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DON'T LISTEN TO THE GO TO FORD SUNSET.
FOR EVERY BOX YOU'LL MEET, GO SUNSET FOR GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
TIME IS 9:05 AM ON THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2021.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL, A SESSION AGENDA.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED NOW WITH A ROLE.
MADAM CLERK, COUNCIL MEMBER TREVINO HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
ALRIGHT, TO GET US STARTED, UM, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER GRO TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR.
[1. 21-2466 Invocation]
UH, TO INTRODUCE, UH, ONE OF MY MENTORS.UM, AND THIS IS MY LAST OPPORTUNITY AS COUNCIL MEMBER TO HAVE AN INVO.
SO, UM, I HAVE ASKED SISTER ODELIA TO COME BACK AND SERVE AS INDICATOR.
NOW YOU ALL HAVE SEEN HER BEFORE.
SISTER ODELIA HAS SERVED AS TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR MOST OF HER ACADEMIC LIFE.
HER TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS HAVE CALLED HER TO ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IN VICTORIA, SAN ANTONIO CROSBY, FLORESVILLE, AND LA GRANGE, TEXAS.
IN 1990, SHE WAS MISSIONED TO BLESSED SACRAMENT ACADEMY TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS NEEDED AND REQUESTED BY THE SAN SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE.
SISTER OLIA IS PRESIDENT AND C E O OF BLESSED SACRAMENTO ACADEMY.
NOW, SISTER OLIA SHARES WITH ME THE FOLLOWING.
I COULD TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN TO THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE STATES AND ALSO IN, IN MEXICO, AND HAVE RECEIVED A BA HERE AND AN MA THERE.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY INTRODUCTION SO FAR, THIS ISN'T REALLY, ISN'T WHO I REALLY AM IN THE DEPTH OF MY SOUL.
I KNOW THAT IT IS GOD WHO IS THE DRIVER OF MY LIFE WHEN SHE THINKS OF HOW TO INTRODUCE HERSELF.
TODAY, THE WORDS OF THE THEOLOGIAN CARL RONNER COME TO MIND AND I QUOTE, THE REAL AND TOTAL AND COMPREHENSIVE TASK OF A CHRISTIAN IS TO BE A HUMAN BEING.
A HUMAN BEING, OF COURSE, WHOSE DEPTHS ARE DIVINE.
THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP FOR HER AS SISTER OF THE INCARNATE WORD AND BLESSED SACRAMENT AS A HUMAN BEING.
SHE REACHES OUT TO OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED SOMETHING.
SHE'S ABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH EDUCATION, CONNECTIONS, A SENSE OF BELONGING, FOOD, CLOTHING, CLOTHING, AND LATELY DIAPERS.
LOTS OF THEM TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CHALLENGE OF C OVID 19 AND THE BIG FREEZE OF FEBRUARY, 2021.
SOME ARE PART OF HER CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
OTHERS COME BY WAY OF THEIR FAMILY SUCCESS ACADEMY AND THE NEIGHBORS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
IT'S NOT FOR NOTHING THAT SHE HAS BEEN FAULTED WITH, GIVING EVERYTHING AWAY.
SHE COMES BY IT NATURALLY FROM HER EARLY FAMILY LIFE.
HER MOM AND DAD DID A LOT OF THAT AND A VOW OF POVERTY IN RELIGIOUS LIFE SEALED IT.
SHE CONTINUES TO SHARE WITH ME THAT SHE STILL STRUGGLES WITH HOW TO REACH THAT BALANCE WHEN SOMEONE IS STANDING IN FRONT OF HER, SHARING THEIR NEED WITH THE HOPE THAT SHE CAN HELP.
THANKFULLY, SHE HAS LEARNED THAT IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS GIVING A MOMENT OF HER TIME, TIME THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE.
SHE'S HAD OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DO PLENTY OF THIS KIND OF GIVING WITH
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HER ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.ONE STUDENT MADE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING HER HE WASN'T WORTHY OF HOW MUCH TIME THEY WERE GIVING HIM A PLACE TO BELONG, AN EDUCATION, HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THEN BESIDES WHEN THE FINAL DAY OF OUR LIVES CO SHOW UP AND GOD IS INVITING YOU TO STEP INTO YOUR NEW HOME, DON'T YOU DARE SAY I'M NOT WORTHY.
GOD HAS MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT HE'S JUST GLAD YOU MADE IT HOME.
THANK YOU WOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH.
SISTER OLIA HOPES HE STILL REMEMBERS THAT ADVICE AND COLLEAGUES.
I HOPE WE ALL REMEMBER THAT ADVICE AS WELL.
SHE'S GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND THE SISTERS OF THE INCARNATE WORD AND BLESSED SACRAMENT IN HER LONGSTANDING MINISTRY.
AND WHEN I THINK OF SISTER OLIA, I THINK OF PROVERBS 31 1.
HONOR HER FOR ALL THAT HER HANDS HAVE DONE AND LET HER WORK BRING HER PRAISE AT THE CITY.
SISTER OLIA GIVES HER TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURES TO SERVE SAN ANTONIO.
AND I KNOW MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY WAS FOREVER CHANGED BECAUSE OF HER DEVOTION TO THE CALL GOD HAD UPON HER LIFE.
SISTER JULIA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
I'M WONDERING WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT I'M GRATEFUL.
I'M GRATEFUL AND, UH, A LITTLE, UH, TEARY-EYED AFTER HEARING ALL OF THAT.
LOVING GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU ASKING TO BE SEEN AND HEARD.
BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE LOOK INTO OUR HEARTS TO SEE WHAT IS THERE AND FOR WHOM AND FOR WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO PRAY.
TODAY I AM CALLED TO PRAY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELECTED LEADERS OF OUR CITY.
GRANT THEM THE CONTINUED COURAGE AND DISCIPLINE TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THEIR CHARGE OF LEADERSHIP AMONG US.
LET THEM KNOW OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO THOSE WHO ASK YOUR BLESSING AND ASSISTANCE.
LET THEM EXPERIENCE THE SUPPORT OF THOSE THEY REPRESENT AND ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP.
AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, MY HEART IS DRAWN TO THE EASTER SEASON OF LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION, AS WE CELEBRATE THE TRIUM OF HOLY THURSDAY.
GOOD FRIDAY AND HOLY SATURDAY.
I PRAY THAT WE BECOME DEEPLY INSPIRED BY THE LIFE AND DEATH OF YOUR SON JESUS, WHO COMES IN GREAT LOVE TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES DURING THIS TIME WE CALL HOLY.
WE PRAY IN CONFIDENCE THAT YOU LOOK WITH COMPASSION ON YOUR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD.
AS WE STRUGGLE TO GET PAST THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, BRING HEALING TO THOSE INFECTED AND PROTECTION TO ALL YOUR CHILDREN.
TAKE TO YOURSELF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED, COMFORT TO THOSE WHO MOURN.
HELP US BELIEVE, AS YOU REPEATEDLY TELL US, DO NOT BE AFRAID.
BLESS THOSE WHO HAVE MADE AN EXTRA SPECIAL EFFORT TO GUIDE US OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
BLESS THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO FEED TO THE HUNGRY AND REACH OUT TO THE LONELY, OUR NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, FOUNDATIONS, AND THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
THEY ALSO TELL US, DO NOT BE AFRAID.
I LOST THREE SIBLINGS IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
SO IT'S TOUCHING INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.
AND THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR THIS YEARLY REMINDER OF THE EASTER RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, THE ULTIMATE HOPE OF OUR WOUNDED LIVES, AND THE PROMISE OF OUR OWN RESURRECTION.
HEAL OUR WOUNDS, CALM OUR FEARS, TURN THEM INTO BEACONS OF HOPE FOR THE MOST NEEDY.
HELP US TO CONTINUE TO LEARN WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW FROM THIS STRANGE TIME OF PANDEMIC.
AND TO BE PART OF BUILDING A WORLD WHICH IS SAFE AND MORE CARING THAN EVER BEFORE.
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US INTO OUR BEST SELVES.OPEN OUR EYES TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF A WORLD RENEWED AND HELP US TO WALK BOLDLY INTO THAT PROMISED LAND.
AND ALL THAT IS GOOD WE PRAY, AMEN.
AND LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.
MAYBE NOT AS WE SHOULD, BUT AS WE ARE ABLE.
AND HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AS WELL.
HAPPY IF YOU'D PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[2. 21-2467 Pledge of Allegiance]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.OKAY, UM, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE
[3. 21-2468 Approval of Minutes from the City Council Meetings of January 20, 2021, January 21, 2021, and February 3, 2021]
APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 20TH, 21ST AND FEBRUARY 3RD.I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY
UH, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS, UH, OR EXCUSE ME, A COUPLE POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
LEMME FIRST TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER VIA THANK YOU MAYOR.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMUNITY AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT THIS, UM, SATURDAY WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING OUR ANNUAL VIVA POESIA.
UM, APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.
SO HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH EVERYONE.
AND THE THEME FOR, UH, 2021 VIVA FOIA IS
UM, I STARTED VIVA FOIA AT MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA IN 2014 BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR THE LITERARY ARTS AND POETRY.
AND IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR, EVERY YEAR IS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL.
THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WILL FEATURE SOME OF SAN ANTONIO'S BEST SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS, INCLUDING OF COURSE, SOMEONE WE KNOW VERY WELL.
OUR CURRENT POET LAWYER LAUREATE, ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON WILL ALSO HAVE MUSIC BY THE AGARITA CHAMBER PLAYERS.
AND, UH, TAI CHI FORM BY THE GOOD, BY GOOD SPIRIT, TAI CHI AND VISUAL ARTS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY SARAH BROOKS LYONS.
AND A COLLECTION OF COMMUNITY ART WAS SUBMITTED AND CURATED BY, UH, SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS AND EDUCATOR TERESA IVAN.
AND OF COURSE, THE POETRY EVENT WOULD NOT BE AN EVENT WITHOUT ANTHONY, THE POET FLORES.
WE INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN IN AND TUNE IN, UM, ON FACEBOOK LIVE OR, UM, YOUTUBE CHANNEL ON SATURDAY, APRIL 3RD AT 7:00 PM SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US IN THIS CELEBRATION.
UH, NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, YOU MAYOR.
UM, AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THIS WEEK HAS BEEN FILLED WITH SOME GREAT NEWS FOR THE SOUTH SIDE.
UH, PASO YESTERDAY, UH, KICKED OFF THE EDUCATION EDUCATE SOUTH INITIATIVE, WHICH COUNCILMAN
AND WE ALSO, EARLIER THIS WEEK, UM, WELCOMED A NEW NAME TO AN OLD FRIEND.
SO WE, UM, WELCOMED, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SOUTHWEST GENERAL HOSPITAL, IS NOW TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER.
AND SO I'M THRILLED ABOUT THE REVITALIZATION HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH SIDE WITH SUPPORT FROM NUMEROUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
THIS NEW JOURNEY THAT, UM, TEXAS VISTA IS ABOUT TO TAKE UNDER LEADERSHIP OF THEIR NEW C E O JOHN TURTON WILL TRANSFORM THE WAY THAT OUR RESIDENTS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE WITH A FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON HEALTH EQUITY.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THEM HERE TODAY.
UM, I'LL, I'LL LET THEM SPEAK HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE PUT THEIR LIVES, UH, IN THE HEALTH OF, UH, DOCTORS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND SUPPORT STAFF.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO KEEP OUR LOVED ONES SAFE.
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, UM, AT THE HOSPITAL, THERE WAS VARIOUS HEALTHCARE WORKERS THAT ALSO CONTRACTED C OVID 19 WHILE DOING THEIR WORK.
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AND SO, BEFORE I INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT A, A PROGRAM THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE STARTING, AND IT'S CALLED THE HEALTHY HORIZONS.AND SO HEALTHY HORIZONS REINFORCES TEXAS, THIS, THIS MEDICAL CENTER'S COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY AND CLOSE THE GAP IN HEALTH DISPARITIES ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF HEALTH ISSUES ALREADY ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
WE ALREADY SUFFER FROM DIABETES, BLOOD PRESSURE, CHRONIC CONDITIONS, UM, HEART AND VASCULAR ISSUES, EVEN FOOD INSECURITIES, UM, THAT JUST COMBINED MAKE FOR A WHOLE LOT OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS IN OUR AREA.
SO WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.
AND THOSE HEALTH DISPARITIES HAVE A TANGIBLE IMPACT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE.
AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP, TO HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS, UM, HAS BEEN, YOU ALL HAVE SEEN HOW, UM, ALL OF THESE INEQUITIES HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY C OVID 19 IN THIS COMMUNITY.
BUT WE CAN CONTINUE, UH, TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND YES, WE'VE HAD A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF INFECTIONS AND OF DEATHS.
UM, AND EXPERTS SAY THAT A LOT OF THIS CAN BE LINKED TO, UM, PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, SO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT.
SO ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PREVENT THE NEXT HEALTH EMERGENCY FROM HAPPENING, PROGRAMS LIKE HEALTHY HORIZONS ARE DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OUR FOOD BANK, AND OTHER MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
AND PROVIDING THE RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH SCREENINGS AND LEVERAGING THESE PARTNERSHIPS WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL TO ADDRESSING THE DISPROPORTIONATE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THE UNFORTUNATE SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCIES OF RESIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE PROPER CARE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS RECEIVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND CENTERED ON A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH.
I'M ALSO PROUD THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUES SHIRLEY GONZALEZ AND, UH, COUNCILMAN VRAN HAVE ALSO, UM, BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS ALREADY WITH, UM, TEXAS VISTA OVER THE SUMMER AND THEN LAST YEAR AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO.
BUT I WANNA THANK STEWARD HEALTH SYSTEM FOR CHOOSING TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND I THOUGHT THAT IT DESERVED RECOGNITION.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, STEWARD HEALTHCARE IS THE LARGEST PRIVATE PHYSICIAN OWNED AND MANAGED HEALTHCARE NETWORK IN THE UNITED STATES.
HEADQUARTERED IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
STEWARD EMPLOYS MORE THAN 40,000 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND OPERATES 35 HOSPITALS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE COUNTRIES OF MALTA AND COLUMBIA, WHICH REGULARLY RECEIVE TOP OF AWARDS FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY.
THE STEWARD HEALTHCARE NETWORK RECEIVES MORE OR INCLUDES MORE THAN 5,000 PHYSICIANS ACROSS 800 COMMUNITIES WHO HELP PROVIDE MORE THAN 12 MILLION PATIENT ENCOUNTERS ANNUALLY.
IF YOU COULD, UH, PLEASE ALLOW ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST.
SANJAY SHETI, AND HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS PRESIDENT OF STEWARD NORTH AMERICA.
SHETI IS AN 11 YEAR VETERAN OF STEWARD, PREVIOUSLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF STEWARD'S SOUTH REGION, OVERSEEING OPERATIONS ACROSS TEXAS, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, AND ARKANSAS.
DURING HIS TENURE AT STEWARD, HE HAS ALSO HELD THE ROLES OF PRESIDENT OF STEWARD MEDICAL GROUP AND PRESIDENT OF STEWARD HEALTHCARE NETWORK, AND VICE PRESIDENT OF RADIOLOGY, A GRADUATE OF HARVARD COLLEGE WITH BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES, SUMMA C*M LAUDE, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL WITH AN MD AND THE WHARTON SCHOOL WITH AN M B A.
SHETTY HAS HELD TEACHING POSITIONS AT THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL SCHOOL AND TUFTS UNIVERSITY, UH, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
SHETTY, AND I BELIEVE HE WAS ON THE LINE EARLIER.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, GO AHEAD DR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILWOMAN, DR.
AND THANK YOU ALL, MR. MAYOR AND, AND COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THIS REALLY MOMENTOUS EVENT FOR TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER.
UM, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED, STEWART IS THE LARGEST PHYSICIAN LED PHYSICIAN OWNED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.
AND AT STEWART, WE BELIEVE THAT PATIENTS, NO MATTER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, DESERVE THE VERY BEST AND HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE THAT IS ALSO AFFORDABLE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
UH, THIS IS REALLY JUST ONE MILESTONE ON A JOURNEY FOR TEXAS SYSTEM MEDICAL CENTER.
IT REPRESENTS A CULMINATION OF, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF LEADERSHIP AND INVESTMENT IN THE FACILITY.
AND THAT INVESTMENT IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU, UH, ON BEHALF OF STEWARD IS THAT WE PLAN ON CONTINUING TO INVEST AND SUPPORT IN THE PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGIES NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE OUR PATIENTS LIVE.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PATIENT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FAMILY, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR RECOGNIZING THIS REALLY IMPORTANT EVENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU, UH, IN OUR SHARED MISSION OF ENSURING THAT OUR PATIENTS CAN LIVE LONGER, HAPPIER, HEALTHIER LIVES.
UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, OR PASS IT ON TO
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JOHN TURTON, UM, DR.UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROSHA GARCIA, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE HIM.
SHETTY AND JOHN TURTON SERVES AS PRESIDENT'S C E O OF TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER.
UM, PREVIOUSLY, UH, TURTON HAS SERVED AS C E O AND PHYSICIANS AT BROWARD HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, AND BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO.
HE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE OF LEADING URBAN FLAGSHIP HOSPITALS THROUGH QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES AND PHYSICIAN GROWTH STRATEGIES WITH A LIFELONG PASSION FOR HEALTHCARE.
TURTIN BEGAN HIS CAREER AT ST.
JOSEPH HEALTH SYSTEM IN BRYAN, TEXAS, ASSUMING SEVERAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT OF OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND VICE PRESIDENT OF CLINICAL SERVICES.
TURTON EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION AND A MASTER, A MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM TE TEXAS A AND M.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ROCHA GARCIA, AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING HEALTHCARE CRISIS THAT WE'VE BEEN UNDER THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, CERTAINLY NO SECRET THAT OUR SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITIES HAVE HAD SOME OF THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES IN THE, UH, IN OUR COUNTY AND IN OUR CITY.
AND FOR DECADES, SS GENERAL WAS THE ONLY HOSPITAL ON THE, UH, SERVING OUR NEEDS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
SINCE THOSE EARLY DAYS, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND PATIENT CARE, FULFILL OUR MISSION TO EMBRACE IT.
BUT ON TUESDAY WITH COUNCILWOMAN, UH, DR.
ROACH ROCHE GARCIA, WE CELEBRATED DOCTOR'S DAY BY ANNOUNCING THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE AND HOW WE DELIVER IT WITH OUR NEW NAME IS TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER, BUT NOT ONLY BY THE NAME, BUT BY TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN GOING AFTER AND CHAMPIONING HEALTH EQUITY, CLOSING OUR GAPS IN HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES ON OUR SOUTH SIDE AND ACROSS THE, UH, SOUTH TEXAS AREA.
WE WANNA TAKE A LEAD ROLE IN CONVENING AND PROMOTING THE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AROUND HEALTH EQUITY AT TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER, A PROUD HOSPITAL OF STEWARD HEALTHCARE.
WE'RE GONNA CREATE HEALTHY HORIZONS FOR OUR SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY.
FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, WE WILL BE EXCELLENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS, NOT JUST IN TREATING ILLNESS, BUT ALSO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND WE WANNA THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US AS WE SERVE OUR CITY.
AND I MENTIONED YESTERDAY IT WAS NATIONAL DOCTOR'S DAY ON TUESDAY, AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION TO BRING TO COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, AND TO THE TEAM AT, UH, VISTA.
WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
UM, I'M GONNA TURN IT NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
WELL, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU MAYOR.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FIGHTING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP IN MAKING SURE THAT DISTRICT FOUR IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU ARE A LEADER IN ALL ASPECTS, AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, AND TO COUNCILWOMAN GAN, WE KNOW THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CHAMPION FOR DISTRICT THREE.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT, THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
IN DISTRICT TWO, WE ARE CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF WHAT WE DO.
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE HOSTING THE LET'S READ TOGETHER DISTRICT TWO LITERACY INITIATIVE.
WE ARE GONNA BE PARTNERING WITH ANGIE K BOOKSTORE, WHICH IS A LOCAL BOOKSTORE IN THE DISTRICT TWO AREA, AND ALSO PARTNERING WITH OUR SAN ANTONIO POET LAUREATE, UH, MS. ANDREA VOCAB SANDERSON ON A COMPETITION, A POETRY.
AND THIS IS FOR EVERY DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT TO WRITE ABOUT YOUR LIFE IN DISTRICT TWO.
AND WE WANNA HEAR YOUR POETIC THOUGHT PROCESS OF WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING IN THE MONTH OF APRIL.
AND WE'LL START ACCEPTING THOSE POETRY SUBMISSIONS ON THE MIDNIGHT OF APRIL 4TH, GOING THROUGH APRIL 17TH, AND ANNOUNCE OUR WINNER THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE ON APRIL 30TH.
SO, WE WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT TWO.
WE KNOW THAT YOUR LIFE MATTERS, BUT YOUR VOICE IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
ALSO, ON SATURDAY, WE'LL BE HOSTING A 200 EASTER BASKET GIVEAWAY WITH THE FIRST KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HERE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF, OF DISTRICT TWO.
AND SO THAT WILL START AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
ON SATURDAY, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WEAR YOUR MASK, STAY IN YOUR CARS, AND LET THE KIDS COME THROUGH AND GRAB A BASKET.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LULAC YOUTH
WE ARE SO HONORED AND SO ELATED TO HAVE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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FOUNDATION, BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO DISTRICT TWO.AND SO TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE MR. A MOYER, WHO IS ON THE LINE WITH MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL.
NOW MAYOR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE A PART OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY WILL BE BRINGING INTO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH YOUR NEW TESLA AND YOUR TESLA ENGINEERING.
SO AT THIS MOMENT, I'D LIKE TO BRING MR. ABE MOYER ONTO THE LINE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY WILL BE BRINGING INTO THE DISTRICT TWO AREA WITH MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL.
UH, HI, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
I'M THE LEAD PROJECT ENGINEER, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT FOR MATTHEWS.
AND WE'RE VERY, UH, EXCITED TO BE, UH, CONSIDERING THIS SPACE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, YEAH, WE'D BE, UH, LOOKING TO BRING MANY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WELL PAID AND, AND HIGHLY SKILLED POSITIONS TO THE AREA, UH, BASED AROUND, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, MACHINING AND TECHNICAL, UH, SERVICES, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL, UH, COMPUTE ENGINEERING, THOSE TYPES OF POSITIONS, UM, UH, ALL TO SUPPORT OUR, OUR GROWTH IN THE ENERGY STORAGE BUSINESS.
UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS IN THAT ARENA.
UM, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A, A, UH, A BURGEONING, UH, AREA OF GROWTH FOR US.
AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO BE ABLE TO, UH, GROW THAT THERE IN THE, IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. MOYER, FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU, UH, CITY MANAGER ERIC WALSH.
UM, THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR CONTINUING TO HEAR AND TO AMPLIFY THE VOICE HERE IN DISTRICT TWO AS WE SPEAK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILWOMAN
AGAIN, WE ARE THRIVING, MOVING AND GROWING IN DISTRICT TWO.
AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT HAS A TEAM THAT LOOKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO ARE UPLIFTED.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
I JUST HAD TO, UH, ALSO CONGRATULATE TEXAS VISTA MEDICAL CENTER.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ROCHA GARCIA.
I AM, IT IS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND IT IS, IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CELEBRATED.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, MAYOR, I WANTED TO ALSO REMIND ALL OF US THAT I THINK IT WAS TWO FRIDAYS AGO THAT THE U I W SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE HAD THEIR FIRST MATCH DAY.
THAT MEANS THEIR FIRST CLASS OF LEARNERS ARE NOW MATCHED TO BE RESIDENCIES AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE PART OF TEXAS VISTA.
