STATED PREVIOUSLY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4 AND AMENDED AS STATED BY COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
JUSTINA, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS HERE. CLARE LARGE AREA REZONING, WHERE WILL THOSE TWO POSITIONS BE HOUSED? IN WHAT DEPARTMENT?
>> THEY WILL BE HOUSED UNDER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
>> BUT IT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THEN UNDER THE -- I DID WANT TO HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION TOO ON WE DID GET FEEDBACK OR THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY PASSED ON THE CABLE FEES RIGHT OF WAY AND THAT WE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO COLLECT THOSE FEES.
SO CARLOS OR ERIK, WHOMEVER WANTS TO SPEAK ON THAT.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING OUR BUDGET OR IT'S NOT? BECAUSE IT'S $7 MILLION THAT'S NOW GOING TO BE GONE FROM NEXT YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR.
>> YES, MA'AM, COUNCILWOMAN, SENATE BILL 1152 HAS BEEN PASSED BY BOTH THE SENATE AND IS ABOUT TO BE PASSED BY THE HOUSE CHAMBER.
THAT WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF PRECLUDING THE CITY FROM BEING ABLE TO CHARGE FOR CERTAIN FEES IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND THE NET EFFECT IS $7.3 MILLION TO THE CITY IMMEDIATELY.
THAT STILL HAS TO BE PASSED BY THE CHAMBER, WHICH WE EXPECT IT TO BE DONE.
IT HAS TO BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
>> VIAGRAN: AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING IT WILL GO INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER THEN?
>> VIAGRAN: JUSTINA, WE DID BUDGET FOR THAT THIS YEAR, $600,000?
IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROJECTION WE REDUCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS BY $600,000.
THE FORECAST INCLUDES A REDUCTION OF THE $7 MILLION.
AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU JUSTINA FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THESE AMENDMENTS AND THE MOTION, THE MAIN MOTION AND THE AMENDMENTS MOVING FORWARD.
TO WHAT MANY HAVE ALREADY SHARED, THANK YOU, ERIK VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AS WELL.
AND I HAVE TO ALSO GIVE MY THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, MELODY WOOSLEY AND EDWARD AND EVERYONE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU ALL STEP UP AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THIS.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.
YOU HAVE DONE IT BEFORE AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
AND THAT'S JUST HOW YOU ALL ARE, STEPPING UP IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
THAT IS IN YOUR HEART AND AS YOU ALL MOVE, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION AND A STEPPING OFF POINT.
I DO WANT TO THANK MARY ROSE BROWN FOR TALKING WITH ME, SHARING ABOUT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND THE PLANS NOW WITH THE FAMILIES.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT FAMILIES, SO THIS AMENDMENT THAT WAS MADE HERE ON THE DAIS IS ABOUT FAMILIES AND TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, JUST LIKE WE WANT TO DO WITH HAVEN AND THIS NEW BUILDING OFF OF WEST MARTIN AS WE CONTINUE TO COORDINATE TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER AS A CITY TO ADDRESS AND CREATE SOLUTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO COMPREHENSIVE AND HOMELESS ISSUES IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, KENNY, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HERE WHO STEP UP TO THE PLATE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO STEP UP TO THE PLATE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING HERE.
BUT TO ALL THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HERE, WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THIS.
FOR OUR ASYLUM SEEKERS, FOR OUR MIGRANTS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR HOMELESS PLANNING THAT WE NEED TO DO.
[01:20:01]
WE NEED EVERYONE, ALL HANDS ON DECK WHEN WE'RE CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.YOU KNOW, THIS PAST -- I DON'T REMEMBER.
I WAS IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND ONE OF THE PANEL DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY HAD WAS ABOUT HOW DOES IMMIGRATION AND HOW DO WE DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN OUR CITY.
I WAS SO PROUD TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT WE ARE LEADING THE WAY.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY IN THIS.
SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S COME FORWARD.
AND, AGAIN, WE DO NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK HERE.
AND THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE.
AND WE NEED TO BE WHO WE ARE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, LAURA, FOR SHARING THE STORIES THAT YOU DID.
THANK YOU, ISABEL, FOR SHARING THE STORIES THAT YOU DID AND THAT YOU SEE EVERY DAY AND HOW YOU WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THAT THIS IS -- THAT WE ARE TEJANOS, THAT WE ARE SAN ANTONIANS AND THIS IS OUR WAY OF HOW WE DO THINGS.
IF WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME YOU, WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME YOU.
AND AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DO HAVE YOUR BACK.
THANK YOU, PASTOR GARLAND, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THE COMPASSION AND THE LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CITY THAT WE HAVE TO SHARE THAT LOVE AND EXTEND THAT LOVE TO ALL PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH OUR CITY TOO.
SO, THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY AND THAT WE ARE PROTECTING ALL OF THOSE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE.
AND ALL OF THE ASYLUM SEEKERS, EVERYONE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE TO GET TO THE NEXT POINT THAT THEY NEED TO BE THAT WELCOMING FACE TO THE UNITED STATES.
I'M SO PROUD TODAY OF WHO WE ARE SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE HEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT TODAY THIS MOMENT, I AM SO PROUD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TODAY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS CITY COUNCIL.
I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE FAITH COMMUNITY, IN PARTICULAR.
THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP IN A WAY THAT YOU HAVE.
IT JUST MAKES ME SWELL WITH PRIDE TO BE A SAN ANTONIAN AND KNOW THAT I LIVE IN THE SAME CITY AND BREATHE THE SAME OXYGEN AS ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE FOR INVITING PASTOR MIKE.
THAT INVOCATION WAS VERY POWERFUL.
HE'S SOMEBODY I ADMIRE VERY MUCH.
AND I THINK THAT HIS INVOCATION WAS PARTICULARLY SERENDIPITOUS IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IN THIS REQUEST.
IN FACT, I LIKED HIS INVOCATION SO MUCH I TOOK NOTES.
AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE SAID THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME.
GOD, WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT YOU HEAR THE PRAYERS RAISED TO YOU.
PASTOR MIKE SAID THE WORDS DUTY OF LEADERSHIP THREE TIMES.
AND HE SAID HE PRAYED THAT WE, CITY COUNCIL, SURROUND THE POOR, THE VULNERABLE.
AND HE SAID CHILDREN AND THAT WE SURROUND THEM WITH LOVE.
NOW, ERIK, I UNDERSTAND THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THESE, ARE REALLY VULNERABLE MOMS AND KIDS WHO ARE SCARED AND THEY'RE TIRED AND THEY'RE HUNGRY.
AND I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE RAISING THEIR PRAYERS, PRAYING THAT SOME LEADERS SOMEWHERE WILL STEP UP AND SURROUND THEM WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION.
SO THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO THE WORDS THAT PASTOR MIKE STARTED HIS INVOCATION WITH, WHICH WAS GOD WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT YOU HEAR THOSE PRAYERS RAISED UP TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT MAX AND SOPHIA OFTEN, MY TWO KIDS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TEACH MY KIDS IS THAT LEADERSHIP REQUIRES THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S THAT WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY IN NEED, YOU HELP THEM.
AND, NUMBER TWO, WHEN YOU LEAD YOU LEAD OUT FRONT AND YOU LEAD OUT LOUD.
AND, NUMBER THREE, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THAT YOU NEVER LET ANYBODY TALK YOU OUT OF OR DISTRACT YOU FROM NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO.
SO I WILL POINT OUT THAT THIS IS NOTHING EXOTIC OR OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR US.
WE HAVE, IN THE PAST, DONE EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED
[01:25:02]
TODAY IN THE EXACT SAME WAY THAT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO.SO I'LL GIVE YOU A HISTORY REMINDER, AND THAT IS WHEN KATRINA DESTROYED NEW ORLEANS MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM STEPPED UP.
I KNOW HAVEN WAS THERE AND I KNOW OUR FRIENDS AT THE FOOD BANK WERE THERE.
AND I KNOW THE FAITH COMMUNITY WAS THERE.
AND THE CITY WITH VOLUNTEERS AND WITH CITY FUNDS, WE HOUSED, WE FED, AND WE SERVED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
NOT ONCE DID WE ASK ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHERE ARE YOU FROM, YOU KNOW, AND DEPENDED UPON THAT ANSWER WE WILL HELP YOU OR WE WON'T.
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE DO THINGS.
WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT RECENTLY, WE SENT FOOD, WE SENT VOLUNTEERS, WE SENT SUPPLIES, OUR PRAYERS, OUR LOVE, AND CITY RESOURCES.
AND I'M GOING TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE EVERYBODY'S BEEN UP HERE TALKING AND WHILE WE GOT OUR PRESENTATIONS, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GO LOOK AT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGES.
THEY'RE BLOWING UP WITH WHAT WE USUALLY GET.
A LOT OF FOLKS CRYING FOUL THAT, YOU KNOW, OH MY GOSH.
YOU'RE HELPING THESE FOLKS AND THAT WE NEED TO BE SCREENING PEOPLE FOR THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS BEFORE WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO BE HELPFUL.
ANOTHER CREATIVE OBJECTION THAT I'VE SEEN POP UP A FEW TIMES IS THAT RAICES HAS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE NEED TO ASK THEM TO SPEND THEIR MONEY.
I GUESS WE COULD PASS THE BUCK BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND THAT'S NOT THE SAN ANTONIO WAY OF DOING THINGS.
WE'RE NOT THE SAN ANTONIO THAT TELLS VULNERABLE PEOPLE, SORRY FOR YOUR BAD LUCK.
GO TALK TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S GOT MONEY.
IN FACT, WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE ARE FACING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS WE DON'T SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHO'S GOT A LOT OF MONEY? BILL GREEHEY.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND SAYING THIS IS PART OF OUR PROBLEM AS WELL AND WE ARE GOING TO THROW CITY RESOURCES BEHIND THIS.
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR AMBULANCES WE DON'T SAY WE COULD PURCHASE MORE AMBULANCES BUT LAST I HEARD HARVEY PURCHASED TWO.
THAT GUY LIKES BUYING AMBULANCES.
WE THROW OUR WEIGHT BEHIND IT.
IF WE DID DO THAT, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THAT PASTOR MIKE PRAYED FOR TODAY.
IT'S NOT THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP I TEACH MY KIDS.
SO THEY'RE THE REASON I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS IS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME TONIGHT AND LOOK MY KIDS IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM THAT I SPENT HOURS YESTERDAY WORRYING AND AGONIZING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF PEDESTRIANS FROM THE EVIL SCOURGE OF SCOOTERS BUT THAT WHEN IT CAME TIME AND WHEN I WAS PRESENTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MOMS AND BABIES WHO WERE SCARED THAT I PASSED THE BUCK.
AND SO YOU GOT MY SUPPORT, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET REGARDING THE POSITIONS THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS ASKING ABOUT.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE FOR A LARGE SCALE OF REZONING.
ARE THOSE TEMPORARY POSITIONS OR POSITIONS THAT WILL STAY? AND I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION FOR MIKE REGARDING THE SIX POSITIONS FOR DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, IF THEY ARE TEMPORARY.
>> THESE ARE FULL-TIME POSITIONS.
>> GONZALES: AND INTENDED TO STAY, NOT JUST INTENDED TO GO THROUGH THE TERM OF THE REZONING.
>> GONZALES: MIKE, I HAD THE SAME QUESTION FOR YOU ALSO REGARDING THE DSD SIX POSITIONS.
IF THOSE ARE PERMANENT POSITIONS OR IF THEY ARE TEMPORARY.
>> NO, THEY'RE PERMANENT POSITIONS.
SO THE ENTERPRISE FUND, AS IT GROWS, AND THE ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO GROW, WE'RE EXPERIENCE MORE PERMANENCE COMING IN, MORE REVENUE.
THESE ARE PERMANENT POSITIONS.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SIGN THAT THE CITY IS SEEKING MORE PERMITS THAT WE ARE GROWING AND THAT WE SHOULD HAVE GREATER PROSPERITY IN OUR CITY.
AND REGARDING SORT OF THE OTHER $2.4 MILLION FOR HAVEN, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT AS WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY THAT HAVEN FOR HOPE IS NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
[01:30:02]
SITUATIONS AND THAT THE IDEA IS THAT WE TRANSITION PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.SO I DO -- AND I KNOW THAT HERE WE'RE SHOWING THAT WE EXPECT TO HELP ABOUT 500 PEOPLE ANNUALLY, AND HOPEFULLY THOSE PEOPLE WILL TRANSITION INTO MORE STABLE COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW THAT HAVEN IS REALLY THE BEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS SITUATION TO GET FULL WRAPAROUND RESOURCES.
AND SO I'VE ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES WHY WE CAN'T UTILIZE HAVEN, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, SO PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH TEMPORARY HOUSING.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AT HAVEN, SO YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE SHOWN RESIDENCY FOR AT LEAST IN A TEMPORARY SENSE.
>> SO FIRST TO THE QUESTION OF RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, THEY DON'T TURN PEOPLE BACK TO THE STREET.
THEY GIVE NEM A PERIOD OF TIME, IS IT 60 OR 90 DAYS, TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY.
THE OTHER CONCERN WITH USING HAVEN FOR HOPE TO HELP WITH THE IMMIGRANT SURGE IS THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE 2.4 MILLION TO ADD ADDITIONAL BEDS IS TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
>> GONZALES: AND SO THERE WOULD NOTE BE A SITUATON WHERE WE COULD UTILIZE HAVEN IN THE EVENT THAT -- I KNOW THEY ARE TO CAPACITY, THAT'S WHY THE URGENT NEED FOR THE 2.4 MILLION, BUT WOULD THAT EVER BE AN OPTION IF THERE WERE -- I MEAN, WE DO ANTICIPATE THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION TO GROW.
WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 500 BEDS HERE, IS THAT AN OPTION FOR HERE, GIVEN THE NEED FOR RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT?
>> AND I'LL ASK HAVEN FOR HOPE TO COMMENT ON THAT AS WELL.
BUT I KNOW THAT EVERY TIME WE HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THIS, HAVEN IS ONE OF THE FIRST AGENCIES THAT CALLS AND SAYS HOW CAN WE HELP? SO IF THEY HAVE CAPACITY, IF -- IF THERE IS A WAY FOR THEM TO HELP US, THEY WOULD OFFER TO DO THAT.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE THEM BEING A PART OF ANY SOLUTION THAT THEY CAN HELP.
>> GONZALES: KENNY, CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT AT ALL OR --
>> GONZALES: KENNY, CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT AT ALL? I KNOW WE'RE -- HAVEN IS DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE HOMELESS, BUT GIVEN THIS KIND OF URGENT NEED, WHAT SERVICES MIGHT YOU OFFER? IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A NATURAL COOPERATION?
>> CERTAINLY WE ARE COOPERATING.
WE'VE TALKED TO MELODY AND HER STAFF ALMOST DAILY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, JUST TO BE INFORMED.
AND AS ERIK AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, THE INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, I BELIEVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ARE -- HAVE A DESTINATION ELSEWHERE, SO THERE ARE -- THERE'S NO ONE STAYING HERE AT THIS POINT.
WE WONDER, COULD THAT CHANGE? AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE A PLACE THAT HELPS THOSE WITHOUT A HOME.
BUT AS YOU POINT OUT, WE ARE AT CAPACITY, AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US.
THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT IS -- WAS ESTABLISHED MANY YEARS AGO AT THE BEGINNING OF HAVEN TO MAKE THIS FOR SAN ANTONIO AND TO AVOID ANYONE WITHOUT A HOMECOMING TO SAN ANTONIO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BEING A HAVEN FOR HOPE.
THAT IS TO RESERVE HAVEN FOR THOSE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS THAT LOSE THEIR HOME AND, I THINK THAT'S WORTHWHILE, BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, WE ARE -- WE ARE AT CAPACITY.
AND THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE MORE BEDS TO OPEN UP.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, KENNY.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S A DIFFERENT POPULATION THAT WE'RE SERVING.
>> GONZALES: MY SENSE IS THAT, THOUGH, THERE IS A FACILITY, AND THAT'S WHERE PERHAPS THE PARTNERSHIP COULD ARISE, SO I -- I IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.
I KNOW THAT BOTH OF THESE SITUATIONS ARE URGENT.
>> GONZALES: SO THERE'S NOT TIME TO FIGURE IT OWL OUT TODAY, BUT I IMAGINE THAT OVERTIME WE'LL HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS, BECAUSE WE DO ANTICIPATE MORE IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS PASSING THROUGH.
>> GONZALES: AND WE ANTICIPATE A LARGER HOMELESS POPULATION AS WELL, SO I SUSPECT THAT WE WILL
[01:35:01]
HAVE SOME SORT OF COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HOW WE DEAL WITH BOTH SITUATIONS.MY SENSE IS THEY SHOULDN'T BE INDEPENDENT JUST GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE FOOD BANK IS PROVIDING MEALS, WE HAVE A PHYSICAL SHELTER.
>> GONZALES: I KNOW THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS WITH THE MENNONITE CHURCH, WHEN WE HAD ONE SURGE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE URGENT REQUIREMENTS AND WHY THEY HAVE FIRE OFFICERS AND FIRE THERE EVERY DAY IS BECAUSE IT'S A HAZARD, THE CONDITIONS ARE REALLY NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR HOUSING A LOT OF PEOPLE AT SOME OF THE SHELTERS, AND SO THE URGENCY IS THAT THE AREA WAS NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED, AS I WAS THERE ALONG WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT NIGHT, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ASK THE PEOPLE TO MOVE AGAIN BECAUSE IT WASN'T -- THE SHELTER, THE MENNONITE SHURNLG WAS REALLY-- CHURCH WAS REALLY NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD 300 PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM CHILDREN.
BUT HAVEN DOES HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS POTENTIAL SPACE THAT YOU'RE OPENING UP.
SO I -- YOU KNOW, I'M -- I HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE WILL, AND WE HAVE IT REGULARLY.
AND YOU MENTIONED THE FOOD BANK, IT'S THE FOOD BANK THAT SILLTY AT HAVEN FOR HOME THAT IS PREPARING THE MEALS NOR THE RESOURCE CENTER.
AS I SAID, WE ARE IN REGULAR CONVERSATION WITH MELODY AND ALL OF HER TEAM.
WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS AT HAVEN FOR HOPE, ABOUT 1,000 A MONTH, AND WE HAVE SENT THE WORD OUT TO THOSE VOLUNTEERS THAT WE NEED HELP AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.
WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION ABOUT ALL THESE EMERGENCIES -- HURRICANE HARVEY WAS MENTIONED.
OUR HAVEN STAFF STAFFED THE -- ONE OF THE SHELTERS THAT WASN'T HEAVILY UTILIZED BECAUSE, AS YOU RECALL, I-10 WAS SHUT DOWN AND NOT MANY COULD GET TO SAN ANTONIO.
BUT WE ARE -- WE ARE IN TOUCH REGULARLY.
WE ATTEND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MEETINGS, AND AS I SAID, THE FOOD BANK AT HAVEN IS PROVIDING THE MEALS FOR THE RESOURCE CENTER.
WE'RE IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION.
I WISH IT WERE NOT THE CASE, BUT WE ARE FULL, AND WE -- WE DO NOT TURN PEOPLE AWAY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHILDREN.
AS YOU AND I'VE DISCUSSED, WE'VE GOT -- THIS FUNDING WILL ENABLE US TO OPEN UP MORE BEDS, GET MORE FAMILIES IN, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT THEM IN REALLY TEMPORARY QUARTERS.
BUT WE, AS A POLICY AND AS A KIND OF A MORAL BELIEF, WE WILL NOT SAY TO A FAMILY, YOU CAN'T COME IN BECAUSE WE'RE FULL.
THEY CAN SLEEP IN MY OFFICE IF THEY WANT TO.
>> GONZALES: I KNOW THAT, AND I'VE WITNESSED IT PERSONALLY, THAT YOUR GENEROSITY, YOUR PERSONAL GENEROSITY, BUT ALSO OF ALL THE PEOPLE AT HAVEN AND THE WORK WE DO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KENNY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES GONZALEZ I GUESS EVEN GET --
>> GONZALES: I GUESS JUST GETTING BACK TO THE QUESTION, WHEN DID WE OPEN A RESOURCE CENTER.
I'M VERY AWARE OF WHAT NONPROFITS ARE DOING, I'M VERY WELL AWARE OF WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARE DOING, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEAR THAT WE HAVE A RESOURCE CENTER.
>> COUNCILWOMAN, THAT HAPPENED THE DAY OF THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH, WE'VE PROBABLY BEEN -- WE'D GONE THROUGH ABOUT TWO OR THREE DAYS OF INCREASED ACTIVITY AT GREYHOUND BUS STATION AND AFTER THE MARCH, MARIA AND THE POLICE CHIEF AND I WENT TO THE BUS STATION AND SPOKE TO THE INTERFAITH COALITION, SAW THE CONDITIONS AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE THERE, AND I KNEW THAT WE HAD A VACANT STOREFRONT RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AT THE ST.
I'VE PROVIDED AN E-MAIL UPDATE TO THE -- OR A MEMO TO THE COUNCIL THAT FOLLOWING WEEK, AND I ASKED STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THAT STOREFRONT AREA AS -- AND I SAID IT EARLIER, IT'S A PLACE WHERE -- AT THE BUS STATION, I SAW DONATIONS PILED UP IN THE CORNER OF THE BUS STATION, JUST LITERALLY PILED UP.
AN AREA OF THE BUS STATION KIND OF CORDONED OFF, INDIVIDUALS HUDDLED IN AN AREA.
AND I THOUGHT THAT ACROSS THE STREET, NOT THAT FAR AWAY, WE HAD 2100 SQUARE FEET IN A CITY-OWNED PROPERTY THAT WAS VACANT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TENANTS, AND WE WOULD UTILIZE THAT AS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FRIENDLIER PLACE TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, HAVE THE KIDS PLAY, TRANSITION.
[01:40:02]
DAY, AND I'VE INFORMED THE COUNCIL A NUMBER OF TIMES ABOUT THAT ACTIVITY.I DIDN'T -- I DON'T KNOW IF I REALIZED THAT THAT WAS A CITY-RUN FACILITY.
