Sep 06, 2018 City Council A Session on 2018-09-06 9:00 AM

AND I, TOO, WANT TO OFFER OUR MUCH THANKS FOR EXPANDING IN SAN ANTONIO.

ONE, THANK YOU FOR BEING BELIEVERS IN THE SKILLS AND THE TALENTS OF OUR CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT FOR GROWING IN SAN ANTONIO AND EXPANDING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

300 NEW FULL-TIME JOBS.

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RENE, THANK YOU AND THE OTHERS, PART OF OUR TEAM THAT WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE SURE SAN ANTONIO AGAIN WAS THE TOP CONTENDER FOR EY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE FOR THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT EY CAN CONTINUE TO STAY AND EXPAND.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE GROWTH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THIS CORRECT IN MY THINKING.

ERNST & YOUNG IS GOING TO INTRODUCE OVER 300 HIGH-PAYING JOBS, MORE THAN $50,000 A YEAR.

>> CORRECT.

>> COURAGE: AND THEY'RE ALSO PAYING ANOTHER $5 MILLION INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOVING INTO.

>> AT A MINIMUM.

SO THAT COMES TO OVER $20 MILLION.

AND WE'RE SIMPLY GIVING THEM $300,000?

>> YES, SIR.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD THE MATH RIGHT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 12.

[6. Approving the following items related to the Downtown City Office Building (Frost Renovation) Project: [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; Mike Frisbie, Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements] 6A. Ordinance for the Downtown City Office Building (Frost Renovation) Project, approving a Design-Build Services Agreement with the Joint Venture (JV) partnership of Skanska USA Building Inc. and F.A. Nunnelly Company in an amount not-to-exceed $59,500,000. 6B. Resolution by the City Council of San Antonio, Texas establishing the City’s intent to reimburse itself for the prior lawful expenditure of funds from the proceeds of one or more series of tax exempt or taxable obligations to be issued by the City for authorized purposes and as further designated by series and federal tax treatment; authorizing other matters incident and related thereto; and providing for an effective date.]

>> ITEM NO. 6 IS APPROVING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. 6A IS THE ORDINANCE FOR THE DOWNTOWN CITY OFFICE BUILDING FROST RENOVATION PROJECT APPROVING THE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP OF SCANSKA USA BUILDING, INCORPORATED, AND FA NUNNELLY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED IN AUDIO] FROM THE PROCEEDS OF ONE OR MORE SERIES OF TAX EXEMPT OR TAXABLE OBLIGATIONS TO BE ISSUED BY THE CITY FOR AUTHORIZED PURPOSES AND AS FURTHER DESIGNATED FOR SERIES AND TAX TREATMENT AUTHORIZING OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED THERE TO AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

HI, LORI.

THANKS FOR COMING UP.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT HERE.

AND IT'S IN RELATION TO THE COST ON -- EXCUSE ME.

THE COST ON THIS PROJECT.

WHERE DID THIS START OUT AT?

>> SO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO STARTED THIS PROJECT IN JUNE OF 2014.

WE RECEIVED AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL FROM WESTERN URBAN AND FROST BANK THAT WOULD RESULT IN A CONSOLIDATED OFFICE TOWER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

BETWEEN JUNE OF 20 AND JUNE OF 2015 WHEN THE CITY DID MORE DUE DILIGENCE AND WE TOOK A COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT AUTHORIZED SEVERAL ACTIONS.

ONE, THE PURCHASE OF THE FROST BANK TOWER.

TWO, THE CONVEYANCE AND SALE OF THREE CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES TO WESTERN URBAN.

AND, THREE, A COMMITMENT FROM WESTERN URBAN TO BUILD THE FIRST NEW OFFICE TOWER IN DOWNTOWN SINCE 1989.

AS PART OF THAT COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WE DID PROPOSE A FINANCE PLAN.

AT THAT TIME THE COST TO RENOVATE FROST BANK TOWER WAS $42 MILLION.

HOWEVER, WE HAD THE CAVEAT IN THE PRESENTATION WHERE WE STATED THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT RELOCATION OPPORTUNITIES OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, LOOKING AT THE TYPES OF EMPLOYEE AMENITIES WE WANTED TO INCLUDE IN THE TOWER, AND ALSO RETAINING OUR COST ESTIMATE.

IN TODAY'S ACTION WE ARE PRESENTING A $75 MILLION RENOVATION COST.

AND THAT IS A RESULT OF THE RELOCATION OF I.T. FROM FRIO STREET INTO THE TOWER.

THE ADDITION OF THE EMPLOYEE AMENITIES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THROUGH OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WHICH INCLUDE A CAFETERIA, WELLNESS CENTER, AND A GYM.

BUT ALSO INFLATION.

WE HAVE ADJUSTED IT FOR ANNUAL INFLATION AND TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MARKET.

THE MAJORITY OF THE COST INCREASE HAS TO DO WITH THAT INFLATION.

HOWEVER, THE PROJECT REMAINS COST NEUTRAL.

BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE -- BEFORE WE ISSUED THE DEBT ON THE FROST BANK TOWER, WHICH WAS DONE IN DECEMBER OF 2016, WE DID BRIEF CITY COUNCIL IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE REVISED PRO FORMA.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNEW THE ACTUALLY PRO FORMA.

WE WERE TRUE TO OUR COMMITMENT THAT THE PROJECT WAS COST NEUTRAL AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR BEFORE WE WENT FORWARD TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY IN DECEMBER OF 2016.

BUT THE PRIMARY INCREASE FROM 42 TO 75 HAS TO DO WITH THE

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RELOCATING OF I.T. FROM THE FRIO STREET, FROM ADDING THE EMPLOYEE AMENITIES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT'S THE ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH INFLATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION MARKET.

I'M LOOKING AT A BRIEFING THAT WAS GIVEN, I GUESS THAT WAS BACK IN 2015 OR '14 -- YEAH, IN '15 THAT TALKS ABOUT A NET SAVINGS OF $1.2 MILLION TO THE CITY.

NOT COST NEUTRAL BUT WE'RE GOING TO SAVE MONEY ON THIS.

SO, AND MEMBERS ARE HERE THAT WERE HERE FOR THE SAVINGS.

AND THEY -- WHERE DID THAT GO OFF TRACK?

>> WE STILL ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OVER THE 30-YEAR CASH PERFORMA, BUT THIS IS A FLUID MODEL.

IT'S GOING TO ADJUST AS THE PROJECT DEVELOPS.

>> PERRY: WELL, IN THAT SAVINGS, IN THAT COST IS THAT INCLUDING ALL THE INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, EVERYTHING INCLUDED FULL STOP?

>> PERRY: SO, REALLY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, $75.6 MILLION FOR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IN THIS ORDINANCE.

BUT WE'VE ALREADY EXPENDED HOW MUCH?

>> WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING FOR $52 MILLION.

>> PERRY: SO $52 MILLION.

AND HAVE WE PUT ANY OTHER MONEY ASIDE FOR THIS OR INVESTED ANY OTHER MONEY IN THIS PROJECT?

>> OTHER THAN DOING SPACE PLANNING AND MORE REFINEMENT OF THE FINANCING MODEL, WE HAVE NOT.

>> PERRY: WASN'T THERE A $6.7 MILLION PROJECT TO UPGRADE DEFICIENCIES IN THE BUILDING?

WHEN WE WERE LOOKING TO PURCHASE THE BUILDING, WE HIRED ALDERSON AND ASSOCIATES TO DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE PURCHASING AND BETTER NEGOTIATE THE PURCHASE PRICE.

AND SO THEY IDENTIFIED $6.7 MILLION OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

2.9 WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AND ADDITIONAL THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AS A RESULT OF RENOVATING THE BUILDING INTO AN OPEN SPACE FLOOR PLAN.

NOW THAT $2.9 MILLION WE RECEIVED A DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE PRICE FROM FROST.

THEIR APPRAISAL WAS $54 MILLION AND THEY DISCOUNTED THE PURCHASE PRICE AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO OUR $52 MILLION PURCHASE PRICE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A RENT CREDIT IN OUR AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO LEASE SPACE THAT WE HAVE IN THERE FOR THE O AND M RATE ONLY.

WE'RE SAVING ABOUT $12 A SQUARE FOOT AS A RESULT OF THAT RENT CREDIT.

SO THAT WAS ADDITIONAL SAVINGS.

WE'RE ABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT $6.7 MILLION AND BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THAT REPORT.

SO OVERALL THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE ACTUAL PURCHASE?

>> PLUS THE $52 MILLION.

>> PERRY: HOW MUCH IS THAT?

>>T? THAT WOULD BE $127 MILLION.

>> PERRY: $127 MILLION.

AND HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST US TO BUILD THE CORRECT SQUARE FOOTAGE OF A NEW BUILDING, LET'S SAY ON LAND WE ALREADY OWN HERE IN THE CITY.

>> I CAN ASK MIKE FRISBIE TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

WE DID DO THAT ANALYSIS BUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER IS THAT THIS PROJECT FACILITATED MORE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST OFFICE TOWER IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 1989.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN FROST BANK HEADQUARTERS IN SAN ANTONIO.

>> COUNCILMAN, I REMEMBER SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE RAN THOSE NUMBERS AND GOT IT OUT TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BUILD A NEW ONE IT WOULD COST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BUILD A NEW ONE THAN WE'RE INVESTING IN THIS NEW ONE.

BUT A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO ALSO WITH ALL THE LEASED SPACE THAT'S OUT THERE, THE LEASED TENANTS THAT ARE IN THERE TODAY.

SO THERE WERE DIFFERENT FACTORS.

BUT IF I RECALL RIGHT, IT WAS GOING TO COST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY WHEN YOU FACTORED IN EVERYTHING VERSUS RENOVATING THE EXISTING FACILITY.

>> PERRY: SO WHAT WAS THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS? A MILLION

>> TO SEE THE EXACT DETAILS.

I DON'T HAVE THAT WITH ME.

>> PERRY: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SO THE $75 MILLION IS GOING TO INCLUDE MOVING INTO THE BUILDING AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BUILDING IS READY TO GO?

IT WILL INCLUDE A COMPLETE RENOVATION OF ALL 22 FLOORS.

>> PERRY: AND MOVING IN?

>> PERRY: OFFICE FURNITURE.

>> FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT, THE

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ABATEMENT THAT'S NECESSARY, AND COMPLETE RENOVATION.

>> PERRY: SO WE CAN EXPECT ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR FUNDING COMING IN IN THE FUTURE?

THIS IS THE BUDGET WE'RE PRESENTING.

75.

$6 MILLION.

>> PERRY: MIKE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE CONTRACTING METHOD THAT WE'RE NOT ADDING ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO THIS?

>> RAZI, MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HAD IT.

BASICALLY TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY OF THIS SCALE IS ABOUT $220 MILLION TO DO IT.

SO IT WOULD BE MORE.

SO THE DESIGN-BUILD METHODOLOGY, THIS IS A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

SO WE DEFINITELY PLAN, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT WITHIN THE BUDGET.

AND THE DESIGN-BUILD MECHANISM HELPS TO CONTROL THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DESIGN TEAM AND THE CONTRACTING TEAM TOGETHER AS ONE TEAM.

THEY KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET IS.

THEY KNOW WHAT THE SCOPE IS.

WE WORKED WITH THEM AS THEY DESIGN THE PROJECT AND COST ESTIMATES GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME WHEN THEY GET TO THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS PHASE OF DESIGN, THEY GIVE US A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR THE JOB.

AND THAT GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE HAS TO BE WITHIN THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.

SO THERE'S SOME KEY POINTS TO GUARANTEE SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET.

AND WHEN YOU SAY THE LIKE SIZE BUILDING OF THIS.

THERE'S LIKE FOUR OR FIVE FLOORS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED.

WE'RE GOING TO BE RENTING OUT.

SO IS THAT $220 MILLION INCLUDE THAT FOUR OR FIVE EXTRA FLOORS OR DEDUCTING THAT OUT OF THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE? THAT TOOK OUR PROGRAM OF THE 24 CITY DEPARTMENTS, THE 1400 EMPLOYEES, AND PUT THAT INTO A NEW FACILITY.

WHAT WOULD THAT COST.

THAT'S WHERE WE GOT THE $220 MILLION.

SO, WE STARTED THIS PROJECT IN 2014.

WE STARTED DEVELOPING THE ACTUAL SCOPE, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, THAT KIND OF THING?

>> SO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECEIVED THE UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL FROM WESTERN URBAN IN 2014 AND THERE IS LEGISLATION THAT OUTLINES HOW THAT PROCESS IS FOLLOWED.

AND WE TOOK THE YEAR TO REVIEW THE PROPOSAL.

WE HAD TO BID THE PROPOSAL OUT AND BASICALLY ASK PEOPLE TO MEET OR BEAT THAT PROPOSAL.

AND THEN WE ULTIMATELY RECOMMENDED THE PROPOSAL TO CITY COUNCIL, WHICH WAS APPROVED IN JUNE OF 2015.

SO, WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE 2017 BOND?

>> CITY COUNCIL HAD ALREADY AUTHORIZED THE PROJECT IN 2015.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CITY MANAGER SCULLEY HAS SOMETHING SHE WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY.

>> SCULLEY: YEAH, SO THIS IS A P3 PROJECT.

IT WAS PROPOSED BY FROST BANK AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT ARM, WESTERN URBAN, WHO WAS CONSTRUCTING THE NEW TOWER FOR FROST BANK.

AND IT INVOLVED THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE BANK, THE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, THE BANK, AND THE CITY.

AND SO TO MAKE THE ENTIRE PROJECT WORK, WE'RE SELLING, AS YOU KNOW, THE UPPER FLOORS OF THIS BUILDING.

WE WILL RETAIN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND THE B ROOM FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

THE UPPER FLOORS OF THIS BUILDING WILL BE DEVELOPED AS HOUSING.

WE'RE SELLING OTHER CITY PROPERTIES.

SO IT WAS A JOINT PROJECT THAT WE ARE FINANCING, BASICALLY, FROM OUR LEASE PAYMENTS WHERE WE ARE RENTING SPACE IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BUILDINGS THROUGH OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

WE DID AN ANALYSIS.

I KNOW YOU'VE ASKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, COUNCILMAN, IN TERMS OF PRODUCTIVITY.

AND THIS WILL ENABLE US TO HAVE ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN ONE TOWER.

WE DID TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BUILD A NEW CITY HALL TO HOUSE AND CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR STAFF.

BUT THIS ACCOMPLISHED A GREATER NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES.

THAT IS, WE COULD REUSE A BUILDING THAT WAS BEING VACATED BY FROST BANK.

THEY WERE CONSTRUCTING THE FIRST NEW TOWER.

WE WERE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE OUR STAFF INTO ONE BUILDING, SO WE HAVE GREATER EFFICIENCY AMONG STAFF, AND AN ATTACHED PARKING STRUCTURE FOR THOSE WHO IN AUDIO] AS WELL.

SO IT ACCOMPLISHED MANY MORE OBJECTIVES IN THE FINANCING PLAN IS USING WHAT WE WERE SPENDING ON LEASE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THESE COSTS.

SO WHEN WE SAY -- THAT $1.2 MILLION ON THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS OVER A 30-YEAR

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PERIOD.

SO WE'RE STILL WITHIN THAT.

THAT IS, WE'RE SAVING -- I THINK NOW A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER THAT TIME-FRAME.

BUT OUR PREMISE WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS TO COUNCIL AND TODAY REMAINS THAT WE KEEP THIS NET POSITIVE FOR THE CITY.

THAT IS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE IT COST MORE TO BE IN THIS BUILDING THAN WHAT WE WERE SPENDING ON A VARIETY OF OFFICE SPACES THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO OVERALL, WITH ALL THE MOVEMENT, THAT IS THE SALE OF CITY LAND, THE PACKAGING OF THE COST OF RENOVATION, WE WANTED TO KEEP IT NEUTRAL.

THAT IS, NOT COST THE CITY MONEY.

SO IT WASN'T NECESSARY TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY.

WE'RE USING MONEY WE ARE ALREADY SPENDING ON LEASE SPACE.

>> PERRY: BUT AREN'T WE GOING TO BE ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION ON THIS?

>> SCULLEY: WE ARE, AS WE DO FOR MANY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

>> PERRY: SO I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.

TO ME, THIS WAS A LARGE ENOUGH PROJECT THAT -- AND WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN AND PUT IT ON THE 2017 BOND AND LET THE COMMUNITY VOTE WHETHER WE SHOULD DO THIS PROJECT OR NOT.

>> SCULLEY: THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT THE P3 REQUIRED COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION BY 2016.

IN THE SPRING WHEN WE PRESENTED THE PROJECT IN 2015 AND THEY AUTHORIZED US TO GO FORWARD AND THEN WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING IN DECEMBER OF 2016.

THAT WAS OUR DEADLINE FOR MAKING THAT DECISION.

SO IT HAD BEEN PROPOSED TO US IN 2014, AS LORI SAID.

THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DUE DILIGENCE BY LORI, BY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, BY BEN GORZELL IN OUR FINANCE AREA AND ENTIRE TEAM, WITH COUNCIL APPROVALS ALONG THE WAY.

AND THEY NEEDED A DECISION AT THAT POINT TO BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TIMELY TO HAVE IT IN MAY OF '17.

THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE PARTNERS ON THE PROJECT OR NOT IN THAT 2015-2016 TIMELINE.

>> PERRY: BUT THE BOND WAS VOTED ON WHEN?

>> SCULLEY: MAY OF '17.

>> PERRY: MAY OF '17.

AND THIS PROJECT YOU SAID HAD TO BE APPROVED BY WHEN?

>> SCULLEY: THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED IT IN JUNE OF 2015.

WE ACTUALLY CLOSED ON THE ACTUAL PURCHASE OF THAT BUILDING IN DECEMBER OF '16.

BUT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED IT IN JUNE OF '15.

>> PERRY: AUTHORIZED VERSUS FUNDED.

I'M SAYING THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED BUT THE FUNDING ACTUALLY FUNDED THROUGH THE BOND ELECTION AND LET THE COMMUNITY DECIDE IF THIS PROJECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

AGAIN, IT'S A LARGE COMMITMENT OF FUNDS, YOU KNOW, WOW.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT UP THERE.

YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO, THAT'S MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS AND IT IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SHOULD HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO MAKE INPUT IN THIS THROUGH THE BOND COMMITTEE.

SO THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN ABOUT THIS.

AND I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS.

IT'S KIND OF THE SAME STORY AS THE BUILDING RIGHT BEHIND US.

YEAH.

I JUST THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT ON THE BOND.

THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I WAS THERE JUNE OF 2015 AND LORI AND BEN GORZELL AND SHERYL.

WE DID WORK OVERTIME.

EVEN AFTER THE VOTE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EVEN DID A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE BUILDING AND, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT SHOWED TO BE A VERY POSITIVE REPORT, BUT WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE.

THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING BECAUSE OF THIS.

AGAIN, YOU TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT, SHERYL, WITH REGARDS TO THE PARKING GARAGE.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO UTILIZE THAT PARKING GARAGE FOR THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S A HUGE BENEFIT TO ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY IN THE CIVIC CENTER OF OUR CITY.

WE'RE ALSO REDUCING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CITY BY CONSOLIDATING OUR DEPARTMENTS INTO THIS BUILDING CATTY-CORNER TO CITY HALL, WHICH IS ALSO CRITICAL.

ALL THESE FACTORS COME INTO PLAY IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN REALLY PLAN A MORE VIBRANT DOWNTOWN THAT INCLUDES HOUSING.

THAT INCLUDES OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE ROOM FOR SO MANY MORE GREAT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN OUR DOWNTOWN WITH UTSA

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LOOKING TO EXPAND THEIR DOWNTOWN CAMPUS.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE SAW THAT THIS ACTUALLY GAVE US, AND CERTAINLY GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY.

SO, AGAIN, WITH THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS.

I'M THOROUGHLY SATISFIED AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I LITERALLY WALKED THE BUILDING WITH A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND BEN GORZELL, YOU KNOW, SO WE FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT BUILDING.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RENOVATION.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT CAN BE AND HOW IT CAN SERVE OUR COMMUNITY VERY WELL.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT AS WELL AS THE CITY HALL RENOVATIONS REALLY ADDING A GREAT PLACE FOR OUR CITIZENS TO COME DOWN TO SAN ANTONIO AT THE HEART OF OUR CIVIC CENTER.

A PLACE THAT EMBRACES THEM AND WELCOMES THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO COME DOWN TO THE CITY.

SO WITH THAT, I MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, 6A AND 6B.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: YES, THANK YOU.

THIS, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND IT'S AMENDING THE CAPITAL BUDGET.

IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET FY19 BUDGET AT ALL?

>> SCULLEY: NO, COUNCILWOMAN.

THIS IS INCLUDED WITHIN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

THE SPENDING THAT WOULD OCCUR IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

SO IT'S ALREADY INCLUDED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

LORI, YOU'VE BEEN ON TOP OF THIS PROJECT SINCE ITS INCEPTION, I BELIEVE, IN 2014.

SO WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ITERATION, BUT THE FIRST ITERATION THAT WE SAW IT WAS IN THE CATEGORY OF THIS SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS, AT THE TIME, THE DOWNTOWN DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF MOMENTUM.

AND SO FROST BANK ANNOUNCING THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN BUILDING A NEW TOWER IN THE DOWNTOWN CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF FOLKS' ATTENTION.

IT WAS WELL REPORTED BY THE MEDIA.

IT WAS WELL DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC CIRCLES ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WOULD GET, NOT ONLY A TOWER, BUT BECAUSE THE CITY HAD PUT OUT THIS RFP -- THE REASON I SAY IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, WE HAPPEN TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF DOING A LOT OF THINGS WITH THE CITY IN 32 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE SPREAD OUT NOT ONLY THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

WE WERE ALREADY IN CONSIDERATIONS OF CONSOLIDATING WITHIN ONE FACILITY.

AND IT SO HAPPENS THE TIMING, FROST KNOCKED ON THE CITY DOOR AND SAID THIS IS A BUILDING THAT WILL GO VACANT.

IT HAS SOME ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED AND MITIGATED AND REMODELED INSIDE.

WE DID A FAIR MARKET ANALYSIS AND STUDY AND THAT STUDY TOLD US WHAT THAT BUILDING WOULD COST THE CITY, AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE CONSIDERING BUILDING A NEW FACILITY ON OUR OWN.

SO THE REASON I SAY IT WAS SORT OF TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, WE DO MAKE LEASE PAYMENTS.

THE BUILDING RIGHT ACROSS FROM CITY HALL, MAIN PLAZA, IS A BUILDING WHERE WE STAFF A GREAT NUMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.

IT'S ONE RIVERVIEW -- WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS? HOW MUCH CITY PERSONNEL DO WE HAVE IN THAT FACILITY?

>> I CAN SAY WE ARE THE PRIMARY TENANT IN THAT BUILDING.

BUT THE 24 DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOVING INTO THE CONSOLIDATED TOWER, THEY ARE SPREAD AMONG SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

AND THAT INCLUDES SOUTH FLORES.

THAT INCLUDES MUNICIPAL PLAZA.

THAT INCLUDES RIVERVIEW.

THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL OTHER SMALL OFFICES THAT WE LEASE.

AND THE TOTAL LEASE PAYMENTS WE MAKE ARE $3.8 MILLION.

AND SO BY FACILITATING THIS TRANSACTION INTO ONE TOWER, WE'RE SAVING THOSE LEASE PAYMENTS.

WE'RE USING THOSE TO ISSUE DEBT, AND WE REALLY CAN CONTROL THE FUTURE.

AND WE'LL HAVE ROOM TO GROW.

>> SALDANA: SO WE HAVE A SOURCE OF EXPENDITURE THAT WE WERE MAKING, $3 MILLION, TO LEASE OUT SPACE FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS.

NOW WE CAN TAKE THAT $3 MILLION IN AND IT GOES TO THE DEBT OR TO FINANCE POTENTIALLY SOME OF THE CFOS THAT WE'RE USING FOR THIS.

LOOK, I WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL AT FIRST TOO.

I CERTAINLY WAS IN 2014 IF THIS DEAL WOULD WORK OUT.

WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING IT IN 2015 AND 2016 WE GOT REPORTS THAT WE WANTED TO BRING MORE CITY FACILITY AND CITY PERSONNEL INTO THE BUILDING, SO THAT MEANT THAT WE HAD TO ADD TO THE COST OF THE FINANCING THAT WE'RE DOING.

BUT IN FULL DISCLOSURE, LORI AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I TOLD HER THAT IF THIS GETS BEYOND THE POINT THAT IT'S GOING TO COST THE CITY, IT'S AT THAT POINT THAT MANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE VERY SKEPTICAL AND WANT TO PULL AWAY FROM THIS DEAL IF IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US FINANCIALLY.

IT STILL MAKES SENSE FOR US FINANCIALLY AND WE TRUST BEN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, ARE TRUE TO YOUR WORD THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE COST NEUTRAL TO THE CITY.

BEN, DO I NEED TO GET ANY OTHER

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ON THE RECORD CONFIRMATION FROM YOU FOR FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO LOOK BACK AT THIS AND SAY, HEY, YOU SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE COST NEUTRAL TO THE CITY.

>> IT CONTINUES TO BE COST NEUTRAL TO THE CITY.

AND THAT'S OUR GOAL.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

>> SALDANA: OKAY.

TO FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBERS WATCHING THIS PROGRESS GO THROUGH, BEN GORZELL BELIEVES THAT THIS IS COST NEUTRAL.

HE'S A PROFESSIONAL WHO DOES THIS FOR A LIVING.

AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAD THE TIMING OF -- THE FORTUNATE TIMING OF FROST, WHICH IS A GREAT THING TO OUR SKYLINE, TO OUR DOWNTOWN, TO OUR MOMENTUM AS A CITY, DECIDED TO LEAVE THE FORMER BUILDING.

I WILL SAY, FROM AN OPTICS PERSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE A BRAND NEW NICE BUILDING AND WE'RE MOVING INTO THEIR OLD RICKETY FOUR WALLS AND A FLOOR.

I DON'T THINK THEY NEED THE KIND OF FACILITY THEY'RE BUILDING OUT.

NEVERTHELESS, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE FULL PICTURE.

I SAID TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE NOT JUST BECAUSE IT WAS COST NEUTRAL.

THE DEAL IN 2014 INCLUDED HOUSING FOR DOWNTOWN.

SO THE FLOORS ABOVE US TODAY ARE GOING TO BE CONVERTED INTO HOUSING.

WHAT OTHER HOUSING COMPONENTS OR UNITS ARE WE GETTING IN THAT P3 DEAL THAT WAS STRUCK?

>> SO WESTERN URBAN COMMITTED TO BUILDING 265 NEW HOUSING UNITS AS A RESULT OF THE P3 TRANSACTION.

AND THOSE 265 CAN BE ON ANY OF THE PARCELS, EITHER THE CITY CONVEYED TO THEM THROUGH THE SALE, OR THAT THEY PURCHASED FROM FROST BANK.

AND SO THEY DID PURCHASE FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THE SAN FERNANDO GYM.

THEY PURCHASED THE UPPER FLOORS OF THIS BUILDING WITH THE CITY RETAINING COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND THE B ROOM.

THEY ALSO PURCHASED A PARKING LOT NORTH OF TRAVIS STREET ON PECAN.

AND THAT IS ADJACENT TO SOME PROPERTY THAT THEY ACQUIRED FROM FROST.

SO THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO AT LEAST 265 NEW HOUSING UNITS COMING AS A RESULT OF THE P3 TRANSACTION.

>> SALDANA: AND, LORI, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT AND WE DISCUSSED THE MOMENTUM THAT DOWNTOWN HAS HAD.

ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY IS HOUSING.

SO IT BEGS THE QUESTION FROM ME, WHAT KIND OF AFFORDABILITY COMPONENTS EXIST IN THOSE UNITS FOR THE 265?

>> THEY HAVE NOT DEVELOPED A PROJECT YET FOR THOSE UNITS.

WE DO NOT CONVEY THE MUNICIPAL PLAZA BUILDING UNTIL WE ACTUALLY MOVE INTO THE NEW FROST BANK.

AND WE'RE SCHEDULED TO DO THAT IN 2021.

AND AT THAT TIME THEY'LL DEVELOP THE PROJECT.

SO THEY HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT THAT PROJECT WILL LOOK LIKE, AND WE DID NOT PUT IN THE CONTRACT ANY REQUIREMENTS.

BUT MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSING, AND ALSO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN ISSUE RFPS ON CITY-OWNED LAND TO HELP FACILITATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> SALDANA: I'LL JUST SAY THIS, LORI, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF A CONVERSATION YOU AND I HAVE HAD AND THE CITY MANAGERS AND THE STAFF WHO HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN AS BEING A DOWNTOWN THAT IS ACCESSIBLE IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY.

AND 265 UNITS IS NOT GOING TO BE ALL THE UNITS BUILT IN DOWNTOWN, BUT WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF INCLUDING AFFORDABILITY THAT DOWNTOWN IS ACCESSIBLE, NOT JUST TO THOSE OF HIGHER INCOMES BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY WHO NEED TO BE CLOSE TO WORK OR TEACHERS THAT WORK AT SAISD.

AND THAT'S SEPARATE AND APART FROM THIS PROJECT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE GRANT PROPOSAL.

BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT AND IT STILL FITS THE CATEGORY OF TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE UNTIL BEN TELLS US OTHERWISE.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU.

WHEN THE FIRST RFP WENT OUT AFTER WE SAID WE ARE GOING TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, WHEN WAS THE ORIGINAL RENOVATION ESTIMATED TO BEGIN FOR THE ACTUAL PROJECT?

>> WE HAD ALWAYS PLANNED ON THE RENOVATION OF FROST BANK BEGINNING AS SOON AS FROST BANK VACATED THE TOWER AND RELOCATED TO THE NEW TOWER.

SO THEY ARE PLANNING ON VACATING THAT TOWER NEXT SUMMER OF 2019.

AND THEN THE CITY WILL START DOING THE RENOVATIONS.

AND WE'LL BE MOVING IN IN EARLY 2021.

>> COURAGE: HAS THAT BEEN A MOVING TARGET? OR HAVE WE KNOWN 2019?

WELL, I WANT TO ASK MIKE FRISBIE, THEN.

BECAUSE THIS CONCERNS ME.

WHEN WE ESTIMATE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, DON'T WE ESTIMATE FOR INFLATION IN THOSE CONSTRUCTION COSTS? FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO START DOING THIS BUILDING UNTIL 2019 BUT WE WERE

[00:50:02]

GETTING CONSTRUCTION COSTS GIVEN TO US BACK IN 2016.

AND NOW I HEAR, WELL, WE'VE GOT TO ADJUST IT FOR INFLATION.

WHY WASN'T THAT INFLATION ANTICIPATED SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO ADD MORE LATER ON DOWN THE LINE IF WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL 2019? SHOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN FORECASTED A LITTLE MORE ACCURATELY THAN ADDING MILLIONS LATER?

>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED PUTTING THIS PROJECT TOGETHER, THINGS HAVE CHANGED TODAY.

WE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE I.T. COMPONENT COMING IN, OTHER DEPARTMENTS COMING IN.

SO THINGS HAVE CHANGED AUDIO] THAT WE PLAN IN.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH RECESSIONS AND THEN COMING BACK WITH THE ECONOMIC BOOM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION --

>> TREVINO: I THINK WE HAVE THE CITY MANAGER WOULD LIKE TO CHIME IN.

>> SCULLEY: I CAN.

BUT, MIKE, YOU FINISH AND THEN I'M GOING TO ADD TO THAT, BECAUSE I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS TO ADD.

GO AHEAD, MIKE.

>> SO YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT 3% TO 5% INFLATION PER YEAR.

AND, YOU KNOW, THROUGH RECESSION AND SO FORTH.

THAT WAS SUITABLE.

BUT WITH THE ECONOMY BOOMING NOW, IT HAS BEEN DOUBLE DIGIT INFLATION FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT IN 2014.

IT'S HAD TO BE BUILT IN NOW TO GET TO REALITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE METRO AREAS IN TEXAS BOOMING, THE CONTRACTORS ARE VERY BUSY, PRICING GOING UP, LABOR RATES GOING UP, MATERIAL PRICING AS WELL.

ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO BE MADE FOR THAT.

>> SCULLEY: MAY I JUST ADD TO THAT? BECAUSE COUNCILMAN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW FOR OUR BOND PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE THREE LARGEST BOND PROGRAMS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, $2 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND WE ABSOLUTELY PLAN FOR AND BUILD INFLATION INTO OUR CONSTRCTION ACTIVITY.

IN FACT, WHEN WE DID THE FIRST BOND PROGRAM OF $550 MILLION THAT WE TOOK TO THE VOTERS IN 2007, WE BUILT IN THAT INFLATION.

BECAUSE THAT WAS AT A BOOMING ECONOMY AT THAT TIME.

PRICES WERE HIGH.

AND IN FACT THEN WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE GREAT RECESSION.

HOWEVER, WE SAVED $47 MILLION IN THAT BOND PROGRAM THAT THE COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO REPROGRAM INTO OTHER STREETS AND DRAINAGE AND SIDEWALK PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE SAVED $47 MILLION ON THAT PROGRAM.

SO WE DO ESTIMATE.

THEN, SECONDLY, I'LL ADD ONE MORE FACTOR TO WHAT MIKE DESCRIBED AS FAR AS INFLATION.

HURRICANE HARVEY HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION OVER THE PAST YEAR.

WE HAVE SEEN OUR PRICES ESCALATE, NUMBER ONE, AND A SHORTAGE OF SOME OF THE SKILLED WORKERS ON CONSTRUCTION.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD HAVE PREDICTED.

WE BUILD IN INFLATION INTO THE COST, BUT HURRICANE HARVEY HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.

SO THAT'S AN ADDED FACTOR THAT WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE AT THE TIME.

BUT, REGARDLESS, LET ME SAY THAT THIS PROJECT DID -- AND WE TALKED WITH COUNCIL ALONG THE WAY -- ANTICIPATE ADDING SOME COMPONENTS TO THE PROJECT.

WE HADN'T FULLY ANALYZED.

FOR EXAMPLE, I.T., THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

LORI MENTIONED IT IN PASSING.

THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, ADDING THAT COMPONENT TO THE PROJECT INTO THE BASEMENT OF THE FROST TOWER.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE TODAY THEY ARE IN A BUILDING ON FRIO STREET THAT IS IN VERY POOR CONDITION.

WATER LEAKAGE.

IT'S A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO MOVING THAT IN IS AN ADDED EXPENSE.

BUT IN THE LONG RUN, LESS EXPENSE THAN IF WE BUILT A NEW BUILDING, STAND-ALONE FOR THAT COMPONENT.

LET ME JUST SAY, AND I KNOW THERE ARE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WE HAVE TALKED WITH CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS ON THIS PROJECT, BEGINNING IN 2014, AND HAVE COME TO COUNCIL AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE TIMES FOR THE VARIOUS APPROVALS ALONG THE WAY.

AND, LASTLY, LET ME SAY THAT THE FROST PROJECT COULD NOT HAVE GONE FORWARD AT THE TIME IF IT WERE CONTINGENT UPON A VOTE TWO YEARS LATER.

THEIR FINANCING COULD NOT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

SO THE COUNCIL DECISIONS WERE BASED ON STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WITH VERY THOUGHTFUL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.

AND BEN IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE BEST WAYS TO FINANCE

[00:55:02]

THIS AT THE LEAST COST TO THE CITY, AS WE DO ON EACH OF OUR PROJECTS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT FOR YOU.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, SHERYL.

I'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION RELATED TO FINANCING.

LORI, YOU MAY HAVE THIS, OR MAYBE IT'S BEN.

BUT IS THE ESTIMATED INTEREST OR FINANCING CHARGES PART OF THE CALCULATIONS THAT THIS WOULD STILL BE REVENUE POSITIVE? AND WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED FINANCE COST?

>> COUNCILMAN, THEY ARE.

SO WE BUILT ALL THE COST INTO THE PRO FORMA.

AND ON THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE WE HAVE INTEREST RATES, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SHORT-TERM DEBT THAT WE ISSUED WHEN WE UNDERTOOK THE PROJECT IN 2014.

