[00:00:43]
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2018.
>> COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES JUST STEPPED OUT.
>> MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION AGENDA.
[1. Invocation]
THE TIME IS 9:15 A.M.WE FIRST RECOGNIZE THE GUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL.
AS COUNCIL MEMBERS WE ARE PRIVILEGED IN MANY WAYS.
AND ONE OF THOSE PRIVILEGES IS TO BE ABLE TO INVITE AN INVOCATOR TO COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT JUST A PRIVILEGE BUT SOMETHING REALLY PERSONAL BECAUSE WHEN WE INVITE OUR INVOCATOR WE SHARE SOME OF OUR SPIRITUALTY, NOT ONLY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES BUT WITH EVERYONE PRESENT AND EVERYONE WHO TAKES THE TIME TO WATCH OUR ONLINE TRANSMISSIONS.
UNTIL THIS DATE I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF INVITING ARCHBISHOP GUSTAVO GARCIA-SILLER FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE TO GIVE AN INVOCATION.
REVEREND JOSHUA SNIDER OF THE UNITARIAN CHURCH, AND A LONG-TIME FRIEND, PASTOR IN AUDIO] FROM ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH TO GIVE AN INVOCATION.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT I IDENTIFY WITH UNIVERSALISTS UNITARIANS AND WITH CATHOLICS, THE TRUTH IS TODAY AS MANY AS 25% OF OUR POPULATION DOES NOT IDENTIFY WITH AN ORGANIZED RELIGION.
AS AGE DECLINES, IN OTHER WORDS, AS PEOPLE GETS YOUNGER, THAT NUMBER GETS HIGHER TO AS HIGH AS 30%.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AT CITY HALL.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DO NOT WISH US WELL WHEN WE DO OUR WORK.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T WANT US TO BE MINDFUL AND THOUGHTFUL AS WE APPROACH IT.
AND THE TRUTH IS, THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE AN INVOCATION IS.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP BEFORE WE START.
TO STOP AND THINK, TO FIND AND RECOGNIZE THE INTENTION IN OUR WORK, AND TO DO RIGHT BY OUR RESIDENTS, WHETHER THEY BELIEVE IN OUR GOD OR NOT.
IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT I HAVE INVITED MY FRIEND AND CONSTITUENT, MR. NICK LEE TO LEAD US IN A NON-RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR INVOCATION.
SOME OF YOU MAY THINK THIS IS STRANGE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT ALL THAT STRANGE.
I GAVE A SECULAR INVOCATION WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE OVER A THANKSGIVING DINNER.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT ALL THAT STRANGE.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MR. LEE.
MR. LEE IS A RETIRED FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH DUTY ASSIGNMENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND OVERSEAS.
A NATIVE OF OREGON, HE HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON AND A MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM USC.
SINCE MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2003, HIS COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES HAVE INCLUDED LEADERSHIP OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND SERVING ON THE CITY'S COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE FOR THE 2010 CENSUS.
MR. LEE IS CURRENTLY THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF OUR CITY'S MUNICIPAL SERVICE COMMISSION, MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND HE IS ALSO ON THE BOARD OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF AMERICANS FOR THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
HE IS A PAST PRESIDENT OF TWO STATE-WIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, CLEAN ELECTIONS TEXAS AND SECULAR COALITION FOR TEXAS.
[00:05:01]
>> THIS MORNING I DO NOT ASK YOU TO BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER.
RATHER, I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CITIZENS WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.
THEY COME FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CITY AND FROM DIFFERENT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND FROM ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS.
YET, THEY ALL HOPE TO RECEIVE FROM YOU AN EQUITABLE HEARING OF THEIR CONCERNS.
AND BEYOND THIS ROOM I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER ALL 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE COLLECTIVELY PLEDGED TO SERVE.
BEAR IN MIND THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURE, ECONOMIC INTERESTS, AND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS TO REPRESENT IN THIS WHICH YOU KNOW THE.
IN TERMS OF RELIGION, THIS INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE MANY VARIETIES OF CHRISTIANS BUT ALSO JEWS, MUSLIMS, HINDUS, SIKHS, ATHEISTS, FREE THINKERS AND OTHERS.
AT THIS POINT I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO ARE GATHERED BEHIND ME HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS SECULAR INVOCATION.
EVERY CITIZEN OF THE SAN ANTONIO LOOKS TO EACH OF YOU TO APPLY WISDOM, INTEGRITY, AND RATIONAL THINKING TO THE AFFAIRS OF THE CITY AND TO TREAT ALL FAIRLY AND WITHOUT FAVOR.
AS A SECULAR HUMANIST I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE POWER WITHIN OURSELVES TO SOLVE LIFE'S PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES THROUGH LOGIC, REASON, COMPASSION, AND COMPROMISE.
AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WE HOPE YOUR DECISIONS TODAY WILL BE BASED ON THE COMMON GOOD WITH AN EYE TO THEIR IMPACT ON ALL CITIZENS AND ON AUDIO].
AND ON BEHALF OF THE MANY CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO ITS PROSPERITY, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE FIRST SECULAR INVOCATION IN THE 300-YEAR HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I HOPE IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST.
[2. Pledge of Allegiance]
THANK YOU.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. LEE.
WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES.
[3. Approval of Minutes for the City Council Special Meetings of August 21 - 22, 2018.]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TODAY, ITEM NO. 3 IS THE APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETINGS OF AUGUST 21 AND 22.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 21 AND 22.
[Additional Item]
MOTION CARRIES.A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE BEGIN A CELEBRATION TOMORROW.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
THIS FRIDAY WILL BE THE OFFICIAL START.
AND ON SATURDAY WE WILL BEGIN PARTICIPATING IN THE TRADITIONAL GRITO TO MARK THE CALL FOR MEXICO'S INDEPENDENCE.
THIS YEAR WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR TRICENTENNIAL, THE BIG 3-0-0, OUR 300TH ANNIVERSARY.
THIS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS EXTRA SPECIAL, AND I DO HOPE TO SEE AS MANY OF YOU WHO CAN POSSIBLY COME THERE.
WE WOULD NOT BE THE VIBRANT CITY THAT WE ARE WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
IN FACT, WE WOULD NOT BE SAN ANTONIO.
FROM LARGER THAN LIFE LEADERS LIKE HENRY B. GONZALES, TO THOSE REPRESENTED BY THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO LULAC, SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION PROJECT, MALDEF AND COPS METRO.
THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE CAN'T IMAGINE THIS CITY WITHOUT ITS FOOD AND MUSIC, RASPAS ON A HOT SUMMER DAY OR MARGARITAS ON THE RIVER WALK THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD ADD A SPECIAL THANKS TO
[00:10:02]
COUNSEL GENERAL REYNA WHO IS A PARTNER THIS YEAR IN THE GRITO.WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT AND HOPE EVERYBODY CAN MAKE IT OUT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL NIGHT.
AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE ALL THE GREAT EVENTS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
A CITY THAT HAS SEEN INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY AND LOTS OF HISTORY AND IT'S SOMETHING WE CELEBRATE THIS TRICENTENNIAL YEAR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY.
AND TO RECOGNIZE HIM I WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
AND IT IS A VERY SPECIAL TIME RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A JEWEL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
ACTUALLY, I CALL IT THE GEM OF DISTRICT 10.
AND THAT'S MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
AND TIME MAGAZINE SELECTED INSPIRATION ISLAND, PART OF MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AS ONE OF THE TOP 100 PLACES IN THE WORLD TO VISIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MR. HARTMAN AND HIS STAFF UP HERE AND RECOGNIZE THEM.
[APPLAUSE] RON MIRANDER, THE GENERAL MANAGER.
JESSICA, RYAN MCFARLING, ALLEY SMITH AND LIZ TALLY, AND NICKI YOUNG, THE ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR.
SO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER, COME ON UP.
YOU ALL NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED UP HERE FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT Y'ALL DO.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND, YOU NEED TO COME OUT THERE.
THIS PLACE IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE.
BUT IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THEM, IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY SHOULD GO OUT THERE AND PARTICIPATE AND BE PART OF THE FAMILY OUT THERE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL FACILITY AND INSPIRATION ISLAND HAS BUBBLED UP TO THE TOP.
OUT OF 100 PLACES HERE IN THE WORLD THAT HAS MADE IT PART OF THAT SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
SO I WOULD JUST, AGAIN, LIKE TO THANK YOU, MR. HARTMAN, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER THROUGH THE FOUNDATION AND FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FOR US TO BE GETTING THAT RECOGNITION.
AND PARTICULARLY BEING IN DISTRICT 10.
SIR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS.
>> MAYOR, COUNCILMAN PERRY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU.
WE ARE VERY HONORED BY "ION OF F THE TOP AND 100 GREATEST PLACES IN THE WORLD.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST OF THE 100 GREATEST PLACES IN THE WORLD THAT "TIME" PICKED, THEY SPAN SIX CONTINENTS, 48 COUNTRIES, AND THERE'S ONLY 20 IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING MORGAN'S INSPIRATION ISLAND.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE REPORTER FROM "TIME" MAGAZINE AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE LIST WERE THOUSANDS THAT SHE LOOKED AT BEFORE THEY CONCLUDED THE TOP 100 LIST.
THE REASON I THINK WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO THERE IN RESPECT TO BEING FULLY INCLUSIVE AND ULTRA ACCESSIBLE.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO THERE, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.
MANY OF WHOM ARE STANDING BEHIND ME AND MANY WHO ARE AT THE PARK TODAY WORKING.
AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO ENSURE WHAT WE DO.
AND IN MANY WAYS WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
WE APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION BUT WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN HELPING THOSE, OUR FRIENDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND SO OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS YOU'LL BE HEARING FOUR NEW MAJOR INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING.
AN EFFORT TO BRING MORE ATTENTION TO DEAL HIGHER IN THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION TOWARDS HELPING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, IN THE AREA OF MEDICAL FACILITIES TO HELP THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
THE AREA OF CAMPS, TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS TO JOIN TOGETHER IN CAMP ACTIVITIES.
AND WE'LL ALSO BE COMING TOGETHER IN THE EFFORTS OF BUILDING SPORTS FACILITIES FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, BOTH COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TO BE DONE.
WE ARE ONLY EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS OLD.
AND BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THIS COMMUNITY,
[00:15:03]
IN THIS STATE, IN THIS COUNTRY, AND EVEN OUTSIDE THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE POSSIBLE, WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.THERE'S A LOT MORE TO COME IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
I WOULD, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME, MAYOR, TO INTRODUCE THE GENERAL MANAGER.
THE PERSON WHO DAY-TO-DAY MAKES IT ALL OPERATE WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL AND PASSIONATE PEOPLE THAT HE HAS WORKING WITH HIM.
IF HE CAN MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
I AM TRULY BLESSED TO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY.
I LOVE WHAT I DO BUT THIS MORNING I'M GOING TO BE GRAMATICS ASIDE, IT'S THE ME SPEAKING FOR WE.
BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE TEAM THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN.
WE GET TO SEE THE SMILES FROM LOCAL SAN ANTONIANS THAT COME TO THE PARK ON A REGULAR BASIS.
GUESTS FROM ALL OVER TEXAS, ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, AND LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WE ARE INVIGORATED BY THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF "TIME" MAGAZINE, BUT IT'S EVERY DAY WE WORK HARD THAT THAT DAY'S EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST THAT IT CAN POSSIBLY BE FOR EVERY GUEST THAT WALKS THROUGH OUR FRONT DOORS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR TO BE HERE AND ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT WE DO.
WE LOVE GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY AND WE LOVE THE SMILES ON PEOPLE'S FACES BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> PERRY: I THINK YOU HAVE A VIDEO YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOW.
IS THAT VIDEO AVAILABLE? YEAH.
>> MORGAN'S WONDERLAND WAS FUNDED BY MORGAN'S DAD.
HE WAS AT A HOTEL AND MORGAN WAS IN THE POOL AND WANTED TO PLAY WITH TYPICAL INDIVIDUALS, AND HE SAW THERE WAS A DISCONNECT.
AND LET ME TELL YOU -- [APPLAUSE]
>> PERRY: AND JUST AS COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT TOYOTA, I WILL ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AS WELL.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH AGAIN AND APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING IN THIS MORNING.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET A PICTURE UP THERE IF WE COULD, SIR.
>> VIAGRAN: AND BEFORE Y'ALL STEP DOWN, WE HAVE SOME REMARKS FROM SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> VIAGRAN: WE HAVE SOME REMARKS FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO SHARE SOME REMARKS WITH YOU ALL.
>> PELAEZ: THANK YOU GORDON AND MORGAN'S WONDERLAND TEAM.
I GOT TO TAKE MY 11-YEAR-OLD AND MY 12-YEAR-OLD, MAX AND SOPHIA, TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND ON PROBABLY ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS THAT ANY OF US HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED.
AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, I WASN'T EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, A GREAT TIME.
I WAS LIKE, REALLY? THERE'S NO RIDES.
AND IT'S NOT LOUD AND THERE'S NO SHOW.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AN AMUSEMENT PARK.
HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE SLIDES? AND SO I KIND OF WENT, NOT WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT SURPRISES OF MY LIFE.
AND IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE MOSE HAD IN A LONG TIME.
AND TO THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE ON THIS LIST -- AND I REVIEWED THE LIST AFTER YOU TOLD ME.
THERE'S TWO BUCKET LIST ITEMS ON THAT LIST.
[00:20:02]
GOLDEN BRIDGE IN VIETNAM.I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO GOOGLE THAT.
IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PLACES IN THE WORLD.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS TIVOLI GARDENS.
IN DENMARK IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST AMUSEMENT PARKS ON THE PLANET.
IT'S THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATION IN ALL OF EUROPE AND THE SECOND MOST POPULAR AMUSEMENT PARK ON THE PLANET, AND YOU'RE ON THAT LIST.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIST, YOU'RE LISTED BEFORE IT.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT YOU'RE IN SAN ANTONIO AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER CITY IN WHICH TO DO THIS.
AND SO WHEN YOU GO HOME, PLEASE HIGH-FIVE MORGAN FOR US.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS VERY SPECIAL.
MY KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME AND YOU HAD A HAND IN THAT SPECIAL DAY FOR US.
GORDON, WE'RE VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ.
GORDON, I'M REALLY PROUD TO CALL YOU A FRIEND AND A PARTNER.
THERE'S JUST NOT A DAY THAT DOESN'T GO BY THAT YOU'RE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR CITY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT OUR CITY HALL WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS.
IT'S REALLY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS AN INCLUSIVE, COMPASSIONATE CITY IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
AND JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS.
WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPENING HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
MY CHIEF OF STAFF, TERESA MENDEZ'S SON MAX IS ON THE SPECTRUM.
I HAVE A GRANDSON ALSO ON THE SPECTRUM.
THE IDEA THAT WE'RE EVOLVING IS IT'S NORMAL.
WE'RE ALL PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT.
I THINK AS OUR CITY IS EVOLVING YOU HAVE SET THE STANDARD FOR HOW WE DO ALL PARKS AND OPEN SPACES.
SO HEMISFAIR AND THE PEARL AND ELMENDORF, THE SPLASH PADS AND WATER PARKS ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.
YOURS IS REALLY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY UNIQUE FEATURES.
BUT IT SETS THE STANDARD FOR OUR WHOLE CITY.
THAT EVERYBODY HAS OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED.
AND I THINK YOU HAVE JUST SHOWN THAT ALL ACROSS THE WORLD.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN IN THIS CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
GORDON, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT SOON AFTER YOU OPENED I HAD BEEN A TEACHER FOR 20 YEARS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN THE SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND SOON AFTER YOU OPENED I BROUGHT A CLASS FROM JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL OF STUDENTS, NOT ONLY WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, BUT WITH PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
I STILL HAVE THOSE PICTURES ON MY CELL PHONE.
IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST GLORIOUS TIMES THOSE CHILDREN EVER HAD AND A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S SO COMMENDABLE WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
AS YOU HAVE ALLUDED TO, YOU WANT TO DO MORE ABOUT EDUCATING THESE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND I KNOW YOU ALREADY ARE DOING THAT NOW.
AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU'RE BLESSED TO CONTINUE OFFERING THESE SERVICES TO THOSE SO NEEDY.
BUT ALSO I WANT YOU TO KNOW I BROUGHT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THEY LOVE IT.
YOU'RE DOING SO MUCH FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE BEST WISHES FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND FOR THAT SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
MR. HARTMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR CITY.
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH MORGAN'S WONDERLAND WAS I HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE FROM COLLEGE WHO HAS A SON.
AND NONE OF US HAD KIDS AT THAT TIME EXCEPT FOR HIM.
AND WE HAD HIS VERY FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY AT YOUR FACILITY.
AND TO SEE THE LOOK OF JOY ON HIS FACE FROM THAT DAY UNTIL TODAY, BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE HIS BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT MORGAN'S, IS AN AMAZING TREAT.
AND THE ONLY REASON I REALLY CHIMED IN IS BECAUSE I WANTED TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT AT CITY COUNCIL.
I HOPE YOU'RE AT SCHOOL BEHAVING YOURSELF.
YOUR UNCLE CRUZ WILL BE THERE TO
[00:25:02]
PICK YOU UP LATER.YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
CONTINUE WITH YOUR GREAT SUCCESS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS.
GORDON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE PEOPLE AND BELIEVING THE BEST ABOUT SAN ANTONIO AND PUTTING THIS HERE, BECAUSE YOU KNEW IT WOULD DO WELL IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND I HOPE WE ARE LIVING UP TO WHAT YOU HAD ENVISIONED US TO WELCOME AND TO BE INCLUSIVE FOR ALL ABILITIES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM WHO WORKS HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR YOUR VISION, AND NOT GIVING UP ON THAT VISION AS WELL.
AND EVEN FROM ALL OF THE STORIES UP HERE.
I KNOW YOU HEAR THESE STORIES EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT THAT IS TRANSCRIBED TO ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING SAN ANTONIO YOUR HOME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.
WHILE I'M SITTING HERE MY WIFE DROPPED A 9-1-1 TEXT BOMB ON ME.
SHE SAID YOU HAVE TO SAY THIS.
I GUESS I FORGOT TO TELL HER THAT YOU WERE HERE TODAY.
MY WIFE IS A NORTH SIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER.
SHE SAID IT BRINGS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF JOYCE TO TEACHERS WHOSE STUNTS CAN'T ALWAYS PARTICIPATE IN OTHER WAYS THAT OTHER STUDENTS CAN.
YOUR REACH IS WELL BEYOND THE [INDISCERNIBLE].
ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE AND THE SCHOOLS AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 6, THANK YOU.
AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN BUILD MORGAN'S WONDERLAND PART TWO IN DISTRICT 6.
BUT WE'LL DRIVE OUT THERE AND HANG OUT WITH YOU.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN PERRY FOR ALLOWING US TO RECOGNIZE AND PRAISE AND SHOWER PRAISE ON THE FOLKS WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN.
THE PARK IS IN DISTRICT 10 BUT WE ALL HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE TO KNOW THAT IT NOT ONLY MADE THIS LIST OF TOP PLACES IN THE WORLD.
I MEAN, WE KNEW THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THE BY-PRODUCT OF THAT IS THAT FOLKS WILL NOW COME TO SAN ANTONIO FROM ANYWHERE.
AND I WONDER IF YOU'LL COMMENT, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST.
THE FURTHEST PLACES, THE FURTHEST REACHES OF THE WORLD THAT FOLKS HAVE TRAVELED TO COME AND VISIT SAN ANTONIO TO VISIT YOUR PARK.
>> COUNCILMAN, WE HAVE HAD 73 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND SINCE WE'VE OPENED.
AND THOSE ARE ONES WHO HAVE COME TO US AND SAID WE ARE FROM THIS COUNTRY.
SO THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME THAT HAVE NOT NOTIFIED US, BUT 73 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES HAVE SAID WE ARE FROM THIS COUNTRY OR THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A GROUP OF NINE CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN SWEDEN WHO MAKE IT A POINT TO COME TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND EVERY YEAR, AND HAVE DONE IT FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW NOW.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
>> SALDANA: MR. HARTMAN, THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THAT.
