[00:00:05]
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN, THE CO-CHAIR RODRIGUEZ HERE.
UM, UH, COMMISSIONER DEBERRY AND, UH, CHAIR, CO-CHAIR.
UM, IT'S GLAD TO SEE ALL OF YOU.
UH, I WAS HOPING TO DO, UH, THIS MEETING, UH, ON OUR IN, IN PERSON.
UH, BUT I THINK THIS MAY BE OUR LAST VIRTUAL MEETING NOW THAT CITY HALL IS, IS COMPLETE.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYBODY SHOWING UP.
[1. 21-4299 Approval of the minutes from the May 12, 2021 meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee.]
UH, WE HAVE, UH, MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING TO APPROVE, RIGHT? I BELIEVE WE DO.UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA IS USUALLY THE ONE THAT PROOFREADS THOSE CLOSER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
SEEMS LIKE HE'S GONNA BE SECONDING.
ALL, WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[2. 21-4290 RAISE grant program and federal infrastructure funding discussions.]
SHOULD THE TABLE IS YOURS? SURE.THIS IS A, UH, A ONE ITEM, UH, UH, MORE BRIEF MEETING TODAY.
UH, BUT IT'S A FOLLOW UP TO OUR DISCUSSION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RAISE, GRANT AND YOUR DIRECTION AS A COMMITTEE FOR US TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND SEEK, UH, SEEK TO FIND AGREEMENT TO UNITE BEHIND A PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UH, TAMIKA AND SALLY, I SHOULD SAY, FOR THE AUDIENCE HERE, TAMIKA MONTVILLE, OUR TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, SALLY BETO, OUR FEDERAL, UH, AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATOR AND JEFF BOOTH, A CONSULTANT WE'VE HIRED FOR THIS PROCESS, ARE GONNA DELIVER THE PRE PRESENTATION AND, UH, AND SET UP A CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROJECT TO SUBMIT FOR RAISE.
SO, WHO'S TAKING IT FROM HERE? TAMIKA? GOOD MORNING.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US OR ALLOWING US TO JOIN YOU AND SHARE WITH YOU THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REGION TO BE COMPETITIVE FOR A RAISE GRANT, REINVESTING IT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY FIRST SLIDE.
SO WHAT WE DID, UH, LITTLE OVER A MONTH, MONTH AGO IS WE SECURED THE SERVICES OF JEFF BOOTH WITH BOOTH TRANSPORTATION CONSULTING TO SUPPORT US IN IDENTIFYING AND GUIDING US THROUGH THE, THE LABYRINTH OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND WITH THIS, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO JEFF BOOTH BECAUSE HE IS THE FOREMOST EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SPHERE AND WORKING WITH ADMINISTRATIONS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, I WON'T SAY HOW LONG, BUT HE IS THE FOREMOST EXPERT IN THIS ARENA.
SO, JEFF, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU AND THEN SHORTLY SALLY AND I WILL JOIN THE PRESENTATION.
AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO USE THIS FIRST QUOTE THAT'S GIVEN BY PETER ROLOFF, WHO WAS A FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO CHARACTERIZE HOW COMPETITIVE THE PROGRAM IS.
AND HIS QUOTE WAS THAT IT'S HARDER TO GET INTO HARVARD THAN IT IS TO GET A RAISE GRANT.
SO IT JUST GIVES YOU SOME INDICATION OF HOW COMPETITIVE THE PROGRAM IS.
AND THEREFORE, GIVEN ITS COMPETITIVENESS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SELECT A PROJECT THAT'S THE MOST COMPETITIVE BASED ON THE CRITERIA AND THE CONDUCT, CONDUCT OF THE BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS THAT'S BEEN REQUIRED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, AND WHILE THE, THE, THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WITH SEVERAL CRITERIA, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SORT OF CALLED OUT A FEW CRITERIA THAT ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THE FIRST IS THE USE OF THE EJ SCREEN BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO REALLY MEASURE THE IMPACT OF A PROJECT ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES AND REALLY BEGIN TO IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE AND WHO'S BEING SERVED BY THE PROJECT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
THE SECOND IS THAT THE PROJECT MUST EMERGE OUTTA OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR THAT COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED BOTH OF THOSE DOCUMENTS TO THE RIGHT THERE, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'LL NEED TO CONSULT AND LOOK TO IN ADVANCING A PROJECT.
UM, THE, SO THE LAST ITEM THERE IS THE LOCAL HIRE THAT THEY PUT A BIG EMPHASIS ON PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS TO THE EXTENT THAT IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROJECT THAT YOU'VE DONE IT UNDER P L A WITH A, WITH A REAL FOCUS IN LOCAL HIRE.
[00:05:01]
UM, AND THIS HAS BEEN TRUE THROUGHOUT THE D O T AND THE START OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BUT WE'RE REALLY GONNA WANT TO FOCUS TODAY IN THIS COORDINATION AMONG ALL THE REGIONAL PARTNERS AND UNITING BEHIND WHAT IS THE PROJECT THAT THE REGION WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNDER THE RACE PROGRAM NEXT.SO, SO BASICALLY THE, THE GOAL HERE IS TO PULL TOGETHER OUR PARTNERS.
AND HAVING WORKED WITH SAN ANTONIO IN THE WESTERN EMOTIVE FACILITY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THAT PROJECT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL COORDINATION COMING TO THE TABLE AND MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AT THE TIME WAS THE MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO, THE COUNTY JUDGE, THE HEAD OF SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY VIA AND OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS TO CA COME, CAME BEHIND THE PROJECT AND SHOW THE UNITED FRONT FOR THAT PROJECT TO BE THE PRIORITY FOR THE REGION.
AND SO, LIKEWISE, IT'S IMPORTANT AS YOU BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD AND YOU IDENTIFY THE PROJECT TO, TO IDENTIFY THE PARTNERS THAT CAN SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE, THE PROJECT TO THE REGION AND TO THEIR PARTICULAR MISSION.
SO I THINK AS WE IDENTIFY THE PRODUCT, IT'S REALLY, AND WHO ARE THE PARTNERS? WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT CAN COME TO THE TABLE AND REALLY EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT NEXT? SO THESE ARE THE CRITERIA THAT I'M CALLED OUT IN THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO I JUST PROVIDE THOSE TO YOU TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S FIVE CRITERIA THAT ARE PRIMARY AND THERE'S TWO THAT ARE SECONDARY.
UM, BUT I'D ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT SAYS THAT IT'S SECONDARY ON PARTNERSHIP, ACTUALLY, FRANKLY, NO PROJECT GETS FUNDED IF THERE ISN'T, IF IT DOESN'T EMERGE OUTTA STRONG REGIONAL SUPPORT.
AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO EXPRESS THAT REGIONAL SUPPORT AND THE TIMING OF WHEN TO EXPRESS THAT SUPPORT.
'CAUSE THERE IS VERY MUCH A TIMING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT, BUT, BUT THE BENEFIT OF COST ANALYSIS IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS ADMINISTRATION.
THEY'LL CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND THEY'LL EVALUATE SORT OF OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE B C A FOR THE PROJECT, AND THEY'LL DO THEIR OWN CALCULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS THEIR CRITERIA.
SO IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INDICATORS, WE'VE LISTED SORT OF SIX KEY ONES ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE THERE IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE THE DEMOGRAPHICS.
AND THEY REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING SERVED BY THE PROJECT TO LOOK AT, TO WHAT EXTENT ARE LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS BEING SERVED, PEOPLE OF COLOR BEING SERVED BY THE PROJECT, THEIR EDUCATION STATUS, UM, THEIR AGES, AND SORT OF BEGIN TO REALLY TELL A STORY OR A NARRATIVE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND WHO IS SERVED BY THE PROJECT.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE PROJECT CORE AND TO REALLY LOOK AT WHO'S THIS BEING SERVED AND BE ABLE TO TELL THAT AS PART OF THE STORY OF THE PROJECT AS YOU BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD AND SELECT THE PROJECT OF THE PRIORITY PROJECT NEXT.
AND SO TO MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND I JUST SORT TO INDICATE, IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE REGION UNITED BEHIND A PROJECT, UM, THAT ADDRESSES THE CRITERIA BECAUSE IF WE ADVANCE MORE THAN ONE PROJECT, WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST OURSELVES.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALLY IDENTIFY THAT PROJECT THAT'S THE PRIORITY, BECAUSE THAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT MORE THAN ONE PROJECT SUBMITTED BY THE REGION, THE SECRETARY'S GONNA COME BACK TO THE MAYOR, MOST LIKELY, OR THE COUNTY JUDGE AND SAY, OKAY, TELL ME WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY PROJECT? GIVE US YOUR PRIORITY IF WE'VE RECEIVED MORE THAN ONE PROJECT FROM A REGION.
SO IT'S BETTER JUST TO ADDRESS IT UPFRONT, IDENTIFY THAT PRIORITY PROJECT UPFRONT RATHER THAN COMPETING AGAINST OURSELVES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE OVERMATCH IN LAW.
80 20 IS WHAT'S DEFINED IN THE NOFO.
UM, THEY DO GIVE CONSIDERATIONS OF THOSE REGIONS THAT PUT UP MORE LOCAL MONEY.
THEY ALSO LIKE TO PROJECT READINESS.