THAT INTEREST RATE IS AROUND 1.75%, PROBABLY GOING UP TO 2% ON ABOUT $5 MILLION, $6 MILLION IN DEBT.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT ASSUMPTIONS RANGING ANYWHERE FROM I BELIEVE UP TO ABOUT 5% ON THE UPPER END.

SO IT WILL PROBABLY BE ISSUED IN SEVERAL INSTALLMENTS.

SOME OF IT WILL BE TAX EXEMPT, SOME OF IT WILL BE TAXABLE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE MODEL.

>> COURAGE: CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE FOR THOSE PERCENTAGES OVER THE COURSE OF THE ESTIMATED PAYOFF?

>> IF YOU GIVE ME A SECOND, I CAN PROBABLY PULL THAT REAL QUICK.

>> COURAGE: I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT.

AND YOU MAYBE CAN SHARE THAT WE ME SEPARATELY, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING FOR EVERYBODY TO HEAR HOW MUCH INTEREST WE'RE PAYING ON A $127 MILLION PROJECT.

>> AGAIN, WE'RE NOT FINANCING THAT.

AS WE SELL THIS BUILDING, SEVERAL OF OUR OTHER PROPERTIES, THAT WILL OBVIOUSLY GENERATE CASH PROCEEDS FOR US.

WE'LL USE THAT CASH TO BE PAYING FOR PART OF THE RENOVATIONS AND PART OF THE COST OF THE BUILDING.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE FINANCING THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT.

WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSER TO FINANCING ABOUT 100, MAYBE $105 MILLION OF THAT, TOTAL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ONE SECOND.

I WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE WITH REGARD TO THE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES AGREEMENT.

SO LET'S CONTAIN ALL CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO THAT AGREEMENT.

>> COURAGE: WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I THINK MY COMMENTS ARE REGARDING THAT BECAUSE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE IT.

AND I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE WASN'T MORE CLARITY TO ME AS A NEW COUNCIL PERSON -- I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE, THAT FULLY CONVEYED THE TOTAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ENCUMBERING HERE.

I WAS RECENTLY SHOWN A DOCUMENT THAT LAID OUT THE PURCHASE PRICE.

AND THIS WAS FROM 2016 AND IT SAID $75 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COST.

WELL, I NEVER RECEIVED THAT BEFORE.

I'VE HEARD OUR BRIEFINGS SAYING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A 52, $54 MILLION PURCHASE AND THERE WAS MAYBE $7 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

BUT THAT $75 MILLION NUMBER WAS NEVER SENT TO MY OFFICE AND I NEVER DISCUSSED IT WITH ANYBODY ON THE STAFF.

AND I THINK THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE FULLY CONVEYED TO US WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE UNDERTAKING MAJOR EXPENDITURES.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF PRIOR COUNCIL AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY NEEDS IT.

BUT IT'S A MATTER OF CLARITY THAT I THINK I'M GOING TO ASK CITY TO DO A BETTER JOB OF RELAYING TO ME AND MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON ALL OF THE COSTS INVOLVED AND ALL OF THESE PROJECTS PROJECTS THAT WE UNDERTAKE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST REAL QUICK, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

YOU SAID EARLIER, AGAIN, HALF OF US WEREN'T HERE.

THIS WAS AN UNSOLICITED BID.

THEY JUST OUT OF THE BLUE CAME UP AND OFFERED THIS? OR WAS THERE COORDINATION WITH GRAHAM WESTIN? I'M JUST CURIOUS.

>> SCULLEY: MAYOR, IF I MAY ANSWER THAT.

YES, IT WAS UNSOLICITED.

BACK IN 2014 WHEN WE RECEIVED THE PROPOSAL, THE STATE LAW ALLOWED FOR UNSOLICITED P3 TO THE CITY.

SUBSEQUENT TO THAT STATE LAW HAS CHANGE AND THE CITY MUST REQUEST PROPOSALS ON P3.

BUT UNDER STATE LAW AT THE TIME WE RECEIVED AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FROST HEADQUARTERS, OUR PURCHASE OF THE FROST BANK BUILDING AS WELL AS THESE OTHER PROPERTIES AS PART OF THE MIX.

WE NEGOTIATED THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AS WE STUDIED IT AND THEN MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.

AND IT CHANGED DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AS WE DID OUR FINANCIAL DUE DILIGENCE ON THE PROJECT AND DISCUSSED IT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT, YES, IN 2014 IT WAS AN

[01:00:06]

UNSOLICITED P3, WHICH WAS ALLOWED BY THE LAW AT THAT TIME.

>> BROCKHOUSE: JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY DID THIS WORK AND APPROACHED US.

IT WASN'T LIKE A JOINT EFFORT?

>> SCULLEY: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THEY JUST CAME TO US AND PITCHED THE DEAL?

>> SCULLEY: YES, THEY DID.

>> BROCKHOUSE: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I DEFINED UNSOLICITED.

YOU SHOWED A NET GAIN OF $3.1 MILLION OVER 30 YEARS IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION YOU GAVE ON THIS SUBJECT.

SO WHAT'S CHANGED AND NOW WE'RE BANKING ON REVENUE NEUTRAL HERE? I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE SHIFTED OVER THE SPAN OF A COUPLE OF YEARS TO NOW WE'RE JUST REVENUE NEUTRAL?

>> COUNCILMAN, WE'RE CONSTANTLY UPDATING THIS PRO FORMA AND MAKING A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS AROUND THIS 30-YEAR PLAN.

SO THINGS AROUND, EVERYTHING FROM THE PARKING GARAGE, MAKING THAT AVAILABLE NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, HOW MUCH REVENUE DO WE PICK UP OFF OF THAT? I MENTIONED THOSE ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE SELLING, UPDATED APPRAISALS FOR THOSE WERE INCLUDED.

WHEN WE MOVE INTO THE BUILDING, TIMING.

SO WHO MOVES IN FIRST.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING WE'RE NOT PAYING ANY LEASE COST FOR, VERSUS RIVERVIEW WE ARE.

IF THEY MOVE IN FIRST, THAT CHANGES THE PRO FORMA.

ALL THOSE THINGS CONTINUE TO GET UPDATED.

INTEREST RATE ASSUMPTIONS, ASSUMPTIONS AROUND THE O&M COSTS ON THE BUILDING.

WE CONTINUE TO REFINE ALL OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.

AS WE UPDATE IT WE CONTINUE TO SHOW A POSITIVE BENEFIT TO THE CITY OVER THE 30-YEAR PERIOD.

>> BROCKHOUSE: OKAY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BROCKHOUSE: AS COUNCILMAN SALDANA WAS ILLUSTRATING YOUR RESUME, YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE GOING THROUGH THAT AND YOU'RE THE EXPERT AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRACKING THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO AS WE GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BETTER INFORMATION, WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE MODEL AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS A POSITIVE COST BENEFIT TO THE CITY OVER THAT 30-YEAR PERIOD.

>> BROCKHOUSE: PERFECT.

AND I THINK JUST TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, HE'S RIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS AND I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED SOME MORE INFORMATION ON IT.

SO I THINK HE MAKES VALID POINTS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I THINK IT'S A WORTHY PROJECT.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF POINTS.

I WANTED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS TO KEEP US UP TO DATE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE COULD USE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.

BUT THAT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.

WE'LL HAVE TO DIG DEEPER AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROGRESS.

I DO APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE ITEM TODAY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, LORI, BEN, AND MIKE FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND I'M NOT SURE I HEARD ANYONE MENTION THIS, EXCEPT MAYBE SHERYL, BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE BRINGING SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES INTO ONE BUILDING, INTO ONE LOCATION.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR, I THINK, EFFICIENCIES, BUT ALSO INTERACTION AND CREATIVITY AND JUST A FASTER WAY TO FIND SOLUTIONS AMONG STAFF.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT.

IN THE LIST OF DEPARTMENTS BEING CONSOLIDATED, I DID LOOK AT A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION AND THERE WAS A LISTING OF THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, WHICH IS NO LONGER WITH US.

IS THAT STILL THE PLAN THAT THEY'LL BE COMING IN?

THEY WILL BE STAYING IN THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER.

>> SANDOVAL: OKAY.

GREAT.

AND THEN I DO JUST WANT A CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION.

SO WE'RE APPROVING THE 59.5 FOR THE DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT.

AND THEN WE'RE AMENDING THE CAPITAL BUDGET BY 75.6 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

COULD YOU CLARIFY HOW MUCH OF THAT IS A DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT AND WHAT THE BALANCE IS FOR?

>> SURE, COUNCILWOMAN.

SO THE DIFFERENCE, THERE'S ABOUT $16 MILLION.

AND SO OUTSIDE OF THE DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT IS SOME MAJOR COMPONENTS.

THE I.T. COMPONENTS OF THE BUILDING, WE WOULD LIKE FIBER OPTICS AND COMPUTERS.

WE DON'T ROUTE THAT THROUGH THE CONTRACTING TEAM.

WE KEEP THAT SEPARATE.

IT'S MORE EFFICIENT THAT WAY.

SECURITY SYSTEM.

THE COMMISSIONING OF THE SYSTEMS THEMSELVES.

SO AS WE COME IN WITH A LOT OF SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES, OBVIOUSLY IN A FACILITY LIKE THIS AND THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, THEN WE GO THROUGH A COMMISSIONING PROCESS SEPARATE FROM THE DESIGN BUILDER TO MAKE SURE IT'S OPTIMIZED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONTINGENCY BUILT IN OUTSIDE OF THE DESIGN BUILD AS WELL.

I KNOW A WHILE BACK I HAD ASKED

[01:05:02]

YOU ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES FOR THE BUILDING.

AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME CONTINGENCY IN ORDER TO ADD THAT.

I HAVE HERE A MEMO, I BELIEVE IT'S FROM YOU, DATED YESTERDAY ABOUT THE PROPOSED SUSTAINABILITY ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT.

MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THESE BECAUSE I THINK THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

WE'RE TARGETING TO MEET LEAD SILVER AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A CERTIFICATION IN THAT ASPECT.

COULD YOU SPEAK ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL MEAN.

>> LEAD IS THE RECOGNIZED STANDARD FOR ALL THINGS SUSTAINABLE RELATED TO FACILITIES AND OTHER TYPES OF PROJECTS .

WITH THIS PROJECT, WITH THE PLANNING, THE DESIGN PROCESS, THE CONSTRUCTION AND O&M, WE WILL ACCUMULATE POINTS THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND GET TO THAT LEAD SILVER LEVEL, WHICH IS A COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO DO THAT FROM THE PAST.

>> SANDOVAL: GREAT.

SO THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WEREN'T ON YOUR LIST THAT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

AND ONE OF THEM, REGARDING INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL AIR QUALITY AND POTENTIAL OFF-GASSING OF MATERIALS.

WILL YOU BE -- I HOPE YOU WILL BE CONSIDERING -- ARE YOU LAUGHING BECAUSE I SAID OFF-GASSING?

>> SANDOVAL: SO WHEN WE USE PAINTS THAT ARE OIL-BASED OR WE BUY MATERIALS MADE OF SYNTHETIC FABRICS, FURNITURE MADE OF SYNTHETIC MATERIALS, THERE WILL BE A SMELL THAT COMES OFF OF THAT.

AND USUALLY THOSE ARE BAD FOR US IF WE INHALE THEM IN LARGE QUANTITIES FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO TO OUR EMPLOYEES IN THAT BUILDING.

I JUST DIDN'T SEE THAT MENTIONED.

ALSO, IN TERMS OF POSSIBLY USING A GRAY WATER LOOP FOR LANDSCAPING.

I SEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CAPTURE RAIN WATER AND FILTER IT BEFORE GOING INTO STORM WATER.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A POSSIBLE GRAY WATER LOOP? IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WILL LOOK AT THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS, YES.

>> SANDOVAL: OKAY.

GREAT.

AND THEN I NOTICED THERE IS GOING TO BE A CAFETERIA.

AND I HAVE BEEN IN SOME BUILDINGS WHERE THE CAFETERIA IS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BE SUSTAINABLE AND STOP USING DISPOSABLE PRODUCTS BUT THEN THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO ACTUALLY WASH THE DISHES.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CONSIDER AS WELL IN THE DESIGN.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO AN UPDATE ON THAT LATER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE I.T., THE MOVING OF THE I.T.

COULD YOU CLARIFY HOW MUCH THAT WAS, THE RELOCATION OF THOSE?

>> I KNOW THE VALUE OF THE I.T.

WORK THAT'S GOING ON IS ABOUT $7 MILLION FOR ALL THAT.

BUT THE MOVE ITSELF, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER FOR THAT.

>> GONZALES: AND SO $7 MILLION TO --

>> THAT'S THE I.T. COMPONENTS OF THE BUILDING ITSELF.

BUT AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS, I.T. IS MOVING A LOT OF THEIR EQUIPMENT, SERVERS AND SO FORTH INTO FROST AS WELL.

SO WE'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.

THE I.T. FOR THE FACILITY IS ABOUT $7 MILLION WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE FIBEROPTICS, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM.

>> GONZALES: NO, MY QUESTION WAS MORE OF THE RELOCATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN ASKING HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO RELOCATE THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND PART OF THAT WAS TO FREE UP THAT SPACE ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE FOR HOPEFUL PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OR SOMETHING OTHER THAN JUST GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

BECAUSE THAT WHOLE SECTION OF THE NEAR WEST SIDE IS THE MUNICIPAL COURTS BUILDING AND I.T. AND THERE'S A POLICE SUBSTATION AND THE JAIL AND THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND HOSPITALS AND, REALLY, VERY LITTLE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.

I HAVE BEEN ASKING THAT QUESTION OVER THE YEARS, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO RELOCATE.

SO PERHAPS THE HOLDOUT WAS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO RELOCATE THEM.

NOW WE HAVE AN AREA TO RELOCATE THEM.

MAYBE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WHAT I WAS AFTER, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

>> WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT BROKEN UP WITH THE INFORMATION WE HAVE.

>> GONZALES: I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION IS THERE SPACE IN THE FROST TOWER FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, WHICH WE WERE BRIEFED ON THE OTHER DAY AND THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THAT BUILDING GIVEN THAT IT HAS THE SAME NEED TO REHAB AS THE I.T. BUILDING, WHICH IS WHY WE RELOCATED THEM.

>> WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT BUILDING.

THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH SPACE

[01:10:04]

IN THE FROST BANK TOWER.

PRIMARILY DUE TO THE SPACE NEEDS BUT ALSO IT'S A LARGE PUBLIC INTERFACE SO WE WOULD NEED QUITE A BIT OF PARKING AS WELL.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE FOUR FLOORS AVAILABLE FOR LEASE.

AND IT COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE MUNICIPAL COURTS.

>> GONZALES: WELL, THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

I WAS HOPEFUL THAT PERHAPS WE COULD DO THAT AS WELL AND FREE UP THAT SPACE FOR SOME PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GREAT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

AND I'LL WRAP IT UP FIRST BY SAYING, LORI, YOU'VE COME TO OUR COUNCIL OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I CAN'T EVEN COUNT HOW MANY TIMES NOW, BUT EACH TIME YOU'VE BEEN LAUDED FOR THE WORK ON WHAT IS TRULY AN ELEGANT TRANSACTION BETWEEN MANY ENTITIES THAT WILL RESULT IN I THINK ONE OF THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LAST TEN YEARS IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY AND EVIDENCE OF RESURGENCE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.

AND I KNOW SECRETARY CASTRO IS HERE AND IT WAS A VISION CREATED BY THIS COMMUNITY DURING SA 2020 THAT IS MANIFEST NOW IN THIS NEW FROST TOWER AND, OF COURSE, THE CONSOLIDATION OF FACILITIES INTO THE OLD FROST TOWER.

PERHAPS MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT TOM FROST COULD NOT SEE THE DAY THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY, ALL PARTIES, MOVE INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE BUILDINGS, BUT I KNOW HIS PRESENCE IS VERY MUCH FELT AS THE NEXT STEPS OF THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED THIS WHOLE WAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSISTENCE.

PERHAPS IT IS FITTING AND APPROPRIATE THAT THIS IS A LARGE CONTRACT THAT WE TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

BUT WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE UP THE MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 6.

AND PLEASE VOTE.

[7. Approving the following items related to the Hardberger Park Land Bridge, a 2017 – 2022 General Obligation Bond funded Project, located in Council Districts 8 and 9: [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Mike Frisbie, Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements] 7A. Ordinance approving a Donation Agreement with the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, of which $1,000,000 to be funded by Bexar County and $2,000,000 to be funded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant, $4,205,000 to be funded by private donation and $2,795,000 from the Hardberger Conservancy in connection with the Hardberger Park Land Bridge Project. 7B. Ordinance approving a Multiple Use Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation authorizing the City of San Antonio to enter, construct and maintain a land bridge in the right of way located over Wurzbach Parkway, a roadway on the state highway system, necessary for the completion of the Hardberger Park Land Bridge Project. 7C. Ordinance approving a construction contract in an amount not to exceed $18,265,000 to SpawGlass Civil Construction Inc. for a land bridge over Wurzbach Parkway connecting the West and East Parks to provide pedestrian, bicycle and wildlife mobility throughout the Park, a 2017 General Obligation Bond funded Project; and amending the FY 2018-2023 Capital Improvements Program with the appropriation of $182,325.00 from the Tree Canopy Preservation and Mitigation Fund for the Hardberger Park Land Bridge Project.]

>> ITEM NO. 7 IS APPROVING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RELATED TO THE HARDBERGER PARKLAND BRIDGE, A 2017-2022 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDED PROJECT LOCATED IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 8 AND 9.

ITEM NO. 7.

ITEM 7A IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE DONATION AGREEMENT WITH PHIL HARDBERGER PARK CONSERVANCY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10 MILLION OF WHICH $1 MILLION WOULD BE FUNDED BY BEXAR COUNTY AND $2 MILLION WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE GRANT.

$4,205,000 TO BE FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATION, AND $2,000,795 FROM THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY IN CONNECTION WITH HARDBERGER PARKLAND BRIDGE PROJECT .

ITEM B IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING A MULTIPLE-USE AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO ENTER, CONSTRUCT, AND MAINTAIN A LAND BRIDGE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY LOCATED OVER WURZBACH PARKWAY, A ROADWAY ON THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM NECESSARY FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE HARDBERGER PARKLAND BRIDGE PROJECT.

AND, FINALLY, ITEM C IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18,265,000 TO SPAWGLASS CIVIL CONSTRUCTION, INCORPORATED WEST AND EAST PARKS TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, AND WILDLIFE MOBILITY THROUGHOUT THE PARK.

A 2017 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FUNDED PROJECT AND AMENDING THE FISCAL18 THROUGH 2023 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM WITH APPROPRIATION OF $182,325 FROM THE TREE CANOPY PRESERVATION AND MITIGATION FUND FOR THE HARDBERGER PARK LAND BRIDGE PROJECT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MIKE, I REALLY DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE ONE.

>> I DO HAVE ONE.

I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

EXCITED ABOUT THE COMPONENTS.

THREE PARTS, AS THE CITY CLERK MENTIONED.

THE DONATION AGREEMENT, MULTI-USE AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT, AND ALSO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT ITSELF.

THERE'S QUITE A HISTORY WITH THIS PARK DATING BACK TO 2006.

AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE FORMER MAYOR PHIL HARDBERGER HERE AND THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY.

GREAT FORESIGHT BACK AT THAT TIME TO PURCHASE THE 311 ACRES OF THE RANCH ESTATES.

AND SHERYL SKULLEY WORKING WITH THE FORMER MAYOR VERY CLOSELY TO GET THAT PURCHASE COMPLETE.

AND THE MASTER PLANNING

[01:15:01]

HAPPENED.

SO THIS LAND BRIDGE HAS BEEN PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.

GOING BACK YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 2008 TIME-FRAME.

SO HERE WE ARE TEN YEARS LATER, READY TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.

OF COURSE, A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS HAVE HAPPENED OUT THERE THROUGHOUT THE PARK AS WELL.

SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE HARDBERGER PARK IS SEPARATED BY WURZBACH PARKWAY.

A COUPLE HUNDRED ACRES ON ONE SIDE, 100 ACRES ON THE OTHER SIDE IN DISTRICTS 8 AND 9.

AND THE PROJECT SCOPE IS THE PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE, AND WILDLIFE MOBILITY FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.

RATHER THAN HAVING PEOPLE, ANIMALS CROSSING WURZBACH PARKWAY, EVEN AT THOSE INTERCHANGES, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS ICONIC PARK.

SO SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR SOME KEY THINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THIS WILL TRULY BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN THE FUTURE THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE AS UNIQUE AND ICONIC.

SO YOU CAN SEE MULTIPLE FACTORS THERE.

AGAIN, LIKE EVERY PROJECT, SUSTAINABILITY IS PART OF IT.

AS THE STORM WATER COMES, LIKE IT DID A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AS IT COMES, WITH THIS PROJECT THE STORM WATER WILL BE COLLECTED INTO A CISTERN THAT'S USED TO DO THE IRRIGATION AND THE LANDSCAPING OF THE FOLIAGE AND TREES AROUND THE AREA.

AND IT'S ALSO FILTERED AS IT CROSSES INTO A NATURAL CREEKWAY AS WELL.

YOU CAN SEE A VISUAL FROM THE MASTER PLAN.

THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

ADA ACCESSIBILITY ALL THE WAY ACROSS, AND VERY DRAMATIC VIEW THERE.

THE BOND PROGRAM, THERE'S $5.5 MILLION IN THE PARKS PROPOSITION.

$7.5 MILLION IN THE STREETS PROPOSITION FOR A TOTAL OF $13 MILLION.

BUT THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAPPEN WITHOUT THAT HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY MATCH OF $10 MILLION.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THEY'VE GOT THAT SECURE AND WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE THOROUGH PROCESS FROM PRESOLICITATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS THROUGH A COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL PROCESS.

YOU CAN SEE SCORING CRITERIA HERE.

OF COURSE, THE SMALL BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS, MANDATORY GOALS, A MENTORSHIP PROJECT REQUIREMENT, AND SPAWGLASS, WHO IS THE RECOMMENDED CONTRACTOR THAT CAME OUT ON TOP OF THE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA.

THEY WILL BE OFFICIALLY MENTORING INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS A SMALL AFRICAN AMERICAN-OWNED COMPANY.

AND SO THAT WILL HELP THEM.

AND THEN THEY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN ALAMO COLLEGE WITH SOME EDUCATION PROCESS AS WELL.

SO HERE'S THE TIMELINE AS WE -- WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH, WHERE WE'RE AT.

AND THEN WE EXPECT THE CONSTRUCTION TO START LATER THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND FINISHING UP IN THE SPRING OF 2020 TIME-FRAME.

SO ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF -- ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OF CONSTRUCTION.

SO, AGAIN, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE THREE COMPONENTS.

THE DONATION AGREEMENT FROM THE HARDBERGER PARK CONSERVANCY.

THE MULTI-USE AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT, SINCE WURZBACH PARKWAY IS THEIR FACILITY, THEY'RE PART OF THE DESIGN REVIEW.

THEY GIVE US ACCESS DURING CONSTRUCTION.

WE WILL MAINTAIN TRAFFIC WELL THROUGH THERE.

WE'LL BE MAINTAINING TWO LANES EACH WAY.

AND THERE MAY BE A PERIODIC NIGHT CLOSURE, BUT THAT WILL BE WELL ORCHESTRATED.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE TRAVELING PUBLIC WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY THIS PROJECT.

AND THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT WITH SPAWGLASS AND THEIR TEAM.

AND ALSO THE APPROPRIATION OF THE 182, ROUGHLY THOUSAND FROM THE TREE CANOPY MITIGATION FUND.

A PROJECT LIKE THIS HAS REQUIREMENTS FOR TREES.

AND THIS IS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, AS WE HAVE DONE WITH OTHER PROJECTS, WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL.

WITH THAT, GREAT PROJECT.

READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION, AND WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MIKE.

I'LL JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS BEFORE I HAND IT OFF TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

I DO REMEMBER PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO OVER THE YEARS HAVE TAUGHT US THINGS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT JUST ROADWAYS AND BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTY AND HEALTH AND GREEN SPACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW THAT COME TO MIND, SOME OF THEM ARE IN THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW.

HOWARD PEAK, LYLE LARSON, MAYOR HARDBERGER, BONNIE CONNOR, MARIA, JULIAN CASTRO, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

CREATING A CITY THAT IS NOT JUST ONE OF FUNCTION BUT OF BEAUTY AND AESTHETICS.

AND I REMEMBER STORIES LIKE THAT

[01:20:01]

BECAUSE THEY'RE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY MY WIFE AND I CHOSE TO STAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND RAISE OUR FAMILY.

TODAY, DESPITE OUR RELATIVELY SORDID HISTORY WITH GREEN SPACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE ONE OF THE PROUDEST CITIES WITH REGARD TO OUR LINEAR CREEKWAY SYSTEM IN A TRULY EQUITABLE PARK SYSTEM, OR BECOMING EQUITABLE.

PARKS ALL ACROSS THE CITY NOW ARE DESTINATIONS FOR PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE CITY.

I THINK ONE OF THE LEGACIES THAT COUNCILMAN SALDANA WILL LEAVE BEHIND IS A PARK TRULY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY IN PEARSALL, AND WE HAVE ALL WATCHED IN RELATIVE AWE AS THAT HAS COME TOGETHER.

HARDBERGER PARK IS NO DIFFERENT.

I AM PROUD OF IT.

I'M PROUD THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED IT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THEIR VOTES.

I'M PROUD OF THE ORIGINATION OF THIS STORY, WHICH WAS THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING GREEN SPACES IN THE NORTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WAS SLATED TO BECOME ANOTHER TRACT HOME DEVELOPMENT OVER 3,000 HOMES.

IT WOULD HAVE AIDED TO THE SPRAWL THAT'S OCCURRED OVER THE YEARS AND SPREADING OF RESOURCES ACROSS OUR CITY.

I WAS A DISTRICT 8 CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WALKING DOOR TO DOOR ASKING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES WERE AND ASKING WHAT WE SHOULD PLACE ON THE BOND.

A LOT OF THEM TALKED ABOUT STREETS AND THEY TALKED ABOUT FACILITIES AND THEY TALKED ABOUT SERVICES.

BUT THE THING THAT KEPT COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN WAS THEY WANTED A COMPLETION OF THE ORIGINAL VISION OF THE HARDBERGER PARK, WHICH IS THIS BRIDGE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY DEMANDED A LOT FROM THEIR PUBLIC SERVANTS ABOUT NOT JUST PUTTING THIS ON TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO INVITING PRIVATE BUSINESSES, PHILANTHROPISTS TO BE INVOLVED.

I'M HAPPY THAT THIS IS FINALLY THE DAY WE CAN CAST THE VOTE THAT RECOGNIZES ALL THAT HARD WORK AND THAT PUTS A PERIOD TO THE END OF THE SENTENCE THAT BEGAN WITH A BOND PROGRAM, A BOND PROJECT THAT WAS PASSED BY THE HIGHEST VOTER APPROVAL IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.

SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED.

THERE'S A HUGE TEAM OUT THERE OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS UP HERE AND ELSEWHERE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS WORK AT THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE.

TO NOT JUST GET A MILLION DOLLARS COMING IN FROM THE STATE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS AN EQUAL AMOUNT GOING TO WEST SIDE PARKS AS PART OF THE SAME PROJECT.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT HARDBERGER, WHETHER YOU LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, ON THE NORTH SIDE, OR THE WEST SIDE, OR THE EAST SIDE AND YOU ARE ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO VISIT THAT PARK EVERY SINGLE DAY, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT YOUR FEET IN THAT PARK ARE NOT JUST A TESTAMENT TO THAT HARD WORK, BUT ARE ALSO PROVING UP THE POINT THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY YOU SHOULD HAVE HIGH QUALITY, HEALTHY, AND EQUITABLE GREEN SPACE.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAND OFF NOW TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MIKE, I JUST WANT TO CHECK A COUPLE OF CONSTRUCTION DATES WITH YOU.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE SCHEDULED TO BREAK GROUND IN ABOUT ONE MONTH.

WHAT IS THE PROJECTED TIME FOR COMPLETION OF THE BRIDGE?

>> YEAH, WE SHOW SPRING OF 2020.

SPRING OF 2020.

SO IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF.

GOOD.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SO THEY CAN ANTICIPATE THAT.

I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE PARK AND VIEW WHERE THE BRIDGE IS GOING TO BE ON ONE SIDE OF THE PARK.

I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH FORMER MAYOR HARDBERGER.

IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE FOR HIM TO KIND OF DESCRIBE THE VISION THAT WAS GOING INTO THIS BRIDGE AND THE ENTIRE PARK.

YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THIS WAS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BOND PROJECT THAT WENT OUT IN THE 2017 BOND.

BUT IT WAS ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

AND WHILE SOME OF US MAY NOT PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF IT WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED -- I WAS -- OUR JOB NOW, THOUGH, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECT IS BUILT ON TIME, WITHIN BUDGET, AND BECOMES WORTHY OF A WORLD-CLASS DESIGNATION.

THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS BRIDGE IS SOMETHING THAT ONCE COMPLETED SHOULD HELP PUT SAN ANTONIO FURTHER ON THE MAP, AND I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE WELL APPRECIATED BY EVERYBODY IN SAN ANTONIO.

I WANT TO THANK THE CONSERVANCY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT IN TO HOLD UP THEIR PART.

WE NEED TO THANK THE PRIVATE

[01:25:02]

DONORS, AND ESPECIALLY MAYOR HARDBERGER FOR HIS VISION ON THIS.

IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE IF IT WASN'T HAVE DONE AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND THE TREE CENTENNIAL FEST AT HARDBERGER PARK ON OCTOBER 6.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT NOON, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE PARK, FOR THE TOBIN LAND BRIDGE AT THE PARK.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE MORNING AT 8:30.

THERE WILL BE A FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT WITH ACTIVITIES, PLANTINGS, AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON.

AND SO IT SHOULD BE A TIME FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE.

AND SO, MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7, 7A, 7B, AND 7C.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS 7A THROUGH C.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTING ANY OF THESE ITEMS TODAY.

BUT I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY AND REMAIN CONSISTENT IN MY OPPOSITION TO THE LAND BRIDGE.

SO I THINK -- AND I DO WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE THAT THIS IS EQUITABLE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.

THIS IS ANYTHING BUT EQUITABLE AND THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE GONE TO THIS PARK WHEN DISTRICT 6 STRUGGLES TO GET $368,000 FOR A PARK, I THINK STANDS OUT IN THE EYES OF VOTERS.

AND WHEN WE CALL THIS A BOND-APPROVED PROJECT, IT TECHNICALLY IS ACCURATE.

BUT WHEN YOU BURY THESE PROJECTS AMONG 64 OTHERS YOU'RE ASKING CITIZENS TO MAKE A VOTE AND HAVE TO KILL 63 OTHERS TO APPROVE THIS.

SO FOR IT TO BE CALLED A BOND-APPROVED -- YES, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THIS STANDING ON ITS OWN WITH THIS LEVEL OF COST IN COMPARISON TO WHAT OTHER PARKS IN OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVE, THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE.

IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF EQUITY AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT WITH THE WORDS WE USE.

BOND APPROVED, TRUE.

CITIZEN APPROVED, I KNOW IF I ASK IN MY COMMUNITY THE BULK OF THE FEEDBACK I GET IS IT'S JUST A WRONG ALLOCATION OF THOSE RESOURCES.

AND WHEN WE SPLIT IT INTO TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS LIKE THAT WE PUT IT IN PARKS AND STREETS, I THINK THAT ALSO AND SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT WERE VOTED ON AMONGST THOSE TWO BOND ITEMS ARE 138.

SO A CITIZEN, TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY NO TO THIS, WOULD HAVE HAD TO SAY NO TO 136 OTHER PROJECTS.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO THE FACT IT WAS PASSED BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITY MEANS THAT ON THE WHOLE THE PARKS AND THE STREETS BOND PROJECTS WERE CONSIDERED WORTHY AS A GROUPING, NOT AS INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

SO I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE LANGUAGE, THERE'S A LITTLE DEEPER MEANING TO IT TO THE CITIZENS.

SO, LOOK, THE PROJECT ITSELF, I WENT AND TOURED THE PARK AND IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL -- IT'S GOING TO LOOK GREAT.

IT PROBABLY WILL BE FANTASTIC.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE HIGHER PRIORITY NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED THAT MONEY BEING SPENT ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER MOST.

I THINK IT'S ALSO FORTUITOUS WE'RE VOTING ON THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE.

RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T USE BOND MONEY, BUT IMAGINE WHAT $15 MILLION OR $12.5 MILLION COULD HAVE DONE IN THAT RANGE.

IT COULD HAVE PRODUCED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS HOUSING 4,000 RESIDENTS.

EVERY DOLLAR MATTERS AND

>> SO MY OPPOSITION IS TO REMAIN CONSISTENT ON IT FROM THE BEGINNING.

ONCE WE BREAK GROUND, I'M CURIOUS, MIKE, IF THERE ARE -- ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LANDLOCKED BY YOUR PRESENTATION, THERE IS NO COST OVERRUNS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF IT DID OCCUR, WHO'S GOING TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THOSE.

>> RIGHT, SO NO, THIS PROJECT IS WITHIN BUDGET AS IT MOVES FORWARD.

WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE AN OVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.

IF SOMETHING UNFORESEEN HAPPENED, WE DON'T EXPECT THE CITY TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY ON THIS PROJECT.

>> AND IF SOMETHING UNFORESEEN HAPPENED WHO WOULD PAY FOR IT?

>> WELL, WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THE CONSERVANCY --

>> THE CONSERVANCY, BECAUSE THAT SAID ON THAT SLIDE THEIR CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED $10 MILLION OF WHICH THEY'VE ALREADY DONATED SO WOULD THAT TURN INTO SOME SORT OF CONVERSATION OR ACTION BETWEEN THE CONSERVANCY AND --

>> WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DELIVERY OF THIS, WITH SPAWGLASS AND ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT'S BEEN DONE, WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL STAY WITHIN BUDGET.

AGAIN, IF SOMETHING DID HAPPEN THAT WAS TOTALLY UNFORESEEN, WE EXPECT THE CONSERVANCY WILL NEED TO STEP UP ON THAT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: CITY MANAGER HAS A COMMENT.

>> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY THAT WE MANAGED TO BUNT, SO EACH OF -- BUDGET, SO EACH OF OUR BOND PROJECTS HAS A BUDGET AND WE STAY WITHIN WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE VOTERS SO WE EITHER CUT THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, IF THERE IS UNFORESEEN EXPENSE OR THERE IS AN OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCE

[01:30:01]

TO COVER THAT DIFFERENCE.

SO JUST TO EMPHASIZE ON ALL OF OUR BOND PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITHIN BUDGET IN TOTAL, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT MANAGED BUDGET.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

IT'S A GRAND VISION, VOTER APPROVED, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A PART AND WE'RE FIGHTING HOW WE CAN TO GET $35 MILLION FOR FENCES IN THE EDGEWOOD PARK.

THIS DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH RESIDENTS, AND SOMEONE HAS TO BE THE VOICE FOR THAT AT SOME PARTICULAR TIME WHEN IT COMES TO ALL SIDES OF EQUITY.

SO I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR THE HARD WORK AND THE CONSERVANCY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MONEY BEING RAISED AND I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK BUT UNFORTUNATELY TODAY I WON'T BE SUPPORTING YOUR PROJECT, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK, MIKE, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS AND WATCHING IT GOING FORWARD FOR THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY SIDE OF THINGS.

SO THANK YOU, SIR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BROCKHOUSE, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.

FIRST ONE IS, MIKE, CAN YOU COME UP HERE, OR ROZI? ON ITEM NO. 7 -- SLIDE NO. 7, THE COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL.

NOW, DO WE NORMALLY USE COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS ON THIS ONE, ON THE BOND PROJECTS, OR IS IT LOW BID?

>> WE -- SO WE HAVE A SPECTRUM OF DELIVERY METHODS, AND WE USE COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS FAIRLY OFTEN FOR FIRE STATIONS, PARK PROJECTS, SO THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL AT ALL FOR A PARK PROJECT.

>> VIAGRAN: FOR A COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL?

>> YEAH, AND THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY, THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE DESIGN, AND THEY'VE BEEN PAYING FOR THE DESIGN RIGHT ALONG.

