[00:11:32]
[00:11:32]
WOULD YOU PLEASE BE SEATED?[00:11:33]
THANK YOU.WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 19, 2018.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED NOW WITH AN INVOCATION.
IT WAS A GUEST OF COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IT IS REALLY MY GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BRING FATHER MIKE HERE.
I HAD ASKED FOR FATHER MIKE'S BIO AND IT'S LIKE FOUR LINES.
I'M GOING TO READ THEM, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY THE EXTENT OF THE WORK THAT FATHER MIKE HAS DONE.
BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE AT ST. MARGARET MARY'S CHURCH PARISH.
HE ATTENDED ST. JOHN'S, GRADUATED FROM ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY AND THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY.
ORDAINED A PRIEST FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO IN 1974 AND TODAY HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST 44 YEARS AGO.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE CELEBRATING FATHER MIKE'S ANNIVERSARY, BUT WE ARE ALSO VERY SADLY CELEBRATING HIS RETIREMENT.
SO THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME FATHER MIKE COMES BEFORE US AS -- WELL, HE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE US BUT AS A PASTOR FOR ST.
JOSEPH'S, ST. PHILIPS OF JESUS AND A VERY ACTIVE LEADER WITH COPS METRO .
MANY OF THE THINGS THAT FATHER MIKE HAS DONE, ARCHDIOCESE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL CONCERNS, AND HE IS CURRENTLY A PASTOR AT ST.
TIMOTHY'S CHURCH BUT THAT DOESN'T NEARLY EXPLAIN ALL OF THE WORK, GREAT SERVICE THAT FATHER MIKE HAS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHILE HE THINKS HE IS RETIRING, I'M SURE WE'LL FIND WAYS TO BRING HIM BACK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND FATHER MIKE IS REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE I THINK HE DOES GOD'S WORK BY BEING A BIT OF A REBEL.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND HE'S A GREAT MODEL FOR THE WAY THAT WE ALL CAN FOLLOW CHRIST EVERY DAY.
SO THANK YOU, FATHER MIKE, FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
AND JUST ONE QUICK THING BEFORE I ENTER INTO THE PRAYER.
TIMOTHY'S DID MAKE A FIESTA MEDAL THIS YEAR.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THEM BUT I WANT YOU TO HAVE ONE FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE TO THE WEST SIDE.
[00:15:02]
MAYOR NIRENBERG, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, BUT ON THE DAY THAT YOU WERE ELECTED MAYOR IN THE RUNOFF YOU SHOWED UP AT OUR CHURCH HALL.YOU SHOWED YOUR PRESENCE, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I ALSO HAVE A ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH MEDAL FOR MAYOR NIRENBERG.
LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER AND REFLECTION.
LOVING GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU ON THE EVE OF ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST CHERISHED TRADITIONS.
WE ALSO REMEMBER OTHER CHERISHED TRADITIONS OF OUR CITIES.
TRADITIONS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.
OUR FAITH IN YOU AND ONE ANOTHER, OUR LOVE OF FAMILY, FAMILIA, COMMUNITY.
MAY EACH ONE OF US, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SERVE OUR FELLOW CITIZENS IN PUBLIC OFFICE BE AWARE OF AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ESPECIALLY THE NEEDEST AND MOST VULNERABLE.
WE ASK, O GOD, FOR YOUR GRACE, SO WE MIGHT SERVE OTHERS AND NOT OURSELVES.
IN YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, FATHER MIKE.
THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME OF CHIEF MCMANUS AND OUR SAPD THAT DAY AS WELL.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 28 THROUGH 29.
THERE IS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 8 AND MARCH 28 THROUGH 29.
WE HAVE A FEW POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I'LL BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
I HAVE GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF ANNOUNCING THIS AS THE MONTH OF A MILITARY CHILD.
RIGHT UP FRONT YOU'LL SEE SOME KIDDOS UP HERE AND THEIR LEADERSHIP HERE THIS MORNING WEARING PURPLE.
AND YOU CAN'T HARDLY SEE MY PURPLE.
IT'S UNDERNEATH ALL THIS STUFF, BUT THAT IS THE COLOR OF THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD.
WE HAVE CHILDREN HERE FROM FORT SAM, LACKLAND, AND RANDOLPH SCHOOLS.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY THREE CHILDREN WENT TO DODD SCHOOLS OVERSEAS AND SPENT EARLY YEARS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND HERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR MILITARY CHILDREN BOTH IN SCHOOLS ON THE BASE AND A HUGE POPULATION OF CHILDREN OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY AND COUNTY FOR OUR EDUCATION AND LEARNING AND GROWING UP.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST CHILDREN THAT ARE PART OF THE MILITARY FAMILY UNIT THAT GROW UP TO BE OUR LEADERS.
AND SO I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
Y'ALL ARE WEARING SOME GREAT-LOOKING FIESTA MEDALS.
WHOSE FIESTA MEDAL IS THAT? THAT HAT? YES, IT'S ME! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND YOU CAN TELL I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FIESTA TIME HERE.
SO THIS IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR Y'ALL TO BE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF FIESTA.
AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THIS, THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.
AND NOW I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
THEN I'LL COME DOWN THERE WITH THE PROCLAMATION ITSELF.
SO PROCLAMATION STATES DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2018 THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD.
AND APRIL 13, 2018 IS PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY KIDS DAY, TO HONOR MILITARY FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE AND THEIR UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF OUR ARMED FORCES.
[00:20:01]
AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES.AND AN ESTIMATED 900,000 CHILDREN HAVE HAD ONE OR BOTH PARENTS DEPLOYED MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ALONG WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS AS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES AND MISSIONS THEY FACE IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
AND WHEREAS ON APRIL 13, 2018 CITIZENS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR MILITARY CHILDREN AND APPRECIATION FOR THEIR STRENGTH AND SACRIFICES BY WEARING PURPLE, WHICH REPRESENTS THE BLENDING OF THE COLORS OF THE FIVE BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES.
NOW THEREFORE ON BEHALF OF RON NIRENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I CLAYTON PERRY DO PROCLAIM APRIL 2018 TO BE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
>> SIR, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE HAD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR YOUNGEST HEROES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE MILITARY CITY, USA AND BASED OFF OF THAT WE SERVICE OVER 35,000 MILITARY STUDENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALONE.
SO TEXAS IS NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION AND HOUSES OVER 87,000 MILITARY STUDENTS IN THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO IMAGINE THAT AND ADD IN THE 0 THROUGH 5 CHILDREN AS WELL.
THESE KIDS SERVE TOO, AND THAT'S WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING TO THE FOREFRONT.
THEY MAY NOT WEAR THE UNIFORM, BUT IN A SENSE, THEY DO SERVE.
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DEPLOYMENTS.
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSTANT MOVING.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT EVERY YEAR THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY SERVE TOO AND THEY GO THROUGH THE SAME THING THEIR PARENTS GO THROUGH.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PURPLE UP DAY FOR THEM TO HAVE A VISUAL RECOGNITION THAT THEIR COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THEM AND STANDS BEHIND THEM IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO
[00:25:01]
WHEN THEY'RE NOT SERVING THEIR COUNTRY.AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. CINDY ROUL AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, FOR JUST A SECOND.
AS A NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO, THIS IS A VERY BIG DAY FOR ME.
I'M A NAVY BRAT, AN AIR FORCE VETERAN, AND NOW AN ARMY SPOUSE.
IT REALLY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE TO HELP US CONTINUE THE MISSION AND TO HAVE THE RESILIENCY THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SO I THANK YOU, AS COMING FULL CIRCLE AND COMING BACK TO THIS TOWN AND SEEING THAT YOU ALL SUPPORT US AS MILITARY CHILDREN AND MILITARY FAMILIES.
I'M HONORED AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THESE KIDS, WHO ARE THE NEXT GENERATION, THAT YOU ARE HERE TO HONOR THEM.
>> AT THIS POINT THE CHILDREN HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT IT TO YOU AND THE COUNCIL, SIR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU TO USAA FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORSHIP AND SUPPORT OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES.
I WAS REMINDED WHEN COUNCILMAN PERRY AND I TRAVELED TO VISIT WITH OUR DEFENSE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK THAT THERE ARE ONLY 11 INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OPERATING ON BASES IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE THREE OF THEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE ARE TRULY A MILITARY FAMILY, A COMMUNITY THAT RESPECTS AND APPRECIATES AND WORKS TOWARDS MAKING OUR MILITARY FAMILIES FEEL COMFORTABLE, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND RECOGNIZING THAT.
AND ALSO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PERRY -- COLONEL PERRY, FOR HIS WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING THAT PROPERLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> GONZALES: WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO CITY HALL AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN PERRY FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
MY HUSBAND SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
AND SO HIS CHILDREN WERE CHILDREN OF THE MILITARY, AND HE HAS TWO ACTIVE DUTY CHILDREN NOW SERVING.
AND THEIR CHILDREN, OF COURSE, ARE JUST LIKE YOU ALL, DEPLOYED -- THEIR FATHER DEPLOYS VERY OFTEN AND LEAVES THE MOM TO BE A SINGLE MOM.
AND MY HUSBAND'S OTHER DAUGHTER IS ALSO WORKING FOR THE MILITARY AND HER RESPONSIBILITY, PERHAPS IT'S YOUR SAME JOB -- I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THE PROPER TITLE -- BUT HER RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HELP FAMILIES THAT ARE TRANSITIONING WHEN THEIR FAMILY MEMBER DEPLOYS TO HELP THEM WITH WHATEVER THEIR NEEDS ARE.
AND OF ALL THE PLACES IN THE WORLD THAT SHE WAS SENT TO LEARN HOW TO HELP MILITARY FAMILIES WAS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF SHE TRAINED UNDER YOU BUT SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO -- SHE IS NOW LIVING IN ITALY -- TO LEARN HOW TO TRAIN MILITARY FAMILIES THAT SHE GOT THE BEST EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR HOW TO HELP MILITARY FAMILIES WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYING, HOW TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN IT CAN BE VERY LONELY IN OTHER PLACES.
SO I'M VERY PROUD OF MY FAMILY AND THEIR MILITARY SERVICE, BUT ESPECIALLY ALL OF YOU ALL WHO MAKE THE SACRIFICE EVERY DAY WHILE YOUR PARENTS ARE GONE AND TRY TO KEEP THE FAMILY STABLE.
IT'S VERY PERSONAL TO ME AS WELL, BUT IT'S OUR WHOLE CITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR THE COUNCILMAN FOR ALLOWING US TO HONOR YOU ALL TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M VERY PROUD AND HAPPY TO SEE Y'ALL HERE TODAY.
I WAS A MILITARY CHILD TOO AND BOTH MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER WERE IN THE MILITARY.
MY FATHER WAS IN THE AIR FORCE.
AND I VIVIDLY REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND MY MOTHER DEPLOYED TO OPERATION DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM BACK IN '89, '90, MY DAD AND BROTHER AND I, I THINK WE ATE MCDONALD'S 365
[00:30:01]
DAYS A YEAR.THAT PART WAS AWESOME, BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE.
BACK THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE SKYPE.
BUT I CAUGHT THIS MOM ON A CONVERSATION WHERE I WOULD SAY SOMETHING AND 15 SECONDS LATER I WOULD HEAR HER VOICE.
I GREW UP AND JOINED THE MILITARY MYSELF AND THEN I BECAME THE FATHER OF A MILITARY CHILD AND NOTHING WAS MORE HEARTBREAKING WHEN I DEPLOYED AND HAD TO LEAVE MY BABY BEHIND, WHO IS NOW 24 YEARS OLD, 25 YEARS OLD.
SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT YOU STAND UP FOR YOUR PARENTS.
IF IT'S YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER SERVING, WHEN I WAS GONE I COULD TELL YOU THE HAPPINESS OF MY CHILD KEPT ME GOING OUT IN THE FIELD AND MADE SURE THAT NO MATTER WHAT IF THEY WERE HAPPY AND DOING THE BEST THEY COULD -- FORCED READINESS IS A WORD WE USE A LOT.
IT MEANS A MILITARY MEMBER IS HAPPY AND DOING THEIR JOB AS BEST THEY CAN AND THEY FEEL GOOD IN THEIR HEART.
IT ALWAYS BEGINS WITH THEIR FAMILY.
TO LEAVE A FAMILY BEHIND IS THE GREATEST SACRIFICE THAT ANY MILITARY MEMBER MAKES.
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU TO COME DOWN HERE TODAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT MONTH.
THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR CONTINUING TO STAND UP AND I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THESE CHILDREN HAVE A VOICE.
AND THE BEAUTY IS WHEN SOMEBODY RETIRES IT'S THE SPOUSE AND THE KIDS THAT ARE STANDING RIGHT BESIDE THEM.
THEY GET THE SAME CERTIFICATES.
I'M GOING ON ABOUT THIS ONE, BUT THIS ONE IS SO PERSONAL TO ANYBODY WHO HAS EVER PUT ON A UNIFORM.
THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE TO THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
>> PELAEZ: I'M NOT A CHILD OF MILITARY PARENTS -- ACTUALLY, THERE'S NOBODY IN MY FAMILY WHO HAS EVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT SACRIFICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL THINK WE KNOW.
YOU KNOW, MY KIDS, FOR EXAMPLE, ACT LIKE EVERY TIME I MAKE THEM TURN OFF THE PLAYSTATION WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING FORTNIGHT THEY'RE SACRIFICING.
BUT YOU ALL MAKE SOME PRETTY SERIOUS SACRIFICES.
YOU HAVE TO BACK UP YOUR PARENTS AND SOMETIMES THEYUT THERE, NOT WITH YOU, BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE WORKING FOR EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL SAFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ALWAYS THINKS PEOPLE IN UNIFORM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT, KIDS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT IS US WHO ARE HONORED THAT YOU GUYS TOOK THE TIME OUT HERE AND THAT YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOME TIME AND WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT IT THAT THERE'S TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO YOU NEED TO THANK.
THOSE ARE THE TWO LADIES STANDING IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT SUPPORT YOU AND MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM IS A SUCCESS.
AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS A LADY BACK THERE.
ACTUALLY OUR FRIENDS FROM USAA -- YOU KNOW, USAA, THAT'S REALLY CLASSY OF THEM TO DO THIS.
THE ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT USAA, ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN MY DISTRICT, IS THEY ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING.
USAA IS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THEN THEY DO THAT.
SO EMILY, WHERE ARE YOU? YOU'RE BACK THERE.
KIDS, I REALLY DO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO SHAKE EMILY'S HAND AND JUST SAY THANKS.
THEY MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY, EXCEPT FOR PLAINTIFF'S LAWYERS.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT THEY MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY.
USAA, THANK YOU FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THANKS FOR HELPING OUT.
YOU KNOW, JUST REASON 6,522 WHY I LOVE YOU GUYS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN PERRY FOR BRINGING ALONG THESE WONDERFUL GUESTS THAT WE GET TO HAVE AND SHARE SOME SPACE WITH AT OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS RIGHT.
IS IT MS. ROUL, SAN ANTONIO NATIVE.
>> COLLINS GARDEN, PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.
>> SALDANA: YOU'RE HITTING ALL KINDS OF BUTTONS HERE.
AIR FORCE VETERAN AND NOW ARMY WIFE.
>> SALDANA: WE ARE TREATED TO A WONDERFUL MORNING TO KICKOFF OUR DAY TODAY BY HAVING YOU AND THE GUESTS WHO ARE REMINDING US OF HOW INTEGRAL THE MILITARY HAS BEEN TO SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST IN YOUR LIFE, ALTHOUGH IT IS WOVEN THROUGHOUT , BUT JUST INTEGRAL TO OUR CITY'S HISTORY, ECONOMICS, CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, MEDINA BASE, AND FORMER KELLY AIR FORCE BASE THAT'S NOW BEEN CONVERTED, WE HAVE A BEDROCK FOUNDATION OF MILITARY FAMILIES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE STAYED AND CALLS THEMSELVES SAN ANTONIANS FOR GENERATIONS NOW.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANKS FOR BRINGING OUR GUESTS HERE TODAY.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SUCH GREAT EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF ETHOS THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU ALSO TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE FOR STANDING UP FOR YOUR PARENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE COUNCILMAN SHAW.
IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE NAACP THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1918 WITH ONLY 503 MEMBERS.
AND OUR LOCAL CHAPTER CELEBRATED ITS 100TH YEAR.
THE NAACP HAS STOOD IN THE FOREFRONT FOR PROMOTING TRUTH AND EQUITY AND I'M PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER.
WE ARE SO PROUD THAT SAN ANTONIO WILL HOST THIS YEAR AT THE NATIONAL NAACP CONVENTION DURING OUR OWN TRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP MY FRIEND AND MY PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP TO SPEAK BRIEFLY REGARDING THE CONVENTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ARE EXCITED.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER -- SO THIS IS HISTORIC FOR US TO HAVE THE NAACP HOST THE NATIONAL CONVENTION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
NOW THIS BEGINS -- AND I ALWAYS GET THE DATES WRONG BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANT TO SAY APRIL, BUT IT'S JULY 14 THROUGH 18.
AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO REGISTER TO TAKE A PART IN THIS.
IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, THE NATIONAL WEBSITE, WWW.NAACP.ORG, LATER ON THIS MONTH YOU CAN REGISTER AND TAKE PART OF THIS HISTORIC EVENT.
NOW SAN ANTONIO WILL ALSO -- THE BRANCH WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATING -- WELL, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 100TH YEAR IN SERVING THIS COMMUNITY FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
SO WE WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF YOU TO ALSO BE WITH US IN JULY.
AND LET ME ALSO SAY, AND I HAVE TO BRING THIS UP.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT STANDS FOR ACADEMIC, CULTURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, SCIENTIFIC OLYMPICS.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE YOUNG FOLKS OF HIGH SCHOOL COMPETE IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.
AND YOU WANT TO SEE SOME TALENT, YOU WANT TO SEE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS, YOU NEED TO SEE THESE YOUNG FOLK PERFORM.
IT'S ABOUT 200 TO 300 THAT ARE HERE.
THAT WILL START ABOUT THE 12TH OF JULY AND IT RUNS THROUGH THE SUNDAY THE 15TH.
WE'LL BEGIN OURS ON THE 14TH OF JULY THROUGH THE 18TH.
WE WELCOME YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS.
GO TO WWW.NACCP.ORG AND REGISTER TO BE WITH US.
THESE ARE MEMBERS OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JOINING ME TODAY.
I'M JUST SO PROUD THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP US BRING THIS CONVENTION TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND I CAN'T THANK CITY MANAGER SHERYL SCULLEY AND HER STAFF FOR PLAYING AN INTEGRAL PART IN RAISING THE MONEY FOR BEING IN SAN ANTONIO.
AGAIN, THE FIRST TIME EVER IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP US MEET THAT GOAL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
WELL, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND FOR HAVING THIS POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
THIS IS A HISTORIC YEAR FOR SAN ANTONIO AND THIS IS SO HISTORIC FOR THE NAACP SAN ANTONIO RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE, MR. HILL, AND EVERYBODY HERE.
WE KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE THE LEGACY THAT WAS STARTED FOR US AND THAT YOU ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE TRAIL FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THANK YOU THAT I LOOK TO YOU ALL AS LEADERS AND AS MENTORS AND AS PEOPLE THAT GIVE WISE WISDOM TO US IN FORMING OUR OPINIONS UP HERE ON THIS DAIS.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE TALKING TO THE NATIONAL BRANCH AND TRYING TO CONVINCE, YES, SAN ANTONIO IS THE PLACE TO BE.
WE ARE HERE AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLECTIVE WORK TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
I'M LOOKING TOGETHER FOR JULY TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK IN THE PAST, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN PROSPERITY IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE FUTURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
[00:40:03]
I'M ALSO A STUDENT OF JAZZ, AND I'M A BIG NINA SIMONE FAN.I HAVE BEEN READING HER BIOGRAPHY RECENTLY AND THE ONE THING THAT STRIKES ME FROM READING THAT BIOGRAPHY IS THAT DESPITE MURDER AND THE CHURCH BOMBINGS AND ASSASSINATIONS AND ALL THE HORRIBLE THINGS WE SAW IN THE '60S, YOU GUYS, THE NAACP, STOOD STRONG AND I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE RESILIENT ORGANIZATION.
YOU'RE STILL HERE AND FIGHTING FOR EVERYBODY.
AND YOUR MISSION STATEMENT IS EQUALITY AND CIVIL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE SPEAKS TESTAMENTS.
WE LIVE IN THE MOST DIVIDED TIMES IN MY LIFETIME.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AS OLD AS GREG BROCKHOUSE.
BUT IN OUR LIFETIMES I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE DIVISION BETWEEN DIFFERENT POCKETS.
AND TO SEE YOU ALL STANDING UP THERE AND TELLING US ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, CIVIL RIGHTS BELONGS TO EVERYONE.
GOSH, THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL AND VERY POWERFUL.
I'M JUST PROUD TO BE IN THE ROOM WITH YOU.
AND THEN TO KNOW THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THE ENTIRE NAACP FAMILY IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
CAN YOU GUYS PLEASE COME AND VISIT ME AND TELL ME HOW I CAN HELP YOU AND MAKE YOUR EVENT A SUCCESS?
>> IF OUR MEMBERSHIP CHAIR WAS HERE SHE WOULD TELL YOU TO GET A LIFE, LIFE MEMBERSHIP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
I JUST WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT THE CONTINUING FIGHT YOU HAVE FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE IS UNPRECEDENTED
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MR. HILL, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE NAACP FOR CHOOSING SAN ANTONIO THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY DURING OUR TRICENTENNIAL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY.
OUR TRICENTENNIAL IS ABOUT MANY THINGS.
IT'S ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND OUR HERITAGE.
I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER PLACE TO FOCUS ON THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO THAN ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND OUR LEGACY IN CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS IS THE CITY WHERE THE LUNCH COUNTERS WERE DESEGREGATED.
THIS IS THE CITY THAT BIRTHED LULAC AND MALDEF AND HAS A HISTORY WITH THE NAACP.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US WHAT SAN ANTONIO IS ALL ABOUT AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
>> ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT IS ALL THE POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO OUR AGENDA.
I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES AT THIS TIME IF THEY HAVE ANY ITEMS FROM THIS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I HAVE ITEMS 10 AND 17 TO BE HEARD ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SAVE FOR ITEMS 10 AND 17.
WE DO HAVE SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS STILL ON CONSENT.
CARA SALINAS AND ANNA BURWELL.
AND AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT, VERONICA LAMEL IS NEXT.
>> HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR NIRENBERG, MANAGER SCULLEY.
[00:45:02]
THE PASA2017 MENTORSHIP COURSE.I'M A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST IN SAN ANTONIO.
I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
MY WORK INCLUDES PRINTMAKING, STOP MOTION ANIMATION, AND OTHER MEDIUMS. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF THE MENTORSHIP COURSE THIS YEAR, AND WE HAD A VERY VIBRANT GROUP OF ARTISTS, ARCHITECTS, PAINTERS, SCULPTORS, PRINTMAKERS, LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS, AND ALL OF US ARE COMMITTED TO ENHANCING THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE ARE ALL A PART OF.
THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IS UNIQUE IN THE NATION IN THAT IT LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR ARTISTS TO GO FORWARD AND BE SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC ART PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO ON BEHALF OF OUR COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND THE PASA PROGRAM, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE PRE-QUALIFIED LIST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I AM FORMALLY TRAINED AS AN ARCHITECT AND NOW WHEN I'M NOT TAKING CARE OF MY SMALL CHILD I AM MAKING ART AND SCULPTURES.
AS A MENTEE IN THIS PROGRAM IT HAS REALLY BOOSTED MY FERVOR FOR MAKING THE CITY SO BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE.
JUST RECENTLY I WAS ABLE TO TOUR THE SAN PEDRO CREEK PROJECT, AND THAT IS REALLY EXCITING.
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT OPENS IN MAY TO TAKE MY OWN FAMILY AND CELEBRATE ALONG WITH SAN ANTONIANS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MANY OF YOU I DO KNOW, BUT I'LL JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF AGAIN.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ART PACE SAN ANTONIO.
AND I AM STILL RELATIVELY NEW TO SAN ANTONIO.
I HAVE ONLY LIVED HERE FOR TWO YEARS BUT I CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSED, AND I JUST WANTED TO LEND MY VOICE NOT ONLY AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THE REALM OF PUBLIC ART AND ART ADMINISTRATION.
I'M ASHAMED -- NOT ASHAMED, BUT OVER 30 YEARS.
I WON'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT AMOUNT OF YEARS.
BUT IN MANY CITIES AND MANY STATES, INCLUDING NEW YORK AND LOUISIANA.
AND I HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED BY THE PROCESS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS TAKEN ON TO COME UP WITH THEIR PLAN AND THE ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC ART AND FOR DISBURSING AND MOVING PUBLIC ART, NOT ONLY IN DOWNTOWN, BUT THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF WORKING IN DISTRICT 1 AND GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT I ALSO LIVE IN DISTRICT 8.
AND AS A CITIZEN NOW, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE USED TO BEING VERY CIVICALLY INVOLVED AND I REALLY ENCOURAGE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE YOUR LOCAL OFFICES REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN PUBLIC ARTS AND WHAT'S IN THE DISTRICT, BUT GETTING THE WORD OUT.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A LOT OF TIMES I'LL HEAR THINGS ABOUT THE DISTRICT I LIVE IN AFTERWARDS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY GET INVOLVED AND BE CIVICALLY ACTIVE, NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT 1 BUT ALSO IN DISTRICT 8.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF US NEWCOMERS FEEL THAT WAY.
SO I WANT TO REALLY SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CITY LEADERSHIP AND THE CIVIC LEADERSHIP ON DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR PUBLIC ART FOR SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME AND I'M GLAD TO BE PART OF IT.
AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS CITY BRINGS TOGETHER, NOT ONLY THE ARTS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO LOOK TOGETHER ON HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY REALLY UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. LAMEL.
[00:50:01]
PENELOPE BOYER.>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND EVERYONE.
I'M HERE TODAY ALSO TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC ART PROJECTS IN SAN ANTONIO.
I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AT ANOTHER POINT AND DESCRIBE THE WORK I'M DOING WITH THE LAND HEART GENERATOR INITIATIVE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE KIND OF WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE ALL AWARE, LAND ART GENERATOR INITIATIVE IS THE LEADING, THE GLOBAL LEADERS IN MAKING RENEWABLE ENERGY BEAUTIFUL.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE THE FALL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE HAVE PRODUCED THE WORLD'S FIRST SOLAR MURALS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TODAY, TO INTRODUCE THAT WORK TO YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AND INTRODUCE THAT WORK TO YOU AT ANOTHER TIME.
BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC ART IN SAN ANTONIO, AND HAS BEEN FOR A WHILE.
THE BURGEONING WORK OF THE ARTIST COMMUNITY HERE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES IS ASTONISHING AND I'M VERY GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. BOYER.
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
THE ITEM NO. 13, WHICH NOBODY HAS PULLED FOR ANY DELIBERATION.
IT IS ABOUT ACCEPTING $644,000 FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF OVER NEARLY $2 MILLION FOR -- WELL, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE STAFF SUPPORT PROGRAM GRANT.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT AUDIO] THE COMMON SENSE THING? DOES IT PREACH ABSTINENCE TO YOUNG PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF MARRIAGE? OR DOES IT JUST DISTRIBUTE CONDOMS WILLY-NILLY THERE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CONTRACT HERE.
WHAT DOES IT SAY HERE? MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, PUT THAT UP THERE, IF YOU WOULD.
YEAH, BLOW THAT UP SO WE CAN SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THERE.
FIRST LINE THERE IT SAYS -- YEAH, IT WILL PROVIDE DISEASE INVESTIGATION AND COUNSELING TO CONTROL AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES SUCH AS SYPHILIS, HIV, GONORRHEA AND CHLAMYDIA.
METROPOLITAN HEALTH AIMS TO FUND THE POSITIONS THAT WILL PERFORM THE WORK RELATED TO THE CONGENITAL SYPHILIS, HIV SURVEILLANCE, AND PREEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS NAVIGATION SERVICES.
PRP ENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE CURRENTLY EXISTING PRP TEAM.
PRP IS THE FDA APPROVED MEDICATION THAT IS USED TO KEEP HIV NEGATIVE PEOPLE FROM BECOMING INFECTED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THANK YOU.
RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING ABSTINENCE THEY'RE GOING TO HAND OUT A DRUG SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS DRUG AND YOU WON'T GET HIV.
AND Y'ALL ARE GOING TO PASS THAT ONE FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY DEFECTIVE CONDOMS THERE.
OTHER ITEMS ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
A COUPLE OF LAWSUITS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO JUST GO AHEAD AND PASS.
ONE GUY HAD HIS CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATED FIVE YEARS AGO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I DID ACTUALLY ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 13.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL DR. BRIDGER FORWARD.
THE STATE HAS AWARDED THE CITY AN ADDITIONAL $644,000 TO WORK
[00:55:02]
ON HEALTH ISSUES, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR HER TO TELL US HOW THAT HAPPENED AND WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING WITH IT AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.>> THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, IT ISN'T VERY OFTEN THAT THE STATE CALLS YOU AND SAYS WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU MORE MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL $650,000 TO METRO HEALTH.
WE'RE GOING TO HIRE FOUR POSITIONS WITH THOSE FUNDS.
ONE PERSON WHO WILL BE WORKING ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO PREP, WHICH IS A MEDICATION THAT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES YOUR RISK OF HIV.
WE ARE ALSO HIRING TWO DISEASE INVESTIGATION SPECIALISTS WHO WILL WORK ON LINKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH HIV INTO CARE SO THAT THEY CAN BE PLACED ON ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY, WHICH WILL REDUCE THEIR VIRAL LOAD TO ZERO, WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THEIR RISK OF TRANSMITTING HIV TO OTHERS.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON THAT WE WILL HIRE WHO WILL WORK ON ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS.
BECAUSE IF A WOMAN IS TREATED DURING PREGNANCY SHE WILL NOT TRANSMIT SYPHILIS TO HER BABY.
AND BABIES BORN WITH SYPHILIS ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF LIFE AND WILL HAVE A LOT OF LIFE-LONG CONSEQUENCES IF THEY ARE BORN WITH SYPHILIS.
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE THRILLED THAT THE STATE HAS RECOGNIZED US AS A MODEL PROGRAM AND IS WILLING TO FUND US FOR THIS WORK.
AND WE THINK IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF OUR STD RATES.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT METRO HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE RATE OF HIV.
AND THERE'S A SPECIAL PROGRAM THAT WE'RE RUNNING -- AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT'S CALLED RIGHT NOW.
>> SANDOVAL: WELL, THAT ONE TOO.
THE KNOW YOUR STATUS PROGRAM THAT COUNCILMAN SHAW HAS CHALLENGED US ON.
IF YOU HAVEN'T PROMOTED THAT IN YOUR NEWSLETTER, DON'T DO IT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO WIN.
>> SANDOVAL: I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE DR. BRIDGER AND THE METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR SUPPORTING THAT WORK GOING ON.
THIS WILL ALSO HELP OUR INFANT MORTALITY RATE IF WE ARE ABLE TO HELP WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND THAT HAVE SYPHILIS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT, ITEM 13.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD NOD FROM THE STATE TELLING US WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND LET'S INVEST MORE.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.
AND ALSO JUST TO DESTIGMATIZE EVERYTHING THAT IS THERE SURROUNDING STDS AND HIV.
I'M GLAD WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE MOBILE UNIT OUT AT DISTRICT 3 FIELD OFFICE FOR THE KNOW YOUR STATUS EVENT.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF PEOPLE COME AND KNOW THEIR STATUS THEY CAN ALSO GET A FIESTA MEDAL.
THAT'S KIND OF THE INCENTIVE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK DEBBIE AND STAFF WITH THE ARTS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND I DO WANT TO GIVE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO OUR NEWEST WORLD HERITAGE MURAL PROJECT.
THE WINDOWS TO OUR HERITAGE BETWEEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS 5 AND COUNCIL DISTRICTS 3.
I'M TELLING THE STORIES OF OUR PAST WITH OUR LOCAL ARTIST, DAVID BLANCAS AND OSCAR ALVARADO WHO WERE SHARING THEIR ARTWORK THERE.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OTHER ARTISTS WHO ALSO WORKED ON SOME OF OUR WORLD HERITAGE MURALS WHO WERE ALSO IN THE MENTOR PROGRAM.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THAT UP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> PELAEZ: SO DR. BRIDGER -- WHERE IS DR. BRIDGER? DID SHE RUN AWAY? COME ON UP.
DR. BRIDGER, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
>> PELAEZ: SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS -- I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE NO. 4.
NEW CONTRACT TOTALING $1.9 MILLION.
>> SOME OF THE MONEY COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE, AND THEN THE STATE SENDS IT TO US.
AND SOME OF IT IS JUST STRAIGHT FROM THE STATE.
>> PELAEZ: HOW MUCH OF THIS IS FROM THE CITY?
>> PELAEZ: SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE LISTENED TO US AND SAID, HEY, YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE DYING IN SAN ANTONIO.
I'M LOOKING AT THE PREVIOUS SLIDE WHERE IT SAYS THE WORDS CONGENITAL SYPHILIS.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> CONGENITAL SYPHILIS MEANS A
[01:00:03]
NEWBORN BORN WITH SYPHILIS.THAT MEANS MOM HAD SYPHILIS DURING THE PREGNANCY AND PASSED THAT INFECTION ON TO HER BABY.
>> PELAEZ: SO WE HAVE MOMS WHO GIVE BIRTH TO BABIES WHO ARE BORN WITH THESE HORRIBLE DISEASES, AND IF LEFT UNTREATED WHAT'S THE WORST CASE SCENARIO?
>> PELAEZ: WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT WHO SENT A CHECK OVER THAT SAID PREVENTING THE DEATHS OF BABIES WHO HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
>> WHEN I HEAR THE FOOLISHNESS AND GIBBERISH FROM THAT GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM TALKING ABOUT HOW THESE PEOPLE -- REALLY WHAT I HEARD WAS THEY ARE LESS THAN HUMAN, RIGHT? THAT HAS TO BE REJECTED LOUDLY EVERY SINGLE TIME.
THAT KIND OF FRONTIER GIBBERISH COMES BEFORE US.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THAT WE'RE ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP US SAVE LIVES.
IT'S KIND OF THE MOST BASIC DUTY OF GOVERNMENT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING IS THAT IF WE WERE TO TELL THAT JOKER, HEY, IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO DRINK SUGARY DRINKS BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET DIABETES OR WHATEVER.
