[00:00:07]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. THE TIME IS 10:04 A.M. ON THE 21ST DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA THE CONSIDERATION OF VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS. BEFORE THAT, THOUGH, WE DO HAVE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 22. THEY'RE IN YOUR PACKET SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE MINUTES OF JANUARY 22. IS THERE ANY CLARIFICATION? ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MEETING, AND WE DO BLOCK THESE OUT FOR APPOINTMENTS ON OUR MAJOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, IS THE REAPPOINTMENT, CONSIDERATION OF FOUR REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES . I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO OF OUR TRUSTEES HERE.
WE WERE EXPECTING MELANIE SO WE REACHED OUT TO HER AND SHE'S IN TRANSIT.
SO WHAT I WILL DO -- I WAS JUST GOING TO HAVE YOU ALL COME UP AS A GROUP AND JUST TAKE SOME TIME, AS YOU SEE FIT, TO BRIEF US ON YOUR EXPERIENCES AND JUST TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK AND WHY YOU WANT TO BE REAPPOINTED. BUT SINCE MELANIE'S NOT HERE AND WE DO EXPECT HER TO BE HERE, WHY DON'T WE JUST DO ONE AT A TIME AND THAT WAY WE'LL BUY A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR HER.
YOU KNOW, ATHALIE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST -- WHAT'S THAT? >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NO, YOU CAN STAY. SO WE'LL HEAR A STATEMENT FROM YOU, ATHALIE. YOU KNOW, TAKE THREE MINUTES. AND THEN WE MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. IF NOT, WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO LAURA.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS, ATHALIE. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM ATHALIE MALONE.
I AM APPLYING FOR MY FINAL TWO-YEAR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE VIA BOARD.
I -- HOW DO I SAY THIS? I HAVE -- I JOINED THE BOARD TO BASICALLY, AT FIRST, TO MAKE SURE CERTAIN THINGS WERE TAKEN CARE OF THAT I SAW GOING ON. WITHIN THE POWER TRANSIT AND THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. I HAVE SINCE WORKED WITHIN VIA TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER FOR THE RIDERS, SUCH AS NOVULENS IS AN APP FOR THE BLIND THAT HELPS THEM NAVIGATE BUS SYSTEMS. IT IS NOW GOING OUT TO 6,000 BUS STOPS IN OUR SYSTEM. NOT ONLY WILL IT HELP THE BLIND, IT WILL HELP THOSE WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH. THERE'S STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE AND I AM HERE TO HELP THAT WORK BE DONE, ESPECIALLY ON THE ART AND MANY OTHER LITTLE THINGS HERE AND THERE TO HELP NOT ONLY THE DISABLED, THE ELDERLY, AND OTHER ECONOMICALLY
DISADVANTAGED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ATHALIE.
I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ATHALIE MALONE ON HER
REAPPOINTMENT. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. AND, AS A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE VIA BOARD, OF REALLY EVERYBODY, BUT PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAY HAVE DIFFERENT ABILITIES, DO YOU THINK THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE BOARD FORWARD ON IN THE AREA OF WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES? >> IT'S A CONTINUING SAGA. I'LL PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE. ON SATURDAY WE HAD THE DEPUTY CEO AND THE VP OF OPERATIONS COME OUT TO ONE OF THE DISABLED CHAPTERS WITHIN THE CITY TO TALK TO THEM, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE. TO HEAR THEIR COMPLAINTS. TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT OBSERVATIONS OF WHAT CAN BE DONE. IT IS ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
[00:05:06]
IT'S NOT JUST YOU GO IN THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE. NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERY NEW THING THAT COMES IN, THAT IT FITS WELL WITHIN THE DISABLED COMMUNITY OR OTHER COMMUNITIES.RIGHT NOW THE ART, I KNOW WHEN THEY STARTED THEY HAD CERTAIN BUS STOPS AND THEY ASKED ME TO LOOK AT THE BUS STOPS. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BUS STOPS, I SAID, OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S IN A WHEELCHAIR BUT IF THE SUN HITS THAT JUST RIGHT, SOMEBODY VISUALLY IMPAIRED CAN'T SEE THE BUS STOP. THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOST.
SO IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. THERE'S ALWAYS WORK TO BE DONE. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING THERE AND CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR THOSE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE
DONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, MS. ATHALIE FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM. MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS? I HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'VE HAD, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
BUT WHAT ARE SOME GOALS THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT GO AROUND? >> THE GOALS THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS IS TO MAKE SURE -- WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY TO MAKE SURE.
THE ART IS COMING. BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ART IS NOT ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED, BUT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY. TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ART BRINGS WHAT WE WANT IT TO BRING. MOST ESPECIALLY ON THE EAST AND WEST CORRIDOR.
FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE AT EDUCATION, AT JOBS, AND AT JUST
LIVING THEIR LIFE INDEPENDENTLY HOW THEY WANT. >> GARCIA: GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. ATHALIE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR APPLYING, MA'AM. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU HERE. I USED TO, A LONG TIME AGO I USED TO SERVE ON THE SAME BOARD, AS YOU DO TODAY. IT'S HARD WORK AND I APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICE. I AM VERY CONCERNED -- AND IT'S LESS OF A QUESTION AND MORE OF A REQUEST. AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, MY CHALLENGE TO YOU AND TO THE REST OF THE BOARD IS TO REALLY BE INTENTIONAL AND LEAN INTO THIS ISSUE OF HEAT AND SHADE.
