Dec 07, 2023 City Council A Session

[ PROCEDURAL  ]

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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THE TIME IS 9:09 A.M. ON THE 7TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2023.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

WE'LL GET US STARTED AND TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMAN WHYTE TO WELCOME OUR

INVOCATOR. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S MY HONOR TODAY TO INTRODUCE PASTOR ROBERT BENNETT. PASTOR BENNETT HAS BEEN A SENIOR PASTOR OF MADISON HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. HE'S BEEN PASTORING FOR 40 YEARS IN SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES ACROSS TEXAS. HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE FROM WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY. THE PASTOR GRADUATED FROM LUTHER RICE COLLEGE AND SEMINARY WITH A MASTERS IN CRITICAL CONDITION STUDIES. CHRISTIAN STUDIES.

HE'S BEEN MARRIED TO SHERREE FOR 41 YEARS AND HAS TWO AMAZING CHILDREN, JAKE, JOSH, AND A BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S PRAY. HOLY GOD, THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU'VE GIVEN OUR GREAT CITY. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU, LORD AS WE PRAY AND GIVE YOU GLORY AND HONOR FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE SITTING BEFORE US TODAY. THANK YOU, GOD FOR THE DECISIONS THEY'LL MAKE TODAY.

THANK YOU, LORD FOR THE BEST BLESSING TO OUR CITY AND OUR PEOPLE.

GOD, THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES TO THIS COMMISSION.

TODAY, GOD, AS WE GATHER TOGETHER IN THIS PLACE THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER ALL OF THOSE AT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS, EMS, MILITARY, HOSPITAL WORKERS.

GOD, HELP THEM HAVE YOUR BLESSING. THANK YOU, GOD FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO SERVE EACH OTHER. THANK YOU, GOD FOR THE HELP YOU'VE GIVEN US AND THE CONVICTIONS TO BLESS OTHERS IN OUR CITY.

GOD, I PRAY THAT YOUR SPIRIT WOULD LEAD US AND GUIDE US AND YOU WOULD REMEMBER US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL GIVE US HELP IN ALL WE NEED TO DO.

FATHER RENEW OUR STRENGTH IN YOUR PRESENCE AND HELP US HAVE THAT BEAUTIFUL PEACE IN OUR CITY THAT WE ALL LONG FOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSING. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN .

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SWEARING IN OF OUR NEW MAYOR PRO TEM SO IF I COULD

ASK COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA TO APPROACH THE PODIUM. >> CLERK: RAISE YOUR RIGHT

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HAND. >> HAVRDA: I MELISSA CABELLO HAVRDA DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE STATE OF TEXAS FROM DECEMBER 7, 2023 THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2024.

AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME, GOD.

>> CLERK: CONGRATULATIONS. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR YOUR TERM.

NOW, THERE ARE NO MINUTES TO APPROVE SO WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

LET ME ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE HAVE LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IS ITEM 4 AT THIS

TIME. >> CASTILLO: 25. >> VIAGRAN: 11 -- 11 AND 12.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OTHERS? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 11, 12, AND 25. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE ARE -- THERE'S ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON CONSENT ITEMS. SO LET ME CALL JACK FINGER ON ITEM 21.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND WHAT I REFER TO AS IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO ANNOUNCE THE BEST CITY COUNCIL THAT MONEY CAN BUY. I DON'T SAY THOSE WORDS LIGHTLY. THE FOLLOWING ITEM I'M ABOUT TO SPEAK ON GIVES ME GREAT JOY BECAUSE IT ISN'T EVERY WEEK THAT WE GET A CHANCE TO, WELL, SHOW EVERYBODY SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL ARE REALLY INTO THESE DAYS. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP THERE. THE CIRCLED AREA. YEAH.

ITEM 21 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING -- JUST FORGET THE CHICKEN SCRATCH.

AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON FOR DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX SERVICES FOR AN INITIAL FIVE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2024, ET CETERA, ET CETERA FOR ABOUT 15 MILLION SMACKERS THERE. YES.

RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD THERE, TO THE PODIUM. YEAH, SO BASICALLY Y'ALL ARE GOING TO GIVE A $15 MILLION CONTRACT TO BLAIR, GOGGAN AND WHOEVER THERE.

I HAPPEN TO NOTICE IN THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS THAT QUITE A FEW OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMPANY. YOU KNOW, THE SAME ONE THAT'S GOING TO -- THAT YOU ARE -- WHOSE CONTRACT YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE UPON TODAY FOR $15 MILLION THERE. WHO RECEIVED WHAT? WELL, I JUST HAPPEN TO JOT THEM DOWN ON A LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER HERE. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, WHAT I CALL IT. ITEM 21. MAYOR NIRENBERG, YOU RECEIVED $9,500. FOLKS, THIS IS JUST FOR THE LAST 24 MONTHS.

NOT BEFORE THAT POINT WHEN Y'ALL RECEIVED EVEN MORE. 24 MONTHS, MR. MAYOR, YOU GOT $9500 THERE. MS. KAUR YOU DIDN'T GET ANYTHING.

BUT MR. MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, YOU GOT $1,000. YOU FINALLY MADE IT TO THE BIG TIME, SIR. YOU FINAL GOT A CONTRIBUTION THERE.

HOORAY! WE HAVE VARIOUS AND SUNDRY ITEMS. MS. CASTILLO, YOU ONLY GOT ABOUT $500 THERE. MR. WHYTE, YOU GOT JUST $500.

IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE SINCE YOU'RE NEW TO THE COUNCIL HERE.

MS. KAUR, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A NEWBEI, YOU TELL THEM YOU CAN SHAKE THEM DOWN AS EASILY AS

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THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THIS IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON ITEM 21, YOUR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I GUESS BLAIR GOGGAN KNOWS SOMETHING I DON'T. IT MIGHT PASS AS FAST AS SANTA'S SLEIGH THERE.

DO YOU THINK? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. WE'LL GO INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW.

SO I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT ITEMS.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 9, WHICH PERTAINS TO MITCHELL LAKE AUDUBON CENTER. IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER, THIS IS A SAWS PROJECT AND THIS WAS WHERE ALL THE WASTE FOR SAN ANTONIO CAME DOWN.

BUT TODAY WE ARE GOING IN TO EXECUTION OF TWO FUNDING AGREEMENTS RELATED TO MITCHELL LAKE AUDUBON CENTER LOCATED IN DISTRICT 3 . THE FIRST IS WITH THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY AND WILL PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BIRDING CENTER.

AND THE SECOND FUNDING AGREEMENT WILL BE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MITCHELL LAKE AUDUBON CENTER ENTRANCE GATE THAT WILL BE OVERSEEN BY SAWS.

AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT TODAY BECAUSE THIS 600-ACRE MITCHELL LAKE DESERVES TO BE SEEN AS THE GEM THAT IT IS. WITH THIS ENTRANCE AND WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS WE WILL SEE THE NUMBERS GROW. AND CURRENTLY MITCHELL LAKE DRAWS OVER 12,000 VISITORS AND 4,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY WITH 70% OF THE STUDENTS SERVING -- THAT THEY SERVE COMING FROM TITLE I SCHOOLS. SO TODAY WE MAKE A CHANGE FOR JUST APPRECIATING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND LEADING IN THE WAY THAT WE CAN TAKE SOMETHING THAT ONCE WAS KIND OF NOT VERY NICE AND MAKE IT INTO SOMETHING THAT NATURE CAN COME BACK AND TAKE OVER.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL APPROVING THIS TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 6, WHICH IS A CONTRACT WITH FACILITIES RX.

YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN B SESSION SBEDA AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING ON MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO EXECUTE SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS.

THIS BUSINESS SPECIFICALLY IS ON DISTRICT 1. THEY ARE HEADQUARTERED ON NORTH ST. MARY'S SO THEY HAVE FACED UPS AND DOWNS AND THE OWNER LIVES IN DISTRICT 1.

I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD AND CONTINUE TO DO AMAZING WORK FOR US AS A MINORITY WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR . COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW MY LAW FIRM REPRESENTS A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE UNIVERSE OF MY LAW FIRM TOUCHES OFTEN THE UNIVERSE OF LINEBARGER.

ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW FIRMS IN THE ENTIRE NATION WHO REPRESENTS ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN TEXAS BECAUSE OF NOT JUST THE EXCELLENT WORK THEY AND THEIR ARMY OF LAWYERS PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY BUT I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES THEY AND I PARTNER UP ON SUPPORTING NONPROFIT PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND LINEBARGER, YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN SHY ABOUT SAYING YES WHENEVER YOU'RE CALLED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS WHEN THEY NEED IT.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, GUYS FOR THAT SERVICE AND THANKS TO EVERY ONE OF THE

LAWYERS ON YOUR TEAM. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR 4, 11, 12, AND 25. PLEASE VOTE.

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

AND WE'LL START -- I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN FOR A SPECIAL

RECOGNITION. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS AND HISTORY, I'M PROUD TO SHARE WHEN WOMEN ARE MAKING HISTORY IN THE ARTS AND WHEN THEY ARE LEADING OUR COMMUNITY AND MOVING IT FORWARD.

TODAY I WANTED TO INVITE MAURICE MCDERMOTT, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE WITTE

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SHE HAS WORKED WITH THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE IN MAKING SURE THAT MOVED FORWARD IN A WAY THAT CELEBRATED THE ENTIRE CITY. WHEN SHE WAS NAMED PRESIDENT IN 2004, HER PRIORITY WAS TO STABILIZE MUSEUM FINANCES AND IMPLEMENT A BUSINESS MODEL TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THE BUDGET WAS BALANCED WITHIN TWO YEARS AND LINES WERE OUT THE DOOR AS THE COMMUNITY ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMED THE WITTE'S LAUNCH OF A SERIES OF POPULAR SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WORLD THAT INCLUDED SPACE, DINOSAURS, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT THE KIDS JUST ENJOYED. GROWING UP IN SAN ANTONIO AND VISITING THE WITTE AS ONE OF THE FIELD TRIPS, IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO SEE IT TRANSFORM. SO SHE -- THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS ANNOUNCED THAT MAURICE WILL BE PRESIDENT EMERITUS STARTING JANUARY 2024, SO WE'RE NOT LOSING HER COMPLETELY. SHE'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WITTE MUSEUM IN 2026. AND SHE HAS -- YOUR TEAM IS SO PROFESSIONAL AND SO OUTSTANDING. AND HAVE REALLY WORKED REALLY HARD.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR CONTRIBUTING TO ELEVATING THE ARTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND REALLY GIVING A VOICE TO ALL THE OTHER ARTISTS THAT SAYS WE NEED TO BE ON THAT NATIONAL STAGE. WE NEED TO BE ON THAT GLOBAL STAGE. YOU HAVE DONE THAT. YOU'VE ALSO DONE AN AMAZING JOB, FOR EXAMPLE HEY, NONPROFITS, THIS IS HOW YOU CAN RAISE MONEY.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO SHARE AND INVITE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO SHARE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE IMPACTED SO MANY OF OUR LIVES. MAURICE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. I HAVE TO SAY I SO APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT. IT WAS REALLY A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU.

DR. MICHELLE AND I AND OUR TEAM TO WORK ON THE SAN ANTONIO WORLD HERITAGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN. WE HAVE SO MANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF US IN MASKS DOING THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT 3. IT WAS A GREAT JOY TO WORK WITH YOU. AND NOW IT'S LAUNCHED, WHICH IS GREAT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR NIRENBERG FOR YOUR SURE-FOOTED LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PROCLAMATION AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR SAN ANTONIO. YOU'RE A TRUSTEE AS IS THE CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INNOVATION ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WITTE MUSEUM. THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE OVER THESE MANY YEARS TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY THE WITTE BUT THE ARTS. THIS CITY HAS REALLY EMBRACED WHAT IT IS TO BE A CREATIVE SOUL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT ANYWHERE. IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT AT THE WITTE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND. WE'RE PROUD THAT AUDIO] COME TO THE MUSEUM AND ALL TITLE I ARE FREE. THIS BOARD RAISES ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKING SURE WE REIMBURSE ALL SCHOOL BUSES. AND WHEN WE IGNITED THE NEW WITTE WAS SIX YEARS AGO NOW, IT'S NOT NEW ANYMORE. THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO RESPONDED WITH 80% OF THAT $100 MILLION. AND THE CITY OF COURSE STEPS UP WITH ENORMOUS GENEROSITY TO FINISH THE PROJECT. WE'RE PROUD THAT THE WITTE EXPANSION HAS BEEN AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR BROADWAY WITH MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL VENUES.

REALLY GROWING BY THE DAY RIGHT NOW ON THE BROADWAY CORRIDOR. WE'VE NOT COMPLETELY SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC. THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, I CAN SPEAK FOR THEM, WE CALL IT THE PANDEMIC ECONOMIC DESERT, BUT WE ARE GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY AND THIS PAST YEAR THE WITTE ALONE BROUGHT SO MANY OUT OF TOWN VISITORS THIS PAST SUMMER THAT WE CALCULATED IT WAS $54 MILLION IN HOTEL/MOTEL TAX RECEIPTS. SO THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY. FINALLY, YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE WITTE HAS EMPOWERED THE TEAM AND TRUSTEES TO DEVELOP CRITICALLY-IMPORTANT EXHIBITIONS THAT ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED. THE BLACK COWBOYS AMERICAN STORY EXHIBITION IS NOW IN ITS FIFTH MUSEUM IN THE COUNTRY . IT'S GOING TO BE IN CALIFORNIA SOON AS WELL. AND IT'S GOING TO COME BACK NEXT FALL.

AND ALSO THE HB BODY ADVENTURE THAT CONTINUES TO WIN AWARDS. WE'RE HAPPY TO HOST YOUR

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[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DON'T SIT DOWN, MAURICE.

I THINK THERE'S A FEW OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. I'LL JUST START.

I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT EVERYTHING THAT JUST SAID AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ YOUR BIO BECAUSE IT WAS READ AT THE MAYOR'S FITNESS COUNCIL AS WE WERE GIVING YOU A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, WHICH I'M CERTAIN YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE ACCOLADES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS IN RECOGNITION AFTER YOUR SERVICE AT THE WITTE.

I'LL REFLECT ON THE WITTE JUST FOR A MINUTE. AND I HATE TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD BUT WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2013, WE WERE HAVING A MUCH DIFFERENT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WITTE. ABOUT DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE REALLY CRUMBLING. AND TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, NOT JUST OF THE WITTE AS A MUSEUM THAT OUR COMMUNITY ENJOYS, BUT ALSO NOW AS AN INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IS REALLY PHENOMENAL.

TO SEE THE WITTE BRANDED EXHIBITS THAT ARE TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF AND FRANKLY WOULD NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IF NOT FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP. WE SAT AT A ROUNDTABLE IN 2020 IN APRIL, REALLY WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THE WITTE BEING ONE, BECAUSE OF THOSE OBLIGATIONS. NOT ONLY HAVE YOU RISEN FROM THAT, THE WITTE IS IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED IN ITS HISTORY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, TO THE BOARD THAT FULLY SUPPORTS YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I LOOK FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE ENGAGED IN THE TRANSITION TO THE NEXT ERA OF WITTE LEADERSHIP. SO CONGRATULATIONS, MAURICE. THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME

TURN IT NOW TO COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: CONGRATULATIONS, MAURICE. SO I ALWAYS THINK THE SIGN OF A GREAT LEADER IS NOT ONLY WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT, BUT IT'S HOW YOU GROW THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR STAFF. AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE A PART OF PROGRAMS LIKE THE EXECUTIVE REINVENTION PROGRAM AND JUST AS MUCH TIME AS YOU'VE INVESTED INTO THE MUSEUM, YOU'VE INVESTED INTO YOUR STAFF AND OF COURSE YOUR DAUGHTER. AND SO I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR LEGACY THROUGH THE IMPACT AND THE GROWTH THAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR THEM AND FOR THAT I

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING MY

DAUGHTER. I APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, MAURICE. I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU'LL BE CONTINUING ON AS EMERITUS.

AND SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I FEEL LIKE THE WITTE MUSEUM IS THE MUCH MORE WELCOMING MUSEUM NOW AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO FEEL LIKE IT'S ONE OF THEIR TREASURES. I REALLY DO THINK THAT IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. THE WAY THAT YOU LEAD YOUR STAFF I THINK IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE. I SEE, EVERY TIME THAT I'M AROUND, I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE COACHING AND MOTIVATING. THAT'S REALLY NEAT TO SEE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON RAISING SUCH A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER. LIKE DR. KAUR SAID, SHE CARRIES YOUR LEGACY AND HAS YOUR SPUNK AS WELL, WHICH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL. ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS I REPRESENT THAT GET TO COME OUT TO YOUR AREA AT THE WITTE AND REALLY ENJOY SOME THINGS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILIES, THROUGH THE PROGRAMMING THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORTED. SO THANK YOU TO THAT DEDICATION. I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S INCREDIBLE WHEN YOUR BOARD WAS SO READY TO FUND RAISE AND HONOR ALL OF THE WORK AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND THEN JUST TO HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER SAY I WILL PLEDGE ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS AND MATCH THAT GIFT, RIGHT? IT WAS LIKE, WOW! ONLY SHE COULD DO THAT.

INCREDIBLE JOB. THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAURICE SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO AM A HUGE FAN OF YOUR DAUGHTER AND THAT SPEAKS TO YOU.

AND I AGREE WITH DR. COUNCILWOMAN KAUR THAT THE LEGACY YOU'RE NOT ONLY LEAVING WITH HER AND ALL SHE'S DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL BUT ALSO I AM PERSONAL FRIENDS WITH MANY OF YOUR TEAM AND THEY ALWAYS SAY THE BEST THINGS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.

[00:25:03]

IT INSPIRES THEM. IT EDUCATES THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT FOR OUR CITY. THE WITTE DOES HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL BUT I DO SEE DIRK IN THE AUDIENCE AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU SO THAT THE WITTE COULD HAVE CONTINUED SUCCESS THAT YOU HAVE LED IT ON THIS TRAJECTORY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO WANT TO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, MY DAUGHTER'S NAME IS JULIA. SHE'S THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COALITION, WHICH HAS 17 SUPERINTENDENTS ON THE BOARD AND WORKS FOR EDUCATION FUNDING AND ADVOCACY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAURICE. ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. MAURICE MCDERMOTT.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR FOR HER SPECIAL RECOGNITION. >> KAUR: I HAVE A REALLY FUN RECOGNITION THAT I GET TO MAKE TODAY. I WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME ROBERT BORREGO JR. AND ROBERT BORREGO JR. IV. TODAY WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE 91ST BIRTH AND THE 85TH BIRTHDAY OF THEIR TORTILLA FACTORY.

[APPLAUSE] SO WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOU TODAY.

SO I'M GOING TO READ THE TEXT, WHICH I KNOW IS SOMETHING I DON'T USUALLY DO.

SINCE 1938 THE LOS ANGELES HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AND OUR ALAMO CITY. THE FACTORY WAS ESTABLISHED BY ROBERT BORREGO AND WAS DETERMINED TO START HIS OWN BUSINESS.

TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE, BEATRICE, THEY RENTED A CORNER PROPERTY AT HOUSTON STREET WHERE THE LEGACY OF THE FACTORY BEGAN . OVER THE YEARS, THE FACTORY HAS TOUCHED THE HEART OF COUNTLESS CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR HIGH-QUALITY FOOD AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE. EQUIPPED WITH AN CORN TORTILLA PRESS, THEY DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO LONG HOURS OF WORK.

THE FAMILY GREW ALONGSIDE THE BUSINESS. THE FACTORY'S CONTINUED SUCCESS IS OWED TO THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF GENERATIONS OF FAMILY MEMBERS, LOYAL EMPLOYEES, AND DEDICATED PATRONS. THE FACTORY OF ROBERT CONTINUES TO BE RUN BY HIS FAMILY AND IT SERVES AS A REMINDER OF HIS LASTING IMPACT.

THE WALLS OF THE FACTORY HAVE WITNESSED COUNTLESS TALES AND HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN RESPECTED PUBLICATIONS LIKE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, CELEBRATING THIS MILESTONE. THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICES YOU HAVE AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TO OUR VIBRANT CITY. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. [APPLAUSE]

ARE THERE ANY WORDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, MAYOR NIRENBERG, CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE BORREGO FAMILY LEGACY SPANNING 85 YEARS. I'M THE FOURTH GENERATION AND I'M PROUD TO CONTINUE OUR PRIDE IN PROVIDING TORTILLAS, TAMALES, AND TRADITIONAL MEXICAN FOODS TO SAN ANTONIO AND BEYOND. IN 1938, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, ROBERTO SR., MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER, BEATRICE, WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN THE SUCCESS OF THE RESTAURANT LOCATED AT HOUSTON AND LEONA. MANY OF YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS MAY REMEMBER IT.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST FACTORIES IN SAN ANTONIO TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE INDUSTRY.

THE SHIFT AND ASSISTANCE FROM THEIR THREE SONS, ROBERT, RAUL, AND RICHARD ALLOWED FOR EXPANSION TO PROVIDE SAN ANTONIO'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MILITARY COMMISSARIES AND GROCERY STORES WITH FRESH TORTILLAS. ROBERTO WAS INDUCTED INTO THE TORTILLA ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME FOR HIS DECADES DEDICATED INDUSTRY.

IN 1985 MY GRANDFATHER CONTINUED THE LEGACY. FIRST ON WEST AVENUE THEN MOVED TO 1130 FRESNO AND WE HAVE REMAINED THERE EVER SINCE. MY GRANDFATHER IS THE

[00:30:04]

HE'LL BE CELEBRATING HIS 92ND BIRTHDAY HERE ON SATURDAY. TODAY YOU HAVE ENJOYED OUR PRODUCTS AT SPURS' GAMES, NIOSA, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR TAMALES OR BARBACOA. FINALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR CO-WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.

THEY ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR SUCCESS AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE 85 YEARS LATER WITHOUT ALL OF THEM. OF EVERY GENERATION PAST AND PRESENT.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS OF SAN ANTONIO FOR EIGHT DECADES OF YOU PATRONAGE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE ANOTHER 85 YEARS AND KEEP TRUE SAN ANTONIO CULINARY HERITAGE ALIVE.

[APPLAUSE] >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I UNDERSTAND YOU BROUGHT US ALL GOODIES THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE THAT AS THE DAUGHTER OF A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS I UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND I LOVED SEEING THE LEGACY CARRY ON.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING. IF ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

WANT TO SHARE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

I'LL JUST SAY TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEGACY.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HAD SOME VISIT SAN ANTONIO FOLKS HERE AND ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS WE TALK ABOUT SAN ANTONIO TO THE WORLD NOW IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE A CITY OF GASTRONOMY.

YOU ARE A PART OF LAYING THAT FOUNDATION. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 85TH

ANNIVERSARY. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEGACY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING FOR SAN ANTONIO AND KEEPING OUR BELLIES WARM. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS ON 85 YEARS. IT'S EXTREMELY EXCITING. MANY OF YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS BUT ANTHONY IS AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT 2 TEAM BY MARRIAGE.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, ALL THE NOURISHMENT THAT YOU PROVIDE.

HERE'S TO MANY, MANY MORE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GIFTS THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR THE

ENTIRE COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW.

TODAY IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGING DAY BUT I'M GOING TO START OFF ON A POSITIVE NOTE. I WANT TO WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A VERY, VERY SPECIAL WOMAN. SHE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, A PHILANTHROPIST, MOGUL, AND POET. SHE HAS MANY, MANY CHILDREN. SHE ONCE SAID SPUR OF THE MOMENT [INDISCERNIBLE] CELEBRATING OUR BELOVED SAN ANTONIO SPURS WHILE INVITING THE OPPOSITION TO CONNECT THEIR L. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE QUEEN OF RAP, NICKI MINAJ. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET A COPY OF HER ALBUM.

THESE NEXT TWO ARE REALLY HARD. WE HAVE HAD SOME LOSSES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I WAITED SAYING THIS ONE OUT LOUD BUT I WANT TO HONOR ONE OF MY FRIENDS, KERRY. MANY OF YOU WILL KNOW HIM AS A LEADER IN OUR FILM INDUSTRY BUT HERE YOU RECOGNIZE HIM AS THE LEADER OF THE ALAMO CITY STUDIOS.

THE SAN ANTONIO FILM AND ARTS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO MOURN THE LOSS OF ONE OF ITS PIONEERS AND ADVOCATES. KERRY WAS A GENEROUS AND PASSIONATE PERSON.

WHEN MY OFFICE APPROACHED KERRY ABOUT STARTING A YOUTH PROGRAM FOR OUR EASTSIDE STUDENTS, HE WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL PART ENSURING ITS CREATION, FOLLOW-THROUGH, AND SUCCESS.

HE WAS SO EXCITED TO SHARE THE NEXT STEP AND NEXT PLAN AND I COULD JUST FEEL THAT HE WAS SO EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE. WE'D LIKE TO HONOR MY FRIEND KERRY AND HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR ALL HE DID FOR THE CITY. TO THE FAMILY OF KERRY, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT 2 OFFICE, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY.

THE COMMUNITY AS FOUNDER OF THE ALAMO COMMUNITY. HIS DECADES OF SERVICE EARNED THE RESPECT AND ADORATION OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES HE TOUCHED. WE HOPE THE FAMILY WILL BE

[00:35:08]

FOREVER ETCHED IN YOUR MEMORY. >> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEN, AUDIENCE.

KERRY ALLEN BALDARAMA IS OUR SON. HIS MOTHER AND I ARE SO VERY PROUD OF HIM. KERRY SERVED IN THE 82ND DIVISION.

HIS TEAM WAS THE POINT OF THE SPEAR. KERRY PURSUED HIS PASSION MORE THAN ANYONE , ACTING, DIRECTING, PRODUCING MOVIES AND TEACHING.

ALAMO CITY STUDIOS WAS FOUNDED BY KERRY AND HE WAS PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE SUCCESS OF THE EASTSIDE YOUTH CONTENT CREATION PROGRAM THAT WAS CHAMPIONED BY COUNCILMAN JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. HIS FAMILY WILL MISS HIM DEARLY AS WILL HIS COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS. KERRY BROUGHT JOY, LAUGHTER, AND HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE AND WAS LOVED BY ALL. AS CHRISTIANS, WE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN.

THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ONCE AGAIN WANT TO SEND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO MISS HIM VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

I HAVE ONE MORE. I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR COACH ELWOOD PLUMBER WHO ATTENDED WHEATLEY HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS A PROLIFIC BASKETBALL PLAYER AND BEGAN HIS CAREER AND WAS NAMED HEAD COACH AT THE A&M PANTHERS. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST COACH IN THE LEAGUE AT THE AGE OF 28. HE EVENTUALLY BECAME THE ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR.