THIS WASN'T YOUR INTENTION, BUT SAN ANTONIO TODAY BOASTS THE NUMBER ONE AND TWO TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN TEXAS.
BUT THIS IS A GLOBAL ATTRACTION THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL BUT FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR A HA MOMENT AND MORGAN'S GENEROSITY TO LEND IT TO THE ENTIRE WORLD, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF TREASURE IN OUR BACKYARD
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
GORDON, THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR SAN ANTONIO.
I REMEMBER GOING MANY YEARS AGO AND IT WAS A DIFFERENT ITERATION OF YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM OVER THERE.
WITHOUT EXCEPTION, EVERY TIME I INTERACT WITH SOMEONE WHO WORKS AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND THEY CARRY FORWARD THAT VISION OF INCLUSION.
WE DID WHAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IN THIS COUNCIL, THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS WE PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT STATED VERY CLEARLY THAT COMPASSION WOULD BE A FRAMEWORK AND A BUILDING BLOCK FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AS A CITY.
YOU HAVE BEEN DEMONSTRATING THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
I THINK MY SON ACTUALLY LEARNED TO FISH AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND.
IT IS A TRULY INCLUSIVE PLACE.
IT'S A PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES.
IT'S FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
AND THE FACT THAT IT'S HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AS COUNCILMAN SALDANA SAID, IS TO ALL OF OUR BENEFIT AND PRIDE.
KEEP DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANKS, GORDON.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION.
AND WE DO HAVE A LONG BUDGET ITEM TODAY, AS WE WILL PASS THE
[Consent Agenda]
[00:30:01]
FY2019 BUDGET.WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AS WELL, THOUGH.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE'S ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NO. 15 IS PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SAVE FOR ITEMS 4 AND 15.
WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS ON INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION -- EXCUSE ME, ON CONSENT.
>> WELL MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER.
ACTUALLY, ONLY ONE ITEM ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA THAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ON.
IT'S ONE THAT IS GOING TO SAIL RIGHT ON THROUGH.
WHAT DOES IT SAY, ANYWAY? BEFORE I SAY THAT, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING.
I MUST SAY THE INVOCATION YOU HAD THIS MORNING -- INVOCATION YOU HAD THIS MORNING WAS REALLY ONE FOR THE BOOKS THERE, MS. SANDOVAL.
WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING INVOCATORS YOU KNOW HOW TO PICK THE BEST ATHEIST AROUND.
THE ALMIGHTY MUST BE SMILING ON US TODAY, BY GOLLY.
HOO! YES, ITEM NO. 17, RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION TO PEDCOR.
HE WANTS US TO APPROVE A TAX CREDIT FOR HIS HOUSING PROJECT.
IF YOU WANT TO SET UP A HOUSING PROJECT FOR THE POOR PEOPLE, THAT'S FINE.
RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM IF YOU WOULD, JUST FOR A MOMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO SET UP A HOUSING PROJECT FOR THE POOR, THAT'S ONE THING.
BUT BEAR IN MIND IF YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF MIDDLE CLASS INCOME, MAYBE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS OR WELL TO DO IN DISTRICT 6 WHERE MR. BROCKHOUSE IS THE CITY COUNCIL PERSON REPRESENTING THAT AREA, YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW CONFLICTS.
AND I DO SAY THEY DON'T CALL IT HOUSING FOR THE POO.
THEY DON'T CALL IT WELFARE HOUSING.
THEY CALL IT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YEAH, GOOD OLD EUPHEMISM THERE.
TO BACK UP WHAT I'M SAYING, LET'S LOOK AT THE BACK UP DOCUMENTS ON THIS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE WRITING THERE.
THE TAX CREDIT AWARD TO MESA WEST APARTMENTS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $18 MILLION IN CHANGE THERE.
THAT'S THE TAX CREDIT THAT YOU AND I, THE TAXPAYERS, WILL BE HELPING TO PICK UP, EVENTUALLY.
ALL 284 UNITS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO 60% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
IN OTHER WORDS, A FAMILY OF FOUR WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM INCOME OF $40,000.
RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD, TO THE PODIUM.
THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU MAKE OVER $40,000 YOU CAN'T LIVE THERE.
BUT, JACK, THIS IS A MIDDLE CLASS AREA.
YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, AND OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE INDIRECTLY FUNDING THIS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO SAY NO OBJECTION TO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. FINGER.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA SAVE FOR ITEMS 4 AND 14 -- EXCUSE ME.
[4. Approving the following ordinances related to the Fiscal Year 2019 Operating and Capital Budget and Tax Year 2018: [Sheryl Sculley, City Manager; Justina Tate, Director, Management and Budget] NOTE: Items A, B, C and D must be voted on individually and in the following order as required by state statute and City Charter.]
MOTION CARRIES.>> ITEM NO. 4 IS APPROVING THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES RELATED TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET AND TAX YEAR
[4A. Ordinance adopting the Annual Consolidated Operating and Capital Budgets for the City of San Antonio Fiscal Year 2019 that begins October 1; approving projects included in the FY 2019 to FY 2023 Five-Year Infrastructure Management Plan; approving the FY 2019 to FY 2024 Six-Year Capital Improvements Program for the City of San Antonio; approving certain contracts; providing for a one-time annuity increase for retirees and their beneficiaries and a revision to the City’s contribution rate in connection with the Texas Municipal Retirement System; authorizing personnel complements; appropriating funds; and amending related ordinances.]
FOR 2018.ITEM 4A IS THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
[00:35:01]
FISCAL YEAR 2019 THAT BEGINS OCTOBER 1, APPROVING PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 TO FISCAL YEAR 2023 FIVE-YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN, APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 TO 2024 SIX-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, APPROVING CERTAIN CONTRACTS, PROVIDING FOR A ONE-TIME ANNUITY INCREASE FOR RETIREES AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES AND REVISING THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION RATE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM AUTHORIZING[4B. Ordinance ratifying the adoption of the FY 2019 Budget that will require raising more revenue from property taxes than in the FY 2018 Budget.]
PERSONNEL COMPLEMENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS AND AMENDING RELATED ORDINANCES.4B IS THE ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET THAT WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN FISCAL
[4C. Ordinance setting the Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Maintenance and Operation of the City of San Antonio at 34.677 cents per $100 of taxable valuation for the Tax Year beginning on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2018.]
YEAR 2018 BUDGET.ITEM 4C IS THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT 34.677 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2018 AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 2018.
[4D. Ordinance setting the Ad Valorem City Property Tax Rate to pay the principal and interest on the funded debt of the City of San Antonio at 21.150 cents per $100 of taxable valuation for the tax year beginning on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2018.]
ITEM 4D IS THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE AD VALOREM CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE FUNDED DEBT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT 21.150 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2018 AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 2018.[4E. Ordinance establishing new fees and amending fees as included within the FY 2019 Budget in the General Fund and within the Restricted Funds of Carver Special Revenue Fund; Solid Waste Operating and Maintenance Fund; Parking Operation and Maintenance Fund; Storm Water Operating Fund; and amending the City Code of San Antonio, Texas to reflect such changes.]
ITEM 4E IS THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING NEW RATES AND AMENDING FEES AS INCLUDED WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET IN THE GENERAL FUND AND WITHIN THE RESTRICTED FUNDS OF CARVER SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, SOLID WASTE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE FUND, PARKING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE FUND, STORM WATER OPERATING FUND, AND AMENDING THE[4F. Ordinance carrying forward certain FY 2018 Funds; amending prior appropriations; appropriating Funds for requirements in City projects and departments; and appropriating funds.]
CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO REFLECT SUCH CHANGES.LASTLY, ITEM 4F IS THE ORDINANCE CARRYING FORWARD CERTAIN FISCAL YEAR 2018 FUNDS, AMENDING PRIOR APPROPRIATIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR REQUIREMENTS IN CITY PROJECTS AND DEPARTMENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
>> SCULLEY: MAYOR AND COUNCIL, TODAY YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE THE CITY'S $2.8 BILLION FISCAL YEAR 2019 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.
I PRESENTED THE PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN TO YOU ALL BACK ON AUGUST 9, AND SINCE THEN YOU HAVE CONDUCTED NEARLY A DOZEN WORK SESSIONS TO TALK ABOUT THE SPENDING PLAN.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET IS BALANCED, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND WE HAVE PREPARED A BALANCE SPENDING PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AS WELL, CONSISTENT WITH OUR TWO-YEAR BALANCED BUDGET STRATEGY.
THERE IS NO INCREASE TO THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE.
CITY PROPERTY TAXES MAKE UP ABOUT 20% OF THE ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX BILL.
THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
IN 2019 THE CITY WILL FOREGO $52 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM THE SENIOR AND DISABLED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND FROZEN CITY TAX PAYMENTS BENEFITING OUR RESIDENTS IN THE GREATEST NEED.
THE BUDGET REFLECTS COMMUNITY PRIORITIES RECEIVED FROM THE ALMOST 8,000 SURVEYS AND COMMENTS RECEIVED DURING THE SA SPEAK UP CAMPAIGN BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET WAS PROPOSED.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL POLICY DIRECTION RECEIVED DURING THE MAY 30TH BUDGET GOAL-SETTING SESSION.
ALLOCATED TO STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, CONTINUING THE EQUITY STRATEGY THAT BEGAN LAST FISCAL YEAR.
INVESTMENTS IN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS ARE RECOMMENDED FOLLOWING AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.
IN 2019, IT'S THE YEAR OF THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR TWO-YEAR PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE AN AVERAGE CONDITION OF 70 ON A SCALE OF 100 FOR ALL OF OUR SAN ANTONIO STREETS.
INVESTMENT OF $35 MILLION CONTINUES IN DISTRICTS OF GREATEST NEED.
1, 2, 3, 5, AND 10 TO INCREASE THE AVERAGE STREET CONDITION IN THOSE DISTRICTS.
USING AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT APPROACH, THE ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION ALLOCATED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET TO STREETS IN THE OLDEST AREAS OF ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITHIN LOOP 410 AND THE OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICTS 8 AND 9, BECAUSE THESE DISTRICTS ARE ONLY OUTSIDE OF 410 IN THEIR ENTIRETY.
[00:40:02]
THE $19 MILLION IN SIDEWALKS FUNDED WITH $9 MILLION FROM OUR ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT FUNDS, AND $10 MILLION FROM OUR 2017 VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROGRAM.SIDEWALKS ARE PRIORITIZED BASED ON CRITERIA SUCH AS PROXIMITY TO SCHOOLS FOR SAFETY FOR CHILDREN, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, GENERALLY, TRANSIT, AND HEALTHCARE FACILITY ACCESS.
THE BUDGET INCLUDES $17.1 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHEN COMBINED WITH THE CURRENT FUNDING, THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A TOTAL OF $25 MILLION SUPPORTED BY GENERAL FUNDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, AND THE HOUSING TRUST.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL FOCUS ON FILLING POLICE VACANCIES IN THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE ENHANCED DEPARTMENT'S RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
AND WE HAVE INCLUDED FOUR ACADEMY CLASSES NEXT YEAR.
EIGHT NEW PARKS POLICE OFFICERS ARE ADDED FOR OUR LINEAR CREEKWAYS EXPANSION AND NEW PARKS FUNDED THROUGH VOTER-APPROVED BOND PROGRAM.
FIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS ARE ADDED TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES FOR RESIDENTS WITH REGARD TO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND TO ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL SALE OF PUPPIES ONLINE, ROADSIDE, AND AT OUTDOOR MARKETS.
NEW FUNDING OF $1 MILLION IS INCLUDED TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN COMPLETED PARKS FUNDED THROUGH OUR BOND PROGRAM.
THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE OVER 100 NEW ACRES ADDED TO OUR PARK SYSTEM.
LIBRARY FUNDS ARE ADDED FOR BOOKS AND DIGITAL MATERIALS, MAINTENANCE, AND FURNITURE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT IN OUR 30 LIBRARIES.
AFTER THE BUDGET WAS PRESENTED, WE HELD A TOTAL OF EIGHT WORK SESSIONS TO REVIEW THE BUDGET WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND WE HELD SEVEN COMMUNITY BUDGET OPEN HOUSES ACROSS THE CITY.
APPROXIMATELY 350 RESIDENTS ATTENDED THESE MEETINGS AND A TOTAL OF NEARLY 600 BUDGET SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED, WHICH IS UP FROM LAST YEAR'S TOTAL OF SURVEYS OF ONLY 350.
A COPY OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT REPORT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET WAS PROVIDED TO YOU ON SEPTEMBER 5TH.
APPROXIMATELY 78% OF THE RESPONDENTS ON AVERAGE AGREE WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET RANGING FROM 84% SUPPORTING THE FUNDING FOR STREETS, TO 73% SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES.
LAST FRIDAY AFTER OUR WORK SESSION LAST WEEK TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET AMENDMENTS, I PROVIDED A MEMORANDUM TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL WITH A LIST OF POTENTIAL REQUESTS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
TODAY WE'VE PLACED ANOTHER COPY OF THE FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS REPORT AT THE DAIS FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION.
WITH THESE AMENDMENTS THE BUDGET REMAINS BALANCED FOR FISCAL YEARS '19 AND FOR '20.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK AGAIN MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, JUSTINA TATE AND THE ENTIRE BUDGET TEAM.
OUR BUDGET OFFICE THAT HAS WORKED THIS ENTIRE SUMMER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND PRESENT A SPENDING PLAN THAT REFLECTS YOUR PRIORITIES AND THOSE OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR STAFFS WHO HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO PROVIDE PRESENTATIONS TO YOU THAT TALK ABOUT THEIR PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHAT THEY EXPECT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, AND WORK ON THEIR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THEIR RESOURCES.
WITH THAT, MAYOR, OUR STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THE CITY COUNCIL WILL TAKE UP THE BUDGET IN A SERIES OF MOTIONS.
BUT FIRST WE HAVE MANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NO.
AND WE'LL BEGIN NOW WITH KENNY WILSON.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT MEETING TODAY AND ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT OF HAVEN FOR HOPE AND MAINLY THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE WHOM WE SERVE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 1700 PEOPLE LIVING AT HAVEN FOR HOPE EVERY DAY.
SOME LEAVE ON TO A PLACE TO LIVE AND A JOB AND A BETTER WAY OF LIFE.
THE SUPPORT WE GET FROM THE CITY IS REMARKABLE.
WE HAVE, EVERY DAY I'M TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVES OF A CITY IN THE U.S., ALMOST EVERY WEEK, EVERY WEEK, A LARGE DELEGATION FROM EVERY CITIES, INCLUDING THIS WEEK, COME TO HAVEN TO SEE WHAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS DONE.
AND THEY ARE IN GREAT ADMIRATION
[00:45:01]
AND AWE, AS AM I.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR CARE AND CONCERN FOR VOLUNTEERING AT HAVEN FOR HOPE.
I WANT TO THANK MS. SCULLEY FOR HER SUPPORT AND THE STAFF.
ALL OF THEM ARE PHENOMENAL AT WHAT THEY DO, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WILSON.
WE HAVE A GROUP, WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION.
WITH ME TODAY, ALA FLORES WITH CONJUNTO HERITAGE, CHRISTINA WITH THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.
BEN WITH THE [INDISCERNIBLE] CULTURAL ARTS.
LOUIS GARZA WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE.
THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION IS A GROUP OF EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO MAINTAIN THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE CITY.
THROUGH THE PROMOTION AND PRESENTATION OF LATINO ARTS AND ARTISTS.
FOR OVER 40 YEARS SAN ANTONIO'S LATINO ARTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF THOSE THAT ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE ARTS TODAY.
THROUGH THE POWER OF ARTS AND CULTURE, OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN TRANSFORMING SAN ANTONIO INTO A VIBRANT AND CREATIVE CULTURAL CENTER.
WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WE'VE CREATED JOBS AND PROMOTED INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE.
COLLECTIVELY, WE HAVE PRODUCED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART AND ATTRACTED MILLIONS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO OUR CITY.
IN ADDITION TO OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAKING SAN ANTONIO AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION, WE HAVE ALSO HELPED TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TAKEN ON ROLES SUCH AS ARTS EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND HAVE DONE THE WORK OF PRESERVING NEIGHBORHOODS' HISTORIES, PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING AND EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITIES ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS ESSENTIAL TO OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
WE'RE PROUD TO WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE BLURRING, AT TIMES, THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ARTIST.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE RESPONSIVE TO CURRENT EVENTS.
THE ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE ARE AT THE FRONT LINES OF MOST POLITICAL STRUGGLES.
AND THE ART THAT WE PRESENT REFLECTS THAT REALITY.
OUR WORK TELLS THE STORIES OF IMMIGRATION, HOMOPHOBIA, RACISM, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND THE OTHER REALITIES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES FACE ON A DAILY BASIS.
OUR ORGANIZATIONS ALSO SHAKE UP THE DEFINITION OF ART, PROCLAIMING AND HARKENING BACK TO THE CULTURAL WAYS OF OUR GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS FOR WHOM ART WAS AN EXPRESSION OF LIFE AND LIFE WAS LIVED WITH ARTISTRY.
AS OUR NATION BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT AND ADDRESS ISSUES OF INCOME INEQUALITY AND RACIAL EQUITY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMBRACED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN EXAMINING AND CORRECTING THE ARTS FUNDING INEQUITIES THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR DECADES.
ON BEHALF OF THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE EQUITY EIGHT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR INCORPORATING AN EQUITY ASSESSMENT LENS TO NOT JUST THE ART SECTOR BUT ALL SECTORS OF SAN ANTONIO.
[00:50:01]
TO CITY COUNCILWOMAN SHIRLEY GONZALES, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR CHAMPION.TO GREG BROCKHOUSE FOR HELPING US ADVANCE OUR REQUEST.
AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY THOSE SERVING ON THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE COMMITTEE.
A SHOUT OUT TO DEBBIE SITTER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE FOR IMPLEMENTING EQUITY FUNDING POLICIES AND GRANTMAKING PRACTICES TO DISTRIBUTE NEW RESOURCES TO SAN ANTONIO'S VIBRANT LATINO ARTS SECTOR.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS INTRODUCED AN EQUITY FUNDING FORMULA TO BUILD CAPACITY OF ORGANIZATIONS WITH FEWER RESOURCES.
TODAY IS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOUR VOTE TODAY IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE INTEGRAL ROLE THAT OUR LOCAL LATINO ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS HAVE PLAYED IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE EXPANSION AND GROWTH OF THE CITY'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.
>> I'M CHRISTINA FROM THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER AND I TOO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND ALL CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE INVESTMENT IN THE CULTURE OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE JUST HAD A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE WITH MR. HARTMAN AND MORGAN'S WONDERLAND HOW WHEN WE CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE AUTHENTICALLY WE CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL FOR THE WORLD, FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD TO SEE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE GROUPS HAVE BEEN DOING FOR MANY YEARS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE CONJUNTO MUSIC.
THAT IS OUR MUSIC, OUR SOUTH TEXAS MUSIC.
WHEN WE CELEBRATE THAT AND SHOWCASE THAT PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SEE IT, AS WE HAVE SEEN IT IN OUR CONJUNTO FESTIVAL.
AND AS MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE SEEN IT IN MANY OTHER PROGRAMS ADDS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN AN AUTHENTIC SAN ANTONIO.
>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BEN AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT [INDISCERNIBLE] CULTURAL ARTS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH THAT I CAN ADD TO WHAT THEY HAVE SAID HERE TODAY, BUT I WILL BECAUSE I'VE GOT TWO MINUTES.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'RE A SMALL ORGANIZATION AND ANY KIND OF FUNDING WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO HELP BUILD OUR CAPACITY TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT BY SUPPORTING PROGRAMMING, THE CULTURAL SUPPORTING PROGRAMMING THAT WE DO, YOU'RE NOT ONLY PROVIDING THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO WITH MUCH-NEEDED SERVICES, BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
WE SERVE THE UNDERSERVED, WHETHER THAT'S YOUNG FOLK, OLD, WEST, SOUTH, EAST, OR NORTH.
