[ ITEM FOR BRIEFING ONLY ]
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>> MAYOR JONES: THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPECIAL EDUCATION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
THANKS, MADAM CLERK. SO THIS SPECIAL MEETING WILL INCLUDE BRIEFING ON THE 89TH TEXAS INTERIM LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE 119TH U.S. CONGRESS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS.
MARIA, OVER TO YOU. >> , MAYOR AND GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS AS WELL AS ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE TO DEVELOP THE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENDAS THAT WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY OF 2027. OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, SALLY, IS HERE AND TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK AS WE BEGIN THIS PROCESS. WITH THAT, SALLY?
>> THANK YOU, MARIA. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL, SALLY SASS SUR TOW, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. AS SALLY STATED, MY PRESENTATION TODAY I WILL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF STATE, FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY, FEDERAL ACTIVITY AS WELL AS A GRANT PROCESS AND THE PROCESS THAT INVOLVES THE GRANT FUNDING ADVOCACY EFFORTS BETWEEN US, ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND OUR FEDERAL CONSULTANTS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY ALWAYS WORKING ON MONITORING, ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ARE INVOLVED IN THESE EFFORTS IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAN ANTONIO AND TO GARNER ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE DO THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS, CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. OUR WORK IS AMPLIFIED IN AUSTIN AND IN DC THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF OUR AUSTIN AND DC CONSULTANTS.
KEY FUNCTIONS TO LOOK AT HERE, IN COORDINATION WITH THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER AND CITY DEPARTMENTS, DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS, REVIEW OF FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION TO DETERMINE THAT IMPACT TO THE CITY. ENGAGING IN ADVOCACY WITH SAN ANTONIO'S ELECTED DELEGATIONS AND LOCAL ISSUES. AND ULTIMATELY TO SECURE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY PRIORITY PROJECTS TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND. ON TO THE STATE LEGISLATION BILL FILING HISTORY, A LITTLE INFORMATION HERE. THERE IS A CLEAR TREND AT THE LEGISLATURE, MORE AND MORE CITY-IMPACTFUL BILLS ARE BEING FILED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AS YOU SEE HERE IN THE 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 2023, 8,000 PLUS BILLS WERE FILED, 1,800 BILLS WERE TRACKED BY THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
230 BILLS WERE ENACTED IMPACTING MUNICIPALITIES. FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS TO 2025 DURING THE 89TH, OVER 9,000 BILLS WERE FILED, 2200 BILLS WERE TRACKED BY THE CITY AND OVER 260 BILLS WERE ENACTED IMPACTING MUNICIPALITIES.
THIS EQUALS TO AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 12% MORE BILLS FILED IN THE LAST SESSION AND APPROXIMATELY 22% ADDITIONAL BILLS FILED THAT HAD TO BE REVIEWED, MONITORED AND ANALYZED BY GA AND CITY DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE THE COSA IMPACT.
WE ARE REGULARLY UPDATED TO THE IGR COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I PRESENTED A SESSION RECAP TO THE FULL COUNCIL ON JUNE 12, 2025. WE SENT AN END OF SESSION REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ON JUNE 25TH AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSIONS. IT REPORT WAS ALSO SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2025. OF SPECIAL NOTE, WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION AND ACTIVE COLLABORATION OF CITY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY. HERE IS ANOTHER DATA SLIDE RELATED TO COMPETITIVE
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GRANTS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS SLIDE FOCUSES ON GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED IN THE PREVIOUS CONGRESS. GRANT SUBMISSIONS IN THE CURRENT. THROUGH PROACTIVE EFFORTS WE HELPED SECURE OVER 174 MILLION COMPETITIVE GRANTS. IN 2025, A PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION YEAR, AS EXPECTED, AGENCIES HAD A SLOW START IN ROLLING OUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. SOME TIME LATTER PART OF 2025 WAS WHEN THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES STARTED TO BECOME AVAILABLE. SINCE THIS TIME FRAME WE HAVE SUBMITTED OVER 15 GRANT APPLICATIONS. AT 15 SUBMISSIONS, WE HAVE MET OUR TARGET, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAN ANTONIO.I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO THE GRANTS TEAMS THAT ARE WITHIN NOT JUST GA, BUT THE CITY DEPARTMENTS. STAFF WHO HAPPEN GRANT AGREEMENTS IN AN EX-SPEAK SUSPICIOUS WAY DURING A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR HELPED TO GAIN FUNDS WHEN OTHER CITIES DID NOT GET GRANTS FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT GRANT PARTNERSHIPS. COLLABORATING ACROSS ALL LEVELS TO SECURE FUNDING AND DELIVER RESULTS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE PURSUIT OF GRANTS IS A MULTI-LAYER PROCESS THAT REQUIRES A GA TEAM AND CONSULTANTS TO PROACTIVELY ADVOCATE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. THIS ADVOCACY INCLUDES OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS IN COORDINATION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS. THE IGR COMMITTEE WILL HELP TO ENHANCE THESE EFFORTS THROUGH THEIR GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROVIDES SUPPORT TO CITY DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF A GRANT.
THIS INCLUDES THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT TO SUBMIT YOU FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO BRING THOSE WINS TO SAN ANTONIO.
ADDITIONALLY LAUNCHED IN 2024, GA MANAGES THE GRANT MANAGERS HUB CHANNEL ON TEAMS. THIS IS A TOOL FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO GA TECHNICAL SUPPORT, TEMPLATES, CITY PLANS AND ACCESS TO PAST TRAININGS. OUR SUPPORT TO THE CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDES PRE-AWARD AND POST-AWARD ACTIVITIES. A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE NEW SESSION IN 2027, AND CURRENTLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS IN ITS 2026 INTERIM SESSION.
THIS IS A WORKING PERIOD BETWEEN THE REGULAR SESSION WHEN LAWMAKERS AND COMMITTEES ARE ACTIVELY HOLDING HEARINGS TO STUDY SPECIFIC INTERIM CHARGES TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATION YEAR, THE 119TH REGULAR SESSION, IN THIS CASE BEGINNING IN 2027. THIS LAST MARCH AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RELEASED THEIR INTERIM CHARGES. THESE CHARGES ARE COMPRISED OF KEY TOPICS THAT COMMITTEES WILL REVIEW BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION. THE GA TEAM WILL MONITOR ALL RELEVANT HEARINGS AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL, CITY ATTORNEY AND OF COURSE THE IGR COMMITTEE.
THAT WILL HELP US PLAN ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR 2027. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN TWO COMMITTEE HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING.
ON MAY 21ST THE SENATE WATER ACT COMMITTEE HEARD TESTIMONY ON WATER TO UTILITY REVENUE TRANSFERS AND WASTEWATER UTILITY REVENUES TO GENERAL FUNDS.
THE CHAIRMAN HIGHLIGHTED THAT THERE WERE STILL MANY MORE DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD AND THAT THE NEEDS WERE SIGNIFICANT FOR INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS WATER RELATED, AND THIS WOULD HAPPEN ONLY THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL LEVELS. ON JUNE 4TH THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT HEARD TESTIMONY ON THE TEXAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACT OR HB 2127. 2127 WAS A LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN 2023 THAT PREVENTS CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM ENACTING OR ENFORCING CITY ORDINANCES THAT OVERSTEP STATE LAWS. OF COURSE THAT LAW PASSED AND THERE ARE STILL ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ON HOW THIS PARTICULAR LAW HAS EVOLVED. HERE THE CHAIR TOO EXPRESSED INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING HOW 2127 HAD BEEN ENACTED AND WHETHER SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS HAD EMERGED. THERE ARE OTHER VARIOUS INTERIM CHARGES THAT WE'RE STILL MONITORING DO MONITORING T THIS PERIOD THAT INCLUDES LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING PRAY RELIEF, MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS, HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND SOME OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS SUCH AS THE PROJECT FINANCE ZONES.
AS WELL AS SPECIAL NOTE HERE, STATE AGENCIES ARE AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON SUBMITTING LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS.
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GUIDANCE IS EXPECTED LATER THIS MONTH AND WE WILL BE TRACKING THAT INFORMATION CLOSELY. MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE IS SPECULATION THAT AGENTS WILL BE ASKED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR SOME REDUCTIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR BUDGET SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE RANGE OF ONE TO THREE PERCENT. THAT GUIDANCE REMAINS TO BE SEEN SO WE WILL TRACK THAT AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO YOU.PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSALS WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT AGAIN IN 2027.
IN NOVEMBER 2025, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL INCLUDES SWEEPING OVERHAUL OF PROPERTY TAX SYSTEMS, INCLUDING CAPPING LOCAL SPENDING GROWTH TO THE LESSER OF A POPULATION PLUS INFLATION OR 3.5%. IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S PLAN WAS RELEASED AND IT INCLUDES AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN THAT BUILDS ON PREVIOUS LEGISLATION FROM THE PREVIOUS SESSIONS, INCLUDING INCREASING THE HOME THE HOMESTED EXEMPTION. THAT INCLUDES INCREASING IT TO 180,000 FOR HOMEOWNERS AT 55 SPEARS 55 YEARS OF AGE AND FOR SENIOR HOMEOWNERS INCREASING THAT TO 240. THERE'S MORE TO COME THERE.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL RELEASE ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES IN THE BEGINNING OF 2027 FOR HIS -- DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS -- STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS. HERE'S AN SESSION DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. FEBRUARY THROUGH THIS SUMMER, WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY COORDINATING WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNICATING ON PREPARING A DRAFT PROGRAM FOR YOUR REVIEW, FEEDBACK AND AUTHORIZATION.
THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WE WILL BE PROVIDING BRIEFINGS AND OBTAINING FEEDBACK FROM THE IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE. IN OCTOBER OF 2026 WE ARE AIMING TO BRING THE PROGRAM AND OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM THE NON-IGR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE FULL COUNCIL. NOVEMBER 9, 2026 IS BILL PREFILING, AND WE'RE WORKS TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION ON JANUARY 12TH, 2027.
THIS WORK ENCOMPASSES MANY MONTHS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE REPORTS BACK TO THE IGR COMMITTEE.
