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MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE? COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAVE COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER BELI IS HERE, VIRTUALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
AND, UM, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE ITEM OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING PURPOSES, UH, SCHEDULING CONFLICT.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UH, BRING
[Approval of Minutes ]
UP ITEM ONE, WHICH IS THE MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 17TH, 2022.THOSE SHOULD BE IN YOUR PACKET.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE.
MOTION CARRIES 3 0 2 ABSENCES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER APP APPLIES.
DO YOU WANNA REGISTER A VOTE FOR THE MINUTES? OH, AYE.
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GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING ITEM THREE FIRST BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING.
SO ITEM MEMBER THREE IS A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBERS JOHN COURAGE AND ADRIANA ROJA GARCIA REGARDING THE CITY'S VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM.
UM, SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE, WE RECEIVED A CITY COUNCIL, UM, CONSIDERATION REQUEST FROM COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE, UM, TO, TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM AND INCLUDING VACANT LOTS IN THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM, AND THEN COME BACK WITH, UH, STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND POTENTIALLY A PHASED APPROACH TO EXPANDING THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM.
UM, SO JUST AS A REMINDER, UH, IN JANUARY 1ST, 2015, THE, UH, PILOT PROGRAM WENT INTO EFFECT FOR THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM.
AND THEN IN 2016, UM, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM AND MAKING IT PERMANENT.
AND THAT WENT INTO EFFECT OF JANUARY 1ST, 2017.
AND AT THAT TIME, IT WENT FROM 35 SQUARE MILES TO 128 SQUARE MILES, AND ABOUT 116,000 PARCELS ARE POTENTIALLY CAPTURED, UM, BY THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM AREA.
IT INCLUDES BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THE PROGRAM AREA IS, UM, ALL HISTORIC LANDMARKS, UM, HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND A HALF MILE BUFFER, UM, THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND A HALF MILE BUFFER AROUND THAT.
UM, A BUFFER OF A HALF A MILE AROUND ACTIVE MILITARY BASES AND, UM, DEFENSE BASE AUTHORITIES TO PORT SAN ANTONIO AND BROOKS, UM, NCDS AND THEN CITY INITIATED TS DISTRICTS AND A HALF MILE BUFFER AROUND THOSE.
UM, SINCE THE START OF THE PROGRAM, WE'VE HAD OVER A THOUSAND SUCCESSES, AND THAT MEANS THAT PROPERTIES THAT ARE NO LONGER VACANT, THEY ARE REPAIRED, THEY'RE OCCUPIED, THEY HAVE NEW OWNERS POTENTIALLY.
UM, AND SO OBVI THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A, A GREAT SUCCESS IN THOSE PROGRAM AREAS.
AND SO, UM, TODAY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO REFER, UM, THE CONSIDERATION OF EXPANDING THE VACANT BUILDING TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
UM, O H P WILL BE WORKING WITH, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS AND WITH, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT WAYS TO BOTH ENHANCE THE EXISTING PROGRAM THROUGH ADDITIONAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS, AND THEN TO EXAMINE A PHASED APPROACH FOR EXPANDING THE PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE, UM, THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO INCREASE THE STAFFING COMPLIMENT FOR THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS WAS A CONSIDERATION FILED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE AS WELL AS ROCHA GARCIA.
SO LEMME TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER KURDS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, SO, UH, SHE AND I BOTH CONCUR WITH THAT.
WE'RE FINDING MORE AND MORE, UH, VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN OUR DISTRICTS, WHICH LIE OUTSIDE OF THE IMMEDIATE AREA THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED OVER THE YEARS.
AND, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDING THAT.
YOU KNOW, VACANT OR ABANDONED BUILDINGS ARE PERCEIVED AS A LOWERING ECONOMIC STANDARD FOR THE AREAS THAT THEY OCCUR IN.
UH, AND THAT LOWERS PROPERTY VALUES AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND AFFECTS INVESTMENTS AND COMMERCIAL ZONING AREAS WITH SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING CRISIS.
AND THE COST OF LIVING INCREASES WITH LIMITED HOUSING STOCK, PUTTING VACANT BUILDINGS TO USE AND IMPLEMENTING SHIP POLICIES WILL HELP ALLEVIATE THE COST FOR RESIDENTS AND PROMOTE INVESTMENTS
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IN LOWER ECONOMIC AREAS.UH, PEOPLE MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO TRESPASS OR LOITER IN VACANT BUILDINGS, WHICH IS, UM, A LARGE CONCERN IN MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS, UH, THAT LEADS TO INCREASED CRIME OR CALLS TO POLICE APPARENT UNADDRESSED PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL FURTHER LOWER PROPERTY VALUES IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THE ECONOMIC COST OF VACANT OR ABANDONED BUILDINGS, WAYS ON MUNICIPALITIES, UH, WHO MAY HAVE TO RESPOND TO MORE POLICE CALLS IN THE AREA, CREATE CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES THAT MAY GO THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, HELP SUPPLEMENT RISING HOUSING COSTS THROUGH ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, OR HELPING ADDRESS PEOPLE WHO MAY BECOME HOMELESS IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES TO MAKE THEM A LIVABLE.
SO SAN ANTONIO HAS ADOPTED A HOUSING FIRST POLICY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND KEEPING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING HOMELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE BY HELPING ADDRESS HABITABILITY OR CODE ISSUES IN MOST OF THE EFFECTIVE WAY AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENTERING INTO CYCLES OF HOMELESSNESS.
INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING AVAILABLE OR PLACES TO PUT PEOPLE SEEKING TO LEAVE THE STREETS WILL HELP.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA WORK ON THESE DERELICT PROPERTIES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHO THE OWNERS ARE, THAT WE CAN REACH THEM, THAT UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PROPERTY AND THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THESE PROPERTIES.
AND WE THINK WE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON A INNER CITY, UH, WAY OF DOING THIS.
WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE ASKED THE C C R C C R TO GO FORWARD.
AND, UH, WE REQUEST IT, WE GO TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT IT AND COME UP WITH SOME STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS ON EXACTLY THE BEST WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS.
SO I MOVE THAT THIS BE APPROVED BY THIS COMMITTEE AND FORWARDED TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
ALRIGHT, THERE WAS A MOTION, SECOND AND A SECOND FOR MOVING THIS TO PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HARBOR TO JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
UM, HOW MUCH MONEY IS CURRENTLY ALLOCATED TO THE VACANT, UH, BUILDING PROGRAM? SO THERE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY, UM, ABOUT FIVE FULL-TIME STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM.
AND SO, UH, THERE ARE PROGRAM MANAGERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE, UH, THAT KIND OF THIS, THE PROGRAM AREAS DIVIDED INTO AREA, INTO SECTIONS.
