[10. Ordinance approving a construction contract to Jerdon Enterprise, LLC in the amount of $371,371.00 for the monument and directional signage project at the Stinson Municipal Airport. [Carlos Contreras, Assistant City Manager; Russell Handy, Director, Aviation]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 10.

>> ITEM NO. 10 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO JERDON ENTERPRISE, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $371,371 FOR THE MONUMENT AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE PROJECT AT THE STINSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT MORE IMPROVEMENTS AT STINSON.

I HAVE A BRIEFING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OR READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RUSS.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THE PRESENTATION READY BUT I

[00:30:01]

ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS.

BECAUSE WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, WE'RE ABLE TO HEAR FROM YOU THIS WEEK ON OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION FROM THE AIRPORT, BUT WHAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FACT THAT IN 2013 WE HAD BEEN STARTING TALKING ABOUT THIS DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE AND TO IMPROVE THE WAYFINDING FROM ROOSEVELT UP TO THIS AREA, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THAT CONSISTENCY SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO GET IN AND AROUND STINSON AIRPORT AND TO STINSON AIRPORT FOR LOCALS AND ALL OF THOSE VISITING ALIKE AND FLYING IN.

I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS TWO LOCATIONS AT MISSIONS ROAD AND 99 STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE OF STINSON, AND ALSO AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE ACEQUIA AND MISSION ROAD.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO -- IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE'RE ALSO DELIVERING OUR PROMISE TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA AND ALSO TO FORMER COUNCILMEN, ONE OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES THAT I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH FOR A LITTLE WHILE, COUNCILMAN REED WILLIAMS WHO TOLD ME NEVER TO FORGET STINSON AIRPORT.

AND WITH THAT, I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 10.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I, TOO, WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT WORK AT STINSON.

STINSON IS A JEWEL IN OUR CITY AND ONE OF THE BEST GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS AROUND.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT CAN FIND SOME KIND OF IMPROVEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE FIND THAT AIRPORT AND EVEN JUST SIMPLY GO VISIT, IT IS TRULY SOMETHING ELSE.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT SIGNAGE.

IT IS ALSO ANOTHER GREAT MOVE.

I THINK VERY REFLECTIVE OF THE NEW TOWER THAT IS COMING UP AND SOON TO BE OPEN.

AGAIN, ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE HISTORY OF AVIATION CAN ALL BE FOUND RIGHT THERE IN STINSON AIRPORT AND WE WANT TO CONSTANTLY HIGHLIGHT THE INCREDIBLE GENERAL AVIATION HISTORY THAT WE CAN THERE AT STINSON AIRPORT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU, AGAIN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FLYING OUT OF STINSON.

>> GREAT.

I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 10.

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

[26. Resolution approving a financing by the Arlington Higher Education Finance Corporation of educational facilities located within the City of San Antonio, Texas for Great Hearts America for purposes of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.]

THANK YOU, RUSS.

ITEM NO. 26.

>> ITEM 26 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FINANCING OR THE FINANCING BY THE ARLINGTON HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE CORPORATION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS FOR GREAT HEARTS AMERICA FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 147 SUBSECTION F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

EXCUSE ME.

AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I ASKED THIS TO BE PULLED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THIS REPRESENTS A STEP BY A LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOL TO OBTAIN FUNDING TO GO AHEAD AND BUILD ANOTHER CHARTER SCHOOL IN SAN ANTONIO.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND I'M A GREAT SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THIS IS DONE BECAUSE THE STATE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE AVENUES FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO GROW IN THIS STATE.

AND AS THEY GROW I BELIEVE IT DIMINISHES THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH MANY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEY FEEL LIKE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE REALLY HURTING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE PEOPLE FROM GREAT HEARTS AND TALK ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM WITH THEM.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHILDREN.

ALL OF US HOPE THAT EVERY CHILD GETS A QUALITY EDUCATION.

AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT EFFORT NO MATTER HOW IT COMES ABOUT.

BUT I FEEL IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE CITY AND OUR FELLOW GOVERNMENTS IN THE AREA, COUNTIES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS NEED MORE SUPPORT.

AND SLOWLY BY SURELY THE RESOURCES ARE BEING DRAINED AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I, FOR ONE, CANNOT STAND BY AND SUPPORT ANY EFFORT THAT CONTINUES TO DRAIN RESOURCES AWAY FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH, IN THIS CITY, EDUCATE OVER 300,000 STUDENTS.

