Aug 19, 2021 City Council A Session on 2021-08-19 9:00 AM

[00:00:58]

OH, NOW ANTONIO, ANTONIO, AND SAN ANTONIO.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE GET STARTED TODAY.

THE TIME IS 9:18 AM ON THIS 19TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2021.

WE'LL CALL OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION TO ORDER.

MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PAL WILL BE HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY HERE.

I'M MAYOR NUREMBERG.

HERE.

MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM.

AGAIN.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

AND THANK YOU, UH, TO EVERYONE WHO HAS JOINED US HERE IN THE CHAMBERS TODAY FOR OBSERVING OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO MASK WEARING.

WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

[1. Invocation]

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT, UH, INTRODUCING YOU TO, UH, FATHER MARTIN AND JUST THE, THE FAITH-BASED GROUPS HERE IN DISTRICT THREE.

UH, FATHER MARTIN WAS BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1966 AND WAS ORDAINED PRIEST IN 1994.

HE WAS BENEDICTINE MONK IN MANILA FOR 27 YEARS AND GOT INCARNATED IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO IN 2014.

HE HOLDS BA AND LAS AND LACENTIA IN PHILOSOPHY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO THOMAS MANILA AND MA IN THREE THEOLOGY FROM MARY HILL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY IN KEON CITY.

IN 1998, FATHER MARTIN CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AS A STUDENT AND ATTENDED ST.

MARY'S UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO, WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS MA IN EDUCATION LEADERSHIP.

FATHER MARTIN ALSO WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD FOR HIS PHD, ALL BUT DISSERTATION IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND WAS ADJUNCT FACULTY THERE FROM 2000 TO 2007.

SO HIS WORK IN OUR CITY IS VAST.

AND FROM 2000 TO 2013, HE WAS PASTOR OF SAN NINO CATHOLIC CHURCH, A FILIPINO AMERICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTHEAST OF SAN ANTONIO.

BUT, AND ON JULY 1ST, 2013, HE WAS WELCOMED AS THE NEW PASTOR OF HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH.

I INVITE YOU ALL TO GO VISIT HIM AT HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 38 14TH NASH BOULEVARD.

UH, AND HE'S THERE ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.

SO COME, COME VISIT HIM THERE.

AND HOLY NAME IS ONE OF OUR CHURCHES THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1959, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT.

UM, PLEASE WELCOME FATHER MARTIN.

WE PLACE OURSELVES IN GOD'S PRESENCE LOVING.

FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, WISDOM, AND SUPPORT.

IN TODAY'S MEETING, INSPIRE AND BLESS MAYOR RON BERG AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MARION BRAVO, JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ

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ADRIANA ROCA GARCIA, TERRY CASTILLO, MELISSA CAVEO, HAA, ANNA SANDAL MANELA, JOHN RIDGE, CLAYTON PERRY, ALL THE STAFF, CITY WORKERS, AND THE COMMUNITY THEY REPRESENT FOR THE GOOD OF OUR CITY.

FILL THEM WITH YOUR GRACE AND INSPIRE THEM TO ENGAGE IN COLLABORATIVE, MEANINGFUL, AND PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION.

MADE THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR GIFTS, TALENTS, AND VISIONS COME TO FRUITION IN THE WELLBEING AND HEALTH, PROSPERITY ORDER AND PEACE OF THE LIFE OF ALL MAY THEY HONOR YOU AND PRAISE YOU IN THEIR SERVICE DECISIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THEY ACCOMPLISH TODAY.

AND ALWAYS WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN.

OKAY,

[2. Pledge of Allegiance]

THANK YOU FATHER MARTIN.

VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ALRIGHT,

[3. Approval of minutes June 16, 2021 and June 26, 2021]

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.

MAY I HAVE A CHANGE THE DATE? IT'S, UH, DATED INCORRECTLY.

SO IF WE COULD CHANGE THAT, THEN I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

OKAY.

UM, COULD YOU STATE YOUR MOTION, UH, WITH THE CHANGE THAT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING? YES, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR BOTH THE, UH, JULY, JUNE 16TH AND JUNE 25TH, UH, BUDGET WORK SETTING SESSION.

AND, AND COULD YOU STATE YOUR CHANGE AGAIN? IT'S FROM THE 26TH.

IT'S LISTED AS JUNE 26TH, BUT THE GOAL SETTING SESSION HAPPENED ON JUNE 25TH.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

WE'LL MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION.

WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, MINUTES OF JUNE 16TH AND JUNE 25TH.

HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

[4. Councilmember Adriana Rocha Garcia will be sworn-in as Mayor Pro-Tem, serving the term of August 25, 2021 through November 3, 2021.]

UM, SO IF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA COULD APPROACH THE PODIUM ALONG WITH OUR CLERK, THE MAYOR PRO TEM TERM WILL BE AUGUST 25TH THROUGH 20, EXCUSE ME, AUGUST 25TH, 2021 THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD, 2021.

CAN YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND FOR ME PLEASE? IYE STATE YOUR NAME.

HI ADRIANA.

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF, OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PRO TEM MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FROM AUGUST 25TH, 2021 FROM AUGUST 25TH, 2021 THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD, 2021 THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD, 2021.

STATE OF TEXAS.

STATE OF TEXAS.

AND WE'LL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WE'LL DO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THIS STATE, OF THIS STATE.

SO HELP ME GOD.

SO HELP ME GOD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

OKAY.

