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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: TIME IS 10:08 A.M. ON THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL 2024.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TODAY AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICANTS TODAY TO INTERVIEW, SO WE'LL DO THAT FIRST.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME TAKE UP ITEM 1, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 20, 2024 IN YOUR PACKET. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 1.
ANY DISCUSSION OR CHANGES? OKAY. HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY
AYE. >> OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY NOW INTO ITEM NO. 2 AND THAT IS THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICANTS. THERE IS CONSIDERATION OF FOUR AT-LARGE SEATS.
WE HAVE SIX FOLKS, I BELIEVE HERE PRESENT TO INTERVIEW. THREE OF WHICH ARE FOLKS WHO CURRENTLY SIT AND ARE SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT. LET'S SEE, WHAT WE'LL DO HERE -- I THINK IF WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY BUT THE PERSON BEING INTERVIEWED KIND OF WAIT IN THE LOBBY.
AND WE'LL TAKE THE FIRST PERSON UP IN ORDER. LET ME ASK FIRST MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS. WE'LL HAVE, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY WHO HAS APPLIED, WE'LL DO A TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT AND GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANTS. AND THEN THE COMMITTEE WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'LL MOVE TO THE OTHER ROOM SO PEOPLE CAN STAY SEATED AND WE'LL MAKE OUR DECISION OUT HERE.
IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUR FIRST APPLICANT? WE'LL TAKE THEM IN ORDER. WE HAVE ANAMARIE MILAM. AND SO FOLKS WHO ARE NOT NAMED ANAMARIE MILAM CAN WAIT IN THE LOBBY. FIRST, ANAMARIE, WELCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE HERE AND THEN WE'LL LIKELY HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE NEXT PERSON. >> WELL, I'M A LITTLE BIT LESS NERVOUS THAN I WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS HERE TO DO THIS. I GO BY CAMUS MILAM.
I'M A PSYCHIATRIST. I'M A RESIDENT CURRENTLY OF DISTRICT 2 FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN IN DISTRICT 9 PREVIOUSLY TOO. I HAVE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 1998, ORIGINALLY FROM THE VALLEY, SO HERE I AM NOW. IT'S REALLY BEEN A PLEASURE SERVING ON THE COMMISSION SO FAR. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE LEARNED A LOT, WHICH I KNOW IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF MY SERVICE BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL ADJUNCT TO IT.
BEING ON THE COMMISSION AND LEARNING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THIS CITY AND HOW WE'RE GROWING AND THINKING ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY AND HOW WE GROW AS A LIVING BEING RATHER THAN JUST BUILDINGS AND PLATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IS, I THINK, MAYBE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOCUS THAT I BRING THAN PERHAPS OTHER PEOPLE BRING, TO THINK OF IT MORE ORGANICALLY. HAVING LIVED IN ONE OF THE MIDTOWN AREAS, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SA TOMORROW PLANS TO HAPPEN AND HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THAT PLAN, I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND REALLY LEARNED TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE LOOK AT NOT JUST THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I LIVE IN, MAHNCKE PARK IS A VERY SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WHAT IS OUR PLACE WITHIN THE CITY, WITHIN THE LARGER AREA OF SAN ANTONIO AS WE'RE GROWING. THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES ON IN THAT MIDTOWN AREA AND THAT INTERESTS ME A LOT TOO BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT HUGE FANS OF BIG CHANGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKYARDS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT IN OUR BACKYARDS OVER THE LAST DECADE. AND SO LEARNING HOW TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND TALK WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THAT HAS BEEN A REAL PLEASURE AND I HOPE TO
KEEP DOING IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. MILAM. WE'LL GO TO THE COMMITTEE NOW WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
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ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. MILAM? COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
MS. MILAM, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AS
YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS? >> I THINK OUR CHALLENGE IS REALLY TO STAY THE COURSE AND TO THINK ABOUT THE LAND USE AND HOW DO WE WANT TO SEE INCREASINGLY SMALLER AREAS OF LAND BEING USED. TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE KEEP AFFORDABLE HOUSING CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN, CLOSE TO WHERE PEOPLE WORK.
HOW DO WE KEEP SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT CLOSE AREA DOWN TOO AND HOW DO WE MANAGE TO DO THAT ALL WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE THERE.
>> COURAGE: HOW DO YOU FACE THE CHALLENGE THAT THERE MAY BE A PLAN THAT'S BEEN APPROVED THAT HAS DESIGNATED LAND USE BUT THERE'S A DEVELOPER, A PROPERTY OWNER WHO COMES OUT AND SAYS, WELL, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE LAND USE WAS APPROVED FOR.
HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES? >> AND, OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW WE SEE THAT ALL THE TIME. I THINK WE LOOK AT IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND LOOK AT FIRST THE LAND PLAN. SOMETIMES HOW RECENT THE PLAN IS MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
IF IT'S A PLAN THAT'S QUITE A BIT OLDER OR ONE THAT'S COMING UP FOR CHANGE, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE THINKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE FOR LAND USE IN THAT AREA.
IF IT'S AN ESTABLISHED PLAN THAT I'M LOOKING AT, OKAY, HOW DOES THIS FIT IN WITH THE INTENT OF THE PLAN, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIT WITH THE CURRENT USAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: YOU INTERFACE WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OR OUR STAFFS AND HOW IS THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE GETTING FROM US? AND, IF NOT, WHY NOT? AND WOULD IT BE MORE HELPFUL TO YOU IF -- AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION -- IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF INTERACTION AND
SUPPORT FROM US? >> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
>> PELAEZ: I AGREE. >> THERE'S 96 COMMISSIONS AND SO I'VE NEVER EXPECTED HAND HOLDING, CERTAINLY. COUNCILMAN COURAGE COMES TO OUR MEETINGS WITH SOME REGULARITY. I, AS A PERSON IN DISTRICT 2, KEEP IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH MY OWN COUNCILMAN, JALEN MCKEE. I THINK THAT REALLY WE GET THE MOST OF OUR SUPPORT FROM THE DSD AND WE GET EXCELLENT SUPPORT THERE. IF WE HAVE A QUESTION, IT COMES BACK AND WE GET ANSWERS TO IT. BUT I THINK THE BALANCE IS
GOOD. >> PELAEZ: ANY ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
>> THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, COUNCILMAN. I THINK THE CHANGES THAT HAVE STARTED ALREADY ARE MAKING THE FLOW WORK A LOT BETTER. IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TO EXPECT. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME, AS A NEW COMMISSIONER LEARNING THINGS, BUT I THINK THE RESOURCES AND HOW WE CAN ACCESS THEM AND THE WEBSITES THAT WE HAVE ARE REALLY GOOD. I CAN FIND WHAT I NEED AND GO THERE.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS.
>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
SO, MS. MILAM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I THINK THIS IS YOUR FIRST STINT ON
THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IF I RECALL? >> YES.
JUST FINISHING MY FIRST. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE GUIDING DOCUMENT, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IS SA TOMORROW AND OUR PLANS, WHICH I THINK HAD TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS, ONE OF THEM IS TO GUIDE THE PROCESS OF CHANGE THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE REFERRED TO. IN THAT WE HAVE THIS TENSION BETWEEN A GROWING CITY THAT HAS NEW USES NEXT TO, YOU KNOW, PLACES THAT WE'RE USED TO, NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDED.
AND THERE'S A CHANGE INSIDE THE CITY GOING ON. THAT DOCUMENT HELPS GUIDE THAT PROCESS SO THAT IT CREATES AND MITIGATES THE CONFLICTS THAT OCCUR BETWEEN COMMERCIAL USES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, ET CETERA. THE OTHER BIG ONE IS WE'RE TRYING TO ALSO PROTECT SENSITIVE PARTS OF OUR LAND, COLLECTIVELY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF MANAGING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. ONE OF THEM, OF COURSE MOST IMPORTANTLY BEING OUR AQUIFER AND PROTECTING OUR WATER SUPPLY. ON THOSE TWO MEASURES, HOW DO
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YOU THINK WE'RE DOING IN ADHERENCE TO THE SA TOMORROW PLAN? WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S MAYBE GAPS THAT THE SA TOMORROW PLAN DOESN'T NECESSARILY SPEAK TO? WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE>> WELL, HAVING BEEN PART OF PLANNING, AT LEAST FOR MY SMALL AREA OF THE SA TOMORROW PLAN, I THINK THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE ARE -- THE PROCESS WAS WONDERFUL.
I REALLY APPRECIATED ALL OF THE PIECES LEADING UP TO IT. SO I FEEL LIKE THE PLAN IS WELL-THOUGHT-OUT. IT HAS THE WILL OF THE CITY BEHIND IT.
PARTS OF IT ARE NEWER AND PARTS OF IT ARE NOT COMPLETE, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE.
AND, YES, THERE'S TENSIONS. THERE'S NO WAY THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE TENSIONS IN A GROWING CITY. AND SOME OF THE TENSIONS ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF THEM THAT HAVE COME UP RECENTLY. THINKING ABOUT WATER USE AND HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF USED WATER AND HOW DO WE KEEP THINGS CLEAN. I THINK WE'RE DOING -- AND HAVING LIVED IN A BUNCH OF OTHER CITIES TOO -- I THINK SAN ANTONIO IS DOING WELL.
I MEAN, AS I TOLD COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY REAL SPECIFIC AREAS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A CITY OF 2 MILLION PEOPLE AND WE'VE GOT A CLOSE TO $4 BILLION BUDGET. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO THINK ABOUT. WE COULD PROBABLY USE $15 BILLION IF WE HAD THAT KIND OF A BUDGET TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO. SO I THINK AS A SMALL COG IN THAT WHEEL, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE FUTURE AND WHAT POTENTIAL IMPACT IS THERE DOWN THE ROAD AND TRYING TO IMAGINE UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES, WHICH WE CAN'T IMAGINE ALL OF THEM.
I THINK WE ALL DO OUR BEST TO LOOK AT THAT. AND I THINK THAT THE LEAD WE
GET FROM COUNCIL IS WHAT WE FOLLOW TO DO THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DO YOU THINK THE SA TOMORROW PLAN IS PART OF THE ANALYSIS THAT YOU GUYS DO?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IT IS? OKAY.
GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR
BEING HERE AND BEING WILLING TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM. >> THANK YOU, ALL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO MICHAEL GARCIA. ALSO RETURNING FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
TAKING UP THE WRONG ORDER? YOU'RE NOT MICHAEL GARCIA. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JASON LENOIR. GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT. JASON. >> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE COUNCIL COMMITTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF JOINING THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD AND CONTRIBUTING TO SAN ANTONIO'S VIBRANT FUTURE.
AS A CIVIC-MINDED INDIVIDUAL, I'M WELL SUITED FOR THIS IMPORTANT ROLE AND DURING MY ENLISTMENT IN THE U.S. NAVY AND WORKING IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, I'VE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED A STRONG ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY COLLABORATE AND COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYDAY PEOPLE. THESE SKILLS COUPLED WITH MY PASSION FOR IMPLEMENTING SUITABLE SUSTAINABLE CITY PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MADE ME A WILLING TEAM PLAYER WHO CAN EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS. SAN ANTONIO IS AT A PIVOTAL POINT AND I'M EAGER TO BE A PART OF SHAPING THIS GROWTH. I'M A NATIVE OF NORTH CAROLINA, SO I'M FAIRLY NEW TO THE CITY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS CITY VERY MUCH.
