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WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL B.
SESSION, SEPTEMBER THE 5TH, 2018.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL WILL BE HERE LATER TODAY.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[1. Staff presentation and possible action on Potential Amendments to the FY 2019 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget. [Sheryl Sculley, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget]]
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION.WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, THE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2019 BUDGET.
THIS IS OUR LAST SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET.
WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF SEVEN CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSIONS HERE WITH YOU ALL IN THE B ROOM, TO HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENTS DISCUSSING THE DETAILS OF THEIR DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE'VE ALSO HELD SEVEN COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSES SINCE I PRESENTED THE BUDGET ON AUGUST 9TH.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE SURVEYED THE COMMUNITY AND HOSTED MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
SO WE HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY INPUT, AND I WANT TO THANK JEFF COYLE AND HIS TEAM ON THE S.A. SPEAKUP CAMPAIGN.
WE'VE HEARD FROM 8,000 RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN.
THIS EVENING, WE ARE SCHEDULED FOR OUR SECOND LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS WELL AS DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING.
THIS EVENING WE WILL HEAR FROM THE AGENCIES WHOSE NAMES BEGIN WITH THE SECOND HALF OF THE ALPHABET.
LAST WEEK WE HEARD THROUGH -- FROM A THROUGH K.
SO TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SECOND HALF OF THOSE AGENCIES, AND MORE INPUT ON THE BUDGET.
SO LET ME SHARE WITH YOU ALSO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT REPORT THAT WE'LL HAND OUT TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
WE COMPLETED AS PART OF THE SEVEN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND MEETINGS, ABOUT 570 SURVEYS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THEY WERE COMPLETED ONLINE, AS WELL AS AT THE COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE HOSTED.
APPROXIMATELY 78% OF THE RESPONDENTS ON AVERAGE AGREE WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET, RANGING FROM 84% SUPPORTING THE FUNDING FOR STREETS, AND 73% SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
WE'LL DISTRIBUTE THAT TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
YESTERDAY I DID DISTRIBUTE TO YOU AT THE END OF THE MEETING, WE ALSO SENT IT TO YOU ELECTRONICALLY, A LIST OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT, OR REQUESTED DURING THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD.
WE ARE REQUESTING TODAY THAT YOU ALL AT THIS MEETING DISCUSS THOSE AMENDMENTS, AS WELL AS PRIORITIZE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE ADOPTION DOCUMENT FOR THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET THAT BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1, THAT WE'D LIKE TO INCORPORATE YOUR AMENDMENTS THAT YOU DISCUSS TODAY AS PART OF THAT PROPOSAL NEXT WEEK.
SINCE I PRESENTED THE BUDGET ON AUGUST 9TH, WE'VE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT FROM CPS.
WE KNOW WE'VE HAD A HOT SUMMER, SO THIS PAYMENT IS $3.1 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE PROJECTED AT THE TIME I PRESENTED THE BUDGET ON AUGUST 9TH, DUE TO THE HOTTER TEMPERATURES.
AND ADDITIONAL OFF-SYSTEM SALES.
SO THE COUNCIL COULD CHOOSE TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS.
I WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU, THOUGH, THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR FINANCIAL POLICY OF A TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET SO THAT ANYTHING WE ADD IN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDS SET ASIDE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT INCREASE IN YEAR TWO AS WELL.
OTHERWISE, WE'LL HAVE TO REDISTRIBUTE FUNDING NEXT YEAR TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AND CONTINUE WHATEVER OPERATING PROGRAMS WOULD BE INITIATED FROM THIS LIST OF PROJECTS.
FINALLY, THE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE BUDGET NEXT THURSDAY ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, AND BY CHARTER, BY THE CITY CHARTER, THE COUNCIL MUST ADOPT THE BUDGET YET THIS MONTH.
SO WITH THAT, WE CAN BEGIN WITH A CONVERSATION AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, THAT YOU ALL HAVE
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SUBMITTED TO US FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AND FUNDING.AND MAYOR, MARIA, JUSTINA AND I AS WELL AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE GROUP ARE HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SHERYL.
WE'LL PROBABLY GO SEVERAL ROUNDS HERE OF CONVERSATIONS.
WE KIND OF HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT VARIOUS TOPICS THAT ARE BROUGHT UP BY THE COUNCIL, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET RIGHT INTO IT AND START WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I WANT TO AGAIN THANK YOU MARIA, JUSTINA, CITY MANAGER SHERYL, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR WORK, AND TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAMS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AT EVERY SINGLE S.A. SPEAKUP EVENT, AND ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, JEFF COYLE, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM.
LAURA, CARLOS, OF COURSE, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN OUT THERE MAKING SURE EVERYONE'S IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY NEED TO GET.
GLAD TO HAVE HAD IT ALSO IN TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO IN DISTRICT 3.
APPRECIATE THAT, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THAT THERE.
AND REALLY GET SOME GREAT INPUT, AND FEEDBACK.
SO I WANT TO ALSO THANK, OF COURSE, ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT TO ALL OF THE EVENTS, THE S.A. SPEAKUP EVENTS.
WHO EVEN VENTURED OUT OF THEIR OWN AREAS TO GO AND VISIT WHAT OTHER PARTS OF TOWN ARE DOING, AND WHAT OTHER PARTS OF TOWN ARE SAYING THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR BUDGETS.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE, AS WELL, READY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION, THEIR PROJECT.
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DOING SUCH GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITY.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR OUR CITY.
AND I THINK WE DID, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT WE DID HAVE A GOOD START, AND I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS THAT I'VE PUT FORWARD FOR DISTRICT 3.
AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, I HAVE BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, ADVOCATING FOR A POLICE SUBSTATION IN DISTRICT 3.
BUT AS WE ALSO KNOW, CHIEF MCMANN PRESENTED DATA THAT SAID HIS DATA PRESENTED DID NOT SUPPORT A FUTURE SUBSTATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ONLY IN THE NORTH SIDE RIGHT NOW.
FARTHER NORTHWEST, AND THE FARTHER NORTHEAST SIDE.
BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEET THE NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO MEET HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW.
SPECIFICALLY, ARRESTS THAT ARE STILL HAPPENING ON ROOSEVELT, IMPRESSA, JUST LAST WEEK, SOMEBODY WAS ARRESTED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHARGES.
ALL THAT TO SAY, MY REQUEST IS THE TWO ADDITIONAL SAFE OFFICERS FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE AND MAKE MORE ARRESTS, BE MORE VIGILANT AND VISIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DO STILL HAVE THE ISSUE OF PROSTITUTION IN THE AREA.
BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST A PERSON, IT'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WORK, AND VERY SUCCINCT ABOUT, THAT'S WHY I'VE ASKED FOR THAT IN OUR BUDGET.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF D.A.R.T.
CASES, THE DANGEROUS ASSESSMENT RESPONSE TEAMS, AND THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT HOLISTICALLY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DHS, WE'RE LOOKING AT POLICE, AND SOLID WASTE, AND ACS, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND BECAUSE MY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS.
MY RESIDENTS WANTED -- WE HAD ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS COME IN AND ASK FOR A SUBSTATION, BUT BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET A SUBSTATION, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SAFE OFFICERS.
I'M ALSO ASKING FOR THESE THREE ADDITIONAL CODE OFFICERS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE -- MY AREA IS ASKING FOR, AND CLAMORRING FOR, BECAUSE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING IS HAPPENING NEAR AND AROUND THE MISSION AREA, AS WELL AS I'M GETTING CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL AT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO, TO DEAL WITH THESE CODE ENFORCEMENT AREAS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, DISTRICT 3 IS A VERY LARGE DISTRICT, FROM THE INNER CITY ALL THE WAY TO THE MORE, I GUESS COUNTRY AREA.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT CORRIDOR COUNCILS.
SO I'M WANTING TO HIGHLIGHT THESE AREAS, THAT'S WHY I'VE ALSO REQUESTED THREE CODE OFFICERS FOR THE AMENDMENT LISTS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WITH THE ADDITIONAL CODE OFFICERS, THIS WILL ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE THE LARGE VOLUME OF CALLS FROM OTHER CODE OFFICERS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS WILL STILL BE AN IMPACT AND SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WITH THE -- IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE, DANGEROUS STRUCTURES AND HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY HEAR, THIS D.A.R.T. WORK THAT HAPPENED JUST TODAY, THAT ACS, THE D.A.R.T. TEAM WENT TO A LOCATION TODAY AND IT WAS ACS,
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THEY HAD TO REQUEST CODE DETERMINATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES, AND OVER 100 SNAKES WERE SEIZED FROM ONE LOCATION IN DISTRICT 3 TODAY.SO IT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD NEIGHBORS CALLING NEEDING CODE, NEEDING THESE ENFORCEMENTS TO MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE WANTING TO DO A HOLISTIC APPROACH WHEN MOVING FORWARD ON THESE CORRIDOR COUNCILS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HAVE THESE CODE ENFORCEMENTS.
ANOTHER ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT THAT I'M REQUESTING HERE, FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION ANDED SUPPORT, IS THE HEALTHY CORNER STORE PROJECT IN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S HELPING FILL THE NEED AND THE GAP WHERE THERE ARE FOOD DESERTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IN THE AREA OF DISTRICT 3 IN PARTICULAR.
I HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS, AND CLAMORRING FOR GROCERY STORES IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO OFF OF ROOSEVELT, HEAD ING 410 SOUTH.
SOUTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CORONADO SCHOOL ASSOCIATION, WE'VE BEEN WAITING STILL YEARS BECAUSE IT'S STILL MORE THAN TWO OR THREE MILES FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO A GROCERY STORE, TO GET FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE.
PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO GO TO A DOLLAR STORE TO BUY THEIR FOOD, WHERE WE'RE STILL LOOKING TO HAVE THIS FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS HEALTHY CORNER STORE PROJECT, AND WE'RE ALSO WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A CREATIVE AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UIWC SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC, BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE NEEDS IN THE AREA.
THIS IS ONE OF THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED.
THEY'VE ONLY BEEN THERE TWO YEARS.
THEY KNOW IF WE CAN PUT THESE FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE IN CORNER STORES, WE CAN BRING THAT ACCESS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS.
I'M ASKING FOR THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE SOUTH SIDE ALLIANCE PARK.
WE HAD GREAT INVESTMENT IN SOUTH SIDE ALLIANCE, ONE OF THE LARGEST PARKS IN DISTRICT 3.
AT THE TRAILHEAD OF THE SOLATO CREEK.
WE BUILT A WONDERFUL DOG PARK IN THERE, YOU ALL, BUT WE DID NOT PUT ANY SIGNAGE IN THIS DOG PARK.
SO IT IS NOT BEING UTILIZED TO ITS MAXIMUM ABILITY.
SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, AS WELL AS A CANOPY, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS -- NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS GO OUT THERE, AND THEY PLAY IN THE -- ON THE BASKETBALL COURT DAY AND NIGHT, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF RELIEF FROM THE AREA.
SO, WITH THAT, THOSE ARE MY MAIN ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO DEFINITELY ADVOCATE FOR.
THERE ARE OTHERS -- THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS ON HERE THAT ARE VERYWORTHY.
OF COURSE, MY PETALUMA PROJECT, BUT THAT'S NOT HAVING AN IMPACT ON DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.
BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE DATA, WE HAVE THE CALL FOR -- FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR DISTRICT 3, AND FOR THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT, ENHANCEMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ASKING FOR MY COLLEAGUES' SUPPORT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT YOUR AREAS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO SHED A TEAR HERE.
AT THE VERY END OF THE BUDGET CYCLE, I'VE SEEN A FEW OF THEM, AND THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGERS THAT SAID WE'VE GOT A HOTTER THAN USUAL SUMMER.
CPS REVENUES ARE HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED.
IN 2011 AND '12, WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO CUT.
SO WE ARE IN A FORTUNATE TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AMENDMENTS TO TRY TO SUPPORT SOME THINGS THAT WE VALUE AND THINK ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
LET ME FIRST THANK THE FOLKS AT SAPD, AND I'VE GONE ON OVER 20 RIDE-ALONGS AT THIS POINT.
THE BIG TAKEAWAY IS OBVIOUSLY THE GREAT WORK THAT THE SAPD OFFICERS ARE DOING EVERY DAY.
MOST OF THE RIDE-ALONGS ARE LATE, OVERNIGHT.
BUT ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED HERE, LISTED FOR $180,000, IS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRESENTATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER, WHICH WAS IN REGARD IT TO THE INSTANCE, THAT I KNOW A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE GONE ON RIDE-ALONGS, YOU DO RESPOND TO A CASE, AND AN OFFICER IS AT SOMEONE'S HOME, AND AFTER WE LEAVE, THAT PRETTY MUCH ENDS THE
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STORY, EVEN IF WE HEAR ABOUT SOME SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS THAT EXIST AT THE HOME, OR SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS THAT MAY EXIST WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE HAVING SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.THE JOB OF THE OFFICER HAS TO STOP THERE.
WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT THAT EXTENDS THAT EVEN FURTHER IN BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT NEED THAT KIND OF HELP.
BUT THIS PROPOSAL IS ACTUALLY TRYING TO BE A LITTLE SMARTER, AND WORK HARDER, NOT WITH A UNIFORMED OFFICER, BUT WITH A CLINICIAN THAT WE WOULD PARTNER WITH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL SEE AS ONE OF MY AMENDMENTS HERE.
THAT'S NOT RESTRICTED TO MY DISTRICT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY WHERE MENTAL HEALTH, SAPD FOLKS ARE RESPONDING TO.
THE SECOND PIECE IS ALSO ONE THAT'S NOT IN HERE, IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE AT HAVEN FOR HOPE OUTSIDE IN PROSPECTS COURTYARD, WHICH NUMBER AT 700 A NIGHT IN SOME CASES, HAVE ACCESS TO THREE SQUARE MEALS, THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD.
AND THE STORY BEHIND IT, I'M GRATEFUL TO THE FOLKS WHO CAME OVER TO VISIT FROM ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, THE STORY IS ONE I DIDN'T KNOW, WHICH IS AT A TIME WHEN THE FOOD BANK WAS DOING GOD'S WORK, ON CAMPUS, IT DIDN'T REALLY INCLUDE FOOD HAPPENING OUTSIDE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE CAMPUS.
SO ST. VINCENT DEPAUL HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO WORK WITH THE CITY, BUT THE WORK IS NOT GOING AWAY.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT BUDGET AMENDMENT OF $135,000, WHICH IS NOT TO SATISFY THE COMPLETE REQUEST ST. VINCENT DEPAUL HAD, BUT I THINK WITH CREATIVE PARTNERS WITH THE FOOD BANK, COST SAVINGS ON SOME OF THE MATERIALS, $135,000 SHOULD DO A GREAT DEAL TO SATISFY THE NEED THAT ST. VINCENT DEPAUL HAS.
THOSE ARE THE TWO DISTRICT 4'S SPECIFIC REQUESTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY COLLEAGUES KNEW ABOUT.
AND I ALSO WANT TO PITCH SUPPORT TO THE WORK OF THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION, WHO HAS IN A LOT OF WAYS, THROUGH THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS EVOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY, THAT HAD BEEN STAGNANT FOR SOME TIME, BUT IS FINALLY GETTING TO SEE SOME SUPPORT.
AND THERE'S AN AMENDMENT IN HERE TO ADD MORE SUPPORT TO ALLOW THEM TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY BUILDING.