AND IT'S NOT JUST SHOVEL READY, BUT IT'S JUST WHERE DOES IT SIT IN TERMS OF THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM? HOW QUICK CAN IT BE INTEGRATED INTO THE TIP? UM, CAN IT BE COMPLETED WITH BY 2026? THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
THEY WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE ACTUALLY EVALUATED THE PROJECT UNDER THE EJ SCREEN OR THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
SO AS PART OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT, IT'D BE WISE TO INDICATES OR HOW THIS PROJECT RATES UNDER THE EJ SCREEN AND TO WHAT EXTENT IT FITS WITHIN THE REGION'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT.
AS YOU SUBMIT THE GRANT APPLICATION, THEY WANNA UNDERSTAND WHO SERVED AND WITH A REAL FOCUS ON THIS ADMINISTRATION ON LOW-INCOME MINORITY IN AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY.
AND YOU CAN GO ON THE U S D O T WEBSITE AND LOOK AT SORT OF THOSE PARTS OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY THAT ARE AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED EACH OF THOSE BY CENSUS TRACK ON THE U S D O T WEBSITE.
SO WE CAN IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHO FALLS WITHIN THAT, THOSE COMMUNITIES OF WHERE THERE IS PERSISTENT POVERTY, AND SORT OF SEE TO WHAT EXTENT A PROJECT WOULD SERVE THOSE COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN REALLY, IT'S IMPORTANT, I SAID EARLIER, TO ASSEMBLE SUPPORT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS IMPACTED POPULATIONS DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT, WITH THE GOAL OF MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SEPTEMBER, 2021.
AND I THINK THE NEXT SLIDE'S A TIMELINE, UM, THAT REALLY WHERE WE ARE, THE WAY THIS PROCESS WORKS OUT, I THINK TAMIKA, YOU WANNA GO TO THE NEXT ONE? I THINK THAT'S THE TIMELINE ON.
SO THE WAY THIS PROCESS WORKS OUT IS I'VE IDENTIFIED SOME KEY DATES.
THE FIRST IS THE APPLICATION DATE.
NOW BETWEEN JULY 12TH AND LABOR DAY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AN INTERNAL TEAM THAT'S A TWO LAYERED TEAM.
[00:10:01]
THE FIRST LAYER IS THE INITIAL REVIEW OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS.AND SO THEY'LL MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE HIGHEST PRIORITY BASED ON THE APPLICATION.
AND THAT'S TYPICALLY DONE BETWEEN NOW AND BETWEEN THE MIDDLE OF JULY AND LABOR DAY.
THEY WILL IDENTIFY THOSE PROJECTS THAT FIT INTO THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
AND THEN WHAT'LL HAPPEN AT THAT POINT, AFTER IT'S GONE THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL MODAL AGENCIES SUCH AS F D A, FEDERAL HIGHWAYS, ET CETERA, IT'LL THEN GO UP TO THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
AT THAT POINT, IT MOVES TO THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY PROJECTS.
THEREFORE, THE TIMEFRAME BETWEEN LABOR DAY AND THE NO AND NOVEMBER DATE THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AS TO WHEN THEY WANT TO MAKE A DECISION IS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO ENGAGE THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
AND I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE AT THAT POINT IN TIME ON THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM TO REALLY BE REACHING OUT TO THE DELEGATION TO WRITE AND MAKE PHONE CALLS.
AND I WOULD SAY, FRANKLY, A PHONE CALL IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A LETTER BECAUSE A LETTER, ANYBODY COULD SEND A LETTER, BUT THE FACT IS A PHONE CALL IN THE EYES OF FOLKS IN THAT POSITION TAKES EFFORT AND IT SHOWS COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT TO MAKE A PHONE CALL TO THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOBILIZE A STRATEGY THAT HAS THE DELEGATION WEIGH IN, MAKING PHONE CALLS, EXPRESSING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS PULLING TOGETHER A DELEGATION FROM THE REGION TO GO MEET WITH THE SECRETARY, AS WE DID WITH THE WESTERN MOTOR PROJECT, TO REALLY, AND REALLY ORCHESTRATE THAT CONVERSATION TO HAVE EACH OF THE PARTIES WHO ARE AT THAT MEETING EXPRESS WHY THIS PROJECT'S A PRIORITY TO THE REGION, WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM IN THE REGION, AND REALLY COMMUNICATE THAT WELL TO THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
NOW, WE COULD ALSO GET AN EARLY READ IN ADVANCE TO THAT MEETING TO FIND OUT SORT OF WHERE THE PROJECT STANDS IN TERMS OF THE PRIORITY LIST TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
BUT I THINK WE'D WANT TO USE THIS TIME TO REALLY WEIGH IN WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATE THE SUPPORT OF THE REGION FOR THE PROJECT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE LOOK FOCUS ON AFTER LABOR DAY.
'CAUSE AT THIS POINT, IT'S UP MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST OF THE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES AND CONGRESS ARE GONNA REOPEN FOR BUSINESS AND THEN ALLOW IN-PERSON MEETINGS AFTER LABOR DAY.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE DATE THAT'S MOST COMMONLY MENTIONED RIGHT NOW TO REOPEN AND ALLOW IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
SO WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON SOMETHING AFTER LABOR DAY TO COME TO WASHINGTON DC AND MEET WITH SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG.
AND ANYBODY ELSE YOU'D WANT TO PULL INTO THE MEETING NEXT.
SO TO THAT END, OUR PARTNERS CONVENED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TO DISCUSS THIS PROGRAM AND THE STRATEGY THAT JEFF HAS PROPOSED FOR US AND THE STRATEGY THAT WE BELIEVE IS GOING TO HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO SEVERAL PROJECTS IN EVALUATING THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND WHAT OUR PARTNERS WERE WORKING ON.
WE IDENTIFIED THREE PROJECTS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS OF HAVING THE POTENTIAL TO BE A COMPETITIVE CAPITAL PROJECT FOR THE RAISE GRANT.
THIS PROJECT IS ESSENTIALLY A BOULEVARD ROADWAY PROJECT.
IT WOULD SUPPORT THE TOWN CENTER AT BROOKS.
AND REALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CRITERIA OF EVALUATION THAT JEFF HAS SHARED, THIS POTENTIAL PROJECT TOUCHES ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE CREATION OF JOBS, IT IS ADJACENT TO AN AREA OF PERSISTENT POVERTY.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SCREEN AND WHAT WOULD COME OUT OF THAT, IT DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF COMPETITIVENESS AS WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE OTHER PROJECT NEXT SLIDE THAT WE CONSIDERED AND THOUGHT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL WAS COMPLETION OF PORTIONS OF THE HOWARD PEAK GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM.
SO AS A PART OF THE WORK THAT SARAH HAS BEEN DOING WITH THE WEST SIDE CREEK'S ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT, THEY ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED, UM, RECENTLY 2.4 MILLION IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FOR THE WEST SIDE CREEKS.
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING, IS THAT UNLIKE OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE CREEKS AND THE TRAIL SYSTEM AS JUST A RECREATIONAL SYSTEM.
BUT WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT DURING COVID AND PERHAPS PRIOR TO COVID, IT IS ALSO UTILIZED AS A MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND A NETWORK FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE FUNDS FOR TRANSIT OR TO OWN A VEHICLE.
SO THIS PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECT WOULD BE TO COMPLETE PORTIONS OF THE WEST SIDE CREEK TRAIL SYSTEM.
IT TOUCHES ON SUSTAINABILITY, IT IS IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS PERSISTENT POVERTY.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AS ALL OF US KNOW, THIS AREA HAS BEEN ONE THAT HAS SUFFERED FROM PERSISTENT POVERTY AS A RESULT OF REDLINING.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT THE NARRATIVE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT, THE FACT THAT WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED REGIONALLY AS A PART OF THIS SYSTEM, THE COUNTY, THE CITY, THE, UH, UH, SARAH AND MANY OF OUR OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERS HAVE SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT.
WE CAN REALLY SPEAK TO THAT WITH THIS
[00:15:01]
PROJECT.IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR PARTNERS, WELL, EXCUSE ME, A SIMILAR PROJECT.
WE DID SOME RESEARCH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CIRCUIT TRAILS IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTRY, ESSENTIALLY IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY, BUT THIS PROJECT IS A MULTI-USE PATH USED FOR BIKE RECREATION WORK TRIPS.
THIS PROJECT HAS RECEIVED OVER $30 MILLION SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIGER SINCE 2010.
SIMILAR TO THE WORK SARAH HAS BEEN DOING HERE LOCALLY ADJACENT TO A WATERWAY, UH, A WATER SYSTEM, AND AN ECOSYSTEM.
THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL QUITE SOME TIME WITH ALMOST 800 MILES OF TRAILS BETWEEN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY.
SO I JUST LIT UP WHEN I LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HOW SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE FUNDED THIS PROGRAM TO WHERE IT'S ALMOST 800 MILES.
SO I THINK WITH CHECKING THE BOXES WITH REGARD TO THE CRITERIA, WE COULD BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS THE EAST COAST GREENWAY.
WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR RAISES, OUR PARTNERS AT VIA ARE GOING TO SUBMIT FOR THE EAST WEST ADVANCE RAPID TRANSIT, WHICH IS A BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE EAST WEST PORTION OF THE CORRIDOR FOR A PLANNING GRANT.
AND THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT SUPPORTS SUSTAINABILITY.
IT ALSO ADDRESSES AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY AND EQUITY, AND IT SPEAKS TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL OF IMPROVING ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, SPECIFICALLY MULTIMODAL CONNECTIVITY.
