Apr 18, 2024 Sesión de Trabajo del Presupuesto del Consejo de la Ciudad

[00:00:16]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION. OUR GOAL SETTING SESSION FOR OUR FY TO 25 BUDGET.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER MADAME CLERK, IF YOU COULD READ THE ROLL.

>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELCOME, EVERYONE. AND I REALIZE THAT -- I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS, ACTUALLY, UNTIL COUNCILMAN WHYTE TOLD ME. THAT TWO OF OUR COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE FIRST GOAL SETTING THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH, ALTHOUGH WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A BUDGET.

THIS WILL BE MY LAST FULL BUDGET TO GO THROUGH SO IT'S A LITTLE BITTERSWEET FOR ME.

TODAY IS A HIGH-LEVEL DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATION OF OUR CITY. WE GOT A BRIEF UPDATE YESTERDAY IN OUR SIX PLUS SIX ABOUT THE FINANCIAL REALITIES, WHICH ARE CHANGING AND TIGHTENING AND SO OBVIOUSLY KEEPING THAT IN MIND AS WE MAINTAIN OUR PER SUIT OF CREATING MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE NOW, AS WELL AS PREVIOUSLY AS WE'VE COMMITTED TO A BUDGET THAT FOCUSES ON EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING I HOPE WE CONTINUE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

WE MAY, IF NECESSARY, BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE DO HAVE SOME BREAKS SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE VERY EXPEDITIOUS WITH OUR TIME AND KEEP US ON TIME. SO WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF DISCUSSION PERIODS, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE IN THOSE DISCUSSION PERIODS WILL BE HOW MUCH TIME WE ALLOT FOR EACH MEMBER. I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE ON THE WATCH FOR OUR SCHEDULE TODAY AND GOVERN YOUR COMMENTS ACCORDINGLY. WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER

TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH. >> WALSH: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO, YES. YESTERDAY WAS KIND OF THE -- OUR FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE '25 AND '26 BUDGETS AND THAT SETS THE FOUNDATION WITH THE FORECAST AND WE HAVE NEVER DONE BACK-TO-BACK FORECAST IN COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS. AND THE CALENDAR WORKED OUT THE WAY IT DID.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION THAT I THINK SOME OF YOU WANTED TO HAVE YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES, AND IT'S NATURALLY GOING TO FLOW INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION. I'LL RUN THROUGH THE AGENDA JUST REAL QUICK. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO OUR ANNUAL REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POLICIES. IT'S A RATHER SHORT PRESENTATION, JUSTINA WILL COVER. AND, MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL WHAT YOU SUGGESTED. WE'RE GOING TO DO BOTH THE REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POLICIES SEPARATE AND THEN THE CPS FINANCIAL POLICY PRESENTATION BACK-TO-BACK.

THAT WAY THE COUNCIL HAS TWO PRESENTATIONS. THEY'RE VERY SHORT PRESENTATIONS. THERE ARE NO LONG PRESENTATIONS TODAY TO ALLOW FOR A LOT OF CONVERSATION. THAT CPS FINANCIAL POLICY CONVERSATION IS THE BROADER ONE THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT AT GOVERNANCE AND AT B SESSION LAST YEAR.

AND SO IT IS REGARDING OUR BASE REVENUE. ALL OF OUR CPS REVENUE.

AND BEN WILL WALK THROUGH THAT. WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK, DEPENDING ON THE TIME CHECK, AND THE MAYOR WILL DECIDE. THEN WE'LL DO AN UPDATE ON PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION. MOST OF YOU PROBABLY GOT YOUR APPRAISALS.

I GOT MINE. WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND TROY WILL WALK THROUGH WHAT THE PRELIMINARY DATA SHOWS AND WHAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF WHERE WE'LL LAND IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX RATE. AND WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF SB2 AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE CAPPED IN TERMS OF REVENUE. THAT WILL NECESSITATE A REDUCTION UNDER THE STATE LAW OF THE TAX RATE. HE'LL WALK THROUGH THAT.

WE HAVE A VERY QUICK ARPA UPDATE. GWEN WILL UPDATE THE COUNCIL.

I NOTICE THERE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS YESTERDAY, JUST HIGH LEVEL WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF SPENDING AND WHERE WE'RE AT. I'LL RECAP.

I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION BUT I'M GOING TO RECAP FOR COUNCIL, NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE

[00:05:04]

AND THEN WE'VE TRIED TO NOT MAKE ANY LONG PRESENTATIONS TODAY.

GIVE IT TIME FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE. WE HAVE PLENTY OF EXECUTIVES IN A LOT OF THE KEY AREAS BEHIND ME AND AVAILABLE IN CASE THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS THAT MAY COME UP. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY PRODUCTIVE DAY.

SO, WITH THAT, MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL -- IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

IF NOT, WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO IT AND HAVE JUSTINA AND THEN BEN GO THROUGH THEIR QUICK

PRESENTATIONS. >> TATE: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS JUSTINA TATE. I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

TODAY WE'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POLICIES.

SO EVERY YEAR WE ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET. AND MANY TIMES WE ASK YOU TO AFFIRM WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE POLICIES. FIRST I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE PURPOSE OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES. THIS IS OUR FORMAL POLICY GUIDANCE AND WE ASK THAT YOU ADOPT THESE EACH YEAR. AND WE USE THIS GUIDANCE AS WE MANAGE THE ORGANIZATION OVERALL. THESE POLICIES ARE KEY TO MAINTAINING A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION. OUR CURRENT POLICIES HAVE SERVED US WELL AND HAVE ALLOWED US TO BE FLEXIBLE AND TO ADAPT TO CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS OVER A VARIETY OF ECONOMIC CYCLES.

BY DOING THIS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION.

THEY ARE A COHESIVE SET OF POLICIES THAT MUST WORK TOGETHER OVERALL.

WE HAVE ALSO TAILORED THESE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THEY ARE A KEY ELEMENT IN OUR EXCELLENT BOND RATINGS. SO THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES I WILL TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POLICIES. SO THE FIRST IS MAINTAINING A MINIMUM GENERAL FUND ENDING BALANCE. WE ALSO LOOK TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING AT BELOW 66% OF THE GENERAL FUND. MANAGING THE STRUCTURAL BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND IS ALSO A FINANCIAL POLICY THAT WE HAVE AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, THAT OUR REVENUES AND OUR EXPENDITURES SHOULD ALIGN. EACH YEAR WE LEGALLY ADOPT THE UPCOMING BUDGET BUT WE ALSO ASK YOU TO PUT IN PLACE A PLAN FOR THE SECOND YEAR.

WE REVISIT THAT PLAN WHEN THE TIME COMES BUT THAT FISCAL DISCIPLINE HAS WORKED WELL AND HAS ALLOWED US TO MANAGE THE ORGANIZATION DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES.

AS PART OF THE BUDGET, WE APPROPRIATE $1 MILLION CONTINGENCY IN THE GENERAL FUND AND A $3 MILLION CONTINGENCY IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

AND, FINALLY, ON THIS SLIDE, WE HAVE INTERNAL SERVICES FUNDS AND THESE INCLUDE OUR GENERAL LIABILITY AS WELL AS OUR WORKERS' COMPENSATION FUNDS.

NOW LIABILITY AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION HAVE ACTUARIAL DEFICIT. NOW AS A REMINDER, OUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS GET FUNDING FROM OUR OTHER FUNDS CITYWIDE. SO WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE A POLICY THAT SAYS WE WILL ADDRESS THESE DEFICITS IN THREE TO FIVE YEARS, WHICH GIVES US TIME TO ADJUST AND BUILD IT INTO THE BUDGET. ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I WILL TALK ABOUT A COUPLE THAT DEAL WITH THE CHANGE IN THE PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION THAT WENT INTO EFFECT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. SO WE WILL ANNUALLY REVIEW THE IMPACT OF THE STATE-IMPOSED 3.5% PROPERTY TAX CAP ON SERVICE DELIVERY AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER TO ADJUST THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. ANNUALLY WE REVIEW PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WITH A FOCUS ON HOMEOWNERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO REVIEW AND PERIODICALLY ADJUST FEES AND CHARGES TO PROVIDE FOR COST RECOVERY, CONSUMER RELIEF, AND ALIGNMENT WITH CITY POLICY GOALS. AND, FINALLY, WHICH BEN WILL DISCUSS MORE IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION, WE ANNUALLY ASSESS THE CITY'S PAYMENT FROM CPS ENERGY TO DETERMINE THE PORTION, IF ANY, THAT IS DEEMED UNUSUAL, OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND ONE-TIME IN NATURE. AND WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT AMOUNT, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FACTORS, SUCH AS THE CITY'S OVERALL FINANCIAL POSITION, IMPACT ON SERVICE DELIVERY, BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP.

SO THESE POLICIES WERE ADOPTED AS PART OF THE 2024 BUDGET AND THIS CONCLUDES MY

[00:10:05]

OR I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BEN. >> GORZELL: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU, JUSTINA. I'VE GOT JUST A COUPLE OF SLIDES FOR YOU THIS MORNING, AS THEY PULL THEM UP. I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE CPS POLICY.

HERE WE GO.

THANK YOU. SO THE FIRST SLIDE I WANT TO START WITH YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHY WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE. AND YOU CAN SEE ON THIS CHART, THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR ACTUAL DOLLAR VARIANCE AGAINST THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR OUR PAYMENT FROM CPS ENERGY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IT FLUCTUATES QUITE A BIT FROM YEAR TO YEAR, INCLUDING TIME FOR WHEN WE HAVE MISSED THE BUDGET AND BEEN NEGATIVE AGAINST THAT BUDGET, TIMES WHEN WE'VE BEEN FLAT. AND OF COURSE THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WELL ABOVE THE ADOPTED BUDGET. 2022, REALLY HOT TEMPERATURES, ALONG WITH HIGH FUEL PRICES.

LAST YEAR HIGH TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH HIGH SALES THAT DROVE THAT INCREASE ABOVE THE ADOPTED BUDGET. THE FORECAST YOU SAW YESTERDAY, WE HAVE ALIGNED THE BUDGET TO LOOK AT THAT USAGE WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HAVE BUILT THAT INTO THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST. AGAIN, WE HAVE THIS AVAILABILITY THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF USED THE ANALOGY BEFORE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE REVENUES, IN SOME RESPECTS WE'RE BUILDING A ROAD IN FRONT OF US. WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE OUT ALL THESE PEAKS AND VALLEYS.

OUR RECURRING EXPENDITURES, OUR PAYROLL, OUR STAFFING, THEY'RE GROWING EVERY YEAR.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO TURN THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS HERE INTO SLIGHT BUMPS AND DIPS IN THE ROAD. AND THE POLICY ALLOWS US TO DO THAT, ALONG WITH THE CPS POLICY -- ALONG WITH WHAT JUSTINA JUST COVERED WITH OUR TWO-YEAR BUDGET PLAN.

IT LETS US MOVE SOME OF THESE THINGS OUT AND LETS US WORK ON MAINTAINING THAT ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 15%. ALL OF THAT WORKS TOGETHER TO BUILD THE CREDIT PROFILE FOR THE CITY THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE EXCELLENT GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND RATINGS.

WE HAVE AAA RATINGS FROM MOODY'S, STANDARDS, AND POORS. WE HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FROM FITCH. WE ARE THE ONLY TOP TEN CITY THAT HAD A AAA BOND RATING FROM MULTIPLE ENTITIES . THESE POLICIES ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY DO WORK WELL TOGETHER. THIS IS THE POLICY THAT JUSTINA JUST COVERED.

A LOT OF WORDS HERE ON THE SLIDE. WE'RE GOING TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE FIRST 10% THAT'S OVER THE ADOPTED BUDGET. THAT'S GOING TO ROLL INTO OUR TWO-YEAR BUDGET PLAN. IT'S GOING TO BE USED TO ADDRESS COUNCIL PRIORITIES AS WE GO FORWARD. ANYTHING ABOVE THAT 10% WE'RE GOING TO SET IT ASIDE FOR A SESSION WITH YOU ALL TO GET INPUT AND THEN COME BACK AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE FUNDS THAT EXCEED 10%. SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT JUSTINA COVERED TALK ABOUT IF THERE ARE UNUSUAL THINGS EVEN HAPPENING WITHIN THAT, WE WOULD WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE FOR YOU AND MAKE SURE WE TAKE THOSE INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS IS JUST A FLOWCHART OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BASE CITY PAYMENT. I'M USING BASE CITY PAYMENT BECAUSE YESTERDAY WE PRESENTED A POLICY ON OFF-SYSTEM SALES THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE FORECAST. THIS IS THE OTHER PORTION OF THE CITY PAYMENT, THE NON-OFF-SYSTEM SALES PART. ANYTHING ABOVE THE 10% WE WOULD HOLD IT AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS LAST SLIDE JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZES.

WE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS LAST FALL TO INCLUDE AT GOVERNANCE AND AT B SESSION.

THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT AMENDING THE POLICY AND ABOUT BEING MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THE FUNDS THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF THE 10% OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

THERE WAS AN OPTION HERE LAID OUT OF 80% GOING BACK TO CPS ENERGY FOR RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS AND 20% WOULD STAY OR BE ALLOCATED TO OUR REES FUND FOR ALLOCATION EXPENDITURE IN THE FUTURE. THERE WAS NO CONSENSUS AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF ONE OF THOSE

[00:15:03]

WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET ME SEE YOUR HAND IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND START JUST BY SAYING THAT THE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WE'VE HAD MOSTLY HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND HAVE SERVED US WELL.

WE SEE THAT THROUGH OUR RATINGS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON SERVICE DELIVERY. SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTINUATION OF OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POLICIES AS WELL AS A MEASURED APPROACH TO OUR CPS ENERGY REVENUES.

WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. WE HAVE UNTIL 10:15 FOR THIS DISCUSSION SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD. THEY'RE SIGNED IN?

I'M NOT SEEING THAT ON MY SCREEN HERE. >>

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL CALL PEOPLE. LET ME SEE YOUR HAND.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, JUSTINA. THANK YOU, BEN FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. BEN, I AM GOING TO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS UP HERE ON THE NEW FINANCIAL POLICY. THIS WAS THE THING. AND I'LL GO BACK.

WE HAD FIVE VOTES AND WE TOLD THEM TO PUT A PIN IN THAT $50 MILLION BUT WE COULDN'T GET THAT LAST VOTE. AND SO HERE WE ARE, AND ERIK AGREED TO DO, IF IT'S OVER 10%, WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION. AND NOW WE'RE DOING THIS. AND THE REASON I DON'T LIKE THIS IS BECAUSE, ONE, IN TERMS OF THE BASE, I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH CPS ENERGY IS GETTING IN TERMS OF THAT 86%. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEETING OUR SUSTAINABILITY NEEDS AND FOLLOWING THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN OR PART OF THAT, SOME OF THAT FUNDS SHOULD GO TO METRO HEALTH FOR THEIR INITIATIVES WITH THE HEALTH CONCERNS THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY.

AND I GET -- I UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS WITH CPS BUT IT'S ALSO ADDRESSING HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE A RESULT OF THE COAL PLANTS, OF THE HEAT ISLAND INDEXES.

WHAT RIGHT NOW IS 86% IN AN ACTUAL NUMBER FOR CPS ENERGY? >> GORZELL: ARE YOU

REFERRING TO THE OFFICES THEMSELVES OR TOTAL? >> VIAGRAN: I'M TALKING IN TOTAL. GIVE ME A DOLLAR AMOUNT INSTEAD OF A PERCENTAGE.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, WE CAN GET IT LATER. BUT THAT'S THE CONVERSATION I'M GOING TO WANT TO HAVE WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH THE 10%.

>> GORZELL: SO CPS'S TOTAL BUDGET -- I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.

IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $3 BILLION. BUT REMEMBER THAT OUR 14% IS BASED ON GROSS REVENUES. FOR EXAMPLE, FUEL IS A BIG PART OF THEIR BUDGET.

SO AS FUEL PASSES THROUGH, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS CPS.

IF THEY PAY A DOLLAR FOR FUEL, THEY CHARGE A DOLLAR FOR FUEL. IF THEY PAY 10, THEY CHARGE 10. THAT PASSES THROUGH BUT WE GET 14% MARKUP ON THAT, IF YOU WILL. THERE ARE PIECES TO THAT THAT I WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BREAK

DOWN FOR YOU. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY. IF YOU COULD DO THAT.

BECAUSE THE OTHER THING IS WHEN WE DO THIS GENERAL 80% TO CPS ENERGY RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS, AGAIN -- AND I WILL SAY THIS EVERY TIME.

THERE WAS A RED LINE NORTH TO SOUTH IN THIS CITY. AND WE, WHO ALL HAPPEN TO BE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER RIGHT NOW, ARE SEEING THAT RESULT.

AND WE HAVE AGED HOMES THAT DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SOME OF THESE CPS ENERGY PROGRAMS. SO BEFORE WE TAKE THIS, WE REALLY NEED TO DIG DEEP INTO WHO WE WANT TO SERVE AND WHAT SORT OF PROGRAMS THEY HAVE. CPS HAS DONE A LOT BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THE HOME REHAB BUSINESS. THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT THE CITY WITH SOME OF OUR PROJECTS.

I DO HAVE CONCERN WHERE THAT IS. IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES, IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME -- THIS IS WHY I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS TAKES ALL DAY.

HOMELESS OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENTS, STREETS -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE NOT QUITE AT THAT PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION. THAT'S LATER.

>> VIAGRAN: BUT I MIGHT NOT BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT PERTINENT TO THE ITEM. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON CPS. IF NOT, I'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

>> VIAGRAN: NO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN WHYTE.

[00:20:03]

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

JUST REALLY QUICK. I UNDERSTAND THE INITIAL INTENT OF THIS FUNDING GOING BACK TO CPS, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT THEY'RE GOING TO BLAME THE CITY. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN CPS CAME TO US FOR THE LAST RATE INCREASE WE TALKED ABOUT THE ADP, THE AFFORDABLE DISCOUNT PROGRAM, WHICH THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO. OUR INTENT THERE WAS TO HELP SENIORS AND SINGLE MOTHERS AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. AND IT'S APRIL.

SO I GET CONCERNED ON THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE HEARD MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SAY AGAIN AND AGAIN ON LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH WHERE THAT FUNDING IS GOING FOR CPS, WHERE IT'S AT. AND SO I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING POTENTIALLY EVEN MORE MONEY

TOWARDS THEM AND NOT KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COULD

YOU REPEAT THE PART ABOUT THE ADP? >> GAVITO: WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN UPDATE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE DISCOUNT PROGRAM. SO LAST -- I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN DID WE DISCUSS CPS? LAST NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, WE PUSHED HARD ON INCREASING THE PARAMETERS OF THE AFFORDABLE DISCOUNT PROGRAM SO THAT MORE OLDER ADULTS OR SINGLE MOMS CAN QUALIFY. AND IT WAS JUST A WAY TO TAKE OUT THAT DISCOUNT AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HURT THE MOST FROM IT.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH, SO I THINK IT WAS TWO MEETINGS AGO THE BOARD TOOK ACTION TO ALIGN THE ADP INCOME LEVEL REQUIREMENT TO THE CITY'S

PROGRAM. SO THAT HAS BEEN DONE. >> GAVITO: I DON'T THINK

IT'S COME BACK TO COUNCIL. >> GORZELL: MAYOR, IT IS IN THE QUEUE.

I THINK IT'S COMING -- WE HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING -- THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

IT'S IN THE QUEUE TO COME FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> GAVITO: YEAH.

AND MY ONLY OTHER CONCERN THERE WAS THE NEW RATES WENT INTO EFFECT, WHAT,

FEBRUARY 1ST? >> GORZELL: THAT'S CORRECT. >> GAVITO: AND IT'S APRIL SO THESE PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO PAY THESE HIGHER BILLS WHICH WE WANTED TO OFFSET.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION. OLDER ADULTS, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE ON FIXED INCOMES IT'S NOT LIKE THEY CAN GO BACK AND MAKE MONEY.

THE INTENT WAS POSITIVE AND WE JUST HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. THAT'S ALL.

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

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

I GUESS REALLY WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN WITH CPS IS WHAT QUALIFIES AS A RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCY PROJECT? I FEEL LIKE IF YOU DO ENOUGH MENTAL GYMNASTICS THAT THEY COULD MAKE THE CASE ANY PROJECT THEY DO COULD BE A RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCY

PROJECT. DO WE HAVE ANY PARAMETERS? >> GORZELL: WE COULD DEFINE THAT MORE, COUNCILMAN, BUT THE RESILIENCY -- YOU SAW THE SIZE OF THEIR CAPITAL PLAN WITH THE LAST RATE INCREASE SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THERE, THINGS LIKE CLOSERS IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. ESSENTIALLY TECHNOLOGY THEY'RE DEPLOYING THAT MAKES THAT SYSTEM MORE RESILIENT . WHEN YOU HAVE OUTAGES THEY'RE ABLE TO GET POWER RESTORED MORE QUICKLY. CHANGING OUT POLES. THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY MADE TO AND CONTINUE TO MAKE TO THE GENERATION PLANTS TO MAKE THEM MORE WEATHER PROOF.

A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT FIT INTO THAT CATEGORY. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. I WOULD -- I WOULD BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT SPECIFIC PART OF THE FUND IF WE DO SET THOSE CLEAR PARAMETERS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY I WOULD REALLY LIKE THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS WITH THEM.

I REMEMBER A LARGE PART OF OUR FIRST BIG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CPS AND SURPLUSES WAS THAT A LOT OF US REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT WERE GOING TO PREVENT CATASTROPHES AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM STRUGGLING.

WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES A PRIORITY.

THAT WAS A LARGE PART OF THE DISCUSSION. AND SO I WANT TO STATE THAT I WANT THE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT. THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY SEEN OR DISCUSSED, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT AT SOME POINT IF WE HAVE DEFICITS IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE STILL ALLOW THAT SOME OF THIS GO TOWARDS THAT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS MEANT TO BE A RESPONSE TO THE DISCUSSION WE HAD YESTERDAY

ABOUT THIS POLICY. >> GORZELL: NO, COUNCILMAN, THIS ONE GOES BACK REALLY TO LAST -- I GUESS IT STARTED IN THE SUMMER AND THE FALL. ACTUALLY ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2022 AS WE HAD THAT OVERAGE IN 2022. THE POLICY AGAIN IN THIS CASE STAYING WITHIN THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND IS THERE GOING INTO THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET PLAN. IT'S SMOOTHING OUT THOSE PEAKS AND VALLEYS.

[00:25:02]

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: GOTCHA. >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, I'LL ADD I THINK PART OF THE CONVERSATION, AT LEAST FOR SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AT GOVERNANCE AND AT B SESSION LAST YEAR, WAS REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL MITIGATION OF RATE INCREASE.

WHAT EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. THIS SLIDE IS LITERALLY FROM THAT LAST FALL PRESENTATION. AND SO WE'VE KIND OF EVOLVED A LITTLE BIT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COUNCIL -- WHAT THE FEEDBACK IS TODAY. OBVIOUSLY WE HEARD YESTERDAY, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER POLICY, THE WORDS I REMEMBER: ASSURANCES, GUARANTEES IN WRITING.

IT'S GOT TO BE TRANSPARENT. THERE'S GOT TO BE PUBLIC REPORTING.

YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW HOW, IF WE DO THAT, THEY'RE SPENDING THE CITY PORTION OF THE MONEY.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, I'M ASSUMING ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE SAME. REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT'S SPENT ON.

RISK MITIGATION WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION AT THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR AS WELL.

THIS CONVERSATION HAPPENED IN ADVANCE OF THAT RATE CONVERSATION THAT EVERYBODY KNEW WAS COMING. SO THAT WAS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF LAST YEAR'S CONVERSATION.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: FOR SURE. THIS IS WHAT CHANGED MY VIEWPOINT ON THAT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ASK FOR RATE INCREASES AND SO I'M LESS INTERESTED AT THIS POINT IN MITIGATING THAT BECAUSE WE CAN GIVE THEM ALL THE MONEY AND THEY'RE STILL GOING TO SAY WE NEED MORE.

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

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THANKS FOR THIS. I THINK THIS IS FINE. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO. WE ALL KNOW THAT LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE INSATIABLE IN ITS APPETITE TO PUNISH LARGE CITIES LIKE US BECAUSE THEY DON'T PERCEIVE US TO HAVE PLEDGED SUFFICIENT FEALTY TO THIS CYNICAL WORLD VIEW OF THEIRS.

THERE'S BAD PEOPLE UP THERE WHO ARE INTENT ON SNATCHING AWAY A UTILITY FROM US AND GIVING THAT UTILITY TO COMPANIES OUT IN NEW YORK, COMPANIES WHO HAVE NO INTENT ON REINVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY. OR WHO HOLD PROJECTS THAT WE HOLD DEAR, EQUALLY DEAR TO THEM. NOT PROTECTING CPS IN THIS WAY, MY OPINION, SETS US UP FOR AN EXISTENTIAL DISRUPTION TO OUR ABILITY TO AMELIORATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RED-LINE CRIME THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED THAT WAS PERPETRATED AND TO THIS DAY WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THOSE REALLY CRUEL POLICIES OF DECADES AGO. I THINK THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL HAS LEANED INTO AMELIORATING THOSE AND TRYING TO FIX WHAT HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR WAY TOO ALONG. I CAN'T THINK OF A SINGLE PERSON AT THIS TABLE THAT CARES MORE THAN ANOTHER PERSON ABOUT THIS. WE'VE ALL LEANED INTO THIS.

I THINK THAT NOT PROTECTING CPS AND IF THEY DO MANAGE TO ATTACK CPS IN SOME WAY, IT'S GOING TO KEEP US FROM ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT'S GOING TO KEEP US FROM BEING ABLE TO UPGRADE F STREETS. IT'S GOING TO KEEP US FROM PAYING POLICE AND FIRE COMPETITIVE WAGES. IT'S GOING TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE FULL SUITE OF SERVICES THAT METRO HEALTH AND OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DELIVERS TO THE PUBLIC.

AND I HATE IT. I DON'T THINK -- WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, BEN, AND EVERYBODY AT CITY COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS THE THREAT COMING FROM AUSTIN.

AND I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE REVENUE FROM CPS TO ACCOMPLISH

[00:30:03]

I HOPE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL WILL GET BEHIND PROTECTING CPS. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: YEAH, I'LL ECHO THOSE COMMENTS.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADHERE OTHER THAN TO SAY I STILL -- SLIGHT DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I THINK WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO OFFSET OR ATTEMPT TO OFFSET OR MITIGATE FUTURE RATE HIKES.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LINE ITEM, A HARD LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET FOR CPS.

THEY TALKED A LOT TO US AT THE END OF THE YEAR ABOUT CERTAINTY.

AND THAT WAS THEIR BIG -- THEIR NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT ON HOW TO FUND CPS LAST YEAR WAS CERTAINTY. THEY WANT TO HAVE CERTAINTY FOR THE RATING AGENCIES WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME REINVESTMENT OF FUNDS AFTER WE REACH A CERTAIN THRESHOLD IS GOOD BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

AND I MENTIONED IT YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF SOME SORT OF HARD DOLLAR FIGURE IN OUR BUDGET THAT THEY ARE GUARANTEED, THAT WE GUARANTEE TO REINVEST IN CPS.

AND THEN, IF WE MEET SOME OF THESE THRESHOLDS OVER 10%, THEN WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE LINE ITEM WE PUT IN THE BUDGET. I THINK THAT GIVES CPS A LITTLE MORE CERTAINTY. I THINK -- I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT MONEY AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT. MONEY -- I KEEP SAYING IT -- IS FUNGIBLE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG POT OF MONEY AND WHEN WE GIVE THEM AN EXTRA 5, 7, 8, OR $10 MILLION IT GOES INTO THEIR POT OF MONEY. WHAT THEY SPEND ON THIS OR THAT, IT'S ALL THEIR MONEY. THE ASSURANCES I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY COMES IN TERMS OF WE DON'T WANT TO INVEST IN THEM TO TRY TO OFFSET FUTURE RATE HIKES.

YET THEY STILL COME BACK AND ASK FOR MORE. I ASKED BEN THE QUESTION YESTERDAY, CAN WE PREVENT THAT? OF COURSE THE ANSWER IS NO.

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

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO A STEP FURTHER AND PUT A LINE ITEM

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

COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, BEN AND JUSTINA FOR THE PRESENTATION. I JUST KEEP GOING BACK TO THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T GET ANY ASSURANCES OR GUARANTEES.

