Sep 02, 2021 City Council A Session on 2021-09-02 9:00 AM

[00:01:17]

SAN ANTONIO, SAN ANTONIO AND SAN ANTONIO PUNTA T.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.

THE TIME IS TWO 16, EXCUSE ME, 9:16 AM ON THIS SECOND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021.

UH, MADAM 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.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAO HARTA.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY HERE.

AND MAYOR BERG.

HERE.

MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM.

AGAIN, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

THE TIME IS 9:17 AM WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.

UH, THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO IS HERE, UH, IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR MASKING ORDERS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

UH, TO START US TODAY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA TO WELCOME

[1. Invocation]

THANK YOU MAYOR.

AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH THE INTRODUCTION TO CHAPLAIN MAJOR KEITH MANARY MAJOR.

UH, KEITH MANARY IS A SENIOR CHAPLAIN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE'S BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT LACKLAND, WHERE HE LEADS A TEAM OF EIGHT CHAPLAINS, EIGHT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AIRMEN, AND FOUR CIVILIANS TO CARE FOR APPROXIMATELY 41,000 AIR FORCE AND SPACE FORCE TRAINEES.

ANNUALLY, HIS TEAM OVERSEES WORSHIP SERVICES FOR 19 FAITH GROUPS WITH AN ANNUAL ATTENDANCE OF MORE THAN 355,000.

IN ADDITION, THEY CONDUCT MORE THAN 30,000 COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS PER YEAR.

CHAPLAIN MANARY IS ENDORSED BY THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS, HOLDS A DOCTORAL DEGREE FROM THE GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, AND IS THE RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS MILITARY AWARDS TO INCLUDE THE AIR FORCE'S PRESTIGIOUS COMPANY.

GRADE OFFICER CHAPLAIN OF THE YEAR IN 2014, BEFORE MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO IN AUGUST OF 2020, CHAPLAIN MANARY PROUDLY SERVED AT THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

HE NOW RESIDES IN SAN ANTONIO WITH HIS WIFE ERICA OF 24 YEARS.

AND THEREFORE, CHILDREN WELCOME CHAPLAIN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME IN AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYER.

ALMIGHTY GOD, I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR THESE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS WHO ACT AS POLICY MAKERS AND LEGISLATURES FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THESE MEN AND WOMEN STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS HAVE LED THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE DONE SO IN TIMES OF TRANQUILITY AND UNREST, REBELLION AND UNITY, FAMINE AND PLENTY WEALTH AND POVERTY, PEACE AND WAR, DISEASE AND HEALTH.

FOR THESE WHO CONTINUE THIS LONG LINE OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP, I ASK YOUR BLESSINGS.

BLESS THESE LEADERS WITH WISDOM.

WISDOM TO TACKLE THE IMMENSE ISSUES OF GUIDING ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN OUR NATION.

WISDOM TO WRESTLE WITH THE COMPLEXITIES, CHALLENGES, AND BLESSINGS BROUGHT BY A STEADY STREAM OF THOSE ENTERING OUR GREAT LAND TO PURSUE THE LIBERTIES.

WE ENJOY WISDOM TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL CITIZENS.

WISDOM TO LEAD THIS COMMUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC.

GOD, THE TASKS TO WHICH THIS BODY HAS BEEN CALLED OUR IMMENSE.

AND SO I PRAY THAT THEY MIGHT BE ENDOWED WITH WISDOM GREATER THAN THEMSELVES AND EVEN GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ALL THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE HERE IN THIS ROOM REPRESENTED.

BLESS THEM

[00:05:01]

THE SOURCE OF ALL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.

BLESS THEM ALSO WITH COURAGE.

I PRAY THE JOBS TO WHICH THEY ARE CALLED ARE NOT GLAMOROUS AND ARE SELDOM THANKLESS.

AND SO IT MAY BE TEMPTING TO ACT FROM TIME TO TIME FROM THEIR OWN AMBITIONS.

MAY IT NEVER BE SAID OF ANY OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THEY MADE DECISIONS GUIDED BY THEIR INDIVIDUAL BEST INTEREST.

GIVE THEM.

INSTEAD, I PRAY THE COURAGE TO STAND FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND AGAINST WHAT'S WRONG.

THE COURAGE TO JOIN OTHERS IN SPEAKING OUT AGAINST OPPRESSION.

THE COURAGE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS EVEN WHEN IT MAY COST THEM GREATLY.

THE COURAGE THEY NEED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE.

THE HOMELESS THAT CAMP UNDER OUR OVERPASSES, THE MODERN DAY ORPHANS WHO SLEEP IN THE OFFICES OF OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, THE REFUGEES IN CRISIS, THOSE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES WITH C O V AND SO MANY OTHERS.

LORD, THE WORK TO WHICH THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN CALLED REQUIRES COURAGE IN A TIME LIKE THIS.

GRANTED IN ABUNDANCE, I ASK FINALLY, LORD, BE WITH US COUNCIL AS THEY LEAD THIS COMMUNITY IN MAKING A HOME FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.

THANK YOU FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR ARMED FORCES AND OUR VETERANS.

BLESS THEM FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY AND CONTINUOUS SUPPORT.

AND NOW LORD, AS THIS COUNCIL COMMENCES WITH WORK AT HAND THIS DAY, BE PRESENT IN THEIR MIDST, GUIDE THEIR CONVERSATIONS AND MAY JUSTICE, MERCY AND KINDNESS BE THE HALLMARK OF THEIR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS.

I PRAY ALL THESE IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME.

AMEN.

[2. Pledge of Allegiance]

ALRIGHT.

UM, THE FIRST ITEM

[3. Approval of minutes of the City Council Meeting Minutes from August 4, 2021 and August 5, 2021]

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.