IT'S BECAUSE OUR ORGANIZATIONS STRIVE TO NOT JUST BE COMMUNITY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, BUT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US TODAY.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE
I'M WITH THE CONJUNTO HERITAGE AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND YOUR SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
WE HAVE A GROUP HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE.
ROBERT MILLER, BECKY ALVAREZ, AND LOUIS VARGAS.
>> MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FRIENDS FROM OUR BELOVED SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, MY NAME IS ROB MUELLER.
IT'S MY HONOR TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE.
A LEGACY NONPROFIT COMMUNITY CENTER WHICH HAS SERVED THE FAMILIES OF OUR WEST SIDE FOR MORE THAN 102 YEARS.
AS SAN ANTONIO CELEBRATES ITS 300TH BIRTHDAY, WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN HELPING OUR CITY BE HEALTHY, WHOLE, AND EDUCATED FOR MORE THAN A THIRD OF ITS EXISTENCE.
FOR GENERATIONS THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO THE EMPOWERMENT OF CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND ELDERS THROUGH PROGRAMS FOR THE EXPRESS NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.
[00:55:02]
THROUGHOUT THIS CENTURY OF SERVICE WE HAVE EDUCATED CHILDREN AND PARENTS, NOURISHED CREATIVITY WITH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, TAUGHT MOTHERS SKILLS TO FEED AND CLOTHE THEIR FAMILIES.PROVIDED HEALTH SERVICES AND FED THOSE IN CRISIS, AND BUILT AND OPERATED 84 UNITS OF SECTION 8 LOW-INCOME HOUSING.
WE HAVE SHARED THE TOP PRIORITIES OF OUR CITY AND FOR 100 YEARS, THANKS TO PRIVATE FUNDING, THESE SERVICES HAVE BEEN OFFERED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF CREED.
BECAUSE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NEVER TRULY WHOLE HAS A COMMUNITY UNTIL ALL OF US ARE WHOLE.
TODAY OUR MISSION IS STILL CARRIED OUT FROM THE SAME 90-YEAR-OLD BUILDING DESIGNED BY HARVEY P. SMITH IN 1929.
MR. SMITH IS THE SAME ARCHITECT WHO SUPERVISED THE FIRST RECONSTRUCTION OF OUR CITY'S WORLD HERITAGE MISSIONS AND SPANISH GOVERNOR'S PALACE.
HNS SERVES OVER 1,000 WEST SIDE NEIGHBORS EACH YEAR.
OUR KITCHEN PROVIDES OVER 20,000 MEALS A YEAR TO SENIORS AND CHILDREN.
WE PROVIDE OVER 6,000 BOXES OF FOOD ANNUALLY TO ADDRESS THE SEVERE ISSUES OF FOOD INSECURITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
OUR KIDS [INDISCERNIBLE] AND IS ONE OF THE ONLY CENTERS IN THE AREA THAT'S EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
OUR SENIOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS OVER 100 SENIORS FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
YOGA, ZUMBA, ART AND CRAFT, HEALTH LITERACY IS CENTRAL TO OUR WORK.
OUR SOCIAL WORKER MAKES 200 VISITS A YEAR AND EVEN VISITS SENIORS IN THE HOSPITAL SO THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN TIMES OF ILLNESS.
OUR FAMILY INITIATIVES INCLUDING PARENTING PROGRAMS THAT SERVE 50 PARENTS A YEAR, OFTEN SINGLE MOTHERS, ENSURING THEY HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PARENT EDUCATOR SO THEY ARE NOT LEFT TO PARENT ALONE.
ALL OF THIS PROGRAMMING HAPPENS IN THE SAME ORIGINAL STRUCTURE BUILT IN 1929 BY HARVEY P.
AND, TRUST ME, THE WEAR AND TEAR OF SEVEN DAY A WEEK USE FOR THE LAST 90 YEARS IS QUITE EVIDENT IN OUR FACILITY.
OUR WORK GOT THE NEED AND THE ATTENTION OF THE NATIONAL FUND FOR THE PRESERVATION OF SACRED PLACES, A SECULAR NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING FOLKS LIKE US STAY OPERATIONAL SO THAT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T LOSE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR WORK.
THEY AWARDED US A CHALLENGE GRANT OF $250,000 AND SPURRED US TO IMAGINE A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD REPOSITION THE H AND S FOR THE NEXT CENTURY OF SERVICE.
WE DESIGNED A $2.2 MILLION RENOVATION AND EXPANSION CAMPAIGN AND SHARED OUR VISION WITH OUR COUNCILWOMAN, SHIRLEY GONZALES.
HER SUPPORT HAS BEEN UNWAVERING FROM THE OUTSET.
AND BECAUSE OF HER WE ARE GRATEFUL TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND REQUEST YOUR VOTE FOR HER BUDGET AMENDMENT, GRANTING THE FIRST-EVER CITY DOLLARS TO THE H AND S IN SUPPORT OF THIS CAPITAL PROJECT .
WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH OUR GREAT CITY AND WE ARE HUMBLED BY THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE YOU PLACE IN US TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK WE'VE DONE FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO OTHER SUPPORTERS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY WHO ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY WITH US, THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT THE KIND OF CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT THAT WE AT HNS STRIVE TO ACHIEVE.
MS. BECKY ALVAREZ WHO BECAME A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WHO SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR HER ENTIRE CAREER.
AND MR. VARGAS, A YOUTH WHO WAS SERVED BY OUR PROGRAMS, WHO HAS NOW GROWN UP TO BE AN ARCHITECT
MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE BRIEFLY MY LOVE FOR HNS AND MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED INVESTMENT IN THIS LIFE-CHANGING ORGANIZATION.
I GREW UP ON THE ALLEY RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO HNS.
WHEN MY PARENTS BOUGHT OUR HOME, THE FIRST NIGHT THEY SLEPT IN THE BED WE LITERALLY COULD SEE THE STARS THROUGH THE ROOF IN THE HOLES THAT IT HAD BECAUSE IT WAS IN DISREPAIR.
EVERY TIME WE WANTED TO PLAY AT THE PARK, THE SWINGS, THE PLAYGROUND, WE CROSSED THE ALLEY, WENT OVER THERE.
AND MY FAMILY CONFIDED AND BASICALLY KNEW THAT HNS WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US, WHICH THEY ALWAYS DID.
AS A TEENAGER, I BECAME PART OF THE HOUSING TEEN PROGRAM AND DISCOVERED A WHOLE DIFFERENT LAYER OF SUPPORT.
THEY HELPED ME WITH HOMEWORK AND I RAN INTO A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT LITERALLY KEPT ME OFF THE STREETS AND OUT OF TROUBLE.
[01:00:02]
IT WAS SIMPLY A PLACE TO GO WHERE I FELT ENCOURAGED AND ACCEPTED AND I FELT SAFE.HAVING HNS AS MY BACKYARD LITERALLY CHANGED MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE TRIPS WE WENT ON TO DURING THE SUMMERS TOOK ME FAR BEYOND REACH OF THE SAN ANTONIO BORDERS AND INSPIRED ME TO SERVE A BIGGER PURPOSE THAN MYSELF.
A TRUE CITIZEN WHO LOOKED FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
HNS HELPED ME WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AS I WENT THROUGH SCHOOL IN PURSUING MY DREAM OF BECOMING AN ARCHITECT.
SO LAST YEAR WHEN THEY REACHED OUT ASKING IF I WOULD HELP IN THE REDESIGN OF THIS COMPLEX, I SAID YES.
I FINALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT GAVE SO MUCH TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
EVERY YEAR AT THANKSGIVING THEY HOLD A THANKSGIVING DINNER IN THE BASKETBALL COURT, WHICH IS AN OPEN-AIR PAVILION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME AND WANT TO HAVE A MEAL.
I TRY TO COME EVERY YEAR WITH MY KIDS AND MY FAMILY.
AND THIS GIVES ME A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT FROM NOW ON THAT PLACE MIGHT BE A CONDITIONED AIR WHERE WE'RE OUT OF THE COLD AND RAIN.
IF NOT FOR HNS I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD HERE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WANT TO HELP THEM AND I WANT TO HELP THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN WHICHEVER WAY I CAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A LIFE-LONG SAN ANTONIAN AND A DISTRICT 3 RESIDENT.
AND I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED SUPPORT OF COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES EASE AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET IN SUPPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE.
HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE, OR HNS, HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 100 YEARS AND HAS WORKED TO STRENGTHEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BY SERVING THE PROSPECT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEYOND.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HNS SINCE ABOUT 1927.
AND I MYSELF GREW UP ATTENDING KINDERGARTEN AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS THERE.
AFTER I RETIRED FROM TEACHING, I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO PAY FORWARD ALL THE BLESSINGS I RECEIVED AT HNS BY VOLUNTEERING WITH THEM.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND VOLUNTEER WHERE NEEDED AT HNS.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE BECAUSE I SEE THAT IT IS STILL THAT SPECIAL PLACE OF SAFETY AND CARE THAT I EXPERIENCED GROWING UP.
FOR ALL THOSE WHO CAME TO OUR DOORS FOR ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.
HNS SERVES OUR NEIGHBORS WHO COME FROM FOUR OF THE POOREST ZIP CODE AREAS OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOUR DECISION TODAY FOR OUR CITY TO INVEST IN OUR CAPITAL FUND CAMPAIGN WILL HELP US CONTINUE OUR MUCH-NEEDED WORK ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE WANT TO BE AROUND FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS, AND WITH YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO RENOVATE OUR BELOVED HISTORIC BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN SERVE MORE GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES LIKE MY OWN AND BE ABLE TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, WHICH EDUCATE, ENCOURAGE, AND EMPOWER THE FAMILIES OF OUR WEST SIDE COMMUNITY.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MS. ALVAREZ.
>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL GIFT FOR EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SANDRA MORALES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR HNS IS HERE WITH US TODAY AS WELL.
WE DID A LITTLE HISTORY AT OUR 100-YEAR MARK AND WE HAVE A SMALL LITTLE HISTORY BOOK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO GIFT EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR WITH.
I'M NOT SURE THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TOGETHER.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING HONORABLE MAYOR RON NIRENBERG, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND MADAME CITY MANAGER, SHERYL SKULLEY.
WE'RE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HARD WORK WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN MAY OF 2016.
WE ARE A SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR WHO PREDOMINANTLY SERVES MINORITIES, WOMEN, AND VETERANS.
AND BECAUSE WE EXIST, WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE THOSE WHO ARE IN CONSTRUCTION AND INDUSTRIAL KIND OF AREAS, WHETHER ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL, ET CETERA.
AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE TOWARD GROWTH REVENUE AND JOB CREATION HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS OVER THIS PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS THAT WE HAVE EXISTED.
AND SO WE CAME TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC
[01:05:01]
DEVELOPMENT TEAM, WITH RENE DOMINGUEZ, MICHAEL, TONYA.AND WE STARTED DISCUSSING WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE DID A COLLABORATION.
WE HAVE 39% OF OUR CLIENTS ACTUALLY USE THE CULINARY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, WHICH STILL WE NEED TO DO OUR WORK TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT WE EXIST.
BUT IT'S REALLY BEING UTILIZED.
AND SO THE BREAKFAST AND LAUNCH PROGRAM AT LAUNCH SA LOOK LIKE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE THAT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY TO OFFER THAT SERVICE AND THE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE CENTER.
AND SO WE CAME TOGETHER AND CREATED A CONCEPT WHERE WE WOULD BRIDGE BETWEEN THE AGENCIES AND CREATE THAT RESOURCE AND THAT PIPELINE BETWEEN US.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.
I WANT TO JUST GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MY VICE PRESIDENT ON THE BOARD TO GIVE A FEW REMARKS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I THINK MANY OF YOU ARE ENTREPRENEURS YOURSELVES SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ENCOUNTER THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY.
THE MAESTRO CENTER IS DEDICATED TO HELP THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES NOT MAKE THE MISTAKES MANY OF US HAVE MADE WITHOUT THIS GUIDANCE AND RESOURCE OF INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS BREAK THAT GLASS CEILING AND SUBCONTRACTORS BE THE PRIMARY OF THESE BIG CONTRACTS.
WE BELIEVE IN HELPING THESE SMALL BUSINESSES DRIVE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESS IS THE BACKBONE OF THIS CITY.
WE DON'T JUST SAY THAT AS A POLITICAL SOUND BITE.
BY HELPING THEM WE HELP OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND ALSO JOB CREATION.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP IN CONSIDERING AND CONTINUING TO HELP MAESTRO CENTER.
>> SO WE DO ASK YOU FAVORABLY TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST FUNDS THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION AND DEFINITELY THE LOYALTY FROM COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING A CHAMPION FOR US AND OUR CAUSE.
COUNCILMAN TREVINO, WE ALSO REALLY ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE US.
WE HAPPEN TO WORK WITH BOTH DISTRICTS VERY CLOSELY.
I APPRECIATED THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO TOOK TIME TO MEET WITH ME AND MY TEAM AND OUR BOARD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JERRY SAVEDRA WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE $9 MILLION FOR NEW SIDEWALKS AND $1 MILLION NEW THIS FOR NEW BIK.
TODAY'S MEETING STARTED OFF IN AN INCLUSIVE WAY AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO GAVE THE INVOCATION.
I ACTUALLY FOUND IT VERY POWERFUL AND INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I THINK FOLLOWING UP WITH MORGAN'S WONDERLAND, ALSO THE THEME OF INCLUSION THERE.
I THINK THAT SEEMS TO BE THE THEME OF TODAY AND I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT TODAY YOU'RE ALL CONSIDERING THE BUDGET, WHICH PEOPLE SAY THAT THE BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.
AND THIS BEING THE SECOND YEAR THAT YOU ALL ARE TAKING AN INCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE CITY BUDGET AND LOOKING AT IT FROM AN EQUITY PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO I ALREADY MENTIONED DURING THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE EQUITY LENS FOR HOW WE FUND SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES AND STREETS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, WE'RE VERY DEDICATED AND FOCUSED ON LOOKING AT HOW DO WE ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AND YOUR ZIP CODE SHOULDN'T BE THE MAIN DETERMINATE OF WHAT OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE TO BE HEALTHY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT TOO OFTEN IS THE CASE.
AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, ALL OF OUR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT LIVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE WAY YOU ALL APPROACH THE BUDGET.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A SAN ANTONIO SPEAK UP EVENT.
THEY WERE HELD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S BEEN A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
I THINK THAT LENDS ITSELF TO HAVE THE FINAL PRODUCT WE SEE TODAY, IN ADDITION TO HAVING A GREAT CITY STAFF WHO IS PROFESSIONAL IN WORKING ON THIS.
STUDIES SHOW THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS GENERALLY GET MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EACH WEEK, HAVE LOWER RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES, AND CERTAIN CANCERS THAN THOSE WHO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LESS WALKABLE SIDEWALKS AND LESS OPPORTUNITIES TO WALK TO THE PARK OR GET SOME EXERCISE.
FOR THAT REASON, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IS SO SUPPORTIVE OF LOOKING AT FUNDING THAT WAY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SAVEDRA.
[01:10:12]
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. RON, MAYOR, AND CITY COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT A LOT OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MAINLY I HAVE BEEN TO SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND ALSO I'VE LEARNED FROM THEM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO EARN LIKE AROUND $20 AN HOUR TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THESE NEW APARTMENTS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING, YOU KNOW.
AND YOU'VE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15, BUT FOR CITY ONLY, NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
PEOPLE ARE STILL PAYING LIKE MAYBE $9 OR $8.
AND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN THOSE AREAS ARE TELLING ME TOO THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BE PAYING WHERE THEY'RE LIVING AT.
THEY GET LEASES FROM THESE APARTMENTS AND THEY HAVE TO HOLD UP TO IT.
AND IF THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO GET LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE TO LIVE WITH THEM, ROOMMATES, OR WHATEVER.
BUT A LOT OF THEM ARE ONLY ACCEPTING LIKE JUST A SINGLE FAMILY IN THE PLACE OR WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, AND THEY CAN'T MAKE IT LIKE THAT.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF HOMELESS OUT THERE.
ALSO ON THE PARKS, THAT'S GREAT BUT IF YOU HAVE THEM OPEN, LIKE THE GUADALUPE OVER THERE THAT IS LOCKED UP, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME KIDS THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE PLAYING IN THERE.
CAN YOU OPEN IT? IT'S A PUBLIC PARK, AIN'T IT? A LOT OF PEOPLE -- I'M A TAXPAYER AND ALL THESE BUILDINGS THAT YOU'RE BUILDING, YEAH, THEY'RE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE BUT MAYBE IF YOU COULD MAKE THE PEOPLE PAY THEIR OWN TAXES AND STOP PUTTING ABATEMENTS ON THEM, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR ALL OF US.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: JACK FINGER.
>> WELL, MAYOR NIRENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL.
ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS JACK M.
WELL, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT I AFFECTIONATELY CALL A NUMBER OF HOGS AT THE TROUGH COME UP HERE AND ASK YOU FOR A FEW THINGS.
YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW I WISH FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY A FEW THINGS IN THE BUDGET.
FIRST, I FLAGGED A FEW THINGS FROM THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO SELL TO US TODAY.
NO CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE.
I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR TAXES RAISED, DID YOU? LET'S GO TO THE NEXT YELLOW FLAG.
IF YOU CAREFULLY LOOK AT -- EASY DOES IT.
THE PROPERTY TAX VALUE HOW MUCH OF BASE VALUE? 5.5, 6%? THAT MEANS OUR VALUATIONS WENT UP 6%.
THAT MEANS OUR TAX BILLS ACTUALLY WENT UP 6%, HO, HO, HO, HO.
OH, THIS IS A LAUGH A MINUTE HERE.
YEAH, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, KEEP
[01:15:02]
GOING.JUST GENTLY GO -- THERE WE GO.
GET THAT 17.1 IN THE PICTURE THERE, IF YOU WOULD.
17-POINT MILLION -- $17.1 MILLIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE'S THAT WELFARE HOUSING AGAIN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT JUST A MOMENT AGO.
YEAH, I CHECK MARKED A FEW THINGS DOWN THERE.
SOME GAP FINANCING AND HOME BUYERS' ASSISTANCE.
DIRECT MONEY TO THE WELFARE RECIPIENTS.
NEXT PAGE, IF YOU LOOK AND SEE WHERE IT SAYS HERE -- LET'S TAKE A LOOK CLOSER.
THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER THERE.
$345,000 FOR YOUTH REENGAGEMENT CENTER.
HUH? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PARENTS? WHY DO WE HAVE TO BE THE NANNIES FOR THESE PEOPLE HERE? CONTINUE THE NEXT ONE THERE.
MORE FUNDING FOR THE PRO HOMOSEXUAL, PRO ABORTION AGENCIES LIKE THE ESPERANZA CENTER.
YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE WHERE IF YOU ARE A CONSERVATIVE, WELL, THEY ARE VERY TOLERANT UNLESS YOU ARE A CONSERVATIVE, THEN THEY THROW YOU OUT LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO YOURS TRULY A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE.
YEAH, I WONDER HOW PROJECT QUEST DID THIS YEAR.
DID THEY EVEN MAKE THE GRADE? DOESN'T MATTER.
WHO DO WE HAVE THERE? SOLID WASTE -- OH, HERE'S THE ONE.
YOU DO THE LABOR OF RECYCLING AND WHAT YOUR REWARD IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR INCREASE FOR YOUR GARBAGE COUNCILMAN CANS IF YOU DON'T CONTINUE TO DO EVEN MORE RECYCLING.
GOT TO GO TO WORK AND PAY THOSE TAXES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENT ON ITEM 4.
>> GONZALES: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR BUDGET SESSIONS.
EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO THE WORK SESSIONS.
I THINK THIS BUDGET REALLY REFLECTS WHERE WE'RE MOVING AS A CITY.