IT WAS MY EXPERIENCE -- UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE NONPROFITS.
AND I THINK ALL THE NONPROFITS UTILIZE IT.
WE HAVE STAFF VOLUNTEERS, CITY EMPLOYEES THERE.
OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT FOLKS FROM THE JANITORIAL STAFF, FROM PARKING FACILITIES WHO ARE MAINTAINING THE BATHROOMS THERE.
BUT IT'S KIND OF THE DAYTIME WAITING AREA.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THERE ON THE WINDOW, THEY'LL PUT ON THERE, YOU KNOW, THE DALLAS BUS IS LEAVING AT 3:00 SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING FOR THE BUS OR NEED A PLACE TO STAY DURING THE DAY ARE DOING THAT IN THE RESOURCE CENTER AND WALKING ACROSS THE STREET TO GET ON THE BUS, OR --
>> GONZALES: I'M SORRY, ERIK, TO INTERRUPT, IS IT A -- IS IT OPEN TO EVERYONE? AND HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT GIVING DONATIONS, HOW TO VOLUNTEER? WHAT -- IS THERE MORE INFORMATION THAT THE CITY CAN DO, BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE A VERY GENEROUS COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DONATE.
AND, IN FACT, WHEN WE HAD THAT SURGE OF IMMIGRANTS --
>> GONZALES: I DON'T KNOW IF JOHN GARLAND IS STILL HERE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM INTERFAITH, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WAS -- PLEASE, NO MORE SUPPLIES.
WE CANNOT HANDLE ANY MORE SUPPLIES.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE, I THINK THEY WERE ASKING PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO ONE THING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC IS WHERE CAN THEY GO VOLUNTEER.
>> GONZALES: AND, IN FACT, AT THAT TIME WE WERE ASKING FOR TEACHERS TO ENTERTAIN -- TO TEACH THE KIDS WHILE THEY WERE THERE.
WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE, TRANSLATION SERVICES, PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE.
SO WHAT IS THE ACTION THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME WAY, WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTEERING OR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS?
>> SO WE'RE REQUESTING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS GO THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
AND THEY WILL MANAGE THOSE AND PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES TO THE OTHER NONPROFITS.
>> GONZALES: I'M SORRY, I WANT TO KNOW HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW IT WILL GO TO THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW CATHOLIC CHARITIES DOES A LOT OF THINGS.
THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGNATE THAT TO THIS EFFORT.
WE'VE PUT THAT WORD OUT THROUGH A NUMBER OF SOURCES, THROUGH THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, THROUGH TEXT ALERT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN ALL OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE ALSO USING THEIR SOURCES, SOCIAL MEDIA, TO RECEIVE DONATIONS.
AND FOOD BANK IS ALSO COORDINATING DONATIONS OF CLOTHING, OF UNDERWEAR, WATER, ALL OF THOSE HYGIENE PRODUCTS THAT THE MIGRANTS MIGHT NEED.
>> GONZALES: AND IT CAN GO DIRECTLY TO THE FOOD BANK BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING THEY HAVE IS A FACILITY, BUT YOU CAN DONATE SUPPLIES AND FOOD? IS THAT RIGHT, MARIO?
>> GONZALES: SUPPLIES AND FOOD, AND THEY TAKE IT TO THE CENTER OVER OFF OF 90?
AND THEN FINANCIAL DONATIONS THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE PART OF THE STIPULATION IN THE AMENDMENT IS THAT THE CHARITIES NEED TO RAISE THE FUNDS, AND IT'S -- SO WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE FUND RAIDING EFFORT? -- FUNDRAISING EFFORT?
>> WALSH: I WOULD EXPECT, COUNCILWOMAN, BASED ON THE AMENDMENT THAT COUNCILMAN TREVINO TALKED ABOUT, THAT WE LAY THAT $55,000 OUT THERE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND GIVE THE AGENCIES TIME TO -- AUDIO] -- AT LEAST FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION, AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
AND THIS LIKELY WILL NOT BE THE LAST UPDATE THAT THE STAFF GIVES YOU, AND WE CAN AMEND AND ADJUST LATER.
THAT'S A CHALLENGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO RAISE AT LEAST 55,000.
110 TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, TO THE FOOD BANK, TO INTERFAITH COALITION, BUT I GUESS YOU'RE ASKING EVERYTHING GO THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
SO GET THE WORD OUT, EVERYONE! WE NEED THAT 110,000 TO MATCH IF WE APPROVE THIS AMENDMENT TODAY, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT.
AND ALSO JUST REALLY PROUD OF THIS CITY.
I'VE SEEN IT IN ACTION SO MANY TIMES.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT'S COME UP.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LOT OF YEARS WITHOUT A LOT OF PUBLICITY.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A QUIET -- AND I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AT IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, PEOPLE AT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AND OF COURSE THE CITY.
[01:45:01]
I KNOW THAT MARIA HAS PERSONALLY DEDICATED A LOT OF HER TIME AND I SUSPECT YOU HAVE AS WELL.AND TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, REALLY, REALLY PROUD, GREAT WORK FOR ALL OF YOU.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE FUNDRAISING EFFORT FOR THIS AREA.
I THINK THAT WAS ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ABOUT THIS EFFORT.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
AND I, TOO, SUPPORT THE -- ALL THE WORK THAT THE CITY STAFF HAS DONE ON THIS PARTICULAR SIX BY SIX BUDGET.
THANK YOU CITY MANAGER FOR EL AUSTIN AND FINDING SUPPORTING FOR THAT.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE HAVEN EFFORT AND OTHERS. &-ÚE WITH REGARD TO THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND ERIK, FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEA AND WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT THE ISSUE.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT I SEE COUNCILMAN PEREZ IS IN THE AUDIENCE, WE WERE HERE DURING THE KATRINA EVENT, AND MAYOR HARDBERGER AND OUR CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME HELPED LEAD THAT EFFORT, ALONG WITH -- ALONGSIDE CITY STAFF.
BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE, IT WAS PURELY HUMANITARIAN.
I THINK THE ISSUE TODAY IS NOT JUST HUMANITARIAN, WHILE I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN ON THAT, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ELEMENT OF POLITICS IN THERE.
AND I WILL JUST FLAT OUT SAY SHAME ON THE ELEMENTS WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ARE PUSHING THESE SORTS OF ISSUES OFF AND PLAYING POLITICS AS OPPOSED TO HUMANITY AND HUMANITARIAN POSITIONS.
THAT, FOR ME, IS SHAMEFUL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT'S -- IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE WHEN ELEMENTS OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO NOT.
AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH, I THINK, COUNCILWOMAN PELAEZ SAID IT EARLIER, I DON'T NEED ANY SCREENING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND TAKING A QUOTE FROM ALBERT MACIAS SO WHO CAME IN AND SPOKE EARLIER, PEOPLE DON'T STOP BEING PEOPLE, AND I DON'T NEED A SCREENING PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT.
NOR DO THOSE PEOPLE STOP NEEDING AND DESERVING HELP.
SO WHENEVER PEOPLE NEED HELP AND DESERVE HELP, I'M GOING TO SET ASIDE ANY KIND OF POLITICS AND FOCUS ON THE HUMANITARIAN SIDE.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE CITY AND THE CITY OF COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CHEW, COUNCILMAN HALL.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, WE'RE PUTTING $2.4 MILLION AS A GRANT FOR THEM TO RENOVATE OR COMPLETE THE RENOVATION OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ORIGINAL RENOVATION IS SOMEWHAT IN DISPUTE WITH THE CONTRACTOR.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT DISPUTE, THE JOB WASN'T COMPLETED PROPERLY AND HAVEN IS TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THAT CONTRACTOR TO RECUPERATE SOME OF THE COSTS ITS GOING TO TAKE TO REPAIR THE FACILITY AND MAKE IT READY FOR USE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
YES, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, YOU ARE CORRECT.
HAVEN FOR HOPE IS CURRENTLY SEEK ING THROUGH LEGAL ACTION TO GET REIMBURSED BY THIS ENTITY, AND THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING THAT FINANCIAL DOLLARS, THEY WILL BE PROVIDING THOSE TO THE CITY TO THE EXTENT -- UP TO THE EXTENT OF THE $2.4 MILLION.
>> COURAGE: TO REIMBURSE THE GRANT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMAN.
>> COURAGE: I THINK IT'S RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP ON THE PART OF HAVEN FOR HOPE AND FOR THE CITY.
OBVIOUSLY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
I KNOW EVERY OTHER COUNCILMEMBER IS, TOO, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT HAVEN IS THERE PROVIDING THE VALUABLE SERVICES THAT IT IS PROVIDING.
THE OTHER SUBJECT, I WANT TO MENTION IS THE AMENDMENT THAT'S COMING UP.
AND I UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SO MANY ASYLUM SEEKERS IN OUR CITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT ON.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN IMPOSED UPON US BY THE
[01:50:02]
BORDER PATROL, BY ICE.LITERALLY SENDING PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE A DESTINATION AND THAT THEY HAVE A CHARGE TO ARRIVE AT THAT DESTINATION AND TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE THEIR ASYLUM PROCESS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK.
I HAVE TO SAY, I WAS HONESTLY VERY TOUCHED WITH WHAT PASTOR MIKE CRAB HAS TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETING TODAY, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S REST -- RESTTATION OF MATTHEW.
I THINK THOSE ARE VERY RELEVANT TO THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AS A COUNCIL.
MY CONTINUING CONCERN IS, YES, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THIS PROCESS FOR THE ASYLUM SEEKERS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS.
FIRST, IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
I THINK IT'S PART OF OUR COMPASSIONATE CITY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO, THEN THAT REDUCES THE FUNDING THEY HAVE TO HELP OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON A CITY TO HELP MAKE THEM WHOLE AGAIN SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD STEWARDSHIP ON THE PART OF THE CITY, TO KEEP THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO ARE COMING THROUGH.
A BIGGER CONCERN ALSO THAT I HAVE, THOUGH, IS WHAT IS THE END SIGHT FOR THIS PROCESS? RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMITTING SOME FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO COVER SOME OF THE COSTS FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH OR SIX WEEKS OR SO OF TIME.
BUT WE'RE HEARING THAT THE NUMBER OF THESE ASYLUM SEEKERS IS GOING TO INCREASE AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.
SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO BETTER COORDINATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OF COURSE; BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING MUCH MORE THAN THEY'RE DOING.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO THE STATE, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S HAPPENING IN SOUTH TEXAS, IT'S HAPPENING IN EL PASO, IT'S HAPPENING HERE, AND I'M SURE IN OTHER AREAS.
AND I THINK THE STATE OUGHT TO CONSIDER ITS ROLE IN HELPING THESE ASYLUM SEEKERS GET THROUGH OUR STATE TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.
I THINK AS SOMEBODY NOTED WE HAD 230 PEOPLE LAST NIGHT AT TRAVIS METHODIST CHURCH, DO WE WANT 230 PEOPLE OUT ON OUR STREETS BECAUSE THERE AREN'T THE RESOURCES? AND IF WE'RE GETTING, AS INDICATED NOW, 200 OR MORE A NIGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SIX OR 7,000 PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF A MONTH.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO INVOLVE THE COUNTY.
I HAVEN'T HEARD WHERE THEY HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO STEP IN AND SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS ISN'T A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROBLEM, THIS IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE SITUATION THAT ALL OF US NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN.
AND FINALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO DO, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER WHEN HE FIRST BROUGHT THIS UP TO ME, I WILL BE CALLING ON THE PHILANTHROPIC AND FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY IN MY DISTRICT, IN DISTRICT 9, TO STEP UP MORE AND SUPPORT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY THESE CORE OF NONPROFIT AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING FROM DOWNTOWN AND ASK MY FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY AND MY PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY TO STEP UP TO HELP US BE PREPARED FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF THIS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT COMES TO A CONCLUSION.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO YOUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES AND ASK THEM TO STEP UP.
IT COULD BE WITH MONEY THAT THEY COULD SEND THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OR THE FOOD BANK.
IT COULD BE THROUGH RESOURCES OTHER THAN MONEY.
CERTAINLY, IT CAN BE THROUGH VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN HELP MAN OUR MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AND OFFER SOLACE AND GUIDANCE TO THESE ASYLUM SEEKERS.
SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT AND THE OVERALL ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR BUDGET, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE, AS I SAID, OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS TO DO THE
[01:55:01]
SAME AND REACH OUT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR THE GREATER SUPPORT WE'RE GOING TO NEED OVER THE LONGER TERM WITH THIS ASYLUM HUMANITARIAN CONDITION THAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT ON OUR PLATE TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
LET ME START OFF WITH THE OVERALL BUDGET BRIEFING HERE.
THANK YOU, JUSTINA, FOR PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THAT, AND I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE SIGNED UP ON THAT CCR CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THIS, BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, WHOEVER WANTS TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BUDGETS OVER THE PAST, LET'S SAY -- SINCE 2010.
I JUST WANTED -- FOR YOU TO CONFIRM THEM.
>> PERRY: SINCE 2010, LET'S JUST TAKE SINCE 2010, THAT WAS AFTER THE RECESSION, HOW MUCH CARRYOVER HAVE WE HAD YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, TOTAL CARRYOVER SINCE 2010?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: I BELIEVE YOUR QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENCE OF OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE.
WHEN WE PRESENT THE BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTS THAT BUDGET, WE HAVE SOME ESTIMAES FOR THE ENDING BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN AS WE CLOSE THE FISCAL YEAR IN THAT CURRENT YEAR, IN DECEMBER WE COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE FROM SEPTEMBER TO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED DURING THOSE MONTHS.
I BELIEVE THAT IS YOUR QUESTION?
>> VILLAGOMES: AND SO IT VARIES THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WAS 2018 THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, THAT VARIANCE WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $17 MILLION.
PRIOR TO THAT IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 10 MILLION THAT WAS VIS CAL YEAR THAT IT WAS AROUND $5 MILLION OR SO.
PRIOR TO THAT, THERE'S BEEN OTHER YEARS THAT THAT NUMBER HAS GOTTEN CLOSE TO $18 MILLION.
SO IT HAS VARIED FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
TYPICALLY, OUR CPS REVENUES ARE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS TEND TO COME A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, EITHER DUE TO THE WEATHER THAT IS WARMER OR SOME OF OUR OFFSYSTEM CELLS.
SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET TO YOU THE AVERAGE AMOUNT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME AVAILABLE, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO GET THAT TO YOU.
>> PERRY: THAT'S A GREAT EXPLANATION, MARIA AND I DO HAVE THOSE FIGURES HERE.
SO IF YOU GO BACK TO 2010 TO THROUGH 2018, WE WEREN'T -- WE DIDN'T GET THE 2018 NUMBERS UNTIL JUST A WHILE AGO, BUT THAT ADDS UP TO ABOUT $225 MILLION SINCE GO THOUSAND 10 THAT WE'VE HAD -- 2010 THAT WE'VE HAD CARRYOVERS FROM ONE FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT.
SO THAT'S ABOUT $25 MILLION A YEAR, IF I DID MY MATH CORRECT.
AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE NUMBERS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD A HOME -- WE CAN AFFORD A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION HERE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LEAST AMOUNT OF A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF A BASELINE OF $5,000 A YEAR.
I'M LOOKING AT A 5% EXEMPTION, WHICH WOULD COST US ROUGHLY ABOUT $12 MILLION.
THAT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, TAKING THE AVERAGE OF $26 MILLION, THAT'S NOT EVEN HALF OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN CARRYING OVER SINCE 2010.
SO I'M STILL PUSHING FOR THIS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
THAT IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST TOPICS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S A COMPONENT -- I KEEP SAYING, IT'S A COMPONENT OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN MENTION OF A MEANINGFUL TAX REDUCTION.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, FOR THAT $5,000 BASELINE, THAT'S ABOUT $28 A YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE SIZE HOME OF $178,000.
THAT'S TAXPAYER MONIES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING AND OFFERING BACK TO OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE.
AND, AGAIN, I'M LOOKING AT THE 5%, WHICH IS ACTUALLY $50 A YEAR.
SO WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THOSE AMOUNTS -- IN FACT, UP TO 20%, THAT'S $200 A YEAR.
AND WE'RE THE ONLY MAJOR TEXAS CITY THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
NOW, I KNOW WE DO OTHER EXEMPTIONS OUT THERE FOR A FREEZE ON 65 AND OLDER AND SOME DISABLEED EXEMPTIONS AS WELL,
[02:00:02]
BUT THIS IS FOR THE MAJORITY OR THE REST OF THE HOMEOWNERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.AND WE IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO USE THAT 20% OF THAT TOTAL TAX BILL TO GIVE BACK TO THE HOMEOWNERS HERE.
AND HELP THEM WITH RISING RATES AND RISING TAXES, PROPERTY VALUES EVERY YEAR.
SO I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGETING SEASON, STARTING HERE SOON.
AND I JUST LOOK TO THAT GENERAL FUND FIGURE, 1.26 BILLION.
THAT'S WITH A "B." BILLION DOLLARS IN OUR GENERAL FUND, AND FOR US NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD LESS THAN 1% TO HELP HOMEOWNERS MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO OWN A HOME, THAT'S -- THAT'S WHERE I HAVE A PROBLEM AT.
AND, AGAIN, I'M HOPING TO GET THAT THROUGH THE SYSTEM THIS YEAR.
WE'LL SEE HOW THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS GO.
>> COUNCILMAN, I'M SORRY, IF I MAY.
I DO HAVE THE NUMBERS IN MY BOOK.
AND FOR 2018, IT WAS ACTUALLY $14 MILLION, ABOUT 1% OF THE GENERAL FUND.
>> PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS 6 MILLION.
PRIOR TO THAT SEVEN, PRIOR TO THAT, 3.7 MILLION.
SO -- AND GOING FURTHER BACK TO ABOUT 2004 WHEN WE DID AN ANALYSIS, THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT $14 MILLION FOR THAT TIME PERIOD.
>> VIA -- VILLAGOMEZ,: WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL.
SO WHEN THE COUNCIL HAS A DISCUSSION ON JUNE 21ST AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 2020 BUDGET, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.
>> PERRY: AND I AM TOTALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE NUMBERS, MARCH MARIA.
NOW LET'S GET ONTO THE DISH -- THIS AMENDMENT ON THIS BUDGET ITEM.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M INDIGNANT ABOUT OUR CONGRESS NOT FIXING THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.
IT'S BEEN HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
HOW MANY YEARS, 30, 40 YEARS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION? I KIND OF LIKEN IT TO OUR OWN STATE GOVERNMENT HERE ON FIXING PROPERTY TAXES AND SCHOOL FINANCING.
IT JUST NEVER SEEMS TO GET DONE.
IT KEEPS GETTING PUSHED BACK FURTHER AND FURTHER.
SO THAT, TO ME, IS REALLY THE CRUX OF THE MATTER HERE TODAY, PUTTING HERE ON THE CITY.
AND IT'S PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUR SERVICES.
AND FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY DEPARTMENTS FOR STEPPING UP TO THIS, AS WELL AS THE NONPROFITS, ON STEPPING UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND HELPING OUT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
SO FIRST OFF, I'M VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT, AS WELL AS EVERYBODY IS, TO HELP PEOPLE GET ON THEIR WAY AND GO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THAT ASYLUM THROUGH THE SYSTEM -- ASYLUM Y.
BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS FUNDING HERE, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO'S BEST TO ANSWER THESE.
BUT FIRST OFF, MELODY, ARE THESE ALL DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HELPING WITH ADDITIONAL NUNDING?
>> SO FOOD BANK AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARE BOTH DELEGATE AGENCIES OF OURS.
OF COURSE TRAVIS PARK CHURCH INTERFAITH WELCOME COMMITTEE, THEY ARE NOT.
SO WE DO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH BOTH OF THE AGENCIES, BUT NOT FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE.
SO HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE ALREADY FUNDING THESE NONPROFITS?
>> SO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, WE FUND LESS THAN $100,000 A YEAR.
FOOD BANK, WE WE HAVE THREE CONTRACTS WITH THEM.
$1 MILLION FOR THE HAVEN FOR HOPE MEALS.
WE FUND THEM FIVE 50,000 TO DO OUR SENIOR PROJECT HOPE PROGRAM, AND THEN WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO KIDS CAFE OF, I THINK, 70,000.
SO WHAT'S THAT TOTAL? I'M NOT ZERO THAT GOOD IN MATH.
SO TODAY, ARE THEY OUT OF MONEY? ARE THEY OUT OF BUDGET TODAY?
>> BOTH OF THE AGENCIES ARE ON BUDGET.
AND ACTUALLY, THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE START DOING ANALYSIS OF OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES' EXPENDITURES TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, AND BOTH FOOD
[02:05:02]
BANK AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARE RIGHT ON TARGET AS FAR AS SPENDING THEIR ALLOCATIONS.>> UH-HUH BERS PEREZ SO WHY ARE --
>> PERRY: SO WHY ARE WE COMING TO COUNCIL TODAY TO ADD MONEY TO THESE NONPROFITS, IF THEY'RE ON BUDGET TODAY?
>> WELL, THEY'RE ON BUDGET FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE FUNDING, WHICH DON'T EXTEND TO THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
SO THEY'RE COVERING THE WORK AT THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER AND THE SHELTER, AND THE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS PROVIDING OUT OF SEPARATE BUDGETS NOT THE CITY BUDGETS.
SO THEY NEED THE REMAINDER OF THE CITY BUDGET TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE AND THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER WORK.
>> PERRY: BUT THAT'S NOT PART OF THEIR RF PS OR THEIR PROPOSALS?
>> PERRY: THEY'RE JUST SAYING, HEY, WE NEED ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THIS?
SO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THE MIGRANT EFFORT IS NOT PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK OF THEIR CURRENT CONTRACTS.
>> PERRY: SO THEY'VE COME TO THE CITY ASKING FOR THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY OR ARE WE SAYING, HEY, -- DID THEY COME TO US OR --
>> PERRY: OR ARE WE GOING TO THEM?
>> THEY ARE REQUESTING FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS.
BUT IT'S NOT FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT WE INITIALLY FUNDED FOR THOSE DELEGATE AGENCIES?