THERE ARE PARTS OF THE CITY THAT DIDN'T GET THE ATTENTION OR TIME OR RESOURCES TO REALLY FULFILL THEIR MISSION IN THE ARTS.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE SUPPORTING THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION IN THAT RESPECT.
THE LAST ONE THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IS THE SOUTH SIDE FIRST INITIATIVE.
I DO WANT TO ASK THAT WE CONSIDER $50,000 WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN THE REQUEST OF $250,000.
AND I WORRY, IF I CAN FIND AN EXTRA $50,000 TO MAKE SURE THAT I INCLUDE PORTIONS OF MY DISTRICT AND CORRIDORS IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE GOTTEN SOME STUDY.
AND SOME DATA COMPILED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEIR PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO START WORK ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE CORRIDORS OUTSIDE KELLY AIR FORCE BASE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF BUSINESS INVESTMENT, THAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE LOSE OUT.
SO MY SIMPLE REQUEST IS TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS AT $250,000.
I WOULD ADVOCATE TO ADD ANOTHER $50,000 TO MAKE SURE DISTRICT 4 IS INCLUDED IN THAT WORK, AND THE RESEARCH THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STARTED.
MAYOR, AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THE INCLUSION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT CLINICIAN SUPPORT.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE FOLLOW-UP WORK.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT ST. VINCENT DEPAUL IN THEIR REQUEST, AS WELL AS THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
ON THE RECEIPTS WE RECEIVE FROM CPS, WERE THEY FOR THE MONTH OF JULY? AND IF SO, THE MONTH OF AUGUST WAS JUST AS HOT.
SHOULDN'T WE BE ANTICIPATING ADDITIONAL MONEY IN AUGUST? I KNOW IT'S AN ANTICIPATION, BUT ISN'T THAT A VERY LIKELY SITUATION?
>> NOT NECESSARILY, GIVEN OUR MONTH, EVEN IN SEPTEMBER, JUST FOR THESE EARLY DAYS IS DOWN FROM WHAT WE HAD ESTIMATED.
WE WON'T GET THOSE NUMBERS UNTIL AFTER THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED.
BUT WE DO RECOMMEND THAT WE NOT PLAN ON THOSE, AND THEN BE IN A POSITION AFTER WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS IN THE BUDGET.
AND OF COURSE, THAT WOULD FLOW TO ENDING BALANCE, AND WE WOULD USE THAT TO FUND ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE ADD TO THE BUDGET TODAY.
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SO WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING THAT WE COUNT ON THAT YET FOR AUGUST.I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE REVIEWED THIS LIST, AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF THESE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE ON HERE.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKING AT THESE RIGHT CLOSELY, AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN DO THE BEST FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN THEIR DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO INDICATE MY SUPPORT FOR THESE AMENDMENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
LET ME ASK FOR SUPPORT OF SOME OF MY AMENDMENTS HERE AND GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR MY REQUESTS.
THE BUENO VISTA AND GAUP LUP PAY BRIDGE INVESTMENTS WE'RE ASKING FOR $10 MILLION TO CONTINUE THE WORK THROUGH THE TSA.
WE JUST NEED MONEY TO MAINTAIN AND CLEAN THAT AREA UNTIL WE'RE READY TO START THE MAJOR PROJECT, WHICH IS STILL A COUPLE OF YEARS AWAY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THAT SPACE.
A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WORK AT THE GUADALUPE PLAZA.
MANY ARE BASIC SHADE, THE BATHROOMS. BASIC THINGS.
WE KNOW THAT WE ALSO NEED ADDITIONAL SECURITY IN THE AREA, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE COMMUNITY INPUT FOR WHAT HAPPENS AT THE PLAZA, AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT SPACE EVOLVE.
IN DISTRICT 5, WE HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITY ZONES, AND WE'LL GET BRIEFED ON THOSE FURTHER AS THEY EVOLVE.
BUT WE'VE GOT TWO OF THEM IN DISTRICT 5.
ONE OF THEM IS ON THE WEST SIDE, PART OF THE TSA, STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE AREA.
AND WE ALSO ARE LOOKING TO DO A BUSINESS LEGACY CORRIDOR PROJECT ALONG SOME OF OUR MAJOR STREETS, LIKE NOGALITOS, AND COLORADO, LAREDO.
THESE ARE STREETS IN MY DISTRICT THAT HAVE LONG-TIME, OLD BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY ALONG COLORADO AND COMMERCE STREETS, THE OLDER STREETS IN OUR CITY, LOOKING TO DO SOME BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE A LARGE REQUEST FOR THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY.
ROB KNEELER IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
HE HAS BEEN OPERATING A NONPROFIT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR 100 YEARS.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WORK.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ASKED FOR A FUNDING AMOUNT, AND THAT IS TO ASSIST WITH THEIR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
THE CHAVEZ MERCH HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, AND THEY GET $50,000 IN THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR TO DO THE MARCH.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ENHANCE THE PROGRAMMING THERE.
THE MAESTRO CENTER, THEY TOOK AN OLD SCHOOL AND REHABBED IT TO DO -- IT'S RUN BY JULIO, AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK THERE TO ADVANCE WOMEN IN NONTRADITIONAL BUSINESSES.
SO VERY EXCITING WORK, AND ASKING FOR REQUESTS FOR THE MAESTRO CENTER.
WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION WORKED WITH LISK, AND MY STAFF TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM FOR CAPACITY BUILDING.
AND WHILE WE DESIGNED OUR ARTS PROGRAMMING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE THERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CAPACITY BUILDING REQUEST DOES NOT COME FROM THE WORK THAT DEBBIE AND THE TEAM HAS ALREADY DONE TO DISTRIBUTE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS THERE.
THE CAPACITY BUILDING COULD COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
WE TYPICALLY DON'T FUND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR GENERAL FUND, BUT THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T.
AND SO THIS REQUEST WOULD COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND, NOT FROM THE EXISTING ARTS FUND.
SOUTH SIDE FIRST, AS THE COUNCILMAN SUGGESTED, THERE'S A $50,000 REQUEST HERE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE A TOTAL OF $150,000.
I'M EXPECTING WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, THEY COULD ALSO DO PROGRAMMING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
SO I THINK THESE ARE ALL REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
I ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT MY AMENDMENTS.
I ALSO WANT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE ASTHMA COALITION.
WE HAVE FOLKS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
AS WE WERE REVIEWING OUR DATA, IT SEEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE 07 ZIP CODE WHERE I LIVE SEEMS TO HAVE THE INCIDENCE OF HIGHEST CHILDHOOD ASTHMA OF ANYWHERE IN THE CITY.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR,
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AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COMMUNITY STAYS ON TRACK WITH THE REST OF THE CITY.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY.
I WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR AMENDMENTS IN DISTRICT 2 REGARDING THE VACANT LOT PROJECT.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL AS OUR DISTRICT IS WE'RE HAVING VARIOUS VACANT LOTS THAT ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF EXAMPLE.
WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUT IS THAT FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE SITTING ON A LOT MAY COST $10,000 BY ITSELF.
BUT IF YOU HAVE $9,000 WORTH OF LIENS AND ISSUES, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO, STARTING OFF, WITHOUT BUILDING, $100,000 IN THE HOLE.
IF YOU WANT TO BUILD ON YOUR LOT FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE, KEEP THE NUMBERS SIMPLE, THIS IS $200,000.
TO LOOK AT A TOTAL OF $300,000 TO BUILD ON A SINGLE-FAMILY LOT.
THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO SELL THAT HOUSE FOR $300,000 AND ONE DOLLAR TO MAKE A PROFIT.
I'M ASKING FOR THIS ONE-TIME FUND SO WE CAN ASSIST THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN EMPTY LOTS.
AND THEN I'M WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SO WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT WILL BE CHEAP, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT CHEAP IN MATERIAL, BUT CHEAP IN TERMS OF COST, TO PUT THESE ON VACANT LOTS AND KEEP THEM IN THE FAMILY.
THE CITY WILL MAINTAIN A LIEN ON THESE PROPERTIES, SO, THEREFORE, DEVELOPERS CANNOT BUY THEM AND FLIP THEM.
IT HAS TO BE OWNER OCCUPIED FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.
ONCE THAT FIVE-YEAR PASSES, THE HOUSE CAN GO TO WHO THEY WANT IT TO.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE INNER CITY, BECAUSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A CRISIS IN THIS CITY.
WE CAN ATTACK THAT INTERNALLY WHILE ELIMINATING SOME OF THE BARRIERS WE HAVE THROUGH ZONING AND PLANNING, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND OTHER TAXING ENTITIES TO DECREASE THOSE TAX BURDENS.
SO THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF OUR AMENDMENTS.
HOPEFULLY IT'S A PILOT PROJECT.
AND IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, WHICH I KNOW IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, WE CAN IMPLEMENT THE SAME STRATEGY THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SHAW.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO START OFF WITH THANKING SHERYL, MARIA AND PETER TO MAKING SURE THAT A LOT OF THE DISTRICT 1 PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN MET.
SPECIFICALLY, TALKING ABOUT ENGA ENGAGING -- AND COMPLETING THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN THAT WILL HAVE A CITYWIDE IMPACT.
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT DISTRICT 1, THIS IS HOW WE FINALLY BEGAN TO SOLVE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ISSUES IN SAN ANTONIO.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR EXPANDING THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO NOW HAS A CITYWIDE IMPACT.
AND REALLY BELIEVE IN THE ABILITY TO GROW THIS PROGRAM.
THIS IS BORNE OUT OF A PILOT PROGRAM THAT PROVED ITSELF AND IS NOW DOING GOOD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE AGE IN PLACE, AND LOWER UTILITY BILLS AT THE SAME TIME.
SOME OF YOU MAY NOTICE THAT I HAVE SOME ALLERGIES GOING ON.
SPEAKING OF WHICH, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE ASTHMA PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE -- -- THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLERGY COALITION HAS DONE SOME GREAT WORK IN IDENTIFYING SOME OF THESE HOT SPOTS.
AND I THINK FURTHER EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN A NONATTAINMENT STATUS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I HOPE WE CAN TACKLE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY, AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE NUMBER WE'RE SHOWING HERE IS NOT THE NUMBER THAT I THINK IS NEEDED FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO FIND SOME SUCCESS.
I AGREE THAT THE 07 ZIP CODE IS GENERALLY AROUND THE WEST END PARK AREA.
WE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY LAYERING SERVICES THERE WITH THE FRANK GARRETT AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH THAT PARK.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THE NUMBER HERE.
BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS, THIS IS -- THIS NUMBER IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER FOR GETTING US OFF THE GROUND WITH A PILOT
[00:30:02]
PROGRAM AS -- -- THE SOUTH TEXAS ALLERGY COALITION.>> MAYOR, COUNCILMEN, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE OPTIONS.
THE FIRST THAT WAS SUGGESTED WAS TOTAL CITY FUNDS OVER TWO YEARS AT 928,000.
IN THE FIRST ONE, AND COLLEEN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS, BUT THE 360 PATIENTS ENROLLED, TWO MORE STAFF, AND TWICE AS MANY PATIENTS.
OPTION 2 WAS 692,000, AND OPTION 3, WHICH IS WHAT'S INCLUDED ON THE AMENDMENT LIST, 495,000 FOR FOUR FTES, 270 PATIENTS ENROLLED IN YEAR ONE, AND THEN 600 PATIENTS IN YEAR TWO.
WE TRIED TO GIVE YOU OPTIONS, SO THAT IF WE WANTED TO PHASE IN THE PROGRAM, THAT WE COULD.
BUT OPTION NUMBER 1 IS 928,000.
>> COME UP TO THE PODIUM SO WE CAN GET YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON FUNDING THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED FOR THIS PROGRAM TO REALLY GET OFF THE GROUND.
I'M HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BEEN PRACTICING MEDICINE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
HAVE AN OFFICE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH TEXAS ASTHMA COALITION, WHICH IS -- CONSISTS OF ABOUT 80 MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
STAKEHOLDERS WHOSE INTERESTS ARE TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA.
BEXAR COUNTY AS A WHOLE IS AN OUTLIER COMPARED TO OTHER LARGE COUNTIES, AND OTHER LARGE COUNTIES IN THE STATE FOR HOSPITALIZATION RATES FOR ASTHMA, AND OVERUTILIZATION.
WE JUST HAVE A SICKER POPULATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEORIES AS TO WHY THAT IS OCCURRING.
SO ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE INITIATED THROUGH THIS COALITION IS AN INTERVENTION PROJECT WHICH BASICALLY IDENTIFIES HIGH-RISK CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA, THROUGH VARIOUS REFERRAL SOURCES, AND PROVIDES AN INTERVENTION PROCESS.
THE INTERVENTION IS AN INTERVENTION VERY COLLABORATED INTERVENTION IN THE HOME WHICH INVOLVES EDUCATION, IMPROVING ACCESS, AND TO OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF THE ASTHMA OUTCOMES.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS CITYWIDE.
I WOULD CONCUR WITH COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES THAT'S 07 HAS THE IMPRESSIVE RATES OF ASTHMA, OVERUTILIZATION, AND POOR ASTHMA OUTCOMES.
BUT THE INTERVENTION BASICALLY INVOLVES PROVIDING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND ALSO IN THE HOME ON MULTIPLE VISITS TO IDENTIFY THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, RIGHT? THE NONHEALTH DETERMINANTS THAT AFFECT HEALTH, WHETHER IT BE SHELTER, WHETHER IT BE FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE INTERVENTION, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN MULTIPLE LARGE CITIES, AND HAS RESULTED IN A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE ASTHMA OUTCOMES, DECREASE D UTILIZATION AND ALSO IMPROVEMENT IN DECREASED ABSENTEEISM WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR THE LONG TERM.
WE DID SUBMIT AN ADDITIONAL PROPOSAL THAT WAS ABOUT $900,000 OVER ABOUT A TWO-YEAR SPAN, AND THAT PROPOSAL WAS TRIMMED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HOUSING OUR PROGRAM AT THE FRANK GARRETT CENTER THAT COUNCILMAN TREVINO HELPED US FACILITATE.
SO THIS IS AN AGGRESSIVE INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
CLEARLY IT WILL RESULT IN DECREASED ASTHMA EXACERBATIONS.
WHEN THE COALITION INITIALLY PUT THE PROPOSAL TOGETHER, IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSAL TO INVOLVE SIX COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE WORKERS, A PROJECT MANAGER, OVERSIGHT, AND WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF OTHER BUDGETS THAT ARE EXTREMELY LEAN.
WE FEEL THAT THE HIGHER BUDGET IS -- THE HIGHER PROPOSAL IS THE ONE THAT WE REALLY WANT.
AND THAT'S MAINLY TO SHOW THAT BY DECREASING THE BUDGET FROM
[00:35:01]
THE HIGHER TO THE LOWER, WE ELIMINATE 25% OF OUR POPULATION, THESE CHILDREN, FROM BENEFITING FROM THE PROGRAM.SO WE COMPLIED AT THE RECOMMENDATION, AND THE SUGGESTION THAT WE GET THREE DIFFERENT BUDGETS.
BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT WE CAN SHOW MUCH BETTER OUTCOMES, IMPACT MANY MORE CHILDREN WITH THIS INTERVENTION AT THE HIGHER BUDGET PROPOSAL.
