[00:00:09]
>> CLERK: WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL B SESSION OF DECEMBER THE 12TH, 2018.
>> CLERK: MAYOR, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GOOD AFTERNOON.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR CITY COUNCIL B SESSION AGENDA.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THE FIRST ONE -- AND WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, SO WE DO WANT TO MOVE ALONG
[1. Briefing on the San Antonio Fire Department's revised 2018-2023 Strategic Plan, as well as the 2017 Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover Document. [Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager; Charles Hood, Fire Chief]]
EXPEDITIOUSLY.THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S REVISED 2018- 2018-'23 STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT IS LEGALLY ACQUIRED FOR ACCREDITATION.
IT'S A VERY QUICK BRIEFING FROM THE CHIEF AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE C SHIP AND ICRIP DISCUSSION.
>> SCULLEY: YES, THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN CONCLUDED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
THE CHIEF HAS PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE PROCESS FOR UPDATING THE STRATEGIC PLAIN AS WELL AS THE -- PLAN AS WELL AS THE PURSUIT OF ACCREDITATION.
WE'RE PLEASED TO PRESENT THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS THAT IDENTIFIES SIX PLANNING GOALS FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT'S NEW MISSION STATEMENT.
HE'S ALSO GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT STANDARDS THAT COVER AND ADDRESS POSSIBLE RISKS TO THE CITY AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION, AND HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST TIME FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE SPRING OF 2019.
SO CHIEF HOOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, AND WE'RE READY FOR YOUR SUMMARY PRESENTATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
AGAIN, THIS IS A BRIEF BASICALLY TO CHECK A BOX FOR ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND IT'S BEING DONE BY THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXCELLENCE.
IT LOOKS AT A FIRE DEPARTMENT'S EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT, DECISION-MAKING, REALISTIC SELF-ASSESSMENT AND IT LOOKS AT CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT, WHICH WE'RE DOING ALL THESE THINGS AT THIS TIME.
WHAT THIS ACCREDITATION DOES IT ADDS A LEVEL OF CONFIDENT AND VALIDATION TO COUNCIL AND MEMBERS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE ACTIONS OF THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE STRATEGIC IN NATURE, THAT THEY'RE WELL PLANNED OUT, AND THAT WE'RE OPERATING PROPERLY AS ONE OF THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.
[INDISCERNIBLE] PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE AN ISO RATING OF NUMBER ONE.
WE ACHIEVED THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WEAR THAT BANNER PROUDLY, WE PUT IT ON THE SIDE OF OUR FIRE TRUCKS.
WITH BEING ACCREDITED, THERE BEING ABOUT 70 DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY, MOST OF THOSE ARE SMALLER MASTER PLAN PROBABLY COMMUNITIES VERSUS A LARGE METROPOLITAN DEPARTMENT SUCH AS OURS, WE WOULD BE ONE OF A FEW, PROBABLY LESS THAN A PERCENTAGE POINT, OF DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ACCREDITED AND ISO CLASS 1.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE OF THAT.
IT REPLACES OUR PLAN THAT WE DID IN 2013 WHICH LASTED APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS TO 2018.
WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THAT PLAN.
SO THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXCELLENCE HAS GIVEN US A CONSULTANT TO WORK WITH US ON THIS PLAN.
WE HAD AN INTERNAL/EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER PROCESS.
SOME OF THESE NAMES ON HERE SOME OF YOU KNOW VERY WELL.
SOME OF THEM ARE FROM YOUR HOAS, FROM YOUR COMMUNITY, FROM YOUR DISTRICTS, THEY'RE PARTNERS OF OURS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE BROUGHT THEM IN AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUES IN THE FIRE SERVICE, THEIR NEEDS, THEIR PERCEPTION OF OUR SERVICES.
THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY RANKED NUMBER ONE WAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE PRIORITY FOR THE CITY, BUT IT WAS CONCERN OF THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK DOWN TO WILDLAND FIRES, THAT MIGHT HAVE BUMPED UP AFTER WHAT WE SAW OVER THIS SUMMER WHEN WE HAD ALL THE FIRES IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE OUR FIREFIGHTERS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT, AGAIN, THIS IS A HOLISTIC LOOK IN THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND THE CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD AND THEY ARE RANKED.
WE ALSO BROUGHT IN OUR INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS, OUR CIVILIANS WHO ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ANY FIREFIGHTER, TO GET THEIR PERSPECTIVES, AND THEN WE BROUGHT IN CROSS-REPRESENTATION FROM ALL THE RANKS IN OUR ORGANIZATION, AGAIN, TO GET THEIR INPUT.
SO WHAT WE DID COME UP WITH IS A NEW MISSION STATEMENT.
SOMETIMES YOU SEE MISSION STATEMENTS AND THEY'RE A COUPLE SENTENCES LONG, NOBODY REMEMBERS
[00:05:01]
WHAT THEY ARE.AND SO WE HAVE CHANGED OURS, AND SO WE'RE DEDICATED TO DOING THE RIGHT THING.
AND DOING THE RIGHT THING MEANS SO MANY THINGSCH IT COULD BE A CAR FIRE, A HOUSE FIRE, THE LITTLE OLD MAN THAT FALLS OUT OF BED AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING OR HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER, SO WE'RE DEDICATED TO DOING THE RIGHT THING, PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY FROM ALL HAZARDS WITH COMPASSION, IT'S CRITICAL IN THIS DAY AND AGE, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
OUR VALUES, WE LOOK AT SERVICE.
WE PROVIDE SERVICE IN SO MANY WAYS.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS IS WE DO IT INTERNALLY, TAIBING CARE OF OUR -- TAKING CARE OF OUR MEMBERS, WE DO IT EXTERNALLY, TAKING CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE HAVING THE WORST DAY OF THEIR LIVES SOMETIMES.
WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS, THIS IS NOT JUST MEANING ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS MEANS INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS.
WE BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE OF OUR FAMILY SH JUST LIKE WE TAKE CARE OF OURS AND WE'RE DEDICATED SO THAT IS SAFD VALUES.
THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, AS I THINK SHERYL MENTIONED, THERE WERE SIX GOALS, ENHANCED TRAINING.
I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THAT AFTER THE INGRAM INCIDENT AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT WE HAVE DONE, THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED AS FAR AS PERSONNEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING AS MUCH TRAINING AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, MAINTAIN A MODERN AND APPROPRIATE FACILITIES AND ASSETS.
I JUST DID A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO IN FRONT OF OUR BUILDING, WE HAVE JUST ADDED 18 NEW EMS UNITS TO OUR FLEET, STATE OF THE ART, AND SO WE HAD THEM ALL LINED UP IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING ANOTHER 21 NEXT YEAR.
EVERY 200,000 MILES WE REPLACE THOSE AMBULANCES.
WE WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW WHEN THEY GET AN EMS UNIT FROM THE CITY, IT IS A TOP OF THE LINE, THE BEST POSSIBLE UNIT YOU CAN BUY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT IT HAS A GERM-KILLING DEVICE THAT YOU CAN SHUT THAT UNIT DOWN AND TURN ON SOME UVL LIGHTS, IT WILL SANITIZE THAT MEMBER.
WE'RE PROTECTING OUR MEMBERS FROM GETTING SICK, WE'RE ALSO PROTECTING THE CITIZENS WHO ARE IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCES AND WE'RE NOT SPENDING TIME WITH GLOVES, BECON AND -- DECONAND CLEANING LIKE WE NORMALLY DO.
ENHANCE AND STANDARDIZE OUR INTERNAL COMMUNICATION PROCESSES.
WE'RE DEALING WITH MILLENNIALS NOW SO HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, WHAT ARE THE BEST MEDIUMS FOR COMMUNICATION.
IMPROVE OUR EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS WHICH IS FIRE PREVENTION, IT'S THE THINGS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
IT'S GOING TO BE WINDY TOMORROW, HOW DO WE ALERT THE COMMUNITY? UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO ADVANCE OUR OPERATIONS.
WE JUST TRAINED RECENTLY WITH OUR DRONES, WE HAVE A DRONE PROGRAM, SO IN A WILDLAND SITUATION, WE CAN PUT UP A DRONE, WE CAN PUT A DRONE IN A BUILDING WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO RISK A FIREFIGHTER.
SO WE LOOK AT ALL THE TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS AND WE ALWAYS WANT TO ENHANCE THEM.
AND THEN LAST TO ENHANCE CURRENT OPERATION, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO A COORDINATED COMPLEX ATTACK, HOW DO WE RESPOND TO A LARGE WILDLAND FIRE SUCH AS WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY.
HOW DO WE ENHANCE OUR CURRENT SERVICES AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUALLY PREPARED AND HOW DO WE PREPARE FOR THE GROWTH.
WE JUST HAD AN EXERCISE OUT BY STATION 48.
AND YEARS AGO WHEN WE OPENED THAT STATION, PEOPLE WERE SAYING, WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS BIG OLD STATION OUT HERE WITH THREE BAYS AND FOUR PEOPLE? IF ANYBODY'S BEEN TO 1604 AND BULVERDE, WE WERE BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE 10 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE HOW THAT AREA'S GROWN UP.
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WE'RE TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH.
COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT, STANDARD OF COVER, EACH COMMUNITY HAS CHARACTERISTICS IN IT, AND SO WE BROKE THESE UP INTO ZONES.
SO IT LOOKS AT THE AGENCY PROGRAMS, THE SAFETY PREVENTION PROGRAMS, WHAT IS THAT COMMUNITY'S RISK? SOME COMMUNITIES MAY BE MORE PRONE TO FLOODING, SOME MAY BE MORE PRONE TO URBAN INTERFACE ISSUES, COMMUNITY LOSS AND VALUES, WHAT ARE THOSE? MOST OF THE TIME WE SAVE MORE THAN WE LOSE.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT VALUES OF THINGS AND FIGURE OUT INSTEAD OF HOW MUCH WE LOST, HOW MUCH WE SAVED.
WHAT ARE THE RISK ASSESSMENTS IN THOSE AREAS AND THE PLANNING ZONES.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE PLANNING ZONES AT YOUR OFFICE, THEY'RE ELECTRONIC, SO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
THE NEXT SLIDE HERE IS EXAMPLES TO WHERE YOU LOOK AT A PARTICULAR ZONE.
AND I'M GLAD THERE'S SO MANY CITIZENS THAT ARE IN HERE TODAY, BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THESE PLANNING ZONES.
WE KNOW WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE, WE KNOW WHERE THE HOSPITALS ARE, WE KNOW WHERE ALL THOSE TARGET HAZARDS ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE REFINERIES OR, YOU KNOW, LARGE BIG BOX STRUCTURES, WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
WE KNOW WHAT THE NIGHTTIME POPULATION IS, THE DAYTIME POPULATION.
WE KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER ONE CALL IS IN YOUR AREA.
WE KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER ONE RESPONSE IS FOR US, AND SO THIS IS INFORMATION IS AMAZING.
AND, AGAIN, BEFORE I FORGET, AND I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF WHO'S ALL SITTING OVER HERE, WE HAVE DEDICATED STAFF TO JUST WORK ON THIS ASSESSMENT FOR THE ACCREDITATION.
[00:10:01]
DON'T HAVE THIS ENERGIES.SO FOR THOSE CITIZENS THAT ARE IN HERE, BE VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION.
SO YOU LOOK AT STANDARDS OF COVER.
AND SO WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY FACTORS? WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHAT IS THE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THERE? WHAT'S OUR DEPLOYMENT MODEL LOOK AT? AND THEN WE LOOKED AT CRITICAL TASK ANALYSIS, WHAT'S OUR BASELINE PERFORMNESS, BENCHMARK STATEMENTS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN A MINUTE, AND THEN, AGAIN, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE HAVE TO ALWAYS CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IMPROVE AFTER EVERY INCIDENT, AFTER ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THAT WE HAVE A CHALLENGE WITH IS HOW DO WE IMPROVE? AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FORCE, THIS IS KIND OF A WORDY SLIDE, BUT BASICALLY WE LOOKED AT EVERY TYPE OF INCIDENT, WHETHER IT'S A HEART ATTACK, A CAR FIRE, A HOUSE FIRE OR A HIGH RISE FIRE, AND SO WE KNOW AS A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR A HOUSE FIRE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST 15 FIREFIGHTERS FOR A STANDARD HOUSE FIRE.
AND SO THAT'S GOING TO LOOK AT CREWS OF THREE ENGINES, ONE LADDER AND A BATTALION CHIEF.
WHEN YOU HAVE A FIRE, THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF FUNCTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
SO SOME DEPARTMENTS RUN WITH THREE PEOPLE.
THREE PEOPLE IS NOT SAFE, THREE PEOPLE IS NOT EFFECTIVE.
RUNNING WITH FOUR ALLOWS US TO DO ALL THESE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEFT SIDE, AS FAR AS COMMAND, WATER SUPPLY, ATTACK.
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO IF YOU LOOKED AT A HIGH RISE FIRE, I'D BE SENDING ABOUT 40 PEOPLE TO A HIGH RISE FIRE AS A STANDARD OF COVER.
IF YOU LOOK AT A CARDIAC ARREST IN THIS CITY, I'M GOING TO AT LEAST BE SENDING SIX TO EIGHT AS A STANDARD.
SO NO ONE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT SENDING ENOUGH RESOURCES.
WE SEND THE PROPER AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AS FAR AS EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FORCE, AND THIS IS A NATIONAL STANDARD THAT WE ARE ABIDING BY.
RESPONSE TIME, TIME REPORTING, FRACTILE TIME IS 90% TILE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING TO THAT.
AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME SEVEN MINUTES AND 56 SECONDS BUT WE WANT TO BE AS ACCURATE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME RESIDENTS WE CAN GET TO YOUR HOUSE IN ONE MINUTE.
THAT'S NOT A REALISTIC RESPONSE TIME.
THERE ARE SOME HOUSES THAT IT TAKES US 15 MINUTES TO GET TO.
THAT IS ALSO NOT A REALISTIC TIME.
IT MAY BE STORMING, WE MAY HAVE A BIG FIRE AND WE CAN'T GET UNITS THERE.
THIS IS A MORE REALISTIC WAY TO LOOK ATE IT.
WE'RE BREAKING IT DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS.
WE'RE DISPATCHED BY 24 FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDIC FIREFIGHTERS AND SO WHEN THAT CALL GOES OUT, IT IS DISPATCHED THROUGH A COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH A GPS THAT PULLS UP THE CLOSEST UNIT.
SO THAT PIECE OF THE ALARM HANDLING TIME IS ONE MINUTE AND 20 SECONDS.
OUR TURNOUT TIME IS ABOUT TWO MINUTES AND THAT IS THE TIME TO GET OUT OF BED TO GET ON THE PROPER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, TO STRAP IN SECURELY, TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND TO GET THAT VEHICLE OUT OF THE STATION.
THE FIRST-IN TRAVEL TIME IS LOOKED AT AND THEN THE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FORCE TIME, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE ME TO GET ALL OF MY UNIT THERE'S TO WHERE I CAN PERFORM THAT FUNCTION? SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT WAY OF REPORTING.
AGAIN, NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION 1710, THIS IS A STANDARD THAT MOST OF THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO.
A BASELINE, SO FOR 90% OF ALL CALLS, I JUST KIND OF EXPLAINED IT, THE TOTAL RESPONSE TIME FOR THE FIRST-IN UNIT WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO PERSONNEL WHICH WILL BE AN AMBULANCE IS THE 1104 I TALKED ABOUT, IN URBAN AREAS IT'S 12:10.
WE DO HAVE SOME AREAS, 46, 47, IF THAT FIRST-DUE COMPANY IS OUT, IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE TO GET COMPANIES UP THERE.
IF WE HAVE A FIRE, YOU MAY BE WAITING 10 OR 12 MINUTES FOR ANOTHER UNIT TO GET THERE AND THAT'S REALISTIC.
SO THE BENCHMARK IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT A 10% CALL VOLUME IF WE CAN.
THE BASELINE IS HERE, WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BENCHMARK IS GOING TO BE.
THE PROCESS, THE PROCESS STARTED WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY DONE.
WE BECAME A REGISTERED AGENCY.
WE CREATED THE COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT AND THOSE DOCUMENTS.
WE HAVE BECOME AN APPLICANT AGENCY, WE HAVE PERFORMED A SELF-ASSESSMENT PROCESS.
THERE ARE 252 AREAS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT, 88 OF THEM IN OUR CORE, IF WE DID NOT PASS ONE OF THOSE 88, WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS PROCESS.
WE'VE CHECKED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BOX, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK ANOTHER ONE WHEN I GET DONE.
BECOME A CANDIDATE AGENCY, WE HAVE DONE THAT.
OUR SITE VISITS WILL BEGIN JANUARY 6.
SO WE WILL HAVE ASSESSORS IN HERE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE GOING TO PICK THEM UP ON THAT SUNDAY, THEY'RE GOING TO TOUR THE CITY, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AND SEE FROM 1604 EAST TO 1604 WEST ALL THE WAY AROUND, THESE ARE FIRE PROFESSIONALS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DINNER WITH
[00:15:01]
THEM THAT NIGHT, THE MANAGER AND ERICA ARE GOING TO BE THERE WITH US.THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR THAT WEEK LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE DO VERY COMPREHENSIVELY, AND I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PASS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, AFTER THE SITE VISIT IS CONCLUDED, THEN WE'LL HAVE A COMMISSION HEARING WHICH WILL BE IN MARCH.
ERIC'S GOING TO GO WITH US OUT THERE.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO SIT IN THEM IN DALLAS, SAW DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT GO THROUGH, A COUPLE OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND IT IS -- WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE A COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION WHERE YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF SMART PEOPLE ASKING YOU A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL OF THOSE BY THAT TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS LATER ON, FEEL FREE TO CALL US.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A LEGAL BRIEFING, SO IF WE CAN HOLD COMMENTS, I KNOW WE HAVE ONE COUNCILMEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS, BUT WE'LL SCHEDULE SOME INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS FURTHER.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, CHIEF.
>> SALDAÑA: SORRY, MAYOR, I CHECKED IN AT THE LAST MAYOR.
I DIDN'T GET THIS PIECE THAT THIS IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR YOU TO COME AND PRESENT TO US.
>> SALDAÑA: ARE THERE CERTAIN GUARDRAILS.
>> CHIEF: THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO WHEN WE STARTED THIS, ALL THE THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT HERE THAT HAVE BEEN CHECKED OFF, THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID HAVE TO COME TO CITY COUNCIL AND REPORT BACK, SO WE HAVE REPORTED INITIALLY TO THE BUDGET SESSION.
LAST SUMMER WE MET WITH PUBLIC SAFETY TWICE AND BRIEFED THEM, SO, AGAIN, THIS IS THE FINAL BRIEFING BEFORE WE HAVE FACILITATORS COME IN FOR THE SITE VISIT AND THEN WE GO TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE COMMISSION HEARINGS.
>> SALDAÑA: SO YOU'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT IS A METHODICAL AND LAID OUT PROCESS.
>> SALDAÑA: FACILITATED BY THEM, YES, SIR.
MAYBE I'LL JUST ASK ONE QUESTION AND IF IT'S OUT OF BOUNDS, YOU LET ME KNOW.
ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT, QUESTION MARK FOR ME.
>> CHIEF: ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT.
MY CIVILIANS ARE INVOLVED, EVERY LEVEL OF THE FIRE SERVICE IS INVOLVED.
WHEN WE HAD THOSE MEETING AT THE FIRE ACADEMY, THAT'S WHERE WE BROUGHT IN 40 PEOPLE TO GET THEIR INPUT AND PERSPECTIVE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE 252 THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND THE 88 CORE, YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS TO BE INVOLVED WHETHER IT'S FIRE PREVENTION, WHETHER IT'S SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S AVIATION, IT'S A HOLISTIC VIEW OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
SO WHEN WE SAY ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT, IT IS THE WHOLE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I WAS GOING TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION AND I FEEL LIKE --
>> SALDAÑA: AS YOU'RE GOING ALONG ACCREDITATION AND WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE ACCREDITATION, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT WOULD NEED TO CHANGE FOR YOU TO GET ACCREDITATION OR YOU CAN DO SO WITHOUT HAVING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT?
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE HERE, THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, THAT WE HAVE PLANS FOR, SO EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS.
>> SALDAÑA: STAFFING, PROMOTION.
>> CHIEF: EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE.
WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE FORCE, IF WE WERE RUNNING THREE-PERSON CREWS, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE ACREDITATED, BECAUSE OUR RESPONSE FORCE WOULD BE DIFFERENT.
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS ON A NATIONAL STANDARD.
THERE'S NOTHING WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THAT IS GOING TO ENHANCE OR, YOU KNOW, DIMINISH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF AND WE'LL BE TALKING MORE.
>> SCULLEY: YES, THANKS MAYOR, AND COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHIEF AND HIS TEAM.
THIS WILL BE ANOTHER FIRST FOR SAN ANTONIO TO HAVE AN ACCREDITED FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[2. Briefing on proposed amendments to the Center City Housing Incentive Policy (CCHIP) and the Inner City Reinvestment/Infill Policy (ICRIP). [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development and Operations]]
THEY'VE DONE, THEY STARTED THIS PROCESS, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA, MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. SECOND ITEM, JUST A YEAR AGO OCTOBER OF 2017 THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL REQUESTED A REVIEW OF OUR CITY INCENTIVES, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INVESTMENT POLICY AS WELL AS THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT INFILL POLICY PROGRAMS. IN JANUARY OF 2018, THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED A MORATORIUM, YOU MAY RECALL ALMOST A YEAR AGO, SO THAT WE COULD DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE POLICY AND RETURN TO COUNCIL WITH SOME RECOMMENDED CHANGES.WE HAVE REVIEWED THE PROGRAMS, COMMISSION AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY OF THESE INCENTIVES TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS, BECAUSE THESE WERE PUT IN PLACE MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING SPECIFICALLY IN THOSE AREAS THAT NEED HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS THE MOST.
WE'RE PROPOSING VARIOUS PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON PROGRAM STUDIES, AS WELL AS INPUT FROM EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND GROUPS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS.
[00:20:02]
PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HOUSING -- OUR COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE TWICE, AS WELL AS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE AND, OF COURSE, WE DID ANOTHER B SESSION JUST IN NOVEMBER, YOU ASKED US TO LOOK AT A FEW MORE CHANGES IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS.WE HAVE DONE THAT OVER THE PAST MONTH, AND WE'RE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT THOSE AMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS B SESSION.
THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING AT 6:00 P.M. TO GET MORE INPUT, AND THEN WE ARE RECOMMENDING COUNCIL ACTION TOMORROW AT THE A SESSION MEETING, AS IT IS OUR LAST MEETING OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LORI HOUSTON.
I WANT TO COMPLIMENT LAURIE AS WELL AS VERONICA GARCIA FROM OUR CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AND THEY'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, SHERYL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
TODAY'S BRIEFING IS ON THE CENTER CITY HOUSING AND THE INCENTIVE POLICY AND THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT/INFILL POLICY.
THE DEPARTMENT LED BY JOHN JACKS ADMINISTERS BOTH OF THESE POLICIES AND THEY'RE CRUCIAL TO THE REVITALIZATION OF SAN ANTONIO AS THEY PROVIDE PROJECTS THAT MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS INCENTIVES ON AN AS OF RIGHT BASIS.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF EACH POLICY AS WELL AS OUR RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
THESE CHANGES ARE BASED ON SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS, STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, THE SA TOMORROW PLANNING MEETINGS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETINGS AND THE REPORT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY IN THE ROOM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE HELPED US REVIEW THIS POLICY.
THAT INCLUDES NATALIE GRIFFITH, WITH HABITAT HUMANITY.
WE ALSO HAVE JENNIFER GONZALES AND MICHAEL SHACKLEFORD WITH ALAMO GROUP, LELA POWELL, DEBORAH GU ER RO WITH NRP GROUP AND JIM PLUMBER.
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO THANK VERONICA SOTO WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSES DEPARTMENT AND PETER ZANONI, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ARE VERY COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES THAT CANNOT BE DONE IN A VACUUM.
WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEVELOP A POLICY THAT HELPS US TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM OF DEVELOPMENT, IT ALSO HELPS US LEVERAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES CITYWIDE.
WE KNOW THAT THE CCHIP AND THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM ALONE CANNOT ADDRESS SAN ANTONIO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS; HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT WHEN PARTNERED WITH OTHER TOOLS IT CAN LEVERAGE OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, VERONICA SOTO AND HER DEPARTMENT WILL DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DEVELOP A LOOK AT HOW INVESTMENT IN CERTAIN AREAS IMPACT THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS, AND FINALLY THEY'LL DO AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT THAT LOOKS AT HOW OUR RECENT INVESTMENT HAS IMPACTED CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN ADDITION TO TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS HIGHLIGHTING OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE POLICIES AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, IT WILL ALSO HIGHLIGHT HOW THIS POLICY WILL MOVE FORWARD OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY.
THE FIRST POLICY I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IS THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT/INFILL POLICY, WHICH WE REFER TO AS THE ICRIP.
THIS IS A PLACE-BASED STRATEGY THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2010 AS A RESULT OF THE EAST SIDE SUMMIT.
IT ADDRESSES AN 84-SQUARE MILE AREA AND PROVIDES PROJECTS AS OF RIGHT INCENTIVES TO INCLUDE CITY FEE WAIVERS AND SAWS FEE WAIVERS PROVIDES THEY ARE WITHIN A CERTAIN BOUNDARY.
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS ARE VERY FLEXIBLE AND INCLUDES HOUSING, COMMERCIAL REDEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
SINCE 2010, WE'VE ISSUED OVER 11,000 FEE WAIVERS, WHICH RESULTED IN $4.4 BILLION IN INVESTMENT.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE 10,000 HOUSING UNITS, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN 42% AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
WE ARE PROPOSING A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ICRIP.
THE FIRST IS WE WANT TO CHANGE THE NAME TO THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
SECOND, IS WE WANT TO FOCUS LESSON THE PLACE AND MORE ON WHAT SAN ANTONIO NEEDS.
SO WE KNOW THROUGH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE -- AUDIO] -- FOUR CATEGORIES, AND THAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
[00:25:01]
OWNER SLACK -- OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB, WHICH CURRENTLY YOU CANNOT GET FEE WAIVERS FOR OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB, HISTORIC REHABILITATION AS WELL AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LEGACY BUSINESSES.SO WE'RE MOVING AWAY FROM HAVING TO DEVELOP WITHIN AN 84-SQUARE-MILE AREA AND ONLY FOCUSING ON THOSE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED AND THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND LEGACY BUSINESS AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
NOW, WE'VE DEFINED THESE CATEGORIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OUR NONPROFIT HOUSING PROVIDERS.
AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT IS ANY SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING PROJECT THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED BY A FOR-PROFIT OR NONPROFIT THAT WILL PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO FAMILIES MAKING UP TO 120% AMI.
THIS IS WHAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE AS THE NEED WITHIN THE FOR-SALE PRODUCT.
WE'VE ALSO ADDED ADDITIONAL CATEGORY WHICH YOU CURRENTLY CANNOT GET FEE WAIVERS FOR OWN INNER/OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAMS. THOSE ARE PROGRAMS THAT VERONICA SOTO AND HER TEAM ADMINISTER WHICH INCLUDE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM AND OUR LEAD PAINT PROGRAM.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON HISTORIC REHAB, SO ANY PROJECT THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO BE DESIGNATED AS A HISTORIC REHAB PROJECT WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THESE CITY FEE WAIVERS.
NOW, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DESIGNATED, BUT IT HAS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BE DESIGNATED AND IT STILL MUST GO THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AS IF IT WERE A HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED PROPERTY.