AND THAT DID NOT EXIST WHEN U AND I MAYOR FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, THE U I W S O M, AND THEN LAST WEEK, MISSION TRAILS BAPTIST HOSPITAL ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE HAVING A NEW MATERNITY UNIT AND OB CARE UNIT THERE AT MISSION TRAILS BAPTIST.
AND WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF TEXAS VISTA, WE SEE THE MOMENTUM SHIFTING.
WE SEE THE ISSUES GETTING ADDRESSED, AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT IT'S COMING.
AND I WANNA THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR MAKING PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SUCH A CRITICAL POINT IN ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE TIDE CHANGE BECAUSE OF SO MUCH WORK AND BECAUSE OF PARTNERS.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IS THIS THE APPROPRIATE TIMER? ARE WE STILL IN? NO.
YEAH, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET RIGHT THERE.
I THINK WE ARE ARE NEXT ON THAT.
SO, UH, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER, UH, POINTS OF PRIVILEGE, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO
[CONSENT AGENDA]
OUR CONSENT AGENDA.AND SO HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU HAVE THAT, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, THE ONLY ITEM WE HAVE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION LISTED ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
I DO HAVE, UM, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UM, I HAVE ITEM 16, 18, AND 27 NOW PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
[00:30:01]
18, AND 27, UM, 16 IS, IS PULLED BY COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ.SIR, THERE'RE ALSO ABOUT THREE INDIVIDUALS ZONING ITEMS, SIR, RIGHT? AND ITEMS P ONE Z TWO.
AND, ALRIGHT, LET, LET ME START OVER.
ALRIGHT, THESE ARE THE ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
ITEM FOUR, ITEM 16 BY DISTRICT FIVE, ITEM 18 BY DISTRICT 10, AND ITEM 27 BY DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND IF THAT'S WRONG, LET ME KNOW.
WE ALSO HAVE ITEMS P ONE, EXCUSE ME, Z ONE, Z TWO, AND P ONE, Z THREE AND P TWO.
THOSE ARE THE ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS, UH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT THIS TIME.
JOHN, DO YOU HAVE ONE? I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT ITEM 10.
ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? IF NOT, UM, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE CONSENT.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS FOR 4 18 27 1 Z, TWO P ONE, Z THREE, AND P TWO.
I MOVE APPROVAL, I MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SECOND.
THERE'S A MOTION BY KURT, SECOND BY ROSA GARCIA, UH, AS READ, AND NOW WE'LL GET INTO DISCUSSION ON THE REMAINING ITEMS ON CONSENT.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS. EXCUSE ME, A COUPLE FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR CONSENT.
AGENDA ITEMS. LET ME GO TO, FOR ITEM 24, MIKO RAMOS.
OKAY, MS. RAMOS, UH, YOU ARE CONNECTED AND, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AT THIS TIME FOR ITEM 24.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS ZUKO RAMOS WITH GOVERNMENT RELATIONS GROUP OF TEXAS REPRESENTING BITTER BLUE, INC.
THE PROPERTY OWNER OF SEVERAL PARCELS WITHIN TEXAS, WITHIN THE LONGHORN QUARRY DEVELOPMENT LOCATED OFF OF WBA PARKWAY, THOUSAND OAKS AND SHIRTZ ROAD IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 10.
THIS ITEM IS REQUESTING APPROVAL OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR TAX IMPLEMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE TO FUNDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF DAVID EDWARDS ROAD TO SHIRTS ROAD.
THE DAVID EDWARDS RIGHT OF WAY EXTENSION IS CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF LONGHORN QUARRY SINCE ACCESS FROM SHIRTS ROAD IS REQUIRED TO ALLOW FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE LONGHORN MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
ALSO, THIS CLINICAL ACCESS WILL OPEN THE WESTERN FLOODGATE FOR PATRONS TO SUPPORT RECENTLY DEVELOPED COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE LONGHORN MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THEREFORE, THE INVESTMENT MADE BY TS NUMBER 33 IN THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED INCREMENT TAX REVENUE FOR TUR FOR THE TOURS, AS WELL AS SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THIS CITY.
UM, THE SUCCESS OF LONGHORN QUARRY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF COUNCILMAN CLAYTON PERRY, WHICH IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL THANKS TO HIM.
AND I ALSO THANK YOU MAYOR NUREMBERG AND CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CITIZENS SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON, UH, CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UH, SO LET'S GET INTO DISCUSSION NOW AND START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 10 AND 10 A THROUGH 10 D.
AND THIS IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF FOUR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRA AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES.
AND I, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM BECAUSE I HOPE IT HELPS REASSURE EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY OF THE CITY'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE AQUIFER.
I KNOW THAT, UH, WE WERE ALL CALLED UPON TO TAKE A VOTE, UH, LAST NOVEMBER THAT LOOKED AT MAKING A CHANGE IN THE FUNDING SOURCE.
MANY PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED, WILL THE CITY MAINTAIN ITS LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE AQUIFER? AND I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE WAYS WE SHOW THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT COMMITMENT.
THIS PARTICULAR ACQUISITION OF THESE PROPERTIES IS OVER A THOUSAND ACRES OF VERY IMPORTANT LAND OVER THE AQUIFER THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN CONSERVING FROM ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
SO I JUST WANNA, UH, COMMEND THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY, THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY AND OUR OWN PARKS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
[00:35:01]
AND SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AS SOMETHING IMPORTANT.I WANT THE PUBLIC TO ALWAYS BE AWARE AND REMEMBER OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND PROTECTING THE AQUIFER.
I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT WITH, UH, WHAT MITSUKO WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE LONGHORN QUARRY.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S AT, IF YOU GO DOWN 35 AND BEFORE YOU GET TO THE THOUSAND OAKS EXIT, UH, YOU'LL SEE SOME TALL SMOKESTACKS THERE.
AND THAT, THAT IS THE OLD LONGHORN QUARRY WHERE THE HERO STADIUM IS MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THAT AREA.
AND I WANNA THANK LADDIE DENTON AND BITTER BLUE FOR THE, THE, UH, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT AREA.
BUT LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE.
YOU HEARD THE NAME DAVID EDWARDS.
UM, WE NAMED THAT ROAD IN RECOGNITION OF DAVID EDWARDS.
SO A LOT OF YOU MAY REMEMBER BACK IN 2004, HE WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER AT WESTLAKE AND, UH, NO FOOTBALL PLAYER AT MADISON.
AND THEY WERE PLAYING FOOTBALL IN WESTLAKE.
AND DAVID EDWARDS WAS THE ONE THAT TOOK A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A, HE WAS A DEFENSIVE BACK.
HE TOOK A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A WESTLAKE PLAYER AND IT PARALYZED HIM FROM THE NECK DOWN.
HE SHATTERED A COUPLE OF VERTEBRAE.
AND, UM, THAT WAS IT FOR, UH, FOR HIM FOR FOOTBALL.
UM, DAVID, EVEN THOUGH WITH THESE MASSIVE INJURIES, HE WAS AN INSPIRATION THAT, UM, TO OTHER, UH, PEOPLE WITH MASSIVE INJURIES LIKE THAT.
HE WENT AROUND AND DID, UH, UH, PEP TALKS, IF YOU WILL, TO, UH, TELL PEOPLE THAT LIFE IS NOT OVER WITH THESE TYPES OF INJURIES.
AND, AND HE, HE DID THAT ALL ACROSS THIS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
SO, UH, WE NAMED THAT ROAD AFTER HIM AS AN INSPIRATION BECAUSE HE REALLY DID, UH, HELP BRING NOT ONLY HOPE TO OTHERS, BUT IT ACTUALLY BROUGHT TWO CITIES TOGETHER AND TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AUSTIN WESTLAKE, THEY RAISED OVER $120,000 FOR HIM IN WESTLAKE BECAUSE YOU HAD THIS WHOLE STADIUM FILLED WITH PEOPLE THAT SAW THAT INJURY AND IT INSPIRED, INSPIRED THEM TO, UH, HELP AND DONATE, UH, TO HIS, TO HIS HOSPITAL BILLS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
SO JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UH, DAVID EDWARDS AGAIN BY NAMING THIS ROAD AFTER HIM.
AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY HE DID PASS AWAY IN 2008 FROM THOSE INJURIES.
HE ACTUALLY DEVELOPED PNEUMONIA AND PASSED AWAY WITH THAT.
BUT, UH, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING IN HIS HONOR, UH, BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH AN INSPIRATION TO A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THAT, DURING THAT TIME OF HIS INJURY.
JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST A COUPLE ITEMS TO HIGHLIGHT.
THE FIRST ONE IS ITEM NUMBER NINE, WITH SOME MORE LIGHTING AND RETROFITS TO OUR RELIST BRANCH LIBRARY, UM, IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING THROUGH THE BOND, AND IT'S GOING VERY WELL.
AND JUST TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE, THAT PLACE IS STILL GOING TO BE USED FOR, UM, VOTING THIS, THIS, UM, TIME AROUND IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO NEVER FEAR TO THE RESIDENTS WHO USE THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST PLACES THAT WE HAVE.
UM, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 15, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT IS ALSO A STREET NAME CHANGE.
IT IS GOING TO BE CHANGED ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS TO VID WAY.
AND THIS IS FOR CUISINE SOLUTIONS.
AND THIS ON THE CAMPUS, THEY HAVE BUILT THE WORLD'S LARGEST SOVI KITCHEN AND THE DEVELOPMENT WILL EMPLOY OVER 500 PEOPLE.
AND THE STREET NAME CHANGE, UH, IS REQUESTED TO REFLECT THE INSTITUTION.
AND THEY HAVE THIS ALSO IN THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN VIRGINIA.
SO THEY'RE BUILDING THIS, THIS, UM, KITCHEN HAS ALSO BEEN BUILT, UH, WITH THE CAPACITY FOR NEAR NEARLY A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.
AND SO YOU ALL KNOW ONE VERY GREAT THING THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY IS CUISINE SOLUTIONS.
THIS, THIS, UM, INSTITUTION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WAS NAMED FOOD ENGINEERING MAGAZINE'S 2021 SUSTAINABLE PLANT OF THE YEAR FOR THEIR SO PROCESSING PLANT.
[00:40:01]
THEY RECOGNIZED THE FACILITY FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABILITY IN DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATIONS BY INCORPORATING BEST INDUSTRY PRACTICES, INCLUDING L E E D CERTIFICATION, THE LARGEST COMMUNITY SOLAR INSTALLATION IN SAN ANTONIO.STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, A WATER RECYCLING PROGRAM, AND THE USE OF COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK.
C E B ALLOWS FUTURE EXPANSION OF PLAN OF PLANT AREAS WITHOUT DISRUPTION TO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT.
IF YOU ALL HAVE NOT BEEN OUT THERE AND DROVE, DROVE BY TO SEE IT, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO.
IT IS A INCREDIBLE SITE TO SEE THIS PLANT, AND I WANTED TO BE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
I TOO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE PURCHASE OF OVER 500 ACRES OF LAND OVER THE EDWARDS AQUIFER TODAY FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
AND I WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR THE WORK THEY DO TO KEEP OUR DRINKING WATER CLEAN AND SAFE, UH, FOR TODAY AND, AND FOR THE FUTURE.
AND I'M, UH, SO GLAD THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE IS ALWAYS, UH, KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS AS, AS WELL, I THINK WE'RE KINDRED SPIRIT, UH, IN THE PROTECTION OF THE AQUIFER.
ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE CONSERVATION ACTION, SORRY, THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR THEIR WORK, UH, IN DOING THIS.
AND WE ARE PURCHASING EASEMENTS IN, UM, IN SO MANY WATERSHEDS FROM KBRA CREEK TO HONDO CREEK TO RIO RIVER.
UH, AND THOSE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO WATER QUALITY HERE IN, IN, IN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER.
UH, SECONDLY, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM, UH, 21.
UM, WE ARE FINALLY GETTING A FEE STRUCTURE FOR THE TELEMEDICINE SERVICES THAT WE HEARD ABOUT, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING.
UH, SO GLAD TO SEE THAT PROGRAM MOVING, UH, FORWARD FROM THE PILOT PHASE TO, UM, TO A MORE PERMANENT PHASE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
UM, ALSO, UH, JOINING THE CHORUS OF, UH, GRATITUDE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE EDWARDS AFER PROTECTION PROGRAM.
GLAD TO SEE THESE ACQUISITIONS ON THE BALLOT.
I HAVE ONE, UH, QUESTION FOR YOU, HOMER.
AND THAT IS, UH, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE STILL SPENDING DOWN, UH, THE PROPOSITION FROM 2015.
DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH BALANCE IN THAT ACCOUNT? UM, UH, AS WE GET TOWARDS THE END OF THAT PARTICULAR PROPOSITION THAT WAS AUTHORIZED IN 2015 BEFORE WE GET INTO THE 10 YEAR AUTHORIZATION OF FROM THE COUNCIL EARLIER LAST YEAR? YES.
GOOD MORNING, I'M MAYOR AND, UH, COUNSEL, I DO.
SO AFTER, UH, THIS CONSENT ITEM IS APPROVED, WE WILL HAVE, UH, APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION LEFT, UH, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE FORWARD INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND IN WORKING WITH THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM, WE ARE ON TARGET AND STILL ANTICIPATE TO FULLY DRAW DOWN THOSE FUNDS BY THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SETTING THE STATE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING TYPE KICK IN BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2023.
UH, WE ARE KEEPING, UH, BEN, HIS TEAM AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE A PRICE.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THIS.
UH, AND EVERYTHING AS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, UM, IS STILL VERY MUCH ON TRACK.
AND, UM, AGAIN, JUST A, A THANKS TO NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC FOR SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM OVER THE YEARS, UH, BUT ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FORESIGHT OF GRANTING ANOTHER DECADE OF LIFE TO THE EDWARDS AQUA PROTECTION PROGRAM EVEN AFTER WE DRAW DOWN THOSE FUNDS IN 22.
SO, UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO, TO ADD IS, UM, THANK YOU TO A MOYER FOR BEING HERE TODAY FROM MATTHEWS, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ANDREW SULLIVAN STATED, MATTHEWS INVESTMENT IN ESTABLISHING A MANUFACTURING OPERATION ON SAN ANTONIO'S EAST SIDE CERTAINLY REINFORCES OUR POSITION AS A PRIME LOCATION FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.
AND YET ANOTHER INDICATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S ASSETS IN THIS INDUSTRY, INCLUDING OUR COLLABORATION, UH, AND COMMITMENT TO TALENT DEVELOPMENT.
UH, MATTHEW'S OPERATION WILL SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF LEADING CAR AND LITHIUM ION BATTERY PRODUCERS.
AND WE FEEL THAT THE PROJECT PLACES SAN ANTONIO IN A GREAT POSITION TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC CAR SUPPLIERS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FURTHER DEVELOP OUR AUTOMOTIVE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST A SAN ANTONIO PRIORITY, IT'S A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY.
UH, THESE ARE NEW HIGHWAYS JOBS TO BE CREATED BY MATTHEWS, AND THEY'RE ALSO VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS OUR COMMUNITY BEGINS ITS RECOVERY FROM THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
AND WE FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE PROGRAMS. UH, SO AS WE BEGIN TO LAUNCH SA READY TO WORK, MATTHEWS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AN
[00:45:01]
EMPLOYER CREATING A RANGE OF NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN A TARGETED IN INDUSTRY.AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR DECISION TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THE CITY AND ITS PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MATTHEWS ON THIS NEW INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT THE COMPANY'S CONTINUED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ABE, FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
UM, WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF A CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THAT IS ALL ITEMS SAY FOR 4 16 18 27 Z ONE Z, TWO P ONE, Z THREE, AND P TWO.
UH, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[4. 21-2465 Briefing on legislation filed in the 87th Regular State Legislative Session. [Jeff Coyle, Assistant City Manager]]
GET INTO OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.JEFF, YOU HAVE, OR ERIC, DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE THIS? YEAH.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UH, THE ITEM, UH, ITEM FOUR TODAY IS A BRIEFING BY JEFF COYLE ON THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN CURRENTLY FILED WITH THE 87TH, UH, STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND, UM, I THINK SOME OF THE EARLY REPORTS THAT WE, UH, TALKED ABOUT WERE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF UNCERTAINTY AS THE PANDEMIC WOULD BEGIN, UM, INCREASING IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY, AND WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE, UH, AT THE CAPITOL.
UM, IT HAS NOT BEEN A VERY SLOW PACED SESSION SO FAR.
UM, A LOT OF THOUSANDS OF BILLS FILED, UH, AND JEFF WILL TALK ABOUT THAT.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, NOT FAVORABLE TO CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
JEFF WILL COVER THOSE, REALLY.
THE BILL, UH, HEARINGS, UH, STARTED IN EARNEST IN MID-MARCH.
AND JEFF AND CITY STAFF, UH, ALONG WITH OUR HIRED CONSULTANTS, HAVE BEEN FULLY ENGAGED IN THE HEARINGS, ADVOCATING, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, UH, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL APPROVED LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, UM, AND TRYING TO OPPOSE ANY EFFORTS THAT HURT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY GOVERN.
SO I'LL PASS IT OVER TO JEFF, UH, WHO WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE BILLS FILED AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE TOP ISSUES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DEALING WITH, UM, AND, UH, SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK AND, AND, AND RECOGNIZE THE I T R COMMITTEE WHO HAS BEEN, UH, LED BY COUNCILMAN P BUT, UH, HAS BEEN VERY DEEPLY ENGAGED.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE A BUSY 60 DAYS, 45 DAYS AS, AS YOU'LL HEAR FROM JEFF.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S TIME AND EFFORT ON THIS, UH, ON THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
AND, UH, YES, MY APOLOGIES TO CHAIRMAN PALIS AS WE HAVE TALKED THROUGH MANY OF THESE ITEMS, UH, AD NAUSEUM.
SO I KNOW HE'S GONNA BE HEARING THESE FOR THE SECOND TIME.
UH, JOHN, YOU CAN GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, SO, UH, THE BILL FILING DEADLINE WAS MARCH 12TH.
SO, UH, TECHNICALLY ALL, ALL IDEAS GOOD, BAD AND OTHERWISE, UH, ARE ON THE TABLE AT THIS POINT.
AND SO MUCH FOR THE IDEA THAT THIS SESSION WOULD BE, UH, A LIGHTER SESSION WITH, UH, WITH, UH, FEWER PRIORITIES AND FOCUSED ON BIG PICTURE STUFF.
WE'RE, WE'RE AT ALMOST 7,000 BILLS FILED RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S A, A A LITTLE LESS THAN 500 FEWER THAN LAST SESSION, BUT PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME BALLPARK.
AND, AND AS ERIC SAID, A LOT OF THEM ARE PROBLEMATIC TO US.
SO I'M GONNA FOCUS HEAVILY ON THAT AS THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON AT THE CAPITOL.
SO LEMME START WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE, THE, THE WORST LIST, I THINK FROM A CITY ORGANIZATION STANDPOINT.
UM, THE FIRST BULLET, THERE ARE THE BILLS THAT RELATE TO OUR ABILITY TO ADVOCATE AT THE CAPITOL.
UH, VERY LATE LAST NIGHT, UH, WE GOT WORD THAT SSB 10, SENATE BILL 10 WILL BE HEARD THIS COMING TUESDAY, UH, IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING.
AND THAT BILL PROHIBITS US FROM SPEND, UH, PROHIBITS CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM SPENDING ANY PUBLIC FUNDS, UH, TO HIRE LOBBYISTS OR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS TO CONTRIBUTE MONEY TO TRADE ASSOCIATIONS THAT SEEK TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION AT THE CAPITOL.
AND IT PROHIBITS, UH, CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM HAVING STAFF LIKE MYSELF AND CHRISTINE WRIGHT AND EDUARDO CARASCO AND OTHERS ON OUR TEAM.
UH, IT ONLY ALLOWS US TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OF LEGISLATORS, BUT NOT PROACTIVELY SEEK TO INFLUENCE, UH, THE PASSAGE OR DEFEAT OF ANY LEGISLATION.
UH, IT IS CHAIRED BY SENATOR BETTENCOURT, THE AUTHOR OF SSB TWO, THE PROPERTY TAX CAP FROM LAST SESSION.
AND IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE THAT HE CHAIRS.
UH, SO THAT DOES NOT BODE WELL.
WHAT DOES BODE WELL IS THAT THE VICE CHAIR IS OUR JOSE MENENDEZ, SENATOR MENENDEZ AND SENATOR ROLAND GUTIERREZ AND JUDITH ZINI FROM OUR DELEGATION ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL.
SO IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING
[00:50:01]
CLOSELY WITH THEM IN PREPARATION FOR TUESDAY'S.HEARING THE HOUSE VERSION, WHICH IS A LITTLE BROADER.
IT AFFECTS NOT JUST CITIES AND COUNTIES, BUT ALL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.
SO THAT WOULD BE VIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, SAWS, C P SS, PORT BROOKS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ET CETERA.
THAT WAS HEARD LAST WEEK, UH, IN THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HEARING, UH, MAYOR NURENBERG CAME TO AUSTIN, UH, PLANNING TO TESTIFY THAT HEARING, UH, BECAUSE OF MANY OTHER BILLS ON THE AGENDA, ENDED UP RUNNING UNTIL, UH, THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
SO THE MAYOR WAS NOT ABLE TO TESTIFY, BUT HE DID SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND ANOTHER, A NUMBER OF OTHER MEMBERS.
AND WE WALKED AWAY WITH A PRETTY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT BILL DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO MOVE OUTTA THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
I SAY THAT WITH A VERY BIG ASTERISK BECAUSE THINGS ALWAYS CHANGE UP THERE AND THE POLITICAL PRESSURE RAMPS UP AS THE SESSION GOES ON.
BUT, UH, WE WALKED AWAY FEELING THAT, THAT WE HAD A VERY GOOD HEARING AND THAT, UH, THE HOUSE THAT VOTED DOWN THIS ANTI LOBBYING LAST SESSION APPEARS TO REMAIN, UH, IN THAT SAME POSITION.
UH, VERY PROBLEMATIC BILL FOR THE CITY, WHICH IS EIGHT B UH, HB 1869.
IN ESSENCE, IT, UH, IT ONLY ALLOWS US TO CA TO, UH, CALCULATE DEBT FOR THE PURPOSES OF OUR DEBT PROPERTY TAX RATE AS DEBT THAT HAS BEEN VOTER APPROVED.
SO THAT MEANS, UH, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, TAX NOTES, ANY OTHER DEBT THAT HAS NOT GONE TO THE VOTERS, UH, VIS-A-VIS BOND PROGRAM, UH, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO, UH, PAY WITH PROPERTY TAXES ON THE DEBT SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
IT WOULD MEAN THAT THAT DEBT WOULD HAVE TO MOVE TO THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS SIDE OF OUR TAX RATE, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, WAS CAPPED LAST SESSION AT 3.5%.
SO IT WOULD EFFECTIVELY SQUEEZE THAT 3.5% FURTHER AND IN ALL, UH, PRACTICALITY WOULD, WOULD MAKE IT VERY HARD TO UTILIZE DEBT.
UH, OUTSIDE OF THE BOND PROGRAMS. YOU MAY KNOW, I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, WE USE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR OUR ANNUAL STREETS, UH, PROGRAM FOR MAJOR PURCHASES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIOS AND IT SOFTWARE.
UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO THE BILL AND, UH, FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, AND IT APPEARED THAT WE HAVE THE BILL STOPPED IN COMMITTEE, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO HEAR SOME CONCERNS THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS ARE, UH, STARTING TO BOW TO SOME OF THE PRESSURE.