OH, YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR HAIR CATCH ON FIRE.
YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND ENGAGE IN ABSTINENCE OF WHAT I EAT, RIGHT? BUT PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE TELL THESE MOTHERS TO ENGAGE IN ABSTINENCE AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T SAVE THEIR BABIES.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING PARTS OF THIS JOB IS HAVING TO SIT THROUGH GARBAGE LIKE THAT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY WE AT LEAST HAVE A CHAMPION OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AS OPPOSED TO JUST DOING WHATEVER THE MOST POPULAR BUMPER STICKER TELLS US TO DO.
YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
THIS IS A VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BUT SINCE WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED A FEW DEPARTMENTS, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING, DR. BRIDGER AND THE METRO HEALTH TEAM.
AS WELL AS DEBBIE AND YOUR TEAM AT PUBLIC ART AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND ART.
AND I ALSO SEE OUR TCI DEPARTMENT THERE.
MIKE AND ROZZY, REALLY ANXIOUS TO SEE THE PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO FINALLY CONNECT PRUE ROAD.
I KNOW COUNCILMAN PELAEZ WILL BE ON TOP OF THAT.
BUT GREAT NEWS ALL THE WAY DOWN THIS CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, EVEN IF WE DIDN'T GET TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF IT.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD A PART IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THAT'S SAVE FOR ITEMS 10 AND 17.
>> ITEM NO. 10 IS AN ORDINANCE RENEWING THE PARKING AGREEMENT WITH NIX HOSPITAL SYSTEM LLC THROUGH APRIL 30, 2023 FOR THE USE OF 400 PARKING SPACES IN THE HOUSTON STREET PARKING GARAGE RESULTING IN A TOTAL ANNUAL REVENUE OF $585,298.
>> TREVINO: COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR BEING HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM AND DISCUSS SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE HERE.
SO, JOHN, GO AHEAD AND GIVE THE PRESENTATION.
I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE LEASE ITEM -- EXCUSE ME -- OR I CAN JUST ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
PRESENTATION? ITEM 10 IS THE RENEWAL OF THE PARKING AGREEMENT WITH THE NIX HOSPITAL.
IT IS ACTUALLY A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL.
WE ALREADY HAVE AN EXISTING CONTRACT WITH THE NIX FOR THE USE OF 400 PARKING SPACES.
THIS IS THE HOUSTON STREET GARAGE.
THIS RENEWAL TERM IS MAY 1, 2018 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2023.
THE RATE STRUCTURE IS THE LESSER OF EITHER 5% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S RATE OR THE CURRENT PARKING RATE.
THAT'S IN THE EVENT THE RATES WOULD INCREASE, THIS WOULD ADDRESS THAT.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THIS THROUGH THE TERM OF APRIL 30, 2023.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> SANDOVAL: OH, THAT WAS SHORT.
>> SANDOVAL: SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND LORI FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BUT ALSO THE PARKING ENTERPRISE FUND THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY.
SO I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE I WANTED TO DISCUSS HOW WE OPERATE THAT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE COUNCILMAN SALDANA AND I AUTHORED A CCR ON SOMETHING CALLED TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS OFFERING COMMUTERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAVELING A DIFFERENT OPTION
[01:05:01]
THAN JUST DRIVING THEIR CAR.AND I KNOW WE HAVE OVER 6,000 SPACES DOWNTOWN, RIGHT?
THAT INCLUDES OUR PARKING GARAGES, OUR LOTS, AND THE ON-STREET PARKING WHERE THE METERS ARE.
>> TO MARKET THE PARKING SPACES THAT WE HAD DOWNTOWN, RIGHT?
THIS IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND SO THE REVENUES THAT ARE GENERATED FROM THAT FUND GO BACK INTO THAT SYSTEM.
AND PART OF THAT SYSTEM IS ADVERTISING AND MARKETING OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.
AND THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY OUR FACILITIES BUT ALSO ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO USE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, PARTICULARLY AT BUSY TIMES LIKE FIESTA.
YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DOWNTOWN AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY OUR FACILITIES ARE STRAINED DURING THOSE TIMES.
I GUESS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THAT WE DO THAT PROMOTION FOR ALTERNATIVE MODES OF COMMUTE, NOT JUST WHEN IT IS ESPECIALLY BUSY, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO COME DOWNTOWN DAY-TO-DAY.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORK HERE.
WITH 6,000 SPACES AND WITH SOME OF THE REVENUES THAT WE SEE COMING IN.
SO THAT'S ABOUT $585,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR.
I THINK THAT MIGHT GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT TYPE OF PROMOTION.
AND I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS TO ART DURING OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING.
SO, I DON'T KNOW, ART, DO YOU HAVE ANY -- OH, THERE YOU ARE.
THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING, AS WE CONTINUE THE TDM WORKING GROUP THAT WE BRIEF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE.
SO ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE COMMUTE SOLUTIONS PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN MANAGED BY AACOG BUT FUNDED THROUGH THE MPO.
SO THAT PROGRAM IS ON THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF $250,000 ANNUALLY.
SO THAT COVERS THE OUTREACH, THE EDUCATION, AND THEN ALSO PROMOTING THE NEW RIDE AND CARE PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A BALLPARK OF, YOU KNOW, TDM PROGRAMS, AND SIMILAR TO WHAT THE MOVABILITY AUSTIN PROGRAM HAS AS WELL.
>> SANDOVAL: IN TERMS OF THE 6,000 PARKING SPACES THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN, WHAT KIND OF REVENUE IS THAT FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUND ON AN ANNUAL BASIS?
WELL, OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR PARKING IS ABOUT $10.8 MILLION A YEAR.
AND THEN THAT MONEY GOES BACK INTO THAT SYSTEM FOR OPERATIONS.
SO IT'S THE 90-SO EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PART OF THAT PROGRAM.
IT'S MAINTENANCE OF THOSE FACILITIES.
JUST DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE, SECURITY FOR THOSE FACILITIES.
WE ALSO DO SOME TRAFFIC CONTROL WHEN THERE'S EVENTS, SO PEOPLE CAN GET IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGES IN A SAFE AND ORDERLY MANNER.
WE HAVE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED EVERY YEAR.
WE'RE UPDATING AND UPGRADING OUR GARAGES, NOT JUST WITH LIGHTING, PAINTING.
ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER $600,000 A YEAR THAT WE'RE CARRYING FORWARD IN A FUND BALANCE.
>> SANDOVAL: HOW MUCH IS THE ACTUAL REVENUE?
>> SANDOVAL: HOW MUCH ARE YOU CARRYING OVER TOTAL? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE IN RESERVE RIGHT NOW?
>> TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT $13 MILLION IN THAT FUND BALANCE.
BUT THAT MONEY ALSO IS COVERING DEBT SERVICE FROM PREVIOUS BOND PROJECTS THAT WE SUPPORTED IN 2008, 2012.
MARY'S GARAGE THAT WAS BUILT A LITTLE OVER TEN YEARS AGO.
SO THAT FUND BALANCE PROBABLY OVER THE YEARS WILL START TO COME DOWN BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE GARAGES.
THE GARAGES ARE STARTING TO AGE A LITTLE.
AND THERE'S SOME MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE EVERY YEAR, SO THAT NUMBER WILL START TO COME DOWN OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, PROBABLY.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE HAVING 91 EMPLOYEES AND ONE DEDICATED TO TDM.
>> OUR DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A MARKETING PERSON THAT HELPS US ACROSS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE FOCUSING ON IS PARKING AND WORKING WITH TCI AND ART IN PARTICULAR ON TRANSPORTATION.
NOT JUST PARKING BUT TRANSPORTATION IN GENERAL IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHICH PARKING IS A BIG PART OF TOO.
>> SANDOVAL: YEAH, AS YOU KNOW THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY OUR, YOU KNOW, MOVE TOWARD SOME SORT OF MASS TRANSIT, HIGH-CAPACITY MASS TRANSIT AND HELPING PEOPLE LEARN
[01:10:02]
TO USE THAT SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR PARKING HERE.
AND HOW MUCH IS NIX PAYING PER SPACE PER MONTH?
THAT'S MONEY THAT COULD BE IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS IF THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE BUS DOWN HERE.
>> SANDOVAL: I THINK ALIGNING HOW WE SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY IN THE ENTERPRISE FUND WITH THE GOALS OF THE CITY TRANSPORTATION-WISE WOULD MAKE SENSE.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET.
AND HAVING SOMEONE THAT'S DEDICATED TO THAT, THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS TO SPLIT ALL OF THEIR ATTENTION ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT SOMEONE WHOSE GOAL IS I'M GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS OR I I GOT TWO MORE PEOPLE TO RE THEIR BIKES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
DID YOU SAY THAT PARKING IS A DEDICATED FUND?
>> GONZALES: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BRING UP OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION FROM YESTERDAY REGARDING OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS? I FEEL LIKE THERE WERE THREE PIES.
I DON'T REMEMBER A PIE OR A SLIVER BEING FOR PARKING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT RESTRICTED FUNDS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: PLEASE NOTE WE ALSO HAVE ITEM 17 NEXT ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS, WHICH IS THE BUDGET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, SHERYL.
>> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE CITY'S BUDGET.
THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR CORE SERVICES.
THE SECOND IS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
AND THE THIRD AREA ARE ALL OF THE RESTRICTED FUNDS.
PARKING IS WITHIN THAT THIRD CATEGORY OF RESTRICTED FUNDS, LIKE THE AIRPORT, LIKE SOLID WASTE.
WE HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ABOUT GARBAGE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING.
SO PARKING IS ONE OF THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THE THIRD CATEGORY.
SO REVENUES FROM THE PARKING SYSTEM STAY WITHIN THAT SYSTEM TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, AS JOHN DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS THE DEBT SERVICE TO PAY FOR THE STRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED, AS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
>> GONZALES: I KNOW THE STATE REQUIRES AIRPORTS -- OR I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO REQUIRES AIRPORTS TO BE A DEDICATED FUND.
>> GONZALES: AND WHAT ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND DSD?
>> SCULLEY: THOSE ARE CITY DECISIONS TO KEEP THEM AS RESTRICTED FUNDS.
>> GONZALES: AND PARKING AS WELL? IS THAT A CITY DECISION TO KEEP THAT AS A DEDICATED FUND?
>> GONZALES: WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO CHANGE THOSE? TO MAKE THEM ALL GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
I MEAN, WOULD IT JUST BE A COUNCIL INITIATIVE OR IS IT A CHARTER CHANGE?
>> SCULLEY: NO, IT WOULDN'T BE A CHARTER CHANGE, IT WOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION.
SO THEY WERE SET UP FOR SPECIFIC REASONS IN THAT REGARD, BECAUSE THE GENERAL FUND USED TO SUBSIDIZE THE PARKING SYSTEM.
THE GENERAL FUND USED TO SUBSIDIZE GARBAGE COLLECTION.
AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FEES USED SUBSIDIZE THE GENERAL FUND AND THERE WAS AN OBJECTION MADE BY THE GREATER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE FEES THAT THEY PAY FOR PERMITS, INSPECTIONS WERE SUBSIDIZING NON-DEVELOPMENT-RELATED ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S A RATIONALE FOR EACH OF THOSE RESTRICTED FUNDS AS TO WHY THEY ARE SET UP AS THEY ARE, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT IS A CITY COUNCIL DECISION WITH REGARD TO THOSE FUNDS.
WELL, ARE THOSE DECISIONS DONE THROUGH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE? I MEAN, IS IT SOMETHING IN A B SESSION?
