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GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD AFTERNOON, IF MY COLLEAGUES CAN PLEASE MAKE THEIR WAY TO THEIR SEATS EXPEDITIOUSLY, THE TIME IS NOW 2:10 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29TH, 2026, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO B SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: PRESENT. >> CLERK: MAYOR PRO TEM, WE HAVE QUORUM.
[ BRIEFING ONLY ]
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THE FIRST IS THE HUMAN HOMELESS SERVICES AND STRATEGY CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS.
ER AREIC, DO YOU WANT TO GET US STARTED. >> WALSH: YES, SIR, THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE FIRST BRIEFING IS A POSTSOLICITATION BRIEFING ON OUR DELEGATE AGENCY PROCESS.
IF YOU'LL RECALL, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION AS PART OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND A PRESOLICITATION WITH THE COUNCIL.
IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AGENCIES ARE FUNDED FOR ONLY PARTIAL -- PART OF THE YEAR, SO THE RFP SOLICITATION YOU'LL GET AN UPDATE ON TODAY, IT WILL EVENTUALLY RECOMMEND FUNDING FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR, FROM JUNE 1 TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. FISCAL YEAR '27, PENDING COUNCIL ALLOCATION OF FUNDS THROUGH THE '27 BUDGET, AND THEN AN EXTENSION PERIOD AFTERWARDS. THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WAS ISSUED ON DECEMBER 1ST AND CLOSED AT THE END OF JANUARY.
MEL AND JUSTINA WILL WALK THROUGH THE POSTSOLICITATION.
WE HAD A NUMBER OF OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE SCORING AND THE REVIEW. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MEL TO WALK US THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION. >> WOOSLEY: GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCILMEMBERS. SO I'M MELODY WOOSLEY, HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, THIS IS A JOINT PROCESS, SO PATRICK STEK IS ALSO HERE TO PROVIDE DETAIL ON HOMELESS SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES A BRIEFING ON THOSE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ERIK MENTIONED, AND I WILL START BY SAYING THAT WE RECEIVED AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF REALLY GOOD AND THOUGHTFUL PROPOSALS. FOR VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICES, 125 PROPOSALS WERE SUBMITTED BY 72 DIFFERENT AGENCIES REQUESTING MORE THAN 55.6 MILLION, NEARLY THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE. HUMAN SERVICES AND HOMELESS SERVICES APPRECIATE HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT THAT AGENCIES PUT IN TO CRAFTING THEIR APPLICATIONS. WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOMMEND NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, BUT GIVEN THE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND THE AMOUNT REQUESTED, THERE ARE ALSO CURRENTLY FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT RECOMMENDED OR THEY ARE RECOMMENDED FOR REDUCED AMOUNTS. YOU HAVE A BINDER THAT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL DETAIL REGARDING RFP RESPONSES, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS BY PRIORITY AREA, A FIVE-YEAR FUNDING HISTORY, AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS. THE QR CODE THAT'S ON THE BACK OF YOUR BINDER, RIGHT THERE, SORT OF UNCLOUNLOCKS THE DASHBOARD FOR PERFORMANCE OF CONSOLIDATED AGENCY FUNDING.
SO THIS AFTERNOON I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE PROCESS, CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS, REVIEW THE AVAILABLE BUDGET FOR CONSOLIDATED FUNDING, INFORMATION ON THE SOLICITATION AND EVALUATION PROCESSES, FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONCLUDE WITH NEXT
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STEPS. THE FUNDING POOL INVESTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES THAT SUPPORT HUMAN AND HOMELESS SERVICES PROGRAMS AND PRIORITIES. THE FISCAL YEAR '26 ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDED 12-MONTH CONTRACTS FOR DESIGNATED PROGRAMS AND EIGHT-MONTH CONTRACT RENEWALS TO COMPETITIVELY AWARDED PROGRAMS. IN OCTOBER, I PROVIDED A PRESOLICITATION BRIEFING TO GATHER COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON A REVISED FUNDING STRATEGY. WE ISSUED THE FISCAL YEAR '26 AND '27 REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS ON DECEMBER THE FIRST.THE RFP CLOSED ON JANUARY 26TH AND WE EVALUATED PROPOSALS THROUGH FEBRUARY AND MARCH. AND SO THE '26 ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDES 24.5 MILLION IN TOTAL FOR CONSOLIDATED FUNDING.
I WILL QUICKLY WALK THROUGH HOW THAT FUNDING IS USED.
FIRST, THE 20 MILLION IS GENERAL FUND, AND 4.5 MILLION IS GRANT FUNDING, PRIMARILY FROM SPECIFIC HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
THROUGHOUT THE ADOPTED BUDGET, CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATED 12-MONTH AWARDS TO EIGHT AGENCIES TOTALING 10.3 MILLION. TO ENSURE THAT CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR CRITICAL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE FUNDING POOL WAS ALSO REDUCED BY A TOTAL OF $741,000, 500,000 BASED ON A HISTORY OF UNDERSPENDING BY AGENCIES, AND 241,000 FROM BUDGET AMENDMENTS. AFTER DESIGNATING AGENCIES AND APPLYING REDUCTIONS, 14.2 MILLION REMAINED FOR ESSENTIAL AND DISCRETIONARY AWARDS IN FISCAL YEAR '26. ALMOST 10 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED FOR THOSE EIGHT-MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSIONS, AND THE RESERVE BALANCE OF 4.3 MILLION IS INTENDED TO BE AWARDED THROUGH THIS SOLICITATION.
NEXT WEEK'S A SESSION ITEM REQUESTS COUNCIL APPROVAL OF 16-MONTH CONTRACTS FOR THE PERIOD OF JUNE 1ST, 2026, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027. DESIGNATING AWARDS ARE NOT PART OF THIS RFP, AND WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE 2027 BUDGET PROCESS. AND SO BASED ON COUNCIL'S POLICY DIRECTION LAST YEAR, THE PROCESS FOCUSES ON THREE MAIN PILLARS.
CLEARLY DEFINING DESIGNATED AND COMPETITIVE FUNDING TO ENHANCE STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT, CATEGORIZING ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT CITY PROGRAMS, AND DISCRETIONARY SERVICES THAT ALIGN WITH CITY PRIORITIES BUT ARE NOT TIED TO CITY PROGRAMS. THE R FP ALSO REQUESTED CITY-FUNDED PROGRAMS, PRIORITIZED REFERRALS FROM CITY INITIATIVES SUCH AS NEXT-LEVEL YOUTH OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM OR CITY COUNCIL OFFICES. WE ALSO DIVERSIFIED ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO USE EXISTING FEEDBACK SUCH AS THE SA SPEAK UP BUDGET SURVEY, GATHER MORE INFORMATION FROM -- AND FEEDBACK FROM NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AND CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN OUR WORK WITH OTHER LOCAL FUNDERS.
WE ALSO SIMPLIFIED THIS PROCESS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY BY STANDARDIZING PERFORMANCE METRICS ALONG FUNDING PRIORITIES AND ACROSS FUNDERS, WHERE POSSIBLE. REDUCING THE NUMBER OF METRICS COLLECTED TO CAPTURE THE MOST IMPORTANT DATA IN THE SIMPLEST WAY POSSIBLE.
WE DON'T NEED TO ASK AGENCIES TO SUBMIT TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT REPORTS TO TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT ENTITIES FOR THE SAME PROGRAM.
AND UPDATING RFP SCORING TO INCLUDE POINTS FOR PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATING SUSTAINABILITY, COLLABORATION, AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
AND SO JUST BRIEFLY AT THE OCTOBER BRIEFING LAST YEAR, YOU HEARD FROM THE KRONKOWSKY FOUNDATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT IS IN PROGRESS WITH COMMUNITY FUNDERS TO ALIGN INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING CITY OF SAN ANTONIO INVESTMENTS, TOWARDS COLLECTIVE IMPACT.
WE CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE WITH LOCAL FUNDERS, INCLUDING KRONKOWSKY, SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION AND THE UNITED WAY TO MOVE TOWARDS STREAMLINE PROCESSES, COMMON REPORTING INDICATOR DASHBOARDS THAT REFLECT COLLECTIVE OUTCOMES, AND SHARED TRAINING TO HELP PARTNER AGENCIES BUILD CAPACITY. AND SO THIS TABLE SHOWS
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THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 AND FISCAL YEAR '27. CONSOLIDATED FUNDING, COMPARED TO 2025 LEVELS, AND IT'S ORGANIZED BY DESIGNATED ESSENTIAL AND DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS. OVERALL, THE TABLE IS SHOWING THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO DESIGNATED AWARDS, AND THAT INCLUDED THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES MOVING FROM COMPETITIVE TO DESIGNATED, THE APPLIED REDUCTIONS AND SMALL INCREASES TO GRANT FUNDING. FOR FY 2027 PROPOSED CONTRACT AWARDS ARE CONTINGENT UPON CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL AT THE FISCAL '27 ADOPTED BUDGET. THERE WE GO.SO THIS IS A HIGH-PROFILE SOLICITATION PROCESS, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING 19.1 MILLION IN AWARDS FOR 16-MONTH CONTRACT TERMS. THIS INCLUDES THE 4.3 MILLION HELD IN RESERVE, PLUS THE 14.8 MILLION ESTIMATED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, AND I HATE TO BE REPETITIVE, BUT THIS IS SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET. HUMAN SERVICES AND HOMELESS SERVICES AND STRATEGY, IN COORDINATION WITH FINANCE, HELD ONE PRESUBMITTAL CONFERENCE AND THREE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS.
WE RECEIVED 125 PROPOSALS FROM 72 AGENCIES REQUESTING OVER 55 MILLION. FINANCE AND THE CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE CONDUCTED DUE DILIGENCE REVIEWS WITH NO MATERIAL FINDINGS IDENTIFIED.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS, IF APPROVED, WOULD AWARD FUNDING TO 81 PROGRAMS. 55 ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED, PLUS 26 NEW PROGRAMS. 13 PROGRAMS FUNDED IN 2026 BUDGET ARE NOT RECOMMENDED, INCLUDING SEVEN PROGRAMS THAT DID NOT APPLY. AND SO PROPOSALS WERE REVIEWED AND SCORED BY NINE DIFFERENT EVALUATION PANELS WITH 50 REVIEWERS.
THE MAJORITY, 62% THE MAJORITY, 62% , WERE EXTERNAL, AND THE OTHERS WERE CITY STAFF FROM HUMAN SERVICES, HOMELESS SERVICES, HEALTH, PARKS AND INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICE.
EXTERNAL REVIEWERS INCLUDED INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NONPROFITS, SUCH AS LISC AND CENTRO, AND COMMUNITY FUNDERS, UNITED WAY AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO. DIRECTION TO PANEL MEMBERS BEFORE THEY DID THEIR PROPOSAL REVIEWS EMPHASIZED THAT THEY SHOULD FOCUS ON PROGRAMS ALIGNMENT WITH CITY PRIORITIES AND ON PURCHASING SERVICES AND AREAS OF IDENTIFIED NEED RATHER THAN FUNDING AGENCIES.
TOTAL PROPOSAL SCORING WAS 100 POINTS AND INCLUDES THE POINTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, COLLABORATION AND ROI, AN ADDITIONAL 10 POINTS FOR THE LOCAL PREFERENCE PROGRAM WAS INCLUDED THIS YEAR.
OVER THE NEXT FOUR SLIDES, I WILL SUMMARIZE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EACH PRIORITY CATEGORY, INCLUDING BOTH ESSENTIAL AND DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS. FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO INCLUDE NEW PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN FUNDED OR HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS, TEXAS DIAPER BANK, LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, CHILDREN'S SHELTER, HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICES, AND SAN ANTONIO YOUTH CENTERS.
SO A TOTAL OF 6.5 MILLION IS RECOMMENDED FOR 16-MONTH AWARDS TO FUND 39 CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS. IN FISCAL YEAR '25, FUNDED PROGRAMS PROVIDED AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO ALMOST 14,000 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT CITY OF SAN ANTONIO INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COLLABORATIVES REFERRALS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION. AND EDUCATION, TRAINING, SOFT SKILLS AND COUNSELING FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH AT NEXT LEVEL, AS WELL AS CAREGIVER RESPITE, PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT OF SERVICES FOR AT-RISK AND SPECIAL-NEEDS AND MEDICALLY-CHALLENGED CHILDREN, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MENTORING AND PAID INTERNSHIPS TO PREVENT SCHOOL DROPOUT, AND
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CAREER EXPLORATION, COLLEGE AND MILITARY READINESS.1.8MILLION IS RECOMMENDED FOR 14 PROGRAMS FROM 12 AGENCIES IN THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES CATEGORY. IN 2025, PROGRAMS IN THIS AREA PROVIDED SERVICES TO OVER 13,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND INDIVIDUALS.
RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS DIRECTLY SUPPORT CITY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COLLABORATIVE REFERRALS FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS OFFERING FREE ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING, AND VOLUNTEERED INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE.
IN ADDITION, THE INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICE OF VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN IS ALSO INCLUDED. 3.1MILLION IS RECOMMENDED TO SUPPORT SENIOR INDEPENDENCE. THROUGH THE RFP, HUMAN SERVICES SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT PROPOSALS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING IN CITY-OPERATED SENIOR CENTERS. 13 PROGRAMS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION AT THE CENTERS, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR MEMBERS AND THEIR CARRYOVERS.
IN FISCAL YEAR '25, 11,600 OLDER ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN CLASSES HELD BY THE AGENCIES, INCLUDING FITNESS AND ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, MONTHLY FOOD COMMODITY PROGRAMS AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR MEMBERS WHO MAY NEED TO TRANSITION OUT OF SENIOR CENTERS.
AND WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING COUNCIL APPROVAL OF A 16-MONTH CONTRACT WITH BILL HOUSE ARTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 TO MAINTAIN ARTS PROGRAMMING PROVIDED AT OUR CENTER. WHEELHOUSE DID NOT APPLY FOR FUNDING AND NO AGENCY SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL THROUGH THE RFP TO PROVIDE ARTS CLASSES. HOMELESS SERVICES AND STRATEGY DEPARTMENT IS RECOMMENDING 6.7 MILLION TO 15 PROGRAMS. THIS IS FROM 10 AGENCIES FOR SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE GOAL OF ENDING HOMELESSNESS.
ALMOST 11,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS IN FISCAL YEAR '25. RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS SUPPORT CITY INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY-WIDE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SERVICES FOR CHRONIC HOMELESS ARE PRIORITIZED, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, FAMILIES, VETERANS AND THOSE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE PREVENTION AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS SHOWERS AND MEALS, EMERGENCY SHELTER AND RAPID REHOUSING AND STREET OUTREACH WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. IN LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FISCAL YEAR '29 AND '30 CONSOLIDATED FUNDING CYCLE, AND SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION, WE WILL EXPLORE OUTSOURCING OF DISCRETIONARY CONTRACTS TO AN EXTERNAL FUNDER TO MANAGE THE PROCESS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SELECTION, MONITORING AND PHYSICAL OVERSIGHT.
BASED ON INITIAL ASSESSMENT, POTENTIAL BENEFITS COULD INCLUDE LEVERAGING OUR LOCALIFY LAN THRO PI NETWORK, GREATER CLARITY OF THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE TO AVOID DUPLICATION AND CONSOLIDATED APPLICATION AND REPORTING PROCESSES FOR FUNDING -- FOR FUNDED AGENCIES.
POTENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS MAY INCLUDE HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO MANAGE AND MONITOR CONTRACTS, WHICH WOULD -- OR COULD DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE SERVICES.
AND THE CITY MAY HAVE LESS CONTROL OVER INVESTMENT DECISIONS.
AND SO OUR NEXT STEP IS TO BRING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESSENTIAL AND DISCRETIONARY COMPETITIVE CONTRACTS FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION NEXT WEEK. PENDING APPROVAL, HUMAN SERVICES AND HOMELESS STRATEGY AND SERVICES WILL NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE 16-MONTH CONTRACTS WITH FISCAL YEAR '27 FUNDING SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET. CONTRACTS WOULD BEGIN ON JUNE 1ST AND GO THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2027. AND FISCAL YEAR 2028 FUNDING RENEWAL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PERFORMANCE, FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND PATRICK AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCESS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, MELODY, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M EAGER TO SEE THAT WE ARE FINALLY AT THIS POINT. I KNOW FOR MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WATCHING AND -- WHO HAVE
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BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS, I KNOW THAT FOR A NUMBER OF OUR PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE VERY NECESSARY AND VITAL SERVICES, THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE IS VERY CHALLENGING. AND THAT'S, IN PART, I IMAGINE, ONE OF THE REASONS WE RECEIVED SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF QUALITY APPLICATIONS. AS AN EDUCATOR, ONE OF THE INVESTMENTS FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT MAKES ME PROUDEST IS OUR INVESTMENT OF OVER $5 MILLION IN OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, $1.2 MILLION IN YOUTH DROPOUT PREVENTION AND ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS IN COLLEGE, CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS. WHEN WE INVEST EARLY IN YOUTH, I'M CERTAIN THAT WE'LL FIND OUT THAT YEARS DOWN THE LINE WE ARE SAVING MILLIONS IN THE NEED FOR SERVICES BY INVESTING IN YOUTH, WE'RE PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING FUTURE POVERTY RATES, EDUCATION ATTAINMENT LEVELS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CRIME, HOMELESSNESS AND SO MUCH MORE.AND SO FOR ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT R WITH ULTIMATELY CHOSEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SELECTION.
FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE NOT CHOSEN, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE VALUE YOUR EFFORTS AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN OUR CITY, AND WE HOPE THAT AS OPPORTUNITIESES BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE, THAT YOU MAINTAIN THAT DESIRE TO PARTNER AND WORK WITH US. THE NEED IS ABSOLUTELY GREATER THAN THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US.
AND SO AS WE NAVIGATE THIS BUDGET DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, ONE OF MY PERSONAL GOALS WILL BE TO PRESERVE FUNDING FOR NONPROFITS -- ALWAYS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO, BUT ARE ALSO ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO ACHIEVING OUR BROADER GOAL OF A MUCH MORE PROSPEROUS CITY.
SHIFTING MY HAT BACK TO DISTRICT TWO, I AM INTERESTED INASMUCH DATA THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE ON SERVICES PROVIDED WITHIN DISTRICT TWO, AND FOR EACH OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS, I IMAGINE AS WELL, THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL. FOR EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE SELECTED FOR AWARDS. DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW QUICKLY YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION? >> WOOSLEY: SO THROUGH THE RFPS, WE DID COLLECT DATA ON -- BY COUNCIL DISTRICT, NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED. BUT GIVEN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS AND THE AMOUNT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO -- WE CAN ADD ALL OF THAT UP, BUT IT WON'T BE AS HIGH. SO WE NEED TO GO BACK AND NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACTS.
THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU'RE RECEIVING, WHAT'S THE CHANGE TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU'LL SERVE. BUT JUST LOOKING AT IT BRIEFLY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT LOOKED LIKE DISTRICT TWO IS ABOUT 10% OF THE PROPOSAL CLIENTS.
THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, WE WOULD BE ASKING AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SERVING THOSE AREAS OF NEEDS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE PROPOSAL.
AND SO THAT MAY CHANGE SOME OF THOSE PERCENTAGES.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THAT 10% NUMBER, AT LEAST SOMEWHAT READY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT 100% ACCURATE. WHEN I THINK OF 10%, I THINK OF AN EQUAL SHARE OF THE PIE, AND THAT DOESN'T QUITE READ AS EQUITY TO ME, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY TEAM AND I ARE FIELDING CALLS AND WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED THAT EXISTS IN DISTRICT TWO AND MANY OF OUR INNER CITY DISTRICTS IS MUCH GREATER THAN MAYBE 10%. AND SO I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE VIEWING ALL OF OUR INVESTMENTS THROUGH A LENS OF EQUITY, AND I'D LIKE TO CONVEY TO ALL OF THE AWARDEES AND TO YOU, CERTAINLY, AS YOU NAVIGATE THOSE CONTRACTS THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IN NEED ARE THE ONES BEING SERVED, WHEREVER THEY MAY BE IN OUR CITY, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY COMMUNITIES LEFT BEHIND, AND I KNOW FOR SURE WHAT HAS BEEN CONVEYED OVER THE YEARS TO ME IS THAT DISTRICT TWO IS LEFT BEHIND IN THESE INVESTMENTS AND IS NOT ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE MINDS OF SOME OF OUR LEADERS.
SO MOVING ON TO OTHER QUESTIONS, ONE OF MY REQUESTS WAS THAT WE UTE LEUZ THESE FUND TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR CRIME PREVENTION GOALS.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE PLAN TO WORK WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARDS PHASE THREE OF OUR VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION PLAN, WILL ORGANIZATIONS BE EXPECTED TO RESERVE FUNDS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT AS NEEDED WITHIN CERTAIN HOT SPOTS? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK
LIKE? >> WOOSLEY: THEY'LL CERTAINLY BE ASKED TO PRIORITIZE THEM, AND I THINK MARIA VARGAS IS HERE.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO HOW YOU PLAN TO DO THAT? >> VARGAS: GOOD AFTERNOON, MARIA VARGAS, DIRECTOR OF INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SAFETY.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS WE WERE LOOKING TO LEVERAGE THIS CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS WAS FOR PHASE THREE FOCUSED DETER RANS, WHICH LOOKED TO CONDUCT OUTREACH TO VIOLENT OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL WHOSE HAVE CRIMINAL HISTORY FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES, AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS WHAT SOME IN CRIMINOLOGY REFER TO AS PULLING LEVERS, WHICH IS WHERE YOU ESSENTIALLY OFFER THE INDIVIDUAL TWO OPTIONS, CONTINUE TO COMMIT OFFENSES IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY ARE VIOLENT OR PETTY, WE LOOK TO INTERVENE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A LENIENT PUNISHMENT, THAT WE ARE SCRUTINIZING THEIR ACTIVITY, AND THAT WE DO INTEND TO PROVIDE PER CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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PROCEDURES WITH THE DA, THE APPROPRIATE, BUT SWIFT PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE CRIMES, BUT THAT THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO TAKE A SERVICE, OR A VARIETY OF SERVICES. SO THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES WITH US, SO WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, MEETING BASIC NEEDS, WHICH OFTENTIMES IS THE CASE, SUCH AS HOUSING STABILITY, IMMEDIATE FOOD OR FAMILY NEEDS, LIKE DIAPER OR CHILDCARE OR TRANSPORTATION SO THAT THEY CAN GO TO THOSE GED CLASSES OR THOSE COURSES TO GET CERTIFICATES FOR EMPLOYMENT, OR IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALSO A COMMON NEED WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO NOT ONLY MAY BE OFFENDERS OR PERPETUATORS OF VIOLENT CRIME BUT OFTEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME THEMSELVES, SO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING OR EVEN PHYSICAL MEDICAL NEEDS.AND SO THE SPECTRUM OF SERVICES IS QUITE BROAD, AS YOU JUST HEARD, AND SO THESE AGENCIES CAN HELP US TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCE, SO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE A
DIFFERENT PATH. MAYO >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU. THAT IS -- I'LL SAY THAT IS VERY PLEASING TO ME TO HEAR, AND SO I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH EVERYTHING THAT I HEARD REMAINS TRUE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND THAT AS WE PREPARE AND FINALIZE THOSE CONTRACTS, THAT SAPD AND THE OFFICE OF INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SAFETY IS ENGAGED TO ENSURE THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS EFFECTIVELY HELP US ADDRESS OUR VIOLENT CRIME PROGRAM. BUT, YEAH, THAT'S WONDERFUL. CAN YOU PLEASE RUN BACK SLIDE 15 FOR ME.