WHAT MAKES THIS PROBLEMATIC IS THAT THE CHAIR, UH, CHAIR, UH, THAT THE AUTHOR, UH, IS CHAIRMAN DUSTIN BURROUGHS, WHO CHAIRS THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE, WHICH MEANS HIS COMMITTEE DECIDES EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT EITHER MAKES IT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR OR DOESN'T.
AND SO THAT GIVES HIM CONSIDERABLE POWER OVER, UH, OTHER MEMBERS AND THEIR, AND THEIR OWN LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT.
AND, AND I'M SURE ERIC, UH, WILL WANT TO ADD TO THIS AFTER I'M DONE HERE.
UH, THE NEXT BULLET IS, UM, HAS TO DO WITH, UH, NO DEFUNDING OF POLICE, WHICH OF COURSE WE DIDN'T DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, BUT THE LANGUAGE IN THE, IN THESE BILLS, UH, IS PROBLEMATIC.
SENATE BILL 23, THE ORIGINAL VERSION NOT ONLY SAID WE COULDN'T REDUCE OUR POLICE BUDGET, BUT WE COULDN'T REDUCE IT AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET.
SO THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE GREATER INVESTMENT IN OTHER AREAS, ACTUALLY PROHIBIT GREATER INVESTMENT IN OTHER AREAS.
UM, IT, UH, PROHIBITED, UH, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS PER 1000.
SO THAT WOULD, UH, OF POPULATION.
SO THAT WOULD LOCK US IN TO, UH, GROWING THE POLICE FORCE.
IT WOULD PROHIBIT ANY REDUCTIONS IN OVERTIME.
AND AS YOU KNOW, UH, THE COUNCIL PASSED A BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR THAT REDUCED OVERTIME BY MORE THAN $3 MILLION, UH, AS A RESULT OF HAVING, UH, FULFILLED VACANCIES ON THE POLICE FORCE.
SO, UH, WE COMMUNICATED VERY CAREFULLY THAT, THAT, UH, WE HAVE NOT DEFUNDED POLICE, BUT THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US.
WE WORKED WITH A LOT OF OTHER CITIES AND THE CHAIRWOMAN, UH, AND AUTHOR OF THAT BILL BROUGHT THE BILL BACK TO HER COMMITTEE AFTER IT HAD BEEN VOTED OUT AND HAS MADE SOME FIXES TO IT.
IT'S STILL, IT'S A LOT BETTER, BUT IT STILL, UH, WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO REDUCE OUR POLICE BUDGET FOR ANY REASON UNLESS OUR OVERALL BUDGET WENT DOWN ACCORDINGLY.
SO THE IDEA OF MOVING SERVICES OUT OF POLICE AND INTO OTHER AREAS WOULD EFFECTIVELY BE PROHIBITED UNLESS WE TOOK IT TO VOTERS FOR APPROVAL.
UH, MOVING ON, SENATE BILL 26 PROHIBITS CITIES FROM INDIRECTLY OR DIRECTLY HAVING ANY ORDINANCE OR RULES THAT, UH, WOULD REGULATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
EFFECTIVELY, IT SAYS THAT IS THE PURVIEW OF THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT ENGAGE IN THAT ARENA.
UH, WE OPPOSE THAT BILL AND WE EXPLAINED WHAT OUR, UH, ABOUT OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND, UH, AND HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT US.
AND RIGHT NOW, THAT BILL, IT REMAINS PENDING IN A SENATE COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL SIX 10 IS WHAT WE SOMETIMES REFER TO AS A SUPER PREEMPTION.
[00:55:01]
CITIES CANNOT PROHIBIT OR CANNOT HAVE ANY REGULATIONS OR RULES OR REQUIREMENTS ON ANY INDUSTRY THAT IS LICENSED BY THE STATE.SO, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR, UH, BUILDING CONTRACTORS THAT WE HAVE A REGISTRATION FOR IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED SINCE THEY'RE LICENSED BY STATE GOVERNMENT.
UH, THAT BILL'S ALSO PENDING IN COMMITTEE.
AND THEN SENATE BILL 7 96 IS ONE OF THREE BILLS, UH, RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS THAT I WANNA MENTION TO YOU.
THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT BEFORE WE CAN PURCHASE A, SAY A HOTEL OR ANOTHER PROPERTY TO HOUSE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE TO, UH, POST IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR 10 DAYS AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, THAT WE NOTIFY EVERYBODY WITHIN TWO MILES OF THAT FACILITY.
UM, A ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, THE SAME, UH, SENATOR SCHWART ALSO HAS SENATE BILL 6 46, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE US TO GET COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVAL OF ANY, UH, PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
UH, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AN ISSUE HERE, BUT THE ISSUE, THE BILL WAS FILED IN RESPONSE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUYING A HOTEL, UH, IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, BEING ACTIVELY OPPOSED TO THAT AND WANTING TO PROHIBIT IT.
AND THEN FINALLY, HOUSE BILL 1926, UH, 25, UH, ACTUALLY MAKES, UH, CAMPING A CRIME.
UH, IT BANS, UH, UH, CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND, UH, AND MAKES IT A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.
UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE ENERGY TOPIC, UH, THE BIG ISSUE OF THE SESSION, AT LEAST ONE OF THEM, I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY READ THAT THE, UH, THE SENATE BILL THAT WOULD'VE, UH, FORCED ERCOT TO REPRICE, UH, POWER FOR THOSE TWO DAYS AFTER THE, UH, SHEDDING OF, OF LOAD ON THE GRID HAD STOPPED, UH, UH, HALTED IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAD A DISAGREEMENT OVER WHETHER THAT COULD BE DONE AND WAS LEGAL.
AND IT APPEARED TO BE A, A BIG STANDOFF BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS.
THEY'VE SINCE, UH, MOVED ON, BUT THAT BILL IS EFFECTIVELY DEAD.
IT WOULD'VE BENEFITED C P SS AND ITS CUSTOMERS.
UH, SENATE BILL THREE HAS NOW PASSED THE SENATE AS OF YESTERDAY.
UH, AND THAT IS THE OMNIBUS BILL THAT IS BASICALLY BROKEN UP INTO MULTIPLE BILLS IN THE HOUSE.
SO I'LL JUST QUICKLY GO THROUGH THESE.
A HOUSE BILL 10 WOULD, UM, EXCUSE ME, LET ME GET MY NOTES IN FRONT OF ME.
UM, HOUSE BILL 10 WOULD REFORM ERCOT WOULD MAKE THE ERCOT MEMBERS BE FROM TEXAS AND, AND CHANGE HOW THEY'RE APPOINTED.
HOUSE BILL 11 WOULD REQUIRE ELECTRIC, UH, TRANSMISSION AND GENERATION FACILITIES TO BE WEATHERIZED, BOTH FOR COLD WEATHER AND EXTREME, UH, HOT WEATHER.
UH, HB 12 WOULD CREATE A STATEWIDE ALERT SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE AMBER SYSTEM.
HB 13 WOULD CREATE A COUNCIL OF ERCOT, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, RAILROAD COMMISSION, AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEAD WEATHER DISASTER.
H P 14 WOULD REQUIRE NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE WEATHERIZED.
H P 16 WOULD PREVENT VARIABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS LIKE SOME OF THE HORROR STORES WE'VE HEARD ABOUT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN $16,000 BILLS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.
IT WOULD PREVENT THOSE SORT OF WHOLESALE, UH, PROVIDERS, UH, WHO PASS ALONG THE PRICES DIRECTLY TO CUSTOMERS.
AND THEN FINALLY, HB 17 WOULD PREVENT ANY, UH, CITY EFFECTIVELY FROM HAVING AN ORDINANCE THAT BANS A PARTICULAR ENERGY TYPE.
SO IT WOULD PROHIBIT, UH, CONSTRUCTION, UM, CODES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT PROHIBITED THE USE OF NATURAL GAS.
NOT SOMETHING THAT'S DONE HERE, BUT SOMETHING THAT, UH, CITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND OTHER PLACES HAVE DONE.
SO THEY'RE BROKEN UP IN THE HOUSE, THEY'RE OMNIBUS IN THE SENATE.
THEY'VE EACH PASSED EACH CHAMBER AND HAVE NOW SWITCHED SIDES, UH, AND ARE BEING TAKEN UP BY THE OTHER CHAMBER.
UH, ON THE ELECTIONS FRONT, UM, UH, HB SIX AND SENATE BILL SEVEN ARE THE LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES THAT, UH, EFFECTIVELY PUT LIMITS ON VOTING.
UH, SENATE BILL SEVEN PASSED IN THE WEE HOURS, UH, LAST NIGHT, UH, ON A PARTY LINE VOTE.
ALL THE DEMOCRATS OPPOSED, ALL THE REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED, AND A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR BY DEMOCRATS WERE SHOT DOWN EFFECTIVELY.
SENATE BILL SEVEN, UM, PROHIBITS EXTENDED EARLY VOTING HOURS.
SO THE, LIKE WHEN HARRIS COUNTY ALLOWED, UH, PEOPLE WHO WORK TO COME VOTE UP TO 10:00 PM THAT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
PROHIBITS DRIVE-THROUGH VOTING, UH, PROHIBITS ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM PROACTIVELY SENDING OUT APPLICATIONS TO VOTE BY MAIL.
IT HAD HAD A REQUIREMENT THAT SAID, IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY AND SEEK TO VOTE BY MAIL, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF THAT DISABILITY.
THAT PART WAS STRIPPED OUT AND, AND DEEMED, UH, CONFUSING AND, AND TOO DIFFICULT.
[01:00:01]
BUT NONETHELESS, THE SHORT SUMMARY OF ALL THIS IS THIS IS INTENDED TO MAKE, UH, TO, TO RESTRICT VOTING AND PREVENT VOTER FRAUD, UH, IN THE WORDS OF THE VOTE, THE PROPONENTS OF IT, UM, AND ALL THESE OTHER BILLS HERE THAT YOU SEE FROM MANY OF OUR MEMBERS THAT WOULD, UH, EXPAND VOTING OPPORTUNITIES ARE SITTING IN COMMITTEE WITHOUT, UH, HAVING HAD HEARINGS YET.UH, LET ME TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF OUR PRIORITIES ON THE POLICE FRONT.
AS YOU KNOW, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY FRONT, WE HAVE FOUR BILLS ALL FILED, FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE GERVIN HAWKINS.
TWO WERE HEARD YESTERDAY IN HOUSE URBAN AFFAIRS, AND WE HAVE GREAT HEARINGS ON BOTH.
ONE WAS THE 180 DAY RULE, AND THE OTHER WAS FIVE POINTS FOR LOCAL APPLICANTS TO THE POLICE ACADEMY.
UM, UH, DEBBIE KLEIN FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ASSISTANT CHIEF JIMMY REYES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TESTIFIED.
WE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, UH, MARIO SALAS, UM, JOSIE GARCIA, A NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT YOU ALL HAVE WORKED WITH ON THE COUNCIL CAME AND TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF OUR BILLS.
THERE WAS NO TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION, ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL POLICE UNION, UH, TOLD US THAT THEY WERE REGISTERING OPPOSITION TO THE 180 DAY RULE, AND THAT MANY OF THEIR, UH, UNION COUNTERPARTS FROM AROUND THE STATE WERE DOING THE SAME.
SO THE BILL WAS LEFT PENDING IN COMMITTEE, WHICH IS TRADITIONAL.
AND, AND IF THE SUPPORT IS THERE IN URBAN AFFAIRS, THEY WOULD VOTE IT OUT AT A, AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
THE OTHER TWO BILLS, UH, HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN HEARINGS.
ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH FRONT, UH, THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF BILLS I THINK WE'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT RELATE TO EXPANDING MEDICAID.
HB 38 71 SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THAT'S RISING TO THE TOP.
I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO HOUSE DELEGATION HAS SIGNED ON AS CO-AUTHORS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
UH, SO THAT'S GREAT FROM, FROM OUR LEADERS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, HOWEVER, HERE I'M HEARING THAT FROM A BIG PICTURE STANDPOINT.
THE 10 YEAR, 1115 MEDICAID WAIVER THAT WAS GRANTED BEFORE THE SESSION HAS, UH, TAMPERED SOME OF THE INTEREST IN EXPANDING MEDICAID AT THE LEGISLATURE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG TOPIC AND WITH MANY OTHER THINGS HAPPENING, THIS HAS NOT BEEN A BIG FOCUS OF DISCUSSION.
UH, WHAT WE'RE SEEING INSTEAD IS SORT OF MORE RIFLE SHOT FIXES.
SO THESE TWO BILLS NEXT HERE RELATE TO THAT SENATE BILL 73 WOULD ALLOW LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO, UH, BILL UNDER MEDICAID.
UH, SO THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO METRO HEALTH.
AND HB 1 33 WOULD REQUIRE THAT MEDICAID, UH, BENEFITS BE PROVIDED TO PREGNANT WOMEN OR THOSE WHO HAVE A MISCARRIAGE FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS AFTER THE DELIVERY OR MISCARRIAGE.
SO WE SUPPORTED THAT BILL ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, UH, THROUGH THE BEAR HEALTH COALITION.
ON THE BROADBAND FRONT, UH, SENATE BILL FIVE JUST PASSED, UH, YESTERDAY AS WELL.
HB FIVE AND SB FIVE ARE THE TWO BIG, UH, BIG BILLS.
THEY'RE GENERALLY VERY GOOD BILLS THAT, THAT WE ARE HAPPY WITH.
UH, WE, I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH CRAIG HOPKINS.
THEY, UH, THEY REQUIRE THAT THE EXISTING BROADBAND COUNCIL STUDY, UH, UH, BROADBAND ACCESS ACROSS THE STATE WHERE GAPS EXIST, AND IMPORTANTLY, THE ADOPTION OF BROADBAND, UH, MEANING THE PURCHASE, WHICH OF COURSE BRINGS INTO IT ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY AND, UH, DIGITAL LITERACY.
SO WE WERE GLAD TO SEE THAT LANGUAGE ADDED, WHICH THOSE ARE OFTEN HURDLES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, THEY WOULD REQUIRE, THEY WOULD REQUIRE THE CREATION OF A BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE THAT WOULD CREATE MAPS ACROSS THE STATE.
AND THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT THEY WOULD WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CREATE THOSE MAPS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE PLEASED WITH THAT.
UH, AND IT ALSO CREATES, ALTHOUGH DOES NOT FUND AT THIS POINT, UH, IT'S ARGUE, IT'S, IT'S LIKELY THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT HAS FLOWED TO THE STATE WOULD, WOULD BE USED TO FUND THIS.
BUT THE BILL CREATES A GRANT PROGRAM, UH, FOR AREAS THAT, UH, THAT WHERE THERE IS NOT, WHERE THERE'S LESS THAN 80% ACCESS, EXCUSE ME, ACCESSIBILITY TO BROADBAND, UH, PROVIDERS WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR STATE GRANTS TO, UH, FOR THE CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THOSE AREAS.
UH, OF COURSE, COST STILL REMAINS A CONCERN FOR CONSUMERS AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
BUT AS A GENERAL RULE, THIS REALLY DOES MOVE THE BALL FORWARD FROM A STATE STANDPOINT.
UH, JUST LOCAL DECISION MAKING BILLS AND, AND MY SUBSEQUENT PRESENTATIONS TO YOU WON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE.
WE WILL PROVIDE YOU UPDATES ON WHAT'S MOVING AND WHAT ISN'T AS WE GET FURTHER.
BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE, WE'RE DEALING WITH ON THE MUNICIPAL COURT FRONT.
UM, WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR HB 1685, THAT WAS OUR BILL AND, AND REPRESENTATIVE PHIL CORTEZ HAS FILED, WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE YESTERDAY THAT WOULD ALLOW OUR MUNICIPAL
[01:05:01]
COURT TO USE AN ELECTRONIC COURT RECORDER, A DEVICE, UH, IN ADDITION TO LIVE COURT REPORTERS OR AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO LIVE COURT REPORTERS.IT'S A EFFICIENCY, UH, METHOD FOR OUR COURTS.
UH, SOME, SOME BILLS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ALSO ON PREEMPTION FRONT, OUR HOUSE BILL 5 43, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT, UH, CITIES FROM REGULATING WORKING ANIMALS.
UH, AND THAT'S A VERY BROAD DEFINITION.
SO EVEN, UH, UH, UH, DOGS THAT ARE USED FOR BREEDING, UH, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AS SAID, IT WOULD UNDO A NUMBER OF, UH, PIECES OF OUR CHAPTER FIVE.
SIMILARLY, HOUSE BILL 6 52 WOULD REQUIRE ANIMAL SHELTERS LIKE A C S, NOT PRIVATE SHELTERS, NOT NONPROFITS, CERTAINLY NOT BREEDERS, BUT PUBLIC SHELTERS TO NOTIFY ANYONE WHO HAS ADOPTED AN ANIMAL, UH, ANYTIME THAT THERE IS, UH, ONE OF A NUMBER OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES DETECTED IN THE SHELTER.
OUR SHELTER DEALS WITH, UH, UH, DISEASES ALL THE TIME, LIKE ANY SHELTER DOES.
AND THE CONCERN IS THAT THIS WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM A, ADOPTING FROM A PUBLIC SHELTER.
IT WOULD SCARE THEM TO THINK THAT, THAT, UH, THAT THEIR ANIMALS WERE, WERE BEING INFECTED.
UM, HOUSE BILL 1885, UH, BASICALLY SAYS THAT, UH, THE CITY MAY NOT REGULATE IN THE E T J, UH, BUT IT HAS A WHOLE LONG LIST OF EXCEPTIONS THAT COVER MOST OF OUR REGULATIONS IN THE E T J.
WHAT IT DOES NOT COVER IS BILLBOARD REGULATIONS.
THAT'S WHAT THE BILL IS INTENDED TO GO AFTER.
WE'VE NOTED ALSO, THOUGH, THAT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE AN EXCEPTION FOR THE, UH, MILITARY BUFFER ZONE THAT WE FOUGHT SO HARD FOR TWO SESSIONS AGO.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS'S OFFICE TRYING TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT AND GET THEM TO INCLUDE IT.
THEY'VE NOT DONE SO, AND THEY PUSHED THE BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT.
UH, SO WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH OUR MEMBERS TO TRY TO CONVINCE HIM TO ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TO FIX THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE INTENT OF THEIR BILL.
AND, AND CERTAINLY THAT WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR J B S A IF, UH, IF THOSE PROTECTIONS WERE UNDONE.
UH, ALSO ON THE MILITARY FRONT, WE ARE SEEKING, AS YOU KNOW, UH, MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR MILITARY MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES LIKE BROOK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER.
THEY TREAT MANY CIVILIANS, UH, AND CANNOT, UH, UNDER STATE LAW RECEIVE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT.
SO, FOLKS WHO ARE BROUGHT, UH, CIVILIANS WHO ARE BROUGHT TO B A M C OFTEN GET HIT WITH VERY LARGE BILLS, AND ADDING THEM TO THE STATE LAW UNDER MEDICAID WOULD, UH, WOULD BE A BIG BENEFIT TO B A M C AND THE PEOPLE THAT TREATS AND ALSO HELP SHORE UP.
ITS, UH, YOU KNOW, ITS PRESENCE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ELIMINATE A POTENTIAL VULNERABILITY OF A BASE REALIGNMENT IN THE FUTURE.
REPRESENTATIVE RAY LOPEZ, UH, HAS FILED THAT BILL, AND JUST YESTERDAY I DELIVERED A, MET A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR, UH, TO THE CHAIR OF THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE THAT, UH, HAS THAT BILL AND, AND 300 OTHERS THAT ARE PENDING A HEARING, UH, THE LETTER ASKING THEM TO PRIORITIZE THIS AND SET IT FOR A HEARING QUICKLY.
SO WE'VE GOTTEN GOOD RESPONSE FROM THEM, AND WE EXPECT THAT HEARING TO HAPPEN VERY SOON.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I'LL, I'LL WRAP AND, AND DO MY BEST TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT ON OUR PLATES, BUT, UM, WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE BIGGER STUFF THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW.
GREAT OVERVIEW AND APPRECIATE THAT THIS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA EVERY, FOR EVERY MEETING SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO STAY ABREAST OF, OF THE, OF THE ACTION IN AUSTIN.
LEMME TURN IT OVER FIRST TO OUR, OUR I G R CHAIRMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EZ.
UM, JUST, UH, NOT A LOT OF COMMENTS AND NOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I'VE, I'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF BRIEFINGS ON THIS TOPIC AND, UH, OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.
AND, UH, JEFF, UH, CALLS ME A LOT, UH, AND TO GIMME UPDATES.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU KEEP THE MAYOR AND, AND ERIC, UH, ABREAST.
AND I THINK THIS MEETING IS, UM, AND THIS TOPIC IS, IS VITAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING UP IN AUSTIN.
I, I DID WANT POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.
FOLKS, UH, OTHER CITIES, UM, HAVE MANY MORE CONSULTANTS THAN WE DO, UH, UP THERE KNOCKING ON DOORS.
AND JEFF HAS PUT TOGETHER A LEAN, MEAN, UM, UH, GROUP OF NINJAS, UH, WHO JUST WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY, ALL DAY LONG, UM, AND EVEN EVENINGS, UH, UP THERE.
AND, UH, I KNOW YOU GUYS, UH, USE EVERY ONE OF THESE RESOURCES AND, UM, YOU GUYS LEAVE IT ALL IN THE FIELD.
I TALKED TO JEFF IN THE EVENINGS AND Y'ALL, UM, I, HE, HE'S EXHAUSTED.
AND, UH, JEFF, YOU MUST BE SURVIVING ON A LOT OF RED BULL.
UH, BUT YOU DELIVER EVERY SINGLE TIME.
UM, THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND CHRISTINE AND, UH, ALL THE, THE CONSULTANTS OVER THERE.
UH, I DID WANT TO POINT OUT, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL VERY FLUID EVERY WEEK, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THESE, UM, THESE UPDATES.
[01:10:01]
PRESENTATION'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT.UM, AND FROM ONE MINUTE TO THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, BILL'S POP UP AND DROP OFF.
UM, AND YOU GUYS ARE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB AT SWATTING FLIES UP THERE, JEFF, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE GOOD ONES SURVIVE AND THE BAD ONES DIE.
UM, WITH THAT MAYOR, UM, I, I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN FI, YOU KNOW, MAKE A MOTION THAT JEFF BE GIVEN A VACATION AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
UH, BUT, UH, FOR NOW, UH, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, UH, UH, WE'RE RELYING ON YOU.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR PUTTING IN THE HOURS.
I'LL, I'LL PASS MY VACATION OFF TO CHRISTINE WRIGHT, WHO IS, UH, STILL UP THERE AS WE SPEAK.
SO SHE'S PUTTING IN A TON OF WORK ON HOURS TOO.
AND, UH, I CAN ALREADY READ ANDY'S, UH, THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ERIC'S EVER GONNA PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, JEFF.
AND ALSO TO, TO ADD ON TO, UH, THE CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS.
UH, IT IS ABOUT TO GET VERY, VERY BUSY.
SO TO THE EXTENT THAT OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES HERE, EVERYBODY IS A, IS PART OF THE I G R TEAM WHO'S IN THIS MEETING.
SO IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SPARE FOR TESTIMONY ON THE CITY'S BEHALF, UM, PLEASE GIVE THAT TO, UH, MANNY AND JEFF, AND, AND WE CAN WORK YOU IN.
'CAUSE WE NEED EVERY, EVERY HAND IN THE FIGHT THIS YEAR.
SO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KEO, HOWEVER, THANK YOU, MARY, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
JEFF, I HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING A HOSTEL 1869.