I'M WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE VIAGRAN ON THIS ONE. I FEEL LIKE WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR MONEY IS INVESTED ON THEIR BEHALF AND I THINK THAT I TRUST ERIK WALSH AND THE TEAM MORE THAN I TRUST THE CPS TEAM TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND SO, WITH THAT, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY, MAYBE SOME HOME REHAB. I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WINTERIZATION PROGRAMS THAT TO SEE THIS EXCESS THAT WE USE IT SPECIFICALLY TOWARD THAT. THE COUNCILMAN MENTIONED HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL. THE PROGRAMS I FEEL WE HAVEN'T FULLY BUDGETED FOR OR UNDERSTOOD UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, I THINK ARE THE ONES THAT SHOULD REALLY BE CONSIDERED.

ALSO, I HAD ASKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE REPORTING THROUGH CPS.

I'VE ASKED ABOUT SPECIFIC AMOUNTS. I WAS WONDERING WHAT THAT 86%

[00:35:05]

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST HAVE IT, RIGHT? JUST LIKE WE NEVER GOT THE NUMBERS FROM THE COUNTY. I FEEL LIKE THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US. AND THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR US TO GO LOOK FOR SOMETHING. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WE EVEN KNOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING.

SO I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY KEEP NOT SHARING WITH US.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL FINANCIAL PICTURE THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS TALKING ABOUT. AND SO I FEEL LIKE PERCENTAGES COULD BE MISLEADING BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK IN TERMS OF DATA -- AND DR. KAUR KNOWS THIS -- IT COULD BE ALMOST MANIPULATIVE TO USE PERCENTAGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO CERTAIN FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY WHO, FOR INSTANCE, HAVE CERTAIN LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.

I'M THE ONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THEM. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE ALL THE DATA THAT I NEED. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT I HAD ASKED SEVERAL TIMES AND INNOVATION, FOR INSTANCE, AT CPS ENERGY. YESTERDAY I WAS ON A PANEL FOR AI AND THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE ABOUT WHAT CPS ENERGY IS USING IN TERMS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HOW IT'S HELPING THE ALIGNMENT AND WOMEN BE SAFER.

I HAD ASKED FOR INFORMATION ALSO ON INNOVATION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.

IN ADDITION TO RESILIENCY, WHAT INNOVATIVE PRACTICES ARE THEY LOOKING FOR.

JUST, AGAIN, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ON OUR OWN, MAYBE DIRECT WHERE THAT FUNDING GOES IS GOING TO BE WHERE I'M LEANING RIGHT NOW. I AGREE ALSO WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. AND THERE JUST HAS TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTROL, IN MY OPINION, FROM THIS COUNCIL IF THERE'S ANY EXCESS REVENUE. AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, INCLUDING WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. BEN, DO YOU WANT TO --

>> GORZELL: MAYOR, MAYBE IF I COULD JUST CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, OUR EXISTING POLICIES UP HERE IS ON THE SCREEN. TODAY, THE OFF-SYSTEM SALES IS THE ONE WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. I'M TALKING ABOUT BASE REVENUES FROM CPS. OUR CURRENT POLICY TODAY, AS WAS ADOPTED WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET, IS THAT WE KEEP THE FIRST 10% ABOVE THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

THIS POLICY ONLY TRIGGERS IN FOR THE AMOUNT THAT'S ABOVE 10%.

AND TODAY IT STANDS THAT WE WOULD COME TO YOU ALL WITH THAT AMOUNT.

WE WOULD HOLD IT, HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT, GET YOUR INPUT, AND THEN COME BACK, BASED ON THAT INPUT, WITH A RECOMMENDATION.

IN TERMS OF THE -- MAKE SURE I FOLLOW UP WITH THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO THE RIGHT QUESTION HERE. THIS AGAIN ONLY TRIGGERS ON ANY AMOUNT ABOVE 10%.

THE 80/20 WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF MAYBE HOW WE WOULD SPLIT THAT FOR THAT AMOUNT ABOVE THAT.

THE 86% VERSUS THE 14%, THAT'S E ASKING ON THE WHOLE BUDGET. I'LL GO BACK AND PULL WHAT WE KIND OF PRESENTED AS PART OF THE RATE CASE. THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT TALK ABOUT THE TOTAL BUDGET THAT I THINK BREAK DOWN THE COMPONENTS THAT TALK ABOUT THEIR O&M, STP O&M, DEBT SERVICE, CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDING, AND OUR CITY PAYMENT.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT WHOLE BREAKDOWN. I'LL RECIRCULATE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION -- BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW -- LIKE WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO TRIGGER THIS OR NOT. IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT THE WEATHER DOES, FUEL DOES, ALL THOSE FACTORS BUT THEY'RE SETTING A BUDGET LIKE WE ARE, AND I'LL RECIRCULATE THAT TO THE COUNCIL SO YOU HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN.

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

>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, BEN AND JUSTINA FOR THE PRESENTATION. WHAT I'M HEARING CONVERSATION IS THAT AS A FULL COUNCIL WE DISCUSS CPS ENERGY WHEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THEM ADDITIONAL FUNDING. I BELIEVE IT'S A DISSERVICE TO THE PUBLIC TO NOT HAVE MORE FREQUENT BRIEFINGS REGARDING CPS ENERGY, AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE 80% TO THE CPS ENERGY FOR THE RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS.

I SHARE THE SAME CONCERN THAT MANY OF SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENTS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THEIR PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF THEIR HOME. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S HOME REHAB PROGRAM, WE SAW A 200% INCREASE OF THE AMOUNT OF HOME REHAB APPLICATIONS. AND THOSE ARE MORE FOLKS THAT QUALIFY FOR THESE PROGRAMS, IN

[00:40:01]

BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS WHO DON'T TURN ON THE HEAT BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE KEEP INCREASING THEIR UTILITY RATE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO CALL EMS BECAUSE THEY FIND THEMSELVES WITH HEAT EXHAUSTION. OR OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT DO TURN ON THEIR AC BUT THEY HAVE AN OLDER HOME SO IT SOMETIMES CAUSES FIRES AND THEN WE HAVE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I'M SEEING THE NEED TO INVEST IN CITY PROGRAMS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS QUALIFY FOR. SO I WOULD ALSO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE REES FUND BEING USED TO SUPPORT METRO HEALTH BECAUSE OF WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN HIGHLIGHTED.

WE SEE THE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THE WAYS IN WHICH FAILING TO ACT ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPACT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO WITH THIS PROPOSED POLICY, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, GIVEN THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED ON CPS ENERGY'S RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS. I THINK THESE ARE THINGS WE SHOULD SEE AND BE BRIEFED ON SO THAT WAY WE FEEL COMFORTABLE APPROVING WHAT'S

BEING PRESENTED TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

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

I WANT TO AGREE WITH ALL OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES. THE THING I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IS HAVE WE DONE AN ANALYSIS OF WHETHER -- WE ALL CARE ABOUT RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND ALSO LOWERING THE COST FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

HAVE WE DONE AN ANALYSIS ON WHETHER, IF WE IMPROVE SOMEONE'S HOME AND WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ALL THE THINGS WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY, IF THAT WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE IMPACT TO THEM ON THEIR BILLS BY LOWERING THEIR BILL MORE SO THAN GIVING THE MONEY BACK TO CPS FOR THEIR RESILIENCY PROJECTS.

SO I GUESS I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ROI ON OUR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS, THE ROI ON OUR ROOFING AND FOUNDATION PROGRAMS TO HELP GET THEM CPS SUPPORT OVER JUST GIVING THE DOLLARS TO CPS. IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IS MORE IMPACTFUL, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT PUTTING MORE DOLLARS TO THE REES FUND BECAUSE WE EVEN SAW YESTERDAY THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, WE'RE ALREADY CAPPED AT HOW MANY HOUSES WE CAN SUPPORT FOR THIS YEAR. IT'S HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YES, HOW MUCH TO GIVE TO EACH

ONE OF THESE ENTITIES. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK

YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. EVERY YEAR WE SIT AT MEETINGS LIKE THIS AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SERVICES WE'D LIKE TO SEE, RESOURCES THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND MOST OF THE TIME WE CAN FUND SOME BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT WE JUST CAN'T FUND.

YOU KNOW, THEY JUST SIT ON THE TABLE AND WE WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT CPS REVENUE AND WE SEE THAT AS ANOTHER SOURCE FOR DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE CITY. AND WE TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF EXCESS FUNDS THAT COME THROUGH CPS SOMETIMES. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR CPS, WHICH IS I THINK $421 MILLION THIS YEAR AS REVENUE TO THE CITY, BASED ON 14%, I PRESUME, AND I WOULD ASK BEN TO TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE I KNOW HE LOOKS AT THESE THINGS. I WOULD PRESUME THAT CPS FIGURES OUT THAT COST OF PROVIDING THEIR SERVICE, THE COST OF FUEL AND EVERYTHING. THEY PROBABLY ALSO ANTICIPATE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO GET OVER AND ABOVE WHAT THEIR NORMAL OPERATING EXPENSES ARE DUE TO OFF-SYSTEM SALES. AND SO THEY PROBABLY WORK THAT INTO THEIR BUDGET, WHETHER IT'S $50 MILLION OR $100 MILLION SO THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR REVENUE, WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE THEY'RE GOING TO SELL ON THE OPEN MARKET IS

PART OF THAT BUDGET THAT WE RECEIVE, RIGHT? >> GORZELL: THAT IS CORRECT.

>> COURAGE: AND SO IF THEY HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR, LIKE THEY DID LAST YEAR, THAT'S WHEN WE GET THE EXTRA MONEY IN CHECKS LATER IN THE CYCLE THAT GIVE US AN EXTRA $15 MILLION OR $20 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THAT'S REALLY NOT IN OUR BUDGET AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MIGHT WE USE THAT MONEY.

IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? >> GORZELL: WE TALKED ABOUT THAT POLICY YESTERDAY.

WE PROPOSED A POLICY ON OFF-SYSTEM SALES. AND THEN WE HAVE THIS POLICY

THAT IS ON THE OTHER PART OF OUR CITY PAYMENT FROM CPS. >> COURAGE: RIGHT.

IF THE BUDGET'S $420 MILLION AND THEY MAKE AN EXTRA $100 MILLION IN SALES, SO NOW

[00:45:05]

WE'RE GOING TO GET 14% OF THAT OR ANOTHER $14 MILLION. >> GORZELL: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> COURAGE: AND WE'RE SAYING THE FIRST 10% OVER AND ABOVE 421, WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING

TO JUST SAVE FOR OUR NEXT BUDGET. >> GORZELL: SO I'M GOING TO SEPARATE THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR YOU, COUNCILMAN. SO YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT A POLICY WHERE THE OFF-SYSTEM SALES WOULD BE TREATED SEPARATELY.

>> COURAGE: OKAY. >> GORZELL: WE'RE SAYING THAT IN TODAY'S BUDGET, AS WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT HISTORY, THERE'S ABOUT $10 MILLION OR SO THAT IS IN OUR BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS RECURRING EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE TODAY. THE BUDGET, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR AT $421 MILLION, IT ASSUMES ABOUT $11.5 MILLION FOR OFF-SYSTEM SALES. TO MAKE THAT POLICY A LITTLE BIT EASIER, WE JUST SAID WE'LL CAP IT AT 10 AND ANYTHING ABOVE $10 MILLION ON OFF-SYSTEM SALES WE WOULD PUT IN THAT FUND AND THAT COULD GO. THIS COMPONENT IS THE NONOFF-SYSTEM SALES PART. IF WE GET ADDITIONAL REVENUE BECAUSE OF FUEL PRICES WENT UP, BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS SIGNIFICANTLY HOTTER OR COLDER THAN WE ANTICIPATED AND THAT PORTION THAT IS NOT OFF-SYSTEM SALES GOES UP BY MORE THAN 10%, THEN IT TRIGGERS THIS

THRESHOLD. >> COURAGE: OKAY. WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT TWO WAYS OF GETTING REVENUE. THE BASE BUDGET THAT MIGHT EXCEED ITSELF BY 10% AND THEN

THE OFF-SYSTEM SALES THAT MIGHT EXCEED ITSELF BY 10%. >> GORZELL: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> COURAGE: OKAY. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING, WELL, IF WE GET X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, HOW MUCH DOES CPS GET. BUT BASICALLY THEY GET $86 MILLION OUT OF EVERY $100 MILLION THAT THEY GENERATE, RIGHT?

AND WE GET $14 MILLION OUT OF THAT 14%. >> GORZELL: GENERALLY YES, COUNCILMAN. I'M GOING TO CAVEAT IT WITH THEIR BUDGET, COST OF SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE FUEL. ALL THE FUEL THEY BUY FOR THE POWER PLANTS, ALL THE FUEL THAT THEY PASS THROUGH IN THE NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS A PASSTHROUGH SO THEY'RE NOT KEEPING ANYTHING OFF OF THAT. THE NON-FUEL COMPONENTS, YES,

THEY ARE GENERATING DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THEIR COST OF SERVICE. >> COURAGE: SO WE GET 14% OF EVERY $100 MILLION BASICALLY, NOT INCLUDING FUEL COSTS. IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT?

>> GORZELL: WE GET THE FUEL COST. >> COURAGE: OKAY.

SO THEY MAY ACTUALLY BE GETTING LESS THAN $86 MILLION OUT OF 100 BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING IT ON FUEL COST AND THE SERVICE AND THEY'RE ONLY GETTING THEIR 86% ON THE

SERVICE BECAUSE THEY PASS THROUGH THE FUEL COST. >> GORZELL: I GUESS I WANT TO CAVEAT THAT. 86% IS -- IT'S THE NON-CITY PAYMENT PART.

BUT WHAT THEY'RE GENERATING IS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF SERVICE OF THE UTILITY.

IT'S NOT -- SO WHEN WE PRESENT A RATE CASE TO YOU ALL, THEY BRING IT TO US LAST FALL, IT'S BASED ON WHAT IS THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS.

WHEN I RECIRCULATE A COUPLE OF SLIDES FROM LAST FALL THAT MAY BE HELPFUL, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY BRING IN ON ONE SIDE VERSUS WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING ON ONE SIDE, TO INCLUDE CITY

PAYMENT. >> COURAGE: I GUESS THE QUESTION I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY IS IF WE'RE GETTING 14%, HOW MUCH ARE THEY GETTING. THEY'RE GETTING 86%.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THEY REALLY MAY NOT BE GETTING 86%. >> GORZELL: THE OTHER SLICE OF THE PIE IS 86% BUT THEY'RE PAYING DEBT SERVICE. THEY'RE PAYING FOR STAFFING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE'S A RESIDUAL AMOUNT THAT GOES INTO AN R&R ACCOUNT THAT SUSTAINS THEIR FINANCIAL POSITION.

>> COURAGE: I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S JUST PART OF OPERATING.

IF THEY'RE MAKING AN EXTRA $100 MILLION SELLING OFF-SITE, WE'LL GET $14 MILLION OF THAT

AND THEY'LL GET $86 MILLION -- >> GORZELL: ON OFF-SYSTEM SALES.

>> COURAGE: WHEN WE PASSED THE RECENT RATE HIKE -- BY THE WAY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

THE LAST TWO RATE HIKES THAT THE CITY APPROVED, BOTH OF THOSE RATE HIKES WERE FIRST PRESENTED BY CPS AT A HIGHER AMOUNT THAN WE FINALLY APPROVED.

IS THAT CORRECT? HIGHER PERCENTAGE. >> GORZELL: CORRECT, AGAINST WHAT WAS PROJECTED. THE FIRST ONE WAS, BEFORE WE SAW IT, IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY

HIGHER THAN WHAT GOT APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. >> COURAGE: BUT YOUR OFFICE RECOMMENDED TO THIS COUNCIL A LOWER NUMBER BECAUSE YOU LOOKED AT WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AND YOU TRIED TO SAY WHAT DO YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED AS OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU MIGHT BE

ASKING FOR. >> GORZELL: ON THE ONE THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE ABSOLUTELY TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH, WORKED WITH CPS AND SAID WE NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH IN TERMS OF HOW WE DO THIS. THAT LED TO THE APPROVAL OF A

MUCH LOWER RATE INCREASE, YES. >> COURAGE: THIS LAST TIME THEY CAME IN WITH A LITTLE BIT

[00:50:02]

ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE. >> GORZELL: WE ABSOLUTELY LOOKED AT IT.

WE WORKED WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ON THIS ONE SO WE WERE MORE ALIGNED BEFORE IT

GOT TO THE BOARD AND YOU ALL. >> COURAGE: I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, AS A COUNCIL, WHEN WE START SAYING RATE HIKES THAT CPS WANTS OR WHATEVER.

WE APPROVE THOSE AND WE LOOK AT THEM VERY PROFESSIONALLY IN A LOT OF DETAIL AND OFTENTIMES WE TELL THEM WE DON'T AGREE -- YOUR OFFICE DOESN'T AGREE FOR OTHER REASONS AND YOU'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL SOMETHING MAYBE LESS THAN THAT.

UNLESS THEY ABSOLUTELY JUSTIFY EVERY DOLLAR THEY ASK FOR, RIGHT?

>> GORZELL: THAT IS THE PROCESS WE GO THROUGH, COUNCILMAN.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ON WHY THEY NEED A RATE INCREASE.

>> COURAGE: I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE THE WATCHDOGS FOR CPS AND IF THEY'RE COMING AND ASKING FOR A RATE HIKE, WE SHOULDN'T BE SCARED TO DEATH ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE, AS A CITY, THAT WHAT WE APPROVE AS A COUNCIL IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OR NEEDS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN ORDER FOR CPS TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION. IT'S NOT A MATTER THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THEM MAKING EXTRA MONEY TO GIVE PAY RAISES OR DOING SILLY THINGS WITH THEIR MONEY.

I THINK SOMETIMES SOME OF US DON'T RECOGNIZE HOW CLOSELY YOUR OFFICE AND THIS CITY LOOKS AT WHAT THEY ASK FOR. AND SO, YES, IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF CPS IN WAYS THAT WHEN THEY COME TO US WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR WHAT THEY NEED AND WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

AND I COUNT ON THE PROFESSIONALISM OF YOUR OFFICE TO DO THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO END UP HAVING ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT COMES IN, JUST LIKE WE HAD FROM THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. AND I'M RELUCTANT TO SAY, OKAY, WE OUGHT TO JUST SIT DOWN AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS BACK TO CPS AND WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS FOR SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES AND SERVICES ON THE TABLE THAT WE COULDN'T APPROVE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.

AND NOW I CAN'T SEE NECESSARILY GIVING 80% OF THIS MONEY BACK TO CPS TO AVOID A RATE HIKE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED MONEY IF THEY DO.

AND, IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE CAN BETTER USE THAT MONEY FOR A LOT OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE LEAVE ON THE TABLE OVER THE YEARS. SO I THINK IT SHOULD REMAIN IN OUR PURVIEW TO LOOK AT EVERY OVERAGE TO DETERMINE HOW IT'S BEST USED INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING A COMMITMENT UP FRONT. I'LL RESERVE SOME TIME FOR LATER.

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

COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I JUST WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY.

WHEN CPS FIRST PRESENTED THEIR CASE TO COUNCIL FOR A RATE INCREASE TO COVER A VARIETY OF THEIR COSTS, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH BUSINESS MEMBERS AND THE TWO THINGS THAT KEPT COMING UP AND EVEN HERE AT COUNCIL WERE RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY. I PRESENTED A CCR FOR THE 2% TRANSFER BACK TO CPS, THE SURPLUS FUNDS. REMEMBER AT THAT TIME WE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS AT LEAST OF SURPLUS FUNDS. EVERY YEAR WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THESE EXTRA FUNDS. AT THE TIME IT WAS A PROPOSAL -- AND REALLY THE INTENT WAS TO SPARK A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE HAVE THESE SURPLUS FUNDS. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR WE HAD THEM AND WE WERE SCRAMBLING AND NOT GETTING ANYWHERE. MY JOKE AT THE TIME WAS EVERYBODY WAS GETTING $5 AND NOBODY WAS GETTING ANYTHING. SO I CONVERSATION. I LEARNED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT CPS AND HOW BEN AND HIS TEAM AND THE CITY WORKS WITH CPS. I WONDER, BEN, IF YOU COULD QUICKLY TALK ABOUT WHEN CPS COMES TO THE CITY FIRST FOR A RATE INCREASE, HOW YOU WORK WITH THEM FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> GORZELL: SO, COUNCILWOMAN, OUR INTENT AND OUR APPROACH IS TO ENGAGE THEM BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY SUBMIT THAT RATE INCREASE OVER TO THE CITY.

SO ONCE THEY START CONSIDERING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH ONE, WE START ENGAGING AND WE START TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING RELATED TO THEIR BUDGET, THEIR PROJECTIONS, THEIR CAPITAL PLANS. YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM BILL USAGE, WHAT YOU THINK YOUR GENERATION MIX LOOKS LIKE, ALL YOUR CAPITAL PLANNING.

ALL OF THAT WE GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO MAKE A PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL.

THE PROCESS IS INTENDED, AS WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM, THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALIGN ON WHAT

[00:55:01]

WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD AND WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING AS WELL.

IF WE CAN'T GET ALIGNED THEN YOU'LL END UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> HAVRDA: I MEAN -- THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT'S GETTING I THINK A LITTLE CONFUSING IS I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRUST IN CPS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THEM COMING TO US FOR A RATE INCREASE, THEY ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY, WHO A LOT OF US HAVE SAID WE TRUST, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

IT'S NOT THEM COMING TO US AND THEN US LOWERING THAT NUMBER, US FINAGLING THAT NUMBER, IT'S THE CITY AND CPS WORKING TOGETHER FROM THE START TO FIGURE OUT IF AND HOW MUCH WE NEED A RATE INCREASE. AND THEN OF COURSE IT'S BEEN SAID HERE TODAY, IT'S UP TO US TO DO IT. AT THE TIME MY CHOICE WAS EITHER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL RATE INCREASE OR TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WHEN THE TIME CAME I DID VOTE TO LOWER THE RATE INCREASE. COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAD HIS PROPOSAL THAT ALMOST PASSED.

BUT MY OPINION OF THIS IS TO HAVE VOTED NO AT THE TIME IS TO BE IRRESPONSIBLE.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT CPS DOES NOT COME TO US FOR A RATE INCREASE BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS THAT ARE AFFECTING EVERY RATEPAYER IN THIS CITY AND THE COUNTY. TODAY -- I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE CAN MAKE A CLEAR DECISION. RIGHT NOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO POTENTIALLY LOWER A FUTURE RATE INCREASE AND IT WILL AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY.

THE POLICY THAT WILL BECOME PART OF THE COMING RATE CHANGE CONVERSATION, WHATEVER IT IS, AND WE CAN HOLD -- AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS BEING LOST.

WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO US.

THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE AND BACK AND FORTH. THEY'RE OUR ASSET.

REMEMBER THAT WE OWN THEM. TALKING ABOUT WE DON'T TRUST CPS, WE ONLY TRUST THE CITY, IT'S JUST A LITTLE CONFUSING TO ME BECAUSE THEY WORK TOGETHER FROM THE BEGINNING.

AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING A SET PLACE THAT THIS GOES, THAT ANY SURPLUS GOES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE THREE, FOUR YEARS. MAYBE NOT EVER AGAIN BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SURPLUS FROM YEAR TO YEAR. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT PART OF THEIR CALCULATION. I WILL SAY I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

WE SHOULD INVOLVE THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 20% OR POTENTIALLY MORE GOING TO THE REES FUND. I ALSO AGREE THAT POTENTIALLY WE DO INCREASE THE 20%. I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT AT ALL.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA MAYBE TO LOOK AT THAT. ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ABOUT THE BRIEFINGS. WE USED TO HAVE THE MUC. WE GOT PRETTY MUCH MONTHLY BRIEFINGS FROM CPS AND SAWS. I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT SINCE THE MUC WAS DISBANDED. I THINK THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME TO GOVERNANCE.

I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MORE FREQUENT BRIEFINGS. IS IT POSSIBLE -- JUST ONE QUESTION. IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE THE REES FUNDS FOR A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN

TALKED ABOUT HERE TODAY FOR HOME REHAB? >> GO

>> WALSH: THE SHORT ANSWER THE YES. THE ORIGINAL POLICY, AS WAS ADOPTED WITHIN THE BUDGET, WAS THAT FISCAL YEAR '23 HAD FOUR CATEGORIES BUT IT WAS SET BY

THE COUNCIL. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> WALSH: DO YOU WANT TO ADD

SOMETHING? >> GORZELL: I THINK WITH THIS CURRENT BUDGET WE ADDED IN SOME WEATHERIZATION PROJECTS AND FUNDING INTO THE REES FUND FOR THIS CURRENT

FISCAL YEAR. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. SO I THINK THAT WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT, WE CAN -- IT CAN BE A WIN-WIN. WE CAN MITIGATE A RATE INCREASE DOWN THE LINE, WHICH WE KNOW IS COMING. AND THEN POTENTIALLY HELP WITH THESE HOME REHAB PROJECTS WITH THE REES FUND. AND THEN, AGAIN, I'M OPEN TO -- I LIKE THE IDEA OF INCREASING THE REES FUND AMOUNT AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

I'LL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME NOW. ERIK, HOW OFTEN DO WE NOW HAVE BRIEFINGS OF THE FULL COUNCIL FROM CPS? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HISTORY HERE AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHANGES OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS ON HOW WE DO THIS.

I THINK TWO TERMS AGO WE HAD CPS -- WE SCHEDULED A SPECIAL SESSION OF COUNCIL EVERY MONTH ON ALTERNATING MONTHS WE HAD SAWS AND CPS. WE COULDN'T GET A QUORUM ANYMORE SO WE STOPPED DOING THAT. A LOT OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT A TRUST DEFICIT WITH CPS. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WE ARE STILL LIVING IN THE AFTERMATH OF URI WITH RESPECT TO WHAT DAMAGE THAT DID WITH TRUST.

I WOULD SAY CPS ENERGY IS WORKING OVERTIME TO RESTORE TRUST AND HAS MADE REMARKABLE

[01:00:02]

NOW THAT THAT WORK IS DONE, THAT COMMITTEE NO LONGER EXISTS.

HOWEVER, IF WE CAN'T FIND A GOOD CADENCE FOR YOU TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH DATA AND REPORTING OUTSIDE OF THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE WITH ME AND WITH BEN AND WITH CPS DIRECTLY, THEN WE CAN GO TO A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE.

I'M LISTENING TO YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW OFTEN YOU NEED TO SEE CPS HERE.

JUST MY REFLECTION S ON THE PROPOSAL. I AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A MEASURED APPROACH WHEN COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA PROPOSED IT LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW, I TOO AGREE WITH YOU, MELISSA, THAT I'M STRUGGLING HERE BECAUSE WE HEAR A LOT OF THEY/THEM ON CPS ENERGY.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT'S US. THAT'S OUR BUSINESS ASSET.

IT IS AN ENTERPRISE THAT WE OWN. AND IT'S NOT A FUND.

THEY DO PRODUCE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT AND WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE THREATS FROM AUSTIN. PART OF THAT, THOUGH, IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO FUNCTION. WHAT IS THE RISK IF THEY DON'T MAKE REVENUE? WE DON'T KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

AND NOTHING IN THE CITY HAPPENS UNLESS CPS ENERGY IS HEALTHY.

NOW WE CAN DEBATE ALL DAY LONG ABOUT HOW THEY USE THEIR MONEY Y DEBATE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE WITH THEM -- BUT THAT'S THE REALITY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FUNCTION WELL. IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR BUDGET AS THEY PRESENT IT EACH YEAR, THEY ARE IN A CAPITAL-INTENSIVE PROCESS. THE ORIGINAL RATE REQUEST THEY BROUGHT TO BEN WAS IN DOUBLE DIGITS AND IT WAS THE FIRST ONE THEY HAD BROUGHT BACK IN ALMOST A DECADE. AND THE RESPONSE FROM ALL OF US AT THAT TIME WAS WE CAN'T DO THAT TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS PANDEMIC.

AND SO WE NEED TO SEE A RATE INCREASE LOWER AND PROBABLY MORE FREQUENT.

AND SO THAT'S THE CADENCE THAT WE'RE ON. THERE IS NO SECRET THAT THEY'RE COMING BACK IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE THE RATE INCREASES HAVE BEEN REDUCED.

NOW, MITIGATING SOME OF THAT THROUGH THESE REVENUE-SHARING ARRANGEMENTS WITH EXCESS OFF- OR OUT OF MARKET SALES IS HELPFUL BECAUSE ALL THAT CAPITAL THAT HAS TO BE INVESTED BECAUSE PLANTS ARE BEING RETIRED AND SO MUCH GROWTH IS COMING IN, A LOT OF THOSE EXPENSES CAN BE TAKEN OFF IF WE CAN USE THAT CAPITAL TO PURCHASE THOSE THINGS.

