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WELCOME TO OUR BUDGET AND TAX RATE.
HEARING TIME IS 5:08 PM ON THIS EIGHTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021.
WE NEED YOU FOR QUORUM, MADAM CLERK.
UM, CAN YOU CONFIRM A QUORUM? YES, SIR.
COUNCIL MEMBER MAGGI RODRIGUEZ.
[1. Public Hearings on the City's 2021 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for the FY 2022 Proposed Budget and the FY 2022 Proposed Budget. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Scott Huizenga, Director, Management & Budget]]
SIR.UM, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL BUDGET AND TAX RATE HEARING FOR F Y 22.
UM, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE CAPTION, A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S 2021 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE FY 2022 PROPOSED BUDGET.
OKAY, DO WE HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION FROM O M B? GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR COUNCIL.
I'M THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY CLOSER TO THE MIC.
AND TODAY I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE F Y 22 PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.
WE'LL START WITH A OVERVIEW OF THE FIVE KEY MESSAGES THAT THE CITY MANAGER DELIVERED AS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET BACK ON AUGUST 12TH.
THE FIRST KEY MESSAGE IN THE, IN THE BUDGET MESSAGE WAS THAT THE BUDGET REFLECTS A FASTER RECOVERY FROM C OVID 19, BUT UNCERTAINTY REMAINS SALES TAX ESPECIALLY HAS RECOVERED FASTER THAN EXPECTED.
THE HOUSING MARKET IS, HAS DRIVING PERMANENT ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
THE AIRPORT IS RECOVERING QUICKLY THAN EXPECTED, AND EVEN THE HOTEL MARKET CONTINUES TO SHOW SIGNS OF A QUICKER RECOVERY.
AS WE HEAD INTO FISCAL YEAR 22, THE BUDGET RESTORES PLANNED CUTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 AND IT INCREASES EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
THE BUDGET PROPOSES A 4% ACROSS THE BOARD, INCREASE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, PLUS A 1% LUMP SUM ADJUSTMENT ON OCTOBER 1ST.
THERE IS NO PROPOSED CHANGES TO EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS AND IT ALSO CONTINUES A 10% REDUCTION IN THOSE PREMIUMS THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THE BUDGET ALSO RESTORES PLAN CUTS TO STREET MAINTENANCE AND TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF FULLY RESTORING THOSE FUNCTIONS TO, UH, PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
THIRDLY, THE BUDGET FOCUSES ON CRITICAL SERVICES EMERGING FROM THE PANDEMIC.
THE BUDGET INVESTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH IN PUBLIC HEALTH, INCLUDING COORDINATED RESPONSE, UH, WITH HEALTH POLICE AND OTHER AGENCIES TO RESPOND TO, UH, CERTAIN VIOLENCE AND, AND MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CALLS.
IT EXPANDS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CLINICAL DISPATCHER PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS E M S DISPATCHERS TO PROVIDE TELEMEDICINE SERVICES VIA AN APP.
THE BUDGET EXPANDS COMMUNITY POLICING.
IT ADDS $5 MILLION TO THE CITY'S INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT INCLUDES $8 MILLION IN THE CITY'S VISION, ZERO BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROGRAMMING, WHICH INCLUDES CHANGES TO DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS AS WELL AS AN UPDATE OF THE 2011 BIKE MASTER PLAN.
FOURTH, THE BUDGET RESPONDS DIFFERENTLY TO CERTAIN POLICE CALLS.
IT ADDS RESOURCES TO HANDLE, UH, RESOURCE TO FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES SO THAT SOME CALLS THAT WERE TRADITIONALLY HANDLED BY POLICE CAN BE RESPONDED DIFFERENTLY IN NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
AND FINALLY, THE FISCAL YEAR 22 BUDGET PROPOSES TO MAKE INVESTMENTS TO BECOME A MORE RESILIENT CITY.
IT ADDS $8.5 MILLION TOWARDS THE CITY RESI RESILIENCY EFFORTS, UH, TO EXPAND AND REPLACE CRITICAL SYSTEMS AND GENERATES AT CITY FACILITIES.