IT SHOULD IT BECOME, SHOULD 1869 BECOME LAW, WHAT WILL SPECIFICALLY CHANGE IN BASIC TERMS OF BORROWING AND REPAYMENT WHEN IT COMES TO, TO A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO? ERIC OR BEN? DO YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT FIRST, OR, YEAH, I'LL, UH, LET ME, LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
'CAUSE WHAT IT, WHAT IT WOULD DO, COUNCILWOMAN, YOU KNOW, FROM A, FROM, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, AND, AND EVERY CITY'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
UM, IT, IT REALLY WOULD ELIMINATE OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH UNFORESEEN EXPENSES OR OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND WHAT WE, WE'VE USED NON-APPROVED, NON-VOTER APPROVED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TO FUND MAJOR PURCHASES SUCH AS THE, UM, THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM.
UH, WE DO FACILITY MAINTENANCE, UH, IT, UH, PROJECTS.
UM, WE ALSO USE IT TO FUND, UH, WE'VE USED IT TO FUND, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE, UM, ALAMO DOME AND FACILITIES IN ANTICIPATION OF THINGS LIKE FINAL FOUR.
AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER, UH, FINAL FOUR COMING IN 2025.
AND I ALSO REMEMBER, UH, A YEAR AGO, ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR AGO, AS WE WERE DEALING WITH THE, THE ONSET OF THE, UM, THE, THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, UH, WE SHIFTED SOME OF OUR, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX FUND DEBT, UH, TEMPORARILY TO, UH, SELF SUPPORT, SELF-SUPPORTING HOT FUND.
AND, UM, THAT HAS THAT, THAT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S A TEMPORARY FIX.
UH, WE ALSO FUND, UH, A GOOD PORTION OF OUR ANNUAL STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THROUGH OUR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, UH, OF PROGRAM.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE, UM, UM, THE, THE CAP, THE PROPERTY TAX CAP THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THREE AND A HALF PERCENT, IT WOULD SHIFT AND ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD SHIFT MORE RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THAT THREE AND HALF PERCENT.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE LIVING UNDERNEATH THE 3.5% CAP.
UH, WE DID NOT EXCEED IT, UH, DESPITE THE DISASTER DECLARATION AND EVERYTHING WE WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR.
UM, AND FRANKLY, WE ARE CONTINUING TO, UM, UH, WORK ON ALIGNING OUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING TO THOSE, TO THAT FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT.
LAST YEAR BEING SUCH AN UNUSUAL YEAR, UH, WE REALLY HAVE NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT FROM A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE.
SO A LOT OF THAT IS STILL UNKNOWN.
ULTIMATELY, IT COMES DOWN TO MAINTAINING LOCAL FLEXIBILITY AND HOW WE DEAL WITH OUR FINANCES.
IS THERE ANY DATED, ANYTHING THAT YOU WANNA ADD? OH, GO AHEAD, BEN.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MARION COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO OUR BOND PROGRAMS EVERY FIVE YEARS WHERE WE GO OUT TO VOTERS AND WE ASK THEM TO APPROVE PROJECTS AND PROPOSITIONS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, AS WE GO THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, A LOT CHANGES IN BETWEEN THOSE FIVE YEAR PERIODS OF TIME.
THESE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND TAX NOTES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TOOLS THAT ALLOW US TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THEY GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE BUDGET TO ADJUST TO THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING THE ECONOMY, OUR BUDGET.
UM, SO THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT AND CRITICAL TOOLS THAT WE USE GOING FORWARD.
HE HIGHLIGHTED THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE DO FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, A LOT OF IT IS FOR STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
IT SUPPORTS OUR I M P PROGRAM AND THE GEN THAT WE FUND PARTIALLY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
SO IT'S A LOT OF CRITICAL CORE
[01:15:01]
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE USE THIS FOR.THE WAY THE BILL IS CURRENTLY, CURRENTLY WRITTEN IS ESSENTIALLY WE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO NOT ISSUE THOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT VOTED, OR IF WE ISSUED THEM, WE WOULD HAVE TO COUNT THEM AND PAY FOR THEM OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WOULD EVEN IMPACT OUR OPERATING BUDGET MORE SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO IT, IT, IN SOME WAYS, IT REALLY ELIMINATES OUR ABILITY TO USE THOSE TOOLS GOING FORWARD.
THE OTHER ONE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL, IS WE DO SOMETHING CALLED SELF-SUPPORTING DEBT A LOT.
WE HAVE, UH, THINGS LIKE THE ALAMO DOME, WHERE WE WILL ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DOME.
IT'S GOT A PROPERTY TAX PLEDGE, IT'S A C OF O OR WE'RE GONNA USE REVENUES FROM THE FACILITY TO PAY FOR THAT.
SO WE DON'T USE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.
WHAT THAT DOES THOUGH IS INVESTORS SEE THAT, AND THEY, AND IT GETS US A MUCH LOWER COST OF BORROWING.
AND SO IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT PROJECTS THAT WE DO AT THE DOME, UH, POTENTIALLY AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, WE'VE USED IT OUT AT THE AIRPORTS, UH, SOLID WASTE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, IT'LL DRIVE OUR COST OF BORROWING UP IN THOSE IF WE CAN'T USE THAT PROPERTY TAX PLEDGE TO LOWER THE COST OF BORROWING.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AS WELL.
IS THERE ANY DATA SHOWING ADVERSE SITUATIONS FROM AROUND THE STATE THAT WARRANTED WHY THIS BILL WAS NEEDED? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT, NO, NO, THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.
UH, WHAT THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL SET IN COMMITTEE WAS THAT LAST SESSION, UH, UH, THEY PASSED THE 3.5% CAP ON PROPERTY TAXES.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT VOTERS WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE.
UH, HE CLAIMED THAT, UH, THAT IN THE INTERIM, UH, SOME COUNTIES WERE SAYING THAT ONE WAY TO GET AROUND THE 3.5% WAS JUST TO USE MORE NON-VOTER DEBT.
AND, UH, AND SO HE WAS, UH, THE, THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO TRY TO CLOSE A LOOPHOLE.
UH, WAS, WAS HIS, UH, EXPLANATION.
NOW, A NUMBER OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS QUESTIONED HIM ON THAT.
AND, AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE WASN'T AWARE OF ANY CASES WHERE THAT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED, BUT THAT THE RISK EXISTED FOR GOVERNMENTS TO START MORE HEAVILY USING DEBT TO GET AROUND THE 3.5%.
I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S AN EASY BUMPER STICKER TALKING POINT TO SAY, WE THINK VOTERS SHOULD APPROVE ALL DEBT.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE UP AGAINST, UH, IF IT GETS OUT OF COMMITTEE.
UH, BUT THAT, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S, UH, THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THE BILL AS, AS WE UNDERSTOOD IT FROM THE HEARING.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS EXPECTED TO GET OUT COMMITTEE, IS THAT I KNOW WE CAN'T PREDICT.
WE CAN'T PREDICT, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE CAN'T PREDICT.
I WILL SAY THE CHAIRMAN, UH, WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE BILL.
UM, THE, UH, AND, BUT THERE APPEARED TO BE ENOUGH MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE OF BOTH PARTIES, UH, TO HOLD IT UP WHEN IT WAS FIRST HEARD SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
I HAVE STARTED HEARING IN RECENT DAYS THAT, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT WALL MIGHT NOT BE HOLDING ANYMORE.
AND, UH, AND THAT'S NOT UNEXPECTED BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH A CHAIRMAN OF A POWERFUL COMMITTEE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, PRESSURE THAT, THAT INCREASES AS THE SESSION GOES ON.
WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH BOND LAWYERS, WITH ENGINEERS, WITH CONTRACTORS, UH, WHO ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NERVOUS ABOUT IT TO BE CANDID.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, AND REALLY GREAT POINTS BY, BY COUNCILWOMAN CAVEDA.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ZOOM IN ON A, ON A COUPLE OF, UH, OF BILLS REGARDING THE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH ONES.
UM, YOU SAID THAT WE HAD, UH, TAKEN A SUPPORTIVE POSITION ON HB 1 33.
UH, AND IN TERMS OF THE OTHER TWO, UH, WERE ON RECORD IN SUPPORT OF THOSE ALREADY.
THE, THE, THE BIG MEDICAID EXPANSION ONE, THE 30, I THINK IT'S 38 71, I DON'T HAVE THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF ME, UM, HAS NOT BEEN HEARD YET.
SO WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR POSITION, I MEAN, HAVEN'T HAD OUR OPPORTUNITY YET TO FORMALLY REGISTER A POSITION, BUT, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN REGULARLY COMMUNICATING TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERS THAT WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
SO, UM, I, I THINK THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE, THE WHOLE DELEGATION SIGNING ON.
UH, BUT WE WILL, WHEN IT COMES UP, UH, SUPPORT THAT, OR, OR ANOTHER, ANOTHER BILL, IF IT, IF THAT, IF THAT RISES TO THE TOP, I'M, I'M SORRY.
AND SSB 73, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
[01:20:02]
BUILDING.AND THAT, UM, I'M GETTING SOME NOTES HERE.
UH, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO, UH, WOULD ALLOW LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICTS TO BE A MEDICAID BILLER.
UH, SO WE'D BE ABLE TO BILL TO MEDICAID FOR VARIOUS TREATMENT.
I THINK THERE'S SOME NUANCES IN THAT THAT, UM, DR.
WU HAS EXPLAINED TO ME BEFORE.
BUT, UH, BUT YES, WE'RE, WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
AND THEN, UM, I'D LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UH, SB SEVEN AND HOW LIKELY YOU THINK THAT IS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY VERY LIKELY, UM, IT, UH, IT, IT HAS ELECTION INTEGRITY HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FROM STATE LEADERSHIP COMING INTO THE SESSION, THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPEAKER, UM, THE, UH, THE, AS EXPECTED, THE SSB SEVEN, UH, DEBATE WAS A HIGHLY PARTISAN DEBATE, UH, WITH, UH, WITH REPUBLICANS ARGUING THAT THIS WAS TO PREVENT FRAUD, UH, AND TIGHTEN THE LAWS AROUND ELECTIONS.
AND WITH DEMOCRATS ARGUING THAT IT WAS GONNA, UM, UH, DISADVANTAGE, UH, VOTERS WHO ALREADY HAVE A DIFFICULT ENOUGH TIME VOTING.
UM, IT DOES GO TO THE HOUSE NOW.
UH, THE HOUSE, UH, VERSION, UH, KIND OF BLEW UP, UH, UH, LAST WEEK.
UM, A NUMBER OF HOUSE MEMBERS, UH, THAT WERE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, UH, DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS CAME INTO THE HEARING ROOM AND STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, THE CHAIRMAN, UH, SORT OF SEIZED THE MIC FROM ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER AND ADJOURNED THE MEETING WITHOUT SETTING A TIME TO COME BACK, WHICH IS A TECHNICAL FLAW.
AND SO IT WAS, IT WAS QUITE A DRAMATIC, UH, BLOW UP, BUT A TEMPORARY ONE.
UH, THEY RESET THE HEARING, UH, AND I THINK THAT THE DEBATE WILL RESUME.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AGAIN, I WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT PREDICTING THINGS.
'CAUSE LOTS CAN HAPPEN, UH, ALL THE WAY UP TO, YOU KNOW, POINTS OF ORDER ON THE HOUSE OR SENATE FLOOR THAT END UP KILLING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
BUT THIS IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN SIGNALED AS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR LEADERSHIP AND, AND LOW BILL NUMBERS, WHICH GIVE IT A, A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF MOVING.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S REALLY OUT TO GET THE WORKING CLASS, LIKE WITH THE, YOU KNOW, DRIVE THROUGH POLLING, UM, AFTER HOURS, UH, EXTENDED HOURS FOR, FOR POLLS AND, AND PEOPLE, BASICALLY, PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT TERRIBLE NEWS, JEFF.
AND THEN, UH, LASTLY, SB 1261, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT? WOULD IT, YES.
BASICALLY, UH, SO HERE'S MY CONCERN.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR CAP AND, AND POSSIBLY IN, IN OUR, YEAH, IN, IN OUR CAP THAT ARE GREAT AND BRING US MULTIPLE BENEFITS.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN APPROVED OR, OR THEY'VE BEEN PACKAGED IN THIS GREENHOUSE GAS, UH, YOU KNOW, PLAN.
SO WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY IN JEOPARDY OF THIS PASSAGE? SO, UM, GREAT QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, THE, THE PROBLEM IS THIS IS ONE OF THOSE VERY BROADLY WRITTEN BILLS THAT IS LEFT OPEN TO INTERPRETATION.
I'M GONNA READ IT TO YOU REAL QUICK.
IT BASICALLY AS TO BASICALLY SAYS, TO THE EXTENT, NOT PREEMPTED BY FEDERAL LAW, THE STATE HAS EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE REGULATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THIS STATE.
AND SECONDLY, A MUNICIPALITY OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY NOT ENACT OR ENFORCE AN ORDINANCE OR OTHER MEASURE THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, VERY, VERY BROAD AND VAGUE REGULATES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
SO, UM, OUR MESSAGE IN, IN OPPOSING IT WAS, WAS JUST THAT, THAT THIS IS SO BROAD AND SO
IT HASN'T MOVED BEYOND COMMITTEE, SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT GETS REVISED AND TIGHTENED AND CLARIFIED AND SO FORTH.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY AND, AND WHY WE TOOK THE POSITION WE DID.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO.
THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR DELIVERING ALL THIS BAD NEWS.
UM, I HAVE TO, UH, THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL FOR, FOR BRINGING THAT UP, BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.
UM, I'M GLAD SHE, SHE, UM, HIGHLIGHTED THAT.
AND DO THEY TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN THESE COMMITTEES? DO THEY HAVE SCIENTISTS
[01:25:01]
COME AND TESTIFY IN THESE COMMITTEES? I, YES.I, UM, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T FOLLOW THE WHOLE HEARING, BUT YES, THERE WERE, THERE WERE MANY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT 1261? YES, THERE WERE MANY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, UH, A LOT OF OPPOSITION FROM CITIES, FROM ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
UM, SO I, I CAN, I COULD PULL FOR YOU A WITNESS LIST AND SHARE WITH YOU WHO, WHO TESTIFIED, BUT AS A GENERAL ANSWER, YES.
THERE, THERE'S, IT'S GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SSB 10 AND THE PROHIBIT POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AND YOU SAID THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS EVEN MORE, UH, WHAT ABOUT THE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS? SO, AND YOU MENTIONED VIA, ET CETERA, AND ANYBODY WHO HAS TAXPAYER DOLLARS, CORRECT? CORRECT.
WELL, SO WOULD THAT ALSO IN, WOULD THAT, COULD THAT, WOULD THAT ALSO INCLUDE LIKE THE, UM, SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, UM, AS A PART OF A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD MEET THAT DEFINITION.
IT'S A, IT'S A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, SO A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY, WHICH YOU JUST ALAMO COLLEGES VIA RIVER AUTHORITY, ET CETERA.
UM, I WILL NOTE THAT, UM, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER, WE WORKED WITH ALL OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS AND SUBMITTED A LETTER THAT HAD, UH, SIGNATURES FROM THE LEADERS OF EACH OF THOSE GROUPS.
ONE COLLECTIVE LETTER, UH, THAT WENT TO THEM.
UM, UH, I DON'T, AND, AND, AND THE LANGUAGE THAT RELATES TO ASSOCIATIONS, UH, I BELIEVE, I'LL HAVE TO PULL IT UP, BUT I BELIEVE THAT ONLY APPLIES TO STATE ASSOCIATIONS.
I DON'T BELIEVE LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS ARE COVERED BY THAT.
ALL OF THAT, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS IN THE HOUSE BILL, THE SENATE ONE, UH, THAT'LL GET HURT ON TUESDAY, JUST PICKS, PICKS ON CITIES AND COUNTIES, UH, SORT OF LIMITS, YOU KNOW, WHO, WHO IT, WHO IT GOES AFTER.
JUST, UH, BECAUSE I'M THINKING, I MEAN, OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS, UM, WHEN THEY JOIN THE UNION, YOU KNOW, THEY GET PAID TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND MY BIG CONCERN TOO, IS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FRIGHTENING ONE IS ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET, AND, UM, NOT BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET OF OUR BUDGET.
IF IT'S 65% RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, MAKING SOME GREAT INNOVATIVE CHANGES AND HELPING OUR POLICE OFFICERS NOT HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THE CALLS, UM, BUT ADD, YOU KNOW, SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THEIR WORK.
UM, THAT'S WHERE I'M, I'M CONCERNED WITH THIS, BUT YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT I, I WANTED TO, TO VOICE THIS AND, AND CHAIR, I MEAN, I THINK WITH THE, UM, AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY AND COORDINATING ON SOME OF THESE, THESE ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT US, UH, BOTH AS OUR ENTITY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE COORDINATION CHAIR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT, BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DOING THE TEST, UH, TESTIFYING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WHAT HARM THIS CAN DO TO VOTERS AND DEMOCRACY AND PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING.
UM, I WOULD, UH, RECOMMEND THAT IF WE COULD DO A RESOLUTION TO OUR FEDERAL, UM, DELEGATION TO A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
SO WE THINK THAT, UH, IF WE CAN DO THAT AND PUT THAT TO OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, I THINK THAT COULD BE HELPFUL, JUST KNOWING THAT, UM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN, UM, THE RIGHTS TO OUR, OUR DEMOCRACY AND FOR OUR ELECTION OFFICERS AS WELL.
TH THOSE ARE ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VERON GRO, COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR THE BRIEFING.
UM, UH, I JUST, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT, UM, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SC 20, UH, 2 21 REGARDING THE PREMIER FASCIST SPEED LIMIT FILED BY SENATOR? UM, ZINI IS, ARE WE FOLLOWING THAT ONE AND STILL? UH, WE ARE, AND WE, AND WE ACTIVELY ENGAGED, UH, AT THE HEARING, UH, LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, UH, BY THE WAY, UH, FOR EVERYONE, THE COUNCILWOMAN WROTE A GREAT EDITORIAL, UH, ON THAT TOPIC THIS WEEK.
IT'S, IT'S, THE BILL IS LANGUISHING A LITTLE BIT.
UM, WE, WE DID SUPPORT THE BILL.
UH, WE SUBMITTED A LETTER IN SUPPORT, UH, THAT, THAT ROD, UH, SANCHEZ SIGNED.
UM, AND THIS IS THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE TOP FOUR CITIES FOR LARGEST CITIES IN TEXAS TO LOWER RESIDENTIAL SPEED LIMITS FROM 30 TO 25
[01:30:01]
WITHOUT HAVING TO POST SIGNS AND DO ENGINEER STUDIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.WE'VE TAKEN ON IT IN RECENT DAYS.
APPARENTLY THE CITY OF DALLAS IS, IS, UH, RETHINKING THEIR INTEREST IN IT AND, AND MAY WANT OUT OF IT, WHICH, UH, WOULD CAUSE A CHANGE IN THE BRACKET.
UH, AND SECONDLY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT A, A SUBSTITUTE BILL IS COMING THAT WOULD WAIVE THE ENGINEER STUDY PART OF IT, BUT STILL REQUIRE US TO POST SIGNS EVERYWHERE.
SO THAT REALLY DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH FROM, FROM THE LAW TODAY.
WE CAN LOWER THOSE SPEED LIMITS ALREADY, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT SIGNS AND, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A, A BIG EXPENSE AND HAS AESTHETIC CONCERNS AND EVERYTHING TO HAVE 30 MILE AN HOUR SIGNS ON EVERY RESIDENTIAL STREET IN THE CITY.
SO THE BILL IS GETTING WATERED DOWN, IS THE SHORT OF IT.
UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR IT.
SENATOR ZINI, HE'S BEEN, UH, A WONDERFUL CHAMPION ON THAT TOPIC, BUT, UM, IT'S RUNNING INTO A LITTLE BIT, A FEW SPEED BUMPS.
NO, IT'S PUN INTENDED THERE,
UM, I KNOW, I, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING THIS ISSUE, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, DON'T SEEM TO, WELL, I MEAN, I THINK WE JUST KEEP AT IT, UM, AND, UH, HOPE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CONTINUE THIS INITIATIVE, UM, FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND ONE THING THAT WE DID RECOGNIZE, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER THIS COVID TIME WHEN EVEN SO FEW DRIVERS WERE ON THE ROAD, UH, WAS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF FATALITIES.
UM, SO WELL, WE'LL JUST KEEP FOLLOWING IT AND, UH, THANKS, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
UM, I, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND, AND MAYBE IT'S ABOUT, WELL, I GUESS I'LL, I'LL START OFF JUST IN GENERAL.
UM, JEFF, YOU HAVE A SLIDE UP THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT BAD BILLS.
CAN YOU HELP ME DETERMINE WHAT MAKES YOU PUT THEM IN A BAD BILL CATEGORY? LIKE WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR YOU? DEFINE WHAT, BUT DEFINE WHAT A BAD BILL, UM, IS, I GUESS.
UM, WE, WE APPLY, UH, THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT YOU HAVE APPROVED, UH, TO EVERYTHING WE LOOK AT.
UM, AND, AND SO AS A GENERAL RULE, IF IT, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT SAYS IF IT UNDERMINES, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS, IF IT, UH, IF IT, UM, TAKES AWAY OUR, OUR LOCAL AUTHORITY, IF IT ADDS COST TO US, UH, AND OTHERWISE, UH, UNDERMINES OUR ABILITY TO SELF-GOVERN, UH, THAT IS SORT OF OUR OMNIBUS LANGUAGE BY WHICH WE MEASURE SOME THINGS.
NOW, THERE ARE JUDGMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE UP THERE.
UH, THERE ARE BILLS THAT MIGHT TECHNICALLY DO THAT, UH, BUT ARE NOT A, A MAJOR IMPACT TO US.
OR, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES AWAY OUR AUTHORITY, UH, IN AN AREA THAT WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN LOCALLY TO ACT IN, YOU KNOW, AN ORDINANCE THAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WE, THAT WE TEND TO, TO STAND DOWN ON.
SO, UM, MY, MY TEAM, UM, TRIES TO LOOK AT EVERY BILL AND NUMBER ONE, WE SEND IT OUT, SEND IT OUT LITERALLY THOUSANDS OUT TO ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO EACH HAVE A LEGISLATIVE LIAISON WHO DOES AN ANALYSIS, ENTERS INTO A SYSTEM THAT WE GO IN AND THEN LOOK AT IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE CITY.
AND THEN SECONDLY, WE, WE USE OUR BEST JUDGMENT APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES THAT YOU'VE APPROVED, UH, IN THE PROGRAM, UH, TO THE DECISIONS WE MAKE ON THE BILLS.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S HELPFUL.
UM, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT HB 12 WITH THE WEATHER ALERT, BY THE WAY.
SO I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A GOOD, UM, COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.
UM, I HAVE QUESTIONS IN PARTICULAR, UH, SB 23 H AND HB 1900.
WOULD IT, SO, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF OUR CITY KEEPS GROWING AND WE NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, UM, WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? WHAT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? CAN YOU GIVE ME MAYBE A SURE, I'LL ANSWER THAT INITIALLY, AND I, AND, AND INVITE MARIA TO CHIME IN ALSO IF SHE WANTS TO.
I KNOW SHE'S REVIEWED IT, BUT, UM, WE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADD OFFICERS, THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
WE'RE ADD RESOURCES, UH, BUT THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, UH, THAT BECOMES OUR NEW BASELINE AND WE CAN'T, UH, LOWER THE BUDGET UNLESS THE OVERALL BUDGET LOWERS ACCORDINGLY.
UM, SO, UH, AND, AND THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS IN THERE FOR, UH, ONE TIME MAJOR EXPENDITURES.
IF WE BOUGHT A FLEET OF POLICE VEHICLES ONE YEAR, WE COULD BACK THAT OUT OF THE CALCULATION.
