* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          [00:00:04]
          COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. 
          HERE. 
          COMMISSIONER DEBERRY HERE. 
          UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HERE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. 
          NOT IN JUST YET. 
          AND, UH, CHAIR COIS, UH, HERE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND WE'VE ALSO GOT COUNCILWOMAN  GARCIA HERE AS WELL. 
          YES. 
          COUNCILMAN? YES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AND, UH, THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU EVERYBODY. 
          I SEE A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF, UH, FACES OF PEOPLE THAT I LIKE VERY MUCH ON THIS CALL. 
          TAMIKA . 
          HI. 
          IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU. 
          UH, JEFF COYLE, IT'S YOUR SHOW. 
          HOW ARE THINGS IN AUSTIN? UH, AUSTIN IS AUSTIN. 
          I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ANSWER THAT ONE, BUT , UM, 
          [2. 21-2948 Federal Infrastructure Opportunities: Appropriation  Surface Transportation  American Jobs Plan]
THE, UH, I THINK WE'RE STARTING WITH THE FEDERAL, IS THAT WHAT YOU'D, YOU'D LIKE CHAIRMAN? FOR SURE. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, WE HAD A PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION AS, AS YOU RECALL, ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. 
          AND ADMITTEDLY, IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S COMPLICATED IN THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT BITES AT THE APPLE THAT WE'RE EYEING HERE. 
          THERE ARE THE ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS, UH, FOR WHICH MANY DEADLINES FROM APPROPRIATION MEMBERS HAVE, HAVE RECENTLY PASSED. 
          THOSE ARE REAL SMALL TICKET PROGRAMMATIC TYPE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE WITHIN 12 MONTHS AND UNDER A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT, NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO FROM A CAPITAL FRONT. 
          WE ALSO HAVE A LOOMING, UH, SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL IN CONGRESS AND A CHAIR WHO HAS ASKED FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS. 
          SO SALLY AND TAMIKA HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK INTERNALLY WITH THE CITY AND ALSO COMMUNICATING WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND THEY'RE GONNA SHARE, UH, OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THOSE SUBMITTALS. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, SALLY'S GONNA UPDATE US ON SORT OF THE BIGGER PICTURE GOING FORWARD. 
          THERE WAS A CALL, UH, UH, UM, NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY JUST YESTERDAY FOR THE, THE FORMER TIGER GRANTS, WHICH ARE NOW BEING CALLED RAISE GRANTS. 
          UH, AND THAT COMBINED WITH THE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT YOU HEAR, A PACKAGE THAT YOU HEAR THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION TALKING ABOUT, IS PROBABLY WHERE WE'LL SEE THOSE BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL TYPE PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES. 
          SO THERE'S SORT OF A STEP STARE HERE, UH, THAT WE WANTED TO WALK YOU THROUGH CLOSELY AND, AND, UH, GET YOUR FEEDBACK. 
          UH, TAMIKA WILL ALSO BE BRIEFING THE FULL COUNCIL, UH, TODAY AT TWO O'CLOCK. 
          SO, UH, SALLY, ARE YOU GONNA TAKE IT FROM HERE? UH, YES. 
          THANK YOU, JEFF. 
          UH, GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN PALAI, UH, CHAIRMAN RODRIGUEZ AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UM, FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION. 
          AS JEFF SHARED, I WILL, UH, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, SOME DETAILS, UH, FOR YOU ABOUT THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          THIS IS A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THESE, UH, LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME AVAILABLE. 
          UM, THESE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE, UH, THE COMMUNITY FUNDING PROJECTS, AS YOU RECALL FROM LAST MONTH, I G R MEETING, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS EARMARKS. 
          UH, THE MEMBER DESIGNATED PROJECTS FOR INCLUSION IN THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION. 
          BILL, UH, THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN UNVEILED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN ON APRIL 1ST, AND AS JEFF SAID, FRESH OFF THE PRESS, THE NEW RAISE GRANT FORMALLY, UH, BILL, AND THEN FORMALLY TIGER. 
          SO, LET'S, LET'S DIVE, UH, STRAIGHT INTO THOSE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          AS YOU RECALL FROM LAST MONTH'S I G R MEETING, I MENTIONED THAT THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP HAD REMOVED THE BAN ON THE EARMARK MORATORIUM. 
          SINCE THAT LAST MEETING, WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING AND DISSECTING THE CONGRESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR THESE REQUESTS. 
          THESE ARE THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING. 
          SO A QUICK OVERVIEW. 
          MEMBERS CAN SUBMIT THESE FUNDING REQUESTS. 
          REMEMBER, FOR STATE, LOCAL, AND NONPROFITS ONLY, THEY CANNOT BE GIVEN TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 
          MEMBERS CAN REQUEST UP TO 10 REQUESTS, UH, AND THEY ALSO MUST DEMONSTRATE GREAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND MUST BE COMPLETED WITH A ONE YEAR TIMELINE. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED VERY NARROW CRITERIA AND PARAMETERS FOR THESE REQUESTS. 
          UH, AND VERY SLIM ACCOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE OR SPECIFIC AGENCY PROGRAMS. SO IT'LL BE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, UM, TO GET THIS FUNDING ULTIMATELY, BUT THAT HAS NOT HELD US BACK. 
          UH, PROJECTS MUST QUALIFY UNDER SPECIFIC PROGRAM ACCOUNTS OR FUNDING STREAMS SUCH AS JAGS, THE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT, THE FEMA MITIGATION GRANT, AND HUDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          UH, JUMPING INTO THE CSA RECOMMENDED PROJECTS, AS JEFF SAID, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS 
          [00:05:01]
TO IDENTIFY, UH, VIABLE PROJECTS UNDER THE GUIDANCE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM CONGRESS. 
          UH, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR CONSULTANTS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE PARAMETERS, UH, THAT FALL FOR THESE PROJECTS. 
          SO AFTER EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE AVAILABLE FUNDING STREAMS, HERE ARE THREE PROJECTS THAT MET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. 
          UM, I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT WE ALWAYS USE OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AS A GUIDEPOST. 
          SO THESE PROJECTS ALIGN WITH OUR HOUSING PUBLIC SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS AND OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PRO PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN OUR CURRENT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, UM, THAT THE FULL COUNCIL, UM, APPROVED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. 
          SO, DIVING INTO THE PROJECTS, THE FIRST PROJECT IS FOR EMERGENCY KITS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. 
          THIS PROJECT IS A 300,000 REQUEST TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE EMERGENCY KITS TO THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN SAN ANTONIO. 
          UM, THESE KITS WILL HAVE ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AND PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION THAT WILL ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHEN THEY MUST SHELTER IN PLACE. 
          WE ALL REMEMBER THE WINTER STORM NOT TOO LONG AGO IN FEBRUARY. 
          AND THE WINTER, UH, EVENT HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS. 
          THESE KIDS WILL HELP FAMILIES TO BE READY TO RESPOND TO DISASTERS OR EMERGENCIES. 
          AND THROUGH THE GREAT WORK OF OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY DISASTER, UNFORTUNATELY. 
          SO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS IDENTIFIED BY, UM, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM, UM, INCLUDE THE ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS, CHILDREN, LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AS WELL. 
          SO THE NEXT PROJECT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT EXPANSION. 
          THIS IS A, UH, 750 TO $1 MILLION REQUEST. 
          AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE SS A P D MENTAL HEALTH UNIT WORKS TO ASSIST PERSONS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN ARRESTS, AND INSTEAD REFERS THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL FACILITIES. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THE UNIT PROVIDES EXPANDED AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING, UH, TO THE OFFICERS AND THE CLINICIANS, UM, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTAL PERSONNEL THAT SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. 
          THE PROJECT PROPOSES TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL AND AUGMENT TRAINING FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT TO ADDRESS THE EVER INCREASING NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND EXPAND THESE SERVICES. 
          UH, THIS PROPOSAL IS TO CREATE AN OVERNIGHT SHIFT TO PROVIDE MORE COVERAGE BY THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT WITH ADDITIONAL CLINICIANS AND OFFICERS, AS WELL AS, UH, TRAINING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE EXISTING PROGRAM. 
          I'M VERY PROUD TO SHARE THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, UH, PROGRAM IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A MODEL PROGRAM. 
          THEIR WORK HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND, UH, WE'VE BEEN INVITED, UH, AND THEY'VE PARTICIPATED IN CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS IN PAST YEARS TO BRIEF CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS ABOUT THE GREAT WORK HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT. 
          THE NEXT RECOMMENDED PROJECT IS THE EQUITY BASED HOME EXPANSION AND RENTAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM. 
          THIS IS A ONE TO $2 MILLION REQUEST, AND THROUGH THE INITIATIVE, UM, OF THE HOUSING TEAM, THEY SEEK TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS HOUSING ISSUES, UH, BY TARGETING EQUITY, UM, AND REHAB INVESTMENTS IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS. 
          THIS PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE ORIGINAL 36 MILES OF SAN ANTONIO. 
          THAT CONTAINED THE MAJORITY OF THE OLDER HOUSING STOCK. 
          AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY FROM THE MAP, UH, THESE, UH, THIS HOUSING STOCK INCLUDES, UH, THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE NEAR NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST AREAS OF, OF DOWNTOWN. 
          AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL HOUSING STOCK, WHICH IS A MUCH OLDER PROPERTY. 
          NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. 
          MOVING ON TO OUR PARTNERS, UH, PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST. 
          ALSO STILL FOR THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING. 
          UM, HERE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE PROJECTS BEING SUBMITTED BY OUR PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR. 
          WE'LL START OFF WITH BROOKS. 
          UH, BROOKS IS SUBMITTING, UH, KIND OF A TWOFOLD REQUEST FOR THE LEWIS B ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. 
          THEY'RE REQUESTING 5.8 MILLION AND 3.7 MILLION TO ADVANCE THE DELIVERY OF A TWO-PART CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. 
          LET ME ADD THAT. 
          UM, THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL GUIDANCE, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING IN WRITING OR ANY SPECIFIC PARAMETERS ABOUT THE FUNDING AMOUNT. 
          SO, UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A GUESSING GAME. 
          UH, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON WHETHER IT SHOULD BE, UM, HALF A MILLION OR AS 
          [00:10:01]
YOU SEE HERE, 5.8, UH, MILLION DOLLARS. 
          SO THE, THE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO RANGE. 
          UH, KEEPING IN MIND THAT EACH SUBCOMMITTEE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO FUND 1% OF THEIR TOTAL FUNDING BUDGET. 
          SO I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO RECEIVE, UH, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REQUESTS, AND THEY'RE ONLY GONNA BE ABLE TO FUND, UH, A SMALLER AMOUNT OF WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED. 
          UH, THE NEXT PROJECT, UH, SARAH AND THE COUNTY ARE PARTNERING TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR THE WEST SIDE CREEK, UH, RESTORATION PROJECT. 
          WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH. 
          UM, THEY ARE SEEKING SUPPORT FOR PRE-CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING, UH, AND DESIGN FUNDING AT A REQUEST OF $2.3 MILLION. 
          NEXT IS HAWS. 
          THEY ARE SUBMITTING TWO REQUESTS. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS FOR BACKUP GENERATORS FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AGAIN, UM, TO SUPPORT, UM, THE, UH, WEATHER EVENT, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, FROM FEBRUARY. 
