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ALRIGHT, UM, WE HAVE, UH, THE BIG ITEM TODAY IS GOING TO BE OUR SAWS, UH, APPOINTMENTS.
UH, BUT BEFORE THAT WE DO HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA AS WELL AS A MINUTES APPROVAL FROM AUGUST 27TH.
[1. Approval of minutes from August 27, 2021.]
UH, FROM AUGUST 27TH, 2021.I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 27TH, 2021 GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION, CLARIFICATIONS, HEARING NONE.
UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE SAWS APPOINTMENTS, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UM, GET TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
UM, AS YOU WILL NOTE, UH, THERE ARE THREE CCRS THAT WE ARE MOVING, UM, THROUGH NOW THAT OUR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE AND THE EMERGENCY REPORT IS, UM, ALREADY COMPLETED.UH, THERE ARE THREE CCRS ITEMS, THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE RELATED TO THE EMERGENCY REPORT AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
UM, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND READ THOSE CAPTIONS FOR THOSE THREE ITEMS AND WE CAN TAKE UP A MOTION TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD, UH, ALTOGETHER AND THEY'RE GONNA GO TO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
UM, I UNDERSTANDING, MARIA, DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE THOSE? SURE.
I CAN JUST BRIEFLY, UM, MENTION THE, UM, MAYOR.
SO ITEM NUMBER THREE IS THE CTR FROM COUNCILMAN PERRY.
AND THIS IS ASKING FOR THE CREATION OF EMERGENCY COMMITTEE GUIDE.
AND WE RECOMMENDING THAT TO TAKE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE.
UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A C R FROM, UM, COUNCILMAN
AND THIS IS REQUESTING THAT WE SYNCHRONIZE CITY COUNCIL OFFICES WITH EMERGENCY ACTIVITY PLANS AND PROTOCOLS FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
WE HAVE, UM, PLANS TO DO SO AS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
SO THAT, UM, WILL BE EXECUTED AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT, THAT IT'S ADDRESSED WITH THE FULL CITY COUNCIL, UM, DURING THE 2021 PLAN CITY COUNCIL SESSION THAT WILL HAVE, UH, THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A C C R FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DR.
AND THIS IS ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL ACTIONS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 ADOPTED BUDGET.
SO SOME OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE REPORTING TO THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
AND, UH, WE ALSO RECOMMEND TO REPORT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FISCAL YEAR 2022 WORK PLAN ON A QUARTERLY BASIS THAT ADDRESSES THE REQUEST FROM THE C C R.
SO THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION, MAYOR.
UM, SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND OPEN DISCUSSION ON ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS. UM, AND THEN ACTUALLY LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, TO MOVE ITEM THREE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
UH, ITEM FOUR, THE C C R FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LIAS WILL GO TO FULL COUNSEL.
AND THEN ITEM FIVE, THE C C R FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RO GARCIA WILL GO TO MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE, UH, PUBLIC, UM, MOTION FOR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND FOR MOVING THOSE CCRS TOWARDS THE RESPECTFUL COMMITTEES AND ANY DISCUSSION.
TWO OF THE THREE OFFICERS HERE.
UM, BUT THE DISCUSSION WILL BE COMMITTEE.
SO, SORRY, I DON'T NEED TO RESTATE OF THAT.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, UH, IS IT, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE NUMBER FOUR PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL? AND WE CAN JUST DO ALL, ALL COORDINATED THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY? UM, SO FOR NUMBER FOUR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, THE REASON WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL IS THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO A ORIENTATION MEETING AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER LIKE WE DO EVERY TIME.
WE HAVE, UH, NEW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
AND WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS REQUESTING ON HIS C C R IS, UM, REALLY TO PROVIDE THE FULL, UM, ALL THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICERS SYNCHRONIZING OUR
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PLANS AND PROTOCOLS.SO WE, THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE FELT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THAT WITH THE FULL COUNCIL.
WE CAN DEFINITELY ALSO BRING UPDATES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, COMMITTEE.
YOU DON'T SEE A BENEFIT OF IT GOING THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AND THEN PUBLIC, I MEAN, A COUNCIL, WE, WE, WE CAN COUNCILMAN IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU.
I MEAN, IF THAT, IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE A, A STOP THERE, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, WELL, I DON'T WANNA SLOW IT DOWN, BUT, UM, JUST BECAUSE THESE THREE ARE, ARE PRETTY SIMILARLY.
IF THEY SIMILAR, IT WON'T WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP THINGS MOVING.
YEAH, WE'LL KEEP THINGS MOVING.
AND THEN THE LAST THING IS NUMBER ON NUMBER FIVE.
ARE WE GOING TO, IS IT GONNA GO TO UTILITIES FIRST AND THEN PUBLIC SAFETY? DID I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? SHORT, COUNCILMAN? SO IT'LL GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST 'CAUSE WE WANNA PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE WITH A, UH, PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.
AND AS WE IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE 24 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLAN, WE WILL BE REPORTING TO THE UTILITIES COMMITTEE SPECIFICALLY JUST ON THOSE 24 RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT WE'LL GO TO, TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FIRST TO LAY OUT THE ENTIRE PLAN.
WELL, I WON'T, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE IT.
I WAS, I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAB, HARVARD COUNCIL MEMBER FLIES.
YEAH, SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I, I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER TO IT.
UM, AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE, UH, LIVING WITH YOU.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THE RESULT WILL BE PERFECT AND I FEEL GREAT ABOUT IT COMING TO CITY COUNCIL.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THE RESULT WILL BE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED.
THE IDEA HERE WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR OFFICES WHEN RECEIVING A CALL FROM A CONSTITUENT WAS ABLE TO FLUENTLY TALK ABOUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND WHAT THE CITY CAN DO IS DOING SHOULD DO, OR WHAT IT WON'T DO.
UM, TO KNOW THE LIMITS OF OUR, UH, OF, OF OUR ABILITIES.
UM, AND THEN TO GIVE US THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, ALSO WEIGH IN ON EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS AND BE TRAINED UP THE WAY THAT CITY STAFF IS TRAINED UP.
BECAUSE SO OFTEN WE WERE LEFT WITH, I DON'T KNOW, AS THE ONLY ANSWER WE COULD GIVE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I, I WANNA MAKE SURE NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN WHERE THAT CONVERSATION LIVES.
I DON'T KNOW,
WELL, I WAS GONNA MAKE A COMMENT JUST ENDORSING WHAT YOU SAID.
UH, YOU KNOW, DURING THE, UH, WINTER STORM, I AND MY STAFF WERE AS KNOWLEDGEABLE AS THE AVERAGE PERSON ON THE STREET.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE WHOLE EMERGENCY PROCESS.
SO, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MY TEAM, UH, GETTING A GOOD BRIEFING AND HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH, IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND AT LEAST MYSELF AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF, BEING ABLE TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE, I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT LAST WINTER STORM.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK COMING TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL AND GETTING THE WHOLE COUNCIL INVOLVED IS IMPORTANT.
I, I, I REALLY JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY IT WOULDN'T GO THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I THINK IN THE DISCUSSION, I UNDERSTAND, I, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL KEEP IT QUICK, BUT JUST BY VIRTUE OF GOING THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'LL DELAY IT SOMEWHAT, EVEN IF A WEEK.
AND I DON'T WANT TO, UH, I WANNA KEEP IT IN ITS PUREST FORM, I GUESS, TO GO, UM, NOT TO GO THROUGH A COMMITTEE.
I, I, I THINK I'M HAPPY WITH IT.
UH, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, SO IF I'M HEARING CORRECTLY, THEN THE, THEN THE RECOMMENDATION WILL, WILL MOVE FORWARD AS, AS IS, UH, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND, UM, ON THOSE THREE ITEMS, MOVING FORWARD TO THE RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES OR TO THE FULL COUNSEL IN THE CASE OF NUMBER FOUR, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, WE'LL NOW GET INTO ITEM TWO.
[2. Consideration and recommendation of applicants for the Southeast Quadrant of the San Antonio Water System Board of Trustees, reappointment of David McGee (Northeast Quadrant), Eduardo Parra (Northwest Quadrant), Amy Hardberger (Southwest Quadrant) and Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison as Chair. [Office of the City Clerk]]
WE BRING IN OUR CANDIDATES, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE REAPPOINTMENTS.UH, FIRST OF, UM, DAVID MCGEE, EDUARDO PARO, AND AMY HARDBERGER.
UM, THERE IS ALSO THE REAPPOINTMENT AS CHAIR OF, UH, JAINE LEBLANC JAMESON.
UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE BRING ALL THREE OF THE REAPPOINTMENTS BACK TOGETHER.
UH, GIVE THEM TWO TO THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT.
WE'LL GO AROUND FOR QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY, AND THEN, UM, UH, WE CAN, UH, DELIBERATE ON THAT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE NEW APPOINTMENT AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PROCESS? SO WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO, UM, A MOTION OR, OR WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP A DECISION ON THE REAPPOINTMENTS AS WELL AS THE SOUTHEAST, SOUTHEAST SECTOR ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
SO JUST AT THE VERY END, AFTER THE EXACT SESSION, WELL COULD, COULD WE BREAK IT INTO TWO PARTS? AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND POSSIBLY REAFFIRM, REAPPOINT THESE AND THEN DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION.
[00:10:01]
I MEAN, WE, WE COULD, WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO GO IN EXEC TWICE.I MEAN, IT WOULD JUST TAKE LONGER.
I WOULD BE READY TO MAKE ANY MOTION TO REAPPOINT WITHOUT EXEC SESSION DELIBERATION.
ANDY, UM, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT CONSENSUS? UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND JUST, UM, BUT TWO EXECS OR ONE DOESN'T MATTER.
ALL GO AHEAD AND BRING OUR FOLKS BACK.
I KNOW ROBERT'S RULE SAYS, ONLY BE AS STRICT AS YOU HAVE TO BE.
UM, I THINK THIS WILL BE SOMEWHAT PAINLESS FOR YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, UH, BEFORE.
UH, BUT WELCOME TO OUR, UH, BOARD TRUSTEES FOR SAS, NORTHEAST QUADRANT, DAVID MCGEE, NORTHWEST QUADRANT, EDUARDO PARRA, AMY HARDBERGER IN THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT.
UH, ALL THREE OF YOU ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
UM, AND SO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE'S GONNA MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
UH, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO WELCOME YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UM, OFFER THE FLOOR TO EACH OF YOU FOR A TWO TO THREE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT IF YOU'D LIKE.
WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY ACTUALLY FIELD ALL THE QUESTIONS TOGETHER FOR ALL THREE OF YOU.
UM, AND THEN, UH, WE'RE GONNA BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES FOR THE SOUTHEAST SEC, SOUTHEAST QUADRANT BEFORE WE, UM, MAKE A FINAL VOTE.
SO, UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND CALL YOU UP IN ORDER THEN.
IF, UH, YOU'D LIKE TO BRIEF COUNSEL FOR A COUPLE MINUTES? SURE.
I'LL, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
AND, UH, I'LL BE REALLY BRIEF.
UM, IT'S BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO SERVE, UH, THE COMMUNITY ON THESS BOARD.
UM, AND I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN VARIOUS ROLES IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS REALLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY SERVICE.
UH, THESS BOARD, I THINK HAS JUST BEEN JUST AN, AN OUTSTANDING GROUP OF LEADERS.
UM, WE SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD.
I HOPE YOU'RE PROUD OF THE JOB THAT THAT SASS HAS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE IMPACTS THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE WERE HAVING OUR BUDGET MEETING YESTERDAY, AND, UM, I WAS SUMMARIZING THE BUSINESS MODEL FOR SAS AS A PART OF THAT.
AND I THINK Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED MODELS, UH, THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND I'VE BEEN A BANKER FOR 40 YEARS.
SO I SEE A LOT OF BUSINESS MODELS, BUT IT KIND OF GOES LIKE THIS.
WHEN OUR CUSTOMERS ARE FOUR YEARS OLD, WE START TEACHING THEM TO NOT BUY OUR PRODUCT.
AND THEN WHEN THEY WANNA BUY OUR PRODUCT, WE'RE NOT GONNA SELL 'EM THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT.