CPS ENERGY IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET ITS DEMAND, WHICH IS WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ELECTRICITY. SO THAT'S THE CALCULATION THAT'S GOING ON HERE. I WILL TELL YOU EVERY BOARD MEETING AT CPS ENERGY, ALMOST AD NAUSEAM, GOES INTO CORE VALUES. IT IS RESILIENCY AND AFFORDABILITY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. WE WENT THROUGH A VERY INTENSE RATE DISCUSSION LAST TIME. CPS ENERGY STILL MAINTAINS THE MOST AFFORDABLE RATES IN TEXAS AND SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE IN THE COUNTRY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE A GENERATOR, NOT JUST A PURVEYOR OF ELECTRICITY LIKE SOME OF THE PRIVATES IN THE STATE. WE HAVE TO PRODUCE THAT ENERGY.

THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON WHY I THINK THIS POLICY IS SOUND. WITH RESPECT TO ASSURANCE, I HEAR YOU. I WILL JUST SAY THAT THE BULK OF THE WEATHERIZATION THAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IS THROUGH THE STEP PROGRAM.

WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS. SOME OF IT IS HAPPENING AT AACOG. SOME OF IT IS HAPPENING AT CPS.

SOME OF IT IS HAPPENING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CITY. I THINK THE STEP PROGRAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES AUGMENTED AND ON THE WAY BECAUSE OF THE NEW STEP PROGRAM. I AM CONCERNED, IF WE DO -- IF WE'RE NOT AWARE OF O ALL THAT, WE COULD DUPLICATE SERVICES. THIS IS OUR REVENUE AND WE WOULD AGREE TO SHARE WITH CPS ENERGY IF THERE'S SOMETHING OVER 10%.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE SHOULD LOOK FOR THOSE THINGS THAT CPS HAS TO INVEST IN THAT ARE PERTINENT TO US AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S PERFORMED BY THE CITY OR CPS ENERGY, THAT'S FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT EFFICIENCY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE MINUTES LEFT AND A FEW FOLKS THAT WANT TO CHIME BACK IN. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE AND THEN

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: SO I HEAR THAT THERE IS STILL SOME REBUILDING

[01:05:06]

AND WE GET THE COMPLAINTS THAT THEY DIDN'T GET INTO THE PROGRAM.

AND WE DO THE INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE THEIR HOUSE WAS TOO OLD.

AND WE GET THE CALLS WHEN CPS DOESN'T COME IN A TIMELY MANNER TO DO THE -- TO CUT DOWN THE TREES OR THEY DON'T TAKE THE TREES AFTER THEY CUT IT WHEN A LINE IS DOWN.

BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RELATIONSHIP AND WE'RE WORKING ON BUILDING THE TRUST.

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A LOT MORE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE DOING -- SETTING A POLICY THAT DOESN'T SET ASIDE FOR DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL -- AND REES FUND I SUPPORT.

BUT WE WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT COUNCIL. AND IF WE HAVE A FINANCIAL POLICY THAT WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND DISCUSS THIS AGAIN WITH A COUNCIL THAT DOESN'T LIKE THIS IDEA, I THINK THE CURRENT FINANCIAL POLICY WORKS FOR A COUNCIL THAT GETS ELECTED EVERY TWO YEARS. SO IF THINGS CHANGE IN NOVEMBER, WELL, THEN THEY CHANGE. BUT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE AT IS MY PLAN IS MY PLAN AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO COME EVERY YEAR AND HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION EVERY TIME.

BECAUSE WE SET UP A POLICY THAT A FUTURE COUNCIL MAY NOT LIKE.

THAT'S MY LAST COMMENTS THERE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MARC, ARE YOU SURE? WE SHOULD KEEP MOVING AND WE CAN GET ON TO THE LAST

SECTION. >> WHYTE: I WILL SAY IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO BE LOUD ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND THAT THE PURPOSE IS RATE MITIGATION.

BECAUSE TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TURNOVER ON THE COUNCIL, RIGHT? AND WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU GET NEW PEOPLE IN HERE -- AND THIS IS WHERE I SORT OF DISAGREE WITH JOHN. YOU KNOW, YOU GET NEW PEOPLE IN HERE AND IN THEIR FIRST YEAR THEY'RE ASKED TO LOOK AT THIS CPS RATE INCREASE.

AND THEY'VE GOT SO MUCH GOING ON AND IT'S ALL THIS DATA AND THEY GET IT THROWN AT THEM IN THE LAST MINUTE, RIGHT? AND THEN CITY STAFF'S COMING TO THEM AND, SURE, DOING THEIR BEST, RIGHT? BUT THEN THE PRESSURE IS ON, ESPECIALLY WITH NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS. HEY, HERE'S A RATE HIKE AND YOU GOT TO DO IT BECAUSE WE GOT TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT CPS. AND THEN FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND THEY JUST GO ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE POWERS THAT BE WANT.

I MEAN, IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE THIS MONEY BACK TO CPS. WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL, WHOEVER'S HERE WHEN THEY COME BACK TO ASK FOR THE NEXT RATE HIKE. IT'S GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON STAFF AND WHATEVER COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE STILL LEFT HERE, TO SAY, WAIT A MINUTE.

WE SPECIFICALLY TRIED TO PREVENT THIS OR MINIMIZE THIS WHEN WE GAVE THE MONEY TO CPS.

SO THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THAT AGAIN THAT I SEE. CPS CAN COME AT ANY TIME OF THEIR CHOOSING AND ASK FOR A RATE HIKE. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE POLITICAL WILL OF THIS COUNCIL TO SAY NO. AND I WAS REALLY PROUD THAT WE GOT THOSE FIVE VOTES AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. AND, FRANKLY, IT WAS A MIXTURE OF BEING PROUD AT THAT AND THEN DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WE FELL ONE SHORT.

BUT ERIK AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THAT VOTE ON, ALL RIGHT, THERE'S SOME MOMENTUM FOR THIS TO DO SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET TO OFFSET FUTURE RATE INCREASES. SO IT STARTED, I BELIEVE, WITH COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA'S PROPOSAL. THEN WE GAINED MOMENTUM WHEN WE GOT INTO THAT VOTE.

AND NOW WE'RE HERE TODAY. I LIKE IT. AGAIN, I'D LIKE US TO GO A STEP FURTHER WITH A HARD LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'LL TAKE WHAT

WE CAN GET. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: I THINK IT TAKES A LOT MORE COURAGE TO SAY YES. IT'S REAL EASY TO SAY, NO, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST THEM. OR WHO JUST DON'T LIKE RATE HIKES. IT TAKES A LOT MORE COURAGE TO SAY, YES, WE NEED THIS AND I

[01:10:01]

HOPEFULLY YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY AS YOU RUN FOR OFFICE SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. BUT ALSO YOU RELY ON THE CITY STAFF TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION THAT THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HAVE. AND I'VE RELIED ON THEM FOR YEARS AND I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE INFORMATION I GET.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRANSFERRING SOME MONEY THAT IS IN EXCESS OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATED. RIGHT NOW CPS IS MAKING $18.5 MILLION MORE IN REVENUE THAN WE HAD PROJECTED. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS FOR OUT OF SYSTEM SALES BUT LET'S SAY IT'S ALL FROM OUT OF SYSTEM SALES. SO THEN WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO SET $10 MILLION ASIDE. THAT LEAVES $8.5 MILLION. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE 80% TO CPS AND 20% TO SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO WE GIVE THEM 80% OF $8 MILLION, THAT'S $6.5 MILLION. A RATE HIKE BRINGS THEM 85 TO $90 MILLION A YEAR.

WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT MUCH MONEY IN 10 OR 12 YEARS TO MAKE UP FOR ONE YEAR OF RATE HIKE. ARE THEY GOING TO SAY RAISE OUR RATES BECAUSE WE'VE GOT $6.5 MILLION THEY GAVE US THIS YEAR? OR $10 MILLION OR $15 MILLION? NO. THEY'RE GOING TO BASE IT ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT WE DEMAND IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND SAY I'M FOR IT BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT THING.

AND BE ABLE TO JUSTIFY IT TO YOUR CUSTOMERS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. WE'RE ALREADY THROUGH OUR BREAK SO WE'RE NOT TAKING A BREAK. I'M GOING TO CUT THIS CONVERSATION AT 10:30, SO BE

AWARE OF THAT. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS.

BEN, IF WE ACCEPT THIS PROPOSAL, WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCES VIS-A-VIS THE RATING AGENCIES? HOW WOULD THEY PERCEIVE THIS? IS THIS ALSO PART OF A

STRATEGY TO HELP CPS AND US MAINTAIN A STRONG RATING? >> GORZELL: SO THE POLICY I HAVE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS THE ONE YOU ADOPTED WITH THE FY24 BUDGET.

I THINK THEY VIEW THIS POLICY POSITIVELY. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING -- AS I SHOWED YOU THOSE FLUCTUATIONS IN CPS REVENUE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, IN TERMS OF HOW WE MANAGE IT. THIS FORMALIZED IT.

THE PART THAT Y'ALL ARE HAVING A DISCUSSION ON IS THIS SECOND PIECE WHICH SAYS WHEN WE GET TO THE LAST BUCKET, KEEPING THE FIRST 10%, WHEN YOU GET TO THE LAST BUCKET LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS TODAY, WHERE WE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL AND GET YOUR INPUT AND COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. OR DO YOU WANT TO ALLOCATE IN THE POLICY NOW, WHAT DO I DO WITH THE DOLLARS THAT COME IN ABOVE 10%. THIS WAS ONE OPTION THAT WAS DISCUSSED SO, AGAIN, IT'S A POTENTIAL ADDITION TO THE POLICY THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE.

>> PELAEZ: WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION ON HOW FITCH AND MOODY'S AND S&P WILL PERCEIVE

WHAT WE'RE DEBATING TODAY? >> GORZELL: I THINK IT WILL BE VIEWED POSITIVELY FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THE BASE POLICY THAT'S IN PLACE LINES UP WITH THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE, ALL THE OTHER POLICIES WE HAVE IN PLACE WHERE THAT FIRST 10% ABOVE THE ADOPTED BUDGET IS STAYING WITHIN OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL THAT WERE COMING IN THAT HIGH. AND THAT WHEN THEY DO, WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE TO ADDRESS

THEM. >> PELAEZ: OKAY. BASED ON THE COMMENTS, I'LL TELL YOU IT OCCURS TO ME THAT FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL WE'VE UNDONE PLENTY OF THINGS THAT PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE PUT IN PLACE.

MAYOR, YOU WERE ON ANOTHER COUNCIL BEFORE I SERVED ON THIS ONE.

I'M SURE YOU UNDID PLENTY OF THINGS THAT PRIOR COUNCILS PUT INTO PLACE.

I THINK THAT WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A FUTURE COUNCIL WON'T LIKE WHAT WE DO TODAY, YOU KNOW, AND THEN USING THAT AS THE REASON FOR NOT DOING SOMETHING IS STRUMMING ON FALLACY AND IS SMALL BALL AND REALLY SHOULDN'T GO INTO CALCULATING HOW WE PROCEED TODAY. IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT WE DO TODAY, LET THEM CHANGE IT.

I DON'T LOSE SLEEP OVER WHAT A FUTURE COUNCIL MAY DO. I LOSE SLEEP OVER THE FACTS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER TODAY. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. THIS HAS HELPED ME A LOT.

[01:15:01]

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

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO WILL BE OUR FINAL SPEAKER. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M A BIT NAUSEATED BY THE DEBATE OF WHAT'S A TOUGHER DECISION. VOTING NO OR VOTING YES ON A CPS RATE INCREASE WHEN ULTIMATELY THE TOUGH DECISIONS ARE MADE AT THE KITCHEN TABLES OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO ARE HAVING TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF WHICH CREDIT CARD THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR CHILD'S DOCTOR BILL ON. THE TOUGH DECISIONS ARE MADE WHEN CONSTITUENTS ARE HAVING TO DETERMINE WHICH RECREATIONAL SPORT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TELL THEIR CHILD THEY CAN NO LONGER PARTICIPATE IN. WITH THAT, I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE MY SUPPORT FOR INCREASING THE 20% TO THE CITY'S REES FUND AND TO ALSO INCLUDE METRO HEALTH. ERIK, I WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP ON GETTING CPS TO PRESENT TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE WITH THEIR RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS.

IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON? >> WALSH: YES, MA'AM.

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

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO HAS SAVED US THREE MINUTES AND WE'RE GOING TO GET ON TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

>> ELLIOTT: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS TROY ELLIOTT.

I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. AS ERIK TALKED ABOUT, AS WE WERE INTRODUCING THE SESSION THIS MORNING, I'LL BE GIVING YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PROPERTY TAX. AS ERIK ALSO MENTIONED, I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS TIMELY. MANY OF YOU GOT YOUR NOTICES IN THE MAIL.

BEXAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT STARTED MAILING THOSE APRIL 7 SO A LOT OF YOU MAY BE SEEING THOSE AND WONDERING WHAT'S HAPPENING CITYWIDE. THIS MORNING WHEN JUSTINA KICKED OFF THE SESSION SHE WENT THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND THERE ARE TWO FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO PROPERTY TAXES. THE FIRST IS TO ANNUALLY REVIEW THE IMPACT OF OUR STATE-IMPOSED 3.5% PROPERTY TAX ON SERVICE DELIVERY AND A RECOMMENDATION ON WHETHER TO ADJUST THE PROPERTY TAX RATE. WE WON'T BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TODAY. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM BCAD.

WE'RE STARTING THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE -- BUILDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET, STAFF WILL BE COMING BACK MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE. I WILL GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHERE I THINK IT'S GOING AS I WALK THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. THE SECOND ITEM THE ANNUALLY REVIEWING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WITH A FOCUS ON HOMEOWNERS. THIS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AS COUNCIL HAS APPROVED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. THAT COMES IN TERMS OF OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. WE KIND OF -- CITY COUNCIL DIPPED THEIR TOE INTO THE WATER IN 2020 WITH THE ADOPTION OF AN INITIAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF .01%.

THAT EQUATED TO A MINIMUM OF $5,000 EXEMPTION. IN 2023 COUNCIL TOOK THE ACTION OF APPROVING THAT TO 10%. IN 2024, HITTING THE MAXIMUM UNDER STATE STATUTE OF 20%. WE ALSO HAVE OUR OVER 65 EXEMPTION.

THAT WAS AN INCREASE FROM $65,000 TO $85,000. AND OUR DISABLED PERSONS EXEMPTION UP TO $85,000 FROM $12,000. ONCE A PERSON TURNS 65 OR YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A DISABLED PERSONS EXEMPTION, THERE'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT IN TERMS OF A TAX FREEZE THAT ESTABLISHES A CEILING. FOR OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, ONCE YOU TURN 65 YOUR TAX BILL IS FROZEN AND IT WILL NOT INCREASE UNLESS YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT'S NOT SHOWN HERE IS FOR 2025 IS THE ACTION THAT COUNCIL JUST TOOK APPROVING THE CHILDCARE FACILITY. NEXT YEAR I'LL BE SHARING WITH YOU THE RESULTS OF THAT. WHAT DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF? THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, OUR OVER AGE 65, DISABLED PERSONS, AND OUR TAX FREEZE EQUATES TO $137.5 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF OR FOREGONE REVENUE TO THE CITY. THE MAJORITY OF THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS IS A RESULT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WHICH EQUATES TO $75 MILLION.

NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU SEE THIS SLIDE YOU SHOULD BE SEEING THE RESULTS OF THE CHILDCARE FACILITY AND WHAT THAT HAS GENERATED IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AS WELL.AS FAR AS ST.

I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S IN PLACE TODAY AND SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY IN THE LEGISLATURE. WE'VE SEEN THESE IN THE PAST, AND THE FIRST ONE WILL BE KIND OF THE TOP OF THE CONVERSATIONS AS YOU SEE THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES.

SO ALL HOMESTEADS IN TEXAS ARE LIMITED TO A 10% APPRAISAL VALUE INCREASE PER YEAR.

THIS APPRAISAL CAP ENSURES THAT HOMESTEADS HAVE A CAP IN PLACE WHEN MARKET VALUES SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE. SO OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE SEEN DRASTIC INCREASES, AND THIS ACTS AS A CIRCUIT BREAKER AND BASICALLY STOPS THAT GROWTH. IT DOESN'T STOP THE GROWTH ENTIRELY, IT CAPS IT AT 10%. ANY GROWTH ABOVE THE 10% IS BASICALLY RESERVED AND ROLLS

[01:20:04]

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THIS IN ONE OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES. IN 2019, THE STATE APPROVED SENATE BILL 2. THIS REDUCES OUR PROPERTY TAX ROLL BACK RATE FROM 8% TO 3.5, BASICALLY CAPPING OUR GROWTH AT TAX RATE OF 3.5% OF THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION SIDE OF THE TAX. THIS CAP APLOYS TO FACE VALUE ONLY, NOT NEW IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE ON TO THE ROLL AT THE FEW VALUE AND WILL BE CAPPED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS AT 3.5%. WE, AS A CITY AND AS A COUNCIL, CAN'T GO ABOVE THE 3.5% REVENUE CAP WITHOUT TRIGGERING AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION. WE DO HAVE UNUSED INCREMENT UNDER THE SB2. THE UNUSED INCREMENT IS IN ANY EVENT WE ADOPT A TAX RATE THAT'S BELOW THE 3.5% CAP, THAT INCREMENT CAN BE BANKED FOR A PERIOD OF 3 YEARS AND USED IN FUTURE YEARS, AND COUNCIL ELECTED TO DO THAT FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

THAT UNUSED INCREMENT CAN BE BANKED FOR THREE YEARS, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE ONE YEAR OF UNUSED INCREMENT, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT'LL ROLL OFF AND WILL EX EXPIRE. AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD JUST TO HAVE A REFRESHER, I MYSELF GET CONFUSED SOMETIMES ON WHAT THE TERMINOLOGY IS WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, BUT THE MARKET IS THE APPRAISED VALUE, WHAT YOUR HOME OR OUR HOMES WOULD SELL FOR TODAY. THIS IS ALSO THE BASE THAT THE LOCAL HOMESTEAD EXCEPTION IS APPLIED FOR AND WHAT THE VALUE IS.

ASSESSED VALUE EQUALS MARKET VALUE, AND THAT IS THE VALUE THAT'S CAPPED AT 10%, AND THEN TAXABLE VALUE EQUALS THE ASS ASSESSED VALUE MINUS THE EXCEPT. FOR THE NEXT SLIDES I'M WORKING WITH THE BEAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU WHERE MARKET GROWTH IS GOING, AND SOME OF THIS IS INTUITIVE AS WE'VE SEEN INTEREST RATES INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, IT'S HAD AN INCREASE ON OUR VALUE, SPECIFICALLY ON SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL VALUES.

SO BASED ON INFORMATION TODAY AND BASED ON ESTIMATES OF WHAT WE THINK LITIGATED ACCOUNTS AND APPEALS WILL BE, THIS IS WHERE WE THINK MARKET VALUE GROWTH WILL END UP FOR 2025, '23 AND '24 ARE ON POINT FROM THE ESTIMATES. BUT AS A WHOLE.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAD A MARKET VALUE INCREASE OF 17.5%, AND THAT'S NOW COME DOWN TO 6.2%. FOCUSING ON SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AND THIS IS WHERE THAT 10% APPRAISAL CAP REALLY COMES INTO PLAY. IN 2023 WE SAW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HAD A MARKET VALUE INCREASE OF 22.6%. AT 10% CAP COMES IN, IT CAPS THE VALUE, AND THEN ANY VALUE ABOVE THAT 10% AND THAT 22.6, IT ROLLS FORWARD TO FUTURE YEARS AND SMOOTHS OUT THAT VALUE INCREASE IN THAT CURRENT YEAR. BY CONTRAST, BASED ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WE'VE SEEN SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GROW TO ABOUT 2.6%, WHICH IS INTUITIVE IF YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS AND SEEING HOUSING SALES THAT'S BEEN TEMPERED SOMEWHAT OVER THE PAST YEAR TO SEVERAL MONTHS. AND THEN WE ALSO SEE WHERE MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IS ENDING UP COMPARATIVELY FOR '23 TO '25.

IN CONTRAST, LOOKING AT MARKET VALUE, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE ESTIMATING OUR CURRENT TAXABLE VALUE GROWTH, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT COUNTER INTUITIVE BASED ON APPRAISAL CAP.

SO AS A CITY, TAXABLE VALUES, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TAXED ON AFTER EXCEPTIONS FOR SAN ANTONIO AS A TOTAL IS 8.5% IN 2023, TO 7.4% FOR 2025. THAT IS SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN THE MARKET VALUE GROWTH I SHOWED YOU ON THIS SLIDE. AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE THE SAME PHENOMENON ON THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, AND A LOT OF THIS IS INFLUENCED BY THE ACTIONS THAT COUNCIL TOOK IN PUTTING EXCEPTIONS IN THE TAX RATE IN PLACE.

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HAS BEEN 4.8% IN 23, 2.2% IN 24, AND THEN TODAY WE'RE AT 6.6%.

AND THAT 6% GROWTH, IT'S HIGHER THAN THE 2% MARKET VALUE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THAT APPRAISAL CAP GENERATING THAT ADDITIONAL TAXABLE VALUE THAT'S ROLLED FORWARD FROM THE PRIOR YEAR IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, IT'S MADE UP OF TWO DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, OUR MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS TAX RATE THAT SUPPORTS OUR GENERAL FUND AND THEN OUR DEBT SERVICE TAX RATES THAT SUPPORTS OUR DEBT SERVICE PLAN FOR TOTAL TAX RATE.

BASED ON SENATE BILL 2, YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF THE TAX RATE ON THE MNO SIDE FROM ABOUT 35 CENTS IN 2022 FOR $100 OF EVALUATION, TO 23 CENTS, AND IN 24, THEY ADOPTED THE UNUSED

[01:25:06]

SOME ARE TO OUR RESIDENTIAL CAP. THERE'S ONE THAT'S BEING TESTED AS A PILOT PROGRAM ON OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, NONHOMESTEAD REAL PROPERTY. SO ANY NONHOMESTEAD RURAL PROPERTY VALUED AT $5 MILLION OR LESS TO -- LESS WOULD BE A 20% APPRAISAL CAP WOULD BE APPLIED, SOME TO OUR RESIDENTIAL. AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

THE STATE WILL MONITOR THIS PROGRAM AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS OR A DECISION TO CONTINUE THIS.

AND AS WE MOVE THROUGH AND GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM BCAD, I CAN SHOW YOU THE IMPACT ON WHAT THAT HAS ON VALUES TODAY SECOND ONE, YOU'RE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE ACTION COUNCIL TOOK, NEW LEGISLATION AS WELL BUT YOU'RE ALREADY AWARE. THE NEXT ITEM TALKS ABOUT SENATE BILL 1999 WAS NEW LEGISLATION THAT CHANGED THE CALCULATION OF OUR UNUSED TAX INCREMENTS I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO. SO UNDER THE PRIOR LEGISLATION, THAT UNUSED INCREMENT WAS CALCULATED AS A RATE BASED ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADOPTED TAX RATE AND THE RATE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACE AT THE 3.5% CAP. AS I MENTIONED, THAT CARRIES TOWARDS AND BANKS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. WE'VE USED A PORTION OF THAT TAX INCREMENT ALREADY AND THERE'S .5 CENTS REMAINING UNDER THE OLD LEGISLATION.

THE NEW LEGISLATION CHANGES THAT FROM A RATE TO A VALUE. SO THE TAX VALUE THAT WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME THE UNUSED INCREMENT WAS IDENTIFIED, WHICH IS $5.5 MILLION IS NOW AVAILABLE UNDER THE REVISED LEGISLATION. SO THERE IS A TAX INCREMENT THAT'S STILL AVAILABLE FOR CONSIDERATION, A $5.5 MILLION, THIS'LL BE THE LAST YEAR THAT THAT TAX INCREMENT IS AVAILABLE, AND IT'LL ROLL OFF AFTER THIS YEAR. AS FAR AS A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER, APRIL 1, NOTICES WERE PLANNED TO GO OUT. THEY WENT OUT ON APRIL 11.

ON MAY 1, THE DEADLINE TO FILE PROTESTS. RECEIVE OUR CERTIFIED ROLE ON JULY 25. SEPTEMBER 19, CITY ADOPTS THE TAX RATE, AND THEN NEW TAXES ARE MAILED. AS FAR AS AMENTIONED A TAX RATE, I DON'T HAVE A SOLID RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TODAY BUT YOU LOOK AT THE TAXABLE VALUES, AND THEN THE TAXABLE VALUES HOW THEY INCREASE, CERTAINLY THEY'LL BE ABOVE THE CAP. IMAGINE THE TAX RATE WILL BE REDUCED BASED ON THE INFORMATION TODAY, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM BCAD OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR MODELING AND COME BACK WITH A MORE FORMAL RECOMMENDATION ON WHERE WE THINK IT'LL LAND BASED ON SENATE BILL 2 ALSO FOR CONSIDERATION. THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF INCREMENT AVAILABLE AS WE MOVE INTO OUR 2025 BUDGET. MAYOR, THAT CONCLUSION MY PRESENTATION, I'M HAPPY TO

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> CAN I ADD ONE THING? THAT $5.5 MILLION OF UNUSED INCREMENT, WE DID NOT ASSUME THAT IN YESTERDAY'S FORECAST, SO NOT ASSUMED IN

ANY NUMBERS AT THIS POINT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ARPA AND OUR 25 MAYOR CITIES EFFORTS STARTING AT ABOUT 11:00, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND, BUT ANYBODY HAVE COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FOR TROY ON THE PRELIMINARY

TAX INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, TROY.

SO REALLY QUICK, ERIC, WHERE IS THAT $5.5 MILLION? >> WALSH: PULL UP THAT SLIDE,

REAL QUICK, TROY. SO UNDER SB2. >> TALK ABOUT THIS ONE.

>> WALSH: THE UNUSED INCREMENT. THAT THE -- THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.

SO THERE'S -- AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT.

THE UNUSED INCREMENT IS SOMETHING UNDER SB2, MUNICIPALITIES CAN HOLD AND RESERVE BECAUSE THEY ARE VALUES THAT EXISTED ABOVE THE CAP, AND OVER MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES CAN REACH BACK AND GET THE INCREMENT GOING FORWARD. THEY ONLY REACH BACK THREE YEARS.

IT'S NEW IN A SENSE IT WAS AIMPROVED IN 2019 BY THE LEGISLATURE, WE'VE

[01:30:02]

WE'VE NOT MADE THAT ASSUMPTION. AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T ASSUME THAT THE COUNCIL HAD A CONVERSATION AND DECIDED TO WEIGH IN ON THAT $13.8 MILLION.

SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME FEEDBACK AND GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNCIL THIS MORNING.

>> YEAH. I MEAN I WOULD -- BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO PUT IT INTO THE BUDGET FOR DISCUSSION, THEN IT WOULD JUST BE SITTING

THERE; RIGHT., ESSENTIALLY. >> WALSH: IT WOULD, AND THEN EVENTUALLY IT WOULD EXPIRE AND GO AWAY BECAUSE IT ONLY LIVES FOR THREE YEARS; RIGHT?

>> ELLIOT: YEAH. THE UNUSED INCREMENT ONLY LIVES THREE YEAR, AND THIS IS THE LAST YEAR, SO IF WE DON'T USE IT FOR 2025, IT EXPIRES

AND IT'S NOT AVAILABLE. >> OKAY, WELL I HAVE PRIORITIES WE INCLUDE IT

ON SO I PUSH WE INCLUDE IT IN THE BUDGED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> THANK YOU, TROY, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. ONE THING WE NEED TO DO IS DISTRICT 3 CONTINUES TO GROW, WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMES THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE RENTING OR LEASING, BUT ALSO SOME HOMEOWNERS, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE, ERIC, THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO PROGRAMS THAT LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, AND OF COURSE I AM ALSO -- I HAVE ALSO A LIST OF PROJECTS, SO I THINK WE SHOULD USE THE $5.5 MILLION THIS YEAR. I MEAN, WE KIND OF HAVE TO. SO THANK YOU.

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

>> COURAGE: YEAH. I WANT TO CLARIFY THE $5.5 MILLION.

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? HOW DO WE GET IT? >> ELLIOT: AS WE DEVELOP THE 2025 BUDGET, WE'LL COME FORWARD TO YOU WITH THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE TAX RATE.

>> COURAGE: SO YOU'D RAISE THE TAX RATES. >> ELLIOT: IT WOULD BE ABOVE THE

CURRENT TAX RATE. >> COURAGE: THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO HEAR.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

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

THANK YOU, TROY. WHAT BRINGS TO MIND IS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY VACANT LOTS OR STRUCTURES WITH BACK TAXES BECAUSE THERE'S NO CLEAR TITLE. AND I SEE IT NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE INACTIVE, AND OFTENTIMES, YOU KNOW, MANY PROPERTIES DON'T HAVE A CLEAR TITLE, AND HOW DO WE CLEAR THAT TITLE SO WE'RE ABLE TO COLLECT TAXES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE GENERAL FUND. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,

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

YOU'VE HEARD ME BRING UP TITLE CLEARANCE BEFORE AS WELL.