AND SO THERE ARE THREE PROGRAM MANAGERS AND THEN KATHY RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS HERE, WHO'S ONE OF THE DEPUTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICERS, MANAGES THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE, UM, ENFORCED, LIKE KIND OF WHO DOES A LOT OF THE FIELD WORK, THE INSPECTIONS, THE INVENTORY, UM, AND THING, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND SO I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER ON ME, I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S A, IT'S A AROUND FOUR, 450,000 ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND HOW MUCH ARE, WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED, UM, COST TO INCREASE TO FULL STATE? WELL, SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO BRING FORWARD TO THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT VARIOUS OPTIONS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY GOING FROM DAY ONE TO CITYWIDE, UM, THAT'S ABOUT, CURRENTLY IT'S ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CITY THAT'S COVERED BY THE PROGRAM AREA.
SO IF YOU JUST ASSUME MULTIPLYING THAT, THEN, UM, THAT COULD BE THE COST.
BUT WE ALSO THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE OPPORTUNITY TO PHASE IT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE EXPAND THE AREA INCREMENTALLY SO THAT IT DOESN'T COST AS MUCH IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM.
AND THESE ARE PRIMARILY, I THINK I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE, AND I HEARD VACANT BUILDING, I THOUGHT SORT OF OFFICE BUILDING OR, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS PRIMARILY HOMES? WELL, IT'S BOTH.
IT'S IT'S RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
AND, BUT IT'S THINGS THAT ARE FULLY VACANT.
SO IF IT'S A PARTIAL VACANCY, LIKE MM-HMM.
THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCE.
IT'S ONLY IF IT'S 100% VACANT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, SHANNON, THIS IS NOT YOUR DEPARTMENT ENTIRELY, BUT I'VE SAID FOR YEARS WE OUGHT TO FIND A WAY TO, UM, UTILIZE VACANT PROPERTIES, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE OWNER'S CONSENT TO CONNECT THEM TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
UH, SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, ESPECIALLY STARTUPS NEED ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
THEY NEED SPACE, THEY NEED WORKFORCE.
WE CAN HELP FILL IN SOME OF THAT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THE SMALL BUSINESSES THEMSELVES.
AND WE SHOULD TRY TO FIND A WAY TO MARRY THOSE TWO AS MESS AS MUCH AS WE CAN PROVIDE SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE OR PROGRAM TO COUPLE THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME NEW FOLKS INTO, UH, THESE DEPARTMENTS NOW.
MAYBE IF THEY CAN PUT THEIR HITS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE INNOVATIVE, UH, AS WELL.
SO, AND THAT IS, THAT IS VERY MUCH OUR INTENTION AND WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN DISCUSSIONS WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
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THEN OBVIOUSLY NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING SERVICES, UM, TO THINK ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN REALLY ENHANCE THE PROGRAM AND CONNECT THOSE DIFFERENT EXISTING PROGRAMS WE ALREADY HAVE.AND THEN, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOUSING AS WELL, SO OF COURSE, YES.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T READ THE REMARKS THAT WERE SENT BY, UH, BY COUNCILMAN ROCHA GARCIA, AND I'D LIKE TO READ THOSE INTO THE RECORD.
UM, SHE SAYS THAT PLEASED, UH, SHE'S PLEASED TO PARTNER WITH DISTRICT NINE ON THIS.
THE FIFTH RECOMMENDATION UNDER THE INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION, REHABILITATION AND PRESERVATION IN SHIP IS TO LEVERAGE THE VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BY EXPANDING THE PROGRAM, WE CAN HAVE AN ONLINE INVENTORY OF ALL VACANT HOMES IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM OUR AFFORDABLE, EXCUSE ME, FROM, UH, OUR AFFORDABLE IN FULL HOUSING DEVELOPERS THAT FINDING VACANT LOTS TO PURCHASE AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES CAN BE DIFFICULT BY INCLUDING VACANT LOTS.
IN THIS PROGRAM, WE CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO FIND THIS INFORMATION OWNERS OF THESE VACANT HOMES AND LOTS CAN SOMETIMES BE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS.
AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT O H P D S D AND N H S D CAN GATHER A PACKAGE OF APPLICABLE RESOURCES AND PASS IT ALONG TO OWNERS WHEN THEY REGISTER EXACTLY AS YOU'VE JUST SAYING, MAYOR.
AND SHE REALIZES THAT THE EXPANSION OF THIS PROGRAM WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF AT O H P TO MAINTAIN IT IS HER HOPE THAT THE, UH, AFTER THE DEPARTMENT REVIEWS AND EXPANSION AND RECEIVES FEEDBACK, WE HEAR A RECOMMENDATION ON STAFFING LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UH, MOVING THIS FORWARD TO P C D C.
ANY, UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? WE CAN WE GET A VOICE FROM, CAN WE GET A VOICE VOTE FROM YOU COUNCIL? YES.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCIL MEMBER JALEN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, DISTRICT TWO REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ELIZABETH PROVENCIO WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THIS IS A JOINT, UM, EFFORT PRESENTATION IN RESPONSE TO THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST.
SO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT HERE THAT HAVE HELPED DO THE WORK, UM, IN PREPARATION FOR THIS.
AND SO I'LL START WITH OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY OFFICE.
JENNIFER MATA, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE SAMANTHA SMITH, WHO IS OUR CIVIL RIGHTS MANAGER, UM, AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INCLUDES CAM KAMALA KUNOW AND KRISTA VER.
WE WORKED, UM, WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF A NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
SO MUCH THANKS TO VERONIKA GARCIA, AS WELL AS OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, RENEE FRIDA.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH SORT OF REORIENTING OURSELVES ABOUT WHAT THE, UM, ORDINANCE ACTUALLY COVERS AND WHAT'S INCLUDED IN OUR ORDINANCE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IT DOES PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
SEX INCLUDES SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, VETERAN STATUS, AGE, AND DISABILITY.
AND OF COURSE, IN VARIOUS, UM, AREAS, THERE WILL BE EXEMPTIONS WITH HOW IT'S APPLIED.
BUT THAT IS WHAT IS COVERED IN OUR ORDINANCE, AND IT PROTECTS AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATION IN OUR BOARD COM AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, UM, EMPLOYMENT, PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AND HOUSING.
AND IT'S A CONTRACTUAL TERM THAT WE INCLUDE WITH OUR CITY CONTRACTS FOR THOSE THAT CONTRACT WITH THE CITY.
AND AS A RESULT REQUIRES THAT CITY CONTRACTORS COMPLY WITH OUR N D O.
AND SO, BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, IT WAS PASSED FIRST IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013, AND WE RECEIVED THE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.