AND IF THIS DIDN'T GET FUNDED TODAY, WILL THEY -- WHEN WILL THEY GO BROKE?
>> WELL, THAT'S THE QUESTION I'LL HAVE TO ASK FOR THAT SPECIFIC DATE, BUT I KNOW THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS INDICATED THAT THE -- SIMPLY PROVIDING THE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE AND SOME HOTEL ROOMS, OTHER ASSISTANCE IS COSTING THEM $14,000 A WEEK.
AND THAT THEY WOULD BE LIKELY TO RUN OUT OF MONEY VERY QUICKLY DOING THAT.
I CAN ASK FOR A SPECIFIC DATE AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT, BUT WE HAVE -- THIS INITIATIVE HAS STRETCHED THEIR RESOURCES, AND IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DOING IT -- IN FACT, TO INCREASE IT AS THE NUMBERS INCREASE, THEY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ERIK HAS SOME INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL, COUNCILMAN.
>> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS, THE FRONT LINES ARE REALLY THE NONPROFITS, AND SO PART OF THE THINKING THAT WE'VE HAD INTERNALLY THAT WE SHARED THIS MORNING IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE NONPROFITS PROVIDING THOSE DIRECT SERVICES ON THE FRONT END.
I THINK REALISTICALLY IF NOTHING HAPPENED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT THE GROUP IS DOING AND THE COMMUNITY, I'M CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE, BUT I THINK IT'S IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS FOUR-LEGGED STOOL, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A PORTION OF IT BEING THE CITY, A PORTION OF IT BEING CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND INTERFAITH COALITION, YOU'VE GOT THE TRAVIS PARK DOWNTOWN CHURCHES AND THE FOURTH STOOL BEING THE FOOD BANK, AND THERE'S KIND OF A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
SO I THINK THE DIRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, I'M NOT SURE ANY -- AND THEY CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM IF THEY WANT, BUT I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY'S CUTTING ANYTHING OFF, BUT I THINK IN -- IT'S PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE NOT GET TO THE POINT AS AN ORGANIZATION BECAUSE IF -- IF WE DO GET TO THAT POINT, THEN I THINK IT CREATES MORE OF AN EMERGENCY FOR THE CURRENT SITUATION.
AND THAT WAS THE KIND OF THINKING BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATION.
>> PERRY: WELL, AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT POINT IS.
I MEAN, IS IT TOMORROW, IS IT NEXT WEEK? NEXT MONTH? I THINK --
>> WALSH: I THINK THEY'D HAVE TO ANSWER THAT DIRECTLY.
>> PERRY: I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT WHY ARE WE PUSHING THIS THROUGH ON THIS AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE YOU SAID A WHILE AGO, WE CAN BRING THIS UP LATER IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
WHY CAN'T WE BRING THIS UP LATER AS WELL? WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS AS PART OF THIS BUDGET VOTE TODAY?
SO TWO ISSUES, ONE, WE DON'T HAVE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK AND GIVEN THE ACTIVITY OVER THE LAST WEEK AND THE NOTICE FROM THE BORDER PATROL, I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION QUICKLY, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT WHEELS FALLING OFF AND THEN US ASKING OURSELVES WHY DIDN'T WE DO SOMETHING.
SO I FELT LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD NOW.
SECONDLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO ESCALATE OR AT SOME POINT STABILIZE DURING THE SUMMER, AND I THINK THAT LIKELY THAT THIS WILL BE A CONTINUING DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO WITH THE FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS.
>> WALSH: ULTIMATELY, THE COUNCIL CAN -- HAS THE FLEXIBILITY OF MAKING THAT DECISION.
I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHANCE WE TALK ABOUT THIS.
>> PERRY: AND THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, THIS ISN'T THE END OF IT.
[02:10:02]
>> PERRY: WHERE IS THE END? I AGREE WITH YOU, I DON'T SEE AN END TO THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER WILL BE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> PERRY: AND THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE TAKING CITY TAXPAYER MONEY TO HELP SUBSIDIZE THIS FEDERAL ISSUE? AND YOU BROUGHT IT UP ABOUT REQUESTING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
WHEN -- WHEN DID WE SEND UP A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE?
>> WALSH: I ASKED THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGER TO REACH OUT TO FEMA TWO DAYS AGO AND WE SENT A LETTER TO OUR LOCAL DELEGATION YESTERDAY.SO WE'RE -- AUDIO] -- WITH THE STATE.
>> PERRY: SO WHY DID IT TAKE THAT LONG TO GET THESE REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE? I MEAN, THIS ISN'T A NEW PROGRAM? WE'VE -- THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WHEN?
I THINK WHAT JOLTED US WAS THE NOTIFICATION FROM THE BORDER PATROL ON MONDAY WHICH -- YOU KNOW, UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THE CITY HAS -- OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, VACANT SPACE IN A STOREFRONT AND VOLUNTEERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING, WE'D BEEN VERY MINDFUL ABOUT THE MONEY -- THE ACTUAL MONEY THAT WE SPEND.
MOST OF THAT HEAVY LIFTING HAD BEEN DONE BY THE NONPROFITS, BUT THE INCREASED ACTIVITY OVER THE LAST WEEK AND THE INFORMATION FROM THE BORDER PATROL HAS JOLTED THE SYSTEM TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, AND I THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO BRING THAT FORWARD QUICKLY.
AND I TOTALLY AGREE THAT IT'S JOLTING THE SYSTEM, BUT HOW HARD IS IT JOLTING? AND I WOULD RATHER SEE US WAIT FOR THAT TO GET AN ANSWER FROM THE FEDS, IF THEY'RE GOING TO HELP US OUT OUR REIMBURSE US OR WHATEVER, OR PAY FOR IT UP FRONT.
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT REQUEST JUST WENT OUT.
>> CAN I PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION THERE?
>> SO THE OFFICIAL LETTER WENT OUT YESTERDAY, BUT SALLY AND I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATIONS OVER THE LAST WEEK TO 10 DAYS WITH VARIOUS MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION ASKING FOR GUIDANCE ON THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED, SO WE DIDN'T JUST SEND THE LETTER YESTERDAY, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING OUR DELEGATION IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON, WHAT SHOULD WE DO, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO OVER THE LAST WEEK TO 10 DAYS.
>> PERRY: BUT THE LETTER JUST WENT OUT YESTERDAY?
>> BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THE LETTER FROM BORDER PATROL ON MONDAY SAYING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO GET WORSE.
>> PERRY: WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO GET AN ANSWER BACK?
>> WALSH: I THINK COUNCILMAN, THAT THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE FULL-COURT PRESS BY THE CITY AND THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO ENGAGE OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION AND THE FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND NOT JUST US, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES IN THIS STATE THAT ARE DEALING WITH MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS AND COSTS, AND WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TEXAS PLAN TO HAVE A UNITED FRONT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THAT DOES NEED A FULL-COURT PRESS ON THAT.
BUT, AGAIN, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN'T WAIT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS OR SO TO GET AN ANSWER OR MAYBE THREE WEEKS, MAYBE FOUR WEEKS.
ARE THOSE AGENCIES GOING TO GO BROKE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN UNTIL WE GET AN ANSWER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
>> WALSH: COUNCIL DOES NOT NEED TO TAKE ACTION TODAY, AND I'LL LET THE AGENCIES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS WILL SAY, BUT YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF DELAYING THAT AND GETTING ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE OR SOME KIND OF REACTION FROM THE LOCAL DELEGATION UP IN AUSTIN -- UP IN D.C.
PEREZ I JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE ANOTHER CRISIS AT THE BORDER HERE THIS LAST SUMMER, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, WHERE THEY WERE SEPARATING THE CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS, THAT KIND OF THING, AND I THINK THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES WENT OUT ON A NATIONAL BASIS -- MARIA, DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MUCH THEY ACTUALLY RAISED FOR THAT ISSUE?
>> VILLAGOMEZ: COUNCILMAN, WHAT I RECALL, THERE WAS A LARGE B OF ASYLUM SEEKERS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES WAS TOLD THAT ON A GIVEN WEEKEND, SAN ANTONIO, THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, WAS GOING TO RECEIVE ABOUT 400 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME MEMBER HERE FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES, BUT THEY RECEIVED NUMBERS OF MAYBE 30 TO 50 THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO
[02:15:02]
SHELTER AND GET TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATIONS.>> PERRY: I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT THEY DID A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN AND RAISED MILLIONS, 10S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: I DON'T REMEMBER THAT LARGE OF AN AMOUNT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER THEY FUNDRAISED.
I KNOW THROUGH OUR FAITH LIAISON WE PROMOTED TO GO TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES DURING THAT EVENT, BUT I COULDN'T SPEAK TO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THEY OBTAINED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WELL, MY BOTTOM LINE IS I THINK WE SHOULD GET AN ANSWER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE AS TO WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO OR NOT WILLING TO DO INSTEAD OF BURDENING OUR TAXPAYERS ON A FEDERAL ISSUE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LEAN TOWARDS.
YOU KNOW, WE -- AGAIN, WE'VE DONE A NAN TAAS TICK JOB -- FANTASTIC JOB IN TAKING CARE OFT OUR DOORSTEP, LITERALLY LAID AT OUR DOORSTEP, TO HELP FOLKS TRANSITIONING THROUGH SAN ANTONIO.
I THINK THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S TAKING PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY AND LAYING IT AGAIN ON OUR LOCAL TAXPAYERS.
AND IF THERE'S NOT A CRISIS RIGHT NOW, AND IF WE CAN WAIT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHY NOT DO THAT TO GET AN ANSWER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T SEE THIS AS A CRISIS POINT AT THIS POINT.
THEY'RE STILL ON BUDGET FOR THEIR PROGRAMS. YEAH, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT SHORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF AGENCIES HAVE TO SMOOTH OUT THAT BUDGETING PROCESS AND OPERATING DAY-TO-DAY.
AND IT'S A STRAIN ON OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT FOLKS COULD FIGURE THIS OUT AND MAKE IT WORK.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE US MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND GET US HELP WHERE WE NEED IT; NOT ONLY FOR SAN ANTONIO, BUT OTHER TEXAS CITIES ALSO, AS YOU MENTIONED, ERIK.
SO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, I THINK WE -- YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD, WE NEED A PLAN FOR ALL TEXAS CITIES THAT ARE DEALING WITH IT'S.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO -- APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR RECAP TODAY.
I DO WANT TO REITERATE COUNCILMAN PERRY'S STAND ON THE CITY WIDE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
IT'S BEEN A TWO-YEAR ONGOING CHANT OF THE COUNCILMAN AND I AND WE'LL CONTINUE IT FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.
BUT, AGAIN, IN SUPPORT OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME SNICKERS OR JEERS WHEN YOU SAY, OH, IT'S 28 BUCKS A YEAR AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, THAT REALLY ISN'T ANYWHERE.
BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO START SOMEWHERE IS ALWAYS MY CONVERSATION AND THE ABILITY TO GIVE MONEY BACK AT ANY LEVEL IS WHAT TAXPAYERS ARE ASKING FOR EVERY DAY WHEN I'M OUT TALKING TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6, IT'S A TOP TWO, THREE, PRIORITY ISSUE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AS LONG AS I CAN, AS LONG AS I'M ON THE COUNCIL.
SO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE HARD WORK OF THE TEAM AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THEN I'LL JUST -- A COUPLE OF POINTS ON COUNCILMAN -- PIGGYBACKING ON COUNCILMAN PERRY WITH REGARDS TO MY COLLEAGUE OF DISTRICT 1'S AMENDMENT TO THE PENDING ITEM, I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION IF SOMEBODY CAN DESCRIBE THE PROCESS SO, YOU KNOW, NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHEN CATHOLIC CHARITIES -- FIRST OF ALL, THE FACT THAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK TO ME IS A PROOF POINT.
TWO STELLAR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE -- WE KNOW THAT ARE GOING TO DO WELL WITH THE MONEY.
AND MY CONCERN FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES AS A -- WELL, AS A CATHOLIC AND AS THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF AND FOR THE FOOD BANK IS THAT THEY'RE EXPENDING THEIR RESOURCES INTO THIS CHALLENGE, RIGHT, SO THEY'RE A COMPASSIONATE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS SO THEY'RE GOING TO ANSWER THIS CALL NO MATTER WHAT.
I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR TO PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THIS.
AS THEY ENGAGE THE CONVERSATION AND THEY DIG INTO IT, THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THEIR MONEY IN DOLLARS, SO MY CONCERN IS AS A LEADER OF THE COMMUNITY IS, WHAT ARE MY -- THE CITIZENS, THE PEOPLE WE SERVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THE TAXPAYERS OF SAN ANTONIO, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO START TO LOSE IF CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE FOOD BANK FALTER BECAUSE OF THEIR GOODWILL? THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, ERIK COOPER AND THE FOOD BANK ARE GOING TO FEED ANYBODY THAT NEEDS A MEAL, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, ANYTHING.
ERIK COOPER AND HIS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEED WHOEVER NEEDS A MEAL AND IN THAT, EVENTUALLY
[02:20:01]
THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF RESOURCES.SO PART OF MY MORE POSITIVE LOOK TOWARDS THIS ITEM IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE FOOD BAPG DO NOT FALTER, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF OUR CITIZENS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY'RE CARRYING THIS TWO-PRONGED WORKLOAD WHICH IS THE MIGRANT ASYLUM ISSUE AND THEN THEY'RE SERVING 16 COUNTIES LIKE THE FOOD BANK IS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND FEEDING MILLIONS AND THEY'RE HOUSING PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST A VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.
SO IF THEY FALTERED, LET'S SAY, AND WE LOST THE MONEY, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE MIGRANTS THAT ARE -- CAN SOMEONE DESCRIBE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO ME? I DON'T KNOW WHO COULD.
IF THEY HAD TO STOP SERVING THEM, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? SO THE MIGRANT FOLKS COMING INTO SAN ANTONIO ARE DROPPED OFF AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES OR OUR PARTNERS RUN OUT OF CASH IN THAT SCENARIO, I'M JUST CURE ROSS WHAT THAT WOULD -- CURIOUS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE CLUMPED DOWNTOWN.
DESCRIBE WHAT WOULD BR THE SCENARIO IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING?
>> WELL, I THINK IF THERE WAS NO FUNDING AND THERE WERE NO MEALS BEING PROVIDED, YOU WOULD HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT EATEN VERY WELL TO BEGIN WITH FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS OR MAYBE EVEN WEEKS ON THE TRAIL, BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN DETENTION GETTING, YOU KNOW, THREE MEALS A DAY.
SO A LOT OF THEM HAVE NOT EATEN WELL, THEY HAVEN'T HAD SERVICES.
SO YOU ALREADY HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE, AND THEY WOULD JUST BECOME MORE VULNERABLE ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> BROCKHOUSE: LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION THEN: IF WE WEREN'T ASSISTING AT THAT POINT, THEY WOULD LITERALLY STAY ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO?
>> THEY WOULD GET OFF THE BUS AND WOULD BE ON THEIR OWN TO NAVIGATE THE CITY AND THE -- AND PURCHASING TRAVEL TICKETS.
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I THINK ERIK'S MEMO YESTERDAY MENTIONED SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE? THEY'RE ASKING US WHERE ARE WE AS THEY'RE CALLING THEIR FAMILIES TRYING TO GET TICKETS OUT.
WE'RE PROVIDING THE PHONES FOR THEM TO DO THAT, WE'RE ASSISTING THEM WITH THE TRAVEL, WE'RE PROVIDING THEM MEALS, THEIR CHILDREN MEALS.
WHEN YOU DON'T FEED PEOPLE, THEIR MINDSET CHANGES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY BEHAVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
THE BURDEN TO FEED THEM WOULD BE ON OUR CHARITABLE FEEDING ORGANIZATIONS, HAVEN FOR HOPE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: AND I'M NOT TRYING TO -- IT'S A BIT OF A CRASS DISTINCTION I WANT TO DRAW HERE, BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND COUNCILMAN PELAEZ MENTIONED THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU KNOW, GOING TO TOWN AND THE COMMENTARY ABOUT TAX DOLLARS.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS IMPACT FROM BOTH SIDES.
BECAUSE IN YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CITY AND YOUR TAX DOLLARS, WHICH I'M ASSUMING THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL ALLOCATION ARE, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR MONEY AND WHO IT'S BEING SPENT ON.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IF WE DON'T SPEND AN ALLOCATION LIKE THIS TO HELP THEM LEAVE THE CITY, THEN THEY STAY IN THE CITY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: SO THEN THEY'LL BE UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE IN THE CITY.
SO YOU'RE BASICALLY LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE NO MATTER WHAT, YOU'RE TICKED OFF.
YOU'RE TICKED OFF THAT WE'VE SPENT THE MONEY TO GET THEM OUT, AND WE'RE TICKED OFF THAT THEY'RE STANDING HERE SLEEPING IN HOTEL ROOM LOBBY FLOORS, LAYING IN A PARK, STEALING -- WHATEVER THING THEY SAY, RIGHT, WHATEVER THINK THEY'RE UPSET AT.
BUT MY POINT IS, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, AND THEN SO BOTH SCENARIOS -- SO FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE AND HUMAN SAFETY AND A COMPASSION ISSUE, I THINK THE SMALLER ALLOCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE FOOD BANK DON'T CRUMBLE HELPS THEM LEAVE SAN ANTONIO FAST ER.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE LIKE -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER'S LISTENING AND SEES THIS OR READS THIS UNDERSTANDS THAT TWO GREAT ORGANIZATIONS ARE GETTING THE MONEY, I'M VERY HOPEFUL IT'S MINIMAL ONE-TIME ALLOCATION, BY THE WAY.
I'M NOT TOO THRILLED TO THE COUNCILMAN'S POINT ABOUT THIS BEING AN ONGOING SITUATION, BUT,ING AGAIN, IT'S A FEDERAL BREAKDOWN, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH THAT, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY.
BUT IF WE DON'T INTERJECT AND SUPPORT THE CRISIS SITUATION COULD TURN INTO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN, RIGHT? I MEAN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PICTURE IS VERY CLEAR, THAT IF WE DON'T, THE OUTCOME IS --
IT TURNS INTO A HOMELESS SITUATION.
AND THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THE INITIATIVE AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING FROM THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE THROUGH SAN ANTONIO TO THEIR DESTINATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WITH -- WE'RE LOOKING AT 24 TO 48 HOURS, AND THEN THEY MOVE ON TO BE WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS OR HOSTS WHO HAVE ACCEPTED THEM.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THAT THEY'VE ALREADY GONE AND BEEN VETTED THROUGH TO GO, RIGHT?
>> BROCKHOUSE: JUST AGAIN, ONE MORE CLARIFICATION POINT, THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT -- AUDIO] -- ACROSS THE BORDER AND HAS NO GAME PLAN AND --
>> BROCKHOUSE: NO, IT'S BEEN VETTED, WORKED THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND HAS A STATUS --
[02:25:01]
>> BROCKHOUSE: -- AND A LOCATION, THAT'S A COURT-ORDERED?
>> AND, IN FACT, HAVE A NOTICE TO APPEAR IN IMMIGRATION EXOWRT IN THAT CITY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: SO IT IS A DIFFERENT SCENARIO.
SO I JUST -- I'M JUST GOING INTO IT TO AN EXTENT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DO GET THE PICTURE, THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO EITHER SIDE OF THIS DECISION.
MY OPINION, THE SMALLER CONSEQUENCE IS TO MAKE THE SMALLER INVESTMENT, TO TWO FINE, ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROP THEM UP TO SURVIVE WHILE CONTINUING TO TAKE CARE OF SAN ANTONIO AREN'TS.
WE DON'T WANT THE FOOD BANK RUNNING OUT OF MONEY SO THEY CAN'T PROVIDE FOOD.
>> BROCKHOUSE: TO CITY CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO YOU HAVE TO JUMP IN IT TO PROP THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS UP.
AND I THINK THAT GETS CONFLATED INTO THIS MASSIVE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IN REALITY WE DON'T WANT CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO -- LOOK, I KNOW I'M GOING TO SIT IN MASS THIS SUNDAY AND I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER APPEAL, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HEARD THEM FROM THE ARCHBISHOP.
SO PEOPLE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND AS A CATHOLIC, EVERY MASS ACROSS THIS CITY, PEOPLE ARE ASKING NOR MONEY TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, SO THERE IS A HEAVY ONGOING LEVEL OF SUPPORT THROUGH THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO KEEP CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPROACH, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT ENOUGH AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING ACROSS OUR CITY IN MULTIPLE MEANS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S TOUGH, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ONLY DROP A BUCK, PEOPLE ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THAT.
I WOULD JUST WRAP UP WITH THIS PIECE THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT THING, I THINK ERIK, IS AMISS.
I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PERRY WITH THAT.
THE LETTER WENT OUT, DUE RESPECT, AT 10:00 LAST NIGHT ASKING FOR A REVIEW OF IT.
THAT IS A FAILURE IN THE PROCESS TO NOT HAVE COORDINATED AND BEEN PREPARED FAR IN ADVANCE KNOWING THESE PEOPLE HAD BEEN COMING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
THE TEAM AND THE STAFF HAVE BEEN 100% ALL OVER THIS, AND THAT PROBABLY IS A BIT OF A MARKER THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS EARLIER, BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED THIS AND WE COULD HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS. BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU'VE BEEN ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND IT'S FANTASTIC WORK BY THE STAFF, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
BUT TO NOT GO OVER THE REIMBURSEMENT WHEN LEADERSHIP OF THIS CITY KNEW THAT WAS COMING, WE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR WEEK AND WE DIDN'T -- ARTICLES I WAS READING WITH HIM, SOME THINGS HE'D DONE -- IN AUDIO] -- LAREDO AND OTHER AREAS, THE MONEY IS THERE.
WE CAN GET THE CASH, TAXPAYERS NEED TO KNOW THAT -- I KNOW AT LEAST MYSELF WILL BE PUSHING FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT PIECE, I KNOW YOU WILL AS WELL, BECAUSE THE MONEY MUST COME BACK TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SO THERE'S REIMBURSEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS CASH.