          AND THE SECOND ONE IS FOR MITCHELL LAKE. 
          THEY HAVE AN ONGOING STUDY AND, UH, THEY ARE SUBMITTING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION AS WELL. 
          THE NEXT UP IS TEXAS BIOMED PROJECT FOR AN M FOR M R I EQUIPMENT. 
          THIS IS ESSENTIALLY IMAGE, AN IMAGING INSTRUMENT FOR ITS PRIMATE CENTER AND FACILITY ACCOMMODATIONS NECESSARY TO HOUSE IT. 
          THEY'RE REQUESTING 1.5 MILLION FOR THIS REQUEST. 
          AND LASTLY, U T S A IS REQUESTING TWO CYBERSECURITY INITIATIVES TO BENEFIT THEIR CYBERSECURITY MANUFACTURING INNOVATION INSTITUTE INITIATIVE AND THE MANUFACTURING INNOVATION PARK PROGRAMS EACH AT $1 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MILLION. 
          IS THERE REQUEST? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, EDUARDO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SO, MOVING ON TO THE FY 22 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION. 
          THIS NEXT OPPORTUNITY IS COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WE CALL IT T N I FOR SHORT. 
          UM, THIS PROCESS ALSO ENCOMPASSES VERY SPECIFIC PARAMETERS AND ALSO A VERY FAST TURNAROUND. 
          THIS PROCESS, TOO, WILL BE VERY HIGHLY COMPETITIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          REQUESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING IN THE F Y 22 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION. 
          AS YOU'LL PROBABLY RECALL, THIS BILL IS A FIVE YEAR REAUTHORIZATION BILL. 
          IT WAS EXTENDED LAST YEAR BY CONGRESS FOR ONE YEAR. 
          SO THE CURRENT AUTHORIZATION EXPIRES SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. 
          THESE MEMBER DESIGNATED PROJECT REQUESTS, THEY MUST BE SUBMITTED BY CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS, AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, THEY MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN OR OUR LOCAL TIP. 
          THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBERS OF REQUESTS, BUT MEMBERS MUST RANK THEIR TOP FIVE PROJECTS. 
          SO THEY SUBMIT 20 REQUESTS AND THEY HAVE TO RANK THE TOP FIVE. 
          THE LOWER THE PROJECTS ARE IN THAT LINE OF ORDER, THEN IT'S LESS LIKELY THAT THEY WILL BE FUNDED OR THEY MIGHT RECEIVE PARTIAL FUNDING. 
          UM, AS OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE INFORMED US, EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL PROCESS REMAINS FLUID, WE ARE HEARING THAT ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES MAY BECOME AVAILABLE FROM THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE. 
          SO THIS IS THE FIRST OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO COME OUT OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          SO, THE, THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR RECOMMENDED PROJECT. 
          UM, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PART OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE INCLUDED MAKING SURE THAT WE RECOMMEND PROJECTS TO YOU TODAY AND TO THE FULL COUNCIL, UM, THAT ARE NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE. 
          WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR THIS FUNDING. 
          SO WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE TO CHECK OFF ALL THOSE BOXES. 
          ADDITIONALLY, TAMIKA FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM WORKED TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS THAT RESONATE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND WITH CONGRESS. 
          UM, SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES THAT WE LOOKED AT TO INCLUDE, INCLUDE SAFETY, EQUITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, JUST TO NAME A FEW. 
          SO HERE ARE THE THREE PROJECTS. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, PREFACE STREET PROJECT RUNS FROM SOUTHEAST MILITARY TO WEST BOYER STREET. 
          THIS PROJECT INCLUDES COMPLETE STREETS, BICYCLE, AND PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENTS AT A $10 MILLION REQUEST. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT IS IN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED OPPORTUNITY ZONE AND OFFERS REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY AND ENHANCES EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          THE NEXT PROJECT IS THE FAMO PROJECT, RIO CITY ROAD, THE RAILROAD OVERPASS. 
          IT ENCOMPASSES A FOUR LANE GRAVE SEPARATION AT UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, AND RIO CITY ROAD INTERSECTION. 
          THIS REQUEST IS FOR $23 MILLION. 
          OVERPASS PROJECT, UM, IS A CRITICAL SAFETY PROJECT AND HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. 
          UH, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROJECT FOR MANY YEARS, AND I'M SURE CHAIRMAN, UM, 
          [00:15:01]
, UM, REMEMBERS GOING TO MEET WITH D O T TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS FUNDING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. 
          SO THESE ARE THE THREE PROJECTS. 
          WE HAVE TAMIKA ON THE LINE, AND SHE'S ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS, UM, UH, BE BEYOND MY PRESENTATION. 
          THEN THE NEXT ONE IS THE BROADWAY IH 35 TO BURR ROAD. 
          IT'S A TRAVEL LANE REDUCTION PROJECT. 
          IT INCLUDES ROAD ROADWAY REHAB, AND IT'S A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECT AT A $14 MILLION. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT TOUCHES ON VISION ZERO THAT AIMS TO REDUCE PEDESTRIAN INJURIES AND FATALITIES ON THIS PATHWAY. 
          IT OFFERS REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY AND ALSO VERY IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS AREA. 
          WE BELIEVE THESE PROJECTS ARE NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          UH, MOVING ON TO THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          AS YOU RECALL, THE PRESIDENT HAD SAID THAT AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE LAST COVID RELIEF BILL, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, HE PLANNED TO SHIFT HIS FOCUS TO INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          SO ON APRIL 1ST, PRESIDENT BIDEN UNVEILED HIS, UH, 2 TRILLION PLUS AMERICAN JOBS PLAN. 
          THIS IS AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE FOCUSING ON TRADITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. 
          THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED ON CONGRESS TO ENACT THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN TO HELP CREATE JOBS AND TO REBUILD CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS PLAN IS THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART PACKAGE, THE SECOND PACKAGE, UH, TITLED THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN. 
          THAT WILL INCLUDE, UM, ITEMS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, AND OTHER RELATED AREAS. 
          IT'S EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. 
          SO WE'VE GOT PART ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S VISION FOR NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FIXES. 
          SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOBS PLAN INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO ROADS, BRIDGES, AIRPORTS, YOUR TRADITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS, UPGRADES TO UTILITY SYSTEMS, BROADBAND, UH, BUILD AND RETROFIT HOMES AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IS INCLUDED, AND TO MODERNIZE SCHOOLS, CHILDCARE FACILITIES, AND, UH, AS WELL AS VETERANS, VETERANS HOSPITALS. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          SO, WHAT'S THE ANTICIPATED TIMELINE THAT WE ARE HEARING FOR THE JOB PLAN? NOW THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS LAID OUT HIS PLAN, CONGRESS WILL WORK, UH, TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS. 
          UH, THE HOUSE HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WANT TO PASS THE BILL AGGRESSIVELY IN THE SUMMER, BUT WE THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO SPILL, UM, EASILY INTO THE FALL, UH, OF THIS YEAR. 
          SO WE'LL KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON IT THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR CONSULTANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THE NECESSARY, UH, TIMELY UPDATES TO YOU. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          AND FINALLY, THE NEWLY RELEASED, UH, RAISE GRANT. 
          UM, AS JEFF SAID YESTERDAY, SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG OF D O T ANNOUNCED THE AVAILABILITY OF $1 BILLION, UH, TO MODERNIZE AND CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES, UH, THROUGH THIS GRANT, AGAIN, FORMALLY, THE BUILD GRANT. 
          UH, THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE GRANT FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, UM, THAT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LOCAL OR, OR REGIONAL IMPACT. 
          UM, THE, UH, NOFA THAT I STARTED GOING THROUGH WILL SET ASIDE 500 MILLION TO URBAN AREAS AND 500 MILLION TO RURAL AREAS EQUALLY. 
          SO IN PAST NOFA, UM, RURAL AREAS WERE GETTING, UM, A HIGHER INCREASE OF THE FUNDING. 
          AND SO I'M VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'LL BE, UM, EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. 
          AS YOU SEE HERE, THE MAX MAXIMUM, UH, GRANT AWARD IS 25 MILLION, AND NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION CAN BE AWARDED TO A SINGLE STATE. 
          UM, UP TO 30 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED TO PLANNING GRANTS, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 MILLION TO AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY. 
          SO THAT'S A, IT'S GOING TO DEFINITELY BE AN AREA FOR US TO LOOK AT CLOSELY. 
          UH, D O T WILL PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE IMPROVEMENTS TO RACIAL EQUITY, REDUCE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS. 
          UM, THIS PROGRAM I WILL ADD, HAS ALWAYS, UH, BEEN HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, AND WE EXPECT THE SAME OUT OF THIS ROUND. 
          UH, BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, IN THE LAST ROUND, D O T FUNDED 680 PROJECTS, AND THEY RECEIVED ALMOST 10,000 APPLICATIONS. 
          SO WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US. 
          UM, SO WE HAVE ALREADY COURSE STARTED COORDINATING WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM WITH TAMIKA. 
          AND, UM, WE SEE THE DEADLINE. 
          IT'S STILL A WAYS OFF, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. 
          THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JULY 12TH OF THIS YEAR. 
          NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. 
          UH, OUR NEXT SLIDE. 
          UH, OUR NEXT, UH, ACTION ITEMS HERE, UH, BEYOND TODAY. 
          UH, COMMITTEE BRIEFING, 
          [00:20:01]
UH, THIS AFTERNOON, AS JEFF SAID, TAMIKA WILL PROVIDE A TRANSPORTATION BRIEFING TODAY AT B SESSION AND WITH A GREEN LIGHT FROM THIS COMMITTEE. 
          STAFF WILL SUBMIT THE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS FOR FUNDING CONSIDERATION TO CONGRESS, UH, AND THEN PROVIDE YOU THE UPDATES NECESSARY AS WEHER THESE PROJECTS THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL PROCESS. 
          MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. 
          WE HAVE, UM, AVAILABLE THE A TEAM FROM OUR CITY DEPARTMENT FOR ANY QUESTIONS. 
          WE ALSO HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS ON STANDBY. 
          UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BRIEF YOU THIS MORNING. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT, THAT'S EXCELLENT. 
          THIS IS A LOT TO UNPACK. 
          UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT IT, I FORGOT TO ASK, UH, OUR, UH, CLERK, IF WE NEED TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING. 
          WE DO AT ANY TIME. 
          IT'S BEST FOR YOU, SIR. 
          OKAY. 
          WELL, LET'S JUST GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. 
          COUNCILMAN, UH, ROCHA GARCIA, I'M SURE HAS READ IT, INDEXED IT, CREATED A GLOSSARY FOR IT. 
          I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM MARCH 10TH CHAIR. 
          GREAT. 
          COUNCILMAN VRAN? YOU WANT SECOND? YES, I READ THE GLOSSARY. 
          THANK YOU, . 
          GREAT. 
          UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          AYE. 
          GREAT HEARING, NO OPPOSITION. 
          THE MINUTES ARE ACCEPTED. 
          UM, SALLY, THE, THIS IS EXCELLENT. 