THERE'S A MOTION THAT I HEAR A SECOND.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNT CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AS READ.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE ON MY SCREEN.

THERE'S NOT, THERE'S NOT A VOTE COMING UP YET.

RAISE .

ALL RIGHT.

UM, I'M GONNA TAKE A VOICE VOTE.

UM, THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, MINUTES OF AUGUST 4TH AND AUGUST 5TH, 2021.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY, I DO HAVE,

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE]

UH, FIRST LET ME TURN IT TO OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 10, COUNCIL MEMBER CLAYTON PERRY.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME TIME TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE 11 MEN AND TWO WOMEN SERVICE MEMBERS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES, UH, IN AFGHANISTAN LAST WEEK, HELPING TO DO THE EVACUATIONS, UH, FROM THAT COUNTRY.

I'D LIKE TO READ THEIR NAMES AND THEN, UH, ASK FOR AON OF SILENCE.

SERGEANT JOHANNE, ROSARIO PICHARDO, SERGEANT NICOLE G.

STAFF SERGEANT DARREN HOOVER, CORPORAL HUNTER LOPEZ, CORPORAL DAGAN, PAGE, CORPORAL UMBERTO SANCHEZ, LANCE CORPORAL, DAVID ESPINOZA, LANCE CORPORAL, JARED SCHMITZ, LANCE CORPORAL RILEY MCCOLLUM, LANCE CORPORAL, DYLAN MAROLA, LANCE CORPORAL KAREEM KUI,

[00:10:01]

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, AND THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, UM, THE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING AMERICAN AND NATO COUNTRIES, UH, SERVICE MEMBERS OVER 20 YEARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, AND ALSO OUR THANKS TO THE VETERANS WHO SERVE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE CITY ORGANIZATION.

AND WE DO WANT TO SEND OUR PRAYERS AND WELL WISHES TO ALL THOSE STILL IN HARM'S WAY ACROSS THE WORLD.

LEMME TURN IT NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER PHYLLIS VRAN, DISTRICT THREE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BACK IN 2 20 17, DR.

BILL GONZABA REACHED OUT TO THE FORMER COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VRAN, WITH AN IDEA TO DESIGNATE EVERY SEPTEMBER TO CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO'S SENIORS MONTH.

UH, AND MANY OF THOSE WHO KNOW, UH, GONZABA IS A LEGACY FAMILY FROM THE SOUTH SIDE THAT DOES MUCH WORK FOR OUR SENIORS.

OVER ON PLEASANTON ROAD, WE HAVE A LITTLE SENIOR KIND OF CAMPUS.

SO I'M, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DAY BECAUSE BACK ON SEPTEMBER 7TH AND 2017, THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED ITEM 14, AND IT WAS A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE THIS CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO SENIOR MONTH.

AND IT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL SENIOR CENTER MONTH.

AND I AM VERY THANKFUL TO NOW BE HERE ON THE DAIS AND ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MANAGES 10 COMPREHENSIVE AND EIGHT PART-TIME NUTRITION SITES AND COORDINATES ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS AT AN ADDITIONAL 38 PARTNER OPERATED SITES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO OVER 33,000 SENIORS ANNUALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, LOCAL VENDORS, AND VOLUNTEERS.

SO BEFORE I END, I DO WANNA GIVE EVERYONE A POINT OF ACTION.

EVERYONE HAS A SENIOR IN THEIR LIFE.

EVERYONE'S HOPING TO GET TO THAT SENIOR AGE.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR SENIOR TODAY WITH A PHONE CALL, MAYBE A FACETIME, A WEBEX, OR A VISIT, A SAFE VISIT, AND LET YOUR SENIOR KNOW THAT YOU APPRECIATE THEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAGRA ME.

TURN NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

THANK YOU.

I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WHO, UM, HELPED MAKE THE, UH, SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT BLOOD DONOR CHALLENGE A SUCCESS.

OUR PARTNERS AT THE SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER DO INCREDIBLE LIFESAVING WORK.

FROM THE ORGANI ORGANIZERS TO THE DONORS, TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED SPREAD THE WORD.

I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ENSURING.

OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DONATING BLOOD AND PLASMA THROUGH ADVERSITY.

AND WHILE NAVIGATING AN ONGOING GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WE'VE MANAGED TO SHOW HOW COMPASSIONATE OUR CARING COMMUNITY TRULY IS WHEN FACING CHALLENGES.

I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT COMPETING WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES IS NOT, UH, UH, ALWAYS THE EASIEST TASK.

BUT IT'S A FUN WAY, UH, TO ENGAGE WITH OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S HELPED US EMPOWER OUR RESIDENTS TO PERFORM AN ACT OF KINDNESS.

WHETHER IT WAS A FIRST OR THE HUNDREDTH TIME SOMEONE DONATED BLOOD, EACH DONATION MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE AND CAN HELP SAVE LIVES.

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN DISTRICT FOUR AT OUR EVENT AT MCCULLOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL, MY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND MY BELOVED SOUTHWEST I S D FAMILY FOR ENSURING THIS EVENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO THE PRINCIPAL, TEACHERS AND STAFF AT MCCULLOUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST I S D TEAM, SOME WHO ARE JOINING US THIS MORNING.

YOU ALL HAVE STEPPED UP CONSISTENTLY TO SUPPORT OUR DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENTS, WHETHER IT'S BY LENDING YOUR SUPPORT TO BLOOD DONATION EVENTS, ASSISTING WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER PREPARATIONS OR EFFORTS, ALLOWING OUR CITY TO SET UP C OVID 19 VACCINE MOBILE CLINIC SITES ON CAMPUSES.