WHAT ORIGINALLY CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE, AND THIS IS AN AREA THAT COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, ARE YOU HOPING FOR THIS FEEDBACK TODAY OR AT A FUTURE MEETING? NOT THIS ONE, IT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS JUST UP.
YES. >> WOOSLEY: THEY BROUGHT U IT UP AND I CHANGED IT. SO WHAT WAS THE QUESTION, I'M SORRY.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS FEEDBACK THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY OR FEEDBACK YOU'LL BE LOOKING FOR IN A FUTURE
MEETING? >> WOOSLEY: THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD DO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS TO PREPARE FOR FISCAL YEAR '29 AND '30, AND WE WOULD LOOK FOR COUNCIL FEEDBACK TODAY OR NEXT WEEK AT A SESSION ON WHETHER YOU WANT US TO DO THAT. DESCRIBE AND, I GUESS, IN EFFECT, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE DO NOW AND WHAT WE WOULD BE
DOING HERE. >> WOOSLEY: SO THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE, WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, IS ONLY OUTSOURCING THE DISCRETIONARY PORTION, SO THAT'S ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILLION. THOSE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE MEETING CITY AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES, BUT AREN'T NECESSARILY TIED TO OUR INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS LIKE ICSO, VIOLENCE PREVENTION OR NEXT-LEVEL YOUTH OPPORTUNITY OR OUR SENIOR CENTERS.
WE WANTED -- WE WOULD RECOMMEND KEEPING THOSE IN-HOUSE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER HOW THEY'RE WORKING ALONG WITH OUR PROGRAMS. BUT DEBUDDIES KRBUT DISCRETIONARY, LIKE I SAID, IS NOT TIED TO CURRENT PROGRAMS, SO IT COULD BE WORKED INTO
ANOTHER LOCAL FUNDER'S PROCESS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: SO OUTSOURCING A POOL OF FUNDING FOR ANOTHER -- FOR AN OUTSIDE ENTITY TO
ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS. >> WOOSLEY: RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND POTENTIALLY -- SO UNITED WAY, AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY ALSO SERVE -- FUND PROGRAMS THAT SERVE YOUTH, SAFETY NET, FAMILY STRENGTHENING, SO THERE'S A LOT OF SIMILARITIES. AND THEY WOULD -- POTENTIALLY INTEGRATE THOSE FUNDS WITH THE PROCESS THEY'RE ALREADY
RUNNING. >> WALSH: COUNCILMAN, AND -- THE COUNCIL TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR, BOTH DURING BUDGET AND DURING THE PRESOLICITATION. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE AS -- AS EASY AS JUST LET SOMEBODY ELSE ALLOCATE IT. I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE CITY FUNDS, THERE WOULD BE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A COMMUNITY EFFORT, WHETHER THAT'S WITH KRONKOWSKY OR UNITED WAY OR THESE OTHER FUNDERS, BUT I GUESS PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT SOME OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAD LAST YEAR, AND IT MAKES SENSE IN MY MIND, IF WE PARTICIPATED, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE WOULD TELL THEM WE WANT TO ACHIEVE, RIGHT? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT -- OR THESE ARE OUR FIVE PRIORITIES, IT WOULDN'T BE AS EASY AS JUST ALLOCATE OUR DOLLARS AND LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES. WE'D HAVE TO GIVE SOME -- I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THE COUNCIL TO WEIGH IN AND GIVE DIRECTIONS AND SPENDING PRIORITIES. IT WOULD JUST BE MAYBE SAVING ON SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD, BOTH HERE AND WITH THE OTHER FUNDERS.
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I THINK OTHER FUNDERS PROBABLY FIND THEMSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE ALL FUNDING AGENCIES AND SOMETIMES THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE FUNDING THE SAME THING FOR THE SAME AGENCY? SO HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE DECONFLICT THAT? BUT I DON'T -- I THINK WE WOULD HAVE -- IF WE WENT DOWN THAT PATH IN 2029, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WITH A LOT OF GUIDANCE FROMTHE COUNCIL AND THE CITY. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT CONCEPT, BUT IF WE DID TAKE THAT PATH FORWARD, WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THAT, OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS A COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE, HOW WE EXPECT THAT MONEY IS SPENT AND WHAT GOALS WE'RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH IT, AND WE HAVE MEASURABLE -- WE HAVE WAYS TO HOLD THAT AGENCY ACCOUNTABLE TO ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS.
I WOULD LOVE TO BEGIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION, BUT NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU, MELODY, FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I DEFINITELY WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK OF DHS AND ALL THE NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY. PRIOR TO ME SERVING ON COUNCIL, I WAS A NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SO I UNDERSTAND THE GRIND EXTREMELY WELL. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THEY IMPACT SO MANY LIVES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN VOCAL IN THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY BUDGET IS NOT MEANT TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OUR CORE SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW I HAVE A PROJECT IN DISTRICT 7 OF A STRETCH OF SIDEWALK THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO RESIDENTS FOR YEARS NOW, AND WE'RE $4 MILLION SHORT. AND, I MEAN, THIS STRETCH OF ROAD IS EXTREMELY HIGH TRAFFIC, ACTUALLY WE JUST GOT AN IMAGE FROM A RESIDENT YESTERDAY ABOUT A FOUR-CAR PILEUP RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAVE THESE STRETCHES OF ROADS AND BROKEN SIDEWALKS THAT WE ALL HAVE IN OUR DISTRICTS, AND THOSE ARE SERVICES -- SIDEWALKS ARE -- IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT RESIDENTS EXPECT THE CITY TO SOLVE FOR.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T OUTSOURCE POLICE, WE CAN'T OUTSOURCE FIREFIGHTERS, THOSE ARE, AGAIN, CORE SERVICES THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO SOLVE FOR, AND SO, YES, TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE BECAUSE WE ARE COMING UP ON A BUDGET DEFICIT, AND WE CANNOT -- OUR BUDGET CANNOT SOLVE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. I WOULD CHALLENGE US THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO GET INNOVATIVE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IN TIMES OF -- OF HARDSHIPS, THIS IS THE TIME TO THINK DIFFERENTLY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT NONPROFITS WHO HAVE COME BY OUR OFFICE AND HAVE PUT THAT CHALLENGE IN FRONT OF THEM, OF, LIKE, HOW CAN WE THINK DIFFERENTLY? BECAUSE THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE WORK IS IMPORTANT. IT'S JUST ABOUT THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT FROM. SO THERE WAS A COUPLE QUESTIONS, MELODY, THAT I DID HAVE. ON -- OH, GOSH.
ON SLIDE 5, CITY COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION, I KNOW THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME OTHER IDEAS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IN TERMS OF SUNSETTING SOME OF THESE NONPROFITS. I THINK AS A NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, AND SO IF THEY KNOW, HEY, THE CITY CAN FUND -- IF I'M GOING TO GO IN FOR CITY FUNDING, MAYBE THEY FUND ME 60% THE FIRST YEAR, 40% THE NEXT YEAR, 20% THE YEAR AFTER, AND THEN I'M DONE. HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING -- OR DO WE HAVE ANY PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT?
>> WOOSLEY: WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT IN THE PAST, AND RECENTLY ALSO, TALKED ABOUT WHAT THOSE OPTIONS COULD LOOK LIKE. AND SO WE CAN PUT THAT TOGETHER AND PROVIDE THAT IN FOLLOW-UP BEFORE A SESSION NEXT WEEK.
>> GAVITO: PERFECT. YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT, AGAIN, TO -- SO THAT WAY WE ARE SETTING THE PROPER EXPECTATIONS WITH OUR NONPROFITS, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE EXTREMELY TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE AS WE'RE PREPARING FOR THIS BUDGET DEFICIT, AND SO I THINK WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AS FAR IN AD VADVANCE AS
POSSIBLE IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> WOOSLEY: SURE.
>> GAVITO: ON SLIDE NUMBER 5, UNDER STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT, IT SAYS PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS SUPPORTING COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND CITY PROGRAMS. WHERE DO WE SEE THOSE COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND
CITY PROGRAMS THAT WERE MENTIONED? >> WOOSLEY: THE THINGS WHERE WE HAVE STRATEGIC PLANS, SO THERE'S A STRATEGIC PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS, IN'S A STRATEGIC SENIOR SERVICES PLAN, THERE'S THE
VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLAN NOW. >> GAVITO: UH-HUH.
[00:35:02]
>> WOOSLEY: SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT.
IN ADDITION, WE OPERATE PROGRAMS OURSELVES LIKE NEXT LEVEL OPPORTUNITY YOUTH CENTER AND OUR COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS IS PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLES, IF WE DON'T HAVE AGENCIES, WE DON'T HAVE ACTIVITIES IN THE CENTER. IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS.
>> GAVITO: OKAY. YEAH. YEAH, I'D DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE PLANS THAT WE'RE TRYING TOA ALIGN THESE NONPROFITS TO, JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON THE BUCKETS THEY FALL INTO.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, FOR INSTANCE, I'M SEEING SAM SAT, THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUMS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THEY DO GREAT WORK, BUT WHEN I'M SEEING THAT AND FAMILY VIOLENCE WORK, I'M KIND OF SCRATCHING MY HEAD A LITTLE BIT ON WHY WE'RE AWARDING FUNDING THAT WAY.
AND ALSO, TOO, I'M CURIOUS FOR SOME OF OUR NONPROFITS, IF THEY DO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS FOR FUNDING SOURCES, HOW ARE WE KIND OF PUSHING THEM TO LOOK AT THOSE OTHER OPTIONS, YOU KNOW? AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, BUT I THINK THAT AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, THE MORE HELPFUL IT IS FOR US AS WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ENCORE SERVICES, BUT ALSO FOR THEM SO THEY CAN HAVE THOSE EXPECTATIONS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE AGENCY SUMMARY, HOW MUCH WE'RE GIVING THEM. ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE -- AND THIS IS NOT -- I'M JUST ACCUSING IT AS AN EXAMPLE, COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS DOES AMAZING WORK, WE HAVE $200,000 ALLOCATION AND 300 ALLOCATION, SO HALF A MILLION FOR THAT PROGRAM.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WE BROKE THAT DOWN? >> WOOSLEY: SURE.
SO THE LARGER CONTRACT SUPPORTS THE NEXT LEVEL OPPORTUNITY CENTER.
THEY PROVIDE THE COACHING, MENTORING, SOFT SKILLS TRAINING, COUNSELING SERVICES FOR YOUTH WHO GO THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
GOODWILL IS THE OTHER AGENCY THAT WE CONTRACT WITH TO PROVIDE EDUCATION
AND WORKFORCE COACHING AT THE CENTER. >> GAVITO: OKAY.
>> WOOSLEY: THE OTHER PROGRAM CIS HAS IS SCHOOL-BASED, AND SO THAT PROGRAM IS HELPING AT-RISK YOUTH PREVENT DROPOUT.
>> GAVITO: SO EVEN THOUGH WE SEE THEIR TOTAL OF -- CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION,
THEY'RE JUST APPLYING FOR DIFFERENT BUCKETS. >> WOOSLEY: DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. >> GAVITO: OKAY. GOT IT.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SEE -- AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE ASKED THIS ON THE APPLICATION, BECAUSE I DO THINK ALL THE APPLICATIONS ARE PUBLIC, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BREAKDOWN HERE, BUT I'M CURIOUS FOR THESE NONPROFITS, HOW MUCH OF THEIR FUNDING IS GOING TO HELP SAN ANTONIANS AND HOW MANY SAN ANTONIANS? SO FOR, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE A RATIO THERE FOR HOW MUCH WE'RE GIVING THEM AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICE. >> WOOSLEY: RIGHT.
SO WHEN WE FUND AN AGENCY, THEY REPORT MONTHLY ON WHO THEY'RING, DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 10, IF THEY ARE SERVING ANYONE OUTSIDE THE CITY
OF SAN ANTONIO, THEY REPORT THAT AS WELL. >> GAVITO: OKAY.
>> WOOSLEY: IT'S GENERALLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR SENIOR CENTERS, WE'RE FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FOR MEALS TO SERVE BEXAR COUNTY. >> GAVITO: UH-HUH.
>> WOOSLEY: SO WE WILL HAVE MORE BEXAR COUNTY BALANCE OF BEXAR FOLKS THERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE AGENCIES ARE SERVING DISTRICTS
1 THROUGH 10. >> GAVITO: OKAY. YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE, ESPECIALLY AS OUR FUNDS ARE GOING TO GET TIGHTER, TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE FUNDING X AMOUNT, HOW MANY THEY'RE SERVING WITH THAT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ONLY KPI WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, BUT I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT DATA POINT SO WE CAN SEE AS OUR FUNDS ARE GETTING TIGHTER, WHERE ARE WE GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WE'RE ABLE TO SUSTAIN ALL THE
NONPROFITS, YOU KNOW, SO -- >> WOOSLEY: YEAH.
>> GAVITO: SO IF WE COULD LOOK AT THAT RATIO, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> WOOSLEY: SURE. AND THAT'S A MEASURE THAT WE TRACK WITH EVERY
SINGLE AGENCY. >> GAVITO: I WAS GOING TO SAY.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE THE DATA, IT'S JUST PUTTING IT TOGETHER SO THAT WAY WE CAN LOOK AT THAT. LET ME SEE. WE DID GET SOME FEEDBACK, AND IT'S NOT NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, IT'S JUST A PLACE OF NOT KNOWING, ABOUT THE AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE. I SEE THAT THEY'RE DESIGNATED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AWARD. WE HAVE HEARD SOME MIXED REVIEWS. SO ARE THEY ABLE TO PRESENT TO US IN A B SESSION OR --
[00:40:02]
SO THAT WAY WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR IMPACT. >> WOOSLEY: I THINK THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. >> GAVITO: PERFECT. THANK YOU.
GIVE ME ONE SECOND. ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT I DO THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED TO HELP WITH YOUTH EDUCATION, OBVIOUSLY YOUTH EDUCATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND WE KNOW THAT OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY UNDERFUNDED BY THE STATE, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A CASE TO BE MADE ON WHY WE NEED TO BE PUTTING YOUTH EDUCATION ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, THE STATE'S NOT PAYING FOR IT, AND SO IT ALL FALLS ON US. AND SO WHEN IT FALLS ON US, THEN WE CAN'T PAY FOR SIDEWALKS THAT RESIDENTS WANT, OR WE CAN'T PAY FOR ENOUGH ACS PATROL OFFICERS TO PREVENT DOG ATTACKS, RIGHT? SO I DO THINK WE NEED TO START GETTING EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE ON PUSHING THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL SO THAT WAY -- I MEAN, AGAIN, RESIDENTS ARE DEMANDING ACS OFFICERS, THEY'RE DEMANDING SIDEWALKS, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
THANKS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.
GO >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK YOU, MELODY, AND YOUR TEAM FOR PROVIDING THIS.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF FUNDING OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES AND APPRECIATE THE SLIDE 6, I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE'RE ALIGNING WITH THESE FOLKS DOING THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT, WHETHER IT'S UNITED WAY OR KRONKOWSKY, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE WAS ALIGNMENT THERE. I HAD A COUPLE OF JUST QUESTIONS ON -- TO CLARIFY, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS, BUT THE 4 MILLION, IS THAT ON THE FEDERAL GRANTS? THAT'S PART OF THAT OR --
>> WOOSLEY: THERE'S TWO 4 MILLION NUMBERS YOU'RE SEEING.
>> GONZALEZ: CAN YOU CLARIFY MUCH OF IT IS IN FEDERAL GRANTS.
>> WOOSLEY: IT'S 4.5 MILLION. WELL, THAT'S STATE AND
FEDERAL, BUT MOST IS FEDERAL. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY.
AND CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT THAT GOES TOWARDS?
>> WOOSLEY: SO THE STATE DOLLARS COME FROM TDHCA, THE HOMELESS SERVICES AND SHELTER PROGRAM. AND THAT'S ABOUT $280,000.
THE REST OF IT IS FEDERAL GRANTS THROUGH HUD, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS AND EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT, WHICH PRIMARILY
FUNDS EMERGENCY SHELTER. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. AND THE -- I'M GLAD TO SEE THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY THAT COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS. I THINK WE'VE OBVIOUSLY AS A CITY INVESTED IN PREK, WE'VE INVESTED IN READY TO WORK AND ALAMO PROMISE, SO THAT COLLEGE AND CAREER MILITARY READINESS IS IN THE MIDDLE THERE, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IN THERE. ON THE -- AND OUR LARGEST BUCKET IS I IS ENDING HOMELESSNESS. I GUESS, HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE WITHIN THOSE
BUCKETS? >> WOOSLEY: SO ON OCTOBER 15TH WHEN I DID THE PRESOLICITATION, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON FY '25, THIS WAS THE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POOL THAT WENT INTO EACH BUCKET.
HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE IF YOU ADD IN THE DESIGNATED AGENCIES, HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS A VERY LARGE ALLOCATION, SO ABOUT HALF OF IT ENDS UP BEING HOMELESSNESS. AND THAT'S JUST BEEN
BASED ON COUNCIL PRIORITY AND GOAL-SETTING. >> GONZALEZ: BUT WITHIN THAT -- CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, WHAT'S THE PRIORITY WITHIN THOSE?
WHO'S GETTING THE MOST? DOES THAT MAKE -- >> WOOSLEY: I'LL LET
PATRICK -- >> GONZALEZ: I GUESS FOR ALL OF THEM, I'D ASK
THAT. >> SURE. AND IN THE HOMELESS BUCKET, THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IS ABOUT 5.1 MILLION AND MOST OF THAT IS IN FEDERAL GRANTS. WE FOLLOW FIRST THE GRANT REGULATIONS, WHAT THEY CAN BE USED ON. MUCH OF THAT IS FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV AND AIDS, THAT GRANT. BUT WITHIN THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT THAT MEL MENTIONED, OUR PRIORITY IS DRIVEN TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO THE EARLIER POINT, SO A STRONG EMPHASIS ON CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, THEN FAMILIES AND YOUTH AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WE SEE ON THE STREETS THE LONGEST, THE CHRONIC
[00:45:01]
HOMELESSNESS. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I APPRECIATE THE THEATRE CLASSES FOR THE SENIOR INDEPENDENCE, WE KNOW AT BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER, WHAT IS IT, SENIORS AT PLAY, FOLKS LIGHT UP IN THOSE CLASSES. IF YOU EVER NEED TO FEEL GOOD ONE DAY, DROP INTO ONE OF THOSE CLASSES, I'M TELLING YOU, IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, BECAUSE OUR SENIORS REALLY ENJOY THAT TIME.
AND TO BOND WITH FOLKS, TO INTERACT, IT REALLY DOES HELP.
AS FAR AS ON SLIDE 15 ON THE OUTSOURCING, I MENTIONED THIS IN B SESSION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO UTILIZE OUR -- YOU KNOW, PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS IN THIS WAY, AND SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF EXPLORING OUTSOURCING THESE DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. I KNOW OTHER CITIES DO THIS.
UNITED WAY -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE THIS INFORMATION ON -- BUT I REMEMBER ASKING UNITED WAY, TOO, AT THE TIME, HEY, DO Y'ALL DO THIS IN OTHER CITIES, AND I SEEMED TO BELIEVE THAT THEY DID.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND ON HOW THEY PROVIDE THE SERVICES
IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. >> WOOSLEY: I KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CITIES, AND I WANT TO SAY BALTIMORE IS ONE OF THEM, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON IT. THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE PART OF ANY REVIEW OF OUTSOURCING WOULD BE BENCHMARKING AND COMPARING.
>> GONZALEZ: BUT OTHER CITIES DO DO THIS, CORRECT?
>> WOOSLEY: I THINK -- I THINK SO. YES.
>> GONZALEZ: OKAY. >> WOOSLEY: SO... >> GONZALEZ: OKAY.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMAN WHYTE?
>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WANT TO THANK MELODY FOR THE PRESENTATION AND SAY AT THE OUTSET, AGAIN, I THINK ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONSES THAT RECEIVED FUNDING ARE -- THEY SERVE A GREAT PURPOSE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF FOLKS IN NEED AND I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE IN THESE PROGRAMS. THAT SAID, I DO THINK $20 MILLION COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES IS TOO MUCH, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC SAFETY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEEDS THAT OUR CITY HAS, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I THINK MANY OF US RECENTLY GOT TO MEET WITH THAT GROUP WHO'S PROVIDING SOME GUIDANCE TO THE CITY ON HOW WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE.
AND AT THE END OF MY MEETING WITH THEM, I SAID WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER? AND THEY TOLD ME, YOU GUYS HAVE TO ALLOCATE MORE RESOURCES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT SPENDING $20 MILLION FROM OUR GENERAL FUND HERE WHEN WE COULD ADD A FEW MORE MILLION DOLLARS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CREATE JOBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP WITH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE NEEDS THAT WE SEE AND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, PROVIDING JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, COULD HELP ALLEVIATE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS DOWN THE ROAD. WITH THAT SAID, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE PRESENTATION SHOWED 26 NEW PROGRAMS FROM 22 AGENCIES WHILE CUTTING 13 CURRENTLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. SO ARE THE NEW PROGRAMS REPLACING SERVICES OF THOSE OTHER 13, EXPANDING THE SERVICES AND WHAT SORT OF A THOUGHT HERE IN ADDING ADDITIONAL -- YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS DEFICIT
ENVIRONMENT? >> WOOSLEY: SO WE STICK TO THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND WE HAVE EVALUATORS THAT SCORE PROPOSALS.
THEY RANK THE PROPOSALS AND WE STAY VERY CLOSE TO THAT RANKING IN ORDER TO MAKE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. AND SO IN SOME CASES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROPOSALS FROM SOMEONE NEW THAT IS STRONGER THAN A PROPOSAL FROM SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN FUNDED FOR 10 OR 15 YEARS.
AND SO THAT'S -- THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP WITH THAT MANY NEW AGENCIES.
>> WHYTE: AND SO ARE THE NEW AGENCIES, THE SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING REPLACING THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THOSE 13 THAT WE'RE
CUTTING? >> WOOSLEY: SO IN THE -- IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE SUPPORTING CITY INITIATIVES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE AS MANY NEW PROGRAMS. SO GOODWILL AND COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS WITH NEXT LEVEL AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, THEY'RE FUNDED AGAIN TO CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK, BECAUSE
[00:50:03]
THEY'RE VERY ENGRAINED IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.MOST OF THE NEW PROGRAMS WILL BE PART OF THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING, AND SO THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY REPLACING ONE FOR ONE.
