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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WE HAVE ONE MEMBER WHO IS GOING TO BE ARRIVING VIRTUALLY MOMENTARILY, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
IT'S 10:36 A.M. ON APRIL 23RD, 2024. WE'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL?
MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY. WE DO HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS TODAY, ONE OF THEM IS INTERVIEWS FOR READY TO WORK OPENING. BEFORE THAT, LET'S TAKE
[Approval of Minutes ]
UP ITEM NUMBER ONE WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 17TH, 2024. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 17, 2024.ANY DISCUSSION OR CLARIFICATION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE
IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
WE HAVE ONE AT LARGE APPOINTMENT OPENING FOR THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD, AND WE'VE GOT A FEW INTERVIEWS TO CONDUCT TODAY.THIS IS AN OPENING FOR THE LABOR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE READY TO WORK BOARD, AND SO THE WAY WE'LL DO IT IS AS WE HAVE DONE ALL THE OTHER APPOINTED BOARD, WE'LL GIVE TWO-MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT TO EACH APPLICANT. THE APPLICANT WHO IS NOT BEING INTERVIEWED, IF YOU CAN WAIT OUTSIDE SO EVERYBODY GETS A FAIR TURN.
WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS. AFTER ALL THE INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED, WE'LL BRIEFLY MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT AND MAKE A DECISION. SO I'M GOING TO CALL NAMES IN ORDER OF SIGN UP. SO IF YOU AREN'T THE ONE BEING INTERVIEWED F YOU CAN JUST WAIT OUTSIDE AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ESCORT YOU OUT THERE. FIRST PERSON IS MARTY GARZA.
SO IF MATT DALE IS NOT HERE AND EMILY COULD WAIT IN THE LOBBY OUT THERE, WE'LL GET YOU AS SOON AS YOUR TIME IS UP. MARTY, COME ON UP.
YOU'LL HAVE A TWO-MINUTE QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH
QUESTIONS. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARTY GARZA.
I'M A NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO, I WAS BORN NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE AT SANTA ROSA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. I'M A LIFELONG COMMUNITY AND LABOR ORGANIZER. I'VE GOT OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE, PRIMARILY IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND CONSTRUCTION. BUILDING TRADES.
I'M THE SON OF MIGRANT FARM WORKERS, SAN ANTONIO IS HOME.
I WAS BORN HERE, I WENT TO GREEN ELEMENTARY UNTIL MY PARENTS HAD TO MOVE BACK TO THE VALLEY TO TAKE CARE OF ELDERLY GRANDPARENTS.
I GOT BACK HERE AS SOON AS I COULD AFTER GOING TO COLLEGE AND EDUCATING MYSELF. I BELIEVE IN THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE IT'S DOING GREAT THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE GOT FRIENDS AND FAMILY PARTICIPANTS AND I'VE RECEIVED INFORMAL FEEDBACK FROM THEM ABOUT THE SUCCESS THEY HAVE HAD AND THE HOPE THAT THEY FEEL FOR REENTERING THE WORKFORCE. I'M THE ORGANIZING DIRECTOR CURRENTLY FOR THE CENTRAL SOUTH CARPENTER'S REGIONAL COUNCIL. LOCAL 14 IS OUR SAN ANTONIO LOCAL.
WE'VE BEEN HERE OVER 100 YEARS. IN MY CURRENT CAPACITY, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN BUILDING A BRIDGE FOR YOUTH TO ENTER THE TRADES. STUDENT DEBT HAS BEEN VERY CRUSHING.
MORE INTEREST IN TRADES THAN EVER BEFORE, AT LEAST IN MY LIFETIME FROM YOUTH. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE -- I THINK IT'S SOMETHING CLOSE TO LIKE 40 TO 50% OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE OVER 55.
WE'RE GOING TO HIT A RETIREMENT CLIFF. I'M VERY COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT& HAVE A BUILDINGS TRADE COMPONENT SUCH AS READY TO WORK.
MY ORGANIZATION IS AN EMPLOYER PARTNER AND A TRAINING PARTNER WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM. YOU, I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED AND CREATED. WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CTE PROGRAMS, WE'RE STARTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH HARLANDALE, SAN ANTONIO ISD TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES. IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AS A RESIDENT, HOMEOWNER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER MY EXPERIENCE, COMMITMENT, PASSION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO THE COMMITTEE AND THE
COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARTY. WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AROUND, SO WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE?
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MARTY. APPRECIATE YOU APPLYING TODAY. COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, DEPENDING, I SUPPOSE, ON WHICH PARTICULAR INDUSTRY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INTO, HOW LONG DO
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS USUALLY LAST? >> YEAH, THE DIFFERENT TRADES HAVE DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF APPRENTICESHIPS BECAUSE
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THERE'S DIFFERENT SKILLS INVOLVED. SO ELECTRICIAN, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE PROGRAM. I THINK THAT'S FIVE TO SIX YEARS, RIGHT? IT'S LICENSED. THE LABORERS ARE SORT OF ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, SO ARE THE CARPENTERS, SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE. OUR PROGRAMS RANGE FROM THREE TO FOUR YEARS.OUR APPLICANTS ARE LEARNING A GOOD, MORE THAN LIVING WAGE WHILE THEY'RE STUDYING THE CRAFT, DEVELOPING THEIR EXPERIENCE.
>> COURAGE: SO YOU GO FROM APPRENTICESHIP TO A JOURNEYMAN AND THEN TO A
MASTER. >> EXACTLY. YOU GURNEY OUT AT THE END OF YOUR THREE- OR FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, AND YOU'RE SEEING TREMENDOUS WAGE INCREASES FROM YOUR FIRST YEAR TO YOUR FINAL YEAR.
AS A TRADE Y UNION, WE HELP PLACE YOU WITH ANY ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE TOIRRY PARTNERS. IT'S A PORTABLE CRAFT. YOU CAN TAKE EMPLOYMENT ANYWHERE IN OUR COUNTRY DOING ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
>> COURAGE: YOU SAID YOUR ORGANIZATION IS PARTNERING WITH READY TO
WORK IN CARPENTRY AREA; IS THAT CORRECT. >> CORRECT.
>> COURAGE: WHAT WOULD SOMEONE GET IF THEY WERE TO ENTER AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WITH YOU? YOU KNOW, WHAT DO THEY GET FOR A STARTING PAY? AND HOW DOES THAT EVENTUALLY GO UP?
>> YEAH. SO HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET, IT'S AROUND, YOU KNOW, 20, $21 AN HOUR TO START, WHICH IS A GREAT WAGE FOR SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, JUST ENTERING THE WORKFORCE. AND AT THE END OF YOUR, YOU KNOW, THREE- OR FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMMING, YOU'LL BE MAKING ANYWHERE FROM HIGH 30S TO 40 AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOUR SPECIALIZATION.
SOME SPECIFIC SUBCRAFTS, YOU KNOW,ING PAY A LITTLE MORE, THEY'RE MORE IN
DEMAND, REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE SKILL. >> COURAGE: LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING APPRENTICESHIPS WITH READY TO WORK THAT
YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT RIGHT NOW? >> I KNOW THAT SINCE WE BECAME INVOLVED, I THINK WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST, AND WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING OUR COLLEAGUES. I BELIEVE THE LABORERS SHOULD BE INVOLVED, THE IBW, THE ELECTRICIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE PLUMBERS AND ROOFERS, PAINTERS, BUT FOR SURE, I THINK LABORERS AND ELECTRICIANS HAVE FOLLOWED SUIT AND ARE LOOKING TO -- IF NOT ALREADY ENROLLED, ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH
THE PROGRAM. >> COURAGE: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR ORGANIZATION ACCEPTING APPRENTICES AND GOING THROUGH THE READY TO WORK
WAY OF ACCEPTING APPRENTICES? >> YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE PEOPLE THAT APPLY DIRECTLY TO US. WE INFORM THEM OF READY TO WORK AS ESSENTIALLY A WRAPAROUND ENRICHMENT SERVICE, RIGHT? SO SORT OF REVERSE REFERRAL SYSTEM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SORT OF WORKED OUT WITH STAFF AT THE READY TO WORK. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THE APPRENTICESHIP LEADER AMERICA PROGRAM, JOSHUA SWOT W JOSHUA SCOTT. WE'RE RUN OF MANY OPTIONS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE CATALOG, OUR COURSES ARE UPLOADED, WE'LL WELCOME THEM IN AND THEY'LL RECEIVE THE SAME SORT OF WARM HOSPITALITY AND DEDICATION AND SKILL THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE ENTER OUTSIDE OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.
BUT OUR COMMITMENT IS THAT IF SOMEONE QUALIFIES FOR THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, WE WANT THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TREMENDOUS RESOURCE AND SERVICE THAT THE CITY HAS PUT INTO BUILDING THE WORKFORCE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ?
>> PELAEZ: YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH RTW NOW AS -- IF YOU GET PUT ON THIS BOARD, WHAT -- WHAT DO YOU AIM TO ACCOMPLISH, WHERE DO YOU SEE AREAS THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO POLISH UP THAT DIAMOND A LITTLE MORE?
>> YEAH, NO, SO FROM THIS, I'LL SPEAK AS A BROTHER AND A COUSIN, BECAUSE I HAVE A SISTER AND A COUSIN THAT ARE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.
FROM MY ENCOURAGEMENT -- THEY GOT PRETTY HARD BY THE PANDEMIC, THEY LOST THEIR JOBS, MY SISTER TOOK SOME TIME OFF TO START A FAMILY, NOW SHE WANTS TO REENTER THE WORKFORCE AND UPSKILL. SHE WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL AT FIRST. I WAS NO, YOU SHOULD REALLY ENROLL IF YOU QUALIFY. YOU MEET THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS.
THE PROGRAMMING ITSELF HAS BEEN VERY RICH AND VERY HELPFUL.
SHE IS ENROLLED IN A HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST, PAYROLL SPECIALIST PROGRAM. MY COUSIN IS IN THE ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION EDUCATOR PROGRAM, BUT THE ONE ROUGH SPOT THAT THEY'VE SORT OF COMMUNICATED TO ME, I'M LIKE, HEY, YOU SHOULD GO TO COUNCIL UPON COMPLETING YOUR PROGRAM AND GIVE THEM YOUR FEEDBACK WHICH HAS BEEN SORT OF THE ONBOARDING WITH THE CAREER COUNSELORS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF WORKLOAD THEY HAVE, BUT I FEEL THAT POINT OF CONTACT WHEN SOMEONE'S APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM, THEY GET PUT INTO A COHORT, THERE WERE SOME BUMPS L A LONG THERE, AT LEAST IN THESE TWO INSTANCES NOTHING THAT DIDN'T GET OVERCOME AND IT HAS DEFINITELY GOTTEN BETTER OVER TIME, BECAUSE MY FAMILY ENTERED THE PROGRAM AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND I THINK THAN THE INCEPTION. AND I THINK THE MARKETING, I KEEP UP WITH THE PRESS, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE SOME CHEAP SHOTS TAKEN AT THE PROGRAM IN THE PRESS.