BUT IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON REIMBURSEMENT, ERIK, AND IT NEEDS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY, BECAUSE THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY, IT NEEDS TO COME BACK.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LOOK, THIS IS COMPASSION DOLLARS THAT I'M AFTER TRYING TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO AS WELL BY HELPING CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
SO THE MEASURE WILL HAVE MY SUPPORT IN SO MUCH AS WE ALWAYS ARE REMEMBER THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET THE TAXPAYER MONEY, ERIK, AND PLEASE, PLEASE, STICK AS FAST AS YOU CAN ON THE REIMBURSEMENT PIECE.
IT MATTERS TO THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE PROTECTED BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE HAVE TO BE FED AND WE HAVE TO HELP THESE FOLKS GET OUT OF SAN ANTONIO.
TRUST ME, CITIZENS THAT ARE UPSET ABOUT THIS, YOU DON'T WANT THEM STAYING IN SAN ANTONIO, THEN LET'S HELP THEM GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND FOOD BANK IS KNOCKING THAT OUT.
THANK YOU, ERIK, THANK YOU ANTONIO AND THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COMMON BROCKHOUSE, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL?
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AMENDMENT.
FIRST, I'LL REVIEW SOME SIMPLE PART OF IT.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK GPA STAFF FOR -- AND BUDGET TEAM FOR WORKING ON A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL BROADCASTING OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS ZONING AND OTHER HDRC MEETINGS AT THE ONE-STOP CENTER.
VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT GETTING THE POSITIONS TO HELP US DO THAT AND THE PURCHASE OF THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT TO HELP US.
AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS, I THINK WE WANT TO -- WHICH WE ALWAYS WILL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS REALISTIC TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO JUST DROP WHAT THEY'RE DOING, COME PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING LIKE YOU GOOD PEOPLE ARE DOING HERE TODAY, BUT MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO THEM VIA TV OR THE INTERNET KEEPS IN THE SPIRIT OF PUBLIC ACCESS AND INFORMATION.
VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT ON THERE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ERIK, DR. BRIDGER, MELODY, MARIA, THE WHOLE TEAM AND THE OVER 300 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED DOWNTOWN AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.
I REMEMBER ERIK TELLING US WHEN
[02:30:02]
THEY HAD FIRST PUT THAT TOGETHER AND HOW IMPRESSIVE IT WAS THAT THAT COALITION CAME TOGETHER SO ANY NIMBLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO.I LOVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN REALLY SOLVE PROBLEMS AND SOLVE THEM QUICKLY AND SEE YOUR RESULTS RIGHT AWAY.
AND WE'RE NOT ALONE IN DOING THIS.
CLEARLY, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PARTNERS.
THIS IS JUST ONE ROLE THAT WE'RE PLAYING.
SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT WE'RE MAYBE TAKING ON TOO MUCH AS A CITY, BUT WE'RE JUST ONE OF THE MANY, MANY PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THIS AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO OUR PART TO DO OUR CITY SAFE AND TO ASSIST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING THROUGH OUR YOU KNOW, I SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR OF MCALLEN ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.
THEY'RE RECEIVING -- AND I'M SURE COUNCILMAN TREVINO'S AWARE OF THIS, THEY ARE RECEIVING ABOUT 1100 ASYLUM SEEKERS A DAY.
THAT'S ABOUT FOUR TIMES WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND LIKE THE COUNCILMAN SAID, THEY DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE.
SO I WANT TO THANK OUR LUCKY STARS THAT WE HAVE THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE HERE TO HELP US GET THROUGH THIS.
I ALSO SPOKE WITH SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I WENT TO VISIT LAST NIGHT.
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WAS INSIDE FIRE 410 CLOSE TO DOWNTO, THE OTHER ONE WAS OUT 1604.
WHEN I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, THEY WERE SO FULL OF COMPASSION AND READY TO SUPPORT WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO -- OR AT LEAST IN DISTRICT 7.
PEOPLE KNOW WHEN IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP.
SO THERE WAS COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING FROM ALL OF THEM.
AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONCERN ABOUT -- OR I WANT TO COUNTERACT SOME OF THE THOUGHTS OUT THERE ABOUT US NOT NEEDING TO TAKE ACTION.
THERE WERE 8,000 ASYLUM SEEKERS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
I HAD MY STAFF PRINT UP OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT FOR HOMELESS POPULATION.
IN 2019 WE LOOKED AT 2,872 HOMELESS PEOPLE.
AND COUNCILMAN PERRY'S NOT HERE TO HEAR IT BUT MAYBE HE'S BACK THERE WATCHING THE LIVESTREAM.
BUT ALL OF US IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT HEAR CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO STAY.
AND WE HAVE A TOTAL OF LESS THAN 3,000 OF THEM.
AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE LIVES COUNTS AND WE HAVE TO HELP THEM FIND A WAY TO GET BACK TO THEIR LIVES AND CONTINUE AND BE PRODUCTIVE.
BUT THAT IS FEWER THAN 3,000 PEOPLE AND WE HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES DEDICATED TO IT.
YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS HELPING US WITH THIS.
IN FACT, WHEN WE ADOPTED OUR BUDGET, COUNCILMAN PERRY SAID WE HAVE A BIG HOMELESS PROBLEM IN DISTRICT 10 AND REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL HOMELESS COORDINATETOR JUST FOR DISTRICT 10 WHICH HAS 14 PEOPLE UNSHELTERED, ACCORDING TO THIS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THIS IN CONTEXT AND UNDERSTANDING WE ARE DOING A PREVENTION MEASURE FOR HOMELESSNESS, AS COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE SAID.
8,000 PEOPLE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE GONE IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THIS ASSISTANCE.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM HELPING JUST HOMELESS PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND GETTING THEM IN THE RIGHT LOCATION.
SO I'M COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMENDMENT TO OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW.
AND, IN FACT, I SPOKE WITH ERIK AND HE SAID WE GOT THIS MESSAGE TOO LATE FROM BORDER PATROL.
I WISH WE'D GOTTEN IT BEFORE THE MID-YEAR BUDGET.
A DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.
I SAID, ERIK, IT IS NOT TOO LATE.
IN FACT, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN REMISS IF YOU DIDN'T BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION EXACTLY AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WE MIGHT HAVE TOLD YOU, WELL, WHY DID YOU LEAVE THAT OFF, ERIK? WE JUST HAD THAT DISCUSSION.
ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO BRING IT ON.
AND, IN FACT, I THINK YOU HAVE THE APPROVAL TO ACTUALLY ISSUE THOSE CONTRACTS.
THE ONLY REQUEST YOU'RE MAKING OF US IS TO TAKE THAT OUT OF THE CONTINGENCY FUND.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO APPROVE.
AND I FEEL -- THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT CONTINGENCY FUNDS ARE FOR.
[02:35:01]
WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A HURRICANE COMING NEARBY WE NEED TO BE READY.SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL.
AND I KNOW YOU THOUGHT, ERIK, THAT THIS WAS GOING TO SLOW DOWN IN THE SUMMER, BUT IT DIDN'T.
AND WE HEARD JUST THE OPPOSITE ABOUT IT.
NOW, IN TERMS OF THIS BEING A FEDERAL ISSUE, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR DOING YOUR WORK ON THAT.
BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT OUR STAFF CAN DO ALONE.
THAT DEPENDS ON US TOO, SO I DID CONTACT MY CONGRESSMAN AND WE HAVE HIS SUPPORT ON THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION.
YOU KNOW, CONGRESS IS A HUGE BODY SO IT RELIES ON MORE THAN JUST OUR DELEGATION.
AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING OVERNIGHT HERE EVERY NIGHT.
IN FACT, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS ALLOCATION MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW YOU CAME TO THIS NUMBER.
>> SO WE MET LAST WEEK WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND FOOD BANK AND TRAVIS PARK AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT WAS NEEDED TO STABILIZE THE OPERATION AND ENSURE THAT ALTHOUGH IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A HEAVILY VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PAID STAFF TO HELP WITH THE COORDINATION.
AND THAT'S WHAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND TRAVIS PARK WERE REQUESTING WAS THE FUNDING FOR TEMPORARY-PAID STAFF.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE BUDGET AMOUNT CAME FROM THERE.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD THE COST BE TO HIRE THE FIRE WATCH INSTEAD OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTINUING TO DO IT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NEED FOR LAUNDRY SERVICE TO ENSURE THE BLANKETS ARE WASHED EVERY DAY.
SO THE COSTS CAME FROM THOSE ITEMS.
>> SANDOVAL: AND SO WHERE IS THE FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING ELSE GOING TO BE COMING FROM?
>> SANDOVAL: WELL, THE SHELTER.
THERE'S A NEED FOR LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS, THE BUS TICKETS.
>> SO THE BUS TICKETS IS COMING FROM DONATIONS TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES.
THEY'RE FUND RAISING FOR THAT.
FOOD IS THE CONTRACT TO THE FOOD BANK TO COVER THE COST OF MEALS.
THE FOOD BANK IS RECEIVING DONATIONS FOR THINGS LIKE WATER AND HYGIENE, CLOTHING.
SO IT'S A PARTIAL FUNDING REQUEST.
IT'S NOT FUNDING THE ENTIRE INITIATIVE.
AND THEY ARE FUND RAISING, TO THAT END, TO COVER THOSE SERVICES.
>> SANDOVAL: ONCE THIS IS APPROVED HOW QUICKLY CAN THEY HIRE THIS STAFF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR?
>> THEY ARE LOOKING FOR STAFF NOW, SO IT SHOULD BE RATHER QUICKLY.
SO I'VE DIVIDED THE 141,000 BY OUR POPULATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO COST US EACH 0.01 OF ONE PENNY TO MAKE SURE WE GET THESE PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
THEY ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS AND THEY ARE HERE LEGALLY AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I THINK I'M THE LAST ONE TO FINISH UP HERE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT THAT I'M OFTEN ASKED -- I'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MORE COUNCIL MEETINGS LEFT AND PEOPLE SAY IT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY ON THE WAY OUT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THE WEEK AT THE CITY COUNCIL FROM ONE WEEK TO ANOTHER NEVER IS EASY AND IS NEVER EXPECTED AND NEVER PLANNED ACCORDINGLY.
WE ALWAYS HAVE TO ACT, REACT, OR BE PROACTIVE WHEN CALLED UPON.
AND TODAY REALLY IS NO DIFFERENT.
AND I LOOK OUT IN THE CROWD AND I SEE SOME GREAT FRIENDS AND AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY COUNCIL MEETING WE HAVE AN INVOCATION IN WHICH SOMEBODY GETS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL, GETS TO PREACH AND TELL US ABOUT OUR DUTY, OUR DUTY TO PEOPLE, OUR DUTY TO MANKIND.
I DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT FAITH BUT THERE'S THIS LINE THAT SAYS YOU SHOULD PREACH THE GOSPEL AT ALL TIMES AND WHEN NECESSARY USE WORDS.
SO I HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS, FAITH LEADERS COME INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD SOME OF THE LARGEST CHURCHES AND THEIR PASTORS AT THE CHURCHES WITH US FROM COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH TO CORNERSTONE.
AND TODAY WE HAVE MUCH SMALLER AND MIGHTIER CHURCHES WHO ARE TELLING US ABOUT OUR DUTY AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY HAVE NEVER TALKED TO ME ABOUT RELIGION BUT THEY'RE PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
[02:40:01]
THE INTERFAITH COALITION HAS NEVER TALKED TO ME ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THEIR GOD BUT THEY SHOW ME IN HOW THEY LOVE GOD'S CHILDREN.AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME.
WE EVEN HAVE A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHO PREACHES THE GOSPEL EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY NEVER TALK TO ME ABOUT RELIGION AND THEY NEVER TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THEIR GOD.
THEY PREACH THE GOSPEL WITHOUT WORDS.
AND SO I AM DELIGHTED THAT AS ONE OF THE MY LAST ACTIONS ON THE COUNCIL I GET TO VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT PREACHES THE GOSPEL WITHOUT USING WORDS.
AND IT ALLOWS US TO HELP PEOPLE AND ALLOWS US TO SHOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE GOD'S CHILDREN AND OUR NEIGHBOR AND, REALLY, WE DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR FAITH.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT SOMETHING, WHAT MIGHT SEEM SIGNIFICANT TO FOLKS IN THE DOLLAR FIGURE, REALLY CAN'T BE MEASURED IN TERMS OF ITS VALUE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE RECEIVING THE HELP FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES OR FROM ANY ONE OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HERE THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN DOING GOD'S WORK.
I LOOK AT TWO FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING OUT IN THE FRONT, MARIO AND MARY ROSE BROWN, WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL AT THE FOOD BANK AND HAVEN FOR HOPE WITHOUT EVER TALKING ABOUT GOD OR RELIGION OR TELLING ME ABOUT THEIR FAITH.
AND TODAY WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT VOTE BEFORE US, BECAUSE WE ARE TESTED IN FAITH IN WAYS IN WHICH WE MAY NOT EVER KNOW.
WE'RE TESTED IN FAITH AND WE MIGHT NOT BE IN CHURCH WHEN WE'RE ASKED THAT QUESTION.
AND SO WHAT IS DIFFICULT IS SOMETIMES SEEING OR FEELING LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
NOT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ERIK HAS SENT US A MEMO, ALTHOUGH THAT IS TRUE.
WE KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.
WHILE THERE USED TO BE 50 TO 60 ASYLUM SEEKERS COMING THROUGH OUR GREYHOUND BUS SHELTER TO NOW GOING INTO TRAVIS PARK, METHODIST, OR MENNONITE CHURCH.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 120 TO 150.
WE HAVE TO RESPOND AND WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL CATHOLIC CHARITIES TELLS US THEY ARE IN THE RED.
WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THEM JUST LIKE WE WOULD ANY NEIGHBOR, STRANGER, OR FRIEND IN A FOREIGN LAND.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE AT LEAST GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY.
I'M SORRY THAT WE CAN'T DO MORE BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ACTUALLY PRETTY IMPORTANT.
ERIK, IF I CAN ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
YOU DECIDED, NOT JUST TO PUT FORWARD A BUDGET LINE ITEM TO SUPPORT, YOU AND THE STAFF DECIDED YOU WOULD CHALLENGE THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW SOMEBODY WOULD RESPOND IF THEY WANTED TO HELP AND WERE LISTENING TODAY.
>> WALSH: YOU KNOW, AS WE DEVELOP THE RECOMMENDATION, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE SINCE THE END OF MARCH -- AND SOME OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONGER TIME AND A LOT OF THE NONPROFITS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IT AT A MUCH LOWER SCALE IN TERMS OF VOLUME.
THE COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE ASSISTED AND A LOT OF AGENCIES.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT, AS WE DEVELOP THE RECOMMENDATION, TO NOT ONLY GIVE AN ALLOCATION TO UP FRONT, BUT ALSO CHALLENGE THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAYBE DOUBLE THOSE EFFORTS.
IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER.
IT'S NOT A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCH.
IT'S A DOLLAR FOR EVERY $2 RAISED.
THE FACT THAT THIS IS LIKELY GOING TO BE A SUSTAINED EFFORT.
AND I THOUGHT IT SET A GOOD TEMPLATE FOR HOW MAYBE WE SHOULD, AS AN ORGANIZATION AS A CITY, ADDRESS IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF LEVERAGING PUBLIC MONEY THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LEVERAGING THOSE RESOURCES.
A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN GIVING -- A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHURCHES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT NONPROFITS.
>> SALDANA: IF SOMEBODY IS LISTENING AND WANTS TO GIVE TO A NONPROFIT, THEY WOULD RECEIVE MATCHING DOLLARS, WHERE WOULD THEY GO?
>> WALSH: THEY NEED TO DONATE DIRECTLY TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WORD GETS OUT, OR THE FOOD BANK.
FOR THE $55,000 THAT'S BEING PROPOSED THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING, THOSE TWO AGENCIES COULD RAISE UP TO $110,000 AND WE WOULD MATCH TWO OF THOSE DOLLARS WITH ONE DOLLAR FROM THE CITY.
>> SALDANA: I KNOW A LOT OF GOOD-HEARTED CITY WHO SEE THE IMAGES ON TELEVISION AND READ ABOUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, YOU KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T PLEAD IGNORANCE.
WE'RE THE CITY STEPPING UP SAYING WE ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE NONPROFITS WHO ARE DOING THIS WORK, WE'RE ALSO ISSUING THE CHALLENGE TO THAT GOOD-HEARTED CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM, MENNONITE MEMBER WHO
[02:45:01]
SAYS HOW CAN I DO SOMETHING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.THEY CAN DONATE AND HELP THE CAUSE AND HELP THESE FOLKS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES, TRYING TO GET TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, THEY CAN DO THAT BY CONTRIBUTING.
>> SALDANA: I WANT TO THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY, ERIK, FOR SETTING UP THE RESOURCE CENTER.
REALLY AT THE TURN OF A QUICK DECISIONS THAT YOU NEEDED TO MAKE TO RESPOND TO FOLKS.
I THINK THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SHOWING AND PROOF OF WHAT'S BUILT IN TO THE DNA OF THIS CITY NOW.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO GET EVERYBODY'S CHECK-IN BECAUSE THAT COULD TAKE WEEKS, MONTHS IN A BUREAUCRACY LIKE OURS.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ACTED QUICKLY.
IN FACT, IF IT EVER COMES TO THE POINT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE AT THAT RESOURCE CENTER OR AT OUR SHELTERS I KNOW MY FAMILY AND MYSELF WILL BE THE FIRST TO OPEN IT UP TO ASYLUM SEEKERS.
THEY CAN SHARE AN EXTRA BEDROOM THAT I AND MY WIFE AND ELI HAVE AT THE HOUSE.
THAT'S HOW FAR SOME PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GO.
IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THAT FAR OF AN EXTENT THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE, AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL.
THAT'S THE LAST PIECE I HAVE ON THE AMENDMENT THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING.
LET ME SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE BIT.
I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF OUR IGR COMMITTEE -- SOMEBODY WHO CAN HANDLE A QUESTION ABOUT TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
SO CARLOS, WHY DON'T YOU WALK UP TO THE PODIUM HERE.
THIS IS A CITY -- I'M GOING TO TELL A QUICK STORY ABOUT HOW BIG BUSINESS WON AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT SPECTER TOTALLY COMMUNICATION, A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO SHORTCHANGE THIS COMMUNITY THAT WOULD GO TO PARKS, DRAINAGE, $7.3 MILLION BECAUSE THEY LOBBIED UP IN AUSTIN .
AND ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK IS A BILL THAT HE WILL SIGN BECAUSE SPECTRUM AND TELECOMMUNICATION AGENCIES PAID MORE MONEY TO MORE LOBBYISTS FOR LEGISLATORS TO PASS THIS BILL.
TELL ME ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT WE'RE LOSING.
WE'RE LOSING $7.3 MILLION, BUT WHY ARE WE LOSING $7.3 MILLION?
>> AS YOU CORRECTLY INDICATE, IT WAS AN EFFORT BY SOME GROUPS TO LIMIT THE CHARGES THAT THE CITY CAN ASSESS IN ITS RIGHT OF WAY FOR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICES.
CURRENTLY CABLE COMPANIES PAY A FEE TO BE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES WOULD ALSO PAY A FEE TO BE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE BOTH SERVICES.
AND SO THEY WENT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASKED THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO PAY ONLY ONE OF THOSE FEES FOR USE OF THE CITY'S RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND OF $7.3 MILLION.
THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION REQUIRES CITIES TO GET FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THE USE OF ITS RIGHT OF WAY.
CITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE HAVE DONE THAT.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR MAINTAINING IT, ET CETERA.
AND SO THIS IS A FEE THAT NOW WILL NO LONGER BE RECOVERABLE BY THE CITY.
>> SALDANA: I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THAT POINT BECAUSE IT'S A PRELUDE TO THE FUTURE, IN MY ESTIMATION.
THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER BILL AT THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD MAKE IT SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE OR ALMOST ILLEGAL FOR THE CITY TO PAY FOLKS TO GO UP AND FIGHT FOR OUR CAUSES.
THEY WANT US TO DISARM OURSELVES UP AT THE LEGISLATURE WHEN IT COMES TO LOBBYING ON THE BEHALF OF CITIES.
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE NOT TELLING THE SAME THING TO BIG TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIKE SPECTRUM WHO WILL MAKE $11 BILLION IN PROFIT NEXT QUARTER BUT THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM NOT TO PAY PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY FEE THAT WILL ACCUMULATE TO $7.3 MILLION TO THE CITY THAT COULD PAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND DRAINAGE FOR THIS CITY.
IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE BUT I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE BIG BUSINESS SEEMS TO HAVE WON AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMUNITY ON THIS PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ISSUE.
SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND THEY ARE MINUTE AND NOBODY DIGS INTO THE DETAILS BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN SECRET THAT THESE BIG COMPANIES ARE COMING IN AND TRYING TO CUT SOME OF THEIR BOTTOM LINE BY DOING IT AT THE EXPENSE OF SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT, CARLOS.
THE NO TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYIST IS ON THE CALENDAR FOR FRIDAY.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, CARLOS.
I SAID SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO ACT AND REACT AND BE PROACTIVE AND WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE IN ANOTHER EFFORT WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE ON THE $2.4 MILLION AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NOT HOMELESS FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO SLEEPING IN COTS
[02:50:01]
OR IN KENNY WILSON'S OFFICE.WHILE I'M SURE IT IS A NICE OFFICE, KENNY, IT IS CERTAINLY NOT SUITABLE FOR FOLKS AND FAMILIES WHO NEED TO STAY TOGETHER WHILE THEY ARE DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT TIME, GETTING PROPPED UP AND BACK ON THEIR FEET.