I WILL SAY WE HAD A LOT OF PROPOSALS FOR PARENTING EDUCATION, SO IF WE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, THERE ARE -- THERE IS -- ARE PARENTING PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED BY NEW PROGRAMS.
>> WHYTE: ON SLIDE 5, I SAW THE 50% MATCH REQUIREMENTS LISTED AS A CONTINUING POLICY. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CURRENTLY FUNDED AGENCIES ARE MEETING THAT PERCENTAGE? AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY
DON'T? >> WOOSLEY: THE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT ARE IN THIS PROCESS, 100% ARE MEETING. WE HAVE VERY FEW AGENCIES THAT ARE EVEN CLOSE TO 50% OF THEIR BUDGET COMING FROM THE CITY.
MOST OF THEM ARE WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. >> WHYTE: AND IF THEY
DON'T MEET THE 50% MATCH, WHAT HAPPENS? >> WOOSLEY: SO WE WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE PROGRAMS -- FOR THE WORK THEY'RE DOING.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE MATCH ON DAY ONE, BUT THEY HAVE TO SHOW US WHEN THEY'RE INVOICING THAT THEY'RE MEETING THE MATCH.
AND WE WOULD ONLY PAY UP TO THE AMOUNT OF MATCH THAT THEY PROVIDE.
>> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY LAST QUESTION IS THE TIMELINE STATES FY '28 RENEWAL BASED ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND PERFORMANCE. PERFORMANCE REALLY ISN'T DEFINED ANYWHERE HERE IN THE PRESENTATION. I GUESS IS THAT ON A CONTRACT-BY-CONTRACT BASIS AND WHAT METRICS ARE WE LOOKING AT FOR THESE AGENCIES TO HIT?
>> WOOSLEY: SO IT IS SOMEWHAT ON A CONTRACT-BY-CONTRACT BASIS. WE -- PART OF THE WORK WE DO -- HAVE BEEN DOING IS TRYING TO STANDARDIZE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDING PARENT EDUCATION, THEY WOULD HAVE SIMILAR METRICS GOING FORWARD. AND WE WOULD ASK THEM TO REPORT THOSE SAME THINGS SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE THE PERFORMANCE AND ALSO HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF -- YOU KNOW, OF HOW MUCH IS BEING DONE, WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE BEING PERFORMED FOR THE CATEGORY OF FUNDING. BUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE UNIQUE, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FIT INTO A CERTAIN BUCKET.
LET'S SEE. >> WHYTE: WHO MEASURES THE PERFORMANCE? AND WHAT WOULD TRIGGER NONRENEWAL OR MIDCONTRACT CLAWBACK?
>> WOOSLEY: SO THEY SET GOALS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTRACT.
IF THEY'RE NOT MEETING THEIR GOALS, WE DO -- WE GET MONTHLY REPORTS, WE DO VERIFICATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NUMBERS THEY'RE REPORTING ARE REALLY HAPPENING. WE LOOK AT QUARTERLY -- YOU KNOW, WE DO MORE ANALYSIS SO THAT WE KNOW IF THEY'RE ON TARGET OR NOT.
IF THEY'RE NOT ON TARGET, MAYBE THEY'RE FALLING BELOW 80% OF WHAT THEY'VE SET AS A GOAL, THEN WE ASK THEM TO DO CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS.
AND WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE WOULD HAVE AGENCIES THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND NOT FUNDING IF THEIR PERFORMANCE HASN'T IMPROVED. BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM GET BACK ON TRACK.
>> WHYTE: ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> WOOSLEY: SURE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING ALL THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE HERE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE NEVER REACHING THE TARGETS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT WITH YOU GUYS, SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A COMMITTED PERSON IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ADEQUATELY TAKEN CARE OF AS WE GO THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVICE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE PARTICULARLY YOU GUYS KNOW MY BACKGROUND WITH KIDDOS THAT THE MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE, THE LESS WE'LL HAVE TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON OFFICERS 10 YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE WE'LL BE PROVIDING PREVENTATIVE SUPPORT FOR THEM. ALL THAT TO SAY, I LOVE ALL OF OUR
[00:55:01]
NONPROFITS, I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON HOW DECISIONS WERE MADE AND KIND OF WHAT I'VE BEEN DIGGING INTO THE APPLICATIONS.I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU PUT INTO THESE APPLICATIONS. THEY WERE ALL VERY THOROUGH.
I SPENT THE MOST AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE COLLEGE AND MILITARY READINESS APPLICATIONS AND I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB IN DETERMINING HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY TRACK MEASURES FOR WHERE STUDENTS ARE GOING AND SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS IN PARTICULAR. SO THAT BEING SAID, THOUGH, I DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ON -- AND I'M SORRY, I SAID I WAS GOING TO GET YOU GUYS THIS BEFOREHAND AND I DIDN'T. SO I'M SORRY.
OKAY. SO FROM THE RUBRICS, HOW DO WE TRANSLATE FROM THE RUBRIC SCORE THAT THEY GOT TO WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY BEING FUNDED?
>> WOOSLEY: SO PART OF THAT IS HOW THEY RANKED. YOU KNOW, GENERALLY, THE HIGHER RANKING AGENCIES WE WERE AT LEAST TRYING TO FUND AT LEVEL FUNDING. IF THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVING A CONTRACT.
FOR THE NEW PROGRAMS, WE HAVE MOST OF THEM AT $50,000, WHICH IS OUR MINIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT. AND IT GIVES US THE CHANCE TO SEE -- ESPECIALLY NEW AGENCIES, THEIR CAPACITY AND WORK WITH THEM ON ANY CONCERNS ABOUT FINANCIALS OR MATCH OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO THAT'S -- THAT IS -- THAT HAS BEEN OUR STARTING AMOUNT, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THEM ASK FOR
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THAT. >> KAUR: YEAH.
IT DOESN'T FULLY TRANSLATE, AND I DON'T -- LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, GIRL SCOUTS, I LOVE THE GIRL SCOUTS, BUT THEIR FUNDING AMOUNT, THEY WERE RANKED TENTH OUT OF 13TH, AND THEIR FUNDING AMOUNT IS THE THIRD HIGHEST. AND SO I -- I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THEM ARE NEW, BUT I JUST -- DO WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, LIKE, TO WHAT WAS BEING ASKED, LIKE THE NUMBER OF KIDS SERVED, WHERE THEY'RE SERVING THEM?
AND HOW DOES THAT MATH PLAY INTO THE AMOUNTS? >> WOOSLEY: SO AS FAR AS MATH, IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT SITTING DOWN, TALKING TO THE PANELISTS, WHAT DID THEY HIKE ABOUT LIKE ABOUT THE PROPOSALS, WHAT PART OF THE PROGRAM REALLY APPEALED TO THEM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALSO LOOKING AT BUDGETS THINKING, YOU KNOW, WOW, THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE COST. WE WANT TO SEE THINGS MORE FOCUSED ON SERVICES, AND SO A GOOD EXAMPLE IS OATS. OATS ASKED FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY AND ABOUT 44%, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET, WAS ADMINISTRATIVE AND NONINSTRUCTIONAL. AND SO WE REDUCED THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE FUNDED PREVIOUSLY TO FUND ONLY WHAT WE FELT WAS APPROPRIATE. THEY ALSO HAD ASKED TO -- FOR FUNDING FOR CENTERS THAT WERE NOT OPERATED BY THE CITY. AND SO WE REMOVED THAT AS
WELL. >> KAUR: GOT IT. SO I GUESS MY THOUGHT IS, LIKE, IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR STRATEGY AND EVERYTHING, COLLEGE READINESS -- COLLEGE AND MILITARY READINESS IS OUR STRATEGY.
WHAT IS OUR GOAL THAT WE WANT TO SEE, RIGHT? SO COLLEGE AND MILITARY READINESS IS AFFECTED BY ALL SPECTRUMS, BY ALL -- UP INTO THE POINT WHERE YOU WERE AT THAT. SO YOU COULD BE DOING PREK WORK THAT COULD BE SUPPORTING COLLEGE AND MILITARY READINESS AND YOU COULD BE DOING DIRECT COLLEGE COACHING, SO DO WE THINK ABOUT IF THIS IS OUR GOAL, WHAT IS THE TARGET THAT WE WANT IN THIS GOAL? AND THEN HOW CAN WE FUND ACCORDINGLY WITHIN THAT KIND OF STRATEGY TO SAY WE'RE PUSHING -- WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS PERCENTAGE IN THIS AREA WILL GET DIRECT SUPPORT VERSUS THIS AMOUNT OF THIS FUNDING IS FOR PRELIMINARY SUPPORT?
>> WOOSLEY: WE HAVE BREAKDOWNS OF HOW MUCH IS GOING TO DROPOUT, HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COLLEGE READINESS. WE STUCK PRETTY CLOSELY TO THAT, BASED ON PREVIOUS YEAR'S FUNDING, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BIG CATEGORIES WERE -- IT WAS A PRIORITY TO STAY FOCUSED ON SO WHEN THERE WAS FUNDING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND WITHIN THAT, WE HAVE DROPOUT AND MILITARY READINESS -- OR COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS.
WE DIDN'T SAY, OKAY, THESE KINDERGARTEN READINESS CONTRACTS WILL ALSO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE STUCK TO WHAT WAS ASKED FOR IN THE RFP, WHICH LISTED UNDER COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, MENTORING, COUNSELING, THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT FIRST HELP STUDENTS GRADUATE AND THEN HELP THEM MOVE ON.
>> KAUR: YEAH, I GUESS I'M SAYING ARE WE USING A GOAL-DRIVEN STRATEGY
[01:00:01]
WHERE WE'RE THINKING THIS IS OUR GOAL AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE PROVIDINGFUNDING TO ATTACK THAT GOAL? >> WOOSLEY: YES.
WE HAVE OUR -- WE HAVE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.
>> KAUR: WHAT'S THE ONE FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, DO YOU KNOW?
>> WOOSLEY: LET'S SEE. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE -- THE THINGS THAT ARE REPORTED TO US, AND THEN WE'RE ASKING FOR TO MEET OUR GOALS IS THE PERCENT REPORTING INCREASED INTEREST IN ATTENDING COLLEGE, FOLLOWING A PARTICULAR CAREER PATHED, ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY, ATTENDING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING PROGRAMS TO TRACK THE WORK THEY'RE DOING TO THE POINT WHERE THEY KNOW IF PEOPLE HAD -- IF THE PROGRAM HAS ACTUALLY WORKED AND PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY ENTERED COLLEGE OR ENTERED THE
>> KAUR: BECAUSE THE THINGS THEY ARE REPORTING BACK ON THE PERFORMANCE METRICS ARE DIFFERENT FOR EACH. FOR EXAMPLE, GIRL SCOUTS IS THAT PRE AND POST SURVEY. BUT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL STUDENTS IN THEIR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, AN INCREASE IN INTEREST SO THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RESPONDENTS IN THAT PERFORMANCE METRICS THAN OTHERS DO.
ARE THEY SUBMITTING WHAT THEY WANT TO TRACK OR ARE YOU GUYS SAYING THIS IS WHAT
WE WANT YOU TO TRACK? >> WOOSLEY: IT'S A NEGOTIATION.
THEY WILL START OUT BY SUBMITTING WHAT THEY WANT TO TRACK AND WE SIT DOWN WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERY AGENCY AND SAY, WELL, THAT DOESN'T REALLY FIT OUR PLAN.
BUT I'LL LET JESSICA TALK ABOUT IT MORE. >> SO JUST TO ADD, COUNCILWOMAN. WE USE A RESULTS-BASED ACCOUNTABILITY METHOD SIMILAR TO THE METHOD THAT UNITED WAY USES. SO WE HAVE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES IN THE COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READINESS, THAT'S 70% OF STUDENTS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS GRADUATE, DETERMINED TO BE COLLEGE CAREER AND MILITARY READY. WE IDENTIFY PROXY MEASURES. SO WE HAD AGENCIES PROPOSE.
LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE FUNDING, THE TYPE OF SERVICES WE'RE GOING TO STANDARDIZE THAT ACROSS AGENCIES. THEY'RE REALLY TELLING US HOW THEIR SERVICES TIE TO THAT LONG-TERM OUTCOME, THAT COMMUNITY INDICATOR.
>> KAUR: I GUESS FOR THE FUTURE WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS, OKAY, THIS IS OUR LONG-TERM OUTCOME. THESE ARE OUR PROXY MEASURES.
THESE ARE HOW THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO AFFECT THEM. A LITTLE BIT CLOSER OF A CORRELATION TO THE IMPACT OF WHAT THIS FUNDING IS DOING AND WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING TO SERVE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF KIDS. SO HOW WE CAN INCREASE THAT NUMBER, A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY ON THAT METRICS. AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL ASK ABOUT THIS -- I KNOW I'M ALREADY PRETTY MUCH OUT OF TIME.
BUT DO WE KNOW WHY URBAN CHAMPIONS DIDN'T GET THEIR LOCAL PREFERENCE POINTS?
.>> I DON'T KNOW BUT WE WILL FOLLOW UP AND INCLUDE IT IN FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION.
>> KAUR: OKAY. BOTH THEM AND STUDENTS OF SERVICE ON THE FINAL MATRIX SAYS ZERO FOR LOCAL PREFERENCE POINTS. AND IF URBAN CHAMPIONS GOT THAT, THEY WERE RANKED 12TH AND THEY WOULD HAVE MOVED UP TO 9.
THEY'RE AN EXAMPLE OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT I THINK IS DOING VERY SPECIFIC TARGETED COLLEGE READINESS WORK IN THE SUMMER, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE THING I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. THEY'RE AN ORGANIZATION DOING IMMEDIATE WORK FOR KIDS GRADUATING. AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ONES ARE DOING A SESSION EARLY ON. HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT IS MORE POINTED AND WHAT IS TRULY GOING TO ADDRESS THAT GOAL THAT WE HAVE FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER
READINESS. >> WOOSLEY: GOT IT. >> KAUR: I'LL BUZZ BACK
IN. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
THTHANK YOU, MELODY AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR YOUR WORK. THIS IS ALWAYS -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ALWAYS FIRST IN THE BUDGET TO GO FORWARD. BUT THIS IS ALWAYS THE HARD PART. WE KNOW WE FACE A DEFICIT. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD CHOICES AND FOR YOU TO BEGIN IN TERMS OF DELEGATE AGENCIES.
RUBEN OR JUSTINA, WHAT IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET, OVERALL?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. THE TOTAL CITY BUDGET IS ABOUT $4 BILLION.
>> VIAGRAN: $4 BILLION. THAT $4 BILLION, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS THE -- WHAT IS
IT, $24.5 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY? >> IT'S LESS THAN 1%.
>> VIAGRAN: LESS THAN 1%. THANK YOU. SO MY BIG QUESTION -- THIS IS NECESSARY. WE SHOULD BE AT 2%. WE SHOULD BE AT 5%.
[01:05:07]
ANY CONVERSATION HAD THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THIS MONEY AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE IS -- IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH DEBATE. THIS IS LESS THAN 1% OF OUR BUDGET.BACK TO OUR RESIDENTS, WHO PAY TAXES. IF NOT THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES, THROUGH SALES TAX, THAT WORK IN OUR CITIES, THAT TAKE OUR BUSES, THAT SHOP HERE. SO, IT JUST KIND OF MAKES MY SKIN CRAWL WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS, BECAUSE WE SHOULD. WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE OF THIS. MELODY, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO COME AND CUT SOME GROUPS THAT WE KNOW ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE HERE. I WANT TO THANK THE FAITH-BASED GROUPS THAT ARE SERVING WITH OUR COMMUNITY THAT AREN'T HERE, THAT DO THIS WITHOUT THE ACCOLADES. THAT DO THIS WITHOUT THE CITY HELP.
BECAUSE OUR APPLICATIONS ARE JUST TOO LONG. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR COMING HERE TODAY. WE FACE SOME DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE -- TEXAS HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST GDPS, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR OUR MONEY FOR 2026 TO COME BACK TO US. AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT CHOICES.
I GO BACK AND FORTH ON WHETHER WE NEED TO GET A THIRD AGENCY TO HELP.
AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AND I'VE SEEN THE GROUPS, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS.
IMMEDIATELY NOW, BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS WE'RE IN? AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S LIKE -- WELL, NOT EVERYONE BUT, YES, LET'S ASK THE COLLEGE AND MILITARY AND CAREER READINESS. WE ARE ACTUALLY AT WAR.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WANT TO GO INTO THE MILITARY RIGHT NOW.
COLLEGE. IT IS JUST GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.
ARE WE STARTING WITH THE COLLEGE READINESS OF OUR ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES? THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY GOING ON SO OF COURSE MY FOCUS IS GOING TO BE WHILE I WANT ALL OF THESE AGENCIES TO CONTINUE, PERHAPS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR KINDER READINESS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE STRENGTHENING THE FAMILIES AND THAT THE PARENTS HAVE THE PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE HELPING WITH THE CHILDREN.
ONE THING WE DO KNOW FOR A FACT IS THAT CHILDCARE IS -- WE ARE FACING THESE CHILDCARE DESERTS. ANYBODY THAT HAS A PROGRAM AND, YOU KNOW, MENTIONED BEFORE, URBAN CHAMPIONS, IS I KNOW THEY DO AFTER SCHOOL. THEY'RE DEALING WITH KIDS IN SOCCER. SO MAYBE WE KIND OF LOOK AT THAT.
SO I THINK RIGHT NOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LOOKING AT WHAT IMMEDIATE NEEDS WE SEE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS WE ARE IN THIS UNPREDICTABLE ERA.
THE OTHER THING IS BUSINESSES, AS CHAIR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AS CHAIR OF AUDIT, TALKING WITH BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES .
THEY WANT TO COME TO A CITY THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND ACCEPTED.
AND PART OF THAT IS HAVING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS AND THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS. I THINK THE CITY IS WORKING ON THAT SO I REALLY AM ENCOURAGED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WHERE WE PERIODICALLY NEED TO DO.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET ALL THE SPECIFICS BUT IT MAY CHANGE IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES NEED TO DO.
SO IN BEING IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE IMPACT AS WE GO THROUGH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS WE HAVE. I DO NOT ENVY YOU OR YOUR JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE CUTS THAT YOU HAVE.
BUT LESS THAN 1% OF OUR BUDGET GOES BACK TO HELP ACTUAL PROGRAMMING RESIDENTS. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WE SHOULD BE AT 1%, 2%, 5%, AT LEAST. BUT WE'RE NOT THERE. AND YES, WE NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO BRINGING BETTER BUSINESS, BETTER ECONOMY AND GROWTH BUT WE ONLY DO THAT IF THIS IS A CITY THAT PEOPLE FEEL WELCOMED THAT AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY CUTTING OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE AND DISCUSSING THIS
DURING BUDGET. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS.
>> CASTILLO: TH THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. I WAS LISTENING TO A SERMON WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE POWER OF THE PERSON AND THE PURSE AND HOW DOCUMENTS REPRESENT PRINCIPLES AND VALUES. IT'S HOW YOU SPEND THOSE DOLLARS.
[01:10:03]
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT 5, IN PARTICULAR. AND WHEN WE DIG INTO THE WEEDS WHEN WE HEAR DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TO THEM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE WORK THAT MANY OF THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES DO AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE.AND WHEN WE DIG INTO THE WEEDS, FOR EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUCCESS, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, WHAT COMES TO MIND -- I WAS PLEASED TO SEE, PARTICULARLY FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, WAS CHRISTUS MINISTRIES. IT'S A NONPROFIT OUT IN DISTRICT 1. HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT AND TO SEE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. NOT ONLY DO THEY PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH BUT FOR ADULTS THAT HAVE BEEN FORMERLY INCARCERATED, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE FAMILIES OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. AND THEY ARE PARTNERS WITH READY TO WORK. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, MANY OF THESE NONPROFITS ARE WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK, GET A SKILL, GET A TRADE, AND EARN MONEY SOMETIMES WITH SOME OF THE TRADE PROGRAMS WHILE THEY LEARN. SO I HEAR THE PRIORITY OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUT MANY OF THESE DELEGATE AGENCIES ARE THAT VEHICLE TO THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT NONPROFIT, IN PARTICULAR. BUT ALSO HOW THEY PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. THEY'RE ABLE TO GIVE US A TOUR -- THIS WAS A YEAR AND A HALF AGO -- OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE TO YOUTH.
HOW THEY HAVE RESTORE EDUCATION. AT THE TIME THEY HAD THEM HOUSED THERE AND THEIR NONPROFIT AS WELL . OUR GOAL IS ENSURING FOLKS DO NOT REOFFEND. THAT'S WHY I VALUE THE WORK OF MARIA.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE INCARCERATION PIECE -- WHILE IT MAY BE IMPORTANT, DEPENDING ON THE OFFENSE BUT IT'S HOW DO WE GET THESE FOLKS NOT TO COMMIT THE SAME CRIME AGAIN. BUT IT TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH OF HOW WE GET THERE. SO AGAIN, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION, PARTICULARLY WITH NEXT LEVEL OPPORTUNITY . IS THERE A WAIT LIST FOR THAT PROGRAM?
IF SO, WHAT DOES THAT TYPICALLY LOOK LIKE? >> WOOSLEY: THE WAIT LIST
RIGHT NOW IS TWO MONTHS. >> CASTILLO: I THINK IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS GREAT IMPACT THAT GOES BEYOND SEVERAL COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO ENSURING THAT WE INVEST IN OUR YOUTH AND OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE. SO I WOULD BE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS INCREASING THE FUNDING TO ADDRESS THAT WAIT LIST. I BELIEVE IT'S EVERY YEAR THERE'S A WAIT LIST TO PARTICIPATE IN NEXT LEVEL . THAT HAS A WORKFORCE COMPONENT AS WELL. AND GOING BACK TO CHRISTUS MINISTRIES, DO WE KNOW IF THAT WAS THE FULL AMOUNT THEY APPLIED FOR AND IF IT WASN'T, WHAT WAS THE TOTAL
AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE SEEKING? >> WOOSLEY: WE'LL LOOK THAT UP REAL QUICK BUT I CAN TELL YOU I DON'T THINK ANY AGENCY RECEIVED THE AMOUNT THEY APPLIED FOR. CHRISTUS WAS AWARDED $50,000.
WE'RE LOOKING. WE'LL GET IT FOR YOU. >> CASTILLO: I THINK OFFLINE, LEADING UP TO THE NEXT BRIEFING UNDER A SESSION, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHICH DELEGATE AGENCIES -- THE TOTAL AMOUNT THEY APPLIED AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE AWARDED. THAT WAY I CAN SEE THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT IN SHORT, I THINK THIS IS A BUCKET THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF DISENGAGED AT-RISK YOUTH AND CONNECTING THAT. THAT IS OUR FUTURE OF WORKFORCE.