UM,

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ]

AND I'D LIKE TO START, UM, WITH THE RECOGNITION OF TODAY BE, OR EXCUSE ME, UH, THIS MONTH BEING NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH.

AND AS YOU KNOW, UH, AND THE MIDST OF THIS FIGHT AGAINST C OVID 19 HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ONE OF OUR LEAD CHARGES AND ABILITIES TO WIN THAT BATTLE IS IN IMMUNIZING OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AND I WANNA THANK OUR METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING TO DO THAT, UH, AND ASK ALL OF US AS A COMMUNITY AGAIN, TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO FIND THOSE, UH, AROUND US WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS, UH, MAY NOT BE AWARE OR MAY NEED, MAY NEED A LITTLE ENCOURAGING, UH, TO GO AND GET, GO AHEAD AND GET VACCINATED, UH, FROM C OVID 19.

UH, IN ADDITION TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT C OVID 19 IS NOT THE ONLY THING WE'RE GOING TO BE IMMUNIZING FOR VERY SOON WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT FLU SHOTS AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

SO IN RECOGNITION OF THAT, WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2021, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT WILL OBSERVE

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AND WHEREAS VACCINES PROTECT US FROM DANGEROUS, PREVENTABLE DISEASES LIKE CHICKENPOX, FLU, HEPATITIS, MEASLES, MUMPS, PNEUMONIA, SHINGLES, PERTUSSIS, POLIO AND MORE.

AND INDIVIDUALS CAN PROTECT THEIR HEALTH WELL WITH ROUTINE ON TIME VACCINATIONS.

AND WHEREAS CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GET THE C OVID 19 VACCINE TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST THE DISEASE AND TO PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT RETURNED FOR THEIR SECOND C OVID 19 DOSE ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THEIR VACCINE SERIES, NOT ONLY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO TO PREVENT THOSE WE LOVE FROM SEVERE ILLNESS, HOSPITALIZATION, OR DEATH.

AND WHEREAS THE MESSAGE OF THIS YEAR'S OBSERVANCE IS YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT YOURSELF, THE POWER TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY, AND THE POWER TO PROTECT SAN ANTONIO.

NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST, 2021 TO BE NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR HEALTH PARTNERS, UH, IN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR THEIR WORK.

AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER NOW, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER GRA FOR FURTHER ON THAT SUBJECT.

THANK YOU.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A SLIDE SHOWING OUR, UM, METRO HEALTH IS GOING OUT TO WHERE THE RESIDENTS ARE.

SO WE HAVE MOVIES AT MISSION MARQUEE AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE GIVING VACCINATIONS, THE PFIZER VACCINATION, STARTING AT 5:00 PM FOR INDIVIDUALS 12 AND OLDER, AND THE JOHNSON AND JA JOHNSON VACCINATION FOR PEOPLE OVER 18.

I JUST WANNA THANK METRO HEALTH, UH, FOR MEETING US WHERE WE'RE AT, AND, UM, REALLY KIND OF JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE, WE'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

AND, UH, I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT TO WHERE THE RESIDENTS ARE, WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING TIME, AND I ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO JUST KIND OF USE, UM, USE THEM AS A RESOURCE.

I'M ALSO HAVING MY BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 21ST FROM 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT MISSION LIBRARY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 1500 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SUPPLIES, SO PLEASE COME OUT.

COVID VACCINES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE, UM, THE THE MARKET DAY.

SO PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US THERE ALSO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, GOOD MORNING AGAIN.

MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL REALLY APPRECIATE THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

THIS IS AUGUST NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH.

I'M JOINED BY TWO MEMBERS OF MY SENIOR STAFF, DR.

ANITA IAN, UH, JENNIFER HARRIET, AND AGAIN, THE FANTASTIC TEAM AT METRO HEALTH.

AND ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM, WE JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO SPREAD THE WORD.

IT DOES OUR HARD GOOD TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE DRAWING ATTENTION TO THIS ONGOING STORM TIED TO COVID I MANAGER FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

SO KEEP IT UP, KEEP THE, UH, KEEP IT GOING.

MAKE SURE THAT WE LET FOLKS KNOW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING VACCINATED.

AND AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IT'S NOT JUST COVID ALL COVID ALL THE TIME, BUT WE ARE GETTING RAMPED UP AND PREPARED FOR FLU SEASON, WHICH IS AROUND THE BEND.

AND WE'RE JUST TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY OUR MESSAGING, NOT JUST IN AUGUST, BUT ALSO IN SEPTEMBER AND THE FALL.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

SURE.

ACTUALLY, WE CAN PROBABLY HOLD IT UP.

THANK YOU.

THANK JOB.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

GREAT WORK.

APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN, UH, ALONG WITH OUR ENTIRE METRO HEALTH TEAM.

LEMME TURN IT NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR A POINT OF PERSON PRIVILEGE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

IN LIGHT OF THE RELEASE OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION AGENDA, WHICH LISTS FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER SHIRLEY GONZALEZ AS CHAIR, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THERE WAS NO PUBLIC OR COUNCIL DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT.

IT SHOWS A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OPEN, GOOD FAITH DISCUSSION AND LOOKS SHADY.

AT BEST.

I UNDERSTAND PREVIOUS HOUSING COMMISSION RELATED ORDINANCES GIVE THE MAYOR THE ABILITY TO APPOINT SUBSEQUENT MEMBERS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL.

HOWEVER, FUTURE COUNCILS CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE PREVENTED FROM DISCUSS, PREVENTED FROM DISCUSSING THE MERITS OF SUCH MATTERS, ESPECIALLY ONE AS CONTROVERSIAL AS THIS.