I LOVE THE CITY, THE PEOPLE. AND I WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE CITY'S GROWTH AND CHALLENGES IT PRESENTS AND I BELIEVE IN RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT THAT PRIORITIZES BOTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORICAL STRUCTURES, AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. A GOOD LISTENER WHO ACTIVELY SEEKS OUT DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. I'M CONFIDENT I CAN WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AND CITY STAFF TO ENSURE INFORMED AND INCLUSIVE DECISION MAKING. I'M EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOARD'S CURRENT PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES THE BOARD FACES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. AND I'M JUST GLAD TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LENOIR FOR
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YOUR APPLICATION. WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL QUESTIONS.COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. WHEN YOU SERVE, IF YOU SERVE ON THIS BOARD OR COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, THE CITY STAFF USUALLY MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT COMES BEFORE THE COMMISSION. WOULD YOU TEND TO GIVE MORE WEIGHT TO MAYBE THE CITY STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS OR TO MAYBE THE PROPERTY OWNERS OR NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES WHO COME AND TESTIFY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ABOUT A
PARTICULAR PLANNING ISSUE? >> WELL, I WOULD EQUALLY GIVE BOTH PERSPECTIVES A CHANCE.
I WOULD HEAR OUT BOTH SIDES AND JUST, FROM THAT ANGLE, DECIDE WHAT IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY. THEN MAKE A DECISION BASED OFF THAT.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: AS FAR AS OTHER BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, WHETHER CITY-RELATED OR NOT, HAVE YOU DONE ANY COMMUNITY SERVICE? HAVE YOU ATTENDED ANY OF THESE MEETINGS TO KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR WHAT WE DO OUT THERE?
>> NO, SIR. ACTUALLY, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS AND MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF CITY PLANNING. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY PRIOR EXPERIENCE ON A BOARD BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GAINING THAT EXPERIENCE HERE IN SAN
ANTONIO. >> PELAEZ: YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
MR. LENOIR, YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE PREVIOUS -- WELL, ACTUALLY YOU DIDN'T.
YOU WERE IN THE OTHER ROOM. SO LET ME ASK YOU. IN YOUR EXPERIENCE OF SAN ANTONIO, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OBVIOUSLY DEALS WITH CONFLICTS RELATED TO GROWTH. IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT ARE THE CHIEF AREAS OF CONFLICT THAT
WE'VE GOT TO MITIGATE IN OUR LAND USE? >> WELL, THE ROADWAYS, SIR.
YOU KNOW, HAVING TRAVELED ON THE ROADWAYS, THAT IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME.
JUST COMING HERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION, A LOT OF WORK BEING IMPLEMENTED AND BUT I THINK THE ROADWAYS, FOR ME, IS A MAIN CONCERN.
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE GOING TO AND FROM WORK, TRAVELING IN THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES AND, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE MINOR DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR FROM IMPROPER STRUCTURE OF THE ROADWAYS. AND SO I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROADWAYS.
THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LENOIR AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO STEP FORWARD TO SERVE AND ALSO FOR YOUR
PREVIOUS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. >> THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL MOVE NOW TO OUR NEXT APPLICANT, MR. BRYAN LOPEZ.
AND MR. OUELLETTE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME'S DUSTIN OULLETTE. I'M A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS ATTORNEY IN TOWN BUT REALLY I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A PASSION FOR SERVING. IN FACT, MY HISTORY IS WORKING IN POLITICS AND THEN ULTIMATELY GOING TO LAW SCHOOL TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK.
A LOT OF WHAT I DO RIGHT NOW IS I FOCUS QUITE A BIT ON LOOKING AT PLATS AND DEVELOPMENTS AND WORKING WITH CLIENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IMPACTS, HOW IT FITS UNDER THE LAW, POTENTIALLY WHAT EVEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MIGHT SAY. AND THEN LOOKING AND WORKING WITH THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF REAL ESTATE. AND BUT MY HISTORY GOES BACK -- I SERVE IN AUSTIN. I SERVE WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WITH THE U.S.
SENATOR. MY BACKGROUND IS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND JUST SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME WHEN I CAME BACK FROM SAN ANTONIO, JUST WANTING TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE MY PARENTS LIVE HERE. MY WIFE'S FAMILY LIVES HERE.
AND THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING MORE, TO ME, AS A PASSION TO BE HERE KNOWING THAT THIS CITY IS BUILT AROUND JUST HEAVY RELATIONSHIPS AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE HERE. WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT FOREIGN TO ME BECAUSE I CAME, YOU KNOW, SOUTH TEXAS. IT WAS NOT FOREIGN BUT WHEN I WENT TO HOUSTON TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT FOREIGN. BEING GIVEN MY BACKGROUND AND GIVEN MY JUST CURRENT WORK THAT I ASSIST CLIENTS WITH EACH AND EVERY DAY, I THINK I CAN BE A VALUABLE ASSET TO THIS PLANNING COMMISSION. BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AND BE ABLE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, JUST BRING WHAT WE NEED THE CITY TO BE, AS IT'S GROWING SO
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RAPIDLY RIGHT NOW. AND DEVELOPMENT IS JUST HAPPENING AT ROCKET SPACE.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. OUELLETTE.
WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS. I'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. SO YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY SOMEWHAT.
YOU'VE GOT EXPERIENCE WITH HOW GOVERNMENT MAY WORK OR SHOULD WORK THROUGH LEGISLATURE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WHAT KIND OF WEIGHT WOULD YOU GIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, BY RECOMMENDATIONS OF CITY STAFF WHEN IT COMES TO A PLANNING ISSUE THAT COMES TO THE CITY.
COMPARED TO WHAT PROPERTY OWNERS OR THEIR LOBBYISTS OR THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT AN ISSUE. HOW DO THOSE WEIGH IN YOUR
DELIBERATIONS, WOULD YOU THINK? >> ARE YOU ASKING IN TERMS OF
WHAT TYPE OF ADVICE I POTENTIALLY COULD GIVE? >> COURAGE: THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND THEN THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE GOING TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT. AND CITIZENS WHO LIVE AROUND THERE MAY SAY WHAT THEY WANT.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU WEIGH ALL THAT? >> ULTIMATELY I WEIGH WHAT THE E CITY AND THAT COMMUNITY. SO EACH ASPECT OF THIS CITY HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT POINTS. AND ONE THING, WHENEVER I LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT A CITY WOULD TELL ME OR CITY STAFF WOULD TELL ME VERSUS WHAT MY CLIENT WOULD TELL ME OR ANY SORT OF DEVELOPERS WOULD TELL ME, I'M GOING TO TRY TO RECONCILE THOSE TWO INTO WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR THIS AREA AND THIS DEVELOPMENT THEY'RE WANTING TO PERFORM.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE. THAT'S ONE WAY THAT I APPROACH EACH AND EVERY CLIENT THAT I HAVE WHO IS LOOKING TO DO A DEVELOPMENT, LOOKING TO PERFORM.
I LOOK AT THAT AREA AND THINK DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY, NUMBER ONE, WHAT YOUR END GOAL IS 5, 10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW? DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE GROWTH IS AROUND THAT AREA? WHAT IS THE END GOAL OF THE CITY AND POTENTIALLY THE DEVELOPERS IN THAT ASPECT? AND I WORK TO RECONCILE THAT AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT SORT OF ADVICE, WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA VERSUS YOU WANT TO BUILD HOUSES.
AGAIN, I WAS USED TO, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL IN HOUSTON, OF COURSE NO ZONING, CHEMICAL PLANT NEXT TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. WHICH, AGAIN, TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD CAN BE MUCH HAZARD. SO THAT'S HOW I APPROACH IT. AND MY ADVICE IS THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHI STAFF TELLS ME OR EVERYTHING A DEVELOPER TELLS ME. WHAT I TRY TO DO IS UNDERSTAND MORE OF A GLOBAL ASPECT OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA IN THAT REGION VERSUS JUST LOOKING LOCALIZED AT WHAT THAT
DEVELOPER WANTS TO DO. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? MR. OUELLETTE, SO IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, I KNOW YOU HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN REAL ESTATE.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS CAN BE SOMEWHAT CONTENTIOUS. WHAT WOULD YOUR APPROACH BE TO BALANCE THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS AND, YOU KNOW, A DEVELOPMENT, SAY, THAT IS SEEKING TO CHANGE USE. THAT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY FRICTION THERE BECAUSE THERE'S GROWTH. WE NEED THE USES. THE CITY'S CHANGING BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT TO MITIGATE THOSE CHALLENGES AND EXPECTATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WE CHANGE. AND THEN FLIP SIDE OF THAT, IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, OUR NEED TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY OUR AQUIFER WHERE A LOT OF THE FRICTION IN THE PAST -- AND I CAN SEE IN THE FUTURE -- WILL BE HOW DO WE PRESERVE THE LAND TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY THAT KEEPS OUR DRINKING WATER CLEAN AND SAFE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
WHAT WOULD YOUR APPROACH BE FOR THAT? I MENTIONED FOR A PREVIOUS APPLICANT THE SA TOMORROW PLAN. ARE WE STICKING TO IT? ARE WE BEING GUIDED BY IT? IS IT ADEQUATE? WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON ALL OF
THIS? >> YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT TYPE OF RECONCILIATION, WHAT PROPERTY OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, AND ALSO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IS THAT WHERE EXACTLY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE OUR GREEN SPACE.
WHERE EXACTLY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE OUR PLANTS BEING BUILT. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT EACH OTHER AS YOU POTENTIALLY BUILD AROUND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, WHAT REGIONS GO INTO THAT, WHAT REGIONS ACTUALLY FEED INTO THAT EDWARDS AQUIFER REGION, WHICH I KNOW MOST OF THE NORTH SIDE. AND WHY WOULD WE WANT TO GIVE CREDENCE TO SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BE SO HAZARDOUS TO THAT PARTICULAR
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AREA BECAUSE YOU GRANT ONE VARIANCE OR GRANT ONE PARTICULAR ZONING.THAT JUST OPENS THE DOOR, OF COURSE, TO QUITE A BIT DOWN THE ROAD.
AND SO I TRY TO RECONCILE A LOT OF THAT SORT OF PLANNING WHEN I'M LOOKING AT BALANCING OUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE ECONOMIC ASPECT OF IT. DO WE NEED THIS SORT OF GROWTH IN OUR BUSINESSES. WE NEED THE GROWTH IN OUR AREA, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF HOUSING THAT CITIZENS NEED. AND IT BECOMES A CONCERN OF MINE TO LOOK AT, OKAY, WE CAN GIVE ALL THAT. WE CAN PROVIDE ALL THAT HOUSING. WE CAN PROVIDE THE ZONING VARIANCES BUT ULTIMATELY, LIKE I WAS TALKING TO COUNCILPERSON, IS THAT YOU ULTIMATELY AFFECT 10, 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BY GRANTING WHAT YOU ARE GRANTING NOW. WHAT SORT OF EFFECT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE ON DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO WANT TO COME INTO THAT REGION AND LOOK BACK AND SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU DID PREVIOUSLY. PRECEDENT IS KING, QUITE A BIT THESE DAYS. AND SO I THINK THE CONCERN -- I THINK THAT'S JUST PRIMARILY MY CONCERN IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE WITH THAT AND ARE WE MEETING THOSE EXPECTATIONS. I BELIEVE THE CITY IS MEETING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THAT EXPECTATION AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE APPROACHING THAT DIRECTION.
