[00:00:04]
>> GARCIA: CAN WE GO AHEAD AND START AND MAYBE WE CAN DO THE MINUTES AND SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. GOT IT.
THANK YOU. AND I CAN SUB IN. OH, ACTUALLY, GIVE ME A MINUTE.
>> GARCIA: ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GET STARTED WITH TODAY'S PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MARCH 28, 2024. WE'LL GET STARTED WITH ROLL CALL.
>> CLERK: MA'AM, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
WE WILL START WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2024.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THEM IN YOUR PACKAGE. MAY I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO
APPROVE? >> SO MOVE. >> SECOND.
>> GARCIA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, CAN WE GET A --
>> VIAGRAN: AYE. >> GARCIA: PERFECT. THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE ARE WAITING, I BELIEVE, ON AN INTERPRETER.
THE FIRST PERSON, IF YOU NEED INTERPRETATION -- I'LL START WITH LETICIA SANCHEZ. AND IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY -- SHE'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ARACELY.
>> HELLO. HI. MY NAME IS LETICIA SANCHEZ AND I'M THE CO-CHAIRPERSON OF THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION AND BEFORE I BEGIN MY SPEECH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SOME OF US ARE HERE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE AGENDA ITEMS BUT WE ARE NOT ALWAYS -- PEOPLE WORK AND WE'RE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO COME ON DAYS WHERE YOU DO TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEMS. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU WILL ENTERTAIN OUR COMMENTS TODAY.
I'M HERE AT THE REQUEST OF OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING. OUR LIFELONG RESIDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO WHAT IT IS ARE NOW HAVING TROUBLE AFFORDING TO STAY HOUSED IN EITHER THEIR OWN HOMES OR ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD INCREASING RENTS. PERHAPS TO SOME OF YOU THERE MIGHT NOT BE A HOUSING CRISIS OR IT DOESN'T IMPACT YOU OR, YOU KNOW, YOU DO NOT LIVE WITH THE THREAT OF HOUSING INSECURITY. AND YOU MAY THINK THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LAZY PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE THEIR MONEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH HOUSING SECURITY. BUT IT'S NOT. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE MS. TONY CARDENAS, WHO IS A RETIRED TEACHER WHO LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO IS ALSO DISABLED.
WHO HAD $60,000 IN HER SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHEN SHE RETIRED. AND BECAUSE OF HEALTH ISSUES, SHE NOW OWES $1,000 IN UTILITIES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING COSTS OF UTILITIES.
AND IS HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING IN HER HOME BECAUSE OF INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES AS WELL. SO THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE -- LIKE FOR SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO MUST LIVE OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY INCOMES, THOSE RANGE FROM $900 TO MAYBE $1200 PER MONTH. RENTAL UNITS, THE CHEAPEST I HAVE SEEN, AND I TELL YOU I'M ON THE PHONE DAILY LOOKING FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS, THE CHEAPEST THAT I HAVE SEEN IS $850 PER MONTH. SO THESE ARE NOT AFFORDABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN APARTMENT COMPLEXES REQUIRE YOU TO EARN 1.5 TIMES THE RENTAL COST.
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I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS TO REQUEST THAT OUR COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER INCREASE AND PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR HOUSING, PARTICULARLY FOR HOUSING AT 30% AMI OR BELOW. ALSO FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE 2025 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET. THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING WILL NOT END IF WE DON'T ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. AND ALSO WE CONTINUE DEVELOPMENTOF 60% AMI AND ABOVE UNITS AND MARKET-RATE UNITS. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> THE CITY MUST PROVIDE MORE FUNDING TO NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND OPPORTUNITY HOMES TO DEVELOP
TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HOUSING -- >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
MS. SANCHEZ. >> THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: DO YOU WANT TO GIVE HER YOUR TIME? AND YOUR NAME? CAROL GONZALES.
OKAY. CONTINUE. >> THE CITY MUST PROVIDE MORE FUNDING TO NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND OPPORTUNITY HOMES TO DEVELOP TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PUBLIC HOUSING. OTHERWISE, MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES WILL END UP HOUSELESS. THE SHIP SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT HOUSING UNITS FOR PEOPLE AT 50% AND 30% AND BELOW AMI IS WHAT IS MOST NEEDED IN OUR CITY. YET OUR CITY HOUSING FUNDS CONTINUE TO BE GIVEN TO MARKET-RATE DEVELOPMENT.ME WITH ONLY 10% OF UNITS ASSIGNED FOR 50 OR 30% AMI RENTALS. I KNOW I'VE BEEN AT HOUSING COMMISSION MEETINGS WHERE STAFF STATES THAT FROM HOUSING BOND MONEY, SOME UNITS HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR THIS AMI.
BUT IN REALITY IT'S ACTUALLY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS ONLY 10%.
SO IF YOU'RE BEING TOLD 200 UNITS ARE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S ACTUALLY ONLY 20 OF THOSE UNITS WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS. IT'S NOT ONLY UNFAIR THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO USE OUR TAX MONEY TO GIVE TAX EXEMPTIONS TO DEVELOPERS AND TO USE HOUSING FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT IS UNAFFORDABLE TO OUR LIFELONG RESIDENTS.
IT'S WRONG. AND IT'S ALSO SHORT-SIGHTED TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE FORMULA TO BUILD AND CREATE HOUSING IN OUR CITY. YOU MUST STOP BELIEVING THAT DEVELOPERS CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD MORE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IT'S DONE IN OTHER CITIES.
AND WHEN THE TRUTH IS THAT DEVELOPERS JUST WANT TO MAKE BIGGER PROFITS OFF OF OUR RESIDENTS. ON AGENDA ITEM 2, OUR MEMBERS ALSO ASK THIS COMMITTEE TO EXCLUDE ANY NOMINEES TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THIS BOARD FROM CONSIDERATION. OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD SHOULD BE GIVEN TO OTHER RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY SERVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[APPLAUSE] >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MS. SANCHEZ.
ARACELY -- OH, DO WE HAVE THE INTERPRETER HERE YET? ALBERT CAMPBELL.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALBERT CAMPBELL. I AM A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. I AM HERE TO STATE MY OBJECTION TO ALLOW ANY NOMINEES WHO ALREADY SERVED ON THE BSB IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY APPOINTMENT TO THIS BOARD. THERE MUST BE A PLACE, A SPECIFIC LAW FOR SUCH CLAUSE OR STATUTE BE MADE. OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCED A LARGE NUMBER OF HOUSES BEING DESTROYED DUE TO GENTRIFICATION AND PERSONAL BIAS THAT SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN ENGRAINED OR INDOCTRINATED TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT ALREADY SUFFER FROM A STRANGE OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS. I'M MAKING A STATEMENT THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE PCDC NEED TO POUR MORE MONEY FOR HOUSING PEOPLE THAT DO NOT EARN THE SPECIFIC AREA MEDIAN INCOME TO 30%.