THIS PROJECT WILL DEFINITELY BE SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF MEETING THE CRITERIA OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE ONE PLANNING PROJECT THAT IS PROPOSED FOR RAISES.
AS AN ASIDE, VIA IS ALSO ENTERING INTO THE FTAS CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROCESS.
MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM NEW START, SMALL START, AND THIS IS FOR THE NORTH SOUTH ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR.
AND THEY PLAN TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO GET INTO THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR THIS IN 2021.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SALLY.
THANK YOU TAMIKA, VERY MUCH, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, WE WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING, UH, TO ALSO, UM, PROVIDE YOU THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEGOTIATIONS, UH, OCCURRING IN WASHINGTON DC RIGHT NOW.
AND ALSO, A QUICK LOOK AT THE COMMITTEE WORKS AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE, UM, HAVE BEEN EXECUTING.
UH, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, UM, THROUGH, UH, MANY OF THE MEDIA OUTLETS.
UM, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE PRESIDENT AND SENATE REPUBLICANS REMAIN FAR APART ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND THE LENGTH OF THE BILL.
UM, ALSO YESTERDAY, HOT OFF THE PRESS, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE LEAD REPUBLICAN NEGOTIATOR, SENATOR, UH, CAPITAL FELL APART, UH, MOSTLY OVER THE DISAGREEMENTS ON THE SIZE OF THE PACKAGE AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
UM, HOWEVER, THE PRESIDENT, UH, DID STATE THAT HE WAS ENDING NEGOTIATIONS, UM, WITH SENATOR CAPITAL AND THAT HE WOULD BEGIN NEGOTIATING WITH A DIFFERENT BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS.
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED THAT THE PRESIDENT IS COMMITTED, UH, TO GETTING THIS PACKAGE PASSED.
SO, UM, THE WHEELS ARE TURNING.
WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD AND WE'LL BE TRACKING THIS CLOSELY.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, UH, THIS IS WHAT IS ON THE TABLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
UH, PRESIDENT, UH, BIDEN PROPOSED $1.7 TRILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.
AND SENATE REPUBLICANS COUNTER OFFERED WITH A $928 BILLION PACKAGE OVER EIGHT YEARS.
THE, UH, REPUBLICAN COUNTER OFFER IS FOCUSED SOLELY ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT DO NOT INCORPORATE, UM, WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S, UH, PRIORITIES ARE THAT, UH, HAVE TO DO WITH HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
SO NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE ON THAT, ON THE COMMITTEE FRONT.
AS A REMINDER, YOU MAY RECALL, WE'VE SHARED WITH YOU THE CURRENT ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION EXPIRES, UM, THIS YEAR, SEPTEMBER, UH, 30TH.
SO CONGRESS MUST ACT OR ON A NEW, UH, PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR EXTEND THE BILL.
UH, SO WE WILL SEE HOW THAT UNFOLDS, UH, LATER THROUGH THE SUMMER, UM, IN LATE MAY, THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, OR E P W UNANIMOUSLY PASSED, UM, THEIR HIGHWAY
[00:20:01]
LEGISLATION, THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2021, IT ESSENTIALLY FUNDS, ROADS, BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS AT $304 BILLION OVER FOUR YEARS.UM, ON A PARALLEL TRACK, SEPARATE TRACK THIS WEEK, UH, UH, CHAIRMAN DEFAZIO OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ON THE HOUSE SIDE INTRODUCED THE INVEST IN AMERICA SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
THIS BILL ALSO IS A FIVE YEAR BILL THAT INCLUDES $547 BILLION IN FUNDING FROM F Y 22, UH, THROUGH F Y 2026.
SO YOU MAY RECALL, UH, THIS WEEK ON MONDAY, I SENT AN EMAIL UPDATE AND I NOTIFIED YOU THAT CHAIRMAN DEFAZIO HAD UNVEILED HIS INVEST ACT AND THE BILL INCLUDED SELECTED MEMBER DESIGNATED PROJECTS.
YOU MAY RECALL, WE BROUGHT TO YOU A COUPLE OF BRIEFINGS PROVIDING YOU, UH, SEVERAL RECOMMENDED PROJECTS, UH, THAT WE WERE GONNA SUBMIT TO OUR PARTICIPATING CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEMBERS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THEM TO SPONSOR THESE PROJECTS, UH, INTO THE T N I COMMITTEE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
ULTIMATELY, CONGRESSMAN CASTRO SUBMITTED THE
THAT WAS INCLUDED IN, UM, MR. DEFAZIO'S BILL.
IT IS THE ONLY SAN ANTONIO TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT WAS INCLUDED.
SO WE ARE SUPER EXCITED, SUPER THANKFUL.
THIS IS, UM, PART OF A, UH, LONG TRAJECTORY OF STEPS, BUT A VERY IMPORTANT STEP NONETHELESS.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED, UH, TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CONGRESSMAN CASTRO, HIS STAFF, AND OUR CONSULTANTS TO USHER THIS FORWARD.
SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY, UH, THE, THE PROJECT THAT YOU ARE, UH, FAMILIAR WITH, UH, THE CONGRESSMAN, UH, LIKE I SAID, UNVEILED, UM, HIS OVERVIEW OF IT, UM, ON MONDAY.
THE HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO MARK UP THE BILL TODAY, ACTUALLY.
AND IF YOU WILL RECALL, THE PROJECT'S ADDRESSES MULTIMODAL SAFETY, UH, PERSISTENT POVERTY.
YOU'RE GONNA KEEP HEARING THAT, UH, UH, COMMENTARY FROM US, CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
SO WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS PROJECT WAS AN ATTRACTIVE PROJECT, UH, TO THE T N I COMMITTEE TO CHAIRMAN DEF FASIO.
UM, AND OF COURSE, CONGRESSMAN CASTOR WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE EARLY ON, CHOSE THIS PROJECT TO SPONSOR IT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
SO, UH, WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED AND, UM, HAPPY THAT THIS MADE THE BILL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING YOU ADDITIONAL UPDATES AS THIS UNFOLDS FURTHER.
THIS CONCLUDES, UM, OUR PRESENTATION AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, VERY, VERY THOROUGH, MR. BOOTH.
AND TAMIKA, AS ALWAYS, YOU KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK.
UM, I, I, UH, I THINK I'M GONNA LET, UM, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, UH, JUMP ON FIRST, BUT NOT BEFORE WE INFORM THE CLERK THAT, UM, TRISH DEBERRY IS ON THE LINE.
UH, AND SO IF YOU DON'T MIND MAKING SURE, UH, SURE.
SALLY, THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I HAVE A, A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
WHEN YOU LAID OUT, I GUESS, THE POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE AND MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE RAISE GRANT, I THINK THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED, INCLUDING, UM, THE ROSEMORE CREEK, UM, UH, CONNECTION THAT, THAT I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING PRETTY CLOSELY.
UM, SO AT THIS POINT, UM, I GUESS WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH OF THOSE THREE OR FOUR COLLECTIVELY THAT WE'RE GONNA SUPPORT, ARE WE SUBMITTING FOR ALL, UH, ALL OF THEM? UM, WHAT, WHAT, UH, I GUESS WHAT DIRECTION ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, UH, FROM THIS COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF ADVANCING THESE PROPOSALS? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A QUESTION FOR SALLY, JEFF, OR TAMIKA.
I, I GUESS I'LL, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER IT.
I THINK, UH, I THINK WE'RE WANTING YOUR, UH, INPUT ON, ON WHICH PROJECT TO UNITE BEHIND.
AND, AND I'LL, I'LL SAY THAT IN WITH THE CAVEAT THAT I THINK OUR, OUR PARTNERS ARE, UH, PRETTY MUCH ON THE SAME PAGE WITH US.
THAT THE, UH, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR STAFF AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UH, WITH SARAH.
UM, I, I HOPE I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR, I'M SPEAKING FOR TAMIKA, I GUESS, BUT I THINK WE FEEL THAT THE GREENWAY SYSTEM IS, CHECKS ALL THE BOXES AND IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE.
[00:25:01]
I ALSO BELIEVE, UM, AND SOME OF MY PARTNERS MAY BE ABLE TO FILL IN HERE THAT IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH BROOKS, THEY'RE NOT OPPOSED TO THAT EITHER.I THINK BROOKS HAS SUBMITTED SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS TO THE ALAMO M P O FOR FEDERAL FUNDING AT THE LOCAL DECISION MAKING LEVEL, AND, AND ARE HOPEFUL ON THAT FRONT.
SO, SO OF THE TWO CAPITAL, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LEANING, BUT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AND ON THE PLANNING GRANT, WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO VIA THAT, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY WE WOULD PUT ONE PROJECT FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IN SEPARATE BUCKETS.
THERE'S A PLANNING BUCKET UP TO 3 MILLION, THERE'S A CAPITAL BUCKET UP TO 25 MILLION.
UH, WE DON'T WANNA, YOU KNOW, GIVE THE D O T THE CHANCE TO JUST CHOOSE OUR SMALLER ASK AND REJECT OUR LARGER ONE.
UM, THAT SAID, I THINK VIAS BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY IED THE RAISE GRANT, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW WE SORT OF NAVIGATE THAT TOGETHER.
TO MY TEAM TO TOUCH THAT CORRECTLY.
