* 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. [00:01:11] ANTONIO. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. PLEASE [ PROCEDURAL  ] TAKE YOUR SEATS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. THE TIME IS 9:23 AM ON THIS 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2022. OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION IS NOW IN ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HDA. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL IS HERE VIRTUALLY. COUNCIL MEMBER PLI. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. HERE. MAYOR NIERENBERG. HERE. MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL A SESSION, UH, TO BEGIN TODAY. UH, I'M GONNA TURN OVER THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'LL INVITE PASTOR VINCENT ROBINSON, UH, UP TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. UM, LOVINGLY KNOWN AS PASTOR V. PASTOR V IS THE PASTOR AT HARPER'S CHAPEL MINISTRIES AND HAS SERVED AS THE LEAD PASTOR SINCE 2021. HE'S SUPPORTED BY HIS LOVELY WIFE OF 22 YEARS, MARIA ROBINSON AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, JULISSA, JAYLA, AND JADE. PASTOR V WAS RAISED IN THE BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE HIS GRANDFATHER, TSS ROBINSON, SR. SERVED AS THE PASTOR OF HARPER'S CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH. HE GREW UP SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO LOVED THE LORD, BUT IT WAS NOT THE ROUTE THAT HE TOOK EARLY IN HIS LIFE. AT ONE POINT, DRUGS AND GANG LIFE GOT A HOLD OF HIM AND LED HIM DOWN A DARK ROAD. BUT PASTOR V OVERCAME THAT DARKNESS. AND EIGHT YEARS AGO, HE WAS ASKED TO BE A DEACON OF HIS CHURCH, WHICH LED HIM TO BEING ASKED TO BE THE HEAD PASTOR OF HARPER'S CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH. IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT HAS CHANGED SINCE HIS YOUNGER YEARS NOW FILLED WITH POVERTY, DRUGS, ADDICTION, HUNGER, AND HOPELESSNESS. PASTOR V FELT GOD HAD A PLAN TO BRING HOPE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY. HE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY, PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP BRING RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS TO A COMMUNITY IN NEED. HE'S WORKED WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE. SAM MINISTRIES, CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD, BLUE CARESS, AND MANY, MANY MORE ORGANIZATIONS. HARPER'S CHA CHAPEL HAS A WEEKLY H U B RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH BRINGS MANY RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY ALONG WITH THEIR FOOD PANTRY, WHICH PROVIDES FREE FOOD AND CLOTHES TO THE COMMUNITY. PASTOR ROBINSON HAS SERVED AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION GATHERINGS AND IN HIS DOWNTIME, PASTOR V LOVES TO GO FISHING AND I HAVE TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT 'CAUSE HE'S A J GRAD DISTRICT. SIX , GO MUSTANGS. THANK YOU PASTOR V, TAKE IT AWAY. THANK YOU. MAY WE GO IN PRAYER. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU THIS MORNING. WE THANK YOU FOR THE, THE BREATH THAT YOU GIVE US THIS MORNING. FATHER GOD, THAT WE KNOW THIS DAY IS NOT GUARANTEED TO ANY OF US. WE THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE LEADERS AT EVERY, EVERY ONE OF THEM THAT REPRESENTS OUR CITY. GOD, GIVE THEM THE GRACE AND BRING THE TRUTH, FATHER GOD AND THE GRATITUDE AND THE JUSTICE AND STABILITY, FATHER GOD AND THE LOVE AND COMPASSION, GIVING THEM THE POWER, FATHER GOD, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND FAIRNESS. FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU BEFORE YOU WITH GRATITUDE. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING A GOD OF LOVE WHO IS WITH US IN THIS VERY MOMENT. YOU NEVER LEAVE US. WE KNOW YOU FORSAKE US. YOUR GRACE HAS BROUGHT US SAFE THUS FAR, AND YOUR GRACE WILL LEAD US HOME. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM A PERSON. WE MEET EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS CITY AND EVERY CITY IN YOUR OWN IMAGE WITH DIGNITY. AND IF ANY WORTH, WE THANK YOU [00:05:01] FOR THE CALLING. YOU HAVE GIVEN EVERY ONE OF US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR CREATION, TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES. WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, FOR STRENGTH, FOR COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR ALL CITIZENS. MAY WE PUT THE ENTRANCE OF OTHERS ABOVE OUR OWN. MAY WE ACT WITH LOVE FOR THE COMMON GOOD. MAY WE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS RECOGNIZING YOUR IMAGE IN EVERY PERSON HERE. MAY GOD BE WITH US ALL. BLESS YOU ALL. AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH PASTOR ROBINSON. ALRIGHT, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 6TH, 7, 8, 13, 14 AND 15. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE. SO MOVE. SECOND. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE ROOM TODAY AND WE WANNA RECOGNIZE MANY OF THEM. UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND START VERY BRIEFLY. WELL, ACTUALLY NOT VERY BRIEFLY. HANG ON FOR A MINUTE. . UM, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL MONTH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT ONLY AS THE LARGEST LATINO MAJORITY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, UH, BUT BECAUSE OUR FOUNDATIONS ARE BUILT ON HISPANIC HERITAGE. AND SO IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR, UH, THAT WE WELCOME ALL OF THE FOLKS FROM ALL ACROSS TOWN WHO ARE HERE NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE AND THE CULTURE, UH, BUT ALSO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT LATINOS AND, AND HISPANICS HAVE ALL, UH, MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY. SO, UH, I'M GONNA LET THE DOWNBEAT TAKE IT AWAY. [00:10:14] WHAT A PERFORMANCE. WHAT A GREAT PERFORMANCE. UH, AND THANK YOU TO OUR GUADALUPE DANCE COMPANY FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AS WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS DANCE PROGRAM HAS WORKED TO PRESERVE, PRESENT, AND PROMOTE SAN ANTONIO'S CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH TRADITIONAL, CONTEMPORARY AND CONTEMPORARY STYLES OF MUSIC AND DANCE. I WANT TO THANK MELINDA MENCHACA, THE CENTER'S EDUCATION DIRECTOR AND ALL OF OUR DANCERS FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MORE OF THEIR PERFORMANCES CITYWIDE AS WE CONTINUE TO OBSERVE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. WE OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, STARTING WITH RITO AND THE D A C CRE PROGRAMMING. BUT REMEMBER, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CONTINUES UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH AND REALLY IS CELEBRATED YEAR ROUND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO PLUG IN THIS TIME. PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LATINO CONTRIBUTIONS NATIONWIDE AND DISCOVER THE STORIES OF NOTABLE SAN ANTONIOS. TODAY I WANT HIGHLIGHT SOME HISPANIC AMERICANS WITH A SAN ANTONIO CONNECTION WHO HAVE SHAPED MEDICINE, SCIENCE, AND OTHER INDUSTRIES. DR. ANO URRUTIA BEST KNOWN IN SAN ANTONIO FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION IN THE BEAUTY AND MYSTER MYSTERY OF MI FLORES GARDEN AT THE CORNER OF BROADWAY AND HILDEBRAND EXILE. DURING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION, HE ESTABLISHED A CLINIC IN PHARMACY IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE HIS PATIENTS CLAIMED HE COULD DIAGNOSE ANY MALADY ON SITE. DR. ANO WAS RENOWNED FOR HIS ABILITY TO COMBINE THE NEWEST MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES WITH ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE OF MEDI MEDICINAL PLANTS AND HEALING PRACTICES, RESULTING IN BEST CARE FOR HIS PATIENTS. HOVITA IAR BORN IN LAREDO, TEXAS, WAS A JOURNALIST, ACTIVIST, TEACHER, NURSE AND SUFFRAGIST. SHE DEVOTED HER LIFE TO FIGHTING AGAINST SEPARATIST IDEOLOGIES AND SOUGHT TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AND MEXICAN AMERICANS. SHE HELPED FORM LATA OR THE LEAGUE OF MEXICAN WOMEN, A POLITICAL AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT SOUGHT TO EMPOWER MEXICAN AMERICAN WOMEN THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. SHE REMAINED ON THE FRONT LINES OF CHANGE AFTER MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO. SHE CONTINUED HER MISSION BY ESTABLISHING A FREE BILINGUAL KINDERGARTEN AND TEACHING INFANT COURSES FOR WOMEN. WHEN OUR CITY EXPERIENCED THE LARGEST DEATH RATE FROM TUBERCULOSIS, SHE VOLUNTEERED AS AN INTERPRETER FOR SPANISH SPEAKING PATIENTS. IN 2023, HOVITA IAR WILL FOREVER BE MEMORIALIZED AS SHE WILL BECOME THE SECOND LATINA FEATURED ON A US COIN, OTHER LATINO CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THAT'S WORTHY OF APPLAUSE. I WOULD AGREE. OTHER LATINO CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE HAD A GLOBAL EFFECT INCLUDE CHEMIST LUIS MI MONTES FROM MEXICO, WHO HAS SYNTHESIZED THE BIRTH CONTROL PILL. IN 1951, THE MINGO SANTO OTTA, WHO IS, WHO DEVELOPED THE FIRST TOTAL ARTIFICIAL HEART TO BE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLANTED IN A HUMAN MEXICAN-AMERICAN PHYSICIST, ALBERT VI VENICIO BAEZ, WHO CO-INVENTED THE X-RAY REFLECTION MICROSCOPE IN 1948. AND JULIO PALMAZ OF ARGENTINA WHO'D HELPED DEVELOP A BALLOON EXPANDABLE STENT FOR THE HEART. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BUT A SAMPLE OF A GROWING LIST OF LATINOS AND HISPANIC AMERICANS WHO HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK IN SOCIETY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HUMANITY. I URGE YOU TO LOOK UP THE STORIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE TRAILBLAZING INDIVIDUALS IN SCIENCE, MEDICINAL, AND HEALTH INDUSTRIES, AND THEIR STORIES ARE TRULY REMARKABLE. AND IN THAT SAME VEIN, WE'VE INVITED TWO TOP LATINO FACULTY MEMBERS FROM UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO, WHOM WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY FOR THEIR PRESENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DR. CAROLINA SOLIS RERA AND DR. GABRIEL A DE RAKIN. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM TO STAND UP, BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE AND LET ME SHARE AND, AND YOU GUYS CAN, CAN, UH, BE SEATED 'CAUSE IT YOU HAVE A LONG LIST OF ACCOLADES. I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME REFLECTION ON DR. CAROLINA. SLI EDA IS THE CHIEF OF E ED ENDOCRINOLOGY DIVISION, UM, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST OF THE UNIVERSITY TE TEXAS HEALTH AT SAN ANTONIO, WHERE SHE ADDITIONALLY SERVES AS THE MEDICAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF DIABETES, OBESITY, AND, AND DICK CHRONOLOGY, YOU SAY IT DOC PLEASE. AND DICK CHRONOLOGY AND DOC CHRONOLOGY [00:15:01] CLINICS AT THE UT MEDICAL ARTS AND RESEARCH CENTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOC. SHE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE EXCELLENCE AND COMPASSIONATE PATIENT CARE, COMMITTED TO MEDICAL EDUCATION AND AND TEACHING. SHE'S ALSO DEEPLY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND HAS ESTABLISHED HERSELF AS A WELL-RECOGNIZED CLINICAL RESEARCHER IN DIABETES AND METABOLISM. HER SEMINAL RESEARCH DISCOVERIES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO FURTHER ADVANCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES UNDER HER LEADERSHIP. THE UT HEALTH ESSAY ENDOCRINOLOGY AND DIABETES PROGRAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND SUPPORT TREATMENT DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION AGAINST THE DIABETES EPIDEMIC, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY PREVALENT IN OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN SOUTH TEXAS FOR HER CAREER. IN CIVIC ACHIEVEMENTS, DR. SOLITA, A FIRST GENERATION HISPANIC PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST, IS A TRUE INSPIRATION FOR YOUNG TRAINEES AND FUTURE PHYSICIAN SCIENTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU DOCTOR FOR BEING HERE AND FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR WORLD. DR. DEA RUSKIN IS A PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST, DOUBLE BOARDED IN NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY WITH FELLOWSHIP TRAINING AND DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION. HE CURRENTLY SERVES AT AS A DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND RADIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND DIRECTOR OF LABORATORY FOR BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, MODULATION AND REPAIR AT THE GLEN BIGGS INSTITUTE FOR ALZHEIMER'S AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES. IN THE JOE AND THERESA LONG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT UT HEALTH, HE IS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR OF THE CLINICAL GORE OF SOUTH TEXAS ALZHEIMER'S CENTER, AS WELL AS THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CONSORTIUM ON CHRONIC NEUROS PSYCHIATRIC SELI OF THE SARS C O V TWO COVID AND MEMBER OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S WORK GROUP ON NEURO COVID. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU IN SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE SHAPING THE WORLD. A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOUR FIELDS ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF OUR CITIES BRIGHT FUTURE AND THE IMMENSE TALENT THAT CALLS SAN ANTONIO HOME. OUR ENTIRE WORLD AND HISTORY WILL OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR A LIFETIME. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND FOR VISITING US TODAY. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTINUES TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, WHOSE FOUNDATIONS ARE BUILT AND HAVE BUILT OUR GREAT CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GONNA DO A A LITTLE BIT OF A GEAR SHIFT HERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME FOLKS WHO ARE SERVANTS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED TO GET BACK OUT IN THE FIELD. UH, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, ONE OF OUR CITY'S GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEIGHBORLINESS IS THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, WHICH IS NOW SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR FOLKS, OUR, OUR COMMAND, UH, CHIEF MCMANUS TO HELP US RECOGNIZE AND KICKOFF ANOTHER GREAT CELEBRATION HERE OF SAN ANTONIO'S COMING TOGETHER WITH SS A P D, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS SAN ANTONIO'S NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. CHIEF FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I THINK, I THINK THEY NEED A NEED. THEY NEED ANOTHER COMMAND FROM YOU CHIEF TO COME ON UP HERE. WE WANT TO SEE ALL OF 'EM. . LEMME TRY THIS AGAIN. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, NEXT TUESDAY WE'LL BE SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. UM, WE HAVE OVER 300 NEIGHBORHOODS REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE, WE ARE CELEBRATING APART FROM THE NATIONAL NIGHT AT ORGANIZATION. SO THIS WILL BE A FIRST FOR SAN ANTONIO. AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO Y'ALL JOINING US. WE'LL BE OUT ALL NIGHT ATTENDING THE EVENTS, AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE Y'ALL THERE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. I DID, WE DID THE KICKOFF AT HANGER NINE. I, UH, I WAS THERE COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU WERE WELL REPRESENTED. DISTRICT TWO, I HEARD FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS, SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE VERY EXCITED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM. I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR NEIGHBORS OUT AFTER THIS PANDEMIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. LET ME TURN NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, CHIEF, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY, UH, WHO CAME OUT TODAY TO HELP US RECOGNIZE THE EVENT. UH, LET ME TURN NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL, UH, TO CONTINUE WITH OUR RECOGNITIONS, UH, IN HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE TRICKY. I HOPE SOMEBODY WHO'S WITH ME, UH, IN THIS ROOM STAYS QUIET. AND I, I DO REALIZE THERE IS A, A KINK IN MY VIRTUAL BACKGROUND. . UM, [00:20:02] I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY RI THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE. EACH YEAR, PEOPLE ACROSS THE US COME TOGETHER DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GENERATIONS OF HISPANIC AND LATINO AMERICANS WHO HAVE POSITIVELY INFLUENCED AND ENRICHED OUR NATION AND SOCIETY. THIS MORNING, I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED BY DR. SARAH ZAIDA GOLD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE AND RI BOARD CHAIR DR. ROBERT GARZA, WHO APPROACHED ME AT A CONFERENCE A FEW YEARS AGO WITH THIS IDEA. RIA IS AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CHRONICALLY AND ADVANCING THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CIVIL RIGHTS EFFORTS IN THE US. UM, THEY OFFER FREE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. UM, DR. GOULD, DR. , DR. GAZA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS? GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US AND ACKNOWLEDGING US TODAY. RI WOULD NOT EXIST WERE IT NOT FOR THE SEED FUNDING THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GRANTED US THREE YEARS AGO. AND MUCH OF THE PLANNING TO CREATE THE INITIAL PROPOSAL TO HIGHLIGHT MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY, SO MUCH OF WHICH WAS BIRTHED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, OCCURRED AROUND A CONFERENCE TABLE THAT COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL ALLOWED US TO USE AT HER FIELD OFFICE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO COUNCILWOMAN ANNA SANDOVAL. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL THAT HAS SUPPORTED US FOR THIS PAST THREE YEARS. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR TOO, FOR BELIEVING IN OUR VISION TO EXPAND THE STORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES. THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE THAN SAN ANTONIO FOR AN ORGANIZATION LIKE ARI HERE. WE ARE THE LARGEST LATINO MAJORITY CITY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME ON THIS VISION. COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SANDOVAL, MR. MAYOR, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, YOU'LL BE GRATEFUL THAT I DID NOT HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED. UM, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU WITH THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THE GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE FOR YOU INVESTING IN RI IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE WHERE WE'RE AT FROM NOT ONLY CURRENT GENERATIONS, BUT GENERATIONS TO COME. IT WARMS MY HEART TO SEE COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL WITH HER CHILD AS A WORKING MOTHER, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK BACK, UM, AND YEARS AGO FOR HAVING WOMEN TO GO TO WORK, BUT MORE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, WOMEN OF COLOR GOING TO WORK, UM, THERE WERE BARRIERS ALONG THE WAY. AND I THINK THAT MATI IS REALLY GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WHO WE ARE AS LATINOS, UM, AS MEXICAN AMERICANS. UM, BUT WE ALL HAVE THESE STORIES, UM, THAT WE NEED TO SHARE BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, AND I SHARE, UM, MY MOM'S EXPERIENCE, AND THIS IS PERSONAL FOR ME BECAUSE WHEN MY MOM CAME INTO THE UNITED STATES, SHE DIDN'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH. AND, AND, AND YEARS AND YEARS, UM, AS SHE CAME INTO THE UNITED, WHEN SHE WAS IN THE UNITED STATES, UM, SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO SPEAK SPANISH. AND THERE WAS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT FOR THAT. AND RISTE IS THAT I DIDN'T LEARN THAT UNTIL I WAS IN MY THIRTIES BECAUSE OUR PARENTS TEND TO PROTECT US AS CHILDREN. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT MA IS SO IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY, UM, FOR THE CITY BUT THE STATE, BUT FOR THE, FOR THE COUNTRY IS BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO HEAR THOSE STORIES AND UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF TIME AND TIME AGAIN. SO I WANNA JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU FROM BOTTOM OF MY HEART, UM, AND FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. UM, I DO HAVE ONE MORE, UH, POINT TO, TO SHARE. I'D LIKE TO, UM, RECOGNIZE THE PASSING OF A VERY, UH, SPECIAL PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S MRS. LETICIA LINDO RERA. SHE IS THE WIDOW OF FORMER COUNCILMAN EN RERA. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU COUNCIL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL SANDOVAL. UM, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO OUR, OUR [00:25:01] FOLKS AT ERY. I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US IN SAYING THAT WE ARE ENORMOUSLY PROUD THAT THIS ORGANIZATION WAS LAUNCHED IN OUR CITY. SO WE WISH YOU MANY YEARS OF SUCCESS. UH, LEMME TURN NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GROUND FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] THANK YOU. AND IT WAS, WE TALK ABOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT ARE, ARE MAKING HISTORY AND MAKING AN IMPACT TODAY. SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT RANDY ESCAMILLA CALLS THE BEST PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO TO WELCOME TO SOUTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS YEAR. SOUTH SIDE I S D IS ONE OF THE CITY'S TOP FIVE BEST PERFORMING DISTRICTS. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT STRONG LEADERSHIP. SO I WANT, UH, OUR SUPERINTENDENT TO STAND MR. ROLANDO RAMIREZ. UH, AND THE ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE HERE, ANNA BUSTAMONTE, RANDY ESCAMIA, THEY ARE THE, THIS IS THE STAFF AND THE LEADERSHIP THERE. AND MANY OF Y'ALL RECOGNIZE ANNA, 'CAUSE SHE DOES DOUBLE DUTY WITH THE ALIMO COMMUNITY COLLEGES. SO LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE THERE. THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE LEADERS, BUT THE STARS ARE THE STUDENTS SITTING BEHIND THEM. SO YOU GUYS STAND WHILE I READ SOME OF Y'ALL'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR. SO GO AHEAD AND STAND. UM, SO WHAT THIS SCHOOL AND YEAH, LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SO WHAT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE IS IT HAS GONE TO FROM A, WHAT WAS A FAILING RATING TO A HIGH B RATING BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION, A AGENCY. NOT ONLY THAT, THE DISTRICT'S HERITAGE. HERITAGE ELEMENTARY IS ONE OF ONLY TWO ELEMENTARY'S SCHOOLS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE THAT WENT FROM AN F RATING TO AN A RATING. ADDITIONALLY, AT THIS TIME WHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE LOSING STUDENTS, SOUTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOW ONE OF SAN ANTONIO'S FASTEST GROWING SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT IS EXPERIENCING RECORD BREAKING ENROLLMENT AND HAS SEEN A 12% JUMP IN ENROLLMENT THIS YEAR. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE TOP STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY AND WAVE WHEN I, I CALL YOU NATHAN, NINTH GRADER AMERICAN. AH, HE'S, UM, SHE WON THE CITY'S SPANISH SPELLING BEE AND WENT ON TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL SPANISH SPELLING BEE HELD IN EL PASO. CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA. JASMINE WATKINS IS A 2022 GRADUATE OF SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL AND CAPTURED THE SKILLS U S A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. AND IF YOU COULD JUST WAVE, LET US, SHE PLANS TO ENTER UPON COMPLETING COLLEGE AS SHE PLANS TO ENTER THE F B I ACADEMY IN QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE COMES BACK ONE DAY AND WORKS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT SOUTH SIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAME THE STATE CHAMPIONS IN 2022 COLOR GUARD COMPETITION. AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE THE SOUTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL CON JUNTO S THIS IS THE ONLY JUNTO GROUP IN ANY SAN ANTONIO HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MRS. ANNA BUSANTE WHO'S GOING TO TELL US WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO NEXT. SO COME ON UP, UM, ANNA, AND LET US KNOW, GUYS, COME ON UP AND, AND SHOW ALL YOUR INSTRUMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, COUNCIL MIRAN, MY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENTAL SONG FOR YOU THAT IS ENTITLED LAB BARRANCA. DO WE, [00:31:41] I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS THEIR VERY FIRST PERFORMANCE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND A LOT OF THEM, THIS IS THEIR FIRST YEAR AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS GROUP. AND YOU'LL BE SEEING US AROUND TOWN, HOPEFULLY FIESTA. THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILOR. WE LOOK FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. TO THAT, UH, SUPERINTENDENT RAMIREZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF WHAT WE CAN PLAN, WE CAN PLAN TO SEE FROM SOUTH SIDE? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. UH, COUNCILWOMAN VRAN, UH, CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ROLANDO RAMIREZ. I'M THE SUPERINTENDENT AT SOUTHSIDE I S D. UH, WE HAVE A LOT TO BE GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF OUR THREE STATE CHAMPIONS. UH, OUR NATIONAL, UH, THIRD PLACE FINISH AT THE SPANISH SPELLING BEE. AND OF COURSE, OUR JUNTO, THAT'S THE ONLY ONE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. UM, PRIOR TO LAST YEAR, UH, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD SIX F RATED CAMPUSES AND TWO C CAMPUSES. THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD A GAIN OF 30 POINTS IN THOSE F RATED CAMPUSES. AND NOW WE HAVE SEVEN B UH, RATED CAMPUSES WITHIN A RATING. OF COURSE, LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED BY COUNCILWOMAN VRAN. THAT WAS ONE CAMPUS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TWO, TWO CAMPUSES ACTUALLY THAT JUMP FROM AN F RATING TO AN A RATING NOW. UH, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. OUR DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT WE WANT SOUTH SIDE TO BE THE CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO QUALITY EDUCATION, UH, BY UP UPHOLDING OUR CORE VALUES OF SERVICE, ACCOUNTABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND LOYALTY. AND WE, UH, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN FULFILL THAT MISSION STATEMENT THIS YEAR BY BECOMING A, A RATED CAMPUS. AND I KNOW THAT WITH HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE. SO WE, UH, WE'RE HOPING THAT GOD WILLING, WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, UH, THAT THIS YEAR AND GET ANOTHER INVITATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL SO WE CAN CELEBRATE THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH, WITH ALL OF YOU. SO ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I'LL BE, I'M QUITE SURPRISED THAT THERE WASN'T DANCING THAT JUST BROKE OUT JUST NOW . BUT, UH, WE'LL SEE Y'ALL AGAIN SOON. COUNCIL MEMBER PEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. I, I, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU WALK AWAY TODAY REMEMBERING THAT TWO CONVERSATIONS HAPPENED HERE TODAY. ONE WAS ABOUT LATINO HERITAGE, RIGHT? AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, I DUNNO IF YOU NOTICED, WAS ABOUT MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS. UM, AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE STUDENTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS, UM, MEXICAN AMERICANS AND LATINOS ARE THE VANGUARDS OF LATINO RIGHTS IN TEXAS. UM, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES FIGHTING LIFE AND DEATH FIGHTS, UM, AND, UH, ALL OVER TEXAS. UM, AND TO THAT EXTENT, I WANT TO REMIND YOU GUYS THAT AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION IS A CIVIL RIGHT. UM, AND LATINOS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE LATINO DIASPORA ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, UM, WE WERE FOR MANY, FOR MANY GENERATIONS DENIED THAT CIVIL RIGHT. UM, AND TODAY, YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA HOW LUCKY YOU ARE, UH, AND HOW FORTUNATE YOU ARE AND HOW YOU STAND ON THE BROAD SHOULDERS OF, OF LATINOS WHO CAME BEFORE YOU, PARTICULARLY [00:35:01] YOUR TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS IN YOUR SCHOOL. I I KNOW YOU'VE, YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE YOU WERE IN , UH, WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE KID, RIGHT? UM, AND YOU'VE ALSO COME A LONG WAY SINCE YOU WERE AT VALLEY VIEW. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR, UH, ROLANDO MARTINEZ, HE COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO BE A VERY WEALTHY MAN. UM, AND BECAUSE SUPERINTENDENTS SOMETIMES SERVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN THEY, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS LATELY, BY THE WAY, SUPERINTENDENTS, UH, SOMETIMES SERVE AS SUPERINTENDENTS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN THEY LEAVE AND THEY, THEY EARN VERY LARGE SALARIES SELLING INSURANCE AND BENEFITS AND ALL THAT TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RIGHT? HE'S CHOSEN TO STAY AND HE'S CHOSEN TO STAY AND NOT GET STINKING FILTHY RICH, RIGHT? BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS. UM, AND THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL TOO, RIGHT? SO THE SOMETIMES LATINOS MAKE THAT SACRIFICE TO HELP OUT OTHER LATINOS, UM, YOU KNOW, ACCOMPLISH MORE. AND SO, UH, ON YOUR WAY OUTTA HERE, GIVE THAT GUY A BIG FIST BUMP, UM, BECAUSE, UH, YOU OWE A BIG DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HELP YOU GUYS EVERY SINGLE DAY. OKAY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND YOU LOOK SHARP TOO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ WITH THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. JUST GONNA MAKE SURE MY VOICE WORKS PROPERLY. I HAVE, UH, A WISDOM TOOTH PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. UH, BUT I WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE THE BEX COUNTY, UH, PANTHERS FOOTBALL TEAM FOR BEING SELECTED TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO ON THE NATIONAL STAGE IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE TEAM OWNERS, COACH Q JACKSON AND HIS WIFE RAVEN, UP TO CHAMBERS TODAY. UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, THEY HAVE ACHIEVED TREMENDOUS FEATS WITHIN THE SHORT PERIOD SINCE THEY ESTABLISHED THIS INCREDIBLE TEAM LAST YEAR. UM, OH, I'LL WAIT A SECOND. YEAH, LET 'EM LET 'EM GET THEIR HIGH FIVES IN. GET SOME HIGH FIVES, I'M SORRY, . LAST YEAR. UH, UNFORTUNATELY THE TEAM DID NOT WIN ANY OF THEIR GAMES DUE TO THE IMPACT OF C OVID 19. HOWEVER, WITH THEIR DETERMINATION AND DILIGENCE, THEY HAVE BECOME STATE CHAMPIONS. AND NOW THEY'VE RECEIVED A GOLDEN TICKET FROM SPORTS FARM TO REPRESENT OUR CITY IN DISTRICT TWO IN LAS VEGAS IN JANUARY, 2023. THIS, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TEAM TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TENACITY, AMBITION, PASSION, TEAMWORK, AND PRIDE. AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF DISTRICT TWO, WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND KNOW, UM, THAT WE'LL BE CHEERING YOU AND THE TEAM ON FROM HERE. UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME REMARKS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. UM, I'M RAVEN PHELPS JACKSON, AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND Q JACKSON. I'M A, I'VE BEEN A CRITICAL CARE NURSE FOR 18 YEARS AND WE OWN A YOUTH LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM THAT'S MINORITIES IN DISTRICT TWO. UM, THEY'VE LOST EVERY YEAR UNTIL UNTIL THIS YEAR, UM, SINCE THE SPRING THEY'VE BEEN UNDEFEATED AND THEY WENT TO MCALLEN, BROUGHT BACK THE CHAMPIONSHIP TO D TWO, AND NOW THEY'VE BEEN INVITED TO GO AND REPRESENT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. UM, WE HAVE, OF COURSE, A LOT OF 'EM HAVEN'T EVEN REALLY BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE CITY COULD, BY ANY CHANCE HELP US GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED TO GET 58 KIDS TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. UM, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT EXPOSURE FOR THESE KIDS AND TO LET THEM KNOW IT'S BIGGER THAN WHAT THEY SEE HERE ON THE CITY'S EAST SIDE. UM, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND US, THEY PRACTICE ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS FROM SIX TO EIGHT O'CLOCK AT LINCOLN PARK. OR YOU CAN ALSO FIND US AT SMAC AND CAFE AT TWO 15 COCA-COLA DRIVE, SUITE 2 0 3, RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO TOMMY CALVERT. UM, WE'VE ALREADY MADE A VOW THAT WHATEVER CINNAMON ROLLS WE SELL OUT OF OUR CAFE, THAT MONEY WILL ALSO GO TO THOSE KIDS. UM, WE DO HAVE A BUDGET THAT WE'VE CALCULATED COMING ROUGHLY TO ABOUT 40 GRAND TO GET THEM ALL. WE HAVE TO BE THERE JANUARY 11TH THROUGH THE 16TH. CHECK-IN. DATE IS THE 12TH, THE LAST GAME DAY IS THE 15TH. UM, WE WOULD JUST BE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ANY ASSISTANCE THAT WE COULD HELP WITH THESE 58 KIDS. , THANK YOU. OH, YOU'RE OKAY. WE'RE NOT ONLY ABOUT SPORTS. UH, ME AND SOME OF MY COACHES, WE ACTUALLY GET PERMISSION FROM THE PARENTS TO GO INSIDE THE SCHOOL AND SHADOW. IF YOU KNOW WHAT SHADOWING IS, IT'S BASICALLY GIVES YOU PERMISSION TO FOLLOW HIM OR HER FROM CLASS TO CLASS. SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FOOTBALL, WE MAKE IT ABOUT EDUCATION. WE HAVE TEACHERS, WE HAVE NURSES THAT ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY, AND ANYTHING WOULD HELP , ANYTHING WOULD HELP FOR US TO CONTINUE TO SHOW THESE KIDS. IT'S DIFFERENT. WE ALL KNOW HOW SOME D TWO CAN BE, [00:40:01] UH, WITH CERTAIN, HOW WOULD YOU SAY, UH, BAD VIBES, LET'S SAY LIKE THAT. AND SO ANYTHING WILL HELP. YOU CAN CHECK US OUT ON, UH, LIKE I SAID, ON FACEBOOK, ON, UH, INSTAGRAM. WE ARE THE BEAR COUNTY PANTHERS AND, UH, OUR HOME GAMES ARE AT, UH, ST. GERARD'S HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND ONCE I GET THE, UM, THE DISTRICT TWO OFFICE CLEANED UP AT CITY HALL FROM BUDGET SEASON, UM, WE'LL HAVE TO BRING THE KIDS OUT FOR A TOUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER PEZ, 58 KIDS, $40,000, PUT ME DOWN FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS. UH, MY STAFF IS GONNA COME TALK TO YOU, STICK AROUND AND WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THE APPLICATION, OKAY? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PEZ. WE NOTE NOW TO POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER R GARCIA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, WOW, WHAT A GREAT MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO, UM, GOT TO SEE SOME REALLY COOL PERFORMANCES. I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SAN ANTONIO'S GIRL SERVING ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ORGANIZED A WEEK LONG CELEBRATION TO CELEBRATE DAY OF THE GIRL ON OCTOBER 11TH. IT'S CELEBRATED INTERNATIONALLY AS DAY OF THE GIRL TO HELP GALVANIZE WORLDWIDE ENTHUSIASM FOR GOALS TO BETTER SERVE GIRLS' LIVES. I WANNA THANK THE GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS GIRLS INC. GIRLS ON THE RUN, LATINAS, BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS, AND POWERHOUSE, SIGNIFICANT YOU THE BOARDROOM PROJECT, THE LEMONADE CIRCLE, Y W C A IN THE SAN ANTONIO YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. IF I COULD ASK YOU ALL TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AT THIS TIME, PLEASE. THIS MIGHTY GROUP OF WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME TO CREATE A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT, DISCUSS, AND ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ADVANCING THE RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIRLS IN BEAR COUNTY AND BEYOND. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS YOUR RIGHTS VO RIGHT NOW. THE FIRST EVENT TAKES PLACE ON OCTOBER THE FOURTH WITH THE DAY OF THE GIRL KICKOFF IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, WHERE THE OFFICIAL CITY PROCLAMATION WILL BE READ. I'M INVITING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US FOR THE CELEBRATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE YOUNG LEADERS THAT WILL BE REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DAY. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER EVENTS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, INCLUDING STARTUP CHICA SAN ANTONIO, A ONE DAY CONFERENCE ON INNOVATION AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOR GIRLS NINE THROUGH 14TH, WHERE PARTICIPANTS WILL SPEND THE DAY LEARNING THE BUSINESS SKILLS NEEDED TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN STARTUP, OR A PRODUCT THAT IDENTIFIES AND SOLVES COMMUNITY ISSUES. I AM THRILLED TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER ON THAT DAY FOR THESE FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS. AND THAT'S, AGAIN, ON OCTOBER THE EIGHTH, THE DAY OF THE GIRLS SAN ANTONIO ANNUAL CELEBRATION AT YANA GUANA GARDEN AT HEMISPHERE TAKES PLACE FROM 11 TO TWO ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER THE NINTH. IT'S AN EVENT I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND. IT'S A FUN-FILLED CELEBRATION THAT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU COULD ALWAYS VISIT DAY OF THE GIRL SA SA.ORG. AND LASTLY, I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE INAUGURAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHAMPIONS LUNCHEON WILL TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER 11TH AT MUNICIPAL PLAZA. UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LEADERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO'S GIRLS SERVING O ORGANIZATIONS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, WHICH WILL FEATURE A PANEL OF YOUNG GIRL LEADERS. AND I, I WANNA SPECIFICALLY INVITE MY COLLEAGUE MANNY, WHO SAYS, I NEVER INVITE HIM TO ANY OF THE COOL STUFF, BUT YOU, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE THERE, MANNY, DURING THIS EVENT, U T S A PROFESSOR ROGELIO SCIENCE WILL BE REPRESENTING A BRIEF ONE PAGE SUMMARY OF THE ANTICIPATED STATUS OF GIRLS IN SAN ANTONIO REPORT, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE STUDY ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN POVERTY. THE FINAL REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED AND PRESENTED AT NEXT YEAR'S GIRLS EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT, WHICH TAKES PLACE IN MARCH. AND I'M THRILLED ABOUT THIS EVENT, WHICH I HOPE WILL BE IN PERSON THIS TIME FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO REVIEW THE STATUS OF GIRLS REPORT. I'M SURE THE DATA COLLECTED WILL REVEAL A REALITY THAT WE ALL KNOW AND WE KNOW NEEDS TO CHANGE. IF WE WANT SAN ANTONIO TO BE A CITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR YOUNG GIRLS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL IS MORE THAN A DAY TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF YOUNG GIRLS CHANGING OUR WORLD. IT'S ALSO A REMINDER THAT THE WORK IS FAR FROM OVER. WHEN A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO VOTE ACCESS TO EQUAL PAY AND PROTECTION, AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ARE UNDER ATTACK, THEN IT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO ACT IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS. WE OWE THIS TO OUR YOUNG GIRLS WHO WILL BE TOMORROW'S LEADERS AND DESERVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED. I HOPE YOUNG GIRLS IN OUR CITY AND AROUND THE WORLD RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BE A LEADER, AND IT'S NEVER THE WRONG TIME TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN AND TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. I'M HONORED AND FORTUNATE TO BE SURROUNDED BY NUMEROUS FEARLESS STRONG WOMEN WHO MAKE OUR CITY GREAT AND A MORE EQUITABLE PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY [00:45:01] FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THERE'S COUNTLESS OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS TODAY BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES OF GENERATIONS OF WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY AND DEMANDED EQUAL TREATMENT AND THAT OPPORTUNITY. I SAID THIS LAST YEAR, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN A SPACE WHERE WOMEN ARE NOT PRESENT OR LARGELY UNDERREPRESENTED, THEN I URGE YOU TO USE YOUR VOICE AND DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS AND COMMIT TO CHANGING THE FALSE NARRATIVE. WE HAVE BEEN INGRAINED TO BELIEVE THAT WOMEN CAN ONLY LEAD IN CERTAIN PLACES. WE DO EACH OTHER DISSERVICE WHEN WE DO NOT INCLUDE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT GENDERS, RACE, ETHNICITY, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ABILITIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN OUR POLICY DISCUSSIONS. WHETHER IT'S WORKING TOWARDS THE RIGHT TO EARN FAIR AND EQUAL WAGE, OR EXPANDING REPRESENTATION IN MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRIES, WE OWE IT TO THE FUTURE IN PAST GENERATIONS TO CONTINUE THESE ADVANCEMENTS. OUR CITY IS FULL OF EMERGING YOUNG LEADERS WHO SHARE A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND DREAM OF A WORLD WHERE THERE ARE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE. TOGETHER WE CAN UNLE AND EMPOWER OUR YOUNG GIRLS TO BECOME THE FUTURE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE WORLD. THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING DAY OF THE GIRL. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, AND IT'S A TERRIFIC LEGACY ALREADY BEING BUILT WITH DAY OF THE GIRL HERE, SAN ANTONIO. ALRIGHT, UH, LET ME TURN NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER KIO HDA FOR A POINT PERSON PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'M GONNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE AIRPORT. THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S JD POWER, NORTH AMERICAN, SORRY, JD POWER, NORTH AMERICAN AIRPORT. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY WERE RECENTLY RELEASED IN THE CATEGORY OF LARGE AIR AIRPORTS. OUR SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL RANKED NINTH OUT OF 27 FACILITIES. THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN THESE RESULTS. THIS IS A CUSTOMER BASED SURVEY, SO IT MEASURES WHAT VISITORS TO OUR AIRPORT REALLY THINK ABOUT THE FACILITY. AND IT SHOWS US, UM, IN A LOT OF WAYS WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT. AND OF COURSE, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. THE SURVEY SCORES, TERMINAL FACILITIES, ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, BAGGAGE CLAIMS, SECURITY CHECKS, CHECK-INS AND, AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND RETAIL OPERATIONS. I'M A STRONG AND VOCAL SUPPORTER OF THE AIRPORT AND SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY AS PROOF OF MOMENTUM FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT. SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL WAS RANKED BETTER. YOU KNOW, I'M VERY COMPETITIVE, SO IT WAS RANKED BETTER THAN MANY LARGE CITY AIRPORTS, INCLUDING DALLAS, RONALD, REAGAN, WASHINGTON, AND AUSTIN. I I VISITED THE AIRPORT LAST WEEK WITH, WITH JESUS AND ERIC WALSH. AND I CAME AWAY VERY EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ALL THE PLANS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE AT THE AIRPORT. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. WE WERE THERE MID-MORNING, MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, AND THERE WAS A, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HUSTLE AND BUSTLE AND, UM, TRAVELERS MOVING BACK FORTH. AND IT WAS, THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY AND IT SPEAKS TO THE WORK THAT ALL OF THE AIRPORT STAFF IS DOING. SO WE THANK YOU. WE NEED TO, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE NEED TO START DOING OR REALLY STOP DOING IS PUTTING OUR AIRPORT DOWN. I THINK WE TEND TO CRITICIZE WHAT WE HAVE. AND I THINK THIS, THIS SURVEY REALLY SHOWS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT I PLAN TO TAKE THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON AN AIRPORT FIELD TRIP SO THEY CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. AND, AND SEE, UH, VISUALIZE WHERE THE, WHERE THE, UM, WHERE THE PLANS ARE GOING. WE ALSO HAVE A WHATABURGER NOW, SO THERE'S EVEN MORE REASON TO, TO GO TO THE AIRPORT AND THEY CAN VISUALIZE HOW PLAN CHANGES ARE GOING TO TRANSFORM OUR AIRPORT. SO, OF COURSE, Y'ALL ARE ALL WELCOME TO COME ALONG. SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AIRPORT. IT'S ALL APPLAUD THE AIRPORT . I ALSO AND WANNA INVITE TORI, UM, I KNOW YOU'RE HERE SOMEWHERE. TORI, UM, STANLEY CARLTON AND, AND LUIS AVA. YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM, UM, TO CONGRATULATE CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH TEAM OF ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS WHO COMPLETED THIS YEAR'S CONSTRUCTION DESIGN AND BUILD COM COMPETITION. THIS IS THE 15TH YEAR THAT CONSTRUCTION BRINGS TOGETHER THE IMAGINATION, ENERGY, AND CREATIVITY OF OUR CITY'S ENGINEERING. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE CANS, THE CONSTRUCTIONS UP HERE. IT'S REALLY COOL. UM, THEY, UH, THIS IS, THEY, ALL OF THIS LENDS TO THE GOAL OF FEEDING THE FOOD INSECURE THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS. THE TEAMS USED MORE THAN 18,000 CANS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD TO CREATE OUTSIZED, WHIMSICAL STRUCTURES THAT WERE DISPLAYED AT NORTH STAR MALL. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE, TO BE ASKED TO BE A JUDGE FOR THIS YEAR'S CONSTRUCTION EVENT. AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE WONDERFUL CREATIVE STRUCTURES THAT YOU SEE HERE. THERE WERE RENDITIONS OF THE ALAMO OF A DINOSAUR AND A WINK TO THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. TODAY I RECOGNIZE TORY STANLEY CARLTON WITH THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS AND LUIS ADA FOR PARTNERING WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK REGROUPING AFTER A TWO YEAR FORCED HIATUS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND BRINGING CONSTRUCTION BACK TO NORTH STAR MALL. THE IDEA BEHIND CONSTRUCTION IS TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE FACT THAT ONE IN FOUR KIDS AND ONE IN FIVE ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE AT RISK FOR FOOD INSECURITY. THAT MEANS THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME FROM. SINCE 2008, CONSTRUCTION HAS DONATE, DONATED [00:50:01] MORE THAN 500,000 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE FOOD BANK. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL LET YOU, UM, SPEAK ON THAT. TORY AND LUIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILWOMAN AI SAN ANTONIO. THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS IS HONORED BY THIS RECOGNITION. WE RECOGNIZE THE, THE DEEP NEED FOR FOOD AND THE ISSUE OF FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR CITY. CONSTRUCTION FIRST BEGAN IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1993. SINCE THAT TIME, IT HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 130 COMPETITIONS AROUND THE WORLD. AI SAN ANTONIO IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR DESIGN ADMINISTRATION TO PRODUCE CONSTRUCTION. EACH YEAR. 2022 MARKED OUR 16TH ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK WORLDWIDE. MORE THAN 10 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD HAVE HAS BEEN DONATED SINCE 1993. I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT THIS YEAR, CONSTRUCTION PROVIDED 12,646 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK. AN ADDITIONAL GIFT OF $2,000 IN CASH CONTRIBUTIONS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 22,852 MEALS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. PROVING THAT ONE CAN, CAN MAKE, CAN BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE. WE ARE PROUD TO BE PARTNERS IN HELPING HEAL FOOD INSECURITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY OF FUTURE ADDITIONS OF CONSTRUCTION. I'M PROUD TO HAVE LOUIS AHUMADA, A MEMBER OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND A MEMBER OF DISTRICT SIX WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING WONDERFUL EVENT FOR, UH, WONDERFUL PEOPLE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. ME TOO. I I WAS REALLY BLOWN AWAY THE INNOVATION, ALL THOSE PICTURES THAT YOU GUYS SAW, EVERY, EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT WAS A CAN OR SOME KIND OF PACKET OF FOOD. AND ALSO A QUICK, UM, SHOUT OUT TO THE SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE TEAM WHO, THAT WAS THE ONLY STUDENT TEAM I BELIEVE, AND THEY DID WIN WIN ONE OF THE AWARDS. HE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. SO, YES. AND IF, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT WE'RE REBUILDING THAT CONSTRUCTION IN THE LOBBY OF THE BROADWAY BANK, THEIR SPONSOR ON NACODOCHES ROAD THIS SATURDAY. SO VISIT THE BANK NEXT FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND DROP OFF SOME FOOD TO HELP THE FOOD BANK. YES. AND THE FOOD BANK IS GONNA HAVE THE DINOSAUR, UM, HERE PRETTY SOON. SO IF YOU GO SEE THE DINOSAUR, IT'S REALLY IS WORTH TAKING A TRIP TO THE FOOD BANK. BUT WHEN YOU GO BRING SOME, BRING SOME CANS OF FOOD WITH YOU. YES. DESIGNED BY R V K ARCHITECTS. YES, THAT'S RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU, TORI. THANK YOU LOUIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HDA. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW INTO OUR BUSINESS AGENDA TODAY. UH, PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE TWO ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING. WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA TAKE ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE, UH, IN ONE PRESENTATION, BUT THERE'LL BE SEPARATE VOTES ON THOSE ITEMS. UH, AT THIS TIME I'LL [CONSENT AGENDA  ] ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. 44, ITEM 44, 13 AND 45, 32 AND 13, 13 AND 45. MM-HMM. OKAY. ANY OTHERS? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR 4 5 13 44 AND 45. THERE'S A MOTION. DID I, WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. A SECOND. OKAY. WE'LL, UH, START WITH DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE FOLKS, ACTUALLY ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE IN CONSENT. JACK, FINGER JACK, YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON ITEMS 37 39 AND 46. AND REMEMBER, 40 44 IS ON, UH, WILL BE HEARD INDIVIDUALLY. SO 37 39 AND 46 AND 48. JACK, GO AHEAD. WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. UM, UH, ITEM 37. MOVE OVER TO THAT ONE HERE. YEAH. UH, ITEM 37 IS ABOUT, UH, OH, APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF AN EARLY HEAD START GRANT. HEAD START. THAT'S THE PROGRAM TO DEALING WITH, WITH YOUNG, YOUNG KIDS, HELPING THEM PREPARE FOR SCHOOL. [00:55:01] BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CER CERTAIN VERSION CALLED EARLY HEAD START. AND THAT'S FOR TODDLERS, ESSENTIALLY. AND I, I LOOKED AT THE, THE MONEY BEING AWARDED FOR THAT. IT'S ABOUT, UH, 2 MILLION AND CHANGE THERE. AND FOR ABOUT, UH, WHAT IS IT? A HUNDRED AND OH, 128 KIDS. I DID THE MATH ON THAT. YOU'RE WE'RE, ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE GONNA BE SPENDING $21,495 PER CHILD, PER TODDLER TODDLER, 21 PER YEAR. NOW THAT'S ABOUT TWICE AS MUCH AS YOU DON'T NORMALLY SPEND JUST ON A KID AND IN SOME SCHOOL TWICE FOR A TODDLER EARLY HEAD START. HAS ANYBODY LOOKED AT THESE NUMBERS AND DECIDED THAT JUST, JUST MAY, MAYBE WE'RE OVERSPENDING ON THIS $21,000 ITEM. 39 IS ABOUT, UH, OH, APPLICATION ACCEPTANCE FROM THE HOMELESS HOUSING SERVICES PROGRAM. GRANT USE SET ASIDE FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS, FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. AND IT'S GOING TO VARIOUS, UH, ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN TOWN TO HELP YOUTH. BUT ONE OF THEM IS CALLED THE THRIVE YOUTH CENTER. THRIVE YOUTH CENTER IS YES A, UM, THE LOCAL HOMOSEXUAL GROUP FOR HOMOSEXUAL YOUTH THERE. NOW WHAT IS ITS MISSION IS, DOES THRIVE YOUTH CENTER TRY TO HELP, UH, THE HOMOSEXUAL KIDS LEAVE THAT LIFESTYLE? DOES IT TRY TO HELP TRANSGENDER YOUTHS, UH, SUGGEST TO THEM THAT THEY WAIT UNTIL THEY GET OVER THEIR PROCLIVITIES? SO THEY'LL GROW UP TO BE NORMAL ADULTS? NO. UH, THRIVE YOUTH CENTER, MR. AUDIO, YOU MAY JUST PUT THAT UP THERE. THESE ARE SOME OF ITS SERVICES. AND BLOW UP SOME OF THOSE POINTS I HAVE THERE, SO, OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. SO IT WAS, YEAH. BLOW THAT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THERE. SAY, WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY, THEY HAVE NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGE. HUH? WHAT IS THE ACCESS TO TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE? IS THAT YEAH. IN OTHER WORDS, UH, MUTILATION OF BODY PARTS FOR CHILDREN. YEAH. UH, THE HEALTHCARE, OTHER, OTHER THINGS AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. THAT'S WE GO NOW INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO I'LL GIVE MY COLLEAGUES A MOMENT TO QUEUE UP FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT CONSENT AGENDA HIGHLIGHTED SO I CAN SEE YOU IN THE QUEUE. UH, LET ME BEGIN WITH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT ITEMS 30, 31 AND 39. UM, ITEM 30 THANKS TO MARIA, CHIEF MCMANUS AND YOUR TEAM FOR SECURING THE STEP GRANT, WHICH HELPS TRAFFIC UNIT, OUR TRAFFIC UNIT FOCUS ON DWIS, CITATIONS AND WARNINGS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND RE OUTREACH. WITH THIS INCREASE OF TRAFFIC, CONGESTION, STREET RACING, AND CAR ACCIDENTS, ANY TOOL THAT WE CAN USE TO IMPROVE OUR ROADWAY SAFETY IS NECESSARY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR IT. ITEM 31, UM, HIGHLIGHTING OUR SPECIAL, THE WORK THAT OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT DOES BECAUSE OF THIS GRANT, 2,900 SPECIAL VICTIMS CASES INVOLVE, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THIS GRANT. 2,900 SPECIAL VICTIMS CASES INVOLVE CHILDREN. THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THINGS AT A YOUNG AGE THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH. THE JAG GRANT HELPS FUND DETECTIVES TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING AND OTHER SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR THESE DETECTIVES, THANKS TO OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, UM, IN HELPING OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN. AND ITEM 39, THANKS TO LORI, MEL, AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO WORK ON ADDRESSING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. MANY OF OUR, OF THESE YOUTH OR CHILDREN THAT HAVE AGED OUTTA THE FOSTER SYSTEM, THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT IS ONE OF THE MANY STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE TO CONTINUE TO INVEST AND HELP IN OUR YOUTH. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS AND, AND HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO, UM, TO APPLY AND, AND, AND BE ABLE TO APPLY THESE FUNDS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS WORK CONTINUE AND HOPEFULLY EXPANDED BY PROVIDING CITY FUNDED HOMES, UM, AND, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR OUR FOSTER YOUTH IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEO. HDA. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, MY LITTLE BUDDY IS TAKING A NAP NOW, , IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 40, UM, NUMBER A APPOINTING DON RIOS FROM DISTRICT SEVEN TO THE LINEAR CREEK WAKE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD. DON RIOS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT FOR CULEBRA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND AN EDUCATOR HERE, UH, LOCALLY. AND, UM, WAS A BIG ADVOCATE FOR THE URA TRAIL PROJECT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE APPLIED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR. SO I THINK, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A WONDERFUL FIT FOR HIM. I'D ALSO LIKE [01:00:01] TO THANK MR. GREG HAMMER, WHO WAS OUR PREVIOUS APPOINTEE, AND HE WAS THE OUTGOING CHAIR AND HE SERVED ON THIS ADVISORY BOARD FOR OVER 15 YEARS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GREG, FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. ALL RIGHT, THAT IS, UH, THE BALANCE OF OUR DISCUSSION. UH, I'LL JUST GIVE A MOMENT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR FOUR OR 5, 13, 44 AND 45. PLEASE VOTE. AYE. HERE'S KURT. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, LET'S, UM, [ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING] MOVE TO ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE DISTRIBUTION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. ARPA STATE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS FOR THE ARTS AND AUTHORIZING CONTRACTS AND PAYMENTS TO NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TOTALING $4 MILLION AND TO INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS TOTALING $1 MILLION. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTRACTS FOR NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICES. PHASE ONE WITH THE AMERICAN GATEWAYS IN THE AMOUNT OF $464,000 WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND THE AMOUNT OF $583,373 AND 2 CENTS WITH LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES. AND THE AMOUNT OF $293, 100, 100 AND AND $55 AND 98 CENTS. AND WITH THE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION FOR IMMIGRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $159,471 FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ARPA STATE AND LOCAL FEDERAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS. THANK YOU. UH, WE WILL TURN THIS OVER TO, UH, OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH. WE WILL TURN IT OVER FOR THE PRESENTATION. COUNCILMAN, LET'S GO AHEAD AND, UM, START WITH, UH, CRYSTAL. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. AND OF COURSE WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE. UM, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS FOR ARTS. UM, AND WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO IT 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS HERE. SO TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WE HAVE FOR THE ARPA FOR ARTS PROGRAM. WE'LL DISCUSS OUR OUTREACH AND APPLICATION PROCESS. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE, UH, TODAY, OUR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION GRANT PROGRAM, HOW IT WAS STRUCTURED, AND ALSO THE RESPONSE TO THAT PROGRAM. WE'LL ALSO GO OVER OUR INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT PROGRAM AND HOW IT IS STRUCTURED IN THE RESPONSE TO THAT PROGRAM. AND FINALLY, WE'LL GO OVER THE NEXT STEPS. AND I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT AS A PART OF THE AGENDA ITEM, THERE IS A FULL LISTING OF THE NONPROFITS AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING HERE TODAY. BEFORE, UH, I GET REALLY STARTED INTO THE NEXT SLIDE, I DO NEED TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEAM AND HAS SUPPORTED OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, THAT HAS WORKED ON THIS PROGRAM. I WANT TO GIVE A VERY LARGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DIANA ADALGO. I WOULD LIKE HER TO STAND BECAUSE SHE REALLY SPEARHEADED THIS ENTIRE PROGRAM FOR OUR DEPARTMENT WORKING NIGHT AND DAY. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK HER FOR THAT WORK. SOMEONE ELSE THAT SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS PROGRAM IS SARAH GIBSON KELLY. SHE JOINED OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT TEMPORARILY TO HELP WITH THIS PROGRAM. SO SARAH, I'D REALLY LIKE YOU TO STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. AND I ALSO WANNA THANK ERIN DELAROSA, RICK LINDO, UM, LISA GER, AND SARAH, UH, STACY NORTON FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU TO THOSE, THOSE TEAM MEMBERS. ALRIGHT, SO TODAY'S ACTION IS GOING TO RECOMMEND FUNDING ALLOCATION TO OUR ARTS NONPROFITS AND OUR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AS PART OF THE ARPA FOR ARTS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND THE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. I DO [01:05:01] WANT TO NOTE, WERE APPRO APPROVED BY THE SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2022. SO HERE IS THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, UH, THAT I KNOW YOU ALL REMEMBER SEEING THIS ON JUNE 2ND OF THIS YEAR BECAUSE YOU APPROVED THIS PLAN. BUT I DO WANNA REMIND US THAT IT STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2022 WHEN YOU APPROVED $5 MILLION FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY AS A PART OF THE ARPA UH, PROGRAM. AND THAT'S WHEN OUR WORK REALLY STARTED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY, MEETING WITH ARTISTS, MEETING WITH NONPROFITS. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CULTURE IN ARTS UNITED FOR SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR WORK WITH US TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY WERE, UH, THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, UH, THAT'S WHEN OUR DEPARTMENT STARTED WORKING AGAIN WITH THE COMMUNITY, OUR SAN ANTONIO ARTS COMMISSION. AND ALSO, UH, I WANNA THANK THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE AND, UH, CULTURE COMMITTEE, UH, FOR THEIR WORK BECAUSE THEY, UH, APPROVED THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN MAY AND OUR ARTS COMMISSION APPROVED IT IN, UM, IN JUNE AS WELL AS COUNCIL. SO I DO WANNA JUST HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THESE PLAN COMPONENTS. THE REQUEST WAS TO CREATE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT, THAT MIMICKED VERY CLOSELY THE SA CARES FOR ART PROGRAM THAT USED FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SUPPORT OUR NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS. AND WE HAD THE GOAL TO TAKE $1 MILLION FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND GRANT AT LEAST 133 ARTISTS WITH THIS PROGRAM. AND THEN OUR GOAL FOR NONPROFITS WAS TO SUPPORT AT LEAST 40 NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY, UH, WITH $4 MILLION TOTAL IN FUNDING. WE DO HAVE SOME PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON AS WE, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU RECOMMEND, IF YOU APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY, WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ALL NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS THAT ARE GRANTED TO GET THESE PERFORMANCE METRICS, TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR NONPROFITS ARE RECEIVING GRANTS, UH, THAT ARE RECEIVING GRANTS ARE MORE FINANCIALLY RESILIENT. WE WANT TO HAVE A PERFORMANCE MEASURE OF AT LEAST 75% OF THOSE NONPROFITS. AND THEN ALSO 50% OF ARTISTS RECEIVING GRANTS, UH, CREATE NEW WORKS AND PERFORMANCES. AND I WILL SAY WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO GATHER SOME DATA AS A PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, BUT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP LATER FOR THIS INFORMATION. SO GOING ONTO THE OUTREACH AND APPLICATION PROCESS, WE DID EXTENSIVE OUTREACH. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE HAVE TOUCHPOINTS WITH ARTISTS AND NONPROFITS THROUGH OUR EXISTING GRANT PROGRAMS. ALSO OUR SAN ANTONIO ARTIST REGISTRY, OUR NEWSLETTER, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. AND OF COURSE, WITH YOUR HELP, YOU WERE ABLE TO REACH NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO COMMUNICATED WITH ARPA STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAD BEEN PART OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SESSIONS AND WE USED WORKSHOPS AND Q AND AS, WHICH, UH, MANY COUNCIL OFFICES PARTICIPATED IN. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. OUR APPLICATION PROCESS, USE OUR GOMAR APPLICATION PROGRAM. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE USE ALREADY WITH OUR DEPARTMENT'S GRANT PROGRAM. SO NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS. WE HAD ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO SCREEN APPLICANTS, WHICH I'LL GO INTO NEXT. THIS WAS ELIGIBILITY, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL. AND THEN SCORES FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS WERE APPLIED USING EQUITY PREFERENCE POINTS. SO WE'LL GO INTO THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST PROGRAM. SO AT NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE WITH THE ELIGIBILITY, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON NONPROFITS WHO ARE LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO, WHO ARE CREATING ART PROGRAMMING FOR IT LAST, THE LAST THREE YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE AN EXISTENCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THEY MUST BE A 5 0 1 C THREE AND A, AGAIN, THAT PRIMARY MISSION TO CREATE, EDUCATE, AND PRESERVE ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR BUDGET RANGE AND OUR MAX AWARD AMOUNTS WERE BASED ON OUR BASE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS A PART OF THE COUNCIL SESSIONS AND WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY FAMILIAR AND ALSO FOCUSES ON EQUITY, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING A PERCENTAGE BASED ON OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE NONPROFIT. GOING INTO THE RESPONSE, WE RECEIVED 54 TOTAL APPLICATIONS FOR ARTS NONPROFITS. AND USING THAT ELIGIBILITY SCREENING, 46 OF THOSE APPLICANTS WERE DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE AND ARE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING. TODAY WE HAVE 35 NON, UH, NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT CULTURALLY SPECIFIC, AND 11 ARE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC. AND TO REMIND YOU CULTURALLY SPECIFIC MEANS THAT THEY PROMOTE, PRESERVE, AND ENHANCE THE IDENTITY AND CHARACTER OF SPECIFIC CULTURES. THAT INCLUDES WOMEN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, LATINO, UH, ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN. AND AS YOU'LL SEE, THERE'S SIGNIFICANT LOSS REPORTED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. WE COLLECTED THIS INFORMATION AS A PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THE TOTAL REPORTED LOSSES FROM THESE NONPROFITS, ONLY THE ONES RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING TODAY ARE $47 MILLION. SO REALLY SHOWING WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW THAT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED [01:10:01] AS A PART OF THE APPLICATION. WE COLLECTED HOW NONPROFITS PLAN TO SPEND THIS FUNDING. AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT NONPROFITS AND ARTISTS CAN USE THE FUNDING. THEY DON'T HAVE TO JUST USE IT IN ONE BUCKET, LET'S SAY, BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT PAYROLL AND EXISTING PROGRAMS CAME OUT AHEAD OF ALL OF THE COSTS THAT NONPROFITS PLAN, UH, TO SPEND THESE FUNDS. THAT SPEAKS VERY, UH, GREATLY TO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE STILL RECOVERING. THEY'RE WORKING TO BRING BACK STAFF, TO BRING BACK ARTISTS THAT THEY'RE CONTRACTING AND TO SUPPORT EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS. WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO SEE ONE OF THOSE PERFORMANCES HERE WITH THE GU GUADALUPE DANCE COMPANY. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THAT AS THOSE EXISTING PROGRAMS. THEY'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON FACILITIES, NEW PROGRAMS, BUSINESS PLANNING. AND I, UH, WILL READILY ADMIT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ORDER OF, UH, NUMERICAL ORDER HERE. SO I WILL ADMIT THAT, UH, WE, THE 30 37, UM, THE 35% SHOULD BE NEXT TO FACILITIES EQUIPMENT. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE DID. , UM, THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT PROGRAM, THE ELIGIBILITY, REALLY MAKING SURE THAT SAN THAT THERE'S SAN ANTONIO ARTISTS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THIS GRANT, BY THIS GRANT PROGRAM. THEY MUST BE A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST. THEY HAD TO SHOW A PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO AND THAT THEY'VE BEEN PERFORMING, UH, OR, UH, CREATING THEIR WORKS FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS. AND THEN THEY HAD TO FILE THE TAX RETURNS. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT REALLY HELPED DRIVE WHAT OUR POINT SCALE WAS BASED OFF OF. SO, AGAIN, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE REALLY PRIORITIZED LOW INCOME AND ALSO ARTISTS THAT DERIVE MOST OF THAT INCOME FROM THEIR ARTISTIC ACTIVITY. SO REALLY LOOKING AT THE ARTISTS THAT ARE CREATING OUR, UH, MAJORITY OF THE TIME. WE ALSO HAD DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION POINTS. WE USED THE EQUITY ATLAS, AND THEN WE ALSO GAVE ADDITIONAL, UH, POINTS FOR VETERANS, UH, ANY MEMBERS WHO IDENTIFIED AS DISABLED. AND THEN ALSO, IF THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE CARES ACT OR FEDERAL FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PREVIOUSLY, THEY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL POINTS. SO WE RECEIVED 151 APPLICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, AND THE TOTAL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WERE 136. UH, WE DID RECEIVE SOME OF THOSE. YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, UH, WHY THE 1 36 VERSUS 1 51. WE HAD SOME APPLICATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO, SO THEY WERE, UM, INELIGIBLE. AND THEN THERE WERE SOME APPLICANTS THAT WERE NOT PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. UM, AND SO WE HAD A PANEL OF EXPERTS EVALUATE THAT AND IDENTIFY AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UM, THE ELIGIBILITY WAS REALLY CHECKED. SO WE HAD THIS SCORING SCALE. YOU'LL SEE, UM, THIS 25 POINT SPREAD HERE. AND WE, THE GOAL WAS TO FUND 133 ARTISTS UP TO $7,500. AND WE WERE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE A SCORING SCALE THAT'S REALLY JUST A HUNDRED DOLLARS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EACH, UH, LEVEL AND TO FUND 136 ARTISTS, UH, WITH THIS FUND. SO REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A BIG IMPACT. SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE COLLECTED AS A PART OF THE, THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AS WE CAN IMAGINE, MUSICIANS WERE IMPACTED HEAVILY. UH, AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT MOST OF THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WERE MUSICIANS. UH, THEN ALSO VISUAL ARTS. WE HAVE A ROBUST VISUAL ARTIST COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. OF COURSE, SOME OF THESE ARTISTS ARE MULT, ARE MULTIPLE MULTIDISCIPLINARY AS WELL. UM, WE ALSO HAD FILMMAKERS, LITERARY ARTISTS, DANCE THEATER, UH, BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THOSE TWO TOP SEGMENTS. UM, 78% OF THE APPLICANTS DERIVED MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME FROM ARTS, AGAIN, SHOWING THAT WE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS THAT ARE DOING THIS, UH, FOR A LIVING. AND THEN WE DID REACH, UH, MANY DIFFERENT, UH, ARTISTS WHO HAD NOT RECEIVED THE FEDERAL FUNDS FROM US BEFORE, 54%, AND THE TOTAL LOSSES BY ARTISTS FOR $3.5 MILLION OF THESE 136 ARTISTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A DEMOGRAPHIC SLIDE TO SHOW WHO WE WERE REACHING. AND AGAIN, I REALLY WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN REACHING OUT TO ARTISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING ALL, UH, SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANNA POINT OUT THAT 65% OF THE ARTISTS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING TODAY HAVE AN INCOME OF 50% BELOW THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME. SO THESE ARE ARTISTS THAT ARE REALLY IN NEED, AND THIS PROGRAM IS, IS REALLY WORKING TO MEET THAT NEED. AND THEN FINALLY, WE ALSO ASK THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO SPEND THIS MONEY? AND AS EXPECTED, THEY EXP THEY PLAN TO SPEND IT ON HOUSING AND LIVING EXPENSES, BUT ALSO THEY PLAN TO SPEND IT ON THE CREATION OF NEW WORKS. AND I, THIS REALLY SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT ARTISTS DO HAVE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE MET, BUT THEY'RE READY TO GET BACK TO WORK TO CREATE PROGRAMMING THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY. UM, AND WE'RE, WE ARE, [01:15:01] WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM A FEW ARTISTS ABOUT SOME PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE IN MIND FOR THIS MONEY. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THIS BEING BROUGHT NOT ONLY TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY, BUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHO ARE CAN, CAN EXPERIENCE THE CREATION OF THE ART OF THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. SO FINALLY, YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT. SO TODAY YOU'LL CONSIDER THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING, AND THEN IT SAYS, OCTOBER, THE CONTRACT INITIATION TO START. WE ARE PREPARED TO START TOMORROW. SO WE'LL HAVE ONE DAY LEFT IN SEPTEMBER TO, TO GET STARTED. UH, WE'LL START DISPERSING THE FUNDS AND NOVEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER, 2026 WHEN THESE FUNDS HAVE TO BE SPENT PER FEDERAL GUIDELINES. WE WILL BE TOUCHING BASE WITH THESE GRANTEES ON A REGULAR BASIS TO GET SURVEY INFORMATION, DATA COLLECTION, REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW OUR ARTS COMMUNITY IS RECOVERING AND HOW WE CAN HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD. WITH THAT, I, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE NEXT PRESENTATION. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TODAY WE WILL BE PRESENTING THE CITY, UM, REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICES PHASE ONE PLAN. MY NAME IS JESSICA DOLINA. I'M AN ASSISTANT HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR, AND I'LL BE PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY TO DURING TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE'RE GONNA REVIEW THE PHASE ONE TIMELINE, THE PLAN SPECIFIC PLAN COMPONENTS, AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE A BRIEF POST SOLICITATION BRIEFING AND REVIEW RECOMMENDED AWARDS. THE PHASE ONE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED WITH STRONG GUIDANCE FROM OUR CHECK COMMITTEE AS WELL AS COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT BASED ON CHECK GUIDANCE. WE DID HOLD ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDER SESSIONS WITH IMMIGRANT SERVING AGENCIES, A TOTAL OF 31 FOR THREE SESSIONS IN MAY. THE PLAN WAS FINALIZED AND CHECK APPROVED THAT ON MAY 26TH, AND COUNCIL ADOPTED ON JUNE 2ND FOLLOWING COUNCIL ADOPTION. WE DID RELEASE AN R F P ON, UH, JULY 6TH, HELD A PRE-SUBMIT CONFERENCE AND THREE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS TO WALK APPLICANTS THROUGH THE PROCESS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE REQUESTING THROUGH THE R F P AND ALSO TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION. THE APPLICATION PROCESS CLOSED ON JULY 8TH. AND FOLLOWING THAT, THE APPLICANT'S, UH, RESPONSES WENT THROUGH A DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW AS WELL, AS WELL AS AN EVALUATION PANEL. UH, REVIEW. JUST A BRIEF RE RECAP, RECAP ON THE PLAN. SO AGAIN, THIS WAS BASED WITH STRONG GUIDANCE FROM CHECK AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDER INPUT. UM, AND REALLY THE, THE PHASE ONE PLAN FOCUSED ON PROVIDING SUPPORT TO IMMIGRANT SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT. AND 1.5 MILLION WAS DEDICATED FOR THAT PURPOSE. AND THIS WAS REALLY IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT THE PANDEMIC WORSENED BOTH ECONOMIC AND PATHWAYS TO CITIZENSHIP FOR IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND, AND REALLY THIS WAS INTENDED TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES THEY WERE FACING. AS A RESULT, THE PLAN AND THE R F P SCOPE FOCUSED VERY SPECIFICALLY ON STRATEGIES THAT WOULD ADDRESS THOSE C OVID 19 IMPACTS BY ENHANCING SAFETY NET SUPPORTS, GIVING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SECURITY, INCLUDING CONNECTING TO TRAINING, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. AND THEN ALSO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS THROUGH LEGAL REPRESENTATION, OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES BASED ON THE PLAN AND ON, UM, OUTCOMES PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE HAD PROPOSED. WE INCLUDED IN THE R F P, THESE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR AS A RESULT OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WERE WERE BEING PROPOSED, APPLICANTS RESPONDED, AND THESE REFLECT BOTH WHAT WAS IN THE PLAN, WHAT WAS IN THE R F P, AS WELL AS WHAT APPLICANTS INDICATED THEY WOULD REPORT BACK TO US ON. THIS INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT FAMILIES ARE IN INVOLVED IN MULTI-BENEFIT ENROLLMENT FOR THE, IN THE BENEFITS THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR. MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE STABILIZING FAMILIES IN FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT WE'RE ASSISTING THOSE WITH, THAT HAVE LEGAL PERMISSION TO WORK WITH OBTAINING A BETTER JOB. OR IN SOME CASES, OBTAINING INITIAL EMPLOYMENT THAT WE'RE INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL RIGHTS, BASIC LEGAL RIGHTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE ALSO ASSISTING THEM WITH COMPLETING AND FILING IMMIGRATION RELATED APPLICATIONS. SO WHETHER THAT'S AN APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION OR FOR WORK PERMISSION, WE WANNA HELP THEM AND WALK THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AND IN SOME CASES, PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THOSE THAT NEED THAT SERVICE. AS MENTIONED TODAY, WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION IN AWARDS FOR A TWO YEAR TERM. OUR EVALUATION PANEL THAT REVIEWED THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDED BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PANELISTS. AND THESE PANEL, THE EXTERNAL PANELISTS WERE SPECIFICALLY SELECTED BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH IMMIGRANT SERVING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILIARITY WITH THOSE SERVICES. IT DID INCLUDE [01:20:01] REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNITED WAY, THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION, AND BEXAR COUNTY. WE USED A HUNDRED POINT SCALE TO REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS. AND THIS INCLUDED A REVIEW OF EXPERIENCE, BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS, THEIR PROPOSED PROGRAM PLAN AND THEIR BUDGET. IN TOTAL 443, APPLICANT, UH, UH, POTENTIAL APPLICANTS WERE NOTIFIED THROUGH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT. UPON R F P RELEASE, SIX AGENCIES ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL AS THE, AS OF THE JULY 8TH DEADLINE. FINANCE DID CONDUCT A MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS REVIEW OF THE SUBMITTED PROPO PROPOSALS AND DEEMED THAT ALL OF THEM WERE RESPONSIVE. IN ADDITION, A DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED WITH NO SUBSTANTIVE FINDINGS IDENTIFIED. IN TOTAL STAFF ARE RECOMMENDING AWARDS TO FOUR AGENCIES WHO COLLECTIVELY, THROUGH THEIR PROPOSAL RESPONSES ADDRESSED EACH AREA OF THE C OVID 19 IMPACT AREAS THAT WE FOCUSED ON THROUGH THE SOLICITATION, SPECIFICALLY AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND AMERICAN ORGANIZATION FOR IMMIGRANTS REALLY FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO PATHWAYS TO IMPROVE CITIZENSHIP STATUS. AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON BOTH C OVID 19 IMPACT AREAS THAT WE PROPOSED THROUGH THE R F P. I DO WANNA MENTION THAT COMBINED, THESE AGENCIES HAVE A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS SERVICE AREA. COLLECTIVELY, THEY HAVE 160 YEARS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, WHETHER THAT'S HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES IN THE STATE, AND ALSO IN SOME CASES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. IN ADDITION, THEY ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SERVING PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE MIGRANTS, UM, AND IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING RECRUITING THEM, PROVIDING OUTREACH TO THEM, AND PROVIDING TARGETED SERVICES. THIS INCU INCLUDES VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OTHER VIOLENT CRIME, AND MEMBERS OF THE L G B T Q COMMUNITY, THOSE AT RISK OF DEPORTATION AMONG OTHERS. SO THIS TABLE REFLECTS OUR RECOMMENDED AWARDS, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND ALSO SHOWS YOU THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THEY REQUESTED. STAFF'S RECOMMENDED AWARDS ARE BASED ON A TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDING, AND ASSUMING THAT WE, UH, RECEIVE APPROVAL TODAY FOR THESE AWARDS, WE WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WORKING WITH SELECTED AGENCIES TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH SERVICES STARTING NO LONG, NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER. THIS DOES CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AND BOTH MELODY WOOSLEY HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION. JESSICA AND CRYSTAL, WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW TO OUR DISCUSSION, BEGINNING WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, THERE ARE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. I'LL CALL IN ORDER OF SIGN UP. UH, I'LL CALL THE NEXT PERSON IF YOU CAN BE READY TO COME UP. WE'LL START WITH JOHN HINOJOSA. MR. HINOJOSA, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MARY HEATHCOTT. IS THE CULTURE IN ARCH UNITED FOR SAN ANTONIO? SURE. UH, WE WON'T TAKE UP AS MUCH TIME AS IS GIVEN. UH, WHO, WHO, UM, WHO ELSE IS ON THE LIST? MYSELF, YES. JUST YOU AND MARY. OKAY. YEAH. BUT WHAT WE'VE ASKED SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO COME UP. ALRIGHT. UM, YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, WHAT A GREAT MORNING TO BE AT CITY HALL. THE GUADALUPE , THE DAY OF THE GIRL, MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THE SOUTH SIDE CONJUNTO GROUP BEFORE THE IMPORTANT VOTE ON SUPPORTING THE ARTS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOHN OSA. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN, AND MY ORGANIZATION SAY, C RESIDES IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE AS ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CALSA SAN ANTONIO'S ARTS AND CULTURAL COLLECTIVE. AS YOU KNOW, ARTS AND CULTURAL AGENCIES PROVIDE A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR CITY AND REACH AND SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. IN MANY WAYS, WE ARE THE GOLDEN THREADS THAT MAKE UP THE BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY OF SAN ANTONIO. TODAY'S FINAL VOTE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN SUPPORTS ART AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, AND IS MUCH NEEDED AND WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD IN OUR WORK. WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY STAFF, THE CITY ASSISTANT, CITY MANAGER, AND CITY MANAGER, AND CRYSTAL JONES AND DIANA HIDALGO FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MARY HEATHCOTT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLUE STAR, WHO WILL ALSO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF OUR COLLECTIVE. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY IN GRATITUDE, UH, GRATITUDE FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT FUNDING FOR ARTISTS AND OUR COLLECTIVE ARTS AND CULTURE NONPROFITS. WHILE WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY SUFFERED A NEGATIVE [01:25:01] IMPACT IN OUR CITY OF MORE THAN $75 MILLION, AS A RESULT OF THE LOSSES SUSTAINED BY ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS AND THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR WORK, DESPITE THE HISTORIC CHALLENGES WE'VE ENDURED, AS WE KNOW THAT ART HELPS HEAL COMMUNITIES, UM, CASA IS GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE, CRYSTAL JONES AND DIANA HILDAGO AND THEIR STAFF TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO PRIORITIZE ARPA SPENDING TO HELP AID RECOVERY TO OUR CITY'S ARTISTS AND ARTS NONPROFITS. THANK YOU FOR KNOWING THAT INVESTING IN THE ARTS MEANS INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMY. NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE INVALUABLE RESOURCES TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS, BUT WE ARE ALSO KEY TO ANY SUCCESSFUL REVITALIZATION EFFORT TO ATTRACT VISITORS AND NEW BUSINESS INVESTMENT. SEEKING OUT THE HISTORY, ARTS, AND CULTURE OFFERINGS, OUR CITY IS KNOWN FOR WORLDWIDE. THANK YOU FOR ENSURING ARPA FUNDING FOR SAN ANTONIO'S ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE MAY CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND EQUITY. ENRICH K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION, PROVIDE LIFELONG LEARNING EXPERIENCES, ENTERTAIN AND UPLIFT, AFFIRM AND NURTURE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS, ADD BEAUTY AND MEANING AND HEAL OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, NEXT, UH, SIGNED UP IS CHANCEY BLACKBURN. UH, MS. BLACKBURN, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY RAVEN PHELPS. GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UM, I AM THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE SAN ANTONIO MASTER SINGERS. I'M HERE WITH SOME OF MY FELLOW MASTER SINGERS, MARGUERITE MCCORMICK, STEVE ROGERS, AND JIM HARNISH TO URGE YOU TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE ARPA FOR THE ARTS GRANT. THE SAN ANTONIO MASTER SINGERS IS ONE OF 46 HOPEFUL ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BRING CHORAL MUSIC OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER TO THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 78 YEARS, EVEN THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC. BY THE WAY, YOUR SAN ANTONIO MASTER SINGERS IS THE OLDEST SYMPHONY CHORUS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, DISTRICT SIX COUNCILWOMAN MELISSA HDA. WE WILL PERFORM NEXT MARCH AT THE BEAUTIFUL EDGEWOOD THEATER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS ONLY ONE CHORUS DIRECTOR, ANDREA GARCIA, AND HER VERY BEST SINGERS WILL PERFORM ON STAGE WITH US. COUNCILWOMAN, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO BE OUR GUEST. LAST MAY, OUR COUNCIL, OUR CONCERT AT THE PALO ALTO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN DR. ROCHAS GARCIA'S, DISTRICT FOUR, HONORED THE RETIREMENT OF OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS, DR. JOHN IAN UNDER WHOSE BATON FOR 38 YEARS, THE MASTER SINGERS ACHIEVED NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. THE COLLEGE'S PALOMINO SINGERS WHO JOINED US ON STAGE. COACH POPOVICH ASKS US TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE THE GAMES AGAINST THE TOUGHEST COMPETITORS BECAUSE WHEN WE SING, THE SPURS WIN, OUR AMAZING NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR, DR. EUGENE MOON, WHO IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES FOR U T S A, HAS RAISED THE BAR FOR OUR COURSE OF 120 VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES AND FROM ALL, UM, ALL WALKS OF LIFE. AND WE HAVE HIRED MUSICIANS FROM THE NEWLY INAUGURATED SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC, FORMERLY THE SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY, TO ACCOMPANY US IN PERFORMANCES THIS FALL TO INCLUDE MOZART'S SOLEMN VESPERS AND THE LONG LIVED AND MUCH LOVED HOLIDAY TRADITION OF HANDEL'S MESSIAH IN THE BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY OF THE UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN MANNY AYAS, DISTRICT EIGHT. MANNY, WE INVITE YOU TO COME AS OUR GUEST. SO EVERYONE, WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS RECOMMENDATION, WE COMMIT TO KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO BRING WONDERFUL MUSIC TO EVERY CORNER OF SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MS. BLACKBURN. [01:30:01] JACK FINGER, I'M, I'M SORRY, IS RAVEN PHELPS HERE? APOLOGIZE. SHE LEFT. OKAY. GO AHEAD, JACK. YOU'RE UP. WELL, MAYOR NURENBERG, LET'S SEE. WE, YOU'RE DOING ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. AM I REQUIRED TO SPEAK ON BOTH OF THESE OR? YES, HE SAYS . WELL, THE, UH, MAYOR NURENBERG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YES. WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO BE RELAYING A LOT OF OUR TAX DOLLARS FROM THE FEDS TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. I SUGGEST YOU MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS TO THESE, UH, UH, ITEMS. AMENDING THEM BY MEANS OF ELIMINATING A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SIMPLY THROWN AWAY THEIR MORAL COMPASSES. YEAH. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. UH, THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT SOME OF THESE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND YEAH, YOU HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF 'EM THERE. SO A MILLION DOLLARS, YOU'RE JUST SHELLING OUT TO 'EM. BUT, UH, WHAT HAVE SOME OF THESE GUYS BEEN GUILTY OF? WELL, LET'S SEE, MR. AUTO, ION, MAN, IF YOU CAN STOP THAT BLEACHING OUT, MAYBE WE CAN SEE IT BETTER THERE. THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER. YEAH. HOTBED OF, UH, HOMOSEXUAL AND PRO-ABORTION ACTIVITIES. THERE. FURTHER DOWN THE LIST, YOU HAVE CC, WHICH ONCE HAD A, A PLAY CALLED CHICANA ATHEIST. YEAH, CC HAD THAT ONE ONE TIME. UM, ARTPACE ANOTHER, UH, PRO HOMOSEXUAL ORGANIZATION. BILL. HA. YES. THEY, THEY ONCE CELEBRATED PLANNED PARENTHOOD ONE TIME . YEAH. UM, GEMINI INC. ANOTHER PRO-ABORTION ORGANIZATION. JUMPSTART PERFORMANCE COMPANY, PROBE HOMOSEXUAL PERFORMANCES AT TIMES. SAN ANTONIO LITTLE THEATER. YES. IT HAD A PLAY CALLED CORPUS CHRISTI ONE TIME PORTRAYING JESUS CHRIST AS AND HIS APOSTLES AS HOMOSEXUALS. YEAH. OH BOY. KEEP GOING. MR. AUDIO. VISUAL MAN. YEAH. WOODLAWN THEATER. YEAH. HAD THE ROCKY MO MOUNTAIN HORROR PICTURE SHOW, PRO HOMOSEXUAL PLAY THERE. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, RETURN THE CAMERA TO THE PODIUM. WHY ARE YOU GIVING MICHELLE OUT MONEY TO THESE PEOPLE? UM, AND THEN ITEM FIVE, UM, PUT THAT THERE. YEAH. YOU'RE GONNA BE SHELLING OUT MONEY TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE, FOR THE ILL, WHAT I CALL THE ILLEGAL ALIENS NOW. YES. UM, 90%, 90% OF THE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THAT BORDER ARE NOT SEEKING ASYLUM. THEY ARE NOT REFUGEES. THEY ARE CRIMINALS. YES. JUST ASK THE 30% OF THE WOMEN TRAVELING ACROSS IT WHO GOT RAPED BY SOME OF THEIR FELLOW TR TRAVELERS THERE. BUT YES. UH, THEY, AND THEY BRING THEIR FENTANYL WITH THEM. AND YET, BUT YET, YOU HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE SUPPOSEDLY HELPING THEM. ESSENTIALLY, THEY'RE AB UH, AIDING AND ABETTING THEM. I USED TO THINK IT WAS JUST CATHOLIC CHARITIES DOING THIS, BUT MY GOODNESS, YOU HAVE AMERICAN GATEWAYS, YOU HAVE THE LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES. YOU HAVE AMERICAN ORGANIZATION FOR IMMIGRANTS. UH, WHEN DOES THIS STUFF STOP? YOU KNOW, THE FEDS THAT NEVER GAVE YOU YOUR MONEY FOR THE LAST TIME. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. UH, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. UH, ON ITEM FOUR. ON ITEM FOUR, OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM FOUR. UH, LET ME ASK THE SAME ON ITEM FIVE, AND LET ME ASK, UH, SOMEONE ELSE TO MAKE THE PRIMARY MOTION SECOND. A SECOND. OKAY. THERE IS, IS AND A SECOND, UH, MOTION BY ROCHA GARCIA, UH, SECOND BY COURAGE ON ITEM FIVE. SO LET'S BEGIN DISCUSSION ON THOSE TWO ITEMS TOGETHER, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, WITH COUNSEL CONSIDERATION. SO, UH, IF YOU COULD QUEUE UP, PLEASE, AND LET ME JUST, UH, START THE DISCUSSION. ACTUALLY, IF YOU COULD QUEUE UP ON ITEM FOUR, THAT WAY I GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME ITEM. UM, FIRST, UH, A LOT OF THANKS OBVIOUSLY TO OUR STAFF, UH, FOR DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE ON THE WORK AND, UH, EXPEDITIOUSLY GETTING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, OF ACQUIRING THE APPLICATIONS, VETTING THE APPLICATIONS, AND BRINGING US A RECOMMENDATION. BUT ALSO THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, ON THE CHECK COMMITTEE FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD QUICKLY, UH, AS WELL AS OUR WHOLE CITY COUNCIL FOR PRIORITIZING ARTS AND NONPROFITS IN THE COURSE OF OUR RECOVERY. CLEARLY, UH, ARTISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND NONPROFITS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN VERY HARD HIT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. UH, BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A STRONG AND FULL RECOVERY FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN, UH, [01:35:01] NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH HAS BEEN BORN ON INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT ALL OF THE ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS GRANTS ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED. SO, UH, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY. OBVIOUSLY, OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. IT CONTINUES ON INTO THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS OF FISCAL YEAR BUDGETING AS WE PRIORITIZE ARTS AND CULTURE AS A, AS A FOUNDATIONAL ASPECT OF OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY. AND SO, UH, MY THANKS AGAIN TO OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE TABLE, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING THE ADV AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT. EMPHASIZE ARTS AND NONPROFITS, UH, IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING SO TODAY. SO LET'S MOVE INTO DISCUSSION. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. THANK YOU. UM, THIS HAS SEEMED LIKE A VERY, VERY LONG PROCESS. AND I'M GOING TO START WITH JUST WHAT WAS, UH, COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL'S, UH, KIND OF PUSH AND PASSION FOR THE IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND HOW PLEASED I AM THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THERE ARE PROBABLY DAILY YOUNG ADULTS THAT FIND OUT THAT THEY WEREN'T BORN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND SO HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO HAVE THESE AGENCIES FUNDED SO THEY CAN TALK ABOUT PATHWAYS TO CITIZENSHIP AND WHAT THEIR NEXT STEP IS. UH, THAT IS ONE OF WHAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO, AND I'M PROUD THAT WE MADE THE DECISION TO PRIORITIZE THAT AND MOVE THAT FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING, UH, THE PROGRESS THAT THEY MAKE. UM, AND THEN THANK YOU CRYSTAL AND, AND DIANA AND ALL THOSE REPRESENTED IN THE ARTS IN THE ROOM TODAY AND THOSE WATCHING. I WANNA THANK MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR COMMITTING THE DOLLARS. UH, AS THE JOURNEY STARTED FOR THE ARPA DOLLARS, I STATED THAT ALL OUR ARTS WOULD BE PART OF THE RECOVERY AND WE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THEM. TODAY, WE GET TO DO JUST THAT. THE CHALLENGE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT IS REALLY A CONVENING OF ALL THESE ARTIST GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS WHAT THE HOPEFUL FUTURE OF ARTS IN SAN ANTONIO IS. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I THINK THERE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MUCH SAID. WE'VE GOT OTHER BUDGET YEARS TO TALK ABOUT GETTING EVERYBODY SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT. BUT LET'S GET THESE, DO ARPA DOLLARS OUT TODAY AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LEADING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. YEAH. GRANDE COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HDA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. CRYSTAL. SORRY. GET CLOSER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS VENTURE. I KNOW, UM, ALL OF THESE ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA, THERE'S A LOT, A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT GOES BEHIND THEM. SO WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THANKS TO THE, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO SPEAK TODAY. JOHN HINOJOSA, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE STILL HERE. ALRIGHT, WE'RE IN THE BACK. UM, MARY HEATH C**K. MS. BLACKBURN, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. I'LL BE VERY EXCITED AND HONORED TO ATTEND THE PERFORMANCE AT THE EDGEWOOD FINE ARTS CENTER. I ALSO SAW FRANK WITH THE MAGIC CHILDREN'S THEATER, SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE INVESTMENT IN OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE ARTS ARE AN ASPECT OF OUR CULTURE THAT HAS BROUGHT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO SAN ANTONIO, AND IT'S ALL BEEN POSITIVE, UH, WONDERFUL ATTENTION, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT. I LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THESE ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS IMPROVE THROUGH THIS INVESTMENT. I'M ESPECIALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SOME OF THESE FUNDS GOING TOWARDS BUSINESS PLANNING. WILL YOU EXPAND? CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT CRYSTAL? YES. SO FOR THOSE NONPROFITS, THEY'RE ABLE TO USE, UM, THAT FUNDS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND REALLY A FOCUS ON HOW TO BE RESILIENT OUTTA THE PANDEMIC. SO, UH, WE, WE NOTICED THAT MOST PEOPLE WANNA USE IT FOR RECOVERY, BUT ALSO PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE IT ON THEIR MINDS OF HOW ARE WE GONNA RECOVER PAST THE PANDEMIC AND BE RESILIENT. SO THAT'S WHERE THAT BUSINESS PLANNING REALLY COMES INTO PLAY, BUSINESS PLANNING FOR NOT ONLY STAFF DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO BOARD DEVELOPMENT. I THINK THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF GENERALLY PEOPLE THINK OF ARTISTS AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE ALSO A BUSINESS AND THEY NEED TO PROMOTE AND, UM, THEY NEED TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT A REGULAR BUSINESS DOES. SO I, I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THAT ASPECT. HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION WITH, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON OFFERING A PROGRAM OR, UM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION CONTRACTS TO HELP ARTISTS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS? WE'VE BEEN, UH, PARTNERING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY DURING THEIR STRATEGIC PLANNING PHASE. WE'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND NONPROFITS AS BUSINESSES AND ECONOMIC DRIVERS. SO THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF COLLABORATION EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AS SMALL BUSINESSES, AS YOU SAID, FIGURING OUT HOW THEY CAN WORK WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO HOW THEY CAN GET THEIR BUSINESS SET UP, HOW THEY CAN, UH, MOVE TO MAYBE EVEN BRICK AND MORTAR THEMSELVES. [01:40:01] SO WE ARE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM. AND WILL WE BE ADVERTISING THE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM? OH, DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE GONNA BE CONTACTING, CONTACTING ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND ANYONE AND NONPROFITS, NONPROFITS ALREADY VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR EVENTS CALENDAR THAT'S LOCATED@SANANTONIO.GOV SLASH ARTS. AND THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS WILL BE, UH, VERY MUCH ENCOURAGED TO PUT THEIR PROGRAMMING ON OUR CALENDAR. A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS HAVE BECOME, BE BEEN DOING THAT WITH OUR INDIVIDUAL ARTIST PROJECT GRANTS, AND WE ARE ADVERTISING THOSE EVENTS ALL THE TIME. WONDERFUL. OKAY. THANK YOU, CRYSTAL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KIO. HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER PALAIS. THANKS. AND, UH, CRYSTAL, THERE'S NO, NO NEED TO COME UP HERE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I, I PLANT THE FLAG ONE MORE TIME. WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT NOT JUST ART IN TERMS OF ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES, UH, OR ONE-TIME GRANTS. UM, AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ART GOING FORWARD, UM, OUTSIDE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? I MEAN, AND ACTUALLY TAKING YOUR DEPARTMENT TO OTHERS, UM, AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, AN ART POLICY CONVERSATION, UM, AS IT RELATES TO HOW, UM, PUBLIC WORKS AND HOW OUR COURTS AND, UH, OTHER, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTS CAN BE, UM, INTERACTING WITH YOU AND, AND PARTNERING WITH YOU AND FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE ART POLICY AND POLICY ART. RIGHT. UM, THE SECOND THING THAT, THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE ALSO DOING IS MORE THAN JUST GRANTS AND KEEPING ARTISTS, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THEY DO IS ALSO FIND WAYS, UM, TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS, UM, OUTSIDE OF JUST, YOU KNOW, YOUR TRADITIONAL, UH, ART SHOWS, RIGHT? OR FEATURING A, A PARTICULAR ARTIST. I, I, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TAKING THESE ON THE ROAD TO SENIOR CENTERS, TAKING THESE ON THE ROAD TO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND HAVING THESE ARTISTS DISPLAY THEIR WORK TO FOLKS THAT QUITE HONESTLY HAVE NEVER REALLY SEEN THE INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE IN THESE ARTS. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE I, I'M LOOKING AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM BEHIND Y'ALL, THAT THAT'S A JOSE VIVE ADA PAINTING RIGHT THERE. AND THAT'S A, AND THERE'S A ADA, A VIVE ADA IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THESE ARE MASTERPIECES, RIGHT? I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SHOCKED THAT THAT'S NOT BEHIND GLASS. UH, AND IT'S THIS THERE FOR ANYBODY TO LEAN AGAINST. BUT WE, UM, YOU KNOW, VIVA WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT ARTIST AROUND HERE. UM, AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ARTISTS THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH US WHO, YOU KNOW, LEAVE AN INDELIBLE MARK. AND I WOULD LOVE THIS BUILDING IN PARTICULAR TO FEATURE SOME OF THOSE ARTISTS, NOT JUST PICTURES OF STUFFY OLD MAYORS, UH, IN THE BACK. UH, AND SORRY, YOU'RE GONNA BE ONE OF THOSE STUFFY OLD MAYORS, UH, MAYOR. UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH WALL SPACE AROUND HERE WHERE WE CAN FEATURE NOT JUST PAINTINGS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, SOME THREE DIMENSIONAL ART THAT, THAT SOME OF OUR PARTNERS DO. AND SO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, UH, ACROSS THE STREET, BUT THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S CHAMBERS, RIGHT? AND I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE PEOPLE REFLECTED IN THIS ROOM. AND SO, UM, I MEAN, THAT'S A CHALLENGE TO Y'ALL TO MAYBE BRING US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THIS ART THAT WE'RE FUNDING, UH, TO BE DISPLAYED HERE. RIGHT? AND SO, UM, ANYWAY, JUST, JUST SOME THOUGHTS AND, UH, MAYBE WE'LL VISIT ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT FUN WAYS TO, TO DO THIS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER EZ. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. OH MY GOD, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WANNA THANK THE MANY ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO, UM, PROVIDED THEIR INSIGHT AND INPUT ON THE COMPOUNDED STRUGGLES DURING AND AFTER THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE COLLECTIVELY STILL IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PERIOD, AND OUR ARTISTS ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THIS BURDEN, UM, WITH VERY LITTLE RELIEF IN SIGHT. ARTISTS ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR SOCIETY, AND THEY CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF THE MOMENT. THEY'RE HISTORIANS, CULTURE KEEPERS, UM, CREATORS, AND THEY MAKE OUR DREAMS TANGIBLE. UM, THEY CRITIQUE SOCIETY AND THEY BEAUTIFY OUR SPACES. AND, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS. COULD WE GET, UH, SOME MURALISTS IN HERE? THAT WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL. ? AN INVESTMENT IN THE ARTS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE STORYTELLING OF OUR CITY. AND ONE OF THE, UH, BIGGEST ADVOCATES FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS FUNDING WAS A DISTRICT TWO CONSTITUENTS, UH, MARISELA RA. UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HER FOR HER ADVOCACY, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS INVESTMENT. AND WHILE I KNOW IT WON'T FULLY UNDO THE LOSS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THESE FUNDS WILL UPLIFT, UM, MANY ARTISTS AND THOSE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO COMMIT THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO OUR CITY. AND FINALLY, I WANNA THANK OUR DISTRICT TO ARTS COMMITTEE APPOINTEE, UH, MARIA WILLIAMS AND CITY STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS IN OUR CITY AND THEIR WORK. ENSURING THESE FUNDS WILL BE, IM, UH, IMPACTFUL AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO, UM, APPRECIATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT I MADE, UM, WAS THAT THE ANNUAL INCOME OF THE ARTIST [01:45:01] APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDING, UM, BE CONSIDERED. AND IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, CATEGORY PERCENTAGES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, NOW FOR ITEM FIVE, UH, MOST RECENTLY OUR OFFICE WAS, UM, WORKING TO SUPPORT MIGRANT FAMILIES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY AFRAID TO SEEK SUPPORT, EITHER SHELTER, FOOD, OR NAVIGATION SERVICES FROM THE CITY. UM, BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC CHARGE, UM, PUBLIC CHARGES WHERE MIGRANT FAMILIES MIGHT FACE PENALTIES, UM, IN THE CITIZENSHIP PROCESS BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED, UH, PUBLIC AID. AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WORK WITH THESE NON-PROFIT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WHO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PRIVATE FUNDS. AND I'D LIKE TO SEND A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TODAY TO IMMIGRANTS, TO REFUGEES AND MIGRANT FAMILIES, THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I ALSO, UM, I, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T COMMENT ON, I DIDN'T RESPOND DURING THE, UH, CONSENSUS ITEM, BUT THERE IS VERY REAL HARM DONE. AND YOUNG L G B T Q KIDS ARE KILLING THEMSELVES, KILLING THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF COMMENTS MADE LIKE THOSE BY JACK FINGER. AND THAT L G B T Q COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE, TO LOVE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE CHOSEN YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN COME HERE AND BE HATEFUL. I'LL ALSO ADD THAT IF YOU DO ANY SORT OF LINEAGE TEST, MANY OF US DO NOT HAVE ROOTS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND MANY OF OUR ANCESTORS ARE NOT FROM NORTH AMERICA. NO ILLEGAL, NO , NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL, AND WE ARE UN STOLEN COLONIZED LAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. GREAT. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. APPRECIATE IT. UH, DO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS HERE ON, UH, UH, LET'S SEE, ON THIS OVERALL PROGRAM, UM, I, I VOTED AGAINST THESE LAST TIME, AND THE REASON I VOTED AGAINST THESE IS BECAUSE WE WERE, WE WERE PULLING THIS OUT FROM OUR OVERALL, WHAT I CONSIDER SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. EVERY ONE OF THESE, UH, BUSINESSES TO ME ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME RACKING AND STACKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DID FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANNA, I WANNA JUST POINT OUT THAT ON, UH, UM, SLIDE EIGHT, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO ESTIMATE WHAT THE LOSSES WERE IN, IN THESE COMMUNITIES HERE, $47 MILLION, I THINK IT SAID. BUT, UH, WE NEVER DID THAT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. I FOUND DATA TO SUGGEST THAT BETWEEN 35 AND 38% OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ACTUALLY CLOSE THEIR DOORS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND YET, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL FIGURES ACROSS THE CARES ACT MONEY, AND THIS ARPA FUNDING, IT WAS THE LOWEST AREA THAT WE ACTUALLY FUNDED. SO I'M, I'M STILL STICKING MY, BY MY GUNS, THAT THIS MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN, UH, ADDED TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND COMPETED, UH, JUST LIKE OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES FOR THIS, FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES. UM, I, I DID HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT, WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ON THESE THAT ARE, THAT ARE GONNA BE ALLOWED? DO WE HAVE THAT FOR NONPROFITS SPECIFICALLY? COUNCILMAN? IT IS FOR, UH, STAFFING. IT IS FOR, UM, SUPPLIES, ANYTHING THAT WOULD, UH, TAKE TO RUN A SMALL BUSINESS OR A NONPROFIT. SO, UH, IT'S REALLY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM, STAFF TIME, UH, MARKETING, UM, UH, PLANNING. OKAY. AND WHAT, WHAT IS THAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL TOTAL FUNDING? OH, I'M SORRY. WHAT ARE THEY ALLOWED? SO, OKAY, SO, UH, THERE IS NO, UM, RESTRICTION ON HOW THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT IN THE BUCKETS. THEY'RE GONNA BE TELLING US HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THE MONEY. SO IF THERE IS A NONPROFIT THAT NEEDS ALL OF THE MONEY FOR ADMINISTRATION, THAT WOULD BE ALLOWABLE. UH, BUT AS, AS OUR APPLICATION STATES, MOST OF THESE NONPROFITS ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING IT IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AREAS. WE'LL BE COLLECTING HOW THEY SPEND IT, BUT WE'RE NOT DICTATING HOW THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT IN EACH BUCKET. SO THEY CAN HIRE A LOT OF STAFF AND NOT HAVE ANY PRODUCTS, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE PRODUCING PROGRAMMING AS A PART OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. THEY WILL HAVE TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE. SO THEY'LL STILL HAVE TO BE PROVIDING ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING. THEY'LL STILL HAVE TO BE, UM, OPERATING WITH MORE THAN $50,000 IN OPERATING EXPENSES. SO THEY COULD CERTAINLY HIRE STAFF TO CREATE PROGRAMS, BUT THEY HAVE TO CREATE PROGRAMS AS A PART OF OUR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE, [01:50:01] OR WE DON'T HAVE A CAP ON PERCENTAGE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. WE DO NOT ON ALL OF THESE. WE DO NOT HAVE A CAP, BUT WE WILL BE COLLECTING THE INFORMATION SO WE CAN GET STATS ON HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT. SO WE CAN EVALUATE, OKAY, WELL, I'M, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WE DONATE TO UNITED WAY EVERY YEAR, AND NORMALLY THE CAPS ON THE, THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE ABOUT 10%. AND, UH, I'VE HEARD ANYWHERE UP TO 30% ON SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND THAT, THAT TO ME, IS NOT A WISE USE OF OUR, UH, LIMITED RESOURCES FOR, FOR THESE PROGRAMS. SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT. ONCE, ONCE Y'ALL, UH, UH, START AWARDING THESE CONTRACTS, WHAT ARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ON, ON THESE CONTRACTS? UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE TIME FUNDING, AND SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE, UH, UM, PROGRAMS TO ME ARE NOT ONE TIME FUNDING. IT'S PROGRAMS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE THIS MONEY RUNS OUT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NEXT? AND I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, THAT, UH, I'M NOT GONNA BE SUPPORTING ROLLING THESE OVER INTO WHEN THIS MONEY IS OUT INTO OUR GENERAL FUND COSTS THAT ARE, ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR OUR BASIC SERVICES, UH, BEING PROVIDED TO OUR CITIZENS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL. UM, ON THE, UM, SO THAT'S ON THE NON-PROFIT SIDE. ON, ON THIS, UH, ON THESE IMMIGRATION SERVICES. UH, AGAIN, ONE-TIME FUNDING, AND I, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE WHERE THIS IS GONNA BE THE END TO THESE PROGRAMS HERE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT, IF YOU CAN PULL UP SLIDE 22, OKAY, THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, THIS IS WHAT THE SCOPE OF SERVICES ARE ON WHAT THESE, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ARE GONNA BE PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS. UH, NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, 1,800 301 60, AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE 23, AND I WISH THIS WOULD'VE BEEN SIDE BY SIDE TO SEE HOW THE EXPENDITURES OR WHAT THE PROPOSED AWARDS ARE. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT CATHOLIC CHARITIES AT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN AMERICAN GATEWAY, LESS THAN THAT. AND AMERICAN GATEWAY IS PROVIDING A LOT MORE SERVICES OUT THERE THAN, THAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES. THE SAME THING WITH THE LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS FOR IMMIGRANTS. THOSE, THOSE NUMBERS DON'T ALIGN WITH WHAT THEIR, THEIR PROPOSED, UM, UH, CLIENTS WERE IN ON THESE. SO I'M TOTALLY NOT SUPPORTING THIS. IT, AND AGAIN, I DON'T SEE THIS AS ONE TIME FUNDING. AND, UM, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. SO, UM, METRICS IS GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME ON THESE PROGRAMS. IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY UP HERE IS SUPPORTING THIS. I'M NOT. UH, BUT ONCE THIS GETS APPROVED AND AWARDED, I'M GONNA REALLY BE LOOKING AT THE METRICS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT WISELY. SO, UH, THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU TO CRYSTAL AND THEN MEL AND THE ENTIRE TEAM. AND I'LL START OFF BY, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE, UH, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE, AND, UH, IN PARTICULAR IN THE CHECK COMMITTEE, UH, THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO SERVE ON THE CHECK COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. UM, ALSO TO AMERICAN GATEWAYS WHO IS HERE. UM, I WAS ABLE TO JOIN THEM A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE. AND YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE EXCITEMENT IN THE ROOM AS A LOT OF RESIDENTS WERE LEARNING HOW TO, OR A LOT OF OUR FOLKS WERE LEARNING HOW TO BECOME CITIZENS, AND THEY WERE ON THE PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ACCESS TO CITIZENSHIP THAT YOU ALL BELIEVE IN. UM, THERE WAS JUST SUCH A, A GOOD BUZZ IN THE ROOM THAT DAY. AND SO I WAS, UM, HAPPY TO BE THERE. I ALSO WANNA TAKE THE, THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR OUR MIGRANTS. UM, AND NOT ONLY WITH THE TRAGEDY, BUT WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO, UH, ON, ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THEN I WANTED TO, TO FOCUS MY COMMENTS TODAY ON THE ARTS COMMUNITY. AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE SURROUNDED BY ARTISTS WHO SHARE THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS. THEY DEMONSTRATE THAT ART CAN TAKE ANY FORM, RIGHT? UH, FILM, ART INSTALLATIONS, MUSIC, DANCE, FINE ART, POETRY, PERFORMING ARTS, DIGITAL ART, UH, WHICH PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT, AND OF COURSE, FASHION. AND WE HAVE THE TEXAS FASHION WEEK COMING UP. UM, I THINK IT STARTS THIS WEEKEND. THE KICKOFF IS OCTOBER THE FIRST. I WILL BE THERE. UM, THERE'S JUST NO DOUBT THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS SOME INSPIRING ARTISTS, UH, AND THEY ARE SHOWCASED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND OUR CULTURAL TRADITIONS HAPPEN TO BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR ARTISTS. SO, UM, I, I WANTED TO FOCUS ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE FORGET ABOUT THAT. AS A DISTRICT FOUR REPRESENTATIVE, I AM FORTUNATE TO WORK, WORK ON BEHALF [01:55:01] OF MY RESIDENTS. THEY ALSO SHARE A PASSION FOR THIS ART IN OUR BELOVED CITY, AND THEY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED AND, UM, AND, AND INVOLVED, UH, WITH THE CULTURAL TRADITION. SO, UH, WHETHER IT'S PINATA MAKING, WHICH I'VE TALKED TO THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING A PINATA MAKING CLASS, I JUST THINK THAT EVERY SAN ANTONIO KNOWS THAT THERE'S A DISTINCT FEELING THAT CAN GENERALLY DESCRIBE EVERYBODY'S ARTISTIC INTERPRETATIONS THAT TRANSCEND INTO OTHER INDUSTRIES LIKE ARCHITECTURE AND GASTRONOMY. AND OF COURSE, OUR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IS BUILT IN LARGE PART DUE TO SAN ANTONIO'S THRIVING TOURIST ECONOMY. AND OUR ARTS COMMUNITY IS A PART OF WHAT CAPTIVATES THAT AND SETS IT APART FROM OTHER CITIES. OF COURSE, PEOPLE COME TO SEE THE ALAMO AND THE RIVERWALK, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT I THINK THAT WHAT MAKES VISITS MEMORABLE IS JUST HOW INTERTWINED OR TAPESTRY OF VARIOUS CULTURES AND INFLUENCES CAN BE FELT ALL OVER THE CITY. SO BEYOND EL MECADO, INTO THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE, TO THE EVER EVOLVING EAST SIDE AND SOUTH TOWARDS THE MISSIONS, THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN TEXAS, WE'RE SURROUNDED BY THE ARTS THROUGH OUR CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, FOODS, AND PLACES. AND ALTHOUGH MANY FEEL FAMILIAR TO US, IT CAPTIVATES VISITORS. AND OUR CITY REALLY IS LIKE NO OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE. WHERE ELSE WILL YOU FIND A FULL, A CITY WHO IS READY TO PARTY WITH A PURPOSE? AND WHO HAS A GREAT COLLECTION OF FIESTA MEDALS? ONE OF THE ARTS RECIPIENTS, UH, THAT WILL BE RECEIVING SOME FUNDING HAPPENS TO BE THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK FESTIVAL. AND IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THEIR FIESTA MEDAL LAST YEAR, IT WAS THE BEST FIESTA MEDAL EVER. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO AND CHECK IT OUT. THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY'LL DO THIS YEAR. NO OTHER CITY CELEBRATES AND EMBRACES OUR, OUR HERITAGE WITH SUCH PROFOUND PRIDE. LIKE I FEEL SAN ANTONIO DOES EVEN OUR VERY OWN FIVE TIME AND B, A WORLD CHAMP. THE SPURS GET IN ON ALL OF THE FUN WITH THE FIESTA THEMED JERSEYS AND MEDALS, AND I HIGHLY, UM, RECOMMEND THAT THE ESSAY MASTER SINGERS CONTINUE TO GO OUT THERE SO THAT THE SPURS CONTINUE TO WIN. WHEN YOU SING. AS A BOARD MEMBER OF VISIT SAN ANTONIO, I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT SET OUR CITY APART AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT ARTISTS PRODUCE. RAISING SAN ANTONIO'S PROFILE AS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTS DESTINATION IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OUR PROSPERITY. SUPPORTING EVENTS LIKE LUMMI NAIA, WHO IS ALSO A PART OF THIS, WILL EMERGE, UH, HELP US EMERGE WITH A STRONGER SENSE OF APPRECIATION AND RESILIENCY. AND NO ONE CAN DENY THE SPECIAL PLACE AT THE ARTS PLAY IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AND TO SEE THAT THERE'S MANY GREAT WORKS, UH, FROM EMERGING ARTISTS THAT WILL BE FUNDED. AND I THINK THESE INDIVIDUAL CONTR, UH, INDIVIDUALS FOR CONTRIBUTING YOUR GIFTS AND ALLOWING US TO SEE A GLIMPSE OF THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR EYES, THESE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES ENRICH OUR LIVES AND ALLOW US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, WHILE ALSO CELEBRATING THE TIES THAT UNITE US. THE ARTS COMMUNITY STILL NEED OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND I'M PROUD TO SEE OUR CITY STEP UP, GIVING THEM THE ASSISTANCE THAT THEY NEED. IF YOU CAN, AND YOU'RE ABLE, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ARTS AND COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS. WITHOUT THEM, THE SAN ANTONIO WE KNOW AND LOVE WOULD NOT BE THE SAME. WE NEED THEM TO THRIVE AND SHARE THEIR TALENT, AND NEED US TO SHOW US THEIR, SHOW THEM OUR SUPPORT, AND CELEBRATE THEIR WORKS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE MOST ENJOYED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS GOING OUT TO PEARSALL PARK AND LISTENING TO THE AGARITA CHAMBER PLAYERS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT IS LISTED TOO, HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING. UM, OF COURSE, LUMINA IS COMING UP. CAN'T PLUG IT ENOUGH. BUT PLEASE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AND CHECK OUT WHAT THE ARTISTS HAVE CREATED. THE MCNAY ART MUSEUM RECENTLY REDESIGNED, UH, THEIR, UH, THEIR MUSEUM TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND I THANK THEM FOR IT. I WAS ABLE TO BE THERE AS WELL AT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. AND MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH SHOWCASES THEIR MUSICAL HERITAGE. AND I, I ESPECIALLY LOVE WHEN THEY PERFORM AT THE CATHEDRAL. UH, THE MAYOR AND I ATTENDED THE OPENING NIGHT OF AMERICAN MARIACHI AT THE SAN ANTONIO LITTLE THEATER, OR THE PUBLIC THEATER OF SAN ANTONIO. UH, ANOTHER, I MEAN, IT JUST BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART, ANTONIO PARKER'S HEROES AND VILLAIN THAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I ATTENDED WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SHOWCASE, UM, OUR, OUR ART BY HAVING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE TOBIN CENTER, I, I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE TOBIN CENTER. AND AS THE BACKDROP OF A LOT OF OUR EVENTS, I'M, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT FACILITY, THE WITTY MUSEUM, WITH THE HISTORY OF TEXAS COLLECTION THAT A LOT OF OUR KIDS HAVE GROWN UP, INCLUDING ME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND I RECENTLY ATTENDED THE WOODLAWN THEATER AND WATCHED THE PERFORMANCE AS A LITTLE MERMAID, AND THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO BE THERE. I, I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO FOCUS IN ON THESE ARTS BECAUSE WE NEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR ARTISTS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR CULTURE, AND WE [02:00:01] NEED TO ENCOURAGE OUR KIDS TO SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TODAY, UM, AND THAT WE WILL BE APPROVING TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS WORKED REALLY HARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, IT ALWAYS MAKES ME HAPPY WHEN WE GET TO SUPPORT THE ARTS HERE IN COUNCIL. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST EARLIER THIS MORNING, WE HAD SOME HIGH SCHOOL MUSICIANS HERE PLAY SOME MUSIC FOR US, WHICH IS A FORM OF ART, AND FIVE OF THEM WERE PLAYING THE ACCORDION. AND MAY ABUELA USED TO PLAY THE ACCORDION. SHE STUDIED AT BE ARTES IN MEXICO CITY. AND I, SO I GREW UP HEARING, LISTENING TO ACCORDION MUSIC, AND I USED TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHAT WOULD THAT FIRST MEETING LOOK LIKE WITH, UM, A GERMAN AND A MEXICAN MEETING HERE IN TEXAS AND, YOU KNOW, SHARING MUSIC AND, AND MEXICANS LEARNING TO PLAY THE ACCORDION. AND SO I, I THINK OF ART AS PART OF OUR HISTORY AND PART OF OUR CULTURE, AND PART OF DIPLOMACY. JUST RECENTLY, ART, UH, ART PASTE HAD SOME, UM, SOME ARTISTS FROM KOREA WHO WERE HERE AND THEY SHARED KOREAN FOOD. THEY SH SHARED THEIR KOREAN ART THAT THEY PERFORMED. AND AGAIN, THAT WAS DIPLOMACY. AND IT'S, THIS IS ALL PART OF OUR HUMANITY. THIS IS PART OF OUR CULTURE. UM, YOU KNOW, MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN ARTIST, AND SHE REMINDED, REMINDED ME THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS BEGUN TO RECOGNIZE THE HEALING BENEFITS OF ART, YOU KNOW, AND SHE'S HELPED ME ON MY HEALING JOURNEY. AND SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY WONDERFUL ASPECTS OF THE ARTS THAT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. UM, MOVING ON TO, UH, THE OTHER ARPA, UM, ITEM. YOU KNOW, WE ARE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS AND WE HAVE IMMIGRANTS HERE NOW, AND THAT IS NOT GONNA END. UM, WE HEARD SOME REALLY UGLY COMMENTS, UM, EARLIER TODAY, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I ACTUALLY TOOK A, I STUDIED HISTORY AS AN UNDERGRAD IN COLLEGE, AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I STUDIED WAS THE HISTORY OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND A LOT OF THE UGLY COMMENTS I HEAR TODAY ARE THE SAME UGLY COMMENTS THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT IN THE HISTORY OF IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE US. AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THOSE SAME THINGS ARE BEING SAID TODAY. UM, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THAT I'VE GONE AND I'VE KNOCKED ON DOORS AROUND THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. AND WHEN I HAVE, UM, JUST YESTERDAY I MET WITH THE OWNER OF MCDONALD'S, AND THEY SAID, AND THE OWNER SAID, OF THE LOCAL MCDONALD'S THERE ACROSS FROM THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER, AND THEY TOLD ME, THESE PEOPLE AREN'T COMMITTING ANY CRIMES. THEY'RE NOT EVEN RUDE. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, BUT, UM, THEY, THEY NEED RESOURCES AND THEY NEED A PLACE TO GO. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE KNOCKED ON OTHER DOORS OVER THERE AT CC'S, PIZZA, CRICKET WIRELESS, THEY SAID, BUSINESS IS UP. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT, ALL THESE CRITICISMS THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE MAKING, THEY'RE JUST UNFOUNDED. BUT WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE, WHEN THEY COME HERE AND THEY'RE VULNERABLE, THAT THEY HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. AND I'M CONVINCED THAT, THAT THIS CHA WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THIS CHALLENGE. AND I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA OF CITY STAFF TO SPREAD OUT THESE CONTRACTS TO FOUR CONTRACTORS, INCLUDING TWO NEW CONTRACTORS, BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SCALE UP. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF RIGHT NOW, 90% OF THE, THE MIGRANTS THAT ARE HERE, THEY'RE COMING FROM VENEZUELA, RIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OTHER COUNTRIES GET DESTABILIZED? WHAT IF WE HAVE AS MANY THAT ARE COMING FROM VENEZUELA, PLUS WE HAVE THAT MANY COMING FROM MEXICO PLUS MAYBE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN CENTRAL AMERICA? HOW ARE WE GONNA HANDLE THAT? WE NEED TO BE PREPARED. THIS IS GOOD PRACTICE. THIS IS CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE CRISES BETTER AND BE ABLE TO SCALE UP. AND SO I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THAT ITEM AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO, UH, OUR ARTS, UH, ARPA FUNDING. UH, AND, AND WHEN I WAS HEARING EVERYONE TALK ABOUT THIS, IT JUST REMINDED ME OF, OF MY YEARS AS A TEACHER, PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I TAUGHT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. UH, AND SO I CAN RECALL MANY, MANY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WERE HELD BY ARTISTS THAT CAME TO THE SCHOOLS TO HELP TEACH. SOMETIMES IT WAS PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC. SOMETIMES IT WAS, UH, ARTISTS WHO WERE TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO, HOW TO PAINT, HOW TO DRAW, UH, EVEN HOW TO ACT. ALL OF THOSE, UH, EFFORTS BY ARTISTS, VARIOUS TYPES OF ARTISTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE EDUCATION OF THOSE CHILDREN. AND I THINK ALL OF US ALSO SAY, ANYTIME THERE ARE POSITIVE AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES THAT KIDS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, IT HELPS THEIR EDUCATION, IT HELPS THEIR, UH, SOCIAL, UH, INTERACTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE, AND IT KEEPS 'EM OUTTA TROUBLE. AND SO, I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT, [02:05:01] THAT ART HAS A VALUE TO OUR CHILDREN, BUT ALSO ART HAS A GREAT VALUE TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS. YOU KNOW, BEAL HOUSE ART THAT WAS, UH, JUST COMMENTED ON A LITTLE WHILE AGO, NEGATIVELY, UM, COMES TO THE SENIOR CENTERS AND HELPS SENIORS, HUNDREDS OF THEM, THOUSANDS OF THEM EVERY DAY, UH, ADVANCE THEIR OWN SKILLS AND HELP THEM, UH, USE A DIFFERENT PART OF, OF THEIR MIND AND THEIR PHYSICAL ABILITY TO, UH, HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THESE PROGRAMS AND THE SUPPORT FOR THESE PROGRAMS, I THINK STILL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE CULTURE AND, AND IN OUR SOCIETY. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER SOME SUPPORT TO ALL OF THESE ARTISTS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED. UH, YOU LOOK AT, UH, THE, UH, BREAKDOWN. ALMOST 40% OF THESE ARTISTS ARE MUSICIANS. MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN OUTTA WORK. AND, UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT OFFERING THEM A HANDOUT. WE'RE OFFERING THEM A HAND UP SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. HALF OF THOSE ARTISTS NEVER RECEIVED ANY EARLIER CARES FUNDING FOR AN ART GRANT. UH, SO I THINK THAT WE, UH, SHOULD BE PROUD OF THIS EFFORT, AND I'M SURE THAT THE MORE WE CAN SUPPORT OUR ARTISTS, THE GREATER THE ART THEY WILL PRODUCE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT, UH, APPROVED TODAY. THE OTHER ITEM ON OFFERING, UH, VARIOUS TYPES OF SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE'RE A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO HERE TODAY ARE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. SOME OF THEM MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE DOCUMENTS, AND THEY LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT MANY OF THEM HAVE HAD CHILDREN WHO ARE AMERICANS 'CAUSE THEY WERE BORN HERE. YET A LOT OF THOSE CHILDREN DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS COULD BE AS AMERICANS, OR THE PARENTS MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THE RIGHTS OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE AS AMERICANS. IF WE ARE NOT CAPABLE OF HELPING EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN THIS COUNTRY KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE, THEN WE'RE NOT LIVING UP TO OUR OBLIGATION AS A PEOPLE TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S THE, THE GOAL BEHIND, UH, THESE, UH, THESE FUNDS, THESE, THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER. I THINK THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT ARE THE TWO, UH, CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THIS CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND, AND THE LUTHERAN, UH, SUPPORT GROUP. UH, AND I KNOW MANY OTHER CHURCHES, THE IN HELPING PEOPLE, AND I DON'T THINK THEY ASK WHAT YOUR STATUS IS. THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE TO HELP PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER ROLE THAT THE CITY HAS. SO, THANK YOU. I'LL BE SUPPORTING THESE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. HI, GOOD MORNING. UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, THE ARTS STAFF. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH CRYSTAL AND TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO QUICKLY INTO THE ARTS COMMISSION, UH, FOR DOING THAT, THAT WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING GRANTS. UM, I, UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT, UH, SERVICES. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, COUNSEL FOR SUPPORTING THAT, UM, THAT AREA FOR FUNDING. UM, IT'S NEW FOR US, MORE OR LESS, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE TWO NEW ORGANIZATIONS BEING FUNDED. UM, I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCILMAN ELIAS AND ERIC, WHO HELPED US FIND THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO, TO FUND THAT THANK YOU BOTH, AND TO MR. FRED SHELLENBERGER OF AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS FOR IMMIGRANT WHO, UH, WHO APPROACHED ME WITH, WITH THIS CONCEPT, UM, REGARDING SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID. I KNOW THAT, UM, MANY OF US HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO, TO BRUSH OFF WHAT JACK FINGER COMES TO SAY. AND, UM, THE TRUTH IS, I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY WHO WATCHES THIS, UH, OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT JACK IS ALWAYS HERE AND IS KNOWN TO SAY THAT. AND I, UM, SORT OF LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, I WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE TO WALK AWAY THINKING [02:10:01] THAT WE CONDONE THE WORDS THAT THAT WERE SAID. SO, UM, TO OUR L G B T Q COMMUNITY, I AM SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO HEAR THOSE WORDS. AND, UH, REGARDING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, UM, I'LL TELL YOU, I USED TO VOLUNTEER AT A, AT A ORGANIZATION CALLED THE SAN ANTONIO LITERACY COUNCIL, UH, GIVING, UH, CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, UM, WHEN I WAS A WHOLE LOT YOUNGER. AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE, RIGHT, FROM MY PARENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE KNEW WHO ARE, WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS, UH, FROM MEXICO, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE ARE THE MOST HARDWORKING PEOPLE. IT IS NOT, AND THE MOST COURAGEOUS AND BRAVEST PEOPLE. IT IS NOT EASY TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, AND STRIKE OUT NEW SOMEWHERE. AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AFTER THEY'VE DONE THEIR SCHOOLING. UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S, UH, HIGH SCHOOL OR, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MEXICO, THEY, THEIR COUNTRY HAS ALREADY INVESTED IN THEM. AND THEN THEY COME HERE TO BE PROFESSIONALS. SO WE ARE ACTUALLY REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THE, THE BRAVEST, THE MOST COURAGEOUS AND THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE COME TO OUR COUNTRY. UM, AND, UH, I, I'M GONNA STOP THERE, , BUT, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM AND THEY ALL DESERVE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. ALRIGHT, THERE IS, THAT'S THE BALANCE OF OUR DISCUSSION ON ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM FOUR. LET'S TAKE UP THAT ITEM FIRST FOR ACTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE VOTE. UM, AND CAN WE GET A VOICE VOTE, UH, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL? AYE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO TO ITEM FIVE. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM FIVE. PLEASE VOTE. CAN WE GET A VOICE VOTE AGAIN FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL AYE. AYE. MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO TO ITEM 13 I. ITEM NUMBER 13 IS AN ORDINANCE OF PROVING GOOD CONTRACT WITH WAHA PIERCE IN INDUSTRIES L L C TO PROVIDE THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH FOUR GENERATORS FOR A TOTAL COST OF $335,528 AND 36 CENTS. THIS EQUIPMENT WILL BE UTILIZED AT FOUR SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT WILL SERVE AS RESILIENCY HUBS DURING EMERGENCY WEATHER RELATED INCIDENTS AND CRITICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSES. FUNDING IS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2022. ADOPTED GENERAL FUND BUDGET. COUNCIL MEMBER , I DON'T NEED A PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO, I JUST WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT OUR RESILIENCY HUBS, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DIDN'T LEAVE IT ON CONSENT, THAT WE PULLED IT AND WE UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT WE BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, IN OUR EFFORTS AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH WINTER STORM URI. SO IF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE THE PRESENTATION, UH, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BUT IF NOT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GOT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO VOTE ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 13. ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ITEM 13. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE VOTE. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL AYE. MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, LET'S GO TO ITEM 44. [02:15:03] ITEM 44 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE LEVY OF A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. LEVYING AN ASSESSMENT RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 AT POINT 15 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION OF REAL PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND 9 CENTS PER $100 VALUATION OF RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND APPROVING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH CENTRAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR SUPPLEMENT SUPPLEMENTAL PRESSURE WASHING BY $8,000. OKAY. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY PULLED IT, UH, BUT COUNCIL MEMBER APPLI ALSO WANTED TO PULL IT. LET ME, BEFORE WE GO INTO DISCUSSION THOUGH, LET ME TURN IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO FOR A MOTION, THEN WE'LL BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AS SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 44. COUNCIL MEMBER APPLI. YEAH, I, I, I PULLED THIS. I I UNDERSTAND IT'S JUST SHORT EIGHT SLIDE EIGHT SHORT SLIDE. SORRY. UM, AND I THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL, UH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T BE, UH, PACKED INTO CONSENT AND IT'S WORTHY OF A DISCUSSION. SO SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, BUT I'LL ASK YOU TO DO THAT. NO PROBLEM. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. THANK YOU. AND I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS. I, UM, I GUESS I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND ONE COMMENT REALLY IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A MEET, WE HAD A MEETING RECENTLY WHERE PEOPLE SAID THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANT IN DOWNTOWN IS FOR IT TO BE CLEAN AND SAFE, AND THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THERE'S AN EMPHASIS ON, UH, CLEANLINESS AND SAFETY. UM, I KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION. I DID SEE IN THE, AND THEY, AND THEY REALLY SUPPORT THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. UM, I DID SEE THAT, UM, THERE WAS AN INCREASE, A SMALL INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR, FOR PRESSURE WASHING, WHICH EVERYBODY THINKS THAT WE NEED MORE OF, FOR SURE. UM, BUT ONE CONCERN I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS IS, UM, THAT A LOT OF IT'S DONE, UH, EARLY IN THE MORNING, VERY, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND, AND THAT IT'S VERY LOUD. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PASS ON THAT FEEDBACK BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME INTEREST IN SEEING IF YOU ALL CAN CONTRACT WITH PEOPLE WITH QUIETER, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME MUFFLERS ON THEIR PRESSURE WASHER, UH, MOTORS. AND SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT FEEDBACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. UM, WE DO HAVE TWO FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. UM, ONCE YOU GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, AND THEN I'LL TAKE UP, UM, OUR FOLKS THAT ARE SIGNED UP. OKAY, GREAT. UM, JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ITEM, AND I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. UM, THERE WAS A LETTER SENT OUT ON, UH, WITH 10 SIGNATURES ON IT, REPRESENTING 20 BUSINESSES, AND THEY'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE PI, BUT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS IN THERE. AND THOSE CONCERNS REALLY, UM, REF WAS REF REFLECTED IN THE SURVEY THAT WAS SENT OUT ALSO. AND I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS, CLEANLINESS CONCERNS, AND THE HOMELESS CONCERNS. AND, UM, UM, WE, WHAT IS OUR PLAN? OKAY, THIS, THIS, THESE ARE THE CONCERNS RIGHT NOW. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE THAT ARE PAYING INTO THIS, INTO THIS PIT? AND SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHAT IS A TOTAL REVENUE INTO THIS PROGRAM? SO THE, IS THIS ON? YEAH, NO, THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO MATT BROWN WITH CENTRO, UH, COUNCILMAN IS HERE. AND, UM, SO THE PLAN THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE PIT ASSESSMENT PLAN THAT THE PID BOARD IS RECOMMENDING, UM, TO CITY COUNCIL. AND SO THE, UH, LET'S SEE, 6.5 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. INCLUDING THE DRAW DOWN ON THE RIGHT. SO 6.5 MILLION IS THE ASSESSMENT THAT'S COLLECTED, UH, FOR THIS COMING YEAR FOR THE PI. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, AND AGAIN, I I'M REFERRING TO THE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT AND THE RESPONSES TO THAT SURVEY, AND WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO. AND MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO MATT TO ANSWER THAT? THAT WAS THE SURVEY THAT CENTRO SENT OUT. YEP. UM, AND THAT THEY PREPARED. SO I'LL HAVE HIM ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN PERRY. UH, SPECIFICALLY WHAT CENTRO CAN DO, AND IT'S GOING TO DO THIS COMING YEAR, UH, TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IS, UH, WE, UM, ARE EXPANDING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED THIS YEAR. UM, ONE OF OUR TEAM LEADS, ETHAN IS THERE. HE LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN OUR, [02:20:01] UH, TYPICAL AMBASSADORS LIKE KAT IS ONE OF OUR LEADS USING YELLOW, UM, THE PIKE PATROL AFFECTIONATELY CALLS, THOSE ARE BLUE SHIRTS. UM, SO, AND, AND THOSE ARE, AND ALL THE AMBASSADORS, LIKE ALL OF MY GRATITUDE IN, UH, IS TO THEM. UH, THEY MAKE EVERYTHING HAPPEN. AND SO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM HAS BEEN, UM, VERY EFFECTIVE THIS YEAR IN OBSERVING AND TRYING TO DISSUADE, UM, WHAT WE CALL QUALITY OF LIFE. UH, CODE VIOLATIONS, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, PUBLIC URINATION, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT. I MEAN, IN THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS, WE HAD, UM, 15,000 OBSERVATIONS LIKE THAT, THAT OUR TEAM FOUND AND THEN INTERACTED WITH. AND THE BLUE SHIRT TEAM ARE UNIQUELY TRAINED TO OBSERVE AND THEN RESPECTFULLY ENGAGE AND TO BE ABLE TO DEESCALATE ISSUES TO TRY TO HELP JUST GET THEM RESOLVED. BUT IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO, OR IF THEY OBSERVE A CRIME THAT'S MORE SERIOUS BEYOND OUR SCOPE AT ALL, THEN WE CALL BIKE PATROL. AND BIKE PATROL'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE, UH, PARTNER FOR US. SO WE CONTINUE TO COORDINATE AND WORK INCREASINGLY CLOSE WITH, WITH BIKE BIKE PATROL. SO THE DEMAND, THOUGH, THE NEED IS GREATER THAN OUR, OUR TEAM CAN FULFILL. SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE NINE QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADORS. UH, THE PLAN BEFORE YOU WOULD INCREASE THAT NUMBER UP TO 20, UM, WE'LL FLEX, WE'LL NEVER HAVE FEWER THAN 15, BUT WE'LL FLEX UP AND DOWN DEPENDING KIND OF DEMAND AND NEED. AND WE'RE ALSO HIRING, UM, AT A MINIMUM, UH, WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL, UM, UH, TRADITIONAL AMBASSADORS FOR, UH, CLEANING AND POWER WASHING. AND WE CAN ALSO FLEX THAT UP TO, TO SIX OR SEVEN. SO WE, WE'VE BUILT IN SOME FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS BOTH THE CLEANING AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING. UM, AND WE, WE, WE NOTE, UM, THAT PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST SIX, SEVEN WEEKS THAT, UM, BIKE PATROL, PARK POLICE AT THE LEADERSHIP OF, OF THE CHIEF HAVE MADE SOME, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT GROUND IN ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC SAFETY DOWNTOWN. WE'RE NOTICING IT. OUR, OUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE NOTICING. I'VE TALKED TO DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS AND, AND BUSINESS OPERATORS WHO ARE OBSERVING, YOU KNOW, THAT DOWNTOWN IS, UM, YOU KNOW, GREATLY IMPROVED RIGHT NOW. AND THERE WAS THIS UNIQUE MOMENT WITH, UM, THE MIGRANTS SITUATION WHO WERE COMING AND BEING DROPPED OFF AT, UM, AT OR NEAR TRAVIS PARK. AND THAT WAS AN ACUTE, ACUTE PROBLEM. UM, AS, UH, COUNCILMAN BRAVO MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE M R C GETTING SPUN UP BY THE CITY, AND LOTS OF WORK HAS GONE ON TO ADDRESS THAT AND GET THOSE PEOPLE HELP THEY NEED, BUT ALSO NOT HAVE THEM, UM, SORT OF CONGREGATING DOWN, UH, AT TRAVIS PARKS. THAT WAS AN ACUTE PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. BUT BEYOND THAT, THAT'S WHAT CENTRO CAN DO BEYOND OTHER THINGS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. THOSE WOULD BE QUESTIONS FOR OTHER AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. UM, AND AS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE, THE DATA THAT WE COLLECTED, THE DATA WE COLLECTED ON OUR PERFORMANCE, UM, ON OUR CORE SERVICES WAS UP YEAR OVER YEAR ON OUR LEVELS. WE, OUR, OUR TOP FIVE, OUR, OUR GRADING IS LIKE TERRIBLE TO GRADE, BUT ON OUR GOOD AND GREAT, UM, WE WERE UP YEAR OVER YEAR. SO DESPITE ALL THE CHALLENGES, OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND, AND, AND THE PEOPLE RESPONDING TO OUR SURVEY SEE CENTRO'S WORK AS INCREASINGLY SORT OF EFFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION, AS YOU SAID ABOUT, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY AND ABOUT, UM, AND, AND PARTICULARLY, UH, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IS LOW. AND IT'S BECAUSE THOSE ARE HUGE NEEDS AND THEY'VE GROWN OVER, OVER TIME. AND SO, UM, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND, UM, D H S, UH, I CALL IT KATIE VELA AT SARAH AND ALL OF THE PARTNERS FROM HAVEN, THE HOPE AND, AND SAM AND CAM AND CORTISONE AND EVERYONE ELSE, A A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT IS GOING ON AND BETTER EFFORT AND BETTER COORDINATION THAN EVER. SO THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE SOLVED TODAY, BUT A LOT OF PROGRESS IS, IS BEING MADE. AND WE PARTNER WITH ALL, ALL OF THOSE PROVIDERS AND, AND, UM, PARTNERS. AND SO I THINK WE'RE ALL GONNA DO BETTER AND BETTER, BUT THIS IS NO SMALL TASK, AS WE ALL KNOW. UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE DOING ALSO TO SUPPORT, UH, HOMELESS AS WE CONTINUE TO INVEST OUR TIME AND MONEY, UH, THERE. WELL, I APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS. UH, I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE, YOU SAID THAT YOUR APPROVAL AND, UH, SATISFACTION SURVEYS HAVE BEEN IN INCREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE METRICS ON THAT. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS OVER THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS? SO I'D LIKE TO SEE METRICS ON THAT TO SEE HOW THAT HAS BEEN IMPROVING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. SO IF YOU COULD GET THAT TO ME, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME OF THIS SURVEY THAT'S, UH, NOT FROM THE CUSTOMERS THAT [02:25:01] ARE PAYING INTO THE PIT, BUT THE CUSTOMERS DOWNTOWN, AS YOU SAY IT, UH, SAFE PLACE DOWNTOWN. THIS IS ALL ABOUT DOWNTOWN A SAFE PLACE DURING THE DAY. ONLY 58% A SAFE PLACE DURING THE NIGHT. ONLY 28, 20, UH, 7%. UM, A PLACE TO LIVE, 40% A PLACE FOR FAMILIES, 46% A PLACE TO SHOP, 31% PUBLIC SAFETY, 23% PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 17% PARKING 17%, AND HOMELESSNESS 5%. SO I'M, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PEOPLE HAPPY THAT ARE PAYING INTO THIS FUND, BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN. THESE, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, AND THE WORD GETS OUT, ESPECIALLY ABOUT SAFETY AND HOMELESSNESS DOWNTOWN ON, MAN, I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THERE ANYMORE. AND THEY'RE GONNA SPREAD THAT WORD AROUND THEIR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS AROUND TOWN. UH, AND IT GETS OUT TO THE TOURIST POPULATION ALSO. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PLAN ON HOW TO CORRECT THIS. WHAT, WHAT'S THE PLAN? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING WRITTEN DOWN ON WHAT THE PLAN IS TO IMPROVE THESE NUMBERS? WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, UH, CENTRAL PLAYS A ROLE IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T HAVE A ROLE IN PARKING. WE DON'T HAVE A ROLE IN TRANSPORTATION. WE CAN USE OUR ADVOCACY, WHICH WE DO FOR THOSE THINGS. WE WILL BE, UM, PUBLISHING, UM, AND COMING TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A, UM, A REPLACEMENT TO THE CURRENT, UM, CENTER CITY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS A, A STRATEGY DOCUMENT FOR ENVISIONING THE NEXT LEVEL OF EVOLUTION FOR DOWNTOWN. IT DOES TAKE INTO CONSIDERATIONS LIKE THINGS LIKE MOBILITY AND OTHERS THAT AGGREGATE AND CONNECT ALL THE OTHER EXISTING PLANS, TOGETHERS SA TOMORROW, D H SS. SO WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THOSE. WE'VE ASSEMBLED ALL OF THOSE, AND THEN WE'VE BUILT A MORE SORT OF EXECUTABLE PLAN, RIGHT? SO ADD SOME MORE METRICS TO, TO THOSE. AND THEN WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH AND BRING TOGETHER PARTNERS FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTY, PRIVATE SECTOR, PHILANTHROPY, TO GET THAT DONE. SO WE, WE ARE, UM, GOING TO TRY TO TAKE A, A CO-LEADERSHIP IN, IN RALLYING PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER TO MAKE SOME SIGN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON ALL THOSE MET AREAS. BUT SOME OF 'EM, WE CAN DO, LIKE, WE CAN DIRECTLY TRY TO HAVE A CON A CONTRIBUTION TO, TO, UM, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS OR, OR THE PUBLIC ARTS THAT WE DO. LIKE, THERE'S THINGS THAT WE CAN DIRECTLY DO, AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR, PARTNER WITH AND, AND SUPPORT. SO WE ARE, UM, AND YOU WILL SEE THAT PLAN. UM, EVERYONE WILL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, MONTH TO TWO MONTHS. IT'S BEEN A, A YEAR IN THE MAKING. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. COUNCIL MEMBER PALS. YEAH, I, I'M IN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, OBVIOUSLY, AND, UH, FULLY CONSCIOUS THAT IT'S, IT'S LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THIS, UM, AND FULLY CONSCIOUS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE BEING FACED BY DOWNTOWN ARE MUCH BIGGER THAN, UM, WHAT YOUR BANDWIDTH, UH, CAN HANDLE, RIGHT? ALSO FULLY AWARE AND, UM, OF WHAT YOUR MISSION IS AND WHAT YOUR ROLE IS IN ADDRESSING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. UM, THE PROBLEMS ARE REAL THOUGH, RIGHT? WE HEARD COUNCILWOMAN, UH, KABI HARVARD MENTION THE JD POWER AWARD OVER AT THE AIRPORT, RIGHT? AND WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT WE GET GREAT SCORES FROM OUR VISITORS, UM, AND THAT PEOPLE LOVE THEIR AIRPORT, BUT WHEN THEY GET DOWNTOWN, WE'RE NOT GETTING JD POWER SCORES, UH, FOR OUR DOWNTOWN, RIGHT? UH, WE'RE FAR FROM IT. AND, UM, AND I DON'T BLAME, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO FILL OUT YOUR SURVEY FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE LOWER NUMBERS, UH, BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, UM, IT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE ARE ALARMING, RIGHT? UM, AND WE'RE THE NUMBER ONE TOURIST DESTINATION, RIGHT, UH, IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY. AND THAT DOESN'T HELP, UH, WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE SAN ANTONIO AND SAY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT I SAW RIGHT ON THE STREET. UM, AND I, I QUITE HONESTLY, AM NOT SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS. UM, THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE MUCH SMARTER THAN I AM. MY WIFE WILL VERIFY THAT FOR YOU, . UM, BUT WE HAVE A, UM, BUT I, I'M NOT SURE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT SURE WE'RE HITTING THE MARK HERE, AND I'M, I, I THINK WE'RE MISSING A TARGET, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN I TALK TO HOTEL OWNERS AND THEY'LL TELL ME THAT PEOPLE ARE DEFECATING ON THEIR FRONT DOOR RIGHT? AND URINATING ON THEIR FRONT DOOR, SLEEPING ON THEIR FRONT DOOR, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM, RIGHT? AND, UM, [02:30:01] WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO SAY, YEAH, BUT WE'RE THE FRIENDLIEST PLACE ON EARTH. RIGHT? AND HAVE YOU SEEN THE ART ON PEACOCK AVENUE OR WHATEVER, RIGHT? UH, THE, UM, ANYWAY, I MEAN, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE A PART OF A LARGER CONVERSATION. THE SECOND THING IS, WHICH IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS ALARMING AS THOSE THINGS I, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, UM, ICE SKATING. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE, THAT, THAT THAT IS A HUGE, UH, ATTRACTING ATTRACTIVE, UH, DRAW YEAH. FOR TRAVIS PARK. IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT. UM, AND IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. AND I FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT OUR ICE SKATING RINK IN DISTRICT NINE IS THE ONLY SHEET OF ICE IN SAN ANTONIO YEAR ROUND. UM, AND ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, THERE'S ABOUT 300 PEOPLE THERE SKATING AROUND IN CIRCLES AND TRYING TO DO HOCKEY PRACTICE, AND TRYING TO DO FIGURE SKATING IN YOUR DISTRICT, COUNCILMAN. UH, AND THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT 300 PEOPLE ON A SHEET OF ICE IS REALLY UNSAFE. UH, AND SO WE GOT A LOT OF PARENTS OUT THERE WHO FOR SOME REASON CHOSE ME AND CALLED ME AND SAID, THIS IS NOT GOOD. RIGHT? AND I SAID, WELL, HAVE YOU ALL, DO YOU ALL GO OUT TO THE TRAVIS PARK? UM, AND THEY SAID, WHAT? YOU KNOW, THEY, LIKE, THEY WEREN'T AWARE THAT, THAT YOU GUYS DO THAT, AND THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY, UM, YOU KNOW, RELIEVE SOME OF SOME OF THE PRESSURE, RIGHT? SO, BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THAT, RIGHT? AND THIS AND THIS INVESTMENT GOES TO HELP FAMILIES LIKE THAT, RIGHT? WHO PROBABLY WOULD NEVER COME TO TRAVIS PARK FOR ANY OTHER REASON, UH, BUT FOR THAT ONE OPPORTUNITY DURING THE YEAR. AND SO, I, I REALLY AM PROUD OF YOU GUYS AND, UH, CONSIDERING, CONSIDERING THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU GUYS FACE, I THINK YOU'RE DOING EXCELLENT WORK. AND SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU. WELL, THERE'S MY TEAM PART OF THEM, AND I, AND I WANT TO, UH, CALL OUT THE ROTARY CLUB. 'CAUSE IT IS THE ROTARY CLUB'S LEADERSHIP. THEY PIONEERED THIS. THEY ARE THE PRIMARY INVESTOR IN IT. WE JUST HELP. I MEAN, WE FACILITATE AND HELP MANAGE, BUT IT IS THE ROTARY CLUB, UH, THAT, THAT DESERVES THE BIGGEST HIGH, HIGH FIVE. AND, UH, AND YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, I, I APPRECIATE AND OUR ORGANIZATION APPRECIATES CONFRONTING THE, THE BRUTAL TRUTH OF THINGS. AND THERE'S OTHER DATA IN THERE. THERE'S OTHER PERCEPTIONS THAT WERE VERY STRONG AND POSITIVE. SO WE SORT OF HEARD THE LIST OF ONES THAT ARE, ARE WEAKER, BUT HAVING THAT INFORMATION ALLOWS US TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS AND TO ALLOCATE OUR RESOURCES, BUILD STRATEGIES COME TOGETHER. LIKE, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A WORKING GROUP THAT INCLUDES, UM, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, THE COMM, UM, MUNICIPAL COURT, D H SS, UH, THE DA, UM, AND, UH, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND, AND HOMELESS PROVIDERS. AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ALL WORKING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ELSE COULD WE DO? HOW COULD WE, AS A COLLECTIVE BODY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUST IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. SO THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. SO WHILE THERE'S BIG PLANS COMING, THERE'S VERY TACTICAL PIECES OF WORK THAT ARE GOING ON. AND, AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE, AND YOU'LL SEE MORE IMPROVEMENTS AS WE GO IN THE NEAR TERM AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, THANK YOU, MATT, FOR, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALWAYS BEING SUPPORTIVE. I, UM, WAS ABLE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR, YOUR WORK PLAN, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE, UH, MAKING DOWNTOWN MORE WELCOMING AND CREATE THE CLEANEST, MOST INVITING DOWNTOWN OF ANY MAJOR US CITY. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE WORK TO DO, COMPLETELY RECOGNIZE IT. SAFETY AND SECURITY IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT. WE HAVE I P W 23 COMING IN MAY. SO, UM, I THINK THAT A LOT OF OUR FOLKS ARE COUNTING DOWN TO THAT. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THAT'S ALSO TOP OF MIND, UM, FOR YOU. I, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU BECAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU ALL HELPED A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITH ACCESS TO GRANTS. AND SO YOU ALL LITERALLY WENT, UM, YOU ALL BLOCK WALKED, RIGHT? AND SO YOU REMINDED OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THERE WAS, UM, MONEY AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO I, I WANTED TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT ON YOUR CORE CLEAN AND SAFE LANDSCAPING PORTION, YOU HAVE ALLOTTED, UM, BEAUTIFICATION LANDSCAPE, WHICH AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE, SOME ADDITIONAL PRESSURE WASHING. UH, I, I GO TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES AND I SMELL URINE. I DON'T SMELL IT IN ALL AREAS OF SAN ANTONIO. UM, BUT SO, SO, SO KUDOS TO YOU ALL FOR, FOR CONSIDERING THAT, UM, THE HOSPITALITY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, I, I, I LOVE IT, RIGHT? I, I LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS THERE READY TO GREET OTHERS AND TELL THEM ALL ABOUT FIESTA OR POINT THEM TO WHERE THE ALAMO IS, FOR EXAMPLE. UM, I DO SPECIFICALLY WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADORS THAT YOU HAVE ON HERE. SO YOU TALK ABOUT PROVIDING A VISIBLE PRESENCE TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE DISTRICT, AND CONTINUATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL MORNING SS A P D BIKE PATROL HOURS IN THE DISTRICT. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADORS AND WHAT THEY DO? YEAH, SO POINTING BACK TO THE, EVEN IN ADDITION TO THE, WHAT I DESCRIBED [02:35:01] BEFORE ABOUT TRYING TO OBSERVE AND SORT OF EN ENGAGE, FIRST AND DISSUADE OF SOME OF THESE, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES, LIKE SIT LIE, PUBLIC URINATION, THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDING HOSPITALITY. UM, WE'VE HAD, I THINK OVER 80,000 HOSPITALITY ENGAGEMENTS, YOU KNOW, JUST WITH THOSE NINE PEOPLE. SO THAT'S FINDING THE ALAMO, OR WHERE'S SOMEPLACE I CAN TAKE MY, MY FAMILY? UM, THEY DO, UM, UH, COURTESY, UM, UH, UM, ESCORTS. SO SOMEONE WANTS A, A WALK TO THEIR CAR. WELL, I THINK WE DID 575 OF THOSE. AND THEY'LL, UM, PROVIDE, UM, UH, OUTREACH REFERRALS. SO, UH, SO WHEN WE, WHEN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE TEAM, UM, ENGAGES WITH SOMEONE WHO IS, UM, TYPICALLY HOMELESS AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF SEVERE, UM, YOU KNOW, MENTAL, UH, CRISIS, LIKE WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEM REFERRED DIRECTLY INTO, UH, SERVICES, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO CONTACT OUR, OUR OUTREACH OR OTHER OUTREACH PROFESSIONALS TO COME TO THEM. SO, SO THEY ARE NOT JUST DOING THE PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY'RE ALSO, UM, HELPING WITH HOSPITALITY. THEY'RE HELPING WITH BEING A, A FIRST RESPONDER, AN AN OBSERVER TO, UM, PEOPLE IN NEED. UM, SO THAT'S A BIT OF WHAT, WHAT THE, BUT WHAT THEY AREN'T DOING IS CLEANING. SO UNLIKE OUR OTHER AMBASSADORS OR POWER WASHING AND LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT, UM, THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY'LL, IF THEY SEE STUFF, THEY'LL PICK IT UP, BUT THAT'S NOT THEIR, THEIR PRIMARY TASK. AWESOME. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU SAID THAT IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, I'VE, I'VE SEEN TWO CITY MANAGERS, UH, CHERYL S SCION AND ERIC WALSH LITERALLY PICK UP TRASH, RIGHT? YEAH. AS THEY SEE IT. AND SO I, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UM, I, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT ESCORTING PEOPLE. UM, I WAS MUGGED DOWNTOWN DURING CONSTRUCTION MANY YEARS AGO. I WAS HELD AT KNIFE POINT, AND SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE, RIGHT? TO BE SCARED AND WITH NO ONE AROUND RIGHT. AND SITE. AND SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE THAT AS WELL. HOW ARE YOU COMMUNICATING THAT TO OUR TOURIST? UM, I WOULD HAVE TO ASK MY COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WHO I DON'T SEE, BUT WE DO COMMUNICATE THAT OUT TO THE BEST OF OUR BUILDING. WE HAVE A, UM, WE HAD PRINTED A BROCHURE, UM, AND WE'RE DOING ANOTHER ONE THAT GETS HAND, IT GOT HANDED OUT TO ALL THE BUSINESSES, RETAIL BUSINESSES, ALL THE HOTEL OPERATORS THAT HAS OUR SERVICES AND NUMBERS FOR US TO CALL ALSO WHO WHEN TO CALL BIKE PATROL, WHEN TO CALL OTHERS. SO WE HAVE HAD PRINTED BROCHURES DOING THAT. SO THAT'S BEEN OUR PRIMARY METHOD, BUT WE ALSO DO LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT MAYBE THERE'S OTHER WAYS WE CAN GET THE, THE WORD OUT. WELL, THANK YOU. AND I'D HOPE THAT WE'D WORK WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION. ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT? OH, YEAH. WITH MICHELLE TO HAVE THAT IN EVERY HOTEL BEDROOM, ESPECIALLY. 'CAUSE WE HOST A LOT OF CONFERENCES. THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, PEOPLE THAT, THAT COME BY THEMSELVES AND THEY, UM, MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THAT. I, I, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN REALLY AWESOME. ALL OF MY, UH, MALE COLLEAGUES WALK ME TO MY CAR OR GIVE ME A RIDE SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WALK BY MYSELF. YOU CAN CALL AN AMBASSADOR TOO, IF YOU NEED, BUT NOW I CAN CALL THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADORS. I APPRECIATE THAT. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER GRA THANK YOU. UM, I'LL BE APPROVING THIS TODAY. UM, AND I'M, I'M GLAD I GUESS THAT WE PULLED IT SO WE COULD DISCUSS AND UNPACK SOME OF THE ISSUES MY COLLEAGUES BROUGHT UP. UM, MATT, THANK YOU AND CENTRO FOR WHAT YOU DO, UH, THE ARTS, THE MAKE, THE AMBASSADORS THAT MAKE SURE THE STREETS ARE CLEANED AND DO THE POWER WASHING, THE PROMOTION Y'ALL DO ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET THE EVENTS, THE KEEPING IT LOCAL KIND OF FEEL ALSO THAT WE HAVE IS, IS WHAT I APPRECIATE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT TRANSLATES TO THE VISITORS. WE HAVE, UH, YOUR EFFORTS WITH THE HOMELESS AND YOUR WORK WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS TO BRING THEM TOGETHER, I THINK IS KEY. I THINK YOU ARE DOING ALL YOU CAN DO. AND THE ONE THING I WANNA SPEAK TO ON A SURVEY AS, AS A, AS A, UM, GRADUATE STUDENT THAT DID MOST OF THE SURVEYS, IS THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE DATA AND YOU CAN MAKE IT HOWEVER YOU WANT, AND, UH, TO, TO LOOK AT I IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE YOUR SATISFACTION, AND THEY COULD HAVE BEEN UNHAPPY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET A GOOD DISCOUNT AT THE VISITOR CENTER, , YOU KNOW, . SO, UM, THAT'S THE ONE THING I THINK WHEN THE LARGER ISSUE THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE BRINGING UP, UH, UH, FROM MY COLLEAGUES WERE BRINGING UP WAS THE HOMELESS ISSUE. AND THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT I THINK, UM, I'D LIKE MARIA TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO IN TERMS OF WHERE, WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO, UH, WITH THAT IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS. UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONVERSATION IS, UH, AND WHERE WE HAVE THAT KIND OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONVERSATION. OR, ERIC, DID YOU WANNA TALK TO THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, I'LL ADDRESS THAT COUNSEL. I THINK IT'S A LARGER ISSUE, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE, UM, BETWEEN THE OUTREACH TEAMS, UM, AND THE, UM, UM, HOMELESS AGENCY PARTNERS [02:40:01] THAT, UH, MATT MENTIONED THE OUTREACH, UM, NEEDS TO CONTINUE. UM, BUT THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO, WHICH IS LINKED CLOSELY TO THE CONVERSATIONS THIS COUNCIL'S HAD ABOUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND LOW BARRIER SHELTERS AND THE WHATNOT. ALL THAT IS TIED, UH, TO EACH OTHER. AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT. UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEYOND, UH, MATT'S RESPONSIBILITY. HE IS A MAJOR STAKEHOLDER DOWNTOWN, AND THE, THE PEOPLE THAT PAIN TO THE PIT HAVE AN EXPECTATION, BUT WE DO NEED, WE NEED TO DO MORE WORK. AND, AND WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PULLING IN THE COUNTY AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. THANK, THANK YOU, ERIC. AND, AND YOU BRING UP THE POINT OF WHEN WE, AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE MANY ARPA DOLLARS COME UP, UM, TO THIS COUNCIL. AND WHEN YOU VOTE NO AGAINST THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE HELPING PEOPLE, LIKE IMMIGRANTS ARTISTS, YOU, YOU, YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROBLEM. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, AND THERE'S CONVERSATION NOT IN MY BACKYARD THAT WON'T WORK HERE IN THIS SIDE OF TOWN, WE DON'T NEED IT. THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THIS PROBLEM DOWNTOWN. SO WE NEED TO LOOK THIS, LOOK AT THIS IN A HOLISTIC WAY. AND IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND MONEY OR VOTE TO APPROVE, TO SPEND MONEY ON ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, WE'RE GONNA KEEP HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. AND I DON'T WANT TO, I, I WANT TO SEE US MAKE SOME PROGRESS WHERE WE DON'T. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING UP PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, GETTING A CONSENSUS APPROVAL FROM THIS, UH, COUNCIL AND BRINGING UP MORE ARPA AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE HELP TO THE HOMELESS AND GETTING AN APPROVAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MATT, FOR ALSO, UH, ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE ISSUES. UH, LIZ, YOU'RE ALSO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND I, I FORGOT TO CALL ON YOU AS WELL. DID YOU WANT TO TAKE ANY TIME OR ARE YOU GOOD? COME ON UP. I SAY ONE, ONE MORE. YEAH, GO AHEAD, MATT. UH, JUST ONE MORE THANK YOU TO, UH, ALL THE CITY, UH, STAFF THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH, AND WE'RE, WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH C C D O D H SS, ARTS POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LIKE IT, WE MIGHT BE COLLABORATING WITH ALMOST ALL OF ERIC'S DE DEPARTMENTS. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK, THANK ALL OF THEM. THEY'RE NOT HERE, BUT IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, A HUGE PARTNERSHIP TO PULL US ALL OFF. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, BRENT. UH, THANK YOU MATT. GO AHEAD, LIZ. IT WAS GOOD MORNING, BUT NOW IT'S GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF. UH, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH, LIZ BURT, UH, AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN ACTIVATION AND PLAY FOR CENTRO SAN ANTONIO. A FEW PLAYFUL PROJECTS YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH INCLUDE PEACOCK ALLEY LAONA, UH, OUR NEWEST PLACEMAKING SPACE. JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS DOWN, I THINK DR. ANA CAME OVER FOR ROOSTER, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN THE TRAVIS PARK HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING, I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE ROTARY ICE RINK, AND IT'S OPENING 1118. SO I HOPE ALL OF YOU'RE THERE. AS DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO'S NONPROFIT PLACEMAKING ORGANIZATION CENTRAL WORKS PASSIONATELY EVERY DAY TO CREATE A MORE BEAUTIFUL, WELCOMING, PLAYFUL, AND PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN IN THE SPIRIT OF SAN ANTONIO. FROM ART TO ADVOCACY, CLEAN AND SAFE, TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, TO MAIN STREET HOMELESS, OUTREACH TO LANDSCAPING OR EVENTS AND ACTIVATIONS, WE THINK BIG, WE GET THE RIGHT STUFF DONE, WE'RE GOOD TO OTHERS, AND I AM PROFOUNDLY, UH, GRATEFUL TO SERVE ALONGSIDE OUR TEAM, MOST ESPECIALLY OUR AMBASSADORS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE COMPASSION, HOSPITALITY, AND ENDLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CENTER CITY INSPIRES US DAILY, AND WE LOVE AND CHERISH DEARLY. UH, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THIS, UH, COMMUNITY AND THE MEMBERS AND PARTNERS THAT SUBMITTED LETTERS OF SUPPORT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED, UM, AND THAT WE SUBMIT TO COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF CENTRO'S MANY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. UH, ISAIAH REYES FROM B BRU OUT, UH, BILL LYONS, RIO, AND SHEILAS. DAWN WHITE FICK FROM CHRISTIAN ASSISTANT MINISTRIES AND ANGELICA ESPINOZA FROM EL WIN NERO. BE HOTDOG NEAR THE ALAMO, UM, HAVEN FOR HOPE. STEVE DANE, UH, REBEL MARISO FROM LA BOTANICA SA, UH, JOHN R. WALLACE, OR RUSTY WALLACE, AS MANY KNOW HIM, UH, FROM THE OMNI LA MAN. AND, UH, MARA, UH, ANDY BENAVIDEZ FROM SMART KATIE VELA FROM SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS. ADRIAN CONTRERAS FROM TOWER LIFE BUILDING. AND OF COURSE, RICHARD PEREZ FROM THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THIS PAST YEAR HAS PRESENTED BOTH AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AND VERY COMPLEX CHALLENGES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. WITH THE SUPPORT OF RESIDENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND COMMUTER COMMUNITY LEADERS SUCH AS YOURSELF, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO INSPIRE AND INNOVATE TOGETHER. DOWNTOWN IS OUR STORY, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. BURKE. ALRIGHT, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA ROUND OUT OUR DISCUSSION NOW. UH, [02:45:01] COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU. UH, I, I COMMEND CENTRO FOR A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO. I, AND I THINK A A LOT OF US RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT IT, IT PROVIDES FOR DOWNTOWN. UH, I HAVE TO SAY, I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH SOME OF THE STATISTICS FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION ON WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY, OR HOW THEY VIEW, OR I GUESS THEIR PERCEPTION OF SOME THINGS DOWNTOWN. UH, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE ADDING MORE BLUE SHIRTS, MORE EYES AND EARS. I JUST WANNA KNOW, ARE THEY CONNECTED TO SS A P D? DO THEY CARRY A RADIO THAT CAN IMMEDIATELY CALL FOR ASSISTANCE IF THEY SEE ANYTHING THAT'S, YEAH. YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN HAVING TO GO CALL INTO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO CALLS OUT. SO THAT'S GOOD. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOUGH, IS FOR THE CHIEF MAYBE TO GIVE US, UH, A LITTLE ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE REAL CRIME SITUATION IS DOWNTOWN, AND, UH, COMPARE THAT TO CRIME RATES AND OTHER DOWNTOWNS, UH, IN TEXAS SO THAT PERCEPTION CAN BECOME MORE OF A REALITY OF OUR SITUATION COMPARED TO OTHERS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CURRY. AND I'LL JUST WRAP UP. THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT CENTRO HAS DONE. IT'S, UH, AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION AND IT ALWAYS GIVES ME COMFORT COMING BACK HOME, UH, TO SEE OUR AMBASSADORS. I, I THINK IT'S BEEN A HELPFUL CONVERSATION AS WELL, UH, WHAT WE'VE HEARD UP HERE. AND WHILE ALL OF IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO CENTRO, I I WILL SAY THAT, UH, IN MOST EVERY MAJOR CITY, INCLUDING OURS, DOWNTOWN IS THE PLACE MAKING SPOT. AND THEREFORE, ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN A COMMUNITY, UH, USUALLY CAN BE SEEN IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM DOWNTOWN. BUT ALSO ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE EXPERIENCE. AND I, I, I CHALLENGE EVERYBODY TO GO TO A, A MAJOR AMERICAN CITY WHERE THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE UPSTREAM DIFFICULTIES THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING OURSELVES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. CENTRO HAS A ROLE TO PLAY, AND THEY DO IT VERY WELL, IN MY OPINION, IN TERMS OF BEAUTIFICATION AND, AND ORGANIZING AND BEING THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY. UH, BUT WITH RESPECT TO HOW WE TACKLE THE LARGER ISSUES AND PERCEPTION AND MAKING SURE THAT DOWNTOWN REMAINS A WELCOMING PLACE, AND THAT WE REMAIN AMONG THE ELITES OF DOWNTOWN COMMUNITIES WITH RESPECT TO OUR VISITOR EXPERIENCE. UH, WE HAVE WORK TO DO. THERE IS NO DOUBT, AND IT'S GOTTA BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT IN THIS CITY. UH, WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT OUR CITY IS LARGELY FORMED BY THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY GET WHEN THEY COME TO PLACES IN DOWNTOWN. SO IT MATTERS. UH, IT MATTERS TO DISTRICT NINE, IT MATTERS TO DISTRICT 10, IT MATTERS TO DISTRICT THREE AND FOUR. IT MATTERS TO EVERYBODY WHAT HAPPENS IN DOWNTOWN. AND, AND SO IT MATTERS TO ME THAT WE IMPROVE ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES. I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADSTART GIVEN SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND THE, AND THE PLANNING AN EXPERIENCE IT'S BEING BROUGHT TO BEAR. UM, BUT LET'S, LET'S THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY. THERE IS A COLLECTIVE TRAUMA CRISIS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY. THERE IS A NEED FOR HOMELESS SERVICES THAT IS BEING EXPERIENCED IN OUR COUNTRY, AND THAT'S NO DIFFERENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THOSE UPSTREAM CHALLENGES MAKE THEIR WAY TO DOWNTOWN IN SPADES AND LEFT UNADDRESSED CREATE ENORMOUS CHALLENGES. UM, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN AROUND, WE SEE FEDERAL DOLLARS NOW POURING INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. UM, WITH RESPECT TO OUR HOMELESSNESS ISSUES, WE KNOW THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR, MAJOR PRIORITIES, ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES. AND WE HAVE SPECIFIC FEDERAL DOLLARS NOW TO ATTRACT, UM, SOLUTIONS TO THAT. UH, SO WHEN WE, UH, HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, LET'S REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION WHEN WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT P S H INVESTMENTS, WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN IN OUR CITY, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THIS, UH, IN THE, IN, IN, IN THE SAFETY AND EXPERIENCE THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT ALSO, UM, THE FACT THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES UPSTREAM, THAT RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISADVANTAGED, WHO ARE NEEDING THOSE SERVICES, UH, BENEFIT FROM WHEN WE ACTUALLY PRODUCE THEM. SO, IT'S BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION. LET'S REMEMBER THAT WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. LET'S KEEP IT A PRIORITY AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR. SO WITH THAT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM 44, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIED. ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM 45. ITEM NUMBER 45 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN INVESTMENT POLICY AND STRATEGY FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, [02:50:01] TEXAS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS PUBLIC FUNDS AND INVESTMENT ACT. THE ACT AS AMENDED FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ANNUALLY REVIEW AND APPROVE THE CITY'S INVESTMENT POLICY AND STRATEGY, DESIGNATING CERTAIN EMPLOYEES AS INVESTMENT OFFICERS FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ALRIGHT, THIS WAS AN ITEM PULLED, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION. COUNCIL MEMBER VILLA. YEAH, I BELIEVE THERE'S A PRESENTATION. YES, MA'AM. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD APPROVE AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY AND POLICY FOR THE CITY. THIS WILL BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH, UH, THE TEXAS PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT. THIS IS A STATE STATUTE THAT STATUTE OUTLINES AND PROVIDES THE GUIDELINES FOR OUR INVESTMENT PRACTICES. IT LISTS THE AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS FOR, UH, STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE US. MEANING, MEANING BASICALLY, WHAT CAN WE INVEST IN, WHAT TYPES OF SECURITIES CAN WE INVEST IN? AND THEN IT SETS SOME STANDARDS FOR REPORTING, TRAINING, AND STRATEGY. THE INVESTMENT POLICY THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE TO ADOPT THIS ANNUALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT ACT. IT DOES INCORPORATE ALL OF THE MANDATES THAT COME OUT OF THAT ACT TO INCLUDE SETTING OUR INVESTMENT GUIDELINES, WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENTS WE ARE PERMITTED TO INVEST IN. AND THEN AS PART OF THE ACT, WE'RE ALSO REQUIRED TO HAVE AN INVESTMENT COMMITTEE THAT MEETS AT LEAST QUARTERLY. THE OBJECTIVES, UH, IN OUR POLICY ARE TO FIRST SATISFY CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS. SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE A LARGE PAYROLL TO MEET EVERY TWO WEEKS. UH, SO WE'VE GOT TO BUILD THAT INTO OUR CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS, UH, PAYMENTS TO VENDORS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ON OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS OR OUR BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED. SO ALL OF THAT CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS, UH, WORK IS DONE ON, UM, A LARGER MODEL, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT ON A DAILY BASIS. 'CAUSE AS, AS YOU KNOW, OUR INFLOWS AND OUTFLOWS REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES CHANGE. SO THEY'RE MONITORING THAT, AND THAT'S PART OF THE CASHFLOW REQUIREMENT. UM, THESE ARE PUBLIC FUNDS, SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT, WE WANNA BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE PRESERVING THE PRINCIPLE. WE DON'T WANNA BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'VE INVESTED IN SOMETHING AND WE'VE LOST THAT VALUE OR THAT PRINCIPLE. UH, LIQUIDITY, AS I MENTIONED, TO MEET THOSE CASHFLOW REQUIREMENTS IS IMPORTANT. BUT ALSO DIVERSIFICATION. WE WANT TO HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS OR POOLS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN SO THAT IF WE RUN INTO AN ISSUE, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SOURCES WE CAN PULL FOR, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN MEET OUR CASHFLOW REQUIREMENTS ON A DAILY BASIS. ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST YIELD WE CAN ON THE PORTFOLIO AND DO THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE ACT AND THE PARAMETERS THAT ARE SET OUT BY THAT ACT. AND THEN WE WANT TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE THAT INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO. THIS SLIDE JUST LISTS OFF ALL THE AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE PERMITTED TO INVEST IN AS A CITY. THEY INCLUDE UNITED STATES TREASURIES, GOVERNMENT SPONSORED AGENCIES, REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS, COMMERCIAL PAPER, MONEY MARKET, MUTUAL FUNDS, GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS, SECURITIES LENDING AND SECURITIES CERTIFICATES OF A DEPOSIT, UM, ON THE UNITED STATES TREASURIES. OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE DIRECT OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE THE HIGHEST QUALITY SECURITY THAT WE CAN INVEST IN. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF VARIATIONS OF THAT. YOU HAVE TREASURY BILLS OR T-BILLS. THEY TYPICALLY HAVE A MATURITY OF ONE YEAR OR LESS. WE HAVE TREASURY NOTES. SO WE HAVE, THESE ARE, UM, UH, NOTES THAT HAVE MATURITIES THAT ARE BETWEEN ONE AND 10 YEARS. SO IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS A LONGER TERM, WE CAN LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE TREASURY NOTES AND THEN A T STRIPP, UM, CAN HAVE, UH, A MUCH LARGER OR LONGER MATURITY SO WE CAN BUILD THOSE INTO OUR PORTFOLIO AS WELL. SO THESE ARE ALL JUST VARIATIONS OF A TREASURY, UH, SECURITY GOVERNMENT SPONSORED AGENCIES. THESE ARE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT ISSUE SECURITIES THAT WE CAN THEN INVEST IN. THEY'RE, UM, UH, A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CREDIT THAN THE DIRECT OBLIGATION OF A TREASURY. VERY STILL HIGHLY CREDIT, UH, HIGH CREDIT, UM, SECURITY. BUT WE WILL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE YIELD OR A LITTLE HIGHER INTEREST RATE WHEN WE'RE INVESTING IN SOME OF THESE GOVERNMENT SPONSORED AGENCY SECURITIES. OUR REPURCHASE AGREEMENT, THIS IS REALLY, UM, THE, EVERYTHING ON THIS SLIDE IS REALLY ABOUT LIQUIDITY, UM, AND HOW WE MANAGE OUR CASHFLOW REQUIREMENTS. SO THIS HELPS KIND OF FILL IN THE GAPS AS THINGS ARE CHANGING ON A DAILY BASIS. OUR RE PURCHASE AGREEMENT IS BASICALLY A VERY SHORT TERM, UM, UH, TRANSACTION. TYPICALLY AN OVERNIGHT TRANSACTION. SO IF WE'RE GETTING CASH OR SOMETHING LATE IN THE DAY AND WE JUST NEED TO, TO OVERNIGHT IT, THIS IS WHERE WE ENTER AN AGRE INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A PARTY TO BUY A SECURITY FOR THEM THAT THEY THEN BUY BACK FROM US THE NEXT DAY. AND THAT NEXT DAY'S PRICE IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE PAY. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE, THAT DIFFERENCE IS WHAT WE EARN AN INTEREST INCOME OVER THE, OVER THAT NIGHT. MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUNDS. UM, WE DO USE THE FIDELITY MONEY MARKET FUND. AGAIN, IT'S A CASH [02:55:01] MANAGEMENT TOOL THAT ALLOWS US TO ACCESS CASH TO MEET OUR, UH, DAILY CASHFLOW REQUIREMENTS IF WE NEED TO DO THAT, OR, UH, ALLOWS US TO PUT MONEY THERE SO THEN WE CAN, UH, INVEST THAT INTO TREASURIES OR AGENCIES, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS OR A WEEK, DEPENDING UPON WHAT OUR CASHFLOW REQUIREMENTS LOOK LIKE. THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE OF THE GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS. UH, THEY'RE A, A PLACE WHERE WE CAN PUT DOLLARS INTO THIS POOL, HAVE SOME INTEREST INCOME, BUT, UH, ALLOWS US TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF MEETING OUR CASHFLOW REQUIREMENTS. UH, WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, AS I MENTIONED, THAT, UH, MEETS, UH, AT LEAST QUARTERLY. THAT'S A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE ACT WE PRESENT TO THAT COMMITTEE, OUR QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT. AND THEN WE SEND THAT TO YOU ALL AS THE FULL COUNSEL. THAT REPORT AND ITS, UH, CONTENTS ARE LARGELY LAID OUT WITHIN THE ACT, SO WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS. SO WE SEND YOU A FAIRLY LENGTHY REPORT. IT HAS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE FRONT, BUT IT'S TELLING YOU WHAT WE DID OVER THAT QUARTER, UH, WHAT WE'VE DONE YEAR TO DATE, WHAT OUR YIELD IS, HOW LONG OUR, OUR LIFE OF OUR PORTFOLIO IS, MEANING, HOW FAR IN TIME AND DURATION ARE WE PUSHING THAT PORTFOLIO OUT. UM, AND THEN AS PART OF THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, WE WILL TALK ABOUT IF WE WANT TO CHANGE ANY OF OUR PRACTICES IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH INTEREST RATES, IF WE WANT TO CHANGE, UH, HOW WE'RE INVESTING OR HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THAT. WE ALSO TYPICALLY WILL BRING IN THESE QUARTERLY MEETINGS, AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT, AND THAT'S REALLY TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INDICATORS. SO AS WE START TO LOOK AT WHAT THE FED IS DOING WITH, AS YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, HOW MUCH THE FED HAS INCREASED SHORT-TERM RATES, HOW DOES THAT INFLUENCE WHAT WE DO AND OUR PRACTICES AND HOW WE INVEST THE CITY'S PORTFOLIO. BUT WE'LL BRING IN AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO GIVE US THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON BOTH WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO IN THE DOMESTIC FINANCIAL MARKET AND WHAT THEY THINK, UH, THE DIRECTION IS THAT WE'RE HEADED. UH, WE ALSO, AS PART OF THIS INVESTMENT POLICY, WE'LL APPROVE A LIST OF BROKER DEALERS. THESE BROKER DEALERS ARE WHO WE MAKE TRANSACTIONS WITH. THERE ARE 14 ON THE LIST THAT I'LL SHOW YOU IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THIS IS HOW WE ACTUALLY, THESE ARE THE TRADES THAT WE DO WITH THESE BROKER DEALERS NOW. SO THEY'RE IMPORTANT PART OF THE MIX FOR US. WE DO A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ABOUT EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS. UH, WE'LL BE DOING ONE NEXT SUMMER. THAT WILL BE AN UPDATE TO THE INVESTMENT POLICY NEXT YEAR. THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL THAT WE MAY, WE MAY LEAVE THE TERM OF THE POOL IN PLACE FOR A LITTLE LONGER, INSTEAD OF DOING TWO YEARS, MAYBE SOMETHING CLOSER TO THREE TO FIVE YEARS, UM, AS WE PUT THESE FIRMS IN PLACE THAT WE WORK WITH ON A, ON A DAILY BASIS. UM, IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, IT IS MADE UP OF TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNCIL THAT ARE, UH, APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. IT'S CURRENTLY COUNCILMAN, UH, KEA HDA AND COUNCILMAN PERRY. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE. UM, CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT COMMITTEE, BUT NOT ALWAYS THE MOST EXCITING COMMITTEE TO, UH, MEETING TO GO TO, BUT, UM, CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT ONE. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT. WE ALSO HAVE THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THAT INCLUDES MYSELF, UH, THE CITY MANAGER AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, OUR DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, OUR DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, AND THEN OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND FINANCIAL SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS OUT OF OUR DIVISION OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE. AND THEN THESE ARE OUR DESIGNATED INVESTMENT OFFICERS. SO IT INCLUDES MYSELF, THE DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND THEN THAT STAFF WITHIN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE THE ONES UNDER THE POLICY THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO, TO MAKE TRANSACTIONS, INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. SO YOU'RE ADOPTING THAT AS PART OF THE POLICY, UH, BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WELL. I MENTIONED THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IT EVEN IF WE'RE NOT MAKING CHANGES. IT'S REALLY MEANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNING BODY IS, UM, APPROVING THE INVESTMENT POLICY THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IT, IT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE ACT IN THIS CASE. AND TYPICALLY WHEN WE'RE HAVING CHANGES, IT'S USUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL THAT WE'RE HAVING TO INCORPORATE INTO OUR POLICY. UM, THERE ARE NO MATERIAL CHANGES IN THIS, UH, POLICY THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY. ALL THE CHANGES WERE REALLY LIKE WORDSMITHING, UM, MAYBE CLARIFYING A FEW THINGS HERE OR THERE, BUT NOTHING THAT WAS SUBSTANTIVE OR MATERIAL IN ANY WAY AS PART OF THE POLICY UPDATE TODAY. IN TERMS OF OUR, UH, INVESTMENT APPROACH, WE'RE A BIG ORGANIZATION. SOME PEOPLE WILL DESCRIBE IT, A COMPANY OF COMPANIES. UM, WE HAVE A LARGE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO. WE POOL ALL OF OUR OPERATING FUNDS TOGETHER, AND I MENTIONED THAT CASHFLOW MODEL IN TERMS OF HOW WE MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS FOR, UH, PAYROLL VENDORS. ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE OPERATING SIDE, THAT CASH IS ALL POOLED AND WE INVE, WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO, AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CASH TO MEET THOSE OBLIGATIONS. AND THEN WE HAVE SYSTEMS BACK. WE HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE, FINANCIAL SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT THEN TAKE THOSE EARNINGS OFF OF THAT PORTFOLIO AND ALLOCATE IT BACK TO FUNDS BASED ON THEIR CASH POSITION ON, ON, [03:00:01] UM, UH, UH, ANY GIVEN DAY OR MONTH. SO IT'S TRACKING ALL OF THAT. WE DO THAT BECAUSE, ONE, IT'S A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT WAY FOR US TO MANAGE AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO. UH, TWO, IT DOES HELP US GET A LITTLE BIT MORE YIELD BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO BUY LARGER, UM, TRANCHES OF SECURITIES THAT WE'RE THEN ABLE TO PLACE IN A PORTFOLIO. THE OTHER ONE IS OUR DEBT SERVICE FUNDS. WE PULL ALL OF THOSE. SO THESE ARE ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE COLLECTING TO MEET OUR DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS WHEN THOSE PAYMENTS COME DUE, WHETHER IT BE PROPERTY TAXES, AVIATION REVENUES, OR HOT REVENUES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN FUNDS THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED TO MAKING DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS. IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR DEBT SERVICE RESERVE FUNDS, THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED BY INDENTURE TO HAVE IN PLACE IN THE EVENT THAT WE WERE IN SUCH A CRISIS THAT WE COULDN'T MAKE A DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT. WE'VE GOT THESE RESERVE FUNDS, SO THEY ARE MANAGED AS A SEPARATE POOL, SAME THING. INTEREST INCOME IS ALLOCATED ON THAT POOL BASED ON THOSE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT TRACK THOSE CASH BALANCES. AND THEN ALLOCATE THE INTEREST INCOME BASED ON, ON HOW MUCH CASH EACH OF THOSE FUNDS HAD. UM, I MENTIONED THE BROKER DEALER LIST. THERE ARE 14, EXCUSE ME, 14 FIRMS THAT ARE LISTED HERE. UM, THEY'RE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE CATEGORIES. SO WHEN WE DO THE R F Q, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET A MIX OF BROKER DEALER FIRMS IN PLACE. SO WE USE CAPITAL AS A WAY TO DO THAT. SO WE HAVE FIRMS THAT HAVE LESS THAN $20 MILLION IN CAPITAL, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A GOOD MIX OF SMALLER, UH, FIRMS THAT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTIC PARTICIPATE. UH, WE LOOK AT THOSE THAT HAVE CAPITAL BETWEEN 20 MILLION AND 500 MILLION TO KIND OF THOSE MEDIUM SIZE, UH, UH, OFFICES OR FIRMS THAT WE WORK WITH. AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, SOME LARGER FIRMS THAT HAVE CAPITAL GREATER THAN 500 MILLION, SO THAT WE GET KIND OF A MIX OF BROKER DEALERS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AS WE PLACE INVA INVESTMENTS FOR THE CITY. SO, UH, WITH THAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT CONCLUDES MY, UH, PRESENTATION, WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION, BEN, COUNCIL MEMBER VIA GRANT. UH, I, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I I WANTED TO PULL THIS. I, OH, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. OKAY. UH, THE REASON I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM IS BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US PROVIDES THE CITY WITH THE FLEXIBILITY AND CONTROL TO EXECUTE INVESTMENTS, TRANSACTIONS, AND MANAGE THE CITY'S INVESTMENT PORTFO PORTFOLIO WITH RESPECT TO EVENT INVESTMENTS MANAGED BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IN THESE TIMES WHERE WE'RE GETTING DAILY REPORTS ON THE NEWS REGARDING INFLATION, REGARDING, UH, UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING AND HOW WE ARE ABLE TO COME EACH YEAR AND, AND BE ON BUDGET AND AT TIMES HAVE A SURPLUS. UM, SO THIS, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU DID THE PRESENTATION AND THE POLICIES, IT APPLIES. I DO WANNA TALK A LITTLE ABOUT, UM, PERMANENT TRUST FUNDS AND THE POOLS. SO CURRENTLY, HOW MANY PERMANENT TRUST FUNDS DO WE HAVE WITHIN THIS, UH, INVESTMENT? IS IT JUST THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST FUND? YES. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY OTHER TRUST FUND THAT WE'VE GOT WITHIN OUR PORTFOLIO. SO, AND WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO SURPLUS FUNDS, DOES THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT GOVERN THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE FUNDS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS? DO WE, DO WE HAVE KIND OF A, UM, DO WE PUT THEM IN THE PERM? DO WE PUT, DO WE PUT THEM IN DEBT OR DO WE PUT THEM IN THE GENERAL FUND ON MOST CASES? SO LET ME, UM, SO WHAT, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS KIND OF THE CASH MANAGEMENT SIDE. OKAY? SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MANAGE THE CASH THAT WE HAVE THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR INVESTING. AND THEN WE HAVE ON THE OTHER SIDE, LINKED TO IT IS OUR, OUR, UM, OUR BUDGET AND OUR ACCOUNTING FOR THESE FUNDS. THE, AND THE BUDGET WILL TELL YOU WHETHER WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS BEYOND WHAT WE PROJECTED. THIS SIDE IS SIMPLY LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING IN AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING OUT AND WHATEVER WE HAVE AVAILABLE, WE'RE GONNA INVEST IT. SO TO THE EXTENT WE'RE DOING BETTER ON BUDGET, THAT WOULD FLOW INTO OUR POOLED OPERATING DOLLARS HERE. THEY WOULD GET INVESTED AS PART OF THIS PRACTICE, AND THEN THAT INTEREST INCOME WOULD BE ALLOCATED BASED ON WHERE THAT CASH CAME FROM. OKAY. AND THEN, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERMANENT TRUST FUNDS, UH, IS IT POSSIBLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WOULD IT BE THE COUNCIL OR THE COMMITTEE THAT COULD SEND UP, SET UP ANOTHER PERMANENT TRUST FUND FOR, UH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR INVESTMENTS? SO A PERMANENT TRUST FUND, MEANING LIKE THE HOUSING TRUST FUND? YES. SOMETHING THAT HAD A CORPUS THAT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO SPEND, UH, WOULD NEED TO BE ADOPTED AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL. OKAY. UM, SO I THINK, UM, IT'S OUR THANK YOU, TROY. I MEAN, THANK YOU, BEN. I THINK IT'S OUR FIDUCIARY, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY [03:05:01] AS CITY COUNCIL TO REVIEW THIS POLICY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING FOR, FOR OUR APPROVAL. UM, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS IS, THIS IS MOVING FORWARD, BUT AS WE HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS AND AS WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE, AS WE MENTIONED IN EARLIER CONVERSATIONS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE LOOK AT ALL POSSIBILITIES IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK IN THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER BIRAN? NO, MA'AM. OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR, I JUST ASK THE STAFF THAT WORKS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, ON THE INVESTMENTS, A FEW OF THEM DON'T GET TO COME TO COUNCIL VERY OFTEN, BUT THEY DO GREAT WORK. AND ASK 'EM TO JUST STAND FOR A SECOND. I'M GONNA EMBARRASS 'EM A LITTLE BIT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. UH, THERE IS A MOTION, A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 45. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT. UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEF EXEC SESSION. BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME REMIND FOLKS THAT WE HAVE A ONE O'CLOCK, UH, AGENDA. UH, OUR AGENDA CONTINUES AT ONE O'CLOCK FOR RACK DISCUSSION WITH SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. BEFORE WE RECESS, HOWEVER, UH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE. AND THE FIRST IS THAT WE WANNA RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN WORKING IN OUR CITY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND SHE'S WAITING IN THE WINGS TO BE RECOGNIZED. UH, LET'S BRING DENISE LUCKY ON OUT HERE. WE KNOW SHE'S HIDING. DENISE, SHE'S HI. SHE'S HIDING. DENISE, UH, AS A FRIEND TO ALL OF US HAS BEEN WORKING SO VERY WELL WITH ALL OF US THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, UM, IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE. AND DENISE, WE ARE REALLY GONNA MISS YOU. UH, WE'RE GONNA MISS YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE, UH, AND MYSELF AND ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE DIOCESE. I WISH WE COULD HAVE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY THAT YOU'VE SEEN SIGN THIS COMMENDATION. BUT IT IS THIS COUNCIL THAT EXTENDS OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO DENISE, LUCKY AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR 40 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ON OCTOBER 2ND, 1982, YOU BEGAN YOUR JOURNEY WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A CLERK TYPIST AT THE LOS PALMAS PUBLIC LIBRARY. AFTER 22 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT, YOU TRANSITIONED TO THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK. DURING YOUR TENURE OF 18 YEARS AS COUNCIL CEREMONIAL COORDINATOR, YOU HAVE SERVED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF FOUR CITY CLERKS, FIVE MAYORS, IN WHICH DURING THAT TIME, YOU PRODUCED OVER 6,000 CEREMONIAL ITEMS AND COORDINATED COUNTLESS EVENTS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS WORLDWIDE, DIGNITARIES, ARTISTS, OUTSTANDING CITIZENS, AND ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGHOUT YOUR INTRICATE CRAFT AND LIVELY PERSONALITY, YOUR NAME HAS BECOME A STAPLE WITHIN CITY HALL AND WITH ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH RECOGNITIONS. AS YOU RETIRE, YOU MAY BE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE, THE PERSON YOU ARE AND THE MARK YOU HAVE MADE, THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ARE PROUD TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON A JOB WELL DONE. AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ON YOUR NEW ADVENTURE WITH MUCH RESPECT AND GRATITUDE. CONGRATULATIONS. DENISE FLOOR IS YOURS. I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY , YOU KNOW, I'M A WOMAN OF FEW WORDS. UM, I AM . UH, BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING CAREER THAT I HAVE HAD BECAUSE I'VE ONLY HAD ONE, UH, . I STARTED STRAIGHT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL AND, AND I'VE STAYED. AND, UM, PUBLIC SERVICE HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME, AND IT'S JUST, UH, AGAIN, IT'S JUST BEEN SO REWARDING AND I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT ANY OTHER WAY. SO I THANK ALL OF YOU. I HAVE HAD, UM, MANY GREAT, GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS, IT'S JUST BEEN SO MANY, AND I, I'M, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING WITH MYSELF, BUT, UH, I'M GONNA FIND SOMETHING TO DO, BUT I THANK ALL OF YOU, UM, UM, [03:10:01] AND, UH, TO MY BIRTHDAY BUDDY. SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA HAVE TO GET YOU CARROT CAKE, UH, ERIC. SO, BUT THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT. UH, YEAH. AND, UH, BUT, UH, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN, UH, A JOY FOR ME. AND I, UH, THANK YOU ALL, DENISE. FOUR 40 YEARS, UH, IS A LONG TIME. YOUR MOM ALSO SERVED FOR A LONG TIME. SO, UM, MY MOM, UH, WORKED 25 YEARS FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND, UM, SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY 'CAUSE SHE'S ON A SLOW BOAT BACK FROM HAWAII, UH, . BUT THEY'RE WATCHING, UH, UH, VIA INTERNET. UH, AND MY DAD ALSO WORKED FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER 25 YEARS AND RETIRED. UH, AND, UM, ALL OF YOU WERE SO KIND TO ME LAST YEAR. HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR AND, BUT YOU ALL REACHED OUT TO ME AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND, UM, UM, AND, UM, NOW, UH, YOU WON'T BE WITHOUT A LUCKY BECAUSE MY YOUNGEST SON IS NOW AN EMPLOYEE. SO , YOU'RE NOT GETTING RID OF US. SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO NAME AFTER THE LUCKY FAMILY IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DENISE. AND, AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WANNA SAY SOMETHING AS WELL, SO I'LL, I'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU, SIR. DENISE. WOW. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS 40 YEARS. I'M NOT EVEN THAT OLD. STOP IT. . NO, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND A LOT OF YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT, UH, DENISE IS SO DEDICATED. ONE NIGHT I NEEDED A, UM, IT WAS A CERTIFICATE AND SHE DID THIS CERTIFICATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I ACTUALLY TOOK A, A BOTTLE OF WINE FOR THAT, BUT, UH OH, YEAH. SHH. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S HOW DEDICATED SHE IS. AND, UM, UH, GOT ANOTHER LITTLE STORY HERE. SHE ACTUALLY, A LOT OF Y'ALL KNOW MY CHIEF OF STAFF, PAUL JIMENEZ, SHE ACTUALLY CALLED PAUL JAKE FOR LIKE SIX MONTHS BEFORE SHE FOUND OUT THAT WAS HIS WRONG NAME. AND SHE STILL CALLS HIM JAKE, JUST, JUST FOR GRINS. BUT, UM, I ALWAYS COMPLIMENT DENISE, SHE'S A GREAT COOK BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY SHE COOKS EVERY ONE OF THESE MEALS THAT WE PARTAKE IN HERE AT CITY COUNCIL, AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB ON THAT. BUT LOOK, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR TO BE, UH, TO HAVE WORKED WITH YOU OVER THESE LAST, ALMOST SIX YEARS NOW. AND I KNOW THAT'S JUST A SMALL PORTION OF IT, BUT I HAVE A GIFT HERE FOR YOU IF YOU JUST HANG ON JUST A SECOND. ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO. . LET'S GET A PICTURE HERE. HERE WE GO. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, THAT HAT OFF. , . YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBERS AREN'T ADDING UP BECAUSE I WAS A LOT OF YEARS OF SERVICE AND ME AND YOU WERE ONLY A FEW YEARS APART. UM, I WAS, UH, ACTUALLY TWO, AND MY MOM WAS LIKE, BABY, GO BE TRUTHFUL. NO, BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR SOME, UH, FOR ALL THOSE YEARS OF SERVICE. I'VE, I'M STILL LAUGHING AT THE HAT SITUATION. I GOTTA COMPOSE MYSELF. UM, BUT I, YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I MET WHEN, WHEN I STARTED WORKING AT CITY HALL OR WORKING AT THE PLAZA MM-HMM. . UM, AND YOU, I, I VALUE KINDNESS SO MUCH, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS SUCH A KIND PERSON. AND WHENEVER, ESPECIALLY WHENEVER DISTRICT TWO NEEDS ANYTHING, YOU ARE, YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE AT CITY HALL WHO CAN MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN OUT OF NOWHERE, AND YOU ARE ONE OF THEM. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, THE D TWO OFFICE IS ALWAYS OPEN, AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'LL GET ANOTHER F T E AND MAYBE YOU CAN COME . I CAN, I'M NOT GONNA RUIN YOUR, UH, YOUR RETIREMENT PLANS RIGHT NOW, BUT ENJOY YOUR CRUISES. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CHU RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER PALS. SO THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING WHO, UH, BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU RUN FOR COUNCIL, YOU KNOW THIS, EVERYBODY TELLS YOU, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE SMART, EVERY, YOU'RE SO INTERESTING AND ALL THAT. BUT THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING WHO'VE NEVER DONE THAT FOR ME. AND THAT'S PAT WALLACE AND YOU, UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I HATE THE CEREMONIAL PHOTOS STUFF. AND, [03:15:01] UH, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO EVER SAYS, GET THE HELL OUT THERE, STAND, PRETEND YOU LIKE IT, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LATE. AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BEING, BEING THAT WAY WITH ME. MM-HMM. , UM, AND, AND BEING A FRIEND, RIGHT? AND, UH, I, I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT WHENEVER I DESCRIBE YOU TO OTHER PEOPLE, UH, I ALWAYS SAY DENISE, LUCKY IS CLASSY, SASSY AND BAD ASSY. AND SO THAT'S YOU. I'M PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS, COUNCIL MEMBER KEO H THANKS MAYOR. AND THANK YOU DENISE. UH, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, WERE A JOY, BUT YOU, YOU MAKE OUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO JOY TO BE HERE. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU STAND STILL FOR SO LONG. YOU'RE USUALLY RUNNING BACK AND FORTH, . SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR RETIREMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KEO. HOWEVER, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, THANK YOU MAYOR AND DENISE, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU. I, I HOPE YOU GET TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU AND, AND WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND THANK YOU ALSO TO YOUR FAMILY FOR, FOR SHARING YOU WITH US AND FOR INSTILLING IN YOU THAT SERVANT'S HEART. SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE, UM, DONE FOR ME. I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOUR SAAS, SO WE COULD ALWAYS, UM, COUNT ON, UH, ON THE BEAUTIFUL SAAS, AND I LOVE EVERY BIT OF IT ABOUT YOU. UM, THANKS ALSO FOR BEING SO NICE TO ME. LIKE EVEN WHEN I USED TO WORK FOR THE CITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE MEAN TO ME AND YOU WEREN'T. AND I REMEMBER THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT ALL THE TIME. AND MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS DID YOU HAVE TO COORDINATE TODAY? DO YOU HAVE TO COORDINATE YOUR OWN CERTIFICATE? AND I, I DIDN'T COORDINATE TODAY EXCEPT ONE LITTLE PART, UH, LUNCH. LOVE IT. WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT. I, I ORCHESTRATED THAT PART. I LOVE IT. AND THEN ALSO, UM, I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING FUNNY. I THINK MY, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL AND YOU ASKED US WHAT KIND OF CAKE WE LIKE, AND I SAID, HUMMINGBIRD CAKE, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT YOUR SAS CAME OUT. I'M GLAD I DID NOT HEAR ABOUT HER, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. SHE'S LIKE, WHAT IS THAT? BUT THANK YOU AGAIN. WE'LL MISS YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN. THANK YOU. I'M GONNA TRY AND NOT GET EMOTIONAL, BUT IN 2013, I MET YOU WHEN REBECCA VRAN GOT ELECTED. MM-HMM. . AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR MANAGING MY SISTER AND MY MOM. SO WELL, LET'S DO THOSE , THOSE FIRST FEW, UM, EVENTS. AND THEN WHEN I GOT ELECTED IT, MY MOM WAS LIKE, SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING 'CAUSE OF YOU. SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY. UM, MINE DID, MY DAD DID ABOUT 40 YEARS, UH, WITH THE CITY. AND SO I KNOW JUST WHAT IT MEANS TO GET TO THIS POINT, AND YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH, AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH. BUT I DO WANNA GIVE A PLUG THAT I DID HIRE SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THE CITY STAFF FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, AND SHE'S ENJOYING HER RETIREMENT WITH DISTRICT THREE. SO THINK ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU TOTALLY DESERVE THIS. AND YOU ARE. AND, AND MY SISTER SAYS A HELLO, CONGRATULATIONS. AND YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, . SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON, COUNCIL MEMBER CURRY. I WANNA THANK YOU DENISE, UH, PERSONALLY, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT SPIRIT ABOUT YOU AND YOU'VE SHOWN THAT TO ALL OF US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I WAS WONDERING, IN YOUR RETIREMENT NOW, YOU'RE GONNA BECOME A CATERER? UH, NO. OKAY. SEEN ENOUGH FOOD, HUH? NO. MY, UM, SO MY CHILDREN THINK THAT I'M GONNA BE A FULL-TIME GRANDMA. UM, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING . UM, SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND ME TO BABYSIT, BUT, UH, YEAH, NO, I'M NOT DOING THAT. WELL, I'M SURE THERE, THERE'S PROBABLY A HUNDRED OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE AND TO WISH YOU WELL FOR ALL THE SERVICE YOU'VE PROVIDED FOR ALL OF THEM OVER THE YEARS. UH, SO I KNOW WE SPEAK FOR ALL OF THEM WHEN WE SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. AND, UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ERIC WALSH. GOSH, I, UM, I WANNA APOLOGIZE, UM, DENISE, BECAUSE, UM, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS DAY FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO WHEN HR BROUGHT ME THE PAPERWORK, I DIDN'T SIGN YOUR RETIREMENT PAPERS. 'CAUSE I FIGURED YOU WERE JOKING AND I, I, I WAS CONVINCED THAT, THAT THE DAY WOULD NEVER COME. AND I, I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO GET A RISE OUT OF EVERYBODY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. UM, BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY. UM, YOU'LL CERTAINLY BE MISSED AND YOU KNOW THAT. AND, UM, UM, PLEASE COME BY AND BRING THE GRANDKIDS AND, UM, AND, UM, I'M, UH, I'M SURE THAT WE'LL FIND SOMEBODY ELSE. I'LL FIND SOMEBODY ELSE [03:20:01] TO SHARE CARROT CAKE WITH ON, ON FEBRUARY 7TH. SO, BUT CONGRATULATIONS, WE, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA CERTAINLY BE MISSED AND, AND WE APPRECIATE THE FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU, DENISE. WELL DONE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING OVER THE YEARS. UH, WE WILL MISS YOU. UH, WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT FAR AND YOU'LL BE WITH US, UH, AT THE PARTIES, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, TAKE YOUR MOM TO WORKDAY, . SO HAVE A GREAT RETIREMENT. WE'LL SEE YOU SOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS SO MUCH, DENISE. SO MUCH. THANK YOU. IF YOU, IF YOU HANG ON JUST A MINUTE, WE'LL HAVE THE COUNCIL COME DOWN, WE'LL ALL TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER. UM, BUT LAST THING, UH, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE WE HAVE TWO BIRTHDAYS TO CELEBRATE AND THERE'LL BE CAKE IN THE EXEC SESSION. UH, SO WE ARE CELEBRATING AURORA'S BIRTHDAY OH. AND COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY'S BIRTHDAY. SO LET'S SING THEM. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ALRIGHT, IF COUNSEL CAN MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT, UH, WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN WE'LL GO IN EXEC SESSION. [Executive Session At any time during the meeting, the City Council may recess into executive session in the B Room to consult with the City Attorney's Office (Texas Government Code Section 551.071) and deliberate or discuss any of the following:  ] THE TIME IS NOW 12:43 PM ON THIS 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2022. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1, EXCUSE ME, PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS AS FOLLOWS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT. CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 REAL PROPERTY LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COVID 19 PREPAREDNESS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. THE TIME IS 12:43 PM AND CITY COUNCILS IN RECESS. ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 1:23 PM ON THE 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2022. CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. OUR A SESSION IS NOW RESUMING. UH, WE DO HAVE NOW A PRESENTATION FROM THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. SO IF YOU GUYS ARE READY, GO, COME ON UP, ROBERT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UH, AGAIN, TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM AND SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WE HAVE THAT OUR BOARD IS GOING TO ADDRESS AND HOPEFULLY PASS. AND THAT THIS, UH, BODY ALSO ADDRESSES AND PASSES. WHAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT FIRST IS, UH, SAW US AS A LEADING UTILITY. UH, WE'VE HAVE, WE HAVE HAD AND RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS, UH, BECAUSE OF OUR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES. ONCE AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO WIN AND ACQUIRE THE, UH, BEST PLACES TO WORK, UH, FROM THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS. THAT'S THE EIGHTH TIME WE'VE GOTTEN THAT AWARD SINCE 2011. UH, NEXT MONTH, OCTOBER, IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, WE WILL RECEIVE THE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FROM THE, UH, ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN WATER AGENCIES. UH, THAT'S UNIQUE IN THE SENSE THAT THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME WE WIN THAT AWARD. WE WON IT IN 2019, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY ALLOW, ALLOW YOU TO WIN IT TWICE UNLESS YOU SHOW A HUGE IMPROVEMENT, SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE 2019 AWARD. AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AT, UH, AT THE SYSTEM. AT SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CREDIT RATING IN OUR HISTORY. IN FACT, UH, LAST MONTH WE WENT A NOTCH UP WITH ONE OF THE CREDIT AGENCIES. SO THAT'S A TESTAMENT AS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING. UH, THE SEAMLESS TRANSITION OF THE BARE MET WATER SYSTEM INTO SAWS WITH THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO CONVERT METHANE GAS INTO ENERGY. ALL OF THE METHANE GAS THAT WAS COLLECTED AT OUR SEWER PLANTS AND THE RECENT ADDITION OF OVER 50,000 ACRE FEET INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY. THAT PROJECT CAME ONLINE IN 2020 AND HAS PROVEN TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RELY ON, AND IT WILL PROVIDE WATER SECURITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT DECADES TO COME. AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRIFECTA AT OUR MAJOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THE STEPHEN M KLAUS PLANT, WHERE EVERYTHING THAT GOES IN THERE GETS REUSED. THE SLUDGE, THE WATER, UH, THE SEWER GAS GETS REUSED. UH, SAWS CHANGES OVER TIME. UH, IF YOU LOOK AT, UM, BACK IN TIME, SAUCE HAS GROWN RIGHT ALONG OUR CITY. WE HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN $22.5 BILLION IN ASSETS IN 2004, OVER $8.6 BILLION IN ASSETS TODAY. AND OUR ASSETS ESSENTIALLY IS OUR BUILDINGS, OUR PUMPS, OUR OUR, UH, OUR, UH, DIFFERENT PUMP STATIONS, DIFFERENT WELLS. [03:25:01] AND IN THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE RIGHT THERE, YOU'LL SEE THE, UM, OH, THIS IS A DIFFERENT PICTURE. BUT ANYWAY, IT IS THE, UH, THE, THE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE AND SOME OF THE BETTER. THE BIGGEST ASSETS THAT WE HAVE IS WHAT YOU DON'T SEE MILES AND MILES OF PIPELINE UNDER OUR GROUND, OVER 13 MILES, UH, TOTAL OF WATER AND WASTEWATER PIPES. ENOUGH TO GO FROM HERE TO NEW YORK ROUNDTRIP FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES IN 2004, 9,000 MILES, AND IN TODAY OVER 13,000 MILES OF PIPES. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, UH, AND IT'S CONCERNS, GROWTH IS OUR CUSTOMERS. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR CUSTOMER CONNECTIONS HAVE GONE FROM IN 2004 FROM ABOUT, UM, UH, ABOUT, UH, 657,000 TO OVER 1 MILLION TODAY. SO THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF GROWTH. AND DESPITE TAKING ON A UTILITY THE SIZE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, DESPITE THE INCREASES IN OUR ASSETS, THE INCREASES IN OUR CUSTOMERS, THE O AND M COST, THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COST OF THOSE 13,000 MILES. WE ARE DOING ALL OF THAT WITH 19 MORE EMPLOYEES TODAY THAN WE DID IN 2004. SO WE'VE, WE'VE BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR, UH, CUSTOMERS. UH, WE HAVE PROVIDED TO THEM WITH WHAT THEY WANT, WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. SO WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS OTHER TOPICS THAT WE NEED, UH, THE HELP OF CITY COUNCIL AND YOUR APPROVAL, AND THAT IS THE RATE OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS. AS Y'ALL KNOW, THESE THINGS ARE REVENUE NEUTRAL. THESE, UH, STUDIES ARE REVENUE NEUTRAL. WE WILL, UH, THE CHANGE THAT WE MAKE ARE GOING TO RE, SO IS GONNA RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE, BUT THE END RESULT WILL BE THAT ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, THEIR WATER RATES WILL GO DOWN, 86% WILL GO DOWN, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE WASTEWATER CUSTOMER, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER RATES WILL GO DOWN. SO THAT'S VERY GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE BACK TO THEM. AGAIN, REVENUE NEUTRAL. AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT, UH, UH, COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY. IN OTHER WORDS, UH, YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ON THOSE COMMITTEES, AND WE TOOK THEIR ADVICE AND TOOK THE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THIS IS PART OF THE RESULT. UH, WE ALSO CHARGE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FEES TO OUR CUSTOMERS, NOT JUST THE WATER AND WASTEWATER FEES, BUT THESE ARE SPECIALIZED NEEDS THAT DIFFERENT BUSINESSES NEED FROM US. WATER QUALITY TESTING, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. AND WE'RE UPDATING OUR FEES. ANOTHER REQUEST THAT WE HAVE IS THE CHILLED WATER. THIS IS THE DOWNTOWN COOLING AND PORT AUTHORITY COOLING, UH, AIR CONDITIONING IN A SENSE. AND, UH, SAN ANTONIO IS THE BIGGEST CUSTOMER OF THE, OF THE DISTRICT COOLING. AND SO WE'RE HERE BEFORE YOU TO ASK FOR A RATE INCREASE ON THAT. UH, WE HAVE TWO PRESENTERS, MARY BAILEY AND JAIME CASTILLO, AND I'LL ASK MARY TO GO THROUGH THE RACK RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU, ROBERT. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO I THINK I'VE BRIEFED MOST OF YOU, UM, ON THE RAC RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I WANTED TO JUST TO KIND OF, AGAIN, SUMMARIZE THE PROCESS, UH, SO THAT, UM, ANYBODY ELSE LISTENING CAN UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN, IN COMING UP WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. UM, SO WE TO PERIODICALLY DO A RATE STUDY ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS. AND THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH IDENTIFYING FIRST, HOW MUCH REVENUE DO YOU NEED TO GENERATE. UH, WHEN WE DID THIS RATE STUDY, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD GENERATE THE SAME REVENUE THAT OUR CURRENT RATES GENERATE, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT OUR 22, UH, 2022 BUDGET IS BASED OFF OF. UM, WE THEN ASK A, UH, NATIONAL RATE CONSULTANT TO COME AND DO A COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS THAT ALLOCATES ALL OF THOSE COSTS IN 2022 TO EACH OF OUR DIFFERENT RATE CLASSES. AND I'LL GO THROUGH WHICH EACH OF THOSE RATE CLASSES HERE IN A MINUTE. BUT IT, IT, IT LOOKS AT HOW THE STUDY LOOKS AT HOW THOSE CUSTOMERS IN, IN THAT CLASS USES WATER AND SEWER SERVICES AND MAKES SURE THAT THOSE COSTS ARE ALLOCATED TO THEM FAIRLY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS. UM, WE COULD STOP THERE AND JUST DECIDE TO ADJUST RATES BASED ON THAT COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS, BUT TYPICALLY WE UTILIZE A TO LOOK AT HOW WE CHARGE WITHIN EACH OF THOSE CLASSES TO DETERMINE SHOULD THERE BE CHANGES. AND, AND WHEN YOU SAY, WELL, WHY WOULD THERE BE CHANGES? WELL, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT RATE STRUCTURE IS ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE WANT AS A UTILITY, BUT ALSO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY VALUES, UM, AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. SO WE DID USE THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, TO HELP US THROUGH THAT PROCESS. DURING THIS STUDY, AS YOU KNOW, UH, YOU EACH, UH, NOMINATED A MEMBER, UH, TO SIT ON THAT RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND THEN WE KIND OF FILLED OUT THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OTHER, UH, DIFFERENT CLASSES OF CUSTOMERS WERE REPRESENTED. SO WE HAD FOLKS ON THERE FROM THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION. WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE THAT, UM, FROM A WHOLESALE CUSTOMER, THOSE KINDS OF [03:30:01] THINGS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT ALL OF OUR CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVES. UH, SO AGAIN, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT, UH, WHAT RATE CLASSES WE HAVE. THE FIRST, OBVIOUSLY IS OUR RESIDENTIAL CLASS. THAT'S OUR LARGEST CLASS. IT IS, UH, CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR DUPLEXES. UM, ANYTHING LARGER THAN A DUPLEX IS CONSIDERED MULTIFAMILY, AND THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR GENERAL CLASS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. THEY HAVE ONE METER IN THAT METER CAN PROVIDE WATER TO THEIR HOME, BUT IT COULD ALSO POSSIBLY PROVIDE WATER IF THEY HAVE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM OR FOR OTHER OUTDOOR USE. OUR GENERAL CLASS, AS I MENTIONED, INCLUDES MULTIFAMILY, BUT IT'S INCLUDE, INCLUDES CUSTOMER, INCLUDES CUSTOMERS AND INDUSTRIAL, UM, UH, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS AS WELL. THAT METER IS PROVIDING WATER TO THEIR BUSINESS. IT IS NOT PROVIDING WATER TO THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEM. SO IF THEY ARE WATERING THEIR, THEIR LANDSCAPING, THEY THEN HAVE A SEPARATE METER, AND THAT METER IS CHARGED RATES UNDER OUR IRRIGATION CLASS. UM, AND SO AGAIN, THE IRRIGATION CLASS IS BY AND LARGE, 99% IS, IS, UH, THESE GENERAL CLASS CUSTOMERS, BUT IT'S WHAT'S, UH, IS USED ON OUTSIDE OF THEIR BUSINESS OPERATION FOR THEIR IRRIGATION. THE NEXT CLASS IS A WHOLESALE CUSTOMER CLASS. UH, WE DO PROVIDE, UH, BOTH WATER AND SEWER SERVICES TO, UH, SEPARATE RETAIL PROVIDERS. UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, WATER, UH, UH, SEPARATE WATER RETAIL UTILITIES THAT WE SELL WATER TO. AND THEN FOR THE SE UH, SEWER SIDE, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 12 DIFFERENT, UH, COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN SEWER SYSTEM. BUT WE PICK UP THEIR, UH, DISCHARGE, IF YOU WILL, AT THE, AT THE, UH, OUTSKIRTS OF THEIR, THEIR SERVICE TERRITORY. AND WE TAKE THAT DOWN AND TREAT IT IN OUR, UH, SEWER TREATMENT PLANTS. UM, WE HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THEIR CITY, BUT, UH, WE DO, WE DO EITHER PROVIDE THE WATER OR WE PROVIDE THOSE TREATMENT SERVICES ONCE THE, THAT DISCHARGE HAS BEEN MADE. AND THEN FINALLY, THE RECYCLED WATER CUSTOMERS. UM, THAT CLASS IS, UM, UH, CUSTOMERS IN ALL COMMERCIAL, UM, USING OUR RECYCLED WATER, UH, OUT OF OUR RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM. THAT LOOPED SYSTEM THAT CIRCLES, UH, THE, THE KIND OF THE MAIN CORE OF SAN ANTONIO. THEY TYPICALLY USE, UH, RECYCLED WATER FOR THINGS LIKE LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION. UH, THEY MAY BE USING IT IN THEIR COOLING TOWERS, THEY MAY USE IT FOR, UH, MANUFACTURING PURPOSES. AND THEN FINALLY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST USERS IS THE, UH, WATER, THE RECYCLED WATER THAT WE PUT INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER TO SUPPORT THE FLOWS THROUGH DOWNTOWN. SO WE ASKED, AGAIN, I MENTIONED A NATIONAL RATE CONSULTANT TO ALLOCATE THE COST, THE RESULTS OF THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY IS SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. UM, WHAT THAT CONSULTANT FOUND WAS THAT OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, WE WERE OVER COLLECTING FROM THEM ON WATER AND OVER COLLECTING FROM THEM ON SEWER. SO OUR TO THE WATER, WE ESSENTIALLY WERE CHARGING MORE, UH, THAN, THAN WE SHOULD TO RECOVER THEIR COSTS ABOUT 1.5%. AND ON THE SEWER SIDE, IT WAS 6.7%. CONVERSELY, OUR GENERAL CLASS CUSTOMERS, THE ALLOCATION, UH, ANALYSIS SAID THAT WE WEREN'T CHARGING THEM ENOUGH. UM, WE WERE UNDER COLLECTING FROM THEM BASED ON THE COST THAT WE WERE INCURRING TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THOSE GENERAL CLASS CUSTOMERS. SO WE COULD STOP HERE AND WE COULD ADJUST RATES, UM, BASED ON THAT COST OF SERVICE ANALYSIS. BUT AS I MENTIONED, UH, WE INSTEAD TOOK THESE RESULTS TO THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THAT, HIT THOSE TARGETS, BUT ALSO DECIDE IF THERE SHOULD BE CHANGES WITHIN THE CLASS, UM, TO MEET ANY, ANY, UH, OBJECTIVES THAT THEY MAY COME UP WITH. THEY, UH, LOOKED AT RESIDENTIAL, UM, AND, AND THEY LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF OPTIONS. WE FIRST TALKED TO THEM ABOUT OUR EXISTING RATES, WHICH YOU CAN SEE THERE ON THE LEFT. AND, UM, WE GAVE THEM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT, UH, COULD CHANGE THE FIXED CHARGE, THE DIFFERENT BLOCKS, THE RATES IN THOSE BLOCKS, ET CETERA. AND THE WAY THEY EVALUATED THOSE WAS TO SAY, OKAY, UM, HOW DO THEY IMPACT THE CUSTOMER? AND THEN ALSO DO THEY MEET THE OBJECTIVES? AND THEIR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS AFFORDABILITY. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WATER USED INSIDE THE HOME IS, UH, VERY AFFORDABLE. SO WHAT IT TAKES TO, UH, FEED AND CLOTHE AND, AND WASH INSIDE THE HOME, YOUR CLOTHES, ET CETERA. UM, THAT WOULD BE A VERY AFFORDABLE, BUT THEY ALSO FELT LIKE CONSERVATION WAS AN IMPORTANT, UM, MESSAGE AS WELL. AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE USING WATER FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES, UM, POOL, SWIMMING POOLS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE SENDING THAT PRICING SIGNAL THAT SAYS WATER IS, IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE. IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. AND SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE THE WATER FOR, FOR MORE DISCRETIONARY REASONS, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PRICED TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF, OF THAT WATER. THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY REACHED IS THERE ON THE RIGHT. UM, THEY, UH, DID WANT TO [03:35:01] REDUCE THE FIXED CHARGE. WE'RE REDUCING FIXED CHARGES, UH, WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION 20%. THEY FELT LIKE THE FIXED CHARGE, WHICH IS WHAT YOU PAY BEFORE YOU EVEN USE A DROP OF WATER, WAS TOO HIGH. WE LOOKED AT OUR FIXED CHARGES IN RELATION TO OTHER COM, UH, LARGE CITIES IN TEXAS, AND WE WERE ON THE HIGH SIDE. SO THEY ARE RECOMMENDING A REDUCTION THERE. AND THEN THEY ARE, UH, RECOMMENDING THAT WE REDUCE OUR, UH, VOLUMETRIC RATE BLOCKS, UM, FROM, FROM EIGHT BLOCKS DOWN TO FIVE FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT TO MOST RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS? WELL, 83% OF OUR CUSTOMER BILLS WILL GO DOWN RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER BILLS. UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT KIND OF VARIES DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE. BUT IF YOU'RE USING LESS THAN 9,000 GALLONS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A REDUCTION IN THE WATER SIDE OF YOUR BILL. IF YOU'RE USING 10, 11, 12, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE PRETTY COMPARABLE TO WHAT YOU'RE PAYING TODAY. BUT ONCE YOU GET ABOVE 13,000 GALLONS OR SO, YOU'RE GONNA SEE ABOUT A SEVEN OR 8% INCREASE IN YOUR WATER BILL ON THE SEWER SIDE. UM, DIDN'T LOOK AT TOO MANY OPTIONS. THEY REALLY JUST LOOKED AT ONE. UH, OUR CURRENT RATES, AGAIN, THERE ON THE LEFT, UH, YOU GET THE FIRST, UH, 1500 GALLONS OF SEWER USE, UH, INCLUDED IN THAT FIXED CHARGE, BUT THAT FIXED CHARGE IS PRETTY HIGH. UM, AND THEN, UH, THERE ARE TWO BLOCKS AFTER THAT. THEIR REC, THEY, THE RACK RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE REDUCE, AGAIN, THAT FIXED CHARGE. WE DON'T PROVIDE ANY USAGE WITH THAT FIXED CHARGE. SO ALL THE USAGE WILL HAVE A RATE. UM, THE FIRST 4,000 GALLONS HAS THAT LOWEST RATE, AND, UM, MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE, ARE KIND OF AROUND THAT 4,000, UH, GALLON MARK. UM, AND, UH, AND THEN IF YOU USE MORE THAN THAT, YOU'D HAVE A, A HIGHER RATE. WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE THERE? AGAIN, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT COST OF SERVICES, WE WERE CHARGING TOO MUCH. UM, WE WERE OVER COLLECTING. EVERY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR SEWER, THE SEWER PORTION OF THEIR BILL. I MENTIONED THAT THE, THE RACK FELT AFFORDABILITY WAS THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, SO THAT WE HAD TO SHOW THEM, WELL, HOW DO WE KNOW IF IT'S AFFORDABLE? AND WHAT WE, UH, DETERMINED IS THAT WE WOULD SHOW THEM THAT INDOOR USE AND WHAT IS THE, THE PRICE THAT CUSTOMERS WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THAT INDOOR USE. AND SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY, I I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE HAVE ONE METER. IT PROVIDES WATER THAT CAN BE USED INSIDE, OUTSIDE. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS IN EACH IS BEING USED IN EACH PLACE BY BY CUSTOMER. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OVERALL WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CUSTOMER'S USAGE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, UH, FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH, BECAUSE THAT'S THE USAGE THAT WE CHARGE THEIR SEWER ON, WE KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE USE IS. AND THAT AVERAGE IS JUST OVER 5,000 GALLONS. SO WE, UH, SHOWED THE RACK THE BILL AT 5,062 GALLONS, UM, AND SAID, WHAT IS IT RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE THEY PAYING RIGHT NOW? SO YOU SEE THAT EXISTING I C L THAT'S INSIDE CITY LIMITS, UM, AND EXISTING O C L THAT'S OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS. WHAT ARE THEY PAYING TODAY, BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT STORMWATER? AND THEN HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO THEIR INCOME LEVELS? BECAUSE, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE AT 125% OF POVERTY CAN GO INTO OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, BUT THOSE ABOVE THAT, UM, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. SO WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CUSTOMERS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE HIGH INCOMES BUT WERE OUTSIDE OF THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CO UH, PROGRAM, COULD STILL AFFORD THEIR BILLS AGAIN, FOR THAT INSIDE THAT ESSENTIAL USE. AND, UH, SO YOU CAN SEE THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, LINES THERE. IN ALL CASES, THE, UH, BILL IS GOING DOWN, UM, AND THE MOST THAT FOLKS ARE PAYING THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR, UM, OUR PROGRAM WOULD BE LESS THAN 2% OF THEIR INCOME. SO THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UM, UH, IN, IN, IN TERMS OF ASSURING AFFORDABILITY. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT, UM, OUR, UH, AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS. AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, 125% OF DISCOUNT, UH, OF, UH, FEDERAL POVERTY AND BELOW. RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY OFFER A DISCOUNT OF FLAT DISCOUNT ON THEIR BILL, UH, DEPENDING ON THEIR INCOME LEVEL. AND THAT DISCOUNT, PARTICULARLY AT THE LOWEST LEVELS OF POVERTY, IS ENOUGH TO COVER, UM, A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF USAGE. BUT ONCE THEY START USING, UH, MORE, UH, THAT BILL THAT THEY THEN START TO PAY MORE. AND, AND IN SOME CASES IT CAN BE THAT THAT BILL BECOMES UNAFFORDABLE, PARTICULARLY IF THEY HAVE LARGE FAMILIES, UM, OR IF THEY'RE IN OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PERHAPS IS, IS LEAKY. THE RACK WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT THE BILL WAS AFFORDABLE FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS IN THE PROGRAM. THEY WANTED TO SEE EITHER THEIR BILLS STAY THE SAME OR GO DOWN AND, AND HOPEFULLY GO DOWN. UM, THEY ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE GET RID OF THE BILL DISCOUNT PROGRAM AND ACTUALLY DEVELOP A SEPARATE RATE STRUCTURE WHERE, UH, THOSE CUSTOMERS, UH, WOULD, WHERE THE RATES WOULD BE CHARGED BASED ON THEIR USAGE. THE FIRST 2000 GALLONS OF WATER AND SEWER USE WOULD HAVE NO CHARGE. AND, UM, AND ONCE THEY WENT ABOVE TWO TH AND, AND 2000 GALLONS, BY THE WAY, SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR SOMEBODY THAT IS, [03:40:01] UM, LET'S SAY A SINGLE PERSON LIVING ALONE. AN ELDERLY PERSON, 2000 GALLONS IS, IS SUFFICIENT. UM, AND SO THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE FOR THAT ONCE THEY GET ABOVE 2000. SO IF THEY DO HAVE MORE, UH, MEMBERS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, UM, THE FIXED CHARGE IS ONLY $3, WHICH IS 85% OF WHAT YOU WOULD PAY IF YOU WERE NOT IN THE PROGRAM. AND THEN THE VOLUME RATES ARE DISCOUNTED ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO 50%. SO 98% OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR BILL. MOST OF THEM WILL SEE SOMEWHERE AROUND A 50% REDUCTION. AND, UM, THE OTHER 2% THAT WON'T SEE A REDUCTION, THEY'RE NOT PAYING ANYTHING TODAY. THEY WON'T PAY ANYTHING, UH, UNDER THIS PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE, THIS PROGRAM IS A BIT MORE COSTLY THAN OUR CURRENT DISCOUNT PROGRAM. RIGHT NOW. OUR, OUR RATES COVER THAT DISCOUNT PROGRAM, IT'S EIGHT POINT, THE COST IS ABOUT $8.2 MILLION. THIS PROGRAM WILL COST NEARLY $18 MILLION BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT TODAY OF 34,000 HOUSEHOLDS. AND WE, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE RECOVER THAT COST THROUGH A SEPARATE LINE ITEM CHARGE ON THE BILL TO ALL CUSTOMERS NOT ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. SO, UH, THAT CHARGE IS 32 CENTS PER THOUSAND GALLONS. AND TO GIVE YOU A JUST A REFERENCE POINT, OUR AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WOULD THEN PAY LESS THAN $2 A MONTH JUST TO, UH, SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS ON THE LEFT THE PROPOSAL FOR FOLKS THAT ARE NOT IN THE PROGRAM, RESIDENTIAL. AND THEN ON THE RIGHT, IT GIVES YOU THE COMPARISON OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR, FOR, UH, CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN THE, IN THE PROGRAM. AND YOU CAN SEE THERE, AGAIN, THAT FIRST 2000 NO CHARGE. THEY DO STILL HAVE FIVE BLOCKS, UM, OF RATES, UH, BUT THOSE RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DISCOUNTED FROM WHAT FOLKS ARE PAYING THAT ARE NOT IN THE PROGRAM. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT FIXED CHARGE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ZERO FOR THE FIRST 2000, AND THEN ONLY $3 AFTER THAT. SAME THING ON THE SEWER SIDE ON THE LEFT IS THE FOLKS NOT IN THE PROGRAM ON THE RIGHT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FOLKS IN THE PROGRAM. AGAIN, THAT FIRST 2000, NO CHARGE, NO FIXED CHARGE AT ALL, UH, FOR, FOR SEWER CHARGES. AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRICED AT, UM, A PRETTY LOW RATE, UH, FOR, UM, SEWER USE. THE RACK ALSO LOOKED AT, UM, THEN THE INCOME LEVELS WITHIN THAT PROGRAM. SO WE STILL LOOKED AT WHAT 50% OF POVERTY LOOKS LIKE 75%, A HUNDRED, ET CETERA, AND COMPARED THE BILLS. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, AGAIN, MOST OF THE, UH, ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS ARE GONNA SEE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION, UH, FROM WHAT THEY'RE PAYING TODAY FOR THAT ESSENTIAL USE OF WATER, THAT AVERAGE, UH, ESSENTIAL USE OF WATER, UH, FOR THE FOLKS IN THE PROGRAM. THE, UH, THE RACK ALSO HAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOME OF, UH, THE OTHER RATE CLASSES. UM, AND FOR GENERAL CLASS, AGAIN, THAT'S COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND, AND MULTIFAMILY. UH, THE RACK RECOMMENDS THAT WE CONTINUE TO USE THE RATE STRUCTURE THAT WE CURRENTLY USE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS, BUT THEY DID OBVIOUSLY WANT US TO ADJUST FOR THE COST OF SERVICE. SO BECAUSE THE COST OF SERVICE STUDIES SAID THEY WEREN'T PAYING ENOUGH, UH, WE ARE, THE RATES ARE GOING TO RECOVER THE COST, UH, WHAT THE COST OF SERVICE SAYS, WHICH MEANS ON, ON AVERAGE, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS SHOULD SEE ABOUT A 7% INCREASE IN THEIR BILL. AND THE CURRENT STRUCTURE, THE WAY WE CHARGE IT, UM, IT ALL IS REFERENCING HOW MUCH WATER YOU USE LAST YEAR. ON AVERAGE, IF YOU'RE VERY CONSISTENT IN USING A SIMILAR AMOUNT, YOU GET THE LOWEST RATE AS YOU USE MORE THAN THAT, IF YOU ARE A VARIABLE USER, YOU WILL PAY SOME HIGHER RATES. BUT THAT IN, AND THAT'S HOW COSTS GET ALLOCATED. FOLKS THAT USE, UH, PEAK OFF OF OUR SYSTEM ARE NOT CONSISTENT USERS. THAT'S WHAT CAUSES, UH, THE COST OF OUR SYSTEM TO GO UP. AND SO THAT MAKES SURE THAT ENSURES THAT CUSTOMERS THAT OUR PEAKERS ARE PAYING MORE. THE RACK ALSO LOOKED AT THE MULTIFAMILY CUSTOMERS AND SAID, SHOULD THEY BE BROKEN OUT INTO THEIR OWN CLASS? AND, UH, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT, UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BECAUSE THE MULTIFAMILY UNITS ACTUALLY GET A BIT OF A BREAK BY BEING IN THE GENERAL CLASS. HOWEVER, THEY DID RECOMMEND THAT SAWS DO A STUDY, UM, OF THEIR USE IN THE FUTURE, UM, TO TRY TO GET A FEEL FOR IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO CHARGE MULTIFAMILY? SHOULD WE TRY TO CONSIDER, UH, USE PER APARTMENT UNIT, ET CETERA, AND, AND DEVELOP A STRUCTURE THAT MIGHT, UM, BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT IN THE FUTURE. IRRIGATION CLASS. AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE, THE METERS FOR OUR GENERAL CLASS CUSTOMERS, UH, THAT PROVIDES WATER TO THEIR OUTDOOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM. UM, THERE'S REALLY NO CHANGES RECOMMENDED THERE. UH, LITTLE TWEAKING IN THE BLOCK, UH, THE AMOUNT OF WATER PROVIDED IN EACH BLOCK. BUT, UM, BUT BY AND LARGE, THE RATES, UH, THERE WILL BE REMAIN UNCHANGED. I THINK OVERALL THEY'LL PAY ABOUT 2% MORE, AND THAT HAS REALLY MORE TO DO WITH THAT, UM, AFFORDABILITY, UH, RECOVERY CHARGE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING. AND THEN FINALLY, UM, RECYCLED WATER. UH, THE WRECK SPENT [03:45:01] QUITE A BIT OF TIME LOOKING AT RECYCLED WATER RATES. UH, WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED BACK IN 2000, THE RATES WERE SET IN A WAY THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO MOVE OFF POTABLE. UM, AND, UH, SO AS, UH, SO THEY, IT WAS THE, THE RATES WERE QUITE A BIT LESS AS POTABLE WATER RATES HAVE INCREASED, UH, RECYCLED WATER RATES HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED SOMEWHAT. BUT, BUT THE, THE GAP HAS GOTTEN LARGER BETWEEN POTABLE AND, AND RECYCLED. CURRENTLY, OUR RECYCLED CUSTOMERS PAY ABOUT 20 TO 30%, UM, OF WHAT POTABLE WATER, UH, USERS PAY, AND THEY'RE ONLY RECOVERING ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COST OF THAT SYSTEM. UH, WHEN WE TRIED TO UP DO A RATE STUDY BACK IN 2019, UM, THAT STUDY UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO BE TERMINATED AS A RESULT OF C O V I D, BUT THEY DID SPEND SOME TIME ON, ON RECYCLE RATES BACK THEN. THAT RACK DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD BEGIN TO START CHARGING RECYCLE CUSTOMERS MORE. THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO INCREASE FIF UH, RATES, 15% IN YEAR ONE, AND THEN 10% A YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS THEREAFTER. THE 2022 RACK CAME IN, LOOKED AT THAT RECOMMENDATION, LOOKED AT ALL OF WHO OUR RECYCLED WATER CUSTOMERS ARE, HOW THEY'RE USING THE WATER, ET CETERA. AND THEY DECIDED THAT THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS, UM, A FAIR, UH, RECOMMENDATION AND, UH, DECIDED THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO RECOMMEND. UM, IF THAT IS PUT INTO PLACE, UH, NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE RECOVERING 48% OF THAT COST FROM OUR RECYCLED WATER USERS, AND BY 2027 71%. AND WHEN YOU, WHEN I SAY WE'RE RECOVERING IT, WE ARE RECOVERING ALL OUR COSTS. IT'S JUST THAT THE OTHER CLASSES ARE HAVING TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE. SO RECYCLED WATER CUSTOMERS WILL BE CLOSER TO RECOVERING ALL OF THEIR COSTS BY THE END OF THE FIFTH YEAR UNDER THIS PROPOSAL. AND FINALLY, BEFORE, UH, JAIME CASTILLO COMES UP TO TALK ABOUT CHILL WATER, I'M GONNA JUST BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIAL SERVICE FEE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING TO YOU AS WELL. UH, WITH OUR PROPOSAL IN NOVEMBER, UH, WE, UM, WE HAVE PROBABLY, OH, 75 TO A HUNDRED DIFFERENT SPECIAL SERVICES FEES THAT WE CHARGE. AND THESE ARE TO CUSTOMERS THAT ARE UNIQUE. THEY, THEY NOT ALL OF OUR CUSTOMER BASE NEEDS THESE SERVICES, AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOVER THE COST TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FROM THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO. UH, WE PERIODICALLY UPDATE THE COST BASED ON OUR COST OF SERVICE, AND, UH, WE WILL BE, UH, PRESENTING THOSE UPDATES. SOME ARE GOING UP, SOME ARE GOING DOWN, BUT IN GENERAL, NOT GONNA RE NOT GONNA GENERATE ANY, UH, SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL REVENUE. UM, WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT ON THE RIGHT PAGE HERE. UH, WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE REDUCE THOSE FEES FOR FOLKS IN OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. SO WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE ACCOUNT DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT IN HALF FOR THOSE FOLKS. ANY OTHER METER TRIP FEES WOULD BE CUT IN HALF. AND THEN WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE NO LONGER CHARGE LATE FEES TO CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR TWO NEW FEES, UH, THIS TIME AROUND. UM, ONE OF THEM INVOLVES OUR ELECTRONIC METER PROGRAM AS WE REFER TO IT AS CONNECT H TWO O. UH, WE DO HAVE CUSTOMERS, UH, AS WE'VE BEGUN TO ROLL OUT THESE METERS THAT HAVE ASKED TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM. WE TRY VERY HARD TO TALK THEM OUT OF THAT. UM, BUT SOMETIMES THEY JUST, THEY JUST DON'T WANT, UM, THE, UM, THAT US, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CON MONITORING THE ABILITY FOR US SAWS TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR THEIR WATER USE. UH, WE'VE ASSURED THEM THAT WE CANNOT, UM, CONTROL THEIR WATER USE REMOTELY. UM, AND, UM, THAT, 'CAUSE THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS, BUT SOME OF THEM STILL DO NOT. THEY JUST DON'T WANT THAT DEVICE IN THEIR, IN THEIR METER BOX. SO, UH, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MANUALLY READ THEIR METERS WHILE ALL THE REST OF OUR CUSTOMERS READS WILL COME TO US ELECTRONICALLY. UM, AND SO WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO OPT OUT WOULD RECOVER THE COST OF THAT A SERVICE TO GO OUT AND MANUALLY READ THEIR METER. TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE, UH, WE'VE INSTALLED 21,000 OF THESE METERS, AND WE'VE ONLY HAD 11 CUSTOMERS ASKED TO OPT OUT. SO MY HOPE IS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN WE HAVE 600,000 METERS INSTALLED, THAT THAT NUMBER IS, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY SOUTH OF A OF A THOUSAND CUSTOMERS. UM, THE SECOND FEE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS A BACKFLOW INSPECTION COMPLIANCE FEE. AND, UH, THAT IS ON FOR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BACKFLOW PREVENTER ON THEIR, UH, ON THEIR SIDE OF THE WATER METER. IT'S THERE TO PREVENT ANY, UM, UH, CHEMICALS OR, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WATER THAT'S HAPPENING ON THE WA ON THE CUSTOMER SIDE FROM BACKING UP INTO OUR SYSTEM AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A PROBLEM FOR OUR OTHER CUSTOMERS. UM, YOU MAY RECALL BACK IN 2016, UH, CORPUS CHRISTI HAD TO ISSUE A BOILED WATER NOTICE FOR OVER A WEEK FOR, BECAUSE A, UH, [03:50:01] ASPHALT, UH, LARGE ASPHALT COMPANY HAD A BACKFLOW PREVENTER THAT DIDN'T WORK. AND, UM, SOME PRETTY, UM, TOXIC CHEMICALS GOT INTO THE, THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM, AND THEY HAD TO HAVE A BOIL WATER NOSE FOR, I BELIEVE IT WAS CLOSE TO A WEEK. WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING IN SAN ANTONIO. THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GET THOSE BACKFLOW PREVENTERS INSPECTED BY JUNE 30TH EACH YEAR. UM, THE MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN INSPECTION GET IT DONE. UNFORTUNATELY, ABOUT 30% OF THEM DO NOT COMPLY, AND WE HAVE TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT TRYING TO GET THEM TO COMPLY LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS AND VISITS, UM, TO THEIR PROPERTY. AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS CHARGING A FEE TO THEM TO RECOVER THOSE COSTS, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE AS A DISINCENTIVE, IF YOU WILL, UM, SO THAT THEY, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO GET THIS DONE EACH YEAR AND, AND HOPEFULLY, UM, OVER TIME THEY WILL BECOME COMPLIANT BECAUSE THAT IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL. UM, AND SO, UH, YOU WILL SEE A PROPOSAL TO BEGIN CHARGING THOSE FEES AGAIN, ONLY TO CUSTOMERS THAT ARE NOT COMPLIANT AFTER THE JUNE 30 DEADLINE. WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO JAIME, AND THEN GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST RE WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT WE ACTUALLY BEGAN THIS DISCUSSION, UH, LAST YEAR WHEN YOU AWARDED US OUR FIRST, UH, RATE INCREASE SINCE 1999 FOR THE CHILLED WATER SYSTEM. UM, AND, UH, WE'VE PUT THAT TO GOOD USE, BOUGHT TWO NEW CHILLERS AT OUR DOWNTOWN PLANT, WHICH I'LL GET TO, UH, MORE IN A MOMENT. BUT I WANNA ALSO REMIND YOU THAT WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL WHEN WE DESCRIBED THAT RATE INCREASE IN, UH, LAST YEAR, THAT IT WAS A PLACEHOLDER BECAUSE WE HAD A CONSULTANT THAT CAME ON BOARD, UH, JACOBS ENGINEERING THAT WAS GONNA ANALYZE THE SYSTEM TOP TO BOTTOM AND LET US KNOW WHAT ALL THOSE YEARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, UH, STEMMING FROM LACK OF INVESTMENT SINCE 1999 AND MOUNTED TO. SO JUST A QUICK REMINDER, THIS IS OUR SYSTEM. UM, DOWNTOWN. WE HAVE TWO PLANTS, CHERRY STREET AND COMMERCE STREET. UH, THE CITY IS 70% OF THOSE CUSTOMERS IS VERY PROMINENT THINGS. THE ALMA DOME CONVENTION CENTER, PORT SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE VERY PROMINENT, UH, CLIENTS THERE. UH, BOEING CHROMEO, STANDARD ARROW, THE AIR FORCE. UM, ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVERS FOR THIS RATE INCREASE, UH, DUE TO THAT LACK OF INVESTMENT IS WE WANT RELIABILITY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UH, PER THE CITY AGREEMENT, THE ZACHARY HOTEL THAT WILL BE GOING UP AT HEMISPHERE PARK, UM, THEY ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO, TO HOOK UP TO US, BUT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RELIABILITY. THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT, UH, IS READY FOR THE FUTURE. AND, UM, THOSE RATE INCREASES WOULD, UH, HELP US, UH, ALLEVIATE THEIR CONCERNS. THE OTHER MAIN DRIVER OF THESE RATE INCREASES AND WHY WE, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR PERMISSION TO DO THIS, IS, UM, WE WANNA BE A MAXIMIZE THE CHILLED WATER SYSTEMS ROLE IN THE CITY'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. UM, EVERY BUILDING THAT WE CAN KEEP OFF, UH, KEEP FROM GOING AS A STANDALONE SYSTEM, HAVING THEIR OWN HVAC SYSTEM, IS A BUILDING THAT'S GONNA SAVE 20 TO 35% OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. UM, IT IS MUCH BETTER TO HOOK UP TO OUR CHILL WATER LOOP AND, UH, MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE RARE WIN-WIN SITUATIONS WHERE EVEN FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, UH, DEVELOPERS, IF YOU SEE THAT LOWER PHOTO THAT IS A BUILDING WITH, UH, A BUNCH OF AIR HANDLERS ON TOP, IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AND THEY'RE HOOKED UP TO OUR SYSTEM, THEY CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THE TOP PHOTO, HAVE AN AMENITIES, SWIMMING POOLS, THE BARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS THE WORK THAT I MENTIONED. OUR CONSULTANT LOOKED AT THE SYSTEM TOP TO BOTTOM. THIS IS WHAT THEY FOUND THAT ALL, ALL THOSE YEARS OF DISINVESTMENT MEANT IT'S $50.6 MILLION THAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE UNDERTAKE OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, UH, CAPITAL PROGRAM. UM, I DID MENTION THE TWO CHILLERS THAT WE WERE, UH, FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET WITH THE LAST RATE INCREASE. WE STILL NEED TWO MORE CHILLERS AT COMMERCE, UH, TWO MORE AT PORT SAN ANTONIO, AND ONE MORE AT OUR CHERRY STREET PLANT TO GET BACK TO, UH, FULL STRENGTH. AND I WOULD NOTICE BEFORE I GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, THE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES UP THERE IN THAT, UH, LEFT HAND CORNER, THE $9.1 MILLION, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT TOP PHOTO ON THIS SLIDE, THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE, THE FUSE BOX FOR THE, UH, UH, COMMERCE STREET PLANT, UM, IF YOU WILL. AND THAT DATES LITERALLY TO THE 1968 HEMISPHERE. AND THOSE ARE, ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO REPLACE. WE'RE NOT GOAL PLATTING ANYTHING. WE'RE TRYING TO, IT'S BLOCKING AND TACKLING OF REPLACING AGED OUT SYSTEMS. AND, AND THIS ISN'T TO SAY THAT WE WEREN'T MAINTAINING THINGS IN THE MEANTIME. WE HAD A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR, UH, MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS ALL THESE YEARS WHERE WE KEPT THE, THE EQUIPMENT UP AS BEST AS WE COULD. BUT, UM, THEY JUST AGED OUT. UH, THE CHILLERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE, UH, COMMERCE STREET PLANT WERE FROM 1996. SO, UH, OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, DOUG EVANSON AND CECILIA VELASQUEZ WERE BEHIND ME. THEY TOOK THAT JACOBS ENGINEERING PLAN, THE $50.6 MILLION OF CAPITAL THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED, [03:55:01] AND PLUGGED IT INTO THE MODEL AND SAID, WELL, OKAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR RATES? AND WHAT IT MEANS IS, UM, OUR BOARD IS STILL YET TO DECIDE WHAT OUR, UH, FINAL ASK OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE, BUT, UM, WHATEVER IT IS, IT HAS TO ADD UP TO 50% OVER FIVE YEARS. SO WE COULD DO 9.9% EACH YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS. WE COULD DO 15% IN YEAR ONE AND A DECLINING NUMBER, THEREFORE THEREAFTER. UM, BUT IT HAS TO ADD UP TO 50 IN ORDER TO RAISE THE, THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL THAT WE CAN, UM, UH, DO ALL THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. I I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT BY DOING THAT, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PAY BACK THE, IF YOU WILL, THE WATER AND WASTEWATER CUSTOMERS THAT, UM, IN THE PARLANCE OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, DEEM IT AS A INTERCOMPANY LOAN. OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER CUSTOMERS HAVE LENT THIS BUSINESS, IF YOU WILL, ABOUT $18 MILLION. SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PAY THAT DOWN AS WELL. THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE. UM, BUT THAT RED LINE, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SLIDE FOR US AS WE GO OUT AND TRY TO MARKET THE SYSTEM AND ADD MORE CUSTOMERS. AND WHEN WE DO ADD CUSTOMERS, IT'S GONNA BE THAT MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THEIR EXISTING CUSTOMERS. 