ALSO, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE DR. GONZALEZ WHO JUST WALKED IN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? OKAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AT LENGTH IN MY OFFICE, AND HOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN FOR SUCH A CITYWIDE IMPACT AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE IMPACTING, SPECIFICALLY IN SOME OF THE HOT ZONES, LIKE THE 07 ZIP CODE, WE SEE THIS AS A HUGE BARGAIN, AND A REAL BENEFIT TO OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SO I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR BUILDING THAT PROGRAM AS ROBUSTLY AS POSSIBLE.
AT THE HEART OF THIS IS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS WHO ARE DYING A PREVENTABLE DEATH.
AND I CAN THINK OF NO MORE URGENT NEED THAN TO APPLY A PROGRAM THAT CAN ADDRESS THAT IMMEDIATELY.
THE FACT THAT ANY CHILD DIES OF AN ASTHMA RELATED DEATH IS -- AND IS PREVENTABLE WITH A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE KIND OF FUNDING THAT WE'RE PUTTING BEHIND IT.
SO I STRONGLY URGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FUNDING FOR WHAT ITS REAL VALUE IS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DISCUSSION ON ALL THE OTHER ITEMS. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES IMMEDIATELY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
MY APOLOGIES TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR MY TARD INESS.
I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW I WAS TRYING TO LISTEN ONLINE ON MY PHONE, AND I HEARD MOST OF YOUR COMMENTS.
SO I ALSO, LIKE COUNCILMAN COURAGE, WANTED TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY OUR COLLEAGUES ON HERE.
AND ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN TREVINO, I ALSO DID WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE ASTHMA PROGRAM.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL SUBMISSION THAT I WATCHED THROUGH WITH STAFF, WITH ASTHMA COALITION, WAS I GUESS THE WAY YOU PROPORTIONALIZE OUT THE DOLLARS WAS REALLY SORT OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS OPTIMAL.
SO I THINK THAT'S ABOUT -- IT'S ABOUT $300,000 SHORT FOR THIS YEAR, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> COUNCILWOMAN -- SO OPTION 1 WAS 498.
SO WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET POLICY.
BUT ON THE -- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPTIONS 2 AND 3, IT'S THE SAME NUMBER OF PATIENTS ENROLLED, BECAUSE DR. BRIDGER HAS INDICATED THAT HER STAFF CAN SUPPLEMENT AND HELP WITH THAT PROGRAM, SO THAT WE COULD STILL PROVIDE THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH OPTION 3 AT 495, THE 600 PATIENTS ENROLLED IN YEAR TWO, AND 270 IN YEAR ONE.
>> SANDOVAL: I'M SORRY, IS THAT A HANDOUT THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE? OR COULD YOU WALK ME THROUGH THIS?
>> IT'S 928, 792, 495 ARE THE THREE OPTIONS.
WE'LL MAKE COPIES AND DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO THE COUNCIL.
AND I ALSO -- I HEARD COUNCILMAN SALDANA DISCUSS THE SOUTH SIDE FIRST PROJECT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE REVENUES ARE COMING IN AT 3.1, OR AN ADDITIONAL 3.1 MILLION IN CPS REVENUES, THAT THAT COULD BE SUPPLEMENTED BY AT LEAST $50,000 PER HIS REQUEST.
I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL.
[00:40:05]
AND THEN ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THE WEST ARTS COALITION CAPACITY FUND.I THINK THAT REQUEST CAME IN AT A HIGHER AMOUNT.
SO I WOULD BE OPEN TO SEEING IF WE COULD MATCH THAT MORE CLOSELY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT COUNCIL MAN SALDANA WAS MENTIONING, IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 FOR THE SOUTH SIDE FIRST.
IT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I THINK NOW MORE STRATEGICALLY WITH SOME OF THE DATA THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED ABOUT THE ROAD, AND IN AND AROUND ROOSEVELT, AND REALLY LEVERAGING, EVEN THE WORK AND THE REVITALIZATION THAT WE'RE SEEING, AND WORKING ON, AT A LEVEL IN THE ECONOMIC WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, TO REALLY SEE IF WE CAN DO ANOTHER -- IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANOTHER $50,000 FOR THAT INVESTMENT YEAR ONE 15, AND YEAR TWO 50, MAYBE, TO REALLY GET THEM OFF THE GROUND TO NOW DOING MORE TANGIBLE WORK FOR OUR AREA.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE -- FOR MY COLLEAGUES' AMENDMENTS, AND TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION, TO SHOW THAT I HAVE SUPPORT FOR THEM AS WELL.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK.
I I'M ANXIOUS TO HOPEFULLY SEE THEM GET FUNDED TODAY AND SEE THE WORK THEY DO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
WITH THE CAVEAT WE KEEP GETTING DISTRICT 6.
I'M LOOKING AT THEM RIGHT NOW, DISTRICT 6, DISTRICT 6.
OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THAT.
AND FOR COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN'S SAFE ISSUES AS WELL.
IF WE HIGHLIGHT THE BASIC THINGS WE DO, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
THERE'S A NEED, THE ALLOCATION WOULD MAKE SENSE.
I WANT TO BE SUPPORTIVE WITH ANY OPPORTUNITY WE CAN TO PUT CASH TOWARDS THAT.
YOU HAVE IT AT 452 OVER A TWO-YEAR IMPACT.
I THINK THE IMPACT IS MUCH DEEPER FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I JUMPED IN ON THAT ONE AS WELL AND PUT MY SUPPORT BEHIND IT.
ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN SALDANA FOR SUPPORTING THAT.
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE FUNDING.
I THINK THAT WAS AT 135? YEAH.
WAS THAT SHORT OF -- THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS 150, RIGHT? I'M NOT SURE. HIGHER?
>> BROCKHOUSE: I THINK FEEDING THE HOMELESS, HAVEN FOR HOPE, SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
THE ABILITY TO INCREASE IT WHERE WE CAN I THINK IS NEEDED.
AGAIN, ST. VINCENT DEPAUL AND THE BISTRO IS WORKING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE.
EVERY BUCK IS GOING TO FEED SOMEBODY, AND I WANT TO SUPPORT THAT WHEREVER I CAN AS WELL.
AND OVERALL GENERAL SUPPORT, I THINK THESE ITEMS MAKE SENSE RIGHT DOWN THE LINE.
AND THEN JUST TO CONTINUE TO PUT A PLUG OUT THERE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCES.
I KNOW WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION YESTERDAY.
A LONGER DISCUSSION PROBABLY LATE IN THE CONVERSATION HERE, BUT I DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO REITERATE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, WE WANT TO TALK EQUITY, JOBS, WAGE GAPS, HOUSING, IT'S GOOD TO POINT THAT FINGER AT OURSELVES AND SAY WHAT ARE WE DOING FROM AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE WITH OUR OWN EMPLOYEES.
A 1% COLA WHEN THE COST OF LIVING INFLATION, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN THIS REGION IS GOING TO BE 2.55%.
THERE ARE OTHER MECHANISMS TO CLOSE THAT GAP, BUT RAISING SOMEONE'S INCOME, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE -- I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY IT YESTERDAY, BUT THE 8,063 EMPLOYEES, 1,232 ARE CAPPED OUT.
THEY DO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THEIR COLA, AND THEIR LUMP SUM BONUS.
THEY'RE STILL ATTAINING MORE MONEY.
BUT THE COLA IS NOT MEETING THAT PIECE.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS 51% OF THEM, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL HEARS THIS STAT, IT WAS GOOD RESEARCH FROM LAURIE AND HER TEAM, BUT OF THOSE 1,232 EMPLOYEES, 51% OF THEM EARN BETWEEN 32 AND
[00:45:01]
$39,000.THESE ARE FULL-TIME CITY EMPLOYEES.
SO I JUST THINK THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO BE MORE.
AND WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION NOW, BECAUSE IT'S SO LATE IN THE GAME, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME LATE.
I'M RAISING AN ISSUE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
AS SHERYL POINTED OUT, IT'S $4.1 MILLION TO GIVE -- $4.5 MILLION TO GIVE A 1% COLA ACROSS THE BOARD.
IT'S HARD TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND TARGET WHO DOES AND WHO DOESN'T, I GET THAT.
BUT FRANKLY, I'M GOING TO PUT A FIRM STAKE IN THE GROUND, IF WE CAN SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS IN HOUSING, AND A SERIES OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE STARTING TO MOVE, IN MY OPINION, OUTSIDE THE CORE OF THE CITY, WE CAN GIVE THE EMPLOYEES A RAISE.
THAT EQUITY CONVERSATION MEANS KEEPING THEM IN BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A HOUSE.
51% OF THOSE FOLKS MAKING 32 TO $39.
I GET IT, WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY, BUT OUR OWN EMPLOYEES, WHAT IS THEIR AFFORDABILITY FACTOR, HOW ARE THEY FEELING ABOUT IT.
IF WE GET THE COMMITMENT ABOUT DOING FOCUS GROUPS AND MAKING SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE LIVING, I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO SAY, CAN WE PUT ANY MORE MONEY TOWARDS OUR EMPLOYEE PAY RAISES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD BE PARSED OUT, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
WE HAVE SO MANY PRESSING THINGS THAT CAN BE CUT, TO PUT MORE MONEY TOWARD OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB WELL BEYOND OUR EMPLOYMENT HERE ON THIS DAIS.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE GOT AT THAT NUMBER, OH, MY GOODNESS, I'M GOING TO DO THE MATH, THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS MAKING UNDER $40,000 A YEAR, RAISING THEIR FAMILIES ON THAT, THE SOLID WASTE TECHNICIANS, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE UNRECOGNIZABLE TO THE MACHINERY, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THE JOB DAY IN, DAY OUT.
IF WE COULD FIND A WAY TO PUT MORE MONEY TOWARD THAT, I THINK IT'S A NOBLE CAUSE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT, LET'S DO IT OURSELVES.
AND THE 15 BUCKS AN HOUR IS ONE ANSWER, THAT'S A GREAT MOVE AND WE'RE FUNDING THAT, BUT CAN WE PUT ANY MORE MONEY TOWARDS IT.
I THINK IT'S A WORTHY CONVERSATION.
BUT ON THE WHOLE, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE PART WE'RE PICKING UP, WE HAD THE LAND GIFTED TO US, THREE ACRES FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SO IT'S A BIG WIN FOR US.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT POSSIBLY A DOG PARK ON THAT STRUCTURE, AND FILL IN AN OLD POOL.
AND THERE'S SOME CASH TO GO TOWARDS, THAT I ASKED FOR US TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT MILITARY EMPLOYMENT.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MILITARY CITY USA IN THIS WORLD OF A MILITARY SPOUSES WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.
IF YOU LEAVE THE MILITARY IN SAN ANTONIO, WE WANT YOU TO STAY HERE.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE -- OH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AGREES.
[SIRENS] WE WANT MILITARY EMPLOYMENT TO RISE TO ONE OF THE TOP CONVERSATIONS.
I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN DEVELOP SOMETHING WITH THIS CASH SET ASIDE.
BY THE WAY, DISTRICT 6 IS GOING TO FUND THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF ANYBODY'S OTHER BUDGET.
IN DISTRICT 6, WE'RE POTENTIALLY FUNDING THIS PROGRAM.
I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A COMMUNITY TO REALLY JUMP ALL OVER MILITARY EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS SPOUSES.
THE MILITARY SPOUSE SPACE, SPECIFICALLY, THEY HAVE ALMOST AN 18% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
OF THOSE MILITARY SPOUSES, 96% OF THEM ARE FEMALE.
I MEAN, 18% UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
THOSE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO ASK, AND IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AND RESOURCES, SO WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE HOPEFULLY.
BUT WE NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM, OR PERSON, OR PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO ADDRESS THAT ACROSS ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND ALSO IMPORTANT FROM A HUMAN QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FOR OUR VETERANS AND CURRENT ACTIVE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THAT ONE AS WE BEGIN TO BUILD THAT UP.
I'LL BE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS WE BUILD IT.
BUT IT IS COMING OUT OF DISTRICT 6 FUNDED PROJECT.
I ALMOST FEEL LIKE I NEED TO ASK FOR MORE STUFF RIGHT NOW.
BUT AGAIN, THANKFUL TO THE STAFF AND APPRECIATIVE TO IT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO APPROVING THESE AMENDMENTS AND GETTING AFTER THE GOOD WORK OF THE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
THANKS TO THE STAFF WHO PULLED THIS ALL TOGETHER.
THANK YOU, SHERYL, FOR SENDING THIS OUT.
IN DISTRICT 10, YOU SEE ZEROS THERE.
WE'RE REALIGNING SOME MONEY THERE AS WELL.
BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS I'D LIKE TO ADD ON HERE.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PERSONALLY MAKING VISITS OUT TO THIS.
IT'S A DRAINAGE DITCH BEHIND SURF PHILLIP ROAD.
[00:50:01]
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, THERE'S A CONCRETE BASE, AND THEN THERE'S AN OVERGROWN AREA, AND THEN IT'S THE BACK OF PEOPLE'S PROPERTY LINES, OR FENCES.OVER TIME, WHAT'S HAPPENED, EROSION HAS HAPPENED IN THAT SPACE, AND WE HAVE TREES THAT ARE OVERGROWN.
WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE OF THEM FALL OVER FROM THIS STORM.
AND IT TOOK OUT SOME FENCES AND A PORTABLE BUILDING BACK THERE.
SO IT'S A REAL MESS DOWN THERE.
I'VE BEEN THERE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES LOOKING AT IT AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND THE STAFF LOOKED AT IT, AND GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $360,000 TO BASICALLY EXTEND THAT DRAINAGE AREA FROM THE END OF -- WE ACTUALLY HAD A BOND ON THE DRAINAGE AREA, FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT THIS IS TO EXTEND IT UP TO THE REST OF THE WAY, TO TAKE CARE OF THAT EROSION PROBLEM, TO TAKE OUT THE OVERGROWTH THAT'S HAPPENED THERE, AND THEN PUT RIPRAP IN THERE TO PREVENT THE EROSION FROM HAPPENING.
AND KEEPING THOSE FENCES FROM FALLING OVER, AND PROTECTING THOSE PROPERTIES UP THERE.
AND I WANTED TO -- LET'S SEE, COUNCILMAN CRUZ SHAW, WHERE DID HE GO? WELL, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP ME OUT ON THIS ONE.
BUT THIS IS FOR A HOMELESS OUTREACH PERSON.
AND WE GOT AN ESTIMATE FROM MELODY, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $60,000.
WHAT'S HAPPENING UP IN THESE MAIN CORRIDORS, ON I-35, AUSTIN HIGHWAY, AND THE 410 AND BROADWAY CORRIDORS, WE HAVE A LARGE HOMELESS POPULATION UP IN THERE.
ESPECIALLY DOWN ALONG AUSTIN HIGHWAY, AND ON 35 AND PARAMIDDAL.
A LOT OF OUR RESOURCES ARE DOWNTOWN, TAKING CARE OF THE HOMELESS PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A LARGE ENCAMPMENT PROBLEM THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIND IN OPEN SPACE UP THERE.
AND THEN, HOMELESS ISSUES, AND PANHANDLING ISSUES UP AROUND THOSE MAJOR CORRIDORS.
AND THIS IS AN ASK TO ADD ON HERE FOR -- IT WOULD BE PER YEAR, $60,000 TO PROVIDE HOMELESS OUTREACH PERSON.
AND I'M GLAD COUNCILMAN HAS REJOINED, TO FOCUS IN ON THOSE CORRIDORS THAT WE'RE HAVING SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION THERE.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN OUTGROWTH.