HE IS DEEPLY MISSED BY HIS FAMILY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR HIS LIFE AND ALL THE LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED . I'LL READ THE CERTIFICATE. I DO BELIEVE I SEE MS. PLUMBER. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES.

COACH PLUMBER WAS A LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, AND FRIEND WHO GAVE HIS TIME AND EFFORT FOR OVER 45 YEARS TO THE SUPPORT OF BASKETBALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS.

HE LED MANY TIMES TO CHAMPIONS, BOTH ON THE COURT AND AS A COACH.

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE TEXAS BLACK SPORTS HALL OF FAME AND THE PRAIRIE VIEW INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF COACHES HALL OF FAME. IN 2006 HE REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, FACILITATING BASKETBALL CLINICS IN JAPAN AND WILL BE MISSED. HIS PASSING LEAVES US MOURNING THE LOSS OF A 15-YEAR FAITHFUL MEMBER OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH AS AN EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATOR AND MENTOR, ATHLETE, AND SOMEONE WHO HAD A ZEAL FOR LIFE. WE HOPE THE FAMILY WILL BE CONSOLED BY THE MEMORIES OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND THE LOVE COACH HAD FOR HIS FAMILY, FAITH, COMMUNITY, CLASSMATES, FRIENDS IN BASKETBALL. WE KNOW HIS LOVE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WILL FOREVER REMAIN ETCHED IN YOUR MEMORY. WE EXTEND OUR SINCEREST EXPRESSION OF PRAYERS AND COMFORT TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR TO HIM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY HUSBAND WOULD BE SO PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT HE DID. BOTH OF US AS HBCU GRADUATES, WE COME FROM COMMUNITIES WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE A SINGLE PARENT OR NO ONE HAS BEEN TO COLLEGE.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR HIM THAT THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT HE TAUGHT AND COACHED WOULD BECOME PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AT. IN MARCH, THEY HAD A GATHERING AT THE CHURCH.

THEY WANTED TO HAVE LUNCH WITH COACH. AND I WAS KIND OF SCARED BECAUSE HE PUT IT OUT THAT EVERYBODY WAS INVITED. SO WE WERE KIND OF TERRIFIED HOW WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS IF THE WHOLE CITY COMES. IT WAS VERY GOOD FOR HIS PLAYERS TO COME TOGETHER AND THANK HIM FOR WHAT HE DID FOR THEM AND HOW HE IMPROVED THEIR LIVES. JOHN WOOTEN USED TO SAY GOOD COACHES WIN GAMES.

GREAT COACHES CHANGE LIVES. THAT'S WHAT HE DID AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT MY STUDENTS WILL REMEMBER THAT I TRIED TO DO FOR THEM AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS

[00:40:02]

RECOGNITION. [APPLAUSE] >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THOSE WORDS. I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW INSPIRATIONAL AND IMPACTFUL HE HAS BEEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE SENDING ALL OUR LOVE TO

YOU AND TO ALL WHO KNEW COACH. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. NOW I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND TODAY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR DISTRICT 4 APPOINTEE TO THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, DR. LORRAINE PULLIDO WHO SERVED AS THE VICE CHAIR OF BROOKS. SHE WORKS AS A COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR VIA AND SHE HAS MORE THAN 22 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS. PREVIOUSLY SERVING AS PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SHE ALSO SERVES ON THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR DISTRICT 4 AND AS AN ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBER AT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO. SHE WAS APPOINTED TO THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 2017. SHE EARNED A PHD IN BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP STUDIES FROM OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY. SHE'S PART OF THE 1% LATINAS WHO HAVE ATTAINED A PHD.

SHE ALSO EARNED A MASTER OF SCIENCE AND A BACHELOR OF ARTS.

I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF DR. PULIDO WHO IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CITY LEADER FOR THE SOUTH SIDE. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. PULIDO IS THE FIRST WOMAN AND THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF BROOKS SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 2001. IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S LONG OVERDUE BUT I'M ALSO PROUD TO WITNESS THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY AND RECOGNIZE DR. PULIDO. I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THE NEW BROOKS VICE CHAIR IS ALSO IN THE HOUSE, AND THAT'S RUDY GARZA, WHO WE WILL BE HEARING FROM LATER. WE KNOW THAT REPRESENTATION MATTERS AND VISIBILITY IS IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT YOUNGER GENERATIONS SEE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS IN POSITIONS OF POWER AND INFLUENCE.

YOU DO IT BEAUTIFULLY. ALTHOUGH WOMEN MAKE UP HALF OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION, WE ARE STILL DRASTICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN ELECTED OFFICES, IN BOARDS, AND IN THE C-SUITE. 6.7% ARE BOARD CHAIRS. 5% ARE CEOS.

15.7% OF CFO POSITIONS ARE HELD BY WOMEN. THAT'S JUST A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE THAT I'M GIVING YOU ALL. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

THERE'S BEEN A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN ON BOARDS.

EMPOWERING GIRLS AND WOMEN HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME AND FOR THIS COUNCIL LONG BEFORE WE COULD HAVE EVEN IMAGINED IT. THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK. I'M PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE TALENTED WOMEN WHO MAKE UP SAN ANTONIO AND MAKE IT A MORE EQUITABLE AND DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, LIKE DR. PULIDO. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO DR. PULIDO, I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR LEADING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN SERVING IN OUR CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I LOVE TO CONTINUE THE WORK WITH THAT. DR. PULIDO WAS THE FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER AT AN EVENT WE HOSTED IN AUGUST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED APPOINTMENTS PROJECT.

SHE SHARED HER EXPERIENCE AND ENCOURAGED OTHER WOMEN TO BECOME CIVIC LEADERS.

SHE HAS BENEFITED FROM THE SACRIFICES OF OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY AND SHE IS COMMITTED TO TEARING DOWN BARRI BARRIERS. SO CONGRATULATIONS, DR. PULIDO. THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY.

IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. I FIRST OF ALL WANT TO THANK DR. ROCHA GARCIA FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO PHYLLIS VIAGRAN IN WHOSE DISTRICT OUR CAMPUS OF BROOKS RESIDES. I'M DEFINITELY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. I CAN TELL YOU AS DR. ROCHA GARCIA INDICATED, I HAVE BEEN ON THIS BOARD SINCE 2018 AND SERVING AS VICE CHAIR SINCE 2019.

AND NOW TO HAVE BEEN ELECTED AS CHAIR AS THE FIRST FEMALE CHAIR AND ALSO THE FIRST LATINA FEMALE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY IS A PRIVILEGE THAT I OWE TO EVERYONE WHO CAME BEFORE ME, ALL OF THE WOMEN THAT FOUGHT FOR US, THAT LIFTED US UP AND THAT STILL INSPIRE US.

THIS HONOR WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FORMER AND CURRENT BROOKS BOARD MEMBERS,

[00:45:01]

I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE VICE CHAIR-ELECT WHO IS SITTING HERE, RUDY GARZA.

AND OUR TREASURER-ELECT, DAN ROSSITER, WHO I'M EXCITED TO SERVE WITH NEXT YEAR.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY EMPLOYER, VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT WHERE WE MAKE CONNECTIONS EVERY DAY. I'M ALSO HAPPY BECAUSE VIA HELPS TO ENCOURAGE ITS EMPLOYEES TO SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN OTHER CAPACITIES SUCH AS BROOKS BOARD.

PUBLIC SERVICE HAS BEEN MY LIFE'S MISSION SINCE VERY YOUNG AGE.

YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO HARLANDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HARLANDALE HIGH SCHOOL, CONTINUING ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PENN AND COLUMBIA. AND I FIND THIS PRIVILEGE SOMETHING THAT I'LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BROOKS BOARD AND TO BE CHAIR IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU PROUD. TO HELP OVERSEE BROOKS, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS, IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT I WILL CHERISH AND THAT I WILL NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED. BROOKS IS A COMMUNITY WHERE MORE THAN 1700 PEOPLE LIVE, 5300 PEOPLE WORK, AND 2500 STUDENTS LEARN.

WE'RE ENHANCING LIVES EVERY DAY, Y'ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF BROOKS AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HELP BRING TO SAN ANTONIO, TO

TEXAS, AND THE UNITED STATES. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DR. PULIDO, AS YOU'RE REFERRED TO IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, MADRE, I WAS ELATED WHEN I FOUND OUT YOU WERE A CHAIR OF BROOKS. A PIONEER IN EVERY WAY. THIS IS YOUR MOMENT BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY THAT SAN ANTONIO IS NOW SEEING A RISE OF WOMEN AND LATINA LEADERS IN OUR UTILITIES, JANIE IS HERE, AND THE TWO LARGEST DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES.

BUT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW A STORY OF RESILIENCE AND OF CHARACTER AND OF TRIUMPH NEEDS TO STUDY LORRAINE PULIDO'S LIFE. YOU AMAZE ME.

YOU HAVE, SINCE THE DAY I MET YOU, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS.

CONGRATULATIONS, LORRAINE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROLE, DR. PULIDO. WHEN I FIRST MET YOU, I SAW THE ENERGY AND PASSION THAT YOU BROUGHT TO VIA. I KNOW OF YOUR AMAZING LEADERSHIP ON THE ALAMO COLLEGES BOARD. ALL THE GREAT THING THAT COUNCILWOMAN DR. ROCHA GARCIA MENTIONED. BUT OVER ALL OF THAT AUDIO] SO MANY OTHER LATINAS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO TAKE THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION AND THAT WE CAN DO THAT. WE'RE MORE THAN QUALIFIED AND WE CAN FILL THOSE POSITIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INSPIRATION THAT YOU'RE SETTING AND THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU'RE SETTING FOR ALL OF OUR DAUGHTERS WHO WILL FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.

AND I KNOW THAT WE GOT TO SPEND SOME MORE TIME LAST YEAR BEING ON THE SAN ANTONIO WOMEN HALL OF FAME CLASS TOGETHER. YOU HAVE A LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE'RE ALSO PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. DR. PULIDO, I WORKED WITH YOU -- I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE MISSED. SHE DID NOT GET HERE BY ACCIDENT OR BECAUSE WHO SHE KNOWS. SHE WORKED HARD.

LIKE MOST WOMEN HAVE TO DO. AND YOU PROBABLY DID MORE THAN ANY OF THOSE MEN THAT SIT ON THE BROOKS BOARD TO GET TO THIS POSITION. WE SERVED ON THE BROOKS GIVES BACK BOARD. YOUR SCHEDULE IS COMPLETELY PACKED.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. YOU'RE AN EXAMPLE FOR WOMEN LEADERS ALL OVER THERE BUT IT'S NOT EASY. IT'S NEVER EASY.

YOU'RE HERE AND I THANK THE MALE ALLIES WHO DO SIT ON THAT BOARD WHO ARE SUPPORTING YOU AND MOVING YOU FORWARD. WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS WE THOUGHT BROOKS GOT THINGS DONE BEFORE. NOW WITH YOU AS CHAIR, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO GROW AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING YES TO SERVE AND FOR CONTINUING TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN AND NEVER FORGETTING

YOUR HARLANDALE ROOTS. >> NEVER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

[00:50:06]

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S LONG PAST DUE THAT YOU ARE A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION. EVERY ORGANIZATION YOU'RE IN YOU ALWAYS RISE TO THE TOP. YOU GIVE ALL OF US AS LATINAS INSPIRATION AND LOVE AND YOU UPLIFT US ALL THE TIME. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO COUNT YOU AS A FRIEND.

YOU'RE ALSO -- EVERYBODY KNOWS -- HILARIOUS. IT'S GREAT TO BE AROUND YOU.

I THANK YOU AND I'M SUPER SUPER PROUD OF YOU. AND TO THE BOARD FOR UPLIFTING YOU IN THIS WAY. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: FOR A LONG TIME I SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF BROOKS CITY-BASE AND PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME, ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO BE A CITY COUNCILMEMBER.

YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF FUN AND IT'S REWARDING. THIS POSITION IS THE SECOND MOST REWARDING POSITION I EVER HAD. THE FIRST IS BEING A CHAIR OF BROOKS. ONE OF THE REASONS -- YOU KNOW, JIM CAMPBELL AND STEVE GOLDBERG AND DARRYL BYRD, ALL AGREE THEY MAKE IT SO EASY AND IT'S NOT. IT'S HARD BUT THEY JUST MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY. AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT IT IS I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THE REALITY THAT IS YOU GET TO EFFECT CHANGE, NOT JUST ON THAT CAMPUS BUT THE ENTIRE REGION OF THE CITY, AND YOU GET TO DO IT QUICKLY. THAT BOARD IS VERY NIMBLE AND THERE'S A LOT THROWN AT YOU AT ONE TIME AND THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO OUT THERE I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY BETTER TO TAKE THE REINS THAN YOU.

WE'RE IMPRESSED AND DON'T SCREW IT UP. [LAUGHTER]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. DR. PULIDO, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS OVER AT BROOKS WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NOW I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCILMEMBER

CABELLO HAVRDA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DR. LAWRENCE. DR. LAWRENCE WAS A PILLAR OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES. HE PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 23 OF THIS YEAR.

DR. LAWRENCE'S FAMILY IS WITH US THIS MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM SO WE CAN SHARE OUR CONDOLENCES AS WELL AS THE GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK HE HAS DONE FOR OUR I COMMUNITY. I WELCOME HIS FAMILY, LINDA BROWN, SHERRY LAWRENCE, MAYA LAWRENCE, COLLIN LAWRENCE, BILL KENT, JOAN DUNCAN, ISADOR, AND THE PASTOR FOR ANTIOCH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. HE WAS BORN IN 1937 IN INDIANA.

HE JOINED THE AIR FORCE IN 1963 WHERE S HE WAS A GENERAL MEDICAL OFFICER.

HE BEGAN TO SEE KIDS WHO HAD EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AND THAT SPARKED HIS INTEREST IN MENTAL HEALTH. HE WAS THE FIRST AIR FORCE MEDICAL OFFICER WHO WORKED SPECIFICALLY IN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY. HE SPENT NINE YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY AT WILFORD HALL AND WAS OFFERED A FACULTY POSITION IN SAN ANTONIO .

HE SPENT 33 YEARS ON FACULTY AT WHAT IS NOW THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.

HE SERVED AS CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF THE PROTESTANT CHILDREN'S HOME, ONE OF THREE ORPHANAGES IN SAN ANTONIO SEGREGATED BY RACE AND ETHNICITY. THERE WAS AN ORPHANAGE IN AUDIO] HOSPITAL IN THE STATE. IT TURNS OUT THOUGH AT THAT TIME DR. LAWRENCE WAS JUST GETTING STARTED. HE WAS PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF UNITED WAY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JUST FINISHED THEIR 2023 GIVING CAMPAIGN SO IT'S HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE INNOVATION HE BROUGHT TO THE ORGANIZATION.

HE WAS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, WHICH WAS A BLACK PHYSICIAN'S ORGANIZATION FORMED AT A TIME WHEN BLACK PHYSICIANS WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND ALSO EXCLUDED FROM HOSPITAL STAFF. HE WAS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF KLRN, CHAIR OF THE TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION, WHICH OVERSEES ALL THE JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL

[00:55:02]

MS. LAWRENCE. >> THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. I'M OVERWHELMED WITH THE OUTPOURING OF LOVE THAT MY HUSBAND HAS RECEIVED. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY ACTIVITIES, EVENTS THAT HAS OCCURRED IN HIS LIFE THAT CERTAINLY IS OVERWHELMING.

I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN PROUD. HE WOULD HAVE SPENT THE ENTIRE MORNING TALKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SAN ANTONIO, THE STATE, AND ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. AND I HAVE ASKED REVEREND KENT, WHO WAS A VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF HIS, TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON HIS BEHALF. AGAIN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA FOR THIS HONOR.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING DR. LEONARD LAWRENCE. ON BEHALF OF DR. BARBARA LAWRENCE, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. LAWRENCE. AS YOU ALREADY HEARD, HE WAS AND STILL IS A HUGE, HUGE PERSONALITY, A TREMENDOUS EDUCATOR, A WELL-RESPECTED LEADER IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS A TREMENDOUS HUMANITARIAN AND HE WILL SORELY BE MISSED. THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL RECOGNITION.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, BOTH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. LAWRENCE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

AND FINALLY, TO COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CALL MARIA AND WHATEVER HER NAME IS STANDING NEXT TO YOU. [LAUGHTER] MAYOR, COLLEAGUES, I WANT YOU TO KNOW MANY MONTHS AGO WE WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT WAYS OF GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND A FRIEND OF MINE AT CLEAR CHANNEL SAID I HEARD YOUR COMMENTS. WE WANT TO HELP. AND I SAID, ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO SICK MARIA VILLAGOMEZ ON YOU. MARIA, YOU HAVE SOMETHING PRETTY EXCITING TO REPORT TO US ABOUT THE WORK CLEAR CHANNEL HAS AGREED TO DO FOR FREE.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? >> VILLAGOMEZ: SURE.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HERE IN MY CAPACITY AS THE CO-CHAIR FOR THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND AS COUNCILMAN PELAEZ MENTIONED, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH CLEAR CHANNEL WHO OFFERED TO US BILLBOARDS STARTING IN NOVEMBER 20, 2023 TO OCTOBER 2024 AT NO COST.

WHAT YOU SAW ON THE SCREEN ARE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DISPLAYING ON THE BILLBOARDS.

THERE'S A TOTAL OF EIGHT DIGITAL BILLBOARDS ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL AS SIX STATIC SIGNS. THE GOAL OF THIS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS TO ENSURE THAT WE MADE THE COMMUNITY AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AT THE SAME TIME I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EITHER VICTIMS, FAMILIES, OR FRIENDS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS KNOW WHERE TO CALL IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY OR WHERE TO TEXT, BECAUSE THEY CAN TEXT 9-1-1.

BUT ALSO WHERE TO GET RESOURCES AS WELL. SO THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE APPRECIATE, FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE YOU SUPPORTED TO EXPAND THE SERVICES TO THE VICTIMS, SO WE ARE VERY

THANKFUL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MARIA.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. FROM TIME TO TIME THERE COMES AN INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTING AN INSTITUTION. AND DISPLAYS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SENSITIVITY TO ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS THAT MOMENT. WE ARE INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO CLEAR CHANNEL.

[01:00:03]

BECAUSE THE INSIDIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE CLAIMS FOR A SUSTAINED EFFORT OF EDUCATION TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THAT IS NECESSARY TO CHANGE ATTITUDES.

AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE YOU SO MANY TIMES, I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT ATTITUDES PRECEDE ACTIONS. AND IF WE ARE ABLE TO SHIFT THE CULTURE AND ATTITUDE OF PERMISSIVENESS WHERE WE MAY BE IN THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EXPERIENCING IT, OR PERPETRATING IT AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, ON THE CHILDREN, THEN WE ARE MISSING OUT ON THIS EDUCATIONAL EFFORT. BUT THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES.

TO CLEAR CHANNEL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY LIVES WILL BE SAVED, HOW MANY PERPETRATORS WILL THINK TWICE. BUT WE KNOW THAT IT WILL IMPACT

THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK, MARIA. PLEASE PASS OUR THANKS TO JUDGE DIAZ AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION . THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON THAT AND A HUGE THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY BUSINESS, CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR FOR THE COOPERATION ON THIS. THAT'S A PRETTY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW INTO

[ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING]

ITEM NO. 4. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. NO. IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN INCREASE OF 4.25% TO THE CPS ENERGY ELECTRIC AND GAS BASE RATES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2024, TARIFF AMENDMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS AND AUTHORIZING A REGULATORY ASSET

FOR PENSION AND OPEB EXPENSES. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AS THE CITY CLERK OUTLINED, THIS ITEM IS AN ORDINANCE FOR CONSIDERATION OF A 4.25% SYSTEM WIDE BASE INCREASE FOR CPS ENERGY. IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW THEM TO ESTABLISH A REGULATORY ASSET TO DEAL WITH ACCOUNTING ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAPPEN RELATED TO THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD. THESE ARE NON-CASH ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAPPEN. IT WILL HELP THEM MANAGE THE NON-CASH PART OF THE RATE MODEL . WE DON'T HAVE A LONG PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.

CPS ENERGY IS GOING TO GO THROUGH A BRIEF PRESENTATION IN A MINUTE BUT I WANT TO RECAP A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROCESS. SO WE BEGAN THE PROCESS ON THE CITY SIDE ON NOVEMBER 8 IN B SESSION. DURING THAT B SESSION, CPS ENERGY PRESENTED THE PROPOSED RATE CASE AND WENT OVER THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE DRIVING THE NEED TO INCREASE RATES FOR THE UTILITY. WE HAD A SECOND MEETING, SPECIAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 30 WHERE CITY STAFF PROVIDED A BRIEFING ON OUR REVIEW OF THE RATE CASE.

WE GAVE YOU OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT RATE CASE. WE ALSO PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT MEETING A DETAILED WRITTEN REPORT OF OUR REVIEW. NOW DURING THESE MEETINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CPS ENERGY'S INCREASE INVESTMENT IN A NUMBER OF KEY AREAS THAT SUPPORT RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY. THINGS LIKE INCREASED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, INCREASED PLANT MAINTENANCE, AND INCREASING AUTOMATION IN THE OVERALL CPS UTILITY SYSTEM. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR THEM TO INVEST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT IN TECHNOLOGY, REPLACING AN OUTDATED SYSTEMS AND MOVING TO A MORE MODERN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLATFORM THAT NOT ONLY IS IMPORTANT AND KEY FOR THE UTILITY BUT WILL OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR CPS ENERGY CUSTOMERS. ADDITIONALLY WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY ARE BEGINNING THE TRANSITION TO A NEWLY-APPROVED GENERATION PORTFOLIO.

THEY'RE BEGINNING TO MAKE INVESTMENTS AS THEY MOVE TOWARDS THIS NEW GENERATION PORTFOLIO. BASED ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO CPS ENERGY, I DO WANT TO THANK MY TEAM LED BY RUSSELL AND JEFF. THE TEAM IS OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT AND THEY INCLUDE ALSO MORRIS, BEN, AND PAMELA. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF WORK THAT WE DO IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SO I JUST WANT

[01:05:04]

RUDY. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, RUDY GARZA, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CPS ENERGY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

I THINK YOU ALL HAVE ASKED THOUGHTFUL AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TODAY'S DIALOGUE. I WANT TO START BY THANKING MY CHAIR, JANIE GONZALES, BEHIND ME, AND MY VICE CHAIR. WE'VE GOT GREAT LEADERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF CPS ENERGY RIGHT NOW THAT ARE PUSHING US TO EXECUTE IN THE WAY THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED US TO.

AND WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT THEIR LEADERSHIP AND THEIR DIRECTION AS WELL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IN OUR BUSINESS YOU'RE NEVER STANDING STILL. YOU'RE EITHER MOVING FORWARD OR YOU'RE FALLING BEHIND.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF COLLABORATING WITH THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND VARIOUS OTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO REBUILD TRUST, WE HAVE LISTENED TO FEEDBACK AND MADE RESPONSIVE CHANGES TO BE THE UTILITY OUR COMMUNITY HAS ASKED US TO BE. TWO YEARS AGO, WITH YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT, WE PUT OURSELVES ON A PATH TO STABILIZING OUR UTILITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN US OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY HELPED. WHEN WE ASKED FOR APPROVAL OF OUR 3.5% BASE RATE INCREASE, WE WERE TRANSPARENT IN ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULE. FOR SMALLER, MORE FOCUSED RATE REQUESTS TO SUPPORT THE INVESTMENTS NEEDED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE OUTLINED IN VISION 2027, WHICH IS OUR COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH HIGHLIGHTS OUR OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES AND FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE.

VISION 2027 WAS DEVELOPED FROM EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY INPUT AND NOW WE ARE BUILDING A ROAD MAP TO GUIDE US TO 2050 THAT WILL INCLUDE STAKEHOLDER INPUT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

OUR TEAM IS IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY WORKING TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING THOSE MOST IN NEED. CONNECTING, LISTENING, AND ENGAGING.

THE ANSWER TO SUPPORTING OUR CUSTOMERS IS MORE PARTNERSHIP AND RESOURCES.

CUTTING INVESTMENT TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE HURTS OUR CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST VULNERABLE. INVESTMENT IN OUR GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR EMPLOYEES, MANY OF WHICH ARE IN THE GALLERY BEHIND ME FROM BOTH THE ELECTRIC AND GAS BUSINESS. THE ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS IMPACTED. AND IN ADVANCING OUR ENERGY TRANSITION TO CLEANER TECHNOLOGIES WHICH SUPPORTS THE CITY'S GOALS. IT'S ULTIMATELY AN INVESTMENT IN AND FOR OUR COLLECTIVE ENERGY FUTURE. SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING LARGE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, VIRTUALLY EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES IS POWERED BY ENERGY. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER. ALL OF IT.

IN A REASONABLE AND TIMELY MANNER. INVEST IN OUR FUTURE.

HELP MORE CUSTOMERS WITH NEEDED ASSISTANCE. SUPPORT THE GROWING AND CHALLENGING NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

ABOUT OUR ONE-TEAM MINDSET AT CPS ENERGY. NONE OF WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT YOU, OUR REGULATOR, SHOWING LEADERSHIP FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO CORY, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO

WALK US THROUGH TODAY'S PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, RUDY.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS RUDY MENTIONED, I WILL ECHO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND INPUT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THAT. I'LL ALSO ECHO A BIG THANK YOU TO ERIK WALSH AND BEN GORZELL AND THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR THEIR COLLABORATION.

AND AS RUDY MENTIONED TO OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, WHO ARE HERE.

SO AS RUDY ALLUDED TO IN HIS COMMENTS, THIS DISCUSSION REALLY IS ABOUT THE FUTURE AND LOOKING AHEAD. AS THE AGENDA, WHICH I'LL MOVE TO, LAYS OUT, IS A BRIEF PRESENTATION THAT WILL RECAP SOME OF THE SAME ITEMS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.

SO THIS RATE REQUEST IS REALLY A CONTINUATION OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS LOOKING AHEAD. THIS ISN'T A DECISION THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY WHEN WE COME FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN DELIBERATE IN THEIR ANALYSIS AND WE HAVE PROVIDED A RECOMMENDATION THAT AIMS TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE CAPTURED ON THIS SLIDE. VERY BRIEFLY TO RECAP, THE

[01:10:06]

AS WE HAVE ALSO SPOKEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, I'LL RECAP FOR YOU WHERE THE $85 MILLION CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY IN THE SPACES THAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE ASKED US TO FOCUS ON. OVERWHELMINGINGLY WE HAVE HEARD OUR CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT RELIABLE AND RESILIENCY FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS BEING THE PRIMARY THING THEY CARE ABOUT AND THE INVESTMENT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING AND APPLYING GOES TOWARDS THAT.