THEN ALSO WE'RE WORKING ON PROVIDING FEE WAIVERS TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
SO RENE DO MING DOMINGUEZ, WHO IS HERE TODAY, HE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN A B SESSION, HIS TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINES AND THE GUIDELINES FOR THE FEE WAIVER GUIDELINES LAST WEEK AND THEY'LL BE GOING TO CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW BUT WE'VE ALSO ADDED LEGACY BUSINESSES AS AN ELIGIBLE TYPE OF PROJECT IN THIS PROGRAM AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF SOME PROGRESS THAT THIS NEW POLICY WILL HELP.
THE PICTURE UNDER OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB, THAT IS A PICTURE OF BEFORE AND AFTER HOME.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ELIGIBLE HOME OWNERS, AND THEY HAVE TO BE 80% AMI OR BELOW, AND THEY GO THROUGH A LOTTERY SYSTEM, THE LOAN IS IN THE AMOUNT OF 75,000 OR 95,000.
WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM FEE WAIVERS TO HELP THEM OFFSET THAT COST SO VERONICA SOTO CAN USE THE SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN THE FISCAL 2019 BUDGET TO DO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND REHAB AND REKRUK -- RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THEY'VE ALREADY QUALIFIED 43 APPLICANTS FOR THAT PROGRAM AND THEIR GOAL IS 81 FOR THE FULL YEAR.
WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING INCENTIVES OR FEE WAIVERS TO THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM.
CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED $4.25 MILLION IN THIS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, AND WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A $1 MILLION DONATION THIS PAST MONTH TO ADD TO THAT PROGRAM.
PROJECTS IN THAT PROGRAM RECEIVE FUNDING UP TO $14,000 TO REPLACE THEIR ROOF WITH A WHITE ROOF AND THEY'RE ALSO ABLE TO GET TREES AS A RESULT OF THAT INCENTIVE.
AND THAT HELPS US STABILIZE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO HOW ARE WE HELPING STAIBD LIED NEIGHBORHOODS? THAT'S THROUGH IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT VERONICA SOTO AND HER TEAM ARE DOING.
ANOTHER PROJECT THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ARE PROJECTS THAT WE DO THROUGH THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS PROJECT RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE, THAT'S A PROJECT ON JOES, IT'S -- BLANKS, IT'S BEING DEVELOPED BY ALAMO COMMUNITY GROUP.
THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE DID THROUGH OUR RENEW SA PROGRAM.
SO UNDER VERONICA SOTO'S DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT ACQUIRES LOTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, PURCHASES THE LOTS, SELLS THEM TO A NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER AT A DISCOUNTED RATE, AND ALSO UPFRONT FINANCES THEIR PROJECT SO THEY CAN BUILD THE HOME, AND THEN WHEN THEY SELL THE HOME, WE GET THE MONEY A BACK AND IT GOES INTO A REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
BY PROVIDING FEE WAIVERS TO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, WE CAN DO MORE PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
AND, IN FACT, SINCE 2013, WE'VE DONE 98 PROJECTS WHERE WE'VE
[00:30:01]
ACQUIRED A PARCEL IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND DEVELOPED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON IT.AND THEN THE OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING EXAMPLE I WANT TO DISCUSS IS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING QUITE A BIT WITH HABITAT.
THEY USE THIS PROGRAM FOR ALL OF THEIR HOMES.
IN FACT, IN FISCAL YEAR 2018 ALONE, THEY DID 56 HABITAT HOMES.
WE PROVIDED THEM $280,000 IN SAWS FEE WAIVERS, AND $71,000 IN CITY FEE WAIVERS.
IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT INCENTIVE, THEY WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO DO 51 HOMES.
SO OUR INCENTIVES HELP THEM DO FIVE ADDITIONAL HOMES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM TO OUR LEGACY BUSINESSES.
SO THIS PICTURE UNDER HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IS DALE BRAVO RECORDS ON DISTRICT 6 ON OLD HIGHWAY 90.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE FIRST LEGACY BUSINESS DESIGNATED BY THE OFFICE OF HISTORIC OPERATION.
TO BE A LEGACY BUSINESS YOU HAVE TO BE IN OPERATION FOR 20 YEARS OR MORE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THAT AREA.
IF DALE BRAVO RECORDS EVER WANTED TO EXPAND THEIR BUSINESS, WE WANT TO HELP THEM DO THAT, AND SO NOW AS A RESULT OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE TYPES OF FEE WAIVERS WHICH WILL HELP THEM EXPAND AND STAY IN THE AREA.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON THE BURNS BUILDING, WHICH IS A HISTORIC BUILDING, AND DAVID ADLEMAN WITH AREA REAL ESTATE IS REDEVELOPING THAT BUILDING, ONCE COMPLETE IT WILL BRING 250 JOBS TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND RENOVATE A BUILDING THAT'S BEEN VACANT SINCE 2015.
THE OTHER PROJECT THAT WE WANT FEE WAIVERS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS VACILLA FOX.
DAN MARXON IS REDEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE HE HAS ACCESS TO THESE FEE WAIVERS SO HE CAN REDEVELOP THE PROPERTY.
SO ONCE AGAIN WE'RE FOCUSED -- CURRENT ICRIP PROGRAM HAS H A BOUNDARY, HOWEVER YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GET THOSE FEE WAIVERS IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE THAT BOUNDARY.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE LIMITED THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT CAN GET THOSE INCENTIVES.
AND SO NOW OWNER/OCCUPIED REHABS CAN GET THOSE INCENTIVES, LEGACY, YOU CAN'T GET INCENTIVES IF YOU'RE A MARKET RATE HOUSING PROJECT, NOT HISTORIC OR DEVELOPING A BUSINESS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD.
UNLESS YOU'RE IDENTIFIED AND RENE DOMINGUEZ IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGY, YOU WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO THESE INCENTIVES.
SO WE'VE REALLY LIMITED TO THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT CAN GET THESE FEE WAIVERS.
SO OUR FEE WAIVERS PROGRAM GOALS INCLUDE FOCUSING ON THE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, PRIORITIZING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND AFFORDABLE OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB PROJECTS, PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HOW ARE WE DOING THAT? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING IT FROM UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO WE HAVE PLACE AD PROHIBITION IN THE PROGRAM THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE USING THAT PROPERTY AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL YOU CANNOT GET A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT FOR A TYPE 2 PROPERTY IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE USING FEE WAIVERS.
HOW WE'LL MONITOR THAT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE REMODELING A HISTORIC HOME, WE'LL PLACE YOU IN THE DATABASE -- AUDIO] -- IF YOU WERE EVER TO GO AND PULL A SHORT-TERM PERMIT FOR THAT PROPERTY, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT TYPE 2 PERMIT.
SO THAT'S HOW WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT.
WE ALSO ARE SUPPORTING OTHER CITY POLICIES SUCH AS THE SA TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND ANOTHER CONCERN WE HEARD FROM OUR HOUSING PROVIDERS, BOTH FOR-PROFIT AND NONPROFIT ARE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SECURE ALLOCATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE SAWS FEE WAIVER AND THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE LARGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OR LARGE CCHIP PROJECTS THAT WILL COME IN AND EAT UP THAT CAPACITY, SO WE'VE CREATED A PROTECTED ALLOCATION FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
THE NEXT POLICY I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE CENTER CITY HOUSING AND INCENTIVE POLICY.
THIS POLICY WAS CREATED -- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT IS HELPING US DEVELOP OUR DOWNTOWN.
IT IS A HOUSING FIRST STRATEGY, AND THE THOUGHT IS HOUSING IS A FOUNDATION OF EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU SATURATE AN AREA WITH HOUSING AND YOU CREATE A 24/7 VIBRANT AREA.
WITH THAT BRIPGS DISPOSABLE INCOME THAT WILL HELP TIP THE RETAIL, SO IF YOU'RE DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT MOST THE RETAIL IS FOCUSED ON THE TOURISTS AND NOT ON THE RESIDENTS.
[00:35:02]
INCOME WITH RESIDENTS WHO ARE LIVING THERE THAT AREA, THAT WILL HELP CHANGE THE TYPE OF RETAIL, AND THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THE RIVER NORTH MIDTOWN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THE MEDICAL CLINIC THAT POPPED UP OVER ON JOSEPHINE STREET AND BROADWAY, AND THEN THERE'S A CVS GOING IN THE MOSAIC PROJECT OFF BROADWAY.THOSE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF NEIGHBORHOODS SERVING RETAIL THAT RESIDENTS NEED.
WE KNOW THAT A VIBRANT URBAN CORE IS NECESSARY TO ATTRACT THE MILLENNIAL WORKFORCE.
WE WANT MILLENNIALS TO CHOOSE SAN ANTONIO TO MOVE TO WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
WE WANT THEM TO BE -- WE WANT TO AT LEAST BE AN OPTION AND FOR THEM TO CONSIDER US, AND THAT'S HOW WE ATTRACT THAT MILLENNIAL WORKFORCE.
WE KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE HOUSING AND YOU CREATE RETAIL, YOU HELP CREATE LONGER STAYS BY OUR TOURISTS, AND THIS WILL HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON YOUR OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEN A MIXED USE URBAN CORE IS NECESSARY TO ENHANCE AND DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT DOWNTOWN HOUSING IS VERY CHALLENGING.
WE HAVE LAND PRICES THAT ARE HIGH, OFTENTIMES THEY'RE TWO TO THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER MARKETS.
CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE HIGHER BECAUSE YOU'RE BUILDING ON SMALLER PARCELS AND YOU MUST EITHER BUILD PARKING GARAGES AS A RESULT OF THAT OR YOU'RE RENOVATING A HISTORIC BUILDING OR YOU HAVE THE RIVER IMPROVEMENT TS OVERLAY DISTRICT AND OTHER REGULAR REGULATIONS THAT REGULATE HOW YOU'RE -- YOUR BUILDING LOOKS AND FEELS WHICH CAN AFFECT THE COST OF YOUR PROJECT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN.
WE HAVE AGED PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN, SO IF YOU'RE BUILDING A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECT, OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE INFRASTRUCTURE SURROUNDING YOU, AND WE HAVE IRREGULAR SHAPED PARCELS.
WE'RE NOT THE NICE, CLEAN, SQUARE, RECTANGULAR PARCELS.
YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF PROJECTS DEVELOPED ON TRIANGULAR PARCELS OR OTHER SHAPES THAT ARE BIFURCATED BY THE RIVER OR OTHER STREETS OR OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THE AS OF RIGHT POLICY, WHAT IT MEANS RIGHT NOW IS IF YOU BUILD TWO OR MORE HOUSING UNITS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, YOU AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE YOUR CITY AND SAWS FEE WAIVERS, A TAX REIMBURSEMENT GRANT BASED ON THE AD VALOREM TAXES THAT THE DEVELOPER PAYS TO THE CITY FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT, AND THEN A LOW-INTEREST LOAN OR GRANT.
SO THOSE ARE THE INCENTIVES YOU RECEIVE IF YOU BUILD TWO OR MORE HOUSING UNITS.
AND WE KNOW THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE 64 PROJECTS THAT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED REPRESENTING $1.4 BILLION OF INVESTMENT.
WE'VE PROVIDED $102 MILLION IN INCENTIVES TO MAKE THOSE PROJECTS HAPPEN, OF WHICH 75% OF THAT INCENTIVE IS A TAX REBATE, IN WHICH THE DEVELOPER IS PAYING THE TAXES AND THEY'RE GETTING THAT REBATE BACK.
IT'S NOT TAXES FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, IT'S THE DEVELOPER'S TAXES THEY'RE PAYING AS A RESULT OF THEIR IMPROVEMENT.
17% OF THAT $100 MILLION INCENTIVE IS COMING FROM THE SAWS FEE WAIVER PROGRAM WHICH SAWS ALLOCATES ANNUALLY, TYPICALLY ABOUT $3 MILLION ANNUALLY.
THE REST, WHICH IS LESS THAN 10 MILLION, IS COMING FROM THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, WHICH CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES TWO TO TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE POLICY, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND THAT HELPS PROVIDE LOAN AND GRANTS TO THESE PROJECTS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FACILITATE 6800 HOUSING UNITS, 238,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL AND 28,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE.
IT'S ALSO WORTHY TO MENTION THAT AS A RESULT OF THE CCHIP, 11 BROWNFIELD SITES WERE REDEVELOPED.
WE HAVE SEVEN OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THE VACANT BUILDING REGISTRY PROGRAM, AND SO THESE INCENTIVES HELPED MAKE THESE PROJECTS AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THEN 13 SITES WERE SURFACE PARKING LOTS.
JUST AN INTERESTING FACT, OVER 60% OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREA IS SURFACE PARKING LOTS.
AND THOSE PARKING LOTS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONVINCE SOMEONE TO REDEVELOP THAT PARKING LOT, THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INCENTIVE.
OFTENTIMES THOSE PARKING LOTS ALSO HAVE CONTAMINATION ISSUES, SO THAT ALSO INCREASES THE COSTS.
AND SO THIS WAS ABLE TO CONVERT 13 PARKING LOTS TO MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS.
NOW, WE ALSO LOOKED TO SEE WHAT OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS AS A RESULT OF THIS POLICY.
AND SO WE TOOK ALL 64 PROJECTS AND LOOKED AT WHAT THEY WERE PAYING TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PREDEVELOPMENT.
SO IF YOU LOOKED AT ALL 64 PROJECTS AND LOOKED AT THE TAX ROLLS PRIOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT, THEY WERE PAYING THE CITY OF
[00:40:02]
SAN ANTONIO $350,000 ANNUALLY.NOW THEY'RE PAYING SAISD AND OUR OTHER TAXING ENTITY ABOUT 1.3 MILLION ANNUALLY.
NOW WE ASSUMED THAT ALL PROJECTS WERE CONSTRUCTED AND CAME ONLINE, AND WE LOOKED AT A YEAR 1.
WHAT WOULD THEY DEVELOP OR RETURN TO THE CITY IN YEAR 1? AND SO IN YEAR 1, AND IF WE NETTED OUT THE TAX REBATES, WHICH ARE ABOUT $5.7 MILLION ON THESE 64 PROJECTS, THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE $2.3 MILLION IN TAXES.
SO 350,000 PRE, AND THEN $2.3 MILLION AFTER THEY'RE ALL DEVELOPED.
SO THAT'S SIX TIMES WHAT WE RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE PROJECTS BEING CONSTRUCTED.
AND THEN ALSO THE OTHER TAXING ENTITIES ARE RECEIVING ABOUT $28.5 MILLION, WITH SAISD GETTING $16 MILLION FOR THOSE INCENTIVES AS A -- AS A RESULT F THOSE INCENTIVES.
SO THE PROJECT AND THE CCHIP ARE PROVIDING GREAT RETURNS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR OTHER TAXING ENTITIES.
WE ALSO DID A TAX ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND STEVE NIVEN, I BELIEVE IS HERE IN THE CROWD, STEVE'S OVER THERE.
STEVE DID AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND LOOKED AT ALL 64 PROJECTS AND LOOKED AT WHAT THEY RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC OUTPUT.
AS A RESULT OF THE 64 PROJECTS, 8,000 JOBS WILL BE ADDED TO THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET, THERE WILL BE A $1.1 BILLION TO THE GDP, AND A $2.2 BILLION ECONOMIC OUTPUT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WILL BE $3.2 MILLION IN SALES TAX THAT THE CCHIP PROJECTS WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE CITY AS A RESULT OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT 3.2 MILLION IS ON TOP OF THAT 2.3 MILLION YEAR 1 RETURN.
SO THERE IS A VERY LARGE RETURN TO OUR INVESTMENT IN THESE PROJECTS.
AND IT WORKS OUT TO BE FOR EVERY $1 THE CITY INVESTS IN INCENTIVES, WE GET $13 BACK IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
WE ALSO ASKED TXP, WHICH IS JOHN HAUKINOSE'S FIRM OUT OF AUSTIN.
THEY WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT OUR CCHIP, THEY INTERVIEWED MULTIPLE PEOPLE, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE IS THE CCHIP WAS THE KEY TO CLOSING THAT FINANCIAL GAP TO MAKE THOSE PROJECT WORKS.
THERE IS A NEED TO CONTINUE INCENTING DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
CCHIP ALONE CANNOT MEET THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEMAND, BUT IT CAN SUPPORT AFFORDABILITY AND WE NEED TO MODIFY THE BOUNDARY TO ENSURE GREATER DEVELOPMENT COMPATIBILITY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE STILL NEED MARKET RATE HOUSING IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
WE NEED MARKET RATE TO CONTINUE TO BE ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE NATIONWIDE.
WE HAVE USAA THAT WILL BE BRINGING 2000 JOBS DOWNTOWN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE HAVE UTSA THAT ARE BRINGING 11,000 STUDENTS AND -- I'M SORRY, 1500 FACULTY AND STAFF TO DOWNTOWN, AND WE HAVE COMPANIES LIKE PRICE WATER COOPER, JEFFERSON BANK, WE WORKS CREDIT HUMAN AND OTHERS THAT HAVE RELOCATED OR MOVED TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEIR EMPLOYERS WANT TO BE.
SO THEY KNOW IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT EMPLOYEES, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY WANT TO WORK.
AND THAT IS WHY USAA AND OTHERS ARE COMING DOWNTOWN.
AND SO WE NEED HOUSING FOR THAT GROWTH OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND WE LOOKED AT 14 MARKET RATE HOUSING UNITS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, ALL OF THEM HAVE OCCUPANCY LEVELS OF 90% OR ABOVE, THE AVERAGE VACANCY RATE OF THOSE UNITS IS ABOUT 7%.
THERE IS DEMAND STILL FOR MARKET RATE HOUSING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND WE NEED HOUSING AS THESE EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS MOVE DOWNTOWN.
NOW, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A TWO-YEAR EXTENSION TO THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY AND WE'LL EVALUATE THIS THROUGHOUT THAT TWO YEARS.
WE'VE ALIGNED THE POLICY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SA TOMORROW PLAN, THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, WE'VE ALSO ALIGNED IT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PRESERVING AND PROTECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE'VE PLACED A FOCUS ON DENSITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
NOW, OUR PROPOSED BOUNDARY INITIALLY IT WAS A 5.4 SQUARE MILE BOUNDARY, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE CREATED A LEVELED SYSTEM OR A TIERED SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE THREE LEVELS.
LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 IS THE DOWNTOWN AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND LEVEL -- DOWNTOWN AND DOWNTOWN AREA ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LAND PRICES WITHIN THOSE TWO AREAS,
[00:45:02]
DIFFERENT RENTAL RATE ATTAINMENT, AS WELL AS DIFFERENT MARKET RATE SUPPLY.AND THEN LEVEL 3 WILL INCORPORATE THE SA TOMORROW REGIONAL CENTERS AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES ALONG WITH THE 2040 PLAN THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED BY VIA.
THIS ALSO REMOVES THE AREA OF URBAN LOW DENSITY AND MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS REMOVED THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE BOUNDARIES, AND SO IF IT'S WITHIN A REGIONAL CENTER, ANY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS LOW TO MEDIUM RESIDENTIAL DENSITY IS REMOVED FROM THE BOUNDARY OF THAT AREA.
AND SO HERE ARE THE TWO MAPS SIDE BY SIDE.
WE HAVE THE PROPOSED CENTER CITY, WHICH IS LEVEL 1 AND 2.
LEVEL 3 IS THAT YELLOW/PEACHISH AREA, AND LEVEL 2 IS THE PINK AREA AND LEVEL 3 IS THE MAP THAT SHOWS THE GREEN WHICH INCLUDES THE REGIONAL CENTERS AS WELL AS THE CORRIDORS.
NOW, TO BE ABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES THROUGH THE CCHIP, AT MINIMUM YOU MUST BE LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARY, YOU MUST BE SUBJECT TO DESIGN REVIEW, ALL PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE REZONING FROM SINGLE FAMILY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE INCENTIVES THROUGH THIS POLICY.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE WITHIN LEVEL 1, YOU MUST BE TWO OR MORE HOUSING UNITS, BUT HAVE A DENSITY OF 50 UNITS PER ACRE.
LEVEL 2, YOU MUST HAVE 10% OF YOUR UNITS AT A WORKFORCE RATE OF WHICH IS 80% OR BELOW, AND THEN 10% AT 60% OR BELOW, OR BE ABOVE FIVE STORIES.
AND THEN LEVEL 3, AT MINIMUM, YOU MUST HAVE 20% OF YOUR UNITS AT 60% AMI.
AND, OF COURSE, YOU MUST MEET THE DENSITY REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE CHART.
NOW, FOR THE INCENTIVES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EACH OF THESE LEVELS, LEVEL 1, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, YOU'D BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A CITY FEE WAIVER OF UP TO 100% OF YOUR CITY FEES AND A SAWS FEE WAIVER THAT'S CAPPED AT A MILLION DOLLARS.
YOU'D ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A 15-YEAR TAX REBATE AT 75%, AND THEN IF YOUR PROJECT DOES INCLUDE AFFORDABILITY, YOU GET A BONUS GRANT OF UP TO 10,000 PER AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT TO HELP YOU WITH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR YOUR PROJECT.
NOW, LEVEL 2, YOU HAVE TO MEET THAT WORKFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT OR GO ABOVE FIVE STORIES, AND YOU'D BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CITY FEE WAIVER OF UP TO 100%, AND THEN A SAWS FEE WAIVER CAPPED AT 500,000.
AND THEN YOU RECEIVE A 10-YEAR TAX REBATE AT 75%, AND YOU WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT.
AND THEN LEVEL 3, WHICH IS 20% AT 60% AMI, YOU MUST -- YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET 100% OF YOUR CITY FEES WAIVED, UP TO 250,000 OF YOUR SAWS FEES WAIVED, AND YOU'LL GET A 10-YEAR, 75% REBATE.
NOW, WE'VE DEVELOPED THESE PROGRAMS AND THESE LEVELS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AND WHEN WE WERE MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LISTENING TO CONCERNS IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETINGS, THE SA TOMORROW MEETINGS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND OTHER MEETINGS WE HEARD SEVERAL CONCERNS AND I'VE IDENTIFIED THEM ON THIS SLIDE.
FIRST, WHY ARE WE TRYING TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION AND INCREASE DENSITY? WHY ARE YOU INCENTING LUXURY PRODUCT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS? WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH REGARDS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DISPLACEMENT AND HOW DO WE PROTECT THAT? DOES THIS ALIGN WITH THE REGIONAL CENTERS? AND HOW DOES THIS ALIGN WITH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE? SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE AND EXPLAIN HOW WE'VE ACCOMMODATED THAT IN THIS POLICY.
THE FIRST IS DENSITY AND TRANSPORTATION, SO WHY ARE WE INCENTING DENSITY? AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING THAT SUBURBAN DEVELOPER AN OPTION TO DEVELOP DOWNTOWN.
WE'D RATHER DEVELOPERS COME IN THAN GO OUT.
AND SO THIS WOULD BE LESS BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS IF THEY WERE TO DEVELOP IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HOSPITALS, WE HAVE THE FIRE STATIONS, WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY THERE.
SO IT'S A BETTER POLICY TO SUPPORT THAT DENSITY.
WE'RE ALSO WANTING TO SUPPORT A MORE WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO MOVING DOWNTOWN GIVES SOMEBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELIMINATE THE CAR OR GO DOWN TO ONE CAR, WHERE A MORE WALKABLE AREA AND IT SUPPORTS TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
SOMETHING WE'VE ALSO ADDED IN THE CCHIP IS THAT ANY PROJECT THAT RECEIVES INCENTIVES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM MUST ACCOMMODATE BIKE PARKING AND SCOOTER PARKING
[00:50:01]
ON THEIR SITE.NOW, LUXURY PRODUCT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHY ARE YOU INCENTING MILLION DOLLAR CONDOS? AND SPO WHAT WE'VE DONE -- AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE PLACED A CAP ON THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT CAN GET INCENTIVES.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL YOUR PRODUCT FOR MORE THAN $360,000, THE PROJECT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES.
NOW, $360,000 IS THE CAP BECAUSE THAT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN GET THROUGH AN FHA LOAN.
NOW, WE KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE PRODUCTS THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS TYPE OF INCENTIVE, AND THAT INCLUDES THE TERRA MARK PRODUCT THAT'S DONE BY JOHN COOLLY, AND THAT IS A TWO, TWO AND A HALF BATH TOWNHOME.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BUT THEY PROVIDE A HOME FOR THAT FAMILY THAT WANTS TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
AND WHO DOES NOT WANT TO RENT.
AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY THE PRICE POINT IS ANYWHERE FROM 200,000 TO 325,000.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT AND GIVE REASONS FOR FAMILIES OR GIVE OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES TO MOVE DOWNTOWN.
WE'VE ALSO PLACED A CAP ON THE RENTAL PRODUCT.
SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE GETTING INCENTIVES THROUGH THE CCHIP, YOUR APARTMENT CANNOT BE RENTED FOR MORE THAN 275 A FOOT.
SO THAT'S THE AVERAGE RATE FOR A PROJECT, 275 IS THE NUMBER BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER THAT YOU WOULD NOT NEED INCENTIVES IF YOU'RE DOING A FOUR-STORY HOUSING PROJECT.
NOW, IF YOU WERE TO GO ABOVE FIVE STORIES, THAT 2.75 BUMPS TO 2.85, AND THEN WE DO ADJUST IT FOR INFLATION OVER THE YEARS IN LINE FOR THE INFLATION OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
NOW, IF THE PROJECT WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF RECEIVING THESE INCENTIVES GOES ABOVE THIS RENTAL RATE, THE ENTIRE INCENTIVE PACKAGE IS COMPLETELY RECAPTURED.
NOW, IF THEY -- IF THE RENTAL RATE GOES ABOVE AFTER YEAR 5, THEN THE REBATE STOPS AND THEY NO LONGER GET THE REBATE AFTER THAT TIME PERIOD.
WE HAVE PLACED PROTECTIONS IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CONTINUING TO INCENT HIGH DOLLAR OR HIGH RENTABLE SPACES.
WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED A PROVISION THAT IF YOUR PROJECT AND YOU'RE GOING TO INCLUDE HOTEL IN YOUR PROJECT, YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES.
NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION: THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE'RE PROTECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE'VE INCORPORATED SEVERAL MEASURES INTO THIS POLICY.
FIRST, PROPERTY ZONED AT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL ARE INELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES UNDER THIS POLICY.
AND ANY PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN REZONED FROM SINGLE FAMILY SINCE 2016 IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES UNDER THIS POLICY, THAT HELPS US WITH THIS SPECULATION WHERE DEVELOPERS WERE PURCHASING PROPERTIES AND REZONING THEM IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS POLICY COMING FORWARD.
WE ALSO HAVE PLACED A PROVISION IN THERE THAT IF YOUR PROPERTY IS ZONED NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION OR IT ALLOWS FOR MANUFACTURED HOUSING, IT IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES UNDER THIS POLICY.
AND THEN REZONING THE PROPERTY TO THE ELIGIBLE ZONING TYPE DOES NOT MAKE YOU ELIGIBLE.
SO THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CAN'T GRANT THEM INCENTIVES, IT JUST MEANS THEY WON'T GET THEM AS OF RIGHT AND THEY'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS AND CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
WE'VE ALSO PUT IN A PROVISION TO PROTECT SOME OF THE AREAS, I KNOW THIS IS IN DISTRICT 7, 3 AND 5, WHERE YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME BUT IT'S ON A PARCEL THAT'S ZONED MULTIFAMILY.
IF THERE'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON A SITE THAT'S ZONED MULTIFAMILY, YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THESE INCENTIVES, SO THAT USE TRUMPS THE ACTUAL ZONING IN THAT CASE, BECAUSE THERE ARE AREAS WHERE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO REZONE TO CATCH UP.
PROJECTS THAT ARE WITHIN LEVEL 3, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW, BECAUSE LAST REITERATION AT THE B SESSION WE DID NOT HAVE LEVEL 3.