AS I DRIVE THROUGH SAN ANTONIO, PARTICULARLY UP AN DOWN MY DISTRICT, I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE NO OTHER WAY OF GETTING AROUND BUT FOR THE VIA OPTION. AND THEY STAND THERE WITH NO SHADE ON THE HOTTEST DAYS, RECORD HEAT, RIGHT? AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO. REFUGEES, THE ELDERLY.
CAN I GET A COMMITMENT FROM YOU TO LEAN INTO THAT AND HELP PUSH YOUR BOARD MEMBERS TO INVEST IN SHADE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO, OTHER THAN A BUS STOP.
>> AT THIS TIME I KNOW THERE IS PLANS IN THE WORK FOR MORE SHADED BUS STOPS.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL OUT. BUT, YES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE SEEN ALSO WITH ME TAKING THE BUS MYSELF EVERY NOW AND THEN.
YEAH. THAT HEAT ON A SUMMER DAY AIN'T NICE.
BUT I KNOW THERE ARE PLANS IN THE WORKS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE PLANS IN THE WORKS.
I AM JUST NOT SURE OF THE TIMELINE. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YES, I WILL COMMIT TO PUSHING FOR THEM TO GET EVEN MORE OF THEM OUT THERE.
>> PELAEZ: YOU KNOW, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, MY SERVICE ON THAT BOARD WAS 2008-2009 AND WE ALSO HEARD INCESSANTLY ABOUT PLANS IN THE WORKS. THAT NEVER AMOUNTED TO MUCH.
TODAY I DRIVE UP AND DOWN THE EXACT SAME CORRIDORS WHERE IT WAS HOT WAY BACK WHEN WAITING FOR THOSE PLANS TO COME TO FRUITION. AGAIN, I ADMIRE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. I THINK YOU'RE DOING GREAT. MY REQUEST FOR YOU IS TO REMIND EVERYBODY OVER THERE PLANS ARE CHEAP UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY EXECUTE THEM.
GOOD LUCK, MA'AM. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, ATHALIE FOR BEING HERE.
THIS ACTUALLY IS GOING TO GO FOR ALL OF YOU. I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR STRONG ADVOCACY FOR ALL RIDERS, ALL OF YOUR RIDERS, BOTH
[00:10:03]
CHOICE AND OUT OF NECESSITY. THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. AND ALSO FOR FUNDING, ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO FUND THINGS LIKE THE EAST/WEST CORRIDOR, LIKE SHADE STRUCTURES.I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT ADVOCACY. AND I THINK IN SOME CASES MORE IMPORTANTLY THE STRONG VISION THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE HAD FOR VIA INTO THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'S REALLY -- I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT IT'S A BLANKET FOR YOU, ATHALIE, AND
LAURA AND JAVIER AND MELANIE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A FEW STATEMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP OF YOU. BUT I WILL SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, ATHALIE'S SERVICE ON THE VIA BOARD DIDN'T BEGIN AT THE BOARD LEVEL. SHE WAS ON ONE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND WE RECOGNIZED HER OUTSTANDING WORK AND, OF COURSE, SHE'S CONTINUED HER WORK ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS WHAT WAS THEN, MAYBE NOT ANYMORE, THE FIRST-EVER VISUALLY IMPAIRED TRUSTEE TO A METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD IN THE COUNTRY.
ATHALIE, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE IN ALL RESPECTS. AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR CITY IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND WE'LL MOVE NOW TO LAURA CABANILLA. AND, LAURA, SAME THING. TAKE TWO TO THREE MINUTES AND
THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I APPRECIATE THE TIME BEING HERE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, FOR CONSIDERATION OF MY REAPPOINTMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR VIA.
A FEW OBSERVATIONS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS VIA IS IN A NEW ERA OF THE AGENCY THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE. ONE, BECAUSE OF THE SALES TAX THAT WAS PASSED IN 2020.
TWO, THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF THE ART NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST. I THINK ALSO THE INTERACTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE CITY AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE BEFORE US TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE, ERIK, YOUR STAFF AND YOUR SUPPORT. AND THE COUNTY'S.
THAT'S BEEN TREMENDOUS. YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD AND SEEN OBSERVATIONS FROM MY PAST, WORKING AT CITY HALL HERE, THROUGHOUT THE TENURE OF JEFF AND HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM.
THERE'S BEEN GREAT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AND WITH PREVIOUS CHAIRS AND TRUSTEES.
BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A SENSE OF CHANGE IN TERMS OF WANTING OUR CITY TO MOVE FORWARD, NOT ONLY FROM A TRANSIT MOBILITY PERSPECTIVE BUT ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT ACCESS TO JOBS AND EDUCATION TAKES TRANSPORTATION.
WE'VE SEEN GREATER SATX HONE IN ON THAT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE.
TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN JOBS. WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR WORKFORCE AND BY EDUCATING OUR WORKFORCE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY GET TO THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
AND, TWO, FOR THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MY COLLEAGUES TODAY. I THINK WE'VE HAD A GREAT WORKING BOARD.
WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED BUT THOSE ARE OKAY. I LOVE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES BECAUSE THAT BRINGS OUT MORE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO WORK ON.
AND SO THE TRUSTEES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US PRESENTLY HAVE REALLY INTERACTED AND HONED IN ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES, DBES, SBES TO LOOKING AT INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOVULENS, FOR INSTANCE. TO LOOKING AT HOW WE SUPPORT OUR CORRIDORS.
AND THINKING ABOUT VIA LINK. SO, YOU KNOW, IN THE INTEREST OF NOT OVERSELLING THE GRATITUDE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, I'M HOPEFUL IN THE FUTURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS BECAUSE I THINK, AS WE CONTINUE TO PLAN TOGETHER, NOT ONLY FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE OF LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT ROOFTOPS AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE OUTER RIMS OF OUR CITY BOUNDARIES IN THE COUNTY, IT ONLY HELPS SUPPORT OUR FUTURE PLANNING FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND TRANSIT ALTOGETHER.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LAURA.
WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, LAURA FOR YOUR CONTINUED INTEREST AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR VIA.
SCOBY WAS A MAJOR RECENT INITIATIVE AND I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT
PROJECT AND THE PROCESS YOU LED FOR PUBLIC INPUT. >> GREAT QUESTION.
SCOBY IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR US. IT WAS SOMETHING OF A BOARD VISION BACK IN 2016/2018 TO
[00:15:01]
ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY, THINKING THROUGH CENTRAL PLAZA, HOW THE RENOVATION OF THAT AREA FOR OUR AGENCY WAS GOING TO TAKE ON. AND THEN JUST A MASTER FOOTPRINT FOR THE AREA.IT WAS OUR FIRST INTERACTION OF LOOKING AT TODS. I KNOW THE CITY IS LOOKING AT THE POLICY FOR TODS SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP COMPLEMENT THE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCOBY. BUT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE ONLY HAD TWO RESPONDENTS THAT QUALIFIED FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY. ONE THAT WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD IN GOOD FAITH. IT'S JUST A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS, TRAGICALLY.
THE ECONOMY, YOU KNOW, THE INFLATION, THE COST OF GETTING A LOAN.
ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? THINKING THROUGH AND SITTING AT THE TABLE. THESE ARE OPTIONS, PRESENTLY. WE WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE BUT PRESENTLY FOR VIA AND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO, THESE ARE OPTIONS. MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT'S PROVIDED A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED AS TO HOW WE ENGAGE WITH THAT AREA AND THE PROPERTY ITSELF.
I KNOW JEFF HAS BEEN IN A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HERE, THE HOUSING TRUST. TO THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT PROPERTY AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING. BUT AT THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY AND WHERE WE'RE ATD THIS STAGE, OUR MAIN FOCUS IS ART IN GETTING THE FUNDING SECURED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MAKE SURE WE DO RIGHT BY OUR CITIZENS FOR THAT
GREEN AND SILVER LEAN. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, LAURA. WE WERE IN D.C. AND WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE INTEREST IN TODS. BY THE WAY, CONGRATULATIONS, CAT, YOU'RE OFFICIALLY APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR. I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THAT ROLE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST. I HAVEN'T BEEN ENGAGED YET ABOUT THAT AND SO I KNOW THAT WE GAVE DIRECTION TO PETE ALANIZ TO WORK ON IT AND I KNOW HE'S WORKING ON BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSING TRUST TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ENGAGED IN THIS NEXT GO AROUND AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, LAURA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COTTAGER.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.>> COURAG. WHAT DO YOU SEE BESIDES THE SCOBY PROPERTY WHAT THE WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT VIA IS FACING. AND HOW IS THE BOARD PART OF
THAT PROCESS ON MEETING THOSE CHALLENGES? >> GREAT QUESTION.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHALLENGES. I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST IS COMMUNITY BUY-IN FOR THE SILVER AND GREEN LINE. INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE CORRIDORS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THOSE DIFFERENT LINES. AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE WANT TO SHARE THE BENEFITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING FROM THESE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR THE CITY. IF YOU HAVE NEVER TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO INTO DIFFERENT CITIES THAT DO HAVE TRANSIT LIKE THIS, IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE LIKE. SO THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US I THINK ARE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY STAYS APPRIZED OF THE DIFFERENT MILESTONES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, IN ADDITION TO THE PROJECTS.
WE'VE SEEN CONSTRUCTION HAMPER A LOT OF ISSUES IN AND AROUND OUR CITY, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE AND SO I THINK OUR CHALLENGE BEFORE OUR BOARD AND OUR AGENCY IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE LOCKSTEP WITH OUR DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT CONTROL SOME OF THOSE ISSUES BUT FOR OUR PART, THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE BUSINESS AND NEIGHBORHOODS,
FIRST AND FOREMOST. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EXPANSION OF VIA LINK. WHAT DOES THE BOARD SEE AS THE FUTURE EXPANSION OF VIA LINK?