I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A GENERAL FIGHT BETWEEN WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND
DEVELOPERS WANT TO TAKE ON. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I WON'T PUT YOU ON THE SPOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF LAWS WE WOULD NEED TO HELP SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO DO JUST THAT, TO MITIGATE THOSE CONFLICTS, BUT WOULD SURE ENJOY YOUR INPUT ON THAT IF YOU GET A CLANS. CHANCE. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO STEP FORWARD, MR. OUELLETTE. IS MR. LOPEZ HERE YET? NOT YET? WE'LL GO TO MICHAEL GARCIA. MIKE, WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES TO
ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE AND THEN WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS. >> OKAY.
I HOPE MY SPEECH IS TWO MINUTES. MY ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM MICHAEL GARCIA. CURRENTLY SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I HAVE ENJOYED REVIEWING THE MANY CASES BROUGHT BEFORE US.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS GROWING AND WE ARE REVIEWING PLANS AND PROJECTIONS THAT HELP DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY INTO THE FUTURE. I'M ENCOURAGED THAT THERE ARE MANY EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE THE INNER CITY AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE MATURE NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY CITIZENS HAVE FORMED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS. I BRING TO THE TABLE MY EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCING IN REVIEWING THE CASES IN HELPING ME MAKE DECISIONS, ALONG WITH THE STAFF'S REVIEW. I RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE CITY SERVICE WHERE PLANNING WAS AN IMPORTANT ACTIVITY IN RUNNING THE BASES. PART OF MY DUTIES WERE COORDINATING WITH THE CITIES WHERE OUR BASES WERE LOCATED. MY PAST WORK IN SAN ANTONIO STARTED IN HEMISFAIR '68, URBAN RENEWAL, RAY ELLISON INDUSTRIES, MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL, PRIVATE PRACTICE, SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, AND THE AIR FORCE .
I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED MY WORK WITH THE AIR FORCE IN PLANNING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
IT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO MANY INSTALLATIONS HERE AND ABROAD.
MY PAST EXPERIENCES IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE BEEN IN CIVIC WORK, SERVING THE CITY IN SEVERAL CAPACITIES. I HAVE SEEN THE CITY GROW AND PROVIDE A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CITIZENS' QUALITY OF LIFE. I HAVE SEEN THE PROCESS FOR ANNEXATION, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
I HOPE MY WORK HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY TO YOU. THANK YOU.
MICHAEL GARCIA. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GARCIA, AGAIN, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. MR. GARCIA, YOU'VE SERVED FOR A FEW YEARS. COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OR SOME OF THE THINGS YOU THINK THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE WAY OF CONTINUING TO CONDUCT WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR MAYBE MAKE SOME CHANGES IN HOW THEY'RE CONDUCTING THE
BUSINESS, IF ANY? >> WELL, MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT CAME WERE FROM ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE NOT AWARE THAT THERE HAD BEEN CHANGES MADE TO THE LAND THEY OWN. I HAD ONE CLIENT THAT CAME, IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL
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AREA THEY WANTED TO USE IT AS A STORAGE FOR THEIR SCRAP METAL.IT JUST WOULDN'T FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT THEY SAID, WELL, MY NEIGHBOR SAID IT'S OKAY. ONE ELDERLY PERSON TO ANOTHER ELDERLY PERSON, OH, THAT'S OKAY. BUT IT'S NOT REALLY. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE
OF WHAT IS THAT LAND GOING TO BE BEST USED FOR. >> COURAGE: SOMETIMES THERE ARE CONFLICTS WHEN IT COMES TO DECISIONS ABOUT PROPERTIES AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LAND USE THAT'S BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE CITY PLAN AND, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A NEW PROPERTY OWNER OR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO ACQUIRE A PIECE OF PROPERTY AND WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT ISN'T IN THE CURRENT LAND USE. HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS WHEN THEYHE COME
UP? >> WELL, I THINK WE WORK WITH THE STAFF.
THE STAFF DOES A LOT OF RESEARCH SO THAT WE CAN RECOMMEND WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO BE THERE. THERE IS THIS LADY THAT APPROACHED ME THE OTHER DAY.
SHE'S A DOCTOR IN THE DOCTORS WITH NO BORDERS AND THEY OWNED A BIG PIECE OF PROPERTY ON SOUTH SAN. THAT'S WHERE SHE'S BEEN BORN AND RAISED.
SHE SAID I KEEP PAYING TAXES BUT THEY WON'T LET ME USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
TO ME, THAT WAS A CHALLENGE AND I SAID I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION. SO I WAS PLANNING TO WORK WITH STAFF TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE
COULD DO. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT STAFF.
ARE YOU GETTING THE SUPPORT YOU NEED FROM CITY STAFF? AND IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT? IF SO, WHAT? >> I THINK STAFF WORKS VERY HARD. THEY CAN LOOK UP THE LATEST THAT HAS BEEN PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE. AND WE DON'T ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH THAT, BUT THEY DO.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT WORKING WITH US. I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER HAD A COMPLAINT WITH ANY OF THEM. THEY'RE REALLY GOOD. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE OUR MAILBOXES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THANKS TO HIM.
>> PELAEZ: WONDERFUL. NOW YOU CAN GET MY NEWSLETTER AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. MIKE, YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
HOW ARE WE DOING IN ADHERENCE TO THE SA TOMORROW PLAN? AND THEN ARE THERE GAPS IN THE
PLAN THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS? >> WELL, I THINK THE TRAFFIC IS SLOWLY CATCHING UP. RIGHT NOW I'M DEALING WITH THE TRAFFIC AT 10 AND 1604 AND EVERYBODY BACKS THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE.
IT JUST TAKES PATIENCE. I THINK SAN ANTONIO'S GOING TO BE A GREAT CITY.
THE ONE CITY I WAS COMPARING IT TO WAS DENVER, COLORADO. I HAVE SEEN HOW THEY REDID THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE DOWNTOWN AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO MUCH BETTER THAN
THEY ARE. I LIKE THE PLAN. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GARCIA. >> OKAY. IS THAT IT?
>> I THINK MR. LOPEZ IS LITERALLY ARRIVING SO WE'LL READ THE STATEMENT AND GO RIGHT INTO MR. LOPEZ. OH, MR. GARCIA, YOU CAN WAIT WITH THE OTHERS NOW.
MADAME CLERK, IF YOU COULD -- THIS IS JOSE AUCES. >> PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD, I AM TRULY HONORED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU WHY I BELIEVE I AM THE RIGHT FIT FOR THIS IMPORTANT ROLE. WITH OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, I HAVE DEVELOPED A SKILL SET THAT UNIQUELY QUALIFIES ME FOR THE CHALLENGES OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT.
LEADING TEAMS OF MEDICAL TECHNICIANS I HAVE NOT ONLY ENSURED HIGH-QUALITY PATIENT CARE BUT ALSO IMPLEMENTED PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS I'VE WORKED FOR. MY COMMITMENT TO OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IS UNWAVERING, WHETHER IT'S MANAGING LABORATORY EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE ACCURATE TEST RESULTS OR OVERSEEING A FLEET OF VEHICLES TO ENSURE OPERATIONAL READINESS, I THRIVE IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EFFICIENCY IS PARAMOUNT.
BUT BEYOND JUST EFFICIENCY, MY PASSION LIES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
I BELIEVE IN PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT AND EMPOWERING THEM THROUGH EDUCATION. THIS PATIENT-FOCUSED APPROACH COMBINED WITH MY TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY HAS CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED POSITIVE OUTCOMES THROUGH THE MY CAREER.
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IN CONCLUSION, I AM NOT JUST A MEDICAL PROFESSION SEEKING A NEW CHALLENGE, I AM A LEADER, PROBLEM SOLVER, AND COLLABORATOR READY TO BRING MY SKILLS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD . WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS, A PASSION FOR COMMENTS, AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY, I AM CONFIDENT I CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE BOARD AND HELP SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY CANDIDACY.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS FOR DEBBIE ON PLANNING COMMISSION? [LAUGHTER] DEBBIE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SA TOMORROW PLAN? ALL RIGHT. HE'S GETTING THROUGH SECURITY.
OKAY. WE'LL WAIT JUST A SECOND. LET HIM KNOW HE'S GOT TWO MINUTES. I ASKED THE CLERK WHAT THE PROCESS WAS FOR POSTING THE
APPLICATIONS AND ALL THAT. IF YOU CAN LET US KNOW THAT. >> CLERK: AS SOON AS A POSITION BECOMES AVAILABLE, IT'S AVAILABLE TO BE APPLIED FOR IN OUR SYSTEM.
WE ACTIVELY WORKED WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN ADVERTISING AND WE ADVERTISED FOR A MONTH THROUGH THE REGULAR CITY CHANNELS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OTHERS. WE LEFT IT OPEN FOR A MONTH AND WE RECEIVED THESE APPLICATIONS. THERE WERE THREE MORE WHO ENDED UP WITHDRAWING THEIR APPLICATION. WE DON'T HAVE A REASON WHY THEY WITHDREW. IT WAS ADVERTISED IN THE NORMAL FASHION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. LOPEZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN. THIS WOULD BE -- I FINISHED TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN FIRST PRESENTED TO ME.
AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT. TO MY SURPRISE, I FOUND IT -- I THINK THE MOST SURPRISING PORTION WAS THE COMBINATION OF THE VARIOUS CITY -- NOT JUST MEMBERS AND NOT JUST AREAS -- BUT THE WAY THIS PLANNING COMMISSION, AS MODEST AS IT IS IN TERMS OF WHERE IT IS ON THE SCALE OF HOW WE DO DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT WE DO HERE IN TOWN, REALLY SHOWED ME HOW MANY INTERESTS WE HAVE AND HOW THERE CAN BE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BOTH MICRO CHALLENGES AND MACRO CHALLENGES IN TOWN. I THINK THAT COMMISSION GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SEE THOSE AND ADVANCE THEM. I REALLY ENJOYED AGAIN -- I FIND IT FULFILLING AS A PROFESSIONAL AND A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. FOR ME, I WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THERE AND PUT MY TIME AND VOICE IN THERE.
AND REALLY NOT THE VOICE OF JUST MY COMMUNITY BUT ALSO MY PROFESSION.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR ANOTHER TERM. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LOPEZ FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WELL DONE WITH THE COMMENTS.
COUNCILMAN COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. HAVING SERVED ON THE COMMISSION NOW, HAVE YOU SEEN THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CHALLENGES OR SOME AREAS OF
IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU THINK THE COMMITTEE FACES? >> I THINK, LIKE MOST BODIES, GOVERNMENT BODIES, INFORMATION IS KEY, RIGHT? AND SO WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT AS MEMBERS COME ON TO THE COMMISSION, IT OFTEN TAKES US A LITTLE WHILE TO KNOW WHICH QUESTIONS TO ASK. AND THE STAFF AT PLANNING IS TREMENDOUS.