          I'M, I'M GONNA LET, UH, JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ, UM, UH, ASK HIS FIRST QUESTION 'CAUSE I KNOW HE IS GOT A HARD STOP, UH, SOON, UH, CO-CHAIR. 
          OKAY. 
          I, I DON'T HEAR HIM. 
          SO HE MAY HAVE SIGNED OFF ALREADY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VIA GROUND. 
          DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? ANY COMMENTS? YES, I DO. 
          I'M UNMUTING RIGHT NOW. 
          GREAT. 
          UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SALLY AND TAMIKA, AND EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS APPRECIATED. 
          UM, I'M GOING TO START WITH AT THE, TOWARDS THE END WHERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN AND, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE I G R COMMITTEE, WHEN WE GET THAT AMERICAN JOBS PLAN, UH, MOVED FORWARD AND SIGNED AND DIRECTION, OR FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT OR WHOMEVER, PLEASE PUT A FOCUS ON WATER AND UTILITIES, UH, SOUTH OF FOUR 10, BECAUSE I KNOW SAS WILL PROBABLY NEED THAT WHEN WE'RE BUILDING OUT OUR UTILITIES, UM, SOUTH. 
          UM, AND THEN I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT, UM, THE PRESSA PROJECT ACTUALLY. 
          WHY WAS, WAS, UM, SOUTH DUB BRAUNFELS PROJECT AT THE BROOKS AREA CONSIDERED OR LOOKED AT TAMIKA? UH, SALLY, WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T PUT THAT ONE IN. 
          WE WENT WITH THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE THE HIGHER COST PROJECTS ALREADY IN THE TIP WHERE WE WERE LOOKING TO GET MORE FUNDING. 
          SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANY OTHER PROCESS THAT WE'VE ENTERED INTO AS FAR AS THE CALL FOR PROJECTS WITH SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS IS IN THAT THOSE WERE NOT CONSIDERED, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE CONTEXT OF THE PROJECTS BASED ON THEIR COMPETITIVENESS, BASED ON THOSE CRITERIA AND THE ONES THAT BASICALLY CHECKED A LOT OF THE BOXES AND WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING TO SUPPORT. 
          IS THAT ONE TAKE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT? IF, IF I COULD ALSO ADD ON, JUST TO CLARIFY, I, I THINK, UH, I'M CORRECT ON THIS. 
          SO TAMIKA, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE REQUIREMENT FOR THESE, UH, SORT OF EARMARKED PROJECTS IN THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL, IS THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE TO BE IN THE TIP. 
          UH, AND SO THE THREE THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ARE IN THE TIP ALREADY. 
          I'M NOT SURE TAMIKA, IF SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS IS, BUT I THINK WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY IS THAT SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS WAS AMONG THE LIST OF PROJECTS SUBMITTED IN THE CALL FOR PROJECTS TO M P O. 
          IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. 
          SO DOES THAT MEAN IT WAS IN THE TIP OR NOT IN THE TIP? I WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TIP, AND WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION YESTERDAY, SOMETIMES PROJECTS ARE IN THE TIP AND THEN OVER YEARS THEY'RE TAKEN OUT, BUT PUT BACK IN. 
          AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER THE CALL FOR PROJECTS AND NEW BRAUNFELS WAS IN THERE, AND I JUST NEED TO CONFIRM THAT. 
          I CAN PROBABLY CONFIRM IT, UM, BY MUTING MYSELF FOR A MINUTE. 
          BUT THESE PROJECTS ARE IN THE TIP, SO MM-HMM. 
          , AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT CHECKED A LOT OF THOSE BOXES BASED ON THE TEAMS REVIEW AND PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT WAS BEING LOOKED AT FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 
          OKAY. 
          O ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, I MEAN, WE ALL HAVE WORKED ON MAKING THAT, UH, PROJECT ONE THAT EVERYBODY SIGNED ONTO IN THE PAST, AND 
          [00:25:01]
WE MOVED IT FORWARD, UM, AS WELL. 
          AND SO, AND ACTUALLY SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS IS THE ONE RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE VIA TRANSIT CENTER ON THE BROOKS CAMPUS. 
          AND, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT CONNECTED TO OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM. 
          SO IT ALSO CONNECTS WITH THE MOBILITY, AND IT IS TOO, ALSO ADJACENT TO THE GREEN LINE PARK, UM, IN THE AREA. 
          NOW, IT DOESN'T CONNECT STRAIGHT TO, UM, THE, THE, UH, NEAR WHERE THE, UM, UNION PACIFIC RAIL LINE IS, BUT IT STILL DOES HIT THE MAJORITY OF ALL OF THOSE OTHER BOXES THAT WE, WE LOOKED AT YESTERDAY AND WE CHECKED OFF. 
          SO IF THERE'S A WAY TO SUBMIT, UH, TO LOOK AT THAT ONE AND SEE IF THAT'S, THAT ALSO HITS ALL OF THE AREAS AND COULD ALSO BE VERY COMPETITIVE AND HAVE A HIGH RANKING, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AND CONSIDER THAT ONE, UM, AS A POTENTIAL PROJECT TO LOOK AT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HIT ALL OF THOSE MARKS. 
          BUT I DO UNDERSTAND AS OUR ZAMORA, BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE, I KNOW WE WANNA BE COMPETITIVE, AND I KNOW WE WANT TO PUT SOMETHING THERE THAT IS VERY COMPETITIVE AND, UH, WE SHOW THE, THE, UM, CONNECTIVITY AND THE NEED THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. 
          AND I THINK THESE CAN, UH, HIGHLIGHT THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT WE'VE CREATED. 
          AND, UM, THAT WAS PART OF OUR, OUR CONNECTION, UH, EVEN TO CONNECT, UH, TRY TO CONNECT SOUTH TO, UH, FOUR 10, LOOP FOUR 10 AND BEYOND. 
          UM, BUT YES, I THINK THE, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE WITH WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND THE TRANSFORMATION THAT IS TRYING TO HAPPEN ALONG BROADWAY TO GET, UM, UP AND DOWN OUR, THE CENTER CITY WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. 
          AND THEN, UM, OF COURSE, THE SOUTH SAMMO BRIDGE, WE'VE BEEN, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT A LONG TIME, AND SHE'S BEEN ON, SHE'S ON THE M P O AND SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT A LONG TIME. 
          SO I THINK THESE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT PROJECTS THAT CAN, UM, HIT THE MARK. 
          AND I WOULD, UM, JUST ASK IF YOU ALL COULD LOOK AT THAT. 
          AND I'M VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TAKE SERIOUSLY AND CONSIDER. 
          SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UM, COMMISSIONER DEBERRY, GOOD MORNING. 
          UH, AS YOU SAID, COUNCILMAN PLIE, THIS IS A LOT TO UNPACK. 
          UH, IT'S A LOT TO ABSORB. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN TO NOT ONLY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. 
          UM, I GUESS CONSIDERING THE QUICK, UH, TRIGGER ON THE TIMELINES, UM, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO TRACK THE PROGRESS? HOW ARE WE GONNA COMMUNICATE THAT? HOW DO WE DO, HOW DO WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS A, AS A RESULT OF TRACKING THAT PROGRESS WHEN WE NEED MORE FIREPOWER ASSOCIATED WITH A PROJECT? YOU KNOW, WALTER, PERHAPS THIS IS BEST ANSWERED BY YOU BECAUSE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE LOBBYISTS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE, BUT CONSIDERING WHAT I HEARD, UH, FROM SALLY, THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE WORKING THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND REALLY PRESENTING THE PROJECTS THAT WE PUT FORTH IN THE VESSEL. 
          WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THAT I THINK IT'S, IT'S HELPFUL THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SALLY, MYSELF AND MELISSA, WE TALK ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, TO COORDINATE AS, AS YOU SEE THE COORDINATION BETWEEN SAS, THE COUNTY, SARAH, THE CITY, TO MAKE SURE ALL THOSE EARMARKS ARE MOVING FORWARD. 
          UH, THEY'RE ALL VERY COMPETITIVE. 
          THEY'RE ALL GOING TO DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES. 
          SO IT'LL BE OUR JOB AS LOBBYISTS. 
          THE LOBBYISTS THE CITY HAS THE LOBBYIST, COUNTY HAS, EVEN SARAH AND SAS HAVE LOBBYISTS AS THEIR OWN AS WELL TOO, TO MAKE SURE WE TRACK ALL THOSE. 
          AS, AS SALLY WILL TELL YOU, AND, AND JEFF, UH, IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND THAT, THAT CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER WILL HAVE TO AGREE WITH, WITH THE COUNTY THAT HE WANTS TO SUBMIT THAT AS HIS CON, AS HIS REQUEST AS, UH, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S REQUEST, AS WELL ASS'S REQUEST. 
          SO WE'VE KIND OF SPREAD 'EM ALL OUT, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET ALL THESE PUSHED TO THE NEXT LEVEL. 
          THEN THE NEXT LEVEL IS ANOTHER COMPETITIVE AR AREA WHERE, WHERE APPROPRIATORS THEN DECIDE WHAT STAYS IN AND WHAT DOESN'T. 
          WE'RE GONNA NEED OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS TO PUSH THEN. 
          AND, AND SO THE LOBBYISTS WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE THERE AS WELL AS THE ELECTEDS. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER, I KNOW YOU TALK QUITE FREQUENTLY TO TONY GONZALEZ. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE YOU, UH, MAKE SOME CALLS TO TONY GONZALEZ IN THE INTERIM AS WELL AS, UH, MANDY AZZ WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR AND, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND, AND THE, THE WHOLE TEAM COUNCILWOMAN ANO, THEY ALL HAVE REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CALL ON THESE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS TO SAY, YOU REALLY NEED TO PICK MY PROJECT. 
          UH, I REMIND EVERYONE THAT CONGRESSMAN CASTRO IS THE ONLY CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER THAT TAKES ON ALL OF SAN ANTONIO, ALL OF SAN ANTONIO QUA, UH, GONZALEZ DOGGETT, UH, AND CHIPO. 
          AND CHIPO IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE EARMARK, UH, PROCESS, BUT THE OTHER THREE HAVE LARGE DISTRICTS. 
          UH, AND SO THEY HAVE, UH, NEEDS AS WELL. 
          UH, QUORA WILL BE, UH, HAVING TO DO SOME THINGS FOR WEBB COUNTY AND FOR 
          [00:30:01]
HIDALGO COUNTY AS, AS TONY GONZALEZ WILL IN WEST TEXAS. 
          AND SO IT'S GONNA BE INCUMBENT UPON US, AS YOU SAY, UH, COMMISSIONER, TO MAKE SURE WE STAY COORDINATED. 
          AND THAT'S PART OF, PART OF MY JOB AS A LIAISON FOR A LOT OF THESE WASHINGTON, UH, DC FIRMS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY IN THE LOOP AND, AND THAT WE'RE PUSHING THESE THINGS. 
          AND COMMISSIONER DEBERRY ALSO, UM, WE NEED TO GET OUR COUNTY PROJECTS TOGETHER AND GET THOSE BEFORE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO, UH, GET THOSE APPROVED. 
          SO I'VE BEEN ASKING PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS TO COMPILE THEIR LIST, BUT I NEED SOME ASSISTANCE TO TRY AND HELP, UM, GET THOSE MOVING FORWARD SO I COULD USE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH, UH, LIGHTING A LITTLE BIT OF A FIRE, PLEASE. 