DID I ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT? THAT, THAT WAS HELPFUL, JEFF? UH, I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO, SO I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO, TO PRIORITIZE THESE THINGS.
I DO AGREE THAT THE LINEAR CREEK WAY SYSTEM, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS, I GUESS THROUGH EARLY 2020 ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY ASSISTS, UH, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE CITY SHIFTED THE SALES TAX DOLLARS.
UM, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF TRYING TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, UM, DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, WHETHER WE GO TO THE VOTERS, WHETHER WE DO SOME, UH, INTERNAL, UM, YOU KNOW, MEASURED CAPITAL PRO CAPITAL PROGRAM OVER, YOU KNOW, A SEVEN OR 10 YEAR, UM, TIMEFRAME.
UM, BUT L LET ME JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE ZR TRAIL, UH, ZR CREEK, UH, TRAIL CONNECTION BECAUSE, UM, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE BIASED 'CAUSE IT, IT'S PART OF MY PRECINCT.
BUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT CONNECTIVITY, UM, AND ALL OF THE CRITERIA FOR WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS LAID OUT, NUMBER ONE, UM, WESTSIDE CREEKS IS ALREADY ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RADAR.
UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, I THINK A LITTLE OVER TWO, $2 MILLION PUT IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET THAT WAS, UH, ESSENTIALLY FOR THE ENGINEERING PIECE.
UM, BUT THE CONNECTIVITY PIECE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MOBILITY, WE TALK ABOUT CLIMATE, UM, CHANGE, WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR PIECE IS OURS, AREMORE CREEK, UH, CONNECTION IS WHAT CONNECTS THE WEST SIDE CREEKS TO THE REST OF THE SYSTEM ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE MISSION REACH.
SO, UM, SO I THINK IT'S A PRETTY CRITICAL PIECE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE EQUITY PART.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHERE, UM, THAT PARTICULAR PART OF, UH, OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS, UH, UNDERSERVED IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE, UM, AND, AND, UM, ACCESS TO THESE KIND OF AMENITIES.
SO, UM, SO I, I, I CERTAINLY THINK THAT'S ONE.
UM, I'VE TALKED TO THE RIVER AUTHORITY FOLKS ABOUT, UM, LOOK AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA GET FUNDING FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO PRIORITIZE ONE OVER THE OTHER.
UM, I KNOW THAT COUNTY'S GONNA DO OUR PART.
AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A, A DENT WITH SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS, UM, THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, PRESENTLY ALLOCATED.
SO, UM, SO I, I, I THINK THE, THE EMPHASIS ON THE, ON THE TRAIL WAYS, UH, THE CONNECTIVE, UH, PIECES OF MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT A CREEKWAY SYSTEM.
JEFF, I KNOW YOU BIKE THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME, SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE RUN INTO A DEAD END A FEW TIMES WHEN YOU GO TO THE WEST SIDE.
AND I THINK, UH, THIS IS A WAY TO ACCELERATE, UM, AND AGAIN, PROVIDE ACCESS TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ON THE WEST SIDE.
SO, UM, I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT, UH, UH, MR. CO-CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE MADE THAT A HIGH PRIORITY.
UM, LET'S, UH, LET'S HEAR FROM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BRAN.
IF, UH, ANY COMMENTS, UM, CONCERNS, THOUGHTS? YEAH, THANK YOU.
UM, SO I ALSO AGREE WITH THE, UM, THE GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEMS, SPECIFICALLY THE WEST SIDE.
IT DOES CONNECT, IT CONNECTS TO OUR CONFLUENCE.
IS THAT CORRECT? SALLY? TAMIKA? YEAH.
SO IT'S, UM, IT TAKES IN ALL THAT AREA, AND I KNOW WE HAD SOME REALLY HIGH, UM, AND WE SHOULD HAVE VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF, UM, CLASS, A WONDERFUL TRAIL SYSTEM IN THIS AREA.
SO I'M LOOKING, I CAN SEE THAT.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PUT, CAN YOU REMIND ME HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST? 'CAUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PUT 2.4.
CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE TOTAL COST AGAIN? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE WHOLE WEST SIDE CREEK? I'M, YEAH, YEAH,
[00:30:01]
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE WEST SIDE CREEK.WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST? YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER.
UM, WALTER, DO YOU HAVE THAT? I KNOW YOU, YOU'VE BEEN IN SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
I I KNOW IT'S TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
UM, YEAH, I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT THE, THE, THE ENTIRE CREEK WASTE SYSTEM'S ABOUT $240 MILLION.
SO, AND, AND, AND THEN THE WEST SIDE CREEK COUNCILWOMAN HAS ABOUT 62 MILLION, I THINK.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH IN COMPARISON IS 2.4 TO THE TOTAL THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, RIGHT.
UM, BUT ONE THING THAT I, 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LEAVING ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITY ON THE TABLE.
ONE LAST ONE QUESTION I HAVE, TAMIKA, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INDICATORS, AND, UH, THIS PORTION COMES A LITTLE BIT IN DISTRICT THREE AS IT CONNECTS TO THE MISSION REACH, BUT DO THEY ADDRESS IN THE RAISES, DO THEY ADDRESS KIND OF, UM, THE AFTER EFFECTS LIKE WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE MISSION REACH OF A RISING IN APPRAISALS? IT COULD BE DIFFERENT STATE TO STATE, 'CAUSE THIS IS FEDERAL, BUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF WHEN WE MAKE THESE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS? 'CAUSE WE SHOULD, 'CAUSE THEY, THEY'RE DESERVED.
HOW DO WE OFFSET WHATEVER APPRAISAL OR BURDEN COMES TO LEGACY HOMEOWNERS IN THAT AREA? DOES THIS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INDICATORS SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL? KIND OF THE AFTER EFFECTS? AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THAT IF IT DOES? NO, MA'AM.
I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS HOW DO WE PREVENT GENTRIFICATION WHEN WE MAKE THESE AREAS SO WONDERFUL AND EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE THERE, AND THE TAX BASE, THE, THE TAXES RISE AND DISPLACEMENT OCCURS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THE EJ SCREEN DOES NOT TALK ABOUT PREVENTION.
REALLY, THE PURPOSE OF THE EJ SCREEN IS TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITIES THAT AFFECT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
AND SO, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, JUST BEING A PLANNER FOR A LONG TIME IN WASHING WASHINGTON, D C, THE KEY TO HELPING COMMUNITIES STAY AND AGE IN PLACE IS REALLY HAVING PROGRAMS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
SO WHAT WE FIND IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE WEST SIDE IS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE NOT HAD HOME OWNERSHIP TRAINING.
THEY ARE LIVING IN GENERATIONAL HOMES.
THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITIES.
AND IT'S SIMILAR WHEN YOU HAVE REDEVELOPMENT OF A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES BEFORE THESE PROJECTS BEGIN, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T COME FROM NOT KNOWING ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP TO UNDERSTANDING AND LOSING YOUR HOME BECAUSE OF UNPAID TAXES IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN EDUCATED ON THAT.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN, IN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LIVING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ANY MONEY TO HELP US WITH PROGRAMS PREPARING US? OR CAN THERE BE MONEY A PART OF IT? THAT, THAT'S MY QUESTION.
ARE THERE FEDERAL DOLLARS SOMEWHERE WHERE WE CAN INSERT IT IN, UH, IN THE FUTURE? UM, IF WE WERE TO GET SELECTED, WHICH WOULD BE PHENOMENAL FOR THIS, UM, THAT'S WHAT I'M, MAYBE IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DOLLARS FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS THAT TO PREPARE, OR NUMBER TWO, CAN IT, CAN WE GET, CAN, CAN SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS BE USED FOR IN THE FUTURE IF WE DO GET IT? SO THOSE ARE JUST TWO OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE.
UM, BUT I, 'CAUSE I THINK THE GREENWAY TRAIL, UH, THE GREEN, THE GREENWAY TRAIL SYSTEM WOULD BE A, A VERY GOOD PRIORITY TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK, UM, THERE ARE HUD AND E P A PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE AVENUE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO.
BUT THIS PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DOES NOT HAVE RESOURCES OR ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AS A PART OF THE PROGRAMMING FOR THESE TYPES OF FUNDS.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A CAPITAL PROGRAM TO BUILD THINGS.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO DO.
Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT? THANK YOU.
AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN, JUST, JUST REAL QUICK, 'CAUSE I LIKE TO GRADE WALTER'S PAPER.
IT'S ABOUT 60 MILLION, UH, THE APACHE
[00:35:01]
ALASAN AND MARTINEZ CREEK PROJECTS, WHICH ARE THE REMAINING WEST SIDE, UH, CREEK PROJECTS.UH, IT'S ABOUT 60 MILLION IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.
UM, AND, AND, AND YOU, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE IN MISSION REACH, THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THIS.
THERE'S THE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PIECE, AND THEN THERE'S THE, UH, TRAILS.
UM, SO I THINK WHAT'S BEEN PUT IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, THE 2.4 IS THE ENGINEERING PART FOR THE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION.
UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
WE STILL HAVE SIGNIF SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS, UH, TO COME UP WITH.
UM, SO I THINK THIS PARTICULAR, UH, PROJECT THAT WE'D BE SUBMITTING FOR THE RAISE GRANT WOULD BE BE THE SIX POINT SOMETHING MILLION, UM, THAT MAKES THAT CONNECTION.