THE STAFF AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS TREMENDOUS. I THINK AS BOARD MEMBERS WE OUGHT TO -- THOSE OF US WHO MAY HAVE BEEN ON PREVIOUS TERMS -- OUGHT TO REALLY SPEND SOME MORE TIME ONBOARDING THE NEW MEMBERS. I THINK THAT COULD BE A REAL IMPROVEMENT. I THINK THAT PEOPLE SPEND -- I KNOW I DID -- THE FIRST SEVERAL MEETINGS KIND OF NODDING YOUR HEAD AND PLANNING ON CATCHING UP.
BUT IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TIME. AND WHETHER IT'S FORMAL OR INFORMAL.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ADD ANOTHER SEMINAR TO THEIR ALREADY BUSY LIST BUT I THINK AS MEMBERS WE SHOULD BE ASKING MORE QUESTIONS AND ASK QUESTIONS EARLY SO PEOPLE HAVE A HANDLE ON THE LEVERS OF DEVELOPMENT. HOW -- SIMPLE THINGS.
HOW PLANNING AND ZONING WORK TOGETHER, RIGHT? TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE MATRIX OF USES BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PLANNING OVERLAYS AND ZONING OVERLAYS.
AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT WE CAN AND SHOULD SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME AS A
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COMMISSION TALKING ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS. TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES AND MAYBE TRY TO DEVELOP A THEME. BECAUSE WHAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT ON SOME DAYS A CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN THE MAIN CORRIDOR SEEMS VERY HO HUM AND OTHER DAYS IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE NEED TO MAKE THE FINAL STAND ON. DEVELOPING THAT THEME ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, WHAT DOES THIS BOARD BELIEVE TO BE ITS PRIORITIES.I THINK A LITTLE MORE TIME TOGETHER COULD BE HELPFUL. >> COURAGE: YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE STAFF AND HOW HELPFUL THEY ARE.
YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS GIVE A RECOMMENDATION. AND SO HOW DO YOU WEIGH THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE STAFF AGAINST THE TESTIMONY OF A PROPERTY OWNER OR THEIR LOBBYIST OR PEOPLE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO COME OUT AND EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT OR THEIR
OPPOSITION. HOW DO YOU WEIGH THOSE? >> SO MY VIEW IS THAT THE STAFF IS A REFLECTION OF A PARTICULAR PROFESSIONAL VIEW ON CITY PLANNING.
AND A VERY GOOD ONE. ONE THAT'S BORN FROM TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION. AND SEES A VERY LONG ROAD. THEY SEE DEVELOPMENT FROM WHAT IT SHOULD BE, LONG-TERM PLANNING. IT'S IN THE NAME.
BUT -- AND SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS AN ACADEMIC, A PROFESSIONAL VIEW OF HOW WE CAN BUILD -- CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS COMPLICATED LEGO SYSTEM THAT IS OUR CITY.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD VIEW, BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THOSE THINGS, IN MY MIND, AT TIMES, CAN BE UP THE LADDER TOWARDS CITY COUNCIL. TO PUT A PERCENTAGE ON IT IS PROBABLY UNUSEFUL FOR ME TO SAY, WELL, IT'S 50%, 70%, 40%. BUT WHAT I LIKE TO LOOK AT -- AND I THINK I'VE DONE IN THE SMALL TIME I'VE BEEN THERE, IS LOOK AT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE A POSITION THAT THIS CHANGE IS NOT OPTIMAL FOR ME. I THINK THE STRONGER VOICE IS THIS CHANGE IS NOT OPTIMAL FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I LOOK AT THAT. THIS IS NOT OPTIMAL FOR ME. BUT IF SOMEONE SAYS THIS IS NOT OPTIMAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD OR FOR THE BROADER ADVANCEMENT OF OUR CITY, THEN THAT'S THE VOICE THAT I FIND VERY MOTIVATING. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, LOBBYISTS, WHO WE SEE AND KNOW, OUR FRIENDS. I UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS MAKING THIS CHANGE CAN AND WILL BE VALUABLE TO ME.
TO MY CLIENT. BUT AS THE COMMISSION REPRESENTING OUR BROADER NEEDS, YOU KNOW, THE VIEW NEEDS TO BE WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US.
UPPER CASE "US." A CHALLENGING ONE. I THINK ABOUT THAT AT THE MEETING AND PREPARING GOING INTO IT AND THAT'S THE PRIORITY.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THE STAFF AND THAT MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT THE STAFF REALLY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT PLANNING ON A BROAD SCALE.
WHEN WE'RE BUILDING THIS LEGO SET, HOW DO THESE PIECES FIT TOGETHER.
THAT'S BEEN USEFUL. THAT'S THE FUN. THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
THAT'S THE ACADEMIC EXERCISE IS WEIGHING THOSE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: COUNCILMAN COURAGE STOLE MY QUESTION ABOUT STAFF SUPPORT. I'M LEFT WITH TWO OTHER QUESTIONS. ONE, ARE YOU GETTING THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY STAFF THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO LOOK AT THESE CASES? DO YOU EVEN INTERACT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICES? AND COULD WE AS COUNCIL
MEMBERS IMPROVE IN ANY WAY TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER? >> YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOT FOUND OCCASION TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNCILPERSONS' OFFICES. THE CITY STAFF IS ALWAYS THERE AND REALLY GREAT ABOUT BEING A RESOURCE FOR US. IT'S INTERESTING.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I TEND TO THINK THAT AS ITEMS COME UP ON THE AGENDA, WHICH APPEAR TO NEED DISCUSSION AND THOUGHT AND SOME WOULD SAY CONTROVERSY, I'M SURE IT COULD BE USEFUL TO TALK TO THE COUNCIL, TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCILPERSON'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE HEARING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, AGAIN,
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Y'ALL KNOW BETTER THAN ANYBODY IS THAT THE VOICES YOU HEAR IN THE ROOM MAY NOT REALLY REPRESENT THE BROADEST SENTIMENT OUT THERE. AND SO I THINK THE BEST WE CAN DO AS CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS HERE IS TO BE AVAILABLE TO HEAR AS MANY VOICES AS POSSIBLE.>> PELAEZ: COUNCILMAN WHYTE AND COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA AND I WOULD BENEFIT FROM HEARING THE RULE AGAINST PERPETUITY. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT HAS TO DO WITH 21 YEARS. SOMEBODY DIES AND IT'S 21 YEARS.
>> PELAEZ: THANKS SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? MR. LOPEZ, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I THINK YOU REALLY KIND OF ENCAPSULATED THE DIFFICULTY ON THESE RECONCILIATIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE BETWEEN INTERESTS THAT ARE SO PERSONAL TO A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE LARGER GROWTH ISSUES. TWO BIG ISSUES. ONE THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED AND THE OTHER BEING HOW WE MANAGE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. AND PROTECT THOSE AREAS THAT REALLY WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVES IN PROTECTING OUR WATER SUPPLY, FOR INSTANCE.
THE SA TOMORROW SPEAKS TO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT TO NAVIGATE.
HOW ARE WE DOING ON SA TOMORROW, ADHERING TO IT AS A COMMUNITY?
AND WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN THAT PLAN? >> SO THAT JUST CAME UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS. AND ONE OF OUR COMMISSION MEMBERS TALKED ABOUT THAT OVERLAY, RIGHT? AND SO FROM A PLANNING COMMISSION STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION. SOMEWHAT INFORMALLY.
BUT OFTENTIMES, SEVERAL TIMES ON THE DAIS, WHICH SAYS IF WE MAKE THIS CHANGE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT ON SOME OF THE GOALS THE CITY HAS SET FORTH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. AND THAT INTERACTION ISN'T AS CLEAR AS ONE WOULD HOPE, RIGHT? IT WOULD REQUIRE -- THERE ISN'T A GIS MAP -- I'M SURE THERE IS BUT NOT ONE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO TO SAY IF WE MAKE THIS SITE A BROADER COMMERCIAL USE, WHAT COULD BE THE IMPACT ON OUR GOALS ABOUT TREE COVERAGE AND ABOUT RECHARGE ZONE AND ABOUT RUNOFF, RIGHT? THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE KIND OF FOCUS ON. AND I THINK IT TENDS TO BE A LITTLE AD HOC AT OUR LEVEL, AND PEOPLE HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THOSE GOALS AND HOW THIS PARTICULAR PLAN CHANGE WOULD AFFECT THOSE. BUT I GUESS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT VOICE IS DEFINITELY IN THE ROOM, BOTH ON THE DAIS AND IN OUR B SESSION THERE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE COULD, AS A COMMISSION, REACH OUT MORE TO THE STAFF.
I KNOW THE STAFF KNOWS. IT'S JUST ABOUT US REACHING OUT AND GETTING THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US. IT'S THERE. IT'S CERTAINLY A VOICE BUT I THINK THAT PARTICULAR DRUM BEAT COULD BE LOUDER. BUT THAT'S ON US AS MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO START ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS MORE.
I THINK WE COULD. AND I THINK MAYBE WE WOULD BENEFIT -- NOT TO PUT EXTRA HOMEWORK ON ANYBODY -- BUT SPENDING A LITTLE MORE TIME BEFORE THE MEETINGS ON TURNING OUR 30-MINUTE SESSION TO AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF SESSION BEFORE.
AGAIN, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF IS THERE AND THEY'RE READY AND THEY HARDLY HAVE TO LOOK INTO A BOOK. THEY KNOW THE RULES. THEY UNDERSTAND THE DATA AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT US REACHING OUT AND SAYING TELL US MORE. WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
THIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND MY ASK OF THE COMMISSION WOULD BE, AS THIS MARCH OF GROWTH TAKES PLACE THAT WE GET REFOCUSED ON THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE THAT'S THE REGION WHERE THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF SAN ANTONIO REALLY RESTS . SO WHERE THERE ARE GAPS IN THE PLAN WHERE WE DON'T HAVE AUTHORITIES LEGISLATIVELY TO DEAL WITH THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE AT LEAST ARTICULATED ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THAT WOULD BE MY ASK OF THE COMMISSION. I THINK YOU'VE REALLY LAID OUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN NAVIGATING THEM. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE ON THE COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU. MY PLEASURE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LOPEZ. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO THAT IS OUR LAST APPLICANT. WE'VE HEARD FROM ALL SIX NOW. SO -- THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BRIEFLY MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE THAT'S NOT ON THE COMMITTEE CAN STAY HERE AND WE'LL EXIT OUT.
THE TIME IS NOW 10:57 A.M. ON APRIL 17, 2024. THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE
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COMMITTEE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE, AND DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICANTS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS AND DISCONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY. THE TIME IS 11:09 A.M., APRIL 17, 2024. THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA TO MAKE A MOTION ON OUR APPLICANTS.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING APPLICANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES AND TO BE FORWARDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL: MICHAEL GARCIA, BRYAN
LOPEZ, ANAMARIE MILAM, AND DUSTIN OULLETTE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE WAS A MOTION. WAS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU HEARD THE MOTION AND A SECOND. WE HAVE FOUR APPLICANTS, THREE OF WHICH ARE SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT TO FORWARD ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR VOTING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS FOR STEPPING FORWARD, PARTICULARLY THE REAPPOINTMENTS WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO SERVE. THIS IS NOT EASY WORK.