>> SCULLEY: IT COULD BE AS PART OF THE BUDGET CONSIDERATION WHEN THAT'S PRESENTED IN AUGUST.
AND WE HAVE OUR CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS.
>> GONZALES: I'M JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS ISSUE OF PARKING AS A DEDICATED FUND MUST HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN MY ATTENTION TO THE BUDGET.
I DON'T RECALL THAT BEING A DEDICATED FUND.
I WAS TRYING TO REFRESH MYSELF ABOUT HOW WE FUND AUDIO] PART OF OUR CORE SERVICES.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY SHOULD DO.
[01:15:02]
PROJECTS THAT HAD PARKING BUT IT WAS MY PERSONAL OPINION -- OF COURSE I SUPPORTED ALL THE BOND PROJECTS BECAUSE THERE'S SOME YOU LIKE AND SOME YOU DON'T.BUT I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT CONTINUES TO SUBSIDIZE SPRAWL AND IT DOESN'T GIVE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO DRIVE.
AND WOULD THAT MONEY BE BETTER SPENT IMPROVING OUR STREETS TO MAKE THEM COMPLETE STREETS SO PEOPLE COULD HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN PARKING.
THAT'S BEEN MY SENSE FOR THAT ALL ALONG.
AND SO HAVING THIS AS A DEDICATED FUND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT SINCE I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'LL HAVE TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME EXPLORING.
BECAUSE AS THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED -- SO DOES THAT MEAN THERE'S $600,000 LEFT OVER AFTER ALL OF EXPENSES AND ALL OF THE NEEDS ARE MET IN WHICH YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN FOR NEXT -- FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN THE EVENT THAT THERE'S SOME STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS?
>> [INAUDIBLE] IN THE EVENT THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY OR SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WE WEREN'T AWARE OF AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
>> GONZALES: AND HOW MUCH IS IN THAT FUND? IS IT JUST THE $600,000 OR IS THERE ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THE RESERVES? IT SEEMS LIKE $5 MILLION IS WHAT I SAW.
>> 646 IS THE BALANCE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
HOWEVER, THE BALANCE OVER MANY YEARS HAS ACCUMULATED $13 MILLION.
BUT SOME OF THAT IS EARMARKED FOR FUTURE PROGRAMMING AND FUTURE PROJECTS.
>> GONZALES: THAT HAS TO BE DEDICATED TO PARKING?
>> IT HAS TO BE WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE FUND, YES.
>> GONZALES: $13 MILLION IS A LOT.
COULD THAT MONEY BE USED TO GIVE PERHAPS OTHER ALTERNATIVES OTHER THAN SINGLE-USE AUTOMOBILES? OR DOES IT HAVE TO GO TO PARKING?
>> CURRENTLY IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND SET UP TO GO BACK INTO PARKING PROJECTS IN GENERAL, YES.
PERHAPS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN EVALUATE IS THAT REALLY NECESSARY.
I MEAN, DOES IT CONTINUE TO SUBSIDIZE SINGLE-OCCUPANCY VEHICLES? AGAIN, AS WE ARE HAVING EQUITY DISCUSSIONS AND WE TALK ABOUT MAKING THINGS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL ROAD USERS WE DO HAVE THIS LARGE DEDICATION OF FUNDING THAT'S ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE LUXURY OF PRIVATE AUTOMOBILES.
AND COULD THAT BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I WAS JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE SINCE IT WAS PULLED AND WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION OF HOW OUR CITY EVOLVES IS THIS THE BEST USE OF OUR CITY BUDGET.
I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
I JUST THINK THAT PERHAPS IT COULD FOLLOW FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THOSE CITY RESOURCES IF WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY CHANGE OUR -- WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE CURRENT MODEL THAT WE HAVE NOW FOR PARKING FOR SPRAWL, FOR CONTINUED ADDED CAPACITY ON ROADS FOR SINGLE AUTOMOBILE USE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUBSIDIZE PARKING ANYMORE? THE REALITY IS PARKING IS EXPENSIVE.
DID YOU SAY THAT PEOPLE PAY $125 A MONTH FOR PARKING?
>> THAT'S FOR A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL TO HAVE A MONTHLY CONTRACT.
>> GONZALES: SO ONE SINGLE PERSON.
AND THAT SINGLE PERSON, IS THAT SINGLE PERSON A CITY EMPLOYEE?
IF WE HAVE CAPACITY IN ANY ONE OF OUR GARAGES, ON AVERAGE THAT'S THE MONTHLY RATE THAT SOMEBODY WOULD PAY TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH US TO PARK MONTHLY IN ONE OF OUR GARAGES.
AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY HOW MUCH IT COSTS, OBVIOUSLY, TO MAINTAIN AND SUPPORT THAT.
>> AND ACTUALLY OUR RATES ARE VERY LOW COMPARED TO PRIVATELY-OWNED FACILITIES.
>> GONZALES: WHAT WOULD BE A PRIVATELY OWNED?
>> IT WOULD DEPEND ON LOCATION BUT YOU COULD PAY UPWARDS OF $200 OR $300 DEPENDING ON THE GARAGE THAT FACILITY IS IN.
>> GONZALES: SO VERY EXPENSIVE PARKING, EXPENSIVE TO BUILD STRUCTURES.
AND SO PERHAPS WE NEED TO RETHINK HOW WE INVEST OUR DOLLARS AND HOW PEOPLE MIGHT RATHER SPEND THEIR TIME -- OR THEIR MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT SHOCKED ME, $125 A MONTH.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS -- I KNOW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT CAN'T
[01:20:01]
AFFORD RENT OF MORE THAN $300 A MONTH>> NOT SO MUCH HOW WE PAY FOR PARKING BUT HOW WE THINK ABOUT PARKING IN SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES EVERY DAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER SOMETHING ELSE.
I KNOW WE SPEND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILLIONS ON THE PARKING GARAGE FOR THE TOBIN.
>> THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION WAS $5 MILLION.
>> GONZALES: AND THE COUNTY? 5? IT WAS A $10 MILLION INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS.
AND THEN THERE WAS ABOUT $12 MILLION IN THE BOND FOR A PARKING GARAGE AROUND THE SAISD AROUND THE ZOO AREA?
>> THAT GARAGE IS NOT IN OUR PROGRAM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SHERYL, YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION YOU WANT TO SHARE, SHERYL.
THAT PARTICULAR PARKING GARAGE WAS TO SUPPORT THE ZOO AS WELL AS BRACKENRIDGE PARK.
AND THAT WAS -- IT WILL BE BUILT ON SAISD PROPERTY.
BUT YOU'RE RAISING A VERY GOOD POLICY ISSUE HERE TODAY THAT IS STRATEGICALLY DO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DRIVE IN SINGLE-OCCUPANCY VEHICLES TO DOWNTOWN? OR ARE WE ADVANCING A MASS TRANSIT CONVERSATION? WE WILL TALK WITH YOU MORE AND WE'LL BE PREPARED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL.
I WILL SAY THAT BASED ON, FIRST OF ALL, THE ENTERPRISE FUND FOR PARKING HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, THERE IS AN ADOPTED PLAN, MASTER PLAN, AND THAT'S OF COURSE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
IF THIS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT MASTER PLAN FOR ACTUALLY CREATING EVEN MORE PARKING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN, GIVEN THE PUSH TO ENCOURAGE EVEN MORE VISITATION TO THE DOWNTOWN.
SO IT'S A MORE EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION, HOW DO WE WANT TO ADVANCE THAT.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING AT WAYS, JOHN DESCRIBED THEM, ON USE OF MASS TRANSIT TO GET PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN.
IT WAS A BIG PART OF OUR NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR WEEKEND WHERE WE WERE PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING -- BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MANAGE THE TRAFFIC.
SO IT'S AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION AND WE'LL BE PREPARED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
BECAUSE IN THE END IT IS A POLICY DISCUSSION FOR THE COUNCIL AS TO YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES AND WHERE DOLLARS SHOULD BE SPENT.
BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT OUR GENERAL TAX DOLLARS ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE PARKING SYSTEM, RATHER THE USERS OF THE SYSTEM ARE PAYING FOR THE PARKING SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHY IT IS SET UP AS AN ENTERPRISE BUSINESS FUND.
WE USE THE WORD BOND AND WE THINK OF OUR VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROGRAMS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WHEN JOHN MENTIONED BOND, THOSE ARE REVENUE BONDS, NOT VOTER-APPROVED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS BUT RATHER REVENUE BONDS THAT ARE PAID FOR BY THE REVENUES FROM THE PARKING SYSTEM.
SO THE USERS, THE FEES THEY PAY INTO IT, THEN CAN SUPPORT NOT ONLY OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUT ALSO COVER DEBT SERVICE FOR REVENUE BONDS THAT ARE ISSUED TO BUILD GARAGES OR TO MAKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT THE BONDS OF THE 183 PROJECTS IN THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM OR THE 2012 PROGRAM, BUT RATHER REVENUE BONDS SUPPORTED BY REVENUE FROM THE PARKING SYSTEM.
WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
IT PROBABLY GOES TO TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A COUPLE OF ALTERNATIVES.
BECAUSE WHILE I ALSO BELIEVE WE NEED TO GIVE SOMEBODY AN ALTERNATIVE, SO WE CAN'T JUST TAKE AWAY THE PARKING AND NOT GIVE ANOTHER OPTION.
SO THAT HAS -- IT HAS TO ALL BE LAYERED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE TAKE AWAY ONE AND NOT GIVE AN OPTION FOR THE OTHER.
SO HOW WE MAKE ALL THAT HAPPEN I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT PEOPLE TO VISIT DOWNTOWN.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO THE TOBIN AND LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY IN DOWNTOWN.
BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOME ALTERNATIVE TO SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES.
IF YOU DON'T COVER THAT PART THEN WE'LL BE AT A DISADVANTAGE ALL AROUND.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION PERHAPS IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
BUT WE COULD BE PREPARED, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TIME FOR THAT, COUNCILMAN, IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, BUT BEFORE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION IN JUNE?
[01:25:01]
HOW THAT WORKS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
WE'RE THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES EXCEPT I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT US TO END UP SUBSIDIZING THOSE PARKING SPACES FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES.
I DO JUST HAVE ONE LAST CONCERN.
YOU MENTIONED THAT SOME PARKING SPACES GO FOR ABOUT $200 OR $300 A MONTH WHILE OURS ARE GOING FOR $120.
I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY.
>> THOSE WOULD BE A PRIVATE GARAGE.
OBVIOUSLY A PRIVATELY-OWNED GARAGE CAN CHARGE WHATEVER THEY WANT FOR THEIR MONTHLY RATE.
THE CITY'S APPROACH, OUR POLICY IS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE PARKING FOR INDIVIDUALS DOWNTOWN.
SO IN A WAY WE KIND OF SET THE MARKET RATE.
PARKING WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE EXPENSIVE IN THOSE PRIVATE GARAGES IF WE WERE NOT -- IF WE WEREN'T KEEPING OUR RATES RELATIVELY LOW TO THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING EVENTS, WE HAVE AN EVENT RATE THAT WE WOULD CHARGE AT ONE OF OUR LOTS.
TYPICALLY A LOT THAT'S ACROSS THE STREET THAT PRIVATELY OWNED WOULD BE TWICE WHAT OUR LOTS WOULD BE.
I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE THAT THERE'S A BIG FAT BOOK OUT THERE CALLED THE HIGH COST OF FREE PARKING.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY A SLIMMER ONE CALLED THE HIGH COST OF REALLY CHEAP PARKING.
>> I ALWAYS REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS FREE PARKING.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
SHERYL, YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE?
>> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY WHEN THIS WAS CREATED THE REASON THE CITY GOT INTO THE BUSINESS WAS BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS CHARGING SO MUCH FOR PARKING AND THE CITY WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO COULDN'T PAY THE MARKET RATES FOR PARKING.
AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT AS WE WORK ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS DOWNTOWN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES TO COMPANIES LOCATING IN THE CENTER CITY IS THE PARKING ISSUE.
AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT CREATIVE WAYS.
YOU MAY RECALL A RECENT PROJECT WHERE WHAT WE OFFERED WERE BUS PASSES FOR THE EMPLOYEES SO THAT IN LIEU OF PARKING SPACES OR CREATING THOSE, MAKING THEM AVAILABLE, WE WERE ENCOURAGING MASS TRANSPORTATION.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WAYS TO DO IT.
BUT, IN FACT, THE CITY IS IN THE PARKING BUSINESS TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE TO THOSE WHO CANNOT PAY MARKET RATE.
SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT POLICY DISCUSSION WITH YOU OVER THE UPCOMING MONTHS.
I WAS JUST TALKING WITH PETER ZANONI, WHO STAFFS US FOR THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND I ASKED HIM TO SEE IF WE COULD PUT THIS ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM FOR YOU, JOHN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD AND PRESENT.
BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS PRETTY SIMPLE FROM WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCILWOMAN SHIRLEY.
I WORRY THAT THE EXECUTION MAY BE TOO COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT PERHAPS THESE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED WITHIN THOSE FUNDS.
I THINK WE AT THE END OF THE DAY BECOME THE THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE OPEN IT UP, NOT TO SUBSIDIZE EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN BUT MAYBE TO SUBSIDIZE STRATEGIES LIKE A POSITION.
THAT'S THE CONVERSATION WE WANT TO HAVE AT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO EXECUTE THAT KIND OF FUNDING FOR A POSITION, BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS STILL A NEEDLE THAT WE NEED TO THREAD HERE WITH REGARD TO HOW WE CAN INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYERS AND DISINCENTIVIZE THE CREATION OF MORE PARKING LOTS.
I REMEMBER I WAS AT STANFORD AND IN THE PALO ALTO AREA, THIS IS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF TECH COMPANIES, THE PRICE OF LAND IS REALLY EXPENSIVE.
AND THE FOLKS WHO EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS THERE PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES AN EXTRA $200, $300 A MONTH SO THAT THEY DON'T DRIVE TO WORK BECAUSE IF THEY HAD TO BUILD A BRAND NEW PARKING LOT OR GARAGE STATION IT WOULD COST THEM MORE THAN IT WOULD COST TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE A BIKE IN OR CAR POOL.
WE'RE NOT AT THAT THRESHOLD OF PAIN YET BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT TO GET THERE.
AND I THINK IN THE WAY WE DO SOME OF THESE STRATEGIES IT MIGHT BE -- I THINK OF HVHC WHO WAS THE VISION WORKS AT THE FACILITY AT HOUSTON STREET.
THIS IS THE FACILITY RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE HOTEL VALENCIA.
ARGO GROUP IS COMING FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.
WE SAID PART OF THE DEAL IS NOT JUST ABATEMENTS OR MONEY BUT WE'RE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE YOUR PARKING.
AND I THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN A
[01:30:04]
LITTLE MORE THOUGHTFUL IN HOW WE STRUCTURED THAT DEAL.WE GOT THE DEAL, WE GOT 100 GREAT IN THAT FACILITY AND BUILDING.
BUT I THINK NOW THAT WE'RE BEING A LITTLE MORE FORWARD THINKING, NOT ONLY SUBSIDIZE PORTIONS OF THE PARKING BUT MAYBE HAVE A DEDICATED PERSON WHO IS STRUCTURING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAR POOL OR SHUTTLE LANES OR PREFERRED PARKING IN THAT PARKING STRUCTURE.
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CAR POOLING THERE THEY GET THE FRONT, THE CLOSEST PARKING TO THE ACTUAL OFFICE SPACE.
I THINK WE COULD BE SMARTER ABOUT IT.
AND SO I THINK PART OF THAT IS HAVING SOMEBODY WHO IS THINKING ABOUT THESE STRATEGIES, AND TDM HAS BEEN COMING TO US WITH THESE IDEAS.
JUST AS A REFRESHER FROM THE MONDAY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THIS VERY CONVERSATION WAS HAD IN A SMALL SLIVER.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO RECONVENE FOR THE WORKING GROUP IS TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT PARKING AND SOME OF THE INCENTIVES, WHETHER IT IS PREFERRED PARKING SPOTS IN A GARAGE FOR CAR POOLERS OR INCENTIVIZE A REDUCED RATE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THE GENERAL CONVERSATION HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN OUR WORKING GROUP.
WE HAVEN'T GOT INTO THE DETAILS OF HOW YOU FUND IT, WHICH THIS COULD BE THE OVERALL CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING IS ONE OF THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE'LL BE PURSUING IN THE WORKING GROUP WITH THE GOAL OF COMING BACK IN THE JUNE TIME-FRAME AS WE TALKED ABOUT TO THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE SOME MORE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GLAD YOUR GROUP IS DOING BUT I'M HOPEFUL IF ANYTHING COMES OF THIS IT IS THAT WE SORT OF CALL OURSELVES OUT FOR BEING GUILTY OF NOT THINKING VERY CREATIVELY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BUILT OR RENOVATED THROUGH THE PRIVATE SECTOR THE TOBIN, IT WAS A BRAND NEW REALLY GREAT FEATURE TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO THE ARTS AND THE CULTURE.
WE SAID WE HAVE A PARKING PROBLEM THERE.
LET'S JUST BUILD A PARKING GARAGE PEOPLE TO WALK SO FAR TO THE TOBIN.
I SUBMIT TO YOU, SURE, LET'S TRY TO DO THAT.
BUT WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT MASS TRANSIT OR BUS AND BUS STOPS IN THE AREA.
I THINK WE CAN LITTLE MORE CREATIVE THAN JUST LET'S BUILD ANOTHER PARKING LOT.
DEDICATED REVENUES TO PARKING MAKES IT REALLY EASY TO BUILT MORE PARKING LOTS.
>> WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH ART TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN NOT ONLY JUST PARKING BUT TRANSPORTATION IN DOWNTOWN TOO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
>> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY I THINK COUNCILMAN SALDANA HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
ACTUALLY STAFF RECOMMENDED AGAINST THE TOBIN GARAGE, AND WE GAVE SOME CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES AS TO HOW PARKING COULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
ULTIMATELY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT TOBIN PARKING GARAGE, BUT WE WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS MAJOR POLICY ISSUE, SO WE'LL BE PREPARED.
AND I DO LONG FOR THE DAY, AND I THINK IT'S FAST APPROACHING, THAT WE WILL HAVE BUILT OUR LAST PARKING FACILITY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS WE WORK ON OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
IT DESERVES A POLICY DISCUSSION.
I APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO TAKE IT UP.
THERE IS A MOTION AND APPROVAL FOR ITEM NO. 10.
ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR 2018.
OCTOBER 2017 TO MARCH 2018 AND PROJECTIONS FOR THE REMAINING SIX MONTHS OF FISCAL 2018, WHICH IS APRIL 2018 TO SEPTEMBER 2018 IN THE GENERAL FUND AND VARIOUS RESTRICTED FUNDS AND AUTHORIZING POSITIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> PERRY: BEN, MARIA, SHERYL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU PUT TOGETHER ON WHAT I WOULD CALL THE PREBUDGET DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY.
GREAT DISCUSSIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT ANOTHER PLUG FOR SUPPORTING OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN TOWN AND FINDING SOME WAY TO OFFER A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN TOWN.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT IN ANOTHER PLUG FOR THAT AND I HOPE THAT WHAT WE SEE IN OUR NEXT WORKING SESSIONS ARE
[01:35:04]
ALTERNATIVES, PROPOSALS, HOW CAN WE GET TO THOSE NUMBERS TO OFFER THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS AND PROPOSALS THAT I HOPE Y'ALL BRING TO THE TABLE.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE THIS AND LET'S GET THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL STUFF UNDERWAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 17.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I DO WANT TO, BEN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND THE PRESENTATION, MARIA, YESTERDAY.
I DO WANT TO SECOND COUNCILMAN PERRY'S POINTS ABOUT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD HONEST DISCUSSION.
LIKE WE SAID YESTERDAY, IT'S A GOOD WORD.
WE PUT IT ALL ON THE TABLE WHAT WE THINK AND BELIEVE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VOTES WILL FALL WHERE THEY WILL.
BUT I THINK AT LEAST IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR TAX DOLLARS, THEIR BURDENS AND THE THINGS THEY CONSIDER MOST IMPORTANT.
IT CONTINUES TO BE A TOP ITEM IN DISTRICT 6, REGARDLESS IF YOU'RE IN A $25,000, $35,000, 50-YEAR HOUSE OR YOU'RE IN A $500,000 HOME IN DISTRICT 6.
I HEAR THAT IN BOTH LOCATIONS, WHICH IS I'VE GOT WAY TOO MANY FEES COMING OUT OF MY CHECKING ACCOUNT, WAY TOO MANY TAXES.
AND MY PROPERTY VALUES ARE CAUSING ME PROBLEMS AND I'M GETTING WORKED OUT OF MY HOME HERE.
I CAN'T PUT ENOUGH MONEY TOGETHER TO PAY THE BILLS.
SO ANY AMOUNT OF RELIEF MATTERS.
AND I HOPE WE CAN COME TO THE DISCUSSION REALIZING THOSE ARE COMMON THEMES IN LITERALLY EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND IF WE CAN GIVE IT A GOOD FAIR DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, COUNCILMAN PERRY HAS BROUGHT SOME GREAT WORK TO THE TABLE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SURPLUSES IN PARKING THAT COULD COME BACK AND HELP OUT ADDITIONAL CAUSES TO PUT MONEY BACK IN PEOPLE'S POCKETS.
I WORRY ABOUT FINDING MONEY AND FINDING WAYS TO SPEND IT.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CONVERSATION FREQUENTLY ABOUT FINDING SOME MONEY AND FINDING A WAY TO PUT IT BACK IN THE POCKETBOOKS OF THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WOULD BE A STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, THEIR HOMES AND THE MONEY THEY ARE PAYING ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
WE'VE GOT ALMOST A BILLION DOLLAR BOND FOR THE NORTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PEOPLE ARE GETTING SQUEEZED EVERYWHERE THEY GO.
I HOPE THAT CONVERSATION CONTINUES ON.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY, FOR CONTINUING TO CHAMPION THIS CAUSE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
AND THANK YOU, JUSTINA, MARIA, BEN, EVERYONE FOR THE UPDATE, FOR THE THOROUGH UPDATE WE GOT YESTERDAY.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT IF YOU DIDN'T GET TO HEAR IT, PLEASE GO OUT AND CHECK OUT YESTERDAY'S B SESSION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK RIGHT NOW COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES FOR RAISING REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR DISCUSSION IN MAY WOULD BE HOW MANY OF THESE RESTRICTED AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ARE FEDERAL OR STATE MANDATED AND HOW MANY ARE CITY CREATED.
SO IF WE CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD TOO I SHARED WHAT SOME OF THE MAIN ISSUES FOR MY AREA ARE.
IT IS VALID TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND ABSOLUTELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE OPEN WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
THAT'S WHY WE ALSO DO THE S.A.
I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD IS ALSO TALK ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS ABOUT SERVICES FROM OUR RESIDENTS? WHAT ARE THE EXPECTS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SOLID WASTE, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR STREETS, OUR EVERYTHING.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE THIS THE CITY AND OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WE REPRESENT IN OUR DISTRICTS.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR BUDGET.