AN APPOINTMENT THAT DREW A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH HOUSING EXPERTS AND

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THE HOUSING COMMISSION IS PRESENTED AS AN ADVISORY BOARD, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT BOARD WITH NUMEROUS CHARGES.

ONE CHARGE INCLUDES IMPLEMENTATION OF HOLISTIC AND COMPREHENSIVE ANTI DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY.

AND SHOULD THIS COUNCIL DISCUSS WHETHER IT IS WISE TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO DISPLACE 1,200 RESIDENTS AT THE ALLAN COURTS BEFORE THE DEMOLITION WAS ULTIMATELY KILLED BY NEW SAHA LEADERSHIP.

ANOTHER ONE OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION'S CHARGES IS QUOTE, CULTIVATING PARTNERSHIPS AND LEVERAGING CROSS CROSS-SECTOR RESOURCES IN THE COORDINATION AND DELIVERY OF HOUSING.

SHOULDN'T THIS COUNCIL DISCUSS WHETHER IT IS ETHICAL TO APPOINT A CHAIR WHO HAS ACCEPTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DONATIONS FROM DEVELOPERS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR, SAN ANTONIO ABIDES BY A CITY COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT? AND IT IS A SHAME THAT CITY COUNCIL WAS EXCLUDED FROM THIS APPOINTMENT PROCESS.

FURTHERMORE, EACH AND EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS THEIR APPOINTMENT VETTED AND APPROVED BY THE FULL COUNCIL.

LOOK AT ITEM 15, FOR EXAMPLE.

THIS APPOINTMENT SHOULD NOT BE ANY DIFFERENT.

HOW CAN CITY COUNCIL BE EXPECTED TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN DISCUSS SUCH CRITICAL MATTERS ON THIS DAIS? DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE TIRED OF THIS TYPE OF CRONYISM THAT PRODUCES THE SAME TIRED RESULTS IN LATE JULY, I BROUGHT THESE CONCERNS TO YOU MAYOR RON BERG.

YOU DISREGARDED THE CONCERNS OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

THE POLICY AND BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS AN ATTACK ON EVERY FAMILY WHO IS CONCERNED WITH INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES, EVICTION, DEMOLITION, AND DISPLACEMENT.

THIS IS AN ATTACK ON THE WORKING FAMILIES OF SAN ANTONIO.

I'M REQUESTING THAT THE AUGUST, 2021 HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING BE POSTPONED UNTIL THE PUBLIC AND COUNCIL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPENLY DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THIS, THE IMPLICATIONS RATHER OF THIS APPOINTMENT.

THIS WOULD NOT REQUIRE ACTION, UH, OF, UH, AT THIS MEETING OR BY THIS BODY, BUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH EVERYONE.

I WANT TO THANK JESSICA GUERRERO FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID ON THE HOUSING COMMISSION.

DURING HER TENURE.

JESSICA CREATED SPACE FOR COMMUNITY, WHICH LED TO MANY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH LED TO NATIONAL CLAIM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

OKAY, AT THIS TIME

[CONSENT AGENDA  ]

SO I'M GONNA ASK MY COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE NO ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

23.

ITEM 23.

ANY OTHERS? UH, 26 AND 27 ITEMS. 26 AND 27.

OKAY.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE ZONING AGENDA IS TIME CERTAIN AT TWO O'CLOCK I'LL FIGURE OUT ONE DAY ITEMS. 23.

ANY OTHERS? IF THERE ARE NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SENATE MOVED.

MAYOR, I DO HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

I ALSO HAVE A SOMETHING TO HIGHLIGHT.

OKAY.

DID I HEAR A SECOND ON THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? SECOND .

OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION BY SANDOVAL.

A SECOND BY VIE GRAND.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL TAKE UP DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, BEFORE I JUMP INTO THE, THE ITEM I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.

WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS FROM SCOUT TROOP FIVE 18, AS WELL AS ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER JUAN FLORES.

JUAN, I WILL NOT HIGHLIGHT THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SCOUT TROOP.

AS I'VE BEEN TOLD, THEY ARE VERY SHY.

UH, BUT I WANNA WELCOME YOU AND I HOPE YOU LEARN, UH, A LOT FROM TODAY'S MEETING.

THANK YOU JUAN, UH, WHO I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH BY, BY THE WAY.

SO THANKS FOR, FOR COMING OUT.

I'D LIKE TO IN THE, TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 14, CONTINUING WITH THE DISCUSSION AND THE THEME OF HEALTH THAT WAS RECOGNIZED EARLIER TODAY, WE WILL BE RECEIVING A, UH, COVID GRANT IN AN, I'M SORRY, A HEALTH GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF NEARLY $5 MILLION.

AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULD HAVE, UH, SOMEONE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT JUST GIVE US A LITTLE HIGHLIGHT ABOUT THAT.

I'M TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO EXPAND, UH, OUR WORK.

MR. JACOB? THANK YOU.

[00:20:03]

UM, SO THIS PERTAINS TO A COVID EXPANSION GRANT.

UM, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE'VE PROVIDED UPDATES ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING AND SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE.

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, STABILIZE OUR STAFFING INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE DEPARTMENT.

UH, THIS EXTENDS OUR FUNDING THROUGH JULY OF 2023, AND IT ALIGNS WITH OUR ONGOING COVID RESPONSE EFFORTS.