REGARDING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND ITS COMPOSITION, IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU A SOLIDS DRAFTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND ULTIMATE APPROVAL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF EFFORT BEHIND, AND THOUGHTFULNESS AS WE PUT THIS DRAFT PROGRAM TOGETHER. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OF MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AND SELF-GOVERNANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THOSE PROGRAMS. PROTECTION OF FISCAL ABILITY AND LOCAL AUTHORITY AGAINST UNFUNDED MANDATES IS ONE OF THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE AS WE'RE WORKING TO PROTECT THE CITY'S INTEREST IN AUSTIN. THE RECOMMENDED PROGRAM IS GENERATED THROUGH MANY DISCUSSIONS AND COORDINATION. WE WILL BRING YOU THIS PROGRAM FOR YOUR EVALUATION AND AUTHORIZATION. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH POLICY DIRECTION, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATIVE SESSIONS WITH YOU, THE CITY MANAGER, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ANTICIPATE AGAIN THAT IN 2027 THE MAJORITY OF OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS WILL BE ON A DEFENSE MODE. ON TO THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE 120TH CONGRESS TO BEGIN IN 2027, HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE 119TH CONGRESS SO THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
FOR THE 119TH CONGRESS, HERE'S A LOOK AT RECENT ADVOCACY EFFORTS.
ON THE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION FRONTS, FOR HOUSING FUNDING, AS EXPECTED, THE PRESIDENT IN HIS FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET PROPOSED SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO HUD PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE PROGRAMS THAT OUR HOUSING TEAMS AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY DEPEND ON FOR HOUSING-RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES AND INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMING. WE COMMUNICATED OUR CONCERNS IN COORDINATION WITH OUR HOUSING TEAM TO ENSURE THAT OUR APPROPRIATORS AND THE REST OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WERE AWARE OF THOSE CONCERNS AND WE REQUESTED THEIR SUPPORT.
THESE PRIORITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CDBG, HOME SERVICES AND THE BLOCK FRONT. THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT WILL EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER 20. SOME OF THE PRIORITY PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE TRACKING AND MONITORING CLOSELY AND REQUESTING SUPPORT THAT THESE PROGRAMS MUST BE INCLUDED, INCLUDE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL, BUILD GRANT AND THE
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT WHEN INCLUDES A LARGE BLOCK OF FUNDS FOR CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THIS CONGRESS HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND IN PARTICULAR THE HOUSE RELEASED THEIR BUILD AMERICA 250 ACT, WHICH IS THE RENEWAL OF THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL. LAST MONTH THE HOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE PASSED THE BILL OVERWHELMINGLY WITH A VOTE OF 62-2. CONTINUING RECENT ADVOCACY EFFORTS EXTENDS TO SUPPORTING AVIATION FUNDING IN PARTICULAR FOR TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT AND AIRFIELD IMPROVEMENTS. CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO THE AIRPORT TEAM FOR TWO GRANT AWARDS THROUGH THE ATP PROGRAM, TOTALING OVER $30 MILLION.MILITARY AFFAIRS ADVOCACY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND GROW MILITARY MISSIONS IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY AGENDA. THOSE PRIORITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE CONSOLIDATION OF THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY AND THE PROPOSED NEW VA MEDICAL CENTER. CONTINUED EFFORTS TO CONSOLIDATE DHA AND JVSA ARE ONGOING. THE CITY OBTAINED A DEAG GRANT OF FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE SOUTH BEACH PAVILION RESTORATION AND RENOVATION OF THE PAVILION TO BETTER POSITION SAN ANTONIO AS A LONG-TERM HUB FOR MILITARY MEDICINE, HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION AND MEDICAL READINESS OPERATIONS.
THE CITY ALSO SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF THE NEW VA CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO.
THIS PROJECT WOULD REPLACE THE AUDIE MURPHY MEMORIAL VETERANS HOSPITAL WITH A MODERN STATE-OF-THE-ART MEDICAL CENTER. GOOD NEWS, A RECENTLY COMPLETED RECORD OF DECISION MADE A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THIS PROCESS THAT DEMONSTRATES CONTINUED FEDERAL COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT.
ADDITIONAL 119TH ITEMS TO WATCH, THERE'S A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME OF WORKING DAYS FOR CONGRESS IN 2026. THESE ARE THE KEY LEGISLATIVE ITEMS BEING TRACKED THIS SESSION. APPROPRIATIONS, SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION, AND A VERY LARGE ROAD TO HOUSING ACT. AS WE SHARED WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING -- IN DC DURING SA TO DC AND WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS IS AN ANNUAL PROCESS, BUT IT IS ALMOST NEVER COMPLETED ON TIME. AGAIN THIS YEAR WE ANTICIPATE AN APPROPRIATIONS CONTINUING RESOLUTION OR CR, WILL BE PASSED IN ORDER TO KEEP AGENCIES FUNDED AND TO GIVE CONGRESS MORE TIME FOR BILLS TO BE PASSED FOR 2027. THERE ARE 12 SPENDING BILLS THAT FUND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE HOUSE COMMITTEES HAVE CONSIDERED 10 OF THOSE 12 BILLS. HOWEVER, THE SENATE IS LAGGING BEHIND AND THEY ARE YET TO CONSIDER ANY BILLS. THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION WAS CONSIDERED BY THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE AND PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 62-2. THE ROAD TO HOUSING ACT PASSED IN MAY AND IT IS NOW BACK AT THE SENATE FOR CONCURRENCE. FEDERAL PROGRAM DATES OF INTEREST AND MILESTONE: THIS MONTH WE ARE BEGINNING OUR COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL EXTEND THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WHERE WE WILL ENGAGE THE IGR COMMITTEE, THE CHAIRMAN AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO OBTAINED FEEDBACK AND PROVIDE BRIEFINGS. IN OCTOBER OF 2026, TAKING US TO NOVEMBER 2026 FOR FULL COUNCIL BRIEFING AND FEEDBACK, AND WE'LL WORK TOWARDS AN A SESSION BRIEFING AND ADOPTION TO BE READY FOR JANUARY 2027. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION. WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, SALLY.
APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. THANKS, JEFF, FOR MY PRE-BRIEF.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED IN MY PRE-BRIEF FOR MY COLLEAGUES' EDIFICATION AND FOR THE PUBLIC'S EDIFICATION. COULD YOU HIGHLIGHT FOR US THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ASSESS HOW WELL WE DID IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION, NOT ONLY WE, BUT ALSO AS YOU MENTIONED THE CRITICAL PARTNERS THAT THE CONSULTANTS SERVE, BOTH AT THE STATE AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
HOW DO WE, FRANKLY, ENSURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT TEAM HELPING US ADVOCATE FOR
EACH SESSION? >> SURE, MAYOR. SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE OUTSOURCED SOME OF THE CONSULTANT WORK TO AUSTIN FIRMS, AND IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I FEEL CONFIDENT, MAYOR, THAT BASED ON ALL THE BILL FILING THAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE COLLABORATION WITH OUR CONSULTANT TEAMS AND WITH CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, WE FARED FAIRLY WELL, CONSIDERING. NONE OF THAT WORK WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A DIVERSE BENCH OF EXPERT CONSULTANTS IN AUSTIN.
THAT WORK EXTENDS TO WASHINGTON, D.C., THE DATA OF THE RECEIVED GRANTS
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SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IN 2023 AND 2024, AS I MENTIONED IN MY DATA POINT, WE BROUGHT IN OVER $174 MILLION. THE AKIN CONSULTANTS IN DC HAVE A BROAD RANGE OF EXPERT CONSULTANTS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INVOLVE AS EMERGING ISSUES FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARISE. OUR CURRENT TEAM IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT CONSISTENT CONSULTANTS IN DC. WE DISCUSS EMERGING ISSUES AND ONGOING WORK ON A BIWEEKLY BASIS. I TALK TO THEM EVERY WEEK.THEY ALSO PROVIDE US WITH A MONTHLY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, BRIEFINGS RELATED TO LEGISLATION THAT IS MOVING. SO THERE ARE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT ARE PART OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THESE TWO PARTICULAR CONSULTANT TEAMS IN AUSTIN AND IN DC. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> MAYOR JONES: YEAH. I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING AT SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT BETTER CAPTURES THAT. I APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE AND CERTAINLY I CAN RECOGNIZE THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THE GRANTS, BUT WHATEVER KIND OF SCORECARD YOU'VE GOT THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND, IF THAT'S THE RIGHT TEAM FOR THE NEXT SESSION, WOULD BE SUPER HELPFUL. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
I ALSO ASKED AS WE ARE OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS COMPETING WITH OTHERS, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT WE GET, BUT HOW WELL ARE WE DOING WITH RESPECT TO HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND OTHERS. DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW WELL WE'RE FARING AGAINST THOSE CITIES? FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE GRANTS RECEIVED.
>> MAYOR, WE DON'T TRACK GRANT FUNDING FOR OTHER CITIES.
THE FOCUS OF MY TEAM, AND I'M SURE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, THEY'RE FOCUSING ON BRINGING FUNDS FROM WASHINGTON AND AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO.
SO I CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE SEEN NUMBERS WHERE WE HAVE HAD TO COMPARE WITH OTHER
CITIES. >> MAYOR JONES: I WELCOME UNDERSTANDING THAT BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE REALM OF POSSIBLE WHAT WE ARE AND ARE NOT GETTING AND UNDERSTANDING WHY WE MAY NOT HAVE COMPETED WELL FOR THAT, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CALCULUS TO DETERMINE IF IT'S SOMETHING IN OUR APPROACH OR IT'S SOMETHING MAYBE IN WHO'S ON THEIR TEAM THAT'S HELPING US. SO I THINK SOME TYPE OF ASSESSMENT THAT HELPS US
UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, IF I MAY, WHAT I WILL ADD IS THAT THE GEOGRAPHY OF LARGE CITIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND COMPETITIVE GRANTS WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH LARGE CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE LA, NEW YORK AND OTHER LARGE CITIES. WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS EVERY TIME WE SUBMIT FOR A GRANT OPPORTUNITY IT IS WELL VETTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ALIGNS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY. ADDITIONALLY IF WE'RE UNSUCCESSFUL TO OBTAIN THAT GRANT WE DO A LOT OF OUTREACH WITH THE GRANT-FUNDING AGENCY TO LEARN WHY WE DID NOT -- WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT GRANT AND THOSE ARE CERTAINLY LESSONS LEARNED FOR FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: HOW DO WE -- I UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE THE AGENDA IS SET, IT HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN USED FOR THE TWO YEARS, RIGHT, THAT TERM.