IT'S VERY WEIGHTY. IT DOES HAVE LEGISLATIVE IMPACT AND TO THE FOLKS WHO -- TWO FOLKS WHO DID NOT GET THE APPOINTMENT, I THINK THE CONSENSUS, IF I MAY SAY, WAS THAT WE HAVE VERY IMPRESSIVE APPLICANTS. WE DO HOPE YOU CONSIDER SERVICE IN OTHER AREAS. AND WE WILL HELP WITH THAT BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR VOICES AND WE NEED YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT BETTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENTS, THERE IS A MOTION
AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NO. 2. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANYYE OPPOSED? >> I'M OPPOSED.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION -- EXCUSE ME, MOTION CARRIES, THREE IN FAVOR, ONE
OPPOSED -- >> GARCIA: MAY I ABSTAIN? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND AN ABSTENTION. FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA IS ABSTAINING BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT PRESENT FOR THE INTERVIEWS. LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO ITEMS 2 THROUGH 9. ERIK, I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO QUEUE IT UP.
>> WALSH: THERE WE GO. SO I'M GOING TO COVER THE FIRST ONE, MAYOR.
AND THEN THE ELT BEHIND ME WILL TAKE CARE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CCRS.
WE'LL GO THROUGH ONE PRESENTATION. SO THE FIRST ITEM IS A CCR SUBMITTED -- GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE FIRST ITEM IS A CCR THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON DECEMBER 20 BY COUNCILMAN PELAEZ REGARDING A COMPREHENSIVE TARGET 50 PLAN. JUST IN THE WAY OF BACKGROUND, YOU'LL SEE ON THE SLIDE THAT THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY-LED PLAN EFFORTS.
THE MEMO AND THE REQUEST REFERENCES TARGET 90 AND SA2020 AS COMMUNITY-LED VISIONS AND PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE PAST. THE CCR ASKS FOR THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY-WIDE VISIONING PROCESS FOR BEYOND AT TARGET 50.
WE DO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE -- SORRY, AN SA TOMORROW 2040 PLAN.
THE ISSUE AND THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ONE IS THAT, NUMBER ONE, THIS SHOULD BE A FULL COUNCIL CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK ON THE STAFF'S STANDPOINT TO WORK TO INVENTORY THE EXISTING PLANS WE HAVE.
THE CCR REFERENCES A LOT OF OUR EXISTING STRATEGIC PLANS LIKE THE SHIP, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK, THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE A LITANY OF PLANS AND FRANKLY I WOULD WANT TIME TO INVENTORY AND PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE COUNCIL TAKE THIS UP AT A LATER DATE.
ONCE WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT, WE'LL BE FOCUSED ON BUDGET AND A NUMBER OF THINGS OVER THE NEXT FIVE, SIX MONTHS. AND WOULD ASK THAT THAT BE
PUSHED OFF INTO THE FUTURE. NEXT ITEM, MARIA WILL HANDLE. >> VILLAGOMEZ:
>> GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, I AM MARIA VILLAGÓMEZ, DEPUTY
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CITY MANAGER. THE NEXT ITEM IS A JUST TRANSITION FROM HORSE DRAWN MARRIAGES. THIS WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER PHYLLIS VIAGRAN. JUST TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH SOME CONTEXT IS THE CITY HAS ISSUED PERMITS TO THE HORSE CARRIAGE INDUSTRY SINCE 1865. THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY IS GOVERNED BY CHAPTER 33 OF OUR CITY CODE AND IS ENFORCED BY THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT.TODAY WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 25 PERMITS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES, AND AS I MENTIONED, IT IS A TOTAL OF 25 PERMITS THAT WE HAVE ON THE STREET. SO THE REQUEST OF THE CCR IS TO DETERMINE A VISIBILITY ANALYSIS AND ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT A WORKFORCE TRANSITION FROM THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES TO ELECTRIC CARRIAGES AND PEDICABS.
IT WOULD ALSO REQUEST TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF HORSES WITH CARRIAGE RIDES AND TO CEASE THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS. WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IS THAT WE FORWARD THE CCR TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION. WE WILL BE PREPARED AT THIS POINT TO PROPOSE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE CCR AND TO OBTAIN INPUT FROM THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CCR.
THE NEXT ITEM IS AN ELDER ABUSE REPORTING CCR THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA. AND JUST TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT TO THE COMMITTEE, TODAY THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS ALL CRIMINAL OFFENSES ON ELDER ABUSE AND THEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONTACTED WHERE THEY HAVE A CASE THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT IS CRIMINAL IN NATURE AND MAY HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY SOMEBODY OTHER THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT. ADDITIONALLY THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO WORKS WITH SENIOR RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY PROVIDE TRAINING TO THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ELDER ABUSE AND REPORT THAT TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. SO WHAT THE CCR IS REQUESTING IS THAT WE HAVE ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST HUMAN SERVICES, BUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH SENIOR RESIDENTS LIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AND METRO HEALTH TO NAME A FEW, AND ESTABLISH A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT THAT IS SUSPECTED REGARDLESS IF IT'S BELIEVED TO BE CRIMINAL IN NATURE TO BE REPORTED TO TEXAS ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. IT ALSO RECOMMENDS THAT WE DEVELOP FORMAL TRAINING FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND THAT PERSONNEL THAT INTERACTS WITH SENIOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ALL TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE AS DEFINED BY APS.
SO WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS THAT WE REFER THE CCR TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHERE WE WILL PRESENT A PROPOSAL ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE CCR FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT
CITY MANAGER LORI HOUSTON FOR THE NEXT ITEMS. >> HOUSTON: THANK YOU, MARIA. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 6, WHICH IS AN ESTABLISHEDMENT OF A PET DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS CCR WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. AND THE REQUEST WAS TO ESTABLISH AN INCOME-BASED PET DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT RENTERS FOSTERING OR ADOPTING PETS FROM THE CITY'S ANIMAL CARE SERVICES SHELTER OR PARTNER SHELTERS.
NOW, CURRENTLY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES HAS INCREASED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE EFFORTS, INCREASED BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS, ACCELERATED MEDICAL EXAMS AND INCREASED RESCUE STIPENDS THROUGH KEY PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP DECREASE ANY BARRIERS THERE ARE FOR ADOPTION OF PETS. ALL THE PETS ADOPTED BY ACS, THAT COST OF SPAYING, NEUTERING, VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIPS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AS AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE FOR SOMEONE TO ADOPT A PET. BUT REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE A BARRIER WITH REGARDS TO A PET DEPOSIT IF THEY WERE TO ADOPT A PET.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PROGRAM OTHER THAN OUR RESIDENT RELOCATION
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ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO RENTERS WHO NEED TO LEAVE THEIR CURRENT RESIDENCE AND RELOCATE TO ANOTHER PROPERTY.SO THERE IS FUNDING IN THAT PROGRAM AND IT PROVIDES UP TO 3,000 FOR REASONABLE MOVING EXPENSES AND PET DEPOSITS ARE INELIGIBLE MOVING EXPENSE, BUT REALLY THAT IS THE ONLY PROGRAM WE HAVE AND THE FUNDING IS LIMITED FOR THAT PROGRAM.
WE DID HAVE $7.2 MILLION AND PANDEMIC-RELATED GRANTS TO HELP WITH THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS BUT NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC OVER AND THE GRANT FUNDS WINDING DOWN, WE HAVE $100,000 ANNUALLY THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND. SO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THAT STAFF REFER THIS CCR TO PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO GET FEEDBACK ON THE PROGRAM'S SCOPE AND BETTER INFORM FUTURE FUNDING DECISIONS AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROGRAM. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 7, AND IT WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MAN ANY PELÁEZ. AND THE REQUEST IS A CITY-WIDE STRATEGY TO INTEGRATE SHADE IN PUBLIC ART AND ART INTO SHADE STRUCTURES THAT ARE INFORMED BY AN ANALYSIS OF WHERE SHADE AND PUBLIC ART ARE MOST NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE USE OF BUS STOPS ALONG HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS WERE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IS MOST SEVERE.
LOOKING AT THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SHADE AND PUBLIC ART ARE MOST NEEDED, AS WELL AS GETTING PUBLIC INPUT AND THE ADVICE OF LOCAL ARTISTS, DESIGNERS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS. WE WILL LOOK AT MAKING SURE THIS MEETS THE GOALS ESTABLISHED BY THE SA TOMORROW PLAN AND BEST PRACTICES ADOPTED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
NOW, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THIS ITEM GO FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO BEFORE IT GOES FOR THAT IS TO REALLY WORK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, ATSD AND VIA TO LOOK AT AREAS MOST IN NEED OF PUBLIC ART. WE WILL CONDUCT THAT BEST PUBLIC RESEARCH OF ART AS SHADE AND SHADE AS ART INCLUDING COST, MATERIALS AND DIMENSIONS.
WE'LL UTILIZE THAT MAP AND THE RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A PROGRAM. AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION.
AND I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DAVID MCCAREY.
>> THANK YOU, LORI. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF THE NEXT ITEM BEFORE YOU. LET ME GET TO -- IT MOVED.
OH. THANK YOU, JOHN. SO THIS COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED BY COUNCILWOMAN AL DEBT GAFFE VETO IN DISTRICT 7. THE REQUEST IS FOR CITY STAFF TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF OAK WILT BY MEANS OF USING THE TREE MITIGATION FUND TO ACCESS HOMEOWNERS AS WELL AS NEIGHBORHOODS WHEN REPLACING OAK TREES THAT HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED OR EITHER LOST TO THE OAK WILT DISEASE. IN 2003 CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN ORDINANCE TO PREVENT AND -- PREVENT AND CONTROL THE SPREAD OF OAK WILT. THE PROJECT OF OAK TREES THAT WERE SET IN MOTION WERE GUIDELINES. FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE GUIDELINES WAS THAT ALL CUTS AND WOUNDS OF AN OAK TREE TO BE PAINTED WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF THE ACTUAL CUT.
SECONDLY, THERE WERE GUIDELINES THAT PROHIBITED THE INFECTED FIREWOOD THAT COMES FROM THAT TO BE ENTERED INTO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
ALSO IT REQUIRED THAT YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE TREE MAINTENANCE LICENSED PRUNER THAT CAN ALSO BE ON SITE TO DO THE ACTUAL PRUNING OF THE TREES.
IN 2016 PARKS AND RECS CREATED THE OAK WILT PREVENTION PROGRAM TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND PARKS, THE OAK WILT PREVENTION INFORMATIONAL DOOR HANGER WAS PROVIDED TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY CITYWIDE.
BRUSH COLLECTION CYCLES WERE ADJUSTED TO HELP MITIGATE THE SPREAD IN THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE OAK WILT IS PRIMARILY FOUND WITHIN SAN ANTONIO.