AND LEVEL 3 ARE THE REGIONAL CENTERS AND THE CORRIDORS IN THE VIA 2040 PLAN.
SO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES, IF YOU'RE WITHIN LEVEL 3, CITY COUNCIL MUST HAVE APPROVED YOUR LAND USE PLAN.
AND SO NONE OF THE LAND USE PLANS IN THE REGIONAL CENTERS HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
THE CLOSEST ONE, I BELIEVE, IS BROOKS, AND AS THEY COME FORWARD, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH ZONING.
AND THE COMMUNITY IS DECIDING WHERE THEY WANT TO SEE CERTAIN TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO ONCE THAT IS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL, THEN THE PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE INCENTIVES THROUGH THE CCHIP.
AND THE SAME FOR THE 2040 PLAN, AND SO AS VIA GOES FORWARD AND IDENTIFIES AND DESIGNATES THESE
[00:55:03]
CORRIDORS THEY CANNOT RECEIVE THESE INCENTIVES UNTIL THAT OCCURS.ANY PROJECT RECEIVING INCENTIVES IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SHORT-TERM PERMIT FOR A TYPE 2 PERMIT.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THE ONLY PROPERTIES THAT ARE OWNER/OCCUPIED THAT ARE DOING THE SHORT-TERM PERMITS CAN GET THESE INCENTIVES, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT OWNER/OCCUPIED, YOU CANNOT GET THE CCHIP INCENTIVES AND ALSO HAVE A SHORT-TERM PERMIT -- SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT.
AND THAT WILL BE FOR THE TERM OF YOUR AGREEMENT.
SO IF YOUR TAX REBATE IS FOR 10 YEARS, IT'S FOR 10 YEARS.
IF IT'S 15 YEARS, IT'S FOR 15 YEARS.
AND THEN ALL PROJECTS MUST RECEIVE HISTORIC AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION APPROVAL, AND THIS REALLY HELPS US LOOK AT THE QUALITY AND MAKING SURE THAT PROJECT IS IN LINE WITH THE SURROUNDING DESIGN AND COMPONENTS OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO STRESS THAT PROJECTS RESULTING IN DIRECT DISPLACEMENT OF TENANTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES.
AND SO IF YOU WERE TO BUY A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECT AND RELOCATE THOSE TENANTS AND THEN COME TO THE CITY AND ASK FOR CCHIP INCENTIVES TO REDEVELOP THAT PROPERTY, YOU WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE.
AND SO THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A PROJECT THAT ENCOURAGES -- AN INCENTIVE THAT ENCOURAGES DISPLACEMENT.
AND HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY? THAT WAS A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION AS WELL, SO LEVEL 1, IF YOU'RE WITHIN LEVEL 1, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, YOU CAN STILL BUILD MARKET RATE; HOWEVER, IF YOU BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT EQUAL TO 10,000 PER UNIT.
LEVEL 2, YOU MUST EITHER BE HIGHER THAN FIVE STORIES OR HAVE UP TO 10% OF YOUR UNITS AT A WORKFORCE RATE OF 80% AMI OR BELOW AND 10% AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE OF 60% AMI OR LOW.
AND LEVEL 3, AT LEAST 20 PERCENT OF YOUR UNITS MUST BE AT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERY CCHIP PROJECT MUST CONTRIBUTE TO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND, AND THAT IS 25% OF THEIR TAX INCREMENT THEY'RE PAYING TO THE CITY WILL GO INTO A FUND TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRAJTS AT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT FUND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, ASSUMING WE GET DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ALL 13 REGIONAL CENTERS AND LOOKING AT THE PROJECTS THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE COMING THROUGH THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS OR THE PFCS OR OTHER AREAS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL GET ABOUT $1 MILLION ANNUALLY WHEN THEY ALL HIT THE GROUND IN THREE TO FOUR YEARS.
VERONICA SOTO AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL USE THAT FUND TO SUPPORT GAP FINANCING FOR 60% AMI UNITS OR BELOW.
NOW, THEY'LL BE DEVELOPING THE ACTUAL PARAMETERS FOR THOUSAND THAT FUND IS USED WHEN THEIR DEVELOPING THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY, BUT IT WILL BE DEDICATED TO 60% AMI OR BELOW.
AND THEN OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING TOOLS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE KNOW THAT THE CCHIP IS NOT THE ONLY TOOL THAT CAN HELP LEVERAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND WHEN USED ALONE IT'S DIFFICULT TO HELP LEVERAGE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT USED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY, OR PROGRAMS LIKE THE 4% OR 9%, IT CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO THE MUSEUM REACH LOFTS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT TYPE OF LEVERAGING AND LAYERING.
THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING TRUST PFC WERE RECOMMENDING THAT ANY PFC PROJECT THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE PFC BOARD, WHICH THE PFC BOARD IS COMPRISED OF COUNCILMEMBERS FROM DISTRICTS 1 THROUGH 5, THOSE COUNCILMEMBERS WORK ON CRAFTING DEALS SPECIFIC TO THAT DEAL, AND SO IF THEY RECOMMEND THAT THAT PROJECT SHOULD RECEIVE INCENTIVES THROUGH THE CCHIP, THEN THEY'LL RECEIVE CCHIP INCENTIVES.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING THE PFC BOARD THE LEEWAY TO BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THOSE PROJECTS AND CRAFT A DEAL SPECIFIC FOR THAT AREA AND THEN THEY'D RECEIVE THE CCHIP INCENTIVES.
AND FINALLY WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING DISPOSING OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY TO HELP LEVERAGE THE NEED OF 60% AMI OR BELOW.
NOW, THE MUSEUM REACH LOFTS PROJECT, THIS IS A PROJECT WE TOOK TO COUNCIL SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'VE LEVERAGED AND LAYERED INCENTIVES TO MAKE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT WORK.
AND SO THAT PROJECT WAS $17.5 MILLION, IT HAD 94 HOUSING UNITS OF WHICH THE MAJORITY --
[01:00:03]
ACTUALLY EVERY UNIT EXCEPT EIGHT UNITS WERE BELOW 60% AMI.AND SO WHAT THE CITY AND THE STATE DID IS WE LEVERAGED OUR INCENTIVES, SO WE PROVIDED THE TIRZ GRANT, OUR INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND GRANT AND OUR CCHIP, AND THEN THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT.
SO THE 94 UNITS IN THAT PROJECT EACH RECEIVED ABOUT $160,000 INCENTIVE PER UNIT TO MAKE THAT PROJECT WORK.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE 9% HOUSING TAX CREDIT IS REALLY THE INCENTIVE THAT MADE THOSE PROJECTS WORK, BUT LAYERING ON THE INNER CITY INCENTIVE FUND AND THE CCHIP AND THE TIRZ HELPED TO REALLY CLOSE THAT GAP.
BUT THE HEAVY IN THAT IS THE TAX CREDIT OF 112,000 PER UNIT.
WE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDING PROPERTY DISPOSITION, WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DISPOSE OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY WHERE WE WOULD PACKAGE A PROPERTY, STATE THAT THE PROPERTY'S ELIGIBLE FOR CCHIP INCENTIVES AND POTENTIALLY GO TO COUNCIL AND REQUEST SUPPORT FOR A 9% TAX CREDIT DEAL SO WHEN WE ISSUE AN RFP, WE MAKE IT VERY COMPETITIVE TO GET THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY WE WANT.
AND WE'LL WORKING CLOSELY WITH VERONICA AND HER TEAM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS ON THOSE RFPS.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ARE DOING.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 BUDGET INCLUDED $25 MILLION TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OF WHICH 17 MILLION WAS NEW FUNDING.
WE ALSO RECEIVED A $1 MILLION GRANT FOR THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH NONPROFIT PROVIDERS ON PROGRAMS LIKE THE RENEW SA, TO HELP US BRING MORE HOUSING TO THE DOWNTOWN.
THEY'VE DONE 33 UNDER ONE ROOF PROJECTS THIS FISCAL YEAR ALONE, 47 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED FOR THAT OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAM.
THEY PROVIDED HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE CLASSES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN 18 FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO CLOSE ON THEIR HOMES, AND THEN THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR RISK MITIGATION FUND WHICH WAS PART OF THE $25 MILLION THAT CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN THIS PAST BUDGET YEAR.
AND SO IN THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, THEY WILL LOOK TO SEE HOW THEY CAN MEET THE GOALS AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE ROSSER AND THE CCHIP AND ICRIP WILL BE TOOLS INCORPORATED IN THAT STRATEGY.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INVESTMENT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S IMPACTING THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND THEN THE RISK MITIGATION FUND, THAT'S THE MILLION DOLLARS I SPOKE OF EARLIER, THEY'LL BE DEVELOPING A DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY THAT WILL COME TO COUNCIL COMMITTEE IN LATE JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY, AND ULTIMATELY CITY COUNCIL IN EARLY 2019 THAT WILL LOOK AT HOW WE CAN HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE INCENTED BY THE CITY AS WELL AS THE RESULTS OF AREAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING RAPID NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE.
BUT I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT THE CCHIP DOES NOT INCENT PROJECTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY DISPLACING INDIVIDUALS OR TENANTS.
AND THEN I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
SO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE WILL HAVE ALL OF OUR AGREEMENTS POSTED TO A PUBLIC ONLINE DATABASE FOLLOWING RENE DOMINGUEZ AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHO HAVE PLACED ALL THEIR INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS ON AN ONLINE DATABASE.
ALL PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE HDRC REVIEW WHICH REQUIRES A PUBLIC INPUTMENT WE'RE ALIGNING IT WITH THE SA TOMORROW REGIONAL CENTERS WHICH ALSO GO THROUGH A PROCESS BEFORE THEY GO TO COUNCIL FOR THE LAND USE PLAN ADOPTION.
UPON EXECUTION OF OUR CCHIP AGREEMENT WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER AND OTHER PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE.
AND THEN WE'LL DO AN ANNUAL UPDATE AT MINIMUM TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, AND FINALLY SOMETHING WE'VE WORKED ON WITH OUR NONPROFIT PROVIDERS IS DOING MORE MONITORING AND OUTREACH AND DOING A SURVEY THAT WE CAN HAVE OPEN FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHTS OF THE DEVELOPERS, THE NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS, THE FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A DEDICATED REVENUE STREAM TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ARE UTILIZING THE HUD AREA MEDIAN INCOME LEVELS.
WE'VE PRIORITIZED OUR CITY INCENTIVES TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SALE AND RENTAL.
WE HAVE RENT AND INCOME RESTRICTED OUR CCHIP PROJECTS AS WELL AS WE'RE INCREASING PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS.
WE DID LOOK AT OUR 10-YEAR HOUSING GOAL LOOKING AT THE HOUSING -- THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, AND WE
[01:05:03]
BELIEVE THAT LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL % OF THAT GOAL.AND WE BELIEVE THE OTHER REGIONAL CENTERS CAN ACCOMMODATE THE REST, AND THAT'S OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD.
HOWEVER, THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS WE WORK WITH VERO SOTO AND HER TEAM ON DEVELOPING THE HOUSING AFFORDABLE STRATEGY.
AND THEN THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE SA TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE'VE ALIGNED THE INCENTIVES WITH OUR REGIONAL CENTERS, WE HAVE A FOCUS ON DENSITY, FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ARE ELIMINATING THE ABILITY FOR PROJECTS TO RECEIVE INCENTIVES IF THEY'RE ON THE ETA OR THE AWKIFY -- AQUIFER, AND THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE DEVELOPMENTS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE PLANNING EFFORTS.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF PUBLIC OUTREACH.
WE'VE GONE TO THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE TWICE.
WE HAVE GONE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS AND HAD MEETINGS WITH OUR DEVELOPERS, BOTH MARKET RATE AND NONPROFIT.
I'M WORKING WITH OUR PLANNING COMMITTEES THAT ARE THROUGH THE REGIONAL CENTERS.
ALSO WORKING WITH OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE CENTRO.
AND THEN ALSO WORKING WITH THE SA TOMORROW EFFORTS AND THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT.
AND, IN FACT, WE WENT THROUGH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE, WE HAD ONE MEETING WITH THE FULL COMMITTEE AND THEN WE HAD THREE TO FOUR COMMITTEES WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THEIR CONCERNS.
AND THEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
WE HAVE MET WITH THE LEADERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT ARE WITHIN THE LEVEL ONE AND LEVEL TWO.
AND WE HAVE ASKED THAT THOSE INVITE US TO COME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TO PRESENT AND GET FEEDBACK.
WE HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF THAT FEEDBACK IN THIS REVISED POLICY.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MEETINGS AND WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, SO WE ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS ON THE POLICIES AND THE BENEFITS IT HAS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION AS WE ARE MEETING WITH SEVERAL OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS, THERE MAY BE ISSUES COMING UP THAT AREN'T RELATED TO THE POLICY BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT CAN ADDRESS.
SO WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN CONTACT WITH THE CORRECT PERSON SO THEY GET THEIR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THOSE ISSUES.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE GO TO CITY COUNCIL TOMORROW FOR CONSIDERATION FOR BOTH THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM AND THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
MYSELF AND SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS, EITHER THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY OR THE FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH LORI FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE LOTS OF COMMENTS AND WE'LL TRY TO MOVE AS THOUGHTFULLY AND QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
WE PUT THE MORATORIUM IN PLACE, ESSENTIALLY IN DECEMBER.
IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER WITH COUNCIL APPROVAL.
BUT I WANT TO REFLECT A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE ASKED THIS COMMUNITY TO DO TWO EXTREMELY HEAVY LIFTS.
ONE IS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF NEEDED DENSITY AND ACCOMMODATION OF THE GROWTH.
WE UNDERSTAND THE POPULATION DOUBLING, A MILLION PEOPLE BEING BORN HERE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DECADES.
WE'VE ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY -- AND COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED THE REORIENTATION OF OUR HOUSING MARKET TO ADDRESS THE GROWING AFFORDABILITY GAP IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE ALL KNOW VERY CLEARLY THAT WE ARE GUIDED NOW BY A COMPASS FROM THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE REPORT, WHICH CLEARLY OUTLINES SEVERAL PRIORITIES, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS ON.
I'LL JUST NAME THEM VERY BRIEFLY.
A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM, PUBLIC PROCESS, AFFORDABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN, OF COURSE, PREVENTION OF DISPLACEMENT.
SO BUT I ALSO WANT TO REFLECT A MOMENT, BECAUSE WE OFTEN THROW OUT A PHRASE "PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD" I THINK TOO OFTEN.
BUT I DO THINK IN THIS SITUATION THAT WE RISK THAT VERY THING.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS POLICY AND I ASK MYSELF WHAT HAVE WE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INPUT AND COUNCIL DEBATE I SEE THAT THIS POLICY IS VERY CLOSE TO ONE THAT WE WOULD THINK ADDRESSES EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PRIORITIES.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT TRY TO ADDRESS THIS.
[01:10:02]
COMPASSIONATELY.TRY TO ADDRESS IT STATISTICALLY.
TRY TO ADDRESS IT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, AND THEY FAIL.
THEY FAIL BECAUSE THE CITY OR THE COMMUNITY GETS PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER AND THE PRIORITIES END UP IN CONFLICT AND WE DON'T FIGURE OUT WAYS OTHER THAN TO BRING EVERYTHING TO A GRINDING HALT.
AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JUST TO OUR NORTH RECENTLY.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR AS I GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, LORI, OF HOW WE HAVE ADDRESSED THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT TO YOU AT COUNCIL.
AND SO I CAN ILLUSTRATE WHY I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT POLICY FOR US IN GENERAL AND IT'S THE RIGHT POLICY FOR US NOW.
THE FIRST ONE IS WITH REGARD TO THE DEFINITION OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.
ARE THEY ALIGNED WITH THE TASK FORCE'S RECOMMENDATIONS?
AND SO WE HAVE DEFINED WORKFORCE HOUSING BETWEEN 61% AND 80% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME.
AND THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THAT'S IN BOTH THE NEW CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM AND CCHIP?
ANOTHER CONCERN THAT WE HEARD, YOU KNOW, IS REFLECTED AS THE FACT THAT NOW THE -- AND WE NEED THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AS THE COMMUNITY HAS DIRECTED US ON SA TOMORROW THAT WE NEED DENSITY.
WE NEED SUSTAINABILITY IN THE 13 REGIONAL ECONOMIC CENTERS.
AND NOW CCHIP IS EXTENDED INTO THOSE AREAS.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT AND AT WHAT POINT CAN THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING CCHIP IN THOSE AREAS.
>> AND SO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS THEY GO FORWARD WITH THE REGIONAL CENTER PLANS FOR EACH OF THOSE REGIONAL CENTERS.
AND SO THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER, AND I ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THE DOWNTOWN REGIONAL CENTER PLANNING MEETINGS ALONG WITH THE ONES IN THE SOUTHERN AREA IN THE BROOKS.
AND WE'RE ASKING WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SEE DEVELOPMENT SO WE CAN REZONE, IDENTIFY LAND USE.
AND DURING THOSE MEETINGS WE'RE HEARING WHERE WOULD THEY LIKE TO SEE HOUSING.
AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT.
AND THAT WAY WE'RE NOT INCENTING ANY PROJECT THAT IS GOING IN A LAND USE AREA OR REGIONAL CENTER THAT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS.
SO I WANT TO STRESS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BROOKS REGIONAL CENTER PLAN, THAT'S GONE THROUGH A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT.
THE COMMUNITY HAS IDENTIFIED WHERE THEY WANT TO SEE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND ONCE COUNCIL ADOPTS THAT, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN GET HOUSING.
AND I MIGHT ASK VERO IF YOU CAN COME UP FOR A MINUTE.
BECAUSE THERE'S COMMUNITY INPUT AND THERE'S COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND IMPLEMENTATION.
AND OUR INPUT PROCESS IS ONLY SO GOOD AS THE HOUSING SYSTEM CAN ACCOMMODATE AND IMPLEMENT.
AND ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE IS A COORDINATED SYSTEM.
WHAT WE HEARD, COUNCILMAN TREVINO AND COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL AND I HEARD VERY CLEARLY FROM THE TIER ONE NEIGHBORHOODS IS THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE WE ARE EQUIPPED ENOUGH, HAVE STRONG ENOUGH MANPOWER TO ACCOMMODATE THE REQUESTS AND THE PLANNING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE COMING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHERE ARE WE ON THE COORDINATED SYSTEM, VERO?
GOOD AFTERNOON, VON -- VERONICA SOTO.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE INCENTIVE POLICIES AND SOME OF OUR STAFF HAVE ATTENDED THE MEETINGS THAT LORI HAS BEEN AT AS WELL.
WITH REGARDS TO THE COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM , JUST EARLIER TODAY I GAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES ABOUT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS PLANS.
AND WE SPOKE ABOUT STAFF THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT ON THAT IS PART OF THAT COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM.
SO WE HAVE HIRED THE STAFF THAT IS GOING TO HELP US LEAD THE EFFORT AND REACH OUT TO ALL THE PARTNERS.
AND OUR FIRST MEETING FOR THAT COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE HOSTED IN JANUARY.
WE'RE WAITING FOR A LOCATION, BUT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED OVER 30 HOUSING PROVIDERS.
SO THE STAFF IS ON BOARD AND WE'RE MOVING AHEAD AND ATTENDING MEETINGS WITH OTHER PARTNERS ALREADY.
AND I THINK ONE THING THAT WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE VERY CLEAR IS
[01:15:01]
THAT THE COORDINATED HOUSING IS ABOUT KNOCKING DOWN SILOS AND MAKING SURE THERE'S ONE ENTRY, ONE DOORWAY INTO THE HOUSING SYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO LED BY AN EXECUTIVE.MAYOR, YOU'LL RECALL AS PART OF THE BUDGET THAT WE PRESENTED IN AUGUST, WE HAD A THREE-YEAR PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.
IN FACT, WE JUST PROVIDED YOU IN NOVEMBER AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE ALREADY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE, SO WE'RE ON TRACK.
AND THE GOAL OVER THIS TIME-FRAME IS TO BRING ALL THE HOUSING FUNCTIONS TOGETHER UNDER ONE UNIT SO THAT WE HAVE, RATHER THAN SILOS, THE INTEGRATED APPROACH AND COORDINATION AMONG ALL OF OUR PROVISION OF HOUSING SERVICES.
SO THAT IS PROCEEDING AS WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE MANPOWER THAT WE HEARD CLEARLY THAT WE WENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AS WE DO THAT, PLUS ACCELERATE LARGE AREA REZONES, WE'RE GOING TO NEED PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST THERE AT THE MEETINGS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY INCORPORATING THEIR FEEDBACK INTO THE PRODUCTS WE PRODUCE.
LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT -- WELL, BACK ON THE ALIGNMENT OF THE REGIONAL CENTER.
SOME OF THOSE REGIONAL REGIONALS BLEED INTO THE ETJ AND INTO THE RECHARGE ZONE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER WHERE WE CURRENTLY DON'T INCENT.
>> YOU'RE IN A REGIONAL CENTER BUT IN THE ETJ.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT ABOUT THE RECHARGE ZONE.
>> YOU DO NOT RECEIVE INCENTIVES
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THE MOST SENSITIVE AREA OF ANY OF THESE POLICIES HAS TO DO WITH THEIR IMPACT ON DISPLACEMENT.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE A DIRECT DISPLACEMENT.
BASICALLY THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP THAT WOULD DRIVE RESIDENTS OUT DIRECTLY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT? OR THOSE IMPACTS THAT ARE BEYOND THE PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT ACTUALLY CAUSE THE PROPERTY VALUES TO RISE AND PUT PRESSURE ON PROPERTY TAXES.
>> THEY ARE DEVELOPING A STRATEGY TO ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT AND WE'LL BE COMING TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE IN EARLY 2019.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THE RISK MITIGATION FUND BUT ALSO LOOKING AT DISPLACEMENT OVERALL.
OUR FIRST PRIORITY WITH OUR STAFF WAS TO IDENTIFY THE POLICY FOR THE RISK MITIGATION FUND, AND THOSE ARE THE MEETINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED WE HAVE HAD, AS OF TODAY, FIVE MEETINGS, BECAUSE THERE WAS A MEETING HOSTED EARLIER TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL MEETINGS BEFORE COMING TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE IN JANUARY.
AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF JANUARY FOR THAT.
THE NEXT STEP FOR THAT STAFF AFTER WE PRESENT THIS ITEM IS TO LOOK AT THE LARGER DISPLACEMENT ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE UNDERTAKING AN IMPACT DISPLACEMENT ASSESSMENT.
THE SCOPE OF THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW AS WE RAMP UP THE DRAFT OF THE RISK MITIGATION POLICY, THAT'S THE $1 MILLION FUND.
AND THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT IS NEXT FOR THAT STAFF.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: AND THAT STUDY WILL BE COMPLETED, THE IMPACTS UNDERSTOOD BEFORE ANY PROGRAM RENEWAL?
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED LARGER ATTENTION IS BECAUSE PEOPLE KEEP SAYING ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER THAT WE HAVE GIVEN TAX INCENTIVES TO LUXURY APARTMENTS THAT NOBODY CAN AFFORD.
TELL ME HOW WE'RE GOING TO PREVENT THAT UNDER THESE PROGRAMS.
>> AND SO IN THIS PROGRAM, IN THE NEW POLICY WE ARE STATING THAT ANY PROJECT THAT IS FOR SALE FOR OVER $360,000 WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE INCENTIVES.
AND THAT 360 MAY ADJUST OVER YEARS, BECAUSE IT'S IN LINE WITH THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT YOU CAN GET IN AN FHA LOAN.
NOW, THIS WOULD PREVENT PROJECTS LIKE THE ARTIST RESIDENCE FROM GETTING INCENTIVES.
SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS WILL ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
NOW, WE ALSO PLACE A CAP ON THE RENTAL LEVEL THAT A PROJECT CAN HAVE IN THEIR PROJECT.
SO IF YOUR PROJECT IS RENTING, ON AVERAGE, AT 275 A FOOT OR GREATER, YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE INCENTIVES FROM THIS POLICY.
SO EXAMPLES THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM THE POLICY TODAY WOULD BE THE SELLER'S PROJECT AT PEARL OR THE FLOODGATE, WHICH IS ON COMMERCE ON THE RIVER.
[01:20:01]
RENTING AT NORTH OF $3 A FOOT AND THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE THESE INCENTIVES.NOW, WE ALSO PLACED SOME PROTECTIONS IN THERE.
SO IF A PROJECT RECEIVES INCENTIVES TODAY AND THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE AT 268 A FOOT.
AND NEXT YEAR THEY GO TO 285 A FOOT, WE WILL RECAPTURE THE ENTIRE INCENTIVE.
AND THAT WILL STAY IN PLACE FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
NOW, IF THEY EXCEED THAT 275 ADJUSTED RATE AFTER FIVE YEARS THEN WE WOULD CANCEL THE REBATE AND THEY WOULD STOP RECEIVING THE REBATE.
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS WE HAVE A COMPLETE RECAPTURE PERIOD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: I'LL SAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS LIKELY FOR TOMORROW.
BUT, AGAIN, THIS PROGRAM, THESE PROGRAMS WILL PROBABLY BE THE MOST MONITORED PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY HAS EVER UNDERTAKEN JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR HIGH-PROFILE NATURE.
AND THE PRIORITY WE PLACED ON AFFORDABILITY BUT ALSO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION.
YOU KNOW, OFTEN I ASK WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS.
FIRST OPTION IS WE COULD SIT WHERE WE ARE NOW AND CONTINUE TO STUDY.
SECOND OPTION, DO NOTHING, ESSENTIALLY.
SECOND OPTION WOULD BE WE COULD REVERT BACK TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE, WHICH IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND THE THIRD OPTION WOULD BE WE MOVE FORWARD ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS AN EXCELLENT POLICY, A PROGRAM.
AND, TO ME, THE THIRD OPTION IS BY FAR THE MOST COMPELLING BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE REVITALIZATION OF THE URBAN CORE BUT PROVIDES FOR A MORE CLEARLY-DEFINED POLICY THAT PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT AND WHERE DISPLACEMENT OCCURS, PROVIDE PROGRAMMING AND RELIEF.
ADDS AFFORDABILITY COMPONENTS TO PROGRAMS THAT ONCE DID NOT HAVE THEM.
AND CCHIP NOW AGAIN LEVERAGING AFFORDABILITY.
AND THEN THE THIRD IS DIRECTLY INSTITUTING PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR AND ADDING RESOURCES TO THEM.
OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB NEEDS RESOURCES.
NOW, THAT IS BAKED INTO THE CCHIP POLICY.
WE DON'T LOSE ANY MORE OF OUR HISTORIC STOCK THAT'S DESIGNATED AND THAT NEEDS HELP TO GET PRESERVED.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, AIDING IN SMALL BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH.
YOU KNOW, LORI, WE ASKED YOU TO COME UP WITH A POLICY, MAKE REVISIONS, LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS AND IMPACTS -- CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD.
AND I SEE NOTHING BUT ANSWERS TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND SO I'M CONFIDENT IN MOVING FORWARD.
DO I THINK WE HAVE A PERFECT POLICY? I DON'T THINK SO.
DO I THINK ONE EXISTS? I DON'T THINK EITHER.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AS CLOSE AS WE CAN HOPE FOR UNTIL WE GET MORE DATA THAT WILL TAKE US QUITE SOMETIME TO GET, YEARS AFTER WE SEE DEVELOPMENT BASED ON THESE POLICIES.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMMENTS AND THE QUESTIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE TOMORROW.
THANK YOU, LORI FOR THE PRESENTATION.