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TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES, THERE MUST BE AN ECONOMIC AND A SOCIAL EQUALITY FOR ALL, EVEN THE BIDEN AND HARRIS WHITE HOUSE, THEY MADE A FACT SHEET THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AFFORDABLE OF MANUFACTURED HOMES. WE JUST -- THE CITY JUST PASSED A $1.5 BILLION BUDGET AND IF WE CAN PASS SO MUCH MONEY LIKE THAT AND USE THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY, WHY CAN WE NOT PASS A BUDGET TO BUILD THESE AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING? ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES THAT WE DECLINE AFFORDABILITY AND LEAVE THE HOMELESS HOMELESS? OR EVEN THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING AND THEY ARE MENTALLY DISTRESSED THAT THEY WILL BE LOSING THEIR HOME? WHAT ABOUT THE MENTAL ISSUE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT LIVE WITH THEM? THIS IS JUST NOT -- EVERYBODY SUFFERS, NOT JUST SPECIFICALLY. AND SOME PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF LIVING OR THEY NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, HOW CAN THEY BE ABLE TO LEARN OR HOW TO EVEN HAVE SOME SORT OF COMPASSION TOWARDS THESE PEOPLE? BECAUSE THEY NEVER BEEN THERE. SO THE CITY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO POUR IN THIS MONEY TO BUILD WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR PEOPLE. AND THAT MEANS FOR ALL RACES TO HAVE SOME SORT OF EQUALITY OFMIND, BODY, AND SOUL. THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MR. CAMPBELL. ARACELY ARELLA. AND WE HAVE THE INTERPRETER
HERE. >> MY NAME IS ARACELY HERRERA. I LIVE IN THE COUNCIL NO. 7.
THE CITY STARTED SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOMES.
I STARTED DREAMING THAT FINALLY I WILL HAVE MY OWN HOME. BUT SO FAR NOTHING.
LATER ON I HEARD THAT THERE WERE SOME BONDS FOR $150 MILLION FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOME.
BUT THEY WERE ASKING THAT THOSE INCOMES NEEDED TO BE $50,000 AND ABOVE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT. I ONLY EARN $18,000 IN A YEAR. I'M GOING TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE I AM LIVING, IN THE APARTMENT, FOR 20 YEARS NOW. AT THE BEGINNING, WHEN THIS CAMPAIGN STARTED IN 2019, I WAS PAYING FOR THAT RENT $500 A MONTH.
AFTER THAT, THE PANDEMIC CAME AND DURING ALL THOSE THREE YEARS THEY INCREASED THE RENT TO $1,000. I THOUGHT THOUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE OUR LEADERS, DO THEY THINK THAT WE NEED TO EAT AND WE ARE LIVING UP TO DATE? THAT WE WERE FOR THREE MONTHS WITH NO JOB. AND AFTER THAT, WE GOT THE ILLNESS.
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I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS FAILING BECAUSE THE RENT CONTINUES INCREASING AND WE CONTINUE HAVING THE SAME INCOME. WE SEE HOW THE CITY CONTINUES HAVING EVENTS SAYING, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE HOMES HERE, THESE HOMES THERE, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIKE HONORABLE PLACES TO LIVE. BUT WE STILL THE SAME. SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC WAS THERE AND I GOT THAT ILLNESS, I WAS REALLY VERY BAD. AND THE COUNCILWOMAN HERE PRESENT, MY DEBT WAS FOR $18,000 AND SHE HELPED ME TO PAY FOR THAT.IMAGINE AFTER THAT I HAVE A HEART ATTACK. AND NOW I HAVE A BIG DEBT AT THE HOSPITAL IN NEW BRAUNFELS. I DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. I STILL NEED TO PAY THE MEDICATION FOR CHOLESTEROL. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. I'M STILL PAYING $1200 AND I HAVE A DREAM TO STILL HAVE A HOME. THE EMPLOYERS ARE GOING TO FIRE ME BECAUSE I'M AN ELDERLY NOW, 65 YEARS OLD. BECAUSE THE KIDS ALREADY ARE GROWN. THEY DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE. I WORK AT WESTSIDE AND I CAN SEE ALL THE POVERTY THERE. BECAUSE I SEE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE LIKE ME IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THE CITY HAS NOT INVESTED IN THAT AREA TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE I WANT TO TELL YOU, AND I EMPHASIZE THAT, THAT WE ARE PEOPLE.
WE ARE NOT LAZY. WE WORK HARD. I AM KNOCKING DOORS.
[TIMER] >> GARCIA: GRACIAS. >>
>> I'M ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT -- >>
>> GARCIA: WHO WAS IT? >> I AM THE PERSON THAT GOES DOOR BY DOOR, KNOCKING DOORS.
THE ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP. YOU COME OUT AND VOTE AND THE PEOPLE TELL ME FOR WHAT? BECAUSE THEY -- THE POLITICIANS COME AND GO AND IT IS THE SAME. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
AND I GO AND I INTERVIEW PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED AND I SEE THERE'S A LOT OF VACANCIES, A LOT OF LOTS THERE THAT WE CAN BUILD HOMES HERE FOR EVERYBODY. BUT I CANNOT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY. I LEARN VERY LITTLE. AND I'M STILL DREAMING.
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I'M NOT BEGGING YOU TO GIVE US FOR FREE ANYTHING, INVEST IN US, THE WORKERS, THAT WE ARE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE. THAT WE ARE NOT ASKING ANYTHING FOR FREE.JUST WANT THE INVESTMENT FOR US. WE CAN PAY IT OFF BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
AND STOP THE GENTRIFICATION. THESE PEOPLE COME, THEY SEE THOSE HOMES THAT ARE RUN DOWN, NOT BECAUSE THEY WANT IT. THESE PEOPLE WERE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE AND NOW THEY ARE OLDER AND THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING AN INCOME THAT THEY CAN FIX THOSE HOMES.
AND WHAT IS THE CITY COMING? THEY WANT TO TEAR DOWN THOSE HOMES.
PLEASE, THINK ON THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK VERY HARD. AND NOW THINK THEY ARE OLD AND NEED THE HELP. I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT YOU GO STREET BY STREET TALKING TO THE PEOPLE. I WANT YOU TO INVEST IN YOUR OWN PEOPLE. DON'T GIVE THE MONEY TO THOSE INVESTORS THAT ARE COMING FROM AFAR. AND THOSE ARE RICH PEOPLE. COME TO US.
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. INVEST IN OUR OWN PEOPLE RIGHT HERE.
I INVITING YOU TO COME. I INVITE YOU GUYS TO COME TO THIS PLACE, THAT YOU TALK TO EVERY PERSON THAT COMES OUT. ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE WALKING ON CANES, THAT THEY ARE FULL OF ILLNESSES BECAUSE THEY EARN, AT THE TIME, VERY LITTLE MONEY.
AND NOW THAT THEY ARE ELDERLY, PEOPLE, THEY NEED OUR HELP. COME, TALK TO THEM.
TELL THEM. AND NOT JUST LIVING HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING ON THE CITY HALL, BUT COME TO THAT PLACE AND SEE THE PEOPLE LIKE WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM, THAT WE ARE TALKING TO THEM IN THEIR TERMS. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. BLANCA RIVERA. BLANCA, DO YOU NEED AN INTERPRETER? BLANCA RIVERA AND I RESIDE IN WESTSIDE. I'M TALKING HERE BECAUSE I'M REPRESENTING THE WORKING CLASS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE MINIMUM SALARY.