          OKAY. 
          , CONSIDER THE FIRE LIT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MM-HMM. 
           MUCH, UH, COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, WE'VE GOT JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ BACK ON THE LINE. 
          UM, AND SO, UH, JUSTIN WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION ALL OVER AGAIN. 
          SALLY ,  COMMISSIONER, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, UM, I, I WAS, I WAS LISTENING IN, SALLY, YOU DID A GREAT JOB, BUT I, I GOT CUT OFF THERE AT THE END. 
          UM, SO, UH, IF YOU COULD MAYBE FORWARD THAT TO ME. 
          MANNY DID OFFER THAT UP TO START THE MEETING ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT I'M GONNA BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY'S TIME AND PASS ON THAT. 
          BUT, UH, BUT, BUT I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY'S CHIMED IN, AT LEAST WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE COORDINATED EFFORT AND THE COLLABORATION. 
          UH, MELISSA, I DID MEET, UM, WITH, WITH RENEE ON, ON THOSE COUNTY PROJECTS. 
          I KNOW THE COMMISSIONER DEBERRY DID AS WELL. 
          UH, SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO, TO PUSH THOSE ALONG, I THINK, UM, WE'RE ALREADY A LITTLE BIT BEHIND WITH RESPECT TO THAT, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO, I THINK, EARMARKS, IF, IF ANY OF THESE, UM, ARE, ARE POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO, UH, SUBMIT. 
          BUT, UM, BUT NOW I WANT TO JUST, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY IN CONTACT. 
          UH, YOU KNOW, WALTER, YOU'RE, YOU'RE KIND OF A KEY COG HERE BECAUSE YOU, YOU HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HANDS IN BOTH CITY AND COUNTY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DC. 
          SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO COORDINATE, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME, SOME, AT LEAST SOME MEETINGS, IF NOT IN PERSON OVER THE, OVER THE PHONE WITH SOME OF THE KEY CONGRESSIONAL FOLKS ON THIS STUFF. 
          SO, UH, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. 
          UH, CHAIR, SALLY, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WOULD YOU JUST, UM, EMAIL ME THAT THE, THE PRESENTATION SO I CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT? ABSOLUTELY. 
          HAPPY TO, COMMISSIONER. 
          GREAT. 
          AND, AND I WILL, I WILL SAY COMMISSIONER, UH, COMMISSIONER ALSO, UH, CHAIRMAN, UH, APPLIES THAT, UH, THAT THERE IS ONE MORE EAR EARMARK REQUEST COMING FROM THE COUNTY, AND THAT'S BLANCO ROAD. 
          AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER DEBERRY HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH TONY GONZALEZ ON THAT. 
          AND THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED HERE, UH, BY THE END OF THE WEEK FOR HIS DEADLINE. 
          SO THAT'LL BE ON THE COUNTY LIST AS WELL, UH, AS WELL AS THE SARAH, UH, COUNTY, UH, WESTSIDE CREEKS PROGRAM. 
          SO MUCH FOR THAT. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONCERNS? UH, NO, IT'S GOOD. 
          GOOD INFORMATION ON, ON WHAT'S COMING, UH, AND THEN WHAT'S POTENTIALLY COMING ALSO. 
          SO, YEP. 
          LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. 
          I, I, I, UM, UM, HAD A PROJECT THAT WAS ON THE TIP AT ONE TIME. 
          IT, UM, MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE LIST, AND THAT WAS HARRY WBA, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR ROADS HERE, SUPPLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GETTING IN AND OUT OF FORT SAM GOING ALL THE WAY TO FOUR 10, UH, TAMIKA, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GET THAT REINSERTED AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, I THINK IT'S A PROJECT THAT WOULD FARE VERY WELL ON THIS LIST AS WELL. 
          AND, UM, UM, YEAH. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT IT WOULDN'T ON THIS LIST, OF COURSE, BUT I'D REALLY LIKE TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN GET THAT THING ON THIS LIST AS WELL. 
          IT'S AT A HIGH DOLLAR TICKET. 
          WE'VE BEEN, UH, PROJECT, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT DONE FOR YEARS. 
          AND, UM, UH, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WOULD WE REALLY NEED. 
          I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THE AUSTIN HIGHWAY  SPEY THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FOLLOW ON PROJECT TO DO THE ROAD IN BOTH DIRECTIONS UP TO FORT SAM AND TO FORT 10. 
          SO, YEAH, IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN WORK THAT ONE INTO THIS LIST AS WELL, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          BRINGING UP THE REAR, UH, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA, YOU CHAIR, AND, UM, SO THANK YOU SALLY FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION. 
          I'M HAPPY THAT THIS ARE SAMMO PROJECT IS, IS ON THE, THE LIST, UM, TO CONSIDER. 
          I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE EMERGENCY KITS REALLY FAST. 
          I I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION OR IF WHO WILL BE WORKING ON THE EMERGENCY KITS SPECIFICALLY. 
          [00:35:01]
I, UM, SIGNED ON TO A C C R THAT COUNCILMAN PERRY BROUGHT FORTH, UH, LAST MONTH, OR, OR MAYBE IT WAS IN FEBRUARY, AND COUNCILMAN S ALSO SIGNED OFF ON IT. 
          AND SO THE RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR GUIDES, UH, FOR AN EMERGENCY GUIDE, IF YOU WILL, TO BE PRINTED, UM, AND TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO SOME VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. 
          UM, I DON'T KNOW IF PART OF THAT, UH, MONEY WOULD, WOULD BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER TO INCLUDE, UM, A GUIDE AND, AND I'M SURE THAT COUNCILMAN, UH, PERRY HAD HIS OWN IDEAS, BUT, UM, IN, IN, IN WHAT HE PITCHED TO US AND WHY I SIGNED ONTO THE C C R WAS A BILINGUAL ASPECT. 
          AND THEN ALSO JUST BEING ABLE TO PREPARE THOSE FOLKS WITH, UM, WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. 
          RIGHT? AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHO'S WORKING ON THAT, SALLY, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT MAYBE CONNECTING THEM WITH, WITH MYSELF OR WITH COUNCILMAN PERRY'S OFFICE WHO ACTUALLY DRAFTED THE C C R WOULD BE, UM, A REALLY GOOD, UM, START TO, TO GET THAT GOING. 
          SO, SO F Y I I, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S MAKING THAT DECISION, BUT I'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, UM, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. 
          SALLYS SALLY, I THINK OUR TEAM IS ON THE CALL WHO CAN ANSWER THAT, RIGHT? CORRECT. 
          YES, ABSOLUTELY. 
          UH, COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING UP, UM, YOUR FEEDBACK. 
          WE HAVE CHIEF PAT, EVA, UM, AND PART OF THIS TEAM, JEFFREY DEAN, CAN ONE OF YOU SPEAK TO THE COUNCILWOMAN COMMENTS, PLEASE? UH, I APOLOGIZE. 
          CHIEF JUST STEPPED OUT. 
          HE HAD A, UH, TAKE A CALL WITH MARIA. 
          UM, ESSENTIALLY WE, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE HAD THESE PAMPHLETS, UM, AND WE'VE BEEN DISTRIBUTING, UH, A PART OF OUR READY SOFT TEXAS PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS NOW. 
          UM, WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE VERSION APP THAT HAS A LOT OF THAT DATA THAT'S ALREADY, THAT THAT CAN BE JUST DOWNLOADED ON A PHONE OR IPHONE OR IPAD. 
          UM, BUT YES, I AGREE WITH YOU. 
          WE NEED TO UPDATE ALL THAT INFORMATION. 
          WE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE THAT INFORMATION. 
          WE NEED TO WORK WITH C P S AND SAWS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS ALL OUR CONCERNS FROM THE WINTER, WINTER STORM AND THOSE DOCUMENTS, AND THOSE PAMPHLETS SHOULD ALL OR ALL WILL BE INCLUDED INTO THIS EMERGENCY KIT. 
          SO THEY HAVE ONE SOURCE WHERE THEY CAN GO FOR THE HEAT, YOU KNOW, FOR HEAT WAVES, YOU KNOW, FLOODING EVENTS, TORNADO EVENTS. 
          IT SHOULD ALL BE COVERED IN SOME ASPECT TO GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF INSIGHT ON HOW THEY SHOULD PREPARE, RESPOND, OR SHELTER IN PLACE. 
          OKAY, WONDERFUL. 
          YES, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE EMERGENCY KIT BECAUSE WE ALL RAN OUT OF POWER, SO SOME OF US COULDN'T DOWNLOAD SOMETHING. 
          I, I HAVE MY, UM, MY, MY READY TEXAS APP, AND I COULDN'T ACCESS BECAUSE I WAS DOWN TO LIKE 10% AND I WAS SAVING IT IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED. 
          RIGHT. 
          AND SO ANYTHING THAT, THAT WE CAN JUST DO TO PREPACKAGE THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. 
          I DO HAVE A QUESTION. 
          WHAT IS IN THE KITS, THE EMERGENCY KITS? I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S GONNA BE OUR TRADITIONAL STUFF OF, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, IT'S A BUCKET AND, UM, IT HAS POR, UH, POT OR IT HAS DRINKING WATER IN THERE. 
          IT HAS BATTERIES AND FLASHLIGHTS, IT HAS A RADIO, SOME EMERGENCY KIND OF COMPONENTS. 
          UM, IT HAS MRES, SO THEY HAVE LIKE, YOU KNOW, FIVE DAYS OF, YOU KNOW, FOOD AND STUFF. 
          SO IT'S REALLY TRYING TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU JUST, HOPEFULLY WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO IS PUT IT ON A SHELF AND NOT USE IT UNTIL THERE'S A DISASTER. 
          AND, BUT THEY KNOW IT'S THERE AND THEY KNOW THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT. 
          AND THEN, AND THEN, UM, AND WE CAN WORK WITH 'EM OVER THE YEARS TO UPDATE 'EM AND REPLACE 'EM AS WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          OKAY. 
          WONDERFUL. 
          I, I'D ASSUME THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE WITH THE RED CROSS AND I HAVE MY KIT, UM, READY TO GO IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. 
          AND SO, UM, I I, I WOULD HOPE THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN WHAT THE RED CROSS, UM, PROVIDES. 
          I THINK THERE'S ONLY, UM, ONE, UH, EMERY I WANNA SAY IN, IN THERE, BUT, UM, SO, BUT, BUT SO AGAIN, WE COULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION LATER. 
          UM, YES. 
          MY NEXT QUESTION, SALLY, AND THANK YOU, UM, UH, THANK YOU JEFF, FOR ANSWERING THAT, UM, THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPANSION, THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT EXPANSION. 
          WILL WE ALSO INCORPORATE WHAT WE'VE, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN, UM, TALKING ABOUT WITH THE CAHOOTS PROGRAM AND INTEGRATED AS A PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN. 
          I KNOW THAT THE EXPANSION, UM, INCLUDES, UM, A RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS, WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THAT, UH, NIGHT SHIFT ESTABLISHED. 
          UM, LET ME SEE. 
          DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM SS A P D PRESENT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE SPECIFIC QUESTION? IT DID. 
          I SAW HER. 
