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GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 25TH PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COM COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE WILL START WITH ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT CHAIR ROCHE GARCIA.
HERE, MA'AM, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
[Approval of Minutes ]
THANK YOU.WE'LL START WITH ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 24TH, 2020 TWOS PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.
I HOPE EVERYONE'S HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND I'LL SECOND.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
OH, WE HAVE THE VOTING BUTTON.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
I'M SORRY.ITEM NUMBER TWO, BRIEFING ON HIGHWAY 1 51 AND LOOP 1604 AREA CENTER PLAN PRESENTED BY RUDY NINO.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, THIS FIRST ITEM FOR BRIEFING IMPOSSIBLE ACTION IS REGARDING THE HIGHWAY 1 51 LOOP 6 0 4 AREA REGIONAL CENTER PLAN.
UH, THIS REGIONAL CENTER IS THE SEVENTH SUB AREA PLAN TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ADOPTION AS PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE S A M R COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, THIS REGIONAL CENTER CIRCLED IN ORANGE ON THE SCREEN, IS LOCATED IN THE FAR WEST QUADRANT OF THE CITY.
UH, AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS THAT THE REGIONAL CENTER SURROUNDS THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 1 51, LOOP 1604, AND IS BOUNDED BY COLLIBRA ROAD WEST MILITARY DRIVE, PETRANKO ROAD, AND THE CITY LIMITS ON THE FAR WEST.
SOME KEY LANDMARKS IN THE AREA INCLUDE SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO, THE HYATT, REGENCY HILL COUNTRY RESORT, NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE, AND SEVERAL CORPORATE CAMPUSES.
UH, THIS AREA HAS BEEN A RIPE PLACE FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SINCE IT WAS INITIALLY ESTABLISHED AS WESTOVER HILLS IN THE EARLY 1990S.
AND IT HAS, UH, CONTINUED TO BE A FAST GROWING PART OF THE CITY.
SINCE THE AREA HAS STRONG FIBER, INTERNET AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, MANY DATA CENTERS HAVE ALSO BEGUN TO LOCATE IN THAT AREA.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABUNDANCE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, THERE ARE EIGHT REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN THE REGIONAL CENTER.
UH, SOME OF THESE ARE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE DEVELOPED IN THE 1960S AND SEVENTIES, LONG BEFORE THIS AREA WAS AN ECONOMIC HUB RESIDENT, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL OF THESE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WERE ENGAGED WITH THIS PLANNING PROCESS FOR EACH OF THE SUB AREA PLANS.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT BRINGS TOGETHER RESIDENTS, EMPLOYERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS INTO A PLANNING TEAM TO GUIDE THE PLAN.
THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 13 PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS WITH THIS, UH, GROUP TO GATHER CRITICAL INFORMATION ON ASSETS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES SPECIFIC TO THIS AREA.
THIS HELPED THE, THE PLANNING TEAM, CITY STAFF, AND THE CONSULTANTS DEVELOP A MORE NUANCED UNDERSTANDING OF THE REGIONAL CENTER.
IN ADDITION TO THESE PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS, WE HOSTED FOUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC POSED A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO THE PLANNING PROCESS.
HOWEVER, BOTH THE PLANNING TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENT ADJUSTED TO AN ENTIRELY VIRTUAL FORMAT, WHICH INCLUDED VIRTUAL PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS, VIRTUAL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND THE FINAL VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING ON OCTOBER THE SEVENTH THAT WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN DEVELOPING THE PLAN WAS TO ESTABLISH A SHARED COMMUNITY VISION.
THE PLANNING TEAM WORKED TOGETHER TO DRAFT THE VISION STATEMENT THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, WHICH WAS THEN REVIEWED AND REFINED AT THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING.
UH, THIS VISION SETS A STAGE FOR THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES RECOMMENDED IN THE PLAN.
THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS AREA ENVISIONED A THRIVING CENTER WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY, AND STILL EMBODY THE HILL COUNTRY AMBIANCE.
PLANNED GOALS WERE DEVELOPED WITH INPUT FROM RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARTICULATED IMPORTANT VALUES THAT WERE THEN REFINED BY THE PLANNING TEAM AND PARTICIPANTS, UH, IN THE SECOND COMMUNITY MEETING.
THE PLAN FRAMEWORK OUTLINES KEY IMPROVEMENTS AND CONCEPTS THAT WILL SHAPE DEVELOPMENT IN THE HIGHWAY 1 51, LOOP 1604 AREA FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND BEYOND.
THE FRAMEWORK RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS, WHICH ARE SHOWN ON THE MAP PICTURED HERE, AS WELL AS OTHER POLICIES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO REALIZE THE PLANNED VISION AND GOALS.
THE PLAN ELEMENTS ARE LAND USE, FOCUS AREAS, MOBILITY, AMENITIES IN PUBLIC SPACE, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE REGIONAL CENTER IS PICTURED HERE USING THE CITYWIDE ADOPTED FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES.
MUCH OF THE LAND USE IS DESIGNATED AS
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REGIONAL MIXED USE, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY AND DEVELOPMENT.MANY OF THE EXISTING CORPORATE CAMPUSES HAVE REQUESTED TO BE DESIGNATED AS BUSINESS INNOVATION MIXED USE, WHICH IS SHOWN IN BLUE ON THE SCREEN.
WE HAVE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO STEP DOWN THE INTENSITY OF LAND USES TO LESSEN THEIR POTENTIAL FUTURE IMPACT ON EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY CLASSIFIED AS EITHER EITHER RESIDENTIAL ESTATE OR LOW DENSITY.
RESIDENTIAL FOCUS AREAS ARE AREAS OR CORRIDORS THAT THE TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED FOR IMPROVEMENT OR SPECIAL ATTENTION AND COULD ACHIEVE THE COMMUNITY VISION.
THE FOCUS AREAS FOR THIS REGIONAL CENTER ARE SHOWN IN THE YELLOW MAP ON THE SCREEN.
THEY INCLUDE VACANT PARCELS, EAST AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 1 51 PARCELS WEST OF LOOP 1604, THE WISEMAN BOULEVARD CORRIDOR, AND THE ROGERS ROAD CORRIDOR.
ADDITIONALLY, COLLAB CREEK WAS IDENTIFIED AS A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANDING PARK AND OPEN SPACE, AND HAS PLANNED TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE LEON CREEK GREENWAY.
THE FOLLOWING SLIDES, UH, WILL INCLUDE ILLUSTRATIVE RENDERINGS FOR THESE FOCUS AREAS AS A WAY OF DEPICTING THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE PLAN.
THE MOBILITY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS PLAN.
PROPOSED STRATEGIES FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, SPECIFICALLY MOBILITY STRATEGY.
STRATEGY 2.1 STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING SAFE AND COMFORTABLE STREETS FOR ALL USERS THROUGH COMPLETE STREET STUDIES FOR SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS PICTURED IN THIS ILLUSTRATION.
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, WHAT WE HEARD MOST OFTEN FROM RESIDENTS WAS A NEED FOR MORE PARK SPACE AMENITIES AND PUBLIC SPACE STRATEGY.
1.1 CALLS FOR CONTINUED COORDINATION WITH THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE COMPLETION OF THE LEON CREEK GREENWAY SYSTEM THROUGH COLLIBRA CREEK.
AND OVERALL TO ENCOURAGE MORE OPEN SPACE OR FEASIBLE.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RECOGNIZES THAT REGIONAL CENTERS ARE AREAS FOR HOUSING GROWTH AND STRATEGY 2.1 EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING OPTIONS IN AREAS CLOSE TO TRANSIT OPTIONS AND COMMUNITY AMENITIES.
DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS A CENTRAL TOPIC IN MANY PLANNING.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2.1 ENCOURAGES A FOCUS ON CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGY, FINANCE, AND TOURISM.
OTHER STRATEGIES INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A PLACE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION OR OTHER FORM OF PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT THE FUTURE GROWTH AND ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE AREA.
FINALLY, AS LIKE ALL SUB AREA PLANS, THE HIGHWAY 1 51 AND LOOP 6 0 4 REGIONAL CENTER PLAN PROPOSES A MIDTERM VISION WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING THE REGIONAL CENTER OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
AS SHOWN HERE, THE IMPLEMENTATION SECTION OF THE PLAN LISTS THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY TOPIC, FOLLOWED BY STRATEGIES FORMULATED TO ACHIEVE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
AND THIS SLIDE OUTLINES THE PLAN'S ADOPTION PROCESS.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT WAS PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY THE FIRST AFTER A PUBLIC DRAFT WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT AND REVIEW.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECEIVED THE BRIEFING, UH, ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN ON FEBRUARY THE 23RD, AND LATER RECOMMENDED APPROVAL TO THE COUNCIL AT THEIR MARCH 9TH PUBLIC HEARING.
FULL CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 14TH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, YOU WERE PROVIDED A LINK AS PART OF YOUR AGENDA TO THE FULL ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT, UH, OF WHICH THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
AND MADAM CHAIR, THAT THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I I CAN BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, IN THE GREAT HUSTLE AND AND BUSTLE OF THIS AREA IN 1 51 AND 1604, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR OPEN PARKS AREAS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT WITH SETBACKS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS.
THROUGHOUT THE REPORT, THERE'S SOME REFERENCES TO PARK SPACE AND TRAILS AND WALKABILITY AND PLAZAS.
AND I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS AREA IN PARTICULAR HAS SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS, HOSPITALS, ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS, ET CETERA.
AND IT'S A NEIGHBOR TO MY AREA.
SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.
STAKEHOLDERS, UM, SEEM TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD BALANCE TO THIS WITH, UM, SAFER AND, UH, MORE OPEN AMENITIES.
AND I KNOW THAT FOLKS ARE, ARE SPEAKING UP, UH, UH, FOR THAT.
AND I'M, I'M HAPPY THAT THEIR VOICE IS BEING HEARD, AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE WORKING MAKE SURE THAT THEY READ THIS PLAN FIRST AND THEN RESPECT THE WISHES OF THE RESIDENTS THERE.
UM, BUT I'M REALLY HAPPY ALSO THAT THE PLAN MENTIONS, MENTIONS PETRANKO ROAD.
IT WAS IDENTIFIED AS A SEVERE PEDESTRIAN INJURY AREA IN THE 2018 REPORT.
AND IN THE REGIONAL PLAN, THE STAKEHOLDERS EXPRESSED FOR A NEED TO HAVE SAFER STREETS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
IN FACT, I'VE MET WITH A PRINCIPAL AND SOME STUDENTS FROM, FROM, UM, THE AREA BECAUSE THEY WERE, THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
AND SO I KNOW WE'VE STARTED SOME IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY, BUT HOPEFULLY ALSO STATE LEADERSHIP, UM, SEES THAT THIS IS NOT JUST LOCAL OFFICIALS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THIS.
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UM, IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPRESSING A NEED FOR THIS MULTINET MODAL NETWORK.AND IT'S THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE, WORK, AND LEARN AND PLAY AND IN THESE AREAS THAT ARE ASKING FOR SAFETY, NOT JUST ON OUR CITY MAINTAINED ROADS, BUT ALSO ON ALL THE ROADWAYS.
SORI, I JUST HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
FIRST, HOW MANY REGIONAL CENTERS ARE LEFT TO DEVELOP? COULD YOU REMIND US? FOUR, UH, FOUR REGIONAL CENTERS.
AND THEN, UM, I HAVE AN INTEREST OBVIOUSLY FOR THE SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY AREA BECAUSE OF ONGOING ISSUES WITH RESIDENTIAL AND, UM, INDUSTRIAL OR INTENSE COMMERCIAL, UM, PROPERTIES.
THEY'RE SO CLOSE THAT IT, IT, IT'S ALARMING AND I THINK NEIGHBORS ARE EAGER TO GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS.
BUT WHAT IS THE PLANNED ORDER OF ADOPTION FOR THE COMMUNITY AREAS? UH, EXCUSE ME, COUNT, UH, MADAM CHAIR, THE, THE PHASING MAP THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OUTLINED A NUMBER OF AREAS THAT WERE, UM, WERE INTENDED SIX BASE SIX PLANS OVER THE COURSE OF SIX IMPLEMENTATION PHASES.
SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE SOUTH, UH, SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY PLAN AND PLANS WITHIN THAT AREA ARE WITHIN THE FIFTH, THE, THE FIFTH PHASE OF THAT PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, WE ARE STARTING THE THIRD PHASE RIGHT NOW.
SO THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN EXPEDITIOUSLY MOVE THROUGH THOSE, THROUGH THOSE PARTICULAR PLANS SO THAT WE CAN ULTIMATELY HAVE THAT FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
UH, UH, I, YOU KNOW, COMPLETED AND IDENTIFIED STILL WITHIN OUR, OUR HOPEFULLY WITHIN OUR TENURE HORIZON.
I'LL, UH, START WITH COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND I'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
UM, RUDY IS, IS, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, ALIMO AREA COLLEGES IN THIS AREA? NORTHWEST? YES, SIR.
NORTHWEST VISTA IS LOCATED WITHIN THE PLANNED BOUNDARIES.
UM, HOW FAR DOES THE BORDER OF THIS, UH, REGIONAL AREA, UH, GO, UH, COMPARED TO THE CITY LIMITS? UM, THE NORTHWEST AS FAR AS GOING NORTHWEST? UM, IF WE CAN GET THE, THE POWERPOINT BACK UP.
YEAH, YEAH, WE GOT SOME HELP COMING.
SO COUNCILMAN, UH, IN LOOKING AT THIS MAP, THE BORDER ACTUALLY IS THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PLAN AREA.
SO THE MUNICIPAL LIMITS ACTUALLY BUTT UP TO EDGE OF THE PLAN.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I, WHAT I KIND OF THOUGHT, AND, AND THIS IS MY CONCERN MM-HMM.
WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE IS THAT GOING TO PUT ON THE CITY TO PROVIDE THE STREETS, THE DRAINAGE, THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY, WHO ARE GONNA BE USING THOSE 'CAUSE THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
HOW ARE WE, UH, PLANNING FOR AND ACCOMMODATING NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY THAT'S NOT PART OF THE CITY THAT'S GOING TO BE USING ALL OF THIS? SURE.
NO, I, I, THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD POINT.
IT'S DEFINITELY PART OF THE, IT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD WHEN IT'S COME TO THE ANNEXATION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
BECAUSE THE IDEA THERE IS THAT, UM, THE STATE, YOU KNOW, 2017 WHEN, WHEN SENATE BILL SIX WAS ADOPTED, IT LIMITED OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT PROACTIVE ANNEXATIONS IN ORDER TO, TO BRING SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS INTO THE CITY, HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE SO THAT WE COULD PUT IT INTO, UH, SOME OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, HELP BUILD UP OUR NETWORK, OUR STREET NETWORK, OUR PARK NETWORK, AND SO FORTH.
SO, UM, GIVEN THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WORKING ON GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ANNEXATION POLICIES THAT TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A PANACEA FOR, FOR THE ENTIRE ISSUE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH AUTHORITY WITHIN THE E T J, WHICH IS THE EXTRA TERRITORY JURISDICTION, FIVE MILES FROM, FROM OUR CITY LIMITS.
UM, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS WHENEVER THERE ARE REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS THAT COME UP WITHIN THE, THE, UH, WITHIN THE E T J, WE HAVE A SET OF CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNCIL.
UH, SOME OF WHICH IS WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE, THAT FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE E T J DO IMPACT OUR STREET NETWORK, THEY DO IMPACT OUR PARK SYSTEM.
UH, SO WE BELIEVE THAT AN ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO SOME OF THOSE, UH, SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES FOR EVERY RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING $175 PER UNIT ASSESSMENT SO THAT WE CAN TRANSFER THAT MONEY TO, TO BUILDING UP OUR STREET NETWORK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, HOPEFULLY LIMITING THE IMPACT THAT, THAT FOLKS LIVING IN THE E T G ARE HAVING ON OUR STREET NETWORK.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY OF DOING IT.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS IN AREAS WHERE THERE AREN'T, WHERE IT IS JUST COMPLETELY DEVOID OF PARK SPACE, THEY NEED TO PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE AMENITIES.
ALSO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE RES, THOSE THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE, ARE INTENDED FOR PEOPLE AND THEY SHOULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AMENITIES SO THAT HOPEFULLY
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THEY DON'T HAVE TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO DRIVE TO SAN ANTONIO TO USE THE SAN ANTONIO PARK, UH MM-HMM.SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON POLICIES TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
UM, AND WE HOPE TO BRING FORWARD SOME, SOME, SOME POLICIES AND SOME TEXT FOR, FOR THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKED FOR 10 TIMES $175 PER HOUSEHOLD.
'CAUSE OVER THE 20 OR 30 YEARS THAT THEY'RE IN EXISTENCE, THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO IMPACT US MORE THAN $175 WORTH.
UH, ALSO, WHAT ABOUT COMING UP WITH SOME KIND OF ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO HELP COMPENSATE US? UH, I KNOW THEY BUILD COUNTIES, COUNTY ROADS, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEVELOPERS.
AND THE DEVELOPERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAX PEOPLE IN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN PAY FOR THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO YOU, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY'S COST IS PROBABLY NOT NEARLY WHAT THE CITY'S COST IS OR WILL BE GOING FORWARD.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING, UH, IF WE CAN INCORPORATE MORE COUNTY SUPPORT ON SOME OF THE FACILITIES, UH, WHETHER IT'S INTERCONNECTING ROADS OR PARKS THAT WE KNOW WILL BE EASILY USED, UH, BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE, YOU KNOW, 50 FEET IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER, SO TO SPEAK.
SO, UH, JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND, AND WE CERTAINLY ARE ADDRESSING THE COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY AS IT RELATES TO ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, PARKS, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE DO, UM, HAVE A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT MEET BETWEEN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU GET A COPY OF THE POLICY SO THAT HOPEFULLY THAT COORDINATION'S REFLECT IN THAT DOCUMENT.
I'D LIKE TO GET ANY OF THAT INFORMATION THAT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER ON HOW THAT COORDINATION'S GOING, SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
THANK YOU RUDY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO, UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, THERE'S NO TOURS IN THIS ESSAY TOMORROW.
THERE ARE NO TOURS DISTRICTS HERE, UH, WITHIN THE PARTICULAR, THE REGIONAL CENTER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
THE, THE STAFF IS NOT RECOMMENDING IT HERS IN THAT AREA.
JUST, JUST WANTED TO GET THAT.
AND, UM, SO THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS GR I MEAN, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
I AGREE WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE THAT THE E T J AND THE ALAMO RANCH AREA IN PARTICULAR, 'CAUSE I AM FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA 'CAUSE I DID WORK OUT IN THAT AREA.
THEY ARE USING, THEY ARE WORKING AND PLAYING AND USING THE STREETS AND, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE, UM, SOMETHING OF CONCERN.
'CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO GET A COUNTY COMMITMENT TO HELP WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING, THAT WE KNOW WE FULL WELL KNOW ALAMO RANCH AND THE SUBDIVISIONS IN THE LONE STAR PARKWAY WOULD BE USING.
THE OTHER IS, UM, AS WE LOOK AT OUR HOSPITALS OR HEALTH CENTERS FOR SENIORS AND THOSE, UH, UNINSURED OR, UM, UNDERINSURED, DO WE HAVE THAT THERE? OR, OR WILL THEY BE TRAVELING TO THE MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH MOST PEOPLE DO AND, AND WHAT DOES THAT, UM, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS WE MOVE FORWARD? UM, I THINK THAT THIS, EXCUSE ME, THIS REGIONAL CENTER IS FORTUNATE IN THAT THERE ACTUALLY ARE A NUMBER OF MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITIES WITHIN THE REGIONAL CENTER AREA.
UM, UH, THERE IS A HOSPITAL LOCATED WITHIN THIS FACILITY, WITHIN THIS REGIONAL CENTER BOUNDARIES.
AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF MAJOR, UM, CLINICS OR, OR, UM, STANDALONE EMERGENCY SERVICES, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ON BOTH SIDES OF HIGHWAY 1 51.
SO I THINK THAT IT, IT CURRENTLY IS WELL, UM, SERVICED BY, BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, UM, WHEN YOU MET WITH THE HOAS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, I'M SURE THEY BROUGHT UP THE PROPERTY TAXES, UM, BECAUSE I, I KNOW THAT'S ONE THAT ACROSS THE CITY, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS TO KIND OF HELP THEM AND GET THE INFORMATION OUT, WHICH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE WILL PROBABLY BRING UP COUNCILMAN BRAVO, ABOUT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, UH, HOW TO KIND OF, UH, PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.
DO WE HAVE AGENCIES WE'RE WORKING WITH TO DO THAT? AS THIS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES? THE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY IS NOT, UM, INVOLVED IN THAT LEVEL OF WORK.
I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL OFFICES TEND TO HAVE A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT WHEN THEY DO THAT.
WE CAN COORDINATE WITH THE DISTRICT SIX OFFICE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD, UH, SOME PRETTY GOOD, UH, COORDINATION MEETINGS RECENTLY ABOUT THE PLAN.
BUT I, WE CAN, UM, UH, DISCUSS THAT WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICES.
THAT'S AN ITEM THAT HAS COME UP SEVERAL TIMES AND, AND SEE HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN AT LEAST MAKE SOME CONNECTIONS THERE.
YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE PREPARED FOR BECAUSE I THINK
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AS WE, UH, WITH DEVELOPMENT COMES, UM, COMES HIGHER TAXES.AND THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SEE, AND I, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS YOU RUDY, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR REGI REGISTERED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, I KNOW HOAS ARE A LITTLE BETTER, UM, THAN MAYBE, UM, A COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ABOUT TRYING TO TRACK HOW THEY'VE BOUNCED BACK FROM THE PANDEMIC INTO IN-PERSON MEETINGS.
BECAUSE I KNOW IN OUR SOUTHERN SECTOR WE'RE HAVING, UM, PROBLEMS GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO THE SAME MEETING SIZE WE HAD AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING ALL THEY CAN AND THAT WE CAN HELP THEM GET BACK SO THAT WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE, THE HOAS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS.
ALRIGHT, THAT, UM, WITH THAT, I, UH, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO FULL COUNSEL.
UH, I SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND, UM, MOVE THIS ITEM FORWARD TO FULL COUNSEL.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT THE RENDERINGS FOR THIS AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, UM, THERE ARE TREES, UH, PROPOSED AS STREET TREES IN THE MEDIANS THERE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING CITYWIDE.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEING PLANNED WITH BIKE LANES.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT PROTECTED BIKE LANES SPECIFICALLY.
LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED THE GHOST BIKE CEREMONY FOR EMELIA RAMIREZ.
UH, HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS WAS TITLED AS LIKE LIVE WORK PLAY FOR THIS REGIONAL PROJECT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN LEON WAS RIDING, HE WORKED AT P F CHANG'S IN THE QUARRY AND HE WAS, HE WORKED THERE AND HE WAS GO RIDING HIS BIKE HOME TO WHERE HE LIVED.
THAT'S LIVE WORK PLAY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
AND, UH, THERE WAS NO PROTECTED BIKE LANE AND HE WAS HIT BY A MOTORIST AND KILLED.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BIKE LANES, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTED BIKE LANES SPECIFICALLY, AND I WANNA FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET THERE.
AND FIRST OFF, FOR, FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, BICYCLIST SAFETY AND SO FORTH.
SO IF THE RIGHT OF WAY IS AVAILABLE, THEN YES, THEN WE HAVE MADE ACCOMMODATIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE ILLUSTRATIONS TO SHOW BIKE LANES CAN OCCUR HERE.
UM, THE ILLUSTRATIONS THOUGH, AREN'T BASED NECESSARILY ON ENGINEERING STUDIES.
THIS, THIS IS A PLANNING LEVEL STUDY.
AND SO WHAT THE HOPE WILL BE IS THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS WORK AS, AS THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING DEPARTMENT, TAKE THAT NEXT STEP IN DOING THE ACTUAL ENGINEERING STUDIES TO DETERMINE WHAT CAN ACTUALLY GO IN THAT ROADWAY.
THEN THEY WILL TAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS INTO CONSIDERATION OF, OKAY, WELL SOME, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR THE ROADWAY TO OCCUR, THAT THERE IS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, ACCOMMODATIONS FOR LET'S SAY A MULTI-PURPOSE PATH, A SEPARATED BIKE LANE, UH, AND SO FORTH.
SO IT, IT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE ENGINEERING STUDY, BUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING MADE AT LEAST.
AND THE COMMU, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE CERTAIN ACCOMMODATIONS WITHIN, WITHIN THESE ROADWAYS.
SO CAN WE, I MEAN, BUT CAN WE PUT IN THE RIDING THERE SPECIFICALLY PROTECTED BIKE LANES AS THE RECOMMENDATION AS OPPOSED TO JUST BIKE LANES? UM, WE CAN LOOK AT THE TEXTURE, WE CAN LOOK AT THE TEXT AND SEE HOW WE ARTICULATED THE TYPE OF BIKE LANES WE'RE RECOMMENDED FOR CERTAIN AREAS.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE, OH, COUNCILMAN CURTIS HAS FOLLOW UP.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, VIA HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND, UH, OR LOOKING FOR PUTTING A PARK AND RIDE IN THIS AREA.
CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? SURE.
CAN WE GO BACK THERE? THANK YOU.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, COUNCILMAN, THE PARK AND RIDE IS RIGHT NOW PROPOSED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO GO SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE, THE AREA WEST OF THE REGIONAL CENTER IN THE COUNTY.
UM, LEMME SEE IF I ACTUALLY HAVE A BETTER MAP OF THIS.
ARE, ARE WE ASSISTING THEM IN ANY WAY? IS THERE ANY, ANYTHING WE'RE DOING TO HELP THEM ESTABLISH THAT? UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM THE, FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY AT THIS TIME, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS
[00:25:01]
WITH VIA, THEY ARE PART OF OUR PLANNING TEAM.SO THEY DID PARTICIPATE IN THIS PLANNING PROCESS.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE NORTH SIDE, ALL ACROSS THE NORTH SIDE FEEL LIKE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT AND DO THAT.
SO I WAS JUST CONCERNED IF, IF WE KNEW MORE ABOUT THAT.
UM, TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND THANK YOU RUDY, WE WILL TAKE, UH, A VOTE ON THE MOTION AND YOU CAN VOTE ON THE SYSTEM.
ACTUALLY, THE MOTION WAS MADE BY, I'M SORRY.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS A BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO TWO PROPOSED ORDINANCES, ACCEPTING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, E R A TWO HOUSING STABILITY SERVICES GRANT FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
AND WE CAN START WITH THE, UM, HOUSING PRESENT OR WITH THE PRESENTATION BY SARAH.
HI, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, SO JUST A QUICK PRESENTATION ON TWO PIECES OF VERY GOOD NEWS FOR OUR CITY.
WE WERE SELECTED BY BOTH T D H C A AND THE US TREASURY TO RECEIVE AN INFUSION OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR RIGHT TO COUNCIL EFFORTS, TO COUNCIL EFFORTS, OUR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. SO I'M JUST GONNA BRIEFLY WALK THROUGH, UH, THE COMPONENTS OF EACH OF THOSE AWARDS AND THEN I'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
SO THE FIRST GRANT IS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND C COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, OR T D H C A.
IT'S A HOUSING STABILITY SERVICES GRANT, WHICH IS FEDERAL E R A $2.
AND THESE DOLLARS CAN BE USED FOR HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS LIKE LEGAL AID FOR RENTERS FACING EVICTION SHELTER SERVICES, OR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THESE DOLLARS THAT WE ACTUALLY CAN'T USE THEM FOR PAYING ARREARS, SO IT WOULDN'T BE AN OPTION FOR US TO INFUSE THEM INTO THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FOR INSTANCE.
SO WE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO T D H C A BACK IN JANUARY, UM, TO FUND OUR RIGHT TO COUNCIL SERVICES AND OUR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, AND THEY RESPONDED WITH AN AWARD OF ABOUT $6.7 MILLION.
WE'LL BE SPLITTING THOSE OUT ACROSS OUR TWO PROGRAMS, UM, AS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
SO ABOUT 2.3 MILLION FOR RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM EXPANSION AND ANOTHER 4.4 FOR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EXPANSION.
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, UH, FOR EACH PROGRAM, I'LL TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
OUR VISION IS REALLY TO HAVE, UM, THE SAME SERVICES WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING, BUT AT THE SCALE THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO ACTUALLY MEET THE DEMAND WE'RE SEEING IN THE JP COURTS.
SO WITH THESE FUNDS, T R L A AND SALSA WILL BE ABLE TO ONBOARD ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS TO JOIN US AND WORK ALONGSIDE OUR HOUSING NAVIGATORS IN THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS FOR EVERY DOCKET, EVERY HEARING, EVERY TIME, UH, THEY CAN OFFER ON THE SPOT MEDIATION, HELP APPLYING FOR, UH, OUR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UM, AND GET LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION.
ONE OF THE COOLER COMPONENTS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THAT FOLKS WHO DO RECEIVE JUDGMENT AGAINST THEM WILL GET HELP FILING AN APPEAL IF THEY NEED TO DO THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO FILE AN APPEAL IN BEXAR COUNTY IS ISSUE THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE MONTH'S PAYMENT TO THE COURT.
AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLY A HARDSHIP FOR FOLKS WHO ARE IN EVICTION COURT, UH, LIKELY FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
SO, IN PAST ITERATIONS OF OUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM, WE HAVE, UH, THROUGH T R L A ADMINISTERED A FUND TO PAY THOSE APPEALS BONDS.
UH, AND WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE FOLKS WHO'VE GONE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, ABOUT 86 HOUSEHOLDS AT THIS POINT.
SO T R L A WILL ADMINISTER A $250,000 POT OF MONEY, UM, TO HELP US THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, TWO YEARS, EXCUSE ME.
UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SCALE UP OUR, OUR PROACTIVE OUTREACH THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH THIS PROGRAM.
SO THIS GRANT WAS ONE THAT WE COLI FOR WITH T R A IN SALSA.
AND HERE'S KIND OF HOW THE RULES BREAK DOWN, WHAT WE'LL DO WITH THESE AWARDS.
UH, N H S D WILL ONBOARD ONE ADDITIONAL HOUSING NAVIGATOR, UH, TO SUPPLEMENT OUR CURRENT TEAM THAT'S OPERATING OUT OF THE JP COURTS.
UH, THOSE FOLKS WILL FOCUS ON OUR RENTER, UH, RESIDENT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, APPLICATIONS AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS MAKING REFERRALS, CONTINUING THE NAVIGATION SERVICES THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND CONDUCTING THE OUTREACH, UH, THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
[00:30:01]
A MAILER OR A LIST OF, UH, EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN AN EVICTION FILING, UH, BE IT A LANDLORD OR A TENANT FOR THE WEEK PRIOR.AND THIS TEAM SENDS OUT A PACKET TO BOTH PARTIES AND WHEREVER THERE'S A PHONE NUMBER FOR THE TENANT, THEY MAKE A PHONE CALL OR A TEXT MESSAGE AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET TO FOLKS, UH, AHEAD OF TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF OUR SERVICES AND THAT THEY MAKE THEIR COURT HEARINGS.
ONE NEW FEATURE UNDER THIS GRANT IS THAT WE WILL BE, UH, PURCHASING VIA BUS PASSES.
SO FOR FOLKS, UH, THAT CAN'T MAKE THEIR COURT BECAUSE OF A TRANSPORTATION ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY NEED WE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION, WE CAN HELP THEM OUT WITH THAT AND GET THEM A DAY PASS TO MAKE THEIR COURT HEARING OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT HOUSING APPOINTMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE.
T R L A WILL BE ONBOARDING FOUR ADDITIONAL ATTORNEYS, THREE PARALEGALS AND ONE COORDINATOR TO HELP FACILITATE RIGHT TO COUNSEL SERVICES DIRECTLY OUT OF THE JP COURTS.
THEY'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON THEIR IN-PERSON, UM, OUTREACH AND INTAKE.
THEY'VE BEEN IN D FIVE AND D SEVEN AND I THINK SEVERAL OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH, UM, AND KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS.
UM, AND THEY'LL TAKE ON OUR VIDEO KIOSK SUPPORT, UM, WHICH IS THE PILOT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURTS TO ROLL OUT, UH, IN THE COMING YEAR.
THEY'VE, UH, CONDUCTED NO YEAR RIGHTS TRAININGS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
THOSE ARE BILINGUAL, UH, EVENING TIME, UH, WITH TARGETED OUTREACH AROUND EVICTION HOTSPOTS.
SO THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO THOSE FOR US AND ADMINISTER THE APPEALS BOND PAYMENT FUNDS.
THIS IS REALLY OUR PATHWAY TO LEVERAGING PRO BONO ATTORNEY ASSISTANCE.
SO THEY'LL BE ONBOARDING ONE SPECIFIC ATTORNEY WITH EVICTION CASE EXPERTISE TO KIND OF LEAD THE, THE CHARGE WITH THOSE PRO BONO ATTORNEYS, UM, AND A COORDINATOR TO HELP US AS WELL.
AND, UH, THEY JOIN US AND T R L A ON ALL OF OUR OUTREACH EVENTS.
SO FOR OUR RESIDENT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR WHAT WE CALL WRAP, UM, THIS IS A REALLY EXPANSION OF WHAT YOU SEE UNDER THE RISK MITIGATION FUND.
IT'LL ALLOW US TO HELP FOLKS OUT WHO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO RELOCATE WITH ANY RELOCATION EXPENSES RELATED TO MOVING APPLICATION FEES.
SECURITY AND PET DEPOSITS WE KNOW IS A REALLY BIG ONE, AND IF THEY NEED IT, TEMPORARY LODGING EXPENSES FOR A HOTEL STAY UP TO ABOUT TWO WEEKS WHEN NEEDED, WE CAN PAY THE LANDLORD AN ADDITIONAL MONTH'S RENT.
UH, SOMETIMES THERE IS CONCERN FROM LANDLORDS ABOUT RENTING TO FOLKS WITH AN EVICTION ON THEIR RECORD.
UM, AND WE FIND THAT BEING ABLE TO PAY THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING IN OR, OR STAYING OUT OF AN APARTMENT.
ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO COME THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE THE HOUSING AND FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND BENEFITS NAVIGATION THAT OUR EAP CLIENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVING AND ACCESS TO THOSE VIA BUS PASSES AS WELL.
SO IF THEY NEED THAT FOR THEIR HOUSING SEARCH, UH, WE CAN HELP THEM OUT WITH IT.
IN ORDER TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM, WE'LL BE ONBOARDING THREE RELOCATION CASE MANAGERS AND A FISCAL ANALYST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING OUR REPORTING CLEAN FOR T D H C A.
THOSE FOLKS WILL CONDUCT ALL THE COUNSELING, UM, AND ISSUE ALL OF THE PAYMENTS RELATED TO THOSE MOVING COSTS ISSUE BUS PASSES.
AND ALSO WE'LL BE PAYING FOR OUR DIGITAL CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN, UH, THE MENDIX SYSTEM OR HELPED CLIENTS APPLY BEFORE, UH, THROUGH THAT SYSTEM.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE THAT FOR THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND HERE'S OUR TIMELINE, UH, HERE TODAY.
WE PLAN TO BE AT COUNCIL ON APRIL 7TH FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE DOLLARS.
UH, AND THEN WE WILL INITIATE CONTRACTS WITH T D H C A, UH, AS WELL AS WITH SALSA AND T R L A TO IMPLEMENT THEIR COMPONENTS OF THESE SERVICES.
THIS IS A TWO YEAR GRANT, SO WE EXPECT TO HAVE SERVICES UP AND RUNNING, UH, BY SUMMERTIME, AND, UH, WE'LL KEEP THEM GOING AT LEAST THROUGH, UH, MARCH OF 2024.
A LITTLE CLOSER SHOT OF OUR BUDGET HERE.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, ALMOST ALL OF THE DOLLARS GO TO DIRECT SERVICES THEMSELVES.
UM, WE'RE FAR BELOW OUR 10% ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ON THIS GRANT, WHICH WE'RE PROUD OF.
AND THE NEXT PIECE OF GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE TREASURY DID A SECOND ROUND OF E R A ONE REALLOCATIONS.
SO THIS IS, UM, E R A MONEY THAT CAN BE USED FOR PAYING RENTAL ARREARS, JUST LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING THROUGH THE EHA PROGRAM.
AND IT'S MONEY THAT OTHER CITIES OR COUNTIES HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SPEND.
SO IT'S BEING REALLOCATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CITIES WHO ARE DOING A GOOD JOB, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ONE OF THEM.
SO WE DID GET A SECONDARY AWARD OF ABOUT 4.3 MILLION THAT WE WILL BE USING TO HELP COVER OUR CURRENT BACKLOG OF EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS THAT ARE BEING PROCESSED.
ANYTHING LEFT OVER TO THAT, WE'LL ROLL OVER INTO OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WE SHOULD REOPEN, UH, LATE APRIL, EARLY MAY.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AND IT'S JUST, UM, CERTAINLY REALLY NICE TO HEAR THAT SAN ANTONIO'S DONE
[00:35:01]
SUCH A GOOD JOB THAT, UH, WE GET AWARDED SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS.AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR THOROUGH WORK ON THE APPLICATIONS.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ON SLIDE 10, IT SAYS THAT THE INFUSION OF E R A ONE FUNDS WILL BE FOR CURRENT EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICANTS.
BUT WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PROGRAM? UM, I I, ARE YOU STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS? AND I KNOW YOU JUST COVERED SOMETHING AND I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED, BUT HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOVING PIECES WITH EAP AS YOU ALL UNDERSTAND.
SO THE PORTAL CLOSED ON MARCH 1ST.
UH, VERONICA IS OUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PROGRAM, SO WE'LL INTRODUCE HER IN A SECOND.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, HOWEVER, FOLKS WHO ARE FACING AN EVICTION ARE STILL, UM, ABLE TO CONTACT US.
WE'RE HAPPY TO COACH THROUGH, UM, ANY INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND MAKE REFERRALS, UM, TO OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT DO HAVE DOLLARS.
UM, THESE ARE PRIMARILY IN, UM, THE CONTINUUM OF CARE NETWORK, SO THERE ARE STILL RESOURCES OUT THERE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONNECT FOLKS TO THOSE.
SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS AS PART OF THE RISK MITIGATION THEN, CORRECT? UH, WE'RE CALLING IT THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD, BUT YES, FOR FOLKS WHO IN THE FUTURE FALL BEHIND ON RENT, WE CAN USE THESE DOLLARS TO SUPPLE.
WERE, WAS YOUR COLLEAGUE GONNA SAY SOMETHING? DO YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING? OKAY.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 6,000 APPLICATIONS AND PROCESS RIGHT NOW FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
UM, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION WITH COUNCILWOMAN PIRAN.
YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE THERE AND YOU'RE GONNA BE HEADING THIS PROGRAM.
UM, SO ONE THING THAT I THINK I LEARNED AT THE N L C CONFERENCE OF CONGRESSIONAL CITIES IS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS DOING A LOT OF THINGS REALLY WELL, AND I WANNA CONTINUE BEING THAT SHINY EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THIS NATION.
SO I'M EX I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT WE GOT EXTRA FUNDS, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
BUT I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE BECAUSE WE COULD DO A C C R YOU GUYS, BUT WE COULD ALSO SEND DIRECTION TO YOU, UH, TO THEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO I SEE THE TIMELINE THAT THE LAUNCH IS IN MAY, AND THEN I SEE THAT IN THE BUDGET YOU HAVE OUTREACH AND SUPPLIES.
SO WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR US TO SEE AND CONSIDER HERE IS DOING LIKE HOUSING RIGHTS WEEK, LIKE WE DO RESTAURANT WEEK AND GIVING, IF WE NEED TO GET MORE MONEY TO KIND OF DO AN OUTREACH OR, UM, PUBLICIZE IT, WE EACH DO MAYBE A PRESS RELEASE, UH, FROM OUR COMMITTEE TO KIND OF GET IT OUT THERE SO THEY KNOW THAT IT'S COMING AND THAT THEY KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN ADD ON OR SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PUT IN THE ORDINANCE AS WE MOVE FORWARD? I THINK WE'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOUR OFFICES ABOUT THIS.
ONE THING I WOULD SAY TOO IS THAT, UM, WE'RE SCALING UP OVER THE SUMMER, BUT WE WILL STILL CONTINUE, LIKE WE HAVE THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE OFFERING, OUR MONTHLY KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS THROUGH T R L A, UM, YOU ALL SHOULD BE RECEIVING THROUGH YOUR COUNCIL OFFICES INVITATIONS TO THOSE TO SHARE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE OUT TOO.
UM, BUT YEAH, I THINK WE'D LOVE TO, TO MAKE THIS BIG AND MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE AWARE OF IT.
SO LET'S DEFINITELY WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE MORE, I THINK.
I THINK IF WE MAKE A WEEK LIKE WE DO WITH RESTAURANT WEEK AND OUR OTHER WEEKS AND FIESTA, NOT THAT IT'S GONNA BE AS BIG AS FIESTA.
BUT, UM, I THINK IF WE MAKE IT A WEEK AND WE GET THE PRESS AND OUR COMMITTEE DOES THAT, THAT WE CAN, AND I KNOW MY MARKETING CHAIR WILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY, BUT I THINK WE COULD GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY FOR THE LAUNCH OF THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEN THEY KNOW THAT YOU CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO I LIKE TO LOOK AT DOING THAT AND MAKING SURE IF, UH, WE GET THAT DONE BEFORE.
SO IF YOU CAN SEND ANYTHING TO US, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO WRITE A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT HOUSING RIGHTS AND THEIR OPINIONS.
I THINK WE COULD REALLY DRUM UP THE EFFORTS AND THE GOOD WORK THAT HOUSING IS DOING.
SO WITH THAT, I, UM, I MOVE FORWARD THE HONOR ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT, UH, TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT FUNDS.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN VRAN AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BRAVO.
WE'LL CONTINUE COUNCIL DISCUSSION WITH COUNCILMAN COURAGE, BUT COUNCILMAN, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA AND SO LIKE A ROAD SHOW, SO I'M SO EXCITED.
WELL,
UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS FROM THE STATE ON ELIGIBILITY FOR THAT? SO THE PROGRAM IS LIMITED TO FOLKS BELOW 80% A M I.
UM, THEY DO NEED TO BE FACING AN EVICTION.
UH, THOSE ARE THE TWO PRIMARY GUIDANCES AND THAT ALIGNS WITH THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING THE PROGRAM TO THIS POINT.
I KNOW SOMETIMES WE HEAR THE STATE WANTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE CITIZENS BEFORE MONEY CAN
[00:40:01]
BE SPENT ON THEIR BEHALF.IS THERE ANY RESTRICTION REGARDING THAT MONEY FOR THIS SITUATION? NOT UNDER THESE GRANT FUNDS, NO.
AND IS THAT THE SAME FOR THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM? YES.
UH, I NOTICED, UH, YOU SAID THAT IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND, AND ASK FOR, UH, RELOCATION, NO, IT WASN'T RELOCATION, I GUESS IT WAS JUST YOU SAID THEY NEEDED TO PUT UP A BOND OF, UH, A MONTH'S RENT.
SO IF YOU RECEIVE JUDGMENT AGAINST YOU IN EVICTION COURT, UH, BUT YOU WANT TO APPEAL YOUR CASE, IN ORDER TO FILE THAT APPEAL, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE MONTH'S RENT DIRECTLY TO THE JP COURT.
IS THAT A STATE LAW? UH, I BELIEVE SO.
UH, ARE WE OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE DO THAT THROUGH T R L A? YES.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN DO.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE THE START OF THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM, AND SO FAR WE'VE HAD 86 HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE TAKEN US UP ON THAT.
IT'S FUNDING THAT USUALLY GOES PRETTY QUICK.
UM, BUT IN THOSE CASES, WE'RE ALWAYS ABLE TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, AT LEAST FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.
MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE ABLE TO WORK OUT SOMETHING WITH THEIR LANDLORD AND EITHER STAY OR, OR KEEP THE EVICTION OFF THEIR RECORD.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY WANT TO EXPAND MM-HMM.
UM, YOU MENTIONED, UH, FINANCIAL COUNSELING FOR PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH OUR RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I THINK IT IS, BUT I, I WASN'T SURE IF YOU USED THE WORD WILL OR MUST GO THROUGH.
SO IS THERE A WILL AND MAYBE THEY WILL OR WON'T, OR IS THERE A MUST? THESE ARE REFERRALS WE MAKE.
WE DON'T REQUIRE THEM TO GO THROUGH IT.
A LOT OF FOLKS DO TAKE US UP ON THAT AND, AND WE FIND THAT TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THEM.
THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR AND DIDN'T KNOW.
SNAP AND WIC ARE GOOD EXAMPLES.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE REQUIRE.
WHY DON'T WE REQUIRE THAT CONSIDERING WE'RE PUTTING UP MONEY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FORWARD? I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POLICY QUESTION.
IN THE PAST WHEN, WHEN WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION AMONG STAFF, IT COMES DOWN TO ENFORCEMENT.
UM, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO ENFORCE AND, AND SOMETIMES BURDENSOME FOR FOLKS WHO ARE IN CRISIS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR BASIS COVERED TO ATTEND ADDITIONAL CLASSES OR TRAININGS.
UM, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT COUNCIL'S DIRECTION WE COULD CONSIDER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EXPLORED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE VALUE TO THEMSELVES OF THAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM MAY BE IF WE SUPPORT PEOPLE AND THEY GET IN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY DEFAULT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WELL PREPARED.
AND, UH, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
I RECOGNIZE PEOPLE HAVE BARRIERS AND, AND WE NEED TO WORK TO OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS TO HELP PEOPLE GET THE ASSISTANCE.
BUT, UH, I JUST THINK THAT'S A VALUE.
UM, WITH THIS ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL RELOCATION ASSISTANCE MONEY, UH, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP? SO CONSERVATIVELY MM-HMM.
UM, SO 3000 PEOPLE IF IT'S AN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE.
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS IN IT, DEPENDING ON IF FOLKS NEED HOTEL STAYS, UM, WHAT KIND OF BEDROOM SIZE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN THEIR APARTMENTS.
UM, BUT WE THINK AT MINIMUM A THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS.
UH, I'M WONDERING, IS THERE CURRENTLY A GAP BETWEEN WHAT WE HAD FOR EAP AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING FORWARD WITH? BECAUSE I, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY WE'VE, WE'VE SHUT THAT DOOR RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE REFERRING PEOPLE TO OTHER AGENCIES.
SO IS THERE A GAP AND HOW CAN THAT GAP GET CLOSED SOONER? SO FOR RIGHT NOW, UH, THE EAP APPLICATION PORTAL IS CLOSED, SO WE CAN PROCESS ANY REMAINING APPLICATIONS, UH, AND THEN REOPEN UNDER THE NEW PROGRAM, WHICH WILL FOLLOW THE RISK MITIGATION POLICY GUIDELINES, THOUGH WE WILL CALL IT HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY IN REFERRING OUT TO PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS ST.
VINCENT DEPAUL, SAM, THE, THERE IS A SINGULAR ACCESS POINT TO GET TO THOSE SERVICES, WHICH IS THE D H S HOMELESS CONNECTIONS HOTLINE.
SO ANY CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU HAVE THAT MIGHT NEED THESE SERVICES SHOULD CALL THAT HOTLINE AND GET A REFERRAL TO THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, I JUST ASK, HOW SOON ARE WE GONNA OPEN UP THE NEW PROGRAM, LIKELY AT THE OH AND THE STATE PROGRAM AS WELL? UM, WE SHOULD BE OPENING OUR PORTAL AGAIN, LIKELY LATE APRIL, EARLY MAY.
[00:45:01]
THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.I'M, UH, PLEASED TO HEAR THAT, UH, WITH THESE NEW DOLLARS, UM, THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, UH, TRANSPORTATION TO FOLKS, UH, NEEDING TO GO TO COURT OR ANY APPOINTMENT THAT THEY MAY NEED TO GO TO, UM, AS WELL AS USING FUNDS TO PAY FOR A PET DEPOSIT.
UM, I'VE, UH, SPENT SOME TIME A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH ES ONE MINISTRY TALKING TO FOLKS OUT ON THE STREET.
AND, UM, THE BARRIER THAT THEY FACED RIGHT, IS VERY MINIMAL TO, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD, NOT MINIMAL, UM, NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE PET DEPOSIT, RIGHT.
UM, SO THERE'S ALL THESE BARRIERS THAT EXIST.
UM, SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE VIA BUS PASSES AND COVERING THE PET DEPOSIT, THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT MORE FOLKS TO RESOURCES.
UM, I, I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S BEEN 90% EFFECTIVE IN MITIGATING DISPLACEMENT.
UM, SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO INVEST AS A CITY AND HOPEFULLY EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE FAMILIES THAT ARE AT RISK OF, UH, LOSING THEIR HOME TO THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS SPORTS PROCESS, UM, PROVIDING THEM WITH, UM, SOME REPRESENTATION AT THE COURTS.
UM, BUT A, A AGAIN, RIGHT, I'M GRATEFUL FOR N H S D STAFF, TRALA AND SALSA AS WELL.
UM, WHEN WITH, UM, THE RISK MEDI WITH THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, IT WAS RECALIBRATED, UH, TO, UH, INCLUDE, UH, INTERNET ASSISTANCE WHEN WE RETURN BACK TO NOT THE RISK MITIGATION FUND, BUT NOW THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, WILL THAT INCLUDE, UH, INTERNET, UH, SERVICES AS WELL? SO I'M, I'M SEEING A HEAD NOD.
NO, AND I'M GONNA LET VERONICA ANSWER IT.
I'M VERONICA GONZALEZ, HOUSING ACCESS AND STABILITY ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE UTILITY QUESTION THAT WAS INCLUDED IN EAP, BUT IT'S NOT, UH, GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN UNDER THE RISK MITIGATION POLICY, BUT WE STILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE, PROVIDE UTILITIES UP TO $1,500 WORTH OF ASSISTANCE IN SAWS AND C P S.
I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT AS A COMMITTEE WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, RECALIBRATE, ENSURING THAT IT DOES INCLUDE INTERNET ACCESS, KNOWING NOW THAT IT IS A RESOURCE AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A UTILITY LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, RIGHT.
YOU NEED THAT INTERNET ACCESS.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT REVISITING OF THE, THE HOUSING, THE RISK MITIGATION.
WHAT ARE Y'ALL CALLING IT NOW? SO IT'S, IT'S THE RISK MITIGATION POLICY DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS TRANSITIONED OVER TO AN EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT'LL GO BACK, RE REBRANDED TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, AGAIN, RIGHT, UM, GRATEFUL TO SEE THE WORK THAT Y'ALL PUT IN TO SECURE THOSE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS, BUT RIGHT NOW WITH THE, THE, THE PORTAL CLOSED, IF WE HAVE RESIDENTS CALLING ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE, WHAT NUMBER SHOULD THEY CALL? WHAT WEBSITE SHOULD THEY VISIT TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE GETTING CONNECTED TO THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE? THAT IS ACCESSIBLE RIGHT NOW FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE? IN PARTICULAR? FOR RENTAL IN PARTICULAR, AS YOU KNOW, WE DID CLOSE THE PORTAL MARCH 1ST, BUT IN THE INTERIM, THEY CAN STILL CONTACT US IF THEY NEED ANY ASSISTANCE REGARDING HOU HOUSING OR NON HOUSING RESOURCES.
UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MORTGAGE RENTAL, SORRY, MORTGAGE AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
CLIENTS CONTACT US FOR NON HOUSING RESOURCES, WHETHER IT BE FOOD, UM, MEDICAL, THERE'S OTHER HARDSHIPS OUTSIDE OF COVID.
BUT, UM, WE ALSO ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE, WE CONTINUE OUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
WE HAVE OUR NAVIGATORS OUT AT THE EVICTION COURTS SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING THAT EVICTION HARDSHIP.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR, UH, EV OUR EVICTION INTERVENTION HOTLINE.
YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL US, UH, THAT'S UP ON OUR WEBSITE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE, UM, ASIDE FROM OUR NAVIGATORS, WE, WE STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR WRAP PROGRAM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT AT THE EXPANDED CAPACITY THAT THIS FUNDING WOULD ALLOW.
BUT WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO OUT RIGHT AWAY IF THERE'S ANY RISK THAT A FAMILY MIGHT BE DISPLACED.
SO THAT IS ACTIVE, UM, DESPITE THE PORTAL BEING CLOSED.
AND, AND WE DO PLAN TO REOPEN IT BY A, UH, MID-APRIL.
AND CAN YOU REMIND ME QUICKLY OF THE, THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE BEFORE GOING TO COURT, BEFORE ONE FACES EVICTION? AND, AND I'M SORRY, I DID WANNA ADD, I FORGOT TO MENTION D H SS ALSO HAS THEIR HOMELESS CONNECTIONS HOTLINE, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT THOSE THAT MAY BE DISPLACED.
SO WE ALSO REFERENCE THEM OVER TO, TO THOSE FOLKS.
UM, IF YOU NEED MORTGAGE RELIEF, YOU CAN APPLY TO THE STATE PROGRAM, AND IT'S CALLED A HALF HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, SO FOR RENTERS THAT AREN'T YET AT EVICTION COURT, WHAT RESOURCES ARE
[00:50:01]
AVAILABLE TO THEM TO GET THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, OR RIGHT NOW, SINCE THE PORTAL'S CLOSED, THEY HAVE TO FACE EVICTION COURT? WELL, UM, IN ORDER TO ACCESS RESOURCES, AS SARAH MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A SINGULAR SOURCE THAT'S OUR, OUR, UM, HOTLINE.AND THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND REFERENCE THEM TO WHETHER IT BE A NONPROFIT OR ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY ENTITIES.
BUT WE HAVE LEARNED THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE PROVIDING SOME FORM OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR EXTREME CRISIS CASES.
THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S A, A GOOD IDEA TO INCLUDE OR TO START TO LOOK AT INTERNET.
UM, UH, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, COUNCILWOMAN.
WE'LL GO ON TO COUNCILMAN PER BRAVO.
UH, MY QUESTIONS FOR VERONICA, VERONICA, AND SARAH, I'VE ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL MORNING TO SAY THAT
UM, WOULD ANY OF THESE FUNDS BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS? THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO BE RELOCATED, THEY'RE GONNA NEED ASSISTANCE.
THEY, THEY MIGHT NEED DEPOSITS, THINGS TO THAT EFFECT.
HOW CAN, CAN THIS BE APPLIED IN THOSE SITUATIONS? SO THE FUNDS UNDER THIS PROGRAM ARE LIMITED TO RENTERS.
UM, I KNOW IN THE SITUATION WHERE HOMEOWNERS, UH, ARE IN A A D S D TYPE CODE ENFORCEMENT SITUATION, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WORK WITH THEM TO CONNECT, UH, THEM TO RESOURCES INCLUDING N H S D.
SO SEPARATE PROGRAMS SECOND SEPARATE BUCKET OF MONEY THAT IS NOT THIS, WHICH IS LIMITED TO RENTERS.
WHAT I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT IF, WHAT IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY DEMOLITION AND SOMEBODY'S RENTING THE HOUSE IN THE CASE THAT IT'S RENTING THE HOUSE, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD FALL ACTUALLY UNDER OUR HAP PROGRAM.
UM, BECAUSE THAT DOES COVER, UH, FOR RENTERS EMERGENCY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S THE END OF COUNCIL DISCUSSION, BUT I DO WANNA, UM, JUST KIND OF RECAP SOME OF THE POINTS OF THE, THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
UM, HOUSING RIGHTS WEEK OR ROADSHOW, WHATEVER WE CAN CALL IT.
FAIR HOUSING MONTH IS IN APRIL, UM, AND THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WAS PASSED ON 4 1 1.
SO IT'S VERY, TO ME, IT'S, UH, VERY APPROPRIATE, RIGHT, THAT, UM, WE KINDA STICK TO THE THEME OF, OF INFORMATION AND GETTING INFORMATION OUT.
SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE CAN DO TO ASSIST ON CAPITALIZING ON HOUSING RIGHTS OR ON FAIR HOUSING MONTHS WITH HOUSING RIGHTS WEEK WOULD BE, UH, IMPORTANT TO ME FROM, FROM THE MARKETING PERSPECTIVE.
AND THEN ALSO GOING BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S POINT ON, UM, IN THE INTERNET AS A UTILITY, I GOT SOME INFORMATION EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE A C P, AND THE REASON THAT I BROUGHT IT UP WAS MY PARENTS WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR INTERNET, UH, UH, ASSIST IT, IT KEPT GOING UP THEIR, UM, PAYMENT.
AND SO MY PARENTS ARE IN THEIR EIGHTIES, AND I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN, IN THERE.
SO THEY TOLD ME, CAN YOU CALL? AND SO I CALLED AND I TRIED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANOTHER BUNDLE THAT THEY CAN DO OR SOMETHING.
AND, UM, THAT LADY NEVER OFFERED A C P I KNEW THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE.
AND SO I LET HER GO THROUGH EVERYTHING AND PRETEND SHE WAS TRYING TO FIND THE BEST DEAL FOR MY 80 YEAR OLD PARENTS.
SO AT THE VERY END, I SAID, HEY, ISN'T THERE A PROGRAM AVAILABLE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST SENIORS WITH, UM, THE INTERNET? AND I WAS JUST VERY VAGUE.
AND SHE SAYS, OH, SHE SAYS, THERE IS, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT UNLESS SOMEONE ASKS.
UH, I, YOU COULD IMAGINE EVERYTHING GOING THROUGH MY MIND.
SO, UM, I HAVE A MEETING TODAY WITH SOME OF THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY CAN HELP ME, UH, GET TO SOMEONE.
AND WE WILL BE TRAVELING TO SA TO DC NEXT WEEK.
AND I'M HOPEFULLY GONNA BE A PART OF, UH, A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING WHERE I'M GONNA BRING UP THIS SITUATION BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS ADVOCATES THAT, UM, THAT CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.
AND SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY THAT COUNCILMAN CASTILLO BRINGING THIS HAVE JUST REMINDED ME OF THE EXPERIENCE.
AND I THINK THAT WE, WE PROBABLY SHOULD DO SOMETHING SOONER THAN LATER, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF, OF, OF THAT.
THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND A SECOND IF EVERYBODY COULD PLEASE TAKE A, A VOTE ON THEIR IPADS, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS A HOUSING DASHBOARD.
AND I BELIEVE THIS IS JUST A GENERAL UPDATE, LORI? YES.
THIS IS JUST A GENERAL UPDATE, BUT I DID WANT TO RESPOND TO COUNCIL MC CASTILLO'S REQUEST TO ADD INTERNET.
UM, WE'RE GONNA CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE IF WE CAN ADD, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? I APOLOGIZE.
[00:55:01]
WE'RE GONNA CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE IF WE CAN ADD THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY.UM, WE, WE HEARD FROM THIS COMMITTEE IS THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDED BACK TO THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND IF WE CAN, WE'LL GET BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AND LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THAT.
UM, SO THE NEXT ITEM IS THE HOUSING DASHBOARD.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WE'VE, WE DO HAVE OUR TYPICAL DASHBOARD.
IT GIVES YOU WHAT OUR GOALS WERE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET.
AND I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
UM, FIRST, FOR OUR UNDER ONE ROOF, OUR GOAL IS 450 APPLICATIONS.
WE ARE STILL, UM, ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.
UM, IF YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THIS TYPE OF ASSISTANCE, PLEASE REFER THEM TO OUR HOUSING PROGRAM.
UM, OUR MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM, OUR GOAL IS 175.
WE ARE CURRENTLY VETTING 211 APPLICATIONS AND THAT PROGRAM HAS CLOSED.
IF WE GO THROUGH THOSE 211 AND WE STILL HAVE CAPACITY, WE'LL REOPEN THE PROGRAM.
THIS YOU CAN SEE IS THE AREA OF GREATEST NEED.
WE HAVE 81, UM, OPPORTUNITIES BUDGETED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022, AND WE'VE RECEIVED 518 APPLICATIONS.
SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH THOSE APPLICATIONS AND WE WILL SELECT THE 81.
AND THIS IS WHY THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT.
ONE OF THE MAJOR PRIORITIES IN THAT PROGRAM WAS OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB, AND WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM USING THAT FUNDING.
UM, OUR D H S ENCAMPMENT EVENTS, THESE ARE THE EVENTS WE DO WITH CLEANUP UNDERNEATH THE INTERSTATE.
WE'VE DONE 55 THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN WE'VE SPENT ABOUT ONE POINT $192 MILLION IN OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ASSISTED 160,000 INDIVIDUALS.
UM, OUR EVICTION UPDATE, UM, HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING RIGHT TO COUNSEL LEGAL AID, OUR 1500.
AND THEN OUR COURT TEAM TRACKED OUR RESETS OF 2,600 WITH DISMISSALS OF 2000.
UM, THIS PROGRAM REALLY CAME OUT OF COVID AND THIS PARTNERSHIP, AND IT'LL BE CONTINUING POST COVID AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE EDUCATING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COURTS ON THE SYSTEMS AND THE INCENTIVES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
UM, THE BACKGROUND FOR EACH OF THESE GOALS ARE IN YOUR, UM, IN THIS PACKET.
ONE THING THAT'S NOT IN HERE, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDING IS, UM, HOMELESSNESS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR HOMELESS PARTNERS, UM, TO COME UP WITH SOME GOOD MEASUREMENTS ON HOW TO TRACK THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS, UM, IN SAN ANTONIO.
UM, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, STAFF WILL BE MEETING WITH EACH OF YOU, UM, AND INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE PARTNERS.
THAT INCLUDES, UM, SAM MINISTRIES, HAVEN FOR HOPE, UM, D H SS, WE HAVE CORTISONE CHRISTIAN ACTION MINISTRIES.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, MARK CARMONA, OUR CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER.
WE'RE GONNA MEET WITH YOU ALL AND KIND OF GO THROUGH WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND OUT OF THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXTRACT SOME GOALS YOU'D LIKE US TO TRACK AND WE CAN PLACE SOME ON THIS DASHBOARD.
SO WITH THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON THE DASHBOARD.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES FOR LORI ON THIS ONE? COUNCIL ED CASTILLO, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
UH, THANK YOU LORI, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, I, I KNOW WE'RE ABOUT TO START THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, UH, BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AND I'M HOPEFUL FOR THE HOUSING FUND.
UM, IS THERE A PROJECTED INCREASE THAT WE'RE HOPING TO SEE FOR THE, UH, OWNER OCCUPIED AND HOME REHAB PROGRAMS? UM, WE DID SEE AN INCREASE LAST YEAR BASED ON THE COUNCIL PRIORITY WORK SESSIONS.
UM, WE WILL WORK TO KEEP THAT AT BASE AND THEN OF COURSE, THE HOUSING BOND WILL SUPPLEMENT THOSE EFFORTS.
UM, I, AGAIN, RIGHT WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS HOUSING DASHBOARD, THESE ARE, UH, LIFE SAVING, UH, PROGRAMS THAT OUR CITY HAS.
UH, SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL AGAIN FOR THE WORK THAT, UH, N H S D AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE PUT INTO ENSURING THAT WE INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS TO KEEP, UH, A ROOF OVER FOLKS HEADS.
MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE FINDING OUR COSTS FOR DOING THE ROOF AND THE OTHER REPAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE BEEN GOING UP PRETTY HIGH? AND ARE WE GONNA RUN OUT OF MONEY BELOW OUR EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE OF THAT? HI, COUNCILMAN, UH, IAN BENAVIDEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES.
UM, YES, OVERALL CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
WE TRIED TO PLAN FOR THAT AND ADJUST.
UM, SO I THINK WE ARE, WE ARE, WE'VE A, WE'VE ADJUSTED OUR BUDGETS TO OUR GOALS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
SO THOSE 81 HOMES, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR O O R, WE FEEL WE CAN'T COMPLETE THAT.
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THAT, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR, UM, SHORTAGES IN SUPPLIES, WHETHER IT'S LUMBER, ANY KIND OF ROOFING SUPPLIES.UM, AND WE'RE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WHERE, WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WE CAN MEET THE GOALS THAT WE'VE SET OUT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO KIND OF SEE HOW IT CHANGES, UM, AND JUST CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE MARKET.
ANY OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY, WONDERFUL.
AND THIS IS JUST A, A BRIEFING ITEM SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT
[Consent Agenda ]
AGENDA, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR PATRIOT'S POINT APPLICATION TO THE TAX DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, NON-COMPETITIVE 4% HOUSING TECH TAX CREDITS PROGRAM.UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? WE'VE HEARD THIS ONE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT ANY QUESTIONS OR I GET A MOTION, I'LL MOVE THE APPROVAL.
THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, PLEASE TAKE A VOTE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES TODAY'S MEETING.