IMAGINE JUST PUT IN MY SHOES. WORKING 40 HOURS THE ENTIRE WEEK, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 40 HOURS AT $10 WAGE PER HOUR. $400. SO DO THE MATH.
$400, $1600 A MONTH. AND THE RENT ON THE WESTSIDE IS $1200.
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YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE OFF THE ENTIRE MONTH $600 ONLY. WITH THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND THE FOOD. NOT EVEN THINK TO GET SICK BECAUSE YOU CANNOT END UP GOING TO THE HOSPITAL AND PAY THE BILLS AT THE HOSPITAL.NOT EVEN THINK TO HAVE YOUR OWN HOME. AND IF YOU ARE THOSE LUCKY ONES THAT YOU GOT YOUR HOME, NOW THAT YOU ARE RETIRED YOU ARE NOT HAVING ENOUGH INCOME TO FIX UP.
SO I HAVE SEEN THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH THEIR HOMES VERY RUN DOWN THAT THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE PLANNING HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE MONIES THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF NEED TO FIX THEIR OWN HOMES. THINK ABOUT THEM, HOW TO HELP THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE NEED THAT THEIR HOMES NEED TO BE FIXED. ALLOW US TO CONTINUE LIVING, ALL OF US, AT THE WESTSIDE WITH OUR OWN CULTURE, WITH OUR OWN TRADITIONS.
ALLOW US TO CONTINUE BEING IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN CONTINUE THERE IS TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE WITH IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE COSTS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE BEING THERE. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: MUCHAS GRACIAS. ANNA POLANCO.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNA POLANCO AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU ALLOWING US REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE TO COME AND SPEAK HERE WITH YOU. I AM WORKING FOR A YEAR NOW FOR AN ORGANIZATION HELPING, THREE ASSOCIATIONS TOGETHER, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE NAME RIGHT NOW. PLEASE GIVE ME A MOMENT. ESPERANZA THE WESTSIDE HISTORIC. THE THREE ASSOCIATIONS, WE ARE FOCUSING TOGETHER TO SEE THAT
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YOU HAVE AN HONORABLE HOME. THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING THE PLACES THAT YOU CAN HAVE THESE HOMES AND WE ARE CHECKING, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD CHECKING THE NEEDS FOR THEM. AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THEM.WE HAVE BEEN CHECKING ON THE NEEDS OF THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING US WHAT IS WHAT THEY NEED. AND THE NAME "HOUSE" IMPLIES MORE THAN THE STRUCTURE, THE PHYSICAL PART. HOUSE IS MORE LIKE A HOME WHERE YOU DEVELOP YOUR FAMILY, WHERE YOU ARE HEALTHY THERE. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE PLANS THAT YOU HAVE FOR DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO INCLUDE ALL OF THAT IN A COMMUNITY. THAT YOU GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYBODY, NOT JUST TO HAVE A STRUCTURE, SOMETHING PHYSICAL, BUT THAT THEY NURTURE AS A COMMUNITY. AND IN MY SPEECH HERE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHAT I SAID BEFORE, THAT THEY NEED TO BE INTERCONNECTED. ALL THIS PLANNING NEEDS TO BE INTERCONNECTING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT IS LIVING IN THOSE PLACES. I REALLY APPRECIATE AND I'M CALLING YOU HERE THAT THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU CAN REALLY EMPLOY FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN NEED, FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT NEED IT THE MOST. THANK YOU.
>> GARCIA: GRACIAS. GRACIELA SANCHEZ. >> HI.
MY NAME IS GRACIELA SANCHEZ. I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON A FEW THINGS.
AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, WE SEE A LOT OF DEMOLITIONS TAKING PLACE IN ESPECIALLY DISTRICTS 5, DISTRICT 2 AND DISTRICT 3. THOSE HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER. BEING ON THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD IS REALLY CRITICAL AND WE DO WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE SENSITIVE.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE RETIRED BUT WHERE'S THE CORAZON? WHERE'S THE SENSITIVITY TO MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE LEFT IN PLACE.
AND SO I KNOW THE ESPERANZA HAS STARTED THE FIRST COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IN THE CITY, AND WE'RE HOPEFULLY, IN THE FUTURE, GOING TO RECEIVE THE OKAY FROM THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST. I KNOW IN DISTRICT 8 THE FOLKS ARE WANTING TO DO ONE.
AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL. THERE ARE MORE AND WE HOPE TO SEE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY BUT FOR THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, IT IS FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARACELY AND BLANCA SPOKE ABOUT.
THEY WANT TO SAVE THEIR HOMES. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 60, 70, 80-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, THEY CAN'T DO MORE BUT DEMOLISHING THEM WILL ONLY PLACE THEM ON THE STREETS OR MORE PROBLEMS FOR THE CITY. SO WE ARE CONCERNED. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT TWO SPECIFIC
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INDIVIDUALS, I DON'T NEED TO CALL THEM OUT BUT I HAVE SEEN THEM AT THE BSB AND THEY ARE VERY NEGATIVE AND ALMOST NASTY. WHAT SOMEBODY RECOMMENDED, MAYBE TO AVOID BRINGING THEM ON OR IDENTIFYING THEM IS LOOKING TO THE NEW PEOPLE APPLYING THAT MAY NOT HAVE PARTICIPATED.AND, SECOND, WHAT I SHARED WITH YOU WAS FROM A REHAB BRIEFING THAT Y'ALL HAD IN 2023.
SO I TOOK THOSE NUMBERS. AGAIN, THIS IS NEW PROGRAMS THAR REPAIR PROGRAM AND IT'S THE MAJOR REPAIR PROGRAMS. IN 2022 TO 2023 WHAT WE SAW IS EACH COUNCILMEMBER SAW AN INCREASE THAT DOUBLED IN THE NEEDS FOR REHABBING PEOPLE'S HOMES.
BUT THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE WAS 17% OF ALL REQUESTS WERE GRANTED.
THAT'S REALLY LOW, RIGHT? DISTRICT 5 -- I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5.
THAT WAS 790-PLUS HOMES AND ONL. I GAVE YOU ALL THE PAPERS AND I DIDN'T KEEP ONE FOR MYSELF.
ONLY 134 WERE GRANTED. AGAIN, THAT'S 17%. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT COMPETITION BETWEEN THE DISTRICTS. ALL THE DISTRICTS NEEDED IT BUT IF YOU ALSO SEE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF REQUESTS CAME FROM DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 5. SO TO THAT EXTENT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING BEFORE THE BUDGET. Y'ALL ALREADY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WE CAN'T JUST WAIT UNTIL AUGUST WHEN THE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
OF THE 24, $26 MILLION THAT THE CITY SETS ASIDE, ONLY $4 MILLION COMES FROM THE CITY GENERAL BUDGET. THE REST COMES FROM HUD AND CDBG.
WHERE'S THE REST? CAN WE GET SOME MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND?
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. ROY MORALES. RAY MORALES.