HOWEVER, AT LEAST WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND THIS CAME UP IN MY CONVERSATION WITH JEFF, THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGE THAT IS QUITE CONSEQUENTIAL.
I WOULD WELCOME YOUR KIND OF --N EVEN JUST THIS TERM, HOW MUCH HAS HAPPENED, ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE IMPACT OF THAT, AND WHILE PUBLIC HEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, WASN'T NECESSARILY A PART OF THE AGENDA, CERTAINLY WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER THOSE CONSEQUENCES GIVEN THE TYPES OF BILLS THAT ARE BEING PASSED AND THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE. SO CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW YOU WOULD WORK WITH THE COUNCIL ON MAYBE KIND OF AN INTERIM, MAYBE AS THOSE BIG THINGS ARE COMING UP, SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY IS THERE ADVOCACY THROUGH THE PARTNERS SUFFICIENT, BUT ALSO THINGS LIKE SA TO DC, THAT THOSE ARE ACTUALLY REFLECTIVE OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS FACING AT THE TIME. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY A MULTI-FACETTED RESPONSE. WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATING WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. A LOT OF THAT ENCOMPASSES UNDERSTANDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES. IT ONLY MAKES SENSE FOR ME TO COME TO THE COUNCIL AND THE IGR COMMITTEE AND RECOMMEND OPPORTUNITIES THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE -- HAVE A HIGHER OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS. AND SO WE DO THAT CONTINUOUSLY. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH A NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND OTHER TRADE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SPECIALIZE IN WHATEVER AREA.
WE'RE LOOKING AT HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, HOMELESSNESS, ET CETERA, AND WE USE THEIR TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX AS WELL. WHEN WE'RE FORECASTING IN THIS CASE AN ELECTION YEAR THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SHIFT WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO DELEGATION CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE IS
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OUR FEDERAL CONSULTANTS HAVE ALREADY FOR FONTS NOW BEEN DOING OUTREACH TO POLICYMAKERS THAT WILL POTENTIALLY BE FILLING THOSE SEATS. THAT WILL BRING OPPORTUNITIES TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WILL HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILT. WE WILL EXTEND THAT ENGAGEMENT TO THE IGR COUNCIL COMMITTEE, TO THE CHAIRMAN AND THE MEMBERS, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR LEADERSHIP WILL ALSO BE BENEFICIAL, AS YOURS WOULD AS WELL TO BE ABLE ON BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND ENHANCE THEM ONCE THEY ARE IN CONGRESS AND HOLDINGTHEIR SEATS. >> WE ALSO HAD -- >> MAYOR JONES: AT THE END OF LAST YEAR WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY PART OF OUR AGENDA BUT WAS SEEN AS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD A VERY SHORT WINDOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, WHICH WAS, FRANKLY, RIDING THE COATTAILS OF DALLAS AND MOVING THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER.
SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WOULD NOT -- THAT WERE NOT ARTICULATED ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IT WAS A PRIORITY, HOWEVER, HOW DOES THE TEAM THINK ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST AND CERTAINLY OF CONSEQUENCE TO A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS, WHAT'S KIND OF A CATCHALL APPROACH TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS SO WE AT LEAST KNOW THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE IN FACT WANTED TO ACT ON THEM? HOW COULD WE BETTER HELP YOU
DO THAT? >> SURE, MAYOR. AS YOU SAW JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF BILLS THAT ARE FILED EVERY STATE SESSION, THE BILL THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO I BELIEVE IS A STATE BILL. SO EVEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL OF COURSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BILLS FILED.
DEPARTMENTS SO I APPRECIATE THEIR WORK. ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TML ALSO HAS A VERY BROAD AND DEEP TOOL TO BE ABLE TO CATCH THOSE CITY BILLS.
YOU DID POINT OUT THAT SOME BILLS ARE NOT PART OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL PROGRAM SO THOSE ARE MORE DIFFICULT OF COURSE TO CAPTURE. HOWEVER, IF YOU OR THE IGR COMMITTEE OR ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS BRING ITEMS TO MY ATTENTION, WE PUT THEM ON A SHORT LIST SO WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK THOSE FOR YOU AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE REGULAR UPDATES. WE USE MANY TOOLBOXES, MANY TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX.
IT ISN'T A SCIENTIFIC METHOD TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE EVERYTHING, BUT WE WILL -- I COMMIT TO YOU THAT WE WILL DO OUR BEST, THAT IF WE'RE AWARE OF A BILL THAT IS OF INTEREST TO THE CITY OR A CONCERN, WE WILL TRACK IT CLOSELY.
>> IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING SALLY SAID, MAYOR, THIS IS THE VALUE OF THE IGR COMMITTEE. WE'RE READY AND EXCITED TO GET BACK TO MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TO US TALK ABOUT THINGS AS THEY'RE HAPPENING. EXECUTIVE ORDERS COME OUT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, BILLS COME UP THAT MAYBE WEREN'T ANTICIPATED WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS PUT TOGETHER, AND THAT GIVES US A CHANCE TO DISCUSS AND GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL. AND ULTIMATELY WHEN WE'RE UP IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU IN SESSIONS LIKE THIS, WE CAN GATHER THAT FEEDBACK AND PIVOT AND ADJUST IF NECESSARY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR AGENDA IT'S REALLY THE BIG PICTURE STUFF THAT WE WANT. IT'S HOUSING, IT'S TRANSPORTATION, IT'S MILITARY, IT'S AIRPORT, IT'S HEALTH. A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. SO WE CAN STILL OPERATE WITHIN WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS TOLD US THEY WANT TO TRY TO ADVANCE EVEN IF THINGS ARE CHANGING IN DC OR AUSTIN.
>> MAYOR JONES: YEAH, CERTAINLY. I APPRECIATE THAT.
OF COURSE, EVEN ABSENT AN IGR, THOUGH, FLAGGING SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PROHIBITED. OKAY. THANK YOU.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR IGR CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT HE'S AGREED TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR. I KNOW HIS LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTISE IN TWO AREAS ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL ENSURE THAT OUR CITY'S EQUITIES ARE HEARD, DEFENDED AND WELL
ADVOCATED FOR. COUNCILMAN. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE IGR COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN ME.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND MAYBE IT'S ONLY BEEN A MONTH, BUT SINCE THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS COMMITTEE, I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE GOALS AND PRIORITIES AT VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND AT VARIOUS B SESSIONS. WHEN I SHARE THE NEWS WITH MY CONSTITUENTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, I THINK WE HAVE A DUTY TO EXPLAIN WHY IT'S IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY THAT WE DO THIS WORK, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO BEGIN WITH.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GOAL IS TO FIGHT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THAT -- MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE CARRYING ISSUES THAT THEY BROUGHT TO US THAT MAY NOT BE IN THE CITY'S PURVIEW AND WE'RE TAKING THEM TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
SO IF I WERE TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WIFE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND CONSTITUENTS ALIKE, ARE THEMED FOR BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SHOULD BE
[00:30:03]
AFFORDABILITY AND HOW WE MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES TO SUCCEED IN SAN ANTONIO AND WHERE SAN ANTONIO IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE KNOW THEY WILL BE SAFE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A VIBRANT FUTURE.I THINK THIS INCLUDES THE BIG FOUR. TRIED TO MAKE IT A BIG THREE, BUT COULDN'T DO IT: HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND TRANSPORTATION. THERE ARE SOME OBVIOUS AREAS THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY ON OUR AGENDA, INCLUDING PROTECTING OUR LOCAL ORDINANCES AND ABILITY TO GOVERN, AS WELL AS OPPOSING EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THEM. WE ALSO WANT TO PROTECT OUR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. THAT CONTINUES TO BE A SUBJECT OF LEGISLATION EFFORTS. I THINK IT'S ALSO BEEN CLEAR THAT WE WANT TO WORK AS CLOSELY AS WE CAN WITH LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE OUR FATES ARE INTERTWINED. IT'S BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO SEPARATE OUR ISSUES FROM THE ISSUES OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. AND PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY EXPECTING AND DEMANDING THAT WE ENGAGE AND THAT WE FIGHT FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY AND STATE ARE WELCOMING TO -- IT'S PRIDE MONTH, LBGTQ COMMUNITY, WOMEN AND OTHER MINORITIES AND THAT WE SHOULD ACTIVELY OPPOSE BILLS THAT DISCRIMINATE, DISENFRANCHISE OR OTHERWISE TEND TO HARM MARGINALLIZED COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, GOING BACK TO AFFORDABILITY, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON A PRO WORKER AGENDA, REALIZING THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY THAT IS MADE UP OF A STRONG HOSPITALITY WORKFORCE.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCREASED WAGES. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA INCLUDED RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE? AS WELL AS EXPANSIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE. THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE ALL PERTINENT TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AREAS WHERE WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO STEP IN.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND FEW MONTHS I'VE ASKED STAFF TO COMPILE A LIST OF LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. WE'VE HEARD FROM ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, SAPD AND OTHERS. CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THESE NEEDS HELPS BUILD OUR FOUNDATION. THIS WILL BE SHARED AT A FUTURE COMMITTEE MEETING.
MY GOAL IS TO ALWAYS ENSURE THAT MEMBERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AND PROACTIVELY SHARED WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AS WELL MY HOPE IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION WE KNOW WILL BE HERE AND START TO BUILD SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO MAY BE STRONG CONTENDERS IN NOVEMBER.