>> I THINK THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WITH VIA LINK . WE HAVE SEEN OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES UTILIZE MORE SO BY OUR PUBLIC AND FOR A FIXED RATE OF UNDER $2 TO GET TO ONE AREA TO THE OTHER. THERE'S A LOT OF UPSIDE TO THAT. THE CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE TO THAT COMFORT LEVEL OF USING VIA LINK AND THEN EXPANDING IT.
I THINK WITH ANY AGENCY THAT EXPANDS OPERATIONS THAT IS NEW, THERE'S LEARNING.
THERE'S COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH BANDS, COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATORS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE EMPLOYEES, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S A RIGHT MIX. AND EXPERIENCE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE RIDERS THEMSELVES ARE FEELING THAT IT'S JUST AS SMOOTH AS ORDERING AN UBER OR LYFT FROM THEIR HOUSE. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE SUCCESS
WE SEE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, UTSA, AND IN THE NORTHEAST AREA. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
[00:20:01]
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS, LAURA. JUST LIKE ATHALIE, I THINK YOU AND ATHALIE ARE DOING FANTASTIC WORK AND I ADMIRE YOU VERY MUCH. YOU SAID EARLIER THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME EXPRESSING -- WAS IT YOUR ADMIRATION OF US? COUNCILMEMBER HAVRDA AND I DON'T MIND THAT. IF YOU WANT TO STAY AFTERWARDS AND EXPRESS THAT. [LAUGHTER] SAME THING AS I TOLD ATHALIE.
I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS HEAT PROBLEM. AND, YOU KNOW, TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO STAND IN 110-DEGREE WEATHER IN THE SUN SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO THEIR DOCTOR, SO THAT THEY CAN GET TO WORK AND BE ALL SWEATY BY THE TIME THEY GET THERE.
I AM WORRIED. AND I KNOW I'M LAYING IT ON THICK TODAY BUT THIS IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AND THAT'S MY CHALLENGE FOR Y'ALL, JUST TO WHEN YOU GET BACK UP THERE, PLEASE MAKE THIS ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RESCUING HORSES DOWNTOWN FROM EXTREME HEAT. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING WORKERS HEAT BREAKS BUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO WATCH A LOT OF THESE POOR PEOPLE UP AND DOWN WURZBACH PARKWAY SITTING THERE MELTING, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT . PLEASE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND RUN WITH IT.
THAT'S MY ONLY ISSUE. >> FOR THE TRUSTEES HERE, WE HEAR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT/QUESTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LAURA.
APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'LL BRING UP MELANIE TAWIL. SAME THING, MELANIE, TAKE TWO TO THREE MINUTES FOR A STATEMENT
AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I DO WANT TO FIRST OFF APOLOGIZE. I WAS DEALING WITH A SCIENCE FAIR ISSUE THIS MORNING, SO THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW, THIS IS SCIENCE FAIR SEASON AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PRECOCIOUS ALMOST 12-YEAR-OLD, THAT'S PRIORITY. TRIED TO MAKE IT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT MY BACKGROUND WITH VIA STARTS BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN.
VIA LITERALLY IS IN MY GENETICS. I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY AT ALL.
I AM A PROUD USER OF VIA. I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING MY OWN FATHER, WHO WAS AN OPERATOR FOR VIA FOR MANY YEARS. AND SO KNOWING THAT THOUSANDS AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WILL BE UTILIZING VIA EVERY SINGLE DAY, IT BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY THAT HOPEFULLY THESE MEASURES THAT THESE WOMEN AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND I ARE TAKING ON WILL HOPEFULLY SOLVE THE HEAT CRISIS. I HEAR YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, LOUD AND CLEAR. THAT IS MY CONCERN BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, I HAVE AN ALMOST 12-YEAR-OLD AND ALMOST 10-YEAR-OLD AND THAT IS WHAT SITS AT THE BACK OF MY MIND.
I GO INTO EVERY SINGLE VIA MEETING, ONE, WITH PRAYER TO KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE A GUIDING LIGHT. DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU PRAY TO BUT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THAT GUIDING LIGHT TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE JUST ONE PERSON. SO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT BOARD OUR BUSES, THEY MATTER. TO ME, WHEN I STARTED WITH VIA, MY NUMBER ONE ISSUE WAS TECHNOLOGY. AND BRIDGING THAT GAP WITH TECHNOLOGY AND OUR UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DON'T GET A VOICE, THAT DON'T GET TO SIT HERE.
BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING INCREDIBLE HOURS. THAT SOME OF US VERY, VERY MUCH TAKE FOR GRANTED. ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS SITTING ON VIA WAS ADVOCATING FOR AN EXTENDED TIME FOR VIA LINK. BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SERVICE MEMBERS TRYING TO GET HOME AFTER WORKING AT RESTAURANTS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF HOSPITALITY BUSINESS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, THOUGH, THAT TECHNOLOGY AND ADA IN AUDIO] BECAUSE FOR SO MANY IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE JUST A NORMAL MOBILE APPLICATION. SO FOR THOSE WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES, OR ANY OTHER SORT OF LIFE IMPAIRMENT, THAT'S WHAT IS SERIOUSLY IN THE BACK OF MY HEART. EVERY TIME WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY THROWN OUR WAY, I ALWAYS ASK HOW WOULD MY 32-YEAR-OLD BROTHER NAVIGATE THIS? AND SO -- THAT'S MY TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY FOCUSED ON OUR FUTURE AS WELL, WITH OUR BUSINESS IMPACT. SO MAKING SURE THAT OUR BUSINESS
[00:25:05]
OWNERS, NOT JUST OUR LARGE ONES THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH LIKE FROST, AT&T, ALL OF THOSE , BUT ALSO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALONG OUR CORRIDORS, ALONG THE EAST/WEST AND THE NORTH/SOUTH ART. MAKING SURE THEY ARE ALSO BEING HEARD.WE CAN COURT ALL THE LARGE BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IN MIND TO KEEP INNOVATING. ALWAYS KEEP LOOKING FORWARD AND THAT'S WHY I AM HONORED TO BE HERE. HOPEFULLY WITH SOME ADA -- THAT WILL ALWAYS BE MY NUMBER ONE THING -- FOR ADA, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL IMPACTED IN SOME WAY BY DISABILITY.
DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AT LIFE, EVERY SINGLE PERSON. BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN SAN ANTONIO IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND SO THAT THEY'RE NOT WAITING FOR 20 MINUTES IN 108 DEGREES ON WURZBACH. BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THAT TOO.
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON FEELS SAFE ON THE BUS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MELANIE.
WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS NOW. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. MELANIE, YOUR DAD, ROCKY, WORKED THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND TODAY I HEAR THAT THERE'S A CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE WHO DID HIS WORK, FINDING ENOUGH DRIVERS TO GO AHEAD AND MEET THE NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE TODAY OR THE GROWING NEEDS THAT'S GOING TO GO FORWARD. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON HOW YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER OR THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS ARE FEELING ABOUT ADDRESSING THAT? AND WHAT IS THE IS TAKING OR NEO TAKE TO ADDRESS THAT CRITICAL ISSUE ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH DRIVERS TO EXPAND THE SERVICE?
>> SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR BOARD IS THAT, YES, WE DO HAVE DIFFERENCES.
BUT WE'RE ALL OPEN TO IDEAS. AND SO I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT I DON'T EVER WANT TO HEAR A NO.
I WANT TO HEAR A NO BUTS CAN WE TRY THIS. ONE THING WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO START ROLLING OUT, WE DID HAVE A FANTASTIC MENTORSHIP PROGRAM OVER THE SUMMER. TO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COME IN AND SHADOW AT OUR VIA TRANS. I'M NOT NORMALLY ONE TO CHAMPION MY OWN WORK BUT THAT WAS MY IDEA THAT I CAME UP WITH IN OUR DISABILITIES -- IN OUR MEETING. I MADE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO STUDENTS TO HOPEFULLY ONE DAY SEE. SO YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, KNOW THAT I'M A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY AM TRYING TO PUSH FOR THIS NEXT HOPEFUL TERM IS TO ADVOCATE TO HIGH SCHOOLS, TO SOUTHWEST ISD, NORTHSIDE, NEISD. NOT EVERY STUDENT IS MEANT TO GO TO COLLEGE OR WANTS TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE OUTSIDE OF HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO IF WE CAN GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT DRIVING AROUND OUR WONDERFUL CITY AND MEETING PEOPLE EVERY DAY WITH A SMILE, THAT'S ALL I COULD ASK FOR. HOPEFULLY GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOLS, MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICE AND THAT WE PROVIDE ALSO THE MENTORSHIP,
ONCE THEY ARE WITHIN OUR TRAINING PROGRAM. >> COURAGE: SO DO YOU HAVE A CDL TRAINING PROGRAM? AND WHAT IS THE AGE THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO REACH TO BE ABLE
TO BE A DRIVER? >> I BELIEVE IT'S 18. AND, YES.
YES, WE HAVE THE WHOLE TRAINING FOR THEM. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MELANIE, FOR YOUR INTEREST. I TRIED TO LOOK AT SOME BACKGROUND AND SEE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING AND THAT'S HOW I DECIDED TO PREP FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.
I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE LAST GOAROUND. BUT YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING RIGHT NOW. I'LL ASK MY ORIGINAL QUESTION. BUT AS A TEACHER AT SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL -- I'M A GRADUATE OF SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL. SO THE CONCERN WAS ALWAYS THAT VIA DOESN'T GO OUT THERE. WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THAT.
THAT KEEPS COMING UP. I WAS WITH SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND THEY LAUNCHED THIS BEAUTIFUL AVIATION PROJECT. SO THEY'RE DOING GREAT THINGS BUT THEY STILL FEEL LEFT OUT, THOUGH. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.
I KNOW VIA LINK IS IMPORTANT AND IT DOES HELP BUT, AGAIN, LIKE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
I WANTED TO PUT IN THAT PLUG FOR YOU. >> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT -- SO I'M STILL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE STILL HAVE PROPERTY OUT THERE
[00:30:01]
I'M REALLY -- YES. ALL OF THOSE, YES. MY GOAL IS TO HOPEFULLY GET THE EXPANSION, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE.IT HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY SINCE I MOVED OUT -- OH, GOSH. MY HUSBAND'S GOING TO KILL ME.