I HAD A TASK FORCE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER TO LOOK AT THE HOMELESS SITUATION IN DISTRICT 10.
DIANA KENNEY WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO HOST THAT, AND PULL THAT TASK FORCE TOGETHER.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF IT, TO OFFER THAT ASSISTANCE RIGHT THERE ALONG THOSE CORRIDORS, TO HELP THE HOMELESS THAT HAVE BEEN CAMPING OUT IN THAT AREA, GETTING IN THESE CORRIDORS, AND CREATING PROBLEMS FOR US IN THESE TWO DISTRICTS.
SO THOSE ARE MY TWO ASKS TO ADD TO THE LIST, THE DRAINAGE BEHIND ST. PHILLIP DRIVE, AND THE HOMELESS OUTREACH PERSON.
THE DRAINAGE FOR $360,000,000, AND HOMELESS OUTREACH PERSON FOR $60,000.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
WHERE IS THIS MONEY GOING TO COME FROM, ACCORDING TO YOUR PROJECTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT?
>> SO, I JUST TALKED ABOUT THE 3.1 MILLION.
WE ALSO HAVE 1 MILLION SET ASIDE AS CONTINGENCY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
SO REFLECTING ON YOUR EARLIER QUESTION, IF WE WANTED TO USE THAT TO FUND THESE AMENDMENTS, WE COULD DO THAT, IN COMBINATION COVER THE AMENDMENTS ON THE SHEET, AND THE 60,000 THAT WAS JUST TALKED ABOUT.
AND THEN REPLENISH THE CONTINGENCY IF AND WHEN ADDITIONAL REVENUES COME IN WITH REGARD TO AUGUST, THIS SUMMER.
IT WOULD COME FROM THE ADDITIONAL CPS REVENUE, AND OUR CONTINGENCY THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
FOR ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ON THIS LIST, LIKE THE DRAINAGE DITCH THAT WAS JUST MENTIONED, THAT'S A NEW ITEM.
WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONTINGENCY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE HAVE SOME MONEY SET ASIDE SO THAT IF ANY OF THE PROJECTS RUN INTO UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS,
[00:55:03]
UNDERGROUND CONDITIONS, WE COULD USE SOME OF THAT TO COVER THE CAPITAL PROJECT.>> COURAGE: HAVE WE NOT FOUND ANY ADDITIONAL SAVINGS WITH EXPENSES THAT WEREN'T AS HIGH IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AS THIS WAS DRAWN UP? OR INCOME THAT MAY HAVE COME IN FROM FEES OR SERVICES BEYOND WHAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING?
>> WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR REVENUE.
SO AS YOU KNOW, ON THE PROPERTY TAX, WE'RE GIVEN THE TAX ROLL IN JULY, SO THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THE PROPERTY TAX THAT IS SET BY BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
IN FACT, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DOWN.
AND NO INCREASES IN FEES, THE GENERAL FEES FOR EMS TRANSPORT, OR LIBRARY FINES.
THERE COULD BE SOME SAVINGS IN THE EXPENSE SIDE, BUT NOT ENOUGH THAT WE WOULD PUT IT ON THE LIST AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE'RE STILL WRAPPING UP A NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30.
SO WE'RE NOT ESTIMATING BEYOND WHAT WE HAD ALREADY PROJECTED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS SAVINGS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENTS.
AND WE DID INCLUDE, WHERE WE THOUGHT WE'D BE UNDERBUDGET IN OUR DEPARTMENTS, OVERALL OUR BUDGET'S ALWAYS BALANCED AND WE EXPECT TO COME IN UNDERBUDGET, BUT NOT MORE SO THAN WHAT I PRESENTED TO YOU ON AUGUST 9TH.
>> COURAGE: WHO THAT INCLUDE, LIKE, SAWS? I'M SURE THEIR WATER WOULD BE MORE THAN WHAT WE PROJECTED.
>> I GUESS I'LL ASK BEN IF HE'S -- HAVE YOU TAKEN A LOOK AT SAWS AT THIS POINT? IT'S A SMALL PART OF THE BUDGET --
>> COURAGE: BUT IF IT'S BEEN THAT DRY OF A SUMMER --
>> BEN, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND ON SAWS AT THIS TIME?
THE MOST RECENT LOOK, WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO BUDGET.
TYPICALLY IF WE'RE OFF, IT'S A SMALL REVENUE NUMBER, THEN OUR EXPENSES ARE OFF AS WELL, IN TERMS OF THE WATER WE PAY FOR.
>> SO KEEP IN MIND, WE'RE ESTIMATING NOT JUST BASED ON THE ACTUALS, BUT THEN WHAT WE PROJECT WE'LL GET FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR.
SO WE WERE ALREADY PROJECTING A HOT SUMMER.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HOTTER THAN WHAT WE EVEN PROJECTED.
BUT LIKEWISE, ON OUR EXPENSES, WE TRY TO PROJECT WHERE WE THINK OUR SAVINGS WILL BE BASED ON ACTIVITY IN EACH OF
>> SCULLEY: I WOULD SAY MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE SO CONSERVATIVE THAT WE LEAVE TOO MUCH MONEY ON THE TABLE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN PRODUCTION FOR THE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> COURAGE: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE STAFF.
THEY HAVE PROBABLY BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF THE ADDITIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS FOR THE ASTHMA OR SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT.
WHAT DOES THAT TOTAL IN ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED COME TO RIGHT NOW?
DEPENDS WHICH ASTHMA PROPOSAL YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
IF IT'S SCENARIO NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER THREE ON THE LIST.
WE CAN BALANCE THE LIST AS WE PUBLISHED IT TO YOU USING CONTINGENCY AND THE EXTRA CPS REVENUE.
>> COURAGE: YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS CONCERNED TO SEE.
BECAUSE IT LOOKED TO ME WE WERE A LITTLE LESS THAN $900,000 TO THE $2.7 MILLION HERE, WHICH WOULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $3.6 MILLION, JUST BY A ROUGH CALCULATION.
ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WITH THE CONTINGENCY FUND AND 3.1, THESE SHOULD ALL FALL WITHIN THE REALM OF BEING DOABLE WITHOUT PUTTING US IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION.
>> SCULLEY: BUT FOR THE NEW ITEMS ADDED THIS AFTERNOON.
>> COURAGE: WELL, I THOUGHT THOSE WOULD -- YEAH, I TRIED TO CALCULATE THEM IN THERE AND SEE WHAT THE STAFF IS FIGURING OUT.
>> SCULLEY: OH, YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT JUST FISCAL YEAR 2019.
>> COURAGE: AND THEN I REALIZE SOME OF THAT'S A CARRYOVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR, SO THAT MEANS WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE TO SET ASIDE SOMETHING NEXT YEAR TO COVER THOSE.
THE COUNCIL HAS AN ADOPTED TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET POLICY.
IF IT'S AN OPERATING EXPENSE WE TRY TO BUDGET IT FOR TWO YEARS.
OTHERWISE WE'RE IN DOUBLE TROUBLE NEXT YEAR WHEN WE TRY TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S WORKED QUITE WELL FOR US.
I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S 900 THOUGH, BECAUSE I WOULD TAKE, IF THIS CAPITAL PROJECT, I WOULD TAKE THAT OUT OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> COURAGE: YOU HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO COVER THAT.
>> SCULLEY: FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET, YES.
I WOULD DEDUCT THAT FROM THE 900, SO IT'S MORE LIKE 600.
I WANTED TO HAVE US ALL KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE LOOK AT WHAT
[01:00:02]
WE'VE BEEN ADDING ON AND WHAT ANYONE ELSE MAY HAVE A SUGGESTION.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
I AM IN COMPLETE SUPPORT OF THIL THE AMENDMENTS.
LET ME POINT OUT AMENDMENT 17 AND OPEN YOUR MINDS TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE THE PANHANDLING PROBLEM, WHICH HAS REACHED A LEVEL OF URGENCY IN MY DISTRICT, IN PARTICULAR AND SOME OF YOUR DISTRICTS AS WELL.
OPEN YOUR MIND TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM ISN'T THE PANHANDLERS BUT IT'S US.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING IS LOOKING INTO WHY PEOPLE PANHANDLE AND REALLY KIND OF GETTING DOWN TO THE ROOT CAUSE AND THE REASON PEOPLE PANHANDLE AT PARTICULAR INTERSECTIONS VERSUS OTHER INTERSECTIONS IS BECAUSE THEY GET MONEY AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS WHERE AT OTHERS THEY DON'T.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GIVING MONEY AREN'T ANONYMOUS STRANGERS WHO HAVE JUST CHOSEN TO DRIVE THROUGH.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS STRUGGLED WITH THE DIFFICULT DECISION.
DO I ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN OR DO I NOT ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN? DO I GIVE TO THIS PERSON OR NOT THAT PERSON.
AM I BEING SCAMMED OUT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR AN OPIOID ADDICTION? I HAVE BEEN HAVING VERY FRANK AND VULNERABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR HOAS AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOBODY WHO DISAGREES THAT WE OWN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT PANHANDLING PROBLEM.
AND THAT REALLY THE REASON WE SO OFTEN ROLL DOWN OUR WINDOWS IS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO DIRECT THAT COMPASSION.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR COMPASSION IS CREATING MORE PROBLEMS. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY INVITING PEOPLE THAT ARE QUITE POSSIBLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SUBSTANCES TO APPROACH OUR VEHICLES AND STEP INTO TRAFFIC, WHICH IS ALSO A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
WHAT THIS PROGRAM PROPOSES TO DO IS CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM IN OUR DISTRICT TO TRY OUT SOMETHING INNOVATIVE, WHICH IS PUBLIC EDUCATION AS OPPOSED TO POLICE ENFORCEMENT ARCND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW.
AS CHIEF MCMANUS HAS TOLD US, WE DON'T ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF PANHANDLING.
THAT HASN'T WORKED IN ANY CITY AND IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK HERE EITHER.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INVEST THIS MONEY IN A PILOT PROGRAM THAT COMBINES USE OF SIGNAGE, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND TECHNOLOGY.
AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN TALKING TO OUR INNOVATION DEPARTMENT.
I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH SOMETHING AND I THINK WE'LL END UP SUCCEEDING AND IF IT SUCCEEDS ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO TRY IT OUT IN YOUR DISTRICTS WHERE YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AS WELL.
AGAIN, THE EMPHASIS IS NOT TO WHO ARE DOWN AND OUT FROM, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO SURVIVE AND FEED THEMSELVES.
WHAT THE EMPHASIS HERE IS TO TAKE THAT COMPASSION THAT SAN ANTONIANS HAVE AND REDIRECT THAT COMPASSION TO OUR DELEGATE AGENCIES AND LEVERAGE AUDIO] THOSE SERVICES ARE BEING DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL SUPPORT THIS.
I'LL THROW IN MY SUPPORT FOR THE PMATCH ASTHMA PROGRAM, AS I BELIEVE THAT AT ITS CORE THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FEWER PEOPLE DIE ON OUR WATCH THAN IF WE WEREN'T HERE.
AND IF WHAT I'M HEARING IS TRUE, WHICH IS WE DO HAVE CHILDREN IN BEXAR COUNTY WHO DIE EVERY SINGLE YEAR SIMPLY BECAUSE -- AND THESE ARE PREVENTABLE DEATHE PUBLIC EDUCATION ISN'T THERE AND THAT THIS ONE PROGRAM COULD PREVENT THESE DEATHS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, FOR TEEING THAT UP FOR US, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, FOR TEEING THAT UP FOR US LAST TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
>> VIAGRAN: FINALLY, SHERYL, MARIA, JUSTINA, AND LORI.
YESTERDAY WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT COLA AND I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE BROUGHT UP ABOUT PUTTING THE STAKE IN THE GROUND, I THINK AS WE MOVE FORWARD NEXT YEAR AND LOOKING AT POSSIBLY POLICY DISCUSSIONS IN OUR SIX PLUS SIX FURTHER DOWN WE NEED TO START HAVING THAT CONVERSATION OF INCREASING THE COLA NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
I JUST WANTED TO JUMP ON THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CARING FOR THE FOLKS WITHIN OUR OWN ORGANIZATION AS MUCH AS WE LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE AND THINK OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE A LARGE EMPLOYER.
12,000 AT MY LAST COUNT, IF THAT INCLUDES POLICE AND FIRE.
>> SALDANA: AND WE DO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS EVERYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH THE LIVES OF OUR CITY RESIDENTS THAT WE SOMETIMES TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[01:05:01]
NUANCED AND TALK THROUGH THE EXAMPLE THAT COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE DISCUSSED, WHICH IS THE 1% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EVERYONE.EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF THE STEP PAY PLAN.
>> SCULLEY: 1% COLA FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, $4.4 MILLION.
THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET PLUS THEIR STEP INCREASES.
>> SALDANA: SO WE KNOW THAT NUMBER WELL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A 1% INCREASE.
AND THAT WAS DEVELOPED WITH OUR EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
SO IT COMES WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF THE EMPLOYEES WORKING TOGETHER WITH US AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT HEALTHCARE EXPENSES AND ALL OF THE TOTAL COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER ACHIEVED THE PERFECT ANSWER TO THIS BUT I KNOW THAT I THINK COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE SAID THIS YESTERDAY AND IT REMINDED ME OF A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH ONE OF MY OWN CONSTITUENTS WHO CALLS ME ON THE ISSUE OF BEING OUT OF THE GRADUATED PAID STEP PLAN, HAVING BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 30 YEARS.
ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE TALKING WITH THE SAME PERSON.
FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE CITY FOR THAT LONG MEANS THEY HAVE BEEN REWARDED GOING THROUGH THAT STEP PAY PROCESS.
BUT AT THE END OF IT WHAT THEY LOOK TO IS THE COLA THAT REALLY IS AM I GOING TO BE AT A HIGHER POSITION IN THIS YEAR, CONSIDERING THE COLA, BUT ALSO CONSIDERING THINGS THAT MAY HAVE INCREASED AROUND ME, WHETHER THAT'S THE PRICE OF A GALLON OF MILK OR PRICE OF RENT OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
IF I WENT TO THAT SAME INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE MAKING $40,000 AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WANTED AN EXTRA 1% THAT WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH AS THE 800.
WHAT'S THE DISCUSSION YOU HAVE HAD THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN PRIVY TO AROUND DECIDING THESE FOLKS GET 1%, THESE FOLKS GET 1.5%? THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT WHY IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE TO SORT OF SEGMENT GROUPS AND SAY THESE FOLKS GET 1.5% OR 2% IF THEY'VE GRADUATED FROM THE STEP PAY PLAN.
>> SCULLEY: I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE SELECTED $800 AS A ONE-TIME PAYMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE TOPPED OUT.
THAT IS THEY HAVE WORKED IN THAT VERY SAME POSITION FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS.
AND SO THERE ISN'T THE AUTOMATIC STEP INCREASE, ONLY THE COLA.
SO INSTEAD OF THE 1%, WE'RE OFFERING $800, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2%, ON AVERAGE, OF THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE TOPPED OUT WITHIN THEIR CLASSIFICATION.
SO IT'S THE EQUIVALENT, ON AVERAGE, OF ABOUT 2%.
>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, SHERYL.