YOU KNOW, AND ISSUES LIKE THIS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
I THINK THE SAN ANTONIO INITIATIVE IS LEAGUES AHEAD OF MAYBE OTHER
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CITIES ARE DEVELOPING. AND YOU ITERATE AND YOU TAKE TIME, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER. YOU COMMIT TO MAKING WHAT'S GOOD BETTER. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO FROM MY PROFESSIONAL SIDE IS SUPPORT MARKETING, WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN SHOE LEATHER MARKETING.SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING IS TO PARTICIPATE WITH PASTORS ON THE EAST SIDE, RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON THE WEST SIDE, YOU KNOW, AFTER MASS, GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR AND DOING CANVASS, RIGHT, TO HIGH SCHOOL AGE FAMILIES, LETTING THEIR CHILDREN KNOW THEY CAN GO TO THE TRADES, WE'RE TAKING APPRENTICESHIPS, SORT OF GET SOME CREDIBILITY WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. I FEEL LIKE ON TOP OF PROFESSIONAL MARKETING IS DONE, SOME OR THE MORE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER MARKETING PERSPECTIVE I THINK COULD HELP. I KNOW OUR UNION IS COMMITTED TO DOING THAT
THIS SPRING AND INTO THE SUMMER. >> PELAEZ: THANKS FOR THROWING YOUR HAT IN THE RING. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER H
HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. DO YOU THINK SA READY TO WORK HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF ATTRACTING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THE TRADES OR GETTING PEOPLE IN THE TRADES AND APPRENTICESHIP?
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S NONTRADITIONAL, RIGHT? I THINK THE MAJORITY OF APPLICATIONS OR RESOURCES HAVE BEEN IN PEOPLE PURSUING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS. IT KIND OF MAKES SENSE BECAUSE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS ARE THE -- MAN ON THE STREET SEES THEM AS PAYING HIGH AND WELL, RIGHT? BUT BLUE COLLAR TRADES WORK I THINK IS GETTING A POLISH. THERE'S A NATIONAL TREND UP IN YOUTH ENROLLING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT FROM OUR PART AS PARTNERS, WE ALL -- AS SPEAKING SORT OF AS THE GREATER LABOR, WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF TAKING SOME OF THE STEPS BY DOING REVERSE REFERRAL BY DOING SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE RUBBER WILL MEET THE ROAD FOR THE TRADES. I KNOW OUR SCHOOL CTE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEFUNDED AS THERE WAS A PUSH FOR PUTTING EVERYONE IN A COLLEGE PATHWAY. AND NOW BECAUSE OF THE STUDENT CRISIS AND JUST SOME OF THE PANDEMIC CRISIS, IT'S GOING THE OTHER WAY.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PUT RESOURCES IN.
I THINK IF MORE PEOPLE WILL DO THAT, WE'LL HAVE A GREATER INFLUX OF GREATER GRAD GRADUATES THAT COME FROM DISADVANTAGED
HOUSEHOLDS. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. YOU ANSWERED THE SECOND PART OF IT WHICH IS HOW CAN WE DO BETTER. THANKS, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MY COLLEAGUES ASKED EXCEPTIONAL QUESTIONS SO I DON'T HAVE REALLY ANYTHING ELSE. I THINK THERE'S SOME CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH SOME FOLKS THAT GO THROUGH THE TRADES ON REPORTING BACK AND LETTING US KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR A CAREER PATH IF THEY'RE NOT EMPLOYED IN A LARGER EMPLOYER.
SO MANY FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THAT GETS SKILLED TRADES END UP WORKING FOR THEMSELVES. HAVE YOU GIVEN THAT ANY THOUGHT ON HOW WE CAN BETTER ACCOUNT FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, BUT
SELF-EMPLOYED, GIVEN THEIR NEW CAREER? >> YEAH, SO WE, AT LEAST, AS THE CARPENTERS MAINTAIN SORT OF AN ALUMNI STATUS CHECK-IN WHERE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE -- WHAT WE SAY, THEY'RE ON THEIR TOOLS, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT WORKING FOR A CONTRACT OR OR SUBCONTRACTOR, SORT OF A SMSMALL ENTREPRENEUR DOING THEIR OWN THING.
AS LONG AS THEY MAINTAIN THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN GOOD STANDING THEY'RE ABLE TO COME IN AND UP SKILL, NETWORK, WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE OUR INFORMATION TO THE PROGRAM, RIGHT, AND SORT OF MAYBE CREATE A PILOT MODEL OF HOW DO YOU CAPTURE -- I'M NOT SURE HOW SOME OF THE ZERO OTHER TRADES DO IT, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE A SIMILAR SYSTEM.
ACCOUNT FOR THAT MISSING PART OF THE WORKFORCE SO THE PROGRAM GETS CREDIT, RIGHT? BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO'S OUT THERE AS A SMALL ENTREPRENEUR ON THEIR TOOLS MAKING MONEY, SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILY BECAUSE OF A SKILL THAT WAS RECEIVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM, I THINK THE
PROGRAM SHOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION, MARTY. APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
ALL RIGHT. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU SWITCH PLACES WITH ONE OF THE OTHER APPLICANTS WHO WILL BE COMING OUT NOW. THE NEXT PERSON SIGNED UP -- NEXT APPLICANT IS MATTHEW GONZALES. YOU'LL HAVE A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF D COMMITTEE.
MY NAME'S MATTHEW GONZALES, I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF LABORERS LOCAL 1095. WE REPRESENT AROUND 900 MEMBERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE CONTRACT INDUSTRY. SOME OF WHICH ARE TRANSITIONING MILITARY VETERANS, SOME OF WHICH ARE CLASSIFIED AS ABILITY ONE, HAVING SOME LEVEL OF DISABILITY. AND WE ALSO WORK WITH SECOND CHANCE HIRING, WE'RE WORKING WITH A GROUP OF TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGES RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS RECIDIVISM AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN
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THAT COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M INTERESTED IN THIS BOARD POSITION BECAUSE WE BRING NOT JUST THAT EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE INTRODUCING FOLKS, NOT JUST TO A JOB, BUT A TRUE CAREER AND A PATH FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THEI LIVES. AND SO SECOND THAT, WE HAVE ALSO SPEARHEADED OUR LEARN CAMPUS, WHICH YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF OVER AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL.THIS CAMPUS FOR THE FRESHMAN CLASS, WE ARE INTRODUCING WHAT IT IS TO BE A CONSTRUCTION CRAFT LABOR OR, WHEREBY IF THEY COMPLETE THE FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM THEY WILL OBTAIN A LOT OF EDUCATION AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IT IS TO BE A CONSTRUCTION LABORER OUT IN THE INDUSTRY. THEY'LL REQUIRE A NUMBER OF CERTIFICATIONS AND AFTER THAT FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM, THEY CAN TAKE THOSE CREDITS AND GO TO COLLEGE OR THEY CAN TAKE THOSE CREDITS AND THEY CAN ENTER OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. AND THERE ARE ABOUT 80 TO 90 MERS COMPLETE VERSUS THEIR COUNTERPART APPLYING FROM THE STREET. AND SO THESE ARE ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR WHAT OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE NEEDS ARE.
ALONG WITH THAT, WE HAVE ALSO SIGNED A PLEDGE FOR SA READY TO WORK AS AN EMPLOYER TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM AND BRING OTHER CONTRACTORS TO THE TABLE, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO DO. SO I'M ENCOURAGED AT THE WORK THAT THIS BOARD HAS DONE THUS FAR, AND I'M ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE
MOVING FORWARD. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MATT. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE
WITH QUESTIONS. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MATTHEW, FOR COMING FORWARD AND WANTING TO GO AHEAD AND JOIN THIS BOARD.
I WAS INTERESTED, AND AS YOU TALKED ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM BEING ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND GET INTO THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
SO YOU'RE SAYING A LOT OF THEIR TECHNOLOGY OR THEIR LEARNING, SO TO SPEAK, IS DONE. DO. THEY STILL HAVE TO DO LIKE A FOUR-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP TO GET INTO LIKE A JOURNEYMAN ONCE THEY LEAVE THAT
PROGRAM? >> TWO YEARS. THEY'LL HAVE TO DO WORK AT THE JOB SITE, BUT THEY CAN EARN WHILE THEY LEARN. SO THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS SPACED OUT OVER THAT TWO-YEAR PERIOD WHEREBY ONE WEEK EACH QUARTER, THEY WILL GO TO 40-HOUR CLASSES WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS.
THEY WILL PARTICIPATE AND COMPLETE THAT. WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME, IF THEY DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, THEY WILL JOURNEY OUT AND
THEY WILL BE A JOURNEYMAN. >> COURAGE: AND WHAT IS
THE PAY FOR AN APPRENTICE IN YOUR PROGRAM? >> WE START AT $19.80 AN HOUR, NOT INCLUDING THE FRINGE BENEFITS. THE FRINGE BENEFITS IS AN ADDITIONAL $8.30 ON TOP OF THAT AND WE'RE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING, SO
THAT COULD GO UP. >> COURAGE: HOW DO YOU SEE READY TO WORK
INTEGRATING WITH YOUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM? >> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT FEEDER TO OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, MORE AND MORE CONTRACTORS ARE LOOKING TOWARDS SAN ANTONIO FOR PROJECTS.
THERE'S ONE WE'RE WORKING ON AT LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE. IT'S GOING TO HAVE APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENTS AS WELL. SO NATURALLY, DRAWING FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THROUGH SA READY TO WORK, IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR US TO GROW BUT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BETTER
THEMSELVES. >> COURAGE: I'M SURE YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM. DO YOU SEE ANY NEEDS THERE FOR ANY KIND OF ADJUSTMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS, CHANGES FROM YOUR OUTSIDE
PERSPECTIVE? >> NOT AT THIS TIME. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT WORK THAT'S GONE INTO DEVELOPING THAT PROGRAM.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT DIALOGUE WITH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. AND THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE THUS FAR, AND SO CERTAINLY AS TIME PROGRESSES, IF THERE IS A NEED FOR INPUT, I'M
CERTAINLY WILLING TO GIVE THAT. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU, MATT, FOR BEING HERE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
DO YOU THINK THAT SA READY TO WORK HAS DONE A GOOD JOB BOTH ATTRACTING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE INTO THE TRADES AND APPRENTICESHIPS?
>> YES. THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE TEXAS WOMEN AND THE TRADES, AND SO MRS. ALLEY PEREZ WHO LEADS THAT ORGANIZATION IS ALSO AN ALLY OF OURS. AND SO, AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO FIND DIFFERENT AVENUES AND DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS TO PROMOTE AND INCORPORATE INTO THE
PROGRAM IS WHERE -- THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON. >> HAVRDA: HOW DO YOU
THINK IT COULD BE -- WE COULD DO BETTER? >> I CAN'T SAY AT THIS TIME. YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS WE ARE CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES THAT MEETS THE USER AND DEVELOPING THIS ROBUST PIPELINE AND ABILITY FOR THEM TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS, TRAINING AND THEN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
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I THINK THEY'RE DOING WELL THUS FAR. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
MATTHEW, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION'S WORK IN PLACING GRADUATE, PLACING APPRENTICES INTO THE JOB. AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE PART OF THIS THAT IS BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE CAREER PATH AND THERE'S THE OTHER THAT'S WORKING WITH THE EMPLOYERS. TELL ME ABOUT HOW YOU DO THAT AND HOW YOU CAN TAKE TA EXPERIENCE TO READY TO WORK?
>> CERTAINLY. SO AS YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR, THE APPRENTICES WILL BE PAIRED WITH JOURNEYMEN AT THE JOB SITE WHEREBY THEY CAN ABSORB THAT EXPERIENCE, THAT WISDOM FROM THOSE GURNEYJOURNEYMEN LEVEL FOLKS. PAIR THAT WITH THE CONSTRUCTED TRAINING THAT WE PROVIDE AND THEN AT THE END OF IT YOU HAVE A MORE SKILLED INDIVIDUAL.
THE EMPLOYERS ARE VERY RECEPTIVE OF THIS. THEY SEE THE ABILITY TO GET SOMEBODY INTO THEIR COMPANY WHO MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE THESE BAD HABITS AND COME WITH THE MISTAUGHT LEARNINGS OF HOW TO DO THE WORK.
AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO TRAIN THEM TO THE WAY THAT THEY DO BUSINESS AND
THEREBY, THEY SE SEE A GREAT BENEFIT IN THAT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MATT. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR QUESTIONS FROM US.
WE'LL BRING IN OUR LAST APPLICANT BEFORE WE START DELIBERATING.
THANKS AGAIN, MATTHEW. ALL RIGHT. OUR LAST IN-PERSON
APPLICANT IS EMILY BARRERA. >> GOOD MORNING, EMILY.
AS YOU HEARD, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR A STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL
GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS EMILY HERRERA. I'M THE PRODUCT OF A SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND CURRENTLY LIVING IN DISTRICT TWO.
I'M A GRADUATE OF LLI, THE LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE OF SAN ANTONIO AND A GRADUATE OF UT OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON. WHY THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO SAY WHERE I WENT IS BECAUSE I WENT TO ARLINGTON TO CREATE MY DEGREE. AND HOW IS THAT RELATED TO READY TO WORK? IS BECAUSE I REALIZED WHEN I WAS GETTING INTO HUMAN RESOURCES, AND I'VE BEEN IN HUMAN RESOURCES FOR 20 YEARS, THAT THAT PROGRAM HAD A GAP IN IT.
IT DIDN'T RECOGNIZE PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE OF COLOR OR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO WORK IN THE WORKFORCE. SO WHAT DID I DO? I CREATED MY OWN DEGREE. I BROUGHT, OF COURSE, BUSINESS AND BUSINESS LAW, THEN I ALSO BROUGHT ANTHROPOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY TO IT, AND AT THE END, GIIS, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS. I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE I'M WORKING WITH, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, WHERE ARE THE DATA AND WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WE STRUGGLED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. MY FAMILY STRUGGLED. I'M A PRODUCT OF STRUGGLE. I'M A PRODUCT OF ME TRYING NOT TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, AND THAT WAS MY FAMILY. SO WHAT DID I NEED TO DO? GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE BEEN AN HR PROFESSIONAL FOR 20 YEARS. NOT ONLY THAT, I'VE BEEN A SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR FOR 10. WE OWN A COFFEE HOUSE ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE WERE THE FIRST SOUTH SIDE COFFEE SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD US NOT TO GO. WHY DID I DO THAT? I WANTED TO PROVE THAT OUR PEOPLE DESERVED EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND EVERY KIND OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE.
AND THAT'S WHY I DO IT. RIGHT NOW, I'M A SENIOR BUSINESS PARTNER AT SAFE RIGHT HEALTH HERE IN DOWNTOWN SOMEWHERE WHERE WE OFFER LOW-INCOME RIDES TO PEOPLE. THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, I WORKED IN MAJOR, MAJOR, BLUE COLLAR WORKFORCES WHERE PUBLIC SERVICES IS ONE OF THEM, HOME DEPOT, AND SAA SHOE MAKERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHILE I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE ON THIS COMMUNITY, I WANT TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT A SELECTED FEW.
I'M JUST AN ORDINARY PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS HAPPEN. THAT'S ALL MY STATEMENT. GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MRS. HERRERA. WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS NOW.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU.
COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH
ORGANIZATION. >> YES. SO WHAT IS SAFE RIDE HEALTH, WE WORK WITH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. WE OFFER LOW-INCOME RIDES FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, THAT'S ALSO FOR METHADONE, PICKING UP YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, Y'ALL SEE THOSE WEIRD AMBULANCES? THEY BELONG TO SOMEONE LIKE US, WE MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S BED BOUND THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THEIR
EVERY DAY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS. >> COURAGE: HOW DO YOU SEE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE FITS IN WITH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FILLING A POSITION WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
LABOR INPUT IN? >> WELL, I DESIGNED SEVERAL PROGRAMS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATIONS I HAVE WORKED WITH. REPUBLICS SERVICES WAS A
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STRIVE TO DRIVE PROGRAM. 10 YEARS AGO WE WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE OIL FIELD TAKING ALL THE CDL DRIVERS AT A REALLY, REALLY HIGH COST, SO WHAT I DID IS CREATED A PROGRAM WHERE OUR LABORERS FROM THE LANDFILL WOULD WORK THEIR WAY UP TO GET THEIR CDL WITHIN A YEAR AND HAVE A ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO US. BUT I ACTUALLY TALKED TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY, I IDENTIFY ANY OBSTACLES THEY MIGHT HAVE NOT BECOMING A CDL DRIVER FOR US. SO I CALL MYSELF A BLUECOLLAR HR BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I COME FROM. >> COURAGE: OKAY.
YOU MENTIONED CDL, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH READY TO WORK HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THAT AVENUE TO BECOME COMMERCIAL DRIVERS. HAVE YOU OBSERVED ANYTHING WITHIN RIGHT READY TO WORK THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO, SUBTRACT FROM OR OFFER
SOME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP MORE OF? >> YES.
I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD HAVE SOME FINANCIAL EDUCATION WITH THAT.
WHEN YOU DEVELOP INTO NOT JUST A JOB, A CAREER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HANDLE YOUR MONEY AND HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY.
MOST PEOPLE ARE ON A SURVIVAL STRIVE MODE WHICH IS PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IS FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HOW TO HANDLE THAT FOR THE FUTURE WHERE YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. NOW, THAT'S A HARD ASK, RIGHT? BUT WHAT IT IS, YOU ALSO HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS.
I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE'RE VERY UNEDUCATED WHAT THE WHOLE PROGRAM IS AND WHAT IT'S OFFERING ON THE LONG TERM AND WHAT THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF
THAT WOULD BE. >> COURAGE: OKAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING READY TO WORK AND WHAT IT DOES, ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO
IMPROVE IT, WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER? >> I FEEL, BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WORK A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY, I'VE DONE A LOT OF -- I CALL MYSELF A COMMUNITY NINJA, IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT READY TO WORK IS AND HOW IT'S RELATED TO THEM. WE NEED TO PL MAKE IT MORE PERSONABLE.
EACH INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT TO THEIR NEEDS ARE.
THEIR PRIORITY IS DIFFERENT IN EACH DIFFERENT NEED BECAUSE OF THE BACKGROUND. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET THAT EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS. DISTRICT TWO HAS THE BIGGEST SUCCESS RATE IF THEY APPLY, BUT IT'S ALSO OUR LOWEST INCOME BESIDES THE WEST SIDE WHERE WE'RE AT. I THINK WE'RE NOT GETTING THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO THEM, AND THEN WE MAKE IT -- I THINK IT'S A LONG PROCESS FOR THEM. IT'S SOMETHING -- I ALWAYS SAY, THIS PROCESS IS VERY -- WE ALL KNOW THAT ONE IN SEVEN HOUSEHOLDS STILL DOESN'T HAVE INTERNET, BUT EVERYTHING IS MISSION BASED ONLINE.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? ARE WE DOING, YOU KNOW, WHEN -- ARE WE DOOR WALKING, ARE WE HAVING -- ARE WE SHOWING UP TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE AT? WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE ALREADY, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO AIM FOR.
WE NEED TO AIM FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT IN THE WORKFORCE, THAT HAS NO TRADE OR EDUCATION, SO WE NEED TO GET TO THEM. YOU KNOW, AND I ALWAYS FEEL THAT -- I WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, I HELP THE ELDERLY A LOT.
AND WHAT I ALWAYS FIND IS PEOPLE WANT TO PIVOT OR MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE MAKE IT SO HARD FOR THEM. YOU KNOW, SO HOW DO WE SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS TO GET THEM TO THE PROCESS FASTER? YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT'S SO LONG. PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPATIENT, AS YOU KNOW.
AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS, BUT THE FOLLOW-UP WITH THEM, AND KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BRINGING SOMEONE OUT OF POVERTY, TRYING TO GET A CAR REAR, NOT JUST A JOB AND THAT'S A HARD, HARD MINDSET TO CHANGE.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ. COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA? >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. DO YOU THINK SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN ATTRACTING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WANTING TO ENTER INTO THE
TRADES AND APPRENTICESHIPS? >> I THINK IT'S A 50/50.
1/2 IS PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE THAT MINDSET AND THE OTHER HALF IS GETTING TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
I DEFINITELY DO WANT TO SEE SOME REPRESENTATION OF THOSE OUTPUTS OF THOSE SUCCESS RATES. AND THEY NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THAT
REFLECTION. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, EMILY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MRS. HERRERA, FOR YOUR INTEREST AND INTERVIEW.
>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE ONE MORE APPLICANT, AND THAT IS A STATEMENT TO BE READ BECAUSE HE COULD NOT JOIN US TODAY.
SO I'LL ASK DEBBIE TO READ DALE HANSON'S STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL
DELIBERATE. >> CLERK: MORNING -- JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN AND SERVE THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNION 60 AS A VOTER REGISTRAR.
THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING MY REQUEST TO BE ON THIS BOARD.
I AM SORRY THAT I COULD NOT ADDRESS YOU IN PERSON TODAY.
[00:30:03]
I AM DOING INTERVIEWS AT OUR APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL.I WILL KEEP THIS SUCCINCT. I BELIEVE I WOULD BE AN ASSET TO THIS BOARD IF I WERE TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE.
I BRING YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE, CIVIC PRIDE AND AN EAGER DESIRE TO ASSIST THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THAT THE ECONOMY IS PLACING GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE NEED FOR BLUE COLLAR WORKERS. OUR LOCAL UNION DOES OUR BEST TO FULFILL THAT NEED BY GIVING PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO LEARN AN IN-DEMAND SKILL WHICH COULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER.
UPON LEARNING ABOUT THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT AND ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. I SERVE ON THE INTERVIEW COMMITTEE FOR OUR APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL AND GET TO INTERACT WITH A MYRIAD OF APPLICANTS. I BELIEVE IF SELECTED, THIS FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE AS HAVING BEEN AN APPRENTICESHIP JOURNEYMAN AND NOW INTERVIEW WOULD HELP THE COMMITTEE STAY TRUE TO ITS ROOT FROM A BOTTOM UP APPROACH.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED DALE HANSON. GREAT, THANK YOU, DEBBIE.
[Executive Session ]
SO WE WILL NOW -- THE COMMITTEE WILL MEET IN THE OPPOSITE ROOM SO EVERYBODY ELSE CAN STAY PUT HERE. TIME IS 11:07 A.M. ON TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2023 -- 2024, EXCUSE ME. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS RECESSING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE SA READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS AND TO DISCUSS RELATEDLEGAL ISSUES PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS NOW 11:19 A.M. ON TUESDAY, APRIL 23RD, 2024, AND THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL NOW RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ TO MAKE A MOTION, LET ME JUST SAY TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS, INCLUDING MR. HANSON WHO'S NOT PRESENT, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND WE NEED, AS WE KNOW THIS IS READY TO WORK IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE TRANSFORMATIONAL EFFORT, AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE WORK OF THE INITIATIVE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT, SO IN YOUR EFFORTS, WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST.
WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU MAINTAIN A CONNECTION TO THE CITY AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE. WE WILL CERTAINLY HELP YOU WITH THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL VERY IMPRESSED WITH ALL FOUR OF THE APPLICANTS TODAY, AND EACH ONE OF THEM BROUGHT STRENGTHS THAT WE COULD FIND USEFUL IN HELPING US MAKE READY TO WORK A SUCCESS. SO WITH THAT, LET ME TURN
IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ TO MAKE A MOTION. >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE RECOMMEND MARTY GARZA FOR THE LABOR ORGANIZATION CATEGORY AND WE FORWARD IT TO THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL. >> COURAGE: SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR MARTY GARZA TO BE RECOMMENDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE
IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AGAIN, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR MAKING TIME AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN READY TO WORK. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE NOW TO OUR NEXT SLATE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ITEMS 3 AND 4 TOGETHER, ERIK, IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY.