THE SPECIFIC REQUEST WAS TO REVIEW, EXPAND THE ORDINANCE IN PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVE OUR COMPLAINT PROCESS, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR COMPLAINANTS, AND EXPLORE INCREASED ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTIES.
AND SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE, UM, THE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNCIL THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE WHERE WE'RE AT, UM, WE TOOK A TEXAS CITY REVIEW.
THOSE ARE THE, THE SEVEN OTHER COMPARATOR CITIES THAT WE USE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK IN
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EACH OF THE AREAS THAT ARE COVERED PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, IT IS A TERM OF ART, BUT, UM, FOR YOU ALL TO, TO THINK ABOUT THIS AS BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THEY SELL A PRODUCT OR A SERVICE OR A FACILITY.
AND SO WE'VE GOT EXAMPLES IN THE BOX THERE TO HELP ORIENT WHAT WE MEAN BY PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.
TO FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY, WE LOOKED AT EMPLOYMENT BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, HOUSING AND CITY CONTRACTS.
WE ALSO KNEW THAT THERE WAS GENERALLY AN UPDATE THAT WAS GONNA BE NEEDED AS A RESULT OF, UM, CURRENT CITY CONFIGURATION.
WE HAVE A NEW DEPARTMENT AS A FISCAL YEAR 2021.
WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR AS OF, UM, JUST SHORTLY IN SEPTEMBER, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS MANAGER, AS A RESULT OF, OF HER ROLE TAKING OVER, UM, THE COMPLAINT PROCESS FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE AND, UM, THE MANAGING OF THOSE COMPLAINTS.
AND SO WE KNEW THERE NEEDED TO BE UPDATES TO THE N D O IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE TERMS THAT ARE NOW APPLICABLE THAT MATCH WHAT OUR PRACTICE IS IN THE CITY, AND TO BE CONSISTENT WITH HOW OTHER, UM, AUTHORITY REFERS TO THESE AREAS BECAUSE WE BOTH KNOW THAT THERE'S STATE LAW AND FEDERAL LAW THAT GOVERN IN THESE AREAS AS WELL.
SO WE'LL FIRST START WITH PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT ALL OF, UM, THE CITIES REVIEWED HAVE A PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HOUSTON.
UM, BUT THEY VARY IN, IN HOW SPECIFIC THEY GET, UM, WITHIN THEIR PROCESSES.
SO SOME HAVE DEFINED COMPLAINT PROCEDURES, UM, MOST ARE LIKE US WELL, AND WITH DEFINED INVESTIGATORY, UM, POWERS AND REMEDIES BEFORE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT, WHICH IS CONCILIATION MEDIATION.
WE REALLY AIM FOR COMPLIANCE PRIOR TO MOVING TO A PROSECUTION AND STATES OF GENERAL PROHIBITION, UM, AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE DEFINED AND THEN HAS A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR COMPLAINTS.
SAN ANTONIO DOES NOT HAVE A STATUTE OF LIMITATION FOR COMPLAINTS.
AND WHEN WE HAVE LOOKED AT OUR ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES, JUST BY WAY OF CONTEXT, UM, WHAT ENDS UP OUR PROCESS FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES HAS BEEN WHEN WE DO GET A COMPLAINT, WE ENGAGE THE, UM, INVESTIGATION HELP OF SS A P D, WHO THEN PREPARES A FILE THAT GOES OVER TO OUR PROSECUTION OFFICE, AND THEN THE PROSECUTION OFFICE DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN PROCEED.
NOW, ULTIMATELY, AS YOU KNOW, IF THAT OCCURS, IT'S A $500 FINE THAT IS SOUGHT.
SO THE GOAL BEHIND, UM, OUR WORK IN THIS AREA, OVERARCHING AND OVERALL, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AREA, IS REALLY COMPLIANCE.
WE WANT COMPLIANCE WITH OUR BUSINESSES.
WE WANT COMPLIANCE, UM, BECAUSE THAT SERVES OUR PUBLIC THE MOST RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, PUSHING IT FOR A FINE.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF HOW WE STACK UP.
AND NEXT WE'LL TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT FIRST.
INTERNALLY, MEANING INTERNAL TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHERE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS THE EMPLOYER, AND THEN EXTERNAL, WHICH ARE EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO WE DO FOLLOW OUR CITY ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE 4.67, WHICH IS OUR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY IN ANTI-HARASSMENT DIRECTIVE.
IT REQUIRES, AND, WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK THE DISTINCTION THAT WE WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS R A D IS MORE BROAD THAN OUR N D O.
SO IF, UM, THERE'S INAPPROPRIATE WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR, THAT IS WHAT'S GONNA TRIGGER R A D, UM, AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, OUR N D O, WHICH HAS A NARROWER SCOPE, UM, FOR WHAT IS PROHIBITED, BUT EFFECTIVELY UNDER R A D, IT REQUIRES THAT YOU COOPERATE WHEN WE DO HAVE A COMPLAINT OF, UM, E E O AND IT INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE PARTY.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE A PROCESS THROUGH HR JOINTLY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND, UM, WITH THE HELP OF O M I WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTIGATING THOSE INTERNAL COMPLAINTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXTERNAL EMPLOYMENT, THAT IS EMPLOYERS THAT ARE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UM, BUT AREN'T THE CITY PROPER AS THE EMPLOYER.
WHAT WE FOUND IN LOOKING AT OUR COMPARATOR CITIES IS WE HAVE THREE CITIES IN TEXAS THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO BECOME E E O C PARTNERS, WHICH IS THEY HAVE A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A FEDERAL AGENCY, WHICH IS THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.
AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF WHAT E E O C DOES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE COMPLAINTS, AND THEY WILL DO INVESTIGATIONS INTERNALLY.
SO WHAT WE HAVE WITH AUSTIN CORPUS AND FORT WORTH IS INTERNAL CITY INVESTIGATORS THAT ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE
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CLAIMS OF DISCRIMINATION OUTSIDE OF CITY EMPLOYMENT FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS WITHIN THOSE CITIES.UM, THE BULK OF OUR COMPARATORS DO NOT DO THAT.
THEY ARE IN THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY, WHICH IS THEY HANDLE THEIR INTERNAL COMPLAINTS INTERNALLY, BUT THEY DO NOT DO, UM, THE OUTSIDE WORK OF THE E E O C.
NOW, BEAR IN MIND WHAT, UM, THAT AGREEMENT WITH THE E E O C REQUIRES IS THEY EFFECTIVELY BECOME, UM, AN ARM OF THE, OF THE FEDERAL AGENCY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY FOLLOW THOSE FEDERAL RECORD REQUIREMENTS ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM THOSE INVESTIGATIONS.
MOVING TO HOUSING, YOU HAVE TWO BUCKETS, UM, OF CATEGORIES WHERE THE PROGRAMS FALL INTO PLACE.