'CAUSE THE ENERGY COSTS WILL GO DOWN AND THAT'LL BE PASSED ON DIRECTLY TO THEM. BUT THAT RED LINE REPRESENTS JACOBS ENGINEERING. THEY DO THE CHILL WATER SYSTEMS IN AUSTIN AND JACKSONVILLE. UM, THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, AND THAT IS THEIR ALL IN NUMBER, THE RED LINE OF WHAT IT COSTS FOR DEVELOPER X TO GO DO A HOTEL AND DO A STANDALONE SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN. SO AS YOU SEE OUR BLUE LINE, THAT'S WHAT IT, IT COSTS US CURRENTLY, UM, IN 2023 TO THE FAR LEFT, UH, TO DO THIS. AND SO, JUST AS AN EXERCISE, LIKE I SAID, THE BOARD HASN'T MADE A DECISION BUT TO DO THE EXERCISE, WE, WE SAID, OKAY, WHAT IF COUNCIL GAVE US THE RIGHT TO DO 9.9% OVER FIVE YEARS, AND YOU SEE THAT BLUE LINE, EVEN WITH, UH, A FIVE SUCCESSIVE 9.9% RATE INCREASES, WE WOULD STILL REMAIN UNDER THE COST THAT IT WOULD TAKE, UH, SOMEBODY TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. WE NEVER WANT THOSE TWO LINES TO CROSS. AND THAT'S IT FOR ME AND ROBERT, I THINK WE'LL CLOSE IT UP. THANK YOU, JAIME. UH, UH, MEMBERS, UH, THESE ARE NOT SPONGY NUMBERS. UH, YOU SEE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR WASTEWATER CUSTOMERS, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WILL GET A RATE DECREASE, UH, THE CREATION OF AN AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. THAT IS THE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE NATION, WHEREIN 98% OF THOSE CUSTOMERS WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT. AND THAT REMAINING 2%, WELL, THEY DIDN'T PAY, UH, IN THE OLD PROGRAM. AND SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA PAY UNDER THIS NEW PROGRAM. 83% OF THE WATER CUSTOMERS, RESIDENTIAL WATER CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A RATE DECREASE. AND WE'RE LOWERING THE FIXED CHARGE, UH, BY 20%. WE ALWAYS WANNA SEE WHERE WE STAND, UH, WHERE SAN ANTONIO STANDS COMPARISON TO OTHER CITIES AND WHERE SAW STANDS IN COMPARISON TO OTHER WATER UTILITIES. AND YOU'LL SEE WE'RE VERY, UH, INEXPENSIVE, ONE OF THE LOWEST OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN TEXAS. UH, THE, UH, CURRENT RATE IS $66 AND 68 CENTS FOR THE AVERAGE USE, WHICH IS ABOUT 6,200 GALLONS PER MONTH. AND THE LIGHTER GREEN, RIGHT UNDER THE DARKER GREEN IS WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMER WOULD PAY. IF THIS PROPOSAL GOES THROUGH, IF OUR BOARD ACCEPT IT, IF YOU ACCEPT IT, UH, THE RATES WILL BE LOWER, AND YOU'LL SEE THE NEW LOWER RATE AND THE NEW LOWER RATE FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS. SO WE'RE QUITE CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, OUR CONSUMERS, OUR CUSTOMERS CAN, UH, WOULD WANT. UH, HOW DO WE GET THERE? UH, THIS IS OUR PROPOSED, UM, TIMELINE. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THIS. OUR, OUR, OUR IRAQ COMMITTEE HAS MET SINCE THE EARLY PART OF THIS, OF THIS YEAR. UH, THEY'VE, UH, HAD VARIOUS MEETINGS AND WE'RE, UH, BEEN PRESENTING TO OUR BOARD THROUGHOUT THIS TIME. UH, THEY HAVE REACHED A FINAL RECOMMENDATION, UH, FROM AUGUST, UH, THROUGH NOVEMBER. WE'VE BEEN DOING OUTREACH. UH, WE'VE BEEN, UH, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, DIFFERENT CHAMBER MEETINGS, DIFFERENT, UH, EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE GATHER TO TRY TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE DOING. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE ARE GETTING A VERY GOOD RECEPTION ABOUT THESE LOWER RATES. SO IT'S, WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS GOOD FOR THEM. OUR BOARD WILL CONSIDER IT ON NOVEMBER THE FIRST, A FEW DAYS LATER. WE'RE GONNA BE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AND IF WE GET AFFIRMATIVE VOTES FROM BOTH BODIES, WE LOOK FORWARD FOR THIS TO BE A, UH, TO GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST. UH, WITH THAT, UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, WE WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I, MARY OR JAIME, UH, ON ANY TOPIC THAT YOU MAY CHOOSE. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, ROBERT, MARY JAIME, FOR THE PRESENTATION. I, I'VE SEEN THIS A FEW TIMES NOW AND, AND VERY PLEASED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUTTA THE RACK. IN FACT, UM, THEY'VE DONE REALLY IMPRESSIVE WORK CONSIDERING ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IN THE START AND THE STOP AND THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECEIVED AS GOOD NEWS FROM, FROM OUR RATE PAYERS ALMOST ENTIRELY. SO, UH, LET ME TURN TO DISCUSSION NOW. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER [04:00:01] KEBEDE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, I'VE HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE TO SEE THIS PRESENTATION A FEW TIMES, SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF, UM, A LOT MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. UM, BUT OF COURSE, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE PRESENTATION OF YOU AND MARY AND THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO. AND THANKS TO RAMIRO GUERRERA, WHO'S THE DISTRICT SIX, UM, APPOINTEE TO THE IRAQ. HE'S WORKED HARD ON THIS. UM, THIS, DESPITE WORK, OBVIOUSLY, IS VERY VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TOUCHES EVERYONE WHO LIVES IN OUR CITY. I THINK YOU FOUND THE BEST WAY TO BALANCE THE ECONOMIC AND BASIC LIFE NEEDS OF OUR, UH, SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT EASY TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH QUALITY OF, OF NOT ONLY WATER, BUT SERVICE THAT SAUCE PROVIDES. AND, UH, WE'VE REALLY COME TO EXPECT THAT. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND WHILE ALSO CONSIDERING THOUGH THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK THIS IS, UH, KIND OF AN INNOVATION THAT WE, WE REALLY LOOK TO EMBRACE. I DO HAVE A, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. UM, NUMBER ONE, HOW DO PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THE AFFORDABILITY STRUCTURE? UH, THERE ARE NUM, THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS IN OUR TIME. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE. UH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT AS COMPUTER LITERATE, SO THAT WE HAVE, UM, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SIGN UP OVER THE PHONE IN PERSON. UH, WE, UH, PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF AFFAIRS THAT Y'ALL, UH, SPONSOR. UH, WE'VE EVEN GONE BLOCK WALKING IN DISTRICT TWO AND DISTRICT FIVE, UH, TO GET PEOPLE TO SIGN UP. SO, UH, ANY TYPE OF OUTREACH THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE WHERE YOU CAN GET PEOPLE IN, WE WILL, WE WILL DO THAT. ONE OF THE KEYS IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO COME IN AND SIGN. WE'RE GONNA GO OUT THERE TO SIGN THEM UP. I, I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT, UM, I CAN NEVER EXPECT PEOPLE TO COME TO ME. I TRY TO GO AS MUCH AS I CAN OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES. AND ON THAT SAME NOTE, IF YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME LITERATURE, I'LL, I'LL GO BLOCK WALK, UM, SURE. SOME OF THE AREAS IN, IN MY DISTRICT. UM, AND WILL THE PEOPLE IN THE CURRENT AFFORD AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS, WOULD THEY HAVE TO IGN UP OR IS IT AN AUTOMATIC SIGNUP? UH, NO. UH, THE, IT'S 125% PRIORITY LEVEL. THE CURRENT PROGRAM HAS, UH, SUBCATEGORIES OF 150. SO EVERYBODY WILL QUALIFY AND BE INTO THE NEW PROGRAM AUTOMATICALLY. THEY DON'T HAVE TO. YES. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. UM, AND I, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AT THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMISSION ABOUT, UM, THERE'S NO DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN MICRO, SMALL AND THEN LARGER BUSINESSES. RIGHT? UM, AS WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF, UH, CONSIDER WAYS THAT WE CAN, UM, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL FACING CHALLENGES. UH, OF COURSE. AND WE WILL TAKE THE CITY'S LEAD. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M SURE THAT Y'ALL STRUGGLE WITH IS WHAT EXACTLY IS A SMALL BUSINESS? MM-HMM. , IS IT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES? IS IT REVENUE? MM-HMM. , IS IT PROFIT? UH, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO WE'LL BE GLAD TO TRY TO WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S A GOOD POINT. THANK YOU, ROBERT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER, COO, HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER OF ELAS. THANK YOU, ROBERT, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. UM, I, I THINK IT WAS 2014, 2015 WHEN, WHEN I, I FIRST GOT TO WORK WITH YOU ON THE RACK, RIGHT? YES. WAS IT, WAS IT BACK THEN, WAS THAT THE LAST TIME WE DID IT? UH, I THINK 2014, YES. OKAY. UM, AND ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED WHEN I WAS ON THE RACK WAS THAT, UM, THAT EXERCISE WAS MORE DIFFICULT THAN PREVIOUS EXERCISES BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND JUST COMPLETE UNCERTAINTY AS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE RAIN WAS GONNA COME FROM, RIGHT. UM, AND WHEN THE NEXT DROUGHT WAS COMING AROUND, AND I REMEMBER WHEN, UH, YOU TOLD ME WHEN, WHEN WE WERE KIDS, UM, THE DATA, UH, WAS LIKE YOU SAID, LESS SPONGY, RIGHT? UM, YOU WERE ABLE, YOU WERE ABLE TO FORECAST, RIGHT? AND FORECASTING, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BEDROCK OF FORECASTING IS HARD DATA, RIGHT? AND I'M, I'M AWARE, AND, AND I'VE LEARNED SINCE THEN, THAT UTILITIES LIKE YOU ARE HAVING TO RELY ON, UH, SPONGY DATA AS TIME MOVES, MOVES FORWARD, RIGHT? UM, MAKING YOU GUYS, UH, BE IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES AS TO HOW TO BUDGET AND HOW TO STRUCTURE RATES AND ALL THAT. SO I, I RESPECT THIS, UH, THIS PROCESS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, UH, CONSIDERING YOU HAVE LESS AND LESS HARD DATA TO BE ABLE TO FORECAST OUT. RIGHT? NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT CURRENT DATA AND YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, HISTORICAL DATA, BUT, UM, I, I DO WANNA WANT TO WANT TO ASK YOU HOW MUCH OF, WHAT, WHAT WENT INTO YOUR METHODOLOGY IN FIGURING OUT WHAT THE RIGHT STRUCTURE SHOULD BE, WAS ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT POST COVID, JUST POST COVID REALITIES, RIGHT? OF PEOPLE STAYING AT HOME MORE OFTEN, FOR EXAMPLE. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR RACK STARTED IN 2019, RIGHT? AND WAS, UM, JUST GETTING OFF THE GROUND. AND THEN COVID HAPPENED IN EARLY 2020. SO ESSENTIALLY THE, OUR COMMUNITY CAME TO A STOP, A, A, A SCREECHING STOP. SO WE STOPPED A MEETING FOR A WHILE, STARTED IT UP AGAIN. UH, BUT THIS TIME, UH, WE HAD THE 2021 COVID YEAR TO LOOK AT [04:05:01] AND WHATEVER, UH, THAT MEANT, UH, AS FAR AS DEMAND, UH, AND THEN 2022. AND SO WE CHOSE 2022 AS THE MODEL AS TO WHAT OUR REVENUE NEEDS WERE AND BASED THOSE DECISIONS ON THE 2022 REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND REVENUE NEEDS. OKAY. UM, AND THEN CHANGING, CHANGING TOPICS ON YOU. I SPENT THE DAY YESTERDAY IN EL PASO, UH, TALKING TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE AND, AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IF I WAS TALKING TO JAMIE OR GAU, BUT, UH, THE, I I, I WAS MENTIONING TO BOTH OF THEM THAT EL PASO HAD PASSED A LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE A LONG TIME AGO, MANDATING, UH, CERTAIN KIND OF LANDSCAPING MATERIAL FOR BUSINESSES. UM, AND THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME, BUT ALSO EL PASO WATER, UM, WAS INCENTIVIZING AND PAYING HOMEOWNERS TO NOT INSTALL AND MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, SPONGY TURF IN THEIR FRONT YARD THAT THEY'D HAVE TO WATER. RIGHT. BUT INSTEAD REPLACE IT WITH SCAPING. ARE YOU GUYS STILL DOING THAT? BECAUSE I REMEMBER A LONG TIME AGO THAT YOU GUYS WERE, WERE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO THAT, BUT IN WHAT FORM IS THAT MANIFESTING ITSELF TODAY? UH, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT? OKAY. YES, WE'RE DOING IT. UH, AND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SO, SO SUCCESSFUL AT IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE THE NEWS AS MUCH AS IT DOES BEFORE. BUT, UH, IF, UH, KAREN GUZ WAS HERE, OUR DIRECTOR OF WATER CONSERVATION, SHE WOULD TELL YOU ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. SOME SIMPLE THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE, UM, HOW YOU INCENTIVIZE THE CUSTOMER TO DO SOMETHING FOR, UH, THAT WILL SAVE WATER THAT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE. AND YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, LAWNS IN FRONT OF HOMES. UH, WE STARTED WITH, UH, AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WHERE WE WOULD EDUCATE THE BUILDING COMMUNITY THAT IF YOU JUST THROW THE, THE SO ON TOP OF THE ROCK WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING A HOME, IT'S GOING TO DIE. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF WATER. RIGHT? SO WE, UH, EDUCATED THEM, UH, INCENTIVIZED THEM BY GIVING THEM, UH, PART PAYMENT FOR THE ADDING OF, UH, FOUR INCHES OF TOPSOIL. AND SO, UH, THEY BOUGHT ON IT. UH, IT'S, UH, MUCH, UH, BETTER FOR THEM. UH, THAT'S, UH, ANY SAVINGS THAT THEY, UH, OBTAINED, THEY CAN EITHER KEEP THEM THEMSELVES OR TRANSFER IT INTO THE NEW HOMEOWNER. BUT NOW IT'S A CITY ORDINANCE. SO YOU, UH, YOU EDUCATE, YOU INCENTIVIZE, AND THEN THEY HAVE A BUY-IN AND YOU MAKE, YOU MAKE IT MANDATORY. SO NOW ALL NEW HOMES HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR INCHES OF TOPSOIL BEFORE WE WILL ISSUE A METER AND BEFORE THEY CAN SELL THE HOME. WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JUST PUSHING HARDER ON A NO FRONT LAWN APPROACH AND MORE OF A, OF A Z ESCAPING APPROACH? UM, THE PUSHING WILL BE BY Y'ALL . WE DON'T HAVE ANY ORDINANCE MAKING POWER, BUT WE CAN SURE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT WILL, THAT YOU WILL NEED TO, UH, PUSH THAT ISSUE FORWARD. BUT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER ALL KINDS OF INCENTIVES TO EITHER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALREADY OFFER INCENTIVES TO WHERE IF YOU PART OF YOUR FRONT LAWN, YOU DO NOT, UH, LAY DOWN IRRIGATION LINES AND IT'S MORE FOR A SHRUBBERY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. UH, WE PROVIDE THOSE KINDS OF INCENTIVES. UH, MOST PEOPLE, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DO WANT A LONG TYPE IN THEIR BACKYARD FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY AND KICK THE BALL AROUND. SO IT'S, IT'S A COMBINATION OF FINDING OUT WHAT WILL SELL, WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT, AND THE INCENTIVES NECESSARY TO DO THAT, AND THEN HOPEFULLY A BUY-IN BY THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, FOR THE OTHER BITS AND PIECES HERE. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS HERE. UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, RESIDENTIAL, AND I SAW THE REDUCTIONS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AND THEN COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES BENCHMARKING, WHICH IS GREAT. UM, AND, AND ANYTHING THAT SAVES A CUSTOMER MONEY, I'M, I'M ALL FOR, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE. I SAW THAT THERE'S AN INCREASE ON THE COMMERCIAL RATES, BUT HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES? HOW, HOW DID WE BENCHMARK THAT RATE WITH OTHER CITIES? WE, WE DO HAVE THOSE BENCHMARKS, UH, AND WE DO COMPARE FAVORABLY. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY IT FALLS IN THE SAME, UH, POSITION BETWEEN FORT WORTH AND DALLAS. AM I CORRECT, MARY? YES. YEAH. WE FALL IN THE SAME SPOT BETWEEN FORT WORTH AND DALLAS. OKAY. SO RELATIVELY THE SAME. YES, SAME. UH, BUT, UH, WE'LL SEND YOU THE, UH, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, I, I SAW THE, THE, UH, INCREASES IN THE RECYCLE ALSO. YES. I, I DON'T RECALL HOW MUCH THAT WAS IN INCREASE ON THERE, BUT, UH, HOW, HOW MANY DOLLARS IS THAT? HOW MANY DOLLARS ARE WE EQUATING THAT TO OVERALL? SO THE, UH, 15% [04:10:02] INCREASE THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR 2023 WILL PROVIDE ABOUT $400,000 ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THAT SYSTEM. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEN THE RE THE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL CLASS IS NOT HAVING TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE, THAT $400,000 DIFFERENCE ANYMORE. OKAY. SO THE, THE TOTAL REQUIREMENT IS HOW MUCH FOR THE RECYCLED WATER? THE COST OF THE SYSTEM IS ABOUT $9 MILLION. AND, UM, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE RECOVERING ABOUT A THIRD OF THAT. SO WITH THE, UH, NOW THE CITY IS GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THE FLOW, THE RIVER FLOWS, AND THEN THAT AS WELL AS THE 15% RATE INCREASE WILL BRING US TO ABOUT A 48% RECOVERY. SO ALMOST HALF OF THAT $9 MILLION WILL BE RECOVERED FROM RATES. OKAY. AND THEN THE, UH, THE REST IS BEING MADE UP BY OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND, AND GENERAL CLASS AND OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO BASICALLY IRRIGATION AS WELL. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING OR WE'RE PAYING THE DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE TO USE THAT RECYCLED WATER. YES. SO WE HAVE, FROM THE BEGINNING AGAIN, IT, IT WAS, UH, MEANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET OFF THE POTABLE WATER SYSTEM AND, UM, WHILE, UH, EVEN IF THEY WERE RECOVERING A HUNDRED PERCENT, IT WOULD, UM, STILL BE CHEAPER THAN POTABLE. IT WOULD REQUIRE A 300% RATE INCREASE OVERNIGHT. SO THE RACK FELT LIKE THAT SHOULD BE DONE OVER TIME. OKAY. YEAH. I, I, I'M STILL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT AND WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE INCENTIVIZING TO, UH, USE THE, UH, RECYCLED WATER, BUT WE'RE PAYING FOR IT BY THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE, UH, TO POTABLE. SO THAT MEAN IT'S A MUCH CHEAPER SOURCE THAN TRYING TO GO OUT AND FIND A NEW POTABLE WATER SOURCE. IT'S VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF VALUE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. UM, UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S, AGAIN, I THINK MOST CITIES, UH, IS, IS SIMILAR WHERE THE OTHER CUSTOMERS HELP TO SUPPORT THAT SYSTEM. UM, THEY'RE NOT RECOVERING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR COSTS, BUT OKAY. UM, AND I HEAR ALL THAT, BUT MM-HMM. , UH, WHAT'S THE IMPACT TO OUR RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER, OTHER CUSTOMERS? UH, HOW MUCH IS THEIR, HOW MUCH ARE THEIR BILLS? HOW MUCH HAVE THEY BEEN PAYING YEAH. IN ADDITION TO THEIR BILLS FOR THIS RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM? YEAH. SO WITH, WITH THE, UH, IF THE RATE INCREASE GOES IN, UH, ABOUT HALF OF THE COSTS WILL BE, UH, SUBSIDIZED BY, BY THE CLASSES. SO FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE. UM, OUR, OUR OVERALL OPERATING REVENUES ARE SOMEWHERE AROUND 800, $800 MILLION. SO IT'S A TINY PIECE OF WHAT THE OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING. AND WHO'S OUR BIGGEST CUSTOMERS FOR RECYCLED WATER? CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? YEAH. SO THIS, SO WE GOT, WE'RE CHARGING FOR IT, AND WE'RE CHARGING OURSELVES FOR IT, AND WE'RE MAKING OUR RESIDENTS PAY FOR THE RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM OR THE, THE DELTA, THE DIFFERENCE. BUT AGAIN, IT, IT'S A, A VERY COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO POTABLE WATER. SO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM, SAWS WOULD'VE HAD TO GO AND FIND EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE WATER SOURCES. OKAY. UM, ALL RIGHT. UM, I, I, I STILL HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT. SINCE THE CITY IS ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST CUSTOMER OF THIS, WE'RE KIND OF DOUBLE WHAMMING. THE, OUR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS OUT THERE FOR THIS WATER SOURCE. UM, OKAY. UM, I, I, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE FEE FOR THE OPT OUT FOR THE WATER METERS. I MEAN, HOW MANY, AGAIN, OPTED OUT, OUT OF THE, OUT OF THIS FIRST OUT OF 21,000? ABOUT 11. HOW MANY? 11. 11. I DON'T SEE THAT. WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T WANT IT FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHY ARE, I MEAN, WE'RE GIVING THEM SAVINGS IN THEIR WATER RATE, BUT WE'RE TAKING ALL OF IT OUT JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HOOK UP TO THE METER READING THING. AND IF IT'S ONLY 11, THAT'S LESS, I WOULD SAY THAT'S LESS THAN ONE F T E TO GO OUT AND, AND READ THAT AND, AND REPORT THAT. SO I, I JUST DON'T, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. UH, THAT ADDITIONAL FEE FOR THAT. AND THE, THE, UM, THE, UM, BACKFLOW PREVENTERS, WHO IS GONNA BE CHARGED BACKFLOW? PREVENTERS ARE MOSTLY COMMERCIAL, UH, HOSPITALS, UM, UH, UH, MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, UH, THESE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES HAVE TO HAVE A BACK BACKFLOW, UH, SOME RESIDENTIAL, BUT VERY, VERY FEW RESIDENTIAL. IT'S REALLY THOSE THAT HAVE A HUGE LAWN AND THAT PUT A FERTILIZER INTO [04:15:01] THE SYSTEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND IT'S A, A PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, ISSUE THAT WE DON'T WANT WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING ON THEIR SIDE OF THE METER, UH, CLEANING WHATEVER FOR THAT WATER TO COME BACK INTO THE PUBLIC SYSTEM. BUT IF IT'S A STATE LAW, WHY ARE, WHY ARE WE HAVING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? IT'S ALSO CITY ORDINANCE. OKAY. BUT WHAT HAVE WE HAD AN M HAVE WE HAD A PROBLEM? OH, YES. BACK LAW PREVENTION. UH, WE, WE HAVE A, A, A RELATIVELY LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL NOT INSPECT THEIR BACKFLOW. UH, IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT AND A CITY ORDINANCE THAT THEY RE INSPECT IT ONCE A YEAR FOR THOSE THAT WILL NOT INSPECT IT. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE INCURRING A LOT OF COST OF MAILING THEM, CALLING THEM, GOING TO THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS, TELLING THEM THEY NEED TO GET AN INSPECTION OVER AND OVER, BECAUSE AS A LAST RESORT, WE HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF. WE DON'T WANNA TURN THEM OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE RUNNING A BUSINESS. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF, UH, ANGST AND LOSS OF, UH, REVENUE, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS MAYBE. AND SO THAT COST, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT ON THOSE BAD ACTORS THAT WILL NOT GET THEIR, UH, SYSTEM INSPECTED. SO THIS FEE IS ONLY FOR THE BAD ACTORS. IT'S ONLY FOR THE NON-COMPLIANCE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, OKAY. THE, UH, CHILLED WATER PORTION HERE, HERE, THE, I SEE HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND EVERYTHING GOING INTO THAT SYSTEM. AND WHERE, WHERE IS THE REVENUE COMING TO PAY FOR THIS? IT, IT COMES FROM THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE THE CUSTOMERS. OKAY. AND YOU'RE WANTING BASICALLY 10% ADDITIONAL FEE EVERY YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS, 50% INCREASE? CORRECT. AND IT'S STILL GONNA BE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE CUSTOMERS TO USE THIS. YES. UH, THAT, THAT LAST SLIDE, UH, THAT HYMES SHOWED YOU, WHERE THE LINES DO NOT MEET, IT'LL BE STILL COST EFFECTIVE. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THAT BOTTOM LINE, WHICH IS THE COST FOR SAWS TO DO IT, WILL GO DOWN AS WE PUT ON NEW CUSTOMERS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS, UH, WISE ENOUGH TO HELP US WITH AN AGREEMENT ON THE ZACHARY HOTEL. THAT'S TO BE BUILT FOR THEM TO BE ON OUR SYSTEM THAT HELPS DRIVE THE, THE COST DOWN, UH, RIVER CENTER MALL. WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM FOR THEM TO, UH, TO, UH, ESSENTIALLY DITCH THEIR OLD SYSTEM AND COME ONTO OUR SYSTEM. SO EVERY NEW CUSTOMER WILL HELP DRIVE THAT, UM, THAT, UH, COST DOWN. AND SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, COUNCIL WILL HELP IN THAT ENDEAVOR OF ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DEVELOP DOWNTOWN, THAT THEY BE ENCOURAGED, IF NOT MANDATED TO GET ON OUR SYSTEM. IT'S CHEAPER FOR THEM, CHEAPER, UH, FOR THE AND, UH, SYSTEM ITSELF. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN PUT A NICE AMENITY ON THE ROOFTOP OR WHATEVER OTHER SPACE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNION FOR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. OKAY. AND IF ALL THE, ALL THE UPGRADES ARE DONE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, OR WE GONNA EXPECT TO SEE THAT RATE DECREASED OR AT AT LEAST, UH, UH, BE MAINTAINED, IF NOT LOWER. THESE ARE UP TO NUMBERS. UH, IN OTHER WORDS, UH, BECAUSE OF THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE SEE IN BUYING NEW CHILLERS, THAT THE RATES WILL ACTUALLY, WE WON'T HAVE TO RAISE THE RATES AS HIGH AS IF THIS COUNCIL GIVES US THAT AUTHORITY. IF IT GIVES US 9.9. SO I CAN'T GET OUTTA YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA DECREASE THE RATES OVER TIME. COUNCILMAN, UH, HALF OF THE BILL IS THE PASS THROUGH OF THE ENERGY AND THE WATER. SO ON THE CUSTOMER BILL, WE FULLY BELIEVE THAT THE BILL WILL GO DOWN. SO WE'LL DO ALL THOSE CAPITAL UPGRADES. OKAY. UM, WHEN, WHEN THAT NEW, MORE EFFICIENT EQUIPMENT COMES ON BOARD, FOR EXAMPLE, THE, THE TWO CHILLERS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE WITH THE, THE LAST RATE INCREASE, YOU, YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH TO GIVE US THE, UM, THEY'RE 30% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN WHAT THEY REPLACED. SO AS WE REPLACE MORE AND MORE CHILLERS, THE ENERGY PORTION OF EACH CUSTOMER'S BILL IS GONNA GO DOWN. SO WE DEFINITELY EXPECT IT TO LEVEL OFF. IF, IF NOT EVEN GO DOWN THE, THE ACTUAL BILL. SHORT ANSWER, YES. THEY SHOULD GO DOWN, YES. THEIR ACTUAL BILL. GOOD. AND THEN HAVE THE, HAS THE RACK VOTES BEEN UNANIMOUS? UH, THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE RACK. I MEAN, ON THE OTHER, OTHER, OTHER PORTION, UM, IT WAS UNANIMOUS IN THE SENSE IT WAS A CONSENSUS. UH, THERE, THERE WAS, UH, OPTION A AND OPTION B, AND THEY WERE THROWING BACK AND FORTH, BUT EVENTUALLY THROUGH CONVERSATION, EVERYBODY AGREED TO SUPPORT IT. YOU JUST TOOK TWO TIMES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, UH, ROBERT, ON THE SUBJECT OF THE OPT OUT FOR THE WATER, UH, METERS, THE, THE SMART METERS, UH, THAT WAS A CHOICE THAT WE MADE. CORRECT. TO PROVIDE THE OPTOUT, I'M ALL FOR ELIMINATING THE OPTOUT. UH, YOU'RE THE MAYOR, YOU'RE ON OUR BOARD. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN HAVE AT SOME POINT, BUT THERE IS NO REASON WHY, UH, 11 OPT-OUTS ARE REQUIRING THE CITY'S WATER SYSTEM TO HIRE ANOTHER F T E BECAUSE [04:20:01] OF THE CRAZY STUFF THAT'S BEING WRITTEN ABOUT THE, THE WATER METERS CAUSING, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF MALADIES. I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS CATERING TO THE MISINFORMATION. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE C P SS ELECTRICAL METERS, RIGHT? WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THESE WATER, UH, METERS. WELL, IF THAT'S AN OPEN CONVERSATION, RATHER THAN HAVING A FEE THAT 11 PEOPLE PAY OUT OF THE 21,000 OR SOME ODD METERS, UH, I WOULD PREFER JUST TO DO AWAY WITH THE OPT-OUT AT, AT SOME POINT WHEN THAT DECISION COMES BACK TO US. YES. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, DURING OUR, UH, MY TEAM'S, UH, BRIEFING MEETING WITH SAS, UH, WE REQUESTED WATER USAGE DATA BY DISTRICT, UM, TO FIND OUT HOW THIS CHANGE WOULD IMPACT, UH, DISTRICT TWO RESIDENTS IN COMPARISON TO ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY. AND THE RESULT WAS INTERESTING. UM, DATA SHOWS THAT RESIDENTIAL D TWO HOUSEHOLDS USE THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF WATER COMPARED TO EVERY OTHER DISTRICT. AND THE AVERAGE D TWO MONTHLY BILL IS 4,696 GALLONS PER MONTH. WELL BELOW THE AVERAGE MONTHLY, UM, CITYWIDE USAGE, WHICH IS 6,275 GALLONS OF WATER. I SHARE THIS SO THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR MODEST HOMES AND OUR VULNERABLE FAMILIES ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES CONSERVING THE MOST WATER. I ALSO WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK OF THE RACK. I, UH, APPRECIATE GREATLY, UM, OUR DISTRICT TWO SAWS, RAC POINTE, ANAQUA GARCIA FOR HER WORK AT SOUTHWEST WORKERS UNION, AND ADVOCATING SO WELL FOR ALL THE FAMILIES IN DISTRICT TWO, BUT ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES. UM, THE MESSAGE THAT WE SHOULD BE SENDING WITH OUR SAS RATE STRUCTURE IS THAT THOSE WHO CONSERVE AND USE LESS, SHOULD SUBSEQUENT, SHOULD SUBSEQUENTLY PLAY, PAY A LOWER RATE. AND THOSE WHO USE MORE AND LIKELY ARE WATERING THEIR EXPENSIVE LAWNS AND FILLING THEIR INGROUND POOLS, UM, SHOULD PAY A HIGHER, A HIGHER RATE. AND SO I'M THANKFUL THAT SAWS IS A MUNICIPALLY OWNED, UH, UTILITY, AND THAT THE RATE STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS IN LINE WITH OUR CITY'S VALUES OF CONSERVATION EQUITY AND PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO I'M, I LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO INCREASED COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT. AND IF YOU HAVE, UM, ANY INTEREST IN HOSTING AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION, UH, IN DISTRICT TWO, UM, MY TEAM IS GONNA, MY TEAM, UM, WE'D LOVE TO HELP. I'M GONNA ASSIGN A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL APPRE WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SAN ANTONIO STORY, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE SAN ANTONIO STORY IS A STORY ABOUT WATER. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. AND I THINK THE ONE THING WE DON'T DO A GOOD ENOUGH, ENOUGH JOB OF DOING IS TALKING ABOUT THAT WE ARE REALLY GOOD AT CONSERVING WATER, AND WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT USING, UH, WHAT WE HAVE. BUT I THINK WITH THIS, AND I WANNA THANK KAREN BURGARD AND ALL THE RAC MEMBERS, BUT MY REPRESENTATIVE IN PARTICULAR FOR WORKING SO HARD AND BEING SO THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS, UM, I THINK IT IS TIME FOR UPGRADES 50 PLUS. UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY RUN THEIR LIFE AND WE NEED TO SEE THAT IMPROVEMENTS. SO I, I AM, I'M HOPING THAT THIS CAN COME THROUGH SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THAT, UH, CHANGES. AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TO KEEP THE RESIDENTIAL RATES, UM, LOWER AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT'S MORE EQUITABLE. I THINK THE CHILLED WATER OPERATIONS FOR DOWNTOWN IS KEY. I THINK THAT AS WE WILL SEE IT, EVEN WITH THE INCREASE THAT WE FINALLY HIT, THAT, THAT LEVEL, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING ALL ALONG FOR THIS. BUT WE NEED TO PROVIDE A QUALITY PRODUCT, DON'T WE? AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVEN'T HAD BECAUSE OUR, OUR EQUIPMENT WAS SO OLD. SO I THINK, UM, I THINK THE CHILLED WATER OPTION IS BENEFICIAL, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT, UM, BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS IT PROVIDES AND, UM, THE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FOR THE APPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT MORE ROOFTOP OPTIONS IS ALWAYS GREAT FOR, UH, A DOWNTOWN AREA THAT WANTS TO PROMOTE, UH, TOURISM IN DOWNTOWN LIVING. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, SEEING THIS COME BEFORE US AGAIN AND MOVING THIS FORWARD. AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK. UH, I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN EASY, BUT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS PROCESS, WHICH I GREATLY APPRECIATE. AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND, AND I MENTIONED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST CONSUMER OF, UH, WATER IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND I TOLD THIS TO YOU GUYS, AND IF IT WAS NECESSARY, IF THERE WAS A BURDEN FOR THE OTHER BUSINESSES, PLACE IT ON THE CITY ALONE AND LET THEM KIND OF DO AN AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM. BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA SEE IS THE, THE COST OF, UH, RUNNING THAT, THOSE AIR CONDITIONER UNITS, ESPECIALLY AT RIVER CENTER, [04:25:01] UH, 'CAUSE THAT ONE'S VERY OLD, UM, IS, IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS IS THE BEST OPTION WE CAN OFFER. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN AND YOUR APPOINTEE. UH, KAREN WAS, UH, VERY ENGAGED, UH, HAD A LOT OF GOOD INPUT AND, UH, YOU NEED TO KEEP HER AND PUT HER ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAGRA. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. GREAT. JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT. UM, ON THE COMMERCIAL RATES, UH, HAVE, HAVE Y'ALL REACHED OUT TO THE CHAMBERS AND TALKED TO THEM AND GOTTEN THEIR BUY-IN AND THEY OKAY WITH THIS, UH, THEIR, UH, THEIR, UH, MEMBERS, ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS WAS ON THE RACK, ACTUALLY TWO, UH, THE GREATER CHAMBER AND THE SAN ANTONIO AND THE HISPANIC CHAMBER BOTH HAD MEMBERS ON THE RACK. AND WE HAVE, UH, A, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENT CHAMBERS ON THOSE. SAN CENTENNIAL MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION ALSO HAD A MEMBER ON THE RACK, AND THEY IN FACT ALSO ISSUED A, HAVE ISSUED A LETTER OF SUPPORT. SO YES, THEY'VE BEEN, UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND THERE'S NO OPPOSITION. OKAY. U S A A HAD A MEMBER ON THE RACK ALSO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. GREAT. THANKS. UM, SO THE AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, IF WE TOTALLY TOOK THAT OFF THE TABLE, YOU KNOW, NO AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT REDUCE OUR OVERALL, UH, RATES TO THE REST OF THE CITY? UH, SO SMALL THAT, UH, YOU COULDN'T CATCH IT WITH A BLINK. AND BY THAT I MEAN, UH, $800, $800 MILLION IN REVENUE. THIS AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM WILL COST 18 MILLION. OKAY. SO LESS THAN 1%. OKAY. BUT YEAH, THAT'S THE OVERALL REVENUE. BUT HOW MUCH WOULD IT HAVE ANY, YOU'RE SAYING IT WOULDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE RATES? I I, NO, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT, NOT, NOT WITH JUST DOING AWAY WITH AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM AND, UH, WHICH IS ABOUT 18. THE NEW AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM WILL COST US $18 MILLION. 18. RIGHT. $18 MILLION IS THE NEW, YEAH. SO NO IMPACT IF WE DID AWAY WITH THAT PROGRAM? WELL, MARGINAL, MARGINAL IMPACT. OKAY. UH, NOT EVEN A PENNY. I, I WOULD SAY A MONTH. OKAY. AND I HAD ASKED A WHILE AGO, HAVE WE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH BACKFLOW, BACKFLOW, PREVENTERS CONTAMINATING OUR WATER SYSTEM? UH, THANK GOODNESS. NO, UH, YOU DID SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN CORPUS, RIGHT? UH, WHERE THE WHOLE CITY GOT SHUT DOWN. YEP. IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TAKE A RISK WITH. THAT'S WHY WE, WE, WE TAKE IT PRETTY SERIOUSLY. UH, THAT'S WHY WE DON'T JUST HOPE THAT THEY GET, GET THEM INSPECTED. WE ARE ON THEM VERY SERIOUSLY TO GET THEM INSPECTED. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY. UH, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH Y'ALL FOR THE BRIEFING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS AT COUNSEL SOON. UH, WITH THAT, IT'S 2:28 PM ON THE 29TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2022. OUR CITY COUNCIL SESSION 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.