SO MORE ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, BUT ABSOLUTELY THIS IS A TAX ISSUE AS WELL. SO I WOULD ECHO THOSE COMMENTS.

ANY FURTHER QUESTION BEFORE WE GO ON TO ARPA AND FY25 MAYOR INITIATIVES? OKAY. ERIC, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT SESSION.

I REALIZE -- AND I DON'T WANT TO JINX THIS, WE'RE 15 MINUTES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, SO WE'LL USE THAT ON THE DISCUSSION, NO DOUBT, BUT WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE

PRESENTATION. >> I CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THE PRESENTATION JUST TO KEEP US ON SCHEDULE. SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE ARPA FUNDS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO COVID.

ON THE -- FROM THE ARPA ACT, WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $565.6 MILLION THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, WE WERE ABLE TO INVEST IN MANY IMPORTANT NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING HOUSING SECURITY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ASSISTANCE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, ALAMO DOMES, SMALL BUSINESS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOUTH AND SENIORS, ARDS, AND NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICES.

WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE THAT WE'VE SPENT SO FAR CLOSE TO $380 MILLION, AND WE HAVE ABOUT $186 MILLION TO GO. THIS JUST PRESENTS A

[01:35:02]

SO OVERALL FOR ALL THE ARPA FUNDS, WE HAVE SPENT 67%, AND WE ESTIMATE TO SPEND IN 2025 ABOUT $94 MILLION, AND WE ANTICIPATE TO BE DONE WITH THE FUNDS BY 2027.

IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS, AND THESE ARE FUNDS THAT, YOU MAY RECALL, WERE SPECIFICALLY GIVEN TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP US ADDRESS IMMEDIATE ISSUES, AND THEY WERE GIVEN TO MUNICIPALITIES SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS LOST REVENUES IN OUR ENTIRE BUDGET. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECEIVED CLOSE TO $327 MILLION IN TWO PHASES, AND WE WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL, AND COUNCIL GAVE US DIRECTION OF AREAS WHERE TO SPEND IT.

WE ALSO WORK WITH MANY OF YOUR COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEES TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE A FRAMEWORK ON HOW TO USE THOSE DOLLARS AND THEN PUT THEM INTO PRODUCTION.

MOST OF THE DOLLARS WERE PUT INTO PRODUCTION THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESSES, AND THOSE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN AWARDED, AND THEY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.

SO HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE SPENT 64% OF THE FUNDS, AND WE WILL BE -- WE'RE ON TARGET TO BE FULLY SPENT BY 2026. NOW, IN 2025, NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE'LL STILL HAVE ABOUT $66 MILLION THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO PRODUCTION, AND THAT'LL GO -- IT GOES ALONG WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET.

NOW, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS THAT WE HAVE TO COMMIT ALL THE DOLLARS BY DECEMBER 2024 AND FULLY SPEND BY DECEMBER 2026. SO WE HAVE COMMITTED ALL OF OUR DOLLARS. YOU MAY RECALL WHEN WE DID THE 3 PLUS 9, WE PROVIDED A REPORT AND INDICATED THAT WE WERE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE AGENCIES THAT WE CONTRACTED WITH, THEY WERE SPENDING THEIR DOLLARS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE CONTRACTS. OUR DEPARTMENTS, METRO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM IN THEIR OWN TRACK, AND WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY RISK AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT MONITORING. AND NOT ONLY ON THOSE CONTRACTS, BUT ALL THE OTHER CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE UNDER THE ARPA. SO WE ANTICIPATE TO COME TO YOU AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND ANY AREAS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REALLOCATE FUNDS, WE WOULD USE THE BUDGET PROCESS TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING THE DOLLARS, AGAIN, FULLY COMMITTED BY DECEMBER 2024.

SO WE REPORT TO THE U.S. TREASURY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. WE HAVE A WEBSITE ON THE -- A PAGE THAT HAS ALL THE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE TREASURY, OUR NEXT REPORT IS DUE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, ON APRIL 30TH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT IS DUE ON THE 31ST, SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS IS A SCREENSHOT OF OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WEBSITE THAT HAS ALL THE REPORTS, AND WE ALSO HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT WAS CREATED AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHOW THE COMMUNITY HOW WE'RE INVESTING THE DOLLARS AND ALSO THE PERFORMANCE METRICS AND THE OUTCOMES THAT WE ARE REACHING WITH THOSE DOLLARS.

SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER.

>> WALSH: LET ME JUST SAY THAT -- LET ME JUST SAY ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO MAKE THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION, HER AND HER ENTIRE TEAM DO A FANTASTIC JOB IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND CONTRACTS AND OVERSEEING A HUGELY COMPLEX GRANT PROGRAM, AND SHE WOULDN'T SAY IT IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING THE RULES, AND GWEN AND HER TEAM DO A FANTASTIC JOB. SO GREAT JOB, GWEN, YOU CAN PRESENT NEXT TIME. THE LAST THING -- AND THE MAJOR EFFORTS ARE -- NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT ON THE RADAR SCREEN, ESPECIALLY AS YOU GET INTO THE MEAT OF THE CONVERSATION OF THE DAY. AND THEY ARE -- SO THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING, BUT THERE ARE THINGS, AS I WAS SITTING THROUGH

[01:40:01]

SOME PART OF THE BUDGET, SOME MAY NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE '25 BUDGET, BUT POSSIBLY THE '26 BUDGET, AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT LIST WITH THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY'RE THE THINGS THAT FROM STAFF PERSPECTIVE OF WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS.

THE FIRST IS THE ONGOING AIRPORT TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

THE SECOND ONE, THE CONTINUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOND PROGRAM. LAST WEEK AT COUNCIL WE TALKED ABOUT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, A LOT OF THAT WILL START HITTING THE ROAD, SO TO SPEAK, IN FISCAL YEAR '24. TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CCR THAT WAS SUBMITTED EARLIER IN THE YEAR STANDS TO BE A MAJOR EFFORT FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE BUT ALSO FROM YA'LL'S PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE POLICIES THAT'LL BE NEEDED, AND AS THAT WINDS THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS, AND I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF YOU KREBS ABOUT COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THIS. IT'S ALMOST -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS IN A BAD WAY, IT'S ALMOST TOO W BIG FOR A COMMISSION, AND I'VE ENVISIONED REGULAR UPDATES WITH THE FULL CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF IMPACTING SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS WE DO, AND IT'S CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VIA'S PLAN, SO MAKING SURE WE'RE ALIGNED IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR EFFORT NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. NUMBER 4, POLICE STAFFING, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT YESTERDAY, BUT IT WAS IN THE FORECAST, WE DO HAVE THAT PLANNED TO INCREASE STAFFING TO GET TO A 60% PROACTIVE TIME. THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AND I EXPECT WILL BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE FORECAST YESTERDAY ON -- IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO IMPROVING MEDICAL RESPONSE CAPABILITY.

NUMBER 6, CONTINUATION OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IMPROVEMENTS.

I KNOW THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HAD -- GOT AN UPDATE THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF THE BIG AREAS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR LIVE RELEASE IS UP, BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY I THINK AS THE COUNCIL TALKED LAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF -- THE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE UP.

BUT UNDOUBTEDLY, THERE'S MORE TO DO, AND THAT WAS ALSO AN ELEMENT OF THE FORECAST YESTERDAY. NUMBER 7, NOT NECESSARILY A BUDGET-RELATED ISSUE, BUT SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR EFFORT FOR US IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE SA TOMORROW PLAN. YOU GOT THAT BRIEFING SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PLANS THAT'LL BE COMING THROUGH TO COUNCIL AND THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THOSE REALIZE THE AMOUNT OF WORK. IT IS ALSO HOW WE MANAGE GROWTH OR MANAGE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THOSE PLANS.

NUMBER 8. THESE ARE TWO ITEMS. THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY -- THEY'RE RELATED, BUT THEY COULD BE SEPARATE ITEMS. BUT AS IT RELATES TO THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD LAST WEEK IN THE BRIEFING, CONTINUATION OF HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION AND THE SHIP PLAN, AND ALSO HOMELESSNESS, BOTH FROM A SPECTRUM STANDPOINT AND ENSURING THAT WE'VE GOT PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, WHETHER IT'S LOWBURY OR PERMANENT HOUSING OR ENCAMPMENTS AND RESPONSIVENESS.

NUMBER 9, DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE -- YOU WERE ALSO BRIEFED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO ABOUT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH CENTROE THAT WORK WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN 2025, AND WE'LL UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'LL NEED TO GO THROUGH. WE ALSO HAVE THE FEASIBILITY THAT'S UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND FEASIBILITY OF THE ALAMO DOME, SO THAT'LL UNDOUBTEDLY BE PART OF NEXT YEAR'S WORK EFFORT. WITH THE COMPLIANCE STRATEGIC PLAN, CCR, THAT'S IN PROGRESS, I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT BEING NECESSARILY A FISCAL 2025 ISSUE, BUT IN TERMS OF A TWO YEAR BUBBLE, WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE IN TERMS OF COCOMPLIANCE AND HOW DO WE PLAN FOR THAT. COMPLETING ON TIME THE ARPA SPENDING AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. BECAUSE AS MARÍA MENTIONED, WE'RE CLOSELY WATCHING WHAT WE HAVE TO SPEND AND WHEN WE HAVE TO SPEND IT AND WORKING WITH CONTRACTING AGENCIES AND ALSO MONEY THAT WE'VE GOT PROGRAMMED, THAT'LL CONTINUE TO BE A REGULAR UPDATE WITH THE COUNCIL. IF WE START TO SEE AREAS

[01:45:06]

AND THEN LASTLY, SOMETHING THAT I WILL CALL CRITICAL REPLACEMENT OF CITY FACILITIES, AND WE SET ASIDE MONEY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF KENWOOD. KENWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER, DISTRICT 1, HAD STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND WE HAD TO CLOSE IT DOWN. WE ALSO HAVE A FACILITY IN DISTRICT 3, THE FATHER RAMONE COMMUNITY CENTER -- I'M SORRY.

PARKS AND REQ CENTER, BOTH FACILITIES ARE BEYOND REPAIR.

AS WE GO THROUGH THE SUMMER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE TWO FACILITIES, IN MY MIND, HAS TO BE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE -- WILL BE PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE SHUTTERED BUILDINGS IN NEIGHBORHOODS UNTIL THE 2027 BOND PROGRAM, AND IT GOES TO THE FACT THAT -- AND I KNOW SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD BE AWARE OF THIS, THERE'S BEEN A POINT IN HISTORY WHERE WE'VE NOT MAINTAINED OUR FACILITIES, ALL FACILITIES, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO A BETTER JOB, BUT THESE ARE TWO CLASSIC EXAMPLES OF HEAVILY USED FACILITIES WHERE THE CITY HASN'T MAINTAINED THEM, THEY'RE BEYOND REPAIR AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.

SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, IT WAS REALLY JUST KIND OF A LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD, AND GOOD FATTER TO BEGIN THE COUNCIL CONVERSATION.

I'M SURE THERE'LL BE OTHER ISSUES. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, ERIC, AND THAT'S A GOOD START TO THE CONVERSATION.

LET'S GET INTO IT. MICMCKEE RODRIGUEZ. >> RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.

I THINK ACS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME SINCE MY FIRST GOAL SETTING SESSION, AND IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO SEE COUNCIL BECOME MORE AND MORE FRIENDLY TO SUPPORTING ACS IN THE WAY THEY NEED TO.

I THINK SOMETHING THAT'S A KEY PRIORITY FOR ME AND I'M SURE FOR MY COUNTER PARTS ON THE WEST SIDE IS GETTING THE EAST AND WEST SIDE SPAY AND NEUTER HUBS UP BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. I'D LIKE FOR US TO HIRE MORE STAFF OR PROMOTE THOSE WHO CAN. TRAIN ACOS AND THEN ADD MORE ANIMAL CARE OFFICERS, IF THERE'S ANYWHERE THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING THING TO HEAR AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MEAN MEETING AT ANY SHIFT THERE'S BETWEEN 6 TO 10 CARE OFFICERS, AND THAT'S LESS THAN THE COUNCILMEMBERS. THAT'S ABSURD.

I WANT -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A STAFFING ANALYSIS DONE, AND IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A RELUCTANCE TO DO THAT AND IT'LL SHOW WHAT WE KNOW AND THAT'S THAT THEY'RE UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERSTAFFED, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW BADLY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IT'S BEEN HIGH PRIORITY FOR CON STITCH WANSY. IT'S NECESSARY AND PERTINENT THAT WE COMPLETE THAT ANALYSIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH WILL MEAN WE'LL NEED MORE VEHICLES IN THE LIKE. THIS ONE IS MORE OF AN HR CONVERSATION, AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ABOUT HEALTHCARE RECENTLY ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FUND AND THE ATTACKS ON IVF IN VARIOUS STATES LIKE OURS, AND I REALIZE THAT OUR CITY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COULD BE MORE BENEFIT BY COVERING THOSE SUR GASSY RELATED EXPENSES. AND EXPAND PARENTAL LEAD TO 8 WEEKS, WITH GOAL TO GET TO 12 WEEKS AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR, SO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARENTING AND FAMILY PLANNING, I THINK, HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES I REPRESENT. ON AN ISSUE OF -- AND I KNOW I'M BOUNCING FROM UNRELATED TOPIC TO UNRELATED TOPIC. HUMAN SERVICES.

I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT I'D LIKE TO ADD NAVIGATORS WITHIN THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM. IT'S BEEN EXPRESSED TO ME THEY CAN'T BE ALL THINGS FOR ALL PEOPLE AND THEY NEED TO HAVE A TEAM THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE EXPRESSES THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SHELTERED, THEY WANT TO BE HOUSED, THEY COULD BE REFERRED TO SOMEONE WITHIN THE TEAM WHO COULD HELP GET THEM THAT. THAT'S NOT -- THE CAPACITY IS NOT THERE RIGHT NOW WITH OUR OUTREACH TEAM.

FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THIS IS ANOTHER HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME.

I'D LIKE TO SEE INCREASE FROM CI P FROM $1 MILLION, TO 2 TOWN 2 MILLION. AND FOR NAP. 450,000.

TO 550,000. AND I KNOW I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.

WE DON'T WANT TO DIVVY UP THE BUDGET TOO EQUALLY. I AGREE WITH LARGE PORTIONS OF OUR BUDGET. I THINK THIS IS AN

[01:50:01]

I'D LIKE TO SEE -- THIS MAY BE MY LAST MAYOR ASK.

SUPPORT TO EXPAND TEEN COURT PROGRAM. I DIDN'T GET THE SUPPORT I NEEDED FROM MY COLLEAGUES LAST YEAR, BUT IT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO ME AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COURT EXPANDED. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT, YOU KNOW, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WILL BE PRIORITIZING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ECHOING SOME SENTIMENTS AFTER THAT.

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

RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU MARIE.

ERIC, MARÍA, AND ALL MEMBERS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS, YOU COULD BE DOING ACTUAL WORK, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, ENSURING EQUITY IS PARA MOUNT, OUR CITY HAS A DEEP-ROOTED HISTORY WITH SIGNIFICANT SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES. I'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE. THEY'VE LEFT DISTRICT BEHIND, AND NOW THAT THEY SEE THAT THESE DISTRICTS HAS -- WITH THE EQUITY LENS THAT MAYOR HELPED CHAMPION AS A COUNCILMEMBER AND THEN MAYOR, WE'VE SEEN THAT SOME AREAS OF TOWN THAT WEREN'T DESIRABLE ARE MORE DESIRABLE, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE MOVING IN THAT DO GET THE COMMUNITY AND ARE MOVING IN AND ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO KIND OF CHANGE IT AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE ANYWHERE USA.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE FACE. SO A LOT OF MY PRIORITIES ARE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE COMMUNITY.

AND THANK YOU, ERIC FOR YOUR LIST BECAUSE I MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN A FEW. BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH SOME THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHICH WAS THE ARPA SPENDING. THANK YOU, MARÍA, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET, AND I KNOW WE'VE ASKED FOR, IS WHERE THE COUNTY IS ON THEIR SPENDING AND IF THEY HAVE COMMITTED DOLLARS BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE COMMITTED DOLLARS TO SOME PROJECTS THAT THE EXPECTATION WAS THE COUNTY COMMITTED DOLLARS, AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS THAT WE HAVE THIS MONEY LEFT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THIS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO IF WE COULD GET AN UPDATE ON THAT. THE OTHERS YOU MENTIONED, DOWNTOWN, AND THAT'S RATHER TIMELY BECAUSE DOWNTOWN, WE LOOK AT IT AND WE ALWAYS SAY THIS BELONGS TO THE CITY, BUT RECENTLY, WE'VE HAD SOME THINGS GO THROUGH ZONING THAT HAVE COME UP THAT HAVEN'T GONE TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND AS A DESCENDENT OF THE ALAMO AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY DOWNTOWN BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE CITY IN THESE PROBABIPROJECTS, WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT UPDATING COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE AN INTEREST OF WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN.

THE NEXT -- I WANT TO WORK -- I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ THAT WE NEED TO -- IN TERMS OF THE HR, LOOK AT HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR STAFF AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WE COULD EXPAND, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH. THE OTHER I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WE WORK ON THOSE LIVING WITH MOBILITY ISSUES, THOSE LIVING WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENTS, AND HOW WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THEM AND HOW OUR HIRING PRACTICE IS GOING TOWARDS THAT BECAUSE I GET INFORMATION FROM MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR HEARING ISSUES OR ARE DEAF, AND THEY CAN STILL WORK, AND WE NEED TO SEE HOW WE, AS A CITY, CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THE OTHER THING IS I THINK WE DO NEED TO WORK MORE WITH THE UNION ABOUT HOW OUR CITY EMPLOYEES CAN UNDERSTAND MORE WHAT THEY DO AND GET INVOLVED AND ALSO BE PART -- ESPECIALLY IF WE SEE THE CHARTER CHANGES THAT I HOPE WE SEE -- THAT THEY COULD BE PART OF THE PROGRESS AND PARTICIPATION POLITICALLY WITH CITY COUNCIL OFFICES. SO THAT'S MY HR PRIORITY.

ACS, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE SOME GOOD PILOT PROGRAMS COMING, BUT I THINK WE STILL NEED TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM, AND WE CONTINUALLY NEED TO TALK TO PEOPLE THAT WHEN YOU ADOPT A PET, IT IS FROM -- IT COULD BE FROM WHEN YOU TAKE IT HOME TO ITS PASSING, AND HOW DO WE PREPARE PEOPLE FOR THAT.

THE OTHER IS MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE PUT ONLINE THESE HOSPITALS AND NEW

[01:55:05]

WE HAD THE SUBSTATION. SO THAT'S ONE. NEW FIRE STATIONS COMING ON BOARD. EMS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE EQUIPPED WITH WHAT THEY NEED, AND THEN OF COURSE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION, GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. I KNOW SOMETIMES WE GET THE MENTALITY THAT THIS MAY NOT HELP BECAUSE I STILL GET THE REPORTS FROM NEIGHBORS THAT THEY HEAR GUNSHOTS, BUT I THINK ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO TAKE GUNS OFF THE STREET OR GET THEM IN A LOCKBOX, WE NEED TO DO SO. I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT AND WORKING WITH COPS METRO TO GET THAT PROGRAM. AND THEN THE 24-HOUR COVERAGE, 7 DAYS A WEEK IN THE SUMMER OF SAN ANTONIO, THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RESILLIANSY EFFORT OF SA CORE PROGRAM, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THAT. AND NEXT -- I'M JUMPING AROUND, TOO, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO -- THE NEXT IS THE CITY PUBLIC FACILITIES.

AS ERIC MENTIONED RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE FATHER CENTER THAT'S USED IN AN AREA THAT DOESN'T HAVE MANY CENTERS, IT JUST HAS THE SCHOOLS, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE -- PART OF IT IS SOIL. SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT, AND -- BUT THERE'S ALSO LIBRARIES THAT NEED MAINTENANCE ALL AROUND THE CITY AND OTHER CITY FACILITIES. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FUND SO THAT WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR A BOND OR WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE NEXT BUDGET TO GET THAT DONE, AND I WANT TO THANK -- I WANT TO TAKE -- I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO PARKS AND RECK FOR PIVOTING AND MAKING SURE THE KIDS ARE GETTING SERVICES AND THAT WE LOOK AT IF IT IS FROM THE LACK OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OR IF THIS IS A BIGGER SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE IN THE FACT WE'RE BUILDING WITH OUTDATED IDEAS ON SOIL THAT IS ERODING. SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT.

SENIOR PROGRAMMING AND ASSISTANCE, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALL SENIOR CENTERS, MAKING SURE THEIR HVAC IS KEPT UP, AND THEN MAKING SURE THEIR GYM EQUIPMENT IS RELEVANT TO THEM, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR SENIORS HAVE HAD HEART SURGERY, KNEE SURGERY, SHOULDER SURGERY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET EQUIPMENT THAT THEY COULD USE.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND QUALITY OF LIFE, I THINK THIS ENCOMPASSES A LOT OF WHAT YOU PUT IN THOSE 12 CATEGORIES, ERIC, BUT THE HEALTH PORTION WITH THE DIABETES INSULIN COST SHARE PROGRAM, I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT WITH THE HOMELESS OUTREACH, AND THE ONE THING I LEARNED AND I THINK WE NEED TO -- WHAT WE DO FOR OUR HOMELESS THAT HAVE LOW SODIUM BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT WE SEE WITH THE HOMELESS IS BECAUSE THEIR DIET IS POOR AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE SODIUM THAT THEY NEED, AND SO IT MAY NOT EVEN BE DRUGS, IT MAY JUST BE THAT THEY'RE NOT EATING. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN AS WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, AS WE KIND OF TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE NEED TO SEE HOW WE DO THE OUTREACH AND MAKING SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE CITY AND THE GROWTH OF THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES. SO THOSE ARE MY PRIORITIES.

THEY'LL PROBABLY -- I'VE GOT TO BRING UP DSD AND MIKE SHANNON BECAUSE HE'S HERE. I BELIEVE HE'S HERE. MIKE, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR ME.

AND THEN, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO CAN COUNTER. SO DON'T GO FAR.

MIKE, DO WE NEED ANYMORE CODE STAFF? >> WELL, I THINK, COUNCILWOMAN -- GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE -- I THINK RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED. WE HAVE A LOT OF COLLEGES THAT COME IN, WE'RE GETTING OUR METRICS OF RESPONSE TIME.

RESPONDING TO THOSE, SO I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

CERTAINLY WORKING WITH CITY MANAGER THIS SUMMER, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT, AND IF NEEDED, WE'LL PROBABLY PUT THAT IN THE BUDGET,

BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE PRETTY GOOD. >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE DISTRICT 3 LOVES THEIR CODE OFFICERS SOMETIMES, IT'S A LOVE HATE FOR THEM. SO THANK YOU, MIKE.

[02:00:04]

AND THANK YOU MAYOR, THANK YOU, ERIC. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU.

GOING OFF MY RESPONSIBILITIES. FIRST AND FOREMOST POLICE AND FIRE AND BACK FILLING THEM ACCORDING ACCORDINGLY. I AGREE WITH COUNCI COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD GET THE CLINICS IN SEPTEMBER. AND ACS IS WAITING FOR THE CLINICS BECAUSE THE NEED IS READY AND WE COMMITTED TO THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY WOULD BE READY IN SEPTEMBER, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I ALSO -- ERIC, I KNOW THAT YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT OTHER ACS POLICY CHANGES WE HAVE COMING UP, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO STERILIZE THE DOGS THAT ARE COMING IN. I THINK WE NEED A HUGE FOCUS ON STERILIZATION BECAUSE IF NOT THEN, YOU KNOW, ON THE BACK END, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY COME AND NOW WE HAVE AN OVERPOPULATION OF DOGS, AND THEY HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED. SO I THINK IT'S HUMANE FOR US TO FOCUS ON STERILIZATION, AND WE NEED CAPACITY TO DO THAT. I ALSO AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT OF MORE ANIMAL SERVICE CONTROL OFFICERS.

I KNOW LAST YEAR WE WERE PUSHED OFF THE NUMBER OF CRITICAL CALLS THAT COULD BE DONE. BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO RAMP UP.

SO WHETHER IT MEANS MORE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS OR TRUCKS OR WHATEVER WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS, THEN THAT IS A TOP PRIORITY.

THE OTHER TOP PRIORITY IS INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I AGREE WITH THE ADDITION OF ADDING IN BUDGET FOR CIP AND NAMP. IT'S FRUSTRATING -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE REQUEST IN DISTRICT 7, AND WE'RE KNOCKING A LOT OF THEM OUT, AND THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RAZI AND TEAM BUT THERE ARE TIMES WE HAVE TO PUSH THINGS OFF FOR NEXT YEAR, 2028, 2029 JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING, SO I THINK UPPING THE INFROM STRUCTURE BUDGETS WOULD BE -- IS IMPORTANT FOR US. AND THEN HOMELESSNESS IS OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER BIG ISSUE.

ERIC, YOU MENTIONED WE NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, THAT IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME AS WELL. AND THEN ALSO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, PARKS.

SOME OF OUR PARKS NEED A LOT OF TLC, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COUNCILWOMAN KAUR WAS TALKING ABOUT EVEN JUST A SHADE STRUCTURE FOR THE PLAYGROUNDS, AND IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO DO ONLY SO MANY EVERY CYCLE, WHICH IS JUST ABSURD BECAUSE PLAYGROUNDS ARE PRETTY USELESS IN THE SUMMER IF THEY DON'T HAVE A SHADE STRUCTURE. SO HOWEVER WE COULD BEST ACCELERATE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR US TO ALLOCATE MONEY FOR CONTINUING THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM WE TALKED ABOUT -- I DON'T KNOW --.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLES, AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THAT THEY WON'T BE SHUT DOWN JUST BECAUSE OF CITY OR STATE CONSTRUCTION.

I KNOW THAT WE PUSHED IN THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM, I THINK WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON, THAT BUT WE'VE BEEN HEARING GOOD FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS SO FAR, AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER AL-QAEDA ROOT TEE GAVITO.

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I AGREE.

MORE MONEY FOR IMP, CMP, AND NAMP. ABSOLUTELY..

I THINK WE NEED INCREASES THERE. ALSO POLICE, FIRE, NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN PUBLIC SAFETY. SO I WANT TO SEE MORE MONEY THERE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT 117 OR SO OFFICERS LAST YEAR. WE ALSO PROVIDED SOME MONEY FOR UPGRADES IN EQUIPMENT AND THINGS. I WANT TO SEE US MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK YESTERDAY WE SAID 60 MORE NEXT YEAR. 60 TO 100, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NATURE, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ON POLICE, DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE THAT. I ALSO -- I AGREE WITH -- YOU KNOW, MONEY FOR THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUNDS. SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS YEAR IS MAYBE $10,000 PER DISTRICT TO HELP SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS UPKEEP AND MAINTAIN THEIR FACILITIES, WHETHER IT'S THEIR CLUBHOUSE, THEIR MEETING SPACE, OR

[02:05:06]

AND LASTLY, 0-BASED BUDGETING. LOOKING AHEAD WITH THE HOPE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS DONE. WILL IT REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE CITY'S SIDE? IT'S CERTAINLY A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A TIME INTENSIVE PROCESS, MAY NEED POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, SOME ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, MAYBE THIRD PARTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THINKING ABOUT WHAT SORT OF FUNDING WE NEED THERE, I THINK WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. BUT, AGAIN, IT'S -- FOR ME, IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S DOING THINGS THAT COULD HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN THIS BUDGETING PIECE THAT I THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR THE CITY MOVING FORWARD.

THANKS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

YOU GUYS ARE MAKING REALLY EFFICIENT USE OF OUR TIME.

JUST FYI. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE SOME CLEAR BUDGET OBJECTIVES WE QUICKLY DISCUSSED IN B SESSION, WE'RE NOW FULLY IN A POST COVID BUDGET, BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS WE'RE LIVING IN COVID INFLUENCED REALITY.

OF COURSE NOT HAVING THE ARPA MONEY IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HIT, BUT AS WE'RE MOVING OUT OF RECOVERY STAGE AND ADAPTING TO THE NEW REALITY, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED HOW WE SAW VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES VERY MUCH EXPOSED TO WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH DAY-TO-DAY. ELDERLY, HOMELESS, FOSTER KIDS, PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT OUR NEED TO RELY ON COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH THOSE MOST VULNERABLE. SO I'LL TALK FIRST ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS I'D LIKE TO SEE US FUND. THE FIRST IS THE LATINO TEXAS POLICY CENTER. A NEWLY ESTABLISHED 50153 IN SAN ANTONIO.

MINE IS FOR A PLANNING GRANT THAT'LL BE USED TO DO PLANNING AND CONFIRM THE CITY'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.

AND THEY COULD BE HELPFUL TO GOVERNMENTAL AGENT IS AND FURTHER INFORM AND INFLUENCE AGENCIES AFFECTING THOSE AGENCIES.