WE PAY FOR THESE FOLKS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE COULD PAY THREE OR FOUR MORE TIMES ON THE BACK END WHEN WE DON'T TREAT THESE FOLKS AND DON'T TREAT A DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR LIFE, OR WE CAN PAY A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS AMOUNT BY MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THEY ARE REACHING OUT LOOKING FOR HELP THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THEM WITH SPACE AND THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
TO MR. BILL GREEHEY WHO PREACHES THE GOSPEL WITHOUT WORDS VERY OFTEN, AND WE ALL GET TO BENEFIT FROM THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> PERRY: I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE MENTIONED A WHILE AGO AND WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SHOW THAT IT'S AN EITHER/OR TYPE OF THING, THAT WE DO NEED TO HELP OUT.
AND I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.
BUT, AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE RATHER -- I GUESS I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE DIDN'T REACH OUT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FIRST BEFORE BRINGING IT TO CITY COUNCIL HERE.
THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED FIRST TO GET AN ANSWER FROM THEM.
AND THEN BRING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
LET ME TELL YOU, I'LL SUPPORT THIS BUT THIS IS A ONE-TIME ONLY FOR ME.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS A FEDERAL ISSUE.
AND I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR THAT PLAN TO SEE WHAT WE COME UP WITH, NOT ONLY FOR SAN ANTONIO BUT THE OTHER CITIES AS WELL.
AGAIN, THIS IS A ONE TIME FOR ME.
AND HOPEFULLY THE PACKAGE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION IS SUCCESSFUL AND THAT WE GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS.
WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUMP ON BOARD AND SUPPORT THIS THIS TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4 AS AMENDED.
>> MAYOR, THE MOTION AS PUT FORWARD BY COUNCILMAN TREVINO WAS AN AMENDMENT.
SO TECHNICALLY WE TAKE THE AMENDMENT FIRST AND THEN THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HE RESTATED HIS MOTION AS A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 4 WITH THE AMENDMENT AS HE STATED.
DOES HE NEED TO DO THAT AGAIN? CAN HE RESTATE THE MOTION?
>> GO AHEAD AND RESTATE THE MOTION, PLEASE.
I MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT.
TO INCLUDE AN ALLOCATION OF $141,000 FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 CONTINGENCY FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF FOOD, SHELTER, LAUNDRY, AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN SUPPORT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TRAVELING THROUGH OUR CITY.
OF THE $141,000, $86,000 WILL BE ALLOCATED, $56,000 TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO, $30,000 TO SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, AND THE REMAINING $55,000 SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO THE SAME ENTITIES PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 AS PART OF A COMMUNITY CHALLENGE TO RAISE UP TO $2 FOR EACH CITY DOLLAR INVESTED.
AND THAT CONFIRMS THE MOTION IS OKAY.
AND COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES CONFIRMS HER SECOND.
DO WE NEED TO RETAKE THE VOTE? OKAY.
[5. Public Hearing and Consideration of an Ordinance approving amendment of Impact Fees, including updates to Land Use Assumption Plan, Capital Improvements Plans, and the maximum Impact Fees for the San Antonio Water System Service Area. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Troy Elliot, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance]]
MOTION CARRIES.>> ITEM NO. 5 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENT OF IMPACT FEES, INCLUDING UPDATES TO LAND USE ASSUMPTION PLAN, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, AND THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEES FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM SERVICE AREA.
>> MAYOR, COUNCIL, MANAGER, THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION OF UPDATED SAWS IMPACT FEES.
IMPACT FEES ARE GOVERNED BY CHAPTER 395 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AND REQUIRES THAT THE IMPACT FEES BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THE LAST TIME IMPACT FEES WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL WAS MAY 29, 2014.
[02:55:01]
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE KNOWN AS THE CAC DO ADVISE SAWS AND THE CITY COUNCIL ON IMPACT FEES.THEY HAVE MET OVER NINE MONTHS REVIEWING THE IMPACT FEE CALCULATIONS WITH SAWS AND THE CONSULTANTS.
CITY'S PUBLIC UTILITY STAFF HAS ATTENDED EVERY MEETING AND HAS CONDUCTED REVIEWS OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND FOUND THEM TO BE CONSIDERED AND REASONABLE.
MY NAME IS RUSSELL HUFF, ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR.
ON FEBRUARY 13 THE CIAC UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU TODAY.
ON APRIL 2 THE SAWS BOARD APPROVED THE CIAC RECOMMENDATION AND RECOMMENDS COUNCIL APPROVE.
SO THE CIAC, SAWS BOARD, SAWS STAFF, AND CITY STAFF ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION .
TODAY'S MEETING IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED BY CHAPTER 395.
COUNCIL HAS THE OPTION AT THE END OF THIS MEETING TO APPROVE THE UPDATED IMPACT FEES AND SUPPORTING CALCULATIONS.
CITY COUNCIL COULD APPROVE IMPACT FEES THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE PROPOSED FEES, AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM CALCULATED IMPACT FEES.
THEY COULD ALSO POSTPONE THE DECISION TO GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND MAY 30 IS AVAILABLE IF YOU WISH TO POSTPONE AND STILL MEET THE TARGETED APPROVAL TIMELINE OF BEFORE JUNE.
MR. ROBERT PUENTES FROM SAWS IS HERE TO PRESENT IMPACT FEES TO COUNCIL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WHAT IS BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A CAPITAL FEE AND THE MAXIMUM FEE AND OTHER ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT HOW OUR CITY IS GROWING.
ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD AND ON BEHALF OF OUR STAFF, I BRING TO YOU THIS PRESENTATION.
AS Y'ALL KNOW, IN 2018 SAN ANTONIO WAS NAMED ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING CITIES IN THE NATION.
AND Y'ALL JUST PROVED THAT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE CITIES IN THE NATION ALSO.
SAWS MANAGES GROWTH BY FINANCING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO GROWTH TO THE COLLECTION OF IMPACT FEES.
AN IMPACT FEE IS A ONE-TIME CHARGE TO COVER THE COST OF THE IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ON OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
IMPACT FEES DO FOUR THINGS FOR US.
THEY COVER THE CAPITAL COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED FOR GROWTH.
IT ENSURES THAT GROWTH PAYS FOR ITSELF.
IT PREVENTS EXISTING RATEPAYERS FROM SUBSIDIZING NEW RATEPAYERS AND KEEPS SAWS' RATES AMONG THE LOWEST IN TEXAS.
YOU SEE HERE A PICTURE OF THE H2O CENTER.
IT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAS THREE DIFFERENT WATER SOURCES IN ONE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY PROJECT, THE BRACKISH DESAL PROJECT, AND FRESH WATER CARRIZO WATER PROJECT.
ALL THREE OF THESE PROJECTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE YEARS WERE PARTIALLY PAID FOR BY IMPACT FEES.
AND NOT JUST THESE HIGH-PROFILE PROJECTS BUT ALSO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE WILL PROBABLY NEVER SEE AGAIN IS ALSO PAID FOR BY IMPACT FEES.
DEVELOPERS PAY THESE IMPACT FEES FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AT THE TIME THAT THEY CONNECT INTO OUR SYSTEM.
YOU SEE HERE THAT A MAP OF BEXAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO, WATER AND WASTEWATER.
AS Y'ALL KNOW, SAN ANTONIO ESSENTIALLY WAS BUILT ON A HILL.
IF YOU DEVELOP IN THE NORTHERN -- AS FAR AS WATER IS CONCERNED, IF YOU DEVELOP IN THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR COUNTY IT COSTS MORE TO PUMP THAT WATER UPHILL TO GET THE SERVICE UP TO THE CUSTOMERS.
ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, GRAVITY HELPS TO MOVE THAT WATER DOWN AND SO IF YOU BUILD IN THE LOWER PARTS OF THE COUNTY, IT'S NOT AS COSTLY BECAUSE IT'S LESS USE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND BECAUSE OF WHATEVER YOU'RE BUILDING IS CLOSER TO OUR TREATMENT PLANTS.
A REVIEW OF SAWS' IMPACT FEES IS CONDUCTED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND THIS IS BY STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.
THE CIAC WAS APPOINTED BY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THAT APPOINTMENT HERE.
SUSAN WRIGHT, MICHAEL HOGAN, BRIAN HUGHES, MICHAEL MOORE, AND OUR BOARD MEMBER, AMY HARDBERGER ARE ALL HERE -- I BELIEVE THEY'RE STILL HERE.
THE CIAC PRINCIPLES ARE TO REVIEW SOME OF THE IMPACT FEES AND THAT IS EXISTING CUSTOMERS DO NOT SUBSIDIZE NEW CUSTOMERS.
NEW CUSTOMERS DO NOT SUBSIDIZE
[03:00:02]
EXISTING CUSTOMERS, SO THERE'S A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP THERE.THAT FEES ARE APPLIED FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY TO ALL AND THAT FEE PAYS FOR GROWTH.
THE CIAC HAS WORKED FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS WITH STAFF IN PREPARATION FOR THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE LAND USE ASSUMPTION PLAN.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY INFORMATION THAT IS TAKEN FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES BUT SPECIFICALLY THE SAN ANTONIO TOMORROW PLAN AND OUR 2017 WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE DO GET INFORMATION ABOUT GROWTH PATTERNS FROM OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES.
AND PART OF THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION IS TO MAKE A CALCULATION AS TO WHAT THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEE IS.
UNDER THE LAW THEY ARE REQUIRED TO CALCULATE WHAT THAT MAXIMUM AMOUNT COULD BE.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE IMPLEMENTED BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
AND THERE'S ALSO AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THAT GROWTH IS IN OUR SERVICE AREA AND WHAT AN AMOUNT OF GROWTH IT IS.
AS FAR AS WATER IS CONCERNED, OVER A 141 EDUS, A EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY IS A HOME, MAYBE OF ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE.
ON THE WASTEWATER SIDE, 131,000 EDUS.
YOU SEE HERE THAT WE HAVE QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT IMPACT FEES DIVIDED UP INTO FIVE DIFFERENT AREAS.
AND SPECIFICALLY WATER SUPPLY, WATER DELIVERY, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, WASTEWATER COLLECTION.
AND SUBCATEGORIES DEPENDING ON THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA THAT YOU ARE BUILDING.
THE CURRENT FEES, THE ONES ADOPTED BY THIS COUNCIL IN 2014, ARE SHOWN THERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THEY VARIATE DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE BUILDING .
THE MAXIMUM FEES ARE ON THE NEXT SLIDE AND THOSE ARE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO BE DECIDED ON WHAT THEY COULD BE.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING THIS COUNCIL AND WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS BY THE CITIZENS' COMMITTEE AND BY OUR BOARD IS TO CHARGE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ON ALL THE FEES EXCEPT FOR ONE, THE WATER SUPPLY FEE.
LET ME STICK TO THIS SLIDE FOR A MINUTE.
AND THIS WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION BY THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND THIS WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAPPENED FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION DIFFERENT COMING TO CITY COUNCIL.
AND OF COURSE CITY COUNCIL MADE THE ULTIMATE DECISION ON WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
BUT THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR A HYBRID TYPE OF CALCULATION ON THE WATER SUPPLY FEE BECAUSE OF THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, VISTA RIDGE WAS PARTIALLY PAID FOR BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHICH ESSENTIALLY BUILT THE PROJECT NORTH OF BEXAR COUNTY.
AND THAT PROJECT WILL BE ONLINE WITHIN 11 MONTHS.
AND SO THAT WATER SUPPLY FEE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WATER SUPPLY PROJECT THAT'S IN THESE CALCULATIONS.
AS I MENTIONED, IT WILL BE ONLY FOR THAT ONE YEAR BEFORE IT TAKES EFFECT IN APRIL OF 2020.
THE RECOMMENDED IMPACT FEES VARY BY SERVICE AREA.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, HERE YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE THE MAXIMUM FEE, WHICH IS ON THE FAR NORTH SIDE.
IF YOU BUILD A HOME IN THAT AREA, YOUR IMPACT FEE WILL INCREASE BY 4.7%.
AND IT VARIES TO THE LOW END, THE MINIMUM FEE OF 1.1% INCREASE.
AND IT WILL BE ALMOST $6,000 ON THE IMPACT FEE.
A PARTICULAR ALSO IS IF YOU ARE BUILDING A HOME IN DISTRICT 5, FOR EXAMPLE, A VACANT LOT, AND SOMEBODY ALREADY HAD SERVICE THERE AND YOU'RE BUILDING A BRAND NEW HOME, THAT IMPACT FEE HAS BEEN PAID SO THERE ARE NO IMPACT FEES IN THOSE SITUATIONS.
COMPARISON OF THE IMPACT FEES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE SOMEWHAT IN THE MIDDLE BUT A LITTLE BIT ON THE HIGH END AS FAR AS IMPACT FEES.
ON THE LOW END IS HOUSTON, EL PASO, AND FORT WORTH.
AND THEY HAVE PARTICULAR SITUATIONS.
HOUSTON AND FORT WORTH CHOOSE JUST NOT TO CHARGE THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEE.
EL PASO HAS A DIFFERENT SITUATION IN THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY THE SELLING OF A LOT OF REAL ESTATE THAT THEY OWN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THOSE RATES SOMEWHAT LOW.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ALSO ABOUT OUR IMPACT FEES IS THAT THEY HELP KEEP OUR RESIDENTIAL RATES SOME OF THE LOWEST IN THE STATE.
YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT ONLY EL PASO AND DALLAS HAVE LOWER RATES THAN SAN ANTONIO.
OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBORS WHO ARE GROWING PROBABLY, ESPECIALLY AUSTIN, AS FAST AS SAN ANTONIO HAS THE HIGHEST RESIDENTIAL
[03:05:03]
RATES.THE TIMELINE STARTED, AS WE MENTIONED, ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR OWN STAFF TO PRESENT THIS WITHIN OURSELVES.
THE BOARD APPROVED IT AND NOW WE'RE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL.
WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
SPECIFICALLY IT IS TO ACCEPT THE LAND USE ASSUMPTION PLAN.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE GROWTH AND THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS SOMETHING THAT IS TALKED ABOUT AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THAT.
THE IMPACT FEE CALCULATION, AS I MENTIONED, IS ALSO GOING TO BE ASKED -- WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE.
AND THE GROWTH RELATED TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
OUR PROJECTS IN THE PLAN OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS ARE WHAT IS DECIDED ON BY THE CITIZENS' COMMITTEE AND BY OUR STAFF.
SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT SAWS AND THE CIAC ARE BRINGING BEFORE YOU.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM CITY STAFF AT THIS POINT?
>> HALL: BEFORE WE CONTINUE, WE'VE GOT 12 CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WE'LL START WITH JACK M. FINGER.
HE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY RENETTE KING.
>> WELL, MR. MAYOR PRO TEM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
IN REGARDS TO THAT LAST ISSUE Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING Y'ALL HAVE THE SAME COMPASSION ON THE POOR RATEPAYERS AND TAXPAYERS WHO ARE PAYING FOR THIS FREIGHT.
YEAH, LIKE MARGARET MTHATCHER USED TO SAY THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH SOCIALISM IS EVENTUALLY YOU RUN OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? WELL, GIVE A LITTLE BRIEF HISTORY.
ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO WHEN COPS METRO WAS GETTING STARTED, YOU HAD ITS THEN LEADER, MR. ANDRES SERRABIA WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
HE LED THE ORGANIZATION -- THEY WERE FINDING OUT PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE WEST SIDE, EAST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE A LOT OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS WERE GOING TO ALL THE RICH PEOPLE ON THE NORTH SIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE THERE AND THEY, THE POOR PEOPLE, WEREN'T GETTING ANYTHING BACK ON IT.
SO THEY FINALLY LOBBIED THEN-CITY COUNCIL FINALLY ROSE UP AND REBELLED AND PEOPLE HAVE FINALLY GOT THE LIKE OF EVERYTHING AND DECIDED TO ESTABLISH COMMITTEES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND IMPACT FEES THAT CHARGED DEVELOPERS FOR THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO OVER THE YEARS THEY'VE COME UP WITH THINGS.
SO IN THE CURRENT IMPACT FEES, WE WONDERED ARE THEY REAL? ARE THEY TRUE? DO THEY REALLY REFLECT THE REALITIES? AND COMPARED TO ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE THE ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS THERE.
WELL, THE LEAGUE OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS DID SOME SURVEYS RECENTLY AND THEY FOUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS HERE.
MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP THERE, IF YOU WOULD.
BLOW UP SOME OF THE CIRCLED AREA THERE.
IT'S ABOUT -- LET'S SEE SOME OF THE WRITING ON THE TOP THERE, IF YOU WOULD.
SAWS IS ABOUT TO INCREASE BILLS UP TO 9.9% FOR EVERYBODY ELSE BUT WHILE REDUCING IMPACT FEES 3%.
BLOW UP THAT AREA WHERE THE CIRCLE IS THERE.
THAT'S WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING LOWERED.
SHIFT TO THE LEFT, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.
INSTEAD, OUR RESIDENTIAL RATES ARE GOING UP ABOUT 9% THERE.
BASICALLY YOU HAVE HERE -- RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GETTING FROM YOU, FROM SAWS TODAY.
WILL YOU BUY IT? WE'LL FIND OUT.
RENETTE KING FOLLOWED BY STANLEY MITCHELL.
[03:10:02]
THANK YOU FOR HEARING US.IN THE 2019 BUDGET SAWS CLAIMS THEIR LONG-RANGE PLAN IS 50% NON-DEBT FINANCING.
THAT MEANS THEY RAISE RATES TO PAY FOR AT LEAST 50% OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROJECTS FROM CURRENT FUNDS.
SAWS HAS SAID THE CIP IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER FOR RATE INCREASES.
NOW THEY CHANGED TO 85% DEBT AND 15% NON-DEBT FOR THE CIP FOR FUTURE.
THE IMPACT FEE STUDY SAYS -- IT SHOULD BE THE NEXT -- YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT.
THE IMPACT FEE STUDY SAYS $366 MILLION IN WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS IN TEN YEARS FINANCED AT 85% DEBT.
THIS IS A CREDIT THAT REDUCES IMPACT FEES.
THEN SAWS PRORATED OR REDUCED THE IMPACT FEE SINCE VISTA RIDGE WILL BE DONE BY 2020.
SO THE 2019 BUDGET IS WRONG AND WE'RE IN FOR A LOT MORE DEBT IN THE FUTURE.
A FEW DAYS AGO SAWS SAID THEY WERE GOING TO USE A DEBT DEFICIT STRATEGY TO BUY BACK HIGH INTEREST DEBT TO REDUCE SERVICE IN COST.
THIS IS A $180 MILLION PROPOSAL TO THE COUNCIL TO BUY DOWN DEBT THROUGH 2028.
THE SAME PERIOD OF THIS LAND USE PLAN.
WHEN THEY ALSO SAID THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE DEBT, WHICH SOMEHOW REDUCES IMPACT FEES.
WHERE DOES THAT CASH FOR DEBT DEFICITS COME FROM? DIDN'T SAWS SAY RECENT RATE INCREASES WERE NECESSARY TO PAY FOR THE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR? DO THEY REALLY HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SITTING AROUND? SAWS HAS 562 DAYS CASH ON HAND.
DID THE 2015 RESTRUCTURE AND EXTRA INCREASES EVERY YEAR REALLY CREATE THAT MUCH CASH SURPLUS SO NOW SAWS CAN SAVE MONEY BY PAYING DOWN THAT DEBT FROM A FAT BANK ACCOUNT? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
GOING BACK TO THE 2019 BUDGET, IT SAYS SAWS' GOAL IS A 300-DAY CASH ON HAND RESERVE.
BUT IT DOESN'T MENTION THEY ALREADY HAVE NEARLY DOUBLE THAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE SAWS HAS STOCKPILED CASH FOR FIVE YEARS WHILE ALSO ACCRUING DEBT AND RAISING OUR RATES.
NOW THEY WANT TO PAY DOWN SOME DEBT BUT THEY ALSO SAY THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE DEBT AND THAT INCREASES DEBT FINANCING.
WHY SHOULD WE THE PEOPLE PAY MORE AND DEVELOPERS PAY LESS? THAT'S WHAT SAWS IS RECOMMENDING FOR WATER SUPPLY IMPACT FEES GOING FORWARD.
I RECOMMEND COUNCIL VOTE NO AND HAVE THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEES, NOT THE PRORATED REDUCTIONS.
STANLEY MITCHELL FOLLOWED BY JOE YACUBBIC.
I'M STAN MITCHELL, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 9.
EXHIBIT D OF THE CIAC ANALYSIS SAYS THAT SAWS IS SUCH A GREAT CONSERVATION ADVOCATE THAT IT REDUCED GPC BY 50%.
EXHIBIT A, THE DRAFT LAND USE ASSUMPTION PLAN TALKS ABOUT DATA IN THIS 2017 WATER USAGE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IS IT ACCURATE FOR CALCULATING EDUS? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
START WITH THE 2009 WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN WHICH IS WHERE SAWS GETS THAT 225 PEAK IT LIKES TO USE.
SAWS USES 1982 AS A REFERENCE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S THE HIGHEST GPCD THEY CAN FIND.
EVERYTHING IS A REDUCTION FROM THAT PEAK.
1982 WAS A DROUGHT YEAR WITH ABOUT 20 INCHES OF RAIN AND IT WAS MORE THAN 35 YEARS AGO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF WORDS HERE BUT IT SAYS ESSENTIALLY, QUOTE, OUR OLD DATA WAS INACCURATE BECAUSE OF METERS AND CENSUS DATA, SO WE CHANGED THAT, UNQUOTE.
IF THE 2009 DATA WERE OFF, MIGHT THE 1982 NUMBER ALSO BE OFF? IS IT ETHICAL TO KEEP TOUTING A SUSPECT NUMBER IN DATA COMPARISONS WITHOUT AT LEAST MAKING SOME ATTEMPT TO VALIDATE ITS ACCURACY? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IN 2017, SAWS KEEPS USING THAT
[03:15:02]
225 GPCD FROM 1982 COMPARING TO 2016.1982 WAS VERY DRY, BUT 2016 WAS SO WET THAT SAWS BLAMED THE 2016 INCREASE IN SEWER OVERFLOWS ON THE INCREASED RAINFALL.
THIS IS DATA FOR THE CURRENT IMPACT FEE PLAN.
THAT NARROW SLICE OF CONSUMPTION DATA IS THE BEST INDICATOR.