[01:35:01]
FOR FEDERAL GRANTS.YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS COPS GRANTS OF UP TO, UH, SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, I BELIEVE, $25 MILLION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
I MAY GET THAT NUMBER WRONG, BUT THAT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR FEDERAL, FEDERAL GRANTS, UM, AND, AND DISASTER EXPENDITURES, UH, IN A GIVEN YEAR.
BUT AS A GENERAL RULE, IT WOULD CREATE A BASELINE THAT EVERY YEAR, UH, THE POLICE BUDGET WOULD NEED TO EITHER STAY THE SAME OR INCREASE UNLESS THE OVERALL BUDGET, UH, DECREASED ACCORDINGLY.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT, MARIA? YES, JEFF, YOU DID.
AND GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I WOULD JUST ADD TO THAT, THAT THE, ALSO THIS BILL WOULD LIMIT OR WOULD REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF, UM, POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER, THE OTHER LIMITATION, NOT ONLY THE BUDGET, BUT ALSO THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS.
UM, SO, SO, SO MAYBE OFFLINE, I, I HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT, BUT I HAVE, I WANNA GET THROUGH SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES.
I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS AND NOT HAVING READ THROUGH THAT ACTUAL, UM, DOCUMENT AND MAYBE IT'S, IT'S SOLVED IN THERE.
SO I, I COMMIT TO, TO READING THROUGH THAT ONE AND, AND I'LL HAVE MY, MY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE.
UM, AND COUNCILWOMAN, LEMME, UH, LET ME, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
LET ME SEND IT TO YOU BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW VERSION THAT JUST CIRCULATED LAST NIGHT.
SO I'LL SEND YOU THE VERSION THAT WE UNDERSTAND AS THE LATEST ONE.
SO THAT MIGHT HELP SOLVE SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ON HB SIX, UH, 1561, IT TALKS ABOUT NEW OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY, UM, AND INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
WHAT ABOUT CURRENT OFFICERS? UM, I, I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM FOR FIRST, UH, I THINK IT'S FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE, AND INCENTIVES FOR THEM TO LIVE IN THE INNER CITY.
IS THERE A REASON IT'S ONLY FOR NEW OFFICERS? UM, YES.
UH, BECAUSE THIS, THIS HAS TO, IN FACT, THAT WAS KIND OF OUR POINT LAST NIGHT, THAT, UH, IN THE HEARING THAT WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE CREATED INCENTIVES FOR EXISTING OFFICERS ON THE FORCE TO MOVE INTO THE CITY.
WE CAN'T MANDATE AN UNDER STATE LAW, BUT WE INCENTIVIZE IT.
AND THIS IS NOW TACKLING IT AT THE FRONT END.
WHEN OFFICERS ARE COMING INTO THE ACADEMY, THEY WOULD GET AN EXTRA FIVE POINTS ON THEIR EXAM.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OFFICERS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CITY CAN'T GET INTO THE ACADEMY.
UM, BUT IT, BUT IT GIVES A, A LEG UP TO A LOCAL ONE.
SO THAT, THAT, I THINK THE POINT YOU'VE MADE IS WHAT WE TRIED TO SAY THAT WE'VE, WE'RE WORKING ON IT WITH OUR EXISTING FORCE, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO SORT OF START FROM THE GROUND UP.
SO I SEE IT AS A RECRUITMENT STRATEGY.
AND THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS ON YOUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ON MARCH THE 19TH.
AND THIS MIGHT BE AN ANDY QUESTION BECAUSE I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, UH, G P A OFFERED CHIEF MCMANUS AND, AND SEGOVIA AS POTENTIAL WITNESSES.
AND THEN EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, CHIEF REYES GOING UP TO TESTIFY.
UM, AND THEN HOW, HOW ARE WE ABLE TO DO THAT WHILE THERE'S ONGOING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS? JUST, JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT PROCESS.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WELL, THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT OUR INITIAL INTENT WAS FOR CHIEF MCMANUS AND ANDY TO BE THE WITNESSES WHEN WE HAD TO SUBMIT WITNESS NAMES A WEEK IN ADVANCE.
THAT'S WHO WE PROVIDED WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO SCHEDULING AND, AND OTHER CONFLICTS, WE ENDED UP, UH, HAVING ASSISTANT CHIEF REYES AND DEBBIE KLEIN, WHO BOTH DID AN, AN EFFECTIVE JOB.
YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO WE DO IT? UM, I, I GUESS THAT'S MAYBE A BETTER QUESTION FOR MARIA OR ANDY.
YEAH, I GUESS THAT I, YEAH, SO THAT'S WHAT I, I, I, I GUESS THERE'S THESE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON.
SO, UM, WE'RE ADVISED, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, TO TO, TO NOT STATE POSITION.
SO HOW, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS OUR STAFF IS GOING UP TO TESTIFY OR TO WITNESS? SO, COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL, I'LL, UM, REMEMBER WE'VE HAD A PARALLEL STRATEGY TO DEAL WITH A NUMBER OF THE DISCIPLINARY ISSUES AT THE TE THE NEGOTIATING TABLE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER ASSOCIATION.
UH, THAT PARALLEL STRATEGY ALSO REVOLVED AROUND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE OR PROPOSING AND WORKING WITH LOCAL LEGISLATORS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 43.
AND SO, UM, I, I, YOU KNOW, WE WERE NOT UP IN AUSTIN TALKING ABOUT OUR, OUR NEGOTIATION ISSUES AT THE TABLE, BUT THEY ARE PARALLEL ISSUES BECAUSE THEY IMPACT 1 43.
UM, AND THAT'S BEEN PART OF OUR, UH, VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND INTENT, UH, SINCE, UH, SINCE LAST FALL.
UM, OKAY, SO, SO I GUESS THE REASON BEING THAT IT'S A PARALLEL ISSUE, THEN, THEN WE GET TO DO THIS.
SO, SO I, I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION.
AND THEN ALSO YOU MENTIONED IN, IN YOUR UPDATE, UM, JEFF, THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS GENERALLY POSITIVE ON THE FEEDBACK FOR THE FOUR BILLS, HB 10 87, HB 1561, HB 1563,
[01:40:01]
AND HB 1940.ARE THOSE THE BILLS, THE FOUR BILLS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT? YES, THEY ARE.
WE, WE DID A, UH, A REPRESENTATIVE, UH, GERVIN HAWKINS, AND I DID A BRIEFING FOR, UH, THE PERSON IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WHO'S FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES, UH, TALKED THROUGH EACH OF THE BILLS.
THEY HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ABOUT A PERSON WHO GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO, MOVED AWAY FOR COLLEGE AND THEN COMES BACK, WOULD THEY STILL GET THE FIVE POINTS AND, YOU KNOW, TECHNICAL TYPE QUESTIONS.
BUT, UM, AND, AND THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION, SO I DON'T WANNA PUT WORDS IN ANYONE'S MOUTH.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THE GOVERNORS SIGNED OFF ON OUR BILLS, BUT, UH, THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY, ANY MAJOR CONCERNS AND AGREED THAT WE WERE, WE WERE, UH, PROPOSING SOME VERY COMMON SENSE, UH, FIXES TO THESE ISSUES.
AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS, I THINK AT ONE OF THE I G R COMMITTEES, WE HAD, UM, UM, TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS, UM, WITH SOME OF OUR LEGISLATORS AND, AND THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH THE CHAIR.
AND I HEARD, UM, COUNCILMAN PAL SAY THAT HE TALKS NIGHTLY TO YOU.
UM, I, I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BE MORE INVOLVED OR, OR JUST IN SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, I KNOW YOU OFFERED UP THE POSSIBILITY OF, OF TESTIFYING ON, ON DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND, UM, I'LL HAVE MY STAFF REACH OUT TO YOU AND, AND OFFER THAT SUPPORT.
BUT, UM, HOW CAN I GET MORE INVOLVED? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE BY THE TIME, I MEAN, EVERYTHING MOVES SO FAST, RIGHT? BY THE TIME I HAVE INPUT, THINGS MIGHT HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.
JUST LIKE WITH THE BILL THAT I ASKED ABOUT EARLIER, YOU SAID, OH, THERE'S A NEW, SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR JUST MORE INVOLVEMENT? SURE.
ERIC HAS, UH, SCHEDULED OUT, UH, THIS BRIEFING, UH, BEFORE COUNCIL, I BELIEVE, AT EVERY MEETING THROUGH THE REST OF THE SESSION.
SO WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY HAPPENING.
AND, AND WE WILL BE IN, IN FRONT OF YOU REGULARLY.
WE ALSO STILL HAVE THE MONTHLY I G R MEETINGS.
UH, IN THE PAST WE DID WEEKLY I G R MEETINGS, BUT THERE WASN'T NECESSARILY A WEEKLY FULL COUNCIL BRIEFING EITHER.
SO I LEAVE THAT TO THE, TO THE CHAIRMAN ABOUT HOW FREQUENTLY YOU WANT DO THAT.
UM, BEYOND THAT, WE CAN PROVIDE, UM, UH, WRITTEN UPDATES LIKE WE DID ON THE 19TH, IF THAT'S HELPFUL.
UM, AND, AND I AM, UH, WOULD BE HAPPY TO GET A JUMP ON THE PHONE WITH YOU, UH, ANY NIGHT, UH, THE, ESPECIALLY DRIVING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HERE IN AUSTIN, MY, IT'S UP FRESH ON MY MIND, SO, UH, PLEASE CONSIDER THAT AN OPTION ANYTIME YOU WANT TO TALK IT THROUGH.
UH, ON, IN TERMS OF THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH DELEGATION MEMBERS, WE'VE REACHED THE POINT IN THE SESSION WHERE IT'S JUST TOO HARD TO GET, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SITTING, LAST NIGHT, THE URBAN AFFAIRS HEARING WENT TILL, UH, ALMOST 10 O'CLOCK.
I TALKED TO CHAIRMAN CORTEZ AS HE WAS SITTING DOWN FOR DINNER AT 10 O'CLOCK
SO, UM, THEY'RE LONG, THEY'RE LONG DAYS.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THEM IN THAT WAY NOW, BUT WE WOULD WELCOME ANY ASSISTANCE YOU WANT TO GIVE AND, AND, AND ANYTIME YOU WANT TO COME UP, WE'LL MAKE GOOD USE OF IT AND, AND SCHEDULE A LOT OF VISITS WITH MEMBERS, AND THAT EXTENDS TO EVERYONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
UM, SO THE QUESTION I HAVE HAS TO DO WITH, I KNOW IN THE FEDERAL, UH, DELEGATION, THEY'VE ALREADY PASSED, UM, ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THE GEORGE FLOYD ACT, AND HOW DOES THAT GIVE STRENGTH TO, UM, THE HOUSE BILL OF 10 87, 15 61, 15 63, AND 1940 FOR US? UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY NOT, UH, THEY'RE RELATED.
THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED NECESSARILY.
THE, THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE PUSHING A STAND ON THEIR OWN AND ARE NOT IN, UH, THERE, THERE IS A, UM, THERE IS A, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS A HOUSE BILL 88.
THEY'RE A GEORGE FLOYD ACT THAT WAS HEARD LAST WEEK.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR ITEMS IN IT, ALTHOUGH WE'VE TALKED WITH REPRESENTATIVE GERVIN HAWKINS ABOUT THE IDEA THAT IF A BROADER OMNIBUS POLICE REFORM BILL MOVES ABOUT HER WORKING WITH HER COLLEAGUES TO INSERT SOME OF OUR ITEMS INTO THAT BILL.
UM, BUT THE, THE HB 88 IS REALLY A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT WAS VERY CLEAR, UH, DURING THE HEARING LAST WEEK, THAT THAT BILL, UM, GOT OPINIONS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND IS PROBABLY GONNA CHANGE.
UH, AND SO GIVEN THAT, UH, WE'VE SORT OF TAKEN A WATCH AND SEE APPROACH, UH, TO IT, UM, A LOT OF THE THINGS IN IT ARE THINGS THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ALREADY DOES.
UM, BUT WE'VE TRIED TO STAY FOCUSED ON OUR FOUR PRIORITY ITEMS, UH, SO THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T LOSE, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON, ON MOVING THOSE.
SO DID THAT ANSWER YOUR, YOUR QUESTION? YES, IT DID, JEFF.
UM, AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO, UH, THE HOUSE BILL SIX, UM, AND IT RELATES TO VOTER INTEGRITY OR
[01:45:01]
ELECTION INTEGRITY, AND WE KNOW THAT OUR, OUR ELECTIONS ARE KIND OF SET UP THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND IT DEALS WITH THE REMOVAL OF VOTING OR BALLOT BOXES.AND SO WHERE DO WE FALL RIGHT NOW, UM, BEING THAT THIS CONVERSATION SEEMS TO BE MOVING QUICKLY AND MOVING WITHOUT REALLY ANY KIND OF INPUT, UM, FROM OTHERS.
AND SO I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT EFFECT WILL THAT HAVE ON OUR ELECTION PROCESS, BECAUSE WE KNOW, UM, BEXAR COUNTY KIND OF HOLDS OUR ELECTIONS FOR US.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN, YOU NAILED IT.
UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A COUNTY FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH WE CLEARLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN, IN, UH, IN, IN THE VOTING ISSUES.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE COUNTY AND, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IN LOCKSTEP WITH THEM ON THIS.
UM, THE COUNTY DID OPPOSE SENATE BILL SEVEN, AS I MENTIONED, HB SIX BLEW UP LAST WEEK, AND MY, UH, COLLEAGUE REMINDED ME THERE WERE A HUNDRED WITNESSES SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY, INCLUDING A GENTLEMAN NAMED BETO O'ROURKE, UH, WHO HAD TRAVELED FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO HOME AND NOT TESTIFY THAT DAY.
UH, SO THAT THAT'LL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT TODAY.
UM, BUT YES, WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, FOLLOWING THE COUNTY'S LEAD ON THIS, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE ANY DAYLIGHT BETWEEN OUR, OUR VIEWS ON THE ISSUES AND, AND THEIRS.
AND THEN, JEFF, ON THE DISASTER ORDER, HB 41 55 AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER HB 42 15, UM, HAVE WE HEARD WHERE THAT IS OR HOW THAT'S GOING? UM, BECAUSE I KNOW IT AFFECTS, UH, WHAT THE MAYOR CAN THEN DO ON A LOCAL LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.
I THINK ANDY WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER PIECE.
I WILL SAY THERE IS A BILL THAT I DIDN'T MENTION IN THIS PRESENTATION, HB THREE, THAT, UH, CHANGES THE AUTHORITY AROUND, UH, PANDEMIC DISASTER RESPONSE.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF A TUG OF WAR BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT, UH, ALLOWS THE LEGISLATURE TO UNDO EMERGENCY ORDERS AFTER 30 DAYS.
UM, AND, AND, AND IT HAS A FEW THINGS THAT RELATE TO LOCALS.
IT GENERALLY PREEMPTS LOCAL AUTHORITY IN THE WAY THAT THE GOVERNOR'S INDIVIDUAL ORDERS DID THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, AND IT ALSO PROHIBITS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM CREATING ANY ELECTIONS PROTOCOLS WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE, BUT IT'S GENERALLY A LEGISLATURE VERSUS GOVERNOR STRUGGLE.
AND SO WE WE'RE WATCHING THAT.
UM, AND THE, THE REPORT FROM OUR LOBBYISTS AND CONSULTANTS ARE THAT, THAT THAT BILL IS ALSO VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.
IT WAS HEARD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UH, SO WE'RE JUST PLANNING TO KEEP, KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
YEAH, I WOULD CONFIRM WHAT JEFF JUST SAID, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT THAT'S, THAT BILL THAT HE'S REFERRING TO IS THE ONE THAT WOULD HAVE THE MOST TRAUMATIC IMPACT ON LOCAL ORDERS IN TERMS OF LIMITING THAT.
AND AS JEFF SAID, THE, THE SHORT VERSION IS THEY WOULD TRY TO LIMIT IT JUST THE WAY THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, RECENT ORDERS HAVE TRIED TO LIMIT LOCAL AUTHORITY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF.
UM, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM TO GET ON THE SCHEDULE TO, TO BE A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU, MANNY, WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU AS WELL.
SO ANYTHING THAT, THAT WE CAN DO, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO, TO FIGHT WITH YOU GUYS AND, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO NEEDS.
AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREWS SULLIVAN, COUNCIL MEMBER CURRY.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, PRESENTATION FOR US TO HEAR, BUT IT'S VERY DISCONCERTING.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND, AND OTHER CITY ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE STATE NEED TO BE SPEAKING UP BECAUSE IT, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE WE ARE BEING TARGETED TO, TO PROHIBIT US FROM DOING SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZE ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE IN AUSTIN 150 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND 31 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, AND OUT OF THAT, YOU'RE GETTING RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBERS OF THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE PUTTING ON THE TABLE BILLS THAT AFFECT OVER 80% OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN, IN THIS STATE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING A, A VERY MINORITY VIEW BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CITY GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL, DISTRICT GOVERNMENT WHO HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THESE ISSUES.
AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE, THE STATE IS TRYING
[01:50:01]
TO MAKE US POWERLESS TO DO THE THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES ASK US TO DO OR EXPECT US TO DO.UH, YOU KNOW, AND IT JUST IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.
I'M SURE IT IS TO JEFF AND THE TEAMS THAT ARE UP THERE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, JEFF, ARE WORKING WITH OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND IDEALS THAT WE DO OF SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY OF THESE LEGISLATORS IN AUSTIN ARE SO OUT OF STEP WITH THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE, AND THEY SIMPLY SEEM TO REPRESENT A POWERFUL FEW.
THEY TALK ABOUT NOT WANTING THE CITY OR OTHER ENTITIES TO LOBBY THEM, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING LOBBIED EVERY DAY BY SO MANY FINANCIAL INTERESTS AND CONCERNS OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO THE DETRIMENT OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITIES.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING THIS 'CAUSE I HOPE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE LISTENING TO THAT AND THAT THEY'LL START SPEAKING UP.
I RESPECT THE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES WE HAVE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
'CAUSE I SEE THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY, BUT I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HEARING SO MUCH FROM SO MANY OF THE OTHER, UH, LEGISLATORS THAT IS SO DIFFERENT AND CONTRARY TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CITIES AND METROPOLITAN AREAS THAT REPRESENT 80% OF THE POPULATION IN THIS STATE.
SO I JUST HAD TO GET THAT OFF MY CHEST.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF US CAN STATE ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
UH, I WANNA, UH, TAKE A MINUTE TO FIRST, UH, THANK, UH, THE, THIS ENTIRE COMMITTEE LED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS.
UH, THANK YOU JEFF, UH, TO YOUR, UH, TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL.
A LOT OF GREAT WORK HAPPENING HERE.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL, UH, REPRESENTATIVE DIEGO NAN FOR HOUSE BILL 8 91.
UH, WHICH IS, IS IS A, IT'S A GREAT BILL THAT, UH, HELPS TO PROVIDE THESE BIRTH CERTIFICATES THAT ARE MUCH NEEDED FOR, FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
AND, UH, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE CITY PLANS TO SUPPORT THAT.
SORRY, I HAD MY, MY RIGHT FINGER ON THE WRONG BUTTON.
UM, WE ABSOLUTELY, OUR PLAN OF SUPPORT, WE BROUGHT IT TO HIM, UH, AND ASKED HIM TO FILE IT.
IT'S BEEN REFERRED TO, I BELIEVE, HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
PUBLIC HEALTH HAS NOT GOTTEN A HEARING YET.
UH, AND, AND FRANKLY, WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT IN THE SESSION WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DANGER ZONE.
BILLS NEED TO GET HEARD SOON IF YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE A CHANCE TO GET THROUGH THE 60 DAYS.
SO, UM, IT IS ONE OF THE ONES WE'RE, WE'RE PUSHING AND ACT AND SUPPORTIVE OF, BUT, UM, BUT HAVE NOT GOTTEN MOVEMENT YET.
UM, I ALSO WOULD WANNA MENTION THAT OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, SB SEVEN BECAUSE IT, IT WILL IMPACT VOTER ACCESSIBILITY AND CITIES LIKE, LIKE OURS, NEED TO STAND FIRM.
SO I, YOU PLEASE, PLEASE, UH, MAKE THAT CLEAR UP THERE AS WELL.
UM, I'D LIKE TO KNOW ALSO THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER VARIOUS BILLS RE RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, LIKE HOUSE BILL 24 56 AND HOU AND HOUSE BILL 1 91.
UH, AND OF COURSE THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER, UH, HOUSE BILL, UH, UH, 1 2 7 7 AND HOUSE BILL 24 69 THAT RELATE TO HOMELESSNESS SUPPORT AND PILOT PROGRAMS FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UH, WHERE, WHERE ARE WE ON THOSE, UH, THOSE BILLS? THE, THE ONLY ONE I KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, COUNCILMAN, IS 1 91.
IT WAS HEARD YESTERDAY IN URBAN AFFAIRS FROM REPRESENTATIVE BERNAL, AND WE SUPPORTED THAT.
UH, WE ALSO SUPPORTED A BILL IN THE SAME HEARING FROM, UH, REPRESENTATIVE LOPEZ, UH, THAT, UH, HAD TO DO WITH, UH, UH, GAY, LESBIAN, TRANSGENDER SENIORS AND HOUSING.
UH, CREATED A STUDY AROUND THE UNIQUE NEEDS, UH, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
UM, I'LL CHECK ON THE OTHER TWO.
UH, I THINK MY TEAM IS LISTENING AND HOPEFULLY WROTE THOSE BILL NUMBERS DOWN.
MAYBE YOU COULD JUST SAY 'EM AGAIN.
DID I HEAR 20, 24, 69 AND, AND 1277.
I, I JUST DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
AND THEN, THEN, YOU KNOW, LASTLY, JUST, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS ALL RELATED AROUND, UH, AROUND HOUSING AND, AND, AND FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE CAMPO FILED, UM, HOUSE BILL, UH, 26 42
[01:55:01]
AND 26 44 PROTECTION FOR RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITIES POST, UH, IMPACT OF WINTER STORM.UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT, THAT IS A, I THINK A CRITICAL, UH, BILL AND, UH, WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO, TO, TO GET A REPORT BACK ON, ON HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, BOTH, BOTH OF THOSE BILLS WERE REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS, UH, THE, THE, UH, COMMITTEE THAT PEOPLE JOKINGLY REFER TO AS THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SAN ANTONIO AFFAIRS.
'CAUSE WE'VE GOT FOUR MEMBERS ON IT.
UH, NEITHER HAS HAS HAD A HEARING YET, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD A, AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO WEIGH IN, UH, ON THAT BILL.
BUT, BUT THEY'VE BEEN REFERRED TO THAT COMMITTEE.
UM, INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS HERE ABOUT, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE STATE.
UH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL SUPPORTIVE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, I HEAR A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU KNOW, BEING OUT OF TOUCH WITH, UH, UH, THE LOCAL FOLKS.
I HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT, UH, FROM HOAS, WHY THE CITY IS OUTTA TOUCH WITH THEIR PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
WE CAN GET VOTED OUT IF WE DON'T, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, GO ALONG WITH WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS IN YOUR PARTICULAR DISTRICT AND MINE, UH, ACROSS THE CITY.
AND THE SAME THING AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY ALL THE TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO GET USED TO.
UM, BUT YES, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES UP THERE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT AFFECTS THE STATES.
SO, UM, BUT WE GOTTA REMEMBER THAT IT IS A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND, UM, HOW THAT ALL OPERATES.
JUST WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
UM, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UH, I, ERIC, YOU, YOU STARTED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT AGO ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE, THE POLICE UNION ON THE CONTRACT AND HOW THAT, THAT PARALLEL COULD AFFECT THE NEGOTIATIONS UP AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH WE ARE LOBBYING FOR PARTICULAR CHANGES TO THE CONTRACTS.