AND IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCENTIVIZING BUSINESSES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO INVEST IN SAN ANTONIO, IT REQUIRES US TO INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE. THESE AGENCIES ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AND DOING MUCH WITH VERY LITTLE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT.
WE SHOULD BE INCREASING THEIR FUNDING AND SUPPORT. BUT IN SHORT, JUST APPRECIATE THE WORK OF ALL THE DELEGATE AGENCIES AND WHETHER IT'S SENIOR INDEPENDENCE, ENDING HOMELESSNESS, YOUTH, AND SUCCESS, OR STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE INCREASING FUNDING AND DELEGATING MUCH OF OUR RESOURCES. AGAIN, IF WE WANT TO CHIP AWAY AT THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, OUR DROP-OUT RATES, SO ON AND SO FORTH, THIS IS WHERE THE WORK IS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> WOOSLEY: THE CHRISTUS APPLIED FOR ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, A LITTLE OVER. IF YOU LOOK AT TAB 5 IN THE BINDER, THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE FUNDED. THE AMOUNT THEY REQUESTED
AND THE NUMBER OF PROPOSALS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
[01:15:01]
COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ON -- I GUESS IT WAS IN THE BACKUP. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION SINCE THE AMERICAN GI FORUM ISN'T FOCUSING ON HOMELESSNESS ANYMORE AND BEING ABSORBED BY SAMMINISTRIES, HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF?
>> COUNCILWOMAN, WE HAVE NOT FUNDED AMERICAN GI FORUM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THROUGH THIS PROCESS OR THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT. WE ARE RECOMMENDING SAMMINISTRIES FOR FUNDING FOR RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES, AS WELL AS OUTREACH SERVICES AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS.
>> SPEARS: SO THEY HAVE BEEN HANDLING THAT FOR THEM UNDER A WHILE OR THEY HAVE
BEEN UNDER SAMMINISTRIES FOR A WHILE? >> NO, THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE AGENCIES WORKING CLOSELY WITH EACH OTHER AND US WITH THE HOMELESS RESPONSE
SYSTEM. >> SPEARS: OKAY. CAN YOU ALSO THEN TELL ME -- I SAW WE'RE STILL FUNDING AMERICAN GATEWAYS. WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THEM?
WHAT'S THE FUNDING GOING TOWARDS? >> WOOSLEY: SO AMERICAN GATEWAYS WAS THE ONLY AGENCY THAT APPLIED TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES.
BUT WE ARE ONLY FUNDING THEIR KNOW YOUR RIGHTS EDUCATION WORK AND DEFENSE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH LEGAL STATUS. SO AFTER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS ADOPTED, WE ENDED THE FUNDING OF DEPORTATION AND DETAINMENT LEGAL SERVICES.
AND ONLY ALLOWED KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND LEGAL SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS WITH LEGAL
STATUS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU. I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT MANY OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED PROGRAMMING.
BUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT REALLY HAS A VERY SPECIFIC ROLE AND CORE SERVICES HAVE TO COME FIRST. AT THE END OF THE DAY -- THIS ISN'T PERSONAL.
IT IS STRICTLY BUSINESS. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE CORE SERVICES. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO SAID ABOUT MEETING THOSE FIRST. I AGREE ALSO WITH LOOKING AT THAT SUNSETTING APPROACH. I WONDER IF WE ASK HOW MUCH -- WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE DELEGATE AGENCY OVERALL BUDGETS ARE COMING FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS, FROM THE TAX
DOLLARS. DO WE ASK THAT QUESTION? >> WOOSLEY: SO THEY PROVIDE A PROGRAM AND AGENCY BUDGET WITH THEIR APPLICATION AND ALSO WITH THEIR CONTRACTS. SO WE CAN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, ADD ALL OF THAT UP AND UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HOW MUCH FROM STATE GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PHILANTHROPY, FUNDRAISING.
WE ASK FOR THOSE LARGE CATEGORIES. SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT.
>> SPEARS: AND SO I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD BE CONSIDERING THE GROUPS THAT ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THAT WE'RE MORE ENHANCING THEIR PROGRAMS. SO WE CAN SEE THEM CONTINUE TO GROW AND RECEIVE SUPPORT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE OTHER FUNDING BUCKETS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THAT IT'S LESS AND LESS RELIANT ON TAX DOLLARS. YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET'S TIGHT AND WE DO HAVE TO CUT BACK IN THINGS. WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. WE JUST CAN'T DO IT ALL SO IT HAS TO BE CORE SERVICES.
AGENCIES CROSSING OVER AND DOING THE SAME KIND OF WORK AND REALLY SHOULD BE CONSOLIDATING DOWN INTO ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER.
I MEAN, YOU COULD DIVE SO DEEP INTO THIS, WHICH I GUESS IS WHY YOU WANT TO GET THE OUTSOURCING PIECE THERE, WHICH I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON THAT TOO.
THAT'S SLIDE 15, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE WANTING THAT. ARE THEY ALSO GOING TO HELP ASSESS WAYS WE CAN START TO SCALE BACK TAX DOLLARS WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT? I SEE THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT DUPLICATIVE SERVICES.
>> WOOSLEY: I MEAN, TO CLARIFY, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMENDING
[01:20:02]
THAT WE DO THIS. IT'S JUST WE'RE ASKING IF COUNCIL WANTS US TO EXPLOREIT. >> SPEARS: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN WHEN YOU EXPLORE IT?
>> WOOSLEY: THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLY OUTSOURCING THE PROGRAM.
WE PUT IT OUT THERE AS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL CAN GIVE US DIRECTION ON.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THAT FOR THE NEXT CYCLE, WE CAN DO THAT
AT YOUR DIRECTION. >> SPEARS: I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IT.
I COULD POTENTIALLY BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. I KNOW -- YOU TALK ABOUT SENIOR SERVICES AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR OUR SENIOR CENTERS.
I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY, YEAH -- I JUST REALLY WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT ON HOW THESE DOLLARS ARE BEING USED AND MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING EFFICIENT AND THAT THEY'RE MEETING CORE SERVICES AND, YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S BEING USED WITHIN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. I'D LIKE TO SEE US REWARDING THOSE AGENCIES THAT ARE COORDINATING THEIR EFFORT. REALLY SHOWING AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, TAX DOLLARS.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS I'M LOOKING FOR AND CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF.
BUT I DO THINK THAT IS A GREAT IDEA THAT COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE GAVITO WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THE SUNSETTING OF SOME OF THESE AGENCIES AND REALLY FOCUSING ON OUR CORE SERVICES. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE FALL WITHIN THAT, I BELIEVE. I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
GALVAN. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MELODY, EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THE ART FOLKS THAT DOES ARTWORK IN THE SENIOR CENTERS. WHAT WAS IT CALLED? BUILD HOUSE ARTS.
THEY DID NOT APPLY AND ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME FUNDING BASED ON THE
SERVICES WE'RE NEEDING FROM THEM? >> WOOSLEY: YES.
THE ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASSES ARE POPULAR IN THE SENIOR CENTERS .
THAT'S AN OPTION FOR COUNCIL TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT CONTRACT.
BUT WE WANTED TO BE UP FRONT THAT THEY DIDN'T APPLY AND NOT JUST LET THEM INTO THE
PROCESS. >> MUNGIA: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERY SENIOR CENTER HAS ARTWORK POSTED BY SENIORS. IS THAT THE ONLY NONPROFIT THAT IS GOING TO GET FUNDING THAT DID NOT APPLY FOR FUNDING?
>> WOOSLEY: YES. >> MUNGIA: IN THE COURSE OF WORKING WITH SOME OF THESE NONPROFITS, HAVE WE GOTTEN TO THE DISCUSSION OR ASKED THEM WHAT WOULD HAPPEN SHOULD CITY FUNDING FOR THEIR NONPROFIT BE SUNSETTED?
>> WOOSLEY: WE HEAR FROM THE NONPROFITS. WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF LOSS OF FUNDING, BASED ON THE MEASURES OR THE OUTCOMES AND THE PERFORMANCE METRICS THEY REPORT. WE KNOW, OKAY, THIS AGENCY HAS A GOAL OF SERVING 500 STUDENTS AND THOSE 500 STUDENTS MIGHT NOT BE SERVED.
BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THEY WOULD LOOK FOR FUNDING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> MUNGIA: BUT THEY PROBABLY DO THAT NOW ALREADY.
>> WOOSLEY: YES. >> MUNGIA: IF THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN FUNDING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, I'M SURE HAVING THEIR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY STRIP AWAY FUNDING PROBABLY WON'T HELP THEM GET FUNDING FROM OTHER PLACES.
>> WOOSLEY: THAT'S A GOOD POINT. >> MUNGIA: DO YOU FIND THAT TO BE PRETTY ACCURATE WITH YOUR WORK WITH NONPROFITS?
>> WOOSLEY: WHEN WE ISSUE RFPS WE ASK FOR INFORMATION ON PAST PERFORMANCE AND IF YOU'RE REPORTING THAT YOU WEREN'T FUNDING DUE TO PERFORMANCE
ISSUES, YES, THAT WOULD IMPACT. >> MUNGIA: I THINK SOME OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENTS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE AREN'T GOING TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET MEETING AND SEE THE CITY HAD SOME BUDGET SHORTFALLS AND DECIDED TO TAKE AWAY FUNDING. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THE CITY STOPPED SUPPORTING A NONPROFIT FOR A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT AS A NET NEGATIVE EFFECT -- IT COULD HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD SEE THAT HERE. WE CAN'T FORECAST THAT.
SO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 FOR THESE IS WHAT AGAIN?
>> WOOSLEY: 14.9. >> MUNGIA: AND FISCAL YEAR '26 WAS 24.5?
[01:25:10]
>> WOOSLEY: THE $24 MILLION IS THE TOTAL FUNDING POOL.
THAT INCLUDES THE AGENCIES, ABOUT $10 MILLION FOR DESIGNATED FUNDING TO AGENCIES. SO WHEN YOU STRIP THAT OFF, YOU HAVE 14 MILLION DOLLARS.
>> MUNGIA: IS IT EQUAL THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING FOR '27.
>> WOOSLEY: IF YOU LOOK AT FISCAL YEAR '25, IT IS LESS BECAUSE OF THE $500,000 REDUCTION FOR HISTORICAL UNDERSPENDING. THAT'S A PERMANENT
REDUCTION. >> MUNGIA: OKAY. AND THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE GOING TO GET THAT FUNDING, THEY'RE NOT REALLY APPLYING FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR
THE FUNDING THEY WERE GETTING FOR THAT $500,000? >> WOOSLEY: IT'S NOT TIED TO A CERTAIN SECTOR, CATEGORY, OR AGENCY. IT'S A DROP IN THE POOL.
SO WHEN WE MAKE THE FUNDING DECISIONS THERE'S LESS MONEY.
>> MUNGIA: SO THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS MONEY IN '27 THAN THERE WAS BEFORE?
>> WOOSLEY: IN '25 ALSO INCLUDED THOSE ONE-TIME BUDGET AMENDMENTS REDUCED FROM THE RESERVE.
>> MUNGIA: GOING INTO '27, WHAT WAS YOUR RESERVE AMOUNT?
>> WOOSLEY: THERE'S NO RESERVE AMOUNT FOR '27 BUT THE TOTAL POOL IS ESTIMATED
TO BE $24.4 MILLION. >> MUNGIA: GOTCHA. ANOTHER QUESTION, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BACKUP. DID EVERY NONPROFIT GETTING AWARDED SCORE HIGHER THAN THOSE THAT DID NOT? IS THERE ANYONE WHO SCORED HIGHER THAN SOMEONE GETTING MONEY THAT IS NOT GETTING MONEY?
>> WOOSLEY: SO THERE ARE A FEW THAT WERE SKIPPED AND THAT WAS BECAUSE -- WELL, WITH RESTORE EDUCATION, THEY APPLIED. THEIR APPLICATIONS WERE GENERALLY IN THE MID-RANGE . BUT READY TO WORK PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO RESTORE EDUCATION. AND SINCE WE'RE ENCOURAGING OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR OWN PROGRAMS TO ENROLL PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FURTHERING EDUCATION IN READY TO WORK, THEY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO RESTORE
EDUCATION THROUGH READY TO WORK. >> MUNGIA: OKAY.
SO MAYBE IN THE MEMO YOU SENT US YOU CAN PUT EACH OF THOSE NONPROFITS THAT SCORED HIGHER THAT ARE NOT GETTING FUNDING AND THE REASON WHY THAT IS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THEORY, IT SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER THAT THEY SHOULD BE GETTING MONEY FROM THIS OTHER PROGRAM WE'RE DELEGATING BUT SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ADD THAT.
>> WOOSLEY: WE CAN DO THAT. >> MUNGIA: I THINK ON ONE OF THE BACKUPS YOU PROVIDED, ONE OF THEM DID NOT GET FUNDING.
ONE WAS SOUTH SAN ISD? >> WOOSLEY: THAT IS A DESIGNATED AGENCY, PROBABLY
SHOULDN'T BE ON THE LIST. >> MUNGIA: I NOTICED IT WAS ZERO ALL THE WAY
THROUGH. >> WOOSLEY: THEY DECLINED THEIR CONTRACT EARLY IN THE
FISCAL YEAR '26. >> MUNGIA: WHY DID THEY DENY THE CONTRACT?
>> WOOSLEY: I THINK THEY DECIDED IT WAS LESS THAN $100,000, I THINK, AND THEY
JUST FELT LIKE IT WASN'T WORTH THE WORK. >> MUNGIA: WHICH OF THE
FOUR ARE GETTING THE AFTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE? >> WOOSLEY: SAN ANTONIO
ISD, EDGEWOOD ISD, HARLANDALE, AND SOUTHWEST. >> MUNGIA: THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ROUGHLY THE SAME AMOUNT THAT THEY GOT IN THE PRIOR YEAR?
>> WOOSLEY: YES. >> MUNGIA: EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, MELODY.
APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, AND I'LL JUST SAY, SINCE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT OF SUNSETTING AND TAKING AWAY FUNDING FROM PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO RELATE THIS TO A PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST. SO THERE'S PLENTY OF STREETS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS. WHILE I'M SURE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM, YOU CAN HAVE A SIDEWALK BUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF SOMEBODY TRYING TO GET HELP FROM THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER OR NOT BEING ABLE TO TEACH GOOD PARENTING, FATHER CLASSES. OR FOLKS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET HELP THROUGH THE BEAT AIDS COALITION OR KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT
[01:30:04]
COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET CORAZON MINISTRIES HELP, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO BUDGET SURVEY PRIORITY WAS HOMELESS SERVICES. THAT'S QUITE DIFFERENT THAN NOT HAVING A SIDEWALK OR WISHING YOU DID HAVE A SIDEWALK TO GET TO SOMEWHERE.I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IS QUITE DIFFERENT AND WE CAN SEE IT ON THE PAPER WHAT THAT CUT WOULD LOOK LIKE BUT THE NET RESULT AND THE RESULT FOR 5, 10 YEARS AFTER SUBSTANTIAL CUTS TO THESE PROGRAMS WOULD BE PRETTY DETRIMENTAL.
I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO PRIMARILY AFFECT KIDS LIVING INSIDE 410, IF I CAN IMAGINE WHERE THE SERVICES ARE GOING AND WHO IS BENEFITING FROM THAT.
THAT'S PROBABLY MOST OF US UP HERE WHO HAVE PEOPLE AND RESIDENTS IN 410.
JUST WANT TO ADD THAT PIECE. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE BACK END WORK WITH STAFF FOR MAKING THIS PRESENTATION AND THE WORK EVERY DAY. REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WHETHER IT'S OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN OR OLDEST FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY OR OUR ADULTS WHO [INDISCERNIBLE] AS LIFE CONTINUES TO CHANGE FOR ALL OF US. WE KNOW THE WORK YOU DO IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS HERE DOING THIS WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO COMMUNITIES WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE TRUST WITH OTHER ENTITIES. BUT THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR AND DEVELOPMENT OR FOR RE-ENTERING LIFE AFTER BEING INCARCERATED OR ANY OTHER KINDS OF SUPPORT THAT NONPROFITS PROVIDE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR CONTINUED WHILE I KNOW OF COURSE WE ARE HAVING OUR OWN BUDGET CONVERSATION LATER THIS YEAR AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THEM THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS HERE ON COUNCIL, I DON'T THINK THESE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS THE FIRST TO GO.
IT'S EASY TO SAY THAT WHEN THERE ARE EXTERNAL PARTNERS. I THINK BEING TOO HASTY ON SAYING WE'RE GOING TO PULL THE PLUG ON A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMMINGS, THAT'S GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL AT THAT TIME WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY SHIFT IN A DIRECTION THAT IS HARMFUL FOR THE FOLKS BEING SERVED BY THESE NONPROFITS IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT PATH TO GO. AT LEAST, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. THIS CONVERSATION ALSO REMINDS ME ABOUT THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE AND THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE OFTEN ABOUT MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND MUCH OF THE WORK DONE IN THIS KIND OF SPACE, IN SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOW MANY OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE BEST FUND THESE PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THE BEST IMPACT POSSIBLE, WHETHER THAT'S ORAL HEALTH FOR OUR KIDS TO FOCUS AT SCHOOL OR IT'S FINDING WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR LIBRARIES AND CERTAIN WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL NEARBY THEM SO WE CAN HELP THE LITERACY RATE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. YOU KNOW THERE ARE THOSE DOING THIS WORK BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT ALL. WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO IT TOGETHER TO REACH THE BEST IMPACT POSSIBLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY OUR ASTHMA PROGRAM, ORAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS, STD PREVENTION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS MANY THAT THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS.
HOW DO WE SCALE THEM UP? THAT'S SOMETHING I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE LARGER TRACKING WITH THIS. I KNOW WE PUT A LOT OF REQUESTS ON OUR FOLKS THAT WE FUND TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THERE AND HOW IT'S MOVING THE NEEDLE. I THINK DOING A BIT MORE DIGGING INTO THAT OUTCOME TRACKING THAT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR WAS TALKING ABOUT, SEEING HOW DOES THAT DIRECT DOLLAR AMOUNT IMPACT X MANY FAMILIES, STUDENTS, ET CETERA. AND GET THEM TO THE BEST OUTCOME POSSIBLE, WHETHER IT'S MOVING THEM OUT OF POVERTY OR GETTING THEM INTO A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHATEVER IT MAY BE. AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT SCALE. I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO SHIFT OUR PRIORITIES HERE AND THERE WITH DIFFERENT FUNDING BASED ON THAT SO WE CAN SEE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. WE HAVE NOW HOUSED THIS MANY PEOPLE.
WE HAVE DONE THIS SUPPORT THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OR OUR HEALTH OR OUR WELL BEING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S CONTINUOUS WORK THAT I THINK CAN HAPPEN AND IT'S NECESSARY SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR DOLLARS
[01:35:03]
ARE GOING AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. I GUESS IT LEADS TO SLIDE 15, AS WE LOOK AT THE OUTSOURCING OF SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.I KNOW IT'S ONLY ONE PART OF OUR FOCUS HERE. BUT I WANTED TO ASK MELODY -- I UNDERSTAND THE CONSIDERATIONS HERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE'S A STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR ALL THE FOLKS TO APPLY TO.
HAVING ONE AGENCY DOING THAT COLLECTING AND MONITORING. HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN IS IT ON US TO DO THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE AREA FOUNDATION OR UNITED WAY OR OTHER FOLKS? IS IT IN TERMS OF TIME OR DIFFERENT PRIORITIES -- OR THE MULTIPLE ENTITIES? CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT CURRENT COORDINATION
LOOKS LIKE NOW? >> WOOSLEY: SURE. WE WORK WITH THOSE CORE FUNDS. UNITED WAY, EVEN H-E-B FOUNDATION.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF FUNDS THAT ARE PART OF A FUNDS GROUP AND WE PARTICIPATE IN THOSE WORK GROUPS. SO WE'RE PRETTY CONNECTED TO THEM.
THE MOST OVERLAP -- OVERLAP IS NOT THE RIGHT WORD BUT THE CLOSEST WE COME IS MIRRORING UNITED WAY. SIMILAR FUNDED PROGRAMS, NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY THE SAME PROGRAM BUT WE MIGHT BE WORKING WITH THE SAME AGENCIES.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE ANYWAY.
>> GALVAN: RIGHT. I GUESS THAT'S MY CONCERN OR --T MY QUESTIONING ALONG THIS ONE IS THAT COMMUNICATION IS ALREADY HAPPENING. WHAT'S MISSING? I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE'RE DOUBLE-DIPPING IN SOME WAY.
ARE WE NOT GETTING THE -- WHAT'S THE BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION? WE FUNDED THESE THINGS IN THEIR PROGRAM. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A
BIT MORE. >> WOOSLEY: THEY'RE ENGAGED IN ASSET MAPPING SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT KRONKOWSKI FUNDS, WHAT UNITED WAY FUNDS AND WHAT WE FUND AND ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'RE INVOLVED IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE ALIGN METRICS.
BACK TO -- IF WE'RE FUNDING THE SAME PROGRAM, THEY DON'T NEED TO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT REPORTS. SO THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL IS TRYING TO BRING THOSE THINGS
TOGETHER. >> GALVAN: THAT MAKES SENSE.
ALSO GETTING AWAY FROM THREE APPLICATIONS AS WELL THAT ARE ALL LENGTHY AND MAYBE HAVE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS OR FORMAT OF QUESTIONS OF SIMILAR QUESTIONING.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS: IS THAT NOT POSSIBLE TO DO IN-HOUSE ALREADY WITH OUR PARTNERS? OR IS IT PREFERRED TO DO IT EXTERNALLY?
>> WOOSLEY: I THINK WE DON'T KNOW YET UNTIL WE WALK THROUGH IT.
BUT WE ABSOLUTELY DO THAT IN-HOUSE NOW. SO THAT'S PART OF OUR FUNDING PROCESS FOR THE WHOLE POOL IS TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THE FUNDS PARTICIPATE ON OUR PANELS AND OUR REVIEWS, IN OUR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK .
WE PARTICIPATE IN THEIRS. SO THAT WE'RE ALL SEEING WHAT EACH OTHER IS DOING.
SO THAT, LIKE I SAID, WILL CONTINUE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE OUTSOURCE OR NOT.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THAT PART. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. I GUESS MY -- I GET CONCERNED WHEN I SEE THE CONSIDERATIONS PORTION OF SLIDE 15.
WE LOOK AT THE LESS CONTROL OVER INVESTMENT AND DECREASED RESPONSIVE OF CITY PRIORITIES. I THINK THOSE CAN BE WORKED OUT BUT IT DOES MAKE ME A BIT NERVOUS ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO TAKE ON OUR END TO FIGURE OUT ARE WE GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED? ARE WE STILL ABLE TO TRACK IT? WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE ALTERNATIVE TO BE THE KIND OF FACILITATOR, TO BE THE TABLE FOLKS COME TO US. I DON'T KNOW IF IT COMES DOWN TO BUDGETING WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGET ABOUT WHO IS ABLE TO DO THAT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STAFF ADMINISTER DISCRETIONARY FUNDS?