EVERYDAY THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COLLABORATE. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF WE BEGIN THOSE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHO IS BEST TO CARRY THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE'LL HAVE STRONG COMMON GROUND, EVERYONE WANTS TO ENSURE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IMPROVED. WE WANT TEXAS TO BE VIEWED AS A PLACE WHERE ECONOMIC GROWTH CAN HAPPEN AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT TEXAS IS A SAFE PLACE TO BE SO HOW DO WE MOVE THE AGENDA FORWARD IN A STRATEGIC WAY KNOWING THAT A LOT OF THESE ARE NOT PARTISAN IN NATURE. IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE CORRECT THAT WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEADERS OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUTSIDE OF TEXAS FOR SOME OF OUR GREATEST NEEDS. WE KNOW THAT THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ARE NOT DISSIMILAR FROM WHAT'S GOING ON IN HER CITIES AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK, ELIMINATION OF AT-GRADE RAIL CROSSINGS AND OTHER NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. IT WOULD ALSO BE TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OF SOME OF THE OTHER MAJOR TEXAS CITIES ARE AND MAYBE WE ALLOW THEM TO EXPEND SOME OF THEIR POLITICAL CAPITAL AND WE PLAY A SUPPORTIVE ROLE IF NEEDED.
I THINK IF WE KNEW IN ADVANCE WHAT DALLAS WAS DOING, WHAT HOUSTON, AUSTIN, ARE REALLY PRIORITIZING, I THINK THAT MAY HAVE HELPED US ENGAGE EARLIER ON THE TOPIC OF NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. SO WHAT'S GOING ON AS I MENTIONED IN OTHER CITIES IS NOT UNRELATED TO OUR OWN CONTEXT HERE. OVERALL I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THEIR PRIORITIES AND WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO BUILD A STRONG STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND TO UTILIZE OUR SHARED STRENGTHS TO BRING BIG WINS BACK HOME TO SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
>> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR MAYOR. I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID TODAY -- I WANT TO BEGIN AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME AGAIN ON IT, BUT THE ISSUE OF TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH. AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THE THINGS I'VE SAID OVER PAST YEAR ON IT, BUT I DO THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD. THAT SAID, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IF IT'S THIS BODY'S WILL TO CONTINUE WITH TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING, I DO THINK THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE DOING THE WORK FOR US ARE REALLY, REALLY FINE PROFESSIONALS WHO GO ABOUT THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY. AND SALLY, YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE GREAT IN TRYING TO CARRY
[00:35:06]
OUT THE WILL OF THIS BODY. SO IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, I THINK WE HAVE GOOD FOLKS WORKING FOR US THERE. I THINK WE NEED A REALLY CLEAR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, AND [INDISCERNIBLE] PROBABLY KNOWS I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE IT HAPPENED LAST TIME AROUND WHERE OUR FOLKS WERE, I GUESS, AGAINST A STATE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE EXEMPTED SMALL BUSINESS EQUIPMENT. IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES RELATED TO THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USE.YES. >> MAYOR JONES: POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
WHEN YOU SAY OUR FOLKS, WHO ARE YOU REFERENCING? >> WHYTE: OUR LOBBYING
TEAM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANKS. >> WHYTE: AND DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL TOO LATE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THIS COUNCIL IF WE WOULD HAVE DISCUSSED IT WOULD HAVE SAID WE LIKE THE IDEA OF PROVIDING TAX RELIEF TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT AND WE ACTUALLY OPPOSED IT, AND I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS LINE RIGHT HERE ON ITEM 10, ON SLIDE 10, IF WE COULD GO, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT PROTECTION OF FISCAL STABILITY, THE RATIONALE THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME IS IF THAT BILL WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WOULD HAVE LOST, YOU KNOW, X DOLLARS IN REVENUE. AND I THINK THE BILL DID END UP PASSING, RIGHT? IT'S IN PLACE. SO WE ARE GOING TO LOSE SOME REVENUE THERE. AGAIN, THAT'S A DISCUSSION I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE HAD.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD. AND WE CAN HAVE IT TODAY BECAUSE, AGAIN, PROVIDING TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, IN MY OPINION, ADDS MORE TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE, ALLOWS THEM TO HIRE MORE SAN ANTONIANS, ALLOWS THEM TO PAY OUR PEOPLE BETTER WAGES, BUT WE DIDN'T AT THAT TIME AND WE ACTUALLY OPPOSED IT.
SO USING OUR LOBBY FOLKS TO DO THAT I THINK WAS INAPPROPRIATE.
AND I THINK THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED BY HAVING A CLEARER IDEA OF WHAT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND PRIORITIES ARE. OR WERE.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT NOW. LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY IS -- AGAIN, MAYBE IT RELATES TO THIS LINE AS WELL, BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FORTH A PROPERTY TAX PROPOSAL THAT I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
IT WOULD REQUIRE COMMON SENSE SPENDING LIMITS FOR CITIES.
IT WOULD REQUIRE TWO-THIRDS VOTER APPROVAL FOR TAX INCREASES.
IT WOULD EMPOWER VOTERS TO ROLL BACK TAXES THEMSELVES. AND IT WOULD CREATE APPRAISAL PREDICTABILITY AND CAP APPRAISAL GROWTH. THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS, BEING CRUSHED BY PROPERTY TAXES AND I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS A GOOD ONE AND IT'S ONE THAT WE SHOULD -- THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT. NOW, IF THAT IS IN DIRECT CONTRIBUTION TO THIS LINE HERE ON -- CONTRADICTION TO THIS LINE HERE ON 10 ABOUT PROTECTING THE FISCAL STABILITY OF THIS CITY, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT LINE. AND I THINK THAT LINE THERE, PROTECTION OF FISCAL STABILITY, IS FRANKLY TOO BROAD. BECAUSE OF THE EXAMPLE THAT I STATED EARLIER REGARDING HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE THIS COUNCIL MAY BE IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING BE TECHNICALLY THE BEST FOR OR WHAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD VIEW AS THE BEST FOR THE BOTTOM LINE REVENUE THAT COMES IN TO OUR CITY. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS TODAY, MAYOR. I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THE DISCUSSION TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSIONS IN THIS REGARD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WHYTE.
I WAS GOING TO SAY IF WE COULD SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME ON THAT IN CASE IT INFORMS ANYONE ELSE'S COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS HERE. YOU MAY ANSWER MY QUESTION,
SO GO AHEAD. >> MAYOR, THANK YOU. YEAH, A COUPLE, JUST TO SORT OF RELIVE THE HISTORY A LITTLE BIT. THAT BILL APPLIED NOT JUST TO SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT TO ALL BUSINESSES AND IT EXEMPTED PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, SO INVENTORY, WHETHER IT'S A MASSIVE CORPORATION OR A SMALL BUSINESS.
YOU'RE NOT WRONG, THAT LANGUAGE IS GENERAL IN OUR PROGRAM THAT WE AS A POSITION OVER MANY, MANY SESSIONS IS AND MANY YEARS THAT COUNCIL HAS WANTED US TO DEFEND OUR ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES. BILLS COME FAST AND FURIOUS DURING THE SESSION.
[00:40:07]
THEY EVOLVE, THOUGH. THERE'S HEARINGS IN EACH CHAMBER, THERE'S OTHER COMMITTEES THEY MOVE TO AND THERE'S HOUSE DEBATES. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE TOOK OPPOSITION TO THAT BILL AT ITS FIRST HEARING EARLY IN THE SESSION.WE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE AT THE COUNCIL, WE ULTIMATELY DIDN'T TAKE A POSITION THE SECOND TIME, AND IT DID PASS REGARDLESS. AND IS HAVING A FISCAL IMPACT ON US RIGHT NOW. SO THE DIRECTION THAT I GOT LAST YEAR AFTER THAT WHOLE DISCUSSION FROM OUR CITY MANAGER WAS WE NODE TO BE VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT FISCAL ISSUES. WE HAD A B SESSION FOCUSED ON FISCAL-RELATED LEGISLATION AND I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY DO THAT AGAIN GOING FORWARD BOTH WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE AND WITH THE WHOLE COUNCIL. WE WELCOME MORE CLARITY AND MORE SPECIFICITY. WE DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN TAKING THE DIRECTIONS WE GET FROM THIS BODY AND ACTING ON THEM. AND YOU'RE NOT ALL GOING TO AGREE EVERY TIME ON THE POSITIONS. THAT'S KIND OF THE POINT OF
AN AGENDA THAT REPRESENTS THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, JEFF. IF YOU WOULD, ACTUALLY -- THAT'S OKAY.
THE -- TO THE EXTENT THAT THINGS ARE MOVING THROUGH THAT QUICKLY AND FOR US TO MAKE DATA-INFORMED DECISIONS AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS AND GUIDANCE TO YOU AS ABLE, HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU KIND OF RUN THE NUMBERS AND HELP US UNDERSTAND TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD ACTUALLY SUPPORT SOMETHING NOT ON LIKE PRINCIPLE, BUT ON THE MATH, YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE KIND OF NUMBERS QUICKLY SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE FOREGOING ESSENTIALLY --
>> YES, MAYOR. THAT'S CRITICAL OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND OUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT ARE HARD AT WORK DURING THE SESSION ANALYZING THE IMPACTS OF BILLS TO US.
WE TRY TO LIMIT WHAT WE ASK OF THEM TO BILLS THAT ARE ACTUALLY MOVING AND -- BECAUSE THERE'S THOUSANDS, AS SALLY SAID, BUT THEY ARE QUICK.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WHILE IGR GENERALLY MEETS MONTHLY OUT OF SESSION, DURING SESSION THE CITY MANAGER HAS PUT A STANDING ITEM ON COUNCIL EGG AGENDAS TO DO BRIEFINGS HERE SO THAT WE CAN ACTED MORE NIMBLY AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF DIRECT DIRECTED.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. AS YOU POINT OUT IT IS IN EFFECT AND IT IS HAVING A FISCAL IMPACT ON US AS WE ARE NOW CONTEMPLATING RAISING PROPERTY TAXES TO OFFSET THE GAP IN OUR BUDGET. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR, IF I MAY, I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT JEFF MENTIONED THAT WE CALCULATE THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THOSE BILLS AS WE ARE REVIEWING THEM.
SPECIFICALLY THE ONE THAT EXEMPTED PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM BUSINESS, IT HAD A FINANCIAL IMPACT OF $9.2 MILLION TO OUR CITY BUDGET.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING?