JERRY SAID IT SO WELL, AS WE TALKED ABOUT INCLUSIVITY AND THE WELLNESS AND WHOLENESS OF THIS CITY.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME EXAMPLES JUST IN THIS BRIEF MORNING ABOUT HOW WE ALL ADVANCE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
AND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE APPROVING TODAY HAVE BEEN WORKED ON COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNCIL AND COLLECTIVELY AS CITIZENS.
HAVING THE LARGE HOUSING INITIATIVE WHERE WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY PRIORITY FOR THE MAYOR AND THOSE OF US ON THE COUNCIL.
SO OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF HOMELESSNESS AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT KENNY WILSON DOES AT HAVEN FOR HOPE.
AND EVEN TO SEE THAT IN DISTRICT 10 COUNCILMAN PERRY'S REQUESTING FUNDING ON THE SAME ISSUE.
IT IS A CITY-WIDE PROBLEM AND WE'RE FINALLY STARTING TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE BUDGET.
I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY.
OFTEN SOME OF THE REQUESTS HERE FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS OR FOR OTHER NONPROFITS GET THE IMPRESSION THAT IT'S A HANDOUT.
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE CREATIVE ECONOMY.
WE'RE STIMULATING OUR ECONOMY WHEN WE INVEST IN THE ARTS AND WHEN WE INVEST IN THE MAESTRO CENTER THAT'S HELPING STARTUPS AND HELPING WOMEN, IN PARTICULAR, THAT ARE IN NON-TRADITIONAL FIELDS.
AND, OF COURSE, THE PROGRAM THAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAM ARE ALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS.
AND THEY ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS HANDOUTS.
AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT THE CASE.
THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IS IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR CITY .
AND ALSO ISSUES OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS LIKE THE ASTHMA COALITION THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING TODAY IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY WELL.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF SICK PEOPLE THERE'S ACTUALLY A TREMENDOUS COST WITH THAT.
SO THESE PREVENTION MEASURES ARE ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND WELL AND CONTRIBUTING.
SO WE KNOW THAT IF PEOPLE ARE SICK THEY MISS MORE DAYS OF WORK AND, AS A RESULT, WE SUFFER.
SO, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENTS.
YOU GOT TO HEAR FROM THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY TODAY, WHICH I SUSPECT THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WORK HERE FOR
[01:20:01]
OVER 100 YEARS, BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE REQUESTED FUNDING FROM THE CITY.ALSO BE GENEROUS IN SUPPORTING THEIR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY NEED TO RAISE ANOTHER $2 MILLION OR SO TO CONTINUE TO RESTORE THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE PROGRESS ON THAT HERE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
AND ALSO FOR THE ARTS COALITION WHO, I KNOW, WORKED VERY HARD TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE AND THAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES WOULD SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO SHERYL AND TO MARIA FOR THEIR TIRELESS WORK, AND TO JUSTINA, WHO HAVE WORKED VERY CREATIVELY TO SUPPORT A BUDGET TODAY.
THIS IS, I THINK, THE SIGNATURE WORK OF A COUNCIL WHO IS INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ADDRESSING THE TREMENDOUS NEEDS OF THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU TO SHERYL AND TO ALL THE BUDGET TEAM.
AND WITH THAT, MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY, COUNCILWOMAN.
YOU ALL HAVE A SCRIPT ON YOUR DESK ABOUT DIFFERENT RECUSALS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET EVERYONE OFF THE DAIS THAT NEEDS TO BE OFF DURING CERTAIN MOTIONS OF THE BUDGET.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, WITH YOUR COURTESY, IS TO WITHDRAW THAT PARTICULAR MOTION, GO THROUGH COUNCIL COMMENT, AND THEN WE MOVE THROUGH THE SCRIPT AS IT RELATES TO THE RECUSALS, IF THAT'S OKAY?
>> GONZALES: THAT'S FINE, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WHO CAME OUT TODAY.
I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT I HAVE TO THANK CITY MANAGER SCULLEY.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
THANK YOU TO YOUR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE -- THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US A BALANCED BUDGET HERE AND REALLY TAKING INTO ALL OF OUR CONSIDERATIONS AND OUR CONCERNS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY STAFF, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERY YEAR IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WITH A FINE-TOOTH COMB TO SEE WHAT ARE THE NEEDS, WHERE ARE THE BALANCE, WHERE CAN YOU FIT IN YOUR BUDGET.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
THANK YOU TO THE REMARKABLE, THE EXCEPTIONAL, AND THE MIRACULOUS MARIA VILLAGOMEZ AND YOUR TEAM WITH JUSTINA TATE WHO LOOKS AT THE NEEDS IN OUR CITY AND REALLY COMES, HEARS, AND LISTENS TO US AND HAS IT ALL COME TOGETHER.
THANK YOU YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I HAVE TO THANK THE SPEAKERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
AND ALL OF THE SAN ANTONIANS WHO HAVE SHOWED UP AT ALL OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AT THE COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS.
WHO SHOWED UP ONLINE, WHO FILLED OUT FORMS, WHO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD.
I THINK WHAT IS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY IS ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGHLY VETTED IN THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY INPUT, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BUDGETS THAT I THINK THAT WE'VE HAD.
BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY SESSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT ALSO THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE AND ALL OF THE MEETINGS THAT HAD BEEN TAKING PLACE, THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITY INPUT AS WELL.
THIS HAS BEEN SO MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT HERE.
AND WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING TODAY IS NOT ONLY IS YOUR INPUT HERE, BUT WE ARE LISTENING AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US.
AND WE ARE ACTING ON YOUR PRIORITIES AND YOUR ISSUES.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE LISTENING, BUT MORE THAN LISTENING, WE ARE ALSO LEADING FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE NATION.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE WITH OUR HOUSING TASK FORCE AND THE POLICIES MOVING FORWARD AND THE INVESTMENT OF DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING HERE IS LEADING THE NATION.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE HELPING TO HAVE SOLUTIONS FOR WHAT CAN WORK AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THIS HOUSING CRISIS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.
WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING HERE IS REALLY DOING NEEDS-BASED
[01:25:01]
INVESTMENT.MANY OF OUR SPEAKERS THIS MORNING USED THE WORD INVESTMENT.
WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION.
WE'RE INVESTING IN SOUTH SIDE FIRST.
WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE AND THE GROWTH AND THE STABILITY OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THIS IS OUR PRIORITIES QUANTIFIED.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I HAVE TO ESPECIALLY THANK THE CITIZENS AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3.
THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT, AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT 3, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.
THANK YOU FOR DIRECTING ME OF WHERE I NEEDED TO MOVE AND PUT DOLLARS MOVING FORWARD.
TO SAY WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, SPECIFIC ISSUES AND SPECIFIC GUIDANCE.
SO THANK YOU TO MY RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 3.
IT WAS PARKS AND IT WAS DRAINAGE.
THOSE ARE THE DIRECTIVES THAT YOU GAVE ME.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD IN OUR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU TO SHERYL AND MARIA AND JUSTINA FOR REALLY WORKING AND DOING THIS.
BECAUSE WE ARE DIRECTED BY OUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE MOVING OUR ENTIREWE MORE TO DO.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE.
BUT I THINK WHAT WE, AGAIN, HAVE SEEN TODAY IS THOROUGH, THOROUGH INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD AND WHAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH NO INCREASE TO OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.
NONE FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, YOU ALL.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I THANK YOU FOR THIS.
I THANK YOU FOR MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
I THANK YOU THAT WE'RE ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS HEALTHY CORNER STORE PROJECT IN TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 3.
WE ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERING WITH OUR -- THE NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL, THE UIW SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE.
BECAUSE THERE IS A FOOD DESERT IN DISTRICT 3, AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE, AND FRESH OPTIONS FOR OUR CITIZENS IN DISTRICT 3.
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE WANT TO DO THIS.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN VIAGRAN.
>> PELAEZ: I THINK YOU SAID YOU BROKE YOUR FINGER OR THUMB, AND I SAID IT WAS BECAUSE YOU DROPPED THE BUDGET ON YOUR FINGER, THAT'S HOW BIG AND HEAVY IT IS.
UNLIKE OUR STATE AND FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.
I'M PLEASED TO SAY THIS BUDGET, AGAIN, HAS BEEN BALANCED, LIKE ALL THE BUDGETS BEFORE IT, AND THAT'S NO EASY FEAT.
AND SHERYL, YOU KNOW, THE CREDIT GOES TO YOU FOR MANAGING TO PULL OFF THAT AMAZING FEAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO THOSE CONSTITUENTS OF MINE THAT ARE WATCHING.
ONE, WE ARE GOING TO INSTALL SOME TRAFFIC SIGNALING IN FRONT OF BRANDEIS SCHOOL.
WE HAD A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS RUN OVER BY A CAR.
THAT LITTLE PORTION IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
IT'S A SMALL DROP IN THE BUCKET IN THIS BUDGET, BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DROP TO THE UNIVERSE IN WHICH THOSE NEIGHBORS LIVE, AND I POINT THIS OUT BECAUSE THIS BUDGET IS REALLY A COLLECTION OF THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS OF VERY IMPORTANT LITTLE DROPS.
JUST LIKE THAT DROP IN THE BUCKET.
AND EACH ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE HAS WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE TO PRIORITIZE THOSE THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
THEY'VE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, AND SO HAVE THEIR STAFFS, MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS AND MEETING WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS TO COME UP WITH THE BEST ROAD MAP TO GET US THROUGH 2019, BALANCING ALL OF THE CITY'S OVERALL PRIORITIES, ALONG WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENTS' ASKS AND NEEDS.
AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY DID.
SECOND, I'LL ALSO TELL YOU THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOME ADDITIONAL REPAIRS AND WORK INTO THE BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME CRITICAL ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO DRAINAGE BEING FIXED OVER THERE.
AND STAY TUNED FOR SOME EXCITING
[01:30:03]
ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT BOB ROSS SENIOR CENTER, BUT IN THE MEANTIME THOSE WERE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.ON BEHALF OF ALL THE SENIORS WHO CONGREGATE THERE AND LIVE AND THRIVE AND DO COMMUNITY THERE, THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS BUDGET, AGAIN, WITH ANOTHER LITTLE DROP IN THE BUCKET, HAS ADDRESSED PANHANDLING.
IT PRESENTS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE FOR A LOT OF OUR SAN ANTONIOANS.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS URGING PEOPLE, AND THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS EDUCATING SAN ANTONIOANS, AND LETTING THEM IT'S OKAY TO NOT ROLL YOUR WINDOW DOWN WHEN YOU SEE A PANHANDLER.
INSTEAD, WE'RE ASKING THAT THAT COMPASSION THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS AND THE BIG HEART THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS, THAT WE ALL BE MINDFUL THAT WE OWN THE PANHANDLING PROBLEM, AND THAT WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO IT EVERY SINGLE TIME WE ROLL DOWN OUR WINDOW.
AND INSTEAD, I'M ASKING FOLKS TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THEIR EXTRA CHANGE.
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN HELP KENNY WILSON DO WHAT HE DOES BEST.
YOU CAN HELP HAVEN FOR HOPE, AND ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, AND THE SALVATION ARMY AND GOODWILL, DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.
AND SO THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO INCLUDE YET ANOTHER TINY DROP IN THE BUCKET THAT I THINK IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS HELPING SAN ANTONIO OVERCOME THAT CHALLENGE.
LASTLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION WHY IT IS WE EVEN DO THIS.
MAYOR, WE DO THIS, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN AS A CITY TO NOT CREATE DEPARTMENT AFTER DEPARTMENT AFTER DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT INSTEAD, WE HAVE DELEGATED THAT HARD WORK TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WHO ARE REPRESENTED TODAY BY SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE TO US.
AND THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK TO US AT OUR PODIUM AND OUR OFFICE.
HOUSE OF NEIGHBOR HIGH SERVICES, I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT YOU.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVES.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, VETERAN SERVICES, AGENCIES.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT CENTERS THAT HELP FEED PEOPLE, BUT FOR THOSE PROGRAMS WOULD DIE OF STARVATION.
AND I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, OUR EXPERTS IN ASTHMA, TO HELP OUR CHILDREN NOT DIE FROM ASTHMA.
THESE ARE VERY PREVENTABLE DEATHS.
SOMEBODY UP HERE CAME AND SAID THAT THE ALMIGHTY WAS SHAKING HIS HEAD BECAUSE OF THE INVOCATION, OR SOMETHING SILLY LIKE THAT.
INSTEAD, I WOULD SAY THAT THE ALMIGHTY WOULD VISIT UPON US VERY SERIOUS JUDGMENT IF WE DIDN'T DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE OF SAN ANTONIOANS.
AND INSTEAD, I THINK THE ALMIGHTY IS -- SHAKES HIS HEAD WHEN THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SERVE SAN ANTONIONS COME UP HERE AND TELL US HOW TO INVEST THE DOLLARS WE'RE INVESTING IN THEM.
AND I THINK THE ALMIGHTY WILL SHAKE HIS HEAD WHEN THOSE GOOD PEOPLE ARE CALLED, WHAT IS IT, PIGS AT THE TROUGH? THAT IS DEAD WRONG.
IN FACT, THAT IS IMMORAL TO CALL YOU PEOPLE THAT.
AND WHATEVER FOOL SAID THAT, SHAME ON YOU.
SO I WILL TELL YOU, I'M PROUD OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE HARD WORK, AND THE HEAVY LIFTING, AND NOBODY DOES IT TO GET RICH.
AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS EXPEND BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS TO DO THIS WORK.
FOR THAT, MAYOR, YOU'LL GET MY FULL SUPPORT FOR TODAY'S BUDGET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
AND I WANT TO THANK SHERYL, PE PETER, MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, ALTHOUGH I FIND OUT YOU'RE VERY GOOD AT MAKING SOME SIGNS LATELY.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY STAFF FOR COLLABORATING TO ADDRESS SOME FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES IN DISTRICT 1, AND THE CITY.
TAKING, PUN INTENDED, CONCRETE MEASURES TO SOLVE OUR SIDEWALK PROBLEM THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN, AND THE CREATION OF THE NEW PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY OFFICER.
THE INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, IS NOW CITYWIDE.
THE CREATION OF AN IN-PLACE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS HOUSING AND SECURITY.
THE YOUTH REENGAGEMENT CENTER AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT THE GARRETT CENTER.
WE JUST HEARD ABOUT ASTHMA, THE RELATED DEATHS, IT WILL HELP US ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PEDIATRIC ASTHMA AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF
[01:35:01]
CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA.THE INCREASE OF THE WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.
THE INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE ADDITION OF NEW PARKS POLICE OFFICERS FOR CREEKWAYS AND PARKS PROJECTS.
MORE EMS MEDICS, FOUR NEW ACS OFFICERS.
AND THE MAESTRO CENTER FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING, INSPIRING NEW BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS FOR TOMORROW.
THERE'S -- THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY ROBUST BUDGET.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, WHILE IT APPEARS LIKE WE'RE DISCUSSING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES ON ALL YEAR LONG.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PATIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP US REALIZE WHAT I THINK IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
THANKS TO SHERYL AND THE STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
YOU DON'T CUT AND PAESTE FROM TE YEAR BEFORE.
YOU DIG DOWN IN THE BUDGET TO FIND OUT WHERE THE REAL REQUIREMENTS ARE AND HOW YOU CAN FILL THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
IN FACT, BRINGING UP MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AGAIN, WE SET THAT UP IN MORGAN'S WONDERLAND, AS ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACHES THERE.
I ACTUALLY GOT SEVERAL COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED SAYING THIS WAS THE BEST EVER.
SO SHERYL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT.
THAT WAS HEARTENING TO HEAR THAT FROM THE ACTUAL PEOPLE COMING TO VISIT, AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AGAIN, FOR DOING THAT.
AND WITH THAT, SIR, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I DO HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
BUT I'M GOING TO BRING THAT UP AFTER ALL THE RECUSALS HAVE BEEN DONE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AS WELL FOR THE HARD WORK AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF MARIA AND JUSTINA AND THE TEAM, TO HELP ME FIGURE OUT THE PATH FORWARD FOR DISTRICT 6.
MARIA, I KNOW I TOLD YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE, EVEN THE LATE-NIGHT TEXTS, TO MAKE SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON, YOU'RE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE AS I AM FOR GETTING A COUPLE OF KEY THINGS IN TEAM 6.
AND JUSTINA AS WELL, AND THE TEAM, YOU CAME IN TO HELP MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, THAT WE CAN ALL KIND OF MOVE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.
I WASN'T ALWAYS AN ARTS PERSON.
I CAN'T SAY I ACTUALLY AM RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO BE, BUT I WAS EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE WEST SIDE ARTS COALITION, AND TO COUNCILWOMAN GONZALEZ, TO HER CREDIT, CORNERED ME IN THE HALL AND SAID, YOU'VE GOT TO MEET WITH THESE FOLKS.
I SAID, I ALREADY MET WITH THEM, THEY KEEP COMING.
FOR A YEAR YOU DID, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IT SHOWS THAT WE CAN ALL FIND A LITTLE BIT SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO SUPPORT THIS MAYBE OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, FOR OPENING UP MY EYES TO THAT ONE.
I'M THRILLED TODAY, IT'S GONE UNNOTICED UNTIL WE WERE GOING TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THE VOTE TODAY, AND THAT'S THAT WE ARE DEDICATING $150,000 TO MILITARY VETERAN AND SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT TO HELP US PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM, OR A PERSON TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEEDS OF OUR MILITARY.
IN A CHALLENGING MILITARY ENVIRONMENT, COST-CUTTING MEASURES AND BASE REALIGNMENT AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE RISING TO THE TOP.
WHAT MATTERS THE MOST IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR MILITARY SPOUSES AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR VETERANS.
HERE'S A COUPLE OF KEY POINTS THAT I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MENTION SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE FACING.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
MILITARY SPOUSES, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT ALMOST 18%.
THAT 18%, THAT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 96% OF THOSE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE STAYING HOME, AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT IN THE WORK FORCE.
IT'S PERSONAL TO ME, HAVING BEEN IN THE MILITARY AND HAVING SEEN MY SPOUSE AT THE TIME TRYING TO FIND A JOB AND THE INABILITY TO FIND WORK AT A GROCERY STORE.
THIS WAS SOMEBODY THAT HAD A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
WHEN YOU'RE MOVING FROM CITY TO CITY, AND YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO FEED YOUR FAMILY, TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY WHILE YOUR SPOUSE IS DEPLOYED, JUST IMAGINE IF YOU PUT IN 15 APPLICATIONS, YOU WORK HARD, YOU'VE GOT AN EDUCATION, YOU'VE DONE ALL THESE THINGS AND YOU KEEP GETTING TOLD NO, BECAUSE WE CAN'T COUNT ON YOU BEING HERE, DESPITE THE SACRIFICES YOUR FAMILY HAS MADE FOR THE COUNTRY.
WHAT WE SEE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COALESCE AROUND THAT, AND THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF
[01:40:01]
THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING MILITARY MEMBERS AND SPOUSES IN THIS.KEEP THE OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF SPOUSES SO THEY CAN GET THE WORK.
WHEN THEY GET THE WORK, THINK ABOUT ALL IT DOES FROM THE RELIEF OF THE BILLS, THE SECOND INCOME, THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN FAMILIES AND SECOND INCOME OPPORTUNITIES, AND RELATE THAT TO A DEPLOYED MILITARY FAMILY, WHAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT LIVING WITH A FAMILY OF THREE ON $1,800 A MONTH WHEN I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AS A YOUNG AIRMAN WAS DIFFICULT.
MY SPOUSE ABLE TO GET A COUPLE HUNDRED EXTRA BUCKS A MONTH WAS HUGE.
THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.
IT'S A GOOD START TO CONTINUE TO PUSHING MILITARY AND SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT, AND CONTINUING TO PUSH OUR MILITARY CITY USA THAT WE ARE EMBRACING AND WORKING HARD TOWARDS, DAY IN, DAY OUT.