I'M SORRY. >> I'M RAY MORALES. A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
RETIRED ARCHITECT AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO -- I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM NO. 2.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY SAY TO THIS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER APPOINTING NEW CITIZENS TO THE BSB, THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD AND NOT REAPPOINTING CITIZENS WHO HAVE ALREADY SERVED. GIVE NEW MEMBERS TO THE BSB AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE APPOINT NEW CITIZENS TO ABOARD THAT HISTORICALLY HAS HAD RECURRING LONG-TERM APPOINTMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MORALES. LUIS.
>> HI. GOOD MORNING. I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE COORDINATOR FOR A COALITION WORKING TO BRIDGE ACCESS TO DIGNIFIED HOUSING IN THE HISTORIC WESTSIDE AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE THECO-CHAIR OF THE WESTSIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, ESPERANZA, AND THE DOMESTIC WORKERS' UNION TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY . AND WITH THE HOPE OF ENGAGING COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO JOIN US IN VOICING THOSE NEEDS. SO I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE ALONGSIDE SOME OF THEM AND WE HOPE THAT IT'S THE BEGINNING OF MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THOUGH MY PERSONAL HOUSING STORY AND I'M SPEAKING AS A HARD-WORKING MOTHER WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, THREE CHILDREN. I WAS -- I CAN SAY THAT IN THE PAST 13 YEARS THAT I'VE RENTED A HOME, MOST OF THE TIME HAS BEEN ON THE EASTSIDE, WHICH IS WHERE I GREW UP, AND WHERE I REALLY WANTED TO STAY. BUT ALL OF THE HOMES THAT I HAVE RENTED WERE SOLD FROM UNDERNEATH ME. AND THE LAST HOME THAT I WAS IN WAS FORECLOSED FROM THE STATE -- YEAH, DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN I HAD MY SON, APPARENTLY TOWARDS THE RENT, I
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GUESS TOWARDS THE LOAN AND NOT THE INTEREST. AND SO WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN MAKING PAYMENT ON THE INTEREST, THE LLC DID LIKE A QUICK FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING, WHICH SHE FOUGHT FOR TWO YEARS UNTIL SHE LOST. AND SO IF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE EDUCATED AND ARE BEING FORECLOSED, LIKE WHAT CHANCES DO REGULAR OR ELDERS OR HARD-WORKING FOLKS HAVE THAT ARE ON MINIMUM WAGE TO KEEP THEIR HOMES? SINCE I HAVE BEEN A COORDINATOR, I HAVE MET SOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS WHERE LIFE HAPPENS TO THEM AND THINGS JUST GET HARD.AND I'M BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE ONE DAY I WANT TO OWN A HOME AND I DON'T KNOW FIRST THAT I WOULD EVEN GET A LOAN BECAUSE THE HOUSE THAT I WAS RENTING AND THAT WAS BOUGHT BY AN LLC WAS REDEVELOPED AND IS BEING SOLD FOR NEARLY $300,000. AND I MISS MY NEIGHBORS.
I MISS NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE FOR RENT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> AND NOW I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7, WHICH DISTRICT 7 IS A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD BUT IF THAT IS HAPPENING TO ME, WHO I EARN WAY MORE THAN THE MINIMUM -- I HAVE A SALARY. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE FIXED INCOMES AND
LIMITED INCOMES ARE DEALING WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PREVENT THESE SPECULATORS AND LLCS FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE HOMES THAT ARE IN FORECLOSURES AND THAT ARE FOR SALE. AND IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD GIVE THE RIGHT TO NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS AND OTHER LOCALLY-BASED, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR KEEPING THOSE HOMES
AND RESIDENTS HOUSED -- >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO
ADVOCATE FOR. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FOLKS FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NO. 2, WHICH IS A CONSIDERATION OF ONE AT-LARGE APPOINTMENT TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD. WE HAVE THREE APPLICANTS.
I DO WANT TO -- I THINK ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAS A MOTION THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION, IF THERE'S A SECOND. SO, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA, CHAIR.
BRINGING TO LIGHT WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED TODAY AND, AGAIN, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT COUNCILMAN WHYTE SAID ABOUT THE VACANCIES. AS I LOOK AT THIS, WE HAVE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE VACANCIES AND WE'RE LOOKING AT AT-LARGE WITH TWO APPLICANTS THAT HAVE SERVED BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY THIS UNTIL THE NEXT PCDC.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO GET THEIR APPOINTEES IN.
I'M SURE IT'S IN THE PROCESS. AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THOSE IN. AND BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE THAT THEY HAVEN'T PICKED THAT MAY WANT TO APPLY FOR THIS AT-LARGE POSITION.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN FIRST BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT'S MY MOTION, THAT WE DELAY THIS UNTIL THE NEXT PCDC MEETING.
>> GARCIA: SO THERE IS A MOTION. IF THERE'S A SECOND FROM MY COLLEAGUES, THEN WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS AND THEN TAKE A FORMAL VOTE.
IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> GARCIA: GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMAN. >> PELAEZ: WHAT IS THE PRACTICAL IMPACT ON STAFF AND WHAT YOU HAVE -- WORK YOU HAVE IN THE PIPELINE IF WE DELAY TODAY? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE WE IMPEDING YOUR ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OR CAN YOU HOLD ON?
>> WELL -- GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE. THIS IS MIKE SHANNON, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR. WE HAVE FOUR VACANCIES OUT OF 14 TOTAL.
WE HAVE TWO PANELS OF SEVEN. SO IT'S A LITTLE CHALLENGING WITH THE FOUR VACANCIES.
SO CERTAINLY WE'D LOVE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYONE THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD.
WE KNOW THERE'S THREE THAT ARE APPOINTED SO WE WILL STILL HAVE BSB MEETINGS.
HOWEVER, WE MAY HAVE TO CANCEL SOME BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE SOME PANEL MEMBERS SHARE AN EXTRA MEETING OR SO. WE MAY HAVE TO CANCEL SOME MOVING FORWARD BUT IT WILL JUST
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GO AT A SLOWER RATE. >> PELAEZ: ARE THEY ALLOWED TO ATTEND REMOTELY OR DOES IT HAVE
TO BE IN PERSON? >> MOST OF IT IS IN PERSON. WE CAN OCCASIONALLY DO A REMOTE MEMBER, KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE DOING TODAY. BUT THE QUORUM OF THE COMMITTEE
HAS TO BE THERE IN PERSON. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: MIKE, I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION RELATED TO THIS. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT DEMOLITION OF PROPERTY BUT WHAT IS THE OTHER WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE DOES
BESIDES APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING DEMOLITIONS? >> THE CASES THEY HEAR ARE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES, WHICH ARE NOT NECESSARILY ELIGIBLE FOR DEMOLITION.
IT MAY BE SOMETHING SMALL ON THE HOUSE OR IN THE YARD, TALL GRASS, WEEDS.
WTHERE ARE SOME PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE CASES THEY HEAR.