>> WOOSLEY: I DON'T HAVE A BREAKDOWN BETWEEN ALL OF THE CONTRACTS AND DISCRETIONARY BUT WE CAN TAKE A STAB AT THAT. IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE HAVE CONTRACT OFFICERS AND FISCAL PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED.
WHEN WE DO THE PROCESS, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PROCUREMENT, ALL OF THOSE GROUPS ARE INVOLVED. WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IS ARE WE GOING TO EXPECT THE SAME LEVEL OF MONITORING AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE RATE MIGHT TEND TO BE HIGHER THAN
[01:40:03]
OURS. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPARISON THAT WE WOULDTAKE A LOOK AT. >> GALVAN: YEAH. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR FOLLOW-UP MEMOS, UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT HOW MANY FOLKS ARE ENGAGED HERE, ON THE CITY SIDE. I THINK THAT'S THE ULTIMATE POINT HERE, THAT WOULD BE
GOOD FOR US TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE, AT LEAST FOR ME. >> WOOSLEY: WE HAVE DONE
THAT CALCULATION SO, YEAH. WE KNOW WHAT WE SPEND. >> WE DID LOOK AT HOW MUCH IT TAKES TO ADMINISTER THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. THERE'S ABOUT 16 -- IT EQUATES TO 16 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS AND IT'S ABOUT $1.5 MILLION THAT WE SPEND ON IT. IT'S ABOUT 5% OF THE TOTAL DELEGATE AGENCY BUDGET.
>> GALVAN: IS IT 5% OF THE TOTAL DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING?
>> CORRECT. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT WAS MY MAIN QUESTION THERE, JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT OPTION. I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT MY THOUGHT IS.
I'M STILL LEANING MORE TOWARDS KEEPING IT IN-HOUSE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE IT ALL LINED UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS
TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK?
COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE MORE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO REQUEST PRIOR TO Y'ALL COMING BACK TO A SESSION.
SO ONE, IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION, IF Y'ALL CAN EXPLAIN TO ME IN THE RUBRIC THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND FOR HER WAS A .2 IN POINTS. FOR .2 POINTS TO NOT GET ANY FUNDING, I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND. I KNOW THEIR REQUEST WAS $220,000 TO SERVE 360 PEOPLE IN COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE. AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ARE FUNDING CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOR THEIR GRACE COUNSELING PROGRAM AND THEY REQUESTED MORE FOR LESS PEOPLE. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DETERMINATION WAS MADE. I THINK YOU MENTIONED THE APPLICATION WAS -- I KNOW IT WAS MENTIONED IN MY BRIEFING BUT I FORGOT WHAT THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT WAS. AND THEN IN THE OTHER CATEGORY FOR DROP-OUT PREVENTION, IF I COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY RISE RECOVERY, WHICH IS A DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER FOR DROP-OUT PREVENTION WASN'T INCLUDED FOR THEIR FUNDING AS WELL. AND I THINK THAT WAS IT. THERE WAS MAYBE ONE OTHER ONE. THE OTHER ONE WAS EMPOWER HOUSE SA .
THEIR FUNDING WAS DROPPED BUT THEY ARE DOING DIRECT WORK FOR SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN SAISD SCHOOLS. FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO -- IN PARTNERING WITH MARIA'S POINT ON WHICH PLACES WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO, I FEEL LIKE EMPOWER HOUSE WOULD BE A GOOD ONE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SCHOOLS DOING SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL WORK AND THEY CALL THEM PEACE ROOMS THAT THEY DEVELOP AT SCHOOLS. I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING THIS FUNDING TO SAY WHICH ONES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE PROVIDING A DIRECT SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS IN TERMS OF OUR BIG GOALS. AND THEN JUST ON ALL THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE PROVIDING OUR FUNDING.
AND IF 1% OF OUR BUDGET SHOULD GO TO THIS. I THINK THIS IS WHY THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING AT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE IS SO IMPORTANT REGARDING DATA AND SHOWING HOW THE DATA MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
WHEN WE JUST KIND OF -- WHEN WE DON'T HAVE CLEAR GOALS AND TARGETS SET ASIDE AND SHOW THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THIS IS WHERE GUARDIAN HOUSE IS DOING WORK AND AS A RESULT THIS IS THE IMPACT THAT WE SEE. WHEN WE CAN'T CLEARLY SHOW THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T SEE THE VALUE IN THE INPUT.
SO THE REASON WHY WE ASK FOR BETTER TRACKING AND FOR BEING ABLE TO OVERLAY WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS SO THAT WE CAN SELL THE WORK AND MAKE A CASE FOR IT.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE A LOT WITH DATA SINCE, YOU KNOW, WE STOPPED FUNDING SA 2020 AND WE USED TO HAVE CITYWIDE METRICS. I KNOW OUR PARTNERSHIP ISN'T IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES, BUT WE CAN LEAN ON THEM FOR DATA SUPPORT. ESPECIALLY IN THE COLLEGE AND MILITARY READINESS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE TRACKING WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE GOING BECAUSE WE CAN SHOW MORE CLEARLY THE CORRELATING FACTOR BETWEEN GOING TO THEIR PROGRAM, GRADUATING, AND MAKING IT INTO WHICHEVER OPPORTUNITY THEY MAKE IT INTO. IF WE CAN'T SHOW THAT, WHICH WE HAVE A DEFICIT IN RIGHT NOW, IT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATE TO FOLKS HOW LESS THAN 1% OF OUR BUDGET IS MAKING AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT. SO I THINK THAT WOULD HELP
[01:45:04]
BETTER GIVE US THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GET TO, WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN WAS SAYING, 5%. HOW DO WE SHOW THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF A KID BEING IN A MENTORSHIP PROGRAMMING, PREVENTING THEM FROM BEING IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WHAT THE VALUE IN THE DIFFERENCE IN COST OF THOSE INVESTING IN THE MENTORSHIP VERSUS HAVING TO PUT SOMEONE IN JAIL FOR X AMOUNT OF YEARS.OKAY. I'M DONE WITH MY RANT THERE. AND FOR OUTSOURCING, THIS IS A LOT OF WORK AND THE STUFF THAT I JUST ASKED YOU IS A LOT OF WORK.
HOW DO YOU MAKE THESE NEW ANSWERS AND DECISIONS. IF YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING WE COULD USE HELP WITH AN EXTERNAL GROUP THAT IS MORE ALIGNING ON FUNDING AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR CORE PROGRAMS ARE GETTING -- OUR PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE GETTING FUNDED, I'M ALL FOR FINDING US THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE RIGHT SOLUTION TO REALLY TRACK OUR PRIORITIES IN A WAY THAT IS COMMUNICATED BACK TO US SO I CAN BETTER DEFEND THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS TO SHARE? I'LL CLOSE OUT BY THANKING EVERYONE FOR A ROBUST AND LIVELY DISCUSSION. I KNOW IT'S BEEN MENTIONED A FEW TIMES THAT WE VALUE THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
EVEN THOSE WHO WE HAVEN'T ENTERED INTO CONTRACTS WITH, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE WORKED WITH WHO HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES WITH A GREAT SENSE OF URGENCY AND A QUICK TURNAROUND TIME WHEN A CONSTITUENT HAS REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE WITH AN EMERGENCY. AS YOU ARE NAVIGATING FISCAL CHALLENGES, WE ARE AS WELL AND SO HOW WE NAVIGATE THAT CHALLENGE IS GOING TO SAY A LOT ABOUT US AND OUR VALUES. AND A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT POLICE HIRING AND SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE, WE HAVE HIRED OVER 200 POLICE OFFICERS TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO CRIME. WE'VE ALSO INVESTED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS, MOST IN NEED AND MOST AT RISK AND A LARGE PART OF THAT WAS ARPA FUNDING. BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN CRIME. IF WE CUT FUNDING FOR OUR NONPROFITS, WE WILL SEE DESPERATION ARISE. WE WILL SEE YOUTH DROPOUT RATES RISE, THEFT RISE, WE WILL SEE BAD DECISIONS AND RISKY BEHAVIOR RISE. WE'LL SEE VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS RISE AND WE WILL SEE CRIME, VIOLENT AND NON-VIOLENT RISE.
SO WE'RE ALREADY REACHING THAT POINT WHERE THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOSING FUNDING AND WILL HAVE TO REDUCE THEIR SERVICES ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
THOUGH WE WON'T BE ABLE TO FUND ALL THINGS, WE SHOULD MITIGATE THESE LOSSES AS MUCH AS WE CAN. I WOULD ADVISE MY COLLEAGUES TO NOT FOCUS ON A SINGLE TREE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE FOREST. THANK YOU.
ERIK, DID YOU WANT TO SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY?
>> WALSH: YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK. WE WERE INTENDING ON, BASED ON TODAY'S CONVERSATION, BRINGING IT TO FULL COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.
WE MAY PUSH IT BACK ONE MORE WEEK. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FOLLOW-UP ITEMS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME TO CIRCLE BACK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND GET THOSE QUESTIONS. WE'LL PUSH IT BACK TO THE SECOND WEEK IN MAY AND GET YOU ALL THE FOLLOW-UP. THE SECOND ITEM, MAYOR PRO TEM, IS A PRESENTATION ON VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. MARIO BASS, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO, AS WELL AS PATRICIA MUZQUIZ CANTOR, OUR CONVENTION CENTER DIRECTOR , WILL KIND OF WALK THROUGH THE ELEMENTS OF OUR AGREEMENT.
THAT AGREEMENT EXPIRES LATER ON THIS YEAR. THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS TRANSITIONED IN 2016 AS TODAY AS VISIT SAN ANTONIO. WE WILL NEED TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO THIS YEAR BUT IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS AND LEVERAGE OF THEIR EXPERTISE AND THE ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT OUR CITY'S ECONOMY.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE BASIC ELEMENTS AND KIND OF WHERE THEY'RE AT IN TERMS OF THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN. AND THEN PATRICIA WILL WRAP IT UP WITH A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL POINTS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME FEEDBACK FOR YOU ALL. I DO INTEND OR ANTICIPATE AND INTEND TO BRING BACK A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. A LOT OF THAT WORK WILL BE DONE DURING THE SUMMER. MOST OF IT, IF NOT ALL OF IT IS TIED TO DOLLARS AND THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX SO I WANTED TO GET THIS ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU TO GET SOME
FEEDBACK. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 5:00. I KNOW YOU ONLY HAVE 12 TO
14 SLIDES. AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN. >> YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. IT IS AN HONOR TO REPRESENT VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND TO SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM, TO OUR CITY'S
[01:50:03]
ECONOMY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. SINCE OUR ESTABLISHMENT IN 2016, VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS REMAINED FOCUSED ON ONE CLEAR MISSION: DRIVING MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR CITY. AND FOR NEARLY A DECADE, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE. THESE NUMBERS BEFORE YOU ARE MORE THAN JUST METRICS, THEY REPRESENT OPPORTUNITY. THEY REPRESENT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE GROWING, JOBS THAT ARE BEING CREATED ACROSS ALL TEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS, AND A CULTURAL ECONOMY THAT CONTINUES TO THRIVE.TOURISM STRENGTHENS THE QUALITY OF LIFE OUR RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY, FROM OUR ARTS AND CULTURE TO OUR CULINARY AND ENTERTAINMENT OFFERINGS.
IT ALSO DELIVERS REAL FINANCIAL RELIEF TO OUR RESIDENTS.
OFFSETTING MORE THAN $1,000 ANNUALLY IN TAXES FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD.
THIS IS THE IMPACT OF ONE SAN ANTONIO'S LARGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES AND ONE THAT VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS PROUD TO LEAD. THAT BRINGS US TO A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT ROLE SPECIFICALLY DOES VISIT SAN ANTONIO PLAY IN DELIVERING THESE RESULTS? THE ANSWER IS CLEAR IN THE OUTCOMES.
OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS GENERATED $7.6 BILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT. THAT REPRESENTS A 25:1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY THROUGH OUR CONVENTION SALES, MARKETING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS.
IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER TEAM, WE SERVE AS THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF MAJOR CONVENTION BUSINESS, HELPING POSITION THE CENTER AT OR NEAR CAPACITY WHILE GENERATING RECORD REVENUES. OUR CONVENTION SALES TEAM ALSO SUPPORTS HOTELS CITY-WIDE, CONNECTING THEM WITH BUSINESSES THAT FILL ROOMS AND DRIVE SPENDING. ON THE MARKETING SIDE, VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING OUR CITY TO BOTH LEISURE TRAVELERS AND MEETING PLANNERS AT SCALE. THROUGH ADVANCED DATA AND TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN NOW DIRECTLY MEASURE THE IMPACT OF OUR CAMPAIGN, TRACKING MORE THAN 6 MILLION VISITORS INFLUENCED BY OUR EFFORTS IN RECENT YEARS. OUR TEAM ALSO DRIVES THE NATIONAL GLOBAL VISIBILITY OF SAN ANTONIO THROUGH STRATEGIC MEDIA PLACEMENT.
THAT NEW YORK TIMES STORY ABOUT SAN ANTONIO BEING THE MUST-VISIT SPRING BREAK DESTINATION, WELL, THAT WOULD BE VISIT SAN ANTONIO. THE RECENT USA TODAY OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WALK IS THE NUMBER ONE RIVER WALK IN THE COUNTRY, AS IF THERE'S ANY OTHER RIVER WALK IN THE COUNTRY. THAT'S A RESULT OF OUR VSA PITCH. WHEN CPS NEWS FEATURED THE DAY OF THE DEAD, ALSO A PRODUCT OF OUR WORK. THESE EFFORTS IN SALES, MARKETING, AND COMMUNICATION HAVE DELIVERED $7.6 BILLION IN CUMULATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR OUR CITY.
THOSE EFFORTS REPRESENT ONLY PART OF WHAT VISIT SAN ANTONIO DELIVERS, HOWEVER.
ONCE A MEETING IN OUR CONVENTION IS SECURED, OUR DESTINATION EXPERIENCE TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH PLANNERS TO CONNECT THEM WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENSURING THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT REACHES DEEP INTO OUR COMMUNITY. OUR LEISURE DEPARTMENT EXPANDS ACCESS TO SAN ANTONIO BY ENSURING OUR HOTELS AND ATTRACTIONS AND EXPERIENCES ARE BOOKABLE ACROSS ALL GLOBAL TRAVEL PLATFORMS. WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE AIRPORT TEAM TO DEMONSTRATE DEMAND AND SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF NEW AND EXISTING AIR SERVICE. IN 2021, WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRODUCING MAJOR RIVER WALK EVENTS.
FURTHER ELEVATING ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST ICONIC ASSETS. THIS CONTRACT ASSIGNMENT RESULTING FROM THE RIVER WALK ASSOCIATION MERGING INTO VISIT SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW BE FORMALLY PART OF OUR MASTER AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
AND AS A LEADER AND A VOICE OF SAN ANTONIO'S TOURISM INDUSTRY, WE ALSO WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT AS YOU AND YOUR STAFF WELL KNOW TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR INDUSTRY, OUR MEMBERS, OUR COLLEAGUES TO LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
SIMPLY PUT, WHEN TOURISM IS STRONG, SAN ANTONIO IS STRONG.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY. NOW, LET US TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S NEXT IN THE DECADE.
SAN ANTONIO'S TOURISM LANDSCAPE HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY, PARTICULARLY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THE GOOD NEWS IS VISITATION IS PROJECTED TO CONTINUE TO STAY STEADY IN GROWTH AS TO EXPAND AND ELEVATE OUR GLOBAL STORY.
WITH TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS AT THE ALAMO, HEMISFAIR, DOWNTOWN, AND OF COURSE OUR AIRPORT, THE OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS IS VERY, VERY STRONG.
THESE EFFORTS UNDERSCORE AN IMPORTANT TRUTH. TOURISM IS INDEED A TEAM SPORT. OUR SUCCESS IS DRIVEN BY COORDINATED INVESTMENTS FROM PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING THE AIRPORT, UTSA, GREATER:SATX, JUST TO NAME A
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FEW. AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST REMAIN CLEAR-EYED ABOUT EMERGING CHALLENGES, AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF THEM. ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL HEADWINDS MAY IMPACT TRAVEL DEMAND AND SHIFTS IN FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDING ARE ALREADY AFFECTING ATTENDANCE AMONGST KEY MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS.DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO INVEST IN NEW FACILITIES AN EXPERIENCES. I'LL TOUCH MORE ON THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.
IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL CONVENTION CENTER NEEDS STAYING TOP OF MIND FOR MEETING PLANNERS IS ALSO VERY, VERY CRITICAL. IN RESPONSE, OUR CONVENTION SALES TEAM HAS BEEN REALIGNED GEOGRAPHICALLY, ALLOWING US TO BROADEN OUR REACH AND SECURE LARGER, MORE DIVERSE GROUP BUSINESS. ON THE LEISURE SIDE WE CONTINUE TO LEAD BY INSPIRING TRAVEL ACROSS OUR CORE MARKETS AND PRIORITIZE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES. DURING THE MOST RECENT SPRING BREAK, SAN ANTONIO RANKED FIRST IN HOTEL OCCUPANCY, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE AVERAGE AND DRAWING STRONG VISITATION FROM KEY CITIES.
THE REGIONAL MARKET REMAINS OUR FOUNDATION WITH 79% OF OUR VISITORS COMING FROM TEXAS AND NEIGHBORING STATES. THESE TRAVELERS DRIVE CONSISTENT WEEKEND AND SHORT-TERM DEMAND. AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE SEEING A STRUCTURAL SHIFT IN LODGING PREFERENCES. SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAVE GROWN FROM LESS THAN 1% OF DEMAND AT 62,000 ROOM NIGHTS OF DEMAND IN 2016 TO NEARLY 1.1 MILLION IN 2025, MAKING UP 10% OF OUR TOTAL LODGING FORECAST.
THIS TREND IS DRIVEN LARGELY BY LEISURE TRAVELERS, PARTICULARLY YOUNGER VISITORS AND LARGER GROUPS SEEKING SPACE, FLEXIBILITY, AND NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCES. WHILE THIS REFLECTS NATIONAL TRENDS, IT HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON SAN ANTONIO, GIVEN OUR HIGH CONCENTRATION OF LEISURE TRAVEL. ADDRESSING THIS SHIFT IN DRIVING HOTEL STAYS WILL BE A KEY AREA OF FOCUS MOVING FORWARD. AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST CONTINUE TO EXPAND BEYOND OUR REGIONAL BASE. BY GROWING HIGHER-YIELD DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INCLUDING OUR TOP INTERNATIONAL SOURCE MARKET, MEXICO, AS WELL AS CANADA, THE U.K., GERMANY, AND CHINA.
THESE VISITORS INDEED DO STAY LONGER, PLAN FURTHER IN ADVANCE, AND ARE LESS AFFECTED BY SEASONALITY. AS PROMISED, I WILL BRIEFLY ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN OUR CONVENTION BUSINESS. THE 2016 TRANSFORMATION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER GREATLY IMPROVED FUNCTIONALLY AND FLOW, ALLOWING US TO BETTER SERVE METER PLANNERS AND ATTENDEES. THAT INVESTMENT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT MANY OF OUR LONGSTANDING CLIENTS ARE NOW OUTGROWING OUR FACILITY. AS ATTENDANCE GROWS, WE FACE A REAL RISK OF LOSING THOSE CONVENTIONS TO OTHER CITIES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THEIR NEEDS. WHILE OUR SALES TEAM CONTINUES TO DELIVER STRONG BOOKING RESULTS AND FILL FUTURE DATES, OUR COMPETITORS ARE EXPANDING AND INCREASING THEIR CAPACITY. AS SEEN ON THE CONVENTION CENTER PACE OUTLOOK ON THE SCREEN, WE ARE DOING WHEN AUSTIN AND DALLAS BEGIN OPENING THEIR SHINY NEW CONVENTION CENTERS AND ATTRACTING GREATER PERCENTAGE OF MEETINGS. THE REALITY IS CLEAR.
WE ARE REACHING THE LIMITS OF OUR CURRENT SPACE. TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND PROTECT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT CONVENTIONS BRING TO OUR HOTELS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND LOCAL WORKFORCE, EXPANDING THE CONVENTION CENTER IS NOT AN OPTION. IT IS NECESSARY. THOUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION IS NOT EXPLICITLY A PART OF OUR VISIT SAN ANTONIO CONTRACT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE AWARE THAT WITHOUT IT THE GROWTH OF SAN ANTONIO'S MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS' OUTPUT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY CONSTRAINED.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME TODAY AND FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS, VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS PREPARED AND READY TO CONTINUE BRINGING TOURISM DOLLARS AND OTHER BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. MY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF RENEWING VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
NOW AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON TPID. 2016 FEELS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO BUT LET US REMEMBER WHEN VISIT SAN ANTONIO TRANSITIONED TO A PRIVATE MODEL, THE GOAL WAS VERY CLEAR: MOVE FASTER AND DIVERSIFY FUNDING BEYOND THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. TODAY, HOT SUPPORTS 68% OF OUR TOTAL FUNDING BUDGET,
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MAKING PRIVATE FUNDING ESSENTIAL TO COMPETE WITH MARKETS LIKE HOUSTON, DALLAS, AND NEW ORLEANS. SINCE BRANCHING OFF FROM THE CITY, WE DELIVERED ON THAT PROMISE, UTILIZING DIVERSE AVENUES, INCLUDING OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM AND OTHER REVENUE SOURCING AND THE CREATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. IT IS LED BY OUR HOTEL PARTNERS, DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE, HOT FUNDING. VISIT SAN ANTONIO EXECUTES THE PROGRAM WITH THE CITY OVERSIGHT THROUGH ANNUAL HEARINGS AND SERVE AS APPROVAL. THIS TOOL HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.WITHOUT TPID, SAN ANTONIO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HOST MASSIVE ECONOMY-DRIVING EVENTS, SUCH AS THE 2023 IPW, WHICH WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
THE 2024 AND 2025 CONFERENCES AND THE MEETING PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL WORLD EDUCATION CONGRESS TAKING PLACE THIS JUNE . THE TPID SERVICE PLAN AND STATE LAW ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY, CLEARLY DEFINING HOW FUNDS ARE USED AND GUARANTEEING THEY REMAIN INCREMENTAL TO EXISTING HOT EFFORTS.
AND IT'S WORKING. TPID IS DELIVERING A MINIMUM OF A 7:1 RETURN ON INVESTMENT. MOST OFTENTIMES MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.
AS WE LOOK TOWARD THE REAUTHORIZATION, OUR FOCUS IS COMPETITIVENESS.
STRENGTHENING TPID CREATES A DUAL BENEFIT. IT FUELS AGGRESSIVE SALES AND MARKETING WHILE ALSO GROWING HOT REVENUES THAT SUPPORT CITY SERVICES AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. FINALLY, INCREASED FLEXIBILITY BETWEEN MARKETING AND SALES WILL ALLOW US TO RESPOND IN REALTIME, CAPTURING NEW BUSINESS AND MAXIMIZING ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR SAN ANTONIO.