          SHE WAS HERE EARLIER. 
          YEAH, I SAW HER TOO. 
          UM, I'M, HI. 
          OH, HI THERE. 
          SHES, HI THERE. 
          OH, I AM, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHO I AM, I'M KAREN F I'M A DEPUTY CHIEF WITH THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT. 
          NICE TO SEE YOU COUNCILWOMAN. 
          UH, EVERYONE ELSE. 
          NICE TO SEE YOU. 
          UH, SO TO YOUR 
          [00:40:01]
QUESTION REGARDING CAHOOTS, WE'RE STILL, UH, CURRENTLY WE JUST STARTED, UH, WITH OUR PROJECT WITH THE MEADOWS INSTITUTE, UH, AS THEY'RE GOING TO, UM, EVALUATE OUR MENTAL HEALTH UNIT AND OUR PROGRAM AND OUR PROCESSES. 
          AND WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THAT. 
          UH, SO, UH, REALLY WHAT, WHAT OUR ASK IS FOR IS TO DEVELOP OUR NIGHT SHIFT. 
          CURRENTLY, WE HAVE, WE'RE ONLY STAFFED FOR A DAY SHIFT, UH, IF YOU WILL. 
          WE HAVE, UH, ONE SERGEANT, 10 OFFICERS AND TWO DETECTIVES, AND THEY WORK A 10 HOUR SHIFT, AND THEY GET OFF AT FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON. 
          SO WE HAVE NO MENTAL HEALTH UNIT OFFICERS OVERNIGHT, AND THAT PRESENTS A PROBLEM, UM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE HERE IN THOSE EVENING HOURS. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT OUR ASK IS FOR, UH, ONCE WE GET THROUGH OUR, UM, CONSULTING WITH MEADOWS, AND THERE'S ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, UM, THAT ARE MADE AS FAR AS THE CAHOOTS PROGRAM OR, UH, WHATEVER THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE, AND WE INCORPORATE, INCORPORATE THOSE, WE, WE WILL DO THAT. 
          BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THROUGH THAT, UM, THAT CONSULTATION WITH MEADOWS YET. 
          WE'VE, WE'VE JUST STARTED WITH THAT. 
          SO, UH, WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN THERE YET, BUT WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AND THE CHIEF AND, AND, AND WE ACCEPT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE, WE CERTAINLY WILL APPLY THOSE. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU, CHIEF. 
          AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, UM, TO EXPAND INTO, UM, THE EVENING HOURS AFTER FIVE, UM, AND I JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS, CHAIR, SO BEAR WITH ME. 
          ONE OF THEM IS THE SAW AND SPECIFICALLY GENERATORS. 
          DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH, UM, SPECIFICALLY IS DEDICATED TO GENERATORS? I NOTICED IN A 2015 RISK MITIGATION PLAN, THEY DID MENTION GENERATORS. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE, UM, ARE ACTUALLY BUDGETED FOR AND HOW MUCH THE SPECIFIC ASK IS FOR, FOR GENERATORS. 
          DO, DO YOU, DOES ANYBODY KNOW? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILWOMAN, AND I'LL DEFER TO SEE IF WALTER CAN ADD ADDITIONAL DETAILS. 
          I KNOW THAT WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SAS TEAM, UM, THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY HAD IDENTIFIED A HUNDRED, A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. 
          AND SO THEY'RE STILL CRUNCHING THEIR NUMBERS ON THIS SPECIFIC REQUEST. 
          I MEAN, THEY COULD BE ASKING FOR AS MUCH AS 20 MILLION FOR THIS SPECIFIC, UH, GENERATORS, UM, REQUEST TO CONGRESS, UH, BUT WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING, UM, WHAT IS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS BEING FUNDED, THEY COULD GET AS LOW AS A MILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR REQUEST. 
          WALTER, ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS? YES, COUNCILMAN WOMAN, I'LL TELL YOU THAT, UH, UH, HAWS HAS ABOUT $62 MILLION IN, IN, IN, UH, GENERATORS THAT THEY NEED, UH, ACROSS THE CITY. 
          UM, OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET $62 MILLION AS AN EARMARK. 
          SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY SUBMITTED A REQUEST, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPING FOR AS MUCH AS 20 MILLION EVEN. 
          THAT'S A BIG ASK, BUT IF WE CAN GET AS LITTLE AS A MILLION, THAT'LL HELP. 
          AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING THAT APPROACH. 
          ANY, ANY AMOUNT HELPS, AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN TO, TO MOVE DOWN THAT LIST OF GENERATORS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO SAN ANTONIO TO BEGIN TO BUILD AS GENERATORS, BACKUP GENERATORS. 
          OKAY. 
          ONE WONDERFUL, THANK YOU, WALTER, FOR, FOR THAT, UM, CLARIFICATION. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, DO WE HAVE A LIST OF OTHER COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION BY OTHER ENTITIES? I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. 
          PALOALTO COLLEGE IS SUBMITTING THE SAN ANA, UH, FOR EXPANSION OF THEIR, UH, HEALTH CLINIC, THEIR, THEIR DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM AND TRAINING, UH, FOR DENTAL HYGIENISTS. 
          AND I SENT IN A LETTER OF SUPPORT, AND IT JUST MADE ME REALIZE AS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION THAT THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS. 
          AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE COORDINATING WITH, WITH OTHER GROUPS, SALLY, SO IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT AND THEN SHARE THAT WOULD BE MY LAST QUESTION AFTER THAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, OFFICER COUNCILWOMAN. 
          UH, FIRST I'LL ADD THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THE INITIAL CONGRESSIONAL GUIDANCE CAME OUT, WE HAD ONE OF OUR STAFF LEVEL, UM, I G R ROUNDTABLES WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS WITH THE VARIOUS PARTNERS. 
          UM, SOME OF THE LETTERS, UM, OR THE ITEMS THAT YOU SAW FOR OUR PARTNER REQUESTS, THOSE WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE PART OF THE I G R ROUNDTABLE. 
          UM, WE ALSO INVITED CONGRESSIONAL STAFF TO JOIN THAT I G R ROUNDTABLE. 
          AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO INFORMATION SHARE, UM, AND GO THROUGH THE GUIDANCE, UH, TOGETHER. 
          WE DON'T HAVE, UM, A BROADER LIST, UM, OF PROJECTS. 
          I KNOW THAT THERE OTHER HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS THAT MIGHT BE SUBMITTING, UM, THEY HAD DIDN'T REACH OUT TO US FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR, OR THEY HAVE NOT SHARED WITH US WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA SUBMIT A REQUEST OR NOT. 
          UM, IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC ENTITY OR AREA THAT YOU ARE WANTING TO FIND OUT ABOUT, WE CAN CERTAINLY FIND OUT, UH, THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP. 
          UH, THESE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WE'RE AWARE OF, UH, RIGHT NOW. 
          AND, AND SALLY ALAMO, ALAMO COLLEGES IS TYPICALLY PART OF THAT INTERGOVERNMENTAL ROUND TABLE, I BELIEVE. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE AT THE MEETING 
          [00:45:01]
THAT YOU ORGANIZED MOST RECENTLY, BUT THEY ARE TYPICALLY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. 
          I BELIEVE THEY WERE, THEY WERE JUST NOT READY TO SHARE, UM, WHAT THE POSSIBLE PROJECT WOULD BE AT THAT TIME. 
          THAT WAS AT MAYBE ALMOST THREE WEEKS AGO. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          EXCELLENT. 
          UM, I, I CAN TELL YOU, I KNOW FOR SURE THAT, UH, OUR FRIENDS OVER AT U T S A ARE LOOKING, UM, FOR, UH, EARMARKS FROM THESE FUNDS ALSO FOR THEIR, UH, CYBER PROJECT AT, UH, PORT SA. 
          AND SO, UM, UH, UH, I DO THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S WORTH US QUIZZING OUR OUR, UH, OUR PARTNERS LOCALLY AND JUST ASKING THEM TO DISCLOSE TO US, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT MONEY ARE YOU GOING AFTER? HOW MUCH AND WHY TO SEE IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT WIND IN THEIR SAILS TOO, RIGHT. 
          UM, SO A A COUPLE OF THINGS, UM, LISTENING TO THE, UH, UH, ALL THE QUESTIONS, IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THIS MIX OF, UH, OF EXPERTS, UM, AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE. 
          UH, I, I THINK I, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR, UH, FOR A WHILE NOW, AND COUNCILMAN VRAN, YOU'VE, YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMITTEE ON AND OFF OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, BUT I, I THINK THAT WE'RE FIRING ON ALL, ALL CYLINDERS HERE, AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          UM, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'VE GOT THE TWO COMMISSIONERS, UM, AT THE TABLE. 
          UM, AND I SAY THIS NOT TO, NOT TO MAKE YOU ALL FEEL GREAT ABOUT YOURSELVES, WHICH I HOPE YOU DO FEEL GREAT ABOUT YOURSELVES. 
          YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO, UH, I SAY THIS BECAUSE SALLY AND AND JEFF ARE GONNA NEED ALL OF US TO LEAN IN, UM, AND WRITE LETTERS AND MAKE CALLS. 
          I KNOW, JEFF, YOU'VE BEEN, UH, ASKING ALL OF US TO DO THAT. 
          BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED UP IN JEFF AND SALLY'S EMAILS, IT'S WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT WE NEED AT THIS TIME, MORE THAN EVER. 
          AND SO, UM, BEFORE WE, ALL MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON, CAM, UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE EMERGENCY KITS. 
          UM, COUNCILMAN PERRY AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OUR EMERGENCY KITS CAN HAVE BRISKET AND COLD BEER IN THEM, . 
          UM, MAYBE WE'LL GET NEAR BEER, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          UH, CHAIRMAN, MY QUESTIONS ON THIS. 
          YES, SIR. 
          I'M, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. 
          I JUST, TWO QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO WRAP UP BEFORE WE LEFT THIS. 
          SO, COUNCILMAN VERAN, SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS, IS NOT CURRENTLY IN THE TIP. 
          UH, TAMIKA WILL AND HER HAND IS UP. 
          FORGIVE ME, FORGIVE ME, COUNSEL. 
          OKAY, I'LL, I'LL JUST, I'LL SAY THAT PART. 
          AND THEN HARRY WBA, THE INTERCHANGE IS, BUT THE, THE ROAD PROJECT FROM THE TWO POINTS, I BELIEVE IS NOT, UH, OF COURSE, COUNCILMAN, YOU NOTED THAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY AND FELL OFF, SO I, I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY THERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE, UH, ANSWERED THOSE TWO AND DIDN'T LEAVE THE QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU, JEFF. 
          COUNCIL MI GRANT? YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UH, CIRCLE BACK. 
          THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION, JEFF. 
          UM, I'M SURE WE'LL LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THAT NOW. 
          UM, SOUTH NEW BON FALLS AND OTHER CAPACITY, BECAUSE I THINK WE STILL NEED $32 MILLION FOR THAT, UH, PROJECT. 
          AND THEN, UM, TO OUR OTHER PARTNERS, YES, I KNOW THAT TEXT A AND M SAN ANTONIO IS ALSO LOOKING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, BROADBAND IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
          SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM, CIRCLING BACK AND WORKING WITH THEM. 
