* 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. [00:01:12] ANTONIO. [ PROCEDURAL  ] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. IF YOU CAN BEGIN TO TAKE YOUR SEATS. UH, AND ALSO, LET ME ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE STILL, UM, VISITING WITH FOLKS. PLEASE COME AND TAKE YOUR SEATS. WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. THE TIME IS 9:26 AM ON THE 10TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022. OUR A SESSION IS NOW IN ORDER. MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLL? COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MICKEY RODRIGUEZ. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HDA. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER SANDOVAL. COUNCIL MEMBER BELI. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY. MAYOR NIERENBERG. HERE. MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. ALRIGHT, TO GET US STARTED TODAY, LET ME GIVE THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER PIAS TO WELCOME OUR INDICATOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR REASONS THAT'LL BECOME EVIDENT DURING, UH, A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. I HAVE, UH, INVITED A DEAR FRIEND OF, OF THIS COUNCIL'S, UM, RABBI MAYOR NATHAN. SHE'S THE SENIOR RABBI AT TEMPLE BETHEL IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, I'M EXTREMELY ENVIOUS BECAUSE SHE CHOOSES TO CONTINUE LIVING IN DISTRICT NINE AND REFUSES TO MOVE TO THE DOMINION. UH, THE, UH, WE, DR. RABBI NATHAN IS, UH, THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS SENIOR RABBI OF A MAJOR CONGREGATION IN, IN ALL OF TEXAS, NOT JUST SAN ANTONIO. AND, UM, SHE WAS ORDAINED IN 2002, UH, AT THE HEBREW UNION COLLEGE JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION IN NEW YORK. UH, FOLLOWING HER ORDINATION, UH, THE GOOD RABBI SERVED AS ASSOCIATE RABBI AND DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING IN, UH, LARCHMONT, NEW YORK. UM, AND DURING HER ALMOST 20 OF SERVICE AT LARCHMONT, SHE PLAYED, UH, A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN, UM, ALL ASPECTS OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE THERE, INCLUDING SPIRITUAL WORSHIP AND RITUAL AND LIFELONG LEARNING. UM, AND THROUGHOUT HER TIME AT TEMPLE BETHEL IN DISTRICT NINE, UH, SHE, UM, PRIORITIZED COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OUTREACH, WORSHIP, INNOVATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. AND SHE UNIQUELY SERVES THE SAN ANTONIO JEWISH COMMUNITY ON A LARGE SCALE, USING HER VERY LOUD AND IMPORTANT VOICE, UM, TO ADVANCE ISSUES LIKE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY. UM, AND SO I AM TRULY BLESSED TO CALL HER FRIEND. UH, SAN ANTONIO IS BLESSED TO HAVE HER HERE. AND, UM, I THINK THAT Y'ALL AGREE AND I HOPE YOU WILL, UH, ALL HELP ME. WELCOME RABBI NATHAN TO THIS ROOM. UM, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU, RABBI. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IN 19 38, 84 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, NAZI LEADERS UNLEASHED A SERIES OF POGROMS AGAINST THE JEWISH POPULATION IN GERMANY. HUMAN BEINGS LASHED OUT AT OTHER HUMAN BEINGS WITH IRRATIONAL RAGE AND DISGUST DESTROYING JEWISH OWNED STORES, BUILDINGS AND SYNAGOGUES. WE REMEMBER NOVEMBER 9TH AND 10TH AS CRYSTAL KNOCKED, OR CRYSTAL KNIGHTS NAMED FOR THE SHARDS OF BROKEN GLASS THAT LITTERED THE STREETS IN THE WAKE OF DESTRUCTION. FOR JEWISH PEOPLE, CRYSTAL KNOCKED IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE TURNING POINT WHEN A GROWING TREND TOWARDS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND BIGOTRY WAS REVEALED TO BE PART OF A BRUTAL AND MURDEROUS STRATEGY TO RID THE WORLD OF JEWS. BUT WHEN WE COMMEMORATE CRYSTAL KNOCKED IN A GREATER COMMUNITY, AND WHEN WE TEACH ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, IT IS MORE THAN THAT. WE ARE MEANT TO REMEMBER HOW EASY IT IS FOR HUMANS TO BE CRUEL TO OTHER HUMANS. WE ARE MEANT TO RECOGNIZE HOW EVEN EASIER IT IS TO PERSECUTE OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A GROUP OF PEOPLE LOOKING AWAY FROM THE HUMANITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE UP THAT FAITH [00:05:01] OR HAVE THAT SKIN COLOR OR IDENTIFY IN WAYS THAT ARE SOMEHOW CONSIDERED DIFFERENT. WE ARE MEANT TO OWN OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY, TO BEAR WITNESS, TO TESTIFY, AND TO STAND TOGETHER. AS AUTHOR ISABELLE WILKERSON WROTE, SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS ITSELF EVIL. NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK, IS TO ACT. NOBEL LAUREATE EEL IN HIS BOOK, ONE GENERATION AFTER, TELLS THE TALE OF A JUST MAN WHO CAME TO THE BIBLICAL CITY OF SODOM, DETERMINED TO SAVE ITS INHABITANTS FROM SIN AND PUNISHMENT, NIGHT AND DAY. HE WALKED THE STREETS AND THE MARKETS PREACHING AGAINST GREED AND THREAT, THEFT, FALSEHOOD AND INDIFFERENCE. IN THE BEGINNING, PEOPLE LISTENED AND SMILED. IRONICALLY, THEN THEY STOPPED LISTENING. HE NO LONGER EVEN AMUSED THEM. KILLERS WENT ON. KILLING WISE PEOPLE KEPT SILENT AS IF THERE WERE NO, THERE WERE NO JUST PEOPLE IN THEIR MIDST. ONE DAY A CHILD MOVED BY COMPASSION FOR THE UNFORTUNATE PREACHER APPROACHED HIM WITH THESE WORDS, POOR STRANGER. YOU SHOUT, YOU SCREAM, BUT YOU DON'T SEE THAT IT'S HOPELESS. YES, I SEE. SAID THE JUST MAN. THEN WHY DO YOU GO ON? I'LL TELL YOU WHY. THE JUST MAN REPLIED. IN THE BEGINNING, I THOUGHT I COULD CHANGE, MAN. TODAY I KNOW I CANNOT. IF I STILL SHOUT TODAY, IF I STILL SCREAM AGAINST INDIFFERENCE, IT IS TO PREVENT THE WORLD FROM ULTIMATELY CHANGING ME. BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY, BY YOUR OATH TO SERVE OUR CITY, YOU COMMIT TO MAKING SURE THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST INEQUALITY, VIOLENCE, GREED, AND INDIFFERENCE, IS NOT WITHOUT HOPE. THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY ASSUMES DISAGREEMENT AND DEBATE. TO FLOURISH THE SYSTEM REQUIRES GOODWILL, MUTUAL RESPECT AND HOPE. TODAY, AS YOU JOIN IN THE WORK OF GOVERNANCE, MAY YOUR HEARTS BE FILLED WITH COMPASSION. MAY YOUR EYES BE OPEN TO THE INJUSTICES THAT STILL SURROUND US. MAY YOUR MINDS BE FOCUSED ON THE CHALLENGING TASKS BEFORE YOU AND MAY YOU NEVER GIVE UP. GIVE UP HOPE THAT THERE ARE STILL BETTER THINGS TO COME. AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RABBI. ALL [CONSENT AGENDA  ] RIGHT. UM, WE'VE GOT A, UH, A FULL AGENDA TODAY. BEFORE WE GET TO OUR POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I'LL NOTE THAT WE HAVE ITEMS THREE AND FOUR FOR INDIVIDUAL ACTION. UM, AND SO EXCUSE ME, ITEMS 3, 4, 5, AND SIX FOR INDIVIDUAL ACTION. UM, WE HAVE, UH, THE REST OF THE ITEMS LISTED FOR INDIVIDUAL, EXCUSE ME, FOR CONSENT, CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO HEAR INDIVIDUALLY OTHER THAN ITEMS THREE THROUGH SIX? ITEM 12. ITEM 12. ANY OTHERS? ITEM 11. ITEM 11. OKAY, WE'VE GOT ITEMS THREE THROUGH SIX AS WELL AS 11 AND 12. ANY FURTHER TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, IF THERE ARE NONE, UH, LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECOND. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEMS THAT WILL REMAIN ON CONSENT. SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND BEGIN THE, THE, UH, DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK THAT ARE ITEM THAT ARE ON ITEMS REMAINING ON CONSENT. UM, WE'VE GOT FOUR ITEMS, 9, 15, 16, AND 22. LEMME CALL UP JACK FINGER. WELL, MAYOR NURNBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER, YES. UH, MR. MAYOR, OTHERS, I HAVE A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION ON THIS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 22. IT'S ABOUT THE IDEA OF ANNEXING YES, ANNEXING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. AND IT'S CLOSE TO MR. MS. HABER'S, UH, DISTRICT DISTRICT SIX. SIR? YES. UH, MS. BERDA OUT IN YOUR [00:10:01] AREA, JUST OUTSIDE YOUR, THE LIMITS, SIR. UH, THE IDEA OF ANNEXING, UH, UH, AN AREA THAT IS GOING TO BE DESIGNATED FOR RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY DI DISTRICT, THE IDEA OF PLACING APARTMENTS OVER THERE, WELL, MS. HDA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICE THIS OR NOT, BUT, UH, IT'S GONNA BE PLACED, THOSE APARTMENTS ARE GONNA BE PLACED ON A FLOODPLAIN, A FLOODPLAIN, MS. HDA, YOU WANNA PLACE APARTMENTS ON A FLOODPLAIN? THAT'S WHAT 22 IS ALL ABOUT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICE IT. I SAW THE MAP. YOU MAY WANNA TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP AND MAYBE JUST SCOTCH THAT ONE FOR TODAY. BUT THE BIG ONE I HAVE, I SEE HERE IS ITEM NUMBER NINE. YES. ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHAT IS IT? WELL, IT'S ABOUT, UH, A CONTRACT WITH 58 PROFESSIONAL ORIENTED CONTRACTS WITH CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR VARIOUS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES. AND THIS IS FINE. THE CITY NEEDS A, A LANDSCAPING EVERY NOW AND THEN. BUT, UH, I NOTICED THAT THE COMPANIES, THE COMPANIES THAT, UH, YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE, UH, CONTRACTED WITH THE, UH, SHAREHOLDERS, THE OWNERS HAVE GIVEN Y'ALL CAMPAIGN, CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS. YES. UH, THE, WHAT I CALL I ENORMOUSLY CALL THE BEST CITY COUNCIL MONEY CAN BUY. YES. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. NOW, ITEM NUMBER NINE, MR. MAYOR, YOU'VE GOTTEN AT LEAST $12,000 FROM THESE FOLKS. SEE, IT'S PROBABLY A WHOLE LOT MORE, BUT I, I STOPPED COUNTING AFTER AN HOUR OR TWO OF CHECKING IT ALL OUT THERE. MR. BRAVO GOT FIVE, 500 BUCKS. UH, MS. RIO GRANDE GOT 500, AT LEAST 500 MS. AUGH, YOU'VE GOT 1,500, UH, SANDOVAL GOT 500, BUT MR. PALAIS GOT 500. MR. KERR'S GOT A THOUSAND. MR. PERRY GOT 1500 THERE. I MEAN, THIS IS JUST A BIT, UH, THE I PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T GET, WELL, WE DON'T KNOW. MR. MCKEE RODRIGUEZ MAY, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE WORTHY ENOUGH OF IT THERE. I I JUST DON'T KNOW MS. CASTILLO AND MS. ROCHA GARCIA, I GUESS, UM, I, I GUESS I JUST THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T, UH, WEREN'T WORTHY, YOU KNOW? UH, BUT THEN I DON'T KNOW. WE, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVE YET TO FINISH COUNTING IT ALL THERE. SO, SO YES, YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW, I'M, I DON'T KNOW, A PRETTY DUMB COMPANY. YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU ALL THESE CONTRIBUTIONS. IF Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING AND ABSTAIN ON VOTING ON THIS, I MEAN, HOW, HOW IS THIS THING GONNA PASS? THANK YOU, MR. FINGER . ON ITEM 14, WE HAVE JOHN BACHMAN. IS JOHN BACHMAN HERE? ALRIGHT, LET ME BEGIN THE COUNSEL DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT ITEM. ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T SEE A QUEUE, SO IF YOU CAN SIGNAL ME. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20. THIS PERTAINS TO THE US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION'S 2023 I P W CONFERENCE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, PAST I PWS HAVE GENERATED MORE THAN 5.5 BILLION IN FUTURE TRAVEL, AND THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME I P W WILL BE HELD IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2000 IT'S BEEN IN TEXAS. SO WITH WHAT WE'RE PASSING FORWARD, THIS ORDINANCE IS NECESSARY TO ENHANCE THE LIGHTING, LANDSCAPING, MAINTENANCE, PUBLIC ARTS SPECIALTY PROGRAM AND WAY FINDING THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS WAYFINDING SIGNAGE AND, UH, DIGITAL DISPLAYS. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY OUR VISITORS FROM I P W THAT'LL BE HERE MAY 15TH THROUGH THE 26TH, WILL ENJOY, BUT OUR RESIDENTS ALSO. SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT WE'RE PASSING THIS FORWARD. WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO AN ADDITIONAL, UH, 300,000 VISITORS TO SAN ANTONIO AND 614 MILLION IN INTERNATIONAL VISITOR SPENDING. SO THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, HAVING I P W HERE IN MAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VIRON. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NUMBER 13, WHICH IS APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. MARIBEL MARTINEZ, A STUDENT FROM U T SS A, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE WHO WILL BE REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICT IN OUR CITY ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERY MEMBER OF DISTRICT NINE AND EVERY CITIZEN IN THE COMMUNITY WHO STEPS UP AND SAYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES TO HELP US DO OUR JOB AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 13, THE APPOINTMENT OF JANIE BARRERA AND CIA TO THE WEST SIDE TOURS. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE WEST SIDE'S, THAT LAST PIECE TO RECEIVE ITS FAIR SHARE OF INVESTMENT, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OTHER, UH, BETTER ADVOCATES TO SERVE ON THE WEST SIDE TOURS TO ENSURE THAT [00:15:01] WE INVEST IN DISTRICT FIVE AND THE WEST SIDE IN PARTICULAR, UH, EQUITABLY AND WITH ESTABLISHED COMMUNITIES IN MIND. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THAT'S ALL ITEMS SAY FOR THREE THROUGH SIX. PLEASE VOTE, OR, I'M SORRY, ALL ITEMS SAFE FOR THREE THROUGH SIX AND 11 AND 12. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN KIRK. OKAY, WELL, LET'S, UH, LET'S DO A, UM, A, UH, HAND VOTE ROLL CALL. WELL JUST SCRATCH THAT. WE'LL VOTE IN THE SYSTEM. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. FOR ALL ITEMS SAVED FOR THREE THROUGH SIX AND 11 AND 12, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, UH, WE HAVE MANY FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHO WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE. LET ME START, UH, WITH SOME OF OUR, UH, ESTEEMED CITY EMPLOYEES. WE TODAY ARE ADJOINED BY SIX CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, EMPLOYEES WHO WERE RECENTLY NAMED THE BEST IN THE NATION AFTER COMPETING IN THE ANNUAL SOLID WASTE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA ROAD EO COMPETITION HELD ON OCTOBER 15TH IN EL PASO, TEXAS. SO LET'S GIVE IT UP TO OUR GREAT SOLID WASTE DRIVERS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INDIVIDUALLY. LEMME TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, ERIC WALSH. GREAT, THANKS, MAYOR. UM, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING, UM, THE CREW BACK THERE. UH, LET ME INTRODUCE SOME, UH, RAUL PEREZ, UH, GERARDO SOCEDO, GILBERT DE LA ROSA, LEO SALDANA, FELIX RODRIGUEZ AND SAM RODRIGUEZ. AND SO, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UM, OVER 150, UM, COMPETITORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UH, GATHERED IN EL PASO TO, UM, PARTICIPATE IN WHAT'S, UM, UH, KNOWN AS A RODEO. UM, AND WE HAD, UM, UH, VERY GREAT SHOWING. WE ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT SHOWING AT THAT COMPETITION, UM, FOR BOTH DRIVERS THAT MANEUVER THE EQUIPMENT. UM, RAUL PEREZ GARNERED FIRST PLACE AND HERARDO, UH, SA SEDO CAPTURED SECOND PLACE IN THE TRACTOR TRAILER COMPETITION. UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE MECHANICS, UM, THAT PARTICIPATE, UM, AND THAT DO PERFORMED, UM, TIME DIAGNOSTICS OF THE EQUIPMENT. AND FELIX RODRIGUEZ WON FIRST PLACE, AND SAM RODRIGUEZ TOOK SECOND PLACE. SO CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE TEAM, CERTAINLY PROUD OF THE TEAM AND, UH, AND WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. CERTAINLY THEY, THEY REPRESENTED THE CITY WELL AND THEIR DEPARTMENT, UM, AND, UH, AND PROUD, UH, PROUD OF THE WORK. SO THANK YOU. THANKS GUYS. GREAT JOB GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIC. ALRIGHT. IF YOU NOTICE WE ALSO HAVE SOME FROM UNITED STATES MARINES WITH US TODAY, AND I WANNA SAY GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES MARINES. I WANNA THANK, I WANNA THANK THE MARINES OF THE FOURTH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION FOURTH MARINE DIVISION, LED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL JONATHAN WRIGLEY FOR THE GREAT CEREMONY WE WITNESSED HERE TODAY. WE ALSO WANNA WELCOME THE MARINES OF RECRUITING STATION SAN ANTONIO AND H COMPANY, N S A TEXAS WOULD ALL MARINE ACTIVE DUTY RETIREES AND VETERANS, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY ON THE 2247TH OF BIRTHDAY OF THE MARINE CORPS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO IF WE CAN HAVE OUR MARINE ACTIVE DUTY VETERANS AND RETIREES, PLEASE STAND. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION OUR APPROXIMATELY 300 MARINE VETERANS WHO ARE CITY EMPLOYEES, SOME OF WHOM YOU'VE JUST SEEN, YOU SERVED YOUR NATION HONORABLY, AND TODAY YOU EXEMPLIFY YOUR MOTTO, SEMPER FIDELIS BY YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU. THE CORPS HAS A LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY IN RICH TRADITIONS, WHICH STATE BACK TO ITS FOUNDING IN A TAVERN IN PHILADELPHIA ON THIS DAY IN 1775. SINCE THEN, AND IN EVERY CLIMATE IN PLACE, MARINES HAVE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN NEARLY EVERY [00:20:01] CONFLICT IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, BEGINNING WITH THEIR SERVICE ABOARD NAVY VESSELS DURING THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE, MARINES HAVE ACQUITTED THEMSELVES AS THE WORLD'S FOREMOST FIGHTING FORCE, DISPLAYING UNCOMMON VALOR AND DISTANT SHORES. AND AT HOME, MARINES HAVE EARNED THEIR HARD FOUGHT REPUTATION IN THE BATTLEFIELDS OF BILLY WOOD, GUDA CANAL, IWA JIMA, , KEAN, HU, CITY, FALLUJAH, RAMJI, MARJA, AND MANY OTHER PLACES. MARINES HAVE NOT ONLY ACQUITTED THEMSELVES IN WAR, BUT THEIR RECORD OF SERVICE AND PEACE IS JUST AS HONORABLE. THEY'VE BEEN CALLED TO SERVE DURING NATURAL AND MANMADE DISASTERS, SAVING LIVES, AND GIVING HOPE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. DURING HURRICANE KATRINA, THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE OF 2010, THE NUCLEAR DISASTER IN FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN, THE WILDFIRES ON THE US WEST COAST AND MANY, MANY OTHER PLACES. WHILE WE HAVE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY CONTINGENT OF ACTIVE DUTY MARINES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THE NUMBER OF MARINE VETERANS AND RETIREES IS LARGE AND VERY ACTIVE SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY. OUR MARINE CORPS LEAGUE PROMOTES THE INTERESTS AND PRESERVES MARINE CORPS TRADITIONS, AND THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING THE ANNUAL TOYS FOR TOTS CAMPAIGN, VOLUNTEERING FOR NUMEROUS CHARITABLE CAUSES, ASSISTING VETERANS WITH ISSUES OF COMMON CONCERN, AND HELPING WITH THE ANNUAL CITYWIDE MARINE CORPS BALL, ALL OF WHICH, UH, OR SOME OF WHICH WE HAVE ATTENDED THIS LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE MARINES TOUGH EXTERIOR. SINCE 1947, THE MARINES CORPS RESERVES HAS DELIVERED HOPE IN OVER 600 MILLION TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER GIFTS TO 281 MILLION LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN AROUND THE US HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. OUR OWN FOURTH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION DOES A GREAT JOB ADMINISTERING THE TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM. SOME THOUGHTS WHICH I'D LIKE TO IMP, WHICH I THINK EPITOMIZED THE MARINE SPIRIT. AFTER THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA, ADMIRAL NIMITZ SAID OF THE MARINES, UNCOMMON VALOR WAS A COMMON VIRTUE. AND RECENTLY, WHEN GENERAL JAMES, MAD DOG MATTIS WAS ASKED, WHAT KEEPS MARINES UP AT NIGHT, HIS IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS NOTHING. WE KEEP PEOPLE UP AT NIGHT. SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, I WANNA WISH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS A VERY HAPPY 247TH BIRTHDAY, RAH, MAYOR NUREMBERG CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, VISITORS AND CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND MARINES OF ALL AGES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. VERY GRACIOUS WELCOME. THAT'S ONE OF THE NICEST I'VE RECEIVED IN ALMOST 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. UM, YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, SIR, IN DETAILING OUR HISTORY AND SOME OF THE PLACES WE'VE BEEN AND SOME OF THE PLACES THE MEN AND WOMEN HERE HAVE SERVED. UH, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU IN SAN ANTONIO FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR NUREMBERG, THERE'S A SMALL MARINE DETACHMENT HERE, UH, BUT SAN ANTONIO PUNCHES WELL ABOVE ITS WEIGHT AND WHAT IT PROVIDES TO THE MARINE CORPS. UH, ALL NAVY CORPSMEN, WHO SHOULD ARE NOT MARINES, BUT IN THE SENSE, ARE VERY MUCH MARINES BEGIN THEIR TIME HERE TRAINING AT THE ARMY MEDICAL FACILITY AS THEIR ENTRY LEVEL TRAINING. THESE CORPSMEN JOIN US IN EVERY CONFLICT AND THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED THROUGH THEIR VALOR AND THEIR PROFICIENCY, AND THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM RIGHT HERE. AND FOR THAT YOU HAVE MINE AND EVERY MARINE'S UNDYING GRATITUDE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US TAKING IT THROUGH THERE. MORE THAN THAT, SAN ANTONIO PUNCHES WELL, WELL ABOVE ITS WEIGHT, MUCH LIKE THE MARINE CORPS DOES IN PROVIDING MEMBERS TO SERVICE MY VERY FIRST DUTY STATION IN SAN, UH, SAN DIEGO. A VERY OLD SERGEANT MAJOR HAD A TALK WITH US ABOUT LIVING IN SAN DIEGO AND INFORMED US THAT EVERYONE LOVES MARINES EXCEPT PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO MARINES. THAT WAS MEANT AS A CAUTIONARY REMARK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE BEING POLITE AND QUIET BY A CERTAIN POINT. AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TRUTH TO IT THOUGH, UH, IN SAN ANTONIO, THOUGH I HAVE NEVER MET A MORE WELCOMING OR GREETING PLACE. I HAVE MET MARINES FROM TEXAS AND SAN ANTONIO, PARTICULAR IN KABUL, IN HAAT, IN BAGHDAD, IN SAUDI ARABIA, IN PAKISTAN AND AUSTRALIA. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A SINGLE MARINE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A FRIEND OR KNOW SOMEBODY WHO HAILS ORIGINALLY FROM YOUR CITY. UM, OUR RECRUITING STATION COLLEAGUES HERE, UH, ARE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RECRUITING STATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY RECENTLY RECEIVED AWARD FOR THAT THIS YEAR. IN FACT, THEY'RE HELPING PULL THE WEIGHT OF A LOT OF OTHER RECRUITING STATIONS THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO FILL THE RANKS. UH, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE BEST AND BEST LOOKING RECRUITERS, AND THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT. BUT A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO TRULY IS MILITARY CITY U S A, AND GOES WELL ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS HERE AND PROVIDE US WITH THE CONTINUANCE OF OUR MARINE CORPS THROUGH THE SERVICE OF YOUR SONS, YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR BROTHERS, YOUR SISTERS, YOUR HUSBANDS, AND YOUR WIVES. UM, FOR THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THE MARINE CORPS AND ALL SERVICES WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HOME. HERE WE ARE GRACIOUS TO JOIN WITH YOU. UH, MR. MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE YOU TO INVITE YOU DOWN TO JOIN ME HERE FOR ONE OF OUR LONGSTANDING MARINE CORPS CUSTOMS [00:25:01] OF CUTTING THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE ALL PREVIOUSLY SERVING MARINES TO JOIN US HERE IN THE DAIS WHERE WE'RE GONNA HONOR THE OLDEST, THE YOUNGEST, AND OUR GUEST OF HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS CUSTOMARY AT MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WORLDWIDE FOR MARINES TO CUT A TRADITIONAL CAKE IN CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CORPS. THE FIRST PIECE IS GIVEN TO THE GUEST OF HONOR, MAYOR RON NUREMBERG. THE NEXT PIECE IS GIVEN TO OUR OLDEST AND YOUNGEST MARINE PRESENCE, SYMBOLIZING THE EXPERIENCE AND THE YOUTHFUL SPIRIT THAT HALLMARK OF OUR CORE. THE OLDEST MARINE PRESENT IS SERGEANT JOHN A. RODRIGUEZ. HE WAS BORN ON FEBRUARY 8TH, 1943 IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS IN APRIL 23RD, 1963, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO MARINE AIR GROUP 36 M C A S L TORO, CALIFORNIA. THE PASSING OF THE CAKE FROM THE OLDEST TO YOUNGEST MARINE SYMBOLIZES THE PASSING OF HISTORY AND TRADITION TO THE NEXT GENERATION. THE YOUNGEST MARINE PRESENT IS SERGEANT JUAN MARTINEZ, JR. HE WAS BORN ON AUGUST 12TH, 1996 IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 2019, AND IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO FOURTH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION AS A BATTALION ARMOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR UNITED STATES MARINES. UH, AND ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO GENERAL JUAN YALA, WHO LOOKS EXTRA SHARP TODAY IN HIS UNIFORM. ALL RIGHT, UH, WE ALSO NOW WANT TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL WOMEN APPRENTICESHIP DAY, AND IT GIVES ME GREAT HONOR TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL OBSERVE NATIONAL WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIP DAY ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 2022, TO SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING AND GROWING WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, INCLUDING APPRENTICESHIPS WHERE WOMEN CURRENTLY ARE IN THE MINORITY. AND WHEREAS RISING COSTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING MAKE REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP, COMBINING PAID EMPLOYMENT AND CLASSROOM EDUCATION, AND OFFERING A PATHWAY TO RECOGNIZE INDUSTRY LEVEL CREDENTIALS AND INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AND AFFORDABLE CAREER TRAINING PATHWAY. AND WHEREAS COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY A MORE DIVERSE WORKFORCE SEE GREATER INCREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY AND LOWER STAFF TURNOVER. IN ADDITION, WOMEN MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SHOULD RECEIVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY AND EQUALLY IN OUR COUNTRY'S GROWING ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR, HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO HIGHLY [00:30:01] PAID MEANINGFUL CAREERS WITH FAMILY SUPPORTING WAGES. AND WHEREAS ECONOMIC EQUALITY FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IS MEASURED NOT ONLY BY PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION, BUT ALSO BY EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 17TH, 2022 TO BE NATIONAL WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIP DAY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. AND I KNOW WE HAVE ALLY HERE. COME ON UP. ALLY, GIVE US A FEW WORDS. THANK SHORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR RON, AND TO THE COUNCIL FOR HAVING US. I FEEL ILL PREPARED. I DID NOT BRING ANY BAKED GOODS TODAY. UM, I'LL REMEDY THAT NEXT YEAR. UM, APPRENTICESHIP IS IN IS CRUCIAL, AND IT'S VITAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE SKILLED TRADES. UM, I RUN A PLUMBING COMPANY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, NEED A PLUMBER, YELL FOR GEORGE. UM, AND IN THAT WE FIND THAT THE AVERAGE AGE OF A MASTER PLUMBER IS 59 YEARS OLD, AND WE ARE NOT BRINGING IN APPRENTICES AT THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO BE BRINGING THEM IN. UH, THE MILITARY'S DOING A GREAT JOB AND SO ARE COLLEGES AND AS THE SKILLED TRADES. SO WE NEED TO UP THE ANTE AND, UH, BRING MORE DIVERSITY AND WOMEN INTO THE SKILLED TRADES. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP THEM THERE, THAT WE CAN RETAIN THEM. UM, RECRUITING THEM IS, IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK, LIKE CHILDCARE, MATERNITY LEAVE. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT NOT JUST APPRENTICES WOMEN. THIS IS, THIS AFFECTS EVERY HUMAN. SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU ACKNOWLEDGING THE ROLE OF APPRENTICES, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR A CITY THAT UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE WITH PROGRAMS LIKE SA READY TO WORK, UM, AND THE GREAT WORK THAT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN BEXAR COUNTY IS DOING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALI PEREZ. ALLIE IS THE FOUNDER OF TEXAS WOMEN IN TRADES, AND I'D LIKE THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS TO PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. WE HAVE ANITA FERNANDEZ FROM O C I GROUP, ROBERT MORITZ, D H R ARCHITECTS, REBECCA YOUNG LONE STAR CONSTRUCTION TRAINING, AND BRI BRIANNA HUON, GIRLS WITH GRIT. SO PLEASE STAND. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. FINALLY, UH, FOR ME, AND BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT NOVEMBER 12TH THROUGH 20TH IS THE START OF NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK, AN ANNUAL WEEK LONG PROGRAM HELD THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE ONGOING PROBLEM OF HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. MANY HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS THE NATION ARE JUST ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE PURCHASING FOOD, PAYING RENT, OR GOING TO THE DOCTOR IN SAN ANTONIO, NONPROFITS, HOMELESS PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMING TOGETHER DURING COME TOGETHER DURING THE NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK TO CONTRIBUTE TO A NATIONAL SOCIAL MOVEMENT THAT DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIM TO END HOMELESSNESS BY SOLVING ITS ROOT CAUSES. THE WEEK WILL BE FILLED WITH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STEREOTYPES, IMPROVING POLICY, HELPING SERVICE PROVIDERS, FUNDRAISING, AND SO MUCH MORE. YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THESE EVENTS LISTED BY VISITING THE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR HOMELESSNESS WEB WEBSITE, WEBPAGE, AND THE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKING TO END HOMELESSNESS HAS GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION THROUGH THE HOUSE AMERICA INITIATIVE. I'M CERTAIN THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS. THE NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK WILL BE KICKED OFF WITH SAM MINISTRY'S 22ND ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS EVENT THIS SUNDAY. AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE NOW OF INVITING NIKISHA BAKER, PRESIDENT AND C E O OF SAM MINISTRIES TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO US HERE TODAY. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING AS SAM MINISTRIES PREPARES TO KICK OFF HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK, UH, WITH OUR ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS EVENT. THIS YEAR'S EVENT MARKS A RETURN TO THE NORMALCY AS OUR COMMUNITY WILL CELEBRATE THIS EVENT IN PERSON, UM, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR 20 YEARS PRIOR. UM, WE WILL HAVE HANDCRAFTED BOWLS FROM LOCAL ARTISANS, WARM SOUP FROM SOME OF SAN ANTONIO'S BEST CHEFS LIVE MUSIC FELLOWSHIP. AND MORE, MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WARES FROM THE EVENT IS THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TRADITIONAL MEAL OF SOUP SERVED WITH WARM BREAD. SO MANY SAN ANTONIANS EXPERIENCE, HOMELESSNESS AND FOOD INSECURITY EVERY DAY ON MONDAY, COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTING THE LEAST OF OUR NEIGHBORS, WILL GATHER TOGETHER TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. WE'LL SHARE STORIES. UH, ONE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO ME IS THAT OF CHARISMA. AND CHARISMA IS A YOUNG MOM THAT RECENTLY CONNECTED WITH SAM MINISTRY'S YOUNG ADULT STABILITY AND SUPPORT CENTER. SHE DROPPED [00:35:01] OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL TO CARE FOR HER BABY, BUT IN OCTOBER, AT 22 YEARS OLD, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HER HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ON BEHALF OF CHARISMA AND ALL OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCED OR OVERCOME, UM, HOUSING OR FOOD INSTABILITY. I AM HAPPY TO PRESENT EACH OF YOU WITH AN EMPTY BOWL THIS MORNING. UM, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL DISPLAY IT IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO HIGHLIGHT THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, NIKISHA, OUR SAM MINISTRIES TEAM, AND EVERYONE AT THE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE. [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER MANNY PAL EZ WITH A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANKS, MAYOR. LET ME, UM, LET ME TEE UP THIS POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. UM, IN, IN KIND OF AN UNUSUAL WAY MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, I LOVE, I LOVE CLASSIC CARS, UH, THE OLDER THE CAR, THE, THE MORE I LOVE IT. AND, UM, ANYWHERE I TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD, I, UH, I ALWAYS LIKED VISITING AND, AND TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT MUSEUMS, UH, DEDICATED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. UM, IN JULY, I WAS IN EUROPE AND I GOT TO VISIT MUNICH. AND, UH, I'D ALWAYS WANTED TO VISIT THE, UM, THE B M W MUSEUM. IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUMS ON THE PLANET, AND I WAS IN AWE. THIS PLACE IS CAVERNOUS. IT'S, UH, JUST THIS, THIS ENORMOUS PALACE, UH, DEDICATED TO LIKE ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE AND INNOVATION. AND YOU GET TO SEE EVERY OLD CAR IN THE WORLD. AND I WAS WALKING THROUGH THIS JUST ENORMOUS, UH, MUSEUM. I STUMBLED ACROSS A ROOM DEDICATED TO B M W AND THE GERMAN AUTOMOTIVE, UM, UH, THE INDUSTRY'S ROLE IN THE HOLOCAUST. UM, THIS ROOM CONTAINED PHOTOGRAPHS OF VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST, UM, PHOTOGRAPHS, UH, OF THE CADAVERS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE, UM, THE DORMITORIES WHERE MANY OF THESE, UH, POOR HUMAN BEINGS AND THESE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST, UH, WERE HOUSED. AND THE REASON IT WAS IN THIS MUSEUM IS BECAUSE THIS AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN GERMANY USED SLAVE LABOR TO, UH, MANUFACTURE ITS VEHICLES. WHAT'S AMAZING ABOUT THIS ROOM IS THAT THIS IS A, UM, A COMPANY WHO MANY, MANY, MANY DECADES LATER CONTINUES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF ITS ITS SINS. UM, AND I WALKED OUT OF THERE HEARTBROKEN, BUT ALSO VERY IMPRESSED AT, AT THE MATURITY OF THE LEADERSHIP AND OF THE HUMILITY OF PEOPLE TO NAME THEIR SINS AND POINT TO, UM, THE, UM, THE, THE ENORMOUS MISTAKE THAT THEY MADE AND THE CRIMES THAT THEY COMMITTED. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IN THE UNITED STATES WE'RE SEEING NOT HAPPEN. UM, WE'RE SEEING, UM, YOU KNOW, LEADERS OUT THERE TRYING TO ERASE DIFFICULT MOMENTS FROM HISTORY BOOKS AND MAKING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE SINS OF OUR FOREFATHERS. UM, BUT THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING THIS POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO YOU TODAY. NOVEMBER 9TH AND NOVEMBER 10TH ARE RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE AS THE BEGINNING OF THE HOLOCAUST, WITH THE NOVEMBER, THE NOVEMBER POGROMS IN GERMANY. I INVITED, UH, OUR FRIEND NAMI OLOF TO COME AND TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE LONG ARC OF HISTORY IS TEACHING US WHAT THE, UH, FEDERATION'S HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE MUSEUM IS DOING ABOUT IT, RIGHT? AND MAYBE GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE, BUT ALSO RING A BELL OF, UH, OF WARNING, RIGHT? UM, BECAUSE LIKE YOU AND AMY, I'M, I'M SEEING SOME, SOME UGLINESS OUT THERE THAT UNLESS WE POINT TO IT, SHINE THE LIGHT ON IT AND NAME IT, UM, IT'LL CONTINUE TO GROW, UH, IN THE DARKNESS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THE HOLOCAUST WAS PROOF OF ANYTHING, IT WAS A MAJOR FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T SPEAK OUT. THE ONE, THE ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME, AND AND I I REMIND MY KIDS ALL THE TIME, IS THAT IT WASN'T JUST PEOPLE DOING HORRIBLE THINGS TO OTHER HUMAN BEINGS ON THOSE TWO NIGHTS. IT WAS GOOD QUIET GERMANS WHO STOOD BY AND DID NOTHING AND SAID NOTHING THAT NIGHT. BUT NOT JUST THAT NIGHT, BUT YEARS LEADING UP TO THAT NIGHT. AND THE LACK OF HUMANITY AND THE UGLINESS WENT UNCHECKED. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CHECK IT IN SAN ANTONIO IS BY HAVING THIS JEWEL OF A MUSEUM. SONAMI, COME ON UP HERE AND UNPACK THAT FOR ME A LITTLE BIT. UM, AND WELCOME TO CITY HALL. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PIAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, YOU RAISE A VERY IMPORTANT, UH, STORYLINE TO THIS, THIS, THIS MORNING, THE, THE TWO DAYS OF CRYSTAL NAT. AND, UM, I WOULD REMISS TO SAY TO, TO NOT START WITH ELLIE ELLE'S QUOTES, THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS NOT HATE, [00:40:01] IT'S INDIFFERENCE. AND MANY OF US HERE, UM, DON'T EXHIBIT HATE, BUT SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS STEP UP TO THE MOMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE WHEN HATE OCCURS AROUND US. AND CRYSTAL, NAT, TODAY AND, UM, AND YESTERDAY, UH, ARE THE TWO DAYS THAT ARE SIGNIFIED AS THE TURNING POINT OF THE HOLOCAUST, THE BEGINNING OF THE HOLOCAUST. BETWEEN 1933 AND 1938, THERE WERE INCIDENTS, ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST THE JEWS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY PHYSICAL. THERE WAS, THERE WAS, UM, MOMENTS OF, UM, OF RIGHTS BEING TAKEN AWAY. THERE WERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING IN THOSE FIVE YEARS. BUT GERMANY TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST THE WORLD'S RESOLVE IN KRISNA 1938. AND THEY SHATTERED JEWISH BUSINESSES, ROUNDED UP 30,000 JEWS, KILLED ALMOST A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS DURING THOSE TWO DAYS. AND THE AUTHORITIES AND THE GOVERNMENT SIMPLY LOOKED THE OTHER WAY, TESTING TO SEE WHAT THE WORLD WAS GOING TO DO DURING THOSE TWO DAYS. AND THE WORLD DID NOTHING. AND BECAUSE THE WORLD DID NOTHING, 6 MILLION JEWS AND 5 MILLION OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY DIED DURING THE WARS DURING THE HOLOCAUST. AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU, TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR GIVING ME THESE FEW MOMENTS TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE A GEM IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF SAN ANTONIO. IN SAN ANTONIO. THAT MUSEUM SEES APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PUBLIC SCHOOL AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN EVERY YEAR. WE THANK THE, THE SENATE LEGISLATURES FOR PASSING SB 1828, WHICH REQUIRES, UH, THE LEARNING OF HOLOCAUST STUDIES ONE WEEK OUTTA THE YEAR IN, IN OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE. BUT OVERALL, WHAT CRYSTAL NAT IS REALLY ABOUT IS, AS THE MAYOR SAID THAT LAST EVENING IN OUR INTERFAITH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GATHERING, THAT WE THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GARCIA AND COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE FOR BEING THERE. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS HAPPENING THAT THAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS COULDN'T BE THERE, BUT SEND IT THEIR, THEIR SUPPORT OF THE EVENT. THAT IF WE DON'T ACT, WHEN THOSE SMALL THINGS HAPPEN AROUND US, WE ARE JUST AS RESPONSIBLE AND CULPABLE FOR WHEN THE MAJOR THINGS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. AND SO, ON BEHALF OF THE 12,000 JEWS THAT LIVE IN THIS GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS, SUPPORTIVE FELLOWS AND, AND GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTING US INTO THE COMMUNITY. BUT WE ASK YOU, WE, WE PLEAD WITH YOU. AND WE BEG YOU THAT IF MOMENTS OF HATE OCCUR AROUND YOU, TO PLEASE STAND UP, SPEAK UP, AND TAKE ACTION, BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH HISTORY THAT WHEN THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, TERRIBLE THINGS FOLLOW. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR DISTRICT EIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI NOW, UH, TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HAU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, TODAY'S A, A GOOD DAY TO THANK OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR SERVICE AS TOMORROW IS VETERANS DAY. THANK YOU FOR, UH, TO ALL OUR VETERANS. THERE'S SOME HERE TODAY FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE SACRIFICED AND THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR, YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SAN ANTONIO IS KNOWN AS MILITARY CITY U S A AND IT'S IN NO SMALL PART DUE TO OUR VETERANS. IT'S IN OUR CITY'S D N A TO SUPPORT MILITARY MISSIONS IN SAN ANTONIO. I'M PROUD TO SAY DISTRICT SIX HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF VETERANS IN THE CITY, AND VETERANS ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR WORK COLLEAGUES, OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES. VE AND FAMILY VETERANS ARE THE BACKBONE OF MY FAMILY. MY FATHER IS A VETERAN, MY LITTLE BROTHER, UM, WHOSE BIRTHDAY HAPPENS TO BE VETERANS DAY AS WELL. MY FATHER-IN-LAW, OF COURSE, MANY UNCLES AND COUSINS, UM, AND PART OF MY CITY FAMILY AS WELL. COUNCILMAN COURAGE, UH, GENERAL ALA, I DUNNO IF HE'S STILL HERE. UH, TIM WALL OVER OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, NUMEROUS SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, AND OF COURSE, MANY, MANY OTHERS. THEY'RE ALSO PART OF THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY. AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT SAN ANTONIO IS RESILIENT BECAUSE OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY. THEY'RE SO, UH, AND BECAUSE OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY IS SO STRONG, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR NEIGHBORS, FOR CHOOSING OUR CITY TO RETIRE, TO RAISE YOUR FAMILIES, AND TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESSES TO WORK TOWARDS YOUR DREAMS. SAN ANTONIO WAS PROUD OF YOU, AND WE THANK YOU. UM, I ALSO, UH, WANNA BRING ATTENTION TODAY TO, UH, MAYOR TO, UH, TEXAS THESPIANS IS THE GROUP HERE, THE TEXAS THESPIAN GROUP. Y'ALL WANNA COME UP. UM, JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING A GROUP OF DISTRICT SIX STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING PART IN A UNIQUE ARTS FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND. THE STUDENTS OF THE EDGEWOOD FINE ARTS ACADEMY, IF YOU'LL COME TO THE PODIUM, THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN STUDY THEATER ARTS AT EDGEWOOD [00:45:01] FINE ARTS AND WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE TEXAS THESPIANS FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND AT THE HENRY GONZALES CONVENTION CENTER. TEXAS THESPIANS IS THE LARGEST CHAPTER IN THE NATIONAL, IN THE NATION OF THE EDUCATION THEATER ASSOCIATION, WHICH SPONSORS THE INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SOCIETY. AS AN EDUCATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, THEY'RE DEDICATED TO HONORING EXCELLENCE IN THEATER BY ENCOURAGING AND IMPROVING THE SKILLS OF THEATER STUDENTS AND THEY'RE EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIS YEAR, THE TEXAS THESPIAN CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND HUNDREDS OF THEATER ART STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL GATHER IN OUR CITY FOR THEIR TEXAS THESPIAN FESTIVAL FROM NOVEMBER 12TH THROUGH THE 15TH TO HELP THEM CELEBRATE THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL SHINE BLUE AND YELLOW, THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICIAL COLORS FROM SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. UM, WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO JUST, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS? UM, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS FAITH ESTRADA AND I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE SAN ANTONIO YOUTH COMMISSION, AS WELL AS PART OF TROOP 73 82. TODAY I WANNA TALK ABOUT HOW THEATER AND THE ARTS HAVE HELPED OTHERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, AROUND THE CITY. AS THE ARTS AND THEATER ARE FUN TO SEE AND EXCITING TO BE IN. THERE IS MORE THAT GOES INTO THE ARTS THAT ENCOURAGE THE PERSON'S BRAIN, BODY EMOTIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, TO ENCOURAGE THEIR CONFIDENCE AND FIND JOY IN BEING THEMSELVES. IT TEACHES THOSE EMPATHY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TEACHES US HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE REAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAYOR BAILEY, DO YOU HAVE A PROCLAMATION? YES. WHEREAS THE TEXAS THESPIANS WILL HOST THEIR ANNUAL STATE FESTIVAL AT THE HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER, NOVEMBER 12TH THROUGH 15TH, 2022, TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS IN THEATER EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS ESTABLISHED IN 1952, TEXAS THESPIANS AND EDUCATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO HONORING EXCELLENCE IN THEATER BY ENCOURAGING AND IMPROVING THE SKILLS OF THEATER STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WHEREAS ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL FESTIVALS, WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. IN ADDITION, TEXAS THESPIANS PROVIDES OVER $75,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS EACH YEAR FOR GRADUATING SENIORS AND AWARDS. OVER $15,000 IN THESPIAN BUCKS FOR TEACHERS. AND WHEREAS THEATER ARTS CAN BE TRACED BACK TO SIXTH CENTURY ATHENS WHERE ANCIENTS HYMNS WERE HUNG, WERE SUNG LATER, ADDING CHORAL PROCESSIONS WITH COSTUMES AND MASKS. THIS VALUABLE AND RESPECTABLE ART FORM COMPRISED OF WORDS, VOICE, MOVEMENT, AND VISUAL ELEMENTS IS UNIVERSALLY ESSENTIAL IN ALL COMMUNITIES AND CULTURES AS IT UNITES US TOGETHER TO TELLS THE STORIES OF OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. NOW THEREFORE, IRAN NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 12TH THROUGH 15TH 2022, TO BE TEXAS THESPIAN FESTIVAL DAYS IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND CONGRATULATE THE ORGANIZATION ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND COMMEND TEXAS THESPIANS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, EFFORTS, AND DEDICATION TO PROMOTE GLOBAL THEATER EDUCATION. CONGRATULATIONS Y'ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE FOR A BUNCH OF PERFORMERS THERE. YOU'RE VERY RELUCTANT TO TAKE THE MICROPHONE, . THANK YOU GUYS. ALRIGHT, LET ME RECOGNIZE NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY TODAY, BUT NOT THE KIND OF ANNIVERSARY YOU'RE THINKING. UM, TODAY WE HAVE SPECIAL GUEST, UH, PASTOR MICHAEL BROWN AND HIS WIFE JOY BROWN. UH, PASTOR MICHAEL BROWN IS CELEBRATING HIS 25TH PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY THIS COMING SUNDAY, A TRUE VISION CHURCH. HE HAS SERVED FAITHFULLY FOR FIVE YEARS AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAPTIST MINISTERS BAPTIST MINISTER'S UNION OF SAN ANTONIO, AND ALSO SERVED AS THE INSTITUTE AND REVIVAL CHAIR OF THIS ORGANIZATION. PASTOR BROWN IS A 1994 C*M LAUDE GRADUATE OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST COLLEGE, OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION. AS A BORN AND RAISED SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE GRATEFUL, GRATEFUL FOR HIS TIRELESS SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND COMMUNITIES. UM, I WOULD LOVE, IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STEP UP TO THE PODIUM, SAY A FEW WORDS, UH, TO OUR MAYOR, MAYOR BERG, TO THANK YOU WITH JALEN OR RODRIGUEZ TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, BROTHER MAYOR. UH, I COULD SHARE A LOT OF WORDS TODAY, BUT I WILL NOT. I'M JUST THANKFUL TO BE HERE AND THANKFUL TO BE HONORED, UH, BY THE CITY OF MY BIRTH. UH, TO BE ABLE TO PASTOR IN THIS TOWN FOR THESE MANY YEARS AND EVEN SERVING MINISTRY IN OTHER PLACES UNDER MY FATHER WHO PASTORED FOR, UH, 45, 46 YEARS OF BROTHER WHO PASTORS AND CHURCH AS WELL. IT'S JUST A BLESSING TO BE HERE. ALL PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY. GLORY TO MY GOD, MY KING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WILL SEE YOU ON SUNDAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, AND NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER VIE GRAND FOR [00:50:01] A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. IN HONOR OF VET VETERANS DAY, I INVITED THE DISTRICT THREE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WAR POST AS MY POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. GUESTS, IF THEY CAN START MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE PODIUM, I'D APPRECIATE IT. AND BRING YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ALSO THAT ARE HERE. UM, WE HONOR THOSE VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD, MARINES, AND NATIONAL GUARD, AS WELL AS THE CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR SPOUSES. AND I SEE, UM, UM, MRS. UH GOMEZ IS HERE TODAY. TODAY WE HAVE COMMANDER ALVARADO FROM V F W POST 91 86, AND COMMANDER GOMEZ FROM VF POST 48 15, ALONG WITH THEIR MEMBERS, UH, AND ORGANIZATIONS. AND I THINK WE LOST A COUPLE OF THE MARINES TO, TO THE CAKE. UM, MY FATHER WAS A VETERAN AND THERE ARE MANY VETERANS LIKE MY FATHER, WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE BY MAKING COMMUNITIES LIKE SAN ANTONIO A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. THE V F W ISN'T JUST A PLACE FOR VETERANS, IS THEY'VE MADE IT A PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THEY'VE DONE. THESE ARE TWO OF MY VERY ACTIVE ONES THAT I'VE BEEN VISITING, UH, FOR VENUES FOR EVENTS. UM, AND THROUGHOUT YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY HAS CREATED A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE PATRIOTISM IN MILITARY CITY U S A. SO I'M GONNA INVITE, UM, COMMANDER ALVARADO OR COMMANDER GOMEZ TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE. AND, UM, AND JUST SEE IF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES LIKE TO CHIME IN. 'CAUSE I KNOW EVERYONE HAS A V F W POST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NEVER MET A MIKE. I DIDN'T LIKE . THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU COUNCIL, COUNCIL PERSON. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR INVITING US, UH, DURING YOUR PER POINT. A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR US TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY HERE ON ONE VETERAN'S DAY AND ALSO ON THE NAVY MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M GONNA SAY, UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MARINES OUT THERE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. UH, MY MESSAGE TODAY IS A QUICK ONE. ALL RIGHT. MY MESSAGE TODAY IS THERE WAS A TIME ALL, THERE WAS A TIME, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN OUR VETERANS CAME BACK FROM THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, CAME BACK FROM TRIPOLI, CAME BACK FROM THE PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, NOTHING BUT $13 IN DISCHARGE PAPERS. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN OUR VETERANS FOUGHT AND DIED FOR OUR COUNTRY TO COME BACK TO NOTHING. SO ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 1899, A GROUP OF THESE VETERANS GOT TOGETHER AND WE SAID, ENOUGH'S ENOUGH. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. AND THEY ESTABLISHED WHAT WE NOW KNOW TODAY AS THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS. WE, WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 1899 FOR ONE PURPOSE. AND THAT WAS TO HELP VETERANS, THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES AND THEIR FAMILIES. NOW, OVER A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, WE'VE BROADENED, WE'VE WIDENED OUR SCOPE. WE NOT ONLY SERVE OUR VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND SURVIVING SPOUSES AND SURVIVING CHILDREN, BUT WE ALSO SERVE, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE AREA. WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES. WE SERVE THE ELDERLY, WE SERVE CHILDREN. WE'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOLKS. I KNOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IS, WHAT DO YOU DO THERE AT THE V F W? WHAT IS THE V F W? IS THAT A PLACE WHERE WE COULD GO AND DRINK BEER AND HANG OUT AND TELL WAR STORIES? WELL, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'VE BEEN WITH THE V F W 10 YEARS AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT. I'VE NEVER SEEN A, A BUNCH OF VETERANS SITTING AROUND DRINKING, TELLING WAR STORIES. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I DO SEE OUR COMRADE RIGHT HERE, ROBERT G***O YESTERDAY, WHAT I SAW YESTERDAY IS HE HELPED A 50 YEAR OLD SURVIVING CHILD. I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN. A 50 YEAR OLD SURVIVING CHILD WITH BENEFITS BECAUSE HIS FATHER DIED FROM SERVICE CONNECTED ILLNESSES, FROM SERVING IN VIETNAM, IS AGENT ORANGE EXPOSURE. 50 YEAR OLD CHILD, SURVIVING CHILD. THAT'S WHAT I SEE AT THE V F W. WE HAVE OUR COMRAD POSTS SURGEON HERE. WHAT DO I SEE AT OUR V F W? WE HAVE POSTS SURGEON, BESSIE PRATO, WHO IS OUR POST SURGEON IN CHARGE OF THE, AND PRETTY MUCH JUST SENDING OUT THE MESSAGE, A PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS, NOT ONLY TO OUR VETERANS, BUT TO OUR MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT I SEE AT THE V F W. WE HAVE OUR JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER, RUDY RODRIGUEZ, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF OUR, OUR ESSAY CONTESTS, OUR, OUR, UH, OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, [00:55:01] OUR PATRIOTS, PENN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, OUR VOICE OF DEMOCRACY, UH, SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, AND OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD PROGRAMS. THIS, THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE PUMP THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT A PLACE WHERE VETERANS SIT AROUND AND DRINK BEER AND TELL WAR STORIES. WE DO A LOT MORE NOW. A LOT OF IT, YES, WE DO UNDER THE RADAR, BUT WE DO A LOT MORE. AND AGAIN, HEY, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE MIC TOO LONG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS, GO V F W, HAPPY VETERANS DAY. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE. WELL, HE SAID IT ALL, I MEAN, I'M NOT GONNA REPEAT THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, BUT WE HAVE V UH, V F W POST 48 15 COUNCILWOMAN OVER HERE SUPPORT US VERY MUCH AND WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THERE. WE LIKE, UH, NOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE, UH, WE ADOPTED 50 FAMILIES FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE MOST NEEDED FAMILIES. WE'RE GONNA GIVE OUT 50 TURKEYS FOR THANKSGIVING ON CHRISTMAS. WE HAVE THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN'S PARTY, WHICH WE PROVIDE TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN'S THERE. WE USUALLY, WE USED TO RENT FROM ANYWHERE 250 TO 325 CHILDREN THROUGH THERE EVERY YEAR. NOW WITH THE VIRUS AND ALL THAT. THIS, UH, COMING DOWN TO KNOCKED IT DOWN IN NO THAT. BUT LAST YEAR WE HAD IT AGAIN AND PRAISE THE LORD, IT WENT REAL WELL. SO WE'RE GONNA DO IT THIS YEAR AGAIN. MY SENIOR VICE RIGHT HERE, HE BELONGS TO CHURCH. UH, LAST, LAST CHANCE MINISTRIES, LAST CHANCE MINISTRY. THEY PROVIDED A LOT OF FOLKS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YESTERDAY HE WAS OUT THERE IN THE RAIN PROVIDING FOOD TO EVERYBODY THAT COMES THROUGH THERE. WE DO A LOT OF SERVICE LIKE THAT WE ARE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO ALL THAT SAYING, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MUCH TIME 'CAUSE HE SAID IT ALL, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO, V F W. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO ALL OF YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. LASTLY, BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR AGENDA TODAY, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY IS IN AND PRESENT TODAY IN OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE MANY FOLKS, UH, WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY. I'D LIKE TO START A RECOGNITION OF OUR BILOCAL PROGRAM WITH A PROCLAMATION IT READS, WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS CELEBRATE BY LOCAL SEASON NOVEMBER 26TH, 2022 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND CREATE AWARENESS TO BUYING LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. AND WHEREAS BY KEEPING MONEY, WHERE ARE YOUR HEART LIVES? SUPPORTING AN ECONOMY OF FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, WE CAN BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT THRIVES AND DISTINGUISHES THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS DESPITE THE C OVID 19 PANDEMIC, MANY SMALL BUSINESSES SHOWED RESILIENCY AND INNOVATION TO MAINTAIN THEIR SERVICES AND PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE OBSERVANCE WILL KICK OFF SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, THE SATURDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, WHICH MARKS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON TO ENSURE THAT CONSUMERS KEEP LOCAL BUSINESSES IN MIND AS THEY BUY GIFTS. AND WHEREAS THE GOALS OF THIS INITIATIVE ARE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO SHIFT AT LEAST 10% OF SPENDING TO LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES TO KEEP A LARGER SHARE OF DOLLARS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STIMULATE AND MULTIPLIER EFFECT, AND CREATE NEW JOBS. NOW, THEREFORE, I RON NUREMBERG, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 26TH THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, TO BE BY LOCAL SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO SM TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR VIBRANT CITY. UM, SO CAN I HAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY PLEASE STAND UP AND OUR LEADERSHIP TO COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM. COME ON UP, JEREMY. I THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA COME UP BEHIND ME. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO, UH, MY NAME IS JEREMY ROBERTS. I AM THE CHAIR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF. I COME FROM A FAMILY OF SMALL BUSINESSES, GREW UP IN THE SMALL BUSINESS WORLD, AND IT TRULY IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR CITY. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. NO BIG CORPORATION IN THIS CITY CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SURROUND IT. AND BY MAKING THIS INITIATIVE AND FOCUSING ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS THAT CHANGE IN 10%, YOU'RE NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE HELPED BUILT THOSE BUSINESSES. SO YOU'RE HELPING THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMY AND YOU'RE HELPING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ITS PEOPLE. SO IF YOU HAD THAT CHANCE, RATHER THAN GOING OUT TO AMAZON, SORRY, AMAZON, RIGHT? GO DOWN THE STREET, BUY LOCAL, DON'T HIT UP THOSE CHAINS, JUST GO TO THE LOCAL MOM AND POPS THAT YOU SEE AND SUPPORT THEM. TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU CARE. [01:00:01] TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JEREMY TO ALL OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. VERY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING FOR THIS BUY LOCAL, UH, LOGO IN ALL OF OUR LOCAL SHOPS. LET ME, UH, RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO WITH SOME POINTS ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK OUR SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE CONTINUED WORK AND ENSURING THAT WE PUT SAN ANTONIO SMALL BUSINESSES FIRST AND REMINDING COMMUNITY THAT BEYOND BUYING LOCAL 24 7, 365 YEARS A DAY, THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALSO, UM, IDENTIFYING LOCAL CONTRACTORS, RIGHT? AND THAT WE'RE REWARDING THEM WITH THOSE POSITIONS AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE GETTING THOSE LOCAL CONTRACTS AS WELL. I ALSO HAVE TO DO A PLUG, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE'RE ALSO THANKING OUR VETERANS IN THAT SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY VETERANS. IN DISTRICT FIVE, WE HAVE THE BOXING STATION, UH, OWNED AND OPERATED BY A MARINE VETERAN ON ELPASO STREET. SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHILE THEY'RE SHOPPING LOCAL, UH, AND HONORING VETERANS DAY, THAT WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING OUR VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES, UH, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GEARING UP FOR THOSE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. SUPPORT YOUR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN BOXING GYMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD, UM, MY THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND, UM, YOU ALL, UH, ARE EXACTLY WHAT WAS INTENDED WHEN, UM, THE C C R THAT I PROPOSED TO CREATE THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION CAME TO BE. UH, SO YOU ALL MAKE ME SO PROUD. YOU'RE REPRESENTING EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL WILL BE DOING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ORDINANCE. JEREMY GAVE ME A SNEAK PEEK THE OTHER DAY OF WHAT YOU ALL WERE WORKING ON, AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE VOICE OF SMALL BUSINESS. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. AND, AND THANK YOU, UH, TO THE ADVISORY COMMISSION AND TO ALL THE BUSINESSES WHO CAME OUT TO MAKING TIME TO DO THIS. WE KNOW EVERY, EVERY MINUTE IS VALUABLE IN A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER'S LIFE. SO APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING OUT TO RECOGNIZE AND TO, UH, REPRESENT THE ENTIRE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THANK Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA PROCEED NOW TO OUR AGENDA, BEGINNING WITH ITEM THREE. UM, SO MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE CAPTION ITEM NUMBER? ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, CENTERING CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO BRAVO'S, RECENT ACTIONS AND ISSUING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE GET UNDERWAY, UM, LET ME REMIND EVERYONE, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS COUNSEL ACTION IS BEING TAKEN ONLY IN RESPONSE TO THE FINDINGS OF AN INDIVIDUAL, OR EXCUSE ME, AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION RELATED TO AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH OF THIS YEAR. I'D LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO ANDY SEGOVIA, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO, UH, REMIND THE COUNCIL AND LEVEL SET FOR THE COMMUNITY THE PROCESS WE USED TO INVESTIGATE THE SEPTEMBER 15TH INCIDENT INVOLVING COUNCILMAN BRAVO AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL. WHENEVER WE HAVE A WORKPLACE CONDUCT ISSUE THAT INVOLVES AN EXECUTIVE, WE NORMALLY RETAIN AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE FACTS AND TO PROVIDE A LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL LIABILITY TO THE CITY. WE DO THAT TO ENSURE AN UNBIASED THIRD PARTY. USING PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATIVE PRACTICES PROVIDES US AN OBJECTIVE VIEW OF THE FACTS AND A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OUR APPLICABLE WORKPLACE POLICIES WERE VIOLATED. IN THIS INSTANCE, WE DID RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL WHO IS WELL-VERSED IN OUR WORKPLACE POLICIES, AND IN CONDUCTING AND IN CONDUCTING THESE TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS, INDEED OUR INVESTIGATORS BOARD CERTIFIED IN LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW. THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION WAS TO DETERMINE WHAT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH IN THESE CHAMBERS AND TO DETERMINE IF COUNCILMAN BRAVO'S BEHAVIOR VIOLATED OUR WORKPLACE POLICIES. OUR INVESTIGATOR INTERVIEWED COUNCILMAN BRAVO, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WITNESSED WHAT OCCURRED. SHE ALSO RE REVIEWED VIDEO RECORDED BEFORE AND DURING THE MEETING. DURING THESE INTERVIEWS, THE WITNESSES ARE PROVIDED A WRITTEN VERSION OF THEIR STATEMENTS AND ARE ALLOWED TO REVIEW, EDIT, OR CLARIFY THEIR STATEMENT BEFORE THEY SIGN THE DOCUMENT. AS THEIR OFFICIAL STATEMENTS, AS THEIR OFFICIAL STATEMENT, WITNESSES ARE ALLOWED TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR STATEMENTS WITH INFORMATION THAT IS PERTINENT TO THE INVESTIGATION. GIVEN THE SCOPE PROVIDED, THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT OUR WORKPLACE POLICIES WERE INDEED VIOLATED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, [01:05:01] THAT DETERMINATION WAS REPORTED TO CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE ONLY BODY CAPABLE OF TAKING ANY ACTION UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS OF OUR CITY CHARTER. TO BE CLEAR, INFORMATION RELATED TO ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED GRIEVANCES AGAINST COUNCILMAN BRAVO OCCURRING BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15TH ARE NOT PERTINENT TO THE INVESTIGATION SOLUTION BEFORE COUNSEL. THAT IS, UNLESS YOU PRESUPPOSE THAT PAST WRONGS PERCEIVED OR REAL SOMEHOW JUSTIFY OR EXCUSE WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE CONSIDERED UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR IN THE WORKPLACE. THAT IS NOT THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK UNDER WHICH WE OPERATE. THAT IS NOT THE PROFESSIONAL OR ETHICAL MODEL BY WHICH WE LIVE UNDER. THERE IS NO PAYBACK OR RETRIBUTION EXCEPTIONS UNDER OUR POLICY. THE PROCESS WE USE TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER IS A BEST PRACTICE. IT'S USED BY ANY ORGANIZATION THAT TAKES WORKPLACE SAFETY SERIOUSLY, AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT SERIOUSLY AS WELL. THANK YOU MAYOR FOR LETTING ME CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU ANDY. UH, AND BEFORE I COMMENT, UH, BRING FOLKS UP THERE ARE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I'LL BRING THEM UP IN ORDER OF SIGN UP, I'LL READ THE NEXT NAME, UH, TO, SO IF YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO COME UP. UH, EVERYONE WILL HAVE, UH, INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY CEDE YOUR TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE, UH, IF YOU CHOOSE. UH, BUT LET ME ALSO REINFORCE WHAT ANDY SAID. UH, AGAIN, UH, THE ACTION BEING TAKEN BY COUNSEL PERTAINS TO THE INCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 15TH. ANY OTHER ISSUES BEING BROUGHT UP BY COMMENTS, UH, WILL BE, UH, I'LL, I'LL LET YOU KNOW. I'LL WARN YOU THAT THAT IS NOT PERTINENT, NOT GERMANE. UH, AND IF IT CONTINUES, UH, AFTER TWO WARNINGS, YOU'LL BE CUT OFF FROM TIME. YOU'LL LOSE YOUR TIME. SO LET'S KEEP IT ON THE ACTION. ITEM THREE. AND SO I'LL BEGIN WITH DANNY DEGUIRE. IS DANNY DEGUIRE HERE? OKAY. CATHERINE BRAVO. MS. BRAVO, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ARMANDO GUTIERREZ. BRAVO. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS CATHERINE BRAVO, AND I'M A DISTRICT ONE RESIDENT AND AN EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE MARIO BRAVO'S MOTHER. AS AN ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER, MARIO HAS MET WITH AS MANY OF DISTRICT ONE CONSTITUENTS AS POSSIBLE TO HEAR THEIR NEEDS, THEIR CHALLENGES, DISAGREEMENTS, AND SOLUTIONS. MARIO HAS ALWAYS BEEN, HAS ALWAYS SEEN THAT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES CAN MAKE OUR CITY A HEALTHIER PLACE. WHEN HE WORKED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, HE URGED THE CITY TO TAKE A STRONGER ROLE IN IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IMPORTANT IN A CITY THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF OZONE DAYS IN THE UNITED STATES. THOSE ARE THE DAYS WHEN OUR SCHOOLS CANNOT LET, CANNOT LET KIDS OUT FOR RECESS. THOSE ARE THE DAYS WHEN ALL WHO WORK OUTSIDE. MANY, MANY CITY EMPLOYEES ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. MAD KNOWS WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS WOULD NOT ONLY PROTECT PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES DURING EXTREME WEATHER, BUT SAVE OUR CITY MONEY. PLANTING MORE TREES IS TRIED AND TRUE METHOD TO LOWER ENERGY CONSUMPTION. HE AND HIS STAFF ARE OUT IN DISTRICT ONE LISTENING TO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE SUCCESSFUL. TWO DAYS AGO, I SAW A HEADLINE IN THE EXPRESS NEWS THAT READ MAYOR SAYS, DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE IN THE 2022 ELECTIONS. I AGREE, AND I BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE TODAY HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS WITH THIS RESOLUTION. I WAS A MEDIATOR FOR MANY YEARS AT BEXAR COUNTY DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER, WE RESOLVED DISPUTES BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS, HUSBANDS AND WIVES, BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES. THESE PRACTICES WERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALING, UNDERSTANDING, APOLOGIZING, CHANGE, RESTITUTION, AND GOING FORWARD. THIS PROCESS SAVED TIME, MONEY, AND HEARTACHE. THAT LEADS ME TO QUESTION HOW THIS CITY, HOW OUR CITY, A VERY LARGE EMPLOYER, RESOLVES ITS ISSUES. IT WOULD SEEM FROM ALL NEWS ACCOUNTS THAT THE PROCESS USED IN THIS CASE WAS BASED ON SOME UNCLEAR AND PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD OF RULES. THE INVESTIGATION [01:10:01] WAS KEPT IN THE DARK. WITNESSES, UNKNOWN ACCUSED PARTY NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK. THE CLEAREST RULE SEEMED TO BE PUBLIC SHAMING. THAT DOES NOT SEEM AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD. INDEED, WHEN I WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER, SHAMING WAS NEVER ALLOWED. I URGE YOU ALL TO TODAY TO CONSIDER WHAT THIS, THE DAMAGE THIS COULD DO TO OUR CITY'S PROGRESS AND CREDIBILITY, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MS. BRAVO. PLEASE DO NOT PASS THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BRAVO. LET ME REMIND FOLKS THAT, UM, SUBJECTS SUCH AS POLICY, UH, ISSUES ARE NOT GERMANE TO THE ITEM. LET'S STICK TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. UM, ARMANDO GUTIERREZ BRAVO. MR. BRAVO, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY BETTY ECKER. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL. UM, TO THE GREAT MARINES THAT ARE ALREADY LEFT AND THE V F W THAT SHOWED UP. HERE I AM ARMANDO GUTIERREZ BRAVO. I AM THE PROUD FATHER OF DISTRICT ONE REPRESENTATIVE MARIO BRAVO. UH, MARIO IS SOMEONE WHO GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN AUSTIN. HE ALSO GOT HIS MASTER'S THERE AT THE L B J A SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS. AND HE HAS WORKED ON MANY CAMPAIGNS ALL THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, MOSTLY IN TEXAS, BUT HE HAS WORKED ON ALL, AND HE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ELECTED. UM, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, UH, THAT HE ELECTED, TAUGHT HIM SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS ABOUT CARING. HE'S ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THE CIVIC ITEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ITEMS. WORKING FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HE WORKED WITH ON THESE CAMPAIGNS. HE FINALLY DECIDED AT ONE POINT THAT HE COULD MAKE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE IF HE COULD RUN AND HOLD AN OFFICE, AND THAT A LOCAL OFFICE IS WHERE IT'S AT. NATIONAL STATE LEVELS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST GO AND COLLECT MONEY AND KEEP COLLECTING MONEY AND KEEP COLLECTING MONEY. BUT ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, YOU CAN GET, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS DONE. AND HE HAS MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES AND HAS BEEN TRUE TO HIS, HIS DISTRICT. DISTRICT. IT WAS IN THIS ROOM. IT WAS IN THIS ROOM WHEN HE WAS INAUGURATED, THAT HE SAID, I WILL BE A PUBLIC SERVANT TO DISTRICT ONE AND NOT JUST THE DISTRICT ONE, BUT TO ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. AND NO TRUER WORDS COULD HE HAVE SAID. HE HAS STAYED THE COURSE AND HE REMAINS FAITHFUL TO HIS CONSCIENCE. WHEN YOU FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN, YOU SOMETIMES GET EMOTIONAL. WE ALL HAVE A BAD DAY. YOU ALWAYS DO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEBODY HAS DONE POSSIBLY SOMETHING TO YOU OR IN THIS CASE, UM, LATER TO BE FOUND. YOU KNOW, WHO IS ACTUALLY ATTACKING HIM. UH, THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN ALL THE FACTS WILL COME OUT AND WE WILL KNOW WHO ALL THE TRUE CULPRITS ARE. THANK YOU, MR. BRAVO. IF, IF THERE'S A WRITTEN, THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE. YOU SAID TWO, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. UH, YOU USED THREE MINUTES. IF YOU HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT, WE CAN MAKE SURE IT'S DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL, THOUGH. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE YOUR COMMENTS OVER, WE CAN MAKE SURE IT'S DISTRIBUTED TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. THAT'LL BE FINE. THERE'LL BE OTHER TIMES. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. BRAVO. THANK YOU, BETTY ECKERT. MS. ECKERT, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY SUSAN FERRIS. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL. THIS IS A VERY UPSETTING DAY FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES AND PEOPLE OF DISTRICT ONE. WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AND HE HAS BEEN BARRED FROM REPRESENTING [01:15:01] DISTRICT ONE. I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT ONE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS MAYOR. WE KNOW THAT REMARKS WERE MADE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT IN THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN MANY REMARKS HAVE BEEN MADE BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ACTION SUCH AS THIS. WE WANNA BE REPRESENTED. WE WANT TO MEET WITH OUR COUNCILMAN. WE WANT TO TALK TO HIM. WE WANT 'EM TO KNOW HOW WE FEEL, NOT HOW THE COUNCIL FEELS, AND WE DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S BEING FAIR. YES, THERE CAN BE LAWSUITS. WE'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. IT COSTS TAXPAYERS MONEY. DO WE WANNA DO THAT? NO, BUT WE NEED OUR REPRESENTATIVE. YOU HAVE NOT TOLD US WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE'S NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THESE COMMITTEES? WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR DISTRICT? WE'RE IMPORTANT TOO. DISTRICT ONE IS IMPORTANT JUST AS DISTRICT 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, AND NINE AND 10 WE'RE IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO. SO PLEASE AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE AND LET HIM REPRESENT. MAYBE WE DON'T ALL AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON. THAT'S TRUE TOO. BUT WE'RE HUMAN BEINGS. MISTAKES ARE MADE. A MISTAKE WAS MADE, AN APOLOGY HAS BEEN GIVEN. I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL NOW NEEDS TO DO THE SAME THING, AND WE NEED TO ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PERSON THAT REPRESENTS US. WELL, THANKS THE COUNCIL. I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING DAY. THANK YOU, MS. BECKARD. AND I DO WANT TO JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING. I KNOW, I KNOW MY TIME'S UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. MS. BECKER IS ALWAYS UP. ALRIGHT, SUSAN. MY TIME PERMANENTLY IS ALMOST UP, AND, AND YOURS WILL BE TOO. DOGGONE IT. SO THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN BRAVO. ANDY? UH, YES, MAYOR. I JUST DO WANNA REMIND OUR SPEAKERS THAT WE ARE NOT, UH, QUESTIONING OR CONSIDERING COUNCILMAN BRAVO'S QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER OR THE HARD WORK HE HAS DONE IN ADVOCATING FOR HIS DISTRICT. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. AGAIN, THE FOCUS IS THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH. SO I DO WANNA REMIND THAT WE ARE NOT QUESTIONING COUNCILMAN BRAVO'S QUALIFICATIONS AND WE STIPULATE THAT HE DOES VERY HARD WORK IN TERMS OF, UH, ADVOCATING POSITIONS ON, ON, UH, BEHALF OF HIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU, MAYOR SUSAN FERRIS. SUSAN FERRIS. OKAY. WILLIAM WENDELL HALL. MR. HALL, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ERICA HEISEL. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE MOTION FOR VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AGAINST, UH, MY DISTRICT COUNCILMAN MARIO BRAVO. AS EVERYONE WAS AWARE, SINCE MR. BRAVO'S UNFORTUNATE AND A EMOTIONAL OUTBURST ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, THE MAYORS REMOVED MR. BRAVO FROM HIS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. IN MY VIEW, THE TWO MONTH PROCESS IS MORPHED FROM PUNISHMENT THAT IS RELEVANT, UH, AND PROPORTIONATE TO THE SHORT OUTBURST ON SEPTEMBER 15TH TO A ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE VOTERS IN DISTRICT ONE AND MORE. THE DRIP, DRIP DRIP OF PUNISHMENT IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAIR TO COUNCILMAN BRAVO, WHO HAS APOLOGIZED FULLY COOPERATED WITH THE CITY'S INVESTIGATION AND DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RIGHT THE WRONG. ULTIMATELY, IT'S UP TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE TO DETERMINE MR. BRAVO'S FUTURE, NOT THE CITY COUNCIL. NOW, THE CITY IS NOT ONLY PUNISHING MR. BRAVO, THE CITY IS PUNISHING THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE BY TAKING AWAY MR. BRAVO'S RESPONSIBILITIES INDEFINITELY. WHEN WILL THE PUNISHMENT, ALMOST TWO MONTHS LATER BE SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE CONDUCT IN QUESTION? IS THE POINT, POINT TO COMPLETELY RENDER MR. BRAVO AN EXTREMELY BRIGHT, TALENTED, AND HARDWORKING CONS COUNSEL MEMBER? UTTERLY USELESS. IF THAT'S THE AIM OF THIS COUNCIL, [01:20:01] THEN PUNISHMENT CERTAINLY IS NOT OF ANY USE ON THE SCALE OF REHABILITATION OR RIGHTING A WRONG IN CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. DOS ESKI WROTE, THE MAN WHO HAS A CONSCIOUS CONSCIENCE SUFFERS WHILST ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SIN. THAT IS HIS PUNISHMENT. I KNOW MR. BRAVO. HE'S A MAN WITH A DEEP CONSCIENCE AND HE HAS PUNISHED HIMSELF EVERY DAY SINCE SEPTEMBER 15TH. WHY? BECAUSE MR. BRAVO HAS A CONSCIENCE AND HE HAS GREAT REGRET, CONTRITION AND REMORSE FOR HIS WORDS. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IS NECESSARY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF CITY GOVERNMENT OR WILL PUNISH MR. BRAVO, IT WILL DO NEITHER. AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE WILL NOT BETTER OUR CITY, UNLESS ENDLESS PUNISHMENT IS A HEALTHIER MESSAGE THAN RECONCILIATION FOR OUR CITY. AND YOU CANNOT PUNISHMENT CANNOT PUNISH MR. BRAVO MORE THAN HE HAS PUNISHED HIMSELF. IN MY VIEW, THE VOTE WOULD BE RAW REVENGE, WHICH IS UGLY AND CRUEL. AFTER MULTIPLE PUNISHMENTS AND A LENGTHY INVESTIGATION BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IT'S TIME TO FORGIVE AND MOVE ON. WHEN WILL THE POLITICS OF RUIN OF A FELLOW HUMAN BEING, A PUBLIC SERVANT WHO AIRED, WHO HAVE SHOWN CONTRITION AND TOTAL COOPERATION FINALLY END? WHEN WILL THOSE IN POWER FINALLY BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS? SADLY, IN PUBLIC LIFE, FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION DO NOT SEEM TO BE IN THE WHEELHOUSE OF SOLUTIONS. ONLY CONTINUED PUNISHMENT. THAT'S TRAGIC. NO WONDER SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED FROM RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. THANK YOU, MR. HALL. ERICA HEISEL. ERICA HEISEL. OKAY. YVETTE KOBO. MS. HACOBO, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MAKIA HOLIDAY. HI THERE. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME'S YVETTE. I'VE KNOWN MARIO FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. FOR AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN MARIO, HE HAS FOUGHT FOR MANY CAUSES AND CONTINUES TO REMAIN PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING IMPROVEMENTS. MARIO'S ENVIRONMENTAL PASSION WOKE ME UP TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT FROM ORGANIC FARMING TO ENERGY. WHEN MY SON WAS HAVING SO MANY UPPER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, MARIO MADE ME AWARE THAT SAN ANTONIO DID NOT MEET AIR QUALITY STANDARDS, MAKING MY SON'S ASTHMA WORSE. MARIO CARESS ABOUT SAN ANTONIO. HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR IMPROVEMENTS, OUR CLIMATE AND STABILITY OF OUR GRID PASSION. HE'S PASSIONATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. VO MAKIA HOLIDAY. MS. HOLIDAY, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KELLY WALLS. GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS MIKEA HOLLIDAY AND, UH, MY FAMILY HAS OWNED PROPERTY IN THE, UH, BELLEVUE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECADES NOW. AND I'M HERE TO, UH, EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMAN BRAVO AND ALSO MY CONCERN AT THE INTERFERENCE IN HAVING BELLEVUE COMMUNITY AND DISTRICT ONE REPRESENTED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. AND, UH, I APPRECIATE EIGHT MARIO BECAUSE OF HIS CONCERNS FOR HE TAKES THE CONCERNS OF BELLEVUE. SERIOUSLY. HE FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH HIS COMMITMENTS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND HE DOESN'T PATRONIZE HIS CONSTITUENTS LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY OWNERS ALLIANCE, AND WE'RE A NON-PARTISAN GROUP OF TAXPAYERS, HOUSING PROVIDERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. AND OUR FOCUS IS ON APPRAISAL REFORM, MANAGING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AND CONNECTING SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, IN THE INDUSTRY. AND COUNCILMAN BRAVO HAS TAKEN OUR CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. HE RECOGNIZES OUR VALUE IN THE COMMUNITY. HE KEEPS HIS COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE SINCERELY WITH PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO AND BUSINESS OWNERS, WHETHER HE IS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE AISLE OR NOT, AND HE LISTENS GENUINELY AND SEEKS FEEDBACK ON IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS. AGAIN, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR COUNCILMAN BRAVO, MY APPRECIATION FOR HIM AND HIS WORK, AND I BELIEVE HIS WORK NEEDS TO RESUME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HOLIDAY, KELLY WALLS, [01:25:02] MS. WALLS, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY WALTER ENDERLEE. GIVING MY TIME TO BURGUNDY HUBBARD, PLEASE. ALRIGHT, WALTER ENDERLEE. MR. ENDERLEE, YOU BE FOLLOWED BY AARON KO. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE KNOWN MARIO FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS DURING THIS TIME. WE SHARED OUR GOALS, IDEAS, AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE. MARIO IS A GOOD MAN, HARDWORKING, EDUCATED, AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN HIS AREA OF EXPERTISE. HE'S A COMPASSIONATE MAN WHOSE MAIN DRIVE IS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. ALL OF US HAVE MADE MISTAKES IN THIS CASE. THE ERROR IN JUDGMENT DOES NOT DEFINE WHO THE MAN IS. HE HAS SUFFERED GREATLY FROM THIS INCIDENT AND ONCE NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE FORGIVEN. WE ARE LIVING IN A POLITICALLY HOSTILE WORLD. I HAVE OFTEN ASKED MYSELF, WHY CAN'T WE JUST DO THE RIGHT THING? I AM ASKING EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO PLEASE SET THE TONE FOR OUR GREAT CITY, SHOW COMPASSION, DO THE RIGHT THING, AND ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE SERVING DISTRICT ONE. IN CLOSING, I WILL READ A QUOTE FROM THE BIBLE, BEAR WITH EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE A GRIEVANCE AGAINST SOMEONE, FORGIVE AS THE GOOD LORD FORGAVE YOU. I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING THE COUNSEL TO FIND IT IN YOUR HEARTS TO SHOW LENIENCY TO MARIO. IF THE TABLES WERE TURNED AND IT WAS YOUR FUTURE IN QUESTION, MR. BRAVO WOULD FORGIVE. THAT'S JUST WHO HE IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. ANDERLY. AARON ZAKO, AARON ZAKO, RICK TREVINO, RICK TREVINO, LUCY WILSON. MS. WILSON, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY KANE CROWELL, MAYOR NURENBERG, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LUCY WILSON, AND I LIVE IN THE RIVER ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I'M HERE TODAY AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. WHEN MARIO BRAVO BECAME OUR COUNCILMAN IN 2021, I WAS THE CHAIR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I AM NO LONGER IN THAT POSITION, AND I'M NOT SPEAKING FROM THAT, BUT I HAD FREQUENT CONTACT WITH COUNCILMAN BARAU ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES EARLY ON. I DISCOVERED HIS INTERESTS NOT ONLY IN REPRESENTING ISSUES IMPORTANT TO HIS CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO LOOKING FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD BUILD A BETTER, UH, FUTURE FOR THIS CITY. HIS WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A GREAT VALUE. HOWEVER, I WAS SHOCKED AND TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED BY HIS BEHAVIOR AT THE SEPTEMBER COUNCIL MEETING, AND I'M NOT HERE CONDONING THAT AT ALL. I DO BELIEVE THESE WEEKS OF HIS EXCLUSION HAVE CERTAINLY EMPHASIZED THE GRAVITY OF THAT CONDUCT. THIS ELECTION WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED OF OUR DEPENDENTS ON A REPRESENTATION FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN THAT, MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA TODAY. IF IT PASSES, IT WILL DENY RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE, THE VOICE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL. I URGE EACH OF YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM AND RETURN HIM TO HIS COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. IN THE INTEREST OF DISTRICT ONE'S CITIZEN REPRESENTATION, [01:30:01] THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. THANK YOU, MS. WILSON KANE CROWELL. MS. CROWELL, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY BURGUNDY HUBBERT. MARY, IF I MAY MAKE ONE CLARIFICATION. UM, THE ACTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS A RESOLUTION OF CENSURE AND, AND NO CONFIDENCE. IT, IT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM PROHIBIT COUNCILMAN BRAVO FROM ACTING AS DISTRICT ONE COUNCILMAN. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANDY. MS. CROW. HI. I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE. MY OFFICE IS ABOUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY. I DON'T KNOW THE COUNCILMAN PERSONALLY, BUT HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS TAKEN MY PHONE CALL FOR MY BUSINESS FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I'M A MILITARY MOM WITH TWO SONS SERVING NAVY AND ARMY. THE OWNER OF THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN OWNED SOLAR STARTUP BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR, SINCE 2001. WE WERE FOCUSING ON TRAINING VETERANS, UM, FOR ABOVE AVERAGE WAGES IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY. WE'RE BUILDING AND WE BE, WILL BE DEPLOYING OUR OWN WELL-PAID ARMY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE. OUR COUNCILMEN. BRAVO HAS BEEN A, HIS IN HISTORY, A CHAMPION FOR SO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY HERE IN OUR CITY, AND HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE COUNCIL IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP US WITH OUR PROJECTS AND, UH, FOR US AS A CITY TO STAY COM COMPETITIVE, UH, IN MOVING FORWARD AS A SUSTAINABLE CITY. TODAY'S SPECTACLE IS A DISTRACTION IN MY OPINION, UM, FROM THE IMPORTANT WORK OF COUNCIL, UM, AND THE DISASTER THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WITH CLIMATE. UM, AND HIS QUALIFICATIONS ARE QUITE IMPORTANT AND HIS DEDICATION, DESPITE WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, UM, IS ACTUALLY, UM, ESSENTIAL, UM, IN HELPING US MOVE FORWARD AS A CITY, UM, IN THE SUSTAINABLE REALM. SO I SUPPORT KEEPING HIM, UM, AS COUNSEL IN, IN THE FULL CAPACITY POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MS. GRUWELL, BURGUNDY HUBBARD. MS. HUBBARD, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MARCEL STEVEN. OKAY. HELLO MAYOR AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. UM, THIS IS AWKWARD , I MEAN, QUITE HONESTLY. UM, AND I, I JUST, I'M HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION AND GO DOWN IT LINE BY LINE SINCE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. BUT THERE ARE THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE FACTUALLY WRONG, AND SO I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. UM, WE MET WITH OUR SPIRITUAL MENTOR YESTERDAY, AND, UM, SOMETHING THAT HE SHARED WITH ME IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU, AND THAT I THINK IT IS LACKING IN THIS SITUATION. HE SAID, ACT WITH A DEPTH OF COMMITMENT TO CREATE CLARITY, ACT WITH A DEPTH OF COMMITMENT TO CREATE CLARITY. IF YOU DID NOT WITNESS THE CONDUCT THAT TOOK PLACE, YOU DO NOT HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT TOOK PLACE. I IF YOU WITNESSED THE AFTERMATH OF WHAT TOOK PLACE, YOU STILL DO NOT HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT TOOK PLACE. IN NO WAY WOULD I CONDONE ANYONE SPEAKING AGGRESSIVELY OR, UM, IN ANY UGLY MANNER, UH, THERE. AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT HAS COME ABOUT FROM THIS SITUATION. UM, I DO KNOW THAT I AM MOST DISTURBED BY THE PROCESS. AND, UM, AND I, I REALLY HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU, IF YOU ARE SLIGHTLY DISTURBED [01:35:01] WITH THE PROCESS, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AND SEE AND GAIN CLARITY, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, WE CANNOT MAKE SOLID DECISIONS. WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE, UM, SINCE SEPTEMBER 15TH, HAS I, I FELT LIKE I TOLD MARIO, I FELT LIKE I'VE BEEN ON EVERY RIDE AT FIESTA, TEXAS OVER AND OVER, AND I, I WANNA GET OFF LIKE I'M CRYING AND HURTING, AND THEN I AM SO DISAPPOINTED AND I'M HURT FOR WHOMEVER IS HURT INVOLVED IN THIS. AND YOU WILL NOT SEE ME BAWLING CRYING TODAY. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE AREN'T TEARS COMING FROM OTHERS IN SAN ANTONIO AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO TRULY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT THOSE THAT WE LOOK UP TO IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, THAT YOU DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. I KNOW THAT MARIO IS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THE REPORT AND, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, HOWEVER YOU CAN CONDUCT BUSINESS, I DON'T GET TO HAVE A SAY IN, I KNOW HE HAS NOT SEEN THE VIDEO. I KNOW THAT WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT IN, HE WAS TOLD HE WAS GOING TO BE TREATED AS A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. AND AS A DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, THEY ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES IN PRIVATE BECAUSE MARIO IS SUCH A GENTLEMAN. WHILE WHAT, WHAT WAS SAID THAT DAY AND WHAT WENT ON MAY NOT REFLECT THAT HE REFUSES TO MAKE DISPARAGING REMARKS PUBLICLY. HE REFUSES TO SHARE PRIVATE INFORMATION THAT I ASSURE YOU WOULD BRING CLARITY. I REACHED OUT TO THE CITY IN FEBRUARY OF 2022 WITH GREAT CONCERNS ON HOW MARIO WAS BEING RETALIATED AGAINST. I DO BELIEVE, UH, MAYOR, I WANT, I DO WANNA REMIND THE SPEAKER THAT WHAT, WHAT OCCURRED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15TH IS NOT PERTINENT TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. WELL, I BELIEVE THE RETALIATION LED TO US IN WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THAT IS HOW I BELIEVE IT IS PERTINENT. BUT I DO RESPECT YOUR OPINION. I, I JUST, MARIO IS SO USED TO TAKING, BEING OVER ACCOUNTABLE, I'LL SAY, AND APOLOGIZING WITHOUT THE FACTS EVEN BEING THERE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO DISTRACT FROM THE WORK. HE IS DEVASTATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A DISTRACTION FOR YOU ALL AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND I AM DEVASTATED THAT YOU ARE NOT EXTREMELY DISTURBED THAT THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CONCLUDED WITHOUT, WITHOUT THE CLARITY NEEDED. AND I WAS WITH MARIO ON HIS FIRST DAY BEING SWORN IN. WE SAT RIGHT OVER THERE AND IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL AND, UM, MEMORABLE DAY. MEMORABLE DAY. UM, BUT ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FOR ME WAS, UM, AFTER HEARING ALL OF YOU WELCOMED BY YOUR, UM, THE NEW MEMBERS, WELCOMED BY YOUR PREDECESSORS AND PRAISED, THERE WAS AN EMPTY SEAT NEXT TO YOU, MAYOR. AND, UM, MARIO WAS NEVER GREETED WARMLY BY ANYONE THAT DAY. AND I DON'T FAULT ANYONE. WE ARE ALL FOCUSED ON WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US. BUT IS THAT SIX MINUTES? THANK YOU, MS. HUBBARD. I URGE YOU, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CLARITY TODAY, PLEASE DO NOT VOTE ON THIS. THANK YOU, MS. HUBBARD. MARCEL, STEVEN, MARCEL, STEVEN. ALL RIGHT. BARBARA HOWELL. BARBARA WOOD HOWELL, MS. HOWELL, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MARY NELY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. UM, I, UH, LET ME SEE. I GOTTA GET THE RIGHT PAGE HERE. UH, COUNCILMAN BRAVO LOST NO TIME IN IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF D ONE OF HIS D ONE CONSTITUENTS DURING HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE. BALANCING THE DEVELOPER INFLUENCE AND POWER WITH NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION NEEDS FOR RESIDENTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE AND HEALTHY QUALITY OF LIFE IN D ONE ARE A [01:40:01] HEADY ISSUE. HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE CAN MAKE QUICK AND INFLUENTIAL CHANGES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD INCLUSION THAT HAVE HAD EFFECTIVE POSITIVE RESULTS AS D ONE APPOINTEE TO THE, TO THE JOINT CITY COUNTY APPOINT, UH, COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS, HIS LASER FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER POPULATION HAS BEEN INNOVATIVE AND ON POINT. HE HAS PUT IN MOTION AN INNOVATIVE AGENDA TO ENSURE THAT PROPERTY TAXES DO NOT DRIVE SENIORS OUT OF THEIR HOMES. A MAJOR ISSUE TO MANY SENIORS, OLDER ADULTS, ANOS ELDERS, PICK THE TERM YOU WANT THIS WEEK. THIS WILL NOT ONLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THOSE D ONE SENIORS, BUT A MODEL FOR ALL OF OUR 65 YEAR PLUS SAN ANTONIANS. HE'S ALSO ENGAGED MY EFFORTS AS COMMISSIONER IN SUPPORTING THOSE D ONE CONSTITUENTS WHO RENT AND HAVE ENORMOUS FEAR OF BEING EVICTED BY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. SHOULD THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR LACK OF MAJOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE IN THEIR HOMES. THE DISPLACEMENT OF THESE ELDER ADULTS IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS. ONE OF FIVE SANTON IS 60 YEARS PLUS. MS. HOWELL, I, LET'S REMIND YOU TO STAY ON THE ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE. OKAY. I AM. AND THE LARGEST INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS IS 80 YEARS PLUS, BECAUSE UNDER THE CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL COMMITTEES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND TRANSPARENCY. INCREDIBLY GREAT CENSORING COUNCIL BRAVO WILL DAMAGE THAT INCREDIBLE, POWERFUL PLATFORM AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR ALL SAN ANTONIANS PARTNERING WITH YOU FOR SAN ANTONIO'S PRESENT AND FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HOWELL. MARY NELY. MS. NELY, YOU BE FOLLOWED BY GINA MEYER. GOOD MORNING. I'M MARY . I LIVE IN KING WILLIAM. I HAVE FOR 42 YEARS MAD MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION. I THINK WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERM FROM THE COLD WAR. WE ALL HAVE EXES, EX-HUSBANDS, EX-WIVES, EX-GIRLFRIENDS, EX-BOYFRIENDS. WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE COUNCIL. THIS HAS NOT BEEN GOOD FOR COUNCILMAN BRAVO. FOR COUNCILMAN SANDOVAL. IT'S NOT BEEN GOOD FOR THE MAYOR. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT BEEN GOOD FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OR FOR THE D ONE VOTERS WHO PUT BRAVO BRAVO IN OFFICE IN A SUBSTANTIAL RUNOFF UPSET. IT'S GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. IT'S COST ENOUGH DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES. THIS PROCESS IS SETTING THE CITY UP FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES AND FUTURE LEGAL FEES THAT WE CAN ILL AFFORD. WE OUGHT TO BE SPENDING MONEY ON TREE MITIGATION PLANS AND OTHERWISE MOVES TO PROTECT US AGAINST WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE IN OUR FUTURE. OUR COUNCILMAN HAS LEARNED HIS LESSON. I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE BEYOND THIS GRACEFULLY WITHOUT FURTHER EXPENSE TO THE CITY. D ONE NEEDS MARIO'S VOICE ON THE COUNCIL AND ON HIS COMMITTEES. I WANT BOTH BRAVO AND SANDOVAL ON THE COUNCIL. THEY BOTH HAVE INCREDIBLE INTELLECTS AND PUT FORTH PRETTY GREAT POLICY IDEAS. WE'VE SPENT TWO MONTHS ON THIS. MY COUNCILMAN, WHO IS A VERY GOOD PERSON, HAS BEEN SLANDERED AND LIBELED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, WITHOUT BEING GIVEN DUE PROCESS. LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO REFLECT ON WHETHER TWO MONTHS IS ENOUGH PUNISHMENT. I THINK WE ARE AN INTELLIGENT ENOUGH CITY TO, TO MAKE THE WISE CHOICE HERE. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT DISTRICT ONE SUPPORTERS WANT FOR MARIO. UH, I MEAN, FOR THE COUNCIL TO DO. I'M GONNA READ A QUICK EMAIL FROM LIONEL SOSA AND KATHY SOSA. THEY SENT IT TO ME, ME FROM MEXICO THIS MORNING. UH, KATHY AND I WANT TO LET THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR COUNCILMAN MARIO BRAVO. WHILE HIS ACTIONS AS REPORTED SOUND IMMATURE AND INAPPROPRIATE, WE FEEL HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF D ONE AND THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO REMAIN STEADFAST BEFORE ANY FORMAL SANCTION IS MADE OF COUNCILMAN BRAVO. HE DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT HIS CASE AND MAKE APOLOGIES FORMALLY, RATHER THAN BE CONVICTED IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION. WE BELIEVE MARIO IS CONTRITE, HAS LEARNED AN IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT NOT MIXING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ROLES, AND IS FULLY CAPABLE OF REPRESENTING HIS DISTRICT IN A STELLAR MANNER GOING FORWARD. LIONEL AND KATHY SOA. THANK YOU MS. LEATHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GINA MEYER. MEYER BE FOLLOWED BY NICK PENA. OOPS. CAN [01:45:01] EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY? UM, MY NAME IS GINA MEYER. I'VE KNOWN MARIO BRAVO FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE'S NOT ONLY MY NEIGHBOR, HE'S MY FRIEND, MY COUNCILMAN. MARIO IS A GENUINE, KIND, LOVING, AND COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUAL JUST LIKE THE REST OF HIS FAMILY. HE'S FA PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING DISTRICT ONE COUNCILMAN. AND IN MY OPINION, HE HAS DONE A MAGNIFICENT JOB. I KNEW MARIO AND ANNA AS A COUPLE AND THOUGHT THEY WERE FABULOUS, AND THEY TREATED EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT. I'M HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU I KNOW MARIO AS A GENUINE, LOVING, AND KIND PERSON PASSIONATE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. MARIO HAS MY FULL SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. MEYER. UH, ONE SECOND. NICK. I FAILED TO CALL BUNKA SULLIVAN. AND THEN YOU'RE, YOU'LL BE NEXT. NICK. HI. HI, EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. UH, MY NAME IS BLANCA SULLIVAN AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE RIVER ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. UH, IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT TODAY YOU WILL REMEMBER THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE. UH, OUR VOICES ARE DESERVING OF FULL REPRESENTATION ON THIS COUNCIL, AND SHOULD NOT BE SILENCED IN ANY WAY. I DO AGREE THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNCILMAN WERE UNACCEPTABLE, BUT THIS IMPORTANT DECISION SHOULD BE ENTRUSTED TO HIS CONSTITUENTS. UH, IN JUST A FEW MONTHS. REMOVING COUNCILMAN BRAVO FROM COMMITTEES AND CENTERING HIM REDUCES AND MINIMIZES OUR REPRESENTATION AND SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. THE SUCCESS OF DISTRICT ONE HOME TO MUCH OF OUR CITY'S INDUSTRY AND HOME TO MUCH OF OUR CITY'S CULTURAL CORRIDOR IS IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF SAN ANTONIO. PLEASE HELP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS BY GIVING US A FULL VOICE. THANK YOU, MS. SULLIVAN. NICK PENA. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS, UH, NICK PENA, AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING TWO ORGANIZATIONS. MR. MAYOR, UH, WILL I HAVE THREE MINUTES OR FIVE MINUTES? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MR. THREE MINUTES, . OKAY. I'M GONNA READ THIS ON BEHALF OF THE MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. UH, LAST NIGHT, THE MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO OPPOSE CITY COUNCIL ITEM NUMBER THREE, AT, AT THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, CENSORING CITY COUNCILMAN BAR BRAVO. AND, UH, RECENT ACTIONS ISSUING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE RESIDENTS OF CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT ONE, HAVE LOST THE VOICE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL BY THE CURRENT AND PROPOSED INTERACTIONS OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WE REQUEST THE CONS TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ITEM. THE DISTRICT ONE CP MARIO BRA, WILL BE FULLY REINSTATED IMMEDIATELY TO ALL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS. SIGNED TONY BENEN. NOW, UH, ON MYSELF, UH, I REPRESENT THE, UH, AMERICAN GF FORUM, LULAC HANNO DEMOCRATS, AND I'M A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. THAT HAS BEEN MY JOB FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS. UH, I SEE THAT, UH, THE DISCUSSION CONCERNING MR. BRAVO, UH, IS SUPPORTED BY A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE. OUR, OUR, OUR WORK HAS BEEN MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN ONE TO BRING HISPANIC REPRESENTATION TO ALL THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND YOU CAN SEE TODAY THAT OUR WORK HAS WORKED. AND JOHN, YOU KNOW, OUR WORK FROM WAY BACK, THE FIGHT THAT WE HAD TO GET HERE. SO I THINK THAT TODAY BETWEEN TWO MINORITY CITY COUNCILMAN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION IS TOTALLY AGAINST WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR. AND, YOU KNOW, JALEN, WHAT IT TAKES TO BE HERE. AND, UH, I ASKED MY, MY COUNCILWOMAN, WHICH IS, UH, PHYLLIS [01:50:01] BRAN, TO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE THIS WILL SET A BED PRESENT, MR. MAYOR, WHERE YOU WILL THEN LATER HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WITH THE MATTER OF MR. PERRY. AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER IT'S DISCRIMINATORY OR IS IT FAIR. AND I, YOU KNOW, AND THE OTHER DAY, UH, MELISSA, THE REASON I CALL YOU MELISSA, IS BECAUSE I HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING YOUR LAST NAME. I SAW THAT SHE HAD A, A, A, A BIG EVENT, AND I SAW THE HOST COMMITTEE, AND THE HOST COMMITTEE WAS MADE OUT OF SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE. THANK YOU, MR. PENA. NO, BUT JUST LET ME FINISH VERY BRIEFLY. YOU USED YOUR THREE TENANTS, AND I ASKED MR. THANK YOU, AND I ASKED, AND I ASKED, WHY IS SHE HAVING SUCH A GREAT, GREAT HOST COMMITTEE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. PENA. AND, UH, THEY SAID, BECAUSE SHE DELIVERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MR. PENA MUCH. I WILL, I ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST IT, ANDY? ALRIGHT. YES, MAYOR. UM, WE HAD A QUESTION JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT, UH, WHAT THE VOTE OF CENSURE IS. UH, AND I'LL START BY FIRST SAYING WHAT IT ISN'T. AGAIN, AS I SAID BEFORE, IT IS NOT A, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM A RESOLUTION THAT DEPRIVES COUNCILMAN BRAVO OF THE SEAT ON THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, IT DOES NOT TALK ABOUT, UH, PERMANENT REMOVAL FROM SUBCOMMITTEES. UM, WHAT IT IS, IS A PUBLIC, UH, STATEMENT BY THIS COUNCIL THAT, UH, SAYS THAT HIS ACTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH WERE NOT ACCEPTABLE AND THAT WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT SORT OF BEHAVIOR FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER. REALLY ANYONE, UH, AGAIN, WORKING IN THIS ASSEMBLY OR ANYWHERE IN CITY HALL. UH, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. IT'S NOT A REMOVAL FOR S OFFICE. IT'S NOT A PERMANENT, UH, BAR FROM SERVING ON SUBCOMMITTEES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU, MANDY. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER THREE. SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER THREE. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. THANK YOU. TODAY'S VOTE IS ABOUT SEPTEMBER 15TH, DECORUM, DIGNITY, RESPECTING EACH OTHER. AND THE OFFICE WE HOLD IS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD. THE CITY'S COUNCIL FOCUS IS REPRESENTING OUR CONSTITUENTS AND CITY. WE, AS CITY OFFICIALS, ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. THESE STANDARDS HAVE RULES AND DIRECTIVES THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW AND UPHOLD. THIS IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [ACTION ITEMS FOR STAFF BRIEFING] WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 4, 4, 5, AND SIX WILL BE TAKEN TOGETHER. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING MODIFICATIONS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SAWS 2022 RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ALL WATER DELIVERY, WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER RATE STRUCTURES FOR THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEMS RESIDENTIAL GENERAL IRRIGATION AND WHOLESALE CLASS CUSTOMERS ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 1ST, 2023, AND APPROVING MODIFICATIONS TO VARIOUS SAW SPECIAL SERVICES FEES EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY, JANUARY 1ST, 2023, TO INCLUDE AN AUTOMATIC ANNUAL INCREASE AT THE ANNUAL RATE OF INFLATION FOR SPECIAL SERVICES FEES, SUBJECT TO A COST OF SERVICE STUDY WITH ANY FUTURE GENERAL RATE INCREASE AND AMENDING THE CITY CODE CONSISTENT WITH CHANGES. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE INCREASING, INCREASING CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SAWS RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE RECYCLED WATER RATES BY 15% FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2023, AND ADOPTING MAXIMUM ANNUAL UP TO PERCENTAGES ADJUSTMENTS FOR 2024, 10%, 20, 25, 10%, 2026, 10%, AND 2027 10% RESPECTIVELY, AND AMENDING THE CITY CODE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGES. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS AN ORDINANCE OF PROVING AN INCREASE TO THE CHILLED WATER DEMAND CHARGE RATES FOR THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM FOR THE DOWNTOWN AND PORT SAN ANTONIO TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CHILLED WATER SYSTEM. EFFECTIVE ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 1ST, 2023, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF MAXIMUM UP TO ANNUAL PERCENTAGE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CHILLED WATER DEMAND CHARGE RATES FOR 20 24, 20 25, 20 26, AND 2027 RESPECTIVELY [01:55:01] AUTHORIZING TWO NEW CHILLED WATER RATE COMPONENTS, A DELTA T ADJUSTMENT CHARGE AND A CAPACITY CHARGE RAMP UP SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 1ST, 2023, AND AMENDING THE CITY CODE AND PRIOR ORDINANCES TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGES. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. BEN, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US. UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION. UH, SALS WILL GO THROUGH THAT IN MORE DETAIL, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND JUST A FEW COMMENTS ON THE ITEM. UH, UH, VERY BRIEFLY. SO, UH, FOR BRIEFING PURPOSES, WE WILL BE COVERING ITEMS FOUR THROUGH SIX COLLECTIVELY. SO WHEN OZ MAKES THAT PRESENTATION, THAT WILL COVER ALL THREE OF THE ITEMS. UM, ITEM FOUR, JUST IN SUMMARY, REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL AND MODIFICATION TO ALL WATER DELIVERY, WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER STRUCTURES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SAS RATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE SAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ALONG WITH ADJUSTMENTS TO VARIOUS SPECIAL SERVICE FEES WITH AUTOMATIC ANNUAL, UH, ANNUAL INCREASES TO THOSE FEES BASED ON THE ANNUAL RATE OF INFLATION. ITEM FIVE IS GONNA REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE IN RECYCLED WATER RATES FOR 2023 AND THE ADOPTION OF A, UH, RATE PLAN WITH MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE IN INCREASES FOR 2024 THROUGH 2027. ITEM SIX WILL REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE IN CHILL WATER DEMAND CHARGES IN 2023, UH, AND ALSO WITH A RATE PLAN WITH MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE INCREASES FOR 2024 TO 2027. UH, CITY STAFF DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF EACH OF THESE ITEMS. STAFF OF THE CITY'S PUBLIC UTILITIES OFFICE, UH, REVIEWED EACH OF THESE ITEMS AS WELL AS MONITORED THE PROGRESS OF THE SAWS RATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS THEY STUDIED, UH, RATE DESIGN. UH, FOR ITEM FOUR, OUR REVIEW IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE TYPICALLY PERFORM IN A RATE CASE. UH, FOR THIS ITEM, IT'S PRIMARILY RELATED TO HOW SAWS REVENUE IS RECOVERED FROM DIFFERENT RATE CLASSES. AND WHILE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES ON HOW THIS CAN BE DONE, THE APPOINTED RATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH THE SAWS, BOARDS OF TRUSTEES, UH, SET SOME OBJECTIVES IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS RATE REDESIGN AND RATE RESTRUCTURING. THEREFORE, WE REVIEWED THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE RATE DESIGN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE REASONABLE. WE BELIEVE THE CHANGES INCLUDE ITEM FOUR ARE REASONABLE, AND WE SUPPORT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. EXCUSE ME. ITEMS FIVE AND SIX, ESTABLISH RATE PLANS WITH UP TO MAXIMUM RATES FOR 20 FOR YEARS. 2024 TO 2027 SAWS CAN IMPLEMENT, UH, INCREASES IN THESE RATES UP TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE WITHOUT 40 FURTHER CITY COUNCIL ACTION. HOWEVER, THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND RATES IN THOSE FUTURE JURORS CAN ONLY OCCUR AFTER SAWS HAS COMPLIED WITH SEVERAL ACCOUNTABILITY PROCEDURES THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE ORDINANCE. I'LL HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE OF THOSE, UH, AT LEAST 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY RATE INCREASE WITHIN THAT RATE PLAN. UH, SAWS IS GONNA PROVIDE US THE PUBLIC UTILITIES OFFICE, THE PROPOSED INCREASE, THE CALCULATION METHOD, UH, AND ANY INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THAT INCREASE. NOW THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE, IT SAYS WITHIN 60 DAYS. I MEAN, IN PRACTICE, OUR STAFF AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES OFFICE IS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH STAFF THROUGH, UH, UH, WITH SAWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, WE WILL BE AND HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF WHERE THAT IS AT, BUT WE WILL BE DOING A REVIEW ON THAT FORMAL SUBMISSION TO US. WE'LL REVIEW THAT INFORMATION, PROVIDE OUR RECOMMENDATION IF WE CONCUR WITH THE REQUEST COMING FROM SAS, NO FURTHER COUNSEL ACTION IS REQUIRED, AND THEN WE'LL SUBMIT INFORMATION TO YOU ALL TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT CHANGE. UH, SPECIFICALLY THIS IS RELATED TO ITEMS FOUR AND FIVE WOULD DEAL WITH WHICH DEAL WITH THE RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM AND THE CHILL WATER SYSTEM. SO IT ONLY AFFECTS THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE CUSTOMERS OF THOSE TWO, UH, SPECIFIC SYSTEMS THAT DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE SAUCE SYSTEM. THE ONLY OTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU IS RELATED TO THE RECYCLED WATER PLAN. UM, WHILE WE FULLY SUPPORT A PLAN TO INCREASE THOSE RECYCLED WATER RATES, THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THEM TODAY AND WHERE POTABLE WATER RATES IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF THEIR, THEIR COST OF SERVICE. SO WE, WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT INCREASING THOSE RATES OVER TIME. UH, WHAT WE WOULD ASK IS THAT THE, UH, SAW STAFF WORK WITH THE SAS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THAT THEY DEVELOP A MORE, UH, UH, FORMAL THRESHOLD TARGET FOR WHERE WE NEED TO END AT THE END OF THE DAY. THAT CONSIDERS, UM, THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM AS AN ALTERNATIVE USE TO POTABLE WATER, THE BENEFITS TO CONSERVATION, AND THE CONT AND CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THAT RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM WERE APPLICABLE. SO IN CLOSING, UM, UH, MY REMARKS JUST LAST FRIDAY, WE DID SUBMIT TO YOU A REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC UTILITIES OFFICE. FOR THE RECORD, UM, WE'RE REQUIRED UNDER THE CHARTER TO SUBMIT A RECOMMENDATION. SO WE GAVE YOU A FAIRLY LENGTHY REPORT ON FRIDAY. UM, THE, THE SAWS PRESENTATION WILL HIGHLIGHT, UH, A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE DID SUBMIT THAT TO YOU ALL ON FRIDAY. THAT INCLUDES OUR RECOMMENDATION. UH, SO WITH THAT MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. I'M GONNA INTRODUCE ROBERT PUENTE, PRESIDENT AND C E O OF SAAS WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION THIS MORNING. ROBERT. [02:00:13] GOOD, MOR. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CITY MANAGER WALSH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN THIS MORNING. IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, JUST BE, UH, TRANSPARENT, BE OPEN WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND HAVE THE COMMUNITY SEE, UH, HOW WE ARE ABLE TO, UH, AFFECT THEM AND, AND THEIR RATES. UH, WHAT I WOULD TALK LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF THIS COUNCIL SA UH, SAWS BOARD IS RECOMMENDING COUNCIL APPROVAL OF RACK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER DELIVERY, WATER SUPPLY AND WASTE WASTEWATER RATES, A CERTAIN CERTAIN SPECIAL SERVICE FEE ADJUSTMENTS, AND A NEW PASS THROUGH FEE TO SUPPORT A, A BRAND NEW UPLIFT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE'RE ALSO SEEKING A FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR RECYCLED WATER AND A FIVE YEAR RATE PLAN FOR CHILLED WATER. THE RACK RECOMMENDATION FOR RES RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RE ON AFFORDABILITY, IN PARTICULAR AFFORDABILITY FOR ESSENTIAL WATER USE. UH, THE GROUP AS A WHOLE COULD HAVE, UH, AND WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO, TO SAY CONSERVATION WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, OR SIMPLICITY OF THE BILL WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. BUT COLLECTIVELY, THEY DECIDED THAT AFFORDABILITY FOR ESSENTIAL USE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND THAT IS WATER THAT IS USED INSIDE THE HOME, ESSENTIALLY, UM, FOR, UM, FOR, FOR THE BASIC SERVICES THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT WE NEED WATER FOR INSIDE OUR HOME. AS A RESULT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, CUSTOMERS, CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A NEARLY 9% REDUCTION IN THEIR BILL. IT ALSO SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY FOCUS ON WATER CONSERVATION, SENDING STRONGER PRICE SIGNALS, UH, FOR USAGE, UH, AT 9,000 GALLONS. OUR PRIOR PLAN, OUR PRIOR RATE STRUCTURE HAS THOSE SIGNALS GOING OUT AT 12,000 GALLONS. THIS BRINGS IT IN A LITTLE SOONER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND, UH, WHEN THEY START USING THAT, UH, THAT AMOUNT OF WATER. THE RACK WAS ALSO FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT WATER AND SEWER SERVICE WAS AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE MOST ECONOMICALLY CHA CHALLENGING OUR COMMUNITY. THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT DIS DISCOUNT PROGRAM WITH A SEPARATE DISCOUNTED RATE STRUCTURE THAT WILL RESULT IN LOWER BILLS FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CUSTOMERS ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM. DUE TO THE COST OF SERVICE STUDY THAT FOUND THAT WE WERE OVER RECOVERING FROM RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE, 100% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A REDUCTION IN THEIR SEWER BILLS. 100% OF OUR AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS WILL, WILL PAY LESS OR AT LEAST STAY THE SAME BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING NOTHING OR PAYING ZERO WITH THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER SEEING THE REDUCTION OF 33 TO 57% IN THOSE BILLS. SO THE AVERAGE AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMER WILL SEE A REDUCTION OF 33 TO 57%, 83% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL BILLS WILL GO DOWN. UH, AND THOSE ARE FOR THOSE THAT ARE USING LESS THAN 9,000 GALLONS. A 20% REDUCTION IN THE FIXED CHARGES ENSURES EVEN GREATER AFFORDABILITY FOR CUSTOMERS USING A MODEST AMOUNT OF WATER, AFFORDABLE AFFORDABILITY, CUSTOMERS WILL NOT HAVE A CHARGE FOR THE FIRST 2000 GALLONS OF USAGE. SO THE FIRST 2000 GALLONS THAT AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY A FEE ON WHETHER IT'S FOR USAGE OR, OR FOR FIXED CHARGES. THE FIXED CHARGE WILL ONLY BE $3 WHEN THEY GO ABOVE $2,000, AND THAT'S COMPARED TO EITHER THE NINE OR 11 PAID BY THOSE INDIVIDUALS NOT IN THE PROGRAM. THERE WILL, THERE WILL STILL BE A TIERED RATE STRUCTURE FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS, BUT THOSE RATES FOR WATER USAGE ABOVE 2000 GALLONS ARE STILL 40 TO 50% BELOW THE RATES PAID BY CUSTOMERS NOT IN THE PROGRAM. THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE PAID THROUGH A PASS THROUGH FEE OF 32 CENTS PER 1000 GALLONS. UH, THAT WILL BE IN THE BILL. OUR AVERAGE BILL, IF YOU CAN SEE THIS SLIDE, UH, CURRENTLY FOR A USAGE OF ABOUT 6,002, UH, 6,275 GALLONS IS $66 AND 68 CENTS. IF YOU ARE IN OUR AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, YOUR BILL IS $38 AND 33 CENTS. IF THIS COUNCIL APPROVES THIS RATE STRUCTURE, THAT AVERAGE BILL WILL NOW GO DOWN TO $60 AND 88 CENTS, AND OUR AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A REDUCTION ALL THE WAY DOWN TO $25 AND 32 CENTS. MOVING TO THE GENERAL, GENERAL CLASS RATES AND GENERAL CLASS IS COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND MULTIFAMILY CUSTOMERS. SO'S CURRENT RATE STRUCTURE IS AN INCLINING BLOCK RATE STRUCTURE WHERE THE AMOUNT OF WATER PROVIDED IN EACH BLOCK IS, IS DEPENDENT ON THE CUSTOMER'S AVERAGE MONTHLY USE FOR THE PRIOR YEAR. AS LONG AS THE CUSTOMER'S USAGE IS AT OR BELOW THIS BASE USAGE. [02:05:01] THE LOWEST RATE APPLIES FOR THE WATER USED. UNDER THIS STRUCTURE, VERY CONSISTENT. CONSISTENT CUSTOMERS PAY THE LOWEST RATE, UH, FOR THEIR USAGE, FOR THEIR BUSINESS USAGE. IF THEY GO UP, IF THEY PEAK, THAT'S MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE, UH, UTILITY, AND SO THEIR BILLS GO UP ACCORDINGLY. ADJUSTMENTS TO MEET THE COST OF SERVICE WILL RESULT IN A BILL INCREASE OF 7% FOR GENERAL IN THIS GENERAL CLASS. WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CLASS OF CUSTOMERS CALLED IRRIGATION CUSTOMERS, AND THE RATES APPLIED FOR, FOR, FOR ALL OUTDOOR USAGE. AND SO SOME BUSINESSES HAVE A METER FOR INSIDE USAGE, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A SEPARATE METER FOR IRRIGATION OF THEIR GROUNDS. AND SO THESE INCLINING RATE BLOCKS CONTINUE TO SEND PRICE SIGNALS FOR THAT DISCRETIONARY OUTDOOR USE. MOST CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A 2% INCREASE IN THESE BILLS, UH, TO HELP OUT WITH THAT UPLIFT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. OF COURSE, UH, WHEN WE DO SOMETHING, UH, DIFFERENT LIKE THIS, WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE, WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. WHEN THE RAC COMPLETED THE WORK AT THE END OF JUNE, OUR STAFF PROVIDED BRIEFINGS TO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, CHAMBERS OF COM COMMERCE. WE INDIVIDUALLY WENT TO YOUR OFFICES TO EXPLAIN THESE CHANGES TO YOU, AND HOPEFULLY, UH, Y'ALL GAVE US INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WAS, UH, YOUR CONCERNS, WHAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS. THE FEEDBACK WAS OVER OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WELCOME THE NEWS OF OBVIOUSLY OF A REDUCTION OF THEIR BILL. UH, EVEN THE, UH, INDIVIDUAL OR THE BUSINESSES THAT BILLS WERE, WILL BE RAISED. WE RECEIVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER, THE NORTH CHAMBER, AND THE SAN ANTONIO MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, AS WE TYPICALLY DO WHEN WE DO A, A RATE STRUCTURE CHANGE, WE LOOK AT THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE FOR SPECIAL SERVICES, AND SOME OF THESE SPECIAL SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE INDUSTRIAL WASTE PERMITS, LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL PERMITS, UH, LAB TESTING FEES, AND KEEPING WITH THE RACK RECOMMENDATION. UM, AND SO THESE, THESE FEES ARE BEING ADJUSTED THAT A, THEY RAISED REVENUE OF AROUND, UH, $5.9 MILLION FOR THIS COMING YEAR. BUT THIS WRECK ALSO RECOMMENDED TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABILITY TO THE CUSTOMERS, TO THE LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS, UH, THAT THE DE THAT THE DE THAT THE DEPOSITS AND THE TRIP FEES TO TURN ON THE WATER BE WAIVED FOR AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS. AND WE'RE ALSO WAIVING THE, UH, LATE PAYMENTS THAT THESE CUSTOMERS MAY HAVE TO PAY TO, TO AGAIN, TRY TO DRIVE THAT BILL AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD A FEE FOR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE NON-COMPLIANT FOR, FOR THEIR BACKFLOW INSPECTIONS, BACKFLOW INSPECTION, BACKFLOW DEVICES, DEVICE THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES HAVE TO USE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, THAT THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM DOES NOT GO INTO THEIR SYSTEM AND OR THEIR, UH, PARTICULAR USAGE DOES NOT COME INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND, AND THAT IS, UH, A HEALTH AND SAFETY, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT IS A CITY CODE, AND THAT'S A STATE CODE ALSO THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH. HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF BUSINESSES DO NOT ANNUALLY INSPECT LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. AND SO FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT COMPLY, WE'RE ASKING FOR A NON-COMPLIANCE FEE, UH, DEPENDING ON HOW BIG THIS DEVICE IS, FROM $79 AND 50 CENTS ALL THE WAY TO $168. UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A CONNECT H TWO O METER PROGRAM. WE'RE ASKING, UH, THIS COUNCIL TO AMEND CHAPTER 40 34 A, A SPECIFIC CITY ORDINANCE, UH, THAT RECOGNIZES THAT, THAT RECOGNIZES THAT ALL OF THESE PUBLIC METERS ARE TO BE OWNED, OPERATED, AND MAINTAINED BY THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. THAT SAWS MAY INSTALL THESE ADVANCED ELECTRONIC METERS, UH, WITH A COMMUNICATION ENDPOINT, UH, RIGHT THERE AT, UH, WHERE THE, UM, WHERE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MEETS THEIR PARTICULAR, UH, UH, UH, LATERAL COMING, UH, OR SERVICE LINE COMING OUT FROM MAR MAIN INTO THEIR HOME. AND THAT, UH, THERE NOT BE ALLOWED AN OPT-OUT PROVISION. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED TO THIS COUNCIL ABOUT AND OUR OWN BOARD, AND WE DECIDED, UH, TO NOT ALLOW FOR AN OPT-OUT, UH, RECYCLED WATER. UH, THE AMERICAN, UH, WATERWORKS ASSOCIATIONS HAS SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES, PRINCIPLES REGARDING, UH, RECYCLED WATER. UH, THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, RECYCLED WATER CANNOT BE PRICED AT ITS TRUE COST BECAUSE OF THE OTHER SOFT KIND OF BENEFITS THAT IT, THAT IT PROVIDES. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, ANY WASTEWATER, ANY RECYCLED WATER CUSTOMER THAT NEEDS THAT WATER, IF IT DIDN'T HAVE IT, IT WOULD BE USING POTABLE WATER. SO SAWS OR THE PUBLIC UTILITY WOULD HAVE TO SUPPLY THAT, WOULD HAVE TO HAVE, UH, UH, SOME TYPE OF, UH, WATER PROJECT TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF, UH, THE NEEDS OF THAT PARTICULAR CUSTOMER. UH, AND SO THE BEST THING TO DO, I THINK, IS WHAT WE'VE DONE AT SAWS, AND THAT'S CREATE A RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM PROGRAM THAT IS THE LA THE NATION'S LARGEST, THAT SUPPLIES RECYCLED WATER TO A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, AND WE HAVE TO [02:10:01] PRICE THAT WATER LESS THAN POTABLE WATER. OTHERWISE, THERE'S NOT AN INS INCENTIVE TO GET ON THAT PROGRAM. WE RECOGNIZE, FOR EXAMPLE, A TOYOTA THAT USES A LOT OF RECYCLED WATER. THEY HAVE TO, UH, STILL TREAT THAT WATER, THAT RECYCLED WATER TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS. SO THERE'S AN ADDED COST. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, UH, UH, RECOGNIZED THAT. AND, BUT WE ARE STILL ASKING, HOWEVER, FOR A, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR A RATE INCREASE ON THAT RECYCLED WATER YEAR ONE WILL BE 15%, UM, UH, TO START, UH, UH, INCLUDING WHAT WAS, UH, PREVIOUSLY THE PAST YEAR OF 10%, BUT THIS 15%, UH, IN YEAR ONE AND 10% INCREASES IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WHAT THIS WILL DO, WE'LL GET THE, THE, UH, SYSTEM UP TO ABOUT 48%, UM, BY, BY THE FIRST YEAR, THE FIRST, UH, YEAR OF THAT, OF THE, UH, 10% INCREASE, A 48% WHERE IT MEETS THAT, UH, COST OF SERVICE AND UP TO 71% BY THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS, WELL, IT WILL BE WITHIN 71% OF WHAT, OF WHAT THE POTABLE COST IS FOR THAT SERVICE. WE ALSO, UH, HAVE A CHILLED WATER SYSTEM, SAW STILL, UH, IS IN THIS BUSINESS, AND WE HAVE BEEN IN THERE SINCE, UH, IT WAS CREATED IN 1968 FOR HEMISPHERE. THE DOWNTOWN SYSTEM, UM, IS, UH, A MAJORITY OF SAN ANTONIO. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS OUR CUSTOMER, BUT A LOT OF THE OTHER HOTELS, UH, ARE OUR CUSTOMERS, THE FEDERAL BUILDING, OUR CUSTOMERS. SO WE CAN SEE THAT WE'VE BEEN A PART OF A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT, UH, DOWNTOWN HAS PROVIDED FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE TOURISM AND, UH, THE FINANCIAL SECTOR THAT'S STILL LOCATED DOWN HERE. OUR OTHER PART OF THE SYSTEM IS THE PORT OF PORT AUTHORITY, THE LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, FORMERLY LACK AND AIR FORCE BASE, WHERE SOME, UH, NATIONAL FIRMS ARE THERE THAT WE PROVIDE, UH, CHILLED WATER SYSTEM FOR THEM. UH, THIS BUSINESS HAS NOT BEEN, UM, HAS NOT RECEIVED RATE INCREASES, HAS NOT HAD THE NECESSARY REVENUE TO MEET SOME OF ITS NEEDS. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR A, A FIVE YEAR, UH, RATE INCREASE. WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS IS, UH, AS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS PIE, IS, UH, ADDING DIFFERENT, UH, UPGRADES, CHILLERS, UH, CHILLERS, UH, ELECTRICAL UPGRADES, SCADA CONTROL, AND METERING, PIPING PUMPS, MOTORS. THESE ARE ALL THINGS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UH, PART OF OUR BUSINESS IS SUSTAINABLE. AND WE, WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. ON THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE THE, UH, FIVE YEAR RATE PLAN. SPECIFICALLY, IT'S 12% THE FIRST YEAR, 12%, 12% THE SECOND YEAR, AND THEN 10, EIGHT AND EIGHT. TRADITIONALLY, WHEN WE HAVE, WHEN SAUCE HAS BEEN BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR A MULTIPLE YEAR RATE INCREASE, IT'S ALWAYS AN UP TO AMOUNT. AND AS BEN GELLE MENTIONED TO YOU, EACH YEAR, WE COME TO, UH, CITY UTILITIES OFFICE AND SHOW THEM AND TELL THEM WHY, UH, WE NEED A PARTICULAR, UH, RATE INCREASE. THAT MAY IN FACT BE THE NUMBER THAT YOU APPROVE, BUT OFTENTIMES, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S RIGHT UNDER THAT OR SOME, UH, AMOUNT UNDER THAT, BECAUSE OF SOME EFFICIENCIES WE FOUND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IF WE ADD MORE CUSTOMERS, IF WE'RE ABLE TO GROW THE SYSTEM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, HOPEFULLY HAVE THESE, UH, RATE INCREASES COME IN, UH, LESS THAN NORMAL THAN WHAT YOU SEE. UH, OF COURSE, THESE RATE INCREASES, UH, SEEM TO BE RATHER LARGE, SEEM TO BE, UM, UH, FOR ALL OF FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE TALKED, OBVIOUSLY TO OUR BIGGEST CUSTOMER, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND TO THE OTHER PRIVATE CUSTOMERS. THEY ALL RECOGNIZE IT. AND THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS WHAT CONVINCES THEM THAT THIS IS, UH, THE WAY TO GO. THE TOP LINE IS WHAT IT COSTS, UH, A PRIVATE SECTOR TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE. THE BLOCK BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT, UH, SOCE CAN, UH, CAN DO IT FOR. AND IF THOSE LINES EVER MEET, THEN, UH, ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD BE NOT COST EFFECTIVE FOR US TO DO IT. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A HEALTHY, UH, SPACE BETWEEN THEM, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE, UH, THAT THE, THE, THE PRIVATE CUSTOMERS SEE THIS AND WILL WANT TO COME ON OUR SYSTEM. UH, MR. MERRICK COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I AND MY STAFF ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. PUENTE. UH, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESIDENT OF OUR SAS CHAIR, UM, WHO IS HERE AS WELL, JALYN LEBLANC. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY. UH, WE DO HAVE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM FOUR. I'LL CALL HIM NOW. AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. UH, CASEY MADRID AND, UH, MS. MADRID, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JEANETTE AHMAD. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS CASEY MADRID, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE 2023 SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM RATE ADVISORY RECOMMENDATIONS. THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS COMPOSED OF VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT REPRESENT DIFFERENT SERVICE AREAS AND CUSTOMERS [02:15:01] TO INCLUDE MAJOR MANUFACTURERS, THE HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES, MULTI-FAMILY CUSTOMERS, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE SA SERVICE AREA, AS WELL AS THOSE WITHIN THE CITY, UH, EXCUSE ME, SAW SERVICE AREA OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS, RECYCLED WATER CUSTOMERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUPS. THROUGHOUT THE RATE STUDY PROCESS, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING FOUR PRIORITIES, WHICH FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY, MINIMIZED CUSTOMER IMPACTS, CONSERVATION AND REVENUE STABILITY. THE SAS RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS HONOR THESE COMMITMENTS AND THAT THEY, UM, MEET THE COST OF SERVICE DETERMINED BY CUSTOMER CLASS. THEY ENCOURAGE CONTINUED CONSERVATION FOR DISCRETIONARY USE. THEY ENSURE AFFORDABILITY OF ESSENTIAL WATER USE FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, AND THEY'RE REVENUE NEUTRAL, AND THAT THE RESTRUCTURED RATES WILL NOT PROVIDE SAW WITH ADDITIONAL REVENUE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE RECOMMENDED RATE STRUCTURE INCLUDES COMMERCIAL RATE INCREASES DUE TO THE COST OF SERVICE, AND WE WILL DILIGENTLY MONITOR THE IMPACT OF COMMER, OF, OF THE COMMERCIAL RATE INCREASES ON BUSINESSES. SAN ANTONIO HAS SOME OF THE NATION'S BEST WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND THE CHAMBER SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT WILL SAFEGUARD THE CITY'S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND POLICIES TO IMPROVE THE REGION'S WATER RESILIENCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND SO WE RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF THE SAS RATE RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MS. MADRID. JEANETTE AHMAD, MR. AHMAD, JACK FINGER, MR. FING, YOU'D BE FOLLOWED BY MARINA GONZALEZ. SOMEBODY HAS STARTED THE CLOCK HERE. YEAH, PLEASE RETURN IT TO THREE MINUTES. GO AHEAD, JACK. I'LL WATCH THE TIME. MAYOR NURENBERG, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YES, YOU ARE ABOUT TO, UH, RAISE SOME UTILITY RATES HERE, AND YOU'RE GONNA ASK PERSONS LIKE MYSELF, THE QUESTION, WELL, WELL, JACK, YOU'RE JUST A, A RESIDENT. YOU, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THIS. IN FACT, JACK, YOU'RE GOING TO GET ACTUALLY A REDUCTION IN YOUR, YOUR WATER BILL RATES. AND I SAY, WELL, YEAH, I'LL OPPING FIVE OR SIX BUCKS A MONTH THERE. YEAH, WELL, BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, I SAY, UH, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? AND I, I LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS AND WHAT, WHAT IS IT, WHAT IS IT EXACTLY ARE YOU RAISING HERE? WHAT'S, WHAT DOES IT SAY THERE? OKAY. YES. IT SAYS, ORDINANCE INCREASES RECYCLED WATER RATES BY LITTLE BLEACHED OUT THERE, 15% FOR 2023. UH, FOR 2024, IT'S ABOUT 10%, 20, 25, 10% EXTRA. 2026, ANOTHER 10%, AND 2027, ANOTHER 10%, HUH? RETURN THE CAMERA IF YOU WOULD THERE. AND, OH. UM, AND THAT'S FOR THE RECYCLE RACE. WHAT'S THIS FOR? THE CHILLED WATER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HEAT EXCHANGERS AT THEIR COMPANIES, WHAT'S IT SAY, ANOTHER 12% FOR 2023, NOT 2024, 12%, UH, 20, 25, 10%, 12, ANOTHER 8% FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND ANOTHER 8% FOR 2027. THAT'S ABOUT, UH, 50% RIGHT THERE. I THINK YOU RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. AND 55% FOR THE RECYCLED WATER. UH, 50% FOR OVER FIVE YEARS FOR ONE CLASS AND ANOTHER 55% FOR, FOR ANOTHER. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE NOW? I MEAN, IT WAS LAUDABLE THAT, THAT WE TRIED TO SAVE WATER BY USING, UH, UH, NON-POTABLE WATER FOR, FOR THOSE WHO CAN USE IT. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WEREN'T GETTING ENOUGH BUSINESS ON THAT, AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY YOU KEPT THE RATES LOW. BUT, BUT BY THAT, THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO. YOU'VE HAD A NUMBER OF, UH, CUSTOMERS COME FORWARD AND YOU HAVE, UH, UH, AND ONLY NOW ARE YOU STARTING TO RAISE RATES AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. EXCUSE ME. UH, EVEN, I MEAN, I DON'T CARE WHO I, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S SOME BIG, BAD BUSINESS THAT THAT IS FINALLY GETTING, AND IT IS COME UP. IT'S HERE. NO, NO. I'M SORRY. THIS DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS AN A, AN A, OBVIOUSLY MISMANAGEMENT OVER AT SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. AND MR. MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE OVER THERE FOR YEARS. NOW. WHAT'S [02:20:01] GOING ON HERE, SIR? WHY ARE IT BEING ALLOWED TO DO THIS ALL THIS TIME? THANK YOU, MR. FINGER MARINA GONZALEZ. MS. GONZALEZ, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY AARON ZAKO. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COUNCIL MANAGER WALSH. MR. PUENTE AND MADAM CHAIR, I JUST DIDN'T THINK YOU GUYS HAD ENOUGH PEOPLE SIGN UP TO SPEAK. SO HERE I AM. UH, MY NAME'S MIRANDA GONZALEZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND C E O OF THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 900 MEMBERS OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE SAS RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL ALLOW SAWS TO MAINTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE WATER SERVICES TO SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. WE KNOW THAT SECURE AND AFFORDABLE WATER ACCESS IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SAWS HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED EFFECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT TO SERVE OUR CITY. SASS COMMITMENT TO FUTURE PREPARATION CONTRIBUTES TO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION. AS A RESULT OF THESE CAREFUL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, SAS IS PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SAN ANTONIO'S VASTLY GROWING POPULATION AND EXPANDING ECONOMY. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION COULD INCLUDE COMMERCIAL RATE INCREASES, SO WE WILL CAREFULLY MONITOR THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THE RECOMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ. AARON ZAKO, ZAKO. OKAY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE NOW INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE ITEMS. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEMS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX. UH, WE'LL START DISCUSSION NOW WITH COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO, MR. PUENTE. UH, I DON'T THINK YOU BRAGGED ENOUGH ON YOUR CHILLED WATER LOOP, AND SO I'M GONNA TRY AND HELP YOU A LITTLE BIT. AND FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T, AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH IT, SAWS DOES HAVE THIS, UH, A WATER LOOP UNDERGROUND THAT CAN TIE INTO LARGE BUILDINGS TO BE USED IN REPLACE OF A STANDARD HVAC SYSTEM, UH, OR COOLING SYSTEM. AND THEY CAN USE THAT CHILLED WATER TO ACTUALLY COOL THEIR BUILDING. AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT ALLOWS THE BUSINESS OWNER TO SAVE MONEY, AND IT ALSO REDUCES OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION. AND BECAUSE IT, IT, IT'S, IT USES LESS ENERGY FOR THAT BUILDING LESS ENERGY. IT'S LESS OF AN ENERGY STRAIN ON C P SS ENERGY AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS INTO THAT CHILLED WATER LOOP SYSTEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANY FUTURE EXPANSIONS OF IT. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES JOIN ME AND LETTING OTHER PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES NOT JUST DOING THIS DOWNTOWN. THERE'S, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER AREAS WHERE WE HAVE DEVELOPMENT. AND I, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE ONE. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE AT AT BROOKS OR AT THE PORT? AT THE PORT, YEAH. SO I, I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS AND, UH, IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING MORE ABOUT IT, GO AHEAD. UH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, AND I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS. UH, THE KEY TO THIS, I THINK, IS GROWTH. UM, AND THE CITY COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, A LOT OF SAY SO IN HOW, UH, DOWNTOWN GROWS. SO, UH, THE MORE, UH, GROWTH THAT IS DOWNTOWN, HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME EITHER INCENTIVES OR EVEN ORDINANCE THAT THEY, UH, UM, UH, COMMUNICATE WITH US AND THEY TALK TO US AND WE CAN SEE AND SHOW THEM THAT IT'S MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO GET ON OUR SYSTEM THAN TO TRY TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. YOU MENTIONED, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, UH, AND THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS, BUT ALSO THERE'S A SPACE BENEFIT, A SQUARE FOOTAGE BENEFIT IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THEIR BUILDING, THEY HAVE MORE, UH, OF AN AREA FOR EITHER, UH, HOTEL ROOMS OR, UM, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO, ROOF SPACE, WHATEVER THEY MAY WANT TO DO. SO YES, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. UH, WE NEED TO CREATE PARTNERSHIPS. THERE ARE SOME NEW CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ONLINE, SOME, UH, EXISTING CUSTOMERS LIKE THE MALL. UH, THEY'RE AGING, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE'S AGING. SO WE'RE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT POTENTIALLY COMING OVER AND TYING INTO OUR SYSTEM. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO IT'S A WIN-WIN WIN. YOU KNOW, IT'S A WIN ON, UH, ENERGY USE. IT'S A WIN ON COST SAVINGS. IT'S A WIN ON USING LESS OF YOUR BUILDING SPACE, FREEING UP BUILDING SPACE. AND SO IF ANYBODY HAS A CONCENTRATION OF GROWTH IN THEIR AREA, AND SOME DEVELOPERS ARE TALKING TO YOU, PLEASE TALK TO SAWS ABOUT SEEING IF YOU CAN INCORPORATE A CHILLED WATER LOOP THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELCOME, ROBERT. THANK YOU. WELCOME CHAIR. UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO, UH, KIND OF TOUCH ON. WE JUST HAD SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS PROPOSED WHY QUESTIONS? [02:25:01] AND I THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORTH ANSWERING TO THE PUBLIC, FOR EXAMPLE. UH, WHY WERE WE, UH, RAISING RATES ON POTABLE WA UH, EXCUSE ME, ON, UH, RECYCLED WATER. COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT THE CURRENT RATE IS TODAY ON RECYCLED WATER? UH, MARY BAILEY CAN, YEAH, MARY KNOWS. SO THE RATES, UH, VARY A BIT DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF RECYCLED WATER YOUR CUSTOMER, BUT ON AVERAGE, THEY'RE PAYING ABOUT, UH, I THINK IT'S A DOLLAR 60, A THOUSAND GALLONS. UH, THEY'RE PAYING ABOUT 20% OF WHAT? POTABLE WATER. OKAY. SO THAT RECYCLED PAYING 20% OF THE COST FOR PROVIDING IT, OR, OR COMPARED TO THE COST OF POTABLE WATER COMPARED TO THE COST OF POTABLE WATER. BUT THEY'RE PAYING ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COST OF THE SYSTEM FOR THE RECYCLED. AND AREN'T ALL OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS WE'RE TALKING IN RATES BASED ON THE COST OF THE WATER AND DELIVERING THE SERVICE? UH, YES. THAT WAS THE, WHAT THE RACE STUDY DID. AND RIGHT, WITH THIS PARTICULAR RATE INCREASE, WE'LL GO FROM THE 33% SHE SAID, TO 48%. RIGHT. SO WE'VE BEEN, WELL, WHO'S BEEN PAYING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, THE COST FOR POTABLE WATER AND THE DELIVERY OF IT COMPARED TO, UH, THE RECYCLED WATER, UH, THE REST OF OUR CUSTOMERS. OKAY. SO ALL THE REST OF US HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH SUBSIDIZING THOSE USING RECYCLED WATER. CORRECT. AND THE PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE COST UP TO ABOUT 70, 71% OF, OF THAT COST OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, CORRECT. 71%. SO PEOPLE GETTING RECYCLED WATER, EVEN WITH THESE PROJECTED COSTS, WOULD STILL BE PAYING LESS THAN WHAT THE COST WAS OR, OR WOULD BE FOR DELIVERING POTABLE WATER? CORRECT. AND WE DON'T WANT THEM POURING POTABLE WATER ON A GOLF COURSE, DO WE? NO. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE KEYS IS, UH, ENCOURAGING, UM, IRRIGATION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO USE POT, UH, RECYCLED WATER. UH, IT'S NOT JUST A A DOLLAR, UM, UH, AMOUNT. IT'S NOT JUST MONETARY ISSUES. THEY'RE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THERE'S OVERALL SUPPLY ISSUES. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, 25,000, UH, UM, 25,000 ACRE FEET THAT GOES TO PRIVATE CUSTOMERS. IF THEY DIDN'T, UH, HAVE RECYCLED WATER, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A 25,000 ACRE PRIVATE, UH, UH, UH, PRI, A 25,000 ACRE FOOT PROJECT ONLINE RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE THAT WATER. SO WE, WE'D PROBABLY HAVE TO BUY MORE WATER. CORRECT. IN ORDER TO DO THAT AT A HIGHER PRICE THAN WHAT WE DELIVERED TODAY. EXACTLY. OKAY. WELL, THAT SOUNDS SMART. UH, THE OTHER DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT CHILLED WATER. NOW, CAN YOU TELL ME, ARE THOSE BUSINESSES USING THE CHILLED WATER DOWNTOWN OR OUT AT BROOKS TODAY? ARE THEY PAYING WHAT'S COMPARABLE OR LESS THAN WHAT THEY'D BE PAYING IF THEY HAD DIRECT, UH, POWER FROM C P S TO PROVIDE THIS? UH, VERY MUCH LESS. OKAY. SO THEY'RE PAYING LESS RIGHT NOW. CORRECT. UH, WHY ARE WE INCREASING THE COST FOR THAT, UH, TO GET THE SYSTEM UP TO, UH, TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE? IN OTHER WORDS, RIGHT NOW, THAT SYSTEM DOES NOT GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE FOR US TO, UH, TO BUY THE, THE, UH, PROPER CHILLERS, UH, THE ENERGY EFFICIENT CHILLERS TO KEEP THE MAINTENANCE UP. UH, AND THIS, UH, BUSINESS ALSO IS BEING SUBSIDIZED BY OUR OTHER BUSINESSES, OUR OTHER CUSTOMERS. SO THEY NEED TO GET, UH, TO THE, TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE PAYING THEIR OWN. OKAY. SO THE, THIS CHILLED WATER PROJECT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY IT CAN PROVIDE, THE QUALITY OF THE, THE MACHINERY THAT'S DELIVERING IT. UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO INCREASE THE RATES TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT. AND THOSE RATES ARE GONNA BE PAID FOR BY THE USERS, CORRECT. AND NOT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE CITY. CORRECT. AND EVEN WHEN THAT'S ALL DONE, SAID AND DONE, DO YOU THINK IT'LL STILL BE SUPPLYING CHEAPER ENERGY THAN IF THEY WERE BUYING FROM C P SS? UH, YES. UH, THE GRAPH THAT I, THE, THE SLIDE THAT I SHOWED SHOW THAT EVEN AFTER, UH, FIVE YEARS, THE 12, 12, 10, 8, 8 RATE INCREASE, UH, WE CAN STILL PROVIDE IT A LOT CHEAPER THAN A PRIVATE SECTOR COULD. WELL, THAT, THAT SOUNDS LIKE THOSE ARE GOOD ANSWERS TO SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. UH, I'VE, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE WORK THAT, UH, SAS HAS BEEN DOING ON THIS, WATCHING THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, I SERVE IN THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMITTEE, AND WE'VE ASKED YOU TO COME AND MAKE THESE PRESENTATIONS. AND I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND TO ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW THIS AS CLOSELY AS YOU MIGHT LIKE, THAT THIS IS A REASONABLE, UH, RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL. WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE'RE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, TRANSFERRING THE COST OF SERVICE TO APPROPRIATELY [02:30:02] REPRESENT THOSE THAT ARE RECEIVING THAT SERVICE. IN OTHER WORDS, UM, MOST OF THE COMMERCIAL AND UTILITY USERS HAVE NOT QUITE PAID FOR THE COST OF SERVICE, BUT RESIDENTS HAVE PROBABLY PAID A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THEIR COST OF SERVICE. AND SO WE'RE JUST BALANCING THIS OUT. YOU, YOU'RE CORRECT. COUNCILMAN COURAGE. OKAY. WELL, I CERTAINLY ENDORSE THIS AND HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER KEY RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF AND SOME CHANGE NOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UM, OUR GOALS RELATING TO THE UTILITY RATES, UM, BEING MUCH MORE EQUITY, UM, FAVORABLE TO OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS. AND I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES HAS HAVE EXISTED FOR MANY OF US, MUCH MORE WITH C P S, UM, THAN SAWS. AND SO I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY. AND WHEN OUR OFFICE MET WITH SAWS EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW UP AND GET A RESPONSE TO, UM, A C C R THAT I PROPOSED EARLIER THIS YEAR, REQUESTING CONSIDERATION OF A SAWS AND C P S RATE FREEZE FOR SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. AND ORIGINALLY, I PROPOSED THIS RATE FREEZE BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE LIVING PRECARIOUSLY MONTH TO MONTH ON A FIXED INCOME WHILE COSTS ARE RISING ON EVERYTHING FROM RENT, FOOD, AND BASIC LIVING EXPENSIVE EXPENSES. AND MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE A CHANGE, WHETHER IT WAS THE FREEZE OR RESTRUCTURING THE PHRASE, THE, THE RATES WITH THE IN INTENT, WITH THAT INTENTION IN MIND. UM, AND I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHICH STRUCTURE WOULD GET BETTER RESULTS FOR FAMILIES AND BE MORE EQUITABLE OVERALL. AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE POLICIES, THE WORK OF THE SAWS RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, TO ADJUST THE COST STRUCTURES PROVIDED DEEPER COST SAVINGS FOR ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS. AND FOR THIS, I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER. WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS LONG OVERDUE AND EXACTLY WHAT'S NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT OUR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES ARE PAYING FOR THE WATER THEY USE AND ARE NOT CARRYING THE BURDEN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, WHICH LET'S BE CLEAR, HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR DECADES TO THE RATE COMMITTEE, INCLUDING MY APPOINTEE AND AQUA GARCIA, WHO BOLDLY, WHO BOLDLY TOOK ON THIS CHARGE TO THE SAS STAFF AND CITY FINANCE STAFF WHO WERE DOING THE NUMBER CRUNCHING AND COST SCENARIOS, AND TO THE SASS BOARD WHO HAD THE POLITICAL WILL TO SEE THIS POLICY THROUGH TO TODAY. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, AND I DO HOPE WE CAN SEE SIMILAR ACTION IN C P S. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CHU RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU MR. PUENTE. AND I ALSO WANNA EXPRESS THANKS TO OUR SSO APPOINTEE TO THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, DR. MONTOYA. UH, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, UH, COUNCILMAN COURAGE ARTICULATED THE POINTS SUCCINCTLY ON WHY I, UH, INTEND TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND TO KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF, RIGHT? UH, RESIDENTS WHO USE MORE WILL PAY MORE AND CUSTOMERS ENROLLED IN A DISCOUNT PROGRAM WILL ALSO SEE THOSE, UH, MUCH NEEDED SAVINGS. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO APPLY TO DIFFERENT, UH, UTILITIES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTING, UM, THE USAGE AND THE RATE, RIGHT, YOU, YOU USE FOR HOW MUCH YOU USE YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT USAGE. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE STRONG PRICING SIGNALS THAT WILL BE SENT TO WATER USERS WHO EXCEED 9,000 GALLONS. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. BUT JUST LETTING FOLKS KNOW, LIKE, HEY, WE SHOULD BE, UM, REDUCING OUR USAGE OF WATER. AND, UH, I THINK THAT'S KEY. UH, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL PAY, UH, $60 AND 88 CENTS PER MONTH, WHICH IS A REDUCTION OF 8.7% FROM CURRENT CHARGES. UM, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR AND SEE IN THE PRESENTATION AND IN OUR BRIEFINGS. UM, BUT THANK YOU AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. MM-HMM. , THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER ELAS MARY, RIGHT? WE WERE AT A H O A MEETING, THE NORTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR ORGANIZED DEVELOPMENT, AND WE BOTH PRESENTED UP THERE OUR, UM, THE SUMMARY OF, OF THIS RATE STRUCTURE, AND THEY KEPT LOOKING AT US WITH BLANK LOOKS. 'CAUSE THEY WERE LIKE, WAIT, SERIOUSLY, YOU'RE LOWERING OUR RATES? LIKE, WHAT'S THE CATCH? RIGHT? AND, UH, SOME OF THEM WERE LOOKING TO SEE IF IT WAS APRIL FOOL'S DAY, AND, UM, RARELY IF EVER, UH, DO UTILITIES COME AND SAY, HEY, WE GOT GOOD NEWS. RIGHT? YOU, YOU HARDLY HAVE EVER START A SENTENCE THAT WAY, . UH, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, I'M, UH, I'M DELIGHTED THAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE MATH WORK. UH, I KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, I, I KNOW FROM FIRSTHAND, YOU AND I, YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER, ROBERT, RIGHT? UM, AND, UM, WE, UH, ON, ON THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE YEARS AGO, UH, THAT'S, THAT IS THE MOST, THOSE ARE THE MOST BORING MEETINGS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. AND IT'S HUNDREDS OF HOURS THAT HAVE TO GO INTO JUST UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE AND THEN UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE BUSINESS, RIGHT? AND THEN FIGURING OUT HOW TO, HOW TO TWEAK IT IN A WAY THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT SAWS CONTINUES TO BE HEALTHY. AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, THAT SAWS DELIVERS VALUE AND THE PRODUCT THAT EVERYBODY EXPECTS WHILE STILL TAKING CARE OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE [02:35:01] HURTING, RIGHT? UM, AND WHO STILL NEED TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND BRUSH THEIR TEETH AND TAKE A SHOWER AND, UH, AND DRINK WATER. AND SO I'M, UM, I'M, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH, UH, WITH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING IN FRONT OF US. AND SO WE, UM, JUST, JUST TO GET THIS STRAIGHT, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF RESIDENTIAL BILLS IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, ARE GOING TO GET A REDUCTION IN THEIR WATER BILL SO LONG, NO. IS THAT NOT RIGHT ON THEIR SEWER BILL? ON THEIR SEWER BILL? OKAY. AND THEN THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILL IS GONNA DECREASE BY ABOUT 9%, UH, YES, 8.7. OKAY. AND 83% WILL GET A REDUCTION IN THEIR WATER BILL. ALL RIGHT? AND THEN, SO CUMULATIVELY, IT'S, UH, AND THEN 83% RIGHT? ARE GONNA, THE WATER ARE GOING, 83% OF SAN ANTONIO HOMES ARE GOING TO RECEIVE A REDUCED RATE, CORRECT? ALRIGHT. AND THEN, UM, AND THEN FIXED CHARGES WILL GO DOWN FOR EVERYBODY BY ABOUT 20%. UH, FOR AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMERS, WE ARE WAIVING THE FIXED CHARGE ON THE, ON THE FIRST 2000 GALLONS. SO THE FIRST 2000 GALLONS FOR ANY AFFORDABILITY CUSTOMER, UH, THERE'S NO CHARGE AT ALL. I THINK THIS IS BRILLIANT. UH, I, I, I CAN'T FIND FLAW IN THIS. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS. UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE, THE RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE MEMBERS WHO WORKED HARD TOO. I ALSO KNOW THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOUR BOARD HAD TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY BRILLIANT BOARD CHAIR JILL BURLEY, AND EVERYBODY, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO SERVES ON THAT, ON THAT BOARD, ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH, UM, WITH A, UM, A MAGNIFYING GLASS GOING THROUGH, UH, WHAT THE BUSINESS IMPACT WILL BE ON THIS. AND I, I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE SCRUBBED IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND, UH, I'M PROUD OF YOU. I REALLY AM. I'M PROUD OF YOU GUYS. AND SO, CONGRATULATIONS, MARY. CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS, UH, WONDERFUL JAINE, CONGRATULATIONS, UM, TO JAMIE CASTILLO. CONGRATULATIONS, ROBERT GAU, ALL OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WE, WE, UH, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT TEAM. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, KEEP, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PALAI. COUNCIL MEMBER GRA THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WANT TO THANK THE SASS TEAM WHO MET WITH ME ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO DISCUSS THIS, UH, TOPIC. I WANT TO THANK MY SAS RAC MEMBER, KAREN BURGARD, FOR HER WORK ON THIS, UH, AND MAKING SURE IT WAS EQUITABLE. AND IT CAME TO US, UM, IN A, IN WHAT I FELT WAS A TIMELY MANNER CONSIDERING WHAT YOU GUYS WERE UNDERTAKING. AND OF COURSE, SASS BOARD MEMBER, THE ENTIRE SAWS BOARD, BUT ESPECIALLY MARY LOU RENA, WHO'S, WHO'S BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THE DIS DISTRICT THREE ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, UH, AND HER QUADRANT. UM, LAST FRIDAY I WAS AT TEXAS A AND M SAN ANTONIO. THERE WAS A WORKSHOP PUT ON BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. YOUR TEAM WAS THERE, AND THE TOPIC WAS SE UH, SECURING WATER, ENERGY, AND FOOD. AND I LEARNED A LOT. AND I WAS PLEASED TO KNOW AS THEY PRESENTED, THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THIS ON, ON OUR AGENDA FOR A SESSION. AND THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP THAT WE TAKE TODAY TO GET TO OUR GOAL OF SECURING, UM, WATER, ENERGY, AND FOOD FOR OUR NATION, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR CITY. SO, I THINK THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES AS THE CITY GROWS. I THINK MY ONE QUESTION IS, AND, AND VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT MY, UH, COUNCIL COLLEAGUE MENTIONED COUNCILMAN BRAVO WAS, UH, ON ITEM FIVE AND SIX, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE WE GONNA HAVE FOR THOSE DEVELOPING, UM, AREAS OF TOWN IN TERMS OF CHILLED WATER AND THE RECYCLED WATER? ARE WE GONNA PUT THAT FORWARD WITH WHAT WE NORMALLY DO FOR SAWS INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT WE COULD DO WITH, WITH, UH, RECYCLED WATER AND CHILLED WATER? WELL, UH, AS FAR AS CHILLED WATER, ESSENTIALLY, YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR AT THE PORT AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR SERVICES ON RECYCLED WATER. UH, IT'S USUALLY FOR THE MUCH BIGGER TYPE OF CUSTOMERS, UH, IRRIGATION LIKE UNIVERSITIES, UH, TEXAS A AND M, SAN ANTONIO, THERE'S A RECYCLED LINE RIGHT THERE. SO, UH, THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE. UH, BROOKS, ALSO IN YOUR DISTRICT, GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. THERE ARE RECYCLED LINE IS, IS CLOSE BY ALSO. SO YES, THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, STRIP CENTER TYPE OF BUSINESSES. IT'S REALLY NOT, UH, CONDUCIVE FOR THEM. WELL, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW, UH, BIG DEVELOPMENTS AND MEGA SITES IN DISTRICT THREE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. UM, THE MANUFACTURER, BUS MANUFACTURER, UH, IT'S NAVISTAR, UH, THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BE A RECYCLED CUSTOMER. GREAT. IF NOT, I'M GONNA START GOING THROUGH THE LIST OF ALL I YES, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER VERAN. UH, I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH SOME COMMENTS. I WON'T REITERATE WHAT I, WHAT I SAID AT THE SAWS BOARD. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF THE IRAQ, AND I SPECIFICALLY WANNA MENTION THE WORK [02:40:01] OF FRANCIS GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE CHAIR, AS WELL AS PATRICK GARCIA, THE VICE CHAIR OF THE RACK. THIS IS PROBABLY THE SMOOTHEST PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND A LOT OF REWARD ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THIS FOR, UH, RIGHT, PAYERS WHO ARE GONNA SEE RELIEF, UH, BY AND LARGE. UH, ONE THING I'D SAY, SINCE WE'RE ON THE CITY COUNCIL DIOCESE, IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK, AND THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES, OBVIOUSLY, UH, BEYOND JUST BOTTOM LINE AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UP OUR CHILLED WATER SYSTEM, BUT ALSO OUR RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM. IF THERE'S ONE DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS FOR ME IS THAT WE, WE DO HAVE TO REBALANCE THOSE RECYCLED WATER RATES BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SUBSIDIZING THEM FOR SO LONG. BUT ENVIRONMENTALLY AND OTHERWISE, THERE'S GREAT BENEFIT FOR, FOR SEEING SUBSCRIPTION GROWTH TO OUR RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM. SO, IN THAT CONTEXT OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK, AND THIS IS A COMMENT MOSTLY FOR CITY STAFF, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD VIEW OUR CHILLED WATER SYSTEM AND OUR RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM AS THINGS WE WANT TO INCORPORATE INTO THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO LOCATE OR EXPAND IN SAN ANTONIO. THOSE ARE OFFERINGS I, I THINK, INTERSECT WITH OUR POLICY PRIORITIES, WHICH IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, UH, EXAMINATION THAT WE'RE DOING. SO, GREAT WORK, FAR DIFFERENT TONE TODAY THAN YOU'RE USED TO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RATES. ROBERT, UP HERE, I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS FROM YOUR, YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON, ON BRINGING SOMETHING TO YOU THAT YOU CAN REALLY, UH, VOTE FOR WITH, UH, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM. IT'S HELPING YOUR, YOUR, UH, RESIDENTS. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I, I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF THIS, UH, PODIUM, UH, 10 OUT OF THE 13 YEARS I'VE BEEN AT SAS ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE. UH, AND THEY'VE, AND Y'ALL HAVE GIVEN IT TO US, BUT I THINK WE CAN SHOW THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS UTILITY FORWARD, OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD. WE HAVE, UH, OBTAINED WATER SECURITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. UH, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, UH, IN 2009, THE RACK RECOMMENDATIONS AT THAT TIME ALSO LOWERED RATES. SO THIS IS NOT JUST THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DONE IT, THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THERE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO, UH, I DON'T WANT TO JUST, UH, TAKE THOSE ACCOLADES. I DO WANNA WARN Y'ALL THAT I MAY BE BACK. CERTAINLY, AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE JUDICIOUS, UH, YOU ALSO SEE US COOPERATE AND, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE GROWTH OF, OF SAWS. IT'S BEEN GREAT WORK, AND OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM. SO THERE IS NOW A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR FOR ITEMS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. [City Code Amendments  ] ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S MOVE NOW TO ITEM NUMBER 11. ITEM NUMBER 11 IS AN ORDINANCE UPDATING CHAPTER SIX BUILDINGS BASED ON THE PROPOSED 2021 SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, CONSISTENT WITH THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL'S INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, AND WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. MIKE, ALL YOURS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, AS MENTIONED, I'M GONNA JUST GO QUICKLY THROUGH A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. UM, I WAS HERE LAST WEEK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CODE UPDATES. THAT WAS A DEVELOPMENT CODE, A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. I'M HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND THEN, UH, ONE AFTER THIS AS WELL. BUT THIS ONE IS OUR 2021 PROPOSED, UH, SS A P M C UPDATE, UH, SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. WE CALL IT 21 BECAUSE WE DO IT EVERY THREE YEARS. WE'RE ONE YEAR BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. SIMILAR TO THE U D C. UH, BUT LET ME GO OVER THE PROCESS AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. SO, THE SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, I'LL REFER TO IT AS SS A P M C MOVING FORWARD. UM, IT REALLY IS OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT CODE. IT TELLS PROPERTY OWNERS BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL. UH, HOW, ONE SEC. ONE SEC, MIKE. UM, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, ACCOLADES BEING SHARED OVER THERE, BUT IF YOU CAN KEEP IT DOWN AS YOU'RE MOVING, UH, OUT OF THE CHAMBERS, WE'D APPRECIATE, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE ON WITH BUSINESS. GO AHEAD, MIKE. SO, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE IS THERE. IT APPLIES TO ALL RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY. UH, AND, AND, AND LIKE THE OTHER CODES, IT TELLS US WE'RE SUPPOSED TO UPDATE IT EVERY THREE YEARS. AND SO WE WORK THROUGH OUR BUILDING STANDARDS BOARDS. I'LL TALK THROUGH THAT. UM, UH, SO EVERY THREE YEARS, OUR BUILDING CODES, INCLUDING OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE CODES GET UPDATED. AND, UH, JUST A NOTE, IT WAS 2011, SO A DECADE AGO, A LITTLE OVER A DECADE AGO, WE HAD OUR FIRST MAJOR CHANGE WHERE WE ADOPTED THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE AS THE BACKBONES OF OUR SAN ANTONIO DOCUMENT. SO, UM, SO I'LL START OFF AGAIN. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE HELP US THROUGH THIS, AND THIS IS A, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE SPRING, UH, NOT AS LONG AS THE U D C, BUT THIS BOOK IS REALLY ONLY 50 PAGES COMPARED TO THE, UH, 1200 PAGES OF THE U D C, BUT STILL A LOT OF WORK. AND I JUST LISTED SOME MEMBERS OF OUR BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD. UH, THOSE ARE APPOINTEES FROM THAT YOU ALL, UH, APPOINT. UH, BUT, UH, WE ALSO HAD, UH, THIS YEAR WE [02:45:01] HAD SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGN UP AND BE PART OF THAT. AND THEY WENT THROUGH PAINSTAKINGLY, UM, UH, CODE WORD BY WORD. UH, AND WE ARGUED AND DEBATED ON CERTAIN THINGS, WHAT SHOULD BE IN CODE, WHAT SHOULD BE IN POLICY, ET CETERA. UH, BUT THEY REALLY HELPED US. SO A FEW, A FEW MEMBERS THERE, UH, LISTED, THEY DID A GREAT JOB HELPING US, UH, GET, GET YOU ALL A BETTER CODE. SO, UM, REMEMBER THIS IS GONNA BE IN CHAPTER SIX, UH, OF OUR CITY CODE. SO THAT'S JUST THE MEETINGS AND OUTREACH. SO, UH, AGAIN, WE DIDN'T DO 60 MEETINGS LIKE WE HAD TO WITH THE U D C, BUT AGAIN, UH, WE DID A LOT. SO YOU'LL SEE THERE, UH, EIGHT, UH, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, UH, TO GO THROUGH THE CODE, SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS AT THE BEGINNING AND END, AND THEN WORKING THROUGH OUR BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD, WHICH ARE ALL OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS. AGAIN, WITH THIS PROCESS, THEY WERE ALL, UH, TELEVISED THROUGH OUR, AT, AT OUR BOARDROOM, WHERE WE HOLD OUR, UH, BUILDING STANDARDS, BOARD PLANNING COMMISSIONS, UH, SO YOU COULD WATCH AS WELL ONLINE. UH, THAT WAS NEW THIS YEAR. SO LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENT PROCESS ITSELF. SO, UH, WE DID A LOT OF OUTREACH IN THE BEGINNING, UH, AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE GONNA UPDATE OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. WE ASKED FOR AMENDMENTS, AND WE ACTUALLY GET 83 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UH, FROM GOING FROM THE 2018 VERSION TO THIS VERSION. UH, 24 OF THOSE WERE, WERE INTERNAL 59 EXTERNAL. NOW, THERE WERE SOME DUPLICATES. SO 66, UH, UNIQUE PROPOSALS NOW OF THAT WRESTLING THROUGH ALL THE CODES, UH, PROPOSALS 28 ARE RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL, AND 38 WERE RECOMMENDED, UH, BY FOR DENIAL, UH, AT THE B SS B LEVEL. I HAVE A JUST A LITTLE SLIDE HERE TO TALK, JUST TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU THAT 52 OUT OF THE 66 PROPOSALS REALLY HAD TO DO WITH THE SCOPE OF THE CODE AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CODE. THERE WERE SOME DEFINITIONS AND SOME TECHNICAL, UH, UH, ITEMS WITH, UH, CHAPTER FOUR, CHAPTER SEVEN, FIRE SAFETY, UH, LIGHT VENTILATION, OCCUPANCY, ET CETERA. BUT A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION LED TO, UH, WHAT THE CODE SAYS, HOW IS IT'S USED, HOW CODE, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT THROUGH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES USES IT, UH, ET CETERA. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT. AND WHO SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS? WE, ANYBODY CAN SUBMIT AMENDMENTS. IT'S VERY OPEN. UH, WE DID HAVE SEVERAL, UH, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, A COUPLE ORGANIZATIONS. SO YOU SEE SOME THERE FROM THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, UH, UH, THE, UM, UH, TEXAS HOUSERS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, DOES A LOT OF WORK. THEY'RE ACTUALLY HELPING US WITH SOME OTHER STUFF NOW. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. UH, WE DID SOME, UM, TIER ONE NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION MEMBER WAS, WAS PART OF THIS AS WELL. AND OF COURSE, D S D STAFF WAS, UH, WAS THERE. NOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, BUT A COUPLE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WHY THIS IS A BETTER CODE THIS YEAR IS, UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN OUR, IN OUR CODE. UH, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO ORDER THE DEMOLITION OF, UH, OF VACANT OR DANGEROUS STRUCTURES. NOT ALWAYS VACANT, BUT, UH, MOST OF THE TIME IT'S VACANT AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURES. UH, WE PUT IN SOME LANGUAGE THERE TO MIRROR, UH, SOME OTHER SECTIONS OF OUR CITY CHARTER. UH, CITY CODE DEMOLITION AND REMOVAL IS THE REMEDY OF LAST RESORT. WE HAVE, WE DO THIS, UH, ALREADY. UH, BUT THE, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, FELT THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO PUT IN THE CODE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IF WE GET TO DEMOLITION, WE HAVE TO DO ALL THESE OTHER STEPS, UH, BEFORE WE, WE HOPE PEOPLE CAN REPAIR THEIR HOMES OR THEIR STRUCTURES. BUT IF IT'S DANGEROUS AND WE CAN'T, IT'S THE LAST RESORT. BUT, UH, IT'S IN THE CODE NOW, UH, A LOT OF CONVERSATION, YOU'LL SEE SOME HERE, IS WHEN WE NOTICE A PROPERTY OWNER OF A VIOLATION OR EVEN A NOTICE TO VACATE, UM, WE'RE ADDING LANGUAGE TO INFORM THE PROPERTY OWNER OR OWNER'S AGENT OF THE RIGHT TO APPEAL. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THAT'S IN THERE, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT. SO IF NOW THE CODE OFFICERS, WHEN THEY GIVE YOU A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, YOU'LL KNOW IN WRITING, UH, THERE'LL BE A RIGHT TO APPEAL. UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF, A LOT OF CONVERSATION. WE ADDED A DEFINITION OF ACCUMULATION, YOU KNOW, TRASH AND DEBRIS ON YOUR PROPERTY, BUT HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH IF YOU HAVE A COUPLE PIECES OF CANDY WRAPPERS ON YOUR PROPERTY? THAT BLEW IN. UH, THAT WAS SOME OF THE EXAMPLES, UH, THAT WAS DISCUSSED. IS THAT A VIOLATION? WELL, OBVIOUSLY, NO. SO WE ADDED A DEFINITION. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT WE ALL THOUGHT WE KNEW WHAT IT WAS, BUT WE DIDN'T. SO ADDING CLARITY TO THE CODE. UM, THINGS OF THINGS LIKE EMERGENCY AND ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE. WE ADDED SOME LANGUAGE THERE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE MAINTAINED EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS FROM DWELLINGS. I SKIPPED ONE THERE TALKING ABOUT ADDING A CLARIFICATION OR DEFINITION OF IMMINENT DANGER. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE WORK THROUGH TO ENSURE THIS, THIS DOCUMENT IS, UH, IS GOOD, UH, FOR OUR CODE OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO UNDERSTAND, UH, HOW IT WORKS. SO, UH, WE ACTUALLY STARTED, UH, UH, WE WENT IN SEPTEMBER, THE B S B, THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD, UH, VOTED, UH, TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE, WE WENT IN SEPTEMBER. WE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION THERE. UH, THEY ACTUALLY PROPOSED, UH, SOME AMENDMENTS. I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THOSE HERE. AND THEN HERE WE ARE TODAY FOR, UH, UPDATE. NOW, IF WE VOTE ON IT TODAY, WHEN WE UPDATE THESE CODES, THERE'S GENERALLY A 90 DAY PERIOD TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON WHAT'S CHANGED, ET CETERA. UH, ALTHOUGH SOME OF IT WE'VE [02:50:01] ALREADY, UH, WITH OUR PROCESSES HAVE HAVE STARTED. SO I PUT SOME WORDS HERE ON, ON THE NEXT COUPLE SLIDES, BUT I WANT TO GO OVER AT THE P C D C, UH, MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. UH, THERE WERE SIX RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO, UH, THE CODE. AND I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THEM HERE. I'M JUST GONNA QUICKLY GO OVER, UH, THE, THE AMENDMENTS INCLUDE THE GREEN AND UNDERLYING STATEMENT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, THAT NOTICE AND AND FORM. SO WHEN A CODE OFFER, CO CODE OFFICER GIVES YOU NOTICE THAT YOU'RE IN VIOLATION AND YOU NEED TO CORRECT IT, UH, WE'VE ADDED A STATEMENT. AND THIS, THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS TO ADD A STATEMENT ON THAT DOCUMENT THAT WE GIVE THE PROPERTY OWNER IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH OFFERING TRANSLATION SERVICES SO THAT WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE READING AND GETTING AND POSSIBLE ASSISTANT OP ASSISTANCE OPTIONS BY THE CITY. SO THAT HAS TO BE WRITTEN ON THE FORM THAT'S THERE ALREADY. WE OFFER THOSE SERVICES, BUT, UH, THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE IT ON THE FORM, WHICH I THINK IS, UH, GOOD COMMUNICATION. ALSO ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE RIGHT TO APPEAL, UH, TO THE B S B. IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE CITY, IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THE CODE OFFICER, YOU ALWAYS HAVE YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL. THIS IS ON THE FORM. AND THEN, UH, CERTAINLY HOW WE WOULD GET, UM, INFORMATION TO THAT APPLICANT, UH, WHEN THEY REQUEST IT. SO THAT'S PART OF THAT, UH, UH, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENT. THE O THE OTHER ITEM ON THIS ONE IS, UH, SECTION 1 0 8 0.4, WHICH IS IF, IF, IF SOMETHING IS SO, UH, DANGEROUS OR WHAT WE TELL PEOPLE THEY HAVE TO LEAVE, UH, IT'S CALLED PROHIBITED OCCUPANCY, WE GIVE THEM NOTICE, NOTICE TO VACATE. UH, BUT THERE'S A SECTION HERE THAT SAYS, UH, BEING ADDED ON THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT. THE CODE OFFICIAL SHOULD ADVISE THE CITY DEPARTMENT OVERSEEING ASSISTANCE PRO PROGRAMS LIKE N H S D OR LIGHTS D H S OR WHOEVER, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO, OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SERVICE OF, UH, A LAWFULLY OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE. NOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A LAWFUL OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO. BUT THIS, THIS, UH, RECOMMENDED, UH, AMENDMENT THAT DISCUSSION WAS, THIS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CODE AND NOT JUST BE A POLICY THAT THE CITY DOES, UH, JUST IN OUR NORMAL SOPS, BUT ADDED TO THE CODE AS A REQUIREMENT. THE OTHER ITEM HERE, A CLARIFICATION OF THE, THE DEFINITION OF EMINENT DANGER. WE DEAL, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DEAL WITH, UH, SOME VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, UH, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GET THAT ADDRESSED VERY QUICKLY. BUT, UH, WE ADDED, UH, THERE IS AN ADDING A REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS OR LIFE-THREATENING INJURY. UH, THE IDEA OF REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD GETS A LOT. THAT WAS A LOT OF DEBATE ON THAT, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS. UH, BUT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ADD. UM, THE OTHER ONE IS SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DISCONNECT UTILITY SERVICES. I KNOW WE JUST HAD A GOOD STORY ABOUT UTILITY SERVICES, BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION ELECTRICALLY, UH, AND OR GAS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO AUTHORIZE A DISCONNECTION OF UTILITY SERVICES. THE PROPOSAL HERE IS TO ADD SOME LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THE CODE OFFICIAL WILL NOTIFY OCCUPANTS, UH, AND THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENT OVERSEEING ASSISTANT PROGRAMS AT LEAST THREE DAYS PRIOR TO TAKING SUCH ACTION, WHICH ACTUALLY IS OUR NORMAL S O P, UH, SS O P, UH, ON ALL LAWFULLY OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES. NOW, THIS IS KEY WHENEVER FEASIBLE. THIS, THIS CAME UP, THERE MAY BE A TIME, AND WE'VE HAD SOME EXAMPLES WHERE THERE'S A GAS LEAK AND PEOPLE HAVE, WE CAN'T WAIT THREE DAYS, SO THAT MIGHT BE ONE WHERE WE HAVE TO GET THEM OUT. WE DON'T WANT A GAS EXPLOSION HAPPENING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I THINK THAT LANGUAGE, UH, WAS, WAS WORDED APPROPRIATELY. UM, REQUIREMENTS NOT COVERED BY THEIR THIS CODE. THERE'S THIS, UH, THERE, THERE'S A PROPOSAL HERE TO ADD SOME LANGUAGE THAT WHEN, WHEN I NEED TO, AS THE CODE OFFICIAL, I CONSULT WITH DIRECTORS FROM OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, D H S. NOW WE DO THAT OF COURSE, BUT PUTTING THIS IN THE CODE REALLY ENFORCES THAT. UH, BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT'S NOT JUST A CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE, WE ARE DEALING WITH EITHER PEOPLE OR OTHER ISSUES, UH, THAT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS. AND THEN LASTLY, SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE ON ANY VACATE NOTICES AND ENSURING THE RIGHT TO APPEAL THAT LANGUAGE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON ONE OF THE OTHER ONES. THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT SECTION, UH, OF OUR CODE. BUT ENSURING PEOPLE, UH, ARE WITH THE NOTICE, WE GIVE THEM UNDERSTAND, UH, THAT, UH, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO B S B. AND, UH, WE WILL PROVIDE THEM INFORMATION WHEN REQUESTED, UH, ON THE DETAILS OF THAT. SO THAT BEING SAID, MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO UPDATE THE, UH, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE THAT WE WENT THROUGH IN THE PROCESS. AND CERTAINLY CITY COUNCIL, UH, CAN CHOOSE TO ADOPT THE, THE, THE, THE SIX HIGHLIGHTED, UH, P C D C RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THOSE AMENDMENTS, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MIKE. UH, WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 11. AND SO I'LL CALL THEM NOW. WE'LL START WITH CHRISTY SUTTERFIELD FOR, FOR 12. OKAY, YOU'RE THERE AS WELL, CHRISTY. ALL RIGHT. UH, JOE. JOE LAOS, SAME, SAME THING. ALRIGHT. ED LANGA, SAME. AND CHAD SMID? SAME, SIR. OKAY. YOU'RE ALL LISTED ON, ON 12, SO I'LL CALL YOU UP AT THAT POINT AS WELL. SO WE'LL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION NOW. WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROSA GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. [02:55:01] AND I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO MIKE AND, UM, TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD AND THE S A P M C COMMITTEE. AND SO I KNOW THEY ONLY HAD A TOTAL, OR A TOTAL OF 12 MEETINGS, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS, UM, UH, VERY FAIR. I ALSO WANNA THANK THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL, UM, DIRECTOR OF TEXAS HOUSERS, A TIER ONE NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION. MY CITY IS MY HOME, TEXAS HOUSERS. OH, I ALREADY MENTIONED THEM. NO. YES. AND SO, UH, FOR, FOR THEIR AMENDMENT. SO, UM, I ALSO WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND, UH, ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO ADVOCATED FOR THE AMENDMENTS. THESE CHANGES INCREASE FAIRNESS AND PROVIDE FURTHER CLARITY IN THE CODE. THIS SECTION OF THE CODE PERTAINS TO ALL HOMEOWNERS, AND HOPEFULLY THESE CHANGES WILL HELP FOLKS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH COMING INTO COMPLIANCE. AND THEN I ALSO HOPE THAT WE COULD CONTINUE BUILDING ON THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM. UM, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. I APPRECIATE THAT WE CONSIDER DEMOLITION AS A FORM OF LAST RESORT, AS A REMEDY OF LAST RESORT. I'M ALSO, UM, HAPPY THAT WE WILL MAKE GREATER STRIDES TO INFORM THE PROPERTY OWNER OR, OR THE AUTHORIZED AGENT OF THE RIGHT TO APPEAL. I'M ALSO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE A SPECIFIC, UM, I GUESS, TASK IN THERE TO HAVE THE STATEMENTS AND IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH, RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT WE WILL, AGAIN, BE INFORMING THEM OF ALL OF THE POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE AND THE OPTIONS BY THE CITY. SO, UM, WITH THAT, I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 11 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BUILDING STANDARD BOARD. OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 11. UH, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU MIKE. AND TEAM, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS HAS GONE THROUGH SO MANY HANDS, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR, UM, OUR DISTRICT FIVE B S B APPOINTEE, KAYLA MIRANDA, AND WHO WAS A VOTING MEMBER OF THE P M C COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, IEL REJO WITH TEXAS HOUSERS, WHO IS A NON-VOTING COMMUNITY MEMBER. AND RAY MORALES, WHO'S AN ARCHITECT AND SERVED ON IT, BUT AS A NON-VOTING MEMBER AS WELL. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO INCLUDE THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN ANTONIO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. THANK YOU. RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO, UH, AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO INCLUDE THOSE AMENDMENTS. READ BY, UH, MIKE SHANNON AND I STOP TIME. YEAH. SO WE'LL, WE'LL RESUME DISCUSSION ON THOSE PARTICULAR AMENDMENTS. THEN WE'LL GET, UH, TO THE MAIN MOTION. GOOD. SO GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, I, I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I KNOW MIKE'S, YOU KNOW, HAD, UH, U D C AND NOW THE P M C. UM, BUT I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AGAIN FOR MIKE AMIN AND SAVITA WHO STAFFED THOSE, UH, MEETINGS AS WELL. AND, UH, MIKE DID A GREAT JOB OF COVERING THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. UM, BUT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE, RIGHT? UH, THE UPDATE TO SECTION 1 0 7 0.2 MEANS ALL CODE NOTICES WILL NOW INCLUDE NOTIFICATION TO SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS, NOTIFYING THEM OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRANSLATION SERVICES BY A HOUSING NAVIGATOR AND OR CASE MANAGER, WHO WILL ALSO CONNECT THEM TO ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY TOOL SHED, UH, OR REHAB, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I HAD HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MIKE ABOUT. SO I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT, UH, CITY STAFF, UH, ASSISTED WITH THESE AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE THAT WE CREATE A MORE EQUITABLE PROCESS. UH, IN SECTION 1 0 8, 0.2 0.1, AND 1 0 8 0.4, THERE'S NOW LANGUAGE WHICH ENSURES A CODE OFFICER WILL CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENT BEFORE ISSUING A NOTICE, A NOTICE TO VACATE OR A UTILITY DISCONNECTION. UH, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS, BUT THIS COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE UNDERSTANDING THE NOTICE AND IMMEDIATELY CORRECTING THE VIOLATION AND COMING TO, UH, IN COMPLIANCE, UH, COMPASSIONATE COMPLIANCE PLACES, MORE FOCUS ON HELPING RESIDENTS AND ADDRESSING THEIR CODE ISSUES AND BRINGING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE WITHOUT ISSUING, UH, HEAVY ORDERS OR SHUTTING OFF UTILITIES OR REMOVING THEM FROM THEIR HOME. UH, I BELIEVE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, WILL SHIFT TO A MODEL THAT ALLOWS FOR A PROPER CONNECTION TO OUR NEW CODE CASE MANAGERS AND PROGRAMS LIKE THE COMMUNITY TOOL SHED AND HOUSING REHAB PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF, UH, PUNITIVE MEASURES. SO I'M PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL, UH, HAS DONE TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND I REMAIN GRATEFUL FOR, UH, THE SUPPORT OF THE, THE CO, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. AND, UH, THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS AND JUST, UH, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONVERSATION, DIALOGUE, AND I ASK FOR Y'ALL SUPPORT IN THESE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER CASTILLO, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN MOTION? OKAY. UH, THERE IS A MOTION, A SECOND FOR THE AMENDMENTS ADDED TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER 11. SO WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON ADDING THOSE AMENDMENTS. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE MAIN MOTION [03:00:01] AND RESUME DISCUSSION THERE. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER AND ENTITY WHO IS ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS ARE REPRESENTED WELL. UM, DISTRICT TWO ESPECIALLY. THANKS. WELL, UM, AS WELL FOR SERVING ON THE SS A P M C COMMITTEE. AS A RESIDENT AND HOUSING EXPERT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE P C D C COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK TO INCLUDE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO FURTHER ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED FROM, UM, DISPLACEMENT BY CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION WHILE MAINTAINING A STANDARD OF LIVABILITY AND HEALTH. THE INCLUSION OF COORDINATED COMMUNICATION AMONG CITY DEPARTMENTS AND NOTICE OF SPAN SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION WILL FURTHER ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLIANCE. AND IN MANY CASES, WE OFFER LARGE BUSINESSES AND OTHER ENTITIES GRACE FOR COMPLIANCE VERSUS FINES. AND WE SHOULD OFFER THE SAME GRACE AND ACCESSIBILITY TO AND RESOURCES TO OUR WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS. UT AUSTIN'S OUSTED REPORT FURTHER UNDERSCORED THESE NECESSARY UPDATES TO OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE TO ENSURE OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT BEING DISPLACED WHILE IN THE MIDST OF A HOUSING CRISIS. WITH THESE UPDATED CODES AND FURTHER INVESTMENT HOME REHAB PROGRAMS, I FEEL WE'RE MAKING PROMISING STEPS TO COM TO COMBAT DISPLACEMENT, UM, IN OUR DISTRICT, WHICH ARE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND MOST AT RISK FOR DISPLACEMENT THROUGH PREVIOUS CODE ENFORCEMENT METHODS. THIS PROCESS ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THOROUGH AND ROBUST, ROBUST COMMUNITY INPUT TO ENSURE OUR POLICY IS EFFECTIVE AND REDUCES THE IMPACT OF HARM. AND I FULL, FULLY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENTS, UM, AND LOOK FORWARD TO UTILIZING MY OFFICE'S RESOURCES TO EDUCATE OUR DISTRICT TWO RESIDENTS ON THESE UPDATES AND THE WAYS THEY CAN BE ASSISTED SHOULD THEY, UM, INTERACT WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT IN THESE INSTANCES. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, UM, FOR MIKE SHANNON, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME QUESTIONS AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BECOME A TOPIC OF CONCERN DUE TO CRIME ISSUES. YOU KNOW, THE ONES, UM, DO ANY OF THESE CHANGES IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS THESE PROPERTIES, WHETHER VACANT OR OCCUPIED, UM, THAT HAVE BECOME SAFETY CONCERNS? WELL, I THINK THEY, THEY ENHANCED IT, UH, ESPECIALLY THE ONE I TALKED ABOUT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, OUR OFFICE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH PD AND OTHER, UH, DEPARTMENTS LIKE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO, UH, IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, LANGUAGE IN OUR CODE TO HELP THAT AND ENSURE THAT. SO I THINK, I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WANTED TO HEAR. UM, THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER GRO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. UM, SITTING ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HAS BEEN, UH, LOTS OF FUN, AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK THIS YEAR. SO THANK YOU CHAIR FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. AND I WANNA THANK, UM, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMAN CASTILLO FOR HER TEAM, WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT THINGS WERE CLARIFIED IN THE LANGUAGE SO WE COULD HAVE THESE AMENDMENTS MOVE FORWARD. AND I, YOU WERE ALREADY ON OUR LIST NEXT YEAR TO GET TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND EXPLAIN ALL THE CHANGES WE'VE DONE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRA ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION ITEM NUMBER 11 AS AMENDED. OKAY, GREAT JOB AGAIN, MIKE. AND TO THE, UH, COMMITTEES, HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. WE MOVE NOW TO ITEM 12. ITEM NUMBER 12 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ENTITLED, BUILDING RELATED CODES OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND CHAPTER 11 OF THE CITY CODE OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ENTITLED, FIRE PREVENTION BY PROVI, REVISING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, ADOPTING THE 2021 ADDITIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, INC. BUILDING RELATED CODES, THE 20 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE, THE 2021 EDITION OF THE I C C INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AND APPENDICES, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCAL AMENDMENTS, APPLYING ADMINISTRATIVE CLARIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, PUBLICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. OKAY, ALL YOURS, MIKE. ALRIGHT, DIRECTOR, MORE CODE. THIS IS REALLY ALL OUR BUILDING RENOVATION. UM, AND WE CALL IT THE I C C CODE UPDATE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL. UH, WE WILL, UH, WE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING WE ADOPT THE UPDATED VERSIONS, THE 2021 VERSIONS. I DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB. UH, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THANKING MY TEAM. UH, AMIN, UH, CRYSTAL AND JEREMY ARE HERE. SO EVERYBODY GIVE A WAVE. AND, UH, I ALSO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE. I KNOW THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE CODE AS WELL, ALL WRAPPED UP INTO THIS. SO THE FIRE CHIEFS AND CAPTIONS. THANK YOU. UM, SO, UH, LET'S JUST TALK OVERVIEW AGAIN, OUR BUILDING RELATED CODES. HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAKE A SAFE BUILDING? HOW DO WE BUILD IT OR RENOVATE A SAFE BUILDING? WELL, THAT'S [03:05:01] WHAT THESE CODES HELP US DO. UH, THEY'RE UPDATED EVERY THREE YEARS AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. UH, THERE ARE ACTUALLY 10 DOCUMENTS. THERE ARE 10 BUILDING RELATED CODES AND FIRE CODES, UH, THAT TELL US HOW TO BUILD A STRUCTURALLY SAFE, UH, ELECTRICALLY SAFE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ACS SAFE, ALL THAT STUFF. UH, SO WE'VE ADOPTED BY THE CITY, THESE ARE ADOPTED BY THE CITY EVERY THREE YEARS, LIKE THE OTHER CODES. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CURRENT NATIONAL SAFETY CODES, THE LATEST AND GREATEST CONSTRUCTION METHODS, OPTIONS IN THERE. AND WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING THIS ONE, UH, SINCE FEBRUARY. SO IN THIS STAKEHOLDER, I'M GONNA DO THE SAME THING. I'M GONNA THANK EVERYBODY. THE STAKEHOLDER WAS A DIFFERENT, UH, BODY AND A DIFFERENT GROUP OF STAKE STAKEHOLDERS. UH, 22 MEETINGS, UH, A FEW MORE PAGES TO REVIEW. UH, BUT THIS ONE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH OUR BUILDING RELATED AND FIRE CODE APPEALS AND ADVISORY BOARD. UH, WE CALL THAT THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD FOR SHORT. UH, BUT THAT'S 34, UH, SEATS. YOU ALL, YOU, YOU ALL HAVE, UH, TO TRY TO FILL 34 SEATS, 17 MEMBERS PLUS 17 ALTERNATES. OF COURSE, NOT CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, UH, TYPES OF MEMBERS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, BUILDING OWNERS, ET CETERA. UM, BUT THEY HEAR THEIR, THEIR JOB IS TO HEAR, UH, APPEALS, UH, OF ORDERS. UH, THEY, THEY HEAR ALTERNATIVE METHODS, BUT THEY ALSO HELP US UPDATE THE CODE EVERY THREE YEARS. SO THIS IS A LIST, HARD TO SEE. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE IT ON YOUR IPADS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. BUT THOSE ARE THE POSITION TYPES OF THE 17. AGAIN, ALL THESE TYPES OF BILL, UH, THESE, THESE PROFESSIONALS OR BUILDERS ARE INVOLVED WITH BUILDING DESIGN, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, UM, AND THOSE ARE THE, THEY HAVE A PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE MEMBER. WE WORK WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, UH, TO HELP IDENTIFY THOSE THAT CAN HELP SERVE, WHETHER IT BE, UM, THE TEXAS FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, ET CETERA. THEY'RE ALL LISTED THERE. BUT, UH, THEY DID A GREAT JOB HELPING US THROUGH THIS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS THAT ATTENDED THE MEETINGS AND, AND PROVIDED INPUT. SO THERE'S THE 10 CODES THAT WE, UH, CODES THAT WE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, IN INCLUDING, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING, FIRE, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, ENERGY CONSERVATION, UH, ELECTRICAL CODE, ET CETERA. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO UPDATE. AND AGAIN, HERE'S ANOTHER LIST OF SOME, UH, MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, UH, THAT, THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY ON THE, ON THE BOARD, UH, IF YOU WILL. UH, BUT THEY'RE LISTED THERE. SO QUITE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THESE REGULATIONS AND, UH, THEY HELPED US GET HERE. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THEM AS WELL. SO I'M GONNA GO OVER, NOW, THIS IS 10 CODES AND WE'RE UPDATING A LOT, AND IT'S A VERY, CHAPTER 10 AND 11 ARE VERY LONG DOCUMENTS THAT WE ADOPT. I'M GONNA GO OVER SOME HIGHLIGHTS JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME, SOME UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF GOING TO, UH, THE NEXT VERSION OF THESE CODES. SO WE, WE DO ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS, THINGS LIKE, UM, PERMITS, RIGHT? WE, WE, WE, WE MADE A CHANGE, UH, LAST, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO, EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT THE NOISE ORDINANCE, UH, AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. SO WE LINKED, UH, THE, THE CONSTRUCTION NOISE SECTION THAT WE DID A, A FEW, UH, MONTHS BACK. WE LINKED THAT HERE IN, UH, CHAPTER 10 FOR PERMITS. SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT UPDATE. ALSO, SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS. WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE USED TO GET BIG, LARGE ROLES OF PLANS, UH, SUBMITTED TO US BY ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERED, AND WE WOULD SEND THOSE OFF. WE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE, BUT THE CODE STILL SAYS WE DO THAT. UH, BUT NOW WE DO ELECTRONIC VERSIONS, SO WE HAD TO CHANGE THE CODE FOR SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO EASY STUFF LIKE THAT. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS. UH, BUT THEN WE START GETTING INTO THE ACTUAL, THE REALLY INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT STUFF. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR BUILDING CODE, YOU KNOW, THE NEW, THE NEW BUILDING CODE, UH, DEFINES, UH, PUZZLE ROOMS, ESCAPE ROOMS. YOU PROBABLY HEAR A LOT MORE OF THESE, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY IN THE CODE AND THEY'RE A UNIQUE ANIMAL. SO WE HAVE SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE SHIPPING CONTAINERS ARE BEING USED MORE AND MORE OFTEN IN CONSTRUCTION. THE, THE PICTURE YOU SEE THERE IS ACTUALLY A IS, IS A, IS A PICTURE OF A BUILDING ON BROADWAY. TALL WOOD BUILDINGS ARE ACTUALLY, UH, THERE'S MORE REGULATIONS AND THERE'S MORE ALLOWANCES FOR THOSE IN THE CODE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT INTERNATIONALLY HAS HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION. HOW DO YOU ENSURE SAFE STRUCTURALLY, FIRE SAFE, TALL WOOD BUILDINGS, ACTUALLY NOW UP TO 18 STORIES HIGH, UH, FOR SOME TYPES OF BUILDINGS. SO, UH, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, A NEW CONSTRUCTION TYPE. UH, THAT HAS A LOT NEW, A LOT OF NEW THINGS, BUT THAT'S A VERY SUSTAINABLE, UH, TYPE OF, UH, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION THAT HAS A LOT OF, UH, INTERNATIONALLY, UH, GOT A LOT OF, UH, STEAM AND INTEREST THERE. SO WE HAVE TO ADD THINGS LIKE THAT TO THE CODE, UH, ROOFTOP CANOPIES AND, AND ILLUMINATED EGRESS PATHS FOR HIGH RISES. SO THOSE ARE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE'RE ADDING EITHER FLEXIBILITY OR NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOFTOP CANOPIES, BEAUTIFUL, UH, SKYLINE, BEAUTIFUL FUN EVENTS. UH, LIKE ON, UH, HOLIDAYS, LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, NEW YEAR'S EVE, PEOPLE LIKE TO WATCH, UH, THE LEGAL FIREWORKS, UH, FROM ROOFTOP CANOPIES. SO, UM, I SAID LEGAL FIREWORKS TO THE FIRE MARSHAL. HE'LL UNDERSTAND THAT ONE. SO THE ELECTRICAL CODE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO BE ELECTRICALLY SAFE, JUST SUBMIT ELECTRICAL SAFETY FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND ONE IN TWO FAMILY THINGS LIKE SHUTOFF SWITCHES, UH, GROUND FAULT AND ARC FAULT PROTECTION AND ADDITIONAL AREAS SURGE PROTECTION. SO THOSE GET ADDED TO THE ELECTRICAL CODE. [03:10:01] UH, THIS TIME AS WELL. OUR PLUMBING CODE, RIGHT? UH, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE ITEMS, UH, ADDS AN ALLOWANCE FOR MULTI-USER TOILET FACILITIES TO SERVE ALL GENDERS. SO THIS IS NOT THE BATHROOM GENDER DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR CODE DOESN'T GIVE A, A BUILDING OWNER CREDIT FOR THE MINIMUM, UH, PLUMBING FIXTURES THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE IF THEY PROVIDE A UNISEX BATHROOM. BUT THAT IT SEEMS LIKE A WASTE, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF, IF YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOUR, FOUR MEN'S ROOMS AND FOUR WOMEN'S ROOMS AND, BUT, BUT YOU PUT A COUPLE UNISEX IN THERE, YOU SHOULD GET SOME CREDIT. OR YOU'RE JUST ADDING COST TO THAT CONSTRUCTION, YOU'RE BUILDING 10 RESTROOMS. SO THERE'S AN ALLOWANCE FOR THAT NOW. SO THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT INTERNATIONALLY WAS, WAS ADDED TO THE CODE. WE ADD SOME RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND ALLOWANCES IN THERE OF COURSE. AND THEN, UH, THERE'S A SAWS, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SAWS. I DUNNO IF ANY SAWS IS STILL HERE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SAWS. THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR TESTING EXISTING HOMES FOR LEAD WHEN YOU'RE DOING WORK ON BROKEN PIPES. SO WE'VE ADDED THAT. THAT'S IN THERE. CHAPTER 34, WE BROUGHT THAT INTO THE CODE. SO THAT'S A GOOD CONNECTION THERE. UH, OUR SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE, WE TO HAVE A SEPARATE CODE FOR THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE UNIQUE ANIMALS. UH, BUT WE ADDED SOME DESIGN AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR SPLASH PADS. THESE ARE BECOMING SUPER POPULAR. EVERYBODY LOVES THEM. MY KIDS LOVED THEM WHEN THEY WERE TWO AND THREE. THEY STILL LOVE THEM WHEN NOW WHEN THEY'RE 12 AND 14. UH, BUT WE, WE NEEDED SOME SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, UH, ADDED TO THAT. AND WE, WE HAVE 'EM IN THIS CODE NOW. UH, SOME RE CONSTRUCTION RE REQUIREMENTS, IF YOU'RE DOING FENCES AND BARRIERS AROUND EXISTING, UH, POOLS AND STUFF, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE, UH, ARE, ARE, ARE SEPARATED FROM THOSE, OF COURSE. UH, FIRE CODE. SO, UH, THE FIRE CODE IS, A LOT OF IT IS, IS MARRIED OF COURSE, WITH OUR BUILDING CODE, BUT ADDING SOME FIRE SAFETY, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR OPEN PARKING GARAGES. THERE WAS A BIG, LARGE FIRE IN EUROPE THAT, YOU KNOW, CARS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY USED TO BE. CARS, UH, 40, 50 YEARS AGO, ROD, YOU WERE AROUND AT THAT POINT WHEN ROD WAS AROUND DRIVING, THEY WERE, THEY'RE BIG METAL CARS RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE PLASTIC AND THEY BURN DIFFERENTLY. THEY BURN HOTTER, HIGHER, UH, UH, FLASH RATES, ALL THAT STUFF. SO SOME SPRINKLERS, UH, REQUIRED FOR THAT. UM, SELF-STORAGE FACILITIES, OF COURSE, UH, ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, THOSE ARE IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES AND, AND BUILDINGS NOW. UH, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE SAFETY IN THOSE, UH, NEED TO BE UPGRADED AS TECHNOLOGIES. AND THOSE ARE ADDED. AND WE ALSO EXPANDED SOME PROVISIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION FIRE SAFETY AS WELL. THE ENERGY CODE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ONE I THINK TODAY. SO, UH, WE WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADOPT THE LATEST AND GREATEST ENERGY CODE, UH, AND A COUPLE OTHERS. SO THIS CAME THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE. WE'RE ADDING REQUIREMENTS FOR, THIS IS FOR COMMERCIAL, I'M GONNA SEPARATE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL. SO FOR COMMERCIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION. SO, UH, THINK OF, UH, APARTMENTS OR OFFICE BUILDINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UH, ADDING A REQUIREMENT FOR EV CAPABLE SPACES WAS THE RECOMMENDATION WAS 3% OF THE MINIMUM REQUIRED SPACES. SO IF YOU BUILD AN OFFICE BUILDING, YOU NEED A HUNDRED PARKING SPACES. MINIMUM OF THREE HAVE TO BE EV CAPABLE. OKAY? UH, THREE. SO THAT'S THE 3% THAT CAME OUTTA THERE. A NEW REQUIREMENT THAT WAS ADDED TO THE ENERGY CODE WAS, UH, A REQUIREMENT FOR AN ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEM. NOW, THE CODE SAID, UH, AT, AT 25,000 SQUARE FEET, IT WOULD KICK IN, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE COMMITTEE, THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE COMMITTEE FELT IT, IT, IT JUST STARTED. IT'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. AND WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ONE AT THE, AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, THE P C D C COMMITTEE. THIS IS NOT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN BENCHMARKING ENERGY MONITORING. IT'S REALLY ACTUALLY SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT. THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR ALL OF THE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT SYSTEMS THAT WE'VE HAD TO PUT IN OUR BUILDINGS OVER THE LAST DECADE. YOU KNOW, OUR CITY HAS ADOPTED THE 2015, THE 2018, AND NOW HOPEFULLY THE 2021. A LOT OF THE EQUIPMENT HAS TO BE TESTED BETTER, RIGHT? IT HAS TO, FROM, FROM, FROM DAY ONE. IT HAS TO BE HIGHER EFFICIENCY. SO THIS MONITORING SYSTEM IS A SOFTWARE PACKAGE FOR THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE CREW TO, IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOUR OIL LIGHT IN YOUR CAR. HEY, IF SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IT WOULD FLAG IT SO YOU COULD ADDRESS IT AND, AND MAKE, YOU KNOW, FIX THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THAT'S A NEW REQUIREMENT IN THE CODE WE'RE PROPOSING AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, UH, OR BIGGER BUILDINGS, UH, LIGHTING CONTROLS IN PARKING GARAGE. HOW MANY TIMES IS A PARKING GARAGE? THE LIGHTS ARE ON, BUT REALLY IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE LIGHTS AREN'T OFF. SO ADDING THAT, UH, IS, IS A GOOD ONE. UH, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, UH, ENERGY EFFICIENCY OPTIONS ADDED AS WELL, UH, THAT THE DESIGNERS CAN CHOOSE. SO, RESIDENTIAL, THIS IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ONE, UH, THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE P C D C. SO, UH, INCREASING A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR, UH, TRADE-OFFS, PERMITTING TRADE-OFFS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE, YOU MIGHT, YOU MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO PUT A LITTLE BIT, UH, OF, UH, CERTAIN TYPE OF INSULATION AROUND SOME PIPE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. BUT MAYBE IF YOU DO A LITTLE BIT HIGHER EFFICIENCY HVAC UNIT IN YOUR HOME, WE CAN TRADE OFF A LITTLE BIT LESS. SO YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH ONE IS BETTER. UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE CODE. THERE'S A FEW MORE OF THOSE. UH, NOW WHAT CAME OUT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, IS, UH, MAINTAINING THE CURRENT 2018, UH, CEILING [03:15:01] INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS. SO, CEILING INSTALLATION IS OUR, WE DO R VALUES, RIGHT? I THINK A LOT OF YOU HAVE HEARD I R VALUES BEFORE, BUT THE HIGHER THE R VALUE, THE MORE INSTALLATION, ESSENTIALLY. R 38 IS WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. UH, THE NEW, THE NEW CODE, THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL CODE GOES TO 49. UH, THE, THE COMMITTEE FELT STAYING AT 38 IS APPROPRIATE. THERE'S COST IMPLICATIONS. HOW MUCH BANG FOR THE BUCK ARE YOU GETTING? WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT. AND THEN WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD AN EV CAPABLE AND PV CAPABLE TO THE CITY CODE. WE'LL, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. UH, THIS IS NOT IN THE INTERNATIONAL CODE. THIS DOES NOT, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT, MINIMUM REQUIREMENT, AND THE INTERNATIONAL CODE. SO THE COMMITTEE FELT, WE WANNA DO A LEVEL ONE EV CHARGER AT A PV CAPABLE PANEL, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE HERE QUICKLY. SO LET'S TALK, EV WE, WE, I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD IT. WE'VE SEEN THE COMMERCIALS, BUT WHAT IS EV EV CHARGING IN HOMES LEVEL ONE OR LEVEL TWO? THERE'S CERTAINLY FAST CHARGES, WHICH ARE PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE IN HOMES, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT LEVEL TWO. I STOLE THIS FROM DOUG, DOUG'S IN THE CROWD TODAY, BUT DOUG GAVE ME THIS SLIDE. YOU CAN SEE HIS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY SYMBOL. UH, BUT LEVEL ONE IS REALLY JUST AN ADDITIONAL OUTLET IN THE GARAGE. SO, UH, YOU CAN CHARGE AN ELECTRONIC VEHICLE, UH, WITH, BY PLUGGING IT INTO A, A, WHAT WE CALL A REGULAR ONE 20 VOLT AC OUTLET. IT'S ALL THE PLUGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR, YOUR HOUSE, MOSTLY THE PLUGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE. IF WE ADD AN ADDITIONAL ONE OF THOSE IN THE GARAGE, IT'LL BE THERE. AND YES, IT WILL, IT WILL CHARGE SLOWER. SO WE PUT A ESTIMATE. THIS IS VERY ESTIMATE, DEPENDING ON YOUR CAR AND WHAT YOU DO, ABOUT A HUNDRED MILES OF CHARGE IN 18 HOURS. THE IDEA BEING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL GO TO AND FROM WORK. MAYBE THEY WILL ONLY NEED 30 OR 40 MILES A DAY, ET CETERA. A LEVEL ONE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. NOW, LEVEL TWO IS A EXTRA TWO 40 VOLT OUTLET. THAT'S THE ONE THAT YOU PLUG YOUR ELECTRIC DRYER IN OR YOUR ELECTRIC RANGE IN. UH, YOU'VE SEEN THOSE IN, IN YOUR HOMES POSSIBLY. UM, BUT THAT WOULD BE A TWO 40 VOLT. IT WILL CHARGE FASTER, IT WILL COST MORE. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. THE PROPOSAL THAT CAME OUT OF THE BUILDING AND FIRE COMMITTEE, OR THE CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE, WAS TO ADD A LEVEL ONE ADDITIONAL LEVEL ONE OUTLET IN EVERY GARAGE. SO IF YOU HAVE A TWO CAR GARAGE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO ANYWAY BY THE ELECTRICAL CODE. ADDING ANOTHER ONE, UH, THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR, UH, EV, EV USE IF YOU HAVE A EV CAR, SOLAR CAPABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMES. SO THIS IS A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UH, UH, DEBATE AS WELL. UH, WE'VE HEARD THINGS LIKE SOLAR READY, SOLAR CAPABLE, OR JUST LET 'EM DO IT WHEN THEY DECIDE TO PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR HOMES. UH, THE PROPOSAL THAT CAME OUT WAS REALLY JUST UPGRADING YOUR PANEL. SO IF YOU BUILD A NEW HOME, THEY PUT AN ELECTRICAL PANEL, MAKING SURE THAT PANEL IS SIZED SO IT HAS AN EXTRA, UH, SPACE FOR FUTURE ADD-ONS. SO WE DON'T GET INTO THIS, I JUST BUILT MY HOME FIVE YEARS AGO, AND MAYBE, MAYBE MY PANEL IS MAXED OUT. THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I NEED TO REMOVE, REPLACE, ADD THE COST OF THAT. SO IF THIS ONE'S READY TO GO, UM, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER. THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, SHOULD I GO MORE, SHOULD I MAKE EV UH, EV UH, READY ROOFS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. UH, THE, THE ANSWER WAS NO. SO THIS WAS AGAIN, UH, THE SMALL STEP ABOVE MINIMUM INTERNATIONAL CODE, UH, THAT'S BEING PROPOSED. SO I'M GONNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED. 'CAUSE THE P C D C MEETING THAT WE HAD A WEEK AGO, OR, YOU KNOW, 10 DAYS AGO, UH, THERE WERE, THERE WERE, THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR ITEMS, UH, THAT WERE DISCUSSED HEAVILY. THREE CAME OUT OF THERE WITH, WITH SOME RECOMMEND, RECOMMENDED, RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS OR FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION BY THIS GROUP TO CONSIDER. SO ONE OF THEM WAS THAT, THAT INSULATION IN CEILING. SO THE CODE SAYS HOW MUCH INSULATION IN A HOUSE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE TODAY. UH, WE TALK ABOUT, UH, THE R 38. THAT'S, THAT'S IN THE CODE. UH, THE, THE, THE, THE IDEA BEING, SHOULD WE GO TO THE R 49, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH SPRAY APPLIED CELLULOSE INSULATION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MORE COMMON, NOT THE ONLY ONE, BUT ONE OF THE MORE COMMON, UH, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER THREE INCHES OF INSULATION IN THE ATTIC. THAT'S PLUS OR MINUS. THAT'S THE AVERAGE. THE IDEA HERE, HERE IS THE, THE, THE, UH, CHART ON THE LEFT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THIS DIMINISHING RETURNS OF MORE INSULATION. YEAH. IS MORE INSULATION ALWAYS BETTER? IT'S PROBABLY MORE. YOU PUT ANOTHER SWEATER ON, YOU PUT ANOTHER SWEATER ON, YOU PUT ANOTHER SWEATER ON, YOU PROBABLY WARM WARMER. IT'S GONNA HAPPEN. BUT THIS CHART JUST REALLY TALKS ABOUT AS YOU, THE R VALUE GOES UP, THE, THE RATE OF HEAT FLOW REDUCTION JUST GOES DOWN. OKAY? SO THE, THE WHOLE CONVERSATION THAT THAT WAS HAD AT THE COMMITTEE WAS, WELL, IF I ADD THIS AND THE, THE PRICES, THERE ARE SOME ESTIMATES FROM SOME REPORTS. IF I ADD A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO IT, A REGULAR 2000 SQUARE FOOT HOME, ET CETERA, UM, WHAT AM I REALLY GETTING FOR THAT EXTRA, UH, INSULATION? AM I REALLY INCREASING THE, THE HEAT FLOW OR DECREASING THE HEAT FLOW THAT MUCH? AND THEY FELT NO. UM, AND IT DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS, THIS ANALYSIS. UM, 'CAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, $1,300 TOTAL TO THE CUSTOMER. AGAIN, THIS IS A ONE GENERIC STUDY. JUST IF I ADDED MORE INSTALLATION TO THE ATTIC, IT DOESN'T ADDRESS ANY ADDITIONAL COST IF YOU NEEDED TO ADDRESS YOUR ATTIC AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UH, RAISING, UH, MAYBE MAKING A HEEL TRUSS OR SOMETHING SO THAT WE CAPTURE ALL THAT. SO ALL I'M SAYING HERE IS, THIS WAS DISCUSSED. THIS IS ONE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IS ACTUALLY TO GO TO THE R 49, UH, THAT CAME OUT OF THE, UH, THE VOTE AT THE [03:20:01] P C D C COMMITTEE. SO ANOTHER ONE, UH, AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT LEVEL ONE, LEVEL TWO. THERE WAS A LARGE, UH, CONVERSATION AT, UH, THE TWO MEETINGS. WE WENT TO P C D C ON THIS. UM, BUT, UH, THE, THEY PROPOSING TO ADD A LEVEL TWO RATHER THAN A LEVEL ONE, UH, TO EVERY GARAGE, UH, ON NEW HOMES BUILT. UH, WHEN THIS GOES INTO EFFECT. SO AGAIN, I JUST HIGHLIGHT IT THERE. IT'S THE SAME SLIDE. UH, BUT THERE, THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COST, RIGHT? HOW MUCH IS IT? IS IT, IS IT A HUNDRED BUCKS TO ADD THIS TO EVERY HOME? IS IT $5,000 TO ADD IT TO EVERY HOME? THESE ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE, YOU'LL, YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR ABOUT IT TODAY, UH, WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS, BUT, UH, IT'S CERTAINLY GONNA ADD SOME COSTS GOING FROM LEVEL ONE. I MEAN, YOU ADD ANOTHER OUTLET TO A GARAGE, IT'S GONNA BE COST AND LABOR AND WIRE. IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, TWO OR $300. I THINK IF YOU ADD TO LEVEL TWO, WE BELIEVE STAFF BELIEVES, UH, IT'S GONNA BE IN THE FIVE TO $800 RANGE. BUT THAT'S ASSUMING YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR PANEL. UH, YOU HAVE TO CAL, EXCUSE ME, CALC ALL THAT OUT AND, AND EXTRA. UH, SO IT COULD BE MORE, UH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE COME UP WITH THERE. UM, SO LASTLY, UH, THERE WAS A RECOMMENDED, I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT IT, BUT THE COMMITTEE, SO I'M JUST SUMMARIZING THE PC D C RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS, UH, INSTEAD OF LEVEL ONE, LEVEL TWO CHARGES IN ALL NEW HOMES, R 49. SO THAT IT, THAT, THAT R 49 VALUE IS THE MINIMUM, UH, RATHER THAN THE R 38. THEY, THEY ALSO DID RECOMMEND THAT 3% ON THE COMMERCIAL AND MULTI-FAMILY STRUCTURES, UH, WASN'T ENOUGH. MAYBE 5% WAS THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER. UH, I WILL ONE CLARIFICATION FOR ALL OF YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, GOING BACK SINCE THAT MEETING LAST WEEK, UH, YOU ASKED ME A SPECIFIC QUESTION. WAS IT ONLY FOR MULTIFAMILY, UH, OR WAS IT ALL COMMERCIAL? I SAID MULTIFAMILY. I WAS INCORRECT. IS THAT THE ALL COMMERCIAL? SO OFFICE BUILDINGS, MULTIFAMILIES, AND THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE, UH, COMMITTEE LEVEL. I WAS MISSPOKEN A WEEK AGO, SO I'M CORRECTING THAT. BUT THAT'S WHAT THE THREE P C D C RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS ARE. SO AGAIN, UH, I, I'LL JUST KIND OF, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMELINE AGAIN. IN SEPTEMBER, WE WENT TO THE COMMITTEE TODAY, WE'RE HERE THIS ONE, ANOTHER THREE MONTHS OR SO FOR PEOPLE TO FINISH UP THE DESIGNS THAT THEY MAY BE WORKING ON. THIS IS A VERY CONSISTENT THING THAT WE DO. THE NEW CODES WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN FEBRUARY IF WE WERE APPROVING THEM TODAY. STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WE RECOMMEND APPROVING THE UPDATE OF THE 2021 I CODES WITH THE 2020 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE. THAT'S THE ELECTORAL CODE WITH THE AMENDMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE BUILDING AND FIREBOARD AND CERTAINLY, UH, COUNCIL TO CHOOSE, UH, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FROM P C D C RELATED TO THE ENERGY CODE. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MIKE. UM, WE DO HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 12. SO I'LL CALL THEM UP NOW. UH, WE'LL START WITH TOM SMITTY SMITH. UH, MR. SMITH, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY BILL HURLEY. HE'S GOT, OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES. MRS. SMITH, THEN PETER BELLA IS ALSO IN THE ROOM, AND HE'S GOING TO ALSO OFFER ME THREE MINUTES. OKAY? YOU'LL HAVE NINE MINUTES. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS. MY NAME IS TOM SMITH. I'M BETTER KNOWN AS SMITTY. I AM THE DIRECTOR NOW OF THE TEXAS ELECTRIC, UM, UH, TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES ALLIANCE. WE'RE AN EV PROMOTING GROUP. WE DO POLICY AT THE STATE CAPITAL AGENCIES AND WITH CITY COUNCILS LIKE YOU, YOURS AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF PLUGIN AMERICA. WE'RE THE LARGEST ELECTRIC VEHICLE USERS GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENTS TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 12. AND THE REASONS ARE SIMPLE. THIS IS ALL ABOUT FUTURE PROOFING. THE HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT TODAY FOR THE CHANGES WE SEE COMING IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO REALIZE IS ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE GONNA BE ADOPTED VERY QUICKLY, UH, ALL ACROSS THE NATION AND THE WORLD FOR THREE REASONS. THEY'RE CHEAPER TO OWN, THEY'RE REDUCED POLLUTION, AND THEY'RE A LOT MORE FUN TO DRIVE THAN A TRADITIONAL VEHICLE. UM, AND WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO HIT 50% OF ALL NEW CAR SALES IN TEXAS BY 2033, ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF CREDIBLE ESTIMATES BY FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AND OTHERS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF NUMBERS? IT MEANS ABOUT FIF, UH, ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION IN, UM, IN TEXAS. AND ABOUT, UH, UH, UH, ROUGHLY 9% OF THAT WILL BE IN, UH, THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, OR ABOUT 250,000 CARS AND TRUCKS WILL BE ELECTRIC BY 2033. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF, UM, BUILDING CODES? WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS ESSENTIALLY DOING THE SAME THING. YOU VOTED TO DO TIME AFTER TIME TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO ALLOW THOSE VEHICLES TO OPERATE. IT'S KIND OF LIKE [03:25:01] BUILDING ROADS OR HIGHWAYS OR TRANSMISSION LINES OR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS. IT'S PUTTING THE TOOLS IN PLACE TO MEET DEMAND IN THE FUTURE. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, IF YOU MOVE AND DO THIS AT THE TIME THE BUILDINGS ARE BUILT, IT WILL BE ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE COST OF DOING IT LATER. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STUDIES DONE OVER THE, UH, THE YEARS THAT BASICALLY SAY YOU CAN BUILD THESE, UH, BUILT IN THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 AND $300 IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY. SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PUT ONE OF THESE THINGS IN? IT TAKES A BREAK. A, A BREAKER IN YOUR BREAKER BOX. IT TAKES A, A HOLDER FOR THE PLUG, IT TAKES THE PLUG AND THE COVER, SOME WIRE AND CONDUIT. WE WENT OVER TO HOME DEPOT THE OTHER DAY AND BOUGHT THE PRODUCTS. $79 IS WHAT IT COSTS. AND THE STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE COST OF MATERIALS ARE ROUGHLY 43% OF THE TOTAL COST OF INSTALLATION. SO THIS ISN'T A BUDGET BUSTER, THIS IS FUTURE PROOFING, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE THINK IS IMPORTANT ABOUT DOING THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY. AND THAT'S THREE MINUTES. OKAY, GOOD ENOUGH. ANOTHER REASON WE THINK THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE OF AIR QUALITY. ABOUT 40% OF THE AIR POLLUTION IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, AND MORE THAN 50% IN MOST OF THE REST OF THE CITIES IN TEXAS COMES FROM OUR TRANSPORTATION FLEET. AND AS YOUR ELECTRIC SUPPLY SYSTEM, C P S GETS GREENER AND GREENER, THE THE, THE AMOUNT OF EMISSIONS COMING FROM YOUR VEHICLES IS GONNA BECOME THAT 50% AS DEAL E SHUTS DOWN. AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF HAPPENS. AND BUILDING THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT PRODUCE THAT ALLOW YOU TO TRANSPORT YOURSELF AROUND WITH ZERO EMISSIONS ARE GONNA BE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO MEETING NOT ONLY THE FEDERALLY REQUIRED AIR POLLUTION, UH, STANDARDS, BUT PREPARING FOR THE CLIMATE, UH, AND NOT HARMING THE CLIMATE IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE FACING AS A NATION. NOW, WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COSTS OF WHAT IS IT GONNA COST TO DO A HOUSE, BUT THE SAME NUMBERS ARE ALSO TRUE FOR COMMERCIAL PARKING SPACES. THERE'VE BEEN A COUPLE OF SENATE, UH, STUDIES DONE IN SAN FRANCISCO, IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA THAT BASICALLY SAY THE COST FOR AN EV READY IS ABOUT 920 $950 IF IT'S DONE PER PARKING SPACE AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION. BUT IT'S ABOUT FOUR, UH, ABOUT FOUR TIMES THAT, ABOUT $3,600 IF YOU WAIT AND DO IT AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO BREAK UP THE CONCRETE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LAY, LAY THE CONDUIT. AND SO IT'S GOOD INVESTMENT. IT'S FUTURE PROOFING THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND YOUR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS TO REQUIRE AT LEAST 5% OF ALL YOUR PARKING SPACES TO BE EV READY. AND CAN YOU MOVE IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR ME, PLEASE? THANK YOU. NOW, IF YOU ADOPT THIS CODE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO DO THIS. THERE ARE ALREADY 24 OTHER CITIES AND ONE STATE THAT HAVE DONE THIS. AND IF YOU DO IT, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST IN TEXAS. AND SAN ANTONIO HAS OFTEN LED TEXAS IN ADOPTING FUTURE PROOFING POLICIES. AND THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. NOW, ONE OF THE OTHER LETTERS THAT YOU HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED IN YOUR INBOXES TODAY IS FROM A DR. JOEL REYES, WHO IS A PART, IS A, A PEDIATRIC INTRAVENOUS, I THINK IS THE WAY THAT IS IS SAID. HE'S THE GUY THAT HANDLES REALLY CRITICAL, UH, CARE ISSUES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS AT HOSPITALS. HE'S ALSO AN ALLERGIST. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAS POINTED OUT IS THAT THE LEADING CAUSE OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IS EXPOSURES TO POLLUTANTS, LIKE, UH, UH, STUFF POLLENS AND SO FORTH. BUT ANOTHER LEADING CAUSE IS EXPOSURE TO EMISSIONS COMING FROM OUR CARS AND TRUCKS. AND THAT WHEN YOU, WHEN THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION HAS LOOKED AT THIS REGION AND SAID, WE HAVE ABOUT A QUARTER MILLION OF, UH, ALLERGY ATTACKS THAT COULD BE AVOIDED IF WE ADOPTED POLICIES TO GET TO ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES AND ABOUT, AND THAT'S ABOUT 25,000 ASTHMA, UH, CASES THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO TREAT IN A HOSPITAL PER YEAR AS A RESULT OF ADOPTING ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE POLICIES AND GETTING TO A HUNDRED PERCENT ZERO EMISSIONS. WHAT THIS IS FOR SOME KIDS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND BREATH. AND IT IS THOSE KIDS WHO GO TO SCHOOLS IN PLACES CLOSE TO OUR HOSPI, TO OUR HIGHWAYS, OR CLOSE TO THE TERMINALS, WHERE WE HAVE LOTS OF TRUCK IDLING THAT ARE MOST [03:30:01] EXPOSED. AND WE ALL KNOW WHO THOSE KIDS ARE. IT'S NOT THE WEALTHY, IT'S THE LOW INCOME FOLKS WHO END UP LIVING NEXT TO THOSE PLACES WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC AND A LOT OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED. NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE IN AN OPPORTUNITY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TODAY IS TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE. AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE COMING. CITIES LIKE YOURSELVES WHO PREPARE FOR THE CHANGE ARE GONNA BE THOSE THAT ARE RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY AS A LEADER IN THE STATE, BUT CAN REDUCE THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY, BUT ARE ALSO IN A POSITION TO HELP LURE MANUFACTURERS TO SAN ANTONIO, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE DONE WHEN YOU LURED TOYOTA, JUST LIKE YOU DID WHEN C P S WAS, UH, WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO BUILD RENEWABLES. YOU ALL GOT A SOLAR MANUFACTURER. AND THIS IS THE KIND OF STEP THAT HAS CAUSED SAN ANTONIO TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO MANUFACTURERS WHEN THEY SEE THAT YOU'RE DOING THINGS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO MANUFACTURE AND TO NOT HAVE TO PUT EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH POLLUTION CROSS STUFF ON THE TOP OF THE STACKS BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE TAKING THE SMART I, UH, STEPS OF BUILDING POLICIES IN PLACE THAT WILL REDUCE POLLUTION. AND THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TO DO TODAY TO START BY REQUIRING ALL NEW HOMES TO BE EV READY. TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU PLUG IN AND PLUG YOUR CAR IN IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WILL NOT ONLY, UM, HELP ASSURE THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO PLUG IN THAT CAR WHEN THEY COME HOME, BUT IT WILL COST THEM FAR LESS TO BUY THAT CAR. 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT THE HOUSE. AND THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE TODAY. IT'S A CHALLENGE. AND I'VE SEEN THIS COUNCIL TIME AFTER TIME MAKE THE DECISIONS TO PUT SAN ANTONIO IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. AND THAT'S WHAT OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE AGAIN TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MR. SMITH. JERRY MORRISSEY. HE DIDN'T MAKE, OKAY. RUSSELL SEALE. MR. SEALE, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ALAN MONTEMAYOR. MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK Y'ALL FOR CONSIDERING UPDATING THESE ENERGY CODES. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS A A LONG, LONG TIME. 2010 IS WHEN I FIRST STARTED GETTING ACT ACTIVE IN WORKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES AND ENERGY ISSUES. MANY OF Y'ALL SERVED, UH, ON CITY COUNCIL. NO, NOT MANY OF Y'ALL. JUST A HANDFUL OF Y'ALL THAT PASSED OUR CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THAT COMMITTEE ON THE BUILDING AND ENERGY COMMITTEE. ONE OF THE FIRST THING MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OF THE INITIAL STEPS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DURING THAT WAS EVIE AND SOUL ALREADY COUNCILMAN COURAGE DURING THAT TIME. RIGHT AFTERWARDS, WHEN THIS 2018, UH, I C C CODES CAME UP, THE LANGUAGE DID NOT INCLUDE MANY OF THE THINGS WE'RE ASKING FOR. YOU PULLED THAT ASIDE AND SAID, LET'S GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THAT. AND YOU DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAD OVER 10 MEETINGS WITH US, WITH INDUSTRY, WITH DEPARTMENT ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE BUILDERS. AND WE HAD DRAFT LANGUAGE AT THAT TIME IN 2019, AND THEN COVID HIT IN THE TIME THAT COVID HIT UNTIL NOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN BUILT IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO. JUST DRIVE AROUND AND LOOK, THERE IS NEVER A GOOD TIME. C O V WAS A VERY BAD TIME. WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT DONE THEN, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO STOP AND NOT DO IT. THE COST OF DOING SOMETHING NOW OR DOING IT LATER AND THE MANUFACTURERS OR THE INDUSTRY IS GONNA TELL YOU VERY HIGH PRICES. THE DIFFERENCE IS WHOLESALE VERSUS RETAIL. COUNCILMAN PIUS, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND THEY ARE GIVING YOU A RETAIL PRICE. WHAT CAN WE DO TO AN ADD-ON PRODUCT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION? IF IT'S AN ADD-ON PRODUCT, THEY'RE GONNA ASK YOU AND TO PAY A PREMIUM PRICE. IF THIS IS IN CODE, IT IS NO LONGER ADD-ON PRODUCTS. IT'S GONNA BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE NUMBERS THAT STAFF AND WHAT SMITTY HAVE SHOWN. NOBODY SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO HAVING TO PAY HIGH RETAIL PRICES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AN INFORMED BUYER. YOU HAVE TO HAVE INFORMED BUYERS AND SELLERS FOR, UH, OUR SYSTEM TO WORK. UH, FORTUNATELY, WE, AND FORTUNATELY WE HAVE CODE COMPLIANCE AND CODES, [03:35:01] WHICH GIVES US THAT TOOL TO HAVE OUR PURCHASES OR BUILDINGS HAVE HVAC SYSTEMS IN 'EM. WOULD WE THINK OF PUTTING A HOUSE OUT THERE NOW WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING AND WIRING FOR IT? SO AGAIN, THERE'S NEVER A GOOD TIME. LET'S GET THIS DONE NOW, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, MR. SEAL. ALAN MONTEMAYOR, FOLLOWED BY WENDELL FUQUA HANDOUT FOR CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE, UH, EXTRA, EXTRA TIME SEATED FROM WENDELL FUQUA. YOU'RE, YOU'RE SEATING YOUR TIME, WENDELL. OKAY, YOU'LL HAVE SIX MINUTES NOW. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. I'M ALAN MONTEMAYOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE ALMA GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU. I ASSURE YOU I DO NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED. UM, I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO. 66 YEARS HERE. I'VE SEEN THE CITY GROW. UM, WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST, UH, BUILDING COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S PRIMARILY BUILDING NORTH. UM, BUT THAT, AND IT CAN BE SAID THAT THAT BRINGS JOBS TO SAN ANTONIO AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA. BUT IT ALSO BRINGS A LOT OF PROBLEMS. AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS HOW DO WE MITIGATE THAT PROBLEMS? HOW DO WE GROW SUSTAINABLY? UH, PART OF THAT IS TO, UH, BUILD, UH, IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE. AND THAT MEANS BUILDING FOR FUTURE EVS, BUILDING FOR SOLAR READY, UH, PUTTING ADDITIONAL INSULATION IN OUR HOMES, PUTTING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN NEW SYSTEMS THAT ARE INSTALLED. ALL OF THESE THINGS BENEFIT THE USERS OF THOSE BUILDINGS, OF THOSE HOMES. THEY BENEFIT OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE GONNA BE BUYING THOSE HOMES IN THE FUTURE, UH, IN PARTICULAR ELECTRIC VEHICLES BENEFIT C P S ENERGY, PARTICULARLY IF WE CAN CHARGE THOSE VEHICLES AT NIGHT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ABUNDANT AND CHEAP AND CLEAN WIND ENERGY THAT'S AVAILABLE. THIS IS ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR C P S ENERGY, ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CITY. IT'S A GREAT THING. IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR THE CITIZENS THAT, THAT ARE BUYING THESE VEHICLES AND HAVE LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS. IT'S A, A CITIZENS FOR ALL THE CITIZENS THAT IT'S A BENEFIT FOR ALL THE CITIZENS THAT BREATHE IN SAN ANTONIO AND CAN BREATHE A LITTLE BIT CLEANER AIR. SO THE ADDITION OF A 240 VOLT, 40 AMP PLUG WILL ALLOW THOSE ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO CHARGE OVERNIGHT. THE LEVEL ONE, UH, PLUG, WHICH IS, IS BEEN PROPOSED, WILL NOT DO THAT. IT TAKES UP TO 18 HOURS TO CHARGE. UH, THE MAYOR HAS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE. HE KNOWS THIS. I'M SURE HE IS GOT A LEVEL TWO CHARGER. UH, ANYBODY ELSE HERE WHO HAS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROBABLY HAS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER. THAT'S A LEVEL TWO. I KNOW I DO. UM, SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT THAT LEVEL TWO EV CHARGER FOR THE INSULATION IN THE HOMES. IT'S AN ADDITIONAL THREE INCHES OF INSULATION. YES, THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT THAT INSULATION IS, WILL BEAR FRUIT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE LIFE OF THESE HOMES CAN BE UP TO A HUNDRED YEARS. SO THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE TODAY WILL AFFECT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE HOMES FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS OR SO. INDUSTRY IS GONNA COME TELL YOU THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DO THIS. THERE'S ALL THESE PROBLEMS. WELL, I SAY, IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN, UM, THE CLIMATE ACTION ADAPTATION PLAN IS REALLY MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, YOU'D BE SUPPORTING THAT. THE OZONE, UH, UH, UH, DIFFICULTIES THAT WE FACE IN THE CITY SUPPORT THIS. SO WE REALLY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE THINGS. THE SOLAR READY. UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, UH, TO JUST PUT A, A BREAKER IN A, A SLOT FOR A BREAKER, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY NO CHANGE. UH, WE, WE TRULY NEED TO, TO ALLOCATE A ROOF AREA ON THE ROOF OF OUR BUILDINGS, OUR HOMES THAT'S READY FOR SOLAR. UH, MY HOME HAS 10 SOLAR PANELS ON IT. WE REALLY WANTED TO PUT 12, BUT THERE WERE ROOF PENETRATIONS THAT PRECLUDED THAT. UM, AND, AND THAT'S TRUE OF ALL OF THE HOMES IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE GONNA HAVE ROOF PENETRATIONS. IF WE DON'T CALL OUT A ROOF AREA, UH, IT'S GONNA BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET ANY MEANINGFUL NUMBER OF SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOFS. THE, UM, UH, ANYWAY, WE'RE ASKING FOR THESE CHANGES, NOT FOR US, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN. UH, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO THAT ARE GONNA BE OCCUPYING THESE HOMES AND BUILDINGS, THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, IF WE, IF WE ALLOW THEM TO, UH, RAISE THE, THE LEVELS UP TO 20, UP TO 10,000, UH, SQUARE FEET FOR HOMES, THAT'S GONNA PRECLUDE A LOT OF HOMES NOT HAVING THOSE SYSTEMS. IF WE ALLOW THEM TO RAISE THE, THE, UH, THE, UH, CRITERIA UP TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FEET FOR BUILDINGS, MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS WILL BE BUILT WITHOUT IT. UH, AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA PAY, PAY ITSELF FORWARD FOR GENERATIONS. [03:40:02] SO WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO APPROVE THESE CHANGES TO THE BUILDING CODES TODAY. UM, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT FROM INDUSTRY ABOUT COSTS. UH, THE, THE COSTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW I, I BELIEVE ARE QUITE INFLATED. UM, AND SO WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD, TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS, UH, FOR AIR QUALITY, FOR INCOME FOR THE CITY, UH, FOR THE COMFORT AND, AND, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY COMMENTS. AND AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MONTE MEOR. CHRISTIE SETTERFIELD, MS. SETTERFIELD, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JOE LAOS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER WALSH. MY NAME IS CHRISTIE SUTTERFIELD AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION. WE'RE A NON-PROFIT TRADE ASSOCIATION, AND WE COVER 22 COUNTIES. AND OF COURSE, BEXAR COUNTY IS OUR LARGEST COUNTY. WE HAVE 800 MEMBER COMPANIES, AND WE REPRESENT 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE RESIDENTIAL AND REMODELING, UH, BUILDING INDUSTRY. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS. AND I FIRST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE JOE LAOS HERE WITH ME. HE'LL BE TESTIFYING AFTER ME OR OFFERING COMMENTS. HE IS WITH DEAR HORTON. THEY'RE THE LARGEST HOME BUILDER IN OUR CITY. I ALSO HAVE ED. HE ALSO CHAIRS MY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. I HAVE ED LANKA, MY IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, WHO'S THE C E O OF TEXAS HOMES. HE'S A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER. AND I HAVE SHAD SCHMIDT, WHO'S MY INCOMING PRESIDENT, A SINGLE FAMILY LOT DEVELOPER. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH THESE AMENDMENTS AND WHAT IT WILL DO TO HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ON THE R 49 INSULATION FACTOR. THE NATIONAL STANDARD IS WHAT WE CALL THE HERS RATING, AND THAT'S THE HOME ENERGY RATING SYSTEM. AND WITH THAT HERS RATING, JOE TOOK ALL OF DEAR HORTON'S FLOOR PLANS AND HAD HIS HERS RATER RUN ALL OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY MATRIXES ON THOSE HOUSES. THE INDEX ONLY GOES UP ONE POINT OUT OF 150 POINTS. UM, SO WE WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT IN WHILE, I KNOW OUR PREVIOUS COMMENTS TALKED ABOUT INFLATED COSTS. THE REAL COST TO ADD R 49 IS NINE TO $11,000. THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ARE YOU HAVE TO HAVE 15 AND A HALF INCHES TO BLOW THE R 49 INSTALLATION. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT, UH, FIREWALL. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO REDESIGN YOUR TRUSSES BECAUSE THERE'S GOT TO BE A HEEL IN THE TRUSS. AND THE LABOR AND THE COST OF THE INSTALLATION, AS MR. SHANNON TALKED ABOUT, HAS A DIMINISHING RETURN. SO THAT ONE POINT REALLY IS MINIMAL ON, UM, THE EV READY, EV CAPABLE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS OUR CUSTOM BUILDERS ALREADY OFFER THAT AS AN OPTION. AND I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY FACTOR. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEXAS A AND M RESEARCH CENTER TO UPDATE THEIR NUMBERS. BUT FOR THE PRICE INCREASE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN 2017, IT KNOCKED 22,000 TEXANS OUT OF THE MARKET. YOU KNOW, THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES ONE SEVENTH TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. I WANNA TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO IS A RICH CITY. WE ARE RICH IN CULTURE. WE ARE RICH IN CITY LEADERSHIP AND MILITARY AND OUR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, BUT OVER HALF OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE MODEST INCOMES AND AN ALARMINGLY HIGH PERCENTAGE LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. WHEN YOUNG HOME BUYERS, I, I'LL, I'LL LET THEM WRAP UP, BUT I APPRECIATE THE DOUBT. THANK YOU, MS. CENTERFIELD. JOE LAOS, MR. LAOS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWED BY ED LANGA. WELL, LANGA PRESENT IS THE COST AND SOME OTHER THINGS, UM, THAT I'M TRYING TO DO. UM, THE BIGGEST THING, SORRY. UM, THE COST, UM, FOR THE EV READY STAGE TWO IS ABOUT 46 50 TO THE BUYER. THAT INCLUDES NOT JUST WHAT HE IS SHOWING YOU, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES ADDITIONAL WIRING, THICKER GAUGE WIRING, A LARGER PANEL FROM 200 TO 300 AND DIFFUSES FOR THE SLOTS. YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER PROJECT THAN JUST REPLACING GOING TO HOME DEPOT. YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING ON [03:45:01] THE R 49 IS YOU'RE NOT GOING FROM R 38 TO R 49. WE'RE GOING FROM R 30 TO R 49. SO IT IS 50 AND A HALF INCHES. WE'LL ARGUE TO CREATE, HAVE TO CREATE A HEEL IN THE TRUSS OR CONVENTIONALLY FRAMED. AND THE OTHER ISSUE COMES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL THIS TIME IS HOW DO WE FIREPROOF MAJORITY OF THE HOUSES WE'RE ON FIVE FOOT SETBACKS. HOW DO WE FIREPROOF THE SIDE? NOW, DO WE BLOCK IT A HUNDRED PERCENT? DO WE GO WITH A TYPE X? ALL THAT INVOLVES DIFFERENT MATERIAL, ADDITIONAL MATERIAL AND LABOR. SO NOW THIS, THESE COSTS KEEP US FROM DOING OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW. WE'RE CONSIDERING GOING TO ENERGY STAR AND WE HAVE SOME THINGS TO DO FOR THAT AS WELL. ELIMINATES OTHER IDEAS LIKE ON TANKLESS WATER HEATERS, WHICH HELP THE HERS RATINGS AS WELL AS A POWER VENT. I MEAN, THERE'S NUMEROUS IDEAS. UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT A NEW SEAL RIGHT NOW TO SPRAY AND SEAL THE ENTIRE HOUSE, MAKE IT MORE AIRTIGHT EFFICIENT. THAT HELPS THE HERS RATING, THAT HELPS THE C F M REDUCE INSIDE THE HOUSE. THESE ARE ALL VALUABLE THINGS THAT HELP THE ENERGY RATING. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GO A HUNDRED PERCENT ENERGY STAR. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LAOS. ED LANGA, FOLLOWED BY CHAD SCHMIDT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. UH, I SAT ON YOUR TASK FORCE FOR THREE YEARS, THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UH, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF MY DRIVERS IN WHAT I DO. UH, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I BUILD A MILLION DOLLAR HOMES, YET I'M BUILDING A HUNDRED TINY HOMES AT THE TOWN TWIN VILLAGE PROJECT FOR THE HOMELESS. SO THAT'S A PRETTY WIDE RANGE, I'D SAY. I THINK I'M QUALIFIED TO SPEAK TO WHAT COSTS DO AND HOW, HOW THEY CHANGE. I ALSO DRIVE A TESLA, AND I DROVE A TESLA BEFORE IT WAS COOL. SO I, I, I'VE DRIVEN A TESLA. I'VE GONE BACK AND RETROED MY HOUSE, WHICH I BUILT 12 YEARS AGO IN COUNCILMAN CURTIS'S DISTRICT. UH, I'M ALSO LOOKING IN SOLAR RIGHT NOW. AND I'M BAFFLED IN AMAZED AT THE COST THAT I'VE BEEN QUOTED, EVEN AT THE CASH DISCOUNT PRICE. SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF OUR COST. AND WHAT MY COMPANY HAS DONE IS OFFER OUR CUSTOMERS OPTIONS WHEN THEY WALK IN. WE HAVE AN OPTION BOOK THAT SAYS, WE'LL TAKE YOU FROM HERE TO THERE. BUT BY MANDATING SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS ON AN, ON AN EARLY LEVEL, IT'LL, IT'LL ALMOST, UH, NEGATE ME FROM BUILDING SPEC HOMES. IN OTHER WORDS, A FOR SALE HOME'S EASY. I CAN SIT WITH THE BUYER AND TALK THROUGH THEIR OPTIONS WITH THEM. BUT ON A SPEC HOME, IF I'M TOLD TO PUT SOMETHING IN THAT LATER ON, I WON'T NEED, I'LL BE ACTUALLY GOING BACKWARDS TO GO FORWARDS. AND, AND THAT, THAT DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE IN TERMS OF JUST HOW YOU BUILD IT, BUT HOW WE'VE HANDLED IT. AND I THINK A GREAT WAY THAT WE COULD, WE COULD DO THIS AT ANY PRICE RANGE, IS TO OFFER THE BUYERS OPTIONS, WHETHER IT'S STARTING WITH THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR, BUT OFFER THEM AS AN OPTION AND MOVE FORWARD. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 150 HOMES, UH, ON THE 51 HOMES ON MY STREET. I'M THE ONLY EV DRIVER, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU THOSE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IT. OKAY? AS YOU GET DOWN TO THE END OF THE BLOCK WHERE THERE'S ANOTHER 125 HOMES, THERE'S FOUR. SEE, WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER, THE FIVE EV DRIVERS IN THAT WHOLE AREA. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY HERE. AND I DO WANNA TOUCH ON THAT. YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE MORTGAGE, THE AVERAGE SALES PRICE IN SAN ANTONIO NOW IS $350,000. OKAY? THAT'S PRE-OWNED. THAT'S HIGH END HOMES, LOW END HOMES, EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN $350,000. THE AVERAGE LOAN IS $300,000. EVERYBODY LOVED WHEN WE HAD THREE AND A QUARTER PERCENT INTEREST RATES. THEY'RE AT SEVEN AND A QUARTER TODAY. THAT 4% INTEREST RATE CAUSED YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT TO GO UP. $800, $800. YOU CAN SEE HOW SENSITIVE IT IS. WE'RE GONNA GO INTO A HOUSING RECESSION IN THE NEXT YEAR. IN CASE ANYBODY DOESN'T WANNA TALK ABOUT IT, I'LL TALK ABOUT IT. 'CAUSE I SIT ON THE TAB BOARD AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE N H P BOARD. SO I INTERACT WITH PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE BUILDING LESS HOMES, NOT MORE HOMES. SO WE'RE GONNA BE CONSCIOUS OF OUR COST, AND THAT'S WHAT EVERY BUILDER DOES WHEN, WHEN THINGS COME BACK, OKAY? THE COST OF MATERIALS HAS NOT COME BACK YET, HENCE WHY WE HAVE INFLATED PRICES. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, WE'LL WORK OUR BEST. AND I THINK THE, THE, THE [03:50:01] MOST REASONABLE SOLUTION IS TO OFFER THE CUSTOMER, THE CONSUMER, THE OPTION WHERE THEY WANNA GO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. LANGA. CHAD SCHMIDT. I, I THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND MAYOR WALSH. UH, MY NAME'S CHAD SCHMID. UH, I AM, UH, GOING TO BE THE INCOMING P UH, PRESIDENT FOR THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDER ASSOCIATION FOR 2023. AND I'M ALSO, UH, MY SPARE TIME. I'M A SINGLE FAMILY, A LOT DEVELOPER HERE IN THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO AREA. UH, I'M HERE REALLY TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY TODAY IN SAN ANTONIO. UH, AND JUST IN THE COUNTRY IN GENERAL. UM, AFFORDABILITY JUST CONTINUES TO KEEP FALLING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. RISING MORTGAGE RATES, HIGH INFLATION, ONGOING BUILDER MATERIAL, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, DISRUPTIONS, TRADES, HAS ELEVATED THE PRICES OF HOME AND CON CONTINUES TO EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM OF AFFORDABILITY. AND TODAY THERE'S A, THERE'S A METRIC OUT THERE CALLED THE, UH, THE, UH, HOUSING OPPORTUNITY INDEX. AND TODAY IT'S AT THE LOWS IT'S EVER BEEN SINCE A GREAT RECESSION. IT'S AT 42.2%. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, UM, OF ALL THE HOMES SOLD IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, WHETHER THEY WERE NEW OR RESALE, ONLY 42.2% OF THE US POPULATION COULD AFFORD TO BUY THAT HOME, UH, BASED ON THE, THE U THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $90,000 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME. AND SO, YOU KNOW, ADDING MORE COST TO HOMES TODAY IS JUST, IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE FROM JANUARY OF 3.5% TO, YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH IN OCTOBER, THEY WERE 6.9%. AND ON A $313,000 MORTGAGE, THE P AND I PAYMENT THE PRINCIPAL INTEREST PAYMENT ONE UP, UH, 42 OR 47%. AND SO IT JUST CONTINUES TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM OF, OF BEING ABLE TO AFFORD HOMES. UM, YOU KNOW, FORESEE ALL OF THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, EV CAPABLE, EV READY, UH, THE R 49 INSULATION INTO HOMES IS GONNA MAKE THIS PROBLEM WORSE OVER TIME. IT'S GOING TO HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT IS NOT JUST ADDITIONAL INSULATION. UM, AND IT'S GONNA MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SAN ANTONIANS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE, TO, TO HAVE THAT DREAM OF, OF OWNING A HOME. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT STUDIES OUT THERE THAT SAY THE, THE SAN ANTONIO M SS A NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL 65,000 HOMES TO, TO MEET THE NEED THAT'S THERE, AND MAKING THEM MORE EXPENSIVE IS GONNA MAKE IT LESS AFFORDABLE FOR, FOR THE AVERAGE SAN ANTONIAN. UM, THE OTHER THING TOO IS, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE BUILDING AND, UH, UH, ADVISORY COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDED THE CHANGES THAT THEY RECOMMENDED, WHICH WAS EV CAPABLE R 38. THOSE ARE THINGS WE SUPPORT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TODAY, IS TO APPROVE THE, THE CHANGES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, AND NOT THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE SUGGESTED TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. SCHMIDT. THAT'S EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM 12. SO WE'LL GO NOW INTO OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I'LL START OFF BY THANKING EVERYBODY INVOLVED AGAIN. UM, AND MIKE, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT MY DEFINITION OF FUN IS NOT WHAT YOU'VE DEFINED AS TODAY, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU POWERED THROUGH THE 22 MEETINGS AND THAT, UM, THERE IS, UH, 34 FOLKS THAT, THAT WERE INVOLVED, UM, ALSO AT P C D C, THIS ITEM CAME TO OUR COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND COUNCILMAN COURAGE ASKED FOR MORE TIME BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THE NEW AMENDMENTS WERE NOT ENOUGH TO ADDRESS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT THE TIME. UM, AND I WANNA THANK THE, THE SIERRA CLUB BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONLY FOLKS THERE TO, TO SPEAK, UM, THAT DAY ON, ON THAT ITEM. AND IT WAS A REALLY LONG AGENDA ITEM, AND IT WAS THE LAST ONE. SO THANK YOU ALSO FOR THAT. OCTOBER 31ST, WE BROUGHT THIS ITEM BACK TO THE P C D C, AND IT WAS APPROVED WITH AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PASSED BY OUR COLLEAGUES. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU. SIERRA CLUB WAS ALSO THERE, UH, TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. WE MET WITH D C D C, UM, AND I, OR I'M SORRY, D S D, MY TEAM MET WITH D S D, I MET WITH THEM. WE'VE, WE'VE MET, UM, WITH THEM AND ASKED THEM QUESTIONS. NO REQUESTS CAME IN, UM, AFTER THAT, RIGHT? SO AFTER THE OCTOBER 31ST MEETING. SO, UH, IT WAS RECENTLY, I THINK ON MONDAY THAT, UM, WE, WE RECEIVED SOME CONCERN WITH SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE SHARED IN OUR OFFICE. SO I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AND, AND, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, I BELIEVE IT WAS IT THE GREATER BUILDERS, UH, ASSOCIATION THAT SENT OVER, UM, THE INFORMATION. UH, WITH THESE CHANGES, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S INCREMENTAL CHANGES TO NEW DEVELOPMENT. UM, THE FACT IS THAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE MORE EVS IN OUR CITY. PEOPLE WILL NEED TO CHARGE THEM. AND IF THE CAPACITY AT THEIR HOMES IS TOO SMALL OR TOO COSTLY TO UPGRADE, THEY WILL SEEK AND DEMAND INCREASED STATIONS AT COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. AND SO, UH, AS WE PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE, AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO FOLKS AND I'VE BEEN, UM, UH, CONCERNED WITH THE HOW FUTURE READY WE ARE FOR, UH, EVS. AND I AM AFRAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE, [03:55:01] THIS IS GONNA BE THE NEXT REDLINING FOR OUR RESIDENTS, RIGHT? IT'S EV BUT IT'S COMING. AND BY 2040 BY SOME CAR MANUFACTURERS, SOME ARE SAYING 20 30, 20 50, THE LATEST, RIGHT? SO WE DO HAVE TO PREPARE FOR IT. THE COST THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT BREAKING UP CONCRETE. AND ONE KEY EXAMPLE THAT I'VE SEEN IS AT MY FIELD OFFICE, WE HAD A BLINK, UM, STATION THAT WAS PLACED, AND APPARENTLY IT WAS DONE INCORRECTLY, SO THEY HAD TO GO BACK OUT THERE AND DO IT AGAIN. AND SO I'M WONDERING HOW MUCH HAS THAT COST ALREADY? HAD WE PREPARED FOR IT, UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT? WHERE COULD WE HAVE USED THAT MONEY INSTEAD? RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION. SORRY ANDY, I'LL STICK TO MY POINT. UM, BUT THERE'S NEW COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH UPGRADES, RIGHT? AND SO HOME PRICES, THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITHOUT SOME OF THESE UPGRADES AS WELL. WE KNOW HOW THE MARKET IS. WHILE THE COST WILL BE PASSED ALONG TO HOME BUYERS, THE HOME BUYERS WILL HAVE TO SPEND OUT OF POCKET MONEY TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS AFTER THEY'VE PURCHASED THEIR HOME AND PLANNED OUT THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS. AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE THINKING OF THINGS AHEAD OF TIME, RIGHT? BEFORE WE GET THERE, I DO ALSO WANNA SAY THAT THERE'S TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT? THAT WILL CHANGE. AND THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WILL NOT BE THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S THERE NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER. SO, UM, WE DON'T KNOW. THE REALITY IS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL THAT WILL PREDICT WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO HELP US WITH, WITH EVS. BUT WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT C P S STEP PROGRAM. WE'VE EVEN CARVED OUT SOME FUNDING FOR NEW PROGRAMS FROM THIS REVENUE. AND WE MUST REALIZE THAT MUCH OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE ON A MICRO SCALE, OFTEN MITIGATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IN ORDER TO CONTROL OUR ENERGY DEMAND, THOUGH, ESPECIALLY AS WE INCREASE IN POPULATION, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE WAY WE BUILD NOW AND HOW WE BAKE IN NOW AS MANY SAVINGS AS POSSIBLE. SO, UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BY D S D STAFF, BY THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMISSIONS. THE FOUR CODE CHANGES TODAY WILL COST MORE, NOT WELL, THE FOUR CODE CHANGES TODAY WILL COST MORE THAN NOT DOING THEM, BUT THE COST IS IN HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, NOT NECESSARILY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ESTIMATES, RIGHT? SO I'M TRYING TO GO WITH THE AVERAGE INSTEAD OF THE HIGHER, THE LOW END OF IT. I, UM, AM CONCERNED WITH SOME OF THE COSTS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. BUT I'M ALSO ENCOURAGED BY THE SAVINGS THAT COULD BE AS MUCH AS 11.6% ON SOME OF THESE RESIDENTS. DALLAS GAVE A COMPROMISE MOVING TO R 42. SO INSTEAD OF R 38, INSTEAD OF R 49, DALLAS PROPOSED R 42. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO, UM, REALIZE THAT THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY FORCE DEVELOPERS TO INSTALL, INSTALL R 49 SINCE THEY CAN CHOOSE SEVERAL COMPLIANCE PATHS. WE HEARD TODAY FROM ONE OF THOSE DEVELOPERS THAT INCLUDES, THAT INCLUDES PERFORMANCE PATHS FROM ENERGY RATINGS INDEX, OR MEETING ANOTHER CODE LIKE THE ENERGY STAR, WHICH WAS REFERENCED TODAY. UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE, UH, THAT OPTION. MIKE, I WANNA ASK YOU BEFORE I GO ON, WHAT WOULD MOVING TO AN R 42, OR WAS THAT EVEN CONSIDERED? AND SO I HEARD FROM ONE SPEAKER TODAY REFERENCED THAT WE'RE AT R 30 RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE MOVING FROM R 30, HE SAID TO AN R 49. SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS. WHAT THE PROCESS, I, I DON'T THINK, AND I JUST LOOKED AT MY TEAM, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS LIKE A COMPROMISE OR NOT. UH, IF YOU GO TO AN R 42, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA ADD ANOTHER INCH OF THAT INSTALLATION, YOU KNOW, THINKING, UH, EVERY, UH, EVERY THREE OR FOUR RS IS ABOUT AN INCH OF THAT CELLULOSE INSULATION. SO INSTEAD OF GETTING THREE INCHES, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA ADD AN INCH OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I THINK I'M MAYBE ABOUT RIGHT. OKAY. I'M DOING MATH ON THE DA HERE OR THE PHONE, SO, GOT IT. THANK YOU, MIKE. AND THEN I ALSO HAVE, UM, SO ANOTHER QUESTION. IF WE APPROVE EVERYTHING TODAY AND WE, LET'S SAY SEND FOR CONSIDERATION THAT FROM R 38 TO 49, RIGHT? SO FOR A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOU? OR DO WE HAVE TO APPROVE IT ALL TODAY? NO, IF, IF YOU, IF YOU MADE AN AMENDMENT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SAY I, I WANT TO DO R 38, BUT I WANT THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS TO CONTINUE TO, TO REVIEW AND, AND WORK ON, YOU KNOW, MAYBE R 49, WE COULD DO THAT WITH A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME THAT YOU GIVE US AND BRING YOU BACK, UH, THE SAME OR A DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATION. UM, WE COULD JUST FURTHER INVESTIGATE IT. I, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHETHER WHAT SIDE YOU'RE ON OR NOT. THEY'VE, THEY'VE, THEY'VE, THEY'VE LOOKED AT IT A LOT, BUT, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IT. SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN ALSO, UM, I KNOW THAT OUR AMENDMENTS AT P C D C, UH, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR 10% AND WE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AT P C D C, SO WE, UM, WENT WITH 5%, RIGHT? SO WE, WE RECOMMENDED THAT. UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANNA LET MY COLLEAGUES, UH, KNOW THAT WE WERE REQUESTED TO GO, UM, REQUIRING [04:00:01] COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE 50,000 SQUARE FEET OR, OR, OR THEY, THEY WERE ASKING FOR GROUPS THAT WERE 25,000 SQUARE FEET AND ABOVE TO HAVE TO HAVE, UM, ENERGY SYSTEMS. AND INSTEAD, OUR P C D C COMMITTEE ALSO CAME TO A COMPROMISE AND HAVE, UM, ASKED FOR 50 THOU OR FOR 50,000 SQUARE FEET AND ABOVE TO HAVE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCILMAN COURAGE BROUGHT UP AND SUPPORTED. SO I ALSO THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD COMPROMISE. AND SO ALONG THE WAY, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN COMPROMISING WITH BOTH, UH, SIDES, IF YOU WILL. MIKE, LIKE YOU JUST REFERENCED RIGHT NOW, I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. THE R 49 INSTALLATION REQUIREMENT CREATES ADDITIONAL FIREWALL ACCORDING TO SOME DOCUMENTS THAT I RECEIVED, AND A CHANGE TO THE BUILDING DESIGN, UM, WOULD CREATE A HEEL IN THE CEILING TRUSTS, WHICH WOULD THEN, UM, WHICH WOULD IN THE TRUSS WHEN THEY BLOW IN THE 15 AND A HALF INCHES OF INSULATION THAT IS REQUIRED. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? SURE. CAN I TOUCH ON ONE THING THOUGH? THE, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND VERSUS THE 50,000 UHHUH, UM, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT, BUT THAT WASN'T PART OF THE APPROVAL MOTION AT THE P C D. IT WAS DISCUSSED BUT DROPPED AT THE END. SO IF YOU GOT IT, IF WE WANT TO ADD THAT, LET'S, I'LL, I'LL JUST KEEP A NOTE ON THAT. THE, THE IDEA OF, UH, IF THE, UH, IF THE THICKNESS OF SPRAY CELLULOSE INSULATION, UM, YOU KNOW, WENT FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, 12 INCHES TO 15 INCHES, UH, THAT QUITE POSSIBLY AROUND THE EDGE OF THAT ATTIC, WHICH USUALLY SITS ON SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ELEVATED UP. SO WE CALL THAT A HEEL TRUSS. SO REALLY IT'S JUST SOME MORE WOOD TO ELEVATE IT TO, TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH GAP, UH, TO SPRAY IN AND HAVE 15 INCHES. OTHERWISE, IT WOULD PINCH DOWN AT THE END, UH, AND YOU WOULDN'T GET THE AMOUNT OF INSULATION NEEDED TO MEET THAT. SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO, UH, ADD MORE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS, RIGHT, THAT ADD MORE WOOD AROUND THE PERIMETER. AND I THINK THE, THE FIRE RATING ISSUE, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN SPOKE ABOUT IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO A SETBACK OR CLOSE TO A PROPERTY LINE, AND SOME OF THIS CAME UP LAST WEEK AT, AT A D U CONVERSATION WITH THE U D C, BUT THAT, THAT HAS TO BE FIRE RATED WALL, NOT JUST REGULAR WOOD. UH, WE USE TERMS LIKE TYPE X, UH, GYPSUM, WHICH IS A FIRE RATE OF GYPSUM. SO I, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO. OKAY. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE ADDED, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS, SO JUST TO MEET THOSE OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CODE. GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S HOW I UNDERSTAND IT. SO THANK YOU, MIKE. UM, WELL, MAYOR, I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 12 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 12. UH, WE WILL CONSIDER, CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION, UH, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. THANK YOU. UM, I WANT TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, AMEND SECTION R 4 1 0 ELECTRIC VEHICLE EV CAPABLE. UM, AND SO SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND IT FOR LEVEL TWO TO GO FROM LEVEL ONE TO LEVEL TWO CHARGERS, UM, INSTALLED IN GARAGES. AND SO SPECIFICALLY THE LANGUAGE IS A MOTION TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF 20 AMP 110 VOLT TO 40 AMP 220 VOLT. OKAY. UM, COUNCILMAN BRAVO. THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION. AM I, AM I CORRECT? DO WE NEED A YEAH, I, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, CERTAINLY THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, COUNCILMAN BRAVO, UH, THE P C D RECOMMENDATION TO GO TO LEVEL TWO. WE ASSUME THAT WAS THE LANGUAGE. SO I THINK THAT'S ALREADY IN THE ORIGINAL MOTION. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOOD THEN. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL THEN I WILL JUST, UH, CONTINUE ON THE MOTION. YEAH. OH, I DON'T NEED TO DO THE MOTION NOW, RIGHT? NO. OKAY. NO, COUNCILMAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE MOTION ON THE ORIGINAL. OKAY. SO, UM, THE REASON I FEEL LIKE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A LEVEL TWO CHARGERS IS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE, WHERE THE MARKET IS HEADED RIGHT NOW, WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTRIC CARS. SO B M W, UH, HAS, HAS, UH, COMMITTED, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THEY ARE PRODUCING 50% MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND BY 2025, THEY WILL HAVE MANUFACTURED 2 MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES. FORD IS CURRENTLY INVESTING 2220 $2 BILLION THROUGH 2025 TO DELIVER ELECTRIC VEHICLES HERE IN THE US GENERAL MOTORS PLANS TO STOP SELLING GAS AND DIESEL VEHICLES BY 2035. AND BY 2030, ALL CADILLACS WILL BE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ONLY HONDA. BY 2030, 40% OF ALL VEHICLES SOLD WILL BE EITHER ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR HYDROGEN. AND BY 2040, ALL GAS VEHICLES WILL BE PHASED OUT. HYUNDAI IS INVESTING $7.4 BILLION IN THE UNITED STATES TO INCREASE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PRODUCTION BY 2025. HERE, JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER WILL BE ALL ELECTRIC BY 2030 MERCEDES. UM, ALL NEW VEHICLE PLATFORMS WILL BE ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY 2025, AND THEY WILL ONLY PRODUCE ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY 2030. FIAT CHRYSLER IS INVESTING 35 BILLION TOWARD MANUFACTURING EVS BY 2025, AND WILL OFFER 55 DIFFERENT [04:05:01] ELECTRIC VEHICLE MODELS BY THEN. UH, TOYOTA WILL WILL OFFER 70 MODELS OF ED VEHICLES BY 2025 VOLKSWAGEN. MORE THAN 50% OF ALL VOLKSWAGEN SALES WILL BE EVS BY 2030, AND VOLVO WILL ONLY MAKE ELECTRIC CARS BY 2030. SO THESE ARE NOT MY CLAIMS, THESE ARE THE CLAIMS FROM FORBES. AND SO THE QUESTION IS, UH, DO WE WANT TO MAKE HOMES OF THE FUTURE? AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LEVEL ONE CHARGER, THAT'S GREAT FOR CHARGING YOUR LAPTOP, OR MAYBE IF YOU HAVE AN, IF YOU BUY A, YOUR, YOUR KID A, A BARBIE JEEP FROM TOYS R US, THAT'S ELECTRIC, THAT'S GREAT FOR THAT. BUT IF YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY CHARGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT, JUST NOT DRIVE SOMEWHERE BEYOND YOUR OWN ZIP CODE, UH, A LEVEL TWO CHARGER IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE. AND IT, IT'S NOT JUST IMPORTANT TO HAVE TO FOR BEING ABLE TO GET ENOUGH CHARGE ON YOUR VEHICLE. IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR GRID STABILITY, RIGHT? AND SO WHEN ALL THESE PEOPLE START MOVING TOWARDS ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THERE'S GONNA BE A HIGHER LOAD ON OUR ELECTRIC GRID, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A LEVEL ONE CHARGER AND YOU KEEP IT, YOU'RE CHARGING AROUND THE CLOCK. IT COULD TAKE YOU THREE DAYS TO CHARGE A CAR. AND WE NEED TO CONTROL WHEN PEOPLE ARE CHARGING. WE NEED TO BE ABLE, ABLE TO CONTROL THAT DEMAND. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE GET HOME, UH, FROM WORK, IF THEY GO IN, THEY PLUG THEIR CAR IN, USUALLY IN THE AFTERNOON, THAT'S OUR PEAK DEMAND, AND THAT'S WHEN THE SUN STARTS GOING DOWN AND OUR SOLAR PRODUCTION ON OUR GRID GOES DOWN. AND, BUT, BUT WE'RE PEAKING DEMAND AND OUR, OUR ENERGY PRODUCTION IS GOING DOWN. AND SO THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE RIGHT THERE FOR ANY UTILITY TO MEET THAT PEAK DEMAND AT THAT TIME. AND SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A LEVEL TWO CHARGER, THEN THEY CAN CONTROL WHEN THEY CHARGE IT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP IT PLUGGED IN, CHARGING AROUND THE CLOCK, THEY CAN HAVE IT PROGRAMMED SO THAT YOU GET HOME FROM WORK AT FIVE 30, YOU PLUG IN AND, BUT YOUR CAR DOES NOT ACTUALLY START CHARGING TILL MAYBE NINE OR 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT WHEN ELECTRICITY DEMAND GOES DOWN AND, AND ELECTRICITY IS ACTUALLY CHEAPER THERE. AND THE UTILITY CAN ACTUALLY SEND A MARKET SIGNAL, UH, OR A PRICE SIGNAL SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY CHARGE YOU LESS IF YOU CAN AGREE TO NOT CHARGE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL 10:00 PM. NOW, IF YOU DO THAT WITH A LEVEL ONE CHARGER, YOU'RE GONNA WAKE UP AND YOUR CAR'S NOT GONNA BE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO NEARLY CHARGED. BUT IF IT'S A LEVEL TWO CHARGER, WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING WITH JUST A FEW HOURS CHARGE, MAYBE SIX, SIX TO EIGHT HOURS OF CHARGE, YOU'LL HAVE A FULLY CHARGED VEHICLE. AND THAT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS. UM, SO, UH, THE OTHER THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC, ONCE YOU PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SAVE A LOT ON, ON YOUR TRANSPORTATION COST BECAUSE ELECTRICITY IS SO CHEAP COMPARED TO GASOLINE OR DIESEL. AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR LOWER INCOME PEOPLE IS THAT UPFRONT COST. BUT IF YOU CAN ALREADY HAVE THE EV CHARGER, UH, OR AN OUTLET FOR AN EV CHARGER BUILT INTO THE HOUSE, IT'S A LOT CHEAPER THAN RETROFITTING IT. AND THAT REDUCES THAT UPFRONT COST AND, AND THAT, UM, THAT OBSTACLE. SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THESE AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER BRAVO. COUNCIL MEMBER S THANKS MIKE. SHANNON, PLEASE TAKE THE WITNESS STAND, SIR. UH, THE, UH, . HEY MIKE. UM, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE DOES CONTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR EV CHARGERS IN APARTMENTS AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. IS THAT RIGHT? NO, NO. WE, WE ADDED THAT, SO, SO THE MODEL CODE DOESN'T CONTAIN THAT? NO, NO, THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT. SO ANDY, UH, THE MODEL CODE, THE I E C C, ACCORDING TO MIKE, DOES NOT CONTAIN LANGUAGE REQUIRING E EV CHARGER RECEPTACLES FOR APARTMENTS OR COMMERCIAL, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT, SO LEMME ASK YOU TO, JUST, WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT IT DOESN'T CONTAIN ALSO REQUI SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY NEW CONSTRUCTION. CORRECT. ALRIGHT, SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, AND IF IT HASN'T BEEN CONTAINED IN THAT CODE FOR THAT MODEL CODE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY I'M WORRIED. OKAY. I'M WORRIED THAT IN 2019 WE, THE CITY WENT TO AND T M L WENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO TRY TO KILL HOUSE BILL 24 39. THAT WAS FILED BY THEN, UM, REPRESENTATIVE PHELAN, THAT BILL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SIGNED INTO LAW, I BELIEVE, UH, IT'S NOW GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3000. AND WHILE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN ROCHA GARCIA WAS GIVING US HER VERY THOROUGH COMMENTS, [04:10:01] UH, I, UH, WAS UP HERE JUST LOOKING UP THE LAW. AND WHAT I READ WAS THAT THIS LAW PROHIBITS CITIES FROM ADOPTING OR ENFORCING A RULE ORDINANCE, BUILDING CODE OR OTHER REGULATION THAT ESTABLISHES A STANDARD FOR A BUILDING PRODUCT, MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, MAINTENANCE, OR OTHER ALTERATION OF A RESIDENCE, UH, OR COMMERCIAL BUILDING IF THE STANDARD IS MORE STRINGENT THAN A STANDARD FOR THAT PRODUCT MATERIAL, ET CETERA, UNDER A NATIONAL MODEL CODE PUBLISHED WITHIN THE LAST THREE CODE CYCLES. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS THAT IF IT'S NOT EVEN CONTAINED IN THE I E C C, UM, AND CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN CONTAINED IN THE LAST THREE CYCLES. WE AREN'T RUNNING A FOUL OF CHAPTER 3000. AND SO SET ASIDE THE FACT THAT I'VE GOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN BUILDING CODE, WHO ARE THE BUILDERS THEMSELVES, NOT DEVELOPERS, BUT I MEAN THE ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING THESE HOUSES, TELLING US THAT EACH ONE OF THESE IS GONNA COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE FOR HOME BUYERS AT A TIME WHEN WE'VE GOT AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. AND I'M NOT GONNA VOTE ON THIS. UH, I'M NOT GONNA VOTE. YES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I'M NOT GONNA VOTE. YES. I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE FOR, FOR HOME BUYERS TODAY, BUT MY NUMBER TWO CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE EVEN PREEMPTED FROM DOING THIS. AND SO, ANDY COUNCILMAN, YES, I, UH, UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT WELL VERSED IN SECTION 3000, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS OKAY. OKAY. GOOD. , HELLO, COUNCILMAN? UH, HI. JOSEPH HARNEY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. UM, YEAH, THAT'S SECTION, UH, BASICALLY IF, IF SOMETHING IS, UM, ALLOWED IN ONE OF THE PAST THREE CODE CYCLES, A CITY CAN'T PROHIBIT IT. UH, IT GOES TO THE DEFINITION OF, OF STRINGENT, UM, BY, UM, UH, HAVING THE, THE, THE REQUIREMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS, THIS NEW RECEPTACLE. UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT NECESSARILY IS IN CONFLICT, UM, BECAUSE, UH, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE, THE, THE CITY CODE, UH, TO, TO, WE, WE HAVE A, A PURPOSE, RIGHT? FOR, FOR DOING IT. RIGHT. UH, WE CAN'T, UM, UM, NECESSARILY, UH, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, PROHIBIT SOMEBODY FROM, FROM USING, UH, ONE OF THE, THE OTHER, UH, PRODUCTS IDENTIFIED. BUT, UH, FOR THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S NECESSARILY A CONFLICT. YOU THINK THERE'S CONFLICT? I DO NOT. OKAY. 'CAUSE YOU STARTED BY SAYING YOU'RE NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT IT CONFLICTS. WELL, IT, IT HASN'T BEEN NECESSARILY ADDRESSED. IT DOES GO TO THE DEFINITION OF, OF, UM, STRINGENT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN OUTED OUT. RIGHT? IN OTHER WORDS, NOBODY'S BEEN SUED YET TO TEST IT. I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY THE CASE, RIGHT? SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE, FIRST OF ALL, I'M, I'M GONNA MAKE TWO MOTIONS. ONE THAT WE DELAY THIS UNTIL WE GET AN OPINION LETTER FROM THE AG AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS VIOLATES GOVERNMENT CODE 3000. UH, I, I THINK THAT'S GONNA SAVE US HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LITIGATION FEES IN CASE WE GET SUED. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, DELAY IT FOR WHENEVER WE GET THAT, THAT LETTER BACK. UM, AND, UH, THAT'S, SO THAT'S MY FIRST MOTION. COUNCILMAN, IF I MAY, WE, WE DO NOT HAVE STANDING TO ASK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR AN OPINION, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND JUST MAKE THE MOTION TO DELAY IT FOR DATE CERTAIN. YEAH. SO I MAKE THE MOTION TO DELAY IT. UM, HOW MANY, I MEAN, HOW MANY WEEKS DO YOU NEED ANDY TO GET ME A DEFINITIVE ANSWER? I CAN GET YOU A DEFINITIVE ANSWER BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCILMAN? SO I MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY THIS UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, SO THAT THE VERY LEAST WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE CONFLICTING WITH, UH, WITH STATE LAW. OKAY. THERE WAS A MOTION TO DELAY ITEM 12 AND A SECOND TO DELAY ITEM 12. UH, SO WE'LL DISCUSS A DELAY. UM, SO LET ME OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MY COLLEAGUES. UH, ROD, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD? I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. UH, YOU KNOW, I, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF CODES IN THERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 10 CODES, AND I THINK YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ONE OF 'EM. DO WE NEED TO DELAY ALL THE CODES? WELL, OR ARE YOU JUST SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENERGY CODE? FORGIVE ME. YOU'RE RIGHT. SO, UH, MAYBE WHAT WE DO IS, SO THEN MY MOTION IS TO A, AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO EXCLUDE, UH, THE P C D C COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WHATEVER THE PCD C'S RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT WITH REGARDS TO THE, UH, AMENDMENT OF THE I E C C, UH, RECEPTACLE RULE. DID I, DID I ARTICULATE THAT CORRECTLY? ANDY? YOU DID, COUNCILMAN I, BUT MY RECOMMENDATION IS YOUR MOTION INITIALLY WILL BE TO SEPARATE THAT ITEM. YES. AND THEN ONCE THAT ITEM'S SEPARATED, THEN YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DELAY. ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA DO IT AGAIN. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND WE'RE GONNA GET IT RIGHT EVENTUALLY. SO I MAKE A MOTION TO SEPARATE OUT THE ITEM REGARDING THE, UH, UM, THE UPDATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CODE SECTION OF CHAPTER 10, UM, AND APPROVE THE REST OF THE MOTION IS [04:15:01] RECOMMENDED BY P C D C. UM, AND THEN LEAVE THAT CHAPTER 10 ITEM FOR OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. YOU COOL, ANDY? YEAH. THE ONE CLARIFICATION IS YOUR MOTION IS SIMPLY TO SEPARATE, NOT APPROVE ANYTHING YET. OH, JUST SEPARATE. ALL RIGHT. ALRIGHT. WHAT ANDY SAID, I, I MOVED TO SEPARATE. OKAY. UH, THERE'S A MOTION. UH, DID I HEAR A SECOND TO SEPARATE, UH, THE CHAPTER 10 CODE FROM THE ORIGINAL MOTION? I'LL, I'LL, UH, SECOND THAT FOR THE POINT OF DISCUSSION. OKAY. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO SEPARATE THE CHAPTER 10 PROVISION, UH, FROM THE REST OF THE MAIN MOTION. SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, THE SEPARATION OF THOSE TWO ITEMS. UH, WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, THEN COUNCILMAN. K. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND, UM, THANK YOU COUNCILMAN FOR, FOR BRINGING IT UP. I, I, I LOOKED UP THE CODE IMMEDIATELY AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, AND SO, UM, I, I SEE WHERE, UH, WE COULD BE CONFUSED, RIGHT? I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE, UM, EXCEEDED THE PROPOSED. AND SO HOW DO THEY, HOW HAVE THEY GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT? DO YOU KNOW? OR DO YOU KNOW WHAT CITIES HAVE? UH, I'M, I'M JUST WONDERING, OR, OR HAVE THEY BEEN SUED? I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'VE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT. I'M NOT SURE THEY'VE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT THING. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DETERMINE. I'M JUST, SORRY. YEAH. SO, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT. OKAY. WELL THEN I, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE LOOK AT THAT TOO. BUT THANK YOU, MAYOR. THAT'S MY ONLY COMMENT. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER RO GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. I, I APPRECIATE THIS BEING BROUGHT UP BECAUSE, UH, MICHAEL PROBABLY REMEMBER THAT I ASKED HIM TO GIVE ME A REVIEW OF ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE THAT WERE EITHER MODIFIED BY SAYING WE WILL DO LESS THAN WHAT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE CODE OR MODIFIED, WHERE WE SAID WE'LL DO MORE THAN IS RECOMMENDED IN THE CODE. AND THERE WERE SEVERAL, WELL, QUITE A FEW, UH, THAT WERE BEING AMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE, EITHER IN EXCESS OF THE CODE OR BELOW WHAT THE CODE WAS RECOMMENDING. SO I THINK THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT AT RIGHT NOW COULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER INTERPRETATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING, UH, OR WHAT'S RECOMMENDING GOING FORWARD. THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE DELAY. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE A DELAY YET. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT A SEPARATION OF THE ITEM. SO, UM, FOR A SEPARATE SEPARATION. SEPARATION, THAT'S RIGHT. CORRECT. MAYOR. AND TO CLARIFY IS WE'RE SEPARATING THE, THE ITEM WE'RE SEPARATING IS THE EV AMENDMENTS, CORRECT? COUNCILMAN PIAAS? YES. JUST THE EV AMENDMENTS. THE EV AMENDMENT. WELL, BY EV YOU MEAN BOTH THE, UM, INSULATION AS WELL AS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE OR JUST THE EV I'M SORRY. JUST THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PIZ. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. AND THEN I'LL COME TO VIA GRAND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VE GRAND. UM, ANDY, SO THIS IS A, THIS IS JUST ON THE EV FOR HOME BUILDERS. THIS IS NOT ON THE 5% MINIMUM. 'CAUSE WE HAVE TWO EV SPACES. AND SO NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION, 3000, UM, DOES THAT INCLUDE WHAT WE MOVED FORWARD ON THE MINIMUM FOR CAPABLE, UH, SPACES AND COMMERCIAL COUNCILMAN? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, THE, THE CURRENT MOTION IS TO SEPARATE THE AMENDMENTS ONLY AS THEY RELATE TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE. ON THE HOUSES. ON THE HOUSES. IN IN RESIDENTIAL, YES. IN RESIDENTIAL PARKING SPACE. RESIDENTIAL. UM, YES, PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER BLY. YEAH, SO MY, MY, UH, MY, JUST OFF THE CUFF READING OF 3000, I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, I JUST STARTED READING ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO. AND SO, UH, MY OFF THE CUFF READING AT 3000 JUST GIVES ME PAUSE ABOUT THE EV REQUIREMENTS PERIOD. RIGHT. AND THAT'S, I'M, I'M ASKING THAT WE DELAY THE EV REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL, UH, ALL THESE, UH, STRUCTURES FOR NEXT WEEK UNTIL, ANDY, YOU, YOU CAN GIVE ALL OF US, UH, A PERMISSION SLIP. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PLYS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VRAN. SO, SO I, WE HAVE TWO AMENDMENTS REGARDING EV VEHICLES. SO THAT WOULD BE FOR BOTH THE, UM, CHARGERS AND THE PARKING SPACES. 'CAUSE HE'S SAYING ALL EV VEHICLES. I THINK WE NEED TO GET SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF WHAT, WHAT HE'S ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF OUR AMENDMENTS. I AGREE. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, AMENDMENTS. ONE IS FOR THE, IN THE RESIDENTIAL, UH, FACILITIES, HOUSES ADDING THOSE ADDITIONAL EV CHARGERS. THE OTHERS ARE THE PARKING SPACES. AND IT [04:20:01] WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING IT WAS JUST THE CHARGERS, BUT YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A SINGLE AMENDMENT TO SEPARATE THOSE, THOSE TWO PROVISIONS FROM THE MAIN MOTION, AGAIN, THE TWO PROVISIONS REGARDING THE EV CHARGERS AND THE EV PARKING SPACES. OUR ONLY, I I, MY UNDERSTANDING, I THINK OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS IT WAS FOR THE EV CHARGERS AND NOT FOR THE PARKING SPACES. YEAH. SO JUST, JUST, UH, I'M, I'M OBVIOUSLY BEING CLUMSY AND NOT ARTFUL ENOUGH IN, IN DOING THIS, SO FORGIVE ME. UM, I AM CONCERNED WITH THE APPLICATION OF GOVERNMENT CODE 3000, WHICH JUST TALKS ABOUT MATERIALS TO BE USED, UM, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE MORE STRINGENT OR THAT, OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY EVEN APPEARED IN THE IIC I E C C CYCLE, UH, THE LAST THREE CYCLES. THAT'S IT. I E C C DOESN'T TALK ABOUT PARKING PERMITS. KNOCK YOURSELF OUT. WE'LL, I'LL VOTE FOR PARKING SPACES. I DON'T CARE. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MATERIALS USED. RIGHT? THAT'S IT. SO, UH, AND ALSO, I, I'M JUST ASKING THAT WE SEPARATE THE ITEM REQUIRING THESE RECEPTACLES IN THIS WIRING FOR NEXT WEEK. THAT'S IT BEFORE. SO IF YOU GUYS WANT, I MEAN, I'LL, I'LL SUPPORT. THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. THANKS. BUT AT, AT, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT APP APPLIES TO ANY OF THE STRUCTURES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, UM, AND, UM, YEAH, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL. OKAY. I, COUNCIL MEMBER VE I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE DELAY. I, I FEEL UNLESS CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS SUPPORTING THE DELAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE STILL JUST SEPARATING IT. ONCE WE SEPARATE IT AND IT'S SEPARATE, THEN WE CAN DELAY JUST THAT ONE PART. BUT, UM, ALRIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON SEPARATING THE, UH, EV PROVISIONS FROM THE MAIN MOTION? OKAY. ALRIGHT. HEARING NONE. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER KUR TO SEPARATE THE EV PROVISIONS FROM THE MAIN MOTION ON THE CODE UPDATE. OKAY. MOTION FAILS. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO GO NOW, UH, TO THE MAIN MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER. YEAH, SO, SO I, I'M, I'M STILL GOT MY TIME, I THINK ON, UH, MY ORIGINAL MOTION. SO IN THE ALTERNATIVE, IF IT'S NOT SEPARATED, A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO EXCLUDE THE P C D C RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CODE SECTION OF CHAPTER 10 AND APPROVE. THE ITEM IS RECOMMENDED BY THE BUILDING RELATED AND FIRE CODE APPEALS AND ADVISORY BOARD. OKAY. THE MOTION IS TO STRIP OUT THE EV UH, PROVISIONS FROM THE MAIN MOTION, UH, ALTOGETHER, NOT TO SEPARATE THEM, BUT TO STRIP THEM OUT. SO, CORRECT MAYOR, NOT TO SEPARATE OR DELAY, BUT SIMPLY TO DELETE THEM FROM THE, OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND, UH, TO THAT MOTION? OKAY. WITHOUT A SECOND. THE MOTION DIES. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL CON WE'LL CONTINUE ON NOW WITH THE MAIN MOTION. UM, AND I NEED TO GO BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL Q I ONLY SEE COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA IN. SO COUNCIL MEMBER KEO HDA. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I APPRECIATE THE COMPROMISE. UH, P C D C, UM, WORKED WITH, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THE BUILDERS COMMUNITY AND, AND OF COURSE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY. UM, IN THE SPIRIT OF FURTHER COMPROMISE, UM, I, I'LL TELL YOU, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE, UM, THE INSULATION PIECE OF THIS. UM, AND SO, UH, I MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM TWO 12. UM, I JUST, I'M SORRY, JUST REAL QUICK, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT THAT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE LEVEL TWO CHARGERS THAT WE SHOULD, UM, UH, BRING THAT, THAT, THAT SHOULD BE VOTED ON TODAY AND HOPEFULLY FAVORABLY. UM, I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM 12 AS RECOMMENDED BY P C D C, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AMENDMENT REGARDING I E E I E C, SECTION R 4 0 2 0.13, THE REQUIREMENT FOR R 49 RATED INSULATION FOR RESIDENTIAL CEILING INSULATION. OKAY, THERE WAS A MOTION TO REMOVE, UH, THE INSULATION PROVISION FROM THE MAIN MOTION ON THE CODE UPDATE. AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE UPDATE. SO, UH, TO BE CLEAR, UH, THAT TAKES IT BACK TO WHAT ANDY, IT, IT, IT TAKES, WELL AGAIN, MAYOR, IT'S THE MOTION TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR R 49. CORRECT. COUNCIL? JUST THE INSULATION PART OF IT. JUST THE INSULATION. OKAY. WAS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO REMOVE THE R 49 COMPONENT TO THE CODE UPDATE. WE [04:25:01] WILL, UH, HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. LET ME SEE, UH, ANY HANDS IF YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO. SO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A FRIENDLY THAT WE, WE MOVE IT FORWARD WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS AT R 38 TO THEN WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IN THE FUTURE, WE DISCUSS WHAT, BECAUSE I DON'T THE WORK P C D C DID, AND THEN THE WORK THE COMMITTEE DID, AND THEN WE DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE IF, IF THERE IS A COMPROMISE, UH, IF, IF THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD BE, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS THE, SO WE WOULD MOVE IT BACK TO R 38, THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM STAFF FOR INSULATION. OH, UM, NO, I, WITH FURTHER DISCUSSION IS THAT I JUST WANTED TO BE, I, I BELIEVE THAT'S YOUR MOTION IS TO CHANGE IT BACK TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION ORIGINAL, RIGHT. OKAY. I JUST WANTED MAKE SURE I YEST KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO REMOVE IT COMPLETELY. THANK, CORRECT. THANK YOU. ARE YOU, ARE YOU GONNA THROW A FLAG? ANDY ? NO, I JUST, AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR ON, SO THE MOTION THAT COUNCILWOMAN MADE IS TO REMOVE THE R 49 RATED REQUIREMENT AND IN INSTEAD IT'LL BE AN R 38, R 38 REQUIREMENT. THE R 38 IS WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE, IN THE CODE, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO JUST, OKAY. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO AGAIN, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION ON, ON AMENDING THE ORIGINAL MOTION BACK TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF R 38. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT POINT? UH, THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO FINISH IS I DO WANT US TO LOOK, UH, FURTHER AT THIS IN COMMITTEE, UH, BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER CRISIS, WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUS TO R 38 WASN'T WORKING OBVIOUSLY IN SOME OF OUR NEW BUILDS AND HOMES. AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT COLLECTIVELY WHAT WILL HELP THE CITY SAVE ENERGY AND THE, AND THE, AND THE TASK I HAVE FOR US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF, IF WE HAVE THE STAT THAT 42.2% OF THE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD HOMES AND WE NEED TO WORK ON PUSHING FORWARD, READY TO WORK AND GETTING PEOPLE, UM, INTO HOMES THAT THEY CAN AFFORD. THE OTHER THING IS WHEN, WHEN YOU COME UP AND SAY, AFFORDABLE, I NEED, I NEED NUMBERS. 'CAUSE $300,000 FOR A HOME IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS NOT AFFORDABLE. SO THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE AMENDMENT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THIS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER GRO AND COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. YEAH, I, I SHARE THE CONCERN ABOUT HAVING TO RAISE IT THAT HIGH. UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MAYBE THE PROBLEMS WITH INSULATION IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, A LOT OF THE HOMES WERE BUILT, YOU KNOW, 50, 60 YEARS AGO, AND WHAT WAS THE R VALUE THEN? 12 OR SOMETHING, AND THEN IT WENT UP TO 20 AND THEN IT WENT UP TO, YOU KNOW, 30, UH, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF HOMES HAVE BEEN RECENTLY BUILT AT, AND NOW IT'S GOING UP TO 38, UH, MORE CURRENTLY. AND SO, YES, OVERALL IN THE CITY WE ARE, WE'RE PROBABLY SEEING A LACK OF, OF THE KIND OF INSULATION AND 75% OF THE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT 75% OF THE HOMES BEING BUILT OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS IF THEY HAVE R 38, UH, WON'T HELP, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR ENERGY CRISIS OR ENERGY PROBLEMS. BUT I AM WILLING TO SAY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE. ARE WE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER STORM URI? ARE WE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER THREE MONTHS OF A HUNDRED DEGREES WEATHER? IF SO, OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS, I'D CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO LOOK AT R 49 AS A BETTER WAY OF, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING OUR, OUR RESIDENTS. BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE 38, UH, COULD REMAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE. ANYTHING FURTHER ON THE AMENDMENT TO CHANGE TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON R 38? COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA? YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, AGAIN, I THINK THAT IF WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO EVEN CONSIDER LIKE THE 42 VERSUS THE 49, UM, I, I'M NOT SURE IF, I THINK MAYBE THAT'S WHAT COUNCILWOMAN VRAN WAS ASKING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL TIME. AND SO I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, SHOULD SHE OFFER THAT IN ADDITION TO COUNCILWOMAN H'S POINT, UM, THAT WE TAKE THIS BACK ALSO AND CONSIDER IT FOR THE NEXT ROUND? AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE MOTION, UH, WOULD CHANGE, WOULD ESSENTIALLY UPDATE OUR CODE TO R 38. UM, IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION. MIKE, ARE YOU PREPARED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS FURTHER ABOUT OTHER LEVELS? WELL, I, I THINK I'VE HEARD IT NOW FROM THE CHAIR AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE. IF THEY, THEY WANT ME TO DO SOME MORE WORK WITH EVERYBODY HERE, OVER A PRESCRIBED TIME IN THREE YEARS, WE'RE GONNA BE BACK LOOKING AT THE NEXT SET OF CODES. WE CAN WAIT THREE YEARS AND YOU CAN DO IT IN A SMALLER PERIOD OF TIME. BUT WE WOULD WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE, UH, I WOULD IMAGINE YOU'D ASK US TO, [04:30:01] TO COME BE ON THE AGENDA, UH, GIMME A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO WORK ON THAT STUFF. BUT, UH, WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT AS, UH, YOU COULD ADOPT IT AS 38 TODAY AND THEN WE COULD BRING BACK SOMETHING. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT WILL BE ADOPTED AS R 38, R 38 AS IS THAT PROPOSAL. YEAH, CORRECT MARY. AND SINCE THE, THE COUNCIL CAN CHANGE IT WHENEVER THEY WANT, THERE'S NO NEED TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE MOTION COUNCILWOMAN. YEAH, I WOULDN'T, OH, SORRY. OKAY, GREAT. GOOD. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA. ANY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, I'LL JUST SAY, UH, I'M GONNA SAVE MY COMMENTS ON THE CODE UPDATES OVERALL, UH, TO THE END. BUT, BUT, UM, I AM COMPELLED, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, UH, ON THE CONCERNS OF RATE OF DIMINISHING, DIMINISHING RETURN. UH, I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS, UH, FOR THE OTHER STUFF, UH, WHEN THE MAIN MOTION COMES FORWARD, BUT I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF AN R 38. PLEASE VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT, UH, WE WILL NOW, UH, GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AND, UH, I'LL NEED TO GET ANOTHER QUEUE STARTED. UH, WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE MAIN MOTION? AGAIN, THE MAIN MOTION NOW IS AMENDED TO REFLECT R 38, BUT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, THE P C D RECOMMENDATION ON THE LEVEL TWO CHARGERS AND, AND THE, UH, UM, EV PARKING SPACES. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, ROB, MIKE, CAN YOU COME AND EXPLAIN TO US ABOUT, UM, WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE HOMES SOLAR READY AND BE ABLE TO JUST MOVE WHERE, I GUESS PUT MORE ATTENTION INTO WHERE, WHERE ANY ROOF PROTRUSIONS GO SO THAT WE CAN ALLOW FOR MORE SOLAR? YEAH, SO SOLAR READY, UH, HAS AN ADDITIONAL, IF THE TERM SOLAR READY AS OPPOSED TO SOLAR CAPABLE. UM, ONE OF THE MAIN ITEMS WOULD BE LOOKING AT EITHER, UH, ENSURING THE, I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED, THE ROOF AREA, ENSURING YOU HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OR AMOUNT OF ROOF AREA THAT FACES A CERTAIN DIRECTION THAT DOESN'T HAVE PENETRATIONS, LIKE VENT PIPES OR CHIMNEYS OR THOSE OTHER THINGS IN THE ROOF. SO DURING, DURING YOUR DESIGN, YOU'D HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WAS LAID OUT PROPERLY. UM, AND THEN THERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN FURTHER DESIGNING SOME STRUCTURAL LOADING FOR FUTURE, UH, THAT COULD BE PART OF THE SOLAR ALREADY. SO, UH, AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ROOF. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR BATHROOM IS HERE AND TYPICALLY THERE'S A STRAIGHT UP VENT PIPE, YOU'D EITHER MODIFY YOUR VENTING OR POSSIBLY REDESIGN YOUR FLOOR PLAN, UH, IF YOU WANTED TO, UH, UH, SOMEWHERE ELSE AWAY FROM THAT FLOOR AREA. SO THERE'S THINGS THAT THE BUILDERS WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO DO AND SOME COULD BE EASY, SOME WOULD BE DIFFICULT. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, TO AMEND SO THAT WE, UM, HAVE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BUILT SO THAT THEY'RE SOLAR READY. OKAY. THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UH, AMENDING THE MAIN MOTION TO INCLUDE, UM, SOLAR READINESS READY. UM, AND CAN YOU CLARIFY, MIKE, WHAT, WHAT YOU INTERPRET THAT TO MEAN? SO I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION. 'CAUSE SOLAR READY, UH, DIFFERENT PROVISIONS AROUND DIFFERENT CITIES OR STATES THAT HAVE DONE VERSIONS OF IT. UH, THEY DEFINE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ROOF AREA AND CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A ABSOLUTE STANDARD FOR THAT. I, I'VE SEEN DIFFERENT ONES, SO WE MAY NEED SOME ACTUAL LANGUAGE TO BE DEVELOPED SO THAT WE COULD PUT INTO THE CODE. BUT I MEAN, I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCEPT, BUT I, I MIGHT NEED SOME LANGUAGE THAT, THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BRING AT ANY TIME THOUGH. WE CAN BRING THROUGH P C D C OR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CORRECT. WITHDRAW MY MOTION THEN. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. BRAVO. ANY, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION? AGAIN, CODE UPDATES TO INCLUDE THE AMENDED AMENDED MOTION R 38 LANGUAGE, UH, AND THEN THE LEVEL TWO CHARGERS AND 5% SPACES. ALRIGHT, LET ME JUST, UH, SAY A FEW THINGS. UH, NUMBER ONE, UH, WE ARE, AND, AND I AM, UH, ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO THE ISSUES OF AFFORDABILITY. AND THE LAST THING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN JUST, UM, ARTIFICIALLY INCREASE THE COST OF BUILDING HOMES. IN FACT, WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS UP HERE ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE COST OF BUILDING HOMES, THINGS FROM, UH, THE, UM, AMOUNT AND AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLY CHAINS, UH, TO REDUCING THE COST OF THE RED TAPE AND ADMINISTRATION OF, UH, BUILDING HOMES TO, UH, EVEN THE COST OF DIRT IN THIS COMMUNITY. I WILL SAY THAT IF WE'RE JUST FOCUSED ON THOSE THINGS, HOWEVER, WE'RE BEING VERY SHORTSIGHTED. A BIGGER PART OF THE DISCUSSION IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS TO BE ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AND THE FACT THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS THE COST OF EVERYTHING [04:35:01] GO UP, UH, FROM THE LOAF OF BREAD TO, UH, A HOME, OUR WAGES AND OUR, UH, INCOME LEVELS IN OUR COMMUNITY REMAIN DEPRESSED. AND THAT'S WHY SO MUCH OF OUR EFFORT RIGHT NOW IS GOING INTO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO GOOD PAYING JOBS. UH, SO IT'S A BROADER CONVERSATION ON, ON AFFORDABILITY THAN SIMPLY THE COST OF HOMES. I WILL ALSO SAY IF IT'S JUST THE COST OF MATERIALS, WE'RE FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE BECAUSE MUCH OF THAT IS, IS IN MACROECONOMIC TRENDS, INFLATION, ET CETERA. UH, AND WE'RE SEEING WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE NOW. UM, I WANNA THANK THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IN PARTICULAR, UH, ED, UH, FOR ALL THE WORK HE'S DONE ON COMMITTEE LEVELS TO HELP US, UM, HAVE PROPER REPRESENTATION AND PROPER INPUT AND EXPERTISE ON THOSE COMMITTEES TO GET US TO A, A BETTER, UH, UH, MORE ROBUST, UM, PLAN FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. IF WE EXCLUDE THE VOICE OF THE BUILDERS, THEN WE ARE TRULY BEING SHORTSIGHTED. HOWEVER, UH, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POLICIES THAT INCLUDE FORWARD THINKING, UH, IMPORTANT PRIORITIES OF THE COUNCIL AND THAT FRANKLY REFLECT MARKET TRENDS, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE EV READINESS. UH, THERE IS NO DOUBT IF WE DON'T, UH, CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS WITH REGARD TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE GONNA FALL WAY SHORT, UH, OF OUR CLIMATE READINESS GOALS. UH, NOT ONLY THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO, UH, WHAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH RIGHT NOW, AND THAT IS NON-ATTAINMENT OF OUR AIR QUALITY. UH, SO MANY IMPACTS. SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND I, I SAW WE ALL SAW THESE TWO THINGS, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND THE NEED FOR BEING A FUTURE READY COMMUNITY, UH, COMING TO A COLLISION POINT. UH, AND IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE NOT BEING SENSITIVE AND, AND BEING CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WHEN WE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS. IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE 'EM. SO WHEN I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, I LOOK AT WHAT IS OUR RETURN? UH, IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE? IN OTHER WORDS, AND WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE INSULATION, AND I THINK IT WASN'T ON THIS, HOWEVER, THE LEVEL TWO CHARGING STATIONS WITHIN THE HOMES AND THE COST THAT IT MIGHT ADD VIS-A-VIS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES IN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY. I DO, UH, AND I DO THINK IT WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. UH, I SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT I ALSO AM SPEAKING FROM, UH, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE TRENDS OF, UH, OF CONSUMERS WITH REGARD TO EVS AND, AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE SEE MORE OF THAT IN OUR COMMUNITIES ALONG WITH WHAT THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE AUTOMOBILES HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS. SO ON THAT, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE CODE, UH, CODE UPDATES TO INCLUDE THE EV AMENDMENT TO LEVEL TWO. UH, AND I THINK THAT, UH, WE OUGHT TO THANK ALL THE COMMITTEES, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE PROVIDED GREAT INPUT, UH, FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS AND, AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT. BUT I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THE UPDATES AS AMENDED. SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, LET ME SAY THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 12. THERE'S NO VOTE BUTTON YET. I DON'T SEE IT. OKAY. PLEASE VOTE. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL [City Manager's Report  ] NOW GO, UH, TO OUR CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. JUST ONE VIDEO, UH, I'M SORRY. ONE ITEM. UH, MAYOR, I WANTED TO SHARE, UH, AN IMPORTANT TIMELY, UH, EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT VIDEO. UM, AND YOU SAW SOME OF THEM HERE TODAY, ACTUALLY. YOU SAW ALL THREE OF 'EM HERE TODAY. UM, OUR, UM, SMALL BUT MIGHTY, UM, UH, MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE WORK THEY DO HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. UM, YESTERDAY WE CO-HOSTED, UH, AN EVENT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ALSO VETERANS. WE HAVE OVER 1600 EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE MILITARY. AND SO, AS I SAID TO THEM YESTERDAY, I WANTED TO THANK THEM, UH, FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, BUT ALSO THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE TO, UH, OUR COMMUNITY AS, UH, AS THEY WORK, UH, UH, ON BEHALF OF, UM, OUR ONE AND A HALF MILLION CITIZENS. SO LET'S ROLL TODAY'S VIDEO. THE MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY IS QUITE SMALL. THERE'S ONLY THREE OF US AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T HEARD OF US BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY AN OPERATIONAL LEVEL DEPARTMENT. WE'RE FOCUSED ON KEEPING [04:40:01] THE MILITARY IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH TWO LINES OF EFFORT, THE MISSION READINESS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. UH, WE HAVE BEXAR COUNTY VETERANS' OFFICE WHO SUPPORTS ALL THE INDIVIDUALS. THEY'RE TO THERE TO HELP OUT APPLYING FOR BENEFITS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. BUT WE FOCUS ON THE MILITARY AS A WHOLE AND THEN JUST REALLY WORK TOGETHER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MULTIPLY THAT EFFORT. IT MAKES ME PROUD TO WORK IN THIS DEPARTMENT. UH, AND, AND ULTIMATELY THE, THE CITY IS THAT THE CITY JUST DOESN'T TALK THE GAME. IT'S 2007, YOU KNOW, OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF CITY BUDGET AND BOND PROGRAM MONEY, TAXPAYERS MONEY, BUT HAS BENEFITED NOT ONLY THE CITIZENS, BUT BENEFITED JOINT BASED SAN ANTONIO AND PROTECTS THEM. AND THOSE ARE TANGIBLE THINGS THAT WE CAN SHOW THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IF THEY EVER HAVE CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED, YOU KNOW, TASKS TO SAY, LOOK AT CLOSING BASES OR CONSOLIDATING MISSIONS. COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS A GRADED AREA AND WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW NO KIDDING THINGS THE CITY HAS DONE AND NOT JUST RIBBONS AROUND TREES AND PARADES AND PROCLAMATIONS. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT. IT SHOWS NICE APPRECIATION, BUT THAT'S NOT ULTIMATELY REALLY COMMUNITY SUPPORT. AND YOU'RE GETTING THAT OUT OF, OUT OF AN OFFICE OF THREE. I RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE IN 2017 WHEN THIS OPENED UP. I KNOW THIS WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT STILL ALLOWS ME FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE MILITARY MISSION, MILITARY FAMILIES WITHOUT WEARING, UH, THE UNIFORM. SO IT'S A, WE ALL LIKE THE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WHAT WE DO, JOB SATISFACTION, AND THIS JOB DOES. JUST THAT. THAT'S IT. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ERIC. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE. UH, WE DO [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:  ] HAVE AN EXEC, UH, BRIEF EXEC SESSION. SO THE TIME IS NOW 2:06 PM ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2022. THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE, DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE FOR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.072 AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ISSUES OR ADVICE RELATED TO LITIGATION INVOLVING THE CITY AND COVID 19 PREPAREDNESS UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.071. GOOD AFTERNOON. THE TIME IS 2:59 PM ON THE 10TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS RECONVENED FROM ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AND OUR MEETING 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.