GO AHEAD. >> WHYTE: YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY, AGAIN, I THINK IT GOT MISSED LAST TIME BECAUSE THAT PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL, WE ALSO MAXIMIZED THE LOCAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR OUR RESIDENTS SO THAT HAD A FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE CITY TOO JUST LIKE THIS ONE DID FOR BUSINESSES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE DONE IF WE WOULD HAVE GOT TO CONSIDER IT, BUT WE NEVER CAUGHT IT BEFORE, AGAIN, AFTER THAT FIRST HEARING AND OUR FOLKS HAD ALREADY BEEN UP THERE TO LOBBY AGAINST IT.
SO I JUST -- I'M WITH YOU, MAYOR, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE -- AND WITH JEFF, WE NEED TO HAVE CLARITY ON BROAD STATEMENTS LIKE THIS BEFORE WE GET UP THERE NEXT
SESSION. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IS BRIEF THE COUNCIL, THE IGR COMMITTEE LEVEL, AND THEN WE COME TO THIS BODY ON A REGULAR BASIS, TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE UPDATES AND BE CLEAR ON WHAT OUR POSITION IS AND ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
>> MAYOR JONES: AND YOU KNOW, AS JEFF MENTIONED, IS SO FLUID, RIGHT? YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE END OF THE SESSION, OF COURSE THE CUMULATIVE NUMBER OF YOUR UNFUNDED MANDATES. SO AS YOU'RE ABLE NOT ONLY TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THESE INDIVIDUAL BILLS, BUT ALSO THE AGGREGATE.
WHAT IS THAT COUNTER THAT'S NOW ADD THIS MILLION, ADD THIS MILLION, SO THEN WE CAN CLEARLY SEE -- I THINK WHAT IT ALSO DOES IS HELP US UNDERSTAND AS WE GET TO THE END OF THIS HOW HARD WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE THERE'S JUST NO MORE GIVE ON THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES. THANK YOU.
COUNCILWOMAN KAUR, I KNEE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
TO COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE'S POINT, IF WE HAD NOT ARGUED AGAINST THAT NINE MILLION DOLLARS, I'M CURIOUS WHAT COULD WE HAVE SPENT THAT FOR FOR ACTUALLY OUR SMALL BUSINESSES? LIKE IF THAT BILL HADN'T PASSED, THAT $9 MILLION SPREAD APART FOR ALL OF THE BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY, PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF THAT WAS GOING TO OUR LARGER COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT DON'T ACTUALLY NEED THAT.
[00:45:06]
SO IF WE TOOK THAT $9 MILLION AND ACTUALLY TRANSLATED IT IN REAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED IT MORE IF WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THE LOSS ON IT ANYWAYS. SO IF OUR GOAL IS TO TRULY HELP THE SMALL BUSINESSES, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE COULD HAVE MODIFIED THAT LANGUAGE TO HELP THEM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN'T ACTUALLY -- MAYBE OUR LOBBYISTS COULD HAVE TRIED FOR AN AMENDMENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH POWER AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I DON'T KNOW IF -- OR STATELEVEL. >> MAYOR JONES: CAN YOU FREEZE THE TIME?
THANKS. >> OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE PERSONALITY IS JUST REMINDING ME OF SOME OTHER DETAILS THAT EXEMPLIFY HOW FLUID IT IS.
AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT MODIFYING, THE BILL WAS FILED ON A FRIDAY AND HEARD ON A MONDAY. SO THAT WAS PART OF THE CHALLENGE AND WHY WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION IN THE HEARING. WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN COUNCIL THE NEXT WEEK AND THE DEBATE ENSUED. THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE BILL. ONE WAS 25,000-DOLLAR EXEMPTION, THE OTHER WAS 250,000, SO THERE WAS A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND AFTER THE OPPOSITION THAT WAS HEARD DURING THE SESSION, IT WAS ULTIMATELY REDUCED TO 100,000-DOLLAR EXEMPTION, SO THE IMPACT TO CITIES WAS SMALLER THAN INITIALLY FILED.
SO IT IS FLUID AND FAST MOVING AND WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP YOU POSTED, BUT --
>> KAUR: I GUESS MY POINT, TO MAKE IT A LITTLE CLEARER, WAS IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED IF WE SAID ONLY BUSINESSES WITH REVENUES LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, RIGHT? THEN IT WOULD BE A SMALLER BUSINESS AND THAT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT IN THE LANGUAGE. I MEAN, IT'S ALL HYPOTHETICAL, BUT I GUESS I'M JUST SAYING IT'S FOR ALL BUSINESSES, WHICH IS WHY THE MAJORITY OF THIS BODY PROBABLY STILL WOULD HAVE SAID THAT --
>> FOR SMALL. >> KAUR: YEAH. AND AT THE SAME TIME, LOSING $9 MILLION WHEN YOU'RE FACING A DEFICIT OF 60 MILLION AND NOW AUDIO] THE PROPERTY TAX WAS JUST TAKEN BY US WITHOUT EVEN OUR VOICE TO BE ABLE TO PUT INTO IT.
JUST MY THOUGHTS ON THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THAT LINE ITEM IN THERE SO WE HAVE MORE CONTROL ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING TO SUPPORT THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE REALLY WANT TO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO SALLY AND JEFF AND THE TEAM FOR THIS YEAR'S TRIP, SA TO DC. I LEARNED MORE THIS YEAR FROM THE WORK YOU GUYS PUT TOGETHER FOR US THAN I HAVE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE FEDERAL AGENDA. WE HAD A WHOLE SESSION.
SOME OF US WENT THE FIRST DAY THAT WE GOT TO HEAR FROM OUR FEDERAL LOBBYIST TEAM ABOUT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ROAD TO HOUSING ACT. WE HAD AN OVERVIEW ON AVIATION WORK AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT.
AND I LEARNED THOSE ARE THE TWO PRIORITIES THAT -- HIGHEST PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE IN DISTRICT 1. SO THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT I GAINED FROM THAT THAT I COULD THEN GO AND FURTHER ASK QUESTIONS FOR THROUGHOUT THE SA TO DC TRIP, SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. AND FOR THOSE TWO BILLS, FOR THE IGR COMMITTEE, IF THOSE COULD BE CONTINUOUSLY PRESENTED TO SEE WHERE THEY GO.
I KNOW THE HOUSE HAS PASSED THEIR VERSION. I'M SURE THE SENATE IS GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL GET TO AN AGREEMENT, BUT I THINK BOTH OF THOSE COULD REALLY IMPACT US WITH CDBG FUNDS TOO.
SO I ACTUALLY WAS AT A CONFERENCE LAST WEEK AND ASKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN SAN ANTONIO AND HOUSTON CDBG FUNDING BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW DIFFERENT IT WAS, AND IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY BASED ON A FORMULA. I'M CURIOUS IF WE COULD RUN THE NUMBERS IF IT WOULD CHANGE WITH THE NEW BILL BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY ON HOW TO USE THOSE DOLLARS. SO THAT HELPS SUPPORT OUR HOUSING BOND WORK. THE OTHER THING ON THE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT PROGRAM. LIKE I KIND OF KNEW ABOUT IT IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, BUT DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT IN FULL DETAIL. AND ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE MODIFYING, SO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS I THINK WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF WE COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. I THINK MY ONLY REQUEST ON THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL GRANT PROGRAM IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE INPUT ON WHAT WE ARE SUBMITTING FOR THOSE GRANTS. I KNOW THE NOFA CAME OUT AND I REACHED OUT TO YOU GUYS AND I THINK I WAS A LITTLE TOO LATE TO PROVIDE INPUT ON WHAT WE'RE SUBMITTING, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT FOR US TO HAVE A CHANCE TO EITHER AT -- DEPENDING UPON WHICH GRANT IT IS, IF IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE OR PCDC, IF IT'S HOUSING, IF
[00:50:01]
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE INPUT, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.I THINK MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE DAY BEFORE THE DC LEARNING OF POLITICS AND WHAT'S POSSIBLE IF THINGS CHANGE IN NOVEMBER, IT GAVE ME HOPE AND THAT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW FUNDING GETS DETERMINED JUST BASED ON LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS. SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WITH CONGRESSMAN CASTRO'S LEADERSHIP THERE NOW AND POTENTIALLY BEING A VERY SENIOR LEADER THAT WE'LL GET SOME MORE FUNDING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE DESERVE AND NEED BECAUSE AS WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KEEPS CUTTING AND THEN WHO'S LEFT TO SUPPLEMENT THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADVOCATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR SOME OF THAT, AND THAT MEANS EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GO OUT AND VOTE IN NOVEMBER, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A BETTER RESULT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
SHOUT-OUT TO SALLY. I'M GOING TO GET TO JOIN THE NLC TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE. I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT LEADERSHIP GROUP BECAUSE IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT.
THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO.
>> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND OF COURSE I KNOW YOU ALL ALWAYS TRY Y'ALL'S BEST TO COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT CROSS-COLLABORATION.
I'M GOING TO WORK MYSELF THROUGH THE CHARGES IN ALPHABETICAL CHARGES AS LAID OUT. WHILE MY ALLOTTED TIME IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GO BY DISTRICT THROUGH PRIORITIES, I'M GOING TO TRY TO MAKE MY WAY THROUGH, BUT WE DO INTEND TO SEND A MEMO WITH WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES LOOK LIKE.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH CORRECTIONS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, A PRIORITY IS WITH EVALUATING THE TEXAS CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES WORKFORCE AND PROCUREMENT PROGRAMS. DISTRICT 5 IS HOME TO THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY CENTER AND WHAT THIS PRIORITY INTENDS TO DO IS MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AS WELL AS STREAMLINE REENTRY SERVICES.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF VALUE NOT JUST TO DISTRICT 5 RESIDENTS, BUT BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS BECAUSE EVERYONE FROM EVERY BEXAR COUNTY PRECINCT IS SENT TO DISTRICT 5 AND EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT IS SENT TO DISTRICT 5 WHEN THEY'RE REENTERING SOCIETY FROM THE COUNTY JAIL. SO VALUING US, CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THAT, AND THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS AS WELL.
WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THIS MEANS, RIGHT, OR WHAT BILLS WILL BE SUBMITTED AROUND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERMEDIATE AND DETERMINANT SENTENCINGS AND PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY.
