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

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

UH, LET ME INTRODUCE NOW, UH, CHIEF NIM KIDD, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU, UH, COUNSEL.

I ASK THE MAYOR TO PLACE ONE OF OUR, UH, COMMEMORATIVE CHALLENGE COINS ON THE DIOCESE FOR EACH OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THAT.

LATER, I'LL BE HANDING THEM TO THE, THE MEMBERS THAT RESPONDED TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WITH US.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, I CALLED HIM MY FRIEND ERIC WALSH.

SHE USED TO BE MY BOSS WHEN I WAS HERE WITH THE CITY.

AND, AND ERIC AND I HAVE STAYED IN CONTACT.

YOU'VE GOT A GREAT MANAGER AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE SUPPORT MAYOR OF YOU AND THE COUNCIL AND THE MANAGER.

NOT NOT JUST FOR SAN ANTONIO, BUT FOR EVERYTHING WE DO ACROSS THE STATE AND THE NATION.

UM, BEFORE WE GET TO THE, THE MEN THAT WE RESPONDED TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WITH ON NINE 11, THERE'S A FEW OTHER NAMES THAT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE.

UH, ONE IS RETIRED ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF MIKE MILLER.

MIKE SET UP THE RESCUE TEAM FOR US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

A LITTLE OVER 25, 27 YEARS AGO, MAYBE.

UH, RETIRED FIRE CHIEF BOBBY OJEDA, WHOSE DAD WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

MIKE MILLER WAS ON BOBBY'S, UH, DAD'S CREW.

WHENEVER CHIEF, UH, LIEUTENANT WILL OJEDA DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AT WATER RESCUE.

THAT PUT IN FORTH, UH, WHEN, WHEN BOBBY BECAME FIRE CHIEF, THAT PUT IN, IN PLACE US BUILDING A TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE.

AND SO CAPTAIN MILLER, THEN CHIEF MILLER, AS HE RETIRED, RECRUITED A LOT OF US TO COME AND BUILD THIS TEAM IN SAN ANTONIO.

IT WAS 19 94, 19 95.

UH, ALSO ONE OF THE, THE THINGS THAT REALLY SHAPED THE FUTURE OF TEXAS AND OUR URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE WAS THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING.

AND WHEN OKLAHOMA CITY HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO STATE OR FEDERAL URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM IN THE CENTRAL US.

THEY ALL CAME FROM THE EAST COAST OR THE WEST COAST.

SO A GUY NAMED DR.

KIM BENNETT, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF TEAKS AT THE TIME, THE TEXAS ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE, WORKED WITH THE, THE COUNCIL THERE, WORKED FOR THE, THE LEGISLATURE AND CREATED TEXAS TASK FORCE ONE.

THAT TEAM CAME INTO PLACE ON VALENTINE'S DAY OF

[00:15:01]

1997.

WE ALL MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN COLLEGE STATION AS ONE TEAM.

AND IT WAS MEMBERS FROM THE CORPUS CHRISTI FIRE DEPARTMENT, SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AUSTIN, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, HOUSTON, AND EVERYBODY IN THAT SURROUNDING AREA.

BUT BACK THEN, WE WERE ONLY A STATE TEAM.

IT WASN'T UNTIL MARCH OF 2001 THAT WE BECAME THE 28TH TEAM IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM IN THE US S A R PROGRAM.

AND SO FROM MARCH OF 2001 UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2001 WAS A SHORT TIME PERIOD, BUT WE WERE ACTIVATED THAT DAY.

AND I, AND LIKE ALL OF YOU, I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE ON NINE 11.

UH, MY SHIFT ELEVEN'S ON THE SEA SHIFT RIGHT HERE BEHIND US WAS GOING ON DUTY THAT DAY.

AND I KNOW THERE'S AN EARLIER SHIFT CHANGE NOW, BUT BACK THEN IT WAS NOON, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE GREATEST THING ON THE PLANET.

'CAUSE YOU WERE OFF EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, BASICALLY.

AND, UH, SO AS I REMEMBER THE PHONE RING, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT, THAT I WAS GOING ON DUTY WITH, AND HE SAID, UH, HEY, TURN ON THE TV NOW.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NINE O'CLOCK.

AND YES, I WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL IN BED.

AND, UH, I SAID, WELL, WHAT CHANNEL? AND HE SAID, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

JUST TURN IT ON.

AND I REMEMBER BEFORE I GOT THE TV ON, I COULD HEAR THE NOISE IN HIS BACKGROUND.

I COULD HEAR WHAT HE WAS WATCHING.

AND I KIND OF GOT A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD MISSED A WORKING FIRE IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO ON A HIGH RISE, WHICH MEANT WE WERE JUST GONNA HAVE TO COME IN AND CLEAN UP AFTER THE GUYS ON THE SHIP BEFORE US, GOT TO DO ALL THE WORK.

AND AS I TURNED IT ON, AND I, AND I WATCHED IN NEW YORK CITY, AND I REALIZED THAT IT WASN'T HERE.

AND I WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND THEN I WATCHED THE SECOND PLANE FLY INTO THE BUILDING AND I SAID, HEY, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I'M COMING IN TODAY.

'CAUSE I KNEW WE WERE GOING TO WORK.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE GUYS THAT I WENT WITH TO STAND REAL QUICK.

20 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

ALL JOIN US FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND GIVE THOSE GUYS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THIS IS FOUR.

THERE ARE TWO OTHERS THAT, UM, WORKING TODAY AND COULDN'T GET HERE.

BUT, BUT WE HAVE, UH, CAPTAIN FRANK WILBURN.

YEP.

CAPTAIN DENNIS MEYER.

DENNIS, RAISE YOUR HAND THEN FIREFIGHTER ENGINEER SHANE.

GEORGE.

SHANE AND I WERE CLASSMATES TOGETHER ALONG WITH CHIEF ESTRADA.

WE ALL LITTER MATES TOGETHER A COUPLE YEARS AGO COMING INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUT, BUT I WANNA TALK ABOUT RENEE FOR A SECOND, BECAUSE RENEE GARCIA WAS NOT A SAN ANTONIO FIREFIGHTER.

RENEE STARTED OUT WORKING FOR I T S D HERE AND THEN MOVED OVER TO FIRE M I S AND I WAS JUST REMINDED, RENEE WAS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT HELPED SET UP THIS COUNCIL CHAMBER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT, UH, HAVING A RENEE IS 20 YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE IPHONES, BUT WE HAD A RENEE AND HE HELPED US COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYTHING.

SO I JUST, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES THAT HELPED US AND RESPOND.

I, UH, I QUICKLY WANNA TALK ABOUT THE OTHER TEAMS THAT WE SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S, UM, I BELIEVE WE ALL FEEL IT IS BETTER TO LEARN FROM SOMEBODY ELSE'S DISASTER THAN LEARNING FROM YOUR OWN.

AND I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND YOUR E M S AGENCIES THAT HAVE RESPONDED TO SO MANY DISASTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE THE, THE URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT.

WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TASK FORCE, E M T F.

YOU ALL KNOW THE NAME ERIC EPLEY.

HE'S IN THE CROWD HERE WITH US TODAY.

AND ERIC IS THE STATEWIDE LEADER IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TASK FORCE.

WHEN WE RESPOND AS A TEAM AND GO OUT THE DOOR, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT ERIC HAS SET UP, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT YOU SEND ALL OVER THE NATION.

YOU'VE SENT FIREFIGHTERS TO CALIFORNIA TO HELP FIGHT THE WILDFIRES THERE AND, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS. WE ARE BETTER FIREFIGHTERS AND MEDICS WHEN WE LEARN FROM SOMEBODY ELSE'S DISASTER.

WE ARE BETTER OFFICERS TO COME BACK AND TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.

WE'RE BETTER CHIEFS TO COME BACK AND TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE'RE BETTER LEADERS WHEN WE GAIN THOSE EXPERIENCES IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S BACKYARD THAT WE GET TO BRING HOME AND APPLY HERE.

AND OUR CITIZENS DIDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER FOR US TO LEARN.

I THINK IN CLOSING, I'D, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE ON THE STREETS TODAY, I'VE BEEN GONE FOR 11 YEARS FROM THE CITY, AND WHILE SOME OF THEM I'VE NEVER MET, I KNOW THEM.

I, I KNOW THEM BECAUSE WE WERE ONE IN THE SAME.

I I KNOW THEM BECAUSE NOT ONLY OF THE EDUCATION, THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE WE GET HERE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT THAT WE HAVE TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND AS WE REMEMBER NINE 11, I, I HOPE WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND NEVER FORGET THOSE FAMILIES AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO PUT THEIRSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF OTHERS.

AND SO, MAYOR, IN CLOSING, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR ME TO GET TOGETHER WITH THESE GUYS AGAIN AND RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE TO THIS CITY, AND THIS STATE, AND THIS NATION.

AND AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THEIR MISSION AND THEIR PROGRAM.

WE ASK YOU NOW TO

[00:20:01]

THE LORD BE WITH YOU.

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU, THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT, SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRAY FOR US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAPLAIN, UH, CHIEF KIDD, UH, CHIEF MCMANUS, UH, TO ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE HERE TO COMMEMORATE THIS DAY WITH US, UH, A DAY THAT WE WON'T FORGET, UH, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE SERVICE OF OUR, UH, MEN AND WOMEN, UH, ON THAT DAY AND WHO CONTINUE TO THIS DAY TO, TO PROTECT US AND TO SERVE US, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I WOULD INVITE ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED BEFORE THEY DEPART THE CHAMBERS TODAY TO, UM, COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, A PIECE OF STEEL THAT'S ON THE PEDESTAL THERE.

THAT, THAT IS A PIECE OF STEEL THAT WAS GIFTED TO THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SERVICE, UH, IN THE AFTERMATH FOR NINE 11.

UM, IT'S A PIECE OF STEEL FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

UH, IT IS NOW LOCATED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS, UM, BUT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TODAY, UH, TO HELP US WITH THIS COMMEMORATION.

UH, AT THIS TIME.

AGAIN, UH, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

UH, WE WILL BE, UH, WITH YOU ALL IN SPIRIT AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE, THE ACTUAL DAY ON SATURDAY.

UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD NOW, UH, INTO OUR DAY OF BUSINESS HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

UM, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD ASK THE CITY CLERK, UH, FOR ROLL CALL.

COUNCIL MEMBER MAGGI RODRIGUEZ.

PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

ROCHA GARCIA.

COUNCIL MEMBER CAVEO VARDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS.

COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.

MAYOR NUREMBERG.

WE HAVE A QUORUM, SIR.

FIRST ITEM, UH, OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE CITY.

UM, GUYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

OUR

[3. Approval of Minutes from City Council Meetings of August 11, 2021 and August 12, 2021]

UH, IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 11TH AND AUGUST 12TH.

UM, THERE IS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES.

ANY DISCUSSION, ANY CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE.

SECOND.

I'M SORRY, THERE WAS A SECOND WITH .

HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.

WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM ON, UH, INDIVIDUAL

MOTION CARRIES.

UM, TO NOTE, UH,

[CONSENT AGENDA]

[00:25:01]

BRIEFING TODAY.

THAT'S ITEM FOUR.

UH, I WILL NOTE FOR, UM, BENEFIT OF OUR AUDIENCE.

ITEM 24 G HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE AGENDA AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED TODAY.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO FULL ITEM NUMBER 25.

ITEM 25.

17.

22.

ANY OTHERS? GOT ITEMS? FOUR 17.

EXCUSE ME.

ITEMS FOUR 10.

APOLOGIZE.

ITEM 4, 17, 22, AND 25.

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

SO MOVE SECOND.

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

THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR 4 17, 22, AND 25.

UM, I'LL CALL UP SPEAKERS AND DISCUSSION ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT, AND I BELIEVE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CITIZENS SIGN UP FOR CONSENT.

ITEMS 26.

UH, JACK FINGER ON ITEM 26.

UM, ONE SECOND, JACK.

UH, WE'RE, WE'RE STILL GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF AUDIO FROM THE, UM, FROM THE PLAZA.

WE'RE HEARING IT COME THROUGH THE SPEAKERS.

MAYOR NURENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD.

MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, IN REGARDS TO THE CEREMONY WE JUST HAD YES.

UH, 20 YEARS AGO, I, I DO RECALL THOSE, THOSE DAYS.

I WAS HERE AT THE CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, I NOTICED, UM, QUITE A FEW CHANGES OCCURRED AFTER SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

UH, A LOT OF US WERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE.

EVERYTHING CHANGED.

UH, WE DON'T, DIDN'T HAVE THE FREE FLOWING, UH, ENTRY INTO OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS LIKE WE USED TO HAVE.

UH, METAL DETECTORS WERE ADDED.

AND, UH, LONG DELAYS WERE ALSO A PART OF THE SYSTEM.

SO I DO THANK GOD THAT WE, UH, WE SURVIVED AND OUR COUNTRY EVEN THRIVED AFTERWARDS.

UH, I THANK GOD WE HAD A PRESIDENT WHO, WHO LED US OUT OUT OF THAT.

AND, UH, AND THE QUESTION REMAINS, UM, HAVE WE EVER LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE DAYS 20 YEARS AGO? APPARENTLY, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHO YOU HAVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ONTO, UH, TODAY'S AGENDA.

UH, ONE ITEM I DO WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION REGARDING, UH, TODAY'S AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER 26, IS THE IDEA OF WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING.

WE, YOU ARE GOING TO OFFER A RESOLUTION OF, OF SUPPORT FOR, FOR A PERSON WHO'S GOING TO INITIATE WHAT I CALL WELFARE HOUSING.

THAT, UH, THAT PERSON IS OVER ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THE, UH, THE DISTRICT FOUR MS. GARCIA'S, THE DISTRICT THERE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY WONDER WHAT THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA WOULD, WOULD THINK IF THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE NEXT TO, UH, UH, APARTMENT CON COMPLEXES.

THAT, THAT, UH, UH, UH, ARE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ONLY GET ABOUT WHAT IS IT, UH, MR. UH, AUDIO VISUAL MANAGER.

UH, GO AHEAD AND SHOW THE CIRCLED AREA THERE.

AND, UH, UPON THE, THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS FOR THIS, THIS ITEM HERE, IF YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT SAYS THERE.

UH, RAISE IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT THERE SO THEY CAN SEE THE CIRCLED AREA.

THERE WE GO.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

I THINK ON THE, THE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT SHEET, UH, SEE WHAT'S IT SAY? UH, THE SECOND PAGE TWO, SEE WHAT IT SHOWS THERE.

UH, THE CIRCLED AREA.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING.

I THINK IT SHOWS THE FIGURE ABOUT TO OH, FOR FURTHER UP THAT, THAT SHEET THERE.

UH, YOU CAN TURN THE CAMERA HERE.

FURTHER UP CIRCLED AREA.

I THINK IF YOU SEE SOME HANDWRITING FOR FURTHER UP ON THAT, ON THAT SAME PAGE THERE.

WELL, ANYWAY, JUST KNOW IT SAYS 60%.

[00:30:02]

60% OF THE, UH, OF THE, UH, AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE PER PERSONS ARE GONNA BE ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THOSE APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

WHAT WOULD THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT THAT? THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

UM, I THINK WE'VE LOST VIDEO ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLY AND SANDOVAL.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLY.

UM, I CALL, UM, YOUR ATTENTION TO AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA REGARDING THE U OSSI PROGRAM.

UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT, UM, AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE U OSSI PROGRAM, IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY ITEMS ON OUR FEDERAL AGENDA.

UM, VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR OUR REGIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY PREPAREDNESS AND, AND OUR CAPABILITIES.

MAYOR, YOU WENT TO DC IN, UM, IN JULY TO MEET WITH LEADERSHIP AT HOMELAND SECURITY.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROGRAM.

UM, WE HAVE WORKED HARD YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR TO MAINTAIN AND INCREASE THAT FUNDING.

UH, AFTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ZEROED US OUT IN 2015, IN 2016, UH, THIS YEAR'S AWARD OF $3.8 MILLION, UM, MARKS A $2.8 MILLION INCREASE, UM, SINCE 2017.

UM, AND THESE, UH, THESE FUNDING INCREASES ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR CONTINUOUS ADVOCACY BY EVERYBODY, INCLUDING OUR, UM, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES, BUT ALSO OUR, UM, VERY OWN SUPERHEROES, SALLY VATO AND GENERAL AYALA, AND, UH, THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ADVOCATES THAT WE'VE GOT ON CONTRACT IN WASHINGTON, DC.

THOSE, THOSE FOLKS ARE NINJAS AS FAR AS, UH, BRINGING HOME THE MONEY.

AND WE, WE, UH, WE ALL OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.

UM, THERE IS A LOT MORE TO DO, UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE OUR MOMENTUM TO FURTHER ENHANCE THESE, UH, FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS TO INCREASE THE ADMINISTRATION'S INVESTMENTS IN SAN ANTONIO.

UM, IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT UI OR, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING UP THERE WITH REGARDS TO BRINGING HOME MEDICAL, UH, FUNDING FOR OUR MILITARY MISSIONS, UH, PLEASE, UH, COME AROUND AND ASK ME.

I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU GUYS A BRIEFING.

AND, UM, OF COURSE, SALLY BA AND GENERAL AYALA ARE GONNA BE MUCH MORE PROFICIENT, UH, ON THE TOPIC.

AND, UM, BUT I, I THANK THEM, UM, AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING YEOMAN'S WORK.

OKAY, THAT IS EVERYONE.

WHO, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 24, UM, SPECIFICALLY APPOINTING TAYLOR WATSON TO THE ZONING COMMISSION.

UM, ZONING IS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONS IN DISTRICT TWO AND CITYWIDE THAT IS OFTEN SEEN AS VERY CONTENTIOUS.

AND THERE'S, UM, OFTEN SOURCE OF DEBATE.

UH, THERE PREVIOUSLY, HAVING SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF MINKE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPERS AND IDENTIFYING ROOM FOR COMPROMISE IN THE TIME THAT I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE 2019, SHE'S DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO WORK WITH OTHERS AND TO, IN A KNOWLEDGE OF NOT JUST ZONING, BUT NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES AND A WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE AND SERVE.

AND SO, I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE, UM, TO HAVE SEEN HER APPLICATION COME ACROSS MY DESK, AND EXCITED NOW TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT.

AND I URGE ALL OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AS WE MAKE THESE APPOINTMENTS, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF US STILL HAVING TO SELECT, PLEASE CHOOSE COMMUNITY LEADERS.

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE OUT THE VOICE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

DON'T LEAVE OUT THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED.

IT'S EASY TO APPOINT DEVELOPERS, IT'S EASY TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, BUT IT'S JUST AS EASY TO APPOINT SOMEONE FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

UM, THERE ARE NO OTHER FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CONSENT, SO, UH, LEMME CALL THE QUESTION.

UH, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ALL ITEMS 4 17 22 AND 25.

PLEASE VOTE.

TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

UM, MOTION APPROVED.

UM, BEFORE WE GO TO ITEM FOUR, I DO WANT

[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE]

I ALSO WANNA FOCUS OUR ATTENTION THIS MORNING ON A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I WANNA JUST BRIEFLY MENTION THAT I'M MOVED BY THE WORDS OF CHIEF MCMANUS, CHIEF KIDD AND OTHERS THIS MORNING.

WE ALL HAVE OUR STORIES WHERE WE REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE THAT DAY.

SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001.

I HAPPENED TO BE AT CITY HALL PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD WHEN THE TOWERS FELL, I WORRIED WHAT KIND OF WORLD MY SON WAS BEING BORN INTO, BUT I'M GRATEFUL TO SAY THAT HE WAS BORN INTO A COUNTRY STATE, AND A CITY WITH GREAT RESILIENCE, PRIDE, AND COMPASSION.

[00:35:02]

I WANNA FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGE, BUT I ALSO WANNA FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION, THE ANSWER TO THAT CHALLENGE.

THERE ARE 96,500 CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE HUNGRY.

THEY LIVE WITH FOOD INSECURITY.

THAT MEANS THEY LACK CONSISTENT ACCESS TO ENOUGH FOOD TO LIVE AN ACTIVE, HEALTHY LIFE.

TO PUT THAT NUMBER INTO CONTEXT, LET ME PAINT A PICTURE FOR YOU.