TODAY MARKS A VERY IMPORTANT FIRST STEP AS VISIT SAN ANTONIO CONTINUES WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF TOWARD OUR CONTRACT RENEWAL.
WE HOPE THIS PRESENTATION PROVIDES CLEAR INSIGHT INTO THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK, DRIVEN BY A DEDICATED TEAM, COMMITTED TO ENSURING SAN ANTONIO IS RECOGNIZED AND VALUED THROUGH THE WORLD WHILE WE DELIVER MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING TPID REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS BEGINNING WITH THE PETITION COLLECTION IN MAY AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO CONTRACT VOTE IN SEPTEMBER. WITH THAT SAID, I'M PLEASED TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, PATRICIA MUZQUIZ CANTOR TO FINISH THE REST OF
OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MARIO.
AGAIN, PATRICIA MUZQUIZ CANTOR. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. AS THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE AGREEMENT WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I WANT TO START TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TEN YEARS SINCE THE CREATION OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO AS A NONPROFIT. AND ESTABLISHING VISIT SAN ANTONIO, THE CITY NOT ONLY RECOGNIZED THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY PLAY IN SAN ANTONIO'S VITALITY, BUT ALSO THE ROLE THAT VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAS IN DRIVING THAT RELATED REVENUE. THAT IMPORTANCE HAS ONLY GROWN OVER THE PAST DECADE. AS THE CURRENT CONTRACT APPROACHES ITS EXPIRATION, OUR FOCUS MUST BE ON CONTINUING THIS PARTNERSHIP IN A WAY THAT STRENGTHENS ITS IMPACT. VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S EFFORTS DIRECTLY PROMOTE TOURISM, IMPACT LODGING, AND GENERATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS THAT SUPPORT IMPORTANT CITY SERVICES FROM ARTS AND CULTURE TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO OUR CONVENTION AND SPORTS FACILITIES. MONITORING AND GROWING HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CITY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH.
WHEN OCCUPANCY AND COLLECTIONS RISE, THE CITY IS BETTER POSITIONED TO FUND VITAL TOURISM INITIATIVES AND FUND FACILITY PROJECTS. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THIS REVENUE STREAM HELPS REDUCE THE BURDEN ON LOCAL RESIDENTS BY SHIFTING SOME OF THE COSTS TO VISITORS WHO BENEFIT FROM THESE SERVICES. WHEN WE EXAMINE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, WE SEE THAT THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET HAS NAVIGATED A TURBULENT PATH. PRE-PANDEMIC, THE CITY ENJOYED HEALTHY HOT COLLECTIONS BUT THE HEIGHT OF THE GLOBAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, HOTEL OCCUPANCY COLLECTIONS DECLINED SHARPLY.
THE MARKET REBOUNDED IN 2023. A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS DATA
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ALSO REVEALS THAT COLLECTIONS FROM SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAVE PROVIDED AN IMPORTANT DIVIDEND. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, COLLECTIONS FROM TRADITIONAL HOTEL DEMAND HAVE HELD STEADY AT ABOUT $95 MILLION WHILE COLLECTIONS FROM SHORT-TERM RENTALS HAVE CLIMBED $4.4 MILLION, BETWEEN 2023 AND LAST YEAR.ANOTHER CONTRIBUTOR, THROUGH STRONG TAX COLLECTIONS, HAS BEEN THE GROWTH IN THE AVERAGE DAILY HOTEL RATE IN METRO SAN ANTONIO. SINCE 2018, IT HAS RISEN FROM 115 PER NIGHT TO NEARLY 132 IN 2025. BECAUSE TRADITIONAL HOTEL DEMAND DELIVERS THE GREATEST ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY FROM SUPPORTING STRENGTHENING HOTEL DEMAND MUST REMAIN A CENTRAL PART OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO'S MANDATE MOVING FORWARD. THAT MISSION BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WHEN WE CONSIDER THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US. CITIES SUCH AS AUSTIN, HOUSTON, DALLAS, AND FORT WORTH ARE COLLECTIVELY INVESTING MORE THAN $7 BILLION IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS.
IT HAS BECOME A RACE AND FOR GOOD REASON. GROUP BUSINESS CURRENTLY PRODUCES GREATER ECONOMIC IMPACT BECAUSE ATTENDEES STAY MULTIPLE DAYS AND SPEND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. MOREOVER IN PERIODS WHEN LEISURE DEMAND SOFTENS, THE GROUP BUSINESS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER CAN STABILIZE HOTEL OCCUPANCY, SUSTAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND PROTECT LOCAL REVENUE STREAMS. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY, THE CONVENTION CENTER IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY AND ARE LIMITED TO ACCOMMODATE MORE EVENTS AND CONVENTIONS. THAT IS WHY THE EXPANSION OF THE CONVENTION CENTER IS SO IMPORTANT. AN UPDATE TO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE EXPANSION IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE CITY COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER.
WHILE OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL IS TO SEE THESE AGREEMENTS EXTENDED, THE BROADER OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE SAN ANTONIO REMAINS A PREMIER GLOBAL LEISURE AND MEETINGS DESTINATION. TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, WE BELIEVE THAT THE NEXT CONTRACT SHOULD PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON INCREASING HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS, EXPAND ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND ENHANCE PERFORMANCE METRICS, AS WELL AS CREATE A STRONGER CUSTOMER-CLIENT PROCESS TO ATTRACT, RETAIN, AND SUPPORT EVENTS. THESE EFFORTS WILL POSITION THE CITY IN EVEN GREATER SUCCESS IN FUTURE YEARS. LASTLY, MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS. BEGINNING NEXT MONTH, VISIT SAN ANTONIO WILL BE GATHERING TPID PETITIONS. WHILE COMPLETED PETITIONS ARE PLANNED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK IN AUGUST. THEN IN SEPTEMBER, AS HE MENTIONED ALSO, WE WILL RETURN WITH A COMPREHENSIVE VISIT SAN ANTONIO PACKAGE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
BEFORE THAT PROCESS BEGINS, WE WOULD WELCOME ANY OF YOUR FEEDBACK.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS BRIEFING TO YOU TODAY. AND WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR US. THANK YOU. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE PRESENTATION. MOST OF MY COMMENTS WILL BE WITH REGARD TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO TELL THE STORY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ALL OF THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE SAN ANTONIO THE BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT IT IS. I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS A BOARD MEMBER AND LOOK FORWARD TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE IN-DEPTH ENGAGEMENT ABOUT HOW WE CAN BOOST TOURISM AND TRAVEL TO SHARE OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE WORLD. I UNDERSTAND THE FEAR THAT OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS ARE OPENING NEW CONVENTION CENTERS SO I WANT TO CONVEY TWO THINGS.
ONE IS WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE PROJECT MARVEL, WHICH IS BEYOND THE SPURS ARENA.
IT INCLUDES IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH WE HAVE INDICATED AS A PRIORITY. WE'RE PLANNING IT, WE'RE WORKING IT.
IT MAY NOT BE MOVING AS QUICKLY AS EVERYONE WOULD LIKE BUT I DO IMAGINE THAT ONCE CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY, WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF INCONVENIENCES AND WE'LL BE LIMITED IN THE EVENTS WE CAN DO AND THE SCALE WE CAN DO AND HOW PRODUCTIVE THE CONVENTION CENTER CAN BE. SO I NEED YOU TO BE PREPARING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO BEYOND THE ISSUE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER -- AND I SEE YOU HAVE LISTED ON ONE OF THE SLIDES GOALS TO PROTECT OUR MARKET SHARE, EXPAND OUR REACH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND BOOST OUR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. I WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURAGE BLACK TOURISTS, LGBTQ GROUPS. I KNOW WE CAN BE CREATIVE IN HOW WE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EXPANSIVELY ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
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I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, MUCH LIKE WE HAVE, SISTER CITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, I WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITIES EVEN WITHIN THE UNITED STATES KNOWN FOR THEIR TOURISM AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE MIGHT BEST BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND MUTUAL PARTNERSHIPS. I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE. WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO COORDINATE WITH LEADERS IN A STATE LIKE HAWAII? THERE IS A STRONG MILITARY PRESENCE. THEY HAVE OVER TEN MILITARY BASES AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THE MILITARY. AND THEY COULD CONNECT TO US AS MILITARY CITY, USA. AND THEY'RE ALSO A STATE THAT IS ECONOMICALLY DRIVEN BY TOURISM. HOW CAN WE BENEFIT ONE ANOTHER IN THAT WAY? WHAT DOES OUR PRESENCE IN THEIR AIRPORT LOOK LIKE AND VICE VERSA? HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH THESE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES IN NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS? I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS CHAIR OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO ADVOCATE IN AUSTIN AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT WILL HURT TOURISM IN TEXAS AND ESPECIALLY IN SAN ANTONIO. EVERY YEAR, WHETHER IT'S AN UNRELIABLE GRID OR A TAX ON THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OR THE KILLING OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE BY POLICE, THE DEREGULATION OF GUNS COUPLED WITH RISES IN GUN VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS OR INCREASED ICE PRESENCE. PEOPLE ARE MAKING THE ACTIVE DECISION TO AVOID TEXAS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY. AND THAT IMPACTS US AS A CITY. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO ADVOCATE AGAINST HARMFUL LEGISLATION BUT ALSO FOR LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO BOLSTER TOURISM AND ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR CITY. ON THAT NOTE, WE'LL BEGINCOUNCIL DISCUSSION STARTING WITH COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE. >> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM. ON VSA, MARIO, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY.
MY POINT HERE IS PEOPLE COME TO SAN ANTONIO BY THEMSELVES BECAUSE WE'RE CLOSE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE RIVER WALK, BECAUSE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ALAMO, ET CETERA.
I'M SIMPLY INTERESTED IN HOW WE SHOW THAT VSA'S WORK IS DIRECTLY LEADING TO -- THERE'S A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THAT WORK AND DOLLARS BEING SPENT HERE IN OUR CITY. YOU WALKED ME THROUGH THE OTHER DAY THAT SLIDE WITH THE $7.6 BILLION. I GUESS THAT'S STILL Y'ALL'S TAKE ON DIRECT IMPACT OF
VSA'S WORK, RIGHT? >> MOST LIKELY UNDERSTATED. BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT'S WORKED INTO THOSE FIGURES WAS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO SOMEONE WHO IS PUTTING A HEAD IN A BED. SO THAT'S PROBABLY UNDERSTATED BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T TRACK THAT WHEN YOU'RE DOING TELEVISION, BILLBOARDS, THINGS OF THAT SORT. IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE MATH CALCULATION.
>> WHYTE: YEAH. SO A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> YEP. >> WHYTE: AGAIN, THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A CONTRACT OF THIS SIZE -- AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 30-PLUS MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND THEN A TEN-YEAR CONTRACT, IT'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT'S AT PLAY HERE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN VERIFY THAT THE CITY IS GETTING ITS BANG FOR ITS BUCK.
AND SO ON THAT NOTE, AND SORT OF ALONG THE SAME LINES IS WHAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT ON THE 7 $.6 BILLION. I KNOW PERFORMANCE METRICS WERE ADDED TO THE CONTRACT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE METRICS AND HAS VSA BEEN
MEETING THEM? . >> IF I CAN ADDRESS THE VISITATION THAT'S ALREADY COMING, BEFORE I GET INTO THAT, JUST BRIEFLY.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE. WE HAVE 45 MILLION TEXANS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA THAT CONSIDER SAN ANTONIO THESE GROUPS THAT COME AND VISIT, IN 2025 ALONE, ALMOST 50% OF THEM ARE NEW TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. NEVER BEEN HERE. FIRST TIME TO EXPERIENCE OUR CITY. THAT'S A GROWTH OF 74% FROM 2022 WHEN WE STARTED TO TRACK NEW BUSINESS COMING TO THE CITY. SO YES, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE A CUSTOMER BASE THAT CONTINUES TO VISIT BUT WE ALSO ARE VERY ACTIVE IN PURSUING THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE NEW TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IN TERMS OF -- >> WHYTE: IF I CAN JUMP IN THERE.
SO A BUNCH OF NEW FOLKS COMING HERE FROM AROUND THE STATE.
WHAT ABOUT FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES? >> YEP.
NO, THAT'S ALL A PART OF THAT VISITATION. THAT 70 TO 80% OF OUR VISITATION, THOUGH, IS LOCAL. DURING THESE ECONOMIC TIMES
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OF UNCERTAINTY, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE. THEY MIGHT NOT BE JUMPING ON AN AIRPLANE DUE TO THE COST. YES, GAS IS VERY HIGH BUT STILL THEY ARE COMING BECAUSE DRIVING TO SAN ANTONIO WITHIN TWO OR THREE HOURS SO AGAIN, WE'RE VERY BLESSED WITH THAT. IN TERMS OF THE METRICS, WE ARE A METRIC-HEAVY ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 30-PLUS METRICS THAT WE REPORT OUT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO QUARTERLY.ALL AROUND ROOM NIGHTS, NUMBER OF EVENTS BOOKED, ECONOMIC IMPACT, JOBS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS THAT PORTION WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER. BUT ALSO THOSE METRICS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO LEADS CREATED. THAT'S JUST ON THE GROUP SIDE.
THERE'S METRICS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARKETING, OUR MARKETING EFFORTS SUCH
>> WHICH LEAD TO THAT VISITATION NUMBER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ECIALLIER.
THE REALITY IS, OUR PERFORMANCE IS VERY MUCH PREDICATED ON HOT TAX COLLECTIONS. OUR BUDGET IS BASED ON UP TO 35% OF HOT TAX COLLECTION, SO IT BEHOOVES US TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS STRONG AND
IMPACTFUL FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. >> WHYTE: LET ME ASK YOU THIS: I WAS RECENTLY IN BOERNE AND BET WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOERNE CITY COUNCIL. AND WE GOT TO TALKING ABOUT A REGIONAL APPROACH TO ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO OUR AREA. BOERNE, FREDERICKSBURG, SAN ANTONIO, NEW BRAUNFELS. IS THERE ANY THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE -- WHEN WE DO OUR MARKETING, WE BRING SOMEBODY DOWN, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD VISIT FREDERICKSBURG AND ALSO MAKE A DAY TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO AND KIND OF EVERYBODY WINS IN THAT SCENARIO.
ARE THERE ANY TALKS LIKE THAT GOING ON WITH SOME OF THESE SURROUNDING
CITIES? >> OUR FOCUS WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO IS 100% FOCUSED ON SAN ANTONIO. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT TRAVELERS DON'T COME AND GO TO THE HILL COUNTRY, RIGHT, FOR THOSE OFFERINGS, WHICH IS FINE, AS LONG AS THEY'RE STAYING IN SAN ANTONIO. SO WE ENSURE THAT OUR MARKETING, UNMISTAKABLY SAN ANTONIO, IS FOCUSED ON THAT CLOSURE RATIO.
GOD LOVE THE HILL COUNTRY, BUT, AGAIN, HYPERFOCUSED ON THE
CITY. >> WHYTE: NO, 100%. WE OBVIOUSLY WANT THEM HERE IN OUR CITY, BUT ATTRACTING THEM TO THE REGION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I THINK -- YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT ANY COLLABORATION WITH SURROUNDING CITIES MAY -- MAY PAY SOME DIVIDENDS HERE FOR US.
>> IT CAN. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WHEN -- AGAIN, WITH THE VISITORS COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, THEY'RE DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE HERE, BUT THEY WILL MAKE A DAY TRIP. I WOULD PREFER IT TO BE A DAY TRIP, IF THEY ARE GOING INTO THE HILL COUNTRY AND NOT STAYING OVERNIGHT, WE WANT THE HEADS IN BEDS WITH THE HOT TAX COLLECTION HERE.
BUT THAT IS ANOTHER RESOURCE THAT A VISITOR WOULD LOOK AT.
>> WHYTE: YEAH, OF COURSE. QUESTION ON THE
CONVENTION CENTER. >> YES, SIR. >> WHYTE: I'M WITH YOU.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS THING -- WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS THING DONE.
AND I HEAR YOU ON HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THE CITY AND TO WHO WE CAN BRING HERE. IN THE, I'LL SAY UNLIKELY EVENT, THAT IT WERE TO
NOT HAPPEN, WHAT WOULD BE OUR BACKUP PLAN? >> I'D RATHER NOT FOCUS ON THAT BACKUP PLAN. THE REALITY IS, IS THIS: THE SLIDE THAT I SHOWED YOU IS NOT BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS. BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME, RIGHT? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IF YOU ADD ANOTHER 200,000 SQUARE FEET TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THAT THERE'S A BILLION DOLLARS IN ESTIMATED IMPACT, ANOTHER 94 GROUPS THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO GO AFTER, WHICH IS GREAT. SOMEWHERE FROM 1 TO 94 AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO WE'D BE CHARGED WITH GR BOOKING. WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT. THAT SLIDE IS PURELY WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR GROUP PACE TODAY BASED ON THESE OTHER CITIES SELLING INTO THEIR CONVENTION CENTERS THAT OPEN UP IN '30, '31, '32. THAT'S A SEISMIC SHIFT
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WHERE WE'RE HOLDING OUR OWN UP UNTIL 2029, AND THEN THAT CHART INVERSES. I WOULD ARGUE, COUNCILMAN, THAT THAT CHART WOULD BE WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION HERE. NEW BEATS OLD.WE KNOW WE'RE AT CAPACITY IN TERMS OF OCCUPANCY AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
FOR THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THIS CITY AND CERTAINLY THIS INDUSTRY, THAT CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
>> WHYTE: OKAY. REAL QUICK LAST QUESTION, TPID, IS THERE A CAP ON HOW MUCH OF THAT CAN BE SPENT, AND WHO OVERSEES THAT?
>> SO, YES, THE HOT TAX COLLECTION AS WELL AS TPID, THERE'S STATE STATUTES THAT ARE VERY MUCH PRESCRIBED ON HOW THAT CAN BE SPENT.
IF YOU'RE OKAY, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP SCOTT JOSLOV, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION JUST TO REALLY WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE
DETAILS ON THAT, BECAUSE IT'S -- >> WHYTE: WELL, I MAY LEAVE THAT UP TO THE MAYOR PRO TEM BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME, MARIO, AND MAYBE YOU AND I CAN JUST GO OVER THAT OR WE COULD GET A ONE PAGER ON HOW THAT WORKS AS A FOLLOW-UP. I KNOW WE'VE GOT AN EXEC SESSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT COMING UP, AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THE
PUBLIC WAITING, SO MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT. >> WE DO HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS HOTELIERS THAT MANAGE THE OVERSIGHT OF THE STRATEGIES AND
TACTICS THAT ARE UTILIZED WITH THAT FUNDING. >> WHYTE: OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR NOW. THANKS, MAYOR PRO TEM.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE
GAVITO? >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. WE KNOW THAT, OBVIOUSLY, TOURISM IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST IN THE SECTOR'S GROWTH. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. YOU KNOW, AS COUNCILMAN WHYTE HAS MENTIONED AND ALSO THAT YOU ALL MENTIONED, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR CONVENTION CENTER, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND.
YOU WERE MENTIONING THE DROP THAT WE'RE FIXING TO SEE IN 2029 IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, SO, YEAH, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE INVEST AS NEEDED SO THAT WAY -- LIKE I SAID, WE'RE NOT LEFT BEHIND.
SO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, THAT'S STILL TARGETED TO
BE PRESENTED IN SEPTEMBER, RIGHT? >> THAT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING, YES. >> GAVITO: GOOD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED US TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THAT WE'RE SEEING THESE ARTICLES ABOUT -- LIKE THE THOMPSON HOTEL CLOSING AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATES BEING REALLY HIGH. CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS, YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU READ THE NEWSPAPERS OR ANYTHING IN THE NEWS AS OF LATE, AS IT PERTAINS SPECIFICALLY TO HOTEL DEMAND, OCCUPANCY, YOU WOULD THINK WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR OWN MINI PANDEMIC AND IT'S ONLY AFFECTING SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
MUCH TO PATRICIA'S SLIDE ABOUT HOT TAX COLLECTION CONTINUING TO INCREASE, WHAT WE'RE FACING IS THAT VISITATION, VISITORS ARE JUST LODGING DIFFERENTLY. THAT NUMBER THAT I GAVE IN THE PRESENTATION, EVEN IF YOU MOVE IT UP, IN 2019, WE HAD 400,000 ROOM NIGHTS OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL DEMAND, PEOPLE STAYING IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
FAST-FORWARD TO 2,025, WE HAVE 1.1 MILLION. THAT EXACT NUMBER HAS MOVED OUT OF HOTELS, IT'S ALMOST IF YOU LOOK AT THE MATH ON IT, IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE EXACT NUMBER. SO THEY'RE COMING HERE, THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY'RE COMING HERE, THEY'RE JUST LODGING AND STAYING
DIFFERENTLY. >> GAVITO: YEAH. >> SO I'M -- I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL NEED -- AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WE NEED TO DRIVE HOTEL DEMAND, AND THE FASTEST WAY THAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT, THE FASTEST WAY THAT I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT IS THROUGH GROUP, RIGHT? GOD LOVE THE 45 MILLION VISITORS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD, BUT LEISURE TRAVEL CAN BE FICKLE BASED ON THE ECONOMY, BASED ON THE WEATHER, BASED ON ALL THE REASONS WHY WE MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE A TRIP. BUT A GROUP CUSTOMER IS COMING BECAUSE THERE'S A CONTRACT IN PLACE, SO WE WANT TO GET MORE GROUP. AND CERTAINLY THAT CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION DISCUSSION IS PART OF THAT.
>> GAVITO: YEAH, THAT'S EXTREMELY INSIGHTFUL, THANK YOU.
AND I'M GRAD TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE STILL TRACKING HOW MANY VISITORS ARE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE STILL COMING, BUT THEY'RE STAYING DIFFERENT. SO IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE WE
[02:25:01]
NEED TO PUT IN SOME WORK, LIKE YOU'RE MENTIONING, GROUP RATES, OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN GET THEM TO STAY IN HOTELS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW HEADLINES CAN SOMETIMES BE MISLEADING, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT IMPORTANT CONTEXT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.>> THANK YOU. SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH TAXIS WHEN UBER CAME ON THE SCENE. TAXICAB COMPANIES, THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE JUST NOT IN YOUR VEHICLE. THE INDUSTRY CHANGES.
YES, MA'AM. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
GREAT WORK Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SPEARS. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MARIO. YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT.
I'LL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I AM -- I DO SIT ON THE BOARD WITH COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, IT'S FUN TIMES THERE AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO. I WAS ON STAFF WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO PREPANDEMIC, LOST MY JOB BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE SLIDE WITH THE NUMBERS AND WHERE WE COME BACK TO. PATRICIA, I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB FILLING THAT CONVENTION CENTER AND THE 'DOME AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE TIMES ARE VERY UNCERTAIN AS WE TALK ABOUT EARLIER, AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE OVER HERE.