SO THE DESIGN TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING FOR THEM AND BEING PAID BY THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT.

SO THAT WOULD LEND ITSELF TO --T NEED A DESIGN TEAM.

THEY ALREADY HAVE THE DESIGN TEAM, BUT WHAT WE DID NOT WANT IS A LOW-BID CONTRACT NECESSARILY FOR THIS TYPE OF UNIQUE STRUCTURE AND FACILITY.

IT'S VERY UNIQUE, AND SO WE NEED A BEST VALUE DELIVERY, WHICH IS COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL FOR THIS CASE.

>> VIAGRAN: AND I THINK WHAT WAS MENTIONED JUST FROM MY COLLEAGUE EARLIER ABOUT IF THERE ARE -- OUR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT OR THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IS NOT TO EXCEED $18.265 MILLION.

>> RIGHT.

>> VIAGRAN: IF THAT WERE TO CHANGE OR EXCEED THAT, THEN WHAT HAPPENS? IT WOULD GO TO THE CONSERVANCY THEN?

>> RIGHT.

IF -- IF THE COST FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON --

>> VIAGRAN: BECAUSE WE'RE -- WE'RE LIMITED TO THE 13.5.

>> EXACTLY.

>> VIAGRAN: THE 13 MILLION FROM THE BOND, PERIOD.

>> RIGHT.

SO THIS PROJECT USES THE CITY DOLLARS IN FULL, AND SO IF THERE'S MORE NEEDED, WHICH IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

>> VIAGRAN: IT WILL BE THE CONSERVANCY.

>> THEN WE WOULD BE TALKING WITH THE CONSERVANCY ABOUT THAT.

>> VIAGRAN: I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE HARDBERGER CONSERVANCY TO RAISING ALL THAT MONEY, THE $10 MILLION.

IT WAS A HUGE LIFT AND YOU ALL DID THAT, AND CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU SET FORTH THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO IT AND YOU HAVE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

XAVIER URRUTIA, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

RIGHT NOW IN -- IN THE BOND -- IN THE BOND FOR PARKS, HOW MUCH -- HOW MUCH DID WE HAVE IN THE 2017 BOND FOR PARKS EXCLUDING HARDBERGER'S PORTION, HARDBERGER PARK PORTION.

>> WE EXCLUDE IT 181 MILLION, 79 PROJECTS FOR 187 MILLION, SO IF YOU TAKE THE 1.5 THAT WAS IN THE PARK'S PROPOSITION, THAT LEAVES YOU WITH 78 PROJECTS AT $181 MILLION.

>> VIAGRAN: 181 MILLION FOR 78 PROJECTS.

>> CORRECT.

>> VIAGRAN: AND CURRENTLY, WHAT IS OUR BUDGET FOR -- OR WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET -- OUR BUDGET FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE FOR OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT?

>> FOR SPECIFICALLY IN PARKS THIS YEAR THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR '19 BUDGET IS AROUND $3.1 MILLION FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

THAT WOULD BE OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE WOULD DO IN NORMAL MAINTENANCE, EVERYDAY MAINTENANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A LIGHT BULB IS BURNED OUT OR SOMETHING.

>> VIAGRAN: OR A CEILING NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

>> CORRECT.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

AND WHAT -- BUT WHAT IS THE NEED THAT WE HAVE THEN?

>> SO --

>> VIAGRAN: WITH PARKS.

>> SO IN OUR FIVE-YEAR ROLLING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WE IDENTIFIED ABOUT $20 MILLION IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

WE HAVE BEEN EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, THREE YEARS, BEEN DOING ABOUT $3 MILLION A YEAR IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE TO ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS. WE -- EVERY YEAR WE REEVALUATE THEM, PRIORITIZE THEM, BASED ON HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS FIRST, AND THEN SECONDARY ITEMS THAT JUST BASED ON USEFUL LIFE NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND SO EVERY YEAR WE UPDATE THAT AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PROJECTS THAT WE BRING FORWARD AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

>> VIAGRAN: OKAY.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

[01:35:01]

THAT INFORMATION, AND I THINK -- AND I WANTED TO HAVE THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT EQUITY BUT ALSO NEEDS-BASED, AND LOOKING AT WHERE OUR INVESTMENT IS, AND I AM VERY, VERY ENCOURAGED TO SEE ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WAS RAISED, THE PRIVATE DONATIONS THAT WERE RAISED FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND I AM VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT GOES TO THE BOND AND TO THE BUDGET, BUT AS WAS MENTIONED AS WELL, IT WAS ALSO SPLIT UP BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IN THE BOND, AND IT'S -- IT'S ALSO NOT NEWS THAT PEOPLE ALSO NEW THAT I -- KNEW THAT I ASKED TO HAVE IT SEPARATED BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE OF THE NATURE -- OF THIS NATURE HERE, SO I AM -- I THINK ABSOLUTELY THE NEED FOR GREEN SPACE, THE NEED FOR LINEAR CONNECTIVITY, THE NEED FOR -- THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AREAS IN OUR CITY, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS DISTRIBUTED WITH THE NEEDS BASE IN THE AREA, AND IT -- NOT NECESSARILY -- I'M EXCITED AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK, AND I KNOW IT'S -- IT TAKES A WHILE FOR MAYBE THE PEOPLE TO GET OVER THERE.

I KNOW FROM MY PART OF TOWN, FROM THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF SAN ANTONIO, TO GET TO HARDBERGER PARK ON A VIA BUS, AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA KNOWS THAT FIRSTHAND HOW TO GET THERE.

SO I HAVE -- I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE AND BEEN PUT FORWARD BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

AND LET ME JUST START WITH SOME QUESTIONS FROM MIKE REGARDING THE TREE CANOPY PRESENTATION AND MITIGATION FUND.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

>> SURE.

YES, I DO.

[LAUGHTER]

>> OKAY, COUNCILWOMAN.

THE TREE MITIGATION FUND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

IN THIS PROJECT WE HAVE ADDED ABOUT 1% TO THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF TREES WE FEEL IS AN OPPORTUNITY IT IS NEW LAND IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT A BRIDGE OVER THE HIGHWAY, WE'RE CREATING NEW LAND, WE'RE CREATING NEW PARKLAND, SO WE FELT IT WAS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME TURNKEY AS OPP OPPOSED TO COME COMING BACK LATER AND PLANTING WITH A CONTRACTOR.

SO WE ADDED 2% FOR THE --

>> HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE TREES? IS IT SOMETHING WE DO WITH THE SPAWK FUND -- SP SIDEWALK FUND AND WHAT MIGHT THAT BE USED FOR?

>> OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '19, OUR BUDGET FOR TREE FUND IS $1.7 MILLION.

AS I PRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL WORK SESSION, WE DO PROJECTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE GUADALUPE AREA WE DID DOOR-TO-DOOR, WE'RE TARGETING AREAS FOR RESIDENTS WHERE WE WILL GO IN AND PLANT A TREE FOR RESIDENTS.

WE FUND THE CPS REBATE PROGRAM, THAT IF YOU PLANT A TREE IN SPECIFIC AREAS, YOUR HOUSE TO CREATE SHADE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION YOU CAN GET ABOUT A REBATE FOR PLANTING THAT TREE.

WE ALSO FUND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE TREE GIVE-AWAYS WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITIES, IN ELMENDORF FLAKE WHEN WE HAD THE NATURE PROGRAM AND THE TREE GIVE AWAY OR ADOPTION AS WE CALL THIS, THOSE ARE FUND THED FROM THE PROGRAM.

WE DO LARGE ONES IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.

IF YOU SEE TREES PLANTED IN THE PARK SYSTEM THAT ARE NEW TREES, THOSE ARE ALSO FUNDED THROUGH THE FUND.

THOSE ARE FUNDS WE HAVE FOR COMMUNITY, FOR PROJECTS.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONES YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, WHEN WE CONFLUENCE PARK THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED ADDING TREE FUNDS SO THE CONFLUENCE PARK COULD HAVE THE TREES IN THAT DEVELOPMENT.

SO MULTIPLE PROJECTS WE USE THE TREE FUND FOR.

>> WE'LL HAVE LOTS MORE IDEAS FOR THAT TREE MITIGATION FUND.

AND SO -- AND THEN JUST REGARDING THE PROJECT, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS -- WELL, ACTUALLY YOU KNOW WHAT, XAVIER? MAYBE YOU CAN ASK ME -- YOU CAN ANSWER ME, HOW MANY PARKS IN DISTRICT 8 AND THEN HOW MANY PARKS IN DISTRICT 9?

>> SO I'M NOT GOING TO REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, COUNSELOR.

I CAN TELL YOU, THOUGH, DISTRICT 8 AND 9 PROBABLY ARE THE DISTRICTS WITH OUR FEWEST NUMBER OF PARKS.

>> GONZALES: , WELL, OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT I -- AND I DO RECALL SEEING A LIST THAT DISTRICT 5 HAS THE MOST PARKS OF ANY DISTRICT BUT ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT TRUE BUT ALSO -- DISTRICT 5 HAS 29 PARKS, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT DISTRICTS 8 AND 9 HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 17 --

>> I KNOW DISTRICT 9 SPECIFICALLY IS AROUND A SINGLE DIGIT, PROBABLY AROUND THE 8 OR 9 PARKS, SO COMBINED TOGETHER YOU'RE PROBABLY CORRECT.

>> GONZALES: SO I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE, AND YEAH, I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS

[01:40:01]

QUESTION, BUT AS WE GO FUNDING OUR PARKS AND WE'VE DONE IT MORE FROM ROUGH PROPORTIONALITY, HOW COULD THAT LOOK DIFFERENT IF WE INVESTED IN SOME OF OUR OLDER PARKS? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT SOME -- YOU KNOW, SOME -- WE HAVE POCKET PARKS, I COULD HAVE A PARK THAT'S THE SIZE OF THIS ROOM, YOU KNOW, JUST THAT WAS A VACANT SPACE, BUT THE IDEA WAS WHEN THE CITY WAS BUILT ORIGINALLY, YOU KNOW, 300 YEARS AGO NOW, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SET ON A GRID PATTERN AND THAT MEANT THAT THERE WERE PARKS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES WITHIN A SQUARE MILE OF EACH OTHER, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY MORE PARKS IN DISTRICT 5 THAN WE DO -- AND IN DISTRICT 2 AND OF COURSE IN DISTRICT 1, WE DO IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

SO I'LL -- THAT'S ALL, JUST -- I JUST HAVE A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

I DO GO TO HARDBERGER PARK PRETTY OFTEN, NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF SHADE.

AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I GO VERY OFTEN.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY CLOSER TO WHERE I LIVE, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE IN THE DOWNTOWN, I JUST LIVE ABOUT A MILE AWAY.

CLOSER FOR ME TO GET TO HARDBERGER PARK THAN IT IS TO GET TO PEIRSOL PARK.

SO CLOSER IN MILEAGE AND ALSO IN TIME TO GET THERE, AND THEY'RE ALSO VERY DISTINCT PARKS, SO HAVING YOUNG CHILDREN I GO VERY OFTEN TO OUR PARKS, AND I GO TO PEIRSOL FOR THE WONDERFUL SPLASH PAD AND GIANT STRUCTURE, BUT WHEN I FEEL LIKE I WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE PEACE AND QUIET I GO TO HARDBERGER PARK BECAUSE YOU CAN WALK IN OPEN SPACES, SHADED BY TREES.

ALSO HARDBERGER PARK HAS A BEAUTIFUL PARK FOR CHILDREN -- FOR LITTLE CHILDREN ONLY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I JUST DISCOVERED SORT OF BY ACCIDENT, PROBABLY LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.

IT COULD BE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS ROOM.

IT'S ENCLOSED, AND IT'S ALMOST THE ENTIRE SPACE IS SOFT, SO THE CHILDREN CAN JUMP AND PLAY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM GETTING HURT, BUT THERE'S NO TALL STRUCTURES, AND THEY ALSO CAN'T RUN OFF.

SO THOSE ARE SOME UNIQUE QUALITIES OF THAT PARTICULAR PARK, AND I'M LOOKING TO BRING SOME OF THOSE INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMALL CHILDREN IN SOME OF OUR POCKET PARKS.

I THINK WE COULD MAKE GREAT USE OF IT, BUT THAT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF A UNIQUE QUALITY OVER THERE.

AND I JUST -- I ALSO -- AS WE WERE SORT OF DISCUSSING THE EQUITY AND REALLY THE GENEROUS PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONSERVANCY AND TO THE PRIVATE DONATIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, I HAD COMMITTED TO THE FOLKS AT BENEVIDEZ PARK, THE COPS/METRO THAT I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY, ACROSS FROM ST. TIMOTHY'S CHURCH, THAT I WOULD TRY TO HELP THEM RAISE A MILLION DOLLARS FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, AND IN LARGE PART IT'S BECAUSE THE AREA IS SURROUNDED BY PUBLIC HOUSING.

IT'S THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY BY A LOT.

IT'S WHERE WE SEE ALL OF THE CHILD ABUSE, WHERE WE SEE ALL OF THE NEGLECT, IT'S WHERE WE SEE ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH.

AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK THAT'S ALWAYS ACTIVE BUT SURROUNDED BY PUBLIC HOUSING.

SO HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO RAISE MONEY IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THE OLDEST PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT IN THE CITY? AND SO THIS IS WHERE WE NEED FOR OUR VERY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS WHO WANTED TO MAKE HARDBERGER PARK THE WONDERFUL PLACE THAT IT IS, AND I'M SO PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS UNIQUE SPACE, TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE CITY WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED.

SO I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SOME OF YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS SUPPORT OUR BENEVIDEZ PARK.

ALSO OUR VIDOUDY, THAT GOT SO MANY OF THE BOND, 250,000 EACH, TO COMPLETE THE PARKS, AND ALSO THAT GROUP, THE COPS/METRO GROUP, HAD A MASTER PLAN FOR THEIR PARK AS WELL AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THAT FUNDED, AND WE WILL, BUT I JUST -- I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE AS WE'RE DISCUSSING EQUITY -- AND WE KNOW THAT THE CITY IS DOING ITS PART.

WE HAVE AN EQUITY BUDGET.

WE ARE INVESTING MORE IN THE AREAS THAT NEED IT MOST, BUT FROM THE PRIVATE DONATION PERSPECTIVE WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THERE WHEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ONLY PUBLIC HOUSING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF TOWN.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT IN ALL ITS GLORY, AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR CITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE WHEN YOU ALL DO THE RIBBON CUTTING.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I'LL BE SHORT JUST TO THANK FORMER MAYOR HARDBERGER FOR HIS WORK AND EXECUTION ON THIS.

WHAT I CAN DO IS ACTUALLY

[01:45:02]

QUANTIFY EVERY PIECE AND COST THAT THIS PROJECT HAS BORNE FROM 2006 TO 2018 TO OUR VOTE TODAY.

I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH ACQUISITION COST, I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH THE LAND BRIDGE COST AND THE INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE INTO THE PARK HAVE COST.

WHAT I CAN'T QUANTIFY IS THE VALUE THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, AND I THINK ABOUT HOW YOU QUANTIFY VALUE VERSUS THE COST, BECAUSE I WAS IN THE AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, CENTRAL DOWNTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT JUST MADE THE LIST OF TIMES 100 GREATEST PLACES ON EARTH, AND I ASKED MYSELF, I WONDER IF ANY PLACES IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE MADE THE TIMES 100 BEST PLACES ON EARTH, AND ACTUALLY, MANY CASES, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE LIST, YOU'LL SEE THAT MANY OF THEM ARE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND MANY OF THEM ARE PUBLIC PLACES, BUT SAN ANTONIO HAS A FEW OF THEM, WHICH INCLUDE MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AND A FEW OTHERS -- ACTUALLY ONE OR TWO OTHERS THAT ESCAPES ME, BUT I THINK ABOUT THE VALUE OR THE COST THAT IN MANY CASES THE AUSTIN EXAMPLE WAS ONE THAT SOME FOLKS HAD SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT.

HARDBERGER PARK IS ONE WHERE FOLKS HAVE HAD QUESTIONS AND SKEPTICISM ABOUT BUT IT'S LIVED UP TO THE VALUE NOT ONLY IN ONE ACCOLADES IT MIGHT RECEIVE NATIONALLY, BUT WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HARDBERGER PARK AND EVERY PARK IN THE CITY IS THAT WHEN I GO THERE, NOBODY ASKS ME IF I VOTED, NOBODY ASKED ME IF I LIVE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN, NOBODY ASKED FAMILY MEMBERS IF THEY HAVE PAID THEIR PREVIOUS TAX BILLS.

IT'S A PUBLIC PARK, AND THAT KIND OF VALUE IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T QUANTIFY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE FEATURES THAT COME TO IT, UNIQUE AS THEY ARE, AS THE LAND BRIDGE IS AND THE ENTIRETY OF THE PARK IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BRING THE KIND OF ATTENTION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT'S UNQUANTIFIABLE.

AND SO JUST TO SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS COST MONEY, THAT'S TRUE.

PROJECTS IN MY DISTRICT COST MONEY AS WELL TOO, BUT IF I WERE TO SAY -- TO PUT UP PEIRSOL PARK, WHICH IS A FORMER LANDFILL, IN ISOLATION, AND ASK THE ENTIRE CITY JUST TO VOTE ON PEIRSOL PARK, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ARROWS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN AT THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A FORMER LANDFILL.

THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THAT COULD BE DONE.

I THINK YOU COULD -- YOU COULD MAKE THAT CASE FOR EVERY PROJECT THAT GOES THROUGH.

IF I DON'T LIKE A PROJECT ON THE WEST SIDE IN MY COMMUNITY, I CAN GET THEM RILED UP TO FIGHT AGAINST IT, THAT IS TRUE IN ANY CASE.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TRY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THIS SORT OF DIVISION, TRIBALISM, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT PAST THIS PIECE.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO AND WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THIS COUNCIL, IS TO THE KIND OF APPROACH FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENTS THAT ARE EQUITABLE IN NATURE, AND WE'RE DOING THAT WITH OUR CITY RESOURCES ARE, STREETS AND DRAIDGES.

-- DRAINAGE.

WE'RE DOING THAT WITH OUR BOND PROJECTS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO AT THE END OF THE DAY START QUANTIFYING EVERY SINGLE PIECE AND SAY THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T SUPPORT, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW WHEN THIS LAND BRIDGE IS COMPLETED IN 2020 YOU'LL HAVE FAMILIES FROM THE SOUTH SIDE AND FAMILIES FROM THE WEST SIDE AND EASTSIDE AND NORTH SIDE POUR INTO IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THIS GREAT NEW FEATURE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE VISION OF THE FORMER MAYOR, BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT NOTHING AT THIS SCALE IS, AND I KNOW THAT IN 2020 WHEN THIS OPENS UP THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HAPPY THAT THIS IS IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT IT'S IN THEIR CITY, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT IT'S FINALLY GOTTEN TO ITS CONCLUSION HERE TODAY.

SO MAYOR, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS.

WE CONGRATULATE THE FOLKS WHO ARE -- WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE IT A REALITY.

THE OTHER UNIQUE PART OF THIS IS IT'S MATCHED BY PRIVATE DOLLARS, WHICH SETS A MODEL -- AS COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES BROUGHT UP IT SETS A MODEL FOR OTHER PARKS THAT THE CITY IS MAKING THAT CAN TELL A STORY AND THAT CERTAINLY TELLS A STORY ON A PART OF TOWN THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED INTO THE NEXT SUBDIVISION THAT NOBODY WOULD TALK ABOUT OR WRITE ABOUT.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MOMENTS TO SPEAK TO THE VISION AND ITS CREATION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I WOULD PROPOSE THAT IT IS QUANTIFIABLE.

IT'S JUST QUANTIFIABLE WITH DIFFERENT WORDS, LIKE BEAUTY, MAGIC AND JOY.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY HARD TO DESCRIBE SOMETIMES, BUT THIS IS A WORK OF POETIC IMAGINATION, AND SO A LOT OF OUR WORK UP HERE IN CITY COUNCIL IS ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS ABOUT THAT QUALITY.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR HARDBERGER, FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT VISION, BECAUSE BEAUTY AND MAGIC AND JOY IS SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE EVERY TIME YOU GO OUT TO THAT PARK.

YOU SEE IT IN THE EYES OF KIDS WHO WILL, YOU KNOW, TELL YOU HONESTLY WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT HAVING THAT

[01:50:01]

CONNECTION TO NATURE, HAVING THAT ACCESSIBILITY.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY PARKS ARE THE GARDENS OF OUR CITY, AND WE'RE CREATING SOME BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND SETTING SOME GREAT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED OF HOW WE CAN GET THAT TO BE NOT ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PARTS OF OUR CITY BUT SETTING THE EXAMPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR CITY SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO LEARN FROM THAT AND WORK ON OTHER POTENTIAL PROJECTS MUCH LIKE THIS ONE, BE INSPIRED BY THEM.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK.

THIS IS SOMETHING I CERTAINLY BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE PART OF WHAT WE DISCUSS ON A DAILY BASIS, IS UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE QUANTITY IS CERTAINLY A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS WILL BE ADDING TO THE INCREDIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 7.

IF WE COULD VOTE.

WE DO HAVE FORMER MAYOR HARDBERGER WITH US TODAY.

MAYOR HARDBERGER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE YOU DEPART?

>> WELL, I WANT TO START BY THANK YOU YOU, ALL OF, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

LITERALLY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU, AND, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL PERSONS THAT TALKED ABOUT THEY ARE UNDERPARKED, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO THEM IS YOU'RE RIGHT.

OUR CITY GREATLY NEEDS MORE PARKS, EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT.

THERE'S NOT A SINGLE DISTRICT THAT MORE MONEY SHOULD NOT GO INTO THEIR PARKS.

BUT DO YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE IN THIS CASE OCCASIONS ITSELF WHEN A BIG PIECE OF LAND THAT HAD A LOT OF UNCUT TREES ON IT CAME ONTO MARKET.

TOTALLY HAPPENSTANCE.

IT WAS NOT HAPPENSTANCE THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO GREENER, AND I STILL DO, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK YET TO DO.

BUT THAT'S WHERE THE LAND CAME -- CAME TO FRUITION, SO THE CITY MANAGER AND I WENT OUT.

I HEARD ABOUT IT ONE DAY IN THE MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON WE WENT THERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

IT WAS PERFECT.

NEEDED A LITTLE WORK, OR A LITTLE CONVERSION TO MAKE IT INTO A PARK BECAUSE IT WAS A -- IT WAS A RANCH, A DAIRY FARM.

BUT THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.

BUT WE COULDN'T HAVE NOT -- WE COULD NOT EVEN HAVE STARTED TO HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL, OF THE CITY MANAGER AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE.

SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PUBLIC THAT SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF THIS PARK AND ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT GAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE CONCRETE THEIR SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN TREVINO WAS TALKING ABOUT BEAUTY.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT WHAT EVERY CITY REALLY NEEDS IS BEAUTY COMBINED WITH UTILITY AND INSPIRATION.

GREEN CITIES ARE POPULAR CITIES.

THOSE THAT AREN'T GREEN AREN'T POPULAR, BY AND LARGE.

SO I THINK WE -- I'M TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PITCH FOR PARKS IN GENERAL BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND AS THE CITY GROWS YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE CONCRETE POURED.

THE MORE CONCRETE THAT GETS POURED, THE LESS YOUR PROPORTION OF GREEN SPACE.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS, BUT I URGE YOU TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND WE NEED MORE PARKS, WE NEED MORE GREEN SPACES.

TREES WERE MADE BY GOD.

WE NEED MORE TREES.

IT IS SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED FOR, BUT I SURE HAD A LOT OF HELP ON THIS PARK, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, IN GETTING IT DONE.

THERE ARE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVANCY THAT HAVE COME DOWN.

THEY WEREN'T ORDERED TO COME DOWN BUT THEY CAME DOWN BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THIS.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVANCY TO RISE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

[01:55:02]

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

ONE LAST THING, AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A MUCH BIGGER AGENDA HERE, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID HERE THIS MORNING REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TEN YEARS AGO ALREADY NOW, AND THAT IS WHEN WE STARTED -- WE DECIDED AND THAT COUNCIL VOTED TO IMPROVE THE RIVER, AND BELIEVE ME, THAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL.

YOU DON'T THINK OF IT AS CONTROVERSIAL.

IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL.

MANY PEOPLE SAID, REMEMBER THAT RIVER HAD NOT BEEN IMPROVED SINCE 1968.

IT HAD SET THERE A LONG TIME, AND THERE WERE REASONS FOR THAT, AND MAINLY THEY'VE CENTERED AROUND MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY.

AND WOULDN'T AFFECT MY DISTRICT.

AND SO THERE WAS NEVER THE POLITICAL WILL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RIVER.

YOU COULDN'T EVEN WALK DOWN THERE PAST ABOUT A MILE OR TWO OF THE ORIGINAL RIVER, BUT THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOUD CRY THAT THIS IS GOING TO COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND WE COULD PUT THIS IN SOMETHING ELSE, WHICH IS TRUE.

WE COULD DO OTHER TASKS, WHICH IS TRUE.

AND SO NOT EVERYBODY WANTED THAT RIVER IMPROVED.

MY ANSWER THEN WAS, YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WILL COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND IT WILL BRING IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND I ASK YOU TO DRIVE DOWN BROADWAY AND SEE IF YOU THINK THAT RIVER IMPROVEMENT WAS WORTH IT.

AND LIKEWISE, THERE WERE THOSE THAT SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE SOUTH PART OF OUR TOWN? THIS IS BEING DONE ON THE NORTH PART.

WHAT ABOUT THE SOUTH PART? I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE CAN DO THE SOUTH PART.

WELL, ULTIMATELY, OF COURSE, THAT BECAME THE MISSION REACH, AND LO AND BEHOLD, BOTH PARTS GOT DONE.

SO YOU COULD HAVE CHOKED UP ON WHO GOES FIRST, BUT AS WE ARE A UNITY OF BELIEF HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S BETTER TO START SOMEWHERE AND THEN MOVE SOMEWHERE RATHER THAN TO SIT AND THINK ABOUT, WELL, HOW CAN -- IF IT ISN'T COMING TO MY DISTRICT, IT'S NO GOOD.

WE HAVE TO WORK AS A WHOLE AND NOT AS INDIVIDUAL UNITS TO HAVE A GREAT CITY.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK COUNCILMAN COURAGE MENTIONED WE'RE HAVING THE GROUNDBREAKING ON OCTOBER THE 6TH.

I HOPE EVERYBODY CAN COME.

WHATEVER YOU HAVE THOUGHT IN THE PAST, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

AND COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, THANK YOU FOR COMING, BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN.

I LOVE TO HEAR THAT STORY, AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY COME THROUGH THAT.

EVERY DAY.

SO PEOPLE HAVE KIND OF VOTED WITH THEIR FEET ON THAT.

THANK YOU, THOUGH, FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE.

WE'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN WORK.

BYE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MAYOR HARDBERGER.

[14. Resolution accepting the Mayor’s Housing Policy Task Force Housing Policy Framework Report to increase housing opportunities by producing new units, rehabilitating homes, preserving affordability, and protecting neighborhoods. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Verónica R. Soto, Director, Neighborhood & Housing Services]]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NO.

14.

>> ITEM NO. 14 IS A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK REPORT TO INCREASE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES BY PRODUCING NEW UNITS, REHABILITATING HOMES, PRESERVING AFFORDABILITY, AND PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY, IS THERE A PRESENTATION ON IT? OKAY.

>> GOOD MORNING, VERONICA SOTO WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD & HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION REGARDING THE ITEM BEFORE YOU.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE POLICY FRAMEWORK REPORT.

WITHIN THIS REPORT THERE'S A LOT OF DATA THAT ADDRESSES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CORE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, HOW HOUSING COSTS ARE OUTPACING INCOMES, THE GROWING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY GAP FOR OUR COMMUNITY, HOW MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SPENDING MORE OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING, HOW WE HAVE A SUPPLY AND DEMAND MISMATCH IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE DROP IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP RATE OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS AND HOW THESE PRESSURES ARE CAUSING SOME NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE AND

[02:00:01]

ANXIETY AS REDEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS HAPPENS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THE DATA IN THE REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE THE TASK FORCE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR LAST AUGUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY LOOKED AT PREVIOUS REPORTS AND DATA, AND THEY HAD A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH LED BY CHAIR LORE HE IS RAMIREZ, JEAN BAILEY WHOM ARE HERE TODAY, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMED THE FRAMEWORK THEY DEVELOPED BUT THEY ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY, AND SO AT THEIR FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER, THEY HAD A VISION FOR WHAT THEY WANTED THIS FRAMEWORK TO BE, AND PARTICIPATION WAS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION AND PART OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY UTILIZED.

SO THEY DEVELOPED A PROCESS WHERE THEY HAD EIGHT PUBLIC MEETINGS, THREE VERY LARGE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHERE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT WAS PROVIDED TO OUR CITIZENS.

THEY FORMED FIVE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS.

EACH WORKING GROUP MET AT LEAST FIVE TIMES TO GO INTO DETAIL TO ADDRESS THE POLICY AREAS THAT THEY WERE TASKED WITH.

SO A DATA-DRIVEN PROCESS INFORMED BY THE COMMUNITY WITH A LOT OF INPUT, AND YOU HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE TASK FORCE ABOUT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS LAST JUNE.

IN AUGUST THE REPORT WAS RELEASED, AND THE ITEM BEFORE YOU HAS THE PRIORITIES ENUMERATED, AND THESE ARE THE ACTION ITEMS IN THE REPORT.

TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM.

TO INCREASE CITY INVESTMENT IN HOUSING.

TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION AND PRODUCTION.

TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU IS TO ACCEPT THIS REPORT THAT WAS CREATED BY THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE AS A COMPREHENSIVE, COMPASSIONATE FRAMEWORK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO.

THAT REALLY IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION UNLESS YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VERO.

WE HAVE MANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, AND WE DO HAVE OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS HERE, BUT LET ME GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE OUR FORMER MAYOR, SECRETARY JULIAN CASTRO TO COME FORWARD TO BE THE FIRST SPEAKER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE TWO AND A HALF YEARS FROM THE TIME THAT I LEFT HERE UNTIL THE END OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AS SECRETARY OF HUD I HAD THE CHANCE TO GO AND VISIT ABOUT A HUNDRED DIFFERENT CITIES IN 39 STATES, AND TO GET A SENSE OF HOW THEY WERE DOING WITH REGARD TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE GOOD NEWS FOR SAN ANTONIO IS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS FORTUNATE BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT AS BAD HERE AS THEY ARE IN A LOT OF CITIES.

I REMEMBER SITTING IN THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF SEATTLE AND HIM HANDING ME A BLUEPRINT OF 63 DIFFERENT HOUSING POLICIES THAT THEY HAD DETERMINED THEY NEEDED TO PURSUE JUST TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LISTENING TO FOLKS FROM LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, PORTLAND, HONOLULU, TALK ABOUT THE GROWING CRISIS OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE HOUSING HAD BECOME SO UNAFFORDABLE.

BEING PROACTIVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, BECAUSE Y'ALL STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THINGS, TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T BECOME WHAT WE CAN SEE IN THE CITIES THAT I MENTIONED OR EVEN IN CITIES CLOSER TO HOME, LIKE AUSTIN, TEXAS.

I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MAYOR.

HOUSING IS AN ISSUE THAT TOUCHES EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CITY WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR BACKGROUND OR WHICH DISTRICTS THAT THEY LIVE IN.

WE KNOW THAT IN THIS CITY RENTS HAVE BEEN RISING TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

HOUSING PRICES HAVE BEEN RISING TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I WANT TO THANK THE WORK OF THE -- THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE, ALL OF THE CHAIRS, THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS, EACH OF THE CITIZENS THAT GAVE INPUT, AND ESPECIALLY WANT TO SAY THAT I HOPE Y'ALL WILL ADOPT THIS RECOMMENDATION.

TAKE IT TO HEART IN TERMS OF POLICY, AND THEN MOST ESPECIALLY DEDICATE THE RESOURCES NOT ONLY THIS YEAR BUT IN THE YEARS TO COME THAT ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THERE REALLY IS TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND HER TEAM FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND PUTTING, I BELIEVE, $17 MILLION ADDITIONALLY INTO THE BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

MY HOPE IS THAT CONTINUES NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT, AND LET ME JUST END BY SAYING THAT I SAY THAT FOR TWO REASONS.

NUMBER ONE, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE CDBG AND HOME AND HOPWA AND OTHER FEDERAL

[02:05:01]

BUDGETS, THAT RESOURCE IS DECLINING COMPARED TO WHAT IT USED TO BE.

AND SO WE CAN'T COUNT AS A CITY ON THOSE FEDERAL RESOURCES IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE USED TO.

AND THEN SECONDLY, AND THE REPORT SAYS IT AS WELL, THIS IS SO VITAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

COMPANIES, AS THEY DECIDE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOCATE, MORE AND MORE ARE WEIGHING THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING IN THE OVERALL COST OF LIVING TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THEIR DECISION, AND SO IF WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO CAN CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES CAN GROW INTO LARGER BUSINESSES AND WHERE SIGNIFICANT COMPANIES LOOK AT INVESTING EMPLOYEES, THEN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AMPLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CRUCIAL.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PLAN.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SECRETARY CASTRO.

[APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE OUR HOUSING TASK FORCE MEMBERS, SO I'LL CALL NOW OUR CHAIRWOMAN, LOURDES CASTRO RAMIREZ.

OUR TASK FORCE, JEAN DAWSON AND JIM BAILEY ARE HERE.

IS NOAH STILL HERE? GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR WISELY IDENTIFYING AND MAKING HOUSING A POLICY PRIORITY FOR OUR CITY, AND THANK YOU FOR PLACING YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE FIVE OF US TO LEAD THIS PROCESS.

HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT EACH OF YOU MADE TO MEET WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENCE -- YOUR PRESENCE AT OUR VARIOUS PUBLIC MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE UNANIMOUS VOTE THAT YOU ALL TOOK BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.

CITY MANAGER SCULLEY, TO YOU AND TO YOUR STAFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE KNOW THAT WE WERE VERY NONTRADITIONAL IN OUR APPROACH, AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND FOR YOUR OPENNESS.

AS THE CHAIR OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT OUR WORK TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE HOUSING FRAMEWORK FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS NOW COMPLETE.

WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY PRODUCED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, BOTTOM-UP REPORT OF SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND PRODUCED AN ACTIONABLE PLAN WITH BOLD POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH TO INCREASE HOUSING OPTIONS, INVEST IN EXISTING HOMES AND PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY.

AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR HOMES HAVE DEEP EMOTIONAL MEANING.

FOR MANY OF US OUR HOMES ARE THE BACKDROP TO CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

WHEN THINGS WENT WELL OUR HOMES GREW WITH US.

WE FOUND STABILITY.

THAT STABILITY IS AT STAKE FOR MANY FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO.

PAYING THE AVERAGE RENT FOR AN APARTMENT IN SAN ANTONIO REQUIRES A WAGE OF $18 AN HOUR, YET 60% OF SAN ANTONIO WORKERS MAKE LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR.

OWNING A HOME HAS BECOME EVEN MORE CHALLENGING.

THE MEDIAN PRICE OF A HOME HAS SOARED 40% IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.

COMPOUNDING THIS PROBLEM IS THE MISMATCH BETWEEN HOUSING SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

WE ARE SIMPLY NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH ATTAINABLE HOUSING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

AND THIS TREND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE IF WE DO NOT BEGIN TO ACT NOW.

AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY INVESTING IN HOUSING IS AN IMPERATIVE TO ACHIEVING THE PROGRESS THAT WE ALL ENVISION OF OUR ELDERS, OF OUR FAMILIES AND OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE LED AN INTENTIONAL TRANSPARENT, INCLUSIVE AND DATA DRIVEN PROCESS GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY, AND WHILE WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF NOW CAB, LISK SAN ANTONIO AND ECONOMIC PLANNING SYSTEMS, I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT A CONSULTANT-LED PROCESS.

THIS WAS A COMMUNITY-LED PROCESS.

WE ENGAGED OVER 550 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LISTENED TO THEIR PRAGMATIC THINKING AND COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS.

WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT OUR CITY'S HISTORY, WE READ THROUGH LOCAL HOUSING STUDIES -- A NUMBER OF LOCAL HOUSING STUDY REPORTS, ANNUALIZED DEMOCRATIC -- ANALYZED MARKET DATA.

[02:10:01]

WE STUDIED HOUSING PLANS FROM CITIES ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

THIS WAS REALLY A WHOLE SYSTEM-WIDE ANALYSIS FOR ALL SSAN ANTONIANS.

AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE CITY IS EXPERIENCING MORE SEVERE HOUSING AND SECURITY AND AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES.

WITH HOUSING COSTS INCREASING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN INCOMES, MANY PEOPLE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO LIVE FAR FROM WHERE THEY WORK.

FAMILIES ARE BEING DISPLACED.

THEIR HEALTH IS BEING COMPROMISED AND STUDENTS SUFFER IN SCHOOL.

ALL OF THIS IMPACTS THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GAIN AND OUR FUTURE.

YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A HOUSING POLICY REPORT THAT LAYS OUT ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REVERSE THIS TREND, TO MAKE HOUSING A PRIORITY AND TO BEGIN INCREASING HOUSING STABILITY.

AT A TIME WHEN SO MUCH IS CHANGING IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS OUR LOCAL LEADERS, THAT YOU NOT ONLY ACT NOW BUT THAT YOU GO DEEPER AND THAT YOU TAKE ON A LONG AND BROAD VIEW OF OUR ECONOMY BY INVESTING IN HOUSING, CREATING QUALITY PLACES AND PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY COMMITTING TO DEVELOPING A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM AND STRENGTHENING THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION, THE HOUSING TRUST AND SETTING UP THE CITY TO BECOME A LEADER IN HOUSING.

WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE THE SOLUTIONS TO THESE PRESSING CHALLENGES IMPLEMENTED.

WE HAVE TO THINK OF THE LONG-TERM PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY RATHER THAN THE SHORT-TERM POLITICAL GAIN.

AGAIN, MR. MAYOR, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR GREAT CITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD, COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU AND TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE THAT IS -- THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS, THAT IS HERE TODAY, THAT STANDS WITH US, IN CONTINUING TO BUILD A STRONGER CITY AND MAKING CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE TASK FORCE, MR. JEAN DAWSON, JR.

AND FORMER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA ANTOINETTE PERSOVAL.

>> WE ALL BROUGHT DIFFERENT STRENGTHS TO THE TASK FORCE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND AGAIN, WE WANT TO CONTINUE IT THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR GIVING THE ATTENTION TO HOUSING AND PUTTING THE TASK FORCE TOGETHER AND GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND IN PARTICULAR YOUR STAFF, WHO WAS AT EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY MEETING THAT WE HAD.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT, ALONG WITH ALREADY MENTIONED THE CITY STAFF.

THERE ARE MANY STATISTIC CASE STUDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REPORT.

YOU'LL SEE A LOT -- HEAR A LOT OF STORIES TODAY.

HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE THEME WE WOULD ASK YOU TO ADOPT.

HOUSING IS A CORNERSTONE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE IT RIGHT HERE ON THE COVER OF OUR REPORT.

JUST LIKE WATER, ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION, AVAILABLE, AFFORDABLE, ATTAINABLE HOUSING DRIVES OUR ECONOMY.

WE SPEND BILLIONS ON OUR 50-YEAR WATER PLAN, BILLIONS ON OUR 30-YEAR TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AND BILLIONS ON DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION.

UNTIL NOW WE HAVE NOT OPENLY LINKED THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSING BECAUSE OUR HOUSING MARKET HAS BEEN IN SELF-SUSTAINED EQUILIBRIUM.

TEN YEARS AGO 75% OF OUR ALL HOMES SOLD WERE NEW HOMES, AND 8,000 OF WERE BELOW $150,000.

TODAY LESS THAN 30% OF OUR HOMES SOLD ARE NEW HOMES, AND ZERO ARE BELOW 150,000.

THIS MACRO MARKET SHIFT IS DRIVING UP THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE BEYOND THE REACH OF MOST FAMILIES AT THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

THIS IN TURN PUSHES HOUSEHOLDS TO THE RENT MARKET, WHICH IN TURN INCREASES THE COST OF RENTING A HOME.

COMBINED WITH INCREASED APPRAISALS ON ALL PROPERTY, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF SPIRALING INTO A HOUSING CRISIS.

FOR THIS REASON WE ASK YOU TO ADOPT THIS REPORT AND BEGIN VIEWING THE FUNDING OF HOUSING SUPPORT WE HAVE OUTLINED AS IMPORTANT AS WATER, ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE A MANTRA.

WE DON'T HAVE A RESOURCE PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE HAVE A PRIORITY PROBLEM.

PRESENT TODAY, THIS ONE, AS HAS BEEN STATED, PROVIDES HARD DATA AS A SNAPSHOT OF OUR HOUSING NEEDS TODAY, BUT THERE IS ALSO THE QUALITATIVE DATA THAT CAME TO US AT SOME OF OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SOME THAT ALL OF US CAN SEE WITH OUR OWN EYES.

>> THE REPORT THAT WE

[02:15:03]

WHILE WE STILL HAVE NOT SEEN TENT CITIES ALONG LARGE EXPANSES OF ROADWAYS, LIKE IN LOS ANGELES, IN OUR CITY WE ALREADY SEE AREAS IN THE SOUTH SIDE AND SOME IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF DOWNTOWN WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE SET UP ENCAMPMENTS.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SET UP TENTS.

EVICTIONS HAVE ALMOST DOUBLED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

TO THAT WE ADD DISPLACEMENT, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN IN PLACES LIKE MISSION TRAILS, THE SOAP WORKS AND SOME THAT WENT UNSEEN.

WHEN WE DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY GAP, WHEN WE DO NOT PROTECT EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR ADDRESS GROWING HOUSING COST BURDENS, ALL IN SERIOUS WAYS, WHAT WE SEE AT THE END ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE, AND HOMELESS PEOPLE IS ALL OF US.

HOMELESS PEOPLE IMPACT EVERY PART OF THE CITY AND OUR ECONOMY.

IN OUR TASK FORCE WORK WE HAVE CREATED A FOUNDATION WHICH WE BELIEVE PROVIDES SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE NEEDS.

IN THE RESOLUTION YOU WILL VOTE ON TODAY, OUT OF THE FIVE POLICY ITEMS THAT WILL BE ADOPTED, THREE FOCUS ON PROTECTING, REHABILITATING, PRODUCING, PRESERVING AND INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT ARE THE TWO OTHERS THAT ADDRESS A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM AND ASSURING ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.

THE LATTER TWO ARE CRITICAL IN HOW A CITY SERVES ITS RESIDENTS AND HOW IT RELATES TO THEM IN OPEN, EFFECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT WAYS.

THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT AIM AT PROVIDING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING.

IN A CITY THAT IS GROWING SO FAST, THIS COMMUNICATION IS IMPERATIVE, BECAUSE SO MUCH IS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.

AT TIMES THE MESSAGES THE PUBLIC GETS ARE CONFUSING, AND THEY TELL US THAT.

INSTEAD OF SIMPLY RECOMMENDING WHAT OUR CITY SHOULD DO, WE ALSO HAVE SPECIFIED HOW TO IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS DESCRIBED IN WHAT WE CALL THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, AND THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OF THE OTHER REPORTS WE READ.

SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES ARE A RECONSTITUTED HOUSING COMMISSION TO ADDRESS OVERSIGHT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

IMPLEMENTING A CITYWIDE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSING.

A ONE-STOP HOUSING CENTER WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN RECEIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION IN ONE PLACE.

COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES HAS DONE THAT IN HER DISTRICT.

IT SHOULD BE CITYWIDE.

HOUSING INFORMATION.

ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS -- OF ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WE BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPING A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM IS THE MOST NEEDED, AND WE BELIEVE THE MOST EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY TO BE, TO IMMEDIATELY CREATE AN EXECUTIVE POSITION IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO LEAD HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND SP INTEGRATE THESE WITH ALL CITY FUNCTIONS.

SOME OF WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS MORE OF WHAT IS ALREADY BEING DONE NOW, BUT MUCH WHAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED ARE NEW WAYS OF ADDRESSING OLD ISSUES AND BEING INNOVATIVE IN ADDRESSING THEM.

FOR THIS WE NEED MORE STAFF CAPACITY AND MORE EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE STRATEGIES, BECAUSE THE COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH AND SERVICES ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT A MYRIAD OF DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS.

IT IS ONLY THROUGH THE VISION OF AN EXECUTIVE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLETE VIEW OF ALL HOUSING FUNCTIONS AND NEEDS, AS WELL AS WITH SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY

[02:20:01]

TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE HUMAN RESOURCES, THAT WE CAN ASSURE AN EFFECTIVELY RUN HOUSING SYSTEM.

ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH OF US, ALL OF US, ALL OF US HERE, TO MAKING THE VISION AND WORK OF SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS TASK FORCE BECOME A REALITY.

WE NEED TO SEE HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT.

WE HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR HOUSING NEEDS BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

MANTRA OF OUR TASK FORCE HAS BEEN, EVERYONE NEEDS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

I HOPE THAT THIS MANTRA IS ADOPTED BY MANY TODAY.

I WAS CAREFULLY LISTENING TO ALL THE PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING, AND WE SPENT THIS TIME TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INVESTMENT IN A STRUCTURE FOR THE CITY AND PARKS, AND I WAS APPRECIATIVE OF MAYOR HARDBERGER'S STATEMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.

WITH HOUSING YOU'RE STARTING SOMEWHERE TOO.

COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA, YOU PONDERED THAT IT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY THE VALUE OF OUR PARKS.

I SUBMIT THAT HOUSING IS ALSO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

JUST LIKE A BUILDING, INVESTMENT THAT WAS JUST MADE, HOUSING IS A GOOD INVESTMENT TOO.

AND JUST LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC SPACES, LIKE HARDBERGER PARK AND PEIRSOL PARK AND ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF HOUSING TO PEOPLE, AND YET EACH OF US CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT HOUSING MEANS TO US, THE PLACE WHERE WE GREW UP, WHAT IT MEANT TO US AS CHILDREN, WHERE WE SAID GUILLAGOOD-BYE TO OUR LOVED ONE, WHERE WE TOOK CARE OF THEM AS THEY AGED.

THAT IS WHAT A HOUSE IS.

AND THAT IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY.

WE HAVE DONE OUR WORK, MAYOR.

WE ARE PRESENTING OUR WORK TO YOU.

WE DID NOT ACT ALONE AS FIVE PEOPLE.

I THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR NAMING ME TO IT.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL YEAR, A HARD WORK YEAR BUT IT WAS WONDERFUL, AND NOW WE LEAVE THIS IN YOUR HANDS.

YOU ARE THE CITY COUNCIL.

YOU ARE OUR LEADERS THAT WE HAVE ELECTED TO LEAD US, AND WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.

I HOPE THAT YOU ADOPT THIS, AND MOST IMPORTANT, THAT YOU IMPLEMENT WHERE WE DID NOT DO EVERYTHING THAT WE SAID WE WOULD.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MARIA.

THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE TASK FORCE.

WE HAVE MANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN ADDITION.

WE'LL BEGIN TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM NOW.

WE HAVE AARP SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS LISA RODRIGUEZ, JOHN VASQUEZ AND JULIA HOYT.

Y'ALL HAVE SIX MINUTES.

>> OH, SIX MINUTES, OKAY.

SORRY, WE THOUGHT IT WAS NINE, BUT THAT'S OKAY, WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE QUICKLY.

I HAD GOOD MORNING ON MY COMMENTS BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY CLOSE TO GOOD AFTERNOON, SO GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR NIRENBERG, COUNCILWOMEN AND MEN.

I'M LISA RODRIGUEZ, LOCAL STAFF HERE FOR AARP IN SAN ANTONIO, AND ALONG SIDE OF ME ARE A FEW OF OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE A REPRESENTATION OF SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND A RELIABLE VOTING BLOCK IN ANY GIVEN ELECTION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAYOR NIRENBERG FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO AND FOR COMMITTING THE CITY TO BE AN AGE FRIENDLY CITY, AS DID FORMER MAYOR CASTRO.

SO THANK YOU BOTH, GENTLEMEN, FOR THAT.

[APPLAUSE] WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF YOU ON THE DAIS FOR REALIZING THE POPULATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S 50 PLUS POPULATION AND HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.

AS I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE AWARE, SAN ANTONIO'S 50-PLUS POPULATION IS OVER A THIRD OF OUR CITY'S TOTAL POPULATION AND IT IS ONLY PROJECTED TO GROW STEADY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

AARP IS A NONPARTISAN NONPROFIT AND HAS OVER 1,000 MEMBERS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THOUSANDS IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

OUR MEMBERS ENGAGE WITH US ON A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS TO INCLUDE LOCAL ADVOCACY HERE IN THEIR CITIES AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AARP HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATE IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE AS THE MAYOR ENSURED WE HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR THE SPECIAL POPULATIONS WORK GROUP.

HOWEVER, WE ARE MOST PROUD THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS AND I ATTENDED EACH PUBLIC MEETING OF THE TASK FORCE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HEAR FIRSTHAND THE REAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST PRACTITIONERS AROUND THE TABLE.

[02:25:02]

AARP HAS CONDUCTED SIGNIFICANT FORMAL RESEARCH, BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN SAN ANTONIO, ADDRESSING LIVABILITY ISSUES FOR THE 50-PLUS, AND NO QUESTION, HOUSING IS DEFINITELY ON THE TOP OF THE CONCERNS.

IN A NATIONWIDE STUDY JUST RELEASED YESTERDAY, AARP FOUND THAT THREE OUT OF FOUR ADULTS AGE 50 AND OLDER WOULD LIKE TO LIVE NOT ONLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY BUT IN THEIR HOMES, IN THEIR CURRENT HOMES, FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO EIGHT OUT OF TEN INDIVIDUALS, 50 AND OLDER OWN THEIR OWN HOMES.

FURTHER SCORING THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

ALTHOUGH THIS PLAN IS NOT PERFECT, WE BELIEVE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE ADDRESSES SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF OLDER AMERICANS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THEREFORE, AARP ASKS THAT ON BEHALF OF YOUR 50-PLUS CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS AND IN THE CITY, MAYOR, THAT YOU VOTE YES TO THIS PLAN IN PASSING IN RESOLUTION.

I'D LIKE TO YIELD THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE VASQUEZ TO GIVE YOU AN AARP MEMBER PERSPECTIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JOHN VASQUEZ AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1 HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH AARP SAN ANTONIO, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE AARP TEXAS STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE.

I WILL BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY APPRECIATION TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE.

WITHOUT PLANNING AND ACTION SAN ANTONIO FACES A FUTURE IN WHICH OLDER HOMES WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE AND INCREASE BEYOND THE MEANS OF MANY FAMILIES AS NEW RESIDENTS COME TO SAN ANTONIO.

SOME MIGHT SAY THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN HOUSING ISSUES, AND THEY ARE WRONG.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS RESOURCES, THE KNOWLEDGE BASE AND THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT, A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HOUSING.

TASK FORCE MEMBERS AND THOSE WHO WORKED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE TO BE COMMENDED AND APPRECIATED FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE IF THIS TASK FORCE HAD NOT BEEN CONVENED.

SAN ANTONIO HAS TOO MANY HOUSES THAT ARE SUBSTANDARD, HOUSES THAT ARE IN NEED OF REHABILITATION AND REPAIR.

IF YOU ARE OLDER OR HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES, THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE IS AFFECTED BY LACK OF GRAB BARS AND RAMPS.

EVERY STUDY OF OLDER AMERICA INDICATES THAT WE AS A GROUP WISH TO AGE IN PLACE IN OUR HOMES.

WE WANT TO BE AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE WANT TO BE NEAR OUR GROCERY STORES, OUR CHURCHES AND OUR MEMORIES.

BUT IF OUR HOUSE IS IN EXTREME DISREPAIR OR IF WE CAN NO LONGER NAVIGATE AROUND OUR HOME DUE TO MOBILITY LIMITATIONS, AGING AT HOME WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE.

WE CANNOT RETURN TO THE TIMES WHEN OLDER PERSONS LIVED IN SHEDS FOR LACK OF OTHER OPTIONS.

CITY GOVERNMENT CAN AND SHOULD TAKE ACTION THAT WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PERSONS TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES.

WE MUST LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE RETROFITTING AND REHABILITATION OF EXISTING HOMES AS DEVELOPER BUILD NEW HOUSES FOR NEW RESIDENTS.

THE TASK FORCE HAS DEVELOPED A REPORT DETAILING FIVE RECOMMENDED ITEMS -- ACTION ITEMS, 11 POLICY PRIORITIES AND 24 IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES.

THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL IMPROVE HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO IN THE YEARS TO COME.

THE APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION WILL NOT RESULT IN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS.

THE PLIGHT OF SAN ANTONIO HOUSING DID NOT DEVELOP OVERNIGHT.

I DO BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT APPROVING THE RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE TASK FORCE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.

I EXPECT YOU'LL HAVE MANY HARD CHOICES LYING AHEAD OF YOU AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH MAKING THOSE HARD WILL ULTIMATELY IMPROVE OUR HOUSING STOCK AND IMPROVE A DECENT, SAFE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

DENISE OJEDA.

DR. CHRISTINE DRENNEN.

DR. DRENEN, YOU'RE NEXT AND THEN YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY SELENA PENA.

>> COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A COMMISSIONER ON THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.

IT IS THAT JOURNEY THAT BRINGS ME HERE BEFORE ALL OF YOU.

[02:30:03]

AND SO I'D LIKE TO BUILD ON THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE WE HONOR OUR BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS CASE STUDY WILL SOON BECOME KNOWN TO OUR MOST VALUED STAKEHOLDER, WHICH IS OUR RESIDENTS OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE FINDINGS OF THE DATA I HAVE SHARED IS MY GIFT TO THE CITY IN HONOR OF MY IN THIS LIFE I AM SIMPLY DOING MY BEST TO BE A WOMAN MY SON AND I CAN ADMIRE AND BE PROUD OF.

MY SON IS MY BEST TEACHER.

REGARDING THE HOUSING PRODUCT, I AM INSPIRED BY THE VISION THIS CIVIC PRODUCT IS FOUNDED ON.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS INVESTED IN SHAPING WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TODAY.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING OUR BELOVED SAN ANTONIO THRIVE, GROW, AND EVOLVE.

TO ENSURE THIS PRODUCT IS SAFE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, NOT CONTAMINATED BY INGREDIENTS, I AM HERE TO HUMBLY ASK YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR MINORITY CITIZENS, RESIDENTS, AND SPANISH-SPEAKING RESIDENTS TO ASK AND TO OPENLY PRAY.

MOTHER, GOD, SPIRIT, UNIVERSE, CREATOR, LET US FIND A WAY TO ENSURE CIVIL RIGHTS ARE RECOGNIZED, HONORED, AND DEFENDED IN OUR SHARED PROCESSES AND SPACES.

THAT IS ALL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. OJEDA.

DR. CHRISTINE DRENNEN FOLLOWED BY SELENA PENA.

>> GOOD MORNING.

I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THESE POLICIES AND IN SUPPORT OF THESE PEOPLE WHO I HAD THE HONOR TO WORK WITH FOR PARTS OF THIS PAST YEAR ON COMMITTEES AND OFTEN WITH THEM IN PERSON AS WELL.

WE INHERITED THE LANDSCAPE OF HOUSES AND NEIGHBORHOODS CREATED UNDER VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND POLICY REGIMES TO HOUSE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND OFTEN OFFER VERY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN THEM.

AND CONSEQUENTLY THOSE NEIGHBORS SORTED US, JUST LIKE WE SORTED THEM, INTO NEIGHBORHOODS OF HIGH AND LOW OPPORTUNITY.

SOME WILL SAY THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED, THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL TAKE CARE OF HOUSING.

BUT THE CITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

GOVERNMENT CREATED NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SO WE, AT THIS POINT, NEED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS BECAUSE PUBLIC POLICY AGAIN NEEDS TO BE USED TO -- EXCUSE ME.

MY VOICE IS REALLY DRY.

TO REVERSE A LOT OF THE POLICY OF THE PAST.

BUT FIRST WE NEED TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE, TO CREATE A SKELETON STRUCTURE INTO WHICH STRATEGIES WILL FIT.

AND I APPLAUD THIS VIGOROUSLY WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME DECISIONS TO BE MADE.

RENTERS WILL REMIND YOU OF TENANT RIGHTS.

AND I'M A GEOGRAPHER AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF GEOGRAPHY.

WHERE WILL ALL THIS HAPPEN? CITIES AND COMMITTEES WILL BE FORMED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BUT THEY MUST BE GUIDED BY CLEAR AND UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES.

DO WE MOVE PEOPLE TO RESOURCES OR DO WE MOVE RESOURCES TO PEOPLE? WHAT DO I MEAN MOVING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES? ARE WE STRIVING TO MAKE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN ANTONIO MIXED INCOME, WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS WELCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKING CLASS WELCOME ABOVE-RATE MARKET HOUSING? IN THIS WAY ALL ARE IN REACH OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE ONCE DENIED.

IN SOME, MANY INDIVIDUALS, WILL CHOOSE TO DO THIS, TO MOVE TOWARD RESOURCES.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE MOVING CHILDREN TOWARD THE RESOURCES.

AND SO THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE, CAN WE ENVISION MAINTAINING NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE WORKING

[02:35:02]

CLASS BY MOVING RESOURCES TO THE PEOPLE, MASSIVE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN OUR LOCKER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD ALSO [INDISCERNIBLE] HOUSING RENOVATION, COMMERCIAL SPACE, PUBLIC SPACES, JOB CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE ALREADY THERE.

OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AN INTRICATE PATCHWORK.

EACH IS UNIQUE.

DO WE MAINTAIN THAT AND MOVE ALL TOWARD EQUITY OR DO WE MOVE THEM MORE TOWARDS INTERCHANGIBILITY? THAT'S AN UNDERLYING QUESTION.

THE WHERE QUESTION IS CRITICAL AND HOPEFULLY IT'S THE NEXT TO ASK CLEARLY, FOR IT HAS TREMENDOUS IMPLICATIONS ON OUR CURRENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, DR. DRENEN.

SELENA PENA FOLLOWED BY CAROL RODRIGUEZ.

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS SELENA PENA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS MATTER TODAY.

IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE AS CO-CHAIR FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE TASK FORCE.

OUR COMMITTEE WAS CHARGED WITH ASSESSING AND RECOMMENDING FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAD A SEASONED, PASSIONED, SMART AND STRATEGIC GROUP THAT WAS LED BY LEILA POWELL AND ALICE SALINAS.

I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF TODAY'S RESOLUTION IN ADOPTING THE HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK, SPECIFICALLY THE FOLLOWING TWO AREAS ARE IMPORTANT IN IMPLEMENTING.

THE ONE-YEAR RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH IS ON PAGE 12, SPECIFICALLY HIRE A HOUSING CHIEF AS PART OF THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP.

HIRE A THIRD PARTY TO ASSESS THE HOUSING TRUST, AND RECONSTITUTE THE HOUSING COMMISSION TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM OF THIS WORK GOING.

ALSO, ON PAGE 49, THE TEN-YEAR, $485 MILLION FUNDING PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES SOLUTIONS TO LEVERAGE FUNDS AND RAISE NEW MONEYS FOR INCREASING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK.

THANK YOU ALL FOR MOVING HOUSING AS A PRIORITY IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING ELEMENTS OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS ALREADY WITHIN THE 2018-2019 CITY BUDGET WITH A $17 MILLION ALLOCATION.

ADOPTION OF THIS FRAMEWORK TOO IS IMPORTANT AND I HOPE YOU ALL WILL ADOPT THE FRAMEWORK PRESENTED TO SHOW SAN ANTONIO IS NOT ONLY ABOUT ANALYSIS AND PLANNING, BUT TAKING ACTION TO TRANSFORM THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING LANDSCAPE EQUITABLY.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M CAROL RODRIGUEZ.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3 AND A LONG-TIME HOUSING PROFESSIONAL AS WELL AN ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE MUST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I AM ALSO ON THE MAYOR'S HOUSING COMMISSION TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT DYNAMIC AND DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE SERVED THERE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN HELPING SAN ANTONIANS IN NEED.

ONE PRIMARY REASON, I THINK, FOR THAT IS THAT HOUSING HAS NOT BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR CITY IN MANY YEARS.

SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING IT A HIGH PRIORITY THIS YEAR.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IT, AND THE HOUSING PLAN, THE FUNDING PLAN.

THE PROCESS FOR THIS REPORT WAS HISTORIC FOR OUR CITY.

WE HAVEN'T HAD SUCH A DATA-DRIVEN PROCESS THAT DOCUMENTS A SEVERE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND FUNDED PLAN.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE TASK FORCE ON THE OPEN AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PROCESS THAT THEY FOLLOWED.

I URGE YOU TO PRIORITIZE IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATIONS.

ONE IS DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM.

I THINK IT'S THE MOST NEEDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO POINT OUT TO THE RECOMMENDATION TO IMMEDIATELY CREATE AN EXECUTIVE POSITION IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO LEAD THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD-RELATED ACTIVITIES.

WE NEED MORE EXPERTISE IN HOUSING IN THE CITY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

AN EXECUTIVE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW ON THE HOUSING FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WITH THE AUTHORITY TO COORDINATE THE PATH FORWARD THAT WE NEED TO RUN AN EFFECT HOUSING SYSTEM.

I THINK THIS IS CRITICAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

FINALLY, I ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU TO PRIORITIZE RESOURCES TO

[02:40:02]

ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.

THEY DESERVE AN HONEST AND EFFECTIVE FOLLOW UP TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE VERY COMPLICATED SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE NOW WHEN THEY ARE MOST IN NEED.

I WANT TO COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. RODRIGUEZ.

ALICE GARCIA FOLLOWED BY NANCY LOPEZ.

>> GOOD DAY, BUENOS DIAS.

I'M REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT.

THERE'S AN URGENCY IN THE HOUR.

SAN ANTONIO'S VARIOUS HOUSING NEEDS REQUIRE THAT THE HOUSING REPORT OF THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE BE IMPLEMENTED.

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CREATE AN EXECUTIVE POSITION IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO LEAD HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD-RELATED POLICY AND ACTIVITIES AND TO INTEGRATE THIS WORK WITH ALL CITY FUNCTIONS, ONE BEING THE CITY'S CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN, ALSO PART OF MAYOR NIRENBERG'S VISION.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IS POISED TO BE A GLOBAL POST-CARBON CITY.

THIS POST-CARBON STATUS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THE TRANSITION TO A CARBON-FREE, NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD.

TO QUOTE MR. [INDISCERNIBLE], WHEN MOTHER EARTH GETS SICK, WE ALL GET SICK.

MOTHER EARTH IS SICK.

OUR AIR QUALITY IS OUT OF COMPLIANCE BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH CLIMATE POLLUTION IN THE AIR, WORLDWIDE STORMS ARE BECOMING HARSHER AND RAINFALL HEAVIER.

AND PLANNING FOR STORM WATER CATCHMENT IS WISE, SO HOMES DON'T FLOOD OR GET SWEPT AWAY.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

THIS IS GREG HARMON.

>> THANK YOU, ALL.

I JUST WANT TO SAY REAL QUICKLY.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A RELIGIOUS PERSON WHO USED TO TALK ABOUT SINS OF COMMISSION AND SINS OF OMISSION.

AND WE'RE PROBABLY MOSTLY FAMILIAR WITH COMISSION, WHEN YOU SCREW UP, YOU DO THINGS INTENTIONALLY WRONG THAT HURT OTHERS.

OMISSION IS PROBABLY A MORE SERIOUS OFFENSE WHERE YOU FAIL TO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN THIS CASE, WHEN YOU CAN AVERT SUFFERING TO BEGIN WITH.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TURNING THIS OVER TO THE FREE MARKET, IT'S KIND OF LAUGHABLE BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT THIS BODY DOES IS THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING WINNERS AND LOSERS, AND WE CAN ADVANCE IN A WAY WHERE WE CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY.

FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM THE DECADE OF DOWNTOWN FORWARD, A LOT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH PATTERNS HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH GREEN VALUES, DENSITY, WALKABILITY, GETTING CARS OFF THE ROAD.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY WE SEEK, THE SOCIETY WE SEEK CAN'T BE BUILT WITHOUT HEALTHY FAMILIES, WITHOUT SOCIAL RESILIENCE, WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH MISSION TRAILS THAT IT'S OUR INDIVIDUAL AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE REALLY A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

AND THAT APPLIES TO OUR CITY.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JUST A REMINDER TO FOLKS WHO ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, YOU MUST BE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

YOU CANNOT HAND YOUR TIME TO ANYONE WHO IS NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

THAT'S THE LAST REMINDER.

I WILL CUT OFF ANYBODY WHO IS NOT SIGNED UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IS NOT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

NANCY LOPEZ FOLLOWED BY RICHARD ACOSTA.

>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MEMBER.

MY NAME IS NANCY LOPEZ AND I WAS PART OF THE REMOVING BARRIERS TO SUPPLY AN AFFORDABILITY WORKING GROUP.

I COME HERE TODAY REPRESENT TRAIN.

TRAIN IS A LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS.

WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE MADE UP OF SAN ANTONIANS WHO COME FROM MIXED IMMIGRATION STATUS FAMILIES.

OUR PARENTS, SPOUSES, AND NEIGHBORS ARE PART OF THE 71,000 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

LEVELING THE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A BASIC NEED AND HUMAN RIGHT, IS AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO US BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS INHERENT TO LIVING AS AN UNDOCUMENTED PERSON.

IN THEIR SEARCH FOR HOUSING,

[02:45:05]

UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE FACE OBSTACLES BEYOND THE AFFORDABILITY FOR FUTURE RESIDENTS TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION WITHOUT A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

FOR THOSE ABLE TO BE HOMEOWNERS THE RISK OF DEPORTATION AND LOSS OF THEIR ASSETS IS ALWAYS PRESENT.

BEING A HOME OWNER IS A RISK.

IN A TIME OF WIDESPREAD ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT, FOR TODAY'S HOUSING POLICY PROPOSAL AND FOR THOSE THAT YOU COME ACROSS IN THE FUTURE, WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE ALSO HOME OWNERS AND TAXPAYERS.

THEY MAKE UP THE 31,000 PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY WHO RESIDE IN HOMES THAT ARE OWNED AND NOT RENTED.

UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ALSO BUILD OUR HOMES.

APPROXIMATELY 38% OF THE CONSTRUCTION LABOR FORCE IN TEXAS IS COMPRISED OF IMMIGRANTS.

WE RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD THAT THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PRODUCED BY A DIVERSE BOTTOM-UP EFFORT AND WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT AND SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS INITIATIVE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. LOPEZ.

RICHARD ACOSTA REPRESENTING MY CUIDAD CASA.

>> MY NAME IS NADINE LONG, AND I AM PASSING ALONG MY TIME TO RICHARD ACOSTA.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY, RICHARD.

YOU'VE GOT SIX MINUTES.

>> HELLO.

MY NAME IS RICHARD ACOSTA, PRESIDENT OF MY CITY IS MY HOME.

THIS IS NADINE LONG, OUR VICE PRESIDENT.

WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES AND SUPPORTS HOME OWNERS AND RENTERS TO INCREASE THEIR HOUSING CHOICES .

WE ARE A DIRECTOR RESULT OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE.

LAST YEAR I LEFT THE AIR FORCE AFTER SERVING 11 YEARS AND MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE MY WIFE, JENNIFER, WHO IS OUR TREASURER, COULD GO TO UTSA FOR ARCHITECTURE AND WE COULD START A COUPLE OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION.

AND ATTEMPT TO LEARN ABOUT OUR NEW CITY, I WENT TO MANY CITY MEETINGS, AT ONE POINT THE MAYOR THOUGHT I WAS WORKING FOR THE CITY STAFF, AND IT WAS ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO LEARN ABOUT A NEW CITY.

I ENDED UP GOING TO A HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING AND I PROVIDED INPUT IN WHAT I NOTICED WAS SOME INEFFICIENCIES AND LACK OF PROGRAMS FOR HOME OWNERS WANTING TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AND SUPPORT RENTERS AND BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

AFTER THE MEETING, MARIA CHALLENGED US TO START AN ORGANIZATION TO DO JUST THAT.

MARIA INSPIRED US TO TAKE HER CHALLENGE HEAD ON.

IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WE HAVE HELPED RESIDENTS IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE HELPED THEM AFFORD TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES BY HELPING THEM PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES FOR FREE, THUS FAR SAVING OVER $850,000 IN TAXABLE VALUATIONS.

WE HAVE HELPED IN AUDIO].

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO EVERY DISTRICT AND MET WITH MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO EXPAND OUR REACH TO HELP MORE RESIDENTS.

ACTION ON ITEMS IN THIS REPORT WILL HELP US DO JUST THAT.

AFTER GOING TO A DISTRICT 5 WORKSHOP WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF HOMES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE 60% AMI LEVEL AND WE NEED A CENTRALIZED CITY HOUSING PROGRAM.

AND JUST LAST WEEK I'VE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT DON'T WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY WORK IN SILOS.

THIS TAKES TIME AWAY FROM GETTING THE WORK NEEDED DONE.

THERE IS MANY GREAT PROGRAMS IN SAN ANTONIO PROVIDES, AND AFTER SIX MONTHS I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT THEM.

EVERYDAY RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS KIND OF RESEARCH.

SIMPLICITY IS A MUST.

OF COURSE WE WILL NEED HELP WITH FUNDING TO BUILD HOMES, CUTS IN THE FEES AND BARRIERS LIMITING PROGRESS.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BUILD, BUT HELP FIX HOMES, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WE HELP PROTEST THE PROPERTY TAXES WHICH WILL NEED APPRAISAL PROTECTION.

WE NEED HELP EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND ELIMINATE STIGMAS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INCREASE PARTICIPATION.

WE ARE ALREADY ATTEMPTING THAT IN WORKING WITH SAHA AND IN DISTRICT 8 THROUGH AN EDUCATION SERIES WE'RE PUSHING IN THEIR PARTICIPATING BUDGET PROGRAM.

THE CITY NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS THAT PUSH THE SPREAD AND PROTECTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH TAX EXEMPTIONS AND FUNDS TO HELP PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.

YOUR ACTION IS WHAT WE NEED, NOT JUST THROUGH THIS VOTE BUT TO ENSURE THAT THIS REPORT IS USED

[02:50:01]

TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL, AND WE WILL BE HERE TO HELP.

THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS POLICY MUST BE FOLLOWED BY ACTION.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ACOSTA.

DAVID N. FOLLOWED BY LORI HALL.

>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, MS. SCULLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE.

MY NAME IS DAVID, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THIS RATHER IMPORTANT COMMUNITY INITIATIVE THAT HAS A DAILY IMPACT ON MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

IF I CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE STORY.

WHAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANS TO ME IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY BY THE NAME OF MS. RUIZ, WHO MAKES $13,000 A YEAR, IS A SINGLE MOTHER, AND WAS BATTERED.

IF NOT FOR A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDITS AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 30% AMI FOR A RENTAL STRUCTURE, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS.

AND WHAT THAT MEANT IS THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE HER ASSOCIATES DEGREE, THEN HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE, HER MASTER'S DEGREE, AND HER DOCTORATE WHERE NOW SHE IS MAKING OVER $85,000 A YEAR.

IS NO LONGER ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LIVING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND HAS OPENED UP A SLOT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT'S NO PUN WHEN I SAY HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS THE FOUNDATION FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.

SO, THE WILLINGNESS OF SAHA TO BE A PARTNER WITH THIS ACTION TODAY IS PALATABLE.

WE SEE THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES THAT IT HAS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SO I'M HOPEFUL, ACTUALLY I KNOW, I'M NOT JUST HOPEFUL, THAT THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE TASK FORCE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO PUT FORTH THIS OPTION AND TO EXECUTE THIS OPTION WILL HAVE MANY MORE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY STANDS HERE GRATEFULLY AND VERY PROUDLY SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE AND WE WELCOME A POSITIVE VOTE ON THIS.

WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, LORI HALL FOLLOWED BY NOEL POLLO.

>> I'M LORI HALL, PROGRAM ASSISTANT WITH THE LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION.