OUR DISTRICT FOUR COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM ALL OF YOUR DEDICATION AND KINDNESS, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THEM TODAY WITH A SPECIAL CHECK.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISTRICT CHALLENGE NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE IS IN JANUARY, 2020.

SO IF WE COULD HAVE THE SOUTHWEST I S D FOLKS COME UP TO RECEIVE YOUR CHECK, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

[00:15:59]

AND THEN WE TURN TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL FOR POINT OF PERSON PRIVILEGE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP BY THANKING CITY STAFF AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND OF COURSE, METRO HEALTH FOR THEIR WORK AT OUR HOUSING CLINIC.

THIS PAST SATURDAY, THE CLINIC HOSTED BY DISTRICTS FIVE AND DISTRICT SEVEN AT ST.

MARY'S.

THAT'S ACTUALLY THE WRONG PICTURE.

THAT'S NOT THE HOUSING CLINIC, BUT WE WILL SEE THAT ONE SOON.

UH, THEIR SERVICE, THE SERVICE OF THESE CITY EMPLOYEES HAD CLEAR PASSION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY WERE ENTIRELY ENTHUSED TO HELP EVERYONE THERE FOR THE FOLKS GIVING VACCINES TO THE D H SS, UM, HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM TO OUR N H S D STAFF.

IN TOTAL, WE HAD BETWEEN 600 AND 700 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTEND COMPRISING 429 HOUSEHOLDS WHOM WE HELPED WITH RENT, UTILITIES, AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE.

I WANNA THANK COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR HER PARTNERSHIP IN HOSTING THIS EVENT.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR ATTENDING AND FOR HIS INSPIRATIONAL WORDS TO THE CROWD THERE.

UH, I HAD SOMEBODY COME UP TO ME IN TEARS AFTER YOU SPOKE, MAYOR, UH, FROM, FROM ATTENDING THE EVENT AND HEARING YOU SPEAK.

UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ERIC FOR ATTENDING AND YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THE EVENT, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN ROCE GARCIA FOR TAKING TIME TO STOP BY AND SUPPORTING US.

THANK YOU.

UM, NOW I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO, UH, ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THE BLOOD DRIVE COMPETITION THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE HOSTED BETWEEN COUNCIL OFFICES.

AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER STAFF WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY.

MELODY, MARY ROGER, AND .

SORRY, FRANCINE.

FRANCINE, OF COURSE.

UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THIS, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS EFFORT.

AS YOU KNOW, UH, THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE DID THIS, BUT WE INVITED ALL OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE.

AND, UH, EACH OF YOU HOSTED AN EVENT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE, OF THE CENTER.

WE HAD OVER, NO, WE HAD 42 FIRST TIME DONORS, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE FIRST TIME DONORS BECOME SECOND TIME DONORS AND THIRD TIME DONORS.

AND AS PART OF THE COMPETITION, THE BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER HAS AWARDED $10 PER DONOR TO A SCHOOL IN EACH DISTRICT AS A BACK TO SCHOOL TREAT.

SO HERE COMES, UH, THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH WAS WE, WE KIND OF, UM, YOU KIND OF STOLE OUR THUNDER BECAUSE THIS CAME OUT OF ORDER , BUT THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT THE TOP THREE PERFORMING DISTRICTS WERE DISTRICT ONE.

CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMEN, DISTRICT EIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN, AND IN FIRST PLACE, DISTRICT FOUR.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILWOMAN ROCHE GARCIA.

AND, UH, AS A REMINDER, OUR COMMUNITY IS IN CRITICAL NEED OF BLOOD AND NEARLY EVERY DAY, THE SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER DISTRIBUTES MORE BLOOD THAN THEY COLLECT.

SO IF YOU CAN DONATE, PLEASE DO SO.

AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE BLOOD AND TISSUE CENTER STAFF.

THANK YOU.

[00:22:29]

UM,

[CONSENT AGENDA]

AND OUR AGENDA TODAY HAS NO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

SO I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES NOW IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

YEAH, 28.

YEAH, CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND SAY 28? OKAY.

ITEM 28.

ANY OTHERS? UH, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 17.

OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA SPEAK ON ITEM 17? IF NOT, WE'LL LEAVE IT ON CONSENT AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WILL SPEAK ON IT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR ITEM 28.

OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION.

DID I HEAR SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT? SECOND.

SECOND.

OKAY.

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

THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR ITEM 28.

SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT REMAIN ON CONSENT.

I WILL CALL THEM IN ORDER.

UH, SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH CAROL ANN AGUERO.

CAROL ANN ARRO.

OKAY.

WE'LL GO TO JOSEFINA FERNANDEZ.

MS. FERNANDEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KIMIA FACTORY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS JOSEFINA FERNANDEZ AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT AND WORK WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVERY WEEK.

THIS AGENDA ITEM IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT FUNDS SHOULD BE GOING TO.

PARKS ARE IMPORTANT IN BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY PITTMAN SULLIVAN.

AND IT CREATES A SPACE FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED BY THIS.

GOVERNMENT.

PARKS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SO OUR HOMES, HOMELESSNESS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND GO HAND IN HAND WITH PARK DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE SOME OF OUR HOUSELESS NEIGHBORS SEEK REFUGE AT THESE PARKS.

FURTHERMORE, DEVELOPERS ARE APPOINTED TO THE BOARDS AND COMMITTEES WHO HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND ARE VERY LITTLE CONCERN WITH GENERATIONAL COMMUNITIES CULTIVATED ON THE LAND TO BE DEVELOPED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. FERNANDEZ KIMIA FACTORY, FOLLOWED BY LINDA ORTEGA.

