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>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION, THE TIME IS 2:24 P.M.
[1. 19-6378 Staff presentation of the FY2020 Proposed Budget focusing on, but not limited to, the following City Departments or Initiatives: [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget]]
WE HAVE FOUR DEPARTMENTS TO GO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
WE'VE GOT FOUR DEPARTMENTS -- I'M SORRY, THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE PRESENTATION FROM VISIT SA THIS AFTERNOON.
THE FIRST IS AVIATION, THE SECOND IS OUR CONVENTION FACILITIES, THIRD, ARTS AND CULTURAL, AND THEN VISIT SA.
WITH THAT, WE'LL START OFF WITH RUSS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT OUR RECAP OF 2019 AND OUR OVERVIEW FOR AVIATION FOR FY '20 BUDGET.
BUT BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY EXECUTIVE TEAM AND MY BUDGET TEAM TO STAND UP.
WE'VE GOT OVER 200 YEARS OF AVIATION EXPERIENCE BEHIND ME.
THEY ALL STARTED WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT 12 IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND THEY AND THEIR TEAMS MAKE ALL OF THIS HAPPEN.
SO I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM.
>> WE ALSO HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION HERE TODAY.
AS ALWAYS, THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
THEY ARE A PHENOMENAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HELP US EVERY DAY.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AIRPORT SYSTEM.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ADMINISTER BOTH SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AND STENSON MUNICIPAL.
AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
BUT AS THE CITY DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TYPICALLY LIKE TO DO IS REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE OPERATE WITH ALL OF THE STANDARD CITY RULES.
HOWEVER, WE OPERATE ENTERPRISE FUND.
IT IS HEAVILY GOVERNED BY FEDERAL GUIDELINES BECAUSE WE RECEIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE FAA OR BOARD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE GRANT ASSURANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAA.
SO ALL THE FEDERAL RULES GOVERN OUR ENTIRE AIRPORT SYSTEM.
WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS TO US IS WE HAVE TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING AIRPORT HAS TO GO EITHER THROUGH AN OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET, OR ROLL BACK INTO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR INVESTMENTS IN OUR AIRPORT SYSTEM.
OUR VISION AND MISSION HAS NOT CHANGED THIS YEAR.
WE NEED TO BE DRIVING PROSPERITY FOR THE REGION AND THAT'S WHAT OUR TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS, 494 PROFESSIONALS LIVE AND BREATHE EVERY DAY.
THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE ON THIS SLIDE, IT TAKES 1,000 CONSECUTIVE MIRACLES TO LAUNCH ONE AIRPLANE SAFELY WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF PASSENGERS TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION.
THE AVERAGE MEMBER OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC THINKS IT'S REALLY EASY AND HAS NO IDEA.
THAT'S REALLY MISSION SUCCESS FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SCREEN, WHETHER IT'S OUR POLICE, SECURITY, FIRE, OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM.
THEY'RE ALL FOCUSED ON THAT ONE MISSION, TO MAKE THAT 1,000 CONSECUTIVE MIRACLES LOOK EASY.
A RECAP OF OUR '19 BUDGET, AND NOT ACTUALS, BUT '19 BUDGET AND
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THE FY '20 BUDGET.THE BOTTOM LINE IS, FROM '19 TO '20 IS PROPOSED, A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE RECOGNIZE MODERN INCREASES IN REVENUE, AND THINGS LIKE PARKING AND RENTAL CARS.
THEY REMAIN VERY STRONG FOR US.
THEY WERE STRONG IN '19, AND WE EXPECT STRONG FOR '20.
WE HAVE NEW CONCESSIONS GOING INTO TERMINAL A.
WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESSES WITH MARKETING AND NEW FACILITIES OVER FY '19 THAT HAVE HELPED US CONTINUE TO GENERATE THAT.
EXPENSES WILL BE UP PRIMARILY DUE TO PROJECTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR EXPANDED AIR SERVICE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT WINNINGS, WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO PUT EXPANDED CAPACITY WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A MINUTE.
DUE TO THE STRONG REVENUE, THE BUDGET DOES PRESERVE LEVERAGE IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND WHICH WILL SERVE US WELL AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THESE PROJECTS.
AIR SERVICE, OPTIMIZING THE ABOVE REMAINS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WITHIN THE CITY.
WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE CONTINUED THE POSITIVE TREND IN '19.
WE SURPASSED 10 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 2019, AND ACTUALLY AS OF TODAY, THAT SLIDE IS OUT OF DATE.
WE JUST HIT OUR 37TH STRAIGHT MONTH OF RECORD GROWTH, MONTH OVER MONTH.
ON YEAR NUMBER FOUR, JULY WAS THE BUSIEST YEAR IN HISTORY FOR YOUR AIRPORT SYSTEM, A LITTLE OVER 960,000 PEOPLE TRAVELING THROUGH.
ALSO THIS YEAR, WE ADDED A NEW COUNTRY, A CARRIER SERVING THREE LOCATIONS, AND 13 OTHER ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS THAT BROUGHT 1,000 NEW SEATS TO SAN ANTONIO.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO OPTIMIZE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S ANOTHER PRIORITY FOR US.
THE FIRST AND LAST PLACE OF TRAVELING MEMBER SEES, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THESE IN MIND.
THERE ARE TWO CRITICAL THINGS ABOUT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT'S ABOUT THE END-TO-END EXPERIENCE, EVERYTHING FROM WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO RESERVE A FLIGHT AND WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM A TRIP AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
THE OTHER IS WE CONSIDER ALL PERSONAS THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOURSELF OR YOUR OWN PREFERENCES, BUT WE'VE GOT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE NEEDS TO CONSIDER ALL OF THEM, WHICH IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT NEW PROGRAMS ON THIS LAST YEAR, LIKE THE ARTS CULTURE HISTORY PROGRAM, PROGRAMS LIKE IRA, THAT'S A REALTIME, REAL-PERSON ASSISTANCE, VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE FOR BLIND.
NEW PROGRAMS FOR FOLKS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES.
WE'VE GOT 188 VOLUNTEER AMBASSADORS NOW.
FOR IT, WE'RE RATED ONCE AGAIN TOP IN OUR CLASS IN THE WORLD FOR THE AIRPORT SERVICE QUALITY AWARD.
LIKE ALL OF DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY, WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO ENSURE OUR POLICY SERVICE DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION RESOURCES ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENT HISTORIES.
CHALLENGES AND NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL.
AND TO THAT END, WE FOCUS AGAIN THIS YEAR ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, I MENTIONED A FEW.
WE'VE INCREASED OUR MULTILINGUAL SERVICES ACROSS ALL TOUCH POINTS IN THE AIRPORT, IMPROVED AND EXPANDED OUR YOUTH PROGRAM TO EDUCATE YOUTH ABOUT THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES IN AVIATION.
AND REACH OUT TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ON THAT.
AND WE STOOD UP TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE.
IN '20 WE'LL WORK ON OPERATIONALIZING THE COMMITTEE THROUGH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, DIALOGUES AND FURTHER OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITIES.
THE ONE IMPROVEMENT, THE PERSONNEL ENHANCEMENT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IN THE FY '20 BUDGET IS A FIVE-MEMBER CUSTOMER SERVICE MEMBER OPERATIONS TEAM.
S.A.T. HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR PHENOMENAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT WE HAVE FAR OUTGROWN THE NEED FOR THIS.
WE'VE BENCHMARKED ACROSS THE INDUSTRY THAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FROM CURB TO GATE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
THEY'RE REALLY OUT THERE FACE-TO-FACE TO FIND PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME PROBLEMS, AND FOCUS ON THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR AIRPORT.
ALSO, IT HAS A DOMINO EFFECT OF GENERATING MORE REVENUE, IF YOU CAN KEEP PASSENGERS MOVING THROUGH YOUR AIRPORT MORE QUICKLY, YOU GENERATE BETTER REVENUE.
AND FINALLY, IT TAKES MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, LIKE SECURITY, POLICE, FIRE, OPERATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN PULLED INTO CUSTOMER ISSUES AND PUTS THEM BACK WHERE THEY BELONG IN THEIR PRIMARY DUTY AUDIO].
ONE OF OUR PRIORITY FOCUSES IN
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'19 AND WILL REMAIN IN '20 IS THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.THE AIRPORT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT IN JANUARY '19 THE MAYOR KICKED THAT OFF AND WE CONCLUDED PHASE ONE, TO EXAMINE OUR REQUIREMENTS AND OUR GEOGRAPHY, AND DETERMINE ULTIMATELY THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR CURRENT AIRPORT LOCATION.
WE ARE JUST NOW IN THE EARLY PHASES OF KICKING OFF WHAT WE CALL PHASE TWO, WHICH IS THE CHALLENGING BUT THE FUN PART.
IT'S DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVES, LOOKING AT ALL THE POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES THROUGH EXPANSION, WHETHER IT BE AIRFIELD TERMINAL OR SUPPORT STRUCTURE, AND FIGURING OUT WHICH OF THOSE ARE FEASIBLE, DOING ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY.
AND THIS WILL INVOLVE SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THANK IN ADVANCE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY OFFERED FOR US TO COME OUT TO SOME OF YOUR EVENTS AND WORK WITH BOTH YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
ULTIMATELY THIS IS THE COMMUNITY'S AIRPORT AND IT NEEDS TO BE A COMMUNITY DECISION WHAT WE DO TO DEVELOP FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THEN FINALLY IN '19 WE FINISHED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AT STINSON, AND AGAIN, TRYING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE STINSON, EVEN THOUGH THEY GENERATE THE AIRPORT OF CHOICE FOR THE SOUTH SIDE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH FOLKS LIKE LEO GOMEZ TO DO SO.
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU GO TO STINSON, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE THE PARKING LOT.
ALL NEW MONUMENT SIGNAGE, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR WAY AROUND THE CAMPUS EASIER.
WE'RE ABOUT TO DO A RIBBON CUTTING ON THE BIKE AND HIKE TRAIL, AND ALLOW YOU TO HOP ON A BIKE FROM STINSON AND RIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE PEARL SOME DAY.
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN VERY, VERY SOON.
FOR FY '20, WE DO HAVE A $52.1 MILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASTER PLAN PROCESS TO LOOK AT LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE FOCUSING ON THOSE IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
SO INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S AGING THAT NEEDS FIXING OR IMPROVING, INCREASE IN CAPACITY FOR THE NEAR TERM AIR SERVICE NEEDS.
I KNOW TCI GAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A PEEK INTO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT I WANTED TO HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHEN I GET BACK UP TO THE PODIUM.
A LOT OF ABOUT THIS IS CAPACITY.
WE'VE INCREASED CAPACITY OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING ANOTHER BIG YEAR IN '20 OR '21.
WE'RE ADDING A LITTLE GATE CAPACITY AND RECONFIGURING IN BOTH TERMINALS A AND B, IN ADDITION TO ADDING TSA IN BOTH TERMINALS.
WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THE CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION FEDERAL INSPECTION STATION IN JANUARY.
THAT WILL OVER DOUBLE THE CAPACITY OF THAT BRAND-NEW FACILITY.
AND THEN THERE'S A VARIETY OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
WE'VE DONE A COMPLETE CAMPUSWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS TO SEE HOW MANY THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE TO EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY OPERATE THE TERMINALS WHILE NOT INVESTING TOO MUCH MONEY IN A TERMINAL THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY YEARS WE'RE GOING TO BE IN EXISTENCE, SPECIFICALLY TERMINAL A.
IN STINSON, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, MODEST PROJECTS.
WE'RE WORKING ON A SIDEWALK PROJECT DOWN THERE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S SOME GENERATOR WORK, A BUILDING RECONSTRUCTION, A ROOF ON THE MUSEUM, A NEW TERMINAL ROOF AND BASIC RUNWAY MAINTENANCE.
AGAIN, A MODEST YEAR FOR STINSON TO KEEP THAT WONDERFUL FACILITY OPERATING.
SO THAT IS A VERY QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN 2019, WHERE WE'RE GOING IN '20.
WE ARE JUST LOOKING AT A GREAT YEAR IN '20.
OUR FOCUS GOING INTO '20 IS RETAINING ALL OF THAT WONDERFUL AIR SERVICE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
WORKING HARD WITH THE MARKETING PROGRAMS TO RETAIN IT.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO READY FOR THE NEAR TERM CAPACITY EXPANSION SO WE NEVER HAVE TO SAY NO TO A NEW ENTRY, A NEW AIRLINE WHO WANTS TO COME SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
STRATEGIC PLANNING WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE NEXT TWO TO FIVE DECADES.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS LATER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RUSS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.
I WANT TO START BY SHARING OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH SPEAKS TO WHAT WE AS A DEPARTMENT ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.
AND THAT IS SAN ANTONIO'S ENRICHING SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE, EVENTS AND FACILITIES.
THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES DEPARTMENT MANAGES AND OVERSEES THE OPERATIONS OF THE HENRY GONZALES CONVENTION CENTER AND CULTURAL CENTER.
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I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE FA SILTD.THE GONZALES HAS OVER 500,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBIT SPACE.
IT HOSTS AN AVERAGE OF OVER 300 EVENTS EACH YEAR, WITH OVER 750,000 CONVENTION DELEGATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THE CONVENTION CENTER EMPLOYS A STAFF OF 271.
THE ALAMODOME IS A MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY WITH 65,000 FEET.
IT AVERAGES 115 EVENT DAYS A YEAR, AND HAS ATTENDANCE OF CLOSE TO A MILLION PEOPLE.
THE ALAMODOME HAS A STAFF OF 73, AND SUPPLEMENTED WITH CONTRACTOR AND TEMPORARY STAFF DURING EVENTS.
THE CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER IS COMPRISED OF THE THEATER AND THRIVING HUB ON THE EAST SIDE FOR CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.
IT HAS ABOUT 300 EVENTS A YEAR WITH ATTENDANCE OF ABOUT 40,000 PEOPLE.
AND THE CARVER HAS A FULL-TIME STAFF OF 14.
THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING SEVERAL LEASES, OF WHICH NELSON WOOD STADIUM IS ONE OF THEM.
THE BASEBALL STADIUM IS RUN BY THE CITY AND OPERATED BY THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS.
AND THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO FOR MANAGING BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY-OWNED SOCCER STATEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT OPERATE THE FACILITY.
THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
IN 2019, THE DEPARTMENT, ALL THREE FACILITIES WILL MANAGE OVER 720 EVENTS, AND HOST OVER 1.8 MILLION VISITORS.
OUR UPCOMING SOCCER EVENT AT THE ALAMODOME BETWEEN MEXICO AND ARGENTINA WILL BE OUR SINGLE LARGEST EVENT THIS YEAR WITH AN ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE OF OVER 60,000 PEOPLE.
THE ALAMODOME THIS YEAR ALSO OUTPACED REVENUE PROJECTION.
IT WILL END THE YEAR $1.2 MILLION ABOVE 2018 ACTUALS.
THIS YEAR, ALSO YOU MIGHT REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR, THAT 2019 AND 2020, WE'RE PROJECTED TO BE SOFT YEARS.
SO WE COLLABORATED WITH THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO FILL THOSE OPEN DATES AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADD SOME EXCELLENT SHORT-TERM BUSINESS THIS YEAR AND NEXT.
SO COMPARED TO 2018, THIS YEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS ABLE TO ADD SHORT-TERM BOOKINGS THAT EQUATE TO OVER $750,000.
NEXT YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD SOME EXCELLENT BUSINESS, WHICH INCLUDES WORK HUMAN, SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST OF 2020, WITH ABOUT 10,000 ATTENDEES, AND IN AUGUST OF 2020 WE'LL BE HOSTING AVON WITH ABOUT 6,000 ATTENDEES.
WITH REGARDS TO CAPITAL, WE ALSO ACCOMPLISHED ANOTHER GOAL THAT WE SET FOR OURSELVES, AND THAT WAS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR BOTH THE ALAMODOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IN ADDITION, AT THE CARVER, WE ALSO REPLACED ALL OF THE H VAC VAC UNITS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE 20-YEAR PLUS ROOF IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE THIS WEEK ■OR NEXT.
RELATED TO OUR INTERNAL CUSTOMERS, THE DEPARTMENT INCREASED EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT FROM 2018 TO 2019 BY 5%.
TO BETTER SERVE OUR EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS AT THE ALAMODOME, WE INSTITUTED A NEW GUEST ASSIST PROGRAM.
SOME OF THE SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE CELL PHONE CHARGING STATIONS, AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION VIA GOLF CARTS FOR OUR GUESTS WHO ARE MOBILITY CHALLENGED, FROM OUR ADA SPACES TO OUR ADA ENTRANCES.
FINALLY, EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT IS OUR FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR WE COLLABORATED WITH THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION TO INSTALL ON-SITE DIGITAL KIOSKS BY FISCAL YEAR END THAT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO OTHER THINGS -- TO FIND EMERGENCY SERVICES AS WELL AS A LIST OF LOCAL EVENTS.
AND AT THE CARVER, THEY ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO LIBRARY FOUNDATION TO BRING A NEW HONOREE CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS TO THE CARVER WITH OVER 500 SAID STUDENTS.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAXIMIZE THE REVENUE IN ALL THREE FACILITIES.
OUR FOCUS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON CULTIVATING AND STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNERS, OUR STAKEHOLDERS, OUR CLIJTS, IN ORDER TO FIND NEW QUALITY EVENTS THAT WILL GENERATE FAVORABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ALSO MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SOME EXCITING EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 INCLUDE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE WARRIOR GAMES AND HERBAL LIFE CONVENTION WITH ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE OF 30,000 ATTENDEES.
IN 2020, WE WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A FINANCING PLAN TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND
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FACILITY MAINTENANCE PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.IT INCLUDES COMMITMENT MADE TO THE NCAA FOR HOSTING THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR IN 2025, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF OUR FACILITIES AND MAINTAIN OUR MARKET COMPETITIVENESS.
FINALLY, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WILL ENHANCE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
AT THE ALAMODOME WE'LL IMPLEMENT A CONVENIENT POINT OF SALES SYSTEM, PARKING SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW OUR ATTENDEES TO PAY FOR PARKING WITH A CREDIT CARD.
THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES DEPARTMENT STRIVES TO INCORPORATE EQUITY AND INCLUSION EVERY DAY IN WHAT WE DO.
SOME OF OUR MOST NOTABLE STRATEGIES IN THE AREA AUDIO] PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE THANKSGIVING DINNER AND FEAST OF SHARING.
LAST YEAR THE JIMENEZ THANKSGIVING DINNER SERVED OVER 25,000 RESIDENTS AND FEAST OF SHARING FED OVER 15,000.
ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THE KARCHER IS TO GIVE ACCESS YANLT TO EDUCATION AS WELL AS TO BRING THE ARTS TO THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
LAST YEAR THE CARVER OFFERED FREE MATINEE PERFORMANCES WHICH WERE NOT ONLY FREE, BUT ALSO DELIVERED AT SCHOOLS, AT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND OTHER MEETING PLACES THAT MADE IT VERY ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE THAT MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE INTRODUCED TO THE ARTS.
AND LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT ALSO PARTNERED WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO HOST A JOB SHADOWING EXPERIENCE WITH STUDENTS FROM THE EDGEWOOD ISD.
FROM THE TITLE 1 MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL HOSPITALITY PROGRAM WHO YOU SEE PICTURED IN THE SLIDE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SOME OF OUR CONVENTION CENTER PARTNERS TO LEARN ABOUT POSSIBLE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR INDUSTRY.
NEXT YEAR OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM AS WELL AS WORK WITH OUR CONCESSION AIRE AT THE ALAMODOME TO IMPLEMENT THE PRICING.
AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND AUDIO].
FUNDING FROM THE HOT FUND IS USED TO SUPPORT TOURISM, CONVENTION ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND ARTS PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE CITY.
THE CURRENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATE OF 16.75, WHICH IS LEVIED ON EVERY ROOM CHARGED, CONTRIBUTES AT 6% TO THE STATE, 1.75% TO BEXAR COUNTY, 7% TO THE CITY, AND THE REMAINING 2% IS DEDICATED TO PAY DEBT SERVICE AS WELL AS FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THE CITY PROJECTS THAT THE 7% PORTION THAT COMES TO THE CITY WILL TOTAL 74.7 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.
AS FOR THE FINANCIAL POLICIES, WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, A PORTION OF THE 7% IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION CENTER DEBT PAYMENT AND IS REDUCED FIRST.
THE REMAINING 7% COLLECTIONS NET OF THIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBT PAYMENT ARE ALLOCATED AS FOLLOWS.
35% GOES TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO, UP TO 35% GOES TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS FACILITIES FUND WHICH IS THE ALAMODOME AND CONVENTION CENTER, 15 GOES TO HISTORY AND PRESERVATION, AND 15 TOWARDS ARTS AND CULTURE.
NOW, THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING ALL FUNDS NEXT YEAR INCLUDES A TOTAL OF $97.9 MILLION.
THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE TOTAL BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO FUND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE ALAMODOME.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CARVER IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 IS 1.8 MILLION AND REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF 200,000 OVER THE 2019 ADOPTED BUDGET.
THE INCREASE WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO REPLACE CAPITAL OUTLAY EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS PROVIDE FUNDING TO RENOVATE THE RESTROOMS IN THE GALLERY AT THE JO LONG THEATER.
IN 2020, THE CONVENTION SPORTS FACILITY STATE REBATE FUND IS 2.6 MILLION RELATED TO SIX EVENTS THROUGH THE STATE'S EVENTS TRUST FUND.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES MUNICIPALITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FOR ELIGIBLE EXPENSES FOR APPLICABLE TAXES, GENERATED BY HIGH IMPACT EVENTS, WHICH WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE TAKEN PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, LEASE PAYMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENT RELATED TO THE DEBT ISSUED ON THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT.
THIS TOTAL IN '20, THE DEBT PAYMENT IN 2020 TOTALS $25.8 MILLION.
AND FINALLY, THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2020 INCLUDES $14.3 MILLION, RELATED TO FOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, OUR FACILITIES.
WHICH I WILL SPEAK TO MORE LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
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THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS FACILITIES FUND AS I MENTIONED FUNDS THE ALAMODOME AND CONVENTION CENTER AND PRIMARILY FUNDED BY REVENUES GENERATED BY THESE FACILITIES.THE TOTAL REVENUE IS ESTIMATED TO BE $33.2 MILLION, WITH THE REMAINING OF THE OPERATIONS BEING SUPPLEMENTED BY THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
THIS BUDGET REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF 2.1 MILLION OVER THE 2019 ADOPTED BUDGET.
THE MAJORITY OF THE NET INCREASE IS RELATED TO $1 MILLION INCREASE TO EACH OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ALAMODOME'S BUDGETS TO BEGIN THE REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING REPLACEMENT THROUGH A FACILITY ASSESSMENT STUDY THAT WAS JUST COMPLETED.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THEMP DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING A NOMINAL FEE TO THE FACILITY RENTAL RATE AT THE JO LONG THEATER AND LITTLE CARVER.
THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE ARE BELOW OR COMPARABLE TO WHAT OTHER PERFORMING CENTERS IN THE AREA ARE CHARGING.
IN ADDITION, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROPOSES A SMALL INCREASE TO THE SEASON TICKET PRICE FOR PERFORMANCES AT THE JO LONG THEATER, AND THE LITTLE CARVER.
ALSO PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT A SMALL FEE FOR THE RENTAL IN AUDIO].
A TOTAL OF $21.2 MILLION IN PROJECTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT ARE RECOMMENDED IN THE SIX-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WITH A 14.3 MILLION PLANNED FOR 2020.
THE FUNDING IS FOR TWO PROJECTS AT THE ALAMODOME AND TWO PROJECTS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
3.8 IS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS, AS PART OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PREPARE FOR THE NCAA'S MEN'S FINAL FOUR IN 2025.
THE ALAMODOME'S SECOND PROJECT IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RETRACTIBLE SEATING FOR A COST ESTIMATED AT $13.5 MILLION.
THE RETRACTIBLE SEATING AT THE ALAMODOME IS 27 YEARS OLD, AND IT'S PAST ITS USEFUL LIFE.
THE DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING TO ALLOCATE 900,000 FOR THE DESIGN PHASE TO REPLACE THE VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION, OR THE ELEVATORS AND ESCALATOR IN THE CONVENTION CENTER.
MANY OF THE COMPONENTS IN THESE SYSTEM ARE OBSOLETE AND ARE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED.
BOTH THE ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE 1998 AT THE CENTER, WITHOUT ANY MAJOR MODERNIZATION.
AND LASTLY, THE CONVENTION CENTER'S SECOND PROJECT IS TO REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 450,000 SQUARE FEET OF, AGAIN, IN THE 1998 -- 450 SQUARE FEET OF ROOF IN THE 1998 PORTION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, THAT WAS COMPRISED BY WEATHER ACTIVITY LAST YEAR.
A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION MAY BE NEEDED TO COVER THE COSTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE ICITY'S INSURANCE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU TO, IF YOU HAVEN'T CONNECTED WITH US, TO DO SO, SO YOU CAN STAY ABREAST OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING AT OUR FACILITIES.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT, AMAZING EVENTS HAPPENING.
THE CARVER HAS AN AMAZING LINEUP IN THE 2019-2020 SEASON AND THE ALAMODOME WILL FEATURE SOME AWESOME CONCERTS.
BEFORE I CONCLUDE ALSO, I THINK YOU MAY AGREE THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO PUT ON THESE MANY EVENTS AND HOST THESE MANY PEOPLE.
ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HARD WORK AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MY LEADERSHIP STAFF, WHO ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY.
I AM SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.
I'M GOING TO CALL THEIR NAMES SO YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
AS I INTRODUCE THEM, I'LL ASK THEM TO STAND.
MONICA RAMOS AND SCOTT MUNSON ARE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
MISS CASSANDRA PARKER IS A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE CARVER.
MISS WANDA WILLIAMS IS THE INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND MR. STEVE ZEDO IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE AL A MA DOME.