          THANK YOU. 
          GREAT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UM, MOVING ON TO OUR 
          [3. 21-2949 87th Legislative Session Update]
NEXT, UH, OUR NEXT ITEM, JEFF. 
          SURE. 
          SO, UH, STATE UPDATE, UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING WEEKLY, UH, UPDATES FOR THE FULL COUNSEL AND ALL THE VARIOUS BILLS AND HEARINGS. 
          SO I WILL, UH, SPARE YOU HAVING TO HEAR THAT UPDATE TWICE, ALTHOUGH I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PAST WEEK IF YOU WANT. 
          BUT THE, THE TWO ITEMS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU ARE, UH, DISCUSSION AROUND THE ENERGY SLASH WINTER STORM RELATED BILLS. 
          THAT WAS A QUESTION ASKED AT CO COUNCIL, AND I GAVE A BRIEF ANSWER, BUT WANTED TO DEFER TO C P S. 
          SO, UM, FOCUSED ADVOCACY IS ONE OF OUR STATE LOBBYISTS, AND THEY REPRESENT BOTH US AND C P S. 
          AND SO KURT SEITZ, UH, JUST TURNED HIS CAMERA ON, IS ON TO GIVE US A QUICK, UH, RUN RUNDOWN ON THE ENERGY DISCUSSIONS. 
          AND THEN SECONDLY, I WANTED TO, UH, SIMPLY AS A POINT OF AWARENESS AT THIS STAGE, MAKE YOU AWARE OF, UH, SOME BILLS RELATED TO CHA TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AND SPORTS. 
          AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME MEDIA COVERAGE THIS WEEK ABOUT SOME COMMENTS BY THE NCAA. 
          SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SORT OF STUDY THAT ISSUE RIGHT NOW. 
          UM, AND SO WITH THAT, UH, CHAIRMAN, IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KURT. 
          ALL RIGHT, WELCOME, KURT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU, JEFF. 
          THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. 
          I, I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, Y'ALL'S INVOLVEMENT IN ALL OF THESE ISSUES FROM FEDERAL TO STATE. 
          IT MAKES SO MUCH DIFFERENCE ON HOW WE CAN PERFORM OUR JOBS, UH, IN INTERACTING WITH THE DELEGATION AND WITH THE REST OF THE, UH, 
          [00:50:01]
MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. 
          UH, WHEN WE STARTED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A QUIET ONE ON THE ENERGY FRONT, AND WE WERE MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, MUNICIPAL UTILITY COMPETITION. 
          THERE WAS A BILL THAT SENATOR SCHWART FROM, UH, WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAD TALKED ABOUT BRINGING COMPETITION TO THE MUNIS. 
          BUT OF COURSE, AFTER THE WINTER EVENT TOOK PLACE, UH, IN FEBRUARY 14 TO 21 TIMEFRAME, UH, THAT ALL CHANGED. 
          AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE ARE OVER 350 ELECTRIC BILLS THAT HAD BEEN, UH, FILED. 
          AND, UH, I, I HADN'T BEEN TO SAN ANTONIO IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU AT THE CAPITOL, THE PANDEMIC IS OVER. 
          UH, THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY OVER THERE WITH COMMITTEE HEARINGS, UH, WITH FLOOR ACTION, ET CETERA. 
          SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO KEEP OUR, UH, ON OUR FEET TO FIGHT THESE BILLS AND TO, TO READ AND LOOK AT 'EM. 
          THE LEGISLATIVE REACTION TO THE WINTER EVENT WAS, WE DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. 
          AND SO THEY'RE KINDA LOOKING AT IT, AND I THINK THEY'VE BROKEN IT DOWN INTO ABOUT FOUR CATEGORIES. 
          ONE OF RELIABILITY, ONE CUSTOMER INTERFACE, ONE ERCOT GOVERNANCE, AND P U C GOVERNANCE AND FOUR FINANCIAL STABILITY. 
          SO I, I'LL TAKE 'EM IN THOSE. 
          UH, I PREFER TO CALL 'EM BUCKETS, BUT, BUT LET'S LOOK AT THE CUSTOMER INTERFACE. 
          ONE FIRST. 
          YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS OUT OF THE, UH, WINTER EVENT WAS THE, THE ROLLING OUTAGES, OR THE LACK OF ROLLING OUTAGES. 
          ANOTHER COMPLAINT WAS ALONG THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION. 
          UM, C P SS, I THINK, DID PRETTY WELL IN, IN THOSE AREAS, BUT AROUND THE STATE. 
          THE COMMUNICATION FROM ERCOT TO THE COMPANIES AND THE COMPANIES TO THE CUSTOMER IS A BIG CONCERN TO THE LEGISLATURE. 
          AND AS I MENTIONED, THE OUTAGES, THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHY OUTAGES TOOK PLACE THE WAY THEY DID, UH, IS A, IS A BIG STEP OF, OF UNDERSTANDING OR LACK THEREOF OF THE PUBLIC. 
          SO THERE'S A BILL CALLED SENATE BILL THREE, WHICH IS BY CHARLES SCHWART. 
          IN FACT, RUDY GARZA FROM C P S TESTIFIED ON THE BILL AND DID A, DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. 
          BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH GRID RELIABILITY. 
          WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, FROM A DISTRIBUTION, UH, STANDPOINT AS TO, UH, WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS. 
          THE HOUSE HAS SEVERAL BILLS. 
          UH, THEIR BILLS ARE LIKE HOUSE BILL 10 THROUGH HOUSE BILL 17, AND SOME OF THOSE, UH, ALSO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTING CUSTOMERS KNOW, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO, TO PREVENT THOSE TYPE OF OUTAGES, UH, ANYWHERE FROM IDENTIFYING CRITICAL CARE FACILITIES ON FEEDERS. 
          UH, THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE. 
          WHY, WHY ARE MY LIGHTS OFF AND ACROSS THE STREET WAS 'CAUSE YOU'RE NEAR A HOSPITAL MORE THAN LIKELY, OR A POLICE STATION, ET CETERA. 
          SO THAT, THAT, UH, CATEGORY, I THINK IS BEING ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AT THIS TIME. 
          THE, UH, THE OTHER BUCKET THAT I WOULD CALL RELIABILITY BUCKET, THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE. 
          AND I THINK, UH, THE LEGISLATURE'S NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES OF THAT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON ONE THING. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL SAW YESTERDAY, THERE WAS AN ERCOT ALERT, UH, AROUND FIVE O'CLOCK THAT THEY GOT REAL CLOSE BECAUSE A LOT OF PLANTS ARE GOING THROUGH MAINTENANCE AND, UH, THE WIND STOPPED BLOWING AND THE, THERE WAS OVERCAST IN THE WEST YESTERDAY ON THE SUN. 
          SO THAT THIS ISSUE IS A HUGE, BIG ISSUE AND ONE THAT IS NOT EASILY SOLVED. 
          BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS TO DO. 
          THEY'RE, UH, ONE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY A CAPACITY MARKET. 
          YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT A BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY PLAN TO COME IN AND BUILD $8 BILLION WORTH OF PLANTS AT A REGULATED RATE OF RETURN. 
          YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT DUAL FUELS CREATING SOME TYPE OF FUND FOR THE, UH, UH, GENERATING STATIONS TO APPLY TO, TO PUT DIESEL ON SITE TO RUN WHEN, UH, WHEN GAS IS NOT AVAILABLE. 
          UH, THEY'RE ALSO KIND OF GOING AFTER RENEWABLES BECAUSE RENEWABLES DON'T HAVE FIRM BACKUP WHEN THEY DON'T SHOW UP, UH, ON THE GRID. 
          THERE'S NO PENALTY. 
          SO THERE'S SOME BILLS, UH, WE NEED TO KEEP A LOOK ON THOSE. 
          C P SS IS LOOKING AT THOSE WE ALL ARE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT 
          [00:55:01]
UPSETS A LOT OF OUR RENEWABLE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. 
          NOW, UH, YOU MAY HEAR THE TERM FIRM BACKUP OR ANCILLARY SERVICES. 
          WHAT THAT DOES, IT RAISES THE PRICE OF A RENEWABLES SUBSTANTIALLY. 
          UH, I'VE MENTIONED WINTERIZATION, UH, YOU KNOW, LET'S PREVENT, TRY TO PREVENT GAS LINES FROM FREEZING POWER PLANTS FROM FREEZING, ET CETERA. 
          I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY ON THIS RELIABILITY ISSUE, THEY'LL PROBABLY PUNT TO THE P U C TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF PLAN. 
          AND, UH, ACTUALLY THERE IS A BILL TO DO JUST THAT. 
          THE, THE THIRD ONE THAT THEY KIND OF JUMP ON IS GOVERNANCE. 
          AND THAT IS WHAT'S THE MAKEUP OF THE ERCOT BOARD? Y'ALL HEARD? UH, THEY WENT AFTER THE FACT THAT FIVE OF THE MEMBERS, INDEPENDENT MEMBERS LIVE OUTTA STATE. 
          UH, OF COURSE, IT WAS A LEGISLATURE YEARS AGO THAT WANTED INDEPENDENT MEMBERS. 
          AND TO GET IN TRUE INDEPENDENT MEMBERS, YOU USUALLY GO OUTTA STATE. 
          BUT THERE'S BILLS TO RECONSTITUTE THE ACO ERCO BOARD, AND IT WOULD BE BY APPOINTMENTS OF LIKE THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THE SPEAKER THAT ALL HAVE TO BE FROM TEXAS. 
          AND SO, SO THAT BILL'S GONNA MOVE THROUGH. 
          ON THE P U C, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, UH, WE'VE HAD ALL THREE ACTUALLY RESIGN. 
          ONE OF THEM IS STILL THERE UNTIL HIS SUCCESSOR IS NAMED, BUT THERE'S BEEN TWO NEW, UH, P U C COMMISSIONERS, PETER LAKE, SOME OF Y'ALL MAY KNOW HIM, A REALLY GOOD GUY, WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, UH, HEAD FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. 
          AND A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF WILL MCADAMS, A FORMER, UH, STAFFORD OF SENATOR FRAZIER AND KELLY HANCOCK. 
          AND TO THE SPEAKER ALSO, THERE'S TALK ABOUT EXPANDING THAT TO FIVE MEMBERS. 
          I BET YOU THEY DO IT THAT WAY. 
          TWO MEMBERS CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE PENDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION, WITHOUT VIOLATING, UH, OPEN MEETINGS. 
          UM, THE, THE BIG ONE THAT'S OUT THERE IS THE FINANCIAL STABILITY BUCKET. 
          AND AS Y'ALL WELL KNOW, MANY MUNIS, MANY CO-OPS, UH, MANY REPS, RETAIL ELECTRIC PROVIDERS PAID EXORBITANT PRICES FOR A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF TIME DURING THE WINTER EVENT. 
          YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD OF THE 32 HOURS OF $9,000. 
          YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ANCILLARY SERVICES, WHICH WENT UP TO, WHEREAS NORMALLY THEY'RE A FEW DOLLARS, WERE RUNNING AS HIGH AS $27,000. 
          SO PEOPLE JUST, UH, UH, INCURRED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COST FOR THIS RELIABILITY EVENT. 
          THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THE, KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, THEY KEPT THE PRICES HIGH, BUT EVERYBODY'S NOW GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. 
          AND THE IMPACT ON SOMEBODY LIKE C P S WHO C P S HAS A GREAT STRATEGY GOING FORWARD TO, TO LOOK AT ALL AVENUES OF, OF, OF RECOVERY, UH, WHETHER BY LITIGATION, BY LEGISLATION, ET CETERA, TO, TO HELP CUSTOMERS AND HAVE EVEN GONE TO THE POINT OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE SOME CREDITS, UH, DURING THIS PERIOD, WHICH IS VERY LAUDABLE. 
          BUT THAT, UH, THAT 32 HOURS IN THOSE ANCILLARY SERVICES IS A, IS A BIG ISSUE. 
          AND THE, THE REAL PROBLEM BECOMES WHEN LIKE A BRA CO-OP OR A RAYBURN CO-OP, UH, LIKE 1.8 BILLION DEFAULT, 800 THEREABOUTS MILLION DEFAULT, THAT THAT ERCOT IS JUST A SETTLEMENT AGENT. 
          SO IF THEY DON'T GET THE MONEY IN, THEY CAN'T PAY THE MONEY OUT. 
          SO THEY'RE LIKE $3 BILLION SHORT. 
          SO WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT A QUASI-STATE AGENCY SITTING AROUND SHUFFLING DOLLARS AROUND, UH, AT A $3 BILLION DEFICIT. 
          SO THEY'RE TRYING TO DO A, A PROCESS CALLED SECURITIZATION, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO, UH, LESSEN THE IMPACT OF THOSE CHARGES TO CUSTOMERS OVER TIME, RATHER THAN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. 
          COULD BE UP TO 30 YEARS AT A SHORT, AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE. 
          SO THE, BECAUSE THOSE CHARGES THAT, UH, BRAS DOESN'T PAY OR VER DOESN'T PAY, OR ANYBODY ELSE DOESN'T PAY, WE ALL PAY FOR 'EM. 
          WE, THE CUSTOMERS ARE NOT ONLY MUNIS AND CO-OPS, UH, AND REPS AROUND THE STATE. 
          SO THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY BACK TO THE MARKETS TO, UH, KEEP, KEEP PEOPLE IN BUSINESS FRANKLY, AND TO, UH, UH, MOVE THIS MARKET ALONG. 
          UH, JEFF, THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE, THE, THE GIST OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THOSE BILLS. 
          AND WITHIN, WITHIN EACH ONE OF THESE 
          [01:00:01]
BUCKETS, THERE'S TENS AND TENS OF BILLS. 
          UH, BUT I'M HOPE THAT I JUST GAVE YOU KIND OF AN OUTLINE OF HOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS AND, AND WHAT YOU MAY EXPECT. 
          BUT I WOULD EXPECT ERCOT, UH, BOARD CHANGES, P U C BOARD CHANGES, UH, A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF LANGUAGE AND A LOT OF LEGISLATION ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH CUSTOMERS AND TO DO A, A BETTER JOB AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND ERCOT. 
          AND THEN, UH, THE BIG ONE IS THE RELIABILITY. 
          AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK THEY PROBABLY SEND THAT OFF TO THE P U C. 
          THERE'S BEEN TALK OF SPECIAL SESSION ON THESE ISSUES. 
          UH, MY THINKING ON THAT IS THAT'S PRETTY RISKY FOR THE LEGISLATURE. 
          IF THEY DO A SPECIAL SESSION ON IT, THEY REALLY ARE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE BIG PROBLEMS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANNA FOCUS ON THAT OR NOT. 
          UH, NORMALLY THEY'LL, AS I MENTIONED, PUNT TO THE P U C TO DO A LOT OF THESE HARDER ISSUES. 
          UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE, THE FACT THAT THE, THE SAN ANTONIO DELEGATION HAS BEEN SUPER, VERY ATTENTIVE TO, UH, UH, TO OUR NEEDS FROM A A C P SS AND THE CITY PER PERSPECTIVE. 
          UH, VERY, VERY GOOD IN ADVANCING IDEAS. 
          AND THE ONE THING FROM UTILITIES ALSO I JUST MENTIONED A LOT OF THE RESTRICTIONS, UH, ON CITY, UH, BILLS, UH, CARRY OVER TO THE UTILITIES SUCH AS THE, THE CO BILL, WHICH IS HOUSE BILL 1869. 
          TREY MARTINEZ FISHER HELPED US OUT WITH AN AMENDMENT ON THAT AND DID A GREAT JOB. 
          UH, Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL MONIES A MINUTE AGO. 
          THERE'S A BILL HB 2021, WHICH YOU MAY WANNA LOOK AT, BECAUSE IT PUTS THAT WHOLE $45 BILLION THAT WE EXPECT FROM THE FEDS TO GO INTO, I THINK IT'S A 10 MEMBER GROUP. 
          UH, THE OF LEGISLATORS DOESN'T INCLUDE THE GOVERNOR IS KIND OF AKIN TO THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD. 
          SO WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION, THOSE 10 FOLKS WILL BE DETERMINING HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT. 
          AND ABOUT 10 BILLION OF THAT IS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UH, GOING FORWARD. 
          UH, BIG CHUNK FOR SCHOOLS TOO. 
          SO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ONE. 
          AS, AS YOU'RE GOING, JEFF, I'D BE, UH, OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS. 
          UH, THANKS, KURT. 
          I, AND YOU KNOW, I FAILED FOR THE COMMITTEE'S SAKE TO GIVE KURT'S BACKGROUND. 
          UH, HE WAS A, A 10 YEAR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE AND FORMERLY CHAIRED THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE COMMITTEE DEALING WITH MANY OF THESE ISSUES NOW. 
          AND FOLLOWING THAT WAS, UH, A LOBBYIST AND PROFESSIONAL AT BOTH THE ASSOCIATION FOR ELECTRIC COMPANIES IN TEXAS AS WELL AS, UH, T X U, UH, PRIVATE ENERGY COMPANIES. 
          SO HE CERTAINLY KNOWS THESE TOPICS. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          UH, COUNCILMAN VRAN, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT I'M GONNA KEEP IN MY HEAD, UH, BUT I DO WANT TO, UH, SO KURT, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          UM, THIS 10 MEMBER LEGISLATIVE GROUP, UM, HOW REAL IS THIS? HOW REAL DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TO COME TO, TO REALITY THAT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          UH, YOU NEVER SAY NEVER ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE THESE DAYS. 
          I THINK IT, I THINK IT HAS A GREAT CHANCE TO BECOME REALITY. 
          UH, IF I WERE ONE OF THE OTHER MEMBERS, I WOULD OBJECT TO IT BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING AWAY MY, MY VOICE IN THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS. 
          BUT, UH, I THINK SOME OF 'EM LIKE TO PUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY OFF ON, ON A GROUP. 
          I MEAN, THE L B B CAN TRANSFER FUNDS DURING THE, DURING THE INTERIM ALSO. 
          BUT, BUT THIS IS A, THIS IS ONE THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU GO, REALLY? THEY'RE GONNA DO THAT? SO, JEFF, KURT, WHAT? SORRY. 
          I'M HI COUNCILWOMAN. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          ANOTHER QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT, IS THERE A BILL NOW TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE CAPACITY MARKET, OR THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAD NOW IT'S NOT GOING ON ANYMORE. 
          IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A BILL. 
          UH, LIKE CHAIRMAN PATTY OVER IN THE HOUSE HAS A, HAS KIND OF A SHELL BILL ON WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT CAPACITY GOING FORWARD. 
          SO ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED WITHIN THAT CONTEXT IS CAPACITY MARKETS. 
          SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE SAID, WELL, CAPACITY MARKET WOULDN'T HAVE HELPED US IN FEBRUARY. 
          [01:05:01]
'CAUSE MORE THAN LIKELY IF ONE GAS GENERATOR FROZE UP, ANOTHER GAS GENERATOR PROBABLY GONNA FREEZE UP. 
          OR IF A GAS LINE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO ONE EXISTING PLANT, IS IT GONNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GAS TO A, A PLANT UNDER A CAPACITY MARKET? SO THOSE, THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING DISCUSSED. 
          UH, BUT IS THERE A PARTICULAR BILL JUST ON CAPACITY MARKET? NO. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THINGS. 
          THAT'S ALL CHAIR. 
          YOU'RE WELCOME. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ROCHA GARCIA, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU, CHAIR. 
          OKAY, THANKS, COMMISSIONER. 
          UH, DEBERRY. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. 
          JUST, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED THE CONVERSATION. 
          I KNOW THERE'S A LOT, AND REALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENERGY AND STABILIZATION OF ENERGY AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, REALLY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PICTURE IN TEXAS, BECAUSE WE SUFFERED SUCH A BLACK EYE. 
          UM, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE FACT RECEIVING A NOTICE FROM  THAT WE HAD TO SAVE ENERGY AGAIN, IT'S JUST, IT'S . 
          IT'S NOT A POSITIVE SIGN AT ALL. 
          I, I AGREE WITH YOU. 
          SO I, SO I HOPE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO DIG IN BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE. 
          UM, BUT MY QUESTION REALLY IS MORE ABOUT REDISTRICTING. 
          I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THAT'S A PRIORITY. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU THINK THAT FITS IN THE MIX, EVEN THOUGH ENERGY HAS SUCKED ALL THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM. 
          BUT THAT'S IMPORTANT. 
          WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PRIMARIES BEING POSTPONED. 
          JUST YOU STATUS ON THAT. 
          KURT, I'M, I'M HAPPY. 
          UH, COUNCILWOMAN SNAPPER CARR WITH FOLKS ADVOCACY. 
          UM, THE, THE CURRENT STATUS, OF COURSE, THIS IS A REDISTRICTING, UH, SESSION, UH, ONCE, ONCE A DECADE. 
          AND, BUT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, THE PANDEMIC AND BECAUSE OF DELAYS AND, AND CANDIDLY 'CAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, UH, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE AFFECTED THAT CALENDAR. 
          THERE'S A, A FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT, UH, THAT, THAT THOSE NUMBERS BE PROVIDED TO THE STATES. 
          THEY'RE NOT GONNA HIT THAT. 
          WE HAVE A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY, UH, THAT WILL NOT BE MET, UH, ON OUR MAPS BECAUSE OF TIMING, UH, OF WHEN THEY ACTUALLY GET THAT, WHAT IS KNOWN AS BLOCK DATA. 
          SO THEY CAN DRAW MAPS DOWN TO LITERALLY BLOCK LEVEL LINES OF PRECINCTS. 
          THAT DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE ACCORDING TO THE, THE LATEST INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE STATE. 
          UH, AND THAT'S, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACTUALLY DRAWS THE MAPS, AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS THOSE IN THE FORM OF, OF THE BILLS. 
          BUT, UM, THEY HAVE INDICATED THEY'LL HAVE THAT THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY PASSED THIS SESSION. 
          SO THERE ARE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE NOW TO, TO PREPARE FOR THAT, THAT POTENTIAL REALITY AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, UM, THAT THERE ARE SOME PROCESSES THAT, THAT WOULD BE OKAY, THAT THAT ACTUALLY COULD KICK IN ON THE STATE SIDE OF THINGS, ALTHOUGH THEY'LL HAVE NEVER CONS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED IT LIKELY THIS SESSION. 