I WAS IN DU BRAVNIC IN CCRUATIA. THEYNEVER HAVE I BEEN SO GRATEFUL NOT TO BE ON A BORDER PORT TOWN. THAT IS JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MANEUVER. BUT LOOKING AT THAT AND SEEING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND SEEING HOW SAN ANTONIO IS MANAGING OUR TOURISM AND HOW WE GET PEOPLE HERE IS -- IT'S GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK AND SEE HOW DO WE DO THIS AND HOW DO WE DO THIS WELL. AND I THINK WITH THE CURRENT TEAM WE HAVE HERE AT VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE A TEAM THAT IS DOING THE WORK. ONCE THE CITY DEPARTMENT -- NOW THEY CAN MOVE FASTER, THEY CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TEAM, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON EVERYTHING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT MODEL AND MOVING FORWARD WITH YOU GUYS.
AND AS STATED BEFORE -- BUT YOUR NUMBER ONE CLIENT IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, I OFTEN REMIND THEM OF THAT, SO Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO WORRY. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PLAN B OR OPTION B, THAT MEANS TRYING TO GET MONEY FROM THE COUNTY, AND ERIK'S NOT HERE, BUT HE WOULD BE MAKING A FACE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE GOING TO STICK WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HOW WE'RE WORKING IN WHAT WE DO. AND I DO WANT TO JUST GIVE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, SCOTT JOSLOV IS HERE FROM THE TEXAS HOUSING HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, SO IF Y'ALL DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS MONEY COMES DOWN, THAT'S WHY HE'S HERE. SCOTT, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BEING AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. A NUMBER OF COUNCIL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HERE AND WERE HERE, TARIN FROM ELSEWHERE AND ELSEWHERETOO IS HERE, DEBRA WAS HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL AND DON AND LARIAS, I BELIEVE, WAS HERE FROM TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AND IF I MISSED ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, RAISE YOUR HAND. NOT YOU, JALEN. I -- OH, CRYSTAL.
WELL, OF COURSE, THERE'S A NUMBER OF CITY STAFF THAT SIT ON THE BOARD, AND I THINK SHANNON IS HERE, TOO. AND THEY ALL SERVE AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO.
IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE, THE WORLD IS -- THE WORLD THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS THE UNITED STATES, AND THEN TRYING TO GET OUR FRIENDS FROM CANADA AND MEXICO TO CONTINUE TO COME HERE. AGAIN, BEING OVERSEAS GLOBALLY, THE APPETITE TO COME OVER TO THE STATES ISN'T -- IT JUST ISN'T THERE, Y'ALL. THEY'RE NOT CLAMORING TO COME HERE.
AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. AND IT WILL -- I'M HOPING IT WILL CHANGE, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON THAT DRIVE MARKET. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HILL COUNTRY AND OUR CITIES TO THE SOUTH, THEY UNDERSTAND THEY CAN BE MEMBERS OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND BE PART OF THAT AND PAY A MEMBERSHIP FEE AND GET PEOPLE UP THERE OR DO THE DAY TRIPS AND THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO KIND OF BUILD THOSE BONDS, BUT THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS WHAT WE MAINLY USE IS THE HEADS IN BEDS.
AND SO WE DO WANT TO GET THOSE CONVENTIONS IN, WE DO WANT TO HELP OUR HOTEL PROVIDERS WITH THE TPID TO MOTIVATE AND GET THOSE SMALL GROUPS IN, WHETHER IT'S A FAMILY REUNION, A WEDDING, AN ASSOCIATION -- A SMALLER
[02:30:04]
ASSOCIATION GROUP. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AND GET THEM TO THE HOTELS, AND I THINK -- I'M POSITIVE, LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ THAT EVEN THOUGH DOWNTOWN MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT HOTELS WITH GREAT VENUE SPACES BY SEAWORLD, BY FIESTA TEXAS THAT WE CAN PUT PEOPLE IN, SO MAKING SURE WE LOOK AT THAT FOR THE FUTURE. AND THEN I DON'T WANT TO FORGET ANDY HERIN, I BELIEVE HE'S HERE FROM TPID -- THERE YOU ARE, ANDY. AND THAT TPID IS WHY WE WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THESE ARE THE -- IT -- AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TPID IS IT'S NOT NECESSARILY VISIT SAN ANTONIO STAFF, IT IS THE CITY'S GROUP -- IT IS THE HOTEL'S GROUPS THAT ARE DOING THE GROUP SALES.SO THIS STUFF THAT THE CITY CAN'T DO, THIS IS REALLY WHAT VISIT SAN ANTONIO DOES AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF THAT, IT REALLY MAKES IT EASIER WHEN WE CONTRACT OUT FOR THIS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING CREATIVE AND I CHALLENGE MY COUNCILMEMBERS THAT THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN GET CREATIVE AND THINK OF TOURS AND THINK OF WAYS TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR DISTRICT AND MAYBE BRING A COMMUNITY -- IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY MEETING.
WE HAVE RIVERSIDE THAT DID THEIR LITTLE ARTS AND CULTURE, ART DECO THING THAT I THINK WE -- I THINK THEY SENT SOME INFLUENCERS OUT TO TAKE PHOTOS AND STUFF, SO THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR DISTRICT, TOO, AS WE TALK ABOUT ELEVATING AND TELLING THE STORY WITH SAN ANTONIO.
SO ONE THING -- I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION IN TERMS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, MARIO, AS WE MOVE FORWARD -- AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, DOES VISIT SAN ANTONIO HAVE A PLAN IN TERMS OF TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE WITH THE HOTELS SAYING TOO MANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE SAYING, I DON'T WANT ANY MORE SHORT-TERM RENTALS
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD EITHER. >> SO THEY ARE A PART OF
THE LODGING LANDSCAPE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? >> VIAGRAN: OKAY.
>> OUR MISSION, AND YOU MENTIONED IT CLEARLY, IS TO BRING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO, AND BY THE NUMBERS, WITH VISITATION CONTINUING TO INCREASE, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER METRICS, WE'RE DOING THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CONSUMER IS GOING TO CHANGE, BUT IN TERMS OF FAMILY OF FIVE CHOOSING TO STAY IN A 300 SQUARE FOOT HOTEL ROOM OR EACH PERSON GETS THEIR ROOM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL EVER CHANGE, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY IS GROWING THAT GROUP DEMAND. AND, AGAIN, I'LL STOP HERE WITH THAT PLUG FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. BUT THAT'S REALLY THE PATH TO GETTING MORE HEADS IN BEDS SPECIFICALLY IN HOTELS.
>> VIAGRAN: YEAH. AND WHAT I'D LIKE, MARIO, YOU TO THINK ABOUT AND MAYBE MICHELLE AND SCOTT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF OUR AREAS, IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS IT'S NOT A HOME LIKE IN THE COMMERCIALS, WE LIKE TO THINK, OH, LET'S HAVE A HOME WHERE EVERYBODY GETS THEIR OWN ROOM. IT REALLY IS A CASITA OR A ROOM.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO GET THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL KIND OF UNDER CONTROL AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ADJOINING THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE RIVER AREA AND WE MAY NEED YOUR HELP TO GO IN AND TALK TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT TURNING A PIECE OF YOUR PROPERTY INTO SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR WHAT OUR MARKET CAN BEAR, BECAUSE A HOME WITH FIVE BEDROOMS, GREAT. THAT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLY IN THE KING WILLIAM, THAT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLY IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE ON LORRAINE STREET ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S GOING TO BE ONE ROOM, IF THEY'RE DOING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL THERE. SO I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN HOW WE TELL OUR NEIGHBORS WHAT TO REPORT AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT,
HOW DO THEY INVEST IN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL. >> SOMETIMES SIMPLY THE
TIPPING POINT OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND, RIGHT? >> VIAGRAN: YEAH.
>> MIGHT END UP THERE. >> VIAGRAN: YEAH. SO THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MEZA GONZALEZ. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU SAID ONE OF MY FAVORITE WORDS, AIRPORT. SO HOW CRITICAL IS A FUNCTIONAL AIRPORT WITH PLENTY OF AIR SERVICE AVAILABILITY TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THEN
HOW CLOSELY DO YOU WORK TOGETHER? >> IT'S SUPER CRITICAL,
[02:35:02]
RIGHT? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VISITORS LOOK FOR, WHETHER ON THE LEISURE SIDE, CERTAINLY ON THE GROUP SIDE, IS THAT AIR CONNECTIVITY, RIGHT? AS CRITICAL AS A CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, SO EXTREMELY EXCITED BY THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY'S MAKING INTO THIS AIRPORT. IT'S GOING TO BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR US, TO SAY THE LEAST, WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE PITCHING TO THESE, YOU KNOW, PERSPECTIVE GROUPS ABOUT VISITING SAN ANTONIO WELL INTO THE FUTURE, THE AIRPORT COMES UP. SO WE HAVE A STRONG SPEAKING POINT TO BE ABLE TO SELL. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY IN TERMS OF THE AIR DEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH JESUS SAENZ AND HIS TIME IN TERMS OF DETERMINING THE ROUTES THAT HAVE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR FLIGHTS TO BE FILLED, TO GO AFTER THOSE, TO CONTINUE TO GET THOSE DIRECT FLIGHTS HERE.WE WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH HIM VERY CLOSELY. >> SPEARS: I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. THAT'S GREAT. LET ME ASK YOU THIS: ON SLIDE 8, ABOUT THE TPID, CAN YOU ARTICULATE IN SIMPLE TERMS WHAT THE AVERAGE INCREASE WILL BE ON AN AVERAGE NIGHTLY HOTEL STAY?
>> THANK YOU. TAKING IT FROM THAT 1.25% ASSESSMENT UP TO 2% WILL NOT BE A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE FOR US AT ALL.
THE REST OF THE STATE -- ASIDE FROM DALLAS -- IS ALREADY AT THE MAX SUM 17% IN TOTAL TAXES THAT'S ALLOWABLE BY THE STATE. YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT MAYBE ANOTHER 50 CENTS ON A $200 ROOM RATE.
>> SPEARS: THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR PERCENTAGES AND PEOPLE GET -- THEY HAVE A SKEWED SENSE OF WHAT THAT COULD MEAN. THE 50 CENTS IS TANGIBLE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IT IS. OUR HOTEL OWNERS, OUR HOTEL GMS WHEN WE GO OUT FOR THAT PETITION, A MINIMUM OF 60% OF THEIR APPROVAL ON THAT, SO WE'VE ALREADY BEEN HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS. AND -- ALONG WITH VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WE DO NOT --
>> SPEARS: DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL REVENUE YOU
ANTICIPATE TO COLLECT THERE? >> WE DO.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT GOING FROM THAT 1.25 TO 2% WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER 6 MILLION OF ESTIMATED SALES IN MARKETING DOLLARS TO SELL THE
ENTIRE DESTINATION. >> SPEARS: THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.
OKAY. >> YEAH. >> SPEARS: AND THEN I HAD A QUESTION ON SLIDE 6. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PROTECT SAN ANTONIO'S REGIONAL VISITOR MARKETSHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY MEMBERS, A LITTLE OVER 900, AND OBVIOUSLY WE SELL AND MARKET THE CITY AT SCALE, IS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOU COULD BECOME A JACK OF ALL TRADES AND MASTER OF NONE. AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR THIS CITY IS BE HYPERFOCUSED ON SELLING AND MARKETING THE DESTINATION.
PART OF THAT IS INSURING THAT WE OWN OUR OWN BACKYARD, THAT REGIONAL DRIVE MARKET FOR US IS SUPER CRITICAL. AND AS OF LATE COMING OUT OF COVID, CERTAINLY ARE COMPETITOR CITIES HAVE NOTICED THAT THAT'S ALSO A SWEET SPOT AND FROM THE LEISURE STANDPOINT HAVE GONE AGGRESSIVELY AFTER THAT. SO WE, AGAIN, ARE HYPERFOCUSED ON SAN ANTONIO IS YOUR SECOND HOME, THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE RIVERWALK AND THE ALAMO AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE MANY OF THOSE ASSETS HERE, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT OUR
PEOPLE. BUT... YEAH. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, AND -- BUT WE ARE SEEING IN TODAY'S MARKET THAT THAT HOME IS OFTEN SOMEONE ELSE'S, BUT I AGREE THAT TO STAY COMPETITIVE, WE DO HAVE TO PUSH PEOPLE BACK INTO THE HOTEL AND CONVENTION SPACE, SO EXPANDING OUR CONVENTION CENTER, I THINK, IS COMPLETELY NECESSARY AND NOT OPTIONAL. I THINK OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM ARE INTRINSICALLY LINKED, I SAW THAT IN MY TRAVELING TO TAIWAN, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ATTRACTING EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, DRIVING THAT CONSISTENT BUSINESS TRAVEL HERE, I MEAN, IF -- I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE COMPETING WITH OUR OTHER LARGE MARKETS ON CORPORATE TRAVELERS, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF US ON THE COUNCIL TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE AND INTEGRATE INTO THE GROUPS THAT DO
[02:40:02]
COME HERE, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A LINK WITH, AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN FIND OUT MORE FROM Y'ALL ABOUT WHO'S COMING AND WHEN AND HOW WE CAN MAYBE GO -- YOU KNOW, ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET IN SOME WAY AS REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CITY TO MAYBE DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE WHEN THEY'RE HERE VISITING US AND SEEING HOW FANTASTIC SAN ANTONIO IS, I THINK THAT'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US, TOO. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR -- THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT SPORTS DIPLOMACY, SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE BIG PROJECTS WE'RE DOING WITH BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL, THAT I THINK THAT WILL HELP DRIVE US EVEN MORE, AND THIS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF THAT, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF COORDINATION TO CLOSE THIS GAP WITH THE CONVENTION RECRUITMENT, GIVEN WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS ALREADY INVESTING, WE'VE GOT TO HURRY AND DO IT QUICKLY. SO I FEEL THAT SENSE OF URGENCY.AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO LEAN INTO -- I ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF GETTING NERVOUS ABOUT TRENDS THAT WE SEE, WE HAVE TO LEAN INTO IT AND BE PRAGMATIC ABOUT IT AND FIND OUR WAY TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT'S BEFORE US, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL DOING THAT. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF EVERYTHING Y'ALL ARE DOING, AND I THINK YOU'RE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER.
>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
CLEARLY, I THINK TOURISM CONTINUES TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN OUR ECONOMY SO I APPRECIATE THE SLIDES ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST REMEMBER. AND WHAT OTHER TEXAS CITIES ARE MOVING FORWARD
ON THAT SIMILAR PROPOSAL OF THE 2% INCREASE? >> SO CURRENTLY -- SO CURRENTLY ALL TEXAS CITIES ARE AT THE 2%. DALLAS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT ISN'T AT THE MAXIMUM OF 17% IN TERMS OF TOTAL TAXES, WHICH IS ALLOWABLE
BY THE STATE. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY. >> EVERYBODY'S AT A 2%.
>> GONZALEZ: SO WE'RE ONE OF THE LAST -- >> YEAH, SO WHEN THE TPID WAS CREATED -- GREAT QUESTION. WHEN THE TPID WAS CREATED FOR SAN ANTONIO, LET'S CALL IT 17-18, DALLAS WAS THE ONLY OTHER CITY THAT HAD A TPID. SO WE WENT IN AT A 1.25. WE WERE CONSERVATIVE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND BE COGNIZANT THAT IT WASN'T A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE TO BRINGING BUSINESS SPECIFICALLY GROUP BUSINESS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND LEISURE, I GUESS, FOR THAT MATTER.
NOW, TPIDS ARE WIDESPREAD. NAME A CITY, THEY HAVE A TPID. IT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE. SO NOW AT THE -- GOING UP TO THAT 2%, WE'RE JUST NOW PLAYING CATCHUP IN THAT REGARDS.
>> GONZALEZ: GOT IT. THANK YOU. CAN YOU CLARIFY HOW THE TPID FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED VERSUS THE HOT TAX FUNDS.
>> IN WHICH WAY. >> GONZALEZ: JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO
DUPLICATION IN THOSE. >> FAIR QUESTION. THE TPID WAS NEVER SET UP AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE HOT TAX COLLECTIONS. OUR OWNERS, OUR HOTEL OWNERS, OUR HOTEL GMS, THE EXEC EXPECTANCY WITH 100 ROOMS OR GREATER THAT SIGNS A PETITION, THEIR EXPECTATION IS IT'S THERE TO SUPPLEMENT THE HOT TAX COLLECTIONS AND TO BOLSTER THE SALES AND MARKETING EFFORTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY HOT TAX COLLECTIONS AND OUR VISIT
SAN ANTONIO BUDGET. >> GONZALEZ: GREAT. THANK YOU.
OBVIOUSLY TOURISM IS A MAJOR ECONOMIC DRIVER, BUT HOW ARE WE ENSURING -- AND I'M GLAD THERE IS A DISTRICT DATE REPRESENTATIVE ON YOUR BOARD WITH ELSEWHERE, TOO, HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE IT'S FELT IN ALL OF THE DISTRICTS AND NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, OR IS THAT EVEN THE RIGHT WAY TO
THINK OF TOURISM? >> IT IS. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY.
>> WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR VISIT SAN ANTONIO WEBSITE AND WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL 10 DISTRICTS, CERTAINLY AS IT PERTAINS TO TSM TPID IT'S A 40-PERSON BOARD WHICH IS MADE UP OF TWO ZONES, ZONE ONE WHICH IS THE BUSINESS DISTRICT OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THEN OUTSIDE OF THAT. SO ON THAT BOARD, WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM ZONE 2, THOSE THAT SIT OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. AND THEY ARE HELPING DRIVE THE STRATEGY AND TACTICS THAT WE WOULD PUT FORTH AS AN ORGANIZATION
[02:45:01]
TO IMPACT THEM. SO THERE'S REPRESENTATION IN MAKING SURE.THERE'S TIMES WHERE AN OPPORTUNITY COMES THROUGH, LIKE ANYTHING, WHERE IT'S A CONVENTION CENTER-BASED OPPORTUNITY AND DOWNTOWN'S GOING TO BENEFIT, BUT THEN THERE'S LARGE CITY-WISE THAT PUSH OUT INTO THE OUTER CORE OF DOWNTOWN THAT THE TPID FUNDING ALSO HELPS GET HERE.
>> GONZALEZ: OKAY. GREAT. AND ON THE AIRBNBS, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW -- WE'VE GOT HOTELS THAT ARE BEING BUILT, WE JUST -- THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE JW MAYBE TAKING OVER THE IBC BANK, RIGHT?
>> YES, UH-HUH. >> GONZALEZ: MAYBE THIS IS OFFLINE, BUT HOW IS THE INDUSTRY KIND OF RETHINKING HOW THEY'RE BUILDING THESE HOTELS CONSIDERING WHAT FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR NOW WITH AIRBNBS AND -- IS THERE A
DIFFERENT WAY THAT THEY'RE -- >> WELL, I THINK IT'S TWO THINGS. WE KNOW VISITATION'S COMING, RIGHT? BESIDES 2025 WHERE WE TOOK A DIP, CERTAINLY, IN HOTEL DEMAND, OR JUST VISIT -- YOU KNOW, HOTEL OCCUPANCY DEMAND CERTAINLY, SHORT-TERM RENTALS TOOK A HIT ALSO, BUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DID, RIGHT? EVERYTHING HAPPENS. ECONOMIC, TARIFFS, INTERNATIONAL SENTIMENT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU CONTINUE TO SEE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT BEING HERE IN THE CITY. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, THERE'S NOT A HOTEL DEVELOPER WHO'S DOING IT WITH THE THOUGHTS OF LOSING MONEY.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY CONTINUES TO MAKE INTO THE AIRPORT, INTO THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION THAT WOULD HELP DRIVE THAT GROUP DEMAND.
A LOT OF THAT IS FACTORED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'RE SEEING.
OFFERINGS THAT THE HOTELS -- YOU KNOW, EACH HOTEL IS DIFFERENT BASED ON DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODELS AND P & L STATEMENTS, BUT THEY'RE ULTIMATELY CHARGED WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE GUEST EXPERIENCE, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, RIGHT, TO THEIR CUSTOMER SEGMENT.
NOT EVERY HOTEL IS ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. EACH ONE HAS SPECIFICS.
A LUXURY HOTEL HAS AMENITIES TO DRIVE THAT VISITOR TO THEIR
DESTINATION. >> GONZALEZ: WHO MANAGES THE CITY PASS?
>> CITY PASS. GREAT QUESTION. I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU. DEFINITELY NOT ON VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
>> GONZALEZ: I'M A HUGE FAN OF CITY PASSES WHENEVER WE TRAVEL,
SO... >> WE DO DO ONE ON THE GROUP SIDE, FOR OUR GROUP CUSTOMERS. A GROUP CUSTOMER COMES IN, OUR DESTINATION EXPERIENCE TEAM WILL REACH OUT TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING ENTITIES ON THE RIVERWALK AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE 18,000 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES COMING IN, DO YOU WANT TO OFFER A DISCOUNT OF SOME SORT.
SO DEFINITELY ON THE GROUP SIDE, WE ARE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
>> GONZALEZ: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER KAUR, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER
CASTILLO? >> KAUR: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND THANK YOU, ALL, FOR ALL OF YOU SPENDING YOUR AFTERNOON WITH US.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO MULTITASK FOR SOME OF IT.
WE WANT TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING FOR OUR DOWNTOWN ECONOMY, WHICH IS TO COUNCILMAN MEZA GONZALEZ'SPOINT REALLY OUR OVERALL ECONOMY BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES IMPACT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY, AND ESPECIALLY AS WORLD HERITAGE SITE WITH OUR MISSIONS, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY WHEN THEY'RE HERE, WHICH WE LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THE GROWTH AND THE WORK IN OUR COLLABORATION EFFORTS WORKING WITH THE CITY AND VISIT SA HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED IN THE THREE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, AND I AM NOTICING A TREND WITH MY PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOME FOLKS AND THAT LEADERSHIP TRULY DOES MATTER.
AND I SAID THIS AT A RIBBON CUTTING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND IT REALLY DOES IMPACT HOW WE COLLABORATE TOGETHER. AND I THINK THE WILLINGNESS TO HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH US IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND WE WANT TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS, AND SO WE APPRECIATE THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAVE CREATED, MARIO.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WAS TALKING ABOUT, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GO TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT SLIDE. ON THIS SLIDE, CAN YOU, LIKE, ROUGHLY JUST EXPLAIN -- SO I'M ASSUMING EVERY TIME A LEISURE TRIP IS BOOKED, YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR THE AMOUNT THAT THAT LEISURE TRIP WOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY? >> THAT'S CORRECT, AND/OR
GROUP. >> KAUR: AND/OR GROUP. AND SO IS THAT ESTIMATE DIFFERENT FOR EACH -- FOR THE TIME OF YEAR, OR DO YOU KIND OF USE LIKE A
[02:50:04]
BASELINE ESTIMATE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. >> IT'S BASELINE. IF THERE'S ANY VARIATIONS TO THAT, IT'S MORE IN THE SEGMENTATION, RIGHT?