VERONICA, FOR ALL YOUR WORK, VERO AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO THE COMMUNITY WHO'S MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD, AND TO ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS BEING A PART OF THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MAYOR NIRENBERG BECAUSE UP UNTIL THE POINT WHERE WE PUT A PAUSE AND ASKED FOR THIS MORATORIUM AS A COUNCIL, THERE WAS NO SUNSET ON THIS CCHIP, WAS THERE? WE WERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ON THE WAY IT WAS? OR --
>> VIAGRAN: AFTER HOW MANY YEARS?
>> SCULLEY: THERE WAS A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.
SO WE WERE -- IT WAS COMING UP ON REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN OVER THE PAST YEAR.
>> VIAGRAN: SO THAT WAS SCHEDULED EVEN LATER THAN BEFORE?
>> JUNE OF 2018 IS WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REVIEWED.
>> VIAGRAN: SO I THINK WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THAT WE SAW AND WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE A PAUSE AND LOOK AT THIS AGAIN SOONER THAN BEFORE.
AND I THINK WHAT'S ALSO VERY PRUDENT RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE'RE PUTTING TWO YEARS INTO THIS.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT WE'RE DOING LETTERS AND SOME E-MAILS FOR SOME RESIDENTS
[01:25:02]
REGARDING SOME QUESTIONS OF THE CCHIP, IN PARTICULAR.AND SO I DID WANT TO ASK SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
I THINK, LORI, YOU HAVE ADDRESSED THEM IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I WANT TO ASK THEM SO YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AGAIN.
ONE OF THEM IS FROM A RESIDENT, PRESIDENT OF A HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION, LIZ TRAINOR.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS WE NEED TO HAVE A STUDY AND THAT NEEDS TO BE -- WE SHOULDN'T PASS THIS UNTIL THIS IS STUDIED FURTHER.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE?
>> SO WE'VE ALREADY DONE TWO STUDIES, AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY AND THEN AN ASSESSMENT STUDY OF THE CCHIP POLICY.
THOSE WERE DONE BY STEVE NIVIN AS WELL AS TXP OUT OF AUSTIN.
NOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING ANOTHER STUDY, WHICH WILL BE LED BY VERO SOTO AT HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
THAT STUDY WILL LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF AN AREA THAT IS EXPERIENCED A LOT OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT TO LOOK TO SEE HOW THAT HAS IMPACTED THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO VERO WILL BE UNDERTAKING THAT STUDY IN 2019, WHICH WILL HELP INFORM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY THAT SHE IS WORKING ON AND WILL DEVELOP AND PRESENT TO COUNCIL IN SUMMER OF 2019.
ANOTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT DISPLACEMENT AND WANTING TO KNOW THE DANGER OF PEOPLE BEING DISPLACED.
COULD YOU AGAIN REITERATE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH -- THE MAYOR MENTIONED THE INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT BUT ALSO THE DISPLACEMENT, THE DIRECT DISPLACEMENT AND THE RISK MITIGATION FUND THAT IS BEING WORKED ON AS WELL.
>> FIRST I WANT TO STRESS THAT THE CCHIP WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY PROJECT THAT IS DISPLACING RESIDENTS.
NOW VERONICA SOTO IS WORKING WITH HER TEAM ON DEVELOPING A DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY THAT WILL USE THE RISK MITIGATION FUND THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2019.
COUNCIL CHOSE TO ADOPT A MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP WITH THE DISPLACEMENT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.
NOW, SHE'LL COME FORWARD TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE IN EARLY 2019 WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT STRATEGY THAT WILL LOOK AT HOW THEY ADDRESS PROJECTS THAT ARE INCENTED FROM THE CITY, HOW THEY SHOULD ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT, HOW AREAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING RAPID NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE SHOULD THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THREAT OF EVICTION OR HOMELESSNESS AS A PHASE TWO OF THAT STRATEGY.
THAT WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL IN EARLY 2019.
I HAVE RECEIVED OTHER LETTERS, I THINK MANY OF US HAVE THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A TEMPLATE.
AND I WANTED TO ASK SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT ARE HERE.
AND THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT SPECIFIC CONCERNS ARE OF THE FOLLOWING REGARDING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
COULD YOU PUT THE ON THERE THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE CONTINUED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE AND CONCERN THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF THESE POLICIES HAVE NO SAY IN HOW THESE PUBLIC DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SPENT.
>> WE HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETINGS.
WE HAD STAFF AT THOSE MEETINGS, WE WERE LISTENING TO THOSE CONCERNS, AND WE HAVE A REPORT THAT DOCUMENTS THOSE CONCERNS.
SO THAT'S ONE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ATTENDING THOSE REGIONAL CENTERS, PRIMARILY THE ONES AT BROOKS AND DOWNTOWN AND LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS THERE.
SO WE HAVE ENGAGED THE PUBLIC THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS.
WE HAVE ALSO MET WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LEADERS AND WENT TO SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS REQUESTING INPUT.
AND WE HAVE INCORPORATED THAT INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED IN THOSE MEETINGS.
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS GOING TO THE DIGNOWITY HILL AND GOVERNMENT HILL WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
INITIALLY WE HAD PROPOSED THAT WE PROHIBIT ANY PROJECT THAT RECEIVES CITY FEE WAIVERS AND CCHIP INCENTIVES FROM GETTING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT.
WE HAD RESIDENTS THERE THAT SAID THAT IS HOW I MAKE ENDS MEET.
I RENT A ROOM OUT IN MY HOME ON AN AIRBNB AND THAT'S HOW I MAKE MY MORTGAGE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH, OKAY, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO PROHIBIT THOSE PROJECTS FROM GETTING CCHIP INCENTIVES IF THEY WERE GETTING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT FOR A TYPE TWO PROPERTY.
AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE WOULD TALK TO RESIDENTS, THEY WOULD GIVE US SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.
[01:30:01]
WERE ALSO ONE OF THOSE.AND ALSO THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN THAT IF YOU DESIGNATE A PROPERTY, THEIR PROPERTY VALUES COULD GO UP.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE, AS PART OF OUR DEFINITION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, YOU CAN TAP INTO THAT FEE WAIVER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DESIGNATED, YOU JUST NEED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BE DESIGNATED AND YOU WILL BE TREATED AS IF YOU ARE DESIGNATED.
BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT DESIGNATION FOR FEAR YOUR PROPERTY VALUES WOULD GO UP, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
WE LISTENED TO A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS.
WE ALSO LISTENED TO A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THE NONPROFIT HOUSING PROVIDERS THAT ARE BUILDING THE PRODUCT.
REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MODEL AND WHAT TYPE OF INCENTIVES THEY NEED.
AND SO ALL OF IT WAS INCORPORATED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
THERE IS MORE TO DO AND VERO SOTO AND HER TEAM WILL DO THAT THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY AND THE DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY.
DO YOU HAVE THE SLIDE WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND OR THE RISK MITIGATION FUND? AND HOW MUCH IN DOLLARS -- YOU HAD A SLIDE ABOUT THE DOLLARS OF HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BE GOING INTO THIS FUND.
AND SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT THE OVERALL GOALS IN THE TEN-YEAR PLAN AND LOOKED AT WHAT PROJECTS WE KNOW THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE.
AND THEN WORKED WITH VERO AND HER TEAM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECTS THEY'LL BE WORKING ON WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND WE FEEL OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE COULD INCENT UP TO 5,000 HOUSING UNITS AS A RESULT OF THIS POLICY.
NOW, IF ALL 5,000 WERE TO BE COMPLETELY TAXABLE, THEN THAT COULD PRODUCE UP TO $1.1 MILLION ANNUALLY.
AND YOU'D SEE THAT MONEY COME TO THE CITY FOR THE FUND IN PROBABLY YEAR THREE OR YEAR FOUR.
ANOTHER QUESTION IS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS.
IT SAYS THE AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THE PROPOSED POLICIES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT AND DO NOT ALIGN WITH THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE TASK FORCE REPORT.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT AGAIN, PLEASE?
>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS FUND IS A TOOL THAT WILL BE USED TO HELP PROVIDE THAT GAP FINANCING NECESSARY TO HELP PRODUCT AT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
THAT IS THE AREA WE NEED THE MOST.
60% AMI OR BELOW IS THE AREA THAT THE HOUSING TASK FORCE FOCUSED ON WHEN IT CAME TO RENTAL.
SO THE FUNDING COMING FROM THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP THAT.
NOW ALSO IN THE TIER THREE OR LEVEL THREE AREAS, WE'RE STATING THAT 20% OF THEIR PRODUCT WOULD BE AT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
SO WE HAVE ALIGNED IT WITH THAT POLICY.
AND THEN IN TIER TWO, AT LEAST 10% MUST BE AT 60% AMI OR BELOW.
SO WE HAVE ALIGNED IT WITH THE NEEDS.
AND THEN FOR SALE PRODUCT, WE SAW THE NEED IS FOR 60% TO 120% AMI FOR THE FOR SALE PRODUCT.
AND THAT IS THE DEFINITION TO GET THE FEE WAIVERS FOR THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
>> VIAGRAN: SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION, IN PARTICULAR, I'M GOING TO BRING UP THIS APARTMENT BECAUSE I ALWAYS BRING UP THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX.
AND SO THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE AS OF RIGHT ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH CCHIP INCENTIVES?
>> NO, THEY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CCHIP PROGRAM.
IF THERE WERE TO BE INCENTIVES AS A RESULT OF THAT PROJECT BEING DEVELOPED, IF IT WERE EVER TO BE REDEVELOPED, THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN ONE LAST THING ON THIS.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT STUDY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO DO AND WORK WITH IS CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATURES AND OUR STATE LEGISLATURES WHEN IT COMES TO THE APPRAISAL OF OUR PROPERTY APPRAISALS AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT IN OUR -- IN THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR CITY.
WE KNOW PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO TAKE PLACE IN MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS.
WE NEED TO HAVE THIS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE TO HAVE A PROTECTION OF THE LEGACY HOMEOWNERS AND THE GENERATIONAL HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE BUILT AND CREATED THE CHARACTER AND IDENTITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
[01:35:02]
THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR GENERATIONS ARE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE AND NOT APPRAISED OUT OF THEIR AREA EITHER.SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
ON THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM, I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INCENTIVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO COME IN INTO CERTAIN AREAS TO HELP INJECT THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT WHERE WE NEED.
I THINK OF ONE PARTICULAR PARCEL IN THE DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL STORY, BUT THEY WERE OUTSIDE OF THE ICRIP BOUNDARY BY TWO STREETS.
AND SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT.
BUT NOW, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HIT ALL OF THESE PARAMETERS, THEY COULD BE A GREAT ASSET INTO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE THAT STABILITY HERE.
BUT WHAT I DO HAVE CONCERN ABOUT AND WHAT I MENTIONED TO BOTH YOU, LORI, AND VERONICA IS SPECIFICALLY ON OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB AND THESE -- THAT TYPE TWO WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM ANY CITY FEE WAIVER.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE OWNER-OCCUPIED? PEOPLE MOVE INTO A HOUSE, STAY THERE TWO, THREE YEARS AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO SELL IT.
THEY TAKE THE -- THEY LIVE THERE TWO OR THREE YEARS.
THEY GET THE INCENTIVES AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
WHAT SAFEGUARDS OR PARAMETERS DO WE HAVE IN ORDER TO KNOW THE TAXPAYERS DIDN'T JUST PUT THE FEE WAIVERS IN FOR THOSE TWO OR THREE YEARS.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE VERONICA SOTO SPEAK TO THE REHAB AND RECON PROGRAM AND HOW WE'LL MANAGE THAT.
>> SO FOR THE OWNER-OCCUPIED PROGRAM, WE HAVE PROVISIONS.
SO FAMILIES ARE SUPPOSED TO LIVE IN THE HOME TEN YEARS.
IF THEY DO NOT, THEY HAVE TO REPAY THE INVESTMENT THE CITY MADE IN REHABBING THEIR HOME.
SO WE HAVE THAT CLAW BACK PROVISION.
IF THE HOLD IS SOLD, THEY HAVE TO REPAY AS WELL.
>> VIAGRAN: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLARIFY WHATEVER -- BRING CLARITY FOR ME AND END ANY CONFUSION THAT ARE THERE.
VERO, I HAVE ONE MORE -- I'M SORRY GETTING YOU UP UP AND DOW.
ONE MORE THING I HAVE IS THIS IS BEING PRESENTED BY CCDO AND OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
YOU ARE OVER OUR HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
SO ARE YOU ALSO -- ARE YOUR DEPARTMENT AND YOUR AREA -- Y'ALL ARE RECOMMENDING THIS POLICY MOVING FORWARD AS WELL?
>> THIS IS GETTING US A LOT CLOSER TO MEETING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE'S ALIGNMENT WITH THE TASK FORCE.
SO, YES, WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK OF CCDO.
>> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN I HAVE SOME MORE OR IF I NEED SOME MORE CLARIFICATION POINTS I WILL BE SURE TO BRING THEM UP TOMORROW.
AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN VERY THOROUGH AND VERY THOUGHT FORWARD.
AND WE ARE -- I THINK THE TWO YEARS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A PARAMETER THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR ME SO WE CAN RELOOK AT THIS OVER AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO -- LORI, I SHOULD APOLOGIZE.
I HOPE NOBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO ME DURING YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT BUT MY WIFE AND I GOT A NEW ALARM CLOCK A MONTH AGO AND IT HAS NO SNOOZE BUTTON.
[LAUGHTER] YOU GAVE ME NO WARNING, SHIRLEY.
BUT, NO, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND IT, EVEN AS IT'S CHANGING AS RECENTLY AS MAYBE TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN YOU CAME TO OUR COMMITTEE AND WE SAID, HEY, WE STILL NEED SOME REFINEMENTS.
CAN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT MAKING A FEW EDITS AND ADJUSTMENTS.
AND YOU HAVE AND YOU'VE COME AND YOU'VE PRESENTED THOSE TO US.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE DOING THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU CAN IN TERMS OF TAKING SOME MARCHING ORDERS FROM POLICYMAKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE SOME OBJECTIVES ON THIS.
LET ME TAKE A STEP BACK TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE WE STARTED, HOW WE GOT HERE, AND IN 2012
[01:40:03]
WHEN WE KICKED OFF CCHIP, WHEN WE KICKED OFF THE HOUSING FIRST, I WANT TO MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT.WE DON'T -- YOU SHOULDN'T APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT, WHICH IS IN 2012 POLICYMAKERS SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE, WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE HOUSING COME INTO DOWNTOWN.
WE SET THAT ORDER TO OUR CITY STAFF TO EXECUTE ON THAT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO USE IN TRYING TO SAY, HEY, WE WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT OR WE WANT IT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY.
WE DIDN'T PUT THOSE PARAMETERS IN 2012 TO ASK FOR THINGS LIKE AFFORDABILITY, LIKE WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
YOU KNOW, IT IS NOW A DIFFERENT TIME, SIX YEARS LATER.
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR A FEW DIFFERENT PARAMETERS.
AND I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MOST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THAT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN 2012, WE WANTED TO SEE HOUSING STARTS AND HOUSING CONSTRUCTION.
WE DIDN'T DISTINGUISH AND DISCRIMINATE TO SAY WE WANTED AFFORDABILITY.
BUT LET ME JUST MAKE SURE TO SAY SOME OTHER THINGS.
WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE SET A GOAL.
WE WANTED TO SEE 5,000 UNITS BEING BUILT, NEW UNITS BEING BUILT IN DOWNTOWN.
THEN WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AFTER GETTING A RESEARCH GROUP IN THAT'S TOLD US, HEY, LOOK, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HIT A SERIOUS INERTIA TO ALLOW THE MARKET TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF AFTER A CERTAIN POINT, YOU WILL BUMP UP THAT NUMBER TO 7500 NEW UNITS IN DOWNTOWN.
I STILL BELIEVE WE SHOULD TRY TO MARCH TOWARDS 7500 UNITS IN THE DOWNTOWN.
AND WE'RE 800 UNITS AWAY FROM THAT.
SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE VERY FAR AWAY.
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, HERE'S MY REQUEST TO THE MAYOR.
AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
WHAT WE TURNED ON IN 2012 WAS CCHIP.
IT WAS ABOUT THREE THINGS, IN MY MIND.
IT WAS ABOUT SPEED, PREDICTABILITY, AND IT WAS ABOUT EFFICIENCY FOR PRIVATE MARKETS SO THEY WOULD SAY TO US, LOOK, WE WOULD LOVE TO BUILD IN DOWNTOWN.
WE WOULD LOVE TO SATISFY YOUR POLICY OBJECTIVES AND TRY TO REINVIGORATE THE URBAN CORE BUT THERE ARE BARRIERS, NAMELY THAT EVERYBODY WHO OWNS LAND DOWN THERE, WHETHER IT'S A PARKING LOT OR AN OLD ABANDONED STRUCTURE, THEY WANT TO HOLD OUT FOR A HOTEL.
SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ACQUIESCE AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER, AS A RESPONSE, SPEED AND PREDICTABILITY.
THAT'S WHAT THE AS OF RIGHT WAS.
ONCE WE TURN THIS ON IT'S STILL GOING TO PROVIDE SPEED AND PREDICTABILITY, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHEN WE'RE VETTING THIS.
ONCE WE TURN THIS ON IT WILL GO QUICKLY.
WHETHER IT HAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR INTENDED CONSEQUENCES IT WILL BE HARD TO PULL BACK BECAUSE THE SPEED AT WHICH IT MOVES, AS HISTORY HAS TOLD US, IS QUICKER THAN WE CAN COME BACK AND TAKE EVALUATION.
AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAWKISH IN EVALUATING AS QUICKLY AND ADJUSTING, I THINK IT'S GOING TO MOVE SO QUICKLY THAT WE'VE GOT SUCH A BACKLOG OF FOLKS THAT WANT TO DEVELOP IN THE DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE QUICK ON AND HAVE A TON OF SPEED ON IS THE VETTING PROCESS FOR THIS.
AGAIN, AS OF THREE WEEKS AGO WE GAVE YOU A DIFFERENT SET OF INSTRUCTIONS AND YOU CAME BACK TO US WITH A PROPOSAL.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'VE TALKED TO THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR APPETITE FOR NOT THIS CITY COUNCIL TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE COMPLICATED NATURES OF EACH SLIDE.
BECAUSE EACH SLIDE COULD GO INTO A VERY LONG DISCUSSION OF A COMPLICATED NATURE, BUT SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD ALSO GET THEIR HANDS AROUND IT.
I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS WELL FOR US TOO.
I ACTUALLY DO THINK, WITH EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT THIS, AND I HAVE STUDIED IT AS BEST I CAN, THAT WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO A POLICY THAT MEETS OUR OBJECTIVES.
YOU'VE GIVEN US SOME GUARDRAILS FOR LUXURY.
I'M GOING TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AMI AND LUXURY PRODUCT.
FOR THE MOST PART YOU'RE DOING INCENTIVES BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT GOING TO INCENTIVIZE LIKE WE USED TO.
BUT A FEW OF THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS WE HAVE REQUESTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
AND I'M UNDERSTANDING IT AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT I THINK THE GOLD STANDARD IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AS WELL TOO.
SO I'D LOVE TO SEE US NOT TAKE THIS VOTE TOMORROW WOULD BE MY REQUEST.
I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO AT LEAST GO FORWARD AND TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT GETTING SOME PUBLIC
[01:45:01]
ENGAGEMENT.AND I SAY THAT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF WRITING ON THIS ISSUE.
THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE LAST MONTH BUT I THINK SOME PUBLICATIONS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT CCHIP.
SOME PUBLICATIONS HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THE ICRIP, THAT IT'S EXPANDING.
BUT EVEN IF YOU WERE THE SHARPEST STUDENT, THE A PLUS STUDENT IN SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THREE OR FOUR WEEKS TO REALLY CONSUME THIS.
IT WOULD BE WORTH OUR TIME GOING OUT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS A POLICY THAT MOVES WITH PRETTY DILIGENT SPEED.
BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT INTENTIONALLY MAKING THE SPEED TO MARKET AND PREDICTABILITY IMPORTANT TO FOLKS WHO WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.
SO THAT'S MY REQUEST BEFORE I GET INTO A FEW QUESTIONS.
SO HERE'S ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, LORI.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS.
BACK WHEN WE FIRST DID THE STUDY ABOUT WHAT THE MARKET RATE WAS FOR SQUARE FOOT IN DOWNTOWN IN 2012.
IT WAS MUCH LOWER THAN IT IS TODAY.
I THINK WE ARE ABOVE $2 A SQUARE FOOT.
WHEN DO WE REALLY ACHIEVE THAT ESCAPE VELOCITY.
CCHIP WAS IMPORTANT FOR A TIME PERIOD NOT FOR PERPETUITY.
WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION ON WHAT THAT ESCAPE VELOCITY IS? IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE GIVING US SOME SENSE WITH 275.
>> THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE $1.70 TO $2 A FOOT.
WE ARE NOT AT A COMPLETE AVERAGE AT $2 A FOOT FOR OUR HOUSING PROJECTS YET.
NOW, WE HAVE PLUGGED IN 275 FOR A FOUR-STORY STICK-BUILT HOUSING PROJECT.
WE KNOW AT THAT LEVEL WITH THE LAND PRICES AND CONSTRUCTION PRICES IT CAN SUPPORT A PROJECT.
NOW, IT CAN'T SUPPORT HIGH-RISE, BUT IT CAN SUPPORT A FOUR-STORY PROJECT.
AND SO THAT'S HOW WE KNOW THE 275 WORKS.
BUT WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR AN AVERAGE OF $2 A FOOT ACROSS THE CITY.
>> SALDANA: IF WE DID GET TO 275 IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS WE WOULD BE OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF INCENTIVIZING MARKET RATE DOWNTOWN? WOULD THE MARKET CARRY ITSELF?
HOWEVER, WE NEED TO REEVALUATE IT.
WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
CONSTRUCTION PRICES COULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE OR THEY COULD STABILIZE.
THAT'S WHY I'M IMPORTANT FOR US TO REEVALUATE THIS AUDIO] LOOK AT THE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL COME ONLINE IN THE NEXT NINE TO 15 MONTHS.
LOOK AT THEIR OCCUPANCY LEVELS.
LOOK AT THEIR RATES AND THAT WILL GIVE US THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN TWO YEARS.
>> SALDANA: IF WE TURN THIS BACK ON, WHICH I PREDICT WE WILL AT SOME POINT, WHETHER IT'S TOMORROW OR NEXT MONTH.
BUT WHEN WE DO AND WE ACHIEVE 7500 UNITS ON THE BOOKS AND PLANNED, WHAT THEN? DO WE REEVALUATE? IF I WERE TO MAKE A PROPOSAL, I WOULD ALMOST PROPOSE THAT ONCE WE GET TO OUR LIMIT OF 7500 THAT WE GO BACK TO A COUNCIL-VETTED INDIVIDUAL CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
I MAKE THAT ARGUMENT BECAUSE IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE EACH ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE REVIEWED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, SOME THAT WE HAVE LIKED AND DIDN'T LIKE HAVE A UNIQUENESS TO IT.
BECAUSE OF THAT UNIQUENESS IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THIS COUNCIL SHOULD BE PART OF THE OLD WAY OF DOING IT WHICH TAKES A LITTLE LONGER, I GRANT YOU THAT, BUT IT IS A CASE-BY-CASE COUNCIL DO YOU APPROVE THIS AS A PROJECT GOING GUARD.
>> SCULLEY: MAYOR, COULD I COMMENT ON THAT AND GIVE LORI A BREAK, WHO IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB FIELDING QUESTIONS.
THE 7500 GOAL CAME OUT OF OUR SA 2020 EFFORT WHERE HOUSING WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY IN ONE OF THE 11 KEY AREAS.
>> SALDANA: DO I RECALL IT WAS 5,000 THEN WE MADE AN ADJUSTMENT TO 7500.
>> SCULLEY: WE DID A STRETCH GOAL.
WE SET A STRETCH GOAL TO 10,000.
BUT, REMEMBER, THE WHOLE IDEA THERE WAS FOCUSED AT THAT TIME ON MARKET RATE.
TRYING TO BRING MARKET RATE HOUSING TO THE CENTER CITY.
AND BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS MORE EXTENSIVELY NEEDED IN TERMS OF UPGRADE.
BUT, YES, THE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER THAT.
YOU COULD AND YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE 7500, PERHAPS 10,000 AT WHATEVER POINT THE COUNCIL DECIDES FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE DID AS OF RIGHT -- YOU KNOW I WASN'T A TRUE BELIEVER IN THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
WE TALKED ABOUT SHOULD IT BE ON A CASE-BY-CASE OR AS OF RIGHT.
AND WE WERE CONVINCED, AS WE STUDIED OTHER BEST PRACTICES IN
[01:50:01]
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GIVEN SIMILAR DOWNTOWN VALUES, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY NEEDED SOME CERTAINTY.IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.
AND AT THE WHIM OF WE LIKE THIS PROJECT, WE DON'T LIKE THIS PROJECT.
THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR CRITERIA SO THAT THEY COULD PLAN AHEAD.
IT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO ASSEMBLE LAND, TO REMEDIATE, TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT AND TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF INVESTMENTS.
SO THE AS OF RIGHT WAS IN THIS FIRST PROGRAM FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
BEFORE WE WERE DOING HOUSING PROJECTS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND EVERY ONE WAS DIFFERENT.
THAT IS SANTA CLAUS COMING THROUGH.
>> SALDANA: YOU MIGHT WANT TO MOVE YOUR LOCATION.
LET'S HAVE A MAINTENANCE PERSON -- YES.
WAS THE EMPHASIS OF THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME.
THAT IS, HOW DO WE PREDICT SOME CERTAINTY SO THAT DEVELOPERS, AS THEY LOOK FOR THOSE -- AND THERE ARE MANY RIGHT NOW, LORI, SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGES WHERE THEY'RE HAVING CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF ABOUT LAND AND PURCHASE AND DO THEY GO INTO AN AREA.
BUT PART OF THAT PLANNING MEANS THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS WITHIN WHICH THEY CAN CONSIDER THIS INVESTMENT.
SO IT'S TO BE DISCUSSED, BUT CERTAINLY SHOULD BE DISCUSSED, AS YOU OUTLINED.
>> SALDANA: BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE IS NOT ONLY MADE A COMMITMENT AND STUCK TO IT AROUND OUR ORIGINAL CCHIP.
WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN JUST ABOUT ACHIEVING OUR GOAL AT 6800.
THAT'S WITH A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM.
YOU, MAYOR, AND A FEW OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL THOUGHT TO STOP AND PUT A PAUSE ON IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD BE FULLY PROUD OF WHAT WE SAW AT THE END OF THAT IF WE DIDN'T PUT SOME GUARDRAILS ON IT.
WE DO KNOW SOME PROJECTS THAT DON'T LOOK GOOD ONCE YOU REALLY START TEASING APART WHAT IT IS THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY INCENTIVIZING.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO AS OF RIGHT, THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO -- I'M TRYING TO GET AFFORDABILITY IN THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT BACK ON AND, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN THE DOWNTOWN IS STILL GOING TO GO AFTER THE FIRST BITES OF MARKET RATE PROJECTS.
SO HOW DO I GET AFFORDABLE PROJECTS IN FRONT OF LINE IN TERMS OF THEY'RE MORE LURING, THEY'RE EASIER TO TAKE ON? AND I THINK MAYBE WHEN WE GET TO 7500 UNITS COULD YOU CONSIDER A PROPOSAL WHERE THE ONLY AS OF RIGHT ARE AFFORDABLE PROJECTS OR MIXED INCOME WITH AFFORDABILITY?
>> THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS WE DO HAVE 6800 PROJECTS THAT WILL RECEIVE CCHIP INCENTIVES.
NOW, THAT MEANS THEY ARE EITHER ONLINE, UNDER CONSTRUCTION, OR IN THE PLANNING STAGES.
IN THE RECENT PAST THREE MONTHS WE HAVE HAD PROJECTS THAT HAVE DROPPED OUT.