          SO WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING AT SOME POINT. 
          THEY'LL DEAL WITH STATE, BUT LINES THEN AS WELL. 
          UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE ARE BILLS THAT ARE FILED THAT WOULD ADJUST OR TRIGGER FILING DEADLINES, PRIMARY DATES, UH, OTHER IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES OFF OF WHEN THOSE MAPS WERE COMPLETED AND WHEN THAT DATA WAS AVAILABLE. 
          SENATOR HUFFMAN OUT OF, UH, THE SENATE CHAIRS, THE SENATE JURISPRUDENCE COMMITTEE IS THE AUTHOR OF, OF THOSE PRIMARY BILLS, AND THEY WERE FILED RELATIVELY LATE, UH, WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS WAS GONNA BE THE CASE. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. 
          COUNCILMAN PERRY, ANY QUESTIONS? NO, NOT REALLY. 
          I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S A GOOD WRAP UP. 
          BUT AT THIS POINT, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND UNKNOWNS OUT THERE. 
          I JUST WANNA REMIND FOLKS THAT WE DO HAVE THAT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE THAT WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT, UH, WHAT HAPPENED FROM THAT, UH, ICE STORM. 
          AND WE'RE JUST GATHERING FACTS AND DATA AT THIS POINT. 
          AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE GONE FORWARD TO, UM, ALL THREE ENTITIES, C P S SAWS AND THE, UH, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PUTTING IT ON A TIMELINE AND LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON AS FAR AS PREPARING, UH, FOR THE EVENT, WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE EVENT AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE EVENT. 
          SO, UH, IT'S ALL PART OF THIS COMMITTEE AND, AND, UM, IT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE. 
          A AS IT GOES, WE'RE UPDATING, UPDATING THE QUESTIONS AND THE ANSWERS. 
          SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU CAN GO TO, UH, THAT WEBPAGE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND, UH, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. 
          OR WATCH US ON TV EVERY FRIDAY AT 10 O'CLOCK, UM, AND, UH, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THAT. 
          AND WE'VE GOT SEVERAL 
          [01:10:01]
MEMBERS ON THIS CALL THAT'S, UH, PART OF THAT COMMITTEE ALSO. 
          SO, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S IT, SIR. 
          THANKS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S A GREAT APPROACH. 
          I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THANK YOU, KURT. 
          UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SNAPPER. 
          REALLY APPRECIATE YOU WEIGHING IN ON THIS AS WELL. 
          UM, EXCELLENT BRIEFING. 
          UM, MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED. 
          UH, SO, UM, JEFF, WHAT ELSE DO YOU GOT FOR US? JUST, YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? NO. 
          OKAY. 
          GO AHEAD, JEFF. 
          OKAY. 
          UM, EDUARDO, COULD YOU BRING UP THE, THE ONE SLIDE? UM, I THI THIS IS REALLY FOR AWARENESS AT THIS POINT. 
          UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS TOPIC. 
          IT WAS IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK. 
          SO THERE ARE A HALF DOZEN BILLS, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN FILED, UH, RELATED TO TRANSGENDER STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS. 
          UM, THE MAIN ONE, UH, IS SENATE BILL. 
          ACTUALLY, LET ME, LET ME, I'LL COME BACK TO THE BILLS IN A SECOND. 
          UH, THE REASON WHY THIS DREW ATTENTION THIS WEEK IS THE NCAA BOARD OF GOVERNORS ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THEY WOULD NOT HOLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ANY STATES THAT DID NOT ALLOW THEIR ATHLETES TO PARTICIPATE. 
          UH, AND SO MEDIA MADE THE CONNECTION IMMEDIATELY BETWEEN THE NCAA AND THE LEGISLATION, UH, BEING CONSIDERED AND, AND, UH, CHARACTERIZED IT AS THE N WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CHARACTERIZED IT, BUT IT WAS PERCEIVED TO BE THE NCAA SORT OF REACTING TO WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED AT THE LEGISLATURE. 
          I'M NOT CONVINCED PERSONALLY THAT THAT'S THE CASE AT THIS POINT. 
          I THINK THE NCAA STATEMENT, IT APPEARS, WAS SORT OF A NATIONAL STATEMENT, UH, OF POLICY. 
          UH, BUT IT CAUSED US TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT THE BILLS. 
          UH, TO BE CLEAR, UH, STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS IS NOT PART OF THE CITY'S AGENDA, UH, REALLY IS IN A CITY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION. 
          THE POTENTIAL INTERSECTION HERE, OF COURSE, IS THE, UH, NCAA EVENTS THAT WE WILL BE HOLDING IN THE FUTURE. 
          UH, SOME, UH, MARCH MADNESS ROUNDS NEXT YEAR, AND OF COURSE, THE FINAL FOUR IN 2025, I BELIEVE. 
          SO, UM, THE ONLY ONE OF THESE BILLS THAT HAS SHOWN ANY MOVEMENT AT THIS POINT IS SENATE BILL 29 AS A LOW BILL NUMBER. 
          THAT'S A SIGNAL THAT IT IS A SENATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PRIORITY. 
          IT DOES NOT AFFECT COLLEGE SPORTS. 
          IT SPEAKS TO SCHOLASTIC, UH, SPORTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS. 
          AND ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT, UH, STUDENTS CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN A, IN A SPORT, UH, IN A CATEGORY DIFFERENT FROM THE GENDER ON THEIR, UH, AT, AT BIOLOGICAL BIRTH. 
          SO, UM, IT WOULD PREVENT TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS SPORTS, FOR EXAMPLE. 
          AGAIN, IT'S ONLY HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL AT THIS POINT. 
          IT IS, UH, IT IS OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE AND HEADED TO THE SENATE FLOOR, UH, HOUSE BILL 1458, THE ONE ON THE TOP OF THE LIST THERE DOES DIRECTLY SPEAK TO COLLEGES, PROHIBITS HIGH, UH, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FROM ALLOWING PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND CATEGORIES DIFFERENT FROM THEIR, UH, GENDER AT BIRTH. 
          THAT BILL HAS NOT, UH, HAD A COM HAD A HEARING YET, EVEN AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL. 
          UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS THIS WEEK AMONGST A NUMBER OF PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND OUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS. 
          UM, SOME MAJOR EMPLOYERS. 
          AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW OF SORT OF LOOKING AT THESE BILLS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, IF ANY, IMPACT IT'LL HAVE, UH, ON THE COMMUNITY. 
          UH, WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT FOR ANY CHANGES TO OUR AGENDA, BUT WE ARE AWARE OF IT AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE AWARE OF IT. 
          UH, AND, AND AS THESE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE LOCALLY WITH OUR PARTNERS AND, AND WE WATCH THE LEGISLATION, UH, WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE BACK, UH, BEFORE THE I G R COMMITTEE TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY SHOULD TAKE A POSITION AT THIS POINT. 
          PURELY AWARENESS. 
          UH, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW. 
          AND, UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY, ANY QUESTIONS SO MUCH. 
          UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHE GARCIA, ANY QUESTIONS? YOU CHAIR? OKAY. 
          COUNCILMAN PERRY? NO, UH, TRISH, UH, DEBERRY. 
          COMMISSIONER DEBERRY, ANY QUESTIONS? NO. 
          COUNCILMAN . 
          YEAH. 
          UM, JEFF, WHAT WOULD TRIGGER SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME BACK TO OUR I G R COMMITTEE? WELL, IF WE, UH, FOLLOWED THE MODEL OF 2017 AND THE BATHROOM BILL, UM, THE, THE POSITION THE CITY TOOK, UH, WAS, WELL, THE INTEREST THE CITY HAD, AND, AND ULTIMATELY THE REASON WE TOOK POSITIONS WAS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT IT WOULD IMPACT, UH, NOT JUST THE TOURISM INDUSTRY BROADLY, BUT SPECIFICALLY OUR ABILITY TO HOLD THE FINAL FOUR IN 2018. 
          AND SO, AS YOU REMEMBER, AND ACTUALLY I, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, 
          [01:15:01]
YOU WERE THE, YOU WERE THE STAR WITNESS FOR THE CITY UP THERE THAT SESSION. 
          AND THE MESSAGE WE CONVEYED WAS A, WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE, INCLUSIVE, AND WELCOMING CITY THAT WELCOMES EVERYBODY. 
          AND B, THAT WE OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT, UH, PRE THAT MAKES US LESS COMPETITIVE, THAT PREVENTS US FROM BEING ABLE TO HOLD MAJOR CONVENTIONS, EVENTS, AND SO FORTH. 
          AND THAT WAS THE POSITION THAT WE TOOK FORWARD TO THE LEGISLATURE. 
          AND SO IT ALLOWED US TO ENGAGE ON, ON THE BATHROOM BILL WITH A LOT OF MANY OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS ACROSS THE STATE. 
          I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE THERE YET. 
          AT THIS POINT. 
          I'M NOT SURE THAT THE INTER THE ISSUES HAVE INTERSECTED DIRECTLY ENOUGH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE AN IMPACT. 
          UM, I KNOW PATRICIA AT THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER AND THE PEOPLE SHE WORKS WITH ON HOSTING THE FINAL FOUR ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS. 
          BUT, UM, AGAIN, I, UH, I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE AND, UH, AND YOU KNOW, IF, IF, AGAIN, SINCE IT'S NOT IN THE AGENDA, IF THERE WAS A DETERMINATION AT SOME POINT THAT THE CITY WANTED TO WEIGH IN THE APPROPRIATE VENUE, WOULD FOR I G R TO TAKE, GIVE US THAT DIRECTION AND THEN POTENTIALLY, UH, AMEND OUR PROGRAM AT THE FULL COUNCIL LEVEL. 
          BUT WE HAVE NO, UH, COUNCIL MEETING NEXT WEEK, UH, WITH THE NEWS. 
          JUST HAVING HIT THIS WEEK AND THE MEDIA AT LEAST MAKING THAT CONNECTION. 
          UH, I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH YOU AND, AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE WATCHING IT. 
          YEAH. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, MAYBE IF SOMEBODY ON THE TEAM, EDUARDO OR WHOMEVER CAN JUST, UH, MAYBE SEND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT, 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD THIS, BUT IN OTHER STATES, AND JUST SO WE CAN READ KIND OF THE TEA LEAVES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES WITH THIS BILL OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. 
          SO WE CAN JUST PLAY, UM, I GUESS BEYOND THE OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE. 
          OFFENSIVE. 
          OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THAT'S ALL. 
          THANK YOU, CHAIR. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF, FOR THE UPDATE. 
          UM, JEFF, I THINK THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF ANOTHER GREAT MEETING, RIGHT? I DO TOO, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT, UH, WE'LL GIVE OUR FULL STATE UPDATE TOMORROW. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          SEEING NO HANDS UP, UH, I DO SEE COUNCIL'S MIC IS ON. 
          ANY QUESTIONS COUNCILWOMAN? NOPE. 
          OKAY, GREAT. 
          UM, Y'ALL, UH, HAVE A TERRIFIC WEEK. 
          LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING, UH, GOOD NEWS FROM AUSTIN AND JEFF. 
          THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK. 
          BYE EVERYBODY. 
          THANK YOU.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.