AND THE ONE THING THAT COUNCILMAN PERRY BROUGHT UP I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT ONE IS THE SUPPORT OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MIGHT BE THE OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR SOME OF THESE LOCATIONS WHERE WE HAVE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
I KNOW THAT PERSON IS RON BROWN WHO WORKS AT HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND HE HAS DONE THAT KIND OF WORK FOR US AT OUR ENCAMPMENTS.
FIRST, THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO MIND IS WHO IS PAYING RON BROWN? HE PROBABLY WOULD DO IT FOR FREE BUT HE HAS THIS BODILY FUNCTION WHERE HE NEEDS TO EAT EVERY DAY.
BUT THAT'S HOW GREAT OF A PERSON RON BROWN IS.
>> SCULLEY: HE'S AN EMPLOYEE OF HAVEN FOR HOPE.
OF COURSE, WE FUND HAVEN FOR HOPE AS WELL WITHIN OUR HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET, ABOUT 7.5? $7.5 MILLION TOWARDS HAVEN FOR HOPE SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND THIS YEAR, AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN AND OTHERS, WE DID A SPECIAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS WHERE WE HAVE WORKED IN OTHER AREAS OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN AND CENTER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS ON HOMELESSNESS ISSUES TO DEAL WITH ENCAMPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> SALDANA: I LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING SOMEBODY ON CALL LIKE RON BROWN.
I HAVE CALLED HIM ON SUNDAYS AND HE HAS RESPONDED, BECAUSE I WANT TO CALL 9-1-1 ON POOR PEOPLE OR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
BUT I WOULD RATHER CALL SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF DELEGATE TOUCH.
I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE IF THAT'S THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
A LITTLE LESS BACK AND FORTH THAN I REMEMBER LAST YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND I THINK WE'LL GET OUT ON TIME TO GET TO OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WILL SAY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PORTION OF THE BUDGET, IT SEEMS TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 0.1 OF 1% OF THE BUDGET.
HOWEVER, COUNCIL-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES ARE HIGH-IMPACT PROJECTS.
SO THE DOLLARS SPENT ON THESE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS I THINK ARE VERY MEANINGFUL.
IT DOES GIVE ME A LITTLE PAUSE, THOUGH, JUST BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY.
EVERYBODY WAS KIND OF HUNKERED DOWN OVERNIGHT BECAUSE WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE STORM.
[01:10:01]
AND I REMEMBER BACK AND I KEEP BRINGING UP THIS CONVERSATION FROM 2013.THE REASON WHY THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME CHOSE TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY FUND AT ALL WAS THAT WE EXPERIENCED MEMORIAL DAY FLOODS AND WE HAD NO FUNDS TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF THE WASHOUT THAT HAPPENED ON THE RIVER WALK AND OTHER PORTIONS THAT WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO WE CHOSE TO FUND A CONTINGENCY TO HAVE LIQUIDITY IN THE EVENT ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED AGAIN.
AND RATHER THAN CUT, WE HAVE A POCKET OF RESERVE IN OPERATIONAL DOLLARS.
WE ESCAPED THIS WEEK, I THINK LARGELY UNSCATHED.
ALTHOUGH I SEE DEBRIS ON THE ROADWAYS AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORKING OVERTIME TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
WE HAD SEVERAL HIGH-WATER RESCUES.
THANK YOU TO THE GUYS AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT GOOD WORK, AND THE WOMEN AS WELL.
I HAVE PAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPENDING AND ALLOCATING EVERY SINGLE OVERAGE THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ON HERE THAT I WOULDN'T CONSIDER PRIORITIES.
AND SO I WANT TO SPEAK TO A FEW AND HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I CAN'T HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AS HOT AS IT HAS BEEN.
I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE AS FISCALLY HEALTHY AS WE HAVE BEEN, ALL TOLD.
I AM HAPPY TO SEE THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION GET ITS DAY IN THE SUN.
THEY HAVE BEEN A GROUP THAT'S BEEN WORKING ACTIVELY TO REALLY INCITE THE CONVERSATION OF EQUITY WITHIN THE ARTS COMMUNITY.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES TALKING ABOUT THE LEGACY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CLASSICAL ARTS, BUT THERE ARE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SMALLER, A LITTLE LESS FUNDED THAT HAVE EVERY BIT TO DO WITH THE IDENTITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING US THE GREAT BIG CITY THAT WE ARE.
BUT THESE ARE VERY MUCH THE REASON WHY WE CALL OURSELVES SAN ANTONIANS AS OPPOSED TO OTHER KINDS OF CITIZENS IN OTHER CITIES.
I ALSO APPRECIATE MAESTRO CENTER.
THEY HAVE BEEN AFTER US FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THE WORK THEY DO IN THE INCUBATOR IS HAVING A GREAT IMPACT TO SMALL BUSINESSES AROUND OUR CITY.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN SHAW, ABOUT THE DISTRICT 2 VACANT LOT PROGRAM.
I DIDN'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT IT BUT HIS TESTIMONY ABOUT IT TODAY AND OTHER TIMES TELLS ME IT'S EXACTLY IN THE POCKET OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH REGARD TO HOUSING COMPREHENSIVELY.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OUTCOMES OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
I DO AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT ON COLA AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE COMING YEAR.
I DON'T WANT IT TO GET LOST, THOUGH, THAT THIS COUNCIL, PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE MADE THAT A PRIORITY.
THE STAFF HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY.
WE HAVE LED THE WAY IN THIS CITY.
OTHER AGENCIES, OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES ARE NOW FOLLOWING US, THAT WE DID LIFT THE LIVING WAGE.
WE ARE NOW $15 AN HOUR THIS YEAR.
IT WAS NOT POLITICALLY WITHOUT CONTROVERSY, BUT WE DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND WE'RE THERE THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO PUSH FORWARD ON NET GAINS FOR THE PAYCHECKS OF OUR EMPLOYEES, EVEN THROUGH TOUGH TIMES ECONOMICALLY.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE CONTINUE THAT EFFORT AND I WANT TO SEE US DO MORE IN TERMS ON THE POLICY SIDE AND HOW WE APPROACH COST OF LIVING, BECAUSE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP MUCH MORE DRAMATICALLY THAN WE HAD FORESEEN BEFORE.
THIS IS A HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAM.
AND ONE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF THIS YEAR IS THAT WE GOT A SILVER MEDAL.
SHE DID STEAL THE SILVER MEDAL, BUT I HAVE THE REAL ONE, FROM I THINK CITY LEAGUE.
THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION? ANYWAY, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF.
I AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN PELAEZ SAID THAT AT THE END OF IT ALL, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? ALLOCATING DOLLARS FOR SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WHAT FOR IF WE CAN'T IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS? AND THIS IS A HIGH-IMPACT PROGRAM.
I'M GLAD TO SEE IT ON THE LIST.
I WANT TO SEE US GO THE DISTANCE SO LET'S TRY TO MAKE OPTION ONE, WHICH GETS THE WHOLE POPULATION, WHICH WAS INTENDED FROM THE PILOT.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPHASIZING MILITARY SPOUSE AND MILITARY EMPLOYMENT IN GENERAL IN THE CITY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD THROUGH A NUMBER OF AGENCIES TO DO, S.A. WORKS, GENERAL AYALA AND YOUR TEAM, PUTTING THEIR FULL WEIGHT BEHIND THAT.
IT IS A CITY-WIDE PRIORITY AND
[01:15:01]
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD SHORT A PARK IN YOUR DISTRICT JUST TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.SO I WOULD RECOMMEND US FINDING THAT CAPACITY THROUGH THE CONTINGENCY OR ELSEWHERE SO YOU CAN RETAIN THE FULL FUNDING OF THE PARK IN DISTRICT 6.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE DAIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT A VERY HEALTHY BUDGET.
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO BE THE MOST FISCALLY STRONG -- THE STRONGEST FISCALLY-MANAGED CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE AROUND THIS DAIS AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FROM THE $15 AN HOUR EMPLOYEE TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS BUDGET DONE NEXT WEEK.
AND WITH THAT, THAT'S THE END OF
[Executive Session]
OUR DISCUSSION.THE TIME IS NOW 3:32 P.M. ON THIS 5TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2018.
PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY CHAPTER 551 IN THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE, OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072, REAL PROPERTY.
LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE LAWSUIT FILED BY THE SECURE SAN ANTONIOS FUTURE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 624 AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.
AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REPORT CONCERNING THE FIRE ON MAY 18, 2017 PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS AND CITIZENS TO BE HEARD SESSION.
CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION AND NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
BEFORE WE CONVENE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR A BRIEF POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE HERE AND MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT MEMBERS TODAY, THE SCOUTS FROM TROOP 429 AND THEIR SCOUT MASTER BRAD TROUBLER ARE HERE.
I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
THESE YOUNG MEN ARE FROM MY DISTRICT AND THEY'VE COME DOWN TO LEARN ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AND HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS, AND WE ARE REAL PLEASED TO HAVE THEM HERE WITH US.
WE WANT TO THANK THEM VERY MUCH FOR ATTENDING.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK SERGEANT GILLIAN FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I HOPE YOU REALLY ENJOYED YOUR TIME HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, AND WELCOME TO CITY
[2. Second Public Hearing on the City’s 2018 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for the FY 2019 Proposed Budget. [Sheryl Sculley, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management & Budget]]
COUNCIL.ALL RIGHT, I'LL CALL NOW OUR CITY CLERK TO READ THE CAPTION FOR THE FIRST HEARING.
>> THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET, AND ITEM NO. 3 IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR DELEGATE AGENCIES FUNDED THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND FISCAL YEAR 2020 CONSOLIDATED FUNDING PROCESS FOR HUMAN AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
MARIA, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TODAY IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THE TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET IS $2.8 BILLION AND THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST THE 9TH.
THE BUDGET IS COMPRISED OF OUR GENERAL FUND AT 1.26 BILLION, RESTRICTED FUNDS, 889 MILLION, AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET AT $690 MILLION.
THE BUDGET REFLECTS CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES INCLUDING STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND TRANSPORTATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FILLING POLICE VACANCIES, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND PARKS AND LIBRARIES.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE AN INCREASE TO THE CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE.
THE RATE TODAY IS 55.82 CENTS PER 100 IN VALUE AND IF REMAINS THE SAME FOR 2019 AT 55.827 CENTS PER $100 IN VALUATION.
BRIEFLY, THE PROPERTY TAX THAT OUR RESIDENTS PAY, 20% OF THAT REVENUE GOES TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH 50%
[01:20:02]
GOING TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, K-12, 30% TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OTHER TAXING AUTHORITIES, AND AGAIN, THE CITY RECEIVING ONLY 20% OF THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.THE CITY WILL FORGO IN 2019, $52 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO ALMOST 100,000 SENIORS AND DISABLED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND FROZEN CITY TAX PAYMENTS.
ABOUT 33,000 OF OUR SENIORS AND DISABLED HOMEOWNERS PAY ZERO PROPERTY TAXES TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO TODAY IS THE SECOND REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND THE PROPERTY TAX RATE, AND CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET FOR ADOPTION NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MARIA.
THE SECOND OF TWO COMBINED FY 2019 BUDGET AND 2018 TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS IS HEREBY OPENED.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS MAY DO SO.
HOWEVER, COMMENTS MUST BE LIMITED TO MATTERS ABOUT THE BUDGET OR THE TAX RATE.
IF THE SPEAKER STARTS DISCUSSING ANY OTHER SUBJECT OR TOPIC THEY WILL BE INTERRUPTED AND ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
WE HAVE THREE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL CALL THE FIRST NAME, MARK PEREZ.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED WITH TODAY'S BUDGET, AND WE'RE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY WITH POLICE AND FIRE? WE GOT DPS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB, PROBABLY DOING 75% OF THE REST HERE IN OUR CITY, CLEANING UP OUR STREETS, AND I'M NOT TOO SURE WHY YOU CONTINUE TO PULL TOWARDS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, I CAUGHT A POLICE OFFICER, WHAT WAS HIS NAME, SURATOS? HE HUNG UP ON ME AND SAID DON'T CALL ANYMORE.
TELLING HIM ABOUT CRIME AND HE HANGS UP ON ME.
ESPECIALLY ALL THE CITY OFFICERS HERE TODAY, TELLING ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WHY HASN'T ANYBODY TAKEN A LOOK? WHERE IS OUR MONEY GOING? YOU ALL WANT TO CONTINUE TO FUND OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THEY'RE BEING INSUFFICIENT ON LOOKING ON THE ISSUES OF TODAY? OF PUBLIC SAFETY? WHICH MANY OF Y'ALL SIT ON THESE COMMITTEES, AND LIKE I SAID, Y'ALL CONTINUE TO GO WITH THESE BUDGET PEOPLE.
I GUARANTEE YOU, IF THEY'RE REALLY A CITY EMPLOYEE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, WHAT IS MR. PEREZ SAYING? WHAT IS MR. PEREZ TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO HONOR FIRE CHIEF HOOD WHEN MANY PEOPLE ARE SLEEPING AT NIGHT? WHY DO WE NEED SO MUCH ARMED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? WE GOT OVER 500 EMPLOYEES WORKING ON ONE GIVEN NIGHT, ON ONE GIVEN NIGHT WE GOT OVER 500 FIRE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST A WASTE OF OUR SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE OF THE CITY -- IF THE CITY WAS TO START WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON ENSURING OUR PROPERTIES ARE SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN REACHING OUT TO YOU FOR.
MANY ARE LACKING CITY LICENSING, FIRE PROTECTION.
YOU NAME IT, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ASLEEP OUT THERE.
Y'ALL CONTINUE TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND, ROD SANCHEZ, AND I TELL YOU, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY THAT Y'ALL ARE SPENDING AT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE ADDRESSES I'VE BEEN TALKING TO Y'ALL ABOUT.
AND HOW IS THAT LETTING THAT HAPPEN? IN THE [INDISCERNIBLE] CLIMATE YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THE DEPARTMENT YOU'VE CREATED.
THEY'VE BEEN INEFFECTIVE, SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO HIRE ALL THESE DIRECTORS AT THE CITY DEPARTMENT FOR A WASTE.
CARRY, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR SOLID WASTE.
OUR CITY ATTORNEY RIGHT HERE SITTING DOWN, WHAT IS HE DOING FILLING THE [INDISCERNIBLE], NOT DOING ANYTHING SUFFICIENT FOR HIS OFFICE.
WHERE IS THE CITY AUDITOR? THEY'RE HIRING INDIVIDUALS TO COME ON TAXPAYER DIME AND DO LEGAL WORK FOR THE CITY WHEN THIS GENTLEMAN IS SITTING DOWN AND TEXTING OR PLAYING GAMES OR SOMETHING.
BUT IT'S JUST A WASTE ON OUR CITY ATTORNEY, RIGHT HERE, MR. SEGOVIA.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, AND IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING LOST IN THE GENERAL FUND YOU'D BE SURPRISED, AND YOU, MR. SHAW, YOU SAT ON THE ZONING COMMISSION.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT PROPERTY WAS ABLE TO GET FREE? YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ.
TERESA BER LANKA FOLLOWED BY JAMES SKEFANI.
>> IF I'M GOING TO -- WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS IN -- IS -- IF IT'S INAPPROPRIATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR MEETING YOU CAN STOP ME, BUT I WANTED TO
[01:25:03]
ADDRESS COUNCILMAN PERRY AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO.COUNCILMAN PERRY SPOKE ABOUT FUNDS FOR SOME FLOODING OVER ON THE NORTHEAST PART OF TOWN IN HIS DISTRICT.