I'M THANKFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THESE AMENDMENTS AND THE PROJECTS WE'VE SEEN COME THROUGH HERE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT DISTRICT 6 WITH THE FUNDS, AND MUCH-NEEDED RESOURCES THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REITERATE A MANTRA THAT I CAME INTO THIS COUNCIL WITH, AND I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED, AND THAT IS THAT A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, AND ADDRESSES MANY OF THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I, TOO, WANT TO COMMEND OUR STAFF FOR THE OUTSTANDING JOB.
THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED TO ME THAT THEY DO, HAVE DONE, AND I THINK WILL CONTINUE TO DO NOT JUST WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT WE MAY HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND HOW THAT STAFF CAN HELP US ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.
NOW, A YEAR AGO, WITH LESS THAN 90 DAYS ON THE JOB, I WAS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOORS TO OPEN, AND WHAT NUMBERS TO CALL TO GET THINGS DONE, AND THIS HUGE BUDGET CAME UP, AND I DEVOTED AS MUCH ENERGY AS I POSSIBLY COULD TO UNDERSTANDING IT.
I HAVE TO SAY, TODAY, I'M REASSURED THAT THIS BUDGET IS WELL STRUCTURED, THAT IT'S AN EFFICIENT BUDGET, THAT IT'S AN EFFECTIVE BUDGET, IT'S ONE THAT I HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR.
LAST YEAR, IN MY DISTRICT, I INITIATED A LITTLE ADDITION TO THE BUDGET, AND IT WAS CALLED PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING.
AND IT EMPOWERED MY DISTRICT 9 RESIDENTS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANTED TO SPEND MORE THAN $1 MILLION OF THEIR TAXES IN THEIR DISTRICT.
AGAIN, WE'LL BE UNDERTAKING A PEOPLE'S BUDGET FOR $1 MILLION IN MY DISTRICT, AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF THE OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS TO FURTHER EMPOWER OUR CITIZENS, TO HAVE MORE DIRECT INPUT ON HOW WE SPEND OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THEIR BEHALF.
I BELIEVE THIS BUDGET IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE TO THE T CITY, BU TO EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, INCLUDING MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT 9.
AND WHETHER IT'S STREETS, OR SIDEWALKS, OR HOUSING, OR PUBLIC SAFETY, OR PUBLIC HEALTH, THIS BUDGET ADDRESSES THOSE CRITICAL NEEDS.
AND THEREFORE, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE BUDGET.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
I JUST, FIRST OF ALL, WANT TO SAY THAT I STARTED THIS JOB WHEN I WAS 24, AND EIGHT YEARS LATER, EIGHT BUDGETS LATER, THEY SAY THAT TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M GRATEFUL THAT I GET TO LOOK BACK AT SEVERAL YEARS, AND I THINK ABOUT THE VERY FIRST BUDGET WE PASSED.
AND A FEW FOLKS ARE STILL FAMILIAR TO ME WHEN I BEGAN THIS JOB IN 2011, AND I WAS EXCITED ABOUT PASSING A SECOND BULKY ITEM PICKUP AT THAT TIME SO WE COULD SOLVE THE ILLEGAL DUMPING ISSUE.
AND WE CREATED DROP-OFF LOCATIONS.
AND YOU THINK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY SEE WORK THROUGH.
I THINK IN SOME OF THOSE CASES, IT TOOK TWO OR THREE YEARS TO SEE THOSE INITIATIVES THROUGH, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE GOT SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS WHERE EVERYBODY WHO IS REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY RUN INTO AT THE GAS STATION OR THEY RUN INTO AT THE PARK OR GET STOPPED AT THE HEB GROCERY STORE AND GET TOLD ABOUT BIG ISSUES HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS IS THE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT THAT YOU TAKE THAT IDEA AT THE AISLE THREE, AND BLINRING IT TO THE D
[01:45:02]
AND YOU BRING IT TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS THE WORK THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, WITH THIS INVESTMENT, AND SEVERAL YEARS INTO IT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REALLY BUILD SOMETHING.AND I'M GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH HAVE GOTTEN TO DO THAT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
MORGAN'S WONDERLAND WAS STILL JUST AN IDEA IN ITS FIRST YEAR BACK IN 2011.
ACTUALLY GOT ME THINKING ABOUT WHAT 2011 LOOKED LIKE COMPARED TO 2018.
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, MAN, THE BIG THREE WERE STILL WITH THE SPURS AT THAT TIME.
[LAUGHTER] THE REVIVE REPORT WAS JUST AN INTERNAL EXPRESS NEWS MEMO.
I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT PRE-K 4 SA WAS STILL JUST A CALL CENTER AT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.
AND WHAT ELSE? OH, THE PEARL WAS JUST A FORMER RETIRED PLANT THAT PEOPLE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IN 2011.
SO WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS IN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT YEARS, YOU CAN SEE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, AND SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE AS COUNCIL, AND MAYORS PREVIOUS TO THIS MAYOR, AND THE COUNCILS PREVIOUS TO THIS COUNCIL HAVE GOTTEN TO START WORK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO SEE THROUGH.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL GET TO SEE THROUGH A LOT OF ITS WORK THAT IT ACTUALLY TALKS ABOUT TODAY, HAS THE PATIENCE TO SEE THROUGH TO THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO -- SECOND YEAR IF IT'S NOT WORKING, YOU MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, YOU TINKER WITH IT.
I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THAT THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BEAR SOME FRUIT IN THE FUTURE, THAT HOPEFULLY MANY OF YOU WILL GET TO SEE, ONE OF WHICH IS WE ARE PUTTING OUR FOOT DOWN ON UNDERSTANDING HOW IT IS WE PLAY A ROLE IN DOING SOMETHING THAT NO CITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO CRACK THE NUT ON, WHICH IS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS STILL A THING IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT IT DOESN'T GET SO FAR AWAY FROM US, THAT WE'RE SIMPLY JUST LOOKING TO OLD PLANS THAT NEVER GOT IMPLEMENTED.
I'M GRATEFUL WE'RE PUTTING NOT ONLY A PLAN TOGETHER WITH THE TASK FORCE, THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE, BUT PUTTING SOME INVESTMENTS BEHIND THAT.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES THAT IN A YEAR FROM NOW, WHEN YOU'RE VOTING ON THE BUDGET, SOME FOLKS MAY SAY, HEY, IT'S NOT REALLY HAVING THE KIND OF EFFECT THAT WE WOULD HOPE.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NOT REALLY CLEAR TO US JUST YET.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE CASE.
WE'RE VOTING ON THE BUDGET AGAIN IN A YEAR.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU WON'T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL SUPPORTING HOUSING A YEAR FROM NOW.
THE SAME MESSAGE I WANT TO SORT OF GET ACROSS IS INITIATIVE WE DIDN'T TALK A LOT ABOUT, BUT IT'S THE $10 MILLION WE'RE USING TO SUPPORT VIA.
VIA IN 2011 WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION THAN IT IS TODAY.
I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT HEADLINES AND STORIES AND EXAMPLES IN WHICH FOLKS WERE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF US TO HAVE A LONG-TERM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS PUT SOME OF ITS OWN SKIN IN THE GAME, AND I HOPE A YEAR FROM NOW YOU'LL CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT, BECAUSE VIA WILL BE SOMETHING TO REALLY LOOK BACK AT WHEN YOU SERVE YOUR EIGHT YEARS, AND SAY FINALLY IT'S NOT ONLY AN ORGANIZATION WITH COMPETENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S RUNNING ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT AND WORLD CLASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.
I HOPE THOSE WILL BE THINGS YOU CONSIDER AS YOU LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT THE CITY, GONE ON TO DIFFERENT JOBS, BUT SOME MAINSTAYS STARTING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND HER TEAM, FOLKS LIKE BEN GORZELL, WHO IS RIGHT BEHIND US, MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, ERIC WALSH, RALPH SANCHEZ, AND THE INCOMPARABLE DAVID MCCARREY FROM SOLID WASTE.
THEY WORKED ON THE PLANS THAT WERE PICKED UP ON AISLE THREE AT THE GROCERY STORE.
AS MUCH AS WE CAN PUT DOWN THE BUDGET AND SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE WANT TO PIN DOWN TO SUPPORT PREVENTING ASTHMA IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT DOESN'T BECOME A REALITY UNLESS THESE FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY EXECUTING ON THE JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND I'M GRATEFUL WE GOT TO SEE THEIR FRUITS TURN INTO THE BENEFITS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I DON'T THINK I'M THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK, OR MAYBE I'M THE LAST ONE TO SPEAK, AND IF I AM -- OKAY.
I'LL PROBABLY TAKE IT BACK JUST TO START KICKING OFF SOME OF THE MOTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
>> SALDANA: I APOLOGIZE FOR A LITTLE BLIP IN THE SCRIPT THAT WE HAD HERE.
I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK CITY STAFF, SHERYL, JUSTINA, AND, OF COURSE, MARIA, ESPECIALLY FOR COMING OUT TO DISTRICTS 7 AND 6.
[01:50:01]
WE HAD A JOINT BUDGET PRESENTATION THERE.AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO ADD THAT TO YOUR SCHEDULE.
I AM REALLY EXCITED, BECAUSE THERE IS A RECORD-SETTING AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISTRICT 7.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DIDN'T HAVE -- MOST OF THE STREETS DIDN'T HAVE SIDEWALKS OR CURBS, AND WE HAD A LOT OF DRAINAGE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS.
SO I'M REALLY THRILLED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE THE MOST MONEY EVER DEDICATED TO DISTRICT 7 IN STREETS, 9.2 MILLION.
SO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE NEW DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING THAT COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES CHAMPIONED TODAY, IT SEEMS ALMOST LIKE A NO-BRAINER.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD PUT MONEY WHERE THE STREETS NEED IT.
SO THAT EVERY SAN ANTONIOAN CAN SAY, I HAVE A GOOD STREET THAT I LIVE ON, AND I THINK THAT'S THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, AND MANY OTHER PROJECTS IN HERE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
LET ME JUST REFLECT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE START GETTING INTO THE DIFFERENT RECUSALS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO GET THIS BUDGET PASSED.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S WEIGHED IN.
OUR BUDGET TEAM, SHERYL, YOUR STAFF, FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID TO ASSEMBLE THIS DOCUMENT.
I AM HAPPY, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE DOCUMENT I THINK OVERWHELMINGLY SAYS TO EVERY SAN ANTONIOAN THAT WE HEAR YOU.
AND WHILE THAT MAY BE THE CASE EVERY YEAR, IT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE THIS YEAR.
THE DOCUMENT, AS WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, WE'RE REQUIRED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
NOT EVERY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY IS REQUIRED TO DO THAT, BUT WE ARE.
WE ALSO HAVE TO BALANCE THE MANY DESIRES AND NEEDS OF AN INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE NATION, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICALLY CHALLENGED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE ON EVERY MEASURE.
SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? THIS BUDGET, WHILE WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF MOTIONS TODAY TO PASS THE BUDGET, IS A YEAR-LONG IN MAKING.
IN FACT, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT FOR THE CITY STAFF'S PART, AND FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS' PART, THE BUDGET PROCESS NEVER BEGINS AND IT NEVER ENDS.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY LISTENING TO PRIORITIES OF FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF TOWN, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES WHEN THEY PRESENT THEM, AND SOME THAT HAVE NEVER HISTORICALLY BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE.
WE HAVE A SPEAK-UP PROGRAM THAT JEFF COYLE AND HIS TEAM, LAURA ELIZABETH MAYES HAS WORKED ON, AND TO SEE THAT PROGRAM GROW AND THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY INPUT THAT HAS GONE INTO THE BUDGET, EVEN BEFORE IT'S DRAFTED, IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
ANYONE WHO HAS DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING, PARTICULARLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, IT SURPRISES SOME FOLKS, MY NEIGHBORS, AND EVEN ME, ON OCCASION TO GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO ANOTHER, AND TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, AND HOW MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS YOU MIGHT GET FROM ONE PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER.
AND CERTAINLY FROM ONE PART OF TOWN TO ANOTHER.
AND TO ASSEMBLE ALL THOSE VIEW POINTS AND CONCERNS AND DESIRES ABOUT OUR CITY, INTO ONE DOCUMENT IS TRULY A PAINSTAKING PROCESS.
THE CITY LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
JUSTINA TATE, MARIA VILLAGOMEZ, SHERYL, YOUR TEAM, THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME NOW.
AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE LEVEL OF BALANCE AND THE LEVEL OF FISCAL STEWARDSHIP IN THAT TIME I THINK IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
I WON'T GET INTO AAA BOND RATINGS AND SO FORTH, BUT YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TAX DOLLARS, YOU'RE GETTING MORE SERVICES IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAN ANY OTHER CITY, CITIZENS ARE GETTING IN THE COUNTRY.
SO WHAT DO WE GET FOR THAT? WHAT DO WE GET THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS? I'M CONFIDENT TO SAY THAT THE BASICS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ARE BETTER COVERED THAN I HAVE EVER SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO.
A RECORD LEVEL OF RESOURCES AND PRIORITY GIVEN THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES.
THE VACANCIES THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE NOW GOING TO RECEIVE FOUR CADET CLASSES.
PARKS AND LIBRARIES ARE ALSO SEEING INCREASES.
AND OF COURSE, WE'RE FINALLY MAKING AN EFFORT IN THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH I HOPE WILL BE A LONG-TERM ONE, ON ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AS A BASIC BUILDING BLOCK OF OUR
[01:55:01]
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.THIS IS THE SECOND BUDGET FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE SECOND BUDGET FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL THAT ALSO USES AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK, ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD BE PLACING OUR RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST, WHICH IS SOMETIMES A CHALLENGE IN A POLITICAL BODY.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITIZENS, ALL THE STAFF WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT, AND CERTAINLY TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR WORK IN ASSEMBLING WHAT I THINK IS A VERY STRONG BUDGET TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH THE MOTIONS TO ADDRESS AND TO PASS THE FY '19 BUDGET.
AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET FOR THE BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION, JUST A QUICK POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE THE BOARD MEMBERS FROM THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WHO ARE HERE.
WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES THAT I NEGLECTED TO MENTION, HAVE MADE A TRANSFORMATION IN THOSE YEARS.
AS WELL AS A YOUNG MAN NAMED MIKE FRISBIE, THE MAINSTAYS AROUND CITY HALL.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BEXAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
>> SALDANA: MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR VISIT SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE LIFT FUND LOAN FUND, SA 2020 AND THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE LYFT FUND LOAN FUND BUYDOWN PROGRAM SA 2020 IN THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING BUDGET IN THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS AND ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, AND THE SAN ANTONIO HUMANE SOCIETY.
>> TREVINO: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET RELATED TO HEB.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> SALDANA: MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR BIOMED SA.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[02:00:04]
MOTION CARRIES.>> SALDANA: MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR CPS ENERGY, SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PROJECT QUEST, SAN ANTONIO MOBILITY COALITION, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, U.S.
CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, NEW TO SAN ANTONIO, MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD AND SISTER CITY INTERNATIONAL.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? PLEASE VOTE.
>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR THE NORTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL FOR THE BUDGET IN THE NORTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> SALDANA: MAYOR, I'LL BREAK THIS ONE UP INTO TWO MOTIONS.
I'M GOING TO DO, IN THIS CASE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FUNDING OF THE BUDGET FOR THE ALAMO AREA OF GOVERNMENTS.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE ALAMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
>> SALDANA: I MOVE TO MOVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE PREVENTION OF FAMILY SERVICES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES.
>> SALDANA: MAYOR, AT THIS TIME I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP.
AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO REMOVE THE GENERAL FUND -- AND TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE FUNDS EVENLY AMONG ALL TEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN THE IMP FUNDS, AND REMOVE THE INCREAE IN THE FEES TO THE PARKING AND OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE FUND.
AND THAT'S THE END OF MY MOTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE BUDGET AS READ.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE.
>> SALDANA: MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET AS AMENDED TODAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AS AMENDED.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE
[02:05:01]
BUDGET, AND I'LL CALL ON NOW COUNCILMAN SALDANA.>> SALDANA: MAYOR, I MOVE TO RATIFY THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
DO YOU WANT TO READ THE CAPTION? OKAY.
YOU ALREADY READ THE CAPTION? ALL RIGHT.
>> I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE MAINTENANCE ADOPTION OF THE 677 CENTS PER TAX VALUATION EFFECTIVELY A 2.88% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ADOPTION OF THE -- EXCUSE ME.
THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AS READ.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IN AN EFFORT TO BEGIN A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I MOVE TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION AND AMEND THE AD VALOREM TAX, AND REDUCE IT BY 1% TO 34.330, REDUCING THE BUDGET AMOUNT BY $3.9 MILLION, WHICH WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FUND THE REDUCTION PROGRAM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS BEING ONE OF MANY MULTIPLE YEARS OF TAXABLE REDUCTIONS.
IN ADDITION TO HOUSING, TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WE CAN REDUCE AFFORDABILITY BY REDUCING PROPERTY TAX RATES AS WELL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR AMENDING ITEM 4C AS READ.
COUNCILMAN, YOU WANTED TO COMMENT? COUNCILMAN PERRY?
I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS A LITTLE BIT HERE.
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS OVER $100 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S.
AND I STARTED AT THE BUDGET WORKING SESSION TO TRY AND INCLUDE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE CITY.
WE ARE THE ONLY LARGE MUNICIPALITY HERE IN TEXAS THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
AND WE'RE INCLUDED ALSO WITHIN THE BEXAR COUNTY.
BEXAR COUNTY JUST PASSED THEIR BUDGET.
AND GUESS WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO? THEY LOWERED THEIR TAX RATE, AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT -- TAKE A LOOK AND LOOK DEEP WITHIN OURSELVES, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME TAX RELIEF FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING.
THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
REMEMBER, THE 5%, JUST A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WOULD HAVE COST US ABOUT $11 MILLION.
WE HAD $13 MILLION LEFT OVER THAT WE CARRIED OVER INTO THIS BUDGET.
WE COULD HAVE FUNDED A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION HERE IN THIS CITY.
WE KIND OF FOLLOW THE LEAD ON OTHER TEXAS CITIES, BUT IN THIS EXAMPLE, WE DON'T.
AND I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY, OUT OF ALL THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE, THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET, PRIMARILY BASED ON PROPERTY VALUES GOING UP, THAT WE CAN'T HELP OUR NEIGHBORS THAT OWN HOMES, TO HELP REDUCE THAT TAX BURDEN.
AT LEAST OFFSET SOME OF THESE RISING RATES THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE OF GARBAGE COLLECTION, SEWER RATES, S.A.W.S. INCREASES, CPS INCREASES, AT LEAST TO HELP OFFSET THOSE.
BUT YET WE CAN'T FIND THE DOLLARS TO DO THAT.
THIS BUDGET, I VOTED FOR IT, BUT THIS CONTINUES TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS IN ON.
AND PROVIDE THAT TAX RELIEF FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS.
YOU KNOW, I VOTED AGAINST -- OR I MADE THAT AMENDMENT TO NOT ROB OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH PAYS FOR OUR CORE SERVICES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE HOUSING A LITTLE BIT AGO.
[02:10:01]
DIDN'T MAKE IT.BUT AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUAL STRAIN ON OUR BUDGET HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO, AGAIN, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, AND WE CAN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO PROVIDE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
INSTEAD OF DRAINING OUR GENERAL FUND FOR THINGS THAT AREN'T IN OUR CORE BUSINESS, LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO, NO MATTER WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS, TO GIVE BACK TO OUR HOMEOWNERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO WITH THAT, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ON REDUCING OUR TAX RATE, TO HELP OUR CITIZENS HERE IN THIS GREAT CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAUJ, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> BROCKHOUSE: I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PIECE FROM COUNCILMAN PER RIP.
WHILE I'M ADDRESSING THE REDUCTION IN THE RATE ITSELF, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ALSO OFFERS A COST SAVINGS.