>> KAUR: GOT IT. >> THE LEISURE TRAVELER STAYS THREE AND A HALF DAYS, SPENDS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER WHO TENDS TO SPEND MORE TIME HERE, SPENDS LONGER, LESS AFFECTED BY
SEASONALITY. >> KAUR: AND SO THAT IS BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT
SEGMENTS THAT YOU -- >> IT IS. THIS ISN'T DONE BY VISIT SAN ANTONIO. WE PROVIDE SOME OF THE DATA, BUT THEN IT'S GIVEN TO TRINITY UNIVERSITY'S ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT, WHO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION
AND HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. >> KAUR: IT'S THE NEXT SLIDE THAT I'M LOOKING AT. AND THEN FOR THE TOTAL -- YEAH, TOTAL EVENTS BOOKED, DO YOU ALSO SEGMENT THAT OUT BASED ON
HOW LONG THE EVENT IS, ET CETERA? >> THAT -- SO WHAT WE DO IS WE RUN ANY OF OUR EVENTS THAT ARE BOOKED THROUGH DESTINATION INTERNATIONAL'S ECONOMIC EVENT CALCULATOR, AND IT WILL -- YOU PLUG IN ALL THE INFORMATION, RIGHT, NUMBER OF ATTENDEES, HOW LONG THEY'RE STAYING, ALL THAT INFORMATION, AND IT WILL GENERATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON IT.
>> KAUR: OKAY. AND THIS IS 2025 OR IS IT FISCAL YEAR '26 OR WHAT
IS THAT. >> IF YOU GO TO THIS SLIDE THERE, THAT IS '24'S DATA. IT'S ALWAYS A YEAR IN THE YEAR, IN THE REAR VIEW
MIRROR BECAUSE IT TAKES A YEAR -- >> KAUR: SO THIS DOESN'T
INCLUDE THE FINAL FOUR. >> THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE FINAL FOUR.
ACTUALLY, I TAKE THAT BACK. IT DOES INCLUDE THE FINAL FOUR. WE DID GET THAT DATA ALREADY.
>> KAUR: YEAH, I WAS JUST KIND OF WONDERING HOW THAT MADE AN IMPACT, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CEO OF SA SPORTS HERE AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GETTING
OUR VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP COMING UP. >> IN DECEMBER.
>> I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ, ONE OF HIS TEAM MEMBERS HAS BEEN REALLY HEAVILY INVOLVED IN MAKING SURE WE GET SOME LOW-COST TICKETS FOR THAT. BUT ANYWAYS, I WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE ALAMODOME, BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SEE HOW THE ALAMODOME ALSO MAKES AN IMPACT ON SOME OF THESE TOTALS.
>> CERTAINLY. THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN SPORTS, AND THANK YOU TO THE EFFORTS OF SAN ANTONIO SPORTS, JENNY AND HER TEAM ARE DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF BEING THE KEEPER OF THAT, RIGHT, FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND FOR OU OUR ALONG THOSE LINES, THOUGH, EVEN FOR THE ALAMODOME, THE CONCERTS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN -- PATRICIA AND HER TEAMS HAVE BEEN DOING FROM BAD BUNNY TO BRUNO MARS COMING UP, THAT CONCERT LINEUP, IT DRIVES DEMAND.
YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE FOLKS THAT WILL COME IN FOR THAT CONCERT AND PUT A HEAD IN A BED, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE. SO A STRONG CONCERT
LINEUP IN THE FALL IS GOOD FOR LODGING. >> KAUR: WE DEFINITELY FELT THAT WIT WITH SHAKIRA ON THE RIVER. IS IN A WAY TO QUANTIFY THE INCREASE IN TPID'S CHANGE TO THIS? DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A
ONE FOR ONE -- >> WELL, AS A MINIMUM, RIGHT, TPID IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A 7 TO 1 RETURN, AT A MINIMUM. MORE OFTEN TIMES THAN NOT, IT'S IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING IN A LARGE CITYWIDE AND UTILIZING TPID FUNDING TO HELP WITH THE HOSTING OBLIGATION IN SECURING THAT. YOU COULD DO AN ESTIMATE,
I WOULD THINK, BUT LET ME GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT. >>
>> KAUR: A BEFORE AND AFTER. I'M WONDERING IF IT'S LIKE A ONE-TO-ONE IMPROVEMENT FOR AMOUNT OF DOLLARS SPENT TO THE ACTUAL OUTPUT, AND ALSO WONDERING, LIKE, WHILE THE CONVENTION CENTER IS CLOSED, IF WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> SO CURRENTLY THE PLAN IS THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER WOULD STILL BE OPEN. YOU'RE ADDING TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, WE WOULDN'T DO A MODEL LIKE AUSTIN WHERE YOU JUST SHUT DOWNY PORTION OF IT. DOWN ANY PORTION OF IT. WOULD THERE BE A DISRUPTION, ABSOLUTELY. GROUP CUSTOMER WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT NOISE AND ALL THAT AND WE WOULD WORK THROUGH THAT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER TEAM. IT WOULD BE A LOT LESS IMPACTFUL IF YOU WERE
JUST SHUTTING IT DOWN. >> KAUR: THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CONVENTIONS WERE COMING UP.
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW'S L A NEUROSURGEON. HE SAID, I'M COMING FOR THIS CONVENTION. I'M LIKE, WHAT CONVENTION.
THERE'S A WEBSITE CONVENTIONCALENDAR.COM. WHO MANAGES THAT?
[02:55:02]
>> Y'ALL DO. >> YOU SENT THEM IN THE INFORMATION? SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVENTIONS COMING UP IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
IT'S REALLY COOL. YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE. SO THE THOUGHT THAT I HAD, BECAUSE I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO A HOTEL OWNER, HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE OUT WHICH CONVENTIONS, LIKE DO YOU HAVE A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER THAT YOU'RE SAYING,S THIS
IS WHO'S IN TOWN, THIS IS -- >> VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
>> WE ARE A MEMBERSHIP MODEL. SO WHEN THE GROUP'S BOOKED AND THEN AS IT'S COMING IN, OUR DESTINATION EXPERIENCE TEAM AND OUR MEMBERSHIP TEAM PUT TOGETHER TO SEND OUT TO ANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE MEMBERS, ANY OF THE RIVERWALK, HEY, WE HAVE THIS GROUP IN, HERE'S THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES, YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAYBE STAY OPEN LATER, OFFER A LUNCH SPECIAL, DO SOMETHING OF THAT SORT, SO, YEAH.
>> KAUR: CAN YOU PUT ME ON THAT LIST? >> WE CAN.
>> KAUR: I WANT TO SEE WHO'S IN TOWN. I MEAN, YOU SEE THEM WALKING AROUND, I'M LIKE, I WONDER WHAT GROUP THEY'RE WITH.
>> I MET WITH COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO AND SHE BROUGHT UP A REALLY GOOD POINT. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE Y'ALL COME SEE A LARGE CONVENTION CENTER LOAD IN, LOAD OUT, SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WITH YOUR OWN EYES THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION OF OCCUPANCY AND BEING MAXED OUT AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE TWO GROUPS THAT ARE TRYING TO LOAD INTO OUR CURRENT CONVENTION CENTER. YEAH.
WE CAN DEFINITELY ADD YOU TO THAT. >> KAUR: OKAY.
AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND THEN I WAS GOING TO SAY ONE LAST THING, AND I JUST FORGOT. OH, I DO REMEMBER.
THE ONE THING THAT I'VE ASKED IS THERE'S A LOT THAT'S UPCOMING FOR CHANGES WITH MARVEL -- OR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, BECAUSE EVERYONE HATES THE TERM MARVEL, BUT THE ONE THING I'VE ASKED OUR WHATEVER FUNDING IS INCREASED, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO PUT SOME OF IT BACK, LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE FUNDS FOR ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW -- DOING ART IN THE NEW SPACES, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO ADD FUNDING FOR OUR LOCAL MICROMOBILITY OPTIONS OR OUR SHUTTLES AND TROLLEYS TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET PEOPLE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN PARTNERING TO DO SOME OF THAT WHEN THE CONVENTIONS ARE HERE, BUT JUST DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE WE CAN USE WHATEVER DOLLARS ARE POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I KNOW THEY ALL HAVE STRICT TIES, TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE INVEST SOME OF THAT BACK INTO OUR LOCAL, SO THEY FEEL THE BENEFITS, TOO. LIKE WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A LONG -- IT'S AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO OUR WHOLE CITY THROUGH OUR BUDGETS AND THROUGH ALL THE REVENUE THAT WE GET, BUT TANGIBLY, HOW CAN WE ALLOW OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO FEEL THE SAME BENEFIT THAT THOSE -- AND I KNOW IT SOMETIMES COMES BACK TO ENGAGEMENT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, LIKE WHO'S ENGAGING AND WHO'S PUTTING IN THE EFFORT, BUT EVEN JUST THINKING ABOUT LIKE ART AND ARCHITECTURE PERSPECTIVES AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FILL THE SPACES WITH COLOR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND USEFUL INFORMATION. THE ONLY ONE THING I'LL END WITH IS, LIKE, IN THE CONVENTION CENTER IF WE PUT UP MORE, LIKE -- I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I WAS VISITING RECENTLY, BUT SHOWING EXACTLY HOW TO GET -- WHAT'S HAPPENING, HOW TO GET AROUND AND MORE CLEAR SIGNAGE, I THINK, WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL, TOO, AROUND THE CONVENTION
CENTER. >> WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE CRYSTAL WITH DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE ON OUR DIRECTORS WHICH OPENS UP A WHOLE NOTHER AVENUE
OF THIS CONVERSATION, WHICH IS GREAT. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR
PRO TEM. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
CASTILLO FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, MARIO FOR THE CONVERSATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THE ONE-ON-ONE, AND JUST JUSTIN AS WELL.
GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT SERVE ON THE BOARD.
MANY OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED BUT I DID WANT TO FAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK -- FAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK IN HAVING KRYSTAL JONES ON THE BOARD.
I WAS REMINDED OF -- JUST GRATEFUL, OF COURSE, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH OF YOU ALL, THAT WE'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN INVEST IN LOCAL ARTISTS, IN TELLING THE STORY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK AND YOU BRING THAT TO MY ATTENTION IN TERMS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE NEED FOR GROWTH AND EXPANSION. AND WHAT I SHARED WITH MARIO WAS HAVING WORKED IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY DOWNTOWN, IT'S THE COLLEGE GAMES THAT BRING IN THE LARGE TIPPERS, RIGHT, BUT IT'S THE CONVENTIONS AS WELL, AND THERE'S THE INTERCONNECTTIVENESS AS WE TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF HOSPITALITY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IT'S THE CONVENTIONS THAT ARE BROUGHT HERE THAT THEN GO INTO THE POCKETS OF THE HOSTESSES AND SO FORTH.
I WANT TOO THANK YOU FOR THE ROLL THAT YOU HAVE IN THE HOSPITALITY
[03:00:03]
INDUSTRY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOWING YOU AROUND DISTRICT FIVE BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE COMMUNITY GEMS. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT I APPRECIATE YOU AND ALEX LOPEZ IN TERMS OF TALKING HOW WE CAN WORK WITH BOXING PROMOTORS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SHOWCASE THE HISTORY OF HOW MANY WORLD CHAMPIONS WE HAVE, HOW MANY WE HAVE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN BUT ALSO HOW WE CAN TELL THAT STORY AND OF COURSE BRING SOME OF THOSE LARGE-SCALE EVENTS THAT CAN GO FROM 12 TO 14 DAYS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HOPEFULLY CONNECTING THEM TO HOTELS.I SAID LASTLY, BUT LASTLY, I APPRECIATE YOU PROVIDING CONTEXT IN TERMS OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL -- OCCUPANCIES AND IT REMINDED ME OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND SHORT-TERM RENTAL FEES. I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REEVALUATE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE LOWEST FEES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND I KNOW IN DISTRICT FIVE, SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED, THERE'S CONCERN IN D5 IN SOUTHTOWN IN PARTICULAR HOW WE'RE REMOVING LONG-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND I THINK SEEING THE CONNECTION HOW IT'S IMPACTING HOTEL OCCUPANCY WARRANTS US REVISITING THAT CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU, MARIO AND CYNTHIA AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN?
>> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION AND THE CONVERSATION RELATED TO VISIT SAN ANTONIO AND OVERALL TOURISM HERE IN OUR CITY. I KNOW YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OF COURSE THE REQUIREMENT FOR 60% OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE PART OF THE TPID TO APPROVE THIS, WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS LIKE? HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONCERNS, EXCITEMENT OR REQUESTS ALREADY FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE, WHAT HAS BEEN SORT OF SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HOTELS?
>> YEAH, BY AND LARGE OUR HOTEL OWNERS AND GENERAL MANAGERS AND THE TPID BOARD CERTAINLY AS WELL AS SAN ANTONIO HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION, THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMPETITIVE STATE WE'RE IN, NOT ONLY AS AN INDUSTRY, BUT CERTAINLY OUR STATE OF TEXAS. SO THEY KNOW THIS IS NECESSARY TO KEEP US COMPETITIVE. SO, AGAIN, THE COMPETITIVE -- NO COMPETITIVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT INCREASE.
>> GALVAN: GOT IT. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
WELL, GREAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON WHICH HOTEL'S PART OF THE TPID HAVE REQUESTED THE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL INCENTIVE? OF COURSE WITHIN ZONE 1 AND ZONE 2 AND HOW OFTEN THEY TYPICALLY
REQUEST THAT? >> SO, YEAH. WE HAVE A RUNNING LIST OF
THOSE. >> GALVAN: OKAY. >> AND ESSENTIALLY A HOTEL CAN APPLY FOR UP TO $75,000 TO BE APPLIED TO GET A GROUP TO COME TO THEIR SPECIFIC PROPERTY. THAT FUND, OR THAT INCENTIVE, IS PAID
DIRECTLY TO THE CUSTOMER. >> GALVAN: OKAY.
>> NOT BACK TO THE HOTEL. SO WE DO HAVE A RUNNING
LIST OF WHO THOSE HOTELS ARE. >> GALVAN: OKAY.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> AND THEY'RE IN BOTH ZONES, ZONE 1 AND ZONE
2. >> GALVAN: I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE ABOUT WHAT THE MAP LOOKS LIKE THERE AS WELL AS HOW OFTEN CERTAIN HOTELS OR -- SORRY, CERTAIN CUSTOMERS REQUEST IT AND WHERE THEY END UP GOING.
>> UH-HUH. >> GALVAN: YEAH. AND I KNOW, OF COURSE, THE RETURN HAS TO BE 7 TO 1, SO INTERESTED ON THAT ONE, TOO, THE RESULTS WITHOUT INCENTIVE AND WITH INCENTIVE, WHAT THAT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE.
BEYOND THAT, I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND DOWNTOWN VERSUS THE FULL FOOTPRINT OF THE CITY, WHAT KIND OF STRATEGIES, IF ANY, ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED ON THESE KIND OF MICROLEVEL TOURISM MARKETS LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES VERSUS 151 AND SEAWORLD STRATEGIES VERSUS AIRPORT STRATEGIES, WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE DONE THROUGH THE TPID FOR EACH OF THESE SMALLER AREAS?
>> SO, AGAIN, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM BOTH
OUTSIDE -- >> GALVAN: RIGHT. >> RIGHT? OUR TPID BOARD IS EXTREMELY ENGAGED, VERY VOCAL ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE FUNDING IS GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AS A WHOLE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY ALSO REPRESENT THEIR ZONES. SO THE SALES AND MARKETING EFFORTS AS WE GO THROUGH THEM AND WE VET, WE GO, OKAY, THAT'S GOOD THERE, WHAT ELSE ARE WE DOING? WE ANNUALLY SET UP A STRATEGIC PLANS AND ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EXECUTE ON THAT FUNDING AND DRIVE VISITATION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SO THROUGH THOSE ANNUAL SESSIONS, SUMMER RETREATS, WE'RE ABLE TO VET OUT, OKAY --
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. >> GALVAN: OKAY. WELL, GREAT.
AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK MORE OFFLINE, I'M SELFISHLY LOOKING AT 151 AND SEAWORLD OR MY PART OF THE CITY, AND WONDERING WHAT HAS THAT BEEN LOOKING LIKE, I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT DIFFERENT FOLKS IN THE AREA ABOUT GENERAL CONCERNS ABOUT HOTEL AND LODGING, NATURALLY, NOT NATIONALLY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS MORE THINGS THAT
[03:05:08]
WOULD BE HELPFUL IN GETTING HEADS IN THE BEDS, UNDERSTANDING IF IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OR TRANSIT NEEDS, ET CETERA, BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND THEN GETTING MORE FOLKS OUT THAT WAY WOULD BEINTERESTING JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY. >> YEAH, FOR SURE.
TEAM SPORT. >> GALVAN: YEAH. >> TOURISM IS A TEAM
SPORT. >> GALVAN: YEAH. AND I THINK ON A SIMILAR NOTE, ON HOTEL OCCUPANCY, OF COURSE, I KNOW WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS, UNDERSTANDING A BIT MORE, ARE THERE -- WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY REASON THAT WE'RE SEEING HOTEL OCCUPANCY DIPS FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AS A PRIMARY ECONOMIC REASONS, POLITICAL REASONS, OR ARE THEY
LOCAL NEEDS HERE AND THERE? >> SO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY DIP IS, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IS A SHIFT JUST STRAIGHT OUT INTO
SHORT-TERM RENTALS. >> GALVAN: OKAY, RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> IT'S LIKE THE EXACT NUMBER -- IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU REALLY GET INTO THE DATA, IT'S A DIRECT CORRELATION.
NOW, WHAT HAPPENED IN '25 HAPPENED EVERYWHERE, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
>> GALVAN: RIGHT. >> -- FELT THAT IMPACT, WHETHER YOU'RE IN ORLANDO, TEXAS, WHEREVER THAT WAS. AND THAT HAD DO WITH THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, CERTAINLY TARIFFS PLAY INTO THAT CONVERSATION.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS A HUGE PIECE OF THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECENT ARTICLES THAT HAVE COME OUT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOTEL DEMAND THAT DECREASED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR. OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER. AND IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE DATA, YOU'RE LIKE, MAN, NOBODY CAME. AND WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT WASN'T THE REALITY. THE REALITY IS, WE HAD MULTIPLE MEDICAL GROUPS THAT WERE LINED UP BACK TO BACK.
IN FACT, IN JULY OF '25, AS YOU LOOKED AT THE FOURTH QUARTER, WE WERE THINKING WE WERE GOING TO BE UP AT LEAST 2 TO 3% IN OVERALL REVENUE BASED ON IT. MEDICAL GROUPS TEND TO SPEND MORE, PAY HIGHER RATES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THOSE GROUPS TYPICALLY PICK UP ABOUT 85% OF THE ROOM BLOCK WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THE CITY.
THEY ENDED UP PICKING UP 50% OF THE ROOM BLOCK. A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH GOVERNMENT FUNDING, RIGHT? THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
AND WE SAW THAT. BUT IT WASN'T THAT PEOPLE WEREN'T -- DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S JUST WE WERE A PRODUCT OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE
REST OF THE ECONOMY. >> GALVAN: GOT IT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AGAIN, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS
TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? I GUESS JUST TWO COMMENTS AS I LISTEN TO MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MINUTES, ONE ON SPORTS, I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER KAUR MENTIONED THE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AND JOLIE ON MY TIME HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED AND THE EFFORT THAT I THINK SHE WANTS TO CONVEY AND WHAT I WANT TO SEE, BEYOND JUST THE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS HOW DO WE INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENCES THAT ARE GOING TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE THEM, AND SO WE HAVE VOLLEYBALL TEAMS IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, HOW CAN WE GET THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP SO THEY CAN SEE PROFESSIONALS AND THEY CAN SEE THAT THEY, TOO, HAVE A FUTURE THERE, THAT THEY CAN AND THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING THAT MAYBE AT ONE POINT WAS EXCLUSIVE AND NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THEM. AND SO I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT EVERY EXPERIENCE THAT WE BRING, WHETHER IT'S TO THE ALAMODOME, FROST BANK CENTER, ANY NEW ARENAS OR STADIUMS OR ANY OTHER EVENTS, HOW DO WE MAKE IT AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY. SECOND TO THAT WAS ARTS WAS BROUGHT UP QUITE A BIT TODAY. AND I SEE JEFF, WE'VE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AND HE'S HEARD -- HE'S NOT GOING TO BE SURPRISED BY ANY OF THIS, AND HE'S ACTIVELY WORKING THROUGH AND THINKING THROUGH THE ISSUE, BUT I WAS AT THE AIRPORT LAST WEEK FOR A WEDDING -- TO TRAVEL OUT FOR A WEDDING AND I WAS IN LINE AT AN AIRLINE, I WON'T SAY WHICH ONE, AND THE AIRPORT'S ALL BEAUTIFUL, IT'S DECORATED FOR FIESTA, THERE'S ART EVERYWHERE, WE KNOW THERE'S A GREAT VALUE IN ART -- FIESTA AND IT WAS VERY CLEARLY AI GENERATED, AND THAT'S OFF-PUTTING TO ME. AS SOMEONE WHO VALUES THE ARTS AND WE KNOW THAT CULTURAL AND ARTS TOURISM IS A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM, THE QUICKEST WAY FOR ME NOT TO GO SOMEWHERE AND NOT TO SUPPORT SOMETHING IS TO SEE AN AI-GENERATED IMAGE. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NEEDS AND THERE'S A DESIRE IN ARTISTIC COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN WHATEVER WAYS THAT THEY CAN TO EITHER CREATE THE GRAPHIC DESIGNS OR TO CREATE ARTWORK, THE LIKE. AND SO I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY AS AN ANECDOTE, I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO THINK THROUGH THAT, HOW CAN WE PREVENT GENERATIVE AI FROM INTEGRATING ITSELF INTO THE WAY THAT WE TELL OUR STORY. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I HOPE IT WILL BE AS IMPORTANT TO YOU. I THINK IT WILL BE
[03:10:01]
IMPORTANT TO A GROWING NUMBER OF TRAVELERS AS TIME GOES ON.ALL THAT BEING SAID, ERIK, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS,
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS. >> WALSH: NO, SIR. IT'S BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION. WE'LL TAKE THE FEEDBACK AND START WORKING WITH
SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH MARIO AND THE GROUP. >> MAYOR PRO TEM: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY. OUT OF RESPECT THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'RE HA IT LL OVERTIME, WE WON'T TAKE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY, WE'LL MOVE THAT TO TOMORROW JUST SO WE AS COUNCILMEMBERS CAN BE AS ATTENTIVE TO YOU AS POSSIBLE WHILE WE'RE SPEAKING. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK AT 5:30.
SO THE TIME IS NOW 5:19 P.M. AND THIS MEETING IS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.