THEY ALSO HEAR APPEALS FROM RESIDENTS. THEY CAN HEAR APPEALS IF THE APPELLANT FEELS THAT OUR NOTICE WAS INCORRECT. AND THEN THEY'LL HEAR DANGEROUS STRUCTURE CASES, WHICH ARE EITHER REPAIR OR DEMOLITION. THAT'S KIND OF THE TOTALITY OF
IT. >> COURAGE: I WOULD JUST BE CONCERNED IF WE WERE PUTTING OFF SOME DECISIONS THAT ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY. BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M WILLING TO WAIT BEFORE WE DECIDE TO DEMOLISH ANY HOME IN THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION. I WOULD BE INCLINED, BASED ON WHAT HE SAYS THEY COVER, TO
DELAY ANY FINAL DECISION RIGHT NOW. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS
PART? >> CASTILLO: I'M COMFORTABLE APPOINTING SOMEONE AT THIS TIME.
DO WE KNOW IF FOLKS ARE IN THE QUEUE FOR THE VACANT DISTRICTS? I SEE DISTRICT 1, 6, AND 8 ARE VACANT. DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S CURRENTLY SOMEONE THAT HAS APPLIED AND IS
IN THE QUEUE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH? >> PELAEZ: I CAN ANSWER.
MY -- THE GENTLEMAN WHO YOU SEE HAVING APPLIED FOR -- ALLEN SUMMERS HAS ASKED WE APPOINT HIM IF HE DOESN'T GET THE AT-LARGE. I INTEND TO DO THAT IF HE DOESN'T GET SELECTED.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. WONDERFUL.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? GO AHEAD. >> JUST TO POINT OUT, OF THE
THREE BEING INTERVIEWED, ONLY ONE IS A POSSIBLE REAPPOINTMENT. >> GARCIA: GO AHEAD,
COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: WE ALL RECEIVED PROFESSOR MATT GARCIA FROM ST. MARY'S SCHOOL OF LAW -- I DON'T KNOW PROFESSOR GARCIA BUT THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE LETTER ARE CONCERNING AND THEY TROUBLE ME. IF IN FACT THE BSB BOARD MEMBER ABOUT WHOM THIS LETTER ADDRESSES, IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE, EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT TRUE, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITHT HAVING A PERSON LIKE THIS ON ANY OF OUR BOARDS.
AND SO MY REQUEST TO STAFF IS THAT IN BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THAT WE MEET, CAN YOU GUYS LOOK AT THIS LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED AND THEN VALIDATE WHAT IS TRUE OR HELP US UNDERSTAND AND PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT? BECAUSE IF ANY OF THIS IS VALIDATED TO BE TRUE, THEN WE HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONVERSATION TO HAVE, NOT JUST ABOUT THIS INDIVIDUAL BUT ALSO ABOUT OUR EXPECTATIONS OF HOW OUR APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS TREAT THE PUBLIC.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. MIKE SHANNON, DO YOU TAKE THAT? WHO TAKES THAT ACTION? I MEAN, THE RESEARCH, IF YOU WILL.
>> I DON'T HAVE A LETTER SO I'LL CERTAINLY TAKE THE LETTER FROM THE COUNCILMAN AND WE'LL LOOK AT
IT. >> GARCIA: WONDERFUL. OKAY.
THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD THEN AND TAKE THE VOTE ON DELAYING THE ITEM.
ALL IN FAVOR FOR DELAY OF THE ITEM, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> VIAGRAN: AYE.
>> GARCIA: NO OPPOSITION AND NO ABSTENTION. MOTION CARRIES.
WE WILL DELAY THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PCDC. DO WE HAVE A DATE FOR THAT?
IT'S OKAY TO SAY JUST NEXT DATE? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NO. 3, WHICH IS BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE ZONA CULTURAL PUBLIC ART UPDATE.
THAT WILL BE PRESENTED BY KRYSTAL JONES. KRYSTAL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT AN UPDATE, JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF SOME EXCITING ACTIVITIES WITH PUBLIC ART WHEN IT RELATES TO
[00:50:06]
OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AREA KNOWN AS ZONA CULTURAL. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT I'M UP HERE HAVING THE PLEASURE SPEAKING WITH YOU ABOUT THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM. BUT THERE IS A HUGE TEAM EFFORT BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.WE HAVE FIVE MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC ART TEAM THAT WORK ON NEW PUBLIC ART PROJECTS.
AND I HAVE TWO OF THEM HERE WITH ME TODAY. WE HAVE KIMBERLY MORALES, SHE IS OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM MANAGER. AND I ALSO HAVE BY BIANCA ALVAR. THEY RUN OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM AND NEW PROJECTS AND BIANCA HAS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY THAT SHE HAS PROJECT MANAGED . THE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM ARE DEDICATING ANOTHER PIECE RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT 2. THE ZONA CULTURAL AREA IS A 44-BLOCK HISTORIC AREA HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AND IT ENCOMPASSES MANY OF OUR CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS BUT ALSO COMMERCE AND OF COURSE OUR CULTURE AS A WHOLE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE MAIN PLAZA, SPANISH GOVERNOR'S PALACE, THE SAN PEDRO CULTURE PARK , WE HAVE TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO, THE ALAMEDA THEATER, MARKET SQUARE, AND ALSO CENTRO SAN ANTONIO IS A HUGE PLAYER. THEY HAVE AN ART EVERYWHERE GALLERY AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF ART ACTIVATIONS. SO, AGAIN, A REALLY VIBRANT AREA FOR COMMERCE, CULTURE, AND MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. I'M GOING TO START EAST AND MAKE MY WAY WEST IN THIS AREA PO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PUBLIC ART THAT WE HAVE THAT YOU'LL BE SEEING.
FIRST OF ALL SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY UP AND THEN THERE WILL BE SOME COMING DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE. THE FIRST IS OUR CITY TOWER SCULPTURES BY THE ARTIST GROUP R&R&R. YOU'LL BE SEEING THIS IN THE FALL OF 2024. WE'RE TARGETING SEPTEMBER. AND THESE TWO PUBLIC ART PIECES WILL BE IN THE FRONT OF CITY TOWER ON HOUSTON STREET. THE BEAUTY OF THESE PIECES IS IT REALLY RESPONDS AGAIN, LIKE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC ART DOES, TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
WE ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THROUGH A SURVEY, WHAT THEMES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. AND THEY REALLY WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS THIS LARGE KIND OF BRUTALIST BUILDING WITH THE LEGACY PART THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT.
CONNECTING NATURE AND ALSO CITY BUSINESS. AND SO THERE'S ALSO A LIGHTING ELEMENT HERE THAT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED ON THIS PORTION OF HOUSTON STREET.
SO THESE ARE REALLY WHIMSICAL. THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SAID TOO.
THEY WANTED TO SEE WHIMSICAL PIECES OF ART. THESE ARE WHIMSICAL AND THEY CONNECT THE TWO WATERWAYS WITH SAN PEDRO CREEK ON ONE SIDE OF CITY TOWER AND ALSO THE RIVER WALK ON THE OTHER. AND THE ARTIST DREW INSPIRATION FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS, INCLUDING THE TREE OF LIFE AND MEXICAN LANTERNS AND NATURE ITSELF.
IMPRINTED ON THE ACTUAL LAMP POST WILL BE IMAGES OF NATURE LIKE BUTTERFLIES.
AND YOU SEE VINES COMING UP THE LANTERN TO GIVE IT MOVEMENT AND HAVE THIS WHIMSICAL FEATURE.