AND LISA IS OUR FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, PATRICE YEAH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M DEBBY, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A MISSION TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY LEADING AND INVESTING IN SAN ANTONIO'S ARTS AND CULTURE.
ALL OF THIS IS DONE UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION.
AND WE ALWAYS DO THIS WITH DEDICATION AND PLANNING INVOLVED.
THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION IS A STEERING COMMITTEE FOR OUR CULTURAL PLAN WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND WE'VE PLANNED SEVERAL AREAS AND IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL AREAS, ALWAYS WITH EQUITY IN
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MIND.THE DEPARTMENT HAS 20 STAFF, AND FOUR DIVISIONS, IN ADDITION THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE.
SO THE FIRST DIVISION ARTS FUNDING AND CONTRACTS IS THE DIVISION THAT OVERSEES OUR AGENCY CONTRACTS AND DOES ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC ART AND OUR EXHIBITS.
CULTURALLY VINCENT EXHIBITS INCLUDES OUR EXHIBITS AT PLAZA DEARMAS AS WELL AS THE DISTINCTION OF THE ARTS AWARDS, THE LAUREATE PROGRAM.
THEN OUR PUBLIC ART DIVISION OVERSEES AND MANAGES OUR PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, AND WE HAVE OUR FILM, MUSIC AND MEDIA DIVISION.
THEY'RE SMALL AND MIGHTY BUT THEY OVERSEE THE STRATEGIC PLANS AS WELL AS THE MARKETING OF ARTS FOR ALL OF THE CITY.
I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.
>> FOR ME, PHOTOGRAPHY REALLY STARTED HERE, IT ALL HAPPENED HERE AS A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'VE GROWN UP HERE, SO ONCE THIS WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE WORKUP FOR FOUR MONTHS, IT TOOK A HUGE AMOUNT OF PRIDE FOR ME TO KNOW IT WAS FUNDED BY, SUPPORTED BY THE CITY, JUST TO FEEL LIKE I'M A PART OF THAT.
THERE ARE A PRESTIGIOUS CIRCLE OF AR CYSTS.
>> THE NEW FUNDING GUIDELINES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE WHICH FOCUS ON EQUITY HAVE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE TO A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC CENTER LIKE OURS.
WE PROVIDE PROGRAMMING FOR A COMMUNITY THAT IS TYPICALLY UNDERSERVED, THAT TYPICALLY DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO THEM, THAT REFLECT THEIR CULTURE, THEIR IDENTITY.
>> BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, LOCAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT OUR ARTS PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO.
CULTURAL EQUITY DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING IF THERE ISN'T RELEVANCE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CITY IS ACTUALLY SHOWING THAT IT'S RELEVANT TO THE CITY, TO THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY, NOT ONLY RECOGNIZING ITS PAST, ITS PRESENT, BUT HOW WE'RE MOVING TO THE FUTURE.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR FILM AND MUSIC DIVISION LED BY CRYSTAL JONES, AS WELL AS THE LOCAL FILMMAKER WHO MADE THAT VIDEO, SAM LERMA, AND RADIO BOX WHO IS FEATURED ON THE SPOTLIGHT PROGRAM.
SO AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES, THE DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING $12.1 MILLION.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS COME FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE TO ARTS AGENCIES IN THE FORM OF GRANTS.
THIS IS A FORMULAED FUNDING POLICY ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL IN 2018, AND IT'S FUNDING THAT IS BY AND LARGE BASED ON THE EQUITY MODEL, AND BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE QUALIFYING ARTS AGENCIES.
WE'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR FUNDING CYCLE, AND 67% OF THE ARTS AGENCIES ARE EXPECTED TO GET AN INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR '20.
THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE INCREMENTAL INCREASE THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE INCREASE HOT TAX.
WE MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS WITH DATA DRIVEN -- WHAT WE GET FROM DATA ARTS, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND WE ALSO HAVE FUNDING THAT COMES FROM OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT FUNDS OUR PUBLIC ART DIVISION PROJECT OVERSIGHT.
IF YOU CAN'T TELL ALREADY, EQUITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THE EQUITY FOCUSED CULTURAL PLAN, OUR
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EXHIBITS ARTISTS OF COLOR AS WELL AS LGBTQ AND WOMEN ARTISTS, ALL-WOMEN SHOWS.WE HAVE TARGETED OUR AGENCY'S INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SUPPORT, AND THAT WILL BE INCREASED BY $268,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020.
AND WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THOSE NEW DATA TOOLS AND WORKING ON DISAGGREGATING OUR COLLECTION TO MAKE BETTER INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
ANOTHER ENHANCEMENT IS THE POLICY ON PAYING ARTISTS.
WE CURRENTLY REQUIRE OUR AGENCIES THAT WHEN THEY HIRE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, THAT THEY PAY THEM AND NOT JUST EXPECT THEM TO GET NOTORIETY FOR THAT.
WHEN WE HIRE A MUSICIAN TO PLAY FOR AN EVENT, WE SHOULD PAY THEM.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A POLICY FOR PAYING ARTISTS WHO OFTEN STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
>> RACCA-SITTRE: OTHER GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020, IMPLEMENTING THE CULTURAL DISTRICT'S FRAMEWORK, SO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS HAS A PROGRAM TO DESIGNATE CULTURAL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
AND NOW THEY ALSO HAVE GRANT MONEY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ANY AGENCY THAT MIGHT BE IN THOSE CULTURAL DISTRICTS.
OUR GOAL WITH THIS PROGRAM IS THAT SAN ANTONIO WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CULTURAL DISTRICTS AND WOULD INCREASE THE GRANTS THAT IT GETS FROM THE STATE BY LEVERAGING THE TOOLKIT THE DEPARTMENT HAS CREATED AND SOME SUPPORT GRANTS TO HELP THEM APPLY TO GET STATE MONEY.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO DEVELOP A PERFORMING ARTS PLAN.
WE HAD A TRAGEDY THIS YEAR WITH ONE OF OUR ARTS AGENCY LEADERS PASSED AWAY, AND THIS YEAR IT WAS MARK RICHTER WHO FOUNDED AND RAN ALAMO CITY OPERA PICCALA, THE BOARD DECIDED TO DISSOLVE AND WE REALLOCATED THEIR FUNDS TO THE OTHER AGENCIES, BUT WE WANT TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR PERFORMING ARTS AGENCIES TO BE STRONGER SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC ART PLAN WITH THE RIVERWALK PUBLIC ART -- RIVER AND STREET LEVEL BETWEEN COMMERCE AND MARKET, SO THIS IS THE 1968 EXTENSION THAT STARTS ON THE WEST SIDE WHERE THE TORCH OF FRIENDSHIP IS, AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE TORCH OF FRIENDSHIP PIN THAT I PUT AT YOUR DESK AS WELL.
THIS -- YOU DON'T HAVE ONE? WE'LL BE GIVING YOU THOSE.
AND YOU HAVE A COLORING BOOK THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE USING TO DRIVE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND TO DRIVE INTEREST IN OUR PROGRAMS. WE'RE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, AND THEN THEY WILL GET A COLORING BOOK OR DIFFERENT ITEMS FROM THE PROMOTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
SO THE RIVERWALK PUBLIC ART GARDEN AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM INCLUDES PUBLIC ART IN EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS WOULD DEBUT DOWNTOWN ON THE RIVERWALK GARDEN OR THEY WOULD HAVE A PRESENTATION SO THAT EVERY PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY COULD FEEL CONNECTED TO OUR DOWNTOWN AND SO THAT EVERY VISITOR COULD UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MORE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAN THE RIVERWALK.
WE'RE LOOKING AT UTILIZING OUR PREQUALIFIED ARTISTS OF WHICH WE HAVE OVER 300 ARTISTS AND ART PROFESSIONALS AND 2/3 OF THOSE ARE FROM SAN ANTONIO.
AND ANOTHER EXCITING EVENT THAT'S COMING UP VERY SOON, AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THESE, THE ARTIST ENRIQUE CARBAJAL, BETTER KNOWN AS SE BASSTIAN WHO DID THE TORCH OF FRIENDSHIP, HE SAID I WANT TO DO AN EXHIBIT IN SAN ANTONIO.
SAID WE NEED TO DO THEM EVERYWHERE.
SO WE'RE PARTNERING WITH OVER 22 PARTNERS CITYWIDE, SIX CITY DEPARTMENTS, SEVEN INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, FIVE LOCAL EDUCATION PARTNERS AND OTHER THAT'S ARE HELPING WITH SPONSORSHIPS AND WE'RE PUTTING ON THE LARGEST EXHIBIT THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN OF SEBASTIAN.
WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COME TO SAN ANTONIO AND SEE THIS EXHIBIT AND CELEBRATE WITH US, OUR FRIENDSHIP.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALLSH.
>> WALSH: THE LAST PRESENTATION AS SANDRA COMING UP TO THE PODIUM, I WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO VISIT SA.
SO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016 THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A DESTINATION MARKETING AGREEMENT WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO WHICH TRANSITIONED THE CITY'S FORMER CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU INTO AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT AGENCY.
VISIT SAN ANTONIO MARKET AND PROMOTES THE CITY AS A DESTINATION FOR CONVENTIONS AND LEISURE TRAVEL, AND WE GET OVER 37 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.
AS PART OF THAT DESTINATION MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, THE CITY TARGETS AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION, AND YOU SAW IT EARLIER IN PATRICIA'S SLIDE.
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AN ANNUAL ALLEGATION TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO EQUAL TO 35% OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE NET OF ANY DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS RELATED TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.THE FY 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET IS RECOMMENDING AN ALLOCATION OF $24.9 MILLION FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
THE CITY DUTS HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND MYSELF SIT ON THAT BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THEN WE HAVE THREE EXECUTIVES WHO ARE EXOF EXOFFICIO, PATRICIA, RUSS AND JUAN.
AND SO WE ARE -- WE CONSIDER CASSANDRA AND HER TEAM AT VISIT SA AS FRANKLY GREAT PARTNERS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO FURTHER THE INDUSTRY, THE VISITOR INDUSTRY AND WE CLOSELY COORDINATE WITHER H.
WE'RE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH VISIT SA, AND I WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT CONTEXT BEFORE SHE SHARES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE UPCOMING YEAR.
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS INVITE TO BRIEF YOU ON VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE OTHER -- THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT JUST PRESENTED, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF PROMOTING EACH AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, WHETHER IT'S THE INCREASED ROUTES AT THE AIRPORT, WHETHER IT'S ALL THE ARTS AND CULTURE THAT THE CITY AND COMMUNITY OFFERS, AND THEN LOOKING AT -- THAT WE PROMOTE AND WE SELL THE CONVENTION FACILITIES.
SO IT IS OUR HONOR TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND I JUST APPRECIATE THIS TIME.
TODAY, I'LL GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO OUR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON THE SAN ANTONIO TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SHARE SOME OF OUR KEY METRICS, AND THEN TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF OUR 2020 ORGANIZATIONAL AND BUDGET PRIORITIES.
BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE A QUICK CHALLENGE TO EACH OF YOU.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A PACKET, AND IN YOUR PACKET, I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT EVERY IMAGE THAT IS IN OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS COMING FROM THE SHOW US YOUR DISTRICT TOURS, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO MORE DISTRICTS TO TOUR, WHICH THOSE ARE GOING TO BE SET FOR OCTOBER, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
BUT -- SO YOU HAVE A PAGE IN YOUR PACKET, A DOCUMENT, WITH ALL THE IMAGES THAT WE'RE USING.
AND SO THROUGHOUT MY PRESENTATION, IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE IMAGE, NAME WHAT THE IMAGE IS AND PUT WHAT DISTRICT IT IS AND AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, THE PERSON WITH THE MOST CORRECT WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY TRAVEL AND TOURISM IS BIG BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE THIRD LARGEST INDUSTRY IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH MEANS JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD WE WELCOME OVER 37 MILLION VISITORS TO SAN ANTONIO AND WE REPRESENT $15.2 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS REPRESENTS $419 MILLION TO ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COMBINED, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THIS INCLUDES $214 MILLION IN TAX REVENUES.
I KNOW WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS, BUT KEEP IN MIND, 56.4 MILLION COME FROM SALES TAX AND 37.3 MILLION COME FROM PROPERTY TAX FROM OUR INDUSTRY.
SO WHY DO I GET UP EACH AND EVERY DAY? BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT WE DO MATTERS TO THIS COMMUNITY.
IN SEPTEMBER 2016, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S TRANSITION TO A 501(C)6 ORGANIZATION WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST OF 2016.
AS DESCRIBED, OUR PRIMARY SERVICES, MARKET AND PROMOTE THE DESTINATION ATTRACT AND SERVE LEISURE VISITORS TO THE CITY, AND ATTRACT AND SERVE MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS TO SAN ANTONIO.
AS MENTIONED EACH YEAR, WE PROVIDE A BUSINESS PLAN TO THE CITY.
WE PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTS, INCLUDING UPDATES TO OUR KEY METRICS.
OUR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WE APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO'S SERVICE TO THAT BOARD AS WELL AS OUR CITY MANAGER.
WE ALSO HAVE ADOPTED AND INCORPORATED THE CITY'S SBEDA POLICY, ALONG WITH THE CODE OF ETHICS THAT WAS DEVELOPED UTILIZING THE CITY'S CODE OF ETHICS IN ALL CLAUSES THAT WERE APPLICABLE TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
BUT OUR PARTNERSHIP DOES NOT STOP THERE.
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IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE IN SINGDZ WITH -- SYNC WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, EVEN BEYOND OUR SCOPE.ONE BEING WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT, AND WE WORK HAND-IN-HAND ON ROUTES, GETTING NEW ROUTES FOR OUR DESTINATION, MAINTAINING EXISTING ROUTES.
ONE EXAMPLE WAS PARTNERING WITH RUSS AND HIS TEAM ON THE AMERICAN AIRLINES JFK DIRECT FLIGHT.
AND WHAT WE DID IS WE INITIATED A MARKETING CAMPAIGN, A DIGITAL CAMPAIGN IN THE AREA INVITING PEOPLE TO USE THAT FLIGHT AND COME TO SAN ANTONIO -- AUDIO] -- ADDITIONALLY WORLD HERITAGE, WHAT BETTER WAY TO TALK ABOUT AND REALLY PUSH IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETING EFFORTS, SO WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE.
ARTS AND CULTURE, HOPEFULLY YOU SAW OUR LOGO AS WE ARE SUPPORTING THE EXHIBIT, SE SEBASTIAN THIS NEXT YEAR AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
BUT OUR TEAMS WORK COLLABORATIVELY, WHETHER IT'S EVENTS IN LA WHERE WE HOSTED TRAVEL FILM MEDIA AS WELL AS PRODUCER.
WE ARE ALIGNED IN PARTNERING ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
AND IMPORTANT AND PROBABLY OFTEN NOT TALKED ABOUT IS OUR COLLABORATION WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATIVE ISSUES.
WE ARE ALIGNED, WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER, AND BEFORE THE 86TH SESSION, THAT INCLUDED SOME ISSUES SUCH AS FULL FUNDING FOR THE STATE TOURISM OFFICE, RIGHT TO LOBBY LEGISLATORS, SUPPORT OF THE MAJOR EVENTS TRUST FUND AND OPPOSING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DAMAGE OUR ABILITY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AS A DESTINATION, WHETHER IT'S FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON THE SAN ANTONIO TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
YOU DO HAVE A ONE SHEET OF SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM YOUR PACKET, BUT IF SOME OF YOU WILL RECALL, WE WERE CHARGED WITH, WHEN WE TRANSITIONED, WHAT WAS GOING TO BE OUR BUSINESS PLAN TO GET ADDITIONAL DOLLARS SO WE COULD USE TO MARKET SAN ANTONIO TO THE WORLD.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE WORKED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, WE IDENTIFIED THE SAN ANTONIO TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
SO THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A HALF OF YEAR IMPACT, AND JUST A REMINDER, IT'S A 1.25% DISTRICT ASSESSMENT CHARGED TO A HOTEL ROOM NIGHT.
APPLICABLE TO HOTELS WITH 100 ROOMS OR MORE.
WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT MORE THAN 90% OF THE FUNDS ARE USED FOR OUR CORE MISSION, WHICH IS SALES AND MARKETING.
AND SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT USAGE, THIS LAST SUMMER WE WERE ABLE TO ADD 2.5 MILLION TO OUR MARKETING SPEND THAT IMPACTED MAY TO AUGUST, WHICH DOUBLED OUR MARKETING SPEND AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
THIS RESULTED IN 302 MILLION MORE IMPRESSIONS, THAT'S MILLION -- THAT'S 302 MILLION MORE EYES ON SAN ANTONIO MESS MESSAGING INVITING THEM TO THE CITY.
WHAT DID THESE DOLLARS ALSO DO? WE WERE ABLE TO PUT MONEY INTO DIGITAL, TV, STREAMING RADIO AND OUT OF HOME.
AN EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT WAS EXPANDING OUR MARKET COVERAGE FROM TV ALONE FROM 14 MARKETS TO 30 MARKETS.
SO THAT IS THE IMPACT WE'RE SEEING REGARDING THE TPID DOLLARS.
THE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL INCENTIVE PROGRAM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE WERE APPROVED TO ADD A NATIONAL SALES MANAGER, AND IN-MARKET CUSTOMER EVENTS IN SOME OF OUR KEY MARKETS SUCH AS D.C., CHICAGO AS AN EXAMPLE.
JUST WHILE MANY OF THESE INITIATIVES ARE STILL IN THEIR INFANCY, WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL INCENTIVE PROGRAM HAS GENERATED MORE THAN 50 APPLICATIONS, DRIVING AN ADDITIONAL 25,000 GROUP ROOM NIGHT TION OR FOUR -- NIGHTS OR 4.7 MILLION IN ROOM REVENUE TO OUR DESTINATION SPECIFICALLY IN SOFT YEARS OF 2019 AND 2020.
SO, AGAIN, THAT IS THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE SEEING.
SO I KNOW, AND A FEW OF YOU ALWAYS ASK, HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, RIGHT? WE LOOK AT MANY FACTORS.
WE LOOKED AT DESTINATION-WIDE INDICATORS AND WE LOOK AT SPECIFIC METRICS ON OUR INITIATIVES AND EVERYTHING THAT IS MEASURED WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
THE MORE SUCCESS WE HAVE IN PROMOTING THE DESTINATION AND BRINGING MORE VISITORS HERE, WE WILL HELP POSITIVELY INFLUENCE JOB GROWTH, INCREASE INCREMENTAL TAXES, MORE FUNDING FROM THE ARTS AND HISTORY.
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DEBBIE THAT THERE'S -- BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE OF HOT REVENUE, THE ARTS, THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE MORE DOLLARS.WHEN I LOOK BACK WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2018, ARTS WAS RECEIVING ABOUT SIX TO 7 MILLION.
AND NOW THEY'RE AT 12 MILLION.
WE JUST RECEIVED THE UPDATED VISITOR PROFILE STUDY.
RESULTS FROM THE 2018 YEAR, FROM OUR THIRD-PARTY -- IT'S CALLED DK SHEPLET.
AND KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE DOMESTIC NUMBERS ONLY.
WE WELCOMED 2 MILLION MORE VISITORS IN 2018 COMPARED TO 2017.
SO NOW WE CAN SAY WE WELCOME 39 MILLION VISITORS.
OF THOSE VISITATION, OVERNIGHT VISITORS GREW 4.46% WITH THE U.S. AVERAGE ONLY BEING 2.6%.
SOME OTHER KEY FINDINGS ON OUR PROFILE -- ON THE VISITOR PROFILE THAT COME TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2018, BABY BOOMERS TRAVEL INCREASED, 77% OF OUR VISITORS ARE TEXANS, SO WE ARE THE TEXAS CHOICE.
98% OF TEXANS AND 64 OF OUT-OF-TEXAS VISITORS DRIVE TO SAN ANTONIO.
SO EVEN IF IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING THEIR ROUTE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE WE ARE A HUGE PROPONENT AND ADVOCATE OF SEEING GROWTH AT THE AIRPORT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS OUR ROADWAYS AS WELL, SO WE WORK WITH TXDOT, ESPECIALLY ON THAT 35 CORRIDOR GETTING FROM DALLAS TO SAN ANTONIO.
LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THIS YEAR'S METRICS AND WHERE WE ANTICIPATE BEING AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE ONE MORE MONTH LEFT, IS CONVENTION ROOM NIGHTS BOOKED.
930,000 DEFINITE ROOM NIGHTS, EDITORIAL VALUE, 40.5 MILLION.
ONLINE ENGAGEMENT, 35 MILLION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, AND YOU ARE WELL AWARE THAT WE LAUNCHED A NEW LEISURE WEBSITE.
BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF THAT WEBSITE IS WHY WE'RE -- WE SEE SUCH AN ENORMOUS BUMP OF OUR ONLINE ENGAGEMENT.
OUR SERVICE DELIVERY RANKING OUT OF A 4.0 SCALE, 3.9.
AND MEMBERSHIP: YOU KNOW, WE LAUNCHED, AND MEMBERSHIP IS FAIRLY NEW FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT WE ANTICIPATE HAVING 469 BUSINESSES THAT ARE VISIT SAN ANTONIO MEMBERS BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO BE THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY, WHICH IS ANOTHER TYPE OF METRIC.
LAST WEEK AT THE U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION'S MARKETING PROGRAM CALLED ESTO, WE TALKED ABOUT TRENDS, WE TALKED ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, AND THERE WAS AN AWARD CEREMONY CALLED THE DESTINY AWARDS.
AND THIS YEAR, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SPECIAL ONE FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND OUR AGENCY OF RECORD, THE ADKINS GROUP.
WE WON TWO DESTINY AWARDS THAT WERE GIVEN TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO FOR BEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN AND THE BEST DESTINATION WEBSITE IN THE COUNTRY.
>> RACCA-SITTRE: SO AS WE GO INTO 2020, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, BECAUSE WE TALK A LOT ABOUT IT AMONG OUR BOARD, AMONG OUR TEAM, IS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRENDS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT IMPACT US.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THERE'S NO DOUBT, AND I -- AS I'VE BEEN TRAVELING AT THE U.S.
TRAVEL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ECONOMISTS ARE NOT READY, NECESSARILY, TO SAY WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO A RECESSION, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN.
HOW DOES THAT IMPACT US? AS -- ONE OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE WILL BE CERTAINLY FOCUSING ON IS THE DRIVE MARKET.
WHENEVER THERE'S BEEN A DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY, WE STILL DO REALLY WELL FROM A TRAVEL DESTINATION BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO US IN OUR DRIVE MARKET.
SO WE WILL DEFINITELY BE HAVING MESSAGING ABOUT THOSE ROAD WARRIORS AND HOW EASY IT IS TO GET TO SAN ANTONIO.
ADDITIONALLY A TREND IS WHILE WE MAY SEE GROWTH AND DEMAND, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE LOWER RATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO ONE OF OUR MESSAGES IS HOW SAN ANTONIO IS A VALUE DESTINATION.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY TOP OF MIND AS WE TALK ABOUT OUR DESTINATION THIS LAST YEAR.
AND THEN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, ANY TIME THERE'S A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THERE'S UNCERTAINTY ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
GOING INTO THIS PLANNING YEAR IS THAT OUR COSTS, WHETHER IT'S TV OR MEDIA, WILL
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INCREASE DRAMATICALLY.SO WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THAT.
AND THEN INTERESTING ENOUGH, COMPETITION GROWTH, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR COMP SET.
RIGHT UP THE ROAD, WE'RE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN ABOUT THEIR EXPANSION OF THEIR CONVENTION CENTER, THEIR POTENTIAL TPID, BECAUSE THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON US.
AND THEN WE ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR COMP SET ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THAT IS ONE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON.
AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW NORMAL.
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU, EVE TALKED TO -- I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF MY COUNTERPARTS AND 10 AND 15 YEARS AGO, THINGS -- THESE TYPE OF DISRUPTORS WERE JUST NOT PART OF OUR INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S BEEN INTERESTING HOW SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES CAN IMPACT OUR INDUSTRY SO MUCH SO IT'S DRIVING DECISIONS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR CONVENTION CUSTOMERS.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF ALL OF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT CALIFORNIA HAS A TRAVEL BAN TO TEXAS.
AND SO THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY STATE OR GOVERNMENT FUNDING TRAVEL TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED US? WE HAD A HUGE GROUP THAT WAS GOING TO BE A REPEAT GROUP EVERY THREE YEARS, THEY'RE NO LONGER COMING TO SAN ANTONIO AND THEY'RE NO LONGER COMING TO TEXAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH A LARGE CALIFORNIA CONTINGENCY.
AND SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON, KIND OF OUR NEW NORM, IF YOU WILL.
SO LOOKING AHEAD AT 2020 AND OUR ORGANIZATIONAL, WHICH YOU WOULD ARGUE WOULD BE OUR BUDGETARY ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES, VISIT SAN ANTONIO HELD THEIR ANNUAL BOARD RETREAT THIS LAST SUMMER, AND, AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND CITY MANAGER WALSH WERE ALL IN ATTENDANCE, THE BOARD APPROVED THE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR 2020.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW, I I KNOW I'M GOING LONG ON TIME, I'M MINDFUL OF THAT.
BUT NUMBER ONE, OUR CORE IS SAN ANTONIO -- AUDIO] -- ARE AWARENESS, BOTH IN THE STATE, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
I MENTIONED WE LAUNCHED AND YOU ALL WERE VERY HELPFUL WITH YOUR INPUT ON OUR LEISURE WEBSITE AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP AND LAUNCH A NEW MEETINGS AND PARTNER WEBSITE.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO BE LAUNCHING THE VISIT SANANTONIO. TV, WHICH WILL -- BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED INTEREST IN VIDEO PLATFORMS, WE'RE REALLY GOING TO ENHANCE THAT.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE ATTENDED THE U.S. TRAVELS INTERNATIONAL SHOW WITH ME LAST YEAR.
WELL, WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW KNOWN AS IPW IN 2023.
THERE'S GOING TO BE 6,000 INTERNATIONAL BUYERS, 500 INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA THAT WILL BE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2023.
WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S SO FAR AWAY, WE HAVE TO START OUR PLANNING NOW.
AND SO IT'S REALLY GREAT, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO START LAUNCHING THIS COMMUNITY-WIDE, GETTING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATING OUR STAKEHOLDERS, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS EVENT IS A SUCCESS.
AND I DO INVITE YOU OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, IF YOU HAVE INTEREST, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TRAVEL WITH US TO THE SHOW SO YOU CAN SEE FIRSTHAND THAT THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY OF BRINGING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO.
IN THE TRAVEL, AND ESPECIALLY THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD, THIS IS OUR OLYMPICS, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON LONG-TERM BASE OF CITYWIDE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN INTERNALLY, WE ARE SO DELIGHTED OF ALL THE CHANGES AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENHANCEMENTS HAPPENING AROUND THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY, OBVIOUSLY, HEMISFAIR MASTER PLAN AND THE ALAMO MASTER PLAN.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IS ENSURE THAT THE NARRATIVE AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION REMAINS ONE OF EXCITEMENT, ANTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE-BUILDING RATHER THAN SOME OF OUR CONVENTION CUSTOMERS SAYING, HOW IS THIS GOING TO NEGATIVELY -- THE CONSTRUCTION, HOW IS IT GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT US? WE WANT TO KEEP OUR EYE ABOUT THE MESSAGING ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THAT.
ADDITIONALLY WE'RE FOCUSED ON GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP MODEL AND INTRODUCING A CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, CORPORATE PROGRAM THIS NEXT YEAR, AND THEN OF COURSE AS A SEPARATE ENTITY AND AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAINTAIN OUR FINANCIAL STABL, SO LOOKING -- STABILITY, SO LOOKING AT THINGS SUCH AS IS THERE A WAY TO INCORPORATE SOME INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, AND YOU'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE TODAY
[01:00:02]
TALK ABOUT THEIR TEAMS. WELL, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE OUR PEOPLE.AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO WE ARE OUR PEOPLE, SO WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT WE ARE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, AND SO WE JUST RECENTLY DID AN ALL-STAFF SURVEY, AND ONCE WE GET THOSE RESULTS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE RESULTS, LOOK AT STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INSTITUTE THOSE STRATEGIES WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND LASTLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, OUR VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER WILL BE A FOCUS, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR VISITOR CENTER COME 2022, 2023.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO EVER VISIT OUR VISITOR CENTER.
IF NOT, IT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ALAMO.
WE WELCOME -- WE SERVE OVER 350,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY IN OUR VISITORS CENTER, AND, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THE REIMAGINATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE VISION OF THE ALAMO, WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT A NEW HOME, A NEW STRATEGY, AND SO WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY.
WHAT'S TO COME? IN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE SOME CONVENTIONS THAT ARE COMING TO THE CITY NEXT YEAR, LARGE, SMALL, SOME OF OUR SMALLER EVENTS ARE EVEN MORE -- YOU KNOW, VERY IMPACTFUL OF WHOSE COMING INTO THE CITY.
ALL IN ALL, VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS BOOKED FOR IN 2020 GROUPS THAT REPRESENT 310 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT, SOME OF THOSE GROUPS ARE FROM TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN LEGISLATORS, BREWER'S ASSOCIATION, SEVERAL MANY MILITARY REUNIONS, HERBAL LIFE INTERNATIONAL OF AMERICA.
HOPEFULLY YOU'RE ALL GETTING -- ONCE A MONTH, WE SEND YOU ALL A LIST OF THE CONVENTIONS COMING INTO THE CITY THE NEXT MONTH.
IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY INTEREST IN SEEING THE CONVENTION, WELCOMING THE CONVENTION OR WHATEVER MAY BE A REASON, DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO US, BECAUSE WE WILL CERTAINLY LINK YOU INTO THAT.
ADDITIONALLY THIS YEAR, VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS MAKING DEE YEAH DELAST MUERTOS A FOCUS OF OUR FALL PROMOTION.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE EXCITING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE TRADITIONAL DIA DE LAS MUERTOS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A RIVER PARADE AND MANY COLORFUL EVENTS HAPPENING IN LA VILLITA.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT MANY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WILL ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATION ON THE MEANING OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD THROUGH, AGAIN, THE PARADE, THE SHOWS, MUSIC, EXERCISE EVENTS, CHILDREN ACTIVITIES, ART EXHIBITS.
THERE WILL BE A FOCUS ON THE FOOD OF SAN ANTONIO HIGHLIGHTING THE CITY OF GASTRONOMY.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS THE DAY OF THE DEAD SAN ANTONIO FESTIVAL HAS BROUGHT FORTH TWO GREAT MEDIA OUTLETS, YOU ANY I UNIVISION AND TELEVISTA HAVE AGREED TO NATIONALLY BROADCAST THE EVENTS AND BRING THEIR HIGHEST RATED SHOWS TO BE FILMED LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO BETWEEN OCTOBER 26 AND NOVEMBER 1ST.
IT IS OUR ASPIRATION TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE HUB FOR THE DAY OF THE DEAD IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, LOOKING AT WHAT'S COMING, VISIT SANANTONIO. TV WILL BE INTRODUCED AS A RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE IN VIDEO MEDIA CONSUMPTION.
YOUR OFFICES HAVE RECEIVED AN INVITE ELECTRONICALLY AS WELL AS THERE'S A HARD COPY IN YOUR PACKET FOR SEPTEMBER 5TH.
WE WILL BE AT THE GUADALUPE ARTS THEATER AND WE'LL BE INTRODUCING PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT.
AND THE CALL TO ACTION FOR YOU-ALL WILL BE TO GET OUT OUR CASTING CALL TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE ARE LOOKING TO SELECT STORYTELLERS FROM ALL AROUND THE CITY AND PRODUCE A VIDEO SERIES WHERE LOCALS ARE THE STARS.
SO PLEASE START THINKING WHO THOSE MIGHT BE.
SO FOR 2020, THIS ILLUSTRATES OUR PRELIMINARY BUDGET AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.
25MILLION COMING FROM THE HOT FUND, THE CITY.
2.5MILLION COMING FROM OTHER REVENUES, SUCH AS MEMBERSHIP, PARTNER CO-OPS, VISITOR CENTER REVENUE, ET CETERA, AND THEN AN ESTIMATED 10.6 MILLION BEING FOR A FULL YEAR OF THE SAN ANTONIO TPID.
NOW, COMING SOON FOR OUR TOURS, WE'LL BE DISTRICT 4 AND DISTRICT 6, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD A LOT OF FUN.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF HIDDEN JEWELS IN THIS WONDERFUL DESTINATION FOR US TO TELL.
SO I HOPE YOU'RE WRAPPING UP YOUR TEST, BECAUSE NOW I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE KEY ON
[01:05:05]
THE SCREEN.SO BY SHOW OF HANDS -- AND WE'RE GOING TO START A SLIDE SHOW THROUGHOUT -- BUT SHOW OF HANDS, WHO GOT EVERY SINGLE ONE RIGHT? THAT'S 13.
SO MAYOR, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, IF YOU'LL LET US KNOW YOUR CHARITY OF CHOICE, WE'LL BE MAKING A DONATION IN YOUR NAME.
>> SO HERE'S THE -- [APPLAUSE]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME AND CHECK OUR ANSWERS? YOU'RE JUST TAKING IT ON FAITH.
AND WITH THAT, THIS WRAPS UP OUR PRESENTATION, I KNOW WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE HERE FOR QUESTIONS, BUT, AGAIN, SINCERELY, THANK YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS I GET TO GO AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD PROMOTING THIS AMAZING DESTINATION AND IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE EACH AND EVERY DAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, CASSANDRA.
AND I THINK THAT IS ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WITH VSA.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED ON QUESTIONS.
SAN ANTONIO -- CASSANDRA, I'M SORRY, YOU JUST SAT DOWN BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH YOU.
I HAD A VERY COUPLE BRIEF QUESTIONS.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TPID IN THE SHORT TIME THAT IT'S BEEN ACTIVE.
YOU MENTIONED A 4.6% INCREASE IN OVERNIGHTS, CAN YOU GIVE US A PICTURE OF THAT?
>> RACCA-SITTRE: SO WE DO A STUDY WITH DK SHEPLET EVERY OTHER YEAR, AND WE LOOK AT -- WE CAN TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND VISITOR PROFILE.
SO THE NUMBERS THAT I'M SHARING WITH YOU WOULD NOT HAVE INCLUDED THE TPID AT THIS TIME, SO NEXT YEAR WHEN WE DO THIS STUDY AGAIN, IT WILL INCLUDE, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE IMPACTS FROM THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS -- SO OUR SAN ANTONIO TPID BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THEY ARE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS OF WHAT ARE THESE DOLLARS, SO NOW THAT WE INVESTED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN THE SUMMER CAMPAIGN, IN THE EXIN T MONTH WE'RE GOING TO BE A -- THE NEXT MONTH WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOK AT WHETHER IT'S OCCUPANCY ADR OR EVEN DEMAND IF THOSE DOLLARS REALLY HELPED.
WE KNEW GOING INTO THE SUMMER OF 2020 IT WAS GOING TO BE SOFT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS.
WHAT I WAS SHARING WITH YOU IS THAT WE HAVE 39 MILLION VISITORS THAT COME TO SAN ANTONIO.
THAT COULD BE OVERNIGHT STAYS, AND THAT COULD ALSO BE DAY-TRIPPERS FROM A RADIUS OF 150 MILES AWAY.
SO THE DAY-TRIPPER IS VERY IMPORTANT, WHILE THEY MAY NOT STAY IN HOTELS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE EATING IN OUR RESTAURANTS, GOING TO OUR MUSEUMS, SO THEY'RE HAVING SALES TAX SPEND.
SO WE ALSO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.
WHAT I WAS SHARE IS THAT WE'RE PROUD THAT OUR OVERNIGHT HAD GROWN 4.46% AND THE U.S.
WELL, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TPID WAS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THE NEW VSA WOULD INCREASE ITS CAPITAL FOR MARKETING, SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON MARKETING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE METRIC FOR SUCK SETS ON THAT WOULD BE MARKET SHARE, -- SUCCESS ON THAT WOULD BE MARKET SHARE, MAYBE, ONE OF THEM.
ARE YOU SEEING TRENDS ON THAT RIGHT NOW? WHAT'S YOUR OUTLOOK ON THAT?
>> RACCA-SITTRE: PROBABLY GETTING A FULL YEAR UNDER OUR BELT WILL BE ABLE TO TELL US A LOT MORE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE BOARD WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING NONSTOP.
AND I THINK THAT MARKET SHARE COULD BE AN INDICATOR.
I THINK THERE'S DESTINATION INDICATORS.
THE HARD PART IS WE KNEW IT WAS A SOFT YEAR, SO --
>> RACCA-SITTRE: '19 AND EVEN '20 IS -- WE ARE ESTIMATING IT TO BE A SOFTER YEAR THAN ESPECIALLY 2018, RIGHT? 2018 WAS SUCH A BANNER YEAR FOR MANY REASONS.
>> RACCA-SITTRE: SO HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE TPID DOLLARS WHERE WOULD WE HAVE ENDED UP? SO WE'RE TRYING TO SEE WHAT THOSE ARE.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THERE'S SOME NEW WAYS TO MEASURE MARKETING.
SO INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING THE NUMBER OF IMPRESSIONS, THERE'S A NEW PROGRAM CALLED DEVICE ID, SO NOW WHEN WE DO A MEDIA BUY, ESPECIALLY DIGITALLY, IF SOMEONE HAS A DEVICE AND THEY LOOK AT OUR AD, WE CAN TRACE IF THAT DEVICE IS IN SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT WE'RE SHOWING IS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE'RE SPEND, THERE'S A 46-DOLLAR RETURN TO OUR CITY BASED ON THOSE DEVICES.
AND THAT'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE RETURN, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD.
WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
I DID NOTICE ON YOUR SCHEDULE APRIL OF '20 A CRAFT BREWERS CONFERENCE IS COMING, I'D LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
>> RACCA-SITTRE: AND ONE THING -- WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, AND I THINK EVERY COUNCILPERSON WOULD TELL YOU THAT IN THEIR DISTRICT THEY HAVE A BREWERY.
I MEAN, IT IS GROWING LEAPS AND BOUNDS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
[01:10:02]
CASSANDRA.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: DEBBIE, COULD YOU COME FORWARD.
I WAS VERY GRATIFIED TO HEAR YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY'S PHILOSOPHY WITH REGARD TO BEING A MODEL AND HOW WE HIRE MUSICIANS, AND THAT WHEN YOU HIRE A MUSICIAN, WE'RE HIRING TO PAY FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES.
I THINK THAT'S AN ENLIGHTENED APPROACH FOR A CITY GOVERNMENT TO TAKE, SO THANK YOU FOR MODELING THAT.
WITH REGARD TO THAT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ESPECIALLY ABOUT STREET PERFORMANCES.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH STREET PERFORMANCE CODE, POLICY? ARE WE DOING ANYTHING IN THAT ARENA RIGHT NOW.
>> CANTOR: SO THE BUSING POLICY IS BEING HANDLED BY CCDO, MOST OF IT IS HAPPENING DOWNTOWN, SO I THINK MAYBE LORI HAS A BETTER HANDLE ON THAT.
>> HOUSTON: SO WE DO HAVE A BUSING POLICY, SPECIFICALLY IT FOCUSES ON MARKET SQUARE AND THEN WE ALLOW IT IN LAVA' TA.
HOWEVER WE'VE SPOKE WITH SAPD AND WE'RE ALLOWING BUSKERS.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS GETTING BUSKERS TO COME OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH CENTRO ON HOW WE CAN BETTER ACTIVATE HOUSTON STREET AND PROMOTE MORE BUSKING ALONG THOSE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LORI.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU, DEBBIE.
I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE GROWTH OF YOUR OPERATION IN THE FILM AND MUSIC SPACE, BUT ALSO HOW WE'RE DISTRIBUTING OUR FUNDS EQUITABLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH AND IN MY OPINION, THE DOLLARS SPENT IN THE ARTS FOR OUR CITY ARE SOME OF THE WISEST RETURN ON INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND PLEASE KEEP US APPRIZED OF HOW WE CAN HELP.
ACTUALLY THIS SEGUES A LITTLE BIT TO YOU, RUSS.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.
AND I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE THE MUSICIANS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT.
MATT EVANS IS A FANTASTIC EDITION.
HE'S ALSO THE MUSIC DIRECTOR IN MY HOME CHURCH, SO...
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WITH REGARD TO PHASE 2 OF THE PLAN, WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO BE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL IN IS IT GOING TO BE A FUNDING STRATEGY OR JUST SORT OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED IN TERMS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE?
>> I EXPECT IT TO BE ALL OF THE ABOVE, MAYOR.
THE PHASE WE'RE IN NOW IS REALLY ANALOGOUS TO BRAINSTORMING.
IT'S CALLED STRETCH PLANNING WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES WITH OUR TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND THE COMMUNITY ULTIMATELY NARROWING IT DOWN TO SOMEWHERE IN THE LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH IS WHEN YOU'LL START TO SEE A SMALL NUMBER OF PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES THAT WE'LL REALLY FOCUS ON FULL ANALYSIS OF.
THAT ANALYSIS WILL INCLUDE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, NOISE AND FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY.
AND, IN FACT, WE PUT EXTRA EMPHASISES IN THE RFP FOR THIS CONTRACT IN THAT SUBJECT BECAUSE WE DISCOVERED IN PREVIOUS MASTER PLANS THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MEAT IN THE ANALYSIS AND THE REPORT ON FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY AND WE THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE THIS BEING A LARGE SERIES OF PROJECTS THAT'S GOING TO GO ON FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, AND SO ABSOLUTELY THAT WILL BE A PART OF IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND SO THIS IS A 50-YEAR ROADMAP, RIGHT?
>> HANDY: SO WE'RE LOOKING OUT TO 50 YEARS TO PRESERVE FLEXIBILITY FOR 50 YEARS.
THIS WILL PRODUCE A MASTER PLAN THAT'S A FIRM 20-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT THE FAA WILL PARTICIPATE IN AND GRANT FUND.
BUT IT WILL BE BOTH, IT WILL BE A -- LAPPED -- AUDIO] -- IS IT USING THE MODEL OF AN INDEPENDENT RUNWAY AT SAT.
>> HANDY: WE'RE STAYING AWAY FROM ANY ASSUMPTION.
BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH A NEPA PROCESS, THEY DON'T WANT YOU JUMPING TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS NOW.
BECAUSE THERE ARE VARIOUS OPTIONS.
YOU COULD DECOUPLE THE CURRENT TWO RUNWAYS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO THEM, SO WE'LL STUDY ALL OF THAT.
I BELIEVE IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY THAT WE'LL SEE A RUNWAY EXPANSION IN THE PLAN, THOUGH.
AND LAST QUESTION IS, THERE'S RENEWED CHATTER, AS THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO IN TERMS OF GROUND TRANSPORTATION.
DOES THE -- WILL THE MASTER PLAN CONTEMPLATE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN 20 YEARS IF WE WERE CONNECTED WITH RELIABLE, SAY, RAIL TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO? HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT OUR AIRPORTS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT THAT FROM A REQUIREMENTS, DEMAND PERSPECTIVE, WHAT THAT MIGHT DO TO THE DEMAND AND THE
[01:15:01]
DYNAMICS BETWEEN WHICH AIRPORTS WOULD SERVE WHAT KIND OF MARKETS IF YOU COULD THEORETICALLY JUMP THERE IN 40 MINUTES, HOW MIGHT THAT CHANGE MY DECISION.AND IN THE PLAN, WE WILL LOOK AT MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION LINKAGES WITHIN THE AIRPORT AND REALLY GO FURTHER THAN PREDICTING, BUT LOOKING AT WHAT GEOGRAPHY WOULD BE USED MOTH EFFECTIVELY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT -- MOST EFFECTIVELY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO IT'S A FUTURE-PROOF PLAN? CLOSE ENOUGH.
IT CONTEMPLATES ALL THOSE SCENARIOS, THOUGH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RUSS.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GONE YET, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR THE CITY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU, BUT YOU'VE CREATED A STABLE OF TALENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT ABOUT YOU, AND I WOULD SAY, ERIK, THESE FOUR ENTITIES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD HAVE DEMONSTRATED REALLY WELL HOW DEEP A BENCH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO, RUSS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, PATRICIA, IF YOU MIND COMING BACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE STILL HERE.
AND ALSO SAME THING, I WOULD SAY ABOUT YOUR PREDECESSOR, WHO DEVELOPED THE GREAT BENCH, PATRICIA, YOU'RE PART OF THAT LEGACY, TOO, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THE ALAMODOME AND THE FACILITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I REALLY HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION AND IT'S A BIG ONE, WHICH IS THE REPAIRS THAT ARE BEING DONE BECAUSE OF WEATHER ON THE ROOF.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF ROOF WE SHOULD HAVE ON THE CONVENTION CENTER. WE'RE SPENDING $3 MILLION COMING UP, I SEE, THAT WOULD AUGMENT INSURANCE TO REPLACE -- TO REPAIR.
IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR US TO, AGAIN, REASSESS WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PUT SOLAR ON THAT ROOF?
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE ASKED ENGINEERS, BUT THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE -- NEEDED TO -- WE WOULD HAVE TO BASICALLY INVEST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND ALSO INVESTIGATE WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
WELL, I'M OF THE MIND THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT LITTLE BIT MORE IS, IT MIGHT BE WORTH THE INVESTMENT.
NOT JUST TO DEMONSTRATE OUR WILLINGNESS TO USE ONE OF OUR LARGEST UNUSED SERVICES TO BE GREEN AND PROMOTE PRODUCTION OF GENERATION OF RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY, BUT ALSO, I THINK IT WILL BE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR US AS WELL.
SO IF WE CAN JUST EXPLORE THAT, MAKE SURE WE'VE GONE THE DIPS TANS BEFORE WE -- DISTANCE BEFORE WE SPEND THE 3 MILLION, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL.
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, PATRICIA, I'M GRAD TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE AS A RESULT OF THE FINAL FOUR IN 2025.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE WOMEN ARE GOING TO ENJOY THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL IN '21.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
>> SANDOVAL: I'LL JUST ADD ON ON YOUR COMMENT ON THE ROOF, I'M OF THE SAME OPINION THAT NOW IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS ON ALTERNATIVE ROOF TYPES AND JUST LET US KNOW WHAT THE PAYOFF WOULD BE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME AS, YOU KNOW, PUTTING JUST A REGULAR ROOF UP.
AND, OF COURSE, IF WE DON'T PUT SOLAR PANELS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROOF IS HIGHLY REFLECTIVE.
IS THAT RIGHT, COUNCILMAN TREVINO? NO? THAT IT'S A COOL ROOF.
ALSO HEARD ABOUT SOME TECHNOLOGY WHERE IT'S KIND OF LIKE A ROLLED PANEL, SO AS OPPOSED TO THE HARD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU WOULD NEED, THE HEAVY SOLAR PANELS, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING SMOOTH YOU CAN PUT OUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAPACITY IS ON THOSE COMPARED TO THE OTHER ONES, BUT CERTAINLY WORTH A LOOK.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT -- JUST REALLY QUICKLY, RUSS, ABOUT -- THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
EVERYTHING SOUNDS GREAT AT THE AIRPORT.
I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE DOING A TOUR OUT THERE SOON.
REGARDING -- I KNOW WE GOT THE CONRACK UP, IT WAS A HUGE INVESTMENT, BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
HOW ARE WE DOING ON PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USING THE CONRACK, THAT ARE FLYING IN AND USING BUS SERVICE? ARE WE MAKING THAT EASY FOR THEM? DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON THAT.
>> HANDY: I -- I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WE'RE SEEING REALLY GOOD TRENDS IN ALL OF THAT.
AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WITH CONRACK WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE SHUTTLE BUSES AWAY WAS TO RECONFIGURE THAT WHOLE CURB SPACE TO MAKE IT MUCH LESS CONGESTED, SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT.
AND SO WE CENTRALIZED THE LOCATION OF THE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION ON THE OUTER CURVE AND DID A COMPLETE REWORK ON OUR WAY FINDING SIGNAGE, MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO HELP CUSTOMERS FIND ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS.
[01:20:01]
THE SUPERSHUTTLE COMPANY THAT RUNS SHUTTLE BUSES TO HOTELS, THEY HAVE -- THEY WERE INITIALLY STRUGGLING, AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO FIND THE OPTIMAL POSITIONING FOR THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES AND ALSO THE OPTIMAL WAY OF MESSAGING THAT TO CUSTOMERS IN ADVANCE, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE ALSO DOING IS TRYING TO REDO THEIR BUSINESS PLAN TO CATER TO MORE THAN JUST -- THEY USED TO BE CALLED THE HOTEL SHUTTLE, AND NOW IT REALLY IS A SHARED RIDE SHUTTLE.THEY WERE ACTUALLY THE ORIGINAL RIDESHARE PROGRAM, AND SO THEY'LL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE YOU WANT IN TOWN IN SMALL OR LARGE GROUPS, NOT JUST TO A PARTICULAR HOTELS.
AND SO WE'RE HELPING THEM GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.
WE COMPLETELY REDID SIGNS AND LOCATION FOR THEM AS WELL.
THEY HAVE NOT SEEN A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT YET, BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT INITIATIVE IS GOING TO ASSIST THEM.
BUT YOU HAVE TO -- AS A PASSENGER, YOU HAVE TO BE STAYING AT ONE OF THOSE HOTELS IN ORDER TO TAKE THAT SHUTTLE.
>> HANDY: NO, THAT'S THE BIG CHANGE IN THEIR BUSINESS PLAN, THEY WILL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE, NOT JUST TO THE DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS.
AT ONE OTHER POINT IT WAS CALLED THE DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE AND THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THAT NAME BECAUSE THEY WILL, JUST LIKE A RIDESHARE COMPANY LIKE AN UBER OR LYFT DELIVER GROUPS OF PEOPLE ANYWHERE -- ANYWHERE IN OR OUT OF THETY, SO THEY'VE GOT -- THE CITY, SO THEY'VE GOT A COMPLETELY FLEXIBLE BUSINESS PLAN TO HAVE LARGER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SHARE RIDES THAN JUST ONE OR TWO.
AND SO THEIR BUSINESS PLAN DOES ALLOW FOR THAT, JUST LIKE A RIDESHARE COMPANY, ONLY IT'S A LARGER VEHICLE.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH ASHLEY TO WALK THROUGH THE BUSINESS PLAN, BUT IF YOU COULD E-MAIL THAT, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY.
>> RACCA-SITTRE: SO WE'RE IN CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE FULL BUSINESS PLAN.
THESE ARE OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND SO SEPTEMBER 18TH, VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS A BOARD MEETING, IT'S A PUBLIC BOARD MEETING WHERE THEY WILL BE RATIFYING THE FULL BUDGET.
AND AT THAT POINT, OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY IS NORMALLY WE GET IT BEFORE TIME, BUT BY THE END OF OCTOBER EVERY ONE WILL HAVE THE FULL BUSINESS PLAN.
SO THEN WHEN WE APPROVE OUR BUDGET, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY APPROVING IN YOUR CASE?
>> RACCA-SITTRE: SO YOU'RE APPROVING THE ALLOCATION BASED ON OUR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, THAT IT'S OUR CONTRACT THAT WE RECEIVE 35%.
>> SANDOVAL: AND BASED ON -- SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK FOR THAT? WE'LL KNOW WHEN WE GET YOUR --
>> RACCA-SITTRE: YOU DO, BECAUSE IN THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, AND WE CAN GET YOU A COPY OF THAT, THERE'S OUTLINES OF WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE IN THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
AND I CAN GET THAT TO YOU AS WELL.
>> SANDOVAL: JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
YOU TALKED ABOUT ADVERTISING TO SOME OF THE OTHER MARKETS TO GET PEOPLE HERE.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IS THAT GOING TO BE PART OF THE BUSINESS PLAN THAT WE CAN SEE IN THE FUTURE.