TYPICALLY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR FOLKS IS POTENTIALLY IF A JUVENILE IS IN THE SYSTEM, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROBATION, IT COULD POTENTIALLY MEAN GETTING AN INCREASE SETOFF, MEANING DENIED PROBATION AND/OR PROTOCOL AND INCARCERATED FOR A LONGER PERIOD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT BILLS GET FILED AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF THIS CHARGE -- I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR US TO TRACK IMPROVING THE REGULATORY PROCESSES UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION. DISTRICT 5 HAS A SECOND HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF AUTO METAL RECYCLERS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS ASK THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR MORE REGULATION OF THESE INDUSTRIES. WE DID HAVE A STATE AND LOCAL TOWN HALL AND THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT SURFACED ON HOW WE COULD REGULATE THIS INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC QUALITY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR US TO TRACK -- UNDER HUMAN SERVICES. TO FOLLOW THE CONSTRUCTION EXPANSION AND OPERATION OF CERTAIN INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND THE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES. SPECIFICALLY FOR JUVENILES, IS WHAT THIS CHARGE STATES.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO FOLLOW, PARTICULARLY AS THE DIVERSION AD HOC COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO CONVENE AND IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GO THROUGH A DIVERSION PROCESS.
UNDER INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS FOR FOSTER YOUTH IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO TRACK AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS AND RECIDIVISM. THIS IS GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PRE-ARREST DIVERSION ALTERNATIVES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF PRIORITY . THERE'S SOME CHARGES IN HERE THAT HAVE BIG QUESTION MARKS NEXT TO BUT I'LL SET UP A BRIEFING WITH YOU ALL TO GET Y'ALL'S PERSPECTIVE ON THAT.
OF COURSE WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED, WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE ALONGSIDE OUR TEACHERS UNIONS TO PROTECT
[00:55:01]
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE TO TODAY. WE ACCEPTED SIX GRANTS FOR METRO HEALTH, SO CONTINUING TO TRACK THOSE ITEMS. ONE THING THAT ALSO CAME -- ANOTHER ITEM THAT CAME UP DURING OUR TOWN HALL. WE HAD A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER THAT BROUGHT UP THE NEED TO INCREASE THE WAGE FOR TEXAS HEALTHCARE WORKERS. HE SHARED THAT THEIR MINIMUM WAGE IS ABOUT $7, AND HE'S A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND ASKED THAT BOTH THE STATE REP AND I PRIORITIZE INCREASING THE WAGES, IF ANY OF THOSE COME TO THE STATE REGARDING TEXAS HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE. THAT IS SOMETHING I HOPE THE TEAM COULD TRACK AND ADVOCATE FOR. AGAIN, SAFEGUARDING WORKFORCE SECURITY. THERE'S SOME ITEMS IN TERMS OF AI CENTERS AND THERE'S BROAD BILLS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL TO THE WORKFORCE.I THINK IF WE COULD TRACK THAT, I KNOW THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW. I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN ITEM UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE BECAUSE WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WE SAW THE CRIME FOR HAVE SEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE IN. SO THERE IS AN INTENT TO MONITOR BILLS ON THE CREATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE, POSSESSION OF OBSCENE MATERIAL. THERE'S A HANDFUL OF BILLS THAT THEY'RE MONITORING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE TRACKING SO THAT WAY WE CAN SEE THAT LINE ITEM WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY INCREASE DECREASE. I SHARED THE PREPARING THE TEXAS WORKFORCE FOR AI INTELLIGENCE. AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF HIGHLIGHTS WITHIN THIS PACKET. WE'LL SEND A MEMO BUT ALSO SET UP A BRIEFING TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT I HAD A QUESTION MARK NEXT TO. THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM DOES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AND I THINK TOO, JUST WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS FACING RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THOSE STATE AND FEDERAL RELATIONSHIPS. BECAUSE OUR TEN-MEMBER DELEGATION IS NOTHING TO THE HOUSTON DELEGATION OF 20-PLUS MEMBERS THAT CAN OVERTAKE A WHOLE LOT. SO YOU END UP SEEING SAN ANTONIO CONNECT WITH, NOT NECESSARILY THE BIG CITIES BUT THEY'RE CONNECTING WITH THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES IN THE VALLEY BECAUSE OF THAT SIZE DIFFERENCE. I APPRECIATE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE OTHER BIG CITIES ARE DOING BUT IF YOU JUST TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MANY FOLKS ARE JUST LITERALLY THERE. AND SOMETIMES WE END UP COLLABORATING MORE WITH THOSE SOUTHERN CITIES, I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS, IN CONTEXT. I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I REALLY DO AGREE WITH ALL THE PRIORITY PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE BUT IN RELATION TO THE VA HOSPITAL, WHICH I THINK IS SO CRUCIAL, WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR THE NEW VA HOSPITAL? IS IT A BUDGET REQUEST?
>> COYLE: SO THE FUNDING IS IN THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. THAT'S NEITHER APPROPRIATIONS BILL AT THIS POINT. THAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL.
$30 MILLION FOR LAND ACQUISITION FOR A NEW HOSPITAL.
AND THEN WHAT SALLY MENTIONED WAS WE JUST GOT WORD THIS WEEK -- I KNOW THE MAYOR DID TOO -- THAT THEY COMPLETED THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND HAVE A PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE OF A NEW HOSPITAL, AS OPPOSED TO RENOVATING OR NOT DOING ANYTHING. THOSE ARE THE TWO UPDATES.
>> GONZALEZ: I SIT ON THE MEDICAL FOUNDATION BOARD AND SO WE LEARNED ABOUT THAT, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR US. AND SO ARE THERE ANY -- I GUESS ARE THERE ANY CITY APPROVALS OR UTILITY EXTENSIONS REQUIRED TO MAKE THAT PARCEL VIABLE, JUST SO WE KNOW THERE'S NOTHING THAT WILL PREVENT THAT FROM MOVING FORWARD?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE KNOW THE ANSWER OFF THE TOP OF OUR HEAD, AND CERTAINLY BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THE DEVELOPMENT. >> GONZALEZ: IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM IS WORKING WITH Y'ALL.
WE WOULD NOT WANT SOMETHING LIKE AN EASEMENT TO PREVENT A VA HOSPITAL.
>> NOR WOULD WE. >> GONZALEZ: THAT'S HELPFUL.
THANK YOU. A QUESTION I DID HAVE. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PRIORITIES IN ADDRESSING PROPOSED BILLS?
[01:00:05]
>> COUNCILWOMAN, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? >> GONZALEZ: HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE COUNCIL-APPROVED PRIORITIES IN ADDRESSING PROPOSED BILLS? BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM, RIGHT?
>> SURE, THERE ARE. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE WORK TOWARDS HAVING A STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. SO THAT IS OUR GUIDE.
IT'S GOING TO BE THROUGH BRINGING BACK AND DOING REGULAR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEN THE FULL COUNCIL, IN CASE WE HAVE TO PIVOT. ALL THE BILLS BEING FILED IN AUSTIN AND D.C., THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE A VERY LARGE AGENDA.
SO I THINK CONTINUOUSLY OBTAINING DIRECTION FROM THE IGR COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO GET WHAT THOSE POLICY DECISIONS ARE SO THAT GIVES US GUIDANCE TO BE ABLE TO
PIVOT AND REMAIN FLEXIBLE. >> GONZALEZ: AWESOME. THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. AGAIN, I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AND OUR LOBBY TEAMS ARE DOING. IT TAKES A BIG VILLAGE AND EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT'S NOT JUST ONE TEAM DOING THAT WORK.
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAD A TEAM SPECIFIC TO OUR FEDERAL -- OUR AVIATION GRANTS AT ONE POINT. SO WHEN BIG PROJECTS HAPPEN, WE NEED THOSE DEDICATED FOLKS THERE THAT KNOW BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TOO, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO GET TO KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES IN THOSE OTHER BIG CITIES AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AS ISSUES. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR FORMING THE IGR COMMITTEE. JUST IN MY TIME HERE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THAT IGR COMMITTEE, THEY DO A LOT OF WORK.
AND SO I'M GLAD TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND TO GET TO WORK FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SALLY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU KUDOS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2021 THROUGH THE SPECIAL SESSIONS AND THEN 2023, 2025.
AND WHAT WE HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD.
EMPLOYEE, OF COURSE, AND THEN WITH STAFF AS VISIT SAN ANTONIO, WHEN THEY TRIED THE BATHROOM BILL. AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW, WHICH IS -- ANYWAY, WE WON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW. THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO WORK.
AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SAME TRENDS COME FROM OUR STATE LEADERS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE BRIEFING. I THINK WE DO NEED TO SEE WHO IS GOING TO BE WHERE AFTER NOVEMBER TO GET A LITTLE MORE STRATEGIC IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE. SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE MY PRIORITIES KIND OF VERY OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION. I THINK RIGHT NOW MY PRIORITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR A STRONG AND GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MY RESIDENTS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 3 IS TO WORK. SO WE NEED TO LOOK FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO CONTINUE TO BRING THAT. AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE IN THAT. BECAUSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY BUT IF THERE ARE NO JOBS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD ANYTHING. SO INFRASTRUCTURE IS KEY. AND THAT SEEMS WHERE THE APPETITE IS WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, WITH THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE IS INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS RUN.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN STAY ON THAT LEVEL IN TERMS OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
I DO THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR ISDS AS THEY FACE CHALLENGES AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE WHAT EDUCATES OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE HERE IN TEXAS.
THE OTHER THING IS WE NEED TO SEE HOW THE IMPACTS NOT ONLY IMPACT US HERE AT THE CITY LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT TRY AND GET AN IDEA WITH THE LOBBYIST TEAM THAT WE DO HAVE -- WHICH I THINK THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL AND I THINK WE DO NEED THEM -- IS TO LOOK AT HOW THIS IMPACTS THE HOUSEHOLDS AND MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS. KEY TO THAT ASPECT IS NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. IF WE LOOK -- AND I'M TALKING TO A LOT OF NONPROFITS -- IF WE LOOK, A LOT OF OUR NONPROFITS BASED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO ARE REGIONAL. WHETHER IT'S CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THE FOOD BANK, GIRL SCOUTS, UNITED WAY, THEY'RE SERVING A REGION AND LOOKING AT THE HOUSEHOLDS, SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD INFORMATION
[01:05:01]
AND WHAT WE USE AS WE MOVE UP TO THIS SESSION IS WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM AS YOU GO AND YOU PRESENT TO THE IGR AND BRING THAT DATA THAT THEY HAVE AND WHAT THEY'RE PRIORITIZING ALSO. BECAUSE THEY ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR RURAL CITIES AND REGIONAL TEAMS. I THINK TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE -- AND I'M PROUD I GET TO SERVE ON THAT BOARD -- IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FEELING IT.WE'RE ALL COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC. ALL OUR DOLLARS ARE GONE STATEWIDE SO WE ARE ALL KIND OF ALL IN THAT SAME BOAT. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UNDERSTANDING THAT. AND THEN AT THE LEVEL WITH THE AIKEN GROUP, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH. THANK YOU, PHIL FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK THAT IT IS KEY THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET MORE FACE TIME WITH THEM.