WHO'S FIRST? THE STATE ALWAYS GOES FIRST, RIGHT? NO. NO, WE ACTUALLY LIKE THE FED BETTER.
GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SALLY BASURTO FOR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIR. I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO LAY OUT THE PROCESS THAT WE WILL BE EXECUTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS THAT WILL KICK IN IN 2025.
WE HAVE A KICK STARTED THE PROGRAM AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TOA ALERT YOU OF ALL THE MOVING PIECES. I WILL KICK IT OFF WITH THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM PROCESS, AS YOU KNOW THE STATE LEGISLATURE MEETS EVERY TWO YEARS FOR A REGULAR SESSION LASTING 140 DAYS; HOWEVER, KEEP IN MIND THAT SPECIAL SESSIONS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON. AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE HAD FOUR SPECIAL SESSIONS DURING 2023, THE LAST ONE LASTING ALL THE WAY THROUGH ABOUT DECEMBER 7TH OF 2023. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE NEXT SESSION, WHICH BEGINS JANUARY 14TH, 2025, AND THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM WILL WORK DILIGENTLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNCIL APPROVED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM TO READY US FOR THE NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PROGRAM GUIDES STAFF AND CONSULTANTS AS WE
[00:35:02]
ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE STATE AGENCY BODIES. OF SPECIAL NOTE, I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE TRACKED CLOSELY THE PRIMARY RESULTS, AND THEY SIGNALED TO US IN MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WORLD THAT THE HOUSE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT AND EMBRACE MORE CONSERVATIVE POLICIES.THE PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS RESULTED IN NINE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS LOSING THEIR PRIMARIES AND SOME OF THESE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS HELD KEY CHAIRMANSHIPS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NOTABLY, OUR STATE REP, STEVE ALLISON, WAS DEFEATED AS PART OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS. THIS SLIDE LAYS OUT THE TIMELINE FOR THE 89TH SESSION FROM MAY TO AUGUST 2024. THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM WILL BE COORDINATING AND OBTAINING FEEDBACK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW PROGRAM FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS, CITY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR DELEGATION AND THEIR STAFFS.
OF SPECIAL NOTE, OUR COORDINATION DOES EXTEND TO THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, TML, AND OTHER LIKE CITIES. IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL BE BACK BEFORE YOU TO PROPOSE THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM ISSUES OF INTEREST TO THE CITY. AND THEN IN OCTOBER, WE ARE PROPOSING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO THE FULL COUNCIL DURING A B SESSION LATER THAT MONTH, RETURN TO A SESSION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL THIS TO READY FOR BILL FILING WHICH BEGINS NOVEMBER 11TH, AND IT WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT. ALL THIS WORK TOWARDS JANUARY 14TH OF 2025, WHEN THE REGULAR SESSION WILL BEGIN. I WILL PIVOT HERE TO THE FEDERAL PROCESS TIMELINE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, SO SWITCHING GEARS, THE U.S. CONGRESS MEETS FOR A NEW CONGRESS EVERY TWO YEARS, SO ON A PARALLEL TRACK, MY TEAM AND I WILL ALSO BE COORDINATING THE FEDERAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND WORKING TOWARDS THE NEW CONGRESS WHICH BEGINS JANUARY 3RD, 2025. THE GA TEAM WILL COORDINATE, AGAIN, HERE FOR THE NEW PROGRAM AND BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU.
ULTIMATELY TAKING THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PROGRAM AND UTILIZING IT IN ORDER TO GUIDE US AS WE ADVOCATE BEFORE CONGRESS, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. THIS SLIDE LAYS OUT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER WE WILL, AGAIN, HERE, GATHER THE INPUT AND COORDINATE THE VARIOUS ACTION ITEMS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A RECOMMENDED PROGRAM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE'LL WORK WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, CITY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUR DELEGATION. AGAIN, HERE, OUR COORDINATION WILL EXTEND TO OUR PARTNERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN THIS CASE, WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND OTHER LIKE URBAN CITIES.
IN SEPTEMBER, WE'LL BE BACK BEFORE YOU, IF NOT SOONER, TO DISCUSS THE KEY ITEMS OF INTEREST. WE'RE ALSO TAKING AN ADDITIONAL STEP ON THE FEDERAL PROGRAM AND MEETING WITH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENTS, BRINGING IN OUR FEDERAL CONSULTANTS TO DISCUSS THOSE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND ISSUES OF INTEREST. IN NOVEMBER, AGAIN, BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE, TO LAY OUT THE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOUR FEEDBACK.
IN DECEMBER, I PROPOSE GOING TO THE FULL COUNCIL WITH YOUR RECOMMENDED PROGRAM ISSUES, PRESENTING THAT DURING A B SESSION, AND THEN IN JANUARY, SINCE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR THE FEDERAL TIMELINE, BRINGING THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL AT AN A SESSION.
ALL THIS WORK TOWARDS JANUARY 3RD, WHICH KICKS OFF THE 119TH CONGRESS; HOWEVER, KEEPING IN MIND, JANUARY 20TH IS A PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE WIGGLE ROOM IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO BUILD OUT THIS PROGRAM.
OF SPECIAL NOTE, WE RECOGNIZE THE 2024 IS A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, SO WE'RE IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION WITH OUR D.C. PARTNERS AND OUR DELEGATION, IN PARTICULAR OUR TWO APPROPRIATE RATE FORS, CONGRESS HENRY CUELLAR SITS ON THE COMMITTEE AND HE IS...
ADDITIONALLY CONGRESSMAN GONZALES ALSO SERVES ON THE TRANSPORTATION HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, WHICH IS THOD AND ALSO ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIR SUBCOMMITTEE.
SO WE HAVE TWO APPROPRIATERS THAT HAVE VERY GOOD POSITIONING IN
[00:40:05]
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. IN PRESIDENTIAL YEARS, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE CONFERENCE OOF MAYORS TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS AND START WORKING WITH THE FULL APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE NEEDS AND IMPORTANT KEY PRIORITIES AND FUNDING STREAMS ARE MADE VERY CLEAR TO THE APPROPRIATERS ACROSS THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. QUICK REMINDER, THE POWER OF THE PURSE ISQUICK REMINDER TR OF THE PURSE IS VESTED IN CONGRESS.EVEN WITH A PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH CONGRESS, THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, OUR DC PARTNERS, TO ENSURE THAT IT IS CLEAR WHICH FUNDING STREAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND SHARE THAT BIT OF OUR EXTRA COORDINATION WITH YOU IN PREPARATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. OUR FINAL ITEM IS A RESOLUTION OF CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER.
ONE ADDED NOTE THAT I WANTED TO SHARE FOR YOU, WITH YOU FOR CONTEXT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE SUPPORT LANGUAGE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN OUR CURRENT FEDERAL PROGRAM AND IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT WOULD BE CARRY OVERLANGUAGE INTO THE NEW 2025 PROGRAM. SO I WANTED TO BE SURE AND EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU. MOVING INTO THIS SPECIFIC RESOLUTION REQUEST, LAST MONTH DURING THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER PRESENTATION, COUNCILWOMAN RECOMMENDED A RESOLUTION OF CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE MRC.
SINCE THEN CONGRESS IN O MARCH D PASSED THE FY24 FUNDING BUDGET, ALBEIT SEVEN MONTHS LATE, THEY DID FUND THE SERVICES PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $650 MILLION.
THIS FUNDING IS FUNNELED THROUGH THE HOMELAND SECURITY AGENCY AND FEMA AND THIS IS THE TRANCHE, THE BUCKET OF FUNDING THAT WE DRAW DOWN FOR THE MRC THERE ARE TWO SPECIFIC TRAUNCHES THAT I WANTED TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR.
THE FY24 FUNDING ALLOCATIONS, WHICH WAS THE FIRST DIRECT ALLOCATION THAT WENT OUT TO EXISTING GRANTEES, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ALLOCATION AT DOLLARS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES AT $10.8 MILLION.
THAT WAS THE FIRST DIRECT ALLOCATION AMOUNT THAT WILL COME TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. THE DEADLINE FOR THOSE APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 26TH AND OUR HUMAN SERVICES TEAM WILL SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR THIS DIRECT ALLOCATION BY APRIL 26. THE SECOND TRANCHE IS A COMPETITIVE TRANCHEMP WITH $340.9 MILLION. THAT COMPETITIVE PROCESS, THE DEADLINE TO COMPETE FOR THAT IS JUNE 13TH. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME FOR THAT.
SO THERE IS A SECOND TRANCHE THAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING A SECOND REQUEST FOR.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WE RECOMMEND THAT WE INCLUDE AS I SAID EARLIER, SIMILAR LANGUAGE FOR CONTINUED CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN THE 119TH OR 2025 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. THIS COMMITTEE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH THE FULL COUNCIL RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED FEDERAL FUNDING IN LIGHT THAT CONGRESS JUST COMPLETED THEIR FY24 BUDGET PROCESS.
BY WAY OF A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND, THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE JUST KICK STARTED THEIR WORK.
THE HOMELAND SECURITY BILL WHERE THE SSP FUNDING WOULD FALL UNDER WILL LIKELY NOT COME TO THEIR WORK ANY TIME SOON. THAT'S USUALLY THE LAST BILL, THE HOMELAND SECURITY BILL, THAT GETS WORKED ON BY CONGRESS.
AND THEN ADD THE MONKEY WRENCH THAT IT A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, CONGRESS IS LIKELY, PEOPLE ARE SPECULATING THAT WE WILL HAVE A CONTINUED RESOLUTION IN DECEMBER 2024 AND IT WILL JUST BE KICKED DOWN INTO 2025.
SO SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER AS YOU CONSIDER THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND LAYOUT OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THE MRC FUNDING.
THAT CONCLUDES MY THREE PRESENTATIONS. I'M AVAILABLE FOR MY QUESTIONS. WE ALSO HAVE MELODY HERE AND JESSICA IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE MRC. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
JUST REAL QUICK, IN PREPARATION FOR THE 89TH SESSION, IT'S MY INTENT TO RECONSTITUTE AN IGR COMMITTEE SO THERE WILL BE A REGULAR PACE OF DISCUSSION
[00:45:04]
FOR THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS WE PREPARE AND GET READY FOR THE SESSION.SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT. WE'LL DO THAT AT THE MIDYEAR. ALSO AS IT RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION REGARDING THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER, AT THE TIME OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CORE, AS YOU HEARD THE BUDGET DEAL HADN'T BEEN REACHED SO WE NOW HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CERTAINTY ON THAT FUNDING, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE REQUESTING ALTOGETHER. THERE ARE CHANGES BOTH IN TERMS OF THE FLOW OF MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO IT. SO LIKELY THERE'S A LOT MORE TO KNOW THAN WE KNOW RIGHT NOW OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. FOR THOSE REASONS I DO CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, SALLY. WE DO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO NEED AN OPERATION. WE DO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO NEED FEDERAL RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN IT, MAINTAIN THE ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY THAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS AS WELL AS TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND HUMANITY. SO I DO AGREE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT IN THE AGENDA.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ENOUGH CLARITY ON WHAT'S TO COME TO HAVE A STANDALONE RESOLUTION, BUT IF WE DO WE COULD CONSIDER IT AT THAT POINT.
LET'S GO TO DISCUSSION NOW AND I'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. SALLY, I'D LIKE TO ASK WHEN WE BEGIN TO PUT THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M NOT SURE OF PAST PROGRAMS, BUT ARE WE INCORPORATING INPUT FROM A LOT OF THE OTHER PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY? FOR EXAMPLE, DO WE TALK TO THE COUNTY? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE SHARE A LOT OF VERY SIMILAR INTERESTS, NEEDS, ET CETERA.
DO WE WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE CHAMBERS? DO WE WORK WITH LET'S SAY SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE KNOW GO AND LOBBY IN AUSTIN FOR THINGS THAT THEY FEEL ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION, WHICH IN MANY CASES ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE WHOLE CITY. SO HOW IN-DEPTH IS OUR ASSOCIATION WITH OUR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WE PUT TOGETHER MAYBE IDEAS OR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY
COUNCIL? >> ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMAN. THE ANSWER IS YES, WE EXECUTE A VERY ROBUST OUTREACH PROCESS DURING A MULTI-MONTH TENURE BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY. WE ALSO HAVE THE IGR ROUNDTABLE THAT IS ALL STAFF LEVEL WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS CPS, SAWS, THE COUNTY.
IT EXTENDS ON THE PORT, BROOKS, VIA, ET CETERA. WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE OUTREACH TO AS WELL AS STATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CARRY VERY SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT THEY DEDICATE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE LEGE. SO WE'VE DONE A VERY ROBUST OUTREACH PROCESS IN THE PAST
AND WE WILL DO THAT AGAIN FOR THIS SESSION. >> COURAGE: GREAT.
THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR. THANK YOU, MATURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ. >> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR MY FELLOW LAWYER, ANDY SEGOVIA. ANDY, WE'VE HEARD -- THE MEDIA IS AGITATED FROM SOME COMMENTS THAT WE HEARD FROM CONGRESSMAN ALONG THE BORDER ACCUSING CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND US OF HELPING TO TRANSPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS TO THEIR DESTINATION OF CHOICE. HAVE ANY ILLEGAL ALIENS BEEN ASSISTED THROUGH THE MRC AND IS CATHOLIC CHARITIES HELPING TO TRANSPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS?
>> COUNCILMAN TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE MRC IS SET UP TO PROCESS PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROCESSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE ASSIST THROUGH THE MRC ARE HERE LEGALLY. SO THERE ARE NO ILLEGAL
ALIENS. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ASYLUM SEEKERS. BECAUSE ASYLUM IS A CREATURE OF FEDERAL LAW, A PERSON SHOWS UP TO THE BORDER, SAYS I NEED ASYLUM AND FEDERAL LAW THEN SAYS COME ON IN AND WE'LL GRANT YOU ASYLUM UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT IF YOU GET PERMANENT ASYLUM.
THAT IN MY POSITION -- IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW.
IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AS WELL, COUNCILMAN. AND ACTUALLY AT THE MRC WE TAKE VERY MUCH NOTE OF WHERE THEIR ASYLUM HEARING IS AND OBVIOUSLY THE INTENT IS TO GET THEM TO THE CITY OR
LOCALE THAT IS CLOSEST TO THEIR ASYLUM HEARING. >> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'RE NOT REQUESTING ANY FEDERAL FUNDS THAT CONTINUE TO BE SENT TO US TO REIMBURSE US FOR TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS ANYWHERE.
WE'RE ASKING THEM TO SEND FEDERAL FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE PROVIDING SOME VERY
[00:50:02]
TEMPORARY SHELTER AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THEY SAFELY MAKE THEIR WAY TO WHATEVERPRESIDENT ADDITION THEY'RE HEADED TO, IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, COUNCILMAN, IT'S TO FACILITATE TRANSPORTATION AGAIN TO THE -- TO REGION CITIES WHERE THEIR ASYLUM HEARINGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE MOST PART.
>> THANK YOU, ANDY. SO TO BE SPECIFIC, WE SAW YESTERDAY THAT U.S.
CONGRESSWOMAN MONICA LA CRUZ SAID THE FOLLOWING WORDS: THESE TAX DOLLARS WERE NOT INTENDED TO BE USED TO FLY I AM LEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ACCUSING US OF MISUSING THESE FUNDS TO TRANSPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS. THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS EITHER MISINFORMED AND I KNOW SHE'S NOT, SHE'S A SMART LADY. SO BECAUSE SHE'S NOT MISINFORMED, SHE'S LYING. AND THERE'S LOTS OF REALLY INTERESTING THINGS TO DEBATE ABOUT POLICY, BUT THERE'S NO ROOM FOR DISHONEST LIES LIKE THIS, RIGHT? AND SHE'S LYING AND SHE'S GOT A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO LIE, BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND TO HAVE HER LIE UNCHALLENGED.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION IN THIS CITY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH THIS MONEY. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN ORDER IN THIS CITY.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH THIS MONEY. AND IF MS. DELLA CRUZ WANTS TO ACTUALLY BE USEFUL AS OPPOSED TO TAKING UP OXYGEN, MAKING FALSE ACCUSATIONS, MAYBE SHE COULD COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND SPEND A FEW MINUTES INFORMING HERSELF OF THE FACTS AND HOPEFULLY SHE CAN GROW A CONSCIENCE AND STOP LYING TO PEOPLE.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SALLY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK HERE. LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A MEETING WITH YOU ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE CAN PUT ON THE LONG LIST.
I'VE GOT A FEW, I KNOW. MY ONLY REQUEST IS THAT WE NEVER FORGET TO ADD AND CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS ITS OWN STANDALONE PRIORITY.
AND THAT'S IT. THANKS. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER CABELLO
HAVRDA. >> I THINK THEY HAVE LIMITED IMPACT OR INFLUENCE WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY, BUT EVEN IN THIS REGARD BECAUSE -- EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY, I'M NOT SURE THAT A RESOLUTION IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION, BUT WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE
THE BENEFIT WOULD BE? >> BASURTO: COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
AND I CAN ADVISE YOU THAT I BELIEVE THE TIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS CASE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE HOMELAND SECURITY BILL IS THE LAST BILL ALWAYS TO BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN VERY CONTENTIOUS. AND IN LIGHT THAT IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR THEY'RE LIKELY TO DO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION IS WHAT THE WELL INFORMED MINDS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ARE TELLING US THAT WILL COME IN DECEMBER AND TAKE US INTO 2025. SO THE TIMING IS OFF RIGHT NOW. PERHAPS CONSIDER AS THE MAYOR SAID THE RESOLUTION AT ANOTHER TIME WHERE WE CAN MAYBE UTILIZE IT TO ARM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, OR TWO APPROPRIATORS TO UTILIZE THE CITY'S SUPPORT. IN THIS CASE BECAUSE THE FY24 BUDGET WAS PASSED AFTER THE RESOLUTION WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE
COUNCILWOMAN, THE TIMING IS DEFINITELY OFF RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY.
I'M SURE YOU'D AGREE THAT HAVING AN OVERALL STRATEGY COMBINED WITH PHONE CALLS, LETTERS, ANY INFLUENCE THAT MEMBERS OF THIS CITY HAVE OVER OUR LEGISLATURE AND OVER ANY OF THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS, PARDON ME, WOULD BE HELPFUL, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE -- EVEN IF THE TIMING IS RIGHT, FILE IT AWAY, THEY WANT MORE MONEY.
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES ASKING FOR THAT MONEY. SO I UNDERSTAND, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT TIMING IS IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S A PRETTY LIMITED SCOPE. I WILL SAY IT AND I MENTIONED IT BEFORE THAT I HAVE REAL CONCERN ABOUT US NOT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO I KNOW SEVERAL TIMES I'VE ASKED FOR US TO HAVE A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T GET THESE FEDERAL FUNDS OR SOME OTHER CHANGE AND WE'RE STUCK WITH THE BILL FOR THE MRC. TO BE CLEAR, I THINK IT SHOULD BE OPEN, IT'S SAFER FOR OUR MIGRANTS AND SAFER FOR OUR CITY. AND THE INTENT WAS TO HOLD THEM FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEY GO ON TO THEIR FINAL DOZIZATION.
SO SOME OF THESE CRITICISMS OF THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AND I WILL SAY I CHALLENGE THE CONGRESS MEMBERS WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT MISUSING THESE FUNDS BY EITHER CATHOLIC
[00:55:05]
CHARITIES OR THE CITY OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE FOOD BANK.THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING MONEY, TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. THEY INDICATE ADVOCATED FOR US TO GET THESE FUNDS AND NOW THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM. WHEN THE CITY GETS THAT MONEY WE'RE TRACKING WHERE IT'S GOING, HOW IT'S BEING USED.
SO I THINK IT'S RICH FOR THEM TO ACCUSE US OF NOT USING THE MONEY WELL, BUT HAVING DONE THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE. SO BACK TO THE RESOLUTION, MY -- I THINK I MENTIONED MY CONCERN, BUT I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING STRONGER.
I THINK WE NEED A MORE COORDINATED CAMPAIGN. AND OF COURSE I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT WOULD WANT TO HELP WITH IT. IS THE PROPOSAL TODAY THAT WE CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION AND MOVE IT -- IS THERE A RESOLUTION TO MOVE IT TO
COUNCIL AND WAIT UNTIL WE NEED IT OR WHAT'S THE PLAN? >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: IT'S JUST BRIEFING ONLY. SO I THINK IN MORE EXPLICIT TERMS, SALLY, YOU'RE ASKING US TO PARK THE IDEA OF A SEPARATE RESOLUTION FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION AT A LATER DATE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND RESOURCES IN OUR UPCOMING AGENDA.
>> BASURTO: THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. AGAIN, THERE IS CURRENT LANGUAGE SUPPORTING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FUNDING SO OUR MARCHING ORDERS ARE TO CONTINUE REINFORCING THAT REQUEST AND THAT MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELL INDICATION.
AND THEN THAT EFFORT WILL CONTINUE IN 2025 IN THE NEW PROGRAM.
>> CABELLO HAVRDA: OKAY, THANK YOU, SALLY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND TEAM FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I AM ALSO IN FAVOR OF HOLDING UP ON THE RESOLUTION.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING LATER ON. SALLY, I'VE BEEN INVITING AND WORKING WITH NLC TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A GROUP OF FOLKS TO COME AND TOUR OUR MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. I THINK THAT WE COULD GET SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE NLC AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO THAT TIME. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT DR. CORE WAS TRYING TO DO AND I APPRECIATE HER TRYING TO DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE FACT THAT THERE COULD BE AN ENTIRE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING UP.
I MENTIONED AT THE BUDGET MEETING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE PLANS AB AND C FOR FUNDING THAT WE KNOW WILL GO AWAY IF A DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION TAKES OVER.
AND SO SALLY, I'D HOPE THAT THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION. AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO -- I THANK COUNSELING MAN CUELLAR FOR WORKING SO HARD, BUT I DO THINK THAT HE NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN CONGRESS AND HE'S NOT NECESSARILY GETTING IT. SO I DO FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO HELP GET TO HIS COLLEAGUES.
I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND MAYBE HE NEEDS TO ALSO CONNECT A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES. I KNOW WE'RE ALWAYS IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND I KNOW THAT JESSICA IS THERE. I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT HER AND HER TEAM ARE DOING, AND MEL. BUT I DO THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO TAKE AN EDUCATIONAL EFFORT ON A LOT OF LAWMAKERS TO COME AND SEE WHAT THE MRC IS ABOUT AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARE DOING BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. I DO THINK THAT THE MRC SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE OPEN BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS DON'T END UP ON THE STREETS IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR RESIDENTS. BUT I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SALLY, OTHER THAN, LIKE I SAID, I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE MOST CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLY LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING. BUT THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE MRC AND MAYBE THE CITY MANAGER CAN TELL US. WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE SEE HERE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, IS THERE OTHER FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE OURSELVES WHOLE FOR WHAT WE'VE BEEN INVESTING IN THE MRC OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS?