CURRENTLY PARKS AND REC PROVIDE PLANTING PROGRAMS FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS, USING AN EQUITY-BASED PROGRAM LENS. THE REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL IS TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT
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PREVENT THE SPREAD OF OUR OAK WILT BY HELPING RESIDENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN SAN ANTONIO TO REPLACE INFECTIOUS OAK TREES WITH OUR NATIVE NON-OAK TREES AFTER IT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REMOVED. THE REQUEST WOULD PRIMARILY UTILIZE OUR TREE MITIGATION FUND. THEREFORE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING WE REFER THIS ITEM TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR PERTH ASSESSMENT. I'D -- FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE INTERIM ASSISTANTCITY MANAGER, JOHN PETEREK. >> THANKS, DAVID. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT CCR IS THE BYOB ESTABLISHMENT CCR WRITTEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ. SO THE REQUEST THAT WAS MADE TO STAFF IS FOR US TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE ORDINANCE RESTRICTIONS FOR BRING YOUR OWN BEER ESTABLISHMENTS THAT WOULD MEET THE FOLLOWING GOALS. SO TO HELP CURB CRIMINAL CONDUCT. TO PROTECT SURROUNDING RESIDENTS' RIGHTS AND TO HELP PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS. TO REQUIRE BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS AND OPERATORS TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT. AND TO ALLOW BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS AND OPERATORS TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE GUIDELINES FOR THEIR STAFF AND MANAGEMENT AS IT HAS TO DO WITH SECURITY THAT'S PROVIDED ON SITE. AND THEN ALLOWING FOR ANNUAL COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS AND CODE ENFORCEMENT INSPECTIONS FROM SAPD AND CODE OFFICERS. THE COUNCILMAN DID OFFER SOME LIMITATIONS TO THAT CCR. HE DOES NOT WANT IT TO APPLY TO ANYONE WHO HAS A CURRENT LIQUOR LICENSE FROM THE TEXAS ALCOHOL BENCH COMMISSION, SO TABC.
AND ADDITIONALLY HE DOES NOT WANT IT TO APPLY TO FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, RESIDENTS, VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, UNIVERSITIES, PLACES OF WORSHIP, FARMERS MARKETS, BANQUET HALLS AND THEATERS WITH MORE THAN 100 PATRONS.
SO MOVING FORWARD OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EVALUATE POTENTIAL OPTIONS AND MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP REGULATE BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE CCR. OUR NEXT STEP IS FOR US TO WORK IN A GROUP AND THEN PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. WE'RE ALL AVAILABLE FOR YOUR
QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT THE ENTIRE ELT HERE TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. WE'LL TAKE ONE DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL SO WE CAN GO AROUND AND WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT LOOSE IN TERMS OF THAT, BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN THE DISCUSSION I KNOW WE HAVE SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WHO SPONSORED SOME OF THE CCRS, ONE OF WHOM HAS A TIME CON ITINERANT SO I WILL CALL COUNCIL MEMBER GAVITO
TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 8. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU MAYOR AND HI COUNCIL MEMBERS. OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, OAK WILT HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OVER ONE MILLION TREES ACROSS 76 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S CURRENTLY NO CURE FOR OAK WILT AND AVAILABLE METHODS TO MANAGE AND ADDRESS THE DISEASE ARE RESTRICTED AND OFFER NO GUARANTEED SUCCESS. THIS DISEASE PRIMARILY IMPACTS THE NORTHSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND WE APPRECIATE PARKS' EFFORTS ON THIS.
A LOT OF IT IS EDUCATION EFFORTS, BUT THERE'S NO CONCERTED EFFORT ON REPLACING TREE CANOPY THAT'S ALREADY GONE FROM IT. THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARM AND ESTHETICS ARE LINKED TO THE PRESENCE OF THESE TREES. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THESE TREES WOULD ALTER NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER AND IMPACT IT SIGNIFICANTLY.
IT ALSO INCREASES THE HEAT ISLAND AFFECT AND PLACES A BURDEN ON HOMES AND BUILDINGS WHICH RELY ON TREE CANOPIES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
WHILE THERE IS NO CURE FOR OAK WILT I WANT TO ENSURE WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO HELP OUT OUR NEIGHBORS ANY WAY WE CAN. THEREFORE WE NEED TO PROTECT THE IDENTITY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS IF AND WHEN THEIR CURRENT TREES DISAPPEAR DUE TO THE DISEASE. I AUTHORED THIS CCR TO DO JUST THAT, TO COMBAT THE ABSENCE OF TREES AND AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS.
IT IS MY REQUEST THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF OAK WILT BY MEANS OF USING THE EXISTING TREE MITIGATION FUNDS TO ASSIST THE HOMEOWNERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN REPLACING OAK TREES LOST BY DISEASE WITH NON-NATIVE OAK TREES.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GAVITO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ IS ALSO HERE AND HE IS THE AUTHOR OR CO-AUTHOR OF ITEMS 4 AND ITEM 6.
COUNCIL MEMBER. >> GOOD MORNING, MY DEAREST COLLEAGUES.
I THINK ONE THING THAT'S BEEN MADE CLEAR IN THE YEAR AND SOME CHANGE SINCE WE
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FILED THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE CCR IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS PASSIONATE AND READY TO FINALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.I'LL ADMIT I THOUGHT THE REQUEST HAD BEEN KILLED. [INAUDIBLE].
THERE WERE MANY REASONS SHARED BACK IN 22, WHETHER IT WAS ABOUT CONGESTION DOWNTOWN, THE IMPACT OF CAR EXHAUST ON HORSES OR A BELIEF THAT HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IS AN OUTDATED PRACTICE, THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES DO NOT BELONG DOWNTOWN. IN MARCH OF 2022 WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON SETBACK LOOP 410 A CAR SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES CAUSING A TRUCK CARRYING A TRAILER CARRYING HORSES. A HORSE DIED IN THAT ACCIDENT. THIS CARRIES ME TO MY POINT.
WE HAVE SEEN A CHANGE IN DRIVER BEHAVIOR OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
SPEEDING, IGNORING SIGNAGE, PHONE USE, AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ANOTHER ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. MANY PEOPLE ROMANTICIZE THE IDEA OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT THEY DO NOT BELONG DOWNTOWN. DAYS ARE HOTTER, TRAFFIC ARE GETTING WORSE AND THE CONDITIONS THAT ONCE MADE DOWNTOWN A DESTINATION FOR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES DOES NOT EXIST. THIS IS A WORKFORCE ISSUE AND RATHER THAN SEND THE CCR TO TRANSPORTATION I WOULD URGE YOU TO SEND IT TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WHERE HOW TO ADJUST TRANSITION FOR THE WORKERS IN THIS INDUSTRY CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, WHETHER THAT MEANS RELOCATION TO SOME OF OUR MAJOR PARKS OR SAFE DESIGNATED AREAS OFF OF CITY STREETS. OR IF IT MEANS HELP IN ELECTRIC CARRIAGES FOR DOWNTOWN USE, I DO BELIEVE THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE TRANS JUST.
WITH REGARDING THE PET DEPOSIT, I SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CCR BE SENT TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR
CONSIDERATION. THANK Y'ALL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN
DISCUSSION NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER HAVRDA. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I AGREE WITH MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY STAFF, ALTHOUGH I'LL SAY ON ITEM 4 I WOULD SUPPORT IT GOING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN TRANSPORTATION. AS THIS GOES THROUGH ITS PACES IN COMMITTEE I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AS MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT AS POSSIBLE.
I HAVE A FEELING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DIFFICULT. WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY PASSIONATE ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES. BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, THEIR INVESTMENTS AND THE DECISIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE REGARDING EMPLOYEES, EQUIPMENT AND THEIR HORSES, OF COURSE. FOR THAT REASON AGAIN I SUPPORT IT GOING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ON ITEM -- I'LL DO MINE LAST IF THAT'S OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE JUDGE UP TO TUCK ABOUT ITEM 5. SO ITEM 6, THE PET DEPOSIT, I THINK THIS PROGRAM MAKES SENSE. NSI KNOW THAT THE COUNCILMAN WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND THEY'RE IN SUPPORT OF IT AND VERY FRANKLY WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION YESTERDAY ABOUT ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND REALLY NEEDING -- WE ALL NEED TO HELP THEM LEVEL UP AND I THINK THIS COULD REALLY HELP THEM TO DO THAT. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD -- A GOOD PROPOSAL.
ACTUALLY, THAT WAS IT BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE I AGREE WITH.
FOR ITEM 5 I WILL INVITE UP JUDGE VASQUEZ. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CAME TO LIGHT IN A CONVERSATION WITH JUDGE VASQUEZ WHO IS COMING UP NOW.
ELDER ABUSE DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION AS OTHER TYPES OF ISSUES DO, BUT THE PROBLEM IS VERY URGENT. AS WE HEARD TODAY IN THE PRESENTATION, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED AND THEY GO OUT TO CALLS AND THEY CAN MAKE AN ASSESSMENT, BUT SPEAKING OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, SOMETIMES THERE IS AN ABUSE ALLEGATION FOR AN ANIMAL AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE IS ABUSE OF AN ANIMAL THERE COULD ALSO BE OTHER KINDS OF ABUSE IN THE HOME. SO WE'D LIKE TO SEE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH FROM OUR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INTERACTING, OF COURSE, WITH OUR ELDER POPULATION. IT'S A CRITICAL PROBLEM. OUR ELDERS ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY IN THEIR TIME LOOKED AFTER US.
IT'S TIME TO RETURN THAT CARE. IT'S ALSO VERY COMPLICATED BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO DETECT. I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS AND I'LL ASK THE JUDGE TO INTRODUCE EVERYBODY BEHIND YOU, BUT IT'S NOT -- SOMETIMES THEY'LL KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND AN ELDER PERSON WILL NOT WANT TO TELL THEM THAT THEIR SON IS BEING ABUSIVE OR MAYBE THERE'S A SIGN OR CERTAIN QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK THAT YOU CAN GET AROUND, EITHER THEY'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE BEING ABUSED OR NOT WANTING TO REPORT IT. SO WITH THAT I'LL GIVE IT TO
THE JUDGE, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS JUDGE VERONICA VASQUEZ. I'M THE JUDGE OF PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHO ARE ALL WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
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SO THIS IS ANN CORTEZ AND LISA WITH ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND WE ALSO HAVE -- WHERE DID HE GO? COME ON, CHIEF.CAPTAIN, SORRY. I MADE YOU A CHIEF. I DON'T KNOW THE RANKS.
CAPTAIN GALLON LEG GOES AND WORKING WITH HIM WITH SAPD. SO THE IDEA OF THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES EVERY YEAR THEY COME OUT WITH STATISTICS. BEXAR COUNTY CONSISTENTLY RANKS ONE OR TWO FOR ELDER ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION. AS FAR AS EXPLOITATION, JUST IN RAW NUMBERS WE HAVE MORE VALIDATED SOLICITATION CASES IN BEXAR COUNTY THAN IN HARRIS COUNTY.
SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE A LARGE POPULATION OF ELDERLY, AND OF COURSE IT'S BECOMING LARGER WITH THE AGING, WE CALL IT THE SILVER TSUNAMI, THE AGING BABY BOOMERS. SO WHAT I SEE IN COURT EVERYDAY IS INSTANCE OF ELDER ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION AND PEOPLE OFTEN TIMES DON'T IDENTIFY THIS OR THEY DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE MANDATORY REPORTERS, SO THE IDEA OF THIS CCR AND AGENDA ITEM IS TO EDUCATE THE CITY WORKERS.
SAPD HAS BEEN WONDERFUL IN WORKING WITH US AND THEY ALREADY KNOW THEIR MANDATORY REPORTERS BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO IDENTIFY AND REPORT ELDER ABUSE AND
EXPLOITATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.