THAT INCLUDES THE CALSON BROCK ACROSS FROM CITY HALL.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HOUSING.
THEY COULD NOT GET THEIR INCENTIVES SO WE TERMINATED THEIR CCHIP.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD THE HEADRICK BUILDING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HOUSING.
IT'S 6800 PLANNED, BUT PROJECTS ARE DROPPING OUT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET THEIR FINANCING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE WILL HAVE 6800 PROJECTS ONLINE.
SOME OF THEM COULD STEP BACK, ASK THAT THEY HAVE MORE TIME TO GET THEIR FINANCING.
NOW, SHERYL HAD MENTIONED WE HAD A 10,000 STRETCH GOAL.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE WE HAD 13,000 HOTEL ROOMS AT THE TIME OF THE CCHIP ADOPTION.
WE WANT TO BE IN BALANCE WITH OUR HOTEL UNIT COUNT IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
AND SO WITH 10,000 HOUSING UNITS IN ADDITION TO THE 3300 THAT WE ALREADY HAD, THAT WOULD BRING US IN BALANCE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT PRIMARILY A HOTEL MARKET IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
BECAUSE THAT HOTEL MARKET IS WHAT'S DRIVING LAND PRICES AND IT'S WHAT'S DRIVING THE TYPE OF RETAIL.
THERE'S RETAIL IN DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S NOT THE TYPE OF RETAIL THAT WOULD SUPPORT SOMEONE LIVING DOWNTOWN.
YOU STILL HAVE TO GET IN YOUR CAR TO GO TO A GROCERY STORE, TO BUY THOSE THINGS THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
AND SO UNTIL WE HAVE THAT BALANCE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ACHIEVE THE TYPE OF RETAIL MIX THAT WE NEED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS BE A HOTEL MARKET.
[01:55:02]
GOAL WAS PUT IN PLACE.>> SALDANA: I'LL JUST PERSONALLY SAY I DON'T KNOW IF I'M CONVINCED THAT WE SHOULD GET TO 10,000 AND STILL BE PART OF THE INCENTIVE PROCESS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD GET TO 10,000, BUT 7500 IS PROBABLY WHERE I MIGHT SAY I GET OFF THE TRAIN IN TERMS OF POLICYMAKERS AND INCENTIVES STILL BEING A PART OF THE GROWING PROCESS.
I WOULD SAY IF YOU GET TO 10,000, 7500 IS UP TO THE POINT THAT THE CITY HELPS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT TO GET TO 10,000 IS REALLY THE PRIVATE MARKET.
BECAUSE MY HOPE WOULD BE AFTER SIX, SEVEN YEARS YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THE MARKET IN THE DOWNTOWN.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK I'M SEEING WHEN I LOOK AT THE TRENDS OF THE GROWING PER SQUARE FOOT THAT YOU COULD COMMAND A BIT MORE.
AGAIN, YOU'LL COME BACK TO ME AND TELL ME BUT THERE'S STILL SOME ISSUES WITH HOTEL PRICES.
THERE'S STILL SOME ISSUES WITH THE UNIQUENESS OF SOME CITY BLOCKS.
AGAIN, LET ME SET ASIDE CCHIP, BECAUSE I THINK I UNDERSTAND IT PRETTY WELL.
I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS IT AS WELL TOO AS MUCH AS I THINK THEY CAN IF WE OFFER THEM A BONE AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE TIME AND MAYBE OFFER THEM ANOTHER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETING.
BUT LET ME TALK ABOUT THE ICRIP AND NOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE CITY'S FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
2010 WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF ICRIP.
I THINK YOU WERE AROUND THEN, LORI.
TELL ME AGAIN WHY IT BECAME TO BE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BECAUSE I HAVE MY OWN IDEA AS TO WHY WE DEVELOPED ICRIP IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO JUST TELL ME WHY WE HAVE ICRIP.
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE EFFORTS THAT CAME OUT OF THE EAST SIDE SUMMIT PLANNING MEETINGS THAT WERE LED BY THEN-COUNCIL MEMBER TAYLOR.
IF WE COULD PROVIDE WAIVERS OF THEIR FEES THAT HELPS STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND SAVES FUNDING, BUT ALSO HELPS THEM ACCELERATE AND WORK THROUGH THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND IT WAS APPLIED TO AN 84 SQUARE MILE AREA.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LARGER AT THE TIME.
WE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL, I BELIEVE, IN 2013 TO RIGHT SIZE IT TO 84 SQUARE MILES TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LOW EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, HIGHER POVERTY RATE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF ENFORCEMENT ISSUES IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT AREA.
WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM IT.
AND A LOT OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDES BENEFIT FROM IT.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, THEY CAN BUILD ABOUT 45 TO 55 HOMES ANNUALLY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO USE THOSE FEE FEE WAIVERS, WHICH HELPS THEM BUILD MORE HOMES.
IT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL, BUT IT CAME OUT OF THAT 2010 EAST SIDE PLANNING SUMMIT.
>> SALDANA: HERE'S WHY I'M HOPEFUL FOR A LITTLE MORE TIME ON THIS ISSUE, ON BOTH OF THEM.
I'M HOPEFUL FOR MORE TIME BECAUSE I THINK WHEN PEOPLE START TO GET THEIR HANDS AROUND THE CCHIP AND CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM ITS INTENDED OBJECTIVE TO WHAT INDIRECT CONSEQUENCES IT MIGHT HAVE.
I WAS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION TO EXPAND ICRIP.
BECAUSE I WANTED ICRIP IN MY DISTRICT.
AND AT THAT TIME THERE WAS EVEN A COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT 10 THAT SAID I WANT IT IN MY DISTRICT UP AND DOWN AUSTIN HIGHWAY AND PERRIN BEITEL.
WE HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT SAY, HEY, LOOK, HOW COME MY SIDE OF TOWN DOESN'T GET THE AMENITIES THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN GETS? THEY HAVE NEW THEATERS, RESTAURANTS, BUILDING NOW HOUSES.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE US A SHOT? I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES ECHOS A GREAT DEAL WHO GETS INVESTMENT AND WHO DOESN'T, WE LOOKED AT ICRIP AS A WAY TO SAY WE EXIST TOO ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WE WANT SOME DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HOMES, BECAUSE WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT TELL US THEIR STUDENT POPULATION IS DWINDLING.
SO YOU CAN ACHIEVE SOME IMPORTANT GOALS WITH ICRIP BECAUSE IT TELLS FOLKS WHO ARE BUILDING HOMES OR MAKING INVESTMENTS IN BUSINESSES OR THE CVSS OF THE WORLD, YOU NAME IT, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MY CONSTITUENTS WANT THAT DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DRIVE TO THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.
THEY SAY WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THEM IN OUR BACKYARD? WE THOUGHT ICRIP WOULD BE PART OF THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD GATHER PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND SAY WE WANT SOME DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I IMAGINE HAPPENED IN 2010 WHEN THE EAST SIDE SUMMIT EXISTED AND WE SAID WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THE FREDERICK ICE BUILDING TURNED INTO SOMETHING OTHER THAN A VACANT STRUCTURE.
THERE ARE SOME POSITIVE COMPONENTS TO THE ICRIP.
BUT IF YOU'RE ONLY THINKING ABOUT GETTING SOME INVESTMENT YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WHICH IS WHAT I THINK FOLKS WHO ARE HERE LISTENING IN ON THIS ISSUE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT THAT HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF INVESTMENT.
BECAUSE FOLKS REALLY DO WANT SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN THEIR
[02:00:02]
OWN BACKYARD AND DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TRAVEL TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.I THINK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FEE WAIVER PROGRAM CAN BE A VERY GOOD THING IF USED APPROPRIATELY.
YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S ONLY FOUR REAL REASONS IT'S GOING TO EXIST.
THE PURPOSE FOR ITS EXISTENCE IS GOING TO BE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB, HISTORIC REHABILITATION AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
IF I HAVE A WOMAN WHO OWNS A TAX SERVICE BUILDING AND SHE WANTS TO TURN IT INTO AN EXPANDED OPERATION, SHE COULD TAP INTO THE ICRIP.
>> IF YOU HAD A WOMAN WHO OWNED A WHAT?
>> SALDANA: SHE DOES TAXES FOR FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, SHE WANTS TO BUILD OUT AUDIO]
>> THEY HELP DEVELOP THE SMALL BUSINESS COMPONENT OF THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
SO ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WE DID AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR IS BIFURCATE THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM AND THE SMALL BUSINESS OFFICE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THAT PORTION.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST YEAR, COUNCILMAN, TO DEVELOP THAT AND HAVE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAM.
WE CREATED A TIER PROGRAM IN WHICH SMALL WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE AT, WOULD RECEIVE THOSE FEE WAIVERS.
>> SALDANA: AS PART OF THE ICRIP, THERE'S GOOD THINGS TO HOLD UP AS PART OF THIS AMENDED CCHIP.
THE QUESTION FOR ME IS NOT WHETHER I THINK IT'S A GOOD POLICY, I THINK IT'S A GOOD POLICY, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE WE TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON IT.
I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT WITHOUT SOME SHOT CLOCK TELLING US WE NEED TO TAKE IT ON BY TOMORROW.
SO WITH THAT, MAYOR, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TIP IT BACK TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDANA.
AND I HOPE NOT TO NECESSARILY REPEAT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF GREAT POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF RECENT CHANGES TO THIS POLICY.
BUT I THINK THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GETTING THAT FEEDBACK AND YOU'RE INCORPORATING IT INTO THIS POLICY.
SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT CCHIP -- WHAT I THINK CCHIP IS, WHAT IT DOES AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE CORE AND TO OUR CITY, FOR THAT MATTER.
OF COURSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE DON'T WANT LARGE PARCELS OF LAND IN DOWNTOWN TO CONTINUOUSLY LIE VACANT.
AND THIS IS A GREAT POLICY TO HELP BRING PROJECTS TO OUR CORE.
AT THE HEART OF THIS IS HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BUILD IN DOWNTOWN.
AND I'M GOING TO LIST A COUPLE OF THINGS OF ADDITIONAL COST BURDENS OF DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S HDRC REVIEW PROCESS TIME, YOU HAVE TO GET PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION, DESIGN DRAFTS FOR PARKING, ET CETERA.
APPROPRIATE HIGHER COST MATERIALS TO CONFORM WITH THE GUIDELINES AND OVERLAYS.
IMPROVEMENTS OF AGING SAWS LINES, IMPROVEMENTS OF AGING STREETS, IMPROVEMENTS OF CPS LINES.
HIGHER COST OF STREET CLOSURE NEEDS FOR DOWNTOWN STREETS.
TIME COST FOR STREET CLOSURE, WINDOWS AVOIDING CONFERENCES OR CONVENTIONS, FIESTA, BROWNFIELD LITIGATION, HIGHER LAND VALUES, REZONING COSTS, PARKING MITIGATION OR SHARED PARKING AGREEMENTS, PID FEES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, AND STABILIZATION OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES.
BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT, AGAIN, THE OTHER KEY POINT TO MAKE IS THAT DENSITY'S GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE AND IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT WE DETERMINED THAT AS A CITY THAT WE SHOULD BE IN REGIONAL CENTER AREAS ADJACENT TO TRANSIT AREAS, AND DOWNTOWN ABSOLUTELY EXEMPLIFIES THIS.
AND SO WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DENSITY AND DOWNTOWN IS A GOOD PLACE AND A GOOD OPTION.
I ALSO WANT TO MAKE THE CASE, AS WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, I HEARD MY COLLEAGUES TALKING ABOUT WHY WE'RE INCENTIVIZING THIS AND THE OVERALL VALUE OF THESE PROJECTS.
WE'VE GOT TO THINK BIG PICTURE AND THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY HELPING TO MITIGATE A LOT OF THE
[02:05:02]
SPRAWL.HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT TO BUILD ALL THESE CONNECTIONS OUT TO THE OUTER AREAS WHERE THE CITY KEEPS EXPANDING? YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW THE SAN ANTONIO/AUSTIN AREA IS GOING TO BE KNOWN AS A MEGAOPLIS, NOT A METROPOLIS.
I REJECT THE NOTION THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLAN, THIS IS A GREAT PLAN.
AND INVESTING IN THE CORE IS A SMART APPROACH.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO TOOK TIME TO LOOK OVER THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THERE WERE SOME KEY POINTS RIGHT IN HERE.
AND I WOULD POINT OUT -- YOU CAN SEE THERE'S PLENTY OF THEM -- BUT PAGE 23 WE TALK ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY FOR VULNERABLE AREAS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT.
AND, OF COURSE, ON THE NEXT PAGE CAUTIONING OUR OVERSPENDING.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT YOU THINK THAT'S EXACTLY -- IF WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE INCENTIVES BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUT A GREAT CITY WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS OVERSPEND.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS PUT SOMETHING DOWN THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ANYBODY, FOR THAT MATTER.
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ABOUT WASTEFUL SPENDING OR OVERSPENDING, IN SOME WAYS.
SO I JUST WANT US TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE INCENTIVE PACKAGES.
LORI, JUST TO REITERATE, WE CARVED OUT 25% OF THE REBATES TO HELP ADD TO A FUND FOR AFFORDABILITY.
AND I THINK THAT IS A BIG STEP AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO HELP OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE SUITED FOR STABILIZING STRUCTURES, HELPING NEIGHBORHOODS CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE ENTIRE AFFORDABLE STRATEGY FOR OUR CITY.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO ASK -- AND MAYBE VERO DID MENTION THIS.
BUT THE DISPLACEMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT, HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
>> THEY ARE WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW AND IT WILL BE COMING BACK TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE IN LATE JANUARY/EARLY FEBRUARY, AND THEN CITY COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY/MARCH TIME-FRAME.
>> TREVINO: THE REASON I SAY THAT BECAUSE ONE POINT YOU MADE IS YOU WILL BE EVALUATING THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE EVALUATING THIS?
>> WELL, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THE OCCUPANCY LEVELS OF THE MARKET RATE HOUSING THAT COMES ONLINE.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERSATURATING THE MARKET FOR PRODUCT THAT THERE ISN'T DEMAND FOR.
AND SO THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON FLORES.
AND THAT'S THE SOUTH FLORES LOFTS AND THE PROJECT WAS FORMERLY THE HERITAGE PLAZA.
THOSE WILL BE COMING ONLINE IN THE NEXT YEAR.
WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THEIR RENTAL RATES, LOOKING AT THEIR OCCUPANCY RATES, REALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW DEEP THE MARKET IS.
WE'LL BE DOING THAT WITH ALL THESE PROJECTS COMING ONLINE AND THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR EVALUATION.
AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING THAT TO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE, MOST LIKELY THE COMPREHENSIOMVE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON AT LEAST AN ANNUAL BASIS, IF NOT MORE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING EVERYBODY UP TO DATE ON OUR MONITORING.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH NONPROFIT PROVIDERS.
WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT DEVELOPING A SURVEY THAT WE ASKED PEOPLE TO UPDATE MONTHLY THAT ARE EITHER DEVELOPERS, HAVE A NONPROFIT OR FOR PROFIT, AND ALSO DEVELOPING A SURVEY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY FEEL THE CCHIP IS WORKING AND HOW IT'S EITHER BENEFITING OR IMPACTING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> TREVINO: AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT STEP, AND MAYBE WE CAN PROVIDE SOME KIND OF A TIMELINE OR EVEN A CALENDAR SO PEOPLE CAN ANTICIPATE THAT INFORMATION COMING OUT.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WANT TO BE INCLUDED.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
IF WE CAN MAYBE CREATE A TIMELINE, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
SO SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST ASKED BEFORE I WALKED IN HERE WAS, YOU KNOW, THIS NOTION THAT FIVE STORIES AND ABOVE IS VERY DIFFERENT WHY, LORI? WHY IS FIVE STORIES DIFFERENT?
>> IF YOU GO ABOVE FIVE STORIES YOU'RE CHANGING THE MATERIALS OF YOUR PROJECT.
YOU'RE NO LONGER A STICK-BUILT PROJECT, YOU'RE GOING TO STEEL AND CONCRETE, WHICH ADDS COST TO THE OVERALL PROJECT.
>> TREVINO: AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG POINT I WANT TO MAKE.
THIS IS SOMETHING -- THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN
[02:10:01]
ANTICIPATE AND A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE.I WOULD POINT OUT WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF HARVEY ALONG THE COAST AND THAT CREATED A LOT OF SPIKES IN OUR CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
WE LOST A LOT OF LABOR IN THE AREA.
AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S JUST THE MARKET FORCE ITSELF.
I THINK WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY PREDICT WHAT THOSE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE GOING TO BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S SUCH A BIG NATURAL DISASTER SO CLOSE TO US.
YOU ALSO POINTED OUT SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF STABILIZATION OF AREAS.
AND THAT'S YOU COMPARE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TO HOME OWNERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHY IS THE GOAL TO HAVE MORE HOME OWNERSHIP IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO?
>> WELL, IF YOU PROVIDE MORE HOME OWNERSHIP OR RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES, THAT BRINGS MORE DISPOSABLE INCOME TO AN AREA THAT HELPS US BRING THE SERVICES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALSO ARE DOMINATED BY HOTELS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT 14,000 HOTEL ROOMS IN THE DOWNTOWN AND SURROUNDING AREA.
UNTIL WE CAN INCREASE OUR HOUSING SUPPLY, WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS BE A HOTEL MARKET, WHICH WILL DRIVE LAND PRICES AND ALSO DRIVE THE TYPE OF RETAIL THAT YOU'LL SEE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
>> TREVINO: AND I THINK HOME OWNERSHIP HELPS TO STABILIZE AREAS.
WE'VE SEEN THAT THERE'S PROTECTION FOR HOMESTEADS, AND SO I THINK THAT ALSO ADDS TO THAT BALANCE.
ON PAGE 34 YOU TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'LL BE DOING.
AND I WOULD POINT TO THAT SLIDE BECAUSE IT REALLY OUTLINES WHAT I THINK IS AN ENGAGED APPROACH.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TALKING WITH AS MANY COMMUNITIES AS POSSIBLE.
AND, AS THE MAYOR SAID, IT'S NOT A PERFECT POLICY BUT IT'S A STEP FORWARD.
AND I THINK THAT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY AND YOU'VE RESPONDED IN MANY WAYS TO HELP HAVE THIS POLICY BECOME SORT OF PART OF AN OVERALL EFFORT THAT I THINK THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE ENDORSES THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO TACKLE IT FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THIS POLICY CURRENTLY HAS A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST WAITING FOR THIS TO BE DONE.
ONE OF THEM IS THE ALAMO GROUP.
AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A GREAT PROJECT THAT THAT HAS FIGURED OW TO CREATE THAT AFFORDABILITY IN A VERY DIFFICULT AREA TO PROVIDE THAT AFFORDABILITY.
YOU KNOW, WE KEEP DOING THIS TYPE OF POLICY WORK FOR A REASON, BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY NOT A SILVER BULLET.
AND, TO THAT POINT, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING AT ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE ARISING, WHETHER IT'S ZONING, WHETHER IT'S DEMOLITION PRACTICES.
WE REVAMPED, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BUILDING STANDARDS BOARD.
FOR THAT VERY REASON WE HAVE ADDRESSED COMPATIBILITY ISSUES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN I THINK MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS POLICY IS GOING TO HELP THE MOMENTUM OF OUR DOWNTOWN AND WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT MOMENTUM IN AUDIO] WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FIVE YEARS LOOKS LIKE FOR THE CITY.
AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.
WE'RE COMPETING ULTIMATELY WITH URBAN SPRAWL.
WE'RE COMPETING WITH THE NOTION THAT YOU CAN BUILD OUT AS FAR OUT AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S NOT AN EFFICIENT WAY FOR A CITY TO RUN.
AND SO, MAYOR, THANKS FOR MOVING THIS FORWARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TOMORROW'S VOTE.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS VERY, VERY WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF THIS ENGAGEMENT.
I HOPE WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOME KIND OF A TIMELINE TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO MAKE THIS AS UNDERSTANDABLE AND RELATABLE AS POSSIBLE.
I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE, FOR
[02:15:01]
EXAMPLE, SPANISH TRANSLATION FOR OUR CITY, BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND HOW IT WORKS AND WHY.UNDERSTANDING THE BIG PICTURE OF WHY THIS IS GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TREVINO.
AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE AND LORI FOR YOUR WORK.
AND I RECOGNIZE THE URGENCY OF HOUSING IN OUR -- IN DISTRICT 5, ESPECIALLY.
THAT'S WHY I DID THE HOUSING PILOT RIGHT AWAY.
I DIDN'T WAIT FOR POLICY DISCUSSIONS OR ANYTHING BECAUSE EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE GETTING DISPLACED BECAUSE THEIR HOUSES ARE FALLING APART.
AND SO I THOUGHT -- I TRIED TO DO SOMETHING URGENTLY AND SO I ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR FOLKS TO HELP ME WITH SOME FUNDING TO CREATE THE HOUSING CENTER.
AND THAT WAS THE PILOT WE ORIGINALLY STARTED SO THERE WOULD BE ONE PLACE TO GO FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THEIR HOUSING OPTIONS WERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID RIGHT AWAY IS WE HAD A HOUSING FAIR.
AND WHAT ROSE TO THE SURFACE OF THE NEED, IN ADDITION TO FOUNDATION REPAIRS AND SORT OF REFITTING HOMES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WAS THE NEED FOR A TITLE CLEARANCE PROGRAM.
AND SO WE SPENT ABOUT $150,000.
WE CLEARED -- I WANT TO SAY 131 TITLES SO THEN PEOPLE COULD GET THE FUNDING THEY NEEDED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO UPDATE THEIR HOMES.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO DO IN MY HOUSING PILOT WAS TO WORK WITH SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPERS.
AND THAT'S FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY INHERITED THE HOME.
IT NEEDED TO BE UPDATED BUT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT -- BUT THEN THEY HAD ACQUIRED THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND SO YOU HAD TWO HOUSES NEXT TO EACH OTHER, NONE OF WHICH WERE LIVABLE.
COULD THEY THEN DEVELOP THAT INTO A SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPMENT? AND I WANTED TO HELP CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE IN THAT SCENARIO AS WELL.
MOST OF THE TIME THEY ALREADY OWNED FREE AND CLEAR THE PROPERTY THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DEVELOP.
SO THOSE WERE WHAT I FELT WERE THE MOST URGENT WAY THAT I COULD HELP MY COMMUNITY WITH THEIR HOUSING NEEDS.
AND SO DO ANY OF THESE THAT WE ARE PRESENTING HERE TODAY ADDRESS THOSE?
>> WELL, THE CITY FEE WAIVER PROGRAM WILL DEFINITELY HELP THOSE HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE UNDER ONE ROOF OR QUALIFY FOR THE OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT DOES, OR ANY OF THE NONPROFIT SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO HELP WITH OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB.
>> GONZALES: BUT IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO INCENTIVES IF THE HOUSE IS ALREADY ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
FOR THE HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY, WHICH IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THAT DENSE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, YOU WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCENTIVES IF YOU'RE DISPLACING RESIDENTS.
OR IF YOU ARE A SINGLE-FAMILY -- ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY.
>> GONZALES: IN THAT SCENARIO THAT I MENTIONED, SO WE HAD -- HE WAS THE OWNER BUT HE DID NOT OCCUPY THE PROPERTY.
HE OWNED TWO PROPERTIES NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
HE'S TRYING TO DEVELOP AND BUILD LIKE A FOUR-PLEX.
>> IF IT IS ZONED SINGLE-FAMILY THEY WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AS OF RIGHT INCENTIVES.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CAN'T HELP THEM THROUGH ONE OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS AND WE'D WORK WITH THEM EITHER TO IDENTIFY PROGRAMS IN THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR WE COULD ALWAYS GO TO CITY COUNCIL AND REQUEST AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR THAT PROJECT.
>> GONZALES: SO ONE OF THE THINGS I DID, I HAD A SMALL DEVELOPER FAIR.
WE MADE IT VERY NARROW AND TARGETED.
WE HAD ONLY ABOUT 11 OR 12 SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPERS.
I HAD MIKE SHANNON GIVE THE PRESENTATION HOW DO YOU DEVELOP.
BUT IN THAT SCENARIO THERE WAS NOTHING AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO DO THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHAT THEIR FEEDBACK WAS IS SIMPLY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO BE DEVELOPERS.
WE'RE NOT HUGE BUT WE DON'T GET ANY INCENTIVES FOR TRYING TO REDEVELOP OUR FAMILY HOMES FOR RENTAL PURPOSES, TO TRY TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL INCOME.
SO I AM TRYING TO, I GUESS, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT PART OF MY SMALL-SCALE DEVELOPER FAIR IS NOT GOING TO BE INCENTIVIZED.
[02:20:02]
AND SO I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I BELIEVE VERY MUCH THAT WE CREATE DENSITY AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DEVELOP OUR OWN COMMUNITIES IS THAT WE HAVE SOME INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR THE KIND OF THING THAT I MENTIONED.THEY ARE GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE JUST BY THE FACT OF THEIR LOCATION.
THE RENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T TYPICALLY -- IN SOME AREAS WON'T -- YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY EVEN THE RENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING $800 FOR A TWO BEDROOM OR THREE BEDROOM.
MAYBE $750 SEEMS TO BE THE GOING RATE IN THE AREA FOR A TWO-BEDROOM OR THREE-BEDROOM, TWO BATH PLACE.
>> IN THAT SCENARIO YOU MENTIONED THERE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CITY FEE WAIVERS AND THE SAWS FEE WAIVERS IF THEY ARE ON A RESIDENTIAL LOT.
>> GONZALES: BUT THEY ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THERE WAS A HOUSE THERE ALREADY.
>> BUT THEY WOULD FOR THE SAWS BUT THEY WOULD NOT FOR THE CITY FEES.
AND SO IF THEY WERE TO DO RECONSTRUCTION OR REHAB, THERE WOULD BE CITY FEES THAT COULD BE WAIVED.
>> GONZALES: SO AND I KNOW THAT THE REHAB FUNDING WAS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
SO I TRIED TO ADD MORE MONEY IN THE OWNER-OCCUPIED PROGRAM, THE LET'S PAINT PROGRAM.
>> SO ALL THOSE, I THOUGHT, WERE IMPORTANT FOR MY DISTRICT AS WE WERE TRYING TO ACT IMMEDIATELY TO HELP PEOPLE THAT WERE GETTING DISPLACED, NOT BECAUSE OF GENTRIFICATION BUT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT LIVE IN THEIR HOMES ANYMORE.
AND EVEN MORE COMMON THAT I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS IS NOT THAT THERE IS THIS RISK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISPLACED, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEIR HOMES ARE NOT -- NO LONGER SUIT THEIR NEEDS BECAUSE THEIR -- THEY WANT TO AGE IN PLACE, BUT TO GET THE HOUSE COMPLETELY REDONE FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT AN OPTION.
IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE, IT'S CHEAPER FOR THEM TO RAISE -- RAZE THE HOUSE AND BUILD A NEW ONE, THAN IT IS FOR THEM TO REDO THE ELECTRICAL, TO REDO THE FOUNDATION, TO DO ALL OF THE NECESSARY -- TO COMPLETELY REDO THE BATHROOMS BECAUSE JUST GIVEN THE EXPENSE OF UPDATING TO WHAT IS THE CURRENT CITY CODE.
AND SO IS THERE SOMETHING FOR THAT PROGRAM?
AND FOR THOSE PROJECTS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES MANAGES THE LEAD-BASED PAINT PROGRAM, THE UNDER ONE ROOF PROGRAM, SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, IF YOU ARE RECEIVING INCENTIVES THROUGH ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS, YOU ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THESE TYPE OF INCENTIVES.
SO CITY COUNCIL IN THE PAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET, 2019, YOU ALL ALLOCATED $6.5 MILLION FOR OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB.