I'M ASKING FOR FUNDS FOR THE THROUGH PROJECT, WHICH IS A LIFELINE FOR FOSTER KIDS AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM, THEY DO REMARKABLE WORK BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN FOSTER CARE AND ADULTHOOD. THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AS WE KNOW, COULD BE A PIPELINE TO HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION, DRUG ADDICTION, TRAFFICKING, AND THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M ASKING FOR $250,000 FOR THEM.

THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER. I ASKED FOR A $1 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR THEM. THEY PROVIDE -- THEY'RE JUST GETTING STARTED AS WELL, BUT THEY'RE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL PROGRAMMING THAT AFFIRMS AND CELEBRATES ASIAN-AMERICAN CULTURE IDENTITIES AND VALUES AS WELL AS PROVIDING AWARENESS.

THE PEACE INITIATIVE IS ANOTHER ONE I'D LIKE TO SEE US FUND.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THEY'RE NOT A DELICATE AGENCY. I TALK ABOUT THEM A LOT. WE TALK ABOUT FURTHERRERING -- OR LESSENING REALLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY WORK TO EDUCATE -- THEY'RE REALLY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY'VE BEEN A MAINSTAY IN OUR COMMUNITY'S EFFORT TO STOP DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM FUNDED, AND DOWN THE LINE, ALSO MADE A DELICATE AGENCY, SO I'M ASKING FOR 100 FOR THEM. I SUPPORT INCREASING NAMP, IMP, AND CP FUNDS.

WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION AT PUBLIC SAFETY THE OTHER DAY ABOUT ACS AND WHERE THEY NEED THE RESOURCES AND THE HELP. I ALSO SUPPORT THE $10,000 PER DISTRICT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MAINTENANCE.

I'M GOING TO SHIFT OVER A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME WORKABLE IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE COULD ENHANCE AND FOCUS SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, SPECIFICALLY READY TO WORK. I'D LIKE TO SEE US HAVE A STRONGER APPRENTICESHIP FOCUS ON READY TO WORK. SOME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE HAD TO CLOSE TRADE SHOPS. I SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH MORE APPRENTICESHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND MAYBE HUBS IN SOME OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT SERVE MULTIPLE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE JOB TRAINING FOR THE STUDENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ULTIMATELY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK WE'RE RIGHT ON

[02:10:01]

WE'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE SECOND PHASE OF A THREE-YEAR BUDGET, BUT I KNOW WE NEED MORE TIME AND DATA TO CALL IT A SUCCESS, SO MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S ADEQUATELY FUNDED. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALSO GETTING THE OFFICERS ON THE STREET LEVEL THAT ARE DOING THE JOB DAY-TO-DAY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN EFFECTS ON OUR POLICE FORCE AND OF COURSE ULTIMATELY IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONE LAST FUNDING REQUEST IS FOR THE -- SPEAKING OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS FOR THE 100 CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO.

THEY'VE NOT BEEN HISTORICALLY FUNDED BY THE CITY, BUT THEY'VE BEEN SERVING THE FAMILIES OF FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS AND FALLEN ACTIVE DUTY FIRST RESPONDERS. THEY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ACTIVE DUTY TRAINING, AND COPING AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. BOOM.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

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

SO OUR TEAM DID SOME DATA GATHERING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT BUDGET PRIORITIES AND REQUESTS WOULD BE, SO I WANT TO SHARE THOSE TO GIVE CONTEXT OF THE REQUESTS WE'RE ASKING. SO IN THE NINE MONTHS OR WHATEVER THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE -- I GUESS IT HASN'T BEEN THAT MANY, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN 500 REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS FROM SIDEWALK STREETS, DRAINAGE PROJECTS, ET CETERA, CONTRACTOR ISSUES.

350 REQUESTS FOR DSD ISSUES, SO MOST OF THEM RELATED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE'VE GOTTEN OVER 120 HUMAN SERVICES REQUESTS RELATED TO HOUSELESSNESS ISSUES. 100ACS CONCERNS, MOSTLY ABOUT LOOSE ANIMALS. AND THEN 130 REQUESTS FOR SAPD RELATED TO SAFETY. NOISE COMPLAINTS OR SPEEDING.

SO I ORGANIZE OUR REQUEST TODAY IN INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SMALL BUSINESS. I'LL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE, SO I HOPE THAT'S OKAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, WITH PUBLIC WORKS, WE -- IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING THIS WEEK, WE TALKED ABOUT THE REQUEST TO FILL OUT A GRANT FOR QUICK BUILD PROJECTS, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE AN ACTUAL BUDGET PUT IN WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS FOR QUICK BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. SO, LIKE, IF THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A BIKE LANE OR SOME STRIPING, ET CETERA, THAT WE COULD USE THOSE QUICK BUILD DOLLARS TO TRY SOMETHING IN A SHORT-TERM PILOT WAY WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A FULL CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

EXAMPLES ARE, LIKE, ROAD DIETS OR LITTLE ROUNDABOUT CIRCLES THAT YOU COULD USE THAT DON'T REQUIRE FULL CONSTRUCTION.

THE SECOND REQUEST THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IS A BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE. I UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE DOLLARS FOR SIGNAGE FOR PROJECTS, BUT IT'S JUST NOT SUFFICIENT. EVEN AS A COUNCILPERSON DRIVING AROUND, I SOMETIMES GET VERY LOST IN OUR DOWNTOWN STREETS IN OUT OF ZONA CULTURAL BROADWAY CHALLENGES, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE STRONGER SIGNAGE AND DOLLARS PUT TO THAT AND MAYBE EASIER ACCESS TO THE OFFICES TO GET THOSE IMPLEMENTED. AND ESPECIALLY, LIKE, RIGHT NOW WE JUST GOT A MESSAGE THIS WEEK ABOUT BROADWAY PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THAT THERE WASN'T AN ABILITY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO CROSS BROADWAY SAFELY. AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE FUNDS FOR FAILED SIDEWALKS. WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES FOR ADA REQUIREMENTS.

AND AROUND US, I KNOW WE'RE DOING A TRAFFIC STUDY, BUT THAT'S BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE, BUT MOBILITY FOR RESIDENTS AND FUNDING FOR DRAINAGE ISSUES. I KNOW WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT A LOT BUT WE HAVE OVER $6 MILLION OF UNFUNDED DRAINAGE PROBLEMS IN DISTRICT 1.

AND THE LAST ONE IS ENGINEERS, AND I I KNOW I TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE, ERIC, WE HAVE A CHALLENGE RETAINING ENGINEERS BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING PUBLIC SECTOR PRICES -- OR SALARIES AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US RETAIN ENGINEERS SO THAT WE COULD GET OUR TRAFFIC STUDY WORK DONE IN A MORE EXPEDITED MANNER. UNDER INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN DSD, MIKE, I'D LIKE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU THAT I DO THINK WE COULD USE MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT. I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN BROUGHT THIS UP, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CALLS WE GET AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT AFTER 6:00 P.M. AND ON WEEKENDS, SO IF THERE'S A WAY TO AMP THAT UP AND PROVIDE FOR FUNDING, I THINK OUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM THAT AND ALSO REVIEWING OF DANGEROUS PREMISES TO ENSURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. MOVING ON TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET -- OR PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET PRIORITIES. UNDER PUBLIC WORK WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY, JUST FUNDING FOR PEDESTRIANS, AGAIN, I MENTIONED AGAIN TO HAVE CROSSWALKS THROUGHOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS, SO MAYBE WE ADD A SPECIFIC BUND FOR WHILE PEOPLE ARE DOING CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THERE'S PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BUILT IN. FROM A DHS PERSPECTIVE, I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE WORK AROUND -- PUT MORE DOLLARS INTO LONG

[02:15:04]

ALSO THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THAT. THAT'S BEEN A BIG SUCCESS. FOR NHSD. THE MINOR HOME REPAIRMENT PROGRAM. WE GET REQUESTS FOR THAT ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE'RE OUT OF FUNDS THERE. AND THEN GOING TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.

MORE OFFICERS, EDUCATION, INCREASING MORE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD, EDUCATION AND PROGRAM COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

WE'VE TALKED KIND OF A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS FOR ACS, BUT I REALLY THINK THEIR EDUCATION PROGRAM COULD BE ENHANCED MORE.

WHEN WE DID OUR ACS RIDE ALONG, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS MAKING SURE WE'RE EDUCATING FOLKS ABOUT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DOUBLEDOWN ON THAT.

AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, AFTER HOURS AND WEEKENDS.

WE SEE THIS ON A LOT OF WEEKENDS WITH OFFICERS. FOLKS WANT TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP A PHONE ON A FRIDAY EVENING WHEN THERE'S A CHALLENGE THEY'RE FACING AND GETTING A RESPONSE, SO FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET AFTER HOURS AND WEEKEND SUPPORT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS JUST MORE RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF KENNELS FOR DOGS THAT ARE PICKED UP AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE INCENTIVES MAYBE FOR OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ACTUALLY -- THAT ARE TAKING PETS OFF OF ACSS HANDS, HOW COULD WE INCENTIVIZE THEM TO DO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. ON THE SMALL BUSINESS SIDE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION GRANTS, I THINK THE NUMBER 1 THING WE'VE HEARD FROM SMALL BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF PUBLIC WORKS IS MAKING SURE WE GET THESE PROJECTS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SO I'D LOVE TO SEE US EXPLORE MORE INCENTIVE BASED PROGRAMS FOR CONTRACTORS TO COMPLETE PROJECTS ON TIME. THE NUMBER 1 THING WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY IS THERE'S NOBODY OUTSIDE WORKING BECAUSE THESE CONTRACTORS WILL TAKE ON WAY TOO MUCH THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH.

SO CAN WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZE, PROVIDE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU COMPLETE THE PROJECT WITHIN 75% OF THE TIME YOU SAID YOU WOULD, YOU GET A BONUS. FOR DSD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PERMITTING PROCESSES ARE REALLY WELL EXPLAINED FOR SMALL BUSINESSES SO THEY'RE EASIER TO ACCESS AND ARTICULATE.

AND THEN LASTLY, LIKE CCDO, RTW, ESA, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING MORE COORDINATED WORK TO PROVIDE FMB BUSINESSES. THE LIFE OF OUR CITY.

ALL OF US LOVE TO GO TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS, AND THEY'RE HURTING RIGHT NOW. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMING TOGETHER TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, WHETHER ADVOCATING FOR THEM AS AN INDIVIDUAL, COUNCIL OFFICES OR CITY SO THEY GET THE MOST LEVEL OF SUPPORT.

AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN MENTIONED DOWNTOWN IS ALL OF OUR DOWNTOWN, AND ERIC YOU MENTIONED THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDINGS, I THINK THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY IN THE CULTURAL AREAS. SO ALAMO. HEMISPHERE, THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF LOVE, BUT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN SO WE'RE NOT HAVING HVACS BREAKING DOWN. AND THEN I KNOW BEFORE THE RIVER WALK HAS BEEN AN AREA WHERE WE ALL LOVE AND HAS BEEN A GREAT PLACE FOR US FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND I WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN PROVIDE SOME CONTINUED LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR THE RIVER WALK AS WELL.

AND THEN I HAVE TWO OVERALL GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS, JUST FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN. I HAD NO IDEA, BUT WE ONLY HAVE ONE ACTUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR OF ALL THE POSITIONS, LIKE, IN ALL OF OUR CITY. AND THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND OFFICE IS ACTUALLY UNDER NHSD, AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE US THINK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SET UP. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE COULD DO WITHIN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUR DIRECTORS WANT TO; RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PARKS A LOT. THEY WANT TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TALK TO RESIDENTS. THE CHALLENGES -- THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR CNE DEPARTMENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF EACH DEPARTMENT HAD A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR WHOSE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY IT WAS TO DO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, GOING OUT, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, AND SOMEONE THAT'S NOT -- LIKE, THE TRADITIONAL CITY PROFILE, BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SEE WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD WANT IN THE SENIOR CENTER THAT WE'RE BUILDING, AND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TAKE TIME, AND THAT WORK IS HARD, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO THINKING ABOUT THAT, HOW WE COULD REPLICATE THAT DIRECTOR AND THAT OFFICE. AND THEN THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO ECHO IS IF THERE'S ROOM FOR US TO THINK ABOUT LGC -- AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER

[02:20:03]

SO WOULD LOVE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH THAT. SORRY I'M NOT AS SHORT, OR I GUESS AS SWEET AS COUNCILMEMBER

WHYTE WAS, BUT THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I UNDERSTAND WE'LL GO THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AGAIN, BUT I KNOW IT'S RELEVANT IN THE DATA THAT'S ABOVE 120 FAMILIES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE AND THAT INVEST AND PRIORITIZE HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER HAD 200% INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS. THERE WERE NEARLY 3,600 APPLICATIONS LAST YEAR WITH ONLY ENOUGH FUNDING FOR 625 FAMILIES. SO 3 OUT OF THE 4 OF THE APPLICATIONS WERE FOR MAJOR REHAB, SO I SEE A NEED FOR US TO INVEST IN HOMEOWNER REHAB PROGRAMS AS WELL AS LEADING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO INVEST IN OPPORTUNITY HOMES WITH THE MAINTENANCE FUND WE CREATED LAST YEAR. WITH THE BRIEFING IN MIND THAT LAURIE PRESENTED. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE HOMELESS SECURITY DIVISION, ENSURING THAT ALL THE DELICATE AGENCIES CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, AND BASED OFF OF THE DEMAND AND AGAIN THE DATA, WITH E NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SO THAT WAY THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE OUTREACH, AND ULTIMATELY, WE NEED THE UNITED STATES TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HOUSING. IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, I WAS CLEAR IN MY POSITION OF PROVIDING SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTERS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY DESERVE. FURTHER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE FULBRIGHT SOFTWARE, SO THAT'S A PRIORITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE CASES, CLOSE THOSE CASES OUT, AND THEN OF COURSE I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND MAKING SURE THEY RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR AT THE DOORS.

THERE'S NOT ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, NOT ONE DOOR THAT I KNOCK THAT THE NEED FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICE SUPPORT ISN'T BROUGHT UP. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT, BUT JUST THE URGENCY BEHIND IT. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THE REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE OF NAPNIC FUNDING AS WELL AS AT MONTEREY PARK, IT DID RECEIVE BOND FUNDING, BUT WE HAVE A CRICKET TEAM, A SOCCER TEAM, AND SO MANY DIFFERENT SPORTS THAT COME -- THAT THE PARK IS USED FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT SPORTS, AND WE RECENTLY PUT PICKLE BALL COURTS, SO WE HAVE FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMING, AND THE ONLY RESTROOM IS THE ONE INSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH HAS LIMITED HOURS, SO I WOULD LIKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT A REQUEST FOR A RESTROOM OVER AT MONTEREY PARK SO FOLKS WHO USE IT CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A RESTROOM BEYOND COMMUNITY HOURS -- THE COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ HAS IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO SUPPORT CITY EMPLOYEES WITH IVF OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR BENEFITS, AND I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A SET UP -- MY FAVORITE SAFE OFFICER IS HERE, WHO'S NO LONGER A SAFE OFFICER, AND ONE THING WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM D5 RESIDENTS IS THE SUPPORT FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO SAFE OFFICERS.

THOSE ARE MY BUDGET THOUGHTS FOR NOW. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

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

MAYOR. I'LL TAKE LONGER THAN MARC DID.

SIMPLY PUT, SAN ANTONIOIANS DON'T FEEL SAFE.

THE RECENT PRESENTATION ABOUT THE HOT SUPPORTS SPOTS AND ALL OF THAT, IT'S GREAT, BUT THEY DON'T FEEL GREAT. WHEN MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES GO AND TALK TO HOA, IT'S AN EXPRESSION OF ANXIETY THEY SEE FROM THEM. THEY'D LIKE TO SEE MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE

[02:25:04]

I KNOW THERE'S BOND MONEY SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC ART, BUT I DO THINK THAT BEFORE WE GET THERE, THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEND SOME GENERAL FUNDING DOLLARS. SO HOPEFULLY WE COULD MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES I'M HAPPY TO REPORT IS PURCHASING IS SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY HERE DOWNTOWN AND LOOKING AT CREATING A TRAINING CENTER, A FOOD SERVICE CENTER, AND A CENTER FOR NONPROFITS TO BE ABLE TO CONGREGATE AND COLLABORATE.

THAT'LL REQUIRE FINISHOUT. I SPOKE WITH CARLOS CONTRERAS. I TOLD HIM I'D BE ASKING FOR $1 MILLION FOR GOODWILL TO BRING THAT DOWNTOWN.

ERIC, IF YOU'D MAKE TIME TO MEET WITH ME AND CARLOS. I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

THE MAYOR AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER ASSOCIATES REPRESENTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO CREATE SOMETHING EVERY MAJOR CITY HAS EXCEPT US, WHICH IS A PLACE NEAR THE HOSPITALS FOR PARENTS TO STAY WHILE THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVE LIFE SAVING CANCER TREATMENT. WE DON'T HAVE ONE, AND IT'S LONG OVERDUE. OUR ABILITY TO HELP THESE PARENTS DEAL WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CRISIS IN THEIR LIVES IS SOMETHING WITHIN OUR REACH, AND SAN ANTONIO'S MEDICAL CENTER SHOULD NOT BE WITHOUT ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES, AND SO I'LL BE ASKING FOR $1 MILLION FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE ALAMO DOME AND THE BARGES WRAPPED IN PERSONAL INJURY ADS. NO.

I'M KIDDING. I WANT TO SEE THE VIA BUSES AND THE ADVERTISEMENT CONTRACT BELONG TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD USE TO HELP BLOW WIND TO THE SAILS OF SAN ANTONIO. YOUR JOB RECRUITMENT EFFORTS READY TO WORK, PUBLIC ART COULD BE DISPLAYED ON THESE BUSES, THOSE ASSETS, THOSE BUSES ARE -- WE'RE TRYING TO FILL THOSE BUSES, BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, DESPITE THAT SO, YOU KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO -- I WANT THEM TO ADMIRE THOSE BUSES, AND RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE JUST NOT ADMIRABLE. THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ENJOYS THE BENEFITS OF THE WORK THAT OUR SPORTS FOUNDATIONS DOES WITH THE DISTINCT THAT THEIR FAMILY RUNS AND ALL THE ACTIVITY DOES AROUND KEEPING FAMILY SAFE. THIS WEEK, THEY HAD A WILDLY SUCCESSFUL -- I'M SORRY.

KEEPING FAMILIES HEALTHY. THEY HAD A WILDLY SUCCESSFUL CYCLING EVENT WITH MORE THAN 1,000 CYCLISTS FROM SAN ANTONIO AND OTHER CITYS IN TEXAS AND OTHER STATES COMING TO VISIT US. THEY CONTINUE TO BRING TOURISM TO SAN ANTONIO TO DO SPORTS HERE. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD INVEST IN THEM.

ERIC, KIND OF SPELLING OUT WHAT I'M EXPECTING WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO.

EVERY ONE OF US IS BENEFITED ALSO FROM SEEING OUR SENIORS AT OUR SENIOR CENTERS PARTICIPATE IN THE SENIORS IN PLAY PROGRAM. SO FAR, THAT PROGRAM HAS TOUCHED 3,000 SENIORS AROUND SAN ANTONIO. THERE IS A DEMENTIA COMPONENT TO THAT PROGRAM, IT CULMINATES IN THE SAN ANTONIO'S MAYOR.

[02:30:01]

I WANT MORE RESTROOMS AT MONTEREY PARK. I DO. I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS WHO GO TO MONTEREY PARK TO PLAY CRICKET, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PLAY CRICKET GOING INTO THE EVENING AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE RESTROOM, AND SO THAT'S NOT A DIG FIED WAY OF PROVIDING PEOPLE A FACILITY, AND WE NEED TO LET THEM BE ABLE TO USE THE RESTROOM. ADDITIONALLY, COUNCILMEMBER, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN ASKING FOR LIGHTING FOR THOSE FACILITIES. THOSE CRICKETFIELDS IN DISTRICT 7 AND 5 ARE FULL AROUND THE CLOCK, BUT THE FOLKS WANT TO PLAY AT NIGHT.

AND WE MOVED THAT OFF THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. THE $300,000 ITEM. I HOPE WE CAN PUT IT ON THIS YEAR. AND THEN LASTLY, FOUR OF US, FIVE OF US WENT LAST NIGHT TO TALK TO ALL THE CONVENIENCE STORE OWNERS. YOU KNOW, THESE CONVENIENCE STORES ARE A PLACE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN POVERTY GET THEIR GROCERIES.

THESE CONVENIENCE STORES ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS.

THEY EMPLOY ROUGHLY 32,000 SAN ANTONIOIANS EVERY YEAR, AND THEY'RE ALSO FACING THE STARK REALITY OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH RETOOLING AND REPURPOSING THEIR GAS STATIONS IN RESPONSE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES. AND THAT HAZMAT FEE IS STILL A PROBLEM FOR THEM, EVEN IF WE'VE REDUCED IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT DONE AWAY, AND I WILL BE VISITING WITH THE KREBS OF CHARGING THESE SHOPS A HAZMAT FEE THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO BEGIN WITH. I'LL STOP THERE AND MAYBE CHIME IN LATER. THANK YOU. MAYOR.

NEAR THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I PREFACED WHAT I WOULD BE FOCUSED ON BUT THE -- COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ HAS REMINDED US THAT THE EAST SIDE IS LACKING.

I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH SOUTH SIDE NEEDS AND I'LL NEED TO TALK TO COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ AND SEE HOW I COULD BE OF HELP THERE.

AND I ASKED ERIC, AND I KNOW IN FUTURE BUDGET MEETINGS, WE COULD GET THAT BREAK DOWN GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING OF WHERE OUR AMBULANCE IS -- WELL, YEAH. WHERE THERE'S KIND OF THAT GROWING DEMAND FOR SERVICES. YEAH. SO IF YOU COULD HELP ME WITH THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND THEN ALSO, A LONG BAR LIGHT IN SOME SECTIONS IN SU SUMMERSET MILITARY, THERE USED TO BE MORE DOCTORS OFFICE AND CLINICS, AND IT WAS TO US OUR MEDICAL CENTER. AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN, AND SOME OF THE DOCTORS HAVE MOVED AWAY. SO A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS I HAVE TO REPRESENT HAVE TO GO FURTHER FOR HEALTHCARE, AND SO TRANSPORTATION ACCESS. AGAIN. AND I MENTION HAD HAD ECONOMIC SEGREGATION WE'VE FACED. AND THE HEALTH DISPARITIES LINE UP WITH THE AREAS. SO STATISTICALLY SPEAKING. \{^EN}\EVEN LIVING NORTH OF HIGHWAY 90 HAS A HEALTHIER AND LONGER LIFE. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN HELP THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT.

THE OTHER PRIORITY FOR ME IS SOCIAL SERVICES. AND I MENTIONED I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE ARPA DOLLARS, AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE NONPROFITS THAT'LL BE RUNNING OUT. THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM I MENTIONED EARLIER. THE COUNTY STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUTSIDE OF ARPA IS NOT PROVIDING ANY FUNDING, SO I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

HAVEN FOR HOPE'S FAMILIES ARE STILL STAYING THERE. PARENTS WHO WORK AND HAVE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN SCHOOL, SO THAT'LL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY FOR ME, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT NEW STAR -- NEW STAR'S ANNOUNCEMENT, AND IT'S CONCERNING FOR ME THAT HAVEN FOR HOPE MIGHT NOT BE FUNDED AS WE'VE TYPICALLY SEEN IN THE PAST.

PCDC HAS HEARD SOME UPDATES ON WHEN PEOPLE APPLY, FOR INSTANCE, TO OPPORTUNITY HOME, AND THE WAIT CONTINUES TO INCREASE. SO ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO HELP WITH THAT WILL BE ONE OF MY PRIORITIES AS WELL AS UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

[02:35:03]

OUR SAFE OFFICERS ARE INCREDIBLE. MY NEIGHBORS LOVE OUR SAFE OFFICERS. THEY'RE AT EVERYTHING. SO CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THEM IS CRITICAL. AND THEN INFRASTRUCTURE -- WE ALWAYS GET ASKED AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES MADE A PITCH FOR INCREASED NAMP FUNDS.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SIDEWALKS AND USE OUR CIP FUNDS TO CLOSE A LANE OF TRAFFIC WHERE VEHICLES USED TO DRIVE THROUGH A SENIOR COUPLE'S FENCE, AND IT'S HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. SO WE POTENTIALLY SAVED LIVES THERE.

I KNOW THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY FOR US TO DO THAT.

AND THEN I WOULD LIKE US TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING OF OUR AMP SIDEWALK SO THAT WAY WE CAN ACHIEVE MORE OF THOSE REPAIRS AND GAPS THAT WE HAVE. AND THEN THINKING ABOUT -- IN MY CAPACITY, AND ONE THING THAT NEVER REALLY COMES UP IS OUR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT -- I'M THE LIAISON FOR A GREAT PART OF THE ASIAN COMMUNITY BY DESIGNATION WITH THE MAYOR DESIGNATING ME.

AND THE ASIAN RESOURCE CENTER IS ONE THING THEY'VE COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTING TOWARD, AND THAT'S ONE THING I HAVE IN MY OTHER AREAS OF FOCUS, CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY. BUT THOSE ARE IT FOR ME, AND I WAS HAPPY TO BE IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ASKED FOR.

I KNOW COUNCILMAN DR. KAUR HAD ASKED FOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STAFFING AND PAY, ET CETERA, AND I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN HAD ASKED ABOUT BENEFITS.

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ WAS SPECIFIC IN ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS IN THE IVF FOR EMPLOYEES. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. BUT IT SOUNDS LUKE EVSOUNDS LIKEEVERYTHING ELSE, CE

[02:40:02]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE THE PURPOSE, AND THAT'S LOOKING AT THE BUDGET COLLECTIVELY AND LOOKING AT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS OVERALL THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.

EACH OF US IN OUR DISTRICTS HAVE SOME PARTICULAR PROJECTS OR ASKS THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE ISSUE, AND I THINK THE BIGGEST PICTURE WE ALWAYS FACE IS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE HAVE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 15%. WE STARTED THIS YEAR.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL MORE YEARS TO GO. I HOPE WE CAN DO IT QUICKER RATHER THAN LATER. I'VE HEARD THAT WE'RE SAYING IT MIGHT TAKE FOUR YEARS TO DO THIS. I THINK WE NEED TO DO IT IN THREE.

THE SOONER WE GET MORE POLICE OFFICERS OUT ON PATROL IN THE COMMUNITY, THE BETTER THE COMMUNITY WILL FEEL SAFER. WE DO HAVE A MAYOR CONTRACT WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS GOING ON, AND THAT'LL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET IMPACT. SO MORE POLICE OFFICERS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND INCREASE IN THE FIREFIGHTER CONTRACT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS LOOKING AT A FEW YEARS DOWN THE LINE, THE CONTRACT FOR THE POLICE WILL BE RENEGOTIATED.

SO THOSE ARE A LOT OF MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES THAT WE NEED TO THINK OF NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE PART OF WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THAT'S AN AREA THAT I WANT US TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO.

YOU KNOW, THE ANY OBJECTION THING I THINK IS HOUSING.

YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO COME AND LIVE IN THIS CITY OR YOU LIVE IN THIS CITY AND YOU WANT TO FEEL SAFE, PART OF FEELING SAFE IS BEING IN A HOUSE OR APARTMENT OR SOME KIND OF RESIDENCE WHERE YOU'VE GOT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD, YOU CAN FEEL SAFE AND SECURE, YOU CAN LIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND HAVE SOME COMFORT AND DIGNITY IN YOUR LIFE.

WE NEED ALL KINDS OF HOUSING IN THIS CITY. FROM WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL AFFORDABLE, WHICH I THINK MANY OF US REALLY CALL WORKFORCE HOUSING. AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY OF THIS CITY TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN ADDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING OF ALL TYPES IN THE CITY. AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE WAY OF EMPHASIZING HOME REPAIR IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE CAN'T BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE HAVE.

WE COULDN'T BUILD 200, 300 HOMES TO REPLACE THE ONES THAT ARE IN BAD SHAPE. WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO REPAIR THOSE SO PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE THERE ANOTHER 20 YEARS.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO HAVE MORE HOUSING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. WE KNOW HOW BAD THAT IS. IF WE WERE TO GO PICK UP EVERY HOMELESS PERSON OFF THE STREET TODAY AND THERE MAY BE 1,000 OF THEM OUT THERE AND WE SAY WE WANT TO HELP YOU, COME WITH US, WE HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT THEM. SO HOUSING HAS TO BE A MAJOR PRIORITY.

AND THIS BUDGET AND EVERY BUDGET GOING FORWARD FOR THE CITY.

ANOTHER MAJOR PRIORITY HAS TO BE MORE JOBS AND BETTER PAYING JOBS.