YOU HAVE WHAT IS CALLED THE FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVE PROGRAMS AND THEN THE FAIR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. AND THE ESSENCE OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO IS INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, UM, VERSUS EXTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND THEN ACTUALLY PURSUING REMEDIES ON BEHALF OF, UM, THOSE THAT BELIEVE THEIR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED.
SO CURRENTLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FALLS UNDER THE FIRST COLUMN, WHICH IS INITIATIVE PROGRAMS. WE'LL USE THE ACRONYM OF OF IP VERSUS AP.
UM, AND WE WILL TAKE A COMPLAINANT, UM, AND REFER THEM TO HUD FOR INVESTIGATION IF THEY HAVE A DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT.
UM, OTHER CITIES WILL ACTUALLY TAKE, AND THIS IS THE THE OTHER COLUMN, UM, MY RIGHT, UH, OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, THEY WILL ACTUALLY TAKE THE COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATE IT THEMSELVES.
UM, SOME OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY BECOME CONTRACTORS WITH HUD AND RECEIVE GRANT MONEY IN ORDER TO, UM, BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE INVESTIGATIONS, UM, AND AS A RESULT HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ON THE HOUSING SIDE IN ORDER TO MEET THAT.
AND SO, WITH REGARD TO JUST THE TWO DISTINCTIONS, THE BIG TAKEAWAY IS, UM, WHETHER THERE'S INTERNAL INVESTIGATORY POWERS AND WHETHER THERE'S EXTERNAL INVESTIGATORY POWERS.
SO YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE CITIES FALL ON THE INTERNAL POWERS VERSUS THOSE THAT DO IT ON THE EXTERNAL SIDE.
AND SO SAN ANTONIO DOES, AGAIN, UM, REFER OUT TO, UM, HUD.
AND IN THIS AREA, WHAT WE WILL SUGGEST, AND THIS IS IN IN CONCERT WITH OUR, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING DEPARTMENT, IS THAT WE AUGMENT THOSE INVESTIGATORY POWERS SO THAT, UM, WE HAVE A SENSE OF, WELL, WHAT IS THE NEED? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR REFERRAL TO HUD, UM, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL NEED IS IF WE WERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MOVING OVER TO AN AN IP OR AN INTERNAL MODEL.
NEXT, WE WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS BECAUSE IT, IN GOING THROUGH THE NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES OF OTHER CITIES, WHAT WE FOUND WAS, UM, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OTHER CITIES HAVING HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS AND THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COMMISSIONS VARIED.
UM, AND IN LOOKING AT OURS, WHAT WE, AND WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR CONSIDERATION AS THIS MOVES TO COMMITTEE IS THAT WE LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL FOR, UM, A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BEING CREATED THAT THEN WOULD CAPTURE THE JURISDICTION OF WHAT WE DO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
BECAUSE THAT EFFECTIVELY TAKES A PICTURE OF WHAT OUR CITY EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO OUR POPULATION NUMBERS AND WHAT THE AVAILABILITY IS FOR PURPOSES OF WORKFORCE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO THAT'S A REPORT THAT GOES TO THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADVISORY.
CAN WE THINK AN UPDATE TO THAT WOULD BE RIGHTFUL IN THE CREATION OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION THAT SORT OF TAKES IN THAT INFORMATION.
BUT IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING, UM, WITH REGARD TO EMPLOYMENT AND, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THE, THE FOLLOWING, UM, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE NOTED BELOW REFLECT AREAS WHERE WE THINK IT COULD BE CAPTURED IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WAS CONSENSUS THAT THAT BE A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE OF THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF WHAT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION COULD BE, UM, COULD ADDRESS.
AND, UM, BUT THEN ALSO THE IDEA THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL JOINT WORK THAT CAN BE DONE, UM, WITH THOSE COMMITTEES IF THEY CHOOSE TO BE STANDALONE COMMITTEES ON THEIR OWN.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS NEXT STEPS, UM, HERE TODAY IS THE DISCUSSION OF THE CREATION OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
UM, IN THE IN CHECK THAT DISCUSSION WOULD INCLUDE, WHAT DOES THE COMPOSITION LOOK LIKE, WHO SHOULD SERVE? AND SO LOOKING AT COMPARATOR CITIES TO SEE HOW THEY'VE DESIGNED THE COMPOSITION OF THEIR COMMISSIONS TO BE ABLE
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TO HAVE THAT MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY INPUT, UM, AND CONDUIT FOR ENGAGEMENT.AND THEN THE JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION.
UM, YOU'RE HEARING FROM US TODAY THAT WE DO, UM, RECOMMEND THAT THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE GET FOLDED IN, BUT ALSO FROM THE COMMITTEE'S PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WOULD BE POTENTIAL OTHER COMMITTEES OR COMMISSIONS THAT THAT WHOSE JURISDICTION COULD BE INCLUDED? OR AT LEAST THERE'S SOME JOINT WORK THAT IS SCHEDULED, UM, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONALLY AND PERIODICALLY WITH, WITH EACH OF THOSE.
UM, THERE WAS, IN DISCUSSION WITH, UM, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, WE HAD THE, UM, INTRODUCTION OF THE IDEA OF THE N D O APPLYING TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT REGISTER WITH THE CITY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT BEING A CONDITION OF REGISTRY.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER COMPONENT, UM, THAT WE GO TO CHECK FOR DISCUSSION, A COMMITMENT ON OUR PART TO REVIEW THE N D O EVERY FIVE YEARS SO THAT WE HAVE SORT OF A, A ROBUST ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT CURRENT AND, AND, AND MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AS WELL AS, UM, CONSIDERATION OF KNOW YOUR RIGHTS RESOURCES FOR E E O CLAIMS. AND SO THIS IS STEMMING FROM THE, UM, ACTUAL COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST ITSELF, UM, WHERE THERE WAS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEED FOR THERE TO BE MORE, UM, ENGAGEMENT, MORE AWARENESS OF, OF WHAT THOSE RIGHTS ARE.
AND AS A COMPONENT TO THAT WOULD ALSO BE HOW CAN WE HELP EDUCATE EMPLOYERS, RIGHT, WITH THE GOAL OF OUR, OUR N D O OVERALL, OVERALL BEING COMPLIANT.
WHERE IS THE NEED? WHERE CAN WE BE MOST USEFUL WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OUR EMPLOYERS BE COMPLIANT AND AWARE OF WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND BEST, WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE, FRANKLY, UM, IN THE AREAS OF E E O.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATION, LIZ.
THIS WAS A C C R FILED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
SO LET ME, UH, OFFER HIM THE FLOOR TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JALEN M CHU.