WE HAVE BEEN WAITING IN SKYLINE ESTATES ON AARON FOR A RESPONSE TO THE FLOODING THAT WE HAVE COMING FROM BEHIND OUR HOUSES ALL THE KAY FROM ERLANE TO NACOGDOCHES ROAD.
IT IS COMPLETELY DETERIORATING MY HOUSE.
EVERY TIME IT RAINS LIKE IT RAINED LAST NIGHT MY HOUSE SINKS SOME MORE, MY SHEETROCK ON MY CEILING CRACKS.
THERE ARE -- ALL THE CONCRETE AROUND THE HOUSE HAS BECOME UNATTACHED TO THE HOUSE.
I SLIPPED AND FELL ON ONE OF IT THE OTHER NIGHT AND I BROKE A RIB.
AND THAT WASN'T -- I WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
EVERYBODY ON AARON, AND MR. PERRY -- HE'S BEEN ADDRESSED.
I'VE TAKEN PEOPLE OUT TO GO -- STORM WATER HAS BEEN OUT THERE, AND MR. FRISBEE'S ASSISTANT WAS OUT TO GO LOOK AT THE FLOODING.
IT'S -- IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION WE HAVE THERE, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, NOT -- ALMOST PARK TERRACE, MR. TREVINO, BECAUSE THE EASEMENT WAS NOT CLEANED, IT ALTERED THE DRAINAGE ON THE LAVERA SIDE AND THE ALMONTE SIDE, AND EVERYBODY IS FLOODING THERE, AND THE WHOLE BLOCK NEEDS TO BE FIXED THERE AS WELL, AND THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED TO MR. TR.
AND SO FAR I SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE THAT'S REALLY INTERESTED IN GETTING IT FIXED.
MY HOUSES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GETTING THE WORST END OF IT, IN BOTH PLACES.
I HAVE COME TO PLEA WITH YOU TO -- IF YOU NEED TO GO DO MORE OF A STUDY, I -- I HAD TO REQUEST THAT THE COURTS ORDER THE BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO GO AND DO A REVIEW SO THEY COULD SEE THE FLOODING, THE EROSION AND THE PROPERTY TO ALL THE DAMAGE.
[SIC] AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON AARON.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YOU STILL HAVE SOME TIME LEFT, MS. BERLANGA.
JAMES SKLEFANI? JAMES SKLEFANI? OKAY.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2018 ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M., AND WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 105 MAIN PLAZA.
HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE, THE SECOND COMBINED FY 2019 BUDGET AND 2018 TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING
[3. Second Public Hearing for Delegate Agencies funded through the FY 2019 and FY 2020 Consolidated Funding Process for Human and Workforce Development Services. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Melody Woosley, Director, Human Services]]
IS HEREBY CLOSED.THE SECOND OF TWO DELEGATE AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS IS HEREBY OPENED.
THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO INVITE DELEGATE AGENCIES THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE CONSOLIDATED HUMAN AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES RFP TO COMMENT ON THE RFP IN THEIR PROPOSALS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED FOR THIS HEARING AGENCIES WITH NAMES BEGINNING WITH LETTERS K THROUGH Z THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WILL BE CALLED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
THE AGENCIES' REPRESENTATIVES MUST KEEP TO MAXIMUM TIME ALLOTTED, TWO MINUTES FOR ONE PROPOSAL AND FOUR MINUTES IF THE AGENCIES HAS SUBMITTED TWO PROPOSALS OR MORE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR FROM NONPROFIT AGENCIES REGARDING THE APPLICATIONS THEY SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
THESE AGENCIES INCLUDE BOTH AGENCIES WHO ARE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMBINED PROCESS.
IT INVOLVES BOTH THE HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND TAKES PLACE EVERY TWO YEARS.
TODAY IS ONE OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR APPLICANTS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL DIRECTLY.
FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET, AND YOU DO HAVE A SHEET AT YOUR SEAT THAT SHOWS THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY AGENCIES FOR YOUR REFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.
AND SO AS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS, 56 AGENCIES WITH 83 PROGRAMS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THESE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER THE 13TH WITH THE BUDGET ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET.
AND SO WE DO HAVE 18 AGENCIES WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE WORK
[01:30:01]
THEY DO IN IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE READY TO GET STARTED IF YOU ALL ARE.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MELODY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO I'LL CALL IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER -- I'LL CALL THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK AND I'LL ALSO CALL THE ONE TO BE READY IMMEDIATELY AFTER.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH LITERACY SAN ANTONIO, FOLLOWED BY MEALS ON WHEELS SAN ANTONIO.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.
I WANT TO REPRESENT LITERACY SAN ANTONIO IN OUR PROGRAM SAREADS.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING THAT RESEARCHERS AGREE THAT 90 TO 95% OF CHILDREN WILL LEARN TO READ WITH PROPER INSTRUCTION, AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS 72% OF CHILDREN IN FOURTH GRADE DO NOT READ ON GRADE LEVEL.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE STATISTICS, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IN 2000 THE NATIONAL READING PANEL IDENTIFIED FIVE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS FOR READING -- EFFECTIVE READING INSTRUCTION, AND IN THIS LAST YEAR THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WE PILOTED WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD CHANGE READING OUTCOMES IN ONE SCHOOL BY CHANGING CORE READING INSTRUCTION.
THE RESULTS WERE PHENOMENAL, AND BEGINNING THIS YEAR, ACTUALLY TODAY, WE WILL START IN 11 SCHOOLS.
THIS WILL IMPACT IN JUST ONE DISTRICT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, BECAUSE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE ABILITY OF THESE TEACHERS HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT OVER THE YEARS, AND WE DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT 24 TO 36 MONTHS WE WILL SEE 90 OR MORE PERPS OF OUR CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT READING EFFICIENTLY.
I WANT TO COME AND GIVE VOICE TO IT.
I THINK OUR MODEL IS INEXPENSIVE, AND IT CAN REPLICATE EASILY AND QUICKLY TO OTHER DISTRICTS AND OTHER CITIES.
IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE TUTORING AND BOOKS THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY, BUT THIS IS THE BREAKTHROUGH THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY.
MEALS ON WHEELS SAN ANTONIO, FOLLOWED BY PRESA COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M VINCENT FERRIS, MEALS ON WHEELS SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION OF OUR FUNDING REQUEST FOR OUR FRIENDLY VISITORS PROGRAM.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE WONDERFUL MULTI-PURPOSE SENIOR CENTERS AND THE EXCELLENT SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THEM ACROSS OUR CITY.
AS YOU KNOW, MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICES ARE DIRECTED TOWARD OUR ELDERS WHO CAN NO LONGER ATTEND THE SENIOR CENTERS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY LEAVING THEIR HOMES.
WE GO INTO THESE SENIORS' HOMES.
CURRENT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ONE IN FOUR OF OUR SENIORS LIVE ALONE.
IT ALSO TELLS US THAT ONE IN FIVE ARE LONELY.
AND THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF LONELINESS ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF SMOKING 15 CIGARETTES A DAY.
THAT IS WHY MEALS ON WHEELS IS HERE, TO FOCUS NOT JUST ON THE MUCH NEEDED NUTRITION BUT THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR HOMEBOUND ELDERS AS WELL.
THROUGH FRIENDLY VISITORS WE ENGAGE NOT ONLY ACTIVE, ABLE-BODIED SENIORS AS VOLUNTEERS, BUT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY SERVING THE ELDERS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE MINOR HELP AROUND THE HOME, LIVELY CONVERSATION, GAMES, LETTER WRITING AND ASSISTANCE WITH SHORT WALKS AROUND THE YARD, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
THESE INTERACTIONS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THESE EFFORTS WITH OUR FRIENDLY VISITORS PROGRAM LETS ALL OF OUR ELDERS KNOW THAT WE ALL CARE.
PRESA COMMUNITY CENTER? FOLLOWED BY PROJECT MEND.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE SMITH.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AT PRESA COMMUNITY CENTER.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR SKILLS PROSECUTING WHICH IS OUR SOUTH SIDE KIDS INVOLVED IN LEARNING LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
WE SERVE KIDS IN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM AND SUMMER PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE THREE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON, READING BEING NUMBER ONE.
WE KNOW THAT IF KIDS ARE NOT READING BY THIRD GRADE LEVEL, IT IMPACTS THEIR SUCCESS, THEIR -- KIDS ARE LEARNING TO READ AT THIRD GRADE.
[01:35:02]
AFTER THIRD GRADE, SO IT'S SO CRUCIAL.SO ALL OF OUR KIDS THAT COME IN OUR PROGRAM, WE TEST THEM TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR READING LEVEL, FROM THIRD GRADE.
THOSE THAT ARE BELOW READING LEVEL, WE'VE INTEGRATED SOMETHING NEW WHERE WE'RE USING OLDER STUDENTS TO MENTOR OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS.
70% OF KIDS THAT WERE READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL INCREASED BY ONE GRADE.
ONE YOUNG LADY INCREASED BY TWO LEVELS.
NOT ONLY DOES THAT IMPACT THE CHILDREN THAT ARE READING, IT ALSO IMPACTS THE OLDER STUDENTS WHO ARE MENTORING.
IT'S ABOUT GETTING OUTSIDE THEMSELVES.
IT'S INTEGRATING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, WHICH IS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF OUR PROGRAM.
READING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND HEALTHY LIVING.
SO SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL TEACHES KIDS SELF-AWARENESS.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT KIDS THAT PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL ACADEMICALLY AND PERSONALLY, SO WE ARE SPECIFIC INTERACTIVITIES.
IT'S NOT JUST ACTIVITY FOR THE SAKE OF IT.
IT IS INTENTIONAL AND ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP A SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-MANAGEMENT, A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE THAT WE HAVE ALSO IS FOR THOSE KIDS WHO ARE REALLY SHY AND STRUGGLE TO READ, WE HAVE A THERAPY DOG THAT COMES IN, AND SO FOR THOSE KIDDOS THEY CAN PLOP DOWN ON A BLANKET WITH FOXY THE THERAPY DOG AND READ AND HAVE A PRACTICE TO PRACTICE THEIR READING SKILLS AND THOSE KIDS THAT DO THAT, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR KIDS ON THE SOUTH SIDE BECOME BETTER CITIZENS TOO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
PROJECT MEND? FOLLOWED BY RESPITE CARE OF SAN ANTONIO.
MY NAME IS KATHY VALDEZ, I'M THE CEO FOR PROJECT MEND.
THANK YOU FIRST OF ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PROJECT MEND AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO SAN ANTONIO.
PROJECT MEND HAS BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CITY SUPPORT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ALLOWING US TO SERVE SENIORS, VETERANS, CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH REFURBISHED AND OTHER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES.
AS THE SENIOR POPULATION CONTINUES TO GROW WE SEE THE NEED FOR OUR SERVICES GROW AS WELL.
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT EQUIPMENT SUCH AS WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, SCOOTERS AND MUCH MORE, TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES AND ILLNESS WHO ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN THESE ITEMS ON THEIR OWN.
OUR SERVICES ARE UNIQUE TO SAN ANTONIO, AND TEXAS BECAUSE NO ONE -- NO ONE ELSE DOES WHAT WE DO.
IN FACT, WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST MEDICAL ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION.
WE HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THE VALUE OF OUR SERVICES TO CITY RESIDENTS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DENISE BENNETT.
I'M THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT PROJECT MEND, AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING FOR YEARS, BUT TO ENGAGE IN ACTUALLY PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES AND EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS AT THE SENIOR CENTERS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AS WELL AS THE NUTRITION SITES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO.
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES THAT POSSIBLE.
FOLLOWED BY RESTORE EDUCATION.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I SERVICE THE CEO FOR RESPITE CARE OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WE HAVE TWO PROPOSALS UP FOR FUNDING.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU FIRST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR RESPITE CARE DEVELOPMENTAL DAYCARE CENTER.
RESPITE CARE, LIKE MANY DEVELOPMENTAL DAY-CARE CENTERS, OFFERS KINDER-READINESS, CURRICULUM, SO CHILDREN ARE PREPARED WITH MOTOR SKILLS, MATH, READING, YOU KNOW, SELF-CARE-TYPE MODELS.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT RESPITE CARE IS WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY, IF NOT THE ONLY, CHILD CARE CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO THAT IS DEDICATED TO SERVING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND MEDICALLY COMPLEX CONDITIONS.
AND A QUICK EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WE RECENTLY HAD A CHILD REFERRED TO US FROM ANOTHER CENTER.
SHE DID HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.
BUT SHE ALSO HAD SOME DEFORMITIES WITH HER LEGS.
AS A RESULT OF THE SURGERY SHE WAS PUT IN A BODY CAST FROM THE WAIST DOWN.
HER CENTER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO COULDN'T CARE FOR HER.
THEY SENT HER TO RESPITE CARE.
WE HAVE A FULL-TIME NURSE ON STAFF.
WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE A CARE PLAN SO THAT WE COULD MEET HER NEEDS, AND THAT'S JUST THE -- THE ROLE THAT RESPITE CARE DEVELOPMENTAL DAY CARE PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE -- THE REAL VALUE, I THINK, WITH THE WORK THAT WE DO IS BEING ABLE TO OFFER THAT RESPITE ESPECIALLY THEIR CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEIR HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS, THEY ARE -- MANY TIMES HAVE TO REDUCE -- ONE FAMILY MEMBER HAS TO STAY HOME WITH THE
[01:40:02]
CHILD SO THAT RAISES FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.SOMETIMES SCHOOL GETS POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
SO WE PROVIDE THESE FAMILIES -- WHAT WE PROVIDE IS TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO TAKE THEIR CHILD WITH STAFF, THAT ARE TRAINED, CARE FOR THEIR NEEDS, HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY GET GO AHEAD THE MEDICAL SUPPORT THEY NEED AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEM PREPARED IN A CURRICULUM THAT IS COMPARABLE TO ANYWHERE ELSE.
THE CENTER IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON INCLUSION, SO WE HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AS WELL AS CHILDREN THAT ARE TYPICAL.
YOU KNOW, THEY BOTH LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
THE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS STRIVING TO BE LIKE THEIR PEERS.
THEY SERVE AS THE ROLE MODELS.
CHILDREN TEND TO BE A LOT MORE COMPASSIONATE.
THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND EXPERIENCE THEY RECEIVE BY WORKING WITH CHILDREN THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS LIKE THEMSELVES.
OUR OTHER PROGRAM I'LL TALK ABOUT REAL QUICKLY IS OUR RESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY SHELTER.
THIS IS WHERE WE CARE FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS -- BY THE STATE FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
MANY OF THE CHILDREN THAT COME INTO OUR FACILITY HAVE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.
QUICK STORY HERE IS WE'VE GOT RECENTLY -- I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CORPUS, A CHILD WHO HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM HER HOME BECAUSE OF MEDICAL NEGLECT.
HER CASEWORKER NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO -- SHE NEEDED HEART SURGERY.
CHRISTUS AGREED TO DO THE HEART SURGERY.
THEY NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO PLACE HER UNTIL THE HEART SURGERY TOOK PLACE.
THERE WEREN'T ANY OTHER SHELTERS THAT WERE READY OR WILLING TO TAKE HER.
WE OFFER THE MEDICAL SUPPORT WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE A CARE PLAN WITH CHRISTUS, WITH THE NURSES THAT WE HAVE ON-SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD CARE FOR HER APPROPRIATELY.