I, I'M, I'M A LITTLE BIT UNEASY WITH THAT BECAUSE HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU CONDUCT THOSE NEGOTIATIONS HERE LOCALLY AND INSTILL THAT TRUST WITH THE UNION WHERE WE'RE WORK WORKING ON LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT, BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING AT THE STATE LEVEL ALSO THAT MIGHT, MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE WITH.
HOW I EXPLAIN THAT TO ME A LITTLE BIT MORE? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY, THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE INDEPENDENT, UH, COUNCILMAN REMEMBER THAT THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AUTHORIZED UNDER CHAPTER 1 74, UM, AND THE ITEMS THAT WE, UH, ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 180 DAY, THOSE FOUR BILLS, 180 DAY PROVISION, UH, LIMITING THE, UH, AUTHORITY OF, OF, UH, OF AN ARBITRATOR TO MORE, UH, CLOSELY RELY UPON THE CHIEF'S FINAL DISCIPLINE, UM, UH, AWARDING, UH, FIVE POINTS FOR SAN ANTONIO.
LOCALS DURING APPLICANT PROCESSING, UM, ARE, ARE ALSO BEING NEGOTIATED AT THE TABLE.
AND, AND WE, AS WE DEVELOPED THE LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY LAST YEAR, UH, WE MET WITH THE POLICE UNION AND SHARED THAT WITH THEM, UH, THAT THOSE CHANGES WOULD, UM, WERE, THOSE BILLS ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE ADJUSTED WITHIN CHAPTER 1 43.
UM, AND, AND, UH, I SEE THEM AS, AS, UH, TWO COMPLETE DIFFERENT PATHS.
WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE UNION.
THEY WERE UP THERE, UH, TESTIFYING, UM, UH, REPRESENTING THEMSELVES AT THE COMMITTEE, UH, THE FOURTH BILL, UH, UH, WHICH WOULD BE, UH, MAKING A, UH, PERSONNEL FILE OF A POLICE OFFICER COMPLETELY OPEN TO, UM, UH, SUBJECT TO AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, UNDER CHAPTER 1 43, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT RELEASABLE, UH, TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND, AND I, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THERE BEING A CONFLICT AT ALL, UH, AT THAT POINT, UM, UH, IN ANY CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING EITHER AT THE TABLE OR AT THE STATE HOUSE.
UM, AND I KNOW THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN
[02:00:01]
THAT'S GONNA BE CONCLUDED AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, BUT IF THERE'S CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL, IS THAT AUTOMATICALLY GONNA, UH, THAT MIGHT CONFLICT WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE CONTRACT? IS THAT GONNA AUTOMATICALLY MAKE THOSE CHANGES NULL AND VOID, OR HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? IF THERE'S CHANGES AT THE STATE THAT ACTUALLY CHANGES LANGUAGE OR NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE CONCLUDE WITH THE CON, UH, WITH THE UNION, THOSE CHANGES ARE RE AS OF RIGHT NOW, THOSE CHANGES THAT WE'RE NEGOTIATED AT THE TABLE, THOSE PRIORITIES AROUND THE DISCIPLINARY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED AND PLACED INTO THE CONTRACT.IT REALLY DOESN'T, IF IT, WITH THE CONTRACT IN PLACE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF CHAPTER 1 43 CHANGES OR NOT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE PRIORITIES NEGOTIATING AT THE TABLE.
IT'S UNDER, WE WE'RE, WE'RE ALL CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER CHAPTER 1 74.
UM, 1 43 HAS A, UH, KIND OF A LARGER FOOTPRINT THAN JUST SAN ANTONIO.
WE ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES UNDER CHAPTER 1 43.
UM, BUT, BUT THEY DO NOT INTERSECT.
AND, AND, UH, UH, THE PASSAGE OF THOSE FOUR BILLS, I'M SORRY, THE PASSAGE OF THREE OF THOSE FOUR BILLS, UM, UH, WOULD NOT NE WOULD NOT NEGATE OUR, OUR REQUIREMENT TO NEGOTIATE THEM OR OUR DESIRE TO NEGOTIATE THOSE WITHIN THE CONTRACT, IF I COULD TO TRY TO ERIC, UH, COUNCILMAN WHAT IT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD FACILITATE NEGOTIATION OF THOSE THREE ITEMS WITH THE, UH, WITH THE UNION.
AND THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEAR FROM THE TABLE IS, WHY SHOULD WE NEGOTIATE AWAY THINGS WE HAVE UNDER 1 43? THEREFORE, IF OUR POSITIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S IN 1 43, THAT WOULD FACILITATE, I WOULD IMAGINE, WOULD FACILITATE, UH, COMPLETION OF THOSE ITEMS. OKAY.
WELL, WE'RE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE STILL IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS ALL ENDS UP.
BUT, UM, JUST A, JUST A FINAL THOUGHT, JEFF.
UM, I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ROCHA GARCIA.
YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF, A LOT OF BRIEFINGS GOING ON WITH THE, WITH THE CHAIRMAN, AND NO DISRESPECT TO OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE.
I, I THINK HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT, UH, THERE'S OTHER COUNCIL FOLKS ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND I THINK THAT, UH, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION OR, OR ALL THAT INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE SHARED WITH THE REST OF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, ON ANY CHANGES, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE, THOSE, UH, DISCUSSIONS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, WITH THESE LEG LEGISLATIVE, UH, AGENDA ITEMS. SO I'D APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
UH, WITH THAT, SIR, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRA THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UH, THANK YOU CHAIR AND JEFF, THAT THESE, UH, UPDATES WILL BE COMING ON A WEEKLY BASIS NOW, AND I MAY HAVE SOME, I MAY HAVE SOME TIME.
SO JEFF, PLEASE REACH OUT AS WELL, UH, TO ME TO HELP OUT WHERE I CAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, OUR GOVERNMENT REMAINS A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TRY TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER GROMAN.
UM, AND I'LL JUST CLOSE OUT BY, UH, THANKING THE TEAM AGAIN, OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION, OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE, AND, UH, YOU, JEFF, AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL FOR THE GREAT PREPARATION.
UM, I HAVE MEETINGS WITH COLLEAGUES IN OTHER CITIES, UH, AND THEY ALWAYS LOOK AT OUR OPERATION AS BEING VERY WELL RUN AND PREPARED AND OFTEN, UH, THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION TO SET, UM, YOU KNOW, HELP THE OTHER CITIES GET UP TO SPEED.
SO, UH, LET'S KEEP SETTING THAT STANDARD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S WELL REGARDED.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D SAY IS THAT, UM, THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES.
I KNOW, UH, SOME FOLKS MAY HAVE PERSONAL OPINIONS AND, AND, AND FEELINGS ON THE ISSUES, BUT WHEN WE ADOPT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WE ADOPT THAT AS A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO WHEN WE SPEAK, UH, WE SPEAK IN UNISON, UH, AS ONE VOICE FOR THE CITY AS AN ADOPTED AGENDA.
UH, ANYTHING, UH, OUTSIDE OF THAT IS, IS PERSONAL OPINION, BUT, UH, OPERATING AS, UM, A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY AS, UH, AN AGENT OF THE CITY.
UH, WE ARE, WE HAVE OUR SCRIPT, UM, WE HAVE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS, AND IT'S, UM, DULY, UH, DISCUSSED AND DEBATED ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY AND, AND OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO, UH, THANKS EVERYBODY FOR YOUR, UH, ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THAT AND, UH, JEFF, FOR KEEPING US UP TO SPEED.
[02:05:01]
LET'S GO NOW TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER[16. 21-1960 Ordinance approving the street name change of a portion of South Medina to Carlos Martinez Drive, generally located between Tampico Street and Chihuahua Street. The estimated revenue of $1,643.88 will be deposited in accordance with the FY 2021 Adopted Development Services Fund Budget. [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Michael Shannon, Director, Development Services Department]]
16.ITEM 16 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE STREET NAME CHANGE OF A PORTION OF SOUTH MEDINA TO CARLOS MARTINEZ DRIVE, GENERALLY LOCATED BETWEEN TEMPO STREET AND CHIHUAHUA STREET.
THE ESTIMATED REVENUE IS $1,643 AND 88 CENTS WILL BE DEPOSITED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ADOPTED DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND BUDGET.
ALRIGHT, I THINK THIS ONE IS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
AND, UM, JUST, UH, JOHN CONFIRMING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS.
UM, MAYOR, WE JUST NEED TO, UH, DELAY THIS ITEM UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
UM, IF I COULD JUST GET, UH, A MOTION FOR DELAY SECOND, UH, UH, APRIL 8TH.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UH, CONTINUANCE OF ITEM 16 TO APRIL 8TH.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[18. 21-1890 Ordinance approving a professional services agreement and business plan with San Antonio Economic Development Foundation for a one-year term, with two one-year renewal options for an annual amount of up to $635,000. Funding in the amount of $500,000.00 is available from the FY 2021 Economic Development Incentive Fund and $135,000.00 is available from the FY 2021 General Fund. [Alejandra Lopez; Assistant City Manager and Interim Director, Economic Development]]
ITEM 18.ITEM 18 IS A ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND BUSINESS PLAN WITH SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR A ONE YEAR TERM AND A TWO ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTION FOR AN ANNUAL AMOUNT UP TO $635,000.
FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 IS AVAILABLE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND, AND $135,000 IS AVAILABLE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 GENERAL FUND COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.
I'M SORRY, TINA, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? YES.
ITEM 18 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND BUSINESS PLAN WITH THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM WITH TWO RENEWAL OPTIONS FOR AN ANNUAL AMOUNT UP TO $635,000 FUNDING.
AND THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 IS AVAILABLE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND.
AND $135,000 IS AVAILABLE FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 GENERAL FUND,
WELL, I, I DON'T REMEMBER PULLING THAT, BUT SINCE WE, SINCE WE HAVE THIS RIGHT NOW, I THINK THERE'S A STAFF PRESENTATION TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH THE, WITH THIS PARTICULAR, UM, GROUP OF FOLKS ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY.
AND, UM, WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION IF YOU'D LIKE, FOR US TO SHARE THAT.
AND WE DO HAVE JENNA ALSO AVAILABLE TO JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU PREFER.
UH, IF YOU COULD SUMMARIZE THE PRESENTATION, I, I THINK, UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO JUST HEAR THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING AND, UM, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE CITY KNOWS WHAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING ALSO.
'CAUSE Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING SOME GREAT WORK.
SO I'LL START OFF BY JUST GIVING SOME HIGH LEVEL NOTES ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL TODAY.
UM, IT'S CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, WHICH WE STARTED, UM, IN 2009.
UM, OVER THE PAST, UH, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT HAS LED TO THE CREATION OF 18,000 JOBS AND $2.2 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
OVER THE SAME TIME, THEY HAVE INTEGRATED THE FREE TRADE ALLIANCE AND SA WORKS, WHICH HAS REALLY EXPANDED THEIR SCOPE TO, TO PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AND NOW, UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE EXECUTING A NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, WHICH YOU'LL LEARN MORE, UM, FROM JENNA IN JUST A BIT.
AS FAR AS THE AGREEMENT ITSELF, UM, THE CLERK READ THE AMOUNT, IT'S $635,000 ANNUALLY.
IT IS A PERFORMANCE BASED CONTRACT THAT WILL BE PAID OUT ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS THAT JENNA WILL DESCRIBE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SPONSORSHIP FOR, UM, SMALL MINORITY, UH, AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, UM, AND TO ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF, OF MEMBERSHIP AND TO CONTRIBUTE AS PART OF THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JENNA TO JUST SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
UH, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY, AND GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND MAYOR, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEFLY, UH, DISCUSS OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD.
AND, AND ALEX, I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, REVIEW MIRROR LOOK ON PERFORMANCE.
[02:10:01]
UM, VERY SIMPLY, OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PILLARS.UH, WE ARRIVED AT THE HYPOTHESIS IN OUR PLANNING WITH OVER 60, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND WITH THE HELP OF, OF SEVERAL THOUSAND SAN ANTONIANS THROUGH OUR SURVEYING EFFORTS, WE ARRIVED AT THE SIMPLE HYPOTHESIS THAT IF WE WANTED TO, UH, SECURE VIGOR AND BETTER QUALITY JOBS AND PROJECTS FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, THAT WE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE IN PLACE.
AND SO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE.
WE HAVE THREE PILLARS, JOBS, PEOPLE IN PLACE.
SO UNDER JOBS, OF COURSE, WE'LL FOCUS ON SCALING OUR WORK, UM, AROUND TARGETED CORPORATE RECRUITMENT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH OUR, UH, REGIONAL ALLIES AROUND THE SAN ANTONIO NEW BRAUNFELS, M S A, AND THEN OF COURSE, UH, FOCUS ON BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION.
UH, WHAT YOU'LL SEE GOING FORWARD IS A RENEWED FOCUS ON, UH, INDUSTRY CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT AROUND CYBERSECURITY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND BIOSCIENCES UNDER THE PEOPLE PILLAR.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SCALE OUR WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THROUGH SA WORKS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE INTEGRATING NEW TALENT RETENTION AND TALENT RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES AS WELL, AND PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH OUR AREA UNIVERSITIES.
AND UNDER THE PLACE FUNCTION, WHICH IS A RELATIVELY NEW PILLAR FOR US, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN MARKETING THE REGION.
UM, AND THEN ALSO INTEGRATION AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN AND REGIONAL CENTERS INITIATIVES.
SO, WORKING WITH ALEX AND TEAM TO BRING THE SA TOMORROW PLAN TO LIFE, UM, AND IN ALIGNING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WITH IT.
SO THAT'S THE PLAN IN A NUTSHELL.
AS ALEX MENTIONED, WE HAVE, UH, KPIS, KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TIED TO OUR JOBS, PEOPLE IN PLACE PILLARS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, UH, WE'RE TRACKING JOB COUNTS, CAPITAL INVESTMENT, BUT WE'RE ALSO TRACKING, UM, THE WAGES OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE SECURING, UH, WHEN THEY SELECT CERTAIN ZIP CODES OR CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIES OF TOWN.
UM, UNDER THE PEOPLE SIDE, WE'RE TRACKING, UH, COLLEGE READINESS.
WE'RE TRACKING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION SPECIFICALLY IN OUR TARGETED INDUSTRIES.
AND ON THE PEOPLE SIDE, WE'RE TRACKING OUR MARKETING EFFECTIVENESS, RIGHT? THINK NET PROMOTER SCORE, THINK BRAND AWARENESS, ET CETERA.
UM, OF COURSE THESE KPIS ARE, UH, SIGNIFICANT IN NUMBER.
UM, BUT WHAT I'M MOST PROUD ABOUT IS THE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR NEW COMMUNITY DASHBOARD, WHICH TRACKS, OF COURSE, ALL THE WORK THAT E D F DOES DIRECTLY BUT TRULY STACKS UP OUR PERFORMANCE, OUR ECONOMIC HEALTH PERFORMANCE WITH 10 OTHER, UH, COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND SO THESE ARE INDICATORS THAT WE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY TOUCH DIRECTLY TODAY WITH THE PROJECT, BUT IDEALLY, IF WE'RE SECURING THE RIGHT TYPES OF PROJECTS FOR OUR SAN ANTONIO REGION, WE WILL SEE INDICATORS LIKE, UH, G R P GROWTH, UH, G D P PER CAPITA MEETING, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, ET CETERA, IMPROVE OVER TIME.
UH, SO WE'VE GOT THE COMMUNITY DASHBOARD, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR E D F PERFORMANCE SCORECARD.
AND AS ALEX MENTIONED, THIS CONTRACT IS PAID FOR PAY FOR PERFORMANCE, WHICH I WELCOME, UM, BECAUSE SHE'S BASICALLY GOING TO BE PAYING FOR, UM, THE JOBS AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE SECURING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SERVICE TERRITORY.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, AND I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL.
NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JENNA AND ALEX.
I, I, I, I THINK THIS IS GREAT.
AND WHAT, WHAT'S REAL MUSIC TO MY EARS IS THE, THE METRICS INVOLVED IN THIS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY YOU GET PAID ON YOUR PERFORMANCE.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, EXCITED ABOUT ACTUALLY SEEING THOSE METRICS AND THEN, UH, HOW WE'RE GONNA MEASURE THOSE METRICS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE DATA THAT'S GOING, UM, BE PUT INTO THOSE METRICS AND HOW, HOW YOUR PERFORMANCE IS GONNA GO.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAD A TOUGH TIME THIS LAST YEAR.
UM, UM, I THINK I WON BET WITH YOU TOO,
UM, BUT, UH, UM, YEAH, THANKS TO COVID, I GUESS.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, I, I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THE PROGRAM SUCCEEDING AND, UH, MEASURING THOSE, THOSE POINTS THAT WE CAN AND MOVING THIS ALONG ALONG DOWN THE ROAD.
WITH THAT, SIR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE.
ALRIGHT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 18.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER H THANK YOU MAYOR.
THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, ALEX AND JENNA, WILL YOU PLEASE EXPAND ON THE KEY INDICATORS AND GOALS IN THE PEOPLE PILLAR SPECIFICALLY, I'M LOOKING FOR, UM, INFORMATION ON THE CAREER PATHWAY AND GRADUATION RETENTION PROGRAM PIECE.
ALEX, DO YOU WANNA SHARE THAT SLIDE? IS THAT POSSIBLE? I BELIEVE SO, JOHN, I THINK SHE'S REFERENCING SLIDE, UH, 13.
AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN, I'LL MENTION THAT AGAIN, THE DASHBOARD IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR DIRECT SCORECARD, UM, ON THE DASHBOARD, UM, WHERE WE'RE STACK RANKING
[02:15:01]
OURSELVES UP AGAINST THE 10 OTHER COMMUNITIES, WE'RE TRACKING INDICATORS LIKE WAGE GROWTH, UM, JOB GROWTH, TARGET INDUSTRY GROWTH, FORTUNE 500, HEADQUARTERS, LABOR, PRODUCTIVITY, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.BUT HERE IS WHERE YOU DIVE INTO OUR E D F SCORECARD.
AND SO AS YOU SEE, UM, UNDER PEOPLE, WE HAVE WORKFORCE INQUIRIES TO E D F INDUSTRY JOB FILL RATIO.
I DON'T NEED TO TO READ ALL OF THEM FOR YOU.
IF I HAD TO, THE, I CAN'T PICK A FAVORITE CHILD, BUT I WILL HEAR, UM, IF I HAD TO PICK THE INDICATOR THAT I THINK IS MOST RELEVANT TO OUR CONVERSATIONS TODAY, UM, THE JOB FILL RATIO IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
YOU KNOW, SA WORKS WAS FOUNDED BECAUSE WE HAD SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN, IN FILLING JOBS ON THE EMPLOYER SIDE.
UM, AND WE'VE GOT THE PEOPLE, THE CHALLENGE IS THAT THE SKILL SETS FOR OUR AVAILABLE TALENT POOL WEREN'T NECESSARILY ALIGNING UP WITH THE DEMAND.
SO WE HAD A SUPPLY AND DEMAND GAP, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS.
AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE NEAREST TERM AND MOST IMPORTANT INDICATOR THAT WE TRACK.
BUT IN THE LONG TERM, WE CERTAINLY WANNA SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS INCREASE WITHIN TARGET DEMAND INDUSTRIES AS WELL ON THE CAREER PATHWAYS AWARENESS.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE JUST, UH, IMPLEMENTED THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE WE DEPLOYED OUR CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAMMING.
AND, UM, IT'S AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AROUND TARGETING OUR DISPLACED WORKERS AND YOUTH, UH, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TO JUST INFORM THEM ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN OUR IN DEMAND INDUSTRIES.
AND YOU CAN MAKE SIX FIGURES WORKING IN MANUFACTURING WITH A TWO YEAR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION.
AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT.
WE ALSO WANT OUR YOUTH TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES IN CYBERSECURITY.
AND OFTENTIMES, UM, IF THEY DON'T HAVE DIRECT EXPOSURE, IF THEY DON'T SEE PEOPLE, UH, IN THOSE, UH, SPECIFIC CAREER PATHWAYS WHEN THEY'RE GROWING UP, THEY WON'T EVER PURSUE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE HAVE MORE TO DO THERE IN LAUNCHING THE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
AND THEN HERE'S WHERE WE'RE TRACKING OUR, UH, PERFORMANCE THERE.
SO YOU SEE A LOT OF BASELINE, UH, INFORMATION.
WILL YOU GO OVER THE, UH, THE FAVORABILITY AND CONS, THE CAREER PATHWAYS FAVORABILITY AND CONSIDERATION? YEAH, SO THAT MORE, YEAH.
SO THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE TRACKING OUR PENETRATION.
SO WE WOULD, THEN WE WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THESE CAMPAIGNS THAT WE DEPLOY.
SO WE JUST STARTED WITH MANUFACTURING AND SKILL TRADES AND CYBERSECURITY'S COMING NEXT, BUT THIS WOULD BASICALLY BE A FOLLOW UP.
SO IF YOU THINK IN TERMS OF MARKETING OR ADVERTISING INDICATORS, WE WOULD THEN GO SURVEY THE POPULATIONS OF FOLKS THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO TARGET AND SEE IF WE'RE MOVING THE NEEDLE THERE.
ARE THEY AWARE AND ARE THEY FINDING THESE, UH, CAREER PATHWAYS FAVORABLE? OKAY.
AND HOW ABOUT THE CONSIDERATION? SAME THING.
SO, SO WOULD THEY CONSIDER FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE DEGREE, UH, ONE OF THESE CAREER PATHWAYS? SO YOU CAN USE MANUFACTURING AS AN EXAMPLE, AND THIS WOULD JUST BE A, A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEYING OF THOSE TARGET AUDIENCES TO SEE HOW THEY FEEL.
AND IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE CAREER PATHWAYS, WE'D ALSO HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE SURVEYS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO PENETRATE TODAY, UH, AND ENGAGE WITH OUR YOUTH, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE STAYING ON THOSE CAREER PATHWAYS AND CONSIDERING THEM TO BE VIABLE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES.
HOW OFTEN ARE YOU SURVEYING THEM OR DO YOU PLAN TO SURVEY THEM? WE HAVEN'T, UM, IRONED ALL THAT OUT YET.
WE'RE STILL IN LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN, AND SO THESE, THAT'S WHY IT SAID BASELINE.
SO THESE FOLLOW UPS ARE WHERE WE, WE PROBABLY SURVEY INITIALLY, SEE HOW THAT GOES, AND THEN I ASSUME, UH, COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF LIKE QUARTERLY CADENCE, BUT WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED ANY OF THAT.
UM, JENNA, AS ALWAYS, YOU, YOU EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.
UM, AND I HAVE A, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I HEARD THE NUMBERS CORRECT.
ALEX SAID, HOW, HOW MANY JOBS, 18,000 JOBS OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? YES, SIR.
AND THEN $2.2 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A, I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT NUMBERS.
UM, AND THAT'S, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD TO ALL ENDURE THE 2020 CATASTROPHE OF, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC AND, AND ALL THAT, AND SO
I'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE TEAM AT THE E D F, AND, AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY HARD IN COLLABORATION WITH ALEX AND, AND THE COUNTIES TEAM TOO.
UH, U SS A A IS IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST FUNDERS.
UM, TO, TO THE TUNE OF, WELL, UM, THEY'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING, OH, WITH OUR, UH, REGIONAL PLAN, UM, BUT THEY'RE JUST SHY OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
[02:20:01]
SS A A FOR, UH, FOR, FOR BEING THE WIND IN OUR SAILS.UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, A SNAPSHOT OF 2020 THOUGH, UM, OR, OR JUST A SORT OF A PANDEMIC SNAPSHOT JUST TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE REALLY BUSY, BUT IF, IF I CAN IMPOSE UPON YOU AT SOME POINT TO, TO GET US THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I, I, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, THAT WE NAME IT, THAT WE POINTED OUT, RIGHT, THAT, AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DEFINE THE EXTREMES TO WHICH, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAD TO WORK, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PANDEMIC IMPACT WASN'T WORSE, UH, THAN, THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN.