AND WHEN WE WANT TO SELL IT, WE HAVE TOO MUCH AND THEY HAVE IT FOR FREE BECAUSE GOD, GOD GAVE IT TO 'EM FOR FREE.
AND SO, IN THE, IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL THAT, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO MEET THE PEAKS AND VALLEY DEMANDS OF OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S AFFECTED BY THAT.
SO, I'LL, I'LL, UM, I'LL JUST END IT AND WAIT FOR QUESTIONS.
BUT THIS HAS, UH, BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE FOR ME.
I'VE REALLY, UM, BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE DIVERSITY THAT WE HAVE ON OUR BOARD.
UH, WE DON'T ALWAYS ALL AGREE.
I THINK THAT'S VERY HEALTHY, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE, UH, HAVE DEVELOPED AN APPROACH TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THINGS AND COMPROMISE, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT THE DECISIONS WE MAKE ARE GONNA IMPACT GENERATIONS WAY BEYOND US.
SO, UH, ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ME AGAIN FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID.
UM, AND FOR YOUR SERVICE, LET ME GO NOW OVER TO EDO PARRA FROM NORTHWEST QUADRANT.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF SERVING ON THE SOURCE BOARD TRUSTEES FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
UH, I'M A CIVIL ENGINEER BY TRADE, UM, AND WATER IS MY PASSION.
SO BEING THERE AND BEING ABLE TO SERVE AS, AS THE CURRENT SECRETARY.
I ALSO SERVE, UH, UNDER DAVID'S AS, UH, LEADERSHIP ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
AND I'M CURRENTLY ON THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, UH, LOOKING AT WHAT'S GONNA BE, HOW IT'S GONNA BE LOOKING THE BOARD IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, UH, AND HOW THE STAFF TRANSITION MAY OCCUR DURING THOSE FIVE, 10 YEARS.
[00:15:02]
I HAD, IT WAS A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND CHALLENGE TO BE, UM, PART OF THE RESPONSE ON THE URI STORM ON THE WINTER STORM.I WENT AND VISIT WITH THE STAFF, TRIED TO CHEER UP, UH, THE STAFF THAT WAS AT OUR FACILITIES WHEN THE, AS SOON AS THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THEM WERE CAMPING THERE AND YOU COULD SEE THAT THEY HAVEN'T SLEEP IN DAYS.
UH, THEY WERE STILL VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES WERE AT HOME.
THEY FAMILIES DIDN'T HAVE POWER OR WATER OR ANYTHING ELSE, AND THEY WERE THERE WORKING FOR US.
SO, UM, IT WAS, IT'S, IT'S A VERY GOOD GROUP.
THE ONE THAT IS RIGHT NOW AT THE BOARD.
I FEEL IT'S A GROUP THAT EVERYBODY BRINGS DIFFERENT EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE, AND WE ARE CAPITALIZING IN ALL OF THAT.
IN MY CASE, MY FOCUS IS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT SAN ANTONIO'S GONNA GROW NO MATTER WHAT WE DO.
AND NOW HOW WE DIRECT THAT GROWTH TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SUSTAINABLE WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND BE ABLE TO OFFER WATER SEWER ON THE, UM, ON A WAY THAT IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I GO THERE EVERY MONTH TO WORK.
SO I HOPE YOU WANT TO KEEP ME THERE.
AND I'M HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EDO AND FOR YOUR SERVICE, UH, AMY HARDBERGER SOUTHWEST QUADRANT.
UM, MY NAME IS AMY HARDBERGER.
I'M JUST GONNA ECHO THE THOUGHTS OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT IT'S BEEN JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
UH, NOT AN EASY EXPERIENCE, BUT A GREAT EXPERIENCE, UM, TO, TO SERVE ON THE SAWS BOARD.
I ALSO AGREE THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE SORT OF LIKE A, A GIANT VENN DIAGRAM WHERE WE ALL HAVE OUR, OUR PASSIONS AND OUR EXPERTISE, AND ALSO THINGS THAT WE WANNA SEE.
AND I THINK WE NICELY OVERLAP IN PLACES, BUT THEN ARE ABLE TO OCCUPY NEW SPACES.
I GUESS I'M THE WATER PERSON,
UH, I'M A LAW PROFESSOR AND MY CLASSES ARE IN WATER LAW, PROPERTY LAW, AND LAND USE.
SO I OVERLAP WITH EDUARDO QUITE A BIT ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ASPECT OF IT, AND SMART GROWTH, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
WHATEVER WE DECIDE THAT MEANS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, WHEN I WAS INITIALLY APPOINTED THAT IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN INTERESTING THING HOW IT EVOLVES.
YOU, YOU THINK IT'S GONNA BE ONE THING AND YOU'LL BE FOCUSED ON ONE THING, AND THEN THE WORLD THROWS YOU OTHER THINGS.
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, WE'VE HANDLED, YOU KNOW, SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME PRETTY BIG CHALLENGES.
WE'VE WATCHED THE VISTA RIDGE PIPELINE COME INTO BEING AND ACTUALLY FLOWING WATER, THE WINTER STORM, AND OF COURSE, MORE RECENTLY TRYING TO MANAGE WITH Y'ALL'S HELP AND STEWARDSHIP, THE, UM, FINANCIAL IMPACT ON OUR CUSTOMERS FOR COVID RELIEF AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO MANAGE THOSE THINGS.
UNFORTUNATELY, I MEAN, I'M ALWAYS THE PESSIMIST IN THE ROOM.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE END OF THE CHALLENGES.
SO I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT CITY COUNCIL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE STRENGTHS AND ABILITIES OF THE BOARD, BECAUSE THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY SEE COMING FORWARD IS THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY.
AS BILLS RISE, PEOPLE PAY A WHOLE LOT MORE ATTENTION TO THEIR UTILITIES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S FAIR, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE ON AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR.
AND I'VE ALREADY SEEN IN MY YEARS ON THE BOARD A TREMENDOUS SHIFT TOWARDS INCREASING TRANS, UM, YOU KNOW, VISIBILITY AND, UH, BEING RESPONSIVE TO CUSTOMERS IN, IN, IN NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, THAT'S A PARTICULAR STRUGGLE IN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OF OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR PROGRAMMING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA MANAGE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, LAST I WOULD SAY, AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT MY SUBJECT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECT BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER STUFF IS EXTRA IF WE DON'T HAVE WATER.
SO THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF THE CITY IS COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON HAVING WATER QUAL APPROPRIATE WATER QUALITY AND, AND WATER QUANTITY.
WITHOUT THAT, WE CANNOT GO FORWARD, AND WE MUST BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT EVERY INCOME COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO THAT WATER.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE, I THINK, THE BIG CHALLENGE.
I THINK THAT WE'RE, UH, READY FOR THAT CHALLENGE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF IT, UH, GOING FORWARD.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY THAT THE EDWARDS AQUIFER WAS THE FIRST WATER THAT I EVER DRANK BEING BORN HERE.
RIGHT? YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHERE I WAS BORN FROM HERE.
SO I HAVE A REAL VESTED INTEREST IN THE WAY THAT WE, THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO ALSO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, AND THE
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JOLY, UM, JAMESON.UH, AND THAT IS FOR THE REMAINDER OF AN UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING MAY 31ST, 2022.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALL THREE OF YOU ON THE BOARD.
AND, AND I THINK WHEN WE, WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE PULL TOGETHER UNIQUE EXPERTISE, COMPLIMENTARY EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO PROFESSIONALISM AND JUST, UH, PEOPLE THAT WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER, IF WE LOOK AT THE SAWS BOARD AND, AND YOU THREE, I THINK THIS IS A, A EXEMPLARY MODEL FOR THAT.
SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SO LEMME TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, I'VE GOT A QUESTION I'D LIKE TO POSE TO ALL, ALL THREE OF YOU.
AND IF YOU COULD, UH, MAYBE STEP FORWARD AND TELL US WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OR THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU THINK THE NEXT BOARD MEMBER SHOULD HAVE WHO JOINS YOU ON THIS TEAM? UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK THEY NEED TO COME WITH A, UH, A SENSE OF FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AND BE OPEN-MINDED TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT OUR WATER NEEDS.
UM, AS AMY AND EDUARDO BOTH SAID, WE ALL CAME WITH OUR OWN EXPERTISE, BUT, UM, UH, I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM AMY AND FROM EDUARDO AND FROM OTHERS AND FROM PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE THE D EVERY DAY, EVERY MEETING AND BRING US A NEW PERSPECTIVE THAT MAYBE I HADN'T THOUGHT OF.
SO THEY, THEY REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE AN OPEN-MINDED, YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR EXPERTISE, BUT REALLY BE A, A LISTENER AND THEN LEARN HOW TO PROCESS THAT.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE, AS THE MAYOR SAID, A REAL PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO PUTTING YOUR DIFFERENCES IN FRONT OF EACH OTHER AND TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT.
BUT KEEPING IN MIND THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE, YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH A DECISION THAT'S GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA LIVE WITH FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, ALL OF US REPRESENT A QUADRANT, BUT WE GET CALLS FROM ALL SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT? AND WE NEVER TURN AWAY A CALL AND SAY, WELL, YOU'RE NOT ON MY QUADRANT.
RIGHT? WE, WE JUST GO AND HELP AND, AND WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON'S ISSUES ARE RESOLVED.
AND I HOPE WHOEVER COMES ALSO COMES WITH THE ABILITY TO DIALOGUE AND, UM, AND, UH, UH, IT'S A PERSON THAT IT'S OKAY BEING WRONG OR RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, AND WE'LL SIT AND DEBATE.
AND WE, WE ALWAYS ASK, AM I IN THE WRONG? AM I WRONG? IS IT WHAT THE OTHER PERSON IS SAYING? RIGHT? AND DO I HAVE TO REVISE MY POSITION? SO WE'RE WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY THAT IS SITTING THERE IS AN EXPERT ON SOMETHING, AND WE TRY TO LISTEN AS MUCH AS WE CAN, HOPE THAT PERSON THAT COMES DOES THAT TOO.
YEAH, I DON'T HAVE MUCH NEW TO ADD.
I, I MEAN, I THINK TO ME IT'S MORE OF A STATE OF MIND THAN A SKILLSET.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF SKILL SETS THAT WOULD FURTHER DIVERSIFY THE BOARD.
I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOST IN LETICIA LEAVING WAS THE CYBER SIDE.
SO, I MEAN, THERE, THERE ARE, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER THINGS I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED, BUT, UM, TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR ME.
AND I THINK FOR THE HEALTH AND THE, AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE BOARD, TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA COME IN AS A TEAM, COME IN WITH SOME HUMILITY AND REALIZE EVEN IF YOU'RE AN EXPERT IN ONE AREA, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THE INSIDES OF A MASSIVE UTILITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I CAME WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF WATER LAW.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS OF A UTILITY.
SO, UH, BEING WILLING TO LEARN, YOU KNOW, COMING IN OPEN AS OPPOSED TO, I'M GONNA COME BRING MY EXPERTISE.
IT'S SORT OF THAT FLIP OF APPROACH WOULD BE FAR MORE IMPORTANT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAN A SPECIFIED SKILLSET.
I, IF I HAD TO PUT TOGETHER, COULD YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? MAYBE IF I HAD TO PUT TOGETHER A TEAM, UH, TO LEAD A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR ORGANIZATION WITH THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES THAT SERVES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, UM, I'D, I'D PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT INCLUDED THE THREE OF YOU.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NO BRAINER FOR ME TO ASK Y'ALL TO CONTINUE SERVING.
AND, AND I'M, I'M DELIGHTED THAT Y'ALL HAVE STEPPED FORWARD.
I I DO, UH, QUARREL A LITTLE BIT WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID, AND THEN, AND I AGREE THAT THOSE SOFT SKILLS AND THAT FLEXIBILITY AND THAT MINDSET IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT I WOULDN'T SHORT SELL THE, THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, BECAUSE FROM A POSITION OF, OF THAT EXPERTISE, YOU DO GUIDE THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF I, IF I HAD THE THREE OF YOU THERE, I'D SAY THIS IS THE DREAM TEAM FOR A UTILITY, RIGHT? SOMEBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
[00:25:01]
IN ENGINEERING.'CAUSE LET'S FACE IT, RIGHT? THIS IS AN ENGINEERING COMPANY IN MANY WAYS, RIGHT? SOMEBODY WHO'S A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MATHEMATICS OF RUNNING A, UH, RUNNING A BUSINESS, RIGHT? AND, UH, EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO MAKING SURE THAT IT ALL PENCILS OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND YOU'RE, I MEAN, NO EXAGGERATION, YOU'RE A LUMINARY IN THAT RESPECT TO ME.
UM, AND YOU'RE A LUMINARY, UH, AND A LEADER IN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WATER AND LAW.
AND SO, UM, AND ALL OF YOU HAVE THAT, THOSE SOFT SKILLS AND THAT, UM, THAT BEDSIDE BANNER THAT, THAT I THINK REALLY LENDS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BLOWING WIND INTO THE SAILS OF SAWS.
THE ONE THING THAT I THINK IS MISSING FROM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FOURTH PERSON RIGHT THERE WOULD BE SOMEBODY WHO'S A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN MESSAGING.
UM, WHO, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THIS NEXT, THESE NEXT FEW CHALLENGES THAT ARE GONNA BE FACING US, THEY'RE GONNA BE A CHALLENGE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? PARTICULARLY THE PUBLIC WHO IS MOST IMPACTED BY, UM, THESE CATASTROPHES THAT HAVE JUST BEFALLEN US.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY OUT THERE WHO'S GOT, UM, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE IN, IN THAT MESSAGING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MESSAGING IS ALSO EQUITABLE AND COMPASSIONATE.
I, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, I KNOW JALYN'S NOT HERE, BUT, UM, I THINK THAT SHE'S, UM, SHE DESERVES LUMINARY, UH, TITLE AS WELL.
I THINK SHE'S VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND, UM, I, I'D GO INTO WAR WITH, UH, GENERAL MACARTHUR LIKE HER ANYTIME.
UH, AND SO ANYWAY, Y'ALL HAVE MY SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR MY SAY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME FROM YOUR FAMILIES, UM, TO, UH, AND, AND FROM YOUR DAY JOBS TO DO THIS.
'CAUSE, UH, GOD KNOWS THERE'S NO GLORY IN THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I'M GONNA BE IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOUR REAPPOINTMENTS.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
I DID WANNA POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT, UM, EDUARDO SAID, AND HE SAID THAT YOU ALL TAKE THE APPROACH THAT I MAY BE WRONG, RIGHT? SO I'M, SO LET ME THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE OTHER PERSON'S PERSPECTIVE.
AND HONESTLY, I THINK THAT THAT'S MISSING ON A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER BOARDS, INCLUDING CITY COUNCIL SOMETIMES, UM, ADMITTEDLY, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE BACK AND TAKE THAT APPROACH.
LIKE MAYBE I'M THE PERSON THAT'S WRONG.
AND SO LET ME LISTEN TO SOME OF THE EXPERTS TO DO SO.
TO COUNCILMAN S'S POINT, UM, I APPRECIATE HIM BRINGING UP THE EXPERTISE.
I REALLY APPRECIATED ALSO WHAT YOU SAID, UM, UH, MS. HARDBERGER SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, UM, THE FACT THAT YOU CAME IN WITH YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOU REALIZED, BUT YOU KNOW, UH, MAYBE DAVID MCKEE IS THE EXPERT, OBVIOUSLY 40 YEARS IN BANKING.
AND SO I LOVE THE WAY THAT YOU WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS, UH, FOR YOUR SERVICE SO FAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SOME MORE DISCUSSIONS.
YOU ALL HAD A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A C OVID 19 RELIEF PLAN, UH, FOR DELINQUENT CUSTOMER SERVICE ACCOUNTS, UM, ARISING OFF OF THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC.
AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP TEAM TO GET US THROUGH THAT NEXT STAGE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION A LITTLE MORE.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR US? UM, YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY OR YOU CAN DEPART.
UH, WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION BRIEFLY AFTER THIS, UH, WHERE WE'RE GONNA DELIBERATE AFTER THE INTERVIEWS WITH THE OTHER CANDIDATES.
UM, AS YOU CAN TELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DRAMA HERE.
SO, UH, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME, UH, TODAY, THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, WHEN IT'S MADE, WE'LL GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WHICH IS AGENDIZED TOMORROW, IS IT ON TOMORROW? FOR TOMORROW? UH, TODAY FOR THE FULL CITY COUNCIL? NO, I'M SORRY, NEXT WEDNESDAY.
UM, THE NEXT, THE NEXT ITEM, UH, THAT WE'LL CONSIDER ARE THE IN INTERVIEWS FOR THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT.
THIS IS A, FOR A TERM THAT EXPIRES MAY 31ST, 2022.
UH, AND AGAIN, THIS IS MADE, UH, FOR THE VACANCY CREATED BY LETICIA OZUNA, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE TODAY.
UH, WE'LL BRING 'EM BACK IN ORDER, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
GIVE TWO TO THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL DO QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL BRIEF BREAK INTO EXEC
[00:31:24]
OKAY.WE'RE GIVING FOLKS THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT.
AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, OUR DELIBERATION POSITION.
SO WE GIMME JUST A SECOND TO BREATHE.
UH, SO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO, TO BE HERE AND LISTEN TO ME TODAY.
UM, MY MOST PRESTIGIOUS TITLE AND ROLE IS THAT OF KELLY ROSE'S MOM.
UH, I, UM, HAVE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO ALL MY LIFE, AND I'M PROUD TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT I AM 38.5% NATIVE AMERICAN, UH, THAT MY, UH, GREAT-GREAT-GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS A POMPEO INDIAN.
WE FOUND RECORDS THAT SHE LIVED IN SAN JOSE, WHERE I STILL LIVE, UH, BACK IN THE LATE 17 HUNDREDS.
SO, YEAH, I KIND OF AM SAN ANTONIO.
I CARE ABOUT MANY THINGS, BUT I KNOW, I KNOW, AND I'M NOT REAL RELIGIOUS OR ANYTHING, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DRAMATIC, BUT I KNOW THAT I WAS BORN TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK I DO BEST.
UM, AT 17, I DID MY FIRST VOTER REGISTRATION.
WASN'T EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE YET, BUT I PARTICIPATED BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE SO THAT WE COULD DO GOOD THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, QUALITY OF LIFE.
ALL OF THAT BECAME IMPORTANT TO ME, VERY, VERY YOUNG IN LIFE.
I THINK, TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY WHEN I COULD AS A SINGLE MOM, SOMETIMES WAS A LITTLE, A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
I SERVED ON MY CHILD SCHOOL BOARD FOR NINE YEARS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS OF TEXAS SPANISH COLONIAL MISSIONS, AND THAT'S A PLUS I THINK WITH REGARD TO WATER, BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT ALL THINGS, ESPECIALLY NATURAL RESOURCES.
UM, THE REASON I APPLIED, UH, MOSTLY WAS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I BECAME AWARE OF HOW IMPORTANT THIS NATURAL RESOURCE WAS UNTIL I WAS MUCH OLDER.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOUNG, YOU'RE CLUBBING, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I BEGAN TO REALIZE, HEY, BRENDA, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS A LITTLE SERIOUS.
YOU TURN OFF THE WATER WHEN YOU'RE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH IF YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, NOT USING THE WATER.
AND, AND THEN I, FOR THREE YEARS, I WAS PART OF THE PUBLIC, UH, EDUCATION SYSTEM.
AND I CAN TELL YOU GUYS, WE JUST DON'T DO ENOUGH TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS NATURAL RESOURCE.
AND WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO START DOING THIS AT SOME LEVEL.
I MEAN, WE, WE REALLY NEED TO TELL THEM, THIS IS FOR REAL, GUYS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS IT.
SO I'M HOPING THAT IF I WAS CHOSEN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE BOARD, THAT I COULD BE COME CREATIVE, EVEN MY, IN MY OLD AGE, AND COULD HELP US PERHAPS CREATE SOME PROGRAMS WHERE WE TIE IN DIRECTLY WITH, WITH OUR, WITH OUR DISTRICTS.
SO THERE'S NOT JUST ONE, JUST ONE FIELD TRIP PER YEAR THAT WE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR DO THINGS TO HELP OUR CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HELP US ENSURE THAT WE HAVE CLEAN WATER.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HELP US BECOME CREATIVE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF, OF, OF THIS NATURAL RESOURCE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS? WHAT CAN YOU DO? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PACHECO.
AND, AND WE'LL GO AROUND WITH OKAY.
I REALLY HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND, AND THAT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DEBATED FOR YEARS, BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S COMING TO THE FORE HERE.
OVER THE LAST, UH, FIVE, 10 YEARS OR SO, WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
[00:35:01]
THE DIVERSIFICATION OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SUPPLY? YOU KNOW, UM, OKAY.LEMME REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW I'M GONNA ANSWER THIS.
FOR, FOR FOR MANY YEARS, I DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT.
DIVERSIFICATION OF THE WATER SUPPLY.
I'M HOPING THAT I'M ANSWERING THIS CORRECTLY, THAT WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ON A BOARD AND THEY TALK ABOUT THAT IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN TO ASK PEOPLE, WHOSE GREATER GOOD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? BECAUSE I KNOW NOW AS AN ADULT THAT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE BEST DECISION FOR WHAT YOUR GREATER GOOD AND MY GREATER GOOD IS.
IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE POSSIBLY DIFFERENT.
SO I'M HOPING THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE GOING WITH THIS, THAT WE NEED TO REALLY STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHO IS THIS, WHO IS THIS HELPING AND WHO IS IMPACTING THE MOST? DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU MS. PACHECO, FOR COMING IN TODAY AND FOR APPLYING.
UH, WHAT UNIQUE SKILLSET DO YOU BRING IN TO THE SAWS BOARD THAT MAY FILL A NEED OR A GAP THAT YOU BELIEVE IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED? QUITE HONESTLY, I'M A TEAM PLAYER.
UM, I HOPE TO LEAVE EVERY MEETING WITH CONSENSUS.
UM, IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT I AM ON YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE, THAT I DON'T LIKE THE COLOR OF YOUR HAIR.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ROLE.
WE REPRESENT AN AMAZING CITY, AND WE, WE JUST NEED TO, WE NEED TO BE A, A TRUE TEAM, NOT JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF WHAT'S REPORTED IN SO IN, IN THE LOCAL MEDIA.
WE NEED TO TRULY BE A TEAM IN ORDER TO TRY TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP AND MAY COME UP IN THE FUTURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KEO H, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA.
UM, THANK YOU MS. O ECCO FOR APPLYING.
AND, UM, BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER, SO IT TELL GREAT.
AND SHE'S JUST SO DIDN'T THINK, I DIDN'T THINK THAT Y'ALL WOULD KNOW WHO THAT WAS.
YEAH, NO, I WOULDN'T SAID HER NAME.
I WOULDN'T HAVE SAID HER NAME.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHEN IS THE LAST, UH, SASS BOARD MEETING THAT YOU WATCHED? WELL, QUITE HONESTLY, I'M NOT EVER GONNA LIE TO YOU ALL.
I STARTED WATCHING ONCE I, I APPLIED.
AND, UM, I TRIED TO WATCH NOT JUST SAS MEETINGS, BUT ALSO C P S MEETINGS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED NOW AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AND I FIGURE IF I'M REALLY GONNA HELP MY COMMUNITY, THEN I NEED TO START UNDER TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND BECOME A LITTLE MORE EDUCATED.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA LIE TO YOU, IT'S OVERWHELMING.
BUT AS TIME GOES ON, I'M BEGINNING TO SAY, OH, THAT'S WHY THAT DECISION WAS MADE, OR, YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW.
SO I, I'M NOT GONNA LIE TO YOU, IT WASN'T UNTIL I APPLIED FOR THE POSITION, BUT I CARE ABOUT ALL THINGS SAN ANTONIO, SO THAT INCLUDES WATER.
I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.
I'M PART OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, AND SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS LAST NIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER LIA.
UH, ONE OF THE, UM, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT JOBS OF THIS BOARD IS TO, FROM TIME TO TIME, HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION ABOUT RATES.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT THE BOARD COMES TO CITY MM-HMM.
WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO SEE FROM CITY, FROM STAFF, FROM, FROM ROBERT PUENTE IN ORDER, UH, FOR YOU TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION THAT THIS RATE INCREASE REQUEST IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO RIGHT NOW? OKAY.
SO ALL OF A, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PRESENT.
IT'S ABOUT COVID AND THE NUMBER OF FOLKS IN HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THOSE WHO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF THE FREEZE.
YOU KNOW, I, I TRY TO TRY TO THINK THAT I AM FAIR ALL THE TIME, AND THAT IF WE WERE CONSIDERING DOING A RATE ADJUSTMENT, INCREASING THE RATE, OF COURSE, THAT I WOULD'VE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH, AND THAT THE STAFF WOULD HAVE DONE INTENSE RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S MOST FAIR FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, NOT JUST THOSE ON THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT.
SO ONCE I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THEN I WOULD PERHAPS BE MORE READY TO TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HIM AND HIS STAFF.
I'M, I'M STILL AT 65, A LITTLE NAIVE.
I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO TRUST THE POWERS THAT BE, I HAVE TO TRUST THAT THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND MADE
[00:40:01]
THE RIGHT DECISIONS.SO BASED ON THAT, IF IT WASN'T JUST CRAZY, CRAZY, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO THINK THAT I WOULD TRUST THEM AND SAY, OKAY, IF THAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION, THEN PERHAPS WE SHOULD GO THAT.
I ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS, MR. PALELLA ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, PEOPLE SEE ME COMING AND THINK, OH, THAT WOMAN AGAIN, SHE HAS SO MANY QUESTIONS.
I ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRUST THE POWERS THAT BE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT MAKE THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS.
UM, AND THAT THEY'VE DONE THEIR RESEARCH, AND THAT THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST FOR THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT.
COUNCIL MEMBER S COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I, I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION OF ALL OF THE CANDIDATES, UH, WHAT, IF ANY, IS YOUR EXPERIENCE EITHER WORKING WITH A UTILITY OR WORKING WITH A WATER ISSUE OR WORKING ON ANYTHING RELATED TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER? NO, TO ALL OF THE ABOVE, EXCEPT THAT I'M A CUSTOMER.
SO, UM, NO, NO DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, EXCEPT THAT I KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY, HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IT'S TO SAN ANTONIO.
UH, I'VE NOT EVER SERVED ON ANY OTHER UTILITY, UH, COMMISSION.
I'VE JUST SERVED ON A COUPLE OF BOARDS.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THE SCHOOL BOARD IN MY CHILD'S SCHOOL, AMERICAN INDIAN OF TEXAS.
I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONS WITH THE CITY, THOUGH.
SO I THINK I UNDER KIND OF, SORT OF UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS.
TRICENTENNIAL, UH, CONNECT SA, UM, UM, THE, UH, TEAM THAT WENT OUT AND TRIED TO, YOU KNOW, GET PEOPLE TO, TO SIGN UP TO GET VACCINATED.
SO I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY, BUT NOT WITH UTILITIES, QUITE HONESTLY.
WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS YOUR PERSONAL STRENGTH THAT YOU WOULD TAKE TO THE BOARD? THAT I CARE THAT I CARE ABOUT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND IF MY DAUGHTER FINDS OUT I SAID THAT SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME, BUT I AM SAN ANTONIO.
I THINK THAT I, I AM YOUR AVERAGE EVERYDAY HARDWORKING, MIDDLE CLASS CUSTOMER, CONSTITUENT AD ADVOCATE.
I NO MORE TO SAY EXCEPT THAT THAT'S HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY CITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MY ROLE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
YOU, YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN RESEARCHING SAS SINCE YOU DECIDED TO BECOME A, A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION.
WHAT STICKS IN YOUR MIND ON ANY OF THE RESEARCH THAT YOU'VE DONE ABOUT SAS? SO, I DON'T WANNA OFFEND ANYBODY
THEY JUST WERE, AND SO THE RESPONSES WERE MORE HONEST, THE RESPONSES WERE MORE TIMELY.
AND, UH, I, FOR ONE, AM GLAD THAT THEY WERE BETTER PREPARED THAN THE OTHER UTILITY.
MS. PACHECO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND FOR, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE INTERVIEWS NOW.
AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME.
AND MR. WALSH, I WAS HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU, A QUESTION FROM YOU.
THE NEXT, UM, THE NEXT CANDIDATE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM IS JAMES SMILE.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO THE SAWS BOARD.
UH, WE ARE INTERVIEWING APPLICANTS, UH, FOR THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT IN ORDER, UH, ALPHABETICAL ORDER GIVING EVERYONE, UH, THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT THAT WE GO AROUND FOR QUESTIONS.
WE'LL BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A DECISION IN OPEN SESSION.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
I'M GONNA TAKE MY MASK OFF, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
[00:45:01]
SURE.WELL, FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY CANDIDACY FOR THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT, REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I WOULD CONSIDER SERVING AS A SAS TRUSTEE, AS BOTH AN HONOR AND A VERY SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO SAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND ESPECIALLY TO ITS ULTIMATE OWNERS, THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO WHO RELY UPON ITS SERVICES.
GROWING UP IN SAN ANTONIO, I LIVED AND WENT TO SCHOOL, AND NOW WHAT IS SAW AS SOUTHEAST QUADRANT.
AND SINCE MOVING BACK TO SAN ANTONIO SOME 18 YEARS AGO, THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT HAS BEEN WHERE I LIVE, AND FROM WHERE I'VE SOUGHT TO BE ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND APPLY THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO DEVELOP OVER MY WORKING LIFE.
SINCE I'VE WENT TO LIVE IN GUATEMALA AS A PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER IN 1980, I'VE LIVED AND WORKED IN OVER 20 COUNTRIES ACROSS NUMEROUS CULTURES, AND IN WHAT IS BROADLY CALLED INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. MY ROLE IN THESE WAS ALWAYS WORKING AT THE JUNCTION OF POVERTY REDUCTION AND THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIETY'S QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PURSUING ASPIRATIONAL GOALS OF SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BEGINNING WITH MY WORK ON THE WORLD WITH THE WORLD BANK IN THE LATE 1980S, I WAS ABLE TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT.
AND EVENTUALLY, BY THE MID 1990S, A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHERE PUBLIC POLICY STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT PRIORITIES WERE DEVELOPED, NEGOTIATED, IMPLEMENTED, AND EVALUATED FOR THEIR IMPACTS.
AND MY ROLE AS A WORLD BANK TASK TEAM LEADER, I HAD A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE WORLD BANK LENDING PROJECTS FOR WHICH I WAS IN CHARGE, RESPONSIBLE, NOT JUST TO THE WORLD BANK, BUT ALSO TO THE GOVERNMENTS TAKING THE WORLD BANK LOANS INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLES AFFECTED BY THOSE LOAN PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. SINCE LEAVING THE WORLD BANK AT THE END OF 2006, I'VE CONTINUED TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY IN THESE SAME ASPECTS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AS A SELF-EMPLOYED CONSULTANT.
SINCE MOVING BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, I'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AMONGST OTHERS, SERVING AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE DURING ITS FIRST YEARS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON THE WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND MOST RECENTLY ON SAWS RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY ISSUES AND SAWS RATE.
SETTING THIS LADDER, ALONG WITH MY OTHER EXPERIENCES, I BELIEVE TO BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL AT THIS TIME IN THE COMING YEARS, SAWS WILL BE ESTABLISHING A NEW RATE STRUCTURE AND CONFRONTING THE ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF THE DOWNTURN TRIGGERED BY THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC.
A CHALLENGE SHOULD BE MET THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO BUILD BACK BETTER BECAUSE OF MY WORK ON THE RAC, AS WELL AS OTHER VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AND HISTORY OF ENGAGEMENT AND LOCAL ISSUES, I BELIEVE I'M WELL POSITIONED TO BECOME A FUNCTIONING AND EFFECTIVE TEAM MEMBER, UH, AL'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM THE OUTSET.
IN CLOSING, IF I'M CHOSEN FOR THIS SEAT, I'LL TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THAT THIS POSITION IS TO REPRESENT THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT.
TO DO SO, REQUIRES GETTING OUT AND LISTENING, WHICH I WOULD DO AMONGST OTHERS BY REACHING OUT TO THE OFFICES OF COUNCIL PERSONS, REPRESENTING DISTRICTS ONE THROUGH FIVE, TO SOLICIT THEIR ASSISTANCE IN MEETING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, ET CETERA.
THIS IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND REPRESENT THEIR CONCERNS AND INTERESTS.
WELL, AS PEOPLE SAW HIS BOARD AND COUNCILPERSONS AWARE OF ISSUES OF RELEVANCE TO THEM, THEIR THANK YOU MR. SMILE, CONSTITUENTS CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND, UH, WITH QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, AND THAT IS, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFICATION OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SUPPLY ON DIVERSIFICATION OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SUPPLY? WELL, UH, AS WAS NOTED IN THE SAWS MEETING YESTERDAY WITH THE VISTA RIDGE WATER SUPPLY, UH, SAN ANTONIO HAS, UH, WELL SAY MORE, MUCH MORE WATER THAN WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, THAT'S NOT AN URGENT, UH, IN MY OPINION, NECESSITY.
HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP MORE, UH, DESAL IS VERY IMPORTANT AS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, BECAUSE THAT IS JUST IN TIME, UH, WATER SUPPLY.
AND WE WON'T BE PAYING TODAY FOR WATER THAT WE WON'T NEED UNTIL MANY DECADES IN THE FUTURE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU TOOK TO APPLY, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS.
UM, FIRST I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOU HAVE A PUBLICATION FROM 1998.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY, UH, HAVE FOUND ANY UPDATED, UH, PUBLICATIONS.
IT'S CALLED ES I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO JUST AS A NERD, ONE, ONE WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD FOUND ANY UPDATED, UM, INFORMATION ON THAT, UH, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SO THERE, THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A LOT THAT'S HAPPENED WITH GOVERNMENT OF, UH, NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND I THINK THE, UH, UH, INCREASINGLY WHAT WE SEE, UH,
[00:50:01]
IS THAT EMPOWERING LOCAL PEOPLES FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS ACTUALLY THE, THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF GOING ABOUT IT.AND TO DO THAT, THEY NEED TO BE ENGAGED, AND YOU NEED TO RESPECT THEIR RIGHTS AND INTEREST IN GIVING THEM A VOICE IN DOING THAT.
THERE'S A VAST BODY OF LITERATURE AVAILABLE NOW ON THAT.
SO, TO THAT POINT, AND YOU WATCHED THE, UH, SASS MEETING YESTERDAY, ITEM NUMBER 39 WAS A RESOLUTION AWARDING $1.6 MILLION FOR THE 2022 POTABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN PROJECT.
UM, TELL ME HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THAT AND, AND, UH, UH, JUST IN GENERAL, ANY, ANY COMMENTS ON THAT? UM, Y Y YES AND NO.
I THINK TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF AWARDING OF A, OF A LARGE CONTRACT OF THAT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF IT, SEE WHAT THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS LOOKED LIKE.
WHAT WERE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION, WHAT WAS THE JUSTIFICATION, UH, FOR DOING THAT IN, IN ABSENCE OF HAVING THAT KIND OF INFORMATION OF HOW THAT PROCESS CAME ABOUT AND THE NEED, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT, UM, ONE OF THE MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BOARD OF A PUBLIC WATER UTILITY IS PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND THEREFORE, UM, POTABLE WATER SUPPLY IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS, IS FRONT AND CENTER.
BUT AS TO THE SPECIFICS OF THE CONTRACT, I WOULD HAVE TO SEE THE DOCUMENTATION AND PROCESS.
THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER KIO.
UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT UNIQUE SKILLSET YOU BRING INTO THE SAWS BOARD THAT YOU BELIEVE MIGHT FILL A, A NEED OR A GAP THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY ADDRESSED BY THE BOARD? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
UH, WHAT UNIQUE SKILL SET DO YOU BRING IN TO THE BOARD THAT YOU DON'T FEEL IS CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED? WELL, I THINK ONE UNIQUE SKILL SET I BRING IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I STARTED OUT VERY INTERESTED IN, IN, UH, NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT OVER THE YEARS, I HAD TO BECOME A GENERALIST.
AND SO, THEREFORE, I THINK I BRING A SKILLSET OF BEING ABLE TO INTEGRATE AND COORDINATE DIFFERENT, UH, UH, CONCERNS, IF YOU WILL, PARTICULARLY A, AS A BUSINESS SAWS NEEDS TO BE FINANCIALLY VIABLE FIRST AND FOREMOST.
AND THAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BOARD TO ENSURE IT'S IT'S FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND THE, UH, UM, THE QUALITY OF ITS SERVICE AND THE AFFORDABILITY.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S TENSIONS IN THAT AND TRADE-OFFS AND, AND ISSUES.
AND I FEEL THAT MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN SORT OF LOOKING AT THESE BROADER ISSUES, PARTICULARLY ALSO FROM A STAKEHOLDER, UH, INTEREST PERSPECTIVE, HELPS ME TO, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO A DECISIONMAKING PROCESS THAT'S MORE HOLISTIC AND INTEGRATIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER H, COUNCIL MEMBER S THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING OUT AND TALKING TO US.
I'M, UH, I PRACTICE LAW, UH, AND I'VE PICKED A NUMBER OF JURIES IN, IN MY LIFE.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS ASK THE JURY IS, ARE YOU READY TO, YOU KNOW, DESPITE EVERYTHING YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, DO YOU ALSO BRING THE WILLINGNESS TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION WHEN A TOUGH DECISION IS REQUIRED? AND I'M GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT RATE INCREASES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
UM, OUR VERY OWN LUMINARY, ROBERT PUENTE, THE C E O OF OF SAS WILL THEN TELL, UH, THE VERY SMART PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE A CASE FOR A RATE INCREASE, I NEED A RATE INCREASE BOARD.
THE BOARD THEN APPROVES THAT AND THEN SENDS IT OFF TO CITY COUNCIL, AND THEN CITY COUNCIL GIVES IT THE THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.
UM, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO SEE FROM ROBERT PUENTE AND HIS STAFF, UM, IN ORDER TO, UH, FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT A RATE INCREASE IS NECESSARY? AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR A RATE INCREASE, I'M JUST TELLING YOU MM-HMM.
I WON'T HOLD YOU TO YOUR ADVOCACY FOR A RATE INCREASE.
AND SO THERE'S HOMEWORK TO BE DONE, UH, ON, ON THAT.
UH, SOME SUMMARY BUDGETS ARE USEFUL.
THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE DETAILED BUDGET AND THEN HAVING AN OPEN DISCUSSION ON, UH, UH, THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE, FOR THE REQUESTS.
UM, SAWS OPERATES ON A COST OF SERVICE APPROACH AND MODEL, SO HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THOSE ESTIMATED COSTS OF SERVICE ARE AND HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATED ACROSS THE, UH, UH, THE UTILITY, I THINK IS, IS, IS FOR ME, IS A CRITICAL THING.
AND I'VE, AS A CITIZEN, HAVE NOT HAD, AS ACCESS TO THE PROBABLY WHAT IS A FAIRLY THICK, DETAILED BUDGET.
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO, THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY STARTING POINT,
[00:55:01]
AND THEN TALKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE, IN THE UTILITY IF I HAD QUESTIONS.UH, I'VE A I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION OF, OF ALL THE APPLICANTS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH UTILITY OR WATER OR THE EDWARDS AQUIFER? OKAY.
WELL, MY, UH, MY, MY ACADEMIC UPBRINGING WAS IN WATERSHED HYDROLOGY AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT WAS MY PASSION.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS, UH, ON THAT AS WELL.
SO I, I HAVE A LONG PROFESSIONAL, UH, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH WATERSHED MANAGEMENT, AND WHEN YOU MANAGE WATERSHEDS, WHAT YOU'RE MANAGING AS WATER, AS WELL AS PEOPLE, AND LAND USE AND LOCAL, UH, LOCAL MARKETS AND ECONOMIES, WELL, YOU'RE NOT MANAGING THOSE.
YOU'RE
IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE LOCALLY, I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE WITH ISSUES AROUND, UH, UH, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENT AND, AND WATER QUALITY.
AS I MENTIONED, I WAS ON THE WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
UH, THE, AND ALSO I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE, UH, WHICH IS, BUT ALL WE DO ON THE BOARD THERE IS MAKE SURE THEY'RE FINANCED.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A VOICE IN, IN THEIR, UH, HOW THEY APPROACH ISSUES IN TERMS OF, OF, UH, WATER UTILITIES AND, AND SAWS.
UH, AS A WORLD BANK TASK TEAM LEADER, WE FINANCED, UH, PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SEVERAL OF THE PROJECTS HELPED SET UP POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS IN SMALL, UH, RURAL COMMUNITIES AND, UH, MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES AND GOVERNANCE RULES FOR THOSE.
BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN, UH, BEEN QUITE ACTIVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I THINK, UH, IT'S NO SECRET THAT, UH, DURING THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT, I, I DELVE DEEPLY INTO THE JUSTIFICATIONS AND THE FINANCE AND THE COSTS AND THE TRADE-OFFS OF, OF THAT.
AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD HAS BEEN VERY USEFUL AT GETTING A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE, UH, UH, HOW SAW IS PERCEIVES ITS FINANCIAL STATUS AND ITS FINANCIAL NEEDS.
AND, UH, UM, SO I, I FEEL THAT, UH, I HAVE A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FOUNDATION IN THOSE AREAS.
LET ME ASK YOU, WHAT PERSONAL STRENGTH DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE BRINGING TO THE BOARD? I, I LIKE TO THINK THAT PERSONAL STRENGTH IS, IS LISTENING AND IN, UH, EVALUATING THE, THE EVIDENCE AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S, THAT'S AVAILABLE AND TRYING TO COME TO THE BEST DECISION THAT, THAT I CAN, UH, BUT THEN NOT ASSUME THAT, UH, UM, THAT I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND, UH, WORKING AS A MEMBER OF A TEAM, LIKE THE, THE SAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO, TO COME TO SOME CONSENSUS AND, UH, NEGOTIATED POSITION.
UM, BUT WITH ME BEING INFORMED ON WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT, BUT NOT DEMANDING THAT EVERYBODY THINK THAT WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD GO.
FINALLY, UM, HAVING SERVED ON THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR SAWS, YOU KNOW, WHAT STICKS IN YOUR MIND AS, AS A NEED OR AN OBSERVATION THAT YOU THINK IS RELEVANT TO GOING ON TO THE BOARD? I, I THINK A, A BIG CHALLENGE IS THAT UNDER THE LAST, UH, RATE STRUCTURE ENDED UP SHIFTING COSTS TO, UH, UH, MORE CONSERVATIVE WATER USERS FROM THE HIGHER TIERS OF WATER USERS.
I USED, UH, THE INFORMATION FROM SAW ZONE DATABASE TO SORT OF TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND CONFIRM THE SUSPICION THAT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE NOW, ARGUABLY IS A REGRESSIVE, UH, STRUCTURE FOR RATES FOR, UH, FOR RESIDENTIAL, UH, THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND THERE'S, UH, UH, TO ADDRESS THAT EFFECTIVELY IS GOING TO REQUIRE COLLABORATION WITH CITY COUNCIL, A NEW MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE, BECAUSE SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PASS THROUGH FEES AS WELL.
ESSENTIALLY, THERE'S AN ARGUMENT THAT A GOOD PART OF THE SAWS AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM IS SIMPLY PAYING FOR THE PASS THROUGH FEES, NOT FOR THE WATER AND, AND, AND SEWAGE.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
UH, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, UH, UH, WE, THERE'S A REAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE SO MANY ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HOUSEHOLDS LIVE IN MULTIFAMILY UNITS.
AND I THINK WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR OF THE RACK PROCESS, THAT'S SOMETHING OF A BLACK BOX, AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN ENGAGED WITH IN A WAY THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
UH, YOU CAN'T GET INTO THE AFFORDABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM UNLESS YOU GET A BILL, AND PEOPLE LIVING IN APARTMENTS DON'T GET BILL.
UH, THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS ALSO FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SMALL,
[01:00:01]
SMALL BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR.I DON'T FEEL THAT IN THE RAC PROCESS, THEIR VOICE HAS BEEN, UH, HEARD STRONGLY.
SO GOING FORWARD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS NEXT ROUND OF THE RAC PROCESS ENGAGED MUCH MORE ON THESE ISSUES OF LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD AND EQUITY IN THE, IN THE RATES, AND ALSO ON HOW, UH, WHAT ARE OPTIONS FOR, UH, MULTIFAMILY, PARTICULARLY FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HOUSEHOLDS AND MULTIFAMILY AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN, UH, UH, WELL, SMALL BUSINESSES IN GENERAL, BUT PARTICULARLY IN OUR, OKAY.
JIM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR, UH, STEPPING UP TO APPLY FOR THE BOARD.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO, UM, HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES, DELIBERATE AND EXEC AND THEN COME OUT, UH, WITH OPEN SESSION WITH OUR, WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THANK YOU TIME TALKING.
UM, THE NEXT CANDIDATE WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM, UH, IS CHRISTY VILLANUEVA.
UH, WE'RE HEARING FROM ALL THE CANDIDATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
UH, WE'RE GIVING EVERYBODY, UH, THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT THAT WE GO AROUND FOR QUESTIONS.
COUNSEL WILL BREAK AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, TO DELIBERATE, AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT WITH AN OPEN SESSION.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, WELCOME AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TODAY.
SO GOOD MORNING TO EACH OF YOU, AND THANK YOU.
I AM CHRISTY V EVA AND HAPPY TO BE A FINALIST HERE.
MOST OF YOU KNOW WHO I AM, UM, THROUGH PAST ACTIVITIES AND WORKINGS.
AND AGAIN, I'M VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES OF OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD.
SO, JUST TO RECAP, UM, IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER, I AM A MOTHER, A WIFE.
I AM A CURRENT BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER ON MULTIPLE BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, STARTING WITH SOME OF THE SMALLER BOARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH HELPS ME UNDERSTAND MANY OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
I STARTED OFF AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND THEN I MOVED ON TO A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WHERE I DEVELOPED POLICY FOR THEM AND THEN EVENTUALLY MOVED OUT INTO A, INTO THE FIELD.
AND THAT MAY SEEM LIKE A BACKWARDS TYPE OF THING, BUT I HAD THE VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BECOME A PROJECT MANAGER AND MANAGE MULTIPLE MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS OVERSEAS.
SO THAT GAVE ME A GREAT PERSPECTIVE ON SKILLED LABOR, ON SMALL BUSINESS AND DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW, THAT BUSINESS DID BRING IN ABOUT 33 MILLION ANNUALLY AND, BUT STILL IS CONSIDERED THROUGH THE SS B A IS SMALL BUSINESS.
UH, SHORTLY WHILE I WAS ON THAT, UH, IN THAT POSITION, I WENT ON TO SERVE ON THE WEST SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER BOARD.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY I WAS ASKED TO JOIN THAT GROUP AS THE PRESIDENT AND C E O, WHERE AGAIN, I HAD ANOTHER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN SMALL BUSINESS AND ADVANCE POLICY.
MY JOB WAS SOLELY FOCUSED ON RENEWING, REVIVING, AND REBUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ON THE WEST SIDE AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WHICH IS WHAT I FEEL THAT I ACCOMPLISHED IN MY TENURE THERE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, MANY OF, YOU KNOW, I RAN FOR COUNCIL, BUT THROUGH ALL OF THAT I WAS ALWAYS A BUS SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND I AM A MICRO BUSINESS OWNER WITH MY HUSBAND.
[01:05:01]
I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS ASPECT THAT HELPS SUPPORT THE CITY AND EVERYTHING THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.I HAVE ALSO SERVED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF, IS SERVING ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE CLIMATE ACTION ADAPTATION PLAN.
ALSO SAN ANTONIO MOBILITY COALITION VIA AND THE ETHICS BOARD, UH, MORE SPECIFIC.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT I HAD DONE AT VIA BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO ADVANCE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, NOT ONLY AT THE CITY LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
UM, WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS NOW.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND THAT IS, WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSIFICATION OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SUPPLY? I DO.
SO I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON SUCH AS DESALINATION AND OTHER METHODS.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DIVERSIFY, BUT STILL STAY IN CONTEXT OF WHAT THE CITY NEEDS AS IT'S LOOKING OUT.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S KEPT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE AND IT'S DONE IN A GROUP EFFORT.
UM, WHAT UNIQUE SKILLSET DO YOU BRING TO THE SAWS BOARD THAT, THAT YOU BELIEVE MIGHT FILL A NEED OR A GAP THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY ADDRESSED? SO, I BELIEVE THES BOARD CURRENTLY HAS A FANTASTIC GROUP OF PEOPLE.
YOU DO HAVE FINANCE, YOU DO HAVE LEGAL, YOU DO HAVE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP.
BUT I FEEL THAT YOU ARE MISSING A SMALL BUSINESS COMPONENT AND A COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMPONENT, WHICH IS WHAT I BRING FROM MY SERVICE IN THE WEST CHAMBER AND FROM OTHER ROLES THAT COMMUNITY PIECE AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY APPROVAL.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON THINKS.
I CONSIDER MYSELF JUST AN AVERAGE NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON.
I'VE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS PERSONALLY WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT GROUPS.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED TO CRAFT AN EVEN MORE ADVANCED MESSAGE FOR OUR SAS GROUP AND TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE CONSTITUENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HELP PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO THEM.
UM, QUESTION, DID, DO YOU WATCH THE BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY BY ANY CHANCE? THE SAS BOARD MEETING, UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD AN ISSUE AT WORK, SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO.
SO, UM, THEY DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, ITEM NUMBER 35 WAS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A CVID 19 RELIEF PLAN.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY TO ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SAS DELINQUENT CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY MIGHT HELP WITH, UH, HELPING WITH DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS AND, AND MAYBE SOME IDEAS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE? SO, AS FAR AS IDEAS, OKAY.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE DEFERRED MORE THAN, OR APPROXIMATELY 50 MILLION IN THESE BILLS.
AND IT'S VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE OUR UTILITY COMPANY STILL HAS TO STAND IN ITS OWN TWO FEET AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY TRANSITION INTO SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL.
THEY HAVE BILLS TO PAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST LIKE WE DO.
UH, SO I DO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE MESSAGING, SOME OF THE OUTREACH, THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE REVAMPED, REFOCUSED.
THERE ARE OTHER NONPROFITS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TOUCHED, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE PERSONALLY REACHED OUT AND ASKED IF THEY ARE WORKING WITH SAWS OR WITH C P S.
THERE ARE SO MANY AVAILABLE INITIATIVES, FUNDS, GRANTS THAT CAN HELP OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THEN ABOVE ALL, COMMUNICATION EDUCATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS, MANY OF THEM ARE WILLING TO PAY, AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, THERE ARE SO MANY THAT JUST AREN'T, WE'RE NOT GONNA RECOVER THAT MONEY.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A BALANCE IN THAT, THAT I CAN HELP TO CONTRIBUTE SOME THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON A VARIETY OF LEVELS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT IF APPOINTED.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT WITH THE COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
LET ASK, UH, I'VE ASKED THESE QUESTIONS OF, OF THE OTHER REASON I'LL, WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH A UTILITY OR WITH WATER ISSUES OR WITH THE GRAPHER? SO, DIRECT EXPERIENCE AS FAR AS SERVING, I'VE NEVER SERVED ON THOSE BOARDS.
I'VE NEVER SERVED IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY.
I DO FEEL THAT I AM AN EDUCATED RATE PAYER, AND BECAUSE OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OTHER LEADERS TAKING MEETINGS WITH EACH, WITH
[01:10:01]
BOTH C P S AND SAWS, I DO FEEL THAT THAT HELPS ME AND BRINGS A NEW PERSPECTIVE TO THIS SERVICE AND THE APPOINTMENT.WHAT IS A PERSONAL STRENGTH THAT YOU THINK YOU'LL BE BRINGING TO THE BOARD? I SAY IT ALL THE TIME TO EVERYONE THAT I'M WITH AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I, UM, MENTOR COMMUNICATION THAT HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST STRENGTH THROUGHOUT MY MANY YEARS AND MY CAREER.
I'M SURE YOU'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH SINCE YOU WANTED TO BE ON THE BOARD.
UH, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE ANY ISSUES OR CONCERNS THAT COME TO YOUR MIND ABOUT UHS WELL, CONCERNS OTHER THAN THE DELINQUENT BILLS? UM, I WOULD SAY THE PLAN FORWARD FROM THE WINTER STORM THAT'S BEEN ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? HOW DO WE GET THE BUDGET TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE, IS THIS A ARE WE PUTTING GENERATORS AT ALL THE STATIONS? ARE WE GOING TO, HOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA WORK BETTER WITH C P S? COULD C P S JUST SHUT SOMETHING OFF? YOU KNOW, IF THE ENERGY IS NEEDED SOMEWHERE ELSE? I HOPE IT NEVER GETS TO THAT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THOSE THINGS, THOSE ARE CONCERNS THAT I AM BRINGING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND INTO THIS POSITION THAT'S VERY NECESSARY.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO LISTEN MORE THAN SPEAK, AND I HOPE THAT I CAN CONTRIBUTE SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS THAT ARE BEING MENTIONED THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
UM, I'M, I I, I'VE BEEN ASKING THIS OF EVERY, UH, CANDIDATE AND IT, AND I'LL PREFACE THIS BY TELLING YOU, THIS IS NOT ME MAKING A CASE FOR A RATE INCREASE, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS ROBERT PUENTE WILL FROM TIME TO TIME, COME TO A BOARD AND SAY, I NEED A RATE INCREASE.
AND THEN THE BOARD HAS TO REVIEW THAT AND SEND IT TO CITY COUNCIL, CITY COUNCIL AND GREEN LIGHTS.
WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD NEED TO SEE FROM ROBERT PUENTE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT YEAH, A RATE INCREASE IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME? I THINK THAT MR. PUENTE AND HIS STAFF NEED TO MAKE SURE TO HAVE ALL THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.
THEY NEED TO HAVE THE PROOF OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THAT THEY HAVE MADE ABSOLUTE EVERY EFFORT TO DO WHAT THEY CAN ON COLLECTIONS, ON OUTREACH, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY BRING THAT TO THE BOARD TO SUBSTANTIATE WHAT LEVEL, AND NOT JUST A RATE INCREASE, BUT AT WHAT LEVEL IT SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED.
AND WE KNOW THAT, I MEAN, INFLATION IS HERE, IT'S BEEN WITH US, AND THIS IS INEVITABLE, BUT TO WHAT DEGREE IS WHAT WE NEED TO START TALKING ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MIND AS WE'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER PLI, MS. VEEVA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'RE GONNA INTERVIEW THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES AND DELIBERATE, UH, AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT WITH OUR, OUR DECISIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND I'M HAPPY TO SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY.
ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT, UH, CANDIDATE THAT WE'LL HEAR FROM IS LAWRENCE WONG.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION, UH, AND FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
WE'RE HEARING FROM ALL THE CANDIDATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
UH, WE'RE GIVING EVERYONE THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT THAT WE GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
UH, COUNSEL WILL BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN DELIBERATE AND COME OUT WITH A DECISION.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, AS I CAME TO, UH, SAN ANTONIO THE FIRST TIME BACK IN 1990, I TOOK A JOB WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM ASSOCIATION AT THE TIME, UH, WE, UH, WERE FINISHING UP THE GILBERT DIMON WING FOR ANTIQUITIES, AND WE WERE GEARING UP TO DO SPLENDORS OF MEXICO, WHICH WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION.
AS YOU CAN TELL FROM MY, UH, APPLICATION, I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO, UH, WORK TO MOST OF MY CAREER IN NON-PROFIT AND MOSTLY
[01:15:01]
ART MUSEUMS SPECIFICALLY.AND, UH, I GREW UP IN TAIWAN AND, UH, I IMMIGRATED TO ROME, ITALY BEFORE COMING HERE, UH, TO THE UNITED STATES.
AND, UH, ONE THING THAT THAT DREW ME TO THIS POSITION WITH SAS IS, UH, I ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS COUNTRY THAT JUST THE FACT THAT YOU CAN DRINK THE TAP WATER WAS SO AMAZING TO ME BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN TAIWAN.
AND, UH, SO THAT ALWAYS REGISTERED WITH ME.
AND NOW GIVEN THE CLIMATE SITUATION, AND I THINK, UM, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE CARE TO PLAN AND UNDERSTAND IN WHETHER HOW WE WILL UTILIZE THE WATER.
'CAUSE I THINK LITERALLY WATER IS LIFE AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN SAID.
BUT, UH, WITHOUT PROPER PLANNING AND CARE, I THINK MUNICIPALITIES AND URBAN CENTERS LIKE SAN ANTONIO WILL FUNCTION VERY DIFFERENTLY.
SO LAST YEAR, UH, DURING COVID, I DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM MY OFFICE WORK.
AND, UH, AND I STARTED LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS I CAN DO TO GIVE BACK AND, UH, SORT OF HELP WITH WHEREVER I'M LIVING.
AS YOU CAN TELL FROM MY, UH, APPLICATION, I, MY MUSEUM WORK TOOK ME ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND EVERYWHERE I WENT, I ALWAYS TRIED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND IN, UH, LIVING IN LOS ANGELES FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS, I CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WATER MANAGEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.
SO THAT'S THE, THE MAIN DRIVING, UH, FOREST BEHIND ME APPLYING FOR THIS, WHAT I THINK IS, UH, IS A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO HELP.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, UH, ABOUT, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DEBATED OVER THE HISTORY OF SAWS AND CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS.
UM, AND THAT IS ABOUT THE DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR WATER SUPPLY.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIVERSIFICATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S WATER SUPPLY? I THINK WE, IT'S, UH, PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SUSTAIN THE GROW THIS GROWING CITY IS BY, UH, I HAPPEN TO LIVE ON, UH, THE SOUTH SIDE, NEAR MISSION SAN JOSE, AND, UH, NEAR ONE LAST STRETCH OF THE ORIGINAL SAN ANTONIO RIVER.
AND, UH, SO WE, AND THE NEIGHBORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TALKING WITH, WITH DIFFERENT, UH, CITY WATER BOARD INSTALLS AND DIFFERENT, UH, UH, PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING THAT STRETCH OF THE WATER OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER PRESERVED AND CLEANED UP AND ALL THAT.
AND, UH, UH, I THINK DIVERSIFICATION IS, IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO.
WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON THE AQUIFER OR BECAUSE THE CITY HAS JUST GROWN SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I, I THINK WHEN I LIVED HERE, WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE IN 1990, I BELIEVE THE CITY WAS ABOUT 400,000 AND, AND, UH, AND NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, THREE TIMES THAT.
SO I THINK DIVERSIFICATION IS, IS PROBABLY WOULD BE REQUIRED AS WE GO FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, YOUR APPLICATION, FOR YOUR INTEREST.
UM, I WAS WONDERING, WHAT IS THE LAST SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD MEETING THAT YOU WATCHED? CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? I'M SORRY? WHEN WAS THE LAST, UH, BOARD MEETING THAT YOU WATCHED FOR SAS? UH, I THINK IT WAS YESTERDAY.
WHAT DID YOU, UM, WHICH ITEM OR WHAT WAS, UH, OF PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO YOU AND HOW DO YOU THINK YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION AS A BOARD MEMBER? UH, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE, UH, I'VE, I'M FAIRLY NEW.
I JUST MOVED BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, SO I'M SORT OF STILL IN THE LEARNING MODE.
UM, I, NOT SURE I'VE, UH, I KNOW THE INS AND OUTS WELL ENOUGH TO REALLY GIVE YOU A INTELLIGENT ANSWER.
UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS LIKE THE, THE LONG REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH I TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF LAST YEAR AND, AND VARIOUS THINGS FROM SAS THAT I REALLY DO FIND VERY HELPFUL.
AND, AND I THINK IN A WAY VERY ENLIGHTENED, UH, COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES I LIVED.
[01:20:01]
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT SAS.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER.
THANK YOU, MA, MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HABER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN AND THANK YOU FOR APPLYING.
SIR, WHAT UNIQUE SKILLSET DO YOU BRING INTO THE SAWS BOARD THAT, UM, YOU THINK FEEDS, UH, I'M SORRY, FILLS EITHER A GAP OR A NEED THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY ADDRESSED? UH, I'M NOT SURE I, I KNOW WHAT DID YOU MEAN GAP IN? WELL, IF, IS THERE ANY, UH, SKILL SET THAT YOU THINK MIGHT BE LACKING ON THE CURRENT BOARD THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FILL? OH, UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE BOARD THAT WELL.
AND I THINK WHAT I CAN BRING TO IT IS MAYBE A MORE OF A OBJECTIVE OR USER'S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT, UH, WHAT THE BOARD CAN DO FOR RESIDENTS.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE, UH, ISSUES THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED JUST WITH MY, UH, RECENT RETURN BACK TO SAN ANTONIO IS I THINK EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE SITUATION, UH, IN, IN SAN ANTONIO.
ALL THE RESIDENTS ARE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GROWTH, ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
AND, UH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND WATER USE AND ZONING AND ALL OF THAT.
AND I THINK, UH, I'M HOPING THAT AS A RESIDENT OF THE AREA, THAT I CAN BRING A PERSPECTIVE THAT MORE RESONANT WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE DOWN THERE.
I THINK WE, WE, WE MAY BE MORE DIVERSE, UH, DEMOGRAPHICS ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAN, UH, POWERPOINT OR ANY SORT OF SURVEY CAN CONVEY.
AND I'M HOPING THAT SOMEONE WITH MY BACKGROUND AND, UH, MORE OF A, I GUESS LIBERAL ARTS AND, UH, PERSPECTIVE AND JUST ABOUT OUT DIRECTING THE FOCUS MORE TOWARDS QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER COO, HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
MR. WONG, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, YOU LIVED IN CALIFORNIA AND WATER BECAME A, AN ISSUE THAT, THAT YOU KNEW ABOUT.
COULD YOU TELL ME YOUR, YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, UH, PROFESSIONAL OR OTHERWISE RELATED TO, UH, A UTILITY OR WATER OR THE EDWARDS AQUIFER? UH, PROFESSIONALLY? NONE
UH, I THINK THE ONLY, UH, SORT OF REMOTE CONNECTION I KNOW OF EDWARDS AQUIFERS, WHEN I WAS HERE, UH, IN 1990 OR 91, THERE WAS A, UH, A BIG DEBATE ABOUT, UH, THE LEVEL, THE EDWARDS EDWARDS AQUIFER, WHEN IT SHOULD BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, DIFFERENT STAGES, AND ALSO, UM, UH, WHETHER, UH, WE SHOULD IZE THE, THE WATER SUPPLY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT'S ABOUT THE EXTENT OF IT.
I REMEMBER READING QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE AQUIFERS.
SEEMS STILL SEEMS KIND OF MYSTERIOUS TO ME, BUT PROFESSIONALLY I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO, UH, CONNECTION WITH ANY UTILITIES OR WATER.
UH, WHAT IS A PERSONAL STRENGTH YOU THINK YOU WOULD BRING TO A, TO THE BOARD? I THINK MY PERSONAL STRENGTH WOULD BE THAT MY ABILITY, UH, DURING MY, UH, WORKING YEARS OR WORKING WITH BOTH TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE PEOPLE IN DEALING WITH, UM, MOUNTING EXHIBITIONS FOR DIFFERENT, UH, MUSEUMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, FROM SMALL, UH, INSTALLATION OF A FEW THOUSAND SQUARE FEET TO SOMETHING LIKE SPLENDORS OF MEXICO HERE.
UM, I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE DESIGN THAT WE ESSENTIALLY, UH, IF YOU GUYS SAW THE SHOW, THE INSTALL THE ENTIRE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART, AND WE HAD 12 TRACTOR TRAILER RIGS OF ARTWORK COMING IN TWO TRAILERS EVERY WEEK.
AND, UH, SO I HAD TO WORK WITH SCIENTISTS FROM CONSERVATION AND CARE, AND I WORKED WITH CURATORS WITH THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONTENT.
AND I WORK WITH SECURITY AND, AND, UH, LOGISTICAL
[01:25:01]
LAYOUT.AND, UH, SO I THINK WHAT I BRING TO IT IS MY ABILITY TO WORK WITH BOTH CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL PEOPLE.
I THINK CREATIVE IS, UH, CREATIVITY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE UP AGAINST, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S FAIRLY NEW.
WE, FOR A CITY THIS SIZE AND, UH, TACKLING THE WATER SUPPLY, WATER SOURCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
YOU, YOU'VE, UH, YOU KNOW, SAID YOU WANTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
I PRESUME YOU'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, A LITTLE, I THINK YOU SAID YOU WATCHED THE LAST MEETING, AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, WHAT STICKS IN YOUR MIND ABOUT SAWS THAT, UH, YOU FEEL IS WORTH YOUR INVESTING TIME AND ENERGY INTO IT? I THINK A LOT OF IT, IT, IT'S, UH, IT'S, UM, THE, UH, THE PROGRAM, THE, THE VARIETY OF PROGRAM THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS, AS I MENTIONED, THE, UH, THE LAWN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND, UH, AND, AND OTHER RESOURCES LIKE THE, THE SA GARDEN STYLE.
AND I, I, I JUST FIND THAT REALLY REFRESHING AND HELPFUL.
I THINK WE HAVE, UM, MORE AVAILABLE FROM SAUCE THAN OTHER PLACES I, I LIVE, BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I I'M SURE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO TAKING THE SAME SORT OF INITIATIVE AND MOVING, MOVING PEOPLE ALONG.
BUT I, I, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON THAT I THOUGHT, WELL, SAWS IS SEEMED LIKE A GREAT, GREAT EFFORT, A GREAT, UH, CAUSE.
THERE MAY BE ONE DAY WHEN YOU'RE ASKED TO, UM, INCREASE RATES.
UH, AND WHAT IS IT, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WOULD YOU EVER BE WILLING TO DO THAT? AND NUMBER TWO, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO SEE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT YES RATES, I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR THE, SORRY.
THERE WILL BE ONE DAY WHEN YOU ARE ASKED TO INCREASE RATES MM-HMM.
UH, I THINK THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY LIKELY THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR THIS, THE CITY TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH, UH, THE GROWTH OF POPULATION, IT SEEMS TO ME, I'M, I'M GUESSING THAT RATE INCREASES IS UNAVOIDABLE DOWN THE ROAD.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE EXPERTS TO PROVIDE US WITH THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO JUSTIFY THAT.
AND I, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM OR I ABOUT RATE INCREASES PER SE.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT THE, UH, THE REPRESENTATIVES OR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ASKED TO DO, TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE DECISION IS TO SOLVE OUT THE RATIONALE AND THE DATA THAT SUPPORT THAT DECISION.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UM, THE MORE IMPORTANT PART OF IT THAN TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT RAY CHANGE OR NOT.
BECAUSE IT'S JUST, IT'S A CHANGE.
AND, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO GROW AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT.
MR. WONG, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, TAKING TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.
UH, COUNSEL WILL HEAR FROM THE LAST CANDIDATE THAT WE'RE GONNA BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION.
OUR FIFTH CANDIDATE, UH, AND FINAL CANDIDATE TODAY, UH, IS SANDY WOLF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR APPLICATION, UM, YOUR TIME AND ONLY THING BETWEEN YOU AND LUNCH.
WE HAVE, UH, WE'RE HEARING FROM EVERYBODY
[01:30:01]
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.SO YOU'RE OUR FINAL CANDIDATE.
UH, WE'RE GIVING EVERYONE THREE MINUTES FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT THAT WE GO AROUND FOR QUESTIONS.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION.
SO WITH THAT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY MANAGER, STAFF, AND GUESTS.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION.
I JUST WANNA TAKE A SECOND THANK YOU FOR THE O OTHER APPLICANTS.
ANYTIME THERE'S A CHANCE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, I'M IN, I'M HAPPY.
SANDY WOLF AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
UH, TO SHARE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MYSELF AND MY UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE ON THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
UM, I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SERVING THE C MY COMMUNITY PRIOR TO GRADUATING COLLEGE OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
AND IT BEGAN WITH BECOMING CO-CHAIR OF AN OYSTER BAKED BOOTH AT ST.
MARY'S UNIVERSITY, WHERE I HELPED TO MA RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
I CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS AS I WAS BUILDING MY TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER.
I IS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN ADDITIONAL BOARD SEATS AND IN INDUSTRY GROUPS.
THESE RANGE FROM COMMITTEES WITH THE MARCH OF DIMES, THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS FOR CHILD ADVOCATES OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND I'VE SERVED ON EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOARDS OF SS A I S D, UH, NORTHSIDE, I S D, AS WELL AS GALA COMMITTEES AND SPECIAL EVENT COMMITTEES FOR THE WITTY MUSEUM AND FAMILY VIOLENCE PROTECTION SERVICES.
I WAS ELECTED AT THE NORTHEAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND APPOINTED TO THE H D R C.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS BOARD, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR HALLMARK UNIVERSITY, AND I'M THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE TEXAS A AND M SAN ANTONIO FOUNDATION.
I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR FOR 10 YEARS WORKING IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
IN MY FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL JOB WAS TEACHING IT AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL.
I WAS THE VP OF EDUCATION FOR OUR P B S STATION, K L R N, WHERE WE WORKED WITH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AREAS OF VERY HIGH RISK FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE, PRIMARILY ON THE EAST SIDE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN I WORKED WITH SAWS FROM 2013 TO 2017, I WORKED IN THREE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THE CEO'S OFFICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND WATER RESOURCES.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM IN THE US AND ALSO LOVED ADVOCATING AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY.
ONE OF OUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHILE AT SAWS WAS BRINGING THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM TO THOSE IN GREATEST NEED.
I OVERSAW THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM.
IT WAS A CONSTANT CHALLENGE TO NOT ONLY REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO NEEDED THE FINANCIAL HELP AND TO AFFORD THEIR WATER BILLS, BUT ALSO TO KEEP THEM ON THE PROGRAM.
DURING MY TIME AT S I WAS PLEASED OUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO INCREASE THE PROGRAM TO POSITIVELY AFFECT OVER 50% OF THOSE FAMILIES IN POVERTY IN THE SERVICE AREA.
AND AT THAT TIME IT WAS ABOUT 20,000 HOMES.
AND THE ADVENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING THEIR UPLIFT PROGRAM, IS DEFINITELY REACHING THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE THERE.
I LIVE IN ONE OF THE POOREST ZIP CODES IN THE CITY, BUT OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, I HAVE LIVED IN 11 PLACES IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH GIVES ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE MASSIVE INEQUITIES AND BARRIERS TO ACCESS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN INSIDE PERSPECTIVE TO THE AMAZING WORK THAT SAS HAS DONE IN CONSERVATION.
AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE LESS OF A PRODUCT.
BUT OVER TIME IN THE DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR WATER PORTFOLIO, SASS HAS DEVELOPED A TRULY IMPRESSIVE NATIONAL CONSERVATION MODEL.
ALRIGHT, UH, WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
I, I WANNA START WITH ONE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'VE BEEN PRIVY TO FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN DEBATING, UH, OUR WATER SUPPLY AND DIVERSIFICATION.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIVERSIFICATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S WATER SUPPLY? I AM REALLY PROUD THAT SAWS HAS HAD THE VISION TO DIVERSIFY THE WATER SUPPLY, SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T COUNT ON EVERY WATER SUPPLY.
SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER HOW IT DIDN'T RAIN OVER MEDINA LAKE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE 10 SOURCES.
I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT VISTA RIDGE IS ONLINE.
I WAS, I WAS, UH, HAPPY TO BE THERE WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THAT AND PLANNING A LOT OF THAT.
UM, SO I LOVE THE DIVERSIFICATION.
TO ME THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
WOLFE FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE POSITION AND, AND FOR ALL YOU DEFER OUR COMMUNITY.
DID YOU WATCH TO THE SAS MEETING YESTERDAY, BY ANY CHANCE? I DID NOT.
I WAS ACTUALLY RAISING MONEY FOR THE DREAMMAKER LUNCHEON THAT WAS RESCHEDULED FOR TEXAS A AND M AND RECORDING A PODCAST FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
I'M CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH TODAY, SO, YES.
UM, BUT, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE DREAMMAKER AS WELL.
UM, YOU, YOU, YOU ACTUALLY TOUCHED ON SOMETHING IN, IN YOUR ANSWER.
THERE WAS, UH, AN AGENDA ITEM.
IT WAS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 36, WHICH WAS A RESOLUTION AWARDING, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO ROYO ENGINEERS.
AND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR RATE CONSULTING SERVICES.
UM, IT'LL RECONVENE IN JANUARY OF 2022.
WHAT WOULD YOU, AS A BOARD MEMBER CONSIDER TO BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT, UM, CARILLO ENGINEERS WOULD BRING TO THE TABLE? UH, AS FAR AS AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE, ONE OF THE THINGS IS DEFINITELY
[01:35:01]
AFFORDABILITY, SUPPLY, DEMAND USAGE, ALL OF THOSE STATISTICS MAKE A VERY GOOD PICTURE OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE.THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF PREDICTIVE METRICS THAT I KNOW THAT SAWS HAS BASED ON ENVIRONMENT, BASED ON WATER SUPPLY, WHEN IT'S GONNA RAIN, WHEN WE THINK IT'S GONNA RAIN.
UM, SO I LIKE EVERYTHING IN THERE.
I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN HAVE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION THE BETTER.
AND AS PART OF THE BOARD, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PART OF THE, UM, GROUP THAT APPOINTS THE REC COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
AND SO WHAT WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR, UH, IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT, UH, THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REC RANK TO THE TABLE? I THINK WE NEED A LOT OF COMPASSION.
I MEAN, WE, I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A BUSINESS OF WATER AND THAT SAWS HAS A BUSINESS THAT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO STEP BACK.
I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING AND I'VE WORKED THERE.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO STEP BACK, TAKE OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES INTO ACCOUNT, UM, BE REALLY COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE NOT IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT I'M IN, THAT PEOPLE ON MY SIDE OF TOWN DON'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.
I THINK REALLY LISTENING TO EVERYBODY AROUND THE TABLE AND TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IS, IS A BIG PART OF REPRESENTING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER KIO.
THANKS FOR APPLYING, UH, FOR THE POSITION AS WELL.
WHAT UNIQUE SKILL SET DO YOU BRING TO THE SAWS BOARD THAT MAY FILL A NEED OR A GAP THAT YOU DON'T THINK IS CURRENTLY ADDRESSED? I'M GONNA PIGGYBACK ON THAT ANSWER BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF IT IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN AT SAWS, I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING.
UM, BUT I DO HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF NOT ONLY HAVING WORKED THERE, BUT ALSO HAVING WORKED ON A HIGH PERFORMING, HIGH VISIBLE BOARD.
I WAS ELECTED TO NORTHEAST I S D AND THAT WAS DURING THE TIME WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ABOUT LEE HIGH SCHOOL NAME, WHICH WAS CRAZY.
SO I'M USED TO THAT KIND OF INTERACTION, THAT TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT, THAT TYPE OF HIGH PARTICIPATION AND THAT, UM, PREPAREDNESS THAT I THINK I WOULD ALSO BRING TO THE BOARD BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION AND TEACHING.
I LOVED WHEN WE PUT THE, UH, TRUCK, THE BIG WATER TRUCK, THAT WAS ONE OF MY PROJECTS OUT AT LIKE, UH, CICLOVIA.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT FREE WATER AND TO INFORM PEOPLE THAT WATER BOTTLES AND ARE ACTUALLY A LOT MORE EFFICIENT AND A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE THAN A BOTTLE OF WATER.
ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU STEP UP.
UM, SANDY, YOU BRING THE, UH, YOU BRING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UH, VOICE TO THIS CONVERSATION.
SORRY, YOU BRING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VOICE TO THIS CONVERSATION AND YOU HAVE A, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A TIME WHERE A RATE INCREASE IS PROPOSED, RIGHT? ARE, ARE YOU, UH, IN A POSITION TO WHERE YOU CAN INDEPENDENTLY SAY, YEP, A RATE INCREASE IS NECESSARY, UM, AND POSSIBLY DRAW THE IRE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AT THE, UH, AT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER.
AND THEN WHAT WOULD ROBERT PUENTE NEED TO PROVE TO YOU, UM, IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SAY, YEP.
UH, A RATE INCREASE IS NECESSARY? UM, WELL, LEMME TALK ABOUT WORKING FOR THE CHAMBER FIRST, AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK PUENTE COULD PROVE TO ME THAT'S TOO
UM, SO YES, I CURRENTLY WORK FOR THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER, AND I DELIBERATELY DID NOT ASK FOR THEIR ENDORSEMENT, EVEN THOUGH MARINA KNOWS THAT I'M HERE, HERE, AND SHE ALLOWED ME TO DO THIS.
SHE APPROVED ME APPLYING FOR THE JOB, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO GET A LETTER FROM, FROM HER.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A HIGH VISIBILITY POSITION.
UM, AND IF WE WERE TO GO FOR RATE INCREASES OR WHAT THEY LIKE TO SAY, RATE ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH IS MM-HMM.
HIGHLY LIKELY, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, I THINK PART OF IT WOULD BE IF WE HAD THE INDEPENDENT REPORT THAT COVERED ALL OF THESE THINGS, UM, THAT I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, ALL THE STATISTICS, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED ABOUT WATER SUPPLY THAT WE NEEDED, UM, ABOUT WHAT IS THE USAGE, WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE THE WEATHER LIKE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY ENOUGH TO ADVOCATE VERY WELL FOR A RATE INCREASE WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
UM, SAS HAS ALWAYS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THAT.
THEY'RE VERY TRANSPARENT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
COULD WE BE MORE TRANSPARENT? OF COURSE, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY AGREES IN TRANSPARENCY KIND OF THE SAME WAY.
UM, BUT I THINK THEY'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB AND I WOULD JUST, UM, PERSONALLY I THINK I WOULD, I WOULD KEEP ADVOCATING FOR THAT, THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO SEE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR STEPPING FORWARD AND OFFERING YOUR CANDIDACY.
UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE ASKED EVERYBODY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH UTILITIES OF WATER OR THE AQUIFER? AND I THINK
BY SHOWING, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR PAST HISTORY YES.
WHAT IS A PERSONAL STRENGTH THAT YOU WOULD BRING TO THAT
[01:40:01]
BOARD? I THINK PREPAREDNESS.UM, I THINK THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT HAS A SOMEWHAT, UH, ENJOYS A COMPETITION.
UM, AND SO PART OF THAT, TO BE WELL VERSED IN A COMPETITION, YOU NEED TO BE INCREDIBLY PREPARED.
SO I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH THAT, UH, I NEED TO DO.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK I WOULD BRING TO THE BOARD IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND WE'RE GETTING THE RIGHT INFORMATION.
UM, I LOST WATER FOR SEVEN DAYS OVER THE WINTER STORM, AND THAT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING.
I KNOW I'M NOT THE PERSON THAT GOT IT THE WORST AND I'M NOT, I KNOW I'M NOT THE PERSON THAT, UH, THAT'S THE BEST OF THE STORIES EITHER.
PART OF THAT IS KNOWING THAT WE NEED TO BE RESILIENT IN THOSE PLANS.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, I WANNA BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE, LIKE ALL OF US WERE, WE WERE ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THAT WINTER STORM.
I THINK WE COULD DO A LOT BETTER THERE.
UM, SO I'M JUST, I'M GONNA GO WITH PREPAREDNESS, SIR.
UM, YOUR RESUME SHOWS YOU HAD A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES.
UM, WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH YOU LEFT SAWS? SO I LEFT SAWS, UM, TO REPLACE KERRY BAKER WELLS AT LINEBARGER LAW FIRM.
SO THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WITH, UH, AND SERVING ON A LOT MORE FOUNDATION BOARDS TO HELP RAISE MONEY, UM, AND ALSO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND CIVICS.
SO ALL OF THE CLIENTS OF LYBARGER LAW FIRM WERE CITIES, COUNTIES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
AND SO IT GAVE ME A CHANCE TO REALLY GET MY HANDS VERY DEEP INTO THE CIVICS OF OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, MR. PUENTE WHILE YOU WORKED THERE? UH, I WORKED DIRECTLY FOR HIM FOR I THINK A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF.
AND SO I WAS HIS STRATEGIC RELATIONS PERSON, SO I ACTUALLY WAS SOMEWHAT OF A GATEKEEPER FOR HIM.
UM, AND THEN HE SAW THAT, UM, THERE WAS A LOT MORE, THERE WAS SOME CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING IN COMMUNICATIONS, SO I WAS PUT IN COMMUNICATIONS AND RAN THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM AFTER THAT.
AND THEN I MOVED TO WATER RESOURCES, WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT HOW WE ACTUALLY, THAT'S REALLY THE BUSINESS OF WATER IN MY OPINION, IS HOW WE, UH, COME UP WITH ACRE FEET AND HOW WE DO THOSE CALCULATIONS, UM, AND HOW THERE'S PREDICTIVE MODELING FOR WHAT WE NEED TO PUT INTO THE SUPPLY.
UM, JUST BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A NEED THAT YOU COULD ADDRESS AT SASS ON THE BOARD? I WANT US TO BE BETTER PLANNED FOR EMERGENCIES.
I WANT US TO BE MUCH BETTER PREPARED.
I THINK THAT OUR, THE, A RESILIENCY PLAN IS 1000% NEEDED.
UH, AND I THINK WE ALL FEEL THAT VERY ACUTELY.
WOLF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR APPLICATION.
UM, YOU ARE OUR FINAL CANDIDATE HERE TO HEAR FROM, SO WE'RE GONNA BREAK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, TO DELIBERATE AND THEN TO COME OUT WITH OUR DECISION.
UH, THE TIME IS NOW 11:55 AM ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021.
THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL NOW RECESS
[EXECUTIVE SESSION At any time during the meeting, the Governance Committee may recess into executive session to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following: A. Discuss personnel matters related to the review of applications to the SAWS Board of Trustees pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074 (personnel) and Texas Government Code Section 551.071 (consultation with attorney).]
A NEW EXECUTIVE SESSION TO, TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT EVALUATION DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND TO DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS IN TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS.SO IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CLEAR THE ROOM FOR ANYBODY WHO IS NOT NEEDED IN THE NO, NO.
WE'RE, UH, COUNSEL, UH, CLERK.
EVERYBODY ELSE NEEDS TO, UH, CLIFF.
UH, THE TIME IS NOW 12:26 PM ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2021, AND THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL NOW RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, AND, UM, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME, UH, THANK OUR THREE BOARD MEMBERS WHO, UH, OR FOUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO, UH, SHOWED UP IN, UH, FOR REAPPOINTMENT AND ALSO FOR OUR APPLICANTS TODAY.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT, UH, DELIBERATION.
UH, BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WITH A MOTION ON, OR ACTUALLY, SO LET ME FIRST, UH, TAKE UP THE REAPPOINTMENTS, UH, AND I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
I MOVE THAT WE RECOMMEND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DAVID MCGEE IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT.
EDUARDO PERRA IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT, AMY HARDBERGER AND THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT FOR THE REMAINDER OF UNEXPIRED TERMS OF OFFICE.
ENDING ON MAY 31ST, 2025 TO THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE MAYOR'S REAPPOINTMENT OF JOLENE LEBLANC JAMESON AS CHAIR FOR THE REMAINDER OF AN UNEXPIRED TERM OF OFFICE ENDING MAY 31ST, 2022.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THE REAPPOINTMENTS
[01:45:01]
OF OUR HEARING? NONE.AND NOW FOR THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT BEFORE WE GO ON, ON 2025.
RECORD WILL NOTE THAT FOR CHAIR, IT'S LISTED AS 2022.
UM, MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE EXTEND THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2022.
THE CURRENT CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED ARE STILL, WOULD STILL BE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
THERE'S A MOTION FOR THE SECOND.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED.
UH, THERE'S NO CONSENSUS REACHED.
UH, WE HAVE VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
WE HOPE YOU WILL KEEP IN CONSIDERATION.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND, UM, WITH THAT, UH, HEARING, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
AND, UH, THE TIME IS 12:28 PM AND THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.