WHY? UM, PERHAPS SOME OF YOU KNOW MY STORY, UM, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T, UM, THE INDIO AS WRITTEN WAS NOT ABLE TO PROTECT ME WHEN I EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION AT THE HANDS OF MY EMPLOYER WHILE I WAS A COUNCIL AIDE HERE AT CITY HALL.
YET I WAS AWARE OF IT AND I'M GRATEFUL I HAD SOMEWHERE TO REPORT MY ISSUE.
I BELIEVE ALL POLICY IS MEANT TO EVOLVE AND SHIFT WITH TIME.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I INTRODUCED A C C R REQUESTING THE EXPANSION OF THE NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE BECAUSE MANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ARE STILL EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION, AND WE NEED AN IMPROVED POLICY THAT FULLY REFLECTS THE VALUES OF OUR CITY.
THIS EXPANSION, OR THIS PROPOSED EXPANSION INCLUDES UPDATES TO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, LANGUAGE TO MATCH AND REFLECT, NEED FEDERAL POLICY, BUT ALSO ADDS MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT AGAINST HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, UH, IMPROVES THE INTAKE PROCESS OF COMPLAINTS AND PROPOSES LEGAL RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO SEEK ASSISTANCE IN THEIR CASES.
WITH THE ADDITION OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR, THE PROCESSING OF COMPLAINTS IS MORE COORDINATED, AND THIS UPDATE WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN THIS ROLE.
THE INDIO PROTECTS SAN ANTONIANS FROM DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, VETERAN STATUS, FAMILIAL FAMILIAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OUR AGE, AND THE E E O C DISABILITY CHARGES EXPERIENCED THE LARGEST GAIN IN, UH, PERCENTAGE OF ALL FILED CHARGES IN 2020, WHICH INCREASED 2.7%.
AND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020, THE PERCENTAGE OF DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS WAS 36.1%.
AND SO IN SAN ANTONIO, THE, THE BULK OF OUR HOUSING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS ARE DUE TO DISABILITY.
A C C R BEGINS A POLICY DISCUSSION.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINSPECT OUR SYSTEM AND MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT.
AND THESE DISCUSSIONS ALLOW US TO BEGIN CRAFTING SOMETHING THAT MEETS THE BOTH THE INTENT, THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE C C R AND ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT, BUT ALSO MAKES, UH, MAKES STRIDES TOWARDS COMPROMISE.
PROTECT AS MANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, WHETHER IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, OR PUBLIC SPACES, AND ENSURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE POLICY MEANINGFUL AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
TODAY, I HOPE WE ARE TAKING AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
WE SHARE THE GOAL OF COMPLIANCE, AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL ADD THAT FINES AND FEES MAKE IT OKAY FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT.
I WANNA THANK STATE REPRESENTATIVE DIEGO BERNAL FOR HIS, HIS FORETHOUGHT TO CREATE AND FULFILL THE INDIO IN 2013, AND FOR HIS SUPPORT AND ITS EXPANSION TODAY.
I WANNA THANK CITY STAFF AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND CARE AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY.
THEIR COLLABORATION WITH MY OFFICE IS MUCH APPRECIATED, AND AS WAS SAID EARLIER, FILED THIS IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, AND IT IS OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR NOW.
SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION.
[00:30:01]
I'M GRATEFUL TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE CREATION OF A CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET TO ENSURE OUR CITY HAS SOMEONE WHOSE FOCUS IS TO UPHOLD THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF OUR RESIDENTS.AND LASTLY, I THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN FIRM IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXPAND PROTECTIONS FOR ALL IN OUR CITY.
I AGREE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND REQUEST THAT THE C C R BE REFERRED TO THE CHECK COMMITTEE BECAUSE IT MOST CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH THE INTENT OF THE C C R TO ADDRESS CIVIL RIGHTS, IDENTITY AND ABILITY DISCRIMINATION AND HOUSING ISSUES.
THESE ARE COMMUNITY HEALTH, EQUITY AND CULTURAL ISSUES.
AND THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE, WE CAN MOST APPROPRIATELY ENGAGE THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY INCLUSION ACCESS, UM, ACCESSIBILITY, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR INTO THE NEXT EPISODE OF THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I'LL BE HERE AS WELL.
COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
WE'LL BEGIN OUR COUNCIL, UH, DISCUSSION NOW.
UH, BUT FIRST LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO SEND, UM, THE CREATION OF THE H R C, UH, TO THE CHECK COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE CONVERSATION.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UM, WE WILL RESUME DISCUSSION NOW.
UH, THANKS OF COURSE, LIZ FOR THE PRESENTATION AND, UH, FOR, UH, COUNCILMAN MCCUE RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.
UM, AS MENTIONED TODAY, WE HIRED, WE BUDGETED AND HIRED A CIVIL RIGHTS COORDINATOR TO COORDINATE THE N D O COMPLAINTS, WHICH IS, UM, HOUSED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUITY INCLUSION AND ACCESS.
SO IT, OF COURSE, IT MAKES SENSE TO DISCUSS THE N D O EXPANSION ISSUE AS PART OF THE CHECK COMMIS COMMITTEE.
IT TAKES UP BOTH THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND, UM, AND EQUITY AS ITS PRIMARY MISSION.
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HUMAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND HOW THAT WOULD INTERACT, I GUESS WITH, UM, I, I'M ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO LIZ, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE WORK OF THE CHECK COMMITTEE
BUT, UM, BUT HOW IT WAS GONNA INTERACT WITH, UM, THE OTHER COMMITTEES, UH, THAT, AND BOARDS THAT, UH, THAT TALK ABOUT THESE, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND SO I, I LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF BRINGING THEM IN AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S IS BEING HEARD, OF COURSE AT THE HUMAN'S RIGHTS COMMISSION.
I ALSO WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT FAIR HOUSING AND IF WE'RE SORT OF EASING INTO THE AP PROGRAM, BUT IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL OF THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT C CHECK.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL TUNE IN TO CHECK.
I FULLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH UPDATING THE N D O.
SAN ANTONIO IS A CITY OF UNDERSTANDING OF COMPASSION AND ACCEPTANCE, AND OUR ORDINANCE SHOULD REFLECT THAT.
I SPECIFICALLY, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE IDEA OF, UM, OF EDUCATION OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS, AND ALSO THE COMMITMENT TO REVIEW THE ORDINANCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.
UH, I THINK THAT WE PASS A LOT OF, UH, POLICIES THAT ARE VERY EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AT THE TIME THEY'RE PASSED, BUT OVER TIME, CONDITIONS CHANGE.
WE'RE GROWING CITY, UH, MORE PEOPLE COMING IN, MORE BUSINESSES COMING IN, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, UH, TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE HAVE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE POSITIVE AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING OR, UH, TO BE NON DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE OR CREED OR COLOR OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IT'S ALWAYS, UH, I THINK APPROPRIATE TO REEXAMINE WHERE WE ARE AND LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE CONCERNS THEY MAY HAVE.