AND TO BE CLEAR, I DO CARE ABOUT MY RESIDENTS, AND I HAVE BEEN CARING ABOUT MY RESIDENTS FOR EVEN BEFORE I WAS ELECTED ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND SO THAT IS WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER AS A STAFF, AND AS COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, WE CAN GET ALL OF THOSE SERVICES AND THINS DONE WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES OF THE YEAR, BUDGET SEASON, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD, BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING THESE BIG CHANGES BECAUSE OF S.A. TOMORROW.
WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH TRANSPORTATION, WITH HOW WE DEVELOP OUR AREAS, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT COUPLE OF
[01:40:02]
WEEKS I GUESS IT IS.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
TO ADDRESS THE COUNCILMAN PERRY AND BROCKHOUSE'S POINT, I'M WITH YOU.
I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR OWN HOMES.
I DON'T HI IT'S FAIR THAT PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR HOMES OUTRIGHT ARE NOW RENTING IT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT BY WAY OF TAXES.
AND I KEEP HEARING THE WORDS, RELIEF.
AT THE SAME TIME, I'LL REMIND A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE WAY WE GIVE THEM RELIEF IS BY PROVIDING SAFE ROAD, ROBUST POLICING, EFFECTIVE FIRE PROTECTION, CLEAN WATER, ON DEMAND ENERGY, SAFE PARKS, WASTE REMOVAL, SEWERS, THAT REMOVE THINGS THEY DON'T WANT FROM THEIR HOMES, FLOOD CONTROL.
AND WITHOUT THOSE THINGS, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'D BE THE SAN ANTONIO THAT PEOPLE WANT.
AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT HAITI AND SOMALIA ARE LOVELY THIS YEAR, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT I JUST LISTED OFF.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE MOST BASIC SERVICES THAT PEOPLE EXPECT OF US, AND THE DAY WE STOP PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES, IS THE DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WATCH THEM COME AND -- WITH PITCH FORKS AND TORCHES TO SAN ANTONIO, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A BALANCE.
THERE'S A BALANCE BETWEEN INVESTING AND USING THOSE RESOURCES, OF WHICH WE ARE STEWARDS, WHICH IS TAX DOLLARS AGAINST THE NEED TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE STRUGGLE WITH AND I THINK IT IS ALWAYS VERY HEALTHY AND I'M WILLING TO HAVE IT ANY TIME AND EVERY TIME YOU GUYS WANT TO HAVE IT.
BUT MY FOCUS, AND I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS DAIS', FOLK US, AND NOT BE THE KIND OF CITY WHERE WE CONSENT TO POPULOUS SENTIMENT THAT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE EXPECT.
CHERYL, GSHERYL, MARIA, THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT HARD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, COUNCILMAN PERRY?
>> PERRY: I WANT TO SAY I MADE A GRIEVOUS ERROR.
I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE JUSTINEA FOR THE WORK IN PUTTING TOGETHER THE NUMBERS FOR THE PACKAGE YESTERDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN COURAGE?
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, I THINK WE ALL HAVE A SIMILAR UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS BUDGET ENCOMPASSES, WHAT IT MEANS TO US AS A COUNCIL AND AS A COMMUNITY.
I HAVE ALWAYS FED LIKE I HAD THREE RESPONSIBILITIES AS A COUNCILMAN.
NUMBER ONE GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT THE POLICY FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THIS CITY AND NUMBER TWO IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF MY CONSTITUENTS AS THEY CALL MY OFFICE OR THEY REACH OUT TO ME, AND THE THIRD ONE I'VE TOLD EVERYBODY IS I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD THE CITY AND OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, AND SO, ACCOUNTABILITY IS THAT THIRD PARTY OF MY JOB THAT I LOOK AT.
AND I THINK NOTHING'S MORE RELEVANT, AND IMPORTANT THAN FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
AND HOW WE DETERMINE HOW WE CAN BEST USE THE FISCAL SUPPORT THE CITY RECEIVES FROM ITS CONSTITUENTS AND FROM ALL OF THE CONSTITUENT PARTS THAT MAKE UP OUR BUDGET, IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO LOOK AT VERY SERIOUSLY.
I THINK PEOPLE DO DESERVE TAX RELIEF, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW PEOPLE DESERVE AND REQUIRE A LOT OF IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT SEEM TO BE SOMETIMES OUTSIDE OF THOSE CORE SERVICES THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE ARE SO IMPORTANT.
SO, I HOPE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE THINK ABOUT OUR ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE HAVE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING OUT THIS BUDGET, AND IF WE CAN FIND A TAX BREAK FOR PEOPLE, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
[01:45:02]
AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING, AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR, THAT'S GREAT, TOO.AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND A WAY TO MELD THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
GREAT WORK TO OUR STAFF AND TEAM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY AND GETTING US TO A VERY STRONG FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.
WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING OUR MANY RESIDENTS AND LISTENING TO THEM AND THEIR CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES WHICH ARE REFLECTED IN EVERY BUDGET, SO, THANK YOU, AGAIN, AND THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17.
THAT'S THE BALANCE OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
WE DO HAVE A ZONING SESSION AS WELL AS A CONTINUATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
BEFORE WE ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FIRST, AND I KNOW ROMEDO SALAZAR IS HERE THIS MORNING.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR HAS BEEN ELECTED 2019-2020 PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND AS PRESIDENT HE'S GOING TO SERVE AS THE LEADER OF NEARLY 9,000 MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA TO GUIDE THE LIBRARY ASOCSOCIATIONN ITS MENTION TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY DESERVE ARE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEAR HE DEAD TATED HIS CAREER TO INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF LIBRARY RESOURCES TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
HE'S BEEN OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR NOW, FOR 15, 14 -- 13 YEARS.
OKAY, HE WAS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF ME, AND HE'S ONE OF OUR STAR DEPARTMENT HEAD, AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, AND OF COURSE, HE LED THE LAUNCH OF OUR FREE PUBLIC WI-FI, THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO CO-LOCATE THE LIBRARY WITHIN THE YMCA, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM AND CREATION OF LATINO COLLECTION AND RESOURCE CENTER AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
SO, HE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB, AND THIS THEY ARE ELECTION WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S POSITION ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH REGARD TO LIBRARY SERVICES, AND SO, WE JUST WANT TO OFFER CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK FOR THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU, SHERYL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND ACCOLADES.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE SERVING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
MY DEDICATION HERE FOR 13 YEARS HAS BEEN TO SERVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT PRIDE TO ALSO SERVE THE NATIONAL -- IN A NATIONAL FEEL OR NATIONAL STAGE, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, AND ALL OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE WE PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SERVING THE COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING NEEDED RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO SERVICES.
ONE OF THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF MY -- WHEN I TAKE OVER AS ADMINISTRATION, FOR THAT ADMINISTRATION, IS TO LOWER BARRIERS TO ACCESS, TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, BECAUSE I FEEL VERY STRONGLY IN THE ROLE AND VALUE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR THE ACCOLADES.
THE SECOND ITEM THIS MORNING, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU ALL, THAT LAST THURSDAY PRE-K FOR S.A. HOSTED THE FIFTH ANNUAL GRACIOUS FOR SAN ANTONIO EXHIBIT.
AND THEY ARE PASSING OUT THE BROCHURE ABOUT THE ARTWORK.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND TEACH THAT AT A VERY YOUNG LEVEL AND THE PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL AND THROUGH A YEAR-LONG STUDY, THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES STUDY THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC AND CULTURE AT LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE JOY OF GIVING BACK.
THIS IS INSPIRED BY WHAT THEY LEARN THROUGH CITY EXPLORATIONS.
THE CHILDREN WORKED WITH LOCAL ARTISTS TO CREATE ARTWORK THAT REFLECTS THE CHILDREN'S PERSPECTIVE OF SAN ANTONIO.
78 ARTISTS SPENT TWO TO SIX WEAKNESS A CLASSROOM HELPING THE STUDENTS BRING THEIR IDEAS TO LIFE AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE BROCHURE, THE RESULTS IMPRESSIVE.
[01:50:02]
FRONT OF YOU PROVIDES A PICTURE AND DESCRIPTION OF EACH PIECE OF ART, ALL OF WHICH ARE CURRENTLY FOR SALE ONLINE, AND THAT SALE WILL RUN THROUGH APRIL 26TH.THE WEBSITE FOR THE AUCTION IS ON THE INSIDE COVER OF THE BOOKLET, AND PROCEEDS FROM THE AUCTION BENEFIT THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER, WHICH WAS SELECTED BY PRE-K STUDENTS IN A VOTE LAST NOVEMBER.
SO, WE'RE ALSO TEACHING THEM HOW TO VOTE THROUGH A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
AS AN INCUBATOR OF INNOVATION, PRE-K FOR S.A. SHARES ITS INNOVATIONS WITH OTHER PROGRAMS. NEXT YEAR, PRE-K FOR S.A. WILL SUPPORT TEACHERS IN PARTNER DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT THE GRACIOUS PROGRAM.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE 78 ARTISTS AND ALSO THANK ANTONIA RICHARDSON AND WARREN BOER.
THEY NOT ONLY DONATED SPACE IN THE SOUTH TOWN GALLERY FOR THE EXHIBIT, THEY ALSO HELPED RECRUIT ARTISTS AND CURATED THE EXHIBIT.
ONE MORE PROGRAM OF CHILD HOOD LEARNING INKNOW VATHS FOR THE PRE-K FOR S.A. CENTER ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CULTURE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF.
A SMALL PIECE BUT VERY IMPORTANT PIECE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THAT'S ALL TO REPORT THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SHERYL AND RAMIRO CONGRATULATIONS IF YOU'RE STILL IN THE BUILDING WE HAVE THE BEST LIBRARY DIRECTOR IN THE ENTIRE CONTINENT.
>> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO THANK YOU RAMIRO AND THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BEST LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY AND THIS WEEKEND, WHEN WE HAD THE MAYOR'S BOOK CLUB AT THE MCCREELESS LIBRARY.
TALKING ABOUT THE DONKEY LADY AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THOSE ARE, YOU BETTER LEARN WHO THEY ARE.
AND ALSO, THANK YOU, AND SHERYL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU WITH THE PRE-K FOR S.A. WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE GRACIAS PROGRAM.
I WENT OUT AND CHECKED THIS OUT.
AND MY FAVORITE PIECESES UP TO 600 TO $300.
THIS IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE HERE.
I AM DEFINITELY GOING TO PUT A BID IN BUT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GETTING OUTBIT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
BEFORE WE RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES IS TURNING YOUNG AGAIN.
HIS NAME IS JOHN COURAGE, HE'S CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY.
>> COURAGE: SATURDAY I WILL CELEBRATE THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY OF MY 28TH BIRTHDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE IS CAKE IN THE LUNCH ROOM.
WE'LL START BY CELEBRATING YOUR BIRTHDAY.
♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ♪ WELL DONE, JOHN.
THE TIME IS NOW 10:56 A.M. ON THURSDAY, APRIL 19TH, 2018.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS CODE AND DELIBERATE AND DISCUSS THE ITEMS POSTED BUT NOT COMPLETED OR REACHED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION YESTERDAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL ZONING AGENDA.
CITY COUNCIL RECONVENED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
ON THE ZONING AGENDA WE HAVE LEE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. Z-4, Z-7, P-2 AND Z-12.
I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ITEMS THEY
[01:55:02]
WISH TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, Z-4, Z-7, P-2 AND Z-12.
467 NO, MAYOR I WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON ONE OF THE ITEMS GOING TO STAY ON CONSENT.
DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE IT NOW?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME GET THE AGENDA SITUATED THEN WE'LL TAKE ACTION.
ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FROM CONCEPT.
SO, WE'LL ENTERTAIN -- COUNCILWOMAN?
>> SAME AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO WE HAVE Z-4, Z-7, P-2 AND Z-12 ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ZONING WHICH IS ALL ITEMS SAVE FOR Z-4, Z-7, P-2 AND P-12.
COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN 467 THANK YOU I WANTED TO ENTER INTO A RECORD A LETTER FROM THE APPLICANT ON CASE Z-9.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> I HAVE A LETTER FROM THE APPLICANT AS WELL, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE APPLICANT TO COME UP FOR A COUPLE QUESTION, MAYOR, ARE WE TAKING CITIZENS BEFORE OR AFTER?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: LET ME CALL CITIZENS AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR BACK.
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER FOR THE RECORD.
I HAVE A NUMBER ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON A PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
I NOTICE SOME OF THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DECIDED FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'M SORRY TO SEE THAT THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH, INCLUDING MISS SANDOVAL, IN YOUR DISTRICT, YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW ALCOHOL TO BE SOLD RIGHT NEXT TO THE MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CERTAINLY WITHIN 300 FEET OF IT, RIGHT WHERE THE KIDS PLAY.
I KNOW THIS WAS CONTINUED FOR SOME TIME.
MAYBE I GUESS ALL OF THE OPPOSITION WORE AWAY THERE, HUH? I'M SORRY YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW KIDS TO BE ENDANGERED BY THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE RULES FOR SUCH THINGS.
ALSO, MR. TREVINO, YOUR DISTRICT, DISTRICT 1, A COUPLE OF ITEMS. P-1 AND Z-2.
YES, WHAT ARE THEY? WELL, IT'S ABOUT A -- PUTTING AN INFIELD DEVELOPMENT ZONE, THAT'S RIGHT, OFFERING THREE ATTACHED SINGLE FAMILY UNITS RIGHT THERE ON KENDALL STREET.
I NOTICE THAT'S THE TOBIN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS OPPOSED THAT, AND THIS IS -- AND THIS IS RIGHT IN THE TOBIN HILL HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT THERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO -- THEY OPPOSED THAT THING AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT AHEAD WITH IT THERE, TSK, TSK, TSK.
MR. CRUZ SHAW, A NUMBER OF THINGS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
IT'S THE IDEA OF PUTTING A LOT OF -- A LOT OF RED FLAGS, STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL ON THAT.
IT'S ABOUT TWO GENERAL COMMERCIAL RESTRICTIVE ALCOHOL SALES.
STAFF SAID THE C-3 DESIGNATION, SIR, IS TOO INTENSE FOR THIS BLOCK.
COMMERCIAL USES ARE ALREADY ENCROACHING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND FOUR LOTS DOWN IS A CONTRACTOR TRADES FACILITIES, SIR.
IT'S INCOMPATIBLE, AND IT -- ALTERS THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHARACTER, SIR.
MAYBE JUST -- WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECONSIDER ON THAT AND SAY NO TO IT THERE? Z-6, ABOUT, ONCE AGAIN, DINWIDDIE HILL AREA.
IT'S BEING OFFERED AS 15 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
DINWIDDIE HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ACTUALLY OPPOSES THAT ONE, SIR AND ALSO Z-7.
IT'S ANOTHER INFILL DEVELOPMENT.
THE STAFF SAID THE PROPOSAL IS INCONSISTENT WITH A ESTABLISHED PATTERN OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTRODUCES A MULTI FAMILY HOUSING TO IT THERE, SIR.
AND -- OOPS, SO MANY SCANDALS, SO LITTLE TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
[02:00:02]
JOANNA PARRISH?>> MY NAME IS JOANNA PARRISH AND IMI'M REPRESENTING THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY.
THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY OPPOSES THE PROPOSED WEST FORT HISTORIC DISTRICT.
IN 2016 THE DEMOLITION OF THE HOUSE ON BRAUN INSPIRED RESIDENTS TO SEEK THE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH REFLECTS AN ECLECTIC MIX OF EARLY 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.
HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN AN EFFORT TO PRESERVE THE HOUSE, THE SOCIETY REMAINS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF ZONING TO PROTECT THE WEST OF THE WESTPORT NEIGHBORHOOD AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THIS IS SUBMITTED BY OUR PRESIDENT, SUSAN BEVIN, ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS PARRISH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBER, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS MARY RADICKY I'M THE APPLICANT ON THE HISTORIC APPLICATION FOR WESTPORT, I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PASS THAT.
I WANT TO THANK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE RESIDENTS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPMENT IN JGENERAL BUT OPPOSED TO THE DESTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION OF VALUABLE HISTORIC HOUSING STOCK IN ORDER TO BURDEN THAT DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES MOST RECENTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND WE DETERMINED THAT WE NEEDED TO GO FORWARD WITH HISTORIC DESIGNATION TO HALT THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR HOUSING STOCK AND RETAIN THE VALUE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH WE BELIEVE IS UNIQUE AND VALUABLE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, PARTICULARLY COUNCIL PERSON SHAW, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MISS RADICKY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS FOR THE RECORD BEFORE WE APPROVED ON CONSENT THIS ALCOHOL VARIANCE AND I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MR. CHRISTIANSON WHO IS REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT.
>> YES, PATRICK CHRISTIANSON 310 SOUTH ST. MARY'S.
COULD YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHO YOU REACHED OUT TO DURING THIS PROCESS TO OBTAIN INPUT?
>> I REACHED OUT TO THE THREE SURROUNDING UNIVERSITY ASSOC ASSOCIATION, UNIVERSITY PARK.
WOOD LAWN HILLS AND TERRORS TERRACE PARK.
ONCE THEY REALIZED THIS IS NOT A NEW ALCOHOL LICENSE.
>> SANDOVAL: WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT GOING TO OPPOSE IT.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE A SUPPORT LETTER BUT NOT OPPOSE THE RENEWAL.
>> SANDOVAL: DID YOU REACH OUT TO THE PRINCIPAL?
>> I TALK TO THE ADD MINUTE PRINCIPAL FIRST.
AND THEY SENT ME TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
TELL ME, YOU SPOKE WITH S ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
THE OWNER OF THE STORE ATTENDED ST. MARY'S AND IS VERY INVOLVED? THE UNIVERSITY.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CASE TO ME BECAUSE I ATTENDED JAMES MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING NICE HAPPENED AT THAT CORNER.
IT'S AN ALL CURB CUT AREA AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIAN.
I'M GOING TO POINT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT IT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE SEVERE PEDESTRIAN INJURIES AREAS REPORT AND I DO HAVE THE COMMITMENT FROM THE OWNER THAT PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
SO, I'M GOING TO SUBMIT THIS LETTER FOR THE RECORD, AND JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT YOU'LL BE MINIMIZING THE CURB CUTS ALLOWING US TO REVIEW THE
[02:05:01]
PROPOSED DESIGN.>> SANDOVAL: BEFORE IT'S SUBMITTED TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION.
THE REFUELING PUMPING WILL ADHERE TO STAGE ONE VAPOR RECOVERY AND NEW CONVENIENCE STORE WILL INCORPORATE HEALTHY FOODS AS SUGGESTED MY THE METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT IN ATTACHMENT TO YOUR LETTER WHICH WAS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND FINALLY YOU'RE GOING TO INTEGRATE MILITARY LIGHTING OVERLAY DISTRICT REQUIREMENT THE IN ADVANCE OF OVERLAY DISTRICT ADOPTION.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU, AND THE CLIENT FOR YOUR COLLABORATION.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ON Z-3.
THE PROPERTY IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE LAND USE PLAN AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
WHILE THIS REQUIRES A PLANNED AMENDMENT TO MEDIUM DENSITY MIXED USE.
THE CURRENT DENSITY IS LOWER THAN THE CURRENT ZONING.
THE OWNER PROVIDED A SITE PLAN INDICATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND DESIGN.
HE'S ALSO REQUIRED TO BE HEARD BEFORE CONSTRUCTION WHICH REASSURES US THE SITE WILL BE DEVELOPED COMBATABLY.
AND THIS IS ULTIMATELY THE ISSUE -- I KNOW THERE'S HEARTBURN WITH IDZ BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO INDICATE WHAT IS REALLY BEING ASKED FOR HERE, SO WE ARE SUPPORTIVE.
>>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THAT IS SAVE FOR Z-4, Z-7, P-2 AND P-12.
>> Z2018116 FROM R6 TO C3R LOCATED AT 114 ROUNDTREE LANE.
STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND DENIAL.
15 NOTICES MAILED ZERO IN FAVOR AND TO OPPOSED.
THE APPLICANT IS AMENDING THE REQUEST FOR R6CD FOR NON-COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT.
STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING CONDITION, MAINTAIN FENCE ALONG PROPERTY LINES.
BUFFER ALONG THE FRONTAGE AND DOWNWARD FACING LIGHTING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN SHAW.
>> SHAW: THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AT THIS TIME I MOVE FOR OF Z-4 AS AMENDED WITH CONDITIONS AS READ.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER Z-4 AS AMENDED.
>> Z2018122 FROM RM4 TO IZZ WITH USES PERMITTED AT M18 LOCATED AT 215 PORTER STREET.
STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
32 NOTICES MAILED ZERO IN FAVOR ZERO OPPOSED.
DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN FAVOR.
>> ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND FOR OUR ZONING COMMISSIONER WHO TOOK THE LEAD ON THIS ENDEAVOR.
AT THIS TIME I PROVE FOR APPROVAL AS ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AS WELL AS APPLICANT HAS SUPPORT FROM THE DENVER HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER Z-7.
ITY ITEMS P2 AND Z1218035 FROM LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO R4CD WITH ADDITIONAL USE OF FOUR DWELLING UNITIES TO IDS FOR SIX DWELLING UNITS.
25 NOTICES MAILED 1 IN FAVOR ZERO OPPOSED.
>>> WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO, LET ME RECOGNIZE THE COUNCILWOMAN, THIS IS IN HER DISTRICT.
IF SHE CHOOSES TO RECOGNIZE YOU TO COME UP AND SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF WE CAN DO THAT ON HIS BEHALF.
YOU ARE THE PROPERTY OWNER? GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
[02:10:02]
>> MY ADDRESS IS 2918, AND SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
I PURCHASED THIS BUILDING ABOUT TEN MONTHS AGO, AND IT WAS VERY, VERY BAD SHAPE, BUILDING, AND I BOUGHT IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A SIXPLEX IS WHAT I WAS TOLD, HOWEVER WHEN I STARTED REMODELING IT.
I FOUND OUT AT THE CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY A FOURPLEX, SO, I ASKED FOR A CHANGE.
I ASK FOR IT TO BE GRANDFATHERED BECAUSE THE BUILDING HAS BEEN THERE FOR 20, 30 YEARS.
AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES, THAT BEFORE AND AFTER, IT WAS VERY, VERY UGLY AND WE MADE IT VERY PRETTIER.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE BUILDING.
WE'RE NOT ADDING AN EXTRA FLOOR.
NOT ADDING ANYTHING EXTRA TO THE BUILDING.
WE'RE NOT MAKING ANYTHING -- ANY CHANCES TO THAT ONE.
WE'RE JUST MAKING IT PRETTIER.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I'M ASK ASKING.
THANK YOU, I KNOW ONE THING THAT CAME UP DURING THE CONVERSATION WAS A CONCERN FOR PARKING, DO YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT PARKING FOR EACH UNIT?
THE BUILDING IS VERY SMALL ITSELF.
AND THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE FOR PARKING, YES.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS P-2 AND Z-12.
THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR ZONING AGENDA.
EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.