THAT'S ALL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. >> MAYOR, REAL QUICK. I WAS JUST TALKING TO MARIA OVER HERE AND THE IDEA THAT THE JUDGE WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE CONCEPT, IS -- YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS IN WHICH YOU HEARD FROM MARIA WAS CITY EMPLOYEES AND I THINK THAT WAS THE FOCUS OF THE CCR. BUT FRANKLY, OPPORTUNITY HOME, THERE ARE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT FROM A TRAINING PERSPECTIVE IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TO SEE HOW WE STRENGTHEN -- WE'VE LEARNED PLENTY OF LESSONS OVER THE LAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS AND HOW WE RESPOND.
AND NOT THE WE, JUST ASSISTANT, BUT COLLECTIVELY HOW WE RESPOND.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS THAT WE PULL IN OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES THAT MAY HAVE THAT INTERACTION THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING AND THAT THE JUDGE IS DESCRIBING.
>> THANK YOU, ERIK. I COMPLETELY AGREE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY APS KIND OF TRAINING THE TRAINER IN EACH ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALSO IN A LOT OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE FRONT
FACING WITH ELDERLY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HAVRDA. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ.
>> YESTERDAY I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A LAWYER IN TOWN AND HE HAD ME ON SPEAKERPHONE WITH HIS CLIENT TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP THIS ELDERLY WOMAN DEAL WITH HAVING BEEN BILKED TO THE TUNE OF $1.2 MILLION.
I THINK ANOTHER FORM OF ELDER ABUSE IS ELDER FRAUD, SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH ALL OF YOU AT SOME POINT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT ON MAY 14TH AT 5:30, COUNCILMAN WHITE AND I WILL BE HOLDING AN ELDER FRAUD TOWN HALL.
I THINK IT'S THE FOURTH ONE I'VE DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH LEGAL AID AND THE FBI AND BANKS ALL WHO HAVE FRAUD DEPARTMENTS. THESE ARE -- I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION LATER WITH SAPD AND WITH DHS AND SENIOR SERVICES ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE CAN DO MORE AROUND ELDER FRAUD. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TOPIC UP.
CAN I ADDRESS THE OTHER CCR'S MAYOR, IS THIS MY TIME?
>> Y'ALL CAN SIT DOWN. >> YES, THANK YOU. WITH REGARDS TO THE BYOB CCR, WE FILED THIS AND OBTAINED SIGNATURES FROM ENTHUSIASTIC COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE IT'S TURNED OUT TO BE A CITYWIDE PROBLEM. HAVING WORKED WITH DART, THE CITY ATTORNEY TEAM AND THE POLICE OFFICERS AND WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE'VE LEARNED THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO OVERSIGHT OF TABC OVER THESE FACILITIES, THEY KIND OF DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHOUT FEAR OF LOSING THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE.
WE'VE SEEN MURDERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING THERE. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF NARCOTICS, A LOT OF GANG ACTIVITY, LOTS AND LOTS OF CAR THEFTS, DISTURBANCES TO THE PEACE. AND BECAUSE THEY STAY OPEN VERY LATE, THEY MAKE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR. SO THANK YOU, ERIK, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR HELPING US SHUT DOWN A FEW OF THESE IN OUR DISTRICT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING A BIG PROBLEM WITH ONE CALLED MILA MORE PRESIDENT ON FREDRICKSBURG AND EAST WURZBACH. I KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT. I TELL YOU THIS WASN'T A BRILLIANT IDEA I CAME UP WITH ON MY OWN. MOST OF IT IS BORROWED FROM HOUSTON'S ORDINANCE.
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I KNOW AUSTIN HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR AS WELL. IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT HOUSTON DID THAT WOULD BE A WIN IN MY OPINION. WITH REGARDS TO THE HORSES, THANK YOU COUNCIL MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN. I'M GOING IT READ A FEW THINGS THAT WERE NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND ON THE INTERNET.QUOTE, HEAT CAN KILL. HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES HEATSTROKE CAN OCCUR IN HORSES AND PRODUCE ILLNESS AND DEATH. THE FOLLOWING ARE HEADLINES THAT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART. ONE HORSE DIES AND SECOND COLLAPSES FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION WALKING IN FUNERAL PROGRESS SESSION IN NEW ORLEANS.
ANOTHER DIED PULLING TOURISTS IN A HEAT WAVE APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
AUGUST LAST YEAR, BELOVED HORSE DIES AFTER HEAT IN MISSOURI.
CARRIAGE HORSE DIES IN DOWNTOWN CORFU IN GREECE. CENTRAL PARK CARRIAGE HORSE DIED DURING LAST WEEK'S HEAT WAVE. OCTOBER OF '22, WORKED TO DEATH. NEW YORK CITY CARRIAGE HORSES THAT COLLAPSED IN MANHATTAN STREET TWO MONTHS AGO PASSES AWAY. ANOTHER ONE, BLACKJACK, A CARRIAGE HORSE WORKING FOR CENTRAL PARK CARRIAGE DRIVERS IN NEW YORK CITY PASSED AWAY. IN MID AUGUST OF 2023. NEW YORKERS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY UPSET BY THE DEATH OF YET ANOTHER CARRIAGE HORSE.
AUGUST OF 2020 A HORSE PULLING A CARRIAGE WITH TOURISTS DIED IN ITALY'S ROYAL PAL LIST TODAY WITH IMAGES OF THE DEAD ANIMAL GOING VIRAL QUICKLY.
IN EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES YOU WILL FIND VIRAL IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF THESE HORSES ON THE GROUND AS THEY DIE. CITIES THAT HAVE BAN BANNED THESE HORSE CARRIAGES ARE AS FOLLOWS: CHICAGO, LAS VEGAS, ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, SALT LAKE CITY, KEY WEST, PALM BEACH, TREASURE ISLAND AND EVEN SMALL TOWNS LIKE BILOXI ARE FORWARD THINKING ENOUGH TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.
INTERNATIONALLY THE CITIES INCLUDE MONTREAL, TORONTO, MUMBAI, SHANGHAI, LONDON AND A PARIS ALL HAVE SIMILAR BANS LIKE THE ONE BEING PROPOSED.
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN WE FIRST FILED THE CCR -- WHEN COUNCIL MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FILED THE CCR AND I WAS PROUD TO SIGN IT AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO SIGN IT, COUNCILMAN, WE HEARD ON THE NEWS TWO THINGS COMING FROM THE INDUSTRY OWNERS.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS WE LOVE THESE HORSES AND THEY'RE LIKE FAMILY TO US.
FOLLOWED VERY QUICKLY BY THE SECOND STATEMENT, BUT I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO KILL THEM. AND SO JUST SITTING HERE LISTENING TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS, I WAS JUST LOOKING IT UP AND I'M GOING TO READ FOR YOU THE LIST OF RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL TAKE THEM OFF YOUR HANDS. IRON GATE RESCUE, BLUEBONNET GENTLE GIANTS DRAFT HORSE RESCUE. DRAFT GRATITUDE RESCUE.
OAK DALE EQUINE RESCUE. RED BUCKET EQUINE RESCUE. WHISPERING HEART HORSE RESCUE. AND THAT IS MULTIPLE AND -- THAT'S JUST A SMALL LIST OF MULTIPLE AND MULTIPLE AND MULTIPLE PAGES OF WEBSITES THAT WILL GLADLY TAKE THE HORSES SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO KILL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS IF THIS GETS BANNED.
SO I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T BE A CITY COUNCIL PERSON THAT IN GOOD FAITH SAYS LET'S KEEP DOING IT THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE AND RISK VIRAL VIDEOS OF HORSES DROPPING DEAD DOWNTOWN AND BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TOURISTS WHO WILL TAKE THEIR CAMERAS OUT. AND ESPECIALLY IN A CITY THAT LIVES AND BREATHES OFF OF TOURISM, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL CHOOSE TO NOT COME HERE IF WE'VE GOT A VIRAL VIDEO LIKE THAT. SECOND, I DON'T THINK IT'S A VERY NICE THING AT ALL TO HAVE HORSES SUCKING EXHAUST FUMES FROM THE BACK OF CARS.
I THINK THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING. AND I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. AS FAR AS WHICH COMMITTEE TO SEND IT TO, HAPPY TO HANDLE THIS. I THINK THAT THE MEMBERS OF MY COMMITTEE TAKE THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY AND I'LL SURE WE CAN HAVE A VERY BALANCED AND RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE WORKFORCE AND MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY IS LEFT WITHOUT
JOBS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? >> COURAGE: YEAH, I WANT TO COMMENT, REALLY SUPPORT ALL OF THESE. I THINK ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY AND UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS. AS FAR AS THE ISSUE ON HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, IT PROBABLY WOULD BE A GOOD ECONOMIC COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT BECAUSE IT REALLY IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE. THESE ARE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPERATING AND THERE'S A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INVOLVED AS WELL AS THE ANIMAL. I'M CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
ALSO I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER EXPRESSED MAYBE A CONCERN ABOUT LOOKING AT A 50 -- 2050 PLAN. THAT'S 26 YEARS DOWN THE LINE.
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SO I HOPE WHAT WE LOOK AT IS A SERIES OF MAYBE 10 YEAR PLANS BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE DRASTICALLY EVERY FOUR, FIVE, SIX YEARS. I KNOW WE NEED TO BE LOOKING DOWN THE LINE, LIKE WE DO WITH THE AIRPORT, MAKING SURE THAT THE AIRPORT IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE COME 2050. BUT I HOPE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD SERIES OF MAYBE EIGHT, 10, 12 YEAR PLANS RECOGNIZING HOW THINGS CHANGE.BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT WHOLE CONCEPT OF PUTTING TOGETHER ALL OF THE ONES THAT WE DO HAVE AND MAKING SURE THEY INTEGRATE TOGETHER TO HAVE A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE CITY WANTS TO GO. I THINK EVERY ONE OF THE OTHER SUGGESTIONS ARE GOOD, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THEM.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A QUESTION, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OF THEM MOVING FORWARD AS PLANNED, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION. ON SLIDE 1 OF THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE ONE, COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION, COUNCILMAN. ON THAT SLIDE IT SAYS THIS ONE WAS REVIEWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND MAYBE THE BEHIND THE SCENES AND STAFF LIKE IN YOUR SELECTION OF INSTEAD OF REFERRING IT THROUGH -- LIKE CAN YOU HELP ME IDEA WHY IT WAS REFERRED THERE -- UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS REFERRED THROUGH TRANSPORTATION INSTEAD OF MAYBE PUBLIC SAFETY OR WHERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-- WAS IT CONSIDERED? HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT
ASPECT SO I COULD MAKE A DECISION THERE. >> SURE, COUNCILWOMAN.
THE THOUGHT WAS CHAPTER 33 OF THE CITY CODE, WHENEVER WE MADE CHANGES TO THAT PARTICULAR CHAPTER, COMES TO TRANSPORTATION. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT IS GOING TO BE A COORDINATION WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE'LL HAVE A WORK GROUP THAT WILL INCLUDE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, DOWNTOWN OPERATIONS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT IS THE
REASON WHY. >> SO COULD IT GO TO MULTIPLE COMMITTEES?