AS AN EXAMPLE, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE INVESTED $90 MILLION JUST IN REINFORCING OUR POWER PLANTS AND REINFORCING OUR LINES AND DOLLARS HERE ARE TO CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT SO WE CAN SUSTAIN THAT RELIABLE SERVICE. SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE DO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, CUSTOMERS CAN SEE. BUT A LOT OF WHAT WE DO CUSTOMERS CAN'T SEE. IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES. THEY CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE RELIABILITY OF THEIR SERVICE. CUSTOMERS ALSO TALKED ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES CUSTOMERS TO INTERFACE WITH US IN THE MANNER THEY WOULD LIKE TO.

THEY HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT NEW PRODUCTS AND NEW SERVICES THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE AT THE DAIS AND THAT WE ARE OPEN TO. BUT THE INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP ENABLE US TO GET THOSE ITEMS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN THE COMING YEARS.

BEHIND THE SCENES, ENSURING THAT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS CONTROLLING THE POWER FLOW ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS CONTROLLING THE POWER PLANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND PROTECTED FROM THREATS IS ALSO AN ELEMENT OF THIS INVESTMENT. IN TERMS OF SYSTEM GROWTH, WE ALL BENEFIT FROM A POWER GRID THAT IS UPGRADED, FROM A COMMUNITY THAT HAS ENOUGH GENERATION TO SUPPORT ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS. AND THIS ISN'T JUST NEW CUSTOMERS. THIS IS ABOUT ALSO REINVESTING IN OLDER AREAS WHEN THEY GROW AND REINVESTMENT IS NECESSARY. WE ALL BENEFIT FROM SUPPORTING SYSTEM GROWTH.

AND ULTIMATELY SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS IS A FUNCTION OF US HAVING THE FOLKS THAT ARE TRAINED UP AND CAN DO THE JOB. AS WE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK AS WELL, AS AN EXAMPLE, IT TAKES THREE TO FIVE OR MORE YEARS FOR FOLKS TO BE TRAINED UP TO BE A JOURNEYMAN OUT IN THE FIELD. FOLKS DON'T JUST SHOW UP AT CPS ENERGY, GET IN A BUCKET TRUCK, AND WORK ON THE LINES IN EXTREME CONDITIONS.

IT'S A DANGEROUS JOB. IT TAKES TIME AND A LOT OF TRAINING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PENDING RETIREMENTS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WORK TWO DECADES OR MORE.

SO GETTING THAT PIPELINE FILLED IN, GETTING FOLKS IN THE DOOR AND TRAINED UP NOW CONTINUES TO BE AN AREA OF FOCUS FOR OUR GROWING COMMUNITY, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME THERE BUT I DID WANT TO RECAP THE AREAS WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS CAN SEE AND FEEL A DIFFERENCE WITH THIS INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY.

SO THIS SLIDE IS REALLY JUST A RECAP OF THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE HAD TO GO OUT AND TALK TO OUR CUSTOMERS. I WILL NOTE THAT EVERY DAY, WHETHER WE'RE DOING A RATE REQUEST OR NOT, WE'VE GOT DOZENS OF FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TRYING TO HOOK PEOPLE UP WITH PROGRAMS THAT THEY MAY QUALIFY FOR OR JUST INFORMING THEM OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION. WITH RESPECT TO THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HERE, THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE HARD-WORKING EFFORTS OUR TEAM HAS DONE.

WHETHER IT BE TOWN HALLS WE HAVE BEEN AT, WHETHER IT BE SOCIAL MEDIA, MAILINGS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO GET OUT AND TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE BENEFITS OF THIS RATE REQUEST. THIS NEXTT SLIDE EXPANDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF OUR AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM. JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS IS AN INCOME-BASED PROGRAM AND THE CURRENT DISCOUNT ON CUSTOMERS THAT QUALIFY IS $16.14 FOR COMBINED ELECTRIC AND GAS CUSTOMER. WE'RE PROPOSING TWO THINGS. ONE IS ACTUALLY INCREASING -- ADDING AN ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME, FOR SEVERE ENERGY BURDEN. AND ADDITIONALLY FOR FOLKS THAT DO QUALIFY, INCREASING THAT DISCOUNT AMOUNT BY A LITTLE OVER 2-P $2.20. I WILL NOTE THERE ARE A LOT OF NON-INCOME-BASED PROGRAMS WE HAVE FOR CUSTOMERS AS WELL, WHETHER THEY BE PAYMENT PLANS OR INSTALLMENT PLANS OF SOME KIND. OR WHEN THEY CALL US UP, IF

[01:15:03]

AS WAS MENTIONED, THE OTHER ELEMENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION IS A REGULATORY ASSET FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES. THIS APPROVAL FOR REGULATORY ASSET IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE FROM TWO YEARS AGO. THIS DOES NOT INCREASE ANY COST TO CPS ENERGY AND ULTIMATELY CUSTOMERS ARE NOT SEEING AN INCREASE IN THEIR BILL FROM THIS REGULATORY ASSET.

THE APPROACH THAT WE ARE USING THE REGULATORY ASSET FOR, WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST YEAR BENCHMARKING THIS APPROACH WITH PEER UTILITIES. WE HAVE DETERMINED IT IS A BEST PRACTICE THAT OTHER UTILITIES HAVE USED. WE HAVE REVIEWED THIS WITH OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR AS WELL. IF WE GET THE APPROVAL AND CAN USE IT NEXT YEAR.

AND BEN MENTIONED IN HIS PRESENTATION LAST WEEK, THIS TIES BACK TO A RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME OUT OF TWO YEARS AGO FOR CPS ENERGY TO LOOK INTO USING THIS REGULATORY ASSET FOR THE PURPOSES LAID OUT. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALLOWED TO USE REGULATORY ACCOUNTING AS AN ENTITY WE ARE BUT IT DOES REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR US TO EXECUTE THAT. SO YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE SEVERAL TIMES AND I'LL JUST RECAP IT VERY BRIEFLY. IT SUPPORTS THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ABOUT BEING FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE AND HAVING A MULTIYEAR RATE PLAN THAT SUPPORTS A MULTIYEAR STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AGO.

THAT DISCUSSION IS CONSISTENT TWO YEARS AGO AS IT IS TODAY. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE THERE THAT THE FORECAST OUT IN FISCAL '27 FOR US IS UP 5.5%. AGAIN, AS WE SAID BEFORE, ALL FORECASTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON ACTUAL PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES.

I WILL NOTE, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS FOR SUPPORT OF THE 4.25% FOR FISCAL YEAR '25, WHICH WOULD BE EFFECTIVE ON THE CALENDAR NEXT FEBRUARY 1ST.

SO JUST TO WRAP UP A FEW POINTS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT SINCE OUR LAST RATE REQUEST WE'VE DELIVERED ON A LOT OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AT CITY COUNCIL AND WITH OUR BOARD. AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO STRIVE TO BE TRANSPARENT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT THE CUSTOMERS HAVE ASKED US TO DO. WE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE GENERATION PLAN IN A VERY PUBLIC FASHION.

WE ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION AROUND RATE DESIGN AS WELL AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE COMMUNITY INPUT ON THOSE TOPICS.

PROJECTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT NEVERTHELESS WE BELIEVE THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR YOUR ASSET, FOR OUR ASSET, CPS ENERGY. AND I'LL NOTE, AS I SAID A SECOND AGO, WE CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WHERE WE CAN AND WE CONTINUE TO REMAIN OPEN TO ANY INPUT IN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY ON HOW WE CAN HELP. SO, WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL CLOSE MY COMMENTS. AGAIN, THANK YOU AND THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR TIME AND WE

REMAIN OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CORY, RUDY, AND BEN FOR THE PRESENTATION. BEFORE WE GET INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION, WE DO HAVE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO I'LL CALL FOLKS IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP. INDIVIDUALS HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GROUPS HAVE UP TO NINE. SO WE'LL CALL FIRST TERRY BURNS.

MR. BURNS, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS DR. TERRY BURNS, PAST CHAIR OF THE ALAMO SIERRA CLUB. MY COLLEAGUE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.

AND WE OPPOSE THE RATE INCREASE, NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED THE MONEY BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T MET PREVIOUS PROMISES. SO TWO YEARS AND $50 MILLION

[01:20:03]

NUMBER FOUR, CREATE AND DO REAL REFORM AND RESTRUCTURING OF OUR RATES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. BECAUSE WE KNOW AS I'VE JUST PASSED OUT FROM PREVIOUS SAWS RAC COMMITTEE, CONSULTANT AN EXPERT IN WATER RATES BUT IT APPLIES EQUALLY WITH ELECTRICITY HERE, BAD RATES CAUSE A LOT OF BURDEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THE HUGE NUMBERS OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS CPS IS DEALING WITH. THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE RATE STRUCTURE TO GET AWAY FROM MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS, THOUGH STILL -- AND I APPLAUD THEIR EXPANSION OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, BUT ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, BAND-AIDS TO BAD RATE PROBLEMS. SO PLEASE IN YOUR VOTE TODAY INSIST THAT THESE FOUR ELEMENTSBSOLUTELY BEGUN IN JANUARY AND MOVING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS SO WHEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER DECISION IN TWO YEARS, THERE WILL BE GOOD RATE RESTRUCTURING DONE AT THAT TIME.

AND I DON'T SEE HERE MENTION OF BEN GORZELL'S ANTI-DEMOCRATIC IDEA OF HAVING YOU VOTE TODAY ON RATE OF INCREASES TWO YEARS FROM NOW STEALING THE RIGHT FROM FUTURE COUNCILMEMBERS AND FUTURE RATEPAYERS TO GIVE INPUT ON THIS IMPORTANT DECISION. I'M GLAD THAT WON'T HAPPEN AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. BURNS. JOE -- I'M SORRY, JACK FINGER. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JOE RAZARI.

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

FOR THE ROARED RECORD MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YOU SAY IT'S JUST A RATE INCREASE. IF THE RATES THAT YOU RAISE FOR US ON THE RATEPAYERS GOES INTO THE CITY TREASURY, THAT'S A TAX INCREASE. WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS TAX INCREASE GOING TO DO HERE? WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE BASICS HERE.

CPS, CITY PUBLIC SERVICE, OUR UTILITY HAS A $3 BILLION BUDGET.

3 BILLION. TWICE AS MUCH AT OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY -- CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET. SO WHAT'S IT GOING TO DO HERE? YOU WANT TO -- WE ALREADY WHAT ARE WE GETTING FROM CITY PUBLIC SERVICE, THE -- $421 MILLION IN REBATES FROM THE 14% CPS BUDGET. THAT'S WHAT WE GET EVERY YEAR. PLUS THE $20 MILLION WINDFALL THAT WE HAVE FROM THIS SUMMER. WHAT DOES THAT ADD UP TO? 441 MILLION, MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS ALREADY GOING TO OUR CITY TREASURY FROM US THE RATEPAYERS.

AND YOU STILL NEED 85 MILLION MORE FROM US? TO WE SAY A RESOUNDING NO.

NO. NO, DON'T DO THIS. WHY? IT'S STUPID. YES. WHY IS IT STUPID? WHAT'S IT GOING FOR? YOU SAY YOU NEED TO RETIRE THE DEALEY PLANTS.

WE UNDERSTAND IT HAD GOOD 20 MORE YEARS OF SERVICE IN IT. FOR WHAT?

[01:25:07]

WHAT WAS NEEDED TO GET THEM GOING? FOSSIL FUELS, OIL.

YES. AND PENSION PLANS, WELL, EXCUSE ME, ALL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN THE BUDGET ALREADY. IT SHOWS MISMANAGEMENT ON BOTH THE CPS'S SIDE AND YOUR SIDE FOR TAKING ALL THIS MONEY.

AND YOU WANT TO GET -- ANOTHER 4% AND 2027 AND ANOTHER 5%.

WHY ARE YOU NICKEL AND DIMING US LIKE THIS? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, MR. FINGER. JOE IZARRI. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND COUNCILMEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE CPS ENERGY RATE INCREASE PROPOSAL.

I'M JOE RAZARI AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER FOR RABBA RABBA KISSNER AND IT'S ON THE CHAMBER'S BEHALF I SPEAK TODAY. BEFORE THANKSGIVING WE SENT YOU A LETTER OF OUR SUPPORT FOR THE 4.25% INCREASE PROPOSED.

AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THIS POSITION AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL TODAY. CPS ENERGY REMAINS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR ENERGY AFORD BUILT AND RELIABILITY SET US APART FROM OUR COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS.

OUR WHEREIN APPS EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH COULD OVERWHELM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IF WE FAIL TO PREPARE. INVESTING IN RESILIENCY, TECHNOLOGY, SECURITY AND TALENT HELPS SAFEGUARD THIS ASSET AND OUR ECONOMIC VITALITY.

AS STATED IN OUR LETTER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT CPS REMAINS A GOOD STEWARD OF OUR TRUST.

THE PROPOSED INCREASE IS LESS THAN ORIGINALLY PROJECTED, ENERGY BILLS WILL REMAIN AMONG THE MOST AFFORDABLE IN TEXAS. AS BUSINESS LEADERS, OUR MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THAT ECONOMIC SUCCESS REQUIRES HARD DECISIONS.

SUCCESS ALSO REQUIRES US TO INVEST AND PROTECT IN OUR STRENGTHS.

AND MOST CERTAINLY FOR THIS COMMUNITY OUR POWER INFRASTRUCTURE IS A STRENGTH AND AN ASSET. CPS LEADERSHIP HAS DONE ITS DUE DILIGENCE WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AND MUST CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS REGION'S GROWING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS. FOR THESE REASONS WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF CPS ENERGY'S PROPOSED INCREASE. WE THANK YOU CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S COUNCIL AND MAYOR, WE THANK THE BOARD OF CPS ENERGY AND TO RUDY GARZA AND HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR THE SERVICE YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE NORTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER APPRECIATES YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND APPRECIATES WEIGHING IN ON THIS MANNER

TODAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

DEANNA LOPEZ. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BETTY ECKHERT.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M GOING TO START MY FIRST 30 SECONDS, THE MOVEMENT TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE HAVE BASIC NEEDS IS INTERNATIONAL AND SO I WANT TO TAKE THESE FIRST 30 SECONDS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE.

NECESSITIES. WE CALL FOR ALIGNMENT AND CEASEFIRE AND ENDING FRIENDSHIP WITH CITY STATUS WITH TEL AVIV. WITH THAT, YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED ALMOST 2,000 POSTCARDS COLLECTIVELY IF NOT MANY MORE CALLS, REQUESTS AND CONVERSATIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITY. Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THE RATES WILL BE HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY.

[01:30:04]

♪ YOU BETTER WATCH OUT, YOU BETTER NOT CRY, YOU BETTER NOT POUT I'M TELLING YOU WHY ♪ CPS IS RAISING YOUR RATES ♪ THEY ARE MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE, GOING TO FIND WHO IS NOT PAYING ON THEIR LIGHTS. THEY WILL CHARGE YOU WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING AND WHEN AWAKE, THEY WILL ONLY GIVE A BREAK TO LARGEST BUSINESSES ♪ ♪ YOU BETTER WATCH OUT, BETTER NOT POUT I'M TELLING YOU WHY, CPS IS RAISING YOUR RATES ♪ ♪ CPS IS RAISING YOUR RATES, CPS IS RAISING YOUR RATES ♪ HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAYS. I'M NOT A GOOD SINGER BUT I LOVE TO SING AND LOVE JINGLES. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND VOTE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RATES. YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF OUR STATEMENTS BEFORE SUE THIS IS A MORE CREATIVE AND FESTIVE VERSION TO SHARE OUR

STATEMENTS. THANK YOU ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU. BETTY ECKHERT. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND ERIK WALSH AND ALL OF YOU INVOLVED IN A BIG DECISION TODAY. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BACK AND WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. THE PROGRAMS THAT CPS IS OFFERING TO HELP PEOPLE IS NOT WORKING. WHEN PEOPLE ARE TREATED LIKE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS TO GO AND GET THE HELP BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OVERPRICED UTILITY BILL ALREADY.

I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU TO GO BACK AND -- BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO KNOW ALL OF THAT.

AND I'M AWARE OF THAT. I SPENT HOURS ON IT. I CALLED YESTERDAY -- I FOUND OUT YOU COULD GO TO ZARZAMORA STREET TO GET HELP WITH YOUR BILL.

REALLY? AND STAFF IS WAITING FOR YOU.

HOW MANY IN SAN ANTONIO KNOW THAT THERE'S A BUILDING ON ZARZAMORA THAT YOU CAN GO TO IF YOU HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO TO GET HELP WITH A BILL? I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER CPS NEEDS TO BE LOWERED, NOT RAISED HIGHER.

THE NEXT YOU WILL BE ASKING FOR RAISES FOR CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF.

WHY? BECAUSE YOU NEED THE MONEY. JUST LIKE THE REST OF SAN ANTONIO. WE MADE NUMBER 3 IN THE UNITED STATES, IN SAN ANTONIO, WITH FOOD INSECURITY. YOU CAN TALK TO ERIC COOPER.

HE CAN TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. IT'S NOT ENOUGH SO PEOPLE ARE DOING WITHOUT FOOD TO DO WHAT? TO PAY A UTILITY BILL.

THEY HAVE TO. BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T PAY A UTILITY BILL, THEY WON'T HAVE LIGHTS. THE NEXT THING YOU WON'T HAVE GOING AGAINST SOME OF OUR CODES AND THEY WILL BE OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AND WILL BE HOMELESS.

I HOPE THAT I HAVEN'T COME DOWN HERE AND MADE A CLOUD OVER THE COUNCIL AFTER ALL THIS ACCOLADES THAT I SAW YOU PRESENT, ALL THESE MANY PEOPLE THAT DO SO MUCH IN SAN ANTONIO, THANKS TO ALL OF THEM. IT'S APPRECIATED.

THERE'S MORE OF US THAT DO A LOT OF THINGS TOO, MAYOR, AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE THEM. YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY DO.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T KNOW. AND THEY DON'T KNOW THESE PROGRAMS. AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CPS.

I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'LL RECONSIDER. DON'T VOTE ON IT TODAY.

[01:35:05]

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU.

AND THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD PRESENT TO ISSUE TO SAN ANTONIO.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. ECKHERT. MR. AROGO.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS AARON, SAN ANTONIO ORGANIZER AT MOVE TEXAS AND I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED 4.25% RATE INCREASE BEING PROPOSED BY CPS ENERGY. WE SHOULD NOT RAISE RESIDENTIAL RATES WITHOUT EQUITABLE RATE REFORM AND THE HIRING OF A CONSUMER ADVOCATE TO PROTECT US DURING THE RATE INCREASE PROCESS.

THE RATE STRUCTURE SYSTEM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS WHICH BENEFITS THE HIGHEST ENERGY USERS WHO PAY LESS ON THE DOLLAR FOR THEIR ENERGY THAT MANY RESIDENTIAL USERS IS DEEPLY INEQUITABLE AND DEEPLY OVERDUE FOR REFORM. I KNOW I'VE SPOKEN TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE. I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING NEW THIS TIME AROUND.

BUT THE FACT REMAINS THIS IS A DIFFICULT -- CREATES DIFFICULTIES FOR FAMILIES.

I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT HOW I'VE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF TURNING MY LIGHTS OFF AND IT'S A HELPLESS FEELING IN A CITY WITH AS WIDE A WEALTH GAP AS US, WITH SO MANY CUSTOMERS ALREADY BEHIND ON BILLS AND PAYMENT PLANS. WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT FURTHER INEQUALITY AND THIS RATE WOULD SERVE TO ACCOMPLISH THE OPPOSITE. NOW RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE WITH NO MEANINGFUL RATE STRUCTURE REFORM, NO CURRENT RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND NO CONSUMER ADVOCATE. I'M URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS RATE INCREASE. NO RATE HIKES WITHOUT REFORM.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: PETER ONOFRRI, FOLLOWED BY JEFF

WEBSTER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM PETER ONOFRRI. I HAD SERVED THE -- I'VE SERVED DISTRICT 4 AS REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CPS RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA ENTRUSTING ME WITH THAT APPOINTMENT.

IT ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE RECENT WORKING GROUP.

RARELY ON MY TIME ON THE RAC I DECIDED TO -- MINIMIZE IMPACT OF IMPENDING RATE INCREASES AND EXTREME WEATHER ON OUR MOST VULNERABLE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE MUC AND SUPPORT OF A PROPOSED STEP LMI WORKING GROUP. AND I WANT TO THANK RUDY GARZA FOR ACTUALLY CREATING A CPS WORKING GROUP TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW STEP PROGRAM OVER THE PAST YEAR. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF THAT HAS WORKED WITH US ACROSS THE BOARD AT ALL THESE LEVELS.

AFTER REVIEWING THE RATE REQUEST THROUGH THE WORKING GROUP OR WITH THE WORKING GROUP, I SUPPORT THE RATE INCREASE WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE. I PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATION TO THE CPS BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY. I RECOMMEND DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC RESILIENCY PLAN TO INCREASE RESILIENCY IMPACT ON LOW-TO-MODERATE CUSTOMERS. THE STRATEGIC PLAN WOULD FOCUS ON A HOLISTIC APPROACH OF INCORPORATING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WEATHERIZATION, HOUSING STOCK, SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RESILIENCY IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. IT WOULD ENHANCE THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY BY STRATEGIC LICK UTILIZING AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO BUILD CAPACITY OF TRUSTED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IS CAPACITY BUILDING OF CBOS TO PROVIDE RESILIENCY AND A HALF GREATERS THAT WOULD NAVIGATE RESIDENTS THROUGH AVAILABLE RESOURCES. MAYOR, I BELIEVE THIS WORK WITH TRULY LEVERAGE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND IRA FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES BY STRATEGICALLY PRIORITIZING THE MOST VULNERABLE AND BUILD ON THE GREAT WORK CPS AND CITY HAVE DONE AND CREATE A BLUEPRINT FOR RESILIENCY SIMILAR TO THE SHIP. WE ALL KNOW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS CRITICAL TO SUCCESS OF ANY PLAN. WE'VE BEGUN THE WORK OF

[01:40:02]

WE'RE NOT ASKING OR LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE EMPOWERED, TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS WORK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU. JEFF WEBSTER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS JEFF WEBSTER. I'M THE FIFTH DAY ON THE JOB CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I WANT TO SAY IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE BACK IN THIS ROOM WITH TODAY. THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFICULT. I DO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ONE TIME SITTING ON THIS DAIS AND HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS SO I UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO ALWAYS EVALUATE RATE INCREASES ON OUR CITIZENS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

IT'S DIFFICULT. THERE'S NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.

WE WOULD ALL PREFER NOT TO HAVE INCREASES. BUT OUR CHAMBER, OUR BOARD OF INVESTORS, OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, PUBLIC POLICY ALL LOOKED AT THIS AND THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER SUPPORTS THE RATE INCREASE NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO PAY MORE BUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE BELIEVE IN RESILIENCY.

I BELIEVE IN BEING WARM ON A COLD DAY AND COOL ON VERY HOT DAYS WE HAD.

I ALSO BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR ABILITY IN THE FUTURE TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND RETAIN BUSINESSES. I UNDERSTAND HOW COMPLICATED THIS DECISION IS AND SO I THANK YOU FOR TAKING TRUE DELIBERATION ON WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO CONSIDER. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE SECOND RATE INCREASE, MAYOR, AND I HAD SHARED WITH DIFFERENT COUNCILMEMBERS THE IDEA OF YOU CAN SET A RATE AND WE CAN SAY NOT TO EXCEED OR WHATEVER, BUT I BELIEVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON THIS COUNCIL AND OUR FRIENDS AT CPS OR SAWS WHEN IT'S THEIR TIME TO ALWAYS DO WHAT THEY CAN TO EVALUATE OUR OWN BUDGETS WITH EACH ORGANIZATION TO FIND WAYS TO CUT COSTS, TO MINIMIZE THOSE RATES.

AND I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THIS COUNCIL DOES AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO FIND WAYS TO REDUCE EXPENDITURES AND OTHER COSTS SO WE CAN TAKE THESE RATE INCREASES DOWN TO AFFECT BOTH FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES.

MANAGING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER SUPPORTS THIS INCREASE.

WE THINK IT'S NEEDED. WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH RUDY AND HIS STAFF SO WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT. IF I CAN HAVE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, MR. MAYOR, I'D TYKE TO SAY TWO THINGS. I APPLAUD YOU FOR THE PEOPLE YOU RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATED HERE TODAY AS YOU DID CEREMONIAL.