13 YEARS ON MONDAY. SO, YES. NO, IT STILL IS MY COMMUNITY.
IT STILL IS MY HOME AND JUST TO HOPEFULLY GET VIA LINK TO START GOING OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY SERVICE MEMBERS THAT ARE MOVING INTO THE SOUTHWEST AREA.
HEAR YOU LOUD AND PROUD. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET OUT TO TRADER'S VILLAGE TO TRY TO GET
SOME COMMUNITY OUTREACH . >> GARCIA: I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THIS MORNING I WAS TEACHING CLASS. I TEACH MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY MORNINGS VERY EARLY.
I ASKED MY STUDENTS IF THEY KNOW THEY HAVE VIA BUS PASS ACCESS AND ALL BUT ONE KNEW.
YOU ALL ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF GETTING THE WORD OUT. SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS LIVE IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISTRICTS 3, 4, AND 5.
SO GOOD JOB THERE. HOW DO WE INCREASE RIDERSHIP, THOUGH? LIKE I HAVE ALL THESE STUDENTS WITH WONDERFUL VIA BUS PASSES AND THEY ARE NOT USING THEM.
HELP ME. HOW DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD INCREASE RIDERSHIP?
>> I'M GOING TO PUT A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL. SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS LISTEN TO YOU. IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO COLLABORATE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO HOPEFULLY GET A RIDE A BUS DAY OR HOW OFTEN CAN YOU RIDE. ONE GREAT THING THAT I REMEMBER LOOKING AT WITH THE -- OH, GOSH. I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THE NAME BUT THE YOUTH PROJECTS THAT OCCUR IN THE SPRING, TRANSPORTATION WAS THE THEME THIS YEAR.
I WAS ABLE TO HELP OUT THE KEYSTONE SCHOOL WITH THEIR VIA PROJECT AND THEY HAD A GREAT ONE. THESE ARE ALL THE FUN, INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT PROMOTING RIDERSHIP. IF WE CAN GET YOUNG KIDS ON THE BUS, WE CAN ALSO GET THEIR PARENTS ON THE BUS. THAT'S ALL ABOUT MARKETING. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE IT SAFE AND USABLE AND FRIENDLY FOR KIDS THAT ARE FROM 16 YEARS OLD ALL THE WAY TO, SAY, 24.
AND THEN THEY CAN SHOW THEIR PARENTS, LOOK, IT'S EASY. IT'S FUN.
IT'S SAFE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY. >> GARCIA: YOU'RE RIGHT.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THEIR PROJECTS. THEY PRESENTED AT PORT SAN ANTONIO AND THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR SERVICE.
I SIT ON THE COMMITTEE OF SIX FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE HEAR FROM THE PARTICIPANTS AND ESPECIALLY THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND THE ACCESS TO TRAINING, TRANSPORTATION IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON THAT AND ESPECIALLY IN THAT PART OF THE AREA THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: GREAT.
NOW I DON'T GET TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HEAT. BUT, LISTEN, I APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING TIME WITH US TODAY AND YOU DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON VIA AND I ALSO HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. YOU'VE GOT A PRECOCIOUS 12-YEAR-OLD AND THAT'S A BIG SACRIFICE. AND GIVING UP THAT TIME. AT LEAST WE AT CITY COUNCIL GET A NICE PARKING SPACE OUT OF THE DEAL. YOU DON'T GET MUCH OUT OF VIA.
BUT WE -- I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE OTHER THING THAT CONTINUES TO GET STUCK -- AND I THINK ABOUT IT OFTEN -- IS VIA HAS SYSTEM. I GET THAT. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN A LARGER NETWORK.
I'LL TELL YOU I WORRY WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH AS FAR AS BENCHMARKING AGAINST OTHER CITIES AND LEARNING FROM WHAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE RIGHT AND DONE WRONG.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF VIA'S EFFORTS IN THAT REGARD. I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE AT SOME POINT ABOUT WHAT VIA IS DOING WITH REGARDS TO BENCHMARKING. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENTS DO IS SOMETIMES WE THINK WE'RE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE OR WE'RE NOT CURIOUS ABOUT HOW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SOLVED OLD PROBLEMS FASTER, BETTER, MORE EFFICIENTLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S LOTS OF LESSONS OUT THERE.
SINGAPORE MOVES 6.4 MILLION PEOPLE A DAY. AND BOGATA MOVES 9.1 MILLION PEOPLE A MONTH ON THEIR ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM. I GUARANTEE YOU THEY HAVE MADE THEIR SHARE OF MISTAKES AND THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY FIGURED OUT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T ALSO ALONG THE WAY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO MAYBE REPORT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, INVENTING OUR WAY FORWARD BUT ALSO WHAT WE'RE PLAGIARIZING FROM OTHER CITIES AND WHAT PRACTICES WE'RE ADOPTING.
THAT'S MY CHALLENGE TO YOU. SEE IF YOU CAN PICK UP WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN THERE.
I HOPE YOU CAN. >> NOT PLAGIARIZING BUT GAINING INSPIRATION FROM.
[00:35:02]
NO, I HEAR YOU. OBVIOUSLY, THE ONE THING THAT'S ALWAYS THE HANGUP IS ALWAYS FUNDING. AND SO OTHER CITIES, THEY HAVE THESE GREAT, FANTASTIC FUNDING SYSTEMS. IF WE CAN GET SAN ANTONIANS REALLY EXCITED, WE HAVE TO FIGHT SO HARD TO GET THAT SALES TAX, THAT TINY PERCENTAGE. IF WE CAN GET -- WHAT WE DO WITH OUR MONEY RIGHT NOW, COULD YOU IMAGINE IF WE HAD THE PUBLIC'S SUPPORT JUST FULLY? I GET REALLY EXCITED. I HEAR YOU. I GO TO MINNEAPOLIS -- I THINK ONLY ONE, TWO, THREE OF YOU KNOW THIS. I'M IN LAW SCHOOL RIGHT NOW ON TOP OF OTHER THINGS. THAT'S WHAT VIA HAS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR MY LIFE.I WANTED TO ADVOCATE IN A LEGAL STANDPOINT. SO MY LAW SCHOOL IS IN MINNEAPOLIS. MINNEAPOLIS HAS A FANTASTIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM ON GETTING SOME IDEAS. IT'S BEEN GREAT.
>> PELAEZ: I GET IT. BUYING BUSES, ENGINEERING, ALL THAT COSTS MONEY.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED MIGHT NOT BE A MATTER OF MORE MONEY.
IT MIGHT BE A CULTURAL SHIFT. IF OTHER CITIES ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET PEOPLE ON THOSE BUSES, THAT'S WORTH EXAMINING. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP MINNEAPOLIS.
YOU'RE RIGHT. ANYWAY, I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES AND FIGURING OUT WHAT BEST PRACTICES ARE THERE. THANKS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MELANIE.
I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS. THEY'RE NOT DIRECTED JUST AT YOU, TO REALLY THE WHOLE BOARD.
I DO WANT TO MAKE NOTE WE DO HAVE A LETTER FROM JAVIER PAREDES WHO IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE BUT IS ALSO SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT FOR HIS POSITION. SO, FIRST, I WOULD SAY THAT EMPIRICALLY I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ARGUE WITH THE FACT THAT VIA IS PROBABLY IN ITS STRONGEST POSITION OF ITS LIFE, FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT. CERTAINLY IS FROM A GOVERNANCE STANDPOINT. THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE HERE, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COUNTERPARTS MAKE UP A VERY STRONG GOVERNING TEAM AND THEY HAVE A GOOD VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE FARTHER ALONG IN IMPLEMENTING THAT VISION THAN I THINK WE HAVE EVER HAD.
YOU ARE IN THE STRONGEST POSITION WE HAVE BEEN BUT IN MY MIND YOU'RE ALSO IN THE MOST PRECARIOUS POSITION YOU HAVE BEEN IN. WE HAVE BEEN TO THIS POINT BEFORE, NOT QUITE WITH FINANCING, ET CETERA. WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE.
THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE. WE'VE HAD GRAND DREAMS OF TRANSIT OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.
INVARIABLY THEY HAVE FALLEN SHORT. THEY HAVE NEVER COME TO FRUITION. THE LAST MAJOR EFFORT WAS A STREETCAR THAT BEGAN SOMEWHERE AROUND 2009 AND AFTER ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOTHING WAS DONE. VIA, WE COLLECTIVELY, THE PUBLIC, LOST A LOT OF CONFIDENCE AND WE COLLECTIVELY, IN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT TRANSIT AS A PUBLIC GOOD, LOST A LOT OF CREDIBILITY. SO THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS THAT THERE'S A LOT ON THE LINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION WITH REGARD TO IMPLEMENTING THE ART. WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO BREAKING GROUND.
THE PLANS ARE PROCEEDING. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROCESS GOING ON BUT MY ASK OF YOU ALL, AS GOVERNING LEADERS OF VIA AND IN CHARGE OF THE STAFF, IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET SHOVELS IN THE GROUND THIS YEAR AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PROCEED WITH THIS PROJECT AS DILIGENTLY AS POSSIBLE. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT COMPLETING THE ART, WHICH WILL BE GREAT AND TRANSFORMATIVE. IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE FUTURE OF VIA AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A VIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE. THE SECOND PART OF THAT -- OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE GREEN LINE NORTH/SOUTH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EAST/WEST AS WELL. AND WE'RE ESSENTIALLY FULLY FUNDED WITH THAT WITH REGARD TO THE FEDERAL MATCH AND THE LOCAL AS WELL. SO IT'S COMING.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT IT. THE SILVER LINE AND THE GREEN LINE.
THE NEXT STEP SHOULD ALREADY BEGIN. ART, SILVER, GREEN ARE THE BACKBONE OF A FUTURE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND IN OUR CITY WE HAVE GREAT CHALLENGES WITH BUILDING TRANSIT BECAUSE WE'RE JUST NOT DENSE. HOPEFULLY THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WILL HELP CREATE SOME MOMENTUM. BUT WITH REGARD TO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE HAVE THE BACKBONE OF A TRANSIT SYSTEM IN PLACE, THOSE CONVERSATIONS I HOPE ARE STARTING. AND WE NEED TO START INVOLVING THE FOLKS AT THIS DAIS BUT ALSO IN THE PUBLIC AS WELL. I WOULD URGE US TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT AND BEING DELIBERATE ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO END WITH A BACKBONE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO BUILD TRANSIT IN THE CITY.
AND THE LAST THING, AND COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA BROKE THE NEWS.
[00:40:05]
WE ALL GOT THE MEMO. CAT HERNANDEZ IS OUR NEW TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A CRITICAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE SUCCESS OF ALL THIS. I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THIS BUT IN MY OBSERVATION OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, MANY YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE HAD A TRANSPORTATION POLICY DIRECTOR IN THIS CITY, THERE REALLY WAS STILL A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE CITY AND VIA.FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, PEOPLE COME TO CITY COUNCIL, TO ME AND ASK US TRANSIT QUESTIONS AS IF VIA AND THE CITY COUNCIL ARE ONE AND THE SAME. WE AREN'T BUT WE SHOULD OPERATE THAT WAY. AND IN ORDER FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE TRANSIT DREAMS THAT WE HAVE, CAT HAS GOT TO BE AT THE TABLE. CAT HAS GOT TO WORK IN A SYNCOPATED FASHION WITH YOU GUYS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING, GETTING INPUT AND GUIDANCE FROM HER AND VICE VERSA SO WE CAN BEGIN TO COORDINATE TOGETHER. AND I HAVE GREAT HOPES BECAUSE CAT IS AN IMPLEMENTER OF A LOT OF THINGS WITH REGARD TO OUR PLANNING AND BUILDING OF THE CITY OVER THE LAST MANY, MANY YEARS. SHE IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PLAYING TO EVERYBODY'S STRENGTHS.
IF WE DO THAT, I HAVE NO DOUBT THIS WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT FOR SAN ANTONIO.
SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT TO YOU.
THE GOVERNING TEAM, IN MY VIEW OF VIA RIGHT NOW, DOES NOT CHANGE.
I SUPPORT ALL OF YOUR REAPPOINTMENTS. I THINK YOU'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB BUT NOW IT'S TRYING TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND THAT WILL FORETELL THE FUTURE FOR TRANSPORTATION IN SAN ANTONIO. GREAT JOB, EVERYBODY.
AND AT THIS POINT -- YEAH. SURE. GO AHEAD.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. IT'S A PROCESS QUESTION. DID WE ASK FOR APPLICANTS FROM THE PUBLIC OR DO THE ELIGIBLE TRUSTEES AUTOMATICALLY GET TO BE A FINALIST?
LIKE, HOW DO WE ADVERTISE, I GUESS, FOR THESE POSITIONS? >> WE DID OPEN THE APPLICATION ON OUR APPLICATION SYSTEM AND WE RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE
REAPPOINTMENT APPLICATIONS. >> GARCIA: BUT THEY DON'T AUTOMATICALLY GET FINALIST?
OR DO THEY? >> IT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAYOR TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE REAPPOINTMENTS. >> GARCIA: I WAS HONESTLY ASKING BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WORKED. AND THEN WHEN DO WE EXPECT THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL THEN TO
SEND THEIR NEW REP FOR OUR INTERVIEW? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, WE'RE IN DISCSSION WITH THEM RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE FINALIZING.
THEY ACTUALLY PUT FORWARD THEIR APPOINTEE RECOMMENDATION. AND SO WE'RE IN CONVERSATION
WITH THEM ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW. >> GARCIA: OKAY. WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL BRING THAT TO COMMITTEE AS SOON AS WE CAN. ALL RIGHT.
SO AT THIS POINT WE'LL GO INTO OUR EXEC. I BELIEVE IT WILL BE BRIEF.
THE TIME IS NOW 10:47 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2024. THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS RECESSING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT AND TO DISCUSS RELATED LEGAL ISSUES 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. WHAT'S THE EASIEST THING FOR US TO DO? Y'ALL CAN STAY PUT. WE WON'T BE GONE VERY LONG.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE TIME IS NOW 10:53 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024. THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE DID DELIBERATE. DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG. SO I'LL TURN THE FLOOR TO
COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING APPLICANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES TO BE FORWARDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL: LAURA CABANILLA, JAVIER PAREDES, AND MELANIE TAWIL FOR THE AT-LARGE SEATS. ATHALIE MALONE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED REPRESENTATIVE SEAT. >> SECOND.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR REAPPOINTMENT OF OUR FOUR VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, Y'ALL.
WE'RE HERE TO BE HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF YOUR WORK.
WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. NO ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR -- ERIK. >> WALSH:
[00:45:04]
IS THIS COMING FORWARD? >> CLERK: MARCH 7. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.
IF Y'ALL CAN BE THERE AGAIN IN THE EVENT THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME BACK.
AND, WITH THAT, IT IS 10:54 A.M. ON FEBRUARY 21ST, 2024. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.