[00:25:08]

PITTMAN SULLIVAN PARK HAS CULTIVATED MEMORIES FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS.

A DISTRICT LIKE D TWO HOLD THE VERY FUTURE OF GENERATIONS FOR BLACK AND BROWN SAN AS AN ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES IN THIS CITY, I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT HOUSELESSNESS IS ALSO A PRESSING ISSUE.

SURE, WE CAN FUND PARKS, BUT WE ALSO SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT CITIZENS WHO VISIT THESE PARKS SHOULD HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO HOME TO AT THE END OF THE NIGHT.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS CONSTANT SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HIS ADVOCACY IN MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY'S VIEWS ARE REPRESENTED ON THE DAIS EVERY TIME THAT HE GOES UP FOR A SESSION.

UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT BONDS WORK A CERTAIN WAY IN THIS CITY TO SERVE PROJECTS THAT FUND THINGS LIKE PARK PARKS.

BUT UNTIL WE CONSIDER OUR HOUSELESS COMMUNITY IN THIS DIALOGUE AND IN THIS CONVERSATION, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.

IF PARKS ARE A PRIORITY, SO SHOULD THE HOUSELESS COMMUNITY, THE HOUSELESS COMMUNITY SHOULD FALL UNDERNEATH THAT TOO.

IT IS A SHAME THAT THE HOUSELESS COMMUNITY CANNOT PITCH A TENT AT A PARK OR PITCH A TENT UNDER A BRIDGE.

UM, AND IF WE WANNA KEEP OUR PARKS QUOTE UNQUOTE CLEAN, UH, WE ALSO SHOULD THINK ABOUT OUR HOUSE'S COMMUNITY AND HOW WE CAN FURTHER ADVOCATE FOR THEM TOO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MS. FACTORY.

LINDA ORTEGA.

MS. ORTEGA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ALBERT CAMPOS.

GOOD MORNING.

ALL LATELY, WE'VE BEEN READING AND HEARING ABOUT HOW SAN ANTONIO HAS OPENED THEIR DOORS TO THE REFUGEES FROM AFGA AFGHANISTAN.

AND IT'S GOOD.

IT IS GOOD.

WE ARE KNOWN FOR THAT.

HOWEVER, WHAT ABOUT THE POOR PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO MR. MAYOR ARE FACING EVICTIONS.

THEY'RE FACING EVICTIONS.

AND WHERE WILL THEY GO? ALL THE DISPLACEMENT, ALL THE SUFFERING THAT'S GOING ON.

AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR DEVELOPERS.

YOU CONTINUE TO OPEN YOUR DOORS, OUR DOORS TO THOSE WHO WOULD HARM OUR PEOPLE.

YES.

YOU, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE THE LATEST PERSON THAT YOU HAVE SHIFTED OUT OF THE, OF HELPING PEOPLE.

IS RUTH RODRIGUEZ A SJA RESIDENT? A PERSON THAT COULD SPEAK UP? MAYBE SHE SPOKE UP TOO MUCH AND YOU, KING RON DID NOT LIKE IT.

YEAH.

THINK ABOUT IT.

THINK ABOUT IT.

FOR SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN FOR OPENING THE DOORS TO THOSE THAT NEED IT.

WHAT ABOUT OUR ING, WHAT ABOUT OUR ING ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW? AND THEY DO NOT KNOW.

AND THIS IS NOT, THIS IS WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

THIS IS PEOPLE THAT WORK.

THIS IS PEOPLE THAT PAY OUR TAXES.

AND YET, YET YOU KICK IT TO THE CURVE WITH NO CONCERN.

AND YOU CONTINUE TO OPEN THE DOORS.

AND SOME OF YOU HERE IN THE COUNCIL TOO.

TO DEVELOPERS.

TO DEVELOPERS BECAUSE, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA BRING MONEY TO SAN ANTONIO.

AND WHAT ABOUT THESE POOR PEOPLE, ANNA? NAH, THEY'RE BURDENED.

SO LET 'EM SLEEP AND THE STREETS LET 'EM SLEEP WITH THEIR CHILDREN WHEREVER THEY CAN.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND ALL OF YOU WHO HEARD THE CHAPLAIN HERE, THOSE WORDS OF JESUS SAYS, WHAT YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF MY CHILDREN, YOU WILL DO UNTO ME.

THANK YOU, MS. ORTEGA, ALBERT CAMPOS, ALBERT CAMPOS, MR. CAMPOS, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY GRACIE SANCHEZ.

UM, I'M ACTUALLY, UH, ALBERT CAMPBELL, UH, SHE PROBABLY PUT, HEARD ME WRONG, MAYOR, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH YOU ABOUT THIS CONSTANTLY.

BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE SAY FALLS ON DEATH EARS.

WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A TEXANS BORN NATIVE OF THIS STATE.

'CAUSE YOU COME FROM MINNESOTA, YOU KNOW THE THINGS THAT REALLY BOTHERS THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ACTUALLY, WE PAY YOU TO BE OUR MAYOR TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

BUT YOU DON'T.

WE BELIEVE THAT YOU, WE CAN BE DISCARDED JUST LIKE ANYTHING.

THESE

[00:30:01]

BECAUSE YOU WILL DICTATE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOURSELF INSTEAD OF HELPING EVERYBODY THAT LIVES IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND EVEN THOSE THAT, EVEN THE ELDERLY, THEY WORKED, YOU KNOW, THEY MADE SAN ANTONIO WHAT IT WAS.

BUT THIS NEW GENERATION THAT JUST COMES IN AND SITS ON THE COUNCIL WILL DO WHATEVER THEY WANT NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE SPEAK.

YOU STILL WILL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

SO IT'S IRONIC THAT WE EVEN COME TO SPEAK, BUT YOU STILL DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, DEVELOPERS DON'T CARE ABOUT US.

IF THEY CAN GET US OUT FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS BY RAISING HOUSE TAXES, STATE TAXES, SCHOOL TAXES, ANY WAY THEY CAN TO CONNIVE TO BE ABLE TO LINE THEIR POCKETS WITH MORE PROFITS, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GETTING BREADCRUMBS FROM THIS.

YOU'RE GETTING A SLICE OF THE BREAD, WHICH IS, IT IS TOTALLY, IT GETS ME SO KIND OF UPSET THAT WE STILL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND IT'S NEVER GETTING GONNA GO NOWHERE.

IT'S A DEAD END STREET.

SO YOU HAVE TO REALIZE WHAT YOU REAP.

YOU WILL SOW UNDER THE EYES OF GOD.

ALL THESE LIES THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA HELP BUT YOU DON'T IS JUST TO GET VOTES TO BE ABLE TO PUT YOU IN, IN THE SEAT THAT YOU'RE IN NOW.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A CONSCIENCE AND REALIZE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT PEOPLE, HUMANITY ON THE STREETS FOR THEM TO DIE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU, MR. CAMPBELL.

GRACIELA SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY KAYLA MIRANDA.

BUENO DIAZ.

MY NAME IS GRACIELA SANCHEZ.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE ESPERANZA AND THE ANTONIO.

WE SUPPORT ANY AND ALL FUNDING THAT HELPS STOP EVICTIONS.

SO SUPPORT OF THIS $3 MILLION GRANT THAT THE CITY IS APPLYING FOR.

HOWEVER WE ARE, HOWEVER, WE ARE HERE TO QUESTION AND CHALLENGE YOUR ACTIONS.

MAYOR NUREMBERG, IN 2019, MR. MAYOR, YOU REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL OF US IN THE, IN THE PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY ASKING FOR OUR SUPPORT SO THAT YOU WOULD GET REELECTED.

YOU AGREED TO MEET WITH US OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AND ACTUALLY CONTINUE MEETING WITH US WHILE YOU REMAINED IN OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE MANY ISSUES WE WERE CONCERNED WITH.

WE WEREN'T GONNA GIVE OVER OUR VOTES OR GET OUR COMMUNITY BEHIND YOU IF YOU DID NOT AGREE TO SUPPORT THE ISSUES THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO US, INCLUDING HOUSING, CLIMATE JUSTICE, PROTECTION OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IMMIGRANT RIGHTS SITE, AND RELEASE THE ARTS L G B T Q ISSUES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

YOU WON, BUT JUST BY A COUPLE OF THOUSAND VOTES.

BUT WE WERE A PART OF HELPING YOU WIN THAT TIGHT RACE.

AND YOU MADE PROMISES TO OUR VALUES, OUR VISION, OUR AND POLICIES THAT CENTERED THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE WORKING CLASS, AND WORKING POOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AND INITIALLY WE NOTICED SOME CHANGES AND WE WERE HAPPY WE WERE ALLOWED TO SIT ON ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

AND WE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SEVERAL OF THIS, OF THESE COMMITTEES.

HOWEVER, IN THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN YOU GET RID OF JESSICA O. GUERRERO, WHO WORKED ON YOUR CAMPAIGN.

YOU APPOINTED HER TO SIT ON THE HOUSING COMMISSION AND THEN YOU MOVED HER INTO THE CHAIR OF THAT POSITION.

BUT THIS PAST JUNE, YOU DISMISSED HER AND REPLACED HER WITH A DEVELOPER FRIENDLY INDIVIDUAL.

IN DECEMBER OF 2019, YOU BROUGHT IN THREE, THREE NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE SAHA BOARD FOR TWO YEAR TERM.

HOWEVER, THIS PAST TUESDAY, RUTH RODRIGUEZ, A RESIDENT OF THE BLANCO APARTMENTS, WAS TOLD BY ONE OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS THAT HER SERVICES WERE NO LONGER NEEDED.

SHE WASN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO FINISH HER TWO YEAR TERMS. HOW THE OTHER TWO COMMISSIONERS

[00:35:01]

WHY JUST RUTH, WE'RE ANGRY THAT YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON LA SAN ANTONIO.

NOW THAT WE'RE GEARING UP TO SPEND $250 MILLION IN THE 2022 HOUSING BOND, WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATIVES OF ANY ON ANY POWERFUL HOUSING COMMITTEE.

WE ARE NOW LIMITED TO THESE TWO, THREE, AND NINE MINUTES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF ANY MEETING.

THAT'S NO POWER.

WE'RE HEARD, BUT WE'RE DISMISSED.

THANK YOU MS. SANCHEZ.

KAYLA MIRANDA.

I WANNA JUST, EVICTIONS ARE VIOLENT.

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT.

KAYLA MIRANDA SEATS EVICTIONS ARE VIOLENT.

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT.

MS. SANCHEZ, YOUR TIME IS UP.

WE FOR, FOR REPRESENTATION, NOT GENTRIFICATION.

SEEDS FOR REPRESENTATION, NOT GENTRIFICATION.

ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL KAYLA MIRANDA.

ONE MORE TIME.

KAYLA MIRANDA.

MY NAME IS KAYLA MIRANDA.

I'M A SAHA TENANT.

I'M ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE COALITIONS LIEUTENANT JUSTICE AND A HOUSING JUSTICE ORGANIZER ON THE WEST SIDE.

I'M SPEAKING ON TWO ITEMS, ITEM 12 AND ITEM 17.

ITEM 12 IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW BOND FUNDS SHOULD BE USED FOR THE BETTERMENT AND THE HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY.

A PARK ALLOWS LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO EXERCISE.

IT ALLOWS THE KIDS TO RUN OFF THEIR ENERGY.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS SAW HERE THIS MORNING, MY KIDS ARE RUNNING AROUND EVERYWHERE.

HE NEEDS TO RUN OFF THAT ENERGY.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD A GYM MEMBERSHIP.

SO IT'S EXCELLENT.

IT, I HOPE YOU PASS IT.

UH, 17.

THE EVICTION FUNDS.

THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HOUSELESS AND HOMELESS ALREADY.

EVICTIONS ARE VIOLENCE.

IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN SOMEONE COME INTO YOUR HOME, PICK UP YOUR ITEMS AND PUT 'EM OUT ON THE STREET WHILE PEOPLE STOP ON THE STREET AND STEAL YOUR ITEMS, YOU KNOW THAT EVICTIONS ARE VIOLENT.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE PASSED OVER.

EVERYONE HAS TO DECIDE WHAT IS THE PRIORITY, WHERE THE GREATEST NEED IS.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE GREATEST NEED IS HOUSING SECURITY.

JUST LIKE A PARK HELPS EXERCISE FOR HEALTH.

A HOME IS SECURE, IT IS HEALTHY.

IT IS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP, TO SHOWER, TO REST IN BETWEEN WORK.

AND WITHOUT THAT MENTAL HEALTH, EVERYTHING ELSE CRUMBLES.

THE BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THIS YEAR.

REMOVING THE GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES AND THE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK UP AND REPLACING THEM WITH DEVELOPER FRIENDLY INDIVIDUALS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COMMUNITY.

MAYOR MEMBER, YOU HAVE FAILED THE CITY AND YOU CAN CHANGE IT BY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND UNTIL YOU START INPUTTING THE IMPACTED AND NOT THE CORPORATIONS, NOTHING'S EVER GONNA CHANGE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MS. MIRANDA.

OKAY, THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.

UH, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 17.

SO I'M GONNA PULL THAT ONE FROM THE CONSENT, UM, MOTION.

WE'LL HEAR THAT INDIVIDUALLY.

SO, UM, TO CLARIFY THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UH, IT IS THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT IS ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 17 AND 28.

UH, SO I'LL GO NOW TO COUNSEL, UH, COMMENT ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.

AGAIN, THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 17 AND 28.

SO LEMME START WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLIE, IS YOUR ITEM NOW INDIVIDUALLY CONSIDERED? YEAH, MY COMMENTS ARE ON 17, MAYOR.

THANKS.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

UM, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 18, UH, APPOINTMENT OF, UH, MONICA SINO TO THE H D R C.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE REAL LIFE IMPLICATIONS ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND ON OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND MY GOAL IS TO FILL ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM DISTRICT TWO WITH EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, PASSION, AND A COMMITMENT TO, UH, COMPASSIONATE SERVICE AND A FOCUS ON WORKING

[00:40:01]

I'M EXCITED TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE THE PERCEPTION IS, AND THE REALITY IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FOCUS ON THE PROFITS OF DEVELOPERS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

MY APPOINTMENTS WILL BE A COUNTER TO THAT TRADITION.

I'M EXCITED TO POINT TO A POINT A COMMUNITY LEADER, SOMEONE WITH WORKING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO THE HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION.

THANK YOU MONICA CIGNO FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

YEAH.

THIS ON, UH, ITEM 19.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, FOLKS THAT HAVE REAPPLIED FOR OUR, UH, SOME OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

UH, JOE NICKS, HE'S ON THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

UM, BRIAN COX, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

KEVIN CROZIER, THE CITY COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS.

UH, WILLIAM GAVIN NICHOLS, UH, CITY COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS.

AND, UM, UH, REAPPOINTING MANY SANCHEZ TO THE PORT AUTHORITY.

AND JONATHAN DELMER TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT SAYING THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO DISTRICT 10.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TWO ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS APPROVING, UH, A PLAYGROUND TO BE PLACED NEXT TO THE, UH, ENCINO BRANCH LIBRARY.

I WANNA COMMEND PUBLIC WORKS.

I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE FASTEST MOVING PROJECTS I'VE SEEN IN MY DISTRICT IN A LONG TIME, AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR, AND I'M, I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND CONGRATULATE ON HER REAPPOINTMENT FREDA LENORA FAY TO THE ART COMMISSION.

SHE'S, UH, SERVED DISTRICT NINE VERY WELL ON THAT COMMISSION.

I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT SHE'LL CONTINUE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 17, THE SUBMISSION FOR A $3 MILLION HUD EVICTION GRANT, UH, PROTECTION PROGRAM AS ITS SUPPLEMENTS LOCAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL EFFORTS BY PROVIDING TENANTS FACING DISPLACEMENT WITH ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS AS WELL AS HOUSING NAVIGATORS.

I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE PLAN N H S D HAS PUT TOGETHER AS IT ADDS FIVE FULL-TIME HOUSING NAVIGATORS WHO WILL WORK STRICTLY IN THE JUSTICE OF PEACE COURTS WHERE EVICTION HEARINGS TAKE PLACE.

THE PLAN IS ALSO INCLUSIVE OF OUR LEGAL AID PARTNERS, TEXAS REAL GRAND LEGAL AID, AND THE SAN ANTONIO LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION.

IF SUCCESSFUL, TRALA WILL BE ABLE TO ADD FOUR FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS, THREE PARALEGALS AND STAFF THE MOST WHERE WE NEED IT THE MOST FOR THE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING.

WHILE SALSA WILL RECEIVE FUNDING FOR ONE FULL-TIME ATTORNEY AND SEVERAL COORDINATORS WHO WILL WORK WITH LOCAL PRIVATE PRACTICE ATTORNEYS TO LEVERAGE MORE PRO BONO SUPPORT WITH LESS THAN 500,000 IN THE PROGRAM FUNDING SAN ANTONIO'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM HAS HAD OVER 90% SUCCESS WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES.

THIS GRANT FUNDING COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME FOR OUR CITY AS THE NATIONAL, AS THE NATIONAL EVICTION MORATORIUM IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT, NOT ONLY CAN TENANTS FACE EVICTION FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT, THEY CAN ALSO BE EVICTED IF THEIR UTILITIES ARE DISCONNECTED.

CURRENTLY, THERE ARE OVER 68,000 C P S ENERGY AND 46,000 SAS CUSTOMERS WHO ARE DELINQUENT.

AND WHILE THE OFFICIAL EVICTION FILING NUMBERS ARE UP IN THE AIR, THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE FROM 12,000 TO 19,000 FILINGS SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

ALL OF OUR LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PARTNERS HAVE BEEN ALL HANDS ON DECK.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT IN GETTING ASSISTANCE OUT.

BUT THERE ARE STILL QUITE A FEW FAMILIES WHO ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON LOCAL LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES, TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THIS PANDEMIC AND HOUSELESSNESS.

THE SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL OF THIS GRANT IS ANOTHER STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO ENSURE THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO ARE BEHIND ON RENT OR UTILITIES ARE NOT DISPLACED IN THE COMING DAYS.

MY OFFICE WILL BE SUBMITTING A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO GO WITH THIS APPLICATION, AND I KNOW N H S D AND OUR LEGAL PARTNERS WOULD APPRECIATE LETTERS FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, THANK YOU TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, TRLA AND SALSA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, THE ITEM THAT YOU JUST SPOKE ON WILL BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY BECAUSE WE HAVE MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THAT WE'LL BE PUT IN THE RECORD.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A, A MINUTE TO HIGHLIGHT ALSO ITEM NUMBER 19, AS SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES DID WITH THE REAPPOINTMENT OF, UM, DR.

LORENA POLITO TO THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, ALSO THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JUANITA VEDA TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, ADVOCACY

[00:45:01]

AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT FOUR.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR 17 AND 28.

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

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 17 AND 28.

OKAY.

PLEASE VOTE.

ALL RIGHT.

MOTION CARRIES.

MOVE NOW TO ITEM 17.

[17. Ordinance approving the submission of an Eviction Protection Grant Program application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and acceptance upon award of an amount of up to $3,000,000.00 for the period of October 15, 2021 to October 15, 2023; approving a budget and personnel complement; and authorizing Professional Services Agreements with legal services providers in support of the Right to Counsel Program [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; Verónica R. Soto, FAICP, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services]]

OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS.

THANKS, MAYOR, I APPRECIATE IT.

UM, AND, UH, FIRST I'LL BE YEAH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, MAKE THE MOTION FIRST.

YEAH, SURE.

UH, MOVE TO APPROVE.

OKAY.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 17.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PELA.

THANK YOU.

I, EVERY TIME WE, UH, BRING THIS, UH, ITEM UP, I ALWAYS LOVE TO TALK ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR CIVIL RIGHTS CASE WHERE, UM, T R L A WAS, UM, INSTRUMENTAL IN, IN PROTECTING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND, AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.

I I'VE WORKED WITH TRALA FOR MANY YEARS AND, UH, THE HEROES, UH, WHO WORK THERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST LAWYERS IN, IN ALL OF SAN ANTONIO AND ALL THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

AND, UM, NONE OF THEM DO IT, UH, FOR GLORY OR TO GET RICH.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY ONE OF MY HEROES, UH, JULIA RAINEY, WHO WORKS REALLY HARD ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ANGLE, BUT THE CASE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE ALL TAUGHT IN LAW SCHOOL IS, UM, A TE A CASE CALLED GAULT VERSUS TEXAS RURAL LEGAL AID.

UM, AND IT, IT'S A FASCINATING CASE ON, ON CIVIL RIGHTS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

BUT, UM, THE, THE SHORT VERSION OF IT IS THAT T R L A WENT DOWN TO THE, DOWN TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, PARTICULARLY TO DEAF SMITH COUNTY, AND, UM, WAS INFORMING, UM, MIGRANT WORKERS OF THEIR RIGHTS TO PICK IT.

AND THAT'S ALL THEY WERE DOING WAS JUST INFORMING THEM OF THEIR RIGHTS TO PICKET.

AND, UH, THE SHERIFF DOWN THERE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO ARREST THESE FOLKS AND, UH, SEEK, UH, TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS AND INJUNCTIONS AND THE COURTS DOWN THERE GRANTED THEM.

AND IT WENT, IT WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO FEDERAL COURT AND IT WAS TURNED, UM, IT WAS, UH, OVERTURNED.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THIS CASE IS A QUOTE, UH, FROM THE SHERIFF THAT SAID THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, UH, IN THIS WHOLE, UH, ORDEAL WAS TEXAS RURAL LEGAL AID BECAUSE THEY WERE INFORMING PEOPLE OF THEIR RIGHTS PERIOD.

UM, AND SO, UH, EVER SINCE I READ THAT, UH, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG SUPPORTER OF T R A AND, UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.

UH, ALL WE ARE DOING IS, UM, APPLYING FEDERAL FUNDS HERE SO THAT T R L A CAN GO AND FORM PEOPLE OF THEIR RIGHTS.

UH, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

IN FACT, THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO EVERY SINGLE TIME.

AND SO, UH, THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS.

AND, UH, THANK YOU VETO FOR THE HARD WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM EXISTS.