SOME AMAZING CITIZENS IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO DO THAT. ALL GREAT STORIES, GREAT HISTORIES, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO REACH OUT TO YOU ON THE CAMPAIGN YOU ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THAT GROUP TO MAKE SURE THERE'S APPROPRIATE MESSAGING COMING FROM OUR ORGANIZATION. YOU GUYS GET A LOT OF EMAILS AND THINGS WE SEND OUT, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP COORDINATE AND MAKE SURE OUR MEMBERSHIP UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO PLEASE HAVE WHOEVER IS APPROPRIATE REACH OUT TO ME AND WE WILL WORK WITH YOU IN SUPPORTING THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THIS CITY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND I'M NOT

GOING TO SING YOU A SONG, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WEBSTER. DEBRA PONCE. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

SELENE GARCIA. >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS DEBRA PONCE WITH PUBLIC CITIZEN, CLIMATE JUSTICE ADVOCATE FOR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OR ORGANIZER. I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE NO DOUBT THIS PROPOSED RATE INCREASE WILL DAMAGE THE FINANCIAL WELLNESS OF FAMILIES, BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS ALL OVER THE CITY. AND I'M ASKING THIS GROUP TO SLOW DOWN AND DECIDE IF EVERY OPTION HAS BEEN TRULY CONSIDERED.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR OUR LEADERS TO TAKE A SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH LOOK AT THIS PACKAGED RATE REQUEST FROM CPS ENERGY. THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TODAY. IS THERE A RULE THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE PACKAGE AS A WHOLE AND AS IT'S PRESENTED. WE ALL WANT CPS ENERGY TO GET THEIR COMPUTERS REPLACED. NONE OF US WANT CPS ENERGY EMPLOYEES DEALING WITH 2002 WINDOWS COMPUTERS, BUT LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS SITUATION. COMPUTER REPLACEMENTS ARE ONE-TIME EXPENSES, AND THIS RATE INCREASE IS INDEFINITE. WE WILL PAY FOR THIS INCREASE, OUR KIDS WILL PAY FOR THIS INCREASE AND OUR GRANDKIDS. WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THE 2024 CPS COMPUTER REPLACEMENT TILL INFINITY. AND IN FOUR TO FIVE YEARS ANOTHER CPS ENERGY BOARD AND STAFF WILL BE HERE REQUESTING ANOTHER BASE RATE

[01:45:06]

CYBERSECURITY ALSO VERY LOGICAL, ONGOING EXPENSE. THERE ARE ONE-TIME EXPENSES ALL OVER THIS PACKAGE RATE REQUEST. BUT WE'RE ONLY GIVEN A FEW WEEKS TO REVIEW IT. AND THEN MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL IMPACT SAN ANTONIANS INDEFINITELY. CAN YOU USE YOUR POWER TO PULL ITEMS OUT OF THIS PACKAGE REQUEST? CAN YOU ASK FOR MORE TIME TO REVIEW IDEA OR ONE LIKE IT AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FUND THIS UPGRADE OF COMPUTERS IN 2024, MAKING SURE OUR HARD-WORKING CPS ENERGY EMPLOYEES CAN STILL GET THE COMPUTER UPGRADES THEY DESERVE? CAN WE ASK IN THEIR BOOKS FOR REGULAR UPGRADES ON COMPUTERS, ON EQUIPMENT LIKE COMPUTERS? CAN THAT BE REQUIRED NOW SO THAT IN FIVE YEARS WE'RE NOT UP HERE BATTLING OUR OWN CONSCIOUS ABOUT RAISING THE BASE RATE FOR COMMUNITY? BECAUSE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES, SAN ANTONIO PAYS SO MUCH LESS. WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT FACT AND CONTINUE THIS AND BE LEADERS IN OUR STATE FOR THAT.

EACH OF YOU REPRESENTS US. YOUR ELECTED DUTY IS TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT OF YOUR OWN WILL. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT 100% AGREE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, IT'S YOUR DUTY TO VOTE HOW THE MAJORITY OF YOUR VOTERS ASK. AND TODAY I ASK YOU TO PLEASE DON'T STAND UP THERE AND SAY I KNOW NOBODY WANTS THIS RATE INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH

DECISIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. PONCE.

CELENE GARCIA. FOLLOWED BY MARTIN GUTIERREZ.

>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING.

SOUTHWEST WORKERS UNION WE'VE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS, ME PERSONALLY, KNOCKING ON DOORS TALKING TO PEOPLE AND I WAS ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT WAS FILLING OUT THE POSTCARDS THAT WERE SENT OUT TO YOU. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY HAD SIMILAR HANDWRITING, BUT IT WAS JUST INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT IN.

BUT TODAY I ALSO WANTED IMPACT VERY REAL PEOPLE AND THAT IT WILL IMPACT HEAVILY ON THE MOST VULNERABLE.

THE FIRST ONE SAYS STOP THE GREED. WE PAY ENOUGH AND WE'RE TIRED. DO YOUR JOB OR YOU WILL BE VOTED OUT BY NICOLE MARTINEZ. WE HAVE TO GIVE UP ON CERTAIN THINGS TO MAKE SURE POWER DOESN'T GET DISCONNECTED BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE TO HAVE IT RECONNECTED. WE'RE ON A BUDGET. STOP RAISING THE RATES BY MARIA VASQUEZ. STOP RAISING RATES WITHOUT THE PEOPLE'S CONSENT, ESPECIALLY BY PEOPLE ALREADY CONSERVING ENERGY. AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, A PRICE INCREASE FOR CPS IS NOT DOABLE ON OUR INCOME DECREASES.

PLEASE CONSIDER BY ANTHONY. DEAR FILL LIST VIAGRAN, WE ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO GET BY ESPECIALLY WITH THE WAY -- PLEASE DON'T RAISE PRICES BY ANGELA.

NO PRICE INCREASES. WE ARE ON A PAYMENT PLAN ALREADY.

NO INCREASE, I'M ON A FIXED INCOME. WE'RE ON A FIXED INCOME AND THIS INCREASE WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR FAMILY BY ROSE ROSEMARY.

MY BILL IS ALWAYS SO HIGH NO MATTER WHAT I DO. HISTORICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES HAVE FAILED TO KEEP PROMISES. I WORK THREE JOBS AND HAD TO CALL CPS YESTERDAY FOR A PAYMENT PLAN. THEY SHOULD BE PUTTING PROFITS INTO OUR STRUGGLING COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND OF ASKING MORE BY RAUL SANCHEZ.

MY MOM IS IN HOSPICE AND CPS --E GOTTEN HIGHER. AT NO TIME WE HAVE -- SORRY, THE HANDWRITING IS REALLY BAD ON THIS ONE. WE'RE ON A FIXED INCOME BY DAVID AND CINDY GONZALES. I'M ALREADY STRUGGLING MAKING CPS PAYMENTS NOW.

AND THEN THERE'S ONE SPECIFICALLY THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH CPS BECAUSE I HAD TO MAKE A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.

ONE PERSON IN THE HOUSEHOLD IS DISABLED AND IN A HOSPITAL BED.

[01:50:04]

PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT HARDER AND RAISE THE RATES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. MARTIN GUTIERREZ. YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY

MEREDITH MCGUIRE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WE ARE COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 900 MEMBERS, MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE SMALL LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS RATE INCREASE. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE BALANCES THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS CPS ENERGY MUST MAKE TO REMAIN FINANCIALLY STRONG WHILE MAINTAINING SOME OF THE LOWEST UTILITY RATES IN TEXAS.

NOT ONE OF OUR MEMBERS LIKES RATE INCREASES, BUT THEY DO LIKE AND WANT AFFORDABLE POWER THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR CONTINUITY OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS.

THIS RATE INCREASE IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE CPS ENERGY CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPLY AFFORDABLE PROVIDE AND DRIVE JOB GROWTH IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS POST-PANDEMIC ERA. THIS WILL BE ANOTHER CHALLENGE WHICH WILL IMPACT THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND FOR SOME RESULT IN INCREASED OPERATIONAL COSTS.

WE IMPLORE CITY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO HAVE EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REDUCING THE CITY'S 14% OF GROSS REVENUE PAYMENTS FROM CPS ENERGY WHILE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING CITY SERVICES. WE UNDERSTAND THIS WON'T DIRECTLY LEAD TO REDUCED RATES, BUT IT MAY LOWER THE AMOUNTS OF FUTURE RATE INCREASE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY ALLOW CPS TO REINVEST MONEY IN OPERATIONS WHICH WOULD SUPPORT CPS ENERGY AND RESILIENCY, RELIABILITY, TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY PROJECTS AND REINVESTMENT IN FUNDS WILL RETURN EVEN MORE BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WITH THESE CONSIDERATIONS, THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE CPS ENERGY PROPOSED RATE INCREASE OF 4.25%. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. GUTIERREZ. MEREDITH MCGUIRE.

VASIMA ABUSAD. >> BEFORE WE GIVE OUR STATEMENT, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO HONOR THOSE 20,000 AND MORE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED IN PALESTINE BY ISRAEL'S MILITARY FORCES. WE ARE HERE AS SAN ANTONIO JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE AND MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING RELENTLESSLY FOR CLIMATE DEMOCRACY IN OUR CITY.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THIS CURRENT RATE HIKE AND PRIORITIZE THEIR CONSTITUENTS OVER BUSINESSES. THE CURRENT STRUCTURE BENEFITS CURRENTLY HIGH ENERGY USERS INCLUDING DEFENSE CONTRACTORS LIKE BOEING, LOCKHEED MARTIN.

AT THE EXPENSE OF RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS. CPS PROVISIONS SUBSIDIZED RATES TO THESE BUSINESSES ENCOURAGING THEM TO OPERATE IN SAN ANTONIO WHILE THEY PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. ONE OF THE WEAPONS ARE THE DISCRIMINATE CONTROL OF INFRASTRUCTURE. AT ANY MOMENT ISRAEL CAN DECIDE TO SHUT OFF TELECOMMUNICATIONS FORCING PALESTINIANS TO ENDURE THEIR GENERAL SIDE IN BLACKNESS, EVEN PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7TH ISRAEL COULD MAKE THE EDUCATION TO PROVIDE ONLY EIGHT HOURS OF ELECTRICITY PER DAY TO DOZENS.

PALESTINIANS CANNOT KEEP FRESH FOOD IN THE FRIDGE WITHOUT CONSISTENT ACCESSION TO ELECTRICITY. PALESTINIAN STUDENTS CAN'T FOCUS ON THEIR KEGS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU MUST STAY ON TOPIC. >> CANNOT BE GUARANTEED --

>> PEOPLE IN PALESTINE CANNOT LIVE FULL LIVES WITHOUT CONSISTENT ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY AND NEITHER CAN PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO STRUGGLING TO PAIR THEIR BILLS. FROM SAN ANTONIO TO PALESTINE WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY STRUGGLE FOR CONTINUED ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY AND SAN ANTONIO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE NO ON THIS PROPOSED RATE INCREASE.

THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND YEAR AND SECOND RATE HIKE IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS IN

[01:55:01]

VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED RATE HIKE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THIS -- EXCUSE ME, THIS MORNING ON ITEM 4 SO WE'LL GET INTO DISCUSSION.

LET ME START AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION.

FIRST, THANK YOU TO CPS ENERGY STAFF AND LEADERSHIP. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, CHAIR GONZALES ALONG WITH VICE CHAIR ROMERO WHO ARE HERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE IN A VACUUM NOR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. CPS ENERGY IS AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY ASSET OWNED BY THE PUBLIC AND WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN IT.

OUR JOB IS TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AFFORDABLY AND RESILIENTLY.

THIS IS NOTHING THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY AND NOBODY EVER DELIGHTS IN RAISING RATES.

BUT TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND, TO ALSO BRING ON AND MEET DEMANDS OF CAPACITY INCREASES, SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE, WE MUST GALVANIZE AGAINST FUTURE CYBER THREATS AND BRING INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE 21ST SEDGERY.

THIS IS A RELATIVE RATE INCREASE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY SAN ANTONIANS WILL STILL ENVOY ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES IN THE COUNTRY. IT IS A GOAL AND OUTCOME AND ONE WE ARE ACHIEVING WITH THIS ACTION TODAY. IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN OUR UTILITIES SO IT CAN BE MODERNIZED, BETTER EQUIPPED AND PREPARED TO MEET DEMANDS AND NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS. WITH THAT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER 4.

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE, MAYOR. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4. WE'LL GO NOW INTO DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU. MY MAIN CONCERN WAS CPS'S PROPOSED RATE INCREASE HAS BEEN REGARDING THE IMPACT ON OUR FINANCIALLY INSECURE RESIDENTS.

I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS ON OUR OLDER ADULTS ON A FIXED INCOME. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SINGLE MOTHER RAISING THREE CHILDREN OR OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS IN A CITY THAT RELIES ON TOURISM WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I DO GET CONCERNED IF WE DON'T INIES THE RESILIENCY NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE EXPERIENCE ANOTHER EVENT LIKE WINTER STORM URI OR WHAT HAPPENS IF SAN ANTONIO HAS AN ICE STORM SIMILAR TO AUSTIN. THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS -- HOLD ON A SECOND. THOUSANDS OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS WERE LEFT WITHOUT POWER. SCHOOLS WERE SHUT DOWN. LIVES WERE DISRUPTED AND 'EM FOLKS MISSED OUT ON EARNING WAGES DUE TO AN INFRASTRUCTURE NOT READY TO HANDLE THESE WEATHER HE LENGTHS.

OVERBURDENED BY THESE RATE INCREASES. WITH THAT I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR RUDY AND CPS TEAM. HOW MANY FOLKS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AFFORDABLE DISCOUNT PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS ADP?

>> COUNCILWOMAN, CURRENTLY WE HAVE 65,000 CUSTOMERS ENROLLED.

>> GAVITO: HOW MANY RESIDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE? >> APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

>> GAVITO: SO IF 65,000 ARE ENROLLED, BUT 140,000 QUALIFY, THERE ARE ABOUT 70,000 RESIDENTS MISSING OUT ON THESE PROGRAMS WHICH COULD SAVE THEM HUNDREDS OF

DOLLARS A YEAR. >> CORRECT. THE INCREASE WE ESTIMATED

ANOTHER 15,000 FOLKS ON TOP OF THAT. >> GAVITO: SO MOVING ON, AM I CORRECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT RESIDENTS RECEIVING ADP WOULD NOW HAVE A NEW EXPANDED DISCOUNT KICK-IN WHICH WOULD TOTAL A 2.22 CENTS DISCOUNT FOR

COMBINED GAS AND ELECTRICITY PER MONTH? >> YES, AND THE TOTAL WOULD BE $18. IT GOES FROM 16 TO THAT 18 AMOUNT.

>> GAVITO: AND THE PROPOSED -- WITH THE DISCOUNT OF 2 CONTINUE .22 DOLL,

[02:00:02]

THEY WOULD SEE OVERALL INCREASE CUT IN HALF. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU. >> GAVITO: I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO RAISE THE -- FOR ADP AND REAP. FROM OUR EARLIER DISCUSSIONS LAST WEEK, ONLY RESIDENTS WHO MAKE 125% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ADPA SINGLE MOTHER RAISING THREE KIDS AND EARNING $3,500 A YEAR BEFORE TAXES PRESENTLY WOULD NOT

QUALIFY. >> RIGHT. >> GAVITO: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING THE QUALIFICATION TO INCLUDE RESIDENTS LIKE THOSE WHO

MAKE 150% OR BELOW OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE? >> COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN HAVING HERE FOR A FEW WEEKS. WE'VE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. THAT'S A CPS ENERGY RESPONSIBILITY.

OUR BOARD HAS HEARD YOU AS WELL AND IN OUR CONVERSATION MONDAY OUR BOARD WAS CLEAR THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN US GOING DOWN THAT ROAD. WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH ADP AND THE REAP FUND TO ENSURE THAT WE MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF PARTICIPATION THAT WE CAN GET.

>> GAVITO: OKAY. YEAH, AND THE REASON I'M PUSHING ON THAT IS BECAUSE A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME OF $1,600 PER MONTH SHOULD BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE IN OUR PRESENT ECONOMY. SO IN CONCLUSION, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO AND SEE WORKED ON ARE TWO THINGS. FIRST, FOR CPS TO MAKE A PLAN TO ENROLL MORE ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS INTO THE CPS'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND SECONDLY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE AFFORDABLE DISCOUNT PROGRAM AND REAP TO 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES TO INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE RESIDENTS TO QUALIFY.

ERIK AND BEN, IS THAT SOMETHING CITY STAFF CAN ASSIST CPS WITH ON AS

NEEDED? >> WALSH: YES, MA'AM, IT IS.

AND WE CAN SCHEDULE ACCORD INGLY WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF 2024 TO COME BACK

TO COUNCIL. >> GAVITO: OKAY. AND RUDY, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO HEAR BACK FROM CPS ON RAISING THE RATES? IDEALLY I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT READY TO GO BEFORE THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE GOES INTO EFFECT FEBRUARY 1ST.

>> AS THE RATE INCREASE GOES INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 1, THE POOL WOULD INCREASE AT THAT POINT. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES US PROBABLY A GOOD YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF TO FILL UP ALL THOSE SLOTS. WE'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY GETTING PEOPLE SIGNED UP. SO THAT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, WE'LL GET THAT WORKED ON, GET A MEMO TO OUR BOARD AND SHARE THAT WITH YOU SO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT. BUT WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND

CLEAR. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK CPS FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH ME ON THIS. WITH THESE NEW PARAMETERS FOR ELIGIBILITY, WE COULD POTENTIALLY ASSIST AN ADDITIONAL 35,000 RESIDENTS FOR A TOTAL OF 180,000 RESIDENTS AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THIS RATE INCREASE.

IT SHOWS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND FINANCIALLY INSECURE RESIDENTS WHILE ALSO ENSURING OUR CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS RELIABLE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK ALL OF US WOULD SAY NONE OF US ARE SECURE OR SAFE WITHOUT ENERGY. AND SO THIS IS A KEY ASPECT OF A CITY GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY WHEN WE ARE THE OWNER OF AN ENERGY COMPANY LIKE CPS ENERGY. I HAVE ONE QUESTION, RUDY. A QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ME RECENTLY AND I WANT TO ASK YOU, WILL THIS INCREASE BE USED TO FUND ANY STAFF

BONUSES? >> NO, SIR. >> COURAGE: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITICISMS WE HEAR.

I ALWAYS CAREFULLY CONSIDER EVERY PROPOSED CPS ENERGY RATE ADJUSTMENT, AND IT'S BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY DEMONSTRATED TO ME THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR 4.25 RATE INCREASE IS IMMEDIATELY NEEDED TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED ADEQUATE, EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE ENERGY DELIVERY TO EVER HOUSEHOLD AND BUSINESS IN THE CPS ENERGY SYSTEM. THAT IS WHY I WILL SUPPORT IT.

I THINK SOMETHING WORTH NOTING IS WE'RE LOOKING AT AN AVERAGE $4.50 PER MONTH INCREASE, AS STATED BY CPS ENERGY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT IS LESS THAN 15 CENTS A DAY TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT AND,

[02:05:10]

SUPPORT THIS RATE INCREASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CPS, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

BEN, YOU AS WELL. LOOK, EVERY WEEK WE ALL SIT UP HERE AND 90% OF WHAT WE DO IS BASICALLY ADMINISTRATIVE. THE CONSENT AGENDA DOMINATES THE DAY. WE CHECK THE BOX, DO THE NUTS AND BOLTS AND MOVE ON.

10% OF THE TIME OR JUST UNDER 10% OF THE TIME WE ACTUALLY HAVE A REAL, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANTIVE YES OR NO VOTE. AND WE HAVE TO CHOOSE, IT'S EITHER YES OR IT'S NO. BUT EVERY SO OFTEN, AND MY GUESS FROM WATCHING CITY COUNCIL OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, EVERY SO OFTEN IT MIGHT HAVE TWO OR THREE TIMES DURING DURING THE COURSE A COUNCILMEMBER'S TIME HERE, THERE'S A VOTE THAT YES OR NO AREN'T THE ONLY CHOICES. AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING SO IMPACTFUL WHERE YOU CAN DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR CITIZENS' LIVES FOR THE BETTER WHILE ALSO CHANGING THE COURSE OF HOW WE DO BUSINESS HERE AT CITY HALL FOR THE BETTER.

AND TODAY THIS VOTE IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY IS HARD. IT MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT MAKES PEOPLE NERVOUS. BUT TO GET THROUGH IT, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER WHO PUT US HERE AND WHAT OUR JOB IS. AND THAT'S TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO AND IT'S TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE TOUGH PROBLEMS. RAISING RATES 4.25% ON THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO RIGHT NOW IS SIMPLY NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. OF ALL THE BIG CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE THE THIRD HIGHEST POVERTY LEVEL HERE. WAGES IN SAN ANTONIO ARE STAGNANT. OVER THE LAST YEAR, MAYOR, WAGES HERE ARE ONLY UP 2.4%, WHICH IS LESS THAN THE PROPOSED RATE HIKE. STATEWIDE WAGES ARE ACTUALLY UP 6.1%, AND NATIONALLY 4.2. WE'RE LAGGING BEHIND. THE HOURLY WAGE RATE IN SAN ANTONIO IS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BY 13%. INFLATION IS UP, MEANING PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE FOR GAS AND GROCERIES. INTEREST RATES ARE UP WHICH

[02:10:03]

AT THE MID-POINT OF 2023, WE HAD MORE THAN 1700 LAYOFFS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

ALREADY MORE THAN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF OUR PREVIOUS YEAR. AND FROM THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD 40% OF OUR BUSINESSES CLOSE, WHICH IS 6% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

CPS RATES -- WHILE WE ALWAYS BRAG ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE WAGE BEING EARNED BY A SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT AND YOU COMPARE THAT TO HOW MUCH THEY ARE PAYING FOR ENERGY, THE AVERAGE PERSON -- HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WE PAY THE THIRD HIGHEST. IN OTHER WORDS, SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE PAYING MORE OUT OF THEIR INCOME FOR ENERGY THAN EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE OTHER THAN TWO. YESTERDAY A LOT OF US DID BLUE SANTA, RIGHT, WHERE WE GOT TO VISIT HOMES IN OUR DISTRICTS AND PASS OUT GIFTS.

AND I WENT TO THE CARDENAS HOME, MOM AND TWO KIDS WERE THERE.

IT'S AN AAMAZING EVENT WHEN YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT. WE WENT IN AND GAVE THE PRESENTS AND THE CHILDREN WERE OPENING UP ALL FIVE OR SIX DOLLAR GIFTS AND YOU SAW THE JOY IN THEIR EYES AND WE BROUGHT DIAPERS AND OTHER NECESSITIES TO THE MOM AND SHE WAS TEARING UP AND I WAS TEARING UP. I SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT OVER AT CITY HALL TOO OFTEN WE FORGET ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE. IT ACTUALLY OFFENDS ME WHEN PEOPLE SAY THIS IS A SMALL RATE INCREASE. RIGHT? LET'S NOT FORGET THIS IS PART OF A PACKAGE. TWO YEARS AGO YOU VOTED ON A RATE INCREASE. IT RAISED EVERYBODY'S YEARLY BILL BY ABOUT $40.

THIS ONE IS GOING TO DO $50, AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON GOING WANT CPS HAS BEEN HONEST, THEY ARE COMING BACK TWO MORE TIMES. BY THE TIME WE GET DONE WITH FOUR RATE INCREASES, WE'VE RAISED EVERYBODY'S UTILITY BILL BY $200.

THAT'S REALLY MONEY TO PEOPLE. -- THAT'S REAL MONEY TO PEOPLE. BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT CPS, AS I'VE MENTIONED TO RUDY, NEEDS MONEY. AND EVERYBODY UP HERE ON THE DAIS HAS SAID THAT CPS AND THEIR LONG-TERM HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THIS COUNCIL.

WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, THIS -- WE'VE GOT THE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, RESPECTFULLY THAT'S NOT THE POINT. THE ONLY ISSUE THAT'S BEFORE THIS COUNCIL TODAY IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS MONEY THAT CPS NEEDS. THAT'S THE ISSUE.

AND SO IT'S NOT A YES OR NO QUESTION. IT'S ABOUT HOW DO WE DO IT.

AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME, MARC, YOU JUST GET UP THERE, VOTE NO AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.

BUT AS WE DISCUSSED JUST COMING UP HERE AND VOTING NO DOESN'T -- IT'S NOT PROVIDING A SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM. AND AGAIN, I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALL CHARGED WITH DOING IS COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.

SO I DON'T JUST WANT TO VOTE NO WITHOUT FIRST TRYING TO PRESENT A SOLUTION TO HOW WE CAN GET CPS THIS MONEY, BUT NOT PUT THE ENTIRE BURDEN ON THE BACKS OF OUR CITIZENS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS DISTRIBUTED A LETTER TO ALL OF US AND I WON'T READ IT VERBATIM, BUT HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE IS ALSO IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RATE INCREASE, AND,

[02:15:03]

SO I'M LEFT WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE DO SOMETHING, HOW CAN WE SHOW SAN~ANTONIO AND TEXAS AND REALLY THE WORLD WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE? HOW CAN WE STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE WHILE ALSO FINDING A SOLUTION FOR CPS? IT'S SO EASY JUST TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY HOW HARD THIS IS AND WE DON'T LIKE RATE INCREASES AND WE ALL CLICK THE LITTLE YES BUTTON ON OUR SCREENS AND GO ABOUT OUR DAY AND THAT'S IT. BUT DOING SOMETHING HARD IS OFTEN THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD AND IT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT, BUT THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON OUR SAN ANTONIO CITIZENS, COME UP WITH A COMPRISE PROPOSAL WHERE CUT THIS PROPOSED RATE INCREASE IN HALF AND THEN FUND THE REST OF WHAT CPS NEEDS THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS NEXT YEAR. AND I'VE TALKED WITH CITY STAFF AND THE 2025 GENERAL FUND BUDGET LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE 90 OR $100 MILLION MORE THAN THIS PAST YEAR. WE JUST NEED TO NOT GROW GOVERNMENT AS MUCH NEXT YEAR, TAKE SOME OF THAT 90 OR 100 MILLION AND INVEST WITH CPS TO GET THEM THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY THAT THEY NEED.

AND YES, I DO ALSO BELIEVE THAT EVERY BIG ORGANIZATION CAN LOOK WITHIN THEMSELVES AND FIND A WAY TO GET LEANER AND MORE EFFICIENT AND I WOULD CERTAINLY ASK THAT CPS DOES THAT AS WELL TO HELP OUT. RUDY SAID WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHY, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS TIME TO CUT THE PROPOSED RATE HIKE IN HALF, SO I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO REDUCE THE APPROVED INCREASE TO THE CPS ENERGY ELECTRIC AND GAS BASE RATES, THE SYSTEM AVERAGE FROM 4.25% TO 2.125% EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2024, CONTINGENT ON THE CPS BOARD APPROVING A 2.125 RATE

INCREASE BY FEBRUARY 1ST. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERIST A MOTION AND A

SECOND. ANDY, IS THAT POSSIBLE? >> SEGOVIA: YES, MAYOR, BUT WHAT I WILL SUGGEST, THE RULE IS ALWAYS IF THERE'S A MOTION WE DISCUSS THE MOTION FIRST. BUT HERE SINCE THE MOTION, THE FACTORS THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER IN TERMS OF THE RATE INCREASE ARE SO INTERTWINED, I THINK WE CAN CARRY ON WITH THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION, BUT FIRST CONSIDER THE MOTION WHEN

THERE'S ACTUAL VOTES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO HOLD THE AMENDMENT ACTION

ITEM TO THE END? AND JUST CONTINUE. >> SEGOVIA: YOU CAN

DISCUSS THEM AS A WHOLE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: KEEP BOTH ACTIONS AT THE END.

>> SEGOVIA: THAT'S RIGHT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE MAIN DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE THE AMENDED LANGUAGE THAT HAS A MOTION AND SECOND.