AT SOME POINT, WHEN YOU BEGIN THESE TYPES OF THINGS, INITIALLY THERE IS A LOT OF SYMBOLISM IN A VOTE.
AND SOMETIMES A DOLLAR HERE OR A DOLLAR THERE MEANS A LOT TO A RESIDENT, WHETHER IT'S OVER ONE MONTH OR ONE YEAR, THE SYMBOLISM OF BEGINNING A PROGRAM, OF REDUCING TAXES -- I MEAN, WE ARE AT THIS POINT, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON PROJECTS THAT FOLKS WOULD CONSIDER IN OUR COMMUNITY WELL OUTSIDE THE REALM OF OUR CORE CITY SERVICES, AND WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING IT IN TAX DOLLARS, AND I THINK IF WE WERE TO BEGIN A PROGRAM, A LONG-TERM PROGRAM OF REDUCING THESE YEAR OVER YEAR, THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FISCAL STEWARDS WITH THEIR DOLLARS AND THEIR MONEY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT TOWARD CORE SERVICES FIRST AND FOREMOST.
WE'LL ALSO LET THEM KNOW WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THEIR HOME, WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO A LONG-TERM RESPECT FOR THEIR PROPERTY, THEIR VALUES, AND THE DOLLARS THAT ARE INHERENTLY THEIRS IN THEIR CHECKBOOKS.
I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AGAIN, JUST THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WAS AN EXCELLENT POINT BROUGHT UP BY MY COLLEAGUE IN DISTRICT 10, AND WE SHOULD REALLY START TO MAKE THIS IMPACTFUL AS WE START TO DO THE PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS YEAR OVER YEAR, UNTIL IT BECOMES A VERY MEANINGFUL BOTTOM LINE WIN FOR THE RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR AMENDING ITEM 4C.
SO WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM 4C -- OR THE MOTION IS ALREADY ON THE FLOOR FROM COUNCILMAN SALDANA --
IF I MISSPEAK, IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE OF 34.677 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUE, TAXABLE VALUATION, EFFECTIVELY 2.88% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4C AS READ.
AND THAT HAS BEEN READ BY THE CLERK ALREADY.
>> SALDANA: I MOVE THE TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF 21.150 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 2.88% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4D.
>> SALDANA: I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FEE ORDINANCE, ITEM NUMBER 4E.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4E.
FINAL, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE ITEM NUMBER 4F.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 4F, CLOSING ORDINANCE OF
[02:15:01]
THE FY '19 BUDGET.[APPLAUSE] SHERYL? SHERYL, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS ON OUR FY '19 BUDGET?
>> SCULLEY: NO, MAYOR, JUST TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP, THAT OF THE COUNCIL, THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU ALL DEDICATED TO STUDYING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE PRESENTED, THAT WE DID OUR VERY BEST TO REFLECT YOUR PRIORITIES AND THOSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE USING THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT PROCESS TO
[15. Resolution approving the issuance by the Clifton Higher Education Finance Corporation of its Education Revenue Bonds (IDEA Public Schools) Series 2018 in a maximum amount of $220,000,000 for purposes of Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. [Ben Gorzell, Chief Financial Officer; Troy Elliott, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Finance]]
PREPARE AND PRESENT TO YOU BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SHERYL.
AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 15.
>> ITEM NUMBER 15 IS AN ORDI ORDI ORDINANCE -- OR RESOLUTION RATHER BY THE CLIFTON HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE CORPORATION OF ITS EDUCATION REVENUE BONDS, IN 2018, AND MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF $220 MILLION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 147, SUBSECTION F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD THEN.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'VE GOT A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING WITH THIS ITEM.
THIS ITEM IS A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF A FINANCING BY CLIFTON HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE CORPORATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 147 F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A C-3 NONPROFIT, AND UNLIKE CITIES, COUNTIES, OR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEY HAVE TO ISSUE THE TAX-EXEMPT DEBT THROUGH A STATE-APPROVED CONDUIT.
BASICALLY THEY'RE CORPORATIONS OR ENTITIES THAT CITIES CAN CREATE, THAT PROVIDE FOR AND FACILITATE THE ISSUANCE OF TAX-EXEMPT DEBT FOR THE TYPE OF 501 C 3 NONPROFITS.
THIS IS RELATED TO -- IN ORDER TO GET THE TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING ON THE ISSUED, THE GOVERNMENTAL UNIT OR THE PROJECT ACTUALLY IS LOCATED, MUST APPROVE A RESOLUTION OR CERTIFICATE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT COMPLIES WITH THE IRS CODE, AGAIN, SECTION 147F.
JUST TO CLARIFY HERE, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX-EXEMPT STATUS, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TAX-EXEMPT STATUS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THE NONPROFITS DON'T PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAXES NOR WOULD A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE BOND ISSUE, THE BONDS THAT ARE ISSUED BY THE ENTITY, WHETHER THOSE ARE CONSIDERED TAXABLE OR TAX-EXEMPT.
WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY MEANS WHEN THE BOND HOLDER AGREES TO LEND MONEY TO THE ISSUER, ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX ON THE INTEREST INCOME THEY'RE GETTING OFF OF THE BOND.
THE INTEREST INCOME IS RELATED TO THE INTEREST EXPENSE THAT THE ACTUAL ISSUER IS PAYING.
IF THE BOND HOLDER IS NOT HAVING TO PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX ON THE INCOME THEY GET FROM THE BOND, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A LOWER INTEREST RATE.
IF THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY INCOME TAX ON THAT, IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A HIGHER INTEREST RATE, WHICH MEANS MORE INTEREST COSTS FOR THE ISSUER.
IN THIS CASE, IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ELECTED TO GO THROUGH THE CLIFTON HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE CORPORATION, WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE CONDUITS THAT I MENTIONED THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY OF CLIFTON, TEXAS.
THEY ARE DOING THIS IN ORDER TO CONSOLIDATE CAPITAL NEEDS FOR SEVERAL OF THE IDEA SCHOOLS LOCATED ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, SO THEY'RE CONSOLIDATING ALL OF THEIR NEEDS FOR THE SCHOOL THROUGH ONE BOND ISSUE THROUGH THE CLIFTON HIGHER IDENTIFICATION INDICATION FINANCE CORPORATION.
THOSE PROJECTS ARE LOCATED IN FIVE DIFFERENT REGIONS.
SAN ANTONIO, THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AUSTIN, EL PASO AND TARRANT COUNTY.
THOSE LOCATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO INCLUDE THREE EXISTING CAMPUSES, THE ACADEMY ON W.W. WHITE ROAD, ON PIERCEAL ROAD AND ON W.
THESE ARE EXISTING CAMPUSES WHERE IDEA PLANS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSIONS OF THOSE THREE CAMPUSES.
THERE'S ONE OTHER LOCATION THAT IS LOCATED IN BEXAR COUNTY OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ON MARBACH ROAD.
THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS SPECIFIC TO THOSE THREE LOCATIONS LOCATED
[02:20:01]
WITHIN THE SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS.THE BOND STRUCTURE INCLUDES AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $220 MILLION.
OF WHICH $18 MILLION HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR OR EXPECTED TO BE SPENT AT THE THREE EXISTING CAMPUSES IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE TERM IS APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS.
THEY DO ANTICIPATE GETTING A AAA BOND RATING FROM STANDARD AND POOR'S.
THAT'S REALLY BASED ON THE BACKING OF THE PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND GUARANTEE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO MUCH LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN GET A GUARANTEE, OR GET A GUARANTEE FROM WHAT'S CALLED A PSF THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ISSUE AAA DEBT, THESE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY IF THERE'S CAPACITY AVAILABLE TO ACCESS THAT GUARANTEE FROM THE PSF.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IDEA HAS THAT COMMITMENT FROM THE STATE AND THESE WOULD BE BACKED BY THE PSF.
SO THEY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE ISSUED AS AAA DEBT.
YOUR APPROVAL IS MORE FOR IRS PURPOSES, IN TERMS OF WHETHER IT COMPLIES WITH THE IRS CODE, ELIGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED A TAX-EXEMPT BOND ISSUE.
IT IS NOT ACTUALLY APPROVING THE BOND ISSUE.
THEY CAN ISSUE THE BOND WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL, IT WOULD JUST BE DONE ON A TAXABLE BASIS.
LASTLY, THESE BONDS ARE NOT A DEBT OR A LIABILITY TO THE CITY.
THERE IS NO LEGAL RECOURSE BY BOND HOLDERS AGAINST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAVE NO LIABILITY, AND THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED A DEBT OF THE CITY.
AGAIN, IT'S A VERY NARROW APPROVAL THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING.
IT IS SPECIFICALLY WHETHER THIS USE IS AN ELIGIBLE USE UNDER SECTION 147F OF THE IRS CODE.
AND THAT THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED A TAX-EXEMPT BOND ISSUE.
THE FINANCING TEAM THAT IDEA HAS HAD WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BOND COUNCIL, ANDREW KERTH, AND TOM SAGE IS HERE TODAY, HE'S ALSO AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT IDEA PLANS TO MAKE.
THE TRUSTEE IS REGIONS BANK, AND THE UNDERWRITER IS ROBERT W.
LASTLY HERE, WE DO STAFF RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION, AGAIN, THAT RESOLUTION CLEARLY STATES THAT THE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 147F OF THE IRS CODE.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK AS WE HAVE RECENTLY FROM SOME OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND CERTAINLY THROUGH THAT FEEDBACK AND THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, I UNDERSTAND THAT AS STUDENTS LEAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THAT IS CREATING CHALLENGES FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS THEY MOVE OVER TO THE PUBLIC CHARTERS.
I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH DR. WOODS FROM NORTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VERY BRIEFLY.
HE EXPLAINED TO ME SOME OF HIS CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM OTHERS.
SEVERAL OF YOU MENTIONED BASED ON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A POLICY CONVERSATION AND HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
WE'D LIKE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL ON HOW YOU WANT TO DO THAT, AND WHEN YOU WANT TO DO THAT.
ONE SUGGESTION COULD BE THAT IT HAPPEN IN A LEGISLATIVE FORUM.
I MENTIONED THAT YOUR APPROVAL TODAY IS FAIRLY NARROW IN SCOPE.
IT'S ABOUT COMPLIANCE WITH THE IRS CODE.
SO YOUR AUTHORITY TODAY, IN TERMS OF WHAT EXISTS, IS WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A TAX-EXEMPT OR TAXABLE BOND ISSUE.
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP DEAL A LOT WITH HOW THE SCHOOLS GET FUNDED FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND HOW THOSE FUNDING FORMULAS WORK, THAT I THINK LEAD TO AND CREATE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE EXPERIENCING.
SO WE'RE CERTAINLY PREPARED TO HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION WITH THE FULL COUNCIL, OR IF YOU PREFER, WITH THE IGR COMMITTEE.
AND THEN JUST FROM A TIMING PERSPECTIVE, WHEN YOU ALL AS A BODY WHO LIKE TO DO THAT.
SEVERAL OF YOU ALL ASKED ME AS I TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT THIS ITEM, WHETHER THERE WERE ANY OTHER FINANCINGS IN THE CUE.
AT THE TIME I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS COMING FORWARD FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.
I WAS MADE AWARE YESTERDAY EVENING THAT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SIMILAR FINANCING COMING FORWARD FOR THE KIP ACADEMY, ALSO A CHARTER SCHOOL.
I EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE DELIVERED TO US THOSE DOCUMENTS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR SIMILAR APPROVAL, PROBABLY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, PROBABLY EARLY OCTOBER, JUST BASED ON THE COUNCIL'S SCHEDULE.
SO THAT ITEM WILL BE COMING FORWARD TO YOU.
WITH THAT, MAYOR, IT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 15.
MISS POTTER, WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TOM CUMMINGS.
[02:25:02]
I'M A FORMER FIRST GRADE TEACHER IN SAISD, MOTHER OF A 22-YEAR-OLD WHO ATTENDED NORTH SIDE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO ALLIANCE OF SUPPORT PERSONNEL AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 8 FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
TODAY, ACCORDING TO THE RESOLUTION, YOU'RE VOTING ON WHETHER TO APPROVE THE PLAN OF FINANCE, THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS AND THE PROJECTS SET OUT IN THIS AGENDA ITEM.
TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PRIVATELY OPERATED SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDS.
THE OPERATION AND EXPANSION OF PRIVATELY RUN CHARTERS IS NOT APPROVED BY TAXPAYERS, OR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE MANAGED BY AN APPOINTED BOARD, NOT AN ELECTED BOARD.
THEY DIRECTLY REDUCE THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, PRIVATELY RUN CHARTERS DIVERT $214.8 MILLION PER YEAR FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
MANY OF IDEA'S CAMPUSES IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA HAVE AN ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY RATING BELOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THEY ARE LOCATED.
IN ADDITION, IDEA STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER, AND THEIR TEACHERS' YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
CHARTER BONDS ARE REPAID FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.
AND ARE NOT APPROVED BY TAXPAYERS.
IN DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE BOND EXPERT, HERE IS HOW HE EXPLAINED IT TO ME.
THE APPROVAL OF CHARTER BONDS BY THE CITY IS ANALOGOUS TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT AUTHORIZING A PRIVATE ENTITY TO ISSUE NONVOTER APPROVED BONDS TO SERVE THE RETAIL ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS OF CPS ENERGY.
THERE'S A REASON THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS RETAINED THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC SERVICE, AND HAS NOT OPTED INTO THE LEGISLATURE'S PREVIOUS THE SAME SITUATION EXISTS WITH SAWS.
IF PRIVATIZATION IS NOT GOOD FOR ELECTRIC, UTILITY, AND WATER SERVICES, WHY WOULD YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION? WE DO NOT NEED THIS DUPLICATION OF SERVICES.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF PRIVATELY-RUN CORPORATE CHARTERS AND FURTHER DIVERSION OF FUNDS FROM OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE DISTRICTS THEY SERVE.
YOU WILL BE HELPING IDEA TO EXPAND THEIR NON-ACCOUNTABLE PRIVATELY-RUN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A COMMON GOOD, NOT A COMMODITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. POTTER.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TOM CUMMINS AND I'M REPRESENTING THE SAN ANTONIO AFFCIO AS WELL AS THE BEXAR COUNTY FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.
AS I DID LAST NIGHT I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO ITEM 15.
I WAS GOING TO THANK HIM FOR THE TRANSPARENCY OF PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, SO I WILL THANK YOU, MS. VIAGRAN.
PREVIOUSLY THIS WAS DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, SO WE APPRECIATE IT BEING AIRED IN PUBLIC.
THIS ITEM SAYS THAT YOU ARE, AND I QUOTE, REQUESTED TO APPROVE, UNQUOTE.
$220 MILLION FOR IDEA CHARTER SCHOOLS.
A REQUEST GIVES YOU A CHOICE TO VOTE YES OR NO OR TO TABLE FOR STUDY IF YOU CANNOT BRING YOURSELF TO VOTE NO.
THERE HAS BEEN NO STUDY AS TO THE HARMFUL EFFECTS $220 MILLION WILL BRING TO THE PUBLIC INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT IT WILL AFFECT.
A YES VOTE WILL ALSO BREAK TRUST WITH THE TAXPAYERS WHO WILL LOSE, SHOULD THIS PASS.
IF IDEA WAS TO DEFAULT ON THE BONDS, THE TAXPAYER MUST PAY.
IF IDEA SELLS THE PROPERTY LATER ON, THEN THEY KEEP THE PROFITS.
ALL THE EQUITY GAINED DOES NOT GO BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS AS IT WOULD WITH A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT GOES TO THE PRIVATE ENTITY.
WHEN YOU CONTRAST BONDS WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOLD HEARINGS.
THEY PUT OUT PLANS OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
THEY GO INTO DETAIL ON THOSE PLANS.
THEY EXPLAIN HOW IT IS TO BE PAID.
[02:30:03]
THE COMMUNITY TO VOTE THAT UP, YES OR NO.AND THAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC WAY.
THE WAY IT'S BEING DONE HERE HARMS THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUTS THE TAXPAYER AND GREAT RISK.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MR. CUMMINS.
AFTER JILLIAN TREJO IS HERB LENTON.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS JILLIAN TREJO AND I AM A PARENT AND EDUCATOR AT IDEA HALLSELL PREPARATORY, LOCATED IN DISTRICT 4.
I AM A FOUR-YEAR EDUCATOR AND FOUR-YEAR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT AND VOTER.
I HAVE TEN YEARS OF EDUCATION UNDER MY BELT, FOUR HAVE BEEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I HAVE THREE CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY ATTENDING AN IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOL.
MY MIDDLE IS IN THIRD AND MY YOUNGEST IS IN FIRST.
I AM A FIRST-YEAR TEACHER AT IDEA EWING HALSELL.
I CHOSE TO TEACH AT IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF OUR MOTTO.
OUR MOTTO IS THROUGH AND TO COLLEGE.
BY THE TIME A STUDENT ENTERS SCHOOL THEY WILL HEAR ABOUT COLLEGE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOVE TO DO TO OUR CLASSES IS GROUP THEM INTO A UNIVERSITY.
THEY WILL HEAR THE UNIVERSITIES OF HARVARD, YALE, RICE, CLEMSON, WILLIAM AND MARY, WEST VIRGINIA, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE FROM AN IDEA SCHOOL, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THESE COLLEGES AND THE COLLEGES THAT THEY WANT TO ATTEND.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT SAN ANTONIO IDEA CARVER ACADEMY -- APOLOGIES.
IDEA COLLEGE PREP WILL HAVE THEIR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS.
WHAT WE HAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS CALLED COLLEGE SIGNING DAY.
IT IS A HUGE EVENT FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOLARS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING.
FOR OUR CLASSROOMS, FOR EVERY TEACHER THAT IS THERE, THERE IS A SUPPORT SYSTEM.
ONE OF OUR CORE VALUES THAT WE BELIEVE IN IS TEAM AND FAMILY.
AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE MOVIE OF TROLLS.
WE SAY THAT TO ONE ANOTHER AS A TEAM AND FAMILY, TO OUR COLLEAGUES.
AND WE CARRY THAT ON TO OUR STUDENTS.
WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE OUR STUDENTS FAIL.
IT IS OUR GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SUCCEED.
WE LOOK INTO EVERY ASPECT OF AN EDUCATOR.
WHY DID THEY CHOOSE IDEA AND DO THEY BELIEVE IN THE CORE VALUES? PERSONALIZED LEARNING.
WORKING WITH IDEA FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS ON A SMALL-SCALE AND ON A GRANDER SCALE THAT EACH TIME MAKING SURE THAT I HAVE A PERSONAL ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH EVERY CHILD THAT I WORK WITH AND TEACH WITH.
AND OUR RIGOR IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST THAT WE CAN FIND.
I AM CURRENTLY TEACHING AN ST MATH PROGRAM THROUGH OUR COMPUTER LAB.
IT HAS BEEN STUDIED BY HARVARD AND IT HAS BEEN SHOWN AND PROVEN TO SHOW OUR MATH SKILLS ARE THE HIGHEST SCALE WE COULD POSSIBLY TEACH.
THIS IS WHY I HAVE CHOSEN TO TEACH AT IDEA.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MS. TREJO.
HERB LENTON FOLLOWED BY CHRIS MOORE.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MS. SCULLEY, MR. MAYOR WHENEVER HE RETURNS.
I AM THE PARENT OF A KINDERGARTEN STUDENT AT IDEA EWING HALSELL AND HE WAS THE VERY FIRST TO ENROLL IN THAT SCHOOL.
SO THEY KIND OF HOLD HIM UP FOR THAT.
I CHOSE IDEA BECAUSE OF ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY.
THE EXCELLENCE THAT THEY TEACH AT IDEA, WHICH IS PROVEN IN THE IDEA EWING HALSELL ACADEMY, WINNING THE WESLEY BELLKERR EXCELLENT SCHOOL AWARD.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS SCHOOL BEING IN EXISTENCE IN SAN ANTONIO.
I HEARD THE YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE BEFORE US SPEAKING ABOUT WATER AND CPS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE HERE TALKING ABOUT.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION, THE ADVANCEMENT, AND GOING TO COLLEGE FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR CHILDREN.