THESE ARE GOING TO BE VERY LARGE SCULPTURES THAT WILL REACH UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF CITY TOWER, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS. AND OUR PARTNERS ARE VERY EXCITED AGAIN BECAUSE WE HAVE PARTNERS LIKE WESTON URBAN ON THE CORNER WHO HAVE INDICATED THAT NEED FOR LIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THESE AND TO HAVE YOU ALL JOIN US FOR THE DEDICATION OF THIS PIECE IN SEPTEMBER.
THE NEXT PIECE IS ONE THAT'S JUST BEEN LAUNCHED. THE ARTIST HAS BEEN SELECTED BY OUR STAKEHOLDERS. AND THE ARTIST WILL BE JOE DE LA CRUZ.
HE HAS A NUMBER OF PUBLIC ART PIECES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO INCLUDING IN THE WORLD HERITAGE AREA. THE ARTWORK IS GOING TO BE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND THAT WILL BE ALONG FLORES STREET AND IT'S QUITE A LARGE LANDSCAPE HERE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. BRINGING TO LIFE, AGAIN, ANOTHER AREA THAT JUST NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT SO WE'RE LOOKING AT LIGHTING AS A PART OF THIS PUBLIC ARTWORK.
AND IT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET BY 111 FEET. A HUGE, HUGE MURAL PIECE THAT'S VIBRANT, JUST LIKE JOE DE LA CRUZ'S ARTWORK, WHICH IS WHY HE WAS SELECTED BY STAKEHOLDERS TO DO THIS PROJECT. YOU WILL BE SEEING THIS IN THE PRING OF 2025.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE ARTWORK EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE OF JOE RIGHT HERE.
[00:55:07]
NEXT, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LITTLE WALK RIGHT BEHIND PLAZA DE ARMAS AND SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL TILE MURAL BY CHRIS MONTOYA, THE ILLUMINATION DEL PLAZA.THIS WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER AND YOU HAVE THE SPANISH GOVERNOR'S PALACE, THE HISTORY OF THE CHILI QUEENS, WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN HIS ARTWORK . I KNOW IT MIGHT BE -- THE LIGHTING FADES THE ARTWORK BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IT'S VERY BRILLIANT AND BRIGHT AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME ON YOUR LUNCH BREAK AND TAKE A PEEK AT IT. AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THIS IS WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY REALLY SHAPES NOT ONLY THE THEME OF THE ARTWORK BUT THE ARTIST WORKS WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PRESENT THE CONCEPT FOR THE ARTWORK. AND THERE ARE TWEAKS THAT WERE MADE BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. EVEN THE LANTERN THAT YOU SEE IN THE CENTER, CHRIS MADE THAT A LITTLE SMALLER BUT ALSO MORE DEFINED.
AND PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THOSE LAMPS BECAUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO THE SPANISH GOVERNOR'S PALACE AND SEE THOSE EXACT LAMPS TODAY. IT'S CONNECTING OUR PRESENT WITH OUR PAST AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THIS ARTWORK TOO IS REALLY THE PAST KIND OF COMES INTO THE PRESENT WITH HIS STYLE OF MAKING IT KIND OF THIS ARTWORK COMING OUT.
THE NEXT PIECE WHICH WILL BE IN FALL OF 2024. WE ARE EXCITED TO WORK WITH DIANA KERSEY . THIS PIECE IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF SANTA ROSA AND COMMERCE STREET IN FRONT OF THE GOODWILL. WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO HAVING ACCESSIBILITY. OF COURSE OUR PUBLIC ART AND AT ALL HOURS, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS THAT DIANA IS REALLY LOOKING AT ACCESSIBILITY WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES CAN INTERACT WITH THIS PIECE, EVEN CLIMB ON IT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN ARE GOING TO SEE THESE LARGER THAN LIFE ANIMALS THAT YOU'LL FIND AT THE CREEK.
AND SO THERE'S TWO KIND OF PIECES AND ACTIVATIONS HERE WHERE ONE IS LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CREATURES ARE KIND OF CONFINED. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET THEM FREE AND LET THEM BE THE ANIMALS THEY WANT TO BE. SO DIANA KERSEY'S WORK CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO IN A LOT OF OUR GREEN SPACES LIKE BRACKENRIDGE PARK AND THIS IS A WAY TO LOOK AT NATURE AND TAKING CARE OF OUR NATURE AS WE DO SO. THE NEXT PIECE IS GOING TO BE AT THE INTERSECTION OF OF THE SANTA ROSA MEDIAN. THIS IS BY RHYS MUNRO AND IT WILL BE DONE IN THE FALL OF 2024. THIS IS A PLAY ON LIGHT AND RHYS TOOK INSPIRATION FROM MARKET SQUARE WHERE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ART AND ACTIVATIONS AND PERFORMANCES THAT HAPPEN. AND SO SHE'S INCORPORATING DIFFERENT LIGHTING ELEMENTS AND THROUGH HER PIECES OF HER ARTWORK WHERE THE SUN WILL SHINE AND CREATE SHADOWS AND THOSE PIECES WILL BLEND TO CREATE DIFFERENT COLORS. SHE WAS LOOKING AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND KNOWING THAT MANY PARENTS AND MANY CHILDREN WILL BE LOOKING OUT WINDOWS AND ALSO TAKING THAT MEDIAN AND CROSSWALK. SO SHE WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING VERY COLORFUL FOR THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO JUST BRING A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION TO THEM ON THEIR WALK WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A REALLY TOUGH DAY FOR THEM.
NEXT IS MILAM PARK. WE'RE WORKING WITH CHRISTINA SOSA NORIEGA.
AGAIN, SHE WAS SELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT A DEDICATION IN WINTER 2025.
THIS IS A WALL THAT'S IN MILAM PARK THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM SANTA ROSA AND THIS WILL BE A LARGE MURAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTINA SOSA NORIEGA. SHE IS TAKING IN ALL THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THROUGH THE SURVEY . SHE'LL BE MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO REALLY START TO SHAPE HER CONCEPT. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE BRINGS FORTH BECAUSE SHE'S A FANTASTIC ARTIST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO PROVIDES A LOT OF ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES WITH ARTIST STUDIO SPACES.
SO SHE'S REALLY ENGRAINED IN OUR ARTIST COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING
ARTISTS, TO WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HER. >>
>> YES. WE'LL MAKE SURE SHE SPEAKS TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MAKING A VISIT TO ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER.
OKAY. THE HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE MURAL.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE SPIRIT WITHIN, WHICH WE KNOW CONSTRUCTION IS STILL BLOCKING IT JUST A BIT, BUT IT WILL BE SOON OVER. BUT APRIL 2023 WAS WHEN THIS
[01:00:03]
PIECE WAS COMPLETED AND THIS IS A LARGE, LARGE VIBRANT MURAL THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN MARKET SQUARE. AND ALSO SPEAKS TO WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN MARKET SQUARE, INCLUDING THE WORK OF ARTISANS THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE IN MARKET SQUARE.AND SO, AGAIN, THESE MURALS ARE REALLY SHAPED BY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
THERE WERE LITTLE ELEMENTS WHERE WE MET WITH THE MARKET SQUARE TENANTS AND JUST LITTLE THINGS WHERE THERE WAS A COMMENT OF I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE WOMEN WHO ARE ADORNING THESE MASKS TO SHOW THEIR STRENGTH, INTERACTING MORE. IT'S JUST THOSE LITTLE COMMENTS BY COMMUNITY REALLY HELPED SHAPE THE ARTISTS AND THEIR WORK. IT'S WHERE THE WOMEN ARE INTERACTING MORE AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO SEE WITH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO THEY CAN BE ACTIVE. IT'S ILLUMINATED BY CONSTELLATIONS AND THE THEME WAS THOUGHTFUL ABOUT EXISTING LANTERNS THAT COULD NOT BE MOVED BUT INCORPORATING THOSE LANTERNS INTO THE ARTWORK SO IT LOOKS LIKE A NATURAL PART OF THE PIECE. WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MURAL.