IT'S REALLY MORE OF THE, THE, UM, THE TRAIL PIECE AS OPPOSED TO THE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PIECE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
NO, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
IT'S ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS THAT CONFLUENCE PARK THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONS IS WHERE THE TRAIL SYSTEM STARTS, BUT THAT'S WHERE ALL THE ECO RESTORATION IS NEEDED.
THE VEGETATION AND RESTORING THE NATURAL RIVER CHANNEL, THE ZZA MORE EXTENSION IN THE COMMISSIONER'S DISTRICT IS ON THE FAR END OF THE EXISTING TRAIL.
IT EXTENDS THE TRAIL SYSTEM FURTHER INTO SEVERAL, UH, PARKS ON THAT PART OF TOWN.
SO, YEAH, AND I WAS GONNA ADD THAT CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE IS PHASING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK, THIS PROJECT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PHASED SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY DID WITH THE EAST COAST GREENWAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WILL DETERMINE HOW DO WE START IT? AND THAT IS HOW WE PRESENT IT IN THE APPLICATION THAT THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE REINVESTMENT AND REFURBISHMENT OF THIS ECOSYSTEM AND THE CONNECTION OF THE TRAIL, BUT ALSO THE LONG-TERM VISION, SEVERAL PHASES OF US COMPLETING THIS, WHICH IS THE WORK WE'RE ALREADY DOING, BUT DOING IT AS A PART OF THIS RAISE GRANT, SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING THE MODEL, YOU KNOW, DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WHATEVER EAST COAST GREENWAY DID, THAT'S THE MODEL THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND, UM, AND I'LL REMIND EVERY, IF I COULD, IF, IF I COULD JUMP IN MANNY, UH, UH, CHAIRMAN IZE REAL QUICK, I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UH, THAT'S HOW THE MISSION REACH STARTED.
UH, IT WAS A PHASED APPROACH, YEAH.
UH, BACK WHEN OUR EAR EARMARKS ARE BACK, BUT WHEN THERE WERE EARMARKS, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IN A PHASED APPROACH, EARMARKS EVERY YEAR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE ADD, ADDING TO THE MISSION REACH.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'LL SAY IN, IN CLOSING IS THAT, UH, THIS PROJECT IS A $8.4 MILLION PROJECT.
ACCORDING TO SARAH, I SPOKE TO THEM YESTERDAY.
WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR 80% OF THAT, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 6.4 MILLION BECAUSE THERE IS A 20% MATCH.
UH, UNLESS JEFF, YOU THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, 20% MATCH WON'T GET US THERE.
BUT, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT A LARGE AMOUNT.
SO, UH, BUT THAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT.
SO, UM, UH, THE, THE CLERK WILL, UH, REFLECT IN THE MINUTES THAT WALTER CERNER'S PAPER GOT AN A PLUS, UH, AND, UH, WALTER'S MOM WILL TAPE THAT TO HER REFRIGERATOR SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
UH, LET'S KEEP, LET'S KEEP HER HONEST AND, AND MAKE IT AN A OKAY.
BARRY, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER? HI, NOW I'M GOOD.
SORRY TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT, UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I WANNA UNDERSCORE WHAT JUSTIN SAID.
WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM AND REMAIN FOCUSED.
AND, YOU KNOW, GRANTED, UM, IT IS IN MY COUNTERPART'S PRECINCT, BUT FROM AN OVERALL CONNECTIVITY STANDPOINT, AND, YOU KNOW, HEALTH, THE BETTER CONNECTIVITY WE HAVE AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY AND AROUND THE ENTIRE COUNTY BENEFITS EVERYONE.
SO, UM, I JUST THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA BE IN ALIGNMENT.
UM, ADRIANA ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT FOUR, THANK YOU, UM, CHAIR, THANK YOU TAMIKA, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION OR, OR FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
AND THANK YOU, JEFFREY, YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, I'M IN AGREEMENT AND SO I, I WANNA SEE, CAN YOU, UH, EDUARDO, I, I DUNNO IF YOU COULD BRING UP THE MAP AGAIN, THAT SHOWS THE, THE GREENWAY, UM, UH, SYSTEM.
BUT I'M IN AGREEMENT, UH, I REPRESENT THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST SIDES OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I KNOW WE'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING, IT SEEMS LIKE INNER WEST SIDE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY, LIKE TAMIKA MENTIONED, TO BREAK OUT INTO PHASES AND SHOW WHAT WE WANNA DO EVENTUALLY IN CONNECTING EVERYTHING ELSE, RIGHT? SO, UM, LIKE, LIKE THE, LIKE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS WHEEL, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE, UM, SOUTHWEST PART, UH, DOES NOT HAVE ANY TRAILWAYS.
AND SO THAT'S THE, I I MENTIONED THIS AT I G R LAST TIME, I'VE MENTIONED IT TO RABY.
THAT'S GONNA BE MY BIG PUSH, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE FOLKS IN MY AREA NOT ONLY LACK HOUSING, UH,
[00:40:01]
WE'VE LACKED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR YEARS, WE'VE LACKED IN ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.WE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF COVID, AND THEN WE LACK VACCINES.
AND SO I THINK THAT IT'S HIGH TIME THAT WE GET CONSIDERED AND, AND WE WAITED TOO LONG.
SO I THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, THIS IS SOMETHING, AND, AND MAYBE YES, IT'S GOING INTO THE INNER WEST SIDE, BUT EVENTUALLY WE CAN BRANCH OUT AND IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT AND VISION AND GIVE THAT VISION FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A COMPLETE CONNECTED TRAILWAY SYSTEM.
SO I WOULD ENVISION SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS CAMARGO PARK TO LACKLAND, TO
AND SO, UM, SO I REALLY AGREE WITH THIS PRO, WITH THIS PROPOSAL, UM, VERSUS THE BROOKS NOT, NOT TO DISCOUNT BROOKS BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD GREAT DEVELOPMENT, UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR WEST SIDE RESIDENTS.
I THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE, UM, UH, ELATED, RIGHT? BECAUSE OF, UH, THE INVESTMENT.
AND SO I WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
SO, UM, YOU, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB ADVOCATING FOR, UM, THE, THE, THE WEST SIDE PROJECT, AND I WAS REALLY PROUD, UM, TO SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT A, A, A GREAT, UM, ADVOCATE AT, AT THE COUNTY.
AND I JUST, UM, WANNA SAY THAT I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M GONNA MISS MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE REBECCA, AND I THINK THIS IS HER, THIS IS HER LAST IGR MEETING, AND I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT I'M GONNA MISS HER WORK ON IG.
SO THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN FOR YOUR WORK.
UH, A LOT OF GREAT COMMENTS ABOUT THE TRAILWAY SYSTEMS, ALTHOUGH I'VE, UH, UM, WANNA GO BACK, LET, LET'S GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ABOUT THE BROOKS, UH, NEW BRAUNFELS ROAD.
TAMIKA, CAN YOU GO OVER THIS AGAIN? YOU SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, IT FITS ALL THE CATEGORIES EXCEPT, AND I, I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT EXCEPTION WAS.
SO IT IS, THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A ROADWAY PROJECT.
IT HAS TO REALLY BE UNIQUE IN ITS DESIGN TO TOUCH ON THE HALLMARKS OF THE CRITERIA, WHICH INCLUDE THE SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT, THE, UM, ADDRESSING EQUITY ALSO ADDRESS, BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE TITLE OF THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS ABOUT SOUTH NEW BRONCOS THAT WOULD REALLY HAVE TO MAKE IT UNIQUE WOULD BE IF THIS PROJECT INCORPORATED SIGNIFICANT, I MEAN, MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INNOVATION IN TERMS OF THE MATERIALS, THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, TO REALLY MAKE IT STAND OUT.
BECAUSE IN ESSENCE, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE PROCESS OF US EVALUATING WHAT WAS IN THE TIP, WAS WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS AND WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE AND STAND OUT.
THE BIG THING THAT THE BROOKS, UH, NEW BRAUNFELS HAS GOING FOR IT IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE JOBS CREATION.
BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED HISTORICALLY IS WHEN YOU HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE BENEFIT DOESN'T NECESSARILY ACCRUE TO THE RESIDENTS SURROUNDING THAT COMMUNITY.
IT ACCRUES TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THOSE WHO ARE DEVELOPING THE PROJECT.
AND SO WE TALKED WITH LEO ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, I BELIEVE LEO IS GOING TO ORLANDO TO LOOK AT SOME THINGS HE CAN DO WITH SOUTHEAST, UH, NOT SOUTHEAST MILITARY, BUT SYDNEY BROOKS, TO MAKE THAT A UNIQUE AUTONOMOUS ROADWAY FROM ITS DESIGN INCEPTION.
AND THAT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT'S UNIQUE, THAT SPEAKS TO THE CLIMATE GOALS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AND WOULD MAKE IT MORE THAN JUST A ROADWAY PROJECT.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY COMPETITIVELY NATIONALLY, IT DOESN'T STAND OUT.
WELL, CHAIRMAN, I, I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT THAT SAYING YOU CAN DO THINGS TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, WITH THE DESIGN, WITH THE, UH, WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET OUT OF IT, THAT KIND OF THING.
I'M, UM, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE PARKS, BUT YOU KNOW, GOING BACK, UH, YOU KNOW, ON COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OUR TRAILWAY SYSTEM, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REMEMBER, UH, THE COUNTY
[00:45:01]
STEPPING UP SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA JUMP IN AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, UM, HELP COMPLETE THE TRAILWAY SYSTEM AROUND, AROUND SAN ANTONIO.AND, AND OF COURSE, NONE OF THIS FUNDING IS GUARANTEED TO BEGIN WITH.