SO, AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR, A LONG 18 MONTHS FOR THE TEAM.

BUT JUST IN BROAD STROKES, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OUR, UH, POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE, UM, UH, THIS IS OUR, UH, FUNDING SUPPORT.

UM, WE HAVE SOME EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.

WE DO HAVE PROGRAM SPECIALISTS.

WE HAVE A SENIOR PROGRAM ANALYST, UM, AND SOME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS ALLOWS US TO SHORE UP THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE.

UH, THIS IS AN ACTIVITY THAT THE C D C HAS FUNDED.

UH, IN THE FIRST TIER, WE RECEIVED SOME FUNDING TO SUPPORT SOME EPIS.

UH, THIS ALLOWED US TO HAVE A TOTAL OF 13 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, AND IT EXTENDS THROUGH JULY OF 2023.

UH, THE REASON THIS IS EXCITING FOR US IS THAT AS WE'RE NOW INTO EXTRA INNINGS TIED TO COVID, THIS ALLOWS US TO HAVE A MORE STABLE FUNDING STREAM, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR AL DISEASE DIVISION.

SO IT ENHANCES THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED AND IT ALIGNS WITH OUR ONGOING EFFORTS AT THE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CLAUDE.

AND, UH, I'M A LITTLE BIT BIASED, BUT I ALWAYS THINK WE COULD USE MORE EPIS, SO I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.

SO LET ME CALL UP JACK FINGER ON ITEMS 19.

ITEM 19, JACK MAYOR BERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER, ONE ITEM ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

ITEM NUMBER 19, ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH COLLETTE HOLT AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISPARITY AND CAUSATION ANALYSIS STUDY.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT? WELL, SUPPOSEDLY THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE CITY IS STILL DISCRIMINATING WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING PEOPLE FOR VARIOUS CONTRACTS FOR CITY BUSINESS.

I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY, UH, THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE ANYMORE.

I THINK, UH, WE HAVE GONE BEYOND, UH, THE DAYS WHEN WE, THERE WAS BLATANT DISCRIMINATION, AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL TO START FIGHTING AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATORY SO-CALLED NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS STILL TRYING TO PLACE UPON US.

YES.

I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER SET-ASIDES, SET ASIDES FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN BUSINESSES JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CERTAIN COLOR OF SKIN OR BECAUSE THEY JUST HAPPEN TO BE A CERTAIN GENDER.

NO, I, I THINK IT'S, UH, SELECTING BUSINESSES FOR CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY SHOULD BE BASED ON THEIR ABILITY AND THEIR MERIT.

YES.

AND YET, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO INSTEAD OF PUTTING, OFFERING PUSHBACK TO THE FEDS IN THAT REGARD, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PLAY ALONG WITH THAT BY HIRING SOME SORT OF COMPANY TO HELP BE SO-CALLED, DO A SO-CALLED EVALUATION STUDY OF HOW SO-CALLED BAD WE WE ARE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

NO, I, I'D SAY WE, UM, WE, WE HAVE COME SO FAR FROM THAT AFTER ALL.

I MEAN, WAS MR. BARACK OBAMA OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT, OR WAS HE OUR FIRST WHITE PRESIDENT? HMM.

WELL, THERE'S SOME WAGS WHO WOULD SAY NEITHER ONE? JACK.

HE WAS OUR FIRST SOCIALIST PRESIDENT.

ALL RIGHT, FINE.

WHAT, WHATEVER.

DON'T, DON'T, DON'T GET UPSET.

BUT, UH, I THINK THIS SHOULD OFFER SOME ILLUSTRATION THAT, UH, WE NO REALLY NO LONGER HAVE THAT KIND OF PROBLEM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

WHY DON'T WE START SAYING NO TO THESE THINGS, HUH? INSTEAD OF JUST, JUST SITTING ALONG WITH IT THERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRANT.

YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED

[00:25:01]

WE HAVE A, UM, A SLEW OF APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS FOR THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS, UM, JOY MCGEE AND CHARLES FUENTES.

AND I HAVE THREE REAPPOINTMENTS, GEORGE GARCIA, MARY LOU REINA, AND FOREST COBB.

AND I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THOSE THAT ARE SERVING, UH, THEIR VOLUNTEERISM IN THIS CAPACITY IS SO GREATLY NEEDED BECAUSE WE, AS COUNCIL CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND JUST, UH, SPEAK TO THE APPRECIATION AND ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE OUT THERE THAT IF YOU WANT TO SERVE, UM, TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE HAVE AND, UM, START APPLYING ONLINE.

AND IF YOU NEED HELP, GO TO OUR LIBRARIES AND THEY CAN HELP YOU GET ONLINE AND APPLY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRA AND COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AND, AND REALLY FOLLOWING IT IN, UH, WHAT MY FELLOW COUNCILWOMAN JUST NOTED WAS RECOGNIZING THE CONTINUING SERVICE OF PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT NINE WHO HAVE SERVED AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND I THINK, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE ON THESE COMMITTEES FOR US, UH, ARE SHOWING THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE.

I WANT TO COMMEND ART DOWNEY FROM DISTRICT NINE WHO IS GOING TO BE SERVING ON THE CITY BOND OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.

AND HE HAS DONE SO IN THE PAST.

I APPRECIATE HIM STEPPING UP AND DOING THAT.

AGAIN, WE ARE REAPPOINTING JOSE MARTINEZ, UH, TO THE DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MR. MARTINEZ IS BLIND, BUT HE IS A, A LEADER ON THAT COMMITTEE.