THAT ALSO INCLUDES A CITYWIDE RESILIENCY STUDY AND, UH, RESILIENCY HUBS ACROSS THE CITY.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIAL BUDGET, WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO THE, TO THE CITY COUNCIL MID-JUNE AND ULTIMATELY THROUGH JULY, THE CITY SPONSORED A AN ESSAY SPEAKUP SURVEY ONLINE ABOUT THE TRIAL BUDGET.
THE SURVEY IDENTIFIED TOP PRIORITIES INCLUDING STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC HEALTH, SENIOR SERVICES, PARKS, AND HOUSING.
THE TRIAL BUDGET AND THE SURVEY AT THAT TIME SET THE STAGE FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WAS, UH, PRESENTED ON ON AUGUST 12TH.
SO THE FISCAL YEAR 22 PROPOSED BUDGET ITSELF TOTALS $3.1 BILLION.
THIS IN TOTAL, THIS IS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 4.9% ACROSS ALL FUNDS.
AGAIN, THAT IS BOLSTERED BY HIGHER THAN EXPECTED
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REVENUES, AS WELL AS NEARLY $100 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR ARPA.THE GENERAL FUND, THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE BUDGET FUNDS MOST OF THE CITY'S BASIC SERVICES, INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, AND LIBRARIES TO NAME A FEW RESTRICTED FUNDS ARE GOVERNED BY STATE AND LOCAL OR FEDERAL LAW CAN AND CAN ONLY BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
EXAMPLES OF RESTRICTED FUNDS INCLUDE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, SOLID WASTE, AND THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COMBINED RESTRICTED FUNDS TOPPED $1 BILLION THIS FISCAL OR PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.
FINALLY, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM AND THE BUDGET IS $592 MILLION AS PROPOSED IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, UM, ACROSS SEVERAL TYPES OF PROJECTS AND FUNDING SOURCES.
THE GENERAL FUND IN THE BUDGET, AS MENTIONED, IS PROPOSED AT $1.36 BILLION.
THE GENERAL FUND IS FUNDED BY THREE REVENUE SOURCES.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE FOLLOWED BY C P S AND SALES TAXES.
UM, OTHER RESOURCES IS THAT CATEGORY IS A WIDE VARIETY OF FEES AND CHARGES, INCLUDING E M S, REVENUES, RIVER BARGE, REVENUES, AND LIQUOR BY THE DRINK TO NAME A FEW ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE FISCAL YEAR 22, PROPOSED BUDGET IS PROJECTED AT ABOUT 63% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THIS REMAINS BELOW THE CITY'S POLICY OF NO GREATER THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE BUDGET DEDICATED OF THE GENERAL FUND TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY.
FISCAL YEAR 2022 HAS PROPOSED REPRESENTS THE 29TH YEAR THAT THE CITY HAS NOT CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THAT THE CITY HAS NOT RAISED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
INCREASED VALUATION AND NEW PROPERTY LEADS TO A TOTAL REVENUE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES OF ABOUT $20 MILLION, OF WHICH 12.4 MILLION IS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 3.1% AS PROPOSED FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
BROKEN DOWN THE 55.83 CENTS PER $100 IN EVALUATION, UM, ABOUT 62% AND IS FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
38% FUNDS THE CITY'S DEBT SERVICE.
THE TOTAL VALUATION CHANGE IS PROJECTED AT 3.7% FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, OF WHICH, UH, 2.1% IS FROM AN INCREASE TO EXISTING PROPERTY AND ONE 1.6% IS PROJECTED FROM NEW VALUATION TO THE CITY.
THE AVERAGE INCREASE OVER, UM, SINCE BACK TO THE GREAT RECESSION TIME, 2011, THE AVERAGE INCREASE HAS BEEN ABOUT OR JUST OVER 5%.
AGAIN, THE PROJECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 22 IS ABOUT 3.7%.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECEIVES ABOUT 22.6% OF THE PROPERTIES OVERALL, UM, PERCENTAGE ON THE, ON THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS COLLECTIVELY RECEIVE ON AVERAGE NEARLY HALF OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL BEXAR COUNTY, OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS COMBINED COLLECT NOT QUITE ONE THIRD OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT PROPERTY OWNERS SEE ON PROPERTY TAXES.
THE CITY OFFERS TAX RELIEF FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND FOR SENIOR AND DISABLED EXEMPTIONS.