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE HEART SURGERY.
SHE WAS SIX MONTHS LATER ABLE TO START KINDERGARTEN WITH THE REST OF THE KINDERGARTENERS AND YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL SHE HAD HEART SURGERY.
THE UPSIDE IS SHE'S ABLE TO GET REUNITED WITH HER GRANDPARENTS.
WE ARE THE ONLY ONES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE DOING THE WORK WE DO.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP FAMILIES AND TO SUPPORT THEM SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BECOME STRONGER, WE PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RESTORE EDUCATION? FOLLOWED BY SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RESTORE EDUCATION.
ON BEHALF OF MY BOARD CHAIR, CINDY WHITEHEAD, STAFF VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS FOR EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY FOR AT-RISK YOUTH AND ADULTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT BUT I'D LIKE YOU TO HEAR FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT YOUR SUPPORT COULD MA MAKE.
>> MY NAME IS LYDIA AND I AM A FORMER STUDENT AT RESTORE EDUCATION.
I HAD MY SON AT A VERY YOUNG AGE WHICH FORCED ME TO GROW UP REALLY FAST.
AS SOON AS I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL I ENROLLED INTO COLLEGE AND STARTED MY FIRST JOB WORKING AT A BANK, BUT I LEFT COLLEGE BEFORE GRADUATING BECAUSE I FELT LIKE MY CAREER WAS TAKING OFF.
TEN YEARS LATER I FOUND MYSELF STUCK IN A JOB WITH NO POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH AND WHEN I TRIED STRETCHING FOR A NEW JOB NOBODY WOULD HIRE ME.
BECAUSE I HAD NO COLLEGE DEGREE.
SO I MADE THE DECISION TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER BEING OUT FOR TEN YEARS.
I WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED AND ALONE.
NOBODY IN MY FAMILY HAD EARNED A COLLEGE DEGREE, SO I HAD NOBODY TO HELP ME, BUT I TOOK THE INITIAL STEP.
WHEN I WALKED INTO RESTORE EDUCATION I WAS AMAZED AT HOW WELCOMING THEY WERE.
I KNEW I WAS NOT CLOSE TO BEING READY FOR MY ENTRANCE EXAMS. I HADN'T WRITTEN AN ESSAY OR SEEN MATH PROBLEMS IN TEN YEARS.
BUT WITH RESTORE EDUCATION'S HELP WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I WAS COLLEGE READY.
I EARNED MY ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE AND COMPLETED MY BACHELOR AT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO THIS SUMMER.
WE ALL WANT BETTER FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR FAMILY.
THAT'S WHY PLACES LIKE RESTORE EDUCATION ARE IMPORTANT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
NOW MY SON IS A STUDENT AT RESTORE EDUCATION.
MY SON STRUGGLED THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND HE FELL OFF TRACK.
HE NEEDED GUIDANCE AND DECISIONS AND RESTORE EDUCATION HAS GIVEN HIM THAT SECOND CHANCE TO EARN HIS GED.
AS YOU CAN SEE THIS PROGRAM HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN MY FAMILY AND I'M EXCITED FOR ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES THAT THEY COULD REACH THIS YEAR WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION? FOLLOWED BY THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I'M CYNTHIA NELSON, I'M THE CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO AIDS FOUNDATION, AND THIS IS KEN SLAVIN, OUR VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF OUR EFFORTS TO REACH THE GOAL OF 100% NEAR
[01:45:02]
HOMELESS OR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED WITH HIV WHO WILL BE PLACED INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.ACCORDING TO EXPERTS AT A BEXAR COUNTY SURVEY THAT WAS DONE IN JANUARY 2010, TO PREVENT ONE NEW CASE OF HIV SAVES $300,000 IN LIFETIME MEDICAL COSTS.
WITHOUT STABLE HOUSING PEOPLE CYCLE IN AND OUT OF EMERGENCY ROOMS. THEY MAY GO TO JAIL.
THEY MAY BE IN POOR HEALTH HIGH PUBLIC COSTS WHICH INCREASES MONEY THAT THE TAXPAYERS PAY.
FOR MANY YEARS SAFE PROVIDED A HOSPICE AND A SPECIAL NURSING UNIT, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO HAD HIV OR WERE DIAGNOSED WITH AIDS, THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED IN -- PEOPLE WOULDN'T TAKE THEM IN THEIR HOSPITALS OR IN HOSPICES.
SO WE PROVIDED TEMPORARY CARE TO HELP THEM TO END OF LIFE OR TO HELP THEM REGAIN HEALTH.
SO AFTER A SERIES OF -- THE DIAGNOSIS HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE ADVENT OF ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY, AND SO AFTER THAT WE SAW THAT PEOPLE WERE BECOMING HEALTHIER, WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED WAS HOUSING.
AND SO WE -- DURING A 2017 BEXAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO PIT COUNT, 63 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING HIV/AIDS, AND THAT'S AN 80% INCREASE FROM THE 2015 PIT COUNT.
SO HOMELESSNESS ITSELF IS A FACTOR FOR HIV, AND HAVING A DIAGNOSIS OF HIV INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING HOMELESS DUE TO A LACK OF WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE HIV NEGATIVE HOMELESSNESS IS A RISK FACTOR FOR INCREASED RISKY BEHAVIOR, INCREASED INJECTION DRUG USE, INCREASED HIGH RISK SEX, MANY LONG-TERM HIV/AIDS SURVIVORS WHO HAVE MULTIPLE COMORBIDITIES MAY HAVE A RENT BURDEN SO THEY NEED HELP WITH HOUSING.
SO WE REQUEST FUNDING FOR OUR TRANSITIONAL HOME WHICH HAS 20 BEDS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS, THE ONLY ADULT -- ACCEPTING TRANSGENDER IN THE CITY, AS WELL AS TENANT-BASED HOUSING, WHICH WE SERVE ABOUT 80 INDIVIDUALS FOR THAT, FOR 30 MONTHS OF RENT.
THAT WAY THEY CAN GET ON THEIR FEET AND START -- HELP THEM BUDGET AND SAVE MONEY AND THEY CAN LEARN -- SO THEY CAN GO ON TO HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS OUR HOT MEAL PROGRAM.
WE SERVE FOR HIV POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS.
WE SERVE THREE HOT MEALS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY? FOLLOWED BY THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PROUD TO SERVE OVER 26,000 FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, OVER 65,000 INDIVIDUALS.
WE NOT ONLY HOUSE PEOPLE, WE PROVIDE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING ON FAMILY STABILITY, EDUCATION, TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS.
TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING FOR A MAJOR INITIATIVE THAT'S A PRETTY BAD PROBLEM AMONGST HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENTS.
IN SOME POCKETS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, IN THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE'RE SEEING ABOUT -- SOME OF OUR -- 40% OF OUR STUDENTS BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENT, AND SO WE ALL KNOW SORT OF THE CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL.
MANY OF THESE KIDS WILL END UP PROBABLY DOWN THE ROAD IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
MANY OF THEM MAY GROW UP TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF FOLKS WHO ARE SEEKING HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND SO WE'RE HERE TO TALK AND ADVOCATE ABOUT FUNDING FOR THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SHAY JOHNSON, WHO IS THE ALASAN RESIDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS SHAY AND I'M A MOTHER AND A CURRENT RESIDENT OF ALASAN APACHE COURTS, LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE.
I AM HERE AS TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES FACED BY CHILDREN R REAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND WHY THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE FUNDED.
IN SCHOOL YEAR 2016 AND 2017 OVER 2200 SAHA STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN 13 LANIER HIGH SCHOOL FEEDER SCHOOLS AND OVER 44% OF THESE STUDENTS WERE CHRONICALLY ABSENT.
SAHA TEENAGE PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE CHRONIC ABSENCE OF CHILDREN RESIDING IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING, THE FUNDS BEING REQUIRED ARE TO HIRE TWO TEENAGE COORDINATOR TO COORDINATE THE FOLLOWING
[01:50:02]
COLUMNS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WITH THE HELP OF SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.WORK WITH JUDGE BULE TO HAVE THEIR CASEWORKERS TO COME AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS CHILDREN ARE ABSENT.
WORKSHOPS THAT UNDERSTAND HOW TO TEACH THE STUDENTS PORTABLE, TO STEECH PARENTS HOW TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE, IDENTIFYING RESOURCES FOR PARENTS TO HELP PARENTS, SECURE RESOURCES INCLUDING SCHOOL UNIFORMS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION.
, DEVELOP ATTENDANCE TEAMS MADE UP OF RESIDENTS, SCHOOL STAFF AND SAHA STAFF TO TRACK ATTENDANCE AND INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF CHRONIC ABSENCE FOR FAMILIES.
SO AGAIN, I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER FUNDING THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY ATTENDANCE PROGRAM BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EDUCATED AND MOVE ON TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN OUR SOCIETY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES? FOLLOWED BY SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES.
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DR. KITTY BRITSKI, I'M THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICE SERVICES.I'M HERE WITH THE REAL WORKER BEE, THE GATEWAY TO FACILITIES PROGRAM AND OUR PROGRAM UNDER THE GATEWAYS STABILITY PROGRAM SERVES PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND DISABLED.
WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES, AND I DO WANT TO ADD THAT HALF OF MY STAFF HAVE DISABILITIES SO WE BELIEVE IN PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK THAT REALLY WANT TO WORK.
WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE OUR FUNDING THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, AND IT'S RECOMMENDED AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BY CONNECTING WITH OTHER RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE PARTNER WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE.
WE PARTNER WITH MANY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, AND WE'RE VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT CONNECTION.
ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE OTHER CONTRACTS IN THE BUILDING, AND SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS LEVERAGE EVEN FURTHER.
WE TRY TO CONNECT OUR HOMELESS AND DISABLED CITIZENS WITH RESOURCES IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GOING BACK TO WORK WITHOUT LOSING, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY HAVE DISABILITY, WITHOUT LOSING THAT IMPORTANT PAYCHECK AND STILL BE ABLE TO EARN MONEY, AND THEN ALSO CONNECT THEM WITH AN INDEPENDENT LIVING PLAN THAT IS VERY UNIQUE AND HELP THEM WITH SUCCESS IN LIFE.
WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE PAST SUPPORT.
WE APPRECIATE IT, AND APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION AND BEING HERE.
SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES? FOLLOWED BY SETON HOME.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS THAT REGARDO WILLIAMS. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SAM MINISTRIES AND TONIGHT SAM MINISTRIES RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR ITS OUTREACH ON THE STREETS, RAPID REHOUSING PROJECT, WHICH WILL ASSIST IN ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THIS PROJECT WILL ASSIST 45 HOUSEHOLDS, APPROXIMATELY 75 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS, OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, 75% WILL OBTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING AND 95% OF THOSE WILL MAINTAIN HOUSING FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS.
SAM MINISTRIES IS ACTUALLY HAVING ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, AND WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING US FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT TIME WHEN WE STARTED OUT AS A HOMELESS SHELTER, AND THEN ADDED OUR TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM AND THEN ADDED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RAPID REHOUSING AND OTHERS.
BUT TONIGHT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING EXPERIENCED IN RAPID REHOUSING PROJECTS AND THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED.
IT WILL PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT AND SERVICE PLANNING ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING LOCATION AND LANDLORD RELATIONSHIP COORDINATION, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AIMED AT INCREASING SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A CLINICAL CASE MANAGER WHO WILL BE A MASTER'S LEVEL SOCIAL WORKER AND WILL WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH INDIVIDUALS NEEDING CONNECTION TO A MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE AND CRISIS INTERVENTION.
SAM WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH RENTAL AND UTILITY DEPOSITS, WHICH RARELY CAN BE COVERED BY A CLIENT AND AN INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIER.
FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IT'S NOT A ROOT PROBLEM.
IT'S A RESULT OF COMPLICATED EXPERIENCE, HISTORY OF ABUSE, LACK OF POSITIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ADDICTION.
PROJECT WILL USE EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH INCLUDING HOUSING FIRST AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[01:55:02]
FOLLOWED BY SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.>> HELLO, MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS AT SETON HOME.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
THIS YEAR SETON HOMES PATHWAY TO INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM WILL COMBINE TWO PROGRAMS, OUR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES AND OUR EXTERNAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM.
WHAT MAKES PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE SUCH AN INTEGRAL PROGRAM IS THAT IT WILL TARGET THREE POPULATIONS AT ONCE, RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS WHO ARE PARENTING AND PARENTING TEEN MOTHERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 17, ALL OF WHOM HAVE ENDURED COMPLEX TRAUMA THROUGHOUT THEIR YOUNG LIVES, WITH APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THOSE RESIDENTS HAVING BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
OUR SECOND POPULATION IS OUR PREGNANT TO PARENTING PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN EXTERNAL COUNSELING PROGRAM WHICH GREW OUT OF A NEED TO ASSIST SAN ANTONIO AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND TRAUMA INFORMED COUNSELING.
OUR FINAL POPULATION IS FOSTER CARE AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM BUT STILL REQUIRE CASE MANAGEMENT AND COUNSELING SERVICES TO CONTINUE THEIR PATH OF HEALING.
THROUGH OUR 37 YEAR HISTORY WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING DUAL GENERATION PATHWAYS FOR OUR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN TO SUCCEED THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALING AND COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT AND PARENTING AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES.
PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE WILL ADDRESS CHILD ABUSE IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.
PARENTING EDUCATION UTILIZING THE PARENTING LOVE AND LOGIC CURRICULUM WHICH INSTILLS AND PROMOTES HEALTHY PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, CASE MANAGEMENT WHICH PLACES EDUCATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF ENDING POVERTY, AND FINALLY COUNSELING, WHICH UTILIZES TRAUMA FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY WHICH IS EFFECTIVE FOR CHILDREN OF ABUSE AND OTHER TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.
OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO ASSIST CLIENTS IN THE JOURNEY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY SO THEY CAN LIVE FREE OF VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE.
BECAUSE OF PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE VIOLENCE, PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS ARE GIVEN SAFE SHELTER OFF THE STREETS.
CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO STAY WITH THEIR MOTHERS AND FAMILIES CAN LEARN AND GROW TO CREATE SHELTERING HOMES BEYOND THE SCOPE OF SETON HOMES.
WE PLAN TO SERVE 700 INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT CLIENTS IN OUR PARENTING EDUCATION WILL DEMONSTRATE LOWER CHILD ABUSE RISK FACTORS THROUGH PARENTING INTERACTIONS AND FINALLY OUR HOPE IS THAT OUR CLIENTS' CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE WILL IMPROVE AND THEIR PARENTING SKILLS WILL BE BOLSTERED THROUGH THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT SETON HOMES PROVIDES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL? FOLLOWED BY THE INSPIRATION CENTER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BARBARA WARD AND I AM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SAN ANTONIO, AND I AM A VINCENT YAN.
WITH ME HERE AT THE PODIUM IS THE HEART OF OUR ST. VINNIE'S BISTRO, MR. LAWRENCE GIBSON.
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE FUNDING WHICH HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
HELPING THOSE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITHOUT FOOD, IS THE FOUNDATION AND THE WORK OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL AND YOUR FUNDING GIVES US THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE WITH THIS MISSION.