THAT SHARP DROP IN 2015 AND '16 IS VERY IMPRESSIVE, BUT '15 AND '16 WERE VERY WET AT 44 INCHES OF RAIN EACH.
THE 2017 WMP ADMITTED FACTORING THE INTEGRATION OF DSP CUSTOMERS INTO THE DATASET.
THIS IS NOT GPCD BUT THE TREND IS THE SAME.
IT ALSO ATTRIBUTES CAUSES OTHER THAN SAWS' CONVERSION ETHIC TO RECENT REDUCED USE.
SAWS DOESN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF ADDING CUSTOMERS WHO USE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS EVERY YEAR WHICH RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT DROPS IN AVERAGE WATER USE.
SAWS STARTED THE ANALYSIS FOR THE 2019 IMPACT FEE BY USING A COMPARISON OF A SUSPECT METRIC OVER AN INACCURATE TIME PERIOD.
IT BASED THE CALCULATION ON THE IMPACT FEES EDUS ON THE 2017.
>> HALL: THANK YOU, MR. MITCHELL.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE JOE YACUBBIC FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL D. MOORE.
>> EXHIBIT D, THE CIAC ANALYSIS INCLUDES A COMMON SAWS SLIDE WHERE IT ALLEGEDLY COMPARISON AVERAGE BILLS IN MAJOR TEXAS CITIES.
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY THE AVERAGE BILL.
IT'S A FICTIONAL SAWS BILL THAT IS SUPERIMPOSED ON OTHER CITY'S FEE STRUCTURES.
IT'S NOT EVEN THE TOTAL SAWS' BILL THAT RESIDENTS HAVE TO PAY SINCE IT LEAVES OUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S STORM WATER FEE BUT IT FAILS TO SAY THAT IN THE FINE PRINT WHERE IT SAYS IT DOES INCLUDE OTHER FEES.
WITH SAWS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS ALMOST ALWAYS HIGHER THAN THEY TELL YOU.
AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY WATER POLICY SITE PAINTS A DIFFERENT PICTURE THAN LOW BILLS.
SAN ANTONIANS ACTUALLY USE MORE WATER AND PAY HIGHER BILLS THAN OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES.
MAYBE BECAUSE THE RATE STRUCTURE IS ORIENTED TOWARDS STABLE SAWS REVENUE AND NOT TOWARD WATER CONSERVATION OR LOW USE.
SAWS HAS THE HIGHEST FIXED FEES OF MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE HIGHEST AVERAGE BILLS.
AUSTIN JUST LOWERED TYPICAL BILLS BY $2.40 BY RAISING IMPACT FEES SO THEY COULD LOWER RESIDENTIAL BILLS.
THEIR ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR SAID, QUOTE, THIS MADE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH PAY MORE FOR ITSELF RATHER THAN HAVE ALL RATEPAYERS SUBSIDIZE THE GROWTH.
THIS HEARING HERE TODAY INCLUDES A PROPOSED REDUCTION IN IMPACT FEES TO DEVELOPERS, BUT SAWS NEVER SAYS THAT.
IT SAYS PRORATED OR HYBRID BUT IT NEVER SAYS REDUCTION.
MEANWHILE, SAWS IS PLANNING ALSO ON A 50% RATE INCREASE THAT WILL RAISE THE AVERAGE BILL BY NEARLY 10%.
SAWS IS DEVIATING FROM PAST PRACTICE AND NOT RECOMMENDING THE MAXIMUM FEES.
THEY ARE EVEN RECOMMENDING A REDUCTION FROM CURRENT RATES.
THE CIAC IS AWARE THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE MADE UP ELSEWHERE AND THE MOST LIKELY SOURCE IS INCREASING RESIDENTS' RATES.
BUT THEY MAKE NO MENTION OF THOSE OTHER SOURCES IN THEIR STUDY.
MR. GUERRA'S COMMENTS REFER TO AUSTIN'S COMMITTEE STRUCTURE BUT THE OUTCOME OF THAT STRUCTURE WAS INCREASED IMPACT FEES AND REDUCED RATES.
OR THE DIAMETRIC OPPOSITE OF WHAT SAWS' EXECUTIVES ARE PROPOSING.
IF SAWS WANTS TO REDUCE RESIDENTIAL RATES, LIKE AUSTIN DID, THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO CONSIDER HOW AUSTIN GOT THERE.
VOTE FOR THE MAXIMUM RATES, PLEASE.
MICHAEL D. MOORE FOLLOWED BY ELLEN BERKE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, PRO TEM MAYOR, I GUESS.
[03:20:02]
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I DON'T WANT TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT NUMBERS BUT JUST GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE CHARGED WITH, OBVIOUSLY, IS LOOKING AT EACH AREA, AS MENTIONED BY PRESIDENT PUENTE, TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE COSTS FOR EACH AREA WITHIN THE CITY FOR THEIR WATER AND SEWER BASED ON WHAT IT COSTS FOR THEM TO BE PROVIDED THROUGH CAPITAL PROJECTS.
OUR COMMITTEE WAS CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT EACH PARTICULAR ITEM, EACH PARTICULAR AREA AND COMING UP WITH A FEE BASED ON THAT REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID.
WE LOOKED AT PAST IMPACT FEE REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH AREA.
WE LOOKED AT THE PROJECTS, ASKED THE STAFF, WHICH I WOULD COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR WORK.
THEY WERE VERY DILIGENT IN WHAT THEY DID.
BUT WE WOULD ASK THE STAFF FOR THEM TO PROVIDE FOR US A LIST OF ALL PROJECTS.
AND WE WENT THROUGH EACH PROJECT ONE BY ONE TO VERIFY WHETHER IT NEEDED TO BE -- IT HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.
IT NEEDED TO BE REVISED BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
AND THEN ONCE ALL THAT WAS DONE, WE WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE COST, PROJECTED COST OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
AS A COMMITTEE MEMBER, I'M NOT REQUIRED BUT I WILL BE, AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, MEETING WITH THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS PRESCRIBED BY CHAPTER 395.
AND WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IS REVIEWING WHAT STATUS IS AS OF THAT DATE AND IF THERE WAS A MISTAKE OR A PROBLEM THAT WE DID TO THE RECOGNIZE IN AN EARLIER SITUATION, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BRING THAT UP FOR RECONSIDERATION AND FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE ANYTHING THAT'S INCORRECT.
I WOULD REITERATE THAT WE, AS A COMMITTEE, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED OUR REPORT.
SAWS BOARD HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE REPORT.
AND I WOULD ASK YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS REPORT FOR THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEES.
>> HALL: THANK YOU, MR. MOORE.
ELLEN BERKE FOLLOWED BY LINDA CHRIS.
COUNCIL JUST DEVOTED NEARLY THREE HOURS DISCUSSING THE EXPENDITURE OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO EXTEND HOSPITALITY TO IMPOVERISHED REFUGEES.
YOU ARE NOW HOW TO CONSIDER HOW TO COLLECT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEE TO PAY FOR GROWTH AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER HOW TO BILL THE RESIDENTS FOR UNCOLLECTED IMPACT FEES BECAUSE THAT DISCUSSION WILL TAKE PLACE AT ANOTHER TIME AFTER THE SAWS CONVENES ANOTHER COMMITTEE, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT THOUGHT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.
MY NAME IS ELLEN BERKE AND I REPRESENT THE LEAGUE OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS OF TEXAS.
IN MID-MARCH I HANDED OUT A DRAFT RESOLUTION TO COUNCIL CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT.
AT THE APRIL 11 COUNCIL MEETING, COUNCIL ALLOWED ITSELF TO BE USED AS A FOCUS GROUP TO IDENTIFY WAIVERRING COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO NEEDED TO BE LOBBIED TO GET ON BOARD WITH SAWS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.
C.E.O. PUENTE NEEDS TO GET HIS STORY STRAIGHT.
AT THE APRIL MEETING HE SAID COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE A DECISION ON IMPACT FEES BY JUNE 8, ELECTION DAY.
THEN SAWS' CFO FRISBIE SAID COUNCIL MAY DO WHAT IT THINKS BEST.
C.E.O. PUENTE RESPONDED TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES' QUESTION, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF COUNCIL DOESN'T ACT NOW? BY SAYING SAWS WILL HAVE TO GO TO AUSTIN AND EXPLAIN.
SAWS LEGISLATURES TO HAMMER RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE THE FORTUNE NOW BUT THE MISFORTUNE LATER TO LIVE ON TOP OF GROUNDWATER CREATED BY WATER CARPET BAGGERS WHO COME TO TEXAS TO MAKE MONEY.
IT WON'T BE DIFFICULT FOR SAWS TO TRANSMIT APOLOGIES TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN IF THIS CITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO EXERCISE DUE DILIGENCE AND DELIBERATE A
[03:25:02]
COUPLE MORE MONTHS ON THE IMPACT FEE QUESTION.HOW CAN GIVING UP $87 MILLION OF IMPACT FEES BE ANYTHING BUT A GIVEAWAY TO REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS AND THEIR CRONIES AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? AND OF COURSE THE WATER HUCKSTERS WHO WERE WATCHING SAN ANTONIO CLOSELY.
A CAREFUL DELIBERATION ABOUT THAT KIND OF PAYOFF IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THE SECOND POOREST METRO AREA IN THE UNITED STATES CAN ACCOMPLISH.
A STATEMENT WAS RECENTLY MADE BY SAWS' VICE PRESIDENT.
RAMOS LAUDED COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR THE LEADERSHIP HE SHOWED WHILE WORKING ON THE SAWS' RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN 2014.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAND OUT THE MINUTES OF ONE MEETING WHERE COUNCILMAN PELAEZ EXERCISED HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO RATE WATER AFFORDABILITY SECOND FROM THE BOTTOM ON A LIST OF TEN PRIORITIES.
THIS WAS THE CRITERIA WHICH WAS GIVEN TO THE CONSULTANT WHO DEVELOPED THE RATE STRUCTURE WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED EVERY YEAR SINCE 2014 TO AMPLIFY WITH RATE INCREASES.
>> HALL: THANK YOU, MS. BERKE.
LINDA CURTIS FOLLOWED BY JAMES LEE MURPHY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M LINDA CURTIS.
I LIVE IN BASTROP AND I VOLUNTEER WITH THE LEAGUE OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND A BUNCH OF GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROTECT CENTRAL TEXAS AQUIFERS, INCLUDING THE EDWARDS AND THE AQUIFERS UNDERNEATH THE COUNTIES OUT WHERE I LIVE.
BASTROP, LEE, BURLESON, AND MILAM COUNTIES.
NOW, UNLIKE THE EDWARDS, THE AQUIFERS WHERE I LIVE DO NOT RECHARGE IN HUMAN TERMS. SOMEHOW THIS GOT LOST ON US.
THESE AQUIFERS ARE ALREADY BEING MINED BEYOND THEIR RECHARGE.
AS YOU KNOW, VISTA RIDGE IS YET TO START PUMPING A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THOSE COUNTIES.
IN 2014 I JOINED A BUS LOAD OF FOLKS WHO CAME TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE -- THIS BODY.
SOME OF YOU WERE NOT ON IT AT THAT POINT -- TO REJECT THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT.
THEN-COUNCILMAN NIRENBERG CAME TO BURLESON COUNTY FOLLOWING UP WITH US, AND WE APPRECIATED THAT.
WE ALSO APPRECIATED THE EFFORTS OF GREG BROCKHOUSE WHO HELPED LEAD A PETITION TO THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE RATES FOR VISTA RIDGE.
WHAT WE DID NOT APPRECIATE IS SCUTTLE THAT PETITION AUDIO] AND ENDED THIS PETITION FAIRLY.
NOW RECENTLY SAWS' CHAIRMAN GUERRA REFERRED TO THE AUSTIN WATER UTILITY FOR SAVING THE UTILITY FROM HUGE RATE INCREASES IN 2013.
I WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM IN AUSTIN THAT SUPPORTED THE LEADERS OF THE AUSTIN IMPACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND IMPOSING THE FULLEST IMPACT FEES ALLOWED UNDER STATE LAW.
THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WAS FACING WHAT APPEARS TO ME TO BE THE SAME DILEMMA THAT YOU ARE FACING WITH VISTA RIDGE.
DEVELOPERS HAD LOBBIED HARD FOR AN UNNECESSARY WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT THE COST OF A BILLION DOLLARS WITH INTEREST AND THEN THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HELP PAY FOR IT.
I HAVE A LETTER THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR HANDS RIGHT NOW FROM ATTORNEY ROGER BORGOUT OF AUSTIN WHO HAS PRACTICED WATER AND UTILITY LAW IN THE CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
MR. BORGOUT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE EFFORT TO PUSH FOR THAT UNNECESSARY WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
IN HIS LETTER HE LAYS OUT WHY IT IS HIS OPINION THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO RUSH THIS DECISION.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT IN 2013 IT TOOK THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SIX YEARS AND ONE MONTH TO FINALIZE THEIR IMPACT FEE DECISION.
I WILL REMIND YOU MR. PUENTE SAID ON APRIL 11 YOU MUST PASS THIS ON JUNE 8.
>> HALL: WHITNEY MASTERSON IS DONATING HER TIME TO LINDA CURTIS.
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY TO YOU GUYS, SO BEAR WITH ME.
I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO
[03:30:02]
MAKE YOUR DECISION AND PASS THE FULL WATER IMPACT SUPPLY FEE AND THEN DECISIVELY MOVE TO PASS THE VISTA RIDGE RESOLUTION FOR AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF VISTA RIDGE AND FOR AN ORDINANCE TO REIN IN SAWS.THIS RESOLUTION IS SUPPORTED BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER WORKED TOGETHER.
A GROWING COALITION THAT INCLUDES THE ALAMO SIERRA CLUB, THE HOMEOWNER TAXPAYER COALITION OF BEXAR COUNTY, LULAC, SAMBA, SAN ANTONIO -- I'M JUST BLANKING ON SAMBA'S FULL NAME.
THE JOSHUA PROJECT, AND THERE ARE MORE COMING.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU REALLY DO CARE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOUR RATEPAYERS AND OUR RURAL NEIGHBORS.
IF ANYTHING, SAWS HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO -- THEY ACTUALLY REALLY SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR HAVING BROUGHT CENTRAL TEXANS TOGETHER, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> HALL: THANK YOU, MS. CURTIS.
JAMES LEE MURPHY FOLLOWED BY NICKI COONS.
NICKI IS GIVING HER TIME TO JAMES LEE MURPHY?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JAMES LEEMURPHY AND I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE ORDINANCE.
FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS I HAVE SERVED THE PUBLIC AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL IN ONE STATE AGENCY AND TWO WATER RIVER AUTHORITIES AND I DARE SAY THAT I QUALIFY AS ONE OF OUR STATE'S LEADING AUTHORITIES ON WATER LAW POLICY AND PLANNING.
YOU HAVE HEARD A NUMBER OF OBJECTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
AND THESE PRESENTATIONS RAISE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE THAT THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE REJECTED OR AT LEAST THAT THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RATE BE ADOPTED.
YET THERE ARE OTHER MORE IMPORTANT REASONS TO REJECT THIS ORDINANCE.
WHAT STANDS BEHIND EACH OF THESE OBJECTIONS YOU HAVE HEARD THIS MORNING IS A LACK OF TRUST IN THE LEADERSHIP AT SAWS.
THERE ARE FEW AMONG YOUR CONSTITUENTS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT MISPLACED, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE LONG SINCE PASSED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN CHAIRMAN GUERRA AND C.E.O.
THE SAWS VISTA RIDGE PROJECT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE SOURCE OF MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY IN OUR STATE.
THE PUBLIC IS CORRECT TO FEAR THAT SOPHISTICATED DEVELOPERS DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THIS PROJECT AND WOULD USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO SHIFT THAT BURDEN TO THE AVERAGE RATE PAYER.
YOU CANNOT FIX LACK OF TRUST IN THE MEN WHO ARE THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AT THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM.
IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY, GENTLEMEN.
I'M OLD ENOUGH, I'M AFRAID, TO REMEMBER ALEX'S TENURE ON THE SAWS' BOARD.
AT THAT POINT HE FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO WITHOUT SUBSIDIZING OR UNDERMINING THE INTERESTS OF NON-RESIDENTS IN NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
REPRESENTING NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES HE WAS CAREFUL TO REMIND US THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU.
HE WAS CAREFUL TO SUBORDINATE ANY POLITICAL ROLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND DIRECTION.
MIKE THUS OF SAWS, UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP CAME UP WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF WATER TO SAN ANTONIO WHILE PROTECTING DOWNSTREAM WATER RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS.
SINCE THAT TIME, PROJECTS, VENTURES THAT SAWS HAS UNDERTAKEN UNDER THE GUERRA-PUENTE ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN ERRATIC AND FOR THE MOST PART UNSUCCESSFUL.
CITIZENS ARE RIGHT TO QUESTION WHO IS MINDING THE STORE AND WHO ACTUALLY BENEFITS FROM SAWS' PROJECTS.
MR. PUENTE AND GUERRA CREATED A HIGHLY POLITICALIZED ROLE FOR SAWS.
HOPE WELLS, STEVE AT THE CAPITAL CONSTANTLY WHERE I DO A LOT OF WORK.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHO ARE THEY REPRESENTING? ON BEHALF OF LIV I FILED THREE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE STRATEGY BEHIND SAWS' MISSION AT THE
[03:35:02]
CAPITAL.A YEAR AGO IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM MR. PUENTE TOLD YOU, YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT EXCESS WATER.
15,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER WAS A PUZZLE.
SINCE THAT TIME, TWO PROJECTS HAVE GONE FORWARD, BORROWED ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO DEVELOP 15,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER EACH.
WE WERE PUZZLED AS TO WHAT SAWS WAS UP TO.
WHY WEREN'T THEY MARKETING THIS? MY PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST TOOK FOUR MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ONLY TO FIND OUT SAWS HAD DONE NOTHING TO MARKET THAT WATER TO THOSE PROJECTS ALONG THE VISTA RIDGE PIPELINE ROUTE.
THEN WE FIND OUT IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT SAWS IS ATTEMPTING TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO AMEND THE IN AUDIO] IN OPPOSITION TO THE FOLKS IN THE OTHER COUNTIES THERE.
WHY? IS THAT NOT GROUNDS FOR SUSPICION THAT IMPACT FEES IS FAIR THAT REFLECT THE COST TO THE PUBLIC ARE BEING ADDRESSED? LOOK, NO PROJECT IS PERFECT, AS I SAID.
BUT PUENTE IN PARTICULAR HAS PURSUED COSTLY AND UNNECESSARY POLITICAL FORAYS AT THE STATE CAPITAL, ENTERED INTO COSTLY AND UNNECESSARY LITIGATION WITH NEIGHBORING AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.
AND FOR WHAT BENEFIT? THESE ARE STRONG WORDS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCE TO BACK THEM UP.
BEFORE ACTING ON THIS ORDINANCE, THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD ADDRESS MISMANAGEMENT AT SAWS, RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT IS, IN EFFECT, YOUR CITY UTILITY.
IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS SAWS' RATEPAYERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS 15,000 ACRE FEET OF VISTA RIDGE WATER THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY BETTER PLANNING AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.
AND YOU NEED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS WILL NO LONGER BE SUBSIDIZED BY RATEPAYERS, PERIOD.
YOU SHOULD REQUIRE THAT EVERY PENNY.
WE'RE THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION.
WE DON'T NEED TO SUBSIDIZE GROWTH.
FINALLY AND ABOVE ALL, YOU NEED TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE CITY'S WATER UTILITY.
YOU CAN EITHER DELAY YOUR DECISION ON IMPACT FEES OR SIMPLY VOTE FOR MAXIMUM FEES.
AS A WAY TO EVER A FRESH START AT SAWS YOU'VE GOT TO PASS THE VISTA RIDGE RESOLUTION, WHICH YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, WHICH CALLS FOR A TRULY INDEPENDENT AUDIT OF VISTA RIDGE AND THAT WILL TELL YOU WHO DIRECTS SAWS, HOW THEY MAKE THEIR DECISIONS.
AND FOR AN ORDINANCE TO DOLPHIN RATE SAWS' ROLE TO IMPLEMENT, NOT MAKE POLICY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU TERRY BURNS.
MR. BURNS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CAROL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS DR. TERRY BURNS, CHAIR OF THE ALAMO SIERRA CLUB.
I HAD A LOT OF DETAILED THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPACT FEES.
I THINK MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT THE CALCULATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS THAT GO INTO THE FEES ARE TRICKY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT THEY CAN BE MANIPULATED.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM FEES ON FOUR OF THE FIVE CATEGORIES.
THE WATER DELIVERY AND WATER WASTEWATER CATEGORIES BUT NOT ON THE WATER SUPPLY FEE.
AND WE STRONGLY SUPPORT MAXIMUM FEES ON ALL.
THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ACTUALLY A DECREASE FROM CURRENT WATER SUPPLY FEES, IMPACT FEES.
WHILE RESIDENTS' RATES ARE SUPPOSED TO GO UP 10% AGAIN NEXT YEAR AFTER SEVERAL YEARS.
YOU KNOW, IMPACT FEES ARE SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN.
IT'S A 600-PLUS DOLLAR GIFT TO EACH DEVELOPMENT OF EACH EDU AND, OF COURSE, EDUS ARE UNDERESTIMATED.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN UNDERESTIMATED BY 40% TO 80%.
SO, AGAIN, THAT FITS INTO THE CALCULATIONS THAT LOWERS THE AMOUNTS.
REAL MAXIMUM FEES MIGHT BE $7,000 BY SOME ESTIMATES.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS $3300.
600 MORE DOLLARS THAT HAVE TO COME TO SAWS SOMEHOW.
IF THEY DON'T COME FROM THE IMPACT FEES THEY COME FROM US,
[03:40:01]
THE RATEPAYERS.AND YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT THE ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSERT MAXIMUM IMPACT FEES ON THE WATER SUPPLY AS WELL AS ALL OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO FITS YOUR EQUITY LENS IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BURNS.
I COME TO YOU WITH A PERSPECTIVE OF THIS COALITION THAT'S ALIGNING ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS, EQUITY INTERESTS, BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND TAX RAT' INTERESTS.
WE WANT YOU TO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK THIS OVER.
AUSTIN TOOK SIX YEARS TO REVIEW THEIR IMPACT FEES.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD BE DICTATED TO BY THE HEAD OF OUR AND YOUR UTILITY HEAD WHEN HE TELLS YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS BY JUNE 8.
WHY DID HE SAY THAT? IS IT BECAUSE IT'S A POLITICAL HOT POTATO? IS IT BECAUSE SOMEHOW HE WANTS TO MAKE YOU BEHOLDEN TO HIM? THIS SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL.
AND WHEN YOU READ THE BORGOUT LETTER THAT LINDA CURTIS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU, YOU'LL SEE THAT.
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THE VISTA RIDGE RESOLUTION.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG AND EVERYTHING RIGHT ABOUT OUR REPRESENTATIVES ASKING FOR A MANAGERIAL AND FINANCIAL AUDIT OF A $3.4 BILLION PROJECT, WHICH WE DID NOT GET TO VOTE ON.
AS IT STANDS, THE IMPACT FEES GOES AGAINST MAYOR RON'S EQUITY LENS.
IT GOES AGAINST RATEPAYERS AND COUNCILMAN PERRY'S AND COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S CONSTITUENTS WHO REALLY, REALLY WANT AN ACCOUNTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF RATES THAT THEY PAY THAT THEY ARE TIRED OF.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT 1 AND I ALSO LIVE IN DISTRICT 9.
THE MIDDLE CLASS IS BEING PUT UPON.
DEVELOPERS ARE WINNING ALL OF THE SUBSIDIES THAT THEY WANT BY PRESSURE ON OUR REPRESENTATIVES.
THAT CIAC IS MADE OF SEVEN OUT OF TEN SEATS ON THAT CIAC BOARD.
OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE UNANIMOUSLY ON THAT.
IF YOU LOOK BACK A FEW YEARS, SAWS' OWN STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT VISTA RIDGE NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH.
AND SOMEHOW THEY WERE IGNORED.
ANY TIME THEY HIRE SOMEONE TO REVIEW SOMETHING FOR THEM, THEY ARE EITHER DISMISSED OR CONTRADICTED BY LEADERSHIP.
SO I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT YOU TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. FISHER.
I THINK AS WE CAN SEE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY CONCERNING TO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
IT'S BEEN VERY CONCERNING TO ME.
I THINK SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT I'VE ATTENDED MANY OF THE SAWS BOARD MEETINGS SINCE I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL.
I HAVE, MANY TIMES, ASKED FOR A LOT OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT THEY HAVE MADE TO BE FORWARDED TO ME SO THAT I COULD HAVE MORE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE.
I'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT PRIOR CAFERS, FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY SAWS OVER THE YEARS AND THEIR BUDGETS.
AND I'M NOT A FINANCIAL EXPERT BUT, AS YOU HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO JUST SPOKE WITH YOU, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INCONSISTENCY IN THE APPLICATION OF DATA AND THE PRESENTATION OF DATA AND THE INTERPRETATION OF DATA THAT'S PRESENTED TO THIS COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE IN REVIEWING THESE.
I'M NOT TALKING AT THIS POINT --
[03:45:01]
AND IAN DON'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT I'M GOING TO SPEAK AGAINST VISTA RIDGE.I WOULD LIKE US TO REALLY CONSIDER AS A COUNCIL, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO THAT SOMETIME SOON, THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING AND OUR WATER SYSTEM WILL BE FACING ONCE THAT IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
BUT LEADING UP TO THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS.
THERE HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC -- OVER THE LAST SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE YEARS, RATE INCREASES TO THE GENERAL CONSUMER OF WATER SERVICES IN THIS CITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL POINT OUT IS WHAT YOU HEARD MENTIONED THAT SAWS HAS 562 DAYS OF OPERATING EXPENSES IN THE BANK TODAY, CASH ON HAND AND RESERVE FUNDS.
HOW COULD THEY ACCUMULATE THAT MUCH RESERVE AND STILL TELL US THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHARGE THE RATES THEY WERE CHARGING JUST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE NEEDED.
I REMEMBER ASKING EITHER LAST YEAR OR PROBABLY LAST YEAR WHY CAN'T WE ASK SAWS TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT GREATER CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY? THEY PUT IN A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR GROSS REVENUE, WHICH IS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND IS PART OF THEIR BOND AGREEMENTS AND THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
AND THEY'RE PUTTING IN LESS THAN THE FULL AMOUNT.
THEY COULD PUT IN, I BELIEVE, 4 TO 5.
WHY CAN'T WE ASK THEM TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE? THE ANSWER WAS IF WE DO THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE RATES.
RAISE THE RATES WHEN YOU'VE GOT HUNDREDS OF DAYS OF LITERALLY RESERVE FUNDS.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT RESERVE FUND IS NOW GOING TO BE USED.
PART OF IT IS I UNDERSTAND GOING TO BE APPLIED TO PAY DOWN DEBT.
AND PART OF IT IS GOING TO BE TO PAY FOR THE WATER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING.
BUT EVEN TODAY WHEN YOU ASK SAWS' LEADERSHIP ARE WE GOING TO USE 50,000 ACRE FEET OF WATER NEXT YEAR? DO WE NEED THAT WATER TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO? THE ANSWER IS, WELL, NO, WE DON'T REALLY NEED THAT MUCH.
WE WON'T NEED IT NEXT YEAR OR THREE YEARS OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
PROBABLY NOT TEN YEARS FROM NOW.
SO BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL WATER, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO LOWER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUMP OUT OF THE AQUIFER.
WE'RE GOING TO STOP PUMPING THE LESS EXPENSIVE WATER THAT WE'VE BEEN RELYING ON FOR YEARS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE REDISTRIBUTING THE MORE EXPENSIVE WATER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING IN FROM VISTA RIDGE.
LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO VISTA RIDGE.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE COST OF VISTA RIDGE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CREATION OF VISTA RIDGE, MANY PEOPLE CAME TO THIS CITY HALL -- AND I SAW IT AND READ ABOUT IT -- SAYING WE NEED TO HAVE THAT WATER.
WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO HAVE IT.
WHAT DO WE NEED IT FOR? WE NEED IT FOR THE GROWTH THAT THIS CITY IS GOING TO GO THROUGH OVER THE NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS.
NOT FOR WHAT WE HAD BUT FOR WHAT WE MAY HAVE.
AND SO THE CITY, THE COUNCIL IN ITS INTERNAL WISDOM SAID, OKAY.
WE'RE RELYING ON GROWTH TO PAY FOR IT.
WELL, GROWTH DID NOT PAY FOR THIS PROJECT.
OVER $200 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO PROVIDE THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE CAPABILITY OF RECEIVING ALL THIS WATER.
BUT NONE OF IT WAS PAID BY GROWTH.
WE DID NOT RAISE THE DEVELOPERS' FEES TO PAY FOR THAT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE FEES WERE SET BEFORE THE CONTRACT WAS LET AND THEY WERE NEVER ADJUSTED.
WE NEVER WENT BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND SAID, OKAY.
NOW WE'RE HAVING AN EXTRA $200 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR, FIVE YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LAY OUT FOR THIS.
THEY NEVER SAID, WELL, DEVELOPERS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE YOUR FEES TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE THIS IS GROWTH.
INSTEAD, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BUT NOW, FIVE YEARS LATER, WHEN IT'S ALMOST COMPLETED, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS SAYING BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT NOW BECAUSE IT'S DONE.
SO WHY SHOULD WE BE PAYING FOR CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED? SO WHO HAS PAID FOR IT?
[03:50:03]
IT'S BEEN OUR RATEPAYERS.AND SO NOW WHAT ARE WE SAYING? WE'RE NOT SAYING, WELL, OKAY.
THERE'S STILL EXPENSES INVOLVED AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT WATER.
AND I'M SURE THE RATEPAYERS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THAT WATER.
BUT FOR THE COST OF DEVELOPMENT, THAT WATER SUPPLY FEE IS NOT GOING TO GO UP.
THERE IS NO REASON WHY THIS COUNCIL CANNOT SUPPORT THE FULL ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION BY SAWS' STAFF FOR A RATE OF $3,322 FOR THE WATER SUPPLY.
AND IF WE FIND AFTER A YEAR OR TWO THAT IS TOO MUCH, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T GO BACK AND HAVE THE CIAC RECONSIDER AND COME BACK TO US WITH THE JUSTIFICATION OF WHY IT ISN'T ENOUGH.
BUT TO START SAYING WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO CHARGE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CHARGING AND WE'RE GOING TO LOWER THAT, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S $50 OR $60.
WHEN WE SAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE COULD CHARGE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CHARGE IS $600 PER UNIT.
AND THE BUILDERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ARE ANTICIPATING BUILDING 16,500 HOMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR TIMES $616 IS OVER $10 MILLION IN REDUCTIONS THAT THE GROWTH WILL PAY FOR.
WHERE WILL THAT COME FROM IF WE HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IF SAWS HAS MADE A MISCALCULATION.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES ALONG THAT'S UNANTICIPATED, LIKE A VISTA PROJECT WAS UNANTICIPATED AND NEVER PAID FOR.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO LOWER THAT FEE.
NOW, I KNOW I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE I KNOW IN A DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS.
WELL, IF WE RAISE THAT FEE, IF WE'VE GOT TO PAY FOR IT AS DEVELOPERS, THEN THAT MEANS WE MAY NEED TO BORROW A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND BUILD OUR PROJECTS.
THAT MEANS WE MAY HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE MORE INTEREST ON THAT MONEY TO BUILD OUR PROJECTS.
THAT MEANS THAT THE BUILDERS WHO ACTUALLY BUILD THOSE HOMES MAY HAVE TO FINANCE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GET THEM BUILT.
THAT MAY MEAN THAT THE COST OF A HOME MAY BE 700 TO $800 MORE THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THAT $616 ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
WELL, I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RATES THAT YOU AND I AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE GOING TO BE PAYING BEFORE THAT GROWTH OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? AN EXTRA $600 OR $800 ON A $300 OR $400,000 OR $500,000 HOME IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T GO DOWN 3% BUT THEN OUR RATES ARE SCHEDULED TO GO UP 9.9% NEXT YEAR.
IF THE RATES ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, HOPEFULLY SAWS WILL SEE, IN ITS INTERNAL WISDOM, THAT MAYBE THE RATES WE PAY AS CONSUMERS FOR WATER CAN BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
I REALLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS DECISION TO GO AHEAD AND, AS COUNCILS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, TO APPROVE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REVISIT IT A YEAR OR TWO OR THREE YEARS DOWN THE LINE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 5.
COUNCILMAN, ARE YOU YIELDING THE FLOOR? OKAY.
COUNCILMAN HALL JUST STEPPED AWAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? IF YOU CAN JUST BEAR WITH ME, I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMAN HALL KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE UP IN JUST A MOMENT.
WE'LL SEE IF HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE IMPACT FEE,
[03:55:03]
I KNOW IT'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPERS.BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING, WHO HAVE LAND, WHO ARE BUILDING A HOUSE.
IN OTHER WORDS, ANYONE THAT'S BUILDING A PROJECT, A HOME, A SHOPPING CENTER, A STRIP MALL THAT HAS NOT HAD SERVICE BEFORE WILL HAVE TO PAY AN IMPACT FEE.
HOWEVER, IF IT'S, LET'S SAY, A BURNED-OUT BLOCK IN THE INNER CITY AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SERVICE THERE AND THEY'RE REDEVELOPING IT THEN THERE'S NO IMPACT FEES.
THESE ARE A ONE-TIME FEE FOR THAT PROPERTY FOREVER.
>> VIAGRAN: SO IF IT'S THOUGH FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS -- WHO IN DIFFERENT PARTS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WHO HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OR JUST HAD SEWER OR JUST LIVING OFF OF WELLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THAT WOULD ALSO IMPACT THEM.
>> IF THEY'RE CONNECTING FOR THE FIRST TIME, YES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I HAD STEPPED OUT FOR PART OF IT.
THANKS TO YOUR STAFF FOR PROVIDING FOLLOW UP FROM OUR LAST DISCUSSION.
SO I'M LOOKING AT OUR FINAL SLIDE FOR THIS ITEM AND IT SAYS REQUEST CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF PROPOSED.
THERE'S THE LUAP CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE IMPACT FEE CALCULATION, AND OF COURSE THE CALCULATION ITSELF, AND OF COURSE THE IMPACT FEE.
COULD YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE LUAP AGAIN?
>> LUAP IS ESSENTIALLY WHERE'S THE GROWTH AND HOW MUCH IS IN OUR SERVICE AREA.
WHERE IS IT HAPPENING AND THE AMOUNT OF GROWTH THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR OVER THE NEXT YEARS.
>> THAT WAS PART OF THE FINDINGS BY THE LUAP.
FOR WATER THEY HAD A CERTAIN NUMBER, I THINK IT WAS 141,000.
WASTEWATER WAS A LITTLE BIT LESS.
>> SANDOVAL: AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT'S BASED ON THE CITY'S PLANS FOR GROWTH?
WE DO USE AND LOOK AT OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
AND SO THAT DOCUMENT, IS THAT PART OF THE CARRILLO STUDY? WHERE WOULD I FIND THE LUAP?
>> WELL, THE LUAP PLAN IS WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED.
SO WE WOULD HAVE -- WE WOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH A COPY OF THAT.
AND IT'S NOT -- HAVE YOU PROVIDED IT TO US?
WE HAVE ALREADY SENT IT TO Y'ALL.
>> SANDOVAL: SO THAT'S PART OF THE REPORT, THE CARRILLO?
I'M ASKING MY STAFF TO GO GET IT.
SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION SIMILAR TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S QUESTION.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT -- I HEARD WHY THE MAXIMUM FEE ISN'T BEING RECOMMENDED RIGHT NOW.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, OUT OF THE 13 FEES, 12 OF THEM ARE BEING -- WE ARE ASKING THAT IT BE THE MAXIMUM FEE.
THE ONLY ONE THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THE WATER SUPPLY FEE.
AND ONE REASON IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS EXCEPT FOR THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT.
BUT IF I MAY ASK -- IS IT TRACY? THE SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW THAT IS CALCULATED AND WHY THAT KIND OF COMPROMISE WAS MADE.
>> TRACY LAYMAN WITH SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM.
WHENEVER WE LOOKED AT THAT THERE WERE TWO COMPONENTS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT FEE.
THERE WAS THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE VALUE OF THAT, AND THERE'S CAPACITY IN THAT EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THEN THERE'S THE CIP, THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL TEN YEARS' WORTH OF GROWTH.
SO WHENEVER WE WERE LOOKING AT THE HYBRID CALCULATION ON THE SUPPLY FEE, BY LAW WE WOULD -- VISTA RIDGE WOULD BE ENTIRELY IN THE NEW GROWTH COMPONENT.
SO ONLY A PORTION OF THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO THAT FOR THE TEN YEARS WORTH OF GROWTH.
NOW IN ONE YEAR, ONCE VISTA RIDGE IS ACCEPTED, BY LAW THAT CALCULATION WOULD CHANGE.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE WERE WORKING THROUGH WITH THE CIAC COMMITTEE.
IF WE WERE TO REVISIT THESE IN ONE YEAR, THE CALCULATION WOULD HAVE ALL OF VISTA RIDGE IN THE EXISTING CALCULATION COMPONENT.
AND SO THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.
THERE WAS BASICALLY A $600 DIFFERENCE.
[04:00:01]
SO WE WOULD HAVE ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEE, 3322.AND THEN IF THEY CHANGED IT NEXT YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL -- THE NEXT YEAR'S WOULD BE AT THE 2637 VALUE.
SO WORKING WITH CIAC, ONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WAS LET'S LOOK AT A HYBRID FEE SO WE'RE NOT PENALIZING ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF GROWTH IF WE DID HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FEE AND REDO IT, RECALCULATE IT.
SO THE HYBRID FEE IS BASICALLY ONE YEAR OF THE MAXIMUM IMPACT FEE AND THEN NINE YEARS OF THE FUTURE CALCULATED FEE, WHICH IS 2637.
AND THE COMPROMISE ENDED UP BEING 2706.
>> SANDOVAL: IT WOULD BE TEN YEARS, NOT THE FIVE.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE COMING BACK TO UPDATE TO FIVE YEARS, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TEN?
>> WELL, THE CALCULATION'S OVER TEN YEARS.
THAT'S KIND OF THE COMPROMISE WE HAD MADE TO LOOK AT IT OVER THAT TIME PERIOD.
WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CALCULATION.
NOW, AGAIN, WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO RECALCULATE IN FIVE YEARS TO PROVIDE THE CHAPTER 395 WE'LL BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT AGAIN AT THAT TIME.
>> SANDOVAL: WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WAS ONE OTHER OPTION -- JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND -- ONE OPTION WAS TO RECOMMEND THE MAXIMUM FEE, 3322, AND THE ONLY PROJECT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERING WOULD HAVE BEEN VISTA RIDGE.
BUT COME BACK IN A YEAR AFTER THAT AND IT WOULD COME BACK TO 2600 SOMETHING.
SO OUR DEVELOPERS MIGHT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO REQUEST THEIR IMPACT FEES AND PAY FOR THEM IF THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO DROP.
AND THEN I DO HAVE THE QUESTION ABOUT WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO BEGIN -- I'M NOT SURE WHO THIS IS FOR.
TO BEGIN INVESTING IN VISTA RIDGE.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RATE INCREASE HERE.
AND WHY DIDN'T WE RECONVENE THE CIAC AND READJUST THE IMPACT FEE AT THAT TIME?
>> SANDOVAL: THE DECISION ON VISTA RIDGE WAS MADE?
>> SANDOVAL: SO THEN THE LAST TIME YOU CAME IN 2014 YOU CHARGED THE FULL AMOUNT FOR VISTA RIDGE?
VISTA RIDGE WAS NOT PART OF THE CALCULATION AT ALL.
BECAUSE THE PROJECT ESSENTIALLY WASN'T OUR PROJECT TO BUILD IN THE SENSE THAT FROM NORTHERN BEXAR COUNTY TO BURLESON COUNTY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS BUILDING THAT PROJECT.
THEY WERE BUILDING THAT PROJECT.
ONLY WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY WERE WE GOING TO UPDATE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCEPT THAT WATER.
AND THAT WORK DIDN'T START UNTIL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
>> SANDOVAL: SO IT STARTED WITHIN THE FIVE-YEAR TIME-FRAME AND CERTAINLY WITHIN THE TEN-YEAR TIME-FRAME THAT'S CONSIDERED FOR THE CALCULATION OF IMPACT FEES, RIGHT?
>> SANDOVAL: BUT IT WAS NOT CALCULATED IN THERE.
SO I AM CONFUSED ABOUT WHY IT WASN'T.
THE LAST IMPACT FEES WERE ADOPTED IN 2014.
>> SANDOVAL: AND THE DECISION TO INVEST IN VISTA RIDGE AND GO IN THAT DIRECTION WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME.
MR. PUENTE TELLS ME THAT THERE WAS A DECISION MADE NOT TO INVEST -- SORRY.
NOT TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT IN THE IMPACT FEE.
IT WAS NOT A FINALIZED DEAL AT THE TIME THE PROCESS WAS GOING THROUGH AND COMPLETED.
>> SANDOVAL: BUT WHEN IT BECAME A FINALIZED DEAL YOU HAD THE OPTION -- OR COUNCIL -- I'M NOT SURE WHO MAKES THE CALL, OF RECONVENING A CIAC AND ADJUSTING THE RATES BASED ON THAT INVESTMENT.
IS THAT SOMETHING WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE SAWS' BOARD?
>> SANDOVAL: NONE OF US WERE HERE AT THE TIME.
SOME OF YOU WERE HERE AT THE TIME, BUT I WASN'T HERE.
SO I'M CONFUSED AS TO THE THOUGHTS BEHIND NOT DOING THAT AT THE TIME.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS WE CAME TO COUNCIL IN 2014, MAY OF 2014 FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE IMPACT FEES AT THAT TIME.
WE CAME TO COUNCIL ROUGHLY NOVEMBER OF 2014 TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE FINALIZED PRICES.
WE DIDN'T LOCK INTO FINALIZED PRICES UNTIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS 2016 TIME-FRAME.
SO AT THAT TIME WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THAT FIVE-YEAR STUDY, SO WE MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO JUST WAIT AND DO THE RECOUPMENT DURING THAT FIVE-YEAR STUDY, INSTEAD OF DOING IT A YEAR EARLY.
[04:05:03]
>> SANDOVAL: DO THE RECOUPMENT DURING THE FIVE YEARS?
>> BECAUSE WE HADN'T EVEN STARTED THE INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION YET AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
WE HAD JUST LOCKED INTO THE PRICE.
SO WE MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO WAIT UNTIL WE STARTED THIS CIAC PROCESS, THIS IMPACT FEE ANALYSIS TO INCLUDE IT AT THAT TIME.
>> SANDOVAL: SO THEN BASICALLY THERE ARE THREE YEARS OF INVESTMENT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT WENT INTO VISTA RIDGE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF RECOVERING THROUGH IMPACT FEES BECAUSE WE --
WE JUST STARTED INVESTMENT THIS YEAR IN 2018.
AND THIS WAS THE FIRST INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE TODAY.
BEFORE, IT WAS A CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENT.
>> SANDOVAL: IT WASN'T PART OF THE CALCULATION.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROJECT IDENTIFIED AT THAT TIME.
WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF NEGOTIATIONS AND WE HADN'T COME TO COUNCIL.
>> SANDOVAL: MY QUESTION BOILS DOWN TO WAS THERE A BURDEN PUT ON THE RATEPAYERS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN AN IMPACT FEE INSTEAD IF WE HAD DONE OUR TIMING DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF ASSESSING IMPACT FEES?
WE MADE SOME DECISIONS AND THEY WERE ALL DECISIONS TO TRY TO KEEP RATES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID NOT RISK OUR -- THE MONEY THAT WE WOULD BE SPENDING ON A PROJECT THAT MAY NOT DEVELOP.