SO THAT PROVIDES AN ELIGIBLE RESIDENT, IF THEY'RE AT THE 80% AMI LEVEL OR BELOW, AND THAT PROVIDES THEM $75,000 IN A FOR FORGIVABLE LOAN FOR REHAB AND $90,000 IN RECONSTRUCTION.
THEY CAN WORK WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES TO GET ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM, IT IS A LOTTERY SYSTEM, AND THAT'S SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS ALLOCATED THIS YEAR WILL HELP 81 HOMES.
SO WE DID HAVE, YOU KNOW, QUITE A BIT OF SUCCESS WITH THE PROGRAM AND, IN FACT, THERE WAS ALWAYS THE DESIRE FOR MORE OF THAT KIND OF A PROGRAM.
I'M HOPING WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THAT FT I KNOW WE'VE SEEN A BIG SHIFT IN OUR BUDGET FOR THAT KIND OF FUNDING, BUT IT IS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE THERE ARE JUST SO MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IN THOSE PARTICULAR SCENARIOS.
>> HOUSTON: IN THE 25% INCREMENT THAT'S BEEN USED TO SUPPORT THAT 60% AMI, THAT COULD BE USED WHEN VERONICA'S WORKING ON HER AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY, THAT COULD BE USED TO DO MORE HOMES.
SO ADD TO THAT $6.5 MILLION TO HELP WITH OWNER/OCCUPIED REHAB.
>> GONZALES: SO WHAT ABOUT THE MILLION DOLLARS, THERE'S THIS CONCERN OF DISPLACEMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S CAUSING A LOT OF THE DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S THIS POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT, IT'S THAT PEOPLE CANNOT LIVE THEIR NOW.
SO CAN THAT MILLION DOLLAR DISPLACEMENT BE USED TO -- FOR THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED, PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING TO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE?
>> HOUSTON: ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE RISK MITIGATION FUND? NO, THAT WAS APPROPRIATED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND IT WAS DEDICATED TO HELP WITH DISPLACEMENT ISSUES, AND THAT
[02:25:01]
WILL BE COMING FORWARD TO YOUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE IN LATE JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY.>> GONZALES: BUT ONLY IN THE EVENT THAT THEY'RE GETTING DISPLACED FOR A NEW PROJECT.
>> SCULLEY: WELL, THAT'S THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS WE DEVELOP IT, BUT AS WE BRING IT FORWARD TO THE COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL, WE'LL ADJUST THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THEY COME FORWARD FOR APPROVAL.
BUT THE ORIGINAL INTENT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE HOUSING TASK FORCE AND WHAT WE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AS PART OF THE BUDGET WHEN WE RECOMMENDED THE 1 MILLION AS PART OF THE BUSINESS PLAN YOU-ALL ADOPTED WAS INTENDED FOR THE PURPOSE THAT LORI DESCRIBED.
AND SO THAT'S AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, BUT I JUST FEEL BECAUSE I DO HAVE THAT PRESSURE IN THE COMMUNITY VERY OFTEN, I'M APPROACHED BY A CONSTITUENT WHO SAYS THEY CAN'T LIVE IN THEIR HOME ANYMORE, BECAUSE OF THE FACTORS THAT I MENTIONED OF NOT -- IT NOT BEING WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, FOR THE MOWN DAITION -- FOUNDATION JUST CAUSING TOO MUCH TO REPAIR.
AND JUST GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THE NEED OF THE HOME THAT THEY CANNOT LIVE THERE.
SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IMMEDIATELY, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS, BUT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, OUR RESOURCES ARE LIMITED.
AND SO WE TRY TO PUT THEM IN THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED THEM MOST, AND THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD THE MOST NEED IN MY COMMUNITY IS FOR THAT KIND OF DISPLACEMENT.
I GUESS THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD REGARDING THE -- SO JUST AS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, I'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO ALL OF THEM, BUT I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PRIORITIZE FOR A CORE PROJECT IN THE 9% TAX CREDIT, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE ALACON APACHE HOUSING.
IT'S OVER 70 YEARS OLD, IT'S IN GREAT NEED OF DISREPAIR, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REDO ALASON OVER THE YEARS THROUGH 9% TAX CREDIT IS BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE NEED IS SO GREAT THAT WHEN THERE'S COMPETING PROJECTS IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY VERY COMPETITIVE 9%, AT LEAST AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT ALASAN DOESN'T GET POINTS FROM THE STATE BECAUSE WE'RE TOO POOR, THE AREA'S TWO PLIGHTED AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE TOO BAD.
SO IF THERE ARE NO COMPETING PROJECTS IN THE CORE, THEN MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDO ALASAN, AND SO I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT PLEASE PRIORITIZING THIS AS A CITY, THAT WE PRIORITIZE THIS BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY LARGE AREA OF PUBLIC HOUSING WHICH IS AT 30% AND BELOW, 700 PLUS UNITS OF PUBLIC HOUSING, WHICH IS 30% AND BELOW CONSIDERED PUBLIC HOUSING, OR AT WHAT POINT ARE WE IN THAT RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN GREAT NEED?
>> HOUSTON: SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, VERO.
THE QUESTION IS IS 30% AMI OR BELOW CONSIDERED PUBLIC HOUSING? YES, FOR SAHA THAT IS.
>> GONZALES: AND SO IS THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE THAT HAVE THAT LEVEL OF PUBLIC HOUSING INVESTMENT BEYOND A PROJECT LIKE ALASAN.
>> HOUSTON: WELL, THE MUSEUM REACH LOFTS PROJECT THAT WAS JUST APPROVED BY COUNCIL RECENTLY THEY ARE ANTICIPATING CCHIP INCENTIVES WITHIN THIS NEW POLICY.
THIS POLICY WILL HELP WITH THAT, AND IT DOES HAVE 30% AMI OR BELOW UNITS.
NOW, THIS SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR LAYERING, SO AS VERO IS WORKING ON THE STRATEGY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY WILL LOOK TO IDENTIFY PROJECTS TO SEE WHICH PROJECTS WE WANT TO SUPPORT A 9% TAX CREDIT DEAL AND LOOK AT LAYERING ON THE CCHIP AND LOOK AT USING OTHER TOOLS LIKE THE INNER CITY SERVICE FUND OR TIRZ, AND THAT'S SIMILAR FOR WHAT WE DID IN THE MUSEUM REACH.
>> GONZALES: AS I UNDERSTAND IN THE MUSEUM REACH ONLY ABOUT 10% WERE AT 30.
AND THEN IT KIND OF SCALED UP FROM THEM.
I THINK ALASAN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD HAVE -- THEY STILL -- THE ALASAN LOFTS WOULD HAVE ONLY 30% -- I'M SORRY, 10% AT 30, BUT THE WHOLE REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD THEN HOPE TO BRING THE REST OF IT ALONG.
ONCE WE HAD ONE THAT WAS PRIORITIZED, I HOPE WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
I'VE TALKED TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES BUT NOT ALL ABOUT MAKING THAT A CITY PRIORITY SO WE CAN GET THAT REALLY DEEP AFFORDABILITY THAT I THINK WE NEED.
SO -- AND I MENTION THAT, FIRST OF ALL, TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES AND TO ASK THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF
[02:30:03]
ALASAN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S -- THE EXTENT OF THE NEED THEY I'M TALKING AT AT 30% AND BELOW, AND A CASE-BY-CASE ANALYSIS VERSUS A CITYWIDE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, LORI, HOW POSSIBLE IS IT THAT THESE KIND OF INCENTIVES WILL GIVE US MORE OF THE 30%?
>> HOUSTON: AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO IT SPEAKS TO THE LAYERING OF THESE INCENTIVES.
AND FOR THE $17.05 MUSEUM REACH LOFT PROJECT.
>> GONZALES: ARE THERE ANY OTHER OTHERS HEUNS --
>> HOUSTON: WE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE SAN JUAN APARTMENTS, IT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE DEFINITELY IF IT'S WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR WITHIN ONE OF THOSE REGIONAL CENTERS.
AND THEN WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS ALL THE TIME TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THESE PROJECTS WORK.
BUT AN AS OF RIGHT INCENTIVE TOOLKIT TYPICALLY ISN'T APPROPRIATE OF A PROJECT THAT HAS THAT LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY.
IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL AND WE'D HAVE TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE SPECIFIC TO THAT THAT WOULD HAVE LAYERS OF INCENTIVES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MUSEUM REACH LOFT PROJECT, OF THAT $17.5 MILLION PROJECT, THERE WERE ABOUT 13 TO 14 INCENTIVES TO MAKE THAT PROJECT WORK.
>> GONZALES: I MENTION THAT, BECAUSE AS I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU AND TO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, I'VE ONLY HAD TWO PROJECTS STARTED AND COMPLETED IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S ANY OTHERS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE COMPLETED IN MY TERM, THAT WOULD BE EIGHT YEARS, WHICH MEANS THAT IN EIGHT YEARS WE WOULD ONLY HAVE HAD TWO PROJECTS STARTED AND COMPLETED IN DISTRICT 5, IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT, NOT JUST THE NEAR WEST SIDE, THE NEAR SOUTH SIDE, BUT THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
>> GONZALES: AND WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAD THIS MORNING A PRESENTATION WITH THE HOUSING PROJECT ON GENERAL MCMULLEN THAT WAS A REDO OF SOME HOUSEING, THAT IS EQUALLY NECESSARY BECAUSE AS THE DATA SHOWS IN MY DISTRICT, 70% OF THE HOUSING IS -- WAS BUILT BEFORE 1960, SO ALL OF OUR HOUSING IS OLD FOR THE MOST PART.
MOST OF THE HOUSES THAT WE HAVE, OR A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF THEM, WERE BUILT BEFORE 1960, AND SO AS WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO MOVE TO THE DISTRICT, PEOPLE TO -- NOT JUST TO MOVE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PEOPLE TO STAY, IS THAT THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO WHEN THERE IS NOT ENOUGH NEW HOUSING.
AND SO WE WANT TO -- I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE I DO THINK THIS PROVIDES SOME CONTINUITY, SO IF THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE STARTING TO DO A PROJECT, THAT THEY COULD COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO THAT IT NOT TAKE SO LONG BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN STARTED AND NOT COMPLETED.
THERE HAVE BEEN PROJECTS THAT WERE ANTICIPATED AND THEN FOR WHATEVER REASON DIDN'T GO THROUGH, AND NOT BECAUSE OF THE CITY BUT BECAUSE OF A VARIETY OF REASONS, USUALLY FINANCING.
AND MY CONCERN ABOUT THE FINANCING IS THAT IT JUST TOOK TOO LONG TO GET THE PROJECT STARTED, AND SO BY THE TIME THEY WERE READY TO BREAK DOWN, BY THE TIME THEY GOT THROUGH ALL THE INCENTIVE PROCESS AND GOT THROUGH ALL THE APPROVAL PROCESS AND DID EVERYTHING THEY NEEDED TO DO, THEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING ANYMORE.
AND SO WE HAVE HAD MORE PROJECTS FAIL -- I HATE TO SAY FAIL, NOT STARTED OR NOT COMPLETED THAN WE'VE HAD ACTUALLY COMPLETED IN THE LAST SIX YEARS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS NOT A PERFECT POLICY, I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO INCENTIVIZE ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE CORE.
PART OF IT IS PARKING, AND THAT CAME UP IN ANOTHER ONE OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, IS THAT REALLY THE EXPENSE OF PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN IN THE PROJECT THAT WE DISCUSSED, IT WAS A $55 MILLION PROJECT AND I CAN'T THINK OF WHERE.
OH, THAT'S IN MY NOTES FOR THE PFC.
IT WAS A PFC PROJECT, IT WAS IN THE NEAR DOWNTOWN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUSEUM REACH NOW THAT I THINK OF IT, $55 MILLION, 7 MILLION OF IT PARKING.
AND WHEN I ASKED WHY ARE WE INCENTIVIZING PARKING, WHY ARE WE -- WHY IS THIS PART OF AN
[02:35:05]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT, IF IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE LIVING THERE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE AT 30% AMI, DON'T HAVE A CAR, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT? AND THE RESPONSE WAS THE INVESTORS WILL REQUIRE THAT LEVEL OF PARKING.AND SO I ASKED IS THAT JUST FOR SAN ANTONIO THAT THEY REQUIRE THIS LEVEL OF PARKING OR IS THAT A NATIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE X NUMBER OF DOLLARS OF PARKING FOR A HOUSING UNIT, AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH NATIONWIDE.
SO WE, PERHAPS CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS WHY WE'RE INCENTIVIZING PARKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND COULD WE TAKE THAT OUT, BUT THEN MAYBE IT CREATES AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL AND WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THAT -- THOSE POLICY DECISIONS, BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED HERE ON THE COUNCIL.
I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TALKING ABOUT WHY WE SUBSIDIZE PARKING, ESPECIALLY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AT SOME POINT.
WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW MANY MORE AFFORDABLE UNITS COULD WE DO IF WE WEREN'T SPENDING 20% OF THE PROJECT SUBSIDIZING PARKING? ESPECIALLY WITH THE MILLENNIAL GENERATIONS SAYING THEY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ANYMORE, BUT SENIORS SAYING ALSO THEY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ANYMORE.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD WORK ON.
SO I THINK IT'S NOT A PERFECT POLICY.
I THINK I'VE POINTED OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK FOR THE URGENCY OF JUST MOVING THINGS ALONG, THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REAL DEVELOPMENT IN MY DISTRICT EXCEPT JUST TWO PROJECTS, THEN, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE SOME CONTINUITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING OUR CITY AND GROWTH, AND THAT WE HAVE BALANCED GROWTH.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS IF WE HAVE HOUSING OPTIONS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN GONZALES, WE DO HAVE SOME HARD STOPS FOR SOME COUNCILMEMBERS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE HEARING THIS MORNING.
SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ANSWERED ALREADY, LET'S MOVE THEM ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
I WANT TO -- I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT I KNOW YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE DONE.
THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GONE INTO REEVALUATING THIS, AND VERO'S STAFF, TOO.
I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF OBSERVATIONS.
ONE IS, WHEN I SEE THE CHANGE IN THE ICRIP, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT/INFILL POLICY, I LOOK AT THE MAP THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED AND THE ONE THAT'S ESTABLISHED NOW, AND AT THE SAME TIME I LOOK AT CCHIP AND I LOOK AT LEVEL 3 AS BEING AN ADDITIONAL AVENUE FOR CCHIP APPLICATION, I START THINKING IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO SIMPLY BYPASS THE INNER CITY FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF ICRIP.
I DON'T THINK IT'S THE ORIGINAL GOAL OF CCHIP EITHER, BUT CERTAINLY BY EXPANDING THESE AREAS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE ICRIP INCENTIVES OR CCHIP INCENTIVES, YOU'RE REALLY SKIPPING THE VERY HEART OF THE AREA YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, SHIRLEY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT AREA CAN SIMPLY BE SKIPPED BECAUSE OTHER AREAS WILL NOW QUALIFY FOR THOSE KIND OF INCENTIVES.
SO I JUST FEEL THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
I'M A NEIGHBORHOOD GUY, AND TO ME, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
BUT WITHIN ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK A BIG ISSUE IS AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL OF US.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WHOLE CCHIP DISCUSSION IS REALLY ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING.
AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD A BIG DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THE HUD GUIDELINES OR THE CENSUS TRACK, SAN ANTONIO AMI GUIDELINES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEST SUITED FOR OUR POPULATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A REAL BACK AND FORTH WITH MYSELF ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE AMI'S AROUND $50,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, BUT WITHIN THE COUNTY AND GOING ALL THE WAY USING NEW BRAUNFELS IN THAT HUD AMI, IT'S MORE LIKE 64, $65,000.
AND SO THEN WHEN WE START SAYING, WELL, 80%, WELL, 80% OF THAT COUNTY A MI IS ALMOST
[02:40:01]
HIGHER THAN WHAT OUR TOTAL AMI IS FOR THE CITY.AND SO WHEN WE SAY WE'RE OFFERING 80% AND IT'S AFFORDABLE WE KNOW IT REALLY ISN'T AFFORDABLE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WHO HAVE TO GET BY ON THAT 50,000 AMI.
HALF OF THOSE PEOPLE, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM, ARE LIVING BELOW $50,000 A YEAR.
AND HOPEFULLY HALF OF THEM ARE LIVING ABOVE THAT, THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE ARRIVE AT THAT MIDDLE FIGURE.
SO NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVES THAT ARE AT 80% OF THE HUD AMI.
AND ARE THEY REALLY AFFORDABLE? A WHILE AGO, WE TALKED ABOUT -- I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING IS CONSIDERED 80% DOWN TO 60.
AND THEN IT'S AFFORDABLE FROM 60 DOWN TO WHATEVER BELOW THAT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT APPLES AND ORANGES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I STILL DEBATE OVER AS WE GO THROUGH THESE THINGS.
NOW, I DON'T WANT TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE REMAINING AND LIVING AT LOW INCOME LEVELS, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING WHEN I SAY WE SHOULD BE INCENTIVIZING 50%, OR 40% OR 30%.
NO ONE WANTS TO REMAIN IN A LOW INCOME SITUATION FOR THEMSELVES.
WE HOPE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO RAISE THEMSELVES ABOVE THAT, BUT WHEN WE'VE GOT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIVING AT THOSE ECONOMIC LEVELS, WE NEED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T THINK THESE PROJECTS ARE -- THESE PROPOSALS ARE REALLY HITTING WHERE WE NEED THAT MOST HELP.
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE, AND I'VE HEARD IT SHARED BY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS IS THE DISPLACEMENT ISSUE.
AND IT'S DISPLACEMENT NOT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE'S BUYING A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED INTO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, BUT IT'S RAISING THE VALUE OF OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE AREA AND LITERALLY DRIVING SOME PEOPLE OUT.
AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND I KNOW WE'VE SET ASIDE A MILLION DOLLARS TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SOMEWHAT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS AS WE DO THIS IMPACT STUDY ON DISPLACEMENT, I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A HISTORICAL VIEW OF THIS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO DETERMINE HOW HAS CCHIP IMPACTED THE DISPLACEMENT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND NOT JUST SAY, WELL, LET'S LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S THE POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT BOTH WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS WELL AS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE A POLICY THAT WILL REALLY WORK, AND HISTORY TELLS US A LOT.
SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO INCORPORATE THAT.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO BRING IN A THIRD-PARTY PERSON, BECAUSE WE HERE LOOK AT IT FROM THE INSIDE, AND I'M WONDERING IF WE DON'T NEED A CONSULTANT WHO HAS DONE SOME OF THIS WORK AROUND THE COUNTRY TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND HELP US RECOGNIZE BETTER WHAT OUR DISPLACEMENT PROBLEMS AND NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE.
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE, AND IT'S A QUESTION, WHY INCENTIVIZE ANY PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PRODUCING ONLY MARKET RATE PROPERTIES NO MATTER HOW TALL THEY BUILD THEIR BUILDING? WE'RE SAYING WHEN YOU GET TO FIVE STORIES, IT GETS MORE EXPENSIVE.
YES, BUT IF THEY BUILD IT SIX OR SEVEN OR EIGHT OR NINE OR 10, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BECOMES EVEN LESS EXPENSIVE IN THE LONG RUN IF THEY PUT IN ALL MARKET-RATE PROPERTIES, THEY SHOULDN'T NEED ANY INCENTIVE TO BUILD THAT, YET WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING 10-YEAR INCENTIVES, YOU KNOW, AND, YES, WE'RE SAYING 25% OF THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO PUT INTO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND, BUT THE OTHER 75% WE COULD USE FOR A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IF SOMEBODY'S BUILDING MARKET RATE AND THEY'RE BUILDING SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, STORIES OR THEY'RE BUILDING -- I DON'T CARE HOW TALL THEY GET, I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE SELLING OURSELVES SHORT AND WE'RE NOT -- WE DON'T NEED TO SUPPORT PRIVATE MARKET DEVELOPMENTS.
THEY CAN JUST BUILD TALLER SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD MORE UNITS AND MAKE ALL THE MONEY THEY NEED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER IN THIS OVERALL PLAN, AND THAT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
AND WE'RE KIND OF SAYING LET'S INCENTIVIZE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND INNER CITY DEVELOPMENT, BUT
[02:45:01]
WE STILL HAVEN'T COME UP WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION PLAN.WE'VE GOT A ROUGH SKETCH, BUT WE'VE GOT CONNECT SA THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING US DEVELOP THAT PLAN.
ARE WE MAYBE GOING TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S GET ALL THE HOUSING SET UP AND THEN WORK OUT THE TRANSPORTATION? OR ARE WE GOING TO SAY -- WHICH I THINK WE ARE, THESE ARE AREAS OF TRANSPORTATION WE WANT TO GO IN, SO IS THE HOUSING THAT WE'RE INCENTIVIZING GOING TO FIT IN THERE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING? AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
AS WE DEVELOP OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE CLIMATE, WITH THE AIR QUALITY.
IS PART OF THIS ALSO BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE CCHIP AND ICRIP PLANS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT? I JUST HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS IN MY MIND AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE PROGRAM, THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT NOW, IS REALLY ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
>> BROCKHOUSE: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND I'LL JUST TRY TO MAKE THIS BRIEF.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE, LET'S GET GOING.
I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE VOTE THIS OUT TOMORROW AND LET'S TURN THIS BACK ON.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE MESSAGE WE'RE SENDING WITH THE LACK OF ACTION.
I THINK THIS THING'S BEEN VETTED WELL, I THINK YOUR TEAM AND YOU -- ESPECIALLY A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS ON -- NOT NECESSARILY DECREASING DOWNTOWN, BUT SPREADING THIS EVERYWHERE, RIGHT, LIKE OPENING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY PIECE OF SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT? AND THEN RELYING ON -- THE BIGGEST THING THAT ALWAYS CONCERNED ME IS WE WOULD TRY -- WE'RE TRYING -- THE ANSWER TO OUR SOCIAL CHALLENGES ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, NOT USING THEM TO GET TO THE MARKERS AND GOALS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ALL OF US, AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US WANT TO ANSWER THIS HOUSING SITUATION 100%.
IN DISTRICT 6, WE'RE WIDE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
WE'RE PUTTING IN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMES, WITH EVE GOT A CESAR CHAVEZ DEVELOPMENT COMING IN, WE'RE DOING THE WORK THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIPS.
WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC KIND OF MINI PEARL COMING IN, CALLED YARD 111, IT'S GOING TO BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON POTRANCO ROAD THAT'S GOING TO CREATE ITS OWN NODE OF HUMANITY, IT'S TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED, MIXED USE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.
SO WE'RE DOING THINGS, RIGHT, THAT ARE TRYING TO MEET THE LARGER GOALS.
FROM THE BEGINNING, MY WHOLE IMPETUS WITH THIS THING IS LET'S DO MORE AND LET'S OFFER THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
I THU 82 WENT BACK AND YOU -- I THINK YOU WENT BACK AND YOU DID YOUR HOMEWORK OVER -- HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? ALMOST A YEAR, RIGHT, AND YOU KEPT COMING BACK AND YOU KEPT REFINING IT, I THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN TO A GOOD POINT.
AGAIN, DO I THINK IT'S PERFECT? NO, ONLY BECAUSE I WANT TO DO MORE.
WE'RE WELL PASSED THE READY, FIRE, AIM, MENTALITY.
THE QUICKER WE CAN VOTE THIS, LET'S SEND A MESSAGE TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LET'S GET WORKING TOGETHER WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD THESE INCENTIVES WHETHER IT'S DOWNTOWN OR NOT.
AT THE MAX, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 7500 UNITS, REALLY? WE HAVE A 250,000 UNITS SHORTAGE ACROSS THE CITY AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE 7500 DOWNTOWN.
AND I HAD TO LEARN, AND YOU HELPED ME THROUGH THIS, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO PIECES TO IT.
THE AFFORDABLE PIECE ISN'T NECESSARILY APPLIED TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH DOWNTOWN, THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD DOWNTOWN THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP FOR THE FUTURE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING, WE ALL OWN A PIECE OF THAT.
IT IS THE SMALLER PIECE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE LARGER PICTURE OF SAN ANTONIO WHICH IS ANOTHER 242,500 UNITS, AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO JAM THEM IN TO EIGHT STORY UNITS DOWNTOWN IN THE ORIGINAL 30 SQUARE MILE OF SAN ANTONIO.
NO, WE'RE GOING TO DO THEM ON HIGHWAY 90, CULEBRA, POTRANCO, OFF OF PERRIN BEITEL, AND WE'RE GOING TO AFFORD PEOPLE TO LIVE ACROSS THIS CITY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FEAR SPRAWL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT.
PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH ALL THIS IS US TRYING TO PUSH THIS DEVELOPMENT PART ON THE MARKET ITSELF, TRYING TO FORCE THESE MARKET MOVEMENTS IN THE WAY THAT THE COUNCIL OR THE -- YOU KNOW, THE POLITICAL MACHINE BELIEVES IS THE RIGHT PROCESS, AND I JUST DON'T SEE IT.
I THINK THE MARKET WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
THE INCENTIVES ARE THERE AS A TOOL.
ONE TOOL OF THE WHEEL, ONE COG OF THE WHEEL, TO GET US GOING IN THE RIGHT POSITION, SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE WE DO MORE OF THIS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE.
I WANT TO SEE MORE MONEY -- I WANT TO SEE A LARGER ICRIP.
FORGET IT, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE AN ICRIP.
I WANT TO SEE A DEPARTMENT IN DSD THAT WAIVES EVERY FEE POSSIBLE IF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER COMES IN.
[02:50:01]
ANYTHING.I WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GOING TO MEET OUR OVERARCHING DEVELOPMENT GOAL AS A CITY TO BUILD HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT A DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR ANYWHERE ON THE DEVELOPMENT LEDGER, WHETHER IT'S FEES, INCENTIVES, SAWS, CPS ENERGY, YOU KNOW, HABITAT.
I WAS TALKING TO NATALIE OUTSIDE, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH A LACK OF ACTION, AND WE'RE PUSHING WAY TOO FAR WITH THIS TO WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEVELOPING -- AND ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT 6, THEY'VE GOT 54 UNITS THEY'RE WORKING ON, SHE'S GOT MORE COMING ONLINE, IF WE DON'T MOVE, WE LOSE, RIGHT? SO THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE -- LIKE THE MAYOR STATED, WITH TRYING TO GET TO PERFECT OUT OF THIS.
SO I WANT TOUING TO WORK AS BESU CAN TO BALANCE ALL THESE COMPETING INTERESTS.
AND I THINK THAT WE'RE -- I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE, YOU KNOW.
AND I THINK IT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO GET BY TOMORROW FOR SURE, AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS WE TRY TO GET THIS GOING.
PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN DISTRICT 6, IN DISTRICT 10, THEY WANT TO LIVE ELSEWHERE, AND WE HAVE TO HELP THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE GET THERE.
WHAT ELSE ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT THINGS CAN WE DO FOR THEM THROUGH YOUR TEAM AND RENE'S TEAM TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, JUST THE SAME AS THE DOWNTOWN FOLKS.
SO WE DON'T NEED TO CUT DOWNTOWN, WE NEED TO EXPAND AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THESE UNITS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE CAN'T MARY OURSELVES STRICTLY TO THE MAYOR HOUSING TASK FORCE, NOT STRICTLY TO SA TOMORROW, WE HAVE TO PICK PIECES OF EACH ONE OF THESE THINGS AND THEN DO WHAT'S BEST POSSIBLE.
RIGHT, WE DON'T WANT TO INCENTIVIZE $200,000 FOR A UNIT, THAT'S THE LAST THING THE VOTER WANTS.
I THINK THEY'RE VERY ENGAGED AND I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND IT.
THEY UNDERSTAND IT SO MUCH AS THEY WANT THEIR TAX DOLLARS GOING TO HIGHEST AND BEST USE.