>> MAKE OURSELVES WHOLE IN TERMS OF WE'RE OWED MONEY, COUNCIL MEMBER? NO, WE'RE NOT. THE FEMA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE PAID US ALL THE REIMBURSEMENTS ON THIS ASPECT. THEIR FUNDING HAS CHANGED WHERE THEY ARE FRONT LOADING DOLLARS. AND SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMAIL I SENT TO YOU GUYS ON FRIDAY, WE ARE CONTINUING THE SAME PACE OF REDUCING
[01:00:02]
OUR EXPENSES, OUR DAILY NUMBERS ARE STILL DOWN. SO THESE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WILL EXTEND OUR -- I THINK THE LAST TIME WE BRIEFED THE COUNCIL, WE WERE ESTIMATING OUR DOLLARS WOULD STRETCH UNTIL -- OWE TO THE SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TIME FRAME. THESE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WILL MOVE US FURTHER TOWARDSEND OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. >> COURAGE: THANK YOU. THE OTHER COMMENT I WOULD SHARE IS I BELIEVE, MAYOR, YOU SAID YOU'D LIKE TO RECONSTITUTE AN IGR, AND THIS RESOLUTION MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE WANT WANT TO MOVE TO PUT ON THEIR AGENDA FOR SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER AFTER WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT KIND OF FEDERAL AGENDA WE MAY WANT TO PUT TOGETHER. THAT'S MY VIEW ON THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEMS 3, 4 AND 5? ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, SALLY AND TEAM. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO NOW TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, WHICH IS THE CCRS ON OUR AGENDA, ITEMS 6
THROUGH 9. >> ANDY WILL KICK US OFF, MAYOR.
>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I WAS GOING TO STAY DOWN THERE, BUT I HAVE TO CLICK UP HERE. SO THE FIRST CCR WE'RE GOING TO TALK IS A CCR SUBMITTED BY COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO ON THE DART.
IT ASKED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE FEE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD HOLD DART PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE SAFETY OF THEIR STRUCTURES, THUS REDUCING RELIANCE ON OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES. THE CCR SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED A COMPREHENSIVE FEE STRUCTURE AND THAT THAT FEE STRUCTURE ALL BE DIRECTED TO A RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FUND SO THE CITY CAN ASSIST MORE FAMILIES IN TRANSITIONING TO SAFER HOUSING. SO I'LL JUMP RIGHT TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND I WILL GET TO WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT HERE IN A MINUTE. BUT DART, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WELL BEFORE I GOT HERE SO I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT, BUT IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN FOCUSED WORKING WITH SEVERAL CITY DEPARTMENTS ON TRYING TO ADDRESS WHAT WE CALL THE WORST OF THE WORST NUISANCE PROPERTIES. IT'S FOCUSED ON MITIGATING SAFETY CONCERNS AT THESE PROPERTIES. MANY OF THEM ARE RESIDENTIAL, MANY OF THEM ARE COMMERCIAL, BUT AS A REMINDER TO THE COMMITTEE, DART USES ENFORCEMENT TOOLS UNDER STATE LAW THAT REQUIRE VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA, INCLUDING DOCUMENTED CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. SO IT'S VERY MUCH AN ENFORCEMENT TOOL, RECOGNIZING ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNCILWOMAN IS TO HAVE A FUNDING FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
THE REASON WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT IT BE PART OF THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS WORKING WITH ERIK'S OFFICE WE'VE IDENTIFIED A PROGRAM THAT IS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE WHICH CAN BE AUGMENTED SO THAT WE CAN FUND A RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FUND FROMN IT. THE PROGRAM I AM TALKING ABOUT IS A FUND IN WHICH A PORTION OF ALL, ALL ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES, COSTS AND FEES, A PORTION OF THAT IS REDIRECTED. AND THERE'S TWO PROGRAMS ALREADY IN WHICH FUNDING IS FROM THESE ASSESSMENT OF COST, PENALTIES AND FEES. ONE OF THEM GOES TO A DSD FUND FOR COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT. ANOTHER PROGRAM HAS PART OF THOSE FEES GOING TO ACS. SO SPEAKING WITH ERIK, IF WE REDIRECT FUNDING FOR A COSA RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FUNDING, WE CAN TAKE NOT ONLY DART PENALTIES AND FEES, WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY CODE ENFORCEMENT FEES, AND ACCUMULATE ALL OF THEM AND THEN TAKE A PORTION OF THOSE FEES AND REDIRECT IT TO A RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FUND. AGAIN, THE REASON WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT IS ONE, WE'RE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS ALREADY SO WE CAN PROBABLY IMPLEMENT THAT QUICKER THAN IT GOING TO A COMMITTEE. AND SECONDLY, MOST OF THE -- AGAIN, MOST OF THE PENALTIES THAT ARE ASSESSED UNDER THE DART PROGRAM ARE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
SO IT WOULD INCLUDE A LOT -- IN FACT, MOST OF THE DART PENALTIES.
SO PART OF IT IS HOLDING DART OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE. IT WILL HELP DO THAT AS WELL. BUT I WANT TO REMIND THE COMMITTEE THAT OUR FOCUS FOR
[01:05:02]
THE DART PROGRAM IS ON COMPLIANCE SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PROPERTY -- LET'S SAY A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NEEDS ADDITIONAL SECURITY LIGHTING, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE WANT THAT OWNER TO FUND THOSE COSTS AND BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE.SO WE WANT AGAIN THE COST OF THE PROGRAM TO BE FOCUSED ON COMPLIANCE RATHER THAN REVENUE GENERATION. SO WITH THAT I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
AND WE HAVE THE DART TEAM, PART OF THE DART TEAM HERE IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON DART. OH, I'M SORRY, SORRY. I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO DAVID AND THEN WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS AFTER ALL THE PRESENTATIONS.
>> WHILE WE'RE TRANSITIONING, JUST SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION IN THE SUMMER OF '22 AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROACTIVE APARTMENT INSPECTION OF DOING THIS RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. SO AS ANDY SAID, WE DO THINK THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO -- WITH THAT PROGRAM AS WELL AS DART, TO LOOK AT CREATING ADDITIONAL PENALTIES OR FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DART THAT WE WOULD AUTHORIZE WITHIN THE BUDGET AND THEN APPROPRIATE FOR THAT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IN THE BUDGET. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE THINK THAT IF WE DO THAT THROUGH THE SUMMER AND LOOK AT THAT, THEN PRESENT IT AS PART OF THE BUDGET, THAT WILL GET US TO A COMPLETION OR AT LEAST AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AS PART OF THE BUDGET. GO AHEAD, DAVE, I'M SORRY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU ANDY AS WELL. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF PROFESSIONAL YOU THE NEXT ITEM.
-- PRESENTING YOU THE NEXT ITEM. THIS WAS PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARINA ALDRETE GAVITO OF D7. THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT MAKES AVAILABLE A COMMUNITY FOCUS CERTIFICATION KNOWN AS THE BIRD CITY TEXAS PROGRAM. THIS FOCUSES ON PROTECTION OF NATIVE BIRDS AND THEIR HABITAT. THE P FILE, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE CCR, IS NOT A MIGRATORY BIRD. AS A NON-NATIVE SPECIES, THE PEAFILES ARE CONSIDERED EX-SOCIETY TICK BY TEXAS PRO-LIFE AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THIS -- TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THIS MIGRATORY BIRD ACTION.
THANK YOU. HOWEVER, PEAFILES ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE RULETY LAWS. -- CRUELTY LAWS. SOME CITIES HAVE ORDINANCES RESTRICTING OR ALLOWING PEAFILES MANAGEMENT EFFORTS.
SOME HAVE ORDINANCES THAT PROHIBIT FEEDING WHILE OTHER CITIES HAVE THOSE THAT ENABLE TRAPPING AND RELOCATION. CURRENTLY IN SAN ANTONIO IT IS UNLAWFUL TO ABUSE OR CRUELLY TREAT PEAFILES. IT IS ALSO UNLAWFUL TO SELL PEAFILES IN PUBLIC PLACES, USE INHUMANE TRAPS OR HUNT WILD PEAFILES.
THERE ARE ALLOWABLE ACTIONS WHEN SOMEONE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNS THAT PROPERTY WITH THE PROPER PERMIT FROM THE CITY. THIS CCR REQUEST IS NOT INTENDED TO ADVERSELY IMPACT OPERATIONAL PRACTICES OF OUR PUBLIC PROPERTY CONSISTENT WITH REGULATORY GUIDELINES. IN ADDITION, IT ALSO PROVIDES A REVIEW OF LIMITED REGULATIONS FOR OUR PEALOWT. UNDER STAFF RECOMMENDATION, STAFF RECOMMENDS REFERRING THIS ITEM TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO JOHN TATER REC, OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
>> THANKS, DAVID. MAYOR AND COMMITTEE, I'M GOING TO WORK US THROUGH THE NEXT TWO CAN CCRS HERE. THE FIRST ONE IS FROM DISTRICT 2, COUNCIL MEMBER JALEN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ AND HAS TO DO WITH UNION PACIFIC MAINTENANCE.
THE CCR ASKED US TO EXPLORE A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNION PACIFIC TO ADDRESS THE PROPERTY OWNED BY UNION PACIFIC TO BETTER ADDRESS ILLEGAL DUMPING, HIGH GRADE, CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, SORT OF VARIOUS ISSUES THAT ARE OCCURRING WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. SO THE CCR ASKED FOR US TO FORMALIZE A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNION PACIFIC SO THAT WE CAN AVOID THIS PUBLIC NUISANCE THAT'S HAPPENING ON THEIR PIECES OF PROPERTY. WE ROUTINELY ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH UNION PACIFIC ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AROUND STREET CROSSINGS WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF UNION PACIFIC, BUT WE DO NOT ENTER THAT RIGHT-OF-WAY UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AN AGREEMENT IS SIGNED AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC BONDING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR CONTRACTORS AND OUR STAFF WHEN THEY'RE THERE.
SO FOR SAFETY REASONS WE DON'T ROUTINELY GO INTO THAT RIGHT-OF-WAY.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THIS ITEM -- THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AN MOU WITH THEM AND
[01:10:04]
THIS ITEM GO TO TRANSPORTATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND INPUT.MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM, THIS SLIDE IS A LITTLE BIT WRONG SO IT'S CASA BELLA AND HEATHER PLACE STREET EXTENSION. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
SO COUNCILWOMAN ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA AND COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ BOTH ASKED THAT WE LOOK AT TWO POTENTIAL STREET EXTENSIONS, ONE ON CASA BELLA AND ONE ON HEATHER PLACE. SO BOTH OF THESE ARE PIECES OF ROAD THAT EXIST AND THEN DEVELOPERS DID NOT FINISH THE EXTENSIONS OF THESE STREETS SO THERE'S TWO SEPARATE PLACES IN TOWN, ONE IN D4 AND 1 IN D8. SO THE CCR WAS WANTING TO SPECIFICALLY LAY OUT A PROCESS FOR THOSE TWO STREET IMPLETIONS.
SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU'RE WILLING, COUNCIL PEOPLE, THAT YOU WOULD USE YOUR 2024MANP FUNDING TO DO A FEASIBILITY FUNDING AROUND THESE PIECES OF STREET, EXPLORE RESPONSIBLE DESIGNS, POTENTIAL STREET EXTENSIONS.
THERE ARE DEVELOPERS THAT OWN LAND IN THIS AREA THAT WE HAD NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ABOUT THEIR FUTURE PLANS THAT COULD IMPACT WHETHER THESE STREETS GET BUILT OR NOT. THERE WOULD NEED TO BE RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION IF WE DO BUILD THEM IF THEY DON'T HAPPEN FROM THE CURRENT DEVELOPERS.
ONCE THE INITIAL FEASIBILITY STUDIES ARE DONE THAT WILL HELP US WITH FINAL COSTS AND DESIGN COSTS. SO THOSE COULD BE EXPLORED THROUGH FUTURE NAMP FUNDING AS WELL. THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS ITEM.
NO FURTHER ACTION AS FAR AS COMMITTEES GO, BUT THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION.
AND MAYOR, THAT'S ALL THE CARR KAS AND WE'RE -- KS AND WE'RE HERE TO TAKE QUESTIONS
AS WELL. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OF BEFORE WE GET INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION I DID WANT TO SEE IF COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ AND/OR ROCHA GARCIA WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ONE THAT THEY SUBMITTED. TO COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ?
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT [INDISCERNIBLE] TO DISCRETE INDIVIDUAL STREETS SO I UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S UNUSUAL.
THE REASON, HOWEVER, IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. NOT SEEING MUCH MOVEMENT ON THIS AND EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY ALONG THE STREET THAT IS IN DISTRICT 8 AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE STREET IN DISTRICT 4. WE'RE SEEING SOME SAFETY PROBLEMS ON THESE STREETS AND A LOT OF BOTTLENECKING. AND THE LACK OF COMPLETION ON THAT STREET IS JUST MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO USE THESE STREETS.
SO I THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE I HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN SEVEN YEARS THAT FILING A CCR JUST MIGHT KNOCK THIS LOOSE AND GET SOME MOVEMENT ON IT.
HAPPY TO TALK TO MY TEAM. I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH US USING 24NAMP FUNDS FOR FEASIBILITY AND DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED STREET EXTENSION.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT WITH REGARDS TO THE PEAFOWL, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT USED TO BE IN DISTRICT 8, MAYOR, AND IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS A LOT OF PEA COCKS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAME A DISTRICT 7 NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER REDISTRICTING. THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAS -- YOU'VE GOT A HATFIELDS AND MCCOY SITUATION OVER THERE WITH SOME NEIGHBORS HIRING TRAPPERS TO COME AND TAKE THE PEACOCKS AWAY. THE OTHER HALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS FURIOUS BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THAT TO BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE CHARACTER OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND COUNCILWOMAN GAVITO IS NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THIS WILL PREVENT CIVIL WAR IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT ON IT. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PELÁEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS
ITEM 9? >> PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE AND D8 COUNCILMAN PELÁEZ.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SIMILAR SITUATIONS AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO FILE SOMETHING TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN. THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I AM WORKING WITH HAS SEEN CONSTANT DUMPING PROBLEMS IN THE AREA. AND SO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD NOT ONLY CREATE AN ADDITIONAL OR BASICALLY A TURNAROUND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT ALSO PREVENT THAT DUMPING THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN THE AREA. SO I AM -- I AM IN FAVOR OF USING THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF USING NAMP FUNDS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. I DO WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE OTHER CCRS. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE OTHER ONES, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL MY COLLEAGUES MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ
[01:15:01]
AND CASTILLO AND GAVITO THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR CONSIDERING THEIR CCRS AS WELL.THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING D4 AND 8 TO GO FIRST BECAUSE THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN IF YOU WERE OKAY SPENDING YOUR OWN NAMP FUNDS AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY ARE. AND ANY OF THE OTHER CCRS THAT WERE PROPOSED EXCEPT FOR ITEM 6. I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE DISCUSSION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FUNDING TO GO TO THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT -- THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AND I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT THE -- WE RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO THAT SAYS THAT DOESN'T MEET THE INTENT OF HER ORIGINAL REQUEST.
SHE WAS LOOKING FOR, SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE LETTER, MORE FOR A FEE FROM NEGLIGENT
DART PROPERTY OWNERS. >> THAT'S WHAT WE MAY BE LOOKING AT, YEAH.
I THINK -- I SENT THE COUNCILWOMAN A TEXT. I THINK WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IS WHAT SHE'S SUGGESTING. SO I DON'T KNOW THE DISCONNECT.
>> IN ADDITION TO MONEY WITH THE PROGRAM WE HAD TALKED ABOUT ALSO COUNCILWOMAN, SO
IT'S SORT OF TRYING TO WAY. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: OKAY.
SO I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER. I'M READING THIS LETTER THAT SHE SENT TO US.
RIGHT NOW I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT. I WOULD ACTUALLY -- I'M COMFORTABLE WITH YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT IT AT BUDGET, BUT CAN WE ALSO TAKE THE VERY SPECIFICS OF TALKING ABOUT IT AND IMPLEMENTING A DART FEE TO GO TO A
COMMITTEE? >> YOU GUYS CAN TAKE IT TO A COMMITTEE IF YOU WANT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL FEE OR PENALTY OR WHATEVER WE CALL IT TO DART PROPERTY OWNERS FOR HOUSING RELOCATION. SO WE NEED TO RECONCILE WITH THIS LETTER THAT WE GOT FROM COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. BUT AS I READ IT COMPARED TO WHAT ANDY SAID AND WHAT I SAID, IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING.
SO WE'LL DO THAT. YOU GUYS CAN LEAVE IT PENDING.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE KEEP WORKING ON THIS. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? THE RECOMMENDATION IS SILENT AS TO THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. IF YOU'RE CLEAR ON MOVING MORE MONEY INTO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND THE SOURCE OF THAT WOULD BE A NEW FEE ON DART AND DARTED OWNERS, I
THEN I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. >> DART OWNERS AND LOOKING AT APPLYING IT ACROSS ALL -- BECAUSE DART, THE DART FEES ARE VERY FINITE THING, MAYOR AND COMMITTEE, WHEREAS THE TWO PROGRAMS I TALKED ABOUT ARE APPLIED ACROSS ALL CODE
ENFORCEMENT. >> CODE CASES. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: BUT WE COULD DO BOTH. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT -- WE DON'T WANT TO LIMIT IT TO THESE FEES, BUT I THINK FROM UNDERSTANDING HER LETTER, HER ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO INCLUDE A FEE FOR DART OWNERS.
SO THAT COULD BE PART OF THE BIGGER DISCUSSION, INCLUDING OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING.
>> CORRECT. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: SO IF WE MOVE THIS FORWARD STRAIGHT TO BUDGET IT'S WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSION OF A
DART FEE. >> DART FEES OR PENALTIES, WHATEVER WE NEED TO CALL THEM, UNDER ANDY'S RULE. THE EXISTING PROGRAM -- I'LL THROW A THIRD ONE, THE ONE THAT I MENTIONED IS THE -- I FORGET WHAT WE CALL THE LIST OF BAD ACTOR APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE ONE STEP SHORT OF DART. AND LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. THERE MAY BE PENALTIES AND FEES THROUGH THERE AS WELL.
>> CABELLO HAVRDA: OKAY. >> FRANKLY, COUNCILWOMAN, ONE OF OUR CONCERNS IS IF YOU LOOK AT STRICTLY NOT AND NOT APPLYING IT TO RESIDENTIAL, YOU'RE LOOKING AT JUST COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, AND IN TERMS OF WHAT FEES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO IMPOSE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT WOULD GET US ACROSS THE GOAL LINE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN 'ENVISIONED FOR FUNDING FOR RELOCATION.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF IT. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: IS THERE A SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS? I MEAN, IT CAN BE AGENDAIZED AS A SEPARATE ITEM SO WE CAN
HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> CABELLO HAVRDA: I'M
COOL WITH THAT. >> WE CAN STRUCTURE THAT. OR IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO PUSH IT TO A COMMITTEE BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THINGS IN PRODUCTION SO THAT WE CAN GET STUFF PUT TOGETHER.
I THINK THE NOTION THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN'S CCR IS WRITTEN UNDER IS THAT THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT CAUSE RELOCATION ISSUES SHOULD BE PAYING MORE OF THAT COST.
AND SO HOWEVER WE DO THAT IS I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
[01:20:06]
>> CABELLO HAVRDA: I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE IT.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF TAKING IT TO BUDGET BECAUSE THE IRON IS HOT.
IT'S TIME, RIGHT? BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE INTENT OF HER CCR AT -- DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> THAT WILL BE LIKELY PART OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROPOSED BUDGET. WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE SECTION ON THAT.
BECAUSE IT WILL BE A NEW FEE, IT'S TIED TO A CCR, WE'LL WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT.
SO IT WILL BE -- IT WON'T BE BURIED, IT WILL BE A NEW POLICY ISSUE.
>> CABELLO HAVRDA: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? >> COURAGE: I WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT TOO.
WE HEARD ANDY SAY THAT SOME PART OF CODE COMPLIANCE FEES GO INTO A COUPLE DIFFERENT AREAS. AND I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF WE TOOK A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CODE COMPLIANCE FEES, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR? WOULD IT -- IF IT WAS A DOLLAR OUT OF EVERY TRANSACTION OR WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, 40,000, 50,000, 10,000? I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS SO THAT WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF IMPACT WE COULD REALLY BE CREATING. AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'D
LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT. >> WE CAN GET INTO DETAIL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, COUNCILMAN AND JUST GIVE YOU A PREVIEW. IN TERMS OF RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT A PERCENTAGE, IT'S A FIXED AMOUNT, $20 OF EACH FINE GOES TO THESE TWO PROGRAMS. AND OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN TERMS OF THE COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE FUNDING, IT GOES ANYWHERE FROM 13,000 ALL THE WAY UP TO 32,000. SO IT DEPENDS AGAIN ON THE YEAR AND HOW MANY FEES ARE ASSESSED. THAT JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA
OF FUNDING. >> AND NOT A 500-DOLLAR FEE?
>> THE FEES VARY. AGAIN, IT COULD BE UP TO 1,000.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. 32,000 IS GOING TO HELP A LOT IF WE HAD $20 AGAIN COMING OUT OF EVERY FEE TO DART. AND ALSO, I APPRECIATE THE CONCEPT THAT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO HOLD THOSE THAT ARE CREATING THE DIFFICULTIES ACCOUNTABLE. AND YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE US TALK ABOUT HAVING AN ONGOING FEE FOR ANYONE WHO GETS IN A DART LIST OR THE BAD ACTORS LIST OF MAYBE A DOLLAR A UNIT FOR EVERY UNIT THAT THEY HAVE AND SEE WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
IF WE'VE GOT LET'S SAY 1,000 UNITS THAT ARE AFFECTED, WELL, THAT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS. MAYBE THAT COULD BE EVERY MONTH THAT THEY'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HELP BUILD THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED TO RELOCATE, BECAUSE WE KNOW IN ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE BAD ACTORS OR EVERY ONE OF THESE DART PROJECTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY MOVE OUT. SOME OF THEM HAVE TO OR FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE.
THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE OR THEY DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES OR THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE -- THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING KICKED OUT BY THE OWNERS BECAUSE THEY'RE COMPLAINING. AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE GET INTO A SAFER, EFFICIENT PLACE TO LIVE, AND IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUSING THIS THAT PAY FOR IT. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE US EXPLORE THIS WHOLE IDEA A LITTLE BIT MORE AND TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE. BECAUSE IT PROBABLY -- WE'D PROBABLY SPEND $100,000 A YEAR OR MORE HELPING PEOPLE RELOCATE OUT OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT DOING
THEIR JOB. >> AND AGAIN, COUNCILMAN, I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.
YOU ARE RIGHT IN THAT WE WILL NEED TO FURTHER DISCUSS THAT.
I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF ERIK'S IDEA OF COMBINING THAT WITH THE APARTMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE AGAIN IF YOU STRICTLY LOOK AT DART IN TERMS OF RELOCATIONS, OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS WE'VE HAD, WHAT, A HANDFUL AT THAT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN RELOCATED BECAUSE OF DART.
SO AGAIN, OUR CONCERN IS IF YOU JUST LOOK AT DART, IT DOESN'T ADDRESS I THINK WHAT THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HELP IN RELOCATIONS, BUT ALSO YOU'RE LIMITING THE UNIVERSE TO ONLY DART-RELATED PROPERTIES.
BUT AGAIN, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN MORE SPECIFICS. >> I HEAR THAT, BUT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO COME TO US FOR HELP. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OUT ON THEIR OWN AND DIDN'T COME TO US, BUT FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED TO BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN? AND I THINK THAT ALSO HAS TO COME INTO PLAY WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION WAS THE CONCEPT ABOUT HELPING A COUPLE OF STREETS IN A COUPLE OF
[01:25:05]
AREAS. I'VE GONE TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR YEARS ABOUT A STREET IN MY AREA THAT'S HALF DONE. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU JUST GO FIND SOME OF YOUR OWN IMAGINE TO TAKE CARE OF THE -- OF YOUR OWN MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS HAVING THE CITY DO MORE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF IT.FOR EXAMPLE, I COULD USE NAMP MONEY TO DO THE DESIGN WORK ON SILVER OAKS AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY IN A BOND ISSUE OR SOMETHING TO FINISH IT.
I COULD DO THAT TODAY. I DIDN'T NEED THE CITY TO TELL ME TO DO THAT, BUT I'VE BEEN ASKING THE CITY TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN DOING THIS.
I HAD SOMEBODY WHO BOUGHT A HOME ON SILVER OAKS AND THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE STREET THAT HAD TO GO NEXT TO THAT HOME IN ORDER TO BUY AND LIVE IN THAT HOME. YOU KNOW, SO -- AND IT'S JUST AN INCOMPLETE STREET AND PEOPLE GET ON THERE AND THEY RACE UP AND DOWN IN THE INCOMPLETE STREET E IT'S MUDDY. WE'VE EVEN HAD THE CITY PUT BIG STONES THERE TO BLOCK ACCESS TO THE STREET, BUT IT SHOULD BE A COMPLETE STREET.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE MORE OF THESE AROUND. I'M WONDERING IF WE SHOULDN'T BE DEVELOPING A PROGRAM THAT LOOKS AT AS THE CITY EXPANDS AND MOVES INTO AREAS THAT WEREN'T REGULATED BY OUR DEVELOPMENT AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WEREN'T DONE THAT COULD BE DONE THAT WE START LOOKING AT HOW THE CITY CAN DO THEM RATHER THAN A COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICE WHO INHERITS THIS PROBLEM HAVING TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR IT. SO THAT'S MY OPINION ON THAT, AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY THE ONLY TWO I HAD ANY TO SAY ABOUT. I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE
OTHER ITEMS RECOMMENDED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS? SO LET ME CHIME IN ON ITEM 6.
I GET IT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S YOUR INTENT. >> RICK, TO COUPLE ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR RELO WITH THE ACTUAL POLICY ISSUE OF THE DART OWNERS.
IS THAT A DISCUSSION WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE MIDST OF OUR BUDGET OR WOULD IT JUST MAKE SENSE FOR US TO M ETE THIS OUT AT A COMMITTEE WITH VOICES AND CONCURRENCE FROM THE COUNCIL ON THAT. WE'RE GOING TO METE THIS OUT WITH 11 MEMBERS IN THE
MIDDLE OF OUR BUDGET? >> WELL, YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT, MAYOR.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS -- I THINK THE COUNCILWOMAN'S MEMO KIND OF HAS GENERATED A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS IT WE'RE DOING. MIKE REMINDED ME THAT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION PROCESS IS GOING TO PCDC WHEN? ON THURSDAY AS AN UPDATE.
WE COULD TAKE IT TO A COMMITTEE AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE COULD ADD IT GENERALLY TO A SPECIAL BRIEFING TO THE COUNCIL BETWEEN NOW AND
JUNE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THAT WANT TO GO DEEP IN THE DETAILS ON THIS. THERE ARE OTHERS THAT PROBABLY DON'T. YOU KNOW, PREFERABLY FOR OUR OWN EFFICIENCY ON THE BUDGET, IF IT'S AS BUTTONED UP AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT GETS TO OUR BUDGET CONVERSATION, I THINK WE'D BE IN GOOD SHAPE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT WOULD GO TO PCDC IF THERE'S A MEETING BEFORE YOU WOULD INTEND TO BRING IT FORWARD
DURING THE BUDGET PROPOSAL. >> I THINK IF WE -- IF WE CAN INITIATE AT LEAST THE CONVERSATION THIS THURSDAY AND THEN GO BACK TO PCDC, I'M LOOKING AT THE COUNCILWOMAN AND SHE'S SHAKING HER HEAD. AND GO BACK TO PCDC IN MAY WITH IT METED OUT AND THEN DOUBLE BACK WITH THE REST OF THE COUNCIL BEFORE SUMMER
MAYBE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY. WHY DON'T WE DO THAT.
AND THEN ON THIS ITEM NUMBER 8 IN THE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH UNION PACIFIC, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? I MEAN, SURELY WE'RE HOLDING UNION PACIFIC ACCOUNTABLE FOR CLEANING UP THEIR RIGHTS OF WAY. HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT REQUIRED. I MEAN, HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T REQUIRE TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF SHARP ELBOWS. GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT THE SITUATION IS WITH UNION SPECIFIC. I CAN TELL YOU SOME NOT SO GREAT EXPERIENCES WHEN I WAS IN DISTRICT 8 ON A COUPLE OF THE CROSSINGS, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS THEY HAVE MANY MILE OF RAILROAD CROSSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. MAJORITY OF THEM IS 100-FOOT WIDE, 50-FOOT FROM THE TRACK EITHER SIDE. WHEN WE DO A ROADWAY PROJECT WE HAVE TO HAVE AGREEMENT WITH THEM. THERE VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT THE SAFETY.
THEY REQUIRE FIVE MILLION FROM OUR CONTRACTOR FOR THE BONDING WHEN THEY ARE WORKING ON RIGHT-OF-WAY. AND WHEN WE DO CERTAIN WORK THEY DON'T EVEN ALLOW US TO
[01:30:04]
DO FUNDING AGREEMENT, THEY DO IT FOR US. REGARDING THE CLEANING AND OTHER THINGS, WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETING WITH THEM. WE HAVE VERY GOOD COORDINATION. WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE AROUND THE RAILROAD CROSSING WE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. YOU KNOW, MANY TIMES THE RIGHT-OF-WAY GOES MUCH, MUCH FARTHER THAN JUST THE ROADWAY CROSSING. IT'S REALLY UP TO THEM WHAT THEY DO. THERE'S A CLEANING ISSUE. SOMETIMES THERE IS [INDISCERNIBLE] ISSUE. I THINK STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS WE WORK WITH THEM, HAVE AN AGREEMENT, WHAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OR HOW WE CAN HELP THEM TO CLEAN THIS AREAUP. >> AND MAILBOX I WOULD JUST ASK ADD IN DISTRICT 2 IN PARTICULAR THERE'S A LARGE SECTION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING THROUGH
AND SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS THAT TO BE UNDER WAY. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE HAVE AREAS UNDER ENFORCEMENT AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DRAFT SOMETHING THAT COULD
BE EFFECTIVE, ERIK, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? >> NO, NO, I'M SORRY, MAYOR. I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS TO DRAFT SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE
HAVE. >> CYCLE THAT'S EXPECTED AND COME INTO AGREEMENT ABOUT THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND THEN WE HAVE A DOCUMENT TO SHOW THEY'RE NOT LIVING UP
TO THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. >> EXACTLY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. ERIK, DID YOU WANT TO ADD
AND THEN -- >> I WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE STREET ISSUE.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHERE THE SILVER OAKS STREET IS AT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND ANY MONEY, I THINK THAT'S WHAT JOHN SAID, NO MATTER WHERE IT'S AT, UNTIL THE FEASIBILITY. AND THAT IS REALLY TO ENGAGE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS BECAUSE THERE IS SOME ELEMENT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY ALONG THESE POTENTIAL ROADS. SO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S CONSENT TO HAVE A PUBLIC STREET THROUGH THOSE -- IN THOSE AREAS IS WHAT MAKES THESE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND NO DOUBT IF THEY WERE PUBLIC ROADS, THEN NOT HAVING -- IF YOU SEE ONE OF THE MAPS, THE D4 ONE, THERE'S LIKE A CUT THROUGH THAT'S LIKE A DIRT ROAD THROUGH THAT PROPERTY. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY PRIVATE PROPERTY. AND THE QUESTION IS -- AND I THINK THE ONE IN D8 A PORTION OF IT WE'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT I THINK HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS. SO RECONCILING THAT IS PARAMOUNT BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO BE A PUBLIC STREET THEN WE WILL HAVE TO -- WE HAVE TO BUILD IT AND WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT. AND I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT -- IT'S MORE ABOUT DETERMINING WHAT IS THE DESTINY OF TA STREET AND WHAT CAN WE GET FROM THE OWNERS MORE SO THAN IT IS HOW DO WE DO IT. FRANKLY, WE'LL REALLOCATE IMP DOLLARS TO DO IT IN THE BUDGET IF WE NEED TO DO IT. IT'S A PUBLIC STREET, IT'S A DIRT PATH OR IS RUNNING HALFWAY DOWN TO A COMMERCIAL AREA IN DISTRICT 8.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE COUNCILMAN COURAGE IS POTENTIALLY AN END POINT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE HE'S TALKING ABOUT A HOME. SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT CRACKING DOWN AND GETTING A PLAN WITH THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, ERIK. COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> COURAGE: YEAH, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RAILROAD. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO COME TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND HAVEN'T HAD MUCH LUCK. SO IF THIS IS GOING TO GO TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND I THINK THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RAILROAD SHOWS UP AND WORKS WITH US ON THIS. SO THAT'S MY COMMENT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE ARE OTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AFTER ALL.
MAYBE THEY BELONG IN IGR. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
WE KNOW THE DIRECTION NOW. SO LET ME CALL INDIVIDUAL MOTIONS ON EACH ONE OF THESE. SO ITEM 6 IS GOING TO BE SENT TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AS A PARALLEL PATH MOVES THROUGH BUDGET.
SO IF I CAN GET A MOTION ON THAT. >> SO MOVE.
>> SECOND. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 6.
MOVING TO PCDC AS WELL AS THE BUDGET PROCESS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM 7 IS MOVING TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A
[01:35:01]
SECOND FOR MOVING ITEM 7 TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 8 IS MOVING TO THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE FOR A DRAFT AGREEMENT.
ANY DISCUSSION? -- I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 8. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? MOTION CARRIES. AND THEN ITEM 9, EXCUSE ME, IS MOVING FORWARD THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS ON A FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT AND SCHEMATIC DESIGN OF THE EXTENSIONS, FUNDING SOURCE TO BE DETERMINED OR IS IT DESIGNATING THROUGH AMP.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 9. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? >> MAYOR, WHAT DID YOU DO WITH SIX?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SIX IS PCDC ALONG WITH GETTING READY FOR THE BUDGET
PROCESS. >> AND THEN ON FIVE [INAUDIBLE].
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: 5 IS PARKED FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. 12:24 P.M. ON APRIL 23RD
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.