UH, BUT FOR Y'ALL'S WORK, UM, I, I'D ALSO, UH, LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATION THAT E D F, UH, ENGAGES IN WITH OTHER AGENCIES, UH, ASIDE, JUST FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ALSO AN, YOU KNOW, TO, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT JUST THE E D F JENNA AND HER TEAM, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS A, THIS IS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, RIGHT? BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLKS.
UM, AND, AND I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERPLAY OF, OF, OF THOSE.
UM, SO, UH, IF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, AND THEN I, I THINK AS WE MAKE THE CASE TO THE PUBLIC, AS, YOU KNOW, TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING, I THINK IT'S ALSO TO BE ABLE TO SAY, LOOK, IF WE DIDN'T MAKE THE INVESTMENT, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, RIGHT? UM, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE BUT FOR ARGUMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PROVE THAT, YOU KNOW, OR, OR HELP ESTABLISH THAT WITH METRICS, BUT I'M SURE THAT THERE IS SOME WAY THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, THE VALUE OF ASIDE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I, I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY SAYING, WELL, THOSE 2.2 BILLION DO JOBS WOULD'VE COME HERE REGARDLESS, RIGHT? UH, I'M SORRY, THOSE $2.2 BILLION OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT WOULD'VE, YOU KNOW, HAPPENED ORGANICALLY WITHOUT THE HELP OF, OF THE E D F, RIGHT? I, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SWAP THAT AWAY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HELP US DO? OH, DEFINITELY.
UM, THERE'S SO MUCH IN WHAT YOU JUST UNPACKED THERE, UM, THROUGH THE VALUE OF BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION, RIGHT? WE DON'T EVER HEAR ABOUT THE, THE JOBS THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO RETAIN AND DO RETAIN, UH, THROUGH OUR BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM.
TYPICALLY, WHAT GETS THE HEADLINES ARE THE RELOCATION DEALS, RIGHT? AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF MATTHEWS AND COUNCILWOMAN.
UH, ANDREW SULLIVAN, THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AS WELL.
UM, BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT, UH, ORGANIZATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO, THE, THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS BY INDUSTRY LIKE TECH BLOCK, BIOMED, SAN ANTONIO AND OTHERS.
AND THEN ON THE WORKFORCE SIDE, THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE EVEN MORE EXPANSIVE IF YOU, UH, BASICALLY COMPOUND THAT WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE LARGER REGIONAL SERVICE TERRITORY.
WE'RE ONLY EXPANDING, UM, THE, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.
BUT GOING TO YOUR DISCRETE QUESTION ABOUT THE VALUE ADD, WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THAT.
SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T MENTION IS THIS NEW PLAN, THIS NEW, UH, REGIONAL PLAN, UM, IT WILL EXPECT TO INJECT ABOUT $55 BILLION OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN OUR SCORECARD, THOSE ARE DIRECT JOBS.
THOSE ARE PROJECTS WORKED AND SECURED, BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ARE ALL THE INDIRECT VALUE ADDS, UM, TO THE, TO THE ECONOMY.
SO MORE TO COME THERE AND WE CAN FOLLOW.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT, RIGHT? THE INDIRECT MULTIPLIER, RIGHT.
BUTTERFLY EFFECT, RIGHT? UM, AND, AND ALL OF US CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE ALL HAVE TO FACE OUR VOTERS AT HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS AND AT DIFFERENT GROUPS.
AND INVARIABLY, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE PERSON WHO STANDS UP AND SAYS, UM, YOU GUYS ARE JUST GIVEN FREE MONEY TO FAT CATS, AND IT BENEFITS NOBODY, RIGHT? AND, UH, THAT'S OKAY.
NOT EVERYBODY IS EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND MULTIPLIER EFFECT, RIGHT? UM, AND INDIRECT JOB CREATION.
BUT IT DOES HELP ME IF I CAN HOLD UP SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AND, AND EXPLAIN WITH, WITH, WITH DATA, RIGHT? WHY THAT POSITION IS SILLY.
UM, THE THE OTHER THING THAT YOU KNOW, MORE OF US HERE, UH, FROM TIME TO TIME IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MOST BUSINESS UNFRIENDLY CITY COUNCIL THAT HAS EVER EXISTED UNDER THE SUN AND THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO AND
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT OR TRYING TO MISINFORM PEOPLE OR, OR JUST BELIEVING HOOK LINE AND SYNC OR SOMETHING THEY'VE HEARD, UH, FROM SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S EQUALLY MISINFORMED.
AND SO, UH, AGAIN, OUR JOB IS HERE ON CITY COUNCIL TO INFORM PEOPLE OF OUR EFFORTS AND THE GOOD WORK THAT ALEX AND HER TEAM DOES AND THE CHAMBERS DO, AND THAT YOUR TEAM DO TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT THEY CAN BE PROUD OF, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, ANYWAY, I I THINK I'M BEATING A DEAD HORSE.
IS IS THE POINT, UH, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU GUYS ACCOMPLISH NEXT.
[02:25:01]
I APPRECIATE THAT.UH, THANK YOU JENNIFER, YOUR, FOR BEING HERE WITH US AND FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS WORK OF THAT AND, AND YOUR TEAM.
UH, ALWAYS EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT YOU BRING US, YOUR PLANS AND YOUR RESULTS.
SO GREAT WORK, UH, TO THE TEAM.
MY QUESTION IS, UH, FOR ALEX, IF YOU'RE OKAY THERE, YOU'RE, EVERYONE KEEPS MOVING AROUND IN THE, IN THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARE HERE.
UM, UH, ALEX, RECENTLY THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE EXPRESS NEWS DID IT REGARDING CYBERSECURITY SAN ANTONIO, AND I THINK YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH, WITH WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, UH, HOW THAT IS A PROGRAM BEING RIGHT NOW RUN OUT OF THE CHAMBER.
INITIALLY, THIS IS THE, THIS STARTED LONG BEFORE I WAS ON COUNCIL.
UM, THERE HAD BEEN PLANS TO MOVE IT OVER TO, TO E D F, UH, BUT THAT, THAT NEVER, UH, REALLY HAPPENED.
AND NOW THAT'S A CONTRACT WE DON'T SEE HERE BECAUSE IT'S, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS AT THE $50,000 LEVEL.
SO WE DON'T GET THE BENEFIT OF, OF THE GREAT DEBRIEF THAT, THAT, LIKE WHAT JENNA BRINGS US.
UM, SO, UH, IT'S FUNNY TO HEAR FROM YOU.
UM, WAS THE CITY CONSIDERING RECENTLY MOVING THAT OVER TO E D F? IF, IF NOT, WHY NOT? UM, AND, AND HOW THAT'S GOING.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, I THINK THAT COLLABORATION WE'RE, WE CONTINUED IT THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THE, THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER IS DEFINITELY REWORKING THAT, REALLY TRYING TO INCORPORATE CYBERSECURITY AS PART OF ITS, UM, ONGOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIONS, LIKE JENNA MENTIONED.
UM, THEY ARE PART OF ONE OF THE PARTNERS THAT SHE WORKS WITH.
SO THERE WAS A VERY INTENTIONAL, AND THERE IS A VERY INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON CYBERSECURITY THAT THE CHAMBER, UM, LEADS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.
THEY HAVE BROUGHT TOGETHER A NUMBER OF REALLY CRITICAL INDUSTRY PLAYERS, UM, INCLUDING THE MILITARY AS WELL.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, TO, TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT, UM, AND THE COLLABORATION THAT JENNA STILL BUILDS WITH THEM AS WELL.
I, AT SOME POINT, I, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE SOME KIND OF, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY OR REPORT SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, WHAT JENNA BRINGS US, UH, ALONG THOSE LINES.
UH, AND IT'S, UH, FUNNY, COUNCILMAN LIA SAID TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THE COUNCIL IS NOT BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE DO FIND OURSELVES AT ODDS WITH, UH, WITH THE GREATER CHAMBERS ZONE.
IT'S PECULIAR THAT WE ARE IN THIS, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
UM, AND, AND JUST A, A SMALL COMMENT, I, I THINK COUNCILMAN EZ IS RIGHT.
IT'S GREAT TO, UH, TO HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT JENNA BRINGS US TO SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE.
SO I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT TOO.
I, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT CALLING, UM, MAYBE RESIDENTS WHO, WHO DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION.
I WOULD CALL THAT PERHAPS AN UNINFORMED COMMENT, BUT, BUT SILLY, UH, WOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT APPROPRIATE.
IT'S OUR JOB TO INFORM THEM, OUR JOB TO INFORM THEM.
COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, COUNCIL MEMBER GRA THANK YOU.
UH, JENNA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ALL OF YOUR WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH SS A D F AND YOUR TEAM.
AND IT IS, UH, IT IS MY HONOR TO BE WORKING WITH YOU ALL THROUGH AS CO-CHAIR OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WORKING ON THAT WITH, UM, ROLANDO PALOS AND OTHERS, AND, UM, TO BE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO STOPPING EVEN DURING 2020 AND THE PANDEMIC.
AND I CELEBRATE ALL OF THE WORK IN THE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU AND ALEX AND OUR E D D HAVE DONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC AND THOSE THAT WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT ALL OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, LIKE OUR GREAT, UM, EXPANSION OF NAVISTAR AND ALL OF THE OTHER REGIONAL PLANS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD.
SO I, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE E W D C COMMITTEE AND PRESENTING TO OUR COMMITTEE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE, UM, THAT, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND I, I THINK THE IDEA FOR THAT PANDEMIC SNAPSHOT IS A GREAT, I IS A GREAT IDEA.
SO WE CAN JUST SEE HOW, UH, MUCH WE WERE STILL ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
UH, JUST, JUST THREE QUICK POINTS.
UM, AND, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID THIS, BUT I,
[02:30:01]
YOU KNOW, E D F HAS BEEN, UH, AND JENNA AND HER WHOLE TEAM HAVE BEEN, UM, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT PARTNERS OF THE CITY, BUT, UM, THEY WERE REALLY, THEY WERE, UH, INTEGRAL TO A LOT OF THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, UH, LAST YEAR.AND I WANTED TO THANK, UH, JENNA AND THE, AND THE WHOLE E D F TEAM.
UH, I THINK WE REALLY CAME TOGETHER AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
THEY HAD TO PUT THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN ON HOLD, AND THEY REACTED.
AND, AND I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S WORTH RECOGNIZING, UH, AND I, I, JENNA, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID TO HELP US LAST YEAR AND THAT YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO, AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND COUNCILWOMAN TO BERAN, UH, KNOW THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE, UH, THE, THE, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT COUNCILWOMAN HAGER WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE PILLAR, A LOT OF THAT IS, IS, IS GONNA BE TIED TO ALREADY TO WORK EFFORT.
UM, AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEGUN, AND, AND I, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AS MANY THINGS AS WE SHOULD BE DOING, WHETHER IT'S DELEGATE AGENCIES OR WORK WITH E D F, EVERYTHING SHOULD FUNNEL AND SUPPORT AND LEAN TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL.
AND I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COUNCIL KNOW THAT THAT GOES, UH, THAT RINGS TRUE HERE WITH THE WORK WITH E D F THAT WE'LL BE DOING GOING FORWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, I JUST WANNA REITERATE A POINT THAT, THAT ALEX TALKED ABOUT AT HER, AT HER ORIGINAL BRIEFING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY IN THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO E D F IS THAT WE WILL BE SPONSORING SMALL BUSINESS, UH, MEMBERSHIP INTO E D F.
UM, BIG, BIG, BIG COMPANIES ARE, ARE, ARE HUGE BEACONS OF, OF OUR ECONOMY.
BUT, UM, I THINK AS WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH E D F LAST YEAR AND CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS LIKE THE F C C, WE ALL RECOGNIZE, AND, AND I KNOW THIS COUNCIL CERTAINLY RECOGNIZES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES PLAYED A HUGE ROLE.
AND SO PART OF THAT CITY CONTRIBUTION IS GONNA GO TOWARDS SPONSORING THOSE MEMBERSHIPS, SO WE CAN KEEP BRINGING THAT SECTOR INTO THE LARGER EFFORT THAT, UH, JENNA AND HER TEAM ARE, ARE WORKING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THOSE POINTS.
AND, UM, I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH A FEW COMMENTS.
UH, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOUR TEAM AND, AND YOUR STEAD, UH, DID A FABULOUS JOB, UH, KEEPING EVERYBODY INFORMED.
UM, FOR THOSE, UH, FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE E D F DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UH, THEY'LL NOTE THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS, UH, HERE UNDER, UH, JENNA'S LEADERSHIP.
UH, IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS 'CAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PRESS FORWARD.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THE REGIONAL STRATEGY, UH, JENNA, WHICH I THINK IS, UM, GONNA PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS IN, IN OUR APPROACH.
UM, BUT WHEN I FIRST GOT TO COUNCIL AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN AND GONZALEZ WILL REMEMBER THIS, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MISSION WAS SO DISPERSED, UH, AND FRACTURED.
UH, MEANWHILE, WE WERE BASICALLY TARGETING ANY OPPORTUNITY WHATSOEVER WITHOUT WHAT MUCH, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WITHOUT MUCH REFLECTION ON WHAT WE NEED, UH, AS A COMMUNITY.
AND SO, UM, THE WORK TO CONSOLIDATE, UM, THE APPROACH AND, AND FOCUS ON OUR TARGETED INDUSTRIES, I THINK IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THESE RESULTS ACCELERATE.
UH, I ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB IN GETTING THE ORGANIZATIONS AND SECTORS RALLIED AROUND, UH, THE VISION, UH, FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, UH, THAT I CAN RECALL THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS FULLY INVESTED NOW IN THE FUTURE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT, THAT IS GOING TO BE HUGE.
AND I'M, UH, ANXIOUS TO SEE THE RESULTS THAT, UH, RANDY AND AND MICHAEL ARE CONTINUING TO, TO MOVE FORWARD ON AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE THING FOR THE FUTURE, AND IT'S COME UP A COUPLE TIMES, IS THAT THERE, THERE STILL IS, I THINK, SOME OVERLAP AND, UM, MAYBE SOME CONFUSION IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND PERHAPS EVEN IN, WITHIN THESE WALLS ABOUT WHERE, WHERE THE, UM, COMPETENCIES AND MISSIONS, UM, DIFFER BETWEEN THE CHAMBERS AND THE E D F.
UM, IN MANY WAYS, I VIEW THE CHAMBER AS SORT OF THE, THE FAMILY THAT YOU BRING HOME, UH, OR, OR THE, THE FAMILY THAT YOU BRING PROSPECTS HOME TO.
UH, WHILE THE, YOU KNOW, THE E D F MISSION IS REALLY OUR FORWARD ARM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, THIS IS MANIFEST, I THINK IN, IN WHAT, UH, I FORGOT WHO BROUGHT IT UP, BUT THE, THE, THE CYBER DISCUSSION THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK WE HAVE TO WORK TO FIGURE THAT OUT, UH, WHICH WILL
[02:35:01]
CONTINUE TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT IN OUR OPERATIONS, UH, AND ALSO HELP DELINEATE RESPONSIBILITIES IN COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE NEED ALL OF IT.UH, WE NEED THE CHAMBERS, UH, WE NEED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION MISSION.
UH, BUT I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE BLUNTING OUR EFFECT IF WE DON'T FIGURE OUT THOSE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT ALSO, UH, WE SEE IT CROP UP IN THE MILITARY MISSIONS AS WELL AS WE, AS WE WORK TO LAND MISSIONS HERE.
SO, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS, AS EVERYTHING ELSE ADVANCES.
BUT, UM, AND ALSO UNDERSCORE WHAT, WHAT ERIC SAID, WE FINALLY ARE, ARE ALSO, UH, TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN ADDITION TO, UM, THE LARGE BUSINESSES.
AND I'M, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
SO GREAT JOB, JENK, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED PROGRESS AND, AND BRINGING IN SOME BIG WINS FOR OUR CITY, UH, THAT COME IN FROM OUTSIDE, BUT ALSO THAT ORIGINATE FROM RIGHT HERE, UH, WITHIN OUR HOMEGROWN BUSINESSES IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WE'RE STILL PROUD OF.
UH, SO WITH THAT, UH, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF I ITEM 18, HEARING FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UM, OKAY, LET'S GO TO ITEM 27.
[27. 21-1615 Ordinance approving an Interlocal Agreement with the San Antonio River Authority for the development and use of a predictive flood modeling system. There is no fiscal impact associated with this Agreement. [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Director, Public Works]]
ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVED IN AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF A PREDICTIVE FLOOD MODELING SYSTEM.THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND I THINK THIS ONE IS GOING OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
I, I PULLED THIS ITEM, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, LIKE IN SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS IN SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS, UH, DRAINAGE CHALLENGES, UH, AND, UH, AND FLOODS.
UH, AND I, UH, I WAS SPEAKING WITH, UH, SOME FOLKS FROM SARAH, UH, RECENTLY, AND, UH, AND I FOUND THIS, THIS PROJECT THAT THEY'LL BE WORKING ON IS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING AND WILL HELP US IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, UH, FOR FLOODS OR OTHER TYPES OF, UH, POSSIBLE EVENTS.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A STAFF GIVE THE, THE PRESENTATION.
JOHN, CAN YOU PULL UP THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M REZI OI, DIRECTOR OF CITY ENGINEER.
THIS IS PROJECT IS CITYWIDE PROJECT, NO FISCAL IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THIS PROJECT, SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, DEVELOPING A FLOOD SIMULATION MODEL TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE THROUGH A PRE PREVIOUS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
TERMINATED IN MAY, 2022, I L A WILL PROVIDE FOR AN UPDATE TO CURRENT FLOOD MODELING SYSTEM.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, JOHN, FOR FLOOD MODELING WILL BE PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING RIVER IN SAN ANTONIO, BEAR COUNTY AREA, SAN ANTONIO RIVER, LEON CREEK, S CREEK, UPPER CILO CREEK, CASS CREEK, MARTINEZ CREEK, LOWER SAN ANTONIO RIVER, LOWER ME RIVER.
SARAH WILL DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND MAINTAIN PREDICTABLE FLOOD MODELING SYSTEM.
KOA WILL INCORPORATE THE FLOOD MODELING INTO ITS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF PREDICTIVE FLOOD MODELING SYSTEM.
AND WE HAVE STEPH FROM SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE.
IT SOUNDED REALLY EXCITING WHEN SARAH TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT,
UM, SO MANNY, YOUR MIC IS UNMUTED.
IS THERE? I CAN'T, I WAS ACTUALLY HOPING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF, A BIT OF A, UM, A DEMO.
MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SARAH ALSO EXPLAIN WHAT, WHAT THE PROJECT IS, OR, OR, OR NEPHEW.
COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS, UH, THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL THAT WE ARE ENTERING WITH THE RIVER AUTHORITY.
THE, THE, THE PRODUCT IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE
[02:40:01]
VERY EXCITING AS THE COUNCILWOMAN EXPLAINED.UH, UNFORTUNATELY RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL AT A, AT A PLACE WHERE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON DEVELOPING THESE COMPUTERIZED MODELS THAT IN, IN A SHORT IN, IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL BE ABLE ABLE TO, AS A STORM IS APPROACHING SAN ANTONIO, WE WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT STORM WILL GENERATE AS FAR AS A FLOOD PLAN, AS FAR AS OUR FLOOD RISK.
SO IT'S GONNA BE CRITICAL TO OUR, TO OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, OUR STAFF AND PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND, UH, AND VARIOUS OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO KNOW WHAT THAT IMPACT IS GOING TO BE.
UH, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE, THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS, OF THESE MODELS.
UM, IF, IF I, IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD A HURRICANE HARVEY AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, WE WERE ASKED TO THE QUESTION, WHAT IF HURRICANE HARVEY HAD ACTUALLY HIT SAN ANTONIO? AND, UH, WE USE THIS TYPE OF MODELING TO CREATE THAT, THAT IMAGE AND THAT, UH, THOSE RESULTS.
SO THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE AVAILABLE FOR EVERY STORM EVENT.
UM, A COUPLE OF, UH, STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE RIVER AUTHORITY, INCLUDING ERIN TEAGUE IS, IS ON THE, IS ON THE CALL ALSO.
UH, WHO COULD MAYBE, UM, INTRODUCE HERSELF AND HER, HER STAFF MEMBER? THANK YOU, NFI.
I'M THE MANAGER OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING FOR THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
ALSO ON THE CALL IS, UH, ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO IS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, UH, TIVA KOTA.
AND IT IS A VERY EXCITING, UH, PROJECT.
THIS PREDICTIVE FLOOD MODELING SYSTEM ACTUALLY INGESTS REAL TIME RADAR RAINFALL FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, AND IN REAL TIME RUNS THE MODELS AND MAPS THE PREDICTED FLOODPLAIN.
SO WE'RE HOPING WITH THIS I L A, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING THE SOPHISTICATION OF THIS TECHNOLOGY TO THE E O C IN ORDER TO HELP OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME WITH THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS AND PLANS.
UH, HOPING TO BE A RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, THROUGH WHAT REALLY IS A CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY AT THIS POINT.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, THANK YOU, ERIN, FOR, FOR JOINING US.
SO, SO FOR INSTANCE, UH, TODAY WE HAVE TO HAVE CREWS GO OUT, UH, AND SEE WHAT THE, THE FLOOD LEVELS ARE LIKE, UH, IN THE EVENT OF A, OF A MAJOR STORM, ONCE THIS SYSTEM IS IN PLACE, DOES THAT MEAN, UH, THEY WILL STILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND PUT THEIR LIVES ON, ON THE LINE TO SEE THAT? OR HOW WILL THEY GET THAT INFORMATION? C COUNCILWOMAN, LET ME ADDRESS THAT ONE TODAY, WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THE LOW WATER CROSSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WHEN IT START RAINING, WE USUALLY GO SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND CLOSE THOSE LOW WATER CROSSING.
THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO GIVE US MUCH, MUCH IN ADVANCE.
WE KNOW CERTAIN LOW WATER GOING, LOW WATER CROSSING IS GOING TO FLOOD.
WE END UP CLOSING THOSE MUCH, MUCH IN ADVANCE AND SAVING THEIR LIFE FOR PUBLIC.
AND SO ALSO FOR OUR OWN STAFF, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO DURING THE DAY TO CLOSING LOW WATER CROSSING.
THIS WILL BE GIVING, AGAIN, ADVANCED NOTICE FOR US TO TAKE SOME ACTION.
I JUST WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT HOW IT WOULD BE USED AND WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THAT TO BE OPERATIONAL
WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME RAINFALL EVENT TO RUN THROUGH THE SYSTEM, MAKE SURE, MAKE SURE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED.
BUT THE PROGRAM, IT'LL BE DONE BY LATE THIS YEAR.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A, A DEMO ONCE THAT'S ALL, UH, READY TO GO.
AND THANKS FOR JOINING US, AARON, I MOVE TO APPROVE.
THERE WAS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND, UH, ON ITEM 27.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL, THINK YOU'RE MUTED.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL FOR BRINGING THIS ONE TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, AND I THINK THIS IS GONNA RESULT IN SAVING LIVES.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
AND, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND ALL THAT, THEY, THEY, UH, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY REALLY LIMIT, UH, THE, UH, THE, UH, WHAT SUSTAINABILITY REALLY MEANS.