SO I THINK THIS IS A VALID DISCUSSION THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING.
I THINK THE CHECK COMMITTEE'S, THE RIGHT COMMITTEE TO BE DOING THAT, AND SO, UH, THAT'S WHY I I SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, UM, I REMEMBER THIS VOTE ON THE N D O BEING MY FIRST SIGNIFICANT VOTE ON THE CITY COUNCIL IS ALSO A VERY FORMATIVE VOTE, UH, FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THE CONDUCT THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, UH, SINCE WE TOOK IT.
UH, SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THAT HAS GONE INTO IMPROVING IT OVER TIME, INCLUDING, UH, INITIALLY WITH THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OFFICE, WHICH IS NOW THE EQUITY, WELL, WHICH WAS THE EQUITY OFFICE NOW, THE DIVERSITY, WHAT IS IT CALLED NOW? DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICE.
SO I THINK WE'VE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO PROCESS OVER TIME.
UH, I HAVE LONG BEEN IN SUPPORT OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AND I THINK THAT THE JURISDICTION, UH, SHOULD BE EXPANSIVE, UM, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR JURISDICTION IS NOT BEING USURPED.
UH, THERE ARE COMMITTEES THAT ARE INVOLVED, UH, THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN DOMAIN OVER CONVERSATIONS, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU LISTED A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES THERE, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE POLICY CONVERSATIONS.
BUT AS IT RELATES TO DISCRIMINATION BASED ON ANY CLASS, UH, THIS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SHOULD OVERSEE, UM, SHOULD OVERSEE THAT PROCESS.
I THINK, UM, I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS
[00:35:01]
ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION'S PART, NOT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO GET INTO IT NOW.I'M, I'M SURE THERE'S GONNA BE DISCUSSIONS AT AT CHECK ABOUT THAT, BUT, WELL, I THINK THE OVERARCHING, UM, GOAL MAYOR IN ALL CONTEXTS IS COMPLIANCE.
AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT, UM, DYNAMICS WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT MAY NOT BE COMPLIANT EITHER WITH THE LETTER OR THE SPIRIT OF OUR NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, UM, THE DISCUSSION WILL SURROUND AROUND THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY, UM, AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US.
UM, SO THE SPECIFICS WOULD SORT OF GET VETTED OUT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE ON, ON HOW WE CAN BE EFFECTIVE, UM, BUT WITH THE IDEA THAT WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO CREATE, UM, MORE INVITING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS, UM, WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE N D O AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE SPECIFICS LOOK LIKE WILL GET IRONED OUT IN THE COMMITTEE.
I, I MEAN, I, I THINK WE ALL BELIEVE IN FAIR PLAY, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN WHAT IS A PROTECTED CLASS AND THEN EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR WITHIN THIS SPACE OF FAIR PLAY IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT, OR A LITTLE MORE THAN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
BUT, UH, I MEAN, I'M INTERESTED IN HOW THAT CONVERSATION PLAYS OUT, BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT BIG PICTURE, UH, I THINK IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS TO, TO THE PROCESS AND TO THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT NON-DISCRIMINATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THIS, BECAUSE THE STRENGTH OF OUR ORDINANCE IS NOT JUST IN THE LANGUAGE AND THE PRINCIPLES, I THINK IT STANDS ON, BUT THE FACT THAT IT IS FULLY ENFORCEABLE AND SITS SQUARELY WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY.
UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS AND ULTIMATELY BRINGING IMPROVEMENTS TO COUNCIL.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, UH, FOR THE CREATION OF A HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND, AND ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION AT CHECK.
ANY OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN UPDATE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS BYLAWS.
COUNSEL OR COMMITTEE? YES, TIM.
UPDATE IS JUAN, HOW MANY STEPS IS HE TAKING AND IS HE BACK FROM SIR CAMINO DE? HE TOOK ALL THE STEPS THERE.
THERE ARE NO STEPS LEFT ON THE, UH, ON, ON THE TRAIL.
HE, HE IS BACK, AND EVEN THOUGH HE CLAIMS HE'S STILL ON LEAVE, HE'S MANAGED TO GET HIS PASSWORD SOAKING RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, SO HE'S SENDING STUFF OUT.
HE DID EVEN WENT TO THE FIVE K MAN'S A MACHINE.
YEAH, SO I, I'M HERE TO, UH, MAKE A PRESENTATION, UPDATE OR REQUEST FROM OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION OR THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS, RATHER TO THE REQUEST UPDATE THEIR BYLAWS.
SO THE COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS, UH, THOSE ARE 11 FOLKS APPOINTED, UH, BY THE CITY.
THEY ONE REPRESENTS THE MAYOR IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS.
THIS COMMISSION'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 2001.
OF NOTE, THEIR BYLAWS HAVE NOT, UH, CHANGED, UH, SINCE THEN.
AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF, UH, OF THIS BRIEFING AND THEIR REQUEST, UM, THEIR MISSION.
THEY'RE REALLY TO BE YOUR EYES AND EARS AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR DISTRICTS FOR ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN FOR NOT ONLY THE, THE VETERANS, BUT MILITARY AFFILIATED POPULATION.
BY MILITARY AFFILIATED, WE MEAN, COULD BE SPOUSES, DEPENDENTS, UH, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AS WELL.
UM, THEY ARE ACTIVE AND, AND A LOT OF THAT CREDIT'S DUE TO DEBBIE CLARK FROM OUR OFFICE OF STAYING ON TOP.
SHE IS THE, UH, THE LIAISON TO THIS COMMISSION, UH, STATE ON TOP OF THIS, ALL POSITIONS ARE FILLED.
UM, WHEN WE FIRST GOT TO THE CITY IN 2019, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
SO A LOT OF HARD WORK BY DEBBIE.
UH, AND OF COURSE, UH, THE DISTRICTS AS WELL FOR CANVASSING FOR, UH, FOR APPLICANTS.
UM, ONE, OBVIOUSLY THE BYLAWS, THAT'S WHAT'S, UH, PRODUCED THIS BRIEFING.
THERE ARE ALSO WORKING ON A STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, HIDDEN HERO CITY, SAN ANTONIO IS A HIDDEN HERO CITY, UH, WHAT THAT MEANS.
THAT'S FOR MILITARY CAREGIVERS.
UH, THEY'RE ALSO WORKING ON, UH, VETERANS DAY 2023 AND HOW THEY CAN BE FOLDED INTO, UH, INTO THAT.