AND FINALLY, JOHN KENT, ALSO FROM DISTRICT NINE TO THE LINEAR CREEKWAY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.

AGAIN, JOHN HAS BEEN A LEADER ON THE DIRECTION FOR DEVELOPING OUR LINEAR, LINEAR CREEKWAY.

SO I COMMEND ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR PAST SERVICE AND THEIR CONTINUING SERVICE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.

I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY STRUGGLING TO TAP INTO HIS SPEAKER QUEUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

YES, IT IS A STRUGGLE.

UM, I TOO WANNA THANK, UH, SOME OF MY MEMBERS FROM DISTRICT 10 THAT HAVE, UH, UM, BEING REAPPOINTED TO BE ENGAGED IN THESE COMMITTEES.

UH, BARBARA THT, UM, FOR THE, UH, DISABILITY ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

ALSO, MARK ROGERS ON THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION.

AND, UH, WANT TO THANK YOU, THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE AND, UM, THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THESE COMMITTEES.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

UM, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I KNOW, UH, THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE SPEAKER Q ON THE CONSENT ITEM.

IF THERE ARE NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT IS ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 23.

AND PLEASE NOTE AGAIN, THE ZONING AGENDA WILL BE TAKEN UP AT TWO O'CLOCK TODAY.

SO ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 23.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL.

AYE, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE NOW

[23. Ordinance authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Catholic Charities of San Antonio in an amount up to $200,000 to support migrant response efforts in San Antonio for the period through December 31, 2021. [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; Melody Woosley, Director, Human Services]]

ITEM 23 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE AMOUNT UP TO $200,000 TO SUPPORT MIGRANT RESOURCE EFFORTS IN SAN ANTONIO FOR THE PERIOD THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2021.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, I GOT, I GOT A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, AND, UM, I DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION OR ANYTHING.

UM, HOW MANY MIGRANTS ARE WE GETTING HERE ON AN AVERAGE PER DAY? SO WE'RE RECEIVING ABOUT 300 TO 500 MIGRANTS AT THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT, UM, EVERY DAY.

OKAY.

SO WHERE, SO WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? THEY'RE COMING FROM THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY'S TYP, TYPICALLY EAGLE PASS OR, UM, DEL RIO.

OKAY.

SO EAGLE PASS AND DEL RIO.

SO THEY JUST

[00:30:01]

THOSE NONPROFITS WILL HELP THEM WITH TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.

AND THOSE NONPROFITS, A LOT OF THEM ARE TESTING THEM, UM, FOR COVID PRIOR TO THEIR ARRIVAL TO THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT.

NOT EVERYONE IS BEING TESTED.

UM, BUT THEY, A LOT OF THEM ARE BECAUSE THE NONPROFITS ARE ASSISTING WITH THIS.

NOW, ONCE THEY GET TO THE AIRPORT, THE MAJORITY HAVE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.

AND SO THEY ARE TREATED AS CUSTOMERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT.

'CAUSE THEY ARE IN THE US.

UM, THEY'VE BEEN GRANTED ACCESS TO US, AND AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A TICKET, UM, THEY CAN BE IN THE AIRPORT.

WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS IF THEY ARE LEAVING THAT SAME DAY, TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY GET ON THE PLANE THAT DAY OR WITHIN 12 TO 18 HOURS.

IF THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A LONGER STAY, SOMETIMES WE WILL OFFER THEM HOTEL SHELTER.

AND WITH THAT HOTEL SHELTER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LOT OF TRAVELERS AND CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH, UM, AIRPORT DIRECTOR, JESUS SIGNS, AND JEFF COLE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS.

THEY ARE SO READY TO GET TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.

UM, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE EXHAUSTED AND SOMETIMES THERE'S A LOT OF RISK OF GOING TO HOTELS.

SO WE DO NOT REQUIRE THEM TO GET TESTED, UM, TO GO TO THAT SHELTER.

UM, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ANOTHER BARRIER.

AND IF THEY ARE TO, UM, THEY WOULD PREFER TO STAY IN THE AIRPORT ACTUALLY AND GET ON THEIR FLIGHT AS SOON AS IT LEAVES.

AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO OFFER ANY MORE BARRIERS.

WE WANT THESE INDIVIDUALS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION.

AND SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, THREE TO 500, UM, THE MAJORITY ARE LEAVING THAT SAME DAY.

AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL STAYING OVERNIGHT, BUT TYPICALLY THEIR FLIGHT IS GONE BY 9:00 AM AND SO BY THE TIME THE FIRST FLIGHT ARRIVES INTO THAT TERMINAL, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN SAYING THEY'RE GONE AND ALREADY AT THEIR, THEIR GATE, WELL, YOU SAID SOME ARE TESTED.

WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE TESTED? WE, WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE, WE, WE DON'T ASK THAT.

UM, WE CAN'T ASK THAT.

LIKE I SAID, AS THEY SHOW UP TO THE AIRPORT, THEY'RE LIKE ANY OTHER CUSTOMER.

AND WE CANNOT MANDATE TESTING OR ASK PEOPLE THAT ARE, THAT ARE TESTED.

WE DO HAVE A MASK MANDATE AT THE AIRPORT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN FAIRLY MANDATED, AND WE ARE ENFORCING THAT.