AND SO I HOPE THAT MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL THINK ABOUT THIS AS THEY MAKE THIS VOTE AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH EDUCATE ALL CHILDREN.

THEREFORE, I AM GOING TO BE VOTING AGAINST THIS MOTION, THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU,

[00:35:02]

COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS.

>> SECOND.

>> PELAEZ: AND THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS FROM GREAT HEARTS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN DISTRICT 8.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

JUST TO GIVE Y'ALL A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

FOR ME, THIS IS PERSONAL.

MY CHILDREN GO TO A CHARTER SCHOOL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

MY CHILDREN'S CHARTER SCHOOL, BY THE WAY, WAS RECENTLY RANKED, THIS LAST MONTH, I BELIEVE, ONE OF THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE CITY, FULL STOP.

MY KIDS TAKE LATIN.

MY KIDS TAKE MANDARINE.

MY KIDS ARE TESTING HIGHER THAN KIDS IN OTHER SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE RIGOR OF THE CURRICULUM AND I THINK THAT OUR LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE REALLY CHALLENGED OTHER SCHOOLS TO, YOU KNOW, RAISE THEIR STANDARDS AND TO WORK HARDER, AND COMPETITION NEVER KILLED ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, DOING THE RIGHT THING.

AND SO TO ALL THE TEACHERS OUT THERE WHO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY AT THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND REALLY DO COMMIT THEIR LIVES, OFTENTIMES FOR LESS MONEY THAN FOR WHAT THEY WOULD GET AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I HAVE MET THEM ALL AND I FIND THEM TO BE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO LOVE CHILDREN.

WHO AREN'T IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO HURT OTHER CHILDREN.

IN FACT, THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING SURE TO RAISE STANDARDS AND TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARING CHILDREN FOR DIFFICULT PATHS AND RAISING AND CREATING RESILIENT KIDS.

AND SO WITH THAT, AND TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I ASK THAT Y'ALL APPROVE THIS.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

I, TOO, AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH SUPERINTENDENTS AND I LOOK AT THIS AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THAT QUALITY EDUCATION TO OUR CHILDREN.

YES, THERE ARE DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT THE FUNDING AVENUES AND, YES, IT DOES REDUCE THE OVERALL FUNDING TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEN THOSE CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN CHARTER SCHOOLS OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

BUT THAT PROVIDES ANOTHER CHOICE.

AND I HAVE TOURED THE GREAT HEART SCHOOL THERE ON JONES MALTSBERGER, AND WHAT AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY IT IS FOR CHILDREN TO COME OUT AND LEARN THROUGH THAT ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK IT OFFERS THAT CHOICE AND THEY DO PROVIDE VERY GOOD QUALITY EDUCATION AT THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AS WELL.

BUT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT GOING THROUGH A PARADIGM SHIFT.

I LOOK AT IT LIKE OUR LOCAL TAXI SYSTEMS. THEY'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH A PARADIGM SHIFT BECAUSE, LIKE UBER AND LYFT THEY'RE HAVING TO REFIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXIST OUT THERE.

AND I KIND OF LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS KIND OF HAVING TO DO THE SAME SORT OF THING.

THEY NEED TO RECONFIGURE, SHIFT THEIR METHODOLOGIES AND COPY SOME OF THESE GREAT IDEAS THAT ARE BEING PUT OUT THERE BY THE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DO SUPPORT THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THIS GOES TO PROVIDE THAT CHOICE TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN ON WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION THAT THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS IN SUPPORT OF THE ITEM TODAY AS WELL.

IN DISTRICT 6 WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT HEARTS FACILITY COMING UP, AND IT IS FANTASTIC.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST BUILDINGS WE HAVE IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY AND PROUD TO HAVE THEM THERE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CHIMED IN ON A COUPLE OF KEY POINTS.

NUMBER ONE, THESE AREN'T CITY-FUNDED DOLLARS.

THIS IS A STATE PROJECT, STATE FINANCING AND FUNDING MECHANISM.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

COUNCILMAN PERRY HIT VERY KEY POINTS ON THE LARGER PROBLEMS WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE EDUCATION FUNDING PROCESS OUT OF AUSTIN IS SOMETHING THAT'S OUT OF OUR PURVIEW FOR NOW BUT I'M SURE OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM AND THE FOLKS WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH UP IN AUSTIN ARE GOING TO BE TRYING THEIR BEST TO CHANGE THOSE THINGS.

I THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS FREQUENTLY.

MY WIFE IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND WE'RE A UNION FAMILY ON THAT SIDE OF IT.

MY WIFE IS A MEMBER OF THE TEACHERS' UNION.

I JUST LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF COMPETITION AND OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE.

AND THE FACILITY IN DISTRICT 6, IF IT'S NOT WAIT LISTED YET, IT MAY BE ALREADY.

THAT'S HOW FAST THEY ARE BOOKING UP AND IT IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS A BREADTH

[00:40:01]

OF DEMOGRAPHICS YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY IMAGINE.

YOU'RE GOING TO WALK INTO THIS FACILITY AND SEE YOUNG FOLKS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY ANYWHERE ELSE IF IT WASN'T FOR GREAT HEARTS.

I'M JUST HERE TO STAND WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOL COMMUNITY TODAY JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WE CAN HAVE CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITY AND WE CAN ALSO HAVE COMPETITION.

AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DIG DEEPER INTO WHAT THESE FACILITIES ARE ACTUALLY DOING, PAY A LITTLE VISIT AND AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GET BEHIND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO FIX THAT SYSTEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE STRUGGLING TOO.

NOT A MILE FROM GREAT HEARTS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT STRUGGLES WITH BASIC NEEDS.

WE HAVE THESE ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME LET'S GET BEHIND GREAT HEARTS AND BRING MORE OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE TO OUR CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU, AND I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THIS MOTION TODAY.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, FOR PUSHING THIS FORWARD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: TROY, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

SO, DO WE USUALLY SEE THESE RESOLUTIONS HERE ON THE COUNCIL?

>> WE DO.

WE AVERAGE ABOUT FIVE A YEAR AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY IN THE PAST APPROVED THESE FOR GREAT HEARTS IN THE PAST AS WELL.

>> VIAGRAN: ON THE COUNCIL AS WELL?

>> THEY CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE COUNCIL OR THEY CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE HIGHEST SELECTED MEMBER ON THE COUNCIL THROUGH SIGNATURES, BUT THEY HAVE COME BOTH WAYS.

>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM TODAY HERE.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN THE ISSUE WITH EDUCATION IN OUR CITY FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN USED ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS OR ABOUT THIS CONCEPT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHAT OUR OWN MINDS ARE, OR WHAT OUR OWN OPINIONS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE.

CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SO LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

I'VE SEEN SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO WHO EVEN DO AS GOOD OR BETTER OF A JOB OF TEACHING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

SO THERE'S DIFFERENT COLORS AND DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BUT LET'S ALSO REMEMBER THAT THERE HAS BEEN CHOICE IN OUR CITY FOR A LONG TIME.

I THINK WE USE CHOICE IN COMPETITION, BUT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF MY RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CHOOSE WITH THEIR FEET AND MOVE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL CHOICE THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE ABOUT THE SCHOOL IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

CHARTER SCHOOLS, I DON'T THINK, SHOULD MAKE ANYBODY FEARFUL OF EDUCATION AND THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THEIR KIDS ARE GETTING.

I HAVE HEARD MANY SUPERINTENDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GO ON THE RECORD IN SAYING THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE HAD TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN QUALITY OF SERVICE TO STUDENTS BECAUSE OF WHAT FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORING DISTRICT, WHETHER IT WAS A CHARTER SCHOOL OR OTHER SCHOOL, WERE DOING.

SO I THINK THAT HAS BEEN TO THE BENEFIT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO, REGARDLESS OF WHOSE NAME IS ON THE BUILDING.

AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PLAYING A PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE A QUARREL ABOUT IMPROVING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, NO MATTER WHAT SERVICE IT'S DELIVERED IN.

WE HAVE UNANIMOUSLY SAID IN AUDIO] WHEN WE TALK ABOUT APPROACHING OUR LEGISLATURE TO HELP CORRECT THAT PROBLEM.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IN TERMS LIKE DRAINING THE PUBLIC SYSTEM OR COMPETITION ARE ALWAYS USED IN THE RIGHT WAY BECAUSE THEY DIVIDE US ON AN ISSUE LIKE THIS.

I HAVE SEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY BECAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW CONCEPTS, INTRODUCTION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY ARE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO ANY PARENT OR STUDENT WHO MIGHT WANT TO CHOOSE TO GO TO THEM.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER THAT THERE'S BEEN CHOICE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR A LONG TIME AND FOR MANY YEARS, WHETHER IT'S FOLKS WHO HAVE LEFT SAISD OR LEFT SOUTH SAN OR LEFT HARLANDALE, THEY'VE LEFT TO OTHER DISTRICTS.

SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO MOVE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY TO DO THAT.

AND I THINK THAT HAS DONE A DISSERVICE TO SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS AS WELL.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T TRY TO DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND AND SAY CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE BAD OR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE BEING DRAINED WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY AT THE CORE OF THE ISSUE.

THE CORE OF THE ISSUE IS HOW CAN WE BEST SERVE STUDENTS.

I BELIEVE TODAY, BECAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF SOME INNOVATION IN SOME OF THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS, SOME OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER BECAUSE OF IT.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SET A BAD PRECEDENT THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL WILL REJECT OFFHAND, IN THIS CASE OR ANOTHER, A CHARTER SCHOOL'S FINANCING WHEN I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE'S DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SPECTRUM ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SPECTRUMS ON K-12 SCHOOLS AS WE'VE KNOWN THEM.

I JUST WANT TO SUPPORT HIGH QUALITY WHEN WE SEE IT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE SEEN

[00:45:01]

WITH SCHOOLS LIKE GREAT HEARTS AND OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS.

HAPPY TO SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND FEEL THAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATING CHILDREN, RUNNING SCHOOLS, AND RESPONSIBLY MANAGING THEIR ASSETS.

I ALSO APPLAUD THE SUCCESS OF DISTRICT-RUN ACADEMIES AND FEEL THEY'RE A SMALL PIECE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PUZZLE AND ATTENTION SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, NOT JUST MAGNETS AND ACADEMIES.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE GREAT SUCCESS IN EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, I'M ALSO KEENLY AWARE OF THE IMPACT THEY HAVE IN SIPHONING OFF SOME OF THE BEST STUDENTS AND THE MORE ENGAGED FAMILIES, IN ADDITION TO MUCH-NEEDED FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE ALLOCATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM TODAY BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR PROCEDURAL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT IS MY WISH TO SEE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE STATE LEVEL HOLISTICALLY ADDRESS PROPERTY TAX REFORM AND PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCING TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATE THEM FOR OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING SOME PRETTY CLEAR STATEMENTS.

JUST TO CLARIFY, WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, THIS IS NOT A CHOICE BETWEEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

SPECIAL CORPORATIONS ARE PERMITTED TO ISSUE TAX EXEMPT DEBT TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES.

AND WITH THIS ITEM THERE IS ZERO RISK TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

ALL THE RISK IS ON THE SCHOOL OR OTHERS.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS THE EDUCATION, FINANCE CORPORATION AND HAS ISSUED DEBT FOR ST.

MARY'S UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD, AND A NUMBER OF PRIVATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE PAST.

A BORROWER, IN THIS CASE A CHARTER SCHOOL, CAN ASK ONE OF THESE CORPORATIONS TO FINANCE PROJECTS IN ANOTHER CITY.

HOWEVER, UNDER TEXAS LAW THE CITY MUST CONSENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT.

CONSENT CAN BE GRANTED BY THE MAYOR OR BY THE CITY COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION.

HISTORICALLY THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL HAS REVIEWED THESE BOND ISSUANCES.

DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THE MAYOR APPROVED THESE PERSONALLY.

HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE PROJECT, PARTICULARLY IF A FINANCE SCHOOL IS LOCATED WITHIN THEIR COUNCIL DISTRICT.

AS SUCH, I ASK FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA AND I DO IN FACT SUPPORT IT.

THIS ITEM IS SEEKING THE CONSENT OF THE CITY FOR SUCH AN ISSUANCE BY THE ARLINGTON HIGHER EDUCATION AUTHORITY.

IT IS FOR THE GREAT HEARTS CHARTER SCHOOL PROJECT IN DISTRICT 8.

AS WE HAVE HEARD, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ IS SUPPORTIVE.

NEXT WEEK THERE IS ANOTHER BOND CONSENT ITEM AND THE COUNCIL, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, WILL CONSIDER ABOUT FIVE TO TEN PER YEAR.

THIS WILL BE THE PROCESS FOR CONSIDERING THESE GOING FORWARD.

SO THERE IS NOW A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO.

26.

PLEASE VOTE.