WHAT THAT IS, UH, DRIVEN AT ARE THOSE VETERANS ENSURING IF THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR HOMES, UM, UH, IF THERE'S CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES, THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP THESE VETERANS STAY ON TOP OF IT SO THAT THEY DO NOT BECOME EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME OR HAVE, UH, ANY OTHER BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO THEIR, UH, TO THEIR HOUSING STATUS.
SO, UH, ALL VOLUNTEERS AND A LOT OF 'EM HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS, SO THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK, UH, DESPITE THEIR OTHER, UH, THEIR OTHER ACTIVITIES.
SO, THE BIG THING, BIG THINGS, TWO BIGGIES.
[00:40:01]
THE NAME, UH, GOING FROM REQUEST IS TO GO FROM COMMISSION OF VETERAN AFFAIRS TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION.THE BIG THING THAT WE'VE NOTICED, OR, AND THEY HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF FOLKS CONFUSE THIS GROUP WITH AS AN OFFSET OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS, UH, THE DEPARTMENT, UH, FROM THE, UH, US DEPARTMENT, EXCUSE ME,
UM, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE BUILT, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE FOR.
SO A LITTLE THAT WILL HELP, UH, ELIMINATE SOME OF THAT CONFUSION.
AND THEN ALSO IT'LL ALIGN, UM, WITH THE, WITH VAC AS WELL, REALLY THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF IT, THE DUTIES.
UH, ONE THING THAT THE EXISTING BYLAWS HAS THE COMMISSION TO DO IS BE THIS CLEARING HOUSE OF ALL KINDS OF SUPPORT.
UM, ALMOST LIKE BEING CASE OFFICERS, UH, FOR VETERANS CLAIMS AND OTHER VETERANS ISSUES.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRAINED TO DO.
THEY'RE FOLKS THAT HAVE SPECIFIC TRAINING TO DO THAT.
SO ONE IS TO ELIMINATE THAT, THAT WORDING FROM THE BYLAWS.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER GREAT ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE, UM, THAT, THAT ARE TIED.
SOME OF 'EM ARE OFFICIAL OFF THE VETERAN TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION.
THERE'S A TEXAN VETERANS NETWORK.
THEY SERVE THAT ROLE, THIS COMMISSION, OUR OFFICE, QUITE OFTEN, WE GET CALLS IN, HOW DO I GET THIS DONE? UH, WE REFER THEM OUT TO THE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK OR ANY OTHER NUMBER OF, UH, INDEPENDENT, UH, 5 0 1 C THREES, UH, VETERANS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT TO FOLKS THAT ARE TRAINED AND KNOW HOW TO GO DO THAT.
UM, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THIS IS FOR THESE FOLKS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE AREAS OF SUPPORT THEY CAN PROVIDE.
JUST LIKE GOOD MILITARY FOLKS, LOOK FOR THOSE GAPS AND STRENGTHS.
AND WHERE THERE ARE GAPS, PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, UH, WAYS TO HELP OUT, UH, ELIMINATE THOSE GAPS, UH, OVER TIME.
UH, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, THEY NEED A STRATEGIC PLAN.
THEY'VE ALREADY FORMED THAT SUBCOMMITTEE AND THEY'RE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO ALREADY START WORKING, UH, ON THAT.
UM, AND ANOTHER NEW THING THEY'VE ADDED IN IS A COMMUNITY LIAISON.
THESE FOLKS ARE NOT ALTERNATES.
THEY CAN'T SIT IN A MEETING FORUM.
THEY CAN ATTEND THE MEETING, OF COURSE, UH, THEY CANNOT VOTE, BUT THERE ARE SUBCOMMITTEES.
THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO, UH, TO PERFORM DUTIES ON THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
UM, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, THE MEETINGS THESE FOLKS HAVE ACTUALLY DONE, THEY'RE DOING MORE THAN WHAT THE ORIGINAL CHARTER ASKED FOR.
UH, THIS IS ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE AND THEY'VE MET EIGHT TIMES ALREADY, UH, THIS YEAR.
UM, NOW BEFORE I COMPLETE HERE, I GOTTA SAY, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE VAC ARE HERE.
ALL THE WORK HAS BEEN ORGANIC.
THEY HAVE LED IT ALL THEMSELVES.
UH, LIKE I SAID, DEBBIE HAS, UH, SHEPHERDED THEM THEM THROUGH, BUT ALSO GOTTA THANK, UH, CAM FROM CITY YEARS BEHIND ME FROM CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, UH, FOR HER GUIDANCE, MENTORSHIP, AND PROBABLY MOST OF ALL PATIENTS IN DEALING WITH, UH, OUR QUESTIONS AND HELPING US GET THROUGH THIS.
AND SHE'S PROBABLY NODDING AT ME RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND ANOTHER THING THEY'VE ADDED IN HERE, YOU NOTED AT THE BEGINNING SAID THIS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 21 YEARS.
THEY'VE ALSO ADDED IN THE REQUIREMENT TO AT LEAST REVIEW THIS, UH, PERIODICALLY EVERY THREE YEARS, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT, UH, COMING TO YOU ALL 21 YEARS FROM NOW.
ASKING FOR, UH, FOR ANOTHER UPDATE, PENDING YOUR QUESTIONS.
UH, TIM, WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO DISCUSSION.
THIS WAS, UH, INITIALLY, WAS THIS FILED BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, OR THIS IS JUST AN A REGULAR UPDATE? IT'S JUST A REGULAR UPDATE, SIR.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S GET RIGHT INTO DISCUSSION.
FIRST, LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UM, ON THE ITEM, I MOVE THE APPROVAL OF, UH, THE CHANGE IN THEIR DESIGNATION.
THE BYLAWS AND BYLAWS CHANGE TO THE BYLAWS.
ALRIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS RECOMMENDED BY, UH, OUR OFFICE OF MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS DISCUSSION.
UM, FIRST I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE GENTLEMEN THAT ARE HERE TODAY, UM, THAT SERVE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE BOARD.
UM, THANK YOU, OF COURSE FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND YOUR, YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS REGARD.
SO, I KNOW THAT IT'S A, A A LOT OF WORK THAT Y'ALL PUT IN.
MY OWN, UM, DISTRICT SIX APPOINTEE OC CAR, UM, IS INCREDIBLE.
AND I KNOW HE KEEPS ME ABREAST OF ALL THAT YOU DO, AND IT'S A LOT.
UM, I, I, I'M CURIOUS MORE ABOUT THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE SUBCOMMITTEES WILL DO? DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, MA'AM? UM, WELL, JUST THE KIND OF WORK THAT, OR HAS THAT BEEN FLESHED OUT, LIKE EXACTLY WHAT SUBCOMMITTEE? WELL, SOME OF THEM ARE NEW, AND I WOULD ACTUALLY ASK IF ANY OF THE VAC MEMBERS LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK, UH, TRACY, IF YOU WOULD, ON ANYTHING, ANYTHING I'VE MISSED, UH, ON, ON SPECIFICS, PLEASE.