SO IN MY VIEW, THEY SHOULD BE TESTED SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IF THEY'RE POSITIVE OR NOT AT THIS POINT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING BACK TO, WE GOT ALL FREAKED OUT THIS WHOLE CITY THAT WE HAD ONE PERSON GET MM-HMM.

, GO TO NORTH STAR MALL, ONE PERSON, AND HERE WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S COMING IN.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN TESTED.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE POSITIVE.

AND IT, IT, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NO CONCERN AT ALL ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

EITHER US I I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T DOING IT, NUMBER ONE, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT DOING IT, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CONTINUING TO SPREAD THIS DISEASE ACROSS THE COUNTRY COUNCIL, NO MATTER.

COUNCILMAN, LET ME, LET ME JUMP IN.

LORI, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, UH, AT A PRETTY STEADY CLIP FOR THE LAST, UH, THREE WEEKS IN THE, THE, IT'S EVOLVED A BIT.

UM, AND I CAN TELL YOU, UH, THAT, UM, HUMAN SERVICES IN THE AIRPORT, THE MAYOR AND MYSELF, HAVE HAD, UM, NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, THE WHITE HOUSE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE CHIEF OF BORDER PATROL, UH, ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

UM, AND, AND IT'S IMPROVED A BIT BECAUSE AS LORI'S DESCRIBED, THE PROCESS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS GO THROUGH ONCE THEY'RE RELEASED FROM BORDER PATROL CUSTODY OR FROM, FROM A BORDER PATROL FACILITY IN EAGLE PASTOR IN DEL RIO, UM, THEY HAVE, UM, UM, AS MANY RIGHTS AS ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY.

UM, AND SO WE CAN'T TEST EVERYBODY THAT SHOWS UP AT THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND, UM, UM, AND WE'VE EXPRESSED THAT CONCERN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, AND, AND I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS IS THAT NOW AFTER A CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH SOME OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL, UM, THE, THE LOCAL NONPROFITS DOWN ALONG THE BORDER, THEY ARE HELPING THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH TRAVEL PLANS.

SO WHEN THEY SHOW UP IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY KNOW THEY'RE LEAVING IN 12 HOURS OR THE NEXT MORNING.

UM, AND THAT'S A MARKED IMPROVEMENT

[00:35:01]

BUT, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE THAT, UH, WE CAN'T TEST, WE CAN'T MANDATE TESTING FOR PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THIS BUILDING OR THE AIRPORT.

UM, AND, UM, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN WE ARE, UH, THE AIR THE AIRPORT IS ENFORCING THE MASK MANDATE THAT'S IN PLACE, UH, AT, UH, AT THE AIRPORT, UH, DUE TO FEDERAL RULES.

YOU KNOW, I, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, ERIC, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT TO THIS CITY WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AND IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT DOING THEIR PART TO MAKE SURE, I MEAN, I LOOK AT TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH TO CANADA.

MY SON DOES THAT A LOT.

HE'S GOTTA GET TESTED BEFORE HE GOES IN AND, UM, AND SHOW PROOF OF THAT.

AND HERE WE'RE JUST OPENING THE DOOR, LETTING PEOPLE COME IN AND, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY POSITIVE.

AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE COMING ACROSS OUR BORDER.

IT'S NOT JUST FROM MEXICO.

THERE'S HUNDREDS OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE COMING IN THROUGH OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

UM, NORTHERN BORDER IS WELL ORGANIZED, WELL, WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

BUT HERE AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYBODY REALLY CARESS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, UM, I I, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR LOBBYISTS, WHAT ARE OUR, HAVE OUR LOBBYISTS TALKED TO ANYBODY UP THERE IN DC JEFF? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AND ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE APPROACHED ANYBODY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ANY KIND OF WAY.

SO HELP ME OUT HERE.

SURE, COUNCILMAN.

WE'VE HAD, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF THEM WITH OUR ENTIRE FEDERAL DELEGATION.

WE'VE SPECIFICALLY HAD CALLS WITH CONGRESSMAN CASTRO.

CONGRESSMAN QUAY ARE CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ, IT'S HIS CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ'S DISTRICT WHERE THE DEL RIO SECTOR IS.

AS ERIC MENTIONED, WE'VE TALKED TO THE WHITE HOUSE BORDER PATROL, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE F A A, EVERY ONE OF THEM.

OUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN, WE BELIEVE THE TESTING SHOULD HAPPEN, UH, THERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE RELEASED.

UM, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE IN A POSITION, AS ERIC MENTIONED, WHERE WE CAN'T, UH, ENFORCE THAT HERE OR FIRE THAT.

OKAY.

I, I HEAR YOU THAT WE'RE TALKING TO THEM, BUT WHAT'S THE RESULTS OF THEIR TALK? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? ARE THEY JUST LISTENING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING? OR ARE THEY SAYING, YES, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS, OR THIS IS WHAT OUR PLAN IS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? I BELIEVE SOME OF THE RESPONSE FROM BORDER PATROL HAS BEEN THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE CAN'T TEST THEM.

UM, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE IMPROVED IN THE SENSE THAT THE NONPROFITS AT THE BORDER ARE WORKING WITH US AND DOING THE TESTING WHERE THEY CAN, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS TO SHOW UP AT THE DOOR OF A NONPROFIT AT THE BORDER.

EITHER THEY CAN WALK OUT OF BORDER PATROL AND GET ONTO A VAN OR A SHUTTLE OR A TAXI THAT'S WAITING AT THE CURB AND COME TO OUR AIRPORT, WHICH IS SOME OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

WELL, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS, AND I, I THINK FOR ANY OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE WATCHING THIS OUT IN TV LAND, YOU OUGHT TO BE UPSET.