[02:35:01]
TEACHER, MR. SALDANA SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT EDUCATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE.AND IF WE STOP THAT AND FOCUS ON WHAT THE OTHER SCHOOLS AREN'T GETTING BECAUSE OF WHAT THE SCHOOL AT IDEA IS PRESENTING, THEN WE'RE HERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
THE MAIN REASON SHOULD BE THESE KIDS, THEIR ACADEMICS, GOING TO COLLEGE, AND MAYBE ONE DAY SITTING IN YOUR SEATS REPRESENTING THE CITY.
SHE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.
THERE'S A TEACHER AND THERE'S A CO-TEACHER.
SO WHEN YOUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ONE THING ON ONE SIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, THE OTHER HALF OF THE CLASS IS LEARNING LESSONS AS WELL.
SO SHE TALKS ABOUT TROLLS AND HOW THEY'RE NOT BEING LEFT BEHIND.
I'M A 20-YEAR VETERAN IN THE U.S. ARMY.
AND THAT'S ONE THING I ALWAYS BELIEVE IN.
SO WE DO THIS AND NOT APPROVE THIS VOTE FOR OUR BOND, WE'LL BE LEAVING A LOT OF CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND BECAUSE 3,000 OR MORE KIDS WON'T GET THE EXTRA SCHOOL BUILDINGS, WON'T GET THE GYMNASIUMS, THE BOOKS.
SO PLEASE VOTE YES TO APPROVE THIS BOND.
>> VIAGRAN: CHRIS MOORE FOLLOWED BY IAN NOLAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO US HERE.
WE HAVE A KINDERGARTENER IN IDEA OFF OF PEARSALL.
WE HAVE A SIXTH-GRADER, ME AND MY WIFE, PAIGE.
WE HAVE A SEVENTH GRADER AND TWO MORE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE IN IDEA IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
IT'S BLOWN MY MIND HOW THEY LOOK AT SCHOOL AND HOW THEY APPROACH SCHOOL.
ME AND MY WIFE ARE THE FIRST ONES IN EITHER OF OUR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE.
I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE FOR EIGHT YEARS MYSELF, AND JUST EVERYTHING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AT THE SCHOOL, FROM NO EXCUSES ON THEIR UNIFORM TO EVERYTHING, TO THE PASSION THAT THESE FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT AND I JUST LOVE IT.
I KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN, IT'S A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS, DO THAT.
BECAUSE IT'S JUST AN EXPECTANCY AT THE SCHOOL.
THEY REALLY RISE ABOVE THE SCHOOLWORK THAT THEY GET.
WHEN THEY GOT TO THIS SCHOOL FROM THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WERE AT, WE MOVED HERE FROM COLLEGE STATION AND WE MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO AS QUICK AS WE COULD.
ANYWAY, THEY STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT AT FIRST BECAUSE OF HOW DIFFERENT, HOW TOUGH THE SCHOOL WAS.
AND THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND EFFORT THAT THEY GOT FOR THEM TO RAISE THEIR GRADES AND THEY, YOU KNOW, KIDS DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW.
NO ONE CARES HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE AND THE SCHOOL CARES.
I JUST LOVE HOW MY CHILDREN ARE CHANGING, HOW THEY'RE GROWING, AND HOW MUCH THE SCHOOL IS IMPACTING THEIR LIFE.
IT'S SOMETHING I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND I WOULD JUST LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO VOTE YES ON THIS.
WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR OTHER TWO CHILDREN TO GO THERE AND FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GRADUATE COLLEGE AS WELL.
IAN NOLAN FOLLOWED BY ANNA FARIAS GONZALES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY.
I'M AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF OPERATIONS AT BRACKENRIDGE IN DISTRICT 4.
I CAME TO IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM PHILADELPHIA, ALONG WITH MY WIFE, WHO ALSO WORKS FOR IDEA.
TO WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE OR BACKGROUND.
HAVING WORKED IN CHARTER EDUCATION FOR TEN YEARS I WAS READY TO WORK FOR A NETWORK WHOSE RESULTS WERE SECOND TO NONE.
WE MADE AN 1800-MILE JOURNEY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO WORK FOR THE BEST CHARTER ORGANIZATION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, DOING THE HARD WORKS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE FAMILIES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN OUR COUNTRY AND IDEA BELIEVES THAT BY PLACING WORLD CLASS TUITION-FREE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST, WE CAN CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WE WORK HARD TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH SCHOOLS THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE.
THE RESULTS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED SINCE IDEA WAS FORMED SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES, NAMED THE BEST CHARTER ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA.
BEING NAMED TO COUNTLESS LISTS AND BEST OF THE BEST IN MOST
[02:40:01]
COMPETITIVE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY AND OUR BRACKENRIDGE CAMPUS RECEIVED AN A RATING ON THE STATE'S ACCOUNTABILITY.THE FAMILIES OF SAN ANTONIO NEED IDEA SCHOOLS BECAUSE A GREAT EDUCATION IS A RIGHT ALL CHILDREN POSSESS.
AND WE PROVIDE A GREAT EDUCATION FOR ALL.
BY PASSING THIS BOND YOU ARE ALLOWING OUR SCHOOLS TO GROW IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS US TO IMPACT AS MANY SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES AS POSSIBLE.
IDEA PLANS TO ENSURE THAT 100,000 STUDENTS ARE ON THE PATH TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE BY 2022, AND THIS BOND IS ANOTHER STEP IN ACHIEVING OUR AMBITIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL GOAL.
PLEASE VOTE YES FOR OUR BOND AND CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT THAT YOU SPOKE OF EARLIER.
WITH YOUR YES VOTE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF MORE SCHOLARS IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MR. NOLAN.
ANNA FARIAS GONZALES FOLLOWED BY MELBA FITZGERALD.
>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEN I HAVE BEEN WITH IDEA FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN ONLY IN SAN ANTONIO FOR ONE YEAR AND I LOVE THE CITY.
MY ROLE AT IDEA NAJIM IS TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROVIDED WITH A RIGOROUS EDUCATION FROM PRE-KINDER TO FIFTH GRADE.
IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE WAY OUR ORGANIZATION GROWS, WE START WITH PRE-K, ONE, AND TWO AND WE GROW ONE YEAR AT A TIME IN ORDER TO GIVE THAT INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION TO EACH STUDENT.
BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY ON THE EAST SIDE HAD STUDENTS THAT WERE IN KINDER AND SECOND GRADE, WE DECIDED TO OPEN UP PRE-K, K ONE AND TWO TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES.
IN FIRST AND SECOND GRADE WE RECEIVED 120 STUDENTS, APPROXIMATELY, AND ONLY 10% OF THEM WERE ON GRADE LEVEL.
BECAUSE OF THE CURRICULUM THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE STUDENTS WITH A SMALL 30 TEACHER RATIO WITH TWO TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, WE ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO BE GIVEN AN INDIVIDUALIZED OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION, REGARDLESS.
WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT THE YEAR WITH OVER 70% OF OUR STUDENTS GROWING TWO OR MORE GRADE LEVELS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THIS YEAR OUR KINDERGARTENERS, WHO ARE OUR PRE-K STUDENTS, WILL ENTER KINDERGARTEN READING ON GRADE LEVEL.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEED TO GROW IN THE COMMUNITY.
BY SAYING YES TO THIS VOTE, YOU WILL IMPACT MY SCHOOL BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT NOW BUILDING OUR ACADEMY CAMPUS.
WE HAVE GROWN FROM 350 STUDENTS TO SERVING 604 STUDENTS ON THE EAST SIDE OFF OF W.W. WHITE ROAD IN THAT AREA.
I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH IMPORTANCE IT IS FOR YOU TO SAY YES, AND I WILL FINISH MY STATEMENT BY SAYING THAT I HAVE TO GIVE YOU MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF WHY I CAME TO IDEA.
I CAME TO IDEA BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER HAS A SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITY AND WAS A THIRD-GRADE STUDENT WHO COULD NOT READ.
I WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO READ AND THAT I JUST HAD TO ACCEPT THAT.
THAT IS WHY I BECAME AN EDUCATOR.
THAT IS WHY I BECAME A TEACHER, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE THAT TEACHER THAT EVERY STUDENT HAD.
MY DAUGHTER IS A FRESHMAN, READING AT AN EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL.
BUT HAS IDEA CLOSED THAT GAP? IT HAS DEFINITELY CLOSED THAT GAP.
ALL FOUR OF MY CHILDREN WILL BE ATTENDING IDEA AND TWO OF THEM IDEA NAJIM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GONZALES.
THAT IS EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS SPOKEN BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO THE FULL COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
NOT THAT I APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF THESE REVENUE BONDS FOR THE IDEA CHARTER DISTRICT, BUT FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH 15 PRIOR FUNDING REQUESTS FOR THE PROLIFERATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITHOUT ANY COUNCIL, ANY COMMUNITY, OR ANY TAXPAYER INPUT OR CONSIDERATION.
THEY WERE MERELY APPROVED THROUGH THE AUTOCRATIC ACTIONS OF THE PREVIOUS MAYOR.
GREAT DISSERVICE TO ALL OF US.
THIS WAS UNLIKE TRUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE A SAY IN BUILDING AND GROWING THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR SCHOOL
[02:45:02]
DISTRICTS AND THE BONDED INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS INCURRED.THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR YOUR DECISION TO BRING THIS BEFORE THE PUBLIC.
AT THIS TIME I MAKE THE FOLLOWING MOTION, MAYOR.
THAT THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES TO DISAPPROVE THE ISSUANCE BY THE CLIFTON HIGHER EDUCATION FINANCE CORPORATION OF $220 MILLION OF EDUCATION REVENUE BONDS TO THE IDEA CHARTER SCHOOLS TO BUILD AND EXPAND MORE SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND IF SECONDED, I WISH TO EXPLAIN MY RATIONALE.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DENIAL OF ITEM NO. 15.
>> COURAGE: MAY I CONTINUE, MAYOR, MY EXPLANATION?
WE AS COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY THREE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS, POSSIBLY MORE BY SOME OF US, WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONTINUING INCURSION ON OUR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY BY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE SIPHONING OFF OF SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF STUDENTS AND THE REDIRECTION OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TAXES TO THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED LETTERS OF CONCERN AND DISAPPROVAL FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND LEADERS OF LOCAL LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.
ALL OF THEIR LEGITIMATE CONCERNS REVOLVE AROUND THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL RESOURCES AND TAX DOLLARS.
AT THIS TIME I WISH FOR THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW WITH ME A PRESENTATION THAT WAS SENT TO ME BY MY DISTRICT 9 SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, DR. BRIAN FROM THE NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THAT IS PRESENT UP THERE ON THE SCREEN AND ON YOUR SCREENS.
WHAT WE SEE IN THE FIRST PAGE IS PUBLIC CHARTERS -- A DESCRIPTION OF PUBLIC CHARTERS WITH DEMOGRAPHICS THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BY ETHNICITY AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.
IT ALSO SHOWS THAT STATE FUNDING IS UNEQUAL WHERE CHARTER SCHOOLS ACTUALLY GET MORE MONEY PER STUDENT THAN THEIR NEARBY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HERE IT NOTES THE SATURATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN JUST THIS ONE DISTRICT.
AND THE EXPERIENCE DIFFERENTIAL AMONG TEACHERS AND EXCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT EXISTS BETWEEN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE IT SHOWS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, BECAUSE THIS IS A PRIVATELY-RUN DISTRICT, ARE 24% FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES COMPARED TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT OF 5%.
HERE YOU SEE THE EFFECT OF THE LOSS OF ENROLLMENT.
THE EFFECT OF THE LOSS OF ENROLLMENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY THE PROLIFERATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE LOSS OF FUNDS IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE SHOWS THE LOSS OF $580 MILLION IN SCHOOL FUNDING IN THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE.
HOW CAN A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAKE UP THAT KIND OF LOSS FUNDING, PARTICULARLY THE WAY THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS REFUSED TO ADEQUATELY FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IT SIMPLY SHOWS MORE DETAIL OF THE IMPACT ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY THE CHARTER SCHOOLS.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT SHOWS THAT THE GROWTH OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS TOOK AWAY 1500, ALMOST 1600 SCHOOLS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD ONLY LET GO TWO TEACHERS.
AND SO HOW DO YOU MAKE UP THE LOSS OF INCOME WHEN YOU CAN ONLY REDUCE YOUR STAFF BY A COUPLE BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL SIZE? SO THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO.
MY 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO HAS REVEALED TO ME THE
[02:50:03]
DANGEROUSLY EFFECT IT HAS HAD ON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS .NOT ONLY DO THEY SIPHON OFF MONEY AND STUDENTS FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY FAIL TO PROVIDE KEY COMPONENTS TO THEIR STUDENTS.
THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM OF ANY STUDENTS OR ANY FAMILIES WHO HAVE MADE THESE CHOICES.
EVERY STUDENT IN THIS CITY DESERVES A GOOD EDUCATION.
THIS IS A CRITIQUE OF THE CHARTER SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND.
THIS CHARTER SYSTEM IS LEAVING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS BEHIND.
MANY, IF NOT ALL, CHARTER SCHOOLS DO NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THEIR SCHOOLS AS PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO, THUS PROVIDING BARRIERS FOR MANY LOW-INCOME AND CHALLENGED FAMILIES FROM AT-RISK STUDENTS.
FROM EVEN APPLYING TO ATTEND TO THOSE SCHOOLS.
NOR DO THEY PROVIDE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES FOR QUALIFYING FEDERAL LUNCH PROGRAMS, ANOTHER ATTENDANCE AND QUALIFYING BARRIER THAT MANY WHO HAVE FOOD INSECURITY CANNOT OVERCOME.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER BARRIERS AND METHODS USED THAT LIMIT OR DIMINISH THE ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS THAT DON'T FIT THE DESIRABLE STUDENT PROFILE TO PRODUCE THE ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS THAT THESE CHARTERS HAVE TO HAVE TO MAINTAIN TO JUSTIFY THEIR PUBLIC FUNDING.
EVEN SO, TODAY SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY HAS MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS PER CAPITA THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN TEXAS.
THERE IS OBVIOUSLY MUCH MORE TO BE DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE ABOUT THE ROLE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE EDUCATION OF ALL OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST A FEW.
MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED AND WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO ENGAGE IN A BROADER DISCUSSION AND EXAMINATION WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN HOW WE AS A CITY SUPPORT THE FURTHER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN EDUCATION ISSUE.
IT IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE BECAUSE WE RELY ON THE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION OF ALL OF OUR CHILDREN TO PROVIDE THE WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE.
AND IT IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE SO THAT ALL BENEFIT FAIRLY WITH AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS.
SOME WOULD SAY, MR. MAYOR, THAT THIS IS NOT A CITY ISSUE, THAT IT IS A STATE LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.
BUT I CONTEND THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED HERE AND WE LIVE HERE AND WILL CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO OUR CITY'S SUCCESS OR FAILURES IN THE YEARS TO COME.
THEREFORE, I ASK ALL OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE TO VOTE TO REJECT THE AGENDA ITEM AS PRESENTED ON OUR AGENDA BY VOTING YES FOR MY MOTION FOR DISAPPROVAL.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE COUNCILMAN'S MOTION THAT HIS MOTION IS DISAPPROVING THE ITEM 15 AND DISAPPROVAL OF THAT WOULD NOT EQUATE TO DISAPPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS.
IT RELATES TO THEIR TREATMENT UNDER THE I.R.S. CODE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
>> COURAGE: A POINT OF INFORMATION?
>> COURAGE: I'M NOT QUITE CERTAIN I UNDERSTAND YOUR INTERPRETATION.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF PEOPLE VOTE YES TO DISAPPROVE THIS THEN IT'S NOT A DISAPPROVAL TO THE --
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IF THEY VOTE WITH YOU, YOUR MOTION AND DISAPPROVE, IT WOULD NOT BE GRANTED THAT TAX EXEMPT STANDARD.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTION WASN'T TO PROHIBIT ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS.
THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING THAT UNDERSTANDING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENT NOW.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE WE NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMENTS GERMANE TO THE MOTION, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE, AND APPROVAL OF THE ITEM AS IT RELATES TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS AND YOUR WORDS.
IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY THOROUGH AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS
[02:55:01]
ABOUT INCLUSIVITY AND COLLABORATION.FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE ENGAGED PARENTS WHO CAME OUT TODAY.
VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL IN THE ACTION THAT YOU TAKE WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR KIDS, AND WITH YOUR SCHOOL.
AND THE TEACHERS AS WELL WHO LOVE TEACHING THE STUDENTS AND WHO WANT THE BEST.
AND I THINK WE ALL WANT THAT AS WELL.
I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THESE TEACHERS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I DO HAVE, BECAUSE I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THIS IS JUST TALKING ABOUT IF IT WILL BE NON-EXEMPT OR EXEMPT.
IT WILL BE -- IF IT WILL BE TAX EXEMPT OR NOT TAX EXEMPT, THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND.
THAT IT IS STILL MOVING FORWARD.
WHATEVER HAPPENS, BONDS CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WHY I DID SECOND THIS IS BECAUSE WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT TODAY INCLUSIVITY COLLABORATION.
BUT WE ALSO NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN LACKING THAT I HAVE SEEN.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE STEP TODAY AS A CITY TO SAY THAT YOUR BONDS WILL NOT BE -- WILL BE TAX EXEMPT, THEN I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
BECAUSE SINCE 2013 AND 2014 IN THE SOUTH SIDE WITH IDEA FLORES, WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING A LOT OF TAX DOLLARS INTO AUDIO] RESIDENTS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MANY PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE AREA HAVE WORKED AND HAVE LIVED WITH A LOT OF CONGESTION AND A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND A LOT OF DISRUPTION IN AND AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
OUR OFFICE AND THE IDEA SCHOOL HAD TO DO A COST-SHARING PROGRAM SO PART OF TAX DOLLARS HAD TO GO INTO PUTTING MONEY IN FOR A SCHOOL SAFETY ZONE.
AS WELL IT SHOULD, BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO COME FROM THE SCHOOLS AND NOT ALL FROM TAX-EXEMPT STATUS.
WHAT WE'VE ALSO HAD TO DO, BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE GONE IN AND AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT SCHOOL HAS BEEN HAVING TO PUT UP NO PARKING, STOPPING, OR STANDING SIGNS.
WE, IN MY OFFICE COUNCIL, WE HAD TO PUT TAX DOLLARS TO PUT AND PAY FOR THE SIGNAGE BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO WITH THE RESIDENTS.
WE MET WITH THE IDEA LEADERSHIP AND WITH IDEA BOARDS THERE AND WE TRIED TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS BUT ALSO WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE WAS NO RESPONSIBILITY IN TAKING THE ONUS UPON THEMSELVES THAT THEY WOULD DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO GET CARS OFF THE STREET.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARRIVE AS EARLY AS 2:00 P.M. TO PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN WHO PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET TO TURN LEFT INTO THE AREA.
WE HAD TO HAVE POLICE OFFICERS COME OUT AND GIVE TICKETS TO THE PARENTS AND TO THE INDIVIDUALS PICKING THEM UP.
THAT'S TIME FROM MY SAFE OFFICERS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT A PEDESTRIAN-SAFE AREA OFF OF A VERY BUSY STREET ON FLORES.
WE ALSO HAVE CARS THAT ARE CONTINUING PARKING ON THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY, A CITY STREET, FOR HOURS UPON HOURS THAT ARE CREATING BACK UP, TRAFFIC, AND UNSAFE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FAMILY AND THE PEDESTRIANS.
THOSE ARE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE TAKING UP OUR CITY STREETS.
THAT IS THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTED TO USE A STREET OR TAKE UP, TO CAMP OUT ON A STREET, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET A RIGHT OF WAY PERMIT.
AND THAT IS TAX DOLLAR MONEY AS WELL.
THERE IS ALSO OUR SAPD OFFICERS WHO HAVE TO GO OUT THERE CONSISTENTLY AND CONSTANTLY.