LISC IS A CDFI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTION AND NONPROFIT HEADQUARTERED IN NEW YORK CITY WITH 32 SATELLITE OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS AND WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN WORK ON TWO OF THE FIVE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD TODAY.

WE ARE INCREASING RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS IN THE CITY, AND ALSO WE'RE CONVENING A GROUP OF SERVICED-ENRICHED HOUSING PROVIDERS TO BETTER SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE NONPROFITS TO MEET ALL OF THE STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THIS PLAN, AND WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION TODAY AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT.

NEXT, NOEL POLLO FOLLOWED BY BARBARA WIT HOWL.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS ON THIS MATTER.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LATINO COMMUNITY ASSET BUILDERS.

WE'RE A NATIONAL NONPROFIT BASED IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE FOCUS ON HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ADVISING MAYORS AND COUNCILS AROUND THIS COUNTRY, SOME OF THE C.E.O.S OF OUR LARGEST BANKS, FORMER CHAIR YELLEN AND CURRENT CHAIR POWELL, AND I COUNT IT AS A GREAT PRIVILEGE OF MY CAREER TO HAVE SPENT TIME ADVISING THE MAYOR'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS.

ONE, THIS IS A PROCESS WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF CREDIBILITY.

THIS BEGINS WITH THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, HAVE THE RESPECT OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, AND HAVE HAD THE TENACITY TO REALLY RUN A PROCESS THAT HAS TRULY ENGAGED SAN ANTONIO.

THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE MADE AVAILABLE TO THIS GROUP THROUGH MY TEAM, THROUGH LISC SAN ANTONIO, THROUGH EPS, AND A WIDE RANGE OF OTHER TECHNICAL ADVISERS HAS ENSURED THAT THIS IS A PROCESS GROUNDED IN DATA, GROUNDED IN BEST PRACTICE, AND GROUNDED IN WHO IS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT IS PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO LEAD INDUSTRY.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO LEAD OUR CITY.

[02:55:01]

I'LL SAY THAT IT IS A -- I THINK UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HOUSING SPACE TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT TO THE COMMENTS OF TASK FORCE MEMBER DAWSON TO THE EXTENT THIS PROCESS WAS FOCUSED ON MARKET PRINCIPLES.

TO THE EXTENT THIS WAS REALLY RESPONDING TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR HOUSING MARKET AND THAT THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE FROM WHERE WE WERE AS A HOUSING MARKET AS A CITY 10, 15 YEARS AGO AND TODAY.

IT IS THAT RECOGNITION AND LEADERSHIP FROM THIS MAYOR AND COUNCIL THAT I THINK REALLY SETS THIS APART.

I THINK YOU HAVE IN THIS DOCUMENT CREDIBLE AND IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO RESPOND FOR WHAT IS A MAJOR CHANGE IN OUR HOUSING MARKET.

ABLE TO INVEST NOW, AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING BACK AS MANY CITIES HAVE, TEN YEARS AFTER THOSE PUSH FACTORS BEGIN TO DRIVE HOUSING PRICES AND YOU SAY TOO BAD.

IF ONLY WE'D KNOWN.

YOUR PUBLIC POLICY HAS A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND FINALLY I'LL SAY THAT THIS IS A BOLD VISION THAT REQUIRES IMPLEMENTATION.

HE REALLY DROVE HOME THE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE NEXT STEPS AND ACTIONS.

AS A COUNCIL, WE LOOK TO YOU FOR THOSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THIS ISSUE.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MR. POLLO.

NEXT, BARBARA WIT HOWELL FOLLOWED BY THE GROUP [INDISCERNIBLE] OF MISSION TRAILS.

>> GOOD MORNING.

I WAS GOING TO SAY MAYOR, BUT COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND STAFF.

AS YOUR APPOINTEES TOOI THE JOIT CITY-COUNTY COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS, OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF SENIORS IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH SUPPORT OF SENIOR SERVICES AND RESOURCES, ADVOCACY, AND OUTREACH.

ONE OF EVERY FIVE SAN ANTONIANS IS A SENIOR.

MY NAME IS BARBARA WIT HOWELL AND COUNCILMAN TREVINO'S APPOINTEE AND CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION.

WITH ME IS LILA, CHRIS DAWKINS REPRESENTING COUNCILMAN SHAW AND CHAIR OF OUR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

DANIEL MESA, REPRESENTING COUNCILMAN COURAGE AND CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

DORIS GRIFFIN REPRESENTING COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE.

AND JERRY TYSON, REPRESENTING BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSION PAUL ELIZONDO AND OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE.

WE SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE'S INCLUSIVENESS AND THOUGHTFUL WORK TOWARDS HOUSING FOR EVERYONE IN OUR CITY, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE HOUSING NEEDS OF OUR SENIORS.

THE COMMISSION HAS PASSED RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING SENIORS AGING IN PLACE AND SENIOR HOUSING AT A VARIETY OF PRICE POINTS AND HOUSING TYPES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THROUGH OUR COMMISSION AND REPRESENTING OUR SENIORS' HOUSING NEEDS.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, ALL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

OUR NEXT IS A GROUP [INDISCERNIBLE] OF MISSION TRAILS.

>> IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE.

AND WE'LL HAVE JESSICA JOIN Y'ALL WHEN SHE RETURNS.

>> MY NAME IS JESSICA GUERRERO.

I REPRESENT [INDISCERNIBLE] ON THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP THAT FOCUSED ON RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AS PART OF THIS HOUSING TASK FORCE PROCESS.

AND I APOLOGIZE.

I'M JUST RUNNING BACK FROM THE RESTROOM.

SOME THAT HAVE COME HERE TODAY HAD TO LEAVE EARLY, BUT WE HAVE A FORMER RESIDENT OF MISSION TRAILS IN DISTRICT 3.

HE NOW LIVES IN DISTRICT 2.

THE GARCIAS LIVED WITH THE STRESS OF AN ABUSIVE PROPERTY MANAGER FOR MANY MONTHS BEFORE MOVING DOWN THE STREET FROM MISSION TRAILS.

AND RAUL GOMEZ, WHO WAS HERE EARLIER ALSO, HE IS A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MY DAD GREW UP WHERE

[03:00:02]

AGGRESSIVE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IS SQUEEZING THE D5 NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.

THEY HAVE ALL APPROVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE HARD WORK OF EACH TASK FORCE MEMBER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF CHAIRWOMAN LOURDES RAMIREZ AND FOR THE GUIDANCE OF [INDISCERNIBLE].

THANKS TO MARIA AND THE SUPPORT OF HER TASK FORCE COLLEAGUES, A NEW STANDARD FOR ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN A CITY-LED EFFORT WAS ESTABLISHED HERE BY THIS TASK FORCE PROCESS.

WE EXPECT THAT THIS STANDARD WILL BE THE CITY'S NEW STARTING POINT FROM WHICH TO IMPROVE AND THAT IT WILL SERVE TO BETTER INFORM, GUIDE, AND SHAPE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE GROUP WAS FORMED FOUR YEARS AGO FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL OF A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF NATURALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MAKE ROOM FOR LUXURY APARTMENTS ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE ALONG THE MISSION REACH.

TENANTS CRIED OUT THEN AND WE INSIST NOW THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.

FOR THIS RIGHT TO TRULY BE ATTAINABLE THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, SO MUCH MORE MUST OCCUR THAN TODAY'S APPROVAL OF A MERE RESOLUTION.

GIVEN OUR EXPERIENCE IN WORKING FOR HOUSING JUSTICE IN OUR CITY, WE MAKE THE FOLLOWING FOUR DEMANDS IN ADDITION TO ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF TODAY'S RESOLUTION.

WE WANT THE DESIGNATION OF AN EXECUTIVE POSITION IN THE CITY TO COORDINATE NEXT STEPS FOR THE SHORT-TERM AND THE LONG-TERM IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THIS WILL ENSURE THE PROGRESS OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BEYOND YOUR TERMS OF SERVICE AS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THAT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE NEED FROM CITY HALL.

THE ONGOING PROCESS OF NUMBER TWO, THE ONGOING PROCESS OF DEVELOPING HOUSING POLICY SHOULD COMPLEMENT OTHER CITY-LED EFFORTS, ALSO IN PROGRESS.

LIKE THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN AND THE DESIGN FOR AN IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

NUMBER THREE, DO NOT LET THE ISSUE OF DISPLACEMENT BE PUT ON THE BACK BURNER.

PRIORITIZE THE PREVENTION OF DISPLACEMENT BY IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY-INFORMED PROCESS TO CREATE THE SOCIAL IMPACT STUDY RECOMMENDED BY THE TASK FORCE.

WE WANT TO SEE MORE RENTERS AND LOW-INCOME WORKERS AND IMMIGRANTS AND LGBTQ PEOPLE SERVING ON THE NEW HOUSING COMMISSION AND OTHER GROUPS AND STAFF WHO WILL SHAPE THE RECOMMENDED POLICY.

AND TO CLOSE, NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE LEARN FROM PAST AND PRESENT CHALLENGES.

PLEASE REVIEW THESE MISTAKES IN ADDRESSING THE MISSION TRAILS DISPLACEMENT.

IN COMMUNITY WE'VE DONE OUR OWN REVIEW AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO IMPROVE THE WAYS THAT WE SUPPORT HOUSING AND SECURE COMMUNITIES AND DEFEND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU CAN HONOR THE FORMER RESIDENTS OF MISSION TRAILS BY REENGAGING WITH TENANTS OF SOAPWORKS AND TOWN CENTER WHO ARE CURRENTY BEING DISPLACED.

THEY TOO HAVE VITAL INSIGHT TO OFFER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

ASK THEM WHAT THEY NEED FROM A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM.

FOLLOW THEIR PATH THROUGH THE IMPACTS OF DISPLACEMENT AND HELP ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS AS THEY ARISE, BEFORE THEY BECOME AN EMERGENCY.

AND COMPENSATE THEM LIKE YOU WOULD A CONSULTANT FOR THAT STUDY.

WE WANT TO SEE A RENEWED, DETERMINED, AND RESPECTFUL EFFORT BY THE CITY TO SUPPORT THE WORKERS, ELDERS, AND FAMILIES WHO LIVE THERE.

THEIR REALITY MUST NOT BE DISMISSED AS A SITUATION TOO FAR GONE THAT CAN NO LONGER BE HELPED.

AS WE'VE LEARNED FROM MISSION TRAILS, THE SAGA OF SOAPWORKS AND TOWN CENTER TENANTS IS JUST BEGINNING.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR THE CITY TO DO BETTER BY THEM.

WE HAVE WITNESSED THE FUTILITY IN TRYING TO ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT ONE COUNCIL DISTRICT AT A TIME.

MASS RESIDENTIAL DISPLACEMENT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN DISTRICT 3 AND 1 AND WELL BEYOND.

IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY.

AND NOT ONE SINGLE COUNCIL PERSON HAS ACHIEVED A GOOD MITIGATION MODEL.

SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRES ALL OF US.

LET'S DO IT COLLABORATIVELY, LET'S LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES, AND FROM THE SACRED EXPERIENCES OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

PLEASE APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TODAY, SUPPORT THE TENANTS OF SOAPWORKS AND TOWN CENTER, AND NEVER FORGET MISSION TRAILS.

GRACIAS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SOPHIA LOPEZ FOLLOWED BY PAUL DEMANCHE.

>> HI.

MY NAME IS SOPHIA LOPEZ.

I'M A DISTRICT 1 RESIDENT.

THIS IS A REALLY HOPEFUL MOMENT.

I AM FULL OF OPTIMISM RIGHT NOW.

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I HEAR

[03:05:01]

IN MY POSITION ON THE ZONING COMMISSION REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1.

THESE ISSUES PLAY OUT IN REALTIME FOR ME.

I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO RESIDENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN A CASE COMES UP, PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, TO FIND OUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT A SPECIFIC ISSUE.

AND I HEAR A LOT OF FEAR.

I HEAR A LOT OF -- I HEAR A LOT OF RECOGNITION THAT OUR CITY IS CHANGING.

AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY GRATIFIED.

I HAVE USUALLY BEEN VERY SURPRISED BY HOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CHANGING, BUT NONETHELESS, PEOPLE TELL ME STORIES ABOUT RENTS THAT HAVE GONE UP BY $200 AND $300 A MONTH.

HOW THEY HAVE HAD TO MOVE FROM DISTRICT 7 TO DISTRICT 1 AND HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER BECAUSE THEY SUSPECTED THEIR RENTS WERE GOING TO GO UP AGAIN.

I MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT LAND USE.

I DON'T MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT COST, BUT I RECOGNIZE THERE IS A ROLE FOR YOU ALL TO PLAY AND LEADERSHIP FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE IN RECOGNIZING THAT THE ANECDOTES I'M SHARING ARE REFLECTED IN DATA THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT THAT THE TASK FORCE PUT TOGETHER.

I GUESS I'M HERE TO CALL ON ALL OF YOU ALL TO TAKE ACTION FROM WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS THEMSELVES.

I GUESS I'LL ADD ONE OTHER THING.

I OFTEN HEAR THIS ISSUE REDUCED TO WE NEED MORE SUPPLY.

IF WE GET MORE SUPPLY PRICES WILL GO DOWN AND WE'LL REACH SOME KIND OF EQUILLIBRUM.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL NOT TO LOSE THE THREAT THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE SUPPLY CURVES.

WE NEED MORE SUPPLY TO PEOPLE UNDER 80% AMI.

I SEE A LOT OF PROJECTS AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, THAT'S WHAT I KNOW IN TERMS OF PRICE THAT ARE ABOUT $350,000.

I THINK IF WE KEEP INCREASING SUPPLY AT THAT LEVEL, I THINK OF A BELL CURVE, RIGHT? WE START TO CONVERGE AROUND A MEAN.

WHICH MEANS PRICES ARE DROPPING FOR PEOPLE AT THE HIGHEST INCOME LEVEL, BUT THEY ARE INCREASING FOR PEOPLE AT THE LOWEST.

SO REALLY ENCOURAGING YOU ALL TO NOT LOSE THE LASER FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE SUPPLIES.

I SAW A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS LINKED AND TIED TO ONE ANOTHER.

I WON'T ADVOCATE FOR ANY ONE SPECIFICALLY, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF YOU AND SPECIFICALLY MY COUNCILMAN, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS ISSUE, TAKING ON LEADERSHIP.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ORDINANCES COME OUT OF THIS AND TURNING INTO POLICY THAT HAS TEETH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. LOPES.

PAUL DEMANCHE FOLLOWED BY MONICA CRUZ.

>> GOOD MORNING.

I WILL NOT TRY TO BE AS ARTICULATE AS THE LAST TWO COMMENTERS BUT JUST VERY BRIEFLY WANT TO SAY THAT I COMMEND THE TASK FORCE FOR BRINGING US TO THIS POINT.

REITERATE THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS THAT THEY LED, SETTING A NEW STANDARD FOR THE CITY, AND URGE COUNCIL TO BOTH ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION, PASS THE RESOLUTION TODAY TO ACCEPT THE REPORT, AND THEN DO THE HARD WORK OF ACTUALLY CREATING AND ENACTING POLICIES THAT WILL IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I WANT TO CALL OUT PARTICULARLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT AND JUST REMIND, AS JESSICA DID, ALL OF US TODAY THAT THIS CURRENT ITERATION OF THIS WORK, WHICH IS AN ITERATION THAT FOLLOWS PREVIOUS ITERATIONS, WAS STARTED BY THE ORGANIZING OF THE MISSION TRAILS RESIDENTS, AND IF NOT FOR THEIR ACTIONS WE MAY NOT BE HERE.

JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> SHE HAD TO GO TO WORK.

MONICA CRUZ.

MS. HOLBROOK WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CYNTHIA SPIELMAN.

WENDY HOLBROOK.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

MY NAME IS REVEREND WENDY HOLBROOK AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE NEW SAN ANTONIO RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT.

AND THIS MAY BE A NEW TERM TO MANY OF YOU.

BUT I'M EXCITED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOW VERY ACTIVE IN OUR FOCAL POINT FOR THE COMING YEAR IN AUDIO] AS THE FIRST PILOT CITY WE IN SAN ANTONIO WERE ABLE TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE WITH THE WAGNER SCHOOL OF THE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TO BECOME THE FIRST PLACE FOR THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT.

AND SO TOGETHER WE BROUGHT

[03:10:02]

TOGETHER LEADING EVANGELICALS, ROMAN CATHOLICS, JEWS, MUSLIMS AND SIKHS AND THIS IS BEING SPEARHEADED AND HAS ENGAGED LEADERS SUCH AS ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO GARCIA-SILLER, FATHER LAWRENCE CHRISTIAN, REVERENDLESS HOLLAND, MINISTER MAX LUCKADO, REVEREND HOMEKEY, REVEREND PATRICK, REVEREND BETH NOLTON, IMAM SHAKEER, SISTER MARTHA ANN KIRK, AND EVEN LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS, AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.

AND SO PLEASE KNOW THAT IN THEIR FEBRUARY 8 MEETING, WHICH WAS VERY MUCH AN INAUGURAL MEETING, THIS GROUP OF LEADERS, FAITH LEADERS, CAME TOGETHER AND STRUGGLED WITH WHAT DO WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON, WHAT DO WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH USING OUR VOICES IN OUR CONGREGATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND IT WAS AGREED THAT THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND GENTRIFICATION WAS THE AREA IN WHICH WE COULD MAKE THE MOST DIFFERENCE.

AND SO THEN FOLLOWING UP IN THE MAY 30TH MEETING, THOSE FAITH LEADERS HEARD PRESENTATIONS FROM LOURDES CASTRO RAMIREZ AND MARYBELL TO LET IT BE KNOWN THESE ARE THE CONCERNS OF THE TASK FORCE AND THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT YOU CAN HELP AS FAITH LEADERS IN ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND SO SURELY THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SAY TO YOU IN GRATITUDE FOR OFFERING THIS TASK FORCE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FORTH THIS REPORT.

THAT YOU ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION KNOWING THAT WE DO INDEED BELIEVE EVERY PERSON HAS A PLACE IN THE HEART OF GOD AND THUS DESERVES A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. HOLBROOK.

CYNTHIA SPIELMAN FOLLOWED BY BETH LAGET.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M CYNTHIA SPIELMAN AND I'M FROM DISTRICT 1.

I CAME PRIMARILY TO OFFER CONGRATULATIONS AND GRATEFULNESS TO THE TASK FORCE AND THEIR HARD WORK AND TO OFFER A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND DISPLACEMENT IMPLEMENTATION.

BUT INSTEAD I'M GOING TO READ A STATEMENT FROM THE WEST SIDE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE.

THEY COULD NOT GET A MEMBER HERE TODAY SO I AGREED TO READ FOR THEM.

WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COMMEND MAYOR RON NIRENBERG, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, AND ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

THE YEAR-LONG PROCESS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN WHICH THE HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK IS ROOTED AND THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEA THAT HOUSING IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WHICH THE POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION ARE EMBEDDED, ESTABLISHED AN UNPRECEDENTED BLUEPRINT FOR COMPREHENSIVE, JUST APPROACHES TO HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO.

THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT.

IN EXPRESSING OUR SUPPORT FOR THE REPORT AND THE OVERREACHING POLICY AND ACTION RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ALSO EXPRESS GRAVE CONCERN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES AND STRATEGIES THESE FIVE SECTIONS SIGNAL AND PRIORITIZE, BEGINNING WITH DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM WITH AN EXECUTIVE POSITION IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

WE WANT TO ENSURE THE CITY COUNCIL'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MOVE ON TO ESTABLISHING, FUNDING, AND AUTHORIZING THE STRUCTURE FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AS DEFINED IN THE FRAMEWORK.

THE CALLS WE RECEIVE FROM DISTRESSED HOME OWNERS BEAR THE DISPARITIES OF OUR UNCOORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM.

THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE AT THE MERCY OF AN UNCOORDINATED THAT PUNISHES RATHER THAN HELPS.

THEY ARE LOSING THE HOME THEY SPENT A LIFETIME BUILDING.

THE CURRENT SYSTEM NEITHER PROMOTES OR PROTECTS OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS AS RESIDENTS ARE PUSHED OUT AND DISPLACED.

THUS WE STAND IN STRONG SUPPORT OF SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE FRAMEWORK AND ITS FIVE OVERREACHING ACTIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE COMMIT TO WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY IT ADVOCATES.

THE WEST SIDE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE.

COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, MS. SPIELMAN.

IS BETH LEGA HERE? OKAY.

SANDRA TAMEZ.

ROMERO CAVAZOS FOLLOWED BY SISTER MARTHA ANN KIRK.

[03:15:01]

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND CITY MANAGER SCULLEY.

WE ARE HERE TO ENDORSE, ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.

I INTIMATELY AM AWARE OF THE DIFFICULT WORK IN HOUSING, HAVING CHAIRED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH NOAH GARCIA AND LOURDES CASTRO RAMIREZ TEN YEARS AGO TO REALLY BEGIN TO REBUILD THE FOUNDATION OF THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, GENE DAWSON, JIM BAILEY, MARIA.

THEY DID POWERFUL WORK AND THESE ARE FIVE UNIQUE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

AND I THINK IT SHOWS THAT EVEN IF WE DISAGREE ON ISSUES THAT WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND WE'RE OPEN TO LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, ON BEHALF OF OUR 1200 MEMBERS AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE INVESTMENT IN THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE HOPEFUL WILL BE SUSTAINED FOR YEARS TO COME.

HOUSING IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART AND PIECE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE COMING HOME TO A HOME WITH YOUR CHILDREN THAT GIVES YOU THE SUSTAINABILITY TO DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. CAVAZOS.

SISTER MARTHA ANN KIRK FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.

>> I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE HOUSING PROPOSAL.

MORE THAN THAT, I WANT TO SAY BE COURAGEOUS, BE GENEROUS, AND CONTINUE MAKING THE CONNECTIONS.

I SPEAK FIRST OF ALL AS A PROFESSOR.

AND I COMMEND THE QUALITY OF THE REPORT.

LAST NIGHT I SAID TO MY SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP CLASS THAT WE HAVE TO DO OUR HOMEWORK.

WE NEED TO KNOW THE DATA.

WE NEED TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS.

IT IS AN EXTREMELY FINE QUALITY REPORT.

NOW I'M GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT AS A GRANDMOTHER.

AND YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE TRICENTENNIAL FOR THE INCARNATE WORD SISTERS.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 1860S THE SAN ANTONIO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WERE SO CONCERNED THAT OVER 10% OF THE POPULATION HAD DIED OF A PLAGUE.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS CRITICAL TO HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE HERE IN THE CITY AND THE FIRST INCARNATE WORD SISTERS CAME IN 1869 STARTING SANTA ROSA.

BUT I SAY THAT BECAUSE THE CIVIC COMMUNITY AND THE FAITH COMMUNITY HAS CONTINUOUSLY COME TOGETHER.

AND WENDY HOLBROOK, MY COLLEAGUE, SPOKE ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT.

FOR OVER A YEAR WE HAVE BEEN COMING TOGETHER.

WE ARE SAYING THINGS LIKE FOUR TIMES A YEAR IN THE SYNAGOGUES, IN THE MOSQUES, IN THE CHURCHES.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO OUR CONGREGATIONS ABOUT HOUSING.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET LEVERAGE AND WE'RE GOING TO GET COOPERATION.

SO YOU, AS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

WE WILL RALLY TOGETHER.

WE WILL REMEMBER THE TIME OF SEGREGATION WHEN RABBI JACOBSON AND THE ARCHBISHOP AND CLAUDE BLACK AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS RALLIED TOGETHER TO MAKE A BETTER CITY.

WE'RE WITH YOU.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU, CONTINUE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, SISTER.

JACK FINGER FOLLOWED BY SISTER ELIZABETH RIPESLAGGER.

>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

VERY LAUDABLE GOAL.

IN FACT, HERE ARE SOME OF THE STATEMENTS BY YOUR VERY OWN COMMITTEE THERE.

IF YOU WOULD, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN.

PUT THAT UP THERE.

WHAT DOES IT SAY IN THE UNDERLINED AREA? THE TASK FORCE SUMMARIZED THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS BY CREATING THE THEME -- A LITTLE BIGGER, IF YOU WOULD.

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME AND HOUSING MUST BE DECENT, AFFORDABLE, STABLE, AND DELIVERED THROUGH A COORDINATED SYSTEM.

UH-HUH.

RETURN THE CAMERA IF YOU WOULD, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL.

[03:20:01]

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

LET ME HAVE THAT BACK.

YES.

YEAH.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IS A HOME A RIGHT? IS IT IN THE CONSTITUTION? I HAVEN'T SEEN IT THERE.

YES.

THAT'S A LAUDABLE GOAL BUT THE QUESTION IS WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS THING? HUH? YEAH.

AND HOUSING MUST BE DECENT, SAFE, AFFORDABLE, STABLE, AND COORDINATED.

WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS STUFF? DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE GET ON THE WAGON AND THE FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE PULLING IT, THEY FINALLY GET SMART AND SAY WHY AM I PULLING THIS DARN THING? AND FINALLY THE WHOLE THING COLLAPSES ON ITS OWN.

YEAH.

WE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR THIS STUFF, WE DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE.

WE DON'T LIKE IT ANYMORE.

WE'RE TIRED OF IT.

YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND FOLKS HERE, YOU HAVEN'T COME UP WITH -- YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO -- HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND ON THIS? AND WE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THE FREIGHT, WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THIS.

WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY BENEFIT OUT OF IT.

YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE? WHY DON'T YOU LOWER THE TAX RATES? YES.

BIG TIME.

I MEAN, HOW MUCH HAS IT GONE UP IN THE LAST 10, 20 YEARS? 50%? 60%? YOU COULD TRY THAT INSTEAD OF THESE FEEL-GOOD INITIATIVES.

YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY.

THIS IS NOT -- THIS IS A LOT OF FLUFF AND A LOT OF US ARE GETTING TIRED OF IT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

SISTER ELIZABETH RIPESLAGGER FOLLOWED BY YANETH FLORES.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT NOW I'LL SAY GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUE SYSTEM THAT'S BEING MANIFESTED IN THE FACT THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE HOUSING FOR THE FAMILIES IN THIS CITY.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES BEHIND HOUSING, AS WE HAVE SEEN.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH MY ENTIRE WRITTEN PRESENTATION.

MUCH OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED AND I WOULD ONLY ENDORSE IT.

I WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY A STATEMENT JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO BECAUSE SHE EMPHASIZED THE FACT THAT THE RICHNESS OF THE COMMUNITIES NOT ONLY CONTAIN AN INDICATOR OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND POSSIBLY WHAT THE FAILURES ARE, BUT ALSO WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE.

AND SO WHEN OUTSIDERS COME IN WITH THEIR PLANS AND THEY WANT TO SAY THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD GO, I THINK THAT IF THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, IT WILL FAIL.

BUT THE FIRST FEW PAGES ARE SIMPLY THE MAJOR POINTS IN YOUR REPORT THAT YOU RECEIVED TODAY THAT I WAS GOING TO ADDRESS.

WHAT I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S VERY LATE, IS TO SIMPLY SAY SOMETHING THAT MAYBE NO ONE ELSE HAS SAID YET.

AND THAT IS THAT SOMEONE ONES SAID THAT AS THE FAMILY GOES, SO GOES THE NATION.

FAMILY LIFE IS THE HOME.

YOU ALL KNOW.

YOU HAVE HOMES TO GO TO.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO GET TO HIS FAMILY AS SOON AS HE COULD AFTER WORK.

THAT SHOWS THE VALUE.

EVERY ONE OF YOU SITTING HERE PUTS A PRIMARY VALUE ON YOUR FAMILY.

EVERY ONE OF YOUR SITTING AT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN PROVIDE THE BEST, SAFE, AND MOST SECURE HOME THAT NURTURES THE LIFE OF EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY INCLUDING, AND ESPECIALLY, YOUR CHILDREN.

THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A CITY COUNCIL.

THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR EVERY FAMILY THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN WHICH THEY CAN FLOURISH WHICH THEY CAN DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS, IN WHICH THEY CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS AND PUT INTO THE TAX BASE.

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE

[03:25:02]

JUVENILE DELINQUENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN MOVED THREE, FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND THEY ARE UNSETTLED AND FAILING IN SCHOOL, THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL, THAT MAY BE A COSTLY ITEM.

IT'S BETTER, I THINK, TO INVEST THE MONEY IN SOLID HOUSING, SAFE HOUSING, SECURE HOUSING THAT WILL NURTURE LIFE AND FAMILIES.

I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO LEARN IN MY BIBLICAL STUDIES COURSE THAT THE HEBREWS OF OLD CONSIDERED THE HOME AND THE FAMILY AS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE A CHILD ENCOUNTERS GOD.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SISTER.

>> YES, SO INVEST IN FAMILIES, YOU INVEST IN THE CITY OF THE FUTURE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

YANETH FLORES.

I HAVE YOU LISTED WITH JOLENE.

ARE YOU GUYS TOGETHER?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD.

SEPARATE.

>> MY NAME IS YANETH FLORES AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ESPERANZA CENTER.

GRACIAS TO THE TASK FORCE FOR THEIR TIME AND DEDICATION TO THIS REPORT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.

IT HOLDS CRUCIAL INFORMATION THAT CAN BEGIN TO SET US APART FROM THE REST OF THE NATION.

AS WE FIND OURSELVES IN A HOUSING CRISIS THIS CAN HELP US MOVE TO TACKLE IT IN A HUMANE WAY.

IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE SEEN A PROMISING DIALOGUE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE SEEN THE CITY EAGER TO DO ANYTHING BUT THAT.

WE HEAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT WE SEE OUR CITY JUMP ON A PROJECT THAT WOULD DIRECTLY DISPLACE OVER 1200 PEOPLE.

WE WERE QUICK TO PLAN FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE ALAZAN COURTS WITHOUT LOOKING AT HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COURTS, OVER 500 UNITS.

YEARS BEFORE ONLY 20% OF RESIDENTS RETURNED TO THE WHEATLEY COURTS.

WE HEAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT WE GET HUGE INCENTIVES BEING THROWN AT LUXURY AND MARKET-RATE HOUSING.

WE HEAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE THINK OF OUR FRIENDS AT SOAP WORKS WHO WERE PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES IN THE NAME OF GREED.

WE HEAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING IT.

I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT THESE IDEAS IN HOUSING EQUITY AND PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE ACTIONS OF THE CITY.

I DON'T SEE A PARALLEL BETWEEN THE WORDS AND THE ACTIONS.

FOLKS ARE COMING TO US BEING ATTACKED BY PREDATORY CODE COMPLIANCE, AND ALL TOO OFTEN FINDING THEMSELVES WITH DEMOLITION NOTICES FOR THEIR HOMES.

WHY IS THAT SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY STRUGGLES TO WORK WITH WITH THE CITY? WHY IS THAT SO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER? THE REPORT MEANS NOTHING IF IT DOES NOTHING FOR OUR PEOPLE.

IF SOMEONE IS BEGGING YOU NOT TO DEMOLISH THEIR HOME, WHY CAN'T YOU LISTEN TO THEM? AND THESE ACTIONS AND IN THESE POLICIES, WHERE IS THE IDEA OF EVERYONE NEEDS A PLACE TO CALL HOME? IF WE DO THIS, IF WE TAKE ON THIS REPORT, AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD, AND WE SHOULD, WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT AND IMPLEMENT IT AND THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A CITY WE CAN ALL CONTINUE TO CALL HOME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. FLORES.

JOLENE GARCIA.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL PEOPLE.

MY NAME IS OLIVIA CONTRERAS.

I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5, WHICH IS SHIRLEY GONZALES' DISTRICT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

I WAS DISPLACED IN 2014 FROM THE COMMUNITY AT MISSION TRAILS.

[03:30:02]

I KNOW THERE'S MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THAT RIGHT NOW ARE LOSING THEIR HOME OR LOSING THEIR APARTMENT.

MEANWHILE, THE CITY CONTINUES INVESTING MONEY IN PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT FOR US.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE ALL OF OUR LIVES.

THESE NEW PROJECTS ARE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE IN THE FUTURE OR FOR TOURISTS.

MEANWHILE, US, OR WE THAT HAVE LIVED ALL OF OUR LIVES HERE IN THE CITY DON'T HAVE A HOME ANYMORE.

BEFORE THE DISPLACEMENT, MY TRAILER, WHICH WAS MY TRAILER, MINE.

ME AND MY NEIGHBORS, WE WERE A COMMUNITY.

WE ALL TOOK CARE OF EACH OTHER AND WE WERE USED TO BEING THERE.

THEN SUDDENLY EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN THEY LET US KNOW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD A LUXURY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THAT WE ALL HAD TO LEAVE.

I LOST MY TRAILER.

THEREFORE, I LOST MY HOME AND EVERYTHING.

I CHANGED FROM BEING A PROPERTY OWNER TO NOW BEING A TENANT.

I HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE.

WE ALL DESERVE DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

WE ALL DESERVE A HOME.

AND I HOPE THAT THEY DON'T DO THE SAME THING IN OTHER PLACES LIKE THEY DID TO US.

BECAUSE WE'RE STILL SUFFERING.

GOD BLESS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

>> MY NAME IS YOLANDA [INDISCERNIBLE] AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1, WHICH IS COUNCILMAN ROBERTO TREVINO'S DISTRICT.

I COME HERE TO MAKE A PETITION SO THAT YOU CAN INVEST MORE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP HOMES FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SENIOR PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW THE SAHA SYSTEM IS VERY DIFFICULT AND THE WAITING LIST IS VERY, VERY LONG.

I'M ON THE WAITING LIST AND ONCE THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE STILL 400,000 PEOPLE ON THE LIST BEFORE ME.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP.

>> I HAVE BEEN IN THESE CONDITIONS AND I ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND THAT HAVE BEEN SUFFERING AND DO NOT HAVE A HOME.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WELL, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS TAKEN TIME.

>> MAYOR, WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE MORE SPEAKER.

IF YOU WILL JUST ALLOW HIM A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE CAN TAKE THE REPORT AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO COUNCIL.

THERE ARE SIX MINUTES FOR GROUPS AND THAT WAS ALL THE TIME ALLOTTED.

WE ALLOWED FOR EXTRA TIME AS WELL.

>> SOME OF THE TRANSLATION TOOK UP SOME OF THE TIME.

SO I WOULD ASK -- HE'LL SHORTEN HIS COMMENTS.

TAKE ONE MINUTE, PLEASE, AND WE'LL MOVE ON.

>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5.

[03:35:01]

I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT JUST ACCEPTING HOUSING TASK FORCE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT TO ENFORCE THEM.

THE HOUSING TASK FORCE HAS IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO PUBLICIZE HOUSING REFORM FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

I, MYSELF, HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THEY HAVE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND TIRESOME FOR ME TO ACCESS HOUSING SUITABLE TO MY NEEDS AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL.

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS UNABLE TO COME TO THEIR OFFICE WHEN I WAS HOSPITALIZED.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME A HANDICAPPED APARTMENT AND YET THEY HAVE NOT $50 DEPOSIT I MADE FOR A HANDICAPPED APARTMENT THAT I NEVER GOT.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE CAN TAKE THE STATEMENT AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO COUNCIL.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE FAIR TO EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S PATIENCE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS STILL TO GET TO, BUT I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

AND I WANT TO FIRST START BY THANKING SOMEONE WHO PROBABLY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD HER NAME VERY OFTEN.

BUT HER NAME IS VICTORIA GONZALES.

SHE WORKS IN MY OFFICE AND SHE HAS BEEN ASSISTING THIS EFFORT WITH THE TASK FORCE AND WITH OUR STAFF FOR A LONG TIME.

VICTORIA, ARE YOU HERE? I WOULD JUST LIKE HER TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.

INCREDIBLE WORK, VICTORIA, THANK YOU.

AND ALSO TO MARISSA BONO FROM MY OFFICE.

TODAY MARKS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN SAN ANTONIO'S HISTORY.

IT HAS BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE MAYOR HENRY CISNEROS FIRST CALLED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING STRATEGY THAT RECOGNIZED HOUSING AS A ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR A PROSPEROUS CITY.

THAT CALL WENT UNANSWERED UNTIL NOW.