YOU KNOW, I'M ALL FOR SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THEM, AND THEY EMPLOY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

A LOT OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THOUGH, ARE STILL ONLY PAYING $12 AN HOUR, MAYBE $15 AN HOUR. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYONE CAN LIVE ON LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR. NOW WE'VE GOT OUR READY-TO-WORK PROGRAM, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING TO UPLIFT PEOPLE INTO A BETTER SKILLS AREA WHERE THEY CAN EARN A BETTER LIVING, WHERE THEY CAN EARN, $20, $25 AN HOUR, BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A BETTER PROGRAM WHERE WE'VE GOT THE EMPLOYERS HERE WHO WILL HIRE THOSE PEOPLE AND PAY THOSE JOBS, AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE A MAYOR MAJOR EMPHASIS OF THE CITY THROUGH ALL THE MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS WE WORK WITH THAT ARE TRYING TO BRING BETTER-PAYING JOBS TO THE CITY, BUT WE NEED MORE AND BETTER-PAYING JOBS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, HELP THEM BE MORE SUCCESSFUL SO THEY COULD PAY MORE.

AND ALONG WITH THAT GOES EDUCATION AND TRAINING. AND WE CERTAINLY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THIS CITY, AND OUR TRAINING PROGRAM, READY-TO-WORK, AND OTHER TRAINING

[02:45:06]

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT FOR UNDERWRITING A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY ON DOING THEIR OWN JOB, BUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR JOB AND THEIR LIVES I THINK IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

AND I'LL SAY EVEN MORE SUPPORT WITH EDUCATION. WE NEED TO BRING MORE TEACHERS AND KEEP OUR TEACHERS HERE. WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO STAY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A PROPOSAL WE'VE HEARD ABOUT MAYBE HELPING THEM FIND A PLACE TO LIVE, HELPING THEM WITH THE COST OF BUYING A HOME OR ANYTHING, BUT WE NEED TO BE DOING THOSE KINDS OF THINGS BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP THE TEACHERS WE'VE GOT, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO AN EDUCATION MECCA WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND TEACH HERE, BUT WE'VE GOT A BIG BARRIER TO OVERCOME WITH THE STATE AND ITS FUNDING, OR LACK THEREOF.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE WANT TO HAVE MORE TEACHERS, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE, IN THIS CITY, MORE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

WE HAVE A CRISIS IN BEING ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING DIFFERENT MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS THAT THEY GO THROUGH.

I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK AT OUR HOMELESS SITUATION. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDICTED TO DRUGS. OR THEY'RE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY'RE AN ALCOHOLIC. OR THEY'RE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY'RE SKITS PHRENIC, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PROFESSIONALS TO WORK WITH THEM. THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH CRISIS. THEY NEED TO HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, WHO WILL HELP THEM WORK THROUGH THAT TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT CRISIS, AND I THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO DO SO MORE TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE PEOPLE TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND WORK HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND IN OUR BUDGET, WITH E NEED TO ALWAYS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY AND WATER SECURITY. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT TODAY. ENERGY SECURITY. BUSINESSES WON'T COME HERE, PEOPLE WON'T COME HERE IF THEY DON'T -- IF THEY BELIEVE WE HAVE AN ENERGY CRISIS OR A WATER CRISIS, AND WE DON'T. AND WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE WE HAVE GOOD WATER, RELIABLE WATER, DEPENDABLE WATER. AND THE SAME THING FOR ENERGY. AND IT'S OUR JOB TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT EXISTS AND TO LET PEOPLE KNOW IT'S HERE. WE NEED TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THOSE SERVICES THAT ARE HERE AND HOW WELL THEY ARE FUNCTIONING.

THAT'S PART OF OUR GOAL AS A CITY. I THINK ANOTHER ONE IS -- I THINK WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BASICS. WE NEED TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.

I HEAR A LOT OF ASKS ABOUT EXPENDITURES RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THAT ZERO-BASED BUDGETING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 TO GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO LOOK AT HOW WE WORK WITHIN OUR STRUCTURE, WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

I THINK THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THE BUDGET PRESENTATION YESTERDAY AND WE ARE FACING BUDGET DEFICITS IN THREE YEARS, WHEN THE ARPA MONEY RUNS OUT.

AND IF WE'RE NOT BACK TO BASICS AND TIGHTENING OUR BELT AND DEVELOPING A DEPENDABLE WAY OF CREATING OUR BUDGET, STARTING AT ZERO AND LOOKING AT EVERY PROGRAM AND EVERY DEPARTMENT, THEN WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FACE A FINANCIAL CHALLENGE BUT IT'S GOING TO BECOME A BURDEN FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THOSE ARE THE GOALS AND THE PRIORITIES THAT I SEE WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING IN THIS NEXT BUDGET, AS WELL AS MEETING THE INDIVIDUAL ASKS AND NEEDS THAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES ASK US FOR.

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

I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE MY TIME NOW. I KNOW THERE'S FOLKS THAT WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN. FIRST, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE COMMENTS TODAY BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT ARE REALLY GENERATIONAL IN NATURE. UP AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, OF COURSE, THE HOUSING EFFORTS. ERIK, ON YOUR LIST, IT'S CERTAINLY ON MY LIST THAT WE

[02:50:02]

A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT HOME PRESERVATION EFFORTS THAT ARE PROBABLY NEEDED IN MORE ROBUST WAYS THAN THE PLANS INITIALLY SUGGESTED. FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF KEEPING ON TRACK WITH HOUSING. I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT INCLUDES THE HOMELESS SPECTRUM SERVICES. ENSURING THAT WE GET THE RFP OUT ON TIME, THAT IT PERFORMS, BUT THAT ALSO IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THE SERVICES AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO GET FOLKS OFF THE STREET PERMANENTLY, WE'RE ACCELERATING OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, OUR LOW-BARRIER SHELTER, THE HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS, ET CETERA.

DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS OBVIOUSLY IS ON THE TOP PRIORITY LIST OF MOST SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. I'D ALSO INCLUDE THAT. THE MAJOR EFFORT THAT'S UNDERWAY WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND POLICE RESPONSE TIMES.

STAYING ON TRACK WITH THAT AS WELL AS THE DATA SUPPORTING THE POLICING DATA ANALYSIS WE'RE DOING WITH UTSA AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. WE'VE MADE PROGRESS NOW.

WE'RE TURNING THE CORNER ON PROPERTY CRIME. WE WANT TO SEE THAT TREND CONTINUE AS WELL. SO WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS JUST REALLY THESE LONG-TERM GENERATIONAL CHANGES THAT WE ARE MAKING WHERE WE ARE STARTING TO SEE RESULTS.

BUT THESE ARE EFFORTS THAT WE NEED TO STAY COMMITTED TO. WE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING.

I'D PUT TRANSPORTATION ON THERE AS WELL. WE ARE DEEPLY ENGAGED NOW WITH VIA ON INSTITUTING THEIR FIRST BONA FIDE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM. WE WANT THAT DONE WELL AND DONE ON TIME. THAT ALSO INCLUDES OUR EFFORTS THAT YOU MENTION ON TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. I WOULD INCLUDE IN TRANSPORTATION, OF COURSE, THE INVESTMENTS IN AIRPORT. THEY ARE DOING REALLY GREAT AND SO WE WANT TO KEEP THEM ON TRACK. THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE MULTIPLE EFFORTS AS WELL AS ADVOCACY. AND THEN OF COURSE THE ISSUES OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

TO ME THIS IS THE PRIORITY LONG TERM FOR US IS HOW DO WE CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF POVERTY IN THIS CITY. WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE METRICS CHANGED, INCLUDING GEOGRAPHIC INCLUSION, THE GAP BETWEEN HIGH WAGE AND LOW WAGE.

THEY ARE STARTING TO MOVE AND SO WE'VE GOT TO STAY COMMITTED TO THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING IN EARNEST AS IT RELATES TO ENSURING PEOPLE GET INTO BETTER-PAYING JOBS AND HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION ARE THE BARRIERS. ONE OF THE BARRIERS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN A FIRST STEP ON IS CHILDCARE, WITH THE TAX EXEMPTION THAT WAS INSTITUTED ALREADY.

WE ARE GOING TO GET DATA BACK IN THE FORM OF A CAPACITY STUDY AND AN AGE-BASED STUDY THIS YEAR. I WOULD LIKE US TO SET ASIDE RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH CHILDCARE IN A MORE ROBUST WAY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THOSE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GOING TO BE BASED ON THOSE STUDIES. WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDCARE IS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT AN OBSTACLE FOR FOLKS TO GET INTO BETTER-PAYING CAREERS IN THIS CITY. AND WE'VE GOT TO BE READY TO DO THAT IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY. AND, OF COURSE, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED A FEW TIMES THE WORK THAT WE'RE EMBARKED ON WITH THE SA FORWARD PLAN. WE'VE GOT TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THAT. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TRANSITIONING THE SOURCE OF FUNDS TO MORE OF A GENERAL FUND-HEAVY FUNDING STREAM. THAT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO HAVE BUDGETARY IMPACTS BUT WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS REGRESS IN OUR GOALS AND AGGRESSIVENESS ON THE SA FORWARD HEALTH PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY. NOW, A FEW SMALLER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. THEY'RE NOT THESE LARGER GENERATIONAL ISSUES, PER SE. CONSTRUCTION'S BEEN MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES.

I ALSO AGREE THAT THE BEST WAY, THE FAIREST WAY WE CAN SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS THAT WE GET THOSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MOVING FASTER. AND SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM, ERIK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN I'D LIKE TO SEE CARROTS AND STICKS WITH OUR CONTRACTING COMMUNITY.

IF WE CAN GET PROJECTS DONE FASTER, INCENTIVES. IF THEY ARE DELAYED, PENALTIES. BUT WE NEED TO SEE FOLKS GETTING THOSE PROJECTS DONE FASTER SO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT UNDULY IMPACTED. WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE CITY.

I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT TRASH. WE DO A BASURA BASH EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THE STREETS GET CLEANED UP AND WITHIN 48 HOURS WE ARE TRASHED AGAIN.

THE STREETS ARE FULL OF LITTER. OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT

[02:55:01]

WHETHER THAT'S RESOURCES AND ACTUAL TRASH PICKUP, HOLDING OUR STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR CLEANING UP THE -- I WAS GOING TO USE A WORD I SHOULDN'T USE IN HERE.

THE HIGHWAYS IN THIS CITY ARE FILTHY AND IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR.

AND TXDOT NEEDS TO WORK WITH US TO GET THEM CLEANED UP. WE NEED TO HOLD FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR JURISDICTIONS BUT WE ALSO NEED TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR CLEANING UP CITY STREETS AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE ALSO SOME PUBLIC COMMUNICATION. AN ANTI-LITTER CAMPAIGN, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SOLID WASTE AND MAYBE SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST DO THAT. AND THEN JUST TWO VERY SMALL THINGS -- WELL, NOT SMALL BUT THEY'RE CAPITAL. IT WAS MENTIONED ARKSA.

I SUPPORT THAT. THAT IS GOING TO BE MY UNDERSTANDING A MATCH WITH THE COUNTY SO WE SHOULD LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THAT.

AND THEN THE HOPE LODGE. THIS IS A GAP IN OUR HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM IN THE COMMUNITY. IF WE CAN HELP FOLKS WHO CAN'T AFFORD A PLACE TO STAY WHILE THEY'RE GETTING CANCER TREATMENT OR WHILE A FAMILY MEMBER IS GETTING CANCER TREATMENT, THE MEDICAL FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY DONATED THE LAND FOR THE PROJECT.

MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER INSTITUTE, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AS WELL AS LOCAL LEADERS FUNDRAISING FOR THIS IS THERE ARE MULTIPLE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALREADY DONATED BY PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY AND CORPORATIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE -- THERE WERE COUNTY LEADERS AT THIS MEETING TO THAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ REFERRED TO THAT HEARD THE MESSAGE. IF WE CAN COME UP WITH AN ARRANGEMENT AGAIN WHERE WE LEVERAGE CITY AND COUNTY TO HELP ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPLETION OF THE HOPE LODGE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT INITIATIVE AND BENEFIT TO OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE REGIONS.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME, ERIK. I MAY CHIME IN LATER, DEPENDING ON THE SECOND ROUND OF COMMENTS. TO GO TO THE SECOND ROUND FIRST, WE HAVE COUNCILMAN

WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. I DID HAVE SOME EXTRA NOTES HERE. I WANT TO ECHO THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING FOR ARCSA. I SUPPORT THAT AND WE SHOULD CERTAINLY GET THAT DONE.

AND THEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND BUSINESSES WITH CITY COUNCIL. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER KAUR ON SPENDING UP THE CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE WE CAN CERTAINLY HELP OUR BUSINESSES AND THEN I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION FUND THAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO REFERENCED. YOU KNOW, WE WANT A PERMANENT FUND THERE. AND MORE DIRECT-TO-BUSINESS DOLLARS.

I WORK AT THE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND WE HAD THE CONVERSATION SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ABOUT ANALYZING OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT WE USE, ESPECIALLY ON THE SMALL BUSINESS SIDE TO DETERMINE IF WE'RE REALLY GETTING OUR BANG FOR THE BUCK THERE.

ARE WE GETTING RESULTS FROM THESE GROUPS THAT WE'RE GIVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO. I WANT TO FIND WAYS TO GET MONEY DIRECTLY TO BUSINESSES.

AND I THINK A FEW OF US WENT OUT TO THE MAESTRO CENTER THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR AND WE TALKED TO THAT GROUP AND IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY EXPECT MORE FROM US AS CITY LEADERS IN TERMS OF HELPING THEM AND THEIR BUSINESSES. THESE ARE THE FOLKS OUT THERE PUTTING THEIR CAPITAL ON THE LINE, PROVIDING JOBS, WHICH PROVIDE SECURITY TO SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES. AND SO IN THIS BUDGET I HOPE WE CAN FIND MORE WAYS TO DIRECTLY IMPACT IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES. SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT THERE.

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

COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A FEW QUICK THINGS.

COUNCILWOMAN KAUR MENTIONED DRAINAGE. THAT IMPACTS SEVERAL DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT. WE GET A LOT OF CALLS.

I ALSO DO WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS ON BEING ABLE TO PAY OUR CITY COUNCIL STAFF MORE. MY TEAM IS KILLING IT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND IT KILLS ME THAT WE CAN'T COMPENSATE THEM CORDEDLY. ACCORDINGLY.

I WANT TO ECHO THAT. I KNOW WE'RE SET TO TALK TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA ABOUT THAT BUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN HELP ATTRACT FOLKS TO OUR TEAMS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

[03:00:02]

I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ SAID ABOUT SCHOOLS AND PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS. I DO THINK T THAT WE ARE JUST LUCKY AT THIS POINT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE EXPLORING WHAT WE COULD BE DOING THERE TO -- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IT'S A HUGE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, MOST RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE WHAT COULD BE DONE THERE.

MAYOR, I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE LITTER AND THE -- JUST THE AMOUNT OF TRASH EVERYWHERE.

IT CAUSES A SENSE OF DISRESPECT FOR OUR CITY AND IT ONLY COMPOUNDS IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOW. AND ALSO, TOO, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS CONTINUOUSLY ABOUT 311 AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY'RE CALLING BEFORE HOURS, AFTER HOURS OR WHATEVER. THAT DEMAND IS STILL NOT BEING MET SO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO THERE TO MAKE SURE 311 IS FULLY STAFFED.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE INTERFACE THAT MANY RESIDENTS USE WITH THE CITY COULD BE HELPFUL.

THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AS PROMISED I'M GOING TO USE THIS ROUND TO ECHO SOME OF THE THINGS I HEARD FROM MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, STARTING WITH SUKH .

I THINK OF COURSE SPEEDING UP PROJECTS IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S FOR EVERYBODY, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTS OR BUSINESS OWNERS. BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN QUALITY. I KNOW THAT IN DISTRICT 2 WHAT WE SEE OFTEN ARE CONTRACTORS WHO COME IN AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS POOR AND IT'S LATE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ACTUALLY HOLDING CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY THE BAD-ACTING ONES. I ALSO HEARD HER MENTION SUPPORT ACS AND ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE BURDEN THAT OUR SHELTER FACES. I THINK IF WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT THERE. I KNOW I MADE THIS REQUEST EVERY BUDGET CYCLE AND IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE MADE ANY MOVEMENT THERE. NOT THIS SESSION BUT A PREVIOUS ONE, IT WAS MENTIONED PEOPLE WERE ASKING FOR A MOBILE UNIT.

EVEN IF IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, IF WE CAN GET ONE TO TWO MOBILE UNITS OUT THERE AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO 20 SPAY OR NEUTER SURGERIES A DAY, THAT'S 20 THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE WITHOUT IT. I JUST THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON. OF COURSE THE PAY STRUCTURE FOR LGC EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO TALK ABOUT SINCE DAY ONE OF WANTING TO HIRE A TEAM. I KNOW SOME OF THE MORE SENIOR COUNCIL MEMBERS CARRIED FORWARD A LOT OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS AND THEY WERE GRANDFATHERED IN AT THEIR RATES. THAT'S CREATED SOMEWHAT OF A DISPARITY FOR SOME OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS. IT'S MADE IT REALLY HARD WHEN WE DO HAVE A VACANCY TO FILL IT AND TO ENTICE WORKERS TO COME. I THINK PREVIOUSLY WE USED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THE CITY HAS SOME OF THE BEST BENEFITS IN THE CITY.

AND THAT'S BEEN TRUE FOR SO LONG BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING ARE OTHER EMPLOYERS ARE REALLY, REALLY MAKING TARGETED EFFORTS TO NOT JUST MEET HIGHER WAGES BUT ALSO TO INCREASE THEIR BENEFITS. SO WE'RE BECOMING LESS AND LESS ENTICING AND COMPETITIVE.

THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US ADDRESS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED THE MONTEREY PARK BATHROOM. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS IN A MEMO FORM OR MAP IF POSSIBLE.

WHERE ARE THE PARKS IN THE CITY THAT HAVE PERMANENT FULL BATHROOMS VERSUS A PORTA-POTTY. I'M THINKING ABOUT SUNRISE IN THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF MY DISTRICT. THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY -- THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD IS F STREETS. ENTIRELY DARK WITH VERY LIMITED STREET LIGHTING.

THEIR PARK HAS ANNEXED THEM FROM THE COUNTY WHILE THEY WERE IN SUCH A POOR STATE AND WE'VE NEVER INVESTED IN THEM AS A NEIGHBORHOOD. I IMAGINE THAT THERE'S MANY PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT CAN SAY THE SAME. AND SO I'M GOING TO DROP A LITTLE NUGGET THERE.

FOR FUTURE ANNEXATIONS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HOLDING THE COUNTY TO TASK IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY INVEST IN THOSE AREAS AND NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE WE ANNEX THEM IN.

IT JUST ADDS TO OUR BURDEN AND WE NEVER ADDRESS IT. BUT I DO WANT TO SUPPORT THAT BATHROOM ASK AND THAT FOR MANY OTHERS. COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO, I THINK SOMETHING IMPORTANT I WANTED TO NOTE, LAST YEAR THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A

[03:05:06]

I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THAT. MOST OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WERE FUNDED THROUGH THIS PAST BUDGET I'D LIKE TO SEE CARRY FORWARD INTO THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THIS BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA, SUPPORT FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS. WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE. WE WANT TO -- I'LL SAY THAT.

I WANT TO GIVE AS MUCH SUPPORT TO THEM AS WE CAN. AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

COUNCILMAN WHYTE, THE PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION FUND WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR, I REALLY WANT STAFF TO EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS OF FINDING A PERMANENT SOURCE OF FUNDING.

I KNOW THAT NONE OF US HAVE TALKED ABOUT THINGS WE WANT TO TAKE FUNDING FROM AND SO THE ASKS ARE GETTING HIGHER AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS WE HAVE ARE NOT GETTING HIGHER.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATIVE IN THAT.

REGARDING THE CLUBHOUSE'S ASK, I DON'T HAVE ANY HOAS WITH CLUBHOUSES.

IT'S VERY DISTINCT TO A CERTAIN AREA OF OUR COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO E LIMITATIONS ON HOW WE CAN USE CIP DOLLARS. WE CAN DO PROJECTS THAT ARE, AT A MINIMUM, $100,000. IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AND A COUNCILMEMBER WOULD LIKE TO DO A $10,000 TO $15,000 PROJECT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME LEEWAY THERE.

THEN LASTLY, MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED TRASH PICKUP. THE CITY IS SOMETIMES FILTHY.

WE'RE NOT IN A CHURCH. YOU CAN USE WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU WANT TO USE TO DESCRIBE IT. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE NOTICED IS THAT VACANCY PROPERTIES, WHICH WE HAVE THE MOST IN DISTRICT 2, WITH THEIR OWNERS OUT OF STATE, THEY'RE NOT KEEPING UP THEIR PROPERTY. ESPECIALLY IF IT'S VACANT OR UNDEVELOPED LAND, LIKE ON UNION PACIFIC OR IF IT'S OWNED BY THE STATE. IF THEY'RE NOT MOWING, PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO ILLEGALLY DUMP. THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE MOWING FREQUENTLY ARE SEEING WAY LESS OF THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD FOLK ACCOUNTABLE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE A POSITIVE RESULT. BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF A CAMPAIGN LIKE DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS, BUT SOMETHING SAN ANTONIO.

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. I WANT TO AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA ON THE HEALTH DISPARITIES WE HAVE IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE. AND MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE AND MAKE SURE OUR 2017 BOND PROJECTS GET COMPLETED, SPECIFICALLY ROOSEVELT. I HEARD A LOT OF GROUPS -- SOME OF THEM ARE GREAT GROUPS -- BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU CAN GET US, ERIK, IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS WHEN WE'RE GIVING MONIES TO ORGANIZATIONS.

BECAUSE I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME DID ARTS AND CULTURE. SOME DID METRO HEALTH.

SOME WOULD FALL UNDER MELODY AND HER GROUP. IF WE COULD JUST GET WHAT WE REQUIRE OF THEM, BECAUSE ONCE THE CITY GETS INVOLVED, IT MEANS A LOT OF PAPERWORK.

AND SO JUST THAT BEFORE I WANT TO GO DOWN MY LIST OF AGENCIES THAT I THINK CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE GET FUNDING. OF COURSE, I LIKE TO SEE MORE FUNDING FOR THE ART MAINTENANCE, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE CAN DO.

I KNOW WE HAVE THE SCHEDULE BUT I THINK WE NEED MORE, AS WE GET INTO THE HARSHER WEATHER AND WE SEE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED.

AND WE HAVE MORE ART PIECES COMING UP SO I THINK THAT MAINTENANCE BUDGET NEEDS TO GROW ALSO. AND THEN IN D2'S POINTS REGARDING THE CONTRACTS -- AND I KNOW THE CONTRACTORS THAT THE CITY USES FAITHFULLY. BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AND ASK WHO THE SUBCONTRACTORS ARE THAT ARE GOING INTO THE SOUTH AND THE EAST SIDE. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GIVING US THE SAME QUALITY OF WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NORTH SIDE. SO, AGAIN, YES, I UNDERSTAND THE LET'S GET IT DONE FASTER. BUT I WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO COME SPEND TIME ON PRESA, ON NEW BRAUNFELS, ON GOLIAD -- WELL, GOLIAD'S SORT OF DONE. AND SEE WHAT SORT OF THINGS WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH. AND THEN I LIKED ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BROUGHT UP THE LIGHTING AND WORKING WITH CPS ON THAT AND MAKING SURE WE ARE KEEPING UP WITH THAT.

SO I AM FULLY AWARE THAT WE ARE IN A BUDGET CRUNCH AND WE NEED TO GET REALISTIC ABOUT OUR ASKS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO CUT. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HEARING

[03:10:01]

I KNOW MY FIRST YEAR I WAS ON COUNCIL AND WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

I HAD DEPARTMENTS THAT I WAS READY TO CUT BUT YOU NEED TO TELL US WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU WANT TO CUT FROM BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW. THANK YOU.

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

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR ONE SPECIFIC ITEM, THE CITY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR SURROGACY IVF AND UIU. MAKE SURE I GOT THAT IN.

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

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

I WAS HESITANT TO TOUCH ON THE ZERO-BASED BUDGETING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE A BAD IDEA LEGS. I THINK TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT, WHEN WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, THIS MEANS JOB SECURITY. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY MAKING CUTS, THOSE ARE POTENTIAL CITY EMPLOYEES THAT MAY HAVE TO DO WITHOUT WORK IF WE CUT THEIR PROGRAMMING AND/OR PROJECTS. SO JUST EMPHASIZING THAT POINT. BUT I DIGRESS. ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND AND IS A PRIORITY AND I WANT TO THANK JUDGE OBLEDO FOR THE WORK SHE DOES WITH THE TRUANCY COURT, AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLUG READY TO WORK AND THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. HOW CAN WE CONNECT FOLKS 16 TO 18 THROUGH READY TO WORK AND THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. THESE ARE INVALUABLE SKILLS THAT I BELIEVE OUR AT-RISK YOUTH DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PLUGGED INTO .

I WANTED TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE MOBILE SPAY AND NEUTER UNIT.

IT'S SOMETHING I HEAR EVERY DAY FROM THE DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS.

IN REGARDS TO THE LGC PAY, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF COUNCIL HAVING THE DISCRETION.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE DO HAVE IT IN OUR BUDGET, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE DISCRETION TO ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER WAGES FOR OUR STAFF. BUT IN REGARDS TO THAT, RIGHT, I THINK THE ARGUMENT OF ENSURING THAT WE CAN RETAIN AND SUSTAIN TALENT APPLIES TO ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING FIRE. I WANTED TO COMMEND COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO FOR THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND WE'VE SEEN THE METRICS AND CERTAIN DISTRICTS HAVE MAXED OUT THAT ASSISTANCE. IT'S A PROGRAM THAT I THINK WE SHOULD SEE BAKED INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT DOES SERVE SENIORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IN REGARDS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ONE PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR THAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR GREAT THINGS ABOUT AND GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN THEY DON'T MEET THE APPLICATION WINDOW IS THE FACADE GRANT. THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTINUED SUPPORT IF NOT INCREASED. THAT WAY MORE DISTRICT 5 AND SAN ANTONIO BUSINESSES CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THOSE GRANT DOLLARS.

IN REGARDS TO TRASH, A DISTRICT 5 RESIDENT HAD THIS GREAT IDEA OF GETTING CREATIVE WITH THE NO DUMPING SIGNS. WHAT SHE IS PROPOSING SAYS WHAT A SHAME.

I THINK IT'S FUNNY, CREATIVE, AND IT COULD GET PEOPLE TO STOP AND REFLECT AND LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING. ENSURING THEY HAVE THE EMS SUPPORT AND MEDICAL SUPPORT TO SUPPORT THEIR CONSTITUENCY. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.

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

THE CITY OF MONTEREY HAS SOME CREATIVE SIGNS ON LITTER SO IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO CHECK OUR

NEIGHBORS. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: I REALLY LIKE THAT IDEA. YEAH, WE WOULD LOVE OUR PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR WORK BUT IF WE NEEDED TO URGE THEM A LITTLE BIT, WHAT CAN WE DO IN SUPPORT.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE LIKE THAT. AROUND THE SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. EVERY RESIDENT SHOULD HAVE A PARK WITHIN A TEN-MINUTE WALK AND I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO HAVE A GOAL THAT SAYS WITHIN A QUARTER MILE RADIUS OF A SCHOOL YOU CAN HAVE SAFE PASSAGE FOR WALKING TO THAT SCHOOL. COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE MENTIONED ABOUT HOUSING AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT COMPONENTS THAT WE ALSO SUPPORT ON IN TERMS OF OUR WORK CURRENTLY WITH OPPORTUNITY HOME AND THE MAINTENANCE AND ALSO WITH ADDITIONAL HOUSING. ERIK, YOU MENTIONED THE TOD WORK. THE GREEN LINE IS COMING AND WE NEED TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT FOR TOD. ALONG THAT, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THE ADU PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AROUND THAT AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN GREAT A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO BUILD AN ADU IN THEIR HOMES TO HELP SUPPORT WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS BUT ALSO ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THEM. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED THE IVF PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES. I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY AS SOMEONE WORKING THROUGH ALL THOSE CHALLENGES, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR

[03:15:04]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOUR LIPS TO GOD'S EARS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: THANKS. ERIK, TWO OTHER ITEMS. ONE -- ANOTHER WE HAD A DISCUSSION IN THE LAST BUDGET AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT A LOT, WHICH IS MAKING ALL OF OUR PARKS ULTRA ACCESSIBLE, NOT JUST ADA COMPLIANT BUT SOMETHING THAT KIDS AND FAMILIES OF ALL ABILITIES CAN ENJOY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE RESTROOMS. MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S ADULT-CHANGING STATIONS IN THOSE RESTROOMS. EVEN THE PORTA-POTTIES I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

WE HEAR FROM FAMILIES ALL THE TIME SAYING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THOSE.