AND SO WE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION NOT TO START THE IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE UNTIL MUCH LATER IN THE PROCESS OF THE VISTA RIDGE CONSORTIUM, GETTING READY FOR THEIR PROJECT.
IN OTHER WORDS, NOT UNTIL THEY HAD FINANCIAL CLOSE, NOT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY REALLY STARTED THE PROJECT AND WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE NOW BE SPENDING MONEY ON THE PROJECT DID WE MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO THEN START OUR PROCESS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCEPT THAT WATER.
>> SANDOVAL: I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
I JUST DO RECALL A RATE INCREASE WHERE PART OF THAT RATE INCREASE WAS DEDICATED TO THE WATER SUPPLY FEE AND VISTA RIDGE.
SO THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PART OF AN IMPACT FEE IS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?
WHEN WE WERE BEFORE COUNCIL AND COUNCIL GAVE US A FIVE-YEAR RATE INCREASE ON JUST THE WATER SUPPLY FEE TO PAY FOR THE VISTA RIDGE.
SO A DECISION WAS MADE THAT THIS PROJECT WAS GOING TO BE MORE ESSENTIALLY PAID FOR BY O&M COST IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE WE ARE ESSENTIALLY JUST BUYING WATER AND NOT REALLY BUILDING THE PROJECT.
THEY ARE THE ONES GETTING THE FINANCING, GETTING THE RIGHTS OF WAY, DOING EVERYTHING TO GET THAT WATER TO SAN ANTONIO.
>> SANDOVAL: BUT WE PAID FOR IT IN A SUPPLY FEE.
THE RATE INCREASE WAS IN A SUPPLY FEE NOT IN A DELIVERY, WHICH TO ME SOUNDS LIKE AN O&M COST.
>> IT WAS THROUGH THE SUPPLY FEE BUT YOU CAN PAY CAPITAL OR O&M OUT OF THE SUPPLY FEE.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK MY APPOINTEE TO THE CIAC.
I KNOW THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS MADE ABOUT WHO IS ON THE CIAC, WHETHER IT'S DEVELOPERS OR THE REAL ESTATE AGENCY.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, MY APPOINTEE IS A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, BRIAN.
>> I DO WANT TO ADD THAT HE WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY BROKERED THIS AGREEMENT.
HE WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY THOUGHT OF THE COMPROMISE THAT EVENTUALLY WAS PART OF THE SOLUTION.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, BRIAN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL ASKED MY QUESTIONS LIKE IN AN INFINITELY MORE WISE MANNER.
>> SANDOVAL: I COPIED HIS NOTES.
>> BROCKHOUSE: NOW I'M TRYING TO DIGEST EVERYTHING I JUST HEARD FOR THE LAST 15 MINUTES.
I THINK THE LAST QUESTION SHE ASKED WAS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME, WHICH IS THE REDUCTION OF IMPACT FEES VERSUS COST INCREASES TO HOMEOWNERS.
I THINK I'VE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT IN MY POSITION ON THE COUNCIL THAT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY'S RATES INCREASED.
AND I VOTED AGAINST THE RATES PREVIOUSLY IN THE PAST.
AND I THINK I GOT THE TIMING OF HOW VISTA RIDGE CAME IN AND WHY YOU BYPASSED THAT.
AND THEN NOW THAT WE'RE COMING INTO THIS PIECE NOW, I GOT THAT.
I THINK THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS PROBING PRETTY WELL ON THOSE QUESTIONS, SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S POINTS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND AND AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM YOUR SIDE ABOUT COUNCILMAN
[04:10:01]
COURAGE'S COMMENTS TOO ABOUT THIS REDUCTION OF FEES ON ONE SIDE FOR ONE BUT THE HOMEOWNER, THE RESIDENT IS NOT THE RATE PAYER ON THE OTHER SIDE.>> THEY ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ITEMS. ONE OBVIOUSLY IS RESIDENTIAL.
IS WHAT A HOMEOWNER PAYS FOR WATER FOR INSIDE PURPOSES, OUTSIDE PURPOSES, COOKING, BATHING, SANITATION.
THE OTHER ONE IS A FEE TO DEVELOPERS AS FAR AS THEIR BUILDING.
AND SO WHEN YOU TRY TO EQUATE THE TWO YOU JUST REALLY CAN'T.
YES, OUR RESIDENTIAL RATES, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL RATES, GENERATES, HAVE BEEN GOING UP THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
AND THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN WISE ENOUGH TO GIVE US THOSE RATES.
A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT JUST FOR WATER.
THEY'RE ALSO FOR THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM.
AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN GOING UP.
NOW, THE OVERALL IMPACT FEE TO THE DEVELOPERS IS GOING UP.
YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, THERE'S 13 DIFFERENT FEES.
WHEN YOU ADD THEM ALL UP TOGETHER THE OVERALL RATES THAT THEY'RE PAYING ARE HIGHER.
IT'S ONE OUT OF 13 THAT IS NOT THE MAXIMUM.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE IS IN WHAT THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE WAS MAKING.
AS FAR AS TRYING TO COMPARE ONE GOING UP AND ONE --
>> BROCKHOUSE: YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE INCOMPARABLE.
OVERALL, OUT OF ALL 13, THEY'RE GOING UP AS A WHOLE.
I THINK THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, FOR YOUR LINE OF QUESTIONING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
I GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND SOME COMMENTS ALSO.
IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, I VOTED AGAINST THE RATE INCREASE LAST TIME BECAUSE I JUST DID NOT SEE THE REQUIREMENT TO ACTUALLY Y'ALL ASKED FOR A RATE INCREASE AND IT WAS INCREASED MORE THAN WHAT YOU WERE REQUESTING.
AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS JUSTIFIED THEN AND I STILL DON'T THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED.
IN GOING BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE, AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE, THERE IS A DICHOTOMY HERE.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE TIMING OF VISTA RIDGE AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT TRANSMISSION LINE AND THE PUMPING STATIONS.
THAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN THE OPERATIONAL COST, RIGHT, ON THE COST OF WATER.
>> PERRY: AND AREN'T WE GOING TO OWN THAT SYSTEM AFTER 30 YEARS?
>> PERRY: HOW CAN WE DIVORCE THAT FROM THE IMPACT FEES, EVEN TODAY? WE'RE GOING TO OWN THE SYSTEM.
SO I'M STRUGGLING WITH SAYING YOU CAN'T USE THAT BECAUSE IT'S A SEPARATE POT OF MONEY ON IMPACT FEES FOR DEVELOPMENT.
>> THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT IS IN OUR IMPACT FEES.
IT'S GOING TO BE IN OUR IMPACT FEES.
IT IS NOT THERE TODAY BUT IT WILL BE, HOPEFULLY, RIGHT AFTER WE APPROVE THIS PROJECT.
THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS AGAIN ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS PROJECT.
I THINK IT WAS A RATIONAL DECISION, EVEN THOUGH THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED IN 2014, FINANCIAL CLOSE DID NOT HAPPEN ON THAT PROJECT UNTIL MID 2016.
SO THE EARLIEST WE COULD HAVE PROBABLY ACCUMULATED OR PUT TOGETHER THE CIAC TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN WAS PROBABLY EARLY 2017.
SO MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A YEAR DIFFERENCE IN THE PROCESS.
POSSIBLY WE COULD HAVE GOT THE VISTA RIDGE IMPACT FEES INTO THE CALCULATION SLIGHTLY EARLIER.
BUT THEY WILL BE IN THERE AND ONCE THEY GO INTO EQUITY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLECT IMPACT FEES PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, RELATED TO THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT.
>> PERRY: AND WHO MADE THE DECISION NOT TO DO THIS BACK IN 2017? THAT'S TWO YEARS AGO ALREADY.
>> IN 2017, ACTUALLY THE CIAC RECONVENED IN MID 2018.
POSSIBLY WE COULD HAVE RECONVENED THE CIAC -- THEY'RE ALWAYS CONVENED, BUT THEY STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, THE UPDATE OF THE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM, THE IMPACT FEES IN MID-2018.
WE COULD HAVE POSSIBLY GOT IT DONE ONE-YEAR EARLIER BUT WE DIDN'T START SPENDING MONEY, AS ANDREA POINTED OUT, WE WERE HOLDING OFF TO MAKE SURE THIS PROJECT WAS COMING TO FRUITION BEFORE WE STARTED INVESTING SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS INTO THE PROJECT.
>> I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE, VISTA RIDGE IS
[04:15:02]
BASICALLY DONE, THEY'RE GOING TO EAT THAT.I WAS TOTALLY AGAINST THAT TO BEGIN WITH.
I THOUGHT WE SHOULD BE DEVELOPING ON THE SOUTH SIDE TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE.
BUT HOW CAN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS -- YOU'VE HEARD THE -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE UPSET OUT THERE, HOMEOWNERS.
HOW CAN WE SHIFT THAT DICHOTOMY A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN IMPACT FEES, AND THE RAISING OF OUR RATES, THAT OUR HOME ENSER AND BUSINESSES ARE HAVING DO PAY.
HOW CAN WE MAKE THAT SHIFT? OR CAN WE MAKE THAT SHIFT? I THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT SHIFT.
>> I'VE HEARD REFERENCE SEVERAL TIMES THE 9.9% -- WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN, THAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO COME IN WITH A FIGURE, NEAR THAT FIGURE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. WATE THINK THIS WAS A COMPROMISE POSITION ON THE WATER SUPPLY.
YOU HEARD THE RATIONALE BEHIND IT.
TRACY WENT THROUGH IT, WHERE, AGAIN, THE CIAC COULD HAVE ASKED TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT A YEAR FROM NOW.
IF WE'D APPROVED THE $3,300 NOW, I THINK THERE'S A LARGE LIKELIHOOD WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN NEXT YEAR TALKING ABOUT LOWERING IT DOWN TO $2,200 AND HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT ENTIRE PROCESS AGAIN.
>> PERRY: AS WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE, I'M STRUGGLING WITH THAT SAYING, WE'RE GOING DOWN ON THE -- HOW MUCH -- OR WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE GOING TO BE ON GOING DOWN ON THE IMPACT FEE? WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
>> IN TERMS OF -- DEPENDS ON HOW MANY EDUS, OBVIOUSLY, PER THE CALCULATION.
IT WAS ASSUMING ROUGHLY 14,000 EDUS EACH YEAR.
AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE POINTED OUT, IF YOU DO $600, $616 TIMES 14,000 EDUS, YOU GET IN A RANGE OF $8.7 MILLION, I BELIEVE.
AND LET'S SAY IF WE KEPT IT AT -- IF WE KEPT IT AT THAT MAXIMUM, COULD WE TAKE THAT SAVINGS AND PUT IT AGAINST RESIDENTIAL RATES TO KEEP THEM LOWER, AND WHAT WOULD THAT IMPACT BE, $8.7 MILLION, WHAT WOULD THAT EQUATE TO IN AN AVERAGE BILL?
>> $8.7 MILLION, IN CAPITAL TERMS, IN THESE DOLLARS, ANY OF THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE COLLECTED HAVE TO BE USED TO FUND CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS CASH FUNDS SOME ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ROUGHLY -- AND THIS IS A ROUGH GUESS, RULE OF THUMB -- BUT IT'S ABOUT $50 MILLION OF CIP EQUATES TO A 1% S.A.W.S. RATE INCREASE.
SO $8.7 MILLION WOULD BE LESS THAN .2 OF 1%.
WE WOULD TAKE THAT CASH AND DEPLOY IT TO THE CIP.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT CASH, WE'LL LIKELY HAVE TO DEBT FUND AN ADDITIONAL $8.7 MILLION.
BUT YOU SEE WHAT THE ANGST IS HERE.
ONE GOES DOWN, AND THE OTHER GOES UP.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT THE IMPACT FEES, WE'RE LOOKING AT REDUCING THOSE.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT HOMEOWNERS OUT THERE, AND BUSINESSES THAT PAY THAT MONTHLY WATER BILL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HIT WITH ANOTHER 10% INCREASE.
WHAT COULD WE DO TO EVEN THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, AS DOUG MENTIONED, 9.9% WAS THE MAXIMUM THAT THIS COUNCIL ALLOWED US TO RAISE THE RATE IF WE NEEDED TO.
THINGS THAT DOUG IS DOING THAT WE'RE DOING, AT S.A.W.S.
CURRENTLY, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LOWER THAT POTENTIAL INCREASE, SO YOU'LL SEE A LOWER INCREASE THAN THE 9.9.
NOW, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING SOME OF THE COST FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OR THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, AND HELPING OUT THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT'S WHAT ESSENTIALLY THE IMPACT FEES DO IS DO ALLOW US TO HAVE LOWER RATES, BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS RAISED THE RATES AS MUCH AS THEY'RE ALLOWED.
ONLY THIS TIME, ONLY 1 OUT OF THE 13 RATES IS NOT BEING RAISED TO THE MAXIMUM.
THERE'S A UNIQUE SITUATION BECAUSE OF THAT.
UNIQUE SITUATION IS VISTA RIDGE.
VISTA RIDGE, I THINK COUNCILMAN COURAGE MENTIONED, IS THE MOST
[04:20:02]
EXPENSIVE WATER IN TEXAS, AND THAT IS TRUE.BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS COUNCIL, PREVIOUS COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY FOR THAT PROJECT IS BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THAT PRICE WILL NEVER GO UP FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
IT'S A CONSTANT AMOUNT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
AND SO THE LAST THING THAT YOU EVER WANT A UTILITY TO DO IS TO RUN IT TWO YEARS AT A TIME, ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
WE HAVE TO RUN UTILITIES WITH 10-YEAR, 20-YEAR, 30-YEAR TYPES OF TIME FRAMES.
AND WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS A GREAT PROJECT, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, AND YOU'LL HAVE FUTURE SAN ANTONIANS BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THAT ALSO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THAT'S ALL THE COMMENTS FOR TODAY.
AS I'VE HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF GROWING OF [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN THIS CITY, I BELIEVE, THAT IS BETTER EQUIPPED FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE, AND THAT'S AMY HARDBERGER, WHO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE BACK ON THE CIAC.
I DO WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, THAT I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED BY COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT AS WE EXPAND OUR WATER SUPPLIES, WE'RE DOING SO IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS HOMEOWNERS.
AND THAT WE SHOW IT IS NOT ON THE BACKS OF CURRENT RESIDENTS THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE AND WELCOME THE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I DO SUPPORT THE NEW IMPACT FEES, AND I DO APPLAUD THE COMPROMISE AND THE WORK TOGETHER FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY TO THE RESIDENTS TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT HAVE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY MEMORY, HAVE ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER UNANIMOUSLY ON THIS ISSUE.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S A -- IT IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE VERY COMPLEX ROLE THAT S.A.W.S. IS NOW BEING FORCED TO PLAY, TO DELIVER WATER AFFORDABLY IN A STATE THAT IS RAPIDLY URBANIZING, THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IS THAT WE HEED THE COUNCILMEN'S ADVICE, AND REALLY TAKE A LOOK OVER THE NEXT YEAR AT THE RATE DESIGN OF S.A.W.S., AND HOW WE ARE BURDENING NEW GROWTH, BUT ALSO HOW THAT'S IMPACTING CURRENT RESIDENTS, AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO STRUCTURE THE GROWTH IN A WAY -- OR STRUCTURE THE RATES IN A WAY THAT INCENTIVIZES CONSERVATION, BUT ALSO PROTECTS EXISTING HOMEOWNERS AS THE GROWTH OCCURS AROUND THEM.
WE'VE HEARD IT A NUMBER OF TIMES NOW FROM MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO DOWN TO THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS THAT WE OUGHT TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK THE IMPACT FEE DISCUSSION IS A GREAT PRELUDE TO THAT CONVERSATION.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE INPUT OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT, GET REENGAGED IN THAT DISCUSSION AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS NEXT PHASE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESPONSE FROM S.A.W.S. AND FROM THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.
SO WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE NEW ROUND OF IMPACT FEES.
AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THAT NOW.
[Executive Session]
MOTION CARRIES.WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW.
AND THE TIME IS 1:37 P.M. ON THIS THURSDAY, MAY 16TH, 2019.
THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS ITEMS POSTED FOR MAY 15TH, "B" SESSION, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS.
THE PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANAND
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED FROM
[City Manager's Report]
EXECUTIVE SESSION.WE HAVE BRIEFLY A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
AS CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT EMPLOYEES THAT DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT JOBS.
[04:25:02]
WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND DOCTORS, AND NURSES, AND INSPECTORS.BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST.
AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL THAT KAY HINES.
THE CITY ARCHAEOLOGIST THAT WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE CITY NEXT WEEK, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SHE HAS BEEN THE CITY ARCHAEOLOGIST SINCE 2003.
AND KAY HAS CONSISTENTLY SERVED THE CITY WITH INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM.
SHE HAS HAD A HUGE ROLE IN A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
AND CONDUCTED CULTURAL RESOURCE INVESTIGATIONS FOR OVER 35 YEARS, EVEN BEFORE SHE CAME TO WORK FOR THE CITY.
HER BODY OF WORK WILL LEAVE AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THIS ORGANIZATION, AND THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF EXCITING PROJECTS, AND RENOVATIONS, INCLUDING THE ALAMO, AND MAIN PLAZA.
SHE'S PROVIDED OVERSIGHT MANAGEMENT OF OVER 1,000 PROJECTS THAT TOTALED OVER $1.2 BILLION.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
SHE IS AN AWARD-WINNING PROFESSIONAL THAT HAS DEVELOPED A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH A NUMBER OF OUR PART NERTS AND AGENCIES, STAKEHOLDERS, AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN REALLY TAKING OUR ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM ABOVE THE WATERMARK, AND LOOKED AT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO KAY, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND I DID WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE HER AND THANK HER FOR THAT SERVICE.
>> I KNOW WE'RE REALLY RUNNING LATE BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, AND TO SHANNON.
I AM SO PROUD TO HAVE SERVED THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KAY, FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOUR MARK WILL BE LEFT FOR GENERATIONS, BECAUSE OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR PROVIDING SUCH CLARITY IN SOME VERY COMPLEX ISSUES AND PROJECTS THAT WE'VE TACKLED.
YOUR VOICE AND YOUR GUIDANCE THROUGH SOME OF THESE VERY DIFFICULT MOMENTS IN PARTICULAR WITH THE ALAMO PROJECT HAVE MADE IT BETTER, HAVE MADE US REMAIN TRUE TO THE CAUSE OF PRESERVING AND REVERING THE HISTORY THAT IS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND FOR THAT, WE AND GENERATIONS OF SAN ANTONIANS ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, KAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, KAY, FOR OUR FRIENDSHIP.
WE MET MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE I WAS EVER ON COUNCIL.
AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE CITY DOES FOR PROTECTING BROADCAST ].
THAT AN ARCHAEOLOGIST DOES IS HELPS US DISCOVER NEW HISTORY, AND REALLY SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
YOU DID THAT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE OUR TRI-CENTENNIAL FROM THE PROPER LOCATION, BECAUSE OF YOU.
YOU FOUND THE ORIGINAL LOCATION, MANY KNOW THAT MISSION AS THE ALAMO.
BUT MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS DIFFERENT ITERATIONS OF THAT MISSION IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHEN WE CELEBRATED 300 YEARS LAST YEAR, IT WAS FROM THE SPOT YOU DISCOVERED OVER HERE ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER DOWNTOWN BY THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SOCIETY HALL.
AND I GOT TO MEET YOU THEN, AND SEE YOU AT WORK, SEE YOUR PASSION FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR HISTORY, AND WATCH YOU JUST COLLECT ALL THESE AMAZING ARTIFACTS AND GET TO SEE YOU THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, AND HOW IT'S PART OF OUR HISTORY, AND WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO.
SO MY ONLY REGRET IS WE DIDN'T GET THE INDIANA JONES THEME CLAIM FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING KNOWN YOU AND HOPE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PERRY.
KAY, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT, THE CAMINO REAL MONUMENT.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THAT.
WE'LL GET IT DONE ONE OF THESE DAYS AND WE'LL GET YOU BACK OVER THERE ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THAT THING, ALL RIGHT? BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE, APPRECIATE IT.
[04:30:01]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT WORK, KAY.
[Zoning Consent Agenda]
WE ARE NOW HERE FOR OUR ZONING PORTION OF THE MEETING.
AND SO ON CONSENT, WE'VE GOT IT ITEMS Z 4 RKZ Z 7, Z 8, Z 9, SLRKZ 10 RKZ Z 12 AND THEN Z 11.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED OFF CONSENT? ALL RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO SPEAK.
BUT HE'S FOR INDIVIDUAL ZONING ITEMS. SO NO ONE ELSE IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT ZONING ITEMS?
[Items P3 & Z3]
WE'LL TAKE UP P 3 AND Z 3.>> ITEM P 3 Z 3 IS AMENDING THE IH 10 TO REGIONAL COMMERCIAL, REZONING FROM C 2 TO C 3 LOCATED AT 3831 FOSTER ROAD, STAFF AND PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMEND DENIAL.
ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF C 3 AND A.
EIGHT NOTICES MAILED, EIGHT IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JACK COME UP AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
IS JACK HERE? JACK IS NOT HERE.
[Z-11. ZONING CASE # Z-2019-10700054 CD (Council District 6): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "R-4 MLOD-2 MLR-1 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Lackland Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 1 Airport Hazard Overlay District to "R-4 CD MLOD-2 MLR-1 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Lackland Military Lighting Overlay Military Lighting Region 1 Airport Hazard Overlay District with a Conditional Use for four (4) residential dwelling units on Lot 9 and Lot 10, Block 7, NCB 9267, located at 334 Glendale Avenue. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Denial, with an Alternate Recommendation.]
MOTION CARRIES.>> Z 11 IS FROM ZONING FROM R 4 CD WITH A CONDITIONAL USE FOR FOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS LOCATED AT 334 GLEN DALE AVENUE.
STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND DENIAL WITH AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION FOR TWO DWELLING UNITS.
44 NOTICED MAILED, ZERO IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.
COUNCIL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED.
>> BROCKHOUSE: MY MOTION TO CONTINUE TO JUNE 6TH.
MOTION AND SECOND TO CONTINUE TO JUNE 6TH.
THAT'S IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.