WITH OUR CITY'S POPULATION EXPLODING AND PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 1 MILLION RESIDENTS I CREATED THE HOUSING TASK FORCE BECAUSE TRULY, ALL SAN ANTONIANS NEED A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

OVER THE PAST DECADE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING PRICES ROSE BY ABOUT 5% PER YEAR WHILE INCOMES HAVE INCREASED 2% PER YEAR, BARELY KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE HOUSEHOLDS IN SAN ANTONIO THAT OWN A HOME AND ONE OUT OF TWO HOUSEHOLDS THAT RENT A HOME PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.

THEY ARE COST BURDENED.

SOME 165,000 FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO ARE FINANCIALLY BURDENED BY RISING RENTS AND SKYROCKETING PRICES WHICH AFFECTS CONSUMER SPENDING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

OUR HOME OWNERSHIP RATE HAS DECLINED BY EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS.

WHILE HOUSING COSTS INCREASE YEAR AFTER YEAR, WORKERS' WAGES HAVE STAYED THE SAME.

AND THIS GAP, THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT HOUSING COSTS ANDS WHAT WORKERS EARN, IS GETTING WORSE.

IF WE DO NOT TAKE ACTION AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS LOOMS LARGE.

ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CITY IN AMERICA IS FACING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS, YET SAN ANTONIO HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ACT BEFORE THIS REAL CHALLENGE BECOMES A FULL-BLOWN CRISIS.

HOUSING POLICY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS ENERGY, WATER, OR TRANSPORTATION POLICY.

HOUSING IS ALSO THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAMILY'S FUTURE.

A HOME PROVIDES STABILITY FOR A FAMILY, A SAFETY NET FOR YOUR FAMILY AS YOU PURSUE YOUR FUTURE, AND IT TRULY IS LINKED TO THE WELFARE AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AS A WHOLE.

SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY, MARIA, THANK YOU FOR THE BREAKFAST THAT YOU SHARED WITH ME MANY YEARS AGO NOW.

AND FOR REMINDING ME IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WHAT MAYOR CISNEROS HAD SAID IN 1988, WHICH WE'RE FINALLY SEEING COME TO FRUITION TODAY.

I DO RECOGNIZE THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

AS HARD AS THIS WAS, THIS WAS THE EASY PART.

IT'S NOW ON US AND LEADERS AFTER US TO MAKE ACTION OUT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH WE FULLY INTEND TO DO AND ARE MAKING A HUGE STEP FORWARD IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES, ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY, AND BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SHARE THIS CITY IN THE FUTURE YEARS, THANK YOU TO THE TASK FORCE.

LOURDES, MARIA, NOAH, JIM, AND GENE, YOU DID INCREDIBLE WORK.

AND THE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND CITIZENS THAT YOU ASSEMBLED TO GET TO THIS TRULY BECOME A

[03:40:02]

PUBLIC PRIORITY DRIVEN BY THE PUBLIC, HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND MADE REALITY TODAY.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

SO ON THAT, I WILL NOW MOVE TO COUNCIL COLLEAGUES STARTING WITH COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

I TOO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS.

LOURDES, MARIA, JIM, NOAH, GENE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR WORK, YOUR TIME, YOUR DEDICATION, AND YOUR COLLABORATION AS WELL AS WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD.

LOURDES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE.

BECAUSE WE ARE ABSOLUTELY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THIS CITY WITH YOUR EXPERTISE, WITH YOUR INSIGHT, AND EVEN YOUR DEMEANOR IN MAKING SURE YOU STEERED THE SHIP AS YOU HAVE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED PUBLIC SERVICE IN OUR CITY.

BUT I THINK AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN THIS RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO IN THIS BUDGET, WE ARE GOING TO BE THE LEADER IN THE NATION OF WHAT TO DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, ALSO, FOR MAKING IT ONE OF YOUR FIRST ACTIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MOVED FORWARD WITH BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO AS A COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT WAY.

I HAVE TO ALSO THANK ALL OF THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP, WHO WERE PART OF THOSE GROUPS.

WHO GAVE THEIR INSIGHTS.

WHO CALLED TO QUESTION.

WHO WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS THAT THEY WERE GETTING BUT WHO CONTINUE TO PUSH.

AND BECAUSE OF IT WE HAVE BETTER RECOMMENDATIONS AND BETTER POLICIES MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT THIS IS A -- THAT HOUSING IS ALSO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND OUR BUDGET IS QUANTIFYING OUR PRIORITIES IN THIS CITY.

SO I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, CITY MANAGER OR VERONICA.

IN THE SECOND PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION, THE LAST WHEREAS, IT HAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE $17 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR HOUSING-RELATED PROGRAMS. BUT WE ARE NOT VOTING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

SO WHY IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THERE RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, BECAUSE WE ALSO ALREADY HAD COMMITTED THAT WE ARE GOING TO INVEST, START INVESTING DOLLARS AND INVESTING IT FOR TEN YEARS IN ONE OF THE SECTIONS.

SO WHY IS THAT ONE STILL -- WHY IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THERE?

>> SCULLEY: MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT REFLECTS WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

YOU ARE NOT ADOPTING THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TODAY.

IT REFLECTS WHAT'S INCLUDED AS A PROPOSAL.

NEXT WEEK IS BUDGET ADOPTION, AND WHILE THIS SAYS THAT THERE IS A TEN-YEAR PLAN AND COMMITMENT BY CHARTER, BY LAW, THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS THE BUDGET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND THIS COUNCIL AND FUTURE COUNCILS WILL CONTINUE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET ANNUALLY.

>> VIAGRAN: SO THAT MEANS IF WE WANTED TO MOVE, IF WE WANTED TO LOOK TO MOVE -- THIS ISN'T ALSO MAKING US SAY THAT X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE FOR CERTAIN THINGS IN THE HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS OR POLICIES.

IF WE WANTED TO PUT MORE DOLLARS IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS WITHIN IT WE COULD STILL DO THAT?

>> SCULLEY: YES.

THE FINAL DECISION IS ALWAYS ULTIMATELY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET.

SO THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY ARE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL TODAY TO BE USED AS POLICY DIRECTION.

AND THE FINAL DECISIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS ARE SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND AS WAS MENTIONED IN MANY OF THE REMARKS THAT WAS SHARED, DR. DRENEN, I'VE SEEN HER PRESENTATION MANY TIMES.

AND BEING A NATIVE DAUGHTER OF THE SOUTH SIDE AND KNOWING ALL THE WORK THAT COPS METRO HAS DONE, ALL OF THE AREAS OF MY PART OF TOWN, IN KNOWING THAT RED LINING ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS A GOVERNMENT ISSUE THAT WAS MENTIONED, BUT IT IS A LIVED REALITY IN MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

RED LINING IS SOMETHING THAT MY FAMILY MEMBERS STILL TALK ABOUT, AND KNOWING THAT WE WERE ALWAYS ALREADY SET BACK IN CERTAIN AREAS.

KNOWING THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE

[03:45:08]

TO INVEST AND ENSURE THAT WE AS SAN ANTONIANS KNOW OUR SKILLS AND OUR TALENTS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND THAT WE ARE WORTH MORE THAN MAYBE SOME OF THE SALARIES THAT WE ARE GETTING PAID IN THIS CITY AS WELL.

AND THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WHAT WE ARE WORTH AS A COMMUNITY AND NOT SELLING OURSELVES SHORT.

AND ALSO THIS RED LINING AND OPPRESSION HASN'T JUST BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST, I THINK, EVEN 40 OR 20 YEARS.

IT'S HAPPENED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, EVEN BEFORE THAT.

WE KNOW THAT MANY OF MY RESIDENTS IN THE NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AROUND MISSION SAN JOSE WERE DISPLACED BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

BUT WE ALSO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY IS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A VERY SPECIAL AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD TODAY IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT COLLABORATION AND WORKING TOGETHER.

I THINK OF ALL THE FAMILIES IN AND AROUND WHO OWN THEIR HOMES AND WHO'VE GROWN UP THERE WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

THE CASTANEDAS, THE AGUILARS, ALL OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN BELLAIRE.

I'M THINKING THIS IS JUST ONE STEP.

BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE ALSO NEED TO DO IS START TAKING REAL ACTIONS MOVING FORWARD ABOUT REWORKING THE APPRAISAL PROCESS AND HOW THE APPRAISAL PROCESS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AS A CITY, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AND WHAT KIND OF BURDEN THAT PUTS ON OUR RESIDENTS AND OURSELVES AS WELL.

I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION, BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW REWORKED COMMITTEE, MAYOR.

AND I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL IS GOING TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE REVIEW OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE BOARD AND COMMISSIONS.

IS THIS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT AS WELL AND REALIGNING IT? OR IS THAT ALL THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS?

>> MAYOR NIRENBRG: NO, COUNCILWOMAN.

THE ONE THAT'S BEING REFERRED TO HERE IS SET BY ORDINANCE.

SO IT WILL BE REVIEWED DIFFERENTLY.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE RESIDENTS, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT HERE TO SPEAK.

AND I ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR BUDGET ALSO IS CONTINUING TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE GOOD WORK THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN DOING AND BECOMING MORE ACTIVE IN.

THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE WORKING AND BEING ACTIVE IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN OUR CHURCHES, IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS. BECAUSE THAT IS ALSO A LIVING AND THRIVING COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THESE FAMILIES CAN MOVE FORWARD AND STAY IN.

NOW ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TO IS THE ISSUE FOR HOUSING COORDINATOR AND ONE OF THE POLICY ITEMS FOR HOUSING COORDINATOR TO BE UNDER THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, UNDER SHERYL'S OFFICE.

AND I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BECAUSE MY STAFF AND I ARE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR A HOUSING COORDINATOR IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

WHAT WE HAD TO DO THOSE MANY YEARS AGO IS MY STAFF, AND I PERSONALLY, WITH MANY OTHERS, HAD TO GO -- AND WITH HIS WELL WE SHOULD HAVE, WENT OUT TO GET ORGANIZATIONS, STAKEHOLDERS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, ISDS AND OTHERS TOGETHER TO WORK ON THINGS TO FIND MONEY THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE IN THE CITY.

BUT NOW WE CAN HAVE THAT HERE IN THE CITY.

AND WE HAD TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND WE ARE HERE NOW AT THIS PRECIPICE.

AND HOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION NOW, ACCEPTING THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I ALSO THINK ONE OF THE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IS VERY PROVOCATIVE IS AS OF RIGHT ZONING WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT.

FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY IN MY ZONING CASES I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCT FOR SENIOR HOUSING THAT SOME MAYBE DON'T WANT TO SEE MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO.

SO I THINK ACCEPTING THESE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT JUST ACCEPTING THEM, AS MANY PEOPLE SAID, BUT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING

[03:50:01]

THEM AND HAVING FURTHER POLICY DISCUSSIONS FOR US TO DO BETTER AND TO BE BOLDER.

SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 14.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

A LOT OF GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE, AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE TALK ABOUT HOUSING BEING AN INVESTMENT.

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S AN INVESTMENT BY THE INDIVIDUAL.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, WELL, WE NEED TO SUPPLEMENT THAT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE'RE DEALING WITH MARKET FORCES HERE.

VERO, IF YOU COULD ANSWER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

FIRST, IT IS A SELLER'S MARKET RIGHT NOW? IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, SIR.

>> PERRY: AND WHAT IS OUR BASIC -- HOW MANY MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOUSING DO WE HAVE, NEW HOUSING?

>> I BELIEVE THE LATEST FIGURES SHOW THERE'S THREE MONTHS SUPPLY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> PERRY: A LITTLE OVER THREE MONTHS.

HAVE WE EVER BEEN OVER A SIX-MONTH SUPPLY OF HOUSING?

>> IN THE PAST, WE HAVE.

BUT IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

>> PERRY: AND I KEEP ASKING THIS QUESTION.

WHY ARE PEOPLE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO? WHY ARE PEOPLE MOVING HERE?

>> IT'S A GREAT CITY.

>> PERRY: IT'S A GREAT CITY AND IT IS --

>> IT'S AN AFFORDABLE CITY.

>> PERRY: IT'S AN AFFORDABLE, ECONOMIC CITY, YES.

AND THERE ARE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

I MEAN, WE'RE BASICALLY FULLY EMPLOYED RIGHT NOW.

SO RIGHT NOW THERE IS A STRAIN ON HOUSING.

BUT IT'S LIKE A SIGN WAVE.

IT GOES UP AND DOWN OVER TIME.

THE INDUSTRY WILL BE ADJUSTING TO THAT.

THEY'RE BUILDING HOUSING AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

AND OVER TIME, YES, IT WILL GO OVER THAT SIX-MONTH SUPPLY THAT IS KIND OF THE BENCHMARK THAT DETERMINES WHETHER IT'S A SELLER'S MARKET, LIKE IT IS NOW, UP TO A BUYER'S MARKET.

IF IT GOES OVER THAT SIX MONTHS.

AND THAT WILL FORCE HOUSING TO BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE.

SO IT'S A MARKET-DRIVEN INDUSTRY AND IT'S ALL ABOUT ECONOMICS ON THIS.

AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME GREAT IDEAS IN THIS ABOUT WHAT THE CITY DOES TO DRIVE THAT AFFORDABILITY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ORDINANCES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ACTUALLY DRIVE UP COSTS ON HOUSING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO GO OUT AND LET'S REVIEW THOSE, LET'S SCRUB THEM, LET'S GET DOWN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND WHERE WE'RE PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL DRAIN ON THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH I DON'T REALLY SEE AN END IN SIGHT FOR THIS REQUIREMENT.

AND YEAR AFTER YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING MORE OF A DRAIN ON THE GENERAL FUND.

WE'RE ALREADY -- WE TRY TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS EVERY YEAR TO PAY FOR STREETS, DRAINAGE.

WE JUST FOUND A BUNCH MORE DRAINAGE ISSUES HERE FROM THIS LAST RAIN.

PARKS.

SAFETY AND SECURITY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER DRAIN ON OUR GENERAL FUND THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE PATIENT THE MARKET WILL ADJUST TO GET THERE.

IS IT A DIFFICULT TIME RIGHT NOW? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WE CAN DO THOSE OTHER THINGS IN THIS STUDY TO HELP REDUCE THAT.

IN FACT, I WAS TRYING TO PUSH FOR A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

AND THAT DIDN'T GET THROUGH.

THAT COULD HAVE HELPED WITH THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE.

I'M SORRY.

THANKS, VERO.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WHATEVER THE GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN MARKET FORCES THINGS TEND TO NOT ALWAYS TURN OUT THE WAY YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO.

SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE EFFECT OF THIS PROGRAM ON OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS ALREADY STRETCHED.

AND WE HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FUNDING THOSE BASIC CORE SERVICES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND, OH, BY THE WAY, ON THE FEDERAL SIDE, YES THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN REDUCED OVER TIME WITH

[03:55:03]

THE CDBG.

I AGREE.

BUT ONCE THEY SEE THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO TAKE SOME OF THAT LOAD OFF, IT WILL PROBABLY BE REDUCED EVEN FURTHER BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE LOAD OFF FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

SO WITH THAT, THANKS AGAIN TO THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL THE WORK.

AND I DO AGREE WITH A LOT OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WE TALKED YESTERDAY.

BUT I JUST CANNOT PUSH MYSELF TO AGREE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND WHERE WE FUND ALL OF OUR CORE SERVICES, TO PAY FOR THIS HOUSING POLICY.

SO WITH THAT, SIR, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO FIRST START BY THANKING THE COMMISSION AND THE TASK FORCE WORK THAT WAS COMPLETED.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

NINE, TEN MONTHS.

I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN YOU STARTED, BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE ENERGY AND WORK YOU PUT INTO IT.

THE BEAUTY OF THE WHOLE THING IS THAT GOOD PEOPLE CAN HAVE HONEST DIFFERENCES.

WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO FOR MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN PERRY IS JUST THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHAT THE CORE SERVICES ARE WE FEEL WE HAVE TO MEET ON A DAILY BASIS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T IMPUGN YOUR WORK OR INTEGRITY OR THE THINGS YOU DID TO TRY TO PUT THE RIGHT IDEAS ON THE TABLE TO START A CONVERSATION.

IF IT STARTED AS FAR BACK AS MAYOR CISNEROS, WE APPLAUD THAT THEN AND MAYOR NIRENBERG HAS PICKED IT UP.

BUT TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE AND SAY THE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN, WHAT WE THINK ARE WRONG, AND WHAT THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IN OUR LIVES, PERIOD.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WORK TO EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED UP.

THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE HOUSING SECTOR ITSELF.

PRIOR TO MY WORK IN POLITICS I SPENT MY TIME IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY DOING LENDING AND SINGLE-FAMILY REHAB.

SO I HAVE DONE IT FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS BEFORE I GOT ELECTED.

I UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING NEED, AND IT IS A PROFESSIONAL -- WHEN I'M DONE WITH THIS I PROBABLY WILL GO BACK TO HOUSING.

I MISS PUTTING PEOPLE IN MORTGAGES AND PUTTING THEM IN HOMES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVES.

I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT WHILE I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS TODAY, THERE ARE ITEMS THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF.

I WAS JUST WRITING DOWN A COUPLE OF THEM.

THE PERSON, THE YOUNG LADY WHO CAME UP AND MENTIONED DISPLACEMENT.

DIDN'T REALLY POP INTO MY HEAD THROUGHOUT THE CONVERSATION TODAY BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.

YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON.

HOW DO WE STRIVE TO BE A BETTER CITY? DO WE NOT PUT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR DECADES.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

WHEN THE SENIORS WERE LINED UP RIGHT HERE, HOW CAN WE WORK THROUGH AND FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS.

WE'RE DOING IT IN DISTRICT 6.

WE'RE PUTTING ONE UP BEHIND YOUR YMCA.

I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THAT PROCESS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR A SENIOR TO HAVE A SAFE ROOF.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND COMMON GROUND ON SENIOR OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT AT.

END OF THE DAY WHAT CONCERNS ME MOST ON THE GENERAL FUND.

WE'RE LOOKING AT $450 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS .

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT $3.5 BILLION WHEN YOU BEGIN TO COMBINE ALL THESE LEVERAGED FUNDS AND ALL THESE OTHER SOURCES.

AND THEN WE'RE PENDING A POTENTIAL BOND VOTE ON THIS THAT'S GOING TO GO OUT FOR MORE INDEBTEDNESS IN THE RANGE OF 200 TO $300 MILLION AS WELL.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO COME.

WE ARE STARTING ON A ONE-YEAR PROCESS TO FUND AND ACCEPT THIS AND BEGIN TO PUT DOLLARS TOWARDS THIS OPPORTUNITY.

VERO, I DID JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M ON TARGET HERE.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE PUTTING INTO IT THIS FIRST YEAR, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT IS ADMINISTRATIVE COST?

>> FOR THE TOTAL?

>> BROCKHOUSE: THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION THIS YEAR.

I THINK WE ENDED UP --

>> SCULLEY: WELL, THE TOTAL AMOUNT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THAT INCLUDES GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS OUR FEDERAL FUNDING, IS $25 MILLION.

>> BROCKHOUSE: OF WHICH PORTION OF THAT IS GOING TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS? SALARIES, OVERHEAD, YOU KNOW, NEW PEOPLE WE'RE HIRING AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

>> I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK WITH THE PRECISE NUMBER.

IT SHOULD BE AROUND 1.5, $1.4 MILLION.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THAT'S IN AUDIO]

>> SCULLEY: INCLUDES FUNDING FOR THOSE 13 POSITIONS INCLUDED.

THEY ARE NEW POSITIONS.

AND POSITIONS THAT ARE REALLOCATED, COORDINATED.

WE'RE MOVING SOME OF THE HOUSING POSITIONS AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AREA.

>> 11 POSITIONS WILL BE REORGANIZED AND 13 POSITIONS ARE

[04:00:01]

NEW.

>> BROCKHOUSE: JUST A QUICK HIGHLIGHT AGAIN ON THAT, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD ROOFTOPS NOT BUILD THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE INCREASING THE BUREAUCRACY HERE.

TRUST ME WHEN I SAY IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND THERE'S A REASON THEY BUILD OUTSIDE OF OUR ETJ WHERE THEY CAN GET AWAY FROM OUR ANNEXATION PLANS IS THEY DON'T WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH US BECAUSE OF THE FEES, COST, AND TRYING TO GET THE WORK DONE IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

THAT IS A GAP WE HAVE TO CROSS, PERIOD, WHICH IS WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT AND DO THIS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE MARKET TO PARTNER WITH US.

THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE BUILDING.

THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING OUT IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUILDING HOUSES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO STEP UP ON THIS AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE IS TO DEREGULATE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE CHARGING FEWER FEES, LOWER SAWS IMPACT FEES, EASIER COSTS AND INCENTIVES SO THEY CAN COME IN AND EFFECTIVELY BUILD A HOUSE.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO PROP UP OTHER SECTIONS OF IT THROUGH THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S THE MARKET THAT'S GOING TO COME IN AND BUILD IT.

THE COUNCILMAN HAS A POINT, AND SECRETARY CENTRO ALLUDED TO IT, THE CITY IS DOING GREAT.

WE'RE DOING GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING.

IT'S A CONCERN WHEN I HEAR A LOT OF NEGATIVITY AROUND IT, WHEN WE HAVE A MARKET THAT'S WORKING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES MOVING.

WE ARE ACROSS THE NATION DOING FAR BETTER THAN ANY MUNICIPALITIES.

YOU MENTIONED SEATTLE AND OTHERS.

LET'S NOT DISCOUNT THAT THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET IS DOING VERY WELL.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE CITY MANAGER HAD A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

>> SCULLEY: JUST TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, I WOULD AGREE WITH THE COUNCILMAN.

WE'RE NOT HERE ABOUT CREATING A BIGGER BUREAUCRACY.

IN FACT, LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET I RECOMMENDED, AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED, THE CREATION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHERE WE PULLED TOGETHER BY REORGANIZING, NOT BY CREATING MORE POSITIONS, BUT BY REORGANIZING TO FOCUS ON HOUSING.

BECAUSE THE COUNCIL INDICATED THIS WAS THE DIRECTION WE WERE MOVING.

AND WE WERE PREPARING FOR THAT AND DOING MORE IN TERMS OF OUR WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE $20 MILLION THAT WAS VOTER-APPROVED IN THE 2017 BOND PROGRAM.

AND THEN, SECONDLY, JUST TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AGAIN THAT OVER THE PAST DECADE WE HAVE ELIMINATED 1600 CIVILIAN POSITIONS WITHOUT LAYOFFS, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON PRIORITIZING IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE DELIVERY OF SERVICE AND DOING THAT AT THE BEST VALUE TO THE TAXPAYER.

THAT IS USING TECHNOLOGY, BEING SMARTER ABOUT OUR BUSINESS PRACTICES.

I WOULD SAY THAT ROD SANCHEZ IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS TOTALLY REVAMPED THAT DEPARTMENT WITH HIS TEAM AND, IN FACT, IT'S ONE THAT IS USED AS AN EXAMPLE NOW A TO HOW WE WORK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

SO WE HAVE MADE SOME VAST IMPROVEMENTS AND IT HAS BEEN DONE THROUGH REDUCING COST AND BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS THAT ARE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.

I MEAN, I'M THANKFUL FOR THE CONTROL OF THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AND WHAT THAT MEANS OVERALL.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD THING WHEN THE GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN THESE TYPE THINGS.

BESIDES, I BELIEVE IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE CORE SERVICES OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.

OUR INVOLVEMENT IN IT SLOWS UP THE PROCESS.

WE NEED TO BE DOING THE EXACT OPPOSITE, WHICH IS UNLEASHING THE HOUSING MARKET.

IT'S A JOB CREATION MARKET AS WELL THAT'S DRIVING THE HOUSING PIECE.

WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THE HOUSING PART BUT WE DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE JOB PART.

IT'S TWO PIECES TO THE SAME ANSWER.

WE CAN HAVE THE HOUSES ALL DAY LONG BUT WE SOMETIMES SAY WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE WAGES.

I GET IT, BUT WE HAVE TO CREATE THE WAGE OPPORTUNITY TO PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THE HOUSE AS WELL.

IN THIS CONVERSATION WE SHOULD BE HAVING A SIMULTANEOUS JOB CONVERSATION.

THERE ARE TWO PIECES, TWO ANSWERS THAT GO SIMULTANEOUS HAND IN HAND.

WHAT'S AN INTERESTING FACT IS THE HOUSING GAP ITSELF RUNS ABOUT BETWEEN WHAT'S AFFORDABLE AND WHAT THE AVERAGE HOUSE IS, 30, $35,000 A GAP? IT SO HAPPENS TO MIRROR THE EXACT SAME COST THAT THE CITY HAS BURDENED THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY WITH OVER THE LAST DECADE.

WE HAVE CREATED THIS HOUSING GAP THROUGH OVERREGULATION, THROUGH TREE CANOPY, THROUGH IMPERVIOUS COVER AND WE HAVE INCREASED IT BUT YET NOWHERE IS THAT MENTIONED OR DISCUSSED TODAY THAT WE NEED TO DRIVE ALL THOSE COSTS DOWN AND ELIMINATE IT SO

[04:05:03]

THAT PEOPLE CAN BUILD.

AND WE DON'T DEMAGOGUE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A PROFIT AROUND HERE.

WE TRY TO CONVERT THAT PROFITABILITY INTO HIGHER WAGES AND ALSO INTO BUILDING MORE ROOFTOPS.

THESE ZONING AS OF RIGHT ISSUES.

I'M DRASTICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOODS.

I HOPE WE DO NOT GO DOWN THE PATH WHERE JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT YOU GET IT.

WE MUST PROTECT THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND TO DEREGULATE AND OF COURSE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY, THE BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO REALLY STEP IN HERE AND DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.

WE DO IT IN OTHER THINGS WHERE WE WORK AND WE FUND THINGS AND WE LINE THE CHALK ON THE FIELD SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND BE SUCCESSFUL AND PLAY THE GAME.

WE'RE NOT IN THERE AS PART OF IT DOING THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO I DO THINK THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN FIND IN COMMON GROUND AND WE'LL WORK THROUGH THOSE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME HERE.

BUT AS OF TODAY I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE, BUT I THINK THERE ARE FOLKS AND THINGS THAT GOOD PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE BUT FIND COMMON GROUND.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH WHAT THE COMMISSION TASK FORCE LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD AND, AGAIN, A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING HARD FOR SENIORS AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

I'M GLAD TO HAVE FOUND A COUPLE OF THINGS TODAY I WANTED TO MENTION AS POSITIVES.

THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS COMING IN THE FUTURE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.

TO CLARIFY FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, WE ARE VOTING TODAY.

THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE REPORT.

NOT ON A FUNDING ALLOCATION.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND I ALSO WANT TO VERY MUCH THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FROM ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SOMEBODY WHO REPRESENTS THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE GENE OR JIM OR NOAH.

BUT I'LL ASK THE QUESTION AND Y'ALL CAN DECIDE WHO YOU THINK WOULD BE BEST TO ANSWER.

BUT I HAVE A PILOT PROJECT IN DISTRICT 5 THAT I WAS RUNNING FOR HOUSING, IN PARTICULAR.

BECAUSE I DID FEEL A LOT OF URGENCY IN MAKING SURE THAT MY COMMUNITY HAD SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

MY VERY FIRST MEETING WAS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THAT WAS WITH THE BANKS IN PARTICULAR.

I MET WITH ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT BANKERS ASKING THEM TO INVEST CRA MONEY IN THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT WOULD GO TO HELP US SUPPLEMENT WHAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM THE CITY, $75,000 IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO INITIATIVE THE PILOT.

AND MANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT CAME UP IN MY DISTRICT THAT ARE IN YOUR REPORT WERE ALSO SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE BANKS SAID THAT THEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN MY NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHILE I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO INITIATIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHAT IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT BANKS ARE LENDING OR THAT CONTRACTORS ARE BUILDING? AND REALLY WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF US WORKING TOGETHER? BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM REALLY ALL THIS TIME IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S ROLE.

AND THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, GENE.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE ONE TO COME UP, IT CAN ALSO -- I'LL HAVE ANOTHER SUBSEQUENT QUESTION FOR YOU.

>> AS WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST YEAR, WE CAME TO CONSENSUS AND I LOST AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

[LAUGHTER] FIRST OF ALL, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ENGAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

FIRST THING, AND AGAIN WE'LL REPEAT, A COORDINATED SYSTEM IS OUR NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION IN OUR REPORT.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SCATTERED.

ONE OF OUR MOST FRUSTRATING ISSUES THAT WE DEALT WITH GOING FORWARD WAS WE COULDN'T FIND THOSE ANSWERS.

WE COULDN'T FIND THE ANSWERS IN THE CITY, THE NONPROFITS OR PRIVATE SECTOR.

EVERYONE WAS DOING THEIR OWN THING, THEIR OWN SILO.

WE FOUND THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT THE NUMBER ONE THING -- IN FACT, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE HAD 300 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS AND 43% OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ABOUT A COORDINATED SYSTEM.

AND SO WE REALLY, IN OUR REPORT, IF ANYONE'S READ IT, WE USE AS A CASE STUDY WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR DISTRICT OF HOW WE NEED TO BRING DIFFERENT ENTITIES TOGETHER AND WHAT YOU'RE IN AUDIO].

YOU HAVE A MEXICAN AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL, UTSA, ALL WORKING

[04:10:01]

TOGETHER TO BRING THESE ANSWERS.

BUT WE RECOMMEND STRONGLY IN SEVERAL PLACES IN OUR REPORT THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE CITY SPENDS SHOULD BE LEVERAGED WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND THE PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING IS ENGAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THERE IS MONEY THERE TO BE ENGAGED.

THERE IS MONEY TO BE LEVERAGED BUT, AS A PRIVATE SECTOR, IT'S HARD TO GO FIND IT.

YOU HAVE TO BE ASKED TO COME

>> GONZALES: IT CAME UP FROM THE BANKING COMMUNITY WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETINGS WAS THAT THEY FELT THAT IT WAS, JUST IN MY DISTRICT, THAT IT WAS VERY RISKY TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

BUT PART OF IT WAS OUR HOUSES DON'T APPRAISE TO MAKE IT, TO COVER THAT GAP.

SO PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS IN THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, WAS ASSISTANCE FOR GAP FINANCING IN SOME OF OUR HOUSING NEEDS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING I THINK THE PUBLIC SECTOR NEEDS TO COME IN WITH.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ASKING THE BANKS TO BE MORE GENEROUS OR MORE FLEXIBLE IN HOW WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO INVEST IN THEIR HOMES.

THEIR STANDARDS WERE TOO STRICT.

AND SO THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BANKS THAT CAME IN.

BUT, GO AHEAD.

>> TWO THINGS THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS LOOKING FOR AND, OF COURSE, NOAH IS A LENDER AND I SERVE ON SEVERAL BANK BOARDS.

WHAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS LOOKING FOR IS STRUCTURE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE RETURN IS AND WHAT THE RISK IS.

WE DO INCLUDE IN OUR FINANCIAL RECOMMENDATIONS OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD A VERY HEAVY INVESTMENT INTO DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN A HOUSE WON'T APPRAISE, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL ISN'T QUITE THERE WITH THE DOWN PAYMENT, THAT'S WHERE THE CITY CAN STAND IN AND GIVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR SOME RISK MITIGATION ON ASSISTANCE ON DOWN PAYMENT AND REALLY HELP THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITH STRUCTURE COME TO THE TABLE AND ELIMINATE RISK.

IT'S ALL ABOUT RISK WHEN IT COMES TO LENDING.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU.

SO THANK YOU.

MY NEXT QUESTION WAS A COMMENT THAT YOU HAD MADE AT SOME POINT.

I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS AT A B SESSION OR A COMMITTEE MEETING REGARDING THE VACANCIES.

AND YOU HAD SAID THAT THERE WERE 40,000 VACANCIES IN THE CITY.

DO YOU RECALL THAT? DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THAT? OR CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT AT ALL ABOUT THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES?

>> IN 2013 THE CITY PRODUCED AN EXTENSIVE REPORT ON HOUSING.

AND IN THAT REPORT ABOUT 8% OF ALL OF OUR UNITS, MULTI-FAMILY AND SINGLE-FAMILY, THERE'S ABOUT 8% OF OUR UNITS, AVAILABLE UNITS, THAT ARE SITTING VACANT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

A LOT OF US YOU CAN DRIVE THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS AND SEE VACANT HOUSING AND YOU WONDER WHY THAT HOUSING IS VACANT.

AS WE LOOKED INTO IT, THERE'S AN INFINITE NUMBER OF REASONS.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIED AND THERE'S A FIGHT OVER WHO OWNS THE HOUSE.

OR OWNS THE HOUSE.

YOU CAN SEE ABOUT A 93% OCCUPANCY RATE ACROSS THE CITY.

THAT IMPLIES 7% OF OUR MULTI-FAMILY UNITS DON'T HAVE ANYONE LIVING IN THEM.

IN OUR REPORT, WE POINT OUT A DENVER PILOT PROGRAM WHERE THE HOUSING COORDINATOR IS WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PUT THOSE IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF HOUSING INTO THOSE VACANTUNITS.

AND SO, AGAIN, A REASON WHY THE CITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND HOW THEY CAN ASSIST, NOT IN BUILDING UNITS, BUT JUST CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE SOLUTION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR JIM, BECAUSE IT WAS ANOTHER COMMENT THAT YOU HAD MADE WHEN YOU CAME TO BRIEF OUR PILOT AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED THERE.

IT ALLUDES TO THE QUESTION THAT COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE -- OR COMMENTS THAT HE MADE ABOUT THE EXPENSE OF DEVELOPMENT.

YOU HAD SAID THAT 48% OF DEVELOPMENT COSTS WERE CITY FEES, OR CITY -- DID I GET THAT RIGHT? BECAUSE I REPEATED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND THEN NOBODY SEEMS TO CLARIFY OR CONFIRM.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO CALCULATE IT.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT ON KIND OF A PER UNIT BASIS, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, DIFFERENT HOUSES HAVE DIFFERENT COSTS, DEPENDING ON THEIR SIZE AND LOCATION.

WE FIND THAT THE BURDEN IS HIGHEST WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO DO

[04:15:01]

OUR INFILL PROJECTS, WHERE WE GET THE GREATEST RETURN ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR REPORT THAT TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, IF WE USE COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE'S NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, 30,000 A UNIT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT IT COSTS.

BUT THERE'S A COMPONENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SORT OF SOCIETAL WELL-BEING THAT'S BUILT INTO SOME OF THAT COST.

COULD SOME OF IT BE SHAVED? YES.

SHOULD SOME OF IT BE SHAVED? YES.

BUT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET IT DOWN TO ZERO.

THE REAL PROBLEM WE'RE SEEING IS WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO REINVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO SAFE, DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY GREW UP, WITH ACCESS TO THEIR CULTURAL RESOURCES, WITH ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS TO ROBUST TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, THAT THOSE COSTS CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE 50,000 OR $60,000 A UNIT.

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT STREAMLINING THE SYSTEM, I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BETTER UTILIZE OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SITTING -- I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR YOU.

WE'RE USED TO IT.

WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

BUT WE DO APPRECIATE Y'ALL SITTING, AND OF COURSE ALL THE WORK.

THIS REALLY WAS SUCH GREAT WORK.

I'M SO VERY PROUD OF ALL OF IT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE OF THE PILOT PROJECT IN DISTRICT 5.

WE HAD A HOUSING FAIR AT MOCK, AND WE HAD OVER 400 PEOPLE.

AND 189 PEOPLE CAME FOR THE INITIAL CLEARANCE.

AND SO WE WERE WORKING WITH UTSA TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THAT.

AND TO DATE, WE'VE CLEARED ABOUT 60 TITLES.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT THOSE HOUSES BACK INTO USE, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE OTHERS, AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN SHAW HAD A SIMILAR REQUEST BECAUSE WE DO SEE THAT IT'S A PROBLEM CITYWIDE.

IN FACT, WE DID HAVE ONE PERSON FROM DISTRICT 10 WHO CAME TO OUR HOUSING FAIR BECAUSE THEY NEEDED HELP WITH TITLE CLEARANCE.

AND BECAUSE IT WAS A PILOT PROJECT AND WE WERE JUST FOCUSING ON DISTRICT 5, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST THEM.