TO CLARIFY, WE WILL TAKE THE ACTION -- WE'LL HAVE A VOTE ON THE AMENDED LANGUAGE FIRST AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE MAIN MOTION. SO COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I'LL START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND APPRECIATING DEBBIE PONCE FROM DISTRICT 4 AS WELL AS PETER ONOFRIO, I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN, YOU ALL HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH CPS STAFF AS WELL AS WITH OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU'VE TAKEN TO PARTICIPATE. AND MR. ONOFRIO TALKED ABOUT THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I WAS SAD TO SEE THAT REMOVED FROM THE FACTOR, BUT I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE RUDY THE DIFFERENT TEAM THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER AND YOU ALLOWED MR. ONOFRIO TO CONTINUE TO BE PART OF IT. I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THE FACT DEBBIE AND MR. ONOFRIO,

[02:20:06]

FOR YOUR REFERENCE, SINCE YOU ALL DON'T HAVE THE CHARTER IN FRONT OF YOU, I'M GOING TO READ SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE SUPERVISOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DUTIES INCLUDE BUT HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE KEY YOU ONES I THINK -- KEY ONES WHAT DEBBIE AND MR. ONOFRIO AND SIERRA CLUB HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

THE SUPERVISOR SHALL ASSEMBLE FACTS ESSENTIAL TO PROPER DETERMINATION OF COST SERVICE AND FIXING OF ANIMAL RATES. KEY WORD BEING REASONABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE CHARTER SAID HE, BUT THIS POSITION SHALL KEEP UP TO DATA AN INVENTORY OF PROPERTY USED IN PUBLIC SERVICE. THE COST OF SUCH PROPERTIES AS ACTUALLY AND REASONABLY INCURRED BY APPRAISALS AND RETIREMENTS, DEAPPRECIATES OF ALL MATTERS AND READJUSTMENT OF THE RATE BASE.

I HAVE HEARD EARLIER TODAY SOME COMMENTS AS WELL ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY, ET CETERA. UNDER HIS ASSISTANCE, UNDER HIS DIRECTION, HE SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE AND SHALL CONDUCT ALL INSPECTIONS AND EXAMINATIONS OF PUBLIC UTILITY PROPERTIES, ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS. I MENTIONED THIS LAST WEEK, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN A REPORT JUST YET WITH ALL OF THIS. AT THE CLOSE OF EACH CALENDAR OR FISCAL YEAR, HE SHALL MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL WHICH AFTER RECEIVING THEM MAY PROCEED WITH INFORMAL NEGOTIATIONS OR WITH FORMAL PROCEEDINGS. AGAIN, I'M READING THIS DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY CHARTER AND I FEEL WE'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE CITY CHARTER IF WE DON'T DO IT ANNUALLY. EVERY PUBLIC UTILITY OPERATING WITHIN THE CITY SHALL FURNISH THE REGULAR REPORTS AS TO CAPITAL OUTLAY, OPERATING REVENUES, OPERATING EXPENSES, TAXES AND OTHER ACCOUNTING MATTERS ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATIONS FOR EACH UTILITY. WE'VE BEEN TOLD A FEW TIMES THAT AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR OR CONSUMER ADVOCATE MIGHT NOT BE THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE CPS IS ITS OWN ENTITY. HOWEVER, AGAIN I WANTED TO POINT THIS OUT THAT I THINK THAT THIS MIGHT SOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD.

IN ADDITION THE CITY MAY REQUIRE REPORTS REGARDING SALARIES, WAGES, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTS, SERVICE PERFORMANCE AND ALL OTHER RECORDS OF OPERATION THAT PERTAIN TO PROPER RATE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE BASIS OF FACTS AND REGULAR ADMINISTRATION. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY, AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION BEFORE WE CAST OUR VOTES. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MISS ANOTHER REPORT. AND SO NEXT TIME THAT CPS COMES TO US WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A RATE INCREASE, I'M GOING TO EXPECT TO SEE ALL THESE REPORTS. I'M GOING TO EXPECT AN ANNUAL REPORT BEFORE I FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING MY VOTE. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE CPS WEB PAGE, I GO TO THE WEB PAGE AND I DON'T SEE IF I NEED HELP WHERE TO GO. AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK IF CPS ENERGY, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT INVESTED IN REAP AND IN PROGRAMS, BUT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS WOULD KNOW WHERE TO GO, RIGHT? TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL HELP.

SO IF THIS RATE INCREASE WERE TO PASS TODAY, I WANT SOMETHING BIG AND FLASHY THAT SAYS IF YOU NEED HELP PAYING YOUR BILL, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND MAKE IT EASY.

I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CREW TEAM, OSCAR DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH DISTRICT 4 AND SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH HERNANDEZ IN OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS HELPED APPROVE ABOUT 1400 HOUSEHOLDS IN DISTRICT 4 THIS YEAR ALONE. AND SO ON AVERAGE THE FAMILY SIZE IS ABOUT FIVE.

[02:25:04]

THERE'S -- THERE'S SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT I STILL FEEL NEED TO BE OUT THERE AND MORE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THE RESIDENTS WHO JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO AND ACCESS THIS. SO I DO WANT TO ASK SPECIFICALLY IF YOU ALL CAN COMMIT TO JUST -- EVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE, JUST GIVING SOME ADDITIONAL LINKS AND SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. RUDY, CAN YOU MAYBE HELP ME FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT

THAT PART? >> GARZA: YEAH, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ANTIQUATED SYSTEMS. THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN PUT ON THAT FIRST PAGE.

AND WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING ABOUT HOW MANY CLICKS IT TAKES TO GET TO KEY INFORMATION. I VIEW MY BILL ONLINE, AND I JUST WAS IN THERE THIS WEEK LOOKING -- BECAUSE I THOUGHT A QUESTION MIGHT COME UP OF THIS NATURE. IF YOU GO INTO YOUR BILL SITE, MANAGE MY ACCOUNT SITE, THE ASSISTANCE BUTTON IS RIGHT THERE. BUT IT MAY BE HARDER -- IF YOU ARE JUST GOING TO THE REGULAR SITE TO FIND IT. POINT WELL TAKEN.

I THINK WE -- PART OF THE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING IS TO UPGRADE ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT TO A PLACE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. THE COMMITMENT WE'VE HAD THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IS FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO OUTREACH TO ANY SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS THE HELP. I THINK WE DO MORE THAN MOST UTILITIES IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH THAT WE TRY TO DO AND I WOULD ASK FOR YOU ALL'S HELP IN GETTING IN FRONT OF PARTICULAR -- QUINTANA ROAD, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FACILITIES IS RIGHT THERE OFF QUINTANA ROAD BY THE PORT. THAT MANAGES OUR UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE NEIGHBORS OF THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT WHETHER IT'S SENIORS OR FOLKS ON DISABILITY THAT HAVE DISABILITIES, PEOPLE WHO ARE ON LIFE-SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED TO GET INTO OUR CRITICAL CARE CUSTOMER PROGRAM, WE ALWAYS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE.

AND WE ENGAGE CUSTOMERS WHEREVER THEY WILL ENGAGE US PROACTIVELY.

YES, COUNCILWOMAN, YOU'VE GOT MY COMMITMENT TO BE AS CREATIVE AS WE CAN FIGURE

OUT TOGETHER TO GET TO THOSE WHO NEED THE HELP THE MOST. >> GARCIA: I APPRECIATE THAT, RUDY. BACK TO THE POINT I WAS MAKING EARLIER AND IT'S NOT A CPS, IT'S LITERALLY IN THE CHARTER. SO ERIK, CAN WE GET A COMMITMENT LIKE FOR THESE ANNUAL REPORTS TO BE PRESENTED TO US INSTEAD OF

JUST WHEN WE HAVE ADJUSTMENTS COMING? >> SEGOVIA: CAN I ADDRESS THAT FIRST? WHEN ANY COUNCILMEMBER MAKES A COMMENT WE'RE EITHER VIOLATING THE LAW OR CHARTER I HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT. WE CAN TALK AT EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I WILL BE VERY FIRM IN SAYING, THOUGH, PUBLICLY, WE'RE NOT VIOLATING THE CHARTER. WE CAN TALK ABOUT REPORTS THAT YOU OR THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE FROM CPS, BUT AS YOU WILL HEAR FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE ARE NOT VIOLATING THE CHARTER.

>> WALSH: YES, COUNCILWOMAN, AND I'M GLAD ANDY JUMPED IN.

WE ARE NOT VIOLATING THE CHARTER, AND AS YOU KNOW, THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR BOTH UTILITIES COME BEFORE COUNCIL WITH PERIODIC REPORTS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US IN MAKING SURE THAT THE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL STATUS OF BOTH UTILITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY

HAVE. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO

HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW, CPS HAS MADE A CONVINCING CASE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A MATTER OF IF, IT'S A MATTER OF HOW. THE QUESTION IS HOW WE'RE PAYING FOR THE UPGRADES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP

[02:30:06]

FOR ME THE DISCUSSION COMES DOWN TO RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY, THAT'S THE GOAL. HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THE NEEDED UPGRADES, AND THEN BRINGING IDEAS TO THE TABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE THINGS.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T SAY NO THE THE IDEA OF A RATE CHANGE, A RATE CHANGE, ANY CHANGE WITHOUT OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE. OF COURSE, I'VE OFFERED A REVENUE TRANSFER IDEA AND STARTED THAT IDEA WHICH SPARKED A CONVERSATION.

AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION, BUT WE KNEW WHEN ELECTED WE WOULD HAVE UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSIONS. THE IDEA EVOLVED INTO A DEDICATED SURPLUS PROPOSAL WHICH DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR RATE CHANGE, BUT DOES ALLOCATE FUNDS.

THE NEED TO BE PREPARED IS A TOP PRIORITY. AND I KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE TO MEET THAT NEED. EVEN RIGHT NOW I'M STILL OPEN TO IDEAS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING FAMILIES WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES AND HIGHEST CHALLENGES IN OUR CITY. CPS HAS PROGRAMS IN PLACE, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND REACH MORE PEOPLE. COUNCILMAN WHYTE'S PROPOSAL INTRIGUES ME, HOWEVER I HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS. IT OFFENDS ME WHEN SOMEONE SAYS WE DO NOT CONSIDER OUR UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE THOSE OF US ON THE DAIS THAT CONSIDER OUR UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES WITH EVERY VOTE, NOT JUST THE 10% THAT GET ATTENTION. THERE ARE THAT'S ON THIS DAIS THAT HAS A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN NEED. KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON IS ABSOLUTELY THE POINT.

WE HEARD ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, BUT SAID NOTHING ABOUT RELIABILITY. AN IDEA WAS PROPOSED AND I HAVE TO CONSIDER WE CAN'T SIT ON THIS DAIS AND SAY NO WITHOUT OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE.

THIS IS A ALTERNATIVE WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. THIS DIGS DECISION IS ABOUT RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY. NOW AND FOR THE COMING YEARS. WHAT WE DO TODAY WILL HELP LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE GROWTH WE KNOW IS COMING. ALL OUR PLANS, AIRPORT EXPANSION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, MOBILITY, THE GROWTH OF OUR HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS, UTSA, A&M, ALL OF IT IS PREDICATED ON RELIABLE ENERGY AND WATER. PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROADS.

THERE WERE EIGHT YEARS AT LEAST WITHOUT A RATE INCREASE AND WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. I CAN'T BE PART OF A COUNCIL THAT WILL DENY RELIABILITY TO OUR CITY. CPS AND THE CITY ARE ONE AND THE SAME. I'VE SAID IT OVER AND OVER, IT'S NOT US VERSUS THEM, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER. THE PROPOSAL IS PLANNING, A ROAD MAP FOR CPS'S FUTURE WHICH MEANS OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. I WILL ASK CPS TO COME UP, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSAL, COUNCILMAN WHYTE'S PROPOSAL, HOW IT WOULD AFFECT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE?

>> COUNCILMAN, WHEN WE PROPOSE INVESTMENT IN OUR ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE 50-YEAR INVESTMENTS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION THAT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

ULTIMATELY, COUNCIL DECIDE HOW TO MANAGE THROUGH THE PROPOSAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ASK AS PART OF THE PROCESS WE ASK FOR NOT A PENNY MORE THAN WE THINK WE NEED TO MAKE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS. EVERY YEAR WE RECONCILE THE MONEY COMING IN AND WHAT OUR EXPENSES ARE AND HOW COSTS ARE GOING UP OR GOING DOWN. WHAT ASSETS ARE COMING OFF THE BOOKS AND WHAT ASSETS WE'RE ADDING TO THE BOOKS. SO I THINK IT WAS A COMMENT MADE EARLIER ABOUT A PERPETUAL RATE INCREASE. WELL, YOU RECONCILE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING NEW INVESTMENTS THAT ALL THESE RESOURCES COME INTO ONE BUCKET AND GO RIGHT BACK OUT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.

SO WE'VE ASKED FOR 4.25%, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERATION. WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO JUSTIFY THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

SO OUR PROPOSAL IS A LONG-TERM, LONGVIEW, YOU KNOW, PROPOSAL, NOT A

[02:35:10]

SHORT-TERM PROPOSAL. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. WE TALKED MANY TIMES ABOUT MY ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, 2 TO 3%, AND TODAY I'M HEARING AT LEAST 1% FROM THE CITY.

IS THAT CORRECT? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT?

>> WELL, AS I UNDERSTAND THE PROPOSAL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AMENDING THE RATE INCREASE FROM 4.25 DOWN TO 2.125 AND FUNDING THE DIFFERENCE EVENLY -- I BELIEVE FROM THE CITY BUDGET. THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WITH A BASED ON THE RATE CASE COMMITTED THAT WE WORKED WITH CPS ENERGY ON AND THE CASE JUSTIFIES A NEED OF 4.25% SO THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION.

WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WORK SESSIONS ABOUT CITY PAYMENT AND INCLUDING A REVISED FINANCIAL POLICY WHERE WE WOULD GIVE BACK ADDITIONAL DOLLARS ABOVE IF WE EXCEEDED 10% OF OUR ADOPTED BUDGET. AND WHERE WE LEFT THAT CONVERSATION AS I RECALL IS WE'RE COMING BACK IN THE SPRING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION GOAL SETTING. WE DIDN'T REACH CONCLUSION EVEN ON THAT POINT.

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE 4.25%. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

THANK YOU, BEN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: THANKS. THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME AND WHO SPOKE.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE LISTENED TO ANY VOICES THAT DISAGREED WITH EACH OTHER AND THINGS, YOU KNOW, ONE IS COMING AT IT FROM A PLACE OF BAD FAITH.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS COMING AT IT FROM THE RIGHT PLACE, IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN SOME PEOPLE DO THE ALGEBRA, THEY COME UP WITH DIFFERENT NUMBERS AND DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS. AND THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYBODY COMES TO THIS CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS AND WANTS.

ANDY AND I HAVE FREQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS' DUTIES AS FIDUCIARIES, RIGHT, AND IT'S --N THINKING A LOT ABOUT THAT LATELY.

USUALLY I TALK ABOUT THIS WHEN THE ISSUE OF THE RATE INCREASE COMES UP OR WHEN THE ISSUE OF TAX INCREASES COME UP. BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN AMERICA THINKS THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DON'T OWE A DUTY TO THE PUBLIC THAT SENT THEM UP HERE. I MEAN EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THAT. I THINK EVERYBODY ALSO AGREES THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS OWE A DUTY TO THE VERY INSTITUTION ON WHICH THEY GOVERN AND THEY OWE A DUTY TO THEIR OFFICE. AND THERE'S -- THIS IS NOTHING NEW OR REALLY SMART THAT I'M SAYING, THERE'S A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS INCLUDING A LOT OF COURTS AND THEY'VE ALL SAID INHERENT IN THIS JOB ARE THESE THREE DIETS -- DUTIES TO PLACE THE PUBLIC'S NEEDS AND THE INSTITUTION'S NEEDS FIRST AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO PLACE THE OFFICE'S NEEDS FIRST WHICH CREATES A RIDDLE.

WHICH IS MORE FIRST THAN THE OTHER. IT'S SITUATIONAL IN MANY INSTANCES. AND THERE'S A -- I'D INVITE YOU ALL TO READ, NONE OF YOU WILL, BUT I HAVE TO CALL HIM OUT BECAUSE I LOVE HIM, VINNY JOHNSON WROTE A GREAT ARTICLE ON THIS TOPIC AND IT'S -- EVEN HE WAS LIKE I GUESS IT DEPENDS WHICH DAY YOU WAKE UP AND WHICH DIRECTION THE WIND IS BLOWING AND WHAT THE COMPETING NEEDS ARE. WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT ALL OF THESE -- ALL THIS RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY PEOPLE MUCH SMARTER THAN I AM AND LOOKED AT COMPETING DUTIES, THEY ALL USE THE SAME TWO WORDS. THE DUTIES AS THEY APPLY TO NEEDS. AND THE DUTIES AS THEY APPLY TO PROVIDING THE SERVICES.

AND THE ONE DUTY THAT IS NEVER MENTIONED IN THERE IS THE DUTY TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE WANTS OF MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A REALIZATION THAT WE AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WE ARE UP HERE TO GOVERN IN A WAY THAT PUTS THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC FIRST. AND OFTENTIMES SOMETIMES THOSE NEEDS CONFLICT WITH WHAT THEY WANT. IF I ASKED ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM, HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE, DO YOU WISH FOR A RATE INCREASE? I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM WHO WANTS A RATE INCREASE.

ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM WANT A RATE INCREASE? IF YOU ASKED THE 1.5 MILLION

[02:40:04]

RUDY, YOU DON'T WANT TO RAISE MY MOTHER'S RATES, I KNOW THAT.

AND SO HOW DO YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHEN THOSE WISHES ARE CONTRARY TO THE NEEDS.

AND I THINK THE ITALIANS HAVE THIS PHRASE CALLED LANGUAGE], IT'S BAD GOVERNMENT IF THE GOVERNMENT SAYS I'M ONLY GOING TO LOOK AT NEEDS. YOU HAVE TO LISTEN WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND WE'RE HEARING WHAT PEOPLE WANT, PEOPLE DON'T WANT THIS. HOW DO WE HEARING THAT PLUG THAT INTO THE ALGEBRA. I THINK THE WAY YOU DO IT IS YOU BUILD CONSENSUS AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITY TOWN HALLS LIKE WE DID. WE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH YOU IN PUBLIC AND BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. YOU'VE COME TO MY OFFICE AND YOU VISITED WITH EVERY CITY COUNCILMEMBER UP HERE. WE ASKED SURVEYS.

WE ASKED EVERYBODY, ERIK WE ASKED YOU AND BEN GORZELL A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WE ALSO ASK EACH OTHER TOUGH QUESTIONS OF EACH OTHER UP HERE.

SO ROBERTO TREVINO USED TO SAY BEFORE WE CUT WE MEASURE ONCE, TWICE, FOUR TIMES.

AND I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT. AND STILL SOMEHOW DESPITE THE FACT WE'VE DONE THAT, YOU ARE SEEING DISAGREEMENT ON THE DAIS AND THAT'S OKAY. ALL THAT MEANS IS IS THAT WE COME AT THIS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE PROBABLY DEGREE ON ALMOST EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR ONE OR TWO THINGS. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND I DISAGREE ON ALMOST EVERYTHING EXCEPT ONE OR TWO THINGS AND WE APPROACH THIS JOB LOVING EVERYBODY IN THIS TOWN AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO LOVE, WORK AND THRIVE.

WE DON'T DISAGREE UP HERE BECAUSE ONE OF US CARES MORE THAN THE OTHER.

THAT'S NOT TRUE. BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DAYLIGHT BETWEEN US AS IT RELATES TO BEING SMART.

WE'RE ALL MODERATELY SMART UP HERE. MARIA VILLAGÓMEZ IS THE ONLY TRULY BRILLIANT PERSON IN THIS CITY. THERE'S NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN US WHEN IT COMES TO AMOUNT OF WORK WE POUR INTO THIS JOB, AND YET WE DISAGREE.

THAT'S THE NATURE OF DELIBERATIVE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. I'VE GOT PRIORITIES AND EACH ONE OF US RANK DIFFERENTLY. ONE OF MINE IS I LOSE SLEEP AT NIGHT, I KNOW YOU DO TOO OF THE NUMBER OF CYBER ATTACKS CPS GETS ON A DAILY BASIS.

I VISITED WITH JOHN DIXON WHO YOU GUYS BROUGHT ON BOARD TO CONDUCT SORT OF A HEALTH CHECK ON YOUR CYBER SYSTEMS AND TO THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION YOU HAVE.

I KNOW HE TOLD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR IF WE DON'T INVEST IN THESE SYSTEMS AND CONTINUE TO BE CUTTING EDGE, ALL WE'RE GOING IS GIFTING NORTH KOREA AND CHINA AND RUSSIA A CHRISTMAS GIFT. HERE'S THE KEYS TO CPS, PLEASE HURT US.

I HAVE A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE PUBLIC TO MAKE SURE THE UTILITY HAS WHAT IT NEEDS IN ORDER TO WITHSTAND A CATASTROPHIC HOSTILE ATTACK. YOU'VE TOLD ME WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. HOW DO I IGNORE THAT? AND HOW DO I RISK A POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN AT THE HANDS OF THESE BAD ACTORS TO THE ABILITY FOR MY HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CENTER TO NOT GET ENERGY? HOW DO I IN GOOD FAITH ADMINISTER MY WORK HERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY FIDUCIARY DUTY IF I DON'T KEEP IN MIND METHODIST HOSPITAL NEEDS ELECTRICITY TO KEEP DIALYSIS ON LINE. I NEED THAT TO BE A GUARANTEE AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS THAT. I ALSO NEED THE MILITARY, JBSA, TO BE ON ALL THE TIME.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO IS, IN MY OPINION, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET THE UNITED STATES HAS AS IT RELATES TO CYBERSECURITY AND THE AIR FORCE AND THE ARMY. WE NEED THAT. AND YET AM I SAYING THAT TO SAYING TO SOME SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR YOU TO LIVE, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT MY RENT OR THE MILK COSTS MORE AT HEB THAN IT DID

[02:45:01]

HEAT, THAT'S THE JOB. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. LET ME GET BACK TO MY CUE HERE.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CPS, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE GETTING ALL THE PRESENTATIONS TOGETHER AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU CITY STAFF FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN HELPING US UNDERSTAND THIS BIG DECISION WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE TODAY. HAVING SEEN IT COULD BE, I'M SUPER GRATEFUL WE HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITY THAT IS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE A RELIABLE ENERGY SOURCE WE CAN COUNT ON.

I'M ALWAYS THANKFUL FOR THAT. I THINK THERE'S TWO MAIN QUESTIONS HERE THAT WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT. THE FIRST IS DO WE WANT A RELIABLE ENERGY UTILITY OR A FRUGAL SCRAPPY ONE. AND THE SECOND IS HOW DO WE MAKE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DECISION THAT KEEPS IN MIND AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY AT THE SAME TIME. FOR THE FIRST QUESTION, HAVING LOOKED AT YOUR FINANCIAL HISTORY IN THE PAST AND HOW THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A RATE INCREASE BEFORE THE LAST ONE, IT'S AMAZING TO ME WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. YOU ALL HAVE DONE A LOT WHILE KEEPING A PRETTY LOW BUDGET. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT INDUSTRY NORMS, YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE INCREASED DEMANDS OF COMMUNITIES WITHOUT INCREASING RATES. SO I THINK YOU ALL HAVE DONE A LOT AND THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE PERSPECTIVE, BOTH FROM TECHNOLOGY, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA ACTUALLY MENTIONED THE TECHNOLOGY PURPOSE OF THE WEBSITE. THE WEBSITE COULD USE A LITTLE LOVE AND I THINK MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GET TO, MAKING THE PROCESS MORE STREAMLINED, BUT ALSO OUTDOORS. WE SEE STRUCTURAL NEEDS FROM INFRASTRUCTURE PERSPECTIVE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED, MAINTENANCE THAT HASN'T BEEN FOCUSED ON BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EXTRA RESOURCES FOR THAT. I THINK THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF MAKING OUR ENERGY UTILITY STRONGER. TACKLING THE SECOND QUESTION ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY AT THE SAME TIME.

THOSE DON'T TO ME HAVE TO BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO STARTED THE CONVERSATION WITH HOW DO WE INCREASE OUR ADP PROGRAM. OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FOCUS AND UNDERSTAND THAT PIECE SPECIFICALLY.

I WAS SO PRESENTLY SUPPLIED TO SEE HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS WERE GETTING ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM, BUT DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE GAP OF HOW MANY FAMILIES WEREN'T.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON ACCESS.

I HAVE A YOU MEAN -- A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, CORY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP. SLIDE 3, CAN YOU TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW WE GOT THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILL IMPACTS FOR THE 445 AND 242. IS THE AVERAGE BILL FOR A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO $100 AND ON THE ADP IS THE AVERAGE BILL $50 A MONTH?

>>IST AVERAGE BILL IS CALCULATED JUST BY TAKING AVERAGE USAGE OF OUR BROADER COMMUNITY, AROUND 1100-KILOWATT HOURS. AS A BLENDED NUMBER, THE AVERAGE IS 164, $165 BASED ON THAT USAGE. FROM THE AFFORD DISCOUNT

[02:50:01]

PROGRAM, IT'S APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THAT INSTEAD. >> KAUR: SO YOU'RE NOT SAYING THE AVERAGE BILL FOR SOMEONE ON THE PROGRAM IS $50.

>> NO, NO. AND I DON'T KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE SUPPLEMENTS WE

HAVE IT CALLED OUT. >> KAUR: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT THE AVERAGE BILL IS FOR FOLKS ON THE ADP PROGRAM BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED WE'RE INCREASING THAT PROGRAM

>> CORRECT. >> KAUR: AND IF A PART OF THAT IS ELECTRIC AND GAS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE GAS, DO YOU GET THE ENTIRE DISCOUNT FOR ELECTRIC OR IS IT ONLY THE

ELECTRIC PORTION? >> THERE'S A SLIDE ON THERE THAT SHOWS YOU WOULD GET A LITTLE BIT LESS -- I'LL GO TO THAT ONE THERE. IF YOU WERE ELECTRIC ONLY, YOU WOULD JUST GET THE $11.67 CURRENTLY AND $13.48 IF YOU WERE ELECTRIC ONLY.

>> KAUR: YOU STILL ONLY GET THAT ELECTRIC PORTION. >> YES.

>> KAUR: WHAT I WOULD PUSH US IS HOW DO WE INCREASE THIS ADP PROGRAM.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT'S ALWAYS PLAGUED OUR CITY IS THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE.

THOSE THAT HAVE AND THOSE THAT DON'T. THOSE THAT ARE ENERGY BURDENED ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS. EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LOWER AMOUNT OF AN INCREASE FOR THEM, THEY ARE THE ONES MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.