I'M IN DISTRICT EIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PEREZ.
UH, SO SOME OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WORK WE'VE DONE, UH, WE ESTABLISHED A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR, UM, THE HIDDEN HEROES.
[00:45:01]
I THINK DEBBIE AND OUR CHAIR OR IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE HIDDEN HEROES.UH, THE SECOND SUBCOMMITTEE WE ESTABLISHED WAS THE, UH, BYLAWS COMMITTEE.
I CHAIRED THAT COMMITTEE, AND OUR FOCUS WAS TO BRING TOGETHER ALL THE GROUPS AND PUT, YOU KNOW, KINDA LIKE A, UM, OPEN DISCUSSION OF WHAT CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE THE BYLAWS.
AGAIN, THEY WERE 21 YEARS OLD.
WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY FIT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ESTABLISH FOR NOW.
SO THAT WAS A, UM, BYLAWS COMMITTEE THAT WE SET UP AND WE GOT 'EM ALL TOGETHER AND WE PRODUCED A NEW BYLAWS SET UP, UH, THE THIRD ONE THAT WE WERE WORKING ON.
NOW I CHAIR THAT ONE ALSO IS THERE IS THE STRATEGIC, UH, PLANNING COMMITTEE.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE OPEN DISCUSSION OF HOW WE PUT TOGETHER, UH, THE PLANS FOR WHAT WE HAVE FOR VISION FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THAT LAST ONE SOUNDS VERY IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE, UM, UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL CHAIR A LOT.
YOU HAVE TO SHARE A LOT OF THAT BURDEN, SO THANK YOU.
I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN THE COUNCIL APPOINTED LIAISONS.
IS THAT, IS EACH OF US, DO WE ALL APPOINT THAT? UM, I THINK THAT'S, YES.
UM, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE OLD BYLAWS, WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO PROVISION FOR A ALTERNATE, UH, WHICH MEANT IF A SITTING MEMBER WAS NOT THERE AT THE MEETING, INFORMATION DID GET, DIDN'T GET PASSED TO THE, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR TO THE OFFICE.
SO WE DECIDED TO CREATE A COMMUNITY LIAISON.
THAT PERSON WOULD NOT, AGAIN, WOULD NOT HAVING ANY VOTING, UH, PERMISSIONS, BUT THEY CAN SIT ON A COMMITTEE, THEY CAN HELP US BALANCE IDEAS OFF OF EACH OTHER AND GET THAT BACK TO OUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
UH, WE HAD OUR MEETING, UH, THIS PAST MONDAY, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD TWO PEOPLE SHOW UP TO VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THE, UH, THE LIAISON COMMITTEE.
UH, SO I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK OUT BETTER FOR EACH DISTRICT TO HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT PERSON WILL NOT HAVE VOTING RIGHTS, BUT THEY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO PASS INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH.
GLAD THAT, UH, THIS COMMITTEE IS KIND OF, UH, BECOMING MORE SELF-AWARE OF WHAT THEIR EFFECTIVENESS CAN BE.
SO I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE INTERNAL LOOK THEY'VE DONE AND THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE GONNA CHANGE, UH, THEIR BYLAWS, THEIR NAME.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, COMMEND THEM FOR LOOKING AT A STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY.
I THINK IT IS A LOT TO PUT ON, UH, A CITY COUNCIL COMMISSION TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE PLACE EVERYBODY SHOULD COME TO FOR INFORMATION.
AND I THINK, UH, TRYING TO HELP, UH, VETS AND, AND THEIR FAMILIES KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER GROUPS THAT THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO AND CAN GO TO FOR HELP, WILL PROBABLY MAKE IT EASIER FOR Y'ALL TO FOCUS IN ON SOME SPECIFIC TASKS AND, AND ASKS THAT YOU THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH FOR THE CITY, FOR OUR VETS.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S A SMART MOVE AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
UH, I WANT TO THANK BURKE NIA, WHO SERVES AS MY REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT NINE, AND BUR YOU AND I NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND LET'S FIND THAT LIAISON THAT WE WANT HAVE WORK WITH YOU ON THAT TOO.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW TRACY POTS, UM, THE, THE MAN IS, UH, ONE OF THOSE ANGELS AMONG US, AND, UM, JUST A TRUE GENTLEMAN, AND I'M SO, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU, TRACY, AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE ALL THE BETTER FOR HAVING YOU.
UM, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY, VERY, UM, CAREFUL, UH, EYES ON, ON THE PROCESS AND, UH, ON ALL THE WORK AT THE, UM, VETERANS COMMISSION.
ONE THING THAT I DO REQUEST, UH, AND, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT AS GERMANE, BUT I, I I HOPE Y'ALL GIMME A LITTLE LEEWAY HERE, IS, UH, I, I, I REQUEST THAT AT SOME POINT THIS COMMISSION TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, DISASTER RESPONSE AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECRUIT THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, UH, IN SAN ANTONIO, UM, TO ASSIST IN DISASTER RESPONSE.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE VETERANS ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN SOLVING PROBLEMS AND RESPONDING TO VERY, VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
UM, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A RESOURCE THAT, UM, IF, IF ORGANIZED CORRECTLY AND IF, UH, AND IF INTENTIONALLY THOUGHT ABOUT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO MORE RESILIENT, UH, BY RELYING ON THEIR EXPERTISE AND, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.
UM, AND, AND TRACY, UH, AGAIN, I I JUST CAN'T SING ENOUGH PRICES ABOUT YOU AND, UM, MY BEST TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
COUNCILMAN REPLIES, UH, SOUND RECOMME RECOMMENDATIONS, TIM, I THINK, UH, IF THIS WASN'T INITIATED
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BY A C C R, THEN ANYTIME YOU THINK THAT THERE COULD BE IMPROVEMENTS, DON'T HESITATE TO LET US KNOW.I HAD THE SAME, UH, QUESTION AS, UM, MELISSA ON THE COMMUNITY LIAISONS, SO WE'LL, THAT WILL BE WRITTEN INTO THE BYLAWS, THE COMMITTEE LIAISON POSITION.
UH, WILL, WILL THE MAYOR'S, UH, APPOINTEE ALSO HAVE A LIAISON? YES.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY NOT THAT.
WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PREPARE THAT THEN.
AND, AND LET ME TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THANK THE COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR THEIR WORK.
UH, SPECIFICALLY RICHARD, MY, MY APPOINTEE, HE'S BEEN ON THERE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UH, WE HAVE A, AN, AN IMPORTANT, UH, MISSION HERE AS A COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.
SO WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
UH, SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION CHANGES TO THE BYLAWS.
TIME IS 10:57 AM ON THIS 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2022.