BUT THAT'S -- IT IS A PROBLEM CITYWIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH OLDER COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THAT'S -- I MEAN, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.

BUT I JUST -- I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ALSO OF INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT.

AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY SEE IN MY DISTRICT, AND I'VE COMMENTED ON IT SEVERAL TIMES, IS THAT IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE HAD LACK OF POPULATION GROWTH OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.

WE ARE NOT SEEING GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE SMALL POCKETS OF MULTI-FAMILY, BUT WE'RE NOT BRINGING BACK THE LEVEL OF POPULATION THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE 1940S AND '50S.

WE SEE THAT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE SEE IT IN MANY OF THE SERVICES.

AND SO WE REALLY -- IT'S NOT THAT WE NECESSARILY WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE INTO THE DISTRICT, ALTHOUGH WE WELCOME THEM.

WHAT WE'RE MOSTLY AFTER IS THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, AND THEN DO WELL FOR THEMSELVES, THEY EDUCATE THEMSELVES, THEY -- YOU KNOW, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, DO WELL, THAT THEY DON'T LEAVE.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY LEAVE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO LIVE.

AND SO THERE'S NOT QUALITY HOUSING.

AND THE DISPLACEMENT THAT WE SEE, AT LEAST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT THERE'S LUXURY COMMUNITIES OR THAT THERE'S GENTRIFICATION.

IT'S THAT PEOPLE GET DISPLACED BECAUSE THEIR HOUSES ARE IN SUCH POOR CONDITION THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER LIVE THERE.

AND THEY THEMSELVES WILL ADMIT THIS HOUSE IS NOT SAFE FOR ME.

I SHOULDN'T BE LIVING HERE ANYMORE.

BUT THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.

AND BECAUSE OF THE STRICT BANKING LAWS AND RULES AND RISKS, NOBODY WANTS TO INVEST IN THAT PROPERTY.

AND SO THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO EITHER BECOME HOMELESS OR LEAVE THE DISTRICT.

AND THEN WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS IS THAT HOUSE GETS DEMOLISHED BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SAFE STRUCTURE, AND NOW THIS PERSON HAS A DEBT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO HAVE THEIR HOUSE DEMOLISHED.

SO, IT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC THAT WE SEE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED OFTEN, AND IS SORT OF A BUZZ WORD WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.

MY COMMUNITY HASN'T SEEN ANY GROWTH, AND WE REALLY WELCOME THAT, BUT THE WAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO THAT MOST SUCCESSFULLY IS BY INVESTING IN OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE.

I KNOW THAT ONE OF MY BIGGEST

[04:20:02]

GOALS AS I SERVE MY NEIGHBORHOOD, MY COMMUNITY IS THAT PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER SAY, YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IN LIFE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET OUT OF HERE.

AND SO ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT, OF COURSE, IS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS AND CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK THAT WE STARTED.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND FOR EVERYBODY HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY TO THE MAYOR FOR MAKING THIS A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR OUR CITY.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

COUNCILWOMAN TREVINO.

>> TREVINO: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED THEIR TALENTS SS TO EFFORTS.

WE TALK ABOUT REGULATIONS, BUT I SEE THIS AS A FRAMEWORK, A PLAN, A REAL PLAN.

AND IF YOU WANT TO EXECUTE, I THINK YOU CREATE A PLAN.

SO I WANT TO COMMEND THE HOUSING TASK FORCE FOR DOING JUST THAT.

SO, IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE.

IN DISTRICT ONE, WE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE MANY PRESSURES APPLIED TO OUR LEGACY NEIGHBORHOODS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THEM.

THESE ARE THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE OFTEN LIVED IN THEIR HOMES FOR DECADES.

MANY OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE VERY AREAS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BECOME HOT IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AS A RESULT OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN AND THEIR WONDERFULLY DIVERSE ARCHITECTURE.

AS A RESULT, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF DISTRICT ONE HAVE DELICATELY BALANCED THE PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH FOR SALE AND FOR RENT HOUSING UNITS.

IT HASN'T BEEN EASY, AND THE SUBSEQUENT FRICTION CAUSED HAS ILLUSTRATED THAT UNTIL WE SEE OUR STATE GOVERNMENT ACHIEVE REAL PROPERTY TAX AND SCHOOL FINANCE REFORM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OUTSIDE PRESSURE APPLIED TO OUR CITIZENS AS PROPERTY VALUES RISE.

TODAY, DISTRICT ONE CONTINUES TO BE THE EPICENTER OF THIS PHENOMENON.

WE NOW SEE THESE EFFECTS OF THE DESIRE TO BE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN MANIFEST ON THE NEAR EAST SIDE, AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS ALONG BROADWAY CORRIDOR.

THERE'S ALSO INTEREST -- NEW INTEREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN AND IN THE NEAR WEST SIDE.

THESE AREAS ARE BEING REDISCOVERED EVERY DAY, AND ILLUSTRATE JUST SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE WILL SEE GREATER REINVESTMENT AND THE BENEFITS OF THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

I'M HOPEFUL THESE AREAS WILL ALSO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE OF PRESERVATION AND GROWTH, BUT WE MUST ALSO BE MINDFUL ABOUT THE PRESSURES THAT DISCOVERY BRINGS WITH IT.

WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE NEW GENERATION OF SAN ANTONIANS ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THEIR FAMILIES CALLED HOME FOR DECADES, TO HELP ENSURE THE PRESERVATION OF OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK, DISTRICT 1 IS PROUD TO HAVE CREATED AND PILOTED THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, WHICH AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 WILL HAVE HELPED TO PRESERVE OVER 500 HOMES IN FOUR YEARS.

THE PROGRAM PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN INCREASING CITY INVESTMENT IN HOUSING, INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REHABILITATION AND PRESERVATION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PROTECTING AND PROMOTING NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE.

AFTER ALL, IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS, SEND THEIR KIDS TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT DESERVE THE DIGNITY OF SECURE HOUSING AND GIVE OUR CITY THE RICH AND DIVERSE CHARACTER FOR WHICH WE ARE KNOWN.

AS I STATED EARLIER, OUR PARKS ARE OUR CITY'S GARDENS, BUT OUR FAMILIES IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY NEED A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS, AND SAN ANTONIO IS WORKING TOGETHER TRULY AS A CITY UNDER ONE ROOF.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME ALSO TO THANK VERONICA SOTO FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED.

I WANT TO THANK HER FOR CREATING THAT DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE EXECUTION OF THE ROOF PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK HAS PROVEN ITSELF TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS -- THAT CAN BE MODELED EL WHERE, AND WE HOPE THAT THAT DOES GET PUSHED OUT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE PRESERVE SOME OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK, WHICH IS OUR EXISTING HOUSING STOCK.

I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AS THE CITY MANAGER ALSO MENTIONED THE WORK OF ROD SANCHEZ, MIKE SHANAHAN -- MIKE SHANANON, AND TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS OF BUILDING PERMITS AND REVIEWS.

THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP CREATE A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM.

SO I WANT TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON REGULATIONS.

LOOK, THE REALITY IS, THE HOUSING TASK FORCE HAS A LICENSED ENGINEER AND A LICENSED ARCHITECT ON THAT COMMITTEE.

THOSE LICENSES AREN'T BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT ARCHITECTS OR ENGINEERS.

THOSE ARE LICENSES, OR

[04:25:04]

REGULATIONS, THAT SAYS THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE SAFE, TO PROVIDE A SAFE PRODUCT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE CAN'T ALWAYS LOOK AT REGULATIONS AS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BAD THING OR A DETERRENT TO GOOD HOUSING.

I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THEM IN TERMS OF THE FRAMEWORK, THE WAY THIS HOUSING TASK FORCE HAS OUTLINED THEM.

AND I BELIEVE WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK, WE WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE ROBUST SYSTEMS THAT CAN HELP TO ADDRESS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY ONE THING THAT SOLVES THIS.

BUT IT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT THE HARD WORK OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP, AND CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AS WE LOOK TO DEVELOP MORE STRATEGIES TO HELP MITIGATE THE ISSUES WE ARE SEEING IN OUR CITY.

YOU KNOW, ALSO MENTIONED SOME OF THE DISPLACEMENT ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING, WHICH IS WHY I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT I DO WANT TO, AGAIN, REITERATE THE NEED FOR A RENTER'S TASK FORCE OR COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS AN EVER-GROWING ISSUE THAT A LOT OF RENTERS FEEL UNDERREPRESENTED.

I WANT TO THANK LYDIA GARZA, WHO USED THE LIVE AT SOAP WORKS, WHO GAVE US THAT IDEA AND HAS BEEN PROMOTING IT EVER SINCE.

JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TO HELP OUR CITY, TO BE A PART OF A PROCESS TO CREATE BETTER STRATEGIES, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, AND I THINK THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY AS CITY COUNCIL.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.

>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ALSO ADDING MY CONGRATULATIONS AND APPRECIATION FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THE TASK FORCE DID.

I WENT TO SEVERAL OF THE MEETINGS.

I REALLY APPRECIATED THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ALL OFFERED.

BUT ALSO, JUST THERE LISTENING AND ENCOURAGING EVERYONE ELSE TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.

AND THEN REALLY SYNTHESIZING A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION.

I THINK YOU'VE DONE GREAT WORK.

ALSO, AS I'VE SAT HERE AND LISTENED TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS, HOUSING IN GENERAL, A LOT OF THOUGHTS COME THROUGH I'M SURE ALL OF OUR MINDS.

AND ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE JOB OF CITY GOVERNMENT IS SIMPLY PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THAT MEANS TO HAVE POLICE PROTECTION, FIRE PROTECTION, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE JOB.

I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE ON THAT.

AND PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING WHO ARE LIVING IN SHACKS, WHO ARE LIVING IN HOUSES THAT DON'T HAVE HEAT OR AIR-CONDITIONING, THAT HAVE ROOFS THAT LEAK, ARE THEY LIVING IN SAFE OR HEALTHY OR SECURE OR LIVABLE ENVIRONMENTS? NO.

DO THOSE PROBLEMS OF NOT HAVING A SAFE, LIVABLE, SECURE HOME TO LIVE IN PROVIDE CRIME PROBLEMS, PROVIDE HEALTH PROBLEMS, PROVIDE SAFETY PROBLEMS, WHETHER IT'S FIRE OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR THREATS TO PUBLIC HEALTH? ABSOLUTELY.

AND THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES LIVING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO IN THOSE CONDITIONS, SUBSTANDARD, NEARLY UNLIVABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE NO INCOME.

SOME OF THEM BARELY EARN, YOU KNOW, MINIMUM WAGE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY SHARING THOSE RESIDENCES.

AND WHEN I HEAR THINGS LIKE, WELL, THE MARKET SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT, I'M SORRY, THE MARKET DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THOSE TENS OF THOUSANDS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

THE MARKET DOESN'T CARE ABOUT A $50,000 HOME OR A $60,000 HOME OR AN $80,000 HOME, OR EVEN A $100,000 HOME.

I SOLD REAL ESTATE IN THIS CITY FOR 12 YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MARKET IS LOOKING AT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE 250 AND 350 AND 550 AND MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES.

THAT'S WHAT THE MARKET CARES ABOUT.

AND THE MARKET DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE

[04:30:03]

50 OR 60 OR 70 OR $100,000 HOMES.

BUT WE SHOULD.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HELP THEM FIND SAFE, LIVABLE PLACES, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED GROWTH AND CRIME AND POVERTY AND LOW EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND PEOPLE NOT FINDING WORK AND HOUSES BURNING DOWN AND PEOPLE GETTING SICK AND SPREADING ILLNESS AND DISEASE.

THAT IS WHAT WE WILL ALL END UP PAYING FOR IN THE LONG RUN IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE SAFE HOUSING FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

I REALLY HOPE ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL GIVE THIS ALL THE CONSIDERATION THEY CAN AS THEY VOTE ON THIS, OR AS THEY SEE THIS HOUSING EFFORT MOVE FORWARD IN THIS CITY OVER THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS.

THE PILLARS FOR SECURITY ARE EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH, AND HOUSING.

AND HOUSING IS NO LESS THE MOST IMPORTANT PILLAR.

IN THE SECURITY OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE MARKET PLAYERS OUT THERE.

WE NEED TO INCENTIVIZE BUILDERS.

YES, WE NEED TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BARRIERS, BUT WE SIMPLY CAN'T LEAVE IT UP TO THE MARKET BECAUSE THE MARKET BASICALLY DOESN'T CARE.

BUT I CARE.

I WAS ELECTED AS A COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT 9, BUT I WAS ALSO ELECTED AS A COUNCILMAN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, AND ALL OF US WERE.

I BELIEVE ALL OF US HAVE THAT IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS.

THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THAT.

AND IF THEY DON'T, I HOPE THEY'LL STILL SUPPORT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THIS.

BUT, I DO WANT TO CONCUR WITH SOMETHING COUNCILMAN TREVINO SAID.

I WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT HYPOCRITES WHEN DEALING WITH HOUSING ISSUES.

WE'RE GOING TO INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

AND YET IN THE COMING MONTHS, WE'RE SET TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT NON-OWNER OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WILL INEVITABLY PUSH OUT RESIDENTS, CREATE MORE PEOPLE WHO WON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE IN, THAT WILL INFLATE HOME PRICES, THAT WILL REDUCE HOUSING STOCK, THAT WILL PUSH UP RENTS, THAT WILL RAISE TAXATION AND VALUES ON PROPERTIES.

WE ALSO NEED TO START CONSIDERING DEDICATED REVENUE STREAMS THAT ARE GOING TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE NEED TO DETERMINE HOW THE CITY CAN USE ITS RESOURCES, AND HOW THINGS LIKE ICRIP OR CCHIP OR HOW THE HOUSING TRUST CAN COME UP WITH REASONABLE FINANCIAL TOOLS THAT CAN HELP DEVELOP HOUSING THAT WON'T JUST RELY ON MONEY OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND.

ALSO, MENTIONED IN THE REPORT AS A DETRIMENT TO HOMEOWNERSHIP IS THE RISING RATE OF TAXES.

AND WE KNOW THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF PROPERTY TAX RATES.

AND YET, WE JUST APPROVED LAST WEEK, AND WILL CONSIDER NEXT WEEK REVENUE BONDS FOR YET ANOTHER SET OF CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT SIPHON FUNDS AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH CAN ONLY MEAN THAT THEY NEED TO INCREASE THEIR TAX RATES OR DEPEND ON SURGING APPRAISALS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND CONSEQUENCES TO HOUSING.

THESE ARE SOME I HOPE THAT WE ALSO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO AND THAT WE ADDRESS ANY ACTIONS WE TAKE AT CITY COUNCIL.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, FOR THOSE COMMENTS.

YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING AROUND 9:15, THE MAYOR SAID THAT WE WOULD FIRST HEAR AN ITEM BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME GUESTS IN THE ROOM THAT WERE IN A TIME CRUNCH, AND I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE.

SORRY IT WASN'T YOU.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR INVESTING YOUR TIME, NOT JUST IN TODAY'S MEETING, BUT FOR WORKING ON THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO.

IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND THANK YOU FOR WRITING THE REPORT.

I DID GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT.

IT WAS ILLUMINATING.

I LEARNED A LOT.

AND IT WAS ALSO VERY INSPIRING.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND.

I THINK YOU REALLY TOOK A BROAD VIEW OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING

[04:35:03]

ACROSS THE U.S. AND FOUND EXAMPLES THAT COULD BE HELPFUL TO US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

SO, TO EACH OF YOU, GENE, JIM, LOURDES, MARIA, AND NOAH, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT AS LONG AS I AM PART OF THIS COUNCIL, I WILL DO MY VERY BEST TO SEE THIS PLAN IMPLEMENTED.

BUT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, AS IMPORTANT AS I MAY THINK I AM, THE TRUTH IS, YOU KNOW, WE COME AND GO, RIGHT? SO WE MAY NOT BE HERE IN A FEW YEARS.

SO WITH THAT THOUGHT IN MIND, I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE WATCHING THIS PROCESS AND TO BE STEWARDS OF THE VISION THAT YOU HAD.

I THINK YOUR VISION IS THAT IT WOULD OUTLAST US.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.

THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION, AND I THINK FAIRLY QUICKLY IN THE FIRST YEAR, SOMETHING ABOUT A REVIEW OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND PUTTING A TASK FORCE TOGETHER TO DO THAT, COULD ONE OF YOU TELL US WHAT -- OF COURSE, GENE, KIND OF WHAT THE HOPE IS FOR THAT, WHAT THE GOAL IS FOR THAT RECOMMENDATION?

>> A LOT OF PREDECESSORS TO OUR TASK FORCE, AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE HOUSING COMMISSION, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY UNDERTOOK WAS LOOKING AT HOW THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE COULD BE REVISED TO HELP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THEY DID A LOT OF WORK ON IT.

AND, IN FACT, IT MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO CITY COUNCIL, BUT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IT WAS NOT ADOPTED IS THERE WAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE PROCESS, THAT IT CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WHO HAD INPUT INTO IT AND WHO WAS BEING IMPACTED.

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE DUST OFF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN BRING IT BACK THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE WE JUST WENT THROUGH WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, GET EVERYBODY THAT COULD BE IMPACTED WITH THEIR VOICES HEARD INTO THOSE UDC AMENDMENTS, SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST ADOPT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE HOUSING COMMISSION HAD ADOPTED AND PUT THEM INTO OUR REPORT, BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE A LITTLE MORE INPUT INTO THAT.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

AND REMEMBER THAT THE CITY DOES UDC CHANGES EVERY FIVE YEARS NOW, SO 2020 WOULD BE THE NEXT CYCLE FOR UDC CHANGE.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO AN OUT OF CYCLE CHANGE TO THE UDC.

SO WE THINK IF WE GET READY FOR THE 2020 ADOPTION OF NEW UDC RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT'S HOW WE WOULD ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENE.

I'M ALSO REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE RECOMMENDATION REGARDING ADDRESSING DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING.

I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TIMID RECOMMENDATION.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AIMED FOR ERADICATING DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT BEING IN THERE.

I ALSO APPRECIATE THE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH YOU, MARIA, ABOUT THIS FREQUENTLY REGARDING SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE HEARD MY COLLEAGUES -- AND I'VE DONE THIS AS WELL -- TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT HOUSING PROBLEMS IN OUR DISTRICTS.

WE CERTAINLY HEAR ABOUT HOMELESSNESS A LOT, AND PAN HANDLING AND DISPLACEMENT.

AND THE TRUTH IS, ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES ARE RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER AND THEY ALL INFLUENCE ONE ANOTHER, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ADDRESS A SINGLE ONE OF THEM WITHOUT TUGGING OR PUSHING THE OTHER CHALLENGES AS WELL.

SO I THINK TO CONTINUE IN THE STATUS QUO IS TO CONTINUE IN DISPARATE DIRECTIONS ON THOSE PROBLEMS. EACH PROCESS HAVING ITS OWN GOALS AND NONE OF THOSE GOALS ALIGNING.

SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF A COORDINATOR AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL TO HELP ALIGN AND COORDINATE THOSE CHALLENGES, THOSE GOALS, AND TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER HOUSING AGENCIES AS WELL.

I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES AND COUNCILMAN SHAW FOR HOUSING INITIATIVES IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

IT'S IMPRESSIVE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND A GREAT MODEL FOR US CITYWIDE AND I'M GLAD THAT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ALSO PART OF THIS REPORT.

ONE THING I MAY NOT -- I MAY HAVE MISSED IS THERE WASN'T ANY DISCUSSION -- OR PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DISCUSSION REGARDING FINANCING FOR HOME REHAB.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME OF THAT THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S ONLY SO FAR THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO TAKE US IN REPAIRING HOMES.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME

[04:40:01]

TYPE OF SOLUTION OR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

GENE, ARE YOU COMING FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE FEDERAL FUNDING PORTION OF THAT, WHICH IS AROUND 4.5 MILLION FOR OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING.

THERE'S A PROPOSAL TO HAVE TWO MILLION ADDITIONAL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, SO THE TOTAL FOR OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB WOULD BE 6.5.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S PROPOSED.

BUT 4.5 IS ALREADY APPROVED.

>> SANDOVAL: AND HOW MANY HOMES -- I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO VERY FAR EITHER, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT DECREASING IN THE FUTURE, TOO.

I WOULD JUST REQUEST THAT WE CONSIDER SOME TYPE OF RECOMMENDATION IN THE FUTURE FOR THAT.

>> MINIMUM OF 81 HOMES THAT ARE ASSISTED WITH THAT 6.5.

>> SANDOVAL: RIGHT.

I THINK THE NEED IS A LOT GREATER.

>> COUNCILWOMAN, YOU ARE NOT APPROVING A FUNDING PLAN AT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, INCLUDED IN OUR REPORT IS A TEN-YEAR FUNDING PLAN.

AND IN THAT FUNDING PLAN, WE ADDRESS A TEN-YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS RENTER HABILITATION AND OWNERSHIP REHABILITATION.

WE'VE SEEN THAT, AND SO WE THINK IT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE TASK FORCE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT WORK PRODUCT, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILMAN SALDANA, BRING US HOME.

>> SALDANA: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'M THE LAST TO SPEAK, FOR THOSE WHO WERE COUNTING.

I WILL SAY, I THOUGHT WHEN THEY SAID THAT THERE'S FOLKS WHO WERE IN A TIME CRUNCH, I HAD LOOKED OVER AT THE MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THOUGHT THAT THE TOP BRASS WOULD BE THE FOLKS WE'D KNOCK OUT OF THE AGENDA PRETTY QUICKLY.

I WILL BE QUICK.

JUST A VERY FEW MINUTES.

I JUST WANT TO THANK JIM, NOAH, GENE, LOURDES, AND MARIA.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS.

I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOUR WORK IS NOT IN VAIN.

THAT THIS REPORT IS NOT COLLECTING DUST IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT COLLECTING A TYPE OF PRAISE FOR THE FORESIGHT THAT THIS CITY NEEDED TO HAVE FOR A CRISIS THAT WAS KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR.

AND HERE'S THE THING.

I PRAY THAT WE ACTUALLY ACT, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE HOPE IN ELECTED OFFICIALS OR IN POLITICIANS THESE DAYS, BECAUSE IN MANY CASES, WE THINK ABOUT WHAT PRESSURES POSE US TO ACT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GIVING TO MY CAMPAIGN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY VOTING, IF I'M BEING QUITE HONEST.

SO WE HAVE TO ACT EVEN WITHOUT THE POLITICAL PRESSURE OF RESPONDING TO A CONSTITUENCY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BOOT US OUT OF OFFICE.

WE HAVE TO ACT BEFORE THE CRISIS IS ALREADY AT OUR FEET, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU AS MUCH AS WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, WHEN ONE OF MY RESIDENTS A YEAR AGO CALLED ME TO SAY THAT ONE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS IS NO LONGER LIVING IN THEIR HOME BUT LIVING IN THEIR CAR, AND ASKED ME TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THEM, THEY DIDN'T ASK ME, BUT FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND HELP ONE OF THESE RESIDENTS.

WHAT HAPPENS, WHEN WE HAVE TEACHERS -- A SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS A TEACHER WHO IS RAISING CHILDREN, WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO -- WHO CAN'T AFFORD A HOME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SHE TEACHES IN, I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE GETTING MUCH WORSE.

AND SO LET US PRETEND LIKE WE'RE NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT WE JUST CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

AND THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I'M EXCITED TO GET TO SUPPORT, BECAUSE IT'S A TEST TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THE TEST IS NOT THIS RESOLUTION.

THE TEST IS GOING TO BE WHETHER WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE COURAGE TO EXECUTE THIS WITHOUT THE CRISIS, AND WITHOUT THE POLITICAL INCENTIVE OF SAYING THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE ME SOMETHING LIKE A VOTE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT -- IT'S INCREDIBLE TIMES, AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN THOSE TERMS. BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE, THAT IF YOU CONSIDER THE CITY'S LARGEST ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION OR EDUCATION, OR HOUSING AMONGST THE TOP THREE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT HOLD THIS CITY BACK, WE COULD LET THE FREE MARKET TURN THIS CITY INTO AUSTIN.

WE COULD LET THE FREE MARKET TURN THIS CITY INTO SAN FRANCISCO.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS ONLY NEW RESIDENTS BECOME THE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY.

BUT I LOVE THE PEOPLE WHO I'VE GROWN UP WITH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OR THE WEST SIDE.

AND IF WE JUST ALLOW THE MARKET

[04:45:05]

TO CONTINUE, THE CITY WOULD NOT LOOK LIKE IT DOES TODAY UNLESS WE PUT THESE WE'RE NOT TELLING THE GOVERNMENT TO COME IN AND DO ALL OF THE WORK HERE, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, I'M GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO WORK TODAY ON THE RESOLUTION AND AT LEAST WILL BE ASKED TO SUPPORT THIS IN DOLLARS.

WE WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE -- TO INCLUDE THE EXECUTIVE POSITION IN HER DEPARTMENT, IN HER CABINET.

AND AT SOME POINT, THIS IS WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT CALL TO OUR COURAGE.

AS OF RIGHT IN ZONING OR AS OF RIGHT IN ANY ASPECT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THE REBUKE TO AS OF RIGHT ZONING WOULD BE THAT PERHAPS WE'RE NOT PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT I THINK IS A VERY TOUGH POSITION TO PUT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN.

BUT JUST THINK ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

IF THE NEIGHBORS ARE TELLING YOU YOU NEED TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, YOU NEED TO PROTECT THE HOME, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I BOUGHT INTO, IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT A GENTLEMAN'S CLUB IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, I WOULD SAY YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU NEED TO FIX.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT A LANDFAL LANDFILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT IS A PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT A TEACHER WHO WORKS ON HER SALARY, WHO'S RAISING KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT EXISTS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE, BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY IS HIGHER IN THAT PARTICULAR SUBDIVISION OR PART OF THE CITY, I WOULD SAY THAT YOU ARE ENHANCING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO JUST CONSIDER THAT.

BECAUSE WE WILL PUT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, WE WILL HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

WE ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE COUNCIL AS IT GOES FORWARD.

SO I'M HAPPY THAT IN THE LAST YEAR OF MY TERM, I GET TO BE PART OF STARTING THE -- YOU KNOW, STARTING TO ROLL THE BALL ON THIS ISSUE OF HOUSING, MAYOR.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND I AGAIN THANK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT DOCUMENT FOR US TO FOLLOW AS A ROADMAP.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.

THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 14.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A -- WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ONE ITEM FIRST.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR FOLKS FROM THE MILITARY.

WILL YOU GUYS PLEASE STAND UP? EVERYBODY GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] HAD WE KNOWN THAT THIS COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS STILL IN THE MORNING SESSION, BY THE WAY, FOR THE FOLKS THAT JUST CAME IN, LASTED THIS LONG, Y'ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF HERE A LOT SOONER THAN THIS.

BUT I APPLAUD YOUR PATIENCE, YOUR STOICISM.

I WAS WATCHING YOUR FACES THE

[16. Ordinance approving an Agreement to establish terms and conditions with Joint Base San Antonio to provide pavement and road work for JBSA military installations locations for a five year ordering period plus one five year option period; and, approving the acceptance of federal funds from JBSA for the management and construction of pavement projects. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Mike Frisbie, Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]]

ENTIRE TIME AND IT WAS NOTHING BUT PLEASANT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

WE DID PULL THIS ITEM.

COUNCILMAN PERRY PULLED IT TO HIGHLIGHT IT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE Y'ALL A FEW MOMENTS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A RECESS AFTER THIS ITEM.

COUNCILMAN PERRY.

>> PERRY: THANK YOU, SIR.

I WANT TO ECHO -- I APOLOGIZE THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MOVE YOU UP ON THE SCHEDULE TO GET Y'ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN HERE AND GET OUT.

BUT WE ARE MILITARY CITY USA, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED THIS.

BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING HISTORY.

AND I WANT THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND THIS, THAT WE ARE MAKING HISTORY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TYPE OF A CONTRACTING METHOD TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN, AND I JUST GOT A CALL LAST NIGHT FROM THE PENTAGON SAYING, HEY, WE'VE AGREED TO IT, PRESS ON THERE AT CITY COUNCIL, WE'RE GOOD TO GO WITH IT.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THIS SHOULD SAVE THE MILITARY MONEY.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY SAVE THEM MONEY, BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REDIRECT IT INTO OTHER AREAS THAT YOU REALLY NEED THE MONEY FOR.

SO, THIS CONTRACTING METHOD WILL BASICALLY GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WORK FOR THEM AT A MUCH CHEAPER RATE, BECAUSE OF VOLUME, PRIMARILY ON VOLUME.

BUT I WANT TO THANK COLONEL PORTER, TIM TREVINO IN THE BACK FROM ACOG, AND STEVEN BONNER.

STEVEN PETERSON FROM MY STAFF, TOO, WHO HELPED SHEPHERD THIS THROUGH ALONG WITH TCI'S MIKE FRISBIE AND HIS STAFF.

BUT THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND WE'RE LEADING THE WAY AS SAN ANTONIO SHOULD, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS FOR BEING ABLE TO HELP OUR MILITARY HERE LOCALLY.

AND THIS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE REST OF THE MILITARY

[04:50:01]

INSTALLATIONS WITH OTHER CITIES FOLLOWING SUIT.

ONCE WE HAVE -- IT TOOK OVER A YEAR TO CRACK THIS NUT ON HOW TO GET THIS THING DONE.

SO, SIR, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING EVERYBODY IN, AND IF YOU COULD SAY A FEW WORDS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

>> I'M GOING TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO THESE TWO COLONELS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

SHERYL, CITY MANAGER, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO US.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, THEY SAT DOWN VERY PATIENTLY AND WAITED BECAUSE THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT -- AND I WANT TO ALSO THANK EVERYBODY YOU THANKED, COUNCILMAN PERRY.

BUT IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, IT'S NOT ONLY THE COST AVOIDANCE, BUT IT'S ALSO, IF YOU LOOK OUT IN THE FUTURE, THIS REALLY ADDS MILITARY VALUE TO OUR INSTALLATIONS, IT MAKES US BLOCK PROOF, AND THE INTANGIBLE OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THIS GREAT CITY AND OUR MILITARY HERE IN THE CITY IS INVALUABLE, AND I THINK IT JUST BODES WELL FOR OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT AND TO KEEP THAT FOOTPRINT HERE.

SO WITH THAT -- AND I WANT TO THANK MIKE AT TCI, MIKE FRISBIE AND HIS STAFF, AND COLONEL PORTER AND HIS STAFF AT JBSA BECAUSE THEY GOT THROUGH SOME REALLY, REALLY TOUGH REGULATIONS, FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AND MADE THIS HAPPEN.

THANK ACOG FOR SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH.

AND SO WITH THAT, COLONEL VALESKI AND COLONEL PORTER, PLEASE.

>> SIR, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE DETAILS TO THE EXPERT BEHIND ME.

AS THE DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, MY ROLE OR MY PURPOSE HERE TODAY IS TO THANK THE COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL, AND THE CITY MANAGER FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO PUSH THIS THROUGH.

AS YOU SAID, COUNCILMAN PERRY, THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY LEAD TO THE ABILITY TO DO OTHER THINGS WITH MONEY AND REALLY COMES DOWN TO VALUE.

I'VE HEARD THAT SPOKEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN TODAY.

AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, AS MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW, WE APPRECIATE THE APOLOGY, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT NECESSARY.

WE ARE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, CITIZENS, AND THIS ENDEAVOR REALLY BRINGS THE CITIZEN SOLDIER, AIRMAN, MARINE, SAILOR CLOSER TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WE CAN'T BE HAPPIER ABOUT IT.

SO, THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR ANDCO CITY COUNCIL, AN ESPECIALLY THE CITY STAFF THAT SITS OVER MY RIGHT SHOULDER, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND, IT'S HER THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT AGREEMENT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WORK KIND OF AT MY LEVEL, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE ADVANTAGES THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS, WE'RE GOING TO SAVE APPROXIMATELY 25% FOR EVERY PAVING PROJECT THAT WE DO THAT WOULD BE ON ONE OF THE INSTALLATIONS, WE'LL SAVE APPROXIMATELY 25% IN COSTS.

NOT ONLY THAT, WE'RE GOING TO SAVE -- DIDN'T DO THE ACTUAL STATISTICS, BUT IT'S AROUND 60-80% IN ACQUISITION TIME.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IN 30 DAYS UNDER THE CITY WOULD TAKE ME AND MY SQUADRON 180 TO 270 DAYS TO PUT IT ON THE STREET AND RUN THROUGH ALL THAT ACQUISITION PROCESS.

SO NO KIDDING, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY AND WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON TODAY ARE THINGS THAT WILL HELP US BE MORE EFFECTIVE ON THE BASES.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WELL, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE TODAY.

AND SIR, I MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE.

>> SECOND.

>> NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 16.

AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR SENTIMENT THERE.

I WILL INVITE MYSELF TO PAY PENANCE TO YOU AT PT, YOUR DAY, SELECTED, AND INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO COME WITH US.

>> SIR, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE COMMANDER OF THE SPECIAL FORCES STUFF OVER AT LACKLAND.

HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> NIRENBERG: YOU CAN ASSIGN THE NUMBER OF PUSH-UPS BETWEEN ME AND COUNCILMAN SHAW AS WELL.

THERE'S A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 16.

WE DO HAVE ONE SMALL ITEM LEFT IN THE MORNING AGENDA, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE PROCEDURAL, SO

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

[17. Ordinance expanding the authority of the Director of Transportation and Capital Improvements to use the Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) alternative delivery solicitation and project delivery method for complex horizontal (roadway and drainage) projects that exceed $1.5 million and meet certain departmental criteria. [Peter Zanoni, Deputy City Manager; Mike Frisbie, Director, Transportation & Capital Improvements]]

I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK OUR CITY CLERK TO READ THE CAPTION FOR 17, AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL WILL TAKE IT.

>> ITEM NUMBER 17 IS AN ORDINANCE EXPANDING THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO USE THE COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL, CSP, ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY SOLICITATION AND PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD FOR COMPLEX HORIZONTAL ROAD AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT EXCEED $1.5 MILLION AND MEET CERTAIN DEPARTMENTAL CRITERIA.

>> NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU.

I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.

I WON'T ASK YOU TO GIVE A PRESENTATION, MIKE.

BUT WE DO HAVE A CURRENT ORDINANCE ADOPTED IN '05 THAT REQUIRES THAT PROJECTS OVER 1.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL COSTS THAT WE MUST ACCEPT THE LOWEST BID.

THAT'S THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS

[04:55:01]

AMENDING THAT ORDINANCE TO ALLOW US TO TAKE A COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSAL INSTEAD OF THE LOWEST BID.

SO I THINK WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED, WE WERE PROBABLY CONCERNED ABOUT SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT WE REALIZE NOW THAT THERE'S -- THAT OUR RESIDENTS REALLY EXPECT A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE LOWEST COST PROJECT FROM THEIR LEADERS AND FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT WORKERS.

THEY ALSO WANT A QUALITY PRODUCT AND A QUALITY PROCESS.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS AMENDMENT FORWARD, MIKE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT APPLIED IN SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 7, SPECIFICALLY OUR HUGE DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER $1.5 MILLION AND DO NEED A QUALITY PRODUCT AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND.

>> NIRENBERG: THAT IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN?

>> VIAGRAN: I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

COULD YOU PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE FOR THIS? IS IT GOING TO BE -- ARE WE GOING TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OR IS IT JUST COMPETITIVE?

>> SO, WE HAVE -- SO WE USE COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR VERTICAL PROJECTS, FOR PARK PROJECTS, AND SOME LIMITED STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS.

BUT THIS ACTION TODAY WILL ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY ON THE LARGER STREET PROJECTS WITH A LOT OF COMPLEXITIES TO DO THAT VALUE-BASED SELECTION PROCESS, VERSUS JUST THE LOW BID.

WE'LL STILL LOW BID A LOT OF WORK OUT THERE, BUT A CASE BY CASE, WE WILL SELECT THIS FOR SOME OF THE MORE COMPLEX PROJECTS.

>> VIAGRAN: ALL RIGHT.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 17.

THAT IS THE DURATION OF OUR MORNING AGENDA.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ARRIVED FOR THE 2:00 P.M. ZONING AGENDA, THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS.