WE'RE JUST PUTTING SOMETHING IN.
BUT, UM, UH, I, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE OTHER PARTS THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT COULD BE WORKED INTO THIS PROJECT TO MAKE IT A UNIQUE, UH, PROJECT THAT FITS THE CRITERIA MORE.
AND, UH, I'M LOOKING AT MORE OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TYPE OF PROJECT THAN, UM, YOU KNOW, A TRAILWAY SYSTEM THAT, UH, YEAH, I, I HEAR ALL THE, ALL THE POSITIVES ABOUT THE TRAILWAY SYSTEM, BUT GOSH, I, I, I, I THINK WE COULD DEVELOP THIS STRETCH OF ROADWAY TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE AND, UH, PUT THOSE THINGS INTO IT THAT, UM, RISES UP TO THE TOP, UH, AGAINST OTHER, OTHER PROJECTS.
UH, THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.
UM, AGAIN, NONE OF THIS MONEY IS GUARANTEED, NO MATTER IF WE DO PUT IN THE TRAILWAY SYSTEM, WE STILL MIGHT NOT MEET THE BAR AGAINST OTHER, OTHER PROJECTS OUT THERE.
UM, FOR, FOR HERE IN TEXAS, MAN, I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, UH, CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOWN ON THE, ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
AND, AND BROOKS HAS BEEN A BIG ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR THAT AREA.
AND I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES ABOUT COMPLETING THIS, THIS ROAD DOWN ON BROOKS.
I, I KNOW COUNCILMAN, UH, WOMAN GRO HAS REALLY BEEN PUSHING THIS PROJECT.
UM, IT, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO, TO GO FOR A, A TRAIL VERSUS SOMETHING THAT WOULD IMPROVE OUR ECONOMIC STATURE DOWN IN THAT PART OF TOWN AS WELL.
CAN I PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? SURE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED LAST YEAR, COUNCILMAN AS A PART OF BUILD LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
AND ONE OF THE CRITERIA JEFF POINTED OUT EARLIER, THE BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS IS A HUGE COMPONENT OF THE EVALUATION.
AND SO LEO SHARED WITH US THEIR SUBMISSION AND THEIR DEBRIEF WITH THE D O T UNDER THE BUILD PROGRAM.
IT JUST WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL UNDER THAT FIRST RUN.
AS IT STANDS TODAY, THE PROJECT THAT'S PROPOSED, AND THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
SO WE ARE DOUBTFUL THAT IT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL AGAIN.
WE DO, UM, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE BROOKS CONNECTION AND, AND THAT'S A HUGE CONNECTION FOR THE REGION, AND THAT'S WHERE ALL THE GROWTH IS GOING.
WE SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS PROJECT, UM, HAVING BEEN SUBMITTED ONCE, IT IS A PART OF THE N P O, UH, PROJECT CALL FOR PROJECT FOR SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO LEVERAGE INVESTMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IN THE SOUTHERN PART, BUT BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND SUBMISSION, IT PROBABLY WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS GO ROUND AS WELL AS IT IS PRESENTED TODAY.
BUT THAT WAS UNDER A DIFFERENT PROGRAM THOUGH, RIGHT? WELL BUILD, SO THE NAME, THE NAME CHANGES MM-HMM.
INFRASTRUCTURE TO LEVERAGE DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SO BUILD IS THE NAME RAISES THE NAME NOW.
SO IT'S THE SAME FUNDING PROGRAM OUTTA US, D O T.
SO SAME CRITERIA, CRITERIA DOESN'T CHANGE.
JUST THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM CHANGES WITH THE, WELL, I GOT
THIS IS IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR US BECAUSE OF THAT, EARLY THIS YEAR, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED FOR US FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
FOR M P O FUNDING, WE ARE REQUESTING 20 MILLION FROM M P O TO START THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT.
CHAIRMAN, CAN I, CAN I ADD ONE MORE THING? CHAIRMAN, THAT, AGAIN, RAZZI, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT A, UH, THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEE EITHER.
IT'S BEEN SUBMITTED, BUT THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE GONNA GET IT.
NONE OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE GUARANTEES AT THIS POINT.
CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE POLITICAL REASON.
THE POLITICAL REASON IS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
SO THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN TOWN NOW UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
IT WAS MORE ABOUT JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND BROOKS GOT VERY CLOSE TO GETTING THIS, THIS PROJECT AWARDED.
WE HAVE A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION.
THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR PRIORITIES.
[00:50:01]
THEY STILL WANT JOB CREATION, THEY STILL WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY ALSO WANT EQUITY, UH, IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS FALL, THIS MAY FALL SHORT.
UH, AND THAT'S WHY, UH, THE, YOUR STAFF IS, IS, IS ASKING THAT THIS PROJECT BE SUBMITTED.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE REAL, I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT PROJECT UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
IT WOULD'VE HAD A BETTER SHOT, UH, UNDER THE, UH, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
IT, IT'S, IT, IT, UH, THE TRAILWAY, UH, PROJECT HAS A BETTER SHOT.
UH, BUT YOU CAN STILL HELP BROOKS BY VOTING FOR IT ON THE M P O WHEN YOU GET READY TO VOTE HERE.
UH, STUDENT COUNSELING THIS UP, WE, WE'D LOVE YOUR SUPPORT THERE.
SO, SO, WALTER, YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.
I WAS GONNA SAY THAT EXACT SAME THING, SO THANK YOU.
YEAH, THAT I, I SAID MY PIECE.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN ON THAT, BUT, UH, HEY, UM, THAT'S FINE.
AND, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND MR. BOOTH, YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A HARD STOP AT AT 11.
UM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR, FOR STICKING WITH US.
UM, IN LIGHT OF MR. BOOTH, UH, LEAVING, UM, YOU KNOW, I'D, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL IN THESE LAST FIVE OF HIS MINUTES, UM, TO DIRECT QUESTIONS THIS WAY.
AND I, I SEE TWO HANDS UP TR DEBERRY.
UM, COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, MR. BIGGER.
THIS IS PART OF, UH, SUCCESS ON YOUR REPORT CARD, AND THAT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HOPE IS LOST.
I HEAR WHAT COUNCILMAN PERRY IS SAYING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE THAT I'M SURE THAT COUNCILWOMAN GRO WOULD BE ON BOARD WITH.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SOUTH S AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTIVITY AND WHAT THAT, THAT CAN MEAN.
I THINK THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY, OBVIOUSLY IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CRITERIA AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS BASED UPON THE CRITERIA THAT WALTER HAS LAID OUT.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRAIL PROJECT PROBABLY HAS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY.
SO I DON'T WANNA GIVE UP AN OPPORTUNITY JUST BECAUSE I'VE GOT A BIGGER PRIORITY ON BROOKS, WHICH I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, BROOKS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND NOT JUST BROOKS, BUT THE CONNECTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH SOUTH AND BRAUNFELS CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT.
BUT WALTER, FOR CLARIFICATION, I DON'T THINK ALL HOPE IS LOST REGARDING THE SOUTH NEW WAFFLES.
I MEAN, YOU MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE N P O, BUT I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS GONNA COME DOWN, BUT WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS ON ORDERS THAT MIGHT BE COMING DOWN THAT SOUTH NEW WAFFLES MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR.
I THINK THAT'S A PRIME PROJECT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT, UH, FOR THOSE DOLLARS.
SO I JUST WOULD LIKE YOUR INPUT ON THAT.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK, UH, AND, UH, JEFF, YOU CAN CHIME IN HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
AND KEVIN, I KNOW KEVIN KELLY'S ON THE LINE.
UH, THERE'S, THERE'S HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, SOMETHING LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
THERE'S BEEN AN EMPHASIS PUT ON INFRASTRUCTURE BY THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.
AND SO, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, CHRISTINA TELE, WHO REPRESENTS BROOKS AS WELL AS, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, MYSELF AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND, AND THE COUNTY, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BRING INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS HERE TO SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY.
UH, AND, AND, AND IT HAS REED BENEFITS ALREADY.
AS YOU SEE THE $15 MILLION CASTRO PUT, UH, IN, IN THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A LONG TIME FOR THAT TO GET FUNDED.
UH, AND IT'S FINALLY GONNA GET FUNDED.
HOW DOES IT HELP THE REST OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THAT TRISH NOW, OR OR COMMISSIONER DEBERRY NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM TEAR TO TAKE $15 MILLION FROM SOME OTHER, UH, ONE OF YOUR PROJECTS IN YOUR DISTRICT TO TRY AND GO HELP RIO.
SO ANY DOLLARS THAT WE GET IN THIS, IN THIS JURISDICTION IS GREAT BECAUSE IT ALLEVIATES ANY PRESSURES WE MIGHT'VE HAD, UH, TO HAVE TO FUND.
AND, UH, AND SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GREAT FOR US.
UM, COUNCILMAN BRAN, I SEE YOUR HAND UP AGAIN.
UH, JEFF, WELL, DID YOU WANNA WEIGH INTO THAT CONVERSATION REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE? I WAS JUST GONNA SAY REAL QUICKLY BEFORE JEFF BOOTH GOES, MAYBE HE CAN SUMMARIZE THE OTHER UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES.