WE MET WITH THE IDEA LEADERSHIP.
WE'VE ASKED THEM TO OPEN UP THEIR GATES.
WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM BUT TO UNSUCCESSFUL -- IT JUST HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR US.
AND, AGAIN, THAT GOES BACK TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THAT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE COMING AND ASKING FOR TAX EXEMPT STATUS ON THIS WHEN WE ARE PUTTING SO MUCH TAX DOLLARS ON THERE.
AND I'M BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FROM ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS IN THE AREA.
SO I NEED TO DO SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL.
THAT'S WHY I CANNOT MOVE FORWARD AND SUPPORT THIS REQUEST FOR TAX EXEMPT STATUS WHEN SO MANY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING PUT IN HERE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN.
[03:00:03]
ONCE AGAIN TODAY WE FACE THE MINISTERIAL TASK OF VOTING ON AN ITEM THAT BENEFITS THE EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OUR CITY.I UNDERSTAND THAT IDEA SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT FULFILLS THE MISSION THEY WERE CREATED TO FULFILL.
I ALSO KNOW THIS DOES NOT COMPLETELY OFFSET THE IMPACT THEY AND OTHERS HAVE ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK TO ENSURE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM COMPETES ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS AND ALL OF OUR KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.
I ENCOURAGE OUR LOBBYING EFFORT AT THE STATE TO PUSH FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE PROPERTY TAX AND SCHOOL FINANCE THAT HOBBLES OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.
WHILE CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO SUFFER INEQUAL EDUCATION PROPERLY PLAN FOR AND FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
UNTIL THAT TIME I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILDREN OF SAN ANTONIO IN THEIR PURSUIT OF A HIGH QUALITY AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION.
IT IS FOR THOSE REASONS I DO PLAN TO VOTE YES TO APPROVE THIS ITEM TODAY AS THIS IS OUR MINISTERIAL DUTY.
I WOULD LIKE FOR COUNCIL TO BE BRIEFED ON THE STATE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR CITY AND THE EFFECTS CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU.
I HAVE THE SAME COMMENTS I HAVE WHEN WE PASSED THE RESOLUTION THE OTHER DAY.
WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY, SAVE ONE, WAS FOR THAT.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE OF WHAT I SAID.
I THINK CHOICE IS A GOOD THING.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE'VE GOT PRIVATE SCHOOLS OUT THERE.
THEY ALL HAVE A PLACE IN OUR CITY.
AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE HERE.
THIS NARROW APPROVAL IS JUST WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GET A TAX EXEMPT VERSUS NOT TAX EXEMPT BOND OUT THERE.
I'M ALL FOR GRANTING THAT EXEMPTION.
WE GIVE EXEMPTIONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHY NOT PROVIDE OUR CHILDREN A BETTER FACILITY THAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO BUILD BETTER FACILITIES, THAT KIND OF THING, WITH THAT TAX EXEMPTION.
SO LOOKING AT THAT I JUST DON'T SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
I HEAR SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, THE PARKING AND STREET LAYOUTS, THAT KIND OF THING WHERE THESE THINGS ARE BEING BUILT.
I HAVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES ALSO, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE WORKED OUT.
IN FACT, I'VE GOT TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS WANTING TO COME IN TO DISTRICT 10 AND THAT'S WHERE I SAT DOWN WITH THEM TO LAY OUT WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO DO FOR QUEUING OF TRAFFIC, THAT KIND OF THING.
IF YOU DON'T GET IN FRONT OF THAT, YEP.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PROBLEMS OUT THERE.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M WORKING WITH THOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT CLOGGING UP TRAFFIC, THAT KIND OF THING, AND THAT THEY DO PUT IN THE RIGHT QUEUES FOR THEIR SCHOOL IN THOSE AREAS.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- LISTEN.
ALL THREE OF MY KIDS WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ONE OF THEM GRADUATED SUMA CUM LAUD.
I KNOW OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE DOING THAT SAME PREPARATION TO GET KIDS READY FOR COLLEGE.
I HAVE GONE TO VISIT TWO OF THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 10 AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GROW, WHICH I THINK IS FANTASTIC.
THEY ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE FOR US AND THEY ARE PROVIDING CHILDREN COMING OUT OF THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE PREPARED FOR OUR SOCIETY HERE.
WHAT DO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO? I SAID THIS BEFORE.
I SEE THAT THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH A PARADIGM SHIFT.
I MADE THE EXAMPLE OF LIKE OUR TAXIS HERE IN TOWN.
THEY'RE HAVING TO DO THE SAME THING.
THEY'RE HAVING TO REEVALUATE THEIR PROCESSES TO COMPETE WITH THE UBERS AND LYFTS OUT THERE AND BE ABLE TO STILL MAINTAIN THEIR BUSINESSES OUT THERE.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEED TO DO THAT AS WELL.
DON'T JUST COME BACK SAYING WE NEED MORE MONEY.
YOU DON'T SOLVE PROBLEMS BY JUST THROWING MORE MONEY AT A PROBLEM.
YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT YOUR OPERATIONS AND HOW YOU DEAL WITH THAT.
[03:05:01]
SO, YES, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE WORKED.I DON'T THINK WE AT THE CITY LEVEL SHOULD GET INTO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS, THEY'VE GOT THEIR TRUSTEES.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK THE PUBLIC SCHOOL ISSUES, NOT THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO WITH THAT, SIR, I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT THAT.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST A VERY NARROW AREA THAT WE'RE APPROVING.
IT'S MORE LIKE A MINISTERIAL ACTION.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I WANT TO THANK BEN FOR EDUCATING US ON THIS PROCESS, NOT JUST TODAY BUT IN THE DAYS PRIOR, AS WELL AS THE TEACHERS AND THE PARENTS THAT HAVE COME OUT.
MR. CUMMINS, MS. POTTER AS WELL.
THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO BE HERE AND SHARE YOUR VIEWS WITH US TO HELP US INFORM THE DECISION THAT'S BEING MADE TODAY.
MANY FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT DO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
MANY OF THEM STILL PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE A REGULAR DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE A GYM IN DISTRICT 7, WHICH I WILL NEVER BE TIRED OF BRAGGING ABOUT, AND THAT'S THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
WE THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND ACADEMICALLY IT'S HAD ITS UPS AND DOWN, BUT IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AND IT'S BEEN THERE FOR DECADES.
BUT I CAN'T IGNORE THAT THERE IS A RESOURCE PROBLEM AT THE STATE WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATION FUNDING.
AND THAT UNFORTUNATELY OUR CHARTERS AND OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS ARE OPERATING UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, TO SOME EXTENT.
I DO THINK CHARTERS HAVE BENEFITED A LOT OF STUDENTS.
I KNOW MANY FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THAT OPTION.
EVEN MY COLLEAGUE HERE, COUNCILMAN PELAEZ, SENDS HIS CHILDREN TO A CHARTER SCHOOL AND HAS HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THERE.
BUT I DO WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALSO STAY STRONG FOR FAMILIES THAT CHOOSE TO SEND THEIR KIDS THERE.
AND I FEEL THAT BY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS ITEM -- I FEEL LIKE I'M IGNORING THAT PROBLEM, THAT RESOURCE PROBLEM THAT'S GOING ON.
SO I DON'T FEEL THAT I CAN DO THAT.
AND, AGAIN, I'M NOT AGAINST THE IDEA OF CHARTER SCHOOLS OR OF HAVING OPTIONS.
THAT DEFINITELY WORKS FOR SOME FAMILIES.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL.
AS SMALL AS THIS ROLE SEEMS WHEN IT COMES TO CHARTER SCHOOLS, IT'S A ROLE THAT WE'RE PLAYING.
AND I REALLY WANT TO HAVE THE BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS VOTE.
SO I HOPE I'M NOT VIOLATING ANY CODES, BUT AT THIS POINT I DON'T FEEL I CAN VOTE FOR THE ITEM BUT I ALSO DON'T FEEL I CAN VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE I DO FEEL FOR THE CHILDREN THAT ARE ALREADY ENROLLED AT IDEA SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE NEW AMENITIES.
AND I THINK THEY DESERVE THOSE TOO.
SO, ANYWAY, I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY VIEWS ON THAT.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> PELAEZ: YEAH, I DON'T HAVE A STATEMENT.
BEN, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT, PLEASE? AND IS ANDY HERE? THIS MAY BE A LEGAL QUESTION OR A TAXATION QUESTION.
BOTH OF YOU ARE FREE TO TAKE THIS UP.
YOU KEEP USING THE WORDS "MINISTERIAL ACT." AND I THINK I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
BUT CAN EITHER OF YOU WALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS.
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
IT'S REALLY NOT A MINISTERIAL ACT, COUNCILMAN, IN THAT THE COUNCIL DOES HAVE DISCRETION AS TO VOTE IT UP OR DOWN, THE ITEM.
IT'S A MINISTERIAL ACT IN THE TERMS OF THERE'S NO CITY MONEY GOING TO IT BUT IN TERMS OF THE LEGAL VIEW OF IT, MINISTERIAL ACTS USUALLY MEAN THIS BODY DOESN'T HAVE DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER VOTING IT UP OR DOWN.
BUT FOR ITEM 15 YOU DO HAVE THAT.
I'M READING THE DOCUMENT AND LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS, BEN, AND WHAT I'M READING DOESN'T
[03:10:01]
SEEM TO JIVE WITH WHAT I'M HEARING.SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS POSITIONS ON THE MERITS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS OR NOT CHARTER SCHOOLS.
I'M SURE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER.
BUT WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS DOING IS ASKING US WHETHER OR NOT THESE QUALIFIED PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS COMPLY WITH I.R.S. CODE 147F, RIGHT?
I MENTIONED TO COUNCILMAN THAT IT WAS A NARROW APPROVAL, IS WHAT I WOULD CALL IT FROM THE STANDPOINT IF I WERE BRINGING AN ITEM FROM THE CITY, LET'S SAY, AND I'M SAYING I'M GOING TO DO A BOND ISSUE.
AND YOU VOTED TO SAY NO, THEN I DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BOND ISSUE.
IN THIS CASE IT'S NARROW BECAUSE IT JUST DEALS WITH THE FEDERAL TAX TREATMENT OF THE INCOME OF THE BONDHOLDER.
THAT JUST DEALS WITH COST OF CAPITAL.
>> PELAEZ: SO MY UNDERSTANDING THEN, AND I MAY BE WRONG.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY BEFORE US, IS WHETHER OR NOT THE INCOME OR THE INTEREST ON THE BONDS IS TAXABLE UNDER THE I.R.S. CODE WHEN ONE VERY SPECIFIC SECTION.
>> PELAEZ: AND THE I.R.S. CODE IS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT INTEREST -- I'M SORRY.
ON TAXATION OF THE INTEREST ON THESE PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS FOR PURPOSES OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION AND NOT STATE, COUNTY, OR CITY TAXES, RIGHT?
THIS ITEM IS SPECIFIC TO THE I.R.S. CODE, THE SECTION THAT YOU REFERENCED.
AND IT MERELY IS A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER YOU SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE OF THESE BONDS.
AND WHEN I SAY THESE BONDS, I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE SAN ANTONIO PROJECT.
WE TALKED ABOUT $220 MILLION ISSUANCE.
THIS IS ONLY DEALING WITH -- BECAUSE EVERY JURISDICTION WHERE THEY ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS MUST TAKE A SIMILAR ACTION.
SO HYPOTHETICALLY IF ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES WHERE THEY ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS ALL APPROVE IT, THEY COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ENTIRE BOND ISSUE STILL, HYPOTHETICALLY.
ALL OF THAT SECTION BEING TAX EXEMPT BONDS, THIS PIECE BEING TAXABLE BONDS.
>> PELAEZ: ALL VERY INTERESTING BUT, AGAIN, THE ONLY THING WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO IS TO INTERPRET WHETHER OR NOT WHATEVER IT IS THEY'VE SUBMITTED IS COMPLIANT WITH 147F.
WHETHER THIS IS AN ELIGIBLE USE UNDER 147F.
>> PELAEZ: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS IT IS NOT AN ELIGIBLE USE UNDER 147F?
>> PELAEZ: ANDY, HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING THAT THEY ARE NOT COMPLIANT WITH THE TAX CODE?
>> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY WE'RE NOT MAKING STATEMENTS TO WHETHER IT'S ELIGIBLE OR NOT.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
THERE'S NOTHING WE SAW THAT SUGGESTS THAT IT ISN'T.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS BODY'S NOT MAKING A DETERMINATION BY THEIR VOTE AS TO WHETHER IT'S ELIGIBLE OR NOT.
>> PELAEZ: SO I'M GOING TO SPLIT HAIRS, ANDY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP ME.
WHAT THIS SAYS IS THE AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF THE P OF FINANCE IS MADE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 147F AND FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE.
AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT SAYS THAT EITHER THE LEAD ELECTED OFFICIAL OR THE ELECTED BODY NEEDS TO EITHER APPROVE THAT -- APPROVE IT SO THAT IT FALLS WITHIN THAT OR NOT.
>> PELAEZ: SO SOME GENIUS IN D.C. OR SAN ANTONIO SAID WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO THE CITY TO MAKE AN INTERPRETATION AS TO 147F?
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THIS BODY CAN SAY YES OR NO AS TO WHETHER THAT APPLICATION UNDER THE IRS CODE WILL APPLY TO THIS OR NOT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF YOU TO SUGGEST THEY HAVEN'T COMPLIED WITH 147F?
>> PELAEZ: DID YOU LOOK AT 147F IN THE TAX CODE?
>> PELAEZ: DID YOU LOOK AT 147F WHEN YOU REVIEWED THE DOCUMENTS?
>> I'M AWARE OF WHAT 147F IS, AND IT'S VERY BROAD.
AGAIN, AS ANDY MENTIONED IT JUST TALKS ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR THE GOVERNING BODY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER WE SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE OF THESE BONDS AS BEING TAX EXEMPT.
>> PELAEZ: I TOOK A LOOK AT 147F AND THERE'S NO REFERENCE TO SCHOOLS ANYWHERE IN THERE.
IT JUST SAYS PUBLIC ACTIVITY BONDS.
MAYOR, I TRUST BEN GORZELL AND HIS INTERPRETATION OF TAX LAW.
THERE'S A SECOND MOTION NOW ON THE FLOOR.
THIS ONE TO APPROVE ITEM NO. 15.
WE'LL CONTINUE ON WITH COUNCIL COMMENT.
[03:15:01]
COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
YESTERDAY YOU TOLD ME THAT THE DIFFERENCE, THE DOLLAR DIFFERENCE IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA WAS HOW MUCH OF THAT $220 MILLION?
>> BROCKHOUSE: WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS, THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THAT?
>> JUST A BALLPARK, ASKING OUR FINANCIAL ADVISERS TO GIVE US INPUT.
PROBABLY ON THE $18 MILLION ON TODAY'S MARKET, PROBABLY A MILLION, 1.3 INTEREST OVER THE LIFE OF THE BONDS.
THEY ARE ANTICIPATING ISSUING OVER A 30-YEAR PERIOD.
>> BROCKHOUSE: AND I THINK COUNCILMAN PELAEZ JUST METHODICALLY WENT THROUGH THE PIECES OF THIS.
I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH WHERE MY COLLEAGUE FROM DISTRICT 8 WAS COMING FROM.
I TALKED TO DR. WOODS MYSELF AND I'M A PRODUCT OF THE NORTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO IS MY FAMILY, MY WIFE TEACHES THERE.
THESE ARE LARGER CONVERSATIONS WELL OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THIS COUNCIL.
AND I BELIEVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAD.
DR. WOODS IS EXACTLY RIGHT WHEN HE SAID NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
AND WHEN I RESPONDED BACK TO HIM I SAID YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S NOT THE TIME ON THE DAIS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT'S A WORTHY CONVERSATION TO HAVE THAT INVOLVES OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, JEFF COYLE AND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS TEAM.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO PLAY INTO THIS.
BUT AT THIS POINT THIS ISSUE IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, I'VE GOT -- YOU KNOW, I'LL STAND IN SUPPORT OF IT TODAY IN THE HOPES THAT THAT CONVERSATION DOES HAPPEN.
WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE OPEN.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROBABLY KIND OF ELEVATED THIS QUICKLY WAS THE FACT THAT MANY OF THESE WERE DONE BEHIND THE DAIS AND THEY WERE SIGNED.
AND WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS, IT WAS COMPLETELY LEGAL AND ALLOWABLE, BUT FROM A TRANSPARENCY PERSPECTIVE IS KIND OF WHAT ELEVATED THIS.
I DO BELIEVE WHEN WE DO THESE THINGS IN THE FUTURE, TO HEAR FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE SUPERINTENDENTS, THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES, THAT MATTERS AS WELL.
IT WAS GOOD WE HAD THAT INPUT AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO LEARN ON IT.
IT'S A DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AS WE WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM HOW WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT A FUNDING ISSUE THAT'S PERMEATING OUR ENTIRE STATE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM.
ON THIS PARTICULAR VOTE, IT'S WAY LARGER THAN THIS, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROCKHOUSE.
YOU'LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY THIS PUBLICLY EVER AGAIN.
BUT I'M SO PROUD OF COUNCILMAN PELAEZ AND HIS LINE OF QUESTIONING.
YOU REALLY BROUGHT HOME WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU SAID TODAY AND I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE.
I DO WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
OUR DECISION TODAY IS WHETHER TO APPROVE TAX EXEMPT BONDS FOR THE IDEA CHARTER SCHOOLS.
AND DOES NOT INVOLVE THE LARGER POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE CONCERNS OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IN FACT, THE LARGER POLICY DISCUSSION IS ONE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN WHOLE BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
WE ARE SIMPLY DECIDING WHETHER TO APPROVE IDEA'S PLAN FOR ISSUING TAX EXEMPT BONDS FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE DECISION DOES NOT AFFECT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FISCALLY BUT THE DECISION IS REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
WE HAVE APPROVED SUCH BONDS IN THE PAST AND REJECTING THIS WOULD NOT CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF CHARTER SCHOOLS NOR HALT THEIR PROJECTS.
IN LARGE PART THE CONTROVERSY SWIRLING AROUND CHARTER SCHOOLS IS A RESULT OF THE LEGISLATURE'S NOT ADDRESSING THE ADEQUATE FUNDING OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
POLITICAL DISTRICTS REPORT THEY ARE LOSING STUDENTS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEREFORE THEY ARE LOSING THE STATE FUNDING THAT GOES WITH THOSE STUDENTS.
THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE'S SHARE IS DECREASING AND THE STATE IS CLAIMING AN INCREASING PORTION OF LOCAL SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES.
THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS WERE CREATED BY STATE LAWMAKERS AND THE LEGISLATURE IS THE PLACE TO TRULY SETTLE THESE CONFLICTS.
I SUPPORT APPROVING THESE BONDS IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO DISCUSS ADOPTING A POLICY FOR ADDRESSING A CHARTER SCHOOL BOND REQUEST IN THE FUTURE, I AM ALSO OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION.
SO WITH THAT, THERE ARE TWO MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR.
WE'LL TAKE UP COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S MOTION FIRST, WHICH WAS A MOTION TO DENY ITEM 15.
AND PLEASE NOTE A VOTE YAY ON COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S MOTION IS TO DENY THE APPROVAL.
SO, AGAIN, TAKING UP COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S MOTION TO DENY ITEM 15.
NOW WE'LL TAKE UP COUNCILMAN PELAEZ'S MOTION, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 15.
[03:20:02]
MORNING AGENDA.IS THERE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT?
>> SCULLEY: NO, MAYOR, BUT WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOLLOWING THIS MEETING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
THERE IS LUNCH FOR THE COUNCIL IN THE EXECUTIVE ROOM AS WELL.
[Executive Session]
SO IF YOU CAN MAKE YOUR WAY OVER THERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.THE TIME IS NOW 12:34 P.M. ON THIS 13TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2018.
PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY CHAPTER 551 IN THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD OPEN FROM YESTERDAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.