WE COULD EASILY FILL ALL THE SEATS IN THE ALAMO DOME, PLUS EVERY SEAT IN THE AT AND T CENTER, PLUS HALF THE SEATS IN THE FREEMAN COLISEUM FROM FLORIDA RAFTERS WITH CHILDREN FROM SAN ANTONIO WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.

AND THAT'S NOT THE WORST PART.

THE WORST PART IS THAT THIS ISN'T NEW.

THIS DIDN'T, WASN'T SPURRED ON THE PAN BY THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY? HOW CAN WE APPROACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH ISSUES, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND SAFETY? IF WE PUT THESE HUNGRY CHILDREN FIRST SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL HUNGER ACTION MONTH.

IT'S THE MONTH WHEN WE'RE REMINDED TO ACT ON THE HUNGER ISSUE, REMINDED WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK IS IN DISTRICT SIX, AND THEY'RE LEADING THE CHARGE THIS SEPTEMBER.

THE FOOD BANK HAS JOINED FEEDING AMERICA, EXCUSE ME, FEEDING AMERICA'S NATIONWIDE CALL TO ACTION TO MOBILIZE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO FIGHT HUNGER, BECAUSE FOOD SHOULD NEVER BE AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.

14% OF OUR NEIGHBORS LIVE WITH FOOD INSECURITY, NOT KNOWING WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.

THAT'S 2000, SORRY, 270,950 PEOPLE.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

JOIN THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER.

THIS IS SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.

THE FOOD BANK HAS PROVIDED TOOLS TO HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

GO TO THEIR WEBSITE, SA FOOD BANK.ORG.

IT'S UP HERE ON THE, ON THE SLIDE.

YOU CAN DONATE FOOD TIME, MONEY OR ENERGY.

YOU CAN ORGANIZE YOUR OWN FOOD DRIVE.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND HASHTAGS, GRAPHICS, PICTURES, AND MESSAGES THAT YOU CAN SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.

WE CAN AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING.

IT TAKES WORK.

BUT Y'ALL KNOW I'M ALL ABOUT WORKING HARD AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

I WANNA TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

THE FOOD BANK PROVIDED PRODUCE PACKAGES THAT WE DISTRIBUTED AT A SATURDAY'S DISTRICT SIX C O VACCINE DRIVE-THROUGH CLINIC, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS READY TO HELP.

PEOPLE DROVE UP, THEY RECEIVED THEIR VACCINE, AND AS THEY WERE LEAVING, WE GAVE THEM A PRODUCE BAG AND THEIR FACES JUST LIT UP.

IT WAS, IT WAS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP.

SO I'M GRATEFUL THAT, THAT THE FOOD BANK PARTICIPATED.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET ACTIVE, TO WORK HARD, AND TO GET INVOLVED.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEEO HDA.

OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS NOW.

WE'LL GO INTO

[4. Briefing on the 87th State Legislative Special Sessions. [Jeff Coyle, Assistant City Manager]]

WE'LL START WITH ITEM FOUR.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, I'M JEFF COYLE.

I'M ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND FOR THE TIME BEING THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WITH, UH, THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE HAVING JUST RECENTLY CONCLUDED, AND ANOTHER ONE CALLED ON THE HORIZON.

THE CITY MANAGER THOUGHT IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO, UH, REPORT TO YOU ON WHAT'S HAPPENED DURING THE SESSION, WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE, WHAT POSITIONS WE'VE TAKEN ON BILLS AND AND SO FORTH.

SO I'M GONNA, UH, WORK THROUGH THAT HERE SOMEWHAT QUICKLY, IF WE CAN BRING THE SLIDES UP.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, THIS, UH, SPECIAL, THE, THE, THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION STARTED AUGUST 7TH.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE FIRST SPECIAL THAT TOOK MOST OF THE MONTH OF JULY WAS ESSENTIALLY A WASH, UH, AS A LARGE NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS LEFT, UH, AND WENT TO WASHINGTON, DC AND ULTIMATELY CAUSED, UH, A LACK OF QUORUM IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO, SO NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED IN THE FIRST SESSION.

AND THE GOVERNOR IMMEDIATELY CALLED A SECOND ONE.

AUGUST 7TH, ABOUT MID-AUGUST ENOUGH, UH, DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS JOINED REPUBLICAN MEMBERS IN THE CHAMBERS TO CREATE A QUORUM.

AND THE LEGISLATURE QUICKLY, UH, BEGAN ADDRESSING BILLS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD PUT ON THE CALL.

UH, IT WAS A 17 ITEM AGENDA, UH, MANY OF WHICH WERE CARRY OVER FROM THE FIRST SESSION WITH SOME ADDITIONAL BILLS.

UH, AND I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, THOSE ITEMS. UH, I WANT TO NOTE THE, UH, SO THESE WERE THE 17 ITEMS THAT THE GOVERNOR CALLED THE, UH, THE BLUE CHECKS MARK, UH, BILLS THAT PASSED THAT, THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE SESSION.

UH, THE RED X OBVIOUSLY MEANS IT DID NOT, AND THEN THE BOLDFACED UNDERLINED BILLS ARE THE ONES THAT HAD SOME IMPACT ON THE CITY AND, AND THAT WE ENGAGED IN AS A CITY ORGANIZATION.

UH, BUT JUST SO WE HAVE THE FULL CONTEXT, I'LL QUICKLY GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE.

SO, THE BAIL REFORM BILL ESSENTIALLY REQUIRES CASH BAIL FOR ANYONE ACCUSED OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

IT'S

[00:40:01]

INTENDED TO KEEP THOSE ACCUSED OF A VIOLENT CRIME, UH, OFF THE STREETS.

AND THERE ARE CONCERNS AND CRITICISMS THAT IT WILL AFFECT PEOPLE, UH, WHO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY AND BOND OUT MORE THAN IT WOULD, UH, FOR OTHERS.

UH, NONETHELESS, THAT LEGISLATION PASSED.

UM, THE ELECTION REFORM BILL HAS WAS THE, THE REASON FOR THE, UH, DEPARTURE OF DEMOCRATS TO WASHINGTON, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THAT IN MORE DETAIL IN A SECOND.

THERE WAS A CALL FOR, UH, FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE COVID RESPONSE.

NOTHING PASSED DURING THE SESSION, BUT THERE WERE HEARINGS.

UH, ERIC EPLEY FROM STRAC TESTIFIED.

UH, THIS WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE RECENT DELTA VARIANT SURGE.

UH, AND HE TESTIFIED AS TO THE NEED FOR MORE NURSES AND HOSPITALS.

AND ALTHOUGH A BILL DIDN'T PASS, THE STATE ULTIMATELY, UH, RELENTED AND, AND FUNDED ABOUT 2,500 MORE NURSES, 300 OR SO OF WHICH, UH, CAME HERE.

UNDER THE EDUCATION, UH, FRONT, THERE WAS A, A BILL THAT PASSED THAT ALLOWS, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE VIRTUAL LEARNING AND NOT HAVE THAT COUNTED AGAINST THEM FOR THEIR DAILY ATTENDANCE RATES, WHICH DRIVES STATE FUNDING.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO LET STUDENTS CONTINUE TO LEARN VIRTUALLY AND STILL BE COUNTED.

THERE ARE SOME STRINGS ATTACHED FOR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE, UH, LESS THAN A C GRADE, AND FOR STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T REACH A CERTAIN GRADE ON THEIR, UH, STANDARDIZED TESTING IN THE PRIOR YEAR.

AND SO THERE ARE CONCERNS RAISED THAT, UH, AGAIN, THIS WOULD HURT, UH, STRUGGLING SCHOOLS OR STRUGGLING STUDENTS, UH, MORE THAN OTHERS.

THERE WAS ABOUT $2 BILLION PUT TOWARDS BORDER SECURITY TO ADD ON TO A BILLION PASTOR IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

THE STATE IS SAYING IT'S NOW GONNA TAKE UP THE JOB OF BUILDING A BORDER WALL WITH THAT MONEY.

UH, THERE IS A BILL PASSED THAT, UM, PROHIBITS, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES FROM BANNING, UM, PARTICIPANTS BASED ON THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS.

A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGALITY GIVEN THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE NOT JUST LIMITED TO TEXAS AND FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AS WELL.

BUT NONETHELESS, THAT PASS ARTICLE 10 IS THE SECTION THAT FUNDS, UH, MANY STATE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE AIDS.

UH, THEY WERE DEFUNDED BY THE GOVERNOR, UH, AFTER THE, THE WALKOUT AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SESSION.

AND SO THAT FUNDING WAS RESTORED.

AND THEN, UH, COUNCILMAN PLY HAS ASKED MANY TIMES OUR, OUR I G R CHAIRMAN ABOUT THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION BILL IT PASTOR IN THE REGULAR SESSION, REQUIRING, UH, THAT EDUCATION BE ADDED TO THE CURRICULUM IN HIGH SCHOOLS AROUND FAMILY VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, ET CETERA.

IT WAS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR.

UH, HIS STATED REASON WAS THAT IT DIDN'T ALLOW AN OPT OUT FOR PARENTS WHO DIDN'T WANT THAT AS PART OF THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

AND SO IT WAS THEN PASSED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION WITH THAT OPT-OUT OPTION.

UH, THERE WAS A BILL, UH, AND WILL BE AGAIN IN THIS THIRD SESSION TO TRY TO REQUIRE THAT, UH, HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL ATHLETES, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, CATEGORY THAT CORRESPONDS WITH THEIR GENDER AT BIRTH, UH, THAT DID NOT PASS DURING THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION.

ANOTHER ABORTION BILL.

THIS ONE LIMITS, UH, ABORTION INDUCING PILLS.

AFTER SEVEN WEEKS, A BILL PASSED THAT GIVES A, UH, AN ADDITIONAL CHECK, A 13TH CHECK TO RETIRED TEACHERS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS, UH, THROUGH THE TEXT, UH, TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

UH, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILL ESSENTIALLY RESTRICTS HOW, HOW RACE AND HISTORY ARE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

IT'S A VERY LENGTHY BILL.

UH, WE HAD A, A, A SMALL PART IN IT RELATED TO AN ISSUE THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A SECOND.

UH, ON THE APPROPRIATIONS FRONT, THERE WAS A PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT NOW ALLOWS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS TO GO INTO EFFECT AS SOON AS THE BUYER, UH, APPLIES FOR IT, NOT JANUARY 1ST OF THE COMING YEAR, WHICH IS THE CURRENT LAW.

UH, THERE'S A BILL THAT SAYS, IF, UH, REDISTRICTING IS NOT DONE BY NOVEMBER 15TH, PRIMARY ELECTIONS THIS COMING SPRING WOULD BE PUSHED BACK.

SO WE'LL WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

THERE'S A BILL LIMITING, UH, RADIOACTIVE WASTE, UH, DISPOSAL IN OUR STATE OTHER THAN NUCLEAR OPERATIONS.

AND THEN TWO BILLS FINALLY THAT DIDN'T PASS WERE THE PAID SICK LEAVE PREEMPTION.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOW FAILED THREE STRAIGHT SESSIONS AND MAY COME UP IN THIS THIRD, UH, AS WELL AS A BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE THE LEGISLATIVE QUORUM, UH, SO THAT, UM, THE WALKOUT THAT OCCURRED DURING THE SPECIAL MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

SO, VERY QUICKLY, ITEMS THAT WE ENGAGED IN ON THE CITY'S FRONT, A LOT OF THAT STUFF DID NOT DIRECTLY RELATE TO THE CITY.

AND, AND FOR THE NEW MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL, UH, WE, WE HAVE A COUNCIL APPROVED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UH, THAT WE FOLLOW THAT.

AND THIS IS STILL THE 87TH, UH, LEGISLATURE.

SO WE'RE FOLLOWING THE AGENDA THAT, THAT THE PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVED.

UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY ON THE ELECTION REFORM BILL, I'M SURE YOU'VE READ PLENTY ABOUT IT.

IT, IT, UH, FROM THE AUTHOR, IT IS INTENDED TO MAKE VOTING EASIER AND

[00:45:01]

CHEATING HARDER.

UH, IT HAS A NUMBER OF, UH, RELATIVELY COMMON SENSE RESTRICTIONS.

THE ONES THAT WERE CONTROVERSIAL AND THAT MOST OF THE FIGHTING, UH, WERE AROUND WERE, WERE THE EFFORTS BY COUNTIES, TYPICALLY LARGE COUNTIES, HARRIS COUNTY AND OTHERS, UH, TO EXPAND OPTIONS TO VOTE.

AND SO THE BILL, UH, CRACKED DOWN ON SOME OF THAT.

IT PROHIBITS LOCAL OPTIONS, UH, RELATED TO 24 HOUR VOTING.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE BILL ONLY ALLOWS VOTING BETWEEN 6:00 AM AND 10:00 PM.

IT PROHIBITS DRIVE-THROUGH VOTING.

UM, IT, IT TIGHTENS HOW, UH, BALLOTS CAN BE MAILED OUT.

IT CANNOT BE DONE UNSOLICITED.

UH, AND AS PEOPLE REGISTER TO VOTE, THEIR, UH, THEIR ACTUAL BALLOT, THE INFORMATION ON IT HAS TO MATCH EXACTLY WHAT THEIR VOTER APPLICATION SAID.

AND IN SOME CASES, THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE YEARS OR MAYBE DECADES OLD.

SO THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

IT ALSO STRENGTHENS ACCESS FOR POLL WATCHERS, UH, IN TERMS OF HOW, UH, ELECTION COUNTING CAN BE MONITORED.

UM, WE, UH, OPPOSED THESE BILLS DURING THE, DURING THE SESSIONS, DURING THE REGULAR END SPECIAL IN, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, WHICH OF COURSE RUNS ELECTIONS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

UH, FOR THEM, IT WAS ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS IN THE BILL THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC, ESSENTIALLY UNFUNDED MANDATES, UH, THAT MAY REQUIRE THEM, THEY BELIEVE TO CHANGE, UH, THEIR ENTIRE ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO IMPLEMENT VOTER, UH, VIDEO SURVEILLANCE OF THE BALLOT BOXES THAT ARE LIVE STREAMED AT ALL TIMES.

UH, SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS, UH, IN THAT AREA THAT ARE GONNA BE COSTLY TO THE COUNTY.

UH, THE COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IS, IS ASSESSING THE BILL RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A 76 PAGE BILL.

UH, AND, AND IT'S GONNA BE PRESENTING TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THE IMPLICATIONS HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

UM, BUT WE, WE DID OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION IN, UH, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY ON THE, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILL.

IN GENERAL, IT, IT, IT, AS I MENTIONED, UM, RESTRICTS WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT IN CLASS.

IT, IT PREVENTS TEACHERS FROM BEING FORCED TO DISCUSS CERTAIN TOPICS, UH, REQUIRE CIVICS TRAINING AT SCHOOL CAMPUSES.

BUT THE INTEREST FOR US WAS THERE WAS LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT PROHIBITED, UH, TEACHERS FROM EITHER REQUIRING OR GRANTING CLASS CREDIT TO ANY STUDENT THAT INTERNED FOR A COMPANY OR, OR AN ORGANIZATION THAT LOBBIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR SA WORKS PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT WE'RE A PARTNER TO, AS IS H E B AND U S A, A NUMBER OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS.

THEY DON'T CURRENTLY, UH, AWARD CREDIT, BUT THEY'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND THEY CERTAINLY OFFER INTERNSHIPS AT COMPANIES THAT ENGAGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

AND SO WE WORKED WITH H E B AND OTHERS MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION, PARTICULARLY REPRESENTATIVE DIEGO BERNAL, AND ULTIMATELY, UH, SUCCEEDED IN GETTING AN AMENDMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THAT ADDRESSED THAT.

THE LANGUAGE NOW SAYS THEY CAN'T BE REQUIRED BY THEIR TEACHER TO LOBBY OR ADVOCATE.

THAT CAN'T BE THE DIRECTIVE FROM THE EDUCATOR THAT YOU MUST GO TAKE A POSITION ON A CERTAIN ISSUE ON THE PAID SICK LEAVE BILL.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, WELL, THE COURTS HAVE, UH, LONG SINCE, UH, RULED CONSISTENTLY ON THIS ISSUE THAT, THAT PAID SICK LEAVE ORDINANCES VIOLATE, UM, THE MINIMUM WAGE ACT AND, AND WAGE LAWS IN THE STATE.

UM, SO WE DID NOT ENGAGE ON THE, THE GENERAL PREMISE OF THE BILL, BUT THERE WAS LANGUAGE THAT CAME OUT OF THIS BILL THAT HAD BEEN IN THE REGULAR SESSION BILL, UH, THAT CREATED A PROBLEM FOR US.

SPECIFICALLY, THE BILL SAYS, UH, YOU CANNOT REGULATE EMPLOYMENT ABOVE AND BEYOND STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

AND THE REGULAR SESSION HAD A BILL THAT SAID, THIS DOES NOT LIMIT AN EMPLOYER'S ABILITY TO ESTABLISH CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR ITS OWN EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT LANGUAGE, UH, SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED.

UH, AND SO WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.

THERE'S NO STATE AND FEDERAL LAW THAT REQUIRES DRUG TESTING, BACKGROUND CHECKS, CERTIFICATIONS FOR OUR MUNICIPAL COURT CLERKS, UH, EVEN EVEN ISSUES AROUND, UH, MASKING AND VACCINES AND SO FORTH, WHICH AT THIS POINT HAVE NOT BEEN A REQUIREMENT.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS WOULD'VE BEEN PREEMPTED BY THAT LANGUAGE.

SO WE WORKED WITH THE SENATE, UH, SPONSOR.

THEY HALFWAY FIXED IT FOR US.

AND THE LANGUAGE REFERRED ONLY TO NEGOTIATING, WHICH WITH EMPLOYEES, WHICH WE INTERPRETED TO MEAN ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY, UNIFORMED EMPLOYEES.

FINALLY, ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, IT WAS MADE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT THIS DOES NOT AFFECT AN EMPLOYER'S ABILITY TO REGULATE OR, OR HAVE CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR ITS OWN EMPLOYEES.

AFTER ALL OF THAT, UNRELATED TO OUR EFFORTS, THE BILL WAS KILLED ON A POINT OF ORDER.

UH, AND SO ONCE AGAIN, PAID SICK LEAVE HAS NOT BEEN CODIFIED IN STATE LAW.

IT REMAINS GOVERNED BY, UH, UH, THE COURTS.

SO, UM, JUST THIS WEEK, THE

[00:50:01]

GOVERNOR CALLED A THIRD SPECIAL SESSION TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 20TH.

THIS IS THE SESSION THAT WE KNEW ALL ALONG WOULD COME MOSTLY BECAUSE DATA FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU TO REDISTRICT, UH, AT BOTH THE STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, UH, HAS MUCH DELAYED BECAUSE OF COVID.

AND SO THE SPECIAL SESSION HAS THESE ITEMS ON IT FOR NOW REDISTRICTING, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.

UH, THE APPROPRIATING OF ABOUT $16 BILLION IN FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS THAT THE STATE IS SITTING ON AT THIS POINT.

UM, LEGISLATORS IN THE HOUSE HAD PUT A REQUIREMENT IN THE BUDGET BILL DURING THE REGULAR SESSION THAT SAID, THE LEGISLATURE MUST RULE ON HOW THIS MONEY IS SPENT SO THAT THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T HAVE SOLE AUTHORITY OVER IT.

THAT LANGUAGE EVENTUALLY WAS EVENTUALLY STRUCK, BUT THE GOVERNOR MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A SAY IN HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE GONNA BE APPROPRIATED.

SO WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, METRO HEALTH, IT, UH, TO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT WE MIGHT SEEK STATE FUNDING, ALL WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THE ATTITUDE OF MANY OF STATE LEADERS IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED, UH, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY DIRECTLY.

UH, AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC ABOUT THE AREAS THAT WE, UH, THAT WE PURSUE FURTHER STATE SUPPORT.

UH, THE GOVERNOR'S CALLED FOR THE QUESTION OF, UH, VACCINE MANDATES TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATURE, WHETHER THAT IS LAWFUL OR NOT GOING FORWARD.

THE TRANSGENDER STUDENT ATHLETES BILL IS BACK ON IT.

AND THEN THIS UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF A DOG BILL, UH, IS A BILL THAT WE SUPPORTED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT ESSENTIALLY MAKES A STATE LAW THAT MIRRORS OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR TETHERING AND PROVIDING, UH, SHADE AND WATER AND SO FORTH FOR ANIMALS.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT, RECEIVED A VERY HEAVY AMOUNT OF CRITICISM, UH, FOR CALLING IT, MICROMANAGING THE LIVES OF, OF PETS AND PET OWNERS, AND HAS SINCE PUT THIS BACK IN THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION TO BE RECONSIDERED, UH, AT BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 20TH.

THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS HAS VARIED OVER THE YEARS.

UH, TEXAS HAS A PRETTY, PRETTY SORTED HISTORY, FRANKLY, OF REDISTRICTING.

THE, THE 20 20 20 REDISTRICTING WAS TIED UP IN THE COURTS FOR MANY YEARS, MANY LAWSUITS.

ULTIMATELY, THE FEDERAL COURTS REDREW SEVERAL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING ONE, UH, SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT.

UM, AND OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN DELAYED NATIONWIDE BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED DATA COMING FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.

BUT THE REGULAR STATE IS THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD DRAW THE DISTRICTS, UH, DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, AND IF THEY FAIL TO A LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING BOARD THAT INCLUDES THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, UH, COMPTROLLER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD MEET AND ADOPT A PLAN.

OF COURSE, NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

UH, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER THE REGULAR SESSION.

IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO A SPECIAL SESSION TO REDISTRICT.

AND SO, ALREADY AS A FIRST, UH, AS A FIRST, UH, SHOT HERE, UM, TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS, INCLUDING ROLAND GUTIERREZ FROM OUR COMMUNITY, HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT SAYING, WAIT A SECOND.

REDISTRICTING IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE HANDLED IN SPECIAL SESSION BY, UM, BY THE CONSTITUTION.

SO WE THINK THE COURT SHOULD DO IT.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

BUT, UH, AT THIS POINT, THE, THE LEGISLATURE IS SHAPING UP TO REDISTRICT DURING THIS THIRD SESSION.

UH, THEY, THEY NOT ONLY DRAW HOUSE SEATS, THEY DRAW THE US CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, TEXAS IS A, IS A WINNER IN THIS CENSUS GROWTH.

HERE WE'RE SET TO GAIN TWO NEW, UH, SEATS IN CONGRESS.

THE ONLY STATE THAT IS GETTING TWO MORE SEATS, SEVERAL OTHERS ARE GETTING ONE.

UH, AND I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL PROCESS DOES ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR A SPECIAL SESSION, UH, REDRAWING OF THE BOUNDARIES.

UH, SO THE TIMELINE FROM HERE IS THAT THE, THE, UH, HIGH LEVEL CENSUS DATA WAS DELIVERED TO THE STATE, UH, ON AUGUST 12TH.

UH, THEY'RE BEGINNING TO LOAD IT INTO THEIR STATE SYSTEM.

AND, AND IT'S THAT SAME SYSTEM THAT WE DRAW THE, THE DATA DOWN TO BE ABLE TO REDISTRICT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

UH, THE LEGISLATURE BEGINS MEETING DRAWING MAPS.

THEY POST AND RELEASE MAPS FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THEIR PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, TO, TO PRO PROVIDE INPUT.

UH, AND THEN ULTIMATELY, IF ALL WORKS OUT WELL, THEY, UH, THEY APPROVE MAPS.

UH, THE FILING DEADLINE FOR THE PRIMARIES IN MARCH IS DECEMBER 13TH.

SO THAT BILL THAT I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO SAYS THAT THE LEGISLATURE MUST HAVE REDRAWN THE MAPS BY NOVEMBER 15TH TO ALLOW CANDIDATES TO FILE FOR THE NEWLY DRAWN SEATS.

UH, AND IF NOT, IT PUSHES IT BACK.

SO, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A HIGHLY PARTISAN, HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, AND, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN GET IT DONE BY MID-NOVEMBER REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

UH, SO WITH THAT, I WILL, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[00:55:02]

THANK YOU, JEFF.

UM, I REALIZE YOU HAVE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK IN TRYING TO DESCRIBE ANY KIND OF LEGISLATIVE LOGIC IN WHAT WE JUST SAW OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS.

UM, HOW YOU SET BACK A STATE, UH, A FULL GENERATION IN 30 DAYS OR LESS IS HOW I WOULD TITLE YOUR PRO YOUR PRESENTATION.

BUT WE DO HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

SO LET ME GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER GRO.

OH, UM, ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE GET TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION, LEMME CALL UP, UH, JACK FINGER, UH, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER REGARDING YOUR, YOUR REPORT ON THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, OBSERVING THE PRESENTATION MADE HERE JUST NOW BY MR. COYLE.

AND THE, UH, THE ITEMS THAT, UH, YOU WERE LOOKING AT REGA THAT THE LEGISLATURE WAS DISCUSSING IN HIS LAST SPECIAL SESSION HERE, AMONG THE ITEMS THAT, UH, YOU, THE COUNCIL HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE PAST ARE ELECTION REFORMS AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

UH, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, I AND OTHERS HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BEAR COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HEADED UP BY MRS. JACQUELINE CALLANAN.

WE HAVE TOLD YOU HOW MS. CALLANAN HAS QUITE FRANKLY, ABUSED THE SYSTEM.

SHE HAS FREQUENTLY, FREQUENTLY STOPPED POLL WATCHERS FROM DOING THEIR JOBS, NOT JUST ONCE, NOT JUST A FEW TIMES, BUT YEARS OF IT.

WE HAVE TOLD YOU THESE FACTS.

YOU ARE LEADERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.

NOT ONLY HAVE YOU TURNED A DEAF EAR TO US IN THAT REGARD, YOU'VE ACTUALLY SIDED WITH MS. CALLANAN IN PRESENTING HER CASE THAT DIRECTION TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE WHEN IT CAME TO ELECTION REFORMS. THANK GOD THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY DID GO AHEAD AND REFORM THINGS IN OPPOSITION TO TWO YOUR SUGGESTIONS.

WE THANK THE, I THANK THE LEGISLATURE FOR, FOR, YES.

FOR, FOR, FOR WELL, MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE BAD GUYS TO CHEAT IN OUR SYSTEM.

YES, I DO.

AND I MEAN, 24 HOUR VOTING, I'M SORRY.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EIGHT TO FIVE OR EIGHT TO EIGHT VOTING DAY BY DAY DURING EARLY ELECTION VOTING PERIODS? I MEAN, COME ON.

COMMON SENSE STUFF.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THE IDEA THAT THAT, THAT SAYS THAT ANYONE WITH A WHITE COLORED SKIN IS AUTOMATICALLY A RACIST.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S HOGWASH.

AND, AND YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL INDIRECTLY HAVE BEEN SAY, SAYING, GO AHEAD AND, AND TEACH THAT, THAT THOSE DEFECTIVE THEORIES, THANK GOD THAT THE, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE FOUGHT AGAINST THAT.

I ALSO TH THANK THE, THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS, UH, SIGNING THE PRO-LIFE BILL.

JACK FINGER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO.

JEFF, IF YOU CAN COME UP, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, UM, ABOUT ELECTION REFORM.

I, AS YOU KNOW, I HA WE HAVE THE SOUTHERN SECTOR HAS AN ELECTION COMING UP, UH, SEPTEMBER 28TH.

DOES THE RE DO THE REFORMS THAT WERE JUST PASSED AND SIGNED, ARE THEY GOING TO IMPACT THAT SPECIAL ELECTION? NO.

AND, AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT, UH, TWO THINGS.

THE ELECTION REFORMS, UH, DON'T TAKE EFFECT FOR 90 DAYS.

SO, UM, THE SPECIAL SESSION, AND YOU SAID THE DATE, I FORGOT IT, IT WAS JUST SEPTEMBER 28TH.

AND THAT WAS THE OTHER PIECE I WANTED TO MENTION IS THAT THE, THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE SEA CURRENTLY HELD BY REPRESENTATIVE LEO PACHECO WAS CALLED YESTERDAY, I THINK, BY THE GOVERNOR.

MM-HMM.

SO THAT'S THE ONE YOU'RE MENTIONING.

SO IT SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS BILL.

SITES AND SECURITY HAD TO COME OUT, THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEACE WAS KEPT.

AND I DO WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST THE COUNTY BECAUSE, UH, AFTER COMING OUT OF CITY ELECTIONS, I KNOW THAT THE COST AND, UH, THESE REFORMS ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR BUDGETS.

UH, WE HAD A ELECTION THAT HAD A LOT OF POLL WATCHERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING THE POLL

[01:00:01]

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE, WE KEEP TRACK OF THE COST WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL RELIEF APPROPRIATIONS.

I KNOW NATIONWIDE STATES HAVE NOT SPENT THE MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN THEM SPECIFICALLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PROGRESS ON WHERE OUR STATE IS AT THAT AT THAT POINT? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T SEE LORI HERE TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE STATE STANDS.

I WILL SAY THAT LORI HAS, UM, COMMUNICATED TO US THAT WE'VE HAD A, A GOOD WORKING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THEY, THEY, UH, THEY HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OUR PROGRAM, UH, ALL ALONG.

AND SO THAT'S AN OBVIOUS AREA FOR US TO FOCUS ON, UH, FOR, FOR CONTINUED FUNDING OF THOSE PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN, UH, EXTEND BENEFITS AS NEEDED.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE, THE STATE STANDS RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF ITS HOUSING PROGRAM.

SHOULD BE BETTER TO ANSWER.

THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO WANNA TALK OFFLINE ABOUT THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND HOW THAT, UH, IMPACTS SOME OF THE THINGS OUR OFFICE OF, UH, IN OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND, UM, THE, AND I WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION OPT OUT, UM, BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR WOULD PREVENT ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE OR PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS, THIS WAS MEANT FOR.

UM, SO THAT'S, UH, MY OTHER SET OF QUESTIONS ARE FOR OUR THIRD SESSION.

DO WE HAVE A TIMELINE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY HAVE, AND, AND HAVE WE TALKED TO THE CHAMBERS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IN OUR, OUR ASKS FOR REDISTRICTING AND ARPA FUNDING FOR THIS THIRD SESSION? NO.

UM, WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING IT ALL ALONG.

AND OUR GENERAL MESSAGE IS THAT WE WANT THE DISTRICTS TO BE REDRAWN FAIRLY THAT REPRESENT THE, UH, UH, RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA HAS TESTIFIED AT SOME OF THE PRIOR REDISTRICTING HEARINGS, BUT I THINK UNTIL THERE ARE MAPS TO LOOK AT AND UNDERSTAND HOW IT AFFECTS US, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO, IT'S HARD TO STAKE OUT OUR POSITION.

UM, I, I ALSO, UH, THE, THE BIGGEST POPULATION GROWTH HASN'T BEEN IN THIS AREA NECESSARILY.

THE, THE DISTRICTS THAT MAY GET REDRAWN, I THINK WILL BE IN CENTRAL TEXAS AND PERHAPS SOME OTHER AREAS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A, IT'S A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ULTIMATELY, UH, DECIDE.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE MAPS LOOK LIKE AND, AND BE ABLE TO TAKE A POSITION THEN.

UH, AND, AND THE ONE THING, AND I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO WORK WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, IS WHEN WE DO REDISTRICT, IT DOES IMPACT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE HEALTH INEQUITIES THAT WE HAVE AND OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CHAMBERS AND THE OTHER, UH, ORG ENTITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CITY, THAT WE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, ESPECIALLY FOR US IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, WHICH HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ZONING.

SO THAT'S JUST MY TAKEAWAY FROM THERE.

JUST, UH, UH, JUST TO REPLY TO ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN BROUGHT UP, UH, ACTUALLY ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA, WE'LL BE ACCEPTING A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM T D H C A, SPECIFICALLY FROM MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.

AND SO, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OR THREE TIMES WHERE THE STATE WILL FACILITATE FUNDS THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

BUT, UH, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE THAT ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRA AND COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK SALLY AND, UH, JEFF FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK THIS SEASON.

UM, AND ESPECIALLY JEFF FOR HIS SUPPORT, UH, FOR TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND MYSELF.

WHEN WE, UH, WENT UP TO, TO AUSTIN, WE'D HEARD ABOUT THAT LANGUAGE BEING EXCLUDED FROM SSB 14.

UH, ONCE THE SPECIAL SESSION STARTED, LIKE, YOU'RE CORRECT, IT WAS MYSTERIOUSLY EXCLUDED AND WE FELT IT WAS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT TO, TO GET THAT LANGUAGE BACK IN.

AND THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT SENATE BILL 14, NO MATTER WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS IN IT WAS AN ANTI-WORKER BILL.

AND I'M DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS WAS SUPPORTED IN THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, A BILL THAT WOULD'VE WORKED TO UNDO REQUIRED WATER BREAKS FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

IT WOULD TIE THE HANDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO, UH, INSERT PROTECTIONS IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC LIKE C OVID

[01:05:01]

19.

UM, BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ALWAYS DO MORE.

UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ATTACK OF ON TEACHERS THROUGH THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILL, UM, WE SEE THAT THERE'S A GAP THAT WE NEED TO FILL AS A CITY.

UM, AND THAT'S INVESTING IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE TO FILL THAT GAP, UM, THAT TEACHERS CAN NO LONGER, UM, TEACH CULTURALLY RELEVANT PEDAGOGY.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ATTACKED, I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CASH APP TO BUCKLE BUNNIES THAT PRE, UH, PROVIDES A, A MUTUAL AID ABORTION FUND TO CONNECT WOMEN TO RESOURCES AND MATERIAL TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE SAFE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

UM, I'LL START OFF BY SAYING THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS A DISASTER.

UM, IT WAS AN ATTACK ON EDUCATION.

AND ANYONE WHO SAYS THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS NOT TAUGHT IN, WAS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS OR ANY TEACHERS WHO WOULD FIX THEIR MOUTHS TO SAY THAT IT WAS, IS A LIE.

IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO ERASE THE ROLE THAT RACE HAS PLAYED IN OUR COUNTRY'S FOUNDING AND THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE.

UM, IT'S AN ATTACK ON VOTERS' RIGHTS.

AND I THINK IF ANYTHING IS PROOF THAT YOUR VOTE MATTERS, IT IS THE FACT THAT THEY'RE TRYING SO HARD TO PREVENT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM VOTING.

IT'S AN ATTACK ON THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND BODILY AUTONOMY.

IT'S AN ATTACK ON BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

IT'S AN ATTACK ON SENIORS AND ON THE WORKING CLASS, AN ATTACK ON MUNICIPALITIES, UHMI, MUNICIPALITY'S ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND AN ATTACK ON OUR VALUES AS A COMPASSIONATE CITY TO EVERY PERSON WHO HAS SEEN THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR IDENTITY, AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD ATTACKED DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

JUST KNOW THAT I'M WITH YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF JEFF, IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS MORE, OR MAYBE ERIC, BECAUSE, UH, I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

UH, I, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE CITY COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD ON OUR OWN INTERNAL COUNCIL REDISTRICTING UNTIL AFTER ALL OF THE OTHER STATE REDISTRICTING IS ACCOMPLISHED.

IS, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? UH, COUNCILMAN, I'M GONNA HAVE LIZ JUMP IN BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A, UH, A, A SCHEDULED BRIEFING FOR THE COUNCIL.

IT'S EITHER AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER OR BEGINNING OF OCTOBER ON OUR OWN REDISTRICTING.

LIZ, THANK YOU ERIC.

YES, COUNCILMAN, WE SENT A, A MEMO TO YOUR OFFICE A COUPLE DAYS AGO JUST TO GIVE A SORT OF BRIEF GLIMPSE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH REDISTRICTING.

THE SHORT OF IT IS THAT THE PROCESSES CAN OCCUR CONCURRENTLY, SO WE'LL BE PROCEEDING.

AND SO, AS ERIC MENTIONED, WE WILL HAVE A FULL BRIEFING FOR YOU AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER TO WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS SPECIFICALLY.

UM, BUT YOU SHOULD FIND A MEMO FROM ANDY, UM, IN YOUR EMAIL THAT REFLECTS WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN TERMS OF PREPARATION.

AND THEN WE CAN SORT OF, UM, ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ONCE WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER ON THE TOPIC.

WELL, I PRESUME PART OF THE REDISTRICTING IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PRECINCT LINES, RIGHT? AND I THINK THE COUNTY REDRAWS ITS PRECINCT LINES, AND IT PROBABLY WILL NOT DO THAT UNTIL THERE'S MORE STATE, UH, REGULATION ON THAT BECAUSE THE STATE AND, AND, UM, NATIONAL ELECTED OFFICIALS GO BY PRECINCT LINES.

SO I, I'M JUST CONCERNED THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY, VERY LONG DELAYED PROCESS, EVEN FOR THE CITY.

SO, UH, I HOPE THAT WE CAN BE KEPT AS INFORMED AS POSSIBLE ON THIS.

AND, UH, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING 10 COUNCIL DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW, BUT MAYOR, I HOPE WE'RE ALSO GONNA CONSIDER MAYBE DOING 12 COUNCIL DISTRICTS BEFORE TOO LONG.

BUT ANYWAY, THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

WORKS IS AS THE SESSION ENDS, UH, THE, THE REGULAR SESSION, AND AS THE SPECIAL SESSIONS UNFOLD, UH, JEFF AND HIS TEAM GO UP TO AUSTIN AND THEY STAY UP ALL NIGHT LONG, UM, FOR WEEKS ON END AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELIAS.

THANKS, MAYOR.

UM, I, LESS ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE AND, AND MORE ABOUT THE, UM, THE PERSONNEL, UH, THAT WE HAVE ON THE GROUND HERE.

UM, I'M, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT PERSONNEL IS POLICY.

UH, AND TO THAT, TO THAT END, I, I, I THINK WE'VE GOT VERY, VERY SHARP PEOPLE, UM, WHO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, JEFF, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, BOTH ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL SIDE, NEVER CEASE TO IMPRESS, UH, IN YOUR ABILITY TO, UH, TO JUST STAY UP LATE AND TO MOVE ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THE, THE WAY THIS

[01:10:01]

AND, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT A SINGLE ISSUE ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS FORGOTTEN, AND THEY'RE THERE COORDINATING MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS WHO WOULD PROBABLY RATHER NOT BE MEETING WITH US.

UH, AND SOMEHOW YOU GUYS STILL MANAGED TO GET IN THE ROOM WITH, UH, DECISION MAKERS, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM OTHER, FROM OTHER PARTS OF TEXAS TO PUSH OUR INITIATIVES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT SAN ANTONIO IS NOT BEING LEFT BEHIND.

UH, JEFF, AND, UM, AND SALLY AND CHRISTINE AND THE REST OF YOU GUYS, YOU HAVE MY RESPECT AND MY GRATITUDE FOR, FOR POURING ALL OF YOURSELVES INTO THIS.

MAYOR.

THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR, UH, PRESENTING TO US FOR THE, FOR THE 87TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

UM, BACK IN 1997, I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AND I, I WORKED AT THE STATE SENATE FOR THE 75TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I WAS A SENATE MESSENGER, AND SO IT WAS ESSENTIALLY LIKE I WAS A SENATE ERRAND BOY, ESSENTIALLY.

UM, BUT IF YOU MEMORIZED ALL OF THE NAMES OF THE SENATORS AND COULD RECOGNIZE THEM ON SITE, THEN YOU COULD WORK THE SENATE FLOOR AND YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY, YOU THERE, THERE WERE HARDLY ANY ERRANDS TO RUN THERE, SO YOU ACTUALLY GOT PAID TO SIT THERE AND, AND JUST WATCH THE SENATE DELIBERATE.

AND IT, IT WAS A COMPLETE CLOWN SHOW.

AND AS I WATCHED, I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE SEEDS WERE PLANTED FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE ONE DAY, BECAUSE I JUST LOOKED AT THESE PEOPLE AND I THOUGHT, WOW, THESE, THESE CAN'T BE OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

LIKE, I'M SURELY, I'M NOT THE SMARTEST PERSON, I'M NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON TO SERVE IN OFFICE, BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT I COULD DO BETTER THAN THESE PEOPLE, UM, FOR SO MANY OF 'EM ANYWAY.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, JEFF, WHEN YOU SHOW US WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WAS AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE SO FAR, I MEAN, IT'S, I SEE NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED.

AND, UH, ON A WHOLE, THEY'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR STATE.

AND, YOU KNOW, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS A COUNTY JUDGE, AND, UH, BACK IN THE 1940S, COUNTY JUDGES WERE ALSO THE ELECTION JUDGES.

THEY HAD A LOT OF CONTROL OVER ELECTIONS.

AND MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE COUNTY JUDGES IN SOUTH TEXAS WHO STUFFED THE BALLOT BOX FOR L B J.

AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK BACK AT THIS AND I THINK ABOUT HOW EVER SINCE WE'VE HAD THE VERY FIRST ELECTION, PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO STEAL ELECTIONS.

PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO CHEAT ON ELECTIONS, AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, THAT, THAT THEY ARE TRANSPARENT, THAT THEY INSTILL TRUST IN OUR GOVERNMENT.

AND THESE EFFORTS AT WHAT ARE CALLED ELECTION REFORM, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT DO THAT.

THEY'RE OPPRESSIVE.

UM, AND SO I'M JUST, I WANT, I'M REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR AND THAT THEY ARE TRANSPARENT.

BUT THIS IS, THIS IS MISGUIDED.

WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, WHAT OUR STATE LEGISLATURE'S DOING NOW.

AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AIMED AT SUPPRESSING THE VOTE.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO, JUST TO GO BACK TO, TO THE, ON WHOLE WHAT OUR LEGISLATURE'S DOING, I, I'VE, I HAVE CONCERNS WHEN I LOOK AT HUMANITY AND I THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY FASTER THAN WE WERE, BE BECOMING CIVILIZED AS A SPECIES.

AND WHAT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS, IS GIVING ME MORE CONCERN, , THAT, THAT THAT'S THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE TO, TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND, UM, AND A HUGE PART OF IT, I BELIEVE, IS THAT IT'S WITH NO CAMPAIGN FINANCE, NO, NO CAMPAIGN FINANCE, UH, OR CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S JUST LEGALIZED CORRUPTION.

AND I THINK AT ITS CORE, THAT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE TO OVERCOME.

I ALSO WANT TO PREVIEW JEFF, THAT, UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT C P S ENERGY HAS FIVE, UM, MEMBERS ON THE BOARD FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

WE HAVE THE MAYOR, AND THEN WE HAVE FOUR APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS, AND THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LIMITED TO THAT BY STATE LAW, BUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE

[01:15:01]

STATE LEGISLATURE AND ASK THEM TO EXPAND THAT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL BE, UM, PROPOSING IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO I JUST WANNA PREVIEW THAT, THAT I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE CHANGED STATE LAW TO, UM, EXPAND FROM FIVE BOARD MEMBERS AT SAWS TO SEVEN, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY INTERESTED IN DOING WITH C P S ENERGY.

I THINK THAT WE NEED, YOU KNOW, SOON WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER, UM, NOMINEE THAT'S GONNA BE BROUGHT BEFORE US TO VOTE ON.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED MORE DIVERSITY, NOT JUST IN GENDER AND RACE, BUT DIVERSITY IN BACKGROUNDS AND, UH, MORE, MORE TALENTED PEOPLE OVER THERE WHO CAN ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS AND, AND SET A VISION FOR US.

UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, APOLOGIES FOR CHIMING BACK IN, UH, BUT I WAS, UH, I WAS JUST REMINDED OF A CONVERSATION THAT, UH, THAT I HAD WITH ERIC AFTER THAT TRIP THAT COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND I TOOK TO AUSTIN.

SO I, WE ADOPTED OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED, OR AT THE START OF THE SESSION, AND, UH, AND PROGRESSED WITH THAT.

UH, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE GOING INTO A SPECIAL, UH, A SECOND SPECIAL SESSION, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA LOOK LIKE NOW? AND IS THIS, UH, CONVERSATION TODAY OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REFINE IT OR UPDATE IT BASED ON, UH, THE AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN SET BY, BY THE GOVERNOR? SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL POSE THAT QUESTION TO, TO THE STAFF.

UM, COUNCILMAN, LEMME MAKE SURE I GOT YOUR QUESTION RIGHT.

WE, IN TERMS OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA GOING INTO THE THIRD SPECIAL YES.

I APOLOGIZE FOR LOSING TRACK OF WHAT NUMBER SPECIAL SESSION WE'RE ON.

SO, UM, MOST OF THE SPECIFIC ITEMS IN OUR AGENDA ARE NOT IN THE GOVERNOR'S CALL.

UM, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, UM, THESE ARE, THESE, THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN POSED IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION ARE PRIORITIES OF, UH, THE GOVERNOR, OFTEN PRIORITIES OF THE, UM, OF CONSERVATIVE INTERESTS AT THE CAPITOL.

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY ITEMS THAT WE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED, BUT WE DO HAVE, UH, SORT OF CATCH ALL LANGUAGE IN OUR PROGRAM THAT WE REALLY RELY ON, ON A LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT END UP GETTING FILED EACH SESSION SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE UP THERE TO PROTECT THE LOCAL DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY OF THIS COUNCIL.

SO WHEN THE STATE IS TRYING TO TAKE AUTHORITY AWAY FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DICTATE FROM A STATE LEVEL, WE, WE OPPOSE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

IF IT HURTS OUR OPERATIONS IN SOME WAY, UM, OR CONFLICTS WITH AN ORDINANCE, WE HAVE THAT, THAT ANIMAL, UH, BILL IS ONE THAT ALIGNS WITH AN ORDINANCE WE HAVE.

SO THAT'S THE TYPE OF THING WE WOULD SUPPORT.

AND THEN FINALLY, IF IT COSTS US, UH, MONEY, UH, IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT THE STATE IT, YOU KNOW, REQUIRES US TO DO SOMETHING BUT DOESN'T FUND, WE WILL GENERALLY OPPOSE THOSE THINGS.

UM, WE ALSO THEN HAVE A LIST OF OUR PARTNERS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WHO, WHO DEVELOP THEIR OWN LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS THROUGH THEIR OWN LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND ARE ACTIVE UP THERE AT THE CAPITOL.

AND WE PLEDGE TO WORK WITH THEM AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR POSITIONS SO LONG AS IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH OURS.

ALL THAT SAID, THERE'S ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION, ROOM FOR DIALOGUE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE I G R COMMITTEE IS FOR.

AND OUR REGULAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE I G R COMMITTEE ABOUT THE POSITIONS WE'RE RECOMMENDING AND THE ACTIONS WE'RE TAKING AND SO FORTH.

DID, DID THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION? YES.

THAT'S WHY I DO WISH I WERE ON THE I G R COMMITTEE, BUT I'M NOT , SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU AND, AND THE, THE STAFF ON THIS.

SO, UM, A A COUPLE OF THINGS I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE WERE ABLE TO REVISIT ONCE THE ITEMS FOR THE NEXT SPECIAL SESSION WERE, ARE FINALIZED AND, AND ANNOUNCED.

UM, SO I, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE THIS CATCHALL LANGUAGE.

I STILL THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SUBJECTIVITY AND INTERPRETATION IN THAT.

SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A VERY CLEAR DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT OUR POSITIONS, UH, WILL BE ON THE ITEMS THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR THE NEXT SPECIAL SESSION ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

SECONDLY, I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, UH, BEFORE, BUT I'M GOING TO, UH, MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION AGAIN.

WE DO HAVE, UH, A LONG LIST OF GREAT PARTNERS THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, UH, FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME, INCLUDING, UH, MANY OF THE CHAMBERS, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

OFTEN OUR POSITIONS DO

[01:20:01]

OVERLAP.

UH, AT TIMES, THOUGH, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO SEEK ANOTHER, UM, ANOTHER SELECTION OF PARTNERS FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT PERHAPS THE CHAMBERS AND, AND, UH, MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN, OR THAT WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON.

UH, IN PARTICULAR, A WHILE BACK, I THINK I HAD MENTIONED CONVENING, UH, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

UM, SO I, I'D LIKE FOR US, UH, AGAIN, I'M, I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT BEFORE THIS SPECIAL SESSION, ONCE WE IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE, THAT WE DO ANOTHER REVIEW OF THE LANDSCAPE AND IDENTIFY THE MOST APPROPRIATE PARTNERS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BE MOST SUCCESSFUL ON THOSE ITEMS. AND SO THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SIMILAR VALUES TO OURS, UH, CAN ALSO BE SUCCESSFUL IN, IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE, UH, SPECIAL SESSION.

SO, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN.

I'LL JUST, UH, RESPOND THAT FOR FORTUITOUSLY, WE HAVE A RESCHEDULED I G R MEETING, SEPTEMBER 17TH, WHICH IS THREE DAYS BEFORE THE THIRD.

UH, IT, WITH THE, WITH THE CHAIRMAN'S, UH, APPROVAL, WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ITEMS ON THE GOVERNOR'S CALL THERE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE CLEAR AT THE STAFF LEVEL, UM, WHERE WE ARE ON ALL THESE THINGS.

I, I DO ALSO WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT, UH, IF I WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH, I, I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE, ON THE SB 14, THE PAID SICK LEAVE BILL, WE DID NOT SUPPORT THE BILL.

UM, WHAT WE DID WAS NOT OPPOSE THE BILL, GIVEN THE COURT RULINGS CONSISTENTLY AT THE, AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND THEN AT THE APPELLATE LEVEL, AND THE SUPREME COURT FAILING TO TAKE IT UP, CHOOSING NOT TO TAKE IT UP.

WE DIDN'T, UH, WE DIDN'T FIGHT SOMETHING THAT THE COURTS HAVE SAID WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO.

WHAT WE DID DO WAS TRY, WAS FIX THE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT HAD SOME OTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR US AS A, AS AN ORGANIZATION AND AN EMPLOYER.

UM, AND, AND THOSE ARE THE JUDGEMENTS THAT WE ULTIMATELY MAKE.

AND, AND DURING A REGULAR SESSION, WE'RE IN FRONT OF YOU EVERY WEEK TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO, UH, YOU KNOW, MISDIRECTION FOR US AS A STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANTS UP THERE AT THE CAPITOL.

COUNCIL MEMBER PAL.

JUMP JUMPING IN AGAIN.

UM, TWO THINGS.

ONE IS WE, UM, JEFF, YES, YES, YES.

LET'S HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SPECIAL SESSION, UH, COME, UM, AT THE NEXT, THE NEXT I G R COMMITTEE MEETING.

UH, THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

TWO, UM, I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THESE LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS DON'T, UH, GET FORMED IN A VACUUM.

THEY'RE, UH, DEBATED AND, UH, FLESHED OUT AT B SESSIONS AT COMMITTEE, AND THEN AT A SESSION, AND THEN LATER, AND THEN LATER AFTER TWEAKING, AND AFTER GETTING ALL OF THE, UH, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY'RE READJUSTED, UH, AND THEN ISSUED TO US FOR A VOTE.

UM, IT'S CITY COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

IT'S, IT'S NOT JEFF'S LEG LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE APPROACH THIS SPECIAL SESSION, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA FOR US TO, UM, REANALYZE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND ADDRESS IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE THIS NON-EXISTENT PROBLEM OF TRANSGENDERED KIDS IN SPORTS, RIGHT? UM, GOVERNOR ABBOTT CONTINUES TO INVENT NEW WAYS TO BE CRUEL TO PEOPLE.

UM, AND I, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY SPECIFIC IN OUR NEXT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT'S, UM, I, I, I THINK WE'RE A CITY OF COMPASSION, AND I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY LEGISLATION THAT GOES TOWARDS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS IS SOMETHING THAT WE, UH, SHOULD NOT, YOU KNOW, SEED IN THE DEBATE.

SO I, I'M ALL FOR THAT.

UM, THE SECOND THING IS, UM, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WENT TO AUSTIN, UM, TO SPEAK ON SSB 14.

BUT WHAT I, WHAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THEY BOTH WENT TO AUSTIN.

UM, THERE IS A LONG TRADITION OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO GO TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY.

MY REQUEST, JEFF, IS THAT DURING THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT YOU RECRUIT FROM THIS COUNCIL, UM, MEMBERS TO GO UP TO AUSTIN AND TO GO ADVOCATE AT THESE HEARINGS, THAT'S ONE OF OUR JOBS.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE US OUT THERE FIGHTING FOR THEM AND, UM, IN AUSTIN AND IN DC.

AND SO, UM, UH, I, I HAVE A FEELING THAT NONE OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL TURN DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO SPEAK ON TOPICS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO 'EM AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE FOR OUR, OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

SO ANYWAY, THANKS JEFF.

[01:25:01]

UH, AND AGAIN, GOOD JOB.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALAS.

UH, YESTERDAY WE HAD A SPEAKER WHO MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT, RIGHT? SHE MENTIONED USING OUR, HAVING A VOTER'S HOLIDAY.

UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE, LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, UM, MEETING WITH ASME AND UNION MEMBERS AND CITY EMPLOYEES TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF.

UM, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THERE ARE GAPS THAT WE CAN FILL AS A CITY.

UM, DESPITE LIKE THIS DISGUSTING AGENDA, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND EXPLORE THOSE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.

AND, AND, UM, IN CLOSING, I, I DO WANT TO UNDERSCORE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER PALAIS SAID, UH, CONSISTENT WITH OUR PREVIOUS POSITIONS ON, UM, LEGISLATION THAT ATTACKS CERTAIN MEMBERS OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN OUR CITY, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO OUR AGENDA, SPECIFICALLY TO THE BILL OR THE PRIORITY AT THE GOVERNOR'S PLACE TO TARGET TRANSGENDER CHILDREN IN SPORTS.

UM, AND I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR VISITOR COMMUNITY WOULD STAND BEHIND THAT.

I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO STAND BEHIND THAT AS WELL.

'CAUSE THE INDUSTRIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE DO AS WELL, AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO IF WE CAN DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER, KNOWING THAT THE SESSION BEGINS HERE IN A WEEK OR SO, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WELL, UH, WE CERTAINLY WILL DO THAT, MAYOR.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO SAID AS AN EMPLOYER, UH, WE DO ENCOURAGE AND ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO TAKE CITY TIME TO VOTE.

UM, WE THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, UM, RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE AS CITIZENS, AND WE DO THAT AS AN EMPLOYER.

UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CURRY.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS GONNA BE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ALLOCATING.

AND I, I HEARD JEFF SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WANT TO IGNORE, UH, MANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED MONEY.

BUT I WOULD ASK, UH, OUR CITY TEAM TO KIND OF SLICE AND DICE THAT MONEY AND SEE IF THERE ARE AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OR OUR OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY OR OTHER AREAS THAT WE COULD BENEFIT FROM ARE REALLY ADDRESSED IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND THAT WE DON'T JUST DROP THE BALL ON THAT.

SO I HOPE THE CITY MANAGER STAFF IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED NATIONALLY TO SEE WHAT, WHAT CAN BE APPLIED TO SAN ANTONIO FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING LIKE EAGLES.

COUNCILMAN? THANK YOU.

UH, JEFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRISTINE.

UM, SALLY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

PLEASE KEEP US SURPRISED.

A AND CB 4 9 1 7 4 9 1 8 4 9 1 2 B 4 9 1 B 4 9 0 7 G 4 9 1 1.

WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER

[17. Ordinance approving the acquisition, on behalf of the San Antonio Water System, through negotiation or condemnation of interests in land sufficient for project purposes involving approximately 15 permanent and 19 temporary easements of privatelyowned real property located in the northeast quadrant of Bexar County in New City Blocks 17728, 34957, 34920, 34964A and CB 4917, 4918, 4912B, 4910B, 4907G, 4911 in Council District 10 related to the E54 Sewer Main Outfall Project; declaring the project to be for public use and a public necessity for the acquisition. [Roderick Sanchez, Assistant City Manager; Razi Hosseini, Director, Public Works Department]]

17.

ITEM SEVEN, ITEM 17.

ITEM 17 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ACQUISITION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR CONDEMNATION OF INTEREST IN LAND.

SUFFICIENT FOR PROJECT PURPOSE PURPOSES INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 15 PERMANENT AND 19 TEMPORARY EASEMENTS OF PRIVATELY OWNED REAL, REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF BEAR COUNTY IN NEW CITY BLOCKS 1 7 7 2 8 3 4 9 5 7 3 4 9 2 0 3 4 9 6 4 A AND CB 4 9 1 7 4 9 1 8 4 9 1 2 B 4 9 1 0 B 4 9 0 7 G 4, 9 1 1.

IN COUNCIL DISTRICTS 10 RELATED TO THE E 54 SEWER MAIN OUTFALL PROJECT, DECLARING THE PROJECT TO BE FOR PUBLIC USE AND A PUBLIC NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION.

I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY FOR THE MOTION.

YES, SIR.

I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AUTHORIZED THE USE OF POWER OF IM IMMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC USE PROJECT FOR THE E 54 SEWER MAIN OUTFALL PROJECT BY ACQUIRING THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY DESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF THIS MOTION PROPERTY LOCATED IN COUNTY BLOCK AND UNKNOWN BY FOX GROVE HOUSING ASSOCIATION HOUSING ASSOCIATION WILL BE RE ACQUIRED BY WAY OF A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION ACTION WITH AN AGREED PURCHASE PRICE.

THE PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY FOR TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT EASEMENT INTEREST LOCATED IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 10 E 54 SEWER MAIN OUTFALL PROJECT N CCB 1 7 7 2 8 3 4 9 7 3 4 2 9 0 3 4 9 6 4

[01:30:05]

THESE, THESE PROPERTIES ARE DEPICTED IN THE OVERALL PROJECT MAP AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS PART OF THE MOTION.

ALRIGHT, THERE WAS A MOTION, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY WAS THERE, SECOND.

SECOND BY ROCHA GARCIA.

UH, ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.

UH, SO OFTEN I THINK THAT, UH, EMINENT DOMAIN DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP.

AND I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED IF WHAT THE COUNCILMAN'S PROPOSING MEANS THAT IF IT ISN'T A FRIENDLY DECISION, THAT THE DECISION MAY NOT MOVE FORWARD.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN, WHEN YOU SAY THROUGH A FRIENDLY ARRANGEMENT AND A MUTUAL AND A, AN AGREEABLE PRICE COUNCILMAN PER THE HOAS BYLAWS, UM, THERE'S, UM, AN OUTLINE FOR WHAT REQUIRES A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION.

AND SINCE IT REQUIRES TWO THIRDS VOTE FROM THE RESIDENTS TO APPROVE THE SALE, UM, AND SO THAT LANGUAGE IS INCLUDED, BUT IT HAS NO LEGAL EFFECT TODAY, DOES THAT MEAN THAT, UH, SAWS COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS EVEN IF THERE IS OBJECTION FROM THE COMMUNITY? UH, UH, YES.

MY NAME'S BRUCE HABE.

I'M THE MANAGER OF CORPORATE REAL ESTATE FOR SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM.

A LOT OF TIMES WE USE THE WORD FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION IN THE SENSE THAT WE'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LANDOWNER.

AND LIKE SHE SAID, THE, UH, IN THIS CASE, A LOT OF THE OLDER HOAS DON'T, THEIR BYLAWS ARE WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM, OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO, UH, TRANSFER LAND RIGHTS.

A LOT OF TIMES, UH, A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION MAY BE WITH A LANDOWNER WHO HAS AGREED TO US AND WE CAN'T CLEAR A TITLE ISSUE.

MAYBE THEY HAVE JUDGEMENTS OR LIENS FILED AGAINST THEM, AND THEY'RE OKAY WITH THIS EASEMENT, BUT THEY, WE JUST GOTTA CLEAR THESE TITLE ISSUES UP.

SO THERE'S PROBABLY SEVERAL THINGS THAT A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION CAN DO.

AND, UH, IN THIS CASE, UH, WE'VE TAKEN OTHER EASTMANS FROM FOX GROVE.

WE, WE WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THIS PROCESS, PROBABLY HAVE A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONERS ALREADY AGREEING TO A PRICE AND, AND CERTAIN CONDITIONS THAT THEY WANT.

IT'S BEING NEGOTIATED RIGHT NOW.

SO YOU FEEL THAT THE WORDING, UH, FOR MY FRIEND, IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE PROCESS YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH TO ACQUIRE THE, UH, THE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND, AND DO THE JOB? YES, SIR.

YEAH, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.

I, WHEN I SAW THIS PROJECT COME THROUGH AT THE BEGINNING, I TASKED SAWS TO MAKE SOME EXTRAORDINARY, UH, APPROACHES TO THOSE.

UM, IT'S NOT JUST ONE, IT'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UH, HOAS ALONG THAT ROUTE.

AND, UH, I THINK THAT THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB IN REACHING OUT TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND, UH, YEAH, WE, WE, THEY SAW THE NEED AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DOING THIS ARE MUCH WORSE THAN, UH, ALLOWING THIS PROJECT TO GO THROUGH.

SO SAS DID A GREAT JOB IN REACHING OUT, EXPLAINING IT, AND GETTING THEIR CONCURRENCE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 17 AS READ.

PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY, WE'LL GO TO ITEM 22.

[22. Approving the following Board AtLarge (Alternate) appointments to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for the remainder of the unexpired terms of office to expire May 31, 2023. [Tina J. Flores, City Clerk] A) Patrick Conroy (District 1) B) Elizabeth Ingalls (District 1) C) JoAnne Kaplan (District 9) D) Lisa Lynde (District 3) E) Lillian Miess (District 8), and F) Jesse Zuniga (District 6)]

ITEM 22 IS APPROVING THE FOLLOWING BOARD AT LARGE, ALTERNATE APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE UNEXPIRED TERMS OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE MAY 31ST, 2023.

THE APPOINTMENTS ARE PATRICK CONROY, DISTRICT ONE, ELIZABETH INGLES, DISTRICT ONE, JOANNE KAPLAN, DISTRICT NINE, LISA LYNN, DISTRICT THREE, LILLIAN, MY DISTRICT EIGHT.

AND JESSE ZUNIGA, DISTRICT SIX.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

BRAVO.

OH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE.

I SPEAK.

NO THANKS.

MADE A MOTION TO CONTINUE, RIGHT? OR MOTION TO POSTPONE THAT POSTPONES ALL I GET IT.

THERE A SECOND? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION DIES.

WAS THERE, THERE WAS A MOTION FOR POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM 22, WHICH IS ALL OF THE APPOINTMENTS LISTED.

UM, IS

[01:35:01]

CAN I GET A, A MOTION ON A SECOND FROM TERRY? THERE WAS A MOTION, THERE WAS A SECOND.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UM, DELAY.

UH, CONTINUANCE OF ITEM 22.

LIZ, REAL QUICK, MAYOR, CAN WE GET A MOTION FOR POSTPONEMENT TO A DATE CERTAIN SURE.

NEXT WEEK IS FINE.

MOTION FOR POSTPONE POSTPONEMENT OF ITEM 22 TO, UM, SEPTEMBER 18TH.

WE CAN AMEND IT.

UM, OKAY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT THERE ARE TWO MEMBERS HERE IN FROM, UH, DISTRICT ONE, HOWEVER, THEY'RE AT LARGE APPOINTMENTS.

UH, BUT I, I HAVEN'T MET ANY OF THESE PEOPLE.

I HAVEN'T HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY OF THEM.

I HAVEN'T RECEIVED BRIEFINGS ON ANY OF THEM, AND I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS LIST, EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN DISTRICT ONE I, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AT LARGE, I, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF ME, UH, VOTING TO APPROVE SOMEBODY WHO WAS A DISTRICT ONE APPOINTEE WITHOUT ME KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.

SO I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THIS WHOLE SLATE WHEN I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT ANY OF THEM.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING TO APPROVE, I MEAN, TO, TO POSTPONE.

UM, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU CLARIFY THE PROCESS FOR, UH, THE APPOINTMENTS ON ZONING BOARDS AND, UH, EXCUSE ME, ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS? GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

SO WE DID, JUST FOR EVERYONE'S KNOWLEDGE, THESE, THESE CANDIDATES DID GO THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.

AND SO THEY WERE VETTED THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEN FROM THERE WENT TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW.

UH, THERE WERE MORE APPLICANTS.

THERE WERE NOT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, WE'RE APPOINTING SIX AND THERE WERE 11 APPLICANTS, I BELIEVE THAT APPLIED FROM, AND THEY WERE FROM VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

SO FROM THERE, UH, THE, THE, THE, UH, GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REVIEWED, AND THEN THESE ARE THE NOMINATIONS THAT THEY HAVE PUSHED FORWARD FOR FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL.

UM, MADAM CLERK, AND ALSO, LET ME CLARIFY, THE APPOINTMENTS THAT WE WOULD BE, UH, THAT WE'RE TAKING UP TODAY ARE FOR ALTERNATES.

UM, THESE ARE NOT FOR THE SEATED MEMBERS.

THESE ARE FOR MAKING QUORUM, UM, SPECIFICALLY, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

THAT IS CORRECT.

SO EACH COUNCIL, DISTRICT AND YOURSELF HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR, FROM EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS.

AND THEN FROM THERE, UH, THESE ARE ALTERNATES.

SO THE ALTERNATES WILL COME IN IF THERE ARE ABSENCES.

SO, 'CAUSE WE, SOME, SOME, MANY OF THE ZONING ITEMS REQUIRE A LARGER VOTE, UH, A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF NINE OR MORE.

AND SO THEY, THEY'RE USED TO FILL, FILL THOSE GAPS.

WHEN FORMAL MEMBERS AREN'T ABLE TO BE THERE.

UM, ALRIGHT.

UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE? YES.

AND, AND I GUESS I, I QUESTION THE COUNCILMAN'S TRYING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

HE TALKED ABOUT, UH, NOT KNOWING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND HE WANTS TO MEET THEM, BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHERS? BECAUSE IF, IF YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO TALK TO EVERYBODY WHO SERVES ON EVERY BOARD OR COMMISSION FROM EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY UNREALISTIC WAY OF MOVING FORWARD ON APPOINTMENTS.

UH, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUGGEST PEOPLE OR TO QUESTION, OR TO GO TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND, AND HEAR, UH, FROM THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE BEING INTERVIEWED.

THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS, I THINK, REALLY HELPS THE COUNCIL MOVE FORWARD ON A LOT OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF APPOINTMENTS THAT WE MAKE.

THIS STILL DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANY OF US WHO APPOINT DIRECTLY, SOMEBODY WHO REPRESENTS OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT ON A BOARD OF COMMISSION, UH, CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

UH, BUT WE, WE APPOINT SOMETIMES 3, 5, 6, AND SOMETIMES WE INTERVIEW 20 OR 30 PEOPLE THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE BOARD IN ORDER TO COME TO THOSE THREE OR FIVE OR SIX.

UH, AND I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE KIND OF CREATING IS, UH, A SITUATION WHERE MAYBE ALL OF US NEED TO START REVIEWING EVERY SINGLE THING THAT COMES FORWARD AND, UH, NOT RELY ON THE GOVERNANCE BOARD, YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO HELP WITH THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LARGE NUMBERS OF APPOINTMENTS.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE NEW AND DON'T MAYBE UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS HAS BEEN WORKING, BUT, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION, UH, SINCE THESE ARE, ARE NOT THE FORMAL BOARD APPOINTEES, BUT THEY WILL BE FILL-INS

[01:40:01]

AND, UH, LET'S KIND OF DISCUSS THIS GOING FORWARD TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND ANOTHER WAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DELAYING THIS PROCESS ONE WEEK, IS THAT GONNA GIVE YOU TIME TO MEET WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE OR ARE YOU JUST INTERESTED IN THOSE TWO? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIGGER PROCESS THAN THAT.

UH, AND AGAIN, LET ME, LET ME REMIND FOLKS TO ADDRESS, UH, THE CHAIR WITH YOUR COMMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA.

OH, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK WITH MIKE.

SHANNON, WHAT IS, UH, DELAYING THIS MEAN TO YOU? IS THERE A MEETING COMING UP THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO MEET QUORUM FOR? HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WOULD DO.

UH, THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCILWOMAN.

UH, YES, WE HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS.

WE HAVE TWO, TWO EACH MONTH.

AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO DISTRICT APPOINTEE VACANCIES.

UH, WE ACTUALLY, THE ALTERNATE MEMBERS HAVE FOUR VACANCIES, ALTHOUGH THESE ARE ALL SEVEN UP.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY ANY DELAY, UH, PUSHES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A QUORUM NOT TO BE HAD AT THE MEETING.

AND REMEMBER, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT IS ACTUALLY REQUIRES NINE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES OUT OF THE 11.

AND EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE 10 THERE OR NINE THERE, YOU STILL NEED NINE VOTES.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEVEN ALTERNATE POSITIONS.

THAT'S WHY THEY ARE AT LARGE.

UM, SO IT WOULD, IT, IT WOULD OR COULD, I THINK, DELAY US A LITTLE BIT.

UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF CASES IN THE, IN THE, IN THE QUEUE.

SO, UM, THAT'S THE ANSWER.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DIDN'T MEET QUORUM? I, I'D HAVE, I'D HAVE TO, I'D HAVE TO GET THAT.

IT'S, IT'S MAYBE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

BUT ONCE WE MISS A QUORUM, IT JUST BACKLOGS EVERYBODY.

UM, THE CASES TO THE NEXT MEETING, THE NEXT MEETING, IT PUSHES EVERYBODY OFF.

HOW MANY CASES DO YOU THINK ARE ON THE NEXT AGENDA? JUST ROUNDABOUT.

I I WOULD SAY EASY 10.

EASY 10.

THE, THE, THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HERE IS APPEALS AND VARIANCES TO ANY DEVELOPMENT RELATED CODE AND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE OR, UH, OR THE SIGN CODE CHAPTER 28 OF OUR CODE.

SO THERE'S, THERE'S EASY 10, UH, PER PER MEETING.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.

THANKS.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY.

I THINK, UM, , MY APOLOGIES.

UM, MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED BY, UH, UH, DR.

GARCIA.

UH, BUT I, I JUST WANT TO ALSO ECHO COUNCILMAN KURT'S, UH, COMMENTS ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUE IS SAYING, BUT, UH, THIS DID GO THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA KEEP THESE PROCESSES GOING AND NOT HOLD UP CITY BUSINESS ON INTRODUCTIONS AND, AND GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE.

SO I THINK THESE WERE VERY, VERY WELL VETTED.

I MEAN, I HAD A CANDIDATE THAT, THAT DID NOT MAKE THE, MAKE THE LIST.

UH, BUT I FEEL CERTAIN THAT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MADE THOSE RIGHT DECISIONS.

SO, YEAH.

I'D, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON WITH THIS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS.

THANKS, MAYOR.

UH, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, I WAS STILL IN LINE TO SPEAK.

YEAH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE STILL THE QUEUE.

I CALL IN EVERYBODY WHO HASN'T SPOKEN FIRST, AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

UM, SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 22.

THAT MOTION, UM, LIZ, IS THAT SECONDARY OR IS THAT TAKEN FIRST? COUNCILMAN, I MEAN, MAYOR, JUST ONE QUICK SECOND.

I WANNA BE SURE THAT I'VE GOT THE ORDER CORRECT.

MOTION APPROVE FIRST.

THE SECOND MOTION GOES FIRST.

MAYOR, THE MOTION TO APPROVE GOES FIRST.

UM, AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK, UH, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ITEM 22 IS HIGHLIGHTED BEFORE YOU TAP REQUEST TO SPEAK.

OTHERWISE, YOU'RE ON THE WRONG QUEUE.

I'VE SEEN MOST OF YOU HERE.

UH, SO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PLY, ARE YOU YIELDING THE FLOOR? OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER KEO.

HDA.

UM, MADAM CLERK, I JUST WANT TO, WILL YOU CLARIFY, THERE WERE 11 APPLICANTS, UM, SIX, UH, WERE CHOSEN, BUT IS THAT 11 INCLU? IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP? BECAUSE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF APPLICANTS THAT DID NOT APPEAR FOR THEIR INTERVIEWS.

THERE WERE, THERE WERE IN, IN CONSULTING WITH THE, WITH MIKE.

THERE WERE 15 APPLICANTS.

NOT ALL

[01:45:01]

OF THEM DID SHOW UP.

AND NOW, AND THERE WERE ALSO SOME THAT WERE NOT, UM, BUT DIDN'T MEET WHEN THEY WERE VETTED THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

MAY HAVE NOT MET THE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I CAN GET THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU TO FINALIZE EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE DID APPLY.

AND THEN THOSE THAT WERE VETTED THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT DID NOT MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS.

BUT THERE WERE SOME APPLICANTS THAT DID NOT SHOW TO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

AND I CAN GET THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

I, I WANNA CLARIFY, THERE WERE 11 APPLICANTS THAT SHOWED UP FOR AN INTERVIEW.

AND THEN SIX WERE CHOSEN.

COUNCIL MEMBER COVEO, HDA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.

I APOLOGIZE.

CLEARLY I HAD TAPPED IN ON A DIFFERENT ITEM, UH, ONE DAY I WILL GET USED TO, TO THIS SYSTEM, BUT, UM, I CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE I'M REMOTE BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS TO ME WHEN I'M THERE AS, AS WELL.

UM, SO, UH, REGARDING THE, THE PROCESS OF, OF COURSE, I'M, I'M FAMILIAR WITH, WITH HOW WE DO THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK, UH, IT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION AS SEEING AS THIS IS ON THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL BY FULL COUNSEL.

MAYBE TO GET, UH, A BRIEF COMMENT FROM, UM, THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, UH, A MEMBER OR A CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE ABOUT, UH, WHY THESE WERE SELECTED.

I, I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

BUT, UM, UH, PERHAPS THAT WOULD, UH, HELP US, UH, HELP COUNCILMAN, UH, BRAVO WITH, WITH TODAY'S, UH, DECISION.

SO, UH, MAYOR, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO, TO SHARING WITH US THE SELECTION OF THESE? I'M HAPPY TO SHARE MY COMMENTS.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE.

I WILL NOTE THAT THE COMMITTEE'S APPROVAL OF THE CANDIDATES WAS UNANIMOUS, SO I'D WELCOME, UH, MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COMMENTS AS WELL.

BUT I'LL, I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS TO, TO THE END OF THE DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.

IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T WANT IN, UM, DON'T PRESS YOUR BUTTON.

, YOU'RE, YOU'RE IN HERE THOUGH.

SO THERE'S A FAN.

I DID NOT PRESS THE BUTTON.

THE TEXT SAYS DIFFERENTLY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

WE WE'RE, UH, GOING BACK SECOND ROUND.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO DEFENSE BECAUSE, UM, I'M LISTED AS HAVING SECONDED THE MOTION FOR ALL OF THE AGENDA, AGENDA ITEMS ON CONSENT.

AND I DIDN'T MOTION, I DIDN'T SECOND ANYTHING.

SO, UM, SO I'M NEW, UH, I'M NEW TO THIS PROCESS.

I, I, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT I'M SEEING A SLATE OF PEOPLE AND, UH, BEING APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF, UH, BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS MAY AFFECT DISTRICT ONE MORE THAN ANY, UH, THAN ANY OTHER DISTRICT.

THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CASES THERE THAT MAY GO THERE.

AND, UH, SO I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK OUT FOR MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THERE IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT AND, UH, CONTROVERSIAL CASES.

AND, UH, SO I SAW THIS AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T COME HERE TO BE A RUBBER STAMP.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T MICROMANAGE EVERYTHING, BUT I, I WANTED TO, UH, JUST HAVE SOME LEVEL OF BRIEFING, SOME LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I GET, I GOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD ON THIS AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE.

UM, CAN COUNCIL VOTE TO VOTE TO REMOVE AT LARGE APPOINTMENTS? IS THERE A PROCESS FOR THAT? COUNCILWOMAN? UH, PLEASE REPEAT THAT QUESTION.

CAN COUNCIL VOTE TO VOTE TO REMOVE AT LARGE APPOINTMENTS? THAT'S A CODE CHANGE.

IT'S A, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S A CODE CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, ALL OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CHECK ON THESE THINGS, UH, ON OUR AGENDAS AND, AND, AND ASK QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF IT, IF IT'S SOMETHING RELATED TO APPOINTMENTS, UH, WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION IN ADVANCE TO HELP US MAKE OUR DECISIONS.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, LET, UH, EVERYONE KNOWS WHO, WHO WASN'T, WHO DID NOT ATTEND THAT MEETING.

UH, WHEN WE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US KNEW WHAT PARTICULAR COUNCIL DISTRICT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN FROM.

WE DIDN'T ASK THAT QUESTION, AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE EVEN MENTIONED IT BECAUSE THEY WERE AT LARGE, UH, NOT DESIGNATED FROM A PARTICULAR COUNCIL DISTRICT.

UM, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS KIND OF GETS PUBLISHED A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME AND SOMETIMES, UH, WE DON'T ALL GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE.

BUT, UM, I THINK WE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF, OF VETTING THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE.

AND THEY GAVE US PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

AND, UM,

[01:50:02]

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.

UH, AND I'LL CLOSE THE DISCUSSION.

I, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, UM, UH, THE, THE WILLINGNESS AND, AND THE DESIRE TO MEET OUR APPOINTMENTS.

UH, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO DO THAT.

UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, UH, MADAM CLERK, THE, WHAT WAS THE DATE OF THE GOVERNANCE MEETING? DO WE HAVE THAT? I KNOW YOU KNOW IT LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND.

MIKE, WHEN WAS THE MEETING? THANK YOU.

UM, WAS THERE A MEMO SENT OUT, UM, TO COUNSEL ON THE RESULTS OF THE INTERVIEWS THERE? THERE WAS NOT A, A MEMO.

IT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES, UH, OF THAT MEETING.

AND SO THE, THE ACTION OF THAT COMMITTEE OF, FROM THAT MEETING WAS TO MOVE IT OVER TO FULL COUNSEL FOR, FOR APPROVAL.

THIS HAS COME UP A FEW TIMES, UH, AT LEAST IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, IS WHEN WE DO, WHEN WE VET CANDIDATES AT A COMMITTEE LEVEL THAT ARE MOVED FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL, THAT WE GO AHEAD AND SEND OUT A MEMO TO THE FULL COUNCIL ABOUT WHO IS MOVING FORWARD FOR RECOMMENDATION.

IF WE CAN MAKE THAT PART OF OUR PROCESS, I THINK WE CAN AVOID SOME OF THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER RO GARCIA.

SORRY, I WAS TRYING TO TAP IN, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE.

BUT, UM, THE AGENDA MEMO, UH, CLEARLY LISTS THE FOLKS THAT MOVE FORWARD, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS ATTACHED.

AND THEN ALSO IT SHOWS THE DISTRICT THAT THEY WERE IN THE APPLICATION ALSO.

I HESITATE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY YEAH, NO, NO, I'M, I'M GONNA GET TO THAT PART TOO.

SO THAT, THAT IS ULTIMATELY HOW WE'RE, WE HAVE TO DO OUR HOMEWORK FOR THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE ASKING TO, UH, TAKE ACTION ON IS THIS AGENDA AND ALL THAT, UH, IS, IS LISTED AND HOPEFULLY FOLKS GET THAT IN PLENTY OF TIME.

BUT THE, AS A FAIL SAFE, JUST TO MAKE THIS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IS, UH, WHEN INTERVIEWS ARE DONE AT A COMMITTEE LEVEL, MOVING FORWARD TO FULL COUNSEL FOR RECOMMENDATION, THAT WE SEND OUT A MEMO OF WHO MADE THAT CUT AND WHO'S COMING FORWARD SO THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LEAD TIME.

IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS ARTICLES, THERE WAS MEDIA, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF RECOGNITION OF WHO WAS MOVING FORWARD, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN RELY ON THAT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

ERIC, CAN WE DO THAT? YEAH.

SO I, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING MAYOR, IS TO ADD AN JUDICIAL STEP BECAUSE THE AGENDA WAS POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST LAST WEEK WITH ALL THE RELEVANT BACKGROUND.

AND, UM, WHAT WE'LL DO IS, UM, WORK, MY OFFICE WILL WORK WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE WHEN WE HAVE INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS, AND THEY'RE PRIMARILY AT THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE TO SEND OUT THAT, THAT INTERIM OR THAT FIRST MESSAGE OR NOTE OUT TO THE COUNCIL ON THE INTERVIEWS WHO WAS INTERVIEWED, WHO IS BEING NOMINATED AND BEING MOVED TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.

BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, THAT, THAT INFORMATION ALSO WAS IN THE, UH, AGENDA BACKUP AS WELL.

BUT WE WILL WORK, I, I WILL WORK WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO, TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL STEP.

I GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION THERE AND WE'LL TAKE UP THE MOTION TO APPROVE FIRST.

I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE, BUT NOT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

SO IF WE CAN JUST DO THAT, UH, CONSISTENTLY FOR ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, KNOWING THAT THERE'S MORE INTEREST IN GETTING TO KNOW THESE FOLKS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

UM, JUST WITH RESPECT TO WHO WE NOMINATED, I, I, AGAIN, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE, THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

UM, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IS, DO PEOPLE WANT TO SERVE? AND WE DID HAVE A CHALLENGE THAT, UM, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO DIDN'T APPEAR.

UH, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WITHDREW, UM, DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

BUT THE FOLKS THAT WE LANDED ON, I, I THINK, REPRESENTED NOT ONLY, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, PEOPLE IN, UH, DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES AND SECTORS, DIFFERENT GEO GEOGRAPHIES.

'CAUSE I DO REMEMBER SEEING THEIR DISTRICTS AS WELL.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO, UH, WERE NEW TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND WHO WANTED TO SERVE.

AND, AND WE DO NEED TO START BRINGING IN FOLKS, UH, WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE.

SO I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE SLATE.

IN ADDITION, UH, IN SIGNING OFF, UH, FROM THE INTERVIEWS, WE DID ENCOURAGE THE FOLKS THAT, THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE ALTERNATE LIST, UH, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE DO HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS, WE DO KNOW HOW TO CONTACT THEM, AND WE DO HAVE PLENTY OF PLACES FOR FOLKS TO SERVE.

UH, SO WE, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT WE REACH OUT TO THOSE FOLKS, UH, TO FIND ADDITIONAL PLACES FOR THEM TO SERVE.

SO, UM, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING A DELAY.

I DO WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD 'CAUSE THERE IS BUSINESS TO BE DONE, AND I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE SLATE.

SO, UM, IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER, UH, WHY DON'T

[01:55:01]

MAYOR, I'M SORRY, I WAS JUST, UM, CLARIFYING WITH THE STAFF.

WE, SO JUST TO BE SURE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THAT.

THAT'LL ACTUALLY BE THE MOTION THAT GOES FIRST BEFORE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO THE, THE CALL FOR QUESTION AT THIS POINT WILL BE ON THE FIRST MOTION THAT WAS MADE ON THE DELAY WITH THE SECOND ON THE DELAY TO SEPTEMBER 16TH, CORRECT? THAT'S THE NEXT MEETING DAY.

UH, I THINK IT'S SEPTEMBER 18TH.

18TH I BELIEVE IS A SATURDAY.

SO WE WILL TAKE UP THE MOTION TO DELAY THIS TILL SEPTEMBER 16TH.

AGAIN, A A YES VOTE IS TO DELAY, UM, A NO VOTE IS TO MOVE TO THE SUBSEQUENT MOTION TO APPROVE.

THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR.

COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

PLEASE VOTE.

SHE'S, OH, SHE'S IN NOW.

UM, WE'LL NOW TAKE UP THE, UH, SUBSEQUENT MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 22, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES.

MOTION CARRIES.

UM, AND JUST, UM, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM 25.

WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM 25.

[25. Ordinance approving the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to purchase gift cards from HEB Grocery in a total amount up to $1,000,000.00 by October 2021 for distribution before June 30, 2024 for the Department’s COVID19 Vaccination Incentive Plan funded by the COVID19 Immunization Round 4 grant budget. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Claude A. Jacob, Director, Health]]

AND FOR THE RECORD, I'M RECUSED FROM THIS ITEM.

CAN WE GET THE COURT TO READ THE CAPTION PLEASE? ITEM 25 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT TO PURCHASE GIFT CARDS FROM H E B GROCERY IN A TOTAL AMOUNT UP TO $1 MILLION BY OCTOBER 21ST, OCTOBER 20, I'M SORRY, OCTOBER, 2021 FOR DISTRIBUTION BEFORE JUNE 30TH, 2024 FOR THE DEPARTMENT C OVID 19 VACCINATION INCENTIVE PLAN FUNDED BY THE C OVID 19 IMMUNIZATION, ROUND FOUR GRANT BUDGET.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.

AND THIS ITEM WAS PULLED BY, UH, THE MAYOR FOR RECUSAL PURPOSES.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL, WHO'S GONNA MAKE A MOTION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE, AND I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AFTER THAT.

PERFECT.

IS THERE A SECOND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO COMMENTS? SECOND BY, UH, MAKI RODRIGUEZ.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, AND THAT WOULD BE JACK FINGER.

JACK FINGER, PLEASE COME UP.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

WELL, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.

WELL, THIS ITEM ABOUT OFFERING AN INCENTIVE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN THEIR VACCINES.

PLEASE LET ME RECAP A FEW THINGS HERE ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS REGARDING OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS EPIDEMIC IN THE BEGINNING.

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE A YEAR OR SO AGO, UH, YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE, THE IDEA WAS THAT THIS, REGARDING THIS, THE CORONAVIRUS, AS IT WAS CALLED, WAS ONLY GONNA BE HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND SO ALL WE NEEDED TO DO IS JUST HUNKER DOWN FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE EASE OFF AFTER THAT.

WELL, IT DIDN'T, UH, YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS THOUGHT, WELL, SORRY, WE NEED TO SLOW THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE.

UH, DON'T GO BACK TO WORK JUST YET.

UH, CONTINUE WEARING YOUR MASKS, UH, UNTIL, AT LEAST UNTIL WE FLATTENED THE CURVE.

GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER EVERYBODY, BUT JUST BE PATIENT.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT, THAT THAT PHRASE FLATTENING THE CURVE.

AND, AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK, YOU, YOU SAID, WELL, LET'S WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST SO WE CAN GET THE HOSPITALIZATIONS, THE, THE CASES DOWN A BIT.

WELL, WHEN THE CASES CONTINUED TO SURGE, UH, YOU, YOU SAID, WELL, IT'S

[02:00:01]

WE, WE CAN GO THROUGH THIS, SIR.

NOW, WHAT INTENDED TO BE JUST A, A COUPLE OF WEEKS, 14 DAYS ENDED UP BEING A WHOLE YEAR AND A HALF, A WHOLE YEAR AND A HALF OF THIS STUFF.

IT'S AN ILLUSTRATION OF MISMANAGEMENT.

AND, UH, THE LATEST PHASE IN THIS MISMANAGEMENT IS THAT YOU ARE NOT CONTENT WITH PEOPLE NOT GETTING THEIR VACCINES.

YOU THINK THAT, THAT IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR VACCINES, THEY'RE GONNA KILL SOMEBODY.

WELL, THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN THEIR VACCINES, BASICALLY, THEY'RE TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T MIND VACCINES SO MUCH AS THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.

WE COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

THE IDEA OF GOVERNMENT TAKING UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OF AN EPIDEMIC AND USING IT TO, UH, OVERPOWER PEOPLE WITH UNCONSTITUTIONAL REGULATIONS.

THE, UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T LIKE GETTING VACCINES JUST AUTOMATICALLY JUST WILLY-NILLY JUST UPON THE, THE WHIM OF, OF SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.

YOU IN TURN SAY, OKAY, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE PEOPLE WHO GET THEIR VACCINES A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARD.

OH, REALLY? WELL, NOW YES.

HERE YOU AS THE ANTI-VAXXER.

YOU CAN NOW, UH, COMPROMISE ON YOUR VALUES AND GET YOUR FILTHY LOOKER HERE WITH, WITH A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARD FROM FROM H E B.

THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.

THANK YOU MAYOR PRO TEM.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF WE COULD GET A STAFF OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, HOW WE CAME TO THIS POINT, AND HOW WE PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE THE CARDS.

AND, AND FOR THE RECORD, I AM, UH, I'M EX I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM AND JUST THRILLED THAT, THAT WE'RE AT THIS POINT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, ADVANCE.

SO THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

GREETINGS, GOOD MORNING.

TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M CLAUDE JACOB WITH THE METRO HEALTH.

UH, TO CORE QUESTION, THIS IS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORT, UM, AS PART OF OUR MITIGATION STRATEGIES HERE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF C OVID 19 HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY.

SO, UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS COMMENT, CLEARLY WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR 18 STRAIGHT MONTHS AND WE ARE WELL INTO EXTRA INNINGS.

UH, WHAT WE'VE ALSO SHARED, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE BACK TO SCHOOL EFFORTS, WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THE BACK END OF OUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES, PREPARING FOR THE FALL.

UH, WE DID REACH OUT TO OUR FUNDER AND ASK FOR ADDED SUPPORT AND AT LEAST AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST, UH, FOR, UH, GRANT FOOTED INITIATIVES TO USE AS INCENTIVES TO AT LEAST ENSURE THAT FOLKS COMPLETE THEIR VACCINATION SERIES.

UM, SO TO DATE, WE'RE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE OVER, UH, 70% OF INDIVIDUALS, 12 OF ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS, 12 YEARS AND OLDER THAT ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN BEXAR COUNTY.

UH, WE HAVE TO DATE AS OF LATER THIS EVENING, WE'LL BE REPORTING OUT THAT OVER 87% OF FOLKS WHO ARE, UM, UH, 12 YEARS AND OLDER, HAVING RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THEIR VACCINE, AGAIN, OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION.

WE LOOKED AROUND AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE LOOKED AT CALIFORNIA, THE STATE OF COLORADO, OHIO, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WE'VE SEEN AT LEAST, UM, SOME EVIDENCE OF HOW THIS HAS BEEN APPLIED IN OTHER PLACES.

SO, TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST EXPAND OUR REACH TO AT LEAST CONNECT WITH, UH, RESIDENTS ON THE GROUND.

UH, THIS WILL BE A PROGRAM, UH, WITH, THESE ARE A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARDS AT H E B, UH, FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE VACCINE AT ANY METRO HEALTH VACCINATION EVENT.

UH, WE FEEL THAT H E B IS HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE TO TARGET POPULATIONS.

AND OUR METRO HEALTH TEAM HAS BEEN USING INCENTIVES, UH, TIED TO THE A G B GIFT CARDS.

UM, OVER TIME FOR MANY YEARS NOW, THESE INCENTIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE VACCINE SERIES AT A METRO HEALTH VACCINATION SITE.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY THAT, THE RECIPIENTS WILL BE ELIGIBLE ONLY IF THEY INITIATED THE VACCINE SERIES AFTER JULY 31ST, 2021.

AND WHY IS THAT? UH, JUST KNOW THAT THE INCENTIVES FOR THOSE GETTING, UM, UH, THOSE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED TO BECOME FULLY VACCINATED, THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN ALLOWED BY OUR FUNDER.

UM, JUST KNOW THAT AWARDING RETROACTIVE INCENTIVES TO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY VACCINATED IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE GUIDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND IS NOT PERMISSIBLE.

UH, THE C D C, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION RELEASE GUIDANCE ON JULY 30TH TO EXPAND INCENTIVES, UH, TO HUNDRED DOLLARS.

THOSE WHO WERE UNVACCINATED AGAINST C OVID 19 AS OF JULY 21ST

[02:05:01]

ARE ELIGIBLE.

UM, JULY 31ST ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE UP TO $100 INCENTIVE.

THOSE PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A VACCINATION SERIES AS OF JULY 31ST, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW INCENTIVE OFFERING.

SO IN THE END, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEAN IN A LITTLE BIT MORE OVER THE COURSE OF THE COMING WEEKS.

UH, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THIS ITEM SO THAT, UH, BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WE CAN ROLL OUT THIS INCENTIVE.

WE ARE WORKING, UH, WITH THE TEAM, UM, TO LOOK AT THE VERIFICATION OF THE SECOND DOSE THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED PRIOR TO GIVING A GIFT CARD.

UH, GIFT CARDS WILL BE TRACKED FOLLOWING CSA POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CASH HANDLING.

UH, INDIVIDUALS WILL SIGN A VOUCHER FORM THAT INCLUDES THE NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, RESIDENCE, ZIP CODE, DATES OF DOSES ADMINISTERED, AND THE TYPE OF VACCINE ADMINISTERED.

THE FORM WILL ALSO HAVE A STATEMENT, UH, STATING THAT THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS, LOTTERY TICKETS, WEAPONS, AND AMMUNITION ARE PROHIBITED WITH THE GIFT CARD.

SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR TODAY.

AND SO OUR STAFF RECOMMENDS THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF GIFT CARDS FROM H E B AND A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION FOR THE SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT'S COVID 19 VACCINATION INCENTIVE PLAN.

AND I DO WANT TO THANK AGAIN AND APPLAUD DR.

KIAN AND HER TEAM, UH, MIGUEL CERVANTES AND HIS CREW, OUR, OUR STRONG EPI TEAM, LED BY DR.

RITA ESPINOZA AND THE FANTASTIC PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY FOR HELPING US TO AT LEAST SPREAD THE WORD AND ENSURE THAT FOLKS GET SHOTS IN ARMS OVER THE COURSE OF COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.

AND, AND LET ME JUST ADD THAT, UM, THIS IS NOT, UM, US MAKING ANYBODY DO ANYTHING.

IT'S AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

AND AS, UH, CLAUDE LAID OUT, IT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGY AS YOU, AS YOU, HE SHARED WITH YOU THE RESULTS OF WHERE WE STAND.

AND THAT REPORT WILL BE COMING OUT BY THE END OF THE, UH, BY THE END OF THE DAY.

UM, AND IT'S ANOTHER STRATEGY THAT WE, UH, INTEND TO EMPLOY.

IT'S AN INCENTIVE.

WE'RE NOT ASKING ANYBODY TO COMPROMISE ANY OF THEIR BELIEFS.

UM, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.

THANK YOU, CLAUDE.

UH, VERY GLAD TO SEE THIS ROLLING OUT AND FOR YOUR PERSISTENCE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS EXPENSE.

UH, I WANTED TO CONFIRM AT, UM, AT $1 MILLION AND A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARDS, DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE GOING TO PURCHASE A $10,000, 10,000 GIFT CARDS AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCENTIVIZE 10,000 INDIVIDUALS TO BE VACCINATED? THAT IS CORRECT.

IT'S 10,000 GIFT CARDS THAT WILL BE PURCHASED USING THIS LINE ITEM.

UH, AND WITH THE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE BY OUR FUNDER, I WAS HOPING H E B WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCOUNT AND THROW IN A, A FEW FREE ONES, BUT, UM, A DOLLAR A DOLLARS.

SO, SO THAT, THAT'S STILL WORKS.

UM, MY, MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, ACTUALLY IT'S, IT'S A COMMENT.

UH, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS OUT THERE WHO, UM, WHO MAY NOT BE IN, WHO WERE ALREADY VACCINATED AND, UH, MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY HAPPY ABOUT US PROGRESSING IN, IN THIS INCENTIVE DIRECTION.

AND I, I WANT TO, UM, PERSONALLY IF I COULD, UM, BUT I DO WANT TO, AT LEAST FROM, FROM THIS VIDEO SCREEN, THANK ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTARILY WENT OUT TO GET VACCINATED, WHO MADE TIME IN THEIR SCHEDULE.

YOU DID THE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THING TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH, THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY, AND THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

UM, WE ARE DOING THIS TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE BECAUSE ONCE THESE 10,000 PEOPLE ARE, ARE VACCINATED, OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE A LOT SAFER.

UM, SO, UH, I REMEMBER MY, MY LAST QUESTION, CLAUDE, WAS ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE VACCINATING A A DAY RIGHT NOW, OR, OR A WEEK, WOULD YOU SAY? GOOD QUESTION.

COUNSEL SANDOVAL, I'M GONNA ASK MIGUEL CERVANTES JUST TO AT LEAST, UH, PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE GROUND WITH OUR TEAM.

SO GIMME ONE MINUTE.

UM, HI.

GOOD MORNING COUNSEL.

UH, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING METRO HEALTH SPECIFICALLY, UM, DOING ABOUT TWO, UH, POP-UP CLINICS A DAY.

AND EACH, UM, TOTALS ABOUT IT RANGES, UM, BUT IT'S AVERAGING ABOUT 60 TO 70, UH, VACCINATIONS A DAY.

AND THEN THE ALAMO DOME, UH, WE ARE SEEING ABOUT 150 INDIVIDUALS COMING THROUGH.

AND THE ALAMO DOME IS OPERATIONAL FROM WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO I, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF, UH, HOW LONG, WE'LL, BASICALLY WHAT SORT OF INCREASE WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO SEE TO KNOW THAT THESE INCENTIVES ARE, ARE WORKING.

UM,

[02:10:01]

WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH MIGUEL, UH, FOR YOUR WORK.

I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW TO, TO THIS ROLE, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE POPUP.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING UPDATES AT OUR NEXT COVID BRIEFING AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE ENTIRE METRO HEALTH TEAM AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN WE'LL INCLUDE, UM, ALSO FOR THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, UM, UPDATES ON, ON HOW, UM, UM, HOW THIS PROGRAM IS ROLLING OUT.

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THAT IN OUR WEEKLY VACCINATION REPORT THAT GOES OUT TO THE COUNCIL.

COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

COUNCILWOMAN .

UM, AS OF, UM, OUR LATEST REPORT THAT'S GONNA BE RELEASED.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, PULLING THIS ITEM.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY DISTRICT THREE IS IN NEED, SO ANY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN ROLL OUT AND THE SOONER THE BETTER TO GET OUR RESIDENTS VACCINATED IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

UM, THIS RELUCTANCY TO GET VACCINATED IS A RESULT OF, UM, GENERATIONS OF, OF HEALTH INEQUITIES AND NOT HAVING THE MEDICAL SERVICES.

SO I WANT TO STRESS THAT, THAT THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A CHOICE OR THAT THEY'RE ANTI-VAXXERS, IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS NOT CULTURALLY WHAT WE NECESSARILY DO IS GET VACCINATED OR GO TO, UH, GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR THE DOCTOR.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE INCENTIVES.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW THIS IS GOING TO HELP, UH, THOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT, AND, AND THOSE LIVING ON, UM, ON, ON SERVICES, THAT WITH THIS $100 GIFT CARD, THEY CAN GET PAPER TOWELS AND TOILET PAPER AND DETERGENT.

UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I, I, I HOPE, UH, H E B UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT THEIR ROLE IS HERE.

UH, ANSWER THE QUESTION, WHAT SORT OF GOALS DO WE HAVE? CAN WE, IT IT'S 10,000.

UM, HOW MANY, HOW MANY VACCINES DO YOU THINK WE COULD GET OUT BY THE END OF THE YEAR? CLAUDE? UM, 2000.

3000.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU? THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, GRO FOR THAT QUESTION.

I'M JUST, YOU'RE ASKING HOW MANY, HOW MANY DO YOU THINK, WHEN, WHEN WILL WILL WE RUN OUT? LIKE, CAN WE GET 5,000 DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, OR BASED ON THE RATES THAT WE'RE DOING NOW, HOW MANY DO YOU THINK WE'LL HAVE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER? OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN A MOVING TARGET FOR US.

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED OR WHAT YOU'VE HEARD OF TALK ABOUT IS THIS VACCINE HESITANCY OR MALAISE OR APATHY.

SO JUST KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE YIELD FROM THE MONTH OF AUGUST FOR NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH.

WE DID SEE AN UPTICK, AT LEAST IN OUR VACCINATION RATES AND OUR TESTING RATES ACROSS THE CITY.

UM, SO LET ME PLAN TO AT LEAST REPORT BACK.

UH, AT LEAST WE'LL GET IT OFF THE GROUND.

WE'LL AT LEAST IRON SOME OF THE KINKS OUT.

UH, BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.

WE DO HAVE AT LEAST THIS FUNDING SOURCE AVAILABLE.

UH, THIS IS TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE WHO ARE STILL ON THE FENCE WHO HAVE NOT YET STARTED OR COMPLETED THEIR VACCINATION SERIES AS OF JULY 31ST.

SO WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IT'S GOING.

THANK, THANK YOU.

AND WHATEVER HELP MY DISTRICT OFFICE AND I, I ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, YOUR DISTRICT BEST SO WE CAN HELP WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE, WE GET THOSE VACCINES OUT THERE.

UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, AND MY, THE ARMY IS STILL HELPING AT MY, UH, FIELD OFFICE TO ROLL OUT VACCINES.

OUR IN, UH, RIGHT NOW, OUR INCENTIVES ARE NOT A HUNDRED DOLLARS H E B GIFT CARD, BUT PLEASE COME OUT ON MONDAYS FROM TWO TO FIVE AND GET YOUR VACCINATIONS AT OUR FIELD OFFICE ON BROOKS.

CLAUDE, WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE U T S A GAME VACCINATION EFFORTS? UM, THANK YOU, UM, FOR THAT QUESTION.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THIS COMING SATURDAY, I BELIEVE IT IS A HOME OPENER FOR U T S A.

UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR VACCINATION CLINIC, UH, UH, RUNNING, UH, DURING THE GAME.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE SHOWING UP FOR THE GAME.

SO THIS COMING SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

SO WE DO HAVE A VACCINATION CLINIC THAT WILL BE STAFFED BY OUR TEAM.

UH, SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND OVER AT THE ALMO.

UH, CLAUDE, THANKS FOR THE WORK THAT, THAT YOU'RE UNDERTAKING AS THE NEW HEAD OF THIS DEPARTMENT.

AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY DILIGENTLY FOR A YEAR AND A HALF ON THIS.

UM, I WANNA ANNOUNCE THAT TOMORROW, COUNCILMAN PERRY AND I ARE HOLDING, UH, A CLINIC FOR VACCINES OVER AT MCALLISTER PARK FROM ONE TO FIVE.

SO I HOPE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING AND THEY CAN COME OUT AND, AND GET THEIR VACCINES.

UH, ONE THING I HEARD YOU SAY WAS THAT ABOUT 70% OF THE ELIGIBLE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY, UH, IS IT THE COUNTY OR THE CITY OR THE GENERAL AREA, UH, HAVE RECEIVED VACCINATION.

SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN KO FOR THAT QUESTION.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE SHOW OUR VACCINATION RATES,

[02:15:01]

SO WE SHOW, UH, OVER THOSE, THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE OVER THE AGES OF 12, UM, THAT THESE ARE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE REPORT OUT.

UM, AND WE REPORT OUT IN THREE DOMAINS, PARTIALLY VACCINATED, FULLY VACCINATED, AND THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE, WELL, THAT'S PARTIALLY VACCINATED, RIGHT? WELL, AGAIN, JUST KNOW THAT FOR THE PARTIALLY VACCINATED, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO, UM, HAVE ONLY GOTTEN ONE SHOT.

UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE YET TO COMPLETE THEIR VACCINATION SERIES.

SO IS THAT THE 70%, INCLUDING THOSE WHO'VE HAD AT LEAST THE, THE 70% THAT'S FULLY VAC THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR SERIES, AND HOW MANY HAVE NOT COMPLETED, BUT HAVE HAD MAYBE ONE SHOT STILL? WE'RE, WE'RE STILL SHOWING ABOUT ONE IN 10 THAT HAVE YET TO COMPLETE THEIR VACCINATION SERIES.

AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAM HAS, IS BEING ROLLED OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS COMPLETE THEIR VACCINATION SERIES.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY VALUABLE, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING IT, BUT YOU KNOW, FROM THE FIGURES THAT YOU PUT OUT, AND WHAT I READ AND WHAT I HEAR IS THERE'S STILL BETWEEN THREE AND 400,000 PEOPLE IN THIS CITY WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY SHOT AT ALL.

UH, AND THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND IN OUR WORKPLACES AND OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY KIND OF, UH, SHOT AND ARE VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO GETTING AND SPREADING THIS.

AND I, I HOPE THE PUBLIC WHO IS WATCHING WILL, UH, JUST REMIND YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR ACQUAINTANCES, YOU KNOW, THAT DON'T BE SELFISH AND DON'T JUST CONSIDER YOURSELF AND SAY, I DON'T WANNA HAVE A SHOT.

'CAUSE I WANNA PROTECT MY FREEDOM.

THAT'S JUST SELFISH.

THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE IN AND THAT YOU WORK IN.

AND I HOPE WE CAN ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY, UH, TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT, UH, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS.

I THINK IT'S, UH, A USEFUL EXPENDITURE OF THE FEDERAL MONEY TO HELP PROMOTE PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.

COUNCILMAN BRAVO.

THANK YOU, CLAUDE.

I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

UM, I WANTED TO ASK, UH, WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE, IF WE APPROVE THIS TODAY, WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE WILL BE THE FIRST DAY THAT THESE GIFT CARDS WILL BE AVAILABLE? OH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY SOMETIME BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.

SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP, UM, TO HAVE THIS ADOPTION.

UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE LINING UP ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES.

I'M GONNA CIRCLE BACK TO MY TEAM LATER TODAY, AND WE'LL COME BACK AND REPORT OUT THE ACTUAL DATES THAT WE'LL BE ADMINISTERING.

BUT WE ARE AIMING TO GET THAT DONE THIS MONTH.

AND I DO WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR AT LEAST MAKING SURE THAT THIS ITEM WAS MOVED UP IN THE SCHEDULE THIS MONTH, SO WE CAN AT LEAST, UH, START TO APPLY THESE INCENTIVES OUT IN COMMUNITY.

POPULATION IS VACCINATED HERE.

THANK YOU, ERIC, FOR MOVING THIS UP.

AND I, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL EXPEDITE RELEASING THE FUNDS.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THIS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE I IMAGINE THE MEDIA'S GONNA COVER THIS TODAY, AND THEN SOME PEOPLE ARE WHO MIGHT, MAYBE WE'RE GONNA GO GET A VACCINE TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY OR WHATEVER, MIGHT HOLD OFF SAYING, OH, WAIT, I'M GONNA WAIT FOR THAT A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARD, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, SO LET, LET ME JUST BE CLEAR AGAIN, THIS VIRUS, THIS VARIANT PUNISHES THE PROCRASTINATOR.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST TO INCENTIVIZE.

IF FOLKS ARE STILL ON THE FENCE, WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THESE FEDERAL FUNDS, AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING THIS OUT.

SO WE'LL MESSAGE IT ACCORDINGLY, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION SO YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND, AND WE'LL WORK WITH OUR MEDIA PARTNERS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR.

YEAH, NO, I, I, I LIKE THAT TERM THAT YOU USED, PUNISH THE PROCRASTINATORS, AND WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, I, LET'S SEE.

OH, YOU, YOU MENTIONED, UH, 70% OF, UH, ELIGIBLE MM-HMM.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IS VACCINATED RIGHT NOW? SO, GREAT QUESTION.

UM, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BETWEEN 55 AND 60% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

UM, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE TO REPORT OUT EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE WITH THE TOTAL POPULATION, UM, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT OUT COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS, THAT'S WHY YOU'LL SEE THE REFERENCE OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION, THOSE THAT HAVE FULLY VACCINATED, AND THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

AND GET PROOF OF VACCINATION, AND IT COSTS $5.

UM, AND THEN CLAUDE, UH, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS CONTACTED ME OVER THE WEEKEND ON SUNDAY.

THEIR UNCLE, ELDERLY UNCLE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND HE WAS READY TO BE RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND PUT INTO, UH, A REHAB CENTER.

BUT THE REHAB CENTER WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE PATIENT, UH, WITHOUT PROOF OF VACCINATION.

AND, UH, HIS UNCLE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HIS VACCINATION CARD WAS.

HE'S FULLY VACCINATED, DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HIS CARD IS.

SO I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T KNOW THE PROCESS TO GET PROOF OF VACCINATION, WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE MY CONSTITUENT ANY GUIDANCE IN HOW TO FIND, FIND THIS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT METRO HEALTH HAS ACCESS TO A DATABASE.

AND SO IF YOU GOT YOUR VACCINATION THROUGH METRO HEALTH, YOU CAN APPROACH METRO HEALTH

[02:20:01]

UM, BUT THE HOURS ARE LIMITED ON WEEKDAYS.

UM, I THINK MAYBE IT'S LIKE NINE TO THREE.

UM, AND SO THE CONSTITUENT HAD TEXT TEXTED ME THIS MORNING, THEY SAID, I'VE TRIED CALLING THEM ON TUESDAY.

YOU KNOW, YOU WERE CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY, BUT THEY TRIED CALLING ON TUESDAY, ON WEDNESDAY, ON THURSDAY, AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD A RETURN, RETURN PHONE CALL.

AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THE PROCESS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET PROOF OF VACCINATION IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE THEIR, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES AROUND AS THEY AS NEED TO BE TO GET THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED.

COUNCILMAN, WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK ANY SERVICE PROVIDER WITHIN THE STATE HAS ACCESS TO THAT STATE SYSTEM AS WELL.

RIGHT? UM, AND, UM, WHETHER THAT'S A HOSPITAL OR A DOCTOR'S OFFICE OR A SCHOOL NURSE, EVERYBODY'S GOT ACCESS, APPROPRIATE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT STATE SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY THOSE VER THOSE, UH, IMMUNIZATIONS.

BUT IF YOU CAN GIVE, UH, AND CLAUDE THE, THE, THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL, UM, WILL, UH, WILL FOLLOW UP, HAPPY TO DO THAT.

AND THEN, UM, HOW CAN I PROMOTE, UH, ONCE, ONCE THESE GIFT CARDS ARE AVAILABLE, HOW CAN I HELP PROMOTE THAT AND GET THE WORD OUT? ARE, WILL YOU BE PROVIDING US WITH MATERIALS OR DO YOU HAVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO PUBLICIZE THIS? JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CAMPAIGN, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO WORK WITH YOU OR YOUR RESPECTIVE STAFF.

SO KEEP AN EYE OUT.

I WON'T GET YOU THE MATERIALS.

AND THEN WHAT IF SOME OTHER PROVIDER IS OFFERING THE VACCINE? SOMEBODY GOES, MAYBE THERE'S A POPUP CLINIC BY THE TEXAS MILITARY AND THEY'RE GIVING VACCINATIONS OUT AND SOMEBODY SHOWS UP AND, AND OBVIOUS, I WOULD ASSUME THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET ONE OF THESE CARDS IF IT'S NOT METRO HEALTH ADMINISTERING.

IS THAT RIGHT? WE'LL CLARIFY.

THESE ARE ANCHORED TO OUR POP-UP CLINICS AND ADMINISTERED BY THE TEAM AT METRO HEALTH.

WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A GAGGLE OF PROVIDERS OUT THERE ENSURING THAT WE GET SHOTS IN ARMS. SO IT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THE MESSAGING IS VERY CLEAR SO FOLKS KNOW WHICH CLINICS ARE PROVIDING THESE INCENTIVES.

AND THEN ERIC, WE, WE AUTHORIZED, UH, EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE TO GET, UH, $300 IN COMPENSATION.

IS THAT RIGHT? IF THEY GET VACCINATED BY A CERTAIN DATE? YES, SIR.

WE HAD A PROGRAM, UH, THAT, UM, INCENTIVIZED EMPLOYEES THROUGH, UH, THE END OF AUGUST FOR $300 DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 200 AND THE MONTH OF OCTOBER FOR A HUNDRED.

UM, I WILL SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT WE, THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAD, UM, A LITTLE OVER 7,500 EMPLOYEES, UM, REGISTER THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR VACCINES OR THE IMMUNIZATIONS WITH HUMAN RESOURCES.

SO THAT PROGRAM IS CONTINUING, UM, BUT, UH, STAIR STEP DOWN TO $200 DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

RIGHT.

SO, SO IF THIS ISN'T AVAILABLE TILL THE END OF THE SEPTEMBER, THEN THOSE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HUNDRED AND THEN A HUNDRED DOLLARS GIFT CARD, I SUPPOSE.

WELL, IN OCTOBER.

MY, MY, MY VIEWPOINT IS THAT, UM, THERE'S AN INCENTIVE THAT THIS PROGRAM, THAT, THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY IS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

UM, AND CERTAINLY WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE CHECKING CITY IDS, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT OUR OWN PROGRAM, WHICH INCENTIVIZED EMPLOYEES WITH AN INCENTIVE, AND PROBABLY, UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, THE ABILITY FOR, UH, QUARANTINE LEAVE IF THEY TEST POSITIVE.

UM, BECAUSE IF AN EMPLOYEE, UH, AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, IF YOU DID NOT REGISTER WITH THE CITY AS YOUR EMPLOYER, SO THAT WE'RE AWARE, UM, IF YOU TEST POSITIVE AND YOU HAVE TO QUARANTINE, THEN, UM, AS AN EMPLOYEE, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN TIME.

UM, AND SO, UM, THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES.

THIS PROGRAM THAT CLAUDE'S PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY IS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF TOWN THAT YOU SEE, AREAS OF, OF THE COUNTY, UM, WHERE YOU SEE, WE NEED TO MAKE SOME GROUND UP IN TERMS OF THAT PERCENTAGE OF, UM, OF, UH, PEOPLE VACCINATED.

THANK YOU, CLAUDE.

THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

COUNCILMAN BRAVO.

COUNCILMAN EZ.

COUNCILMAN, YOU'RE ON MUTE.

UM, I'M GONNA INVITE ALL OF YOU, AND I'LL SEND A LINK TO THE ARTICLE.

THERE'S A, THERE'S AN APRIL OF 2021 ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS BY A BIOETHICIST NAMED NANCY CHECKER, UM, THAT REALLY PUT IN FOCUS FOR ME WHY I THINK, UH, PAYING A MILLION DOLLARS, $400 GIFT CARDS IS A MISTAKE.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THAT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT I, AND I'M GONNA READ, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ONE PORTION OF THIS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME, UM, PAYING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED HOLDS THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS PRODUCED, THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS PRODUCED UNPRECEDENTED RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DISTRESS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY.

THEREFORE, PAYING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED IS MANIPULATIVE MORE SO NOW THAN IN, THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD

[02:25:01]

BE.

UM, AND WITH THE US UNEMPLOYMENT AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, FAR FEWER PEOPLE PERCEIVE THEMSELVES TO BE FREE TO REFUSE PAYMENT.

THEY NEED THE MONEY TO PAY BILLS AND PURCHASE FOOD.

AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST JOBS OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE AN OFFER OF PAYMENT FOR VACCINATION, MIGHT BE EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO TURN DOWN, ESPECIALLY IN THE US, WHICH LACKS AN ADEQUATE SAFETY NET TO HELP PEOPLE WHO, WHO ARE POOR AND UNEMPLOYED PAYMENT IS COERCING.

SO, I I, I, I THINK THAT FOR ME, AFTER HAVING READ THIS ARTICLE AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT IT, I FEEL LIKE VOTING FOR THIS WOULD BE, UH, TAKING A PATRONIZING STANCE, UM, AND SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE, UH, TO THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T TRUST VACCINES.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LUNATICS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO JUST HAVE A, A GENERAL MISTRUST OF, OF GOVERNMENT AND, YOU KNOW, BIG PHARMA AND ALL THAT.

AND SO, UM, AND I, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS, THIS SMACKS OF, OF PATERNALISM AND, UM, AND IT TREATS ADULTS LIKE CHILDREN.

UM, I, I THINK IT ALSO IS GONNA REINFORCE IN THEIR MINDS THAT THERE IS A RISK, WHAT THEY'RE PAYING ME TO DO THIS, RIGHT? IF IT WASN'T RISKY, THEY WOULDN'T BE PAYING ME.

UM, AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT A BETTER WAY TO APPROACH THIS IS TO BUILD TRUST AND RESPECT THESE FOLKS AND SITTING DOWN WITH THEM AND WORKING HARDER AND ON, UH, YOU KNOW, OVERCOMING THEIR OBJECTIONS AND LISTENING TO THEIR CONCERNS.

UM, I DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IDEA THAT PAYING ADULTS IS GONNA WORK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, GIVING CANDY TO KIDS WORKS, THEREFORE IT MUST, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THESE ADULTS.

AND ERIC, YOU SAID THAT THIS IS GONNA HELP US IN THOSE PARTS OF TOWN WHERE WE NEED TO GAIN GROUND.

I MEAN, THOSE PARTS OF TOWN ARE THE, THE PARTS OF TOWN ADDRESSED BY THIS VERY ARTICLE.

POOR PEOPLE.

AND I, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT PREYING ON THEIR, UH, WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE PREYING ON THEIR, ON THEIR UNSOPHISTICATION, BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS THE END RESULT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S OUR INTENTION.

I THINK THE INTENTION IS RIGHT, AND IT COMES FROM A GOOD PLACE IN THE HEART, BUT I'M NOT GONNA VOTE ON THIS ONE, GUYS.

I, I, I, I THINK THERE'S A BIOETHICAL PROBLEM HERE.

THANKS, COUNCILMAN.

I, YOU KNOW, I, IT, IT, YOU RAISE A, YOU RAISE A VERY GOOD POINT.

AND, AND, UM, AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN THE POSITION OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS OF DOING THINGS A LOT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE'VE HAD TO DO BEFORE.

UM, YOU SEE ELEMENTS OF THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S THE POLICY DISCUSSION THAT, THAT, THAT THE COUNCIL CAN DECIDE, UM, FROM, FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT AND FROM THE CITY MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.

ANYTHING WE NEED TO DO TO HELP PEOPLE AND HELP THIS COMMUNITY GET THROUGH WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, UM, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE INTERESTED IN PURSUING, AND I KNOW THAT, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF POLITICAL MACHINATIONS AND, AND MAYBE ETHICAL VIOL OR ETHICAL POSITIONS, BUT, UM, WE DO FEEL LIKE THAT, UH, AS MANY TOOLS IN THE TOOL CHEST THAT WE CAN HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMBAT THIS.

UM, CLAUDE, 84% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW ARE UNVACCINATED, UH, THE LAST THREE EMPLOYEES THAT, UM, THAT DIED WERE UNVACCINATED.

THE SIX EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW ARE, ARE, ARE LIKELY UNVACCINATED.

SO, UM, ANYTHING WE CAN DO, BUT I DO THINK WE DO, WE, WE NEED TO RESPECT, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE MESSAGING IS VERY CLEAR.

UM, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PREY ON ANYBODY OR TAKE ADVANTAGE, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TOOLS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED US.

THERE'S AN INSTALLMENT AND WE'LL MONITOR IT.

AND TO BE VERY CLEAR, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, I, I, I THINK THAT THIS COMES FROM A NOBLE PLAY, A NOBLE PLACE.

I THINK EVERYBODY'S HEARTENED IS A RIGHT IN THE RIGHT PLACE ON THIS ONE.

UM, I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE UNVACCINATED RATES, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS, ONCE I, ONCE I READ WHAT I'M, WHAT I JUST, WHAT I'M GONNA TEXT YOU LATER, GUYS, UM, I, I THINK THAT, UM, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS LONG AND HARD AS WELL, AND I, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN PLYS ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR, UH, AND YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S, UH, AGAIN, YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY, WHAT'S A RETURN ON INVESTMENT? YOU KNOW, ARE WE REALLY GONNA CONVINCE PEOPLE WITH A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GO OUT AND GET SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO GET TO THIS POINT? IS THAT GONNA, IS THAT GONNA REALLY CHANGE THEIR MIND? SO I'M, I'M WILLING TO STEP UP AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE IT A TRY AND, AND SEE HOW THIS GOES.

BUT, UH, I'M GONNA BE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE USED.

IS IT GONNA BE USED IF WE BUY 10,000 CARDS AND WE ONLY GET A COUPLE THOUSAND PEOPLE TO GET 'EM? WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CARDS THEN? DO WE GET A REIMBURSEMENT FOR 'EM? CAN WE GET THAT MONEY BACK FROM H E B? UM, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILMAN.

I HOPE, UM, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVELY.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE'S, UH, CERTAINLY AS PART OF THE CONTRACT WITH H E B, UM, I'M, I'M ALMOST POSITIVE WE'RE NOT GONNA GO OVER THERE THIS AFTERNOON AND GIVE THEM A CHECK FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

I'M SURE

[02:30:01]

UM, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE.

AND WE'LL KEEP THE COUNCIL APPRISED AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MAY MAYBE, MAYBE WE WON'T USE ANY OF THEM, RIGHT? BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

AND I THINK, UM, IT'LL BE THERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF, UH, STUDIES OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, AND CLAUDE MENTIONED SEVERAL OF 'EM THAT WE LOOKED AT, UM, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY WORKED AND, AND REALLY HAD THE EFFECT OF MOVING THE NEEDLE.

UM, SOME HAVE, UM, AND OTHERS HAVEN'T.

AND, UM, BUT, BUT IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOL CHEST FOR US.

AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE VERY CAUTIOUSLY AS WE, AS WE IMPLEMENT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS IN THE TOOL CHEST, UH, THAT, AND I, AGAIN, I'M, I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY, BUT IF WE DON'T USE ALL THESE THINGS, I HOPE WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THE, IN THE AGREEMENT OR THE CONTRACT THAT WE CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR WHAT WE DON'T USE.

AND OTHERWISE, UH, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH ALL THOSE CARDS? WE CERTAINLY WILL.

CONTRACTUALLY, YES, SIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

UH, YOU KNOW, I, I FORGOT TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, CLAUDE, AND I SEE IN HERE THAT, UH, THIS IS FOR DISTRIBUTION BEFORE JUNE 30TH, 2024.

AND I'M WONDERING WHY WE CHOSE A DATE THREE YEARS OUT.

I'M HOPING, I'M HOPING, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A TYPO.

LOOK, , THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE WAS AS THOUGH THAT MIGHT BE A TYPO.

UM, I CAN ANSWER THAT.

GO AHEAD.

SO JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS PART OF, UH, DIFFERENT ROUNDS OF FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDS.

SURE.

SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S THE TIME PERIOD FOR THAT PARTICULAR GRANT.

SO THIS IS A SUBSET OF THAT GRANT.

WHICH RUNS FROM JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2024.

YEAH, I MEAN, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE, GET THEM ALL DONE BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

NO, NO, JUST KNOW IT'S THE FUNDING STREAM.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE POINT THE, THIS IS ROLLING OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THIS OUT THE DOOR.

RIGHT.

THAT'S CLARIFYING THE FUNDING STREAM.

SO IF WE WEREN'T USING THIS, SO THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS, THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

IF WE DIDN'T USE THIS FOR THIS PURPOSE, WOULD WE HAVE ACCESS TO THESE DOLLARS STILL? AGAIN, WE WILL REVISIT THE CONTRACT TO SEE WHAT IT ALLOWS, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL FUNDING STREAM FROM THE FEDS.

C COUNCILMAN, ASK YOUR QUESTION AGAIN.

SO IF WE DIDN'T USE THIS FE, THESE, THIS MILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR THIS PURPOSE, IS THAT, IS THAT THE ONLY PURPOSE THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR OR WOULD BE? NO, IT'S PART OF, IT'S PART OF A, A FEDERAL GRANT THAT EXPIRES IN 2024.

UM, AND, UH, ONCE WE RECEIVED THE MONEY, UH, THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHANGED AND ALERTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT RECEIVED THAT A PART OF THIS MONEY COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES.

AND THAT'S WHEN, UH, CLAUDE MENTIONED THAT WE WENT BACK TO THE FUNDER, BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, THEY REQUIRED, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO GO BACK TO GET SPECIFIC APPROVAL.

WE WENT BACK THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND THEN BRINGING IT FORWARD TO YOU.

WELL, YEAH, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WHICH I THINK YOU ARE.

KNOW THAT THE CORONAVIRUS HAS HIGHLIGHTED THOSE HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING VERY HARD TO CLOSE THE GAP.

COUNCILMAN BRAVO.

COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL, THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM.

UM, AND THANK YOU, UH, CLAUDE FOR ANSWERING ALL OF ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.

AND I JUST, UM, WANTED TO, TO RESPOND TO, UH, COUNCILMAN BALA'S COMMENT, UH, WHILE WE'RE IN OPEN SESSION AND, AND TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HIS, HIS POSITION, UH, ON THIS.

UM, BUT AS, AS SOMEONE WHO DID ATTEND, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH SCHOOL, I JUST WANNA SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES IN CHANGING HEALTH BEHAVIOR.

AND THE COUNCILMAN IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN TERMS OF EDUCATION BEING SO MUCH MORE, UH, SO, SO IMPORTANT AS WELL.

AS WE KNOW, THIS CITY HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN TRYING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS VACCINATION.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THIS PARTICULAR PANDEMIC AND THIS PARTICULAR VIRUS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY OF TIME TO, UM, TO FIND ALL THE WAYS THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND HOPE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE WAY THAT THEY WILL DECIDE TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

UM, OUR DEATH TOLL, OUR HOSPITAL COUNT IS SHOWING US THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT TIME.

UM, WHAT WE ALSO SEE IS, IN PARTICULAR, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MANIPULATING PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE MONEY, THAT USUALLY HAS TO DO WITH FUNDING, GIVING THEM FUNDING FOR PARTICIPATING IN CLINICAL TRIALS, LIKE THEY ARE CERTAINLY MORE LIKELY TO BE PREYED UPON FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, CHANGING A HEALTH BEHAVIOR THAT COULD IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ALSO HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES.

AND IF WE KNOW ANYTHING, IT'S THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS HEALTH DISPARITIES AND WE

[02:35:01]

UM, SO WHAT I AM VERY HOPEFUL OF IS THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS INCENTIVE WILL ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO MAY HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING THEIR VACCINE.

UM, WE'LL GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL WHO WERE NOT NECESSARILY, UH, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN VRAN SAID THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY ANTI-VAXXERS.

UM, BUT THEY MAY HAVE HAD OTHER REASONS.

SOME OF IT WAS LACK OF TRUST, BUT SOME OF THEM JUST SAID, I SIMPLY NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT.

WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE A HUNDRED DOLLARS, THEY MAY ACTUALLY GET AROUND TO DOING SOMETHING, UM, FOR, FOR THEIR HEALTH.

UM, AND THEN LASTLY, THE USE OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES HAS ALSO BEEN RECORDED TO, UM, TO CHANGE FUTURE HEALTH BEHAVIORS.

SO I'M ALSO HOPEFUL THAT THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAM WILL MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT, UH, MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DIDN'T GET OTHER TYPES OF VACCINES OR TO OTHER TYPES OF HEALTH PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO, TO, TO TAKE THAT UP.

UM, SO WHILE WE CERTAINLY DO NOT WANNA MANIPULATE THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE, UH, DOWN ON THEIR LUCK AND DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBLE MONEY, THIS IS ACTUALLY, UM, I THINK A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL, UH, A VERY, A TOOL THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO TRY, UH, WHEN WE SEE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ITEM.

WELL, I MADE THE MOTION, AS YOU KNOW.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.

AND I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH MY COMMENTS TODAY.

AND SO THE ARTICLE IN THE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS AT COUNCIL MEMBER PAL SENT, WE, WE CAN DOWNLOAD IT FOR $40, YOU ALL.

SO I JUST OPENED THE ABSTRACT, AND, UM, IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE'S A SECOND SECTION THAT CONSIDERS ARGUMENTS FAVORING PAYMENT, INCLUDING ARGUMENTS APPEALING TO THE HEALTH EQUITY, CONSISTENCY BEING WORTH THE COST, RESPECT FOR AUTONOMY, GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND THE ENDS JUSTIFYING THE MEANS AND THE THREAT OF MUTANT STRAINS.

AND SO, UM, WITH THAT SAID, UH, THERE'S ALSO AN URGENCY OF GETTING, UM, SITES ON LONG-TERM GOALS INSTEAD OF STRONG AND, AND BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL.

SO, UM, I CAN'T WAIT, UH, UH, TO SEE THAT PART OF IT AS WELL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I, UM, MISSED THAT.

THERE'S TWO OTHER FOLKS IN THE QUEUE BEFORE WE GO ON.

SO, UM, UH, THANK YOU CLAUDE, AGAIN FOR THE INFORMATION.

I APPRECIATE IT.

UM, WE HAVE EPI REPORTS THAT ARE SENT OUT, AND I ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF HOW I GET MY WHEATIES, RIGHT? I I, I LOOK AT THOSE REPORTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR SENDING THOSE OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS, OH, I'M SORRY, IT WAS COUNCILMAN PAL.

COUNCILMAN PEZ.

GO AHEAD.

THANK, THANK YOU.

AND, AND I, I'LL TELL YOU, THE END RESULT OF TODAY'S VOTE IS THAT WE ALL WIN.

I, I THINK, UH, UH, A ROBUST CONVERSATION ON ETHICS, UM, IS ALWAYS, UH, GONNA LEAVE US BETTER OFF.

AND, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

UM, AND YEAH, THE, THE, THE ARTICLE IS A, UM, IS A COMPARE AND CONTRAST BETWEEN ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST.

UM, THE ABSTRACT IS FASCINATING.

I'LL PAY THE EXTRA 40 BUCKS, I'LL SEND IT Y'ALL'S WAY, UM, AND NEVER UNDERESTIMATE ADRIANA ROCHA'S ABILITY TO READ MASS AMOUNTS OF TEXTS VERY QUICKLY.

UH, BUT ERIC, I, UH, UH, AND CLAUDE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE, THAT I UNDERSCORE THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.

UM, AND YOU GUYS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE, AND I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS GOT THANKED ENOUGH, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

AND ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND MY NEIGHBORS, THANK YOU.

IT'S, IT DOESN'T SAY, IT, IT, IT DOESN'T GET SAID ENOUGH AND IT DOESN'T GET SAID LOUDLY ENOUGH.

UH, BUT, UM, I, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T END THIS MEETING WITHOUT RECOGNIZING Y'ALL'S WORK.

THANKS.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PALAI.

UM, AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE IN THE QUEUE.

CAN SOMEBODY CONFIRM THAT? WE'RE GOOD? OKAY.

NOBODY ELSE IS IN THE QUEUE.

AND, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, CLAUDE AND EVERYBODY WHO'S TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, UM, ERIC FER ALWAYS BEING SO RESPONSIVE AS WELL TO, UM, SOME OF OUR IDEAS, UH, R O I WAS BROUGHT UP.

AND TO ME, R O I IS SAVING A LIFE, AND THAT THAT'S AS IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT, WE'LL TAKE UP THE MOTION, UH, FOR APPROVAL ON THIS ITEM.

MOTION PASSES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.

UM, THAT IS ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, UH, SAY FOR OUR CITY MANAGER'S

[28. City Manager’s Report]

REPORT.

SO LEMME TURN IT OVER TO ERIC WALSH.

FESTIVAL, UH, THAT STARTED ON WEDNESDAY, UH, SEPTEMBER 8TH AND RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12TH THIS SUNDAY, UH, THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE, UM, AT OUR, UH, WORLD HERITAGE THROUGH OUR WORLD HERITAGE OFFICE.

UH, TWO ITEMS TODAY, ONE ON ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHT THAT, UM, THE FIVE DAY

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IT'S THE SIXTH ANNUAL WORLD HERITAGE FESTIVAL.

UM, IT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT IN COORDINATION WITH, UH, BEXAR COUNTY, THE RIVER AUTHORITY, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, UM, AND OUR, UH, THE ALAMO MISSION HERITAGE PARTNERS.

UM, AND, UH, THE EVENT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR NONPROFITS AND PR AND PROJECTS THAT PRESERVE, MAINTAIN, AND PROMOTE AND CONNECT, UM, OUR MISSION AREA.

AND SO I WOULD, UM, ENCOURAGE, UH, COUNCIL TO, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CALENDAR OF EVENTS.

UM, THERE WAS A PACKAGE THAT WAS DELIVERED TO ALL YOUR OFFICES EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IT'S A GREAT ACTIVITY, UM, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GREAT WEATHER THIS WEEKEND.

AND THE SECOND ITEM IS OUR EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT, UH, VIDEO OF, UM, A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JEFF MOORE.

JEFF IS OUR JEFF.

I'VE KNOWN JEFF FOR A LONG TIME, AND I WAS, UM, IF HE'S WATCHING, I WAS TAKEN ABACK WHEN I WATCHED THE VIDEO BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW JEFF MOORE, WHO HAS BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS, IS THE FOUNDER OF SS A T X SOCIAL RIDE, WHICH STARTED 10 YEARS AGO.

UM, AND, UH, BRINGS TOGETHER SEVERAL HUNDRED BICYCLISTS EACH TUESDAY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.

UM, AND, UM, THEY, UH, I WAS, I WAS IMPRESSED TO KNOW THAT, THAT JEFF, UM, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE WORK HE DOES FOR THE CITY, WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING SPONSORS.

SO LET'S RUN THE VIDEO.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE OFF FROM THE FLORIS STREET RIGHT BEHIND ME IN ABOUT THREE MINUTES.

FLORENCE STREET FROM IN FRONT OF THE NEW BRASS TOWER.

THREE MINUTES.

I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR ALMOST 21 YEARS.

I WORKED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT.

UH, THE PEOPLE CREW, THE CIVILIAN SIDE, THE UNIFORM SIDE, IT'S JUST A BLAST.

AND IT, IT ALWAYS GIVE YOU A SENSE OF, UH, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS IMPORTANT, URGENT SOMETIMES, AND, BUT IMPORTANT.

THERE'S ALWAYS A THANKFULNESS ABOUT THAT.

HE REACHES OUT, COLLECTS DATA.

GENERALLY WE CAN ASK HIM FOR A FOOTPRINT OF A CERTAIN AREA OR AN EMERGENCY IS OCCURRING IF HE CAN PROVIDE A LINK OR AN UPDATE OR A MAP IMMEDIATELY TO WHERE WE CAN RESPOND SAFELY WITH THAT PLANNING DATA NEXUS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY ARRIVE TO THE SCENE.

I'M GRATEFUL I HAD THAT JOB.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I LUCKED INTO IT.

YOU KNOW, MY BACKGROUND'S IN GEOGRAPHY, SO FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE DEMOGRAPHY, UM, OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT KIND OF HELPS OUT WHEN I PLAN MY BIKE ROUTES AS WELL.

ABOUT, UH, 20 YEARS AGO, I MOVED CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN AND I STARTED RIDING MY BIKE DOWNTOWN AND BRINGING FRIENDS DOWNTOWN.

AND THAT TURNED FROM A COUPLE OF FRIENDS INTO, UH, A COUPLE DOZEN.

AND THEN WE STARTED A GROUP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT BECAME A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE EVERY TUESDAY.

JEFF IS REALLY AN AMAZING PERSON.

HE'S VERY INCREDIBLY HUMBLE.

UM, HE DOESN'T TAKE ALL THAT CREDIT THAT HE'S GROWN, THIS WHOLE BIKING COMMUNITY.

WE APPRECIATE JEFF SO MUCH.

HE'S PART OF OUR FAMILY .

JEFF IS A CAN-DO PERSON.

HE'S WHAT I CALL A CLOSER.

YOU GIVE HIM A TASK AND HE HAS IT DONE IMMEDIATELY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITIES.

AND THAT'S A GREAT RESOURCE TO THE CITY.

SO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, JEFF, UH, DID WIN THE, UM, 2021 CYCLING ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR FROM EARN ABIKE THIS YEAR.

AND, UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO JEFF AND, AND, UM, UM, REALLY PROUD OF WHAT HE'S DONE OUTSIDE HIS NORMAL CITY JOB.

THANKS.

WERE FACING THE PENTAGON.

UM, I CONFESS, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW JEFF WAS A CITY EMPLOYEE.

I KNOW HIM THROUGH S A T X.

SO, UM, UH, THERE IS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY, BUT BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY FOR SOME COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

YOU KNOW, AT AT THE BEGINNING OF TODAY'S SESSION, UH, WE HEARD, UH, SEVERAL TESTIMONIALS ABOUT NINE 11, AND, UM, WANTED TO SHARE MINE AS WELL.

AND, UM, I DON'T WANT TO GET EMOTIONAL UP HERE AND I'LL TRY NOT TO, BUT, UH, UM, I WAS ACTUALLY UP THERE IN DC AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE CHIEF WAS, UH, UH, UP THERE PARTICIPATING IN, IN ALL THE ACTION THAT WAS GOING ON UP THERE.

I WAS, I WAS, UM, UH, WORKING FOR A COMPANY AND WE WERE PUTTING A PROPOSAL TOGETHER FOR SOME WORK FOR RIGHT HERE AT FORT SAM.

AND, UH, UH, I WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM THE PENTAGON.

AND, AND, UH, UH, WHEN ALL THE ACTIONS STARTED WITH THE TOWERS, UH, WE ALL RUSHED INTO A CONFERENCE ROOM TO START WATCHING WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY BROKE IN ABOUT, UH, THE WORDS OF THE PENTAGON.

AND WE, WE

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WE RAN OUT IN THE HALLWAYS AND LOOKED, AND SURE ENOUGH, I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS A MESS OVER THERE.

AND, UH, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE SMOKE, BLACK SMOKE, UH, AND NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A, LIKE A TRUCK BOMB OR, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER AIRPLANE, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND THEN THEY FIGURED OUT, YEAH, IT, IT MUST HAVE BEEN IN AN AIRPLANE, ALTHOUGH NOBODY SAW IT.

IT WAS JUST REALLY STRANGE.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, UM, WE GET NOTIFIED.

WE WERE IN SOME GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, THERE WERE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICES WERE, WE WERE ACTUALLY WORKING AT, AND THEN WE GET NOTICED TO ACTUALLY EVACUATE THE BUILDING BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER PLANE COMING IN TOWARDS DC.

AND SO WE EVACUATED OUT OF THE BUILDING, AND BY THAT TIME, THERE WAS GRIDLOCK IN THE ROADS.

PEOPLE WERE RUNNING, LITERALLY RUNNING OUTTA THEIR BUILDINGS DOWN THE ROAD TO GET AWAY FROM FACILITIES THAT THEY WERE WORKING IN.

AND, UH, I CAN TELL YOU, IT WAS COMPLETE CHAOS.

UM, WE, WE DID GO DOWN THE ROAD, QUITE A PIECE TO, UH, GET AWAY FROM THE FACILITIES.

AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS NO PHONE COMMUNICATIONS BY THEN.

UH, ALL THE LANDLINES AND CELL PHONES WERE TOTALLY TIED UP.

YOU COULDN'T CALL TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, COULDN'T GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FAMILIES.

THEY WERE TRYING TO CALL IN SAYING, DAD, THEY KNEW I WAS THERE AT THE PENTAGON, AND THEY WERE SAYING, HEY, DAD, ARE YOU OKAY? AND THAT, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THROUGH TO ME AS WELL.

SO, UH, I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT AFFECTED MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME THIS DATE COMES AROUND, IT, IT, IT PERSONALLY, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO BE, UH, TO HAVE WITNESSED THAT AND BE A PART OF THAT, NOT KNOWING IF YOU'RE GONNA, UM, BE A TARGET, UH, FOR TERRORISTS COMING IN AND, AND TAKING OUT MORE US CITIZENS.

SO THAT WAS A DAY.

AND THEN IT WASN'T JUST THAT DAY, I WAS LOCKED DOWN THERE FOR, I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY DAYS, BUT GOING, THE RESTAURANT IN THE, UH, HOTEL THAT WE WERE STAYING AT HAD A, UH, THE RESTAURANT ON THE TOP FLOOR AND OVERLOOKING THE PENTAGON.

SO HAD TO SEE THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT UNTIL I FINALLY GOT OUT OF THE CITY.

BUT BY THAT TIME, THE, IT WAS LIKE MARTIAL LAW.

THERE WAS, UM, MILITARY, YOU COULD HEAR THE TRUCKS MOVING IN THAT NIGHT, AND MILITARY GOT DEPLOYED AND BASICALLY SHUT THE CITY DOWN AND CONTROLLED EVERYTHING THAT, ALL YOUR MOVEMENTS.

YOU HAD TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.

NIGHTTIME, YOU COULDN'T GO OUT.

IT, IT WAS BASICALLY MARTIAL LAW.

AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS MY PERSONAL STORY.

I DID WANNA POINT OUT, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE, UH, TOWERS AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE AS WELL AS THE PENTAGON, BUT THERE WAS ONE OTHER AIRPLANE THERE THAT I CONSIDER TO HAVE BEEN CARRYING HEROES THAT THEY ACTUALLY FOUGHT BACK.

AND THAT'S WHERE THAT AMERICAN SPIRIT COMES IN, THAT YOU DON'T TAKE THAT KIND OF THING, JUST SIT, SITTING BACK AND TAKING IT.

THEY ACTUALLY FOUGHT BACK THAT ACTUALLY CAUSED THAT AIRPLANE TO CRASH.

AND THEY PROBABLY KNEW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, BUT THEY TRIED ANYWAY, UH, TO CHANGE THE SITUATION AND TO CHANGE THEIR FATE.

SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT AS MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY.

I'M THANKFUL TO GOD EVERY DAY THAT I WAS SAFE AND MY FAMILY, AND, UM, BUT I ALWAYS REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE THAT, UM, LOST THEIR LIVES, BOTH THE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT, UH, WENT OUT THERE ON THOSE THAT DAY AND FOLLOWING DAYS TO HELP COMBAT THE TERRORISM THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, THAT MOMENT WITH YOU, THAT, UH, THAT'S MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY ON, ON THAT DAY AS WELL AND FOLLOWING DAYS.

THANK YOU, SIR.