UH, THE, THE, THE, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION, ANDY, SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP TO ME THIS MORNING.

UM, THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM VIOLATES EQUAL PROTECTION, UH, 14TH AMENDMENT EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE, BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT GIVING MONEY TO LANDLORDS, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO ENJOY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS OF A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN FORMING LANDLORDS OF THEIR RIGHTS.

HAVE YOU GUYS SCRUBBED THAT FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, COMPLIANCE WITH EQUAL PROTECTION LAWS, BISON EXECUTIVE SESSION? BUT THIS ONE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, SO I CAN DO IT PUBLICLY.

YES, WE TOOK A LOOK AT THAT AND THERE'S NO ISSUE THERE

[00:50:01]

GREAT.

THANKS ANDY.

THANKS, MA'AM.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER PIA.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

I THANK YOU.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUENTS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, AND THAT MEANS OUR LEGACY HOMEOWNERS WHO, UM, HAVE PLANTED ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT ALSO MEANS OUR RENTERS AND OUR TENANTS WHOSE ROOTS MAY NOT BE AT THE FOUNDATION OF A HOUSE, BUT ARE JUST AS VALID.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.

SUPPORTING ITEM 17 IS A NO-BRAINER, AND IT WAS SAID PERFECTLY THAT RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AMIDST OF PANDEMIC, AMIDST A CLIMATE CRISIS AND AMID AMIDST, UH, SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY, IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE THAT EVICTIONS ARE VIOLENT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF HARSH WORDS SAID EARLIER, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD ALL TAKE HEEDED TO.

UM, NOT JUST ON THIS ITEM, BUT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY FIRST AND FOREMOST.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF I DON'T SEE YOU IN THE QUEUE.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, VETO, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU REGARDING THE GRANT.

UH, SHOULD SAN ANTONIO BE AWARDED THE FULL 3 MILLION, UH, HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS DO YOU BELIEVE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST? GOOD MORNING, COUNCILWOMAN.

GOOD MORNING.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL IKA SOTA WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, JUST BASED ON OUR CURRENT PROGRAM, WE BELIEVE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP OVER 10,500 HOUSEHOLDS WHO ARE FACING EVICTION, UM, AND PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 3,500.

BUT GIVEN THAT THIS IS A TWO YEAR GRANT AND ALL THE OUTREACH THAT WE DO TO BOTH PARTIES, THE TENANT AND THE LANDLORD, UM, WITH THE WHOLE SLEW OF SERVICES, WE BELIEVE ABOUT 40,000, UH, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE IMPACTED AND TOUCHED BY THIS GRANT WITH INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO BOTH PARTIES.

GREAT.

AND SO WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS GONNA BE THE QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR RESIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMPUTER OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE, UH, N H SS D SITE? UH, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO HELP THEM? SO, GREAT QUESTION AS WELL.

UM, SO WE HAVE TWO RESOURCES IN PLAY AT THE MOMENT.

WE ARE, UH, BUILDING OUT OUR LEGAL KIOSK, WHICH WOULD BE, THEY LOOK LIKE A T M MACHINES AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHERE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER CAN ACCESS LEGAL SERVICES.

THROUGH THAT, WE HAVE A CONTRACT, UM, WITH T R A AND SALSA THAT PROVIDES THAT SERVICE.

IN ADDITION, BECAUSE THIS GRANT AS, UH, ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR OUR HOUSING NAVIGATORS AS WELL AS ATTORNEYS PARALEGALS, IT MEANS MORE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AT THE COURTS.

OUR PROGRAM IS AT THE COURTS OR HOUSING NAVIGATORS OR AT THE COURTS.

SO PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP TO COURT DO THAT.

BUT WE DO A LOT OF PHONE CALLS, WE DO A LOT OF MAILINGS AS WELL.

AND, UH, OUR HOUSING NAVIGATION TEAM DOES DO IN-PERSON EVENTS AND INTAKE AT DIFFERENT SITES WHERE WE THINK THERE MIGHT BE A FEW EVICTION CASES.

WE WERE AT THE EVENT ON SATURDAY, OUR TEAM WAS QUITE BUSY HELPING PEOPLE AT THOSE, UH, ACTIVITIES.

AND AS NEEDED, WE DO, UM, HAVE INTAKE IN PERSON.

UM, WE EVEN HAVE A TEAM THAT DOES GO TO PEOPLE'S HOMES IF THEY NEED THAT KIND OF HELP AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

AND I KNOW THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, ADRIANA ROCHA AND I ARE WORKING ON, UM, WORKING ON OUR EVICTION, UH, OUTREACH THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS IN THREE AND FOUR.

AND I, I, I THINK I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCILMAN CASTILLO FOR PAVING THE WAY AND GIVING US THOSE IDEAS.

UM, THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT, VERA.

I THINK WHEN WE TALK, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HIGH HOUSING CRISIS, WE DO, UM, NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS THE CRISIS BEFORE AND THEN THERE WAS THIS CRISIS THAT RESULTED, UH, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT AND LOOK AT IT AS A WHOLE.

WE, IT'S, AND IT'S ABOUT KNOWING OUR HISTORY, THE REDLINING OF CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN.

IT IS ABOUT CHANGING MINDSETS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE THINK OF POVERTY AND HOW WE HELP OUR WORKING POOR.

BUT THE KEY THING IS TO COME AT THIS PROBLEM AS A COMMUNITY.

AND THAT COMMUNITY INVOLVES EVERY PORTION, WHICH IS THOSE RESIDENTS, THOSE DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESSES AND THOSE THAT WANT TO, UM, WANT TO SERVICE IN DIFFERENT, UH, DELEGATE AGENCIES.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN