* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:01:10] SAN ANTONIO. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU [ PROCEDURAL  ] VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. TIME IS 9:25 AM ON THIS 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2022. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CAVEDA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER PAZ. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. HERE. MAYOR NIERENBERG. HERE. MAYOR. WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALRIGHT, UH, WELL TO BEGIN OUR SESSION TODAY, LET ME TURN THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO FOR APPOINTED OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I'M SORRY, , FOR, FOR, UH, TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. DAVID RODRIGUEZ WAS BORN ON JULY 12TH, 1974. DAVID IS MARRIED TO LAURA RODRIGUEZ. THE TWO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 25 YEARS. DAVID AND LAURA HAVE KIDS AND, UH, HAVE SEVEN KIDS AND 15 GRANDCHILDREN. AT THE EARLY AGE OF NINE, DAVID LEFT HOME. AFTER HIS MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND LIVED ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO, HE MANAGED TO GET HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. AT THE AGE OF 20, HE GOT A JOB MAKING 4 25 AN HOUR, WANTING MORE IN LIFE. DAVID WAS INSPIRED TO DO MORE, SO HE WENT TO TEXAS A AND M ENGINEERING AND GOT HIS DEGREE. A YEAR LATER, DAVID WAS INSPIRED TO OPEN A BUSINESS. SO IN 1997, DAVID GOT HIS STATE LICENSE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1998, STILL WANTING TO IMPROVE HIMSELF. HE ATTENDED TEXAS UNIVERSITY OF THEOLOGY IN 2021, WHERE DAVID RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY. DAVID IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN, UH, ENROLLED AT TEXAS UNIVERSITY OF THEOLOGY, WHERE HE'S WORKING ON HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY AND WILL PURSUE HIS PHD RIGHT AFTER HE HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY. SINCE 2009, DAVID AND HIS FAMILY STARTED REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH AND SPORTS LEAGUES. THEY WORKED WITH THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN FROM THE AGES OF THREE TO 17 AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE LEAGUE CLOSED IN 2020 DUE TO COVID. DAVID HAS BEEN THE PASTOR AT THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE LOCATED AT 1223 SOUTH HAMILTON FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS PRIOR, THE LOCATION WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRUG HOUSES IN THE CASTANO COURTS AREA. THEY NOW SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY BRINGING CHANGE AND UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY. FOR THANKSGIVING, THE STREET WILL BE CLOSED FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WHERE OVER 2,500 PEOPLE WILL BE SERVED A HOT THANKSGIVING MEAL FOR CHRISTMAS. THEY WORK WITH FAMILIES IN THE AREA ALONG WITH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO EVERY CHILD WILL GET A GIFT. THEY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE COUNTS AND EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND THANK YOU PASTOR FOR ALWAYS BEING JUDGE FREE AND WELCOMING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. DAVID AND LAURA WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING IN LIFE, BUT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE TO WANT THE CHANGE. NO ONE SHOULD BE COUNTED OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS IN LIFE. DAVID AND LAURA BELIEVE THAT THERE IS UNITY IN COMMUNITY. IF GOOD PEOPLE DO NOTHING, EVIL WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. THANK YOU DAVID, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR LEADING US IN PRAYER. THANK YOU. IF WE COULD PLEASE ALL STAND. LORD, WE JUST COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING. WE GIVE YOU THANKS BECAUSE WE WOKE UP TODAY. THERE'S BREATH IN OUR LUNGS, FATHER LORD, AS THERE'S GONNA BE BUDGET AND FINANCES DISCUSSED THIS MORNING, LORD, THAT IT WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED PROPERLY, FATHER GOD, WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY, THAT THERE WOULD BE NO HIDDEN AGENDAS. FATHER GOD. LORD I PRAY FOR PEACE ON THIS MEETING LORD, [00:05:01] AND, AND PEACE AND WISDOM WITH THE LEADERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO DISTRIBUTE THAT FATHER GOD. AND WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE JUST TO FILL THIS PLACE. LORD, WE GIVE YOU HONOR AND GLORY AND WE JUST THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS TIME AND THIS DAY THAT YOU GIVE US TOGETHER TO TRY TO BRING UNITY TOGETHER IN THIS COMMUNITY BY SEPARATING AND DIVIDING BUDGETS. HELP US LORD TO SEE PAST THINGS THAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT LOOK FOR CHANGE AND SEEK THE GOODNESS FOR OTHERS. WE JUST GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY AND ALL THE HONOR AND THE NAME OF JESUS. I PRAY WE ALL SAY AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PASTOR. ALRIGHT. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 30TH, 31ST AND SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE MINUTES. OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES IN THE AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR BUDGET HEARINGS TODAY, UH, WE HAVE MANY SPECIAL [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] GUESTS IN OUR AUDIENCE AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BEGIN TODAY WITH RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE'S 75TH BIRTHDAY. AND TO RECOGNIZE THE HONORABLE SERVICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN OUR AIR FORCE HERE IN MILITARY CITY U SS A. WE WANT TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE THE NEARLY 18,000 AIRMEN SERVING AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO. IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO HOST THEM DURING THEIR TOUR IN OUR CITY AND WHILE THEY CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME, I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE APPROXIMATELY 545 CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ALSO SERVING AS MEMBERS OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE OR AIR NATIONAL GUARD AND WHO ARE AIR FORCE VETERANS OR RETIREES. THEY SERVE THEIR COUNTRY HONORABLY AND TODAY THEY SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. I MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE TWO AIR FORCE VETERANS SERVING ON OUR CITY COUNCIL. RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL CLAYTON PERRY, WHO SERVED AS A CIVIL ENGINEER AND REPRESENTS DISTRICT 10 AND A FORMER DEFENDER COUNCILMAN JOHN COURAGE, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT NINE WITH CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE IN 2019, THE US AIR FORCE IS NO LONGER THE JUNIOR SERVICE IN OUR ARMED SERVICES. SINCE THE CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON 18 SEPTEMBER, 1947. AS PART OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947, COURAGEOUS AMERICAN AIRMEN HAVE SKILLFULLY ACCOMPLISHED THE AIR FORCE'S MISSIONS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE EARTH THROUGH THE AIR FORCE'S CORE VALUES OF INTEGRITY FIRST SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO, THESE AIRMEN HAVE SACRIFICED MUCH TO ENSURE THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION'S CITIZENS WHILE SUPPORTING OUR IMPORTANT ALLIES FOR US IN SAN ANTONIO. THE AIR FORCE HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HISTORY AND IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. IN 1910, THEN CA ARMY CAPTAIN BENJAMIN FURLOW CLIMBED ABOARD ARMY, EXCUSE ME, ARMY AIRPLANE NUMBER ONE. AND AT 9:30 AM CIRCLED FORT SAM HOUSTON ATTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET AND A WHOPPING SPEED OF 30 MILES AN HOUR. THAT FLIGHT BECAME KNOWN AS THE BIRTH OF MILITARY FLIGHT AND FLU BECAME THE FATHER OF MILITARY INNOVATION. FORMER KELLY AIR FORCE BASE. NOW, KELLY KELLY FIELD WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT E M KELLY, THE FIRST AMERICAN MILITARY AVIATOR TO LOSE HIS LIFE WHILE PILOTING A MILITARY AIRCRAFT. HE PA HE PERISHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AN AIRCRAFT AT FORT SAM HOUSTON IN MAY OF 1911. AIR POWER DOES INDEED START HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AS EVERY ENLISTED AIRMAN IN THE AIR FORCE BEGINS THEIR CAREER ATTENDING BASIC MILITARY TRAINING OPERATED BY THE 37TH TRAINING WING AT J B SS A LACKLAND. NOT ONLY DO ALL ENLISTED AIRMEN START THEIR CAREERS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALL AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES, PERSONNEL OR DEFENDERS SUCH AS COUNCILMAN, COURAGE AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S MILITARY WORKING DOGS ALSO RECEIVE THEIR SPECIALIZED TRAINING AT J B S A LACKLAND. WE ARE PROUD OF THE AIR FORCE MISSIONS CONDUCTED IN SAN ANTONIO THAT SHAPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AIRMEN AND SUPPORT GLOBAL MILITARY OPERATIONS. WE HOST THE LARGEST JOINT BASE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS COMMANDED BY BRIGADIER GENERAL RUSSELL D DRIGGERS AND SUPPORTS OVER 266 MISSIONS PARTNERS FROM EVERY BRANCH OF THE SERVICE. I WOULD ARGUE WE HAVE AN UNPARALLELED CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY [00:10:01] WITH JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LEADERSHIP. THIS BOND WAS BOTH TESTED AND STRENGTHENED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AS WE BOTH JOINTLY RESPONDED TO THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC AND NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS WINTER STORM URI, AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND, OR A E T C. THE FIRST COMMAND COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL BRIAN ROBINSON IS HEADQUARTERED AT J B S A RANDOLPH. A E T C IS THE PRIMARY AVIATION TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COMMAND IN THE AIR FORCE. THE 16TH AIR FORCE COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL KEVIN B. KENNEDY IS LOCATED AT J B S A LACKLAND AND INTEGRATES MULTI-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE CYBER WARFARE, ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS CAPABILITIES TO ENSURE THAT OUR AIR FORCE IS FAST LETHAL AND FULLY INTEGRATED TO DEFEND OUR NATION. THE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CENTER COMMANDED BY MAJOR GENERAL TROY DUNN, ENSURES COMMANDERS AROUND THE WORLD ARE PROVIDED WITH SKILLED AIRMEN TO CONDUCT THE DEPARTMENT OF AIR FORCE AND JOINT MISSIONS. MANY OF THE AIR FORCE'S CITIZEN AIRMEN PERFORM CRITICAL MISSIONS AND PROUDLY CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. AND THESE UNITS INCLUDE RESERVES FOUR 33RD AIRLIFT WING AND THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARDS 149TH FIGHTER WING. THERE ARE OTHER AIR FORCE MISSIONS EXECUTED IN OUR GREAT CITY AND WE ARE PROUD TO CALL OF ALL OF THEM AND ARE HONORED TO HOST THEM IN OUR CITY. IF YOU'VE DRIVEN UP AND DOWN BROADWAY SOUTHWEST MILITARY IN FRONT OF J B S A LACHLAN, OR EVEN AROUND SEVERAL OF THE J B S A FORT SAM HOUSTON GATES, LATELY, YOU'VE LIKELY SEEN BANNERS HANGING FROM UTILITY POLES COMMEMORATING THE AIR FORCE'S 75TH BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, SPONSORED BY DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, AND DESIGNED BY MR. JAY REYNA FROM THE CITY'S CREATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THESE BANNERS WILL JUST BE DISPLAYED THROUGH THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. FINALLY, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO CELEBRATE THE 75TH BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER AIR FORCE HERE AT MILITARY CITY U S A AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR CITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AIR FORCE'S MOTTO TO FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN AIR POWER ANYTIME, ANYWHERE TO THE NEARLY 690,000 ACTIVE DUTY RESERVE NATIONAL GUARD AIRMEN AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL EVERYWHERE. HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY. JOINING US TODAY FROM THE AIR FORCE IS BRIGADIER GENERAL RUSSELL DRIGGERS. CALL SIGN DIRK, COMMANDER OF THE FIVE OH SECOND AIRBASE WING IN JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO ACCOMPANY BRIGADIER GENERAL DRIGGERS IS HIS WIFE JANET, THE COMMAND CHIEF, MASTER SERGEANT OF THE FIVE OH SECOND AIRBASE, WING AND JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT, K C D BOOMERSHINE AND MEMBERS OF BRIGADIER GENERAL'S DRIGGERS TEAM, BRIGADIER GENERAL DRIGGERS. WELCOME TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD AND PROVIDE REMARKS. THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU AND I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS NOW BECAUSE, SIR, YOU TOOK AWAY JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. I WAS GONNA SAY . UM, BUT, UH, IT WOULD BE, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY A FEW THINGS. IT'S THE 75TH BIRTHDAY OF, UH, THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. I THINK, UH, BOTH CHIEF AND I, UH, HAVE BEEN IN THAT AIR FORCE FOR ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT EXISTENCE. UH, BUT UH, IT, AS I WAS REFLECTING ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND HERE, IT REALLY DOES AMAZE ME ABOUT HOW CLOSE THE TIE IS THAT SAN ANTONIO REALLY DOES HAVE WITH OUR AIR FORCE. FROM THE FIRST POWERED MILITARY FLIGHT WITH BENJAMIN AWA TO GENERAL JOHN PERSHING'S EXPLOITS IN THE FIRST AERO SQUADRON TO, UH, WORLD WAR II. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I GOT TO DO AS COMMANDER WAS TO COMMEMORATE THE STATION 10, UH, UH, SITE DOWN AT KELLY, WHICH COMMEMORATED VOLUNTEERS FROM OF TECHNICIANS FROM KELLY, WHO WENT, UH, OVER TO U UH, EUROPE, WENT OVER TO ENGLAND TO PROVIDE, UH, TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR AIRCRAFT DURING WORLD WAR II. ALL VOLUNTEERS, ALL CIVILIANS, UH, ALL OF THAT HEART OF THE VOLUNTEER AMAZING KIND OF, UH, UH, TESTIMONY TO THE TYPE OF HEART THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS. SAN ANTONIO REALLY DOES REPRESENT THE BEATING HEART OF THE AIR FORCE. AND THIS IS NO BETTER PLACE TO CELEBRATE THE 75TH, UH, BIRTHDAY OF, UH, OF OUR SERVICE. AND WE NEED THIS PARTNERSHIP AND WE NEED THIS NOW MORE THAN EVER, WITH THE THREATS THAT CHINA POSES, WITH THE THREATS THAT RUSSIA POSES. OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE MILITARILY IS THE AIR FORCE TRULY IS. AND THAT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE COMES FROM OUR PEOPLE AND IT COMES FROM OUR PARTNERSHIPS. AND I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THAT, UH, THE VALUE OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS AS, UH, AS THEY DO WHENEVER OUR AIRMEN WALK UP AND DOWN, UH, THE RIVER WALK RIGHT BEFORE THEY GRADUATE AND GO INTO THE AIR FORCE AND ARE GREETED BY SUCH FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN, IN SAN ANTONIO. AND SO THAT, THAT PARTNERSHIP, THAT SENSE OF CAMARADERIE STARTS RIGHT HERE, AND I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER PLACE TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY. SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND, UH, AND CELEBRATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENERAL DRIGGERS. UH, BEFORE WE GET ON WITH THE FORMAL PART OF THE CEREMONY, UH, LET ME TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY AND COUNCIL MEMBER CURTIS FOR REMARKS. THANK YOU, SIR. AND THANK YOU GENERAL DRIGGERS FOR BEING HERE TODAY, ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF. AND, UH, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE MILITARY UNIFORMS HERE IN THIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND, UH, [00:15:01] WISH WE COULD HAVE MORE, BUT EVERYBODY'S BUSY DOING STUFF RIGHT. UH, BUT YEAH, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND AND FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION ABOUT THE 75TH BIRTHDAY OF THE AIR FORCE. I, I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE, UH, WAIT, WE, THE AIR FORCE IS NOT THE BABY AIR, UH, SERVICE ANYMORE. WE GOT THE SPACE FORCE IS NOW THE BABY SERVICE. SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE ADDED BENEFIT TO THAT. BUT, UM, I HAD THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF SERVING ALMOST 21 YEARS AND RETIRING RIGHT THERE AT RANDOLPH. AND, UM, I, I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME IN THE AIR FORCE AS, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THE SERVICE TODAY, PARTICULARLY THE AIR FORCE, YOU SEE THE PRIDE, THE ENTHUSIASM, AND THE, THE, THE, THE CHARACTER AND THE, I MEAN, THE EXPERTS THAT ARE IN THE AIR FORCE NOW, UH, OPERATING, MAINTAINING, FLYING. UM, IT, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A DECLINE AND WHAT HAVE YOU. I, I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY. WE GOT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN THE SERVICE AND I'M PROUD, PROUD TO BE, HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT. YOU KNOW, UH, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS. YOU HAVE THE MAYOR SAID A LOT OF THINGS THAT, UH, ECHO DEEP ACROSS THIS CITY AND, AND IT'S THAT BOND BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND THIS CITY THAT, UH, KEEPS US GOING. AND WE'RE PROUD. I MEAN, WE HAVE OVER 500,000 VETERANS HERE IN, IN THIS AREA HERE, SO THAT, THAT, THAT BLOOD RUNS DEEP HERE IN, IN SAN ANTONIO. AND, AND AS THAT FIRST MILITARY FLIGHT HERE, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, THEY ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN A RIGHT FLYER HERE AT FORT SAM AND THEY FLEW ONE, UH, CIRCLED, CIRCLED THAT SAME PATH UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER 'CAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT WINDY THAT DAY. BUT I WAS OUT THERE AND IT WAS MAGNIFICENT TO SEE THAT, TO RECREATE THAT HISTORY AND UNDERSTAND HOW FAR THE AIR FORCE HAS COME OVER, OVER, WELL AT THAT TIME, OVER 100 YEARS. UM, SO YEAH, THIS IS GREAT TO HAVE Y'ALL HERE. UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE AIR FORCE. UH, I HAVE THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR ALL THE OTHER SERVICES, BUT YEAH, THE AIR FORCE IS DEEP IN MY HEART HERE, DEEP IN MY HEART HERE IN TEXAS. SO AGAIN, I WANNA, UH, SAY THE AIR FORCE MOTTO TO FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN AIR POWER ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, SIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, GENERAL AND MASTER SERGEANT FOR BEING HERE. IT'S REALLY AN HONOR WHENEVER WE CAN RECOGNIZE THE WORK, UH, THE DEDICATION, THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU AND ALL OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE PERSONNEL ARE DOING AROUND THIS COUNTRY, BUT PARTICULARLY HERE IN MILITARY CITY U S A, UH, YOU KNOW, CELEBRATING YOUR 75TH BIRTHDAY, UH, HITS CLOSE TO HOME. 'CAUSE WE'RE ALMOST THAT AGE OURSELVES. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALMOST REMEMBER THE BEGINNING, BUT ACTUALLY, NO, I, I CAME TO SAN ANTONIO AS A RECRUIT FOR THE AIR FORCE 51 YEARS AGO. AND SO THE INFLUENCE THAT THE AIR FORCE HAD ON MY LIFE HAS BEEN FOR 51 YEARS SINCE THEN. UH, AND I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF INFLUENCE THAT THE MILITARY, NO MATTER WHAT BRANCH YOU SERVE IN, HAS ON THE LIVES OF EVERYBODY WHO'S STEPPED FORWARD AND WANTED TO SERVE THIS NATION. I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT I LEARNED IN THE MILITARY, WHAT IT HELPED ME BECOME TODAY. AND I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE CONTINUING WORK AND EFFORT THAT ALL OF THE AIRMEN, ALL OF THE OFFICERS, ALL OF THE CIVILIANS WHO WORK TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY ARE DOING TO DEFEND THIS NATION AND TO MAKE US, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST, MOST PRODUCTIVE MILITARIES IN THE WORLD. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY AND FOR US TO CELEBRATE THIS WITH YOU, UH, MANY MORE YEARS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, GROWING AND LEARNING AND DEVELOPING OUR AIR POWER AND PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. I'LL TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO TIM VER GOOD MORNING. AS THE, UH, THE CAKE AND SABRE WILL NOW BE BROUGHT FORWARD, AIRMEN AND ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO INCLUDE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO EMPLOYEES, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FORM UP BEHIND MAYOR NUREMBERG AND BRIGADIER GENERAL DRIGGERS. DON'T BE SHY. IF YOU'RE A AIR FORCE VETERAN OUT IN THE CROWD, PLEASE COME FORWARD, MS. DIANE. AND IF YOU SEE AN IMAGE OF THE CAKE THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BANNER THAT MAYOR NUREMBERG REFERENCED DURING HIS COMMENTS. OKAY. TRADITIONALLY, REGARDLESS OF [00:20:01] LOCATION, SOLDIERS WILL PAUSE, OR AIRMEN IN THIS CASE WILL OBSERVE, UH, TO OBSERVE THEIR BIRTHDAY BY SHARING A CAKE, A SWORD OR SABRE IS USED TO CUT THE CAKE AS A REMINDER THAT AIRMEN ARE A BAND OF WARRIORS COMMITTED TO CARRYING THE SWORD SO THAT OUR NATION MAY LIVE IN PEACE. MAYOR BERG AND BRIGADIER GENERAL DRIGGERS WILL NOW PROVIDE A CEREMONIAL CUTTING OF THE CAKE , OF COURSE. AND THE EMBLEMATIC OF THE UNOFFICIAL AIR FORCE MOTTO IS, UH, AIR POWER IS THE KEY TO FLEXIBILITY. SO WHEN YOUR CAKE MURAL, UH, BENDS IN THE MIDDLE, WE HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE. SO THE FIRST PIECE OF CAKE IS PRESENTED TO THE OLDEST AIRMAN IN THE COMMAND, SIGNIFYING THE HONOR AND RESPECT ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCE AND SENIORITY. REPRESENTING THE OLDEST AIRMAN TODAY IS COLONEL CHARLES MONTOYA, SENIOR CHAPLAIN AT JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO. SYMBOLICALLY, THE ELDEST AIRMAN PRESENTS AND PASSES A PIECE OF CAKE TO THE YOUNGEST AIRMAN PRESENT. JUST AS FOR YEARS, OUR EXPERIENCED AIRMEN HAVE NURTURED AND LED YOUNG AIRMEN THAT WILL FILL THE RANKS AND RENEW THE BRANCH. THE YOUNGEST AIRMEN PRESENT TODAY IS AIRMAN FIRST CLASS CHARLA CLAYTON, WHO IS NOW INVITED TO TAKE A BITE TO THAT DELICIOUS CAKE. , TODAY'S AIRMAN HAVE PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC, NATURAL DISASTERS AND SUPPORTING CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS AROUND THE WORLD. THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND ITS AIRMEN, CIVILIANS, AND FAMILIES ARE READY TO LIVE THE AIR FORCE MOTTO, FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN AIR POWER ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, AS THEY DEFEND AMERICA AROUND THE CLOCK EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. HAPPY 75TH AIR FORCE BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. THANK YOU. UM, BEFORE YOU CAN, MAYBE JUST OVER HERE. ALL RIGHT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONCE AGAIN TO THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. ON THE 16TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1810, FATHER MIGUEL HIDALGO GAVE THE FAMOUS CALL THAT BECAME KNOWN AS ELTO DE DOLORES. THE CALL WAS FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM ME, FROM SPANISH RULE SEEKING FREEDOM, LIBERTY, AND EQUALITY FOR ALL CITIZENS OF MEXICO, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO, A PART OF SPAIN AT THE TIME. SINCE 1825, D A C C DE HAS BEEN CELEBRATED AS MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY. ON JUNE 16TH, 1994, THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THE D A C C'S COMMISSION COMMISSION TO CREATE AND ENCOURAGE NEW ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE THE CITY'S LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH MEXICO. SINCE THEN, THE COMMISSION HAS PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED AN ANNUAL CALENDAR OF COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE OUR SHARED CULTURE AND HISTORY. THIS YEAR'S FIESTA PATS SAN ANTONIO CALENDAR EVENTS, A CELEBRATION OF D A SS A AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH KICKS OFF WITH TONIGHT'S ELTO CULTURAL PROGRAM AND CIVIC CEREMONY AT MARKET SQUARE [00:25:01] AT 6:00 PM HOSTED IN THE BY THE MEXICAN CONS OF SAN ANTONIO FIESTA. PATS COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE THE CONSULATE MEX GENERAL OF MEXICO, AND SAN ANTONIO LULAC, THE AVENUE GUADALUPE QUAL ASSOCIATION, GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, THE SAN ANTONIO CHARO ASSOCIATION IN LA FAMILIA CORTEZ ACTIVITIES CON CONTINUE THIS WEEKEND WITH THE ELTO WEEKEND AT MARKET SQUARE, THE 41ST ANNUAL D S C S SEPTEMBER PARADE AT TATA FOLKLORIC DANCE PERFORMANCES MARIACHI FESTIVAL, AND A SYMPOSIUM AT ST. TRINITY UNIVERSITY. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURES WEBSITE@SANANTONIO.GOV SLASH ARTS. AND MOST EVENTS ARE FREE AND ALL OF THEM ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY. I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING SEVERAL OF THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND I INVITE ALL OF SAN ANTONIO TO DO THE SAME. TODAY WE COMMEMORATE THIS HISTORICAL EVENT BECAUSE OF ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO SAN ANTONIO, AND WE CELEBRATE STRENGTHENING THE HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES THAT CONTINUES TO BRING CULTURAL ENRICHMENT TO OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO HONORING THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS OF FIESTAS, PATIA THOSE PRESENT TODAY. IF I COULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU. EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH FIESTA RIOS, PLEASE STAND UP. MEMBERS INCLUDE MARIA SANDOVAL ALA LU GALVAN, BELINDA MENCHACA, LUPE TORRES, GABRIEL VELAZQUEZ, ROBERT QUAR, CONNIE RODRIGUEZ, AND MUNDO RIOS, JEREMY LANDON, JOSE RODRIGUEZ, AND ROBERTO ROMO. UH, ALSO I AM TOLD LOUIS ESNO IS HERE, IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO MEXICO FRIENDSHIP COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LOUIS. I'LL NOW READ THE SAN ANTONIO PROCLAMATION TO HONOR. DSS SAYS VIVA MEXICO, WHERE HIS HISTORY RECORDS, EXCUSE ME, WHERE HISTORY RECORDS SHOW THAT FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE ARE ATTAINED BY THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PEACE-LOVING INDIVIDUALS AT A GREAT TIME OF SACRIFICE, AND OFTEN AFTER YEARS OF TURMOIL. AND ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1810, AFTER YEARS OF STRIFE, DON MIGUEL IAGO DE COSTILLA INITIATED THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, WHICH SPARKED THE BEGINNING OF MEXICO'S BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN. AND WHEREAS TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MEXICO'S DAY OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ESTABLISHED THE A C C BERRY COMMISSION. AND WHEREAS THE COMMISSION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE AND CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT WILL HOST A SERIES OF CULTURAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO COMMEMORATE THIS IMPORTANT DAY IN MEXICO'S HISTORY. NOW, THEREFORE, OUR RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2022 TO BE D A C CES DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. SO I WANT TO NOW TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK OUR CONS GENERAL, WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO OUR CITY AND TO MY FAMILY, AND, UH, RUBEN DUI AND HIS STAFF FOR JOINING US TODAY. IN ADDITION TO THE CONS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WITH US ROBERTO RAAS, DEPUTY CONSUL GENERAL DIEGO ARMENT, ARMENTA, CONSUL OF POLITICAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. SO, RUBEN, UH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO, UH, UH, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE IN THESE CHAMBERS. UH, THERE'S VERY LITTLE FOR ME TO SAY, BUT THANK YOU. AFTER THAT AMAZING, UH, UH, VERY, UH, UH, PRECISE AND BRIEF MESSAGE THAT THE MAYOR SENT. I, I ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA ASK FOR THOSE LINES TO, TO PROMOTE, UH, FOR TONIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECT, UH, EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. SO WE INVITE YOU, I JUST, UH, UM, AGAIN, INVITE YOU ALL TO THIS PUBLIC EVENT. UH, WE'RE HONORED THAT, UH, THIS CITY, UH, THIS, UH, COUNCIL, IT'S HONORING THE COMMISSION. UH, THE C SAYS, UH, WHICH IS, UH, A GREAT INSTITUTION. UH, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY AYALA AND, UH, THE WHOLE, UH, COMMISSION. OF COURSE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AIR FORCE. UH, BY THE WAY, IT WAS, UH, UH, UH, A VERY, UH, UH, UM, PLEASANT COINCIDENCE, UH, TO, UH, CELEBRATE TOGETHER. SO RITO, UH, UH, SAN ANTONIO TODAY, IT'S A PUBLIC, UH, EVENT THAT, THAT WE WILL LOVE YOU TO JOIN US. WE'RE GONNA HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THE MAJOR MENTIONED. IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, AND WE ARE HONORED TO CELEBRATE EVERY YEAR IN THIS CITY. UH, THIS WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST CITIES THAT WE STARTED WITH THIS CELEBRATION. THANK YOU TO OUR, UH, UH, SPONSORS, TO OUR ALLIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE CITY ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE. UH, AND THANK YOU TO SHERRY, UH, AND TO, UH, UH, THE MAJOR FOR EVERY, UH, UH, UH, PIECE OF SUPPORT IS AMAZING. HOW, UH, HOW MUCH SUPPORT WE GET FROM YOU FROM SIX, UH, 30 ON. AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO ELTO CEREMONY, THE CIVIC CEREMONY. AT EIGHT O'CLOCK. WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT LIVE AND BROADCASTED, UH, THROUGH DIFFERENT, UH, MEDIAS. AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH, UH, AND, UH, AGAIN, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [00:30:01] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REUBEN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU TONIGHT AS WELL. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. UH, ALONG WITH THE THEME FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, THE DIVERSE TRADITIONS, STORIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC PEOPLE AND ARE CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FOR A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO. THIS MONTH LONG CELEBRATION PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE INFLUENCE HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE HAD ON THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND PROGRESS OF SAN ANTONIO, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THE NATION. TO THOSE VISITING SAN ANTONIO, ENJOY ALL THE BACK-TO-BACK CELEBRATIONS THAT NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY, BUT REMIND US OF THE BEAUTY AND STRENGTH OF OUR HERITAGE TO OUR RESIDENTS. THIS IS A TIME TO BE PROUD AND REMEMBER WHY WE ARE SUCH A UNIQUE CITY. THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH AND INTO OCTOBER, THE CITY, THE CONSULATE OF MEXICO AND VARIOUS NON-PROFIT AND BUSINESS GROUP ORGANIZATIONS WILL HAVE CURATED AND FUN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL TO ENJOY ALMOST ALL WEEK AND EVERY WEEK, INCLUDING WAYS TO GIVE BACK. SO LET US REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC CHANGE MAKERS PAST AND PRESENT, WHO HAVE SET THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION AND WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SAN ANTONIO'S SUCCESS AND PLACE ON THE WORLD STAGE. MOREOVER, LET US BUILD UP OUR NEIGHBORS AND THOSE LATINO LEADERS THAT CONTINUE TO THE GOOD FIGHT TO AID OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND ENSURE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL. LET US ALSO MAKE A POINT TO SUPPORT OUR HISPANIC LED BUSINESSES AND REMEMBER THE, THE LOVE AND FAMILY AND FAITH THAT IS AT THE CORE OF SO MANY HISPANIC COMMUNITIES. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR BEING PRESENT TODAY. THIS MORNING WE HAVE PRESIDENT AND C E O MARINA GON GONZALEZ, ALONG WITH MARTINE GUTIERREZ, DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND BUSINESS ADVOCACY. PLEASE, Y'ALL STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY KICK OFF OUR OBSERVATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BY READING A PROCLAMATION TO MARK THE OCCASION, WHEREAS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WILL BE OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION, SEPTEMBER 15TH, OCTOBER 15TH, 2022, TO HONOR THE IMPORTANT PRESENCE OF HISPANIC AND LATINO AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES AND CELEBRATE THEIR HERITAGE AND CULTURE. AND SINCE OUR NATION'S FOUNDING HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED INTEGRAL ROLES IN THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND TRADITIONS OF AMERICA, AND MANY OF OUR CUSTOMS ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN HISPANIC AMERICANS COMMITMENT TO FAMILY, DEVOTION TO COMMUNITY, AND DEDICATION TO LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY. AND WHEREAS HISPANIC AMERICANS CONTINUE TO PLAY INCREASINGLY VITAL ROLES IN OUR ECONOMY AND THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND INTENSE WORK ETHIC HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING OUR COUNTRY A WORLD LEADER. AND WHEREAS THE 2022 THEME, UNIDOS INCLU INCLUSIVITY FOR A STRONGER NATION ENCOURAGES US TO ENSURE THAT ALL VOICES ARE REPRESENTED AND WELCOMED TO HELP BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND A STRONGER NATION. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NURENBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND RECOGNITION THEREOF DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH, 2022, TO BE NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND COMMEND ALL WHO OBSERVE THE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE OF HISPANIC AMERICANS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. NOW LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS THIS MORNING. I WAS, UM, DRIVING AND GOT HIT BY A CAR THAT CAME IN FROM THREE LANES AWAY. UM, SO IN A LITTLE BIT I WILL HAVE TO STEP OUT AND REPORT A CLAIM. UH, BUT TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO HONOR, UH, FORMER COUNCILMAN JOE WEBB. UM, ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, A LITTLE UNDER ONE YEAR AGO, UM, HE PASSED. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I WANNA HONOR HIM BECAUSE HE SERVED OUR DISTRICT FOR 14 YEARS, TWO DISTRICT TWO FOR 14 YEARS, AND WAS THE LONGEST SERVING COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT ONLY IN IN DISTRICT TWO, BUT IN OUR CITY. HE WAS THE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTED TO DISTRICT TWO UNDER SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS, AND WILL BE REMEMBERED AS SOMEONE WHO LENT A COMPASSIONATE HELPING HAND TO MANY FAMILIES. AND HE FOUGHT FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CRITICAL FUNDING FOR EAST SIDE PROJECT. AND HIS LEGACY CONTINUES. AND HE HAS LOVED AND HONORED BY MANY. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT 77 COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DISTRICT TWO SINCE HIM. UM, AND I THINK WE ALL TRY TO EMULATE HIS IMPACT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SEND LOVE AND LOVE TO HIS FAMILY. AND MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM AND HIS SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, UH, NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAGRA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. I HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TODAY FOR DE OH, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. [00:35:26] THANK, THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS ORTIZ FOR THE BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE. THAT WAS CHRIS ORTIZ. UH, THIS WAS A, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING OUR CULTURE, IT'S ABOUT USING OUR VOICES. UH, FOR TODAY, MY POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, OUR GUESTS ARE THE ACTORS. JOSE, THE, THE HOYOS, ANDREA DANIELA, CRYSTAL BRATTON OF THE HIT PLAY AMERICAN MARIACHI. THEY ARE HERE WITH THEIR DIRECTOR, UH, AND THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE, OF THE, UM, SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC THEATER, CLAUDIA DESCO. WE ARE TELLING A STORY. WE ARE CHANGING THE NARRATIVE. ART HEALS, ART STARTS CONVERSATIONS, AND YOU GUYS ARE DOING THAT TODAY. UM, THE PLAY WAS WRITTEN BY JOSE CRUZ GONZALEZ. UM, IT IS BASED IN THE 1970S, BUT CLAUDIA HAS MADE TO MAKE A SAN ANTONIO TWIST, AND I AM SUPER EXCITED TO SEE IT THIS WEEKEND. I KNOW SOME OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY VIEWED THE PLAY, AND SO I JUST WANT THEM, UM, TO COME UP AND LET US KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT THE PLAY AND IF, IF WE HAVE LOTS OF BIRTHDAYS IN THE BUILDING, IF Y'ALL WANNA HELP WITH THAT, Y'ALL CAN TOO. . THANK YOU, . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PUBLIC THEATER OF SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE HOUSED AT THE SAN PEDRO PLAYHOUSE. THE PUBLIC THEATER OF SAN ANTONIO IS THE OLDEST FUNDED, MUNICIPALLY FUNDED AND BUILT THEATER IN THE COUNTRY, AND ALSO OUR OLDEST THEATER AND LONGEST PRODUCING THEATER IN SAN ANTONIO. WE ARE ALSO THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL ACTORS, EQUITY THEATER IN THE CITY, PRODUCING PROFESSIONAL WORK, CREATING JOBS FOR LOCAL CREATIVES. THIS IS YOUR THEATER. AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THE CITY'S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO KEEP US PRODUCING DIVERSE WORKS THAT UNITE OUR CITIZENS AND BRING US TOGETHER THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE OF THEATER. AS A NEW LEADER, I'VE BEEN HERE A YEAR NOW, I'M WORKING TO CONNECT THE THEATER MORE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE CULTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND AMERICAN MARIACHI DOES JUST THAT. IT IS THE FIRST LATINX WRITTEN PLAY IN OUR A HUNDRED YEAR HISTORY EVER TO BE PRODUCED BY OUR THEATER COMPANY AND THE FIRST PLAY WITH AN ALL LATINX CAST IN THAT A HUNDRED YEAR HISTORY AS WELL. SO IT IS A HUGE MILESTONE. WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE ALSO CELEBRATE FIESTAS OUR CONNECTION WITH MEXICO, WITH SAN ANTONIO'S CULTURE. WE HAVE OUR ACTORS HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE BEING IN THE SHOW. AND THEN I, I DO THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE TO SING MANITA FOR ALL THOSE BIRTHDAYS IN THE ROOM. THANK YOU. HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL BRATTON. I PLAY SOLA, UH, RENA IN AMERICAN MARIACHI. I AM A NATIVE SAN ANTONIO, AND I WENT TO HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE. UH, I DID MARIACHI ALL THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN, UM, I ENDED UP GOING TO SCHOOL IN CONNECTICUT. AND SO, UM, THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF MARIACHIS THERE, SO I KIND OF FOCUSED ON THEATER. AND NEVER IN MY LIFE DID I THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO BE A PERFORMER IN A PLAY AS SOMEBODY IN MY CULTURE AND AS SOMEBODY WHO PLAYS THE ELA, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE INSTRUMENT I'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR 30 YEARS. SO, UH, WHEN I SAW THE AUDITION NOTICE FOR THE PUBLIC, I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING I I HAD TO DO EVEN THOUGH, UM, I ACTUALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN OTHER PURSUITS NOW. AND SO, UM, I AUDITION K CLAUDIO CAST ME, AND, UM, IT HAS BEEN THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE TO WORK WITH THIS CAST, TO WORK AT THIS THEATER, TO BE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS A PLACE THAT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME AS A MARIACHI PLAYER AND TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A CHARACTER WHO LEARNS THE VIOLA ON STAGE. SO, UH, WE JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EDOS AND I AM ALSO A NATIVE SAN ANTONIO, AND I AM A GRADUATE OF JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL. AND I AM A CURRENT TEACHER, UH, OF 29 YEARS AT, UH, CAST STEM HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHWEST I S D. UH, I TEACH THEATER. AND, UH, I NEVER, MY LIFE THOUGHT I'D BE DOING PROFESSIONAL THEATER. I, YOU KNOW, I, I ALWAYS TELL MY STUDENTS, PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH, AND HERE I AM PREACHING IT AND DOING IT. UH, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T THINK THAT THERE WERE, THERE WAS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AS AN ACTOR TO DO SOMETHING HERE IN TOWN. YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS SEE YOURSELF AS CERTAIN ROLES OR CERTAIN CHARACTERS, AND YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, THAT'S NOT ME. AND I THINK THAT, UH, THE VISION THAT WE SEE GOING FORWARD IS, IS SPEAKS HIGHLY TO WHO WE ARE AS, AS ARTISTS IN SAN ANTONIO AND, AND, AND THE COMMUNITY AT, AT LARGE. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE SEEING A SHIFT, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE TELLING STORIES AND WE'RE SEEING, UH, A COMMITMENT [00:40:01] TO WHAT IS SAN ANTONIO. AND I THINK THAT WE, UH, APPLAUD AND WE RECOGNIZE AND WE, AND WE ELEVATE THOSE VOICES THAT ARE HERE. SO, UM, WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME IN AND BE PART OF THIS CELEBRATION AND, AND, YOU KNOW, COME SEE US. . HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANDREA DANIELLA. I'M ACTUALLY PLAYING THE LEAD ROLE IN THIS AMERICAN MARIACHI WITH LUCHA. AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO TELL THIS STORY BECAUSE I MYSELF, JUST LIKE CRYSTAL AM ALSO A PROFESSIONAL MARIACHI. I'VE BEEN PLAYING MARIACHI SINCE I WAS A VERY YOUNG GIRL. SO THE STORY RESONATES WITH ME ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. UM, I'M ACTUALLY FROM HOUSTON. I'M NOT FROM SAN ANTONIO, BUT I HAVE A VERY CLOSE TIE TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THERE IS A MARIACHI EXTRAVAGANZA THAT TAKES PLACE HERE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND I AM A FORMER WINNER OF THAT COMPETITION, UM, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO SAN ANTONIO HAS SUCH DEEP ROOTS WITH MARIACHI, AND I LOVE THAT ABOUT THIS CITY. SO TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THIS AND TO MARRY ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL ARTS TOGETHER, UM, I'VE ALSO STUDIED THEATER AND OPERA. SO FOR, TO BE ABLE TO BRING MARIACHI TO THIS WORLD AND TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH EVERYONE IN SAN ANTONIO AND JUST TELL JUST A BEAUTIFUL STORY. THIS CAST IS AMAZING. THANK CLAUDIA FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT'S JUST BEEN AWESOME TO MAKE HISTORY . WE HEAR IT'S FRED'S BIRTHDAY AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER BIRTHDAYS COMING UP, THE AIR FORCE AND THE AIR FORCE. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SING LAS MANITA. WE DON'T HAVE OUR MARIACHI BAND, BUT WE, WE CAN DO IT ACAPELLA. SO, AND IF, IF YOU KNOW THE SONG, PLEASE JOIN US. PLEASE JOIN US. YES, WE'RE DOING THE LONGER VERSION, NOT THE CUTE LITTLE ONE THAT THE KIDS GET. JUST WARNING YOU. , YOU WANNA START IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO SEE THE SHOW WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. IT'S A FANTASTIC PRODUCTION. I'LL NOW, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO, UM, THE, THE CAST OF, UH, AMERICAN MARIACHI. Y'ALL TAKE TISSUES. I CRIED THE WHOLE TIME, SO JUST, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST MY TIP FOR, FOR THE DAY. UM, BUT THIS MONTH, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS RECOGNIZED AS A WORLD ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH. SO THIS MORNING I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THE SENIOR SERVICES DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE RESOURCES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES THEY PROVIDE RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S AND FOR TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AS CAREGIVERS. JOINING US TODAY IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH TEXAS CHAPTER, SOUTH TEXAS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER, UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, GLEN BIGGS INSTITUTE FOR ALZHEIMER'S, AND, UM, UH, ALZHEIMER'S AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES, AND ACOG, AS WELL AS OUR D H S STAFF, YOLANDA PEREZ AND, AND DEBRA CORADO. DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CHALLENGE THE STIGMA THAT PERSISTS AROUND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND ALL TYPES OF DEMENTIA. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S STILL QUITE A FEW MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DEMENTIA, INCLUDING THE BELIEF THAT IT IS A NORMAL PART OF AGING. THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY THERE'S SEVERAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING IN JUNE, SEPTEMBER, AND NOVEMBER. WE NEED TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION AND INCREASE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. DEMENTIA IS A DEGENERATIVE BRAIN CONDITION THAT AFFECTS MORE THAN 50 MILLION PEOPLE INTERNATIONALLY, AND WHICH ROBS A PERSON OF THEIR MEMORY, COMPETENCY, COMPREHENSION, AND BEHAVIORAL AWARENESS, USUALLY SLOWLY AND OVER THE YEARS, THIS CAN BE A CHALLENGING CONDITION TO LIVE WITH OR TO WITNESS IN A LOVED ONE. THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 FORMS OF DEMENTIA, THE MOST COMMON BEING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AT 50 TO 60% OF EVERY DEMENTIA CASE. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR, [00:45:01] NO DEMENTIA, NO ALZHEIMER'S CONTINUES ON FROM THE 2021 CAMPAIGN, WHICH FOCUSED ON DIAGNOSIS, THE WARNING SIGNS OF DEMENTIA, AND THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF C OVID 19 ON OUR COMMUNITY THIS YEAR. THE CAMPAIGN ALSO INCLUDES A SPECIAL FOCUS ON POST-DIAGNOSIS SUPPORT FOLLOWING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND POTENTIAL BREAKTHROUGHS IN BOTH DEMENTIA TREATMENT AND SUPPORT. THAT CAMPAIGN WILL AIM TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND FAMILIES FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS. THE ORGANIZATIONS JOINING US THIS MORNING FORM PART OF OUR LOCAL EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND OFFER SUPPORTS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAR SPEARHEADING SEVERAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING ANNUAL WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S TAKING PLACE ON OCTOBER THE 15TH AT SIX LEGS, THE TWENTY FOUR SEVEN HELPLINE AND THE VIRTUAL PHONE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP ARE ALSO OTHER EXAMPLES OF SUPPORT PROVIDED TO OUR RESIDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S WHEN A DISEASE LIKE THIS AFFECTS US PERSONALLY THROUGH A LOVED ONE, LIKE A PARENT OR A GRANDPARENT, THAT WE THEN REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET INFORMATION FROM TRUSTED PROFESSIONALS AND GET THE SUPPORT THAT OUR CAREGIVERS NEED. THAT'S WHY I WANNA THANK THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL BE TAKING PART IN OUR UPCOMING WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY PRESS CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AND THE DISTRICT FOUR ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA AWARENESS AND RESOURCE FAIR AT THE WILLY CORTEZ SENIOR CENTER ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 24TH. THE FREE EVENT WILL INCLUDE THREE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, CAREGIVER SUPPORT, AND BENEFIT NAVIGATION. I'VE HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR CALL TO ASK FOR SUPPORT AS THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AS CAREGIVERS. THANK YOU TO THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT. ALSO, FROM THE SENIOR SERVICES DIVISION FOR HELPING ORGANIZE THE EVENT REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE OUR RESIDENTS WITH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION. I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE PROGRAMS LIKE SENIORS IN PLAY, FOUNDED BY AWARD-WINNING TONY, ACTOR, TONY ANA, AND EFFECTIVE WAYS OF KEEPING OUR SENIORS ENGAGED WITH IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES THAT PROMOTE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH. THE PROGRAM YOU UTILIZES PERFORMING ARTS TO DEVELOP SENIOR CITIZENS' WELLBEING AND HELP THEM MAINTAIN COGNITIVE HEALTH WITH A FOCUS ON PLAYFUL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE VITALITY IS THE KEY. OUR SENIOR CENTERS ATTRACT RESIDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY CAN BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND PROGRAMMING THAT HELP THEM LEAD HEALTHY AND, UH, LONG LIVED LIVES. THANK YOU TO ALL THE DEDICATED STAFF AT THE SENIOR CENTERS, ALSO ACROSS THE CITY, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU ALL, UH, WHO ARE HERE IN RECOGNITION TODAY. PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE COULD GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND THANKS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA MAY RECOGNIZE NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WITH THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON MONDAY, THE EXPRESS NEWS HIGHLIGHTED JOHN SS THE ARTICLE TITLED, BEST LITTLE GUY. JOHN IS THE OWNER OF JOHN'S INSPECTION STATION ON SOUTH FLORES, RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF DISTRICT FIVE AND DISTRICT THREE AROUND THE DISTRICT FIVE COMMUNITY. JOHN IS KNOWN FOR HIS LOVE OF PHYSICAL FITNESS, HIS GENEROSITY TO COMMUNITY, AND HIS LOVE FOR HIS WIFE, MARIANNE, HIS SIX CHILDREN AND HIS 12 GRANDCHILDREN. JOHN IS AN ARMY VETERAN AND A RETIREE FROM RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE. JOHN HAS LIVED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO HIS ENTIRE LIFE, AND HE MOSTLY GREW UP ON JO AND DICKEY STREET, WHICH ARE RIGHT NEXT TO TOMMY SCFE ON NO GALITO STREET. JOHN ATTENDED COLLINS GARDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND FROM THERE HE ATTENDED BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL FROM SIXTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE GOLD BULLDOG. WE ATTENDED THE SAME SCHOOL. JOHN HAS A REPUTATION OF STANDING UP AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY. HIS DAUGHTER JENNIFER, TELLS A STORY FROM THE MID EIGHTIES WHEN THE KIDS HEARD ODD NOISES OUTSIDE. WHEN THEY LOOKED OUT, THEY SAW THEIR NEIGHBOR, WHO WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN IN HER NINETIES BEING BEATEN. THEY SHOUTED TO THEIR DAD, JOHN AND JOHN RUSHED INTO ACTION. JOHN REMEMBERS FLYING TO THE, THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR LIKE A ROCKET. JOHN DID THIS WITHOUT KNOWING IF THE MAN WAS ARMED. ALL HE KNEW IS THAT HE NEEDED TO HELP HIS NEIGHBOR. THE WOMAN WOULD HAVE LIKELY DIED THAT DAY IF JOHN HAD NOT RUSHED INTO ACTION. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW COURAGEOUS JOHN IS. I COULD STOP THERE, BUT THERE'S SO MANY STORIES OF JOHN JUMPING INTO ACTION. HE RESCUED A WOMAN DROWNING FROM, UH, MEDINA LAKE, AND HE SAVED A LIFE USING, UH, THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER WHEN SOMEONE WAS CHOKING. MONDAY WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT JOHN WAS FEATURED IN THE NEWSPAPER. 82 YEARS AGO WHEN JOHN WAS JUST THREE YEARS OLD, A NEIGHBORHOOD BOY DECIDED TO PIERCE JOHN'S EAR BY STICKING A MATCH THROUGH IT. THE NEWSPAPER MADE SURE TO DOCUMENT THAT JOHN'S EAR WAS INJURED, BUT HE ENDED UP BEING OKAY. JOHN HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP EVERYONE IN NEED. IN THE EIGHTIES, THROUGH THE MID NINETIES, JOHN OWNED A GYM AT 6 21 MALONE. JOHN COULDN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING THE RENT, SO HE MOVED THE GYM TO HIS HOUSE WHERE HE BUILT A ROOM FOR IT AND ADDED ON TO HIS PROPERTY. WHEN HIS MEMBERS COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY, HE TOLD THEM NOT TO WORRY, AND [00:50:01] HE LET THEM WORK OUT THERE FOR FREE. AND LAST, UH, LAST MONTH, WE RECOGNIZED, OR I RECOGNIZED JOHN AT BURBANK HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR COLLEGE AND WORKING ON MY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, I WOULD WORK OUT AT JOHN'S GYM, AND THAT'S WHERE I HURT MY HIT MY FIRST DEADLIFT PR OF 2 35. I BENCHED, UH, 1 35 FOR FOUR REPS. AND AGAIN, RIGHT RECOGNIZING THAT SEAN'S GYM IS THAT SPACE THAT ALLOWED COMMUNITY A SAFE SPACE. AND I REMEMBER ONE TIME Y'ALL WENT OUTTA TOWN AND Y'ALL GAVE ME A KEY TO THE GYM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVER REMEMBER THAT, BUT THAT KEY KEPT ME OFF THE STREETS AND DOING SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE, WHICH I'M SURE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN WHY I'M HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UM, FOR PROVIDING THAT SPACE, NOT JUST TO ME, BUT TO COMMUNITY, ALL THOSE HARRIS AND BURBANK STUDENTS. I'M EXCITED THAT JOHN IS PREPPING FOR A GRAND OPENING OF JOHN'S GYM BEHIND THE BAY OF HIS INSPECTION STATION. AND I'M GOING TO STOP BY AND WORK OUT. AND I ASK THAT YOU TAKE IT EASY ON ME, JOHN, BECAUSE I REMEMBER ONE TIME YOU WERE LIKE, WHY ARE YOU DEADLIFT THAT MUCH? YOU'RE GONNA HURT YOUR BACK. AND THAT YOU TOLD ME THERE ARE OTHER WORKOUTS TO GET A BIGGER BACK, A WIDER, UH, UH, A BIGGER BACK. SO, SO THANK YOU. UM, AND I HOPE FOLKS ENJOYED THE PHOTOS OF JOHN THAT WE'RE PLAYING, AND I WANNA THANK JOHN AND HIS DAUGHTER, HIS FAMILY, UM, FOR SHARING THESE PHOTOS WITH US AND SHARING SOME OF HIS STORIES. AND I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, JOHN WANTS TO SHARE A FEW WORDS, BUT, UM, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND ENSURING THAT OUR KIDS ARE CONNECTED TO RESOURCES, UM, THAT KEEP OUR KIDS OFF THE STREET. THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU MAYOR . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. JOHN, ARE YOU COMING FORWARD? ALRIGHT, FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS TERRY THAT BROUGHT UP THE DEADLIFTS FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DIET. OH MY GOD, . WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. TERRY CASTILLO FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, DISTRICT FIVE. YOU'RE SOMETHING ELSE GIRL. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IN MY OWN WAY, I'VE TRIED TO GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD BY SHARING MY KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND FRIENDSHIP. THE POSITIVE RESPONSE I'VE THAT I'VE GOTTEN CONTINUE. EXCUSE ME. I'M REAL NERVOUS. I'M NOT A SPEAKER, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THIS IS OVERWHELMING. AND YOU, MAYOR YOU SOMETHING ELSE. APPRECIATE YOU. AND ALL YOU THAT ARE PRESENT MAY ALL GOD BLESS YOU AND TAKE CARE OF YOU. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODIES, LOVE YOU, AND LOVE EVERYBODY. WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. UH, NOW LET ME TURN TO COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THERE ARE, I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO, AND SO I'LL, I'LL BEG YOUR INDULGENCE. THE FIRST ONE, UM, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOMETHING ABOUT WHICH I'M VERY PASSIONATE. ALL OF YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, I HAVE, UH, A LOT OF EXCITEMENT WHENEVER ANYBODY TALKS ABOUT BOXING, PROFESSIONAL BOXING, AND AMATEUR BOXING. AND TODAY IN THE ROOM, WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN, UM, NAMED JOHN WHISTLER, WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF SAN ANTONIO'S BOXING SCENE, UH, FOR MANY DECADES. JOHN, COME ON, COME ON UP SO WE CAN ALL UH, WE CAN ALL SAY HI TO YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE LARGEST BOXING COMMUNITIES IN THE ENTIRE NATION. UM, AND OUR AMATEUR PROGRAM HERE IS PARTICULARLY, UH, IMPRESSIVE. AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD PAY ATTENTION TO OUR AMATEUR BOXING SCENE. JOHN IS A JOURNALIST, UH, WHO, UH, HAS BEEN HONORED BY BEING INDUCTED INTO THE SAN ANTONIO BOXING HALL OF FAME, UH, RECOGNIZING HIS 26 LONG YEAR CAREER AS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS. I'M DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU THAT JOHN WILL ALSO IN, UH, OCTOBER BE INDUCTED, UH, AS ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE GROUP OF FIRST INDUCTEES EVER INTO THE TEXAS BOXING HALL OF FAME, UH, FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO, UM, TO THE BOXING SCENE, UH, AROUND TEXAS. UH, THERE YOU CANNOT THINK OF BOXING IN SAN ANTONIO AND UNDERSTAND, UH, EXACTLY HOW BIG A BIG DEAL IT IS WITHOUT, UH, RECOGNIZING JOHN'S CONTRIBUTION TO SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT BOXING AND WHAT BOXING DOES TO HELP YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, UH, ACHIEVE SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS. UH, JOHN, I AM, UH, I'M KIND OF, I'M KIND OF FANBOYING RIGHT NOW. UH, 'CAUSE YOU'RE A, YOU'RE A BIG DEAL. AND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, I KNOW THAT PEOPLE NOT JUST FROM SAN ANTONIO BENEFITED FROM READING YOUR ARTICLES AND, AND YOUR DEDICATION LIFELONG WORK TO, TO THIS, UH, TO THIS SPORT. BUT, UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, UH, [00:55:01] YOU KNOW, IN THE SPORT WHO LOOK UP TO YOU AND ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT JOHN WHISTLER WAS PAYING ATTENTION. AND SO, THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND, UH, TODAY WE HONOR YOUR SERVICE. AND, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, IT'S BEEN MY HONOR, IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE THIS MORNING, UH, AND BE RECOGNIZED. UM, AS YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO HAS A RICH BOXING HISTORY, AS MANNY WAS SAYING, AND IT CONTINUES TODAY. WE'VE HAD, UM, SOME GREAT WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THE PAST, CLASSY JESSE JAMES LAJA, FIRST AND FOREMOST AMONG THEM, THE LATE ROBERT KEROGA. UH, AND IT CONTINUES TODAY WITH THE LIKES OF BAM RODRIGUEZ, WHO I THINK IS GONNA BE A SUPERSTAR. UM, MARIO BARRIOS AND, UH, BAMS BROTHER JOSHUA FRANCO ARE ALL WORLD CHAMPIONS AND, UH, REPRESENTED SAN ANTONIO. WELL, UH, I, I GOT MY START, UM, IN THE NINETIES WHEN DAN COOK WAS STILL AT THE NEWSPAPER. UH, HE WAS A LEGEND. AND, UM, I, I COULD NEVER FILL HIS SHOES, BUT I, UH, ENJOYED COVERING BOXING ALL THESE YEARS. AND, UM, SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HA HAVING ME HERE THIS MORNING AND, AND, UH, AND RECOGNIZING ME. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. SECOND, UM, MAYOR, WE DO HAVE, UH, ANOTHER SET OF GUESTS IN THE ROOM, UH, AND HE COMBED HIS HAIR FOR THIS EVENT. UH, DR. BILL HENRICH IS HERE. UH, THANK YOU, UH, DOC FOR, FOR BEING HERE. IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, COMING UP HERE WITH, WITH YOUR, UH, GUEST AND INTRODUCING US TO, UH, UH, DR. UH, DR. VASAN. UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN LISTENING, UH, THE BACK AND FORTH ABOUT OUR, OUR, UH, OUR BUDGET DEBATES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS LOST IN THERE IS, UM, SOME OF THE REALLY WONDERFUL PROJECTS THAT ALL OF US CAN GET BEHIND UNANIMOUSLY. UM, AND ONE OF THOSE IS, UH, FUNDING FOR THE TEXAS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO, DR. HENRICH, YOU'RE THE LEADER OUT AT UT HEALTH. THANK YOU, UH, TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM OF, UH, OF PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE WHO MAKE SAN ANTONIO HEALTHIER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, KEEP US SAFE AND RESILIENT. BUT YOU DO HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TODAY AND WHO'S NEW TO SAN ANTONIO, WHO I THINK ALL OF US NEED TO MEET. I DO. AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE. IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT I, IN A FORMER LIFE, WAS A GOLDEN GLOVES BOXER. WOW. WOW. SO I PARTICULARLY AM PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS BOXING ROYALTY. YEAH. I HAD THREE FIGHTS. UM, ONE, THE FIRST TWO WAS KNOWN FOR MY SORT OF SMOOTH MOVES, BUT THEN I MET A GUY WHO DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE JAB THAT I HAD, AND MY MOTHER CAME INTO THE RING AND STOPPED THE FIGHT. OH MY GOD. , WHICH ENDED MY BOXING CAREER ABRUPTLY. SO I DECIDED TO GO INTO MEDICINE INSTEAD. AND, UH, HERE WE ARE. LOOK, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO INTRODUCE TO THIS GROUP, UH, A NEW PARTNER FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND THAT IS DR. VASAN RAMACHANDRAN. HE'S ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS IN THE UNITED STATES. HE ARRIVED HERE JUST A WEEK AGO FROM BOSTON. HE WAS FORMERLY A PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AT THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. AND HE WILL BE THE NEW, HE IS THE NEW DEAN OF OUR SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN U T HEALTH U T S A AND REALLY A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WITH METRO HEALTH, AND WITH ALL THE OTHER ORGANS AND AGENCIES IN THE CITY. SO IT'S A PLEASURE TO WELCOME DR. RAMACHANDRAN TO SAN ANTONIO, AND I KNOW EACH OF YOU'LL WANT TO GET TO KNOW HIM WELL. BOSTON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? PLEASE. THANK YOU, DR. HENDRICH. IT'S A REAL HONOR AND, UH, OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO BE HERE TO SERVE THIS GREAT CITY, A CITY WITH A LARGE HEART, GREAT MINDS AND JOY SPIRIT. SO I COME HERE TO SERVE THE CITY AND EACH ONE OF YOU THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI, NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY FOR POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, THE PASSING OF ANOTHER TITAN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THAT WAS, UH, UM, LOWY MAYS. UH, HE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK. HE WAS 87 YEARS OLD. AND, UM, LOWY HAD A BIG IMPACT HERE ON, ON THIS CITY, IN THIS REGION, AND IN THE STATE AND IN THE NATION. UM, HE, UM, HE ACTUALLY GRADUATED FROM MY ALMA MATER, TEXAS A AND M, UH, BUT AS A PETROLEUM ENGINEER. THEN HE GOT INTO THE AIR FORCE AND, UH, WAS STATIONED RIGHT DOWN HERE AT BROOKS AIR FORCE BASE, UH, WHERE HE MET [01:00:01] HIS WIFE, PEGGY. UH, AND THEY STARTED A LONG AND STORIED CAREER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, SO MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND JUST A FEW OF 'EM. HE'S, HE IS A, THE FOUNDER ALONG WITH RED MCCOMBS OF CLEAR CHANNEL, BUT HE WAS THE CHIEF OP, UH, C E O OF THAT, OF THAT, UH, RADIO CLEAR CHANNEL SYSTEM THAT GREW TO THE LARGEST IN THE US AND, UH, PUT A MARK ON OUR, OUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FOREVER. UM, HE WAS ALSO, UM, HE STARTED THE LOWRY BUSINESS, UH, CENTER SCHOOL DOWN AT TEXAS A AND M AND, UH, COLLEGE STATION. BUT HE ALSO, UH, HIS NAME IS ON THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUILDING DOWN HERE AT TEXAS A AND M HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, HE'S ALSO, UH, BEEN VERY ACTIVE WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER HERE. IN FACT, HIS NAME IS DOWN HERE AT THE, UH, ON ONE OF THE FACILITIES AT THE, UH, CANCER CENTER AT UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. UM, HE'S GOT A FAMILY FOUNDATION THAT, UH, CENTERS AROUND MEDICAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AND ALL OF THIS PUT TOGETHER, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND MOVING THIS CITY FORWARD AND AGAIN, IS NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. HE HAD AN IMPACT HERE IN THE STATE AND THE NATION THROUGH, UH, CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS. SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO, UH, UH, RECOGNIZE HIS FIRST NAME WAS ACTUALLY LESTER, LESTER LOWRY MAYS. BUT HE WENT BY LOWRY JUST TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS HERE AND TO KEEP HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OUR PRAYERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA GET NOW INTO OUR COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TODAY. UM, EVERYONE IS HERE MOSTLY FOR THE BUDGET, BUT WE DO HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA WELL AS WELL. SO LET ME GO [CONSENT AGENDA  ] THROUGH AND ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. NOTE THAT ITEMS FOUR THROUGH NINE, UH, AS PERTAIN TO THE BUDGET ARE, WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. SO ITEMS 10 THROUGH 10 THROUGH 26, ARE THERE ANY TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION? YEAH, ITEM 16 WILL BE PULLED FOR RECUSAL. ANY OTHERS? ALRIGHT, UH, LET ME GO AHEAD AND, AND TAKE UP ANYBODY THAT'S SIGNED UP, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH, CLEAR OUT THESE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UM, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON CONSENT, I'LL CALL THEM NOW. UH, WE FIRST HAVE CYNTHIA GARCIA. IS MS. GARCIA HERE. OKAY. JERRY REGAS PETERS. MS. PETERS, YOU'RE, UH, SPEAKING ON ITEM 16 AND 17. I'M JERRY REGAS PETERS. I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD GIVE MY TIME TO BETTY. UM, THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS ABOUT THE, UH, UM, THE, THE MONEY THAT C P S, UH, IS ALLOWING. IS THIS THE PART OF THE NO, IT'S NOT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I WANT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO ENCOURAGE YOU, THERE, THERE ARE SOME GOOD POINTS THAT YOU HAVE IN THE REST OF THE AGENDA AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I DO, YOU KNOW, C P SS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY DEAR, YOU KNOW, UH, 'CAUSE IT AFFECTS ALL OF US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. PETERS. AARON JACKSON ON ITEM 18. GOOD MORNING. LET ME GET RIGHT TO MY ISSUE. $180,000 TO REHAB A BUILDING FOR A DISTRICT OFFICE THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO THE CITY SOUNDS REALLY SUSPECT FOR A DISTRICT WHERE THE COUNCIL PERSON DOES NOT ADDRESS CONSTITUENT CONCERNS IN ANY FORM OR FASHION. MR. RODRIGUEZ WAS INTRODUCED TO US AS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATOR IN OUR DISTRICT, WHICH WAS SHORT-LIVED FOR SOME STRANGE REGION. THE LAST 15 MONTHS HAVE ALLOWED ME A FRONT ROW SEAT TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE DEFINITION OF FLEECING. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY USAGE OF THIS PARTICULAR VERB STEMS FROM OBSERVATION AS WELL AS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNCIL PERSON DURING THE PANDEMIC. WHILE CAMPAIGNING, MR. RODRIGUEZ BECAME AWARE OF A GRASSROOTS FOOD PANTRY THAT WAS SERVING DISTRICT TWO AND DECIDED TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOR 25 FAMILIES. [01:05:01] MR. RODRIGUEZ TOOK FULL CREDIT FOR THIS DEEDED AND EVEN FUNDRAISED ON HIS ABILITY TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED WHILE NEVER ONCE ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMMUNITY GROUP THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE. AS A OWNER OF MULTIPLE SMALL BUSINESS IN DISTRICT TWO, I HAVE A VERY REAL VESTED INTEREST IN THE ECONOMIC AGENDA FOR DISTRICT TWO TO WATCH MR. RODRIGUEZ APPOINT THOSE WHO WORKED ON HIS CAMPAIGN AND HIS PERSONAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE LITTLE TO NO BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, NOR ONE SINGLE DOLLAR INVESTED IN DISTRICT TWO TO THE THIRD BOARD WAS TRULY DETRIMENTAL TO ALL SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR DISTRICT. UNDERSTANDING THAT MR. RODRIGUEZ IS NOT NATIVE TO DISTRICT TWO MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE WITH HIS CONSTITUENTS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS, BUT INSTEAD, HE'S INACCESSIBLE 95% OF THE TIME, AND THE 5% THAT HE'S AVAILABLE IS RESERVED FOR TWITTER, ZUMBA, AND TIKTOK. A FIVE YEAR LEASE, A FIVE YEAR LEASE AT ONE AT $1,800 A MONTH, AND $180,000 IN REHAB FOR A LOCATION THAT COULD BE VACANT COME NEXT YEAR IS THE DEF, IS THE DEFINITION OF WASTEFUL. SPENDING 300,000 IN RENT AND REHAB FOR A NON-CITY BUILDING IN A DISTRICT THAT HAS MORE ISSUES THAN MOST OTHER DISTRICT IS A GLARING EXAMPLE OF MISMANAGEMENT. AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PROJECTS THAT COULD USE A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF FUNDING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. JACKSON. WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP NOW, UH, OUR CONSENT AGENDA. UH, AGAIN, ITEMS 16 HAS BEEN PULLED, ITEMS FOUR THROUGH NINE, UH, ALSO FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATIONS. SO, UH, LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR FOUR THROUGH NINE AND ITEM 16, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION. SECOND AND A SECOND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOVE TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCIL MEMBER GROM, I, I, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ON CONSENT. THE, UH, NUMBER 24, THE ORDINANCE APPROVING AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THE SAN ANTONIO METRO HEALTH DISTRICT'S HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE AN AGREEMENT WITH BIG STATE PRO PRODUCE IN SUPPORT OF THE HEALTHY CORNER STORE STORES PROGRAM IN AMOUNT UP TO $80,000 FOR A TEAM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR FOUR ONE YEAR TERMS FOR A CUMULATIVE AMOUNT UP TO $400,000. UM, METRO HEALTH AND CLAUDE HAVE BEEN DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB. THEY INHERITED THIS PROGRAM AND THEY'VE STILL CONTINUED TO TAKE OFF WITH THIS. WE ARE TRYING TO BATTLE DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART DISEASE, UM, PERIPHERAL ART, ARTERIAL DISEASE IN THE DISTRICT, AND EATING HEALTHY AND UNDERSTANDING OUR RELATIONSHIP FOR FOOD IS KEY. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, THIS ORDINANCE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M ACTUALLY SUPER EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 18, THE EXPANSION OF OUR NORTHEAST FIELD OFFICE. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH STRUGGLE, UM, MAINTAINING TWO OFFICES THAT ONE WAS HAVING A LOT OF IT ISSUES, WATER AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES, AND IT REALLY WASN'T, UM, IN THE RIGHT SPACE. IT WASN'T THE SPACE, IT WASN'T THE RIGHT SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE AND TO FULLY RESPECT AND SERVE MY CONSTITUENTS. ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, WE HAVE OUR EAST SIDE FIELD OFFICE, AND SO THIS, THIS NEW NORTHEAST OFFICE IS GOING TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXISTED ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE. UM, I'M EXCITED THAT THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST OPEN OFFICE HOURS AT SEVERAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. UM, WE HAVE TOWN HALLS THAT ARE THE HIGHEST EN GA THAT ARE THE HIGHEST ATTENDED IN THE CITY. WE SEND OUT A NUMBER OF TEXT MESSAGES TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND WE DO A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER THAT REACHES THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. SO FOR ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE LOOKING TO ENGAGE WITH ME IN MY OFFICE, I HOPE THAT THIS NORTHEAST FIELD OFFICE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. I DON'T SEE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR THROUGH NINE, AS WELL AS 16. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 16 FOR THE RECUSAL. NOW, MADAM CLERK, ITEM NUMBER 16 IS AN ORDINANCE REVIEWING THE NO-COST LEASE WITH, UH, H E B CO DEVELOPMENT INC. FOR 1600 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE RETAIL SPACE, LOCATED AT THE MCIS MARKET SHOPPING CENTER FOR USE BY THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAN ANTONIO FEAR-FREE ENVIRONMENT. SAFE UNIT WITH A TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. [01:10:03] WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 16, GARY GUERRA PETERS, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. I, I SUPPORT IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, AND I THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING THAT. WE NEED THE, UH, THE POLICE PRESENCE AND, UH, I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING BACK TO DOING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, THE, UH, NEIGHBORS TOGETHER ON OCTOBER THE FOURTH TO HONOR OUR POLICE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MS. PETERS. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 16. SO MOVED. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR ITEM 16. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION HAVING HEARD ALL THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? CAN COUNSEL PLEASE VOTE? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S GET NOW INTO OUR, THE [ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING] BULK OF OUR MEETING TODAY, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR THROUGH NINE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BUDGET. AND I'LL TURN THE FLOOR NOW TO OUR CLERK TO GET US STARTED. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. THAT BEGINS OCTOBER 1ST APPROVING PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 23 TO FISCAL YEAR 20 27, 5 YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO FISCAL YEAR 20 28, 6 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 COMPLIMENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS, AND AMENDING RELATED ORDINANCES. THANK YOU. UH, MADAM CLERK, THAT IS THE CAPTION FOR OUR ITEMS. ITEM FOUR. UH, THE WAY THIS IS GONNA GO, ANYBODY WHO SAT THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS, UH, FOR VOTING AT THIS POINT IS FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT LEMME JUST KIND OF RECAP. SO, UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS RELATED TO THE BUDGET AS WELL AS RECUSALS FROM THE BUDGET, UH, AS WELL AS THE TAX RATE, ET CETERA. AND SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP A SERIES OF MOTIONS, UH, ON THOSE. UH, THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, A READING FROM THE CITY MANAGER OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY BUDGET THAT WERE REACHED BY DISCUSSION YESTERDAY. UH, THOSE WILL BE PART OF THE MAIN, UH, BUDGET MOTION. UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, ANY DISCUSSION AND MOTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL ON, ON AMENDMENTS, ET CETERA, WILL BE BE DONE, UH, IN THAT PROCESS. UH, THERE ARE ALSO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET. I'M GONNA TAKE THOSE, THOSE FOLKS UP RIGHT AFTER THE CITY MANAGER, UH, GETS THROUGH WITH DISCUSSING THE AMENDMENTS. SO, AND I'LL MAKE SOME REMINDERS ALONG THE WAY SO EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND THERE'S NO CONFUSION UP HERE. SO, UM, LEMME TURN IT NOW TO CITY MANAGER ERIC WALSH FOR READING OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL, UM, LAST NIGHT, UM, I SHARED WITH YOU, AND WE HAVE IT ONLINE, UM, AND YOU HAVE PAPER VERSIONS OF THAT. WE'LL ALSO, UM, INCLUDE IT ON THE OVERHEADS FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW. LET ME WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED, UM, BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS A RESULT OF THE CON COUNCIL CONVERSATION THE LAST TWO DAYS. UM, THE, UH, IN MAINTAINING OUR TWO YEAR BALANCE BUDGET, UM, AND TO ENSURE THAT, UH, ANY EXPENDITURES ARE ADJUSTED THAT ARE ADDED TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, MAINTAIN, UH, THAT BALANCE OVER THE TWO YEARS. UM, I'M RECOMMENDING 20 ITEMS TOTALING $6.9 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. UM, THESE ITEMS, UM, ARE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE IDENTIFIED IN F Y 2022. THAT'S $5.6 MILLION AND THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT FUND BALANCE OF $1.3 MILLION. UM, LEMME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, A COUPLE OF THE KEY ITEMS, UM, BEFORE I GO TO THE CHART. UH, THAT'S, UH, UP ON, UP RIGHT NOW. UM, THE, THERE WAS COUNCIL CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ABOUT, UH, ADDING FUNDING FOR, UH, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE AND THE M L K MARCH AND COMMISSION IN F Y 24 IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN, MAINTAIN OUR BALANCE OVER THE TWO YEARS. UM, THE SECOND YEAR FUNDING OF THOSE TWO PROGRAMS IS NOT INCLUDED. I DID SAY IN THE MEMO, AND [01:15:01] I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY ON THE RECORD TODAY, THAT AS WE BEGIN THE 2024 BUDGET PROCESS NEXT SPRING, THAT THESE TWO ITEMS BE, UH, PRIORITIZED AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST AND TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN OUR GOAL SETTING SESSION NEXT SPRING, UH, AND THE TRIAL BUDGET, THE SUBSEQUENT TRIAL BUDGET. SO ADDRESSING THOSE TWO ISSUES RIGHT OFF THE BAT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT ANY OTHER ISSUES NEXT SPRING. THE OTHER ITEM THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND I WANNA MAKE, UM, UH, YESTERDAY'S WORK SESSION, UH, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT AROUND SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM. UM, AND AS WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, UM, A NUMBER OF THE, WELL, ALL OF THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND GREATER SS A T X WORK PLANS, UH, WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNCIL LATER ON IN THE FALL. THE ACTUAL WORK PLANS, WHAT YOU'RE ADOPTING TODAY IS THE ALLOCATION, UH, IN THE BUDGET FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. UM, THE, THE PROPOSITION IS THAT WE WILL WORK WITH, UM, THE, UM, SAGE SOUTHSIDE FIRST, UH, PROSPER WEST AND GREATER S A T X TO IDENTIFY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK THAT THOSE AGENCIES CAN DO, UH, TO, UH, SUPPORT THE OVERALL SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM. UH, AMENDMENT OF $300,000 THAT'S INCLUDED ON THIS LIST. AND THEN BRING THAT TO THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UH, AND ULTIMATELY TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. ALL TOLD WITH THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL WORK, UM, THAT WE WILL PAY FOR, UM, THAT'LL BE $400,000 DEDICATED TOWARDS THAT EFFORT NEXT YEAR. UM, ADDITIONALLY, UM, AS INCLUDED IN THIS MEMO, UM, IN RELATION TO THE $50 MILLION IN PROJECTED ADDITIONAL C P SS REVENUE AND F Y 2022, UH, THE MOTION DOES INCLUDE, UM, USING 700 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, UH, A CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 5.5 MILLION OF THAT, UH, WILL BE USED FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE WITH ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS RECEIVING A CREDIT OF UP TO $300 NOT TO EXCEED, UH, THEIR TOTAL PASS DUE BILL. THAT'S IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORK THAT AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT C P S WILL BE CONTRIBUTING. AND THEN $2 MILLION OF THAT SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE ADDED TO THE, UH, REAP BALANCE, UH, FOR FUTURE ASSISTANCE NEEDS. THE OTHER 42 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, UM, WILL BE, UH, DESIGNATED FOR CREDITS TO C P S ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN THE NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, UH, BILLS. UM, AND, UH, THE AMENDMENT DOES INCLUDE, UH, TWO OPT-OUT PROVISIONS THAT, UH, C P SS WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS KNOW. UM, THE TWO OPT OUT OP, THE TWO OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS WILL BE TO REDIRECT THEIR CREDIT TO THE REAP PROGRAM FOR ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME, UH, CUSTOMERS OR WEATHERIZATION TO INCLUDE MINOR REPAIR. UM, AND THAT WILL GO OUT AND BE, UH, WITHIN THOSE, UM, WITHIN THOSE BILLS. I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH THIS LIST. I'M NOT GONNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I DO THIS FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSE. UM, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $6.9 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER $6.9 MILLION IN RESOURCES BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT BUDGET. UM, THE TOTAL OF 20 AMENDMENTS I MENTIONED EARLIER. UM, WE HAVE, UM, FIVE COUNCIL OFFICES ADDING AN ADDITIONAL, UH, FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT, UH, AT 800,000, A LITTLE OVER $800,000 OVER TWO YEARS. UM, ADJUSTMENTS TO, UM, BASE PAY TO MAKE ALLOWANCE TO MAKE, UM, UM, UM, UM, WE'RE MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS ON CELL PHONE AND PARKING STIPENDS. UM, AND SO RATHER THAN, UH, CONTINUING THAT IN, IN, UM, UM, LIKE WE'RE DOING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE ORGANIZATION, THOSE AMOUNTS WILL BE ADDED TO BASE PAY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. NUMBER FOUR, THE LIFT FUND LOAN LOAN INTEREST BUY DOWN PROGRAM, UM, IS, UH, PROPOSED TO BE INCREASED FROM $250,000 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. NUMBER FIVE, WE WILL BE REDIRECTING THE TWO CODE OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD SWEEPS TO DO PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES. UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UH, WILL BE COMPLETED THIS FISCAL YEAR. I KNOW SOME OF THAT WORK WILL BEGIN IN, UH, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA'S COMMITTEE. WE'RE ADDING FUNDS TO THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE. UM, THERE WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THE AMENDMENT IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL $150,000 FOR A TOTAL OF 250,000, ADDING $200,000, UH, TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, JUNIOR MARCH AND COMMISSION TO COVER COST OF MARKETING FACILITY, RENTAL PRODUCTION, AND FACILITY USE. UM, AND, UM, UH, WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET. THAT ADDITIONAL 200,000 WILL MAKE, UH, A, A TOTAL OF 300,000. UH, WE WILL BE EXPANDING THE PARK POOL SEASON NEXT YEAR, UM, DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, EXTENDING, UH, ONE HOUR AT ALL 24 POOLS [01:20:01] FOR A TOTAL OF SEVEN HOURS PER DAY AND SIX DAYS PER WEEK. AND THEN DURING OUR EXTENDED SEASON, UH, ONE HOUR AT 12 OF THE POOLS, UM, THAT HAS A TOTAL COST OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF 900, A LITTLE OVER $953,000. UM, WE WILL BE CONVERTING, UM, TWO POSITIONS IN METRO HEALTH TO A POSITION DEDICATED TO, UH, CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIME AND RECIDIVISM AT A ZERO COST, UM, $300,000, UH, TOWARDS THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM. $400,000 TO THE CITY CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM THAT COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA PROPOSED. UM, 621, ALMOST $622,000 OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO DO, UH, PROGRAMMING FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE GARNER PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITY IN THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT IN DISTRICT SIX. UM, ESTABLISHING A RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM BY REALLOCATING FUNDS, UH, PROGRAMMED, UH, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM THAT EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PROGRAM WILL BE, WILL CONTINUE IN NEXT YEAR, AND WE WILL ISSUE DEBT FOR THAT. UM, THIS PROPOSAL, UM, THAT HAS A ZERO COST IMPACT TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WILL SET ASIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME A, UH, A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE TO, UM, THE, UH, RES RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS OUTLINED BY COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL IN HER PROPOSAL. THAT AMOUNT, UM, IS CALCULATED BASED ON THE 14% OF PROCEEDS FROM C P S THAT THEY COLLECT OFF OF THEIR EXPENSES, UH, THAT ARE TIED TO THEIR STEP PLAN. UM, FURTHER CONVERSATION OF THIS ITEM WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER WHEN C P S COMES BACK, UM, AT THE SAME TIME, UM, TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD THAT YOU HAD, UH, WHEN YOU ADOPTED THE STEP PLAN IN JUNE. SO WE'LL LINE THOSE UP SO THAT WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AT THE SAME TIME. NUMBER 14, UH, PROVIDING $27,500 FOR EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE USE OF THE, THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR CENTERS BY, UM, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AFTER OPERATING, AFTER OPERATING HOURS OR WEEKENDS, A $233,533, UH, MATCH CONTRIBUTION TO THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST CORPUS, UM, A LITTLE OVER $800,000 OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, UH, TO CASA UH, THE CASA ORGANIZATION TOWARDS A BUILDING RENOVATION PROGRAM. THEY'RE PROPOSING THIS WOULD MATCH, UM, THEIR, UH, THEIR OWN FUNDS AND WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO THEIR FACILITY. 160, A LITTLE OVER $160,000 ADDED TO THE DISTRICT 10 STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORY, $150,000, UM, IN, UH, REDIRECTED FUNDS FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, WILL BE, UM, UM, USED FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS NOISE MITIGATION GRANT THAT THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED YESTERDAY. SO THAT HAS A ZERO COST TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND WE'LL BE, UH, WE'RE PROPOSING TO REALLOCATE $11,363 FROM EACH OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL CARRY FORWARD BALANCES FOR A TOTAL OF $125,000 TO BE UTILIZED, UM, FOR A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN NEXT SPRING, UM, TO ALL MALE, TO, UH, ALL, ALL, UH, RESIDENTS, UM, TO ADVISE THEM OF THE UPCOMING 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION. AND THEN FINALLY, NUMBER 20 AT A LITTLE OVER $1.3 MILLION IN FUNDED THROUGH THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT AND ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK REPAIR CREW. UH, WE HAVE ONE CURRENTLY, THIS WILL BE A SECOND SIDEWALK REPAIR CREW AVAILABLE FOR, UH, REPAIRING OF SIDEWALKS, UH, CITYWIDE SAMIRA, THAT IS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UM, THAT INCLUDED IN THE MEMO. AND, UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ERIC. OKAY. IT'S BEEN A LONG, SEVERAL MONTHS AND A LOT OF VOICES WEIGHED INTO, UH, WHAT YOU JUST HEARD. WE'RE GONNA NOW PROCEED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. SO LET ME CALL FOLKS IN ORDER OF SIGN UP TODAY, AND I'LL CALL THE NEXT NAME ON THE LIST IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME FORWARD. WE CAN KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING. AND MAYOR, BE BEFORE WE HAVE THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? WELL, I THOUGHT WE'D DO THAT, UH, AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. WE CAN DO, WE COULD DO THAT EITHER WAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, YEAH, SO LEMME JUST REMIND EVERYBODY PROCESS. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THEN WE'LL GO INTO COUNCIL DISCUSSION PRECEDING THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL, WE WILL HAVE THE MOTION ON THE BASE MOTION. I KNOW, UH, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE HAVE COMMENTS AND, AND THINGS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE AND DO WITH THAT. BUT WE NEED THE MAIN MOTION TO BEGIN THE, TO BEGIN THE PROCESS. SO, UH, LET [01:25:01] ME FIRST, UH, START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, BEGINNING WITH MARI BELL RUPP IS MARI BELL RUPP HERE. OKAY. WE'LL START, UH, WE'LL MOVE TO CRYSTALLINE STANLEY. MS. STANLEY, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ERNESTINA MARTINEZ. WELL, FIRST, UH, I WAS IN THAT LIFT THAT HIT YOU, SO MY BAD. , I MEAN, I WASN'T DRIVING, BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE SAFE. SO, YES. UM, BUT HELLO, MY NAME IS CRYSTALLINE STANLEY. UH, GOOD MORNING. UH, IT'S MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TODAY TO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT AND THE TENANTS OF, UH, SEVEN OAKS APARTMENT UNION. UM, WHILE WE MAY BE FEW IN NUMBER TODAY, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT WE REPRESENT MANY AND SO MUCH MORE. UM, I'M A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER OF TWO GIRLS AND A RECENT SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. I'M ORIGINALLY FROM AUSTIN, AND FROM THE AGE OF 18, I'VE RENTED HOMES, ROOMS, APARTMENTS, DUPLEXES. I'VE EVEN MADE THE MISTAKE OF SUBLETTING. AND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I'VE LEARNED A FEW THINGS ABOUT MY RIGHTS. BUT NOT UNTIL THIS PROCESS DID I GAIN A PERSONAL HANDBOOK WORTHY OF MY BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. UM, NOT JUST THE RENT PAYING TENANTS RIGHTS. YOU SEE, I HAVE A COLORFUL RENTER'S HISTORY, AND I KNOW MOST PEOPLE WOULD THINK A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST WOULD BE A WELL-PAID POSITION, ABLE TO CARE FOR A FAMILY. BUT AT $36,000 A YEAR AFTER BILLS, CAR PAYMENTS, INSURANCE, RENT, GROCERIES, GAS, STUDENT LOANS, CLOTHES AND CHILDCARE, WHAT'S REALLY LEFT. AND ALL I HAVE DONE IS STRUGGLE TO GET ON MY FEET WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND A LACK OF SUPPORT, AND OF COURSE, FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE WRONG MAN. I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW ONE OF ME. YOU EITHER WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH THEM, HAVE A SISTER, HAVE A FRIEND, HAVE A MOTHER, HAVE A BLACK SHEEP OF A FAMILY, OR MAYBE AT SOME TIME YOU HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING IN MY OWN POSITION. SO WHEN I FOUND SEVEN OAKS, A SECOND CHANCE PROPERTY, UH, WILLING TO TAKE ME ON, AND I WAS FACING HOMELESSNESS, AND MY, UH, FATHER, THE FATHER OF MY CHILD HAD JUST TOTALED MY CAR AND RETURNED TO PRISON. UM, AND I WAS BARELY GETTING TO WORK. I TOOK OUT THREE PAYDAY LOANS TO GET INTO THIS PROPERTY. THAT'S RIGHT, THREE PAYDAY LOANS. IT WAS SIX 50 FOR THE BIGGEST ONE BEDROOM I HAD EVER SEEN. I CONVERTED THE DINING ROOM INTO A SPACE FOR MY CHILDREN. I HUNG CURTAINS. AND I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS TO GET MY RENTAL HISTORY TOGETHER. I WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE SINKING LIVING ROOM FLOOR, THE DEAD ROACHES IN MY LIGHT FIXTURE. I DIDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT THE EXPOSED LIGHTS OR THE EXPOSED WIRING HANGING ABOVE MY FUSE BOX. AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT THE WOOD SLAT THAT COVERED THE AC UNIT, THAT AC UNIT THAT WAS ABOVE MY SHOWER. I PUT IN WORK ORDERS FOR ALL OF THESE OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT OFTEN TOOK CHASING FOLKS DOWN TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED. AND I HONESTLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS THAT I COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AND THE TRUTH WAS, FOR THE FIRST TIME I SAW A CITY INSPECTOR WAS, I DON'T KNOW, LAST YEAR AFTER, UH, AFTER THEY, UH, AFTER HOUSING TENANTS HAD MADE A COMPLAINT AND I WASN'T ON HOUSING. SO, THANK YOU, MS. FAMILY. DO YOU HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT'S GONNA GIVE YOUR, GIVE THEM YOUR TIME, GIVE YOU THEIR TIME? UM, IF NOT, I THINK WE HAVE SEVERAL OR TWO MORE SPEAKERS. WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR? . OKAY. MS. CONDO, YOU HAVE THREE, OR EXCUSE ME. UH, MS. STANLEY, YOU HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES. OKAY. I APOLOGIZE. UM, I'D NEVER BEEN ON HOUSING. UM, SO I WASN'T AWARE THAT I COULD SPEAK TO ANYBODY FROM THE CITY. I HAD NO IDEA. SO THE FIRST TIME I SAW SOMEBODY WAS A YEAR AGO, UM, WHEN THEY CAME OUT TO DO INSPECTIONS. UH, WHEN A CHIEF PROPERTIES BROUGHT US, UH, BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I WAS EXCITED. I THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CHANGE THINGS, THAT I WOULD FINALLY HAVE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIVING SITUATION. UM, BUT IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THEY HAD NO INTENTIONS OF CHANGING ANYTHING. AND EVERYONE, IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE THEY TOLD US THAT EVERYONE WOULD NOT BE RESIGNED. UM, AT FIRST IT WAS JUST PEOPLE UNDER HOUSING. BUT THEN IT BECAME CLEAR TO ALL OF US THAT WE WOULD ALL BE LEAVING. WHAT HAD I DONE? WHAT HAD I DONE WRONG? WAS IT BECAUSE I WAS RECENTLY A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? WAS IT BECAUSE [01:30:01] I WAS STRUGGLING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM THAT? I'D ALWAYS GONE TO WORK. I HAD ALWAYS PAID MY BILLS. UM, I HAD PAID EVERYTHING. AND IN TURN, I HAD SUFFERED FROM AN AC UNIT THAT FROZE EVERY SUMMER. I HAD WIRED THAT, UH, FRIED A LAMP OR TRIED TO SET MY MICROWAVE ON FIRE, ON FIRE. I HAD AN UNFIXABLE SLIDER DOOR AND, UH, A LIVING ROOM THAT SUNK EVERY TIME IT RAINED. IT WASN'T UNTIL, UH, TOP THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT CAME AND HELPED US ORGANIZE THAT. MY NEIGHBORS AND I FINALLY BEGAN TO FELT, FEEL A SENSE OF, UH, JUSTICE OR THAT WE COULD SPEAK UP, THAT WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY FOR HELP, AND THEY ALL CAME OUT AND BEGAN INSPECTIONS. AT THAT JUNCTURE, A CHIEF BEGAN TO STEP UP AND MAKE SOME DIFFERENCES. BUT IT WASN'T, AGAIN, UNTIL SAN ANTONIO VERSUS ACHIEVE MADE A DIFFERENCE, UM, IN MAKING BIG CHANGES FOR OUR PROPERTY, UM, WHICH WE APPRECIATE GREATLY. UH, BUT THE TRUTH IS, IS THAT IT'S JUST A BEGINNING. IT'S A BEGINNING. SORRY. I AM SORRY. . WE ARE, UH, WE ARE JUST THE BEGINNING. WELL, I CANNOT BEGIN TO EXPRESS THE IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF GRATITUDE FOR BUDGETING TWO NEW POSITIONS. MY FELLOW TENANTS AND I WHO ARE HERE TO ADDRESS YOU ARE JUST A FEW OF THE, MANY OF THE TENANTS IN THIS CITY. THE TENANTS OF SAN ANTONIO ARE MANY, AND THEIR STORIES ARE MUCH LIKE MY OWN. WE DESERVE FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LIVE WITHOUT UNJUST EVICTIONS AND TO SPEAK UP AND FIGHT WITHOUT RETALIATION. WE URGE THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO HOLD NEGLIGENT LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN COUNCILWOMAN ANNA SANDOVAL, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND CODE COMPLIANCE FOR THEIR HELP. OF THE THREE OPTIONS PRESENTED BY CITY MANAGER ERIC WALSH IN HIS MEMO TO HOLD LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE THIRD OPTION TO CREATE DIRECTORY FOR ALL LANDLORDS TO REGISTER AND TO FUND PROACTIVE CODE INSPECTIONS IN THE ONE IS THE ONE THAT WOULD BE BEST ADDRESSED DANGEROUS LIVING CONDITIONS LIKE WE LIVE THROUGH. WE APPRECIATE COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR A DIRECTORY OF LANDLORDS, AND WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED C P S ENERGY REBATE PLAN BECAUSE A $30 REBATE FOR WORKING CLASS HOUSEHOLDS IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE FOR THE RATE HIKES THAT THE FAMILIES HAVE EXPERIENCED. THANK YOU, MS. YEAH, OF COURSE. THANK YOU. ERNESTINA MARTINEZ. ERNESTINA MARTINEZ. OKAY. ROSE CRUZ. ROSE CRUZ. DEBORAH WATTS. DE WATTS. SYLVIA FLORES. SYLVIA FLORES. SHE HAD A ACCIDENT. SHE OKAY. OKAY. CECILIA GALVAN. CECILIA GALVAN. JERRY URIEGAS PETERS. J MS. FLORES? YES. OKAY. I'LL CALL YOU NEXT. JUST ONE SECOND. MS. URIEGAS PETERS, MAY I RECEIVE MY TIME TO RADIATE? SHE DID. OUTSIDE. SHE DID. OKAY. BETTY, GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW IF HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW IT, BUT THIS IS HUNGER ACTION MONTH. TODAY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A BUDGET OR RATHER A BIG ONE, AND THEY'LL DECIDE ON GIVING C P SS CUSTOMERS THEIR MONEY BACK OR SPENDING IT IN OTHER WAYS. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT WE SHOULD GIVE THE PEOPLE THEIR MONEY BACK. IT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU, ANY OF YOU, OR TO THE CITY. IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANY OVERPAYMENT MONEY AND PUT INTO OTHER PROGRAMS. SAN ANTONIO HAD THE FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM AND WE NOW HAVE 3000 [01:35:02] HOMELESS PEOPLE. WE DON'T NEED ANYMORE. DON'T ADD TO THE LIST. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND GIVE THE PEOPLE THEIR C P S MONEY. NOW IT'S NEEDED OF OTHER PEOPLE. AND I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THIS TO CITY COUNCIL, THAT YOU TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CITY NEEDS YOUR HELP. NOW IS YOUR TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. ECKERT. UH, SYLVIA FLORES. MS. FLORES, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY PEDRO AGUILAR. GOOD MORNING. I'M SYLVIA FLORES, CITY COUNCIL D I LIVE AT SEVEN OAKS APARTMENTS, AND I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, SEVEN OAKS. UH, AT THE MOMENT. I HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING WORKING. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEY'VE BEEN COMING TO FIX IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND IT BREAKS AGAIN. IT'S BEEN VERY HARD. IT'S VERY, VERY HARD. AND SOME OTHER, LIKE, LEAKS IN THE CEILING. AND THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE I MOVED IN THERE LIKE THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. UM, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE HERE. UM, I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON THE ADDITIONAL COURT ENFORCEMENT OFFICE AND THE BUDGET, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, UH, HAVE LIKE THANK COUNCILWOMAN ON THE SANDOVAL HOUSING SERVICE DEPARTMENT CODE COMPLIANCE FOR THEIR HELP. WE ARE HAPPY THAT OUR ORGANIZING AT SEVEN OAKS HAD LED US TO THE CITY PROPOSING NEW WAYS TO HOLD NEGLIGENT LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE. WE URGE THAT THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THE WAYS TO PROTECT TENANTS FROM SOURCE OF INCOME, DISCRIMINATION, DISCRIMINATION ON PREVIOUS HISTORY. UM, HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND EVERY RESIDENT, UM, OF OUR CITY, REGARDLESS OF OUR AGE, RACE, GENDER, OR ECONOMIC STATUS, DESERVES A SANITARY AND SECURE PLACE TO LIVE. WE NEED THOSE WHO REPRESENT US AT CITY HALL TO WORK TOWARD ADOPTING POLICIES THAT GET US CLOSER TO, TO MAKING THIS REALITY FOR ALL SAN ANTONIONS SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER LIVING AND, YOU KNOW, SAFE LIVING AND AFFORDABLE LIVING, TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MS. FLORES. PEDRO AGUILA. MR. AGUILA BE FOLLOWED BY RICK VINNO. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I JUST, UH, WANTED TO COME AND TO TALK TO YOU'ALL. MY NAME IS PEDRO AGUILA. I LIVE IN SOUTH POINT APARTMENTS, AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK FOR MY NEIGHBORS AND THOSE BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT ARE NOT HERE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK. I ALSO FEEL LIKE IT'S AN HONOR THAT I CAME TODAY BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE CELEBRATING THE AIR FORCE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S DEEPLY IN MY HEART. THERE'S A LOT OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT WENT OVERSEAS TO FIGHT FOR US THAT GOTTA COME BACK AND LIVE IN CONDITIONS THAT THESE SLUM LORDS ARE MAKING US LIVE INTO. I MYSELF, I HAVE A CABINET THAT'S ROTTEN ON THE BOTTOM, AND I HAD TO PUT WOOD TO JUST TO KEEP IT UP BECAUSE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER KEEPS ON LEAKING WATER ON IT. IT'S NOT FAIR FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO GO OVERSEAS, COME BACK, DISABLED LIVE AND A FIXED INCOME. AND THEN THESE LANDLORDS TRY TO FORCE US OUT. IT'S NOT FAIR TO US. WE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE OTHER INCOMES COMING IN. WE HAVE TO LIVE ON WHAT WE HAVE. AND IT'S NOT FAIR THAT WE'RE LIVING SOMEWHERES AND THEY WANNA FORCE US OUT JUST SO THEY CAN BRING [01:40:01] NEW PEOPLE IN SO THEY COULD HIRE THEM MORE. BUT IT'S EVEN WORSE THAT WHEN WE GOTTA LIVE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, WITHOUT HOT WATER AND ALL OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, LIKE WHERE I LIVE AT, THERE'S A, THE APARTMENTS WAS BUILT IN THE SEVENTIES. THE SEWER SYSTEM IS REALLY BAD OUT THERE. THE ELECTRICAL IS OUT OF DATE. AND WE GOTTA KEEP ON GOING THROUGH OUTAGES LIKE THAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR. AND I THINK WE NEED OUR COUNCILMEN TO HOLD THESE LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO US. IT'S NOT RIGHT. WE WORK HARD, WE EARN OUR MONEY. AND WHAT THESE LANDLORDS DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHEN WE GO COMPLAIN ABOUT STUFF, THEY WANT TO TALK TO US. LIKE WE, WE ARE NOBODY. AND THEY WANT TO TALK DOWN TO US WHEN WE'VE WORKED HARD ALL OF OUR LIVES AND WE PAID OUR BILLS. LIKE I BEEN LIVING WHERE I LIVE AT FOR EIGHT YEARS. THEY'VE NEVER HAD NO PROBLEMS GETTING MY RENT FROM ME. AND ALSO I WANTED TO ALSO ADDRESS, THEY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST US AND HARASS US IF WE SPEAK UP NOW, THESE THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT, AND WE NEED TO HOLD THESE LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO US. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, WE JUST NEED TO GET THESE THINGS DONE. I'M SORRY, MY TIME'S UP. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. AGUILO, RICK TREVINO, FOLLOWED BY HECTOR VEGA. I'M GLAD WE GOT TO HEAR THAT FROM THOSE TENANTS I WAS TALKING TO ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY. UM, HOW I WORK IN EVICTIONS, AND HONESTLY, THIS IS A LITTLE, ON A SIDE NOTE, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE C P S STUFF, BUT MAN, A LOT OF THESE LIKE SHIPPY PROPERTIES KNOW, I KNOW I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT, COUNCILMAN, AND THEY'RE GETTING AWAY WITH A LOT OF MISTREATMENT OF OUR TENANTS AND THEY'RE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF 'EM. I MEAN, YOU COULD, UH, YOU COULD MAKE A LOT OF MONEY TREATING PEOPLE LIKE CRAP IN THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR TENANTS ARE DOING. AND I'M REALLY GLAD I YOU GUYS GOT TO HEAR THAT. SO, ERIC, AND, UH, AND IN THE FUTURE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOME MONEY IN THE RENTAL MITIGATION FUND. IT REALLY NEEDS IT. RIGHT NOW, ALL WE ALL WE'RE DOING IS BUYING PEOPLE TIME A WEEK TO FIND REPLACEMENT HOUSING, TELL 'EM TO APPEAL. THAT GIVES 'EM FIVE DAYS. SO NOW THERE'S A C P SS $19 MILLION IS GONNA GO TO BUSINESS IN THIS PLAN IS IF IT'S KEPT AS AT IS, UH, I LISTENED TO PERRY AND, UH, BRAVO ON T P R, THE SOURCE. UM, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT 12 MILLION OF THIS IS GONNA GO TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN RESIDE IN THE CITY. I COUNCILMAN PERRY, I I REMEMBER YOU STOOD UP, UH, WHEN I THINK IT WAS DOLLAR GENERAL, DOLLAR TREE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, HOLD UP THEIR BARGAIN ABOUT CREATING CERTAIN AMOUNT OF JOBS. IT, IT STRIKES ME ODD THAT YOU WOULDN'T FIND THAT ASPECT OF THE CURRENT PLANET IS AS OUTRAGEOUS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT IN LINE WITH YOUR CHARACTER. I THINK YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT FAIRNESS, AND I DON'T THINK THIS PLAN IS FAIR. AND IF YOU GUYS VOTE FOR THIS, IF 12 MILLION BUCKS IS GOING TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE HERE, MONEY GOING TO MICROSOFT, HOME DEPOT, MCDONALD'S, I MEAN, THESE, THESE PEOPLE DON'T NEED ANY HELP OR MONEY. THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING JUST FINE. SO ANY PLAN THAT GIVES THEM MONEY, I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, JUST A BAD IDEA. ANNA, I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE FENCE ABOUT THIS. UH, I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT YOUR CONVERSATION YESTERDAY WITH SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, UM, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF D SEVEN FOR A WHILE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PARLOR GAMES WERE PLAYED BACK THERE, BUT A PERSON THAT, YOU KNOW, GREG CASAR ASKED TO SPEAK FOR THEM, I DON'T SEE HOW THEY WOULD SIDE WITH A PLAN THAT'S GONNA GIVE THAT MUCH MONEY TO BIG BUSINESS. YOUR PLAN IS NOT A BAD PLAN. IT JUST, I DON'T THINK IT GOES FAR ENOUGH. AND THE WAY TO GET THE COMPANIES TO PLAY BALL HERE, TO BE ENERGY EFFICIENT, THEY SHOULD BE DOING THAT ON THEIR OWN VOLITION. BUT YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE INCENTIVES. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST MORE MONEY TO BUSINESSES THAT DON'T NEED IT FOR THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S A BAD PLAN. I THINK MARIOS IS A BETTER ONE. IT'S, AND I GOTTA GIVE HIM CREDIT. I I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH MATT ON SOME THINGS, BUT THIS IS A DAMN GOOD PLAN. I HOPE YOU GUYS DO IT. DON'T GIVE MONEY TO BUSINESS GUYS. THANK YOU MR. TREVINO. HECTOR VEGA. [01:45:01] HECTOR VEGA. ALRIGHT, MARINA GONZALEZ. GOOD MORNING. HAPPY BUDGET. DAY MANAGER WALSH MAYOR NUREMBERG AND MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME'S MARINA GONZALEZ. I'M YOUR PRESIDENT AND C E O FOR THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, OUR CHAMBER AND LIFT FUND JOINED FORCES TO BE A STRONGER VOICE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TO ADVOCATE FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE LOAN INTEREST BUYDOWN PROGRAM. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM US, AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THE TIME AND THE COMMITMENT TO HEARING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY AND FROM OUR MEMBERS ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 900 MEMBERS THAT WE PROUDLY REPRESENT, MAINLY SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR INCREASING THE CITY'S ALLOCATION TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM. FROM 250,000 TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WITH US INFLATION AT A 40 YEAR HIGH AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE RATES RISING, A 0% LOAN PROGRAM WILL BE A LIFE CHANGER FOR SO MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND FOR US, ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS. ALSO WITH AN $8.3 BILLION ACCESS TO CAPITAL GAP HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS OUR MINORITY COMMUNITY, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE ADDITIONAL $250,000 WILL HELP TO CLOSE THIS GAP. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN YEARS PAST, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH THE CITY TO, TO NOT ONLY PROMOTE IT TO, BUT TO MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. MS. GONZALEZ. I MISSED A NAME HERE. I APOLOGIZE. KAREN MUNOZ, ARE YOU HERE? THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, MY NAME'S KAREN OZ. I'M A RESIDENT OF D SEVEN. UM, I MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO IN 2019 TO START LAW SCHOOL AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I DID WAS LOOK UP WHO MY COUNCIL MEMBER WAS. UM, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN THAT MY COUNCIL MEMBER WAS AT LEAST THEN THE MOST PROGRESSIVE MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, AND I'VE WATCHED REALLY CLOSELY SINCE THEN. UM, ALSO, WE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON, COUNCILWOMAN ON THE WALL. WE BOTH OPENED UP FOR OUR SOON TO BE CONGRESSMAN GREG KASAR YOU AT HIS FIRST RALLY IN AUSTIN AND ME AND SAN MARCOS. UM, I SAY ALL OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY BAFFLING TO ME THAT SOMEONE WHO PUTS THEMSELVES OUT TO BE SUCH A PROGRESSIVE WOULD OFFER A CLIMATE ACTION PROPOSAL THAT MAKES UP LESS THAN HALF OF THE 1% OF THE CITY BUDGET. UM, YOUR PROPOSAL TO USE REVENUE FROM STEP WILL GIVE MONEY TO BUSINESSES FOR ENERGY BENCHMARKING WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN URBAN HEAT ISLANDS, MANY OF WHICH ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT, NEED HELP. THEY NEED SHADE, THEY NEED WEATHERIZED HOMES. AND COUNCILMAN BRAVO'S PLAN ADDRESSES THOSE THINGS AND DOES SO NOW, UM, I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN, THAT YOU KEEP TELLING PEOPLE THAT MARIO'S PROPOSAL DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES, THOUGH, OBVIOUSLY, UM, IT VERY LIKELY COULD BE THE CASE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE VOTES IF WE HAD YOUR VOTE. UM, I ALSO READ YOUR OP-ED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL, UM, AND I'M GONNA QUOTE IT. I AM A MOTHER TO A THREE MONTH OLD BABY GIRL. I DESPERATELY WANT HER TO HAVE A FUTURE IN WHICH SHE CAN ENJOY SUMMER WALKS AT WOODLAWN LAKE PARK, LIVE IN A HOME THAT DOESN'T COST A FORTUNE TO COOL AND RAISE HER OWN FAMILY IN RELATIVE COMFORT AND SAFETY. I SHARE THAT QUOTE BECAUSE I WANT THOSE THANKS TO COUNCILWOMAN. AND THE REALITY IS THAT BRAVO'S PLAN IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GET US TO A FUTURE WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE THOSE THINGS AND CAN DO THOSE THINGS. I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR HIS PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. MUNOZ. ALRIGHT. HAVING HEARD EVERYONE WHO SPEAK, WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET, WE'RE GONNA NOW MOVE INTO OUR PROCESS AND PUBLIC, UH, EXCUSE ME, OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. WE'LL BEGIN, UH, LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA TO START US WITH A MOTION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS AMENDED TODAY. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION. WAS THERE A SECOND? IT'S REQUIRED FOR US TO GET THIS PROCESS STARTED, SO I'LL NEED A SECOND. SECOND. ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND. ALRIGHT. UM, AND WE WILL BEGIN NOW WITH, UH, COUNCIL DISCUSSION. UH, AND NOTE THAT WE WILL DO THE, THE MOTIONS AND ACTION ON ITEMS REQUIRING RECUSAL, UH, AFTER WE DO THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION. SO ALL THE VOTING AND APPROVAL WILL HAPPEN AT THE END OF OUR DISCUSSION. UH, LET ME JUST START, UH, BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US IS REFLECTIVE OF A UNIQUE CHALLENGING AND I WOULD SAY, FRANKLY INSPIRING MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK OUR CITY STAFF, ERIC, MARIA, JUSTINA, BEN, AND THE ENTIRE E L T AND THEIR BUDGET TEAMS FOR MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN THE YEARS, UH, THAT IT WAS NEEDED SO THAT WE CAN BE PRESENTED WITH A BUDGET THAT MORE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSES OUR RESIDENTS' NEEDS TODAY. WE HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT SAN [01:50:01] ANTONIO AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THESE INVESTMENTS AND YOUR LIVES FOR YEARS TO COME. AND I BELIEVE THAT IT DOES COMMIT TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HEALTH, HOUSING, SUSTAINABILITY, AND WORKFORCE NEEDS OF OUR CITY, WHILE RESPECTING THE FACT THAT THE OWNERS OF THIS GOVERNMENT AND OUR UTILITY ARE THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. FOR ONE, OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE IS BEING LOWERED FOR THE FIRST TIME, UH, IN SEVERAL YEARS. OVER $70 MILLION IN NEW COMBINED TAX AND BILL RELIEF WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL SAN TO TO SAN ANTONIANS. OUR DISABLED AND SENIOR EXEMPTIONS WILL BOTH BE RAISED TO $85,000 AND OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS CLIMBING TO 10%. TO CONTINUE OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, WE'RE COMMITTING TO SPEND $136 MILLION THIS YEAR TO ENSURE EVERYONE IN SAN ANTONIO HAS ACCESS TO A SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME. $2 MILLION IS BEING ALLOCATED TO ENHANCE OUR NINE 11 DISPATCH SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. THE BEGINNING OF AN EXCITING ERA IN SAN ANTONIO AVIATION CAN BE FOUND IN THIS BUDGET AS WE COMMIT TO THREE NEW GATES, 30 NEW POSITIONS IN OUR LARGEST CAPITAL PROJECT FOR YEARS TO COME AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROPOSAL TO PERMANENTLY FUND CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES, WHICH WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS AT THE CITY, A PERMANENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUND ALLOCATED TOWARD CLIMATE AND RESILIENCY IN OUR CITY. AND SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL FOR HER EFFORTS IN GETTING THAT DONE. IT IS A GROUNDBREAKING PROPOSAL. ULTIMATELY, THIS BUDGET PROVI PROVES THAT WE CAN DELIVER ON NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES WHILE HONORING THE WILL AND TRUST OF THE PUBLIC. I'M GRATEFUL TO AN EMPOWERED COMMUNITY OF RESIDENTS, ORGANIZERS, AND ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE PUSHED US TO REVIEW AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO DIRECT FUNDS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. WE HOPE THAT YOU SEE THE CHANGES BEFORE YOU AS THE BEGINNING OF A MUCH LONGER CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU HAVE PUT INTO HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE. WE ARE BETTER FOR YOUR EFFORTS COLLECTIVELY, SINCE WE WORK TO APPLY AN EQUITY LENS TO OUR BUDGETARY PROCESS. IN 2017, I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO PURSUING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR OVERALL BUDGET. WE WILL CONTINUE THAT WORK TO ENSURE THAT SAN ANTONIO'S, SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS VOICES AND INPUT ARE GENUINELY HEARD, INCLUDED AND REFLECTED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. LASTLY TO MY COLLEAGUES, CITY STAFF AND OUR GREATER COMMUNITY. I'M OPTIMISTIC FOR WHAT'S TO COME AND THANKFULLY THAT WE GET TO DO IT TOGETHER. SO LET ME MOVE TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW, AND WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. I'VE GOT A CUE. SO, UM, OKAY, HERE WE GO. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET BY REMOVING 42.5 MILLION OF THE ALLOCATION TO C P SS ENERGY RATE PAYER REBATES AND TO APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS INTO A CITY RESERVE FUND WITH A SPECIFIC ALLOCATION TO BE DETERMINED BY CITY COUNCIL AT A LATER TIME. I SECOND THE MOTION. SECOND. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UH, REMOVING 42 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO PLACE INTO A, UH, FUND TO BE DECIDED LATER. I'M SUMMARIZING THAT CORRECTLY. I BELIEVE SO WE WILL, UH, ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION ON THAT TOPIC. SO, UM, I KNOW THERE'S A, A QUEUE ON THE MAIN MOTION, SO LET'S, UH, LET ME SEE HANDS IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS, UM, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. THANK YOU. AND CAN WE BRING UP OUR, MY SLIDES PLEASE? FIRST, UM, THE $50 MILLION IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO RUSH THROUGH ON A DECISION. UH, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS MONEY WAS COMING. UH, WE WERE TOLD ABOUT IT AT THE LAST MINUTE. WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ENOUGH PUBLIC INPUT AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DELIBERATE ON WHAT WE CAN DO THAT WOULD BE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YEAH. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE PUT FORWARD AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, AND THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE EXACT PROPOSAL, BUT I JUST WANT TO SHOW WHAT THE OTHER OPTIONS ARE, WHAT THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE. AND IF WE CAN GO TO THAT. THE OTHER FIRST SLIDE, PREVIOUS SLIDE, COUNCILMAN, THE, THE, THE MOTION IS TO DELAY DISCUSSION ON WHAT THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT. SO THAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THE DISCUSSION. OKAY. AND I'M SAYING THAT THIS, THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD DELAY BECAUSE WE CAN CONTIN CONTINUE, CONSIDER THESE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. OKAY. SO CAN I HAVE THAT FIRST SLIDE PLEASE? SO INSTEAD OF GIVING SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS A MEDIAN REBATE OF $26, [01:55:01] WE CAN WEATHERIZE A BUNCH OF HOMES AND THEY COULD EACH, ON AVERAGE SAVE $372 A YEAR EVERY YEAR. IF WE WERE TO TAKE THIS ENTIRE PROPOSAL AND, AND DO AND FOCUS IT ON WEATHERIZATION, IT WOULD BE 9,052 HOMES WHERE THOSE HOMES WOULD BE ABLE TO SAVE $372 A YEAR EVERY YEAR. NOW THE QUESTION HAS COME UP FROM COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND COUNCIL AND, AND FROM OUR MAYOR. DO WE EVEN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT? RIGHT. AND CAN I, DIANE WRATH, ARE YOU HERE TODAY? I'D LOVE TO, IF YOU COULD COME UP AND CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? COULD YOU COME, CAN YOU APPROACH THE, THE MICROPHONE PLEASE? SO, UM, WOULD WE HAVE CAPACITY THAT, YOU KNOW, IS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS AND CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT, UH, ACOG HAS DONE WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHERIZATION? WHAT, WHAT KINDA HISTORY YOU HAVE ON THAT? YES, SIR. WE'VE OPERATED A WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS AND WE ARE VERY WILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY WE CAN. I WILL SAY THAT AT THIS TIME, BOTH THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND THE LABOR FORCE OR LIMITING PARTNERS, WE HAVE A TOTAL CAPACITY TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM AND TO CONTRACT IT. UH, BUT DEPENDING HOW THE LABOR FORCE OF SUPPLY CHAIN GOES, THAT MIGHT BE MITIGATING FACTORS IN THE FULL INVESTMENT OF THIS, UH, AMOUNT OF MONEY. SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO RAMP UP OVER TIME? YES, SIR. GREAT. OKAY. AND THEN HOW BIG IS YOUR TERRITORY? WE HAVE 13 COUNTIES, UH, CENTERED ON SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING 12 COUNTIES GOING UP TO, UH, GILLESPIE, GOING DOWN TO MCMULLEN. SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS OPERATE JUST IN BEAR COUNTY, UH, WHERE THE LOCAL AUTHORITY FOR INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES JUST IN BEXAR COUNTY. SOME OF THEM ARE JUST IN THE RURAL AREAS, SO WE'RE USED TO MANAGING FUNDS WITH DIFFERENT RECIPIENTS. GREAT. AND, UM, FOR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OPERATING A WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM? OH, WE'VE BEEN OPERATING THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM SINCE AT LEAST THE NINETIES. GREAT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE'S CAPACITY TO RAMP UP HERE. UM, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ONE MORE, THE STEPS OUT SLIDE. WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR IS THAT, UM, THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DO THIS ADDITIONAL WORK. UM, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STEP PROGRAM, IF YOU CAN GET THAT SLIDE UP, I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR WAS PUSHING FOR A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE C P S ENERGY STEP FUND FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION. AND HE ONLY GOT THE VOTES FOR 70 MILLION. SO HE WANTED TO DO MORE. AND NOW HE'S SAYING THAT NOW THAT WE'RE DOING LESS, HE'S SAYING THERE'S NOT CAPACITY TO DO LESS AFTER HE DIDN'T GET THE VOTES TO DO IT. UM, I INSIST THAT THERE IS CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. WE COULD RUN INTO JUST LIKE WITH PAGE, UH, PAGE SEVEN PLEASE. IT'S JUST LIKE ON ANY, IN ANYTHING THAT OUR CITY IS FACING TODAY, YES, THERE ARE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES. YES, THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, ISSUES WITH LABOR. UH, BUT YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU TALK TO A PSYCHOLOGIST, YOU HAVE TO, THEY'LL TELL YOU, YOU HAVE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CAN'T AND WON'T. AND THIS IS NOT AN IDEA. THIS, THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT THAT WE CAN'T, BUT THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO WON'T. UH, WE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD THE HOTTEST SUMMER ON RECORD. AND WHAT WE'RE LACKING RIGHT NOW IS BOLD, VISIONARY LEADERSHIP, UH, FROM OUR NATION, FROM OUR STATE, FROM OUR CITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. AND WE SHOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T NEED RESILIENCY CENTERS. AND RIGHT NOW, UM, WE'VE GOT A MILLION DOLLARS IS ALL WE HAVE IN THIS BUDGET FOR RESILIENCY CENTERS. SO YEAH, WE SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED THEM. AND IS A MILLION ENOUGH? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? FOR A FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE IN A CITY OF 1.5 MILLION TO HOPE THAT THEY DON'T FREEZE TO DEATH, THE NEXT TIME THE GRID GOES OUT IN A WINTER, THE, THE, THE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO GIVING EVERYBODY $26 BACK IS NOT GONNA CURE THIS DISEASE. RIGHT. BUT IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE BIG STEPS. IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MORE WE COULD DO. WE COULD GIVE YOU $26 AND THEN WE CAN TELL YOUR GRANDKIDS, YOU GO FIGURE IT OUT. YOU SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GO. AND WE CANNOT COUNT ON WASHINGTON D C RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO FURTHER THIS CONVERSATION, TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW THIS, THESE REVENUES COULD BEST BE SPENT TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST SEVERE WEATHER AND TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR MOST VULNERABLE AGAINST HIGH ENERGY BILLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN A DISCUSSION ON RETURNING, UH, FUNDS TO, UH, CONSTITUENTS, I OFFERED, UH, RETURNING A LARGER, UH, AMOUNT, UH, TO RATE PAYERS. [02:00:01] AND I SUGGEST IT JUST BE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SINCE THEN, I'VE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS IN MY DISTRICT, AND I THINK WE'RE HEARING IT FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY. AND I BELIEVE THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE SHOULD REINVEST IN OUR NETWORK, UH, AND MAKE US MORE ENERGY RESILIENT. YOU KNOW, WE DESERVE MEANINGFUL LONG-TERM CONSIDERATION, UH, OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT CAN LEAD TO LONG-TERM ENERGY COST SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR SYSTEM. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS A RELATIVELY SPEAKING, SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. MAYBE IT'S $20 FOR SOME PEOPLE, MAYBE IT'S A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR PEOPLE WHO, UH, USE A LOT OF ENERGY. IT'S EVEN GONNA BE A MILLION DOLLARS TO ONE COMPANY AND A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO 30 OR 40 OTHERS. BUT TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, ALL IT DOES IS REDUCE PART OF THEIR BILL FOR ONE MONTH. HOW DOES THAT, HOW DOES THE CITY WORKING WITH C P S HELP THEM THE NEXT MONTH OR A YEAR FROM NOW, OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW? $50 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY, UH, SEEM TO BE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES STARTS WITH A FIRST STEP. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING RIGHT NOW WITH THIS, WITH THIS MONEY IS TAKING FIRST STEPS IN FINDING MORE MEANINGFUL LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE, UH, C P S ENERGY, UH, RESIDENTIAL WORLD RATHER THAN A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ONE BILL. THERE'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT. WE SHOULD BE DOING RESEARCH. THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN DO COLLECTIVELY FOR EVERYBODY IN THE LONG TERM. YOU KNOW, THIS, THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED WAS NOT AN OVERCHARGE TO THE CITIZENS. THEY WEREN'T OVERBUILD. THEY ACTUALLY WERE BILLED FOR THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THEY USED, AND SO THEY RECEIVED THE SERVICE. NOW ADMITTEDLY, WE ARE BEING GOUGED BY GAS COMPANIES THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND THEY'RE CHARGING US WAY MORE THAN WE SHOULD BE PAYING. AND SO THAT IS CP S'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS THE COST FOR ENERGY ONTO ITS RESIDENTS. THE CITY COLLECTED ITS 14%, WHICH WE ALWAYS DO, AND IF IT WAS A PRIVATE COMPANY HERE, WE'D BE COLLECTING IT FROM THEM. BUT C P S HASN'T MADE A PROFIT. PEOPLE HAVEN'T PAID MORE THAN THEY SHOULD. WE HAD UNBELIEVABLE TEMPERATURE OUT OF EVERYBODY'S CONTROL, AND PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO STAY COMFORTABLE, LET US USE THIS FUNDING TO RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM OR TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM OVER A LONG TERM SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT SUMMER OR SO THAT IT DOESN'T COME UP THIS WINTER. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE UP HERE WHO REALLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE DON'T THINK GIVING PEOPLE 20, 30, 50 OR EVEN A HUNDRED DOLLARS OFF OF A BILL, NOT EVEN CASH IN THEIR HAND, IS GOING TO DO AS MUCH TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AS WE CAN COLLECTIVELY WORKING WITH EXPERTS, DOING THE RESEARCH, DETERMINING HOW THIS 50 MILLION CAN BE MULTIPLIED 10 TIMES IN ORDER TO HELP PRESERVE THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT. IT'S NOT GIVING MONEY BACK TO PEOPLE. IT WAS TAKEN FROM THEM THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE PAID. THEY GOT THE SERVICE THEY WERE REQUIRING AND DEMANDING AND, AND NEEDED AT THE TIME. THIS IS THE CITY DECIDING WITH ITS MONEY HOW TO GO AHEAD AND INVEST IT GOING FORWARD. I DON'T WANNA GIVE $12 MILLION TO RESIDENTS WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE $19 MILLION TO BUSINESSES THAT SIMPLY WRITE OFF ANY LOSSES OF TAX. UH, AND IT'S A WRITE OFF OF THEM. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU AND I WHO ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN OUR HOMES AND WANNA GO AHEAD AND STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE. [02:05:01] AND SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO THAT WE CAN DO MORE FOR WITH THIS MONEY. SO THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION OF HOLDING THIS MONEY FROM THE, UH, BUDGET AND SETTING IT ASIDE FOR THE COUNCIL TO DO DUE DELIBERATION ON HOW WE CAN HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR ENERGY, THEIR SAFETY IN THEIR HOMES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE DELAY, UM, BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, DO SOMETHING THAT I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE. I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE REACHED A GOOD FAITH COMPROMISE. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ALL OF THE CONCERNS OF, UM, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IK, WE'VE BEEN FULLY HEARD AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AND FULLY CONSIDERED. UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS PARTICULAR VOTE IS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE I BELIEVE THERE IS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN HELPING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, UNFAIRLY CARRYING THE BURDEN OF HIGH ENERGY COSTS AND VERY CLEARLY GIVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REBATES TO BUSINESSES WHO LIKELY DON'T NEED THE EXTRA CASH RIGHT NOW. AND ONE QUESTION THAT WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED ABOUT, HAVEN'T HAD ANSWERED ABOUT THIS REBATE IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE GOING TO THE LARGE CORPORATIONS AND WHO ARE THESE BUSINESSES AND WHAT SIDE OF TOWN ARE THEY LOCATED IN? AND IS THERE A GUARANTEE THAT ANY OF THEM WOULD OPT OUT? AND WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE GUARANTEE. PART OF THAT IS THAT NO, THERE IS NO WAY TO GUARANTEE THAT. THERE'S NO WAY TO GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE TO THE BIG BUSINESSES IS GOING TO BE, UM, YOU KNOW, OPTED OUT. AND IF WE'RE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT GIVING BACK TO RESIDENTS WHO NEED IT THE MOST, THEN I BELIEVE WE WOULD FOCUS THESE FUNDS ON THE AFFORDABILITY AND WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS. YOU KNOW, I, UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT, OR I SPECIFICALLY ADVOCATE A LOT TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF ISSUES. AND OFTENTIMES, OR THIS YEAR PARTICULARLY, RIGHT, UM, ONE OF THE ROOT CAUSES IS FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT DON'T HAVE INSULATED HOMES. THEIR HOMES ARE NOT WEATHERIZED. AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING HIGHER ENERGY COSTS EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT, UM, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT USING AS MUCH ENERGY OR THEY'RE NOT ATTEMPTING TO, THEY'RE TRYING TO ABIDE BY ALL THE RULES. THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE THEIR TEMPERATURES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OTHERS, AND THEIR BILLS ARE STILL HIGH AND THEIR PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED BY GETTING A $26 CREDIT OFF OF THEIR NEXT BILL. IT'S GOING TO BE SOLVED BY HAVING INCREASED OPPORTUNITY TO WEATHERIZE THEIR HOME. AND AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT MEANS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF SAVINGS EVERY YEAR. AND WHEN I'M KNOCKING ON DOORS AND PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REHAB THEIR HOME OR TO WEATHERIZE THEIR HOME, WE HAVE SO FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT. AND I SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS CONVERSATION THAT I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF A LARGE INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINABILITY. AND I WAS OPEN TO WHAT THAT MEANT. AND SO I'VE LENT MY SUPPORT TO, TO THE TREE PLANTING, TO, UM, REAP TO OTHER PROGRAMS. BUT MY LAR MY KEY DESIRE OUT OF THIS IS WEATHERIZATION. YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD QUESTIONS, UM, ANSWERED IN REGARDS TO OPTING IN VERSUS OUT, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTREACH THAT C P S COULD CONDUCT. UM, WE HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE EQUITY THROUGH THIS. UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT C P S CAN TO ACTUALLY DO VERSUS WHAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO. AND SO IF WE DO GET A DELAY, MY REQUEST WOULD BE THAT WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE CAN HAVE ALL OF OUR LEGAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE WANNA PUT ON THE TABLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT IF WE ENTER THAT DISCUSSION IN GOOD FAITH, WE CAN REACH A COMPROMISE AND WE CAN REACH SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, A DECISION THAT WE CAN ALL SUPPORT THIS TERM. WE'VE SEEN A, UM, A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTES THAT HAVE BEEN SIX FIVE OR FIVE SIX, AND THAT'S NOT CONSENSUS TO ME. AND SO IF YOU CAN WALK OUT OF THIS VOTE AND FEEL LIKE SIX PEOPLE OR FIVE PEOPLE ARE UNSATISFIED, AND TWO OTHERS ARE, MAN, THAT'S NOT CONSENSUS AND THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL. AND SO I WOULD REALLY URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST WITH THIS DECISION, BUT ALL DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD. HOW CAN WE MAKE AS MANY PEOPLE HAPPY AS POSSIBLE? AND THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE GIVE AND TAKE. AND SO WHEN YOU VOTE ON THIS, THIS DELAY, AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELAY. IF YOU WANT TO VOTE NO BECAUSE [02:10:01] YOU MIGHT BE FATIGUED AT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I URGE YOU TO, TO GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU FEEL LIKE WE CANNOT REACH ANY KIND OF COMPROMISE, VOTE THAT WAY. UM, BUT I BELIEVE IN US AND I BELIEVE IN, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR MOTIVES AND DESIRES. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. WOW. WHAT A, WHAT A SUBJECT. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT SURE IS. AND EVERY TIME I HEAR THAT THIS IS THE CITY'S MONEY, IT JUST GETS UNDER MY SKIN. IT'S NOT, IT'S LIKE EVERY TAX DOLLAR THAT COMES INTO THE CITY, IT'S NOT OUR MONEY. YEAH. IT'S OUR JOB TO DISTRIBUTE AND ALLOCATE AND THAT KIND OF THING ACROSS, UH, ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE. BUT IT'S YOUR MONEY AND THE THESE FUNDS ARE, ARE YOUR MONEY, AND IT SHOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO THE CUSTOMERS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING NOW. I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL 75 MILLION AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN, LESS THAN 50 ON WHAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW. BUT, UM, I, I JUST LOVE HOW THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, WE KNOW HOW TO BETTER SPEND YOUR MONEY. IT'S YOUR MONEY. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S YOUR MONEY. AND YOU DESERVE THIS MONEY BACK IN YOUR POCKETS AND YOU DETERMINE HOW TO SPEND THAT MONEY, NOT CITY COUNCIL. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT. AND LOOK, WE'VE BEEN DELIBERATING THIS FOR ERIC. HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS? UM, I PROPOSED THE BUDGET ON AUGUST 11TH, AND YOU GUYS HAVE HAD THREE WORK SESSIONS ON IT. OKAY? SO WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DELIBERATING THIS THING, AND I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER COME TO WHERE EVERYBODY ACROSS THIS, THIS STAGE UP HERE IS GONNA AGREE ON HOW THIS MONEY GETS USED. BUT I'M GONNA STICK TO MY GUN SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE CUSTOMERS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS LONG ENOUGH. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. UH, YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE GOTTEN HAS BEEN VERY CONCISE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WOULD SAY AROUND 70, 75% OF THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE GOTTEN BACK THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS IS WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK. WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK. WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK. HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO HEAR THAT WITH THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS THAT ARE RESPONDING? AND NOT ONLY IN MY DISTRICT, BUT ACROSS THE CITY AS WELL. SO, UH, I, IT'S IRRITATING, BUT HEY, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE UP HERE. UH, ANOTHER, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I'VE HEARD WAS, WELL, BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES DON'T DESERVE THAT. WELL, DAD, GUMMIT, THEY, THEY SUFFERED THROUGH WINTER STORM URI, THIS HEAT WAVE THAT WE'VE HAD JUST AS MUCH AS RESIDENTS HAVE. AND CAN THEY AFFORD IT? I DON'T KNOW. BUT I GUARANTEE YOU ON INCREASED ENERGY PRICES, GUESS WHERE THOSE COST INCREASES GO. THEY GO TO YOU AS THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE PURCHASING FROM THEM. THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GO BROKE. YOU KNOW, NOT TAKING THIS, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY UP TO THOSE BUSINESSES AND, AND WE'RE GIVING THAT THE PROPOSAL IS TO PUT THIS AS AN OPTION IN THERE IF THEY WANT THIS REBATE OR NOT. IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT, YEAH. THEY CAN GIVE IT BACK AND PUT IT INTO ONE OF THESE EXTRA PROGRAMS. HOW SIMPLE IS THAT? I MEAN, IT, IT, TO ME, IT, IT'S A COMMON SENSE THING. I, AND I'M GONNA STAND UP FOR OUR BUSINESSES 'CAUSE WE GOT A TON. THIS CITY IS 95% OF SMALL BUSINESSES. DO YOU THINK THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH ENERGY PRICES OVER YOUR WINTER STORM URI OR THIS SUMMER? ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THEY DESERVE THIS BACK JUST AS MUCH AS I WOULD OR YOU WOULD LIVING IN YOUR HOUSE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION AS A RESIDENT TO PASS THAT CHARGE ONTO SOMEBODY ELSE. THE BUSINESSES DO, AND THEY WILL. SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN THE SAME BOAT AS EVERYBODY ELSE. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET PAST THIS TODAY, GET IT DONE, DO THE RIGHT THING, AND LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ALL ACROSS THIS CITY. THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS WANT. [02:15:01] THEY WANT THEIR MONEY BACK. AND, UH, SO I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THIS MOTION. I WANNA GET THIS THING DONE AND MOVE ON. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. UM, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION IN AUGUST AS THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON AUGUST 11TH. WE DIDN'T KNOW OF THE 50 MILLION SURPLUS, AND THE DECISION WAS ALREADY MADE WHEN THE DOLLARS WERE GOING TO THIS COUNCIL INITIALLY, UM, THAT 5 MILLION WERE TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND 45 MILLION WAS TO CREDIT ALL C P S ENERGY CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE SINCE HAD A SEPTEMBER 13TH PRESENTATION BY BEN GOEL, AN AUGUST 30TH PRESENTATION BY BEN GOEL, AN AUGUST 16TH PRESENTATION BY TROY ELLIOTT. AND AT SOME POINT, I DON'T HAVE THE, THE PRESENTATION REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN PERRY, WHERE WE DECIDED TO GIVE THEM 21.5% INCREASE IF WE WERE GONNA DO THE 75 MILLION. SO LAST YEAR, I REMEMBER SITTING HERE AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, TELLING WE, I JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE BUDGET. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS FOR YOU TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT, THIS IS THE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT THREE OR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. IT HAS CHANGED FROM 13.2% TO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A 12.6%. I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF WHO WOULD BE GETTING THIS REBATE? WHAT WOULD BE THE AVERAGE FOR MINE, MY DISTRICT, BUT TO TELL ME WHERE THE MAJORITY WOULD WOULD SIT. WERE THEY GETTING $14? WERE THEY GETTING $30, $60? I WAS MET WITH, WE CANNOT TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE IT'S PROPRIETARY, NO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO HEAR THIS. I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION, SHOULD I RECUSE MYSELF? I HAVE FAMILY THAT WORKS AT TEXAS A AND M. SHOULD I RECUSE MYSELF? ARE THEY GETTING A, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY? NO, IT'S FINE IF WE DO IT LIKE THIS. THESE ANSWERS WERE NOT ACCEPTABLE. THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN TUCKED INTO THE BUDGET. WE ALWAYS SHOULD HAVE HAD A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I I REGRET THAT WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND TAKE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A 3.4 BILLION BUDGET THAT LOOKS, THAT MEETS THE EQUITY LENS. BUT I HAVE THIS 1.5% THAT DOES NOT, THAT DOES NOT MEET THE LONG YEARS THAT COUNCILS BEFORE ME HAVE MOVED TO ELIMINATE THE RED LINE THAT HAS, HAS BEEN MADE IN THIS CITY THROUGHOUT DECADES AND GENERATIONS BECAUSE WE WERE AT LARGE. AND SO NOW I'M SITTING AND I AM PLEADING WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO JUST GIVE US MORE TIME SO WE CAN GET ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION. COUNCILMAN BRAVO BROUGHT FORWARD A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED. AND I'VE CONTINUED TO ASK WHY DO WE NEED TO MOVE ON THIS TODAY? AND I WAS TOLD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO. WE COULD PUT IT IN A RESERVE FUND. WE COULD HAVE CONVERSATION, WE COULD LOOK AT A FIRST QUARTER BUDGET REVIEW, SEE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH INFLATION COST WITH BOND PROJECTS, AND SEE IF THINGS NEED TO BE MOVED AROUND. C P S DOES NOT BELONG TO THE RATE PAYERS. IT BELONGS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE RESIDENTS OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO I ASKED, HOW MUCH IS GOING TO THE RESIDENTIAL USERS IN THE CITY LIMITS? $16.1 MILLION, 38% OF THIS $42.5 MILLION. THAT'S MAYBE 2 MILLION PER DISTRICT. BUT THEY CAN, THEY WON'T GIVE ME AN A LENS TO SEE WHERE THESE RATES ARE COMING. MY JOB IS TO BE UP HERE AND VOTE FOR THE BEST DEAL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT THREE. THIS IS NOT THE BEST DEAL. THIS IS RUSHED. THIS IS NOT TRANSPARENT. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE EQUITY LENS. THIS CONTINUES A RED LINE [02:20:01] THROUGH THIS DISTRICT. AND, AND I, I, WHAT I AM ASKING IS MORE TIME, SO I CAN VOTE FOR THE 3.4 BILLION AND SAY, COME TO ME WITH BETTER REASONS WHY WE NEED TO PASS THIS ENERGY CREDIT. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMITTEE WILL TAKE AWAY OUR GOVERNANCE ABILITY TO SET RATES. PEOPLE ARE GONNA COMPLAIN WITH REGARDLESS. THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMITTEE IS GOING TO ASK US AND HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US, WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO WITH THE FUNDS. AND MY QUESTION TO YOU, ANDY, AND IF WE NEED TO TAKE IT TO EXEC, WE WILL, IS HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO DEFEND THE DECISION MADE HERE TODAY WITHOUT DOING MORE VETTING, UH, TO THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMITTEE COUNCILWOMAN, UH, RATHER THAN GOING TO EXEC? WHAT I WILL ANSWER IS THAT RIGHT NOW, THAT WOULD BE VERY SPECULATIVE. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO, UH, CLAIM OR, OR THREAT TO, TO GO TO THE P O P U C. BUT, UM, OBVIOUSLY IF THERE IS, THEN WE WILL ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION AND EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE CAN LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE RISKS ARE AND WHAT THE COSTS WOULD BE. SO, UH, THEN I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, BEN. SO ARE WE MO ARE WE IN A RUSH TO GET THIS DONE TODAY BECAUSE WE THINK THE P U C WILL, WILL FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST US? COUNCILMAN, I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION THAT IT IS, IT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY, BECAUSE IT WAS INCLUDED WITHIN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. UM, MY, MY PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL DID NOT CONTEMPLATE ANY SORT OF ACTIONS OR COMPLAINTS AND TIMELINES ASSOCIATED WITH, LIKE ANDY SAID, THAT SPECULATIVE. AND WE DID NOT TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT MORE TIME. I WANNA HEAR WHAT OTHER UTILITIES HAVE DONE. I WANNA HEAR WHAT OTHER CITIES THAT OWN UTILITIES HAVE DONE WHEN THEY HAVE COME INTO A SURPLUS THIS SIZE. I WANNA KNOW WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THEY DID WITH, WITH THE EXTRA FUNDS. DID THEY KEEP IT, DID THEY GIVE IT AN ENERGY CREDITS? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE HEADLINE HAS BEEN RATE PAYERS GET $30 IN CREDIT, BUT TOMORROW THE HEADLIGHT CAN, CAN BE RESIDENTS ONLY GET 30 POINT 38% OF THE $42.5 MILLION. SO I WANT Y'ALL TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. AND, AND I I ASK THAT YOU GIVE US MORE TIME WITH THIS BECAUSE WITH MORE TIME, I BELIEVE THIS COUNCIL CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS. I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN BRAVO, UM, COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMAN CASTILLO HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS REGARDING WHO'S GETTING, UM, INCENTIVES OR TAX ABATEMENTS WITH THEIR, THE BUSINESSES THERE. WE HAVE JUST TOO MANY QUESTIONS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND SIGN OFF ON THIS TODAY. SO I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TO TABLE THE SURPLUS TO ALLOW THIS BODY ADEQUATE TIME TO DELIBERATE ON HOW WE INTEND TO DISPERSE THESE FUNDS. UH, I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ASKED. UM, LIKE MANY OF US UP HERE, WE'RE ELECTED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE, MAKE, THAT OUR CONSTITUENCY IS RECEIVING THEIR FAIR SHARE. AND WHEN WE LEARN THAT BASED OFF OF THIS INEQUITABLE RATE STRUCTURE, MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WILL RECEIVE, WILL BE RECEIVING LESS THAN $28, IT'S EXTREMELY INSULTING. IT'S EXTREMELY INSULTING TO MY SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE CALLED OUR OFFICE ASKING FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE. I HAVE SO MANY FOLKS AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR LIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THEY WOULDN'T RECEIVE ANY OF THIS REBATE. SO I BELIEVE IT'S JUST UNJUST FOR US TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSION. I THINK ALLOWING MORE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ASKED WOULD HAVE ME IN A COMFORTABLE PLACE WHERE I SAY, OKAY, MAYBE THIS IS HOW WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS ASKED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY BY DISTRICT, UM, BY CENSUS TRACK WHAT THE AVERAGE REBATE WILL BE SO I KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE FOR MY CONSTITUENCY. YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES IT'S, WELL, IT'S BEEN SAID ON THIS DIET BEFORE, THAT EVERY DOLLAR IS A CLIMATE DOLLAR, BUT I JUST DON'T SEE HOW GIVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENTITIES WHICH TAX OUR GRID THE MOST AND POLLUTE OUR CITY THE MOST IS A SMART INVESTMENT OF OUR SO-CALLED CLIMATE DOLLARS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL AND SHADY, AND IT'S NOT THE KIND OF SHADY THAT WE REALLY NEED. RIGHT? BY MOVING FORWARD WITH COUNCILMAN BRAVO'S PLAN, UM, I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE [02:25:01] AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT THESE FUNDS TOWARDS ADDRESSING MANY OF OUR CLIMATE GOALS, GIVING A HUGE IMPACT. UM, I HAVE A 12 YEAR OLD NEPHEW WHO I HOPE MAKES ME A GREAT THEA AND I WANNA ENSURE THAT MY NEPHEW'S CHILDREN HAVE A SUSTAINABLE SAN ANTONIO. THAT HIS CHILDREN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND ENJOY CLEAN AIR AND NOT HAVE TO STAY INSIDE WITH THE AC BOLSTERED. THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR MY FAMILY. THAT'S WHAT I HOPE FOR THE YOUTH OF DISTRICT FIVE, IS FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE AIR, TO HAVE, UM, A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT? AND I BELIEVE BY HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSION ON HOW THESE DOLLARS CAN BE BROKEN DOWN, CAN CREATE THAT SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THAT NEXT GENERATION. UM, AGAIN, RIGHT? WE KNOW THE CLIMATE CLOCK IS TICKING AND HANDING OUT SMALL REBATES ISN'T GOING TO BUY US MORE TIME. UM, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS GOING TO GET EXTREMELY HOTTER AND EXTREMELY COLDER. OUR CITY HAS SOME OF THE NATION'S OLDEST HOUSING STOCK THAT LACKS WEATHERIZATION, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SCALE UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND MAKE A HUGE IMPACT FOR SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES. WE ALREADY KNOW THE CENSUS TRACKS THAT ATTRACT THE HIGHEST HEAT WITH THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MITIGATE THAT HEAT BY PLANTING MORE TREES AND MAKING A MORE SUSTAINABLE SAN ANTONIO. SO I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATION AROUND HOW WE CAN BEST USE THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS AND INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, RECOGNIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THAT, THAT OUR RESIDENTS DIDN'T OVERPAY, RIGHT? THIS BODY APPROVED A RATE INCREASE AND UNFORTUNATELY, WITH FUEL COST AND THE EXTREME HEAT THAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO OCCUR, THEY HAD HIGHER RATES, RIGHT? AND THAT FUND GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUND, AND IN THE SAME WAY WE FUND STREET SIDEWALKS, OUR TREE MITIGATION PLAN, THESE DOLLARS SHOULD BE USED IN THE SAME MANNER TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN ADEQUATELY AND MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTE TO THE LIVES OF OUR FAMILIES. RIGHT? AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS MAKING THAT $28 REBATE STRETCH. AND BY INVESTING IN PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, WE KNOW THAT THAT CAN SAVE FAMILIES HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, UM, A YEAR. SO AGAIN, RIGHT? MAXIMIZING OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT BY MAKING SURE THAT THESE DOLLARS STRETCH. MY ASK IS FOR ADDITIONAL TIME FOR US TO HAVE MORE DIALOGUE AND HAVE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ASKED. AND THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MARK. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER PALS. UM, I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED, AND I TELL MY CHILDREN THAT INDECISION AND DELAYS ARE THE PARENTS OF FAILURE. AND, UM, IMPASSION PLEAS TO EMOTION, NOT WITHSTANDING, I'M READY TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY. UM, WE ALL KNOW WHEN WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR BUDGET. UM, I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK. UH, I REMEMBER A YEAR PLUS AGO, UH, BEING TOLD THAT WE ALL HAD TO EAT OUR WHEATIES AND GET READY FOR THE HARD WORK. I ATE MY WHEATIES THIS MORNING. UH, I KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON AND, UM, I, I SEE NO REASON FOR DELAY. SO YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE GETTING A NO FROM ME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER APP APPLIES ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. AS ANDY REMINDED US, THIS IS ABOUT A MOTION FOR JULE. THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE BRAVO PROPOSAL, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO CONSENSUS, UM, INSTEAD OF US RUSHING THIS THROUGH, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. I'M NOT ASKING PEOPLE HERE TO VOTE FOR THE BRAVO PROPOSAL. I'M ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO CONSIDER WHAT COULD WE DO WITH THESE FUNDS THAT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE. WHAT COULD WE DO WITH THESE FUNDS TO LEVERAGE THEM TO GET MORE FUNDS INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY? FEDERAL FUNDS? WHAT COULD WE DO THAT WOULD APPLY AN EQUITY LENS? THE MAYOR JUST TALKED ABOUT AN EQUITY LENS. THERE'S NO EQUITY LENS HERE. THIS FLIPS THE EQUITY LENS AROUND WE'VE GOT $19 MILLION IN CORPORATE WELFARE IN THIS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. AND, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE BRAVO PLAN. AGAIN, IT'S, THIS IS LIKE, I HAVE, I BY NATURE HAVE BEEN A TEAM PLAYER AND I HAVE WELCOMED DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT OPTIONS. THE, I CALLED THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR WAS THE FIRST PERSON I CALLED, AND I SAID, HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA? LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON IT. RIGHT? AND, AND EVER SINCE THEN, I'VE GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, DISRESPECT AND DISINGENUOUS CRITICISMS. BUT THIS IS, THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOMETHING BIG, UH, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. AND WE CAN, WE CAN MOVE THINGS AROUND. WE CAN OPEN UP DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA SPEND THE FUNDS ON AND WAYS THAT WE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE. WE LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS AND WE APPLY THAT EQUITY LENS THAT [02:30:01] WE TALK ABOUT, BUT ARE FAILING TO DO RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO REMOVE 42 POINT A MILLION DOLLARS FROM OUR, UH, F Y 23 BUDGET. FOR FURTHER DELIBERATION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION FAILS. SO WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR MAIN MOTION AND I'LL ENTERTAIN FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL. I'LL GO BACK TO THE QUEUE. LEMME START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER KEO. JDA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANK YOU. UM, OF COURSE FOR THE, THE, THE PRESENTATION AND THE HARD WORK THAT CITY STAFF HAS PUT INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. I KNOW CITY STAFF SPENT MANY HOURS INCLUDING, UH, EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS WORKING ON THIS BUDGET AND YOUR WORK IS, IS TRULY APPRECIATED. I'VE HEARD SEVERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET PROCESS IN THE PAST WEEKS. IT'S BEEN CALLED A BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION, A DEFINING DOCUMENT. AND I AGREE THAT THE BUDGET IS ALL OF THESE THINGS, BUT I SEE IT AS A PLATFORM FOR FUTURE WORK AND POSSIBILITIES. OUR CITY IS MAKING ITS WAY OUT OF THE DIFFICULT PANDEMIC YEARS WITH STRENGTH AND DIRECTION. WE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE EXPERIENCE, BUT MANY GAPS WERE REVEALED. AND WE'VE STARTED TO CHANGE OUR MINDSET TO GO BEYOND PROJECT PROGRAMMING BASED THINKING TO POLICY AND PROPOSALS. AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A MORE SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH TO SERVICE AND PROBLEM SOLVING. BUT WE CAN'T FORGET OUR BASIC CHARGE. I'M GLAD TO SEE A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE. THIS BUDGET PRIORITIZES IMPORTANT COMMUNITY STAPLES LIKE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS, LIBRARIES AND PARKS, ANIMAL CARE, LIGHTING, PUBLIC HEALTH AND TRANSPORTATION. ASSURING THESE COMMUNITY STAPLES IS A NECESSITY. THIS BUDGET GIVES DISTRICT SIX MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. A TOTAL OF FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN A VARIETY OF IMPROVEMENTS. WE'LL SEE MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION ALONG PIN ROAD, A MILLION DOLLARS IN GENERAL ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, IMPROVEMENTS ALONG RA ROAD AND ULA WAY MUCH NEEDED TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT COMMERCE IN 39TH, AS WELL AS ON HUNT LANE, SANTA FE RIDGE AND WEST VISTA DRIVE. THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS IN RENOVATIONS TO BOTH THE GTTA AND GREAT NORTHWEST LIBRARIES. TWO OF THE THREE LIBRARIES WE HAVE IN DISTRICT SIX. AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY AND DISTRICT SIX WILL GET A VERY NEEDED OVERFLOW AND TRANSPORT KENNEL THAT WILL HELP US BECOME A MORE HUMANE CITY. AND OF COURSE, THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY IS IN DISTRICT SIX, BUT SERVES OUR, OUR ENTIRE CITY. AND I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT, UH, DONNER PARKS AND RECREATION OPERATIONS HEADQUARTERS WILL RECEIVE A MILLION DOLLARS IN NEEDED RENOVATIONS AND $600 IN PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS THAT WILL ADD NER AS A FUNCTIONING SENIOR CENTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY ELDERS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER CENTERS. I'M ESPECIALLY PLEASED ABOUT THIS. I MENTIONED WE'RE ADDING PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS AT THE NER COMMUNITY CENTER. THIS WILL PROVIDE AN IMPACT, I THINK, THAT CAN'T REALLY BE MEASURED. THE AREA OF THE CITY THAT DISTRICT SIX SHARES, UM, BORDERING DISTRICT FIVE IS, IS WHAT I, UM, HAVE CALLED A SENIOR CENTERED DESERT. A LOT OF OUR SENIORS HAVE COME TO US SAYING THEY CAN'T GET TO, UM, THE, THE OTHER SENIOR CENTERS THAT ARE AROUND. AND EVEN NOT JUST IN DISTRICT SIX, BUT DISTRICT FIVE BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. AND, UM, ESPECIALLY NOW IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN SO MANY SENIORS HAVE BEEN ISOLATED AND ARE JUST NOW RECOVERING FROM BEING SHUT IN FOR SO LONG. THIS PROGRAM AT NER IS TIMELY AND I'M, I'M GRATEFUL TO SAY IT WILL BENEFIT BOTH DISTRICTS SIX AND FIVE, AND REALLY ANY, ANY SENIORS THAT THAT WANNA BECOME MEMBERS. FUNDING FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE IS VITAL ON, NOT ONLY FOR SAN ANTONIO, BUT FOR THE NATION. THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORIES OF THOSE THAT FOUGHT FOR THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS INVALUABLE. AND SAN ANTONIO IS, I BELIEVE, THE ONLY PLACE IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN TELL THIS STORY. WITH THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE, I WAS FULLY COMMITTED AND FOUGHT FOR THE INITIAL FUNDING FOR THE MOCKERY. SO THIS, IN THIS INCREASE HAS MY ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR INCREASING THE FUNDING FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MARCH. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GROW IT TO, UM, EVEN MORE TO CONTINUE TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE NATION BY FAR. AND OF COURSE, IN OUR REMEMBRANCE OF A GREAT MAN. AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR THIS EVENT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT SAN ANTONIO. IT SHINES A LIGHT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND IS A SOURCE OF CIVIC PRIDE FOR MANY GEN GENERATIONS WHO CALL SAN ANTONIO HOME. I'M EXCITED ALSO TO SEE INVESTMENTS IN SMALL BUSINESS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. UM, UH, SUPPORT. I, I'M, I'M SUPPORTING THE INCREASE IN FUNDING TO THE LOAN INTEREST BUY DOWN PROGRAM. I THINK THAT'S A CRUCIAL ELEMENT TO, TO [02:35:01] HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND I HAD SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE ECOSYSTEM, BUT HEARING TODAY THAT YOU'LL WORK WITH NONPROFITS ALREADY DOING THIS WORK, LIKE, LIKE SAGE ELIMINATES MY CONCERN. I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. WHAT AM WHAT AMOUNT IS GOING TO, TO SAGE? THE AMOUNT TO SAGE IS ABOUT $358,000. THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AND THAT'S OF OVER THE TWO YEARS, RIGHT? UH, THAT WOULD BE THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR 2023. OH, OKAY. SO THE 300,000 THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENT HAS NOT BEEN ALLOCATED. OKAY. SO 358,000 DIRECTLY TO SAGE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, SO THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CRAFTING OF A POLICY THAT PROVIDES CONSISTENT, LONG LASTING SUPPORT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I'M ALSO EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS BUDGET GIVES US TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE IN A FOCUSED AND MEANINGFUL WAY. THE PAST YEARS, AS I MENTIONED, HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT HAVE GIVEN US A CLEAR LOOK AT OUR GAPS IN SERVICE AND SHORTCOMINGS. WE'VE HAD FEDERAL RECOVERY FUNDS TO LAUNCH MASSIVE RESCUE EFFORTS FOR BUSINESSES, FOR MENTAL HEALTH, FOR NON-PROFITS, FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. BUT WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THOSE ARE NOT PERMANENT FUNDING SOURCES. THIS BUDGET LAYS A FOUNDATION AND A CALL TO ACTION TO BEGIN SERIOUS POLICY DISCUSSIONS TO IDENTIFY AND FILL GAPS IN SERVICE AND THINKING THAT WILL TAKE OUR CITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. WE SHOULD BEGIN FOR LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FURTHER ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS CLOSELY TIED TO OUR AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL RAPID TRANSIT THAT IN TURN SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING. AND THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY, THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, FOSTER CHILDREN AND OUR VETERANS. IT HELPS LIFT FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY, REDUCES HOUSELESSNESS AND MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. OUR EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST YEARS HAS SHOWN US HOW EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED AND HOW A SMALL CHANGE, HOW FILLING A GAP IN ONE AREA CAN HAVE A LASTING EFFECT THROUGHOUT, ACROSS THE CITY. THAT'S OUR CALL TO ACTION. AND THIS BUDGET IS WHERE WE BEGIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEEO. HALBERDA. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. UM, LEMME JUST GIVE A MOMENT FOR FOLKS. UM, AGAIN, I'M USING THE, THE SYSTEM FOR THE MAIN MOTION QUEUE. SO IF YOU'RE NOT INTENDING TO BE IN THERE, IF YOU COULD JUST BACK OUT AND THEN COME BACK IN WHEN YOU'D LIKE TO. I HAVE DOESN'T LET YOU DO THAT. SO LEMME JUST CALL IN ORDER THEN. AND IF YOU WANT TO PASS AND YOU CAN. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I FIRST WANNA, UM, I WANNA START OFF BY SENDING MY LOVE TO THE DISTRICT, TO COMMUNITY FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE A COLLECTIVE VISION OF A THRIVING EAST SIDE. AND THEY WAKE UP EVERY DAY TO FIGHT FOR IT, UM, AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. UM, LAST YEAR I VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET. I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF WONDERFUL THINGS, BUT THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT I WAS AGAINST THAT I COULDN'T, DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT SUPPORTING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. AND THIS YEAR, MY APPROACH AND MY TEAM'S APPROACH WAS TO WIN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT MEANS THAT I GOT A TON OF WINS. MY COLLEAGUES GOT A TON OF WINS. UM, AND WE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER AND CITY STAFF TO GET TO THAT POINT. AND DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON, IN PARTICULAR, STARTING EARLIER, WE HAD RECORD ENGAGEMENT. AND D TWO HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN UP AND PROVEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE CITY. AND I DO NOT COME TO THESE DECISIONS WITHOUT THEM. THEIR HONESTY, UM, THEIR FISH SHAKING THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE. I WANT US TO THANK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND CITY STAFF FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK. CRUNCHING NUMBERS OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS NOT EASY. AND I IMAGINE, UM, SIFTING THROUGH THE DEMANDS OF 11 DIFFERENT PEOPLE IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER IF YOU JUST HAD TO MAKE ME HAPPY AND DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE. BUT I UNDERSTAND. UM, IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE. UH, FINALLY, I, I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF FOR ALL THEY DO EVERY DAY ON THE FRONT LINES OF OUR CITY. UM, WHAT WE EXPERIENCE ON THE DOORS, UM, ON THE PHONES AT OUR FIELD OFFICE AND AT OUR EVENTS, IS AN INVESTMENT IN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATING THE FUTURE THAT WE WANT FOR OUR D TWO FAMILIES. THEY GIVE ME IMPORTANT FEEDBACK ALL THE TIME AND THEY CHALLENGE ME AND THEY'RE LIKE, JAYLEN, WHY YOU DO THAT? UH, . AND THEY GIMME THE FEEDBACK THAT INFORMS MY DECISIONS HERE ON THE DAIS. AND THEY'RE ALL HERE TODAY, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT. SO MARIE, UM, SADE, DENISE IGAR, SEAN, JOLENE LORITA, AND FRANKIE, I LOVE Y'ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR ME. AND TO MAKE THIS EASIER FOR ME, UM, OUR BUDGET REFLECTS OUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITIES AS A CITY. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD USE IT IN STRATEGIC WAYS TO BUILD EQUITY THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND TO UNDO THE HISTORIC AND NEGLECT IN DISINVESTMENT THAT OUR BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE EXPERIENCED. AND THIS IS THE LENS THROUGH WHICH I VIEW THE BUDGET. AND I HOPE TODAY THAT WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO BOTH RECOGNIZE THESE ISSUES AND TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE WITH OUR INVESTMENTS. THIS BUDGET CYCLE HAS GIVEN OUR OFFICE AN OPPORTUNITY TO [02:40:01] FIGHT, AND AS I SAID EARLIER, WIN MAJOR INVESTMENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I'M EXCITED, EXTREMELY EXCITED TO SHARE SOME OF THESE WINS WITH YOU TODAY. SO DISTRICT TWO IS RECEIVING AN INVESTMENT OF SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS BUDGET, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR OUR RESIDENTS. FIRST, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT TODAY WE WON AN ADDITIONAL $200,000 FOR THE M L K COMMISSION, UM, TO BRING US A TOTAL OF $300,000. WE ARE TRIPLING OUR INVESTMENT IN THE M L K MARCH, UM, TO SUSTAIN AND TO EXPAND THE LARGEST M L K MARCH FOR JUSTICE IN THE NATION. AND WE HOPE TO, WE HOPE, AND I AM SINCERELY FIGHTING THAT WE'RE GONNA KEEP THE MARCH IN PERSON THIS YEAR, UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, UM, TO BRING A WELL VERY WELL-KNOWN SPEAKER. AND WE ALSO FEEL THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT ROLE. UM, OUR EAST SIDE COMMUNITY PLAYS IN THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, WE WILL BEGIN THE CREATION OF A COORDINATED SYSTEM OF CRIME PREVENTION BY INVESTING IN OUR FIRST CRIME PREVENTION AND RECIDIVISM PREVENTION COORDINATOR. AND THIS STAFF POSITION WILL SERVE AS AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL ADVISOR, UM, AND CRIME PREVENTION MANAGER TO DETERMINE HOW TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS, UM, TO DETERMINE HOW THEY'LL ALL WORK TOGETHER WITH EXISTING AND FUTURE PROGRAMS TO PREVENT ALL LEVELS OF CRIME AND TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S TIME FOR US TO PRIORITIZE THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND NOT SIMPLY CONTINUE TO FUND THE RESPONSE TO CRIME. TODAY WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO FUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN THE CITY CREATED AS A RESULT OF THE STREET LIGHTING INDEX, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT I ADVOCATED FOR LAST BUDGET CYCLE. THIS YEAR, OUR FOCUS WILL BE TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN AND TO INCREASE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH AN INCREASE IN LIGHTING WHERE IT'S NEEDED, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH CRIME AREAS. WE ALSO ADDED POSITIONS TO EXPAND THE WORK OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING CREW, SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR ABOUT VERY, VERY OFTEN IN DISTRICT TWO. AND MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN DIRECT THESE CREWS TO, UM, BETTER ASSIST OUR, OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE AND VIBRANT. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME WAS SOMETHING RAISED BY D TWO BUSINESSES ALONG THE NORTH NEW BRAUNFELS CORRIDOR, AND THEY COLLECTIVELY EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE ONGOING CHALLENGES THEY FACED WHILE AND CONTINUE TO FACE WHILE THEY OPERATE THEIR BUSINESSES AND THE FACE OF ROAD CLOSURES, UM, TRAFFIC DETOURS AND THEIR WATER BEING SHUT OFF, UM, DUE TO CITY FUND AND CONSTRUCTION. AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT A FUND OF $400,000 THAT WILL BE UTILIZED TO ASSIST BUSINESSES LIKE THESE. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BUILD SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THESE NEEDS. 'CAUSE WE KNOW CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO GO BEYOND GOING. I'D ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK SAGE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO, UM, IN ADVOCATE IN ADVOCATING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR ADVOCACY HELPS SO MANY SMALL BUSINESS BUSINESSES IN OUR DISTRICT, AND I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR HOLISTIC EFFORTS, UM, TO BUILD A STRONG D TWO COMMUNITY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS AND THE ACTIVISTS WHO RAISE ISSUES AND BRING THEM TO THE FOREFRONT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEY'LL BE ADDRESSED. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE EFFORTS OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT AND THE TENANTS UNIT OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, UNION OF SAN ANTONIO, WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING A COLLECTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT APARTMENT INSPECTIONS AND HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LIVING IN RENTAL UNITS THAT ARE ENGRAVED DISREPAIR AND ARE NOT RECEIVING THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE CONV, UH, THE CONVERSION OF TWO CO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UM, FOR MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT INSPECTORS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY FOR THE CITY TO ADDRESS MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES THAT ARE HAVING THEIR, AS I JUST MENTIONED, HAVING THEIR FAMILIES LIVE WITH MOLD OR WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING, UH, WATER AND ELECTRICITY. I'D ALSO, IT WOULDN'T BE, IT WOULDN'T BE ME IF I DIDN'T ADDRESS THE BLOATED POLICE BUDGET. AND THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, INCLUDES AN INCREASE OF $31.8 MILLION FOR POLICE WITH 35 NEW POSITIONS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR 50 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS PENDING THE APPROVAL OF FEDERAL GRANT. RIGHT? UM, AND I'VE SAID THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT I'M GONNA REPEAT IT HERE TODAY, THAT WE WILL NOT SOLVE CRIME BY SIMPLY ADDING MORE OFFICERS. OUR COMMUNITY IS ALREADY SUFFERING FROM OVER, OVER-POLICING TO THE POINT THAT RESIDENTS WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW ARE BEING TARGETED, UH, UNFAIRLY SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, THE TYPE OF CAR THEY DRIVE, OR THE SIDE OF TOWN WHERE THEY LIVE. AND IN THE END, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WHAT WILL CHANGE AFTER WE GIVE AN ADDITIONAL 31,000,070 PLUS OFFICERS TO A SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON RESPONDING ONCE A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED RATHER THAN PREVENTING CRIME? AND IF I, I WANT TO GIVE THIS CHALLENGE. 'CAUSE TODAY I'M VOTING FOR THIS BUDGET, WE'RE GONNA GIVE THIS A CHANCE. BUT NEXT YEAR, IF WE DON'T SEE A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE, WHAT WILL WE BE INVESTING IN THEN? AND I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR, I'M COMPROMISING NOW AND I HOPE FOR A COMPROMISE NEXT YEAR. OH, NO, TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. UM, AND I'M EXCITED. I'LL WAIT A SECOND. [02:45:05] AS I SAID, TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH MY SENIORS THAT WE'LL BE FUNDING ADDITIONAL USE OF THE CENTERS, UM, WITH MY NORTHEAST RESIDENTS THAT WE'LL BE EXPANDING AND RENOVATING OUR NORTHEAST OFFICE. AND IT'S GONNA BE BACK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN VERY SOON. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH ANIMAL ADVOCATES IN MY DISTRICT THAT WILL BE INCREASING OUR INVESTMENT IN SPAY AND NEUTER AND, UH, IN ADDITION TO COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION TO RECRUIT VETERINARIANS. UM, WHILE THERE IS A NATIONAL SHORTAGE, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH CITY WORKERS THAT THEY'LL BE RECEIVING SIGNIFICANTLY FAIRER PAY, INCLUDING THOSE LIKE OUR HOUSELESS OUTREACH, UH, TEAM. AND I FEEL CONFIDENT SAYING THAT NO DOLLAR WAS LEFT ON THE TABLE. AND THIS BUDGET IS A GAME CHANGER FOR MY DISTRICT AND FOR MY CITY. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING THE CONVERSATION AROUND NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IN ABOUT THREE OR SO HOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER R GARCIA GARCIA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I'LL START OFF BY THANKING, UM, EVERYONE FOR, FOR THEIR PATIENCE THROUGH ALL OF THIS. AND, AND THANK YOU ERIC AND MARIA JUSTINA. BEN, YOU ALL HAVE JUST BEEN SO, UH, PATIENT WITH US AS WE, UM, GO THROUGH ALL THIS PROCESS. I KEEP SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT WE ARE IN A GREAT POSITION TO HAVE. I DON'T THINK OTHER COUNCILS HAVE HAD MONEY TO SPEND, RIGHT? AND I KNOW COUNCILMAN PERRY SAYS IT, IT'S NOT OUR MONEY, IT'S OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, BUT THE OTHER COUNCILS BEFORE US HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS POSITION. SO THANK YOU FOR STEWARDING US THROUGH THAT AND, AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I REALLY VALUE. UM, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE, THE BUDGET OFFICES WORK. I KNOW THE LONG HOURS AND, AND EVERY DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT SERVES US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I WANNA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE MY STAFF. AND SO, UM, TIM AND ANA AND EDWARD AND, AND DANNY WHO ARE HERE AT, AT CITY HALL, ALWAYS, UH, GIVING US, UM, THEIR, THEIR BEST, BUT ALSO RAUL AND RJ AND JOHANNI WHO HELP US WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. I ALWAYS LISTEN TO MY RESIDENTS AT THE END OF THE DAY ON A, UM, AFTER A, UM, I GUESS WHAT WE COULD SAY, A CONTENTIOUS, UH, VOTE OR BEFORE A A VOTE COMES UP. UM, THAT'S WHO I'M GUIDED WITH. SO I ALSO WANNA THANK, THANK THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT FOUR WHO EMAILED, WHO CALLED, WHO STOPPED ME AFTER CHURCH, UM, AND WHO STOPPED ME AND THE SUPERMARKET JUST TO SAY, UM, THAT THEY SUPPORT, UH, ONE THING OR ANOTHER, OR PRIORITIZE THIS STREET, PRIORITIZE THE SIDEWALK, ET CETERA. SO, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY RESIDENTS. UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES AND THEY BROUGHT FORWARD SOME REALLY GOOD, UH, DISCUSSION POINTS, CONSIDERATIONS FOR PROJECTS. AND I, I THINK THAT COLLECTIVELY WE DO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT WE DO. UM, THANK YOU ALSO TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY IN, UH, SUPPORT AND, UH, AND, AND WITH CONCERNS. UM, YOUR CONCERNS, UH, DO NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS. WE, WE, WE LISTEN TO THEM AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK STILL TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS TO KEEP THE NEEDLE MOVING. AND THEN, UM, ALSO WANTED TO, TO JUST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THERE'S RISING INFLATION RATES. THERE'S, UH, AN INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING. AND SO THIS BUDGET CYCLE REALLY REQUIRED US TO MAKE SOME DELIBERATE POLICY DECISIONS AND MAYBE POLICY DECISIONS THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING TODAY, BUT THAT WE WILL BE SOON. UM, BUT THE SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET, I THINK ALSO, UH, EXEMPLIFIES OUR COMMITMENT AS A COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, UM, WHO NEED SOME ADDITIONAL TARGETED SUPPORT. PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY IN MY DISTRICT. UM, QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES SERVICE, LIKE, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANIMAL CARE, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY, RESOURCES FOR, UM, ELDERLY RESIDENTS, UH, FOLKS OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THAT IS WHAT I HEAR AND I SEE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I FEEL THAT THIS BUDGET REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES, UM, INCLUDING A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE SENIOR AND DISABLED PERSON'S HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 85 TO 85,000 FROM 12,500. I APPRECIATE THAT WE STARTED THIS BUDGET PROCESS EARLY, BACK WHEN WE WERE AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, I THINK IT WAS IN APRIL OR MAY. UM, I WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS HAD NOT BEEN ADJUSTED SINCE 2005, AND THAT THERE WAS OTHER COUNCILS WHO CAME BEFORE US THAT, UM, MAYBE MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. SO AGAIN, I CAN'T THANK THE, THE BUDGET TEAM AND, AND BEN'S TEAM ENOUGH, UM, BECAUSE I THOUGHT, OKAY, WE'LL GO FROM 12,500 MAYBE TO 40,000 AND BE ON AVERAGE. AND THEN Y'ALL CAME UP WITH A PROPOSAL OF 85,000. SO THAT JUST BLEW MY EXPECTATIONS. I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE A GREAT BUDGET CYCLE AFTER THAT. UM, THE INCLUSION ALSO, UH, OF MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST, UM, CORPUS, WE HADN'T DONE THAT SINCE 1988, UH, WITH THE INITIAL $10 MILLION CONTRIBUTION. AND I THINK THAT ALSO REFLECTS OUR ENTIRE COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE, UH, COMMITMENT TO EXECUTING THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION [02:50:01] PLAN, AND ALSO FOCUS ON PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVES THAT CAN FOCUS ON THE ALARMING INCREASE OF UNHOUSED FAMILIES, WHICH I'VE BEEN, UM, RECENTLY TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT. SO, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THAT. UM, THE, IN THE AMENDMENTS, I, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO, TO RECEIVE THE SUPPORT OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT, THAT I REPRESENT IN MY DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU. SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY STILL NEED TO RECOVER. THEY STILL NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. UH, THE PANDEMIC HAS, UM, SLOWED DOWN, BUT I STILL THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RECOVERY TO DO IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, IDEAS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM REPORT TO BE, UH, TAKEN AND, AND, UM, ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED BY SOMEONE, UH, IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THEN ALSO WITH THE HELP OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ARE FUNDING, UH, TODAY. AND THEN I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT CITI'S CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM. I KNOW I WAS CALLING IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT, UH, WHOEVER RENAMED THAT, I, I APPRECIATE THAT. IT SOUNDS A LITTLE NICER THAN THE, THE OTHER WAY THAT I HAD IT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. UM, AND THEN I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE ARE STILL FACING A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WE REPRESENT HAVE BEEN LIVING THROUGH GENERATIONAL POVERTY. THIS IS US MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THEIR LIVES. I THINK THAT THE BUDGET IS REPRESENTATIVE OF TRANSFORMING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DECADE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I FEEL LIKE THIS BUDGET HELPS US WITH THAT. UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALSO THE BOND PROJECTS THAT WILL START AND THE IMPACT THAT WE DO HAVE ON FU UH, CHANGING THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN. THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK EVERYONE AT THE CITY WHO WORKED VERY HARD ON THE BUDGET. UM, JUSTINA, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, DID A GREAT JOB. I HOPE YOU GET TO TAKE A VACATION AFTER THIS. PROBABLY NOT THOUGH. UM, YOU WORKED STEADFAST TO BRING A BALANCED BUDGET TODAY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, MARIA, YOU'VE BEEN A KEY PLAYER TO THIS BUDGET AND ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO, UM, MEET WITH ME IN MY OFFICE ON BUDGET INQUIRIES AND CONCERNS. AND ERIC, WE'VE HAD LONG DISCUSSIONS OVER THIS BUDGET AND YOU'VE, YOU'VE ALWAYS MADE TIME TO MEET AND, UM, UNDERSTAND MY PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY. I WANNA THANK THE DISTRICT RESIDENTS, ALL THE NAS, THE HOAS FOR FEEDBACK. IF YOU CAN, UM, IF, IF I CAN LIST THEM ALL, I WOULD. UH, BUT IF YOU CAN EVER GET OUT TO DISTRICT THREE AND SOME OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND MANY OF THE CITY STAFF HAVE, YOU KNOW, HOW ENTHUSIASTIC THEY ARE ABOUT THIS BUDGET, I AM THRILLED WITH THIS BUDGET. UH, THE FUNDS THAT ARE COMING TO DISTRICT THREE FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS, THE, THE NEW POLICE SUBSTATION, UH, THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, I, I'M JUST THRILLED WITH BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE, UH, A BUDGET THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF. AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS, I WATCHED THE MEETINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND I WOULD SEE MARIA STAND UP THERE. I THOUGHT SHE WAS NERVOUS. I WASN'T SURE ON THE TELEVISION AND TALK ABOUT THE FORECASTING FOR YEARS TO COME. AND DID I EVER THINK WE'D BE HERE WITH A $3.4 BILLION BUDGET? I DIDN'T. AND I, HOW I WISH WE HAD MORE RECUSALS SO I COULD VOTE FOR MORE OF, MORE OF THIS BUDGET. BUT I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT PASSED. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE MAIN MOTION BECAUSE THE EQUITY LENS IS THE EQUITY LENS AND IT WAS NOT USED ON THIS. SO, UM, I THINK WE SHOULD BE, BUT CELEBRATE BECAUSE THE 3.4 BILLION WAS AMAZING. THANK YOU STAFF. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, LONG HARD PROCESS AND I WANT TO THANK ERIC AND THE REST OF THE STAFF FOR, UM, ALL THE, THE, UM, RESEARCH AND, AND PULLING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER. I CALL IT THE BIG THICK BOOK. AND, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, BEARING WITH ME. 'CAUSE I, I ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND, UH, I'M PRETTY TOUGH ON THE BUDGET. BUT, UH, THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR, UH, PUTTING UP WITH ME AS WELL. UH, I DO WANNA POINT OUT, AND IT WAS JUST MENTIONED, WE'RE UP TO $3.4 BILLION. THAT'S 200 MILLION MORE THAN WE HAD THIS LAST YEAR. WHERE'S THAT MONEY COMING FROM? AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR SAN ANTONIO? UH, THAT MONEY, AGAIN, IS COMING FROM EVERYBODY THAT LIVES HERE, VISITORS COMING IN, OUR BUDGET CONTINUES TO GROW. AND THAT'S A GREAT, THAT'S A GOOD THING. THAT'S A GREAT THING FOR SAN ANTONIO AND I, I HOPE IT CONTINUES TO GROW. BUT I I, [02:55:01] I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO PUT EMPHASIS ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES AND TRYING TO WHITTLE DOWN THIS $6.6 BILLION, UH, BILL THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS CITY, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S STILL OUT THERE, FOLKS. AND, UH, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE AFTER, UH, THIS BUDGET AND THE EXECUTION OF THE 2022 BOND WHERE WE'RE AT, DID WE MAKE A DENT IN THAT? IS IT GONNA, IS IT GONNA MAKE THAT LINE START TO GO DOWN OR IS IT GONNA BE LEVEL, OR IS IT GONNA CONTINUE TO CLIMB? AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA BE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN OVER, UH, THE COURSE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT THE TRAJECTORY AND WHAT ELSE WE NEED TO DO TO, UH, REDUCE THAT REQUIREMENT FOR THE CITY. UM, AND I'VE SAID THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR, THIS IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON, BECAUSE THIS SETS THE TONE, THIS SETS THE FUNDING, EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES REVOLVES AROUND THIS BUDGET. SO THIS TRULY IS, IN MY VIEW, OUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB HERE ON CITY COUNCIL AND HOW TO, UH, USE TAXPAYER FUNDS AND REVENUES OUT BACK TO THE CITY ON WHAT PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS ARE. NOW, HAVING SAID WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF, OF, UH, SOME OF THE, WELL, ALL OF THESE PORTIONS THAT I'M ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR SINCE 2017. WE'RE INCREASING OUR CITY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 0.01% UP TO 10%. THAT'S A BIG JUMP. AND LEMME TELL YOU THIS NEXT YEAR I'M GONNA FIGHT TO GET IT UP TO THE MAX 20%, AND I'M, I'M LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW NOW WE CAN START THAT DISCUSSION TO RAISE THAT TO 20%. WE'RE INCREASING OUR OVER 65 EXEMPTION FROM 65,000 TO 85,000. THAT'S BIG. UH, THESE FOLKS ARE ON FIXED INCOMES. THE MAJORITY OF THESE FOLKS ARE RETIRED AND ARE ON FIXED PENSIONS THAT THEY NEED THIS HELP ON PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AS WELL AS THE DISABLED PERSON EXEMPTIONS. WE'RE RAISING THAT FROM 12,500 TO 85,000. AGAIN, A HUGE JUMP IN SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY NEEDED FOR OUR, UH, DISABLED COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE ALSO DECREASING THE TAX RATE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE GROWTH IN REVENUE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, AGAIN, THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE FUNDING 78 NEW POLICE OFFICERS. THE SAFETY AND SECURITY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND 21 NEW UNIFORM FIREFIGHTERS. AND THE THIRD AREA THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE INCREASING THAT BY OVER $13 MILLION, UP TO $154 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THAT $6.6 BILLION FIGURE, REALLY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH YET TO REALLY MAKE A, A, A BIG DENT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS OUT THERE. BUT I'M GONNA KEEP PUSHING TO INCREASE THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CATCH UP TO WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE OUT THERE. AND THOSE 3, 3, 3 TOP PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MINE SINCE 2017 SHOW UP EVERY YEAR ON OUR ESSAY SPEAK UP SURVEY AS THE TOP THREE, OR WITHIN THE TOP TOP THREE OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE SURVEYS. AND I THINK WE'RE ANSWERING THE CALL OR BEGINNING TO ANSWER THE CALL ON EACH ONE OF THESE. AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO INCREASE EACH ONE OF THOSE, UH, AS MUCH AS WE CAN. UH, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TAXPAYERS TO HEAR AND WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE AND WHAT THEY THINK OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS. AM I HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING IN THIS BUDGET? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE IS 100% HAPPY, BUT IT TAKES, AGAIN, IT TAKES HARD WORK AND TALKING ACROSS BETWEEN EVERYBODY, SEEING WHERE WE CAN GO AND WHAT WE CAN AGREE ON. AND, UH, UH, I'M [03:00:01] GONNA VOTE FOR THIS THING BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT 10. I LOOK AT THESE, ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS AS CITYWIDE REQUIREMENTS. AND YEAH, DISTRICT 10 IS GETTING INCREASES ALSO IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE, ARE EXPECTED BY THE RATE PAYERS AND TAXPAYERS HERE. SO I'M HAPPY WITH THAT, BUT I THINK THE CITY OVERALL IS THE BIGGEST WINNER ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH WITH THIS DOCUMENT. SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'M, I'M, UH, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS AND, UH, START LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BOY, HE'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. I THINK OUR SERIOUS DISCUSSION ON C P SS ENERGY, UH, FUNDING WAS WARRANTED, UH, AND CERTAINLY SPIRITED, BUT NOW WE CAN PRESS FORWARD, UH, WITH A BUDGET. AND, UH, THE ACTION THAT WE TAKE TODAY WILL ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IMPACT THE LIVES OF EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I'D LIKE TO COMMEND OUR CITY STAFF, THE CITY MANAGER, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, THE BUDGET AND FINANCE TEAM, AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT LEADERS WHO WORKED WITH ALL OF US AS COUNCIL WHO WORKED WITH ME TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND AND, AND LOOK AT, UH, THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET. I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND THEIR DEDICATION. I DON'T KNOW ANY CITY THAT MAY HAVE ANYTHING BETTER THAN, THAN WE HAVE WORKING FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY. UH, I HAVE TO CONCUR WITH WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM, UH, MY FELLOW COUNCILMEN. I'VE CONSISTENTLY BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF LONG-TERM MEANINGFUL TAX RELIEF FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS IS WHY I CO CHAMPIONED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR FIRST HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THIS YEAR OUR INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND THE GREATEST TAX RELIEF OUR CITY HAS EVER APPROVED. THESE ARE PERMANENT, NOT JUST ONE TIME FINANCIAL RELIEF. AND, AND I'M HAPPY THEY'RE PART OF OUR BUDGET. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS THAT I ADVOCATED FOR IN OUR BUDGET. I WAS GLAD TO SEE, UH, ADDED AS, UH, AMENDMENTS. UH, AND ONE WAS, UH, GETTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR SENIOR CENTERS SO THAT EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT WILL HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO ASSIST DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS THAT MAY WANT TO USE THESE CITY FACILITIES. UM, ALSO, UH, WE'RE ADDING A SECOND SIDEWALK REPAIR TEAM TO GO OUT ACROSS THE CITY AND HELPED MAKE THOSE KIND OF EMERGENCY OR, OR VERY QUICKLY REQUIRED REPAIRS AND SIDEWALK AREAS THAT ARE HAZARDOUS, UH, TO OUR CITIZENS. AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO OUR NORMAL SIDEWALK, UH, PROGRAM. SO I'M, I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE BOTH OF THOSE AMENDMENTS ADDED TO THE BUDGET. I DEFINITELY NEED TO THANK MY STAFF TOO, FOR THE REALLY HARD WORK THEY DID. I DROVE 'EM PRETTY HARD, ASKED 'EM TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, THAT THICK BUDGET BOOK AND LOOK FOR ALL OF THE THINGS IN THERE THAT I THINK WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND AND ORDER TO BE SUPPORTIVE OR ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET. SO, UH, AS OTHERS MAY HAVE SAID, NONE OF US WILL BE 100% SATISFIED WITH ANY BUDGET. UH, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T PLEASE ALL THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME. SO I'M HAPPY THOUGH TODAY TO VOTE TO PASS THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER PAPA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE DISTRICT, A TEAM IS UPSTAIRS, UH, WATCHING AND HANGING ON EVERY WORD I SAY. UH, AND SO, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I STICK TO THE TALKING POINTS AND, UH, THAT THEY GAVE ME , UH, THANK YOU TO THEM. UH, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN PULLING A LOT OF LONG DAYS AND, UH, POURING OVER THIS BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, IT MEETS DISTRICT EIGHT'S NEEDS. UH, MARIA, JUSTINA, FREDDY, UH, AND TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, W WORK ON YOUR TEAM, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PULLING LATE NIGHTS. UH, I'VE BEEN LEAVING, UH, LATE HERE, UH, FROM CITY COUNCIL THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEAT ME, UH, BY STAYING MUCH, MUCH LATER. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A FEELING THAT THERE'S A MUCH LARGER LINE ITEM FOR THIS MONTH FOR COFFEE, UH, THAN THERE, THAN THERE HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. UM, YOU GUYS, UM, YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AT GETTING THIS, GETTING THIS BUDGET ACROSS THE LINE. UM, IT IS A HERCULEAN TASK THAT YOU PULL OFF EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC REALLY UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY HOW MUCH WORK THESE MEN AND WOMEN, THESE SAN ANTONIANS PUT INTO A BUDGET THAT GOES TO HELPING [03:05:01] THEIR NEIGHBORS AND KEEPING, UM, ALL OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, SAFER, UH, CLEANER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE RESILIENT. AND SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO FOR, FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS AND, AND MY NEIGHBORS. UM, DISTRICT EIGHT. UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, I'LL TELL YOU, UH, TO MY NEIGHBORS, I AM EXTREMELY PROUD, UH, OF THIS BUDGET BECAUSE, UM, JUST LIKE DISTRICT EIGHT, ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL DISTRICTS, UM, SUCCEEDED. AND THIS IS A MEAT AND POTATOES BACK TO BASICS COUNCIL BUDGET, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ADOPTING TODAY. UM, AND EVERY ONE OF US HEARD YOUR PRIORITIES. UM, AND IN DISTRICT EIGHT, YOU ALL TOOK UP OUR, UH, ESSAY SPEAK UP SURVEY, AND YOU TOLD US LOUD AND CLEAR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, POLICE, FIRE, AND E M S, PARKS AND RECREATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WERE ON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST OF YOUR PRIORITIES. AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THIS BUDGET, UH, FOR 2003, 2023 PRIOR, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROPERTY, UH, TAX RELIEF, $95 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, UH, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE IS BEING REDUCED. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BEING INCREASED, DISABLED PERSON EXEMPTION BEING INCREASED, THE OVER 65 EXEMPTIONS, THOSE ARE INCREASED AS WELL. OTHER INCREASES INCLUDE HEADCOUNT FOR POLICE OFFICERS THAT WILL BE PATROLLING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND KEEPING US SAFE. ALSO, UH, INCREASED HEADCOUNT FOR, UM, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, THOSE BRAVEN MEN AND WOMEN WHO RUN TOWARDS DANGER, NOT AWAY FROM IT. UM, WE'RE GONNA GET MORE OF THOSE IN SAN ANTONIO. ALSO, UH, AS FAR AS INFRASTRUCTURE GOES, WE'VE GOT $154.4 MILLION IN, UH, BRICK MORTAR, ASPHALT AND CEMENT COMING YOUR WAY. UM, AND PARTICULARLY FOR DISTRICT EIGHT. UM, I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL, WILL FORGIVE ME FOR GOING THROUGH THIS, UH, RATHER TEDIOUS LIST, BUT IT'S A LIST I'M EXCITED ABOUT. UM, DE NORE PLACE. TUPELO LANE, BABCOCK ROAD, PRU ROAD, VANCE JACKSON, WURZBACH, GARDENDALE, LOTS OF F STREETS OF F STREETS, SIDEWALKS, UH, UM, ALONG FREDERICKSBURG ROAD, OAK GARDEN, KYLE SEAL PARKWAY. UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS PARKS GO, WE'RE GONNA SEE SOME MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS AT ORINGER GEORGE ROAD, SOUTHWELL WALLER ROAD, MOSS, UH, BROOK COVE, AL ROADIE PARK, EISENHOWER, FRIEDRICH, LEON CREEK, THE NEW MEDICAL CENTER PARK IS COMING, SPRINGTIME PARK, AND SOME ADDITIONAL BIKE TRAILS. UM, ADDITIONALLY WE'RE, UH, WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE ARE CREATING A MAJOR PARTNERSHIP, A A VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL RESULT IN LIVES SAVED AND HEALTHIER. SAN ANTONIANS WITH, UH, UT HEALTH, UM, A $2 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR THEIR SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S GONNA BE WORLD CLASS ALSO, UH, WITH REGARDS TO ANIMALS. AND, UM, Y'ALL KNOW, I LOVE ANIMALS VERY MUCH. I'VE GOT MY CANINES FOR WARRIOR STICKER ON MY COMPUTER ALL THE TIME. UM, I, UH, WE ARE INCREASING SERVICES FOR A C S AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ADOPT ANIMALS, UM, AND MAKING, UH, MORE, UH, HUMANE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR OUR ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM. ALSO, LAST, AND THIS IS LAST, THANK YOU TO ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE WAIVED THEIR PRO RATE OF SHARES OF THE L G C F T E MONEY, UM, THAT YOU COULD HAVE EASILY VOTED FOR TODAY. UM, INSTEAD YOU'VE ALL DONE, YOU'VE MADE A SACRIFICE AND, UH, YOU ARE DEDICATING THAT THOSE FUNDS TO CHIL UH, CHILD ADVOCATES OF SAN ANTONIO. I CAN'T VOTE ON THAT, ANDY. UM, I'M GONNA HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF ON THAT, BUT I'M, I DO. BUT I CAN THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING TODAY. UH, BY DOING THIS, YOU ARE HELPING A ABUSED AND LEC NEGLECTED CHILDREN SURVIVE. UM, AND I CAN'T THINK OF, UH, SOMETHING MORE CORRECT TO DO THAN TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE HUMAN BEINGS IN OUR POPULATION. AND WE ARE DOING THAT TODAY. ANGIE WHITE, YOU ARE HERE. THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR CASA. YOU SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF YOURSELVES. UM, AND YOU OWE A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE COUNCIL. MEMBERS UP HERE, WHO'S DOING THIS FOR YOU GUYS? AND SO WITH THAT DISTRICT EIGHT, UM, YOU DID GREAT THIS YEAR, AND TOMORROW WE START WORKING ON THE 2024 BUDGET. UH, SO GET READY. JUSTINA AND MARIA, THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK I'M GONNA COMPARE MY, MY LIST WITH YOUR LIST. I'M NOT, I'M, I THINK YOURS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN, THAN MINE. UM, BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND I WILL START OUT BY, OF COURSE, THANKING, UH, THE TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. MARIA, I'M SO GLAD I HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE I CAN ASK YOU, UH, LOTS OF SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT REALLY DON'T NEED TO TAKE UP EVERYBODY'S TIME. LIKE, WHAT WAS, WHAT DOES THE RAILROAD, UH, NETWORK, WHATEVER DO, WHY DO WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP IN IT? UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR BEING SO QUICK TO RESPOND. UH, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED THIS YEAR. IT, YOU MAY HAVE DONE THIS LAST YEAR TOO. I APOLOGIZE IF YOU DID, BUT THE RESPONSES TO OUR QUESTIONS, HOW WELL YOU CAPTURED ALL OF THEM, UM, IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO KNOW SOMEONE'S PAYING ATTENTION, RIGHT? TO, TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING AND GETTING BACK TO US ON THOSE INQUIRIES. [03:10:01] AND YOUR RESPONSES ARE SO GOOD THAT I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. BUT, UM, THAT IS NOT MY JOB. I DON'T HAVE TO KNOW EVERY DETAIL. UH, BUT IF I DO HAVE MORE CURIOSITY QUESTIONS, UM, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. JUST, UH, GIVE ME SOME PATIENCE. UH, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR WORKING ON THAT, FREDDY. I THINK IT'S THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW YOU SPEAK. UM, SO , THAT, THAT QUIET GUY WITH A BEARD, OKAY. UM, I ALSO, UH, SO THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU ALL GET A CHANCE TO TAKE, UH, SOME TIME OFF AFTER, AFTER THIS. SO MAYBE THEY'LL START WORKING ON THE NEXT BUDGET IN A COUPLE WEEKS. NOT, NOT TOMORROW. OKAY. UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TODAY. AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, I KNOW THAT IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO PULL YOURSELF AWAY FROM YOUR, YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, JOBS OR, OR WHATEVER OBLIGATIONS YOU HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN, UH, FIND PARKING, WHICH FORTUNATELY NOW IS FREE FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU STAFF, UH, FOR DOING THAT. UM, I ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS AT SEVEN OAKS WHO WERE HERE, UH, TALKING ABOUT THEIR, THEIR REALLY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES IN THESE APARTMENTS THAT AREN'T ALWAYS UP TO, UP TO SNUFF. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT POVERTY PUTS YOU IN THAT, OR NOT HAVING AS MUCH MONEY AS OTHERS PUTS YOU IN THAT SITUATION. AND AS, AND AS LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, UM, I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE US COMING TOGETHER TO, TO ASSIST THEM. UM, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE REDIRECTION OF THOSE CODE OFFICERS. THANK YOU, ERIC, FOR SUPPORTING THAT AS WELL. UM, WHEN I MET WITH THOSE RESIDENTS, I COMMITTED TO THEM. I WOULD SAY YOU, BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE. I COMMITTED TO THEM THAT, UH, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT RESIDENTS. SO THESE CODE OFFICERS ARE THE BEGINNING. UH, WE WILL HAVE A CONTINUED DIALOGUE ON ENFORCEMENT AT, UH, THE PLANNING, UH, COMMITTEE WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN DR. CHA GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR, FOR LEADING THAT DIALOGUE. UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A, AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS ALL OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST DISTRICT SEVEN. UM, THERE ARE SOME OTHER ITEMS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT. THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THE BIGGEST DOLLAR ITEMS, BUT, UH, BUT I DO THINK THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO MENTION, UM, THE INCREASES TO THE PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS FOR THE DISABLED AND OVER 65. THAT'S REALLY, TRULY, UM, A GREAT MOVE. UH, THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILWOMAN GARCIA FOR IDENTIFYING THAT AS A POSSIBILITY. UM, I'M ALSO SUPPORTING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THE FUNDING FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY. UH, THEY MAY BE DESIGNATED THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE. UH, I KNOW THAT CONGRESSMAN CASTRO IS, IS WORKING ON THAT DECA UM, DESIGNATION FOR THEM. AND WE SHOULD ALL BE TREMENDOUSLY PROUD TO HAVE THAT PLANTED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, I'M ALSO REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE, UH, NEW FTES COMING TO THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD, AND THEY HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO, UM, AND NOW THEY'RE GONNA HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO DO IT. SO, SO THANK YOU TEAM FOR, FOR BUILDING THAT IN. I'M ALSO GLAD TO SEE THE CONTINUATION OF THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, UM, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT EVERYONE GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. AND THAT LANGUAGE IS NOT A BARRIER, AS WELL AS THE DISABILITY ACCESS PLAN THAT IS BEING PUT FORWARD. UM, AND, UH, THE FUNDS FOR THE ESSAY FORWARD PLAN, WE'RE MOVING MORE AND MORE FROM THE GENERAL FUND INTO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, DEPARTMENT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S WONDERFUL. THAT MEANS WE ARE INVESTING OUR OWN DOLLARS INTO THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT AT THE WHIM OF, OF GRANTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE. SO, UH, I WANNA THANK THIS COUNCIL THAT'S ALSO HISTORIC, THE INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN, IN PUBLIC HEALTH. AND IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GETTING ITS MOMENT TO SHINE RIGHT NOW. SO I'M TRYING TO, TO SHINE. UH, CLAUDE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE ALSO A FIRST FOR OUR COUNCIL AS FAR AS I KNOW. AND, UH, I, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THEM, UH, THE NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION. WE KNOW THAT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, OUR STATE HAS MADE CHANGES TO LAW THAT MAY LEAD TO LOWER VOTER TURNOUT. UH, WHICH IS WHY IT IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING. WHEN THIS CITY ESTABLISHED VOTER TURNOUT GOALS FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS FOR THE YEAR 2020, THESE WERE ESTABLISHED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, THEY SET THEM AT 30%. WE ARE STILL IN THE TEENS ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT LOW TURNOUT IN LOCAL ELECTIONS IS FREQUENTLY A RESULT OF VOTERS LACKING AWARENESS. THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THERE IS AN ELECTION. THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS LET [03:15:01] THEM KNOW THAT'S HAPPENING. UH, THE STATE, THE STATE WHO, WHO WE THINK IS MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE, ACTUALLY DOES THAT. THEY SEND YOU RIGHT? SOMETHING IN THE MAIL WHEN WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. THEY DON'T TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE. THEY MAKE YOU AWARE OF IT, AND THEY GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION. IF THE STATE CAN DO THAT FOR EVERYONE IN TEXAS, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT FOR PEOPLE IN, IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I WANNA THANK, UH, THE COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THAT. AND, UH, AND ERIC, FOR MAKING IT WORK, THE, THE BUDGET SET ASIDE FOR THAT WAS $125,000. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. UM, , THE, THE OTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO, TO HIGHLIGHT IS, UH, IS AN AMENDMENT, UM, THAT I PUT FORWARD, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED, UH, SUPPORT FOR THIS. IN, IN JUNE, THIS COUNCIL ADOPTED A, A NEW STEP PROGRAM WITH C P SS. AND, UH, LIKE I TOLD C P S THE OTHER DAY, IF Y'ALL DUNNO, C P SS IS SITTING OVER THERE. UM, THE, THE TEAM FROM C P SS, UM, THAT THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE STEP PROGRAM THAT I'D REALLY HOPED TO SEE IN THERE. AND, UH, I WAS TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT. AND ALSO, SOMEONE SENT ME AN ARTICLE ABOUT AN URBAN HEAT ISLAND MITIGATION PROJECT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ROXBURY, WHICH IS, UM, UH, WHAT WE WOULD CALL A HIGH EQUITY AREA, UM, OUTSIDE OF, OF BOSTON. AND THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE ON A BLOCK BY BLOCK LEVEL TO COOL THE, TO, TO COOL IT, BASICALLY BECAUSE IT WAS VERY HOT. AND IF YOU, YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH BOSTON, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE AC BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T NEED IT. BUT IT'S GOTTEN VERY HOT THERE AS, AS EV IN MANY OTHER PLACES LIKE HERE. AND SO, BLOCK BY BLOCK, THEY WERE PLANTING TREES, THEY WERE CHANGING THE SURFACES OF THE STREETS OF THE BUILDINGS, DOING WHAT THEY COULD TO BRING DOWN THE TEMPERATURE. AND I WANTED US TO DO THAT HERE TOO. SO I SPOKE WITH, UM, MY GREAT E L T LIAISON, MR. MCCAREY, WHO'S ALSO A CLIMATE CHAMPION, RIGHT? YOU DID THAT, YOU DID THE TRAINING WITH AL GORE, UH, UH, WITH MR. MCCAREY. I SPOKE WITH, UH, BRIAN DILLARD IN THE OFFICE OF INNOVATION, WHO HAD ALREADY UNBEKNOWNST TO, TO ME, AND TO PLEASANTLY SURPRISED ME TO KNOW THAT HE HAD ALREADY SUBMITTED FOR A NUMBER OF GRANTS, UH, ON URBAN HEAT ISLAND MITIGATION. UM, SO THESE ARE SOME THINGS I WANTED TO DO. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE, HOW I WAS GONNA GET EVERYONE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO FUND IT. AND, UH, AND THEN I REMEMBERED STEP AND OUR C P S REVENUE. SO I, I CAME TO YOU COLLEAGUES TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER TAKING PART OF WHAT WE NORMALLY PUT INTO OUR GENERAL REVENUE AND SETTING JUST A FRACTION OF THAT ASIDE FOR THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO ON THE CLIMATE FRONT. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT, AND I HOPE THIS IS A FLOOR IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT THAT WE WILL MAKE IN CLIMATE RESILIENCY AND NOT A CEILING. UM, WHEN THIS PASSES TODAY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NEXT YEAR WE WILL NOT HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET IT IN THE BUDGET. IT WILL, IT WILL COME IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET. UM, SO I, I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'VE EVER DONE ON, ON CLIMATE. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UM, SO I, I'M TREMENDOUSLY EXCITED. THIS WILL BE A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE AND ONGOING, AND AS LONG AS THE STEP PROGRAM EXISTS, UH, WE, WE SHOULD HAVE THIS HERE. UM, SO THANK YOU. UM, BUT I, WELL, JUST TO, TO MAKE SURE, UM, I SAY THIS FOR, FOR THE RECORD, WE WILL SPEND THE NEXT TWO TO THREE MONTHS SPEAKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, UH, AND OF COURSE, THE CAP ADVISORY COMMITTEES, UH, TO FINE TUNE THIS PROPOSAL. UH, I KNOW SOMEONE CALLED IT A PLAN EARLIER. A PLAN IS LIKE THE CAP, A PLAN IS THE SHIP, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSING PLAN. UH, THIS IS A PROPOSAL, UH, RIGHT NOW. SO WE'LL COME BACK AND FLESH OUT THE FRAMEWORK. I'M SORRY, CAN I CHIME BACK IN? OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT CITY STAFF PUT INTO THIS PROJECT, AND EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR OUR DISTRICT FIVE CONSTITUENCY WHO CAME OUT TO EVERY BUDGET TOWN HALL. WE HAD A BUDGET PRE-GAME, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. UM, I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR OUR DISTRICT FIVE STAFF, SAKINA, TAYLOR, RACHEL, CHRISTINE, UH, OVER IN OUR FIELD OFFICES, WHO ARE THE FOLKS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD, RIGHT? THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES THAT, UH, ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION WITH FOLKS WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS. AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR CONTINUED [03:20:01] WORK AND HOW THEY LEAD WITH SUCH PASSION AND CARE. UM, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT WHEN THEY ANSWER THE PHONE, THEY KNOW THAT OUR TEAM CARESS ABOUT THEIR NEEDS. SO I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL AND EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR LIZETTE, JUSTIN, DEREK AMADOR, AND KATIE, UH, HERE AT CITY HALL FOR THEIR CONTINUED WORK. AND LIZETTE IS EXTREMELY AMAZING AT FACILITATING ALL THE MEETINGS, MAKING SURE THAT NO CONSTITUENT, UH, IS LEFT OUT AND IS ON THE CALENDAR. UM, WHAT WE HAVE UP HERE IS OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES CALLS BY DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, POINTING TO THE GREAT WORK OF OUR CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM. WE ENTER ALL OF OUR CALLS INTO ONE VIEW, AND THEN I GET A WEEKLY REPORT FROM MY TEAM ON WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CALLS WERE THAT WEEK. AND THEN WE DEBRIEF ON MONTHLY ON WHAT THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT FIVE CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING US ABOUT. UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT THIS, THAT, UM, THIS IS WHAT, UH, SHAPES OUR PRIORITY IN ADDITION TO, UM, PUBLIC MEETINGS, SO ON AND SO FORTH, RIGHT? AND I THINK THIS DEMONSTRATES WHY ROSIE'S THE REAL M V P, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, PUBLIC WORKS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WITH MIKE SHANNON, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES WITH VERONICA. THIS IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT FIVE ARE CALLING AND ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY EXCITED WITH SOME OF THE PIECES OF THIS BUDGET. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE $1 MILLION FOR C I P AT THE START OF THIS CONVERSATION, AT THE BUDGET CONVERSATION, IT WAS AT HALF A MILLION PER DISTRICT. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR OFFICE ADVOCATED WAS TO INCREASE THAT. AND AGAIN, RIGHT? THIS FUND IS TO HELP SOME OF OUR PARKS AND LIBRARIES COME UP TO STANDARD AND MEET THOSE NEEDS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY BOND LARGE SCALE PROJECTS, BUT STILL NEED SOME IMPRESS, UH, INVESTMENT. SO, REALLY EXCITED THAT WE MOVE TO 1 MILLION PER DISTRICT. EXTREMELY EXCITED THAT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS MOBILITY PROGRAM, WE ALSO SAW AN INCREASE THERE, UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, INFRASTRUCTURE IS SUCH A HUGE PRIORITY TO OUR DISTRICT FIVE COMMUNITY. UM, THE $1 MILLION FOR NON-SERVICE ALLEY MAINTENANCE, WHILE WE, WHILE WE DON'T HAVE THE MAJORITY OF NON-SERVICE ALLEYS IN THE CITY, WE HAVE SO MUCH NEED WITHIN THOSE ALLEYS. AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT HATTON'S INCLUDED ON THIS BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE MR. MR. OSCAR UNG, WHO LIVES ON HATTEN, WHO SAYS HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A DECADE TO HAVE THIS, THE ISSUES ON HIS, UH, IN HIS ALLEY ADDRESS. SO, REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. UM, AGAIN, RIGHT, UM, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF COUNCILMAN COURAGE IN GETTING, UM, AN ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK REPAIR CREW. UM, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT IN THE DISTRICT FIVE COMMUNITY AND ALL THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR FAILED STREETS, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS DOING A GREAT JOB. SO AGAIN, RIGHT. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR DISTRICT FIVE CONSTITUENTS, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE SECURED THAT FUNDING THAT THE HOUSING TRUST IS, UH, GOING TO MATCH TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CREATE THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. AGAIN, AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T MADE A CONTRIBUTION IN OVER 35 YEARS TO THE HOUSING TRUST, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, OF COURSE, UM, RUN PARALLEL WITH THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING A CONTINUED IMPACT, UH, WITH THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING THROUGHOUT THIS NATION. AGAIN, NO, UH, I WANNA NOTE THAT, UH, WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT FOR OUR HOMEOWNER REHAB PROGRAMS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AT LEAST ONCE A DAY OR EVERY TWO HOURS, WE HAVE A CONSTITUENT CALLING OUR OFFICE AND ASKING TO GET CONNECTED TO. SO, I KNOW OUR OFFICE HAD PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE IT BY 4 MILLION. WE WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL IN THAT, BUT THIS IS STILL A HISTORIC INVESTMENT TO HOMEOWNER REHAB THEN WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. SO I WANNA THANK, UH, VERONICA AND CITY STAFF FOR TAKING NOTE OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND LISTENING AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. UM, ONE THING, UM, AGAIN, IT'S ALWAYS THE HOMEOWNER MINOR RE, UH, REHAB PROGRAMS THAT CONSTITUENTS LOVE AND WANT MORE OF AND GRATEFUL TO SEE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR UNDER ONE ROOF. UH, AGAIN, RIGHT? WE KNOW 1,700 FAMILIES WHO ARE NOW GOING TO PAY 20% LESS FOR THEIR ENERGY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GRAVE ROOF RATHER THAN A DARKER ROOF. UM, SO REAL MATERIAL IMPACTS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. I ALSO WANT TO TOUCH ON, UH, AND RECOGNIZE AND THANK KAREN SPEAR WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY. SHE'S OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICE APPOINTEE, AND ATTENDED, UH, I BELIEVE EVERY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT BUDGET MEETING TO ENSURE THAT SHE'S THERE, UH, TO TAKE NOTE ON ANIMAL CARE SERVICE NEEDS. UM, WHILE IT'S NOT REFLECTED, UH, ON THE SERVICE CALLS, THIS IS SOMETHING WHEN I GO TO OUR SCHOOLS AND TALK TO OUR STUDENTS, OUR KIDS ARE ALWAYS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SEE IN THE CITY, IT'S ALWAYS STRAIGHT ANIMALS. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND ENSURING THAT WHEN OUR TEAMS ASKED A QUESTION QUESTION, WE CAN LEAN ON YOUR EXPERTISE, UM, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION REGARDING ANIMAL CARE SERVICE. SO, AGAIN, EXCITED TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL CARE SERVICE IS GOING TO ALSO HAVE, UH, AN INCREASE OF SUPPORT. AND I KNOW IT'S, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE RESULTS SOON. ANOTHER PIECE THAT I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT, BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED IS I [03:25:01] THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS MADE A HISTORIC INVESTMENT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY MORE THAN I'VE REVIEWED BEFORE IN PAST BUDGETS. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. AND I KNOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD, BUT I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE 400 CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM, UH, THAT WAS DISCUSSED AND PUT FORWARD, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT. AND I, I AM, I WAS SURPRISED WE DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES FROM, UM, THE ECONOMIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS, AND PLEASED TO SEE THAT IT HAS SOME SUPPORT. AND I KNOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE INCREASE TO THE LIFT FUND. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW BENEFITS DISTRICT FIVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO BE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, UH, AN INCREASE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LOAN INTEREST BUY DOWN PROGRAM. AND I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, MARTIN AND MARIANA ARE STILL HERE, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR FACILITATING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, SAN ANTONIO SMALL BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT FIVE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE'RE RUNNING PARALLEL AND MAKING SURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. UM, AGAIN, I I, I HAVE A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A DIFFERENT VIBE FROM LAST YEAR WHERE I WAS JUST LIKE, UM, AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UH, MICHAEL SHANNON, BECAUSE THE SHIFT TO THE, THE MULTI-FAMILY CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS AND THE HOUSING NAVIGATORS IS A HUGE SHIFT. AND I THINK THAT'S A SHIFT FROM CODE COMPLIANCE TO CODE COMPASSION. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ONE OF YOUR OFFICERS COINED. I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT. UM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY WE'RE, UM, TAKING NOTE THAT WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I'M PRETTY SURE MIKE WAS SURPRISED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS DURING HIS, HIS PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING GREAT STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UH, I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I WANNA HONE IN ON SENIORS AND YOUTH BEFORE I, I TAP OUT. UM, AGAIN, WE'VE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS WITH ARPA DOLLARS AND THESE, UM, GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO CONNECT OUR SENIORS AND YOUTH TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. SO, DISTRICT FIVE'S GOING TO HAVE A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AT, UH, NORM OIL, AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S A THREE ON THREE THING, SO WE COULD BALL OUT IF YOU'D LIKE . UM, AND, AND AGAIN, JUST GRATEFUL THAT, UH, EDGEWOOD, I S D SS A I S G IS RECEIVING THE DELEGATE AGENCY FUNDING TO ENSURE THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR KIDS OFF THE STREET AND PRODUCTIVE. EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE FUNDING THAT THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING, BECAUSE AGAIN, RIGHT, THIS IS CONNECTING OUR KIDS, OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY TO RESOURCES, UM, ACCESS TO, TO SPACE AND ART IS SO POWERFUL. UM, AND I'M JUST PLEASED TO SEE THE CONTINUED, UM, SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT. UH, I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I GUESS I'LL STOP THERE. UM, BUT THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU CITY STAFF AGAIN, ALL OF THIS WORK IS VERY IMPACTFUL, AND I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO BE VERY GRATEFUL WHEN I GO TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING AND READ THIS LAUNDRY LIST OF, OF WINS THAT WE SECURED. UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, UH, I'M ALWAYS ASKING AND SERVING WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, UH, AND PICKING THEIR BRAINS. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANKS CITY STAFF, THANKS, DISTRICT FIVE STAFF, AND THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT FIVE CONSTITUENTS WHO CONTINUE TO REMIND ME OF THEIR PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. I WANNA THANK STAFF FOR WORKING SO HARD ON THIS BUDGET. UM, I WANNA THANK STAFF FOR, UH, RESPONDING TO ME AND GETTING ME ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS LATE AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, UH, SOMETIMES SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, INCLUDING THIS MORNING. UM, I, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING SO RESPONSIVE. I ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I, I TEASE SOME OF YOU ALL, AND I SAID, DID YOU GUYS BRING YOUR SLEEPING BAGS THIS WEEK? YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WERE UP HERE WORKING SO HARD. UM, AND, AND I THINK YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER WHAT FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS IS A GREAT BUDGET. UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR COMING UP WITH A WAY TO, UM, FIT IN FUNDING SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR, UM, FOR NOISE MITIGATION. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF MY DISTRICT ONE CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVE NEAR NIGHTCLUBS, WHO LIVE NEAR LIVE MUSIC VENUES, ARE REALLY GONNA APPRECIATE THIS HELP TOWARDS THEM BEING ABLE TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. UM, I WANNA THANK MY MOTHER FOR BRINGING ME THE PROPOSAL AND EXPANDING SWIMMING POOL HOURS FOR PUBLIC POOLS ALL ACROSS THE CITY. UM, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN, UH, PUSHING THAT ON ME FOR A GOOD WHILE. ANDY, I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT MY MOTHER WILL HAVE TO REGISTER AS A CITY LOBBYIST, BUT NOT YET. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SHE'LL BE GLAD TO KNOW THAT. UM, I ALSO WANT, I I, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I DIDN'T GET A SINGLE AMENDMENT PASSED, AND, UH, ONE OF THEM THAT I PUT OUT WAS I WANTED ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. [03:30:01] AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BEING BAKED INTO THIS BUDGET. UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS, AND IT'S A GOOD START. UM, I DO HAVE SOME, SOME QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL'S, UH, PROPOSAL. AND ONE IS, UH, IT'S SHOWN HERE, ERIC, AS $0. THERE'S NO COST FOR THIS BUDGET ITEM. AND I'M JUST WONDERING, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THE COST ON INTEREST TO MAKE THAT TO THE TAXPAYERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE? COUNCILMAN, THE ITEM YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, WHICH ONE? NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, TAKING THAT STEP, THE, THE CITY'S PERCENTAGE, UH, 14% FROM C P S ENERGY, FROM THE STEP FEE AND USING THIS, I BELIEVE THE PROPOSAL IS CALLED DEDICATED RESILIENCY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND SUSTAINABILITY. AND YOUR, AND YOUR QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH ARE WE ABOUT INTEREST? SO IF WE'RE TAKING THE EDWARDS AQUIFER FUNDS, AND IF WE ARE NOT USING THAT EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION MONEY TO FUND COUNCIL ONE SANDOVAL'S PLAN, THEN WE HAVE TO ISSUE DEBT FOR THE, THAT EDWARD EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION FUND. AND I'M WONDERING WHAT THE COST OF THAT IS TO THE TAXPAYERS. SO, UH, WE HAVE, UM, $9.5 MILLION, UM, THAT WE ARE COLLECTING WITHIN THE, WITHIN OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS FROM STEP, UM, THE, WE ARE PROJECTING A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE COST OF ISSUANCE THIS YEAR. SO THE 9.5 PLUS THE HALF A MILLION IS $10 MILLION. UH, WE HAD $10 MILLION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, FOR THE CASH FUNDING. UM, AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHY THERE'S A ZERO COST FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING, WE'RE TAKING THE ACTUAL, THE INTEREST COST THAT WE'RE EXPECTING, UH, WILL EQUAL $10 MILLION WITH A NINE AND A HALF. SO THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL COST, BUT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN INTEREST THAT'S BEING PAID WELL AS OPPOSED TO FULLY FUNDING THAT EDWARD PHOTOGRAPHER PROTECTION PLAN. WELL, WE'RE STILL FULLY FUNDING IT, UH, BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL IS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ISSUING $10 MILLION IN DEBT. SO THE PLAN THAT YOU HEARD FROM HOMER DURING HIS BUDGET WORK SESSION FOR THE $19 MILLION IN SPEND NEXT YEAR, THAT WILL CONTINUE AND IS ON TRACK FOR NEXT YEAR. SO WHAT IS THE COST ISSUE THAT DEBT AGAIN, UH, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR. GOT IT. OKAY. UM, SO I, I LOOKED THROUGH THIS PLAN AND, UH, I'M GLAD THAT, THAT THIS PLAN, THIS PRO, I'M SORRY, UH, PROPOSAL. I LOOKED THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL, AND IT'S FUNNY, YOU KNOW, THAT I GOT SO MUCH CRITICISM FOR, UH, THE PROPOSAL I PUT FORWARD, GOT THAT CRITICISM FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL FOR THE LACK OF DETAIL. BUT I SEE THE SAME THING IN THIS PROPOSAL, AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS HERE. AND, UH, SO ONE, ONE IS I'M WONDERING ABOUT AN EQUITY COMPONENT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT? WHEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE CLIMATE ACTION, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EQUITY COMPONENT, AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT ANYWHERE. AND SO ACTUALLY, I PULLED UP THE ADOBE P D F OF, OF THIS PROPOSAL, AND I DID A SEARCH FOR EQUITY, AND ADOBE ACROBAT HAS FINISHED SEARCHING THE DOCUMENT, NO MATCHES WERE FOUND. AND THAT GIVES ME SOME CONCERN. AND I'VE HEARD THIS CONCERN FROM A LOT OF THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I SEE THERE ARE NO DOLLAR AMOUNTS ATTACHED TO ANYTHING HERE, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BUSINESS SUBSIDIES IN THERE. AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH OF THIS $10 MILLION IS GONNA BE IN BUSINESS SUBSIDIES? SO I'LL JUMP IN THERE, BECAUSE I THINK I TRIED TO, UH, COVER THAT IN THE ORIGINAL MEMO THAT I WENT THROUGH AT THE BEGINNING. THE IDEA IS THAT THE FURTHER CONVERSATION AND THE, THE, THE, UH, WE WOULD BRING BACK TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER WHEN C P S RETURNS TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAD FROM, UH, FROM THE STEP PRESENTATION IN JUNE. UM, AND THAT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WE WOULD WORK, UH, TO DEVELOP SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES FOR THE COUNCIL TO HA BEGIN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. TODAY'S, WHAT TODAY'S ACTION DOES, UH, IF YOU APPROVE THIS AMENDMENT, IS THAT IT WILL SET ASIDE THAT NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS INTO A SEPARATE ACCOUNT, SEPARATE FUNDING SOURCE. NOTHING IS AUTHORIZED TO BE SPENT. WE'LL COME BACK WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE FOUR AREAS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSAL WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, FOR THE COUNCIL TO, UH, CONSIDER AND DISCUSS, UH, AT, UH, THAT DECEMBER TIMEFRAME. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, ERIC, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SAME THING THAT I PROPOSED WITH MY PROPOSAL WHEN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, UH, CONTINUOUSLY CRITIQUED IT ON THAT SAME ISSUE. UM, LOOK, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL IS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING WITH THIS. UM, BUT SHE ALSO SAYS, THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING WE'VE EVER DONE. YOU KNOW, WE, WE PASSED THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT RESOLUTION IN JUNE OF 2017. IT'S BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS, RIGHT? AND THEN WE TOOK 18 MONTHS. THEY SAID WE WE'RE GONNA TAKE 18 MONTHS TO PASS A CLIMATE PLAN, AND THEY DIDN'T. THEY TOOK 28 MONTHS, AND BEFORE IT CAME UP FOR A VOTE, WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU IS THAT THEY CIRCULATED A, A AMONG, UH, PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND LINE ITEM VETO THINGS OUTTA THE CLIMATE PLAN [03:35:01] BEFORE IT CAME UP FOR A VOTE. AND THEN THEY TOOK A YEAR TO SEAT A CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE STILL NOT DONE ANYTHING. AND SO WHEN I CAME UP WITH A BIG, BOLD PROPOSAL THAT WAS VISIONARY, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY PUSHED BACK AGAINST COUNCILMAN COUNCIL. AND SO, COUNCILWOMAN, I'LL, I'LL TALK, I'LL WRAP IT ALL UP AND PUT A BOW ON IT HERE FOR YOU, ANDY. WELL, I, I, OKAY, SO THIS IS, I'M JUST SAYING THAT, THAT THIS IS NOW OFF THE FLOOR IS WHAT COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL SAID. THIS IS THE FLOOR. IT'S LESS THAN ZERO POINT COUNCILMAN, 3% COUNCIL. THE, THE POINT OF DECORUM I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT YOUR COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT THE POLICY AT THE STAFFER, BUT NOT TO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. THAT'S A RULE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING UP A A POINT, AND I'M NOT ADDRESSING HER DIRECTLY, I'M ADDRESSING THE PLAN, THE PROPOSAL YOU HAVE BEEN DURING THE WHOLE DISCUSSION COUNCIL. OKAY, SO, SO HERE IT IS. THIS WAS CREATING A FLOOR. IT'S LESS THAN 0.3% OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET WHEN WE HAVE AN UNSTABLE ELECTRIC GRID, WHEN WE EXPERIENCE THE HOTTEST SUMMER THAT WE EVER HAVE ON RECORD, WHEN ERCOT BROKE THE DEMAND RECORD 11 TIMES. AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE GOT A LIST OF, UH, A TON OF DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES ASKING 'EM TO SUPPORT THE OTHER, THE, THE PROPOSAL I PUT FORWARD, I'M GONNA STICK WITH 'EM IN SOLIDARITY. I SAY, WE NEED THIS FLOOR, BUT LIKE, WE SHOULD BE GOING FOR A CEILING RIGHT NOW. WE SHOULDN'T BE GOING FOR THE LOWEST OF THE LOW. AND FOR THAT REASON, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CHIME BACK IN. I, I, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS, UH, UH, IN PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER. THE THING THAT I WAS REMISS IS NOT RECOGNIZING ALL THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WENT ON AND, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS. I KNOW WE HAD A COUPLE IN DISTRICT 10, AND PEOPLE CAME TO LISTEN AND MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS BUDGET. SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OUT THERE THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO, UH, GET THEIR INPUT AND, UH, TRY TO INCLUDE AS MUCH AS WE COULD INTO THIS BUDGET. AND I WANNA THANK MY STAFF ALSO FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AND, AND, UH, UH, COMING UP WITH THOSE REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET SO THAT, UH, WE COULD GET SOME GOOD ANSWERS BACK FOR THE PUBLIC ON WHAT, WHAT THEIR, UH, TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO. SO THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY STAFF TOO, WHO'S BACK BUSY AT WORK, BECAUSE AFTER THIS WE HAVE A ZONING MEETING AND IRAQ MEETING. SO I'M TRYING TO KEEP THIS QUICK, BUT I DID WANNA HIGHLIGHT OUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY. UH, THEY PRESENTED THIS WEEK, OR MAYBE IT WAS LAST WEEK, ALONG WITH ARTS AND CULTURE AND CONVENTION AND VISIT AND SPORTS, AND THAT WE'RE BACK, OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY IS WORKING, AND WE HAVE THE HOT TAX. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE ARE GETTING FUNDED IN THE AMENDMENTS FOR ERY, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE. I AM SO THRILLED WITH THAT. I CAN'T WAIT TILL IT'S HOUSED IN DISTRICT THREE. UM, AND ALSO FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE INCREASE FOR TOTAL, UM, ON THAT BUDGET IMPACT, I THINK IF WE WANNA GET BACK, WE NEED A SPEAKER THAT CAN COME AND COMMUNICATE WHERE WE ARE IN THIS, IN, IN, IN THIS TIME AND IN THIS, UM, THIS RECOVERY. I ALSO WANT TO, UH, GIVE A, I THINK IT WAS A, A TEAM EFFORT, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND, UH, COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA FOR THE, UM, THE AMENDMENTS REGARDING THE BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS. UH, IT'S NOT ENOUGH, BUT WE'VE GOT AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR WITH THE LIFT FUND, NUMBER 10 WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM. AND NUMBER 11, WITH THE CITY CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION PROGRAM. WE ALSO HAVE, UH, OUR PRIORITIES, WHICH IS OUR SENIORS. WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PROGRAMMING AT THE GARNER PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITY. AND I DO WANNA OFFER MY SERVICES AS A BINGO CALLER AND, UH, AND ALSO THE OPERATING HOURS FOR THAT COUNCILMAN, UH, COURAGE PUT FORWARD. THIS IS ALL JUST REALLY GOOD WORK. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIRST TIME HOUSING A MATCH CONTRIBUTION. AND I KNOW WE, WE DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEE COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND I, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THIS CONTINUE AND, AND SEE HOW WE CAN REALLY ADDRESS THIS, THIS ISSUE SO PEOPLE CAN STAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WORK. BUT THE, THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO CALL OUT IS [03:40:01] CASA AND THEIR EFFORTS. AND, UM, WHEN I TALK ABOUT UPSTREAM ISSUES, THIS IS WHAT CASA DOES, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE ARE LIKE, BUT THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM. BUT IT'S STILL UPSTREAM ISSUES BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE SHOWING CHILDREN WHAT, WHAT LOVE AND WHAT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS LOOK, LOOK LIKE THROUGH CASA. SO I'M THRILLED TO BE SUPPORTING THAT TOO. UM, AGAIN, THE AMENDMENTS WERE DONE. WELL, ALL, I THINK ALL CITY STAFFS WORKED VERY HARD. I WANNA SAY MINE WORK THE HARDEST, BUT WE'RE HERE TODAY. AND, UM, I, I'M THANKFUL WE ARE. AND, BUT AS I, I REMINDED AS I STARTED THIS, WE'VE GOT MEETINGS AFTER THIS, SO I HOPE WE WERE HEADING THE HOME STRETCH HERE. MAYOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAN, , COUNCIL MEMBER S THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANTED TO USE THE, THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF MY TIME, UM, NOT TO CELEBRATE THE BUDGET, BUT BUT TO TALK AND, AND BRING US BACK TO, UH, TO CENTER ABOUT THE NEXT BUDGET, UH, BY HIGHLIGHTING SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT. UM, IT'S BA IT'S A BALANCED BUDGET. AND, AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED. AND I READ SOMEWHERE THAT BALANCING A BUDGET IS LIKE, GO INTO HEAVEN. EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO IT, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET THERE, RIGHT? AND BY THAT I MEAN SACRIFICE, UM, AND DO THE CONSENSUS AND, UH, LEAVE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WANT ON THE TABLE. UM, AND I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, ALL OF US AROUND THIS DIOCESE HAVE LEFT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT VERY MUCH ON THE TABLE IN ORDER TO GET THIS BUDGET ACROSS THE LINE. UM, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S AN IMPERFECT DOCUMENT, UM, AND DRAFTED BY IMPERFECT PEOPLE AND GONNA BE VOTED ON TODAY BY ANOTHER GROUP OF IMPERFECT PEOPLE. UM, AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES DON'T, DON'T MIND ME ACCUSING THEM OF BEING IMPERFECT, UH, 'CAUSE I'M JUST AS IMPERFECT AS ANYBODY ELSE, IF NOT MORE SO. UM, AND LAST TIME I CHECKED THE, YOU KNOW, ON, IN THE LONG HISTORY OF HUMAN, YOU KNOW, OF, OF HUMAN'S EXISTENCE, THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE PERFECT HUMAN BEING TO EVER WALK THE EARTH. AND THAT'S MARIA VILLA GOMEZ. UH, NO, NO, NO, , UH, THE . UM, BUT I'M, I'M, I'M HIGHLIGHTING, I'M, I'M HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPER PROFESSION TO DRIVE HOME, TO DRIVE HOME. THE POINT THAT, UM, STARTING TOMORROW, WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION. I DON'T THINK THAT, UM, THIS COUNCIL HAS, UM, HAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED, AND NO COUNCIL BEFORE US HAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN THE WAY THAT THIS CRISIS MERITS. UM, WE STILL HAVE WOMEN GETTING ASSASSINATED IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILDREN, UM, IN THE MOST GROTESQUE WAYS. ALL ASSASSINATIONS ARE GROTESQUE, BUT SOME OF, SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE MURDERS, IT'S JUST, IT'S HARD TO, IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT THAT IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN MY CITY. UM, AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO USE THE WORDS EQUITY AND COMPASSION, UNLESS FUTURE BUDGETS, UH, REALLY, UM, DIVE DEEP AND EMBRACE THIS PROBLEM. UM, AND UNLESS THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, UM, WITH THE SAME ZEAL WITH WHICH WE'VE BEEN DEBATING HOW TO USE THE C P S OVERAGE, UM, UNLESS THE CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY, UM, TAKES IT SERIOUSLY, AND I, UM, I'VE LEFT THAT ON THE TABLE, AND IT'S A FAILURE OF MINE. I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO HOME AND EXPLAIN TO MY LOVED ONES WHY IT IS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO, UH, MAKE THIS 2023 BUDGET, THE BUDGET OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UM, I'M HOPING THAT NEXT YEAR WE CAN, AND THE WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO DIE THIS YEAR, THE WOMEN WHO ARE GOING TO DIE, PROBABLY THE, YOU KNOW, BY THE END OF THE MONTH, UH, WE OWE IT TO THEM AND THEIR BABIES, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ARE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING OUR JOBS RIGHT. AND SO I'M, UM, I'M, I'M SAD THAT THIS BUDGET DOESN'T INCLUDE THAT, UH, BUT I, I KNOW THAT I'VE GOT YOUR COMMITMENT, MARIA, 'CAUSE YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? UM, AND BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE ON THE, UH, ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION THAT WE SET UP, UM, I THINK YOU'RE ALSO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AND I, I KNOW THAT IT HURTS YOUR HEART THAT WE HAD TO LEAVE SOME OF THIS ON THIS TABLE AS WELL, BUT I, I, I JUST CAN'T, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, CONTINUE TO GO HOME AND, AND LOOK MY CHILDREN IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, TODAY WE DID SOMETHING OTHER THAN, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AND THEN THE VERY NEXT DAY, I HAVE TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE STORIES, UM, YOU KNOW, OF WOMEN IN MY DISTRICT AND IN EVERY OTHER DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, WHO'VE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED, BUT, UM, AND PREVENTABLE DEATHS, FORESEEABLE DEATHS, RIGHT? AND SO, ANYWAY, I'LL, I'LL END THERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ELA, COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. I WAS REALLY ROLLING, UH, WHEN THE, THE CLOCK RAN OUT LAST TIME. SO LET ME, LET ME TRY TO PICK IT UP AGAIN HERE. UM, SO I HAD, UM, [03:45:02] I WAS SAYING THERE WERE THINGS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO THE STEP PROGRAM. AND HOPEFULLY, UM, ONCE WE, UH, ADOPT THE FRAMEWORK THAT COMES FORWARD FOR THIS PROPOSAL, THEY WILL BE IN HERE. AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, SOMETHING FOR BUSINESSES. YES, IT'S CALLED A, WHAT I'M CALLING A PACE NAVIGATOR. SO SOMEONE TO HELP YOU, UH, NAVIGATE THROUGH THE PROPERTY, ASSESS CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT SUPER STRAIGHTFORWARD. AS WONDERFUL AS IT IS, IT'S NOT SUPER STRAIGHTFORWARD. SO HELPING YOU FIND THE CONTRACTOR, FIND THE FINANCING, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE PROJECT WORKS. SO, UM, THAT'S JUST ONE, UH, IDEA THROWN INTO THIS, UH, PROPOSAL. THERE ARE, THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MEETING WITH, UH, STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, THE CAP. I SEE ONE OF OUR, UM, CLIMATE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE, MS. DIDI BEL MAREZ WITH PUBLIC CITIZEN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK ON THE, ON THE PLAN, DIDI. UM, BUT WE MAY HAVE THE POWER OF THE PURSE THANKS TO, TO THE STEP PROGRAM. UM, BUT WE, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. UM, AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY POLICY TOOL WE HAVE. UM, WE ARE ALSO LEGISLATORS SOMETIMES WE'RE, WE RELUCTANTLY ACCEPT THAT OR DON'T ACCEPT THAT. BUT, UH, WE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY. WE ARE HOME, RURAL CITY, RIGHT? THE ABILITY TO PASS ORDINANCES AND LAWS, AND, UM, I'M GOING TO ASK MY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE POLICIES THAT WILL COME FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. UH, BECAUSE WE CAN'T PAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S CLIMATE RELATED. SOME OF IT WILL HAVE TO BE ADOPTING, UH, NEW PRACTICES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS, COUNCILMAN PERRY ON MAKING SOME THINGS HAPPEN. THEY CAN SPEND THEIR OWN DOLLARS, NO, UH, , WE WE CAN JUST MAKE IT BY DEFAULT THAT THE RIGHT THING HAPPENS, THAT THE GREEN THING HAPPENS. AND THIS INCLUDES, UH, AN ORDINANCE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY. IT'S THE BENCHMARKING ORDINANCE, AND I WANNA THANK C P S FOR ALSO WORKING WITH US ON THAT. UM, AND A GREEN PURCHASING POLICY, UH, FOR OUR OWN CITY THAT SUSTAINABILITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON. AND REALLY, ALL I WANTED TO DO IS GET RID OF PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES, BUT IF YOU WANNA MAKE IT A WHOLE GRAIN PURCHASING POLICY, THAT IS RIGHT. UM, AND, UH, SO JUST TO, TO, TO WRAP UP, I, I WAS NOT AT MY SEAT DURING THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE, THE REBATE. UM, BUT I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT, UM, I WANNA THANK STAFF FOR WORKING WITH, WITH US, WITH ME ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE OPT-OUTS, UM, TO INCLUDE WEATHERIZATION AS WELL AS MINOR HOME REPAIR. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE HOMES, UH, THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, FINANCIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE ARE NOT READY TO BE WEATHERIZED BECAUSE OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE HOME. AND UNTIL WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT, THEN PEOPLE CAN'T AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE, OF THE WEATHERIZATION BENEFITS. SO THANK YOU FOR INTEGRATING THAT LANGUAGE, AND I HOPE WE CAN REALLY COLLABORATE ON THAT PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. UM, NOW IT COMES TO THE OPT OUT. UM, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BY ITSELF. IT, IT MAY BE AN OPTION THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T ALWAYS SEE MY C P S BILL, UH, WHEN IT COMES THROUGH. I, I ASSUME RUDY'S DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN HE'S, WHEN HE IS BILLING ME. UM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, THOSE OF US WHO, WHO ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, ARE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO GET THOSE DOLLARS OPTED OUT IF WE REALLY WANT THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHERIZATION. UM, I DON'T HAVE HUGE BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT SEVEN. YOU GUYS HAVE, MAY, MAY HAVE HEARD ME COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST. WE, WE ARE A BUILT OUT DISTRICT. WE DON'T HAVE UNDEVELOPED LAND THAT, THAT ATTRACTS A LOT OF NEW, BIG COMPANIES. UH, WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND NOW WE HAVE MORE, WE TOOK SOME OF DISTRICT EIGHT'S, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL. UM, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BIG BUSINESSES. UM, SO I AM LOOKING TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT DO HAVE BIG BUSINESSES TO, TO HELP WITH THAT OPT OUT. UM, BUT I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO, TO BRING IN THAT MONEY, UM, FROM, FROM THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, AGAIN, THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. ALRIGHT, UH, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO OUR PROCESS NOW. LET ME JUST, UH, CLOSE BY JUST ONCE AGAIN THANKING OUR CITY STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN TIRELESSLY WORKING ON THIS BUDGET, REALLY SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE LAST BUDGET. UH, AND ALSO MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE MADE, UH, SOME VERY GOOD COMMENTS. UH, AND WE'VE HAD SOME VERY HEATED AND SPIRITED DEBATE ON ITEMS WITHIN THE BUDGET. BUT OVERALL, WE'RE TRYING TO REACH A CONSENSUS DOCUMENT THAT REPRESENTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT. UM, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU [03:50:01] TO FOLKS WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TODAY AND WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR TOWN HALLS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND, AND, UH, IN THE PROCESS LEADING UP TO TODAY. UH, ERIC, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE FLOOR WHEN WE GET TO OUR CLOSING ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE EVERYBODY WHO'S, WHO'S POURED OVER THIS, UH, FOR SO LONG. SO AT THIS TIME, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP THE ITEMS REQUIRING RECUSALS. UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS THE OLDER ADULTS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AND COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN WILL BE RECUSING. UM, SO LET ME TURN THE FLOOR, I THINK, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. OKAY. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET FOR OLDER ADULTS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET FOR OLDER ADULTS TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM FOR RECUSAL IS COMMUNITIES, EXCUSE ME, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. AND COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA WILL BE RECUSING. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. THAT'S FINE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM FOR RECUSAL IS FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES AND COURT APPOINTS IT. SPECIAL ADVOCATES COUNCILMEMBER PIA WILL BE RECUSING. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES, INC. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING AND THE BUDGET FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES AND COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES THE NEXT ITEMS FOR RECUSAL. ACTUALLY, LET ME GIVE THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THE NEXT ITEMS FOR RECUSAL ARE BIOMED SA, MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, GIRL SCOUTS MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PROJECT QUEST, AND THE SOUTH FOSTER ROAD PROJECT. HMM. NO, MAYOR BERG WILL BE RECUSING COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL WAITS FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM TO, JUST KIDDING . I, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR BIO, SAY, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, THE SOUTH FOSTER ROAD PROJECT MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD. AND WAS THAT THE GIRL SCOUTS? ALRIGHT. AND THE GIRL SCOUTS. DID YOU SAY THE WITTY YEAH. AND PROJECT QUEST AND THE WITTY MUSEUM. AND THE WITTY MUSEUM. I APOLOGIZE. MY SCRIPT DIDN'T HAVE THIS SECOND. OH, , I'M SORRY. THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY MISTAKE. COUNCIL NOT, WAIT, MAY I RESTATE THE MOTION? YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR BIOE, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, GIRL SCOUTS MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PROJECT QUEST AND THE SOUTH FOSTER ROAD PROJECT. SECOND, THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND, AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET FOR BIOMED MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE, GIRL SCOUTS MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, PROJECT QUEST AND THE SOUTH FOSTER ROAD PROJECT MOTION PASSES. NOW THAT ALL RECUSALS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, WE'LL TAKE UP THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH IS ALREADY ON THE FLOOR. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET AS AMENDED TODAY, I BELIEVE. WHAT POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR, COUNCIL [03:55:01] MEMBER BRAVO. THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. IF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH A COMPANY THAT WOULD STAND TO GAIN FINANCIALLY FROM A VOTE, SHOULD THEY RECUSE THEMSELVES? GENERALLY, YES. COUNCILMAN. OKAY. SO IF THERE'S, UH, IF THERE IS A BUSINESS THAT'S GONNA SUBSTANTIALLY BENEFIT FROM THE, UH, C P S ENERGY REBATE, YOU KNOW, WE SAW THAT THE TOP 40 BUSINESSES WOULD GET ON AVERAGE A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS, WHERE MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UH, SO THEY, THEY'RE GOING TO, IF MY FAMILY AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S FAMILY IS GONNA GET $26, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A BUSINESS THAT COULD GET HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, NO COUNCILMAN THAT, THAT, THAT IS NOT, THAT, THAT IS NOT A CONFLICT BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING GIVEN THE CREDIT BASED ON THEIR STATUS AS A RATE PAYER. AND ALL THE RATE PAYERS ARE TREATED ARE BEING TREATED EQUALLY. OKAY, WELL MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REVIEW WITH OUR ETHICS REVIEW BOARD AND OPEN UP THEIR, UH, PURVIEW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR FOR THE MAIN MOTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE BUDGET. UH, WE ALREADY HAD THE MOTION EARLIER. OH, OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MOTION BY, UH, ROCHA GARCIA. SECOND BY PIAS. THAT'S THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR IS AMENDED. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. UH, WE WE'RE NOT THERE YET. WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM FIVE. THIS SHOULD BE CLEANER. SO THE ORDINANCE, ACTUALLY LET ME ASK THE CITY CLERK TO READ. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET THAT WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THEN IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022. BUDGET COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I MOVE TO APPROVE. ITEM FIVE, SECONDED. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. TO APPROVE ITEM FIVE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES MADAM CLERK ITEM SIX. ITEM SIX IS, IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE A VALOREM TAX RATE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT 33.01 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR, BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1ST, 2022, AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2022. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I MOVE THAT PROPERTY TAXES BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE OF 33.01 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 3.5% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. SECOND. ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND, UH, FOR, EXCUSE ME, TO APPROVE ITEM SIX, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES ITEM SEVEN. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE VALOREM CITY PROPERTY TAX RATE TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE FUNDED DEBT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AT 21.15 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR, BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1ST, 2022, AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2022. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I MOVE THE TAXES VIA INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE OF 21.15 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 3.5% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. SECOND POINT OF INFORMATION, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE, I'LL ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY OR OUR CITY MANAGER, HAVE WE RAISED OUR TAX RATE BY THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT MR. CITY MANAGER? NO. NO, WE HAVEN'T. COUNCILMAN WITH THE, THE LANGUAGE IS STATUTORY LANGUAGE AND IT ONLY REFLECTS THE FACT THAT MORE TAXES WILL BE COLLECTED IN AGGREGATE THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR. BUT IT'S, IT LANGUAGE IS REQUIRED BY UNDER THE STATE LAW. BUT WE HAVEN'T RAISED THE TAX RATE. 3.5%. NO, SIR. NO, SIR. OKAY. JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM SEVEN, PLEASE VOTE. [04:00:01] UH, COUNCIL, UH, EXCUSE ME. MOTION CARRIES. UH, MADAM CLERK ITEM EIGHT. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING FEES AS INCLUDED WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 BUDGET WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND AND CERTAIN RESTRICTED FUNDS AND AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TO REFLECT SUCH CHANGES. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE POINTED OUT THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T DO MATH BECAUSE THAT IS NOT INCREASE IN THE TAX OF RATE. OKAY. UM, BUT, UH, ONTO THE SCRIPT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FEE ORDINANCE ITEM EIGHT SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES ITEM NINE. ITEM NUMBER NINE IS AN ORDINANCE CARRYING FORWARD CERTAIN FISCAL YEAR 2022 FUNDS, ADMITTING PRIOR APPROPRIATIONS APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR REQUIREMENTS IN CITY PROJECTS AND DEPARTMENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL MOVE TO APPROVE. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CLOSING ORDINANCE. ITEM NINE SECOND. ALRIGHT, THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND BEFORE WE TAKE THAT VOTE. I'M GONNA GIVE OUR CITY MANAGER THE FLOOR, UH, TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. THANKS, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR YOUR, UH, LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION. WE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS EARLY, REMEMBER A LONG TIME AGO, BACK IN APRIL. UM, AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THAT EFFORT. IT HAS BEEN, UM, AND IS EVERY YEAR A LARGE EFFORT AND, UM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE $3.4 BILLION THERE IS A LOT. AND, AND EACH OF YOU TALKED ABOUT ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. UM, AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE BEGINNING OF THE BOND PROGRAM THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED IN MAY WE'LL BEGIN, UH, NEXT FISCAL YEAR. UM, THE CONTINUED WORK AND FOCUS ON THE AIRPORT AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN, THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT, AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO MENTIONED THIS, THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK WE'RE GONNA BE DOING IN OUR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE THE BEDROCK OF, OF PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY, UH, THAT WHERE THEY'RE AT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY OF MINE AS WE GO INTO THE FUTURE. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND REMIND OURSELVES THAT, UM, THE WORK THAT THE COUNCIL DOES, UM, AND HAS DONE, UH, ALONG WITH THE STAFF, IS ALIGNING OUR LOCAL BUDGET WITH, UH, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FRAMEWORK THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED. AND, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, THAT SETS US APART FROM EVERY OTHER CITY AND COUNTY IN THIS COUNTRY, UM, THAT ALIGNMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THE AREAS THAT ARE PRIORITIZED AND THAT IT'S COMPLIMENTARY AND DONE OVER TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE FEDERAL RULES. WE'RE DOING IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WORK. UM, AND THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE. I WANNA THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE EXECUTIVES, UM, THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, UH, LORI, ROD, DAVID, ALEX, JEFF, UH, ANDY AND LIZ. I WANNA THANK, UH, LAURA AND ALANA, UH, AND THE, UH, AND THEIR TEAMS FOR ALL THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS. UM, AND SPEAKING OF BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, YOU'RE RIGHT, KAREN, UH, WAS KAREN AND RITA, UH, TWO BOARD MEMBERS, UH, ON THE A C S BOARD. THEY, THEY WENT TO MORE BUDGET MEETINGS THAN I DID. UM, AND, AND I, AND I WANNA THANK THEM FRANKLY BECAUSE, UH, THAT DEDICATION FROM, FROM AN ADVISORY BOARD STANDPOINT, THEY, UM, THEY WERE VERY, VERY PRESENT. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU LADIES FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF A LOT OF NIGHTS TO, TO SPEND WITH US. UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK MARIA AND BEN AND JUSTINA AND TROY AND EVEN FREDDY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I'VE SHARED WITH FREDDY AFTER HE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION OF THE DAY THAT HE'S GONNA BE GIVING PRESENTATIONS NEXT YEAR. SO YOU'LL HEAR FREDDY TALK A LOT MORE NEXT YEAR. UM, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF, YOU KNOW, LEADING THE DEPARTMENTS OF, OF THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THE, IN THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING REALLY SINCE EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND IT WILL START, UH, TOMORROW TO GET PREPARED FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE TEAM THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE THERE. AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE, UM, IT IS, UH, ONE OF THE, UM, LARGEST INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE IN OUR EMPLOYEES. UM, IT IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN THE 28 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE WITH THE CITY. [04:05:01] UM, AND ENSURING THAT THE WORK THAT RENEE AND THE HR TEAM DID, UM, AND THE MULTIPLE SCENARIOS I MADE THEM RUN THIS SUMMER. UM, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE FIREFIGHTERS, UM, AND THE INVESTMENT IN THE OVER 8,000 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE, UM, THE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF PEOPLE THAT, UM, ARE DEDICATED TO, UM, SERVING THIS COMMUNITY IS WHAT MAKES THIS OPERATION RUN. UM, AND IF WE DON'T, UM, TAKE CARE OF THEM, THEN THEY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF A MILLION AND A HALF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY. AND I'LL END WITH, UM, WELL I'LL END WITH, WE DON'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. AND I'LL, AND I'LL END WITH, UH, SOMETHING THE COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA SAID THE OTHER DAY, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE INVESTMENT IN THE EMPLOYEES AND CONTINUING TO MAKE US A, A TOP EMPLOYER IN THIS CITY, WE DO CARE. RIGHT? SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, ERIC. A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ADOPTION OF THE CLOSING ORDINANCE FOR THE FY 23 BUDGET. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE A BUDGET. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, UH, A LITTLE BIT ANTI-CLIMACTIC. THERE'S NO CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES HAVE A ZONING SESSION AT TWO O'CLOCK, SO WE'LL BREAK FOR ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AND BE BACK. THANKS EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. AJOUR UH, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 1:30 PM AT ON THE 15TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2022 IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.