AND I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PREDICTING, UH, PREDICTING, YOU KNOW, UH, DISASTERS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN, AND THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, UH, THAT IT'S GOING TO, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OUTFALL IS, UH, KEY TO REALLY UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT IS THAT WE CAN, UH, AFFECT CHANGE, UM, AND
[02:45:01]
HELP PEOPLE THRIVE AND BE MORE RESILIENT.UM, COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL'S WORK IN THIS AREA IS, IT SHOULD NOT BE DISCOUNTED, AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
UM, AND SO I I DO WANNA POINT OUT THERE'S SOME REALLY GREAT READING OUT THERE.
UH, GOOGLE HAD BEEN WORKING ON PREDICTIVE FLOOD MODELING, UM, USING, UH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THIS STUFF IS REALLY CUTTING EDGE AND NEPHI.
UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SO PLEASED THAT WE'RE EMBRACING THIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA BEHIND FLOODING HAS ALWAYS BEEN BASICALLY, LET'S JUST SAY WHAT IS A 50, A HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLANE? AND, UH, LET'S JUST TELL PEOPLE YOU CAN BUILD HERE AND YOU CAN'T BUILD THERE.
AND THEN WE INSTALL INFRASTRUCTURE TO DIVERT WATER.
BUT I THINK THIS, THIS WHOLE IDEA OF PREDICTING WHERE THE WATER WILL BE, UH, BEFORE IT'S ACTUALLY THERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH DATA IS REALLY GONNA HELP US AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC, UM, THAT WE HAVE ACCURATELY FORECASTED THIS.
UM, AND THEN IT'S GONNA HELP, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY FROM, FROM ERIC ALL THE WAY ON DOWN, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES ON THE STREET, HELPING FOLKS OUT, UM, IN DECISION MAKING, UM, AND TO COORDINATE, UH, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
UH, I, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING, I I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE UNDERSTATED AT ALL.
AND THIS ONE'S WORTHY OF, OF FURTHER STUDY.
AND SO, UM, NEPHI, UH, I, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE, UM, YOU KNOW, A REGULAR UPDATE ON HOW THIS IS WORKING.
'CAUSE, UM, THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE WORK ON, UH, GOING FORWARD AS FAR AS OUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS.
AND SO, ANYWAY, DID I THINK COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL ENOUGH TODAY? UH, I THINK, UH, I, I, I CAN'T DO THAT ENOUGH.
UH, I WANTED TO THANK, UH,
I'M, I'M ALSO ENCOURAGED BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO GOING TO LEND TO THE, UM, TO THE TRANSPARENCY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN SEE THIS PREDICTIVE FLOODING.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY AND ASSURANCE.
SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS, OR SEEING THIS POSSIBLY IMPLEMENTED ON MICKEY ROAD AND THE OTHER LOW WATER CROSSINGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
OKAY, UM, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 27.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE GOT, UH, A FEW ITEMS ON OUR ZONING AGENDA TO BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY.
[Z-1. 21-2354 ZONING CASE Z-2020-10700266 (Council District 1): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "C-3 NCD-1 AHOD" General Commercial South Presa Street and South St. Mary’s Street Neighborhood Conservation Airport Hazard Overlay District to “IDZ-2 NCD-1 AHOD” Medium Intensity Development Zone South Presa Street and South St. Mary’s Street Neighborhood Conservation Airport Hazard Overlay District with uses permitted in “C-2” Commercial District and for ten (10) dwelling units on Lots 1 through 6, NCB 6857, located at 114 West Carolina Street. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval.]
ONE.ITEM Z ONE IS FROM REZONING FROM C THREE TO I D Z, WITH USES PERMITTED IN C TWO FOR 10 DWELLING UNITS LOCATED AT 1 1 4 WEST CAROLINA STREET.
STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
NOTICES MAILED ZERO IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED LAVACCA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED.
AND THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE TO APRIL 15TH.
UH, THE APPLICANT ON THIS CASE REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE AS THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING ON THE PROPERTY.
A MOTION TO GRANT A TWO WEEK CONTINUANCE ON THIS ITEM.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE, UM, OF ITEM Z ONE.
AND, UM, MADAM CLERK, YOU GOT THE DATE ON THAT? APRIL 15TH, MAYOR.
UM, ALRIGHT, HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AND ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[Items Z-2 & P-1]
ITEM Z TWO AND P ONE IS AMENDING THE MIDTOWN REGIONAL CENTER PLAN FROM NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE TO URBAN MIXED USE FROM C TWO TO I D Z TWO WITH USES PERMITTED FOR EIGHT DWELLING UNITS LOCATED AT TWO 20 AND 2 24 EAST COURTLAND PLACE.STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL PLANNING COMMISSION, ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
46 NOTICES MAILED TWO IN FAVOR.
ONE OPPOSED TOBIN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED TO I D Z TWO.
WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS Z TWO AND P ONE J LOUDIN.
[02:50:02]
YES.IF YOU'LL LET ME KNOW WHEN THEY ARE.
UM, SO THIS IS JAY LOUDON WITH WORKSHOP, A LOCAL PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE FIRM, AND I AM REPRESENTING ANTONIO QUADRA OF CUBE DEVELOPMENT.
WHO IS THE PROPERTY OWNER? UM, SO THE GOALS OF THE MIDTOWN PLAN INCLUDE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, INCREMENTALLY INCREASING DENSITY, AND IMPROVING WALKABILITY.
THIS PROJECT IS PRECISELY IN LINE WITH THOSE GOALS.
WE WOULD TRANSFORM VACANT LOTS INTO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, WHICH FACE MCCULLOUGH AND IT WOULD WIDEN THE SIDEWALK ALONG ONE OF OUR CITY'S IMPORTANT CORRIDORS, WHILE ALSO DEEDING PROPERTY TO THE CITY TO EXPAND THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE CURRENT LAND USE CATEGORY ALLOWS SEVEN TOWNHOUSES, NOT EIGHT.
UM, SO WE WERE PROPOSING TO GO FROM THE LIGHT PURPLE THAT YOU SEE ON THE LAND USE PLAN TO THE DARK PURPLE, UM, WHICH IS SAME AS PROPERTIES ELSEWHERE ON THE SAME BLOCK.
AND WE'RE SEEKING THIS ONLY BECAUSE DEVELOPMENT OF JUST SEVEN ON THE LAND IS NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE GIVEN PANDEMIC DRIVEN INCREASED CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
UH, THE PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED C TWO AS AS MUCH OF THE AREA YOU CAN SEE IN RED THERE, BUT WE'RE PROPOSING AN I D Z ZONING, UH, WITH A SITE PLAN, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THAT COMMERCIAL ZONING IS.
UM, FURTHERMORE, WE ARE SEEKING A DENSITY FOR THESE TOWNHOUSES, WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED TOWNHOUSES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THERE, UH, IN FACT, THERE ARE NINE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WITH DENSITIES EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WITHIN A RADIUS OF JUST A THOUSAND FEET.
GRANTING THIS PLAN, AMENDMENT AND REZONING WOULD ALLOW THE PROJECT TO PROCEED IN A TIME WHEN OUR CITY NEEDS MORE HOUSING, NOT GRANTING THE AMENDMENT WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN THESE LOTS REMAINING VACANT AND ULTIMATELY COULD LEAD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT WHICH FITS THE CURRENT ZONING, THAT C TWO ZONING OF WHICH IS OUT OF LINE WITH THE LAND USE PLAN.
THAT'S THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT AMENDING A RECENTLY ADOPTED LAND USE PLAN IS A DIFFICULT REQUEST BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC INPUT AND HARD WORK AND ESTABLISHING THESE PLANS.
UH, BUT AS A PLANNER MYSELF, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT PUBLIC INPUT SHAPES THE GOALS AND THE VISION OF THE PLAN NOT LOT BY LOT LAND USES.
THAT'S WHY IN THIS CASE, VOTING TO AMEND, UH, WILL ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE PLAN'S OVERALL GOALS OF INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY AND HOUSING DIVERSITY.
NOT VOTING TO AMEND COULD RESULT IN A PROJECT WHICH TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE INAPPROPRIATE C TWO ZONING, WHICH IS NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE LAND USE PLAN.
UH, THIS PROJECT RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS, AND IN FACT, THE LATTER VOTED UNANIMOUS UNANIMOUSLY FOR APPROVAL.
UM, SO I'LL CLOSE THE QUOTE FROM ONE ZONING COMMISSIONER.
UM, SHE AND HER MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF OUR REQUEST STATED THAT THIS PROJECT IS QUOTE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY FROM A PUBLIC POLICY STANDPOINT, END QUOTE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE, AND WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THE PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING REQUESTS.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE SOME OF THE, THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE, UH, THE PROJECT WILL FEATURE EIGHT NEW TOWN HOMES.
THE DEVELOPER WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
UH, THE ISSUE AT HAND, AS POINTED OUT IS THAT THE REQUESTED EIGHT UNITS IS ONE UNIT MORE THAN THE CURRENT LAND USE PLAN ALLOWS.
THE MIDTOWN REGIONAL PLAN, UH, AIMS TO BROADEN HOUSING CHOICES AND CREATE DIVERSE MIXES OF HOUSING IN THE AREA.
WE USE THE PLAN AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT CERTAIN PROJECTS ARE A GOOD FIT, GIVEN THAT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS JUST ONE UNIT LESS.
I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL TO GRANT THIS ADDITIONAL UNIT AS A NECESS AS NECESSARY FOR THE PROJECT TO BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE.
JUST LAST YEAR, WE VOTED TO ADD TOWN HOMES ACROSS THE STREET ON THIS SAME BLOCK TO OFFER NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT PROJECTS LIKE THIS, UH, WILL PUSH US TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING DIVERSE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR BOTH EXISTING AND NEW RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY.
A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, THERE'S A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM Z TWO AND P ONE.
UM, FOR ITEMS Z TWO AND P ONE, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
[02:55:01]
ALL RIGHT.[Items Z-3 & P-2]
Z THREE AND P TWO.Z THREE AND P TWO IS AMENDING THE EASTERN TRIANGLE COMMUNITY PLAN FROM COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL BUSINESS PARK AND PARKS AND OPEN SPACE TO BUSINESS PARK FROM N P 10 AND C THREE N A TO L LOCATED AT FOUR 18 SOUTHEAST ROUTE FOUR 10.
STAFF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
EASTERN TRIANGLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN SUPPORT AND THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE TO MAY 6TH.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ANDREW SULLIVAN.
MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE UNTIL MAY 6TH.
ALL RIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE TO MAY 6TH, ITEMS Z THREE AND P TWO.
WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND OR SECOND? UM, AGAIN, ON ITEMS Z THREE AND P TWO, CONTINUATION TO MAY 6TH.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA TODAY.
[28. 21-2486 City Manager's Report]
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? UH, YES, SIR.UM, WE'VE GOT THREE ITEMS. UM, THE, I I SENT A COUNCIL A MEMO EARLIER IN THE WEEK JUST UPDATING THE COUNCIL ON, UM, AT LEAST SOME OF THE LOCAL, UH, RESPONSES REGARDING, UH, MIGRANTS, UM, AND UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.
UM, AND JUST TO KIND OF SUMMARIZE THAT, UH, ISSUE, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL, UH, BUT THE TWO MAIN, TWO MAIN EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, REQUESTED OF THE CITY.
ONE, UH, UM, HOMELAND SECURITIES, UH, H S I DID MAKE A REQUEST, AS I STATED IN THE MEMO, THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO OUR, UM, HOTEL ISOLATION FACILITY THAT WE'VE HAD FOR UNDER CONTRACT SINCE LAST YEAR FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO BE ISOLATED, UM, BECAUSE OF, UH, UH, TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID, UM, AS A POSSIBLE FACILITY FOR THEM TO UTILIZE, UH, IN THE CASE THAT THERE ARE MAYBE FAMILIES THAT NEED TO BE ISOLATED.
UH, WE, UH, THEY MADE THAT REQUEST TO US LAST WEEK.
UH, WE AGREED, UM, ANY COST OR EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, UH, WOULD BE REIMBURSED, UH, THROUGH FEMA.
UM, AND, UM, AS OF, UH, YESTERDAY, UM, NO INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN, UM, HAD BEEN SENT OR REFERRED BY H S I, WHO WERE HANDLING ALL THE DETAILS REGARDING TRANSPORTATION AND, AND SUPPORT.
UM, THE SECOND ITEM, UM, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NEWS OVER THE LAST WEEK, UM, UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, UM, BEGAN, UH, ARRIVING AT FREEMAN COLISEUM ON, UH, MARCH 29TH.
UM, THE CONTRACTOR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD HIRED, UH, WAS NOT READY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS PLANNED ON THAT DAY.
UM, SO FEMA MADE A REQUEST FOR, UM, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT WERE LICENSED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN.
THESE ARE ALL, UM, UM, UH, CHILDREN, ALL BOYS AT THE FACILITY.
UM, AND WE HAD, UM, UP, UH, APPROXIMATELY 80 HEAD START, UH, EMPLOYEES WHO, UH, BEGAN WORKING OVER THERE IN TWO DIFFERENT SHIFTS, UH, IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE, THE CONTRACTOR TIME TO RAMP UP.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE ALSO HELPING OVER THERE AS OF, UH, 8:00 AM THIS MORNING, UM, THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THAT OPERATION AND OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, ARE NOT THERE ANYMORE.
UM, AND, UH, WHAT WE ARE BEING TOLD IS THAT, UH, THEY CAN EXPECT TO, UH, RECEIVE UP TO 200 CHILDREN AT J B S A NEXT WEEK.
AND WE'VE HAD NO REQUEST FOR ANY SORT OF DIRECT SERVICE OR DIRECT SUPPORT.
UM, BUT, UH, WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE, UH, LOCAL LEAD FROM THE FEMA AND H H S PER UM, UH, STANDPOINT.
UM, AND, UH, AS THINGS CHANGE, I WILL, UH, UPDATE THE COUNCIL THROUGH MEMO, UM, AND, UM, UM, CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AS WE GO ALONG.
CERTAINLY, THIS HAS BEEN A, THIS IS A, A MUCH MORE OF A HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE EFFORT, AND SO WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO BE SUPPORTIVE WHERE WE CAN.
UM, UH, SECOND, UH, TODAY'S EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO, UH, IS A, UH, AN EMPLOYEE OF OURS, UH, FROM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, ASHLEY WILLIAMS. UH, ASHLEY IS A CASHIER AT OUR BIDDERS BRUSH ROAD, UH, OUR BIDDERS BRUSH RECYCLING CENTER.
UM, SHE WAS RECOGNIZED THROUGH OUR ENCORE PROGRAM FOR HER STELLAR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN THE QUICK VIDEO
[03:00:01]
THAT WE WILL SHOW.JOHN, LET'S, UH, LET'S ROLL THE VIDEO.
ALRIGHT, NOW I HAVE YOU BACK IN THE SYSTEM.
WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY ALLOWING THIS BRUSH STUMP TO BE OPEN.
WE HAVE THE BRUSH DUMP OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, EIGHT TO FIVE EVERY DAY.
SO ON A TYPICAL DAY, WE ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO COME INTO THE FACILITY TO DROP OFF BRUSH, AND WHEN THEY COME INTO THE FACILITY, WE WEIGH THEM IN, WE WEIGH THEM OUT, AND THEN WE CHARGE 'EM FOR THE BRUSH THAT THEY DROP OFF.
I ENJOY WORKING WITH THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE, THE SUPERVISORS AND EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITY.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TEAMWORK FOR US TO GET OUR JOB DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
I DID
SO THEY GET ALL HAPPY AND THANKFUL, AND THAT'S VERY GRATIFYING WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP A CUSTOMER OUT AND MAKE THEIR DAY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PAYING AN ARM AND A LEG TO DROP OFF BRUSH.
DON'T SPEND THE CHANGE ALL IN ONE PLACE.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JUST PROVIDES A LOT OF STUFF FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THE, UH, ASHLEY AND THE WHOLE TEAM DO A GREAT JOB OUT THERE.
SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, ASHLEY.
UH, FINALLY, UM, AND, AND MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN THE VIDEO, BUT, UM, OUR SECOND PHASE OF THE, UH, OF OUR CAMPAIGN, UM, UH, WAS, UH, UNROLLED EARLIER IN THE WEEK ON, UH, WHAT WILL IT TAKE CAMPAIGN.
UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, KA MEDICUS, UM, WHO IS A, UH, LOCAL MARIACHI GROUP WHO, UM, FILMED A VIDEO FOR US, UM, AND WROTE A SONG.
UH, IT IS, UM, IT'S CERTAINLY RELEVANT TO, UM, OUR COMMUNITY.
I, I AM, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT G P A, UH, LAURA, SONYA, UH, GONZALEZ, UH, MICHELLE KEITH, UH, JOHN, UH, TRACY RA ARE OUR CONTRACTORS IN THIS CASE.
UH, WERE FROM, UH, EMINEM, UH, CREATIVE AND GIANT NOISE AND, UH, WORKED CLOSELY WITH, UH, THE SOUND BOX STUDIOS.
I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS PROBABLY SEEN THE VIDEO, BUT, UH, I, I THINK, UH, JOHN RUN THE VIDEO BECAUSE, BECAUSE I THINK, UH, I THINK WE OUGHT TO PLAY IT AS PART OF THE, THE ENDING OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
THAT'S BEEN, UH, THAT'S BEEN, UH, UH, A BIG HIT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, THIS WEEK.
AND, UH, THEY DID A REALLY GREAT JOB.
UH, AND THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN, WHEN WE SAY WE NEED TO SUBMIT SOME OF THESE, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGNS FOR AWARDS, UH, THAT ONE IS SOLID GOLD.
SO I DO HOPE THAT WE SUBMIT IT.
UM, 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPETING FOR THE RIGHT MESSAGE AND THE RIGHT TONE ON, ON MASK, WEARING, ET CETERA.
AND THAT'S, THAT KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK.
SO, UH, THANKS FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYOR MARY, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST TO THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
AND, AND DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN, WE WERE AWARDED THREE, UH, UH, ADVERTISING FEDERATION AWARDS, UH, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ADDIE'S, UM, UH, TWO SILVER AND ONE BRONZE.
AND WE ARE CERTAINLY GONNA KEEP PUSHING THAT, UH, THAT EFFORT SO WE CAN GET RECOGNIZED.
ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO,
[03:05:09]
CAN YOU NOW HEAR ME? BYE.OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR SHOWING THAT ERIC, THAT WAS A GREAT, UH, THAT'S A GREAT VIDEO.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF SCARY WHEN THEY'RE SINGING THE THANK WEDO PART.
IT'S A LITTLE, IT'S A LITTLE SCARY, SO IT WORKS VERY WELL.
UM, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, UM, SPEAKING OF VIDEOS, I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, UM, THE COUNCIL WOMEN DECIDED TO, UH, WELL, WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE AND EXTEND A LITTLE BIT OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH BY GETTING TOGETHER AND WELCOMING, UH, THE N C A A WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR THROUGH A VIDEO THAT USED NO CITY RESOURCES.
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT, UM, IT WILL BE SHOWING ON THE N C A A FINAL FOUR PRE-GAME SHOW.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT.
AND IT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATION.
AND I HAVE TO THANK, UH, JOHN STEVENS, UH, JOHN PAUL STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL FOR ALLOWING US TO USE THEIR FACILITY.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, THANK MAYOR.
UM, THANK YOU ERIC FOR HIGHLIGHTING CINDY WILLIAMS. I, UM, DON'T THINK SHE RECOGNIZES ME WHEN, WHEN, WHEN I GO OVER, I GO OVER TO THE FRESH CENTER, USUALLY WITHOUT MAKEUP, EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND SHE'S, UH, VERY, VERY NICE AND FRIENDLY.
UM, SO I'M SO GLAD THAT SHE WAS HIGHLIGHTED.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE G P A TEAM BECAUSE THAT WAS AN AWESOME SONG AND I THINK THE, THE MINUTE THAT I, UM, SAW IT, IT, IT CLICKED, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO DO DIFFERENT THING FOR, UH, DIFFERENT AUDIENCES.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS, UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GOT STICKINESS, RIGHT? AND SO OBVIOUSLY I'M, I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S BEING SHARED UM, I'M SURPRISED COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL WASN'T SINGING WITH THE MARIACHIS, UH, IN, IN THERE.
BUT, UH, I, I, I GET COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL.
I KNOW THAT SHE WAS, UM, INVOLVED, UH, UH, A BIT IN THIS.
I WANNA THANK HER, UM, HER ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR THE POPULATIONS THAT SHE, UH, REPRESENTS IN THE, THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUBTITLES BECAUSE I WAS, UH, CONCERNED, UM, THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T SEE WHAT THE MESSAGING WAS.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE SUBTITLES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
AND I DO WANNA CONGRATULATE THE G P A TEAM AND ANA ROLAND AND, AND MR. O FOR, FOR THEIR WORK IN ALL OF THIS.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL OF US, WHEN WE SIT DOWN WITH CITY STAFF OR SOMETIMES CONSULTANTS, WE'RE LIKE, WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS? AND WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT? AND EVERY SO OFTEN, YOU MAY HAVE ONE IDEA THAT THEY ACTUALLY RUN WITH.
AND THIS WAS, WAS ONE OF THOSE, UM, I USED TO, UH, PLAY AT SIESTA TEXAS WITH ROLAND AND MR. O.
AND, AND THE REST OF THE GROUP, WHICH THE MEMBERS WERE DIFFERENT BACK THEN BECAUSE I MEAN, I WAS 17 YEARS OLD,
UM, BUT I REMEMBER, UH, ROLAND, UH, BEING REALLY GREAT AT ROLAND, WHO ALSO WENT TO THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL AT, AND WAS A MARIACHI INSTRUCTOR FOR MANY YEARS, AND S A I S D AT WRITING THESE CATCHY LITTLE TUNES.
UM, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, A GOOD SONGWRITER AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO WROTE IT.
AND, UH, AND I WAS ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY WHO, YOU KNOW, SHOWING UP ON FACEBOOK, HUGGING EACH OTHER.
UM, AND I SAID, THAT MIGHT REALLY SPEAK TO, THAT MIGHT BE ONE THING THAT SPEAKS TO THEM.
SO, UM, MARTHA, MARTHA RAN WITH IT.
AND, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR WHAT YOU CAME UP WITH.
IT WAS, IT WAS WONDERFUL, AND I, AND I LOVE WATCHING IT.
AND IT, IT'S, UH, ONE WAY WE GET TO PEOPLE, UH, IS BY MAKING THEM SMILE.
UM, AND COVID HAS BEEN JUST SUCH A DEPRESSING THING.
IT'S BEEN A SLOW DRIP OF BAD NEWS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT OUR FACEBOOK PAGES FOR ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND IT'S JUST, IT'S DAY AFTER DAY OF, YOU KNOW, VACCINE AND MASKS AND REMINDING PEOPLE.
AND IT'S, IT, IT, I THINK MOST OF OUR, MOST OF THE COVID CAMPAIGN HAS JUST BEEN DEPRESSING.
UH, AND, UH, I THINK IT'S, UH,
[03:10:01]
ALSO, IT'S OKAY TO HAVE FUN, UH, DURING TOUGH TIMES.AND, UH, AND TO TRY TO PUT PEOPLE'S, UM, PUT, YOU KNOW, MINDS AT EASE.
UM, I, I, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, CLAYTON PERRY FOR CHOREOGRAPHING THE DANCES, UH, IN THAT VIDEO.
CLAYTON, ARE YOU GONNA DEFEND YOURSELF OR WE GONNA MOVE ON? HEY, I, I'LL TAKE ALL THE CREDIT THAT I CAN GET.
I THINK THAT'S THE END OF OUR AGENDA TODAY.
IT'S 12:14 PM WE HAVE NO EXEC SESSION, UH, TODAY.