THIS IN PLACE AND MEASURE IT GOOD FROM HERE GOING FORWARD, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING I'D ASK YOU, LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING QUARTERLY UPDATES, WHATEVER WORKS BEST FOR YOU ON THE TEAM, SO WE KNOW WHO'S USING THESE INCENTIVES, IS IT REALLY BUILDING IN THE AREA WE WANT TO GO.
AUDIO] -- IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU, RENE AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO ENJOY THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> SANDOVAL: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I THINK WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WE WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN YOU CAME WITH THE PROPOSAL AND EVEN THAT ONE WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WE SAW ORIGINALLY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
I THINK YOU HAVE INTEGRATED ALMOST ALL OF MY CONCERNS THAT I BROUGHT TO YOU.
AND THOSE YOU WEREN'T AIBLG TO INTEGRATE -- ABLE TO INTEGRATE, I KNOW YOU REALLY RAN THOSE TO GROUND, AND WE FOUND OUT WHAT THE LIMITATIONS WERE INCLUDING THE PARKING REQUIREMENT, WHICH STILL BLOWS MY MIND HOW WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE SPRAWL BUT WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET AWAY FROM SUBSIDIZING PARKING.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK ON THAT LATER, AT A LATER TIME.
I'M GLAD TO SEE GOALS AND TARGETS, I'M GLAD TO SEE THE LIMITS ON HOW EXPENSIVE A DEVELOPMENT CAN -- A UNIT CAN BE.
I LIKE THE RENT BEING -- THE LEVEL OF RENT BEING A TRIGGER FOR TERMINATING THE INCENTIVE, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND THANK YOU FOR INTEGRATING SPECIFIC LANGUAGE PROHIBITING DISPLACEMENT.
THAT WAS -- THAT -- DIRECT DISPLACEMENT ANYWAY.
I THINK THE ADDITION OF LEVEL 3 MAKES SENSE AS WELL.
AND I LIKE THE CONSISTENT DEFINITION OF AFFORDABILITY, HAVING THAT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT FROM THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE.
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS DIRECTLY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY HEAR FROM YOU DIRECTLY AND YOU HEAR FROM THEM DIRECTLY INCLUDING THE ESPARANZA CENTER, TIER 1 AND OTHERS.
I THINK YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF LISTENING TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING -- COMING OUT OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE, BECAUSE YOU IDENTIFIED WHAT THOSE CONCERNS WERE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD STAFF THERE LISTENING AND TAKING NOTE OF THAT.
I DO THINK, HOWEVER, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE FROM BEING THERE LISTENING AND PULLING THAT INFORMATION, WHICH, AGAIN, I THINK YOU DID VERY WELL -- THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND HOSTING --
[02:55:20]
CHANGE, IT WOULD BE GOING BACK IN TIME, WHICH WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO, AND GOING BACK AND PULLING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER FROM THE BEGINNING.SORRY, I'M GOING FLEW MY -- THROUGH MY NOTES HERE.
SO I DO THINK YOU HAVE DONE SOME DILIGENT WORK OVER THE PAST -- I THINK IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE REVISIONS.
YOU'VE WORKED WITH STEVE NIVIN ON A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS, WHAT WORKS FOR THE DEVELOPERS, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN REDESIGNING THIS.
BUT I THINK, AGAIN, IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I WOULD OPEN UP THAT CONVERSATION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING TO SOME OF THE OLDER -- SOME OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS -- NOT OLDER, SOME OF THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH MORE RECENTLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M PUTTING FORWARD SOME PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATION WHICH WON'T BE HEARD TOMORROW, BUT IN THE FUTURE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE US DOING IN THE FUTURE IS WHEN WE BEGIN A POLICY REVISION PROCESS LIKE THIS, IS WE SAY, OKAY, WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM IT OR DIRECTLY TAKE PART IN IT, BUT MAYBE THOSE IMPACTED AS WELL AND THOSE INTERESTED AS WELL.
AND IDENTIFY THEM FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE PROCESS GOING ON.
AT MY COMMITTEE, WE DID REVIEW SOME MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND, AGAIN, I KNOW WE CAN'T GO BACK IN TIME AND IMPLEMENT THOSE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNCIL CAN DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO SOLID PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BY TAKING A VERY SMALL BREAK, PERHAPS -- SO WE HAVE FOUR REGIONAL CENTERS RIGHT NOW THAT WILL BE -- YOU KNOW, THAT ARE -- OF OUR REGIONAL CENTERS, WE HAVE 13, BUT WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM THAT HAVE PLANNING TEAM MEMBERS FORMED.
SO THOSE ARE READY TO GO STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS HAPPENING.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE -- SORRY, THE FOLKS ALONG THE CORRIDORS, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE CORRIDORS ARE NOT GOING TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE REGIONAL PLAN.
I THINK THEY'LL BE INCLUDED AT A SEPARATE POINT.
I THINK WE SHOULD COMMUNICATE THIS PROPOSAL TO THEM, ALONG TO THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE HOUSING POLICY TASK FORCE AND THOSE TECHNICAL GROUPS, COMMUNICATE THE PROPOSAL TO THEM, AND HOST AT MINIMUM ONE PUBLIC MEETING, MAYBE A WEBINAR, AND MOVE FORWARD AFTER THAT POINT.
I THINK MANY OF THE CONCERNS I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE SENT ME LETTERS, I THINK MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, BUT I WOULD STILL RECOMMEND HOSTING AT LEAST ONE MORE PUBLIC MEETING WHERE THERE CAN ACTUALLY BE DIALOGUE, SO SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE HEARING THAT WE WILL HAVE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SANDOVAL.
>> SALDAÑA: JUST A BRIEF CHIME BACK IN, BY DEFINITION, ARE WE USING HUD OR OUR OWN CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
>> SALDAÑA: SO WE USE HUD TYPICALLY BECAUSE IT'S TIED TO FEDERAL FUNDS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TIED TO FEDERAL FUNDS, DO WE?
>> HOUSTON: A LOT OF OUR NONPROFIT DEVELOPERS, THEY ARE TIED TO FEDERAL FUNDING, SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KEEP THAT CONSISTENCY.
>> SALDAÑA: CAN WE -- LET'S LOOK AT A WORLD WHERE WE BLOW PAST THAT AND MAKE A DEAF SIGNIFICANCE -- DEFINITION FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME -- WE CARE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S MSA, WE CARE ABOUT SAN ANTONIO'S AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
I DON'T CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT COMAL AND NEW BRAUNFELS.
I THINK THAT -- IT SERVES US NO PURPOSE TO USE IT IN THIS CASE, SO CAN WE SEE A PROPOSAL TOMORROW THAT INCLUDES OUR DEFINITION AND NOT HUD'S.
>> HOUSTON: WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.
LOOKING AT THE PRO FORMAS, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE WORK.
>> SALDAÑA: YEAH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T MAKE OUR OWN RULES HERE.
WHAT ARE WE DEPENDENT ON? YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR LOANS WITHIN THE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT MARKET.
>> HOUSTON: IF YOU WERE TO MAKE A REQUIREMENT THAT DEVELOPERS LOWER THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY
[03:00:03]
THAT'S REQUIRED IN A HOUSING PROJECT, THAT WOULD DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF RENT AND IMPACT THEIR EXPENSES, THE PROJECTS WOULD NOT WORK WITH THE CCHIP INCENTIVE.WE'D HAVE TO COME UP WITH A GREATER INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO MAKE THAT WORK.
>> SCULLEY: IT MEANS MORE SUBSIDY FROM THE CITY.
I MEAN, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE REFERRED TO IN OUR FIRST -- OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, WAS WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE WOULD NEED FOR THE CITY TO GET SOME AFFORD BILITY, AND IF WE'RE USING A DEFINITION THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF NEW BRAUNFELS -- AUDIO] -- OF NEW BRAUNFELS AND COMAL, I DON'T HAVE A GOOD REBUTTAL TO YOU, IF THE BEST RESPONSE YOU CAN GIVE ME IS IT DOESN'T PENCIL OUT, THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, YOU KNOW THE INDUSTRY BETTER THAN I DO.
BUT I THINK BY TOMORROW I'M GOING TO HAVE THAT SAME QUESTION AND WONDER WHY WE CAN'T HAVE OUR OWN CITY'S DEFINITION AND NOT THE COMBINATION OF NEW BRAUNFELS AND COMAL.
THE SECOND PIECE I WANTED TO ASK YOU, $360,000 SEEMS LIKE LUXURY TO ME, MAYBE FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, PARDON MY NAIVETY HERE, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS TOMORROW, THAT'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION I'M GOING TO HAVE, WHY IS $360,000 PER UNIT SOMETHING WE'RE STILL INCENTIVIZING.
TO TAKE WORDS FROM MY COLLEAGUE, WE SHOULDN'T BE INCENTIVIZING $360.
I WANT TO SEE THAT NUMBER REDUCED, CAN WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
>> HOUSTON: SO WE TIED THE $360,000 TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT YOU CAN GET FROM A FHA LOAN.
WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S A CERTAIN PRODUCT TYPE WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IN DOWNTOWN TO GIVE REASONS -- GIVE FAMILIES THAT WANT TO LIVE DOWNTOWN OPTIONS TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
SO A FAMILY OF, YOU KNOW, TWO CHILDREN LOOKING AT A THREE-BEDROOM, TWO-BATHHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN, THAT WOULD BE -- $360,000 WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD AFFORD DEPENDING ON THEIR INCOME LEVEL, BUT WE WANT THAT FAMILY TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
WE NEED MORE FAMILIES AND WE NEED AFFORDABLE PRODUCT FOR FAMILIES.
MOST OF THE CONDOS IN DOWNTOWN ARE $500,000 OR ABOVE, AND SO IT'S A SPECIFIC PRODUCT TYPE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WILL HELP PROVIDE FAMILIES OPTIONS TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
AS COUNCILMAN TREVINO MENTIONED, IT HELPS STABILIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> SALDAÑA: YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT TO POINT OUT $500,000 IS THE CURRENT MARKET RATE.
THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN SUBSIDIZE A $500,000 UNIT.
I STILL DON'T THINK WE HAVE BUSINESS IN SUBSIDIZING A $360,000 UNIT IN DOWNTOWN AGAIN.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT DOESN'T FIT MY DEFINITION OF LUXURY.
I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE EMERGENCY ROOM THES WE'RE USING ON BOTH CASES, AFFORDABILITY, USING HUD'S DEFINITION DOESN'T MEET AFFORDABILITY TO SAN ANTONIO'S DEFINITION AND LUXURY USING A TERM THAT WE'RE USING AT $360,000, LIKE SUBTRACT A DOLLAR FROM THAT, AND IT'S NO LONGER LUXURY, I JUST DON'T BUY THAT.
SO I THINK IF WE'RE TAKING THIS ON TOMORROW, WE HAVE TO PUT OUR NAME ON IT, AND IF WE'RE SAYING STATEMENTS LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO SUBSIDIZE $200,000 PER UNIT, WE'RE ENDORSING $360,000 POTENTIALLY THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT PER UNIT, SO I'LL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT TOMORROW SINCE I THINK WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE LOW ON TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SALDAÑA.
LORI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
VERO, YEAH, THIS IS A GREAT JOB.
BUT I JUST WANT TO DRAW EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, INCENTIVES ARE GREAT, YOU KNOW, REBATES ARE GREAT, BUT THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE AND IT'S COMING FROM SOMEONE, AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE PROGRAMS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAXPAYERS' MONEY GOING TO THESE INCENTIVES, SO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ON HOW THEY'RE BEING SPENT AND SHOW THAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT WE'RE GETTING BACK FOR THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE TAKING FROM THEIR TAXES TO PAY FOR THESE INCENTIVES.
SO WITH THAT, I -- YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON WITH THIS.
I THINK WE'VE VISITED THIS SUBJECT A NUMBER OF TIMES NOW, AND HAVE DISCUSSED IT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THIS AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN JUST DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
[03:05:03]
WITH THAT, SIR, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PERRY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LORI, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES.
THIS IS A GOOD DISCUSSION, AND MORE TO COME TOMORROW.
AT THIS TIME, REMINDER, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THIS
[Executive Session]
EVENING, WE'LL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT DELAYED TO THAT.BUT THE TIME IS NOW 5:15 P.M. ON THIS 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2018, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED BY CHAPTER 551 AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, LEASE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.072, REAL PROPERTY, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO CHARTER AMENDMENTS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EVALUATION AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SEC SHUP 551.074, PERSONNEL MATTERS AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THE COUNCIL IS NOW RECONVENING AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE WERE NO VOTES, NO DECISIONS MADE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[3. Public Hearing to gather community input on the proposed amendments to the Center City Housing Incentive Policy (CCHIP) and the Inner City Reinvestment/Infill Policy (ICRIP). [Lori Houston, Assistant City Manager; John Jacks, Director, Center City Development & Operation]]
RESUMED TOMORROW TO BE COMPLETED AT THAT TIME.AT THIS TIME WE ARE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING, AND THIS IS ON CCHIP AND ICRIP PUBLIC HEARING.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE AGENDA?
>> ITEM E ON THE AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IT READS -- I'M SORRY.
ITEM NO. 3, PUBLIC HEARING TO GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY, CCHIP, AND THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT INFILL POLICY ICRIP.
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY AND THE REINVESTMENT INFILL POLICY IS HEREBY OPEN.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS MAY DO SO, HOWEVER COMMENTS MUST BE LIMITED TO EITHER OR BOTH OF THE POLICIES.
IF THE SPEAKER STARTS DISCUSSING ANY OTHER TOPIC HE OR SHE WILL BE INTERRUPTED AND ASKED TO LEAVE THE PODIUM.
I'LL CALL THE FIRST TWO PEOPLE.
FIRST ONE IS ARTMAN BLAND FOLLOWED BY LAYLA NEEK.
ARTMAN BLAND FOLLOWED BY LAYLA NEEK.
I'M NOT SURE ON WHAT I'M SPEAKING ON.
>> COURAGE: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CCHIP AND ICRIP AMENDMENTS.
CENTER CITY HOUSING POLICY AND THE INNER CITY REINVESTMENT POLICY.
>> WELL, LET ME SAY THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT I PAY TAX RESOLUTIONS TO PAY OUR BILLS.
AND THE TAX OFFICE STOLE AND SOLD OUR PROPERTY AND THEY IGNORED THE TAX -- IGNORED THE TAX OFFICE, OR THE TAX RESOLUTION PEOPLE PAYING THEIR TAXES.
AND THEY STOLE AND SOLD OUR PROPERTY AND PROMISED ME EXCESS PROCEEDS.
AND SO I'M AT A STANDSTILL WHERE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME -- AND THEY SOLD IT TO THE IRANIANS AND THEY WERE CONVENIENTLY THERE TO BE THERE TO HAVE IT AUCTIONED OFF TO THEM.
>> COURAGE: MR. BLAND, THAT REALLY ISN'T APPROPRIATE FOR THIS HEARING, BUT YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO TALK UNDER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
MAY I CALL ON YOU LATER TO TALK ABOUT THAT?
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THE WRONG STATION.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. LAYLA NEEK FOLLOWED BY MARK PEREZ.
MY NAME IS LAYLA NEEK AND I AM THE PROPERTY MANAGER AT THE BALDWIN AT ST. PAUL SQUARE.
[03:10:04]
SELECTED FOR THE SAN ANTONIO MEDIAN INCOME OF THE 80% UNITS.AND SO A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE PRETTY MUCH ENTRY-LEVEL AIR FORCE MILITARY.
WE ALSO HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES SUCH AS IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SO ENTRY-LEVEL TEACHERS AS WELL, COUNSELORS.
FOR THE CITY WE HAVE VIA BUS DRIVERS.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNSELORS, LIKE I SAID.
AND SO WE ARE FOR BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TO THE AREA.
IN OUR PROPERTY, ABOUT 20% OF THE RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE VEHICLES SO THEY USE THE SCOOTERS, WHICH IS CONVENIENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL.
SO THEY DON'T REALLY OFTEN USE THEIR VEHICLES TO, YOU KNOW, GO ANYWHERE.
WALKING DISTANCE IS, YOU KNOW, TO THE RIVER CENTER INGRAM PARKA MILE.
THERE'S RESTAURANTS HALF A MILE AWAY.
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MS. NEEK.
MARK PEREZ FOLLOWED BY DR. MEREDITH MCGUIRE .
AS YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS MR. MARK PEREZ.
I'M AGAINST THIS PLAN AMENDMENT TO COME FORWARD UNTIL WE ASSESS WHERE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHO IS GETTING THIS GRANT MONEY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH DEVELOPERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVING AN INFLUX OF PERMITTING SYSTEM OUT THERE, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
IN MOST CASES THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE ZONING.
AND I KNOW MR. SHAW WAS ON THE ZONING COMMISSION.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHEN SHAW WAS ON THE ZONING COMMISSION THERE'S SOME QUESTIONABLE CASES THAT CAME WHEN HE WAS ON THAT BOARD.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, THESE GRANTS, WHERE'S THE COMMUNITY GOING TO BE LOCATED? THERE'S SOME AROUND THIS PEARL BREWERY HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CHEMICAL FACILITIES THAT FREQUENT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT HAVE BEEN GOING UNDER THE RADAR.
AND, AS YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID WHEN YOU BUILT THE VICTORIA COURTS MANY YEARS AGO AND THEY HAD ASBESTOS.
I'M NOT TOO FAR ON THE PLANNING OR ANYTHING.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE THAT KNOWS ABOUT THAT PLAN AMENDMENT? NO? THE CITY ATTORNEY MAY BE OVER HERE.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A MAP ON WHERE IS THIS MONEY GOING FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN, ENVIRONMENTAL? AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN A VERY BIG CREDIT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GOT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY INVOLVED, THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, JEFF COYLE INVOLVED TO KIND OF VERIFY THESE AREAS WHERE Y'ALL WANT TO GIVE THIS GRANT MONEY TO OR PLAN AMENDMENTS TO.
PLAN AMENDMENTS, IT REQUIRES A TASK.
IN MOST CASES HERE WE'VE BEEN HAVING DEVELOPMENT AND MOST CASES HOMES DON'T EVEN HAVE TO COME FOR A REZONING OR ANY PLAN AMENDMENTS.
ALL OF HER STAFF KNOWS ABOUT THE UNDERGROUNDS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
I'M EVEN WONDERING WHY WE'RE HAVING A WASTE OF TODAY.
YEAH, TREVINO, IT'S A DONE DEAL, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY DISCUSSING BACK THERE.
ANYWAY, IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOPEFULLY THIS MONEY AND THE DEVELOPERS AND WHO'S GOING TO BE GETTING THAT MONEY TO BUILD MATCH BOXES HERE IN THE CITY.
I TELL YOU THERE'S A LOT OF MATCH BOXES GROWING AROUND HERE IN OUR CITY, VERY BIG MATCH BOXES.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATED INSPECTORS TO BE OUT THERE INSPECTING.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE, NOT TOO SURE.
BUT, LIKE I SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GIVING A DEAF EAR, EVEN THE CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE IS PUTTING THESE PEOPLE IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHERE FAMILIES CAN BE SHAKEN UP AT NIGHT.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLACES HERE IN THE CITY THAT COULD HAPPEN.
AND I WAS READING THIS ONE -- [BUZZER]
>> TREVINO: DR. MEREDITH MCGUIRE FOLLOWED BY MS. GAY WRIGHTS.
>> I'M GIVING MY MINUTES TO MEREDITH.
>> TREVINO: CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR NAME? DR. MEREDITH MCGUIRE, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I FIRST OF ALL AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT CCHIP AND ICRIP AND OTHER IMPACT FEE WAIVERS ARE NOT A SOLUTION TO SAN ANTONIO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEMS. IN FACT, THEY ARE A BIG PART OF
[03:15:03]
THE PROBLEM ITSELF.I URGE YOU TO POSTPONE ANY INCENTIVE PROGRAM CONSIDERATION UNTIL YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT WHAT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM THAT MARIA WAS INVOLVED IN.
I THINK THEY WERE COMING UP WITH VERY VALUABLE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT THOSE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED AS WHAT YOU NEED TO BE WORKING ON AND FOCUSING ON.
IN THE MEANTIME, PAUSE ALL IMPACT FEE WAIVERS.
THE ISSUE HAS TO DO A LOT WITH THE UNAFFORDABILITY OF UTILITY RATES IN THIS CITY.
THE UTILITY RATES HAVE TO GO UP BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE RISING.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT THE RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS AND THE WAY THE RATES ARE STRUCTURED IS SUCH THAT IT PARTICULARLY DISADVANTAGED LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SO THAT WE HAVE TO FIX THE UTILITY RATE STRUCTURE BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE AND ALREADY BARELY ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR HOUSING AND THEIR UTILITY RATES.
EQUITY FOR THE MANY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS WHO ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO SOME OF THE WORST IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE WORKING ON, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE INCREASING CHANCES OF HEAT WAVES, OF DROUGHTS AND SO FORTH AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UTILITY RATES ARE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO HAVE COOLING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN TIMES OF HEAT WAVES, AND THAT THEY CAN AFFORD WATER DESPITE DROUGHT AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THERE ARE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS AT RISK DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO AFFORD A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE AND THE COST OF UTILITIES NECESSARY TO HAVE ENOUGH WATER FOR HEALTH AND LIFE ITSELF, AS WELL AS ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO KEEP COOL.
I URGE YOU TO CLOSELY EXAMINE THE ENTIRE EFFECTS OF THE IMPACT FEE WAIVERS, WHO BENEFITS AND WHO LOSES.
WHEN IMPACT FEES ARE WAIVED, IT IS THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS WHO LOSE.
THIS MORNING I WAS AT THE MEETING OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT SAWS.
IT WAS DISCUSSING SETTING NEW RATES FOR IMPACT FEES TO BE PAID BY DEVELOPERS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW HOUSING.
I LEARNED THAT THE EXISTING IMPACT FEES DO NOT COVER EVEN HALF OF THE ACTUAL COSTS OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT EXISTING RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY BEING FORCED TO SUBSIDIZE NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH EVERY MONTHLY BILL.
I LEARNED THAT EXISTING WAIVERS OF IMPACT FEES RESULTED LAST YEAR IN MORE THAN $3 MILLION BEING PAID BY EXISTING RESIDENTS RATHER THAN BY THE DEVELOPERS WHO STAND TO MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
I LEARNED THAT THE DEVELOPERS AND THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY APPOINTEES TO THAT COMMITTEE ARE FIGHTING HARD TO PREVENT THE VISTA RIDGE CAPITAL IMPACTS THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS.
WE CAME TO THIS ROOM IN COUNCIL IN 2014 AND ARGUED THAT THE VISTA RIDGE WAS A TERRIBLE DEAL BECAUSE IT COMMITTED SAWS TO PAYING FOR VAST AMOUNTS OF WATER THAT SAN ANTONIO DOESN'T NEED BUT NOW HAS TO PAY FOR WHETHER WE NEED IT OR NOT.
THE DEVELOPERS AND THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY PARADED BEFORE COUNCIL INSISTING THAT SAN ANTONIO'S GROWING SO FAST THAT WE NEEDED NON-EDWARDS WATER TO SUPPLY URGENTLY.
THE FIGURES THEY USED FOR PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION WERE GREATLY INFLATED.
NOW THEY ARE CLAIM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SAWS' INVESTMENTS AND IF THAT IS ALLOWED IT WILL CAUSE A 9.84% OVERALL RATE INCREASE THAT WILL MAKE SAWS' RATES TO EXISTING RESIDENTS EVEN LESS AFFORDABLE.
PLEASE DON'T FORCE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO SUBSIDIZE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
HALT THE IMPACT FEE WAIVERS AND FOCUS ON TRUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO THE WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO.
THAT'S THE ONLY JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY KIND OF INCENTIVES.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, DR. MCGUIRE.
JOHN HANSON FOLLOWED BY MAXWELL WOODWARD.
[03:20:01]
MY NAME IS DAWN HANSON, I'M WITH DISTRICT 1 AND I'M ALSO PART OF SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORHOODS FOR EVERYONE.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE ICRIP AND CCHIP REVISIONS.
AS WE KNOW THE SA TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE SA CORRIDOR PLAN AND THE HOUSING TASK FORCE ALL SPECIFY TO TARGET MORE HOUSING TO TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND REGIONAL CENTERS.
THIS HELPS PEOPLE LIVE NEAR JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSIT.
FURTHER THE HOUSING TASK FORCE CALLS FOR CCHIP FOR INCENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS AND REVISIONS TO CCHIP DO JUST THAT.
MOST OF YOU VOTED TO APPROVE EACH OF THESE PLANS AND POLICIES.
WHY WOULD WE DELAY? THIS DOES EXACTLY WHAT EVERY PLAN CALLS FOR, INCLUDING THE TASK FORCE.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HEAR ABOUT DISPLACEMENT.
AND THE HOUSING TASK FORCE PARTNERED TO COMPLETE A VULNERABILITY STUDY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ADDITIONALLY THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ARE CONDUCTING A DISPLACEMENT STUDY AND THE CCHIP HAS A DISPLACEMENT AFFIDAVIT ATTACHED TO IT.
THIS SEEMS LIKE THE CITY STAFF IS ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE CONCERNS.
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT HAPPENS WHEN RISING RENTS FORCES TENANTS TO MOVE ELSEWHERE.
PRESERVATION ARE SLOWING DOWN BUILDING OF HOUSING, WHICH IS THE CCHIP HAS ALREADY HALTED HOUSING, DOES NOT REDUCE DISPLACEMENT.
IT ONLY REARRANGES IT WHERE DISPLACEMENT HAPPENS AND CAN INCREASE ITS OCCURRENCE BECAUSE IT ADDS NO NEW HOUSING TO THE CITY STOCK AND DOES NOTHING TO RELIEVE THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING.
RECENT RESEARCH EVEN CONFIRMS THIS.
ECONOMISTS HAVE FOUND THAT DISPLACEMENT IS MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY IN LOW-INCOME CENSUS TRACTS WITH LITTLE MARKET RATE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION THAN IN TRACTS WITH HIGH CONSTRUCTION LEVELS.
IN SUBSIDIZING BELOW MARKET RATE HOUSING CURBS DISPLACEMENT EVEN MORE.
RESEARCHERS AT BERKELEY RECENTLY FOUND THAT THE EFFECT OF SUBSIDIZED UNITS IN REDUCING THE PROBABILITY OF DISPLACEMENT TO BE MORE THAN DOUBLE THE EFFECT OF MARKET RATE UNITS.
SO TACKLING DISPLACEMENT REQUIRES BUILDING LOTS AND LOTS OF NEW HOUSING AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO CHANGE.
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES NEED MORE HOUSING, NEED MORE THAN JUST HOUSING ALONE TO ADDRESS PRESSURES [INDISCERNIBLE] A CONCENTRATION OF NEW SUBSIDIZED HOUSING OR OTHER PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND INCENTIVES TO STABILIZE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
SUCH INTERVENTIONS MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH INCREASES IN HOUSING CONSTRUCTION IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, AND CCHIP IS A GOOD START TO THIS.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MS. HANSON.
MAXWELL WOODWARD FOLLOWED BY PETER FRENCH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I'M A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE FRED COMMITTEE.
THAT'S A BUSINESS OWNERS' GROUP ON FRED ROAD, ALSO I SIT ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE MIDTOWN REGIONAL CENTER, AT LEAST I DID UNTIL LAST MAY WHEN A GROUP OF WEALTHY PROPERTY OWNERS STORMED THE MEETING AND BASICALLY PUT THAT PROCESS TO A HALT.
SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY DISENFRANCHISING TO ME AS A YOUNG PERSON EXCITED TO BE INVOLVED AND TAKING ON MY CIVIC DUTIES.