OR DOES THAT SLOW IT DOWN? JUST HELP ME. >> MY RECOMMENDATION IS ONE COMMITTEE AND THEN B SESSION, WE JUST GO TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
OTHERWISE WE'LL BOUNCE ISSUES. >> BUT YOUR RECOMMENDATION
WAS TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE OF THE CODE. >> YES, IT WAS.
AND REALLY, I MINE, THE COUNCILWOMAN HAVRDA AND COUNCILMAN PELÁEZ HAVE TALKED ABOUT A DIFFERENT ONE. THERE SHOULD BE -- MY RECOMMENDATION IS A HOME COMMITTEE AND THEN FULL COUNCIL.
>> IF I MAY ALSO INTERJECT, THERE IS A TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD THAT DISCUSSES ISSUES JUST LIKE THIS, PARTICULARLY HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES.
THEY REPORT TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. SO THAT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE. >> THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
AND I'M GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> MR. MAYOR, WHERE IS THE
PROOF OF ALL THE ABUSE OF -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO WE HAVE CONTINUED -- MA'AM, WE'RE DELIBERATING SO WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO DO THIS BUSINESS OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE ESCORTED OUT. MS. HILL...
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. HILL.
COUNCIL HAVRDA. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE? ALL RIGHT. LET ME ADD MY COMMENTS THEN AND WE CAN GO THROUGH A SERIES OF MOTIONS HERE. FIRST ON ITEM NUMBER 3, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT. I DO AGREE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TAKE THIS UP AT A LATER DATE. WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ONE OF THE REASONS I KEEP ASKING ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WE'RE ADHERING TO IT.
ALL OF US KNOW WE CAME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY IN 2011 TO ARTICULATE A COMMUNITY VISION. I HOPE THAT WE ARE ACHIEVING THAT VISION.
WE HAVE DATA TO SUGGEST THAT WE ARE IN SOME ASPECTS AND SOME NOT.
AND WE'RE NOT IN OTHERS. BUT SA TOMORROW THE PLAN, WHICH COMPRISES A COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AND MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN AS WELL AS A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IS WHERE WE BRING ALL THESE TOGETHER.
WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT THIS CITY HAS NO LACK OF PLANS.
WHAT THE CITY HAS STRUGGLED WITH IN THE PAST IS GETTING THOSE PLANS TO GET OFF THE SHELF AND NOT COLLECT DUST. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING PERSISTENT AND CONSISTENT WITH OUR PLANS. SO ERIK, I'VE MENTIONED THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES.
WE NEED TO RECONVENE SA TOMORROW IN SOME MANNER TO GET A REPORT ON HOW WE'RE DOING AGAINST THE THINGS THAT WE COMMITTED TO. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF OR SO. IF THERE IS A NEED TO
[01:30:01]
FIND -- TO ARTICULATE A NEW STRATEGY, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER, BUT ONLY AFTER WE ASSESS HOW WE'RE DOING AGAINST THE CURRENT VISION.AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D HAVE TO TAKE UP IN THE FUTURE AND I WOULD SUGGEST IT'S PROBABLY IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION.
SO I AGREE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THAT. ON ITEM NUMBER 4, WHICH IS THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, SO I ASKED NO LESS THAN THREE, MAYBE FOUR TIMES OUT LOUD OVER THE LAST FOUR TERMS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
THAT IT'S TIME THAT HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES ARE NOT MIXED IN WITH INCREASINGLY CONGESTED DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC. THAT WAS MY INITIAL ASK OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND FINALLY I THINK LAST YEAR, EARLY LAST YEAR, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND VIAGRAN PUT FORWARD A CCR TO DO JUST THAT.
I RECOGNIZE THERE ARE IMPACTS. THERE ARE IMPACTS TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AND I AM NOT GOING TO CITY HERE AND TRY TO JUDGE THE RELATIONSHIP OR THE CARE THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOUR HORSES. THAT'S NOT MY PLACE. I HAVE HEARD FROM VETERINARIANS THAT SAY THAT THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR ANIMALS SAFE IS ABOVE REAPPROACH. I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERTISE TO WEIGH THAT.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR DOWNTOWN, INCREASINGLY CONGESTED STREETS, TO BE HELD UP AND ALSO TO CREATE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES FOR PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND FOR VEHICLES WHEN A HORSE DRAIN CARRIAGES ARE [INDISCERNIBLE]. IN MY VIEW THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT ANY BUSINESS THAT DEALS WITH ANIMALS HAS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS APPLIED TO IT. THAT'S WHAT CHAPTER 33 HAS TRIED TO DO OVER THE YEARS.
IF THERE ARE THOSE HEADLINES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ READ HAPPENING HERE IN OUR CITY, I WANT TO KNOW AND WE NEED TO STOP THAT. AND IF THAT MEANS NO MORE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES IN SAN ANTONIO, THEN I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
BUT I THINK WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AT THE VERY LEAST IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK FOR A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS. THERE ARE PROBABLY APPROPRIATE PLACES IN THIS CITY FOR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES TO OPERATE.
I CAN THINK OF A FEW RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. BRACKENRIDGE PARK, THE ALAMO GROUNDS. BUT TO HAVE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES GOING DOWN TWO-WAY STREETS IN DOWNTOWN DOES NOT MAKE SENSE IN 2024 IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS CCR. I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMPANIES THAT OPERATE THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES TO FIGURE OUT THE PATH FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY. BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS DOES BELONG IN THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND WE SHOULD HAVE THIS AT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE WE WILL ALSO HEAR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY VOICES BECAUSE OF THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT. ITEM NUMBER 5, I CONCUR WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION MOVING THAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
AND ITEM NUMBER 6 ON THE PET DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS, I THINK WE NEED SOME DATA POINTS. ONE ANALYSIS I'D LOVE TO SEE, ERIK, IT'S POSSIBLE, WHERE ARE RENTERS PROHIBITED FROM MOVING INTO A HOME DUE TO A PET DEPOSIT? THAT'S DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE, MAYBE WHAT THE AVERAGE PET DEPOSIT IS IN THE COMMUNITY HERE, ARE THOSE DATA POINTS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET?
>> >> MAYOR, WE'LL HAVE TO -- THERE'S WORK THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO AND THAT'S WHY THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO FERRET SOME OF THOSE ISSUES OUT AT THE COMMITTEE. I THINK ALSO THE INTENT -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE COUNCILMAN IS STILL HERE. I THINK THE INTENT ISN'T NECESSARILY THAT THERE AREN'T APARTMENTS THAT AREN'T WILLING TO DO IT, IT'S THAT FOLKS NEED ASSISTANCE TO HELP PAY THE DEPOSIT, I THINK. BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE
INTENT OF THE CCR. >> WELL, I HEAR -- I HEAR TWO THINGS.
ONE IS WE WANT TO REMOVE A BARRIER FOR SOMEBODY TO GET INTO A HOME BUT ALSO TOO WE WANT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT PETS.
SO I THINK WE NEED SOME DATA POINTS, BUT ALL THAT TO SAY I CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE IT OVER TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, BUT THOSE ARE THE -- I'M SORRY, NO, TO THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION. BUT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING WE
GO TO THE GOAL-SETTING SESSION WITH THAT, RIGHT? >> MAYOR, CAN WE GO TO THAT
[01:35:03]
SLIDE? RIGHT THERE. >> ALL RIGHT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO IMMEDIATELY GOAL SETTING, IN WHICH CASE I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT DATA, BUT IF IT'S GOING TO PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S FINE.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL CONCUR WITH THAT. ITEM NUMBER 7 ON THE BY -- I'M SORRY, ART AND SHADE, CONCUR, ESPECIALLY ON BOND PROJECTS.
I WOULD LOVE IT, ERIK, FOR BOND PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL IN THE HOPPER FOR DESIGN PHASE IF WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE CURRENT PROJECTS.
IS THAT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE? >> SORRY, MAYOR, I DIDN'T USE THE MICROPHONE. I THINK THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES OR TWO DIFFERENT PATHS OF SUCCESS HERE. ONE, THERE'S NORMAL ASPECT OF SHADE REPLACEMENT THAT VIA DOES SO MAKING SURE WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THEM. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PUBLIC ART COMPONENT IN THE BOND PROGRAM ASSOCIATION WITH
THOSE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND I'D ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE REESE FUND WHERE IT'S A SHADE COMPONENT.
THAT IN MY VIEW IS ALSO A RELEVANT SOURCE OF FUNDS. >> AND THAT UPDATE TO COUNCIL IS COMING I THINK ON MAY 9TH. AND DAVID AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT INCORPORATING THIS ELEMENT. WE USUALLY GIVE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE STOOD OR WHAT THE RESULTS WERE, THE URBAN HEAT PILOT PROGRAM
WE DID LAST YEAR WITH THE SURFACES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER 8, I CALLED MARINA SINCE SHE FILED THIS AND THOUGHT IT WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA. THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW DO WE CURRENTLY TRACK OAK WILT IN THE CITY? DO WE DO THAT? IS IS IT ANOTHER AGENCY? I DEFINITELY CONCUR THIS GOING WITH PCDC, THE OAK WILT CCR.
AND FINALLY ON THE BYOB ESTABLISHMENT, I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE THAT YOU'VE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH AND FULLY SUPPORT THIS GOING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WITH THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME MOTIONS HERE. >> MAYOR, MAY I ASK -- MAKE A COMMENT. I KNOW THAT THE DISCUSSION HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH ON THE CARRIAGES, AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T THINK THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CAN HANDLE IT. THERE SEEMED TO BE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENCES OF THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT AFTER HEARING WHAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID AND APPLICABLE CITY STATUS AS WELL AS YOUR FEELING ON THIS AND MINE TOO THAT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE THE ONE ASSIGNED TO DEAL WITH THIS. SO I'M SURE WE'LL BE READY TO DO THAT. AND AT THE SAME TIME SPEAK WITH THE CO-AUTHORS FROM DISTRICT 2 AND DISTRICT 3 ABOUT THE INPUT THEY'VE BEEN GETTING ON THIS ISSUE.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT, MAYOR. AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER A FINAL APPROVAL OF ALL OF THESE THAT IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME GO THROUGH THESE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO I THINK ON ITEM NUMBER 3 THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED. ITEM NUMBER 4, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE CCR TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE.
OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
CABELLO HAVRDA CCR CCR ON ELDER ABUSE REPORTING. A MOTION TO MOVE THIS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
PET DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS. THIS IS AGAIN GOING TO THE PCDC COMMITTEE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THAT.
MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
GETTING UNANIMOUS. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.
MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 7 IS THE SHADE AS ART - ART AS SHADE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ MOVING TO THE -- ACTUALLY, WHAT IS THE MOTION ON THAT ONE? COMMUNITY HEALTH AND EQUITY. ONLY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THAT. MOTION AND SECOND FOR MOVING ITEM NUMBER 7 TO COMMUNITY
[01:40:04]
HEALTH AND EQUITY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.ITEM NUMBER 8 ON OAK WILT, MOVING THAT TO PCDC. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
SECOND? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ'S CCR ON BYOB ESTABLISHMENTS MOVING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THEN YOU SEE THE -- ACTUALLY, NEVER MIND. THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THAT.
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 9. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
BEFORE I ADJOURN, DID I LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE TABLE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS? OKAY. IF THERE'S NONE, AT 11:59 A.M. ON THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL, 2024, OUR COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.