IF THEIR ENERGY BILL IS $100 A MONTH, THAT DIFFERENCE MEANS A LOT MORE THAN FOR SOMEONE THAT'S NOT SEVERELY ENERGY BURDENED. I WOULD LIKE US TO GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IS IT WE CAN DO WITH THIS ADP PROGRAM TO ENHANCE IT.

WE NEED TO INCREASE THE ELIGIBILITY TO 150% BUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS IF WE INCREASE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPER HIGH IN NEED DON'T GET ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM.

SO CAN WE THINK ABOUT AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO SAY IS THERE A SLIDING SCALE DISCOUNT THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT. IF YOU ARE 100% BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE IT'S X PERCENT VERSUS 125, 150. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO THINK OF MORE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE THE ADP PROGRAM AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DISCOUNT WE'RE PROVIDING IS ACTUALLY HELPING AND IMPACTING THEM. ONLY THEN WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST AND THOSE ONES THAT ARE SPEAKING HERE.

AND QUITE FRANKLY MANY OF THEM PROBABLY HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO US BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON ON A DAILY BASIS. MY SUPPORT FOR THIS TODAY REALLY PUSHES THAT. BEFORE Y'ALL COME BACK, WE WANT TO SEE THIS PROGRAM COMPLETELY REVAMPED AND MAKE IT A LOT MORE ROBUST SO WE CAN FEEL CERTAIN THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S ACTUALLY ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR ENERGY BILL WHILE YOU GUYS WORK ON THE RELIABILITY.

WE HAVE NO DOUBT. NONE OF US HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT YOU ALL WILL DELIVER TO US A

RELIABLE ENERGY UTILITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> WALSH: MAYOR, LET ME RESTATE THE ISSUES THAT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR WAS TALKING ABOUT AND REFER BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO'S INITIAL CONVERSATION . I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF 2024, HIT THE ISSUES OF INCREASING THE ADP TO 150% AND COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL, WORK WITH CPS, COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL. I THINK BOTH OF YOU HIT UPON THE ISSUE ALSO THAT EVEN IF WE DIDN'T INCREASE THE 150, BASED ON THE CURRENT PLAN WE STILL HAVE COLLECTIVELY ABOUT 60,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW THAT AREN'T ON THE ADP.

HOW DO WE TACKLE THAT JOINTLY WITH CPS. WHAT I ENVISION IS A B SESSION BACK WITH THE COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH TO TACKLE THAT ISSUE.

RUDY AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS. BEN AND HIS STAFF HAVE KEYED IN ON IT. THE 60,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW, HOW MANY OF THEM ARE WE DEALING WITH ON CHILDCARE ISSUES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

HOW MANY OF THOSE 60,000 ARE THE SAME ONES THAT ARE APPLYING FOR OUR UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM. SO WHERE ARE THOSE SYNERGIES AND HOW CAN WE MAKE MORE GROUND-UP IN ADDITION TO THE 150%. SO I WOULD ENVISION, BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE RAISED LAST WEEK.

WE WOULD SCHEDULE IT AND COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH AN ACTIONABLE PLAN TO BE ABLE TO

DO THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIK.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT DAY. I'VE SAID FROM DAY ONE THAT I'M NOT IMMOVABLE. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A FAIRLY REASONABLE PERSON AND I

[02:55:04]

BUT BEING POPULAR ISN'T WHAT DRIVES ME. BUT I DO HOPE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT I TAKE EVERY DECISION VERY HEAVILY AND VERY PERSONALLY AND DO WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH ME.

MANY TIMES I HAVE BEEN ON THE MINORITY SIDE OF A VOTE AND THAT IS OKAY.

I'M NOT IMMOVABLE BUT I'M NOT MOVING IF IT'S AGAINST WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE RIGHT.

FOR THE DURATION OF THIS REQUEST I HAVE INDICATED A FEW THINGS WERE IMPORTANT TO EARN A YES VOTE FROM ME. ONE IS WE NEED RATE REFORM. THE MORE YOU USE THE MORE YOU PAY. AND THE ISSUE IS THAT CPS LACKS THE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND IN THAT CASE I WOULD NEED TO KNOW A DETAILED AND ACCURATE TIMELINE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RATE REFORM. AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. WE NEED TO HAVE REAL AND EXTENDED CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS, NOT JUST A TWO-MONTH BLITZ.

PEOPLE NEED TO REBUILD TRUST AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME.

I HAVE QUOTED AUTHORS AND ORGANIZERS WHO SAY CHANGE MOVES AT THE SPEED OF TRUST.

THREE, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE BEST PRACTICE OF HIRING A CONSUMER ADVOCATE THAT WOULD PRIMARILY LOOK OUT FOR THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOMERS.

THE DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND CPS. WHEN I MAKE DECISIONS I MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE LEAST OF US. IT IS SO EASY TO SAY A BILL IS GOING UP $5, $6 BUT I WANT TO ILLUSTRATE A POINT. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WHO FROM THE SECOND THEY RECEIVE THEIR PAYCHECK MUST PAY THEIR RENT. THEY PAY FOR GROCERIES, MEDICATIONS, DIAPERS, CLOTHES, AND OTHER NECESSITIES FOR THEIR KIDS AND BY THE TIME THEY GET TO DAY TWO, THE DAY AFTER THEY RECEIVE THEIR PAYCHECK THEY HAVE NOTHING LEFT OF THAT CHECK TO SPEND. AND IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS THEY GO TO ONE OF THE PREDATORY LENDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE IN ABUNDANCE, AND THEY TAKE OUT A HORRIBLE LOAN THAT IS GOING TO HARM THEM MORE THAN IT HELPS THEM IN THE LONG RUN.

EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT THEY HAVE MATTERS AND WE CAN SAY LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK BUT CAN YOU CONCEPTUALIZE WHAT THAT MEANS AND FEELS LIKE? WE CANNOT BE SO FAR REMOVED AND OUT OF TOUCH AS TO SCOFF AT $5 WHEN RESIDENTS WILL STAND IN LINE FOR FIVE HOURS TO RECEIVE A $20 TURKEY VOUCHER OR A $15 BOX FAN OR CRY TEARS OF JOY RECEIVING A $5 GIFT FOR THEIR CHILDREN. I WON'T PUT ANY OF MIFF CONSTITUENTS' BUSINESS OUT THERE BUT I WILL SAY THIS. I AM IN AN INCREDIBLY PRIVILEGED POSITION AS A COUNCILMAN IN THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. I HAVE A PART-TIME JOBS AND MANAGING FINANCES IS ONE OF MY STRENGTHS. THAT'S HOW I COULD EARN FOR OFFICE. I HAVE A HUSBAND WITH A DECENT JOB ALSO IN SCHOOL BUT THERE ARE WEEKS I BUY GROCERIES, PAY MY MORTGAGE AND STUDENT LOANS AND I LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE ON A SERIES OF CREDIT CARDS BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING LEFT AND MORE BILLS TO PAY.

I COME HERE SOMETIMES WITH $2 IN MY BANK ACCOUNT. I UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS. AND I'M IN A FINE POSITION. I'M COMFORTABLE WHEN COMPARED TO MANY IN MY DISTRICT. I'M GOING TO SUCK UP WHATEVER DECISION WE MAKE HERE TODAY AND I AM GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT BUT SO MANY OTHERS WON'T. I DO WANT CPS TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO MAKE THE CHANGES WE NEED TO BUILD A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS ANOTHER WAY. THIS IS NOT A WIN-WIN SCENARIO.

THERE ISN'T REALLY A WIN-WIN SCENARIO RIGHT NOW BUT IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE I'VE COMMITTED MYSELF TO MY RESIDENTS AND NOTHING WEIGHS MORE HEAVILY ON MY MIND AND HEART THAN THOSE WHO WILL BE HURT BY THIS DECISION. I'LL ADD THAT WHEN COUNCILMAN WHYTE APPROACHED ME WITH AN IDEA TO COMPROMISE, LET'S REDUCE AND FIND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE, CPS DOES NEED THE MONEY MAJOR VICTORY AT FACE VALUE. I'LL STILL HAVE RESIDENTS WHO ARE HURTING.

BUT THIS RATE INCREASE IS ALL BUT POISED TO PASS WITH OR WITHOUT MY VOTE AND IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CUT IT OR MITIGATE ITS EFFECTS. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT AND THE RESULTS OF THAT VOTE WILL DETERMINE MY VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. BEN, TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PROPOSAL THAT -- WELL, NO. SO THE AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, IS IT POSSIBLE TODAY THAT WE COULD PASS A 4.25% INCREASE BUT HAVE CPS IN FEBRUARY NOT -- DO HALF OF THAT AND THEN AFTER BUDGET DO THE OTHER HALF. IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO

[03:00:05]

OR CPS COULD DO? >> I'M NOT SURE I FOLLOWED YOUR --

>> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US IS LET'S CUT IT IN HALF.

>> RIGHT. >> VIAGRAN: AND LET'S GET TO BUDGET, WHICH WE START TALKING ABOUT IN MARCH. AND THEN FIND THE MONEY THERE. BUT WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS THEY NEED THE 4.25% THIS YEAR. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD GET IMPLEMENT SOME OF IT THIS YEAR, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, AND THEN IMPLEMENT THE REST AFTER BUDGET IS PASSED IN OCTOBER? SO THAT WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN BRING THE RATE DOWN FROM 4.25% IF WE HAVE A SURPLUS?

>> SEGOVIA: I THINK I CAN ADDRESS THAT, COUNCILWOMAN. THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING A RATE INCREASE AND THEN THE AMENDMENT TO REDUCE IT, WHAT THE COUNCIL CAN DO IS PUT CONTINGENCIES ON IT. YOU CAN SAY YOU SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT WITH THE EXPECTATION THERE WILL BE A DISCUSSION LATER ON. BUT THERE CAN'T BE CONTINGENCIES TO THE RATE THAT THE COUNCIL EITHER APPROVES OR DOESN'T APPROVE.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, BEN. SO THIS HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE. WE CAME BACK AND WE IMPLEMENTED A .85% RATE INCREASE IN JANUARY THEY DELIVERED. AND ONE THAT I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FACT THAT THEY WENT AFTER GRANTS AND THEY GOT THEM. AND WERE SUCCESSFUL.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE CPS SITTING IN FRONT OF US TODAY IS NOT THE CPS OF THE WINTER STORM OR THE CPS THAT PREVIOUS COUNCILS REFUSED TO GIVE RATE INCREASES TO.

AND WE CAN GO BACK INTO STORIES ABOUT WHY YOU HAD PEOPLE ON THIS DAIS, ONE THAT SAT IN THIS CHAIR, THAT WAS A SOLID NO EVERY TIME. SO THIS IS A DIFFERENT CPS CHAIR THAT HAS WORKED TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP. BUT THERE ARE STILL SPECIFIC ASKS IN MY COMMUNITY ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. AND I HEAR A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THOSE DISADVANTAGED. YES, BUT THIS IS ABOUT RATEPAYERS ACROSS THE BOARD. WHILE I'M NOT HAPPY COMPLETELY WITH THE AMENDMENT TO TAKE FROM THE BUDGET, BECAUSE EITHER WAY THEN THE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS PAY.

THEY'RE EITHER PAYING THROUGH THE RATE INCREASE OR THEY'RE PAYING BECAUSE CITY SERVICES GET REDUCED. I STRUGGLE WITH THE AMENDMENT BUT I STRUGGLE WITH NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT, YES WE NEED A RATE INCREASE, BUT HOW IS THIS IMPACTING THE RATEPAYERS AND SPECIFICALLY THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3 -- THE RESIDENTS OF S SAN ANTONIO BUT MY JOB I TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3. BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3 HAVE REAL CONCERNS AND NEEDS AND THE ADVOCACY THAT'S HAPPENING -- LIKE D10, HE'S TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO AND HIS RESIDENTS. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS ENTIRE TIME AND I HAVE BEEN DOING IT WITH THE HELP OF CPS.

BUT 4.25% ON TOP OF A 3.85% ON TOP OF ANOTHER ASK WITHOUT CLEAR -- IF WE COULD PULL UP SLIDE 4. WITHOUT CLEAR GOALS ON WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE SECURITY IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED -- THAT'S SLIDE 6. SLIDE 4, PLEASE.

WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY AND SECURITY IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WHEN WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS HIRE IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME RIGHT NOW. AND IS WHY I DON'T WANT FEBRUARY OR MARCH, I WANT FEBRUARY. AS THE RATE INCREASE COMES IN, I WANT FEBRUARY WITH AN UPDATE AND WITH A CALENDAR IN TERMS OF WHEN WE ARE GOING TO GET THESE UPDATES ON HOW WE MEET THESE METRICS. RUDY?

>> COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE ON OUR TECHNOLOGY THAT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR ON WHEN OUR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE UPGRADED. IT'S A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.

WE'RE AT THE TAIL END OF PICKING THE TECHNOLOGY AND PICKING THE IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER SO WE CAN GET GOING. THAT PROJECT IS HAPPENING. IT HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE END OF LIFE ON OUR SYSTEMS. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IMPLEMENTATION ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID YOU WANT US TO WORK ON.

[03:05:06]

JUST BE CLEAR -- I'LL BE GLAD TO SHARE OUR IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE WITH YOU -- BUT IT IS THE MOST COMPLEX THING WE WILL DO FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS UPGRADE OUR TECHNOLOGY.

THERE'S A CLEAR TIMELINE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE US FIVE YEARS TO GET IT DONE.

WELL, WE'RE ABOUT SIX, EIGHT MONTHS, ALMOST A YEAR INTO THAT FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM BUT IT'S A

FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM AND -- YEAH. >> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHY -- AND THERE WAS NO GOOD TIMING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I DID WANT IT TO HAPPEN AFTER THE NEW YEAR. AND THERE IS NO GOOD TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK THE OUTREACH THAT WE NEEDED IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EITHER WAY THIS WAS GOING TO IMPACT THEM, I MEAN, THEY KNOW EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

H-E-B PRICES. THEY KNEW THAT THIS WAS COMING BUT COMMUNICATING IT TO THEM IN A WAY THAT UNDERSTANDS THIS IS THEIR UTILITY AND HOW DO WE INVEST IN IT.

I'M REALLY NOT FEELING LIKE WE HAD THE TIME TO GO OUT THERE AND REALLY SHARE WITH THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHY, IN THE END, THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED, EITHER THROUGH A RATE INCREASE OR A REDUCTION IN BUDGET IN TERMS OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE BEEN HAVING UP HERE ON THE DAIS. ANDY, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THE MOTION THAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAS MADE FIRST BEFORE WE MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THAT?

>> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN. >> VIAGRAN: THIS IS JUST A HARD SITUATION AND I'M INTERESTED TO TAKE THAT ITEM UP AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM

THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, BEN AND RUDY FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.

I WANTED TO BE SURE I THANKED ALL THE FOLKS WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, PARTICULARLY THE SAN ANTONIO JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE FOR DRAWING THE PARALLELS FOR THE CUTOFF OF ELECTRICITY AND WATER IN PALESTINE AND HOW OUR STRUGGLES ARE INTERCONNECTED AND CUTTING OFF THE UTILITIES FOR ANYONE, WHETHER IT'S HERE IN SAN ANTONIO OR IN PALESTINE IS UNJUST.

I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE A POINT THAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAS HIT ON WHICH IS WAGES IN SAN ANTONIO ARE STAGNANT AND THE COST OF LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO HAS INCREASED AUDIO]. AND A RECENT HARVARD STUDY FOUND THAT OVER 750,000 TEXAS SENIORS STRUGGLE WITH HOUSING COSTS, PARTICULARLY IN LARGER METROPOLITAN AREAS LIKE SAN ANTONIO. AND SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CENSUS TRACTS THAT EXPERIENCE ENERGY BURDEN OF MORE THAN 25% ARE SPENDING A GOOD CHUNK OF THEIR INCOMES ON THEIR UTILITIES. AND I WANTED TO COMMEND CPS ENERGY FOR INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCE PROGRAMS. BUT WHEN I REVIEW THE BRADLE STUDY THAT YOU ALL COMMISSIONED, THEY FIND THAT DESPITE THE PROGRAMS, FOLKS STILL REMAIN HEAVILY ENERGY BURDENED. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHILE WE'RE EXPLORING THESE PROGRAMS -- I APPRECIATE ERIK TALKING ABOUT US NEEDING TO TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH ON FOLKS WHO ARE RELYING ON DIFFERENT CITY SERVICES AND HOW CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT THEM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SUPPORT COME BEFORE A RATE INCREASE. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS, WHEN CPS ENERGY CAME FOR THE LAST RATE INCREASE, ONE OF MY PRIORITIES WAS RESTRUCTURING THE CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE.

AND WE'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS IN PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS FROM COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ THE NEED FOR A TIERED RATE STRUCTURE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO USE LESS PAY LESS AND THOSE WHO USE MORE PAY MORE. AND WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MATERIALIZED.

WHAT WOULD GIVE ME CONFIDENCE IN SUPPORTING A RATE INCREASE WOULD BE HAVING THAT RATE -- TIERED RATE STRUCTURE MATERIALIZE WHERE I KNOW THAT MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE NOT TURNING ON THE HEAT AND AIR BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE CURRENT STRUCTURE, WOULDN'T BE PUT INTO THAT SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE FEELING LESS INCLINED NOW TO TURN ON THE HEAT WHEN IT'S COLD. I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN WHYTE, FOR HIS PROPOSAL. I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. I HEARD THE PLATITUDES ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS AND HOW NO ONE WANTS TO VOTE YES AND NO ONE IS GOING TO ASK FOR A RATE INCREASE AND I'VE SEEN THIS PLAY OUT BEFORE, RIGHT? AND WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF REDUCING THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A

[03:10:04]

ON SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. WE'LL GO BACK NOW TO

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IN ADDRESSING OUR COLLEAGUE'S PROPOSAL, IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE A SOLUTION WITHOUT A REAL SOLUTION. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE PROPOSAL IS TO CUT IN HALF THE SUGGESTED RATE HIKE AND THEN DELAY THE CITY PROVIDING THE OTHER HALF OF THAT MONEY IN OUR NEXT BUDGET. AND THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, A YEAR BEFORE IT MAY GET TO CPS ENERGY. AND IN REDUCING THAT REQUEST BY HALF, THAT MEANS WE'RE REDUCING $42.5 MILLION OUT OF THEIR REQUEST. AND THAT'S NOT JUST FOR NEXT YEAR. BUT THAT BECOMES NOT INCLUDED IN FUTURE BUDGETS.

SO THAT'S $42.5 MILLION THEY DON'T GET NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER OR EVERY OTHER YEAR GOING FORWARD. SO THE ALTERNATIVE PRESENTED IS, WELL, THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE TO GIVE CPS ENERGY $42.5 MILLION OUT OF OUR NEXT BUDGET.

I THINK WE HEARD THAT THE BUDGET COULD BE FROM $90 MILLION TO $100 MILLION BUT I'M GOING TO BE CONSERVATIVE LIKE OUR BUDGET USUALLY IS AND LET'S SAY IT'S $90 MILLION INCREASE NEXT YEAR. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE NEARLY HALF OF THAT AND GIVE IT TO CPS. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WE WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE HALF AS MUCH GROWTH IN OUR BUDGET. I THINK WE'RE PLANNING ON PAYING FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS. 100 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, ET CETERA. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF NEEDS AND WE HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE A YEAR MOVE INTO THIS CITY. WHICH MEANS THERE ARE GROWTH IN NEEDS FROM THOUSANDS OF MORE PEOPLE EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS WHAT OUR BUDGET USUALLY TRIES TO ACCOMMODATE.

SO WILL A COUNCIL GIVE UP $42.5 MILLION NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER AND THE YEAR AFTER AND THE YEAR AFTER TO MAKE UP WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR? THAT SOUNDS KIND OF WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS LIKE. AND THEN THAT MONEY THAT'S RECOMMENDED THAT WE TAKE OUT OF FUTURE BUDGETS IS STILL TAX DOLLARS. IT'S STILL THE MONEY FROM OUR CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO WE WOULD SIMPLY SUBSTITUTE ALL OF CPS RATEPAYERS PAYING THAT RATE AND WE'LL SIMPLY HAVE THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO PAY THAT DIFFERENCE.

AND, TO ME, YOU'RE STILL USING OUR RESIDENTS' TAX MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND PAY FOR IT, WHETHER IT COMES OUT OF CPS OR WHETHER IT COMES OUT OF OUR TAXES EVERY YEAR.

WE'RE LOOKING AT $4.45 ON AVERAGE, AND I'LL JUST REMIND YOU AGAIN THAT IS 15 CENTS A DAY TO TRY AND GUARANTEE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EFFICIENT ENERGY, CONTINUE TO GROW, AND BE PRODUCED. I SAID BEFORE I'M NOT SAYING I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR ANY FUTURE RATE HIKE. ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE JUSTIFIED.

I THINK THIS ONE IS JUSTIFIED. AND IF THEY COME IN TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS AND THEY CAN JUSTIFY THAT, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE DECISION BY THE NEXT COUNCIL, WHOEVER'S ON THAT.

BUT I'M LOOKING AT TODAY'S COUNCIL AND TODAY'S DECISION. AND I'M LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A $42.5 MILLION CUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE REQUEST HAS BEEN

[03:15:01]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. REGARDING COUNCILMAN WHYTE'S AMENDMENT, FIRST OFF I DO WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA'S COMMENT REGARDING THE NOTION THAT WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. I AGREE IT WAS OFFENSIVE.

WHAT I PUT FORTH EARLIER WAS A PLAN TO BENEFIT AND PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

TO ASSIST THE WORKING CLASS OF SAN ANTONIANS AND OUR ELDERLY POPULATION WITH THEIR CPS BILLS. BY POTENTIALLY ADDING 70,000 PLUS PEOPLE TO REAP, THEY CAN SAVE ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILL. THAT'S CONSIDERING THEM WHILE MAKING THE DIFFICULT BUT RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO PROTECT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NOW . AND CPS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS TO PUSH THE ADP OR REAP PROGRAM THAT DR. ROCHA GARCIA AND DR. KAUR WERE SUGGESTING WE DO. I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO CUT CITY SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THAT IS TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE BUDGET ON OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SCALE BACK ON PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED RIGHT NOW. IN DISTRICT 7 WE HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF F-RATED STREETS AND THE SECOND HIGHEST IN SIDEWALK GAPS. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DECREASE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WITH PEOPLE GETTING ATTACKED LITERALLY DAILY BY LOOSE DOGS.

WE'VE ALL WORKED TIRELESSLY TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND THAT WILL EXPAND THE LEVEL OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND RIGHT NOW IS NOT TO TIME TO WALK THAT BACK.

I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS. CPS, MY JOB HERE TODAY WAS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE COME TO THESE DECISIONS AND HOW AT LEAST I COME TO THESE DECISIONS.

BUT, NUMBER TWO, I DO WANT TO USE THESE THREE MINUTES TO ASK YOU GUYS SOME QUESTIONS.

WE KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN RENEWABLES WE PUT OURSELVES AT GREATER RISK FOR MORE OF THOSE WINTER BLACKOUTS.

RUDY, MINDFUL OF THE FACT I ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES HERE SO DON'T PLAY OUT THE CLOCK ON ME. CAN YOU GIVE US SOME FACTS. DURING THAT STORM, WAS IT THE

RENEWABLES THAT SHUT US DOWN? >> ALL FORMS OF GENERATION HAD TROUBLE DURING WINTER STORM URI, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OUR PROCESS FOR PREPPING FOR WINTER, THE WINTER SEASON WAS DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF PLANTS DOWN IN THAT MOMENT.

WE MADE A CHANGE. NOW YOU DO PLANT MAINTENANCE IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER SO THAT PLANTS ARE READY JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH. SO THERMAL GENERATION, THE COAL AND THE GAS, EVEN NUCLEAR, OUR NUCLEAR UNITS HAD AN ISSUE. ALL SOURCES HAD AN ISSUE BUT IN THE WINTERTIME YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HAZY AND COLD, YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING SOLAR TO BE THERE. WIND MAY NOT BE THERE BUT THE VALUE OF HAVING A DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO LIKE WE HAVE, WHICH GOES BACK TO MAYOR COCKRELL WHO THOUGHT WE WERE OVERLEVERAGED ON NATURAL GAS IN THE '80S. IT BENEFITS US TO BE FULLY DIVERSIFIED.

THIS SUMMER IT PLAYED OUT THAT OUR SOLAR IS THE REASON WHY WE HAD EXCESS GENERATION TO SELL TO THE MARKET. IT WAS HOT AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING SOME WHOLESALE DOLLARS IN FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. SO I AM BULLISH ON THE DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO BEING THE RIGHT PORTFOLIO FOR CPS ENERGY. RENEWABLES WEREN'T TO BLAME FOR

WINTER STORM URI. >> PELAEZ: ARE YOU JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE IN

THE POCKET OF BIG WIND OR BIG SOLAR? >> I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS A LONG TIME. WE ARE POINTED TO THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS YOU'VE GOT TO

USE IT ALL. >> PELAEZ: SECOND IS I CONTINUE TO BEAT THE DRUM ON -- CORY, MAYBE YOU'RE THE GUY TO ASK. I CONTINUE TO BEAT THE DRUM ON

[03:20:01]

MONEY AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR RATING AGENCIES? >> NO.

YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE FUND ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS IS A MIX OF RATEPAYER DOLLARS, WHICH FUNDS OUR EQUITY ACCOUNTS, AND LEVERAGE WITH OUR BOND HOLDERS.

IT TAKES BOTH FOR A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR ENTERPRISE LIKE CPS ENERGY, TO BALANCE IT WITH EQUITY. A BIG PART OF THAT IS NOT JUST CYBERSECURITY IT'S ALSO PHYSICAL SECURITY. WE HAVE TO GET EYES ON SUBSTATIONS AND DO ALL THE THINGS IT TAKES TO PROTECT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, COUNCILMAN. AND WE'VE GOT A GOOD PLAN AND WE'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE TO PROTECT OURSELVES BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE INVESTMENT IN

SYSTEMS TO ENSURE WE STAY AHEAD OF IT. >> PELAEZ: CORY, I KNOW THAT AT NIGHT MOST OF US SLEEP ON A PILLOW, YOU SLEEP ON A BALANCE SHEET AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. CAN YOU PAY FOR THE CYBERSECURITY UPGRADES THAT

YOU'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IF WE APPROVE THE AMENDMENT? >> THE ONLY OPTION IS TO BORROW FOR IT AND THAT PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT RISK IN CONVERSATION WITH OUR RATING

AGENCIES. WE HAVE TO TAKE UP -- >> PELAEZ: THOSE ARE MY

QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYIN PLEASURE WORKING WITH CPS ON THIS.