BUT THIS UNDERLINED TO ME A BIG ISSUE, AND THAT'S THE DANGER OF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS OPERATING LIKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS BEING COMPRISED OF PROPERTY OWNERS WITH LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE RULES, REGULATIONS THAT FOCUS ON RESTRICTIONS, BUILDING AND TRAFFIC ISSUES.
THIS SOUNDS TO ME A LOT LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO'S URBAN CORE, AND THEY USE NCDS AND HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS, AMONG OTHER CODE ENFORCEMENT TACTICS TO ENFORCE THEIR OWN AGENDA.
SECOND, THESE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN USED AS LOBBYING TOOLS TO FUNNEL RESOURCES TO AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS, THESE CITY PROCESSES AND STANDS TO REASON THAT WEALTHY RETIRED PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE MORE TIME TO ENGAGE THAN THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WHICH ARE WORKING CLASS, LARGELY TENANT POPULATIONS.
FINALLY, KIND OF UNDERLINING THEIR ORGANIZATION AND POLITICAL SAVVY, A COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS WAS FORMED LAST YEAR AND BASICALLY REPRESENTS THE EQUIVALENT OF A SUPER PAC IN THE WAY OF LOCAL LOBBYING.
[03:25:02]
THANKFULLY YOU GUYS SHUT DOWN THEIR REQUEST TO REMOVE MF-33 FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.THIS WOULD HAVE SERVED TO ARTIFICIALLY LIMIT THE HOUSING STOCK, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN ACCELERATING THE INCREASE IN VALUES IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND PROPERTY OWNER, THAT THIS AGENDA ACTUALLY SERVES MY BOTTOM LINE FOR THEM TO LIMIT HOUSING STOCK MAKES MINE THAT MUCH MORE VALUABLE.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
SO IN CLOSING I SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO THE CCHIP POLICIES AS IT HAS BEEN WORKING TO ADD HOUSING.
WE NEED HOUSING IN EVERY SHAPE, SIZE, AND FORM, EVEN IF IT'S NOT FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IT TAKES PRESSURE OFF OUR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS TO HAVE THESE NEW PROJECTS.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MR. WOODWARD.
>> TREVINO: PETER FRENCH FOLLOWED BY LIZ FRANKLIN.
WE'D URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE FOR THE ICRIP AND CCHIP AMENDMENT.
THE MORATORIUM ON CCHIP HAS HAD A VERY CLEAR EFFECT OF COOLING NEW CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING, AND SAN ANTONIO NEEDS NEW HOUSING THROUGHOUT LOOP 410 IN THE INNER CITY RIGHT NOW TODAY.
EVERY UNIT OF HOUSING CREATES DE FACTO UNIT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEW HOUSING, NET NEW HOUSING IS THE GOAL.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALSO TO PURSUE A VERY ROBUST AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY, BUT I WOULD NOT STOP THIS PROCESS TO ACHIEVE THAT PROCESS.
I SPEND TIME AND WORKED ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TASK FORCE ON THE EQUITABLE NEIGHBORHOOD WORKING GROUP.
AND IN PLACES LIKE THAT, AND AS LORI HOUSTON SAID TODAY DURING THE B SESSION, THERE HAVE BEEN INFORMATION SESSIONS HAPPENING IN SMALL GROUPS, IN LARGE GROUPS AS PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING TASK FORCE WORK, AS PART OF THE MAYOR'S ANNUAL HOUSING SUMMIT.
THIS CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING.
THIS CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING PUBLICLY.
IT IS NOT AS IF THESE POLICIES WERE CREATED IN A VACUUM.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR WAY TO CATEGORIZE THEM AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE RIGHT THING FOR SAN ANTONIO TO DEFER APPROVING THESE POLICIES WHICH ARE PROVEN TO PRODUCE NEW HOUSING IN THE PURSUIT OF A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT GOAL.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ICRIP AND CCHIP.
PLEASE ALSO PURSUE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY.
>> TREVINO: THANK YOU, MR. FRENCH.
LIZ FRANKLIN FOLLOWED BY LYNN KNAPIK.
>> LIZ FRANKLIN, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2.
I HATE GOING BEHIND PETER FRENCH.
HE DID SAY SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY COMPELLING.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS HE SAID THAT WERE COMPELLING.
I'M NOT AGAINST CCHIP, I'M JUST AGAINST IT TOMORROW.
THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
LIKELY THOSE CONVERSATIONS DIDN'T GET DOWN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED AND MOST AFFECTED AND MOST CRITICALLY NEED GOOD ANSWERS ABOUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DISPLACED.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF ADDRESSING THAT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF THAT IN THIS CITY.
I THINK WE CAN CHANGE THE SHIP ANY TIME.
IT TAKES TIME SO WE HAVE TO START RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING IS I LOOK AT ALL OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT COME OUT HERE THAT HAVE YEARS AND YEARS OF PUTTING THEIR TIME AND THEIR EFFORT IN FROM THE UNDERSERVED -- FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND THE MARGINALIZED.
AND IF THEY SAY DO THE STUDY AND WE ARBITRARILY DON'T THINK WE NEED THE STUDY, WHY DO YOU ASK THEM TO BE ON ANYTHING? THEY SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THIS COULD WORK TO THE BEST BENEFIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, LASTLY I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IF A MARKET VALUE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CANNOT GET OFF THE GROUND FOR A MONTH, THREE MONTHS, OR SIX MONTHS UNTIL WE HAVE ANOTHER PIECE IN THERE THAT WILL ASSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST DECIDELY GOING TO BE DISPLACED HAVE
[03:30:01]
AVENUES AND OTHER WAYS OF -- WE HAVE OTHER WAYS OF MITIGATING THAT.MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE PROJECT THAT BELONGS HERE.
GIVING THEM MONEY AND INCENTIVES FOR THAT JUST BECAUSE WE NEED HOUSING IS JUST NOT THE ANSWER.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO NEED HOUSING.
THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO NEED HOUSING.
WE CAN ADDRESS BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S WALKING AND CHEWING GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
AND, WITH THAT, I'LL SAY I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
SORRY, BUT I'M A LITTLE ANNOYED BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO THIS CONVERSATION.
YOU HAVE MANY RESPECTED COMMUNITY LEADERS PUTTING IN A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT SAYING DO THE STUDY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS RIGHT THIS SECOND.
>> TREVINO: HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MS. FRANKLIN.
MS. LYNN KNAPIK FOLLOWED BY JACK FINGER.
MY NAME IS LYNN KNAPIK AND I AM A DOWNTOWNER.
I LIVE AT PEARL AND I HAVE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
I OWNED A CONDO IN ALAMO HEIGHTS BEFORE I MOVED BACK TO THE SUBURBS, BUT I WAS ANXIOUS TO GET BACK DOWNTOWN.
AND I DISCOVERED PEARL BY GOING TO THE MUSEUM REACH ONE DAY AND DECIDED THAT'S WHERE I NEEDED TO CHECK OUT.
SO EIGHT YEARS AGO LATER I'M STILL THERE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I AM A DOWNTOWNER, AND BEING ONE IS A JOY.
THERE'S AN ENERGY AND A SYNERGY AMONG THE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN THAT I'VE NEVER FELT ANYWHERE THAT I'VE LIVED.
EVERYONE IS A NEIGHBOR, NO MATTER WHAT PART OF DOWNTOWN THEY ARE IN.
AND EVERY TIME YOU WALK OUT YOUR DOOR YOU MEET SOMEBODY NEW AND FIND NEW FRIENDS.
WHAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT BEING A DOWNTOWNER, THOUGH, IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF MAKING OUR CITY BETTER EVERY DAY.
AND I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I'VE BECOME A DOWNTOWN ACTIVIST.
FIRST IT WAS THE MIDTOWN BRACKENRIDGE PLANNING.
AS I WAS MOVING TO PEARL, SA 2020, TCI AND COMPLETE STREETS, DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION, THE SAN ANTONIO CONSERVATION SOCIETY, AND MORE.
BUT I'VE BECOME PART OF ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I LIVE DOWNTOWN.
IF I DIDN'T LIVE DOWNTOWN, I WOULDN'T BE PART OF IT.
SO IN 2014 I WAS APPOINTED BY MAYOR TAYLOR TO THE MIDTOWN TIRZ.
SERVING ON THAT BOARD HAS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF THE CCHIP AND THE ICRIP PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE VIBRANT DOWNTOWN THAT WE ALL ENJOY.
I'VE MARVELED AT SO MUCH HAPPENING OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
AND FORTUNATELY AS A REALTOR AND ULI MEMBER I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SO MANY OF THE PROPERTIES RECEIVING THESE TAX INCENTIVES.
BUT HAVING SERVED ALSO ON THE STABLE, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOOD TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO RETHINK THE INCENTIVES PROVIDED THROUGH CCHIP AND ICRIP.
IT APPEARS THE PROPOSED UPDATES TAKE A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS.
CERTAINLY WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE USE OF THESE FUNDS.
AND RECENTLY THE MEMBERS OF THE MIDTOWN TIRZ WERE VERY PLEASED TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE MUSEUM REACH LOFTS, AN AFFORDABLE MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT TO BE LOCATED ACROSS FROM SAMA AND JUST A BLOCK FROM THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER.
WE CERTAINLY NEED MORE PROJECTS LIKE THESE IN ALL PARTS OF THE TOWN, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE INNER CITY.
SO I KNOW THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VOTE DELAYED FOR FINAL APPROVAL OF THE REVISED PROGRAM UNTIL CERTAIN RESEARCH RESULTS CAN BE COLLECTED, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY PROJECTS WAITING IN THE WINGS TO MAKE USE OF THE PROGRAMS. SO I SUPPOSE MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO SATISFY EVERYONE TO GET THE NEW PROGRAM APPROVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND HELP TAKE CARE OF BOTH SITUATIONS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. KNAPIK.
MR. SAMFORD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RICHARD ACOSTA.
MY NAME IS JACK SANFORD AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE ALTA VISTA ASSOCIATION.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORHOODS FOR EVERYONE.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU VOTE FOR THESE AMENDMENTS ON CCHIP TONIGHT.
WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN THIS CITY.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO AVOID DISPLACING PEOPLE IN OUR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR URBAN CORE IN THE TIER ONE
[03:35:01]
NEIGHBORHOODS IS TO HAVE MORE HOUSING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN THESE AREAS.PEOPLE ARE BEING DISPLACED BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE TO LIVE EXCEPT FOR THESE OLD HOMES THAT THEY HAVE TO FIX UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE MEETINGS THAT YOU HAD ON CCHIP.
I WAS HAPPY TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF THOSE.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID THERE WASN'T A PUBLIC PROCESS.
I GUESS THIS IS A THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF THAT HELD THOSE MEETINGS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE FORWARD.
AND IN TALKING TO DEVELOPERS, THIS IS A KEY PROGRAM IN GETTING HOUSING BUILT.
AND WITHOUT THIS, EVEN IN THE MORATORIUM ON THIS PROGRAM, MANY PROJECTS HAVE GONE UNBUILT THAT COULD HAVE ADDED TO OUR HOUSING STOCK AND HELPED OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE.
WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION NOW.
WE'RE NOT SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO YET, BUT WE CAN START BUILDING HOUSING SO WE NEVER GET THAT, SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR AFFORDABLE STATUS AS WELL AS HELPING MOVE INEQUALITY, SPREAD THAT AROUND.
THIS IS A VERY GEOGRAPHICALLY UNEQUAL CITY AND IF WE CAN BUILD MORE HOUSING IN THESE CORES LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE CAN HELP SPREAD SOME OF THIS INEQUALITY -- NOT SPREAD THE INEQUALITY AROUND BUT I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING, THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE GEOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES AND INCOME LEVELS THAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. SANFORD.
MR. ACOSTA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY YANETH FLORES.
>> WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT STARTED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.
WE ARE -- THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE SPOKEN IN FRONT OF YOU AND THAT WAS TOO IN SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE.
ONE THING THAT WE DID IS WE HELP PEOPLE PROTEST PROPERTY TAXES FOR FREE THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO.
I HAVE HELPED PEOPLE IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR DISTRICTS PROTEST THEIR PROPERTY TAXES FOR FREE.
WE WANT TO BUILD HOMES FOR UNDER $100,000 OR LESS, OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME DOING THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WANT TO BUILD IN DISTRICT 5 AND A LOT OF THE POLICY IS -- THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO REZONE IS LIKE A .15 LOT IS AN ACRE.
AND REPLAT IT TO A .04 WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE ZONING ON THAT, WHICH I BELIEVE I WON'T BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR CCHIP.
THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER WAY FOR ME TO APPLY BY MAYBE GETTING A CITY COUNCIL VOTE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US FROM BEING ABLE TO GET SOME OF THOSE INCENTIVES.
UNDER THE MAYOR'S HOUSING TASK FORCE REPORT, THERE'S 32,000 UNITS THAT NEED TO BE BUILT FOR 30% AMI.
OUT OF THE 7,500 UNITS, THAT'S KIND OF A MIX OF 30 TO 60, I ASKED WHY ISN'T 30% AMI THE POINT OF TARGET OF THOSE 7500 UNITS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO ADD ON TO THE CCHIP PROGRAM.
I ASKED WHY ARE WE BASING OUR AMIS OFF OF HUD REQUIREMENTS INSTEAD OF OFF OF SAN ANTONIO REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT WE THINK AMI IS FOR DIRECT RESULT OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO I ASK WHY IS THAT NOT OUR TARGET RATE? AND I'M FOR CCHIP.
WE'RE FOR THE PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING.
WE JUST WHY IS IT BEING RUSHED? WHY CAN'T WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S ALL THE INFORMATION.
I THINK I'M PRETTY INTELLIGENT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I GO TO LIKE THREE MEETINGS A DAY AND I'M LEARNING A LOT IN THE LAST HOUR OR TWO DURING THE SESSION B.
AND IF I HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT ALL THE INS AND OUTS, THE PUBLIC HAS A HARD TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHERE IS THE CHANCE FOR THE CITY TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO LOOK AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUT OF OUR CITY DOLLARS, AND FOR PROBABLY A GREAT PROGRAM.
I 100%, LIKE I SAID, I'M FOR CCHIP BUT WHERE'S THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT? WHERE DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE ENGAGED? AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. ACOSTA.
YANETH FLORES FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL TAYLOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SIR?
[03:40:01]
DUE TO ITS DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT, WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL POSTPONE CONSIDERATION OF THE CENTER CITY HOUSING INCENTIVE POLICY, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS CCHIP PROGRAM UNTIL A MORE THOROUGH PUBLIC PROCESS HAO BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
THE CITY'S YEAR-LONG CCHIP MORATORIUM PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO TO CONSIDER WHETHER THIS PROGRAM IS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE GOALS FOR RSIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND, IF SO, HOW IT CAN BE DONE WHILE KEEPING DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AN ACCESSIBLE PLACE FOR PEOPLE FOR ACCESSIBLE LIVING SPACE.
I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS FROM THE B SESSION THAT I QUICKLY WANT TO TOUCH ON.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TXB STUDY THAT LORI MENTIONED MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT SEVERAL IMPORTANT POINTS.
SO THE TXB STUDY ON CCHIP IMPACT DOES NOTE THAT DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN IS LIKELY MORE FEASIBLE NOW THAN WHEN CCHIP WAS CREATED IN 2012.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ARE NOT REQUIRED NOR NECESSARY TO SPUR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT CCHIP PRIORITIZES DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT CONCERN FOR THE INDIRECT DISPLACEMENT OF EXISTING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHO LIVE IN THE RELEVANT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
THE HOUSING TASK FORCE IDENTIFIED IMPORTANT GOALS FOR THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THE NEED FOR HOUSING, AFFORDABLE AT RESIDENTS LIVING AT 60% OR BELOW THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AN INCOME AVERAGE THAT I THINK WE ALL MIGHT AGREE MIGHT BE INCREDIBLY INACCURATE.
WHILE LIVING AT LEVEL THREE IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND CONTRIBUTED TO HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS AT AND BELOW 60% AMI, THE HOUSING CREATED WILL LIKELY BE OUTSIDE OF LEVELS ONE AND TWO, AND THAT INCREASED OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE FOR LOW-INCOME AND WORKING-CLASS FOLKS NEAR AND IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PLANS TO INVEST IN NEW DEVELOPMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF LOCAL TAXPAYERS, WE BELIEVE THE CITY MUST PROMOTE POLICIES THAT INCREASE GENUINE AFFORDABILITY, PROTECT EXISTING COMMUNITIES, AND MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT.
THE PROPOSED REVISIONS DO NOT ACHIEVE THE IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES THAT I JUST LISTED.
THE CCHIP COVERS AREAS INCLUDES NEIGHBORHOODS WITH VIBRANT HISTORY AND INCREDIBLY VALUABLE COMMUNITIES.
MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS, LEVEL TWO ARE LOW-INCOME WORKING-CLASS LATINOS OR BLACKS.
WE ANTICIPATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW HIGHER-PRICED HOUSING IN THESE AREAS WILL INCREASE RENTS OF THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES.
INCREASING THE COST BURDEN ON EXISTING RESIDENTS AND DISPLACING MANY OF THEM OUT OF THE INNER CITY OR EVEN PERHAPS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
FURTHER DEVELOPERS MAY OPT OUT OF AFFORDABILITY IN LEVEL TWO BY BUILDING HIGHER THAN FIVE STORIES, REFERRING BACK TO THE TXP ANALYSIS IT STATES THAT INCENTIVES ARE PRIMARILY BENEFICIAL FOR BUILDING MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING ABOVE FOUR TO FIVE STORIES.
DEVELOPERS WILL LIKELY CAPITALIZE ON THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INCENTIVES TO BUILD VERTICALLY AND GENERATE A GREATER PROFIT.
THEY'RE ALL SITTING BEHIND ME.
IN ADDITION, LEVEL THREE MAY CAUSE FURTHER DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BUILT OUTSIDE OF THE URBAN CORE WHILE MORE MARKET RATE HOUSING IS BUILT IN THE URBAN CORE.
THE DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS OF COLOR DUE TO A CITY INCENTIVIZED HOUSING POLICY MAY VIOLATE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CCHIP WILL DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT RESIDENTS OF COLOR.
INCREASING SEGREGATION IN THE CITY.
BEFORE TAKING THE FINAL VOTE ON CCHIP, WE ASK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE CCHIP PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE IMPACTS THAT THIS WILL HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITIES TO REVAMP THE PROGRAMS SO IT INCLUDES HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING BELOW 60% AMI.
WE ALSO ASK FOR A COMMUNITY IMPACT STUDY TO BE DONE PRIOR TO A CCHIP VOTE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE CANNOT GET THAT DONE BY 9:00 A.M. TOMORROW.
WE ASK THAT YOU CENTER THOSE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN THIS CITY AND THAT YOU ACT WITH THEIR WELL-BEING IN MIND, THAT YOU ACT COMPASSIONATELY AND YOU CENTER THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY ALWAYS.
SINCERELY, ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, THE WEST SIDE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, AND THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. FLORES.
MICHAEL TAYLOR FOLLOWED BY SUZANNA SEGURA.
[03:45:01]
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THESE PROGRAMS HELP PROVIDE HOUSING FOR LOW AND VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO.AND ALSO SHARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH NOT MOVING THESE PROGRAMS FORWARD.
BUT FIRST I WANTED TO THANK LORI AND VERONICA AND THEIR STAFF FOR WORKING WITH NONPROFIT HOUSING PROVIDERS ON THEIR POLICY TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE USEFUL FOR US.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG USER OF THE POLICY AND THEY HAVE FOUND WAYS TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.
SO WE NOW, WITH THE NEW POLICY, WILL HAVE A DEDICATED POT OF FUNDS FOR THE FEE WAIVER PROGRAMS, WHICH WILL ENSURE AVAILABILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND ALSO THE NEW POLICY REMOVES THE IMPACT FEE CAP OF $5,000.
SO THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW THE FULL $6,852 THAT WE SPEND ON IMPACT FEES PER HOUSE TO BE WAIVED.
AND THIS IS GOING TO INCREASE THE LABOR COST AND WILL ACTUALLY GIVE US THE CERTAINTY WE NEED TO BUILD THREE ADDITIONAL HOUSES NEXT YEAR.
AND AS FAR AS THE CCHIP POLICY GOES, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND.
WE THINK THAT THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A LOT OF REVENUE THAT WILL HELP US IN THE FUTURE TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THE FAMILIES WE SERVE REALLY NEED THESE WAIVERS TO KEEP HOME OWNERSHIP AFFORDABLE.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FAMILY YOU SAW IN THE PHOTO AT THE B SESSION PRESENTATION TODAY.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR TYPICAL HOME BUYERS.
THE HUSBAND AND FATHER WORKS IN FOOD MANUFACTURING.
HE'S WORKED FOR THE SAME COMPANY FOR SEVEN YEARS.
THE FAMILY INCOME IS $28,235 A YEAR.
THIS IS 39% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
THEY ARE BUYING A FOUR-BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM HOUSE, 1200 SQUARE FEET FOR $80,000.
AND THEIR MONTHLY PAYMENT IS GOING TO BE $580 A MONTH, 0% INTEREST LOAN.
THAT INCLUDES PROPERTY TAXES AND INSURANCE.
JUST UNDER HALF OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE SERVED, THAT WE BUILT HOUSES FOR THIS YEAR HAD INCOMES BETWEEN 30% AND 50% OF AMI.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD BUT WE'RE AT RISK OF HAVING TO DELAY OUR HOUSES IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE WAIVERS IN PLACE.
SO WE HAVE EIGHT HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED, AND WE'LL BE STARTING 14 MORE.
WITHOUT THESE WAIVERS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE $150,000 TO COVER IMPACT FEES AND CITY PERMIT FEES.
THAT'S NOT A POPULAR ASK FROM MY DONOR, SO THAT WOULD BE A VERY BIG CHALLENGE.
SO WE ASK YOU ALL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POLICY AND APPROVING IT AS IS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DELAY THE CCHIP VOTE.
I WANT TO ECHO SOMETHING I HEARD COUNCILMAN COURAGE SAY, NO ONE WANTS TO STAY IN A LOW-INCOME SITUATION BUT THE REALITY IS SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY IS BASED ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND NONE OF Y'ALL THAT ARE SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF ME HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE HOTELS DOWNTOWN ARE PAYING THEIR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE.
I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ONE OF YOU MOVE ANY POLICY FORWARD TO DO THAT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THE POOREST OF THE POOR WORK IN HOTELS.
WHY DO PEOPLE COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO? BECAUSE WE'RE LARGELY TA -- LATINOS, BECAUSE WE FOLD YOUR CLOTHES, CLEAN YOUR ROOMS, CLEAN YOUR TOILETS, COOK YOUR FOOD.
AND WE DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO EVEN OWN A CAR.
WHY DOES VIA RUN THE LARGEST NUMBER OF BUS LINES THROUGH SAN ANTONIO? BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO PURCHASE A CAR.
THE PRIMARY WORKFORCE IS COMING FROM THE POOREST ZIP CODE.
THAT'S YOUR ZIP CODE, SHIRLEY, DISTRICT 5.
I'VE BEEN WORKING IN YOUR DISTRICT FOR 27 YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOMES.
I HAVE RAISED PEOPLE'S CHILDREN AND THEY'RE NOT MAKING MONEY.
THEY ARE TWO JOBS, TWO AND A HALF JOBS WORKING.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOURS THAT IS? PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
I HEARD YOU SAY EARLIER THAT IF SOMEBODY GOT INTO A WHEELCHAIR SITUATION THAT IT WOULD BE SO MUCH CHEAPER FOR THEM TO KNOCK THEIR HOUSE DOWN AND REBUILD IT NEW.
YOU LIVE IN THE MOST ECONOMICALLY-SEGREGATED DISTRICT
[03:50:01]
IN SAN ANTONIO.THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ALL OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN LISTED AS ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED CITIES IN THE NATION.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE POOREST CITIES IN THE NATION.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STOP THAT? YOU LIVE IN A DISTRICT THAT IS HEAVILY RED LINED AND DEED RESTRICTED THAT WAS PRIMARILY SEGREGATED FOR MEXICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS.
SO IF I WERE AN 85-YEAR-OLD WOMAN THAT HAD TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR, WOULD I ACTUALLY TEAR DOWN MY HOUSE AND REBUILD IT NEW AND MY HOUSE IS ONLY VALUED AT $35,000.
I WOULD DIVEST MYSELF OF MY HOUSE, MOVE INTO A SENIOR HOUSING SITUATION AND GIVE MY KIDS MY MONEY, IF I HAD IT.
SINCE I DON'T HAVE KIDS I WOULD PROBABLY JUST GIVE IT TO A NONPROFIT AND THEN I WOULD GET ON HOUSING.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. SEGURA.
MS. GOLD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RUTTIA ROJAS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
MY NAME IS SARA GOLD AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7 AND A MEMBER OF THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS A NATIONAL CALL FOR MORAL REVIVAL THAT HAS UNITED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CHALLENGE THE EVILS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM, POVERTY, THE WAR ECONOMY, ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION, AND THE NATION'S DISTORTED MORALITY.
THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN BELIEVES IN THE DISMANTLING OF UNJUST SYSTEMS THAT EXPLOIT POOR COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT LIVE IN OR DIE FROM POVERTY IN THE RICHEST NATION EVER TO EXIST.
HOUSING IS A PROMINENT ISSUE IN THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN.
IN 2016, THERE WAS NO STATE OR COUNTY IN THE NATION WHERE SOMEONE EARNING THE FEDERAL [INDISCERNIBLE] ACTUALLY DO SO.
THIS HAS PRECIPITATED A STRUCTURAL HOUSING CRISIS WITH 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN SHELTERS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING CENTERS AND TENT CITIES.
THIS POPULATION INCLUDES A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, LGBTQAI YOUTH, VETERANS, AND THE ELDERLY.
ONE OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN DEMANDS IS THAT THE WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS PAY FOR THEIR FAIR SHARE OF OUR COUNTRY'S URGENT NEEDS AROUND DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION, A ROBUST SAFETY NET AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
AT THE SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT CCHIP IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR RENEWAL BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF A CITY-WIDE DISPLACEMENT POLICY.
BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN IS IN PLACE AND WITHOUT A COORDINATED HOUSING SYSTEM IN PLACE.
WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABILITY DOES NOT MEET THE REALITIES OF SAN ANTONIO INCOME.
AND NOT ENOUGH RESIDENTS IN THE CCHIP AREA OR THE ADJACENT AREAS, WHICH SURELY WILL BE IMPACTED, HAVE BEEN ENGAGED FOR FEEDBACK.
GIVEN THAT IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
WHATEVER YOU DID FOR THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MS. GOULD.
WARREN WILKINSON FOLLOWED BY BILL SHOWN.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M WARREN WILKINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRO SAN ANTONIO.
I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THESE PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE CCHIP AND ICRIP PROGRAM.
THESE PROGRAMS, LUCKILY THE CITY HAD THE INSIGHT OR THE FORESIGHT TO PASS THESE PROGRAMS SOMETIME AGO AND THE INSIGHT NOW TO TWEAK THEM SO THAT THEY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE.
TOGETHER THESE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT WITH GOOD GUARDRAILS, GUARDRAIL LIMITS, THEY ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THEY PROVIDE CONSISTENT PREDICTABLE POLICIES REGARDING AVAILABLE INCENTIVES.
THEY PROMOTE REHABILITATION WITH APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT.
[03:55:02]
LEGACY BUSINESSES, HOUSING DENSITY, DEVELOPMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THEY PROVIDE REEVALUATION IN TWO YEARS.THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS AND I HOPE YOU APPROVE THOSE TOMORROW.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, MR. WILKINSON.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE.
I'M BILL SHOWN WITH PEARL AND SILVER VENTURES.
I WANT TO PUT THIS CONVERSATION IN CONTEXT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES IT'S ■BEENTAKEN OUT O,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.