THE OTHER THING TOO, I WOULD INVITE ALL OF YOU TO DISTRICT 9 TO CHECK OUT MCALLISTER PARK. THEY HAVE A BICYCLE SKILLS TRACK BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. YOU HAVE FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER SAN ANTONIO TAKING THEIR KIDS THERE TO LEARN SOME PRETTY SKILLS ON HOW TO RIDE THEIR BIKES BUT ALSO YOU HAVE SOME PRETTY ADVANCED ATHLETES WHO PUT ON A PRETTY DARN GOOD SHOW FOR EVERYBODY THERE. BUT IT'S HARD TO ACTUALLY RIDE YOUR BIKE NOW ON THAT SKILLS TRACK BECAUSE IT'S SO PACKED. WE NEED THESE SKILLS TRACK ALL OVER TOWN, ERIK. VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT FACILITIES.

THEY ARE EASY TO MAINTAIN. THEY DON'T REQUIRE MUCH WATERING OR MAINTENANCE.

ONCE YOU PUT THEM IN, THESE FOLKS JUST SHOW UP AND RIDE. IT'S AN AMENITY THAT MORE AND MORE CITIES HAVE AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM. THAT'S IT.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE RIGHT ON TIME. IT IS 12:30. ERIK, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE BREAK? WE'LL BREAK UNTIL 1:45. WE'LL BE B BACK AT 1:45.

>> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. AFTER THE BREAK -- SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OVER THE LUNCH BREAK IS COMPILE WHAT WE HEARD AND KIND OF SHARE A QUICK SUMMARY BACK TO THE COUNCIL. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO WEIGH IN. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ALL WHAT ARE OUR LOWER PRIORITIES.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU WANT TO GET IT OUT ON THE TABLE.

ALTHOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE AGREEMENT, IT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO HEAR THAT.

SO TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO SEE KIND OF WHAT WE'VE COMPILED OR WHAT WE'LL COMPILE OVER THE LUNCH HOUR. THEN WE'LL DO A QUICK PRESENTATION ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE BUDGET. AND THEN GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL IN THAT SENSE.

AND THEN WRAP UP. WE MAY HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE END OF THE DAY -- I'M LOOKING AT ANDY. HE DOESN'T KNOW YET. WE'LL KEEP YOU GUYS UPDATED.

THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

AT 12:29 WE ARE RECESSED UNTIL 1:45. LUNCH IS NEXT DOOR.

>> IT IS 1:56:00 P.M. ARE WE ON? OKAY.

IT'S 1:56:00 P.M. ON APRIL 18, 2024. CITY COUNCIL WILL RECONVENE.

OUR GOAL SETTING SESSION, COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN IS ON. CAN YOU HEAR US? GREAT. ALL RIGHT. ERIC, OVER TO YOU TO BRING US

BACK FROM BREAK. >> WALSH: ALL RIGHT. SO CAN WE PULL UP -- WE DID A QUICK REVIEW, AND WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, YOU RECALL IN ABOUT WEEK FROM NOW, YOU'LL GET A MUCH MORE DETAILED REPORT, BUT WE PULLED TOGETHER KIND OF THE BROAD THINGS YOU SAID TODAY TO SHOW TO YOU, REPORT TO YOU AFTER LUNCH, GET FEEDBACK TO YOU, AND I ALSO KIND OF

[03:20:06]

SO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE CPS FINANCIAL POLICY THIS MORNING. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

IT IS -- I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON HERE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A CLEAR CONSENSUS AS WE LOOKED AT IT.

AND REMEMBER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE WHERE ANYTHING OVER 10% GETS HELD FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

THE SECOND ITEM ON THERE IS THE UNUSED INCREMENT THAT A COUPLE OF YOU MENTIONED BUT I WANTED TO, JUST ONE MORE CHANCE, GIVE COUNCIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER OR NOT WE INCLUDE THAT ADDITIONAL INCREMENT. IF WE DON'T, IT WILL EXPIRE, AND THEN THERE'S NO CHANCE TO USE THAT GOING FORWARD. THAT IS A TOOL THAT THE LEGISLATURE GAVE CITIES AND COUNTIES WHEN THEY ENACTED SB 2.

WHICH PART? THE TOOL? THE INCREMENT? SO THE UNUSED INCREMENT FROM PROPERTY VALUES IS A TOOL THAT WAS BUILT INTO SB 2 TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES, PUBLIC ENTITIES, TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE, BUT IF YOU DON'T, AFTER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, IT EXPIRES. THE UNUSED INCREMENT THAT TROY TALKED ABOUT EXPIRES AFTER NEXT YEAR, SO THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE IT. IT WOULD BE JUST -- IT WOULD BE PROPERTY TAX GENERAL FUND REVENUE. YEAH. NEXT SLIDE.

NOW, AGAIN, THIS IS HIGH LEVEL. INFRASTRUCTURE UP THERE MEANS EVERYTHING FROM NAMFP TO GETTING CONSTRUCTION DONE FASTER, SO YOU'LL BE GETTING A MUCH MORE DETAILED REPORT.

WE WERE TRYING TO COMBINE THEM INTO THE BROADER HEADINGS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE MAJOR GOALS ARE OR SHOULD BE, SO INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, AGAIN, A LOT OF YOU TALKED ABOUT LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY ALL CAPTURED UNDERNEATH THERE, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND HOUSING AND HOMELESS. THESE ARE ITEMS -- THESE ARE CATEGORIES THAT HAD CLEAR CONSENSUS FROM MAJORITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

NEXT SLIDE. THESE ARE CATEGORIES THAT HAVE SOME -- AND THEY'RE BROAD CATEGORIES, BUT THEY HAD SOME COUNCILMEMBERS DESCRIBING. NOW, AGAIN, THESE ARE BROAD CATEGORIES, OTHER THAN SENIOR ASSISTANCE, PEOPLE WERE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE SENIOR ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET.

THE ISSUE HELPS FACILITIES, CLEAN CITY. WHICH IS THE LITTER ISSUE THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT. WE HAD A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEE ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, AND THEN PARK IMPROVEMENTS, WHETHER SHADE STRUCTURES, BATHROOMS IN PARKS.

SO THOSE ARE BROAD CATEGORIES. THERE'S ANOTHER LIST AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE FINAL REPORT OF OTHER THINGS YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT.

AGAIN, WE'LL GIVE A DETAILED LIST, BUT WE WANTED TO SHOW THESE TO YOU AND GET SOME FEEDBACK. SO THE LAST PART OF THAT IS HOW I LEFT BEFORE THE BREAK.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM THE COUNCIL MAYBE AREAS THAT ARE LOWER PRIORITIES, AND MAYBE AREAS WHERE WE COULD WORK TO REALLOCATE DOLLARS TO HIGHER PRIORITIES. SO ANY THOUGHTS THAT COUNCIL HAS IN THAT RESPECT WOULD BE HELPFUL DURING THE NEXT ROUND. AND SO I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, MAYOR, AND WE'LL START BACK ON THE REVENUE ISSUES, EXPENSES,

AND THEN WHAT LOWER PRIORITIES EXIST. >> YEAH.

AND JUST A REMINDER FOR ALL OF US, MAYOR, WE'RE NOT COUNTING ANYTHING HERE.

THIS IS A BUDGET GOAL-SETTING SESSION. NO ACTION BEING TAKEN BY COUNCIL. AND, AGAIN, THE INPUT HERE IS SO THAT ERIC AND THE TEAM CAN START THE FRAMEWORK FOR A BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ULTIMATELY VOTE

ON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.

AND ERIC, WHEN YOU SAID YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR LOWER PRIORITIES ARE, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY ASKING US THE OPPOSITE OF THAT, WHICH IS MOST IMPORTANT. SO WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE THINGS ON THE TABLE MOST Y URGENT FOR US. AND WE WANT IT OFF OF YOUR OWN LIST. WE CAN'T SAY ALL OF MARC'S STUFF IS A PRIORITY. LOOK AT YOUR OWN LIST OF THINGS AND SUGGEST WHAT'S A LOWER PRIORITY VIS-À-VIS SOME OTHER ISSUES.

[03:25:07]

>> WALSH: YES, THAT. BUT ALSO MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING

GENERALLY AS A CITY THAT ARE LOWER PRIORITIES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

OKAY. >> WALSH: SO REALLY BOTH. AND COUNCILMAN'S WHYTE'S

STUFF IS ALL A PRIORITY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JUST A JOKE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE. WHO CAN SET A GOOD TONE FOR US.

>> COURAGE: I DON'T KNOW. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INCREMENT, IF WE ARE GOING TO EMPLOY THAT, BASED ON THE CURRENT TAX RATE TO GET THE EXTRA $5.5 MILLION, WE HAVE TO ADJUST THE TAX RATE UP

IN ORDER TO GET THAT; IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, SIR.

>> COURAGE: SO THAT WOULD MEAN A TAX HEIGHTEN. OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ABOUT THAT. THE OTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE'VE COMMITTED TO HAVING MORE POLICE GET TRAINED AND GET TO WORK. I HATE TO SEE US STRETCH THAT OUT AS LONG AS WE HAVE, AND I'D SURE LIKE TO SEE US GET THAT 360 IN THE PIPELINE SOONER THAN THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, WHICH I THINK IS THE LENGTH OF TIME I'M SEEING.

SO THE SOONER WE CAN DO THAT, ADD CLASSES OR EXPAND THE SIZE OF CLASSES AND GET THEM ALL INTO TRAINING WITHIN THREE YEARS SO THEY'RE OUT FASTER, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THAT'S ALL I HAD.

>> WALSH: MAYOR, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION. SO THE TAX RATE IS GOING TO GO DOWN BECAUSE OF THE SB 2 CALCULATION. SO THE TAX RATE WILL BE LOWER. THAT'S NOT DONE YET, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THE UNUSED INCREMENT GETS LAYERED ON TOP OF IT. BUT OVERALL THE TAX RATE IS LIKELY GOING TO BE LESS, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, WE USED THE UNUSED INCREMENT OR A PORTION OF THE UNUSED INCREMENT, AND OUR TAX RATE WAS STILL LOWER. SO IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE RATE WILL BE HIGHER. SB 2 PRESSES ALL OF THAT DOWN.

SO, YEAH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

>> RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AND ARE YOU ALSO LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ON CPS? OKAY. I'LL SAY WHAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY I CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF WITH THE CAVEAT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ADDED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AS IT GOES BACK TO CPS, A BIT MORE INVOLVEMENT FOR THE CITY AND SETTING PARAMETERS AND SPECIFICALLY LET THAT BE FROM OUR OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY OR CLOSE COLLABORATION FOR THEM.

AS IT RELATES TO THINGS LOWEST PRIORITY. I DO WANT OFF BY SAYING, 1, NO ONE SHOULD BE LOSING THEIR JOB DUE TO BUDGET CUTS.

WE'RE NOT FACING THAT STARTING THERE, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS THINKING THAT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING EITHER.

DO I BELIEVE -- I HEARD CODE ENFORCEMENT. I DO THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE CODE AND CLEANLINESS, OUR CITY. I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW THAT GROWTH IS NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENCY, AND WE HEARD THE DIRECTOR UP HERE SAY WE DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN ANYMORE POSITIONS, SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY LOWER PRIORITY AS IT RESULTS TO GROWTH OF A DEPARTMENT. IF WE DO NEED TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER A PAUSE ON HIRING VACANCIES IN CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS. I HESITATE TO MENTION ANY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF ALL CITY STAFF, AND SO I TRUST THAT MAYBE COUNCIL HAS THAT CONVERSATION OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR HIRED CITY MANAGER CAN HELP US DETERMINE AS WHICH IS ESSENTIAL, WHICH ARE NOT, AND WHICH WE CAN PAUSE ON HIRING VACANCIES FOR. I DO ALSO -- I THINK THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES, AND I HEAR THIS CON DISTANTLY, AND I UNDERSTAND IT.

THERE'S A HUGE PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. I AGREE.

WE HEAR IT FROM OUR CONSTITUENCY. WE'RE EXPECTED TO BE EFFICIENT AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENCIES AND BE EFFECTIVE. AND WE'RE SEEING CRIME IS DOWN.

WE'RE SEEING THAT NATIONWIDE, THAT TREND IS HAPPENING WHERE CRIME IS DOWN, AND IT'S WELCOMED NEWS. THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET IS SAPD AND FIRE. AND SO RIGHT NOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRIORITIES AND WHO HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND FOR HOWEVER LONG, I WOULD SAY THAT FIRE IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR ME OVER GROWTH OF SAPD. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO FILL -- WE WANT TO REACH THE GAP THAT THE PARTIALLY COMPLETED STUDY TOLD US WE WANT TO MEET FOR SAPD. IF WE CAN EXTEND THAT BEYOND THE TIME PERIOD WE HAVE ALLOTTED, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND EXPEDITING THAT, I WOULD RECOMMEND STRETCHING IT OUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER JUST SO THAT WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

[03:30:01]

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

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THESE ARE LOWER PRIORITY, BUT THEY'RE PRIORITIES. I WANT TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE ON GETTING THE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS WE NEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT WAS OVER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, WHAT WAS LAID OUT YESTERDAY, BUT THE EXTENT WE COULD DO IT QUICKER WOULD BE GREAT.

AND THEN ONE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS MORNING THAT WAS MENTIONED BY A COUPLE OF FOLKS IS PAY FOR OUR COUNCIL STAFF.

WE'VE HAD SOME TALKS WITH CITY STAFF ON THIS, AND I KNOW A FEW OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IT AMONGST THEMSELVES, BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT TO FIND A DIFFERENT AND BETTER WAY TO PAY OUR STAFF.

THEY WORK SO HARD. THEY DESERVE MORE MONEY. AND THEY ALSO -- THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ELEMENT IN THE PAY STRUCTURE WHERE THEY CAN BE REWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, IN MY OPINION.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THAT DONE. I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE PROS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL. THANKS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM?

COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN REGARDS TO THE CPS, AGAIN, EMPHASIZING, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE TO THE RESPUN TO ALSO ENCOMPASS SUPPORTING METRO HEALTH, AND OF COURSE JUST REEMPHASIZING THAT WITHOUT CURRENT METRICS ON CPS WITH THE RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY PROJECTS, I FEEL AS COMFORTABLE AS PROPOSED OR WHAT'S PRESENTED TO US, RATHER, WITH THE UNUSED INCREMENT. THERE'S A PEW RESEARCH STUDY THAT FOUND THAT PHILADELPHIA IS HOME TO OVER 10,000 TANGLED TITLES AFFECTING REAL ESTATE OVER 1.1 BILLION; RIGHT? AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO SUPPORT TITLE CLEARANCE TO ENSURE WE ARE CAPTURING THOSE PROPERTY TAXES FROM THOSE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE TANGLED TITLE ISSUES. IN REGARDS TO THE BUCKETS, CAN YOU CLARIFY THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE. DOES THAT INCLUDE STANDUP SA, SA CORE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOES INCLUDE THOSE. >> YES, MA'AM.

THERE WAS TALK ABOUT SOME COUNCILMEMBERS TALKED ABOUT THE PREVENTION PLAN. THERE WAS A WHOLE LITANY OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> CASTILLO: OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. WITH THAT, RIGHT, AGAIN, JUST EMPHASIZING, WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS RELY ON PRIMARILY IS EMS AND FIRE. SO WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITIES, AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

I THINK IN REGARDS TO WHAT ISN'T NECESSARILY A LOWER PRIORITY, BUT I DO FIND THAT THERE WOULD BE VALUE IN LOOKING AT DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT MAY NOT BE PERFORMING WELL OR FARING WELL WHEN IT COMES TO CITY AUDITS, AND FOR US TO EVALUATE WHO'S NOT MEETING METRICS.

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

COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH. WITH THE CPS FINANCIAL -- WHERE THE CPS FINANCIAL POLICY IS CONCERNED, I DON'T THINK WE NEED -- I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS THAT UNTIL WE SEE IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE OVER 10% AND THEN MAYBE THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE POLICY AFTER CPS HAS COME TO SOME OF THE COMMITTEES BECAUSE I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, A CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, WE'RE WORKING ON THEM COMING TO CHECK TO LEARN MORE. SO I THINK YOU CAN PUT A PIN IN THAT. AND THEN THE UNUSED INCREMENTS, I THINK WE NEED TO USE -- IF YOU COULD GO TO SLIDE 3. I THINK IT'S NOT -- IN TERMS OF BUDGET PRIORITIES, EVERYTHING YOU PUT ON THREE AND FOUR I THINK REMAIN A PRIORITY. I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE PROGRAMMING, AND, AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE COST.

WHAT IS GOING TO COST MORE IN TERMS -- AND IMPACT OUR BUDGET MORE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, AND SOME OF THE OTHER -- THE ISSUES FROM DISTRICT 4. BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL PRIORITIES, BUT PROGRAMS WITHIN THESE LARGER ONES MAY BE SOMETHING THAT ARE NOT AS NEEDED NOW, BUT WE WOULD -- I WOULD NEED MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THAT IF YOU'RE WANTING THAT, AND I'LL HAVE -- I'LL HAVE A LIST

[03:35:06]

AND I DO WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR CODE, ONCE AGAIN, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE STAFFED. WE LOOK AT EXPANDING THE STAFF.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN TERMS OF OUR STAFFING ISSUES, WHICH MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THE TIGHTENING THE BUDGET IS HOW WE COULD GET EVERYBODY TRAINED, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE JUST HAVE MORE COMMUNICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENTS. AND I THINK THE -- THAT THERE'S A FEW DOING IT REALLY WELL, BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT EXPANDING THAT THROUGHOUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN SAY -- SEE IF THERE'S, LIKE, A REDUNDANCY BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO TIGHTEN UP BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF PRIORITIES. SO THANK YOU FOR SUMMING IT UP SO GENERALLY, SO QUICKLY. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER NIGHT GRAN. BECAUSE OF THE BREATH OF THIS DISCUSSION AND WHAT WE HAVE LEFT AND THE COMMENTS BEFORE, I'LL JUST SAY ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE THREE MINUTES.

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

AND I AGREE WITH THE PRIORITIES STATED HERE. I WANT TO ECHO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO -- MY GOSH, I'M HAVING ONE OF THOSE DAYS. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO ON THE HEALTH ASPECT OF ANYTHING WE DO WITH CPS ENERGY, AND SPECIFICALLY, I THINK THERE WAS A CLEAR CONSENSUS THAT WE WANT MORE ASSURANCES IN WRITING FROM CPS ENERGY, SPECIFICALLY ON RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCY PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE FUNDED WHEN WE DO HAVE THE TALK ABOUT EXCESS AND FUNDING. SO I DO WANT TO PLUG IN FOR THAT.

AND THEN I HAD MENTIONED THIS TO SOMEBODY. I CAN'T REMEMBER TO WHO -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS TO ERIC OR MAYBE IT WAS TO THE MAYOR.

BUT I MENTIONED THAT THE WAY WE'VE BEEN FUNDED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS GOING TO LIKELY CHANGE BASED ON WHATEVER ADMINISTRATION IS ON THERE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO START PREPARING AND HAVING, LIKE, PLANS B, C, AND D, BEST CASE SCENARIO, WORST CASE SCENARIO, AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT UP FRONT AS WE START PLANNING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. I JUST CAME OFF FROM A MEETING.

IT WAS AN FPC MEETING THAT I'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH AND THE APC AFFORDABLE ACCOUNT PLAN WILL AFFECT A LOT OF RESIDENTS, WORK FORCE, AND EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE CUT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER COBRA GARCIA. ANY -- COUNCILMEMBER

KAUR? >> KAUR: JUST DOUBLING DOWN EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILMEMBER

ROCHA GARCIA SAID. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KAUR.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ADD MY PERSPECTIVE HERE QUICKLY.

ON THE CPS FINANCIAL POLICY, I SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I'M SURE WE CAN MEET THE BAR SET FOR HOW THOSE FUNDS -- PROJECT FUNDS WILL BE USED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPORTIONS. I'M HOPE FOR DISCUSSION OPEN FON ON THAT. KEEP IN MIND THE POLICY AS IT EXISTS TODAY ALLOWS FOR DISCUSSION ON HOW IT COULD BE USED. SO IN THE EVENT WE SET A POLICY TODAY AND WE REACH THE 10% THRESHOLD AND YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD, WE COULD ALWAYS CREATE A VARIANCE, ESSENTIALLY, IN THE POLICY. BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD MESSAGE TO SEND ABOUT OUR INTENTS OF THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AS WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT THE CONCERNS IN AUSTIN. HERE IS MY -- THESE ARE ALL PRIORITIES ERIC, BUT YOU ASKED FOR LOWER PRIORITIES.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH CONSTRUCTION TELLS US WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING THROUGH THE PIPELINE, SO MUCH SO THAT WE'VE GOT SUPPLY AND LABOR ISSUES. SO I WOULD PUT ON A LOWER PRIORITY ANY ADDITIONAL INCREASE AS TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGETS.

STREETS, DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE TRIPLED THAT BUDGET IN THE LAST 7 YEARS, AND WE ARE SEEING DELAYS IN PROJECTS, I THINK, BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES. SO I WOULD PUT THAT A LOWER PRIORITY.

WHAT I DO WANT TO SEE, THOUGH IS WE BETTER UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS AS WE TALKED ABOUT TO CREATE INCENTIVES TO MAKE SURE THOSE PROJECTS ARE DONE TIMELY. YOU KNOW, AT RISK OF BEING MISINTERPRETED

[03:40:01]

SO WHAT I WOULD URGE FOR US TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RESTRAINED IN THE GROWTH OF THE CITY OFFICE COUNCIL BUDGETS, BUT LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT WE COULD BE MORE FLEXIBLE WITH THE DOLLARS THAT ARE THERE WITH RESPECT TO HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR STAFF, HOW YOU HIRE, WHAT FUNCTIONS THEY PERFORM, ET CETERA. AND LASTLY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT WHAT COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO FEDERAL FUNDS. WE HAVE SORT OF OUR EVERY FEW MONTHS FIRE DRILL WITH RESPECT TO THE MRC FUNDING, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC MEETING WE HAD ON THE MRC IS THE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT POCKETS OF FEDERAL FUNDS ARE NOT YET UTILIZED, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE COMMITTED. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXERCISE FOR US TO DO WITH THE REMAINING ARPA DOLLARS THAT ARE COMMITTED. ARE THESE BEING COMMITTED TO PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE COMPLETED. I KNOW GWEN PROBABLY HAS A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT, FOR MOST OF THEM, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT WORK ANYWAYS, AND IF THOSE DOLLARS ARE BETTER REPURPOSED FOR SOME OF THE HIGHER PRIORITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A DISCUSSION THAT COUNCIL TAKES UP. WE KNOW THE FISCAL REALITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. ARPA HAS CERTAIN STIPULATIONS ON HOW THOSE DOLLARS CAN BE SPENT, BUT IT'S ALSO TIMELY. SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT -- WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT IF THOSE DOLLARS HAVE SAT ON THE SHELF FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS OR YEARS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN ALLOCATED, WE NEED TO PUT THOSE INTO USE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT WORK. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, ERIC.

ANYTHING ELSE FOR THIS ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO THE OUTREACH PLAN?

OKAY. ALANA, YOU'RE UP. >> I NEED A LITTLE STAND. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ALANA REED.

AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, AND I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SHARE OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED FY2025 BUDGET. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAD GREAT FEEDBACK LAST YEAR FROM OUR FIRST STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, AND WE'LL BE USING A SIMILAR APPROACH THIS YEAR WITH THE ADDITION OF MESSAGING TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE NEED TO SLOW CITY SPENDING WHILE STILL UNDERSTANDING OUR RESIDENT SATISFACTION OF CITY SERVICES AND THEIR HIGHEST NEEDS AND PRIORITIES FOR THE NY2025 BUDGET.

THE SURVEY WILL BE SHAPED AROUND THEIR PRIORITIES SET TODAY BY YOU, AND IT'LL ALSO BENCHMARK LAST YEAR'S RESULTS.

THE RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED TO HELP GUIDE YOU ON PROPOSED BUDGET FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR FY2025. THE STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED BY ETC INSTITUTE. ETC INSTITUTE IS A NATIONAL SURVEY FIRM WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE IN CONDUCTING COMMUNITY SURVEYS, INCLUDING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET SURVEY, OUR 2022 COMMUNITY SATISFACTION SURVEY, AND THE 2021SAPD POLICE SERVICES SURVEY.

THEY ALSO WORKED WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ON SURVEYS WHICH THEN ALLOWS US TO COMPARE OUR DATA TO OTHER CITIES. THE SURVEY WILL FOLLOW A SIMILAR STRUCTURE AS LAST YEAR'S SURVEY AND BE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WE'LL GATHER BOTH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA, AND RESIDENTS WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE SURVEY BASED ON THEIR ADDRESS WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING AT LEAST 100 SURVEYS COMPLETED IN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT. PARTICIPANTS CAN COMPLETE THE SURVEY BY MAIL, CALLING A TOLL FREE NUMBER, ONLINE, AND THERE'LL ALSO BE BILINGUAL FOLLOW UP BY EMAIL AND PHONE CALLS TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION. THE SAMPLE WILL BE DESIGNED TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE RESULTS REPRESENT OUR CITY'S UNIQUE AND DIVERSE POPULATION WITH RESPECT TO AGE, RACE, GENDER, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS. THE GOAL IS 1,067 SURVEYS TO BE COMPLETED

[03:45:07]

THE ITEMS AT THE BOTTOM IN GREEN, THEY'RE STILL IMPORTANT SERVICES, BUT THEY HAD A LOWER LEVEL OF NEED FOR IMPRO IMPROVEMENTS.

IN ADDITION TO THE STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE FEEDBACK ON SASPEAKUP.COM. ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THE COMMUNITY CAN ALSO CALL 3-1-1 TO PROVIDE INPUT.

THE SASPEAKUP RESULTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN OUR FINAL REPORT TO COUNCIL.

THIS IS OUR TIMELINE, SO OUR TEAM IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT TO FINALIZE THE SURVEY. THE SURVEY IS SET TO BEGIN ON MAY 9 AND WILL RUN FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY, AND THEN THE RESULTS WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU ON JUNE 20.

MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER MY

QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALANA. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE

RODRIGUEZ. >> RODRIGUEZ: YES. CAN YOU PLEASE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE -- I GUESS IT WAS THE SURVEY EXAMPLE.

>> THAT ONE? >> RODRIGUEZ: YEAH. I JUST WANT TO READ THAT FOR A SECOND. I WOULD SAY -- HMM. THAT IS ALL.

THANK YOU. I JUST WOULD SAY -- IT JUST FEELS I GUESS GOING

BACK TO THAT REALLY QUICK. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IF YOU COULD LEAVE THAT UP. WE'RE ALL OBSERVING THAT SLIDE.

>> RODRIGUEZ: THAT'S A LOT -- SOME OF THOSE -- ESPECIALLY THE TOP FIVE, I THINK THEY'RE

CONSISTENT. >> THEY WERE ALSO BROKEN DOWN BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, I HAVE THAT IN THE BACKUP SLIDE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.

>> RODRIGUEZ: I WOULD LOVE TO. I WOULD JUST STRESS I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LOWER PRIORITY. PLEASE GO BACK. I WOULD JUST STRESS THAT I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT LOWER PRIORITY AND WE'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION -- TWOF US, THREE OF US HAVING THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT LOWER PRIORITY ITEMS. GARBAGE RECYCLING, WASTE. LIBRARY, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WE HAVE. LIBRARIES CONTINUE TO BE A SERVICE THAT MANY MOST DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES RELY ON. SO I READ THIS DIFFERENTLY. I KNOW I'LL HAVE TO PROCESS IT AND LOOK AT OTHER DATA, BUT IT WAS INTERESTING TO PROCESS THIS.

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

>> I'M SORRY. MAYOR. YOU RAISED A GOOD POINT, AND LET ME JUST REEMPHASIZE WHAT ALANA SAID.

EVEN THOUGH THAT SAYS LOWER PRIORITY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE SAME LOWER PRIORITY I WAS ASKING A SECOND AGO. THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE LAST YEAR ARE SATISFIED HUGELY WITH GARBAGE AND LIBRARY.