WE'LL RECONVENE AT

[Zoning Consent Agenda]

>> NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR ZONING AGENDA.

PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED FOR 2:00 P.M.

I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

WE HAD AN EXTREMELY LONG SESSION THIS MORNING.

SO WE'RE RECONVENED NOW.

WE'LL MOVE THROUGH OUR ZONING AGENDA.

I DO WANT TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS FROM WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM CONSENT.

I DO HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

ITEM Z-6, Z-7, Z-4, AND Z-8, Z-9, Z-10, Z-11, AND Z-13.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT ZONING AGENDA, WHICH IS ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR Z-6, Z-7, Z-4, Z-8, Z-9, Z-11, AND Z-13.

WE'LL TAKE THOSE CITIZENS SIGNED UP FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AT THIS TIME.

JACK FINGER.

>> MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER.

A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

MR. TREVINO, IN YOUR DISTRICT, ITEM NUMBER 19 IS AN ALCOHOL VARIANCE.

YES, ABOUT THE IDEA OF ALLOWING ALCOHOL SALES WITHIN 300 FEET OF AGNES COTTON ELEMENTARY, RIGHT THERE IN THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, SIR.

YOU HAVE NOT PULLED OFF CONSENT.

APPARENTLY, YOU WISH FOR ALCOHOL SALES TO BE SOLD CLOSE TO WHERE SCHOOL KIDS ARE PLAYING, SIR.

THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.

SO, CONSEQUENTLY, I WISH YOU WOULD RECONSIDER, SIR.

THERE ARE A FEW OF US THAT STILL DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF, WELL, LIKE I SAY, THERE ARE -- THE STATE HAS RULES ABOUT THESE THINGS.

THAT'S WHY THEY PUT THEM ON THE BOOKS, SIR.

YES.

ELSEWHERE ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER -- SHAW.

YOU HAVE Z-5, AN EXTERMINATOR SERVICE SITUATED VERY CLOSE TO, WELL, RIGHT NEXT TO HOUSES,

[05:00:02]

RESIDENCES.

THERE'S NO BUFFERS THERE, SIR.

MAYBE YOU WOULD ALSO RECONSIDER THAT ONE, SIR.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE SAYING, MR. SHAW? HE'S STILL TRYING TO GET IT ON THE SCREEN I GUESS THERE.

ANYWAY, THERE IS AN EXTERMINATOR SERVICE BEING RIGHT THERE IN Z-5, RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR HOUSES THERE, SIR.

ALSO -- OH, JUST LOOKING AT THINGS HERE.

Z-8.

A CONTRACTOR FACILITY NEXT TO RESIDENCES.

NO BUFFERS RIGHT THERE, MADAM.

I THINK A FEW PEOPLE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PUTTING SOME CONDITIONS ON THAT ONE THERE.

AND MS. SHIRLEY GONZALES' DISTRICT.

Z NUMBER 10.

YES, THERE'S A BIG ONE RIGHT THERE.

A STONE MONUMENT RETAIL SERVICE, WHICH IS TO BE PLACED THERE.

QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WERE AGAINST THAT ONE, MADAM.

THE WESTWOOD SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION OPPOSED THAT ONE, MS. GONZALES.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU --

OH, GOODNESS.

>> SO MANY SCANDALS, SO LITTLE TIME.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

CYNTHIA SPIELMAN.

IS MS. SPIELMAN STILL HERE? OKAY.

JEAN FRANCOIS PUJOLS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JEAN FRANCOIS.

I'M OPENING A NEW RESTAURANT IN THE BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT'S WHY I APPLIED FOR VARIANCE TO BE APPROVED.

I HAVE OPENED MANY RESTAURANTS IN SAN ANTONIO.

THE LAST ONE WAS TRIBECA IN OLMOS PARK.

I PRETTY MUCH DO A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT, EMPHASIZING FAMILY EATING AND CASUAL DRINKING, AND I LIVE IN -- WHICH IS JUST NEXT TO BEACON HILL.

I REALLY LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND FEEL THAT REVITALIZING BLANCO WILL REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I THINK THAT MY ESTABLISHMENT WOULD BE A BEGINNING FOR THIS PROJECT.

>> THIS IS FOR WHICH CASE?

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

SUSAN POWERS.

SUSAN POWERS?

>> NIRENBERG: SO, WE'RE TAKING COMMENT ON ANY ITEMS THAT ARE STILL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I BELIEVE YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM Z-1, WHICH IS STILL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> FOR THE -- THE ONLY THING, WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE CONCERNED IS THAT IDZ, BY HAVING IT ZONED IDZ, THAT THEY DID AWAY WITH THE -- THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY.

AND AT THAT SITE, BOTH LANES AT ZAVALLOS USED TO BE TWO LANES GOING EAST, AND TWO LANES GOING WEST.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF KIP ACADEMY, IT'S ONE LANE GOING EAST, ONE LANE GOING WEST, AND THE OTHER LANE TURNS INTO MARTY STREET, IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

SO, IN THE MORNING, WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION AND IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THEY PICK UP, YOU'RE WAITING MAYBE 20 MINUTES JUST TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL, TURNING INTO MARTY STREET OFF ZAVALLOS.

SO WITH AN ADDITIONAL 300 TO 500 VEHICLES, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THAT AREA EVEN GREATER.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY PLANS TO WIDEN THAT STREET.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT STREET CAN BE WIDENED, BECAUSE AT THE I-35, AND AT I-35 AND ZAVALLOS, YOU'VE

[05:05:03]

GOT THE TWO GAS STATIONS THERE, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY TO WIDEN ZAVALLOS STREET TO ALLEVIATE THAT TRAFFIC IN THE FUTURE.

>> NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. POWER.

THAT IS EVERYONE WHO IS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS STILL ON THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[Z-6. 18-4909 ZONING CASE # Z2018252 (Council District 2): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "C-2 RIO-1 DN UC-2 NCD-9 AHOD" Commercial River Improvement Overlay Development Node Broadway Urban Corridor Westfort Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay District and "IDZ RIO-1 DN UC-2 NCD-9 AHOD" Infill Development Zone River Improvement Overlay Development Node Broadway Urban Corridor Westfort Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay District to "IDZ RIO-1 DN UC-2 NCD-9 AHOD" Infill Development Zone River Improvement Overlay Development Node Broadway Urban Corridor Westfort Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay District with uses permitted in "O-2" High Rise Office District, "C-2" Commercial District and a Bar/Tavern with or without cover charge 3 or more days per week on Lots 1-4, 7-12, P-100, P-101, P-102, P-103, P-105, and P-106, Block 33, NCB 1763, generally located at 2100 Broadway Street. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval.]

>> GENERALLY LOCATED AT 2100 BROADWAY STREET, STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

ITEM Z-6.

19 NOTICES MAILED, EIGHT IN FAVOR, AND ZERO OPPOSED.

AND THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A TWO-WEEK CONTINUANCE TO SEPTEMBER 20TH.

>> NIRENBERG: COUNCILMAN SHAW.

>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

MOVE FOR CONTINUANCE OF Z-6 TO SEPTEMBER 20TH IN ORDER FOR THE APPLICANT TO FINALIZE PARTICULAR DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CASE.

>> NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CONTINUANCE OF ITEM Z-6 TO SEPTEMBER 20TH.

[Z-7. 18-4914 ZONING CASE # Z2018272 (Council District 3): Ordinance amendingthe Zoning District Boundary from "C-2 CD H MC-2 AHOD"Commercial Mission Historic South Presa Metropolitan CorridorAirport Hazard Overlay District with Conditional Use for a Flea Market– Indoor and "C-2 CD H AHOD" Commercial Mission Historic AirportHazard Overlay District with Conditional Use for a Flea Market –Indoor to "MF-33 H MC-2 AHOD" Multi-Family Mission HistoricSouth Presa Metropolitan Corridor Airport Hazard Overlay District and"MF-33 H AHOD" Multi-Family Mission Historic Airport HazardOverlay District on Lot P-106 and Lot P-107, NCB 10917 and NCB10918, located at 9159 South Presa Street. Staff and ZoningCommission recommend Approval]

>> LOCATED AT 9159 SOUTH PRESSAS STREET.

Z-7.

ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

SIX NOTICES MAILED, TWO IN FAVOR AND TWO OPPOSED.

PETITION RECEIVED FOR 23 SIGNATURES IS IN OPPOSITION, WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE 200-FOOT BOUNDARY.

>> NIRENBERG: WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

I'LL CALL THEM NOW.

BERTHA VIEGAS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.

THE REASON WHY THE MISSION CREEK SUBDIVISION AND I ARE OPPOSED TO THIS PROPOSITION IS BECAUSE THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH WORKING CITIZENS, YOU KNOW? ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WORKS.

THAT'S WHY I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TOO MANY PEOPLE TO COME IN WITH ME TODAY.

I WAS ABLE TO RAISE A PETITION AND I ACTUALLY RAISED ANOTHER PETITION, BUT I FORGOT IT AT HOME BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING LATE TO WORK.

THE SUBDIVISION -- THE PROPOSAL, IT DOESN'T SEEM SUITABLE FOR THE ELDERLY.

IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A NOISY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT IT.

I REALLY DON'T APPRECIATE THE WAY I FELT I WAS INTIMIDATED BY MS. VIAGRAN'S OFFICE FROM THE BEGI BEGINNING.

WHEN I CALLED, THEY SAID, WELL, SHE'S IN FAVOR OF IT, SO IT'S GOING TO PASS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK.

THAT WAS WHAT I FELT, YOU KNOW? I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT.

I DIDN'T GET A RETURN CALL FROM HER UNTIL I CALL ED MR. MAYOR'S OFFICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT, YOU KNOW, THAT SHE RETURNED MY CALL THAT DAY AND THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME ALL THE INFORMATION ON THIS PROPOSAL.

THEY'RE SAYING, OKAY.

WELL, IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS.

WE'LL PUT IT THERE.

WE'LL PUT TREES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT BOTTOM LINE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T WANT IT SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, YOU KNOW, IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T WANT SOMETHING WHY DOES THE CITY HAVE TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WANTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, CAN I SAVE MY TIME FOR THE NEXT PERSON?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: MS. VILLEGAS, ARE YOU REFERRING TO BENITO VILLEGAS?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME OR CEDE IT BUT YOU CAN'T DO BOTH.

>> WHAT?

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: HE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AS WELL.

>> ANYWAY, I'M JUST, MY MAIN FEAR IS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU KNOW, THE SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT DOESN'T GO THROUGH, THAT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO PUT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER HOUSING PROJECT LIKE THE COURTS ON THE WEST SIDE AUDIO] TO GO TO WORK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. VILLEGAS.

BENITO VILLEGAS.

>> HELLO.

MY NAME IS BENITO VILLEGAS.

CAN YOU PUT THAT MAP BACK UP,

[05:10:01]

PLEASE? OKAY.

YOU SEE THE PROPERTY WHERE THEY'RE PLANNING TO BUILD.

WELL, WE OWN THE 4.5 ACRES TO THE LEFT OF THAT, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.

AND WE HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE EARLY '40S.

IT'S BEEN IN OUR FAMILY.

MOST OF Y'ALL WEREN'T EVEN ALIVE AT THE TIME.

AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SAVE WHAT WE GOT AND PASS IT ALONG TO MY KIDS, TO MY BROTHER'S KIDS, TO OUR FAMILY.

AND THIS IS FOUR ACRES.

SO IT'S THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS.

WE DON'T WANT A THREE-STORY BUILDING WITH WINDOWS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEING OUR WHOLE PROPERTY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE SWIMMING POOL WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS.

NOBODY WANTS THIS.

WE OWN THE MAJORITY OF THAT.

WHAT WE DON'T OWN, SAISD OWNS.

SO WE OWN THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY.

SO IF WE REALLY DON'T WANT IT, I ASK, AND YOU LOOK IN YOUR HEART AND DON'T FORCE US TO LIVE WITH SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT.

BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THIS IN THE FAMILY.

WE'RE GOING TO STAY HERE, WHETHER THERE ARE APARTMENTS THERE OR NOT, WE'RE GOING TO STAY HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY.

BUT I ASK THAT YOU DON'T LET MY KIDS LIVE WITH THAT APARTMENT NEXT TO IT.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL GROWING UP ON THIS LAND.

I USED TO WALK TO THE FRONT AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC.

YOU WOULD BE LUCKY IF YOU SEE A CAR EVERY 45 MINUTES.

NOW I'M AFRAID TO LEAVE AND LET MY DAUGHTER OUT.

SHE'S GOING TO GET RUN OVER.

IT'S SO CONGESTED THAT IT'S NOT LOVELY LIKE IT USED TO BE.

IT'S NOT LIKE BACK IN THE DAY.

AND I ASK, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THAT YOU PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS.

THE OWNER WANTS IT APPROVED BECAUSE HE BOUGHT IT FOR UNDER $100,000 AND HE'S GOING TO SELL IT FOR $500,000.

DON'T THINK ABOUT THE MONEY.

JUST LOOK IN YOUR HEART AND PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS.

DON'T MAKE ME LIVE NEXT TO THIS.

IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE, HAS ANYBODY BEEN TO MISSION TRAIL BAPTIST HOSPITAL ON CITY BASE? I'M SURE ONE OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN THERE AT LEAST.

WELL, THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT LOCATION FOR IT.

PERFECT.

BEAUTIFUL.

NEXT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS.

THEY CAN VISIT.

THERE'S OVER 2,000 ACRES THERE.

THAT WOULD BE A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.

RIGHT HERE NEXT TO US, IT'S NOT.

EVENTUALLY THERE'S A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY ACROSS THE STREET.

EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A HIGH SCHOOL NEXT TO US.

BUT THIS? I JUST ASK, BEG YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HEART THAT YOU DO NOT APPROVE THIS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. VILLEGAS.

COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

AND I WANT TO THANK MR. VILLEGAS AND MS. VILLEGAS FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND FOR EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS AND FOR FOLLOWING UP.

YES, WE DID SPEAK ON THE PHONE LAST WEEK AND MY STAFF HAS BEEN TALKING TO YOU TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT'S HAPPENING.

FOR MY COLLEAGUES, FOR INFORMATION, THIS IS THE SAN JUAN -- MISSION SAN JUAN VILLAS.

THIS IS THE TDHCA9% TAX CREDIT HOUSING FOR SENIORS THAT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WON THE BID IN JULY FROM THE STATE FOR AFFORDABLE TAX.

THE PROPERTY IS ONE OF THE FOUR PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ENTIRE CITY THAT WAS SELECTED THROUGH THE 9% STATEWIDE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

AND IT IS SENIOR HOUSING.

AND THAT IS WHAT IS IN OUTLINED IN THE DOCUMENTATION.

THERE WAS A RIGOROUS, THOROUGH, AND HIGHLY-COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR THESE APPLICATIONS AND THEY HAD TO DEMONSTRATE THE MERITS OF THE PLAN.

AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AS WE JUST SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE GAP THAT WE HAVE.

AND, IN PARTICULAR, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND WE HAD AARP HERE THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE AREA.

BUT NOT ONLY IN THE AREA, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE SOUTH SIDE WHERE WE HAVE -- THERE IS A DEFICIENCY.

AND WHERE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OR WHO WANT TO RIGHT SIZE THEIR HOUSING FROM LARGE TWO-STORY HOUSES TO SMALLER PLACES WHERE THEY CAN LIVE BUT STAY IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY GREW UP, THIS IS A NEED THAT CAN BE FILLED HERE.

I THINK THIS ALSO DEMONSTRATES SOME OF THE POLICY ISSUES AND DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IN THE FUTURE IN LOOKING AT THIS.

AS WAS MENTIONED, CURRENTLY IT IS A LOT OF VACANT PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE AREA, SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, VERY RURAL AND VERY BEAUTIFUL AREA.

IN THIS AREA IN PARTICULAR WAS A TRAINING CENTER WHERE THEY WOULD PLAY FOOTBALL AND TRAIN TO GET PHYSICALLY FIT FOR DIFFERENT

[05:15:02]

AREAS.

MS. VILLEGAS DID CONTACT MY OFFICE AND WAS TALKING ABOUT PRIVACY FENCING AND WAS TALKING ABOUT OTHER BUFFERING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

THE APPLICANT WAS INFORMED AND THEY ARE AMENABLE TO THAT.

AND I DO HAVE THE APPLICANTS HERE TODAY.

AND IF I CAN CALL THEM UP, PLEASE, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE.

BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS FOR SENIOR HOUSING.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT ON THE RECORD HERE THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT THAT IS HERE IS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> MY NAME IS JEREMY MERES, 1,000 [INDISCERNIBLE], LOUISIANA.

YES, IT IS FOR SENIOR HOUSING, IT IS AFFORDABLE AND I DID SPEAK TO THEM OFF TO THE SIDE AND WE ARE WILLING TO PUT UP AN EIGHT-FOOT PRIVACY FENCE.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING, PHAT-GROWTH TREES, OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO ALONG THAT WESTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TO HELP WITH THE VIEW OF THE SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FROM THEIR PROPERTY.

SO WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT AND TAKE ANY STEPS WE CAN TO HELP WITH THAT.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> VIAGRAN: AND I ENCOURAGE BOTH SIDES TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE AFTER TODAY AS THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE TO BE REVIEWED BY THE CITY'S HISTORIC DESIGN AND REVIEW COMMISSION, HDRC.

AND BEFORE CONSTRUCTION PERMITS CAN BE PULLED.

AND ALSO TO NOTE, AS THEY WERE TALKING, THIS IS ON PRESA.

THIS IS STILL THE STATE HIGHWAY PORTION OF PRESA BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT INSIDE LOOP 410.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING.

I DO WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT AND IT ALSO HELPS SET A PACE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO AT THIS TIME I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE Z-7, ALLOWING A FENCE OF UP TO EIGHT FEET IN HEIGHT AROUND THE PROPERTY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. Z-7.

[Items P4 & Z8]

>> 18075 AND Z2018246 AMENDING THE EASTERN TRIANGLE PLAN TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL WITH THE CONDITIONAL USE FOR CONSTRUCTION FACILITY LOCATED AT 5006 ALMA DRIVE.

ITEMS P-4 AND Z-8.

STAFF, PLANNING, AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

11 NOTICES MAILED, ZERO IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.

>> VIAGRAN: YES.

MOVING THIS FORWARD, THIS IS OFF OF ALMA DRIVE AND IT IS ACTUALLY FRONTAGE ON LOOP 410, SOUTHEAST LOOP 410.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S A CD.

SO IF FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, MRE FORWARD, PLEASE.

WILL THERE BE OUTSIDE STORAGE ON THE PROPERTY?

>> VIAGRAN: AND SO AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE CONDITION FOR NO OUTSIDE STORAGE.

AND YOU'RE ALL RIGHT WITH THAT?

>> YES, WE ARE.

>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS P-4 AND Z-8 WITH CONDITIONS.

[Z-9. 18-4926 ZONING CASE # Z2018190 (Council District 5): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "I-1 RIO-4 AHOD" General Industrial River Improvement Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay District to "IDZ RIO-4 AHOD" Infill Development Zone River Improvement Overlay Airport Hazard Overlay District with Multi-Family uses not to exceed 80 units per acre on Lot 18 and Lot 20, NCB A-14, located at 400 Probandt Street. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval. (Continued from August 16, 2018)]

>> Z2018190 FROM I-1 RIO TO IDZ LOCATED AT 400 BLOCK OF PROBANDT STREET.

ITEM Z-9.

STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

18 NOTICES MAILED, ZERO IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED.

LONE STAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS IN FAVOR.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU.

THIS WAS ASKING FOR A CONTINUANCE?

>> YES, MA'AM.

I BELIEVE UNTIL OCTOBER 18.

>> GONZALES: MOTION TO CONTINUE TO OCTOBER 18.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR A CONTINUANCE OF Z-9 TO OCTOBER 18.

[Z-10. 18-4896 ZONING CASE # Z2018214 (Council District 5): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "R-6 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District and "C-2 NA AHOD" Commercial NonAlcoholic Sales Airport Hazard Overlay District to "C-2 NA AHOD" Commercial NonAlcoholic Sales Airport Hazard Overlay District on Lot 6, Lot 7, Lot 8 and Lot 9, Block 33, NCB 8071, located at 1343 and 1347 South General McMullen. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval.]

>> Z2018214 FROM R-6 NAR TO C-2 NA LOCATED AT 1343 AND 3478 SOUTH GENERAL MCMULLEN.

ITEM Z-10.

EIGHT IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.

WEST WOOD SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED .

WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM Z-10.

AMY OLIVARES.

>> MAYOR, I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT DID WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS CASE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND I BELIEVE MS. OLIVARES IS THE APPLICANT? GREAT.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

MY NAME IS RENE RAMIREZ AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE

[05:20:01]

OLIVARES.

WE'D LIKE TO REMOVE LOT EIGHT AND NINE AT 1343 SOUTH GENERAL MCMULLEN.

FURTHER, WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN AMENDMENT TO OUR REZONING REQUEST ON THE R-6 LOT.

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN AMENDMENT TO THE REZONING OF LOT 6 AND 7 AT 1347 SOUTH GENERAL MCMULLEN FROM A RESIDENTIAL R-6 ZONING TO A COMMERCIAL C-1 ZONING.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.

>> GONZALES: MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM Z-10 AS AMENDED.

DO YOU NEED TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD?

>> THERE IS AN AMENDMENT FOR THE R-6 TO C-1 AND THEY'RE DROPPING THE C-2 NA FROM THE CASE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND THAT IS THE MOTION.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE ITEM AS READ.

[Z-11. 18-4897 ZONING CASE # Z2018219 (Council District 5): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "R-6 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District to "IDZ AHOD" Infill Development Zone Airport Hazard Overlay District with uses permitted for six (6) residential dwelling units on Lot 4 and Lot 5, Block 1, NCB 2573, located at 117 and 121 East Fest Street. Staff recommends Approval. Zoning Commission recommends Denial, with an Alternate Recommendation.]

>> Z2018219 FROM R-6 TO IDZ WITH USES PERMITTED FOR SIX DWELLING UNITS LOCATED AT 117 AND 121 EAST FEST STREET.

ITEM Z-11.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL, ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS DENIAL.

29 NOTICES MAILED, FOUR IN FAVOR AND THREE OPPOSED.

LONE STAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED .

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.

I'M SORRY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THEM NOW, STARTING WITH MICHAEL PEREZ.

MR. PEREZ WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SERGIO MARTINEZ.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MICHAEL PEREZ, 330 MISSION STREET, KING WILLIAM HISTORIC DISTRICT.

I GUESS TO START WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE ZONING PROCESS SINCE JUNE 19TH IN THE LONE STAR NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT.

TO ASK FOR USES FOR SIX SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS ON TWO LOTS.

HOW WE ARRIVED HERE IS WE ESSENTIALLY, LIKE I DO IN OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, IS FOLLOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.

I ESSENTIALLY GO AND LOOK AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OF WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THESE EMPTY LOTS? WHAT KIND OF CREATIVITY, WHAT KIND OF THOUGHTFUL DESIGN CAN WE DO? SO IN DOING SO WE CAME UP WITH SIX SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES AT 21.77 UNITS PER ACRE.

WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIT ON THESE LOTS.

AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, THE FUTURE LAND USE, CALLS FOR MULTI-FAMILY, 33 MULTI-FAMILY 25.

AGAIN, THESE AREN'T MULTI-FAMILY, THESE ARE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.

I WANTED TO BE MINDFUL -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SHOW MY SITE PLAN OR IF THEY HAVE A SITE PLAN AVAILABLE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT ESSENTIALLY I PROPOSED TO THE ZONING COMMISSION TWICE.

EACH HOME WOULD HAVE TWO CAR OFF-STREET PARKING, COVERED PARKING.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE OFF-STREET PARKING.

EACH HOME WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN SPACE.

AND, AGAIN, THEY WOULD NOT BE SO PACKED IN.

ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM.

SO, AGAIN, THIS LAYOUT WITH THIS DENSITY, THE ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND FOUR BUT I AM HERE TO EXPRESS AGAIN, THIS IS WHY I'M HERE AND I GUESS IT'S A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW WHEN I GO BY EXACTLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN LETTER TO LETTER TO DO A DEVELOPMENT, AND IT JUST STALLS.

AND IT'S COSTLY.

IT'S JUST ME AND MY SISTER DOING THIS.

WE'RE LOCALS.

I LIVE IN SOUTH TOWN.

LONE STAR IS SOUTH TOWN.

SO THIS IS WHAT I'M HERE ASKING YOU IS FOR ME TO DO CREATIVE DESIGN, FOLLOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD RULES.

I'M UNDER DENSITY.

COUNCILMAN TREVINO, I KNOW I

[05:25:02]

HAVE SEVEN LOTS IN YOUR DISTRICT IN BEACON HILL WHERE I HAVE WORKED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HAVE WON EVERY TIME.

COUNCILMAN SHAW, I KNOW I HAVE SEVEN LOTS IN DIGNOWITY THAT I WORKED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL FOR CREATIVE DESIGN.

I'M ASKING THE SAME THING HERE.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. PEREZ.

SERGIO MARTINEZ FOLLOWED BY SUSAN POWERS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS SERGIO MARTINEZ AND I OWN THE BUILDING AT 1913 SOUTH FLORS, WHICH IS JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON FEST STREET.

I BOUGHT THE BUILDING, TWO BUILDINGS IN 2015 AND FORMALLY HOUSED A GALLERY, AND HAVE SINCE THEN INVESTED CLOSE TO $2 MILLION IN MAINTAINING IT AN ART GALLERY AND EVENT SPACE, ADDING A FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT AND INDEPENDENT COFFEE SHOP, AS WELL AS EIGHT ARTIST STUDIOS FOR LOCAL ARTISTS.

WE HAVE HOSTED CLOSE TO 40 EXHIBITIONS FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AND HAVE REALLY GROWN TO LOVE AND EMBRACE THE LONE STAR AND THE SOUTH TOWN ARTS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON FEST STREET, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, SOMEONE THAT'S THERE EVERY DAY TRYING TO OPERATE A BUSINESS.

OTHER BUSINESSES THERE CAN ATTEST TO THAT AS WELL, IT'S A STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE ART EXHIBITIONS ON THE SECOND SATURDAYS OF EACH MONTH AND OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, FOOT TRAFFIC IS SPARSE, TO PUT IT KINDLY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY MYSELF AND OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS WHO HAVE INVESTED IN THE AREA, WE'RE DOING IT WITH THE INTENTION OF KIND OF GIVING THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOST, BRING IN OTHER SAN ANTONIANS INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT GOES ON THERE.

I THINK THE LONE STAR BREWERY PROJECT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT, YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN OUTSIDE DEVELOPERS.

MR. PEREZ IS A LOCAL DEVELOPER.

HE'S FROM SAN ANTONIO.

HE'S GROWN UP HERE.

I HAVE KNOWN HIM SINCE WE WERE BOTH 14-YEAR-OLD KIDS AT TEXAS MILITARY INSTITUTE.

AND HE'S BROUGHT THE VALUES THAT WE LEARNED THERE TO EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE, WHICH ARE COMMUNITY, LEADERSHIP, AND EXCELLENCE.

I FEEL LIKE THIS PROJECT IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THAT.

AS HE STATED BEFORE, HE HAS GONE BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, THE LONE STAR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

AS A DEVELOPER MYSELF, AS AN INVESTOR, I THINK IT SETS A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFUSING PRECEDENT WHEN DEVELOPERS ARE GIVEN A PLAN TO FOLLOW AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT PLAN KIND OF GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT BUSINESSES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEED A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT OF IT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ.

SUSAN POWERS FOLLOWED BY ANN FITSGIVENS.

>> OKAY.

THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS THAT THAT IS WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

AND IF YOU SEE THAT ONE, THE SECOND HOUSE FROM THE VACANT LOT ON THE RIGHT, ON MY RIGHT, THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TWO LOTS.

THERE USED TO BE A HOUSE THERE BUT IT WAS DEMOLISHED.

AND SO WE'RE PROPOSING THAT THEY ONLY BUILD FOUR UNITS.

AND THEY CAN BUILD LARGER UNITS.

RIGHT NOW EACH UNIT IS GOING TO BE THREE STORIES HIGH.

THAT'S ABOUT 33-PLUS FEET.

AND FOR THEM TO BE IDZ, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ZERO SETBACK FROM BOTH SIDES.

THE BACK AND THEN NEXT TO BOTH RESIDENCES ON THE WEST.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HE DEVELOPS FOUR LARGER UNITS, MAYBE BRING IT DOWN TO TWO STORY

[05:30:02]

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.

AND IF HE NEEDS IDZ ZONING FOR THAT FOR THE SETBACK, THEN THAT'S FINE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DEVELOPERS COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY.

AND THE HOMES ARE NOW -- YOU'RE HAVING 900, 1,000, 1200 SQUARE FOOT HOMES WHERE THE ESTIMATED VALUE IS ALMOST $300,000.

SO THESE HOMES THAT MR. PEREZ WANTS TO SELL ARE GOING TO BE 350 TO $375,000.

THAT WAS AT A SQUARE FOOT OF 1600 SQUARE FEET.

SO NOW IF HE BUILDS LARGER HOMES, YOU KNOW, IF HE HAS TO BUILD LARGER HOMES, THAT'S FINE.

BUT AS LONG AS HE CAN LIMIT THEM TO FOUR UNITS AT THAT SITE.

AND ALL THE OTHER DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE COME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO FAR HAVE TAKEN A HOME.

THEY'VE TOTALLY GUTTED THE HOME, REPUT IN ALL NEW UP TO DATE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING AND NEW SHEET ROCK, NEW ROOF, AND THE HOUSES ARE BEAUTIFUL.

SO THEY'RE TURNING AROUND AND THEY'RE SELLING THOSE HOMES NOW.

THEY BUY LOW AND THEN SELL HIGH.

SO THAT'S THE NATURE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF GENTRIFICATION ALREADY BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND SO ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THEY JUST BUILD THE FOUR UNITS ON THOSE TWO LOTS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. POWER.

ANN FITSGIVENS FOLLOWED BY JUAN LOPEZ.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

MY MAIN CONCERN IS NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE BEING PLANNED HERE.

IT'S THE FACT THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IDZ.

AND STUDYING IDZ THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS FOR PEARL DEVELOPMENT AND VICTORIA COURTS.

NOT FOR A DEVELOPER TO COME IN, BUY TWO LOTS, TEAR DOWN HOMES, AND THEN BUILD WITHOUT REGARD TO SETBACKS, HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS, LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, PARKING.

AND THAT'S WHY I OPPOSE THIS ZONING BEING REQUESTED AS IDZ.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. FITSGIVENS.

JUAN LOPEZ.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JUAN LOPEZ.

JESUS TORO MARTINEZ.

>> MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU.

FOR THE RECORD, I'M JESUS TORO MARTINEZ.

WHAT I'M HERE IS REALLY TO OPPOSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M AN ARTIST.

I HAVE MY STUDIO IN THE LONE STAR ART DISTRICT.

AND EVERY SECOND SATURDAY WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND MY STUDIO IS ALWAYS OPEN AND I SEE A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING IN AND OUT OF THE STUDIO.

I'M VERY BLESSED WITH ALL THE FRUITS THAT I GET FROM THIS.

BUT SEEING THE DIRECTION THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CHANGING DRASTICALLY.

I'M SEEING THAT WE'RE PUTTING THREE, FOUR HOUSES IN ONE LOT.

AND THAT'S REALLY CREATING A HUGE CLUSTER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S CREATING A LOT OF TRAFFIC JAMS AND STUFF FOR THE FUTURE.

I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE.

I AGREE WITH WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS PROPOSING, TO PUT FOUR HOUSES IN THESE TWO.

AND THE IDZ ZONING, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY NEEDED BECAUSE IT'S LIKE, WELL, THEY ARE GOING TO BE RESIDENTIAL LOTS, RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.

SO MIGHT AS WELL STICK TO THE RULES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE FOR RESIDENTIAL.

SO THAT IS MY ONLY CONCERN.

LET THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROW, YES.

FOUR HOUSES WOULD BE GREAT ON TWO LOTS.

BUT THEN THE CURRENT ZONING OF RESIDENTIAL WOULD BE GREAT ALSO BECAUSE YOU JUST HAVE TO AMEND AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. MARTINEZ.

>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND SO CAN I JUST -- I WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

I SHOW HERE FOR THIS ONE THAT THE ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS DENIAL.

[05:35:02]

WAS THAT BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY INPUT?

>> THE CITIZENS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE WERE ESSENTIALLY MAKING THE SAME CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE NOW, SO THE COMMISSION, I BELIEVE AT THAT TIME, WAS CONSIDERING AN ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR FOUR DWELLING UNITS.

>> GONZALES: FOR FOUR DWELLING UNITS WITH AN IDZ.

SO IS THE IDZ NECESSARY WITH FOUR UNITS?

>> THE IDZ ALLOWS THAT FLEXIBILITY TO PROVIDE EITHER THE SIX OR FOUR, DEPENDING ON WHATEVER THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING.

FOR THIS SIZE LOT AMENABLE WOULD BE THE SIX.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE DISCUSSION IS GOING TO FOUR.

THE CITIZENS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MAY SUPPORT THAT.

I KNOW THE APPLICANT IS WANTING THE SIX BUT AT THIS POINT WE ARE AT THE FOUR.

>> GONZALES: SO I KNOW THAT WAS A COMPROMISE I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS ABLE TO COME UP WITH.

I JUST -- I'M ONLY ASKING, QUESTIONING ABOUT THE IDZ BECAUSE WE ALMOST CAN'T DO ANYTHING IN OUR DISTRICT WITHOUT IT.

ALMOST EVERY PROPOSAL THAT HAS COME BEFORE ME SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS REQUIRED AN IDZ.

BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR SO MANY CARS.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHY THE SETBACKS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS -- AND MY HOPE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE BECOME MORE DENSE AND AS OUR COMMUNITY EVOLVES AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE AND WE HAVE MORE AMENITIES CLOSE BY, THERE WON'T BE SO MUCH NEED FOR AUTOMOBILES.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING AT WITH THE FIRST TO LAST MILES AND THE BIRDS AND THE ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION, BIKE LANES, AND SIDEWALKS, RIVER TRANSPORTATION AS WELL.

I'M SORRY THAT WE CAN'T COME TO A RESOLUTION TO GET ALL SIX UNITS, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DENSITY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I HOPE, AS WE EVOLVE, THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL START TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS REALLY AN ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT INCREASES THE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AS I HAVE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WE CONTINUE TO LOSE POPULATION IN OUR DISTRICTS.

WE DON'T SEE THE PEOPLE.

LIKE, THE GROWTH THE REST OF THE CITY IS EXPERIENCING, WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCING THAT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE STILL LOSING POPULATION.

WE EXPECT THAT AS OUR TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES EVOLVE THAT WE WON'T SEE SO MANY CARS.

AND THAT WOULD MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.

IT MAKES OUR AIR CLEANER AND IT GIVES US MORE ALTERNATIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS HAVE A VERY STRONG VOICE AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO FOLLOW WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ARE REQUESTING.

SO I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT WHAT IS HERE BEFORE US, ZONING COMMISSION TO SUPPORT THE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION FOR FOUR UNITS.

BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD BE MORE OPEN TO BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE PROGRESS.

SO WITH THAT I'LL MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE ALTERNATE RECOMMENDATION OF FOUR UNITS.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM Z-11 AS READ.

>> COURAGE: NO, THANK YOU.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM Z-11 AS READ.

[Z-13. 18-4821 ZONING CASE # Z2018196 (Council District 7): Ordinance amending the Zoning District Boundary from "R-6 AHOD" Residential Single-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District to "MF-18 AHOD" Limited Density Multi-Family Airport Hazard Overlay District on 1.928 acres out of NCB 17972, located at 8215 Eckhert Road. Staff and Zoning Commission recommend Approval.]

>> Z2018196 FROM R-6 TO MF-18 LOCATED AT 8215 ECKHERT ROAD.

ITEM Z-13.

STAFF AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.

31 NOTICES MAILED, ZERO IN FAVOR AND THREE OPPOSED.

I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE TO SEPTEMBER 20TH.

>> SHAW: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN SHAW.

IN THE ABSENCE OF COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, SHE ASKED FOR A MOTION OF CONTINUANCE TO SEPTEMBER 20 SO SHE CAN HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE APPLICANT.