I WILL ADD, JUST TO WHAT WALTER SAID, AND IN FAIRNESS TO THE, UH, BUILD, UH, SUBMISSION FROM BROOKS IN THE PAST, WE'VE ALSO SUBMITTED THE ZZA MOURA PROJECT IN THE PAST FOR A COMPETITIVE GRANT AND NOT SUCCEEDED.
SO TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, WE'RE TRYING TO LINE THESE PROJECTS UP WITH THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE YEAR MARK ROUTE WAS A BETTER ROUTE WE THOUGHT FOR ZAR ZAMORA.
AND THE RAISE IS A BETTER ROUTE, WE THINK, FOR THE GREENWAY SYSTEM.
MR. BOOTH, YOU WANNA UNPACK THAT? YEAH, LET ME, GIVEN THE SORT OF TWO MINUTES I HAVE, FIRST OF ALL, WE WILL, AS WALTER SAID, THERE WILL BE A, A SIZABLE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE HOPE TO SEE PAST THIS YEAR.
AND CERTAINLY YOU'LL SEE IN THE HOUSE BILL.
[00:55:01]
AND THE HOUSE BILL INCLUDES MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION REQUESTED AS PART OF THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN.AND SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES SPEAK DIRECTLY TO SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY IN TERMS OF RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES ABOUT REALLY CREATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND REALLY FOCUSED ON THE COMMUNITY IMPACT OF INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AS OPPOSED TO SIMPLY SEEING THEM SOLELY AND THROUGH THE LENS OF BEING A HIGHWAY OR TRANSIT PROJECT.
SO I THINK THAT'S CERTAINLY IN THE HOUSE BILL, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE FOCUS OF THE HOUSE BILL, AS WELL AS A REAL FOCUS IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT EMERGE OUTTA THE HOUSE BILL AND EXPECT THAT THE COMMITTEE REPORT IT OUT TOMORROW, IT'LL TAKE THEM TWO DAYS TO GO THROUGH THE MARKUP.
UH, IT'LL LIKELY GET PUT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND IT'LL ALSO BE, AS IT WAS LAST YEAR, PROBABLY PACKAGED AS PART OF A LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THAT WILL INCLUDE BROADBAND AND OTHER THINGS THAT WERE PART OF THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN PLAN.
AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER TO THE SENATE AND SAID EARLIER, THE, THE GROUP OF 20 THAT'S PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS HAS MET, AND I THINK THEY'RE NOW BASICALLY BEEN ENTRUSTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO BE THE ENTITY THAT BROKERS ARE COMPROMISED BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
AND SO ONE GONNA HOPE THE PROBLEM SOLVERS HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN THE PAST AND, AND ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES.
AND IF WE GET A SENATE POSITION, THEN ALL OF THIS GOES TO CONFERENCE.
UM, AND, AND THAT BODES WELL FOR SAN ANTONIO, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
AND THESE PACKAGES WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR BOTH HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT.
AND IN ADDITION, THE, THE HOUSE BILL BASICALLY INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF THAT'S SUB SUB ALLOCATED TO THE REGION.
SO THERE'LL ACTUALLY BE MORE MONIES COMING DIRECTLY TO THE SAN ANTONIO REGION THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS UNDER THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO SAN ANTONIO TO BEAR COUNTY, UH, ASSUMING THAT THESE BILLS PASSES, THEY'RE PRESENTLY WRITTEN OR IN ROUGH OF APPROXIMATION TO HOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE WRITTEN.
AND I DID PREPARE, SENT, YOU KNOW, TO JEFF AND TAMIKA AND OTHERS, SS A MORE EXTENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BILL IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED.
IT SORT OF GOES INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED.
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND TODAY, I APPRECIATE IT, AND I'M WILLING TO ANSWER ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IN WRITING.
PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.
BUT I HAVE A CALL A CHAIR THAT STARTED A MINUTE AGO, SO I NEED TO GO JUMP OFF OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR TIME.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN WITH CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
UM, AND THANK YOU, UM, MR. BOOTH.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UM, MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND EVERYONE HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY SAY THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT BROOKS AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
I THINK THAT IS, UH, FANTASTIC.
I'LL PLAY IT ON LOOP WHEN THE BOND COMES FORWARD.
UM, BUT I, I DO THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND I, UM, THE REASON WHY I DID PUSH FORWARD WITH THE, UH, WEST SIDE CREEK, UH, TRAIL SYSTEM IS BECAUSE KNOWING THAT THERE IS ANOTHER STRATEGIC PLAN MOVING FORWARD, HOPEFULLY WITH BROOKS.
AND, UM, AND I ALSO THINK WE DO NEED TO ACTUALLY DRAW DOWN, UH, FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR BROOKS BECAUSE I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GIVE US SOME DOLLARS FROM THIS FORMER AIR FORCE BASE, UH, THAT WE HAVE TAKEN OVER, AND THAT WE HAVE REALLY INVESTED A LOT OF, UM, DOLLARS INTO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE BUILD GRANT.
WE HIGHLIGHTED ALL OF THE, THE DOLLAR INVESTMENTS THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS PRODUCED IN THESE PAST, UM, YEARS AT BROOKS.
UM, BUT YES, WE STILL NEED A LOT OF MONEY.
SYDNEY BROOKS, THE STRAI, SIDNEY BROOKS NEEDS HELP.
WE STILL NEED TO PUNCH ALL THE WAY THROUGH SOUTH NEW BRAUNFELS.
UM, WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL CONNECTIVITY THAT IS HAPPENING FROM THE GREEN LINE TO THE MISSION REACH, AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S PART OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ASPECT.
WE HAVE A NEW, UM, MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT IS THERE THAT IS CONTINUING TO BUILD UP A NEW GENERATION OF DOS OUT IN THAT, UM, COMMUNITY.
AND ALTHOUGH IT IS THIS, THIS AREA, THIS CAMPUS, IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW AND NOW HAVE SOME SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING THERE.
UM, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
IT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ECONOMIC GENERATORS, JOB CREATORS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY AND MY OTHER COUNCIL COLLEAGUES CONTINUING TO INVEST, UM, SOME SUPPORT INTO THIS, THIS AREA THAT IS HELPING THE ENTIRE, UH, REGION OF SAN ANTONIO.
BUT THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN PERRY, SO I CAN HIGHLIGHT IT.
I SPENT FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE DOWN AT BROOKS, SO, SO I, SOME COMMENTS JUST TO, JUST TO WRAP THIS UP AND, UM, I, I HAVE A, UH, I, I OBVIOUSLY HAVE A NATURAL AFFINITY FOR BROOKS 'CAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE ON THERE.
BUT, UM, TO BE FAIR, COUNCILMAN PERRY, UM, I, I I THINK, UM, IT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT SINCE THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED TO REMIND EVERYBODY
[01:00:01]
THAT FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, COUNCILMAN PERRY, COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF OUR HOAS, UM, THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, UH, YOU'VE GOT NORTH SIDE COUNCIL MEMBERS INSISTING THAT MORE DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAN ON THE NORTH SIDE, BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA BE THE SOLUTION TO OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEM IF WE GET PEOPLE WORKING DOWN THERE AND LIVING DOWN THERE.UM, COUNCIL, UH, COMMISSIONER DEBERRY, I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THE EXACT SAME THING, AND, UM, THERE'S TRUTH TO THAT, RIGHT? WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO WORK AT TOYOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO MAKE EXCELLENT LIVING, WHO ARE BUYING HOUSES UP HERE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO HOUSING STOCK THAT MATCHES THEIR NEEDS DOWN THERE.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, UH, TAKING CARE OF BROOKS IS ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, AND THIS CONVERSATION, OH, AND BY THE WAY, UM, THE OTHER, THE OTHER REASON, UM, THAT I THINK, UH, CLAYTON, YOU, YOU WANNA SEE, UH, INVESTMENT IN BROOKS AS OPPOSED TO THE BIKE TRAILS IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, HARLEYS AREN'T ALLOWED ON THE BIKE TRAILS, UH, BUT
UM, AND, UH, I THINK WALTER, AND, AND YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WORK WITH LEO MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, CARRY THE MESSAGE BACK THAT WE LOVE HIM JUST AS MUCH.
UM, BUT THERE WAS A LONG, A LONG TIME AGO, I ASKED SOMEBODY, UM, WHO IS, WORKS ON A LOT OF PROJECTS AND IS ALWAYS VERY BUSY, I ASKED HIM, HOW DO YOU BALANCE ALL EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO? AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, MY, MY MO IS TO DO THAT, WHICH IS CLOSEST TO THE MONEY.
UM, AND IN THIS INSTANCE, TO ME, I'M HEARING YOU SAY, UM, THAT THE, THE MONEY IS CLOSEST TO THE TRAILS, RIGHT? THAT OUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS ARE GONNA BE HIGHER THERE THAN THEY ARE GONNA BE IN OTHER PROJECTS.
UM, DID I, DID I GET THAT RIGHT? YEAH.
SO, SO WE'RE, UH, I, I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE, UH, WE'RE BEING GIVEN A CHOICE, RIGHT? UM, AND, AND IT'S A, IT'S NOT AN EASY CHOICE, UH, BUT I WILL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, EVERYBODY DISCOVERED, REDISCOVERED THEIR PARKS AGAIN, UM, ALL OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WHEN ALL OF US WENT OUT TO GO GET REELECTED, UH, I HAVE A FEELING THAT MANY OF YOU WERE ASKED, UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE INVEST IN AND CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE BANDWIDTH AT OUR PARKS AND MORE PARKS.