TAKING A LITTLE STEP BACK BEFORE OUR NEXT MURAL IS I DO WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO OUR CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE MANAGED A PROJECT CALLED THE PASS. IT IS UNDER THE INTERSTATE BRIDGE WHERE MANY EVENTS AT MARKET SQUARE, ESPECIALLY DURING FIESTA, ARE HELD.
AND THIS WAS AN ACTIVATION TO BRING A BASKETBALL COURT, TO BRING FOLIAGE TO THE AREA, TO BRING SEATING AND SWING SETS. AND SO WIMBY HAS BEEN HERE ALREADY BUT IT'S TO ACTIVATE THE SPACE IN A WAY THAT BRINGS LIGHTING, BRINGS EVEN LIGHTING THROUGH THE COLORFUL TILES THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE WALKING ON. AND A PLACE TO ENJOY AT ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR AT MARKET SQUARE. AS A PART OF THAT, THERE'S THESE PILLARS. AND SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD IN WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT MARKET SQUARE TO LOOK AT THE ECHOES OF MARKET SQUARE WITH EVA SANCHEZ AND MIKE ARGUELLO. THIS WAS COMPLETED IN 2024 AND THESE ARE VERY VIBRANT PIECES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THE WOMEN AND THE MUSIC OF MARKET SQUARE. ALSO OUR CULINARY SCENE.
SO WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES ALREADY WHERE THERE'S FILM PRODUCTIONS COMING IN THAT ARE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON TRAVEL AND FOOD, BECAUSE OF OUR CITY OF GASTRONOMY.
WE HAVE A PRODUCTION COMING HERE TO FILM IN MAY AND THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON HOW YOU CAN MAKE CHILI CON CARNE AND GORDITAS BECAUSE EVA'S WORK TALKS ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS AND HOW THAT COMES TOGETHER. MIKE'S ART TALKS ABOUT THE MUSIC OF MARKET SQUARE AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND THERE. AGAIN, YOU HAVE PINATAS, WHICH WERE FROM THE MARKET SQUARE TENANTS, THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE WERE PINATA FESTIVALS WHERE THEY REMEMBER AS CHILDREN HAVING PICTURES OF THEM HITTING THESE AT MARKET SQUARE. IT'S BRINGING FAMILY STORIES AND THE FAMILY STORIES OF TENANTS BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE TENANTS THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO HAVE PASSED THEIR BUSINESS DOWN GENERATION TO GENERATION. THIS IS A COMPLEMENT TO OUR CENTER DE ARTES GALLERY. IT'S TAKING A NEW LOOK AT THE AREA AND BRINGING CONTEMPORARY ART TO THAT AREA . FINALLY, TALKING ABOUT A CONNECTION BEYOND MARKET SQUARE IS CONNECTING THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO TO DOWNTOWN THROUGH THESE TWO PIECES BY JOE VILLAREAL. AND HE, IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN, HIS ARTWORK IS IN MANY PLACES, INCLUDING ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES, RAY'S DRIVE-IN. YOU'LL SEE HIS ARTWORK IS AN INSTITUTION ON THE WEST SIDE AND IN SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS TO BE COMPLETED IN MAY 2024 AND LARGER THAN LIFE PIECES THAT REALLY SPEAK TO, AGAIN, SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY.
WE WORK WITH LA PRENSA TO GET JOE THE RIGHTS. AND OF COURSE THE EL TROMPO, WHICH MANY PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO REMEMBER PLAYING GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
AND SO, WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO CONCLUDE, THESE ARE JUST SOME UPDATES I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU FOR THIS AREA AND I DO, AGAIN, WANT TO REITERATE THAT THERE'S MANY PARTNERS THAT ARE PROVIDING ARTS AND CULTURE IN THIS AREA. AGAIN, CENTRO SAN ANTONIO, MAIN PLAZA CONSERVANCY AND TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO HAS ELEVATED WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY EVEN HAD A PUBLIC ART PANEL YESTERDAY. THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY
[01:05:01]
HAPPENING IN THIS AREA AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE IT AND ALSO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS ANDVISITORS TO SEE IT. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, KRYSTAL. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE FRED'S FISH FRY THAT IS HEADQUARTERED IN DISTRICT 4.
I WAS GOING TO WEAR MY FRED'S FISH JERSEY TODAY BUT I WAS LIKE THAT WILL BE A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
MAYBE TOMORROW. I THINK THIS IS GREAT. AGAIN, THE ENCOURAGEMENT THAT THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON THE ARTS. BECAUSE ARTS TELL OUR STORY, IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR THIS COMMITTEE. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU CAME HERE AND UPDATED US. AND ALSO JUST, IF YOU COULD CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS, I KNOW THAT ART IS SOMETIMES A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ENGAGE EVERYBODY AS MEANINGFULLY AS WE CAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK THERE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE. I'LL START WITH COMMENTS AND I'LL START WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, KRYSTAL FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THESE ARE JUST GORGEOUS STRUCTURES AND MURALS. I DID HAVE A QUESTION WITH THE COMMERCE AND FRIO SCULPTURES. WITH THE BASE AT THE BOTTOM , WILL THAT BE EXPOSED OR WILL THE
CEMENT BE BURIED? >> IT WILL BE EXPOSED. AND WE'VE INCORPORATED THE GRECO PATTERN OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN REPEATED THROUGHOUT THAT AREA.
BUT THEY WILL BE EXPOSED. >> CASTILLO: OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. AGAIN, THE HISTORIC MARKET SQUARE MURALS ARE GORGEOUS AND THEN, OF COURSE, ON THE MARKET SQUARE ITSELF, THE COLORS ARE SO VIBRANT.
JUST LOVE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. KRYSTAL, I THINK IT'S ALL AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT TAGGING, POSSIBLY. AND BECAUSE WE SEE THAT SOMETIMES IN DISTRICT 3, ALSO. BUT IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN POSSIBLY BE GET ME, IN TERMS OF CLEANING, LIGHTING, REHABBING THESE WORKS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES OVER BY THE GOODWILL AS WE GET INTO THE FUTURE. BECAUSE I DO THINK WE NEED TO, AGAIN -- AND I WILL CONTINUALLY TALK ABOUT THIS -- EXPAND OUR ARTS AND CULTURE BUDGET SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THESE GREAT PIECES OF ART. SO ESPECIALLY THE ONES OVER BY THE GOODWILL BECAUSE I KNOW WE WANT TO KEEP THAT CLEAN. THE OTHER THING IS IS THAT GOING TO BE SOMETHING CENTRO'S GOING TO DO OR WE'RE GOING TO DO? IF I COULD GET THAT INFORMATION.