THE CITY PROJECTS TO FOREGO APPROXIMATELY $72.4 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR 22 AS A RESULT OF THESE EXEMPTIONS.
NEXT STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, AGAIN, THE BUDGET WAS PROPOSED ON AUGUST 12TH.
WE HAVE JUST FINISHED WEEK FOUR OF, UH, BUDGET WORK SESSIONS WITH THE COUNCIL.
THE CITY HOSTED NINE BUDGET TOWN HALLS AND VARIOUS COUNCIL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THERE IS ONE FINAL TELEPHONE TOWN HALL SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 PM TONIGHT IS THE FIRST OF TWO FORMAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET AND THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY.
THERE'S ONE MORE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH.
AND FINALLY, THE BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED ON NEXT THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH.
SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYNER, I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH SCOTT.
UH, THE FIRST OF TWO COMBINED F Y 22 BUDGET AND F Y 20, OR EXCUSE ME, FY 22 BUDGET AND 2021 TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS IS HEREBY OPENED.
ANYONE WHO WA WANTS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS MAY DO SO.
HOWEVER, COMMENTS MAY BE, MUST BE LIMITED TO MATTERS ABOUT THE BUDGET OR THE TAX RATE.
IF THE SPEAKER STARTS DISCUSSING ANY OTHER SUBJECT OR TOPIC, THEY WILL BE INTERRUPTED IN THE SPEAKER'S AUDIO CONNECTION TO THE MEETING WILL BE TERMINATED.
THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON, UH, THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE.
UH, SO I'LL CALL THEM IN ORDER.
I'LL CALL THE SECOND PERSON, UH, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SO YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME UP.
WE'LL START WITH MARIA GARCIA.
MS. GARCIA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY DAWN THERESE.
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OKAY.DON'T KNOW IF I PRONOUNCE THAT CORRECTLY.
MS. THERESE, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ.
TRISH CLOSE, BUT NOBODY GETS IT RIGHT.
SO, UM, MR. MANNY PEREZ, UH, WHERE WAS HE? OH, HE IS ON THE SCREEN.
UH, ONLY, UH, HE IS MY DISTRICT EIGHT REPRESENTATIVE, UH, FOR MYSELF.
AND THEN OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS LIVE IN DISTRICT 10.
SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, THE, TO, UH, THE, THE POLICE PORTION OF THE BUDGET AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
UM, MY DEMANDS ARE THAT I DO NOT WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT INCLUDED AT ALL.
I REALIZE THIS IS BOLD FOR ME TO SAY THIS.
I DON'T WANT THEM INCLUDED AT ALL IN ANY OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS CALL EFFECTIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I ALSO FEEL THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE CRISIS WORKERS BE INCORPORATED INTO THE SYSTEM WHO ALSO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCES, WHO UNDERSTAND THE STEREOTYPING OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE HAS TO STOP.
AND IT BEGINS WITH GOVERNMENT SENDING A MESSAGE THAT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL ANYMORE TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE PROBLEMS. IT IS OFF AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO HAVE THE POLICE COME WHEN YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL.
AND IT'S THE ONLY SITUATION WHEN YOU'RE NOT FEELING WELL IN WHICH THE POLICE ARE CALLED.
I MEAN, OKAY, SO IF YOU'RE HAVING A HEART ATTACK, MAYBE I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND MY POINT.
UM, SO MY OWN FAMILY HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS WITH MY BROTHER AND MY BROTHER, UH, WHO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WAS SUFFERING.
AND HE KNEW, AND HE CALLED 9 1 1 ON HIMSELF.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, THEY FELT IT AS THOUGH THAT THEY HAD WITNESSED SOMETHING THAT, UH, HE SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR INSTEAD.
AND SO IT WAS KIND OF A THING WITH ELDER CARE.
MY MOTHER WAS PRESENT AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION, AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE AN AUTOMATIC THING WITH ELDER CARE.
ANYWAY, HE SPENT A NIGHT IN JAIL AND A DAY, AND WHEN HE WAS RELEASED, HE, UH, GOT BACK IN HIS, HIS, UH, HE WAS NEGLECTED, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T GET THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THAT HE NEEDED.
AND HE GOT BACK IN HIS SEMI PICKUP TRUCK AND HE DROVE UP I 35 TOWARDS BACK TO GO BACK TO MINNESOTA WHERE HIS CHILDREN LIVED.
AND, UH, HE WAS SO DISTRAUGHT THAT INSTEAD HE DROVE HIS TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO AN OPEN FIELD.
HE WALKED BAREFOOT UP THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE OPPOSING LANE, HE WALKED OUT IN FRONT OF A SEMI-TRUCK BECAUSE HE WAS SO DISTRAUGHT AMONG OTHER THINGS FROM HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE POLICE.
SO, I'M, I'M, IS THAT, DOES THAT MEAN MY TIME'S UP? YES, MA'AM.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO, UH, HEAR THAT PART.
THANK YOU, MS. TRISH ANTONIO DIAZ.
MS. DIAZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED, BE IT BY DEANNA GUES.
DEANNA, ARE YOU YIELDING TIME TO ANTONIO? OKAY, ANTONIO, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTE NISSY.
UH, AGAIN, UH, MY CONCERN, OR, OR A LOT OF, OF THE PEOPLE THAT I SPEAK WITH, MAIN CONCERN IS HOUSING AND THE EVICTION PROCESS THAT IS GOING ON CURRENTLY.
AGAIN, COVID BEING, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS ONGOING AND WHETHER THE STATE WANTS TO RECOGNIZE HOW DAMAGING IT IS TO THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET OUT THERE AND EARN A LIVING OR NOT.
IT IS, AND MANY ARE FEARFUL TO GET OUT THERE AND LOOK FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.
MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING SICK, ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL OR PASSING AWAY DYING.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT OUR, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO
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DO MORE AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE NEEDING HOUSING HAVE IT AND BECOME SOME SORT OF AN INTERMEDIARY AS FAR AS STOPPING EVICTIONS, NOT GOING ALONG WITH THE STATES PROCESSES OF EVICTION AT THIS POINT.THAT'S ONE MAIN THING THAT WE, UH, ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.
IT, IT, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I'M, I'M LISTENING TO HOW MUCH BETTER THE BUDGET LOOKS AND HOW QUICKLY WE ARE RECOVERING WHILE I'M DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, SEEING HOMELESS PEOPLE AFTER HOMELESS PEOPLE, WHICH IS THE REALITY.
IF IT'S A BUREAUCRATIC REALITY THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IN BLACK AND WHITE ON PAPER, THAT'S ONE.
GET OUT IN THE STREET AND LOOK AT THE TRUE REALITY THAT PEOPLE ARE FACING TODAY.
THAT'S ALL WE ASK LIVE IN REALITY, NOT IN THE CONFINES OF BUREAUCRACY.
THE OTHER IS MORE INTERNATIONAL OR INTERCONTINENTAL BECAUSE AS I REPRESENT TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL, WE DON'T SEE MUCH AS FAR AS HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS OR ENDEAVORS INTO HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS OF MIGRATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN I COULD HEAR SOMETHING ON SUCH AN ENDEAVOR.
I KNOW DURING THE CRISES OF THE PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL AMERICA COMING IN, THE CITY OPENED ITS DOORS, BUT THIS IS STILL OCCURRING AND MANY ARE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH ANY COMMITTEE COMMISSION THAT THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL PUTS FORWARD ON ANY EFFORTS TO ASSIST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE MIGRATING INTO OUR AREA, ALLEVIATING SOME OF THEIR PAINS.
I APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL'S THIS.
CITY COUNCIL'S CURRENT AND RECENT PAST EFFORTS TO ACTUALLY PUT SOME MONEY INTO RECOGNIZING THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACTUALLY EXIST.
AND WHEN I SAY INDIGENOUS, THE MISSIONS OF SAN ANTONIO WERE BUILT BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
WERE POPULATED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BEFORE WE WERE CALLED HISPANIC.
THOSE PEOPLE MAINLY EXISTED AROUND THE MISSIONS UNTIL THEY WERE PUSHED INTO PUBLIC HOUSING.
NOW PUBLIC HOUSING IS BEING DONE AWAY WITH THE ALANA APACHE COURTS WERE UNDER ATTACK.
AND I'M GLAD THAT DEMOLITION WAS STOPPED.
BUT THAT IS HOUSING THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE.
AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT MAINLY WORK OR MOSTLY WORK FOR MINIMUM WAGE.
AND I GUESS I GO BACK ROUND AND ROUND.
ARE WE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OR THE POOR PEOPLE WHEN WE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE? AND THAT IS AN INJUSTICE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.
AND I WISH THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD STEP FORWARD ON THIS.
YOU'VE DONE SOME, TAKEN A FEW BABY STEPS.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE LARGER STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION OF RECOGNIZING WE EXIST.
OF RECOGNIZING, RECOGNIZING WE HAVE NEEDS THAT CAN BE SOMEHOW ALLEVIATED WITH SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
ANANDA THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY YANA FLORES.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACT FOR SA.
I AM SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM.
UNDER THE BUDGET, MYSELF AND NUMEROUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SENT A LETTER WITH
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OUR SIGNATURES AND LOGOS ON THEM TO EACH OF YOUR OFFICES YESTERDAY.IF YOU HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO TONIGHT.
THERE IS NO NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE WHEN IT COMES TO A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAMS LIKE THE DENVER STAR PROGRAM AND THE CAHOOTS MODEL ARE WIDELY REGARDED AND HAVE DATA PROVING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, MODELS LIKE THIS SAVE CITIES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING AND SAVE LIVES.
SIMPLY PUT, SAN ANTONIO SHOULD NOT FOLLOW A NON-RESPONDER MODEL.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDING TO EVERY CALL, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY TO SECURE THE SCENE.
THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT OFFICERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED FOR THESE SITUATIONS.
THEIR PRESENCE WILL ESCALATE A SITUATION NINE TIMES OUT OF 10.
WITH POLICE PRESENCE ALSO COMES THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION, OF INCARCERATION, OF ARREST, USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AND DEADLY OUTCOMES.
19% OF FATAL POLICE ENCOUNTERS IN TEXAS INVOLVE SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.
THIS ALONE DISCOURAGES MANY FOLKS FROM MAKING THE CALL FOR HELP.
ONE, LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF THIS TEAM.
POLICE AND OR FIRE SHOULD ONLY RESPOND IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY FIRE, AN IMMEDIATE THREAT OF INJURY OR DEATH EXISTING TO THE CALLER OR ANOTHER PERSON.
OR IF THE CALLER REQUESTS THE PRESENCE OF POLICE OR FIRE.
TWO, DISPATCH, THOROUGHLY TRAINED DISPATCHERS WILL DIRECT CALLS FOR SERVICE INVOLVING MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL CRISES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WELFARE CHECKS, QUALITY OF LIFE CHECKS AND ISSUES RELATING TO UNHOUSED FOLKS TO ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY RESPONSE.
WELL PLANNED, UH, LIST OF PROTOCOLS FOR THE TYPES OF CALLS THAT WELL INVOLVE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE MADE AND NEEDS TO BE PART OF THEIR TRAINING.
A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD BE FORMED TO HELP DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE ROLLOUT OF THIS PROGRAM.
THIS BOARD CAN ALSO HELP TO RAISE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
IN CONCLUSION, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO SAVE LIVES AND SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE, ACROSS TEXAS OF A WELL OUT, WELL-FUNDED, WELL THOUGHT OUT, EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS NOT A CRIME, IT'S A REALITY AND A VERY REAL PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
WE HAVE TO RESPOND WITH COMPASSION.
SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE IN FRONT OF ME TODAY HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE CAHOOTS MODEL.
TODAY I ASK THAT YOU FOLLOW YOUR WORDS WITH ACTIONS BY INCLUDING IT IN YOUR UPCOMING BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS YANETH FLORES.
UM, MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER AA AND, UM, HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
UM, FIRST I WANNA NOTE, UM, MAYOR NUREMBERG, IT WAS INCREDIBLY RUDE FOR YOU TO CUT OFF SOMEBODY WHO WAS SHARING AN INCREDIBLY PERSONAL STORY, UH, AT A REALLY TRIGGERING MOMENT.
I THINK YOU COULD HAVE DONE WITH ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO.
UM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT A FULL ROOM AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, UM, TO GO THROUGH ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, SO I DO WANNA ECHO THE COMMENTS THAT ANANDA MADE.
UM, DEFINITELY, UM, IN SUPPORT, UM, IN SUPPORT.
UM, AND ALSO ASKING ALL OF YOU TO BE, UM, TO LOOK AT THE DATA, TO LOOK AT THE RESPONSES OF A PUBLIC SURVEY THAT YOUR CITY PUT OUT, TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC INPUT THAT WAS RECEIVED AND TO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND IMPLEMENT THAT INTO YOUR CITY BUDGET PLAN, TO THE WAY THAT THIS MONEY, THAT PUBLIC MONEY IS GONNA BE SPENT.
UH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF PARTICULAR, UM, ISSUES FROM RESPONSES FROM THIS PUBLIC SURVEY AND, UM, CITY MANAGER ERIC WALSH.
I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU LAST WEEK.
I HOPE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH YOUR OWN, UM, UH, YOUR OWN CITY SURVEY AND YOU'VE ACTUALLY LIKE, LOOKED THROUGH THOSE RESPONSES, LOOKED THROUGH THE, UM, FEEDBACK THAT Y'ALL PUT OUT.
'CAUSE THERE IS A EXTENSIVE, EXTENSIVE DOCUMENT THAT HAS ALL OF THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE TO YOU AND, AND I THINK WOULD DO YOU GREAT AS YOU'RE PLANNING THE CITY BUDGET.
UM, OF COURSE, UM, THERE ARE THREE PRIORITIES THAT WERE, UM, VERY MUCH ANONYMOUS THROUGHOUT ALL DISTRICTS.
THAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, HOUSING, AFFORD AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, AND SENIOR AND YOUTH
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SERVICES.UM, I DO NOT SEE THAT REFLECTED IN THE PROPOSED CITY BUDGET.
UM, I SEE AN INCREASE IN POLICE FUNDING, UH, 3%, $15 MILLION.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WHEN IT COULD BE BE, BE PUT INTO OTHER PROGRAMS THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR.
I ALSO WANNA NOTE, UM, THAT IN RESPONSE TO THAT, THERE WAS ACTUALLY, UM, AND I, AND I LOVE THAT THIS WAS INCLUDED, UM, IN THIS, IN THIS DOCUMENT AGAIN, THAT THE CITY PUT OUT A, A CITY MADE DOCUMENT, UM, THAT STATES, UH, I THINK IT'S ON PAGE THREE ACTUALLY, UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT ON PAGE THREE, UM, RESIDENTS WERE ASKING TO IDENTIFY HOW THEY SHOULD BALANCE THE BUDGET.
AND IT SEEMS THAT 44% OF RESIDENTS CHOSE TO REDUCE PERSONNEL COST.
UH, THAT MEANS LESS, NOBODY'S ASKING FOR MORE COPS NOT A SINGLE PERSON.
UM, IS IS AS IS SAYING, WE NEED OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE OVERPOLICED AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE OVERPOLICED AS WE ARE SEEKING ANY SUPPORT IN A MENTAL CRISIS, MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
UH, YOU NEED TO REMOVE POLICE OFFICERS, UH, FROM INTERACTING WITH COMMUNITY WHEN WE ARE AT RISK AND WHEN WE ARE VULNERABLE BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY HIGHLY OVERPOLICED AND WE'LL AGAIN, ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT THE DATA.
THE SECOND OF TWO COMBINED PUBLIC HEARINGS, UM, TWO COMBINED BUDGET AND TAX RATE.
PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021, BEGINNING AT 5:00 PM THE SECOND COMBINED BUDGET AND TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD IN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ONE 14 WEST COMMERCE STREET.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2021 AT ITS MEETING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2021, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 AM AND WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ONE 14 WEST COMMERCE STREET.
HAVING HEARD ALL COMMENTS FROM THOSE CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD ON THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE, THE FIRST OF TWO COMBINED, F Y 2022 BUDGET AND 2021 TAX RATE, PUBLIC HEARINGS IS HEREBY CLOSED.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
WE HAVE SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THAT.
UM, SO I'LL CALL THE FIRST NAME ON THE LIST.
I'LL CALL THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE.
IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD.