[00:01:31]
WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF AV DIFFICULTY, UH, IN TRYING TO CONNECT WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
WE'RE GONNA CON CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK ON THAT, SEE IF WE CAN GET HIS AUDIO CONNECTED.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:22 AM THIS 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL, A SESSION AGENDA.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER? COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELA COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
AND AGAIN, APOLOGIES FOR THE DIFFICULTY.
UH, PLEASE KNOW, OUR AV TEAM WORKS REALLY HARD TO GET THIS STUFF CONNECTED, BUT THERE'S SO MANY CHALLENGES WITH, UH, UH, THESE KINDS OF, UH, ACTIVITIES FROM TIME TO TIME, WE'RE GONNA GET, GET, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE GONNA, UH, START OUR MEETING.
[1. Invocation]
AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO, UH, GIVE THE FLOOR OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ANAS SANDOVAL, TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR.UM, MS. SML, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD WHILE I GIVE YOUR, UH, INTRODUCTION SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE, UH, IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MRS. JENNIFER GARZA.
UH, I KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE IS THE MOTHER OF ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS, UH, FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND FROM C C D, SO IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO TO HAVE YOU HERE, JENNIFER.
SHE IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO, ONE OF FIVE CHILDREN WHO ALL ATTENDED ST.
PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL, A LONG FELLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S ALSO A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD, DONALDSON TERRACE.
IN FACT, WE LIVE JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM, FROM EACH OTHER.
AND THIS NOVEMBER, SHE WILL HAVE BEEN MARRIED 50 YEARS, UH, WITH MR. SML.
HE IS A RETIRED TEACHER AND RE AND COACH.
SHE'S BEEN LOYAL TO SAN ANTONIO.
SHE'S BEEN LOYAL TO HER HUSBAND.
UH, SHE'S AL AND TO HER NEIGHBORHOOD
PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE PARISH.
SHE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED THERE FOR 48 YEARS.
SHE HAS TWO DAUGHTERS WHO I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH.
THEY'RE BOTH GRADUATES ALSO OF ST.
PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
IN FACT, ELISE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF MY SENIOR CLASS AND A STAR IN MANY, MANY OF OUR MUSICALS.
AND SHE HAS TWO GRANDSONS, ALL GREW UP IN THE DO DONALDSON TERRACE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND JUST A SIDE NOTE, HER FATHER, MR. GARZA, WAS ALSO A COACH, TEACHER, VICE PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL AND ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT IN S A I S D OVER 35 YEARS.
THIS IS A FAMILY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, AND TO OUR FAITH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER, FOR BEING HERE, FOR HAVING ME HERE.
[00:05:03]
WILL YOU BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME IN PRAYER? GOOD AND LOVING.FATHER, WE THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE MANY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS WE RECEIVE FROM YOU EACH DAY FOR LIFE ITSELF AND FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH AND THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU PUT BEFORE US.
WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR CALLINGS FOR DUTY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES.
THANK YOU TO, FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ARE GIVEN TO ENJOY, RESPECT, AND HONOR, AND FOR LOVING US AS WE ARE SOMETIMES BROKEN OR LOST, BUT ALWAYS WITH YOUR BOUNDLESS AND FORGIVING LOVE IN THE SCRIPTURES.
YOU ASK US TO BE YOUR HANDS AND FEET, YOUR EYES AND VOICE TO COMPLETE YOUR WORK AND YOUR WILL ON EARTH.
LEAD US TO OBEY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE PEACE AND ORDER AND JUSTICE.
I PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR FOR THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF CITY OFFICIALS, AND IN PARTICULAR FOR THIS ASSEMBLED COUNCIL.
I AM ASKING THAT YOU WOULD GRACIOUSLY GRANT EACH OF THEM WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING INTERESTS AND ISSUES OF OUR TIMES, A SENSE OF THE WELFARE AND TRUE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
A KEEN THIRST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, AND JUST THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT, PERSONAL PEACE IN THEIR LIVES, AND JOY IN THE TASKS THEY UNDERTAKE TO HELP OTHERS.
I PRAY FOR THE AGENDA SET BEFORE THEM TODAY.
PLEASE GIVE AN ASSURANCE OF WHAT YOU WOULD, WHAT WOULD PLEASE YOU AND WHAT WOULD BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN AND AROUND OUR BELOVED CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IT IS IN YOUR MOST NA PRECIOUS NAME WE PRAY.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
UNITED STATES, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PASTOR SML.
[3. Approval of Minutes from City Council Meetings of August 19, 2021 and August 24, 2021.]
THE FIRST ITEM, UH, FOR ACTION TODAY ON OUR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 19TH, 2021 AND AUGUST 24TH, 2021.I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES.
THERE'S A MOTION BY ROCHA GARCIA, SECOND BY KEO HDA.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
[POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE]
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA TODAY, WE HAVE A FEW POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.UM, AND I'D LIKE TO START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
UM, I WANTED TO START OFF THIS MORNING BY BRINGING TO YOUR ATTENTION SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ISLAND OF LA ALMA AND THE CANARY ISLANDS.
SAN ANTONIO TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN BEING A COMPASSIONATE CITY, READY TO ASSIST OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE GLOBE AS THE CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO EUROPE AND TO THE CANARY ISLAND.
SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO AN EVENT UNFOLDING AND CAUSING GREAT DEVASTATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC O OCEAN.
A VOLCANO NAMED MB, THE ISLAND OF LA PALM, AND THE CANARY ISLANDS ERUPTED ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 19TH, 50 YEARS AFTER ITS LAST MAJOR ERUPTION.
SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN TRACKING THE EVENT AS IT UNFOLDS.
THE ISLAND OF ALMA IS ONE OF EIGHT ISLANDS OF THE CANARY ISLAND'S ARCHIPELAGO, AN AUTONOMOUS REGION OF SPAIN OFF THE NORTHWESTERN COAST OF AFRICA.
RED HOT LAVA FROM THE SPANISH ISLAND OF LA ALMA REACHED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN LATE ON TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER THE 28TH, NINE DAYS AFTER IT STARTED TO FLOW DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, WRECKING BUILDINGS, HOMES, AND DESTROYING CROP CROPS, INCLUDING BANANA PLANTATIONS, APPROXIMATELY 593 ACRES.
SO THE PERIMETER OF 9.8 MILES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED AFTER VIE HAS SPLIT OPEN AND BEGAN ERUPTING.
ON SEPTEMBER THE 19TH, THE SLOW MOVING WALL OF THE SALTY LAVA BEGAN BULLDOZING ITS WAY THROUGH POPULATED PARTS OF ONE OF THE CANARY ISLANDS.
ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM NASA'S EARTH OBSERVATORY, LAVA FLOWS HAVE DESTROYED.
NEARLY 400 HOMES, COVERED DOZENS OF KILOMETERS OF ROADS AND CONSUMED FARMLAND ON THE ISLAND OF LA ALMA.
AS OF YESTERDAY, THE AP REPORTED 656 BUILDINGS,
[00:10:01]
MOSTLY HOMES ENGULFED BY LAVA AS IT FLOWS.ALTHOUGH NO CASUALTIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, THANKS TO THE EARLY EVACUATIONS, THE VOLCANOES ERUPTION HAS UPENDED LIFE ON THE ISLAND AND CONTINUES TO CAUSE FURTHER DEVASTATION.
SPAIN CLASSIFIED LA PALM AS A DISASTER ZONE ON TUESDAY, A MOVE THAT WILL TRIGGER FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ISLAND.
ACCORDING TO REUTERS, THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A FIRST PACKAGE OF 12.3 MILLION US DOLLARS, WHICH INCLUDES AROUND 5 MILLION EUROS TO BUY HOUSES WITH THE REST WHO ACQUIRE FURNITURE AND ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD GOODS.
FOR, UH, THAT IS A, A, A DIRECT QUOTE FROM A GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON.
SAN ANTONIO HAS DEEP ROOTS WITH THE CANARY ISLANDS, WITH SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO TRACE THEIR ROOTS TO THE FIRST FAMILIES OF THE CANARY ISLANDERS, WHO SETTLED IN SAN ANTONIO IN 1781.
TODAY, MANY DESCENDANTS PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE CANARY ISLANDS DESCENDANTS ASSOCIATION, C A, WHICH RECENTLY COMMEMORATED THE 290TH YEAR OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN SAN ANTONIO.
SAN ANTONIO HAS TWO SISTER CITIES IN THE CANARY ISLANDS ON THE ISLANDS OF GRAND CANADIA AND
THEY, ALONG WITH THE ISLANDS, HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SMOKE AND ASH PRODUCED BY THE VOLCANO.
AS THE LAVA CONTINUES TO SPILL INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, A CHEMICAL REACTION IS PRODUCING TOXIC GASES TO BE RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, POSING A THREAT TO RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO STAY INDOOR AND SEAL THEIR HOMES.
WHEN LAVA REACHES THE OCEAN, THE THERMAL SHOCK OF VERY HOT ROCK MIXING WITH SEAWATER CAN CREATE AN ACIDIC STEAM CALLED, UH, AN ACIDIC STEAM, A VOLCANO EXPERT AND NATURAL HAZARDOUS COMMUNICATOR WITH THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETALLY.
AND LONDON HAS WARNED US, GIVEN THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NATURAL DISASTER, THE LIVELIHOODS OF THE CANARY ISLANDERS HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED, AND THEIR TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY IMPACTED.
THE UNIMAGINABLE LOSSES OF THIS, LOSSES OF THIS NATURAL DISASTER HAS CAUSED MANY INCALCULABLE LOSSES, AND I KNOW THAT OUR CITY WILL BE READY TO STEP IN AND OFFER OUR SUPPORT WHERE NEEDED.
OUR TIES TO THE CANARY ISLANDS ARE EVERLASTING, AND WE HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WILL DO THEIR PART AND ASSIST WITH THE RECOVERY EFFORTS.
CHRIS PACKHAM FROM U T S A FOR KEEPING ME UPDATED AND PROVIDING THE IMAGES THAT WE ARE SHARING TODAY.
AND IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE MR. FREDDIE BUSI, PRESIDENT OF C A WHO WILL BE SHARING A MESSAGE FROM HIS, UH, ORGANIZATION.
GARCIA, AND ESTEEMED TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
GARCIA HAS EXPRESSED, THE DEVASTATION IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS CONTINUE TO REPORT SOME OF THE ISSUES HAPPENING, AND AS OF YESTERDAY, THE LAVA IS NOW HITTING THE OCEAN, WHICH IS CAUSING SOME DANGEROUS GASES TO BE, UH, EMITTED INTO THE AIR, WHICH IN EFFECT WILL AFFECT EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THAT ISLAND, ALONG WITH THE ADJOINING ISLANDS.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE, UH, CANARY ISLANDS DESCENDANTS ASSOCIATION, I COME TODAY TO EXPRESS MY INSIGHTFUL, EXPRESSIVE CONCERN FOR THE CITIZENS OF LA PALM AND THE OTHER ISLANDS.
THE NEWS HAS BEEN NOTED THAT THOUSANDS, AS DR.
GARCIA MENTIONED, THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY IT.
NOT ONLY THE HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND ALL OF THEIR CONTENTS, BUT FOR MANY OF THEM, THE FAMILIES, THE LIVELIHOOD OF THOSE FAMILIES DEPENDED ON RANCHES OR FARMING.
AND THAT LAVA HAS CONTINUED TO JUST DESTROY NOT ONLY THE HOMES AND THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, BUT THEIR ABILITY FOR A LIVELIHOOD.
IF THEY WERE RANCHERS OR FARMERS, THEY NO LONGER HAVE THAT ABILITY TO RAISE THAT CAPITAL FOR THEIR FAMILY.
WHY IS THE CONCERN SO GREAT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? AS DR.
GARCIA MENTIONED IN 1731, ACTUALLY, LET ME STEP BACK.
IN 1730, A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS LEFT THE CANARY ISLANDS, HEADED TOWARDS SAN ANTONIO, ON A BOAT, CAME THROUGH CUBA, LANDED IN VERA CRUZ, MEXICO, AND THEN STARTED A TREK OF 1100 MILES TO REACH THE GROUND THAT WE'RE STANDING ON TODAY.
AND ULTIMATELY, THE P PLAQUE AT THE ENTRANCE SHOWS THE ALCALDES FROM THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT PLAQUE, MANY OF THEM ARE DESCENDANTS FROM THOSE ORIGINAL 16 FAMILIES THAT MADE THE TREK TO START THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO WHOSE RELATIVES ARE AFFECTED.
BACK IN LA PALMA, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED CDA HAS ESTABLISHED A RELIEF FUND, WORKING IN TANDEM WITH THE KADO OF LAAL IN MAKING A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AND AFIN FINANCIAL DONATION TO THE KADO OF LA PALMA TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE FUNDS TO THE INDIVIDUALS IN NEED.
C A HAS MADE THE COMMITMENT, WE'VE STARTED THE PROCESS.
TODAY, WE WILL HOPEFULLY FINALIZE THE PROCESS IN ESTABLISHING THE BANK ACCOUNT, AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD GET THE SUPPORT OF NOT ONLY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO IN RAISING WHATEVER FUNDS
[00:15:01]
WE CAN TO DISTRIBUTE TO THEM.WE HAVE A COMMITMENT WITH THE KADO OF LA PALM 100%, AND I'LL REPEAT IT, 100% OF ANY DOLLARS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FUND WILL BE DONATED ELECTRONICALLY TO THE CABBIL OF LA PALAMA FOR THEIR DISTRIBUTION.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND EXPRESS OUR CONCERN FOR THE, OUR RELATIVES WHO STILL LIVE IN LA PALAMA.
THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA AND FREDDY, THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING PRESENT, UH, AND TELLING THE STORY.
AND, AND MY THANKS ALSO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR KEEPING OUR CITY APPRISED.
AS THE LIAISON TO OUR CANARY ISLANDS, SISTER CITIES, UH, HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR THERE, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW, UH, THAT OUR CITIZENS PRAY EVERY DAY FOR OUR, UH, COUNTERPARTS AND, AND THE CANARY ISLANDS, AND, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OF ASSISTANCE AS THEY GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
I'LL CERTAINLY RELAY THAT MESSAGE TO THEM.
UH, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN.
UM, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, CAB HDA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE 14 CITY EMPLOYEES WHO'S WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIVES TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN FOUR C P S AND NINE SAWS EMPLOYEES.
OUR MOST RECENT LOSSES, A SAN ANTONIO PARK POLICE OFFICER IN SAN ANTONIO, FIREFIGHTER PASSED AWAY JUST LAST WEEK.
WE OFFER OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES AND TO THEIR WORK COLLEAGUES WHO, AS WE KNOW, CAN BECOME AN EXTENDED FAMILY AS WELL TO THEIR FAMILIES.
WE OFFER OUR THANKS FOR SHARING THEIR LOVED ONES WITH US, AND WE HONOR THEIR PRIVACY AND THE SPACE THAT WHERE THEIR HEALING CAN BEGIN.
WE WANT THE FAMILIES TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALL LOVED AND REMEMBERED AND APPRECIATED.
THE PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HELD MEMORIALS THIS PAST WEEK.
AND I'D, I'D LIKE TO DO THE SAME HERE WITH JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE, IF YOU WILL.
IN THEIR HONOR, LET'S CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS TERRIBLE VIRUS, GET AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE, AND, UM, I'LL DO OUR BEST TO, TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KWA, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, IT'S SO EASY TO GET LOST AND THE NUMBERS OF THIS PANDEMIC, UM, AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA MACHISMO THAT HAPPENS WITH REGARD TO HOW WE TREAT IT.
UM, BUT PLEASE KNOW THERE ARE FAMILIES ACROSS THE CITY, INCLUDING OUR OWN CINDY FAMILY THAT ARE STILL GRIEVING FROM THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES.
UH, WE APPRECIATE THEIR RECOGNITION.
UM, LET ME NOW, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE HIS AUDIO, UH, FIXED YET, BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE, UH, TECH TEAM WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKE STUFF LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN 15 MINUTES NOTICE.
UM, I WANNA TAKE A MINUTE TO HONOR FORMER COUNCILMAN REVEREND UH, JOE WEBB, WHO PASSED THIS THIS SATURDAY.
HE WAS THE FIRST DISTRICT
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR HIM.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, AND PLEASE KNOW, SERVICES WILL BE HELD, UH, FOR FORMER COUNCILMAN JOE WEBB, WHO STOOD AT THE WATERSHED OF SO MANY IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THIS CITY.
UH, IT WILL BE HELD THIS WEEKEND, UH, AND WE DID ISSUE AS A CITY A RESOLUTION OF RESPECT, UH, FOR THE JOE WEBB FAMILY.
WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2021, A LIFE FIELD OF GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVICE CAME TO A CLOSE FOR THE REVEREND JOE WEBB SENIOR.
AND WHEREAS REVEREND WEBB WAS A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, DEDICATED FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN, LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE N A A C P AND M W ST.
JOSEPH GRAND LODGE, AND DEVOTED FRIEND WHO EARNED THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF THOSE WITH WHOM HE CAME IN CONTACT.
AND WHEREAS WEBB WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL SELECTED TO SERVE THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, AFTER ELECTIONS SHIFTED TO SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS.
AND HE IS THE LONGEST SERVING POLITICIAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE ALAMO CITY.
AND WHEREAS WEBB WAS A CHAMPION FOR WORKING
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FAMILIES, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND HE USED HIS NAME TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE MANY EAST SIDE CAUSES.AND WHEREAS REVEREND WEBB WAS A COMMUNITY ICON IN THE TIME IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHO RECEIVED MANY ACCOLADES THROUGHOUT HIS LIFETIME.
AND IN 1992, THE DURANGO BRIDGE WAS RENAMED JOE WEBB BRIDGE IN HIS HONOR.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT WITH THE DEATH OF THE REVEREND JOE WEBB SR, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS LOST A VALUABLE ASSET TO ITS PAST, ITS PRESENT, AND ITS FUTURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY EXTENDS TO THE FAMILY, THEIR SINCERE SYMPATHY ON THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE, AND OFFER HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE CONSOLED BY THE MEMORIES OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS.
IT IS HEREBY DIRECTED THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE ENTERED INTO THE, THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF OUR CITY, AND A COPY BE PRESENTED TO HIS FAMILY AS A TOKEN OF OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY PRESENTED THE SECOND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2021.
UM, AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE CITY, OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS ALWAYS WITH THE WEB FAMILY, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW TO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA.UM, AND I'D LIKE TO CALL, UH, YOUR ATTENTION TO, UH, A FEW ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION FOR RECUSALS.
WE'VE PULLED ITEM 12, ITEM 29, AND ITEM 35.
I'M PULLING ITEM 30 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS TO HEAR FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION FROM MY COLLEAGUES? PLEASE LET ME KNOW NOW.
IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UM, THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 12 29, 35, AND 30.
UH, LET ME GO TO THE SPEAKER QUEUE.
UH, WE HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CASSETTE, SO I'LL CALL YOU IN ORDER.
UM, LET ME START WITH DAVID ALMAN SPEAKING ON ITEM 22.
MR. ALMAN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JACQUELINE LUCIO.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
I WANT TO START BY, UH, SAYING I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CENTRO SAN ANTONIO.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD CURRENTLY.
I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE SAY IT OFTEN ENOUGH, BUT, UH, WORKING WITH SOME OF YOU IN PARTICULAR, I KNOW HOW MUCH EFFORT YOU GUYS PUT INTO IT.
AND THANKS TO THE CITY STAFF LED BY ERIC, I KNOW ALSO HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO MAKING THE CITY RUN.
SO OUR PIT ASSESSMENT RENEWAL WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND SO, UM, I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND THE SUPPORT FOR IT CONTINUES.
UM, ONE THING I WANT TO REMIND, AND, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO I HAVEN'T MET, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO SAY ABOUT CENTRO IS THAT WE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR THE CENTER CITY, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, BUT REALLY THE CENTER CITY AND WHAT THE CENTER CITY REPRESENTS.
AND IT REPRESENTS MANY THINGS, BUT IT'S A CENTER OF TOURISM.
PEOPLE COME HERE TO WORK, PEOPLE COME HERE TO LIVE, PEOPLE COME HERE TO VISIT.
UH, IT'S A CENTER OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT IN MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, UH, UH, SUPPORT THE ARTS AND CULTURE, THE THEATER DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE, THE MUSEUMS THAT WE HAVE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND I THINK THE, THE, THE EARLIER POINT OF PRIVILEGE REFERENCED IT, IT'S THE CENTER OF OUR HISTORY.
LOOK AT THIS BUILDING, LOOK AT THE CATHEDRAL NEXT DOOR, LOOK AT THE RIVER WALK, THE HISTORIC RIVER WALK, AND, AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE.
SO WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT AS PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, ALONGSIDE OF THE CITY WHO ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE, THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THAT NEXT LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR DOWNTOWN AND SO IN THIS AND THE CENTER CITY AS A WHOLE.
SO I APPRECIATE, UH, THE MOMENT TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AROUND, UH, ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN BE DOING BETTER, BUT THANK YOU.
JACQUELINE LUCIO, MS. LUCIO, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY GAVIN ROGERS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND CITY STAFF.
MY NAME IS JACQUELINE LUCIO, DIRECTOR OF PIT OPERATIONS FOR CENTRO SAN ANTONIO.
I OVERSEE AND OUR CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM, AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE A DAILY COMMITMENT
[00:25:01]
TO CLEAN, BEAUTIFY, AND SERVE DOWNTOWN.I'M GOING TO USE MY TIME TODAY TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO EACH MEMBER OF THIS AMAZING TEAM FOR THEIR UNENDING ENTHUSIASM, PASSION, AND DEDICATION TO THIS WORK.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, AMID A PANDEMIC AND AN EXTREME WINTER STORM, OUR AMBASSADORS AND HOMELESS OUTREACH WORKERS DEMONSTRATED COURAGE IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY AND HAVE RISEN TO THE CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY HAS FACED WITH ENTHUSIASM AND DETERMINATION, STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE, THEY'VE LOVINGLY AND STEADILY MAINTAINED A CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL, AND SAFE SPACE FOR DOWNTOWN WORKERS AND RESIDENTS TO ENJOY AND WELCOMED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS BACK DOWNTOWN.
OUR AMBASSADORS AND HOMELESS OUTREACH SPECIALISTS HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT SERVICE, LOVE, AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER ARE WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY GREAT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS THAT SUBMITTED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR OUR WORK IN THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
GAVIN ROGERS WITH REON, SAN ANTONIO HAVEN FOR HOPE.
CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS.
LARRY CARAM, CITY SIGHTSEEING TOURS, CADO MAVERICK WHISKEY AREA REAL ESTATE, U T SS, A INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PINCH BOIL HOUSE, A AWESOME TICKETS HAAGEN-DAZS, PARIS HATTERS UPTOWN FLOWERS, REROUTED TWO 10 URBAN WINERY AND THE MAGICIANS AGENCY THEATER.
THE LETTERS WE SUBMIT TODAY, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN SUPPORT OF CENTRO'S MANY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
OUR WORK IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF PROPERTY OWNERS, THE COMMUNITY, AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU, EACH OF YOU FOR THE TIME YOU TAKE TO SHARE WITH US WHAT DOWNTOWN MEANS TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE LIVING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
SPECIAL THANKS TO C C D O AND TO DISTRICT ONE, COUNCILMAN AND HIS STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CORONE SAN ANTONIO, WHICH, UH, SERVES THE MARGINALIZED HOMELESS AND PEOPLE IN RECOVERY.
AND SAN ANTONIO CENTRAL HAS BEEN OUR NEIGHBORS AT TRAVIS PARK AND CORE ZONE FOR MANY YEARS.
WE OFTEN WORK SIDE BY SIDE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
DOWNTOWN CENTRAL'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A MORE PLAYFUL, BEAUTIFUL, WELCOMING AND PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN HIGHLIGHTING THE SAN ANTONIO SPIRIT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.
THAT'S THEIR OFFICIAL STATEMENT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN DOWNTOWN, BOTH HOUSED AND UNHOUSED WITH RESPECT, CARE, AND CONCERN.
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SEE IT IN ACTION AND NOT JUST WITH THEIR OFFICIAL HOMELESS STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM, WHICH IS PRETTY GREAT, BUT THROUGH THEIR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT SERVES THIS CITY ALL OVER THE PLACE, OVER A HUNDRED OF THEM, I THINK, THAT GO AROUND AND THEY'RE GREAT AMBASSADORS TO SERVE THOSE AND GET BACK WITH US HOW WE CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS.
ONE OF THOSE PERSONS WAS AMBASSADOR ROBERT, WHO DURING C OVID 19 WORKED OUR HOMELESS HUB, WHICH IS A PILOT PROGRAM WITH D H S AT SAN FERNANDO GYM, WHERE WE SERVED OVER 50,000 MEALS DURING THE PANDEMIC, OFFERED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE IN NEED.
AND ROBERT, EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH HIS TEAM WOULD CLEAN AND WASH HANDS, GET PEOPLE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE, AND TO STAY SAFE TO RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES.
THAT'S THE DEDICATION CENTRAL USUALLY HAS WHEN SERVING THE POPULATION, SERVING HOMELESSNESS, AND MAKING DOWNTOWN BETTER TAKES A VILLAGE, NOT JUST ONE ORGANIZATION STYLE OR STRATEGY CAN SOLVE IT.
HUMANITY IS DIVERSE AND IT TAKES MANY DIFFERENT STYLES TO WORK WITH OUR CLIENTS AND FIND SOLUTIONS.
CENTRO IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THAT MISSION, ALONG WITH THE WORK OF D H S AND CAM AND SAM HAVEN, YANA CORTISONE, AND SO MANY OTHERS.
BUT CORTISONE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH CENTRO AS WE CONTINUE TO SEEK THOSE SOLUTIONS, DEBATE PRACTICES, AND EMPOWER THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES AND MAKE THIS CITY A MORE WELCOMING PLACE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH CENTRO IN THE FUTURE AND CONQUER ANY PROBLEM TOGETHER.
UH, LET ME CALL NOW, UH, JACK FINGER SPEAKING ON ITEM 20.
[00:30:02]
WELL, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO JUST SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH.
ITEM NUMBER 20, YOU'RE GONNA REAPPOINT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM BOARD, NAMELY MR. DAVID MCGEE, EDUARDO PARRA, AND MS. AMY HARDBERGER.
NOW, AS I RECALL THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM OPPOSE ANY SAWS RATE INCREASE THAT NEVER HEARD FROM 'EM.
AND I NEVER SEEN THEM SAY, NO, DON'T DO THIS.
UH, I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM DO THAT, AND, UH, I, THEY MAY HAVE EVEN ACTUALLY, UH, PROMOTED AN INCREASE IN THE PAST.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO FACE THE PROSPECT OF AN ELECTRIC BILL INCREASE PRETTY SOON, AND NOW YOU'RE REAPPOINT PEOPLE ON OUR WATER BOARD THAT PROBABLY WILL BE OFFERING MORE INCREASES TO OUR UTILITY RATES, OTHER UTILITY BILLS WE GET IN THE MAIL.
WHY HAVE Y'ALL THOUGHT OF DOING, MAYBE POINTING SOME PERSON ON THE BO ON THE BOARD THAT WILL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR BILLS.
ALSO, I HAVE YET TO SEE ANY OF THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS, UH, TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE, UM, THE VISTA RIDGE PROJECT AND OUR TRUE AUDITING OF THAT.
UH, WE ONLY RECENTLY STARTED GETTING WATER FROM THERE.
AND, AND WHAT DID THE, THE, THE, UH, THE TV NEWS SHOW
THESE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE YOU'RE PLANNING ON RE REPORTING TO THE, OUR, OUR WATER BOARD.
QUITE FRANKLY, MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST KIND OF HOLD OFF ON SOME OF THIS UNTIL YOU FIND SOME BETTER PEOPLE THERE.
HUH? ALSO, UM, ALSO ELSEWHERE ON THIS AGENDA, YOU'RE GOING TO, UH, PASS THE, UH, ITEM NUMBER 12, ORDINANCE AWARDING CITY COUNCIL PROJECT FUND GRANITE IONS FOR THE MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PRESENTS, QUOTE UNQUOTE MUSICAL SPROUTS, AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE.
UH, YEAH, ABOUT $21,000 FOR, FOR THAT ONE THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS ON OUR STREETS.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE CRIME PROBLEM YOU, YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT, UH, BIGGER PRIORITIES THAN THIS ARE OUR TAXES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF, AND YET THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING IT ON.
D DOES THIS EVER, YOU KNOW, MS. CASTILLO, MS. GARCIA, YOU KNOW, BESIDES TALKING TO YOURSELF WHILE A CITIZEN CAME DOWN TO SPEAK, COULD Y'ALL MAYBE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHERE YOU'RE SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THIS STUFF? THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S EVERYONE WHO'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT.
SO WE'LL GO NOW TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
LET ME START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER.
OH, AND I BELIEVE, UH, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO PULL ITEM 31.
DO I HAVE AGREEMENT FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA AND KEO HDA? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO IS PULLING ITEM 31 FOR DIS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HVAR DAY.
UH, I WANNA SEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO DISTRICT SIX APPOINTEES FOR THEIR EAGERNESS TO VOLUNTEER AND GIVE THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND KNOWLEDGE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE REAPPOINTING MERLE BRITAIN, UH, TO THE LINEAR CREEK CREEKWAY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.
MERLE HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACES ADVOCATE FOR MANY YEARS.
HE'S AN ASSET TO OUR DISTRICT, AND I'M GRATEFUL HE'LL BE REPRESENTING US.
ONCE AGAIN, I'M APPOINTING MARIA FERNAN, DEANA TO THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
UM, MARIA IS NEW TO THE LIBRARY BOARD AND IS REPLACING LAURA ECKLER.
I'M GRATEFUL TO LAURA FOR HER TIME AND WORK ON THE LIBRARY BOARD.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO MARIA'S INSIGHTS, ENERGY, AND IDEAS FOR OUR THREE DISTRICT SIX LIBRARIES.
AND FINALLY, WE'RE REAPPOINTING MICHAEL VALDEZ TO THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION.
I THINK MANY, SOME OF YOU KNOW MICHAEL VALDEZ.
HE'S, UH, MY APPOINTEE TO THE YOUTH BOARD.
I, I'VE BELIEVE THAT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, WE MAY SEE HIM SITTING UP ON THIS DAIS.
HIS COMMITMENT TO DISTRICT SIX IS, IS HUGE, ESPECIALLY FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, HE'S A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
HE HOLDS THE NUMBER TWO POSITION IN THE ENTIRE CITY FOR MOST REPORTS MADE TO 3 1 1, AND IS PART OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS AT THE EDGEWOOD FINE ARTS ACADEMY.
HE BRINGS THAT SAME ENERGY TO THE YOUTH BOARD, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM.
THANKS AGAIN TO ALL MY DISTRICT SIX APPOINTEES.
UM, AS A REMINDER, IF YOU HAVE CONSENT AGENDA ON YOUR TABLET AGENDA,
[00:35:01]
UM, HIGHLIGHTED, YOU CAN QUEUE INTO THE SPEAKER, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO SIGNED IN TO SPEAK ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT, THOUGH, SO IF THERE ARE NONE, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION.I AM ALSO PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT OUR DISTRICT FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH VICKI WILLOUGHBY TO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SHE'S A DISTRICT FIVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHO, WHO'S OWNED A, A, A FAMILY BUSINESS WITHIN THE GENERAL MCMILLAN CORRIDOR AND UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE TO, UH, IMPROVE IN THE SMALL DISTRICT COMMUNITY WITHIN DISTRICT FIVE.
LOUIS GIANNIS TO THE LINEAR CREEK WAY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.
HE'S AN URBAN PLANNER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE WAYS IN WHICH LAND USE AND ZONING IMPACT COMMUNITIES.
I'M PROUD TO REAPPOINT KAREN SPEAR, WHO'S HERE, WHO HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR SAN ANTONIO'S FUR BABIES.
I BELIEVE THAT SHE SERVES AS A MODEL, UM, TO WHAT OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS SHOULD REPLICATE.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TOWARDS MARCUS PEOPLE TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HE'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE, UM, ADVOCATING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE FAR WEST SIDE OF DISTRICT FIVE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.
UH, JOHN WILLIAM, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M PROUD TO APPOINT YOU TO THE CITY'S COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS.
I LIKE TO ARGUE THAT DISTRICT FIVE IS THE GEM OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE REPRESENTATION ON DISTRICT FIVE'S ARTS COMMISSION TO ADVOCATE AND HELP SHAPE THAT POLICY AROUND THE ARTS IN DISTRICT FIVE AND CITY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A WHOLE.
UM, AGGIE MIO TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONAL BOARD.
SHE'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE, A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR OUR SCHOOLS, SERVING AS THE P T A LEADER.
SO HAVING HER REPRESENTATION FOR THE PARKS AND REPRESENTATIONAL BOARD IS GOING TO BE INSTRUMENTAL, UM, WITH UPCOMING BOND DISCUSSIONS.
UM, AND I'M PROUD TO ALSO, UH, APPOINT REAPPOINT, JOHN BUSANTE.
AND THOSE ARE ALL MY HIGHLIGHTS.
UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT.
UH, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET ME REMIND YOU, IT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 12 29, 35 30, AND NOW 31 AS WELL.
AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ IS AN AYE.
UM, FOR, FOR EFFICIENCY PURPOSES, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND JUST, UH, TAKE UP OUR RECUSAL ITEMS FIRST, 12, 29 AND 35.
UH, THEY WILL BE DONE ONE AT A TIME.
[12. Ordinance awarding City Council Project Fund grant allocations for the Musical Bridges Around the World Presents: "Musical Sprouts: African American Heritage" in an amount not less than $21,500.00; the District 3: “D3 Back 2 School Health & Wellness event” in an amount not less than $17,000.00; the “District 4 Back to School Project 2021/2022” in an amount not less than $17,152.26; the District 6: “Back To School” event in an amount not less than $12,039.25; the District 7: “D7 back to school events” in an amount not less than $12,107.00; and the “District 8 Back to School Bash” in an amount not less than $10,892.50. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Emily B. McGinn, Assistant to City Council, Office of the City Council]]
LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR ITEM 12.ITEM 12 IS AN ORDINANCE AWARDING CITY COUNCIL PROJECT FUND GRANT ALLOCATIONS FOR THE MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD.
PRESENTS MUSICAL SPROUTS, AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE IN AMOUNT, NOT LESS THAN $21,500.
THE DISTRICT THREE D THREE BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENT IN AN AMOUNT, NOT LESS THAN $17,000.
THE DISTRICT FOUR BACK TO SCHOOL PROJECT 20 21, 20 22 IN AN AMOUNT, NOT LESS THAN $17,152 AND 26 CENTS.
THE DISTRICT SIX BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT, AND AN AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN $12,039 AND 25 CENTS, THE DISTRICT SEVEN D SEVEN BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS AND AN AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN $12,107, AND THE DISTRICT EIGHT BACK TO SCHOOL BASH IN AN AMOUNT, NOT LESS THAN $10,892 AND 50 CENTS.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR THE MAYOR'S RECUSAL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION APPROVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN COURAGE IN THE SECOND BY COUNCILMAN VRAN.
IS THERE ANY, UH, FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBER QUESTIONS? OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VOTE.
[29. Ordinance approving an amendment to an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio to increase the compensation to an amount not to exceed $217,000 through the Medicaid 1115 Waiver Program for San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Project Worth Teen Health program for behavioral and mental health counseling services for a term ending September 30, 2022. [Erik Walsh, City Manager; Claude A. Jacob, Dr.PH(c), MPH, Director, Health]]
GARCIA, ITEM 29 NOW FOR RECUSAL BY COUNCIL MEMBER[00:40:01]
ROCHA GARCIA.ITEM NUMBER 29 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF TECH OF SAN ANTONIO TO INCREASE THE COMPENSATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $217,000 THROUGH, THROUGH THE MEDICAID 1115 WAIVER PROGRAM FOR SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT'S PROJECT WORTH, TEEN HEALTH PROGRAM FOR BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES FOR A TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022.
ALL RIGHT, THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ROTO GARCIA'S RECUSAL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? NO MOTION.
UH, THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 29.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
[35. Ordinance approving an Professional Services Agreement with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for workforce and employer engagement services with funding available in the FY 2021 General Fund Budget. [Alejandra Lopez, Assistant City Manager; Michael Ramsey, Director, Workforce Development Office]
TURN IT AGAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR ITEM 35.ITEM NUMBER 35 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000 FOR WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT SERVICES WITH FUNDING AVAILABLE IN THE F Y 2021 GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THIS ITEM WAS PULLED FOR THE MAYOR'S RECUSAL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVE.
AND THERE'S A SECOND BY, UH, VIE.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED.
ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION POINTS BY MY COUNSEL? COLLEAGUES? NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
[30. Resolution opposing legislation targeted at transgender children and youth, including their participation in athletic competitions based on sex assigned at birth. [Jeff Coyle, Assistant City Manager]]
NOW MOVE TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. UH, WE'LL START WITH ITEM 30.ITEM NUMBER 30 IS A RESOLUTION, OPPOSING LEGISLATION TARGETED AT TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND YOUTH, INCLUDING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS BASED ON SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.
I WANTED TO PULL THE, UH, DO YOU HAVE A I HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT I'LL WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE DONE.
UM, ACTUALLY JEFF, WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME UP WITH A PRESENTATION.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JEFF COYLE.
SO WE, UH, WE DISCUSSED THE LEGISLATURE, UH, AND THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION DURING OUR SEPTEMBER 9TH COUNCIL MEETING.
IF WE COULD BRING THE PRESENTATION UP, PLEASE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WE HAD MENTIONED WAS A CALL FROM THE GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS TRANSGENDER, UH, PARTICIPATION IN INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS.
AND BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, YOU GET BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE BILLS FILED THROUGH, UH, THROUGHOUT THE 87TH SESSION, DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, DURING EACH OF THE SPECIALS, UH, DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.
THE, THE PRIMARY BILL WAS SENATE BILL 29, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT STUDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING IN A CATEGORY OF OF U I L INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS, UH, THAT WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE GENDER, UH, ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AT OR NEAR BIRTH.
THERE WAS ALSO LEGISLATION THAT, UH, WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED DOCTORS FROM DOING GENDER TRANSITIONS.
UH, AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A LEGIS, UH, LEGISLATION THAT ADDED TO THE STATUTORY DEFINITION OF ABUSE, UH, APPARENT, UH, ASSISTING A MINOR IN A GENDER TRANSITION.
UH, NONE OF THOSE BILLS PASSED.
THEY ALL PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE AND IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, DIED, UH, ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
UH, AND SO WHEN THE GOVERNOR ISSUED HIS CALL FOR THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION, UH, IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, ONE OF THE FIVE ITEMS WAS A CALL FOR LEGISLATION IDENTICAL TO THAT SENATE BILL 29, UH, THAT WAS PASSED BY THE SENATE, NOT THE HOUSE, UH, IN THE 87TH DISALLOWING, A STUDENT FROM COMPETING IN U I L COMPETITION DESIGNATED FOR THE SEX, UH, THAT HE SAID OPPOSITE, UH, TO THE STUDENT'S SEX AT BIRTH.
UM, THE, UH, SO QUICKLY, THE LEGISLATURE FILED MULTIPLE BILLS ON THE TOPIC FIVE ALTOGETHER, BUT THE TWO THAT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT, UH, IDENTICAL BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED FOR ARE SENATE BILL THREE AND HOUSE BILL 10.
SENATE BILL THREE HAS MOVED VERY QUICKLY AND ONCE AGAIN BEEN VOTED OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE AND THE FULL SENATE.
UH, AND SO THIS IS NOW THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE SENATE HAS PASSED THIS LEGISLATION.
[00:45:01]
TAKEN UP IN THE HOUSE.IT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE HOUSE PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE, UH, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY THE SAME CHAIRMAN WHO HAS IN THE PAST STOOD UP AGAINST THE BILL AND NOT, AND NOT MOVED IT FORWARD.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FOR HOW WE GOT TO THIS CONVERSATION TODAY.
DURING THAT SEPTEMBER 9TH ALLEGED BRIEFING, UH, THAT I PROVIDED, UH, THE MAYOR AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, EXPRESSED HERE ON THE DIOCESE THE NEED TO TAKE A POSITION ON, UH, THESE BILLS.
DURING THE, DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION, WE HAD A LANGUAGE IN OUR, IN OUR EXISTING PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES, UH, ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE US LESS COMPETITIVE, UH, IN TERMS OF COMPETING FOR EVENTS AND SPORTING EVENTS AND CONFERENCES.
IT'S NOT REALLY SPECIFIC TO THIS ISSUE.
AND SO OUR I G R CHAIRMAN AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING PLEDGED TO, UH, BRING THAT DISCUSSION TO THE I G R COMMITTEE, WHICH WE DID THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
UH, WE LAID OUT THE HISTORY OF THE ISSUE, TALKED ABOUT IT, UH, HAD A FEW MORE THINGS THAT WE WERE CHECKING IN, IN TERMS OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, BUT HAD, UH, EXPRESSION FROM SEVERAL MEMBERS TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, AND, AND SUPPORT, UH, FROM THE CHAIRMAN.
IN THAT MEETING, UH, THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY, WE CONVENED A CALL WITH OUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS HERE, VISIT SAN ANTONIO, UH, SEVERAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
UH, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THEY'RE ALL COMING AT IT DIFFERENTLY AT THIS POINT.
UH, SOME HAVE NOT TAKEN POSITIONS AT ALL.
OTHERS HAVE PREEXISTING LANGUAGE IN THEIR PROGRAMS. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE SAID THEY'VE INFORMALLY COMMUNICATED TO THEIR LEGISLATORS THROUGHOUT THESE SESSIONS THAT THEY'VE, THEY HAVE NO ISSUES.
THEY'VE HAD NO CONFLICTS WITH TRANSGENDER PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY SCHOOL DISTRICTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH WHATEVER THE STATE LAW IS.
AND SO RIGHT AFTER THAT, MEETING WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, TEXAS COMPETES, WHICH IS THE GROUP THAT FORMED, UH, IN 2017 TO FIGHT THE BATHROOM BILL FIGHT SUCCESSFULLY, THE BATHROOM BILL, UH, DISTRIBUTED A LETTER, UH, ASKING ORGANIZATIONS TO SIGN ON, UH, OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION.
UH, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE CLOSE TO 60 ORGANIZATIONS ON IT, INCLUDING MAJOR COMPANIES SUCH AS AMAZON, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, AMERICAN AIRLINES, MARRIOTT, I B M, MICROSOFT, FACEBOOK, DELL, APPLE, PAYPAL, LEVI STRAUS AND COMPANY, UH, AND A NUMBER OF CHAMBERS AROUND THE STATE, INCLUDING IN AUSTIN, CEDAR PARK, MCKINNEY, NORTH TEXAS CORPUS, AND EL PASO.
UH, OUR CHAMBERS LOCALLY HAVE NOT SIGNED ONTO THAT AT THIS POINT.
AND SO I SUBMITTED A REPORT, UH, VIA EMAIL TO THE I G R COMMITTEE ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION WITH OUR PARTNERS ABOUT THE REQUEST THAT WE SIGN ONTO THIS LETTER.
AND IN FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND, AND, UH, ULTIMATELY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
UH, AND, AND I SHOULD NOTE, UH, WITH THE QUICK MOVE, UH, OF THE LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE, WHICH HAPPENED, UH, THE DAY AFTER OUR CONVERSATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, UM, WE WERE, UH, WE MOVED FORWARD WITH PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA.
SO THE RESOLUTION IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.
IT SPEAKS TO THE CITY'S EXISTING NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, UM, AND, AND A DESIRE TO, UM, TO PROTECT AND, AND CARE FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE HARMED BY LEGISLATION THAT IS DEEMED DISCRIMINATORY.
UH, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION, IT WOULD GIVE THE CITY STAFF THE, THE DIRECTION PERMISSION TO BE ABLE TO SIGN ON TO LETTERS LIKE THIS AND TO REGISTER OUR OPPOSITION, UH, IF AND WHEN THE BILL, UH, IS HEARD IN HOUSE COMMITTEE.
SO I'LL PAUSE THERE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
UH, JEFF, WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 30.
WE'LL START WITH CHRISTINA ELLIOT, FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY BROOM.
MR. FINGER, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY AMOS NISLEY.
WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.
MR. MERRICK, I HAVE A INTERESTING QUESTION TO ASK.
ASK YOU, UH, ARE THERE ANY MEN ON OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL? YEAH, MEN, UH, THAT'S THE
[00:50:01]
KIND OF PERSON WHO'S MORE THAN JUST AN ANIMAL.HE IS THE KIND OF PERSON WHO'S SUPPOSED TO, AS A, HAS A ROLE OF DEFENDING HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY, MAINLY HIS DAUGHTERS AND HIS SONS AGAINST PREDATORS.
AND HE ALSO, UH, SUPPORTS THEM.
SEE, THAT'S WHAT A MAN IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS AN ORDINANCE, A RESOLUTION.
A RESOLUTION SAYING WE DON'T WANT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE NATURE DEFENDING OUR DAUGHTERS IN SPORTS.
NOW, THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK THAT, WHO ARE BY THE, GOING BY THE MISGUIDED CONCEPT THAT TRANSGENDERED INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUST USURP THE RIGHTS OF THE MAJORITY IN OUR, OF OUR PEOPLE IN HERE, IN OUR SOCIETY.
ONE HAS TO ASK, WHAT ASYLUM DID YOU COME FROM THIS MORNING? HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, WOMEN, GIRLS ARE COMPETING IN SPORTS.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COMPETE AGAINST THEIR FELLOW GIRLS.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COMPETE AGAINST STRONGER BOYS.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS, MEN AND WOMEN, MALES AND FEMALES? MEN ARE NATURALLY STRONGER NOW.
IT TURNS OUT THAT BOYS ARE GAMING THE SYSTEM.
THEY SAY, I IDENTIFY AS A GIRL TODAY AND I KNOW I'M GONNA WIN THAT RACE.
AND I, CONSEQUENTLY, I WANT THAT SCHOLARSHIP SCHOOL OFFICIALS.
MS. GARCIA, YES, MS. VILLA GRAND PUNCHING ON HER LITTLE COMPUTER RIGHT THERE.
I CAN'T HELP IT IF SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE DUMB ENOUGH NOT TO SEE THAT DIFFERENCE.
YOU ARE CHIMING IN WITH THAT CRAZINESS.
I ASK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
AMOS NISLEY, I AM AMOS NALY, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER THE PRONUNCIATION.
MR. MAYOR, I THANK YOU MR. MAYOR COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILMEN, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WHATEVER WE ARE DOING TO COME HERE AND SPEAK UP.
FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS, YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ONLY COMPETE IN THE GROUP OF THE SEX THEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.
WE ARE ALL PART OF THE HUMAN RACE, BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.
TO SAY THERE IS NOT, IS TO NOT ONLY BE WRONG, BUT IS TO, BUT IT IS BEING INTELLECTUALLY DISHONEST.
WHY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOUNG CHILDREN, AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS? WHEN WE SHOW, WHEN WE, WHEN YOU SHOW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO BE DECEPTIVE AND DISHONEST, TO GO AGAINST SCIENCE AND TRUTH, THAT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
HOW WILL OUR CITY, HOW WILL OUR COUNTY, HOW WILL OUR NATION EVER TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT TRUTH DOES MATTER? I SIMPLY CHALLENGE YOU TO STOP BEING ASHAMED TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH.
WE ALL, INCLUDING MYSELF, NEED TO STOP BEING ASHAMED TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL FOR YOUR TIME.
[00:55:02]
THANK YOU, MR. LEY.I WANTED TO PULL THIS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND YOUTH BECAUSE OF ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND BECAUSE IT DESERVES TO BE HIGHLIGHTED AND DISCUSSED PUBLICLY FOR SEVERAL STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT BY SOME TO CREATE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT DON'T EXIST AND SCAPEGOAT THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY FOR POLITICAL GAIN.
IN 2017, THE LEGISLATURE PROPOSED SENATE BILL SIX, THE BATHROOM BILL, AND A COALITION OF THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY BUSINESS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORMED TO OPPOSE THIS DISCRIMINATORY AND UNNECESSARY LEGISLATION.
THIS YEAR, THROUGHOUT THE REGULAR AND THREE CALLED SPECIAL SESSIONS, BILLS HAVE AGAIN BEEN FILED TO PREVENT TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS FROM PARTICIPATING IN ATHLETICS, PROHIBITING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM PROVIDING GENDER AFFIRMING TREATMENTS AND MAKING THOSE MEDICAL TREATMENTS CONSIDERED CHILD ABUSE.
TO DATE, THOSE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN DEFEATED, BUT GOVERNOR ABBOTT INCLUDED LEGISLATION TO BAN TRANSGENDER STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY INTER INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE SPORTS, AND IS CALLED FOR THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION.
THIS COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED A NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE AN OPEN AND WELCOMING CITY.
ANY ATTEMPT TO DISCRIMINATE RUNS COUNTER TO THE VALUES OF OUR DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY.
THE CITY'S STATE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM ALREADY INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION, WE STATE A CLEAR POSITION THAT WE ALSO OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT DISCRIMINATES, IT TARGETS AND IT MARGINALIZES TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS.
ONCE PASSED, THE RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW OUR GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO FULLY ADVOCATE IN COORDINATION WITH OUR BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
LET ME TURN IT NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MANNY PIAS, WHO IS OUR CHAIR OF I G R.
UM, I'M, I'M GOING TO BE SENDING CITY COUNCIL EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND DEBBIE ROCKA, A LETTER THAT I, I NEED TO BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD.
UM, THAT'S A 2017 LETTER SIGNED BY BUSINESS LEADERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S A LETTER TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT, A LETTER TO GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATRICK AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
THE LETTER WAS SIGNED BY OUR FRIENDS AND OUR LEADERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I'LL NAME JUST A FEW HOPE ANDRA, I B C BANK, TRINITY UNIVERSITY, BELDEN ROOFING, JW MARRIOTT, RACKSPACE BROOKS, C P SS, ENERGY, BROADWAY BANK, THE MEDICAL FOUNDATION, THE METHODIST SYSTEM, THE ZACHARY CORPORATION, AND THE BAPTIST HEALTH SYSTEMS. I WILL READ TWO UM, EXCERPTS FROM THAT LETTER.
ONE, AS LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE OPPOSE ANY LAW, STATUTE OR RULE THAT WEAKENS OUR COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT TALENT AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT, OR IN ANY WAY LIMIT SAN ANTONIO'S IDENTITY AS A WELCOMING DESTINATION TO VISIT LIVE AND WORK.
TWO POLICIES THAT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS BASED UPON GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, VETERAN STATUS, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, AGE, OR DISABILITY ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH A LONG HISTORY OF INCLUSION.
THAT HAS BEEN SAN ANTONIO'S PROMISE.
AND THEY HAMPER TEXAS ABILITIES TO COMPETE, TEXAS'S ABILITY TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
THEY END BY SAYING, WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO OPPOSE ANY DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION.
THIS WAS A 2017 LETTER WRITTEN IN REACTION TO THE BATHROOM BILL.
WHAT WE ARE FACING TODAY IS JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF THE BATHROOM BILL LEGISLATION.
I'M SAD THAT WE DIDN'T GET ANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED ONTO THIS LETTER IN THE ROOM, BUT THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE REMAINS THE SAME.
I SPENT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF LAST WEEK IN DALLAS, ATTENDING THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARD, THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
I SPENT TIME WITH HUNDREDS OF SUPERINTENDENTS AND BOARD MEMBERS REPRESENTING ISDS ALL OVER TEXAS.
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S CRUSADE TO FIND NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO MARGINALIZE VULNERABLE KIDS WAS ON THEIR MIND.
NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THESE LEADERS, NOT A SINGLE ONE COULD IDENTIFY A PRIOR INSTANCE THAT WOULD APPLY TO THIS LAW.
THE IN, IN FACT, THE UNIVERSAL CONSENSUS AMONG I S D LEADERS AROUND TEXAS IS THAT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR, ARE ENGAGED IN YET ANOTHER BIT OF CHEAP DINNER THEATER FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF THEIR BASE, A BASE THAT CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH OR SATI SATIATE THEIR, UH, APPETITES FOR CRUELTY FROM DALLAS.
I TRAVELED TO NEVADA AND I SPENT SUNDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY IN NEVADA AT THE US HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
NOT A SINGLE LEADER OF AMERICA'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS THOUGHT THAT THIS BILL MAKES TEXAS ANY BETTER.
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IT'S NOT ANY BETTER FOR THEIR ENTERPRISES, FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, OR THEIR EMPLOYEES FAMILIES.IN FACT, THE OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS IS THAT THIS WILL HURT TEXAS BY SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT WE REVEL IN HURTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A REAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS ON OUR HANDS.
WE HAVE A VERY REAL HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
WE'RE EXPERIENCING A VERY REAL SEX TRAFFICKING CRISIS AND A VERY REAL VETERAN OPIOID AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WHAT WE ARE NOT FACING IS A GEN A TRANSGENDER IN SPORTS CRISIS, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST.
ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN TEXAS IS MISINFORMED.
OR IN THE CASE OF DAN PATRICK AND GREG ABBOTT IS TRYING TO MISINFORM YOU.
WE DESERVE BETTER THAN STRAW MAN ATTACKS ON TRUTH AND ON CHILDREN.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS MORNING AS I WAS DRIVING, AS I, AS I WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE TO COME TO THIS MEETING, I KISSED MY 14 YEAR OLD AND MY 15 YEAR OLD SON AND DAUGHTER.
AND I TOLD THEM I WAS COMING TODAY TO VOTE AND REALLY CONDEMN ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO'S GONNA TRY TO HURT TRANSGENDERED KIDS.
MY DAUGHTER'S WORDS TO ME BEFORE I LEFT THE HOUSE WAS, I'M PROUD OF YOU FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING.
SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH SAN ANTONIO'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THE SAME COMMUNITY IN 2017 CAME OUT AGAINST ALMOST AN IDENTICAL ATTACK ON TRUTH AND CHILDREN.
I'M PROUD TO STAND NEXT TO AND PROTECT VULNERABLE KIDS.
AND AS THE PARENT OF TWO KIDS, I'M PROUD TO BE STANDING NEXT TO THEM.
AND TODAY I'M GONNA LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND TELL 'EM THAT I DID THE RIGHT THING.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 30.
WE WILL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
WE'LL TRY TO GET HIS, UH, VIDEO AND AUDIO BACK.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
CAN I HAVE, CAN I HAVE, CAN I GO A LITTLE BIT LATER? WE HEAR YOU.
CAN I PUSH ON YOUR SIDE? CAN I GO A LITTLE BIT LATER HERE? OH, SURE.
UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I THINK, UH, YOUTH, UH, SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY ON WHATEVER TEAMS THEY WANT TO PLAY ON.
THERE ARE GIRLS THAT WANNA PLAY ON FOOTBALL TEAMS AND BOYS SOCCER TEAMS. SO I, I REALLY FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE WERE PRESENTED WERE NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF FEMALES.
UH, BECAUSE IF, IF THEY WERE, THEY WOULD LET THEM PLAY WHERE THEY WOULD LET GIRLS PLAY WHEREVER THEY WANT TO PLAY.
SO, UH, LEAVING THAT ASIDE, I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO, UM, WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
WE ARE COMPASSIONATE, WE ARE ACCEPTING, WE ARE INCLUSIVE.
WE'LL PROBABLY SEE IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
UM, MY BELIEF IS THIS IS, WHILE THE TARGET RIGHT NOW IS TRANSGENDER YOUTH, MY BELIEF IS THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY TARGETING THE L B G T Q COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS JUST WHERE THEY'RE BEGINNING.
AND THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STAND UP AND WE SPEAK OUT AND SAY THAT THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT ONCE WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, THAT THE NUMBER OF NAMES THAT MY, UH, MY, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, PALAIS MENTIONED, WILL JOIN THIS CALL AND SEND IN LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO BE ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE.
THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTRY TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I, I AM ALSO ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION OPPOSING LEGIS LEGISLATION TARGETING TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
UM, I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, IS TAKING A POSITION TO ENSURE THAT WE CHALLENGE ANY LEGISLATION THAT ATTACKS OUR CHILDREN.
UM, HOWEVER, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE COME BACK AROUND THAT WE'RE ENSURING THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR L G B T Q YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCES HOUSING SECURITY AT DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBERS.
UM, SO TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT, WITH THAT POLICY SUPPORT AS WELL.
UM, BUT I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I TOO WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
UM, THAT SAME LETTER THAT COUNCILMAN, UH, ELIAS REFERENCED IT WAS IN 2017, SIGNED BY SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS, UM, ALSO WAS AN INDICATION STATING THAT 54 ORGANIZATIONS THAT ISSUED THAT LETTER AT THE TIME GAVE AN ULTIMATUM TO WERE GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM FROM VARIOUS CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAUS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS THROUGHOUT TEXAS SHOULD DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION SIMILAR TO SSB THREE, SB 91, HB 46, OR HB
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50 PASS.THEY WOULD CANCEL THEIR PROJECTS AND REDIRECT THEM TO ALTERNATE LOCATIONS REPRESENTING A TOTAL OF $1.04 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT LOSS THROUGH 2026.
FURTHER, THE LETTER ENDED SAYING, WE BELIEVE OUR ECONOMY IS STRONGER WHEN TEXAS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS TO EVERYONE.
THEREFORE, WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO OPPOSE ANY DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN S ELIAS FOR BRINGING UP THAT LETTER.
AS, UH, A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU REPRESENTING THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY, I WANNA THANK THE VISIT SAN ANTONIO TEAM WHO IS HERE IN THE BACK AND MARK ANDERSON FOR ALWAYS, UH, BEING ABLE TO, TO SPEAK WITH US.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL SPOKE WITH JEFF COYLE.
UM, I, UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT YOU ALL UNDERTAKE TO KEEP TEXAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COO HDA.
I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE CITY'S NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.
WE CAN'T LIST CAVEATS TO SOMETHING AS BASIC AS PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN ANY FORM.
WE'VE HEARD FROM LARGE NATIONAL AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR BELIEF THAT THESE DISCRIMINATORY EFFORTS DISRUPT THEIR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT AND COMPETE FOR BUSINESS.
I SUPPORT EQUAL JUSTICE, I SUPPORT STUDENTS AND I SUPPORT BUSINESS.
COUNCIL MEMBER COO HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT ON MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING, MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING, UM, THE VERY FIRST DAY, THE FIRST STUDENT TO WALK INTO MY CLASSROOM, UM, I ASKED THEM WHAT THEIR NAME WAS AND THEY INTRODUCED THEMSELVES BY THE NAME THAT WOULD BE ON MY ROSTER, BUT A NAME THAT THEY DIDN'T IDENTIFY WITH.
THEY WALKED INTO MY ROOM, THEY SAW SOME OF MY DECOR, AND I THINK THEY GOT A SENSE OF WHO I WAS AS A PERSON.
AND THEY CAME BACK OUT AND THEY REINTRODUCED THEMSELVES BY THEIR NAME, BY THEIR PRONOUNS.
AND I THINK THAT SAME LEVEL OF COMFORT, THAT THEY FELT, THAT SAME LEVEL OF SAFETY THAT THEY FELT, UM, KNOWING THAT I WAS ON THEIR SIDE AND KNOWING THAT I WAS WITH THEM.
I THINK THAT AS A CITY, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO, TO GIVE THAT SAME ENERGY AND TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT SAME WAY.
SO ANY LEGISLATION MOVING FORWARD? I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MONITOR.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MONITOR.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT ON, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ANY MOMENT OF PAUSE.
I THINK WHEN LEGISLATION, WHEN LEGISLATION LIKE THIS IS PRESENTED, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OPPOSE IT IMMEDIATELY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE GONNA DO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT BUSINESSES WANT.
IT'S OUR OBLIGATION AND I'M ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
UM, YOU KNOW, I ALSO LIKE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, UH, CAB H UH, UH, BELIEVE THAT THIS IS, UM, THAT SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION IS CONSISTENT WITH SUPPORTING OUR N D O.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEGISLATION, UH, BEING PROPOSED AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS, UM, IT'S BAD LEGISLATION.
IT'S BAD FOR BUSINESS, AND I BELIEVE IT'S A DISTRACTION, UH, TO COVER UP A LOT OF THE BAD GOVERNANCE THAT WE TRY TO MAKE UP FOR HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SORRY IF I DIDN'T GET I ON YOUR LIST.
UM, I, I OPPOSE, UH, THE MOVEMENTS BY THE STATE LEADERS ON THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE.
IT, IT REALLY IS ONE OF A BUNCH OF ISSUES THAT ARE NOT OF CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT ARE, AND, AND CERTAINLY NOT TO TEXANS, BUT ONLY TO A NARROW FEW.
UH, THE CONCERNS THEY HAVE BESIDES TRANSGENDER IS BUILDING A WALL, AUDITING OUR GOOD WALK AROUND WITH GUNS WITHOUT ANY KIND OF SAFETY OR TRAINING.
UH, THEY DON'T WANT TO INCREASE MEDICARE.
THEY DON'T WANNA LET PEOPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, BE SAFE IN THEIR SCHOOLS WITH MASKS OR VACCINES.
THEY DON'T WANT ANY WOMEN'S RIGHTS TO THEIR OWN BODY.
UH, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO DECIDE IN AUSTIN.
AND I THINK HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND AROUND THIS STATE, WE'RE MORE IMPORTANT.
WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT EXPANDING HEALTHCARE AND HAVING BETTER EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS AND EXPANDING VOTING RIGHTS, NOT CONTROLLING THEM.
AND I THINK WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WITH PEOPLE WALKING AROUND WITH GUNS ON THEIR HIPS.
I THINK WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING BETTER ROADS AND STREETS.
[01:10:01]
I THINK WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ENERGY AND FIGHTING, HAVING OUR, OUR BILLS GOUGED BY, UH, VERY SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES.BUT THE, UH, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND THE LEADERSHIP IN AUSTIN DOES NOT WANT TO FACE ANY OF THOSE ISSUES.
THEY JUST WANT TO PERPETUATE ISSUES THAT THEY THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BASE VOTES FOR THEM IN THEIR PRIMARY ELECTION SO THEY CAN CONTINUE WITH WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE THEIR POWER.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, UH, THAT I WILL, UH, BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE RESOLUTION.
AND OPPOSED TO THESE LIMITATIONS ON TRANSGENDER, I WAS A COACH FOR 15 YEARS WHILE I WAS A TEACHER.
I HAD GIRL STUDENTS WHO PLAYED ON BOYS' SPORTS TEAMS. UH, THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT FOR SOME BOY TO SNEAK INTO THE GIRL'S RESTROOM OR TO PLAY ON A GIRL'S SPORTS TEAM SO THEY CAN GO LOOK AT 'EM IN THE RESTROOM.
THIS IS SIMPLY PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AND WANNA LIVE THEIR LIVES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
UH, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNCIL STANDS FOR.
I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION AS WELL, BUT I'M, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE EVEN HAVE TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
AND LIKE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST TIME, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ALL JUST ABOUT ALL MY COLLEAGUES, THEIR, THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS.
AND, AND I'M ALSO DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR SOME OF THE WORDS THAT, THAT CAME FORWARD TODAY.
IT'S, IT'S OUR JOB TO LISTEN TO ALL VIEWPOINTS.
BUT I THINK SOME OF THOSE VIEWPOINTS, UM, WERE NOT JUST DEROGATORY, BUT THEY WERE ENTIRELY CLOSE TO THE CONCEPT OF WHAT THAT OTHER INDIVIDUAL MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MR. FINGER IS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN THE TIME TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO IS, UH, A TRANSGENDERED YOUTH OR WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND I'D, I'D ASK YOU TO COME BACK AND TALK TO US AFTER YOU'VE, YOU'VE, UH, TAKEN THE COURAGE TO, TO DO THAT.
UM, UNTIL THEN, YOUR WORDS ARE, FOR ME, ARE FALLING ON, ON DEAF EARS, JACK.
UM, SO I'LL, I'M PROUD TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
AND I, UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD STOP HERE.
UH, MAYOR, I THINK A WHILE BACK, WE, UH, WELL BEFORE I WAS HERE, UH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE HORROR STORIES OF SOMETHING CALLED THE N D O ADOPTION.
AND I, I THINK WE'VE JUST ABOUT ALMOST LOST ALL THE MEMBERS WHO WERE, WHO WERE HERE.
NOPE, JUST YOU, RIGHT? YOU'RE THE, YOU'RE THE LAST STANDING MEMBER OF THE, OF THE END OF THE N D O SAGA.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THAT.
AND MAYBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE US, UH, WE CAN CONTINUE, UH, THE EXPANSION ON, ON THE N D O AND NETWORK.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 30.
[31. Ordinance approving a contract to provide Right to Counsel Services for an amount not to exceed $200,000 with funding from FY2021 and FY2022 General Fund Dollars to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, including two additional optional oneyear renewals subject to funding availability. [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; Verónica R. Soto, FAICP, Director, Neighborhood and Housing Services]]
NOW TO ITEM 31.ITEM NUMBER 31 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE RIGHT TO COUNSEL SERVICES FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000 WITH FUNDING FROM FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID, INCLUDING TWO ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL ONE YEAR RENEWALS, SUBJECT TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY.
I WANNA EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
YOU ARE ALL A S A, A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU TO THE TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID, LIANA LOU, AND THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL ATTORNEYS.
WE HAVE KNOWN THAT WE HAVE KNOWN THAT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC THAT SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES WERE COST BURDEN.
SO EVEN MORE SO, THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ALL SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES FACING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP WITH THE EVENT, WITH THE END OF THE EVICTION, MORATORIUM AND UTILITY DISCONNECTIONS.
THIS MEANS THAT THE NEED FOR THE, THEIR LEGAL SERVICES WILL BE IN HIGHER DEMAND.
LET'S BE CLEAR WHETHER DISCONNECTIONS TAKE PLACE ALL AT ONCE OR ARE SLOWLY ROLLED OUT TO AVOID NEGATIVE PUBLIC AND MEDIA ATTENTION, OUR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND DIFFERENTLY, DIFFERENTLY ABLED BOD, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE THE MOST IMPACTED AS WE ENTER WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A COLDER
[01:15:01]
THAN USUAL.WINTER DISCONNECTIONS CAN LEAD TO SUBSTANDARD HOUSING CONDITIONS, AND THEY CAN ALSO LEAD TO EVICTIONS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO RENT QUALITY HOUSING.
MY DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENTS ARE DEMANDING THAT C P S ENERGY BE COMPASSION, COMPASSIONATE AND INNOVATIVE, AND DEVELOP AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT SYSTEM SIMILAR TO SAWS.
AND WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS GREAT PROGRAM ISN'T THE END ALL BE ALL, AND THAT WE MUST REINFORCE THIS WITH GOOD POLICY THAT PROTECTS TENANTS AND SUPPORTS MOM AND POP LANDLORDS.
UM, A AGAIN, THANK YOU TO N H S D, TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID, UM, FOR SUPPORTING NOT ONLY TENANTS AND RENTERS, BUT YOU KNOW, PROPERTY OWNERS AS WELL.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, UM, I, I, I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM 31 AS STATED.
COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO A SECOND BY ELAS.
UH, WE'LL MOVE, UH, ON WITH OUR DISCUSSION.
UM, I WISH I, I WILL ONE DAY BE AS GOOD A LAWYER AS THE ONES THAT WORK AT THE TEXAS RURAL LEGAL AID.
I WILL NEVER MATCH, UH, THE BRAINS, THE SKILLS, UH, OR THE HEART AT, UH, THOSE GIANTS BRING TO THE TABLE IN THE FIGHT ON BEHALF OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
UM, I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM DO THE WRONG THING, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT.
THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF TODAY, AND I'M REALLY PROUD, UM, TO BE ON THIS ONE WITH YOU.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LEGAL AID TO THOSE THAT REALLY NEED IT.
I'M NOT SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE HERE WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT THE CITY IS FUNDING.
WE'RE PAYING THEM MONEY TO OFFER THIS SERVICE OUT THERE.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE RECENTLY, THIS ORGANIZATION SENT A DEMAND LETTER TO US AND WAS THREATENING TO SUE US, AND WE'RE PAYING THEIR SALARIES.
AND I, I JUST CANNOT SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE GIVING WORK TO AND PAYING, AND THEY'RE TURNING AROUND AND SUING US, OR SENDING US DEMAND LETTER OR COMING AFTER US FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND, UM, THAT NEEDS TO STOP HOWEVER WE CAN.
AND ONE WAY OF STOPPING THAT IS PULLING OUT OF THESE CONTRACTS.
WE HAVE, UH, THESE CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED WITH A TERMINATION CLAUSE IN IT THAT SAYS, WE CAN CANCEL THIS CONTRACT AT THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN THIS CASE, AND GIVE IT TO AN ORG ORGANIZATION THAT IS WILLING TO WORK WITH US IF THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS THAT COME TO US AND TALK TO US AND TRY TO WORK OUT THOSE ISSUES BEFORE WE GET INTO SENDING A DEMAND LETTER TO US SAYING, HEY, CITI, WE'RE WE, WE'RE COMING AFTER YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE PAYING US FOR THIS SERVICE.
THIS HAS TO STOP AND IT SHOULD STOP HERE.
THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO PULL THIS OFF, OFF THE TABLE AND FIND ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDER SAYING, GEEZ, IS THIS ORGANIZATION GONNA SUE US TOO? SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS.
I'D RATHER GO OUT AND GET ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.
UH, ANDY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, POSSIBLE ON THIS, UH, COUNCILMAN YET? UM, WELL, I, I WAS GONNA RESPOND TO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SAID, UH, PHILOSOPHICALLY, I, UH, WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT, UH, WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT ANY ENTITY THAT SUES THE CITY, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, AS CITY ATTORNEY, I TAKE UNKINDLY ANYTIME SOMEBODY EITHER DEMANDS SOMETHING FROM THE CITY OR, OR FILE SUIT AGAINST THE CITY.
I DO WANNA MAKE A DISTINCTION, THOUGH, HERE THAT T R L A WAS REPRESENTING, UH, A CLIENT.
AND SO THEY THEMSELVES, WERE NOT SUING THE CITY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE HAD ENTITIES THAT HAVE SUED THE CITY BEFORE, AND FRANKLY, WE STILL DO BUSINESS WITH 'EM.
BUT AGAIN, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU CONCEPTUALLY, THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK.
ANYTIME ANY ENTITY MAKES A CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY, T R L A IS A VERY REPUTABLE ORGANIZATION.
THEY PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
UM, AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ALL IS A FUNDAMENTAL PILLAR OF THE RULE OF LAW.
UH, IT'S A CONCEPT THAT WE AS LAWYERS, UH, HAVE FULL FAITH IN.
[01:20:01]
BUT I WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT WE FALL SHORT AS A PROFESSION, AS A LEGAL PROFESSION WHEN, UH, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.T R L A PLAYS A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN TRYING TO FILL THAT GAP.
UH, AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I'M FINALLY GETTING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
I, UH, THERE ARE NO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE, UH, THAT HAVE THE EXPERTISE, THAT HAVE THE SCOPE, THAT HAVE THE BENCH STRENGTH, THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UH, IN OUR, UH, RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM, WHICH IS A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR EHA.
UM, SO IN THAT RESPECT, UM, UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES.
THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THAT.
UH, WE HAVE A GOOD, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH T R L A AND, UH, WE FEEL THAT GOING FORWARD WE'LL HAVE, UH, VERY SOUND COMMUNICATIONS, VERY SOUND RELATIONSHIPS, SO THAT EVEN IF THERE IS A CASE WHERE THEY ARE REPRESENTING A CLIENT AND THEY HAVE, UH, A CLAIM AGAINST THE CITY, WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK THAT OUT WITH THEM.
THANKS FOR THAT EXPLANATION, ANDY.
BUT I ALWAYS LOOK AT THIS, UH, DID THIS GO OUT WITH AN R F P OR WAS THIS A DIRECT AWARD? IT WAS, UH, IT WENT OUT WITH THE R F P AND FRANKLY, A T R L A WAS THE ONLY, RIGHT.
THE, THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS ABLE TO RESPOND.
AGAIN, BECAUSE WHAT SERVICES WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
WHICH, WHICH IS AGAIN, IS TO BE EXPECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE, UH, THEY ARE THE, THE, THE FOREMOST ORGANIZATION OUT THERE THAT'S PROVIDING THESE SERVICES.
I I STILL THINK THAT, UH, UH, WE NEED TO TAKE A HARDER STAND AGAINST ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING AFTER US FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND, UH, IF IT'S A LAWFUL DEAL, SURE, BUT AGAIN, I CANNOT SEE US PAYING MONEY TO SOMEONE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE AND THEN TURN AROUND AND COME AFTER US WITH A LAWSUIT.
SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S MY COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE, AND, UH, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT.
I GUESS I'M GONNA TAKE THE OTHER SIDE, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE ASKED T R L A TO DO IS TO REPRESENT OTHER PEOPLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE AFRAID TO LOOK AT OURSELVES AS WE PROVIDE SERVICES OR DO ANYTHING AS A CITY, UH, THEN I THINK WE'RE GONNA MISS THE BOAT ON WAYS OF IMPROVING OURSELVES OR WAYS OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD A CONCERN ABOUT HOW THE CITY PROVIDED A SERVICE OR WAS DOING SOMETHING, AND T L R A SAID, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING THE CITY SCREWED UP ON, AND WE'RE GONNA CALL HIM ON IT.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND IS THE HEAD OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND HE UNDERSTANDS THAT, THAT YOU LOOK AT THESE SITUATIONS, YOU TRY AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, WE'VE HAD WITH THE CITY'S BEEN SUED BEFORE, UH, THE CITY HAS LEARNED FROM ITS MISTAKES.
UH, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
AND IF, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO SAY WE ONLY WANT PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE TO BE THE ONES THAT WE HIRE TO DO THINGS FOR US, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE ANY PROGRESS.
LET'S, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE JUST DEPENDED ON SAWS OR C P SS TO GO OUT, HIRE CONSULTANTS WHO ARE GONNA TELL US EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT US TO HEAR, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THE KIND OF OVERSIGHT WE NEED.
AND THE SAME LOOKING AT OURSELVES.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, T L R A IS JUST GIVING US A MIRROR AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG HERE.
CAN WE CORRECT THIS? AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT ANY ORGANIZATION THAT DOES THAT, AND I'M NOT, AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA SAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE THEM ANY MONEY BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID THEY'LL CALL US OUT.
SO ANYWAY, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, I GET SUED BY MY FRIENDS ALL THE TIME.
UH, IT'S
AND, UM, COUNCILMAN, UM, VEO HOFF, YOU PROBABLY GET SUED BY YOUR FRIENDS ALL THE TIME TOO.
AND, UH, WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME COURTHOUSE.
UM, WE FIGHT, YOU KNOW, ZEALOUSLY AND, UH, TOOTH AND NAIL, AND THEN WE GO OUT FOR A BEER AFTERWARDS, AND WE'RE, WE'RE JUST DOING OUR JOBS, UH, REPRESENTING OUR CLIENTS.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, UM, IT, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, UH, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
BUT I, I WILL REMIND YOU, WE, WE DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WHO SUE US ALL THE TIME HERE AT THE CITY.
I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE DONE DESIGN BUILD AND THEN GET SUED AFTERWARDS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS? RIGHT, ANDY? UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GET SUED BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE POLICE UNION.
WE GOT, WE GET SUED BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE FIRE UNION.
WE GET SUED BY THE ESPERANZA CENTER EVERY FEW YEARS.
[01:25:01]
IT'S OKAY.UH, AND THE OTHER, THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO OTHER ORGANIZATION IN SAN ANTONIO OTHER THAN T R L A.
IN FACT, THERE'S NO OTHER ORGANIZATION IN TEXAS, I WOULD SAY, OTHER THAN T R L A, UM, TO DO THIS.
AND THEY'LL SUE US AGAIN ONE DAY.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, BUT I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THEY, LIKE, THEIR JOB IS LITERALLY TO SUE US, UH, AND TO SUE GOVERNMENT, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE STANDING UP FOR, UM, THE LITTLE GUY.
AND I THINK THAT BRINGING THEM ON BOARD, UH, TO REPRESENT OUR LITTLE GUYS, WHICH ARE, ARE EVICTED, SOON TO BE EVICTED TENANTS, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE FINE.
UM, THAT SAID, I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE SUE US, CLAYTON.
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SUED US, UH, OVER PAID SICK LEAVE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE GET SUED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORE RETAILERS.
WE GET SUED BY THE HOTEL WORKER, YOU KNOW, THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.
AND, UM, THAT'S JUST THE JOB THAT WE CHOSE, UH, TO BE IN THE SAME WAY.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M ALWAYS PRACTICING AND NEVER PERFECTING LAW.
AND SO, UH, ANYWAY, UM, I, I THINK YOU, YOU'RE PICKING UP WHAT I'M LAYING DOWN.
THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PERRY FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WHEN WE LOOK AT WE, UM, AWARDING CONTRACTS AND RFPS, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATION AND WHERE THEIR STANCE IS.
AND IF THEY'RE SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME IN LITIGATION WITH THE CITY, WE MIGHT NEED TO RETHINK THAT.
WITH THAT SAID, UM, T R THIS IS ABOUT RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
T R L T R L A DOES THAT THE BEST, THE SITUATION WHICH I READ UP ON WAS ABOUT ONE CLIENT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.
AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, UH, VERA, WITH THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT ISSUING EMERGENCY ORDER 42, HOW IS THAT, IS THIS GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE CONTRACT, ON THE WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR US? UH, YES.
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT, VERONICA, WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT THE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE PROVIDING RIGHT TO COUNSEL CAN PROVIDE TO CLIENTS.
AND IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT IS AN ADDED PROTECTION FOR CLIENTS OF OUR EAP PROGRAMS, SO THAT THE LONG TERM IMPACT OF AN EVICTION ON A PERSON'S RECORD IS YIELDED.
SO IT DOES NOT HAVE THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS.
SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL TOOL THAT THE ATTORNEYS PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL TO THESE CLIENTS WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE, AND SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT THOSE FACING EVICTION IN THE LONG TERM.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK AS, AS WE MAY MOVE FORWARD AND WE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND WE LOOK AT WHO WE'RE SERVING, SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE FACED EVICTION, AND THIS IS A SCARY SITUATION FOR THEM.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO NEED ALL THE HELP THAT THEY CAN GET.
AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE, UM, THE BEST REP REPRESENTATION FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 31.
NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE.
THAT'S ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
[36. City Manager’s Report]
A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT? YES, SIR.UH, A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TO THE COUNCIL.
SO A COUPLE MORE ITEMS THAN WE, YOU NOR NORMALLY HAVE.
UM, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE WHERE'S HE AT? EDWARD GONZALEZ.
ONE UP HERE, EDWARD, UM, EDWARD, UM, UH, A FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, UH, RETIRED.
UH, AFTER 20 YEARS, HE HAS, UH, GONE OFF TO, UM, HELP ONE OF OUR MAJOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, I WANTED TO, UM, AND, AND HE DID IT FAST BEFORE I COULD CHANGE HIS MIND.
BUT, UH, IF ANYBODY KNOWS EDWARD, UM, HE IS THE TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL AND, AND AN EXCELLENT EXECUTIVE WHO JUMPS INTO AN ISSUE AND HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SO MANY OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, UH, REALLY THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
UM, EDWARD SPEARHEADED THE, UH, THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER, UH, IN 2019, UM, UH, EDWARD, UM, WITH VETO.
AND THE TEAM REALLY STOOD UP THE EAP IN THE SPRING OF 2020 WHEN, UH, IT WENT FROM A CONCEPT, UM, AND NEEDED TO BE THOUGHT OUT AND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMPLEMENTED.
UH, GREAT IDEAS ARE, ARE EASY TO HAVE, UH, IMPLEMENTING THEM, UM, IS WHERE THE CHALLENGE IS AT.
AND, AND EDWARD, UH, AND HIS TEAM DID A GREAT JOB.
[01:30:01]
I COULDN'T LET EDWARD LEAVE THE CITY WITHOUT COMING HERE AND RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE FOR US OVER HIS 20 YEARS.AND HE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND REALLY GIVE THE COUNCIL A CHANCE TO CONGRATULATE HIM AS WELL, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN A HUGE PART OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE FROM HUMAN SERVICES.
EDWARD STARTED IN HUMAN SERVICES, UM, AND THEN TRANSITIONED 'CAUSE HE WAS LOOKING FOR A CHANGE, AND IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME, I THINK VETO YOU, YOU WOULD AGREE.
AND LORI WAS THE RIGHT TIME BECAUSE HE, UM, HE, HE LED THAT TEAM.
AND, AND EDWARD, I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, PERSONALLY FOR, FOR THE WORK YOU DID FOR THE ORGANIZATION, FOR THE CITY, UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, ERIC, AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UH, I TOLD ERIC I'D COME IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEAK, AND ALSO
UM, I THINK IT'S ONLY RIGHT TO, TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I MET ALONG THE JOURNEY.
SO I'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS AND I'VE GOT THE PLEASURE, AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK ON MANY, UH, HIGH PROFILE PROJECTS.
AND ALONG THE WAY, I WAS ABLE TO, TO, TO FOSTER A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH NOT ONLY YOU, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALSO EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION FROM ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, CITY MAN, PEOPLE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, UH, TO FRONTLINE STAFF, AND THEN ALSO TO, TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, I THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK TO COME.
ERIC, CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
EDWARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY.
UH, I KNOW HOUSING RUNS IN THE FAMILY, UM, BUT I, I DO, I THINK I WAS THERE WHEN YOU MADE THE SHIFT FROM HUMAN SERVICES TO HOUSING, AND IT WAS REMARKABLE BECAUSE I, I KNOW A NUMBER OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARE DOING, UH, WORK TO GET CRITICAL CARE SERVICES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I, I DO REMEMBER VERY POIGNANTLY, YOU AND MELODY, UH, AND THE TEAM PUTTING TOGETHER ALMOST OVERNIGHT, UH, A, A SERVICE CENTER FOR, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS REELING FROM THE SLUMS THAT WERE, UH, AT THE OAK HOLLOW MOBILE HOME PARK.
UH, THAT SAVED A LOT OF LIVES, I THINK.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, CLEARLY YOU'VE DONE GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY.
UH, WE'RE SORRY TO LOSE YOU, BUT, UH, WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS.
UH, SECONDLY, UM, THE, UH, SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL, UH, AWARDS EACH YEAR RECOGNIZE SAN ANTONIO TRAILBLAZERS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, AND, UM, IN PARTICULAR, UH, THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS.
UH, THIS YEAR'S AWARDS WERE PRESENTED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND INCLUDED 15 WOMEN LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR VERY OWN LAURA MAYS BACK THERE IN THE BACK WAS, UH, ONE OF THE AWARDEES.
AND SO WE WANT TO THANK, UH, LAURA FOR HER, UM, WORK FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AND, AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA, ON RECEIVING THE AWARD, UH, THIS YEAR, UH, THROUGH THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL.
ALRIGHT, MORE GOOD NEWS, MAYOR, UH, U T S A FOOTBALL'S IN THE DOME ON, ON SATURDAY.
UH, IF ANYBODY'S SEEN THE CLIP OF THE U N L V COACH, UH, WHEN ASKED THE, WAS HE GONNA WARN HIS PLAYERS ABOUT THE ALAMO DOME AND THE CROWD, UH, HE ASKED, WHY SHOULD I, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, UH, THE POINT OF THIS IS THAT WE NEED TO PACK THE DOME THIS WEEKEND AND SUPPORT THE HOME TEAM.
UH, IT IS ONE OF TWO HOMETOWN TEAM FOOTBALL TEAMS IS CURRENTLY UNDEFEATED, THE SECOND ONE BEING TRINITY.
BUT, UH, WE'LL FOCUS ON U T S A RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND, UM, UH, PARK AND RIDE, UH, THE, THE, UH, U T S A AND THE ELMO DOME STAFF BEEN WORKING WITH VIA PARK AND RIDE, UH, THROUGH VIA WILL BE OPERATING AT THE THOMPSON CENTER.
AND SO, UM, PLEASE GET OUT THERE AND SUPPORT THE HOME TEAM.
THEY'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE TEAM.
AND, UH, COACH TRAY IS, UM, UM, I'M SURE HE'LL BE READY FOR FOR SATURDAY.
AND TAKE YOUR MASKS AND TAKE YOUR MASKS, BUT YELL LOUD.
MAYOR, UH, OUR OWN T V S A, UH, WON THE OVERALL EXCELLENCE IN PROGRAMMING AWARD FOR, UH, OUR LAR THE LARGE, UM, CATEGORY, UM, THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS AND ADVISORS.
UH, THE, THE AWARD HONORS, UH, EXCELLENCE IN BROADCAST CABLE, MULTIMEDIA AND ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING PRODUCED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
UM, SO A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE T V S A TEAM AND THE ENTIRE G P A TEAM.
[01:35:01]
ALL RIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA CAP IT OUT WITH, UH, THE VIDEO.UM, A HIGHLIGHT VIDEO FOR, UH, UM, A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES THAT SOME OF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE.
UM, I'VE, SOME OF THEM I'VE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN MY CAREER WITH THE CITY.
UM, AND THEY, UH, PROVIDE A CRITICAL SERVICE, UH, TO ALL OF US ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE HAVE A, A, A STAFF OF NINE THAT PRETTY MUCH SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE CITY, THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION WITH, WITH MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THEIR PRINTING AND MAIL NEEDS.
SOMETIMES THE, UH, THE PRINT JOBS CAN REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, ASSISTANCE FROM US WHERE WE MAKE A FILE PRINT READY.
WE'RE A PRETTY SMALL YET DYNAMIC TEAM.
THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS ASSISTS THEM WITH SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WHETHER IF IT'S PRINT, WHETHER IT'S MAIL, WHETHER IF IT'S JUST A SIMPLE CORRESPONDENCE, I KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE BACKEND IS SUPPORTING EACH AND EVERY DEPARTMENT TO BEST CATER TO THE COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF THE STUFF YOU GET IN THE MAIL, YOU WOULDN'T THINK COMES FROM THIS SHOP, BUT IT DOES INDEED.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CORE VALUES, THE TWO THAT I WOULD CHOOSE WOULD BE PROFESSIONALISM AND INNOVATION.
I CHOOSE PROFESSIONALISM BECAUSE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE TO OUR CLIENT.
AND OUR CLIENT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE COMMUNITY, IT'S OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT WE SUPPORT.
I CHOOSE INNOVATION BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS HAVING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.
WE'RE HAVING TO COME UP WITH GREAT SOLUTIONS TO BE ABLE TO BRING CORRESPONDENCE FROM CONCEPTION TO FINALIZATION, AND HELPING THAT DEPARTMENT MEET THEIR NEEDS.
SO WE WELCOME CHALLENGES AND, UH, WE MEET 'EM.
SO THAT'S VERY, NOT ONLY GRATIFYING, BUT IT'S SATISFYING AS WELL.
BEING ABLE TO TAKE EVEN A SIMPLE IDEA THAT'S BEEN DRAWN ON A NAPKIN TO BECOMING A FINAL PRINT.
P D F THAT'S READY TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PRESSES.
SO, SO, MAYOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL THO THOSE GUYS SEEM REAL CALM, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT MOVE QUICK WHEN THEY GET A 30 MINUTE CALL.
AND WE GOT A PRINT, A HUGE WHATEVER.
UM, BUT, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND LASTLY, MAYOR, SORRY, ONE, ONE OTHER THING I DID WANNA SHOW WITH THE COUNCIL, AND WE'LL PROVIDE YOU KIND OF AN AFTER ACTION REPORT.
UH, BUT THIS PAST TUESDAY, UM, ORGANIZED BY THE CITY, WE HELD A, AN EMERGENCY, UM, TABLETOP EXERCISE, UH, WITH CITY EXECUTIVES, UH, EXECUTIVES FROM C P S AND EXECUTIVES FROM SAS.
WE DID HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM STRAC, UH, THE STATE EMERGENCY, UM, OPERATIONS CENTER IN BEXAR COUNTY.
UM, AND REALLY IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, THE, THE EXERCISE WAS FACILITATED BY THE TEXAS ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE, WHICH DOES ALL OF THE, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR THE STATE, UH, AND IS CONTRACTED OUT TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING TO OTHER STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THE, THE, UH, THE EXERCISE WAS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORT TO BETTER INTEGRATE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES INTO, UH, HOW WE DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES.
UH, IT WAS AN ALL DAY SESSION FROM EIGHT 30 TO FOUR 30.
WE SPENT ALL DAY AT IT, THE E O C, AND THERE WAS A HUGE TIME COMMITMENT.
AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE UTILITIES THAT SPENT TIME WITH US THE ENTIRE DAY.
IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ASSESS PLANS, POLICIES, IDENTIFY WEAKNESSES THROUGH THE EXERCISES, UM, TALK ABOUT THE C E E C E P REPORT THAT THE COUNCIL, UH, RECEIVED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, UM, THINKING TOGETHER ON HOW WE COMMUNICATE, HOW WE COORDINATE, HOW WE COLLABORATE, AND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW THOSE DECISIONS AND UPDATES ARE PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO, UH, WE'LL, TSS WILL BE PROVIDING AN AFTER ACTION REPORT.
I WILL BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING TO SCHEDULE, UM, A, UH, UH, A PRESENTATION AND FURTHER COUNCIL CONVERSATION, UH, LATER ON THIS FALL.
SO, JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COUNCIL.
UH, BEFORE WE BREAK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PLIE, THANK YOU.
UH, TOMORROW MARKS THE BEGINNING OF, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
UM, LORI HOUSTON, JOHN PATEK, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HELPING US.
UM, LIGHT UP THE TOWER OF THE AMERICA'S PURPLE STARTING TOMORROW.
AND, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE LIGHTING UP CITY HALL, THE COLOR PURPLE.
UM, AND, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD NEXT YEAR, WE'LL GET MORE BUILDINGS AND MORE BUILDINGS AND MORE BUILDINGS.
MY GOAL IS TO LIGHT UP DOWNTOWN PURPLE EVENTUALLY.
UM, I, I'M ASKING MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE USE THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE AND YOUR, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA BANDWIDTH.
UM, TAKE SOME PICTURES OF, OF, UH, CITY HALL, SPREAD THE WORD FOR US.
[01:40:01]
ALSO, UH, OUR FRIENDS FROM THE MEDIA WHO ARE HERE, THERE'S LOTS OF STORIES TO REPORT ON, BUT GOSH, IT'D BE REALLY NICE, UH, IF YOU GUYS USED SOME OF YOUR BANDWIDTH ALSO TO REPORT ON, ON US TURNING, UM, CITY HALL PURPLE TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.AND JUST REALLY QUICK, WANTED TO, UM, SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO EDWARD AND ALSO THANK YOU TO THE PRINT SHOP.
UM, THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB ON, UH, PRINTING EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND SO WE REALLY DEPEND ON YOU ALL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK.
AND THEN, ERIC, YOU MENTIONED THE AFTER ACTION REPORT.
WILL WE GET TO SEE A LIST OF EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED THE TABLETOP EXERCISE IN IT? SURE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRAND.
I JUST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EDWARD, UH, ALSO BECAUSE I BELIEVE HE HAS A CONNECTION TO DISTRICT THREE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK EDWARD FOR HIS WORK, UM, AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
AND BEFORE COMING, UH, TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, UH, MANY OF US WOULD REACH OUT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT TO SET UP MEETINGS.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SPEAKING, SPEAKING TO US WITH COMPASSION AND ALWAYS HAVING THE CAPACITY TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY.
THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT GREAT MODEL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR COMMUNITY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING, FOR PROVIDING GUIDANCE, AND JUST ULTIMATELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO.
UH, THE TIME IS 11:02 AM ON THIS 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021, AND OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.