>> RACCA-SITTRE: SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE MEDIA BUY PLAN, OR ARE YOU LOOKING AT WHAT DOES OUR CAMPAIGN LOOK LIKE.
>> SANDOVAL: EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I'M LOOKING AT WHAT YOU -- WHAT I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN IN IN IS -- I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN TO ME BEFORE ABOUT THIS BEING A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION RIGHT, BUT I WOULD CONSIDER US A MEMBER OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.
AND, FOR INSTANCE, DEBBIE RAC RACCA-SITTER JUST GAVE US A LIST OF -- IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WORK FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO BE A MEMBER.
IS THERE SOME WAY THAT YOU CAN COLLECT ON THAT AUTOMATICALLY OR PIECES OF IT CAN BECOME PART OF YOUR ORGANIZATION.
>> SANDOVAL: THAT WOULD BE GREAT, THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, YOU HAVE AN EXCITING JOB, BUT IT MUST ALSO BE HARD BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE OUR OWN IDEA OF WHAT SAN ANTONIO LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE SHOULD BE SOLD OR PROMOTED AWAY FROM HERE, SO I THINK IT CAN ALSO BE VERY PERSONAL FOR SOME OF US.
>> SANDOVAL: SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
YOU MENTIONED MAKING SAN ANTONIO KIND OF A HUB FOR THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IN THE U.S., AND I THINK THAT'S BRILLIANT.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, SO IF YOUR STAFF HAS THE ABILITY TO EXPLORE A FEW OF THOSE OTHER OPTIONS, ON SATURDAY WE SCREENED -- I THINK IT WAS SATURDAY OR FRIDAY, WE SCREENED THAT MOVIE ABOUT ROBERT, THE FIRST BOXING CHAMPION -- I'M FOR GETTING EXACTLY WHAT HIS FLY WEIGHT, RIGHT, WORLDWIDE FROM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE FIRST CHAMPION FROM SAN ANTONIO.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF HISTORICAL THINGS FOR THE BOXING -- IN THE BOXING FIELD HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT MIGHT BE OF
[01:25:01]
INTEREST.I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO BE THE MECCA IN NORTH AMERICA, BUT IF PEOPLE ARE ALREADY HERE, COMING HERE FOR ANOTHER CONFERENCE, THAT MIGHT BE ENTICING, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE LATINO ARTS THAT WE FUND AND MARIACHI MUSIC IN PARTICULAR, I THINK THAT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US, AND CARLOS IS NODDING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION MANY TIMES.
SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE DOING THAT WITH THE DE LOS MUERTOS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING A CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN THAT WE'RE STILL REVIEWING, IT'S STILL OPEN FOR COMMENTS RIGHT NOW, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU'D HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEAT IN SAN ANTONIO AND HOW THAT MAY AFFECT OUR TOURISM? AND I MAY HAVE ASKED YOU THIS A YEAR AGO.
AND, IN FACT, PART OF THE VISITOR PROFILE STILL OUR NUMBER ONE SEASON FOR LEISURE TRAVELERS IS THE SUMMER.
SO WE'RE NOT -- I MEAN, OF COURSE IT'S WARM AND WE ARE A WARM DESTINATION, A SUMMER, BUT IT STILL IS OUR NUMBER ONE TRAVEL TIME FOR LEISURE VISITORS.
>> SANDOVAL: BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TIME OFF, RIGHT? IN GENERAL?
THAT'S FAMILY VACATIONS USUAL LIQUOR, SO THAT IS OUR PEAK SEASON.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE SOME CONVENTION CLIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING FOR YEARS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE DIRECTION IS, A LOT OF THEM, LIKE WE HOST THE PETRO CHEMICAL ENGINEER CONFERENCE EACH YEAR, AND I KNOW THEY WERE REALLY WATCHING AND WANTING TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING SO THEY CAN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THIS COULD BE A VIABLE DESTINATION FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.
>> SANDOVAL: NOT BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR POLICIES?
SO ANYWAY, I'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST BEING COMFORTABLE OUTDOORS.
>> SANDOVAL: AND TO ME, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE -- AUDIO] -- SAN ANTONIO AND A LOT MORE -- COULD BE THREATENED IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HOST THEM COMFORTABLY HERE.
>> SANDOVAL: SO SPEAKING OF POLICIES AND POLITICS, I WILL ASK YOU, SO ONE OF OUR FORMER MAYORS IS ON THE NATIONAL SCENE AS A CANDIDATE TO THE PRESIDENCY, WHAT IS -- IS THAT GENERATING ANY SORT OF INTEREST IN SAN ANTONIO AND GETTING TO KNOW US?
>> YEAH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING AT THIS TIME, NO.
BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT.
AND THEN LASTLY, YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO -- OH, WAIT.
TRANSIT, JUST LIKE I ASKED RUSS, SO I WAS ON THE -- I'VE BEEN TO SOME OTHER CITIES WHERE THEY DO THESE TOURS, LIKE CAR-FREE WHATEVER, YOU CAN GO TO SUCH AND SUCH PLACE AND THEY'LL TELL YOU HOW TO GET AROUND WITHOUT A CAR FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, THE ONES THAT DON'T DRIVE IN.
AND I JUST -- I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT CAR-FREE TRAVEL, BUT DO YOU HAVE -- I'M SORRY, ABOUT THE VIVA BUS ROUTE, BUT DO YOU HAVE GENERAL INFORMATION, IS THERE A WAY TO PROMOTE THAT TO PEOPLE? THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ROUTES THAT THEY CAN USE.
>> SANDOVAL: YEAH, I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT ONLINE.
SINCE WE ARE PUTTING $10 MILLION INTO THAT, JEFF, WE WANT THEM TO GET USED.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RIDE THE SUBURBAN LOOPERS, THOUGH, RIGHT? UNLIKELY.
LASTLY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HEAR A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND APPROVING THE PID, THE TPID, THE NEW ONE.
>> SANDOVAL: SO I HAD -- YOU KNOW, I COMMITTED MY SUPPORT TO THAT, AND PART OF THE DIALOGUE THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME WAS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE FUND HAVEN FOR HOPE AND HOMELESSNESS IN GENERAL, AND CITY STAFF HAS PUT FORWARD A COUPLE OF PROPOSALS THAT ARE IN OUR DRAFT BUDGET RIGHT NOW, SO THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THAT END.
AND YOU HAD -- YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE FOLKS FROM THE INDUSTRY WERE HERE AND ALSO COMMITTED TO ASSISTING, SO I -- I MEAN, THIS IS THE TIME WHERE I WANT TO KNOW HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED SOME REVENUE SOURCES, DO YOU HAVE A CAMPAIGN? WHAT -- WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY BRINGING FORWARD ON THAT?
SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU APPROVED WHAT THE MASTER PLAN WOULD BE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INTERESTED IN HOW WE WOULD BE PART OF THAT MASTER PLAN, I THINK OUT OF ALL THE INDUSTRIES, WE'VE BEEN THE PRIMARY INDUSTRY THAT'S BEEN AT EVERY CITY HEALTH MEETING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE EVERY SINGLE TIME.
WE'VE JUST RECENTLY HELD OUR VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD RETREAT THIS PAST SUMMER AND THE BOARD APPROVED TO CREATE A TASK FORCE OF BOARD MEMBERS,
[01:30:01]
WHICH THAT TASK FORCE HAS BEEN DONE, TO NUMBER ONE, IDENTIFY NONTAX REVENUES OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT POTENTIALLY THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE, AS WELL AS DOING A PROCESS OF WHAT HOMELESS SERVICE MAY BE BEST FIT FOR OUR INDUSTRY.SO WE WILL BE HAVING THAT CONTINUED DIALOGUE AT OUR BOARD MEETING, AGAIN, SEPTEMBER 18TH, AND IT IS AN OPEN MEETING.
WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO ATTEND, BECAUSE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
SO STAFF, WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN AND OUR THOUGHTS ON HOW WE COULD GET NONTAX REVENUE AS A VISIT SAN ANTONIO ENTITY.
I THINK THE INDUSTRY AT LARGE, IT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER CONVERSATION AS THE MASTER PLAN IS CREATED AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY, BUT AS WE'VE SAID ALL ALONG, AND I SAID TO ALL OF YOU, YOU KNOW, VISIT SAN ANTONIO WILL CERTAINLY BE PART OF THAT AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THOSE CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ERICA HAS A CLARIFY KAIG -- ERIK HAS A CLARIFICATION.
>> WALSH: COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL JUST ECHO WHAT CASSANDRA JUST SAID.
VSA HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED IN THE SPRINGTIME.
JUST LIKE THE PROPOSED BUDGET, A PORTION OF THAT NEW MONEY WE'RE BUDGETING, BUT WE'RE NOT ALLOCATING IT, BECAUSE WE WANT THAT STRATEGIC PLAN TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND GIVE YOU SOME OPTIONS AND IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE GAPS ARE.
I'LL ECHO THAT VISIT IS AHAS BEEN -- I WAS THERE FOR PART OF THE BOARD DISCUSSION THAT CASSANDRA REFERRED TO IN JULY, AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS, AND I'M -- AUDIO] -- POSITION, WE WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT STRATEGIC PLAN LOOKS LIKE AND SEE WHAT THE GAPS ARE, AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE.
I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT, CASSANDRA, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES FORWARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SANDOVAL.
>> PELAEZ: RUSS, MY QUESTIONS ARE SIMPLE.
FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS, MAN.
1MILLION PASSENGERS IN JULY? IS THAT RIGHT?
>> PELAEZ: WOW! THAT'S REALLY AMAZING, THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THAT'S REALLY QUITE A FEAT.
I WANT TO TELL YOU, I WAS TELLING CARLOS EARLY, IT TURNS OUT THAT YESTERDAY DURING YOUR POWER OUTAGE EVERYTHING WENT OFF EXCEPT FOR THE AMBIENT MUSE ZACH, DID YOU -- MUZAK, DID YOU KNOW THAT?
>> WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THAT'S THE SYSTEM THAT WE USE TO TELL EVERYBODY WHAT WAS GOING ON.
>> PELAEZ: AT LEAST WE KNOW WHEN THE ZOMBIES COME, THAT'S THE PLACE TO GO AND YOU WON'T BE BORED.
HEY, HOW IS THE INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL AREA COMING ALONG? I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE, WHAT, THREE EXTRA INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, BUT IT'S A FEDERALLY CONTROLLED ZONE? CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.
>> HANDY: IT'S OUR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION FEDERAL INSPECTION STATION, SO ANY PORT OF INDUSTRY HAS TO HAVE AN INSPECTION STATION.
FOR US, IT'S BEEN IN TERMINAL A FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY OUTDATED.
YOU KNOW, VERY SMALL FACILITIES, IT WASN'T REALLY COMPLIANT WITH NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS.
HAD ABOUT A 350 OR SO PER HOUR CAPACITY.
THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND IT, RENOVATE IT, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE CAPACITY TO 800 PER HOUR.
WHICH WILL SERVE OUR FOUR -- WE HAVE FOUR INTERNATIONAL GATES, SO WE'VE BEEN IN A POSITION BEFORE WHERE WE'VE HAD PASSENGERS KIND OF TRAPPED ON A PLANE WHILE THEY WAIT FOR ROOM IN THE INSPECTION STATION, NOT THE SITUATION YOU WANT TO BE IN.
IN FACT, IT'S A 10-PHASE PROJECT, WE'RE JUST NOW THIS WEEK OPENING A VERY, VERY LARGE PHASE THAT INCLUDES THE BAG CHALLENGING AREA, SO WE'RE SITED ABOUT THAT.
THE GRAND OPENING COMPLETE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED FOR EARLY TO MID JANUARY OF '20.
>> HANDY: IF I CAN, COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL, QUESTIONS THAT RELATED TO WHAT YOU ASKED, INTERNALLY HOW DO WE HELP OUR EMPLOYEES GET TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT.
RIGHT NOW MANY OF OUR AVIATION TEAMMATES ARE SPREAD ALL OVER THE CAMPUS AND EVERY DAY THERE ARE FOLKS DRIVING FROM THE NORTH END OF THE AIRFIELD BACK TO THE TERMINAL AND IN SOME CASES MULTIPLE TIMES TO MEETINGS.
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WE'VE HAD OFFICE COMPLEXES ON THE BOOKS, ON STRATEGIC PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN VALUE ENGINEERED OUT, AND SO THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS WE'VE REALLY SERIOUSLY ARE LOOKING AT FEASIBLE OPTIONS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A COMPLEX NEAR THE TERMINAL, AND AS A RELATED PIECE TO THAT, OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MAKE OUR AIRPORT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY QUITE SMALL GEOGRAPHICALLY, IN THE TERMINAL AREA, IF YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER AIRPORTS, MAKE IT PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY.
IF YOU WANT TO AND IT'S NOT TOO HARD A DAY, YOU CAN PARK
[01:35:02]
YOUR CAR AT THE GREEN LOT OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER LOTS OR IF YOU'RE WORKING IN THAT NEW OFFICE COMPLEX AND WALK TO AND FROM THE TERMINALS, SO WE ARE NOT A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY CAMPUS NOW, BUT IT WOULDN'T TAKE VERY MUCH EFFORT, GIVEN THE GOGRAPHY.AND FINALLY, WE'RE CONTINUALLY WORKING WITH JEFF'S TEAM TO MAKE VIA A MORE FEASIBLE AND POSSIBLE OPTION, NOT JUST FOR EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES DO USE IT, BUT FOR VISITORS AS WELL.
WE HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT COME WITH A CARRY ON AND ARE JUST GOING DOWNTOWN FOR A COUPLE OF MEETINGS, AND SO WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THAT.
DEBBIE, I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS.
WHERE DID YOU GO, DEBBIE? THERE SHE IS.
I'M GOING THROUGH THE NUMBERS YOU HANDED US, THE TWO-SIDED SHEET WITH THE ADOPTED 2019 AND THE PROPOSED 2020 SPENDING.
AND I'M LOOKING THROUGH THE CULTURALLY SPECIFICS, THAT'S THE THIRD CATEGORY THERE, AND AS FAR AS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC GOES, IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO SPEND IS $1.6 MILLION ON ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX...
SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF WHICH EXCEPT ONE ARE JUST FOCUSED ON LATINO ART.
AND MY PUSHBACK ON THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID IT A NUMBER OF TIMES, WE'VE GOT A CITY THAT IS CHOCK FULL OF ORGANIZATION -- OF FAMILIES AND, YOU KNOW, ART LOVERS WHO ARE NOT LATINO AND WHO PRODUCE EXCELLENT WORK AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET NOTICED, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY IN MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A HUGE CONCENTRATION OF ASIAN FAMILIES, OF PEOPLE FROM INDIA, YOU KNOW, SOUTHEAST ASIAN FAMILIES, AND I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE ON THIS PAPER WHERE WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS, YOU KNOW, FOCUSED ON THAT, RIGHT? AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I APPOINTED HANNAH MARY TO OUR COMMISSION.
INSTEAD, WHAT I'M SEEING IS, YOU KNOW, THE CENTRO CULTURAL -- -- ESPARANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, URBAN 15, THEY'RE GETTING, ACCORDING TO TIS PROPOSAL, AN EXTRA $270,000 THIS YEAR.
I'M LOOKING THROUGH THIS LIST, IF ONE WANTS TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE ASIAN ARTS, YOU COULD SAY MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB CELEBRATING THAT AND YOU COULD ALSO SAY THAT THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DOING THAT.
I'M LOOKING ALSO AT THE FUNDING INCREASE FOR THE ESPARANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER OF AN EXTRA $47,000 ON TOP OF THE $371,000 WE ALREADY PAY THEM, SO THAT'S A 13% INCREASE, YOU KNOW, OF OUR FUNDING TO THEM.
MR. SEGOVIA, DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH BALLPARK AS FAR AS HOW MUCH IN ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COURT COSTS THAT ORGANIZATION HAS COST US OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS?
>> SEGOVIA: IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO HAZARD A GUESS, SINCE WE HANDLE A LOT OF THAT IN-HOUSE, COUNCILMAN, BUT, YES, WE HAVE INCURRED COST IN DEFENDING SOME OF THE CLAIMS.
>> PELAEZ: WOULD YOU SAY IT'S MORE THAN $47,000.
>> PELAEZ: NORTH OF 371,000 WHICH IS WHAT WE PAID THEM LAST YEAR.
>> SEGOVIA: I WOULDN'T SAY -- IT'S NOT ABOVE THAT, NO.
>> PELAEZ: SO, YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF THAT, AND THE FACT THAT NONE OF THESE ZERO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HERE SPEND A LOT OF THEIR TIME YOU KNOW, COMING TO CITY HALL AND PICKING FIGHTS AND USING OUR MONEY TO SUE US AND COSTING US ATTORNEY'S FEES AND IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING NOW FOR TWO YEARS FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE ASIAN ARTS, AND ON TOP OF THAT SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE THIS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ART CATEGORY IS REALLY JUST FOCUSED ON ONE CULTURE, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER REMOVING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FROM ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS OR SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND REDIRECTING THEM TO MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD AND THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SYMBOL TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, SEND TO THE COMMUNITY A SYMBOL THAT -- OR SIGNAL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO TAKE THOSE COMMUNITIES AS SERIOUSLY AS ANYBODY ELSE.
>> WELL, LET ME EXPLAIN THE POLICY ON THE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC.
THE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FUNDING IS FOR AGENCIES WHOSE MISSION IS TO PRESERVE OR PROMOTE A SPECIFIC CULTURE, AND THEY ARE LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE AS CULTURES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, HISPANIC AMERICAN CULTURES AND WOMEN.
SO ANY ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION WOULD BE TO FOCUS ON
[01:40:02]
THOSE WOULD BE QUALIFIED, SO LONG AS THEY MET ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PAID ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT MIGHT BE ALL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY COME TOGETHER AND THEY PUT TOGETHER SOME EVENTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT A PROFESSIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATION, SO WE ONLY FUND THOSE THAT WE FEEL -- THAT MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, THAT THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR THREE YEARS, AND THEN FOR CULTURALLY SPECIFIC, IT'S NOT WHO THEY SERVE, IT'S WHAT THEY DO.WE ARE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR CYCLE, AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THESE POLICIES ABOUT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR TO BE MAKING CHANGES TO THE POLICIES TO SEE WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OVER TIME WITH ALL THE DATA THAT WE'RE NOW COLLECTING, BECAUSE WE HADN'T BEEN COLLECTING THAT DATA IN THE PAST, WHAT IMPACT ARE WE HAVING WITH THIS POLICY ON THESE POPULATIONS AND HOW CAN WE DO BETTER.
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I'LL BE BRINGING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL AS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEXT FUNDING CYCLE THAT WILL BE HAPPENING -- COUNCILMAN, OUR CITY ATTORNEY ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
AS YOU KNOW SH WE'VE HEARD YOUR CONCERN IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE ADVERSARIAL PROCEEDINGS WE'VE HAD FROM SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT WE FUND.
TO ADDRESS THAT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE IN OUR FUNDING AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD IS A CLAUSE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT AT LEAST THE USE OF CITY FUNDS THAT WOULD THEN BE USED IN ADVERSARIAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE CITY.
>> PELAEZ: [INDISCERNIBLE] EXCEPT THAT FUNDS ARE FUDGABLE, I MEAN, A DOLLAR IS GREEN AND IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S IN MY LEFT POCKET OR MY RIGHT POCKET.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT BEHIND THAT.
BUT, AGAIN, I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
AND SO IS THE $269,000 INCREASE IN THE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ARTS PROGRAM, IS THAT LIKE A SUICIDE PACT? WE HAVE TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY?
>> IT'S FORMULAIC IN THE POLICY, SO IT WAS ADOPTED IN THE POLICY THAT THEY WOULD GET INCREASES, SO LONG AS THE FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE.
AND SO THE PRIORITY ORDER IS TO FUND THAT CULTURALLY SPECIFIC GROUP AND THEIR INCREASES BEFORE YOU FUND INCREASES FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
CITY COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY, MADE THE POLICY, SO HAS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE POLICY.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE STICK WITH THE POLICY THAT WAS SET IN FEBRUARY OF 2018 AND LET'S SEE HOW THIS WORKS OVER THIS THREE-YEAR PERIOD AND WE'RE GOING TO DO ASSESSMENTS TOWARDS THE END OF THE PERIOD AND WE'LL BE MAKING CHANGES TO THE POLICY THAT WE HAVE DATA BEHIND IT TO SHOWCASE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> PELAEZ: WELL, I'LL THROW IT OUT A DIFFERENT WAY FOR YOU.
I HAVE YET TO SEE ANY VALUE ADDED IN MY DISTRICT OR FOR THAT MATTER ANY IN CLAYTON'S DISTRICT OR IN DISTRICT 9 BY THE ESPARANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, FOR EXAMPLE, OR OTHERS, RIGHT? WHEREAS WE DO SEE VALUE ADDED CITYWIDE BY MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD AND BY THE MAGIK THEATRE.
MY REQUEST, AND I REALLY DON'T CARE, YOU KNOW, I'M -- ALL THE FORMULAS AND ALL THAT, BUT MY REQUEST IS THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE THAT HAVE IMPACT COMMUNITY-WIDE.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU STUCK -- I MEAN, ARE YOU SET IN STONE RIGHT NOW WITH REGARDS TO THE FUNDING FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS? ARE YOU STILL OPEN TO SUGGESTION ABOUT INCREASING ONE AND DECREASING ANOTHER?
>> JUST WANTED TO REITERATE, THIS POLICY WAS CREATED BY THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL.
IT DID GO THROUGH A COMMUNITY INPUT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PHASE.
AND WE'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS POLICY.
HOWEVER, IF COUNCIL DECIDES TO CHANGE THAT, WE CAN CHANGE IT.
I DID WANT TO STATE THAT WE DID GO THROUGH A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT POLICY.
IT WAS VERY ROBUST AND COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED IT.
I THINK THE -- I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY INPUT AND I APPRECIATE THOSE PROCESSES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE THE FINAL DECISION-MAKERS AND I'M NOT A RUBBER STAMP.
AND SO MY VOTE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I JUST GIVE AWAY AND BECAUSE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE SUGGEST IT BE DONE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO I AM GOING TO ASK YOU, DEBBIE, TO SEE -- I MEAN, IF YOU HEAR CONSENSUS UP HERE TODAY, OR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS PROPOSAL, WHICH IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD GET MORE -- YOU KNOW, MORE FUNDING AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MAGIK THEATRE AND THE ART
[01:45:02]
MUSEUM GET MORE FUNDING THAT'S MY ONLY REQUEST.AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE WELCOME TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT I REALLY DON'T SEE THE VALUE OF GIVING ESPARANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER AN EXTRA $50,000 JUST BECAUSE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ERIK, YOU HAD SOME --
>> MELNICK: THAT'S IT, MAYOR, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> WALSH: WE'LL ADD THAT AS A POSSIBLE AMENDMENT TO THE LIST.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ.
COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA -- COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND THEN COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PELAEZ FOR BRINGING THAT UP RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S VERY INTRIGUING AND I LIKE WHAT HE WAS SAYING RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU WERE DISCUSSING THIS POLICY FOR THESE AGENCIES, THE AGENCY FUNDING, AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE TO THANK MY DISTRICT 3 ARTS COMMISSION MEMBER, LOZANO, WHO DOES A LOT OF GREAT WORK.
SO YOU MENTIONED THE POLICY, BUT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE POLICY WITH THIS, THE GROUPS WERE NOT NAMED, CORRECT?
>> VIAGRAN: AND THE COMMISSIONERS WERE THE ONES THAT SELECTED THE GROUPS?
>> SO THEY WENT THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS.
>> AND THAT APPLICATION PROCESS WAS -- DID THEY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS AS CULTURALLY CERTIFICATE BASED ON THE GUIDELINES.
>> AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS, ALL OF THIS WAS VETTED THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION WHO WAS THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
>> VIAGRAN: SO MY QUESTION IS, WHO MADE THE SELECTION OF THESE CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC GROUPS? WHO MADE THE FINAL KIND OF VETTING THAT WENT THROUGH THE VETTING OF THESE GROUPS?
>> SO THE VETTING WAS DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT FIRST LOOKED AT IT, THEN IT WENT THROUGH AN EVALUATION PROCESS.
>> THEN THE ARTS FUNDING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION.
>> AND THEN IT WAS APPROVED BY THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS -- AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT PROCESS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AS WELL, AND ONE OF THE OTHER GLARING -- GLARING ABSENCE IN THE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC IS ALSO OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I KNOW EVERETT, HE'S BEEN WORKING SO HARD IN GETTING THAT, AND EVEN THERE'S A PICTURE IN THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO TOUR THAT WAS DONE OF HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED -- WE'RE TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
AND TO KNOW THAT THAT CULTURALLY SPECIFIC GROUP ISN'T EVEN ON HERE, I THINK THAT'S A GLARING ABSENCE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO OFFLINE, I'D LIKE ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO ANDY AND LORI AND ERIK, OFFLINE I THINK I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE OF SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ WAS ASKING ABOUT ESPARANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, OF THE -- NOT JUST THE COURT COSTS, BUT ALSO OTHER PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN IN WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDINGS AND WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE LERMAS AND OTHERS AND THOSE MUSEOS, ET CETERA, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, JUST TO SEE ALL THE NUMBERS AND CITY FUNDS THAT WE'D ALSO INVESTED.
I'D JUST LOVE TO SEE THAT, TOO.
LET ME KEEP GOING HERE WITH THE -- WITH OUR ARTS COMMITTEE.
I HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PAGES HERE.
UNDER THE -- FOR THE 2020 ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE POLICY FOR PAYING ARTISTS, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE, YES, EVERYBODY LIKES TO GET THEIR NOTORIETY OR THEIR NAME OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FEATURED ARTIST, BUT I THINK WHAT WE ALSO NEED TO DO IS PAY THE ARTIST.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THE POLICY, AND PROBABLY I'M GUESSING IT WILL GO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY -- THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL COMMITTEE, SO AS WE LOOK AT THAT, WILL THESE PAYING ARTISTS ALSO BE ABLE TO SIT ON THE ARTS COMMISSION AND GET PAID BY THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SITTING ON THE ARTS COMMISSIONER THE ARTS FUNDING BOARD? WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO ALSO GET PAID BY THE CITY IF THEY'RE IN PART OF THE SELECTION PROCESS OF THE ARTS COMMISSION?
>> IF THEY ARE A PART OF THE SELECTION PROCESS, THEY CANNOT BE FUNDED.
>> HOWEVER, IN THE ARTS COMMISSION AS AN ADVISORY BOARD, THE -- AN ARTIST COULD BE ON -- WE WOULD LIKE ARTISTS TO BE ON THE ARTS COMMISSION AND THEY -- IF THEY WANTED TO COMPETE FOR, LET'S SAY, A PUBLIC ART COMMISSION, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM ALL DISCUSSION RELATED TO THAT PROJECT.
[01:50:01]
ON SLIDE EIGHT, FY 2020 GOALS, SO IMPLEMENT CULTURAL DISTRICTS FRAMEWORK.
TELL ME ABOUT THE ZONICAL DURAL, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AND IS THIS PART OF YOUR FQ2020 GOALS?
>> YES, WE HAVE THREE STATE DISTRICTS IN SAN ANTONIO RIGHT NOW.
THE FIRST WAS DESIGNATED IN 2011, THE FIRST THAT WAS DESIGNATED WAS THE KING WILLIAM DISTRICT AND THE ZONE ZONAL ZONA CULTURAL AND SOMEIN DISTRICT 1 AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW ANY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THOSE DESIGNATED DISTRICTS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE, THEY CAN COMPETE FOR GRANT FUNDS TO THE STATE FOR PROJECTS, SO THAT COULD BE A PROJECT THAT BRINGS A SPECIFIC EXHIBIT HERE OR DOES WORK ON THEIR BUILDING.
IT COULD JUST BE DEPENDENT ON WHETHER THE STATE WANTED TO FUND IT.
THE STATE HAS NOW $10 MILLION STATEWIDE FOR THAT INITIATIVE AND LAST YEAR THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
THIS YEAR THEY DO, SO WE WANT TO ASSIST ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THOSE DISTRICTS TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS TO SAN ANTONIO.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WOULD LIKE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO TAKE THE LEAD FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN AND CREATE CULTURAL DISTRICTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND APPLY TO THE STATE FOR DESIGNATIONS SO THAT LATER ON WE CAN BRING MORE OF THOSE DOLLARS ALL OVER OUR CITY.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEBBIE, AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY FOR THE FILM, I KNOW THEY HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO FILM FESTIVAL AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THE INTERNS AND AMBASSADORS THAT ALSO WORK AS PART OF THAT, AND CRYSTAL HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB.
I WOULD ONLY SUGGEST RIGHT NOW IN THE OLD FROST TOWER THAT'S NOW WHERE OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE, IT IS -- IT IS -- WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO SHOOT LIKE A WALKING DEAD HORROR MOVIE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S REALLY SCARY LOOKING IN THE BANK LEVEL, SO SORRY, EVERYONE, WHO WORKS THERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT -- I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT VENUE TO PITCH, HAVE CRYSTAL GO OUT AND PITCH THERE REALLY QUICK BEFORE WE MOVE EVERYONE IN, ERIK.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, DEBBIE.
RUSS, IF I COULD BRING YOU UP HERE QUICKLY.
I THINK THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR SERVICE HERE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HERE IN THE AIRPORT.
YOU HAVE BEEN SO EFFICIENT AND VERY GOOD RUNNING A GREAT SHIP, I'LL JUST USE THE TERM "SHIP," THERE AT THE AIRPORT AND YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC TEAM.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN AND AROUND STINSON AREA AND ALSO WORKING ON THE SIDEWALKS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER GAME-CHANGER FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS A RELIEVER AIRPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE REALLY NEED, ESPECIALLY AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING MORE AND MORE GREAT EVENTS TO SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
AND THEN FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO SHARE, CASSANDRA, THANK YOU, BUT FIRST I HAVE TO SAY, THANK YOU TO MY CHAIRMAN, OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, JEFF ARNT, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD THERE TO REALLY KEEP THE I THINK, VISITOR EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.
SO WHAT I ALSO WANTED JUST TO HIGHLIGHT WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS IT IS DIFFERENT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE MEMBERSHIP AND IT IS A DIFFERENT ENTITY AND THIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP, BUT KNOWING THAT, THIS IS NOT JUST A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, BUT WE'RE IN A SERVICE AGREEMENT.
AND THE SERVICE AGREEMENT IS FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS.
SO WE, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, HAS TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE GOALS AND MAKE THAT SERVICE DELIVERY, SO WHEN WE -- TO EXTEND THAT SERVICE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE FUTURE.
SO IT'S A PARTNERSHIP, BUT IT'S ALSO MORE THAN THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING ALL OUR DELIVERABLES AND BRINGING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO TO HAVE THAT GREAT EXPERIENCE.
ERIK DID MENTION -- THE CITY MANAGER DID MENTION IN OUR BOARD MEETING COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, THAT WE DID DISCUSS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS FOR HOMELESS WHEN WE GET THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TOGETHER.
AND MANY OF US -- BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID DISCUSS WAS THIS ISN'T DIFFERENT FROM SAN ANTONIO,
[01:55:01]
THAT MANY OTHER DESTINATIONS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING, AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT AREAS, SO GLAD TO HAVE THAT WORKING TOGETHER AND THAT TOP OF MIND FOR ALL OF US.CASSANDRA, CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT CALIFORNIA HAS A TRAVEL BAN TO TEXAS, WHY DOES CALIFORNIA HAVE A TRAVEL BAN TO TEXAS?
>> SO THE REASON IS BACK IN 2017 THERE WAS A LAW REGARDING ADOPTION THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE COMMUNITY DEEMED DISCRIMINATORY, AND SO IT WAS ON THAT BASIS.
>> VIAGRAN: AND IT WAS OUR SB 6? SB --
>> VIAGRAN: OH, THE PRY VOT ADOPTION BILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND THEN LASTLY FOR -- ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND GIVE TO MY COLLEAGUES IN OUR CITY MANAGER, AND IF LORI IS STILL HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED DO IS TO CONTINUE THAT BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE ALAMO AND THE IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE ALAMO AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND MEMBERS DOWNTOWN.
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A COMMUNICATION DISCONNECT THAT IS HAPPENING.
AND WE DON'T KNOW -- THE INDUSTRY, THE MEMBERS DOWNTOWN DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WE NEED TO HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE ALAMO.
I DO WANT TO THANK MY VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS WHO DID TAKE THE TOURS IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
AND IT GOES TO SHOW THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT OUR LOCAL AUTHENTIC NATURE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON VERY QUICKLY IS ABOUT THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, JUST TO CLARIFY, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, CASSANDRA IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS, VISIT SAN ANTONIO ISN'T THE ONE PRODUCING THIS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, YOU ARE JUST A PARTNER TO PROMOTE AND BRING PEOPLE TO SAN ANTONIO TO EXPERIENCE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, THIS CELEBRATION, AS WELL AS YOU'RE STILL CONNECTING TO LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS, OR THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE A LOCAL AUTHENTIC ASPECT TO THIS, CORRECT?
SO WE'RE IDENTIFYING AND WE'RE HAVING A LANDING PAGE AND WE'RE INVESTIGATING ALL OF THE CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE A MARKETING AND SALES ORGANIZATION, SO WE DO NOT PRODUCE EVENTS, BUT WE HELP PROMOTE THEM.
AND THAT WILL BE ALL INCLUSIVE.
>> VIAGRAN: AND SO WILL YOU ALL REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICES, THE COUNCIL OFFICES OR DIFFERENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE PUTTING ON DIA DE LOS MUERTOS EVENTS SO THAT IF PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWNTOWN TO THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING DOWNTOWN, THEY'LL STILL HAVE A TASTE OF AUTHENTIC LOCAL SAN ANTONIO, TOO?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I WANTED -- THOSE ARE ALL THE COMMENTS I HAD, MAYOR.
AND ALSO I WANTED TO THANK LINA PRADO WHO SITS ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION BECAUSE SHE'S ALSO DOING A GREAT JOB.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
MY FIRST QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE AIRPORT.
RUSS, IF YOU'LL COME BACK UP HERE.
THANK YOU BY THE WAY, I ATTENDED THE VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON A FEW WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS JUST THE BEST THING EVER TO SEE THAT WE HAD SUCH A GREAT NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE USING THEIR RETIREMENT TIME TO WORK WITH US AND HELP OTHERS FEEL WELCOME TO SAN ANTONIO.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT PROGRAM.
I KNOW THAT IT'S ONE OF THE PREMIER PROGRAMS IN THE NATIONCH I HAVE A QUESTION ON PAGE 228 OF THE BUDGET, WE HAVE AN X ON THE PARKING AND CONCESSION REVENUE PER IN PLANE PASSENGER AND I WAS JUST MARK AND IF THAT'S AT ALL RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT ARE PARKED THERE OF FOLKS THAT AREN'T TRAVELING THAT WE JUST CAN'T GET RID OF THAT ARE JUST SITTING THERE LIKE A SECONDARY GARAGE FOR THEM?
>> HANDY: AND I -- COUNCILWOMAN, I MISSED THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT'S AT ALL RELATED WITH THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS THAT ARE BASICALLY BEING USED -- UTILIZED BY PEOPLE WHO KIND OF JUST LEAVE THEIR CARS THERE PARKED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME THAT AREN'T TRAVELING?
>> HANDY: IS WHAT FIGURE RELATED? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE REVENUE.
>> GARCIA: MISSING THE MARK ON PAGE 228 OF OUR TARGET.
[02:00:01]
I THINK WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN PARKING REVENUE.
THE ONLY REASON WHY I THINK WE MISSED OUR MARK IS WE DID EVEN BETTER ON EMPLANEMENTS.
WE'VE HAD SUCH DRAMATIC INCREASE ON 'EM PLANEMENTS WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, PARKING MAYBE JUST DIDN'T CATCH UP WITH THAT METRIC.
BUT OUR PARKING REVENUES ARE VERY, VERY SOLID.
SO WE DON'T RECOGNIZE A TREND.
IN FACT, WE WATCH CARS THAT ARE PARKED THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WE REQUIRE PEOPLE TO LET US KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OVER 30 DAYS AND WE TRACK THAT AND TAKE ACTION.
BUT, NO, I DON'T SEE THAT AS RELATED.
AND SO I WAS SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING THERE ARE SOME VEHICLES THAT HAVE PLACARDS AND ARE PARKED THERE.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
WE DO VALIDATE A NUMBER OF PARKING FEES FOR VETERANS AND THEY FIT INTO TWO CATEGORIES, ONE IS AN INDIVIDUAL'S QUALIFIED UNDER THE VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION AS A DISABLED VETERAN.
ANOTHER IS VETERAN WHO CARRIES A PARTICULAR DECORATION, THAT THEY'VE BEEN AWARDED WITH, AND TEXAS LAW DOES DRIVE THAT THOSE PARKING FEES ARE VALIDATED IN CITY-OWNED FACILITIES.
IT DOES, AND THERE HAVE BEEN ATTORNEY GENERAL RULINGS THAT EXCLUDE AIRPORTS FROM THAT.
WE HAVE HISTORICALLY COMPLIED WITH THAT AS A MATTER OF A BENEFIT TO OUR VETERANS.
THAT IS A PROGRAM WE'RE LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT, HOWEVER, ON WHETHER WE SHOULD POTENTIALLY NOT DO AWAY WITH IT BUT LIMIT IT AND WE'RE DISCUSSING SOME OPTIONS NOW.
>> GARCIA: THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT AFFECTED THAT AT ALL.
I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE TOUR THAT YOU GAVE ME.
IT WAS A GREAT BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING BACK AND LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE I HAD A QUICK TOUR AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT MORE THAT I COULD HAVE LEARNED.
SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> GARCIA: CONVENTION AND SPORTS IS NEXT, PATRICIA.
AND WHILE SHE GET LINGS -- GETS UP HERE, I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE FOLKS OVER AT THE THAL EL ELECDROTHON RACE AND BRING IT TO SAN ANTONIO AND MAKE IT BIGGER AND REGIONAL.
I KNOW A LOT OF COOL DISTRICTS ALREADY PARTICIPATE.
THEY HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO FLORIDA SOMETIMES, AND SO THE CLOSEST RACE OF ITS KIND IS IN DALLAS AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES AS THE STUDENTS IN MY DISTRICT GREATLY BENEFIT FROM IT.
SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO BE IN THE SUN, NOT GOING TO HAVE TO GET HEAT STROKE ANYMORE, ONE OF OUR SPONSORS GOT HEAT STROKE LAST YEAR WHICH WAS REALLY BAD.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT THE ALAMODOME THIS COMING YEAR AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
I HAVE A QUESTION ON PAGE 257, THERE WAS A MISSED MARK ON THE NUMBER OF ALAMODOME EVENTS.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO KIND OF INCREASE THAT OR IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL MARKETING BUDGET.
I'M A MARKETING PROFESSOR, SO, OF COURSE, AS Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT MARKETING, Y'ALL ARE JUST MAKING MY WHOLE DAY.
AYE M GOING TO MAKE MY CLASS WATCH THIS WHOLE SESSION LATER, BUT IF YOU CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
SO EVERY YEAR WE HAVE SOME END THE YEAR FOR THE YEAR BUSINESS THAT WE PUT INTO OUR EVENT MIX.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S REALIZED, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
AND, YES, WE DID MISS THE MARK.
WE HAD 150 EVENT DAYS, BUT THE POSITIVE ON THAT IS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE WITH ONLY 150 EVENT DAYS, INCREASE OUR REVENUE BY 1.2 MILLION OVER THE 2018.
AND IF YOU SEE IN 2018, WE HAD 121 EVENT DAYS.
AND MY LAST QUESTION IS DOES THE ALAMO BOWL HELP WITH ANY OF OUR IMPROVEMENTS?
THE LAST $60 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS THEY DID PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THOSE.
AND THEN IT'S DEBBIE WITH ARTS AND CULTURE NEXT.
DEBBIE, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, I APPRECIATE THAT THOROUGHLY.
I HAVE SOME OF THE SIMILAR QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ SAID, SO LET ME START OFF WITH THESE QUESTIONS FIRST AND THEN I'LL GET INTO THOSE.
ON PAGE 230 IN THE BUDGET BOOK, THERE'S AN ALLOCATION REFERENCED, YOU GAVE US A BREAKDOWN OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS BUT I WAS WONDERING IF I CAN HAVE A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF FUNDING FOR THESE AGENCIES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
>> YEAH, I'LL GET THAT FOR YOU.
>> GARCIA: ALSO ON PAGE 230 WE HAVE MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IT SAYS TRANSFERRED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT GETS TRANSFERRED TO.
[02:05:01]
IF YOU CAN HELP ME HAVE A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THAT GETS TRANSFERRED.SO I KNOW THAT I CAN ANSWER A PART OF THAT.
360 -- ABOUT $360,000 IS TRANSFERRED TO THE CARVER TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMMING THAT THEY DO THAT'S ARTS AND CULTURE RELATED.
AND THEN WE HAVE TRANSFERS THAT GO TO FUND OUR INDIRECT COSTS THAT GO TO PURCHAING DEPARTMENT, ALL DEPARTMENTS HAVE TO PAY HR, PURCHASING, I.T.
SO THOSE ARE THE OTHER TRANSFERS.
ON PAGE 232, WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONTRACTS -- OR WE PROVIDE, IT LOOKS LIKE BASE OPERATIONAL FUNDING AND SO THE ONES THAT I'M LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY ARE THE LARGER ONES, THE CONTRACTS.
I'D LOVE TO MAYBE SEE WHAT OUR COMMITMENT -- WHAT OUR CONTRACTS ARE WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WE GIVE SOME INCREASED LEVEL OF FUNDING.
AND SO I'M LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT LIKE BLUE STAR, THE DOSEUM, ART PACE, ART SAN ANTONIO, AYE I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT WE HAVE TO THEM AND FOR HOW LONG IT IS.
AND IF I CAN ALSO SEE A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS ON THE FUNDING ON THAT, I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I WILL PROVIDE YOU A FIVE-YEAR HISTORY ON ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THIS YEAR, AND THEN ALL OF THEM THAT ARE IN BASE OPERATIONAL, WE FUND THEM ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO OUR COMMITMENT IS YEAR TO YEAR BASED ON THE FUNDS AVAILABILITY AS WELL AS -- I FOLLOW THE POLICY TO PUT TOGETHER THE ALLOCATIONS AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ON THAT.
>> GARCIA: AND THE POLICY IS THE ONE THAT YOU GAVE US, OUR AGENCY FUNDING POLICY, 2018?
>> YES, AND I CAN PUT THAT IN A FORMAT THAT MAY BE EASIER TO READ THAN --
>> GARCIA: NO, THIS ONE'S FINE FOR
>> ROCHA GARCIA: NO, THIS IS FINE.
DOES THAT HELP OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY STAFF, OR DOES THAT HELP THE STAFF AT THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS? THERE'S AN ALLOCATION OF $75,000.
SO CAPACITY BUILDING IS USED TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OUR ARTS AGENCIES OF THE 48 AGENCIES THAT ARE ON THIS LIST, TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY, TO NOT HAVE TO BE DEPENDENT SO MUCH ON CITY DOLLARS.
SO IT COULD BE THAT THEY BUILD CAPACITY OF THEIR BOARD, OR THEY BUILD THEIR FUND-RAISING CAPACITY, OR SOME OTHER CAPACITY.
WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST A CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRED, AND WE DID A LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
AND WE HAVE PUT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND BOARD CHAIRS OF 18 AGENCIES THROUGH THAT PROGRAM ALREADY.
TO HELP THEM BE STRONGER ORGANIZATIONS.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: ALSO, ANY METRICS THAT WE GET, HOW MANY PEOPLE WENT TO THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND THEN THEY, YOU KNOW, DID X, Y AND Z OR ANYTHING?
>> WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING THAT FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR, YES.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: ALSO ON PAGE 233, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THE CULTURAL PLAN? I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S ROLLED OUT, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, SO I'M WONDERING WHEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT, IF IT HASN'T BEEN DONE, OR WHEN I CAN SEE IT IF IT HAS.
>> I CAN GET YOU THE CULTURAL PLAN.
IT'S A PLANNING DOCUMENT THAT HAS DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
IT STARTED WITH THE FILM STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THEN IT HAS THE PLAN FOR THE ARTS AGENCY FUNDING, IT HAS THE PLAN FOR MUSIC, IT HAS A PLAN FOR PUBLIC ART.
THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ALL ROLLED UP INTO THAT.
I CAN GET YOU ALL OF THOSE PLANS.
AND THEN ON THAT SAME PAGE, WE HAVE $150,000 FOR SISTER CITIES ALLOCATED ON THERE.
AND IF I CAN JUST GET A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT $150,000 IS SPENT ON, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS LIKE A SPECIFIC ARTS PROGRAM THAT IT FUNDS, OR IS IT INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, OR ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM IS -- OUR BUDGET IS FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGES WITH OUR SISTER CITIES.
WHENEVER A CITY CITY PROVIDES SOMETHING TO US, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE SOMETHING RECIPROCAL TO THEM.
SO WE MAY SEND ARTISTS TO T ANOTHER COUNTRY, OR THEY MAY SEND SOMEONE TO US.
WE MAY PAY FOR THEM TO BE IN AN EVENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A RECIPROCAL GIFT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME WITH ONEJU, SOUTH KOREA.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AN ARTIST, DEVELOPING A PUBLIC ART PIECE FOR GUANJU.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: MY APPOINTEE IS VERY INVOLVED IN THE ARTS.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ACTIVE WITH HER
[02:10:02]
PARTICIPATION.I, TOO, WOULD LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS PITCHING HER AREA, SO PORT SAN ANTONIO I THINK HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE SET FOR THE NEXT CAPTAIN MARVEL MOVIE OR SOMETHING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T CHECKED IT OUT, I KEEP SAYING THAT.
BUT I THINK THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, DEBBIE.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND THEN LET'S SEE.
AND THEN CASSANDRA, I JUST -- FIRST OF ALL, THE MAYOR REFERENCED THIS ALREADY, THE 2020 CONFERENCE, AND I KNEW IT WAS YOUR MARKETING PEOPLE THAT HAD DONE THIS.
BUT THEY WERE BRILLIANTLY PLACED DURING FIESTA.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, ONE IN SEVEN WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED IN YOUR AREA.
WE HAVE CHEF JOHNNY HERE TODAY, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, AND I THINK HE'S NOT LISTENING.
AND SO YOU ALL PROVIDED 3.3 BILLION TO SAN ANTONIO.
I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS IN GOING OUT AND INVESTING IN MARKETING IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET PEOPLE HERE IS IF WE MARKET OUR CITY.
SO I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT YOUR ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT HAS INCREASED NEARLY 50% SINCE 2007 IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I'M HAPPY TO BE ON THIS TEAM, AND SO WOULD WELCOME ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT AUDIO] PLEASE SHARE WHATEVER YOU WANT.
ARE WE DOING ANY MARKETING -- I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE PRESIDENTIAL -- THE DEMOCRATIC DEBATES ARE GOING ON, AND WE HAVE A FORMER MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL CITIES ALREADY.
ARE WE DOING ANY STRATEGIC MARKETING AROUND THE CITIES THAT HE'S VISITED?
AND WE'LL KIND OF TAKE IT BACK.
SOMETIMES IT'S VERY COST PROHIBITIVE FOR WHAT YOU GET.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: IT MIGHT BE WHERE OUR BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK IS.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: AND THEN ALSO, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED, AND I KNOW THE MAYOR REFERENCED SHARE OF MARKET.
DO YOU ALSO MEASURE SHARE OF MIND?
>> ROCHA GARCIA: JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
BUT ANYWAY, I LOVE THE DEVICE IDEA.
I'M LIKE, OH, MY GOD, SHE NEEDS TO COME TALK TO MY CLASSES.
THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE CONCENTRATION ON (INDISCERNIBLE), IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO SAY SAN ANTONIO COULD BECOME THAT LEADER IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS IN MEXICO THAT ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR LIO MARTOS PROGRAM.
IF WE COULD BE RECOGNIZED AS SAN ANTONIO BEING THE HUB FOR THAT.
I KNOW CHEF JOHNNY AND SOME OTHER FOLKS ARE WORKING ON THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TRADITION TO SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU.
RUSS, CAN I HAVE YOU COME UP? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND I JUST KNOW THAT THE AMBASSADORS THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE AT THE AIRPORT ARE AMAZING.
AND I GOT TO SIT AND SPEAK WITH SOME OF THEM, ALONG WITH ONE OF YOUR EXECUTIVE STAFF MEMBERS, AND THEY TRULY TAKE HEART IN WHAT THEY DO.
SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE OUT AT THE AIRPORT.
I HAVE A QUESTION AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO THE RENTAL CAR COMPANIES AND THE GARAGE THAT THEY USE.
WHERE EXACTLY WITHIN THE BUDGET DO THEY FALL? HOW ARE THEY PAYING FOR THAT STORAGE AND THAT USAGE DURING THE TIME THAT THOSE CARS ARE MAYBE NOT IN FULL USE, OR AS THEY COME IN AND GO OUT?
IT'S A GOOD TIME TO ASK THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST RECENTLY OPENED THE NEW CONSOLIDATED RENTAL CAR FACILITY PRIOR TO THAT.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT WAS A NIGHTMARISH EXPERIENCE TO RENT A CAR IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SHUTTLE BUS TIME, FINDING YOUR PLACE TO DROP THE CAR OFF WAS TOUGH.
BUT THE MODEL FOR THE FEES THAT THEY PAY IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY SIMILAR.
SO THERE'S REALLY A FEW COMPONENTS THAT THEY PAY.
ONE IS EVERYONE WHO RENTS A CAR FROM SAN ANTONIO PAYS A CUSTOMER FACILITY CHARGE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S $5.50 PER RENTAL.
AND WE USE THAT CUSTOMER FACILITY CHARGE TO SUPPORT DEBT SERVICE.
AND WE DID TAKE OUT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT DEBT FOR THAT GARAGE.
SO THAT'S THE KEY COMPONENT OF THAT IS HOW WE'RE PAYING THAT DEBT.
BUT WE ALSO GET RENTS AND FEES
[02:15:03]
FROM THE RENTAL CAR COMPANIES BASED ON THEIR VOLUME, AND WE COLLECT A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR REVENUE AS WELL.JUST LIKE WE DO WITH EVERY OTHER CONCESSION.
SO A FEW DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF INCOME.
BUT WITHIN THEIR SPACE, BASED UPON WHAT THEY PAY FOR THAT SPACE, THEY MANAGE THAT AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO INCLUDE ALL THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THAT AREA.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT'S REALLY ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE LUNCHEON.
PATRICIA, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO CONVENTION SPORTS.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS ABLE TO GO TO (INDISCERNIBLE) AND GET ONSTAGE AND DO THE BIRD WITH MORRIS DAY.
THAT WAS A VERY INTERESTING IDEA.
BEING THAT THAT IS IN DISTRICT 2, A LOT OF WHAT WE WERE -- OR WHAT WE ASK IS, I KNOW THAT THE TRAFFIC THAT KIND OF COMES IN WITH THE EVENTS, WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SITS RIGHT OVER TO THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE DOME, AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE KIND OF BARRICADED WITHIN THEIR OWN GATES OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND TRYING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHO PUTS UP THE GATES AT THEIR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD GATE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY CANNOT GET IN AND OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO I WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN KIND OF MINIMIZE THE RESTRICTION THEY HAVE TO THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS DURING THE EVENT TIMES AT THE DOME.
ALSO, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME UPGRADES, THAT FACILITY IS ONE YEAR YOUNGER THAN MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, AND SO IT DOES HOLD A LOT OF MEMORIES AND HISTORICAL VALUE.
AND SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG WITH TRYING TO FIND OUT, AS THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, THE PROPER ROOFING TO PUT ON THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AS THEY COME.
I WAS WONDERING, WHEN IT COMES TO UTSA AND FOOTBALL, EXACTLY HOW MUCH WILL WE BE LOSING WHEN WE IMPLEMENT THE FAN-FRIENDLY PRICING?
WE STILL HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED, THAT'S ONE OF OUR GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 TO WORK WITH THE CONCESSION AIRE TO IMPLEMENT THE FAN-FRIENDLY PRICING.
OTHER STADIUMS, AND ARENAS AND WOLFF STADIUM HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED IT.
THAT'S OUR GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU.
THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAD.
AND I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR DE DEBBIE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU WERE ABLE TO COME OUT AND GIVE THE PRESENTATION AT THE MLK PARK.
TO COUNCIL MANY PELAEZ AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT HE HAS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, FOR ME, I KNOW WE ARE A VERY CULTURALLY UNIQUE DISTRICT, AND I KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FALL WITHIN THAT CULTURE DISTRICT DESIGNATION.
WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS, EVEN FROM THE CEMETERIES ALL THE WAY TO THE CARVER TO OUR NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL MUSEUM.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH LAWANNA FROM SAYCAM.
I WANT TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY FALL WITHIN THIS DESIGNATION OF THE CULTURAL MUSEUMS, BECAUSE THAT IS SPECIFICALLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THEY ARE TRULY GOING OVER AND GETTING THOSE ARCHIVED FILES, AND GOING BACK DECADES TO ORIGINAL SETTLERS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN DESCENT HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OUT TO DISTRICT 8 AND DISTRICT 10.
THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND RANCHERS AND CATTLE PRODS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT TRULY BELONG TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT WERE HERE DURING THE ORIGINAL FORMATION OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO I'M REALLY WONDERING, HOW DO THEY FALL WITHIN THIS BUDGET PROCESS OF CULTURALLY SPECIFIC? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO WAIT TO SEE IF YOU GUYS WILL APPROVE THEM? WHAT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED? BECAUSE THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THIS REALM.
[02:20:03]
SO, WHEN WE -- MY -- WE HAVE THE -- WE'RE IN THE SECOND YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR CYCLE, AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT CYCLE, THEY SHOULD QUALIFY FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE ARTS AGENCY FUNDING.
BUT IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE REALLY DECIDING.
WE'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THEIR MISSION.
IF THEIR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE A SPECIFIC CULTURE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE IS LISTED, IF THAT'S THEIR MISSION, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED, AND THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE BOARD AND A PAID STAFF, THEN THEY WILL QUALIFY FOR FUNDING IN THE NEXT ROUND.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD, IT'S NOT THAT ENTITIES ARE APPLYING FOR THIS MONEY, BEING TURNED AWAY, IT'S THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PAID EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YOU HAVE TO BE IN OPERATIONS FOR THREE YEARS, AND YOUR MISSION HAS TO BE SPECIFIC TO THAT CULTURALLY SPECIFIC AREA.
BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO MENTION CARVER WOULD QUALIFY AS ONE OF THESE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ENTITIES.
BUT WE FUND THEM OUTSIDE OF THIS PROCESS.
WE FUND THEM THROUGH THE CONVENTION SERVICES AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES.
AND SO THEY ARE ONE ENTITY THAT WE FUND, BUT IT'S OUTSIDE OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY ACTUALLY PRESERVING, EVEN THE HOME THAT THEY USE FOR THE MUSEUM IS AN ARCHIVE IN ITSELF.
BECAUSE IT'S THE SETTING OF THE FAMILY HOME.
I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR FIVE YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT ALL BY THEMSELVES.
THE NEXT QUESTION I HAVE IN REFERENCE TO HOW WE TARGET THE INNER CITY YOUTH THAT BE VULNERABLE FARTHER PARTICIPATING WITH GRAFFITI.
ARE WE SETTING UP ANY FORM OF PARKS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR LIKE GRAFFITI PARKS? I KNOW ESSEX IS ONE OF A GRAFFITI MURAL KIND OF EXHIBIT, BUT WHAT SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE YOUTH THAT ARE DOING A LOT OF THE TAGGING OR DOING A LOT OF THE GRAFFITI, HOW DOES THAT TRULY COME INTO THE PLAY OF ARTS AND CULTURE?
SO, GRAFFITI, WE HAVE RESEARCHED THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING GRAFFITI PARKS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE DID STUDIES OF GRAFFITI PARKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND MOST OF THEM THAT WERE CITY-RUN HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF POLICING ISSUES, AND HOW THE GRAFFITI TENDS TO KIND OF BLEED OUT BEYOND THE WALLS OF THAT GRAFFITI PARK AND START GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THEM.
SO WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING GRAFFITI PARKS.
THE ESSEX IS A PRIVATE ENTITY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL PRIVATE GRAFFITI PARKS, AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
YOU CAN CLOSE THE GATE, MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE COMING IN DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF WEAPONS ON THEM AND THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING INSTEAD OF SOMETHING ELSE THERE.
BUT AS FAR AS WORKING WITH YOUTH THROUGH OUR AGENCY PROGRAMS, AND OUR PUBLIC ARTS, WE HAVE 20 FOLKS ON OUR STAFF, AND WE GENERALLY DON'T DO DIRECT SERVICES IN THE DEPARTMENT.
WE OVERSEE PROGRAMS THAT DO GRANT FUNDING, AND FILM AND MUSIC.
BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT MOST OF THOSE, EXCEPT OUR COUPLE OF GALLERIES THAT WE HAVE.
BUT IN OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE YOUNG BUDDING ARTISTS TO WORK WITH AN ARTIST, OR A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO TURN INTO -- INSTEAD OF BEING -- DOING THIS ON THEIR OWN ON THE SIDE, THEY COULD TURN INTO A REAL CAREER AS ARTISTS.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH, LIKE SANATO CULTURAL ARTS.
YOUR ARTS COMMISSIONER HAS A PROGRAM THAT HE'S WORKING WITH YOUTH ON DEVELOPING THEM TO BECOME ARTISTS AS WELL.
SO WE'RE DOING SOME PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT SOMEHOW TIES BACK TO VISITORS.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: SPEAKING OF THAT, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE -- NOW, DOING EXHIBITS PER SE WITH OUR LOCAL ARTISTS, HAVING THEM TRULY FEATURED IN THE SA DIRECTORY TO START SEEING OUR LOCAL ARTISTS' DISPLAYS, MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT THE WEBSITE, OR SPECIFICALLY DRIVEN
[02:25:02]
AS WELL.AND THEN I KNOW WE HAVE THE ALAMO FILM IN DISTRICT 2 AS WELL.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A SOUND STAGE, THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO A PARTNERSHIP WITH TLU THAT WOULD THEN BRING MORE AWARENESS TO OUR FILM INDUSTRY HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WITH THE BLACK FILM FESTIVAL, A LOT OF THEM DO SUNDANCE.
THEY GO OUTSIDE THE CITY TO ACTUALLY SHOOT THESE FILMS. WE'VE LOST THE WALKING DEAD TO AUSTIN BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SOUND STUDIO.
IS THERE ANY FUTURE OUTLOOK TO MAYBE HAVING A SOUND STAGE HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO?
>> SO, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MAJOR STUDIO WITH A GIANT SOUND STAGE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE THROUGH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, AND MAY PERHAPS WORKING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ON THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL TOURISM MONEY, SO WE CANNOT USE OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS UNLESS THEY'RE THE CONVENTION CENTER TYPE PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: WHO ARE WE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH? THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY START INVESTING IN.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I ALWAYS SAY IS WE CAN ALWAYS FIND OUR RESOURCES AROUND US THAT CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD US.
SO HAVE WE STARTED AUDIO] ANY OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS?
>> WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FILM-MAKING STUDIO COMPANIES COME TO SAN ANTONIO LOOKING FOR A SPACE, AND WE'VE CONNECTED THEM WITH ALAMO CITY STUDIOS AND WITH SOME OTHER STUDIOS AROUND.
AND WE'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT FINANCING OPTIONS.
WE'VE TRIED TO CONNECT THEM IN THAT WAY.
SO FAR, NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK, IN THAT MODEL.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING THAT GOAL, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT AS A GOAL IN OUR FILM STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE WANT TO BRING MAJOR MOVIE-MAKING TO SAN ANTONIO, AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE STUDIOS TO DO THAT.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: I KNOW CRYSTAL HAS BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO HER ABOUT.
I KNOW SAN ANTONIO WAS ALSO DEEMED A MUSIC-FRIENDLY CITY.
ARE WE LOOKING TO START NOW BRINGING IN MORE EVENTS, CONCERTS? I KNOW BMI JUST MOVED OUT TO AUSTIN, AND ARE WE PARTNERING WITH THE GRAMMY ACADEMY, AND ALL OF THOSE GREAT ENTITIES TO START BRINGING MORE OF THOSE GRANDER EVENTS TO SAN ANTONIO THAT COULD POSSIBLY ASSIST WITH OUR TOURISM?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR MUSIC COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON WITH THEIR MUSIC STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HENRY IN DISTRICT 7 ARTS COMMISSIONER, THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, HE'S BEEN LEADING THAT EFFORT.
AS A PART OF THE PERFORMING ARTS PLAN AS WELL, WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE VENUES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO, BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THAT WE'RE GETTING FOLKS THAT SAY, WE NEED A VENUE LIKE THIS.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE AN EXAMPLE.
AND THEN WE LOOK FOR IT, AND WE CANNOT FIND IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE GAPS IN VENUES, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY AND THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND THE PRIVATE COMPANIES TO SEE WHAT THEY NEED, AND HOW CAN WE PARTNER TO HELP THEM MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU.
AND THEN I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR CASSANDRA.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TOUR OF MY DISTRICT WITH ME.
AND I KNOW THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY OVERATE, AND APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
SO THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE SMALLER BUSINESSES, AS YOU SAW WITHIN DISTRICT 2, WE HAVE A LOT OF MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES.
AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEMBERSHIP TO VISIT SA, WHAT IS THE FEE THAT'S RELATED TO THAT? AND THEN HOW CAN WE START MARKETING SPECIFICALLY AND GETTING THEM ENGAGED? BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM KNEW OF VISIT SA, BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO INTERACT, OR HOW TO BECOME PART OF VISIT SA.
SO THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING OVERLOOKED.
SO I WANT TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW CAN I CONNECT THAT GAP WITHIN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE.
>> WE WOULD LOVE FOR ALL OF YOU TO GET THE WORD OUT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER FOR US TO PROMOTE YOU, FOR YOU TO HAVE A LISTING ON OUR WEBSITE.
MAYBE IN ONE OF YOUR NEWSLETTERS, AND WE CAN HELP PUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID, BUT THE IDEA IS, WE WANT TO ENGAGE.
AND FROM THE TOURS, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALL
[02:30:01]
BUSINESSES, AND REALLY WONDERFUL STORIES.THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME STORIES THAT WE CAN PITCH TO MEDIA.
SO WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
ANYBODY THAT WE TOURED ON THE DISTRICT TOURS ALREADY ARE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE WENT AHEAD AND PUT THEM ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE'VE ALSO PUT THEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.
BUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, THEY'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNIQUE ANGLES, AND WHEN WE PITCH TO TRAVEL MEDIA.
BECAUSE THEY WANT THOSE UNIQUE STORIES ACTIVATING THEM ALREADY.
AS WE JUST FINISHED UP SEVERAL -- EIGHT OF THE DISTRICTS.
SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING, LOOKING AT ALL THE IMAGES, HOW WE CAN USE IT.
BUT PLEASE KNOW, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER.
WE ARE THE DESTINATION ORGANIZATION.
SO I'M PROMOTING THE ENTIRE CITY, THE ENTIRE REGION IN SOME CASES.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE THE SOURCE OF THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF ALL THAT.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ANDREWS-SULLIVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS-SULLIVAN.
WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FUTURE PLANS FOR THE AIRPORT.
WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW FAA HAS A LOT TO SAY ON WHAT GOES ON IN A BUDGET AT THE AIRPORT.
BUT I HEAR ALL THE TIME, SO I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU AND HOPE IT WILL BE MOVED ON TO YOUR PREDECESSOR, THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE AIRPORT WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOUND.
AND REALLY WANT SOUND ABATEMENT MEASURES TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
THERE'S MORE TRAFFIC OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL TIMES THAT EXISTED 10, 12 YEARS AGO.
THERE'S EVEN FLIGHTS THAT ARE LANDING JUST ON THE EDGES OR OUTSIDE OF THE USUAL FLIGHT PATTERNS, BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC OR THE SPEED OF TRYING TO GET ON THE GROUND AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS LONG AS YOU ARE HERE, OR BEFORE YOU GO, THAT YOU MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FAA TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN.
BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BE A GROWING CONCERN.
AND WITH MORE FLIGHTS, AND MORE AIRCRAFT, AND FLYING AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING, AND AUDIO] DISRUPTIVE TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE AIRPORT.
>> YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO THAT, COUNCILMAN.
IT IS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
WE'VE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAA WORKING WITH THEIR NOISE ABATEMENT PROGRAM.
WE'VE GOT MONEY IN THE '20 BUDGET THAT WE'RE FINISHING OUT THE LAST VERSION BASED UPON THAT 2014 ANALYSIS.
AND IN FACT, WE FELT SO STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THAT WE HAD A NUMBER OF HOMEOWNERS WHO HAD EITHER NOT RESPONDED TO OUR INQUIRIES ABOUT WHETHER THEY WANTED THE TREATMENT, WHO WERE WITHIN THE VULNERABLE AREA, THAT WE DID ANOTHER OUTREACH, AND IN FACT CONVINCED SOME OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS TO TAKE US UP ON THE OFFER.
AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN PROCESS, ONGOING THIS YEAR, WE WILL DO AS I MENTIONED TO YOU A NEW NOISE EXPOSURE MAP, AND IT WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EXISTING CONDITIONS WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED WITH REGARD TO TIME OF DAY AND MORE TRAFFIC.
BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO AN OVERLAY FOR A FUTURE MAP.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO TREAT HOMES BASED ON A FUTURE CONDITION UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, BUT WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, SO AUDIO] RUNWAY IN 10 YEARS, WE CAN OVERLAY WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT WILL MEAN FOR NOISE.
AND AGAIN, ASSUMING THE FAA CONTINUES TO GET THE APPROPRIATION FOR THAT PROGRAM, THERE WOULD BE NEW HOMES ELIGIBLE AT THAT POINT.
NOW YOUR VIEW OF THIS, ARE WE AS A CITY, OR SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL LOSSES TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IF WE WERE TO HAVE COMMERCIAL FREIGHT AIR TRAFFIC REROUTED TO PORT SA? WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF THAT?
>> I THINK THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE CARGO COMPANIES TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THAT'S A VIABLE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THEM.
BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THEIR LOCATION.
IN FACT, MOST OF THEM ARE COMING, AS WE SPEAK, LOOKING FOR MORE REAL ESTATE, BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPANDING.
CARGO GROWTH IS A STRONG -- THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THAT'S AN EFFECTIVE PART OF THEIR BUSINESS PLAN.
[02:35:03]
PERSHBACH WHO HAS GONE ON RECORD TO DISCUSSING HOW MUCH CARGO MAY OR MAY NOT BE A PART OF THE CORE COMPETENCIES IN THE BUSINESS PLAN STRATEGICALLY FOR PORT SAN ANTONIO.BECAUSE HE'S GOT, BASED ON HIS TEN TENANTS, AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, HAVE SPECIFIC IDEAS ON THAT AS WELL.
I THINK WE CAN BRING ALL THAT TOGETHER BEFORE WE COULD START TO GIVE INCENTIVES TO MOVE TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
WHAT KIND OF MONEY WOULD WE LOSE IF, FOR EXAMPLE, 50% OF THAT TRAFFIC WOULD DIVERT TO PORT SA?
WE WOULD ONLY DO IT IF WE NEEDED THE SPACE FOR OTHER REVENUE GENERATION ACTIVITIES, WHETHER THAT BE INCREASED AIR SERVICE.
WE'D BE HAVING ADDITIONAL OTHER TYPES OF REVENUE GENERATIONS ACTIVITY TO FILL IN FOR THAT CARGO, AND ULTIMATELY WHATEVER WORKS OUT BEST FOR THE CITY WE WOULD BE A PART OF THAT.
>> COURAGE: THE CARGO ISSUE, YOU DON'T HAVE PASSENGER FLIGHTS FLYING AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING, OR 12:00 MIDNIGHT AUDIO] IT SEEMS LIKE IT MAY BE THEIR CHOICE.
ALSO COULD IT BE A DIRECTIVE OF THE CITY THAT WE JUST WANT TO GET THOSE FLIGHTS OUT OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS THEY'RE IN AND BACK DOWN INTO AN AREA THAT WAS BUILT FOR THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC.
>> THAT WOULD BE A CONVERSATION WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TREAD VERY CAREFULLY INTO.
>> BECAUSE POST-DEREGULATION, WE DON'T GET TO DIRECT IT.
I KNOW OF CITIES THAT HAVE DONE ALL SORTS OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO WORK WITH PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE.
BUT THAT WOULD BE A CONVERSATION --
>> COURAGE: CARLOS, DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?
>> COUNCILMAN, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO TALK TO PORT SA AND THE MILITARY, AND WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON CURRENT TENANTS LIKE BOEING AND LOCKHEED AND OTHERS WHO USE THAT SPACE FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WE COULD LOOK AT ALL OF THAT AND --
>> COURAGE: TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFILIATED WITH PORT SA, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT BUSINESS DOWN HERE BUT THE CITY DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE REVENUE, THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH US.
AND THEN I HEAR UP HERE, WELL, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO TAKE THAT KIND OF BUSINESS.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A GENUINE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL FOR OUR AIR TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S IT, RUSS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, AND MAYBE I MISSED IT IN THE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A REDUCTION IN SYMPHONY FUNDING.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WE HAD ADVANCED SOME OF THE NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING TO THE SYMPHONY LAST YEAR, THAT THAT REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET IS SIMPLY THE MONEY WE GAVE THEM BEFORE, SO WE'RE REDUCING IT FROM THIS BUDGET?
SO, THE SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY, WHEN WE DID THE EQUITY GUIDELINES, WE DID THE ARTS FUNDING GUIDELINES, ALL BASED ONGS AL IS BASED ON A FORMULA, BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
SO THE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS CAN GET UP TO 30% OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET FROM THE CITY, AND THE LARGER THEY GET, THE SMALLER THAT PERCENTAGE GETS.
THE SYMPHONY IS AT A 3% CATEGORY, AND THEY WERE OVER -- THEY WERE GETTING MORE THAN THEIR SHARE PREVIOUSLY.
SO WE'RE REDUCING THEM BY 25% OF THE AMOUNT EACH YEAR TO GET THEM DOWN TO THE AMOUNT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET TO.
SO THEY'RE OVERFUNDED TWO YEARS AGO BASED ON THE IN YOU GUIDELINES, AND THEY'RE GETTING A REDUCTION.
>> COURAGE: OF COURSE, THEY ALMOST WENT OUT OF BUSINESS TWO YEARS AGO.
>> COURAGE: ARE WE MONITORING THAT?
>> COURAGE: SO WE'RE ASSURED OUR DECLINING SUPPORT WILL NOT PUT THEM IN A BAD SITUATION? I REALIZE IT'S UP TO THEM, BUT THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT ASSET IN THE CULTURE OF THE CITY AS WELL.
AND WE WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY.
WE HAD A CONSULTANT THAT CAME AND HELPED THEM, AND THE CITY HAD A COMMITTEE THAT WAS PUT IN WITH THE COUNTY, THE SYMPHONY TASK FORCE TO HELP THEM, AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO SAT ON THAT.
AND THEY HAVE A PLAN THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY FOLLOW THAT PLAN.
AND THEY ARE DOING MUCH BETTER STRATEGICALLY AS A SYMPHONY.
>> COURAGE: HOW IS THE INCREASE OF 50% IN SISTER CITIES FUNDING ART OR CULTURAL? AND THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, 50%.
HOW IS THAT -- HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO OUR PERCENTAGES AND BUDGET AND THINGS LIKE THAT?
[02:40:01]
>> SISTER SISTCITIES, IT WAS A REQUEST TO INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THE GRI KOES CELEBRATION, (INDISCERNIBLE) CELEBRATIONS.
THAT CELEBRATION, WHICH WE JUST HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT IS ON SEPTEMBER THE 15TH -- OR 14TH THIS YEAR IN MARKET SQUARE, AND THAT'S PUT ON BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S THE GRITO EVENT WHERE THEY CELEBRATE.
THERE WAS FUNDING FROM FROM THE TRICENTENNIAL TO INCREASE THAT TO A LARGER EVENT, AND WE HAVE COMMITTED TO INCREASE FUNDING THROUGH SISTER CITIES TO LET THEM HAVE THAT LARGER EVENT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
IT'S THE 25TH YEAR OF THE (INDISCERNIBLE) COMMISSION IN SAN ANTONIO AND SOME OF THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR THE GRETO.
>> COURAGE: BUT THIS IS THE 2020 BUDGET.
>> COURAGE: AND SO WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING THAT MONEY UP-FRONT IN A 2020 BUDGET, BUT GOING TO GIVE IT TO THEM IN 2019?
>> NO, IT WOULD BE FOR NEXT YEAR'S EVENT.
>> COURAGE: WE'RE ANTICIPATING THEY'LL NEED MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR?
IT'S A COMMITMENT WE'RE MAKING TO OUR SISTER CITIES THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO.
>> COURAGE: BUT IT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THE KIND OF PERCENTAGES WE TALK ABOUT --
>> ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT YOU SEE ON THE BUDGET BOOK, THOSE ARE NOT PART -- ADDITIONAL ARTS FUNDING ALLOCATIONS, THOSE ARE NOT PART OF THE POLICY THAT IS THE FUNDING WHERE THEY HAVE TO APPLY.
>> COURAGE: WHAT PERCENTAGES ARE ES PIR ANZA GUADALUPE REQUIRED TO MEET FOR THEIR FUNDING?
>> SO, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE FUNDING THEM -- LET ME LOOK AT THE POLICY.
THE BASE OPERATIONAL BASED ON THEIR SIZE, SO THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER FALLS WITHIN THE 25% BASED OPERATIONAL CATEGORY, PLUS THE EQUITY FUNDING OF 17.5%.
SO YOU ADD THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
>> COURAGE: SO THEY'RE GETTING OVER 42% OF THEIR FUNDING FROM THE CITY? OR RIGHT AROUND THERE?
AND THIS FUNDING IS BASED ON THEIR THREE-YEAR AVERAGE OF THEIR IRS 990 EXPENDITURES FROM THE YEARS '15, '16, AND '17.
SO THE PAST YEARS ARE SET IN STONE, AND WE WILL LOOK AT THEM WHEN THEY APPLY NEXT TIME BASED ON THE NEW GUIDELINES THAT MIGHT BE TO SEE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AT THAT TIME.
>> COURAGE: HOW IS THE 17% FIGURE DETERMINED TO MAKE THINGS EQUITABLE?
SO IT WAS 15% LAST YEAR THAT WAS PART OF THAT CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FOR THE AGENCIES, AND IT'S 17.5% IN 2020, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO UP TO 20% IN 2021.
THAT'S LIKE OVER 50% OVER THREE YEARS.
>> SO THE AGENCIES THAT ARE AT THE 30% BASED OPERATIONAL, THE SMALL ONES LIKE THE CAHUNTA, AND ESPERANZA IS A LITTLE LARGER THAN THEM, THE CENTRAL (INDISCERNIBLE), THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BASE 30%, AND THE PLAN WAS FOR THEM TO BE UP TO 50% BY THE END OF THIS THREE-YEAR CYCLE.
>> COURAGE: I JUST REMEMBER SO MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATION OF TRYING TO MAKE MOST OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS MORE SELF-SUSTAINING.
IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE BEING MORE DEPENDENT ON THE CITY.
I DON'T REMEMBER THAT BEING REALLY THE LONG-TERM INTENT.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS JUST LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
IT'S JUST THAT THESE TEND TO STICK OUT.
JUST LIKE THE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE FENCING NEEDS, AND THE OTHER KIND OF MAINTENANCE NEEDS AROUND THERE.
>> SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION.
>> THE FENCE IS AT THE GUADALUPE PLAZA AND THAT'S MANAGED IN AUDIO] THAT'S A DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND THAT IS NOT THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.
>> COURAGE: ONE OTHER THING, DO ANY OF THESE GROUPS GET OTHER FUNDING FROM THE CITY OUTSIDE OF THE CULTURAL AGENCY FUNDING?
>> SOME OF THE GROUPS ON THIS LIST COULD APPLY FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
>> COURAGE: DO YOU KNOW IF ANY OF THESE ON THIS LIST DO?
THERE ARE SOME THAT GET FUNDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
[02:45:01]
SERVICES.>> COURAGE: WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ARE THOSE?
>> SO, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M RIGHT WITH MELLY WOOSLEY, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A CONTRACT WITH THE ARTS IN THE SENIOR CENTERS.
THAT'S NOT OPERATIONAL FUNDING, THAT'S FOR PROGRAMMING.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH URBAN 15 FOR DANCE CLASSES THAT ARE DONE IN THE SENIOR CENTERS.
>> COURAGE: I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING THINGS IN THE SENIOR CENTERS AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THAT'S ALL I HAD AS QUESTIONS.
>> ROCHA GARCIA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM PLANS FOR WOLFF STADIUM?
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE -- WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MISSION TO MAINTAIN THE BASEBALL STADIUM.
IN JANUARY, COUNCIL APPROVED SOME RENOVATIONS TO THE STADIUM, WHICH INCLUDED RENOVATING THE HOME AND VISITOR CLUBHOUSES.
WE ALSO WATERPROOFED THE SEATING AND CONCOURSE AREAS TO AVOID WATER PENETRATION INTO THE CLUBHOUSES.
AND THEN WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS TO ADJUST THE LIGHTING LEVELS IN THE STADIUM BEFORE THE AAA SEASON STARTED THIS YEAR.
AND THEN IN THE FUTURE, WE JUST COMPLETED THE FACILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE STADIUM, AS FAR AS HOW IT BASICALLY CONFORMS AND COMPLIES WITH AAA STANDARDS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING THAT, AND THEN IDENTIFYING BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
YOU WERE -- WHERE'S DEBBIE? AH! GREAT.
THE TOTAL FUNDING THERE, I KNOW THE WHEELS AND THE -- WHAT'S INSIDE THE WHEEL AND OUTSIDE THE WHEEL IS GREAT.
THE HOT TAX, 11.25 MILLION, AND GENERAL FUND, AND THE CAPITAL ADMINISTRATION CHARGES.
WHAT IS CAPITAL ADMINISTRATION CHARGES?
>> SO, THIS IS -- CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS THE SAME MODEL THAT TCI USES FOR THEIR CAPITAL PROGRAM STAFF TO OVERSEE THE BOND PROJECTS.
>> MANY OF YOU WEREN'T HERE -- AT ONE TIME THE PUBLIC ART DIVISION WAS A PART OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TCI.
AND THEY MANAGED THOSE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS UNDER THAT UMBRELLA, AND THOSE FUNDS WERE FUNDED BY THE CAPITAL PROJECTS TO PAY FOR THE STAFF TO OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE BOND PROJECTS.
THE FUNDS -- ONCE THE STAFF TRANSFERRED TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, THE FUNDS ALSO TRANSFERRED TO PAY FOR THOSE STAFF.
SO THEY ARE PAID OUT OF THE BOND FUNDS.
SO HOW MUCH -- WHERE IS THE FUNDING, AND HOW MUCH IS IT FOR, WHAT IS IT, THE 1% OR 2% OF OUR BOND PROJECTS?
SO THE POLICY FOR PUBLIC ART IS 1% OF THE ELIGIBLE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WITH THE 2017 BOND WE HAVE $8.3 MILLION IN PUBLIC ART FUNDS.
AND THAT MONEY IS POOLED BY THE PROPOSITION.
SO THERE'S MONEY IN THE STREETS PROPOSITION, IN THE DRAINAGE PROPOSITION, AND IN THE PARKS PROPOSITION, ET CETERA.
AND WHERE IS THAT MONEY SHOWN ON THIS --
>> THAT MONEY IS NOT SHOWN ON THIS WHEEL.
THIS IS JUST OUR OPERATING FUNDS, THAT'S SHOWN IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM HERE.
I'M NOT SEEING THAT MONEY ANYWHERE HERE.
WHERE IS IT IN THIS PRESENTATION, THE $8 MILLION?
>> COUNCILMAN, THAT WAS PART OF THE PRESENTATION THAT RUSS PROVIDED LAST WEEK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
SO THAT IS THE COMPONENT OF THE $720 MILLION CAPITAL BUDGET PROGRAM THAT WE PRESENTED THAT DAY.
BUT WE'LL BE HAPPY TO POINT THAT OUT IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WHERE THAT IS LOCATED AT.
>> PERRY: YEAH, BECAUSE I -- YOU KNOW, IT'S PUBLIC ART THAT THAT MONEY IS FOR.
[02:50:01]
PART OF THE BOND.BUT SOMEHOW WE NEED TO SHOW IT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC ART.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING, TO BE FULLY TRANSPARENT, THERE'S A LOT MORE MONEY GOING INTO ART HERE IN THE CITY THAN WHAT'S SHOWN ON THIS WHEEL.
SO IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT ANNOTATED OR SOMETHING, OR CROSS-REFERENCED BETWEEN THAT PRESENTATION AND THIS PRESENTATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHOW WHAT OUR COMMITMENT TO ART IS.
SO WHAT IS THAT ALL ADDING UP TO FOR -- SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $20 MILLION HERE ALL TOGETHER?
>> NOT EXACTLY, BECAUSE THE $8.3 MILLION IN THE BOND IS THE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S SPREAD OVER FIVE YEARS.
>> WE HAVE PROGRAMMED 4.3 MILLION IN PUBLIC AFRT MONEY FOR FISCAL YEAR MONEY OUT OF THE BOND.
>> PERRY: THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SHOW THAT ON HERE ALSO.
AND THEN YOU HAVE IT PROGRAMMED, YOU KNOW, LET'S SHOW WHAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE.
LET'S GET TO THE CULTURAL AGENCY FUNDING.
>> PERRY: AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, AND OTHERS THAT HAVE POINTED THAT OUT.
I MEAN, YOU ADD THIS UP, BETWEEN THOSE TWO AGENCIES, THAT'S A MILLION BUCKS BETWEEN THOSE TWO AGENCIES.
AND THAT'S A SEVENTH OF THAT TOTAL BUDGET OF $7 MILLION.
AND TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT BECOMING LESS RELIANT ON CITY MONEY, AND HERE WE'RE PUMPING IN AN ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, OVER $150,000 TO THOSE TWO AGENCIES FOR ONE YEAR.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICY SAYS.
AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT POLICY, ABOUT THERE'S MANY OTHER CULTURES IN THIS CITY THAT I FEEL WE'RE NOT GETTING TO WITH THIS INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR THIS.
AND MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT POLICY AND ADD THESE OTHER CULTURES IN THERE AS WELL TO GET THEM COMPETITIVE FOR THIS TYPE OF FUNDING.
I MEAN, I WENT TO THE -- I TRY TO GO EVERY WRER TO THE FOLK LIVE FESTIVAL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AT THAT SINGLE THING.
HAVE WE GONE BOOTH BY BOOTH TO ALL THOSE DIFFERENT CULTURAL AGENCIES SAYING, HEY, WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM, OR DO YOU MEET THE CRITERIA, OR WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TO PROMOTE YOUR CULTURE IN THE CITY? I DON'T KNOW, HAVE WE DONE THAT?
I MEAN, THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER CULTURES OUT THERE THAT BUILT THIS CITY.
AND WE'RE NOT REACHING OUT TO THEM.
NOT ENOUGH IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.
YOU KNOW, I -- WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE THE ART WORK AND CULTURAL FUNDING IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING OUT IN THE CITY.
AND ONE OF OUR FRIENDS TALKED ABOUT THE CRESCENT, YOU KNOW, OF WHERE THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
AND IT'S ALL ON THE EAST, SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.
VERY LITTLE ON THE NORTH SIDE.
ALTHOUGH I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE'RE DOING AT COMANCHE LOOKOUT WITH A PROJECT --
>> PERRY: AND WE FINISHED MCALLISTER PARK, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AGAIN, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT CITYWIDE, AND NOT FOCUS ON JUST SEVERAL AREAS HERE IN THE CITY.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT PROJECT, AND THAT'S GOING WELL.
I JUST ATTENDED THE MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT.
WAS IT LAST NIGHT? ANYWAY, THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROJECT.
BUT YEAH, I'M -- I AGREE WITH THE FUNDING DISTRIBUTION THAT I SEE ON THIS.
I THINK WE'RE FOCUSING IN TOO MUCH IN THAT ONE AREA THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT MONEY NEEDS -- LIKE WAS SAID, MUSICAL BRIDGES, OUR OTHER MUSEUMS, THAT KIND OF THING.
THAT SERVES MORE OF A WIDER DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE CITY.
[02:55:01]
AND THAT WAS A GOOD POINT ALSO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LAWSUITS THAT'S BEEN PUT AGAINST THE CITY.YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL PART OF THE BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU TELL WHETHER THAT'S CITY MONEY NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THOSE.
>> WE ACTUALLY DO REQUIRE THAT THEY SUBMIT INVOICES, WITH BACKUP DOCUMENTATION AND RECEIPTS FOR WHAT THEY SPENT THE CITY DOLLARS ON.
SO WE HAVE ALL THE BACKUP DOCUMENTATION --
>> PERRY: I UNDERSTAND, BUT IF WE'RE FUNDING A PORTION, THEY -- IF WE WEREN'T DOING THAT, THEY WOULDN'T BE AFFORDING THESE OTHER ACTIVITIES, IF YOU WILL.
SO, YES, I'VE GOT THOSE SAME CONCERNS.
YES, DEBBIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PERRY: LET'S TALK ABOUT PATRICIA, YES, PLEASE.
THE PAGE OF YOUR GOALS, ON PAGE 257 OF THE BIG BOOK.
ON ALAMO EVENT DAYS, WE WENT DOWN -- OR AS MUCH AS I CAN TELL, WE HAD 121 DAYS IN '18, WE HAD 120 AS A TARGET FOR '19.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE LOWERING THE TARGET FOR 2020 TO 115? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MAKE IT IN '19? OR WHAT IS OUR TARGET? WHAT WAS THE TARGET FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS?
>> I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
I BELIEVE -- I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
>> BUT IT'S NOT -- WE HAVE AN EVENT MIX THAT WE PUT TOGETHER AND IT'S BASED ON CONTRACTED BUSINESS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
THEN WE SET ASIDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF EVENTS ALSO FOR END-OF-YEAR BUSINESS THAT WE TRY TO ATTAIN.
IF YOU COULD GET BACK TO ME ON THAT, ON WHAT THE TARGET HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
AND THEN ALSO ON THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES AT THE ALAMODOME EVENTS, ACTUAL OVER 1 MILLION IN 2018, WE'RE ESTIMATING OVER A MILLION IN 2019.
BUT WE'RE GOING UNDER A MILLION AS OUR TARGET FOR 2020.
WHY THE DECREASE? AS OUR TARGET.
>> AND AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON THE TYPE OF EVENTS THAT WE ARE PROJECTING TO HAVE, OR HAVE CONTRACTED FOR 2020.
AND BASED ON HISTORICAL, OR THAT TYPE OF EVENT, WE ESTIMATE AN ATTENDANCE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING AT.
IT COULD BE CLOSER TO 1 MILLION OR OVER 1 MILLION ONCE WE ACTUALIZE IT.
>> PERRY: YEAH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING -- YOU KNOW, A GOAL SHOULD BE SOMETHING -- YOU KNOW, I CALL THEM MORE STRETCH GOALS.
NOT THAT OUR HISTORICAL HAS BEEN, AT THIS LEVEL, OUR GOAL SHOULD BE UP HERE.
CARLOS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.
>> COUNCILMAN, THE FOOTBALL TEAM, THEY CONTRACTED FOR A FEW YEARS OUT, SO WE HAD THAT BUILT IN.
AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S FOLDED SO WE'RE TRYING TO REPLACE THAT.
BUT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR FORECAST.
AND THEN TALK TO ME -- THANK YOU, CARLOS.
TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION AT THE ALAMODOME FOR 3.8 MILLION.
DON'T THE ELEVATORS WORK? DON'T THE ESCALATORS WORK?
THEY DO, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY 26 YEARS OLD.
A LOT OF THE PARTS, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PRESENTATION, ARE OBSOLETE.
THEY'RE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS. WHENEVER WE HAVE BIG EVENTS, TO TRY TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE, OR EVEN TO GET THEM IN TO THE FIELD, WE ONLY HAD A SET OF ESCALATORS THAT GO TO THE FIELD.
IF WE HAVE AN EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE FIELD, AND THEY'RE NOT WORKING JUST BECAUSE OF A PART, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE FACILITY MAINTENANCE STUDY THAT WAS JUST COMPLETED RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE REPLACED.
>> PERRY: AND THEN THE RETRACTIBLE SEATING.
YOU SAID THEY'RE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY.
I'VE GOT AN OLD CAR THAT'S AT THE END OF ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY BUT IT STILL WORKS.
>> SO, IT HASN'T WORKED AUTOMATICALLY FOR MANY, MANY
[03:00:01]
YEARS.WHAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DO WHENEVER THEY GET INTO AN ARENA CONFIGURATION, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR UIL BASKETBALL GAMES, THE GIRLS AND BOYS GAMES, THEY'RE HAVING TO PULL THESE RETRACTIBLE SEATING IN ORDER TO GET INTO THAT CONFIGURATION WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT, AND TRIPY TO BASICAL MOVE IT AROUND.
WE DID CONDUCT TWO STUDIES, ONE BY AN ENGINEER, AND ANOTHER ONE BY AN INSPECTOR THAT, AGAIN, BOTH OF THOSE STUDIES ARE RECOMMENDING IT TO BE REPLACED.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE STUDIES, TOO.
>> PERRY: AND THEN IN THE CONVENTION CENTER ITSELF, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ROOF REPLACEMENT.
>> SO, THE ROOF, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1998.
IT WAS COMPRISED, WE HAD MAJOR LEAKS IN THE CONVENTION CENTER IN THAT PORTION, ESPECIALLY EXHIBIT HALL 4, BRIDGE HALL LAST YEAR.
AND SO THE STAFF DID A WONDERFUL JOB APPLYING A SEALANT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST FOR YEARS.
AND AGAIN, THE ENGINEERS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO ARE RECOMMENDING ITS REPLACEMENT.
>> RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT LEAKING.
YES, THEY APPLIED THE SEALANT AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE --
>> PERRY: ISN'T THAT A VINYL ROOF ON IT? IS THAT A VINYL ROOF?
>> YES, MY ARCHITECT IS TELLING ME YES.
AND THERE'S LOTS OF VINYL ROOFS.
THE REASON THAT THEY'RE UP THERE IS BECAUSE THEY DO LAST LONGER THAN A CONVENTIONAL ROOF.
AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S SEALANTS TO REFURBISH AND ACTUALLY SEAL CRACKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ALSO.
YOU SEE THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE, ESPECIALLY ON AIRPORTS AND BIG CONVENTION CENTERS LIKE THIS.
BUT YEAH, BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH SOMEONE.
>> THE ROOF THAT'S ON THERE RIGHT NOW, IT'S WHAT THEY CALL THE TPL TYPE ROOF.
THOSE 15, 20 YEARS, IT'S AN ORIGINAL ROOF, GONE THROUGH EVERYTHING FROM HAIL TO RAIN TO EVEN PATCHING BECAUSE OF FIREWORKS DURING NEW YEAR'S.
>> PERRY: HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
>> YEAH, IT'S REACHED ITS LIFE.
THE HAILSTORM WE HAD LAST MEMORIAL DAY -- LABOR DAY, SORRY, LABOR DAY, IT REALLY DAMAGED THE ROOF.
SO IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
BUT IT'S NOT LEAKING RIGHT NOW?
THE FIX THAT IT'S ON THERE RIGHT NOW, IT'S AN APPLIED MATERIAL, AND WITH THE HEAT WE'RE HAVING NOW WITH THE EXPANSIONS, WE'LL FIND LEAKS HERE AND THERE.
IT'S NOT LEAKING LIKE BEFORE, BUT YEAH, WE'LL FIND THEM.
I THINK THAT'S IT, PATRICIA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PERRY: QUICK QUESTION ON THE AIRPORT HERE, RUSS.
ON PAGE 228, YOU'VE GOT -- YOU'RE SHOWING FIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.
WHAT WERE THOSE POSITIONS FOR?
>> SO, THAT'S OUR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OPERATIONS TEAM.
IT'S ACTUALLY A NEW TEAM, A NEW DIVISION THAT WE WANT TO PUT TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A DEDICATED 24/7 TEAM THAT FOCUSES ON KEEPING CUSTOMERS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY FLOWING FROM GATE TO CURB AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF BENCHMARKING ON OTHER AIRPORTS AND IT IS VERY COMMON IN INDUSTRY PRACTICE, PROBABLY THE ONLY AIRPORT WE FOUND OUR SIZE THAT HAD NOT EVOLVED TO THAT.
A COUPLE OF THINGS IT WILL DO FOR US, WE'VE MAPPED OUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DUTIES AND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THIS TEAM, BUT IT'S EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, MANAGING CURB FLOW AND PASSENGER FLOW INTO THE TERMINAL, WHEN AIRLINES HAVE TICKET CUES THAT ARE OVERFLOWING AND ISSUES GOING ON WITH CANCEL LA ATIONS YOU'VE GOT FOLKS LIKE ME RUNNING DOWNSTAIRS AND PERSONNEL, AND PERSONNEL DRAWN OFF OF THEIR REGULAR DUTIES TO DO CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTIONS.
THAT PUTS A TEAM 24/7 TEAM DEDICATED TO THAT.
>> PERRY: YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING AN AWARD THIS YEAR, AND LAST YEAR, TWO YEARS IN A ROW FOR EXACTLY THAT?
>> FOR AIRPORT SERVICE QUALITY, RIGHT.
SO WHAT'S THE NEXT LEVEL AWARD THAT YOU'RE GOING FOR WITH THESE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE?
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY ALWAYS SCORE HIGHER ON THAT.
[03:05:01]
HONESTLY, THAT AWARD IS ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T DO CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR A LIVING.RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT, ON SOME DAYS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I GET IN THE MORNING, 50% OF THEIR CALLS ARE TO RESPOND TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUE.
I DON'T WANT MY POLICE DOING THAT, I WANT POLICE DOING LAWSUIT.
THEY'RE BEING BROUGHT OFF OF THE CURB OR BROUGHT OF A CHECKPOINT TO HAVE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE KIND OF PICKING UP THE SLACK.
AMBASSADORS ARE VERY GOOD, BUT THEY'RE PART-TIME AND THEY'RE VOLUNTEER.
WHAT WE WANT IS A TEAM THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER THAT ARE TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO DO THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, TRAIN THEM IN SIGN LANGUAGE SO THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH FOLKS THAT HAVING HEARING IMPAIRMENTS, SO YOU'LL NOW ALWAYS HAVE A 24/7 TEAM THAT CAN COMMUNICATE WITH ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY CHALLENGES.
AND SO IT IS ABOUT AIRPORT SERVICE QUALITY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS WILL EVEN RAISE THAT BAR EVEN HIGHER, AND RAISE THAT SCORE EVEN HIGHER.
BUT THIS IS ABOUT PROVIDING THAT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE --
>> PERRY: YOU MADE A LITTLE BIT OF A COMMENT ABOUT, I THINK EVERYBODY THAT'S -- NO MATTER WHAT POSITION THEY HAVE OVER THERE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND QUALITY.
POLICE, THE PEOPLE PICKING UP TRASH, THE AMBASSADORS, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON IN ON THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK A SPECIFIC SECTION -- YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST GOT A PROBLEM WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE COMING IN AND LABEL THEM -- LABELING THEM AS ENHANCING OUR CUSTOMER CARE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE THERE.
I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU SOME MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> PERRY: I'VE GOT AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY SHOULD BE -- EVERYBODY IN THAT AIRPORT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND QUALITY.
AND THE AMBASSADORS, THEY DO A GREAT JOB THERE, AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT -- YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY YOU HAD.
>> PERRY: YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME.
IN FACT, I'VE GONE THERE WHEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ON DUTY, AND I'VE SAT IN THAT KIOSK COMING DOWN BY TERMINAL 1 THERE, OR A, AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
I WOULD SUGGEST ALL OF THE COUNCIL FOLKS TO GO THERE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CITY.
I ACTUALLY -- I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.
AND PEOPLE CAME UP ASKING ME QUESTIONS.
I WOULD DIRECT THEM THIS WAY -- THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT TO ANYBODY, SITTING THERE ON THE COUNCIL.
BUT YEAH, JUST LOOKING AT YOUR PAGE 228 AGAIN, THE BUDGET IS GOING UP FROM 107 MILLION TO 111 MILLION.
SO WHAT IS THAT ADDITIONAL COST GOING TO?
>> SO, IT'S BOTH COST AND REVENUE.
THE REVENUE THAT COVERS THAT IS -- WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE SEE INCREASED PARKING AND RENTAL CAR REVENUE, AND INCREASE IN MORE AERONAUTICAL REVENUE, MORE AIRLINE REVENUE IN PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAPITAL, O&M AND CAPITAL SPENDING.
WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO AGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE THAT OPERATES EFFICIENTLY.
BUT THE BULK OF WHAT YOU SEE NEW ARE THE NEW PROJECTS WE'RE BRINGING ONLINE TO HANDLE INCREASED CAPACITY.
TSA CHECKPOINT EXPANSION, THE GATE EXPANSION IN BOTH TERMINAL A AND TERMINAL B, WE'RE FINISHING UP OUR CUSTOMS AND FIS SPENDING, THAT'S IN THERE.
THE BACK HALF OF THE MASTER PLAN IS ALSO IN THERE.
THOSE ARE THE LARGER FIGURES IN THAT.
IT'S NOT REALLY -- I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION WAS BEING IDENTIFIED.
IF I COULD GET, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIFICS ON THAT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NOW, RUSS --
I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ALSO ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE AIRPORT.
MY COMMUNITIES, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THE ONES THAT GET IMPACTED JUST AS MUCH AS COUNCIL DISTRICT 9, RIGHT IN THE FLIGHT PATH, THEY'RE STARTING TO HEAR ABOUT ADDITIONAL RUNWAYS, ADDITIONAL THIS, ADDITIONAL THAT FOR THE AIRPORT.
YOU KNOW, THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN, YOU KNOW, HAD SOME GENERALITIES, BUBBLE DIAGRAMS ABOUT WHAT COULD OR COULD NOT -- OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
I WOULD REALLY SUGGEST THAT SOMEONE GET OUT AND SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IMPACTED, GET OUT AND SHOW THEM THAT PLAN RIGHT NOW, AND GET THEIR INPUT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU CAME TO A DISTRICT 10 MEETING HERE A WHILE BACK AND DID THAT.
BUT NOT EVERYBODY ATTENDS THOSE MEETINGS.
SPECIFICALLY THESE NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT IN THE FLIGHT PATHS,
[03:10:01]
THAT'S WHO WE NEED TO GET OUT TO AND GET THEIR INPUT NOW BEFORE WE GO AND SHOW THAT NEXT STEP, WHAT THE PROPOSALS ARE GOING TO BE.AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND THE LATE-HOUR FLIGHTS, EARLY-MORNING FLIGHTS, THOSE ARE CONCERNS AS WELL.
SO WE NEED TO START -- WE NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION DOWN TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OUT THERE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'LL THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM AS WELL AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S TEAM.
WE SAW THAT AS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY IN PHASE 1, LEVERAGING SOME OF THOSE EVENTS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, IN ADDITION TO JUST TAKING SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.
CASSANDRA, I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU OFF THE HOOK HERE.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT VISIT ACROSS THE DISTRICTS.
I HOPE YOUR TEAM ENJOYED IT AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING DO NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CAVE SYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO.
>> PERRY: THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND EXPLORE THE CAVES.
AND IT'S THE ROBERT BEARING CAVE FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S IN DISTRICT 10.
SO COME ON UP TO DISTRICT 10 AND GO CRAWLING AROUND THIS CAVE THAT HAS A COUPLE OF MILES OF CAVES TO CRAWL AROUND IN.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CATCH ME DOWN THERE, BUT IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT CERTAIN POINTS IN THE YEAR, AND EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOMELESSNESS, AND WE WENT ROUND AND ROUND ABOUT IT AT ONE POINT WHEN THE TPID WAS BEING DEVELOPED.
I KNOW THERE WERE COMMENTS THAT YOU ALL WERE GOING TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE, OR TRY TO HELP WHERE YOU CAN.
BUT LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT THAT TPID WAS INITIALLY SET UP FOR, AND LET'S NOT LOSE THAT SIGHT AND THAT FOCUS ON WHAT THIS MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO DO FOR SAN ANTONIO.
YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT TO GET SIDE TRACKED WITH OTHER ISSUES.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT, BUT THERE'S OTHER FUNDING STREAMS AND THERE'S ALREADY A PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE TO HELP WITH THAT.
THROUGH HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND THAT KIND OF THING, ON RAISING REVENUE FOR THOSE.
I'M VERY -- I'VE TALKED TO OWNERS OF HOTELS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SO I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT TO UPSET THAT BALANCE, AND WHAT THEY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR ORIGINALLY FOR THIS THING.
SO I WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO CREATE ISSUES WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF WHAT THIS TPID WAS PUT TOGETHER.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE IS A TASK FORCE.
THE DOLLARS WOULD NOT COME FROM TPID.
THERE ARE SOME NON-TAX REVENUES, THAT VISIT SAN ANTONIO RECEIVES, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MEMBERSHIP OR OTHER ENTITIES.
THE TASK FORCE WILL HAVE TO LOOK, WOULD IT IMPACT OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A PROCESS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> PERRY: I CERTAINLY HOPE IT DOESN'T IMPACT IT.
>> PERRY: THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
YOU KNOW, I LIVE AT THE EDGE OF RUNWAY 4.
AND THEY TALK A LOT ABOUT THE NOISE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE SOMETIMES VERY, VERY EARLY, 4:00 IN THE MORNING, THAT THERE ARE SOME -- SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S SOME CARGO AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF OUT OF INTERNATIONAL, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY KIND OF TALKING ABOUT.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE THERE'S -- WITH THE NEW AIRCRAFT, THERE ARE ENGINES THAT ARE MUCH QUIETER, BUT ON TAKEOFF, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PROPOSITION, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE AT FULL THROTTLE.
W WELL, MAYBE NOT FULL THROTTLE, BUT CLOSE.
AND ON LANDING, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE LANDING, THE NOISE IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.
AND SO I GUESS, TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, ARE WE LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS? I CAN TELL YOU MORE OFTEN THAN
[03:15:01]
NOT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE TAKEOFFS ARE OCCURRING OVER DISTRICT 1.AND IN THOSE CASES, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THAT IT CAN BE VERY, VERY NOISY AT ODD HOURS.
LET ME JUST SAY, I LOVE AIRPLANE NOISE, BUT I'M THE EXCEPTION.
AND I WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE TO MY COMMUNITY IF I DID NOT MENTION HOW MUCH THEY REALLY WANT US TO DO SOMETHING.
I THEY WE NEED TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE HOURS OF OPERATION, OR TYPES OF AIRCRAFT THAT ARE TAKING OFF AT THOSE HOURS.
I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CESSNA 182 TAKING OFF AND A VERY SERIOUS DC-10, OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOT SOME REALLY BIG ENGINES.
>> AS WE DEVELOP THE NEXT VERSION OF THE NOISE EXPOSURE MAP, THAT WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
THEY WILL MODEL REALISTIC TRAFFIC FLOWS, AND FORESEEING AN UPTICK IN TIME OF DAY, AND ALSO THE RUNWAY, AN UPTICK IN RUNWAY 4 WITH EXISTING CONDITIONS, WHETHER OR NOT RUNWAY 4 WILL BE THERE IN 20 YEARS, THE JURY'S STILL OUT.
THAT WILL BE PART OF THAT MAP.
ALTHOUGH I AGREE WITH YOU, AND THE DATA WOULD SHOW CARGO DOES TEND TO TAKE OFF PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING.
OUR PAEM SERVICE IS EXPANDING THEIR SERVICE EARLIER AS WELL.
THE LATEST LANDINGS WE HAVE ARE TYPICALLY PASSENGER, NOT CARGO.
AND SO ALL OF THAT WILL BE MODELED.
BECAUSE OUR TRAFFIC LOAD IS INCREASING.
>> TREVINO: AS I MENTIONED, LANDINGS ARE NOT USUALLY AS LOUD AS TAKEOFFS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO SHOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AND WHAT THAT DECIBEL READING REALLY IS IN TERMS OF WHAT NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY TAKEOFFS VERSUS LANDINGS.
>> THE MODELS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NOISE MAPS, THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE TAKEOFF NOISE.
AND THEY MODEL HOW MUCH THAT RUNWAY IS USED, AND HOW MANY OPERATIONS WE HAVE ON A TAKEOFF.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT CONTOUR IS STRUCTURED AROUND.
>> TREVINO: WELL, YOU KNOW, SO I -- COUNT ME IN ON MAKING SURE THAT WE EXPAND THAT CONVERSATION OUT TO DISTRICT 1 AS WELL.
I KNOW MY PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN IS VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
AND AGAIN, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THEY'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, SOME OF THESE FLIGHTS ARE 3:00, 4:00 IN THE MORNING, THEY'RE VERY LOUD.
AND I THINK WE CAN TRY TO BE MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT HOURS OF OPERATION, OR AT LEAST THE TYPES OF AIRCRAFT THAT ARE UTILIZING THOSE HOURS.
BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING AT THE AIRPORTS, FOR AIRPORT SYSTEMS AND ALL YOUR AWARDS AND THANK YOU FOR KNOWING THAT THERE IS NO FINISH LINE.
>> TREVINO: IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NEVER SATISFIED.
THANK YOU TO ALL YOUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT WORKS HARD AT OUR AIRPORTS.
IT'S OUR FRONT DOOR FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT THE CITY.
THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STINSON.
GENERAL AVIATION, WE SPENT A LOT TALKING ABOUT CARGO, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PASSENGER AIRCRAFT, BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE STILL ARE JUST MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY WITH GENERAL AVIATION, WHICH IS MUCH BIGGER THAN BOTH OF THOSE, AND GOING IN AND OUT OF STINSON, THERE JUST ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF GENERAL AVIATION TRAFFIC.
I'VE ASKED IN THE PAST TO KIND OF ANALYZE, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE A CITY-OWNED FUEL PUMP THAT CAN HELP BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE AREA, OR THE REGION IN TERMS OF FUEL COSTS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE THING THAT DRIVES GENERAL AVIATION PILOTS TO AIRPORTS.
IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO, AM I GOING TO SPEND AN EXTRA 100, $200 TO BUY GAS AT THIS PARTICULAR AIRPORT, WHEN I CAN FLY THE SAME DISTANCE AND SAVE THAT MONEY AND GET IT ELSEWHERE.
AND SO I JUST -- I'VE NEVER GOTTEN A GOOD EXPLANATION WHY CASTROVILLE OR HONDO ARE USUALLY $1, $1.50 PER GALLON LESS THAN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT STINSON.
AND YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE TIMES THAT I'VE TRAVELED TO THOSE AIRPORTS, THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE GENERAL AVIATION TRAFFIC HITTING THOSE THAN AT STINSON.
I GUESS I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE LOOK AT THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE FUEL PUMPS ARE USUALLY NO-MAN'S LAND AT STINSON, WHERE IT'S VERY DIFFERENT IN A PLACE LIKE ATLANTA.
I'VE TAKEN CARLOS TO SEE THIS VERY THING.
YOU GO TO LANO, TEXAS, A SMALL, SMALL CITY, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
[03:20:01]
CLOSER LOOK.YOU KNOW, ALSO, THINGS LIKE -- ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN DISTRICT 3, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE PEOPLE FLY IN TO STINSON AND HAVE A COURTESY CAR AVAILABLE TO THEM IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STILL HAVEN'T REALLY PROVIDED.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN I GO ELSEWHERE, LIKE THIS SUMMER THEY CALLED THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD, AND THERE WAS 10,000 AIRCRAFT COMING INTO THIS ONE GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT.
AND YOU TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, YOU TELL THEM COME VISIT, AND THE FIRST THING THEY ASK IS, WELL, WHERE SHOULD I GO, WHICH AIRPORT? I ALWAYS MENTION STINSON.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD BE PROMOTING OUR CITY.
AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING VSA SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, HELPING TO PROMOTE GENERAL AVIATION.
COUNTRY JUST TO VISIT GREAT PARTS.
IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
SO RUSS, JUST THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW IF YOU CAN, OR YOUR STAFF CAN PROVIDE SOME MORE INFORMATION, OR STRATEGIES FOR US TO TRY THIS OUT.
MAYBE IT'S A WAY -- NO PUN INTENDED -- BUT TRY TO GET THAT FOR STINSON AIRPORTS.
GREAT GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT.
SPEAKING OF FLYING, THIS LAST WEEKEND I ACTUALLY FLEW FROM STINSON ACROSS TOWN, A FRIEND OF MINE WAS WITH ME, WE WERE LIKE, WOW, LOOK AT DOWNTOWN.
TOOK A BUNCH OF PICTURES OF DOWNTOWN FROM THE AIR.
WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT IS THE CONVENTION CENTER ROOF.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE CONVENTION CENTER ROOF, IT'S ALREADY WHITE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.
IT'S ALREADY A HIGHLY REFLECTIVE ROOF.
BUT I THINK THAT THE ORIGINAL ASK, WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS UP, WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT WE NEED TO -- RUSS, THANK YOU.
WHEN WE BROUGHT UP THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROOF BEING REPLACED, AND, YOU KNOW, I WON'T -- THERE'S NO DEBATE FROM ME ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED TO REPLACE THAT ROOF OR NOT.
I RESPECT YOUR EXPERTS OVER THERE TELLING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I THINK THE REQUEST WAS SIMPLY THAT WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE ROOF, IN FACT, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE ROOF AREA, IF YOU TAKE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND THE EXPERTS ARE BACK THERE, I'LL BET IT'S TWICE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AS THE ALAMODOME.
IT'S A LARGE -- I MEAN, IT JUST STANDS OUT, RIGHT? THAT ROOF STANDS OUT MORE THAN THE ALAMODOME.
AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THE REQUEST WAS, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT HOW THAT APPEARS IN OUR LANDSCAPE.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT DOWNTOWN, YOU SEE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS GOING UP.
WE'VE GOT THE FROST TOWER, THE LIFE BUILDING, THINGS HAPPENING ALL OVER DOWNTOWN.
BUT FROM THE AIR, THE CONVENTION CENTER'S ONE BIG WHITE SPOT.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY -- THIS IS WHERE I WILL PITCH THIS TO CASSANDRA, WE KNOW WE HAVE ISSUES OF PUTTING UP SIGNAGE AND THINGS LIKE THIS ON BUILDINGS, BUT DO WE HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON ROOFS? AND DOES THIS NOT PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE A REVENUE GENERATOR, WHETHER IT -- WE KNOW THAT TO PUT SOLAR PANELS MIGHT BE A STRUCTURAL ISSUE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, BUT THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE COULD DO WITH THAT ROOF THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP US SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IN OUR BUILDINGS AND REPRESENT THE CITY IN AN AMAZING WAY? IF YOU'RE AT THE TOWER OF THE AMERICAS AND LOOK ACROSS DOWNTOWN, YOU CANNOT MISS THAT ROOF.
SO I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN GET TOGETHER, PUT YOUR HEADS TOGETHER ON SOMETHING THAT CAN PROVIDE, AS WE'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING THIS ROOF, MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT AN EXTRA COST.
MAYBE IT'S A REVENUE GENERATOR.
MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE OUR DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE -- I THINK IT WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLE TIME TO STUDY THAT.
>> WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT ALL OF THE OPTIONS, COUNCILMAN.
THAT WAS REALLY AT THE HEART OF THAT.
DEBBIE, AS FAR AS ARTS AND CULTURE, I WANT TO SAY, MOSTLY A
[03:25:02]
COMMENT, THANK YOU.I WORKED WITH YOU TOO CLOSELY TO -- I MEAN, IN FACT, WE WERE JUST AT (INDISCERNIBLE) THIS MORNING TO ANNOUNCENC THE SA CELEBRATION.
AND SEN TRA IS THE GREAT WORK THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES.
KUDOS TO YOU AND ALL THE GREAT FOLKS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, SPEAKING OF AWARDS, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
IT'S FULFILLING ITS MISSION, TO BE AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
AND I JUST -- I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I TRULY APPRECIATE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, DEBBIE, IS YOU'RE CREATING PLANS, YOU'RE WORKING WITH EXPERTS TO FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE, AND FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY TRULY IMPACT THE CITY WITH ARTS AND CULTURE AND REALLY BRING PUBLIC ART TO ALL CORNERS OF THE CITY, WHERE IT HASN'T EXISTED BEFORE.
AND DO IT IN A CREATIVE AND DYNAMIC WAY.
BUT I -- I DO HAVE TO COMMENT, HOWEVER, ABOUT THE COMMENTS ABOUT ESPERANZA, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS KIND OF SCRUTINY ON IT.
I THINK BY FUNDING ESPERANZA, WE ENABLE THEM TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY PERFORMED, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED THAT THEY FILED SUIT AGAINST THE CITY.
I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF US WAS, AND WE SHOULDN'T BE.
THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN, AND SOMETIMES THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE ACTIONS OF THE CITY.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD STICK TO OUR PROCESS.
WE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
AND IF THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT PROCESS, THEN, YEAH, LET'S HAVE THAT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED ON THIS.
I RESPECT THE COUNCILMAN'S POINT ON THIS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION IN THE SPRING, OR WHENEVER THIS COMES UP AGAIN IN TERMS OF OUR POLICY AND PROCESS.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION, VSA, FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK.
I THINK WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, AS I WAS HEARING THE PRESENTATIONS, ALL I COULD THINK IS, BOY, THERE'S A LOT OF COHESIVENESS THAT IS REALLY BENEFITING THE CITY AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE HAVE A HEARING THAT IS SLATED FOR 6:00 FIRST, BUT WE HAVE A VERY BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
BUT BEFORE WE GO INTO THAT, I DID WANT TO SAY, I AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO, ON THE DISCUSSION THAT WE BROUGHT UP ON ESPERANZA.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT FOR US TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE PROCESS, BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE PARTICULAR ACTIONS, OR MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE OR WE DISAGREE WITH A LEGAL POSITION THAT A COMMUNITY GROUP HAS TAKEN IN OPPOSITION TO THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH IN ANOTHER PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, THEY HAVE A SUPPORTED COMMUNITY, SUPPORTED ARTS AND CULTURE FUNCTION.
SO I DO WANT TO CONSIDER THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
[Executive Session ]
BUT I THOUGHT YOUR COMMENTS WERE VERY WELL STATED.SO AT THIS POINT WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO GO INTO.
IT WILL BE VERY BRIEF BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A HEARING.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO STAYED FOR FOUR HOURS AND GAVE US GREAT PRESENTATIONS.
THE TIME IS NOW 5:50 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28TH, 2019.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071) AND DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087 (ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT), THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072 (REAL PROPERTY), LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THE TIME IS 6:15PM, CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[2. 19-6390 Public Hearings on the City's 2019 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for the FY 2020 Proposed Budget. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management & Budget]]
OKAY.AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO CONVENE THE FIRST OF OUR TWO COMBINED TAX RATE AND PUBLIC BUDGET HEARINGS.
[03:30:03]
AUGUST 28TH, 2019.I'LL ASK OUR CLERK NOW TO READ THE CAPTION FOR THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> CLERK: PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THAT CITY'S 2019 AD VO LAIR REM TAX RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> VILLAGOMEZ: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TODAY IS OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
JUST A QUICK RECAP OF OUR CITY BUDGET.
THE BUDGET WAS PROPOSED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST THE EIGHTH AS A $2.9 BILLION BUDGET COMPRISED OF A RESTRICTED FUNDS AT 937 MILLION, OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM AT 715 MILLION AND OUR GENERAL FUND, THE LARGEST OPERATING FUND OF THE CITY, OF 1.27 BILLION.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET ADDRESSES COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES INCLUDING STRONG FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, POLICE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE A CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE.
THE RATE TODAY IS 55.87 CENTS PER $100 IN VALUE.
THE PROPOSED 2020 TAX RATE REMAINS THE SAME AT 55.827 THE PROPERTY TAX VALUATION CHANGED FOR CURRENT FISCAL ON THIS GRAPHIC, THERE'S A HISTORICAL VALUATION TABLE FROM 2009 TO THE CURRENTÚPROPOS.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 THE TOTAL GROWTH IN OUR BASE VALUE IS 4%, NEW CONSTRUCTION COMING INTO THE ROLL IS 1.6% FOR A TOTAL OF 5.6.
NEXT YEAR, THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION PASSED BY THE STATE WILL DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT THE CITY COULD COLLECT FROM THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX CAP OF 8% TO 3.5%.
THE BUDGET IS FINANCIALLY STRONG TO ADDRESS THIS IN FISCAL YEAR 2021.
JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY TAX BILL, FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT OUR COMMUNITY PAYS ON PROPERTY TAXES, THE CITY RECEIVES 20 CENTS OR 20% OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 BUDGET INCLUDES CLOSE TO $61 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, AND THIS INCLUDES THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN JUNE OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, THAT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON OCTOBER 1 OF 2019.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR SENIOR AND DISABLED EXEMPTION AND ALSO FROZEN CITY TAX PAYMENTS.
SO FINALLY, AS WE ARE REVIEWING THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE SEVERAL WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE HAVE PRESENTED THE BUDGET IN DETAIL.
THOSE SESSIONS WILL CONCLUDE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS SET TO APPROVE THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER THE 12TH.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MARIA.
THE FIRST OF THE TWO COMBINED FY 2020 BUDGET AND 2019 TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS IS HEREBY OPENED.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS MAY DO SO; HOWEVER COMMENT MUST BE LIMITED TO THE MATTERS ABOUT THE BUDGET OR THE TAX RATE.
IF THE SPEAKER STARTS DISCUSSING ANY OTHER SUBJECT OR TOPIC, THEY WILL BE INTERRUPTED AND ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS HEARING, SO I'LL CALL SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP.
I'LL CALL THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE, IF YOU WANT TO PREPARE TO COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
WE'LL START WITH VICTORIA GARCIA.
>> MRS. GARCIA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY DOMINIQUE DE LA CRUZ.
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND ESTEEMED COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS VICTORIA GARCIA AND I'M WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
I'M A CONTRACT OFFICER, AND ALSO I'M A VERY PROUD MEMBER OF ASK ME LOCAL 2021.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO ELEVATE OUR CITY, OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE MOHERAS WHO ATTENDED THE MEETING LAST NIGHT ON THE WOMEN OF SAN ANTONIO.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS NOT FULLY ADDRESSED LAST NIGHT WAS THE LACK OF ECONOMIC EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN EASTERNINGS.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE A LEADER.
THAT CERTAINLY IS IN LINE WITH CREATING THE CITY THAT WE DESERVE.
THE PROPOSED FY 2020 BUDGET DOES NOT REFLECT THE COMMITMENT TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
[03:35:01]
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SALARIED MEMBERS OF OUR UNION, MANY OF WHOM WOULD BE LEFT BEHIND IF THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS PASSED.IF WE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PROPOSAL, THE COST OF RENT, GROCERIES, CHILDCARE, ET CETERA, WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE WHILE OUR SALARY REMAINS FLAT.
WHILE THE CITY HAS ELEVATED A NUMBER OF WOMEN TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO.
I FOR ONE HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR 15 YEARS AND I CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT LOSING MY -- I'M SORRY, MY CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTIONS.
THAT'S WHY I'M STILL IN THE SAME POSITION I'VE BEEN IN FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.
AND I'M STILL BEING PLACED IN THE SAME ITEM -- LINE ITEM AS A DIRECTOR OR A MANAGER, AND I'M NEITHER OF THOSE.
PUT SIMPLY, WE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE OF OUR JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.
THAT -- THIS IS ALL ABOUT EQUITY.
OUR UNION DELIVERED A LETTER TO ALL OF YOUR OFFICES.
THIS LETTER OUTLINES OUR PROPOSALS THAT INCLUDE COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT WERE LINED OUT BY THE CITY MANAGER.
AND WE SHOW YOU WHERE YOU CAN FIND THAT MONEY, EITHER IN THE AMPLE REVENUE RESERVES OR BY CUTTING DOWN ON THE USE OF CONTRACTED SERVICES.
I HOPE THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT SERIOUSLY AND REALLY CONSIDER OUR REQUEST, BECAUSE WHEN WE DID MEET WITH YOU, YOU DID SAY TO US THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO GET A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST A CERTAIN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
SO WE APPRECIATE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR NIRENBERG FOR FIGHTING FOR THE WORKFORCE OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE ASK FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR SUPPORT AND TEAMWORK IN ENSURING THAT NONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO KEEP THE CITY RUNNING ARE LEFT BEHIND.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. GARCIA.
DOMINIQUE DE LA CRUZ FOLLOWED BY JOHN BACHMAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS DOMINIQUE DE LA CRUZ.
YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME, MY TYPICAL AUDIENCE ARE FOUR-YEAR-OLDS, SO...
[LAUGHTER] GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR NIRENBERG.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS DOMINIQUE DE LA CRUZ, I'M AN ASSISTANT TEACHER AT PRE-K FOR SA AND A PROUD MEMBER OF ASK ME SAN ANTONIO LOCAL 2021.
I'M HERE FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON.
A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT THAT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY A SCHEDULED STEP INCREASE IS NOT A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AT ALL.
IN FACT, NEARLY 1,000 SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES ARE SET TO EARN LESS UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL THAN ALL IF ALL THINGS JUST REMAIN THE SAME.
WE APPRECIATE MANAGERRUALCHS DESIRE TO REFORM THE STEP PAY PLAN, TO MAKE THINGS FAIR FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES, BUT THERE IS NO REASON TO COMPLETELY SUSPEND ALL STEP INCREASES DURING THE PROCESS.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RUNNING ARE NOT PAWNS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THEY DESERVE TO BE FAIRLY COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY DO.
AS MRS. GARCIA PREVIOUSLY STATED, YOUR OFFICES HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER OUTLINING THE PROPOSAL AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW FAIR COMPENSATION CAN BE INCLUDED TO THE BUDGET.
THANKFULLY THE CITY IS IN SUCH A HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITION THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO ISSUES FUNDING LESS THAN $4.3 MILLION IN PAST REVENUES AND RESERVES.
AGAIN, WE THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CONTINUED SOLIDARITY WITH THE WORKERS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. DE LA CRUZ.
JOHN BACHMAN? FOLLOWED BY LIZ FRANKLIN.
MRS. FRANKLIN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY SARAH MOMADALLI.
>> I DON'T SEE THE CLOCK, THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.
LIZ FRANKLIN, DISTRICT 2, DIG NEW WHICHTY HILL.
TAXES, I WAS VERY LIMITED WHEN I WENT ONLINE FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
IT WAS FOR OR AGAINST THE TAX, AND I REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A SUBSTATION IN DISTRICT 3.
BUT THAT IS PART OF THE TAXES.
SO TAXES, I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY LAST NIGHT OVER IN DISTRICT 2 WITH THE COUNCILWOMAN TO GET THE PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB TRYING TO MAKE A LITTLE GO A LONG WAY IN A LOT OF THINGS.
[03:40:02]
ONE THING: YOU FOUND MONEY FOR [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I LIKE THAT.I NOW ACCEPTED A POSITION ON THE BOARD.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT ME, BUT IF I'M GOING TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND GET DIRTY, I NEED EVERY PENNY YOU CAN GIVE ME.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN STEALING DISTRICT 2'S IDEA FOR A SUBSTATION, AND I LOVE IT.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, I'M MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT OF IT, BUT I WATCHED A COUPLE OF YOU GUYS, COUNCILMAN PERRY, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, AS A MATTER OF FACT ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT PEAKED MY INTEREST IN A HUGE WAY THIS YEAR WAS THE POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
IF DISTRICT 2 COULDN'T HAVE A SUBSTATION TO ALLOW OUR RESOURCES TO GO FURTHER IN A SMALLER AREA, OUR SISTER DISTRICT, WHO SITS RIGHT NEXT DOOR, THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO I REALLY SUPPORT THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY AND SUPPORT -- AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE, YOU KNOW, THE AIR FORCE TWINS OVER THERE, PUSHING FORWARD FOR A LITTLE EXTRA, BECAUSE I DO THINK WE GOT A LITTLE EXTRA WITH THE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, WHEN YOU BROUGHT THAT TO THE CHIEF.
HE WENT AND HE WENT BACK AND HE LOOKED AT IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
SO I REALLY, REALLY AM IN SUPPORT OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I CAME OUT BECAUSE SOME OF YOU ARE -- DISTRICT 3 MAKING SOME MOVES, TOO, THEY ASKED ME IF I WOULD COME OUT.
SO WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
WE WANT ALL OF THEM OVER AT THE EAST SIDE SUBSTATION.
ALL OF THOSE POLICE RESOURCES, WE DO.
THAT WAY WHEN SHE GETS -- WHEN COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN GETS HER ITSY BITSY SUBSTATION, ONLY FOUR OF THEM WILL GO AND WE'LL STILL HAVE SIX OF THEM OVER THERE.
AND THEN FINAL, YOU NEED THE CLOCK UP HERE.
I MIGHT HAVE TALKED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
DIG THAT JAZZ COMES UP NEXT MONTH, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IS INVITED, BRING YOUR VETERANS, I'M GOING TO -- THERE YOU GO.
I'M GOING TO SEND OUT THE SAVE THE DATE CARDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MRS. FRANKLIN.
SARAH MOMADALLY FOLLOWED BY TONY HARGROVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MY NAME IS SARAH WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 9 IN THE STONE MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF OUR NEARLY 3,000 MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE PROCESS POD FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS, CYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROJECTS.
INCLUDING NEW FUNDING AND FTES FOR THE CITYWIDE RESIDENTIAL SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM AND MICROMOBILITY STAFF ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS.
STUDIES SHOW THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS GENERALLY GET MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EACH WEEK AND HAVE LOWER RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES AND CERTAIN CANCERS THAN THOSE WHO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE LESS WALKABLE.
WALKING YOUR DOG, RIDING YOUR BIKE OR TAKING YOUR BABY OUT FOR A STROLL IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULDN'T BE DANGEROUS OR BURDENSOME IN ANY WAY.
UNFORTUNATELY, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TOO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES, HAVE LACKED WELL-MAINTAINED ROUTES, PARKS AND SCHOOLS, ROADS, BIKE LANES AND SIDEWALKS FOR DECADES.
THESE ARE ROAD BLOCKS I HEAR OFTEN WHEN SPEAKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT INCORPORATING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE.
WE APPLAUD THE LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT OF YOU AND THE CITY'S STAFF TO MAKE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES A PRIORITY IN 2019 AND CONTINUING THAT COMMITMENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2020.
THESE INVESTMENTS WILL NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEED, THEY WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO GET ACTIVE AND SAFELY MOVE AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AT A TIME WHEN 75% OF TEENS DO NOT GET ENOUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, WALKING AND BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SAN ANTONIO IS SOMETHING WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
TONY HARGROVE? FOLLOWED BY FIDEL MIMAREZ.
>> CITY MANAGER WALLSH, COUNCILMEMBERS, MAYOR NIRENBERG.
I'M CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER.
I'M HERE PRIMARILY TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF THE PSED BUDGET ITEMS INVOLVING OUR AGENCY, ELAUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE $500,000 FOR REPAIR AND RENOVATION OF OUR FACILITY, AS
[03:45:03]
WELL AS THE $45,000 FISCAL YEAR '20 FUNDING OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM.I'M STARTING EARLY, I KNOW IT'S EARLY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT I JUST WANT TO GET ON THE MARK AND ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL.
EL AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER'S AT 1023 NORTH PINE.
THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT IN '26.
BUT IT IS STILL A STRONG FACILITY.
I AM WORKING WITH CITY STAFF TO SUBMIT A PRIORITIZED LIST OF MAJOR THINGS THAT NEED TO OCCUR, AND WE'LL GET THAT DONE BEFORE THE PROPOSAL OF THE BOARD -- OF THE PROPOSAL OF THE BUDGET COMING BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO SAY TWO THINGS: ONE, WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN SUPPORT OF OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM.
FOR THAT REASON AND OTHERS, WE HAVE REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE ITEMS THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADHERE TO.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT BY THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH.
I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAM AND THE ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE IN THE YOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE SUPPORT ALL FAMILIES ON THE EAST SIDE AND THE DIGNOWITY HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER WALSH, THE DHS STAFF, COUNCILWOMAN ANDREWS-SULLIVAN FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I'LL CONTINUE AND COME BACK AND CONTINUE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PASSAGE OF THIS BUDGET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. HARGROVE.
THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
THE SECOND OF THE TWO COMBINED BUDGET AND TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2019, BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M.
IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 105 MAIN PLAZA.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2019 AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2019 WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M.
AND WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER 105 MAIN PLAZA.
HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE, THE FIRST OF THE TWO COMBINED FY 2020 BUDGET AND TAX RATE HEARINGS IS HEREBY CLOSED.
AND T
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.