YOU OUGHT TO BE, UH, GETTING ON YOUR PHONE, WRITING LETTERS AND WHAT HAVE YOU TO YOUR CONGRESSMEN SAYING, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? WHY ARE WE PASSING THROUGH OUR AIRPORT AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION MODES? IT'S NOT JUST THE AIRPORT, BECAUSE I GUESS THEY'RE TAKING BUSES ALSO, UH, OUT OF HERE, LORI.

YES.

SOME ARE TAKING BUSES.

MAJORITY ARE ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT.

AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH A LOT OF NON-PROFITS IN OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE TAKING BUSES.

HOW MANY ARE ACTUALLY STAYING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO? I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.

SO THEY'RE JUST GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND WE DON'T KNOW, UH, AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE POSITIVE GOING OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I WOULD SAY EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE SENDING LETTERS, EMAILS, TEXTS, WHATEVER TO YOUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES TO GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT, AND I CERTAINLY WILL.

SO, UM, YEAH, THIS IS, THIS IS A SHOCK THAT WE'RE, WE'RE A PASS THROUGH HERE AND WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

I, I STILL THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE SOME KIND OF, WHY DON'T WE SEND SOME PEOPLE DOWN THERE TO THE, TO THOSE BORDER TOWNS AND HELP TEST AND CHARGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THAT.

WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, COUNCILMAN? UM, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THOSE SUGGESTIONS AND, AND MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.

UM, UM, THAT IT'S A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE AS, AS I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND, THE, THE, THE CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER, THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, THE, UH, ISSUES BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAREDO AND BORDER PATROL.

THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK.

THERE.

WE'RE A SMALL PIECE OF THIS.

I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT THERE, THERE ARE OTHER TEXAS CITIES THAT IN AUSTIN, DALLAS AND HOUSTON, THAT ARE SEEING DIRECT TRANSPORTS FROM THE CITY OF LAREDO.

UM, AND, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS THAT WE WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP WHERE WE CAN, UH, AND EXPRESS OUR

[00:40:01]

BUT, UM, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE, SO THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF CRISIS.

I'M NOT SAYING TO SOLVE ERIC, BUT I'M SAYING TO HELP OUT.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST ASKED THE QUESTION, CAN WE SEND FOLKS DOWN THERE TO HELP TESS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET SOME KIND OF INDICATION IF THEY NEED TO BE QUARANTINED OR NOT, INSTEAD OF JUST LETTING THEM PASS THROUGH HERE, UH, POTENTIALLY SPREADING C O V NOT ONLY TO SAN ANTONIO, BUT TO THEIR DESTINATION POINTS.

SO, I, TWO, TWO ISSUES.

UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THEY'RE, THEY'RE BOTH UNDERNEATH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UH, BORDER PATROL AND, UM, ICE ARE TWO DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND THE ICE, UM, UM, AGENCY, UM, AS THEY PROCESS INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH, UM, THEY TEST INDIVIDUALS.

UM, IF THEY, UH, TEST POSITIVE, UH, THEY'RE PLACED IN OUR, UM, ISOLATION HOTEL FOR TWO WEEKS, WE'RE REIMBURSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY, UH, DO ALL THE PLANNING FOR TRAVEL FOR THE INDIVIDUALS, UM, AND DROP THEM OFF EITHER AT THE BUS STATION OR THE AIRPORT WITHIN HOURS OF THEIR TRAVEL.

SO WE WORK VERY WELL, UH, AND HAVE WITH ICE.

UM, IN TERMS OF THAT COORDINATION AND CARE, UH, BORDER PATROL HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

AND, AND NOT THAT I'M MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEM, BUT I THINK THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE STRETCHED RIGHT NOW.

IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULD BE MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COUNCIL THAT WE NOT DEVELOP ANY SORT OF PROGRAM TO GO TEST INDIVIDUALS AT THE BORDER UNLESS I GET SOME DIRECTION FROM THE FULL COUNCIL TO, UH, PREPARE SOME SORT OF ALTERNATIVE.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

UH, WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

ITEM JACK FINGER? YES.

UH, MAYOR BERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, ONCE AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK AMP.

FINGER.

COUNCILMAN PERRY DOES BRING UP SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE, THIS ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA.

UM, HIS CONCERN IS ABOUT THE, UH, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECTS OF THESE PERSONS COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY.

MINE CONCERN IS SIMILAR, BUT IT ALSO DEALS WITH SOMETHING ABOUT AS DEEP HERE.

IT'S ABOUT THE, THE, THE CRIMINAL STATUS OF SOME OF THESE PERSONS HERE.

YOU KNOW, WHO COULD BE AGAINST AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS THE WORD CHARITIES IN ITS TITLE, OR THE WORD FOR THAT MATTER, THE WORD CATHOLIC IN ITS TITLE.

BUT FOR TOO LONG, UH, I THINK CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS BEEN OFFERING A BLIND EYE TO SOME OF THE CLIENT, QUOTE UNQUOTE CLIENTELE THAT IT SUPPOSEDLY SERVES.

YEAH.