I AM SO PROUD AND HAPPY THAT WE HAVE AN IGR COMMITTEE THAT'S READY TO SERVE.
BUT I THINK IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ADVOCATING AND THAT THEY ARE HAVING COMMUNICATION.
AND JUST IN RESPONSE TO THE NEWER MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE -- AND THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION -- SALLY AND JEFF ARE THE TEAM.
IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, THEY HAVE ADVOCATED WITH ME, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE HEALTH, TO HELP TRACK SOMETHING THAT MAYBE DIDN'T MAKE THE BIG AGENDA HERE.
BUT THEY HAVE EITHER GIVEN ME THE UPDATES OR GIVEN ME THE ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT ARE TRACKING THOSE UPDATES. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS AND THEN WE'VE HAD THINGS KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST FELT TRAGIC. AND AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE BATHROOM BILL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER AND SEEING HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT IN TERMS OF LAYING GROUNDWORK, I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE TO UTILIZE NOT ONLY WHAT WE HAVE IN LOBBYISTS, BUT OUR MEMBERSHIPS WITH NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND TEXAS
MUNICIPAL LEAGUES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, SALLY FOR THE PRESENTATION, FOR THE WORK Y'ALL DO EVERY DAY.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO TOO MUCH INTO WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SHARED.
I'M GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE THINGS I HEARD FROM -- OF COURSE COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ'S FRAMEWORK ABOUT LOOKING WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE AND THEN SOME OF THE CORRECTIONAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OVERALL. OF COURSE, THE THINGS AROUND PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE MEDICAID. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, FINDING WAYS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT. OF COURSE UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE BUT IN THE FUTURE HOW WE CAN REINVEST BACK INTO PUBLIC HEALTH TO HELP OTHER PROGRAMS HERE BEING IMPACTED BY THOSE CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
OF COURSE ALSO ACS. WE ALREADY KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY BUT CONTINUING TO PUSH ON THAT AND LET US KNOW WHERE WE CAN BE HELPFUL. EDUCATION, LOOKING AT WAYS TO EXPAND TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE. CHILDCARE FUNDING AS WELL IS REALLY CRITICAL.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A BIG PRIORITY FOR OUR TOP STATE LEADERS AS WELL AS LOCALLY, SO FIGURING OUT WAYS WE CAN PLUG IN THERE WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
AND THEN OF COURSE I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE WE'VE GOT THE GOVERNOR'S PUC WITH THE DATA CENTERS, SEEING HOW THAT'S IMPACTING OUR WORK AND IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK OFFLINE ABOUT DSD ABOUT.
OVERALL, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL IN THAT RELATION TO IT ABOUT OUR ZONING CODES. I KNOW WE'RE SEEING IT MORE SO IN THE HOUSING SPACE. FINDING WAYS FOR THE STATE TO INTERVENE THERE.
I HAVE HEARD CHATTER ABOUT DATA CENTERS [INDISCERNIBLE] SO UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE CAN PLAY A ROLE. I THINK WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COUNTIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THIS RISING GROWTH WITHOUT ANY ZONING CODE.
MAKING SURE THE CITY CAN PROTECT OUR OWN AUTHORITY THERE IS REALLY CRITICAL IN THIS CONVERSATION. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIG ONES, OVERALL.
ONE LAST THING I WAS GOING GOINGTO ASK, RECOMMEND, THINK ABOUT, VOCALIZE WAS ABOUT HOW CAN WE BETTER ALIGN OUR PRIORITIES OR MAKE SURE THE CHAMBERS ARE ALIGNING WITH OUR PRIORITIES. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO GO TO D.C. THIS YEAR AND IT'S FINDING WAYS WE CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE FOR OURSELVES TO HAVE THE KIND OF INFORMATION WE NEED ABOUT WHAT'S THE AGENDA WE AGREED UPON, WHETHER IT'S D.C. OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GOING WITH US ARE ON THE SAME
[01:10:02]
PAGE, VERSUS US GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM ABOUT IT.I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH THE FOLKS IN THE EDUCATION SPACE BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING THERE, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES, THEIRS, AND WHERE WE CAN BE TOGETHER. THOSE ARE ALL MY THINGS FOR NOW.
WE'LL TALK OFFLINE ABOUT THE DATA CENTER CONVERSATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
COUNCILMAN MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, SALLY AND THE TEAM FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ADVOCATING FOR SAN ANTONIO. IT'S A TOUGH JOB THESE DAYS WITH THE PARTISANSHIP, THE HOUSES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. I READ A BOOK A FEW MONTHS BACK ABOUT -- MOSTLY ABOUT FRANK TEJEDA. IT'S AMAZING THE THINGS THEY WERE ABLE TO GET DONE BACK THEN WHEN IT WAS VERY WORKABLE STATE HOUSE BUT WE DON'T FIND THAT ANYMORE. OUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE SEVERELY LIMITED THESE DAYS. SO IT'S VERY, VERY TOUGH BUT WE APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS WAS MY FIRST SA TO D.C. AND WHAT WAS COOL TO SEE IS WHEN WE SHARE THE WORK THAT HAPPENS LOCALLY, NOT JUST OUR WORK BUT THE COLLABORATION WORK IN SAN ANTONIO, PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPRESSED WHEN THEY KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR PUBLIC ENTITIES ARE ALIGNED ON A CERTAIN TOPIC.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING. IT MAKES THEM FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GIVING US THE RESOURCES WHEN THEY KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE STRUGGLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE ALL ALIGNED.
FOR EXAMPLE, SHIP. WE ALL KNOW OUR PLACE AND OUR ROLES AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THAT. SHARING THAT, I THINK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO TO THAT POINT ABOUT THE COUNTY AND OTHER FOLKS, MAKING SURE WE'RE ALIGNED IS HELPFUL. I DID SEE PEOPLE LIGHT UP. WOW, SAN ANTONIO HAS IT ALL TOGETHER, REALLY. WE HAVE SHOWN IN THE PAST THAT ANY TIME WE GET A FEDERAL GRANT OR STATE GRANT WE CAN SPEND IT EFFECTIVELY AND WE DON'T EVER HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH SPENDING THE GRANT THE WAY IT'S DESIGNED. AND WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR MONEY. I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, POLICY-TYPE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PUSH BACK AGAINST, THE THINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED.
BUT ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO REALLY JUST GET TO THE FINANCES AND THE MONEY AND THE PROJECTS TO GET DELIVERED HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR BUDGET BEING TIGHTENED. AND ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS BEING HARD FOR CPS AND SAWS.
THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT MUNICIPALLY-OWNED UTILITIES AND HAVING A TARGET WITH THAT. ANYTHING WE CAN ADD TO HELPING THOSE UTILITIES GET FUNDING. ESPECIALLY WITH THE STATEWIDE TRANSITION LINE HELPS OUR ECONOMY AND TAKES COSTS OFF THE UTILITIES AND IS COSTS OFF THE RATEPAYERS.
I LIKED WHAT COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ HAD TO SAY ABOUT PARTNERING WITH THE SMALLER CITIES. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE THE LARGEST CITY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MEXICO. AND SO WE REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE SOUTH TEXAS TRIANGLE AND LOOK TO SEE HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THIS ABILITY. YOU KNOW, THOSE AREAS ARE ALSO MORE CONSERVATIVE SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE STATE IS HELPING EVERYBODY, IN THAT SENSE. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEXT LARGE JCBS OF THE WORLD, TOYOTAS, THOSE LARGE MANUFACTURING PLANTS, THE NEXT ONE PROBABLY WON'T BE IN SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF THAT TYPE OF ACREAGE OF LAND.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING SOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO TO ACCESS THOSE JOBS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COUNTIES AND CITIES AROUND US, THERE WAS A CITY THAT AUTOMATICALLY TOOK IN A DATA CENTER BECAUSE THEY SAID WE NEED THE JOBS. WE WILL TAKE THIS, NO MATTER THE EXPENSE, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE DON'T HAVE A WORKFORCE -- AN ATTRACTION TO OTHER COMPANIES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN GOOD-QUALITY JOBS TO PEOPLE SOUTH OF US AND BUILDING OUR OWN MEGA REGION INTO SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS ORGANIZATION, GREATER:SATX. I THINK WE DO HAVE TO GET A LITTLE SMARTER ABOUT THAT , BRINGING OPPORTUNITIES, NOT JUST FOR OUR FOLKS BUT FOR PEOPLE ALL AROUND US TOO. I THINK IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ LAID OUT SOME OF THE BIG PRIORITIES WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE. CERTAINLY EDUCATION HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE FOR US, PUBLICLY. THE MAYOR DEVELOPED A WHOLE COMMITTEE JUST TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN ISSUE WITH STATE FUNDING. AND IT HAS JUST A LONG-TERM, DOMINO EFFECT ON NEGATIVE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE. THE AREAS WITH THE CLOSED SCHOOLS ARE SEEING DISINVESTMENT FROM DEVELOPERS AND PEOPLE BUYING HOMES, THEY DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY BUY A HOME NEXT TO A SCHOOL THAT'S BEEN
[01:15:03]
CLOSED. AND THEY'RE JUST CONTINUING TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF FUNDING.SO THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE. IT'S NOT DIRECTLY UNDER OUR PURVIEW BUT CERTAINLY AFFECTS ALL OF OUR FAMILIES HERE TOO. REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN PUT US IN WHEREVER YOU NEED TO AT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE STATE LOBBYING EFFORT, THERE'S AN RFP THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THAT GROUP, I BELIEVE.