SO WE WON'T TAKE THIS SURVEY AS WELL -- BECAUSE, FRANKLY, THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE DOING WELL AT; RIGHT? SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO -- THEY'RE NOT HAVING THE SAME APPLICATION AS THE EARLIER PART OF OUR

CONVERSATION. >> RODRIGUEZ: GOTCHA. I THINK THAT TAKEAWAY IS WHAT I WOULD HAVE. IF SOMETHING HAS BECOME A PART OF SOMEONE'S DAILY LIFE, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO THINK ABOUT IT AS SOMETHING THAT'S A HUGE NEED, AND SO I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE TAKEAWAY THERE BECAUSE PARKS AND REC -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY METRO HEALTH, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE PAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, JUST -- I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU

REAFFIRM THAT, THANK YOU, ERIC. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: I NEVER HAVE FAITH IN A LOT OF THESE SURVEYS, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE ONLY RECEIVING REPLIES FROM 1,000

[03:50:14]

I WISH WE COULD DO 5,000 PEOPLE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND $5 MILLION TO DO IT. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR FROM MORE IN ORDER TO HAVE A BETTER FEELING FOR WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING WITH THIS BUDGET. SO THAT'S JUST MY OPINION, AND PROBABLY WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL REACH OUT TO 6,000 TO 10,000 PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT AND ASK THEM SOME OF THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT'LL BE ASKED BY THIS SURVEY SO I CAN COMPARE WHAT THE SURVEY TELLS ME WITH

WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN MY OWN DISTRICT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. >> PELAEZ: YES.

I THINK THERE'S A CONSTITUENTS, ASK, AND THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP US TO BE FORCE MULTIPLIERS IF YOU WILL. WHEN DOES THE SURVEY GO OUT AGAIN?

>> IT BEGINS MAY 9 AND WILL RUN THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY.

>> PELAEZ: ARE THE QUESTION CATEGORIES GOING TO BE THE SAME? >> SOME OF THEM WILL BECAUSE WE WANT TO BENCH MARC THE RESULTS YEAR OVER YEAR.

>> PELAEZ: YEAH IF YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE SURVEY QUESTIONS, I'M CONCERNED THAT -- AND ERIC, I THINK YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, THAT HOMELESS OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENTS AREN'T THE SAME THING TO PEOPLE. I MEAN, I MEET WITH A LOT OF HOMELESS ASSOCIATIONS, AND WHAT THEY TALK TO ME ABOUT IS HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS, NOT OUTREACH. AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD BREAK THOSE OUT FOR ME. I BET THE RESULTS WOULD BE SURPRISING TO A LOT OF US. ALL OF US KNOW THAT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND OUTREACH ARE TWO THINGS THAT COEXIST, BUT NOT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND IF THIS IS A SURVEY WHERE WE WANT REAL INFORMATION TO INFORM OUR DECISIONS, I THINK THAT BREAKING THOSE OUT TOGETHER WILL PROVIDE US WITH SOME ANSWERS THAT WE MIGHT -- WE MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING NEW; RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK THIS ASSUMES THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THOSE TWO PROJECTS IN THEIR MIND WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT HASN'T BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. BUT ANYWAYS.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PAL LAZE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.

>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. WE TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT NUMBER 6 SIDEWALKS, AND WE TALKED YESTERDAY I THINK ABOUT -- BUDGET, ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ABOUT REPAIR, SIDEWALK REPAIR, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OFF HOMEOWNERS THAT CAN'T REPAIR SIDEWALKS THAT ARE OLDER. I KNOW WE'RE STARTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, ERIC, IS THAT SIDEWALK REPAIR, IS THAT ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE BUDGET, THAT AMOUNT?

IS THAT A LINE ITEM? >> WALSH: IT IS, COUNCILWOMAN. AND IN ADDITION, THERE'S THAT INVENTORY OF ALL THE SIDEWALKS THAT IS ACTUALLY -- I THINK IT'S ON -- IT'S ON THE MAY -- THE MAY -- THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> WALSH: AGENDA FOR YOU TO PROOF.

SO THE INVENTORY IS IN THE BASE BUDGET, THE QUESTION IS -- AND WE'LL

GIVE YOU AN UPDATE LATER ON IN THE SUMMER. >> HAVRDA: I GUESS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT THEN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN -- YOU KNOW, CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THIS -- IN THIS SURVEY. AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AOUT GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SERVICES, WE'RE DOING IT WELL SO MAYBE IT'S A LOW PRIORITY TO SAN ANTONIOIANS, BUT THEN WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLEANING UP THE CITY.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT'S JIVING. >> WALSH: I THINK THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I THINK AND WE'RE ASKING THE PUBLIC, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 375,000 CUSTOMERS WE GO VISIT TWICE A WEEK. THE LITTER, I THINK, CONVERSATION EARLIER IS FRANKLY I THINK PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE IN LINE WITH -- CONSISTENT

[03:55:03]

>> HAVRDA: YEAH. I SEE THAT. THANK YOU. I GUESS I'M JUST CURIOUS.

CAN YOU SHOW US WHAT QUESTIONS WERE ASKED? I MEAN, WAS IT JUST, WHAT'S YOUR TOP PRIORITY, AND THESE ARE THE CATEGORIES, WERE THERE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO EACH OF THEM. WERE THESE DEFINED? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT MAYBE A NUISANCE PROPERTY IS OR EVEN VISION ZERO.

I'M CURIOUS IF WE DEFINED THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> SO ONLINE WE HAVE THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT THAT WAS USED LAST YEAR, AND AGAIN THESE ARE RESULTS FROM LAST YEAR, AND, AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WORKING TO DEVELOP THE SURVEY NOW WITH A CONSULTANT, BUT WE CAN SHARE THE SURVEY ONCE THE CONSULTANT HAS DESIGNED THIS INSTRUMENT AND IT'S READY TO MAKE ITS WAY TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE CAN SEND YOU A LINK THIS AFTERNOON TO THE WEBSITE THAT SHOWS IT.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. THANK YOU. ALSO, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, BUT WAS THERE AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION?

>> YES, THAT WAS ON ESSAYSPEAKUP LAST YEAR. >> HAVRDA: WHAT WAS THE ANSWER?

WHERE'S THAT ON THIS RESPONSE? >> IT'S ALSO IN THE FINAL DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT TO COUNCIL AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

ONLINE. >> HAVRDA: DO YOU HAVE IT IN THIS PRESENTATION?

>> NO. WELL, I HAVE IT IN BACKUP SLIDES, I'D HAVE

TO FLIP THROUGH TO FIND IT. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

THAT'S FINE. I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW IT LINES UP WITH ANY OF THIS STUFF. AND THEN I THINK YOU SAID THE GOAL WAS 100 PER DISTINCT. TO COUNCILMAN PAIL LESS. I THINK WE CAN HELP YOU INCREASE THAT NUMBER. THAT'S THE GOAL OR THE MINIMUM?

>> SO THAT'S WHAT THE CONSULTANT WILL BE -- THAT'S THE TARGET FOR EACH TARGET DISTRICT. 100 MINIMUM, AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO DO OVERSAMPLING IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH COMPLETE RESPONSES.

WHERE WE COULD USE YOUR HELP WITH THE PUSH IS ON ESSAYSPEAKUP.

>> HAVRDA: OKAY. BUT THAT'S ALL ONLINE, THOUGH?

>> THEY CAN ALSO CALL 311, AND OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES

WILL INPUT IT FOR THEM. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. IS THERE ANY PAPER

OPTION? >> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A PAPER OPTION, BUT WE

CAN CERTAINLY CREATE ONE. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.

I'M JUST THINKING THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR FIELD OFFICES OR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THEM OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A FEW -- THERE'S A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT PEOPLE FREQUENT THAT WOULD PICK UP A LOT OF OUR INFORMATION, SO THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE

COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

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

THANK YOU ALANA FOR THE PRESENTATION. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, OUR OFFICE FACILITATED THE CITY BUDGET WITH CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE CURIOUS ON HOW THE CITY COMES UP WITH PRIORITIES, AND WE HIGHLIGHTED MANY TOOLS. WE PRIORITIZE CONSTITUENT SERVICE DATA AND OFF OF CALLS OF SERVICE RECEIVED, AND LOOK AT EACH DEPARTMENT AND SO FORTH, AND HOW THIS SURVEY IS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL; RIGHT? BUT ULTIMATELY, WE TAKE ALL THE DATA AS ELECTIVES AND ANALYZE IT TO THEN PRIORITIZE THOSE BUDGET PRIORITIES. SO REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE SURVEY GO OUT. I KNOW LAST YEAR WE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEFINITION AND THE OPEN-ENDED QUESTION PLACED HERE THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE -- CONTINUE TO BE DEFINITIONS ON WHAT SOME OF THE WORDS MAY MEAN, BUT ULTIMATELY, I'M REALLY LOOKING TO OUR DISTRICT 5 PUBLIC MEETING, READY TO CHANNEL IT.

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

COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: QUICK QUESTION. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE

BE DOING THIS. >> THE STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, THE FIRST ONE WAS LAST YEAR, BEFORE THAT, THEY WERE MORE OPEN-ENDED, AND THEY WERE ON ESSAYSPEAKUP, AND WE KIND OF WENT OUT ON OUR OWN INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND SO LAST YEAR IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE SAID

WE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S STATISTICALLY VALID. >> WHYTE: BUT COULD WE LOOK AT THIS COMPARED TO WHATEVER WE DID THE YEAR BEFORE AND SEE IF THE PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED? HAVE THEY? HAVE THEY? DID THIS DIFFER? NO, I UNDERSTAND, DID THIS DIFFER A LOT IN THE PRIORITIES THE YEAR

BEFORE? >> YEAH. SO EVERY YEAR IT CHANGES, SOMETIMES IT CHANGES BASED ON WHAT'S IN THE HEADLINES OR IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR INCIDENT. SO EVERY YEAR IT DOES

CHANGE. >> WALSH: I THINK HOUSING AND HOMELESS HAS BEEN TOP EVEN

BEFORE THE SURVEY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. >> WHYTE: YEAH.

[04:00:03]

YEAH, ALWAYS AT THE TOP. AND WHAT DOES THIS COST? >> THE COST FOR THIS WAS $49,000, AND THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE QUESTIONS, THE ANALYSIS OF THE ESSAYSPEAKUP OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS IN THE PAST, AND THE AMOUNT IS WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE ALLOTTED FOR OUR OVERALL BUDGET CAMPAIGN AND WHAT WE USED IN THE PAST FOR MARKETING AND

ADVERTISING. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ANCOUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE SURVEY FROM LAST YEAR, AND WHAT GETS CONFUSING IS THE FIRST -- I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA IT'S TRYING TO BE SHORT; RIGHT? BUT BECAUSE IT'S SHORT SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR. SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS PLEASE INDICATE HOW WELL YOUR NEEDS ARE BEING MET BY EACH OF THE MAJOR CITY SERVICES LISTED. AND THEN IT'S LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WHICH IS REALLY HARD TO PROCESS. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION. SO ONE, AS A SURVEY TAKER, IT'S EASIER TO THINK ABOUT, ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE ALL THE THINGS IN THE HOMELESS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WELL ARE THEY MEETING THEM, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND AT LEAST SUB CATEGORIZING THOSE SO WE CAN SUB PROCESS THOSE AND EVEN WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL TAKING IT RANK WITHIN.

AND THEN THE SECOND PROJECT IS WHICH ARE OF THE FOUR SERVICES LISTED ABOVE DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED. AND SO IS THIS RESPONSE THAT YOU'RE SHOWING THOSE RESULTS? OR IS IT THE ONE OF THE

RANKING? >> THIS IS THE COMBINED FOR THE TOTAL PRIORITY INVESTMENT RATING, MEANING THEY MEASURED WHAT THE NEEDS WERE, AND

THEN WHAT THEY FELT -- >> CASTILLO: GOT IT. I REMEMBER THIS PRESENTATION. IT WAS THE LAST, IT WAS LIKE, THE COMBINED

RANKING OF THEY TOOK THE NEEDS AND. >> CORRECT.

>> CASTILLO: OKAY. SO THEY USED METHODOLOGIES THAT COMBINED BOTH NEEDS AND PRIORITIES. YEAH.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD BREAK IT UP BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'LL LOSE CREDIBILITY FOR THE SURVEY IF WE DO THAT.

AND THEN TO COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA'S POINT.

A POP-UP, WHAT ARE SERVICES WE'RE PROVIDING WITHIN THOSE AREAS SO YOU KNOW WHAT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS MEAN IN CASE YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED WITHIN THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS I JUST LIKE TO ECHO, RIGHT, WHEN WE'RE TAKING A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE, AND THAT'S THE CONCERN THAT YOU HEAR BECAUSE 100 PEOPLE -- IF YOU PICK 100 PEOPLE FROM ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1, AND SO I THINK IF WE COULD GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT -- AND ARE THE SURVEYORS THE ONES THAT GO OUT AND GET THESE?

OR HOW DO WE RECRUIT FOR THOSE CANDIDATES? >> THE CONSULTANT TAKES

CARE OF ALL OF THAT. >> CASTILLO: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE RECEIVING IS NOT JUST BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS, NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW MANY YEARS THEY'VE LIVED, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE THE METHODOLOGY AND THEN WHY THEY PICKED THE CERTAIN

NUMBERS THAT THEY DID. >> SO JUST TO -- SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN, JUST TO GO THROUGH THE METHODOLOGY A LITTLE BIT ON THE CONSULTANT.

THEY UTILIZE A MAILING LIST THEY'VE PURCHASED FOR THAT SAMPLE AS ALANA MENTIONED IN HER PRESENTATION, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MEETING RACE, GENDER, ETHNICITY TO THOSE, THEY'LL DO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT TO ENSURE THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE REACHING THOSE FOLKS, WHETHER THAT'S A CALL, A TEXT MESSAGE, AN EMAIL SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT SAMPLE SIZE IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THAT ONCE WE HAVE THE

INSTRUMENT AS WELL. >> CASTILLO: YEAH. BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE, LIKE, NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY LISTED ON THERE, EDUCATION, OTHER -- OTHER FACTORS JUST ASIDE FROM -- JUST BECAUSE SOME DISTRICTS AREN'T AS RACIALLY DIVERSE, SO USING THAT AS THE ONLY CRITERIA DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN REPRESENTATION.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A STRONG -- IF WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS TOOL BECAUSE I REMEMBER RECEIVING THIS WHEN THE SURVEYOR CAME AND GAVE US THE PRESENTATION AND WE WERE USING THIS HEAVILY IN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, SO IF WE'RE GOING TO USE IT HEAVILY, WE WANT TO HAVE BELIEF IN THE TOOL, SO THAT'S JUST I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALSO REQUESTING. THANKS, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA

GARCIA. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND ALANA AND TEAM FOR THIS.

YOU ALSO COMPARED TO THE ESSAYSPEAKUP; RIGHT? SIDE BY SIDE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I REMEMBER, MAKE SURE. ALSO, I THINK ALSO PERHAPS SHARING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS ACADEMY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT THAT ARE ALWAYS OUT TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I THINK MAYBE -- IF IT'S TOO LATE FOR THE MAY 9 ONE ALREADY, MAYBE PUT THAT IN THE NEXT ONE, MAYBE WE CAN HELP

[04:05:02]

AND THESE CATEGORIES, NUISANCE PROPERTIES, MAYBE.

AND HE SAID I WOULD CONSIDER IT MAYBE DRUG HOUSES.

AND SO FOR EVERYONE, IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND SO I THINK WE COULD GET THE LEADERSHIPPED A CADMY TO HELP US WITH THAT. AND THEN I THINK WE'RE ALSO MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST ENGAGE IN GENERAL OR FACILITATE JUST A LARGER CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE AT I WOULD SAY, LIKE, CITY EVENT, WE COULD SAY A FIESTA, BUT MAYBE A WALL OF PRIORITIES, AND JUST AS PEOPLE GO BY, GIVE THEM THREE DOTS, THEIR TOP THREE CHOICES; RIGHT? AND THEN SEE AT THE BOOK FESTIVAL, PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THE BOOK FESTIVAL, IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THE VITAE PROGRAM. LIKE I SAW A LINEUP. 30 PEOPLE AT THE VITAE PROGRAM AT THE COLLEGE. SO I THINK WE COULD DEFINITELY TRY TO FIGURE OUT PRIORITIES. TAX SEASON, FIESTA SEASON, EVERYTHING ROLLS AROUND, AND WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO REACH THE PEOPLE WE KNOW WHO ARE NOT ENGAGING WITH ESSAY SPEAKUP AND MAY NOT RECEIVE THIS REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE, RIGHT, OR SURVEY INSTRUMENT.

AND SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME ADDITIONAL IDEAS OF HOW TO KIND OF ENGAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY NOT PARTICIPANTS OF THIS REGULARLY.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

>> RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. AND I LIKE THAT THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT CENTERED AROUND THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL BE ASKING.

IS THE ESSAYSPEAKUP -- THE SURVEY IS THE SAME EXACT SURVEY THEY GET

THROUGH THE SCIENTIFIC SURVEY? >> NO.

NO. IT IS DIFFERENT. IT'S WHERE THEY COULD HAVE INPUT, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME -- IT'S NOT STATISTICALLY VALID.

>> RODRIGUEZ: BUT THE QUESTIONS ARE NOT THE SAME STILL? >> THE QUESTIONS ARE NOT

THE SAME. >> RODRIGUEZ: HMM. WHAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, THEN, SO I THINK KIND OF WHAT I HEARD FROM DR. KAUR IS THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS AND THEN THE WAY THAT THE INFORMATION IS PRESENTED IN QUESTION FORMAT, IT MATTERS, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT, WHAT IF WE WERE TO LINE UP THE DIFFERENT SERVICES OR THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY HAD A SLIDING SCALE WITH THREE QUESTIONS, ONE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE SERVICE, HOW OFTEN DO YOU UTILIZE THE SERVICE, AND THEN MAYBE FOR FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW? WHAT IS YOUR -- WHAT ARE YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS? WHERE DO YOU SEE ROOM FOR GROWTH? WHAT WORKS WELL? WHAT DOESN'T? AND THEN I THINK COMMON LANGUAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND WE WERE JUST -- COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT NUISANCE PROPERTIES AND I WAS ASKING AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DRUG HOUSES THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED NUISANCE PROPERTIES OR VACANT LOTS THAT OVERGROW, PROPERTIES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ANIMALS THAT ARE DOING THE MOST, AND IT'S LIKE, WE KIND OF MAKE ASSUMPTIONS THAT PEOPLE WILL SELECT WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OR WHAT WE WOULD DESCRIBE TO BE THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE, WHEN SOMETIMES THEY JUST DESCRIBE THINGS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, AND MAYBE I WOULD -- HMM. BECAUSE SOME OF THE NUISANCE PROPERTY IS CODE ENFORCEMENT, SOME OF IT IS POLICE SERVICES. I WONDER, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN FOR OUR COUNCIL AND WE KNOW JUST -- YOU KNOW, BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PRIORITY FOR US. IS IT THAT SOMEONE SAID POLICE SERVICES COULD ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SO I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE WE LEAVE OUT SOME OF THESE AS RESPONSES BUT ASK PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELEMENT OF THIS BROADER CATEGORY ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN, AND MAYBE FOR POLICE SERVICES, A LOT CARE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MAYBE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, MAYBE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND SHOOTINGS. I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE DATA ON EACH ONE, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES SOMETHING A HIGH PRIORITY, NOT THAT JUST IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY. AS IT RELATES TO I THINK WHAT ALL OF US WANT TO DO, AND I REMEMBER BACK WHEN THE EFFORT WAS EVERY COUNCILMEMBER TRYING TO SEE HOW MANY SURVEYS -- IT WAS A COMPETITION FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A COMPETITION FOR YA'LL, BUT IT WAS WHO COULD GET THE MOST SURVEYS ACCOMPLISHED, THE STATISTICALLY VALID ONE CHALLENGES US ON THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T GET TO PARTICIPATE, BUT FOR ESSAYSPEAKUP AT LEAST I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUT A PAPER COPY, AND IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN SUPPORT IN INPUTTING DATA, DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. BUT I ALSO -- I THINK I SAY THIS EVERY SESSION,

[04:10:01]

THAT POINT. >> I'M TAKING A LOT OF NOTES.

>> RODRIGUEZ: PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU

COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR, THANK YOU ALANA FOR THE PRESENTATION. YEAH, PLEASE LET US KNOW ONCE YOU SEND THOSE SURVEYS OUT. I THINK LAST YEAR WHAT WE DID IS MADE SURE WE LET PEOPLE KNOW THERE WAS A STATISTICAL SURVEY AND IF YOU GOT IT, PLEASE COMPLETE IT. WE ALSO DID SEND PEOPLE TO ESSAYSPEAKUP, ALL SORTS OF SURVEYS THAT YOU DO, AND JUST REMINDING EVERYONE, IT'S NOT JUST A BUDGET SURVEY, THEY ASK ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND I GO ON WHEN I CAN AND FILL OUT THE SURVEY.

SO THIS YEAR WHEN WE PASS OUT OUR FIESTA MEDAL, WE'RE TELLING THEM IF THEY LIVE OUT OF THE DISTRICT TO FILL OUT A SURVEY ON ESSAY SPEAK UP. SO I HOPE YA'LL HAVE SOME READY TO GO.

SO I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE DO ENCOURAGE THEM TO KIND OF SHARE AND SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES.

WE DO ASK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP TO -- LIKE, THE DIFFERENT NAS TO GIVE US AN EMAIL THAT SAYS THEIR TOP PRIORITIES. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE, SO I'M CONFIDENT WHEN WE GO IN. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROGRAMMING, THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPONSORED WITHIN THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THAT MAY BE WHERE WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS AND QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT -- AT ALL THE PRIORITIES. SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIMELINE. I -- I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE TIMELINE FOR WHEN WE GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DO THE BUDGET TALKS, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD START.

I THINK -- WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S AN NA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OR SOMEBODY STOPS ME AT MISSION MARQUEE, IS THE HOMELESS OUTREACH AND ENCAMPMENTS.

AND I KNOW THEY WANT TO DEAL WITH THE ENCAMPMENTS, BUT THEY DO KNOW SOME OF THESE PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY KNOW THEIR -- THEY KNEW THEIR PARENTS. AND SO THEY WANT TO SEE THEM GET HELP TOO.

SO I THINK THAT -- I THINK WE -- WE CAN TRY TO SEPARATE THIS, BUT I THINK IT REALLY IS GOING TO BE PART OF JUST UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE KIND OF NEED TO GET OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS AND SEE HOW -- WHAT THEY FEEL IS BEING EFFECTIVE AND WHAT IS NOT. CODE IS KEY.

THAT'S WHY I KEEP ASKING FOR MORE PROGRAMMING IN CODE AND MORE STAFF TO DO THAT PROGRAMMING. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I DO AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA THAT WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE DUMPING ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IF YOU PUT A SPECIAL CATEGORY FOR DUMPING, JUST NOT NUISANCE, YOU WOULD PROBABLY GET A LOT OF RESPONSES FROM THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 3, AND WE MIGHT SEE THEM BRING THAT UP IN THE ESSAY SURVEY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND GETTING YOU SOME MORE RESULTS TO THAT ESSAYSPEAKUP INPUT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. I MAY HAVE MISSED THIS, ALANA, BUT DID YOU SAY THAT THE INSTRUMENT YOU'RE USING IS GOING TO BE INFORMED BY THE COUNCIL

DISCUSSION TODAY ON EARLIER COMMENTS? >> I'M TAKING A LOT OF

NOTES. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOT IT. >> AND WE'LL BE WORKING

WITH OUR CONSULTANT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO SOME PRIORITY ITEMS WILL PROBABLY BE

ON THE SURVEY FOR THIS YEAR. >> YES. AND WE'LL ALSO TAKE NOTES OF DEFINING EACH CATEGORY AS WELL TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN COMMON

LANGUAGE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. WELL I JUST WANTED TO AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO SAID ABOUT THIS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO SORT OF TRIAGE LATE, INCLUDING YOUR OWN INSTINCTS AND PRIORITIES AS A COUNCILMEMBER, BUT ALSO WHAT YOU HEAR THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATIONS AND ET CETERA, AND IF SOMETHING SEEMS OUT OF LINE, THEN WE SHOULD PROBABLY QUESTION THE EFFICACY OF THE SURVEY. TO ME, IT'S ALL CONSISTENT, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HEAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, CONSISTENT WITH SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD BEFORE. SO IT LOOKS GOOD. I ALSO AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT ERIC MADE THAT WE'VE GOT TO ALSO INTERPRET THIS DATA THE

[04:15:04]

THE REALITY IS THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS IF WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, SHOULD SHIFT INTO SUBCONSCIOUSNESS. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE EXPERIENCE THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS 99% RELATED TO CITY'S JURISDICTION IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

SO THESE ITEMS THAT ARE TOP OF THE LIST, SOME OF THEM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH ON THAT ARE VERY COMPLICATED ISSUES, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUR INVESTMENTS AND OUR TIME AND ENERGY IN THE RIGHT PLACES BASED ON THE CONVERSATION. THE ONE QUESTION I HAD -- OR I GUESS THE AREA THAT I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

YOU MENTIONED THERE'S ALSO QUALITATIVE DATA THAT YOU USE.

WHAT KIND OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IS THE CONSULTANT DOING?

>> SO THESE WOULD BEES WITH THE OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS THAT ARE PART OF THE SURVEY THAT ARE GIVING US FEEDBACK ON ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT THEY -- IN ADDITION TO THE SURVEY. SO THERE IS --

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WELL. >> SO THERE IS AN OPEN-ENDED COMPONENT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN FOCUS GROUPS, AND, LIKE, DEEP DIVE QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US ENGAGE THE CONSULTANT ON THAT.

WE CAN BETTER ASSEMBLE A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING OF PEOPLE TO TALK TO, BUT THEN WE CAN REALLY PROBE FOLKS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY, THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. I THINK WE GET A LOT OF GREAT DATA THAT WAY. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A FOCUS GROUP SESSION EVERY TIME YOU GO TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE, BUT IF WE COULD DO THAT IN A MORE SCIENTIFIC WAY, I THINK THAT DATA IS REALLY RICH, AND IT WOULD ALSO ENHANCE THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

IF YOU DON'T, I THINK IT'S WORTH US DISCUSSING ADDING THOSE.

BUT I THINK FOCUS GROUPS AND OTHER SORT OF MORE PROBING QUALITATIVE DATAPOINTS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WOULD AGREE WITH ME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT OR QUESTION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. IF NOT, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR DAY WITH FIVE MINUTES TO SPARE. SIX MINUTES TO SPARE. WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE I WRAP US UP. ERIC, DO YOU WANT TO WRAP UP WITH ANYTHING, AND I'LL JUST CLOSE US OUT.

>> WALSH: THANKS, MAYOR. THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD SESSION.

IT GIVES US, YOU KNOW, GOOD FRAMEWORK TO BEGIN THE PROCESS, REMINDER TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ALIGN OUR EXPENSES WITH OUR REVENUES, AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BEGIN AT FISCAL YEAR 2025.

WE WILL BE PROVIDING THE COUNCIL A TRIAL BUDGET ON MAY 8.

THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP. IT WON'T HAVE EVERYTHING, BUT AS WE TRY TO PULL TOGETHER THE TRIAL BUDGET, AND WE DO THAT, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, THE SURVEY GOES OUT, AND THAT BEGINS THE NEXT PHASE OF IT. SO WE'LL BE WORKING HARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS TO KIND OF GET THAT PUT TOGETHER. IF YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET US KNOW.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLLOW UP ITEMS THAT CAME OUT OF YESTERDAY'S PRESENTATION. WE ARE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND LOWER PRIORITIES IS THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION AND OTHERS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO OUR BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL SPENDING, AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE MANY PHASES THAT WE STILL NEED TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE COUNCIL ADOPTING IT IN SEPTEMBER. BUT TODAY HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD DAY, AND I APPRECIATE THE HONEST FEEDBACK AND THE THOUGHTS ON THE ENTIRE ASPECT. AND I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE CONVENTION CENTER STAFF FOR HELPING US TODAY,

HOST US. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, ERIC. NO REAL EARTH SHATTERING TAKEAWAYS FROM ME, BUT I DID ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR OPEN CANDID FEEDBACK, AND GOOD DISCUSSION TODAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REMAIN THAT DAY BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE ONON THE DESK OF ERIC AND HIS TEAM ARE SIGNIFICANT.

FROM THE FISCAL REVENUE STANDPOINT BUT ALSO HOW WE MANAGE PRIORITIES WHICH ARE GROWING BY THE DAY. SO THANKS, EVERYBODY, WE'LL STAY ENGAGED AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEPARTMENT BRIEFINGS.

>> WALSH: I FORGOT ONE THING, AND I AS I MENTIONED AFTER LUNCH, WE'LL PROVIDING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DETAILED REPORT TO YOU BEFORE THE TRIAL BUDGET OF THIS SESSION.

[04:20:01]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND ALSO, THANK YOU FOR STAYING ON TIME. THIS WAS AMAZING.

MIRACULOUS, EVEN. OKAY. THE TIME -- WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ROOM 008A, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE WAY.

THE TIME IS NOW 2:57:00 P.M. ON THE 18TH DAY OF APRIL, 2024. THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO SECTION 551 OF THE TEXAS CODE AND DISCUSS 551.017.

AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALL PURSUANT TO 551.071.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. TIME IS 3:54 P.M. ON THE 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2024. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. OUR SPECIAL SESSION IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANKS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.