[27. Ordinance approving a professional services contract with Deaf Link, in an amount not to exceed $88,164.00 annually, to provide an American Sign Language Emergency Alert System for a one-year term, with the option to extend the term for one additional one-year period. [Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager; Charles N. Hood, Fire Chief]]

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 27.

>> ITEM 27 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH DEAF LINK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8,164 ANNUALLY TO PROVIDE AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR PERIOD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

I JUST PULLED THIS TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY WITH.

PATRICK, CAN YOU JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO INTO A LONG PRESENTATION.

JUST GIVE US A VERY SHORT OVERVIEW ON WHAT THIS SYSTEM IS.

>> THE SYSTEM IS AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE GOING OUT IN EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS.

SO WHEN WE PUSH OUT AN EMERGENCY ALERT, IT WILL GO WITH A VIDEO IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

>> PERRY: GREAT.

GREAT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ASK FOR.

I HAVE A VERY ACTIVE PERSON IN DISTRICT 10, LARRY JOHNSON, THAT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THESE TYPES OF SUPPORT MECHANISMS THAT WE CAN GET TO SUPPORT OUR DISABLED COMMUNITIES.

SO I'VE WORKED WITH THAT COMMUNITY, AND YOU'LL SEE A SIGNER GIVING OUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW FOR OUR DEAF COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S AWESOME.

BECAUSE THEY ARE A PORTION OF OUR CITY THAT OFTEN GET NEGLECTED ON GETTING NOTIFICATIONS AND PARTICIPATING HERE IN THE CITY.

CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THAT KIND OF THING.

THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND THEY ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF

[00:50:02]

THIS CITY AND WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THEM MORE TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEM.

I SEE CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ OUT THERE.

SHE HELPED PUSH THIS THROUGH ALSO AND SHE HAS BECOME VERY INVOLVED IN CITY BUSINESS AND CITY POLITICS.

AND I HOPE TO ENCOURAGE THAT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP PUSH OUT THOSE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.

AND THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW THAT COMMITMENT TO OUR DISABLED COMMUNITY, AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS.

SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 27.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 27.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS ONE.

I KNOW THIS IS AN ITEM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE A VERY LARGE GROUP OF DEAF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MY DISTRICT.

I MEET WITH THEM VERY REGULARLY AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT IT'S FINALLY COMING FORWARD.

THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING IT SO THAT I CAN ACTIVELY SUPPORT IT AND JUST THANK YOU FOR MOVING IT ALONG.

SO WE HAVE -- I'LL JUST TELL YOU A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WHEN I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WE DID NOT HAVE THIS SYSTEM AVAILABLE.

I MET WITH A GROUP OF DEAF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I THINK OVER IN YOUR DISTRICT.

AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE WERE LOTS OF FAMILIES DURING KATRINA THAT COULDN'T GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED AND, AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A WOMAN THAT HAD TWO TWIN BABIES AND THE MOTHER WAS DEAF AND SHE COULD NOT GET THE NECESSARY MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HER CHILDREN AND, AS A RESULT, I THINK ONE OF THOSE BABIES DIED DURING THAT HORRIBLE STORM.

AND SO THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE MOVING ALONG AND FINALLY GETTING THIS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND ALSO AN INTERPRETER HERE TODAY.

I NOTICED THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY ALSO, WHICH IS SOMETHING I THINK MOST CITIES HAVE HAD FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

SO I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE MOVING ALONG.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP, COUNCILMAN PERRY, SO I CAN ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 27.

[31. Ordinance approving a professional services contract with Astelle, LLC (dba Work 5hop) in an amount up to $70,000.00 for the creation of Development and Design Standards with Supplemental Guidelines for the Northeast Corridor Revitalization Area located in City Council Districts 2 and 10. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Bridgett White, Director, Planning]]

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NO. 31.

>> ITEM NO. 31 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH ASTELLE, LLC DOING BUSINESS AS WORK 5HOP IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $70,000 FOR THE CREATION OF DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN STANDARDS WITH SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION AREA LOCATED IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2 AND 10.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANKS AGAIN, SIR.

THANKS, BRIDGETT.

IF YOU WANTED TO SAY JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS.

DON'T GO INTO A BIG PRESENTATION, JUST TELL EVERYBODY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS IS A KEY ACTION ITEM IN THE NORTHEAST QUARTER REVITALIZATION PLAN THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN 2014.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DESIGN STANDARDS RELATED TO BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, SIDING, LANDSCAPING, SIGNAGE.