SPECIFICALLY AT ST. VINNIE'S BISTRO WHERE WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 1,100 MEALS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
THANK YOU, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FOR JOINING US IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A BASIC NEED TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO WITHOUT FOOD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM OUR HEART.
AND MR. GIBSON WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
TODAY MARKS THE CULMINATION OF INTENSIVE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND THE SUPPORTERS OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, SAN ANTONIO, TO SUPPORT THE BISTRO.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SAY TO YOU THAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR ANY AND ALL FEEDBACK EVERYONE HAS PROVIDED ON THIS FUNDING MATTER.
WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH GREATER THAN LIFE COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS HAVEN FOR HOPE, AS WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM ENABLES US TO CONTINUE WITH OUR MISSION.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING THE USE OF THE FUNDS AND LEVERAGE THEM WITH OUR SOURCES TO DO AWAY WITH HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS.
AND I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU, AND WITH -- YOU KNOW, REAL QUICK, I JUST WANT TO SAY, WHAT MAKES THE BISTRO SO MAGICAL, IT'S NOT JUST THE FOOD, THE WONDERFUL FOOD WE PREPARE, BUT IT'S JUST LIKE THE STORY I HAD JUST THE OTHER DAY.
[02:00:01]
HERE.HE COMES UP TO ME HE GOES, CHEF, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO STAY IN YOUR KITCHEN FOR THE LAST 45 DAYS HELPING OUT VOLUNTEERING, BECAUSE HE WANTED TO -- DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE.
BUT NOW HE'S OVER AT THE GI FORUM MOVING ON IN HIS LIFE, AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE BISTRO OFFERS, THAT TYPE OF CHANGE.
SO THAT'S WHAT MAKES THAT KITCHEN SO MAGICAL, NOT JUST THE FOOD, BUT THE HEART AND SOUL IN THERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE INSPIRATION CENTER? FOLLOWED BY THRIVE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M ROSALYN HARRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE INSPIRATION CENTER AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PROGRAM, WHICH IS ONE OF TWO SIGNATURE PROGRAMS FOR THE INSPIRATION CENTER, THE FIRST STRENGTHENING FAMILIES THROUGH RESILIENCE, SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THE DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 THROUGH 11, FOR HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
THE FULL COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM CONSISTS OF SCHOLARSHIP RESEARCH AND ADMITTANCE PACKAGE SUBMISSIONS, BRANDING SKILLS FOR INTERVIEWS, SA WRITINGS, INTERNSHIPS, COMMUNITY SERVICE SUCH AS HABITAT, FOOD BANK, E ROTARY CLUB, LIGHT UP LITERACY, PRESAT, ACT CLASSES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ANNUAL COLLEGE DAY EVENT AT LOCAL COLLEGES AND A COLLEGE ROAD TRIP WHICH WE BELIEVE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER SET FOOT ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS.
THIS YEAR OUR COLLEGE ROAD TRIP CONSISTED OF FIVE UNIVERSITIES FROM TEXAS A&M, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, PRAIRIE VIEW A&M AND RICE UNIVERSITY.
NOW YEARS WE INTEND TO DO THE SAME THING IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL STUDENTS DESERVE AN EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND COLLEGE, AND THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE IF THEY START EARLY AND THEIR FAMILIES START EARLY WITH THE COLLEGE PLANNING.
BUT IT CAN ALSO ONLY BE DONE IF THEY ARE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND IN THIS -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU STILL HAVE SOME TIME TO CLOSE.
AND IN THIS WE BELIEVE THAT ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO COMPILE A PACKAGE FROM GRADE 7 THROUGH 11, THAT BY THE TIME THEY REACH THEIR SENIOR YEAR THEY ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE USE MY SCOLY.COM FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP RESEARCH, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
THRIVE? [APPLAUSE] FOLLOWED BY URBAN 15.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THRIVE YOUTH CENTER.
WE PROVIDE SHELTER AND SERVICES TO HOMELESS LGBT YOUNG ADULTS.
WE'RE CURRENTLY LOCATED AT HAVEN FOR HOPE AND VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO THESE YOUNG ADULTS, COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS.
WE PARTNER, LIKE, WITH EVERYBODY IN TOWN.
RESTORE EDUCATION TO GET THEIR GED.
GOODWILL CAREERS, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO GET A TRADE.
SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REQUESTED FUNDS FROM THE CITY.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN OPEN SINCE FEBRUARY 2015, SO IN NONPROFIT TIME WE'VE BEEN OPEN LIKE TWO AND A HALF SECONDS.
BUT IN THAT SHORT TIME WE'VE HELPED A LOT OF YOUNG ADULTS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE YOUNG ADULTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAM ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE THEY WERE KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSE FOR BEING GAY, LESBIAN, TRANSGENDER.
WE'RE NOT ONLY THE ONLY LGBT SHELTER IN SAN ANTONIO BUT IN TEXAS, AND THE CLOSEST ONE IS ATLANTA, THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO THERE'S A BIG EPIDEMIC OF HOMELESS LGBT YOUNG ADULTS.
WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH IN OCTOBER 2017 TO BE AWARDED A HUD COC GRANT, SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE TEN YOUNG ADULTS IN OUR SHELTER AND 20 YOUNG ADULTS IN HOUSING THAT HUD COC GRANT IS FOR ANYONE THAT'S 18 TO 24, NOT JUST LGBT.
IN OCTOBER OF 2018 WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET 20 MORE YOUNG ADULTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[02:05:03]
[APPLAUSE] URBAN 15 FOLLOWED BY VOICES FOR CHILDREN.>> GOOD EVENING! MAYOR, COUNCILWOMEN, COUNCILMEN, CITY MANAGER, ALL THE CITY STAFF.
I'M KATHERINE CISNEROS FROM THE URBAN 15 GROUP, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
NOW, WHEN THE CITY DOES SOMETHING AWFUL OR WRONG OR IT DOESN'T GET SOMETHING RIGHT, IT'S ALL OVER THE NEWS, RIGHT? IT'S ON THE TV, IT'S ON THE NEWSPAPER.
BUT WHEN THE CITY DOES SOMETHING RIGHT AND GOOD AND WONDERFUL, YOU DISGUISE -- YOU GUYS DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT.
SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU'RE GETTING IT RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICES AND CARE FOR THE SENIORS.
SO NO OTHER -- NO OTHER CITY IN THE STATE DOES THIS, AND I KNOW BECAUSE AT A TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS MEETING WE'RE THERE DISCUSSING SENIOR SERVICES.
SAN ANTONIO DOES SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL, VERY UNIQUE, AND THE CARE FOR OUR ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS PRECIOUS.
WE FEEL HONORED TO DO THIS WORK.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT NINE YEARS NOW, AND OUR MUSIC, OUR DANCE AND OUR MEDIA PROGRAMS ARE EXPANDING.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE GREAT JOHN CARROLL IN DISTRICT 2 WITH A JAZZ MUSIC PROGRAM, DISTRICT 5 WITH OUR MUSIC PROGRAM.
WE'RE PERFORMING IN ALL OF YOUR DISTRICTS, AND YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
YOUR CARE, YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS COMMUNITY IS FANTASTIC.
SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU DHS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] VOICES FOR CHILDREN? FOLLOWED BY WOULD BE ROAD ALLIANCE, PROVIDENCE PLACE.
>> SHE'S MORE CREATIVE THAN I AM.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M KATHY FLETCHER, CEO OF VOICES FOR CHILDREN OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF OUR APPLICATION, WHICH IS STABILIZING FUNDING FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THAT MEETS ALL THE STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR ANY CHILD CARE PROVIDER.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER NOW SIX YEARS.
YOUR FUNDING FROM SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS ENABLES US TO PAY FOR A FULL DAY OF TRAINING WITH MEALS FOR, I FIGURED ABOUT $6.70 A PERSON.
THE INITIATIVE HAS BECOME MUCH LARGER THAN WE EVER EXPECTED AND IS THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE WHOLE AREA.
HAVING DEDICATED CITY FUNDING MEANS THE INITIATIVE DOESN'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON WHOEVER IS ELECTED TO A PARTICULAR CITY COUNCIL SEAT.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT -- I THINK I UNDERSTAND THIS -- THAT THESE EVENTS CAN TAKE PLACE DURING THE ELECTION SEASON MORATORIUM.
THAT WAS FOUR MONTHS LAST TIME.
THAT'S VERY HARD, NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THAT IS VERY HARD ON THE THOUSANDS, LITERALLY, OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WHO DEPEND ON THIS FREE ACCESSIBLE TRAINING.
WE'VE SEEN NOW OVER 7,000 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AT LEAST ONCE, ALMOST ALL MULTIPLE TIMES.
BECAUSE WE SEE SO MANY AND HAVE SUCH GREAT ACCESS AND GREAT PARTNERS, WE CAN INTEGRATE OTHER REALLY CRITICAL TOPICS INTO THEIR TRAINING, SUCH AS GAP] ENGAGEMENT, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, TRAUMA, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE, AND FOR BEING THERE, NOT JUST WITH YOUR FUNDS BUT FOR BEING THERE.
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO WANT TO TAKE PICTURES WITH SOME OF THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THEY DON'T USUALLY HAVE THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] WOULD BE ROAD ALLIANCE, PROVIDENCE PLACE, FOLLOWED BY THE YMCA.
>> MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I'M JUDITH BABB, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PROVIDENCE PLACE.
WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL CARVING OUT A PLACE -- SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN SINCE 1895 WHEN MARY VALINO, OUR FOUNDER, TRANSFORMED HER BROTHEL INTO A RESCUE HOME AND STARTED WORKING WITH WAYWARD GIRLS AND WORKING
[02:10:01]
WOMEN IN THE SAN ANTONIO'S RED LIGHT DISTRICT.IN THE EARLY YEARS THE RESCUE HOME HAD ONLY ONE POLICY, TO OPEN DOORS TO EVERY GIRL WHO ASKED FOR HELP AND PROTECTION.
PROVIDENCE PLACE IS RETURNING TO THE ORIGINAL POLICY AND WILL PROVIDE RESTORATIVE SERVICES TO ADULT FEMALE SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND IN PARTICULAR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
ONCE PROVIDING SERVICES TO GIRLS AND WOMEN OF ALL AGES, PROVIDENCE PLACE IS PROPOSING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 18.
THE SEX TRADE HAS BEEN A PART OF SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY AND CULTURE FOR A LONG TIME.
THE ISSUE HAS NOT CHANGED, NOR HAS IT BEEN RESOLVED, BUT THE GAP IN SERVICES HAS GROWN WIDER.
A STUDY BY FARLEY A BARKMAN NOTED THAT 89% OF WOMEN IN THE SEX TRADE WANTED OUT BUT THEY HAD NO OTHER OPTION.
PROVIDENCE PLACE IS NOW THAT OPTION, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE RESTORATIVE CARE SERVICES TO SURVIVORS THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES IN A SAFE AND STABLE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ENVIRONMENT.
OUR GOAL PROVIDING SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND INCREASE FINANCIAL STABILITY IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY'S OUTCOMES.
I STILL HAVE SOME TIME? CENTER.
ELIGIBILITY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND WOMEN -- CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] YMCA, FOLLOWED BY THE YWCA.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CITY STAFF, THANK YOU ALL.
MY SOLE PURPOSE TONIGHT IS TO SAY THANK YOU.
SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE LISTENING TO THE NUMBER OF WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS, WE ARE PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SUPPORT YMCA HERE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.
OUR SENIORS AND OUR YOUTH ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US AND THE GOOD WORK THAT WE DO ALONG SIDE OF YOU TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING.
WE'RE DEPENDING ON EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR, AND YOU ARE MAKING THOSE SERVICES POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING US TIME TO SAY SO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.
I'M THE CEO OF THE YWCA AND THANKS TO CITY FUNDING WE HAVE BEEN ADVANCING OUR MISSION TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND ELIMINATE RACISM, A MISSION AS CRITICAL TODAY AS IT WAS IN 1910 WHEN WE FIRST OPENED OUR DOORS.
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU FIRST THANK YOU FOR THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE -- HOW YOU HAVE INVESTED IN OUR PROGRAMS, WHICH HAVE SERVED SENIORS AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE CITY BUT ALSO TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.
THANKS TO CITY FUNDING WE SERVE 20,000 CLIENTS AROUND THE CITY AND AT OUR OLGA MADRID CENTER AT THE HEART OF DISTRICT 5 IN THE LAS PALMAS NEIGHBOR.
WE SERVE ALL CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND ALL DESCRIBILITIES AND THANKS TO CITY -- WE'VE LEVERAGED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE UNITED WAY AND WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR AFTER-SCHOOL CARE, IN SAISD, SOUTH SAN AND EAST CENTRAL ISD.
THANKS TO YOUR RECENT APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR OUR SENIOR CONNECTION PROGRAM WE'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE 760 SENIORS IN SIX CITY SENIOR CENTERS AND AT OUR OLGA MADRID CENTER, WITH EXERCISE CLASS, WATER AEROBICS AND MEALS.
THIS YEAR WE'LL BE ADDING A MEAL PREPARATION DEMO CLASS TO TEACH SENIORS WERE HEALTHY MEAL PREPARATION.
THANKS TOO FOR YOUR FUNDING FOR OUR ME CARERRA PROGRAM, A HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION AND COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEENAGERS.
THIS YEAR WITH YOUR FUNDING SUPPORT WE WILL BE EXPANDING THAT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OFFERING IT YEAR-ROUND IN THE SUMMER, AND WE SERVE GIRLS FROM AROUND THE CITY, PRIMARILY IN DISTRICT 2, AND ALSO IN DISTRICT 1.
IN ADDITION -- SO OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS A SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM.
[02:15:02]
AT OUR OLGA MADRID CENTER.SERVICE LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT IN SERVICE FOR YOUTH KEEPS YOUTH MORE LIKELY TO STAY IN SCHOOL, TO GRADUATE AND TO ENGAGE IN HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, AND POSSIBLY GO ON TO GLAMOROUS CAREERS IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.
THEN -- HOWEVER, THIS PROGRAM WAS NOT CONSIDERED AND THIS FUND -- IN THIS FUNDING ROUND BUT I'D LIKE TO YOU KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUTH TO REALLY BECOME A PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
WE ALLOW 362 TEENS TO SERVE AND VOLUNTEER WITH NONPROFITS AROUND THE CITY, CHILDREN -- TEENAGERS, AGES 13 THROUGH 19, TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM.
AND IT'S ALSO A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO BUILD CAMARADERIE WITH EACH OTHER.
ON THE WEST SIDE AT THE OLGA MADRID CENTER, WHICH IS A WELCOMING CENTER ON THE WEST SIDE, STUDENTS COME AND LITERALLY DROP IN TO VOLUNTEER, LIKE SOME STUDENTS DROP IN ON THE BASKETBALL COURT TO PLAY BASKETBALL.
AND THIS SENSE OF CAMARADERIE IS CRITICAL FOR THESE STUDENTS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE FUNDING THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED OVER THE YEARS.
PLEASE CONSIDER OUR TEEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND CONTINUE TO DO ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU DO IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD, THE DELEGATE AGENCY FOR THOSE AGENCIES WHOSE NAMES BEGIN WITH A THROUGH Z IS HEREBY CLOSED.
WE'LL NOW PROCEED WITH OUR NORMALLY SCHEDULED CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PUBLIC HEARING.
THE FIRST CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND I WILL CALL AGAIN IN ORDER OF SIGN-UP.
I WILL CALL C
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.