UH, THE, AND THIS WAS, THEY WERE DOING THIS LONG BEFORE THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE RATHER LOOSE IN ITS, UH, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES DOWN AT THE BORDER CATHOLIC CHARITIES WAS, UH, ESSENTIALLY, UH, IT DOESN'T ASK THE CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT IT SERVES MUCH AS THE CHAGRIN OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CITIZENS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO DO NOT LIKE, YES, ILLEGAL ALIENS COMING IN AND ESSENTIALLY MAKING MY CITIZENSHIP MEANINGLESS CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

AND TODAY YOU'RE GOING TO AWARD, UH, $200,000 TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOR SUPPOSEDLY THE WORK IT DOES HERE.

NO, UH, I THINK IT'S TIME, JUST, MAYBE IT IS TIME THAT, UH, SOMEONE GOT SERIOUS ABOUT THINGS LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE BLIND EYE IT, IT, IT CAST TOWARDS THIS AND, AND SAY NO.

BUT THEN OF COURSE, YOU ARE THE CITY COUNCIL WHO LEADS A CITY THAT IS KNOWN FOR IT'S SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES, UH, VERY MUCH SO, BUT BY MEANS IT'S THE WRITTEN OR UNWRITTEN POLICY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO NOT ASK A, AN ILLEGAL ALIEN WHAT HIS STATUS IS.

AND CONSEQUENTLY, YOU'RE TODAY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING SO FAR AS TO OFFER $200,000 IN THIS VERY SAME DIRECTION.

AGAIN, QUITE FRANKLY, I, PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CITIZENSHIP, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF THIS.

IN FACT, WE'RE NOT ONLY TIRED, WE'VE BEEN OUTRAGED OF OVER THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, I'M GONNA PUT MY MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE BESIDES CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN THE FUTURE.

[00:45:01]

LIKEWISE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

WE'LL RESUME COUNCIL, UH, DISCUSSION NOW GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY MOVING TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

OKAY.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 23.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS OF STAFF.

IF THIS ITEM WERE NOT TO BE APPROVED, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? WHAT'S OUR ALTERNATIVE HERE? I WANNA STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT.

AND SO IF WE DID NOT APPROVE THIS ITEM, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE THE MIGRANT SERVICES THAT, THAT WE NEED TO HELP SHOW COMPASSION TO THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SHOWING UP AT THE AIRPORT.

ALSO, IT HELPS US MANAGE THE PROCESS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF CAPACITY TO BE AT THE AIRPORT AND TO HELP WITH THIS NAVIGATION.

AND SO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, LIKE LATTER DAY SAINTS, LIKE THE INTERFAITH COALITION, THOSE ARE ALL WONDERFUL PARTNERS THAT ARE HELPING US.

SO IF NOBODY WERE OUT THERE HELPING IN THIS SITUATION, WHAT COULD WE EXPECT? AND I'M ASKING YOU TO SPECULATE.

I MEAN, I WOULD, YOU WOULD HAVE HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS SHOWING UP AT THE AIRPORT NEEDING ASSISTANCE.

THERE ARE LANGUAGE BARRIERS TO GETTING THAT ASSISTANCE.

WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVICE THEM AND PROVIDE THE COMPASSION THAT WE NEED.

SO THEY WOULD BE ON THE STREET ON, THEY'D BE LEFT THROUGH THEIR OWN, THEY'D BE LEFT THROUGH THEIR OWN DEVICES AT THE, AT THE AIRPORT COUNCILWOMAN.

I MEAN, I, I, I WAS OUT THERE, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO AT 11 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WITH JESUS.

UM, AND, UH, JESUS WAS LITERALLY BECAUSE THE AIRLINE COUNTERS WERE CLOSED, JESUS WAS LITERALLY HELPING PEOPLE ALONG WITH THE D H SS STAFF ON THEIR PHONES, UM, PURCHASE TICKETS.

AND SO, UM, THEY, THEY'D BE LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES AND, AND, UH, WOULD, WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE THAT STUFF OUT ON THEIR OWN.

UM, AND, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY.

AND I, I DO WANT TO, I DO WANNA STRESS THAT THE INTERFAITH WELCOME COALITION, THE LATTER DAY SAINTS CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THERE'S, THERE'S A STRONG NETWORK HERE LOCALLY THAT HAS A HISTORY OF WORKING TOGETHER.

UM, AND ALL OF THEM ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME, UH, DIRECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

THANK YOU.

I, I REMEMBER THAT, UM, I GUESS IT WAS, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A, A PREVIOUS MIGRANT SURGE, AND WE OPENED THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER DOWNTOWN.

MANY OF US VOLUNTEERED, UH, SPENT OUR TIME THERE.

AND WE KNEW THAT IF WE DID NOT DO THAT, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE BEEN EITHER THROWN OUT OF THE AIRPORT, THROWN OUT OF THE BUS STATION FOR NOT HAVING A TICKET, AND THEY WOULD BE ON OUR STREETS.

UM, SO I, IT, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, UH, NECESSARY AND I, I CAN'T HELP BUT DRAW, UH, A CONTRAST HERE THAT IF THE CONCERN IN DISCUSSING THIS ITEM REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EMPHASIS IN ALL ASPECTS OF PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR INSTANCE, ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO WEAR MASK MASKS, HAVING, UM, THE WHEREWITHAL TO WEAR MASKS WHEN WE OURSELVES ARE IN PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE DELTA VARIANT IS SPREADING AMONG PEOPLE WHO E WHO ARE EVEN VACCINATED.

I BELIEVE THAT CALLING THIS ITEM OUT FOR DISCUSSION IS CALLING IT OUT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THESE SERVICES ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT NATIONAL ORIGIN THAN, UH, THAN SOME OF THE PEOPLE SITTING ON THE SAAS.