I HAVE ENJOYED ALL THE CONVERSATIONS AND I RESPECT WHAT YOU GUYS DO AND THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. THAT QUESTION THAT THE COUNCILMAN JUST ASKED, I ASKED AN EXTREMELY SIMILAR QUESTION AT THE B SESSION. YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU WEREN'T TO GET ANY, ANY RATE INCREASE AT ALL, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? AND YOU SAID WE WOULD STILL GO AHEAD AND WE WOULD DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO UPGRADE THE I.T.

AND SOFTWARE. I'M ASSUMING EVERYTHING THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT CPS INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SECURE. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TODAY.

WHAT'S ON THE TABLE TODAY IS ONE OF TWO OPTIONS. RIGHT? IT'S EITHER WE DO 4.25% OR WE DO 2.125%. AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT, WELL, SHOULD CPS TIGHTEN ITS BUDGET A LITTLE BIT MORE OR SHOULD THE CITY GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE TO GET TO IN THE SPRING BUT THAT WE WON'T GET TO UNLESS WE MAKE THE TOUGH DECISION AND DO THIS TODAY.

AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT WORD "TOGETHER." WE ALL SAID WE'RE HERE TO DO THIS TOGETHER. IT'S NOT DOING IT TOGETHER TO ASK THE CITIZENS TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE DAMN THING. THAT'S NOT TOGETHER. TOGETHER IS THE CITY DOING ITS PART AND CPS DOING ITS PART WHILE WE ALSO ASK THE CITIZENS TO DO SOMETHING.

AND IT'S A CHOICE TODAY BETWEEN PUSHING EVERYTHING ON TO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND TO THE CITIZENS THAT AREN'T IN SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT, THAT ARE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THE CITY'S TAKING THEIR MONEY TOO. THEY GET THE SERVICE AND WE TAKE THEIR MONEY AS WELL. AND SO TODAY IT'S REALLY A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR OUR CITIZENS AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BUDGET NEXT YEAR AND FIGURE OUT IF THAT 90 TO $100 MILLION MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE CAN USE TO INVEST INTO CPS. AND SO, AGAIN -- AND I APPRECIATE MANNY'S COMMENTS ON THE CYBERSECURITY AND ALL OF THAT, BUT NOBODY IS SAYING THAT WE DO NOT WANT CPS TO GET THE FULL $170 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. NOBODY'S SAYING THAT. IT'S JUST DOING IT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER. A MANNER THAT IS LESS BURDENSOME ON THE CITIZENS OF

[03:25:01]

AND IF I'VE SAID ANYTHING OTHERWISE, I CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT. BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO BE BOLD.

TODAY. RIGHT NOW. AND WE CAN DO IT.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS GROUP CAN DO IT. WE CAN DIRECTLY SAVE OUR CITIZENS MONEY WHILE ALSO CHARTING A NEW COURSE OF INVESTMENT INTO CPS, WHICH WE ALL SAY IS SO IMPORTANT. AND IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO PUT SOME GENERAL FUND DOLLARS INTO CPS. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TODAY WILL JOIN ME IN THIS AND DO WHAT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO I THINK OVERWHELMINGLY WANT US TO DO.

IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVING COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND OTHERS WHO ARE JUST A FLAT-OUT NO IN THE BEGINNING, WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM, RATHER THAN DOING WHAT WE ALWAYS DO AND GO TO OUR OWN POLITICAL CORNERS AND IT'S JUST A YES OR A NO. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. THAT'S GOOD WORK.

THAT'S WHAT THIS CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE DOING. THAT'S WHAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE. LET'S GET THIS DONE TODAY. THANKS, MAYOR.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

RUDY, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE ANSWER IN A YES OR NO, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, JUST GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS --

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'M SORRY. I FORGOT TO CALL ON ERIK.

YOU'LL GET YOUR TIME BACK. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER. >> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAS AUDIO] TWICE AND FRANKLY I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO.

AS YOU RECALL, WE DO A TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET. AND WE HAVE PROJECTED AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF $89 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR '25 OVER AND ABOVE THE ADOPTED '24 BUDGET. BECAUSE WE DO A BALANCED BUDGET, THAT $89 MILLION IS PROJECTED TO BE SPENT ON MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ADDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND ARE PLANNED TO BE ADDED IN FISCAL YEAR '25. THINGS LIKE THE FOUR-YEAR FUNDING OF FIRE STATION -- SORRY. OF EMS UNIT 40 THAT IS BEING ADDED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE SECOND TRANCHE OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT THE COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT. SO I DON'T WANT THE COUNCIL TO THINK -- NOR THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT THERE IS AN AVAILABLE BALANCE OF $90 MILLION UNALLOCATED.

NOW, GRANTED, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET AND YOU GUYS AS A COUNCIL MAY DETERMINE DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE APRIL WORK SESSION.

BUT THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A PLAN IS SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO PREPARE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL KNEW WHAT THE $90 MILLION WAS THAT WAS BEING REFERRED TO BY COUNCILMAN WHYTE. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> WHYTE: MAYOR, MAYOR, I SHOULD GET TO GET BACK IN ON THAT.

OKAY? BECAUSE DOING THIS AFTER I SAY NO AND HE DIDN'T COME IN WHILE I WAS TALKING AND NOW I DON'T GET TO SAY SOMETHING IN RESPONSE TO THAT, JUST ISN'T

RIGHT. >> WASH: I DON'T INTERRUPT YOUR TIME, COUNCILMAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE STAFF CAN EXPLAIN THE QUESTIONS AND THE STATEMENTS ON THE DAIS.

THE STAFF WILL RESPOND TO ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED FOR THE COUNCIL.

IF ANYBODY HAS A QUESTION ON THAT, THEY CAN ASK THE QUESTION WITH THEIR TIME.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

RUDY, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YES OR NO. AND THEN I HAVE ONE IF YOU CAN GO INTO A BIT MORE DETAIL. IT'S WITHIN THE PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET.

>> THE LAST TIME YOU ASKED ME A YES OR NO QUESTION, IT WAS MORE COMPLICATED THAN JUST MY NO,

BUT I WILL DO MY BEST. >> CASTILLO: IS CPS ENERGY CURRENTLY UNPROTECTED FROM

CYBER ATTACKS? >> NO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

IS CPS ENERGY CURRENTLY UNRELIABLE? >> NO, WE ARE HIGHLY RELIABLE.

>> CASTILLO: I WAS LOOKING AT -- AGAIN, I KNOW I ASKED THE QUESTION LAST TIME IF THIS PROPOSED RATE INCREASE IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE TEXAS GRID TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO

ROLLING BLACK OR BROWNOUTS. CAN YOU ANSWER THAT? >> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND

[03:30:04]

IS. >> CASTILLO: WITHIN THE 2024 CPS ENERGY BUDGET, THERE'S A BUCKET FOR CUSTOMER STRATEGY TOTAL FOR THE ENERGY DELIVERY SERVICES.

AND FOR CUSTOMER GROWTH THERE IS $88.9 MILLION. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT

COMPONENT OF THE BUDGET FOR SOME CLARIFICATION? >> I'LL GET MY CFO.

>> CUSTOMER GROWTH IS DEALING WITH CUSTOMER GROWTH. IT'S THE INSTALLATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU PUT IN FOR NEW BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS, HOMES, ET CETERA.

THE METERS, THE TRANSFORMERS. ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR A COMMUNITY THAT'S

GROWING LIKE OURS. YES. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I ASK BECAUSE MANY OF US, WE HAVE RECEIVED THOSE POSTCARDS BUT -- THANK YOU, CORY. WE RECEIVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I GET ASKED ARE WE CURRENTLY SUBSIDIZING GROWTH WITH OUR UTILITY BILL. AND I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT I ASKED THAT QUESTION ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE I KNOW WITH THE PROPOSED INCREASE THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S BEING REQUESTED FOR GROWTH. AND I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR RESIDENTS EVERY MONTH INVEST IN CPS ENERGY. I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THAT THEIR CURRENT BILL IS AN INVESTMENT IN ALL OF THESE PILLARS YOU ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO BE SURE THAT I TH THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR ENERGY-BURDENED RESIDENTS BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT GOING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO EVERYONE. AND EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT AGAIN THAT THIS IS AN IMPACT THAT ALL SAN ANTONIANS ARE GOING TO FEEL, WHETHER YOU'RE A DUAL INCOME HOUSEHOLD, HAVE MULTIPLE DEGREES, IT WAS CITED HOW MANY LAYOFFS WE HAVE SEEN AND THESE ARE IN COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIES. IT'S NOT JUST THE FOLKS ON THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC LADDER, IT'S FOLKS ALL OVER THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE CUTS. AND I HEARD A COMMENT ABOUT 15 CENTS.

OUR FIELD OFFICE IS HOUSED IN A LIBRARY AND WE ALWAYS HAVE FOLKS ASKING US FOR A QUARTER.

THEY'RE ASKING US FOR A QUARTER TO TAKE THE BUS TO GET TO THEIR HOSPITALITY JOB DOWNTOWN ON ON THE RIVER WALK. I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE HOW MUCH 15 CENTS I5 S FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHEN TRYING TO GET TO WORK. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TH THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I WANT TO MAKE A POINT.

SOMETIMES WE THINK THAT VOTING FOR ONE THING MEANS ANOTHER WILL HAPPEN.

WE WILL STILL NEED TO DISCUSS HOW WE GET THE MONEY. THAT'S WHERE THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL WILL GUIDE DIRECTION ON THE ISSUE OF HOW. I KNOW COUNCILMAN WHYTE EVERY BUDGET WILL SAY LET'S CUT SPENDING. WE ARE ALLIES TODAY BUT WE WILL NOT BE ALLIES ON THAT ISSUE AND THE WAY HE WANTS TO GET HIS MONEY AND THAT IS OKAY.

I WILL NOT SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT IF I BELIEVE THIS BODY WILL DIRECT THE CUTTING OF OUR BUDGET FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ASK FOR EVERY YEAR. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TODAY OUR BUDGET IS GROWING. EVERY YEAR WE INCH CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE NEXT BILLION DOLLARS ADDED TO OUR BUDGET. WE'RE GOING TO BE AT $2 BILLION IN NO TIME, AND THAT INCLUDES THE REVENUE WE RECEIVE FROM CPS.

WE HAVE ROOM HERE TO DO RIGHT BY OUR CITIZENS. WE'VE SEEN THAT CPS CAN APPLY FOR AND WIN GRANTS. WE'VE LOOKED OVER OUR OWN BUDGET IN GREAT DETAIL TO FIND CUTS BUT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME EVERYONE HERE LOOKED WITH AS MUCH VIGOR AT CPS'S BUDGET? WHICH WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CHECKED FOR CUTS TO BE MADE THERE? DO YOU KNOW WHERE CUTS COULD BE MADE? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE REALLY SCRUTINIZED CPS'S DECISION MAKING OUTSIDE OF WHEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR RATE INCREASES? I'M CONFIDENT THERE ARE MAJOR CUTS THAT COULD BE MADE THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT SERVICES OR OUR GOALS THE SAME WAY WE SURELY HAVE ROOM IN SOME MAJOR PARTS OF OUR GENERAL BUDGET. SUPPORTING A REDUCTION IN THIS INCREASE HAND SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT INHERENTLY A VOTE TO REDUCE CITY SERVICES, ESPECIALLY AT THE RATE THAT OUR BUDGET HAS GROWN. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR MY COLLEAGUES WHO MAY BE ON THE

FENCE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TO THE POINT MY COLLEAGUE JUST MADE, I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION. IF WE VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT TO REDUCE THE RATE THAT WE ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO PAY TO CPS, THAT RATE IS BEING PAID BY THE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

BUT WE WOULD BE ASKING TO SUPPLEMENT THAT FROM DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS PEOPLE THAT ARE RESIDENTS OF COSA PAY FOR OUR GENERAL FUND. SO CAN YOU VERIFY THAT THAT

[03:35:01]

THE ADDITIONAL 2.5%? >> WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

25%% OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO .

>> KAUR: THAT INCLUDES OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE COSA.

THAT'S WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. WE WOULD BE TAKING THIS OUTSIDE

OF COSA RESIDENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? I'LL MAKE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER

VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THE AMENDMENT FIRST AND

THEN GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME IN ON -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN A SECOND TIME, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BETWEEN THE VOTES, IF YOU

WOULD LIKE. >> VIAGRAN: YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BUT THIS IS ONE DISCUSSION, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY SAID. I'LL MAKE MY FINAL REMARKS HERE. COULD I PULL UP SLIDE 14? I SHOW THIS TO SAY THAT ONE OF OUR GOALS IN ALL OF THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS OF CPS WE STILL MAINTAIN THE MOST AFFORDABLE RATES IN THE STATE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT. AS YOU CAN SEE, EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED 4.25% CPS RATE INCREASE, WE WILL STILL BE LOWER THAN THE CURRENT RATES OF ALL OF OUR PEER CITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I HAVE SEEN THE OTHER GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE 20 PEERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE'RE STILL THE FIRST OR SECOND LOWEST.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS COST BURDENED AND I'M NOT GOING TO BEGIN TO MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHAT 15 CENTS A MONTH OR $5 A MONTH MEAN FOR FOLKS.

WE KNOW IT'S HARD. IT'S VERY HARD. AND I WILL TELL YOU UP HERE WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S CANDOR AND DISCUSSION ON THIS BECAUSE WE WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STRETCH EVERY PENNY FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHAT'S ON THE TABLE WITH REGARD TO AN AMENDMENT IS TO REDUCE THE RATE BY WHICH WE WILL FUND CPS ENERGY AND THE ESSENTIALS THAT IT NEEDS. I WILL TELL YOU WITH 100% SURETY WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE BOARD HERE TODAY, WE SCRUB THAT BUDGET EVERY SINGLE MONTH THAT WE'RE IN FRONT OF OUR PUBLIC AND OUR BOARD MEETINGS.

AND WE EXPECT THAT FROM THE CPS ENERGY STAFF. AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT.

WHAT WE HAVE CONCLUDED IS AFTER NEARLY A DECADE OF NO RATE ADJUSTMENTS, BASED ON COST INCREASES, ET CETERA, WE HAVE BEEN SEVERELY UNDERINVESTING IN CPS ENERGY AND WE'VE GOT TO CATCH UP. WE'VE GOT TO CATCH UP FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CYBERSECURITY, PHYSICAL SECURITY, CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS, THE OPERATING SYSTEMS OF THE UTILITY, ET CETERA. PERSONNEL. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS HERE IN THE GREEN SHIRTS, OUR LINEMEN, RUDY ARE HERE, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF THOSE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE OUT THERE WHEN IT'S IN THE WORST CONDITIONS KEEPING YOUR LIGHTS ON. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS ESSENTIAL CITY FUNCTION FUNCTIONS WHEN WE NEED IT.

NOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS RATE INCREASE MEANS FOR A PARTICULAR FAMILY BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE ANSWER TO THAT PROBLEM IS NOT TO CONTINUE TO UNDERFUND THE UTILITY. JUST LIKE THE ANSWER TO THE UNDERINVESTMENT THAT'S OCCURRED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES -- AND THE REASON WHY WE'VE GOT CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN WITH SIDEWALKS FALLING APART WHILE OTHER SIDES OF TOWN ENJOY A BRAND NEW ONE, IS NOT CONTINUE TO UNDERINVEST IN THE CITY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS EVERY YEAR. THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF THE BUDGET THAT TRIES TO STRETCH EVERY CENT. AND WE INCREASED, WE MAXED OUT OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THIS YEAR. WE DROPPED OUR TAX RATE TWO YEARS IN A ROW. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR.

IN FACT, ERIK, FINANCIAL OF THE POLICY OF THE CITY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SAYS WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE TAX RATE AND POTENTIALLY ADJUST IT DOWN IF WE DON'T NEED TO SEE THOSE REVENUE INCREASES EVERY YEAR. BY POLICY WE'RE GOING TO SCRUB THAT BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THE ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH UNDERINVESTMENT IN OUR UTILITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT BASIC FUNCTION TAKEN CARE OF AND THE UNDERINVESTMENT IN THE CITY, WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, ET CETERA IS NOT TO CONTINUE THAT PATTERN BUT TO DO IT IN A BALANCED, CONSCIOUS WAY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU NOBODY UP HERE -- YOU'VE HEARD IT A NUMBER OF TIMES -- WANTS TO DO THIS. LEAST OF ALL ME. I'VE GOT TO VOTE ON IT MORE THAN ONCE. BUT THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE THOSE

[03:40:05]

AND SO I WILL NOT SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT AND I WILL SUPPORT THE CPS RATE REQUEST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, IT'S MEASURED AND IT'S CONSCIOUS OF ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING IN THE COMMUNITY. I CAN'T SAY THAT MORE EMPHATICALLY.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AN AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE CITY'S -- WHICH WILL CUT THE RATE INCREASE IN HALF BUT ALSO REDUCE THE CITY'S BUDGET BY $42.5 MILLION IN THE COMING YEAR, WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT, FIGURE OUT HOW THAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S THE AMENDMENT ON THE TABLE. DID I PHRASE THAT CORRECTLY,

ANDY? >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, THE MOTION IS TO REDUCE IT BY HALF.

THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS ARE THE BUDGET ONES THAT WERE DISCUSSED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE AMENDMENT IS ON THE TABLE. I WILL NOT SUPPORT IT.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION FAILS. WE'LL GO NOW TO THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED 4.25% INCREASE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND

FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO DO WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I AM NOT OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT -- BECAUSE I SAT ON THAT RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT WE NEED A RATE INCREASE. I JUST THINK, GIVEN MORE TIME, GIVEN MORE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THE NUMBER OF POSTCARDS WE GOT, WE RECEIVED. WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE SUPPORT.

SO I AM SUPPORTING THE RATE INCREASE TODAY WITH THE CLEAR EXPECTATION THAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT I'M GETTING FROM THE CPS TEAM THROUGH YVONNE AND ALL OF YOU THAT I HAVE MET. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT CONFIDENCE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GO WITH ME OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE THAT THIS INVESTMENT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. WHILE I WOULD LIKE IT TO COME IN SMALLER INCREMENTS AND FIND AN ALTERNATE WAY TO REDUCE IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET CREATIVE AND LOOK AT IT THROUGH POSSIBLY REBATES, RATE REFORM, RATE RESTRUCTURING, BUT THAT ONLY COMES IF WE GET THE TECHNOLOGY. AND I KNOW THAT.

SO I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY, FOR WORKING SO HARD.

FOR MY BINDER FULL OF PRESENTATIONS. I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. BUT, AGAIN, MY PRIORITY IS NOT JUST -- IT IS THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY BUT IT IS ALL THE RATEPAYERS OF CPS.

AND I THINK BY WORKING TOGETHER AND LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS, WE CAN BECOME THAT TOP-TIER

UTILITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. JUST A PROCEDURAL NOTE, WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, AS ALLUDED TO, BY COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO AND COUNCILMEMBER KAUR ON THE MARCH B SESSION, IF NOT SOONER, ON THE ADP ALIGNMENTS THAT WERE DISCUSSED UP HERE.

WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL -- >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, IF I MAY, QUICK CLARIFYING POINT BEFORE THERE'S A VOTE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS RUDY MADE TO THE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS CERTAIN ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT COMMITMENT IS TO WORK WITH HIS STAFF AND HIS BOARD TO COME BACK WITH EITHER PROPOSALS THEY HAVE TO APPROVE OR PROPOSALS THAT WILL COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT TO CLARIFY THERE'S NO CONTINGENCIES IN TERMS OF THE VOTE THE COUNCIL'S TAKING WITH RESPECT TO THE RATE INCREASE.

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

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4.

[03:45:08]

[Capital Improvements  ]

11 AND 12, ARE THEY TOGETHER? >> VIAGRAN: THEY CAN BE TOGETHER.

DO WE NEED TO TAKE THEM SEPARATELY, ANDY? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE

ONE DISCUSSION AND TWO VOTES ON 11 AND 12, ANDY. >> SEGOVIA: ONE DISCUSSION,

TWO VOTES. >> CLERK: ITEM NO. 11 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH E-Z BEL CONSTRUCTION,LLC IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,859,489.15 OF WHICH $144,900 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM FOR NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOYD CURL DRIVE. FUNDING IS FROM THE 2022 GENERAL OB BAKINGS BOND PROGRAM. ITEM NO. 12 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH E-Z BEL CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,559,750.75 OF WHICH $3,635,800.60 WILL BE FUNDED BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

$14,000 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM AND $1,000 WILL BE REIMBURSED BY CPS ENERGY FOR THE HAMILTON WOLFE CYCLE TRACK PROJECT. FUNDING OF $908,950.15 IS FROM PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDS AND INCLUDED IN THE FY2024-29

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO

SPEAK. DICK MCNAIR. >> I GUESS GOOD AFTERNOON , MAYOR, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M DICK MCNAIR AND I'M PRESIDENT OF PROJECT CONTROL. WE ALSO REPRESENT THE MEDICAL CENTER ALLIANCE.

WE STARTED AT THE MEDICAL CENTER IN 2004 AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE AWARD OF E-Z BEL CONSTRUCTION. SINCE 2004 ABOUT $110 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALLIANCE HAS INVESTED $31 MILLION, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 30%. WE HAVE COMPLETED 11 PHASES AND THOSE PHASES SOMETIMES INCLUDE ONE INTERSECTION OR MORE COMPONENTS. E-Z BEL HAS BEEN THE SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTOR ON SIX OR HALF OF THOSE, MORE THAN HALF. AND THEY HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB. IN FACT, WE DO PREFER E-Z BEL OVER OTHER CONTRACTORS OUT THERE. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALLIANCE HAS A BIG STAKE IN THE CONSTRUCTION. E-Z BEL HAS WORKED VERY WELL WITH STAKEHOLDERS, TRAFFIC CONTROL AS WELL. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT E-Z BEL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> HAVRDA: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I PULLED THESE ITEMS, 11 AND 12, TO PROVIDE DETAILS REGARDING CONCERNS ABOUT THIS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT WERE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION ABOUT THE QUALITY OF WORK AND RESPONSIVENESS BY E-Z BEL CONSTRUCTION ON PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 3. WE DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROJECTS. WE NEED CONSTRUCTION. MY CONCERN IS I'M NOT SURE IF THE BANDWIDTH IS THERE FOR E-Z BEL TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION.

I DID WANT TO ASK ANDY REGARDING OUR RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS.

OUR RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS ORDINANCE THAT WE COMPLETED. IF A CONTRACTOR IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO A CITY COUNCIL OFFICE OR TO THE BUSINESSES, HOW CAN WE BRING THAT TO

PEOPLE'S ATTENTION? >> SEGOVIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

I DO HAVE THE RESPONSIBLE BIDDER ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF ME.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WOULD PUT A COMPANY POTENTIALLY ON THE RESPONSIBLE BIDDER LIST. ONE OF THEM INCLUDES FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION AGAINST THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO CONSTRUCTION. ANOTHER ONE IS IF THERE IS A CONTRACT TERMINATION BEFORE

[03:50:02]

THE OTHER IS A HISTORY OF POOR PERFORMANCE, WHICH IS DOCUMENTED THROUGH OUR SCORE SHEET THAT WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS WE DEVELOPED TO MAKE SURE CONTRACTORS DO A VARIETY OF THINGS TO GIVE US ASSURANCE THAT THE WORK WILL BE PERFORMED AT A HIGH QUALITY AND ON TIME.

AMONGST THOSE THINGS THAT WE LOOK A AT AT THE CHECKLIST IS RESPONSIVENESS TO THE CITY STAFF AND OTHER THIRD-PARTY STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS OF ISSUES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, AS PART OF THAT CHECK SHEET, WE CERTAINLY CAN INCLUDE

RESPONSIVENESS TO INQUIRIES FROM COUNCIL STAFF ON THAT. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, ANDY.

I THINK I JUST WANT THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE COUNCILMEMBER IN DISTRICT 8 TO KNOW SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE HAVE HAD IN THIS LATEST PROJECT, WHICH IS THE SOUTH PRESA STREET ALONG WITH GEVERS STREET, WHICH IS A $16.9 MILLION.

PROBABLY THE LARGEST PROJECT. SINCE JANUARY 2022, E-Z BEL HAS AWARDED OVER $90 MILLION IN BOND PROJECTS BUT THE INCIDENTS IN DISTRICT 3 ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR SMALL B SMALL BUSINESSES AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES IS NOT BEING HEARD BY OUR CONTRACTOR. SO AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THERE WAS A RAW SEWAGE FLOOD INTO RESIDENTS' HOMES. THERE'S BEEN ISSUES IN TERMS OF TRYING TO REACH E-Z BEL REGARDING PARKING AND CONSTRUCTION CREWS REPEATEDLY TRESPASSING AND EQUIPMENT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. DESPITE NUMEROUS EFFORTS BY PUBLIC WORKS TO ADDRESS THE MATTER. THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ALONG GEVERS FEEL IGNORED AND ARE INADEQUATELY UPDATED AND E-Z BEL HAS SENT A LETTER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I WANT TO ENTER THESE INTO THE RECORD.

MY HOPE IS THAT BRINGING THIS TO ATTENTION AND LIGHT IS THAT -- IF YOU VOTE TODAY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD IN DISTRICT 8, THAT THEY DO BETTER IN DISTRICT 8 REGARDING -- AND WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE CONTRACTORS' PERFORMANCE AS THE PROJECT IS GOING ON.

AT THIS TIME I AM PULLING THE ITEM TO VOTE NO AGAINST THAT UNTIL I SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON MY PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN DISTRICT 3. AND I JUST ENCOURAGE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUE TO -- IF YOU GET CONTACTED, AND THAT WAS THE THING.

SOMEBODY TOLD A CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR TOLD THE BUSINESS OWNER TO CONTACT THE COUNCILMEMBER'S OFFICE. THAT'S HOW MY OFFICE GOT INVOLVED AND NOW THEY'RE CURRENTLY WEARING HARD HATS AND YELLOW VESTS AND HAVING TO PURCHASE STEEL-TOE SHOES TO HELP THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS PROJECT. I PULLED THESE ITEMS TO VOTE NO AND I JUST WANT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO BE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION.

THANK YOU. >> WALSH: MAYOR PRO TEM, JUST ONE THING.

IT IS COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CONTRACTOR, AN EMPLOYEE, WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS A CLAIM OR IS UNHAPPY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY IS DOING, FOR ANYONE TO EVER SAY CALL YOUR COUNCILPERSON. THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT AS A STANDARD. NEITHER FROM AN EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT NOR SOMEONE WE PAY TO DO A JOB. WHATEVER THE JOB IS.