MORE PARKS, RIGHT? UM, AND I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S CERTAINLY HAPPENING UP HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE.
AND, UH, I, I THINK ALSO IT'S CONVENTIONAL WISDOM NOW, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, INVESTING IN GREEN SPACES AND TRAILS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE JUST HAD A MEETING WITH, UH, JOHN HOCKEN, RIGHT? COUNCILWOMAN, UH, WHERE, UH, COUNCILMAN VRAN INVITED, UH, OUR ECONOMIST, JOHN HOCKINGS, WHO'S WORKED ON SOME REALLY BIG PROJECTS TO TELL US WHAT IS IT THAT, UH, SPARKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? IS IT INCENTIVES? UH, AND HIS ANSWER WAS NO, NOT REALLY.
INCENTIVES IS NOT WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO CITIES.
WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO CITIES IS PROVIDING AMENITIES TO THE WORKERS SO THAT THEY WANT TO WORK IN, IN, UH, YOU KNOW, NEAR AND BIKE AND HIKE AND, YOU KNOW, GO TO NICE RESTAURANTS AND LIVE IN NICE PLACES NEAR THEIR WORK.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN, YOU KNOW, THE TAX INCENTIVES THEY MIGHT GET.
AND THE OTHER TRADITIONAL, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BONES THAT YOU THROW AT THEM.
UH, I INVITE YOU ALL TO READ A GREAT BOOK.
I JUST FINISHED READING CALLED METRO GREEN, CONNECTING OPEN SPACES IN NORTH AMERICA BY DONNA ERICKSON.
AND, UM, IT'S A 2005, 2006 BOOK.
AND BASICALLY IT JUST SHOWS YOU, UH, BY THE NUMBERS THAT INVESTING IN TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES IS WHAT, YOU KNOW, UM, SITE SELECTORS AND IS WHAT, YOU KNOW, HAS MADE EXPANSIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, NO-BRAINERS FOR PEOPLE.
AND, UH, I'LL, I'LL I'LL POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE, UH, CONTINUING INVESTMENT THAT NEW YORK MAKES IN CENTRAL PARK, RIGHT? UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THAT'S, THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO THE TRAIL, THE TRAIL.
I MEAN, THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO THE TABLE, THE INVESTMENT THAT PORTLAND HAS MADE AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND THE TRAILS DOWN THERE.
UM, SO I, UM, I, I FULLY SUPPORT INVESTING IN THESE TRAILS.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE WE INVEST THAT MONEY ON THE TRAILS SO LONG AS WE INVEST THAT MONEY ON THE TRAILS.
UM, AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF ALL OF YOU'RE SAYING WEST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO CLOSE, CLOSE THESE GAPS.
AND SO GREAT CONVERSATION TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, TAMIKA, THANKS SO MUCH, JEFF FOR THIS, AND SALLY, FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, MY ESTEEMED CO-CHAIR, YOU WANNA, YOU WANNA TIE A BOW ON THIS? DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS YOU WANNA ADD? NO, NO, NO.
I MEAN, I, I THINK FOR YOU, YOU PRETTY MUCH SUMMARIZED IT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT AND, AND YOU KNOW, EVEN, UH, MY FRIEND COUNCILMAN PERRY, WHO,
[01:05:01]
WHO, UH, MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT, UH, VIEWPOINT ON THIS, UM, LOOK, THIS IS, I THINK, THE BENEFIT OF, UM, THIS COLLECTIVE CONVERSATION, RIGHT? I MEAN, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED A YEAR AGO OR, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO.UM, I THINK THE, THE, THE ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A CITY, COUNTY, AND OTHER PARTNERS DISCUSSION IS, AND WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME WHEN WE GO TO DC, IS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE, I THINK FORTIFIES OUR EFFORTS, UM, IN, IN WASHINGTON WHEN WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR THE SAME THINGS.
UM, AND, AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT FOR, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, UH, YOU KNOW, A WEST SIDE CONNECTION.
BUT REALLY IT DOES BENEFIT EVERYBODY.
AND THERE'S GONNA BE HOPEFULLY SEVERAL BITES AT THE APPLE WITH EARMARKS AND OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS, AND HOPEFULLY AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA GET, UH, YOU KNOW, SHOTS AT, AT, AT, AT HITTING, UH, DIFFERENT PARTS OF, OF OUR CITY AND COUNTY.
UM, I THINK RIGHT NOW THIS HAPPENS TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY, AND AS EVERYBODY SAID, IT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, UH, COUNCILMAN AND ALL OF MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, COMMISSIONER BARRY AND MY, OUR COUNTERPARTS ON THE COUNCIL.
UM, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
AND, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE, UM, OUR CASE MUCH STRONGER WHEN WE ADVOCATE, UM, WHEN WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
AND HERE, YOU, AND HERE, YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GETTING THE LAST WORD.
UH, TWO MORE HANDS WENT UP AS YOU WERE SPEAKING.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL.
THIS BEING MY FINAL I G R COMMITTEE MEETING, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE ALL EIGHT YEARS.
AND I WILL EVEN COMPLIMENT WALTER CERNA AND ALL OF HIS WORK THAT HE'S DONE WITH, UM, US AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, I HAVE TO SAY.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO SALLY AND HER WORK.
UH, SHE IS RELENTLESS AND SHE IS A WORKER THROUGH AND THROUGH, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE HANDLES SOME OF THE, I KNOW MY PHONE CALLS, BUT ALSO THE WORK, THE, UH, FRENETIC WORK THAT HAPPENS UP IN DC.
UM, AND OF COURSE, I ALSO HAVE TO THANK CARLOS, UM, CARLOS CONTRERAS FOR HIS WORK PRIOR TO THIS, ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT, UM, PARTNERS THAT WE'VE HAD WORKING FOR US.
I LOVE THIS COMBINATION OF A CITY COUNTY I G R COMMITTEE.
I THINK IT JUST MAKES US SO MUCH STRONGER WHEN WE'RE ADVOCATING TOGETHER, UM, TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
TRULY, THIS HAS HELPED CULTIVATE AND NURTURE MY LOVE FOR I G R, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOOD OR THAT'S BAD, BUT IT'S HELPED CULTIVATE, UH, THAT LOVE THAT I HAVE.
AND, UM, THE GREAT HONOR IN SERVING AS ADVOCATE AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR SAN ANTONIO ON NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
I, I HA I KNOW THAT SAN ANTONIO IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH YOU ALL HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU ALL, UH, WHAT YOU ALL WILL BRING HOME TO US HERE AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT HONOR.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO DEBATE AND ANYBODY WHO DOES TRY TO DEBATE IT, UM, THEMS IS FIGHTING WORDS.
IF THEY SAY, SAY THAT THERE ARE, UH, NO PERMANENT FINGERPRINTS ON THE SOUTH SIDE, UH, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, BELONGED TO REBECCA, UH, GRO.
I MEAN, YOU, YOU HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK DOWN THERE AND, UM, DURING THESE EIGHT YEARS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY, VERY BIG SHOES TO FILL.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LADY, UH, WHO I THINK IS GONNA DO JUST EXACTLY THAT.
SHE'S GONNA FILL YOUR SHOES, UH, YOU KNOW, PERFECTLY.
SO, UM, JEFF, DO YOU WANNA, UM, ADD SOMETHING? I THINK YOU DO, RIGHT? ONLY DID COMMISSIONER DEBERRY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
HER HAND WENT UP, THEN HER HAND WENT DOWN, AND, UH, SHE'S LIKE DOING THE HOOKY POKEY, HAND GOES IN HAND GOES OUT.
I'LL JUST, UH, I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE OUT WITH THE NEXT STEP.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN HERE AND RECONVENE THE GROUP OF ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND, AND SHARE WITH THEM, UH, OUR INTENT TO PURSUE THIS.
UH, TAMIKA HAS, BY THE WAY, SOLICITED SUGGESTIONS FROM EVERYBODY.
SO WE, SO ALL THE GROUPS THAT WERE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT AN IDEA.
THESE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE SUBMITTED, THE ONES WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
UH, AND THEN WE WILL GET WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY AND SARAH, AND SORT OUT, UH, WHO'S APPLYING AND HOW THAT WORKS, HOW THAT LOOKS.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY BEFORE WE WRAP, I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING MORE SECTIONS, MORE PORTIONS TO THE APPLICATION.
AS, AS YOU RECALL, THERE'S A $25 MILLION CAP IF THE CZAR'S A MORE A PIECES 8.4.
IT MAY MAKE SENSE TO ADD MORE, IT MAY NOT.
WE'LL TALK THROUGH WITH OUR CONSULTANTS AND UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT OUR CHANCES.
BUT, UM, THOSE ARE THE SORT OF PRACTICAL STEPS WE'LL TAKE, UH, GOING FORWARD FROM THIS CONVERSATION.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU.
[01:10:01]
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THIS JOINT COMMITTEE HAD CONVEYED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND UNITING BEHIND ONE APPLICATION.AND EVERYBODY SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THE WISDOM IN THAT.
AND, UH, SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR GROUP.
UH, FOLKS, THAT BRINGS AN END TO OUR MEETING.
UM, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU MAKING THE TIME.
BE SAFE, UH, AND IT'S LOVELY TO SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES NOW.