BUT GREAT WORK. I THINK IT ENCOMPASSES SAN ANTONIO AND I LOVE THE STORY OF
THE WOMEN ALSO. THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU,
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN. COUNCILMAN PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: TWO THINGS.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING TO BE ONE OF THESE ARTISTS? >> EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A PRE-QUALIFIED LIST FOR ARTISTS THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO. THAT LIST IS EVALUATED BY AN INDEPENDENT PANEL OF EXPERTS, BOTH NATIONAL, BUT WE REALLY FOCUS ON SAN ANTONIO SO THAT PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHAT SAN ANTONIO NEEDS. BUT THEY APPLY FOR THAT.
WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT PANEL EVALUATE THE APPLICANTS AND THEN THOSE APPLICANTS MOVE ON TO OUR ARTS COMMISSION, OUR PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE, AND ALSO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
SO THEY ARE ON A PRE-QUALIFIED LIST THAT THEN OUR TEAM CAN WORK WITH TO CREATE ARTIST SHORT LISTS FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS TO EVALUATE FOR WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO SELECT.
>> PELAEZ: GIVEN TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ARTS COMMISSION?
>> WHAT IS THE WEIGHT? >> PELAEZ: THE WEIGHT GIVEN. DOES THE ARTS COMMISSION APPROVE? I MEAN, DO THEY KNOCK PEOPLE OFF THE LIST?
>> THEY COULD. THEY CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON MAYBE WOULD LIKE YOU TO REVISIT OR THEY SHOULDN'T BE ON THE LIST. THEY CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. I WILL SAY ONE EXAMPLE OF OUR PRE-QUALIFIED LIST, WE ARE DOING A PANEL, THAT EVALUATION PANEL I'M SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR AN INDEPENDENT PANEL TO EVALUATE THESE ARTISTS. AND OUR ARTS COMMISSION ACTUALLY TOLD US TO TAKE A PAUSE AND GO AND REOPEN THE LIST. BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FEEL THAT THE PANEL THAT THEY WERE SELECTING WAS DIVERSE ENOUGH. AND SO WE ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND REOPENED IT.
SO THE ARTS COMMISSION IS CERTAINLY A REGULATORY, YOU KNOW, BODY WHO CAN APPROVE OR
DENY OR HOLD OR -- >> PELAEZ: THESE PIECES AND THE ARTISTS WHO MADE THEM, THOSE
WERE RUN BY THE ARTS COMMISSION? >> THE LOCATION IS RUN BY THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THE ART COMMITTEE. THE SELECTION IS RUN BY THE ART COMMISSION AND THE ART
[01:10:05]
COMMITTEE. FINAL DESIGN. ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROJECT.>> PELAEZ: I LOVE IT. NUMBER TWO, ALONG THE ZONA CULTURAL, HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE IN THE FORM OF BUS STOPS THAT WE CAN CONVERT INTO SHADE ART?
>> WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH VIA. WE ACTUALLY HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK TO REDISCUSS THIS. AND I REALLY THINK IT'S A LARGER CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO BUS STOPS, WE DO HAVE TO WORK WITH VIA. OF COURSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT RIDERSHIP, THEY'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT-OF-WAY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUS STOPS THAT ARE RIGHT UP AGAINST A BUILDING SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SHADE OR YOU'RE LOOKING AT ART INCORPORATED, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS FOR EACH BUS STOP.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBILITIES.
AND WHAT DO THEY NEED IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN CHANGE BUS STOPS TO HAVE ART OR ANY OTHER
ELEMENTS. >> PELAEZ: OKAY. AND THEN LASTLY, THE ZONA CULTURAL, ARE WE ACTIVATING THAT FOR EVENTS RELATED TO THE ART? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THERE --
>> YEAH. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO CREATE AN ART WALK, IF YOU WILL. ONCE ALL OF THESE PIECES ARE DONE, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A MAP OF EACH OF THIS AREA WHERE YOU CAN ACTIVATE. BECAUSE, LIKE I MENTIONED, THERE'S EVEN GALLERIES THAT CENTRO SAN ANTONIO RUN WITHIN THIS AREA.
TPR HAS A NUMBER OF ACTIVATIONS. THE ACTIVATIONS IN PARTICULAR ARE RUN BY CENTRO SAN ANTONIO FOR THIS AREA, AS THEY ARE THE MANAGERS OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT.
BUT OUR TEAM WORKS IN TANDEM WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERS IN THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE LOCATED VERY CENTRALLY. SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF ART GALLERY OPENINGS AND THEN OF
COURSE WE ARE LOOKING AT ART WALKS OR ART TOURS. >> PELAEZ: GOOD JOB.
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I THINK THOSE ART PROJECTS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'RE REALLY GREAT AND I THINK THEY ADD A LOT TO A LOT OF DOWNTOWN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AS WELL. I KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE THAT WE DISCUSSED ABOUT MAINTENANCE ON THESE FACILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AS THEY'RE CREATED, IS THERE A CERTAIN ALLOCATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE CREATION OF THESE THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR
MAINTENANCE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME? >> SO I'LL ANSWER IT IN TWO PARTS HERE. AS THEY ARE CREATED, WHEN THERE ARE PIECES THAT ARE WITHIN THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, TOUCH WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH, WE HAVE ANTI-GRAFFITI AND WE HAVE PROTECTIVE ELEMENTS THAT WE INCORPORATE IN THE ARTWORK SO THAT IF AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT OF A TAGGING HAPPENS, IT CAN BE EASILY WIPED OFF. BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED BY DEBT, THAT DEBT FUNDING IS NOT ABLE TO BE USED FOR MAINTENANCE.
HOWEVER, IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR CITY COUNCIL GRACIOUSLY UNDERSTOOD THE NEED FOR PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE AND SO WE WERE ALLOCATED $500,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THAT PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE, WHICH WE HAVE PUT TO GOOD USE. BECAUSE A NUMBER OF OUR PROJECTS ARE IN NEED OF IT THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN PIECES THAT WE HAVE RESPONDED TO IMMEDIATELY, INCLUDING THE -- IN BEACON HILL THERE'S A ROUNDABOUT WITH A PIECE CALLED THE BEACON. WE COULD RESPOND VERY QUICKLY WITHIN THAT WEEK TO GET THAT CLEANED UP. SO WE USED THAT MAINTENANCE MONEY FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE PLAN THAT WE FOLLOW. IT'S ALSO RESPONSIVE.
AND WE DO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF PARTNERS. CENTRO SAN ANTONIO IS WALKING THIS AREA QUITE OFTEN. SOMETIMES THEY CAN CALL US AND HELP US CLEAN.
WE HAVE THE GRAFFITI ABASEMENT TEAM. THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THESE PROJECTS AND WE ACTIVATE HOWEVER IS NEEDED FOR THE PIECE AND THE
>> COURAGE: I'M SURE WE WANT TO KEEP THEM ALL LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, KRYSTAL.
THAT IS IT FOR OUR AGENDA SO THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.