AND SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE TALKED TO THE COMPANY.

I'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR. WE WILL INCORPORATE THAT AS PART OF THIS REVIEW.

AS ANDY WAS DESCRIBING. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FROM MY STANDPOINT AS WELL. REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE'RE PAYING THEM TO DO, IT COULD BE A CONTRACTOR DOING CONSTRUCTION, IT COULD BE DELIVERING PAPER PLATES AND PENCILS TO THE CITY. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I APPRECIATE THAT IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION, PLEASE ALERT ME BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE EXPECT AS ANYBODY THAT'S DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SORRY. I TOOK THE BALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAY.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS NOT WRONG. IF THAT HAPPENED, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

E-Z BEL, YOU GUYS HAVE SOME WORK TO DO TO PATCH UP THE RELATIONSHIP AT THIS OFFICE IN DISTRICT 3 AND CLEARLY YOU'VE GOT SOME UPSET CUSTOMERS IN THAT DISTRICT AND SOMEBODY CLEARLY -- I BELIEVE THEY'RE TELLING US IF THEY'RE UPSET, THEY'RE UPSET.

[03:55:04]

I'M STILL MUCH YOUNGER. YOU AND I, I TRUST YOU MORE THAN I TRUST ANYBODY WHEN IT COMES TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SCRUBBING THESE THINGS. I THINK YOU GUYS DID THE FLOYD CURL

>> PELAEZ: DON'T CONTRADICT A COUNCILMAN AGAIN. [LAUGHTER] BUT THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR PROJECTS AND STREETS THAT ARE JUST GORGEOUS IN THE DISTRICT AND I NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS. I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE BUT I DO THINK IT'S ON YOU GUYS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BROUGHT UP. IT'S FAIR THAT SHE'S ANGRY THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING HER AND GIVING HER HEAT. SO THAT'S MY MOTION. LOOKING FOR A SECOND.

THANK YOU. >> I'LL SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 11. COULD YOU STATE YOUR MOTION,

COUNCILMAN. >> PELAEZ: MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 11 AND 12.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 11 AND 12. DID I HEAR A SECOND ON BOTH OF THOSE?

>> YES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION NOW.

I DON'T HAVE A QUEUE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. THE CONTRACTOR SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

ARE YOU -- WOULD YOU MIND LETTING ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 2 THAT

THE CONTRACTOR HAS DONE? >> STEVEN PARK, PRESIDENT OF E-Z BEL CONSTRUCTION.

YES, WE ARE IN DISTRICT 2. WE'RE ON THE NEW BRAUNFELS PROJECT.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? I'M TRYING TO READ FACES HERE. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: I'LL JUST SAY -- RAZI, I'M SURE REMEMBERS THIS. WE HAD A VERY SERIOUS PROJECT THAT WAS GOING IN DISTRICT 9 AND IT ENDED UP BEING A YEAR PAST DUE AND E-Z BEL CAME IN AND REALLY SAVED THAT PROJECT FOR US. RAZI, HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER

COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR SERVICE TO YOUR DEPARTMENT? >> HOSSEINI: NO, COUNCILMAN.

NOT JUST HE HELPED US ON THE ALDINE DRAINAGE PROJECT, PRIOR TO THAT WHEN WE TERMINATED A

CONTRACT FOR BITTERS ROAD, THEY REALLY HELPED US. >> COURAGE: YEAH, THEY SAVED

TWO PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 9. >> HOSSEINI: THEY ASSISTED US ON OUR FAMOUS NORTH ST. MARY'S PROJECT. THEY HELPED US EXPEDITE THAT PROJECT SUMMER OF THIS YEAR.

THEY ALSO FINISHED COMMERCE STREET. THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR HAD SOME CHALLENGES FINISHING. THEY ARE ONE OF OUR BEST CONTRACTORS.

WE GO FOR THEM. THEY WORK EASILY. IN THIS CASE WE HAD SOME ISSUE. THEY UNDERSTAND AND THEY ARE GOING TO RESOLVE IT.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, RAZI. THAT'S WHY I SECONDED THE MOTION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. I WAS AFRAID THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MY CONCERN IS THE ATTITUDE IS DIFFERENT TOWARD THE NORTH SIDE THAN IT IS TOWARD THE SOUTHERN SECTOR. I'LL BE TALKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR WHO HAVE PROJECTS WITH E-Z BEL. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I'LL EXPLAIN MY ABRUPT ALMOST OUTBURST. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AWARE, NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS HAS UNDERGONE A LOT OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. IT HAS BEEN PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONTRACTOR AND AGAIN THIS IS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE THAT NOW THERE'S DISTRICTS 2, DISTRICTS 3 AREAS OF TOWN THAT ARE MARGINALIZED THAT ARE NOT BEING TREATED WELL AND WE TALK GENERALLY ABOUT CONTRACTORS ALL THE TIME WHO DO SO-SO WORK IN OUR DISTRICTS BUT GO TO THE NORTH SIDE AND PERFORM STELLAR WORK.

WHEN WE CONTRACT THESE FOLK TO DO WORK IN DISTRICT 3 AND 5, WE EXPECT THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT SAME QUALITY WORK AND THAT HAS BEEN NOT BEEN THE CASE AND I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED,

[04:00:03]

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER

MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. ROD, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> THESE ARE BOTH LOW-BID CONTRACTS SO THEY ARE A RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BID ON CONTRACTS. THEY SUBMITTED THE LOW BID SO THEY WERE SELECTED.

IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GIVE THEM THE CONTRACT AND FOLLOW THE PROCESS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON 11 AND 12? HEARING NONE, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 11 AND 12.

PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 25.

[Miscellaneous  ]

>> CLERK: ITEM NO. 25 IS AN ORDINANCE RESTATING THE RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SCHEDULING AND CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS AT CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO PULLED ITEM 25?

>> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR IT.

>> CASTILLO: DO YOU WANT THE PRESENTATION? >> CASTILLO:

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COULD WE GET A MOTION ON 25? >> VIAGRAN: I MAKE A MOTION

THAT WE MOVE 25 TO A B SESSION. >> WHYTE: I'LL MOTION TO

APPROVE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

AND THEN WHEN YOU GET UP TO YOUR TIME TO SPEAK, YOU CAN MAKE AN ALTERNATIVE, IF YOU

WOULD LIKE. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN WHYTE, FOR HIS ADVOCACY. WHEN HE CAME IN HE IDENTIFIED THERE WERE SOME HICCUPS WITH THE CCR PROCESS AND PROPOSED SOME SOLUTIONS. AND MY TEAM WENT BACK TO LOOK AT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE MET AND THE OVERALL SUBMITTED CCRS AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT ONLY HALF OF THE CCRS FILED WERE AGENDIZED AS WELL AS THE AVERAGE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TAKING 94 MINUTES AND THE AVERAGE ITEMS ON THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS ROUGHLY 2.5 AGENDA ITEMS. AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO CREATE A TIMELINE, LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE FROM 2011, THERE IS A STANDARD PROCESS THAT'S PUT FORTH IN THE ORDINANCE. AND THE ORDINANCE CALLS THAT REQUEST CONSIDERATION OF AN ACTION TO SET GENERAL CITY POLICY TO MAKE CHANGES IN GENERAL POLICY THAT MAY HAVE BUDGETARY OR FINANCIAL. TO CONSIDER AN ACTION THAT REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL STAFF WORK OR THAT REQUIRES A REDEVELOPMENT OF STAFF RESOURCES FROM AN EXISTING PRIORITY WILL BE PLACED ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENDA TO THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE BY THE CLERK, RIGHT? SO A CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT THERE'S ALREADY AN ORDINANCE THAT EXISTS WITH THE TIMELINE AND IF CREATING A NEW ORDINANCE FURTHER, THERE'S A COUPLE OF PILLARS AND CHANGES WITHIN THE PROPOSED -- WITHIN ITEM 25 THAT I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT PROCESS ORDINANCE STATES THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL NEITHER BE USED TO SCREEN POLICY OR OTHER CITY COUNCIL INITIATIVES OR BE USED AS A WAY TO ADVANCE ANY ONE ISSUE OR AGENDA OVER ANOTHER.

AND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF US TODAY TO APPROVE DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT LANGUAGE IS THAT IT ENSURES THAT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DOESN'T PLAY FAVORITES WITH POLICY REQUESTS. I GUESS MY QUESTION TO ANDY IS -- OR TO STAFF IS WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING THIS LANGUAGE WITH THE CURRENT

ITEM? >> SEGOVIA: THE ANSWER, COUNCILWOMAN, IS THAT THE ESTABLISHING THE REQUIRED TIMELINES, BOTH FOR PLACING ON THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND FOR THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TO ACT WOULD ESSENTIALLY REMOVE THAT REQUIREMENT OR THE STIPULATION THAT THAT NOT BE USED TO DELAY -- UNDULY DELAY ITEMS. IN SHORT, THE TIME LIMITS WERE MEANT TO ADDRESS THE LANGUAGE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, ANDY. AN ADDITIONAL OVERALL CONCERN I

[04:05:05]

AND WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN IS ANY CCR CAN BE KILLED WITHIN GOVERNANCE.

I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE THAT DEBATE AND CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MOVES FORWARD AND WHAT DOESN'T.

AND I JUST WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD A B SESSION ON THIS ITEM IN THAT IT DETERMINES WHAT KIND OF POLICY THAT WE CAN PUSH FOR ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENCY.

I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS. I DID HAVE A QUESTION, IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY, ANDY, AS WELL. THIS IN NO WAY WOULD REMOVE THE THREE-SIGNATURE MEMO PROCESS,

CORRECT? >> SEGOVIA: THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN.

THAT'S FOUND IN THE CITY CHARTER SO, YES, THE COUNCIL CANNOT CHANGE THE ABILITY OF

THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ANDY. AGAIN, ONE OF MY PRIORITIES OR MAIN CONCERNS IS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS, WHICH STATES THAT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DETERMINES FOR POLICY REASONS THAT THE ACTION SHOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL, THE COSTS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET. STAFF SHOULD RESEARCH, PRESENT TO THE COMMITTEE, AND AS A BODY WE DETERMINE WHAT MOVES FORTH AND NOT WHAT THINGS GET KILLED IN COMMITTEE . THAT'S NOT THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ONLY FOUR SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND IT TAKES FIVE SIGNATURES TO DRAFT A CCR SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN KILL A POLICY THAT CAN IMPACT THE WHOLE CITY WHEN, AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF CITY COUNCIL IS NOT BEING REPRESENTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT INPUT AND THEN HAVE THAT DIALOGUE. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT TO -- I GUESS CAN WE HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT -- I KNOW THERE'S OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS AS WELL. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO AMEND SECTION 4D4. TO REMOVE SECTION 4D4 WHICH READS THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DETERMINES FOR POLICY REASONS THAT THE ACTIONS SHOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY

COUNCIL BUDGET PRIORITIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE WAS A MOTION.

WAS THERE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR REMOVAL OF LANGUAGE -- WE'LL ASK YOU TO READ IT.

I FORGOT TO CALL UP ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. SO, JACK FINGER.

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

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. ON THIS ITEM, NO. 25, I LOOKED AT EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE MEMORANDUMS AND ALL THE BACK-UP DOCUMENTS ON IT BUT I NOTICED THERE'S ONE LITTLE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE WITH THIS THING. BEAR IN MIND EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS OKAY AS LONG AS IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT'S CONTRARY TO THE STATUTES AND ORDINANCES AND EVERYTHING ELSE BUT THERE'S ONE OTHER THING THAT I HAPPEN TO NOTICE AT THE VERY TAIL END. IT'S IN THE MEMORANDUM AND THE WRITING ON IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

AN EXCERPT FROM THE TAIL END OF THAT BACK UP DOCUMENT SAYS, QUOTE, THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL COMMITTEE MAY REMOVE THE CCR FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION IF -- AFTER A FEW OTHER POINTS -- THE LAST ASTERISK IS THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE DETERMINES FOR POLICY REASONS. LET ME REPEAT THAT. THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE DETERMINES FOR POLICY REASONS THAT THE ACTION SHOULD NOT BE RECOMMENDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. RETURN THE CAMERA NOW. YOU KNOW, WHAT POLICY REASONS? WELL, PICK ONE. OR ANY ONE. OR JUST PICK ANYTHING OUT OF THE AIR IF YOU NEED TO. BUT LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S A CCR OF NOT JUST FIVE BUT SAY SIX CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. THIS IS AN ISSUE WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND ESTABLISH AN ORDINANCE ON. BUT THE FIVE OTHER MEMBERS ON THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE SAY NO WE DON'T LIKE THAT FOR OUR OWN PERSONAL REASONS AND WE'LL JUST

[04:10:05]

YEAH. AND SO THEY SAY CONSEQUENTLY YOU SHALL NOT GET A CHANCE TO HAVE THIS ON YOUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. NOW, MAYBE THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE FARFETCHED BUT THERE IS THAT POSSIBILITY. SIX MEMBERS OF YOU SIGNING THAT CCR. THE OTHER FIVE ON THE COMMITTEE SAYING NO.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE PERMISSION TO DO THAT BECAUSE SOME POLICY THAT WE HAVE -- WE THINK OF. NOW, JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD IDEA TO ME.

A MINORITY CONTROLLING THE MAJORITY. TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

IT'S ON THE TAIL END OF THAT MEMORANDUM, THE AGENDA MEMO THERE.

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

LET ME JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS REAL QUICK AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE AND KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF AD HOC COMMITTEES AND A COUPLE OF HYBRID COMMITTEES, THERE ARE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON EVERY COMMITTEE. ANY COMMITTEE CAN KILL ANYTHING.

BECAUSE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT SOMETIMES WHEN THERE'S THEIR CONSCIENCE. IF SOMETHING DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD FROM A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VOTES, THAT'S THE WAY IT LIES.

IN SOME WAYS THAT LANGUAGE IS EXTRANEOUS, ANDY, AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S CONFUSION ON THIS. I WOULD SUPPORT US IF THERE'S CONFUSION RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES ON THE FLY, JUST HAVING A B SESSION WE CAN HAMMER ALL THIS OUT MORE CLEANLY. I KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE A PROPOSAL MADE.

JUST A SUGGESTION AS WE CONTINUE FORWARD ON THE DIALOGUE.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, THANKS, MAYOR.

I THINK I'VE TALKED WITH ALL OF YOU ABOUT THIS FOR SOME MONTHS NOW BECAUSE IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO HAMMER SOMETHING OUT. LOOK, I GOT ON TO COUNCIL AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE CCR PROCESS AND FRANKLY IT WAS JUST BROKEN. IT WAS BROKEN.

THERE WERE CCRS NOT BEING HEARD AT ALL. THERE WERE CCRS THAT WEREN'T HEARD UNTIL SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THEY WERE FILED. AND AS COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO POINTS OUT, THE ORDINANCE THAT'S IN PLACE RIGHT NOW SAYS THAT THEY MUST GO ON THE FOLLOWING -- ON THE NEXT GOVERNANCE AGENDA. IT ALSO SAYS THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY CLERK IS SUPPOSED TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. BUT THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THAT MAYBE THAT WASN'T WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AND THAT IT WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS BEING DONE BY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR AND SO REGARDLESS I DON'T WANT TO POINT FINGERS OR RE-LITIGATE THE PAST BUT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE TO CLARIFY WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THAT'S WHEN I APPROACHED THE MAYOR AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE WITH ME TO GET A PROCESS. I APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA AS WELL WHO I WENT TO QUITE A BIT TO ASK HER, WELL, HOW IS THIS SUPPOSED TO WORK? WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? HOW CAN WE DO THIS BETTER? THAT'S WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THIS NEW PROPOSED ORDINANCE. WITH RESPECT TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S AMENDMENT, THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT I DISCUSSED WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER AND JUST AS THE MAYOR JUST STATED, IT'S BEEN SAID TO ME THAT COMMITTEES CAN ALWAYS KILL ANYTHING.

I MEAN, SOMETHING COULD GO FROM GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN TO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, I GUESS, AND THEN THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COULD END UP TERMINATING THE PROPOSED POLICY THERE. SO I WASN'T SURE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED SECTION 4 IN THERE OR NOT. IT WAS TOLD TO ME THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, BY ITS VERY NAME.

AND SO THEY DO GET TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THINGS FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

BUT, LOOK, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO VOTE ON SOMETHING IF THEY ARE NOT CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE DOING. BY THE SAME TOKEN I'M NOT A FAN OF PUSHING THIS DOWN THE ROAD TO A B SESSION BECAUSE I THINK -- ERIK, TELL ME WHEN IS THE NEXT B SESSION THAT'S

AVAILABLE. JANUARY WHAT? >> WALSH: SO RIGHT NOW ON OUR

[04:15:07]

THE NEXT AVAILABLE ONE WE COULD MAYBE MOVE IS THE END OF FEBRUARY OR WE COULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE COUNCIL, AN AFTERNOON SESSION IN JANUARY ON A NON-ZONING.

WE COULD DO A 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU GUYS DECIDE AND WE'LL MAKE

IT WORK. >> WHYTE: AGAIN, IF THERE'S -- I WOULD BE READY TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS TODAY BUT I AM RESPECTFUL OF THE FACT IF THERE'S CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT'S HERE BY MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF HERE AND YOU'RE WILLING TO DO A SPECIAL B SESSION IN JANUARY -- BECAUSE THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS WAS TO GET THIS THING RIGHT SO WE COULD MOVE INTO 2024 AND EVERYBODY KNOW THE RULES AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MOVE THE CCRS ALONG, AS THEY SHOULD BE. I DON'T WANT TO GO PAST JANUARY.

SO IF EVERYBODY WANTS A SPECIAL B SESSION IN JANUARY AND THEN WE CAN GET IT BACK HERE TO A

SESSION, I'M OKAY WITH THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YES. I THINK WE SHOULD DO A SPECIAL SESSION IN JANUARY TO ADDRESS THE CCR ON CCRS. I THINK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO HAS BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD POINTS. I KNOW COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ HAS SOME AMENDMENTS. I JUST HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I THINK WE NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE MAKEUP CURRENTLY OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. I THINK -- AND THE FACT THAT COMMITTEES ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND WHILE WE HAVE A GREAT MAYOR RIGHT NOW, THIS IS GOING TO WORK THROUGH THE FUTURE AND WE MAY NOT HAVE A GREAT MAYOR ONE DAY. OUR FUTURE COUNCILS MIGHT NOT AND WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO. SO I MAKE A MOTION WE MOVE THIS FORWARD TO SPECIAL SESSION FOR THE FIRST WEEK IN JANUARY THAT COUNCIL IS BACK. OR THE FIRST AVAILABLE TIME IN

JANUARY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR MOVING THIS ITEM, WHICH TO CLARIFY WAS NOT A CCR OF CCRS. IT WAS JUST A PROPOSAL ON THE CCR ORDINANCE TO A TIME TO BE DETERMINED IN JANUARY. I WOULD JUST ASK FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE JANUARY'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING WITH GETTING BACK FROM VACATION AND ALL THAT STUFF, IF FOLKS ARE TAKING VACATION.

NOT ME. SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT. >> SEGOVIA: IF I MIGHT SUGGEST, MAYOR, THE MOTION COULD BE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SESSION ON IT NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT ERIK WOULD FIND, IF HE CAN, A TIME IN JANUARY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SOUND GOOD? OKAY.

WITH CONCURRENCE OF THE COUNCILMAN, A TIME NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY.

SO THAT'S -- SO NOW WE HAVE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR. WE'LL VOTE ON THAT ONE FIRST.

YOU'RE GOING TO WITHDRAW? NOW WE JUST HAVE THE ONE MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO A B SESSION -- OR MOVE THIS ITEM TO A B SESSION, SPECIAL OR OTHERWISE, NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY. WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYBODY THAT STILL WANTS TO SPEAK ON

THE ITEM? >> SEGOVIA: I DO, MAYOR, ONLY TO CLARIFY AGAIN.

AS I SAID, I HAVE TO DO IT EVERY TIME. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, YOU KNOW, MADE AT LEAST A SUGGESTION THAT WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE.

THE KEY DIFFERENCE IS THE ORDINANCE ADDRESSES THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF COUNCIL.

THEREFORE, FRANKLY, IT'S UP TO COUNCIL ON HOW YOU WANT TO MANAGE YOURSELVES.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO LEGAL LIABILITY TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT FAITHFULLY ADHERING

TO THE ORDINANCE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ANDY.

I'LL JUST ALSO MAKE ONE POINT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS BIGGER THAN WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD TRUMP YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS THE CITY CHARTER. SO YOU STILL RETAIN ALL OF YOUR POWERS WITH YOUR VOTE AT A

[04:20:05]

>> WHYTE: ANDY, I HEAR YOU ON THAT BUT THERE'S NO POINT PASSING AND HAVING AN ORDINANCE IF COUNCIL'S WITHOUT QUESTION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA WHICH OUR OFFICE DID AND IT TOOK A WHILE AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY ON MY TEAM FROM DOING THAT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA FROM THE PAST FOUR YEARS OF CCRS BEING FILED AND WHAT'S GETTING ON TO THE GOVERNANCE AGENDA AND WHAT'S NOT AND HOW LONG IT'S TAKING, WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE. AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THE PUBLIC, RIGHT, LOSES FAITH IN GOVERNMENT WHEN WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING OUR OWN RULES. AND I HEARD A TON ON THE CAMPAIGN ADDITIONALLY ABOUT THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO TRACK AND FOLLOW A CCR. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE PUT IN THIS REVISED ORDINANCE IS CREATING A DASHBOARD SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN, OKAY, A CCR WAS FILED ON THIS DAY, IT'S GOING TO GOVERNANCE ON THIS DAY, IT MOVED TO THIS COMMITTEE, HERE'S WHEN IT'S GOING TO A SESSION, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO PROMOTE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING UP HERE. I HEAR YOU FROM THE LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT FROM A GOOD GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW ORDINANCE

AND WE NEED TO FOLLOW IT. >> SEGOVIA: WE'RE IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT, I WOULD PREFER THE ORDINANCE FOLLOW THE PRACTICE. THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD HAVE

ANY LEGAL CLAIM WOULD BE A COUNCILMEMBER. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. AND I GUESS I'LL JUST ADD ONE MORE THING, THAT THE PRACTICE THAT WE FOLLOWED IS NOT MATERIALLY DIFFERENT, I WOULD ARGUE, BUT WE'RE GOING HAN WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. BUT WE'LL GET A PROCESS AND BETTER TRANSPARENCY SO EVERYONE AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION FEELS SATISFIED.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS MOVE TO THE -- WHAT JUST HAPPENED? I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS MOVE TO B SESSION AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL. I HAD AN AMENDMENT I WANTED TO PROPOSE AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER WE ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS. I THINK GENERALLY THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO NEW COUNCILMEMBERS IS TO BE MINDFUL OF THE CCRS THAT YOU ARE SUBMITTING AND PLAY THE GAME. THERE'S STRATEGY BEHIND EVERYTHING. IF YOU KNOW WHO IS ON GOVERNANCE, YOU KNOW WHAT POLICIES THEY ARE GOING TO BE FAVORABLE OF AND THAT'S HOW WE MOVE.

THE PROBLEM THEN IS WHEN YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME BUT THERE'S A SINGLE CHAIR, IF THE MAYOR CAN DECIDE NOT TO AGENDIZE SOMETHING THUS KILLING A PROPOSAL OR IF THERE'S A SINGLE COMMITTEE CHAIR WHO DECIDES I'M NEVER GOING TO AGENDIZE THIS AND I THINK THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIX AND MY AMENDMENT WOULD SEEK TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT WOULD DO THAT AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY MUCH MORE ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF CC RS AND HOW WE FULFILL POLICIES BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST POWERFUL TOOLS AS COUNCILMEMBERS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ.

>> PELÁEZ: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND I TOLD YOU I WAS PLANNING ON SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT.

AND THEN HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ERIK AND THE MAYOR AND THEY CONVINCED ME MAYBE THAT WASN'T SO WISE. THEY TOLD ME SOME THINGS THAT SORT OF SET ME STRAIGHT. AND ERIK AND I HAD A LATE-NIGHT CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT ABOUT THIS AND I WAS PLANNING TO VOTE NO ON SENDING THIS TO A B SESSION.

WHAT I WANT TO MAKE IS COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONTOURS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A B SESSION. I'M COMING IN HOT RIGHT NOW. I AM SO PISSED OFF AT SOMETHING I FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT. I'LL TELL YOU ALL I HAVE A -- I HAD A CCR MY FIRST YEAR AND IT WAS KILLED AT GOVERNANCE.

IT SUCKS. IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN TO YOU.

LIKE COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ SAID, THAT'S THE GAME AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL COMMITTEES CAN KILL, YOU KNOW, AN INITIATIVE.

BUT DURING THE LAST BUDGET SESSION, I WENT AND I GATHERED ALL THE TEACHERS ON THIS DAIS THAT THE -- THAT HAD AGREED TO SIGN OFF ON A CCR REGARDING SCHOOL HARDENING. AND OKAY, I MEAN VOTED UP, VOTED DOWN, SEND IT TO GOVERNANCE, KILLED IT IN GOVERNANCE. THE REASON I'M SEEING RED

[04:25:02]

LOOK, WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE MANNY'S CCR ANVIL ON THE VINE AND DIE.

THAT'S THE REASON WE NEED THIS FLEXIBILITY. MARC, DON'T BE UNREASONABLE.

THAT'S WRONG. I WAS TOTALLY PREPARED BEFORE LAST NIGHT TO SUPPORT AND SAY LET'S MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEGOTIATED IMPERFECT RESULT, BUT THAT'S WRONG.

AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME AND SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN TO ME HOW A CYNICAL CONVERSATION LIKE THAT IS OKAY. BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I'M GOING INTO THIS B SESSION READY TO BE REALLY OPEN-MINDED ABOUT HOW THE CCR PROCESS CAN ALSO BE ABUSED. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELÁEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE THE CCR ORDINANCE DISCUSSION TO A B SESSION NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. WE DO HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S

REPORT? >> WALSH: GIVEN OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS FIVE DAYS FROM NOW I'LL HOLD THAT AND I'LL ADD IT TO OUR COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. TIME IS NOW 1:35 P.M. ON

[Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ]

AND WE WILL FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE EARLY FOR ZONING, WE'LL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE DELAYED. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY ABOUT 2:30.

I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY DELAY. IF IT GOES PAST THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COME BACK OUT HERE AND GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS NECESSARY. WE'LL TRY NOT TO KEEP ANYBODY HERE

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

CITY COUNCIL IS RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 2:40 P.M.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. SO OUR

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.