>> BASURTO: CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN OPEN RFQ FOR OUR STATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS. I'LL BE COMING TO THE IGR
COMMITTEE WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. >> MUNGIA: GREAT.
WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT TIMELINE MIGHT BE? >> IT'S CURRENTLY STILL OPEN. IT SHOULD CLOSE IN A FEW MORE DAYS, PROBABLY LATER THIS WEEK. AND THEN THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TOGETHER, REVIEW THE SUBMISSIONS FROM THE RESPONDENTS, AND THEN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE PROCUREMENT DIVISION WITHIN FINANCE. I'M THINKING LIKELY WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FIRST. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I HAVE TO REPORT BACK TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT'S CONSIDERED A HIGH-PROFILE CONTRACT. AND LIKELY WILL GO TO IGR IN EITHER AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.
>> MUNGIA: THAT'S GREAT. I KNOW OUR STATE DELEGATION, GREAT TO WORK WITH OUR COUNTY FOLKS THAT REPRESENT US. I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME NEW FEDERAL FOLKS REPRESENTING THE SAN ANTONIO/BEXAR COUNTY.
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHO THOSE FOLKS ARE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN ESTABLISH SOME RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN
MAKE SAN ANTONIO A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYBODY. >> BASURTO: ABSOLUTELY.
I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR UPDATES FROM OUR FEDERAL CONSULTANTS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING PROACTIVE OUTREACH TO THOSE LAWMAKERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION PROCESS AND RACE CURRENTLY.
WE ARE COVERING ALL OUR BASES. I'M REALLY PROUD WE HAVE A VERY BIPARTISAN, DIVERSE BENCH IN D.C. AND WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE OUR CONSULTANTS TO DO OUTREACH WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO END UP IN THOSE SEATS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO SOME OUTREACH. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, INVOLVE THE IGR COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO JOIN US, TO ENHANCE AND AMPLIFY THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> MUNGIA: HOWEVER WE CAN HELP.
THANK YOU, SALLY. APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC? OKAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. IN CASE IT'S HELPFUL TO ANYBODY ELSE -- AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR ANDY AND THE TEAM.
UNDERSTANDING ADVOCACY AS IT'S MOVING QUICKLY CAN LOOK DIFFERENT.
SO SIGNING ON, FOR EXAMPLE, TO AMICUS BRIEFINGS AS IT RELATES TO LEGISLATION, THAT MIGHT BE CONTEMPLATED. HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT OR HOW IS THAT INCORPORATED
INTO THE IGR'S ANALYSIS, ANDY? >> VILLAGOMEZ: MAYOR, THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER. NO PROBLEM.
WE BASE OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE ADOPTED AGENDA THAT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT BEGINS THAT. SO WE EVALUATE ALL THOSE BILLS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH, THROUGH THAT LENS. SO WHEN WE PARTICIPATE IN THOSE HEARINGS, EITHER TO OPPOSE OR BE NEUTRAL OR SUPPORT THOSE BILLS, THOSE ARE FOUNDED ON THE AGENDA THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ADOPT AND APPROVE.
>> MAYOR JONES: SURE. UNDERSTOOD. WELL, MAYBE YOU ANSWERED THE QUESTION THEN IN TERMS OF SIGNING ON TO AMICUS BRIEFINGS THAT MAY IMPACT THE SUCCESS OF SOME OF THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS
CONSIDERED PART OF THE TOOLBOX, CORRECT? >> VILLAGOMEZ: YES.
>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL. >> SEGOVIA: MAYOR, IF I
COULD CLARIFY. WHEN YOU SAY AMICUS -- >> MAYOR JONES: WHEN WE
SIGN ON TO LAWSUITS. >> SEGOVIA: IF YOU'RE ASKING THAT, THIS IS OUR
PURVIEW. >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S WHY I ASKED.
>> SEGOVIA: I WAS CONFUSED. WHEN YOU SAID AMICUS I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT DOCUMENTS WE WOULD SUBMIT AS A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN SUPPORT OF ANY PROPOSED BILL. IF THERE IS LITIGATION IN TERMS OF CHALLENGING A BILL, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE BILL PASSES, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T HAVE STANDING. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD APPROACH THE COUNCIL AND GET GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE WOULD ACTUALLY SIGN ON AN AMICUS OR BE A PARTY TO AN OPPOSITION OR IN FAVOR OF
SOMETHING. >> MAYOR JONES: THE INTENT OF THE QUESTION IS AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT BEST ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY, HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS IN MOTION, PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN SILOED, BUT DON'T HAVE TO BE, BASED ON THE TOPIC. THANK YOU. I WILL SHARE THIS VIA A MEMO
[01:20:12]
BOTH WITH THE STAFF AND WITH THE CHAIR. PRIORITIES FOR BOTH THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE INCLUDE PUBLIC HEALTH. ENSURING, ESPECIALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL BUT INCREASINGLY AT THE FEDERAL. NOT ONLY ADVOCATING FOR A CERTAIN LEVEL OF RESOURCE BUT ENSURING THERE'S SUFFICIENT INVESTMENT IN THE ABILITY TO SURVEIL AND UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE, CERTAINLY AT THE STATE LEVEL YOU SEE THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE NOT TRACKING THINGS RELATED TO THE EFFECTS OF THE LEGISLATION IMPACTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH MAKES IT MUCH, MUCH HARDER FOR US TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT THE SITUATION IS FOR SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY.SO PUBLIC HEALTH. CERTAINLY TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SAMCO FOLKS ALREADY AND I APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP US REALLY ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEST POSITIONED IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN AS WELL AS SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE AS READY FOR A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ADVOCACY AS WE ENVISIONED. AS MENTIONED BY SEVERAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OF COURSE. I SEE REPRESENTATION FROM OUR MILITARY AND VETERANS FOLKS. SO AT EACH OF THOSE LEVELS, PUBLIC HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, VETERANS, AND MILITARY MISSIONS . AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL, I THINK PROTECTING AS MUCH AGENCY AS WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE DATA CENTERS, AS WAS MENTIONED BY MY COLLEAGUE HERE THAT THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY ISSUED GUIDANCE AND UNDERSTANDING WE'RE IN A UNIQUE POSITION, CONSIDERING WE COMES TO DETERMINING HOW WE SUPPORT THOSE. SO ENSURING WE'RE SYNCED UP.
NOT ONLY ON THAT ISSUE BUT ALSO ON THE OTHER PRIORITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THOSE TO UTILITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW DATA CENTERS MAY BE -- MAY HAVE A NATIONAL SECURITY EXEMPTION, WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE VERY DIFFICULT AND AFFECT HOW THEY ARE TREATED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN AN EMERGENCY. WHICH THEN UNFORTUNATELY ONLY PUTS A LARGER LOAD ON TO THE COMMUNITY. SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN SUPPORT THE SAWS AND CPS AGENDA AND ENSURING WE'RE SYNCED UP AND SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE THERE.
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT BUT IT'S SO CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. ENSURING THEY ARE HEARING OFTEN AND LOUD FROM US ON THE TRADE AGENDA. THE FACT THAT USMCA REVIEW WOULD ONLY ALLOW THAT TO BE IN PLACE FOR A YEAR. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CR. I THINK I SHARED WITH MANY OF YOU WHEN WE WERE IN TAIWAN, MANY OF THOSE COMPANIES WERE LOOKING AT THE FATE OF THAT DEAL. UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE READY TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUT NOT NECESSARILY IF THAT DEAL IS ONLY GOING TO BE CONTINUED FOR A YEAR OR IF THERE'S ANY UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT THAT YEAR LOOKS LIKE.
SO ENSURING THAT WE'RE SPEAKING AS LOUDLY AS WE CAN AND ARE COORDINATING AS CLOSELY WITH SOME OF OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS FOR WHOM THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, FOR EXAMPLE TOYOTA. OF COURSE, AS WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL MILITARY MISSIONS FOR THE LARGE FOOTPRINT THAT WE HAVE HERE, AS WELL AS WE CAN, AS MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ, TO ENSURE THE VA IS ADEQUATELY -- SUFFICIENT APPRECIATION, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR CURRENT PRESENCE BUT ALSO THE UPGRADES ANTICIPATED. ONE THING WE ALSO DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HERE BUT HAS COME UP QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IMMIGRATION.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HEAR LOUDLY FROM US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE PLACE ON THE VISAS THAT THEY HAVE MADE MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN BY TECH PERSONNEL, FOR EXAMPLE. TECHNOLOGY. I.T. FOLKS AS WELL AS THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT THOSE VISAS PLAY IN ADDRESSING THE SHORTAGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IN PARTICULAR, HEALTHCARE. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOUDLY AND CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATING FOR THOSE THINGS AS A MEANS TO MEET THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS ONE I WOULD LIKE US, AS MENTIONED, PUBLIC EDUCATION.
THE CONTINUED IMPACTS OF THAT. FRANKLY, THE FACT THAT WE, OURSELVES, ARE A PART OF THIS CHALLENGE. WE HAVE 17 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
ONE THING WE KNOW IS UNDER CONSIDERATION IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE FUNDING FOR VOUCHERS IN THIS NEXT UPCOMING SESSION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS POTENTIALLY A DOUBLING. THAT WOULD BE A HELPFUL EXERCISE FOR US TO ALREADY UNDERSTAND. AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT ALL WITHIN, YOU KNOW, SALLY, JEFF, YOUR TEAM. BUT THE ENTITIES -- EXPERTS YOU WOULD ENGAGE WITH THAT WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH
[01:25:01]
IN THE NEAR TERM AND AS LONG TERM AS THEY CAN GO OUT. THAT, I THINK, IS A HELPFUL PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR US AS WE ENGAGE WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM.BOTH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, FRANKLY, TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW WE MIGHT BE MORE HELPFUL IN SHAPING THAT CONVERSATION.
AND WHAT THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THAT IS. GREAT.
AS MENTIONED, MANY SHARED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH A MEMO.
APPRECIATE THE BRIEFING AND LAYING OUT THE DIFFERENCE IN APPROACH FOR THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE LEVEL. AND LET'S SEE. WITH THAT, THE TIME IS 2:28 AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.